Stellar waltz with dramatic ending Astronomers at the University of Bonn and their colleagues from Moscow have identified an unusual celestial object. It is most likely the product of the fusion of two stars that died a long time ago. After billions of years circling around each other these so-called white dwarfs merged and rose from the dead. In the near future, their lives could finally end - with a huge bang. The researchers are now presenting their findings in the journal Nature. The extremely rare merger product was discovered by scientists from the University of Moscow. On images made by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite they found a gas nebula with a bright star in its center. Surprisingly, however, the nebula emitted almost exclusively infrared radiation and no visible light. "Our colleagues in Moscow realized that this already argued for an unusual origin", explains Dr. Gotz Grafener from the Argelander Institute for Astronomy (AIfA) at the University of Bonn. In Bonn, the spectrum of the radiation emitted by the nebula and its central star was analyzed. In this way, the AIfA researchers were able to show that the enigmatic celestial object contained neither hydrogen nor helium - a characteristic typical for the interiors of white dwarfs. Stars like our Sun generate their energy through hydrogen burning, the nuclear fusion of hydrogen. When the hydrogen is consumed, they continue burning helium. However, they cannot fuse even heavier elements - their mass is insufficient to produce the necessary high temperatures. Once all helium is used up, they cease burning and cool down turning into so-called white dwarfs. Usually their life is over at this point. But not for J005311 - this is how the scientists named their new find in the constellation Cassiopeia, 10,000 light-years from Earth. "We assume that two white dwarfs formed there in close proximity many billions of years ago," explains Prof. Dr. Norbert Langer from AIfA. "They circled around each other, creating exotic distortions of space-time, called gravitational waves." In the process, they gradually lost energy. In return, the distance between them shrunk more and more until they finally merged. Only five of these objects in the Milky Way Now their total mass was sufficient to fuse heavier elements than hydrogen or helium. The stellar furnace started burning again. "Such an event is extremely rare," stresses Grafener. "There are probably not even half a dozen such objects in the Milky Way, and we have discovered one of them." An extreme stroke of luck. Nevertheless, the researchers are convinced that they are right with their interpretation. For one, the star in the center of the nebula shines 40,000 times as bright as the sun, far brighter than a single white dwarf could. In addition, the spectra indicate that J005311 has an extremely strong stellar wind - this is the stream of material that emanates from the stellar surface. Its engine is the radiation generated during the burning process. Only, at a speed of 16,000 kilometers per second, the wind of J005311 is so fast that this factor alone is not enough to explain it. However, merged white dwarfs are expected to have a very strong rotating magnetic field. "Our simulations show that this field acts like a turbine, which additionally accelerates the stellar wind," says Grafener. Sadly, the resurgence of J005311 will not last long. In only a few thousand years the star will have transformed all elements into iron and fade again. As its mass has increased to more than 1.4 times the mass of the Sun in the merger process, it will suffer an exceptional fate. The star will collapse under the influence of its own gravity. At the same time, the electrons and protons building up its matter will fuse into neutrons. The resulting neutron star has only a fraction of its previous size, measuring only few kilometers in diameter, while it is weighing more than the entire solar system. J005311, however, won't leave without a final salute. Its collapse will be accompanied by a huge bang, a so-called supernova explosion. ### Publication: Vasilii V. Gvaramadze, Gotz Grafener, Norbert Langer, Olga V. Maryeva, Alexei Y. Kniazev, Alexander S. Moskvitin & Olga I. Spiridonova: A massive white-dwarf merger product before final collapse; Nature, https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41586-019-1216-1 Contact: Dr. Gotz Grafener Argelander Institute for Astronomy at the University of Bonn. Tel. +49-228-733651 E-mail: goetz@astro.uni-bonn.de Prof. Dr. Norbert Langer Argelander Institute for Astronomy at the University of Bonn. Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy Tel. +49-228-733656 E-mail: nlanger@astro.uni-bonn.de This story has been published on: 2019-05-21. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: KS Wong visits Singapore Secretary for the Environment KS Wong today began his visit to Singapore where he witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Hong Kong and the city-state to enhance co-operation on environmental protection. Mr Wong first met Minister for the Environment & Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli to discuss matters of mutual concern. They then witnessed the signing of the MoU by Chief Executive Officer of the National Environment Agency of Singapore (NEA) Tan Meng-dui and Permanent Secretary for the Environment Maisie Cheng. The pact aims to enhance the synergy between both sides regarding professional staff training on the environment front and to strengthen collaboration. Mr Wong met officials from the Ministry of the Environment & Water Resources and the NEA, followed by a visit to a company providing electric car sharing services. He also visited the Government Technology Agency where he met its Chief Executive Kok Ping-soon, and attended a dinner hosted by Senior Minister of State for the Environment & Water Resources Amy Khor. This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade and relevant departments to join hands to increase the value of Vietnamese brands to make inroads into international markets. He made the request at a conference in Hanoi on May 21 to review the 10-year implementation of the campaign Vietnamese people prioritise using Vietnamese goods. The Deputy PM told the ministry to continue improving the efficiency of its steering committee for the campaign while strengthening coordination with ministries and localities for domestic market development. Particularly, the market management forces must strictly handle goods smuggling and infringements of intellectual property rights. According to local departments of industry and trade, the rate of Vietnamese goods remains high in the domestic market from 80 percent to 90 percent at modern distribution network and from 60 percent at traditional retail channels. Some key industries such as garment-textile, footwear, automobile manufacturing, milk processing, yarn and dyeing have increased the rate of localisation and volume of science-technology in products. An exhibition on achievements of the 10-year campaign Vietnamese people prioritise using Vietnamese goods was held on May 21-22 with the participation of such big groups as Vinfast automotive startup manufacturer, Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), Vietnam National Coal Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), and Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex).-VNA By Park Hyong-ki Woori Financial Group Chairman Sohn Tae-seung is on a roll in mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Since the group was launched as a holding company last January, Sohn has made aggressive deals to acquire non-banks such as asset management and real estate trusts. Recently, Woori Bank, in partnership with MBK Partners, has been named the new preferred buyer of Lotte Card. Sohn is also the chief executive of Woori Bank. MBK is leading the partnership with the private equity fund manager seeking to acquire a 60 percent stake in the credit card company. Woori and Lotte Group will each own a 20 percent stake, if they seal the deal. The shift was somewhat expected given that Lotte Card's previous preferred bidder Hahn & Co. failed to reach an agreement during the preferential negotiation period. Sohn is in Tokyo meeting with potential institutional investors to discuss Woori's latest and future deals, according to the company. From day one when the holding company was launched, Sohn has shown his determination to increasing the group's non-banking business. "We've still got a long way to go when compared with other big financial groups," a Woori Financial spokesman said. "We wish we could say our next target would be acquiring a securities company. But there are barely any brokerages here on sale." As Chairman Sohn has said, Woori Financial could forge strategic ties by investing in brokerages, the spokesman added. The group has so far signed share purchase agreements to acquire Tongyang Asset Management, ABL Global Asset Management and Kukje Asset Trust, a privately held real estate management company. But industry sources say acquiring a securities company would be Sohn's ultimate trophy. "This is because brokerage and investment banking usually takes up a large portion of any financial business after commercial banking. Having a securities company within the group would certainly boost Woori to the next level," an industry source said. Sohn will be flying home from his investor relations meetings in Tokyo on May 23, the company said. Shakespeare's Library: Unlocking the Greatest Mystery in Literature By Stuart Kells Counterpoint. 322 pp. $26 --- How the Classics Made Shakespeare By Jonathan Bate Princeton. 361 pp. $24.95 --- For the past 400 years William Shakespeare has held a position in English-language literature roughly analogous to that of the major authors of Latin antiquity during the Renaissance. His plays and their characters, as well as myriad lines of unforgettable poetry, have suffused and shaped our art and culture. By himself, Shakespeare represents to us what Ovid, Virgil, Horace, Cicero, Plutarch and Seneca meant to educated people during the age of the first Queen Elizabeth. In "How the Classics Made Shakespeare," Jonathan Bate - provost of Worcester College, Oxford, as well as a scholar of remarkable industry - probes what one might call the Ovidian, Virgilian, Horatian, Ciceronian, Plutarchan and Senecan undergirdings to the many Shakespearean works with strong classical associations. In particular, he returns again and again to "Love's Labour's Lost," "Titus Andronicus," "The Comedy of Errors," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Julius Caesar," "Antony and Cleopatra," "A Winter's Tale" and "Hamlet," as well as the narrative poems "Venus and Adonis" and "The Rape of Lucrece." Now, any study of classical influences can readily come across as either daunting or soporific, but Bate eschews jargon, writes a forceful, clear prose, provides translations of Latin quotations and makes sure that his arguments are easy to follow. As a result "How the Classics Made Shakespeare" stands as a model of sensitively marshaled humanist learning and thoughtful appreciation. Not incidentally does Bate admire such elegant and magisterial examples of historical criticism as E.R. Curtius' "European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages" and the art-scholarship associated with London's Warburg Institute. Bate begins with a simple premise: "Storytelling was Shakespeare's method of making sense of the world, and no stories gripped him more fully than those of classical antiquity." Ovid, especially, taught him that "what makes great literary art is extreme human passion." The "Metamorphoses," after all, celebrates eros, movement and energy: Change is the only constant in life. Moreover, just as the Roman arts of rhetoric stressed the power of comparisons and illustrations drawn from the past, so too does Shakespeare. In just one speech Hamlet compares his father to the titan Hyperion, his uncle to a satyr and his mother to weeping Niobe, while contrasting his waffling, contemplative self with the forceful Hercules. Such classical retrospection wholly pervades the Renaissance zeitgeist: If you wish to praise a merchant adventurer, notes Bate, you liken him to Jason, leader of the Argonauts. Erotic obsession, madness, pagan "fame" vs. Christian salvation, the horrors of civil war, the stage as a secondary world, the symbolic import of magic, dreams and ghosts - Bate brilliantly delineates their classical origins and redeployment in Shakespeare's work. In just one small tour de force of interpretation, he argues that the ghost in "Hamlet" evolves from an armored revenant observed by several people into a purely imaginary phantasm: There is, Bates concludes, "a progression from a Senecan ghost calling for revenge and an equally classical ghost-as-harbinger to a Catholic ghost coming from Purgatory to, in the third act, a Protestant ghost-imagining that is a mental state, the coinage of the brain." While Shakespeare drew strength from literary tradition, Bate emphasizes that the playwright's fundamental view of life was irreverent, even - to use a current vogue word - disruptive. His women are usually smarter than his men and he values friendship, Falstaffian gusto, rural pleasures and kindness over duty, religion, politics and martial heroism. People, in all their troubled, moral complexity, matter more than laws and abstract principles do. If forced to choose, Shakespeare would side with Dido, not Aeneas, and he honors the incandescent passion between Antony and Cleopatra as worth more than all of eternal Rome. In the words of Egypt's queen: "Eternity was in our lips and eyes." "How the Classics Made Shakespeare" deserves an accolade too seldom awarded to academic works: Besides being eminently readable, it proffers illuminating observations and facts on every page. Still, Jonathan Bate does worry about our greatest writer: Can Shakespeare "continue to be a living classic in a future where attention spans are short and the long view of the past is flattened by the simultaneity of data derived from the digital world?" He is obviously right to feel uneasy. Still, we will almost certainly continue to be fascinated, perplexed and maddened by the "authorship" question, what Stuart Kells grandiosely calls, in the subtitle to "Shakespeare's Library," the "greatest mystery in literature." Did a glover's son from Stratford actually write these immortal plays? Or might their true author be Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, the 17th Earl of Oxford or Sir Henry Neville, to list only the most popular candidates? Kells - author of "The Library: A Catalogue of Wonders" - takes up this fraught subject by exploring one simple question: What happened to Shakespeare's books and manuscripts? Why have none ever surfaced? From this starting point, he surveys the history of Shakespearean flummery and biographical fantasy, examines the work of the playwright's "frenemy" Ben Jonson, considers the neglected discoveries of 19th-century scholar John Fry and tracks the careers of forgers William-Henry Ireland and Thomas J. Wise. He also reveals his native Australia as the red-hot center of support for claims that Sir Henry Neville was the real author. "Shakespeare's Library" is unquestionably a lively, even sprightly book, nearly as entertaining as S. Schoenbaum's capacious "Shakespeare's Lives," to which it is a kind of pendant. At one point, Kells neatly compares George Steevens'sintense sense of rivalry with fellow 18th-century scholar Edmond Malone to "the kind of competitive jealousy normally seen only in ice-skating." In the end, Kells decides that the genius of Shakespeare - whoever he was - lay in his flair for "appropriation, revision and synthesis." Of course, he also had something of a way with words. For a new-bathroom feel without the hassle of a full remodel, Jasmine Morvay, an interior designer in Ottawa, Ontario, has a few ideas: Install a glass door or change the shower curtain, paint wall tiles, paint cabinets, replace mirrors, replace light fixtures, and add plants. One of her favorite ideas by far, though, is replacing the shower head. Switch out that one fixture, and taking a shower goes from a need to a want. Because bacteria and mold can grow in shower heads, installing a new one eliminates that issue for the time being, says Morvay, one of the National Kitchen & Bath Association's "Thirty Under 30" honorees. (And if you don't replace it, you should soak it in vinegar every few months to kill the bacteria.) As to what clients want out of a shower head, Ty Pennington, author of "Life to the Extreme: How a Chaotic Kid Became America's Favorite Carpenter," is blunt. "They definitely want the rain experience or anything that is a big faucet overhead that feels like a luxury experience, not a public shower," he says. It should feel like "jets hitting every part of your body." To bring the spa home, here are a few finds from bath experts. In California, where "we can't even purchase shower heads that don't reduce water flow," interior designer Kelly Finley recommends the Delta In2ition 2-in-1 Combo Showerhead ($60.99 to $74.99, bedbathandbeyond.com). "It feels like you're getting a lot more water than you are," she says. It includes four spray functions, so "you can change the speed of the spray, the type of the spray." If you rent, consider asking your landlord if you can change the shower heads, Finley suggests. When her clients want to upgrade to "something new, today," Jessy Johnson of Michigan's Mary Lynn Creations recommends Kohler's HydroRail Shower Column in Polished Chrome ($330.19, homedepot.com). "It's easy to swap out with existing plumbing," she says, and adds style. For a modern rain head and hand shower that coordinate, Johnson likes Kohler's Moxie shower head, which comes with a wireless speaker ($155.99, wayfair.com), and the company's Flipside hand shower ($131.20, us.kohler.com). Moen's Magnetix has "the appeal of a fixed shower head, but it rests there on a magnet," says Melissa Haas, project designer at Case Design Remodeling in Charlotte, North Carolina ($59.99 to $69.99, bedbathandbeyond.com). "You can pull off the shower head and use it as a hand shower, whether you're cleaning the tile, rinsing your feet off or cleaning the dog." Haas adds that "it's really popular in a hall bathroom or a kids' bath setup, where you don't need this luxury-spa setup - you just need an all-in-one sort of thing." It comes in chrome and brushed nickel. A homeowner can install the Retro-Fit Diverter Shower System with SpeedClean Technology without removing any tiles or touching the existing plumbing inside the wall, Morvay says ($498.99, allmodern.com). "It just involves replacing the existing shower arm." The system includes not one, but two handheld shower heads and the ability to switch between the two. It comes in a burnished chrome finish. Arguably, Pennington is the expert in making over homes fast, as HGTV's longtime host of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition." He likes the Dornbracht brand for high-end replacement shower heads and Kohler for a more accessible price point: "Their Purist line comes in a great chrome and satin nickel," he says. The K-966-CP Purist 2.5 GPM Multifunction Wall-Mount Shower Head has a wide spray, massage spray and gentle spray and also comes in brushed bronze and brushed nickel ($91.76 to $132.82, wayfair.com). BEARDSTOWN In a council meeting that had heated moments, confusion and some visible frustration, Beardstown aldermen voted Tuesday to override the mayors veto and install new requirements for future chief of police hires. Updates to the ordinance describing the police chief job and qualifications was approved by the Beardstown City Council April 16 and vetoed by Mayor Leslie Harris May 7. At Tuesdays meeting, the council voted 5-3 to reconsider the ordinance, with Tom Penwarden, Robert Burget and Missy Meyer voting against taking the issue up again. The council then voted 7-1 to override the mayors veto, but called the roll a second time after at least two aldermen expressed confusion over the vote. After clarifying the vote, with some interruption by members of the public, the council voted again with the same 7-1 result. Penwarden voted against the measure both times. The vote required a two-thirds majority, or six votes, to pass. The ordinance at issue has been in the works in recent months, following a rapid changing-of-hands of the chiefs post at the Beardstown Police Department. It outlines requirements for the position, including a residency requirement. Before the council had the ordinance ready for a vote, Harris brought her selection for the position Martin Coad, a former South Jacksonville police officer and former Chapin chief with 37 years of law enforcement experience to the council in February, which voted 6-2 against the hire. Despite the councils vote, Harris appointed Coad under the Illinois Municipal Code, which gives the mayor power to appoint a temporary chief who can serve for the duration of the mayors term The council discussed the ordinance during a committee of a whole meeting prior to the voting meeting. Some of the divide on the council and with the mayor was related to a disagreement about whether to include a provision in the ordinance allowing exceptions to be made to the requirements in the event the city is struggling to find qualified candidates in the area. Alderwoman Sally Lael said the city needs something solid regarding the police chief, as it used to, and challenges could be addressed if they come up. We need to protect the citizens of Beardstown, who want us to do whats best for them and that is go locally, Lael said. So, if we pass this ordinance and years down the road we need a police chief and we have exhausted everything of trying to get a police chief from Beardstown first, Cass County second, then we can make an amendment to look outside the boundaries of Cass County. Alderman Ron Culves had been spearheading the development of the ordinance. He told Harris that he doesnt dispute her role in appointing the chief, but said the council has its role, too. Its up to the council to draft an ordinance that represents what the community wants, Culves said. When we sat in here and drafted this ordinance, I was under the impression that thats what, at the time, all eight of us wanted. gettyimagesbank By Kim Bo-eun Insurers, banks and card firms are moving to capture opportunities in the pet industry, as the market is forecast to continue to grow along with changes in demographics. The size of the companion animal market stood at 1.8 trillion won in 2015 and is forecast to grow to 5.8 trillion in 2020, according to a report from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade. Due to Korea's aging society and an increasing number of people living alone, more households are expected to adopt companion animals. Hence the term "petconomy" which combines the words pet and economy was coined to refer to industries associated with companion animals. Insurers are introducing and diversifying their policies regarding pets. Insurance policies which had been limited to dogs now cover cats as well. They are also increasing the amount covered by the policies. Meritz Fire and Marine Insurance launched a policy for cat owners last month, which covers medical expenses over the cat's lifetime. The policy covers up to 10 million won in expenses for surgeries and hospitalization. The policy holds through 20 years, and the premium is raised every three years. Owners of cats aged three months to eight years in Korea are eligible to sign up. Lotte Insurance and KB Insurance also have pet insurance. Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance and DB Insurance plan to introduce a system which can identify dogs by their nose prints, in the coming months. This will simplify the process for insurance claims, as currently it is difficult to identify the dogs. "We expect these insurance policies to continue to increase, as the market for companion animals grows," Kwon Soon-il, manager at the Korea Insurance Development Institute, said. Meanwhile, card firms are offering products that provide discounts for companion animal-related purchases. KB Koomin Card's "petconomy card" offers up to 30 percent in discounts for related purchases, while NH Nonghyup Card's "SolSol card" offers discounts up to 12 percent. The Industrial Bank of Korea's "pet card" offers 10 percent after-purchase discounts for payments at veterinary clinics and related purchases. Banks are introducing "pet trust funds". KB Koomin Bank has unveiled "KB petconomy trust," a new product that allows customers to set up a trust fund for their pets. The bank hands over the fund to the new caregiver when the animal's owner dies or is no longer able to take care of it. The owner needs to deposit a lump sum of at least 2 million won, or deposit 10,000 won every month. The limit for the monthly deposit is 10 million won. The limit for KEB Hana Bank's "PET love trust" is 100 million won. Skepticism about the Middle East peace plan drawn up by U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law abounds, but even a failed effort may play into the hands of Benjamin Netanyahu. The prime minister won his latest election partly on promises to extend Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements in the disputed West Bank, a move that would see Israel taking another unilateral step away from decades of international consensus on how to resolve the crisis. While Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner has revealed little about his long-awaited proposal, it's widely expected to include increased Israeli control over the West Bank. For the hardliners in Netanyahu's coalition, the time is ripe with their ally Trump in the White House to seize more of the disputed territory regardless of whether the broader peace plan -- which the Palestinians have rejected in advance -- succeeds or fails. "Netanyahu's view is that between now and 2020, this is the time to extract from Trump whatever is extractable," said David Makovsky, director of the project on Middle East peace at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "Netanyahu is going to try to get selective acquiescence for annexation inside the barrier, using President Abbas's refusal to talk as a justification. If Netanyahu gets a green light for that, he will push for the plan." Highlighting the one-sided nature of Kushner's effort, the Palestinian Authority on Monday said it will boycott an economic development conference in Bahrain next month that was announced as a first step in the peace plan. A U.S. official said the June 25-26 meeting will focus on an economic framework for the Palestinian people and the region, including the potential for private-sector growth, with a political proposal coming later. Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said his government, which has long ruled out talks with the Trump administration, was "not consulted on such a conference." Shtayyeh added that "any economic solution will be a result of a political solution." Trump has called reaching a peace agreement the "deal of the century," and announced Kushner's lead role in it soon after his election in 2016. And while he's said any peace proposal would require sacrifices from Israel, there's been little sign of U.S. pressure on the Jewish state and the administration hasn't deferred to Palestinian concerns in its moves so far. Netanyahu doubled down on his call to extend sovereignty, saying on Twitter on Tuesday that West Bank lands "are not only a guarantee of Israel's security -- they're our patrimony." The American president angered Palestinians and drew criticism from U.S. allies for recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, moving the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv and recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights. Administration officials have largely stopped using the phrase "two-state solution" to describe a resolution to the conflict. Trump has also cut off funding to groups aiding Palestinians refugees, saying in February, "Why would we pay somebody that's not saying nice things about us, and not really wanting to go to the peace table?" Those moves and comments have undermined expectations for the Kushner proposal. "The U.S. has adopted nearly every position espoused by this very right-wing Israeli government, and is even encouraging it to break international law," Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, said in an interview in New York. "There is a clear global consensus on how to achieve peace. So why turn everything upside down and try something that can never work?" More than 400,000 Jewish settlers and almost 2.9 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, which Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war. It's been ruled an illegal occupation in repeated U.N. resolutions and, while ceding some portions of the West Bank to Israel has long been part of previous peace proposals, a takeover would risk turning Israel into a pariah state in the eyes of most of the world. So although annexation of the entire West Bank has long been advocated by the staunchest Jewish nationalists, Israeli leaders including Netanyahu have historically held back on moves well short of that, aware of the firestorm of criticism it would draw. Despite Netanyahu's pre-election vow to assert sovereignty over Jewish settlements, a senior Israeli official suggested the pledge may have been an election gambit that's not likely to materialize soon. Expressing concern that future U.S. administrations may not be as pro-Israel as Trump's, David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel and a former benefactor of West Bank settlements, said his team is doing everything it can to help Israel. "Can we leave this to an administration that may not understand the need for Israel to maintain overriding security control of Judea and Samaria?" Friedman asked at the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee meeting in Washington last March, adopting Israel's use of the West Bank's Jewish biblical name. Complicating any decision by Netanyahu to pursue annexation is that he's facing an impending indictment by Attorney General Avihai Mandelblit. As a result, the far-right settler movement is demanding that Netanyahu commit to annexing some Israeli settlements in the West Bank in exchange for support for legislation that would grant the premier de facto immunity from prosecution. "There's pressure," Yigal Dilmoni, chief executive of the pro-settler Yesha Council, said in an interview. "We have to act on sovereignty even regardless of whether they say yes or no." Another hurdle for any U.S. peace plan is that Arab nations counted on to provide financial and political support may be reluctant to do so after the Golan Heights and Jerusalem embassy moves, both of which were widely unpopular in the region. And as the 2020 U.S. presidential race gets underway, the incentive for Trump to turn his plan into a political wedge issue will also grow, Makovsky, of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said. Trump has sought to paint the Democratic party as anti-Semitic, using Representative Ilhan Omar's criticism of U.S. support for Israel to suggest the party is moving away from its traditional support of the Jewish state. White House officials declined to comment on the peace plan. Trump and Kushner could still prove their detractors wrong. Administration officials have said one reason not to stick closely to previous proposals is that those earlier efforts all failed. And the Palestinians could still surprise Israel and the U.S. by deciding to enter into talks, calculating that they have nothing to lose and potentially something to gain. But that's not the bet most analysts are making. After all, unilateral Israeli actions to solve the Palestinian conflict aren't new. In 2005, Ariel Sharon pulled out of Gaza. This time, regardless of how the peace plan roll-out goes, Netanyahu may go for the opposite scenario, expanding frontiers with Trump's backing, said Natan Sachs, director of the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington. Former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, who's now a member of Netanyahu's Likud party in Parliament, suggested as much. "We should annex parts of the West Bank anyway regardless of their plan." He added, "One could take it as an opportunity." SPRINGFIELD A Multi-Agency Resource Center is scheduled to open in Calhoun County this weekend to help residents after the recent historic floods. The one-stop-shop for flood victims will offer disaster related relief services and information. The MARC brings together representatives from local and state agencies and essential support organizations. Any Illinois resident affected by recent flooding can visit the MARC at the First Presbyterian Church, 400 W. Main St., Hardin, Friday, May 24, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, May 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Proof of address is requested. One of the most sought after resources following any storm or flood is a clean-up kit. Each kit consists of a bucket, mop, gloves, cleaning supplies, sponges, broom and a squeegee. Representatives will be on-hand this weekend to provide the kits to residents in need. Important flood safety information will also be distributed. Several state and local agencies will offer assistance through the Calhoun County MARC. Illinois Department on Aging staff will help older adults and their family caregivers, providing information on services and public benefits within the community. They also will evaluate the problems and capacities of individuals to recover from the flood and try to address service gaps; provide follow-up services based on the older individuals and family caregivers needs; and deliver information regarding the wide range of services offered by the Aging Network. Illinois Department of Human Services representatives will assist residents seeking to replace Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits due to the flood. They also will provide access to mental health and substance abuse programs, referrals to local childcare providers and functional needs support services. Illinois Department of Insurance representatives will answer questions about individual insurance policies or questions about the insurance claim process. They also will address issues with individual insurance agents or insurance companies. Illinois Attorney General representatives will provide information on identity theft, home repair scams and how residents can protect themselves from predators during the recovery process. Also in attendance will be various non-profit and faith-based disaster relief organizations to assist those directly impacted by the flooding. Upon arrival at the MARC, residents will be paired with a service ambassador who will help residents navigate the facility and ensure their needs are addressed. The American Red Cross will provide client casework, information and referrals. Earlier this month, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a disaster proclamation for 34 counties in Illinois. Emergency management officials urge residents to remain vigilant of spring flooding, be aware of flood risks in their neighborhood and know the steps to take to keep their family safe in the event of an emergency. For more details, visit ready.illinois.gov. ALTON Alton police on Wednesday morning arrested a former Alton Middle School teacher on charges accusing him of having sexual contact with a student from 1998 to 2000. William C. Ingersoll is charged with one count of criminal sexual assault and one count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Ingersolls bond was set at $250,000. Police say a family member posted the required 10% bond and he was released Wednesday. According to a press release issued by the department, the reported victim reached out to a trusted former high school teacher about having the sexual relationship last fall after learning of another teacher charged with sex crimes. Alton Police Department Det. Joseph Splittorff was assigned the case and began a thorough investigation of the victims claims including, but not limited to, multiple interviews which spanned multiple states, and the execution of a search warrant. Authorities say no information has been received to indicate any other students have been targeted, however, if any other victim exists, they are encouraged to contact the Alton Police Department. Alton Police Chief Jason Simmons commended the work of his investigators and the persistence of the victim. The courage and tenacity it took for this young woman to come forward and demand attention be paid to her case, is exceptional, he said. No trusted adult should ever exploit a young person. It is my hope that the dedicated, professional work displayed by Detective Splittorff and the Madison County States Attorneys Office in this case will be able to bring her the justice she deserves. GODFREY The village took over the final roles of the former Godfrey Township with the passage of a resolution and ordinance at Tuesdays village board meeting. The ordinance allows the village to take over general assistance responsibilities from the township, which officially ceased to function on Friday. The resolution allowed the village to assume all the functions of the township. SPRINGFIELD Illinoisans soon may have to be fingerprinted and pay an increased fee to be a licensed gun owner in the state. In the wake of a February shooting at an Aurora workplace that left five people dead, lawmakers have debated how to better track Firearm Owners Identification Card holders who have had their license revoked. Senate Bill 1966 was advanced to the full House on Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee on a vote along party lines. Sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, an amendment to the bill would require new FOID card holders and those renewing their license to submit to a fingerprint. It also would increase application fees from $10 to $50 and reduce the time a license is valid from 10 years to 5 years. Willis said the purpose of the bill is to keep up with FOID revocations and create better communication between local and state law enforcement agencies. One of the reasons that we saw that revocations were not followed up as best as they could was because there was no money in resources to be able to do that, Willis said. Illinois State Police Lt. John Thompson testified Tuesday that the fee of $10 for 10 years isnt enough to sustain the nearly 1,000 applications the department receives daily. Were running a very, very basic operation, and its not whats expected of us and we need to do better, he said. Ed Sullivan, speaking on behalf of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said fees required for concealed-carry permits have amounted to $78 million over 10 years. So tell me, please, somebody, wheres the lack of money? he said. Sullivan said what happened in Aurora was a systematic failure of government that could have been avoided if the shooters FOID card had been taken. He said the proposed bill does little to address those failures. The problem, he said, is not going and taking FOID cards from people who shouldnt have them. Republicans Tuesday opposed additional requirements to exercise rights guaranteed in the constitution. Rep. Margo McDermed, R- Mokena, said the Aurora shooting is being used by gun grabbers to enact more laws to reduce access to firearms. Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, the committees Republican spokesperson, said she would never vote for a law that mandates fingerprints for any constitutional right. Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago, said he was fine with everything in the bill and supports sensible gun laws, but believes the increased FOID card costs would be a burden to those in poorer communities. If I have to pay hundreds of dollars, potentially, to have a FOID card, Im worried that youre going to price out certain communities that cant afford to pay that, Turner said. You could make a criminal out a person whos already a FOID card holder that didnt get it renewed because they couldnt afford it at the time. EDWARDSVILLE Hilary Scott-Ogunrinde, of St. Louis, was one of more than 60 people attending the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunitys Office of Minority Economic Empowerments informational meeting on funding opportunities for minority-owned businesses. Southern Illinois University Edwardsvilles Illinois Metro East Small Business Development Center (SBDC) hosted the session on Tuesday, May 14 at the East St. Louis Higher Education Campus. The informational meeting is one of several being held around the state following Gov. J.B. Pritzkers May 1 announcement to provide $15 million to minority-owned businesses, located in underserved populations, with resources to help create jobs, build capacity, increase revenues and expand regionally. The announcement marks the first time the program has been funded. A total of $10 million is designated for small minority-owned businesses, with a cap of $500,000 per applicant, and $5 million is reserved for minority-owned incubators with a cap of $250,000 per applicant, according to Derrick Champion, deputy director of the Office of Minority Economic Empowerment. I wanted to hear about the resources available to help us in supporting our mission of developing a senior complex, explained Scott-Ogunrinde, about the not-for-profit Macedonia Development Corp. (MDC). She is one of 13 board members who are all members of Macedonia Baptist Church, the oldest African American church in East St. Louis. The complex will house different social services that will integrate the entire family, continued Scott-Ogunrinde. We want to support the formerly incarcerated, have STEM programs for children and much more. Robert B. Williams, chief accountability officer in the Office of Accountability, provided information on the application process and eligibility requirements and answered numerous questions. Jo Ann Di Maggio May, director of the Illinois Metro East SBDC, also spoke to the audience, offering confidential, no-cost counseling services to entrepreneurs and existing business owners. To learn more about the application process and upcoming workshops, visit 2019 OMEE Notice of Funding Opportunity. The deadline for applications is Sunday, June 30. WASHINGTON - Former secretary of state Rex Tillerson met with lawmakers for seven hours behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss his time in the Trump administration, a spokesman said. Tillerson met with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and staffers from the House Foreign Affairs Committee after a request from Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. "The discussion . . . covered a wide array of topics related to foreign affairs, the operations of the nation's foreign policymaking apparatus and his tenure as Secretary of State," according to a statement from the spokesman for Tillerson. An official familiar with the session said Tillerson met with members and staffers separately, and that the White House knew of the testimony in advance and did not move to block it. The White House had no comment. Among the topics discussed were Tillerson's relationships with other White House advisers, including President Donald Trump and his family; Trump's interactions with Russian President Vladimir Putin; and how policy is made in the Middle East and North Korea. He expressed some frustrations with the president's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, the official said. Tillerson appeared voluntarily, the representative said. Tillerson's appearance for testimony on Capitol Hill was first reported by the Daily Beast. The former ExxonMobil chief executive had an ignominious departure from the Trump administration after he was fired by tweet in March 2018. He and the president disagreed broadly on foreign policy and had a series of fights over personnel and policy, aides to both men said. Trump has since had a better relationship with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The president has pushed for aides not to testify in front of oversight committees, calling them Democratic efforts to undermine his administration. Tillerson has largely stayed quiet since leaving office, making few public appearances and rarely giving interviews. In one rare interview with CBS in December, Tillerson said Trump was undisciplined, did not read or care about facts, and routinely issued directives that were against the law. Trump responded in a tweet that Tillerson was "dumb as a rock" and "lazy as hell." WASHINGTON - The feud between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats reached new heights of animosity Wednesday after Trump angrily walked out of a White House meeting on the nation's infrastructure, insisting he would not work with Democrats unless they abandon their inquiries into his businesses, presidency and personal finances. "Get these phony investigations over with," Trump told reporters in the Rose Garden, moments after he spent three minutes in the Cabinet Room raging against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., and other Democrats. Afterward, Pelosi called the spectacle a "temper tantrum" intended to obscure Trump's "lack of confidence . . . that he really couldn't match the greatness of the challenge that we have" to pursue a sweeping infrastructure deal. Trump in turn accused Pelosi of a "takedown attempt," and railed about her allegation Wednesday morning that he is ducking congressional subpoenas to act as a "coverup" for his own misbehavior. Left in grave doubt were hopes for bipartisan agreement in looming battles over budget and trade, as well as the $2 trillion infrastructure package that had been set for discussion. In truth, the infrastructure talks were already on thin ice, with congressional Republicans and Trump's own chief of staff balking at any hefty increase in government spending to improve bridges, roads, mass transit and bring broadband to rural America. On Tuesday, hours before the meeting, Trump sent a letter insisting Congress would have to pass his North American trade deal before he would agree to pursue infrastructure. Some of the theatrics on display Wednesday were spontaneous, while others were premeditated, according to White House aides - inspired by Trump's reaction to coverage of a Wednesday morning closed-door meeting of House Democrats. Inside the Capitol, lawmakers chewed over their pending investigations into Trump, as well as the possible launch of the impeachment process. "The I-word - can you imagine?" Trump later said. Leaving the meeting at 10 a.m., Pelosi told reporters Trump was "engaged in a coverup" by blocking House subpoenas - a comment that infuriated the president, who was watching on television. About an hour later, reporters were summoned to the Rose Garden, where aides hastily prepared for a news conference just as the infrastructure meeting was set to kick off at 11:15 a.m. Entering the Cabinet room, Trump never shook hands with the lawmakers and never sat down, instead standing at the head of the table to lecture before leaving the room. Pelosi and others returned to Capitol Hill, where they delivered a lecture of their own - declaring that the walkout proved that Trump was not serious about compromising with Democrats on major legislation. "He just took a pass, and it just makes me wonder why he did," said Pelosi, who maintains that Democrats remain committed to improving infrastructure. "In any event, I pray for the president of the United States, and I pray for the United States of America." Some Democrats, including Schumer, openly postulated that the entire White House episode Wednesday had been planned to obscure the fact that Trump was not willing to finance an ambitious infrastructure bill. They pointed to telling details, such as the fact that the Cabinet Room drapes had not been drawn or that a sign reading, "NO Collusion, NO Obstruction," was posted on the presidential lectern in the Rose Garden. "I think they can't figure out a way to do infrastructure, and they came up with a very inelegant way to get out of it," Schumer said. A senior administration official said dissent remained in the administration on how to pay for infrastructure - and whether Trump should have agreed to $2 trillion in spending weeks ago. In one way, the official said, some aides were happy with the blowup because it avoided any further policy promises they saw as detrimental. But another official denied that the walkout had been planned before Pelosi made her "coverup" comments - the sign, the individual said, had been printed weeks before, around the time special counsel Robert Mueller III completed his report. And this official said the Rose Garden statement was not planned before Wednesday morning and was only orchestrated after press secretary Sarah Sanders said shortly before the legislative meeting began that an impromptu Rose Garden event was needed. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to freely discuss private talks. Other congressional leaders watched the spectacle unfold and braced for a potential 18 months of stalemate. On Tuesday, bipartisan budget talks held in the offices of Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., made surprising progress. Less than 24 hours later, the White House blowup threw those talks in doubt, with a potential government shutdown and federal default on tap for the fall. "It seems like we've got a little bit of an issue right now," said Senate Majority Whip John Thune, R-S.D. "It's hard to see how anything gets done around here unless the atmospherics change." House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky., also said he feared the worst for the fiscal talks: "It's not a good sign that the president is acting like a toddler." Democrats show no signs of abandoning their multifaceted probes of Trump in the face of his legislative threats. They got fresh boosts Wednesday outside of Washington, with a federal judge in New York backing a Financial Services Committee subpoena of Deutsche Bank, Trump's longtime lender, and the New York State Assembly passing a law that could allow Democrats to request Trump's state tax returns. Ironically, inside the morning meeting of House Democrats that so angered Trump, a presentation from Pelosi and a host of committee chairmen seemed to defuse a tide of impeachment sentiment that had risen over the past week due to new instances of Trump administration stonewalling. Pelosi and most of the chairmen focused on recent successes in court battles aimed at forcing the administration to comply with subpoenas, and they counseled for a measured course, according to multiple people in the room. The meeting "reflected where most of this caucus is at," said freshman Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. "Have faith in the courts and have faith in process, and impeachment only if absolutely necessary." Even some of the most ardent advocates of opening an impeachment inquiry tempered their enthusiasm in the face of Pelosi's persuasive onslaught Wednesday. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who spoke up forcefully for such an inquiry in a private leadership meeting Monday, would not say definitively Wednesday that one should now be launched. "I just think we need to have a conversation about all the constitutional means that are available to us, and we're having that conversation," Raskin said. Speaking Wednesday afternoon at a Washington event hosted by the Center for American Progress, Pelosi questioned the practical value of opening an impeachment inquiry at this point: "I'm not sure we get more information if we do an impeachment inquiry. But if so, that's a judgment we have to make." "It's not just the substance that we're after," she added. "The coverup is frequently worse than the crime." While Democrats vowed to plow forward with their investigations, they were also questioning whether it was worth continuing to even try to negotiate with a president who has yet to reach a major compromise with them. Trump's most ambitious legislative accomplishment, his 2017 tax cut, was passed exclusively with Republican votes. A bipartisan deal on criminal justice reform that passed last year enjoyed broad Democratic support - Trump's challenge was convincing fellow Republicans. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., declared the infrastructure push "dead" Wednesday. "Without him, that's not happening," he said, pointing to the political hurdles in the GOP-controlled Senate. McConnell, upon entering a GOP meeting at the Capitol, was asked by a reporter whether the White House drama blew up other agenda items besides infrastructure. He paused for a couple seconds, smiled and walked away without commenting. Thune said he was hopeful the clash would be fleeting and recalled previous blowups between Trump and Democrats - including a similar walkout Trump staged during the record-long government shutdown that ended earlier this year. "Everyone had kind of their moments where they went and did their genuflecting to their audiences and eventually came back to the table, and eventually the deal got done," he said. "There's stuff that we just have to do, no matter how bad it is around here." - - - The Washington Post's Ashley Parker, Felicia Sonmez, Erica Werner and Paul Kane contributed to this report. Seoul Guarantee Insurance Company (SGIC) CEO Kim Sang-taek, right, poses with ChildFund Korea Chairman Lee Jae-hoon at the firm's head office in Seoul, Wednesday, after donating 200 million won ($167,392) to the charity organization for needy children. / Courtesy of Seoul Guarantee Insurance Company A massive American flag is the center of a controversy in North Carolina. Officials with the City of Statesville filed an injunction this month requiring Camping World and Gander Outdoors to follow an ordinance outlining the size of an American flag flying on its Gander RV property. The injunction asks the company to remove a 40-foot-by-80-foot flag, which is prohibited under city ordinances. City officials said the company received a variance to fly a 40-by-25-foot flag. In a statement on Facebook, city officials said they are not against flying American flags. Please know that it is our job to protect our citizens and the businesses that call the City of Statesville home, the statement reads. We take our laws and ordinances very seriously. We only ask that the proper channels are followed. That is the first and necessary step to any potential change in code. The company has been fined $50 per day since October for violating the permit that was granted. The fine equals about $11,000, according to WJZY-TV. Company leaders said they refuse to follow the ordinance. Many cities like Statesville have requested that Camping World and Gander Outdoors take down their American Flags, officials with Gander Outdoors said in a statement posted on Facebook. WE WON'T DO IT! Stand with us. This is about more than just the flag. This is about our Veterans, Military, and the men and women that have sacrificed for this great country. They are the reason we fly the flag and they are the reason we will NOT take it down! The company has 30 days from injunction to respond to the citys complaint. The redesign of the $20 bill featuring abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and led hundreds of other people to freedom, will no longer be unveiled in 2020, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday. Tubman was slated to replace slave owner Andrew Jackson - President Trump's favorite commander in chief - as part of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. But Mnuchin said that the design process has been delayed until 2028. "The primary reason we have looked at redesigning the currency is for counterfeiting issues," Mnuchin said during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee. "Based upon this, the $20 bill will now not come out until 2028. The $10 bill and the $50 bill will come out with new features beforehand." Tubman never waited for a man to affirm her. Tubman reveled in defying men, defying governments, defying slavery, defying Confederate armies and slave catchers who put a $40,000 bounty on her head. This black woman who stood 5 feet tall was utterly and completely fearless. "I had reasoned this out in my mind," Tubman once said, "there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other." Tubman was born Araminta Ross sometime between 1819 and 1823 on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where officials recently dedicated landscapes and waterways asthe Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Historic National Park. Tubman's maternal grandmother had arrived in this country via the Middle Passage on a slave ship. Tubman was enslaved by a man named Edward Broadess. When she was about 13, she refused to help a slave overseer capture a runaway. The overseer threw a two-pound lead weight at the runaway. The weight mistakenly hit Tubman in the head, splitting her skull, according to the Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center in Cambridge, Md. Tubman was unconscious two or three days and would continue to suffer chronic seizures the rest of her life. The injury caused sleeping spells or narcolepsy, which would cause her to drop into a deep sleep anywhere and at any time of day. Broadess tried to sell her as damaged property but failed. He tried again when Tubman was 26. She prayed that God would kill him. A week later, he was dead. In 1844, she married John Tubman, a free black man. She changed her first name to Harriet - which was her mother's name - and took her husband's last name, Tubman. In 1849, worried that she and others would be sold to another plantation, Tubman decided to escape. She could not convince her husband to leave with her. So she escaped with two of her brothers - Ben and Henry - from Poplar Neck Plantation. But soon, Ben and Henry became frightened and turned back, according to the Tubman museum. Harriet continued her journey, traveling by foot 90 miles, crossing Delaware and arriving in Pennsylvania. "I had crossed the line," she would say later. "I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land." In Philadelphia, she worked as a household servant and saved up enough money to return to the South to help others escape. In 1850, Tubman returned to Maryland for her niece and niece's husband. A year later, in 1851, she returned for her husband, but he had taken another wife. Despite danger and laws carrying severe penalties for helping enslaved people escape, Tubman kept returning. According to an 1849 Maryland law, assisting or encouraging an enslaved person to escape carried penalties of imprisonment, threats to be sold further South and a punishment of "39 stripes with a whip." Slave owners issued huge rewards for Tubman's capture. By 1856, rewards for her added up to $40,000 - about $1 million in today's currency, according to the Tubman museum. Still, she kept coming back. She made at least 19 trips, freeing more than 300 enslaved people, guided by the North Star along the underground railroad. In 1854, she came back for her brothers. Three years later, in 1857, she returned for her mother and father and journeyed with them all the way into Canada. On her return trips, she would often sing, "Come down, Moses," a warning notice to those who wanted to escape, that she was ready to guide them. People called her the "Moses of her people." "I freed a thousand slaves," she once said. "I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves." She carried a pistol. "If anyone ever wanted to change his or her mind during the journey to freedom and return, Tubman pulled out a gun and said, 'You'll be free or die a slave!'" according to a Library of Congress account of her life. "Tubman knew that if anyone turned back, it would put her and other escaping slaves in danger of discovery, capture or even death." Historians still marvel at Tubman's brilliance in avoiding capture and her stealth. She often dressed like a man. Bounty hunters did not realize it was a woman helping people escape. Tubman once told a story about how on one of her return trips to Maryland, she passed one of her old owners walking down the same side of the street. He did not recognize her, and she did not flinch. During the Civil War, Tubman worked as a nurse, a cook and a spy for the Union. According to the book, "Harriet Tubman: Secret Agent," by Thomas Allen, Tubman worked as a spy for the Union and was connected to the abolitionist John Brown, who led the raid against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, which is now in West Virginia. When Brown was arrested, he was carrying papers that connected him to Tubman, whom he called "General Tubman." Brown referred to Tubman as "he" and "him." Allen wrote that Tubman was the only woman who led men into battle during the Civil War. Tubman persuaded formerly enslaved men to track Confederate camps and report on their movements. After the war, in 1866, Tubman was traveling with a "half-fare ticket" from Philadelphia to New York, when the conductor ordered her to move to the smoking car, according to the book, "Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero," by Kate Clifford Larson. Tubman refused to budge. "She explained that she was working for the government and was entitled to ride wherever she liked." The conductor yelled, "We don't carry niggers for half-fare," the book recounts. Then the conductor tried to pull her off the train. "But Tubman's legendary strength apparently outmatched him," Larson wrote. The conductor called for help and two other men pried her fingers loose from the car, broke her arm and threw her into the smoking car, "possibly breaking several of her ribs." "In 1863, she went with Colonel James Montgomery and about 150 black soldiers on a gunboat raid in South Carolina," according to the Library of Congress. "Because she had inside information from her scouts, the Union gunboats were able to surprise the Confederate rebels." They raided plantations in South Carolina and set fire to buildings, destroying bridges and freeing more slaves."At first when the Union Army came through and burned plantations, slaves hid in the woods," according to the Library of Congress. "But when they realized that the gunboats could take them behind Union lines to freedom, they came running from all directions, bringing as many of their belongings as they could carry. Tubman later said, 'I never saw such a sight.' " She called the conductor "a copperhead scoundrel, for which he choked her," Larson wrote. "She told him she didn't thank anybody to call her a colored person." She preferred to be called black or Negro. "She said she was as proud of being a black woman as he was of being white." On March 10, 1913, Tubman, died of pneumonia in Auburn, New York. She often said she never failed to deliver her passengers to freedom. "On my Underground Railroad," she said, "I [never] run my train off [the] track. I never lost a passenger." Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi declared recently that our nation faces a constitutional crisis. She may be right, but not for the reasons she claims. Congress near total abandonment of its core legislative responsibilities poses far more of a constitutional risk than does anything the Trump administration has done. Pelosi is not the first to claim we face an existential political crisis. Since the election of Donald Trump, Democrats have repeatedly insisted that our democracy is at risk at risk to Russian collusion, voter suppression, executive abuse of power, press bashing and indifference to the rule of law, just to name a few of the presidential offenses provoking The Resistance. But the trigger for Pelosis raising the red flag of constitutional crisis is none of these perceived offenses, rather it is the presidents alleged interference with Congress oversight responsibilities. From the founding it was never doubted that Congress has an implied power to investigate and oversee the work of the executive branch. In 1927 the Supreme Court affirmed that the power of inquiry with process to enforce it is an essential and appropriate auxiliary to the legislative function so long as the purpose is to obtain information in aid of the legislative function. Although many of the continuing and proposed investigations are founded more in deep hatred of Trump than in the pursuit of information relating to the legislative function, it is plausible that some of what might be learned could inform pending or future legislation. But if executive resistance to and obstruction of congressional oversight of the executive branch constitute a constitutional crisis, we have been in crisis mode for much of our history. Most presidents have sought to expand executive authority. Congress has usually responded with investigations and resistance in the name of preserving legislative powers and confining the executive to its constitutional role. President Abraham Lincoln ordered the procurement of warships and expansion of the Army without appropriation of funds by Congress. President Theodore Roosevelt declared his powers to be limited only by specific restrictions and prohibitions appearing in the Constitution or imposed by Congress under its constitutional powers, and he governed accordingly. President Woodrow Wilson created several new federal agencies without congressional authorization. President Franklin Roosevelt promised in his first inaugural address that in the event that Congress shall fail to (act) , and in the event that the national emergency is still critical, I shall not evade the clear course of duty that will then confront me. Like his namesake predecessor, FDR was true to his word, issuing 3,723 executive orders over his tenure. President Harry Truman ordered seizure of the nations steel mills during the Korean War without authorization. In the same spirit of an imperial presidency, President Barack Obama famously declared where they (Congress) wont act, I will. And he did, with over 600 executive orders during his two terms. Occasionally the steady expansion of presidential power and the coinciding erosion of congressional power have been overturned in the courts, as it was in the steel seizure case. Both Obama and Trump have had their executive ambitions thwarted by the courts. But over the last several decades the courts have been generally deferential to executive assertions of power. Meanwhile Congress has done little to assert and defend its own constitutional authorities. Notwithstanding that Article I of the Constitution vests all legislative powers in Congress and Article II vests only the executive power in the president, the executive branch sets public policy and effectively legislates through executive orders, administrative directives and regulation with little objection from Congress. Indeed the members of Congress appear to welcome freedom from the hard political choices inherent in the legislative process. If members of Congress are truly worried about executive abuses of power and presidential obstruction of their oversight function, they would do well to leave the evaluation of the Trump presidency and the vetting of President Trump to the voters and turn their attention to reasserting their constitutional authority to legislate and make public policy. Goodness knows there are ample problems for Congress to address. Oversight is important, but not nearly as important as restoring the constitutional separation of powers on which our liberties depend. Trump often warrants the disdain congressional Democrats hold for him, but they do a disservice to their constituents when they abandon their legislative responsibilities to endless investigations and unbridled resistance. James Huffman is dean emeritus at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Ore. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. North Korea's U.N. Ambassador Kim Song addresses attendees during a news conference at U.N. headquarters on May 21. AP North Korea's U.N. ambassador said Tuesday the Trump administration should consider the possible consequences that the recent U.S. seizure of a North Korean cargo ship could have on relations between the two countries and immediately return the vessel. Kim Song said at a news conference the ''outrageous act'' of seizing the ship was aimed at bringing maximum pressure on North Korea to make it ''kneel down.'' The vessel Wise Honest, North Korea's second largest cargo ship, was first detained in April 2018 by Indonesia while transporting a large amount of coal. The U.S. announced May 9 that it had seized the ship because it was carrying coal in violation of U.N. sanctions, a first-of-its kind enforcement action that came amid a tense moment in relations with North Korea. The ambassador said the seizure was an ''outright denial of the underlying spirit'' of the June 12, 2018, joint statement by President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit in Singapore ''which committed to establishing new bilateral relations.'' At the summit, Trump promised ''security guarantees'' to Pyongyang and Kim recommitted to the ''complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.'' A second high-stakes summit between the two leaders in February collapsed over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament. The United States has urged allies to maintain economic pressure on North Korea until it takes material steps toward relinquishing its nuclear weapons. The North Korean leader has since aired his displeasure with short-range missile tests apparently aimed at pressuring Washington and Seoul, and declared that the Trump administration has until the end of the year to come up with mutually acceptable terms for a deal to salvage the negotiations. Kim, the ambassador, told reporters that the ship seizure is the ''product of an extreme hostile policy of the United States against the DPRK,'' the initials of the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He accused the U.S. of violating international law and the 2004 U.N. Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property. Kim reiterated that he has asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take ''urgent measures'' to contribute to stability on the Korean peninsula, but refused to answer a question on what measures. The ambassador listened to about a dozen other questions, including the impact of the seizure of the ship on prospects for a third Kim-Trump summit and on relations between North Korea and South Korea, whether the ship was carrying contraband, the impact of U.S. and U.N. sanctions, and whether the North would apologize for the death of American student Otto Warmbier. Kim said he wouldn't answer questions not related to the seizure of the Wise Honest but then only repeated some points from his statement. He ended the news conference saying: ''We'll sharply watch the reaction of the United States.'' (AP) Job Title: Communication & Membership Officer Organization: Uganda Solar Energy Association (USEA) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda About US: Uganda Solar Energy Association (USEA) was started in 2016 with support from the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development. USEA is a private sector membership body whose role is to enable growth of the off-grid solar energy sector through coordination, information sharing, building capacity of its members and carrying out joint advocacy. USEA has a membership of more than 130 member companies. As one of the ways of supporting the implementation of the Rural Electrification Strategy Plan (RESP 2013-2022), ERT 3 project, through PSFU, is supporting the development of USEAs strategic framework and establishment of institutional systems. The objective of the support is to nurture USEA into a: Financially self-sustaining, strong advocacy body able to influence the formation of favorable policies for the sector One-stop center for information on solar PV, and Promoter of quality products and service delivery to end users Effective representative of its members on issues of government policy. Job Summary: The Communication & Membership Officer will support the USEA Chief Executive Officer in the broader operation and management of the USEA Secretariat to ensure successful implementation of USEAs activities. Specifically, the Communications & Membership Officer will be responsible for (i) creating awareness and communicating the organizations mandate to all stakeholders and (ii) implementing member recruitment and retention activities. The Communication and Membership (C & M) Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing a communication strategy some of which aspects will include (i) awareness creation and visibility for USEA (ii) media relations (iii) digital communications/social media (iv) USEA branding and communications (v) Managing events. Key Duties and Responsibilities: strategy; Development and implementation of a membership growth and retentionstrategy; members businesses; Identification and packaging membership services aimed at improvingmembers businesses; other stakeholders ensuring that it is regularly updated with correct information; Maintenance of a clear and correct database of USEAs membership andother stakeholders ensuring that it is regularly updated with correctinformation; responsive to members and other stakeholder requirements; Creation and management of a client relationship system that isresponsive to members and other stakeholder requirements; capacity building partnerships; Arrangement of stakeholder meetings to identify business andcapacity building partnerships; Carrying out annual member satisfaction survey and needs assessment; members, including interactive sessions, social meetings/events; Development and implementation of a program of activities formembers, including interactive sessions, social meetings/events; Qualifications, Skills and Experience: social work, journalism, public relations, ICT or a related field. A Masters Degree in communications will be an added advantage. The ideal candidate must hold a Bachelors Degree in communications,social work, journalism, public relations, ICT or a related field. AMasters Degree in communications will be an added advantage. Candidate should be able to work independently with minimum supervision and guidance from supervisors. Demonstrated and extensive social media experience is an added advantage. At least five years of similar work experience is required.Candidate should be able to work independently with minimum supervisionand guidance from supervisors. Demonstrated and extensive social mediaexperience is an added advantage. proficiency in English are required. Knowledge of other languages/dialects is an asset. Excellent written and oral English communication skills andproficiency in English are required. Knowledge of other languages/dialectsis an asset. PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe, CRMs and Publisher). He/she should have advanced working knowledge of MS Office (Word,PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe, CRMs and Publisher). Adobe Photoshop and PageMaker are an added advantage. Candidates with basic design and layout skills and adept in usingAdobe Photoshop and PageMaker are an added advantage. advantage. Demonstrated and extensive social media experience is an addedadvantage. How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested persons should submit their application. CV and academic certificates in a sealed envelope clearly marked Communication and membership Officer for USEA Proc. Ref. No. PSFU/BUDS- ERT/CONS/2018-19/ 00007 addressed to; The Executive Director Private Sector Foundation Uganda 43 Nakasero Hill Road Kampala Uganda Deadline: 4th June, 2019 by 11:00am For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Job Title: Accounts Assistant Organization: Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) Duty Station: Hoima, Uganda Reference Number: HO/002/2019 About US: The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) is the Leader of Government Business in Parliament and responsible for the coordination and implementation of Government Policies across Ministries, Departments and other Public Institutions. Key Duties and Responsibilities: invoices, accounts payable and receivable. Responsible for processing financial records such as bills,invoices, accounts payable and receivable. vouchers and expense forms; Responsible for basic book keeping activities, preparing paymentvouchers and expense forms; Receive and receipt cash for project activities Pay out cash Reconcile the cash balances in the cash book on a daily basis. Keep value documents. claims, and vendor payments; Preparation of payment vouchers for all fund requests, advances,claims, and vendor payments; transactions; Ensure accurate coding and proper filing of all financialtransactions; accounting software; Post entries in the relevant books of accounts using computerizedaccounting software; Reconciliation of bank statements on monthly basis; Reconciliation of vendors statements of accounts on monthly basis; activities; Receive and receipt cash from funding partner(s) and projectactivities; Performance of daily reconciliation of cash balances with cash book; Prepare monthly management reports; Any other duty assigned by from time to time Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Administration or Commerce with accounting option from a recognised University. A post graduate diploma or professional Accounting courses is an added advantage. Applicant should be a holder of an honours degree in BusinessAdministration or Commerce with accounting option from a recognisedUniversity. A post graduate diploma or professional Accounting courses isan added advantage. At least two years of related work experience Age: 23 45 years How to Apply: Applications are invited from qualified Ugandan Nationals to fill the under listed vacant positions available at Arua Refugee Desk, Adjumani Refugee Desk, Hoima Refugee Desk, Mbarara Refugee Desk and Kampala Refugees Department Head Office. Handwritten application letters be addressed to the Permanent Secretary Office of the Prime Minister, P.O. Box 341, Kampala. Uganda All application letters should include personal contact addresses e.g. phone contacts, e-mail addresses, and a recent passport photograph of the applicant and indicate three referees. The applicant should be a person of high moral character and integrity, willing to work in remote rural settlements. All applicants must quote the Reference Number of the post advertised (Check top of the advert), indicate the reference number on the top left hand side corner of the application letters envelop, seal it and submit their application letters to the Human Resource Office, Open Registry 3rd Floor, Office of the Prime Minister. Deadline: 31st May 2019 by 5:00pm For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline Job Title: Warden Public Relations Organisation: Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda Reports to: Communications Manager About US: Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) is a semi-autonomous agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities. UWA was established in 1996 and is managed in accordance with the Wildlife Act Cap 200. The Mission of UWA is: To Conserve and Sustainably Manage the Wildlife and Protected Areas of Uganda in Partnership with Neighboring Communities and Other Stakeholders for the Benefit of the People of Uganda and the Global Community. Job Summary: The Warden Public Relations will provide support in the implementation of Communication and Public Relations Policy to enhance the corporate image and credibility of UWA Key Duties and Responsibilities: platforms and ensure that they are kept up to date with information. Work with Communications Manager to manage all UWA Social Mediaplatforms and ensure that they are kept up to date with information. requests and queries. Provide interactive platforms and handle all online informationrequests and queries. Work with Communications Manager to ensure coverage of all events. newsletters, banners and other graphic information) for disseminating information to the public. Initiate and design periodic and regular publications (flyers,newsletters, banners and other graphic information) for disseminatinginformation to the public. information dissemination to all stakeholders (internal and external). Identify various technologies that could be adopted to improveinformation dissemination to all stakeholders (internal and external). content. Handle any customer inquiries and complaints concerning onlinecontent. suggest content optimization. Monitor Search Engine Optimization(SEO) and user engagement andsuggest content optimization. media to create a strong network. Communicate with industry professionals and influencers via socialmedia to create a strong network. Assist in the attainment of organization social media targets. Initiate and implement social media campaigns. Prepare quarterly work plans, performance and other reports. Supervisor and/or management. Perform any other official duties as maybe assigned by theSupervisor and/or management. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: Public Relations career opportunity must hold an Honors Bachelors Degree in either; Public Relations, Journalism, Mass communication, English and Creative Writing or Social Sciences with Literature in English as one of the subjects from a reputable University or Institution. The ideal candidate for the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) WardenPublic Relations career opportunity must hold an Honors Bachelors Degreein either; Public Relations, Journalism, Mass communication, English andCreative Writing or Social Sciences with Literature in English as one ofthe subjects from a reputable University or Institution. which should have been in electronic and social medial management from a reputable organization. A minimum of three years of relevant working experience, one (1) ofwhich should have been in electronic and social medial management from areputable organization. Strong website and social media management skills Crisis management skills Strong publishing skills and communication skills High level of creativity Ability to generate content Self driven with exceptional team player Excellent interpersonal and analytical skills Ability to multitask. Age Limit: 40 years Below40 years How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested candidates should send their dully completed Job Application Form in triplicate, download here, each with a detailed Curriculum Vitae bearing contacts of three (3) competent Referees, a daytime telephone contact, copies of Academic Documents and relevant Appointment letters to any of the address below: The Executive Director, Uganda Wildlife Authority, Plot 7 Kira Road, Kamwokya, P.O. Box 3530 Kampala Email to: hr-recruit@ugandawildlife.org NB: attach CERTIFIED copies of the required academic documents only e.g. Degree, Transcript, Diploma, A level and O level certificates. Applicants are required to scan andattach CERTIFIED copies of the required academic documents only e.g.Degree, Transcript, Diploma, A level and O level certificates. candidates will be vetted and background checks conducted before they are considered for appointment into the Authority. Academic documents for the successfulcandidates will be vetted and background checks conducted before they areconsidered for appointment into the Authority. Deadline: 7th June 2019 For more of the latest jobs, please visit https://www.theugandanjobline.com or find us on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UgandanJobline U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pose during a summit at the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi in the Vietnamese capital on Feb. 28. Both sides failed to reach any consensus during their second meeting. / Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung South Korea was apparently aware of the existence of five nuclear sites in North Korea after being informed of them by U.S. intelligence authorities, sources from the National Assembly said Wednesday. The exact number of the North's nuclear facilities was disclosed publicly when U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he demanded the closure of "five nuclear sites" during a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Hanoi last February. The South Korean government refused to immediately confirm this, prompting concerns here about a possible rift in the alliance between Seoul and Washington. Some conservative lawmakers claimed the U.S. is bypassing South Korea in sharing key information about North Korea. However, members of the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee said the South's National Intelligence Service (NIS) was already aware of the North's five nuclear sites Trump mentioned. "[Intelligence authorities from] Seoul and Washington are sharing information on the North's nuclear facilities," a committee member said. The government has refused to disclose details over the five sites, as it believes it is inappropriate for Seoul to make comments on the dialogue agenda between Trump and Kim, sources said. On Tuesday, Cheong Wa Dae said it was paying sharp attention to the North's security situation. "It is not proper for us to confirm such an exchange made during the meeting between leaders from the U.S. and the North," a spokesperson from the presidential house said. Trump made the recent remark during a local media interview when he said that during the Hanoi summit Kim only wanted to dismantle one or two nuclear sites. "When I left Vietnam where we had the summit, I said to Chairman Kim, and I think very importantly I said you are not ready for a deal because he wanted to get rid of one or two sites," Trump said. "But he has five sites. I said what about the other three sites. That is no good." But Trump did not share additional details, such as the location of the sites. This was the first time the U.S. mentioned the specific number of the North's nuclear facilities. With the breakdown of the Hanoi summit, Washington and Pyongyang have since failed to resume their talks on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Some argue the Trump administration is seeking to shift the responsibility of the stalemated talks onto the North by making such remarks. North Korea has yet to release any statements over Trump's recent remark, but continues to ramp up criticism of the U.S. for maintaining tight sanctions on Pyongyang. Starting this month, the North resumed its missile tests in an apparent show of force and discontent over the deadlocked dialogue with Washington. MARGARET WEEDEN, Chariho, Girls Track, Senior; Weeden won two events for the Chargers in the first meet of the season. Weeden was first in the high jump (5-0) and the long jump 15-1. ANNE DRAGO, Stonington, Girls Basketball, Senior; Drago scored 39 points in three games as Stonington started the season 1-2. Drago had 16 in a loss to Fitch, 12 in a win against Griswold and 11 in a defeat to Ledyard. SYDNEY HAIK, Westerly, Girls Basketball, Sophomore; Haik scored 14 points as the Bulldogs opened the season with a victory over Cumberland. Haik had three 3-pointers, five assists and five steals. ZANE BREWER, Wheeler, Boys Basketball, Freshman; Brewer scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds in the Lions season-opening win over Grasso Tech. Brewer followed that with 18 points and five rebounds in a loss to Hale-Ray. Vote View Results Mobile phone firm EE will switch on the UK's first ultra-fast 5G network next week beating rival Vodafone by days. Customers in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast will be able to access the service from Thursday, May 30 using 5G-capable handsets. This is ahead of Vodafone, which will launch in seven cities from July 3. BT-owned EE said it will give another ten cities access by the end of the year, with the total coverage rising to 50 towns and cities in 2020. Customers in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast will be able to access the service from Thursday, May 30 using 5G-capable handsets It will mean the UK is at the forefront of a global revolution in mobile technology, BT consumer boss Marc Allera said. However, he also revealed mobiles made by Chinese firm Huawei had been dropped from the launch plans over concerns about American trade sanctions. 5G networks, standing for 'fifth generation', will provide download speeds up to 40 times faster than current 4G services, meaning high-definition videos can be streamed with ease and large digital files rapidly downloaded. Users will be able to watch films without waiting for them to load, and play high-end video games. It could also open the door for a huge range of uses, such as surgery performed using a robot by a doctor thousands of miles away. EE will offer its first 5G-capable handsets on payment plans starting at 54 per month, while packages without a SIM card will start at 32 per month. Allera said the technology was first being deployed in the busiest areas of the UK where capacity is most under strain, including public spaces such as busy high streets and stadiums. He said: 'Our networks are getting busier, meaning they can slow down in congested areas where you need it most. 5G will be like getting a seat on a packed train, or a lane of the motorway all to yourself.' Allera said he expected 5G to spark fresh innovation, after 3G and 4G services led to the widespread use of apps such as taxi firm Uber, takeaway company Deliveroo and TV viewer Netflix.He added: 'Some people will ask, 'Do I need 5G?' 'But they said the same thing about 4G, and look at how much has changed about the way people live their lives since then. '4G sparked a huge shift. Uber, Netflix, Deliveroo, YouTube, the iPlayer none of these services would exist in the way they do today without a fast, reliable connection.' He said the decision to launch before rivals was part of an ambition set out by the new BT group boss, Philip Jansen, for it to become a national champion. This is because 5G is expected to underpin new technologies, such as driverless cars, and run critical infrastructure, such as traffic systems. However, experts say the enormous potential means it could be dangerous in the wrong hands. There are concerns about China's Huawei, the world's biggest telecoms company, which is a major supplier of equipment to western mobile operators. Critics say Huawei is an arm of the Chinese state and its kit is a spying risk. The US has been strident, pressuring allies, including the UK, to boycott Huawei and to exclude it from 5G networks. EE uses Huawei equipment in its network but is phasing it out from the most sensitive parts, known as the 'core'. However the row ramped up last week when Washington blacklisted the Chinese company effectively banning American firms from working with it. That prevented Google from continuing to provide its Android software to Huawei, used on its smartphones. Allera said the issue had prompted EE to 'pause' plans to sell Huawei 5G phones until it could be sure the handsets would work properly. EAGAN, Minn., May 22, 2018 Businesses around the world are struggling to comply with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) one year after it went into effect, according to a new survey by Thomson Reuters. The GDPR represents the most significant change in data privacy regulation in decades. But one year after it took effect on May 25, 2018, businesses are experiencing increasing difficulties in meeting its requirements and those of other data privacy laws and regulations. Thomson Reuters surveyed data privacy professionals at global businesses and other organizations in nine countries in 2017 and again in December 2018 before and after GDPR went into effect. GDPR +1 Year: Business Struggles with Data Privacy Regulations Increasing found that difficulties meeting global data privacy requirements have increased since GDPR took effect: More businesses globally are failing to meet regulatory requirements. Half of businesses are having difficulty keeping up with fast-changing data privacy regulations. Many businesses have found GDPR compliance more difficult than expected. A whopping 79 percent of global businesses surveyed say that they are either failing to meet regulatory requirements, or having trouble keeping up to date, or both, even after nearly one year under GDPR. This compares with 72 percent prior to GDPR going into effect. Businesses in Australia were most likely to say they are failing to meet data privacy requirements, whether involving GDPR or other laws and regulations around the world. Businesses in the United States were most likely to say they are having difficulty keeping up to date or are falling further behind. According to the experts at Thomson Reuters Data Privacy Advisor, several other countries have adopted new data privacy laws, regulations, or guidance in the wake of GDPR, including Brazil, Peru, Bahrain, and Israel. Various bills have been introduced in Congress to expand U.S. data privacy laws, with more comprehensive solutions under discussion. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which establishes strict new data privacy requirements, is set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2020. The survey found that 81 percent of businesses worldwide are aware of CCPA, but barely half (57 percent) consider themselves knowledgeable about it. Data privacy laws and regulations are growing every day, and businesses are finding it increasingly difficult to comply and keep up with these fast-changing requirements, said Emily Colbert, vice president of Practical Law, Thomson Reuters. The requirements are often complex, vary significantly by country and region, and can carry significant penalties for non-compliance. Our survey found that many businesses say they are in danger of falling further behind as these regulations expand around the globe, potentially putting their companies at risk of sanctions. Our customers are telling us that as these laws and regulations spread, they need more adaptive automated tools and practical guidance to avoid being buried in the flood of new mandates, continued Colbert. Were working closely with them to provide the resources they need to understand and meet their obligations as the laws and regulations continue to evolve. GDPR +1 Year: Business Struggles with Data Privacy Regulations Increasing can be downloaded here: http://ask.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.info/GDPR1YearBusinessStrugglesReport Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is the worlds leading provider of news and information-based tools to professionals. Our worldwide network of journalists and specialist editors keep customers up to speed on global developments, with a particular focus on legal, regulatory and tax changes. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. For more information on Thomson Reuters, visit tr.com and for the latest world news, reuters.com. CONTACT Scott Augustin Thomson Reuters 651-848-5793 scott.augustin@thomsonreuters.com American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. iShares S&P 500 Value ETF's stock was trading at $104.96 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, IVE stock has increased by 48.6% and is now trading at $156.00. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Vanguard Real Estate ETF's stock was trading at $81.34 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 (Coronavirus) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, VNQ shares have increased by 40.2% and is now trading at $114.00. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Korea has made the European Union's (EU) drug whitelist, which is expected to boost the country's medical exports. Korea Times file By Bahk Eun-ji There are expectations that exports of pharmaceutical ingredients will grow after Korea was recently added to the European Union's drug whitelist. Industry watchers welcomed the listing but also say pharmaceutical companies here must face up to the additional pressure to improve the quality of medicine and quality-control environment to more appeal to European customers. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said Wednesday that Korea has become the seventh outside country to be whitelisted following approval by the European Council, meaning Korea's medicine-related manufacturing and supervision standards are at the same level as those of the EU. The other six countries on the whitelist are Switzerland, Australia, the United States, Japan, Israel and Brazil. Food and Drug Safety Minister Lee Eui-kyung The ministry expects this will boost the country's exports of pharmaceutical products as the recognition will save up to four months in the shipment process. For example, Korean companies will be exempted from some of the paperwork when they export products and ingredients to EU countries. "The EU has strict production and quality rules, such as good manufacturing practice (GMP) in drug manufacturing. Korean companies do not have to submit such written confirmation, as the approval means our quality control standards are equal not only to European countries, but also those of the U.S. and Japan," said Choi Hee-jung, a deputy director at the ministry's Pharmaceutical Quality Division. "This will be a great opportunity especially for the nation's generic medicine and raw material manufacturers, as demand has increased in Europe for generic treatments due to cost reduction requirements." The EU is the second-biggest drug market after the U.S., and exports there accounted for 31 percent of Korea's total drug shipments in 2018. The value of exports was $1.4 billion, and of this, shipments of raw materials accounted for $412 million, according to the Korea Pharmaceutical Traders Association. The ministry expects this recognition will be a huge leap for Korea's drug industry in entering the European market, five years after the country became a member of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S), the international authority determines legal standards for the GMP. After acceptance to the PIC/S, the country's total drug exports increased from $2.4 billion in 2014 to $3.1 billion in 2016 and $4.6 billion in 2018. Drugs /gettyimagesbank From second from left in the front row, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) Senior Vice President Marianne Thellersen, Danish Ambassador to Korea Thomas Lehmann, KAIST President Shin Sung-chul and Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik pose with other participants during an award ceremony for the KAIST-DTU P4G Innovation Sprint contest at KAIST College of Business in Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Yi Whan-woo Schenectady State lawyers want a judge to order a financial probe into the troubled St. Clare's hospital pension fund before officials responsible for managing the fund can get court approval to legally disappear. Last month, the state Attorney General's office told a state Supreme Court judge that the state opposes an effort by St. Clare's Corp., which ran the pension for nearly a decade after the hospital merged with Ellis Hospital, to legally dissolve itself. In February, more than 1,100 former workers at St. Clare's got a 30 percent pension cut or lost their pension completely, depending on when they retired. There is a key question the state wants answered: How did the corporation manage $28.5 million provided by the state in 2010 as part of the merger, which St. Clare's officials said at the time was enough to sustain pensions for workers' lifetimes? James Sheehan, chief of the AG's Charities Bureau, wrote that corporate officials have "failed and refused to provide any documentation requested by the Attorney General concerning the financial status of the corporation or its pension plan, or the conduct of the directors in managing the corporation or the pension plan," according to an April 30 petition filed with Justice Vincent Versaci. Sheehan wrote that the petition filed by the corporation seeking court permission to legally dissolve was "insufficient" because it lacked financial data, including a statement of expenses, liabilities, a balance sheet or an income statement. "Very interesting. Personally, I would welcome an investigation," said David Pratt, a labor law professor at Albany Law School who has been helping some of the former hospital workers after they learned of their pension troubles. This spring, corporation officials said the pension fund was more than $53 million short of what is needed and would run out of money in just a few years if pensions were not slashed or eliminated. St. Clare's Corp. President Joe Pofit has blamed pension woes on the recession that started in 2008 and left the fund too cash-starved to recover as the recession receded. Founded in Schenectady by Catholic priests and Franciscans in 1949, St. Clare's from its beginning has been linked to the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese. Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, like other bishops before him, also served on the hospital's board of directors. Scharfenberger is also a member of the St. Clare's Corp. The diocese did not provide a comment for this story. In the petition, Sheehan asked the judge to order the corporation to hand over financial and pension records since 2009 to the Attorney General. He also wrote that the corporation had never filed annual updates with the Charities Bureau on its finances or the performance of the pension fund. Sheehan also asked the judge to order that corporate officials appear for interviews under oath by state lawyers. Interviews are also wanted with any pension actuary who provided reports to the corporation on the condition of the fund since 2009, as well as with corporate auditors and tax return preparers. Sen. James Tedisco and Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara have introduced a proposed law to prevent the corporation from dissolving before a financial investigation into the fund's collapse can be done. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. St. Clare's pensioners "deserve justice and answers as to what happened to their pensions," said Tedisco. His bill was passed by the Senate Corporations Committee on Monday. "It's important that this legislation pass as a fail-safe in case the Attorney's General's efforts to investigate the pension fund are stymied," he said. Pension projections provided to the state in 2008 by St. Clare's that formed the basis of the state support proved to be wildly inaccurate. By 2019, the projections showed the fund would have a peak balance of nearly $46 million, according to a copy of the 2008 merger agreement recently provided by the state Health Department to the Albany Times Union under a Freedom of Information Law request. Those projections indicated that the fund would have paid out about $26 million in benefits from 2008 to 2019, which would have been more than offset by more than $37 million in earnings on the fund's investments. But this spring, when the corporation decided to terminate the fund, it had a balance of just $30 million, a shortfall of $16 million from the projection made a decade earlier. According to the state agreement, these projected figures were provided to St. Clare's by the Philadelphia-based accounting firm of Smart Business Advisory and Consulting, which itself collapsed in 2011 after mismanaging its own debts. During the 1990s, officials at St. Clare's Hospital also sought and received federal approval for a religious exemption for its pension, which up to that point was federally insured as a private plan. The hospital then got a $90,000 refund for its previous premiums, but the plan was then left unprotected from fiscal calamity. By dropping the insurance, the fund was also exempted from government requirements that could have alerted former workers of financial under-performance. Albany While the movie "Avengers: End Game" recently kicked off the summer blockbuster season, one notable Albany theater will not be screening the newest flicks any time soon. For over a year, the upstart theater company looking to occupy the shuttered Madison Theater and the Colonie-based realty group brokering the deal have repeatedly pushed back the opening date for the iconic theater with little explanation. The Madison theater was purchased for $525,000 in April 2018 by Colonie-based Trinity Realty Group from Tierra Farm, the Columbia County fruit-and-nut wholesaler that had owned the Madison and its adjoining coffee shop since 2013. Cosmic Cinemas, founded by Terrell Braly, a former CEO of Alamo Drafthouse, plans to occupy the Madison and offer food and alcoholic beverages to moviegoers at their seats. The company opened a location at Fairview Plaza in Hudson late last year after planning to open it five months earlier. Kevin Parisi, a TRG co-founder and real estate broker, negotiated the deal to lease the Madison and the Fairview Plaza theaters to Cosmic, and is also leasing the coffee shop space to Tierra. But the deal was negotiated in conjunction with Tierra under the agreement the two businesses would open at or near the same time and symbiotically boost each other's performance. Tierra opened Skyline coffee shop in early March after a minor dispute with the City of Albany delayed its opening date. More for you Tierra Coffee shop to open Monday; Madison Theater re-opening date unclear "Prior to our agreement and execution of this lease Tierra Farm and its management were advised that a new movie theater, operating under the trade name Cosmic Cinemas, would be opening adjacent to our leased space and would be opening by the end of 2018," read a May 8 letter Tierra CEO Todd Kletter sent to Parisi. "As I have come to understand the theater is still under renovation and there is not a definitive date as to when Cosmic will be operational," the letter read. Kletter's letter said the coffee shop's sales and foot traffic are "significantly less than anticipated and can be directly attributed to the non-operational theater and the unkempt nature of the entire property." Parisi has not responded to multiple requests for comment dating back to last September, when the Times Union began inquiring into the theater's prolonged renovation. Kletter said he has been in contact with Parisi, but has been "disappointed in his general response." Pine Hills residents have for months questioned when the project would be complete, and Albany Common Council member Owusu Anane said he's also reached out to developers with no luck in getting a response. "Everyone is waiting and wondering," Anane said. "So many neighbors have stopped me on the street, called and emailed me about the timing. I am ready and willing to assist to ensure it's reopening, and I tried to get an update from the new owners but I haven't heard back from them. "The Madison Theater means so much to the fabric of our neighborhood and we are all eager to see it open again," he said. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Virginia Hammer, president of the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association, said a reopened Madison would "attract people from all over the area" to the neighborhood. "The way they had described it, it sounded like a much different type of model than a regular theater, something that would appeal to lot of different kinds of people...that's the part that's really exciting," Hammer said. But she said that construction on the building appears to come in "fits and starts," and she hasn't seen much progress made lately. "We walk past there a lot, and we haven't seen really any activity," Hammer said. Parisi has been interviewed by the Albany Business Review multiple times since last September, when he first said the theater's opening would be "just a little bit delayed." He later said in a November Business Review story that he was hopeful the theater would re-open in early December. Braly, Cosmic's CEO, told the Times Union in March of last year that he was shooting for a summer 2018 opening after a renovation and upgrades including digital projectors and rocker seats. But while Cosmic Cinemas currently holds a liquor license for its Hudson movie theater, it still holds no such license at the Madison Theater location, according to the New York State Liquor Authority a sign further delays are likely. "There are times that we are trying to understand and appreciate what's going on with the theater," Kletter said. "We signed a lease predicated on the fact that there would be an operating entity there." President of the World Coalition for Equity and Diversity in Education Francisco Rios poses during the congress held at Hoam Faculty House at Seoul National University, Seoul, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Kim Jae-heun By Kim Jae-heun Education has been largely developed and passed down in a way to consolidate the dominance of men and the rich, and in this changing era of globalization, education needs to embrace other parts of society and respect diversity, said Francisco Rios, a professor of Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University. Rios came to Korea to participate in the World Coalition for Equity and Diversity in Education's (WCEDE) first world congress being held at Hoam Faculty House at Seoul National University, Seoul, Wednesday. The coalition, established in July 2017, brings together three groups -- the Korean Association for Multicultural Education (KAME), the National Association for Multicultural Education from the United States, and the Institute to Advance International Education from Europe. The coalition aims to work toward advancing inclusive and cross-cultural education that is based on the principles of diversity, social justice, equity and human rights. In the congress, local and foreign experts in the field of multicultural education had discussions under the title of "Multicultural Education and Diversity: Desirable Social Change in the Era of Globalization." "We are at an early stage of our organization and we have a very ambitious agenda set ahead of us," Rios, president of the WCEDE, told The Korea Times. "We are talking about engaging in collaborative research and projects. We've been talking about how we can produce publications collaboratively and engage in international exchange. We also discuss ways to change public policies." According to Rios, the ultimate goal of his coalition is to perhaps disband the association because if the goal is reached, it means equity and justice will have been fully adopted by the education sector. However, he said it will take a long time. "Most education historically has been very exclusive and usually mostly for wealthy males. And those very early roots have created situations where many schools and universities have not shifted the way they teach to being inclusive of everyone. "Sometimes it's because of race, sometimes it's because of gender, sometimes it's because of sexual orientation and sometimes it's because of immigration status. We can go with many others. Ideally, if education was equitable, we would not need our organizations," Rios said. Concerning multicultural education in racially homogeneous nations like Korea, Rios advised addressing local contexts and building up from there. "Countries organize themselves. We always have to attend to the local context and start from there," Rios said. Twenty-five years after premiering "Pulp Fiction" in Cannes, Quentin Tarantino returned to the French film festival with a gentler fairy tale about 1960s Los Angeles. "Once Upon a Time In ... Hollywood" made its much-anticipated debut Tuesday in Cannes. The film's two stars, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, brought old-school Hollywood glamour to the Cannes red carpet. DiCaprio plays a Westerns actor anxious that his notoriety is slipping. Pitt plays his stunt double, friend and, because of a drunk driving offense, his driver. Though set against the backdrop of the Manson Family murders, much of Tarantino's film is invested in recapturing the radiance of a bygone Hollywood. "Once Upon a Time in ... Hollywood" is Tarantino's first movie not being released by Harvey Weinstein. After Tarantino cut ties with the disgraced mogul, Sony Pictures landed the film and gave it a $95 million budget a rare gamble on a high-priced original movie. Margot Robbie co-stars as Sharon Tate. Associated Press Tight gown causes Fanning to faint Elle Fanning says she fainted at a Cannes Film Festival dinner because her dress was too tight. The 21-year-old actress collapsed at the Chopard Trophee dinner on Monday evening. Fanning later posted a message with a thumbs-up photo on Instagram saying that she was "all good" despite what she called a fainting spell from her snug Prada gown. Fanning is on the jury in Cannes. Associated Press Oliver's eatery chain files for bankruptcy Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver's British restaurant chain filed for bankruptcy protection on Tuesday, partly due to increased competition and escalating rents. The insolvency put 1,300 jobs at risk and reignited worries about local retail and food outlets in Britain, which are struggling to attract customers. "I'm devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into administration," Oliver wrote on Twitter. "I would like to thank all of the staff and our suppliers who have put their hearts and souls into this business over the years." KPMG will oversee the process that affects 25 restaurants. Overseas branches of Jamie's Italian are not affected. Oliver said Jamie's Italian was launched in 2008. Associated Press Madonna's YouTube channel dusts up The Queen of Pop has cleaned up her act. After her much-panned performance in the Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Madonna's official YouTube channel released a noticeably touched-up version. Music critics and others said she auto-tuned her vocals to fix flaws in her live show. Fan-produced videos splicing her pitch-perfect version with the original have circulated widely. Many had complained she sang off-key while performing her classic hit, "Like a Prayer," and new single, "Future," from her forthcoming album "Madame X." Madonna's representatives did not respond to requests for comment. Canadian-Israeli billionaire Sylvan Adams paid $1 million to bring Madonna to Eurovision. Associated Press No prison time for Soules in fatal crash A judge will not consider requests from a dead farmer's relatives to impose prison time when she sentences "The Bachelor" star Chris Soules for leaving the scene of the accident that killed the man, she ruled Tuesday. The wife and sons of farmer Kenneth Mosher are not considered victims under Iowa law because Soules was not convicted of causing Mosher's death, Judge Andrea Dryer ruled. Therefore, it was inappropriate to include their "victim impact statements" in a presentence investigation report. Dryer ordered a new presentence investigation. Soules was driving a pickup truck that rear-ended Mosher's tractor near Aurora, Iowa on April 24, 2017. Mosher, 66, was killed after the tractor rolled into a ditch. Soules pleaded guilty to an aggravated misdemeanor for leaving the scene without providing his address and license plate number as required. Associated Press Evidence photos show some of the evidence, including more than half a million dollars in cash, that federal task force members retrieved from NXIVM President Nancy Salzman's residence on Oregon Trail in Halfmoon. FBI agents spent several hours combing through the house on March 27, 2018. They found more than $520,000 in cash stuffed in bags, envelopes and shoe boxes including one shoe box that held more than $390,000. NEW YORK Jurors at the federal trial of Keith Raniere listened to a recording Wednesday of the NXIVM leader instructing actress Allison Mack how women in their secret "slave/master" club should be physically branded with his initials without looking coerced. And they later listened to the judge instructing Raniere's lawyer to end his relentless cross-examination of emotionally distraught witness Lauren Salzman -- a former "master" in the club whom the judge called a "broken person." "OK - we're done. You're done. I said we're done. Sit down!" Senior U.S. District Court Judge Nicholas Garaufis told Raniere's attorney, Marc Agnifilo. "I had a crisis here," the judge said later, away from the jury. He said he did not want Salzman to have a nervous breakdown in court. The courtroom theatrics came as Salzman, 42, a former high-ranking NXIVM member, ended four days of testimony at Raniere's trial on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and forced labor. In an audiotape played Wednesday at Raniere's trial in U.S. District Court in Brooklyn, Raniere told Mack that before being branded, the women in their group should be held down -- fully naked -- with their hands held above their heads in positions similar to a ritual sacrifice. "And the person should ask to be branded, something like, 'Please brand me it would be an honor,'" Raniere said on the recording. "Something like that 'An honor I want to wear for the rest of my life.'" "OK," Mack replied. "And the person should probably say that before they're held down so it doesn't sound like they're being coerced," Raniere told Mack. "I don't know those are just thoughts." Raniere then told Mack, "I'm not just speaking to you, although I am speaking to you; I'm also speaking to others through you." He told Mack women in the group should embrace the pain of the branding, which was done with a cauterizing tool by an osteopath, Dr. Danielle Roberts, who had been associated with NXIVM. One woman had been described as screaming during the process. "Pain is how we know how much we love," Raniere said, telling Mack the human condition knows no better way to show the depth of one's love than to withstand pain. "Although my body may be burned or tortured or whatever, my love is strong." Raniere added, "You guys figure it out." The ceremony was for new members of a secret group known as Dominus Obsequious Sororium (DOS) which translates as "Lord/Master of the Obedient Female Companions." Members of the group were asked to pledge a lifetime of obedience to their masters, with Raniere at the top of the all-female organization. Salzman, one of many former lovers of Raniere in NXIVM's leadership, told assistant U.S. Attorney Tanya Hajjar that when she was branded as a member of DOS, she had to recite the same words Raniere suggested to Mack. Raniere, 58, known as "Vanguard," wanted the rituals videotaped because he believed the video would be appropriate "collateral" damaging information the women needed to supply about themselves to ensure they would never betray the society. The brand, which featured Raniere's initials, required at least seven painful strokes of the cauterizing tool. "Maybe each of the strokes has something that's said in them and maybe repeated after the stroke is done," Raniere told Mack, another member of DOS. "You guys come up with something." Mack told Raniere on the recording that before she was branded, someone whispered into her ear what she would say. She said she understood whatever would be done would not just involve her. "Do you really understand that?" Raniere asked Mack. He laughed and mocked her comment: "That would be a great narcissist's postcard: 'I thought that you were talking about me.'" Mack, 36, who starred on the television show "Smallville," was later arrested, became a co-defendant of Raniere's and pleaded guilty in April to racketeering, a few weeks after Salzman pleaded guilty. After reports about DOS and the branding emerged in 2017, Raniere initially denied any connection to the group. Also Wednesday, Hajjar played excerpts from a June 2016 conversation between Raniere and several "first-line masters" who answered directly to him, the "Grand Master" and "Supreme Master." Raniere mentioned lofty goals for DOS. "I imagine that we could change the presidential vote in the United States in four years," Raniere said, saying he wanted to recruit more "women of influence." Raniere spoke about how he wanted the branding process and a questionnaire for potential DOS members to be expedited. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "I think it should be done within days, not weeks," Raniere said. Referring to the questionnaire, Raniere said, "Don't make it an 'if' make it a 'how.'" One woman said she was concerned about whether a young woman was strong enough for DOS. "That's her problem," Raniere responded. One member expressed concerned about being able to fly immediately after the branding ceremony. "Planes blow up sometimes," Raniere said. Raniere told the women at another point in the recording: "I have a feeling you guys are not thinking about this is an organized directive fashion. You can rent my brain to do it but I would prefer you do it with your brain." Agnifilo began his cross-examination of Salzman late Wednesday morning, asking her questions about her role in confining a young Mexican woman to a room on Wilton Court in Halfmoon for nearly two years. Salzman broke down, expressing her remorse over it. Agnifilo incisive questioning brought Salzman to tears several more times as the afternoon continued. He downplayed elements of DOS. The lawyer's questions made it appear he sought to paint Salzman as a scorned lover with an agenda. He downplayed many aspects of DOS and noted the "collateral" was never released on any of the DOS members even after they left the group. Salzman disagreed the group was harmless, saying at one point, "It isn't true that nothing bad happened!" At the end of his cross-examination, Agnifilo pressed Salzman on whether she still loved Raniere, noting that she wanted to have a baby with him. He also recounted that Raniere slept with numerous other women and asked if she intended to commit crimes such as extortion, and suggesting no wrongdoing had been intentionally committed. "I was trying to prove my self-worth," Salzman said, crying. "I put it above everything else." Agnifilo's pointed questioning led the judge to cease the cross-examination. Hajjar had no more questions, ending Salzman's testimony. Agnifilo subsequently asked Garaufis why he cut off his line of questioning. The judge told him he went "way over the line" in pushing Salzman who, according to the judge, displayed a vulnerable emotional condition that concerned him. "I thought it was extremely excruciating," the judge said of the cross-examination. "I tried to cut off the line of questioning. You just went right back. ... This is not DOS. This is a broken person." TROY A man standing trial for killing one of two Troy roommates two years ago was characterized by a prosecutor Wednesday as the knife-wielding mastermind of the murder. But Assistant District Attorney Andrew Botts' portrayal of Luis Alfredo Monge Guevara at the opening of Guevara's murder trial conflicted with how the case was first laid out in court. He and three other men were accused of the October 2016 killings of Jaiver Gomez Bartolon and Cristian Gonzalez Hernandez. Guevara is accused of killing Bartolon. Murder charges filed against the other men in both killings fell apart when a judge repeatedly threw out indictments in the case. Two of the men pleaded guilty to lesser charges and are expected to testify against Guevara. Court documents filed over the past two and a half years portrayed another man, Cresencio "Chucho" Salazar, as the driving force behind Bartolon's robbery and death. Those documents characterized Salazar as the ringleader of the plan to steal money and drugs from Bartolon's apartment in Troy. Prosecutors could not make murder charges against Salazar withstand the scrutiny of a judge, and he never faced trial for either killing. Salazar eventually was handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation to Mexico. The victims and the four men police initially accused of killing them were all Mexican nationals. In court Wednesday, Botts described Guevara as the ringleader. "From the beginning of the crime, the defendant was part of it. He was commanding it," Botts told the jury. Bartolon was killed on Oct. 17, 2016, the day after the killing of Cristian Gonzalez Hernandez during a robbery in Colonie. Hernandez' body was dumped in Brunswick. Guevara, Salazar, Salomon Najera Hernandez and Magdaleno Perez Calixto were charged with that killing. Repeated attempts to indict them failed because then-District Attorney Joel E. Abelove office's could not come up with evidence to corroborate the statements the men gave police. Guevara's attorney, Jay Hernandez III, seized on the cooperation of Salomon Najera Hernandez and Calixto in the case to argue that jurors should be suspicious of anything they say. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. He urged jurors to remember the pair received reduced sentences in return for guilty pleas to lesser charges and an agreement to testify for the prosecution. Botts said Salazar and Guevara were left in the apartment alone with Bartolon. The assistant district attorney said Guevara stabbed his victim in the heart, lungs and liver, and Salazar smashed his skull 20 times with a hammer. Guevara's attorney told the jury no fingerprints tied Guevara to the knife and hammer that were found in a trash bin outside Calixtos apartment. Bloody shoes were found in the trash bin, too. The defendant faces two counts of second-degree murder and one count of second-degree burglary. State Supreme Court Justice Andrew Ceresia is presiding over what is expected to be a two-week trial. State Police say they need the public's help finding a woman who allegedly stole more than 100 cases of beer from a supermarket chain. Andrea Whitney, 36, is wanted by State Police in Middletown on a charge of grand larceny that accuses her of stealing 150 cases of beer from several local ShopRite stores. Troopers said after stealing the beer she would sell it to other stores for $10 a case. Troopers said she is wanted in both Middletown and Wallkill. Eric J. Sisto, 27, is wanted by State Police in Massena on charges of reckless endangerment as well as vehicle and traffic charges. The charges stem from a March 7, 2013, police chase in Massena. Troopers said Sisto rammed his car into a State Police patrol car and a St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Police patrol vehicle. Trooper said a pregnant woman and a child were in the car at the time of the confrontation. Sisto was last known to be living in Snye in the province of Quebec, troopers said. Tatiana G. Quarles, 24, is wanted by State Police in Greene on a misdemeanor drug charge that stems from a July 2018 arrest. Troopers said she was a passenger in a car police stopped and was caught with methamphetamine. Adam D. Bienkowski, 37, is wanted by State Police in Oneida on a charge of criminal possession of a weapon. Troopers said Bienkowski was caught with a 3-inch dagger. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Ruben Stella, 25, is wanted by State Police in Poughkeepsie on charges of criminal contempt and assaults. Troopers said the warrant stems from a May 6 attack at a home in Millbrook. Stella fled after breaking the victim's nose, troopers said. James Joseph, 43, is wanted by State Police in Syracuse on a charge of driving while intoxicated. The warrant stems from a Dec. 12, 2010 traffic stop on the Thruway. [May 22, 2019] Ameresco Partners with Wake County Public School System for Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC), a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, today announced the partnership with the largest school district in North Carolina, Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) for a Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract. The $6.7M project will include ten individual energy conservation measures (ECMs) in twelve different school facilities. "Our partnership with Ameresco will result in updated facilities while providing improved learning environments for our students and teachers," said WCPSS Superintendent Cathy Moore. "We are pleased to have this opportunity." Funded through energy and operational cost savings, the project is expected to save WCPSS more than $690,000 annually over the 15-year contract term. Project ECMs include LED lighting system improvements, domestic water conversion, Building Automation System (BAS) upgrades, Variable Air Volume (VAV) air handling unit upgrades, boiler system replacement, pumping system upgrades, cooling tower Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs), demand control ventilation upgrades and air handling unit replacements. At completion the project is expected to reduce WCPSS energy usae by 7,209,000 kWh annually. "We are delighted to partner with the Wake County Public School System in support of their commitment to energy conservation while redirecting funds for much needed upgrades and the modernization of facilities," said David J. Anderson, Executive Vice President and Director of Ameresco. "In addition to a more energy- and cost-efficient operation, the district will benefit from improved classroom and teaching environments." Ameresco's services for the contract include project development engineering, ESPC project modeling, ECM detailed design and engineering, project construction management, equipment and systems start-up and commissioning, post-construction monitoring, energy rebate application management, energy savings measurement and verification, and training of School staff on all installed equipment and systems. About Wake County Public School System The Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is a public-school district located in Wake County, North Carolina. With more than 160,000 students enrolled in 187 schools as of the 2018-2019 school year, it is the largest public-school district in North Carolina and the 15th largest district in the United States. For more information visit https://www.wcpss.net/. About Ameresco, Inc. Founded in 2000, Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC) is a leading independent provider of comprehensive services, energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe. Ameresco's sustainability services include upgrades to a facility's energy infrastructure and the development, construction and operation of renewable energy plants. Ameresco has successfully completed energy saving, environmentally responsible projects with Federal, state and local governments, healthcare and educational institutions, housing authorities, and commercial and industrial customers. With its corporate headquarters in Framingham, MA, Ameresco has more than 1,000 employees providing local expertise in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ameresco.com. The announcement of a customer's entry into a project contract is not necessarily indicative of the timing or amount of revenue from such contract, of the company's overall revenue for any particular period or of trends in the company's overall project backlog. This project was included in our previously reported contracted backlog as of March 31, 2019. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005089/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Canada takes next step to bring abandoned waste back from the Philippines OTTAWA, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Canada values its deep and longstanding relationship with the Philippines and continues to work with that country to ensure a swift resolution to this important issue of promptly repatriating waste exported to the Philippines by a Canadian company. The Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced that the Government of Canada awarded a contract to Bollore Logistics Canada to safely bring the waste back to Canada as soon as possible. The company will begin preparation for shipping in the coming days. The removal will be complete by the end of June, as the waste must be safely treated to meet Canadian safety and health requirements. The safe and environmentally sound disposal in Canada of the waste material will take place before the end of summer 2019. The costs associated with the preparation, transfer, shipment, and disposal of the waste will be assumed by the Government of Canada. In 2016, Canada amended its regulations to prevent future exports of such material without a permit. Canada is also looking at ways to hold the responsible parties to account. The Government of Canada maintains ongoing discussions with the Government of the Philippines to ensure a positive outcome to this issue in a timely fashion. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, spoke to her counterpart Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Teodoro Locsin, last week to reiterate Canada's firm commitment to promptly repatriate the waste to Canada. Quotes "Canada values its deep and longstanding relationship with the Philippines andhas been working closely with Filipino authorities to find a solution that is mutually acceptable. Canada is pleased to announce that it has awarded a contract to bring the waste back promptly and to ensure its safe and environmentally sound disposal. Canada has amended its regulations to prevent this from happening again and is looking at ways to hold the responsible parties to account." Catherine McKenna , Minister of Environment and Climate Change "Canada and the Philippines have a deep and valued relationship underpinned by the hundreds of thousands of Canadians of Filipino descent. The Filipino-Canadian community has made huge contributions to Canada. As I mentioned to their Foreign Secretary last week, we are committed to resolving this issue as quickly as possible. Today is an essential step forward in accomplishing that." - Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs Quick Facts In 2013 and 2014, a Canadian company, Chronic Inc., exported containers labelled as recyclable plastics to two importers in the Philippines ; the shipment contained a mixture of plastics, metals, and paper, as well as household waste. ; the shipment contained a mixture of plastics, metals, and paper, as well as household waste. While the export of such material was allowed under Canadian regulations at the time, the import of mixed plastics and household waste is prohibited under Philippines regulations. regulations. In 2016, courts in the Philippines ordered the importers to ship the containers back to Canada at their expense; the importers did not comply with the court order. ordered the importers to ship the containers back to at their expense; the importers did not comply with the court order. Recently, Canada and the Philippines established a joint technical working group to examine options for managing the waste; officials from both countries had a successful meeting in March in Ottawa . and established a joint technical working group to examine options for managing the waste; officials from both countries had a successful meeting in March in . On May 10, 2019 , the Government of Canada issued a request for proposals to bring the waste back to Canada . , the Government of issued a request for proposals to bring the waste back to . Following the competitive process, a contract was awarded to Bollore Logistics Canada. Preparation and transportation from the Philippines , and handling and disposal of the waste material in Canada , will be carried out in accordance with Canadian requirements, including those of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's International Waste Directive. , and handling and disposal of the waste material in , will be carried out in accordance with Canadian requirements, including those of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's International Waste Directive. To prevent future exports of such material, Canada amended the Export and Import of Hazardous Waste and Hazardous Recyclable Material Regulations in 2016. The amendments now apply to waste that is controlled or prohibited in the country of import; consequently, the shipment sent to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014 would be prohibited today. Environment and Climate Change Canada's Twitter page Environment and Climate Change Canada's Facebook page SOURCE Environment and Climate Change Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] An F-35A, South Korea's first stealth fighter jet acquisition from the U.S. aerospace and defense giant Lockheed Martin, arrives at a military base in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, in this March 29, 2019 photo. Courtesy of Defense Acquisition Program Administration By Jung Da-min The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has recently concluded that there was false reporting by officials at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to the defense ministry, while the procurement agency was pushing the third phase of the F-X next-generation fighter jet project forward under the administration of former President Park Geun-hye from around 2013 to 2015. The audit released by the BAI Tuesday revealed that DAPA officials in charge of the project made false reports in 2014 and 2015 to then-defense Ministers Kim Kwan-jin (December 2010 to June 2014) and Han Min-koo (June 2014 to July 2017) on the results of negotiations with competitors including Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Although the BAI did not go into detail about the reports citing the military project's confidentiality, defense industry officials say the DAPA officials made them in order to promote Lockheed Martin's F-35A Lightning II radar-evading strike aircraft. South Korea began the F-X project in 1999, seeking to deploy next generation fighter aircraft. U.S. defense firms Boeing with its "drawing board" F-15SE and Lockheed Martin with the F-35A competed in the latest bidding, which started in 2013. "The Defense Acquisition Program Administration was not compliant with relevant laws and it made false reports to the defense ministry's defense project promotion committee regarding the facts of the results of negotiations for the offset trading for the F-X project in 2014, and of the implementation process of the offset trading involving a military satellite in 2015," reads the latest announcement on the audit of the procurement agency conducted from April to July 2017. In March 2014, the Republic of Korea Air Force agreed to purchase 40 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II for 7.4 trillion won ($6.2 billion), with the caveat that the U.S. aerospace and defense giant provide 25 technologies required for the KF-X project, South Korea's joint fighter aircraft development program with Indonesia, as part of an offset program. The U.S. government, however, notified DAPA in 2015 that it would not allow the transfer of four key technologies. Another part of the agency's offest trading with Lockheed, the launching of South Korea's first military satellite with the arrangement to sendi it into orbit by early 2018, was also put on hold between 2015 and 2017 by the U.S. firm, which cited manufacturing costs and demanded Seoul share the excess financing. Lockheed Martin later resumed the satellite project after the U.S. government meditation and in March this year DAPA said the U.S. defense firm would provide the military communications satellite, which would be launched in November. But the controversy over whether the U.S. firm should pay compensation for the suspension of the launch has yet to be resolved. Another BAI audit of the F-X project from October 2017 to May 2018 regarding the selection of the supplier of the aircraft, whose results were released in February, also revealed that officials in charge made false reports regarding negotiations on the technology transfer. The BAI said at the time it was hard to say that the ministry and DAPA's selection of the F-35As rather than the F-15SEs went against the national interest, and there would be no punishment for the officials involved. In the announcement of the latest audit on the offset deal for the F-X project, however, the BAI said that it had requested the procurement agency to punish officials involved and to improve relevant systems. So far, no DAPA officials have been subject to formal disciplinary action over the affair, although two of them reportedly had their bonuses reduced. A DAPA spokesman said he was not sure whether the audit was about the process of the deal or its results; while Lockheed Martin had not commented at the time of the publication of this article. [May 22, 2019] Canada's Top Builders Distinguished with the 16th Annual Avid Awards for Highest Homebuyer Ratings In recognition of the best builders providing extraordinary customer experiences, Avid Ratings Canada proudly announced the winners of the 16th Annual Avid Awards during the CHBA National Conference on May 10, 2019, in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Homebuilders throughout Canada were honoured with the prestigious awards for scoring highest with their customers on homebuying experience surveys. Award winners were chosen based on results received from some of Canada's largest private builders and hundreds of small volume and custom builders from coast to coast. This year's program had 633 qualifying builders from all over the United States and Canada and covers homebuyer data from January to December 2018. "It is a privilege to recognize the winners of the 16th Annual Avid Awards for their commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience," said Tim Bailey, Division President of Avid Ratings Canada. "To be an award-winning company in customer experience requires the highest caliber of people, product and processes. The customer ratings of these award winners clearly illustrate their focus on consistently meeting or exceeding homebuyer expectations." The Avid Awards are regarded as a trusted benchmark of customer service performance in the homebuilding industry. Avid Ratings has long been at the forefront of bringing transparency of builder performance to consumers by consumers since 1992. In order to determine the Avid Award winners, homebuilding companies are evaluated using Avid's award-winning survey platform. Every homebuyer survey in Avid's database is meticulously analyzed to determine each builder's Avid Index Score, which is evaluated using scores from the total homebuying experience, the willingness to refer, and the actual number of recommendations a buyer has made. "Augusta (News - Alert) Fine Homes is very honoured to be a Diamond Award recipient through Avid surveys," said Mike Plumton, Vice President, Augusta Fine Homes. "We appreciate the partnership we have with Avid and continue to improve by listening to our customers through our surveys. The award serves as a testament of our teams' dedication to or homeowners." "Recruiting a strong team of passionate people is the foundation to our great customer service," said Patrick Mah, CEO of Residential Housing, North Ridge Development - Regina. "Avid Ratings has helped us to build on this foundation by providing a tangible resource to promote change within our business where needed, provide recognition where it's due, and the ability to offer our customers an outlet to provide feedback." Builders with the highest Avid Index Score in each category are presented with awards. Each award-winning company must score at or within the top 25th percentile in the United States or Canada to be recognized with an Avid Award. Avid Diamond Award The Avid Diamond Award recognizes builders with the highest scores in their nation on the New Home Move-In Experience survey, taken from purchasing experience to the first 90 days of ownership. The United States and Canada have one award each for Production, Small Volume and Custom builder categories. Avid Diamond Award winners in Canada are as follows: Production: North Ridge Development - Regina North Ridge Development - Regina Small Volume: Deneschuk Homes Deneschuk Homes Custom: Augusta Fine Homes Avid Gold Award Avid also distinguishes top building companies on a regional level with the Avid Gold Awards. This award is presented to builders with the highest scores in their region on the New Home Move-In Experience survey, taken from purchasing experience to the first 90 days of ownership. Avid Gold Award winners in the Canadian provinces are as follows: Province of Alberta Production: Jayman BUILT - Calgary Multi-family Small Volume: Crystal Creek Homes - Calgary Province of Ontario Production: HN Homes Small Volume: Granite Homes Province of Saskatchewan Production: North Ridge Development - Saskatoon Small Volume: Montana Homes Avid Benchmark Award The Avid Benchmark Award recognizes any U.S. or Canadian builder scoring among the top 25 percent of Avid's nationwide databases on the New Home Move-in Experience survey, taken from purchasing experience to the first 90 days of ownership. The winners of the Avid Benchmark Award in Canada are as follows: Province of Alberta Production: Brookfield Residential - Calgary Single Family Jayman BUILT - Edmonton Single Family Mattamy Homes - Calgary Jayman BUILT - Calgary Single Family Small Volume: San Rufo Homes Province of Ontario Production: Rinaldi Homes For more information about the Avid Awards, please visit www.avidratings.ca/avidawards. About Avid Ratings Avid Ratings (www.avidratings.ca) is the leading resource for building quality in the world. Dedicated to the homebuilding industry, Avid Ratings helps companies build better customer experiences by gaining powerful consumer insights and deep customer feedback through a proprietary customer experience platform. Avid Ratings was named a Top 5 Sales Tool by BUILDER magazine and NAHB and a Brilliance Awards recipient by TecHome Builder. Avid was also featured as a Top Product by Constructech magazine while also being ranked among the magazine's "50 Most Influential Tech Companies in Residential Construction". View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005777/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] For Creators, By Creators Builds A Strong Footprint Within the Entrepreneur and Investor Communities In New York City NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- We The People (WTP), the world's only multichannel crowdfunding retail chain and community, and TribalVision who are co-founders of "For Creators By Creators" (FCBC) today announced they are building a global community network for creators and investors after hosting a successful FCBC event in New York City on April 25, 2019. TribalVision, headquartered in Boston, is the official partner of WTP providing business development strategies and powerful marketing processes for FCBC and its creators. More than 130 entrepreneurs, investors, and business leaders participated in the creators expo, panel discussions, networking dinner, and pitching session. The annual forum featured successful crowdfunding creators and industry experts as speakers, including Matt Higgins, Co-founder/CEO of RSE Ventures and Guest Shark from Shark Tank; John Fiorentino, Gravity Blanket and Moon Pod; Shrina Kurani, Republic; Hanson Grant, Think Board; and Jacob Durham, NOMATIC, to name a few. As part of its goal to support young entrepreneurs and creativity around the world, WTP partnered with Dr. Jart+, a FCBC 2019 Bronze sponsor, among others to make a donation to the KIPP NYC College Prep High School to empower young creators. "Some of the best ideas come from people who use crowdfunding to get their product off the ground. But once that crowdfunding gets an entrepreneur started, then what?" said Higgins. "WTP is meeting a need in the marketplace, bridging the gap between crowdfunding an idea and getting it on store shelves and out to consumers." Entrepreneurs who attended the New York event benefitedfrom learning about the funding, legal, and marketing resources available in their local community to grow their companies. In addition, there were many opportunities to realize additional value after the event ended. For example, some creators who pitched their products were approached by potential investors during the event. Garrett Lang, a pitch participant, received interest from three investors after his presentation. "We were thrilled to see the diversity of entrepreneurs who attended our FCBC event to network and learn tips to get their ideas off the ground through crowdfunding," said Jay Kang, CEO of WTP. "In particular, we are seeing our creator's showcase evolve into a versatile space where investors can find market-ready creators giving demos or looking for funding, and creators can find other creators to build relationships and potential partnerships. As we plan more FCBC events around the country, we will continue to bring entrepreneurs together to network, learn, showcase, and tap into the resources to build global brands." WTP and TribalVision co-hosted FCBC events across the U.S. as a way to bring together entrepreneurs, provide education, and offer insights on best practices. Over the last six months, they have hosted FCBC events in St. Louis, Las Vegas, Boston, and now New York. Future locations for events will include Texas, California, and North Carolina. WTP stores support and promote creators who have used crowdfunding to build their products and businesses. Using their online platform and brick-and-mortar space, WTP has designed a proven model to create revenue opportunities for these crowdfunding entrepreneurs and their products. To date, WTP has brought over 200 brands and more than a thousand products to the public, and the FCBC events are designed to welcome more entrepreneurs into the fold. ABOUT WE THE PEOPLE Established in 2016, We The People (WTP) is the world's only multichannel crowdfunding retail chain and community. Founded for creators by creators, Ryan Sim, Joel Liew, Nison Chan, and CEO Jay Kang, WTP has gone from 14 brands to more than 200 brands with multiple product lines, featured in six stores in Singapore, Malaysia and St. Louis, MO. In the U.S., consumers can purchase top crowdfunded products through wtpstoreusa.com . Providing education, e-commerce, and brick-and-mortar retail space for crowdfunded entrepreneurs, WTP is quickly becoming the hub of innovation in Asia and around the world. With its goal to bring together the global creator community, WTP is expanding internationally to the United States, Australia, Spain, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Media Contact: Joshua Milne (617) 501-1620 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/for-creators-by-creators-builds-a-strong-footprint-within-the-entrepreneur-and-investor-communities-in-new-york-city-300854883.html SOURCE We The People [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Expert Sovereign Debt Analyst Andrew Roche of Finexem to Discuss Nigerian Debt Trap on May 23 Conference Call Andrew Roche, managing partner of the Paris-based financial consultancy Finexem, will discuss the growing Nigerian debt trap in a conference call with news media, financial analysts and key stakeholders on Thursday, May 23. The call will take place at 4 p.m. Paris time (3 p.m. Lagos & London; 10 a.m. New York & Washington, D.C.) Roche, an expert in African sovereign debt, recently released his analysis of the worsening situation, "Nigeria's External Debt: The Post-Election Boomerang." He noted that Nigerian debt is fast approaching levels last seen in the days preceding a 2005 bailout and that the government must take decisive measures to stop the problem from getting worse. He also highlighted a key issue that is often overlooked: Nigeria has an ongoing challenge in revenue mobilization, and urgently needs fiscal consolidation to be able to face high debt servicing costs relative to federal government revenues. "The Government should take advantage of its renewed mandate to implement measures to ensure the external position of Nigeria does not deteriorate," Roche wrote in his paper. "This would begin by resolving outstanding disputed financial obligations and carefully considering new borrowing, thereby signaling to the financial community prudent fiscal stewardship and a transparent and constructive framework for future financing." Roche noted that Nigeria's financial obligations include USD $22.1 billion in external debt, a 115 percent increase in just three years. Nigeria is exposed to additional financial liabilities through arbitration awards, including a judgement of USD $8.9 billion to a private contractor, Process and Industrial Development Limited, over a failed energy project. At the same time, Sunrise Power and Transmission, a Nigerian company, has filed a USD $2.3 billion claim with International Chamber of Commrce (ICC) in Paris over breach of contract related to the Mambilla power project. The growing exposure is leading investors to speculate about the sustainability of Nigeria's new debt profile given the nation's dependency on high oil prices and the oil supply caps imposed by OPEC. "Questions abound concerning the end use of borrowed funds, the success of reforms and the ongoing vulnerability of Nigeria's fiscal position given its growing external debt burden," Roche wrote. In comments to the Financial Times (News - Alert) earlier this month, Roche asked whether the government was using borrowed cash to patch up holes in budgets, rather than investing in infrastructure or industry, or in efforts to diversify the economy from a heavy dependence on oil. "They have borrowed quite a bit, but where is the money being spent?" Roche said in the Financial Times. According to a report last week on AllAfrica.com, the borrowed money has been used to "reflate" the economy and take the country out of recession as part of Nigeria's Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. "When we came on board and we made an assessment, it was clear that our country was going into recession," Zainab Ahmed, Nigeria's Minister of Finance, told a press conference in Abuja. "When we did research on the best way to reverse the recession, it was found that was the best way to reflate the economy (was) putting resources in the economy so that consumption will increase." Despite this strategy, Nigeria's economy slowed to 2.01% in the first quarter as the country's dominant oil sector shrank, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday. In the Wednesday conference call, Roche will present an in-depth overview of the situation and take questions from interested parties. To access Andrew Roche's white paper on Nigerian debt: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6531601614753665024/ To participate in Wednesday's call: Please use the dial-in or join us via web link with the information provided below and use Conference ID: Finexem. If your country toll-free number is not listed, please contact us and we will provide the international toll-free number at your convenience. U.S.: 866-952-8559 U.K.: 0-808-101-1183 France: 080 091 2273 Nigeria: 785-424-1743 We will also be offering an online presentation which can be accessed below: Web Presentation Link: http://connexevent.adobeconnect.com/finexem/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005524/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] First Digital Shipping Company to Use Disruptive Israeli IoT Technology for End to End Supply Chain Visibility TEL AVIV, Israel and OSLO, Norway, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Only two weeks left for The Contopia Factor competition winner announcement, and logistics IoT pioneer Loginno is warming up the engines with a surprise reveal of the technological foundation upon which the winning shipping company's digital infrastructure will be built. In a closed event held in Tel Aviv, Loginno unveiled the 5th generation of its critically acclaimed AGAM device, whose unique installation method as a standard container vent allows every container service depot to install it with no training. While this operational side of Loginno's patent-protected hardware was already known, Founder Amit Aflalo, the man behind Loginno's unique tech, got into the technical specifics of what he dubs "both the smartest and the most affordable shipping container brain in existence today." Says Aflalo, "It is the only wide-area communications device with battery life of 10+ years without recharge, effectively making it a permanent solution for every shipping container, never to be taken off during its entire lifetime of usage." The long battery life is partly due to work done with fellow Israeli startup 3GSolar. Other features include measurement of the container's SOLAS VGM weight, piloted with the Israeli port of Ashdod; a CyberSea to replace physical seals, which is a concept being worked on by Loginno with involvement of Lloyd's Register; the very-recently-announced smart shipping container port integration with Navis, and other exciting technologies which are trialed together with one or more companies working side by side with Loginno, executing its partnership approach to innovation. Adds Aflalo: "We have created an internal network of 'Contopia partners'. These are innovative companies ranging from startups with cutting edge technologies, and industry giants with global reach and influence. All are interested to contribute to the success of the digital shipping company model, and all will be getting a front seat to this unique sandbox we are now creating, and gain insights on how Contopia (Container Utopia) is going to change the world of logistics." Earlier this week, Loginno announced that the final scoring of the competition's contestants had been performed, and a notice to the winning shipping company had been sent. The soon-to-be-first digital shipping company, chosen out of 17 global applicants, is set to be revealed on June 6th in Oslo, Norway, during Nor-Shipping, the largest global shipping event of 2019, at the end of a Contopia-themed panel of experts discussing the various use cases for the first digital shipping company. The panel and winner announcement will also be streamed live in Loginno's social media channel, and is expected to draw many logistics thought leaders and top global innovators, all curious about the identity of the first digital shipping company. About Loginno: Loginno is creating Contopia (Container Utopia), the world's Internet-of-Shipping-Containers infrastructure, by partnering with shipping companies to convert entire container fleets to IoT-enabled fleets, mining cargo and voyage data through a patented low-cost device. Contopia data unlocks countless possibilities and business models throughout the shipping container logistics chain. To that end, Loginno is leading an all-star initiative to select one shipping company, whose entire container fleet will be digitalized in 2019! Details here: http://bit.ly/Contopia For more information, please contact: Shachar Tal, Founder, Loginno [email protected] +972-52-6611028 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-digital-shipping-company-to-use-disruptive-israeli-iot-technology-for-end-to-end-supply-chain-visibility-300854581.html SOURCE Loginno [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Generational Equity Advises East Annrook Party Store in Sale to a Private Investor Generational Equity, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisor for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce the sale of its client, East Annrook Party Store to a Private Investor. The acquisition closed April 9, 2019 and details were not disclosed. East Annrook Party Store, opened in 1994, and located in Lapeer, Michigan is a retailer of beer, wine, and liquor items. The buyer is an individual investor located in same area as East Annrook Party Store. Generational Equity Executive Managing Director of M&A - Central Region, Michael Goss and his team, led by Managing Director Jerry Yocum with support from Managing Director Ryan Johnson, successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director Thomas Hamm established the initial relationship with East Annrook Party Store. "This transaction took a long time as it was an SBA transaction and the Government shut down effected the timing, but both clients kept trying and pushing it to the finish line," said Jerry Yocum. "The sellers are now able to retire full time and are happy to have the transaction complete." About Generational Equity Generational Equity, Generational Capital Markets (member FINRA/SIPC), Generational Wealth Advisors, and DealForce are part of the Generational Group, which is headquartered in Dallas and is one of the leading M&A advisory firms in North America. With over 250 professionals located throughout North America, the companies help business owners release the wealth of their business by providing merger, acquisition, and wealth management services. Their five-step approach features exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A transactional services, and wealth management. The M&A Advisor named the company the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Investment Banking Firm of the Year. For more information, visit https://www.genequityco.com/ or the Generational Equity press room. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005009/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Government of Canada Investment Helps London High School to Generate Clean Renewable Energy LONDON, ON, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - One of the greatest opportunities for Canada is the shift toward clean growth. To combat climate change, Canada needs new and innovative approaches to electricity generation and distribution. Supporting smart micro-grid projects at the community level is a key component of the Government of Canada's approach to a clean energy future. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science and Sport and to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility and Member of Parliament for London West, Kate Young, together with Member of Parliament for London North Centre, Peter Fragiskatos, on behalf of Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, today announced a $4.8-million investment to retrofit a London, Ontario, high school to meet its energy needs with clean, renewable energy and support the local electricity grid. Ameresco Canada Inc, a leading energy efficiency and renewable energy company, and the London District Catholic School Board will install a micro-grid at London's John Paul II Catholic Secondary School. The energy system not only will enable the school to generate and store its own energy but also will be resilient to grid outages and feed surplus energy back to the grid. Ultimately, energy consumption will be reduced as part of the project, and almost all on-site emissions will be eliminated through the installation of a state-of-the-art geothermal system. The school board will also develop a curriculum to educate students about this type of emerging energy system. Energy-efficient buildings and smart grids are part of Canada's Investig in Canada infrastructure plan, through which our government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes and Canada's rural and northern communities. The global shift toward a cleaner, greener economy is the opportunity of a lifetime. From May 27 to 29, 2019, Canada will welcome over 25 countries to this year's Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation Ministerial to discuss a future that is cleaner, brighter and more prosperous for generations to come. Canada will showcase its leadership in cleantech innovation, champion the issue of gender equality, youth and Indigenous peoples in clean energy and promote Canada as an investment destination. Learn more at: http://cem-mi-vancouver2019.ca/. Quotes "Our government is proud to invest in new technologies that will create smarter, more resilient and cleaner energy systems. This investment is a great example of how we can meet our climate change goals and transform our economy by creating a new mindset about how we generate and use energy." Kate Young Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science and Sport and to the Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility (Accessibility) "We commend the London District Catholic School Board for pursuing this project and for working to both reduce energy consumption and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions for John Paul II Catholic Secondary School. The deep-energy retrofits of this secondary school play a critical role in reducing our societal carbon emissions. This project is a model for others because it not only prioritizes building energy efficiency but also showcases the importance of transitioning to a microgrid that not only allows for energy resiliency but also renewable energy sources. The School Board is setting a terrific example for its students, and for the community, by championing this project." Bob McCullough President, Ameresco Canada Inc. "This project is an amazing opportunity for the London District Catholic School Board and our students. We hope that John Paul II Catholic Secondary School will become a model for other projects throughout Canada. We also look forward to integrating the project into the classroom curriculum so that our students can take a leadership role in environmental stewardship to care for Creation and our planet for future generations. Jacquie Davison Superintendent of Business, London District Catholic School Board Related Information Smart Grid Program Energy Innovation Program Simply Science Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan Investing in Canada Plan Project Map Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Green Dot Announces That It Has Entered Into an Accelerated Stock Repurchase Program to Purchase a Total of $100 Million of its Class A Common Stock (NYSE:GDOT) Upon receiving regulatory approval, Green Dot Corporation announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Bank of America Merrill Lynch to purchase a total of $100 million of its Class A common stock under an accelerated stock repurchase transaction. Under the agreement, Green Dot will receive an initial delivery of approximately 1.7 million shares. The final number of shares to be repurchased and the aggregate cost per share to Green Dot will be based on Green Dot's volume-weighted average stock price during the term of the transaction, which is expected to be completed in 2019. About Green Dot Green Dot Corporation, [NYSE:GDOT], is a financial technology leader and bank holding company with a mission to power the bnking industry's branchless future. Enabled by proprietary technology and Green Dot's wholly-owned commercial bank charter, Green Dot's "Banking as a Service" platform is used by a growing list of America's most prominent consumer and technology companies to design and deploy their own bespoke banking solutions to their customers and partners, while Green Dot uses that same integrated technology and banking platform to design and deploy its own leading collection of banking and financial services products directly to consumers through one of the largest retail banking distribution platforms in America. Green Dot products are marketed under brand names such as Green Dot, GoBank, MoneyPak, RushCard, Insight and RapidPay, and can be acquired through more than 100,000 retailers nationwide, thousands of corporate paycard partners, several "direct-2-consumer" branded websites, thousands of tax return preparation offices and accounting firms, thousands of neighborhood check cashing locations and both of the leading app stores. Green Dot Corporation is headquartered in Pasadena, California, with additional facilities throughout the United States and in Shanghai, China. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005202/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Health Services Provider Emergencias Deploys Avaya Communications Solutions to Help Save Lives Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE: AVYA), a leader in communications solutions for the healthcare industry, today announced that Emergencias, an innovative health services provider focused on urgent care, has implemented new Avaya (News - Alert) IX Contact Center to accelerate its digital transformation ensuring seamless and flexible communications with users. Avaya IX Contact Center will also help the company consolidate its communications infrastructure, improve its customer service processes and better position itself in a highly competitive healthcare services market. Emergencias is a leader in the healthcare and out-of-hospital emergency services sector, which has grown steadily and expanded both at home and abroad. In 2008, it became the first healthcare company in Argentina to receive ISO 9001 certification for its robust processes, and it has been awarded a Premio (News - Alert) Mercurio, one of the most prestigious awards in the South American healthcare sector. The company receives between 10,000 and 14,000 calls every day, roughly 3.5 and 5 million calls per year, handled by a team of 4,000 employees and 5,000 third-party service providers. This tremendous volume of high-stress interactions requires a communication system capable of supporting mission-critical operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including medical emergencies occurring at all times of night or day. Responding to such a large volume of calls while ensuring seamless service represented a major technological obstacle for Emergencias as it had no automated distribution or priority structure in place for its services and VDNs, making it difficult to calculate call abandonment rates or define metrics for improving performance. This led to suboptimal levels of service and customer satisfaction, disproportionate and unequal staff workloads, and higher cost. "When we were evaluating potential technology providers, we looked at several brands, including Avaya, Cisco (News - Alert) and Genesys, among others," said German Najera, CTO, Emergencias. "The key difference was that Avaya demonstrated the ability to listen and really ascertain our issues and the user experiences we were trying to achieve in order to understand our business before recommending and implementing the technology. Avaya was fully involved with us through all aspects of our process, and we worked in conjunction with them to reconfigure our communication system." Once Avaya IX Contact Center had been implemented, Emergencias quickly began seeing results. One major advantage is the flexibility offered by Avaya's solution, which has helped the company adapt immediately to sudden increases in demand. It currently assigns between 120 and 140 agents during peak times, helping to automatically cover different service levels as they now have real-time metrics that allow management to take decisions immediately that adapt to real-time conditions and improve service and responsiveness. "With Avaya our contact center is much more efficient with the same amount of people, ad we have increased the volume of calls we can handle by almost 40 percent. Agent availability is now automatic. Thanks to digital telephony, through a SIP, costs have decreased significantly, and we now have the opportunity to grow and increase the range of services we offer." "An open and flexible communications solution that offers automation and real-time analytics plays a critical role in successfully transforming organizations in the healthcare sector," commented Daniel Sacks, engineering director, Avaya. "In conjunction with the leadership team from Emergencias, we developed a roadmap to optimize the experience of patients and other callers, driving significant improvements to waiting times, reducing the number of lost calls to almost zero, and maximizing agent performance by leveraging a more robust communication solution to drive efficiency and help them grow." Another benefit offered by Avaya IX Contact Center is an automatic priority system that classifies calls by segment, customer and service type based on the level of risk involved, helping prioritize the most critical emergencies. It has also helped streamline operations and improve customer service levels, reducing redialing rates from 5 to 1 and call abandonment rates from 30 percent to under 5 percent for emergencies and less than 2 percent for life-threatening situations. "It marked a radical change for our customers in terms of the service we offer, and we have seen much higher satisfaction levels stemming from the fact that we can now answer their calls in four seconds or less," added Najera. Listen to this announcement on the Avaya Podcast Network. Avaya will be showcasing full portfolio of communications and collaboration solutions at the Avaya ENGAGE Latin America event on May 30, 2019 at the Banamex Convention Center in Mexico City. Avaya ENGAGE Latin America is the main event in the region for the future of communications experience and the impact it has on digital transformation, and includes general sessions, keynotes, inspiring and informative speakers and content experts to drive and improve your digital transformation journey. It is the perfect place to connect, communicate and collaborate. About Emergencias Founded in 1979 in Buenos Aires, Emergencias is the market leader in out-of-hospital medical emergencies for both individual and corporate clients. Its ongoing research and investment in technology have helped position it as a pioneer in software application and technological development to help improve emergency medical resource management and processes within the sector, leading it to receive numerous awards and helping it transcend boundaries. About Avaya Businesses are built on the experiences they provide, and every day millions of those experiences are built by Avaya (NYSE: AVYA). For over one hundred years, we've enabled organizations around the globe to win - by creating intelligent communications experiences for customers and employees. Avaya builds open, converged and innovative solutions to enhance and simplify communications and collaboration - in the cloud, on-premise or a hybrid of both. To grow your business, we're committed to innovation, partnership, and a relentless focus on what's next. We're the technology company you trust to help you deliver Experiences that Matter. Visit us at www.avaya.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain "forward-looking statements." All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking" statements for purposes of the U.S. federal and state securities laws. These statements may be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "might," "our vision," "plan," "potential," "preliminary," "predict," "should," "will," or "would" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology and include, but are not limited to, expected cash savings and statements about growth, exchange listing and improved operational metrics. The Company has based these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While the Company believes these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond its control. The factors are discussed in the Company's Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may cause its actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. For a further list and description of such risks and uncertainties, please refer to the Company's filings with the SEC (News - Alert) that are available at www.sec.gov. The Company cautions you that the list of important factors included in the Company's SEC filings may not contain all of the material factors that are important to you. In addition, considering these risks and uncertainties, the matters referred to in the forward-looking statements contained in this report may not in fact occur. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as otherwise required by law. Source (News - Alert): Avaya Newsroom View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005119/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Kombucha Market Potential Growth, Share, Demand and Analysis of Key Players 2026 Kombucha is a fermented drink made from sugar and black tea. It consists of variety of minerals, enzymes, and vitamins. Kombucha is a nutrient-rich drink, which is fermented with a symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY). SCOBY also called Mushroom, consumes 90% of sugar during the fermentation process, making a low-sugar end product. This drink is gaining popularity due to its health benefits and is available in food stores and grocery stores. Kombucha can be brewed at home using methods such as continuous brew and batch method. Kombucha manufacturers are aiming at producing new flavors with advertisements to attract consumers. Increasing awareness regarding health benefits and demand for healthy beverages are driving growth of global kombucha market. Major beverage brands focused on entering into manufacturing of this drink, which is driving growth of global kombucha market. However, alcohol content in beverage is a major restraint for growth of kombucha market. Request PDF Brochure of Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/873 The flavor segment has largest demand in the kombucha market and it is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR over the forecast period. Therefore, companies are focusing on developing new flavors to meet the demand of consumers. Supermarket segment has witnessed prominent role in the distribution channel of this product, which has boosted growth of the market. Global Kombucha Market Outlook North America is projected to be the dominant region in the kombucha market. The U.S. is anticipated to contribute the largest share to this market. Increasing awareness regarding health benefits of this drink is fueling the growth of the kombucha market. The American Cancer Society stated that this beverage has promoted as a cure-all for a large range of health issues, such as baldness, cancer, AIDS, insomnia, arthritis, and intestinal disorders. Latin America witnessed moderate growth in the kombucha market, owing to increasing demand for healthy drinks in the economies such as Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and Brazil. Asia Pacific region witnessed significant growth rate and holds a second largest share in the kombucha market, owing to the growing population and increasing demand from the emerging economies such as India and China. Kombucha being originated in this region is making this region fastest growing market having low production and processing cost, in turn driving the growth kombucha market. Europe is witnessed to have a moderate growth in the global kombucha market, owing to the rising government regulations, which is hampering growth of the market. Get More Information @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/kombucha-market-873 Hain Celestial Group Inc. launched kombucha energy shots in 2011. Whole Food and Wal-Mart markets among numerous other retailers have merged with brewers for distributing this beverage. The major operating in the global kombucha market include Reeds Inc., Millennium Products Inc., Revive Kombucha, The Hain Celestial Group, Kosmic Kombucha, Buchi Kombucha, Townshend Tea Company, Gts Kombucha, and The Humm Kombucha Llc. 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. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Email: [email protected] As a community-building service, TMCnet allows user submitted content which is not always proofed by TMCnet editors. If you feel this entry is of inferior quality or wish to report it for some reason, please forward the URL to "webedit [AT] tmcnet [DOT] com" with your comments. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Luxstay raised capital from two Korean investors GS Shop & Bon Angels HANOI, Vietnam, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Luxstay has just completed their bridge round of funding with the participation of two new investors from Korea: GS Home Shopping (GS Shop) and Bon Angels. This US$4.5 million deal marks a substantial early stage investment for a Vietnamese tech startup. In early 2017, Steven Nguyen founded Luxstay - a home-sharing platform targeting the Southeast Asia market, currently operating in Vietnam. As well as GS Shop and Bon Angels, other top tier venture capital investors such as CyberAgent Venture (Japan), Genesia Ventures (Japan), ESP Capital (Singapore), Founders Capital (Singapore) and Nextrans (Korea) have also invested in Luxstay. According to statistics from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Vietnam served about 80 million domestic and 15.6 million foreign tourists in 2018. In particular, there were 3.5 million Korean tourists, with a growth rate of 44% since 2017 - the fastest ever, while the overall growth rate of foreign visitors is 20% yearly. Total spending for tourism in 2018 amounted to US$25 billion, of which the accommodation sector accounted for 28%, equivalent to about 7 billion USD and expected to increase to US$13 billion by 2025. Vietnam is among the fastest-growing countries in the travel industry and the Vietnamese government strongly encourages the tourism sector to become a key economic sector in the next 5 years with government support and promotion policies. With an abundant supply from the real estate market, apartments and villa projects have been launching and thriving rapidly in Vietnam. While the market of home-sharing is still fairly new in Vietnam, the revenue from these short-term rental activities in 2018 amounts to over US$100 million (according to Statista reports), which signifies substantial growth yet is quite moderate compared to the total accommodation market of US$7 billion. In developed countries, home-sharing accounts for 10-20% of the home-rental market. This shows a huge opportunity for this industry in Vietnam, which is expected to reach US$2-4 billion in 2025. Luxstay differentiates itself from other travel agency platforms by focusing on premium products and domestic tourists as well as by collaborating with local partners in other countries with a large number of inbound tourists, such as Korea and Japan. This is also a differentiator between Luxstay and Airbnb, which applies a global strategy rather than a local one. In order to help business partners and homeowners save time and effort, Luxstay has professional team members to support them in operating and managing real estate assets. GS Home Shopping, ("GS Shop", KOSDAQ:028150), part of the GS Group, is Korea's foremost multimedia retailer as well as a global leader in TV home shopping. Its Corporate Venture Capital arm is a global strategic investor, investing through fund as well as direct investments. BonAngels is an influential venture capital fund that focuses on investing in early-stage companies startups in Korea such as Woowa Brothers, Daily Hotels, My Real Trip. These investors will be important connections for Luxstay to other strategic partners and investors in Korea to implement the company's ambition and expand its scale. After more than 2 years of development, Luxstay is growing quickly, aiming at an annual turnover of over US$300 million in 2023, accounting for about 30 percent of the market share. Luxstay is in the process of working with financial investors and strategic partners to deploy the next round of capital, looking raise their Series A in 2019. ABOUT LUXSTAY CORPORATION CEO: Steven Nguyen Website: www.luxstay.com Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/luxstay/ Mobile app: Luxstay (IOS / Android) ABOUT GS HOME SHOPPING INC. Headquarters: Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, Korea CEO: Huh Tae-soo Established: December 23, 1994. Website: https://www.gsshop.com ABOUT BON ANGELS VENTURE PARTNERS Headquarters: Seoul, Korea General Partner / CEO: Simon Kang Established: 2006. Website: http://bonangels.net/ Crunchbase: BonAngels Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190522/2474841-1-a Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190522/2474841-1-b SOURCE Luxstay [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Kang Seung-woo The fight for hegemony between the prosecution and police amid the government's judiciary reform plans is turning into mud-slinging, as the two law enforcement agencies are putting each other's former and current chiefs on the investigative radar. Won Kyung-hwan, the commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency President Moon Jae-in is seeking to curb the excessive power of prosecutors by giving independent investigative authority to the police, leading to the prosecution's massive resistance, including by its prosecutor-general. According to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, Wednesday, it is conducting an internal investigation into Won Kyung-hwan, the commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, over an allegation that he took bribes from a broker who was arrested for a 2011 corruption scandal over a temporary restaurant at a construction site. The broker presented a petition in April, claiming he gave bribes to Won in 2009 when Won headed the Gangdong Police Station in eastern Seoul, according to the prosecution. The broker, surnamed Yoo, was convicted by the Supreme Court in 2012 of bribing top police officials and others to seek their help in winning catering service deals and he is now at Seoul Detention Center. In the wake of the internal probe, the police are raising suspicions over the timing of the prosecution's investigation and the intention of the petition, believing the prosecution purposely leaked it to the media to smear them because Won had been acquitted of the allegations through the police's internal audit. Won, seen as the No. 2 man in the police organization, denied the allegation, vowing to take legal action against Yoo for making a false accusation. Former Prosecutor-General Kim Soo-nam [May 22, 2019] Media Interactiva Launches a Cloud Version of LearnMOS, Training Courses for Microsoft Office 2016 SEVILLA, Spain, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- People who obtain certifications in digital competencies see their potential increased, have a competitive advantage to join the labor market or to stand out in recruitment processes. With this idea in mind, the technology company Media Interactiva - a leader in the development of educational technology and instructional design for the certification of digital competencies, with offices in Sevilla (Spain), New York, Miami, and Atlanta - has launched a new version of its program of courses and online practice tests for Microsoft Office Specialist 2016 applications. These courses enable users to enhance their skills in Word, Excel or Powerpoint and to be prepared for any official certification. In this case, we are talking about LearnMOS Cloud, which can be accessed from any operating system - Windows, Linux, Android, iOS - and without any additional software, like the Microsoft Office 2016 license, since it is hosted in the cloud. The LearnMOS courses increase productivity, promote efficiency, swiftness, and control in Microsoft Office through continued practice by the students, who train directly inside the app. They can assess their knowledge of the program before starting their personalized learning itineraries. Then, they move on to real practice with theory explanations on how it works, and with step-by-step tutorial videos. All this, in line with the objectives set in the official certification program Microsoft Office Specialist Core 2016. The LearnMOS Cloud version gives students access to a real Microsoft Office 2016 environment, now in the cloud, with two categories to choose from: assessment, that will allow students to carry out three tests following the model of certification exams in order to assess their knowledge of Word, Excel, or Powerpoint; or practice test, with 140 exercises and explanatory videos in order to successfully prepare the official certification test for MOS 2016. Distribution is made possible thanks to the agreement reached with AWS (Amazon Web Services). AWS has launched a new service called Appstream that allows sharing a desktop application using the web. Media Interactiva has cooperated closely during this last stage with AWS to improve the development and service of the product, through their teams in the UK and in the US (Seattle). More information can be found at https://www.measureup.com/learnmoscloud. Contact: Isabel Bermejo [email protected] +34-954-933-100 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/media-interactiva-launches-a-cloud-version-of-learnmos-training-courses-for-microsoft-office-2016-300855140.html SOURCE LearnMOS Cloud [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Merck Foundation Announces Grant to American Cancer Society to Improve Access to Cancer Care in Resource-Limited Settings The Merck Foundation (the Foundation) and the American Cancer Society (ACS (News - Alert)) announced today that the Foundation awarded a $1.99 million, five-year grant to ACS to improve support and access to care for people living with cancer in low-and-middle-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. This funding will help ACS further develop its capacity development approach to expanding patient navigation to countries with a growing burden of cancer. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005097/en/ More than 70% of the 9 million cancer-related deaths worldwide are in resource-limited settings, where patients face many barriers in seeking a timely diagnosis and receiving high-quality cancer care. Patient navigators-whether nurses providing cancer education or lay health workers linking patients to transportation services in the community-play a vital role in supporting patients from the point of diagnosis at a health facility through their treatment journey. With support from the Foundation, ACS will fortify its patient navigation program in Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH), a national referral hospital in Kenya, and adapt it for a high need facility in Uganda - The Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), which serves about 200 patients daily. "We are excited about the American Cancer Society's program to bring patient navigation services to cancer patients in areas of the world where care coordination is especially challenging" says Dr. Julie Louise Gerberding, chief patient officer, Merck and vice chair, Merck Foundation Board of Trustees. "Cancer patients deserve quality care delivered with compassion, regardless of where they live." This grant is a first step toward broad expansion of patient navigation programs to help more patients in resource-limited settings receive timely, high-quality cancer care. As part of this effort, ACS will develop a comprehensive guide and toolkit to develop and implement patient navigation programs, esigned specifically for health facilities in low- and middle-income countries. Lessons learned from collaborating with hospitals in Kenya and Uganda will be incorporated into this guide, which ACS will pilot in health institutions in Asia and Latin America. ACS hopes to demonstrate that resource-limited health care institutions can use patient navigation as an effective tool to improve cancer care. Looking ahead, ACS will help KNH and UCI integrate patient navigation services into the way they deliver cancer care, with the goal of transforming the patient experience so patients continue to receive the timely, high-quality cancer care they need. "Over the last 30 years, patient navigation has become a standard of care across the U.S. to address the myriad hurdles that cancer patients - especially the most vulnerable - confront across the complicated continuum of cancer care," says Sally Cowal, senior vice president of Global Cancer Control, American Cancer Society. "We are eager to bring our expertise in this area to countries where health system challenges prevent patients from getting timely diagnoses and treatment." "Uganda has a population of 43 million, but there are only 20 oncologists in the entire country. That's one of the reasons why patient navigators are so important in helping patients manage the day-to-day challenges that prevent them from receiving care and empowering them to seek treatment and stay in care," says Dr. Jackson Orem, Executive Director of the Uganda Cancer Institute. ACS will work with the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University in Atlanta to evaluate the implementation of the patient navigation programs in Kenya and Uganda as well as the pilot of the program design guide and implementation toolkit. The evaluation team will disseminate its findings to the global cancer community and other interested stakeholders to advance the field's knowledge of how to effectively support cancer patients in resource-limited settings. About the American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of 1.5 million volunteers dedicated to saving lives, celebrating lives, and leading the fight for a world without cancer. From breakthrough research, to free lodging near treatment, a 24/7/365 live helpline, free rides to treatment, and convening powerful activists to create awareness and impact, the Society is the only organization attacking cancer from every angle. The American Cancer Society does not endorse any product or service. For more information about ACS global work, go to www.cancer.org/global. About the Merck Foundation The Merck Foundation is a U.S.-based, private charitable foundation. Established in 1957 by Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company, the Foundation is funded entirely by the company and is Merck's chief source of funding support to qualified non-profit charitable organizations. Since its inception, the Merck Foundation has contributed more than $921 million to support important initiatives that address societal needs and are consistent with Merck's overall mission of inventing for life by bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world's most challenging diseases. For more information, visit www.merckgiving.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005097/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] NS8 Adds Digital Element's NetAcuity Datasets to Strengthen Risk-Assessment Solution CNP EXPO - Digital Element, the global geolocation data and services provider, announced today during CNP Expo that NS8, a fast-growing ecommerce SaaS (News - Alert) company that combats online fraud, will incorporate a number of its NetAcuity datasets to enhance risk-assessment solutions for online businesses. NS8's technology uses behavioral analytics and real-time scoring to optimize and protect online stores against threats such as transaction fraud, advertising fraud and site reliability issues. The addition of multiple IP datasets from Digital Element into NS8's proprietary EQ8 Scoring Engine will strengthen the real-time, accurate intelligence that it provides its clients. "Digital Element is an unquestioned leader in global IP intelligence, and we are extremely pleased to be deploying its NetAcuity datasets into our risk scoring," said NS8 Chief Technology Officer Sam Sesti. "Being able to leverage Digital Element's vast proxy database, reverse-geocoding data feeds, and other datasets will be a tremendous asset for us in accurately identifying malicious activity. This technology integration is another big step forward in the enhancement of our solution." NS8 will incorporate the NetAcuity Pulse PlusTM geolocation solution. NetAcuity Pulse (News - Alert) Plus is a first-of-its-kind ZIP+4 targeting solution that combines device-derived data with Digital Element's proprietary reverse-geocoding data feeds. Additionally, NS8 will utilize the company's extensive proxy database that is updated daily, as well as other different IP datasets outside of geolocation. "Retailers' demands for data are only increasing as various types of online fraud grow and continue tonegatively impact the online shopping experience," said Rob Friedman, co-founder and executive vice president, Digital Element. "Information is the new currency in the retail world. NS8 has recognized the power of combining our reliable and highly accurate datasets to build strong digital intelligence to help assess?and ultimately prevent?real fraud threats." Digital Element's IP datasets will be incorporated into the next NS8 software release, tentatively scheduled for June 2019. Both companies are participating in the CNP Expo, a leading e-commerce conference and expo focused on payments and fraud, in San Francisco this week. Digital Element is exhibiting at Booth 613, and NS8 can be found at Booth 507. About Digital Element Since 1999, Digital Element has been providing global geolocation data and services that bring anytime, anywhere relevance and context to online initiatives-from desktops to mobile devices. The company's patented technology has been certified and accredited to deliver real-time access to accurate and reliable location intelligence without invading Internet users' privacy. For nearly two decades, many of the world's largest websites, brands, security companies, ad networks, social media platforms and mobile publishers have trusted Digital Element's technology to target advertising, localize content, enhance analytics, and manage content rights as well as detect and prevent fraud. Visit www.digitalelement.com for more information on how to bring the power of location to the online world. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter (News - Alert) @DigitalElement then like us on Facebook. Headquartered in Atlanta and London, Digital Element is a division of Digital Envoy Inc. About NS8 Founded in 2016, NS8 began with the goal of empowering businesses to better fight the growing epidemic of online fraud. Its fraud prevention platform incorporates behavioral analytics, real-time user scoring, and global monitoring into a single solution that combats online fraud with industry-leading time to value. NS8 now supports over 3,200 businesses worldwide in over 50 countries. Headquartered in Las Vegas, NS8 also has regional offices located in Florida, Michigan, California, Amsterdam, and Singapore. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005037/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Randstad Recognizes SoftServe as Best National Employer in Ukraine Company also named the best place to work in Ukraine's IT industry AUSTIN, Texas, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SoftServe, a leading digital authority and consulting company, received the Best National Employer in Ukraine award from Randstad, a global leader in the HR services industry. SoftServe was also recognized as the best place to work in Ukraine's IT industry. Randstad's international employer brand research results examined trends in the labor market and identified the most attractive national employers. 2019 was the first time that Ukraine participated in this survey, with 10,000 respondents taking part in a nationwide poll. "It's great to have SoftServe's unique corporate culture and the specific focus that we put into the development and well-being of our employees recognized," said Anna Solohub, HR marketing director at SoftServe. "Our talent is the foundation of our culture of innovation, and together will continue to build successful and socially responsible company that attract the best and brightest minds." Randstad's research confirmed that Ukrainian employees are less concerned about financial compensation, favoring instead the global mission of the company, career opportunities, and inspiration for long-term goals as the top criteria for company affinity for the majority of respondents. The survey also concluded that employees are more loyal to companies that enable them to keep a work-life balance, including schedule and office location. About SoftServe SoftServe is a digital authority that advises and provides at the cutting-edge of technology. We reveal, transform, accelerate, and optimize the way enterprises and software companies do business. With expertise across healthcare, retail, media, financial services, software, and more, we implement end-to-end solutions to deliver the innovation, quality, and speed that our clients' users expect. SoftServe delivers open innovationfrom generating compelling new ideas, to developing and implementing transformational products and services. Our work and client experience is built on a foundation of empathetic, human-focused experience design that ensures continuity from concept to release. We empower enterprises and software companies to (re)identify differentiation, accelerate solution development, and vigorously compete in today's digital economy. No matter where you are in your journey. Visit our website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages. SoftServe Media Contact Paul Jones Senior Manager, Analyst and Public Relations [email protected] 512-796-7358 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/812484/SoftServe_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] SixFifty Launches Automated Compliance Tool For The California Consumer Privacy Act PALO ALTO, Calif., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SixFifty , the technology subsidiary of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR), the preeminent law firm for technology, life sciences, and growth enterprises worldwide, today announced the launch of its first product, SixFifty Privacy . Created in conjunction with some of the country's top privacy experts at WSGR, SixFifty Privacy automates the main obligations under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in order to help businesses comply more quickly and affordably. The CCPA regulates how companies handle personal information, granting California consumers new rights to access and delete their data while placing restrictions on entities that collect, store, and sell personal information. According to estimates from the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), more than 500,000 businesses in the United States, including over 100,000 businesses in California, could be affected by the new regulation, which will go into effect January 1, 2020. To help companies comply in time, SixFifty Privacy automates the four key components of the CCPA including: collecting, managing and fulfilling consumer requests; mapping the flow of data through a business; generating policies and other compliance documents and training employees who handle consumer information on the new law, all in one place. Within 15 minutes, SixFifty Privacy can lay the foundation for most companies to comply with the CCPA, saving them time and money and granting them peace of mind. "The CCPA will affect more businesses in the United States in a more profound way than any preceding privacy statute, and compliance will come at considerable time and expense, in terms of evaluating documents and data, reengineering business processes, IT systems and marketing strategies, employee training and legal costs," said Kimball Dean Parker, president of SixFifty and the director of LawX, the legal design lab at Brigham Young University's J. Reuben Clark Law School. "SixFifty Privacy is the fastest, easiest and most affordable way to address CCPA compliance, combining the power of machine automation with the expertise of the country's top privacy experts and attorneys." Businesses that use SixFifty Privacy will benefit from the expertise of WSGR's Privacy and Data Protection practice, which includes Lydia Parnes, the former director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission, and Chris Olsen, the former assistant director of the FTC's Division of Privacy and Identity Protection. WSGR attorneys worked closely with SixFifty to develop the legal guidelines and content used by the automation software. "On January 1, hundreds of thousands of businesses will have to adjust to the new realities brought about by the CCPA including changing their data management practices and policies or face significant consequences," said Doug Clark, managing partner of WSGR. "The CCPA is only the tip of the iceberg for regulations around consumer data privacy as multiple states are expecting to rollout data privacy legislations including New York, Massachusetts and Texas." SixFifty Privacy has already found success in the market with both start-ups and established companies. The product, which was released to select clients within Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, will now be available to any company across the nation. For more information about SixFifty and to take a free assessment to see how the CCPA will impact your business, visit https://www.sixfifty.com/solutions/ccpa/applicabilit y . About Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati For more than 50 years, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has offered a broad range of services and legal disciplines focused on serving the principal challenges faced by the management and boards of directors of business enterprises. The firm is nationally recognized as a leader in the fields of corporate governance and finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, securities litigation, employment law, intellectual property, and antitrust, among many other areas of law. With deep roots in Silicon Valley, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has offices in Austin; Beijing; Boston; Brussels; Hong Kong; London; Los Angeles; New York; Palo Alto; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; Shanghai; Washington, D.C.; and Wilmington, DE. For more information, please visit www.wsgr.com . About SixFifty Headquartered in the Silicon Slopes area of Utah, SixFift y is a subsidiary of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and combines the expertise of the world's leading technology law firm, made accessible through thoughtful technology. SixFifty streamlines complex areas of the law by providing actionable, efficient and affordable solutions for individuals and businesses. For more information, please visit www.sixfifty.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sixfifty-launches-automated-compliance-tool-for-the-california-consumer-privacy-act-300854797.html SOURCE SixFifty; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] We choose dialogue, not conflict BEIJING, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by China.org.cn on The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC): The Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) was convened in Beijing this month. The event gathered together State leaders and government officials of 47 Asian countries and nearly 50 countries from other parts of the world, the heads of international organizations and representatives of the cultural circle. Focusing on the keyword "civilization," participants shared their experiences on governance, and discussed such topics as the diversity of civilizations. Various activities, including an Asian Culture Carnival, Asian Cuisine Festival and Asian Film and TV Week, added allure to this unprecedented event. Occupying one third of the Earth's land mass, Asia is home to two thirds of the global population, including over 1,000 ethnic groups spread across the 47 countries. Plains are different from mountains. Rivers are different from deserts. Likewise, different civilizations have different charms, which makes it difficult to sum up Asian culture in one simple word. The CDAC served as a platform for Asian countries to engage in dialogue. China took this opportunity to call on all countries to respect each other, and treat each other as equals amid diversity. It also called on every nation to remain open and inclusive, drawing on each other's strengths, advancing with the spirit of times, and exploring new avenues for development. This grand event was successfully convened thanks to the enduring cultural exchanges of Asian countries. Asian people have maintained long-standing friendships with each other. This can be demonstrated through many incidents. A Japanese troupe adapted a much-loved Chinese story "The White-Haired Girl" into a ballet opera, and has been performing it for decades. Chinese museums havetaken turns to hold exhibitions of ancient Afghan artifacts in an effort to help preserve that country's treasures. Such practices laid solid foundation for the CDAC, which further facilitated in-depth exchanges between different civilizations in a large scale and institutionalized way. Throughout history, Chinese civilization, as an inclusive and integrated whole, has become what it is today through constant interactions with other cultures. China has benefited remarkably from all-round opening-up. Drawing on our own experience and practices, China is fully aware of the significance of communication and cooperation for win-win outcomes. Cooperation frameworks, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, have brought new developmental opportunities for both China and the world. Recently, some U.S. politicians have been distorting reality and propagating a misguided concept of "the clash of civilizations." What they are doing, in fact, is sugarcoating "the zero-sum game" and "cold-war mentality," which keeps haunting official thinking in the United States. As an ancient civilization, China is a country with confidence and responsibility. It will continue its unsparing efforts to resolve any dispute through dialogue and consultation, so as to continuously contribute to a better future of the civilizations that have emerged throughout Asia, and, indeed, the world. China Mosaic http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm We choose dialogue, not conflict http://www.china.org.cn/video/2019-05/22/content_74810443.htm About China.org.cn Founded in 2000, China Internet Information Center (China.org.cn/China.com.cn) is a key state news website under the auspices of the State Council Information Office, and is managed by China International Publishing Group. We provide round-the-clock news service in ten languages. With users from more than 200 countries and regions, we have become China's leading multi-lingual news outlet introducing the country to the outside world. We are one of the country's authoritative outlets for government press releases and are authorized to cover various major events. "Live Webcast" is our online webcasting service to present State Council Information Office press conferences in both Chinese and English languages. We are reputed for timely and accurate delivery of news and information, and wide interactions with audiences. In addition, we are authorized to publish and live broadcast major events and press conferences of ministries, local government agencies and institutions as well as enterprises. In the era of mobile internet, we endeavor to create an array of products for mobile devices headed by the multilingual WAP platform and the mobile APP. We also use Chinese and international social media to publish information for different user groups. In the future, CIIC will continue to offer authoritative information about China, tell China's stories, voice China's opinions, and introduce a vivid, panoramic and multicultural China to the world through multi-language, multi-media and multi-platforms. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/we-choose-dialogue-not-conflict-300854802.html SOURCE China.org.cn [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 21, 2019] Potomac Financial Group Announces the Launch of Freedom7 CALVERTON, Md., May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Financial Group (PFG), a Maryland-based provider of financial planning and wealth management services, recently announced the launch of Freedom7, a proprietary 7-step financial planning process. Developed to help simplify the financial planning process, Freedom7 consists of a collective suite of specialized services exclusively designed to help refine all aspects of a client's financial well-being. The unveiling of Freedom7 follows an eventful 2018 for PFG as the company completed a successful rebranding project which gained national recognition and a Davey Award* for brand excellence. "Since 1973, we've achieved success through our distinctly personal approach to financial planning by consistently offering the very best in client care. Freedom7 builds upon our established formula for success with the addition of new online tools and a disciplined, success-driven approach," stated Todd Wike, Managing Partner at Potomac Financial Group, Financial Advisor at Raymond James Financial Services. "It's been a monumental 12 months for PFG and our clients. It's important to us that we have a brand that authentically represents our culture and instills confidence with our clients while always striving to provide the very best in services and solutions. We're excited to launch Freedom7 because we believe wholeheartedly in the merits of this comprehensive financial planning process and the immense value it provides. Its introduction is simply another extension of our client promise to leave no stone unturned when planning and proactively managing for our clients' needs of today - while helping to ensure their financial vision of tomorrow." Driven by a combinatin of expertise, personal care and financial discipline, Freedom7 is designed to provide PFG the ability to more precisely manage its client's wealth and financial needs while empowering each to actively participate in the planning process. The process covers a wide range of services and solutions including: financial inventory management; personal net worth and budget statement evaluation; goal planning and monitoring; investment policy strategizing and development; risk tolerance assessment; plan progress tracking; and secure and easy storage of vital documents. More information about Freedom7 can be found by visiting PFGFreedom7.com. To learn more about Potomac Financial Group and the company's financial planning and wealth management solutions, visit PotomacFinancialGroup.com. Media Contact: Sara Aulebach Executive Assistant & Marketing Coordinator Potomac Financial Group Tel: 301.595.8600 [email protected] About Potomac Financial Group | Since 1973, Potomac Financial Group (PFG) has served as a financial planning and wealth management firm singularly committed to helping its clients and families achieve financial independence and confidence. With over 45 years of combined experience, PFG has grown to be one of the region's leading financial planning firms through its innovative financial solutions and commitment to exemplary personal care. To learn more, visit PotomacFinancialGroup.com. 4061 Powder Mill Road, Calverton, MD 20705 Phone: 877.595.8605 Potomac Financial Group is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Securities are offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services are offered through Potomac Financial Group and Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the opinions or services of Muse Marketing + Creative. Past performance is not an indication of future results. The information provided is for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell Raymond James Financial stock. *This award is not based in any way on the team/individual's abilities in regards to providing investment advice or management. This ranking is not indicative of any advisors' future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the Davey Award. Investing involves risk and you may incur a profit or loss regardless of strategy selected. Any opinions are those of Potomac Financial Group and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Related Images potomac-financial-group.png Potomac Financial Group Related Links Potomac Financial Group Website Freedom7 Information View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/potomac-financial-group-announces-the-launch-of-freedom7-300854637.html SOURCE Potomac Financial Group [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 21, 2019] Dashingly Very Good Living (VGD) with Affordable Luxe theme, embark on boutique Globeshop of Local Designer brands & Personality to Solutions eshop and content share SINGAPORE, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A spin-off from Olive and Latte Globeshop, the eshop of Olive and Latte ABS (arts, bites, shop) and the little eshop around the corner, the same Founders are back and with an affordable luxe theme, Dashingly Very Good Living VGD. They embark onto boutique Globeshop with inclusion of Global Local Designer brands & the Personality to Solutions eshop and related content to share and to consult firms. The affordable luxe solutions is also tailored for the individual who may require Marketing to Sourcing tools and services, and pre-paid to ensure their branding of their products to services are as affordable luxe, this also includes the component of Travel Shoppers and Biz Innovators to Artists. After the launch of Olive and Latte Globeshop, Sharon Vu (founder and owner of Public Relations and Marketing consultancy, Vu Marcoms, and suite of companies such as Olive and Latte ABS, engagevu and Elab Perspectives Collab) says, "With Olive and Latte ABS, we came up with the 3 pronged process of the content and sharing to the Globeshop with our love for travels. This is good for branding and marketing for the Artists, Biz Innovators and Shoppers to be searchable, and to ensure their mentions with e-carting and links of their items, books to talks inclusive. With the Consultative approach to companies, who require the asistance checking in at their firms with Olive and Latte Plug & Play, we had requests from the Affordable Luxury category. With our experience in Marketing and Communications with the Media, Hotels and Food and Beverage to Lifestyle related clients and sectors, together with Markus' experience in Corporate and Procurement, we have come up with the boutique Dashingly Very Good Living VGD. Each town has their Local Brand Designers and we look forward to curating and sourcing for more items that we can feature. And with that, comes the Personality to endorse. The Personality could be the individual and company that we consult with, to front their future affordable luxury brand." Markus Flamman, Senior Advisor and Partner in Portfolio for Olive and Latte ABS says, "Having advised Sharon Vu and team, this one plus year has been exciting and we have come up with this concept with 'Solutioning' for the individual to companies that might require products, services and tools that will assist them in the affordable luxury branding category. We hope to take Dashingly Very Good Living VGD to the next level." On the newly launched website https://www.dashinglyverygoodlivingvgd.com/ as of 21 May 2019: Travel Shoppers include: Adeline Quek, Richard the Shanghai expat gentleman, Ms. Meranda, who is based in Thailand, and Sharon Vu. Artists include: Magda Knap, the Dutch artist, and Andy Yang, the local artist who is born in Malaysia. Personality include: Patwant Singh, formerly from Channel News Asia, as the Deputy News Editor and Senior Reporter for Sports, and consulting of the Personality. Designers: Variety of Global Affordable Luxury Local Designer brands that Dashingly Very Good Living VGD will source, procure and partner with. Biz Innovators: Markus Flamman, Joseph Ong Founder and MD of 1-Group, and Tan Chin Kar, Publisher of Write Editions and Celeste Tan Founder of Trinks.sg . For more enquiries and partnership, please email [email protected] or [email protected]. To view the site, please find at https://www.dashinglyverygoodlivingvgd.com/ About Dashingly Very Good Living VGD Through Olive and Latte ABS (www.oliveandlatteabs.com), the company started in 2014 as an online content generation and sharing of stories across social networks and platforms. Olive and Latte eGlobeshop (http://oliveandlatte.com and http://oliveandlatte.myshopify.com), a shop around the corner, was launched on 7 Feb 2018, as an extension and an ecart to describe memorabilia and items from across the globe curated by Olive and Latte with Artists, Shoppers and Biz Innovators. The items have interesting and engaging stories behind them, or sometimes as retail therapy when people travel and getaway. Olive and Latte Plug and Play is an engagement service where they plug into companies in functions to assist and engage, for Public Relations, Marketing and more, with their core of Publicists, Communicators and Marketers. Dashingly Very Good Living VGD has the 3-pronged concept for the Affordable Luxury segment, and with the addition of the e-carting of Marketing to Solutioning services for the Individual and companies pre-paid, and with categories of Global Local Designers that Dashingly Very Good Living VGD will source, partner and procure and with the category of the Personality. Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20190521/2473301-1 SOURCE Dashingly Very Good Living VGD [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 21, 2019] The EY and Guardtime joint venture company signs agreement with China's Zhuhai Port Holdings for future collaboration GUANGZHOU, China, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The EY and Guardtime marine insurance blockchain joint venture company Insurwave Limited today announces a new agreement with Zhuhai Port Holdings Group Co., Ltd. to explore and collaborate on shipping logistics and marine insurance to promote frictionless trade across the Greater Bay Area and beyond. During the World Port Conference in Guangzhou, Karen Maddocks, British Consul-General in Guangzhou and Tenghui Chi, Director-General of the Financial Services Bureau for the Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai, attended as witnesses to the signing on May 8th 2019. Zhuhai Port Holdings Group businesses span across the development, construction, management and operation of ports, land and supporting facilities. Insurwave Limited launched Insurwave, the world's first marine insurance blockchain platform for commercial use, in May 2018. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focuses on the link between marine insurance blockchain technology and port logistics, identifying a strategic cooperation in the marine economy of the Greater Bay Area, which can lead to more efficient and effective global trade conditions. Shaun Crawford, EY Global Vice Chair for Industry, says: "Combining the knowledge from Insurwave with Zhuhai Port Holdings' experience in port logistics, we're pleased to establish a joint initiative for identifying blockchain's applications in ross-border financial services, logistics and trade. Insurwave was developed a year ago to transform how businesses manage risk across their organization and how they work with brokers and (re)insurers. Our hope is this is another step in the right direction and will have the same impact on international trade and port logistics. This agreement comes at a great time and we look forward to supporting the Greater Bay Area plan and the Belt and Road initiative." Botao Liu, Strategic Development Center General Manager of Zhuhai Port Holdings Group, says: "Both parties have a common interest and by leveraging our core strengths we're able to seize the opportunities of the Belt and Road initiative, the opening of the Hong-Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Greater Bay Area to promote the connection between marine insurance blockchain technology and global port logistics." Karen Maddocks, British Consul-General, says: "Insurwave is a great example of a British technology supporting the development of the Greater Bay Area and on this occasion Zhuhai in particular. This innovative British blockchain platform will streamline marine insurance in the Greater Bay Area and boost international trade along the Belt and Road initiative." Tenghui Chi, Director-General of the Financial Services Bureau for the Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai says: "The agreement lays a great foundation for the future win-win collaboration between the two parties. We look forward to supporting upcoming initiatives from Insurwave and Zhuhai Port Holdings that will deliver valuable insights and growth to the marine insurance sector, logistics and trade in the Greater Bay Area." For more information on Insurwave, please visit ey.com/insurance_blockchain. Notes to Editors About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation is available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients. Brendan Beaver EY Global Media Relations +1 908 -642 -5615 [email protected] SOURCE EY [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Marking GDPR Anniversary, nCipher Survey Reveals Americans' Data Privacy Attitudes The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect in the European Union a year ago this month. GDPR, which gives EU citizens more control over their personal data by mandating how businesses must handle that information, has attracted great interest around the world. In addition, it has inspired government officials elsewhere in the world to develop laws addressing consumer data privacy concerns. In recognition of GDPR's first anniversary, nCipher (News - Alert) Security, the provider of trust, integrity and control for business-critical information and applications, conducted a survey to gauge American awareness of and sentiment about data privacy and security laws and issues. The results illustrate that data privacy has become a hot-button issue for Americans. It points to a healthy distrust among Americans about data sharing. And it offers a look at how Americans view data privacy responsibility and what they know about data protection regulations. Many Americans indicate data protection is key to their survival The nCipher survey data indicates that protecting personal information has become of paramount importance for many Americans. More than half (52%) of Americans said data privacy is important to them. Forty-one percent said protecting their personal information is their top concern. Thirty-two percent said safeguarding their personal data is as important to them as their own physical protection. Six percent said only protecting their family is more important than protecting their personal data. People distrust how organizations handle their data There's a healthy amount of distrust among Americans today about how organizations are using their personal information. Sixty-four percent said they don't feel organizations are completely transparent with how they use their customers' personal data. Almost half (49%) said they don't trust companies to keep their private data secure. That may explain why 44% said they don't want to share their personal data under any circumstances. The nCipher research also revealed that: Only 4% of the respondents trust organizations to do what they say they'll do when it comes to not sharing their personal data 28% said nothing makes them trust that their personal data will not be shared 61% of Americans are not OK with some organizations sharing their private data Nearly half of Americans have no idea what GDPR is about Although personal data protection is clearly important to many Americans, 41% were unable to discern what GDPR stands for, even when provided with General Data Protection Regulation as one of the answers. That's despit the fact that GDPR - which is widely considered a step in the right direction in the battle to prevent data misuse - has been in the news recently, with French regulators' move to fine Google (News - Alert) $57 million for GDPR non-compliance grabbing headlines. Many look to the government to address personal data privacy When asked whether the U.S. should adopt personal data privacy laws similar to those in Europe, 33% said no. But that's only a third. And the fact that they don't want European-style legislation doesn't mean they're against data privacy laws entirely. In fact, 44% of Republicans said the U.S. should create laws that fit American needs. Twenty-seven percent of Democrats surveyed said they feel the same way. The largest group (44%) of Americans said the federal government should be in charge of data privacy. About a third (32%) said the states should be in charge of data privacy regulations. Broader data security requirements take hold at the state level Many states are answering the call. Thirty-one U.S. states have established laws regulating the secure destruction or disposal of personal information, with at least a dozen states imposing broader data security requirements. California is a pioneer on this front. Legislators there have passed the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), which takes effect January 2020. While this major initiative is only months away, there is a great need for education both nationally and within California, as about half (49%) of Americans nationwide admitted they don't know what CCPA is, based on nCipher's study. Even among those who have heard of CCPA, there is a lot of confusion. Only 12% correctly said CCPA makes nationwide organizations protect California residents' personal data. Within California, the results look somewhat better. Forty-nine percent of Californians chose CCPA's correct definition, although 42% of Californians admitted they don't know what CCPA is. Cindy Provin, chief executive officer at nCipher Security says: "Government mandates such as GDPR and the CCPA, which are fundamentally designed to discourage the misuse of data, give consumers the reassurances they want. There's an unprecedented awareness of the importance of data security, with business customers and consumers alike demanding trust, integrity and control when it comes to how companies manage their data. The best defense is a proactive one, and the right mix of data security tools and internal education provides a firm foundation. Encryption, digital signing and key generation are critical components of any data security strategy, as properly encrypted data is useless to hackers even if a breach does occur." Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - search nCipherSecurity. About nCipher Security Today's fast-moving digital environment enhances customer satisfaction, gives competitive advantage and improves operational efficiency. It also multiplies the security risks. nCipher Security, a leader in the general-purpose hardware security module (HSM) market, empowers world-leading organizations by delivering trust, integrity and control to their business-critical information and applications. Our cryptographic solutions secure emerging technologies - such as cloud, IoT, blockchain, and digital payments - and help meet new compliance mandates, using the same proven technology that global organizations depend on today to protect against threats to their sensitive data, network communications and enterprise infrastructure. We deliver trust for your business-critical applications, ensuring the integrity of your data and putting you in complete control - today, tomorrow and at all times. www.ncipher.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005084/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Capital divestment from State-owned enterprises (SOEs) had slowed and was still facing difficulties, said Dang Quyet Tien, Director of the Corporate Finance Department under the Ministry of Finance. The process needed to be sped up and avoid corruption that led to loss of state capital, he said. According to the target set by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the State had been tasked with divesting from more than 400 SOEs over 2017-2020. In 2018 alone, the State should have divested capital from 181 enterprises, followed by 62 enterprises in 2019. However, Tien said the progress of State divestment had fallen short of the target. In 2018, the divestment was carried out at only 54 enterprises, and no more movement had been seen in the early months of 2019, including the 127 enterprises that delayed divestment in 2018. Do Van Sinh, permanent member of the Economic Committee of the National Assembly, said many businesses could not find a way to avoid losses from divestment. He believed that share sales in lots was a successful method for capital divestment. State divestment of the Saigon-Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation (Sabeco) helped the State collect about 5 billion USD, and the deal for Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) also brought in about 9 trillion VND (385 million USD). The application of this method could help firms avoid losses, Sinh said. In addition to capital divestment, the value of businesses who suffered losses was even more difficult, Tien said. Tien said the process of divesting from units with loss-suffering projects was always difficult. For example, Phuong Nam Pulp Mill, a subsidiary of the Vietnam Paper Corporation (Vinapaco), had been put up for auction several times without success. Another notable problem was that a large part of post-equitised enterprises had not registered for trading or listing on the stock market. A report by the Ministry of Finance showed that in 2018, there were 667 enterprises that had already been equitised but not yet registered for listing on the stock market. Le Thi Thu Ha, Deputy Director of the Securities Offering Management Department under the State Securities Commission, said stock listings had not been attached to equitisation process as businesses were not aware of the benefits of listing shares. Sluggish listings had affected the openness and transparency of the market, thus limiting the supervision of enterprises. According to Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai, the ministry would direct the State Securities Commission to impose sanctions on equitised firms that did not register to list shares on time. Land use rights was also another problems for divestments, Mai said. According to banking and finance expert Can Van Luc, the approval process was still slow, leading to a situation that when a project is approved, the price of assets had already changed due to market conditions, making it difficult for buyers to decide. Luc said the State should take drastic action to withdraw capital to mobilise resources for development and investment, promoting the country's economic growth and reducing public debt. In order to help reach divestment targets in 2020, Tien said ministries, branches and localities must instruct firms to accelerate the divestment process. At the same time, enterprises should set up usage plans for their land in accordance with the law.-VNS/VNA Hwang In-kyeong, 21, stands in her favorite section of the school library, Wednesday. Hwang enrolled in the Creative Writing Department at the Seoul Institute of the Arts' Ansan campus in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, in March. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Lee Suh-yoon Hwang In-kyeong, 21, still wakes up every morning thinking she has to go to work. Hwang, a first-year creative writing major at an arts university in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, says her current life feels unreal and incomparably better than before. Hwang started working at the age of 19 after graduating from a vocational high school with qualifications for administration and accounting tasks. Her first job was as an office worker in a trust company's auditing team. She later switched jobs to manage stores and merchandise for a firm selling mobile cartoon character goods. None of them suited her, or proved bearable enough to continue. Her last job was at a hagwon, which she recalls was "a lot of repetitive work on a chair." "I live an autonomous life now," she says. Hwang became a recipient of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's youth allowance program last year. The program provides unemployment benefits to lower- and middle-class residents aged 19 to 34 who lack full-time jobs. Around 5,000 applicants are chosen usually once a year and given a monthly allowance of 500,000 won ($418) for up to six months. "It's like someone is supporting us, in case we trip and fall," Hwang said, referring to Seoul City's youth allowance program. / Korea Times photo by Sim Hyun-chul For Hwang, it was a second chance to get the life she wanted becoming a novelist. She split the sum in half, spending one part on a prep academy for creative writing and the other to shore up living expenses, letting her spend less time at her part-time cafe job. "The biggest mental obstacle I had when giving up a company job was losing a sense of belonging to society, not knowing how I would introduce myself to people without it," she said. That worry proved to be unnecessary, thanks to community-building and support programs at the city's youth support center. She mingled with other participants at various talent building and therapy classes, ranging from poetry to African dance. "I had time to think, I had a support group who believed in me. For the first time in my life, I felt like I could try something." She now gives back to the community while attending school, interviewing and writing autobiographies for senior citizens through a city hall volunteer program. According to the city government's recent survey of 2,002 youth allowance beneficiaries from 2017, around 6 percent are now active in the creative arts sector like Hwang. Another 39 percent are now employed and 2 percent have started their own businesses. Compared to similar programs by other regional governments and the labor ministry, Seoul City's youth allowance scheme allows recipients to decide for themselves how the money is spent. The 500,000 won is directly sent to a special debit card held by the recipient, which can be swiped anywhere except casinos, bars or upscale hotels. Cash withdrawal is also possible. A youth unemployment benefit scheme by the central government only allows the money to be spent on specified test prep, academic institutions and books. Sim Kyu-hyeop, 30, a youth community leader with the city's support center, poses in front of a March 1 Independence Movement mural at Donuimun Museum Village. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Due to this autonomy, however, the program has been the subject of media scrutiny since its creation in 2016. Some called it a populist policy and a waste of taxpayer money. Others fretted it might provide a moral hazard and discourage participants from working as soon as possible. Kim Young-kyung, the director of youth policy at Seoul Metropolitan Government, disagrees. "Young people in their 20s and 30s look for jobs and social roles where they can exercise their autonomy," Kim says. "Instead of channeling funds directly to job training institutes and job providers like other youth employment support schemes, the youth allowance scheme allows young people to freely decide how the money is spent on them." Sim Kyu-hyeop, another youth allowance recipient from last year, is partaking in the program again this year this time as one of the community leaders who reaches out to and plans projects with participants in the Gangnam-gu area. "It's a meaningful challenge in my life. Meeting people from diverse backgrounds, learning from them and growing as a person in the process," Sim says. "I know I won't be able to fit in a private Korean firm where I just follow orders from above. I want to actively do things with other young people," Sim says. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul [May 22, 2019] Big data becomes a new growth point of Guizhou's development GUIZHOU, China, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Organizing Committee of the 2019 Big Data Expo -- China International Big Data Industry Expo 2019, also known as 2019 Big Data Expo, will be held from May 26 to 29 in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province. The 2019 Big Data Expo will include activities such as high-end dialogues, forums, contests, exhibitions and other colorful events, which will spotlight the latest technical innovations and achievements and provide an international platform for interaction, presentation and promotion of hi-tech companies. In fact, Guizhou started a journey to be a pacesetter in China's big data industry since 2013. In 2017, Guiyang established 1,200 big data enterprises with main business income worth 81.7 billion yuan. The new driving force represented by big data industry contributed to Guiyang's economic growth, injecting great momentu into the economic growth of Guiyang whose growth rate ranked first among capital cities for five consecutive years. As of 2018, internationally well-known tech companies that have settled in Guiyang High-tech Industrial Development Zone include Intel, Google, Dell, IBM, Baidu, Huawei Cloud and Alibaba. In 2018, the main business income of big data enterprises in this zone reached 24.18 billion yuan, registering a year-on-year increase of 26.2%. In fact, the development of big data industry in Guizhou is inseparable from the political support of China's central government and the local government. In January 2012, China's State Council issued the Several Opinions on Promoting Better, Sound and Rapid Economic and Social Development of Guizhou, specifying the development of industries of strategic importance such as electronic industry and information technology industry. Closely following the national development strategy, several policies on the layout and planning of big data were introduced in 2014, elaborating on the industry orientation and development direction. In 2015, the Guiyang International Big Data Expo 2015 & Global Big Data Era Guiyang Summit were held from May 26 to 29 at the Guiyang International Conference & Exhibition Center, marking the start of the Big Data Expo. Since then, the Expo has become an annual big data event with a focus on industry frontiers and win-win cooperation. In 2016, Guizhou was approved to build China's first National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Area. SOURCE The Organizing Committee of the 2019 Big Data Expo [May 22, 2019] Managed Service Providers Focused on Becoming Strategic Advisors in 2019 Datto, Inc., the leading global provider of IT solutions delivered through managed service providers (MSPs), today announced the release of its third annual State of the MSP Report. Based on a survey of more than 1,600 MSP partners around the globe, the report showcases the continued evolution of the MSP industry, as MSPs become more strategic advisors to their clients and derive a larger portion of their revenue through recurring IT services. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005090/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) "The survey shows what we see every day -- it's a great time to be an MSP. It's a positively charged environment," said Rob Rae, vice president of business development, Datto. "Almost half of surveyed partners have been working in the industry for more than 15 years and nearly 100 percent of them said that right now is the best time to be in their industry. For more than a decade, Datto has been passionate about providing the right technology to MSPs, who support the backbone of the economy through their work with small businesses." As IT plys a growing role in the success of SMBs everywhere, IT service providers are adjusting their business model to include more managed services. The survey found that more than 80 percent of MSPs report recurring services driving a portion of their revenue, highlighting an industry shift from IT service providers solely modeled on ad-hoc services to becoming more strategic advisors to their SMB clients. In fact, 44 percent of respondents stated that more than 50 percent of their revenue is a result of recurring services. "SMBs in particular struggle with increasing IT complexity, an explosion in security threats, greater compliance demands, and intensifying skills shortages. More than ever, companies are turning to trusted IT partners to help solve these challenges," said Alastair Edwards, chief analyst, Canalys. "Canalys research shows that more than 80 percent of channel partners around the world now offer some form of managed service. To stay ahead, IT service providers must evolve their businesses, shifting towards more recurring revenue and greater industry specialization. Partnerships with the right technology companies and platform providers will be critical to success." To better capture managed services revenue, MSPs are expanding their portfolios with services they might not traditionally think to offer on a recurring contract, such as Networking as a service. SMBs are willing to pay for managed services to keep their IT infrastructure and networks running efficiently. In addition to taking on a more strategic role and expanding their solutions sets, 56 percent of MSPs specialize in services for a particular industry, with healthcare holding the number one spot for the second year in a row. To keep pace with the growth in managed services, 71 percent of MSPs plan to hire more employees in the next 12 months. While marketing and sales remain the top challenges, the data shows that MSPs are becoming savvier about this aspect of their business. Security concerns also remain a top priority for MSPs and their clients. Ransomware and cybersecurity have almost doubled as a pain point, from 14 percent in 2017 to 30 percent in 2019. To read the findings, access the State of the MSP Report here. About Datto As the world's leading provider of IT solutions delivered by Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Datto believes there is no limit to what small and medium businesses can achieve with the right technology. Datto offers business continuity and disaster recovery, networking, business management, and file backup and sync solutions, and has created a one-of-a-kind ecosystem of partners that provide Datto solutions to half a million businesses across more than 130 countries. Since its founding in 2007, Datto has earned hundreds of awards for its rapid growth, product excellence, superior technical support, and for fostering an outstanding workplace. With global headquarters in Norwalk, Connecticut, Datto has international offices in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Canada, Australia, China, and Singapore. Learn more at datto.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005090/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Creditflux Selects Monroe Capital as the 2019 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund Monroe Capital LLC ("Monroe") was selected as the recipient of the 2019 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund by Creditflux, a London-based global publication and leading information source for the rapidly evolving market for credit funds and CLOs. The award was presented to the firm's Monroe Capital Senior Secured Direct Loan Fund LP. Creditflux's Credit Symposium and Manager Awards took place May 8, 2019 in London, England. The 11th Creditflux Manager Awards are fully quantitative performance-based awards for the global CLO and credit fund management industry. Each year, they reward the best performance throughout the world over the previous 12 months. This year, 18 awards were given to managers of private credit funds, high yield funds, CLOs and hedge funds from across the industry and the globe, representing a wide range of strategies and styles. The direct lending awards are calculated based on several criteria including a combination of net IRR, leverage calculations, and capital deployed. Monroe is a private credit asset management firm specializing in direct lending and opportunistic private credit, providing senior and junior debt financing to businesses, special situation borrowers, and private equity sponsors. This year, Creditflux selected Monroe as a finalist in two categories: "Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund" and "Best ew Middle-Market CLO." "We are extremely honored to be recognized by Creditflux as the Best Direct Lending Fund in the U.S. for 2019," said Ted Koenig, President and CEO of Monroe Capital LLC. "Our nomination as Best New Middle-Market CLO and our selection as Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund for the second year in a row is indicative of the depth and breadth of the Monroe Capital private credit platform. For over 15 years we have provided consistent, uncorrelated, high risk adjusted returns to our investors and shareholders throughout the world. We are pleased to be selected for this prestigious award which was based on purely data driven limited partner return metrics." About Monroe Capital Monroe Capital LLC ("Monroe") is a private credit asset management firm specializing in direct lending and opportunistic private credit investing. Since 2004, the firm has provided private credit solutions to borrowers in the U.S. and Canada. Monroe's middle market lending platform provides debt financing to businesses, special situation borrowers, and private equity sponsors. Investment types include cash flow, enterprise value and asset-based loans; unitranche financings; and equity co-investments. Monroe is committed to being a value-added and user-friendly partner to business owners, senior management, and private equity and independent sponsors. The firm is headquartered in Chicago and maintains offices in Atlanta, Boston, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. Monroe has been recognized by Creditflux as the 2019 Best U.S. Direct Lending Fund; Private Debt Investor as the 2018 Lower Mid-Market Lender of the Year; Mergers & Acquisitions as the 2018 Lender of the Year; Global M&A Network as the 2018 Small Middle Markets Lender of the Year; M&A Advisor as the 2016 Lender Firm of the Year; and the U.S. Small Business Administration as the 2015 Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) of the Year. For more information, please visit www.monroecap.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005188/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Media Alert: Farsight Security CEO Dr. Paul Vixie to Present at Infosecurity Europe SAN MATEO, Calif., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- What: Industry pioneer and Farsight Security Chairman, CEO and Cofounder Dr. Paul Vixie , will present Short, Brutal & Nasty: New Domains and Their Life & Times at the annual Infosecurity Europe Conference in London. Infosecurity Europe is Europes largest and most comprehensive Information Security event. Domain names are cheap, easy-to-get assets the perfect tool for the perfect crime. In this presentation, Dr. Vixie will reveal the industry conditions that have sparked the explosion of domain names; explain how new domains are being abused for cybercrime; and finally, outline tools, techniques and procedures security professionals can put in place to reduce the risk posed by new domains. Learning Outcomes: Domain names are critical to an organizations branding and operations Bad actors have learned to exploit new domains to commit crime New domains can be exploited to for zero-day attacks, counterfeit websites, phishing and other malicious activity Reputation services, blacklists do not provide immediate protection against new domains Organizations can implement necessary techniques, procedures and policies to mitigate risks posed by new domains DNSDB DNSDB Scout Who: Dr. Paul Vixie, Chairman, CEO & Cofounder Farsight Security, Inc. @FarsightSecInc When: Wednesday, June 5th, 2019 10:40 AM, Tech Talks Theatre Note: Attendance to Infosecurity Europe is required to attend this session Where: Infosecurity Europe, 4-6 June 2019 Olympia London Hammersmith Road Kensington London W14 8UX United Kingdom Tweet This: Dr. Paul Vixie from @FarsightSecInc to speak at @Infosecurity on 6/5 @10:40 AM. #infosec19 #DNS #ThreatIntel #DFIR Interview Opportunities Dr. Paul Vixie, Chairman, CEO and Cofounder of Farsight Security, is available to discuss Short, Brutal & Nasty: New Domains and Their Life & Times and the cybersecurity risks associated with new domains including phishing, botnets, fraud, and DDoS attacks. About Farsight Security, Inc. Farsight Security, Inc . is the worlds largest provider of historical and real-time DNS intelligence solutions. We enable security teams to qualify, enrich and correlate all sources of threat data and ultimately save time when it is most critical - during an attack or investigation. Our solutions provide enterprise, government and security industry personnel and platforms with unmatched global visibility, context and response. Farsight Security is headquartered in San Mateo, California, USA. Learn more about how we can empower your threat platform and security team with Farsight Security passive DNS solutions at www.farsightsecurity.com or follow us on Twitter: @FarsightSecInc. Contact: Karen Burke Director of Corporate Communications Farsight Security, Inc. 650-814-3764 [email protected] [May 22, 2019] Orbital Insight Launches GO Platform to Give Customers the Power to Monitor the World's Economic Activity Orbital Insight announced today the launch of its commercial geospatial analytics product, GO, to empower customers to monitor change anywhere on Earth. The multi-source intelligence platform ingests and contextualizes millions of data points from satellite imagery, SAR sensors, geolocation data from nearly 800 million connected devices, and other sensors to provide observations based on the user's criteria. Financial institutions, corporates, NGOs and governments can leverage GO's proprietary computer vision and data science algorithms to monitor activity in their areas of interest - from oil supply in OPEC to foot traffic at U.S. retail outlets to deforestation in the Amazon - all in near real-time. GO, a SaaS (News - Alert) tool that runs in the cloud and is integrated with various geospatial data providers, allows customers to gain objective, transparent and timely analytics on a global scale and on a daily basis. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005114/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) Customers can leverage Orbital Insight's curated "data feeds" on the first day of their subscription, delivering normalized information on a daily cadence across key sectors - these feeds include: GO Energy , which provides the only daily, comprehensive and objective estimates of global and regional crude oil inventories , which provides the only daily, comprehensive and objective estimates of global and regional crude oil inventories GO Consumer , which monitors foot traffic data covering 300,000 retail locations as well as mall analytics acoss 3,300 key U.S. shopping centers , which monitors foot traffic data covering 300,000 retail locations as well as mall analytics acoss 3,300 key U.S. shopping centers GO Refineries, which tracks daily refinery activity to identify the start and end of plant maintenance in order to gain critical supply data 2-3 days faster than any market alternative GO Create allows the user to create their own data feed by specifying what they want to count and measure, where, and over any period of time. Orbital Insight will continue expanding its offering of curated data feeds to the GO platform over the coming weeks and months. Those in development include feeds monitoring auto manufacturing, mining, and real estate. "GO puts the power of Orbital Insight's intelligence and data platform into customers' hands - giving investors, corporates, governments and other organizations the ability to monitor a huge range of economic events across the globe as they happen," said Dr. James Crawford, Chief Executive Officer at Orbital Insight. "GO pulls enormous quantities of data from multiple types of sensors from all over the world, applies Orbital Insight's proprietary computer vision and data science algorithms, and delivers observable, actionable insights to customers to help them make better business and policy decisions." Customers can use GO, for example, to monitor workforce trends at Tesla's factory in Fremont, California. GO's foot traffic counts at the factory are highly correlated to publicly announced auto production numbers, and the data is available to users ahead of the market and with the ability to be directly placed into a financial model. Customers interested in U.S. fracking activity can use GO to track activity at any and every frack pad in the U.S. with the ability to zero in on a particular basin or region of interest. GO monitors foot and vehicle traffic at frack sites to determine stages of drill prep, ongoing activity and completion as a reliable indicator of production. GO can also offer insights in response to major natural disasters like hurricanes. By simply selecting an area of interest in a hurricane's path in GO, customers can monitor vehicle and geolocation traffic to any major retail outlet during storm prep, the storm itself and the recovery period in order to derive immediate insights into the performance of a retail brand like Home Depot or Walmart before the release of publicly reported earnings figures. To learn more and trial Orbital Insight GO, please visit www.orbitalinsight.com About Orbital Insight Orbital Insight leverages machine learning and computer vision to analyze petabytes of multi-source data, including satellite and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, geolocation intelligence, and vessel traffic (AIS) data, to understand what is happening on and to the Earth. By monitoring the world's geopolitical and economic activities with unprecedented timeliness, Orbital Insight provides its customers-securities analysts, energy traders, NGO analysts and analysts in federal defense, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies-with unbiased and normalized datasets, empowering them to make better business and policy decisions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005114/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] FDB Releases Expanded Canadian French Drug Knowledge FDB (First Databank, Inc.), the leading provider of drug and medical device knowledge that helps healthcare professionals make precise decisions, today announced the release of FDB MedKnowledge Canada with additional clinician-facing content in Canadian French to support bi-lingual app development for the safe use of medications for a variety of healthcare applications. With the French-speaking population across Canada estimated at 21 percent of all Canadians and the province of Quebec at 95 percent, the inclusion of Canadian French is a requirement to support National health IT initiatives that use medication content within information systems serving Quebec and other French speaking regions. The expanded Canadian French content now encompasses drug dosing and precautions modules covering geriatric and pediatric patients, as well as those who are pregnant or lactating. It also covers drug-drug interaction clinical screening with professional monographs that encompass more in-depth details on drug interactions to provide actionable information in the clinical workflow. In 2016, FDB released Canadian French content for drug descriptive information such as drug names, dose forms and routes; and clinical decision support for drug-allergy and duplicate therapy screening. Now with the expanded clinician-facing content, information system developers will be able to program to a single database structure from FDB to ensure consistency in functionality of health applications in both English and French serving the Canadian market. "For more than three decades, our Canadian customers have placed their trust in FDB and the medication content we provide to support essential health IT applications," said Chuck Tuchinda, MD, MBA, president, FDB. "With the additional clinical content we have now released in Canadian French, we have expanded our commitment to serving our customers in this market to ensure there are no limiting factors in creating bi-lingual applications for optimal use of drugs across the healthcare spectrum." FDB MedKnowledge Canada is the healthcare industry's most widely used source of drug information utilized at the point of care. Encompassing drugs and natural health products approved by Health Canada, it combines descriptive drug information and unique identifiers with an extensive array of clinical decision support modules. FDB MedKnowledge Canada helps pharmacists, physicians, nurses and other medical professionals avoid medication errors, prevent adverse drug events, reduce drug-related expenses and improve the quality of patient care. To learn more about these and other FDB solutions, visit our new Canadian website in both English and French, and speak with the FDB staff in booth #43 at the upcoming eHealth Conference, May 26 - 29, 2019, in Toronto, ON (News - Alert). About First Databank FDB is the leading provider of drug and medical device knowledge that helps healthcare professionals make precise decisions. With thousands of customers worldwide, FDB enables our information system developer partners to deliver valuable, useful, and differentiated solutions. We offer more than four decades of experience in transforming medical knowledge into actionable, targeted, and effective solutions that help improve patient safety, operational efficiency, and healthcare outcomes. For a complete look at our solutions and services, please visit www.fdbhealth.com or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. About Hearst Health The mission of Hearst Health is to help guide the most important care moments by delivering vital information into the hands of everyone who touches a person's health journey. Each year in the U.S., care guidance from Hearst Health reaches 85 percent of discharged patients, 205 million insured individuals, 77 million home health visits and 3.2 billion dispensed prescriptions. The Hearst Health network includes FDB (First Databank), Zynx Health, MCG, Homecare Homebase, MHK (formerly MedHOK-Medical House of Knowledge) and Hearst Health Ventures (www.hearsthealth.com). Hearst also holds a minority interest in the precision medicine and oncology analytics company M2Gen. Follow Hearst Health on Twitter (News - Alert) @HearstHealth or LinkedIn (News - Alert) @Hearst-Health. 2019 First Databank, Inc. Part of the Hearst Health network. All trademarks mentioned herein are the properties of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005023/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Solabia Group Announces its Acquisition of Algatech, a Global Leader in the Microalgae Industry Solabia Group ("Solabia") today announces that it has acquired Algatech Ltd. ("Algatech" or "the Company"), a global innovative leader in the development, cultivation and commercialisation of ingredients delivered from microalgae and used by leading food supplement, food and cosmetic brands worldwide. Solabia, a family-owned company working closely with its minority partner TA Associates, is a global leader in biotechnology, fine chemicals and plant extraction technologies, and provides a range of active ingredients used by the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, diagnostic and nutrition industries worldwide. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005336/en/ Founded in 1998 and located in the Arava desert in southern Israel, Algatech is leading innovation in the microalgae industry and is one of the very few companies in the world to have perfected commercial-scale production at the very highest standard. Algatech's mission is to unlock and share the immense power of microalgae by bringing algae-based products to market and continuing to explore its limitless and wide-ranging applications. Over the past two decades, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest photobioreactor facilities, and a leading biotech business in the nutraceuticals sector. Algatech has complete oversight and control of its value and supply chains - from research, science, IP and cultivation to product development, testing and marketing - and can deliver tailored end-to-end solutions to meet its customers' needs. Algatech currently exports to more than 35 countries worldwide, serving leading brands across the nutrition, cosmetic and food and beverage industries. Algatech has realised high double-digit top line growth over the last several years and this trajectory will accelerate with Solabia's backing. The strategic investment from Solabia will support Algatech's continued focus on R&D and product development, as well as the expansion of its production capabilities, enabling the Company to serve the increasing global demand for microalgae. Algatech will become the centrepiece of Solabia's nutrition division and the combination will allow both companies to benefit from the combined network and expertise, as well as to access new marketing channels and an expanded customer base. The transaction represents a full realisation of UK-based investment firms Grovepoint Capital and JCA Charitable Foundation in Algatech, while Kibbutz Ketura will retain a minority share. Commenting on the acquisition, Hagai Stadler, Chief Executive Officer of Algatech, said: "We are excited to announce Algatech's acquisition by Solabia. It marks a significant milestone for the Company and all of the people behind its success to date and is an important step towards realising our mission to unlock the power and share the benefits of microalgae with the world. Together with Solabia, we are poised to extend the Algatech growth story as part of a larger organisation with an extensive global footprint, a shared commitment to innovation, research and development, and an unwavering focus on utilising the benefits of microalgae to elevate the health of all of us. "I am thankful for the hard work and dedication of our employees, and the incredible support of our previous investors Grovepoint Capital and JCA Charitable Foundation over the past six years." Gerard Josset, Chief Executive Officer of Solabia Group, commented: "Algatech's pioneering R&D, impressive manufacturing facilities, market eading product portfolio and established customer base brings the opportunity for Solabia to be present in both fields of macroalgae and microalgae whose futures are very promising. Following our acquisition of Algues & Mer in 2016, this investment will allow us to further strengthen our position in the nutrition and food supplement markets. We are looking forward to working with Algatech and its accomplished team to accelerate the growth of its current product portfolio, as well as to develop new algae-based products for the cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries. "The strength of Algatech's team of experts is undeniable and we are excited and honoured to have them join the Solabia Group." Bradley Fried, Co-Founder and Partner at Grovepoint Capital, added: "When we invested in Algatech six years ago, we recognised growth opportunities in the microalgae industry and saw significant potential for Algatech as a leader in that space. The talented team of experts at Algatech have successfully managed to harness the power of microalgae and its related applications, bringing the company's products to an increasing customer-base across the world. We have been proud of Algatech's growth and development, and wish Solabia and the company every success in its next stage of development." Sir Stephen Waley-Cohen, Chairman of JCA Charitable Foundation, said: "We have been involved since the very start of Algatech, a ground-breaking project leveraging science from Ben Gurion University to create innovative products in the desert. We are very proud of the high level of employment achieved at Kibbutz Ketura, and the world-beating products which are developed at Algatech. Realising our investment will enable us to support many more projects in the rural periphery of Israel." Advisors Peter Sugarman from Yigal Arnon & Co. served as legal counsel to Algatech and Asaf Nahum from Herzog Fox & Neeman served as legal counsel to Solabia in Israel. Mishcon de Reya served as legal counsel to Algatech and Latham & Watkins served as legal counsel to Solabia in the UK. - ENDS - Notes to Editors About Algatech Algatech is a world leader in the research, cultivation and commercialisation of microalgae, one of the earliest life forms and a proven source of crucial nutrients. Based at Kibbutz Ketura in southern Israel, the Company's mission is to unlock the immense health benefits of these vital plants through meticulous R&D and cutting-edge technology. The company currently exports its products to leading brands in more than 35 countries worldwide across the nutrition, cosmetics, food and beverages industries. Since its inception in 1998, Algatech has collated a team of 70 global experts and pioneers in biology, engineering, science, production and technology, all passionate and committed to breaking new ground in the development and productisation of microalgae. From its state-of-the-art eco-friendly facility in Israel's Arava Desert, the team has developed techniques to cultivate algae in over 600km of greenhouse-like glass tubes, a process operated entirely on renewable energy. The location's harsh and stable climate, high year-round light intensity and clean, unpolluted air are critical to successful and sustainable algae production. The process is designed to mimic nature's processes using solar energy and recycled wastewater, with the only waste produced being oxygen. The near million different species of algae have the potential to be hugely valuable sources of ingredients, including proteins, omegas, vitamins, carotenoids and polysaccharides, but only a handful are currently commercialised. Leveraging its cutting edge eco-friendly technologies and state-of-the-art scientific methods, the Company has become the leading manufacturer and supplier of astaxanthin, one of the world's most powerful antioxidants sourced from the microalgae Haematococcus pluvialis, which it markets as AstaPure Astaxanthin and sells as an active bulk ingredient to customers worldwide. Algatech also recently started to market FucoVital, from the microalgae Phaeodactylum, a proprietary composition for targeting liver health and metabolism syndrome. Algatech has an ambitious product pipeline that will add significant value to the wellbeing of humans and animals around the world. Algatech plans to introduce additional novel ingredients in the coming years and bring new ingredients sourced from microalgae to a market currently worth 2 billion USD. More information about Algatech can be found at www.algatech.com About Microalgae At the very basis of the food chain and containing almost all the basic nutritional elements of life, microalgae are recognised as one of the most promising long-term, sustainable sources for food, health, chemicals and other co-products. While there is substantial evidence for the health benefits of algae-derived food products, from improving heart, eyes and brain health to boosting immunity and improving skin health, algae are increasingly being consumed for functional benefits beyond the traditional considerations of nutrition and health. Not only has microalgae become a fundamental component of some of the world's most common and widely used consumer products, such as cosmetics and food supplements, but it also has the potential to address the growing population's need for a more sustainable food supply, specifically with respect to vegan sources of protein and high value lipids demands. About Solabia Group Solabia is a vertically-integrated manufacturer of natural active ingredients for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and microbiology industries. Solabia also produces culture media, supplements, detection kits and peptones for the food testing and pharmaceutical industries. With six production facilities and multiple R&D centres, the company offers an extensive range of natural active principles and ingredients for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Solabia is a major player in the global cosmetic ingredients market with presence in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa. Under the brand Biokar, Solabia is also active in the development, production and selling of raw materials and of culture media, supplements and detection kits for microbiology laboratories. The company's products are principally used in the agro-food industry to detect bacteria, such as salmonella, legionella or listeria. More information about Solabia can be found at www.solabia.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005336/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Both Ends Believing Selected as Kershaw's Challenge Beneficiary PLANO, Texas, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Both Ends Believing (BEB) announced today that the nonprofit has been named a beneficiary of Kershaw's Challenge for 2019. Kershaw's Challenge was formed in 2011 by Ellen and Clayton Kershaw to support non-profits focusing on at-risk children. Since 2011, the longtime Los Angeles Dodger pitcher and his wife, through Kershaw's Challenge, have invested more than $7.5 million to support various causes that meet the needs and challenges of the world's most vulnerable children. Their primary focus in the United States is on Los Angeles and Dallas, while the international effort supports the Dominican Republic and Zambia. International alignment with Both Ends Believing is a natural fit for Kershaw's Challenge as there is a significant Children Firt software implementation effort underway in the Dominican Republic. Both Ends Believing's partnership with the Dominican Republic is supported by five years of relationships that have been cultivated with the central government child welfare authority, CONANI. "Kershaw's strategy is to go deep with its beneficiaries and showcase their work. BEB is very honored to be one of its three partnerships working outside of the United States," commented Frank Garrott, chief operating officer for Both Ends Believing. Kershaw's Challenge's support together with Both Ends Believing's collaborative global working group of 25 countries will help orphaned children around the world get a step closer to a loving family by using its technology platform and the Children First software solution. In 2018, BEB held its first African Summit in Lusaka, Zambia with more than 75 attendees, including five African nations and the U.S. Department of State. BEB hopes to expand its CFS technology into Zambia with the assistance and guidance of Kershaw's Challenge. "It is a great honor to partner with Both Ends Believing this year. They are a unique organization, and it's a joy to shine a spotlight on the work they are doing. BEB shares our heart to care for vulnerable children all over the world. How can we serve these children if we don't know who they are? That's why we love the work of BEB finding those children, giving them a name and identity, to get them into a forever family. Their work is critical, and we will do our part in making it possible," said Clayton and Ellen Kershaw. About Both Ends Believing Both Ends Believing (formerly Both Ends Burning) was founded in January of 2010 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization to promote family-based outcomes for vulnerable children. We envision a world in which every child grows up in a family. Our primary goal is to minimize institutional care for at risk children and redirect these children into reunification with their family, foster or kinship care, or placement into domestic and international adoption programs. Contact: Cheryl Bochner Both Ends Believing 480-699-5161 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/both-ends-believing-selected-as-kershaws-challenge-beneficiary-300854571.html SOURCE Both Ends Believing [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Inspire, Provoke and Disrupt: PlanSource Releases 2019 Eclipse Agenda ORLANDO, Fla., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PlanSource , a leading provider of cloud-based benefits software and services, today announced the agenda for its upcoming Eclipse conference, taking place in Park City, Utah from July 16 18, 2019. Offering a mix of thought-provoking, unique and entertaining content, PlanSource Eclipse will explore the future of HR, benefits and insurance across more than 20 groundbreaking sessions, featuring over 35 engaging speakers. On stage, attendees will hear from guest keynote presenters Aron Ralston, fearless adventurer, author of Between a Rock and a Hard Place and subject of the film 127 Hours, and Andy Neary, healthcare strategist and former pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. Additional speakers include Dr. Jarik Conrad, Senior Director, HCM Innovation, Ultimate Software; David Gilberston, Vice President, Strategy & Operations for Kronos; Brad Knox, Executive Vice President, Federal Relations for Aflac; Amanda Lannert, CEO of Jellyvision; and Laurie Ruettimann, Founder, LFR LLC and host of the podcast, Lets Fix Work, among others. The general and breakout sessions will cover a varety of critical topics impacting the space, including the employee experience in todays world, HCM technology for benefits advisors, the benefits of effective onboarding, HR megatrends and putting innovation into action. Continuing education credits are available for HRCI and SHRM approved sessions. In addition to the educational aspect, attendees will have ample opportunity for networking during activities like the Eclipse Wine & Food Festival while enjoying the Montage Deer Valley Resort location. Eclipse is a truly magical event and were delighted to bring it back to Park City this year, said Nancy Sansom, Chief Commercial Officer of PlanSource. From the dynamic speakers and attendees to the unique setting and networking events, its a one-of-a-kind experience that puts the changing dynamics of HR, benefits and insurance front and center. HR and benefits play a crucial role in employees lives, and we are delighted to bring together stakeholders from across the industry to share experiences, make sense of the changing landscape and find the new ways to build the best benefits experience possible. Registration for PlanSource Eclipse is open and available. Visit eclipse.plansource.com to learn more and see the full agenda. About PlanSource PlanSource is a technology company driven to create a better benefits experience for employees and the HR teams that support them. Nearly 4.5 million consumers receive their benefits through the PlanSource platform, which provides flexible and intuitive software and services for benefits administration. By combining industry-leading software and a full suite of technology-enabled services, PlanSource provides companies of all sizes with a complete solution for benefits shopping, enrollment, billing, compliance and administration. Learn more at www.plansource.com . PlanSource is a registered trademark of PlanSource, Inc., and PlanSource owns other registered and unregistered trademarks. Other names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners. Press Contact Jeanne Achille The Devon Group for PlanSource +1-732-706-0123 ext. 700 [email protected] Bill Fryman Director of Communications, PlanSource 843.697.8792 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Rokk3r Inc. Files Quarterly Report for the First Quarter Ended March 31, 2019 Miami, FL, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Rokk3r Inc. (Rokk3r) (OTCQB: ROKK), a global idea-to-exit consulting services company that leverages exponential technologies to generate value, on May 20, 2019 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. The filing can be found at: https://www.rokk3r.com/sec-filings/ . Recent Highlights and Accomplishments: Rokk3r Ops Inc. (Rokk3r Ops), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, formed Rokk3r Flamingo Inc., as a subsidiary, to develop a social travel recommendation platform leveraging publicly available geosocial data points that provide consumers with authentic ways to decide where to go and what their best experiences could be. The Company anticipates the launch of the first version of the platform in the third quarter of 2019. Rokk3r Flamingo Inc. has raised $500,000 at a $4,500,000 valuation. Rokk3r has not conducted an independent investigation related to this valuation. Rokk3r Ops incorporated B3riblock Inc. as a subsidiary, to develop a blockchain-based document safeguarding, authentication and tracking platform. The B3riblock platform will offer instant, cost-effective, distributed, and secure proof of ownership, proof of existence, proof of integrity, and proof of receipt for documents, agreements, or other contracts using mathematical algorithms. Rokk3r Ops incorporated Rokk3r Ai Inc. (the business will be launched under the name Graphpath) to help enterprises to evolve from collecting data to understanding and using it, through the creation and management of large-scale knowledge graphs. This technology will allow clients to pull data together from disparate locations, define relationships in the data, and generate knowledge from it through machine learning to create solutions that can drive change. Business development activities are underway with target customers that include small-to-medium sized enterprises primarily in Latin America. Rokk3r Ops incorporated Ai Venture Builder, Inc. (Venture Builder). We introduced the venture builder concept as a platform to create and launch multiple new venures within industries such as fintech and insurtech and within new technological innovations such as artificial intelligence or machine learning. The Venture Builder platform will be used to solve problems in a specific industry or geography by leveraging exponential technologies and Rokk3rs ecosystem. Currently, we are analyzing trends in artificial intelligence developments to identify business opportunities and new companies to build within the venture builder platform. AI Venture Builder Inc. has raised $750,000 at a $3,500,000 valuation. Rokk3r has not conducted an independent investigation related to this valuation. About Rokk3r Inc. Rokk3r Inc. is a global idea-to-exit consulting services company that leverages exponential technologies to generate value. Rokk3r provides a suite of services that is a hybrid network of human and machine intelligence systems, seeking to enable early stage startup technology companies and existing businesses to develop new products and businesses in a frictionless, accelerated and comprehensive way. Rokk3r services are designed to leverage exponential technologies to rapidly accelerate and shape industries. These exponential technologies include artificial intelligence (AI), augmented and virtual reality (AR, VR), blockchain (decentralized ledger technologies), data science, digital biology and biotech, machine learning, nanotech, robotics and sensors. For more information, go to www.rokk3r.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Rokk3r with respect to future business activities. Forward-looking statements are often identified by the words "may," "would," "could," "should," "will," "intend," "plan," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect" or similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements may include information regarding revenue growth, subsidiary changes, investment portfolio matters, the ability of Rokk3r to successfully achieve its business objectives, plans for expansion of Rokk3r, expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors, and expectations for future financial performance. We may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in our forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that we make. The forward-looking statements are applicable only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this document are made based on our current expectations, forecasts, estimates and assumptions, and involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. In evaluating these statements, you should specifically consider various factors, uncertainties and risks that could affect our future results or operations. These factors, uncertainties and risks may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement set forth in the reports we file with or furnish to the SEC. You should carefully consider these risk and uncertainties described and other information contained in the reports we file with or furnish to the SEC before making any investment decision with respect to our securities. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Investor Relations: Vivian Cervantes PCG Advisory, Inc. 646-863-6274 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Sungkyunkwan's lecture hall Myeongnyundang is seen through the leaves of ginkgo trees, one of which is 500 years old. / Korea Times photo by Jon Dunbar By Jon Dunbar As UNESCO lines up to grant World Heritage status to Korea's nine Confucian academies of the Joseon Kingdom era (1392-1910), the nation's main higher-education institution once again is left in the dust. The International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), an advisory body for UNESCO, made the recommendation on May 14 that UNESCO add to its list the nine sites, known as "seowon," a form of Confucian school. The sites, all in remote areas across Korea, are shoe-ins for the list, but Sungkyunkwan, located in the northeastern corner of central Seoul today, remains unable to achieve the illustrious status. Sungkyunkwan, established in Seoul in 1398, precedes by centuries the seowon dating to 1543. The roughly 30,000-square-meter campus at the foot of Mount Bugak contains two main areas, one for academics and another serving as a functional Confucian temple. All seowon and hyanggyo Confucian schools are based on its design. The campus is also the site of various Confucian rituals, such as the twice-annual Seokjeon Daeje. Sungkyunkwan, well-preserved on par with the nearby royal palaces, is a site of traditional beauty and an overlooked tourist destination of the capital. Its setting for the 2010 K-drama "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" also increased the site's appeal. Its origins are royal, as students attended on a full scholarship on their way through the second stage of the three-stage civil service exam system. But Sungkyunkwan's central location in Myeongnyun-dong, Jongno-gu, has left it prone to redevelopment, and while it is much larger than the other nine seowon campuses, it has also lost much more. Much of the campus' original footprint now serves Sungkyunkwan University uphill, and the three-floor Yurim Hall in front leaves a presence that imposes on the traditional campus' historicity. According to a representative at Seoul City's World Heritage Research unit, the campus currently occupies only 60 percent of its original footprint. The troubles with registering Sungkyunkwan, which is owned by the state and managed by Jongno-gu Office, on UNESCO's World Heritage List don't end there. In 2011, the Seokjeon Daeje ceremony was determined to fall short of UNESCO criteria. And in 2014, the city government chose the campus as a site for UNESCO registration, but it came up against its own dead ends. The Sungkyunkwan education system, which predates the Joseon Kingdom, was also found in modern-day China and Vietnam, both former Confucian states, according to an official of Seoul City. But UNESCO required the countries to form a coalition to register the sites together, and when contacted, the other two countries expressed a lack of interest. However, there is one more Sungkyunkwan that has UNESCO World Heritage status. The oldest Korean Sungkyunkwan, founded in 992 in the 918-1392 Goryeo Kingdom capital of Gaeseong, in present-day North Korea, received UNESCO World Heritage status in 2013, as evidenced by a plaque in front of the site, known today as the Koryo Museum. The North Korean site skimps on its Confucian heritage, instead presenting unrelated Buddhist relics and displaying negative information about the bad old prerevolutionary days. However, it gained UNESCO recognition as part of the Historic Monuments and Sites in Kaesong on the World Heritage List. And doing so for Sungkyunkwan in Seoul would be all but impossible, requiring a halt in urban development, according to the official. So while Seoul's Sungkyunkwan is a remarkable historic tourist destination, it is unlikely for it to receive the recognition it deserves in due time. But it is still easily reachable during daytime hours, near Hyehwa Station on Seoul subway line No. 4. [May 22, 2019] Xometry Announces Distribution Partnership with Mitsubishi Materials, U.S.A. GAITHERSBURG, Md. and LEXINGTON, Ky., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Xometry, the largest on-demand manufacturing platform, today announced that it has entered into a national distribution agreement with Mitsubishi Materials, U.S.A to offer select cutting tools via Xometry Supplies, its online store. Beginning in June, customers will be able to choose from the full line-up of DiaEdge and MOLDINO cutting tools, expanding the Xometry Supplies offering of CNC machine tooling by over 25,000 items. "Xometry Supplies allows for an online shopping experience where our manufacturing partners and customers can purchase the materials and tools they need to manufacture parts faster and at lower costs," said Jaa Aguilar, General Manager of Xometry Supplies. "Adding a premier partner like Mitsubishi Materials, U.S.A to our line card empowers our partners to quickly find the right tools they need without a time-consuming search." "We believe that Xometry's vision o harnessing AI-driven algorithms to help machinists source the exact tools they need exactly when they need them will be an important, potentially game-changing innovation in cutting tool distribution," said Mike Bjerke, Vice President and National Sales Manager for Mitsubishi Materials, U.S.A. "Xometry's approach has the potential to yield efficiencies across the industrial parts value chain." About Xometry Xometry is the largest marketplace for custom manufacturing, connecting customers with optimal manufacturing solutions through proprietary AI algorithms. Xometry provides on-demand manufacturing and industrial supply materials to a diverse customer base, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Our nationwide network of over 3,000 partner manufacturing facilities enables us to maintain consistently fast lead times while offering a broad array of capabilities, including CNC Machining, 3D Printing, Sheet Metal Fabrication, Injection Molding, Die Casting, Stamping, Extrusion, and Urethane Casting. Xometry's customers include BMW, Dell Technologies, General Electric and NASA. About Mitsubishi Materials, U.S.A. Mitsubishi Materials is an industry leading manufacturer of cutting tools & solutions for the manufacturing industry based in Tokyo, Japan, with more than 24,000 employees worldwide. DiaEdge Cutting Tools are precisely crafted by Mitsubishi Materials to give you more control - ease of use, faster implementation, dependability, repeatability, and consistent quality. You expect performance but can you expect perfection? We like to believe so. The precision of our products ensures the perfection of yours. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xometry-announces-distribution-partnership-with-mitsubishi-materials-usa-300855022.html SOURCE Xometry [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Wipro Builds a Blockchain-Based Solution for Travacoin to Enable Digital Currency-Based Payments for the Airline Industry Wipro (News - Alert) Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO), a leading global information technology, consulting, and business process services company, today announced that it has developed a blockchain-based payment solution for Travacoin, a company specializing in an eponymous digital payment solution. Travacoin is a digital payment system which enables airlines to refund and compensate passengers in a timely manner when a disruption occurs. Passengers will be notified of a delay or cancellation and refunded in this digital currency, which can be used to repurchase airline tickets, book hotels and avail other airport and travel related services. Passengers will benefit by way of a significant reduction in the waiting time for compensation. In addition, passengers can use Travacoins at retail stores in and around the airport and avail attractive discounts offered by retail partners. By compensating passengers with Travacoins, airlines will be able to reduce their administrative overheads and channel the savings to offer a better travel experience to fliers. A recent study conducted by FTI Consulting, and commissioned by Travacoin on the commercial feasibility of using digital tokens for refunds and compensation for flight delays indicates that Travacoins will save airlines between 20% and 40% of what they are currently paying passengers in cash and will also increase customer loyalty towards airlines through improved convenience during travel disruptions like airline delays. Brian Whelan, Chief Executive Officer of Travacoin said, "Travacoin is a unique solution to a common problem faced by the airlines industry today. With every delay, be it caused by a staff strike or a technology problem, comes an increasing number of claims from passengers. Airlines respond defensively, consequently losing customer loyalty as well as millions in hard currency along the way. This solution offers airlines a cost effective way to reconnect with their passengers in a positive way, turning adversity into opportunity. As we expand, the plan is to grow the solution to encompass other payment and settlement functions, turning Travacoin into a unique payment solution for the entire travel industry. Wipro's deep domain know-how of the industry processes, blockchain expertise, and ability to rapidly co-innovate and scale-up the solution has been critical to our success." Krishnakumr N Menon, Vice President - Service Transformation and Blockchain Theme Leader, Wipro Limited said, "We are encouraging blockchain innovation by actively engaging with firms focused on solving real-world business problems. It has been exciting to work with Travacoin to build an innovative industry-leading travel currency for the airline industry. The blockchain-based solution will help airlines optimize costs through the reduction of administrative overheads and facilitate quicker payments and settlements." Wipro is a recognized leader in implementing blockchain technology for its clients, providing strategic advisory and consulting services combined with a deep portfolio of industry solutions. Wipro is committed to creating strong blockchain communities while developing talent for building extensive technology expertise across multiple leading blockchain platforms such as Hyperledger Fabric, Etherum, Quorum, Corda, Mutichain, Hyperledger Indy and Hyperledger Sawtooth. The company is also involved in a number of distributed ledger technology consortia and alliances including the Hyperledger project, the Ethereum Enterprise Alliance, the Energy Web Foundation and the Blockchain in Transport Alliance. To learn more, click here. About Wipro Limited Wipro Limited (NYSE: WIT, BSE: 507685, NSE: WIPRO) is a leading global information technology, consulting and business process services company. We harness the power of cognitive computing, hyper-automation, robotics, cloud, analytics and emerging technologies to help our clients adapt to the digital world and make them successful. A company recognized globally for its comprehensive portfolio of services, strong commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship, we have over 175,000 dedicated employees serving clients across six continents. Together, we discover ideas and connect the dots to build a better and a bold new future. Forward-looking and Cautionary Statements Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in our earnings, revenue and profits, our ability to generate and manage growth, intense competition in IT services, our ability to maintain our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which we make strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, war, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property, and general economic conditions affecting our business and industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. We may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. We do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005435/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] SetPoint Medical to Present at Guggenheim 2019 MedTech Disruptors Summit VALENCIA, Calif., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SetPoint Medical, a clinical-stage bioelectronic medicine company developing therapy for chronic autoimmune diseases, announced today that Murthy Simhambhatla, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, has been invited and is scheduled to present at the 2nd Annual MedTech Disruptors Summit hosted by Guggenheim Securities, being held May 29, 2019 in New York, NY. Event: Guggenheim 2019 MedTech Disruptors Summit Location: St. Regis New York Date: Wednesday, May 29th Presentation Time: 3:35 - 4:10 p.m ET Investors attending the conference who would like to schedule a one-on-one meetingwith SetPoint management may do so by contacting their Guggenheim representative, or Emma Poalillo of The Ruth Group at [email protected]. About SetPoint Medical SetPoint Medical is a privately held clinical-stage bioelectronic medicine company dedicated to treating patients with chronic autoimmune diseases. SetPoint Medicals bioelectronic medicine platform is intended to offer patients and providers a treatment alternative for rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and other chronic autoimmune conditions with potentially less risk and cost than drug therapy. The company is developing a novel bioelectronic medicine platform that stimulates the vagus nerve to activate the inflammatory reflex to produce a systemic immune-restorative effect. Current investors in the company include New Enterprise Associates (NEA), Morgenthaler Ventures, Topspin Partners, SightLine Partners, GlaxoSmithKlines Action Potential Venture Capital and Boston Scientific as well as an additional undisclosed strategic investor (leading medical device company). For more information, visit www.setpointmedical.com. Contacts Media Contact: [email protected] Investor Relation Contacts: Emma Poalillo The Ruth Group 646-536-7000 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Texas Pacific Land Trust Releases Letter to Shareholders Regarding Recently-Filed Lawsuit against Eric Oliver Texas Pacific Land Trust (NYSE: TPL) ("TPL" or the "Trust") today released a letter to shareholders regarding the lawsuit filed by the Trust yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas against Eric L. Oliver for violations of federal securities law. The text of the letter follows. Dear Texas Pacific Land Trust Shareholders: We're writing you today to provide additional context on recent developments regarding the ongoing election for TPL's next Trustee. Yesterday, the Trust filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas regarding violations of federal securities laws in Eric Oliver's campaign to become TPL's next Trustee. Our lawsuit alleges that Mr. Oliver has sought to mislead shareholders by misstating certain important information and omitting other information relating to his record and potential conflicts of interest. We have asked the Court to require that Mr. Oliver correct these misstatements and omissions as soon as possible and give shareholders sufficient time to vote on a fully-informed basis. Let us be clear: although the Trust believes that Mr. Oliver is the wrong choice to become TPL's next Trustee, in no way is it our goal to prevent shareholders from having their say. We simply believe that shareholders have the right to be fully and accurately informed before they vote - and that Mr. Oliver has misled you. Unfortunately, the decision to file this lawsuit means that we must postpone our planned shareholder meeting, which had been scheduled to be convened today, May 22, 2019, and immediately adjourned until Jun 6, 2019. At this time, we do not know when the meeting will take place. Once this litigation is resolved - either in court or by Mr. Oliver providing the necessary disclosures - we will be able to reschedule the meeting. We realize this news may be frustrating and we appreciate your continued patience. We have a responsibility to protect the interests of the Trust and all its shareholders and will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure you have all the information you need to make a fully-informed decision in this critical election about TPL's future. Thank you for your support. Sincerely, John R. Norris III and David E. Barry, Trustees Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements contained in this release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of these provisions, including statements regarding Texas Pacific's future operations and prospects, the markets for real estate in the areas in which Texas Pacific owns real estate, applicable zoning regulations, the markets for oil and gas, production limits on prorated oil and gas wells authorized by the Railroad Commission of Texas, expected competitions, management's intent, beliefs or current expectations with respect to Texas Pacific's future financial performance and other matters. Texas Pacific cautions readers that various factors could cause its actual financial and operational results to differ materially from those indicated by forward-looking statements made from time-to-time in news releases, reports, proxy statements and other written communications, as well as oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Texas Pacific. The following factors, as well as any other cautionary language included in this release, provide examples of risks, uncertainties and events beyond our control that may cause Texas Pacific's actual results to differ materially from the expectations Texas Pacific describes in such forward-looking statements: global economic conditions; market prices of oil and gas; the demand for water services by operators in the Permian Basin; the impact of government regulation; the impact of competition; the continued service of key management personnel; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in Texas Pacific's annual reports on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where we are expressly required to do so by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005449/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Every Job is Better with Bacon A Utah company is making it as quick and easy for an employer to hire someone as it is to get a ride from Uber or Lyft. Bacon (www.bacon.work) lets employers select and hire qualified workers in moments. Job seekers can also pick and choose a shift in minutes. "Businesses always need great people," said Hunter Sebresos, Bacon CEO. "On the flip side, lots of people have extra time and could use some extra cash." The Bacon Worker On-Demand app connects people with hourly jobs with the tap of a button. Employers post the shifts, pay and requirements and then choose the person best suited for the job. Employees search for work in their area and apply with one click. After the shift is done, employers rate the employee and vice versa. In less than a year the Provo-based startup has attracted more than 3,000 pre-qualified workers and is adding another thousand employees each month. Bacon's motto is "Never be jobless." And the company isn't shy about using its name for slogans: "Make your side hustle sizzle at Bacon." Here are some of the reviews from Bacon app users: "I love the idea of trying new things and Bacon allows me to have those experiences and make some money while I'm at it." "I am a full-time pre-med student. Using Bacon is an amazing resource for people with busy schedules in their lives and need a work schedule with flexibility." "Bacon is going to revolutionize hourly staffing across many industries." The inspiration for Bacon came when Sebresos thought of all of the people willing to work non-traditional shifts: single-parents who need living expenses, veterans reentering the workforce or retirees looking to do something productive with their time. "We need to build up self-confidence in people who choose to succeed," Sebresos said in a recent interview with Forbes.com. "Work and purpose are closely aligned." Employers benefit by saving the time and expense of interviewing from a "temp agency." Bacon can also quickly conduct multiple background checks needed for any job safety level. More than 50 companies are using Bacon like Hogle Zoo, Alphagraphics, Utah Valley Convention Center, e-commerce company First Mile, as well as retailers, restaurants, catering and events companies. The company is operating in Utah and Texas, fulfilling requests in California and Arizona, and plans to expand quickly throughout the Mountain West and then across the U.S. Bacon is one of the candidate companies for investment by Hall Venture Partners for inclusion in its Opportunity Fund 1. The fund provides tax-advantaged opportunities in addition to the potential of high growth based on the Hall Labs incubation model. It is one of the 20 portfolio companies within the Hall Labs Innovation Campus in Provo that has demonstrated a high rate of success over the past 60-plus years. About Bacon Bacon is like the Uber of hourly jobs by making it easy to work a "side gig" anytime, anywhere. Bacon connects employers to pre-qualified, available candidates who will work on-demand for as little as one shift. The Provo, Utah, company started in 2018 and has attracted companies and employees throughout the Mountain West using the Bacon Work On-Demand app. For more information visit bacon.work. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005280/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Bill.com Launches Industry's First AI-Enabled Business Payments Platform with End-to-End Workflow Automation Bill.com, a leader in financial process automation, today introduced the industry's first platform leveraging artificial intelligence to provide end-to-end financial workflow automation. The new Bill.com Intelligent Business Payments Platform streamlines and controls payment processes while saving SMBs and midsize companies time and reducing human error. Advances in technology are shaping business expectations, but today many businesses still spend 23% of workdays manually managing many processes. This is creating a new demand for back office automation which, until recently, has only been available to enterprise companies. Now, Bill.com is bringing advanced automation technology to SMBs and midsize companies and through its new platform saving customers a substantial block of time that can be used more productively. In a recent Bill.com customer survey, customers reported the platform saves them on average 5.5 hours per week which translates to more than 35 business days annually. "Bill.com has focused on developing new technologies that help SMBs grow. Automating the back office is a huge industry-wide need," said Rene Lacerte, Bill.com CEO and Founder. "Our new intelligent platform, which is the most significant update to Bill.com since its inception, is built on ten years of experience managing business payments and hundreds of millions of bills and invoices to train the AI. Increasing the speed and ease of payments will help businesses get ahead." The focal point of the new Bill.com platform, which has undergone extensive testing ad usability research, is its Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) capability. With IVA, invoices are automatically handled. Approval processes start with no manual lag time and are 2-3 times faster than other methods. This automation easily scales as a business grows to: Eliminate manual data entry: IVA uses machine learning to automatically capture data from invoices, intercept and recognize human error and start the approval process automatically. IVA uses machine learning to automatically capture data from invoices, intercept and recognize human error and start the approval process automatically. Anticipate Customer Needs: IVA will recognize workflows, such as bill approval routing and thresholds for payment, and automatically create those business rules on behalf of customers. IVA will recognize workflows, such as bill approval routing and thresholds for payment, and automatically create those business rules on behalf of customers. Offer new and faster payment options: The new platform enables new ways to pay, including international payments and virtual cards, that commonly shave one to two days off a vendor receiving payment. The new AI-enabled Bill.com platform also can be set to auto pay recurring bills so the user doesn't even have to think about it. "Bill.com offers SMB and midsized companies an end-to-end payments management platform powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning," said Kevin Permenter, Research Manager at IDC (News - Alert). "In the recent IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SaaS and Cloud-Enabled Accounts Payable Applications 2019 Vendor Assessment, Bill.com was named a Major Player. From minimizing data entry and human error when processing bills and invoices, gaining approvals and making payments, the platform's intelligence and accuracy streamlines and gives full control to the overall accounts payable process." "Any company that's still making bill payments the old-fashioned way really needs to innovate their back office," says Gary Hornbeek, VP of Finance for Quicken. "The Bill.com Intelligent Virtual Assistant saves a great deal of time for our finance department. When invoices come in, IVA automatically processes and codes the invoices in the system with vendor name, invoice number, amount and due date. This can drastically reduce hours spent on manual entry." For more information, visit here or join the intelligent accounts payable webinar on June 11 to learn how the new Bill.com platform uses AI and machine learning to automate payments and financial processes to save time, reduce errors and eliminate manual data entry. About Bill.com Bill.com is a leading digital business payments company with a network of 3 million members, managing more than $60 billion in payments annually. Making it simple to connect and do business, the Bill.com cloud-based Intelligent Business Payments Platform automates, streamlines, and controls the payments process, saving more than 50 percent of the time typically spent. Bill.com partners with the largest U.S. financial institutions, more than 70 of the top 100 accounting firms, major accounting software providers including NetSuite (News - Alert), Intacct, QuickBooks and Xero, and is the preferred provider of digital payments solutions for CPA.com, the technology arm of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). Winner of more than 70 awards, Bill.com is recognized as one of San Francisco Business Times' and Silicon Valley Business Journal's "2018 Best Places to Work." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005477/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Diligent Launches Modern Governance to Address Dangerous Governance Deficits and Announces New Modern Governance Summit Today, Diligent Corporation launched a new category, called modern governance, designed to provide leaders with the missing key to bring governance into the digital age, along with new technology and a summit to support this well-designed system. Modern governance is the practice of empowering leaders with technology, insights, and processes to fuel good governance that organizations require to thrive and endure. Modern governance helps organizations address governance deficits. A governance deficit means an organization lacks the security, foresight, and accountability to withstand the onslaught of contemporary challenges - such as activist investors, cyber risk, regulation, diversity and global uncertainty. Feedback from Diligent's 16,000 clients and the 600,000 leaders who use its technology - including more than 50% of the Fortune 1000, 70% of the FTSE 100, and 65% of the ASX - sparked the need for rethinking how companies and their boards should approach governance to navigate today's complex landscape. In fact, new insights revealed by the Diligent Institute identified that governance deficits across more than a dozen public companies have cost shareholders more than $490 billion in value one year after the crises, while good governance has fueled companies to outperform lower-ranking peers by 15%. Regulatory mishaps, cyber-security breaches, or undetected flaws in corporate culture caused by governance deficits carry long-lasting effects; according to the above-mentioned research, companies with governance shortfalls still underperformed their industry sectors two years after the incident by an average of 45%. "The hundreds of billions of dollars in losses from corporate crises underscore the risks of operating with a governance deficit and highlight the growing need for leaders to embrace solutions that help them turn governance into competitive advantage," said Diligent CEO Brian Stafford. "Modern governance empowers organizations to keep up with today's fast-changing landscape and equips board members with the right information at the right time to mitigate risks and seize new opportunities. The impact that good governance has not just on company performancebut on jobs and resources is enormous and Diligent is fortunate to support so many leaders at a time when their work is challenging and the stakes are high." Modern governance empowers today's boards and management teams to achieve key outcomes: Allowing leaders to more quickly spot risks and identify opportunities to outperform the competition while making their organization both nimble and ethical Helping board members be more engaged partners who can act like radar on the industry and serve as valuable advisors to executives Centralizing critical data and protecting your organization's most valuable information while enabling secure collaboration among leaders The world's only comprehensive platform to enable and support modern governance, Diligent is also unveiling a new governance application called Nominations to empower Nominations and Governance Committees to leverage the same information that proxy advisors, shareholders and potential activist investors already access, which is a capability that is critical to good governance practices in companies. The Nominations and Governance application not only includes data on your boards skill composition and compares it to peers but it also includes an easily searchable database of other board members and executes to supplement the nominations process. On the heels of CEO Brian Stafford's book, Governance in a Digital Age, Diligent will also host the first-ever Modern Governance Summit for governance professionals looking to help their organizations compete more effectively and seize new opportunities, while doing the right thing for stakeholders, staff, and the communities where they do business. The summit will be held in Orlando, Florida from September 8-13, and will feature knowledge-packed learning and networking opportunities with key leaders in the field and luminaries of the category. Learn more about modern governance at www.moderngovernance.com and register for the Modern Governance Summit today at www.moderngovernancesummit.com. About Diligent Diligent is the pioneer in modern governance. We empower leaders to turn governance into a competitive advantage through unparalleled insight and highly secure, integrated SaaS (News - Alert) applications, helping organizations thrive and endure in today's complex, global landscape. Our trusted, cloud-based applications streamline the day-to-day work of board management and committees, support collaboration and secure information sharing throughout the organization, manage subsidiary and entity data, and deliver the insights and information leaders need to mitigate governance deficits and seize new opportunities. The largest global network of corporate directors and executives, Diligent is relied on by more than 16,000 organizations and 650,000 leaders in over 90 countries. With award-winning customer service across the globe, Diligent serves more than 50% of the Fortune 1000, 70% of the FTSE 100, and 65% of the ASX. Visit www.diligent.com to learn how modern governance helps you outperform your peers and the competition. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005479/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Eritage Resort Lakeside Bungalows Open June 1, 2019 Eritage Resort today announced the June 1st opening of 10 new lakeside bungalows, which join the 10 existing suites within the resort's main building. Nestled on more than 300 acres in the rolling wheat fields and vineyards, the resort is designed to capture the sweeping views of the vineyards, Lake Sienna and the Blue Mountains. Guest Chef Series: The third Thursday in June - September will feature a guest chef series with talented chefs from around the Pacific Northwest coming to join Executive Chef Brian Price and James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson and create a six-course menu paired with wines from some of Walla Walla's finest winemakers. Lodging packages are available. About Eritage Resot Eritage Resort is a tribute to the history, beauty and warmth of Washington's farms and vineyards. Located on 300 acres in the rolling fields of wheat and vineyards of Washington wine country, the resort features 10 luxury suites and 10 lakeside bungalows. The Eritage restaurant menu is created by Executive Chef, Brian Price and James Beard Award-winning Chef Jason Wilson to reflect the history of the area and honor the providers of locally grown ingredients. Eritage is founded by Justin Wylie, owner and winemaker of Va Piano Vineyards, with financial support from American Lending Center of Long Beach, CA (News - Alert). ALC is a leading EB-5 regional center offering investment opportunities to immigrant investors and currently the largest non-bank SBA 504 lending institution in the United States. Development management is provided by Scott Knox and Fire & Vine Hospitality is responsible for resort services, dining and operations. About Fire & Vine Hospitality The Fire & Vine Hospitality team is responsible for overall operational leadership, culinary expertise and product sourcing, marketing and technology support for each of the properties in the company: El Gaucho Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma, Portland and Vancouver opening in 2020; AQUA by El Gaucho; The Inn at El Gaucho, Miller's Guild, The Lakehouse, Civility & Unrest, Eritage Resort, Walla Walla Steak Co., Crossbuck Brewing and Aerlume. The Revelers Club is the industry's most generous loyalty program designed to reward and honor our guest's loyalty and provide benefits at each Fire & Vine property. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005481/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Recognition Grows For Hibob As The HR Tech Disruptor Rapidly Expands in the U.S. NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hibob , the transformative HR tech platform that helps high-growth companies engage with their employees and develop their culture, has been awarded a leading spot in Calcalist's list of " Israel's 50 Most Promising Startups " and as one of HRWins' top three " Startups To Watch ." As Hibob continues to rapidly scale around the world, these acknowledgments are a testament to the global influence of the Israeli startup community, and the company's international recognition as the company to watch in the expansive HR technology space. Hibob's dedication to solving the needs of medium-sized businesses through better people management technology has led the company to become a true disruptor in the crowded industry. Josh Bersin, a world-known industry analyst and expert on HR technology, recently published a report, "From Talent Management To Talent Experience. Why The HR Tech Market Is In Disruption," where he credits Hibob as an employee experience platform that is part of the new reed of HR technology designed to make work better. Hibob is the solution to the outdated HR industry, and the company's platform, bob, helps high-growth businesses scale while ensuring a positive employee experience through all of the challenges presented by the ever-changing, modern work environment. "Israeli tech startups are making waves around the world, with a record-breaking year of funding for Israeli startups in 2018. We are proud to be named as one of 'Israel's 50 Most Promising Startups' by Calcalist alongside other global companies that are having a worldwide impact on the tech industry," said Ronni Zehavi, co-founder and CEO of Hibob. "Additionally, being recognized by HRWins as one of three leading 'Startups To Watch' in the HR technology space demonstrates the reputation that we have built as an innovator and disruptor in the ever-evolving HR industry. The need for HR tech innovation has never been more necessary, especially as unemployment numbers continue to drop in the U.S. making competition for top talent the most intense it's been in 50 years." With 460% year-over-year growth, Hibob boasts hundreds of fast-growing customers, as well as strategic platform integrations with Slack, Workable, GreenHouse, Aviva, Canada Life, and UNAM. The 130-person Hibob team, located in offices across New York, London, and Tel Aviv, works with businesses including Monzo, Etoro, Happy Socks, Ironsource, Receipt Bank, Fiverr and Karmarama to support their talent across the globe. Recently, Hibob was selected as one of "Tomorrow's Promising Growth Companies" by Qumra Capital, a leader in the technology investment space. For more information, please visit www.hibob.com . About Hibob Hibob, the company behind the transformative platform bob, which brings together employees and managers to help them communicate and collaborate more effectively, is dedicated to helping businesses grow their people. Founded in 2015, Hibob understands that as younger generations begin to dominate the workforce, they are creating demand for a new way to manage people for the future of the workplace. bob enables fast-growing companies to attract, excite, retain and develop their most valuable asset, their people, through data-driven tools. With offices in New York, London and Tel Aviv, Hibob helps hundreds of businesses around the world grow their people. www.hibob.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/recognition-grows-for-hibob-as-the-hr-tech-disruptor-rapidly-expands-in-the-us-300855135.html SOURCE Hibob [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Pax8 Now Offering Wasabi's Hot Cloud Storage Solution DENVER, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pax8 , the best place to buy cloud products, today announced a new partnership with Wasabi , the hot cloud storage company, to offer Wasabi to Managed Service Providers (MSPs) in North America. The announcement was made during VeeamON 2019 in Miami, FL. Wasabi offers a new, innovative way to add value to the MSP-client relationship through their purpose built cloud storage technology, said Ryan Walsh, chief channel officer at Pax8. By offering Wasabi through Pax8, MSPs have access to affordable, fast cloud object storage without having to compromise protection and performance. By 2025, IDC says worldwide data will grow 61% to 175 zettabytes, with as much of the data residing in the cloud as in data centers. As data continues to grow, this represents an incredible opportunity for MSPs when adding Wasabi solutions to their technology stack. If MSPs are purchasing Wasabi through Pax8, they will have access to billing, provisioning, automation, and support, combined with a world-class Wingman experience at an affordable cost. Walsh continued, Now that Pax8 is offering both Veeam and Wasabi , MSPs can improve data protection, reduce expenses, and easily connect their Veeam environment to Wasabi hot cloud storage using Veeams new object storage interface. The new partnership with Pax8 is meaningful because of the unique value they bring to the MSP community and our company, said Marty Falaro, senior vice president of Global Sales & Alliancs at Wasabi. Wasabis hot cloud storage empowers MSPs to further optimize their clientele to securely store data at a disruptive price and performance model. Through the partnership with Pax8, we will continue to grow and scale at a rapid rate. To learn more about Pax8 and the Wasabi partnership, contact a cloud solutions advisors at (855) 884-PAX8, email [email protected] , or visit www.pax8.com . About Pax8 Pax8 is the leader in cloud distribution. As a born-in-the-cloud company, Pax8 empowers managed service providers (MSPs) to achieve more with cloud technology. Through billing, provisioning, automation, industry-leading PSA integrations, and pre and post-sales support, Pax8 simplifies cloud buying, improves operational efficiency, and lowers client acquisition cost. Pax8 is a proven, award-winning disruptor in the market, earning accolades like NexGens Best in Show, Best Places to Work in IT by ComputerWorld, Biggest Buzz at IT Nation, CRNs Coolest Cloud Vendor, Best in Show at XChange, HTGs Best Partner Program, and more. If you want to be successful with cloud, you want to work with Pax8. Get started today at www.pax8.com . Follow Pax8 on Facebook , LinkedIn , and Twitter . About Wasabi Wasabi is the hot cloud storage company delivering disruptive storage technology that is 1/5th the price and up to 6x the speed of Amazon S3 with no fees for egress or API requests. Unlike first generation cloud vendors, Wasabi focuses solely on providing the world's best cloud storage platform. Created by Carbonite co-founders and cloud storage pioneers David Friend and Jeff Flowers, Wasabi is on a mission to commoditize the storage industry. Wasabi is a privately held company based in Boston, MA. Follow and connect with Wasabi on Twitter , Facebook , LinkedIn and our blog . Media Contact Amanda Lee ARL Strategic Communications (727) 272-0781 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A South Korean delegation heads to Mount Geumgang in North Korea to participate in an inter-Korean meeting to implement the two Koreas' joint declaration, in this Feb. 12 photo. / Korea Times file By Park Ji-won South Korean civic groups will meet North Korean organizations in China from Thursday to Sunday to discuss inter-Korean projects. The South Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration said the organization's working group will meet its North Korean equivalent in Shenyang, China, Thursday and Friday to discuss ways to hold joint events to commemorate inter-Korean anniversaries. "The two organizations will discuss ways to push for holding joint events for June 15 and Sept. 19," Lee Yon-hee, a spokeswoman for the South Korean Committee for Implementation of the June 15 Joint Declaration, said Wednesday. The June 15 declaration refers to the agreement made by the two Koreas at their first summit in 2000 between then President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. The Sept. 19 Comprehensive Military Agreement was made on the sidelines of the third inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un last year. The meetings will take place after the South decided to give food aid worth $8 million to the North via international organizations. Some say the two Koreas may discuss ways to prepare the food aid to be sent by international bodies or directly from South Korea. The civic organizations had an inter-Korean event at Mount Geumgang in February and agreed to push for joint events in various fields. Possibly due to the stalled denuclearization talks between Pyongyang and Washington, the inter-Korean reconciliatory events have also faced a deadlock. The coming inter-Korean meeting was made after the North sent an invitation to the South on May 5. The letter said: "We need to push for making momentum to continue to seek inter-Korean development and prosperity by taking actions." Other civic organizations, the Movement for One Korea and the Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, will also meet with North Korean organizations in the same Chinese city this week. The Korean Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation, which is led by Kim Hong-gul, son of the late President Kim Dae-jung, is known to have discussed with the North the repatriation of the remains of Korean forced laborers during Japanese colonial rule, holding a seminar on the subject and regular meetings with Pyongyang. [May 22, 2019] Callan Farris Announces Philanthropic Commitment to Global Education as Room to Read Ambassador Callan Farris, actor, musician, and student, has been named an ambassador for Room to Read, a global non-profit focused on literacy and girls' education. The announcement was made last night by Dr. Geetha Murali, Room to Read CEO at the Pasadena Public Library during an event featuring Farris and Stuart Gibbs, New York Times bestselling children's book author. Farris has committed to a personal fundraising goal of US$35,000 to support Room to Read's literacy and girls' education program in India. Fans and supporters can donate to his campaign at https://give.roomtoread.org/callan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005543/en/ PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - MAY 21: Callan Farris attends Room to Read Callan Farris ambassadorship launch on May 21, 2019 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Presley Ann/Getty Images for Room to Read) Farris's philanthropic commitment is aligned with Room to Read's global moement called Active for Education, https://www.roomtoread.org/get-active, which encourages supporters around the world to activate their body and mind through personalized fundraising campaigns. As a Room to Read ambassador, Farris will participate in awareness raising activities to advocate for Room to Read's programs in literacy and girls' education, which enable students to reach their full potential and contribute to society. "I have spent countless hours immersed in the pages of my favorite books and am honored to support Room to Read so that more children can experience the magic and joy of reading," said Callan Farris. "I encourage students everywhere to take action alongside me so that together, we can unlock the potential of a generation of young learners around the world." Farris stars in The Disney (News - Alert) Channel's "Gabby Duran and the Unsittables", premiering later this year. Previous roles include "Ruben" opposite Halle Berry and Daniel Craig in the 2018 film KINGS, directed by Deniz Gamze Erguven; a recurring role as "Kazim" on ABC's "Roseanne" and "The Conners"; and roles in pilots for ABC, NBC, and CBS. He has played guest starred on ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" and "Dr. Ken", CBS's "Seal Team", Netflix's "Fuller House", Disney's "Stuck in the Middle", and TV Land's "Teachers". He has appeared in a number of national television commercials. "Callan Farris is paying it forward so that more students are given the opportunity to imagine endless possibilities for their futures," said Dr. Geetha Murali, Room to Read's CEO. "Thanks to the action he will inspire, hundreds of early learners will benefit from a school library stocked with original local language storybooks and trained educators, and girls in secondary school will acquire life skills and mentorship to help them succeed within and beyond the classroom." Photos from the event are available here. About Room to Read Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children, Room to Read's innovative model focuses on deep, systemic transformation within schools in low-income communities during the two time periods that are most critical in a child's schooling: early primary school for literacy acquisition and secondary school for girls' education. We work in collaboration with local communities, partner organizations and governments to develop literacy skills and a habit of reading among primary school children and ensure girls can complete secondary school with the skills necessary to negotiate key life decisions. Room to Read has benefited 16.8 million children across more than 37,000 communities in 16 countries. Learn more at www.roomtoread.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005543/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] BRIGHTSPACE FINDS A HOME AT MCCORMICK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY Kitchener, Waterloo, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global learning technology leader D2L announced that McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago a nearly 200-year old theological graduate school is moving into its future, powered by D2L. It was important for us to have a learning platform that would be the best-possible fit for our institution, said Barbara Fassett, Director of Information Technology at McCormick Theological Seminary. We know that D2L has features that were lacking in our previous platform, it integrates with our existing Student Information System, and that is both powerful and easy to use. For us, there was no question that it was D2L. McCormick is a theological graduate school within the intellectual and theological tradition of the Presbyterian Church (USA). From its foundation in 1829, McCormick has had a long history of being on the cutting-edge of theological education. From the time that it moved to Chicago in 1860, the seminarys identity has been deeply connected to the city, and its student body has been named one of the most diverse in North America. McCormick seeks to help students make a positive difference in the world in countries all around the world. In 2018, McCormick set out to find a new learning platform that would help them reach every learner in their campus, and online. They chose Brightspace for the following reasons: Robust analytics : For both in-class and distance learners, faculty wanted analytics features that their previous system simply couldnt provide. Brightspace offered an easy way to do that, with vey little customization required. : For both in-class and distance learners, faculty wanted analytics features that their previous system simply couldnt provide. Brightspace offered an easy way to do that, with vey little customization required. Seamless integration : Because Brightspace integrated with their Student Information System, it was a painless transition to a new system which was important for a smaller school with limited resources. : Because Brightspace integrated with their Student Information System, it was a painless transition to a new system which was important for a smaller school with limited resources. Culture and vision: In D2L, McCormick found something of a soulmate a company thats dedicated to transformational education powered by innovation. And Brightspace like the seminary will continue to evolve as it pursues that vision. ABOUT BRIGHTSPACE Brightspace is a cloud-based learning platform built by educators, for educators that works on any device. Its secure, worry-free technology that puts customers first allowing you to create engaging courses within your existing technology to fit your unique needs. With Brightspace, you can easily set up individualized learning paths for your students, keep them on track with automated nudges, provide them with personalized feedback and increase their engagement through gamification, social tools, video and other powerful features. Brightspace is the only learning platform chosen as a partner of the National Federation of the Blinds Strategic Nonvisual Access Partnership program, which has been redesigned as their Centre of Excellence in Nonvisual Access. Brightspace was named the #1 LMS in Higher Ed by Ovum Research and #1 in Adaptive Learning by eLearning Magazine. Aragon Research also included D2L in its highly coveted Hot Vendors In Learning list . To learn more, visit the Higher Education and K-12 pages on our website. ABOUT D2L D2L believes learning is the foundation upon which all progress and achievement rests. Working closely with organizations globally, D2L has transformed the way millions of people learn online and in the classroom. Learn more about D2L for schools, higher education and businesses at www.D2L.com . D2L PRESS CONTACT Christine DAngela, Director of Awareness, D2L Corporation, [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] SNC-Lavalin makes financial commitment to Polytechnique Montreal to advance research and create a scholarship fund MONTREAL, May 22, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - SNC-Lavalin is pleased to announce a philanthropic commitment of $500,000 over 10 years to the Fondation et Alumni de Polytechnique Montreal towards the Research Chair in International Project Management and the SNC-Lavalin Scholarship Fund. The Jarislowsky SNC-Lavalin Research Chair in International Project Management focuses on multidisciplinary research and a training program that considers the processes, calculation methods and information systems used to plan and monitor highly technical and complex engineering projects. Since March 2015, the SNC-Lavalin Masters' Scholarship has been awarded annually to a Canadian student wishing to conduct research on one of the Chair's themes in the engineering services or construction sector. "As a leading global engineering and project management consultancy, our work impacts hundreds of communities around the world. We have a role to play in developing the next generation of engineers and this contribution will play a role in fulfilling that goal," said Erik Ryan, Executive Vice-President, Marketing, Strategy and External Relations, SNC-Lavalin. "Applauded by the industry, the Chair's training and research activities have trained researchers and engineers who play a ke role in planning projects all around the world, as evidenced by the very high placement rate and the quality of the jobs obtained by our graduates. SNC-Lavalin's philanthropic support will allow us to continue this very successful initiative," declared Francois Bertrand, Senior Vice-President and Vice-President Academic and Research, Polytechnique Montreal. The donation will also be used to create a capitalized Fund through which the new SNC-Lavalin Scholarships, offered under the Polytechnique Montreal Industrial Internship Program, will be awarded on a permanent basis. "We are very pleased that this philanthropic project has come to fruition. It will support cutting-edge research and training, as well as provide major support to the scientific community and the next generation of engineers," said Isabelle Pean, Chief Executive Officer, Fondation et Alumni de Polytechnique Montreal. SNC-Lavalin has also made the same commitment to the University of Waterloo. The funds will be earmarked for the university's engineering education and research program for the next ten years. Additionally, SNC-Lavalin's Engineering, Design and Project Management business in the United Kingdom has sponsored the appointment of Professor Paul Theron at Cranfield University as the Atkins-Cranfield Professor of Cyber-Secure Engineering Systems and Processes. SNC-Lavalin's approach to donations and sponsorships aims to support ideas and initiatives with the potential to stimulate progress and build the future. Its goal is to have a positive impact on communities, learning and innovation. About SNC-Lavalin Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a global fully integrated professional services and project management company and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. From offices around the world, SNC-Lavalin's employees think beyond engineering. Our teams provide comprehensive end-to-end project solutions including capital investment, consulting, design, engineering, construction management, sustaining capital and operations and maintenance to clients across the EDPM (engineering, design and project management), Infrastructure, Nuclear, Clean Power, and Resources businesses. www.snclavalin.com SOURCE SNC-Lavalin [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] MONAT Launches Limited-Edition "More Than a Gift" Set to Benefit Veterans and First Responders in US, Canada and UK MONAT launches its limited-edition More Than a Gift with 100 percent of the net profits benefiting nonprofit organizations that assist veterans and first responders in the US, Canada and UK. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005478/en/ MONAT's "More Than a Gift" collection (Photo: Business Wire) Launching on Tuesday, May 28 and available while supplies last, the exclusive set comes packaged in a reusable, water-resistant bag that is perfect for travel. The limited-edition set features three returning favorites and a new product that's sure to be a hit! All four products are infused with REJUVENIQE Oil Intensive for extra hydration: More than a Mist - a unique, moisturizing hair and body spray - a unique, moisturizing hair and body spray More than a Hand Cream - soothe and pamper your hands with shea butter and coconut oil - soothe and pamper your hands with shea butter and coconut oil More than a Whip - a rich moisturizing body cream that's perfect for dry skin - a rich moisturizing body cream that's perfect for dry skin More than a Lather - introducing MONAT's lightly scented soap bar "A core value of MONAT is MONAT Gratitude, a philosophy that is ingrained in everything we do," said Stuart MacMillan, President of MONAT Global. "We hpe this is our biggest promotion yet. We want to make a huge impact on deserving nonprofit organizations that help our veterans and first responders. We are honored and humbled to give back to those who have given so much for our countries." MONAT's More than a Gift benefits The Wounded Warriors Project and The 22 Project in the US, and Wounded Warriors Canada. The Wounded Warrior Project helps injured service men and women by honoring and empowering those who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound during their military service. The 22 Project supports underserved war veterans who have traumatic brain injuries and are at risk for depression and/or suicide. Wounded Warrior Canada's mission is to honor and support Canada's ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, first responders and their families. Lu Urdaneta, Director, Global Recognition and Gratitude, commented, "We're grateful that we have the opportunity to help the men and women who served in the military and as first responders. I hope that MONAT inspires others to live in gratitude and give back in their communities." Abiding by MONAT's strict standards for its hair care products, all of the company's products are free from harmful colors and fragrances, phthalates and parabens. All products are dermatologist tested, cruelty-free, vegan, and Leaping Bunny Certified. About MONAT Gratitude MONAT Gratitude has been an integral piece of the MONAT company culture since its inception in 2014. This movement has grown from the Urdaneta family's commitment to instilling gratitude as a core company value. MONAT Gratitude partners with innovative nonprofit organizations in its local communities that support efforts under its three pillars: Families, Children and Education. As a movement, MONAT Gratitude believes in the power of creating conversations and inspiring a greater network to take action. Due to the passion of our MONAT Market Partners and commitment to making gratitude a part of our business, what started as a series of grassroots volunteering efforts in Miami has spread across the U.S., Canada and the U.K. https://monatgratitude.com/ #MONATGratitude Facebook (News - Alert): /monatgratitudeofficial | Instagram: @monatgratitudeofficial About MONAT Global MONAT Global is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcora Corporation, whose holdings include L'EUDINE Global, an established Direct Selling company specializing in premium beauty and wellness products throughout the US and Latin America and B&R Products, Inc., their research, development and manufacturing Laboratory subsidiary. All three companies are headquartered in and around Miami, Florida. MONAT was founded in 2014 to enter the multi-billion-dollar haircare market and provides ground-breaking opportunities through a novel Social Marketing approach to Direct Sales. The company offers a unique and exciting business model and one of the most generous compensation plans in the U.S., Canadian and U.K. markets. Availability: www.monatglobal.com #MONATGlobal Facebook: /MONATOfficial | Instagram: @monatofficial | Twitter: @MONATOfficial | YouTube (News - Alert): /MONATOfficial View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005478/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Inaugural Drive World Conference & Expo 2019 Announces Keynotes from Sebastian Thrun, SAE International, and More Automotive and technology visionaries to explore the electronics and embedded systems powering flying cars and asteroid redirection tests SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Drive World Conference & Expo (Drive World) , a must-attend showcase bringing together the brightest minds across the automotive electronics and embedded systems industries, today announced that Sebastian Thrun, Elena Adams, Jack Ganssle and Jacob Beningo, and Paul Mascarenas will keynote the inaugural event. Drive World 2019, partnered with the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) , an event with a 30-year legacy of influencing electronics design and innovation, will take place August 27-29 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara, CA. To register as press, please visit: driveworldexpo.com/press . Launching in Silicon Valley, Drive World with ESC is a three-day showcase that will create a cross-discipline event spanning two complementary, growing sectors automotive electronics and intelligence and embedded systems. Its projected that by 2020, U.S. spending on electric and autonomous vehicles, semiconductors, and connectivity hardware and software supporting these technologies will reach $120 billion. Thrun, CEO of the Kitty Hawk Corporation and Chairman and Co-Founder of Udacity, will reflect about a roadmap for making self-driving cars part of the everyday transportation system and discuss a future that sees flying cars. Adams, Space Systems Engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, will explore the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART), NASAs first planetary defense mission and live demonstration of asteroid deflection. Mascarenas, President of SAE International, the world leader in automotive and aerospace standards development, will host an engaging panel discussion where attendees will learn about the critical efforts underway at SAE. Finally, Ganssle, the internationally known embedded systems engineer who designed some of the first embedded systems, joined by embedded software expert and longtime ESC advisor Jacob Beningo, will discuss the evolving embedded engineering space, the last 3 decades of embedded innovation, and speculate about where the industry will be in another 30 years. With the launch of Drive World, partnered with the 30th anniversary of ESC, we are not supporting the hype that self-driving cars are just around the corner. In August, we will celebrate all of the innovation that has brought us to today and will bring education, networking, and design opportunities that, in time and with much more innovation from engineers, deliver us to the promise of an autonomous future, said Suzanne Deffree, Brand Director, Intelligent Systems & Design, Informa. We are honored to feature the top minds shaping the transition to smart mobility, and perfecting the embedded technology that will make self-driving, even flying cars, a reality. These keynotes, combined with the support of our partners IEEE-USA, SAE International, Embedded Vision Alliance, Linley Group, VSI Labs, and Design News solidifies that Drive World with ESC will support engineers and companies through an exciting growth trend. Full details on this year's keynote presentations: August 28, 2019 From the First Self Driving Cars to the Future of Flying Cars In his keynote, Thrun, who ran the Google self-driving car team, now known as Waymo, with the objective of enabling true Level 5 self-driving car capabilities, will discuss the enormous progress made toward self-driving cars, touching upon vehicles having logged over 10 million miles and public rides in Las Vegas. He will examine the technology under the hood, including LiDAR, cameras for information processing, and perhaps the most important innovation being the advent of deep learning technology, which empowers cars to learn how to drive safely. Lastly, Thrun will discuss the state of the art and reflect about a future roadmap for making self-driving cars, and perhaps even flying cars, part of the everyday transportation system. The presentation will take place 9:45 a.m. 10:45 a.m. and is open to all attendees. After the keynote, members of the press are invited to participate in a Q&A with Thrun. Please reach out to [email protected] for more information. Setting the Standard in Transformational Technologies Moderated by: Paul Mascarenas, SAE International President In this keynote panel discussion, attendees will learn about the standards and best practices that are impacting emerging technologies and accelerating them to market through global industry collaboration. Specific technical standards topics moderated by Mascarenas include autonomous and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), connectivity to deliver on connected-vehicle-to-everything communication (V2X), hybrid and electric, and cybersecurity. The panel will take place 2:05 p.m. 3:00 p.m. August 29, 2019 Earth Strikes Back with the Double Asteroid Redirection Test! Presented by: Elena Adams, Space Systems Engineer at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory In her keynote, Adams will discuss the Double Asteroid Redirection Test or DART NASAs first planetary defense mission and live demonstration of asteroid deflection. DART will aim for the smaller body in the binary asteroid known as Didymos, intercepting this small moon in October 2022, when the asteroid system is close enough to Earth to be easily (and safely) observed with ground-based telescopes. The DART spacecraft is currently being built and tested at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. The presentation will take place 9:45 a.m. 10:45 a.m. and is open to all attendees. 30 Years of Embedded Systems A Fireside Chat with Jack Ganssle and Jacob Beningo Presented by: Jack Ganssle, internationally known embedded systems engineer, author, and speaker, and Jacob Beningo, embedded systems consultant and ESC speaker/advisor In this fireside chat, Ganssle and Beningo will discuss how the embedded space and embedded engineering field has changed over the last three decades, what we can expect for the next few years, and also speculate about where well be in another 30 years. This presentation will take place 2:15 p.m. 3:15 p.m. The official partners of Drive World and ESC include IEEE-USA , SAE International , Embedded Vision Alliance , Linley Group , VSI Labs , and Design News . For more information on the keynote addresses, please visit here . Connect with ESC Boston: #DriveWorldESC, #AdvMfgExpo About Advanced Manufacturing Expos & Conferences: Informa PLCs Advanced Manufacturing portfolio is the leading B2B event producer, publisher, and digital media business for the world's $3-trillion advanced, technology-based manufacturing industry. Our print and electronic products deliver trusted information to the advanced manufacturing market and leverage our proprietary 1.3-million-name database to connect suppliers with buyers and purchase influencers. We produce more than 50 events and conferences in a dozen countries, connecting manufacturing professionals from around the globe. The Advanced Manufacturing portfolio is organized by Informa, which recently acquired UBM to become a leading B2B information services group and the largest B2B events and exhibitions organizer in the world. To learn more and for the latest news and information, visit www.informa.com . [May 22, 2019] RapidRatings Unveils FHR Network at 2nd Annual Client Summit RapidRatings, the leader in financial health analytics, has launched the FHR Network, a membership network that establishes a new standard for financial health transparency between business partners. The FHR Network is the second major product innovation to be announced this year following the release of HealthMark in April 2019. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005602/en/ RapidRatings' FHR Network (Photo: Business Wire) The FHR Network allows clients and their suppliers, third parties, and vendors to share their financial health rating confidentially and securely, thus helping clients unlock risk insights across their entire business ecosystem. By joining the network, clients can easily maximize the coverage and breadth of their risk management efforts while simultaneously reducing program costs. Suppliers that opt in are empowered to win new business and protect their own brand. "In order to build resilient supply chains in an increasingly complex business environment, it is critical for companies doing business together to develop strong relationships," said Douglas Cameron, President and Co-Head of Product at RapidRatings. "Financial health transparency is key to understanding the relative strengths of strategic partners and to assessing supply chain risks. The FHR Network provides clients and suppliers with a basis for building more trust." This latest product innovation was unveiled at RapidRatings' second annual Client Summit. "RapidRatings' Client Summit provided an opportunity to learn and share best practices for building sophisticated risk management programs," said Nitin K. Walia, Chief Client Officer. "Our client community brings incredible insights on how to achieve greater supply risk program ROI and mitigate the impact of lower-performing suppliers. Client Summit empowers companies to enhance their enterprise and financial risk management capabilities to meet current and to anticipate future challenges." The RapidRatings Client Summit was held on May 20-21, 2019 at the W Hotel in Hoboken, New Jersey. For more information about FHR Network, please visit our website. About RapidRatings RapidRatings is transforming the way the world's leading companies manage enterprise and financial risk. RapidRatings provides the most sophisticated analysis of the financial health of public and private companies in the world. The company's analytics system provides predictive insights into third-party partners, suppliers, vendors, customers and securities issuers. Business relationships informed by the RapidRatings Financial Health System are more productive, transparent and rewarding. For more information, visit www.rapidratings.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005602/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] NTS Communications Awards $10,000 In Tuition Scholarships LUBBOCK, Texas, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NTS Communications, Inc., ("NTS") a leading provider of fiber-based communications solutions, announced that five high school seniors will each receive $2,000 in tuition scholarships. Roberto Chang, VP of Customer Experience at NTS, stated, "At NTS, it's very important for us to give back to the communities that we serve. This scholarship program is one of the ways that we can do so and we hope to continue to grow this program every year. These five students are very deserving of the scholarships and we wish them the very best of luck in teir future endeavors." The NTS Scholarship Program was designed to provide financial assistance to students who have a desire to further their education so that they can acquire the knowledge and skills to better prepare for the future. The winners of the 2019 NTS Scholarship Program are Mary Dorantes from Olton High School, Petronilo Garibaldo from Brownfield High School, Dayna Romero from Brownfield High School, Jenna Miles from Littlefield High School, and Joanna Torres from Burkburnett High School. All the students are seniors from High Schools which are within NTS' rural service areas. The next scholarship deadline for graduating seniors who wish to apply will be in March 2020. For more information about the NTS Scholarship Program and to download the application packet, please visit www.ntscom.com/scholarship. ABOUT NTS COMMUNICATIONS, INC. NTS Communications provides managed telecommunications cloud services and is the leading provider of fiber-based communications solutions for both residential and business customers across Texas and Louisiana. NTS delivers one of the fastest Internet connections available over a true fiber to the premise network. For the Company's website, please visit: www.ntscom.com . CONTACTS Kelley Harber NTS Communications, Inc. 806-776-4195 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nts-communications-awards-10-000-in-tuition-scholarships-300854351.html SOURCE NTS Communications, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Milan Workgroup to Host Momentum Update Events, Education and Product Demonstrations at InfoComm 2019 Orlando, FL InfoComm 2019 Members of the Milan workgroup within the Avnu Alliance announce two public events to share news and momentum from Milans inception at InfoComm 2018 through 2019, including technical updates for the protocol as well as ecosystem and product announcements from the group. There will be two events with presentations followed by a happy hour for networking: Wednesday, June 12, 2019 from 5:00 6:30 PM hosted by Adamson Systems Engineering in Demo Room #W230C, and Thursday, June 13, 2019 from 5:00 6:30 PM hosted by Meyer Sound in Demo Room #W240. Milan co-creator Luminex will also host a Milan interoperability product demo in their booth, #6967 throughout the show. Interested parties may register via this Eventbrite link (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/milan-infocomm-momentum-update-tickets-60818697361) or by emailing [email protected] Milan members will also present an AVIXA InfoComm Seminar course offering 1.5 CTS RU credits, on Friday, June 14 from 10:00 AM 11:30 AM. Attendees will learn more about the challenges commonly associated with AV networking and how the Milan protocol can be used as a solution to guarantee interoperability at the network and application layer, as well as how integrators, AV and IT managers and other end-users can implement Milan into their AV networks for reliable, deterministic and future-proof media networking. Attendees may register via the InfoComm website. First launched at InfoComm 2018, Milan is a standards-based, user-driven deterministic network protocol for professional media, that assures devices will work together at new levels of convenience, reliability and functionality. Created and maintained by Pro Audio market leaders in the Avnu Alliance, Milan is the first tangible solution for promising deterministic, reliable, and future-proof delivery of networked media. Milan combines the technical benefits of the AVB standard with Pro AV market-defined device requirements at both the network and the application layer for media streams, formats, clocking and redundancy. Manufacturers interested in exploring Milan network implementation should visit www.avnu.org/Milan or get in touch with [email protected] or join the Milan Forum. Milan specification documents are final and available now at http://avnu.org/specifications/. To learn more about Avnu Alliance, visit www.avnu.org. About Milan Thoughtfully designed and developed, Milan is a user-driven protocol built on top of IEEE Audio Video Bridging (AVB) open standards with added specification requirements for professional media to ensure that all Milan devices will work together on a Pro AV network. Milan is the Pro AV market-defined protocol and toolkit that provides manufacturers a specific set of rules and directives for products to be built with requirements for the network layer and the application layer including media streams, formats, clocking and redundancy, and thus once tested and certified, form a fully interoperable ecosystem for deterministic networking in the Pro AV market. About Avnu Alliance Avnu Alliance is a community creating an interoperable ecosystem of low-latency, time-synchronized, highly reliable networked devices using open standards. Avnu creates comprehensive certification programs to ensure interoperability of networked devices. The foundational technology enables deterministic synchronized networking based on IEEE Audio Video Bridging (AVB) / Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) base standards. The Alliance, in conjunction with other complementary standards bodies and alliances, provides a united network foundation for use in professional AV, automotive, industrial control and consumer segments. Press Contact Caster Communications, Inc. 401-792-7080 Alex Crabb [email protected] cell: +1-401-318-3339 Alex Gil [email protected] cell +1-703-282-8963 As a community-building service, TMCnet allows user submitted content which is not always proofed by TMCnet editors. If you feel this entry is of inferior quality or wish to report it for some reason, please forward the URL to "webedit [AT] tmcnet [DOT] com" with your comments. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] CentralSquare Acquires Tellus: Creating A Single, Virtual 911 Network for Public Safety Agencies Nationwide CentralSquare, the leading provider of public safety and public administration software in North America, announced today that it has acquired Tellus Safety Solutions, LLC, the leader in connecting multiple computer aided dispatch (CAD) systems used by emergency responders. CentralSquare already works with over 5,000 public safety agencies. To accelerate the building of a single, virtual, nationwide 911 dispatch system, current CentralSquare clients will immediately get complimentary access to real-time situational awareness across jurisdictions - cutting emergency response time by up to 2 minutes per incident and potentially enabling first responders to save nearly 125,000 lives nationwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005676/en/ An estimated 240 million calls are made to 911 across America each year. At the end of each call is a citizen seeking immediate, life-saving help. However, the calls come in to over 8,900 different primary and secondary dispatch centers. These dispatch centers use multiple types of software systems, preventing dispatchers from easily identifying, deploying and coordinating emergency resources across jurisdictions. This results in longer responses to life-threatening emergencies. For example, a police vehicle from another jurisdiction may be closest to an active shooter and could have reached a scene before the tragedy escalated. It also leads to coordination challenges during natural disasters where dozens of police, fire and EMS services need to work collectively to prevent damage to life and property. For example, five agencies and 51 fire stations needed seamless coordination to respond to the recent wildfires in Southern California. With this acquisition, CentralSquare is promoting "public safety without borders" by building a single, virtual dispatch system across North America - where multiple agencies on disparate 911 software solutions can operate and communicate with each other as if they are on a single system - thereby reducing response time and saving lives. The FCC (News - Alert) estimates that speeding up emergency response by one minute would save 253,032 lives nationaly. Based on the number of public safety agencies CentralSquare serves, and the expected reduction in response time, over 125,000 lives can potentially be saved by first responders nationwide. "For over 10 years, Tellus has been providing 'safety without borders,' erasing the lines between cities, towns and counties so that critical emergency response information can flow effortlessly and automatically to the closest first responder, expediting emergency response and saving lives. Hundreds of agencies have used the Tellus solution to cut down emergency response time. For example, Columbus, Ohio, cut mutual aid resource request time by 60% to just 25-30 seconds because the Tellus solution eliminated call queuing and needing to spell out details over the phone. Similarly, Orange (News - Alert) County has reduced time per request from an average of two and a half minutes to just 15 seconds - saving critical seconds on every drowning, cardiac arrest and life-threatening emergency. It's exciting to join CentralSquare in bringing this powerful technology to the largest community of public safety agencies in North America," said Tellus President Jonathan Mitchell. "CentralSquare already provides the broadest, smartest and most unified technology platform for nearly 5,000 public safety agencies across North America. Going forward, seamless two-way integration between computer aided dispatch systems will come standard out-of-the-box on the CentralSquare Public Safety platform. As soon as a community deploys the CentralSquare Public Safety platform, it will be able to seamlessly integrate law enforcement, fire and EMS resources with all neighboring communities. Our solution preserves the autonomy of each dispatch center as it integrates into existing CAD workstations. This eliminates the need for retraining dispatchers and builds on the unique local requirements at each center," said Steve Seoane, EVP and General Manager of Public Safety at CentralSquare. "Seamless CAD-to-CAD connectivity is just one step in our vision to ensure that all agencies nationally can easily access each other's data and resources. We are making record-breaking investments in R&D to ensure that, in using artificial intelligence, machine learning and other technologies, we are building a network where all agencies can quickly respond to emergencies, investigate crimes, pre-detect terror threats and mitigate casualties in natural disasters. Our mission is to make North America safer by making every community smarter and stronger," said Simon Angove, CEO of CentralSquare. CentralSquare will continue to support and upgrade all Tellus products for current customers, irrespective of the CAD system that an agency uses, ensuring that citizens can benefit from faster response to emergencies. Financial terms of the acquisition are not being disclosed. About CentralSquare Formed by the merger of Superion, TriTech along with Zuercher, and the public sector and healthcare business of Aptean, CentralSquare is an industry leader in public safety and public administration software, serving over 7,650 organizations from the largest metropolitan city to counties and towns of every size across North America. Its technology platform provides solutions for public safety, including 911, computer aided dispatch, records management, mobile, citations, evidence management and corrections. For public administration agencies, CentralSquare provides software for finance, human capital management, payroll, utility billing, citizen engagement, asset management, regulatory compliance and community development. For hospitals and clinicians, it provides patient information, compliance and analytics software. CentralSquare's broad, unified and agile software suite serves 3 in 4 citizens across North America. More information is available at CentralSquare.com About Tellus Tellus, is a standards-based information-sharing technology that connects and integrates with most independent CAD systems. By joining CAD systems together, dispatchers can correctly identify closest-available resources and coordinate emergency response across many agencies and jurisdictions. More information is available at Tellus.us. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005676/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Indigenous Community Innovation Bringing Clean-Energy to Saskatchewan MEADOW LAKE, SK, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Investing in infrastructure that promotes clean energy solutions is key to creating a strong low-carbon economy and sustainable future for Canadians. Today, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, on behalf of the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan Minister of Trade and Export Development and MLA for Meadow Lake, announced funding for a major green energy project in Meadow Lake. The First Nations-owned Meadow Lake Tribal Council Bioenergy Centre will generate carbon-neutral green power using sawmill biomass residuals. It will be the first plant of its kind in Saskatchewan and is expected to produce 6.6 megawatts of baseload electricity to power approximately 5,000 homes with greener energy. The project is expected to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by more than 1 million tonnes over 25 years, and reduce smoke and other harmful matter to significantly improve air quality for residents. Revenues from the plant will also support essential programs and services including child and family services, education, and health and youth development for the nine member-First Nations comprising the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. The Government of Canada is contributing $52.5 million to this project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Canada-Saskatchewan Integrated Bilateral Agreement under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. Quotes "Canada's transition to cleaner power will protect the environment, create more sustainable communities and build a clean future for generations to come. Our government is proud to support Meadow Lake Tribal Council and the entire community in realizing their Bioenergy Plant the first of its kind in Saskatchewan. This project will create good middle-class jobs, boost regional economic growth and serve as a model for communities across the country who want to transition to renewable energy and promote a greener way of life." The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, on behalf of the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "The Meadow Lake Bioenergy Project is a first of its kind biomass green energy project for Saskatchewan, and today's announcement is an eciting step in making this new bioenergy power plant a reality. Congratulations to Meadow Lake Tribal Council and MLTC Resource Development on being one step closer to green energy production that will support improved economic outcomes for their member nations, the community of Meadow Lake and our region." The Honourable Jeremy Harrison, Minister of Trade and Export Development and MLA for Meadow Lake "Through this kind of affirmative action, Canada and Saskatchewan demonstrate their commitment to ensuring ongoing and sustained participation of Indigenous communities in green energy infrastructure development, climate change mitigation, improving environmental outcomes and supporting our local forestry-based economy in the Meadow Lake area. Investment such as this makes good sense as it enables MLTC and the Meadow Lake First Nations to create ongoing economic opportunity and hope for our people." Chief Richard Ben, Tribal Chief, Meadow Lake Tribal Council "The City of Meadow Lake applauds this federal funding announcement today for the MLTC Bioenergy Centre. The Meadow Lake Tribal Council has a significant role in the local economy of Meadow Lake. This project will serve to strengthen MLTC's continuing growth and its ongoing support of economic development in the area." Merlin Seymour, Acting Mayor of Meadow Lake Quick facts Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. infrastructure plan, the Government of is investing more than over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities. $26.9 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. of this funding is supporting green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. The Government of Canada is contributing up to $52.5 million to this project through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Plan. A further $250,000 is being provided by the Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs' Community Opportunities Readiness Program. is contributing up to to this project through the Investing in Infrastructure Plan. A further is being provided by the Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs' Community Opportunities Readiness Program. The nine member-First Nations comprising the Meadow Lake Tribal Council (MLTC) are Birch Narrows Dene Nation, Buffalo River Dene Nation, Canoe Lake Cree Nation, Clearwater River Dene Nation , English River First Nation, Flying Dust First Nation, Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, Ministikwan Lake Cree Nation, and Waterhen Lake First Nation. Associated links Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html Investing in Canada Plan Project Map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map Federal infrastructure investments in Saskatchewan: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/investments-2002-investissements/sk-eng.html Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Web: Infrastructure Canada SOURCE Infrastructure Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ruling DPK party leader Lee Hae-chan, center in the front row, and senior party officials sing a song on the sidelines of their participation in an event in downtown Seoul, May 18. to commemorate the death of the late President Roh Moo-hyun. Korea Times file By Kim Yoo-chul Former U.S. President George W. Bush will attend a memorial service at Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, today, marking the 10th anniversary of the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun. Bush will present a portrait he painted of the late president to Roh's wife Kwon Yang-sook, which will be exhibited at the Roh Moo-hyun Foundation. In return, she will give Bush a "special present" featuring the carved features of Bush and Roh. "As presidents, Roh and Bush had different views on issues such as North Korea, but they had an intimate personal relationship," ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Lee Hae-chan said during a party meeting. [May 22, 2019] Arch RoamRight Analysis Provides Insights into 2019 Spring Break Travel Habits A recent study by Arch Insurance Company's travel insurance brand, RoamRight, yielded interesting insights about this year's recently completed spring break travel season. Spring break, historically an opportunity for travelers to recharge from the doldrums of the winter season, typically finds leisure travelers heading for warmer climates. Arch RoamRight's recent analysis, based on survey responses and historical purchase data, uncovered some noteworthy results regarding one of the United States' most popular travel seasons. Findings include: Most spring breakers do not purchase travel insurance The majority of survey respondents (53%) who traveled for spring break said they did not purchase travel insurance for their trip. "Even though we have come a long way in educating American travelers about the importance of travel insurance, we still have a way to go," said Cory Sobczyk, Vice President of Business Development for Arch RoamRight. "Many travel experts agree that travel insurance is an important component of any travel plan. Travel insurance should be as essential for spring break as sunblock or a bathing suit." Travel insurance helps protect you if your vacation plans change, such as if you need to cancel your trip for an unexpected reason or if your luggage is lost or delayed. Travel insurance can also provide medical coverage for emergencies that occur while traveling. Arch RoamRight travelers opted for Puerto Rico, Cuba over Mexico According to data from insured Arch RoamRight travelers in the first quarter of 2019, more travelers were taking spring break trips to Puerto Rico and Cuba, hile fewer were opting for the historically popular spring break destination of Mexico. In March 2019, Arch RoamRight saw a 43% increase in travelers heading to Puerto Rico and a 19% increase in travelers bound for Cuba when compared to March of 2018. Meanwhile, there was a 39% decrease in insured individuals traveling to Mexico. "Over the last year, we have seen Puerto Rico make tremendous strides in welcoming tourists back into their country," said Mr. Sobczyk. "While Mexico remains a popular destination for spring break, our data shows a swing of people visiting Puerto Rico, possibly to help the country rebuild from the devastation of Hurricane Maria in 2017 by contributing to the local economy through tourism." Regarding the increase in travel to Cuba, Mr. Sobczyk says, "We understand the desire for Americans to experience Cuba once people-to-people travel to the country was allowed, especially with the future regulation of American travel to Cuba uncertain." Most respondents opted to pass on a spring break trip Through the survey, Arch RoamRight learned that about 70% of respondents did not take a 2019 spring break trip. Of those, nearly 30% cited limitations in paid time off from work as a leading reason for not traveling. Other responses included a lack of interest in spring break travel (23%) and not being able to afford a trip this year (9%). About RoamRight RoamRight (www.roamright.com), an Arch Insurance brand based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, provides travel insurance to help U.S. residents traveling around the world. RoamRight offers travel insurance plans for leisure, business, student and group travelers taking both domestic and international trips. From trip cancellation to travel medical insurance plans and an award-winning mobile app and website, RoamRight is an industry leader in innovation and technological solutions. About the Survey These results were collected in a survey sent to Arch RoamRight newsletter subscribers. The survey received 221 responses from the 18,281 newsletter subscribers. The purpose of this survey was to gather information on spring break travel during the 2019 season. The survey and its results are informal and not large enough to arrive at a conclusions that concretely summarize travel trends. To subscribe to the Arch RoamRight newsletter, go here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005536/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division Raises $4.4 Billion for Broad Street Senior Credit Partners II Goldman Sachs announced today that it has completed the final close for its latest performing senior credit vehicle, Broad Street Senior Credit Partners II ("Senior Credit Partners II" or the "Fund"). The Fund has $4.4 billion of total capital available to invest, including leverage. Senior Credit Partners II is managed by the Private Credit Group in Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division ("MBD"). Over its 20 year history, the Private Credit Group has raised over $80 billion of capital to invest in performing corporate loans and mezzanine securities. "Senior loans are an attractive asset class that can hold up well across market environments, particularly when focused on investing in companies with strong underlying credit fundamentals," said Tom Connolly, the New York-based Global Head of the Private Credit Group. "We're pleased to be able to offer meaningful corporate credit investment opportunities to individual clients through this Fund as we have done for our institutional clients through our Loan Partners family of funds." Senior Credit Partners II will pursue an investment strategy consistent with prior senior credit investing vehicles, with a primary focus on direct origination of performing senior corporate credit in North America and Western Europe. Through the Fund as well as other senior credit investing vehicles, th Private Credit Group is able to provide borrowers with customized direct lending solutions in size, flexibility across geographies and currencies, certainty and speed of execution, and known terms. Opportunities are sourced through MBD's and Goldman Sachs' global network of relationships. Senior Credit Partners II is intended to provide individual clients of Goldman Sachs with access to the Private Credit Group's senior credit investing opportunities. The Loan Partners family of funds will continue to provide institutions with access to our senior credit investing opportunities. In 2017, Goldman Sachs held the final close for Broad Street Loan Partners III, a $9.8 billion fund, including leverage. About Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division's Private Credit Group Merchant Banking Division's Private Credit Group has been a leading investor in private credit for over 20 years and has raised over $80 billion. Senior Credit Partners II is the fifteenth commingled corporate credit vehicle managed by MBD since 1996. In December 2018, Goldman Sachs' private debt investing businesses were ranked first in Private Debt Investor's "PDI 50," which ranks managers by total capital raised over the last five years. About Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division MBD is the primary center for Goldman Sachs' long term principal investing activity, investing in equity and credit across corporate, real estate and infrastructure strategies. Since its founding over 25 years ago, MBD has invested over $200 billion across these strategies. With nine offices in six countries around the world, MBD is one of the largest managers of private capital globally, offering deep expertise and long-standing relationships with companies, investors, entrepreneurs and financial intermediaries around the world. About Goldman Sachs The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of financial services to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and individuals. Founded in 1869, the firm is headquartered in New York and maintains offices in all major financial centers around the world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005612/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Southeastern Grocers "Rounds Up" Support to Honor Military Heroes Today, Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of BI-LO, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, announces the launch of a six-week community donation program to benefit Folds of Honor. The grocer is committed to supporting Folds of Honor's mission to provide educational scholarships to the children and spouses impacted by a loved one's sacrifice for the United States military. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005757/en/ Southeastern Grocers launches "round up" community donation program in support of Folds of Honor families now through July 4. (From left to right) Andrew Nadin, EVP and Chief Customer Officer for Southeastern Grocers; Ben Leslie, Executive Vice President of Folds of Honor; Hannah Simpkins, Folds of Honor scholarship recipient; Robert Simpkins, U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant - Disabled; Eddie Garcia, EVP of Store Growth for Southeastern Grocers (Photo: Business Wire) Now through the Fourth of July, BI-LO, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers can honor America's heroes and their families by rounding up their total grocery bill to the nearest dollar at check out. Every cent donated to Folds of Honor helps provide a brighter future for the legacies of fallen and disabled service members through education. Andrew Nadin, EVP and Chief Customer Officer of Southeastern Grocers, said, "At Southeastern Grocers, we are proud to stand with Folds of Honor in support of those who have sacrificed their ability to stand themselves. It's not just about honoring those who made it their responsibility to fight for the freedoms Americans cherish most; it's also about our responsibility to fight for those they left behind - because military families serve too." Major Dan Rooney, Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor,said, "We greatly value our partnership with Southeastern Grocers and its commitment to honor our servicemen and servicewomen. We are incredibly grateful for the compassion and generosity their customers and community members have shown and continue to show for our military families." This continued partnership with Folds of Honor allows Southeastern Grocers to expand their support of the customers, associates and families of those who have served, continue to serve or have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 20,000 educational scholarships to spouses and children of America's fallen and disabled service members. Last year alone, Folds of Honor awarded 4,000 educational scholarships throughout the United States, including more than 1,300 scholarships within the seven states Southeastern Grocers serves, but the need is still great; 700 eligible and qualified applicants throughout the United States went unfunded in 2018. Customers are encouraged to visit their neighborhood BI-LO, Harveys Supermarket or Winn-Dixie store for more information on how to contribute. About Southeastern Grocers Southeastern Grocers, Inc. (SEG), parent company and home of BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is one of the largest conventional supermarket companies in the U.S. SEG grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies serve communities throughout the seven southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina. BI-LO, Fresco y Mas, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie are well-known and well-respected regional brands with deep heritages, strong neighborhood ties, proud histories of giving back, talented and caring associates and strong commitments to providing the best possible quality and value to customers. For more information, visit www.bi-lo.com, www.frescoymas.com, www.harveyssupermarkets.com and www.winndixie.com. About Folds of Honor Folds of Honor is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and platinum on GuideStar, that provides educational scholarships to the families of military men and women who have fallen or been disabled while on active duty in the United States armed forces. Our educational scholarships support private educational tuition and tutoring for children in grades K-12, as well as higher education tuition assistance for spouses and dependents. Founded in 2007 by Major Dan Rooney, a PGA Professional and F-16 fighter pilot in the Air Force Reserves who served three tours of duty in Iraq, the Folds of Honor is proud to have awarded nearly 20,000 scholarships in all 50 states and some US territories, including approximately 4,000 in 2018 alone. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship, please visit foldsofhonor.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005757/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Four Projects to Enhance Climate Change Resiliency in the Greater Montreal Area MONTREAL, May 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Investing in green infrastructure helps communities reduce their carbon footprint and increase their resilience to climate change. It also helps safeguard public health, protect the environment and create a clean-growth economy. The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and Vicki-May Hamm, President of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), today announced investments totaling nearly $2.8 million for four projects funded under the Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program. In Montreal, the Ruelles bleues-vertes project aims to relieve the pressure of rainwater on municipal infrastructure in the Sud-Ouest borough. The city's underwater drainage network was not designed to handle the kinds of extreme rain events that are becoming more frequent, causing overflow and flooding. This project aims to redirect water from roof drains into alleyways and also planting vegetation. For its part, the City of Boucherville is building a new environmentally responsible park-and-ride facility. The new lot, located at the intersection of de Montarville Boulevard and Highway 132 East, will have 230 spots and will facilitate and encourage the use of alternate, innovative and collective modes of transportation. The new parking lot will also foster a modal shift (single-occupant car-bus) during work on the Louis-Hippolyte-La Fontaine tunnel, which is slated to begin in two years. The City of Laval will be undertaking demineralization operations and planting more than 7,000 plants to help lower the surrounding temperature, reduce the impact of urban heat islands and thus help to protect vulnerable populations. Lastly, the City of Beloeil will be integrating green infrastructure into the redevelopment of Duvernay Street to allow rainwater to filter naturally into the soil, lower ambient heat, and revitalize the commercial strip. The work includes planting 200 trees and installing urban furniture, two charging stations for electric vehicles, and bicycle racks to promote green travel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Quotes "Our government is committed to investing in projects that support a more strategic and sustainable approach to planning, building and maintaining public infrastructure in response to the impacts of climate change. Through partnerships like the one we have with FCM, we are helping provide solid modern, green and resilient 21st-centry infrastructure across the country. The investments we are announcing today in the Greater Montreal area will make it possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help to build a strong and healthy middle class." The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities "Municipalities are on the front lines of climate change. That means local action is critical. Municipalities of all sizes are modelling local green solutions that can be replicated and scaled up across the country for deep national impact. This is what today's announcement is all about orders of government working together to build better lives for Canadians." Vicki-May Hamm, FCM President Related product To learn more about projects Quick Facts The Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program (MCIP) helps municipalities and partner organizations by providing funding, training and information sharing. It is designed to encourage Canadian municipalities to better prepare for and adapt to the new realities of climate change as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions. MCIP is a five-year $75-million program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada . program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of . Through the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan, the Government of Canada is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. infrastructure plan, the Government of is investing more than over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities. $26.9 billion of this funding is supporting green infrastructure projects, including $5 billion available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. of this funding is supporting green infrastructure projects, including available for investment through the Canada Infrastructure Bank. Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class , is the government's plan to create more good well-paying jobs, put homeownership within reach of more Canadians, help working people get the training they need to succeed, support seniors, and lay the foundation for national pharmacare. , is the government's plan to create more good well-paying jobs, put homeownership within reach of more Canadians, help working people get the training they need to succeed, support seniors, and lay the foundation for national pharmacare. With many municipalities across Canada facing serious infrastructure deficits, Budget 2019 proposes a one-time transfer of $2.2 billion through the federal Gas Tax Fund to address short-term priorities in municipalities and First Nations communities. Associated links Municipalities for Climate Innovation Program FCM Funding Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan Investing in Canada Plan Project Map Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Web: Infrastructure Canada SOURCE Infrastructure Canada [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] VATC's EPIC Ready Software Suite Wins 2019 TechConnect Innovation Award TAMPA, Fla., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday Visual Awareness Technologies & Consulting's (VATC) EPIC Ready patented software program was recognized as a winner of the 2019 TechConnect Innovation Award. The TechConnect Innovation Awards identify the top 15 percent of submitted technologies as ranked by the TechConnect Corporate and Investment Partner Committee. "We are thrilled to have received this prestigious honor. EPIC Ready will strongly and strategically prepare our armed forces for combat in today's day and age. This measurable and realistic war gaming tool will transform mission readiness and will bridge gaps in training effectiveness," said VATC CEO Sara Moola. Innovation rankings for these awards are based on the positive impact the submitted technologies will have on specific industry sectors. Innovations are submitted from global academic technology transfer offices, early-stage companies, small business innovative research (SBIR) awardees and government and corporate research laboratories. With years of subject matter expertise, VATC and EPIC Ready, co-founded by Mool and President Mike Vaughn, have dedicated their careers to support Conventional Force and Special Operations Interdependence (CF-SOF 13). Using a combination of geospatial analytics, human dynamics factors and performance-driven metrics and quantifiable results, EPIC Ready creates tactical, simulated and augmented 3D world terrain environments, ultimately supporting warfighter needs in an ever-evolving world. VATC is currently conducting demonstrations of EPIC Ready at SOFIC 2019 today and tomorrow at The Tampa Convention Center, Booth #251. Additionally, VATC will be exhibiting at the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo from June 17-19 in Boston, Booth No. 41T. To schedule a demonstration at the show, please contact Brooks Davis at [email protected] . For more information about EPIC Ready and/or VATC, please visit www.vatcinc.com/epic-ready . About VATC For 16 years, VATC has combined its joint training experience, innovative engineering talent and intelligence expertise to pioneer the development of the most advanced Distributed Missions Operations (DMO) training environments available anywhere in the world. Combining the latest open geospatial data standards with an integrated suite of innovative DMO training solutions, VATC offers a legacy of proven performance, leading subject-matter expertise and the most innovative technological solutions to the modern military's growing challenges. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vatcs-epic-ready-software-suite-wins-2019-techconnect-innovation-award-300855380.html SOURCE Visual Awareness Technologies & Consulting (VATC) [May 22, 2019] Letco Med Announces The Launch Of A New Industry-Leading Website And E-Commerce Solution Making It Easier For Compounding Pharmacies To Do Business WAYNE, Pa., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Letco Medical, L.L.C. ("Letco Med" or "Letco"), a leading supplier of quality compounding products, supplies, and equipment, announced to its customers the launch of a new web-based e-commerce solution on April 11, 2019. Committed specifically to serving the needs of the compounding industry, Letco Med implemented a comprehensive, one-stop solution for customer ordering and self-service that reduces valuable pharmacy time spent on purchasing, inventory management, document retrieval, and pricing analysis, enabling compounders to spend more time with patients. Letco partnered directly with customers to identify opportunities to transform the online ordering experience. Those insights, along with the evolving needs of compounding pharmacies, were used as inputs to the design and implementation of the most advanced web-based ordering platform in the industry. Customers can now quickly locate products, select from greatly expanded shipping options, and easily access account-specific pricing and specials. Letco's new solution also provides a unique and customizable portal where customers can access a broad array of compounding formulas, product pedigrees, safety data sheets, certificates of analysis, invoices, delivery tracking, and more. Besides the enhanced functionality, Letco also debuted a fresh, contemporary design for a better user experience overall across all web-enabled devices, including mobile. Letco Med's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Greg Lake, said, "Our goal when designing the new website was to put compounders first and make it easier for everyone in the pharmacy to do business efficiently, from pharmacy tech to buyer to compounding pharmacist. We put careful thought into visual design and navigation along with functionality, so our customers can accomplish what they need to easily and quickly get back to business in their pharmacies and compounding labs, spending more time with patients." To bring an industry-leading e-commerce platorm to its customers, Letco partnered with Blue Fountain Media, a Pactera Company, to create robust functionality and a user-friendly interface for the site's complex components. Letco selected Blue Fountain Media for its award-winning experience developing robust e-commerce solutions for clients such as Sony, McDonald's, Expedia, and Peterbilt. Letco's innovative solution, coupled with Blue Fountain Media's technology expertise, has resulted in a best-in-class website delivering the optimal online experience for compounding pharmacies. As the leading innovator in the industry, Letco Med is the preferred partner to compounding pharmacists, enabling them to take full advantage of compounding as a profit center. To experience Letco Med's new website, visit www.letcomed.com. About Letco Medical, L.L.C. Letco Medical, L.L.C. ("Letco Med"), a 100% employee-owned company headquartered in Wayne, PA, is the supply partner of choice for profit-conscious compounding pharmacies everywhere. Letco Med has invested heavily in building a company that can serve the needs of compounding pharmacists today, tomorrow and into the future, with a full line of products and complementary programs and services. With a dedicated focus on the U.S. compounding market, Letco Med provides a comprehensive portfolio of safe and consistent top-quality chemicals, compounding supplies and equipment at highly competitive prices. Letco Med's product line includes chemicals covering a broad range of therapeutic categories, as well as supplies, equipment, capsules, pre-made topical bases, and oral delivery vehicles. Letco Med also carries a deep assortment of dosage forms and delivery systems. Since its inception in 1993, Letco Med has earned and built a reputation as one of the most innovative companies in the compounding industry. Letco Med is focused on unwavering quality, exemplified by the company's industry-leading quality assurance programs, stringent quality control procedures and an unmatched record with the FDA. About Blue Fountain Media Blue Fountain Media, a Pactera Company, is a New York-based digital agency helping businesses grow by creating high-performing websites and digital marketing campaigns that turn customer insights into revenue. With experience across all industries, Blue Fountain Media helps clients such as Peterbilt, Sony, McDonald's, Expedia, Syneos Health, Workfront, and Service King increase brand recognition by designing and developing enterprise websites, and cross-platform integrated marketing campaigns. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/letco-med-announces-the-launch-of-a-new-industry-leading-website-and-e-commerce-solution-making-it-easier-for-compounding-pharmacies-to-do-business-300855390.html SOURCE Letco Medical [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of M&C General Insurance Company Limited AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "a-" of M&C General Insurance Company Limited (M&C General) (Castries, St. Lucia). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect M&C General's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorizes as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management (ERM). M&C General's balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalization being assessed at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). However, the company is relatively small with less than USD 10 million in equity, and it relies heavily on the strength of its reinsurers to manage its catastrophe exposure, minimize earnings volatility and protect surplus. The ratings benefit from the company's operating performance, which has been better than average year in and year out compared with other companies writing similar lines of business in the Caribbean. Although the company has a concentration of risk in property and motor lines of business in St. Lucia, geographically it is less prone to hurricanes, which tend to take a more northerly track. Therefore, its operating performance has not been marred by severe weather events over the past five years. M&C General operates in a limited, mature market, with little potential for organic growth. Management is well-established in this market, and effectively distributes its products through insurance brokers and on a direct basis. The ERM proram has identified underwriting, investment and operational risks effectively, and focuses also on the regulatory and legal environment, as well as reserving, marketing and reputational risks. Moreover, M&C General's affiliation with its ultimate parent, Goddard Enterprises Limited, one of the largest Barbados-domiciled conglomerates, gives the company access to financial and investment management and information technology. AM Best anticipates that M&C General will continue to generate favorable earnings and maintain risk-adjusted capitalization at the strongest level. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Understanding Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases. AM Best is a global rating agency and information provider with a unique focus on the insurance industry. Visit www.ambest.com for more information. Copyright 2019 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005797/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Omaha Homeownership to Get $3.9 Million Boost Wells Fargo (News - Alert) & Company (NYSE:WFC), NeighborWorks America and Family Housing Advisory Services (FHAS), Inc., today announced the NeighborhoodLIFT program will expand for Omaha with a $3.9 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost local homeownership. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005806/en/ NeighborhoodLIFT is the single largest corporate philanthropic effort of its kind in Wells Fargo's history and is funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation. Launched in early 2012, the NeighborhoodLIFT program provides down payment assistance, homebuyer education, and support for potential homebuyers. (Graphic: Business Wire) "The Omaha area is a special place to call home, and this investment will help ensure that our residents have access to safe, high-quality housing they can afford," said Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert. "We appreciate the efforts of Wells Fargo, NeighborWorks America and their local partners for bringing the NeighborhoodLIFT program to Douglas and Sarpy counties to help put homeownership within reach for hundreds of households." Free NeighborhoodLIFT event scheduled June 21-22 Interested homebuyers are encouraged to register beginning Monday, June 3, at www.wellsfargo.com/lift to attend the free event scheduled on Friday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza, located at 3321 South 72nd Street, Omaha. Walk-ins also are welcome while grants are available. FHAS, GROW South Dakota and Neighborhood Finance Corporation (NFC) will administer the $15,000 grants, determine eligibility and provide homebuyer and financial education. "The NeighborhoodLIFT program is another example of or commitment to Omaha and our efforts to build better communities through sustainable homeownership," said Kirk Kellner, Wells Fargo region bank president in Nebraska. "The program will help hardworking families and individuals get on the path to achieve successful and sustainable homeownership." To reserve a $15,000 down payment assistance grant, eligible homebuyers must be pre-approved for financing with an eligible lender to purchase a home in Douglas or Sarpy counties and earn 80% or less of the area median income, which is $68,800 for up to a family of four. Military service members and veterans, teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians may reserve down payment assistance grants of $17,500 and earn up to 100% of the area median income. "This innovative public-private collaboration will create 175 Omaha homeowners," said John Santner, regional vice president, Midwest Region, for NeighborWorks America. "The required homebuyer education classes provided by certified professionals better prepare NeighborhoodLIFT homebuyers to achieve their goal of sustainable homeownership." Approved homebuyers will have up to 60 days to finalize a contract to purchase a home in Douglas or Sarpy counties and can obtain mortgage financing from any participating lender. To reserve the full grant amount, participants buying a primary residence with the NeighborhoodLIFT program must commit to live in the home for five years. "We're ready to help people become homeowners with the support of NeighborhoodLIFT homebuyer education and down payment assistance," said Teresa Hunter, executive director and chief executive officer of FHAS. "We are pleased to join Wells Fargo and NeighborWorks America to make homeownership more affordable, achievable and sustainable." In addition, Wells Fargo has committed $325,000 for up to 650 consumers to receive complimentary face-to-face homeownership counseling. Interested homebuyers can receive a voucher at the Omaha NeighborhoodLIFT launch event that will provide in-person homeownership counseling at no charge with a participating HUD-approved housing counselor in Omaha. The homeownership counseling grant program is a resource in addition to the homebuyer education required for a NeighborhoodLIFT down payment assistance grant. Overall, Wells Fargo has conducted 70 LIFT program events across the U.S. since 2012, creating nearly 21,000 homeowners with a total commitment of $456 million. A video about the NeighborhoodLIFT program is posted on Wells Fargo Stories. About FHAS FHAS is an Omaha-based nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of life and eliminate poverty through housing stability and financial security. FHAS will work in partnership with GROW South Dakota and NFC to administer the NeighborhoodLIFT program in the Omaha area. About NeighborWorks America NeighborWorks America is a national organization that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities. NeighborWorks America supports a network of more than 240 nonprofits, located in every state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Visit www.nw.org to learn more. About Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo's vision is to satisfy our customers' financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investment and mortgage products and services, as well as consumer and commercial finance, through 7,700 locations, more than 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 32 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 262,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 26 on Fortune's 2018 rankings of America's largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005806/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Governor Wolf Joins AmeriHealth Caritas to Launch New Opioid Overdose Reversal Training Program for Its Employees AmeriHealth Caritas, a national leader in Medicaid managed care and other health care solutions for those most in need, announced today a new program to train its employees on the use of naloxone, also known as NARCAN. As part of this program, employees will also be able to receive naloxone toolkits in a first-ever program by a managed care organization (MCO) in the Commonwealth. Governor Wolf and members of his Administration joined the rollout, which included a series of overdose reversal trainings in the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005820/en/ Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (left) and AmeriHealth Caritas Chairman and CEO Paul Tufano (right) (Photo courtesy of AmeriHealth Caritas) AmeriHealth Caritas is a leading employer in Pennsylvania, with over 3,100 employees in the Commonwealth and over 6,100 nationally, and is the Commonwealth's largest Medicaid managed care company, serving over 620,000 members. Many of the company's employees serve on the front line in vulnerable and uderserved communities, providing face-to-face assistance to help residents access health care. The Medicaid managed care organization will provide training and make naloxone toolkits available to allow employees to respond to an overdose by administering the overdose reversal drug. The program will first launch in the Commonwealth, and will later expand to all 6,100 employees in other states. "We need all hands on deck to confront this crisis," said Governor Tom Wolf. "We've made progress in the past year, but there is more work to be done at all levels. That starts with saving lives and NARCAN is doing that. Today's training is one more way to continue to battle this crisis and to learn how we can connect those impacted with resources and supports." "We're honored to have Governor Wolf with us as we expand our Opioid Blueprint to serve our members in Pennsylvania," said AmeriHealth Caritas Chairman and CEO Paul Tufano. "As a company that is deeply embedded in the communities we serve, we witness the struggles our members face. Opioid addiction doesn't discriminate-regardless of income, race, gender or age, it has had a devastating effect on our neighbors, friends, families and co-workers. The struggle against opioid addiction is one no one should face alone, and we'll do everything we can so more lives are not lost to this disease." Pennsylvania saw 4,267 overdose fatalities in 2018. Governor Wolf signed a disaster declaration in January of 2018 and has continued to extend the declaration to reflect the ongoing nature of the crisis. Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania Secretary of Health, has issued a standing statewide prescription to make naloxone available to the general public. AmeriHealth Caritas' Opioid Blueprint Intervention, member engagement and increased access to naloxone are vital to AmeriHealth Caritas' multi-faceted Opioid Blueprint, a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach to prevent and combat substance use disorders. The Opioid Blueprint also provides an engagement strategy to help ensure AmeriHealth Caritas members have access to behavioral health treatment for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Additional information about the company's Opioid Blueprint is available here. About AmeriHealth Caritas AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation's leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 11 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves more than 5 million Medicaid, Medicare, and Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, and behavioral health services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with more than 35 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. AmeriHealth Caritas is part of the Independence Health Group in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005820/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Two Harbors Investment Corp. to Present at the 2019 KBW Real Estate Finance & Asset Management Conference Two Harbors Investment Corp. (NYSE: TWO), a leading hybrid mortgage real estate investment trust, announced today that Chief Investment Officer William Roth and Co-Deputy Chief Investment Officer William Greenberg are scheduled to present at the 2019 KBW Real Estate Finance & Asset Management Conference being held Thursday, May 30, 2019 at the Westin Grand Central, in New York, New York. The fireside chat, scheduled to begin at 9:20 a.m. EDT, will include a discussion of the company's business fundamentals and investment strategy. The presentation will be webcast and made available on Two Harbors' website at http://www.twoharborsinvestment.com in the Investor Relations section under the Events and Presentations link. The replay will be available for 90 days. Two Harbors Investment Corp. Two Harbors Investment Corp., a Maryland corporation, is a real estate investment trust that invests in residential mortgage-backed securities, mortgage servicing rights and other financial assets. Two Harbors is headquartered in New York, New York, and is externally managed and advised by PRCM Advisers LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pine River Capital Management L.P. Additional information is available at www.twoharborsinvestment.com. Additional Information Stockholders of Two Harbors and other interested persons may find additional information regarding the company at the Securities and Exchange Commission's Internet site at www.sec.gov or by directing requests to: Two Harbors Investment Corp., 575 Lexington Avenue, Suite 2930, New York, NY 10022, telephone 612-629-2500. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005599/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Bahk Eun-ji The government said Wednesday that it would send a motion to the National Assembly for it to ratify key conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO). The decision came after 10 months of meetings of the Economic, Social and Labor Council that recently ended without reaching a consensus on ratification. Korea has been under pressure from the European Union to ratify four ILO conventions, which was a requirement of the free trade deal between Korea and the EU. This is a change from the Moon Jae-in administration's earlier stance that relevant law revisions based on the consensus at the tripartite council of the labor, management and the public sector should come before ratification. "The government will seek parliamentary approval of two ILO conventions on freedom of association and on the abolition of forced labor during the regular session of the National Assembly which starts in September," Employment and Labor Minister Lee Jae-kap said in a press briefing at the Government Complex Sejong. While the government will seek ratification of all three conventions, it needs to review the remaining convention related to punishing National Security Law violators. Although Korea joined the ILO in 1991, it has not ratified four key conventions that will guarantee more freedom of association and collective bargaining for workers, mainly because of strong opposition from business managers. Ratification was one of Moon's election pledges. Earlier this month, the ILO openly urged the government to ratify the key conventions before proceeding with related legislation, during a symposium organized by the Seoul Bar Association. [May 22, 2019] Kevin P. Brady and E. Wayne Nordberg Conclude their Service as Members of the Board of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. in Line with Board Refreshment Policy Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE: NLY) ("Annaly" or the "Company") announced today that directors Kevin P. Brady and E. Wayne Nordberg stepped down from the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") upon the scheduled expiration of their terms at the Company's Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 22, 2019 (the "Annual Meeting"). Mr. Brady joined the Board prior to the Company's initial public offering in 1997 and Mr. Nordberg joined the Board in 2004. Prior to the Annual Meeting, Mr. Brady had served as Chair of Annaly's Audit Committee and as a member of the Nominating/Corporate Governance ("NCG") Committee and Risk Committee, and Mr. Nordberg had served as a member of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and NCG Committee. "Kevin Brady joined Annaly's Board prior to the Company's initial public offering and has played a critical role in Annaly's growth and success since that time. We are immensely grateful for Kevin's guidance and support, including his exceptional leadership as Chair of the Company's Audit Committee," said Kevin Keyes, Annaly's Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President. "We are equally indebted to Wayne Nordberg, whose expertise in multiple asset classes and specifically in mortgage-related markets and products has helped transform Annaly into the industry leader we are today. On behalf of the entire Board, I want to publicly thank Kevin and Wayne for their many years of dedicated service to the Company and wish them the best in their future endeavors." Messrs. Brady and Nordberg stepped down as directors in line with the Company's recently-adopted Board refreshment policy, which provides that independent directors may not stand for re-election to the Board following the earlier of their 12th anniversary of Board service or their 73rd birthday. Following the Annul Meeting, Annaly's Board is comprised of 11 directors, 82% of whom are independent and 45% of whom are women. Independent director Kathy Hopinkah Hannan has been appointed as Chair of Annaly's Audit Committee following Mr. Brady's departure. Annaly's Audit and Risk Committees will further benefit from the experience of Thomas Hamilton, another recently appointed independent director who was re-elected by stockholders at the Annual Meeting. The Directors who have joined the Board over the past few years align with the Company's continued strategic evolution and ensure Annaly maintains a diverse, highly experienced and engaged Board. About Annaly Annaly is a leading diversified capital manager that invests in and finances residential and commercial assets. Annaly's principal business objective is to generate net income for distribution to its stockholders and to preserve capital through prudent selection of investments and continuous management of its portfolio. Annaly has elected to be taxed as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes. Annaly is externally managed by Annaly Management Company LLC. Additional information on the company can be found at www.annaly.com. Forward-Looking Statements This news release and our public documents to which we refer contain or incorporate by reference certain forward-looking statements which are based on various assumptions (some of which are beyond our control) and may be identified by reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking terminology, such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or similar terms or variations on those terms or the negative of those terms. Actual results could differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, changes in interest rates; changes in the yield curve; changes in prepayment rates; the availability of mortgage-backed securities and other securities for purchase; the availability of financing and, if available, the terms of any financing; changes in the market value of our assets; changes in business conditions and the general economy; our ability to grow our commercial real estate business; our ability to grow our residential mortgage credit business; our ability to grow our middle market lending business; credit risks related to our investments in credit risk transfer securities, residential mortgage-backed securities and related residential mortgage credit assets, commercial real estate assets and corporate debt; risks related to investments in mortgage servicing rights; our ability to consummate any contemplated investment opportunities; changes in government regulations and policy affecting our business; our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT for U.S federal income tax purposes; and our ability to maintain our exemption from registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. For a discussion of the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We do not undertake, and specifically disclaim any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005049/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Life Storage, Inc. Prices Offering of Senior Notes Life Storage, Inc. (NYSE:LSI), a leading national owner and operator of self storage properties, announced today that its operating partnership, Life Storage LP (the "Operating Partnership"), priced an offering of $350 million aggregate principal amount of 4.000% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2029 (the "Notes"). The Notes will be issued at 99.476% of par value with a coupon of 4.000%. Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 2019. The Notes will mature on June 15, 2029. The offering is expected to close on June 3, 2019 subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Operating Partnership expects to use net proceeds from this offering to repay its $100 million unsecured term note maturing June 4, 2020 and amounts outstanding under its unsecured line of credit. Remaining proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Wells Fargo (News - Alert) Securities, LLC and U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. acted as joint book-running managers for the offering. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Jefferies LLC, and BB&T Capital Markets acted as co-managers for the offering. The Operating Partnership has filed an effective registration statement (including a prospectus supplemen and accompanying prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC (News - Alert)") relating to the offering to which this communication relates. Before making an investment in the Notes, potential investors should read the prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the other documents that the Company and the Operating Partnership have filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and the offering. Potential investors may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus if you request it by contacting: Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, by telephone at 1-800-831-9146 or by email at [email protected] . . Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 608 2nd Avenue South, Suite 1000, Minneapolis, MN 55402, Attention: WFS Customer Service, by telephone at 1-800-645-3751 or by email at [email protected] . . U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., 214 N. Tryon Street, 26th Floor, Charlotte, NC 28202 or by telephone at 1-877-558-2607. 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 Notes in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Any offer or sale of the Notes will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement relating to the offering of the Notes and the accompanying prospectus. ABOUT LIFE STORAGE, INC: Life Storage, Inc. is a self-administered and self-managed equity REIT that is in the business of acquiring and managing self storage facilities. Located in Buffalo, New York, the Company operates more than 775 storage facilities in 28 states and Ontario, Canada. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005832/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] Tencent Miying Launches AI-supported Auxiliary Diagnostic System KUNMING, China, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Tencent today announces the launch of an AI-supported auxiliary diagnostic system for conducting digital colposcopy at the Global Digital Ecosystem Summit being held in Kunming, China. This latest technology can rapidly identify the cervical transformation zone and the location of a lesion, enabling doctors to more accurately and efficiently diagnose cervical cancer the most common cause of malignant tumors in the female reproductive organs. "There is a pressing need for smart technology in the healthcare information system," said Tencent's vice president Ding Ke. "Tencent is exploring ways to provide the medical industry with targeted solutions and is spearheading the use of new technologies in the sector." He said, "The launch of this technology is another breakthrough in AI-assisted diagnosis for major diseases and follows close collaboration with medical experts and other partners. In line with our Tech for Good vision, it also realizes substantial social value." Developed under the guidance of Professor Qiao Youlin, Department of Epidemiology, Cancer Hospital at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, the AI-assisted auxiliary diagnostic system for digital colposcopy, created by Tencent Miying and Tencent YouTu Lab, enables doctors to tackle issues in diagnosing patients who are at a high risk of developing cervical cancer. Such issues include identifying the cervical transformation zone, locating cervical cancer and precancerous lesions, and formulating accurate biopsies and quality programs. Tencent Miying can assist gynecologists in quickly identifying cervical transformation areas and the location of lesions, solving the "last mile" problem in cervical cancer prevention. As the most common type of malignant tumor in the female reproductive system, cervica cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women, accounting for the top 13% of all malignant tumors in females. According to WHO, there were about 527 thousand new cases of cervical cancer worldwide in 2012, 85% of which occurred in less developed areas, with deaths occurring in about 255 thousand cases. In China, approximately 100 thousand women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, representing 20% of the world's new cases. It is estimated that deaths occur in around 30 thousand cases. Tencent Miying's AI-assisted diagnosis system for digital colposcopy is therefore of huge value to both patients and doctors. "If you carry out your scientific research diligently, you can bring fruitful results to the world and receive recognition from the international community," said professor Qiao Yulin. "WHO has put forward a global plan to eliminate cervical cancer. As a country with a high burden of cervical cancer, China has the opportunity to play an important role in the elimination of cervical cancer and should therefore seek to make a difference." He added, "In the future, AI will contribute towards preventing and controlling cervical cancer not only in less developed areas within China, but also as part of Tencent's efforts to protect the health of women in other developing countries around the world." In August 2017, Tencent released Miying, its first product applying AI technology in the medical field, which now has two core competencies: AI medical imaging and AI-assisted diagnosis. Tencent Miying is able to assist doctors in screening for esophageal cancer, lung nodules, diabetic retinopathy, colorectal tumors, breast cancer and other diseases through its AI medical image analysis. Its AI-assisted medical diagnosis engine enables doctors to identify and estimate the risk of over 700 diseases, improving their diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. # # # About Tencent Tencent uses technology to enrich the lives of Internet users. Our social products Weixin and QQ link our users to a rich digital content catalogue including games, video, music and books. Our proprietary targeting technology helps advertisers reach out to hundreds of millions of consumers in China. Our infrastructure, FinTech and Business Services including payment, security, cloud and artificial intelligence create differentiated offerings to support our partners' business growth and assist their digital upgrade. Tencent invests heavily in people and innovation, enabling us to evolve with the Internet. Tencent was founded in Shenzhen, China, in 1998. Shares of Tencent (00700.HK) are traded on the Main Board of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. Media contact: Francis Wong +852 3148 5100 Ext. 50752 [email protected] Pui Hang Cheung +852 3148 5100 Ext. 68919 [email protected] View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tencent-miying-launches-ai-supported-auxiliary-diagnostic-system-300855493.html SOURCE Tencent Holdings Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 22, 2019] FANG Announces change in board of directors BEIJING, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Fang Holdings Limited (NYSE: SFUN) ("Fang" or the "Company"), a leading real estate Internet portal in China, today announced a change in its board of directors (the "Board"). Mr. Sam Hanhui Sun has resigned from the Board, effective from May 22, 2019. Mr. Sun's resignation did not result from any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company's operations, policies or practices. Fang thanks Mr. Sun for his efforts and contributions to the Company. Fang has appointed Mr. Howard Huyue Zhang, managing director of real estate investment division of CITIC Private Equity Funds Management Co., Ltd., as an independent director and member of the audit committee of the Board, effective from May 22, 2019. Upon the effectiveness of Mr. Sun's resignation and Mr. Zhang's appointment, the Board will consist of five directors, including three independent directors. Prior to joining Fang, Mr. Howard Huyue Zhang has served as a managing director of real estate investment division of CITIC Private Equity Funds Management Co., Ltd., a private equity asset management company in China, since March 018. Mr. Zhang had served as a managing director at Blackstone Group (HK) Limited, a subsidiary of Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX), from October 2014 to January 2018. Mr. Zhang was the chief investment officer at Infrared NF Investment Advisers Limited, a Hong Kong-based private equity real estate fund, from 2008 to September 2014, and was responsible for acquisitions in the real estate market of China. He had also worked at Citigroup Property Investors, a principal investment firm based in the United States. Mr. Zhang has extensive real estate investment and asset management experience in the Greater China area and the United States. Mr. Zhang received a bachelor's degree from Tsinghua University in architecture and a master's degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in real estate. He is also a chartered financial analyst. About Fang Fang operates a leading real estate Internet portal in China in terms of the number of page views and visitors to its websites. Through its websites, Fang provides primarily marketing, listing, financial and value-added services for China's fast-growing real estate and home furnishing and improvement sectors. Its user-friendly websites support active online communities and networks of users seeking information on, and other value-added services for, the real estate and home furnishing and improvement sectors in China. Fang currently maintains approximately 65 offices to focus on local market needs and its website and database contains real estate related content covering 658 cities in China. For more information about Fang, please visit http://ir.fang.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fang-announces-change-in-board-of-directors-300855113.html SOURCE Fang Holdings Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] KBRA Assigns Ratings to Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Variable Rate Turnpike Revenue Bonds Second Series of 2019 (LOC-Backed) Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) assigns a long-term rating of AA- with a Stable Outlook and short-term rating of K1+ to the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Variable Rate Turnpike Revenue Bonds Second Series of 2019 ("the Bonds"). Issuer: Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Assigned Rating Outlook Variable Rate Turnpike Revenue Bonds Second Series of 2019 AA-/K1+ Stable (Long-Term Rating) The Bonds will be issued as variable rate demand obligations with credit and liquidity support provided by an irrevocable Direct Pay Letter of Credit (DPLC) issued by TD Bank, N.A. ("the Bank"), a subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. (NYSE: TD). The ratings are based on an analysis of the structural and legal protections of the transaction and KBRA's long-term and short-term rating of the Bank, assigned on May 21, 2019. The following rating methodologies were used: To view the full report, click here. Related Publications: (available at www.kbra.com) CONNECT WITH KBRA Twitter LinkedIn Download the iOS App YouTube About KBRA and KBRA Europe KBRA is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider and is a certified Credit Rating Agency (CRA) by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered with ESMA as a CRA. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005878/en/ [May 22, 2019] UnitedHealthcare and Optum Take Action to Support People Affected by Flooding in Missouri UnitedHealthcare and Optum, the health benefits and services companies of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), are taking action to help people affected by recent flooding across parts of Missouri. Support includes assisting health plan participants who may need to make alternate arrangements to access care and early prescription refills, as well as offering a free emotional-support line to help people who might be affected. Help Finding a Network Care Provider, Early Refills: Plan participants who need help finding a care provider in the UnitedHealthcare network or obtaining early prescription refills can call customer care at the number located on the back of their medical ID cards. Plan participants who need help finding a care provider in the UnitedHealthcare network or obtaining early prescription refills can call customer care at the number located on the back of their medical ID cards. For plan participants who may have misplaced their medical ID cards, call 866-633-2446, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (in the local time zone), Monday through Friday. People enrolled in Medicaid, employer-sponsored and individual health plans (except Medicare) who have a smartphone can download the free Health4Me app, which provides instant access to their ID card, network care providers, their personal health benefits and more. The Health4Me app is available as a free download at the Apple (News - Alert) iTunes App Store and the Andrid Market on Google Play. Free Help Line: Optum, a leading health and behavioral health services company, is offering a free emotional-support help line. Along with the toll-free help line, emotional-support resources and information are available online at www.liveandworkwell.com. About UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp 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/20190522005883/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Huawei Mate X Has the Same Crease and Interface Problems as Galaxy Fold The first generation is going to have this problem, but it may not be as bad as some want to portray it. Huawei MateBook X Pro. (Image credit: Huawei) As yet another consequence of President Trump's recent executive order banning companies that pose a high espionage risk, Huaweis MateBook X Pro laptops seem to have disappeared from Microsofts online store. Microsofts retail stores will seemingly continue to sell their current stock of Huawei notebooks. Huawei Notebooks Banned In The U.S. Huaweis MateBook X Pro, which Microsoft has been offering since their launch in its online store, as well as its retail stores, seem to have silently been removed from Microsofts site. Microsoft has yet to comment on the issue publicly. The reason for the notebooks disappearance is likely the recent executive order banning foreign companies that may represent a risk to U.S. national security, as well as American firms from collaborating with said companies. Although Huawei was not named in the executive order by name, to many American companies, it was obvious that the main target was the Chinese company. Ban Could Deal A Severe Blow To Huaweis Business Huaweis ban will likely affect more than just the Chinese firms smartphone or notebook sales, but also the sale of networking equipment (the class of Chinese products U.S. intelligence agencies fear most due to their high espionage risk), servers, and other products and services that Huawei has been offering to U.S. customers. Huawei, ZTE and other Chinese products were already under a partial ban in the U.S. since last year, affecting only the Pentagon and other federal agencies. Huawei and Microsoft were also collaborating on a hybrid cloud solution with Microsoft-certified Huawei servers using Intel processors. However, the recent ban will likely prevent both Microsoft and Intel from further collaborating with Huawei. When the U.S. government banned companies from collaborating with ZTE, a Chinese state-owned company, the repercussions were far more severe than the three-month ban would imply. Beyond the billion-dollar fine the U.S. government imposed on ZTE, the Chinese companys image was also tainted beyond repair, and its currently still struggling to resume its full operations from before the ban happened. A similar ban against Huawei could mean similar consequences for Huawei. However, for now, Huaweis CEO remains confident that the ban will not negatively impact the company, and said to Chinese state media that the U.S. politicians underestimate the companys strength. . Photo (Image credit: MSI) Update 5/23 - VideoCardz has leaked the existence of an MSI Godlike motherboard with an X570 chipset, which MSI will likely reveal at Computex. Van Beurden's and Arts's comments about a "higher end motherboard" were likely in reference to this Godlike motherboard, the brand of which was previously restricted to Intel's Z390 and Z370 chipsets. Ryzen's first time entry into the Godlike brand bodes very well for the 3000 series's performance, especially for gaming, where AMD is somewhat behind Intel. The X570 Godlike may mean AMD has closed the gap in some way. Original article: Today, MSI teased two upcoming motherboards on a pre-Computex livestream hosted by two of its representatives, Eric Van Beurden and Pieter Arts. One was a Gaming Plus-branded motherboard with an unspecified chipset. Thanks to VideoCardz we know for a fact that it is an X570 board that is expected to launch alongside Ryzen 3000. MSI also showed the MEG X570 ACE motherboard, again with an unspecified chipset -- but it's almost certainly an X570 board. (Image credit: MSI) VideoCardz already leaked the Gaming Plus motherboard a few days ago, but the MEG X570 Ace had never been seen before. It is basically a more high end version of the Gaming Plus, with three full 16x PCIe slots, three M.2 slots, a post code display, two 8-pin connectors, robust VRM and chipset cooling, two (yes, two) Ethernet ports, five audio jacks, an optical audio port, five USB 3.1 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB type C port, two Wi-Fi antennae connectors, a BIOS update switch and CMOS reset switch. This is likely the highest-end board ever made for the AM4 platform aside from the Crosshair VII Hero from ASUS. (Image credit: MSI) MSI also commented on the chipset fans, saying they were necessary due to some "speedy" additions to the chipset, which likely means PCIe 4.0. It is not certain under what exact conditions this seemingly overkill chipset cooling is required, though one rumor is that NVMe RAID using PCIe 4.0 is the main reason. Though MSI's representatives were tight lipped about upcoming Ryzen CPUs, it seems pretty clear MSI is making this board because the company sees Ryzen 3000 as a high end product like Intel's 9th generation of CPUs. The existence of the MEG (or MSI Enthusiast Gaming) X570 ACE bodes very well for AMD's upcoming 7nm CPUs, especially in regards to gaming, which is where the gap between AMD and Intel is the widest. Though, it should be noted that MSI's representatives commented on fans "asking for a more higher model [motherboard]," likely a reference to the Godlike brand. MSI's Van Beurden said "let's see, let's see... next week," after which Arts stated "this one is already pretty high end." We expect to learn more about this and a number of other motherboards at Computex in Taipei. By Sun Xi & Herta Monica Montesino Cucos From April 25 to 27, China hosted the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing, where almost 40 foreign leaders and as many as 5,000 representatives from 150 countries took part in, but absent the U.S. During the forum, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to make the BRI clean, green and financially sustainable so as to address international criticism. Easy to say, difficult to do. To embrace the highest international standards, it may be wise for the BRI to comprehensively integrate the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations into its business practices. On the one hand, Chinese companies participating in the BRI, no matter state-owned or private, should fully fulfil their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in their daily operational activities in all ESG aspects, with accountability, transparency, ethical behavior, as well as respect for stakeholder interests, the rule of law, international norms of behavior and human rights. Those companies should adhere to the United Nations (UN) Global Compact's ten universal principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption, and can follow the guidance on social responsibility (ISO 26000:2010) of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). On the other hand, more importantly, the BRI's key loan and investment vehicles, especially the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) founded in January 2016 and the Silk Road Fund (SRF) established in December 2014, can wisely adopt the Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) strategy, which seeks to consider both financial return and ESG good. The BRI's main activity, infrastructure development, generally can have serious negative impacts on both the environment and communities. Moreover, infrastructure investment in developing countries usually involves corruption, pollution and human rights abuses. Therefore, the BRI's success will not only rest on how many projects it can fund, but also how it funds them. The 70-year-old World Bank has accumulated some good practices, such as declining to fund controversial giant dam projects and blacklisting companies found guilty of collusion, corruption, fraud or coercion. If the brand-new AIIB and SRF want to do better, they have to be more innovative and decisive in integrating ESG facts. They may follow the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) Initiative, which provides six basic principles for international institutional investors to fulfil their fiduciary responsibilities. And they may also refer the Equator Principles (EPs) to manage the environmental and social risks of its lending and investment activities. The BRI can be viewed as a touchstone to test China's global leadership. Its temporary popularity is not the conclusion but just a start of its long and tough journey. The Chinese model of infrastructure development has been widely criticized for ignoring ESG impacts, although it has certain merits of being pragmatic, fast and cost-effective. Therefore, the key challenge is showing the skeptical western world that this China-led BRI will run differently, professionally and responsibly, while ESG sustainability can be the key to its future success. Sun Xi (sunshinelkyspp@gmail.com) is a China-born independent commentary writer based in Singapore. Herta Monica Montesino Cucos is a sustainability advocate from the EU. Shawnee school leader accused of inappropriate behavior with students found not guilty OLATHE, KS (KCTV) - Jurors have found the leader of a Shawnee Christian school accused of inappropriate behavior with students not guilty on all counts. Dennis Creason, who started and at taught at Oaklawn Christian School, was accused of "lewd fondling or touching" of multiple children under the age of 14 years old in incidents that were alleged to have happened between May 2009 and August 2018. Was gonna throw this in the compilation but it deserves its own post given that MSM put the allegations on blast. Here's an update to the story that offers legal perspective on the ongoing fight betwixt this dude and parents of his school: Kansas City Legacy Iced Ex-partner of deceased skater Coughlin says she was abused KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One of the former skating partners of two-time U.S. pairs champion John Coughlin has accused him in a series of Facebook posts of sexually assaulting her over a two-year period. Coughlin, who killed himself in January, "hurt at least 10 people including me. Newspaper Reports Suspected Shooter History Latest on David Jungerman: Lawyer fined, daughter jailed, farm filed for bankruptcy Here's a timeline of David Jungerman's life from a successful businessman to alleged murderer. A farm connected to the 81-year-old millionaire accused of fatally shooting a Kansas City attorney in 2017 filed for bankruptcy Thursday, a day after his attorney in a wrongful death lawsuit was sanctioned for allegedly violating a gag order. Missouri Joins Crackdown Effort 5 GOP Senators Move to Restore Sentencing Tool for Repeat Offenders WASHINGTON-Violent repeat offenders who illegally use firearms to commit new felonies will again face the prospect of a minimum of 15 years in prison if a bill introduced on May 20 by five Republican senators becomes law. "Violent, repeat criminals should be behind bars, not roaming the streets threatening law-abiding citizens. Sleaze Scummit Fear Police investigating Lee's Summit bank robbery Tuesday LEE'S SUMMIT, MO (KCTV) - Police are investigating an armed bank robbery that happened Tuesday afternoon. Officers were dispatched to the Summit Ridge Credit Union located at 3485 Ralph Powell Road for an armed bank robbery. Witnesses indicate that a male entered the business with a handgun and left with an undisclosed amount of money. Show-Me Gun Crime Conneciton Of more than 600 guns stolen 2 years ago, only 73 recovered SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A federal prosecutor says authorities have recovered only 73 of the 654 guns stolen in 2017 in Springfield. Prosecutors say six men from Texas stole the guns by maneuvering several trailers into a United Parcel Service lot. JoCo Nasty Shopping Case Olathe man tried to take photos of women changing at Nordstrom Rack, prosecutors say LENEXA, Kan. -- An Olathe man is facing charges after he tried to take pictures of women in the changing room at Nordstrom Rack, according to court documents. Jonathan Falen, 44, faces three counts of breach of privacy by video or picture in Johnson County Court. Footballer Family Drama Revealed Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu target of extortion plot NEW ORLEANS (KCTV) - Federal officials in Louisiana say a family member of Tyrann Mathieu's is under investigation for trying to extort money from the new Chiefs safety. Court documents show that a New Orleans man, Geourvon Sears, threatened someone listed in the document as TM and later identified to KCTV5 News by his agent as Mathieu. Whilst paging through thewe stumbled upon some of the more interesting, shocking and important crime news that reminds us this town remains just as dangerous as ever.Developing . . . Kansas City EPIC Shop-Vac Winning?!?! Kansas City crews clean up flooded streets after heavy rains KANSAS CITY, Mo. - From flooded streets to downed power lines, the heavy rain Monday night into Tuesday made an impact across the Kansas City metro. "Busy. I have been busy with all the rain," said Larry McMillen with KC Water. The water department spent all day Tuesday cleaning up flooded streets. Low Turnout Update Want to vote for Kansas City's next mayor? The deadline to register is Wednesday If you are wondering how to register to vote in Kansas City, the Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners put together this short video with instructions. Kansas Citians who want to pick the next mayor and City Council must be registered to vote by Wednesday in order to cast a ballot on June 18. Celebrate Rare Storm Control Success Flood control project appears to have tamed Turkey Creek Turkey Creek would have been a prime suspect for flash flooding not too long ago. But authorities have spent $150 million to control it. Bullet Train Slows Down Amtrak temporarily suspends service between KC and St. Louis, KC and Hutchinson Amtrak announced that it has temporarily suspended its Missouri River Runner service between Kansas City and St. Louis because of increased rail traffic.The rail service blamed freight trains being diverted to a Union Pacific Railroad route between Kansas City and St. Sinking Feeling In Sugar Creek Businesses sick of repeated flooding on Highway 24 SUGAR CREEK, MO (KCTV) -- The rain might be letting up, but Tuesday night floods will continue their destruction of businesses in Independence and Sugar Creek. A flooded stretch of Highway 24 has been an ongoing problem for the past couple of years because of a broken drainage system under the road. Tragic Shawnee Run-In 1 critically hurt in crash on Kansas 7 at Shawnee Mission Parkway NewsChopper 9 SOURCE: NewsChopper 9 Authorities said one person was critically hurt Tuesday afternoon in a crash on Kansas 7 at Shawnee Mission Parkway.The crash was reported about 4:45 p.m.A pickup truck hit a bridge abutment.The wreck remains under investigation. Authorities said one person was critically hurt Tuesday afternoon in a crash on Kansas 7 at Shawnee Mission Parkway. Kansas City Cash Question Exemption??? Should Kansas City ban prospective employers from asking about your salary history? Whether you're being hired or already have a job, at some point you're going to be in a salary negotiation situation. Take these steps for better negotiating. Kansas City may soon join a growing list of cities and states that prohibit the use of salary history when employers make hiring and pay decisions. Hottieshares her somewhat recent enthusiasm for voting and we check these local news links. Take a look:And this is thefor right now . . . New York Post: Instagram accidentally leaks private data of major influencers New City College Kangaroo A.I. Tech Already Busy Looking For Sarah Connor UMKC-powered tech could help visually-impaired Kansas Citians see via AI Gharib Gharibi is driven to succeed by a desire to pay it forward, he said, riding a high from his startup's first-place, $20,000 win at UMKC's Regnier Institute Venture Creation Challenge. Don't Pooh-Pooh Basement Repair How to not drain your wallet when it comes to floods RAYTOWN, Mo. - For the third time since May, Sam Dawson woke up to water running into his basement. He watched the murky water rise around his washing machine, dryer and water heater. Then he picked up the phone, like he had done before, to order some pumps. Meet The New Jazz Boss American Jazz Museum welcomes Interim Executive Director The American Jazz Museum (AJM) is working to make strides toward a more successful future. The Museum has named Ralph Caro as interim executive director, a year after Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner resigned from the role. Soggy KC Recap Mother Nature causes damage throughout the metro - and it's just the beginning KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The wind, rain and flash flooding have caused damage throughout the metro. "A tree fell and murdered our car," reads a post on Reddit, after an old silver maple crushed the poster's white compact SUV. Mother Nature also caused the roof of a mobile home in KCMO to collapse into it under the weight of rainwater. Kansas CBD Revolution Kansas Set to Allow Low-THC Cannabis Oil Beginning July 1 TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has signed into law a bill that would allow profoundly ill people who have been unable to find relief with pharmaceutical medications to avoid prosecution for possessing certain blends of oil extracted from cannabis plants. Show-Me Session Postscript The 2019 Missouri Legislative Session Recap: GOP Wins Big On Abortion, Economic Development In this very special episode of KCUR's Statehouse Blend Missouri podcast, we joined forces with St. Louis Public Radio's Politically Speaking podcast to round up the 2019 session of the Missouri General Assembly. We discussed the session's big stories, including a landmark abortion bill, approval of new funds for workforce development and bridge repairs and the debate over repealing the state's new voter-approved redistricting plan. Meth Town Hopes For Salvation Independence church hopes to escape flooding from US 24 For members at Full Gospel Assembly in Independence, every forecast calling for rain brings uncertainty."The worst one was in 2017, when we lost everything in our basement," the Rev. Sharin Ankrom said.Ankrom said she is doing everything she can to stop the water from coming inside."We've had to close for many services, Sunday services, Wednesday services. As always, hottieinspires us to search for the very best pop culture links:Close to home, these local news items start our day:is the song of the day and this is thefor right now . . . Embraer announced yesterday that the company's new Praetor 600 super-midsize business jet was granted its Type Certificate by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). Embraer announced yesterday that the company's new Praetor 600 super-midsize business jet was granted its Type Certificate by EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) and by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). The announcement was made during the company's press conference at the European Business Aviation Conference and Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland. "Now certified by the key aviation safety agencies of the world, the Praetor 600 has proven to be the most disruptive and technologically advanced super-midsize business jet to enter the market, paving the way to begin deliveries now in the second quarter," said Michael Amalfitano, President & CEO, Embraer Executive Jets. "Just over six months since its launch and debut, the Praetor 600 has already been outperforming its certification goals, raising expectations of the ideal super-midsize. Once again, I want to thank and congratulate the entire Embraer family for bringing to market such a revolutionary aircraft, designed to create a new value experience for customers and shareholders alike." Brazil's Civil Aviation Authority (ANACAgencia Nacional de Aviacao Civil) awarded the new aircraft its Type Certificate on April 18 of this year. The Praetor 600 was announced and debuted at NBAA-BACE, in October 2018, and became the only super-midsize business jet to be certified since 2014. The Praetor 600 began its journey to EBACE at Sao Paulo International Airport in Brazil, on May 8, arriving in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with a six-passenger equivalent payload of 1,200 lb (544 kg). This was the aircraft's longest flight to date, covering 3,904 nm (7,230 kilometers) over an air distance of 3,678 nm (6,812 kilometers), having faced up to 43 knots of headwinds and descended into Miami's distinct air space pattern. On May 16, the Praetor 600 departed the U.S. to Europe fueled by Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel (SAJF) to join the Embraer portfolio fleet at "Fueling the Future," a business aviation biofuel event held at Farnborough Airport, on May 18. The Praetor 600 arrived in Farnborough, having departed from Teterboro Airport in the U.S. The first transatlantic flight of the Praetor 600 covered about 3,000 nautical miles with about 15,000 lb of fuel, of which 3,000 lb was SAJF. The "Fueling the Future" event marked the first anniversary of the launch of the Business Aviation Coalition for Sustainable Alternative Jet Fuel (SAJF), at EBACE 2018, and the 10th anniversary of the Business Aviation Commitment on Climate Change, announced in 2009. The event gathered business aviation and civic leaders to discuss the path forward for the continued adoption of SAJF in business aviation, in order to fulfill the coalition's goal of reducing emissions through investments and innovation. The Praetor 600 is the best performing super-midsize jet ever developed, surpassing all its main design goals and becoming capable of flying beyond 4,000 nautical miles in long-range cruise speed or beyond 3,700 nautical miles at Mach .80 from runways shorter than 4,500ft, complemented by an outstanding payload capability. The Praetor 600 is now the farthest-flying super-midsize jet, able to make nonstop flights between London and New York, Sao Paulo and Miami, Dubai and London. With four passengers and NBAA IFR Reserves, the Praetor 600 has an intercontinental range of 4,018 nautical miles (7,441 km). Take Off Field Length for such a mission is only 4,436 ft (1,352 m). At M0.80, range is 3,719 nm (6,887 km) with four passengers and NBBA IFR Reserves. The Praetor 600 is the first super-midsize jet with full fly-by-wire technology, which powers the Active Turbulence Reduction that not only makes every flight the smoothest but also the most efficient possible. The Embraer DNA Design interior eloquently explores every dimension of the only super-midsize to feature a six-foot-tall, flat-floor cabin, stone flooring and a vacuum service lavatory, all in the same certified aircraft. The class-exclusive Active Turbulence Reduction and 5,800-foot cabin altitude, complemented by a whisper silent cabin, have set the highest standards in customer experience in the super-midsize category. In addition to the full-service galley and a wardrobe, eight fully reclining club seats may be berthed into four beds, and the baggage space is the largest in the class. Advanced technology throughout the cabin is also a trait of the Embraer DNA Design, beginning with the industry-exclusive Upper Tech Panel that displays flight information and offers cabin management features also available on personal devices through Honeywell Ovation Select. High-capacity, ultra high-speed connectivity for all aboard is available through Viasat's Ka-band, with speeds of up to 16Mbps and unlimited streaming, another industry-exclusive in super-midsize jets. The Praetor 600 features Collins Aerospace's newest edition of the acclaimed Pro Line Fusion flight deck. Capabilities such as the industry-first vertical weather display, air-traffic-control-like situational awareness with ADSB-IN, predictive wind shear radar capability, as well as Embraer Enhanced Vision System (E2VS) with a Head-up Display (HUD) and an Enhanced Video System (EVS), an Inertial Reference System (IRS) and a Synthetic Vision Guidance System (SVGS) are some of the highlights on the Praetor 600 flight deck. SPECIFICATIONS CERTIFIED AIRCRAFT DESIGN GOALS Range 4 pax @ LRC(1) 4,018 nm / 7,441 km 3,900 nm / 7,223 km Range 4 pax @ M0.80(2) 3,719 nm / 6,888 km 3,605 nm / 6,676 km Takeoff distance @ 4 pax / full fuel(3) 4,436 ft / 1,352 m 4,458 ft / 1,359 M Takeoff distance @ MTOW(4) 4,717 ft / 1,438 m 4,800 ft / 1,463 m Unfactored landing distance(5) 2,165 ft / 660 m 2,270 ft / 692 m Maximum operating altitude 45,000 ft / 13,716 m 45,000 ft / 13,716 m Maximum payload(6) 4,001 lb / 1,815 kg 4,001 lb / 1,815 kg (1) NBAA IFR reserves; 200 nm alternate; 4 pax @ 200 lbs each; baseline aircraft; LRC (Long Range Cruise) (2) NBAA IFR reserves; 200 nm alternate; 4 pax @ 200 lbs each; baseline aircraft; M0.80 (3) SL; ISA ; full fuel; 4 pax @ 200 lbs each; NBAA IFR reserves; 200 nm alternate; baseline aircraft; (4) SL; ISA; MTOW (5) SL; ISA ; 4 pax @ 200 lbs each; NBAA IFR reserves; 200 nm alternate; baseline aircraft (6) Baseline aircraft Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Travel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Travel Industry Wire HAMILTON No good deed goes unpunished. Robbinsville Township has paid a $700,000 sewer utility bill owed to Hamilton Township, but the mayors of both towns are still sniping at each other over the issue. Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede accused Robbinsville Mayor Dave Fried of being deceitful, and he responded by comparing her administration to former Trenton Mayor Tony Mack, a convicted felon. Robbinsville issued a news release announcing it has fully paid its second period 2019 sewer utility bill totaling nearly $710,000. The payment was made Monday, according to a wire transaction receipt posted on Robbinsvilles website. Hamilton Township operates a regional wastewater treatment facility serving residents of Hamilton and Robbinsville. As such, Robbinsville is responsible for paying Hamilton Township a certain amount of money each year in exchange for sewage treatment service. As a good neighbor and in the spirit of our sewer agreement, Robbinsville Township has paid the balance of its 2019 sewer obligation to Hamilton as billed, Fried said in a press statement. We hope this puts to rest any suggestion that Robbinsville owes money to Hamilton for the shared use of its sewer utility. In addition, Robbinsville has committed to pay for half of an independent rate study to determine how best our two towns can move toward an amicable solution to the current billing issues. Mayor Fried is being deceitful in his press release, Yaede said Tuesday in an interview. However, my focus is protecting the taxpayers of Hamilton Township. Mr. Frieds statement is patently and knowingly false with multiple documents proving our position regarding the sewer issue. Yaede administration officials said Robbinsville owes more than $1 million for past sewer service, adding Hamilton had billed Robbinsville for $2.8 million in 2018 sewer fees and only received about $1.7 million in compensation. I paid their bill that they sent me on time and in full and they are still claiming I owe them money, Fried said Tuesday in an interview. Maybe Hamilton should send out accurate bills and they wont have these problems. The commercial invoice for the billing period of July 1, 2019, to Dec. 31, 2019, shows Robbinsville owed $709,680.18 due May 1, 2019. If Robbinsville owes more than $1 million in outstanding sewer bill charges, Robbinsville has yet to receive any official invoices outlining that, according to Fried, who said his administration fully paid more than $1.6 million for 2018 sewer service. Hamilton Business Administrator Dave Kenny emailed Fried on May 3 saying sewer bills are estimated based on the prior years billing. Thus, 2019 is estimated at $2,838,720.72, the same amount billed for 2018. Kenny said the 2019 sewer bill is based on Robbinsvilles sewage flow being 15.66 percent of the total. Where is he getting this $2.8 million from other than the fact that he cant do math? Fried said Tuesday, adding the $700,000 full payment Robbinsville made for the second half of 2019 proves the townships annual sewer bill should be well under $2 million. I completely understand Mr. Kenny may have been a good township attorney, Fried said, but he is about the worst administrator that I have seen since the Tony Mack administration. Mack was booted from office as the former mayor of Trenton in 2014 after getting convicted of bribery and extortion. If this bill is wrong, Fried said of the current invoice, which Robbinsville fully paid off this week, what Mr. Kenny should really do is straighten out his administration or resign because he clearly doesnt know what he is doing. Thats why I called for a joint rate study. I have zero confidence in the administration. Yaede said Fried is being disingenuous on the billing issue. Robbinsville is aware of their sewer bill being over $2 million, she said Tuesday. This is a small glimpse of what Hamilton has been working with in Robbinsville on the sewer issue. Mayor Fried realizes the bill has to be paid. To send this false release at a time when the state of New Jersey is still in review of Robbinsvilles budget is unwise. In addition to hammering Fried, Yaede also bashed Hamilton Council President Jeff Martin for being in favor of a sewer utility rate study. Why is Council President Martin being so concerned about Robbinsville taxpayers at the expense of Hamilton taxpayers, and why has Robbinsville been holding off sewer payments? the Republican mayor said. Martin is the 2019 Democratic mayoral candidate who hopes to get elected as Hamiltons next leader-in-chief. He issued a statement Tuesday saying: I will always stand up for Hamilton residents first. If Mayor Yaede was even halfway competent at standing up for Hamilton residents, she would not have proposed a 5 percent tax increase on Hamilton residents in multiple years as mayor; she would have taken action against Trenton Water Works four years ago when she realized our water was substandard; and she would have already consolidated Hamiltons fire districts and reduced the fire budget by over $900,000 per year. Julie Roginsky is a very savvy Democratic operative, who I generally agree with. However, I dont agree with her recent comment regarding Bridgegate. Heres what Julie said, I have a very big problem with the notion that we are sending anyone to prison for a dumb stunt that doesnt merit incarceration. Someone should definitely have gone to prison for Bridgegate. I would have preferred if it were David Wildstein, Governor Christies $150,000 a year patronage appointment at the Port Authority, and the mastermind of Bridgegate. I believe justice would have been better served if Wildstein had gotten prison time and Baroni and Kelly had accepted full responsibility for their actions and had been sentenced to fines and extensive community service. At this juncture, Im most sympatric toward Bill Baron, who unlike Bridgette Ann Kelly has indicated that his actions were a result of his wanting to be on the team. I wanted to please him [Governor Christie], but I chose to get sucked into his cult and culture. Kelly, on the other hand continues to refuse to take responsibility for her action and offers hard to fathom explanations for her very damaging text message (time for traffic problems in Fort Lee and why am I smiling). Im not okay with no one going to prison; for closing down the local access roads to the George Washington Bridge; and creating massive traffic jams to punish the Mayor of Fort Lee who was perceived as backtracking on his endorsement of Chris Christie for Governor. I see Bridgegate as much worse than the kinds of political corruption that put hundreds of New Jersey politicians in prison over the years. Stealing from the public till, accepting kick-backs or bribes from contractors, requiring campaign contributions as a condition of doing business, no-show jobs, padding the public payrolls with political hacks or requiring public employees to give 10% to the boys downtown for the privilege of their jobs are all crimes that result in taxpayers paying more for government services or receiving inferior services. They are all crimes of greed. Bridgegate was much worse. It was an abuse of power that put public-safety at-risk. The traffic problems that were created in Fort Lee could have killed someone by increasing the time it took for an ambulance to get to hospital with a critically ill patient or for fire truck trying to get to a fire. The path that was pursued in Bridgegate is a very dangerous slippery slop. If you dont come down extremely hard on using the power of government to retaliate against or punish a political opponent, you are opening yourself up to possible extremely negative consequences. Let me give you a few examples. You did not support your local Mayor and subsequently the Zoning Board, filled with his/her appointees turns down your reasonable no-brainer request for a variance. Or the Mayor gets back at your for a transgression by letting the local snow removal contractor know that your street doesnt get plowed. Have a heart attack and the ambulance cant get to your house. Instead of traffic jam, the punishment against a recalcitrant Mayor by a bully-like Governor and/or his staff could be a state takeover. Or what if you had a vindictive autocratic Republican President who decided that he would punish Democrats by transporting immigrants trying to cross the border and those currently being held in facilities to sanctuary cities (cities where local authorities have not cooperated with federal immigration enforcement authorities in the past). According to a report in The Washington Post, this is an idea that President Trump has floated on two occasions since November to U.S. Customs Enforcement. The most prominent sanctuary city is San Francisco, which is in Speaker Nancy Pelosis district. Normally in cases, like Bridgegate, the prosecutor get the people lower in the hierarchy to flip so you can get the bigger fish. In this case, David Wildstein, who acknowledged conceiving and implementing the Bridgegate scheme, beat Baroni and Kelly to the U.S. Attorneys Office and received a much too good sweetheart deal in exchange for his testimony against others. He escaped prison and received three years probation and 500 hours of community service time in exchange for testifying against Baroni and Kelly at trial. The biggest fish of all, Governor Christie, who created the environment that allowed his staff to think that political retaliation and retribution was okay, avoided any legal consequences since no evidence was present that he authorized the scheme. I find it difficult to believe that Wildstein, a long-time pol, implemented his scheme without ever touching base with the big fish. Wildstein indicated that he did tell Governor Christie in advance, but provide no evidence to support his contention. I agree with Mayor of Fort Lee, Mark Sokolich, who said this to say about Kelly I dont think she was the ring leaders. Its disappointing that its more than apparent that others involved in the conspiracy who are simply watching this from the sidelines. Im not sure that flipping, a tactic often utilized by prosecutors to get those lower in criminal organizations to cooperate and provide evidence against gang kingpins, produced a just result in Bridgegate. Was justice really served by cutting a deal with David Wildstein? By Park Yoon-bae Lawmakers of both the ruling and opposition parties have gone too far in exchanging verbal attacks these days. Their use of rough words is nothing new. Yet their war of words is getting fiercer than ever before. This shameful battle appears to have slipped out of control since the governing Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and three minor opposition parties voted to fast-track two reform bills last month. The vote has created a political deadlock. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) held a brief sit-in at the National Assembly to oppose the bills. In an opening salvo during a street protest, LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn denounced the Moon Jae-in government as a "leftist dictatorship." Hwang's attack infuriated the ruling camp. It prompted DPK Chairman Lee Hae-chan to fire back by likening LKP members to "thieves." Lee said, "How can we entrust the National Assembly to thieves?" The tit-for-tat has escalated. LKP floor leader Na Kyung-won called the President "Moonnos," a combination of Moon and Thanos, the supervillain from "Avengers: Endgame." Rep. Na did not even hesitate to describe Moon's supporters, who call themselves the "Knights of the Moonlight," as the "Whores of the Moonlight," a highly derogative expression usually used by some right-wing bloggers. Na apologized for what she said after it stirred a strong public backlash. She should have avoided such words which only provoked hate not only among Moon's followers but also the public. Another LKP legislator Kim Hyun-ah compared President Moon to a patient with Hansen's disease, or leprosy. She argued that Moon does not feel the pain of those suffering from economic difficulties just as lepers do not feel any pain from their illness. Lee Jeong-mi, chief of the progressive minor opposition Justice Party, joined the unwinnable battle of rough words. She derided LKP Chairman Hwang as a "psychopath" for his controversial bid to attend a commemoration of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement. Lee criticized Hwang and his party for not taking proper disciplinary action against three LKP lawmakers who denigrated the spirit of the May 18 uprising against the military junta by describing it as a "riot" and pro-democracy activists as "monsters." She tried to warn Hwang that if he wanted to attend the memorial, his party should first punish the legislators. Whatever the reason, Lee should have refrained from using such an improper word. She made the mistake of juxtaposing herself up against the conservative lawmakers. On Tuesday, LKP chief Hwang even accused President Moon of acting as a spokesman for North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un just as LKP floor leader Na did in March during her address to the Assembly. He cannot undo what he said although he denied it. Now the problem is that lawmakers and politicians show no signs of ending their war of words. Their aim is to draw attention by inciting public rage, and then rally their supporters behind them and their parties, ahead of general elections scheduled for next April. Yet, their use of vulgar and coarse language demonstrates the level of Korean politics which is getting more and more divisive and confrontational. It has much to do with the nation's political culture which lacks dialogue and compromise. In a mature democracy, politicians are required to compete in a free and fair way. They need to present hope and vision for the future by working out their own ideas and policies designed to make the people better off. But, Korean politicians are devoid of such ideas and policies. Thus, they are unable to engage in a policy competition to win over the minds of the people. Instead, they usually waste their political capital on waging a dog-eat-dog partisan strife. In this context, legislators and politicians tend to choose the easiest and probably cheapest ways to garner support from voters. They are too engrossed in splitting the people along the ideological lines. They seem to believe inciting the public not with policy debates but with rough words and hate speech is effective in pitting conservatives against progressives. Such divisive politics only foments conflicts between members of our society, hurting national unity and social cohesion. It also undermines political credibility, deepening people's apathy and aversion to politics. Now, lawmakers and politicians should change themselves to turn the politics of division and conflicts into politics of hope and vision. They must usher in a new political culture to respect others and solve problems through dialogue and compromise. The writer (byb@koreatimes.co.kr) is the chief editorial writer of The Korea Times. By Trudy Rubin VERONA, Italy Politics in Italy is often likened to theater. So Verona, the legendary setting for "Romeo and Juliet," seemed the perfect place to catch up with Italy's most powerful, far-right politician, Matteo Salvini, a master of the theatrical gesture. Leader of the Lega (League) party and interior minister, with aspirations to become prime minister, Salvini has come to symbolize the rise of Europe's new populist nationalist leaders and the threat they pose to democratic systems. He promotes a mantra of "Italy first" and loves to be pictured holding a large gun. He recently spoke from the same balcony in the northern town of Forli where Benito Mussolini addressed fascists. Moreover, he built his support by denouncing "the migrant menace" from Africa and forbidding boats with refugees from landing. And he has created a new alliance of far-right leaders from across Europe, including France's Marine Le Pen, which he hopes will win enough seats in this week's European Parliament elections to weaken the European Union. So how dangerous is Salvini? Certainly, it is unnerving to see a populist nationalist at the helm of one of Europe's key countries, another sign of how growing economic inequality has turned voters against traditional Western political parties. Bearded, media savvy, always jovial, a fan of President Trump and Vladimir Putin, he is a master at self-promotion on YouTube and his website. But here's the good news for those of us who care about the state of democracy within our European allies: Salvini appears more of an opportunist than an ideologue, chipping away at democratic norms but unable to pull the entire democratic system down. I came to watch him as he was campaigning in Verona. This gorgeous city's history is both dramatic and harsh. Hordes of tourists cram the tiny old square in front of the 14th-century stone Casa di Giulietta (the "home" of Shakespeare's fictional Juliet), but the city was home to fratricidal tyrants in past centuries. Around the corner from Juliet's house is the historic ghetto site where Jews were transferred to camps during the Holocaust. These days, Verona is a prosperous, very conservative town filled with successful small- and medium-sized businesses. It is key turf for Salvini, who originally built his party as a regional vehicle that sought autonomy for the wealthy northern region of the country. But his northern base is less concerned right now with immigration than with the dismal state of Italy's stagnant economy, where debt is soaring, growth is flat, and unemployment is over 10 percent. Especially since the influx of African immigrants has dropped precipitously due to policies begun by the previous Italian government to pay the Libyan coast guard to prevent smugglers from sending migrants by sea to Italy. So when Salvini whirled into the elegant Palazzo Giusti a 16th-century palace turned modern-day bank, with a great hall originally designed for theatrical performances he was on the defensive. Wearing a suit (rather than his usual grungies), he faced an audience demanding to know why he hadn't delivered on promises to lower taxes. He didn't look like a would-be Mussolini. "My priorities are to end immigration and jobs, jobs, jobs," Salvini told me in a short interview. "Pay attention to Trump: If the workers have work, then they spend. You have to be able to give the people work." But if Salvini can't deliver jobs, he will never rise to become prime minister, let alone leader of a new pan-European right-wing movement. (And the prospective members of that movement appear to have more differences between them than ideological solidarity.) Moreover, Salvini has been compelled to drop his demand for Italy to quit the European Union. His northern businessmen supporters no longer want to go that route after watching Britain's disastrous efforts to Brexit. Instead, Salvini said, "We have to change all the rules of the European Union that have impoverished the Italians." Translation: He hopes he can persuade the EU to bend its austerity rules and let Italy add to its enormous debt to fund infrastructure and tax cuts. This will only compound Italy's economic crisis. The long and short: Salvini can do damage and provoke internal strife in Italy. He can and does dog whistles to far-right, violent activist groups such as CasaPound Italia. And he plays on a yearning among fearful Italians for a return to "traditional values." But Italians tell me he spoke from Mussolini's balcony mainly to woo southern voters who are still nostalgic for the dictator. In other words, Salvini is a pol, not an ideologue, who is trying to outflank parties further to his right. Unlike his pal, Hungary's President Viktor Orban, he is still operating within, and seriously contained, by the democratic system. Bottom line: Think of Salvini as an Italian Trump, dangerously destructive of democratic norms, but not a Mussolini-in-waiting. Given Italy's history of quickly turning against once popular leaders, he may not even be around that long. Trudy Rubin (trubin@phillynews.com) is a columnist and editorial-board member for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Her commentary was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. shalender@tribune.com Vijay C Roy Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 21 To own a house in Punjab by an urban poor is still a distant dream under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). According to data, only 3,007 applicants out of 79,268 applications were sanctioned loans by the banks under the Centres ambitious scheme. Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in June 2015, the PMAY aims to ensure Housing for all by 2022 by providing financial assistance and institutional credit flow to the housing needs of urban poor. The credit-linked subsidy is available for loan amount up to Rs 6 lakh and additional loans beyond Rs 6 lakh at a non-subsidised rate. Under the scheme, interest subsidy is provided to the beneficiaries of the scheme. However, the delay in sanctioning loan is diluting the entire essence of the scheme. The Department of Local bodies, Punjab, had provided district- wise list of 79,268 applicants drawn from PMAY portal which were shown pending with different banks. The list was forwarded to the Lead District Managers (LDM) concerned for submitting their present status. At present, 51,762 applications are pending with various banks, said a senior banker. The issue was discussed at the recently held State Level Bankers Committee meet. Out of total applications received, 24,499 applications were rejected for not fulfilling eligibility criteria and other terms. Only 3,007 applications were approved to avail loan under interest subsidy. Bankers complained that the banks dont have access to PMAY portal and that is why exact data cant be ascertained. Only the Local Bodies Department of the state has an access to PMAY data. Housing is on top priority on the banks lending list, so the pendency reflected by the Local Bodies Department may not hold true. Secondly, cases forwarded by the Local Bodies Department and approved by the banks for loans are not uploaded on the PMAY portal. This may also be one of the reasons behind large number of pending applications shown, said a banker working with a public sector bank. In the SLBC meeting, Anirudh Tewari, Principal Secretary (Finance), Punjab, asked the bankers to expedite the process so that urban poor living across different cities of the state could derive the benefits of the scheme. Perturbed over a huge number of pendency, bankers in the state have called for a special meeting by next week to clear the backlog. The four components of the scheme include a credit-linked subsidy, in-situ development of slums, 35% reservation for economically weaker sections (EWS) and an opportunity to build individual houses. Under the mission, beneficiaries can take advantage under one component only. Under the scheme, beneficiaries of EWS and low-income group (LIG) can avail subsidy up to Rs 2.67 lakh for a loan amount of Rs 6 lakh. To give fillip to the scheme, the government is also mulling options to allow greater access to institutional finance to the poor and relaxation in eligibility criteria for loans. Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (FY19) shalender@tribune.com New Delhi, May 21 Richest Indian Mukesh Ambanis oil-to-telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries (RIL) has toppled state-owned Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) to become the countrys biggest company by revenue. Reliance in the 2018-19 fiscal year that ended March 31, reported a turnover of Rs 6.23 lakh crore. In comparison, IOC posted a turnover of Rs 6.17 lakh crore for the fiscal, according to regulatory filings by the two companies. It was also the most-profitable company in the country with a net profit of more than double than that of IOC in FY2019. Reliance, which was about half the size of IOC till about a decade ago but its bet on burgeoning consumer base and foray into new businesses such as telecom, retail, and digital services vastly expanded its business, clocked a net profit of Rs 39,588 crore in FY19. IOC, on the other hand, ended the year with a net profit of Rs 17,274 crore. IOC till last year was the most profitable PSU but may have lost this position to Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) in 2018-19. ONGC is yet to declare its FY19 earnings but it had clocked a net profit of Rs 22,671 crore in the first nine months of the fiscal year. Net profit of IOC, which depends on oil refining, petrochemicals and gas business for its revenue, had in 2018-19 declined by 23.6% over Rs 22,189.45-crore net profit it had earned in 2017-18. Reliance, on the other hand, posted a 13% rise in profits over Rs 34,988 crore recorded in 2017-18. ONGC had a net profit of Rs 19,945.26 crore in 2017-18 fiscal, lagging behind IOC. With this milestone, Reliance has achieved the numero uno position in terms of all three parameters revenue, profit, and market capitalisation. PTI Also most-profitable company pardeepdhull@gmail.com May 22 The US administration is considering limits to Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvisions ability to buy US technology, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, in a move that deepens worries about trade frictions between the worlds two top economies. The move would effectively place Hikvision on a US blacklist and US companies may have to obtain government approval to supply components to Hikvision, the paper said. The US Commerce Department blocked Huawei Technologies from buying US goods last week, effectively banning US companies from doing business with the Chinese firm, a major escalation in the trade war, saying Huawei was involved in activities contrary to national security. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Hikvision shares opened 10% lower but an executive in the companysoffice told Reuters the company had not been informed of the possible US blacklisting. The chips Hikvision uses are very commercial and most of the suppliers are actually in China although there are some in the United States, said the executive, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. Even if the US stops selling them to us we can remedy this through other suppliers she said. Hikvision and Dahua Technology which produce audio-visual equipment that can be used for surveillance were specifically cited in a letter to Trumps top advisers last month, signed by more than 40 lawmakers. The lawmakers said Chinas actions in its western region of Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity and urged tighter US export controls to ensure that US companies are not assisting the Chinese governments crackdown there. China has faced growing condemnation from Western capitals and rights groups for setting up facilities that U.N. experts describe as mass detention centers holding more than 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims. Beijing has said its measures in Xinjiang, which are also reported to include widespread surveillance of the population, are aimed at stemming the threat of Islamist militancy. The facilities or camps that have opened are vocational training centers, the government has said. Reuters editorial@tribune.com Kaveesha Kohli Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 21 The Chandigarh international airport has the capacity to serve 50 million people and it has a catchment area that can serve seven states, says a pitch that the airport made to airlines in a bid to convince them to fly from the city. The number of flights at the airport has dipped. At present, only 27 flights take off to 13 destinations from the airport. Two of these go to Sharjah and Dubai. In 2017, there were about 36 flights from the airport. The passenger traffic dipped to 20.97 lakh in 2018 from nearly 21.37 lakh in 2017. In April alone, the grounding of Jet Airways had led to the cancellation of six flights that the airlines operated to and from the city. Also, three IndiGo flights, which were set to start from Chandigarh to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai beginning April 30, have not been launched. We were ready to launch 50 new domestic flights from the airport. However, the grounding of Jet Airways freed up slots across the country. Why would airlines fly from here if more profitable routes are available? This is why IndiGo has withdrawn too, said a senior airport official. Grounding of Jet Airways latest setback However, the grounding of Jet Airways is only the latest setback. Over the years, the Chandigarh airport has met with several challenges, including a now long-drawn court battle, which included allegations of vested interests of individuals in Delhi and delayed responses and policy U-turns from the Ministry of Defence and Civil Aviation. The new terminal at the airport was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 and has been developed by Punjab, Haryana and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) using a joint venture Chandigarh International Airport Ltd (CHIAL). About Rs 1,400 crore were spent on its development. Soon after its launch, a PIL was filed by the Mohali Industries Association asking why the international airport did not have any international flights. Three years later, thanks to the intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the airport is functional 24X7 and its runway is being extended to accommodate international flights. In the coming months, the runway is also set to have a CAT-3 ILS system, which aids aircraft in landing even during poor visibility and fog. International flights, however, still seem to be a distant reality for the airport. Furthermore, even though the airport is equipped to run 24X7, the last flight here leaves at 7:45 pm. Has it truly become international? The High Court has been monitoring the upgrade of the Chandigarh International Airport and though another Rs 500 crore has been spent in making it fit for flights 24X7, we have merely two international flights from Chandigarh, said ML Sarin, senior advocate and amicus curiae in the case. The Central and state governments need to take proactive steps, only then the addition of the word international to the airports name will be justified, said Sarin. The airport official, however, maintained that attracting airlines was not the job of the airport, which could only provide them with the requisite infrastructure. He said, The Chandigarh airport has a lot of potential. It can serve the NRI belt of Punjab the Doaba region, Jalandhar and Ludhiana, if we are able to connect to the US, Canada, the UK, Europe. For international flights, the imminent issue at the time of the airports launch was the length of the runway, which could not accommodate wide-bodied aircraft often used in international flights. It was found by this court that on the one hand, the world-class international airport had been raised to cater to the requirements of the entire region; however, no planning was done for the futuristic growth insofar as the runway for the flights operations were concerned, the high court had noted. The high court had also come down heavily on the AAI and the airport authorities after they initially responded to the issue in the court by saying that since the plane of the French President had landed at the airport, therefore it could not be said that the Chandigarh International Airport was not ready to take off the international flights. Another major issue is that for international flights, a bilateral agreement needs to be signed between countries. This is the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Ministry. There are several requirements that have to fulfilled. Airlines conduct techno-economic feasibility studies then timings and slots have to be worked out. Another important aspect is bilateral agreement. The whole process can take up to two years, said the airport official. According to the affidavits submitted by the Civil Aviation Ministry in court, the governments policies discourage foreign carriers on non-metro airports and want to emphasise on generating hub and spoke models for domestic carriers, instead of directly linking non-metro cities to foreign destinations. It is mentioned that as far as possible the government as a policy is not granting any non-metro airport as a new point of call to any foreign carrier. The aim of this policy is to provide support to the Indian carriers and need support to stabilise their operational and financial performance, mentions a government affidavit submitted in court. Another affidavit notes that granting of interior points in the country is to be discouraged in order to facilitate hub and spoke model of air transport with the support of domestic carriers. In a hub-and-spoke, airline operators make metro airports such as Delhi their hubs. The airlines then develop regional routes, say from Chandigarh to Delhi, so that they bring more traffic to their hubs. Vested interests and policy U-turns On several occasions, the court and several lawyers levelled allegations that there were vested interests at play that were preventing the airport from being developed. An issue of major contention has been the construction of the parallel taxi track (PTT) or an alternative runway at the Aairport. In 2015, a letter was written by then Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar to the Punjab CM stating the importance of a second runway for both civil and military operations. According to the letter, the AAI would be asked to share the cost of the new runway. The Defence Ministry, however, later withdrew from the plan despite an initial in-principle approval, citing the land acquisition cost as the main issue. Responding to the events, the court had noted, It would be necessary to recount the entire facts and circumstances as to how the matter regarding the PTT/alternative runway at the airport had been considered and dealt with by the Centre and now an endeavour is being made to abandon it. The court also noted that there was a total u-turn by the ministry when it came to the construction of the PTT. The Defence Ministry also dismissed the need for the runway based on the existing traffic and lack of congestion of the runway. Its true that for the first two years there were a lot of issues with some officers in the Civil Aviation Ministry. However, things changed considerably when the Civil Aviation Secretary became personally involved in the matter, said a source involved in the court proceedings. Also, in place of another runway, a southern taxi track is now being planned for the airport. The tender for the same is expected to be awarded soon. Renovation project dipped passenger traffic Towards the end of 2017, work had begun on extending the length of the existing runway. The airport was completely shut down twice for two weeks and on Sundays. On the other days, the timings were restricted from 7 am to 5:30 pm. This led to several airlines cancelling flights from the airport, with SpiceJet completely withdrawing for the period of renovation. The airport had about 36 flights at that time, the highest at the airport so far. Last year also, the passenger traffic at the airport had gone down. In 2017-18, about 21.37 lakh passengers boarded flights from the city, whereas in 2018-19, the airport saw about 20.97 lakh passenger traffic. The trajectory was similar for international passengers. The airport had about 1.4 lakh passengers in 2017, which fell to 1.2 lakh in 2018. Because of the renovation, we lost our slots at airports in Mumbai and Delhi. This is why there has been a fall in the number of passengers as well. Now, we have written to SpiceJet to return since the renovation is complete, said an airport official. Flights currently operational Destination No. of flights Delhi 7 Mumbai 5 Bangalore 4 Srinagar 2 Kolkata, Pune, Leh, Kullu, Dubai, Ahmedabad, Sharjah, Hyderabad, Shimla 1 According to a source at the airport, the airport has about 32 retail outlets since December 2018 which are set to increase to 45 in the coming months. Several ATM machines have also been installed at the airport. editorial@tribune.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 21 Successive governments in Punjab today virtually landed themselves in an embarrassing position during the hearing of a petition on smooth take-off of the Chandigarh international airport after a visibly concerned IAF told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that 31 meetings since 2013, including one with a CM, had made little difference. Beseeching the Bench to come to the rescue of the airport from the security point of view, a senior functionary minced no words to say: Only the court can help us! We will lose this airport. Addressing the Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli on unauthorised constructions around the airport, the officer said the setting up of new buildings and vertical expansion of the existing ones within 100 metres of the periphery were pointed out by the Air Force. Videos of daily progress in constructions were also handed over. However, the core issue of security, alive since 2004, remained unaddressed even after 31 meetings. The officer pointed out that fresh construction activity was not noticed at present. The reprimand The Bench asserted that everyone was fighting out as if it was a personal litigation. This is not the way to handle a PIL. The only effort was to put the buck on someones head Thirty orders in six months. There used to be cooperation on issues such as encroachments We are experts in shifting the ball in others court. True colours are now coming out. The admonition came on the issue of cooperation between different stakeholders. Appearing before the Bench, Punjab Advocate-General Atul Nanda said the state was concerned about being run down on the issue of clearing illegal constructions, while the obligation was that of the IAF under the Works of Defence Act. The government wants to facilitate everything, but no one was entitled to malign it. Assistant Solicitor-General of India Chetan Mittal, on the other hand, insisted that the power to act against fresh illegal construction was not with the Air Force, but the Deputy Commissioner under the Defence Act. CAT-III and southern taxi track The amicus curiae, senior advocate Manmohan Lal Sarin, told the Bench that clearance at the local level had been granted for the CAT-III and southern taxi track, but the matter was pending before the Ministry of Defence. He also expressed apprehension that a further delay in the decision would hold up the project. Sarins suggestion for convening a meeting by the Defence Secretary of different heads within the ministry found favour with the Bench. Illegal structures The Bench, during the course of the hearing, was told on behalf of the Zirakpur Municipal Corporation that no less than 300 unauthorised structures had been identified in the area and notices too had been issued. Further proceedings would be carried out in accordance with the provisions of law. The Bench made it clear that the existing constructions would be dealt with in accordance with the law. Its immediate concern was fresh construction activity around the airports periphery. If you dont remove the encroachment immediately, people will come and sit and indulge in more encroachment. The right way is to remove it immediately, the Bench asserted. Referring to the previous orders, the Bench added it would initiate proceedings under the Contempt of Court Act and issue necessary orders, including ones for removal of unauthorised structures, in case fresh illegal constructions were noticed. The Bench also called for a fresh report on illegal constructions within 100 metres of the airports periphery from the Air Force. Initiatives Punjab Aviation Secretary Tejveer Singh convinced the Bench of an all-out effort for finding a place of greater prominence for the airport on the worlds aviation map. Tejveer Singh submitted that unique incentives were being given in monetary terms. The Punjab Chief Minister had also shot off a communication to the quarters concerned for inclusion of Chandigarh in the South East Asia Open Sky Policy. Low VAT on aviation fuel was also an incentive. Tejveer Singh also told the court that a conference would be held in Delhi for popularising the airport among the airlines. Verbal spat The case witnessed a verbal spat between Nanda and Mittal. Nanda said Mittal was trying to shout him down. Mittal said he had even been taking adverse orders in the case for the achievement of the objective by the PIL. The case also saw an undertaking by the Zirakpur MC to complete the work of drainage till August and repair the approach road within 100 days. Justice Markandey Katju (retd) Justice Markandey Katju (retd) Former judge, Supreme Court of India There is an inordinate delay in the disposal of cases in the Indian courts. Cases drag on, often for decades, because of which the people are rapidly losing faith in the judiciary. Judges are often blamed for not deciding cases expeditiously and not working hard. But the public does not know the problems of the judiciary. When I was a judge of the Allahabad HC, the court had set a norm that a judge of the subordinate judiciary should not have more than 300 cases pending before him at one time. A subordinate judiciary judge (CJM, Kanpur Nagar) met me in Allahabad and informed me that in his court alone there were 30,000 cases pending. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Ghaziabad, stated that in his court alone there were 21,000 cases. Recently, I went to Bulandshahr, where the CJM told me that in his court alone there were 25,000 cases pending. The Allahabad High Court had also set a norm that a sessions judge should not have more than 75 sessions trials pending at one time. The Sessions Judge, Bulandshahr, informed me that 1,600 sessions trials were pending before his court. From these figures, it is evident that there is a staggering load on the Indian judiciary. If a man can carry a weight of 100 pounds and an elephant is placed on his head, what will happen? He will certainly collapse and that has happened to the Indian judiciary. There are about 33 million cases pending in the Indian courts today, and it is estimated that if no fresh case is filed, it will take about 360 years to clear the backlog. This being the situation, there is no point blaming the judges. Some radical step has to be taken and that can only be done by parliamentary legislation. It would be useful to study the action taken in the US, which too was facing a similar crisis in the early 20th century; the number of cases pending in courts had risen to an alarming level. The US authorities took radical action by creating a system of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms arbitration, mediation, conciliation etc. Today, barely seven per cent of the cases filed in the US courts are decided by the courts. The remaining are decided by the ADR mechanisms. Every court has attached to it arbitration and mediation centres and often civil and minor criminal disputes are resolved there. In this way, most of the load on the courts is diverted the ADR way. In the US Supreme Court, 5,000 or 6,000 petitions are filed every year, but only about 100-150 petitions are admitted while the rest are dismissed even without oral hearing. If four of the nine judges vote to admit a case only then it is admitted for hearing, otherwise it is dismissed without hearing. In the US, the last appellate court is ordinarily regarded as the State Supreme Court. The US Supreme Court only takes up cases of an exceptional kind cases of national importance or any other serious legal issue where public interest is involved or where some grave injustice has been done. Otherwise, even if the US apex court feels that the State Supreme Court judgment was incorrect, it will never intervene. A similar approach is now required to be adopted by the Indian Supreme Court. Article 136 was never meant to be a regular forum of appeal. It was a residuary provision which enabled the Supreme Court to intervene in exceptional cases. Otherwise, ordinarily, the last court should be the HC. However, unfortunately, all kinds of cases are entertained under Article 136, some of which never deserved to be entertained, and there are no settled criteria. I had, in 2010, referred a matter (Mathai Alias Joby vs George & Anr.) to a larger Bench to fix the criteria as to what kind of Article 136 petitions should be entertained. In the said matter, the Bench suggested the categories of cases which would be fit to be entertained by the Supreme Court under Article 136, viz. cases of national and public importance, challenges to the validity of State and Central Acts, matters concerning infringement of fundamental rights of citizens, matters involving substantial questions of law and interpretation of Constitution and settling differences of opinion on point of law between different high courts. However, in 2016, the larger Bench consisting of five judges refused to revisit the scope of Article 136, thus failing to restrict its usage, which has effectively made the Supreme Court into a court of regular appeal. These are all problems which can only be resolved by parliamentary legislation. The Union Government should form a committee chaired by the Chief Justice of India and having as its members senior judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts, the Union Law Minister, the Attorney General, distinguished jurists and even young lawyers to consider what has been mentioned above and introduce legislation in Parliament for this purpose, including a constitutional amendment for amending Article 136. Apart from this, the ADR mechanisms need to be further entrenched in the minds of the Indian Bar and Bench. The Bar has to dispel misplaced fears of viewing settling of disputes via mediation as a threat to their legal practice and incomes. In the US, most attorneys double up as mediators, thus incentivising them to work as trained mediators. About 50 per cent of the members of the American Bar Association are lawyers who are also mediators, and these lawyers-cum-mediators are usually earning more income than those who are lawyers alone. There is no reason why the same cannot be done in India. Arbitration these days has become the most sought-after mechanism for resolving disputes of high commercial value. There exists no reason for cases of lower commercial value not getting resolved by arbitration. Young advocates should be effectively trained and mentored by seniors at the Bar to act as arbitrators for cases of such nature. Retired Judges of the higher judiciary, including the Supreme Court and High Courts, too should volunteer to act as arbitrators in cases of low commercial value too and not restrict themselves to those with high commercial value. If this is not done, regrettably, the judiciary, which is on the verge of collapse, will actually collapse very soon. By Jun Ji-hye LG Display has entered the foldable screen market race as it prepares to supply the next-generation display panels for Lenovo's foldable-screen laptops. This will fire up the rivalry with Samsung Display that began manufacturing displays for foldable devices in April. Lenovo, a Chinese technology company, unveiled what it is calling the world's first laptop with a foldable display at its Accelerate Conference in Florida, May 13, after three years of development. Lenovo's laptop with the foldable display / Courtesy of Lenovo The Chinese firm said its new folding-screen laptop, which will be released next year, will be have a 13.3-inch 2K organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display as part of a partnership with LG Display. The display stretches across the entire face of the device, the Chinese company said. The laptop has no physical keyboard and instead users will have a software keyboard that appears in the bottom half of the screen. It is the first time LG Display has signed a contract with a client to supply its foldable screens. Industry officials expect LG Group's display business unit will also begin supplying foldable screens for smartphones soon. "The value of foldable screens will maximize in mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones," a LG Display official said. "We have made thorough preparations through cooperation with our clients to supply the products on time." For its part, Samsung Display has completed the development of displays for foldable devices and celebrated the successful shipment of products at its factory in Asan, South Chungcheong Province, April 9. The firm said its foldable screens will be used for the Samsung Galaxy Fold. The Samsung Galaxy Fold / Courtesy of Samsung Electronics Bhartendu Kumar Singh Bhartendu Kumar Singh Indian Defence Accounts Service AFTER the Balakot airstrike, when India shed its strategic restraint and debunked the so-called invincibility of Pakistan (due to nuclear weapons), there were expectations of a larger national security debate. Competing political elites were expected to raise national security consciousness and channel public opinion through the elections. Unfortunately, national security remains a low priority for them as evident during the just-concluded elections. Few politicians looked interested in educating and mobilising the electorate on key aspects of national security. Future policy deliverables may, therefore, miss out on legitimation and may not reflect popular viewpoint. Why do many of our political elites not bet on national security issues in elections? Partly, national security discourse in India is characterised by a lower level of public interests, except on exceptional issues (like Doklam and Pulwama-Balakot) and is, therefore, not intrinsically linked to electoral process. Political elites, many of them who are ill informed or have misperceptions on national security, fail to convey the right stories to the electorate. Concurrently, low level of education, prevalent role of caste and other identities in national politics and bombardment of the electoral market with imposed agendas make it difficult for people to get adequate sensitisation on national security. Except for some odd bravery stories, national security issues do not find a place in our school curriculum. It is, therefore, hardly surprising that the popular perception of national security is often coloured with emotionalism and even jingoism rather than rationalism. Also, unlike the US, where the presidential debates test the lead candidates on key national security issues, parliamentary democracy in India implies a decentralised and autonomous electioneering. Except for some top political elites at the national level who push constructive narratives on select aspects of national security, most political leaders keep national security imperatives at the margins in their discourse and instead mobilise public opinion on other day-to-day issues. The basketful of local and regional political parties competing in the General Election have only enhanced the salience of non-security issues capable of meeting their political aspirations. India's security community largely consists of strategic thinkers, academicians, journalists, and retired diplomats, civil servants and armed forces officers. In recent times, there has been institutional proliferation of think tanks, both in the public and private sectors. Yet, in most cases, they are unable to convey correct and saleable messages to the political elite or act as a significant pressure group pushing their agenda in elections. Many of these security community stalwarts shy away from the pangs of electoral bout. Further, very few politicians are active members of this fraternity, partly because of their variable academic background and also because it does not actually help them nurture their political constituencies. Concurrently, issues related to national security do not form part of most citizens' worldview since they do not yield real time dividends or benefits compared to other electoral promises. As a result, the common ideational national security narrative committing all the stakeholders together is absent. It is also a fact that our security identity is largely shaped by visible aspects of security like military security. We are also, perhaps, obsessed with Pakistan and do not invest in studying the more prominent threat coming from China. Non-military aspects of security like development, pollution, environment, crumbling urban infrastructure, etc do not get adequate attention in our security discourse during electioneering. Did we see any narrative being pushed on froth and foul smell coming from Yamuna river in Delhi or containing the dangerous levels of air pollution in our urban agglomerates? Did we see any political leader promising preferential treatment to those thousands of small, little children living on our urban pavements and securing their future? We ignore such vital issues in elections due to our overt reliance on visible aspects of security and experts who specialise in drafting militarised national security manifestos. Some western scholars had alleged that India does not have any traditional strategic culture and that Indians (including the political class) lack the capacity of strategic thinking. However, multiple instances (including the Balakot momentum) should put such false assumptions to rest. What is worrying is that while India is generating material preponderance due to the healthy economic growth, there is no unanimity of norms, identities and culture of national security. The once consensus-based politics in national security has given space to an age of fracture and rhetorical competition. As a result, we are witnessing an under-developed culture of national security, where political elites are shying away from presenting and marketing alternative versions of India's national security perceptions to the global audience through elections. Democracies are supposed to provide the widest possible legitimation mechanism through elections. During the last US presidential election, Donald Trump asked for popular mandate for constructing a wall along the Mexico border. It was a controversial proposal but does have popular approval. In India, we often miss out such moments and do not discuss key issues like Pakistan or China and engender public support for possible conflict resolution contours with these hostile countries. Unless we discuss these issues in elections, subsequent conflict resolution attempts in corridors of power may not reach a logical milestone for fear of popular disapproval. In the last couple of years, we attempted some domestic reforms on national security aimed at pushing India into the great power club. However, this power transition would be successful only if political elites play an effective role in disseminating a constructive agenda on national security and hardsell it to people. Post elections, hopefully, our political elites would rally around the flag towards a constructive, comprehensive and dynamic national security agenda. Views are personal Maj Gen Ashok Mehta (retd) Maj Gen Ashok Mehta (retd) Defence commentator By dredging up the INS Viraat issue, PM Modi scored a hat trick in the politicisation of the armed forces. He accused a former PM and victim of terrorism Rajiv Gandhi of using the aircraft carrier as a personal taxi for his vacation with his family and in-laws. This counter-factual assertion has sucked in the Navy which had escaped the Modi web of politicisation his first and second targets being the Army after the surgical strikes and the IAF after the Balakot airstrikes. He made a similar gaffe in 2017 while campaigning for the Assembly elections in Coorg (Karnataka), when he lashed out at the Congress for having hounded one of Coorgs military icons, Field Marshal KM Cariappa, when he meant Gen KS Thimayya, also from the same place. This caused embarrassment to the Field Marshals son, Air Marshal Nanda Cariappa, and the local veteran community. Modis latest faux pas in advising the IAF to press on with the strikes despite bad weather as it would escape radar detection due to cloud cover takes the cake. When I referred this wisecrack to a serving Air Marshal, he chuckled: The PM needs a military adviser. Unfortunately, that General is attached to the National Security Advisers (NSA) office. Clearly, Modis sixth sense put the IAF under pressure to execute the operation on February 26 and not in better weather as it would have wished to, so that Crystal Maze AGM 142 missiles that video-record the strikes could have been used for proof on a platter. In its April issue, a military magazine, Force, carried a smiling Modi in dark glasses wearing a parachute camouflage jacket bearing his name and surrounded by soldiers titled Modis Military. The Modi that later occupied the cover of Time was described Divider in Chief. In its editorial, Force has reviewed the five-year record of Modi in national security, noting that never before has national security been so integral to pre-election discourse and yet will get limited attention after elections. It also noted the progressive politicisation of Indian military institutions which is likely to have far-reaching consequences and would further weaken national security. By making national security coterminous with terrorism in its manifesto, the BJP has compromised both. In his book, How India Manages its National Security, former Deputy NSA and currently director of BJP think tank, Vivekananda International Foundation, Arvind Gupta says: In recent years, tendencies to politicise actions of the armed forces like the politicisation of the Armys surgical strikes in Pakistan in 2016 was witnessed and political parties (read BJP) freely used Armys name in their election campaign ahead of Assembly elections in UP. This was the progressive politicisation of the military in defiance of the Election Commissions code of conduct: Political parties/candidate/campaigners must desist from indulging in propaganda involving the activities of defence forces, a reference to military operations. In Lucknow, in the run-up to the Assembly elections, I saw on BJP posters, pictures of DGMO Lt Gen Ranbir Singh, the key architect of the strikes, currently Northern Army Commander and contender for the next Army Chief flanked by Modi and Amit Shah. The strikes were milked all the way to the General Election when Balakot was added. The politicisation of the military, both serving and ex-servicemen, was done brazenly. On April 27, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman inducted seven retired Generals and nearly 100 other personnel into the partys fold. In his hugely publicised speech to veterans preceding the inauguration of the National War Memorial on the eve of the airstrikes, Modi broke all rules of military etiquette to attack the Congress for the neglect of national security. The most worrying incident still to be investigated is the Leh poll officers letter to GOC 14 Corps Ladakh about complaints by candidates regarding commanding officers of units asking soldiers for their voting preferences rather than just giving them ballot paper. If the traditional apolitical ethos of military is infiltrated by religious and party propaganda, it could break the professional and non-political spine of the forces. Further, the decade-old involvement of two serving officers, Lt Col Purohit and Maj Upadhayay with a religious organisation, Abhinav Bharat, in terrorist cases and the latter reportedly a Lok Sabha candidate for the Hindu Mahasabha party in Ballia is frightening. Still more worrying is the appropriation by Modi of the Army and Air Force as his personal property. Reference to the Army as Modiji ki sena is unacceptable. The PM publicly claimed that Modi ne ghar mein ghuskar mara hai. It robs the services of their exceptional feats of courage. Former Army Chief and minister, Gen VK Singh (retd) angrily noted that anyone who calls the Army Modiji ki sena is a traitor. But in its electoral enthusiasm, the Modi-led election sena has broken all red lines of the code of conduct. Lt Gen DS Hooda (retd) and Praveen Bakshi of surgical strikes and Doklam fame have expressed concern over military operations being drawn into political discourse and used to win political arguments and elections. The father of Kargil hero Capt Vikram Batra has said: Military operations in Pakistan were right, but politicians should not take credit for them. While the three service chiefs have strangely stayed aloof, 500 retired officers petitioned President Kovind over such politicisation. Winning polls riding piggyback on the military, and at the cost of its politicisation, will have dangerous consequences. If Modi continues as PM, one hopes he will leave the military alone. harinder@tribunemail.com A day after the February 26 Balakot airstrike, an Mi-17 helicopter of the IAF crashed at Budgam in Kashmir. All six IAF personnel on board and a civilian on the ground were killed, including a young Squadron Leader from Chandigarh, Siddharth Vashisht. The tragic incident was reduced to a footnote amid the euphoria over the retaliatory aerial action and the release of Wg Cdr Abhinandan Varthaman from Pakistans custody. With the ongoing inquiry indicating that lapses led to the crash, the IAF has set the ball rolling by removing the Air Officer Commanding of the Srinagar air base. The helicopter was downed by a surface-to-air missile of the IAF itself, even as the air defence system was on the highest alert after the airstrike. The incident happened around the time Indian and Pakistani jets were engaged in a dogfight over Nowshera in J&K. It is shocking that the IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) system, which automatically transmits a unique identification signal, was switched off on the Mi-17. The probe should pinpoint who all were responsible for not following the mandatory procedures despite strict instructions from the Air Force Headquarters. Its also imperative to ascertain whether it was just an accident that happened in the fog of war or someone misguided the pilot. Importantly, the Barnala-based node of the IAFs Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS), which was tracking the aerial skirmish and collating information from radars, unmanned aerial vehicles and surveillance planes, had not marked this helicopter as an intruder. The Budgam episode has remained shrouded in mystery for almost three months. It has been an agonising wait for the victims families, who want to know as does the entire nation what exactly went wrong that fateful day. As soon as the investigation is completed and accountability fixed at various levels, the truth no matter how unpalatable should be made public. Taking the disturbing matter to its logical conclusion is a litmus test for the IAF, whose credibility is at stake. editorial@tribune.com Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Hisar, May 21 In all, 24 schools across the state have thrown up zero per cent result in the Class X examinations conducted by the Board of School Examination Haryana (BSEH). The results were announced last week. The overall pass percentage was not impressive either. Not more than 58 per cent of students cleared the examination. The data compiled by the Education Department shows that of the 24 schools, 20 are privately managed. The remaining four in the government sector are Arohi Model Senior Secondary School in Palwals Ali Brahman village, government secondary schools in Karnals Balu village and Mund village, and Government Secondary School in Ambalas Bhurangpur village. Eleven of the schools are in rural areas and the remaining in urban centres. At five, Karnal has the highest number of schools with zero per cent result followed by Faridabad (4). Two schools each are in Fatehabad, Rohtak and Sonepat districts, and one each in Palwal, Yamunanagar, Mahendragarh, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Ambala, Hisar, Panipat and Jind districts. In all, 155 students were enrolled in the 24 schools. The Board data revealed that except three private schools, all private schools throwing up zero result have students in single digit in the matriculation. There are 20 private schools in which none of the students could pass the examination. Gurlal Singh, husband of Mund village sarpanch Harpreet Kaur, blamed the poor result on the lackadaisical attitude of teachers. I visited the school in my village on Monday and inquired about the reasons for the dismal performance. In reply, teachers partly blamed students for being non-serious towards their studies. They cited staff shortage as another reason. Teachers dont want to take the blame on themselves, but are passing the buck. A teacher of Mund village, however, had a different take. He told The Tribune on the condition of anonymity that the poor results were the fallout of the no-detention policy. Lakhmi Chand, panch of Palwals Ali Brahman village and retired government teacher, blamed the poor academic atmosphere in Arohi Model Senior Secondary School, where all 27 students flunked the examination. I am not surprised with the performance of the school. During one of my visits to the school during the last session, I found teachers and students missing. I raised the matter with the block-level education office, but nobody was concerned. I even saw some teachers sleeping on the school premises, Chand said. Ashok Baghel, District Education Officer, Palwal, said he was unaware of the result of Arohi Model Senior Secondary School. I have been posted in Palwal recently. I came to know that the school faces staff shortage. Teachers dont prefer to be appointed in the Ali Brahman school, which is 32 km from the district headquarters. I recently wrote to the head office, seeking permission to reshuffle teachers to schools facing crunch, he added. No. of students in 24 schools vinaymishra188@gmail.com Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service Gurugram, May 21 Services on Delhi Metros Yellow Line remained disrupted for several hours today due to some technical snag, leaving thousands of commuters, headed from Gurugram to Delhi, stranded at the Sultanpur station. Though the services were reportedly hit around 9.32 am due to the snapping of an overhead power cable at the Sultanpur station, it took over two hours for the DMRC to tweet about the snag. The passengers were asked to reach the Qutub Minar station and board further trains. Due to the non-availability of feeder buses, people either had to walk for five km or shell out Rs 200 per person to reach Qutub Minar. There was chaos at the Qutub Minar station too. Hundreds of passengers who had left in HUDA metro around 9 am had been waiting there for the train for about three hours. A large number of them stood alongside the road, waiting for help. After 12 noon, police and CRPF personnel stepped in, trying to manage the situation. As and when they could manage an auto-rickshaw, they would stuff four-five passengers into that with directions to the driver to drop them at the next metro station. Taking advantage of the situation, auto-rickshaw drivers charged anything between Rs 200 and Rs 350 from every passenger. Meanwhile, several stranded commuters took to Twitter to express their anguish. Many of them were seen shooting videos of the prevailing situation. Around 1.45 pm, the DMRC tweeted that the services had resumed. However, it took another one hour for the chaos to end. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted that he had asked the Transport Minister to look into the matter and ask the DMRC to fix responsibility for the incident. editorial@tribune.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 21 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that a candidate who applies under the dependant of ex-servicemen category but fails to produce the relevant certificate has the right to be considered under the general category. The legal controversy over the rights of a dependant to be considered under the general category after being denied certificate was brought under the judicial scanner by Vineet Kumar Chauhan, candidate for the post of industrial extension officer. The petitioner had applied for the post under the dependant of ex-servicemen category pursuant to an advertisement issued in December 2016. But his candidature was rejected as he could not produce relevant documents to show he was indeed an ex-serviceman dependant. He, thereafter, sought directions to the respondents to treat him as a general category candidate for the post. Taking up his plea, the High Court ordered keeping one post vacant for the time being. The Bench was told that the petitioner participated in the written examination, but was not called for the interview by the Haryana Staff Selection Commission on the ground that he could not produce the relevant certificate even though he had applied under the dependant category. He was then directed to be interviewed provisionally. The result produced before the court showed that the petitioner had secured more marks than the candidate last selected in the general category. His counsel told the court that the petitioner had approached the Rewari Zila Sainik Board for issuing the dependant of ex-serviceman certificate, but it was not issued on the ground that his father, an ex-serviceman, had already taken up a job. After listening to the arguments, Justice Ritu Bahri said, As the petitioner was not given the certificate of dependant of ex-serviceman, he had the right to participate in the selection process under the general category. Dismissing an appeal filed by the state against the order, the Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli asserted that the benefit of reservation was neither availed, nor given to the candidate. His candidature was not being considered only because he described himself as a dependant, but failed to produce the certificate even though he was allowed to appear in the examination. We find no infirmity in the view taken by the Single Judge, which may require interference. The appeal is devoid of any merit and accordingly stands dismissed, the Bench concluded. The case editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Mandi, May 21 Congress nominee from Mandi Ashray Sharma has accused BJP workers of capturing booths at Seraj in Mandi during the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 19. He alleged that while Seraj witnessed voter turnout of 81 per cent, it was quite low at other places. The Congress leader alleged that BJP workers ferried voters to their respective polling stations, which was unethical as per the guidelines of the Election Commission. He alleged that IPH Minister Mahender Singh had assured people of extending benefits to them in new schemes if they voted in favour of the BJP candidate. He also accused the state government of misusing its power during the elections. The role of the Election Commission is also under scanner. Agents of the Congress were not allowed inside polling booths to monitor the situation as their signatures sent to stations did not match, he alleged. Ashray also raised question over the deployment of only Home Guard jawans in the Seraj segments. He said in all other segments, paramilitary forces were deployed. Polling in Mandi went on till 8 pm. However, the media came out with the exit poll results at 6 pm. It is also the violation of the EC guidelines. I will file a complaint on these issues, said Ashray. Ashray Sharma was accompanied by All-India Congress Committee observer for Mandi Rajiv Gambhir, former MLA Sohan Lal Thakur, local leader Chet Ram and Sanjiv Gularia. amansharma@tribunemail.com Ravi S.Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 22 The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh, calling for a detailed report on the death of a class 6 student due to alleged delay in providing medical care to him after he was hit on his head by a fellow student in his school. The officers have been asked to submit the report within four weeks. The boy was hit on the premises of Government Senior Secondary School, Charuri, under Sukhar gram Panchayat in Nurpur, Kangra district, on May 15. A communique of the commission said the police reportedly did not take any action in the matter till May 21. The locals held a protest in front of the school against its authorities and the Gangath police for taking the incident casually. The allegations of carelessness on part of the school authorities in providing the timely treatment to the victim boy, if true, amount to gross violation of human rights. The school authorities, who were the lawful custodian of the boy at the time of the incident, seem to be negligent due to which, a precious young human life was lost, the Commission noted. The victims mother, a widow and resident of Ghatot village, is said to have lodged a complaint with the Chief Minister, DGP and Kangra SP that the Gangath police and the school administration were trying to hush up the case. Reportedly, before prayer, the victim was playing in the school ground when he was attacked by a fellow student with a stick. The boy fell unconscious and started bleeding from head, nose and mouth. It is stated that the school management failed to provide him timely treatment due to which he succumbed to his injuries. The victim was initially taken to Tanda Medical College from where he was referred to PGI, Chandigarh, the communique said. The police authorities allegedly tried to hush up the case when the incident was reported to them and the FIR not registered despite several requests. Later, following public outcry the Deputy Superintendent of Police reportedly rushed to the spot, met the family members of the deceased and also assured a fair inquiry into the case, it added. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Jammu: The BJP on Tuesday demanded justice for the displaced people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) by providing constitutional rights to them. In a statement, BJP spokesman Sunil Sethi said the time had come to do justice with the displaced persons who had been facing hardship since 1947. "The nation is bound by a parliamentary resolution of taking back the areas of the state illegally occupied both by Pakistan and China and it is the right of displaced persons from all these areas and their generations to have an option of settling in their native areas," Sethi said. "Till the territories are reclaimed and process of settlement started, rights of persons who have been displaced from these areas should be recognised and honoured to give them due place in representative governance by providing for separate seats in Parliament and Assembly as also in state Legislative Council for them. This will empower the community who has been suffering silently for more than seven decades", he said. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Jammu, May 21 The administration today announced complete lifting of traffic restrictions on the Jammu-Srinagar highway from May 27. The decision came after Governor Satya Pal Malik reviewed the security situation in the state, besides requirements of security forces convoys. After a detailed review in connection with preparations for the Amarnath Yatra, the Governor has directed that there should be no restriction on civilian movement on National Highway-44 from Monday, a spokesperson said. The restrictions came into force on April 3 against the backdrop of frequent fidayeen attempts to target convoys of security forces, especially after an attempt to repeat a Pulwama-like attack at Banihal on March 30. It was decided that the restrictions would continue till May 31. The restrictions had become necessary due to the movement of security forces on an unprecedented scale after the Pulwama terror attack. Forces were required both for anti-militancy operations and smooth conduct of General Election, the spokesperson said. To facilitate safe movement of convoys, civilian traffic on NH-44 from Baramulla to Udhampur was banned on Sundays and Wednesdays from 4 am to 5 pm. Earlier, the restriction between Srinagar and Baramulla on NH-44 was limited to Sunday with effect from April 22 and later completely lifted from May 2. Restrictions on Srinagar-Udhampur stretch were limited to just one day from May 13. TNS Two Japanese mobile carriers say they are delaying sales of new smartphones from Huawei as they confirm the safety of the Chinese products. Sale of the Huwaei P30 lite, set for May 24, from SoftBank Corp.'s Y! Mobile service was delayed Wednesday, and advance orders were canceled. KDDI also indefinitely delayed its sales, initially set for late May. SoftBank spokesman Hiroyuki Mizukami said the company wants ''customers to feel safe using our products.'' Other details were not available. It's unclear if the sales will proceed. The U.S. government has said Huawei, the No. 2 smartphone brand, is a security risk and restricted technology sales to it and other Chinese telecom gear suppliers. The Japanese government has not taken action against Huawei, whose products are relatively popular here. (AP) ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tribune News Service Srinagar, May 21 The authorities in Kashmir on Tuesday foiled the proposed march by the separatists to the Eidgah ground in Srinagar by imposing restrictions in old city areas and also keeping the martyrs graveyard out of bounds for the visitors. The authorities also put moderate Hurriyat Conference leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq under house arrest at his Nigeen residence here as the faction led by him had called for a shutdown and Eidgah march on Tuesday to commemorate the death anniversaries of two assassinated separatist leaders Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone. Condemning the government move to impose restrictions and house detention of Mirwaiz, the Hurriyat, in a statement, said it was not the first time that peaceful activities had been barred by the authorities. The Hurriyat termed the move undemocratic, immoral and a political vendetta by the government. Fearing a law and order problem, the authorities imposed restrictions in the old city. Concertina wires were laid and a large number of police and CRPF men were deployed around the Eidgah ground and other parts of the old city to foil the separatist march, while a shutdown was observed in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley which affected normal life. Mirwaiz Umars father Moulvi Mohammad Farooq was killed by unidentified gunmen after they barged into his Nigeen residence on May 21, 1990. On the same day, his funeral procession was fired upon by CRPF men at Hawal in Srinagar, in which more than 60 civilians were killed. Moderate separatist leader Abdul Gani Lone was killed on May 21, 2002, by unidentified assailants at a rally to mark the death anniversary of Moulvi Farooq at Eidgah. Lone is the father of separatist leader Bilal Lone and separatist leader-turned-mainstream politician Sajjad Lone. Moulvi Farooq and Abdul Gani Lone are buried at Eidgah in martyrs graveyard. Parts of old city sealed ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Arteev Sharma Tribune News Service Jammu, May 21 The state government has virtually made the J&K Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2009, which was an effective tool of transparency and accountability in bureaucracy, redundant as the State Information Commission (SIC) has been lying headless for almost a year now. Former Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Khurshid Ahmad Ganai had resigned from the post of CIC on June 28 last before his appointment as Adviser to the Governor on June 30. At present, the SIC has a lone Information Commissioner (IC) Mohammad Ashraf Mir who looks after the work of the commission. In February, a high-level selection committee had recommended Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Muneer Ahmad Khan for the post of the IC after his retirement in June. Activists, however, are upset over the governments casual approach while creating awareness about the RTI Act among rural masses, alleging It (govt) is hell-bent to make the Act completely redundant as bureaucrats and political class dont want to be accountable. Noted Srinagar-based activist Raja Muzaffar Bhat regretted, Situation has turned bad to worse as the government has taken it very casually. Their casual approach could be gauged from the fact that the government, in an affidavit submitted in the J&K High Court, disclosed that it provided the RTI-related training to at least 2,500 officers from 2011 to 2014 but only 75 officers were trained from 2014 to 2018. The height of governments callousness clearly reflected when the incumbent ADGP was made SIC member but he was asked to join the commission after his retirement in June. What was the need of reserving this post almost five months before his retirement? Besides, the State Administrative Council (SAC), headed by Governor Satya Pal Malik, announced to bring J&K Bank under the RTI Act in November last year but no notification has been issued till date. Even Raj Bhawan and general administration department refused to provide the copy of this order. Why the Governor is silent on it? They have made mockery of all institutions, he regretted. Raman Sharma, a Jammu-based activist said, After the implementation of the RTI Act in the state, people had great hopes of transparency and accountability. In the initial years, it yielded some good results but the government later deliberately made it ineffective. The pick and choose policy while making appointments of SIC members without issuing any notification and non-seriousness of bureaucrats have now been made the RTI movement a toothless tiger in J&K, he said. Balvinder Singh, convener, Sangharsh RTI Movement, shared similar views, saying Public authorities have not submitted annual reports to the SIC till date because there is no accountability in the system. Sensitive cases have been lying pending for months together due to the absence of the full bench of the commission. Not even a single camp has been held in the state for creating awareness among the public. Only 75 officers got RTI training in 4 yrs editorial@tribune.com SP Kochhar The National Skill Mission under the leadership of MSDE empowers the youth of the country to become more employable. Different sector skill councils have a comprehensive list of job roles that create a unique employment opportunity for a candidate in the organisation. Heres a look at the scope for Tower Technicians in the telecom industry. Out of 39 job roles in the telecom industry, tower technician is one of the 39 job roles earmarked in the telecom industry. So, let's comprehend what exactly is a tower technician and what kind of skills and training a candidate would be needed to become a tower technician. Work profile Tower technician is also known as a Site Engineer / Tower Engineer / Site Technician in the telecom industry. An individual in this role is responsible to maintain site live 24x7, repair level-1 faults at telecom tower site, level-1 preventive and corrective maintenance and report faults to the supervisor in time. He/she also need to travel inter-state and work during odd hours, when required. The key attributes of a site engineer are sound technical knowledge, self-discipline, confidence, team spirit, analytical skills and problem-solving ability. In addition, he must also have good communication skills and ability to work under pressure. Getting in The minimum educational qualification required for this job role is Plus II and/or ITI Diploma in Electrical/ mechanical and maximum qualification is graduation. Moreover, the minimum age required for tower technician is 18 years and 0-3 years of experience is desired for it. Candidates can register themselves for training at BSNL Centres through Telecom Sector Skill Council. TSSC has some training partners at various locations who train candidates on Tower Technician job role. The duration of this course is 300 hours and it is available free of charge through PMKVY (Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna). IN DEMAND The demand for tower technicians is huge due to growth of telecom sector. According to a study about skilling requirement approximately 3,56,332 vacancies are likely to arise for this job role in the next five years. National Occupational Standards (NOS) National Occupational Standards are applicable in the Indian as well as global context. It states the standards of performance a candidate must attain when performing any role in the organisation. An individual must have knowledge and understanding of the job role which is required to meet that standard consistently. Following are some of the NOS that must be maintained at the tower site. Site hygiene: This is about maintaining the site hygiene of AC, DG, PIU, SMPS and battery bank, as per the organisations norms. The individual must know the basic use of mechanical equipment, the layout of the tower site, general aspects of electrical wiring and safety requirements Preventive maintenance: The candidate on the job must stick to preventive maintenance (PM) plan, conduct site PM, keep a check on site up-time, execute unique site down PM and provide timely resolutions to trouble tickets raised. Site management: Under this an individual has to perform operational activities at the tower site like submission of electricity bill, alarm check etc. Task Reporting: Its about reporting and record-keeping as per companys processes and defined SLAs (Service Level Agreement). The individual must be able to escalate faults to a supervisor at the site, fill the preventive and corrective maintenance checklists, accurately report diesel filling, EB and DG reading. Corrective maintenance: This OS unit is about corrective maintenance of DG, AC, PIU, SMPS, Battery Bank and Shelter, within defined SLA. So, if you are looking forward to building your career as a tower technician in the telecom industry, you must adhere to the basic fundamentals required for this job role. The writer is CEO, Telecom Sector Skill Council shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, May 21 'Modi: Journey Of A Common Man', the web series on Prime Minister Narendra Modi is live again, a month after the Election Commission banned its streaming in favour of a level-playing field during the Lok Sabha elections. Directed by Umesh Shukla of 'OMG - Oh My God' fame, the web series was launched just days ahead of the polls, and was playing on even though the EC had stopped the release of Bollywood biopic 'PM Narendra Modi' from releasing on April 11 when the seven-phase polls began. Five episodes, which were launched earlier, were made available again on OTT platform Eros Now on Tuesday. The remaining five are yet to be out. "Our plan is to release episodes 6 and 7 on Thursday (May 23) in five different languages - Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Gujarati. The remaining episodes of the 10-part original series will be streamed shortly," Ridhima Lulla, Chief Content Officer, Eros Group, told IANS. "Our attempt through this series is to tell the story of Narendra Modi's struggle, will power, vision and victory. His journey is truly inspiring," Lulla added. Shukla, the director of the web series, had earlier said the release of the show was not planned in a way to coincide with the elections. "I was working on it for almost a year. It could have come out a month earlier as well, but it got delayed owing to some technical glitches... My web series is not about politics. It is more about a character and his journey," Shukla had told IANS. The trajectory of the web series and the film 'PM Narendra Modi' is similar as they trace Modi's journey from his humble beginnings to become the Prime Minister. Written by Mihir Bhuta and Radhika Anand and based on Kishor Makwana's 'Modi: Common Man's PM', the show stars Faisal Khan, Ashish Sharma and Mahesh Thakur depicting different phases of Modi's life. Meanwhile, BJP-sponsored channel NaMo TV went off air on May 17 soon after the conclusion of campaigning across the country. It began on March 31, BJP sources said. "The channel was brought as a medium of election campaign of BJP. As the campaign ended, there was no need of it. So it went off air on May 17 after the campaign concluded," a BJP leader said on condition of anonymity. IANS shalender@tribune.com Mona Muklawa is a period drama that makes Ammy Virk and Sonam Bajwa take on the roles of Shinda and Taaro; it is a film that will evoke love and longing. Starting with the name Muklawa it is an erstwhile tradition when a girl married early, but was sent to the in-laws only after a certain age. The waiting period could be anything from a few days to a few years; this movie charts the story of a husband and wife desperately trying to meet. No phones, not such an open society, this is a love story set among joint families! Steeped in tradition I am the hero of this film, BN Sharma surprises all present, as Ammy nods. He clarifies how its a story steeped in tradition. While the trailer looks interesting, Ammy and Sonam are pretty positive considering the response that it has got so far. So, why two big Punjabi releases on the same day? Ammy is self-assured, Its not the first time, Ardaas and Love Punjab both did well. And we believe its going to be a repeat. The question comes back time and again with May 24 seeing biopic on PM Narendra Modi as well. What if he makes the government and people rush to see it, exasperated Ammy cannot help but retort, If the content is good, both our Punjabi films would be hits, if not both would be flop! Talking B-town Resting the case here, we move to Qismat stars debut stint in Hindi film 83. The film goes on floors next month and going by the workshops, its going to be an amazing innings. Leading lady Talking of Sonam Bajwa; she would seen be seen shaking a leg in Varun Dhawan, Prabhudheva and Shraddha Kapoor-starrer Street Dancer. That just for a song, a Punjabi one for which they needed a Punjabi face, I fitted the bill. While she awaits her Bollywood debut , Muklawa it is, clashing with Chandigarh Amritsar Chandigarh! mona@tribunemail.com shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Addis Ababa, May 22 After enthralling fans with her fashion game at the Cannes Film Festival 2019, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas is currently in Ethiopia spending time with refugee children. Priyanka took to social media to share a series of photographs and videos of herself with the children from her philanthrophic tour as Unicef's Goodwill Ambassador in Addis Ababa. She also met Sahle-Work Zewde, the first female president of the country. The Quantico actress is seen interacting, dancing and playing with the children in the videos. She also highlighted the issues of poverty, sexual violence and child marriage through her posts. Sharing the story of a 15-year-old girl, Priyanka spoke about the importance of education for girls. She wrote: "This is Hasina (15), she is a 7th grade student who loves to go to school. She used to live with her sister and her husband, and without her knowing, her sisters' husband was arranging her marriage to one of his friends... she was 12 at the time. "One day when the man visited her house to pester her parents to marry her, she escaped to a friend's house and the next day went to one of the community-based child's marriage prevention platforms (alone), which she had heard about at school. She asked herself, 'If she married now, would she ever go back to school again?' Hasina loves learning and wasn't willing to trade her education or freedom for anything. "That gave her the courage to stand up for herself. The community, along with the authorities, stepped in and stopped the marriage. The man was charged. It's important to understand that it takes an immense amount of courage to go against these cultural norms that have existed for centuries. Hasina is a very brave girl. It was so heartening to see the elders in the community learning from the examples these young girls are setting, standing up against child marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting. Education gave these girls that perspective." Priyanka tried the traditional Ethiopian dance and said that she has "bonded" with the country over the joy she shared through dancing. Praising Zewde, Priyanka said: "Her fierce commitment to the empowerment and advancement of women is unprecedented. She also has a global perspective for the development of her country - Ethiopia is the second largest host country of refugees in Africa, they've taken in just under 1 million. "She is pushing for policies that provide people with access to education and other essential needs so they can improve their familial economic situation and hence the economy of Ethiopia." Last year, Priyanka visited Bangladesh to meet Rohingya children. IANS amansharma@tribunemail.com New Delhi, May 22 In a suspected case of espionage, there was an attempted break-in on Sunday at the Indian Air Forces Paris office, which is overseeing production of 36 Rafale fighter jets for India, military sources said. A group of unidentified persons tried to break into the office of IAFs Rafale project management team in the suburbs of Paris and the police are probing whether the attempt was to steal classified data. As per initial assessment, no data or hardware has been stolen, sources said, adding that the IAF has briefed the Ministry of Defence about the incident. The IAFs office of Rafale project management is located at the complex of Dassault Aviation, the makers of the Rafale jets. There was no official reaction from either the MoD or the IAF. The IAF project management team is headed by a Group Captain and it comprises two fighter pilots, one logistics officer and a number of weapons experts and engineers. The team is coordinating with Dassault Aviation on manufacture of Rafale jets as well as on weapons package onboard the aircraft. India had signed a government-to-government deal in September 2016 with France for procuring 36 Rafale jets at a cost of Rs 58,000 crore. The first Rafale fighter jet is scheduled to be delivered to India in September this year. PTI Receiving the planes in Zimbabwe, the Egyptian ambassador stressed Cairo's support to the government and people of Zimbabwe and the importance of joint African action to face challenges Two military planes carrying Egyptian aid arrived in Zimbabwe Tuesday night, sent in the aftermath of the hurricane that recently hit Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Egyptian Ambassador Mohamed Fahmy was at the airport to receive the planes, accompanied by the deputy minister of local government in Zimbabwe, who spoke in appreciation for the Egyptian aid. The Egyptian ambassador stressed Cairo's support to the government and people of Zimbabwe and the importance of joint African action to face challenges. The death toll from the huge cyclone that hit Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe stood at 150 on Sunday, with hundreds more missing and tens of thousands stranded and cut off from roads and telephones in mainly poor, rural areas, officials said. Search Keywords: Short link: By Baek Byung-yeul Jamie Kaplan, senior director of global event communications of Consumer Technology Association, speaks during a press conference at Lotte Hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Hoffman Agency uttara@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, May 22 Scripting history, Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth on Wednesday became the first woman pilot of the Indian Air Force to qualify to undertake combat missions on a fighter jet. IAF officials said Kanth has completed operational syllabus for carrying out combat missions on MiG-21 Bison aircraft during daytime. "She is the first woman fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions by day on a fighter aircraft," IAF Spokesperson Group Capt Anupam Banerjee said. At present, Bhawana is posted at the Nal base in Bikaner. Another official said she will be allowed to carry out night operations once she completes training for night missions. Bhawana joined the fighter squadron in November 2017 and flew the first solo on MiG-21 Bison in March last year. "With her dedication, hard work and perseverance she has become the first woman officer of the IAF to achieve this feat," said Group Capt Banerjee. She is from the first batch of women fighter pilots of the IAF. Three womenKanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singhwere commissioned as flying officers in July 2016, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis. The IAF has already selected the next batch of three women trainee pilots for the fighter stream. PTI shriaya.dutt@tribuneindia.com Tribune Web Desk Chandigarh, May 22 Union Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday morning thanked the people for blessing the BJP, as she reflected upon the past five years of the BJP-led NDA government in a series of tweets. Irani also targeted the opposition saying the general election was about people versus the opposition". The 43-year-old tweeted: 24 hours to go...while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, heres taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership. 24 hours to go .. while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, heres taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) 22 May 2019 She wrote: We are all humbled to bear witness to the hard work, the perseverance and the selflessness of karyakartas who seek no post, no glory for self but are purely driven with a strong desire to build a New Indiaresilient, resurgent, committed to sabka saath, sabka vikas. We are all humbled to bear witness to the hard work , the perseverance and the selflessness of karyakartas who seek no post, no glory for self but are purely driven with a strong desire to build a New India resilient, resurgent, committed to sabka saath, sabka vikas. Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) 22 May 2019 We are conscious of the sacrifices made by the families of karyakartas especially in Kerala and West Bengal. No words will ever be enough to pay homage to those who died. However, the best tribute would be that every day we contribute constructively to Nation building. We are conscious of the sacrifices made by the families of karyakartas especially in Kerala and West Bengal. No words will ever be enough to pay homage to those who died. However , the best tribute would be that every day we contribute constructively to Nation building. Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) 22 May 2019 Irani, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, also slammed the opposition parties for constantly targeting PM Modi for five years. She said: In the last 5 years not a day went by when Narendra Modi was not subjected to humiliation and hateful barbs by the opposition. However, as karyakartas we take pride that the citizens of the Nation stood by the PM through every endeavour, every initiative. In the last 5 years not a day went by when Narendra Modi was not subjected to humiliation and hateful barbs by the opposition. However, as karyakartas we take pride that the citizens of the Nation stood by the PM through every endeavour , every initiative. Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) 22 May 2019 In another post, she said the people of the country "stood firm against the people who screamed 'Bharat ke tukde honge' (India will be divided)". She added: This election was about the people versus the opposition. The people stood firm against the anarchists who screamed Bharat ke tukde honge. It is to those citizens that I give my grateful thanks for they resolutely and unabashedly believed in Bharat & her future. This election was about the people versus the opposition. The people stood firm against the anarchists who screamed Bharat ke tukde honge. It is to those citizens that I give my grateful thanks for they resolutely and unabashedly believed in Bharat & her future. Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) 22 May 2019 The seven-phase general election was held between April 11 and May 19. The counting of votes will be held on May 23. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, May 22 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out searches at the homes and offices of four former directors of the crisis-struck infrastructure lending major IL&FS in Mumbai over connection with an alleged money-laundering case. The agency is carrying out searches on the premises of Rajesh Kotian, Shehzad Dilan, Manu Kochhar and Mukund Sapre. The ED had earlier done similar searches in the case in February after it had filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The IL&FS has a total debt of around Rs 91,000 crore and its new board led by Uday Kotak is trying to sell its assets to repay the debt. The crisis came to light in September last year after the group defaulted on few of its commercial papers. Eventually, the government took control of the heavily indebted group in October and set up a new board to manage the company and sail it through the resolution process. The issue has also raised doubts over the role of its top level officials along with the credit rating agencies. Investigations are on at several fronts. Earlier this month, IANS had reported that the Ministry of Corporate Affairs is concerned about the extent of the wrongdoing in IL&FS when Ravi Parthasarthy was its Chairman and the Ministry is looking at expanding the scope of its ongoing probe to independent directors during that time. This includes many names like R.C. Bhargava, Chairman Maruti Suzuki and S.B. Mathur, former Chairman LIC. IANS amansharma@tribunemail.com Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 22 The Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully fired the BrahMos air version missile from its frontline Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target, the IAF said. The target was a remote island in the Bay of Bengal, sources said, adding that it adds a new capability. The BrahMos can be launched at land targets when launched from ground and also from sea. The launch from air is the third dimension. The air launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5-ton supersonic air-to-surface cruise missile with ranges of close to 300 km, designed and developed by BrahMos. Earlier in November 2017, the IAF became the first air force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach speed surface attack missile of this category on a sea target. Todays was the second such live launch of the weapon. The integration of the weapon on the aircraft was a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications on aircraft. The IAF has been involved in the activity from its inception. The software development of the aircraft was undertaken by the IAF engineers while HAL carried out mechanical and electrical modifications on the aircraft. The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, DRDO, and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited have proven the capability of the nation to undertake such complex integrations, the IAF said. The BrahMos missile provides Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach, the IAF said. rchopra@tribunemail.com Meerut, May 22 An IPS officer of the Nagaland cadre, hailing from Meerut, has been accused of repeatedly beating up his wife. The injury marks on the wifes body had been corroborated in a medical report, said a police officer. On May 17, the woman approached the police with a swollen face and eyes. The Nauchandi police station registered an FIR. The 32-year-old woman alleged that her husband, posted in Delhi, had been repeatedly beating her up over the past few years. She also accused him of demanding dowry. Prashant Kumar, ADGP, Meerut Zone, said, The woman was brutally beaten up, so we have registered a case at a local police station here and the investigation is under way. The accused, who is of Nagaland cadre and is currently posted in Delhi, hails from Meerut. Prima facie it seems to be a case of marital dispute. The officer is currently posted as Assistant Commandant in sixth Nagaland Armed Police Battalion. A separate report about the case would be sent to the Nagaland government, the parent cadre of the accused, sources said. Singh told the police that the last time she was physically abused was at their Gurugram house when she was physically tortured for hours at a stretch. Following this she returned to her parents in Meerut and decided to file the case. IANS editorial@tribune.com Islamabad, May 21 Career diplomat Moin-ul-Haq has been appointed as Pakistans new High Commissioner to India to start a fresh process of engagement with the country where a new government will be formed soon, amid strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved appointments of over two dozen ambassadors in various countries, including India, China and Japan. Haq, in his mid-fifties, is the current ambassador to France. He has previously served as chief of protocol at the Foreign Office. He joined the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1987 and was posted in countries like Turkey, Canada and Sri Lanka. The post of High Commissioner to India fell vacant after Sohail Mehmood was appointed Pakistans new Foreign Secretary in April. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said, New Delhi is very important After consultation, I have decided to appoint Moin-ul-Haq, the current ambassador in France, who will be sent to Delhi, and I hope that he (Haq) will deliver. Qureshi said that Indian elections were coming to an end and it was possible that after the elections a new process of engagement could start. PTI vinaymishra188@gmail.com New Delhi, May 21 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today expressed concern over the needless controversy created by the Opposition over EVMs at a meeting of National Democratic Alliance leaders, even as the ruling alliance laid out its agenda for the next five years if it is elected to power again. At the BJP-led ruling alliance meeting, which was attended by 36 parties, a resolution was passed, terming the 2019 General Election decisive for the country and pledging to make India strong, developed, prosperous and inclusive by 2022 when India completes 75 years of its Independence, party leader and Union Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters. In his address, Modi stressed on the need to change the narrative from caste lines and orient it for the poor, Singh said. The PM expressed concern over the Opposition making needless controversy over electronic voting machines, the Home Minister said. The resolution was proposed by BJP ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EK Palaniswami were among the BJP allies who attended the dinner-meeting hosted by BJP president Amit Shah. TNS/PTI PM meets top brass New Delhi: PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday night held a meeting with top bureaucrats, though there was no official word about the agenda. He is believed to have taken feedback on various issues, including about the state of the economy. This is possibly the first time that Modi convened a meeting of top bureaucrats after announcement of dates of LS elections in March. PTI editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, May 21 The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed a PIL seeking 100 per cent matching of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the counting of votes on May 23 for Lok Sabha polls. A Vacation Bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra refused to entertain the plea filed by Chennai-based organisation Tech 4 All, saying that a larger Bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi had already dealt with the matter and passed an order. The CJI had dealt with this matter. Why are you taking chance before a two-judge Vacation Bench? the apex court asked. We cannot override the CJIs order... This is nonsense. The petition is taken on board. Dismissed, Justice Mishra said. The apex court had on May 7 dismissed a review plea filed by 21 Opposition leaders seeking that random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs be increased to 50 per cent. The top court had on April 8 directed the Election Commission to increase random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs from one to five polling booths per Assembly segment in the Lok Sabha polls, saying it would provide greater satisfaction not just to political parties, but also to the entire electorate. PTI Plea against WB poll observers junked uttara@tribuneindia.com Bishkek, May 22 External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a multilateral meeting here and discussed issues of bilateral interest, including the implementation of understanding reached during last year's Wuhan Summit. Swaraj arrived here on Tuesday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council (SCO) of Foreign Ministers here in the Kyrgyz capital. "Continuing the momentum of high-level exchanges. EAM @SushmaSwaraj met Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi on the sidelines of #SCO Foreign Minister's Meeting in Bishkek. Discussed issues of bilateral interest, including the implementation of understanding reached during Wuhan Summit," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet on Wednesday. The April 27-28 Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping was largely credited to have turned around the bilateral relations soured by the 73-day-long Doklam standoff, triggered by Chinese troops attempts to build a road close to Indian border in an area also claimed by Bhutan in 2017. India had objected to it as it came close to a key highway connecting with North Eastern states. The standoff ended after Chinese troops halted plans to build the road. After the Wuhan summit, both the countries stepped up efforts to improve relations on different spheres including the military-to-military ties. Modi and Xi issued strategic guidance to their militaries to strengthen communications to build trust and understanding, a move aimed at avoiding a Doklam-like situation in the future. Meanwhile, state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that Wang congratulated Swaraj for successful conclusion of the general elections in India and expressed hope that the new government would further the development of Sino-Indian relations. The 2019 general election in India was held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results will be declared on Thursday. Wang told Swaraj that China hopes that India will set up a new government on schedule, and that both sides achieve a smooth transition and further development of bilateral relations, the report said. The Chinese leader also expressed hoped to initiate bilateral dialogue mechanisms as soon as possible, maintain peace and stability at the border region, and together celebrate the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two nations in 2020. Wang also hoped that India and Pakistan would improve their relations, to which Swaraj said New Delhi is willing to improve bilateral relations with Islamabad and she hope that the two sides can make joint efforts to that end. Swaraj said the new government in India will continue to make the development of India-China ties a diplomacy priority and will further boost bilateral cooperation in all fields, the report said. India is willing to work with China to implement the key consensuses reached by leaders of both countries, strengthen communication and coordination, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and jointly safeguard peace at the border region, so as to promote the development of bilateral relations, she said. PTI amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 22 As the world waits with bated breath the results of the 2019 general elections, the Election Commission has laid out a detailed plan for counting of votes and is learnt to have rejected the opposition parties demand of counting VVPAT slips before opening EVMs. A senior EC official said the counting on Thursday will be taken up as per plan and a directive on the same has already been issued to all the returning officers (ROs) across the country. As decided the counting of Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips will be taken up at the end of counts and not in the beginning as demanded by opposition parties, he said. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am. As per the detail, counting directives issued to ROs, a copy of which is with The Tribune, it has been decided to count postal ballots simultaneously with Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) count due to the sheer size of the ballots received this time from service voters. Of the total 18 lakh registered service voters with the EC, 85 per cent have returned their ballots indicating their choice of candidate, said the official. Till now, the postal ballots were counted in the beginning followed by counting of EVM votes. According to the directives issued to the ROs, the EC has also brought in a change with respect to recount of postal ballots in case victory margin would be less than the number of such votes. As per the changed norms, in such a situation instead of recount of postal ballots, the ROs have been instructed to mandatorily re-verify such rejected votes and the entire process should be videographed. It has also been decided to follow the established procedure of counting VVPAT slips for the mandatory five polling stations per assembly segment of each parliamentary constituency at the end of the entire counting process. The opposition parties which had approached the EC on Tuesday wanted five random VVPATs to be counted first so that if there is a problem or a mismatch, all VVPAT slips can be counted before it is too late. Giving details of the counting process, EC officials said the exercise is done in the presence of the RO of each constituency and candidates or their agents. The RO declares the result when he is certain that the counting has been successfully completed. Each candidate can appoint up to 16 counting agents from his/her party for each place of counting. The counting agent takes care of the interests of the party. How are votes counted President Moon Jae-in speaks about the government's blueprint on fostering the biohealth industry at Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. Yonhap In its quest for new growth engines for Asia's fourth-largest economy, South Korea charted out a set of measures to foster the biohealth industry by utilizing its prowess in information and communication technology with the goal of becoming a global powerhouse in the sector by 2030. South Korea has been struggling to find next-generation economic growth drivers, with focus on three key promising sectors system chips, biohealth and future cars as its exports face headwinds. "The biohealth industry will not only lead to economic growth and the creation of new jobs, but also lead to an improvement in public healthcare," the government said in a statement. "Our goal is to establish an ecosystem that covers all phases of the biohealth industry from research, approval, production, to release." The biohealth industry covers pharmaceutical goods and medical instruments as well as healthcare services. Under the plan, the government will spend a whopping 4 trillion won (US$3.34 billion) by 2025 to promote the development of high-end pharmaceutical products and medical instruments. The earmarked budget marks a sharp rise from the yearly budget of 2.6 trillion won in 2017. editorial@tribune.com Fazilka, May 21 As many as 20 persons having allegiance with the BJP have been booked today for allegedly assaulting a sarpanch of Bakhushah village of the district on May 19. Sarpanch Baljinder Singh, who claimed to have allegiance with the Congress, has alleged that he and his family members were refrained from casting their vote on the day of polling in the village. He said they had to pass through a street opposite the residence of the accused to reach the polling booth situated in a school. He alleged when they were on their way to cast their vote, the accused pelted them with stones. The accused have been booked under Sections 341, 506, 188, 323, 148 and 149 of the IPC. On the other hand, the BJP alleged that the police had implicated their supporters in false case. Rakesh Sehgal, personal assistant to former BJP Cabinet minister Surjit Kumar Jyani, said they would stage a protest for implicating their workers in assault case. OC amansharma@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, May 22 Thirty-nine companies of central forces have been deployed for the security of EVMs at 21 locations across Punjab ahead of Thursdays counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections, an official said on Wednesday. Polling to all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and the lone constituency of Chandigarh was held on May 19. As many as 278 candidates, including 24 women, are in the fray in Punjab. Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said a three-tier security arrangement has been put in place at the counting centres, with the deployment of 39 companies of paramilitary forces. Typically, a company of paramilitary forces has around 100 security personnel. The counting of votes would begin at 8 am, Raju said. The voter turnout in Punjab was 65.96 per cent, almost 5 per cent lower than the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Of the 2.07 crore voters, 1.37 crore exercised their franchise in Punjab. The voter turnout in the Union Territory of Chandigarh was 70.62 per cent. With the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips to be counted at five polling booths picked at random from each assembly segment, the final result for the 13 Lok Sabha seats is expected to be out after 9 pm. VVPAT slips from five polling booths in each assembly segment will be counted and separate arrangements have been made for that. It is a manual job, so it will take time, Raju said while appealing to political parties and people to have patience for the final outcome. Punjab has 117 assembly segments and VVPAT slips from 585 polling booths will be counted. However, Raju said the counting for the Hoshiarpur constituency was expected to completed first as the number of candidates in the fray from the Lok Sabha seat were just eight, lowest among all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies. Among the prominent candidates whose fate is at stake are Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol, Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Singh Puri and Congress heavyweights Sunil Jakhar, Preneet Kaur and Manish Tewari. From Chandigarh, BJPs Kirron Kher is seeking re-election against Congress nominee and former Union minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and AAPs Harmohan Dhawan. The prestige of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is also at stake as he had exuded the confidence of bagging all 13 seats in the state. The tension between Amarinder Singh and his cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu had also came out in the open after the latter raised question over the probe in the desecration of religious texts during electioneering in Bathinda. The poll outcome will also decide whether the SAD, which had faced a backlash over the desecration issue, would be able to make up for the lost ground. In the 2017 Assembly polls, the SAD was relegated to the third spot, bagging just 15 seats of the 117 assembly segments. The Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, from where AAP state unit chief Bhagwant Mann is contesting, seems to be the only hope for the party, which had surprised many by winning four seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in the state. In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, While the SAD-BJP combine had won six seats, AAP and the Congress had bagged four and three seats, respectively. PTI editorial@tribune.com Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 21 While the state stares at the possibility of several bypolls within six months after the results of the Lok Sabha elections are out on Thursday, the fate of the membership of five AAP MLAs hangs in the balance with the Speaker deciding to inquire if the MLAs were forced or allured to resign and join other parties or form new groups. Two of the four MLAs Sukhpal Khaira from Bholath and Nazar Singh Manshahia from Mansa have sought more time from the Speaker to present their case. They were called today to appear before the Speaker on the subject of their resignation but they sought a fresh date for the meeting. Under the rules, a MLA has to resign in person before the Speaker. Also, while speculation is rife about imminent bypolls, the decision on the resignation of these five AAP MLAs Sukhpal Khaira (Bholath), Nazar Singh Manshahia (Mansa), Master Baldev Singh (Jaito), Amarjit Sandoa (Ropar) and HS Phoolka (Dakha) may not be taken immediately. Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana KP Singh told The Tribune that it would take time. The resignation by a MLA is a serious and sensitive matter due to which it has to be dealt with caution and takes time. The MLAs have to first of all resign as per the prescribed format. Further, we have to inquire that those who have joined other groups or formed a new party did so due to pressure or allurement by someone. This is the laid-down procedure, he said. Further, two MLAs Khaira and Phoolka have not tendered their resignation in the prescribed format of two lines. The case of these five AAP MLAs has to be handled separately from six other MLAs, who have contested the Lok Sabha elections. The decision regarding these six MLAs, namely Sukhbir Badal (SAD, Jalalabad), Parminder Dhindsa (SAD, Lehra), Raja Warring (Congress, Gidderbaha), Som Prakash (BJP, Phagwara), Baljinder Kaur (AAP, Talwandi Sabo) and Dr Raj Kumar (Congress, Chhabewal), would depend on the election results, said officials in the Speakers office. editorial@tribune.com Ravi Dhaliwal Tribune News Service Gurdaspur, May 21 Much water has flowed down the Ravi ever since sitting MP and Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar defeated BJPs Swaran Singh Salaria in the 2017 bypoll by an impressive margin with political observers now spelling out four factors which have completely altered the political dynamics of the party and its candidate in the last 18 months. Firstly, in the byelection, Jakhar was considered to be invincible to the extent that even senior BJP leaders, fearing embarrassment, ditched its nominee. No Delhi-based politician was seen in the constituency lending support to Salaria. In contrast, the party this time put its candidate Sunny Deols campaign on a firm footing by asking Amit Shah, Sushma Swaraj and Gen VK Singh to tour the area. Secondly, the PPCC chiefs spin doctors had dexterously made the euphoria of the newly elected Punjab government to work to his advantage. Before the constituency went to the polls on October 11, 2017, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, secure in the knowledge that elections were imminent, announced a slew of projects during his August 15 speech in Gurdaspur. The voters were promised that two state-of-the-art medical colleges, each having a provision of a 500-bed hospital, would be set up in Gurdaspur and Pathankot. The Rs 2400 crore Shahpur Kandi dam and Rs 1200 crore Pepsi bottling and dairy plants and a degree college in Kalanaur, too, were announced. Thirdly, Salaria, a Mumbai-based businessman, was considered to be a weak candidate. His candidature suited nobodys interests and to complicate the matters dissident leaders jumped onto his rivals bandwagon in large numbers. He cut a pathetic figure throughout and was virtually out of contention the moment he filed his papers. Salarias USP was that he was a rich man and would appease anybody and everybody who mattered. However, that did not happen. In contrast, Deol faced no such difficulty. He joined the BJP on the condition that his campaign would be fully financed by the party. The party bent backwards to adjust him and all his preconditions, said a leader involved in the actors campaign. Lastly, there was absolutely no anti-incumbency of the newly elected MLAs. This time the MP may have to carry his legislators anti-incumbency baggage with him, a development which may backfire. All seven MLAs, in an attempt to appoint their loyalists as sarpanches, inadvertently created fissures in the cadre. We hope these factions worked against the Congress, said a BJP leader. Jakhar, however, says the numerous developmental works he has brought to the area in his 18-month tenure as a parliamentarian will see him through. BJP has put entire might behind Deol In the byelection, Jakhar was considered to be invincible to the extent that even senior BJP leaders, fearing embarrassment, ditched its nominee. In contrast, the party this time put its candidate Sunny Deol's campaign on a firm footing by asking Amit Shah, Sushma Swaraj and Gen VK Singh to tour the area. editorial@tribune.com Parvesh Sharma Tribune News Service Sangrur, May 21 Dalits of many villages of the district have been demanding reserved land from their village common land on lower annual rates than last year. However, directions by the Punjab Panchayat Department to increase the annual lease money had created problems for them. The Dalits are opposing the increase, leading to the cancellation of the ongoing annual auctions of reserved land in several villages. Two organisations Krantikari Pendu Mazdoor Union (KPMU) and the Zameen Prapti Sangharsh Committee (ZPSC) are leading protests in many villages. Both organisations claim that there is problem in around 80 villages. We are struggling to get reserved land for Dalits in 30 villages on lower rates than last year. The auctions have already been cancelled in many villages and more villages will face problems if the Panchayat Department does not withdraw the direction to increase the annual lease rate, said Sanjeev Mintu, state president, KPMU. He said there was tension in many villages, including Batuha, Kila, Kanjhla, Issi, Meemsa, Rajomajhra, Kaheru, Dhandiwal, Harchandpura, Burjgura and Tolewal over the auction of reserved land from the village common land. In almost all villages rich farmers want to take reserved land through dummy Dalits. During auction, they ask their Dalit servants to offer higher bid for reserved land. Since our members do not have money, they cannot counter higher bid and the land is taken by servants of rich farmers. Now we are fighting to stop rich farmers in 50 villages from taking reserved land through dummy Dalits, said Mukesh Malaudh, president, ZPSC. Their main demands include that the reserved land should only be allotted to self-farming Dalits and not to dummy ones planted by rich farmers and land should be allotted for 33 years on lower rates. District Development and Panchayat Officer Narbhinder Singh could not be contacted despite repeated calls. We have faced opposition in some village due to increase in auction rate. We are trying our best to solve the problem, said Parvesh Goyal, Block Development and Panchayat Officer, Bhawanigarh. rchopra@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, May 22 Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amritsar Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday expressed concerns over the Opposition questioning the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), saying this was for the first time that a government had gone to the people on a positive agenda. Why blame the EVMs? Puri said in a tweet. I have all along said that it is for the first time that a government has gone to the people on a positive agenda. It asked for votes for what it has done for the people. This is a resounding pro-incumbency vote, he added. Taking a jibe at the Opposition, mainly the Congress, he said: However, EVMs were first used in an Indian General Election in 2004. We all know who won. IANS monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington Although it will be years before the first humans set foot on Mars, the US space agency has invited public to submit their names to fly abroad the next rover to Red Planet in 2020. Souvenir boarding passes will display names submitted by the people, which will also be on microchips aboard the Mars 2020 rover, NASA said in a statement on late Tuesday. People who want to send their name to Mars on NASA's next rover mission to the Red Planet (Mars 2020) can get a souvenir boarding pass and their names etched on microchips to be affixed to the rover. The rover is scheduled to launch as early as July 2020, with the spacecraft expected to touch down on Mars in February 2021. The 1,000-kg rover would search for signs of past microbial life, characterise the planet's climate and geology, collect samples for future return to Earth, and pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. "As we get ready to launch this historic Mars mission, we want everyone to share in this journey of exploration," said Thomas Zurbuchen, Associate Administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) in Washington, DC. "It's an exciting time for NASA, as we embark on this voyage to answer profound questions about our neighbouring planet, and even the origins of life itself," he added. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California would use an electron beam to stencil the submitted names onto a silicon chip. The chip (or chips) will ride on the rover under a glass cover. More than two million names flew on NASA's InSight mission to Mars, giving each "flyer" nearly 500 million frequent flyer kms. The last date to submit your name is September 30. IANS harinder@tribunemail.com SRINAGAR, May 31 (PTI)Rival factions of the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir today began preparing for a showdown between the Ministerial and organisational wings within three weeks of the partys resounding victory in the recent by-elections to the State Legislature. Thirty members of the 41-member Pradesh Congress Committee today sent in a fresh requisition for a meeting of the PCC on June 1 to settle the feud between the two wings which the Ministerialists sought to stall yesterday by questioning the constitutional validity of the Pradesh Committee itself. The signatories who included a Deputy Minister, a member of Parliament and the dismissed Chief Parliamentary Secretary, Mr. Abdul Aziz Zargar, besides 10 District Committee Presidents, threatened to call a meeting on their own on June 8 under the party constituioin if the meeting sought on June 1 was not held. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Jakarta, May 22 Demonstrations over the outcome of last months presidential election gripped the heart of Indonesias capital on Wednesday after an overnight face-off between police and protesters in which, according to Jakartas governor, six people were killed. The protests followed an announcement before dawn on Tuesday by the election commission confirming that President Joko Widodo had beaten his challenger, former general Prabowo Subianto, in the April 17 poll. Crowds swelled in central Jakarta on Wednesday morning and police said they expected more protesters to join them before nightfall. Some of those arriving carried wooden poles and some had smeared toothpaste around their eyes, apparently to protect themselves from tear gas. The majority of the protesters appeared to have come from outside Jakarta and police found envelopes containing money on some of the people they searched, National Police spokesman Muhamad Iqbal told a news conference. This is not a spontaneous incident, this is something by design. There are indications that the mobs are paid and bent on causing chaos, he said. Hundreds of students also protested peacefully in the city of Medan, in the north of the island of Sumatra, demanding an investigation into alleged election cheating, TVOne reported. We know who is behind this The General Election Commission (KPU) on Tuesday confirmed unofficial counts by private pollsters that gave Widodo a 55.5% share of votes against 44.5% Prabowo. Widodo won more than 85 million votes of 154 million cast in the worlds third-largest democracy, but retired general Prabowo has alleged massive cheating and irregularities. Prabowos legal director has said his campaign plans to contest the result in the Constitutional Court. Prabowo also launched a legal challenge after he was defeated in the 2014 election by Widodo, which was rejected. On Monday, an election supervisory agency dismissed claims of systematic cheating, citing a lack of evidence. Independent observers have said the poll was free and fair. Analysts have said Widodos double-digit margin of victory means the opposition does not have a strong case to claim the election was rigged, but Islamist supporters of Prabowo could cause considerable disruption. Islamist groups, many of which support Prabowo, have in the past been able to mobilise hundreds of thousands of supporters. From late 2016, they organised a series of protests against then-Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the first ethnic-Chinese Christian to hold the job, who was subsequently jailed for insulting the Koran. Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said he believed there was a systematic effort by a certain group ... that is riding on the situation to muddy the situation, adding that authorities had seized two pistols from people involved in riots. We know who is behind this, it is a matter of time. Protests that began calmly in the sprawling textile market neighbourhood of Tanah Abang on Tuesday turned violent after nightfall, with police firing tear gas to disperse the crowd. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told TVOne that by the morning six people had died and 200 people had been wounded. News website Tirto reported a man died of bullet wounds in Tanah Abang, quoting a doctor at a hospital near the site. Social media block Fadli Zon, deputy chairman of Gerindra, Prabowos political party, accused police of initiating an attack on protesters and said he found 171 bullets, including live rounds, when he visited the area on Wednesday morning. The public have a right to demonstrate. They are people who are concerned by cheating. They are not mobilised, paid or facilitated, Zon said. Prabowo campaign spokesman Dahnil Azar Simanjuntak called on all sides to hold back and not commit violence. Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said that security forces on the ground, including military personnel, were not armed with live bullets. Indonesian authorities say 40,000 police and army personnel are on duty across Jakarta to maintain security. Television footage showed smoke billowing from behind dozens of protesters in the streets of Tanah Abang on Wednesday, with some throwing firecrackers and tearing down public fences. Many office buildings, businesses and embassies in downtown Jakarta were closed, as were train stations in the area. Hundreds of police in riot gear blocked the usually busy Sarinah intersection to hold back a crowd they said was expected to swell further in the afternoon. Chief security minister Wiranto said the government would temporarily block certain social media functions to prevent inflammatory hoaxes and fake news. Australia, the United States, and Britain issued travel alerts warning of an increased risk of violence across Indonesia and advising citizens to stay away from protests. Reuters Renault Samsung plant in Busan / Courtesy of Renault Samsung Motors By Kwak Yeon-soo Concern is growing over the fate of Renault Samsung Motors as the carmaker may see its main plant in Busan shuttered in September when a contract to manufacture the Nissan Rogue mid-size SUV expires, industry analysts said Wednesday. It has become increasingly likely that the company will not win new models to assemble from its French headquarters as the affiliate's management and union have continued to fail to reach an agreement on wages and work conditions for the past 11 months. With the Nissan Rogue, accounting for half of the plant's total output last year, Renault Samsung has to secure new orders and prove its efficiency and productivity to headquarters, but the 11-month-long stalemate has dealt a blow to that. On Tuesday, of 2,142 union members present for a vote, 51.8 percent cast ballots against a tentative agreement reached last week 52.2 percent of 1,662 production workers voted in favor, but 65.6 percent of 442 sales workers voted against it. The company and the union began negotiations in June last year to sign a wage and collective agreement deal. Following 60 partial strikes, the Korean unit of French automaker Renault halted production at the Busan plant several times resulting in losses. Declining auto sales and a continuing labor dispute have led Renault and its alliance Nissan to realign production and cancel work orders for the Busan factory. The number of Nissan Rogues ordered was slashed to 60,000 from last year's 100,000. As a result, Renault Samsung's sales fell 40 percent to 52,930 vehicles in the January-April period from 87,996 in the same period of last year. Industry watchers are worried that tension could escalate further and lead to an exit by the French automaker. "Because management and the union failed to reach an agreement, the sustainability of the entire Korean unit, not just the Busan plant, is in danger. They need to worry about a shutdown," Kim Pil-soo, an automotive engineering professor at Daelim University, said. Busan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) also released a statement, urging the two sides to return to re-negotiations in order to secure production of the XM3 crossover utility vehicle. "It's regretful that the deal was rejected after reaching a tentative agreement last week. The protracted standoff could harm parts suppliers in Busan and damage the local economy," a BCCI official said. Renault Samsung said it will monitor the union's position and decide on whether to renegotiate. "We won't make an official statement until the union makes its stance known. No further schedule for renegotiations has been set," a company official said. "However, the results of voting were meaningful in that the majority of production workers voted for the deal. It was the sales union, which voted against the collective agreement. They must have had some internal conflict with executives," the official said. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM The Hague, May 21 The Netherlands said it was issuing its first green bond on Tuesday, becoming the first top-rated country to tap into a growing market for investments in environmental projects. It is aiming to raise between four and six billion euros ($4.5 billion to $6.7 billion) up to July 2040, according to HSBC, one of the banks handling the operation, although the Dutch government did not immediately give a figure. The Netherlands is today the first triple A country to issue a green bond, Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra said on Twitter. The Dutch finance ministry added: With green bonds we finance green expenditures and we stimulate the green capital market. A new step towards a greener economy and a greener Netherlands. Climate change and the environment are pressing issues for the Netherlands, where at least a third of the country lies below sea level. Analysts said the Netherlands first green bond set a high bar for other countries because of its tough standards. Green bonds, where governments sell debt specifically earmarked for environmental projects, launched a decade ago but the overall share of green instruments in global finance remains small. AFP pardeepdhull@gmail.com Canberra, May 22 In early 2018, in a complex of low-rise buildings in the Australian capital, a team of government hackers was engaging in a destructive digital war game. The operatives agents of the Australian Signals Directorate, the nations top-secret eavesdropping agency had been given a challenge. With all the offensive cyber tools at their disposal, what harm could they inflict if they had access to equipment installed in the 5G network, the next-generation mobile communications technology, of a target nation? What the team found, say current and former government officials, was sobering for Australian security and political leaders: The offensive potential of 5G was so great that if Australia were on the receiving end of such attacks, the country could be seriously exposed. The understanding of how 5G could be exploited for spying and to sabotage critical infrastructure changed everything for the Australians, according to people familiar with the deliberations. Mike Burgess, the head of the signals directorate, recently explained why the security of fifth generation, or 5G, technology was so important: It will be integral to the communications at the heart of a countrys critical infrastructure - everything from electric power to water supplies to sewage, he said in a March speech at a Sydney research institute. Washington is widely seen as having taken the initiative in the global campaign against Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a tech juggernaut that in the three decades since its founding has become a pillar of Beijings bid to expand its global influence. Yet Reuters interviews with more than two dozen current and former Western officials show it was the Australians who led the way in pressing for action on 5G; that the United States was initially slow to act; and that Britain and other European countries are caught between security concerns and the competitive prices offered by Huawei. The Australians had long harboured misgivings about Huawei in existing networks, but the 5G war game was a turning point. About six months after the simulation began, the Australian government effectively banned Huawei, the worlds largest maker of telecom networking gear, from any involvement in its 5G plans. An Australian government spokeswoman declined to comment on the war game. After the Australians shared their findings with US leaders, other countries, including the United States, moved to restrict Huawei. The anti-Huawei campaign intensified last week, when President Donald Trump signed an executive order that effectively banned the use of Huawei equipment in US telecom networks on national security grounds and the Commerce Department put limits on the firms purchasing of US technology. Googles parent, Alphabet, suspended some of its business with Huawei, Reuters reported. Until the middle of last year, the US government largely wasnt paying attention, said retired US Marine Corps General James Jones, who served as national security adviser to President Barack Obama. What spurred senior US officials into action? A sudden dawning of what 5G will bring, according to Jones. This has been a very, very fast-moving realization in terms of understanding the technology, he said. I think most people were treating it as a kind of evolutionary step as opposed to a revolutionary step. And now that light has come on. The Americans are now campaigning aggressively to contain Huawei as part of a much broader effort to check Beijings growing military might under President Xi Jinping. Strengthening cyber operations is a key element in the sweeping military overhaul that Xi launched soon after taking power in 2012, according to official US and Chinese military documents. The United States has accused China of widespread, state-sponsored hacking for strategic and commercial gain. A threat to critical infrastructure If Huawei gains a foothold in global 5G networks, Washington fears this will give Beijing an unprecedented opportunity to attack critical infrastructure and compromise intelligence sharing with key allies. Senior Western security officials say this could involve cyber attacks on public utilities, communication networks and key financial centers. In any military clash, such attacks would amount to a dramatic change in the nature of war, inflicting economic harm and disrupting civilian life far from the conflict without bullets, bombs or blockades. To be sure, China would also be vulnerable to attacks from the US and its allies. Beijing complained in a 2015 defense document, Chinas Military Strategy, that it has already been a victim of cyber-espionage, without identifying suspects. Documents from the National Security Agency leaked by American whistleblower Edward Snowden showed that the United States hacked into Huaweis systems, according to media reports. Reuters couldnt independently verify that such intrusions took place. However, blocking Huawei is a huge challenge for Washington and its closest allies, particularly the other members of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. From humble beginnings in the 1980s in the southern Chinese boom town of Shenzhen, Huawei has grown to become a technology giant that is deeply embedded in global communications networks and poised to dominate 5G infrastructure. There are few global alternatives to Huawei, which has financial muscle the company reported revenue for 2018 jumped almost 20 percent to more than $100 billion as well as competitive technology and the political backing of Beijing. Restricting Huawei from doing business in the US will not make the US more secure or stronger, the company said in a statement in response to questions from Reuters. Such moves, it said, would only limit customers in the US to inferior and more expensive alternatives. For countries that exclude Huawei there is a risk of retaliation from Beijing. Since Australia banned the company from its 5G networks last year, it has experienced disruption to its coal exports to China, including customs delays on the Chinese side. In a statement, Chinas foreign ministry said it treated all foreign coal equally and that to assert China has banned the import of Australian coal does not accord with the facts. Tension over Huawei is also exposing divisions in the Five Eyes group, which has been a foundation of the post-Second World War Western security architecture. During a trip to London on May 8, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a stark warning to Britain, which has not ruled out using Huawei in its 5G networks. Insufficient security will impede the United States ability to share certain information within trusted networks, he said. This is exactly what China wants; they want to divide Western alliances through bits and bytes, not bullets and bombs. Huaweis 74-year old founder, Ren Zhengfei, is a former officer in Chinas military, the Peoples Liberation Army. Mr. Ren has always maintained the integrity and independence of Huawei, the company said. We have never been asked to cooperate with spying and we would refuse to do so under any circumstance. In an interview with Reuters at the companys headquarters in Shenzhen, Eric Xu, a deputy chairman, said Huawei had not allowed any government to install so-called backdoors in its equipment - illicit access that could enable espionage or sabotage - and would never do so. He said 5G was more secure than earlier systems. China has not and will not demand companies or individuals use methods that run counter to local laws or via installing backdoors to collect or provide the Chinese government with data, information or intelligence from home or abroad, the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement in response to questions from Reuters. Washington argues that surreptitious backdoors arent necessarily needed to wreak havoc in 5G systems. The systems will rely heavily on software updates pushed out by equipment suppliers - and that access to the 5G network, says the United States, potentially could be used to deploy malicious code. So far, America hasnt publicly produced hard evidence that Huawei equipment has been used for spying. Asked whether the United States was slow to react to potential threats posed by 5G, Robert Strayer, the State Departments lead cyber policy diplomat, told Reuters that America had long been concerned about Chinese telecom companies, but that over the past year, as 5G loomed closer, we were starting to talk more and more with our allies. Banning Huawei from 5G networks remains an end goal, he said. The tech threat The West has long harboured concerns about Chinese telecom equipment. In 2012, a US House Intelligence Committee report concluded Chinese tech companies posed a national security threat. Huawei denounced the finding. Despite such concerns, the US governments response to the threats posed by 5G only took shape more recently. In February 2018, Malcolm Turnbull, then prime minister of Australia, flew to Washington D.C. Even before Australias eavesdropping agency had run its war game, Turnbull was already raising red flags in Washington. A former technology entrepreneur, he believed 5G presented significant risks and wanted to press allies to act against Huawei. He was warning about how important 5G networks would be and the security risks we all needed to think about around countries that had capability, form and intent, as well as coercive laws, a senior Australian source told Reuters. A spokesman for Turnbull declined to comment. Turnbull and his advisers met US officials, including Kirstjen Nielsen, then US secretary of homeland security, and Michael Rogers, then head of the US National Security Agency, the US signals-intelligence operation. The Australians said they believed Beijing could compel Huawei to do its bidding and that this posed a threat should tensions with China rise in the future, said two of the Australian officials familiar with the meeting. The US officials were receptive to the Australian message, but imposing restrictions on the worlds largest maker of mobile network gear didnt appear to be a high priority, according to the two Australian officials. They didnt share our concern with the same urgency, said one. Rogers declined to comment. A Department of Homeland Security official did not elaborate on the meeting, but said the agency works closely with Australia on security issues and that China will continue to use cyber espionage and bolster cyber-attack capabilities to support its national security priorities. 5G technology is expected to deliver a huge leap in the speed and capacity of communications. Downloading data may be up to 100 times faster than on current networks. But 5G isnt only about faster data. The upgrade will see an exponential spike in the number of connections between the billions of devices, from smart fridges to driverless cars, that are expected to run on the 5G network. Its not just that there will be more people with multiple devices, but it will be machines talking to machines, devices talking to devices all enabled by 5G, said Burgess, the Australian Signals Directorate chief, in his March address. This configuration of 5G networks means there are many more points of entry for a hostile power or group to conduct cyber warfare against the critical infrastructure of a target nation or community. That threat is magnified if an adversary has supplied equipment in the network, US officials say. Huawei said in its statement that the company does not control in any way the networks in which our equipment is deployed by our clients. The US and Australian allegations are fanciful and are not rooted in any evidence at all. In July 2018, Britain delivered a blow to Huawei. A government-led panel that includes senior intelligence officials said it was no longer fully confident it could manage national security risks posed by the Chinese telecom equipment giant. That panel oversees the work of a laboratory that was set up by the British government in 2010 and is funded by Huawei to vet the companys equipment used in the UK. The facility was established because even then Huawei was perceived as a security risk. The oversight panel said serious problems it had identified with Huaweis engineering processes exposed new risks in the UK telecommunication networks and long-term challenges in mitigation and management. That report was a bombshell, shaping how the Americans viewed the Huawei 5G risk, said one US official. US officials also point to Chinese laws enacted in recent years that they say could compel individuals and companies to assist the Chinese government in conducting espionage. Chinas foreign ministry called this portrayal by US officials of Chinese legislation a misreading and a wanton smearing of relevant Chinese laws, adding: Trying to smear others to wash oneself clean is futile. The West awakes Through the middle of last year, the Australians continued to apprise other countries of their worries about 5G. We were sharing our concerns about security with many allies, not just the US and not just the traditional partners, said one of the senior Australian officials. We shared our thoughts with Japan, Germany, other European countries and South Korea. In Washington, the administration began imposing restrictions on Huawei. In August, Trump signed a bill banning federal agencies and their contractors from using equipment from Huawei and ZTE Corp, another Chinese telecom equipment maker. Huawei has since filed a lawsuit in federal court in Texas challenging the ban. In late August, the Australians went further: They banned companies that didnt meet their security requirements, which included Huawei, from supplying any equipment for the countrys 5G network, whether run by the government or by private firms. Australias decision, Chinas Foreign Ministry said in a statement, has no basis in fact, and is an abuse of national security standards. China urges the Australian side to abandon Cold War thinking and ideological prejudices, and provide a fair, transparent, non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies. In November, New Zealands intelligence agency blocked the countrys first request by a telecom service provider to use Huawei kit for a 5G network, citing national security concerns. Like the Australians and Americans, British security officials had concerns over Chinas potential use of Huawei as a channel for conducting espionage. But the options are limited. Huawei is one of only three major global companies that analysts say can supply a broad range of advanced mobile network equipment at scale. The other two are Ericsson and Nokia. And Huawei has a reputation among telecom operators for supplying cost-effective equipment promptly. Nevertheless, British security officials were becoming increasingly frustrated with what they viewed as Huaweis failure to fix software flaws in its equipment, particularly discrepancies in the source code the programs underlying set of instructions. This problem means the laboratory near Oxford set up to vet Huawei equipment cannot even be sure that the code it is testing is exactly the same as the code Huawei deploys in its real-world equipment. This makes it difficult to provide safety assurances about the companys gear. British officials say the array of flaws could be exploited by China, as well as other malevolent actors. Ian Levy, a British security official who oversees the UKs review of Huawei equipment, told Reuters the companys software engineering is like something from 20 years ago. The chance of a vulnerability with a Huawei piece of kit is much higher than other vendors, he said. The company said it has pledged to spend at least $2 billion over the next five years to improve its software engineering capabilities. British ministers have agreed to allow Huawei a restricted role in building parts of its 5G network, but the government has yet to announce its final decision. The European Union has left it to individual governments to decide whether to ban any company on national security grounds. Some European security officials say banning one supplier doesnt address the broader issue of the risks posed by Chinese technology in general. Huawei fights back As the tensions between the West and Huawei intensified through last year, they suddenly took a personal turn. US law enforcement officials had for some time been investigating links between Huawei and Iran, including the involvement of Meng Wanzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer, who is the daughter of the companys founder. The probe followed Reuters stories in 2012 and 2013 that revealed links between Huawei, Meng and another company that allegedly attempted to violate US sanctions on Iran. When US officials became aware that Meng would be travelling through Vancouver in December, they pounced, asking Canada to detain her on allegations of bank and wire fraud. Meng remains free on bail in Canada while the US government tries to have her extradited. Huawei said in its statement that Meng is not guilty of the charges she faces, and that they are politically motivated. The Huawei conflict isnt only about US-China superpower rivalry: The activities of Meng and Huawei were under scrutiny by US authorities long before Trump began a trade war with China, according to interviews with people familiar with those probes. But there is no doubt the wider showdown with Huawei has now become intensely geopolitical. In recent months, the US has ramped up diplomatic efforts to urge allies to sideline Huawei. 5G is a game-changing technology with implications across all aspects of society from business, government, military and beyond, Gordon Sondland, US ambassador to the European Union, told Reuters in February. It seems common sense to me to not hand over the keys to your entire society to an actor that has demonstrated malign conduct. Asked whether there is evidence of Huawei equipment having been used for espionage, Sondland said there is classified evidence. He declined to expand on the nature of the material beyond saying there was no doubt that Huawei had the capability to hack a system and the mandate by the government to do so upon request. Pompeo has publicly gone further than most US officials by directly linking the company to Beijing. Huawei is owned by the state of China and has deep connections to their intelligence service, he said in March. That should send off flares for everybody who understands what the Chinese military and Chinese intelligence services do. Huawei has repeatedly denied it is controlled by the government, military or Chinese intelligence services. US Secretary of State Pompeo is wrong, the company said in its statement, adding that it is owned by its employees. While Huawei was initially muted in its public response, it too has become more combative. In late February, the company confronted the United States at a major annual gathering of mobile industry executives in Barcelona, where Huaweis red logo was ubiquitous. Top American officials arrived intent on warning government and industry representatives off Huawei. But the company had flown in a team of senior executives to offer customers and representatives of European governments reassurance in the face of the US accusations. In a keynote speech, Guo Ping, a deputy chairman at Huawei, took aim at Americas own spying operations. Prism, Prism on the wall. Whos the most trustworthy of them all? he said. Guo was referring to a mass US foreign-surveillance operation called Prism that was disclosed by former NSA contractor Snowden. The barb drew laughter from the audience. Europeans pushed back, too. During one closed-door session, senior representatives from European telecom operators pressed a US official for hard evidence that Huawei presented a security risk. One executive demanded to see a smoking gun, recalled the US official. The American official fired back: If the gun is smoking, youve already been shot. I dont know why youre lining up in front of a loaded weapon. Reuters uttara@tribuneindia.com London, May 22 A Sri Lankan Diaspora body has challenged Britain's proscription order, imposed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since 2001, on the grounds that the outfit is no longer active and that it is inhibiting other non-violent political activities of Sri Lankan Tamils. The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), which describes itself as a "government-in-exile" body, had challenged the proscription in a petition to the UK Home Office but its plea to reverse the ban on the LTTE was turned down earlier this year. It has now filed a legal challenge to the ban via Prof. Conor Gearty of Matrix Chambers and the London School of Economics (LSE), which will be heard before an independent tribunal specially constituted for this purpose under the UK's Terrorism Act 2000the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC). "The main argument is that there is no longer any reason to continue banning the LTTE and the banning has a negative impact on peaceful advocacy of the sort promoted by the applicants, the TGTE," said Gearty. "It makes it difficult for anyone in Britain to raise issues about the possible human rights abuses that occurred during and after the final move again the LTTE some ten years ago, and more recently as well," he explained. "In its petition to the Home Secretary, the TGTE members argued that the ban on the LTTE is misperceived as a ban on advocacy for the establishment of a sovereign state of Tamil Eelam, and as a result it has a chilling effect in the people's participation of the TGTE's political work towards that goal, noted a statement from Matrix Chambers, the barristers' chambers behind the challenge. "In addition, over the past 10 years there have been no violent activities carried out by the LTTE. The act of banning the LTTE means in practice that the political activities of all Tamils are cracked down on, which is a practice encouraged by the Government of Sri Lanka, according to the Prime Minister of the TGTEMr Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran," the statement notes. The legal team says that in the letter of refusal, the UK Home Office referred only to one alleged incident, noting that it had been "reported that in June 2018 the Sri Lankan police arrested individuals in the course of transporting explosive devices and LTTE paraphernalia including flags and that no other evidence was presented to explain a continued ban on the LTTE. The POAC has the power to direct the Home Office to lift the ban on the LTTE and a hearing date for the case is yet to be fixed, but it is expected to be some time later this year. "The (UK) government is seeking to have much of the evidence heard in secret, a proposal that the TGTE oppose on grounds of transparency and which they desire to challenge, the Matrix Chambers statement adds. LTTE was proscribed in Britain in March 2001, when it was characterised as a "terrorist group fighting for a separate Tamil state in the North and East of Sri Lanka". The proscription of a group makes it a criminal offence to be a member of such an organisation or show support in any form. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM LONDON, May 21 Prime Minister Theresa May set out on Tuesday a new deal for Britains departure from the European Union, offering sweeteners to opposition parties in her fourth attempt to break an impasse in Parliament over Brexit. Three years since Britain voted to leave the EU and almost two months after the planned departure date, May is mounting a last bid to try to get the deeply divided parliaments backing for a divorce deal, to leave office with some kind of legacy. The odds do not look good. Despite offering what she described as significant further changes, many lawmakers, hardened in their positions, have already decided not to vote next month for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, legislation which implements the terms of Britains departure. Speaking at the headquarters of PricewaterhouseCoopers, May appealed to lawmakers to get behind her deal, offering the prospect of a possible second referendum on the agreement and closer trading arrangements with the EU as incentives. I say with conviction to every MP or every party: I have compromised, now I ask you to compromise, she said. We have been given a clear instruction by the people we are supposed to represent, so help me find a way to honour that instruction, move our country and our politics and build the better future that all of us want to see. By offering the possibility of holding a second vote on her deal and a compromise on customs arrangements, May hopes to win over opposition Labour lawmakers, whose votes she needs to overcome resistance to the deal in her own Conservative Party. But she will infuriate Brexit-supporting lawmakers, who have described a customs union with the EU as no Brexit at all. Simon Clarke, a Conservative lawmaker, said he had backed her deal during the third failed attempt in Parliament, but this speech from the PM means there is no way I will support the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. So if we pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at 2nd reading, we allow a Remain Parliament to insist upon a 2nd referendum and a Customs Union? This is outrageous, he said on Twitter. Her movement towards what many describe as the Remain lawmakers, who want to stay in the EU, is a shift for a PM who has long said she is against a second referendum and staying in a customs union with the bloc. She may be counting on the fact that Parliament has yet to vote in favour of a second referendum and that a temporary customs union might just be weak enough for some in her party to accept. But it signals how her earlier strategy, to keep Brexit supporters on board, has failed. The question is whether the concessions will be enough to convince Labour to get on board. Earlier, John McDonnell, Labours finance policy chief, cast doubt on whether it could win the partys support, saying what he had seen so far doesnt inspire confidence, and I dont think that many of our members will be inspired by it. Brexit-supporting Conservatives were equally unconvinced. Her bold new offer of the WAB will be a further dilution through Labour-sponsored amendments which will make her already unacceptable withdrawal agreement even more unpalatable, said Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative lawmaker. Reuters PM wants to get her withdrawal agreement done Theresa May wants to get her withdrawal deal, agreed with the EU last November, through Parliament, so, as promised, she can leave office having at least finalised the first part of Britains departure and prevented a no deal Brexit, an abrupt departure that many businesses fear will create an economic shock Finance minister, Philip Hammond, rammed the point home in Parliament on Tuesday when he said a no-deal Brexit would leave Britain poorer. He is expected to send the same message to business leaders in a speech later in the day So to advocate for no deal is to hijack the result of the referendum, and in doing so, knowingly to inflict damage on our economy and our living standards. Because all the preparation in the world will not avoid the consequences of no deal, Hammond said Promises Parliament vote on 2nd referendum In a major compromise to a demand from the Opposition benches, she promised to include the option of a parliamentary vote on holding a second referendum on her deal if it clears the Commons next month I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the House on this important issue. The government will therefore include in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at introduction a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum, she said Her speech also covered a set of additional votes for Parliament to decide on whether to impose a temporary customs union with the EU until a more permanent solution is found Heres a collection curated by The Associated Press entertainment journalists of whats arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. Movies Maggie Gyllenhaals feature directing debut, The Lost Daughter, scintillatingly adapts the 2008 Elena Ferrante novel about maternal ambivalence and a holiday in Greece. The film, which begins streaming Friday on Netflix, stars Olivia Colman as a vacationing professor whose interactions with a boisterous, distracting clan (including a young mother in their midst played by Dakota Johnson), recall her own parenting history, seen in flashbacks with Jessie Buckley. THE Ministry of Health reported that 30 people succumbed to the Covid-19 virus yesterday. The latest deaths took the death toll this month to 610. The ministry identified the deceased as seven elderly men, eight elderly women, eight middle-aged men, six middle-aged woman and one young adult woman. T&Ts overall death toll now stands at 2,768. The Ministry said 16 patients had multiple comorbidities. Nine patients had one comorbidity and five patients had no known medical conditions. Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., a major builder in South Korea, said Wednesday it has won a 2.9 trillion-won (US$2.4 billion) order to build a seawater supply facility in Iraq. Hyundai E&C said it has received a letter of intent from Iraq's state-run Basrah Oil Co. for the Common Seawater Supply Project. Hyundai E&C said it expects completion of the construction to take 49 months. The plant will supply 5 million barrels of water per day that will be used for the exploration and production of the oil and gas fields in southern Iraq. With the latest deal, Hyundai E&C said it aims to secure more orders in Iraq, a war-torn country eager to rebuild and expand infrastructure. So far, the builder has secured 39 orders worth $7 billion in Iraq. Since 1977, Hyundai E&C has built various facilities, including fire power and refinery plants, in the Middle Eastern nation. Hyundai E&C hopes such orders can improve its earnings. The company had a net profit of 156 billion won in the first quarter, up 11.3 percent from a year ago, with sales reaching 3.8 trillion won and operating profit 205 billion won. (Yonhap) Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has designated January 2022 as the point in time for commencement of a policy that would insist that all Government workplaces would require vaccinated workers. He has seen the reluctance and hesitation of many people both in public and private life who continue to refuse the jabs for several reasons, whether it be scientific or non-scientific, or for religious or personal reasons. By Jun Ji-hye Hyundai Engineering & Construction has won a $2.45 billion order to build a seawater supply facility in Iraq, the Korean company said Wednesday. The company said it has received a letter of intent from Basrah Oil Company under Iraq's Ministry of Oil for the Common Seawater Supply Project. The work is part of Basrah Oil Company's project to increase crude oil production in southern Iraq. The nation's major builder said the seawater supply facility will produce 5 million barrels of water a day to be stored in an oil well. The large-scale project is expected to take 49 months. Hyundai E&C said the latest order is meaningful because it again recognizes the company's reliable construction record and superior technology. The large-scale order comes as Korea and Iraq have been enhancing their relations on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties in January. "The Iraqi government placed full confidence in Hyundai E&C that has contributed a lot to the economic growth of Iraq by successfully carrying out government-run projects, while the country has gone through wars twice," a Hyundai E&C official said. "We will continue to make efforts to secure more orders in various areas in Iraq, such as oil refineries and power plants, as the country is eager to rebuild and expand infrastructure." Hyundai E&C has won 39 orders worth $7 billion in Iraq since 1977 when the firm participated in sewerage works in the Middle Eastern country. The firm is building a $6 billion oil refinery in Karbala as leader of a joint venture formed with GS E&C, SK E&C and Hyundai Engineering. Hyundai E&C said it will further expand its presence in overseas markets, especially in Asia and the Middle East. Newspapers in the country on Wednesday, May 22, reported that the government has dispelled claims Zika Virus is present in the country, stating that a study with the findings was just a proactive approach to enhance preparedness. The dailies also reported that Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has made good his threats and deported 17 foreigners who had setup illegal betting firms in the country. READ ALSO: IEBC re-advertises Chiloba's position after applicants shy away The dailies also report that Interior CS Fred Matiang'i has made good his threats and deported 17 foreigners who had setup illegal betting firms in the country. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Uhuru advises Kenyans to brace for painful, unforgiving change 1. Nation The United Arab Emirate (UAE) has disassociated itself from the ongoing explosive gold scam where a relative of its rulers lost KSh 400 million to cons in Kenya. Nation reported that Ambassador Khalid Al Mualla said there was no link between the UAE government and the said gold trade. He also termed a letter allegedly addressed to Kenyan government as a fabricated one adding that there was no official communication between the two nationsabout the case. Al Mualla said if there was any letter on the matter, he was the one who would have been charged with delivering it to Uhuru. The Ambassador said it was important that a legal approach is taken arguing that both countries had capacity to unravel the mystery. Nation reports that Ambassador Khalid Al Mualla said there was no link between the UAE government and the said gold trade. Photo: Nation Source: UGC READ ALSO: Foundation organises tree planting at Kilimani Police Station 2. People Daily The FORD Kenya Party has come to the defence of its leader Moses Wetang'ula who is currently facing the heat in the explosive gold scam. The party claimed that Wetang'ula was never involved in the dealings and was only contacted by the Dubai Royal family as a lawyer. According to FORD Kenya, the Dubai leaders wanted the senator to help them free their gold consignment which was being held by Kenyan authorities. The political outfit urged the public to maintain calm, stop speculation and wait for Wetang'ula to divulge information on the case when he jets back from Hong Kong. READ ALSO: Robert Smith: Billionaire offers to pay off KSh 4 billion debt for graduating students 3. Taifa Leo As early 2022 politics continue to take shape in the country, Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru has revealed that some presidential aspirants are seeking her hand in a political marriage. Taifa Leo reported that Waiguru has so far been approached by two hopefuls but she is yet to make up her mind for the DP position. Among those who have expressed interest in vying for president are DP William Ruto, governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakemega), Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi and Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria. The ODM leader Raila Odinga, who many still hope will vie, has maintained a tight lip on the issue. Taifa Leo reports that Waiguru has so far been approached by two hopefuls but she is yet to make up her mind for the DP position. Photo: Taifa Leo Source: UGC READ ALSO: Malaika wa Monica Kimani amtembelea Jowie korokoroni, korti yakataa kumwachilia huru 4. Standard Chinese government has assured Kenyans that no local assets have been used as collaterals in securing various loans for infrastructural projects. Ambassador Wu Peng said that all loans Jubilee government has secured from Beijing since 2013 were all lined up with international best practice. Peng further stated that no asset will be seized by China even if Kenya defaults. The sentiments came amid claims that the Mombasa Port was used to secure the KSh 327 billion loan for construction of Nairobi-Mombasa SGR line. The Auditor General Edward Ouko, however, termed the claims as not true. The Standard reports that the Chinese government has assured Kenyans that no local assets have been used as collaterals in securing various loans for infrastructural projects. Photo: Standard Source: UGC READ ALSO: Combative NASA CEO Norman Magaya survives heart attack 5. Star The Star reported that the State has declined to approve DP Ruto's trip to US and Canada. According to the daily, the development highlights growing tension in Jubilee party following the DP's reluctance to hit brakes on early 2022 politics. Ruto was set to address Kenyans living in the diaspora, most of who will be voting for the first time in 2022. The trip has been perceived to be part of the DP's campaigns as his entourage comprises of MPs closely allied to him and top officials working in his office. The Star reports that the State has declined to approve DP Ruto's trip to US and Canada. Photo: Star Source: UGC Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. The Girl With Four Jobs. Source: TUKO.co.ke - The four were arrested after they attacked Rodgers Imasia who had criticised their work - The Chinese nationals have since been expelled from the project site and KenNHA asked the government to deport them - While noting their work permits had been canceled, KenNHA also demanded they be replaced within 21 daya - Locals lamented the Chinese nationals were arrogant and have been assaulting them - Prior to their arrest, Turkana Central residents held demonstrations protesting the foreigners highhandedness Four Chinese road constructors arrested for assaulting a government inspection engineer in Lodwar have been expelled from the project site by Kenya National Highways Authority (KenNHA). The authority made the announcement through its Cooperate Communications officer Charles Njogu on Wednesday, May 22, while asking the government to deport the four suspects. READ ALSO: Lodwar: Four Chinese road builders arrested for allegedly assaulting government engineer The four, Liu Jiang, Wang Kai, Zhao Liangbin and Li Shaoqing were attached to China Railway No 5 Construction Company. Photo: The Standard. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Uhuru launches mortgage refinance company to boost affordable housing agenda A statement by the communication officer showed the four, Liu Jiang, Wang Kai, Zhao Liangbin and Li Shaoqing were attached to China Railway No 5 Construction Company. The conduct is against the contract of all staff including foreign ones. Consequently, KenNHA on May 21, 2019 expelled the staff from the project site forthwith," said Njogu While calling for the cancellation of their work permit, he also demanded the suspects to be replaced within 21 days. READ ALSO: Uhuru makes impromptu inspection of affordable housing project in Ngara The Chinese nationals were arrested on Monday, May 20, in Turkana South while attempting to flee the country to avoid being arrested. This was after residents took to the streets to protest mistreatment by the suspects while demanding legal action be taken against them. Prior reports by TUKO.co.ke showed on the fateful day Robert Imasia was assaulted, the four attempted to hire the services of some locals to beat him up but the plan failed after they refused to play along. READ ALSO: Five suspects in KSh 109 million NLC scandal ready to refund irregular payments Construction workers chairperson, Wilberforce Dida, said the Chinese wrestled the engineer after he allegedly declined a bribe from the suspects after questioning their quality of the work. He alleged that several workers had been attacked by the Chinese workers over minor mistakes during construction. "Our people are being assaulted every day. The company is not taking workers safety measures seriously. We have cases where 15 local have been injured while on duty," he claimed. Do you have a groundbreaking story you would like us to publish? Please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Why Kenyan men are depressed Source: TUKO.co.ke The Tulsa-based Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation (LTFF) and Oklahoma City-based StitchCrew announced a new partnership Wednesday. With a new $50,000 grant from LTFF, StitchCrew will launch a Tulsa-based batch of its business accelerator model at 36 Degrees North, 36 E. Cameron St., in the fall of 2019. The 12-week accelerator helps people conceive, design and scale ventures. Since its inception in January 2018, StitchCrew has worked with the Oklahoma City Thunder and helped 29 startups launch and scale businesses in Oklahoma, operating out of the Thunder Launchpad fueled by MidFirst Bank. These companies are now averaging around a $3.5 million valuation. When you think of organizations who genuinely care about building and supporting entrepreneurs, as well as understand the need to build bridges between our cities in order to optimize opportunities, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation is at the top of the list, Erika Lucas, co-founder of StitchCrew, said in a statement. We are very grateful for the opportunity to partner with them. Stan Whiteford of the Public Service Company of Oklahoma confirmed they shut off power to about 150 homes in the Meadow Valley subdivision as of Thursday. and Indian Electric reports shutting off power to a similar number in the Town and Country area. Enzbrenner said the Meadow Valley area consists of about 150 homes. Up to 27th Court was experiencing flooding as of Thursday. Police have marked an area near the entrance to the Meadow Valley subdivision at Highway 51 and Bermuda Avenue with cones for residents to leave their cars and officers are stationed there. Those with questions or need help evacuating are asked to call the police department via 911 or 918-245-8777 or go to Highway 51 and Bermuda Avenue. Officers are encouraging people who evacuate to let an officer there know their home is secure.The Sand Springs Police Department reports Oklahoma Natural Gas intends to turn off gas service to the homes in the neighborhood as a precaution. JUUL Labs Chief Product Officer James Monsees, center, speaks at a press conference to launch JUUL in Korea, in Seongsu-dong, Seoul, Wednesday. Left is the company's Chief Technology Officer Adam Bowen. Yonhap By Kwak Yeon-soo JUUL Labs, the best-selling e-cigarette maker in the United States, has come to Korea with the aim of bringing disruptive change in the cigarette industry, according to company officials Wednesday. After JUUL, which corners about 70 percent of the U.S. e-cigarette market, announced its debut in Korea, KT&G said it will launch a new heat-not-burn cigarette called "lil vapor" on May 27, just three days after the launch of JUUL, to stir up competition. The co-founders of JUUL Labs, Chief Technology Officer Adam Bowen and Chief Product Officer James Monsees, said their journey took off in graduate school when they worked together on a product design master's thesis at Stanford University in 2005. "I was always interested in designing for social change, and the fact we were longtime smokers made us think about the impact cigarettes have," Bowen said during an interview with The Korea Times at the Four Seasons Hotel in Seoul, Tuesday. "We later realized it would be compelling to help smokers at large." According to JUUL, there are nearly 1 billion smokers and 50 percent of them are in Asia. Of the Asian smoking population, half are in China and the remainder are spread out across the rest of Asia. In 2015, JUUL was spun out of Pax Labs, a vaping company previously known as Ploom, as a result of a progression of research and development, innovation and funding. "We always knew this was a big opportunity from a public health and economic perspective," Bowen said. When asked why they have chosen Korea as the first Asian nation to enter the market, Monsees said: "Korea is a very progressive Asian nation. There's a lot of technological advancement and openness to alternative solutions." The JUUL device, front, and pods containing different flavors. Courtesy of JUUL Labs During the month of May, designated as National Military Appreciation Month, we always take time to recognize the many Native military veterans who have sacrificed for all of us by defending our freedoms and our values. Additionally, on Memorial Day, we pay our deepest respects to those warriors who gave their lives in the service. To our nations military veterans and their families, Cherokee Nation says wado. Im confident each of us knows at least one man or woman who has bravely volunteered to protect our freedoms. Thats especially true for our tribal nations. According to U.S. Department of Defense statistics, Native Americans serve in the military at a higher rate than any other ethnic or racial group, a fact that we, as Cherokee people, already know well. The First Americans of this land have always been the first Americans to step up to protect our country. Cherokees have fought in every military battle and war since before the inception of the United States was founded. Flooding conditions in Wagoner County could very likely take a turn for the worse, as water being released from the Keystone Dam is now pushing the limits of the Arkansas River. Wagoner County Emergency Management Director Heath Underwood said as of 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, the water release is now at 160 cubic feet per second, causing the river to raise one foot per hour. "There's a possibility that we'll go to 187 cubic feet per second, which is the maximum that was released during the 1986 floods," he noted. Water flowing into the river is coming down from northern Oklahoma and southern portions of Kansas. Underwood said flooding conditions are expected along the river all across the county. Once the water gets to Three Rivers, it will likely back up as Fort Gibson Dam is releasing a lot of water as well. But heres the deal: Bayliss doesnt want The Steel Woods music to be confined to a label. Somebody will ask about the band or find out that Im a musician on an Uber ride or something, and they ask, what kind of music do you do? he said. Im almost hesitant to say, well, its country or Southern rock or whatever. Thats sort of something the media has kind of said about us. I dont deny it one bit. But the thing we said in the beginning was lets play rock n roll music and make it loud and make it sound like we are having a good time, like it used to, like all the stuff that we love. We are not trying to do one particular thing, but lets put some serious lyrics behind it and good stories. Thats something thats a little more rare, I think, as far as rock music. Its almost less about the lyrics typically, and we wanted to make (our) kind of songs but definitely have a message and serious lyrics. Ideally, The Steel Woods music is whatever you think it is. Tulsa native and award-winning journalist Carmen Fields is coming home to mark the Juneteenth anniversary of the abolition of slavery with a special event raising funds for the study of Oklahomas all-black towns. The Oklahoma Museum of Popular Culture, known as OKPOP, has set the event for 7 p.m. June 17 at Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford Ave., according to a press release from museum staff. Fields, a graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, will be interviewed by former state Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre and will take part in a Q-and-A session afterward. The focus of the interview will be on her youth experiencing segregation in Tulsa, as well as her PBS documentary Goin Back to T-Town, which she wrote and produced about race relations in Tulsa. The event is free to attend, but donations will be accepted that will support the Shirley Ballard Nero Endowment Fund, which finances research, programming and exhibitions meant to educate the public about the historic all-black towns of Oklahoma. Every case is a mystery. Its like reading a novel. I just dont get tired of that. None of our cases are really mundane. At Brewster and DeAngelis, his law office home since 1982, most of what walks through the door is complex civil litigation, particularly as it relates to wrongful death or the catastrophically injured. He estimates less than 10% of the workload involves criminal defense, but thats where his marquee burns brightest. Because of that niche, many people in big trouble seek him. If somebody needs representation and I really feel like it wouldnt make a difference if it was me or somebody else, I will talk them out of retaining us, Brewster said. But if I say, if I dont take this case, this guy is going to have a really bad ending or if I dont take this case, Ill be upset with myself in some way and I can make a difference, I will do that. He said hes most proud of the cases that nobody knows about. In most of my higher-profile cases, money is not an issue, he said. In a criminal case, I tell them I have two fees, and the two fees are free or a whole lot. Ill say, in your instance, its a whole lot. Its important to be up front with the kids about the news, she said, so theyll believe her when she tells them theyll be safe at their next school. A counselor and a social worker also read children a story about change and encouraged them to talk about their feelings. About 250 students are enrolled at Penn, which is next to Monroe Demonstration Academy near 48th Street North and Lewis Avenue. Current fifth-graders will attend Monroe, while the rest of the students will go to Hawthorne or Anderson elementary school, depending on where they live. The changes are a result of the school boards approval of the North Tulsa Community Task Forces recommendation to transform Monroe into a neighborhood school to serve all sixth- through eighth-graders in the McLain feeder pattern. The McLain Seventh Grade Academy and McLain Junior High also will close due to the decision. Troy, began teaching at Penn this year, said she was distraught when she first learned of Penns fate. Shes grown close to her colleagues and students. The small size of the school makes them feel like a family. Gov. Kevin Stitt, Lt. Gov.Matt Pinnell and Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum took an aerial tour of flooding and damage after tornadoes and other severe storms left an impact on northeast Oklahoma. Ive been doing this 20 years, and this is the highest Ive ever seen the river, and it sure aint giving me a warm, fuzzy feeling, he said. There have been a lot of things built south of us that werent there, a lot of infrastructure and high-dollar homes, that were not there in 1986. Tulsa County notes that the levees protect an estimated $2 billion worth of infrastructure in Sand Springs, west Tulsa and Tulsa County as well as 10,000 lives in these areas. The greatest areas for risk are where Big Heart, West Big Heart and Harlow creeks flow into the Arkansas River at the Charles Page Floodway Structure near South 65th West Avenue, he said. The water is 3 to 4 feet up on the levee now, and when this is said and done, a lot of people will want a better levee, he said. If not for what we have, there would be a lot of inundation right now. The duration of flooding and soaking of the levee is the issue, he said. Its a sand levee, so the longer the duration the more your risk goes up, and thats the concern, how long will it have to stay saturated? he said. Q. How will I know to evacuate? A. Listen for the flood sirens. Monitor the city of Tulsas website and social media pages. In Tulsa, uniformed officers in marked police vehicles will inform you with messages from the police patrol cars saying This is the Tulsa Police Department. You are in a possible flood area. We recommend you evacuate. Emergency services may not be able to evacuate you if this area floods. This is a dangerous situation. Q. Is my neighborhood affected? A. Watch cityoftulsa.org and Twitter feeds for @TAEMA7 and @cityoftulsagov for updates. If you hear a message from local authorities in your neighborhood or hear the flooding sirens, you will know to evacuate. To hear the different siren sounds for flooding, please see www.cityoftulsa.org/sirens. Q. My neighborhood is being evacuated and Im away at work. Can I go back to get my things? A. Once your neighborhood is evacuated, you might not be able to get back to your house. Gather important belongings, IDs, pets, and other important things from your house prior to evacuation. Q. Where can I go if I become displaced? A. Residents may go to the Red Cross Evacuation Center Crosstown Church of Christ at 3400 E. Admiral Place. Q. I have natural gas hooked up to my house, what do I do? A. ONG is shutting off gas meters to certain affected areas. If you smell natural gas, usually described as a pungent, rotten egg odor, leave the area immediately. Use a phone at a safe distance away from the odor, and call 911 or 800-458-4251. Q. Will my electricity be affected? A. PSO is working with city officials to designate areas in which they might need to disconnect power. If youre asked to evacuate, turn off your main breaker before you leave. If you have an emergency power system, be sure to shut it down before you evacuate. Once you return home and your power has been out for a time, throw away spoiled food. Q. Where can I obtain sandbags? A. As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, there were no sandbags available. City officials are filling sandbags to make them available for the public. Additional information will be distributed through the news media, social media, website and 2-1-1 when they are ready. Q. Who do I contact for more information? A. Call 211 if youre in Tulsa County. Q. Where can I report damage to my home? A. You can report damage to 211 or damage.ok.gov Q. I dont have flood insurance, is this covered by my homeowners insurance? A. Homeowners insurance usually wont cover flooding. Unless you have flood insurance from the federal government already, the cost might not be covered. Contact your insurance provider for more information. If you can, take pictures and videos of your home before leaving to show to your insurance provider. Q. Can I get flood insurance now to cover this? A. Flood insurance normally takes 30 days to take effect, so in this case it might not benefit you to attempt getting it now. Q. What if I choose NOT to evacuate? A. Emergency personnel might be not able to reach you. First responders might only be able to access you by boat to rescue you. It is strongly recommended you evacuate if asked to do so. Q. What if you or someone you know has a medical condition and needs to evacuate? A. Make sure you have a 2-week supply of prescription medications. Place them in an airtight bag to take with you. If you are served by a home care or hospice agency, let them know where you will be going so they can continue to serve you. Q. Will there be flooding on the interior creeks and tributaries that run into the Arkansas River? A. That can vary depending on the stage of the river the creeks are trying to flow into. If you live close to one, monitor it and be vigilant. Q. I have pets, where can they go? A. Tulsa Animal Welfare advises those with ADA service animals that they can take them to the emergency shelter at Crosstown Church. All other pets can go to their temporary shelter at Tulsa Expo Square Fairground Pavilion. You cannot stay with your animals when you drop them off. If you find a stray animal in your area, take it to your local shelter. Q. Is there any fear about drinking water contamination? A. Not at this time. Q. How long will this flooding last? A. Its largely dependent on how much rain we get in the next few days. The rain amount and location of the rain will be the deciding factor. Uncontrolled runoff also plays a factor. Q. Where do I get information about highway closures? A. The Oklahoma Department of Transportation posts updates in the Traffic Advisory section of www.odot.org. An interactive map showing highway conditions and closures can be found at www.okroads.org. Q. I want to help out affected families. How can I do that? A. Donations for displaced families and children can be coordinated with the Red Cross. Call 918-831-1100. BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Chicks dont surf. Thats what male surfers told Izzy Tihanyi, CEO and owner of Surf Diva in La Jolla Shores, back in 1996 when she and her twin sister, Coco, opened Surf Diva. The passionate surfing sisters sure proved them wrong. In 1996, there were no surf schools for women and Izzy and Coco were two of the very few women who knew how to surf in La Jolla. They grew up surfing La Jolla Shores in elementary school, taught by their father. Their mom loved the opera and taught them the meaning of diva: someone with talent, confidence and class. Hence, Surf Diva was born. On surfboards since their childhood days: Family beach day with sisters Izzy, Coco, Valerie and their father, Paul (Courtesy) Our dream was to get more women in the water and own a surf company in La Jolla, Izzy explained. We cant believe how lucky we are to be on Avenida de la Playa, the coolest little beach neighborhood with such great people who really care about the ocean and the community around it. Our staff and students have become our surf family, and we are blessed to have our own children now surfing in the camps we operate. After launching Surf Diva for women, the sisters bought out a kids program called La Jolla Surf Camp, because the owner was moving. Later, two more camps were added when their owners wanted to sell for similar reasons American Surf Academy and Menehune Surf School which are now all under the Surf Diva umbrella. If youre wondering why the twin sisters dont look alike, they are fraternal, born nine minutes apart. Izzy handles all school operations and trains the surf and standup paddleboard (SUP) instructors. Coco is on the retail side and oversees the surf boutique, fashion and buying. She also designs their lines of beach-focused apparel and surf gear. The partners also sponsor an annual trip to Costa Rica called the Surf Diva Costa Rica Adventure. The Costa Rica Adventure is magical, gushes Izzy. It is a week-long trip to the Guanacaste Province of the Pacific Coast in lush tropical surroundings with 80-degree water and howler monkeys in the trees overhead. We discovered this beach many years ago and it reminded us of what La Jolla Shores was like when we were little wide open beach, plenty of waves, and long sunny days in the water. In Costa Rica, we offer surfing, yoga, massage, meals, hiking, dinners out with locally sourced fresh fruits, veggies, and casado, the Costa Rican typical dish with fried plantains, rice and beans, salad and wild fish or free-range chicken. Our surfing experience in Costa Rica is about slowing down, enjoying each moment of nature from the walk to the beach through the jungle path dotted with hibiscus and the occasional iguana to the showstopping sunsets from the beach each evening. Surf Divas Izzy Tihanyi (right) gives a surf lesson in La Jolla Shores. (Courtesy) Until 2000, the surf sisters only taught women to surf, but now they offer lessons to men, women and children of all skill levels and physical abilities. More families are learning to surf, as are corporate groups and even wedding parties that sign up for lessons. But Surf Diva has ridden some choppy waves through the years. Our surf shop and school successfully weathered the recession, our street being torn up for construction for two-and-a-half years, El Nino winters and the major surf brands selling directly to consumers online, said Izzy. Thanks to the support of our locals, who shop with us and refer us to their families and associates for surf lessons and beach apparel, we are continuing to break barriers as one of the very few female-owned and family-operated surf companies in San Diego. The surfing industry has come a long way since the sisters opened shop in 1996. Surfing is now the official state sport of California and women now get equal pay in the World Surf League. Furthermore, surfing has been added to the Olympics as a new sport for Tokyo 2020. Both sisters are involved in the community they love. They volunteer at La Jolla schools and donate countless lessons and product to schools, shelters and non-profits. However, according to Izzy, the City has presented them with some of their biggest challenges. Our costs have gone up substantially due to new City and County fees. Our days of operation are being cut during City holidays, which makes no sense as these are days that school children need surf instruction, she said. Despite these obstacles, Surf Diva continues to grow. The company has employed more than 800 people since it opened. Some staff has stayed since the beginning. Others return with their families to attend surf camps. Some former students come back to become instructors. We hope to be able to continue to teach surfing and share our passion for 20 more years, Izzy proclaimed. We feel so blessed to be a part of this community. Surf Diva is open daily 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 2160 Avenida de la Playa, La Jolla Shores. Beside offering surf lessons, camps and rentals, Surf Diva is also a surf shop and boutique. (858) 454-8273. surfdiva.com Business Spotlight features commercial enterprises that support La Jolla Light. Sand Springs police are encouraging people who evacuate to let an officer there know their home is secure. Police have marked an area near the entrance to the subdivision at Oklahoma 51 and Bermuda Avenue with cones for residents to leave their cars, and officers are stationed there. Those with questions or who need help evacuating are asked to go to that spot or call the Police Department via 911 or at 918-245-8777. An 11 p.m. curfew has been set for Meadow Valley. Police reported that Oklahoma Natural Gas intends to turn off gas service to the homes in the neighborhood as a precaution. This area and others near the Arkansas River downstream of the Keystone Dam may be affected by the planned increases in outflow. The evacuation request comes after tornadic storms and around 5 inches of rain hit the Tulsa area Monday and Tuesday. The Army Corps of Engineers planned an increase of water to be released from Keystone Dam as a result of the rain. Keith said the countys levee commissioner reported that everything is going well and that the pumps are doing their jobs. I think we are as prepared for this release rate as any community could possibly be, said Joe Kralicek, executive director of the Tulsa Area Emergency Management Agency. We do not think that there is any potential impact situation along the areas behind the levees. We believe those to be secure and sound in regards to this release rate. Bynum also said he did not expect homes to see impact, but he said Tulsa is not a city that is unaccustomed to dealing with flooding. He encouraged those living along the Arkansas River to remain vigilant and regularly monitor the citys social media channels for information. We do foresee some potential (flooding) impacts, as far as the southern area of the county, in the Jenks area and possibly in the Bixby area, Kralicek said. And so we do want to urge those residents of Tulsa County in that area to be ready, to be vigilant and to be prepared to evacuate if responders ask you to. Main areas hit include areas off Oklahoma 123 on the west side of town and areas off the west side of U.S. 75 on the Silver Lake Road thoroughfare which is the former route of U.S. 75. One of our housing additions that backs up to the Lowes (at Adams Road and Silver Lake Road) all of that area is flooding now, he said. A stretch of Silver Lake Road to the south has several feet of water over the top for a section of a quarter- to a half-mile. The flooding is serious, but some perspective helps, he said. Looking back at 1984 or 86, the Lowes wasnt there and the water was halfway up Adams Boulevard (U.S. 60). It was even more then, if you can imagine, it was at 27 feet, so eight more feet of water. Avant Bird Creek continued to rise and flood the town of Avant off Oklahoma 11 between Skiatook and Barnsdall. Brandy and Mike Lavendoski drove their car to the local Post Office and walked back to town to retrieve their daughter and two granddaughters. He was barefoot in shorts, she wore leather work boots. "When we are able to get better mapping details and updated mapping information that will give us a better sense of where to deploy our manpower and to effectively warn the citizens," Tuell said. River Spirit Casino closed at 2 p.m. The closure required removal of all hotel guests, visitors and vehicles. The elevation of the Resort property was built to sustain a 100-year-flood; however, the impact of the water levels to access the property, and to best protect our guests and employees, requires us to completely close the property until further notice, CEO Pat Crofts said in a news release. Hotel guests are being relocated, and planned guests are being contacted for rescheduling, according to the release. Cherokee Nation closed its casino in Fort Gibson at 9 p.m. Tuesday, according to spokeswoman Amanda Clinton. She said the tribe was made aware of an emergency release at Keystone Dam early Tuesday and made plans to close due to the possibility of flooding on Oklahoma 62. The casino will remain closed until the flooding emergency is over. Employees of the casino are being assigned to work at other properties during the closure, Clinton said. Meanwhile, Walkingstick is working to gain reinstatement in the race with only days to go before the election. Hoskin and Dick Lay are the only two candidates for principal chief now. Walkingstick posted a video statement on his Facebook page Tuesday afternoon, calling the commissions decision deeply concerning for Cherokee democracy and its citizens ability to exercise rights granted under the U.S. Constitution. We are not second-class citizens, as the Election Board seemed to be stating in their decision, Walkingstick stated. We are afforded all rights. But when an unelected board of Cherokee citizens close to the chief can remove a candidate without due process or evidence of wrongdoing, it highlights something fundamentally wrong with our election process. There is a problem that we must address immediately to avoid continuing down this road of corruption and cronyism. The due process comment is a reference to text messages and emails that indicate or show Walkingstick and his campaign communicating with Cherokees for Change LLC. The hearing on the matter was an administrative hearing not a court proceeding and the commission and its general counsel made clear that the rules of evidence didnt apply. "The severity of this situation has been raised from minor to major," Doke said in a video on his Facebook page. "It's a dangerous and life-threatening situation at this time." The Arkansas River near Muskogee is expected to swell to 38 feet by Thursday, about 10 feet above the flood stage there. National Weather Service meteorologists report that the river should reach that level before dawn Thursday. For context, the 1986 flood reached just over 39 feet. At 37 feet, severe flooding occurs along the river near Muskogee, according to the weather service. The river is expected to remain around that for "an extended period of time," according to the long-standing flood warning in Muskogee County. If upstream reservoirs release additional water, the river will rise more. Muskogee County commissioners declared a state of emergency Tuesday. The Army Corps of Engineers plans to increase the rate of water released from Keystone Dam from 160,000 to 215,000 cubic feet per second Wednesday, bringing the Arkansas River in Tulsa to its highest level since 1986 flooding. The forecast for the Arkansas River at the Tulsa flood gauge near U.S. 75 downtown is expected to reach 21 feet, according to the National Weather Service, which would put it at moderate flood stage. The river crested at 25.2 feet in 1986. According to a news release, the Corps announced they will begin releasing 205,000 cfs at noon and 215,000 cfs at 2 p.m. The Corps increased the release to 185,000 cfs at 10 a.m. The amount released during the 1986 flood was 307,000 cfs, according to Mayor G.T. Bynum. Tulsa County District 12 Levee Commissioner Todd Kilpatrick said the increased flow will put additional strain on levees in the area, and crews are monitoring for weak points as the water rises. "We've been watching it for the last few days," Kilpatrick said. "It's worrisome anytime you get water up on that levee, things can happen. So we're going to keep an eye on it; it's the best we can do." Evacuations have been requested by officials Wednesday in Bixby, Sand Springs and Okmulgee County. The Arkansas River near Muskogee was at 36 feet this morning, according to NWS Tulsa. Flooding in the Muskogee area is expected to exceed 1986 flood levels by today, sooner than previously anticipated and in greater volume. NWS Tulsa forecasts the river to reach 41 feet by Wednesday evening and remain near or above 40 feet through Monday. The 1986 flooding at that gauge, near U.S. 62 at Three Forks Harbor, reached 39.6 feet. If I had to reiterate one thing, this is going to be, based on data from the Corps of Engineers and the National Weather Service, worse than originally anticipated and faster than anticipated," Muskogee County Commissioner Ken Doke said. "Not Thursday, not 38 feet. Were talking about a lot of water in a short time. Those living along the Arkansas River should consider their elevation and the elevation of their escape routes to safety. Doke said they expect roads to become impassable. Those who remain in flood-prone areas risk becoming stranded. "This is not the time for sandbagging," Doke said. "It is the time to get your family and get your stuff and get out." At 41st Street and Riverside Drive on Wednesday afternoon, Gary Williams and Tim Carlisle tried to keep the electrical systems working at the park. This systems control all water features and it had a few feet of water in it that they were bailing out. They planned on turning out the lights in the area and hope people stay away. Areas in Haskell, Muskogee, Fort Gibson, Gooseneck Bend, the Elm Grove area, Webbers Falls and Porum are at risk for flooding. According to Doke, Oklahoma 62 between Fort Gibson and Muskogee is likely to be flooded Wednesday afternoon, prompting a road closure, and remain flooded through the weekend. OHP reports that closure could come as early as 1 p.m. Maps and projections are largely based on the flood of record, the 1986 flood. The warned flood levels the Corps of Engineers and the Weather Service are "talking about exceeds all the data models they have, Doke said. In addition to evacuations in Webbers Falls, the city of Fort Gibson is recommending to at-risk residents to evacuate. 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. If the regents arent happy with the way things turned out for Gallogly, who resigned this month after only 10 months on the job, they might want to consider the process that led to his hiring. It was anything but transparent. After a successful run as law dean, Harroz was a finalist in the closed-door process that led to Galloglys hiring. Harroz says he wont be a part of a similar effort this time around. He embraces the idea of town hall meetings for presidential finalists, with all OU stakeholders invited to participate. Thats the sort of transparency and inclusivity the school needs right now, he said. Actually, its the kind of transparency that school has always needed but has never practiced if it wanted a president with backing in the university community when things get hard. The OU regents have named Harroz the schools interim president for 15 months. The school plans for a presidential search after that. Does that mean the interim president is on his way to the schools permanent leadership after a trial run? If so, the regents should say so. Thats part of being transparent. Subscribe to Daily Headlines Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Whether in town or a short drive away, La Jollans have several ways this Memorial Day weekend 2019 to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice. SATURDAY, May 25: USS Midway Veterans Wreath Ceremony At 9 a.m. the USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive, will hold a free Veterans Wreath Ceremony featuring guest speaker Rear Admiral Bette Bolivar, commander of the Navys southwest region, an aircraft flyover, tossing of biodegradable wreaths over the ship, and a performance of Taps. The event is free to the public and admission to the museum following the ceremony is included for Wreath Ceremony attendees arriving before 9:30 a.m. SUNDAY, May 26: Miramar National Cemetery At 1 p.m. the eighth annual veterans memorial service at Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, will feature speaker Colonel Charles B. Dockery, commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar. It will be held in the flag-assembly area at the eastern end of the Avenue of Flags. miramarcemetery.org MONDAY, May 27: Memorial Day 10K Flag Run At 8:45 a.m. this free annual event along the beach from Carmel Valley to Cardiff is not so much a race as it is a moderately-paced military-style formation during which all runners take turns handing off the American flag. Meet at the Goodwill drop-off at 12791 Sorrento Valley Road. Register at bit.ly/2JsyPwQ Greenwood Memorial Park At 1:30 p.m. Greenwood Park & Mortuary, 4300 Imperial Ave., will host its 98th annual Memorial Day service led by American Legion Post 6. Howard Lee Darter, Jr., past commander of American Legion Department of California, will address guests during a ceremony that also includes readings of General John A Logans Memorial Day Order, Lincolns Gettysburg Address, Lincolns condolence letter to Mrs. Lydia Bixby and buglers playing Taps. Complimentary hot dogs and light refreshments served. (619) 450-1479. Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial At 2 p.m. this years ceremony at Mt. Soledad National Veterans Memorial, 6905 La Jolla Scenic Drive, honors U.S. Navy sailor Doris Dorie Miller, the first African-American to receive the Navy Cross, with a plaque dedication. Miller was serving on the USS West Virginia when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The keynote speaker will be retired USMC Major General Anthony Jackson. (858) 459-2314. soledadmemorial.com USS Midway Museum Moment of Remembrance At 3 p.m. a ceremony honoring the National Moment of Remembrance will be held on the flight deck of the Midway, 910 N. Harbor Drive, followed by a live performance of Echo Taps. Museum admission is required and is $23 for adults, free for ages 5 and under, and $10 for ages 6-12, ages 62 and over, and veterans and retired military with ID. (619) 544-9600. Hometown Arlington West Memorial From 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. the San Diego Veterans For Peace will set up their Hometown Arlington West Memorial on the front lawn of the USS Midway Museum, 910 N. Harbor Drive, where chapter veterans from all five services, will honor with special memorial markers, the 288 fallen brothers and sisters from Southern California who have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The public is asked to stop by, read their names, honor the ultimate sacrifice these comrades made and reflect on the overall costs of these ongoing wars and possible future wars. Then, Aydelott joined other meteorologists in explaining where to get information and how to be safe. If someone is not aware of weather, this has to be purposeful. There are phone apps, radio, media websites and television broadcasts to follow. Everyone seems to have a favorite meteorologist or station. I flip to different channels but land on Adyelotts broadcast most often. At a posh holiday party last year, he showed up dressed as Uncle Eddie from Christmas Vacation, complete with the moose eggnog cup. I figure a guy doing that probably knows weather pretty well. Once the storms swept in, sirens in Tulsa went off for a long, long time. Those crucial warning bells warn people of possible danger but dont provide details. After a while, the sirens seemed to be crying wolf. Even our scaredy cat came out from under the bed with a yawn. But as long as the sirens were sounding, we were watching live broadcasts. Oklahomans arent usually weak-kneed about storms. We tend to look outside until the last moment. This country's history is filled with genocide. What I call the 400 years war, lasted from 1492 when Diego Columbus (brother of Christopher) killed his first Native American to the Wounded Knee Massacre. European Americans killed American natives, and they fought back. That's war, but it's never mentioned (especially by the GOP) or called a war. Philip Henry Sheridan and William Tecumseh Sherman were Republicans. George Custer was willing to endorse the party that nominated him for president. From the end of the Civil War to the 20th century, we had one Democrat as president, who ended the killing. Republicans resumed the genocide when they regained power. The Republicans never mention that part of our history. Afghanistan is far short of being America's longest war. The Apaches fought the Spaniards then the Mexicans for 100 years, then the Americans for another 100. The Comanches fought in Texas for 150 years, the Lakota for 40 years and the Cheyenne about the same. There are other examples. The man who helped to end apartheid in South Africa, and saw Trinidad and Tobago as the true rainbow nation, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is dead. South Africa's two Nobel Peace laureates former President Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Tutu visited Trinidad in May 2004 Eight servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine headed off course when driving in a lorry in the area of Novotroitske village, Donetsk region, and were taken captive by invaders. "According to preliminary information, this morning, eight servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, members of the Joint Forces, headed off course when driving in a lorry in the area of Novotroitske (36km south-west of Donetsk) and entered a temporarily occupied territory, where they were detained by militants of the armed formations of the Russian Federation," the JFO Headquarters reports. It is noted that the military prosecutor's office has introduced corresponding data in a unified state register of pre-trial investigations and the investigative actions are being conducted. ol The Cabinet of Ministers has approved an agreement with the government of Mongolia on mutual abolition of visa requirements. A respective resolution was approved at a government meeting on Wednesday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. According to the document, citizens of Ukraine and Mongolia may stay in the territory of another country for a period not exceeding 90 days within a 180-day period. The Cabinet of Ministers authorized Ambassador of Ukraine to Poland Andriy Deshchytsia to sign the agreement. iy The Kingdom of Norway has opened an Honorary Consulate in Odesa the first diplomatic mission of such level on the territory of Ukraine. The opening ceremony of the diplomatic mission was attended by Ambassador of Norway to Ukraine Ole Terje Horpestad and Deputy Head of Odesa Regional State Administration Vitaliy Svichynsky, the press service of Odesa Regional State Administration reported on Facebook. "This is the first Honorary Consulate of our state in Ukraine... The main tasks of Honorary Consul Oleh Fomichov will be the protection and assistance to Norwegian citizens who live in Ukraine or visit this country, as well as the development of friendship between our countries," the ambassador said. "Our investors are creating joint ventures, especially in alternative energy. We support the European choice of Ukraine and its territorial integrity," the ambassador added. ish Payment for millions of barrels of contaminated oil that have now been stuck for weeks in pipelines was due on May 15. Total and Eni have stopped payments for the contaminated oil sold to them by Russian firms and said they will only pay when compensation is agreed, trading sources said, upping the stakes in what the sources say is Russia's worst oil supply disruption. Payment for millions of barrels of contaminated oil that have now been stuck for weeks in pipelines was due on May 15, as reported by Reuters. "Why would anyone want to pay for this oil? Strictly speaking it is not oil and no one in Russia is able to explain clearly who will compensate whom and when," one trading source familiar with the development said. Read alsoReuters: Russia to restart clean oil supply via Druzhba fully in May or early June In theory, Western buyers are entitled to refuse to pay for oil they had bought without knowing it was contaminated because every contract for oil sales is accompanied with a quality passport that will show oil is not up to standard. However, sales along the Druzhba pipeline are governed by Russian law, which state that the payment must be made and if the quality is not good enough this must be accompanied by a claim for damages, which can then take months or years to process. "Our position is clear. Western companies must pay and then submit claim damages that we can address later," said a trading source with a major Russian producer. Last week, the buyers suggested Russian producers give guarantees in the form of bank deposits that they will contribute to the clean-up, according to several trading sources. But no solution has been found so far. Oil was meant to be supplied to Germany's refineries Leuna, belonging to Total, and Schwedt, which is co-owned by Rosneft, ENI and Shell. It was also meant to be shipped to PKN Orlen and Grupa Lotos refineries in Poland. Read alsoOperator of Ukraine's crude oil transport system suspends transit shipments from Russia to EU "To date no company has taken on the responsibility of paying the damages due to the reduction in capacity, which also affects the refinery in Schwedt, which is 8 percent owned by Eni," Eni said last week. Belarus has estimated the volumes of contaminated oil at around 9 million barrels, which in normal circumstances would be worth more than $500 million at current prices. "This is probably the biggest Russian oil supply disruption ever. Oil along Druzhba continued to flow during the 1969 Prague Spring uprising, and in 1991 when the Soviet Union was collapsing," a second trading source said. The crisis has escalated since Belarus told oil refiners and pipeline operators in Europe nearly four weeks ago that the crude heading down the 5,500 km (3,400 mile) Druzhba pipeline was heavily contaminated with organic chloride, which is used to clean oil wells and accelerate the flow of crude. Russian oil flows via Druzhba were halted, sending crude to a six-month high above $75 a barrel and tarnishing Russia's reputation as an exporter at a time of rising competition with the U.S. and Middle East. Russia has since said the oil was contaminated deliberately by an unnamed local producer while Belarus said it would take months to restore clean oil supplies to Europe. Organic chloride should be removed before oil enters the supply chain as it can damage refining equipment. To get the pipeline working again the dirty oil needs to be removed and stored so it can be diluted with clean oil. Traders estimate this process for all the contaminated oil in Druzhba would cost tens of millions of dollars, while the question of who should pay remains unanswered. Ukraine's Finance Ministry borrows over UAH 2.1 bln, US$112.4 mln in domestic market 17:45, 22.05.19 2282 The total hryvnia equivalent of the funds raised was UAH 5.049 billion at the NBU forex rate. Bohdan was appointed head of Zelensky's administration on May 21. Head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's presidential administration Andriy Bohdan says that peace agreements with Russia could be put to a nationwide referendum. "In his speeches, Volodymyr Zelensky himself has declared that we are considering the issue of formalization of certain agreements and putting them to a referendum. After all, not only politicians but also people should speak. We are considering [an option] of putting the issue of reaching a peaceful agreement with Russia to a nationwide referendum, so that not only lawmakers could vote and the president could decide it is the people of Ukraine who could decide," Bohdan said on Channel 112.Ukraine. Read alsoUkraine's new president taps his legal adviser to head presidential administration According to him, it is society that should evaluate different agreements with Russia. Bohdan says that if society considers the outcome of negotiations with Russia as debatable, then the issue can be put to a referendum, according to the TV news service TSN. "The final decision, if it is perceived by society as debatable or if there are sore points for this or other [group of people], it could be put to a referendum," he said. According to Bohdan, a decision taken by this or other politician can split the public. "The people themselves should take decision rather than a politician [who may take] a decision that would split society," he said. As UNIAN reported, President Zelensky on May 21 signed a decree appointing Andriy Bohdan head of the Presidential Administration. They discussed, among other things, further implementation of the Minsk agreements. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron held a joint telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, May 21. This was announced by representative of the German government Steffen Seibert, according to Deutsche Welle's Ukrainian service. The politicians discussed how to contribute to the implementation of the Minsk agreements after the election of new President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. Read alsoMerkel: Ukraine to remain the focus of EU and German policy Merkel and Macron again criticized Putin's recent decrees to grant Russian citizenship to Ukrainians, Seibert said. Other topics discussed by the leaders of the three states are situations around Syria and Iran. The Kremlin, in turn, reported that the parties had discussed the "internal crisis" in Ukraine and the change of government in Kyiv and unanimously agreed there was a lack of alternatives to the 2015 Minsk Package of Measures as the foundation of a peaceful settlement. According to the Kremlin's official website, the president of Russia again emphasized the need to "prioritize" the entry into force of the law on the special status of certain areas in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, along with amnesty, the withdrawal of forces and equipment to the earlier agreed positions along the contact line in eastern Ukraine. Putin also mentioned steps needed to be taken to start direct dialogue between Kyiv and Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In addition, Putin "drew attention" to the "discriminatory" law adopted by Ukraine's parliament making Ukrainian the state language, saying he did not understand why certain countries refused to discuss the Ukrainian language issue at a recent UN Security Council meeting. Bakanov ran Zelensky's campaign headquarters and was responsible for interaction with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Ivan Bakanov, the head of the Servant of the People Party and head of Studio Kvartal-95 LLC, has been appointed First Deputy Chief of the SBU Security Service of Ukraine. "To appoint Ivan Hennadiyovych Bakanov as First Deputy Chief of the Security Service of Ukraine and Head of the Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime of the Central Directorate of the Security Service of Ukraine," says presidential decree No. 316/2019 dated May 22, 2019, which was posted on the president's official website. Read alsoTeam Zelensky: Who are they (Photo) As UNIAN reported earlier, Bakanov, 44, was born in Kryviy Rih, graduated from the Academy of Labor and Social Relations in Moscow. From January 25, 2013, he has been head of Kvartal 95 LLC, and on December 27, 2013, he was appointed head of Studio Kvartal-95 LLC. Bakanov became head of the Servant of the People Party in December 2017. He is Zelensky's childhood friend, he ran the campaign headquarters during Zelensky's presidential race and was responsible for interaction with the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. Peskov continues insisting that there is a "civil war" in Ukraine. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said the Kremlin has no plans to hold peace talks with Ukraine since the country is in a state of "civil war." "Look! What does peace talks mean? We must first answer this question. You see, there are no armed conflicts between Ukraine and Russia. There is a civil war in Ukraine. That's the problem. Of course, we expect clarification here to understand what is being said," Peskov told journalists, answering a question from an UNIAN correspondent in Russia whether Russia is ready for peace talks with Ukraine. Read alsoMerkel and Macron hold talks with Putin by phone; Ukraine among subjects discussed At the same time, he stressed it is Ukraine's internal affair what question to put to a referendum. According to him, the Kremlin expects Kyiv to take concrete steps in implementing the Minsk agreements to "resolve the internal Ukrainian problem of the southeast [a Russian propaganda term, as Donbas is in the east of Ukraine], and secondly, normalize bilateral relations with Russia." At the same time, Peskov refused to comment on whether the Kremlin welcomes the idea of holding a referendum on this issue. "The main thing is that there should be sense and there should be efficiency," he said. As UNIAN reported earlier, Head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's presidential administration Andriy Bohdan said peace agreements with Russia could be put to a nationwide referendum. The decree on the appointment is expected by the end of the day. Head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's presidential administration Ruslan Riaboshapka has said the president of Ukraine decided to appoint former Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. Read alsoZelensky's childhood friend appointed SBU's first deputy chief (Document) "This issue has already been decided. The decree has already been signed," he told a journalist, according to the LIGA.net news agency. According to Riaboshapka, the decree on the appointment may be published before the end of the day. As UNIAN reported earlier, on April 18, Zelensky introduced members of his team, including financial adviser Oleksandr Danyliuk. UNIAN memo. Danyliuk has been in the public service since 2005. He was an adviser to former Prime Minister Yuriy Yekhanurov during Viktor Yushchenko's presidency, a freelance adviser to ex-President Viktor Yanukovych. In 2014, President Petro Poroshenko appointed Danyliuk as his permanent representative in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In 2016, he was appointed Minister of Finance. In June 2018, he was dismissed this was preceded by a conflict with Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman. Danyliuk is married, with two sons. Children are UK citizens. An IMF mission arrived in Kyiv and started work on May 21. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky plans to meet with representatives of a new mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Ukraine's key lender, next week, as planned. Read alsoIMF mission starts work in Ukraine May 21 "President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will hold a meeting with the mission of the International Monetary Fund in Kyiv. The meeting will take place next week, as planned. Currently, the IMF representatives hold meetings with government officials," the presidential press service said in a statement on May 22. Thus, the press service has refuted the information that the IMF mission allegedly stopped working in Ukraine. As UNIAN reported earlier, on May 22, a number of media reported the early termination of the IMF mission, which arrived in Kyiv on May 21. However, the IMF Resident Representative Office in Ukraine denied this information, stating that the mission is working according to the previously set up two-week schedule. Restoration and construction of the Beit Kadishin memorial complex is planned to be completed within five years. Co-president of the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Ukraine (Vaad) says that they are planning to build a three-level pavilion on the back side of the building in order to place a museum exhibition there. LB.ua writes about Beit Kadishin restoration stages. During the construction of Beit Kadishin, technologies unique for that time were used: for the first time in Europe, an architect Max Morgenstern designed a huge reinforced concrete dome. In Beit Kadishin were held farewell to the deceased according to the religious Jewish ritual. The important part of the decor are memorial prayers on the walls, as well as a monumental memorial plaque with the names of philanthropists, who donated funds for the construction of the building. During restoration the historical building will be fully preserved, and we are planning to build a three-level pavilion on the back side of the building in order to place a museum exhibition there Vaad of Ukraine is directly related to the reconstruction, because in 2015 the city authorities of Chernivtsi for 49 years handed over the Beit Kadishin building to our organization. In 2017, the German government allocated 100 000 euros for the exterior repair of Beit Kadishin. For the money the facade was repaired and the dome was restored. In general, the repair of the building and the creation of a memorial center will cost about one million euros, although earlier we assumed that 800 thousand would suffice. So far, it has not been possible to accumulate such a sum, comments Andrey Adamovskiy. He adds that an internal restoration of the building is planned for this summer. Co-president of the Vaad of Ukraine Josef Zisels says that the exhibition will reveal painful questions related not only to the Holocaust, but also to the pre-war period. In particular, we are talking about the occupation of Northern Bukovina by the Soviet Union in 1940, about collaboration and complicity in a crime. The exposition of the future museum will include photographs, preserved documents and authentic objects of that period, says Josef Zisels. We are planning to complete the restoration and construction of the memorial complex within five years. Adamovskiy is sure: Beit Kadishin is our memory. It must be preserved for future generations. Together we will succeed. The poll was conducted on May 16-21. Over 70% of Ukrainians support the idea of dissolving the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament and holding snap parliamentary elections. Read alsoUkraine's President Zelensky disbands parliament, schedules snap elections (Document) The highest level of support for this idea is in the south and east of the country (over 80%). Along with this, at least 60% of respondents back it in other macro-regions. There is a certain difference in the attitude toward holding early elections among supporters of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc's Solidarity Party, most of whom oppose this initiative, according to a survey conducted by the Rating sociological group. The poll was conducted on May 16-21, 2019, through personal formalized (face-to-face) interviews. The sample population is represented by age (18 and older), gender, type of settlement, and region. Some 2,000 respondents have been interviewed. The margin of error does not exceed 2.2%. No attacks have been reported since Wednesday midnight. Russia's hybrid military forces on Tuesday mounted five attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine, with three Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action. Read alsoOne Ukrainian soldier wounded in Donbas on Monday "Three members of the Joint Forces were wounded amid shelling. Each enemy attack received an adequate response," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update posted on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on May 22, 2019. Russian occupation forces opened fire from grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, sniper rifles, and small arms. Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the villages of Vodiane, Pavlopil, Hnutove, and Shumy. "Since Wednesday midnight, there have been no attacks by Russia-led forces," the report said. Each enemy provocation had an adequate response. Russia's hybrid military forces mounted two attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas on May 22, with one Ukrainian soldier reported as wounded in action. Read alsoPresident Zelensky appoints new chief of Ukrainian army's general staff "Since Wednesday midnight, the enemy has violated the ceasefire twice. In both cases, Russian occupation forces fired at positions of Joint Forces units using grenade launchers of various systems," the press center of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an evening update on Wednesday. In the zone of responsibility of the Skhid [East] Operational-Tactical Grouping, militants fired at the strongpoints of the Ukrainian troops from automatic grenade launchers near the town of Maryinka. In the Pivnich (North) sector, Russia-led forces shelled the defenders of the town of Popasna, using grenade launchers of various systems. "Each enemy provocation had an adequate response. Information on the enemy's losses is being clarified," the report said. Moscow-based Avangard is the only supplier of missiles for S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. The United States has decided to impose sanctions on two Russian missile suppliers and a military training center. The three entities are mentioned in an unpublished notice by the U.S. Department of State on imposition of nonproliferation measures against foreign persons, including a ban on U.S. government procurement, which is due to be published on May 22, according to the Ukrainian news outlet Hromadske. Subject to the U.S. sanctions will be, among others, Gatchina Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Training Center (Russia); Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) Tula (Russia); Moscow Machine Building Plant Avangard (MMZ Avangard) (Russia) jointly with any of their successor, sub-unit, or subsidiary. Read alsoRFE/RL: U.S. sanctions Chechen officials allegedly linked to 'gay purge,' killing of Nemtsov According to the notice, "a determination has been made that a number of foreign persons have engaged in activities that warrant the imposition of measures pursuant to Section 3 of the Iran, North Korea, and Syria Nonproliferation Act." "No department or agency of the United States government may procure or enter into any contract for the procurement of any goods, technology, or services from these foreign persons, except to the extent that the Secretary of State otherwise may determine," it says. What is more, no United States government sales to these foreign persons of any item on the United States Munitions List are permitted, and all sales to these persons of any defense articles, defense services, or design and construction services under the Arms Export Control Act are terminated. The measures will be in effect for two years from the effective date. Moscow-based Avangard, founded in 1942, is the only supplier of missiles for S-300 and S-400 air defense systems. It is part of the Almaz-Antey group since 2002. KPB Tula, founded in 1927, manufactures firearms, ammunition, anti-aircraft defense systems, autocannons, rotary cannons, turrets, remote controlled weapon stations, anti-aircraft cannons, weapon systems for tanks and armored vehicles, missiles, ATGMs, artillery shells, mortar shells, guidance systems, precision-guided munitions, close-in weapon systems (CIWS), grenade launchers. It is part of Russia's State Corporation Rostec. The Minister of Science, Technology and Research Sujeewa Senasinghe, during his visit to Geneva on 17 May 2019, extended an invitation to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) to participate in the Shilpa Sena exposition to be launched in July 2019 in Colombo. The exposition will provide an excellent platform for CERN and Sri Lanka to showcase the ongoing collaboration, and its potential for advancement of science in Sri Lanka. It would help create awareness and interest among students on the importance of high energy physics for Sri Lanka, stated Minister Senasinghe. Welcoming the Minister and the Sri Lanka delegation, Ms. Charlotte Warakaulle, Director for International Relations highlighted Sri Lanka's expanding engagement with CERN over the past several years. She appreciated the Ministry of Science, Technology and Research for hosting the 2nd edition of the South Asian High Energy Physics Workshop on Detector Technology and Application in February this year. Following an exchange of views with CERN officials, Minister Senasinghe was invited to view the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS) Detector, one of the four detectors engaged in high energy physics experiments at CERN. Mr. Deshitha Dhammage, Mr. Balashangar Kailasapathy, Ms. Kalpanie Madara Liyanage and Mr. Nimantha Perera - the four Sri Lankan PhD students engaged in the CMS experiments, participated in the visit to CMS experimental area. Sri Lanka's participation in CERN experiments has increased and diversified following the International Cooperation Agreement with CERN and the MoU with CMS Collaboration in 2017. Sri Lankan undergraduates in Physics stream have been participating in the annual CERN Summer Student Programme since 2016 and an eight member team from Sri Lanka is currently engaged in high energy physics experiments at the CMS facility in CERN through a Consortium of Universities of Colombo and Ruhuna since early 2018. Senior Physicists of CERN, Prof. Christoph Schafer, Dr. Archana Sharma and Dr. Andrzej Charkiewicz participated at the meeting and the visit to CMS. Deputy Permanent Representative Mrs. Samantha Jayasuriya, Minister Counsellor Ms. Shashika Somaratne and Second Secretary Ms. Rajmi Manatunga were associated with the Minister at the meeting. 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Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine 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 With the increase added, the allowance is expected to reach EGP 2,100 per month, Diaa Rashwan said in a statement reported by MENA news agency The head of the Journalists Syndicate, Diaa Rashwan, has said that a 25 percent increase in the allowance given to its members will be applied as of May. With the increase added, the allowance is expected to reach EGP 2,100 per month, Rashwan said in a statement reported by MENA news agency. Rashwan thanked all who had helped secure the needed resources to apply the increase. Former head of the State Information Service Rashwan won the position as head of the Journalists Syndicate last March. As part of his campaign, he vowed to improve the financial conditions of journalists and increase their monthly technology allowance. Rashwan affirmed that Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait had already agreed to increase the allowance by 25 per cent in July. Search Keywords: Short link: MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd May, 2019) Clean oil via the Druzhba pipeline moves toward Hungary and Slovakia, Russian Energy Ministry said on Wednesday. "In accordance with the roadmap, clean oil continues to move toward the border of Hungary and Slovakia. We expect the oil to be delivered to the relevant metering units step-by-step during the week," the ministry stated. The problem with the quality of oil coming from Russia to Belarus through the Druzhba pipeline of the Russian state-owned Transneft oil company surfaced back in April. Poland and Ukraine halted oil transit from Russia via Belarus after it had been discovered that the transported oil was contaminated with chlorides. Russia has already launched an investigation into the matter and has so far detained four people over the incident. High-quality Russian oil reached the Belarusian border on May 2. Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. Lahore (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st May, 2019) Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world. As one of Androids key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefitted both users and the industry. Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after-sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products covering those that have been sold or still in-stock globally. We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally. A number of the world's top scientists met in the Australian city of Melbourne this week for the 10th annual International Particle Accelerator Conference, taking place from Sunday until Frida SYDNEY, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st May, 2019 ) :A number of the world's top scientists met in the Australian city of Melbourne this week for the 10th annual International Particle Accelerator Conference, taking place from Sunday until Friday. Discussions at the conference will range from applied sciences like materials engineering, space science, and medical applications, to leading edge research into nuclear and high energy physics. On a practical level the conference will focus on the building and operating of particle accelerators to make them more compact and accessible for widespread medical benefit, as well as for large scale accelerators to continue pushing the frontiers of energy and intensity. Hosted by Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), the conference involves around 1,200 delegates from over 30 countries and regions, with the largest representation coming from the United States and China. The world's biggest and most well known particle accelerator is the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) in Europe, which made global news for its use in discovering the Higgs Boson, or "God" particle. The technology, which involves propelling particles such as protons and electrons to very high speeds and energies, has a range of applications from industrial uses to medical treatment. "There are various kinds and sizes of accelerator, they come either as linear so just in a straight line, or circular accelerators," Group Executive for Science and Technology at ANSTO, Dr Simone Richter told Xinhua. In the medical field, particle accelerators are commonly used in isotope production for creating nuclear medicine and therapeutics, as well as the treatment of cancer through irradiating tumours. While the technology has been around since the sixties, it became more mainstream following successful irradiation treatments that took place in the late 1990s and early 2000s. "There are a couple of experiments running that look into the fundamentals of the basic theory of elementary particles," Richter said. "It's really looking into the areas of physics which opens doors to new kinds of understanding where we expect the next push to occur in what we call supersymmetry or dark matter," she added. Norway will allocate five million of Norwegian krone ($570,392) to support Russian spent nuclear fuel management, Policy Director of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Anja Polden said on Tuesday SOCHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 21st May, 2019) Norway will allocate five million of Norwegian krone ($570,392) to support Russian spent nuclear fuel management, Policy Director of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Anja Polden said on Tuesday. "For the first time, Norway will co-finance the management of spent nuclear fuel. This co-financing will be allocated to the part of the project for which we are provided with an environmental impact assessment ... This year, five million Norwegian krone will be allocated for co-financing of this project," Polden told reporters during the session of the Norwegian-Russian Expert group for investigation of radioactive contamination in the northern areas that is being held in Sochi. She also stressed that co-financing requires special criteria, including approved risk analyzes and an environmental impact assessment of those projects that may influence the environment. The pilot project of spent nuclear fuel management will take place in the Andreev Bay in the north of Russia. If the project proves successful, its experience will be used for other ones, Polden said. According to her, all work will be done by the Russian side that will also take nuclear responsibility. Norway will get access to monitoring the whole process, which implies getting access to the facilities and documentation on how this work is done. The Andreev Bay may not be selected by chance as a nuclear accident took place there at Soviet naval base 569 in February 1982. At the moment, the Andreev Bay is a radioactive waste repository, located not far from northwest of Murmansk and the Norwegian border. The surveillance of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is usually performed by cystoscopy and cytology. Until today, no effective urinary biomarker has been used to reduce the morbidity and cost associated with these procedures. To describe the performance of urinary biomarkers in the surveillance of NMIBC. on August 1, 2018, a bibliographic search was carried out in Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane Library, limited to the last 10 years, with the terms: bladder cancer, recurrence, detection and urine marker.973 registers were obtained, and 27 publications were selected following the PRISMA recommendations. The negative predictive values (NPV) of several assays could reduce the number of cystoscopies in NMIBC surveillance. Six transcription-factor trials had an NPV rate greater than 90%, and one of them can be performed at the control point. Six transcription-factors evaluations describe anticipated diagnosis between 68% and 83% of their "false positives". Two transcription factors and one protein assays proved reduction between 23% and 35% of surveillance cystoscopies. Nowadays, cell-based assays are restricted to reflex test after doubtful cytologies. There are few studies analysing the improvement of the NMIBC surveillance protocols. Several transcription factor assays are more precise and allow anticipatory diagnosis. Currently, there are no comparative studies between alternative surveillance protocols and classic ones. Actas urologicas espanolas. 2019 May 13 [Epub ahead of print] F Agreda Castaneda, C X Raventos Busquets, J Morote Robles Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona, Espana. Electronic address: ., Hospital Universitario Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Espana; Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Espana. PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31097210 Pope Francis calls to mind a murdered missionary sister, whose body was found in the Central African Republic on the same day a missionary priest was killed in Mozambique. By Devin Watkins In his greetings to French-speaking pilgrims at the Wednesday General Audience, Pope Francis called the Spanish missionary a woman who has given her life for Jesus in the service of the poor. Murdered missionary sister Sister Ines Nieves Sancho, aged 77, was found murdered near her home in the Central African Republic on Monday morning. Her body was found horribly mutilated at her workshop in the village of Nola, which is part of the Diocese of Berberati, according to the Osservatore Romano. At some point during the night between Sunday and Monday, unknown assailants entered Sister Ines home and forcibly took her to the workshop where she regularly held sewing lessons for local girls to help improve their lives. There her attackers decapitated her and mutilated her body. Listen to our report Link to organ trafficking Though the assailants motives remain unknown, the Osservatore Romano reports that investigators are pursuing links to trafficking in organs. The Vatican newspaper relates the practice to neighboring Cameroon, where organ trafficking is rife. Sister Ines belonged to the small, local community of the Daughters of Jesus. As Pope Francis pointed out, she spent several decades in Nola teaching young women how to sew, dedicating her life to this mission at all costs. Sister Ines recently told another nun: Im not alone. The young women are with me! She was buried on Tuesday morning. Congolese priest killed in Mozambique Separately, a missionary priest from Congo was also killed on Sunday in Mozambiques coastal city of Beira. Fr. Landry Ibil Ikwel, aged 34, was stabbed in his communitys house and brought to hospital, where he died from his wounds, according to the Fides news agency. An investigation is underway. Fr. Landry was ordained a priest in 2016, and belonged to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He was the Director of an institute for the blind in Beira (IDV-B), which offers help with education, rehabilitation, and social integration for the visually-impaired. In a statement sent to Fides, the Congregation lamented his death and prayed that wherever death seeks to reign, life may prevail. The move is one of the key recommendations from the Binh Thuan Peoples Committee, and will be reflected upon at the seventh session of the 14th National Assembly scheduled to take place from May 20 to June 13, 2019. According to the latest draft from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the calculation that the feed-in tariff (FiT) for solar projects depend on the potential of solar radiation is not yet grounded, noted a Binh Thuan document. It is necessary to calculate more economic and technical effects such as local socio-economic development, reducing investment costs of power and grid, and operating costs. The document went on to suggest that the FiT should be the same for solar project regardless of location. Under the MoITs third draft of the decision of the prime minister on the mechanism for encouraging the development of solar power projects in Vietnam, a new FiT programme would be provided for an additional two years from July 2019 through to the end of June 2021 for solar power projects in the country. The draft decision proposes varying levels of tariffs according to location and technology, classified by four different irradiance regions of Vietnam and involving four different solar power technologies. Specifically, it provides for a wide range of tariffs which vary in the range from 6.67 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) to 10.87 cents per kWh. Under that, the six provinces of Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, and Phu Yen are placed into a new group of irradiance zonal classifications known as Zone 4, which will see the lowest tariff rates, ranging from 6.67 to 7.89 US cents per kWh depending on solar technologies, with some exceptions in Ninh Thuan (see box). A solar farm developer in Binh Thuan who declined to be named said, Many projects are racing to power and operate commercially before June 30 to enjoy a preferential price of 9.35 US cent per kWh. After this time, with the electricity price that the MoIT has drafted, especially the FIT in Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan, I think that many businesses will no longer be interested in investing. Previously, Binh Thuan asked that the deadline be extended to the end of 2020 for solar investors to enjoy 9.35 US cents, instead of June 30. It has been difficult for solar power projects in the province to be completed and generate power before the June 30 deadline as many of them are located in areas of national titanium reserves and must wait for approval from the prime minister before implementation. Binh Thuans solar development planning scheme towards 2020 has been waiting for MoIT approval. Some 90 solar projects were registered in the province with the total output of 5,341 megawatt peak (MWp), covering total area of 6,720 hectares, and having the total capital of VND137.2 trillion ($5.97 billion). Of them, 28 projects with the total capacity of 1,475MWp were added to the national and provincial power plan. Twenty-three projects were granted investment certificates, and investors pledged to start construction by the end of 2018 and generate power before June 30, 2019. Economist Can Van Luc Can Vietnam benefit from US-China trade tensions through the acceleration of exports? Currently, the US imposes about 10 per cent tariffs on Vietnamese exports, far lower than the 25 per cent rate it has imposed on $250 billion worth of Chinese imports, with another $325 billion worth of tariffs likely to come. In the US market, imports from Vietnam and other countries that bear import tariffs below 25 per cent would become more competitive compared to Chinese goods. Similarly, in the Chinese market, imports from Vietnam and other countries not suffering such tariff rises will hold a greater competitive edge than US imports. What are the opportunities for Vietnam? Enormous opportunities are not only available for Vietnam, but also for other countries exporting products to the US. Significantly, Vietnams major export items to the US market, such as textiles, clothing, footwear, seafood, agricultural produce, woodwork, and electronics, will likely see benefits, as similar items from China suffer 25 per cent tariffs. Vietnam is currently one of the largest exporters in all these areas to the United States. Estimates show that Vietnam might grab 20-25 per cent market share, equal to $18-23 billion out of the $66 billion worth of consumer goods and food items, and $25 billion worth of electronic items, handsets, and components the US needs to import every year. Estimates show that Vietnam might grab 20-25 per cent market share, equal to $18-23 billion out of $66 billion worth of consumer goods and food items, and $25 billion worth of electronic items, handsets, and components the US needs to import every year. Other Chinese imports such as means of production, industrial equipment, and transport vehicles are also being imposed with this 25 per cent US tariff. Regrettably, the exports of these products to the US only account for a tiny 0.5-1.5 per cent of the total import value of these items into that market, but if Vietnam could seize the opportunity, it may be able to export these items to the US in a more suitable manner. What are the possible impacts on Vietnams economy as a whole? The benefits are based on theory. Whether Vietnamese companies take advantage of the opportunities or not is another story, as every exporter wants to cash in on the US-China tariff moves in order to boost exports to the US. To cope with the tariffs, China might consider the devaluation of their home currency, ensuring Chinese-made products are cheaper and more competitive in the global market. If this happened, Chinese products would hold greater advantage not only in the US but also in other markets, including Vietnam. Chinese and American imports finding it hard to enter each others market will try to break into other markets. Due to close proximity, Chinese goods might ramp up presence in the Vietnamese market and with their advantages on price and patterns, cast growing pressure on similar items in the domestic market, particularly regarding processed and manufactured goods. In addition, with harder access to the US market, China will need to boost domestic consumption, which could result in lower demand for imports. This will adversely affect Vietnams exports to China and might exacerbate Vietnams trade deficit with this market. To what extent do the China-US trade tensions affect the attraction of overseas investment? Besides American companies, those from other countries set up in China are mulling over shifting their production elsewhere, including to Vietnam. Growing tensions will prompt businesses to move out of China quickly, providing valuable opportunities for Vietnam to court global groups such as Procon Pacific, Brooks, and even Apple. Currently, the US is Vietnams 11th largest investor with $9.33 billion in total committed capital and about $7.5 billion in disbursed capital, making up 4.5 per cent of Vietnams total foreign direct investment volumes. Clearly, current US investment into Vietnam is not commensurate with its status as the No.1 economy. The US-China trade dispute, therefore, provides an opportunity for US firms to increase investment in Vietnam to raise exports to the Chinese market. A production line of a company at HCM Citys Tan Thuan EPZ. - VNS File Photo The city has for long had a policy of shifting factories from residential areas in the inner city, but does not tell them to relocate to industrial parks (IPs) or export processing zones (EPZs). So, over the years, many have obtained licences from authorities to build factories in residential areas in suburban districts. But with these areas seeing rapid urbanisation and population growth, having factories there has become untenable. As a result, authorities have had to amend land-use plans in these areas, putting companies that have scrupulously abided by city regulations in jeopardy. Minh Phung Plastics Joint Stock Co said in 2000, in response to the citys policy to relocate factories from inner districts, it decided to build its plant on Ao Doi Street in Binh Tan District. However, under new plans, all the companys facilities are situated on land designated as a park. As a result, Minh Phung Plastics Co is not allowed to mortgage the land for bank loans, especially now as it seeks to expand its market to other countries like New Zealand, the US, Australia and Thailand. Other companies have reported problems when applying for construction licences to expand their manufacturing facilities. A number of tenants at HCM Citys IPs and EPZs said they had not received land-use certificates because the developers of the zones had not fully paid land-use taxes. The Saigon Food Joint Stock Company had purchased a plot of land in the Vinh Loc Industrial Park four years ago, but has yet to receive the land-use certificate transferred to its name by the previous owner. Businesses also complain they are unable to seek business opportunities abroad and bid for public projects. Pham Thanh Kien, the director of the HCM City's Department of Industry and Trade, said this year city authorities intended to address the difficulties faced by the business sector. The department would help businesses connect with overseas markets to enable them to expand abroad. In the next seven months, it uould collaborate with foreign business groups to take the citys products to new markets and expand their sales in traditional markets like South Korea, Australia, Thailand and Europe. To meet a rising demand for land from enterprises for their expansion, it has asked the city's administration to build more IPs and EPZs. It has also urged enterprises to develop strategies to move into EPZs and IPs for their sustainable development. IREX Energy JSC, a member of SolarBK Holdings in the leading global exhibition Intersolar in Germany Following up with the goal of reaching out to the global market so as to globalise the domestic, IREX plans to attend many solar power exhibition events from major markets. Besides InterSolar 2019, SolarBK also attends annual events such as SNEC PV Power International Exhibition in Shanghai, China (June), Renewable Energy International Exhibition in India (September), SPI International Exhibition (September) in South America, and most recently, The Solar Show Vietnam (April 2019). SolarBK's attendance at big events not only affirms the Vietnamese brand's value in the worldwide market but also strengthens customers' trust in Made in Vietnam renewable energy solutions, according to the firm. To export to the EU, IREX has to satisfy the standards certified by international organisations such as UL, TUV, and most importantly the IEC 61215 (design and achieving the required category standard) and IEC 61730 (safety standard for IREX panels). Additionally, some markets require IEC 62716 (ammoniac corrosion certification) and IEC 61701 (hoarfrost corrosion certification) as well. Along with the quality certifications, IREX also achieves the ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management system for solar panel industrial activity and solar water heating system. ISO 14001: 2015 forms a strict standard to ensure that the companies will do what is claimed in terms of addressing environmental problems such as reducing negative impact to the environment and providing evidence of continuous improvement in environmental management. Complying with these international standards indicates that IREX and SolarBK aspire to build a green world. While globally popularising renewable energy, the company also pays special attention to protecting the environment during its industrial activities. In fact, it took IREX six months to send samples to the certification issuers lab and completing all the paperwork to achieve these certifications. This requires both money and time both of which are only spent if the company has serious, long-term market development plans. Meanwhile, solar power has only become popular in Vietnam in recent years, especially since the government issued the policy encouraging solar energy development. Up to now, most Vietnamese firms only focus on developing the domestic market and have not considered the global dimension, which explains why IREX is the only representative attending global exhibitions such as Intersolar. Thus far, many Vietnamese households still believe that Vietnam has no domestic firms that can produce international-standard solar panels. This is understandable because the Vietnamese solar market runs 10-50 years behind China and Europe. Therefore, showcasing the Vietnamese brand IREX to the world is always SolarBKs priority. Without great determination, Vietnamese companies will struggle to compete in their own home, especially in the context of the current flat market. To prepare for this, IREX has built a special competition strategy. Not only do the high-capacity panels align with global standards, IREX also creates non-standard panels which are adjustable to the customers demands. Besides, SolarBK has also imported a Double Glass Machine system one of the most modern production lines in the world to create two-side mirrors on customers request. In Vietnam, IREX is an important string of SolarBKs value chain. SolarBK is the first enterprise in Vietnam that owns a complete value chain from manufacturing, technology, technical design, and financing to construction, operation, and maintenance. The company has an advantage in optimising expenses and providing customers the best renewable energy solutions. For example, the BigK solar power solution SolarBKs core product was designed for everyone, from households to big companies, and is leading the domestic market by the number of customers registered to install at this moment, and IREX panels play an important part in BigK solar power solution. IREX panels are created through a world-class manufacturing process Thanks to IREX panels created through a world-class manufacturing process, BigK has successfully proved its ability to provide consistent quality to BIDV Insurance Company (BIC). BigK (which now stands for BigKilowatt), whose capacity varies from 2-10 kWp, was designed by SolarBK and distributed by SolarGATES and specifically targets households. Thanks to this agreement, IREX SolarBK sets new standards in the Vietnamese solar power market through certifications, commitments, and a prestigious third-party guarantor. The success of IREX creates a firm base to achieve product credibility in the domestic market, especially when solar power in Vietnam is becoming more attractive owing to the benefit of selling surplus electricity and the impact of increasing utility costs. Over 150,000 Chinese holidaymakers visited Nepal last year, many using digital wallets AFP/PRAKASH MATHEMA Over 150,000 Chinese holidaymakers visited Nepal last year, many using digital wallets to pay in hotels, restaurants and shops in tourist areas - especially in Chinese-run businesses. Laxmi Prapanna Niroula, a spokesman for the country's central bank which announced the ban on Monday, said that Nepal was losing out since the actual transactions took place in China. "We have enforced a ban on Alipay and WeChat Pay because the country is losing foreign currency earnings through its usage. Action will be taken if anyone is found using the platforms," Niroula told AFP. Niroula said there was no information available on the volume of transactions concerned. Alipay, started by e-commerce giant Alibaba and owned by its affiliate Ant Financial, and WeChat Pay, built into Tencent's popular messaging service, have hundreds of millions of users between them and are China's dominant payment platforms. "Chinese tourists often ask for digital payment options. With the ban, people are bound to lose business," said Sushil Koirala, who runs a tea shop in Thamel, Kathmandu's main tourist area. A street in Thamel has even earned the name Chinatown because of the high number of Chinese-run hotels and restaurants. Tourism is a major revenue-earner for impoverished Nepal, home to eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000m. Tourism contributed 7.8 per cent to the Himalayan nation's economy in 2017, creating over a million jobs, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Last year it welcomed more than a million visitors for the first time. PM Phuc expresses his hope that his visit would help further deepen the bilateral ties in an effective and practical manner for mutual benefits. Photo: VGP Present at the talks included Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov and several Cabinet ministers from both countries. Welcoming Phuc to Russia, PM Medvedev affirmed his country expects to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership with Viet Nam. Meanwhile, PM Phuc stressed Viet Nam always attaches importance and gives priority to the friendship and traditional relationship with Russia. The two PMs underlined the significance of organizing the Viet Nam Year in Russia and the Russia Year in Viet Nam, which will help tighten the fine traditional friendship and create fresh impetus for bilateral cooperation. The pair spoke highly of the political relations between the two countries, which have been ceaselessly consolidated through regular exchange of delegations at all levels and across channels. They expressed their pleasure at the fruitful implementation of the Viet Nam- Eurasian Economic Union free trade agreement that took effect since 2016 and that has brought about robust growth of bilateral trade. According to official statistics, the two-way trade increased by 28.6% to US$4.57 billion. The bilateral ties have advanced positively and increasingly fine through regular exchange of high-level visits, including Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trongs official visit to Russia in September last year and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedevs official visit to Viet Nam in November the same year, according to Phuc. Photo: VGP The two PMs affirmed energy cooperation is a key pilliar of the Viet Nam-Russia relationship and pledged to step up cooperation in this area. They agreed to accelerate construction of a center for nuclear science and technology and welcomed businesses interests in urban transport and railway infrastructure development in Viet Nam. The two sides also highly valued the important outcomes of bilateral defense and security cooperation, which has contributed to enhancing strategic trust between the two countries while agreeing to expand cooperation in other potential fields like science and technology, education and training, culture, sports, tourism. The two leaders voiced support for fostering direct local-to-local cooperation in a bid to enrich and diversify the comprehensive strategic partnership. The free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union, which took effect in 2016, has helped Viet Nam to boost its trade with Russia, Phuc told TASS on Monday ahead of his official visit to Moscow due on May 20-23. Photo: VGP The leaders also discussed on various regional and international issues of common concerns, including peace and stability as well as maritime security, safety and freedom of aviation and navigation in the Asia-Pacific region in general and in the East Sea in particular. The Vietnamese side spoke highly of Russias role, hoping Russia to continue making positive contributions to the maintenance of peace, security and stability in the region and the world. The bilateral trade rises by 31% from 2016 and reaches US$3.55 billion in 2017. Photo: VGP PM Phuc took the occasion to invite his Russian counterpart Medvedev to soon visit Viet Nam again and the latter gladly accepted the invitation. After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of several documents on nuclear energy, oil and gas, construction, tourism, judicial and local-to-local cooperation. Early last month, a representative from a large China-based engine manufacturer was busy searching for a suitable site to feed their production expansion plan in Vietnam. We are looking for a site that is spacious and has the requisite infrastructure to engage in ship and auto engine manufacturing to serve the fast-growing demand in Vietnam as well as in export markets, said the company representative. Early this year, TTI, Inc., a world-class leader in power tools, outdoor power equipment, floor care, and appliances from the US, expressed interest in developing a solar panel manufacturing plant and a research and development centre in southern Vietnam. This movement has pushed their vendors to follow in their footsteps. According to BW Industrial Development JSC, the leading for-rent industrial real estate developer has secured two of TTIs suppliers at My Phuoc 3 Industrial Park (IP) and is receiving more enquiries from these customer groups. International investors like TTI are creating a strong impulse to drive the development of the industrial real estate market across Vietnam. The US administrations fresh announcement of raising tariffs on Chinese imports into the US is threatening the progress achieved in recent negotiations between the two countries. There is no end in sight for the US-China trade war, which is augmenting the wave of investors moving out of China to avoid impacts on their production plans. In anticipation of new foreign direct investment streams into Vietnam, global equity fund Warburg Pincus and local partner Becamex IDC last year teamed up to establish BW Industrial Development JSC with an initial seed capital of around $200 million. The fledgling company is expected to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for modern logistics warehouses, as well as build-to-suit and ready-built factories in Vietnam. The trend of shifting manufacturing from China to Vietnam is bringing many opportunities for industrial real estate developers like us. We have acquired over 230 hectares of projects over the country in 2018 and will expand by another 170ha in 2019 to meet the rising call from our customers, said Michael Chan, head of sales and marketing of BW Industrial. The jump in the number of foreign businesses setting up shop in Vietnam leads to ever-increasing demand for high-specification factories across the country. The trend of leasing out ready-built and build-to-suit factories is, thereby, booming at major IPs in the country. Ready-built factories are flexible in size, helping investors to quickly set up production, while build-to-suit factories are tailor-made to fit with companies business plan and budget, while balancing design and function elements. Ecco Vietnam managing director Alexander Christopher Falter shared, We aim to put in place a large shoe manufacturing facility in Vietnam and we plan to build a factory by ourselves. However, Ecco is a cautious company so we wanted to lease ready-built factories in the first five years before taking further steps. We had visited a great many IPs in southern Vietnam before visiting Bau Bang by BW Industrial, where we found ready-built factories with modern and contemporary design, perfectly fitting our requirements. Especially, with active support from the developer, it only took four months since the date we received the business license until we officially began production, Falter said. Ready-built factories from esteemed developers prove the best solution to address particular demands from both domestic and foreign businesses at the moment. Chan from BW Industrial explained that the company offers a wide portfolio of factories that are flexible in size from 500 square metres to meet investors abundant demand. With nine projects located in five key metropolises, we are well-positioned to support investor plans for business development in Vietnam, he added. BW Industrial Development JSC has succeeded in courting big local and foreign investors such as Kaidi, Ecco, Condor, and Watanabe Rubber, to name but a few. The developers top target is to build up state-of-the art industrial and logistics real estate infrastructure that is best suited to the ever-growing demand from multinationals, logistics providers, and e-commerce businesses. The White House has refused to cooperate with a Democrat-led investigation of Donald Trump's finances prior to his election. (File photo: AFP/SAUL LOEB) And in a big setback for Trump, a federal judge denied the president's attempt to quash another subpoena from Democratic lawmakers ordering an accounting firm to release years of Trump financial documents dating from before he took office. That decision marks the first time US courts have waded into the conflict that pits the president against Democrats who have opened a raft of probes into his administration since they took control of the House of Representatives in January. In a sign of the uphill battle their investigations face, an attorney for Trump's former lawyer Don McGahn said his client would follow the White House's instructions and not testify about Trump's alleged obstruction of justice at a House Judiciary Committee hearing set for Tuesday. "Under these circumstances, and also conscious of the duties he, as an attorney, owes to his former client, Mr McGahn must decline to appear at the hearing tomorrow," his attorney William A Burck wrote to the committee, adding that his client "understands from your prior correspondence that the Committee would vote to hold him in contempt should he not appear" Earlier in the day, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler called the White House's move "the latest act of obstruction", and said "the Committee will convene as planned tomorrow morning, and Mr McGahn is expected to appear as legally required". "The first thing we're going to have to do is hold McGahn in contempt," Nalder told CNN in an interview late Monday. He added: "You're dealing with a lawless president willing to go to any lengths to prevent testimony that might implicate him - that does implicate him." Democrats want McGahn to talk about special counsel Robert Mueller's sprawling, 22-month probe into whether Trump colluded with Russians while running for president and then tried to impede the probe into that question after he was elected. In his final report, released in mid-April, Mueller said he hadn't gathered evidence of collusion that would warrant charges of criminal conspiracy. But it detailed a series of moves by the presidency against Mueller's investigation, including an attempt to sack Mueller that was blocked by McGahn. Trump has hit back against these investigations, saying he's a victim of "harassment." "The Democrats do not like the conclusion of the Mueller investigation ... and want a wasteful and unnecessary do-over," his spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Monday. FINANCIAL INVESTIGATION The White House has also refused to cooperate with a Democrat-led investigation of Trump's finances prior to his election. Last month, lawmakers issued a subpoena for records dating back to 2011 after Trump's one-time lawyer Michael Cohen testified that his boss would often change the estimated value of his assets and liabilities on financial statements as he felt was needed for various purposes. Trump and affiliated organizations and entities then filed a suit requesting that the court declare the subpoena "invalid and unenforceable" as it questioned the legislative validity of the Democrats' demands. US District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington on Monday refused to block the subpoena saying: "It is not for the court to question whether the committee's actions are truly motivated by political considerations." In another twist to this saga, the House Intelligence Committee on Monday made public the transcripts of testimony by Cohen, who is currently serving a prison sentence in part for lying to Congress, made to lawmakers behind closed doors. According to the transcripts from hearings held earlier in the year, Cohen said he'd followed directions from Trump's personal lawyer to lie about when a proposed Trump Tower project in Moscow was called off. "Make no mistake, any attempt by the president, his associates or administration to suborn perjury, obstruct our investigation or mislead the public will not be tolerated? and will be exposed," intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff said in a statement. High-end properties are historically the first to suffer from any major jolts in market changes, Photo: Le Toan According to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), a new legal document aims to limit loans for the high-end real estate segment to ensure the sustainable development of the market and safety of the banking sector. In a statement, the bank said, The SBV will continue to control all loans for individuals especially in the high-end segment of accommodation. The draft circular, however, has caused a shock to the whole market. It sets limits and a safety ratio for bank operations to apply a credit risk ratio of 150 per cent as from January 1, 2020 for any home purchasing loan worth more than VND3 billion ($130,430), three times higher than the current ratio of 50 per cent. According to many experts, that increase of credit tightening for homes could undermine the real estate market. Banking expert Nguyen Tri Hieu said that this limit would have a very big impact on the market. If this draft circular is put into force, homebuyers will have to burden a very high interest from banks for their loans. This can have negative impacts on borrowers and it also decreases the liquidity of the entire market, said Hieu. Loans for buying homes now are mostly for the mid- and long-term, from five to 15 years. At some banks. the period can be as long as 20 years, Hieu continued. Therefore this credit squeezing will force bankers to increase long-term credit to restructure their capital resources. In fact, to minimise their risk, lenders will mostly have short-term credit at the banks. And, in a circular fashion, to attract long-term loans, banks will have to increase their saving interest and the loan interest therefore also must be increased. Considering the long-term According to Nguyen Van Dinh, vice chairman of the Vietnam Association for Realtors, tightened credit in any segment would also impact the investment and transactions of the market. If this is long-lasting, it will impact the high-end segment at a time when Vietnam is on its way to making the infrastructure system more complete in both modern urban and residential areas, Dinh said. Therefore, the tightening for the high-end segment should be in the short-term only, in an aim to avoid negative impacts on the market, especially in cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. A real estate developer who declined to be named told VIR that, with high-end apartment units starting from VND3 billion ($130,430) and villas being priced from VND7 billion ($304,350), the majority of buyers are using loans from banks, especially investors who buy the property and then re-sell it for profit or set up for lease. This developer said that instead of limiting credit for buyers, banks should review all current loans for developers and wipe out discredit and incapable ones to avoid incoming credit risks. Former Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tran Nam agreed that credit limitation should not be applied at this moment. The limit for loans worth more than VND3 billion ($130,430) is not reasonable, because only wealthy people can afford them and people should not be limited because they are incapable in paying loans, Nam said. Instead of limiting credit in homes, Nam said, the SBV should limit loans on land purchasing, since in most cases people are buying land plots and keep it for price hikes. Therefore, they bear much risk if their land cannot be sold and they would not be able to pay loans to the banks. The solution to market control Despite facing opposition on the drafts details, banking experts also said that under the view of controlling the market, credit tightening is a must-need solution. According to economist Vo Tri Thanh, if the limit is put into force, developers may be faced with obstacles in the short-term. However, businesses could be better off over time. We should not soon conclude that credit tightening into real estate would make only a negative impact yet. We must have close control on the market to avoid bubbling in the real estate market which will have a domino effect into the whole economy, Thanh said. This tightening may have temporary impacts to real estate developers but it will make the market more stable and healthy in the long-term. Nguyen Manh Ha, vice chairman of the Vietnam Real Estate Association, said that the credit squeeze on the high-end segment was significant because experience from previous crises in real estate shows that the high-end segment would be the most impacted. Large units with high prices must be controlled because these are the foremost segments to be impacted when the market experience any turbulence, Ha said. Elsewhere, Nguyen Manh Khoi, deputy director of the Ministry of Constructions Department for Housing and Property Market Management, said that the draft circular is expected to have positive impacts on the market, but it needs some time to prove the effects. The central banks tightening of credit for real estate will also be a chance for businesses to restructure their investment strategies and financial resources from other channels such as international partners or from issuing bonds or stakes in the security market, not to be too dependent on bankers, Khoi said. Draft circular on credit tightening The State Bank of Vietnam is currently gathering opinions from the public on a draft circular about limits and safety ratio for bank operations in credit institutions and foreign banks, to replace Circular No.36/2014/TT-NHNN regulating prudential ratios for the operations of credit institutions and foreign banks. Accordingly, a credit risk ratio of 150 per cent is to apply for any home purchasing loan worth more than VND3 billion ($130,430) as from January 1, 2020. The central bank also plans to apply risk ratio of 50 per cent for loans which are deposited by house, land, and construction sites for the purpose of doing business; loans for individuals to buy social housing, and buying houses from projects supported by government; and individual loans worth below VND1.5 billion ($65,220). It also expects to reduce the short-term funds used for mid- and long-term loans from 40 per cent by June 30, 2020 to 35 per cent from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, and to 30 per cent from July 1, 2021 onward. The aim is to limit loans for the high-end real estate segment to ensure the sustainable development of the real estate market and safety of the banking sector. Apartments sold in the first quarter of 2019 Attributed to the governments tightening of credit into real estate, in the first quarter of 2019, there were 4,423 newly-launched units in Ho Chi Minh City, a fall of 54 per cent on-year. In times of limited new supply, inventory is being absorbed very positively, evidenced through busy activities at recent sales events. There were 5,924 units that were sold in this quarter, 1.3 times higher than the new supply level. Meanwhile in the first quarter of this year, the Hanoi condominium market recorded one of the highest number of units launched in a quarter. A total of 11,822 units were launched from 26 projects, up by 46 per cent as compared to the same period of 2018. An estimated 9,390 units were sold during the quarter, 36 per cent higher than that of the same period of last year. Cambodias National Election Committee (NEC) announced Tuesday that the ongoing campaigns for the May 26 elections of city and provincial councillor positions were proceeding orderly and without irregularities. The elections are mostly a formality as, according to Cambodian election law, the 4,114 seats for city, provincial, and district councilors in 25 cities and provinces are not chosen by the public, but by the 11,572 commune councilors all but one of which belong to the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) . Commune councillors are directly elected by the public, but in late 2017 the government banned the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (Party). The CPP divided the CNRP-held 45 percent of parliament seats among smaller opposition parties, while it took over the CRNPs 489 commune chief positions by law or by defections. Only the small Khmer National United Party retained its commune councilor in Thmar Puok Commune, Banteay Meanchey Province. Despite having virtually no opposition, the CPP has been campaigning for the councillors elections, according to the NEC. It also insisted that the Khmer National United Party and four other tiny parties - the Khmer Will Party, the royalist party Funcinpec, the Khmer National Party and the Cambodian Youth Party - were campaigning. It is not clear how the small parties without any commune councillor to vote could have their members elected to city, district and provincial councillor positions. NEC spokesman Hang Puthea told VOA Khmer, nonetheless, that: The campaigns faced no irregularities or clashes between the political parties or candidates. He added that the CPP had campaigned in 17 provinces, while the small parties campaigned on a small scale in Phnom Penh and some provinces. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. President Trumps national security advisers told U.S. lawmakers Tuesday escalating tensions with Iran were part of a forty-year pattern of aggression from the Islamic Republic. But Democratic lawmakers remained unconvinced by the administrations argument, urging a cautious approach in the Middle East. VOAs Congressional correspondent Katherine Gypson reports from Capitol Hill. Attorney General William Barr is taking on another item from President Donald Trump's agenda, railing against judges who issue rulings blocking nationwide policies. In a speech Tuesday night, Barr took aim at the broad judicial power, arguing that federal judges who have issued the so-called nationwide injunctions are hampering Trump's efforts on immigration, health care and other issues with "no clear end in sight." It is the latest example of Barr moving to embrace Trump's political talking points. The attorney general is traditionally expected to carry out the president's agenda as a member of the Cabinet while trying to avoid political bias. Democrats have cast Barr as an attorney general who acts more like Trump's personal lawyer instead of the nation's chief law enforcement officer. At a re-election rally earlier this month, Trump railed against "activist judges who issue nationwide injunctions based on their personal beliefs," which he said "undermine democracy and threaten the rule of law." Administration officials have often complained about the proliferation of nationwide injunctions since Trump became president. Vice President Mike Pence said a few weeks ago that the administration intends to challenge the right of federal district courts to issue such rulings. "The legal community and the broader public should be more concerned, particularly about this trend of nationwide injunctions," Barr said. DACA Barr highlighted the legal fights that have happened in federal courts across the country over Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program that shields young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children but don't have legal status to protect them from deportation. The Justice Department, under former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, argued that the Obama administration acted unlawfully when it implemented DACA. Texas and other Republican-led states eventually sued and won a partial victory in a federal court in Texas. Civil rights groups, advocates for immigrants and Democratic-led states all have sued to prevent the end of the program. A three-judge panel of the federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled that the administration decision to end DACA was arbitrary and capricious. Barr said Trump "lost much of his leverage" in negotiations with congressional Democrats, who were pushing for a permanent solution for DACA recipients, after one district court judge issued an order forcing the administration to maintain the program nationwide. "Unsurprisingly, those negotiations did not lead to a deal," Barr said. 'Unprecedented power' In his speech to the American Law Institute, Barr argued it isn't about partisanship and said the approach taken by judges who issue these nationwide rulings departs not only from the limitations of the Constitution, but also from the "traditional understanding of the role of courts." The Justice Department will continue to oppose such rulings, he said. "Nationwide injunctions not only allow district courts to wield unprecedented power, they also allow district courts to wield it asymmetrically," Barr said. The U.S. government service charged with delivering objective news into Cuba produces both bad journalism and ineffective propaganda, according to an independent audit released Tuesday. The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees taxpayer-funded international broadcasting, ordered the audit of the Office of Cuban Broadcasting (OCB) in February in response to broadcasts last year that contained anti-Semitic remarks about billionaire philanthropist George Soros. The segments on OCBs TV Marti prompted widespread condemnation and led to disciplinary action against nine OCB journalists. John Lansing, the CEO of USAGM, later apologized to Soros and launched the audit to find any patterns of unethical, unprofessional, biased or substandard journalism at OCB. The results amount to a harsh indictment of practices at OCB, which as part of USAGM is required by law to provide objective, balanced programming that reflects a variety of viewpoints. Instead, the five experts on the audit panel said the journalism at OCB radio, TV and online is one-sided, fails to provide context and crosses into strident advocacy for hard-line Cuban dissident causes. It's not just advocacy; it's really like an old-style kind of propaganda, of constant hammering, said the panels chairman, Edward Schumacher-Matos, a professor at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. The audit says that almost any criticism of the Cuban government is allowed on Radio and TV Marti programs, while there is little or no attempt to obtain a response or provide balancing information. Well-established norms of objectivity are routinely disregarded in favor of propagandistic communications tactics, the panel said. The agencys programs are unlikely to succeed in promoting freedom of democracy given the demography, culture and circumstances of Cuba today. The relentless anti-Cuba advocacy crowds out other kinds of news coverage and even advocacy journalism that might be more effective, for example telling positive stories about you or about the United States, said audit panelist Roberto Suro, former director of the Pew Hispanic Center. In an introduction to the report, Lansing said a working group to update journalistic standards has been appointed and a new best practices editor will be brought in. Additional training covering fairness, objectivity, balance and bias in coverage will be required for all OCB employees, he wrote. Troubled history Based in Miami, OCB oversees Radio Marti, which began in 1985; TV Marti, which started five years later; and an online news site. The agencys budget was $29 million in 2018, and its broadcasts often jammed by the Cuban government reach an estimated 11 percent of the islands population. Radio and TV Marti have long been faulted for bad journalism and propaganda. In 1999, the State Departments inspector general said the stations had "problems with balance, fairness, objectivity. A U.S. Senate investigation in 2010 said Marti had negligible support from among the Cuban people. Despite the criticism, Radio and TV Marti have had continued support from the U.S. Congress. But that wont be the case if they dont improve, said Tomas Regalado, the former Miami mayor who leads OCB. Regalado was appointed by the Trump administration and took over in June 2018, the month after the segments disparaging Soros were broadcast. One member of Congress told me, 'Well, if Radio and TV Marti doesn't reinvent itself, it cannot be defended,' Regalado said. In addition to the OCB, USAGM oversees four other networks: the Voice of America, a federal organization; and three nonprofit organizations, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks, which receive grants from USAGM. Open propaganda Authors of the audit acknowledged an inherent tension in all USAGM news organizations as part of the government. But they said nowhere is that tension more acute than in TV and Radio Marti. "Marti openly engages in both propaganda and the promotion of a current administrations foreign policy, the report says, in this case towards Cuba (as well as Venezuela and Nicaragua)." The audit cites multiple examples of Marti failing to meet journalistic standards, among them: Hosts and guests on Marti programs are so anti-Castro that their language is often raw. The host of one program, a dissident who spent 16 years in jail in Cuba, called the Castro government a cancer. A 30-minute program focused on the Trump administrations decision to let U.S. former owners of properties seized by the Cuban government file lawsuits in U.S. courts. No one explained why that might be detrimental for a new democratic government in Cuba and was avoided by previous administrations. Though Martis straight news had few factual errors, there was no effort to add context. Instead, guest(s) and hosts often refer to events from the 1960s with no explanation for an audience not intimately familiar with or too young to know about the early stages of the Cuban revolution. A losing proposition Radio and TV Martis one-sided talk shows and combative hosts that dwell on Cold War-era grievances, the authors found, are fundamentally ill-suited in today's Cuba, where 40% of the population was born after the fall of the Soviet Union. I'm not disputing the existence of those misdeeds, Suro said, but a lot of this happened before most of the people in Cuba were born. Regalado said OCB's biases were not the result of direct political interference or meddling by government officials as much as an institutional culture. These are very well-meaning people who want the best for Cuba, but who also are filled with lots of old resentments and anger that are totally understandable, Schumacher-Matos said. In recent years, the report says, there has been some easing of government controls, with more Cubans gaining internet access, increased influence for the Catholic Church and even growth in private markets. To reach this less-political audience in Cuba today, the report recommends more balanced journalism as well as neutral coverage of noncontroversial events in Cuba, such as hurricane evacuation. Regalado said Radio Marti recently created a program on gay and lesbian rights. Disciplinary moves The controversy over the Soros segment, originally broadcast in May 2018, became public months later after a blogger exposed it and U.S. mainstream media followed up. Among other things, Soros, a frequent target of conspiracy theorists, was described as a nonbelieving Jew of flexible morals. Regalado said nine Marti staffers were terminated, have resigned or been placed on probation, pending investigation. When launching the audit in February, Lansing denounced the Soros segment as deeply offensive and wholly inconsistent with our professional standards and ethics. OCB should not have aired it. Besides Schumacher-Matos and Suro, the other OCB audit panelists were Laura Castaneda with the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California; former Telemundo journalist Andrea Sarralde; and Maria Fernanda Sandoval, a Latin American specialist. Matt Walsh, the USAGM deputy director for operations, said in an interview that changing the culture at OCB will be a challenge. (Lansing) really wants us to focus on how we can rebuild OCB from the ground up, Walsh said of his boss, which certainly is something that's not going to happen overnight. In the last year, USAGM also dealt with other serious journalist ethical violations. In October, 15 journalists from the VOA Hausa language service were fired or disciplined for accepting bribes from a Nigerian official. And the chief of the VOA Mandarin language service was discharged for allowing a billionaire Chinese exile to make unsubstantiated charges against officials in Beijing during an extended live broadcast. In a potential challenge to U.S.-led efforts to build consensus on the Boeing Co 737 MAX flying again, Canada and Europe said on Wednesday they would bring back the grounded aircraft on their own terms if their specific concerns are not addressed. Global regulators will meet in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday where the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration hopes to reach an international consensus on how to move forward with the MAX, U.S. officials told Reuters. The plane was grounded worldwide in March following a fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash just months after a similar Lion Air disaster in Indonesia which together killed 346 people. Global airlines that had rushed to buy the fuel-efficient, longer-range aircraft have since canceled flights and scrambled to cover routes that were previously flown by the MAX. "From our point of view, if we all work together and we all reach the same aim, fine. If we don't, we'll choose our own time to decide when the planes are safe to fly again," Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau told Reuters in an interview. "The number one focus for us is that we in Canada must be satisfied. It doesn't matter what others do. So if we are not perfectly synchronized with certain other countries that's how it going to be," Garneau said. Regulators are expected to discuss Boeing's proposed software fix and new pilot training that are both key to re-starting flights. Boeing has not yet formally submitted its proposals to the FAA. A spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency said on Wednesday that it would complete an additional independent design review of the plane once the FAA approves Boeing's proposed changes and establishes "adequate training of Boeing MAX flight crews." Foreign regulators have already signaled disagreements over measures to end the grounding, with Garneau calling in April for pilots to receive simulator training for the MAX, rather than computer courses, going a step beyond FAA-backed proposals. Acting FAA Administrator Dan Elwell told Congress last week the FAA is working closely with other civil aviation authorities "to address specific concerns related to the 737 MAX." United Airlines Chief Executive Oscar Munoz said on Wednesday that FAA approval is only the first step, with public and employee confidence key to deciding when to fly its 14 MAX jets again. The editor of a Turkish Cypriot newspaper said Wednesday his acquittal on charges he insulted Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was a triumph of Turkish Cypriot justice. Sener Levent, editor of Afrika newspapers in the breakaway north of ethnically divided Cyprus, said he's confident the supreme court will side with him should his acquittal be challenged. Levent and colleague Ali Osman Tabak were acquitted last week over a 2017 front-page cartoon Afrika ran depicting a Greek statue urinating on Erdogan accompanied by the caption "as seen through Greek eyes." He called the ruling the "biggest legal achievement" by Turkish Cypriots since Cyprus was divided in 1974 when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of union with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes the breakaway Turkish Cypriot administration. He said the ruling sent Turkey a message that "you shall not pass." "A brave judge has acquitted us," Levent told the Associated Press. "If we win at the Supreme Court, it will be a very important ruling." Levent, an outspoken critic of Turkey's outsized influence in the north where it maintains more than 35,000 troops, said he has several other cases pending against him. He has written an article that likened Turkey's military presence in Syria to that in Cyprus, calling it an "occupation." His newspaper's offices were attacked last year by group of Erdogan supporters. Levent and five other Turkish Cypriots have formed the Jasmin Movement to vie for Cyprus' six seats in Sunday's European Parliament election, running under the mantra "one state, one people, one Cyprus." Istanbul's deposed mayor Ekrem Imamoglu said Wednesday that no one believed the "lies" used to overturn his recent election and called on voters to "correct this great shame" in next month's re-run. "Nobody believes their claims," Imamoglu said at a meeting in Istanbul to launch his re-election campaign. He accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party of peddling "lies" and "excuses" to overturn his narrow victory in the mayoral election in March. "When I look at their facial expressions, I see that they themselves do not believe them either," Imamoglu said. The election board earlier this month accepted the ruling party's allegations of "irregularities" and called a re-run of the vote for June 23. Imamoglu's victory for the opposition of the Republican People's Party (CHP) was the first time Erdogan's Islamic-conservative party and its predecessors had lost control of the metropolis in 25 years. Analysts say the government is reluctant to cede control of Turkey's biggest city, which provides its mayor with significant resources for patronage as well as a high-profile platform. "We will show the whole of Turkey on June 23 that there is no way out other than democracy and the ballot box," Imamoglu said. "Come and let's correct this great shame and unfairness all together." Imamoglu said his campaign would focus on reversing extravagant spending in the city's finances which he said he discovered during his brief 18-day stint as mayor. "The resources of Istanbul municipality are being plundered... Istanbul municipality is not the property of a handful of people," he said. The opposition candidate also accused the ruling party of copying his proposals, including reduced water bills and discounted student transport, saying it was like a schoolboy copying his homework. But he sought to maintain a positive message, in line with his efforts to bring unity to Turkey's fiercely partisan politics. "We will embrace everyone. ... Everyone is a patriot. ... You will see at the end of this process we will love each other more." The election board was due to release later on Wednesday its full explanation for cancelling the results of the first election. It did not annul the votes for the city council that were cast at the same time, and where the majority of seats went to Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party. Long-running research projects credited with pivotal discoveries about the harm that pesticides, air pollution and other hazards pose to children are in jeopardy or shutting down because the Environmental Protection Agency will not commit to their continued funding, researchers say. The projects being targeted make up a more than $300 million, federally funded program that over the past two decades has exposed dangers to fetuses and children. Those findings have often led to increased pressure on the EPA for tighter regulations. Children's health researchers and environmental groups accuse the EPA of trying to squelch scientific studies that the agency views as running counter to the Trump administration's mission of easing regulations and promoting business. "A lot of the centers, including mine, have identified a lot of chemicals that are associated with diseases in children,'' said Catherine Metayer, an epidemiologist who directs research into children's leukemia at University of California at Berkeley through the federal program. The EPA awarded smaller than average funding for the research grants for this year, asked Congress to cut funding for it from its budget, and has refused to commit to future funding for the program. "The EPA anticipates future funding opportunities that support EPA's high priority research topics, including children's health research,'' spokesman James Hewitt said, while declining to answer questions on the future for the national research projects. Children's centers at universities around the country typically get joint funding from the EPA and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in three- and five-year packages, with most packages running out in 2018 and 2019. With no word on future funding, researchers overall "have been kind of scrambling to find a way to continue that work which is so important,'' said Tracey Woodruff, director of the children's center at the University of California at San Francisco. Woodruff's federally funded work includes looking at how flame-retardant chemicals and PFAS compounds - a kind of stain-resistant, nonstick industrial compound - affect the placenta during pregnancy. The Trump EPA has come under increasing pressure from states to regulate PFAS as it shows up in more water supplies around the country. With no news from the EPA on any more funding in the future, "we've been winding down for about a year'' on work funded through those grants, Woodruff said. On Tuesday, a banner across a website home page for the overall children's research declared "EPA will no longer fund children's health research.'' The EPA and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences have jointly funded the children's environmental health research since 1997, through grants to at least two dozen children's environmental research centers around the country. The annual grants averaged $15 million through 2017. In the current fiscal year, the EPA contributed $1.6 million, agency spokeswoman Maggie Sauerhage said. The research often involves enrolling women while they are still pregnant and then following their children for years, to study environmental exposures and their effects as children grow, said Barbara Morrissey, a toxicologist and chairwoman of the EPA's Children's Health Protection Advisory Committee. The long-term projects often produce much stronger results overall than one-off studies do, Morrissey said. Each children's center funded by the grants also works to spread information about environmental threats to local health workers and to families. The institute is under the National Institutes of Health, which has numerous other children's environmental research studies underway but said with the EPA joint program left hanging, it was considering a new program to put lessons learned about pediatric risks into practice in communities. EPA's funding for the grants comes from the agency's Science To Achieve Results, or STAR, program for research into environmental threats. The Trump administration 2020 budget request sought to eliminate funding for the STAR grants, and sought a nearly one-third cut in the EPA's budget overall. A House Appropriations subcommittee released its own budget proposal Tuesday to restore funding for the STAR grants and boost the agency's overall budget from last year by 8%, rejecting the administration's requests for cuts. EPA spokespeople did not respond when asked why the EPA had asked Congress to end funding for the grant program, and whether the agency would commit to continuing the children's health research if Congress overrides the EPA and restores funding for the grants, as expected. The science journal Nature first reported funding concerns for the program. In a statement Tuesday, Ken Cook of the Environmental Working Group said "crippling research to protect children's health, while bowing to the agenda of the chemical industry, is the calling card of the EPA in the Trump administration.'' Even if the administration restores funding to previous levels, for one year or several years, the time span of grant cycles and grant-funded work means that uncertainty over continued federal support is making the intended multiyear research untenable, researchers and program supporters said. "The whole point of these children's centers is to be following children over time,'' Morrissey, the chairwoman of the advisory committee to the EPA, said. "That's why it's so high-quality.'' South of Copenhagen, Denmarks Baltic coastline is a sleepy warren of low-lying islands and inlets. Often ice-bound in winter, the region is a summer playground for many Danes who flock to the campsites and yacht marinas. The tranquillity has been punctured by the Danish governments latest plans to deal with foreign criminals part of a wide-ranging crackdown on immigration. Two kilometers offshore from the tiny harbor at Kalvehave lies Lindholm Island. The locals have labeled it Denmarks Guantanamo Bay, referring to the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Lindholm Island has been designated as a future home for up to 100 foreign criminals. Its a disaster. Its a disaster on the Danish reputation all over the world, says Knud Bondesen, a long-time local resident who took VOA out on his boat for a closer look at the island. Two-hundred meters from shore, Bondesen cuts the engine. Lindholm Island has been off limits since the 1920s, when it was purchased by the state and turned into a scientific laboratory. Its still being used as a veterinary research center for deadly diseases like foot and mouth, and mad cow disease. The government plans to spend over $100 million over the next three years converting the island into what will be in effect an open prison. It will house foreigners convicted of serious crimes who have served out their sentences but who cannot be deported for legal or other reasons. They must sleep on the island. During the day they will be free to take the ferry to the mainland and will arrive at the tiny port of Kalvehave. Local residents are fearful. What are they going to do with those persons that are not showing up at the ferry when it goes back in the evening? So we feel very unsafe about this because it could really have a negative impact on our lovely town, says Joachim Brix-Hansen, the director of a local manufacturing company. Human rights groups say the deprivation of liberty would likely breach European law. Denmarks immigration minister defended the plan, writing on Facebook recently: "They are unwanted in Denmark, and they will feel that." Later this week, citizens of the European Union vote to choose their next Members of the European Parliament, who will shape the course of the EU over the next five years. In one of the most hotly contested campaigns so far, migration and identity are playing a big role. The mayor of the local Vordingborg region, Mikael Smed, says the government is stoking migration problems. I think that many people have opened their eyes to this issue about migration, that its not a thing that we in Denmark can solve ourselves. We will have to cooperate with other countries the EU and perhaps other countries in the world to solve these issues about migration, Smed told VOA. The issues are being debated from the far eastern shores of Europe to the windswept islands of the Baltic Sea. In Denmark, as in the rest of the EU, migration and identity are playing a key role in the minds of voters as they decide the path of Europe. Police in Somalia say former foreign minister Hussein Elabe Fahiye was among at least five people killed when a car bomb exploded Wednesday near the presidential palace in the capital, Mogadishu. At least 13 other people were injured. Militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the blast, saying they were targeting soldiers, lawmakers and other government officials. Al-Shabab frequently carries out bomb blasts in the capital near the presidential compound and at hotels frequented by government officials and foreigners. Authorities in Zimbabwe have charged five human rights campaigners arrested earlier this week, accusing them of plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa, lawyers said Wednesday. "The five were charged with subverting a constitutional government," Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) spokesman Kumbirai Mafunda said in a statement. Four of the activists were arrested Monday when disembarking from a flight at Harare airport. The fifth was arrested at the same airport Tuesday. According to the lawyers, police said the activists had attended a workshop in the Maldives run by a group that trained people "how to mobilize citizens to turn against the government and to engage in acts of civil disobedience." The arrests came days after state-owned daily The Herald ran a story claiming organizations with links to the main opposition MDC party "had been hard at work laying the groundwork for civil unrest to be unleashed next month." Zimbabwean authorities have in the past used brutal force, including the use of live ammunition, to crush dissent. VOA's Richard Green contributed to this report. Indonesian President Joko Widodo says he will not tolerate anyone disturbing the country's democratic process, after deadly clashes between police and supporters of Prabowo Subianto, the former army general who lost the recent election but is contesting the results. Jakarta's governor said at least six people were killed and more than 200 injured in the violence Wednesday. "We will not give any space for riots, especially those who will damage Indonesia," the recently re-elected President Widodo told reporters, adding that the police and military will take firm action "in accordance with the law." Authorities say protesters refused to disperse as police tried to persuade them to leave, saying that it's Ramadan and they should refrain from committing violence during the holy month. The protesters even set fire to a police dormitory and vehicles.The police finally used tear gas to disperse the protesters. National Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told VOA that protests turned violent Tuesday night and continued until early Wednesday. Dozens of people were arrested. Widodo said the situation is now under control as he called on Indonesians to unite following the election. Indonesia's Election Commission on Tuesday confirmed that Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, was re-elected with 55.50% of the vote, defeating former army general Prabowo. The victory was confirmed by the General Elections Commission (KPU). Prabowo, a four-time presidential candidate who is associated with the traditional political elite and hard-line Islamists, captured 44.50%. He has refused to accept the results and plans to challenge the election in the Constitutional Court on Thursday. He alleged massive fraud but provided no credible evidence. Speaking to reporters late Wednesday, Prabowo expressed his condolences over the six people killed in the protests. "We support all moral and constitutional means that are peaceful and non-violent in this political fight for our nation. I plead to all elements who exercising their aspiration the police, the armed forces and everyone else to refrain themselves from acts of violence, or even verbal violence, anything that is provocative," he said. Earlier this week he had urged his supporters to show their support peacefully. "Our steps should be constitutional, democratic, peaceful, without any violence! Those who still believe in me and my friends here... we fight not for personal benefit, but for the sovereignty of the people, for democracy, for independent Indonesia, to be free from occupation in any form," he said. Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono told VOA that at least 50,000 police had been deployed in anticipation of the planned protests. Iran's supreme leader publicly chastised the country's moderate president and foreign minister Wednesday, saying he disagreed with the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal they negotiated with world powers. The extraordinary comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the first time he's criticized both politicians by name, came amid tensions with the United States a year after Washington's withdrawal from the accord. Khamenei has final say on all matters of state, and his assessment limits the influence of President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who are relative moderates within Iran's Shiite theocracy. It also shows the growing power of hard-liners. The White House this month sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region over a still-unexplained threat it had perceived from Iran. Since that development, Iran has announced it will back away from the atomic accord. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged off its coast, and Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen launched drone attacks into Saudi Arabia. Fear of mistake Both Washington and Tehran have said in recent days that they want to ease heightened tensions in the region. But many fear a miscalculation between the two countries, who have a 40-year history of mistrust, could escalate the situation. Khamenei made the comments before hard-line students gathered for a Ramadan lecture. For years, hard-liners have criticized the accord for giving too much away. Khamenei had given his implicit stamp of approval on the deal, the signing of which sparked spontaneous celebrations across Iran. The accord called for Iran to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. But the deal has unraveled since Trump's withdrawal, with the U.S. re-imposing old sanctions and coming up with even stricter new ones. ``To some extent, I did not believe in the way that the nuclear deal was implemented,'' Khamenei said, according to his official website. ``Many times I reminded both the president and the foreign minister.'' Khamenei has previously warned that the West, especially the U.S., isn't trustworthy. But he hadn't named Iran's top elected politician and top diplomat before Wednesday night. He's previously said the two have done the best they could. Even before Trump became president and later withdrew from the deal, there were concerns in Washington that the supreme leader might turn on the agreement if the envisioned sanctions relief fell short of what Tehran expected. For that reason, the Obama administration dispatched senior officials to Europe, Asia and elsewhere to explain to foreign governments and countries what was permitted. Former Secretary of State John Kerry and former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew each encouraged foreign investors to do business with Iran so that the benefits of the deal would be apparent to the Iranian people. Loss of oil revenue Since Trump's pullout last year and the reimposition of U.S. sanctions in November, remaining parties to the deal have been unable to keep up the pace of relief, and Iran's economy has been significantly harmed, notably because of the loss of revenue from oil exports and the risk of incurring U.S. penalties that has dissuaded international companies from opening shop in Iran. While Iran's supreme leader does oversee elected representatives, his main role in society is spiritual rather than political. Khamenei acknowledged that in his speech Wednesday night, saying the gravity of the situation called on him to speak. ``Our belief is that the leadership should not enter into the executive issues, unless if it affects the entire revolution,'' Khamenei said. There was no immediate comment from either Rouhani, who is serving his second four-year term as president, or Zarif. Khamenei did not directly address the ongoing tensions, which include the heightened U.S. naval presence in the region. However, during his appearance with the students, one came up to Khamenei with a painting of the Revolutionary Guard soldier credited with laying mines targeting U.S.-escorted oil tankers in the Persian Gulf during Iran's 1980s war with Iraq. The Guard says he was killed in a confrontation with the U.S. Navy. On Monday, Iran announced it had quadrupled its production capacity of low-enriched uranium. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the nuclear deal, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the nuclear accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels. Not seeking conflict Earlier Wednesday, a prominent reformist lawmaker who chairs parliament's national security and foreign policy commission stressed that neither Iran nor its proxy allies were seeking armed conflict with the U.S. ``Under no circumstance will we enter a war,'' Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said, according to the semiofficial ILNA news agency. ``No group can announce that it has entered a proxy war from Iran's side.'' Meanwhile, Iran's army chief, Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, alleged without providing evidence that Saudi Arabia and the U.S. were behind the sabotage of the oil tankers off the UAE, as well as a rocket that landed near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The U.S. has blamed Iran for both incidents without publicly offering evidence. America also has evacuated nonessential diplomatic staff from Iraq amid the tensions. The U.S. Air Force also announced Wednesday that a B-52 bomber deployed to America's vast Al-Udeid Air Base over the tensions took part in a formation flight with Qatari fighter jets. That comes as Qatar has grown closer to Iran after facing a nearly two-year boycott by four Arab nations also allied with the U.S. ``This flight was conducted to continue building military-to-military relationships'' with Qatar, the Air Force said. Iran will "under no circumstances" enter a war either directly or indirectly with the United States, a prominent reformist Iranian lawmaker said Wednesday, as both Washington and Tehran try to ease heightened tensions in the region. The reported comments by Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh come after the White House earlier this month sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region over a still-unexplained threat it perceived from Iran. Since that development, Iran has announced it will back away from the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, an accord that President Donald Trump pulled America out of a year ago. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged off its coast, and Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen have launched drone attacks into Saudi Arabia. Falahatpisheh's comments, reported by the semi-official ILNA news agency, carry additional heft as he serves as the chairman of the Iranian parliament's national security and foreign policy commission. "Under no circumstance will we enter a war," Falahatpisheh said, according to ILNA. "No group can announce that it has entered a proxy war from Iran's side." Since Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, Tehran has worked to leverage relationships with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, Hamas in the Gaza Strip and others to counter what it perceives as the threat from America's vast military presence across the Mideast. Analysts believe that if attacked, Iran could rely on those militant groups to target American troops, Israel and other U.S. allies in the region. Uranium stockpile On Monday, Iran announced it had quadrupled its production capacity of low-enriched uranium. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the nuclear accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Mideast already on edge. The U.S. Air Force announced Wednesday that a B-52 bomber deployed to America's vast Al-Udeid Air Base over the tensions took part in a formation flight with Qatari fighter jets. That comes as Qatar has grown closer to Iran after facing a nearly two-year boycott by four Arab nations also allied with the U.S. "This flight was conducted to continue building military-to-military relationships" with Qatar, the Air Force said. The collapse of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq is doing little to slow down the terror group's branch in Afghanistan. Newly unclassified intelligence suggests IS-Khorasan, as the group is known, is growing both in numbers and ambition, now boasting as many as 5,000 fighters nearly five times as many as estimates from last year while turning its focus to bigger and more spectacular attacks. Military officials say the numbers, shared by U.S. Forces-Afghanistan for the latest quarterly report by the Lead Inspector General for Operation Freedom Sentinel, issued Tuesday, are "low confidence" estimates but that IS-Khorasan has fighters in Kabul, as well as in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces and in other parts of northeastern Afghanistan. More worrisome, according to defense intelligence officials, is that the terror group has been gaining ground, both against the Afghan government and the Taliban, expanding the amount of territory under its control in Kunar province since the start of the year. It also appears IS-Khorasan has managed to gain a toe-hold in other areas. The assessment finds it is "highly likely" IS has smaller cells operating in parts of Afghanistan under either government or Taliban control. "We're very concerned about their capability and trajectory," Col. Dave Butler, the spokesman for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, told VOA. "IS-K has made it clear that they aspire to attack the United States and our allies." The current state of IS in Afghanistan would appear to represent a remarkable turnaround from the terror group's fortunes in April 2017, when the U.S. dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal, a GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast, on an IS cave and tunnel system in Nangarhar province. A series of subsequent U.S. strikes killed the then IS-Khorasan emir and his replacement, and cut the estimated number of fighters from 3,000 to 600. As recently as late last year, top U.S. military officials insisted IS-Khorasan was being kept in check. "ISIS-K is not growing," Gen. John Nicholson, the outgoing commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, said in September before handing over the command to Gen. Scott Miller. Yet despite losing key leaders and suffering constant setbacks on the battlefield, IS-Khorasan found a way to maintain its numbers, successfully recruiting disgruntled Taliban fighters as well as jihadis from further afield. Afghan officials have likewise warned that IS-Khorasan has benefited from surges of thousands of foreign fighters from Pakistan and Uzbekistan, plus the inflow of hundreds of IS fighters fleeing from Syria. But increasingly, many of IS-Khorasan's recruits are local, with fewer coming from the ranks of disgruntled Taliban fighters. And the group has even taken a page out of IS core's playbook, targeting young men seeking economic opportunity. "IS does a lot of recruiting in Afghanistan and the region attempting to enlist disaffected youth and even tech-savvy young people looking for an alternative," Butler said. The U.S. and Afghanistan are not the only countries voicing concern about the growing IS-Khorasan presence. Russia's top intelligence official, FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov, on Tuesday warned that 5,000 IS foreign fighters, many of whom have fought in Syria, were massing along Afghanistan's northern border, potentially threatening former Soviet states in the region. Bortnikov made the comments while visiting Tajikistan, which has blamed a deadly May 19 riot at one of its high-security prisons on IS followers who were being held there. Many Western intelligence officials and analysts have long been skeptical of Russia's claims when it comes to IS in Afghanistan, noting Moscow is prone to inflate numbers to serve its own interests in the region. Libyan eastern commander Khalifa Haftar told French President Emmanuel Macron that conditions for a cease-fire were not in place, although he would be ready to talk if those conditions were met, a French presidency official said. Macron and French officials have for several weeks called for an unconditional cease-fire in the battle for Tripoli after Haftar last month launched an offensive on the Libyan capital. "The distrust we see between the Libyan actors is stronger than ever today," said a French presidential official after the meeting between Macron and Haftar in Paris. "When the question of the cease-fire was put on the table, Haftar's reaction to this was to ask, 'Negotiate with whom for a cease-fire today?'" the official said. "He considers that the GNA [U.N.-backed Government of National Unity led by Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj] is completely infested by militias and it is not for him to negotiate with representatives of these militias." The official said Macron had asked Haftar to make a public step toward a cease-fire and Haftar responded by saying that an inclusive political dialogue was necessary and he would be ready for it if the conditions for a cease-fire were in place. Macron met Serraj earlier this month, but a day after meeting him, Serraj's administration asked 40 foreign firms including French oil major Total to renew their licences or have their operations suspended. Tripoli is home to the internationally-recognized administration, but some European countries such as France have also supported eastern military commander Haftar as a way to fight militants in a country in chaos since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Haftar also said neither him nor his army were benefiting from oil sales in the east of the country, the official said. An appeals court in Madagascar on Wednesday upheld a six-year prison term for three people trafficking in critically endangered radiated tortoises. Two men and a woman were also fined more than $26,000 when they were convicted last month. The suspects were arrested last year after neighbors complained of a dreadful smell in a house. Police found more than 10,000 of the reptiles covering the floor throughout the house. About 500 tortoises were dead. The Worldwide Fund for Nature called the World Wildlife Fund in North America said this was a record seizure of tortoises. The survivors were cleaned up and quarantined before being released back into their natural habitat. Radiated tortoises are extremely rare, and experts say they may be on the verge of extinction. They are named for the unusual markings on their shells that look like beams radiating from the sun. Their shells have blood vessels. Unlike other tortoises, they can feel their shells being touched. It was not enough for a Nepali Sherpa to climb Mount Everest a record 24th time Tuesday, so he did it twice in the same week. Kami Rita reached the 8,850-meter peak at 6:38 a.m. Tuesday, six days after scaling the world's tallest mountain for the 23rd time on May 15. The 49-year-old told Reuters he was not yet done. "I am still strong and want to climb Sagarmatha 25 times," he said, using the mountain's Nepali name. Rita has already set a high mark for the climbers of the future. Two other Sherpas have scaled Everest 21 times each, but they have both since retired. He began climbing Everest in 1994 while working as a guide for companies that organize expeditions. "I never thought about making records," he told the BBC last week. "I actually never knew that you could make a record. Had I known, I would have made a lot more summits earlier." Besides Everest, Rita has scaled some of the other highest mountains, K-2, Cho-Oyu, Manaslu and Lhotse. This year, Nepal has granted 381 climbing permits to 44 teams. Of those, 14 are Nepali, according to the Department of Tourism. As of Monday, at least 75 climbers had reached the top of Everest, according to The Rising Nepal. May offers a short window of favorable weather for the climbers. Everest was first conquered in 1953 by Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Their route is the same one Rita and many other climbers still use today. The Organization of American States is urging Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega to stick to his agreement to unconditionally free all political prisoners by the June 18 deadline. At a Washington meeting Tuesday, an OAS resolution also demanded "free, fair and transparent elections" in Nicaragua along with freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protests. The opposition plans to pressure the Ortega government by holding a nationwide general strike Thursday. The government said Monday it already released more than 300 political prisoners. The opposition says about 500 still remain behind bars while officials put the figure at 132. Nicaragua has been in political turmoil since a protests against social spending reforms last year turned into general anti-government protests, sparking a violent crackdown by security forces. Human rights officials say more than 320 people have been killed and about 2,000 wounded. Ortega has refused demands to resign or hold early elections. SEOUL- Juhyun Lee contributed to this report. North Korean state media slammed Joe Biden as an "imbecile" and a "fool of low IQ" Wednesday, Pyongyangs first substantial comments on the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The commentary in the state-run Korean Central News Agency criticized Biden for recently referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as a thug and a tyrant. "[Biden] reeled off rhetoric slandering the supreme leadership of the DPRK," KCNA said, using the acronym for North Koreas official name. "What he uttered is just sophism of an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician." The statement does not represent a formal endorsement of Trump; North Korean media often lash out at world leaders who criticize members of the ruling Kim family. "What is interesting this time is that the North Koreans may be attacking who they figure is Trumps main domestic rival to curry favor with the president," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. Polls indicate Biden leading his Democratic rivals, as well as Trump, in the 2020 race. The former vice president often criticizes Trumps diplomatic outreach to authoritarian leaders. He recently slammed Kim as a thug. "He's the same guy (who had) his uncle's brains blown out sitting across a desk," Biden said earlier this month, referring to Kims 2013 execution of his uncle and mentor, Jang Song-thaek. The un-bylined KCNA editorial did not mention Trump. But it did appear to give a nod to Trumps newly rolled out nickname for Biden: "Sleepy Joe." "In April 2011 when the then President [Barack] Obama was in the middle of making a speech, [Biden] was fast asleep in the auditorium," the commentary said, adding Biden became a "laughing-stock of the media." Trump, who is 72 years old, has attempted to portray Biden, who is 76, as not having enough energy to become president. KCNA also hit at Bidens reputation for making verbal gaffes. "Yet, he is self-praising himself as being the most popular presidential candidate," the editorial said. "This is enough to make a cat laugh." It isnt the first time North Korean media have weighed in during a Trump presidential run. In 2016, an editorial in the DPRK Today, a China-based North Korean mouthpiece, called Trump "wise" and "far-sighted," while slamming his opponent Hillary Clinton as "dull." Even though North Korea has recently taken a more aggressive stance toward the United States, state media have been careful not to criticize Trump. One North Korean official said Kims relationship with Trump remains mysteriously wonderful, even though nuclear talks have broken down. Instead, North Korean state media have slammed other U.S. officials such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Advisor John Bolton. "Whether the person is Democrat or Republican, North Korean media will always react against someone who insults their leader," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at Seouls University of North Korean Studies. "And unless Trump calls Kim a dictator or says something harsh, North Korea will not directly criticize the president." Soo Kim, a North Korea watcher and former CIA analyst, agrees that Pyongyang doesnt typically endorse U.S. presidential candidates. But Pyongyang clearly wants Trump to remain in office so that negotiations can continue, she said. Nuclear talks broke down following a Trump-Kim summit in February in Hanoi, Vietnam. The two leaders were unable to agree on how to match the pace of sanctions relief with steps to dismantle North Koreas nuclear program. Kim has said he will give the United States until the end of the year to change its approach, and has begun testing ballistic missiles for the first time in a year and a half. Trump has shrugged off Kims deadline and the missile launches, saying he is in no hurry for a deal. The foreign ministers of Pakistan and India met informally Wednesday on the sidelines of a meeting of regional countries in Kyrgyzstan, the first contact between the two nuclear-armed South Asian rival nations since they stepped back from the brink of war in February. Pakistani officials said Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi briefly interacted with his Indian counterpart, Sushma Swaraj, at the end of a two-day ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a China-led security bloc, in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. "We made it clear to her that we want to resolve all the issues amicably through negotiations. ... Even today we are ready for negotiations," a Foreign Ministry statement quoted Qureshi as telling Swaraj. He noted his Indian counterpart had a complaint that "we [Pakistan] sometimes talk bitterly and she brought sweets so we could also speak sweetly." Officials in New Delhi offered no immediate comment, but Indian media quoted their Foreign Ministry sources as saying Swaraj only exchanged pleasantries with Qureshi and "there was no meeting between them." In mid-February, a suicide bomber struck an Indian paramilitary convoy in the disputed Kashmir territory, killing 40 security personnel. Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing, fueling tensions between the two countries. Islamabad denied responsibility for the attack. Aerial combat Indian fighter planes on Feb. 26 flew into Pakistan and carried out airstrikes against what New Delhi alleged was a JeM training camp in the mountainous town of Balakot. The next day, Pakistan responded with airstrikes of its own, shooting down an Indian plane and capturing its pilot in an ensuing dogfight over the disputed Kashmir border. The aerial clash was the first between Pakistan and India in five decades, raising fears of another full-scale war. Pakistan returned the Indian pilot two days later, and the tensions have since eased. The Kashmir dispute has sparked two of the three wars between the two countries and it remains the primary source of mutual tensions. Both India and Pakistan claim the Himalayan region in its entirety. Wednesdays informal interaction between the two foreign ministers came a day before the announcement of the results of Indian general elections. Most exit polls have predicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance will return to power for a second term. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said last month that he saw a better chance of peace talks with India and "some kind of settlement in Kashmir" if Modis nationalist BJP were to win the elections. Pope Francis has appointed two auxiliary bishops to Santiago, Chile. They are the first bishops who have been appointed to the South American nation since the entire bishops conference offered its resignation due to what the pontiff described as a "culture of cover up" when it comes to clerical abuse. The newly appointed auxiliary bishops are Carlos Irarrazaval Errazuriz and Alberto Lorenzelli Rossi, both of whom served as priests in the Chilean capital. The latter is an Italian-Argentine who arrived in Chile five years ago and is not part of the long-standing divisions existing among the clergy in Santiago. The appointments come one year after an emergency summit took place at the Vatican to discuss the clerical sexual abuse scandal engulfing the Catholic Church in Chile. In May of last year, in the wake of the scandal and in an unprecedented move by an entire national bishops' conference, all 34 bishops in Chile offered to resign. The bishops made the announcement after attending the crisis meeting with Pope Francis about the cover-up of clerical sexual abuse in their country. They had signed a document en masse in which they put their fate in the hands of the pope. Chilean bishop Juan Ignacio Gonzales said at the same time, the bishops also apologized for the pain caused to the victims of abuse, to the pope, to the people of God, and to Chile for their serious mistakes and omissions. In a strongly worded document on the scandal, Francis said the entire Chilean Church hierarchy was collectively responsible for grave defects' in handling cases and the resulting loss of credibility that the Catholic Church had suffered in the country. This past March, the pope accepted the resignation of 77-year-old Cardinal Ricardo Ezzati Andrello, archbishop of Santiago, who had been accused of covering up for crimes of abusive priests. The pope appointed Bishop Celestino Aos Braco of Copiapo as apostolic administrator of Santiago. The ethnic minorities in Vietnam most likely to escape poverty are those who have good infrastructure, sell cash crops besides rice, and look for factory work, according to a report from the World Bank released on Wednesday. The government plans by the year 2020 to incorporate findings from the report into a strategy for socio-economic development in underserved areas. "We find this research a valuable source of reference for our policy formulation process, especially at the time when we are now working with concerned ministries and provinces to draw up a master proposal on comprehensive investment" for minorities, said Do Van Chien, who is minister chairman of the government's Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs (CEMA). The report indicates that minorities will have a better chance to catch up if Vietnam focuses on connectivity in all its forms. That means more infrastructure, from bridges for transporting their products, to internet access for staying informed. It also means the ability to connect to business networks, whether for job openings, supply chain relationships, or other partnerships. The communist country has 54 ethnic groups that are recognized officially by the government, though others exist as well. These range from the Cham civilization that built ancient towers in the south before the Kinh came from the north, to the K'Ho people of the central highlands, to the Montagnards, who were marginalized after aiding the United States in the Vietnam War. The difficulties faced by Vietnam's ethnic minorities extends beyond the past few years. The World Bank estimates that the poverty level among minorities in Vietnam was 23 percent in 2016, about three times the national rate. It said that minorities could account for 84% of the country's population who are still poor by 2020. Ousmane Dione, the World Bank's country director in Vietnam, hopes some of that can change with suggestions from his office's latest report, Drivers of Socio-Economic Development Among Ethnic Minority Groups in Vietnam. "From the study, we see tremendous opportunities to further advance the inclusion agenda by consciously adopting a differentiated approach toward development in ethnic minority areas," Dione said. "Vietnam can count on the World Bank's support in mainstreaming this agenda through investments in transport and infrastructure in rural and mountainous areas, [and] agricultural diversification." South Africa's justice minister says Mozambique's former finance minister will be extradited to his native Mozambique instead of to the U.S., as requested by U.S. officials to face charges for his alleged involvement in a massive loan scandal that crippled that nation's economy. Former Mozambican finance minister Manuel Chang, who was arrested in transit through Johannesburg in December, is wanted by both the U.S. and Mozambique for his alleged role in a $2 billion debt scandal that has wrought economic chaos in the southern African nation. Both the U.S. and Mozambique filed petitions to extradite Chang, and last month a Johannesburg court referred the case to South Africa's justice minister, Michael Masutha, who said in his statement that he was "satisfied that the interest of justice will be best served by acceding to the request by the Republic of Mozambique." U.S. officials declined to comment when contacted by VOA. Nation suffering But Chang faces a mixed reception at home. While the Mozambican government clearly wants him back, most citizens do not, because they fear he will not face the same level of scrutiny as he would in an American court, says prominent Mozambican political commentator Fernando Lima. "I'm 100 percent sure that all different official departments, including the attorney general's office, is very happy with the outcome announced last night by the minister," he told VOA. "On the opposite side, the popular reaction has been very, very negative." The secret loan led the coastal nation to suffer a debt crisis so severe it has deprived citizens of the most essential services, like road maintenance and well-maintained hospitals. It's not clear what charges Chang would face in Mozambique South African prosecutors say they did not receive a Mozambican charge sheet. The U.S. indictment, issued by the Eastern District of New York, accuses Chang and others of "intentionally divert(ing) portions of the loan proceeds to pay at least $200 million in bribes and kickbacks to themselves, Mozambican government officials and others." Earlier this week, a former Credit Suisse banker involved in the case pleaded guilty in a New York court to a charge that she helped launder money as part of the scheme. Accountability Human Rights Watch researcher Zenaida Machado told VOA that she feels the venue of Chang's trial is irrelevant what matters, she says, is that he faces a fair trial. "I'm not sure if the point is whether he's sent to Mozambique or to the U.S.," she said. "And I would really avoid having that kind of conversation, because it kind of suggests that one country or another is better for human rights, which is not the point of the work we do. What would I prefer to focus on is on the need to hold people accountable for the damage they have caused to millions of Mozambicans." The government has arrested 20 or so people in connection with the scandal in recent months, but no one has been tried. In fact, Machado said, it's not clear what will happen to Chang once he returns home. "The immunity must be removed from him," she said. "So, the appeal we have for the parliament is that they do what they should to. Which is to allow the authorities to arrest Mr. Chang, and to take him to justice so he has his chance to prove whether he's innocent or not." Japan is shaping up as Chinas chief rival in the disputed South China Sea because it has a sustained, multi-pronged approach and a unique set of reasons to test Beijings growing influence, analysts say. The country has emerged since 2017 as a force in the sea. It works with the United States on joint naval exercises including one from May 2-8 that also involved warships from India and the Philippines. Japan has separately sent its Izumo-class helicopter carrier to the sea at least four times since 2017. That year it took a three-month tour. Japan, unlike the United States, is helping Southeast Asian claimants to the South China Sea develop infrastructure and maritime firepower. Japanese officials dont claim the sea, but a separate territorial dispute with China motivates them to keep a watch on Chinese influence. Japanese citizens tend to support foreign policy targeting China, analysts say. Under (Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo) Abe, Tokyo has enhanced defense and security engagements in Southeast Asia, not least with the South China Sea in mind, said Collin Koh, maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. I believe Beijing will...be concerned about Japan using the South China Sea. US ally At least six other countries with no claims in the South China Sea sovereignty dispute have sent ships into the waterway over the past three years. They are Australia, France, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. All but Washington send ships too sporadically to cause major alarm in China, despite protests from Beijings foreign ministry, scholars have said. The United States operates the worlds strongest armed forces, and the U.S. Navy has sailed in the sea 11 times under President Donald Trump alone. China worries most about the United States, followed by Japan, Asia scholars say. That's partly because Japan is a U.S. treaty ally of nearly 60 years. Japan is more northeast focused, but it does venture down to the South China Sea, said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia. You cant push Japan around without thinking about what the U.S. would do. Public sentiment Also setting Japan apart, its government has sparred with China since 1996 over sovereignty in parts of the East China Sea. Most Japanese fret over Chinas rise, giving their government a stronger mandate to check Chinese expansion through alliances with other countries, said Jeffrey Kingston, history instructor at Temple Universitys Japan campus. I think theres a lot of concern about rising China and about North Korea, so in this environment I think the government, which in a way helps to stoke those anxieties, is seizing the opportunity to build these coalitions (and) partnerships, Kingston said. Persistence, economic aid The frequency and duration of Japans Izumo tours of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer South China Sea stand out from other outside parties except for the United States, analysts say. After the May 2-8 exercises, the Izumo joined Australian, French and U.S. ships west of the Indonesian island of Sumatra for another round of South China Sea exercises. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam claim all or parts of the sea, which stretches from Hong Kong to Borneo. Their exclusive economic zones all overlap the 90 percent that China calls its own. Militarily weaker than Beijing, the Southeast Asian claimants resent Chinas use of reclaimed land to build up tiny islets for aircraft hangars, radar systems and support for oil exploration. Claimant countries prize the sea as well for its marine shipping lanes and undersea reserves of gas and oil. Japan relies on it for raw materials and shipping routes for its exports. Unlike other outsiders to the dispute, Japan has offered direct military support to countries that contest Chinese maritime claims. Japan's Self-Defense Forces agreed last year to join the United States in joint exercises with the Philippines. This month the Japanese Defense Minister met his Vietnamese counterpart to tighten their maritime security ties. Japanese officials are lending money to both Southeast Asian countries for infrastructure projects. Chinese reaction China cites documents going back to dynastic years to show historic use of the sea, bolstering its claim. The Chinese foreign ministry protests when U.S. ships or U.S.-allied ships sail there, calling the moves outside intervention in a regional dispute. Japans activity is unlikely to stop China from operating in the seas Paracel Islands, a chain it has controlled since the 1970s, or militarizing three major islets in the Spratly archipelago, scholars have said. But they say the activity may help deter China from taking more islets claimed by other countries. China will reverse the argument to say you all are militarizing the South China Sea, not me, and I think they will just play that game and not do anything further, said Alan Chong, associate professor at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. The next NATO summit will be held in London in December, marking the alliance's 70th anniversary, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday. "The next summit of Allied leaders will take place on 3-4 December 2019 in London. ... I look forward to a successful summit," he said. Stoltenberg said the had discussed preparations for the summit of heads of state and government with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a visit to London last week. The December summit will be a chance to "address current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead," Stoltenberg said in a statement. He added that London was a fitting venue to mark 70 years of transatlantic military cooperation because it was home to the alliance's first headquarters after the United Kingdom become one of NATO's 12 founding members in 1949. Nowadays there are 29 member states and the headquarters is in Brussels. "London was the home of our first headquarters, so it is a fitting venue for NATO heads of state and government to plan the Alliance's future," said Stoltenberg. Delicate time The 70th anniversary comes at a delicate time for NATO. Tensions with Russia are at a high not seen since the Cold War. There are also concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the alliance and his willingness to honor its mutual defense pact. Trump has been unstinting in his criticism of NATO's European members, accusing them of freeloading on the protection offered by the U.S. military while not spending enough on their own armed forces. Before taking office, Trump called NATO "obsolete." NATO summits normally conclude with a formal, binding statement of aims and actions agreed by all allies such as the 2014 agreement to try to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense. It is yet to be confirmed whether a statement will be issued at December's meeting. Brexit and NATO Britain is due to leave the European Union in October, and the December summit will be seen as a signal of solidarity between NATO and the U.K., which is the continent's leading military power, along with France. "Brexit will change the United Kingdom's relationship to the European Union but it will not change the United Kingdom's relationship to NATO," Stoltenberg said in February. On Wednesday, he was back in London for talks with British Defense Secretary Penny Mordaunt. On Thursday, he will participate in a conference on cybersecurity in the British capital. The Swiss government on Wednesday proposed new laws aimed at preventing extremist violence and forcing people including children deemed a threat to be registered with authorities, with house arrest a last resort in some cases. The measures, due now to be considered by Switzerland's parliament, are part of an evolving national action plan against violent extremism introduced in 2017. Though Switzerland has, so far, been spared deadly Islamist militant attacks that hit Germany, France and Belgium in recent years, it is wary and has been tracking hundreds of suspected extremist threats under a national jihad monitoring program. Federal Police Director Nicoletta della Valle told a news conference in Bern she expects "a few dozen people" could be affected by the expanded measures, should they be enacted. Such individuals, according to the legislation, could be made to report their whereabouts to police stations. Their passports could be confiscated, to prevent travel abroad, and they could be slapped with no-contact orders. People slated for deportation who are deemed threats would be incarcerated, while Swiss police would get new powers to covertly track suspected threats via electronic media. "House arrest is seen as a last resort and would require permission from the Swiss Federal Police as well as approval from the courts," a cabinet statement said. Such measures could last six months and be renewed. Children as young as 12 could be required to register with authorities, placed under surveillance or have passports confiscated. Those as young as 15 could get house arrest, according to the legislation. The 28-page legislative proposal stops short of allowing so-called "secure housing" for suspected extremists something Swiss law enforcement agencies had wanted "because it was determined to have violated the European Convention on Human Rights," the cabinet said. Switzerland has prosecuted several extremism-related cases in recent years, including three Iraq men jailed in 2016 for between 42 and 56 months for belonging to or supporting a terrorist organization. In July, a trial is slated for a 48-year-old Kosovo native accused of breaking Swiss laws forbidding Islamic State and Al Qaeda. Of 92 Swiss "jihad travelers" identified as having journeyed to the Middle East to participate in violent conflicts since 2001, 31 are dead. Another 16 have returned to Switzerland, the government has said. "All this shows that while Switzerland is a safe country, there's still a threat," Interior Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said with respect to why the new measures are needed. Taliban insurgents detonated a vehicle-born bomb in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday, killing at least three people and injuring 15 others. Afghan officials said a stolen explosive-laden Humvee military vehicle was being driven toward a security-related compound in the provincial capital of Ghazni, but police forces intercepted and fired rockets at it. The clash prompted the suicide bomber to prematurely explode the bomb, a senior security official told VOA Afghan news service. Ramzan Ali Mohsini, the chief of security directorate in Ghazni, said the blast killed two police officers and a child while rescue teams transported 15 injured people to hospital, including 10 civilians. The Afghan Interior Ministry said in a statement the clash killed a total of four Taliban assailants but it did not elaborate further. The Taliban took credit for carrying out the suicide bombing. Its main spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed the blast "killed and wounded tens of security forces," although insurgent claims are often inflated. The latest violence comes as U.S. special reconciliation representative, Zalmay Khalilzad, is due to appear Wednesday before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for a closed hearing on the Afghan peace process and his ongoing negotiations with the Taliban to try to bring an end to the war. Khalilzad has held several rounds of talks with insurgent representatives in Qatar, where the Taliban maintains its informal political office. The two sides have reported "steady but slow progress" on key issues under discussions. The Taliban has refused to cease hostilities, however, until it reaches an agreement with the U.S. on withdrawal of all foreign forces from Afghanistan. The House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed two more former top White House officials after ex-White House Counsel Donald McGahn ignored his subpoena to testify about President Donald Trumps alleged obstruction of justice. Democratic chairman Jerrold Nadler says the committee wants to hear from former communications director Hope Hicks and McGahns former chief of staff Annie Donaldson. They have been ordered to provide documents and summoned to appear before the lawmakers next month. Shortly before she resigned in March 2018, Hicks told the House Intelligence Committee that she sometimes told white lies for Trump. As McGahns second-in-command, Donaldson is believed to have pages and pages of notes related to Trump and his reaction to the Mueller investigation. Contempt of Congress Meanwhile, Nadler is threatening to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress for his refusal to testify Tuesday, after Trump told him to ignore the subpoena and the Justice Department said he cannot be forced to appear. Our subpoenas are not optional, Nadler said as he sat just a few meters from McGahns empty witness chair. Let me be clear: this committee will hear Mr. McGahns testimony even if we have to go to court to secure it...we will not allow the president to stop this committees investigation. Nadler said McGahns testimony was essential after the Mueller report recounted that Trump ordered McGahn to get rid of Mueller and then lie about it to the press. McGahn refused to carry out Trumps orders. The Mueller team interviewed McGahn for 30 hours about his interactions with Trump. GOP sees a circus The leading Republican Judiciary Committee, Doug Collins, attacked Democrats for staging the short hearing without McGahn, calling it a circus. The Democrats are trying to make something out of nothing, noting that Mueller concluded that Trump did not collude with Russia to help him win the White House. Trump tweeted Tuesday The Democrats were unhappy with the outcome of the $40 million Mueller Report, so now they want a do-over. Mueller reached no decision whether Trump obstructed justice by trying to thwart his investigation. Attorney General William Barr and former deputy Rod Rosenstein concluded there there werent sufficient grounds to charge Trump with obstruction of justice. Lawmakers not satisfied Nadlers committee voted two weeks ago to hold Barr in contempt of Congress after he refused to turn over an unredacted copy of Muellers 448-page report into whether Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia. But congressional Democrats, along with several Republicans are not satisfied by Muellers stated inability to reach a conclusion about obstruction allegations, and his statement that he could not exonerate the president. A Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, David Cicilline, told MSNBC television that if McGahn listened to Trump and defied the subpoena, an impeachment inquiry against the president should be started. More than 30 people were killed and many more wounded when an armed group attacked villages in northwestern Central African Republic on Tuesday, the UN's peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) said. The massacres took place in several villages near the town of Paoua, not far from the Chad border, Major General Pascal Champion, head of MINUSCA's police component, said at a press conference in Bangui on Wednesday. "Criminals arrived and opened fire" on the residents, he said. Thirty-one people were killed in Koundjili and Lemouna. At least three other were killed in Bohong. Local security forces also reported the deaths of 15 people in Maikolo village, but this information was not immediately confirmed by the UN. The slaughter was the biggest single loss of life since the government and 14 militias signed a deal in February aimed at restoring peace to one of Africa's most troubled countries. The UN peacekeeping mission "utterly condemns" the killings, MINUSCA head Mankeur Ndiaye said in a tweet on Wednesday. "The authors of crimes such as these will be sought, arrested and brought to justice." News of the bloodshed coincided with an announcement by the Vatican that a French-Spanish nun had been brutally murdered in a village in southwestern CAR. In Rome, Vatican News said that the 77-year-old was found beheaded early Monday in the town of Nola, where she worked in a center to help young girls. "According to a local member of parliament, the murder could be linked to trafficking in human organs," the site said. 'Temptation of reprisals' A UN source said the killings in the northwest were carried out by a group called 3R, which hosted a meeting with the villagers and then gunned them down indiscriminately. The group takes its initials from three words in French meaning "Return, Reclamation and Reconciliation." It claims to represent the Fulani, one of the CAR's many ethnic groups. The militia was one of the 14 groups that signed the February 6 peace accord, the eighth attempt to end violence in the impoverished country. Under the deal, the government gave out key positions to warlords and agreed to set up mixed units of regular troops and militiamen. The head of 3R, Bi Sidi Souleymane, also known as Sidiki, was appointed one of three "special military advisors" to the prime minister, in charge of setting up the combined units. Communications Minister Ange-Maxime Kazagui, in a joint press conference with the UN, said "the government joins MINUSCA in demanding that Mr Sidiki arrest those responsible for this massacre within 72 hours, or else be held responsible for these acts." "The government urges the public not to yield to the temptation of reprisals," Kazagui said. Unconfirmed reports from the region say that so-called "anti-balaka" groups militias claiming to protect Christians and animists from attacks by Muslim groups are mobilizing. Bloody legacy The CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 percent of CAR, often fighting over access to the country's mineral wealth. In a population of 4.5 million, thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December last year. Pope Francis paid tribute to the murdered nun, describing her as a woman "who gave her life for Jesus in the service of the poor" and her killing as "barbaric." He called for those gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly general audience to pray in silence for her. The U.N. agency that assists Palestinian refugees warned Wednesday that it would run out of money in a few weeks if donors did not step up quickly. "As we speak, UNRWA has only enough money to run its operations until mid-June," Pierre Krahenbuhl, commissioner-general of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, told the U.N. Security Council. The council meets monthly to discuss the Israel-Palestinian conflict. UNRWA provides more than 5 million Palestinian refugees in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria with essential services, including education and health care. Same amount as in 2018 Krahenbuhl said the agency needs $1.2 billion this year for all of its operations across the region. "This is the exact amount we mobilized last year," he said. "If every donor managed to maintain its level of funding in 2019, we should be able to cover our budget." He said he was particularly worried about making sure UNRWA's 715 schools could open on time in August to serve a half-million students, as well as being able to continue food distribution programs. Midyear financial shortages are not unusual for the agency, which is supported entirely by voluntary contributions. But it has faced an unprecedented funding crisis since last year, when the Trump administration abruptly slashed its contribution by $300 million. This year, it has not funded UNRWA at all. Historically, Washington has been the agency's largest single donor. U.S. Middle East negotiator Jason Greenblatt made clear the administration's position had not changed. "UNRWA's business model, which is inherently tied to an endlessly and exponentially expanding community of beneficiaries, is in permanent crisis mode," Greenblatt told the council. "That is why the United States decided that it will no longer commit to funding this irredeemably flawed operation." He said Palestinians deserve a life in which they will know whether schools and health clinics will remain open. "We need to engage with host governments to start a conversation about planning the transition of UNRWA services to host governments, or to other international or local nongovernmental organizations, as appropriate," he said. "The United States is ready to participate in that conversation." The Trump administration is expected to unveil its long-awaited peace plan next month, which Greenblatt has worked on with Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner. The administration plans to roll out the economic part of the plan at a conference in Bahrain in late June. The administration has invited government, civil society and business leaders to a workshop there promoting support for potential investments and initiatives that could follow a peace deal. Palestinian leaders, angry at unilateral actions by the U.S., including moving its embassy to Jerusalem, are considering whether to boycott the event. "It would be a mistake for the Palestinians not to join us," Greenblatt said. "They have nothing to lose and much to gain if they do join us." Israel's envoy went further on UNRWA, calling for the elimination of the agency and accusing it of inciting violence against Israel. "It is time to stop pumping money into an organization that has continued the plight of Palestinian people in Gaza," Israeli envoy Danny Danon said. "UNRWA's mandate must come to an end." 'Extraordinary work' Palestinian deputy U.N. envoy Feda Abdelhady-Nasser rejected the attacks on UNRWA. "Attempts to characterize the agency as part of the problem when it has done extraordinary work to alleviate the plight of millions and to contribute to regional stability are cynical, unfair and rejected not only by us but the vast majority of states that continue to strongly support UNRWA's mandate," she said. Krahenbuhl also firmly rejected U.S. and Israeli criticism, saying the agency had carried out its mission "in one of the most polarized, if not the most polarized, contexts on the planet" with "integrity, dignity and neutrality." As to UNRWA's existence for nearly 70 years, he said it was never intended to be permanent, but its continued existence is "an illustration of the abysmal failure in political terms to bring about a solution" to the conflict. A former colonel who served decades ago in the Somali National Army was convicted Tuesday in a U.S. court of being responsible for the torture of a teenager in 1987. Yusuf Abdi Ali, who now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, served under Dictator Siad Barre. A civil jury in the Northern Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C., found him responsible for the torture of Farhan Mohamoud Tani Warfaa, and ordered him to pay Warfaa $500,000. The verdict was reached after more than three days of deliberations in a lawsuit that was filed 15 years ago by the San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability (CJA) on behalf of Warfaa, who lives in a village in northwest Somalia. In the lawsuit, Warfaa, who was 17 at the time, says he was tortured, shot and left for dead by Ali during a 1988 interrogation, but he survived only by bribing the men who were supposed to bury him. Ali denied torturing Warfaa. Jury decision Tuesdays verdict found that Ali was responsible for the torture, but jurors could not establish enough evidence involving the shooting to charge him with attempted murder of Warfaa. After the decision, CJA lawyer Kathy Roberts told VOA that they were happy with Tuesdays verdict. We are delighted with this verdict. It has been a long time coming and at last this man will be held responsible for at least one of the crimes that he is responsible for. The defendant has to pay $400,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages, Roberts said. Wearing a traditional Somali hat and turban, Warfaa came out of the courthouse smiling. I am from Horn of Africa and I found my justice here in (the) United States. I am happy and satisfied with the verdict and thank to all who helped me get this justice, he told VOA Somali. The lawsuit has been delayed for nearly 15 years, mostly by legal debate over whether a foreign national could bring a lawsuit in the U.S. over alleged torture that happened in another country. Ben Klein with CJA and one of the attorneys representing Warfaa see it as delayed justice. This is a story of justice delayed. Our client has been carrying those scars physical, emotional and psychological for over 31 years, but this story is not ending with justice denied. This is the day of justice delivered to Farhan to this case, he said. The defending lawyer Since the lawsuit was filed against him, Ali has been avoiding the media, especially after CNN reported recently that he was working as an Uber driver. His lawyer, Joseph Peter Drennan, said the lawsuit was merely based on clan vengeance and that the jurys verdict was reached without concrete evidence. There was not clear, convincing evidence adduced at this a trial that my client tortured anybody or directed the torture of anybody. Instead there was this theory of command responsibility that merely because an individual claiming to have been tortured by members of the Somali National Army, that my client being a colonel in the Army during that period is somehow quote, unquote civilly responsible, Drennan said. He argued that testimonies and witnesses in this case are biased. Each and every fact witness who testified for the other side in this case professed allegiance to (the) Isaq clan. It is quite clear that this litigation is being pursued to advance the cause of recognition for the unrecognized state of Somaliland, Drennan told VOA. Drennan said his client as a foreign official deserved individual immunity, but this lawsuit was orchestrated against him because he came from Somalia and was too vulnerable in the U.S., under the federal Torture Victims Protection Act. Our soldiers (U.S. soldiers) serving or living abroad are protected by having a powerful government. My client was essentially left defenseless because he came from a collapsed state, Drennan said. Drennan says they will probably appeal the verdict. We are very unhappy with the verdict. He was held liable essentially because he was associated with the regime of Siyad Barre. We are going to review the record and we quietly likely will appeal. The United States says there are signs the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria may be using chemical weapons again and it is warning the Syrians to stop it. The U.S. State Department said Tuesday it believes Syrian forces were behind an alleged chlorine gas attack Sunday in northwestern Syria. A spokeswoman says officials are still gathering information about the suspected attack but said, if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons, the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately. She says the attack would be part of a violent campaign that violates a cease-fire protecting millions of civilians in the Idlib area, destroying health facilities, schools, homes, and refugee camps. The United States says Syria and its Russian allies have a history of blaming chemical attacks against the rebels. The facts are clear: the Assad regime itself has conducted almost all verified chemical weapons attacks that have taken place in Syria ... the Assad regimes culpability in horrific chemical weapons attacks in undeniable. There has been no comment from Syria on the U.S. accusation. The U.S. has bombed Syria twice in reaction to using poisonous gas on civilians. The United States is reminding its Syrian Kurdish allies not to get overly ambitious while at the same time trying to allay concerns Washington will abandon them to Turkey or a possibly resurgent Islamic State terror group. Kurdish fighters, under the umbrella of the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, played a key role in the collapse of the IS caliphate in Syria and continue to help administer large swaths of territory liberated form the terror group. But Ambassador James Jeffrey, the U.S. special representative for Syria engagement and the special envoy to the global coalition to defeat IS, said Wednesday that there would not be an independent Kurdish state in Syria. "We don't have a political future that we offer for them," Jeffrey told members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee when questioned about what comes next. "The political future we offer for them is the political future we offer for everybody in Syria ... a democratic, peaceful government," Jeffrey added. Autonomous area Following Syria's descent into civil war in 2011, Syrian Kurds quickly carved out an autonomous area covering much of the country's northeast, initially sparking hopes among some that it could serve as a basis for an independent state. But even talks of such ambitions have upset Turkey, also a key U.S. ally, which views the main Syrian Kurdish YPG militia as a terrorist organization with links to Kurdish terrorists in Turkey. More than once, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to strike the group to protect Turkish interests. "Turkey has a very legitimate concern," Jeffrey told lawmakers, though he assured them U.S. President Donald Trump remained committed to honoring both alliances. "We are concerned about the relationship between Turkey and our SDF partners in the northeast, which is why we're this discussion or negotiation with the Turks on a safe zone," he added. The U.S., Turkey and Kurdish-led authorities have been discussing the possibility of setting up a safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border for months. Jeffrey said Turkish officials have requested a safe zone extending for 30 kilometers, though he called that unlikely. "We're going back and forth with them on how deep the safe zone will be," he said. "The idea would be that the YPG forces would withdraw and leave local forces and Turkey and the United States to figure out what we would do in the safe zone." Danger for Kurds Some lawmakers expressed concerns that Trump's plans to pull all or most of U.S. ground forces from Syria would put Washington's Kurdish allies at risk. "One of the reasons that I think it's a terrible mistake is because we have had the Kurds fighting side by side with us as our loyal and faithful allies and friends," said House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y. "They've absorbed lots of casualties, prevented Americans from being killed." U.S. officials have long said the primary goal in Syria is to deal IS a lasting defeat, but Washington has also been pushing for all Iranian forces to leave the country, as well as for a negotiated end to the Syrian civil war. In recent days, the U.S. has also raised concerns about the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons. The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that it was investigating an alleged attack using chlorine gas on May 19 near the northwestern city of Idlib. "So far we cannot confirm it, but we are watching it," Jeffrey said Wednesday. The U.S., Britain and France launched airstrikes against Syrian government targets last April, citing "incontrovertible" evidence the Assad government had used chemical weapons against its own citizens. Emma rules the West Coast, while Liam reigns supreme in the American Midwest. In the southeastern part of the United States, parents prefer the name William for boys and Ava for girls, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration, which compiled a list of 2018s most popular baby names. At the top of the list nationwide are Liam for boys (for the second year) and Emma for girls (continuing a 5-year streak). The names Noah and Olivia come in second. While naming a child might feel like one of the most personal decisions a person can make, that choice is often heavily influenced by outside forces. Names say more about the parents than the kids, Jonah Berger, a marketing professor at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School, told VOA in an email. How unique parents want to be, where in the country they were when the child was born, and what influences around them shape their lives. Todays digital media-saturated world means new parents are exposed to a much broader range of potential baby names than ever before. They might be influenced by celebrities or characters from movies and television shows. For example, the name Arya, from a beloved character on the "Game of Thrones" television series, ranked 119th on the list, well ahead of traditional names like Angela (264), Jennifer (345) and Alexis (179). Khaleesi, another iconic character from the hit show, was the 549th most popular name for newborn girls, beating names like Lisa (891), Christine (926) and Anne (599). Increasingly, parents may feel that they want to and are able to make their own choices about forenames for their children in an expression of their sense of their own individuality and the desire to endow a distinctive and unique individuality in their children as they grow up, sociologist Jane Pilcher, an associate professor at Nottingham Trent University in England, told VOA via email. She refers to names as workhorses because they can reveal significant information about a person. But that can also have a downside. A forename can tell us about a persons sex and gender, ethnicity and nationality, social class and cohort, Pilcher says. These social identities, unfortunately, are each linked to discrimination and inequality. So, a forename can very much impact upon a persons experiences and opportunities. A 2012 study found that when science faculty from research universities were given identical applications for a laboratory manager position, they rated candidates named John more highly than candidates named Jennifer. A persons name often reflects their culture, and is a marker of when and where they lived, and of the prevailing social trends at the time of their birth. Egypts Ministry of Education said in a statement on Tuesday that 97 percent of grade 10 students have successfully completed their foreign language electronic exam, which utilises tablets and the internet. The ministry statement comes days after the new electronic testing system failed as first-year high school (grade 10) students were taking the first and second end-of-year exams earlier this week. The ministry said that "427,432 out of 585,980 students in the first grade of high school have taken the electronic test on their third day of the final year exams." Almost all of the first-year high school exams are conducted using tablets, while some take the tests on paper pending the implementation of the new system. Undersecretary of the education ministry Ali Abdel-Raouf said that the third day of grade 10 exams went smoothly with only a few problems, which should be fixed during the coming days. On Sunday, the first day of grade 10 exams, the tablet system failed in most of the countrys schools. The majority of the students were not able to take their Arabic exam, and were given paper tests instead. The students also complained on the first exam day that the Wi-Fi networks did not work. However, the situation significantly improved on the second day during the Biology exam, although the online system was still down in some schools. According to the education ministry, 409,704 students were tested electronically on the second day of exams. On Tuesday, dozens of grade 10 students staged a protest in front of the education ministry headquarters demanding the cancellation of the electronic exams. On the same day, hundreds of students demonstrated in Daqahliya governorate over the "failure of the new system." Two months ago, Minister of Education Tarek Shawky stressed that the end-of-year tests would not be administered using tablets before their efficiency is ensured. This years grade 10 students have studied a revamped curriculum that places greater stress on comprehension rather than memorising and utilises the new electronic exam system. The overhauled education system was put into effect this year for kindergarten, grade one and grade 10 students. The system will be rolled out gradually until it covers all primary, preparatory and secondary schools. During the next academic year, the new system will be applied in grade 11. It will reach preparatory stage pupils only after it has been rolled out to cover all secondary students. Previous attempts throughout the year to have grade 10 students take experimental exams using their tablets were plagued with glitches. Shawky previously said on his personal Facebook page, "We expected challenges in the early days and we will overcome them before the end of the week." "Let us remember that the goal of the experimental tests was to introduce students to new types of questions ahead of the end-of-year exams," and not to introduce them to the new technology, the minister said. Search Keywords: Short link: The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Zimbabweans are turning to solar energy for survival after the government began to cut the power supply for long periods of time amid severe fuel and electricity shortages. Zimbabwe's new energy minister is asking locals to offer the government long-term solutions to solve chronic energy problems. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. In Turkey, a human rights group has turned to art to remember the victims of enforced disappearances. Rights groups blame the state for hundreds of disappearances dating back decades. Dorian Jones reports from Istanbul, Photo: Erik Pendzich/REX/Shutterstock By the third installment of any movie franchise, a conundrum presents itself: How do you maintain the sensibility of previous films while still arriving at moments of shock and delight? In the latest Keanu Reeves murder film, John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum, Mark Dacascos is one surprising and effective answer. As Zero, hes both final boss and fanboy an assassin with the heart of a geek and the skills of a killing machine. In a delightful scene, Zero steps into the business-free Continental Hotel and sits uncomfortably close to John Wick, his target, before gushing praise. Zero loves John Wick just as we, the people, love Keanu Reeves. The 55-year-old Dacascos, best known for playing the Chairman on Iron Chef America, got the role of Zero as a last-minute replacement. And yet, watching him in John Wick 3, youd never know it, what with his ability to seamlessly blend a martial-arts background with wide-eyed verve. In a phone conversation after opening weekend, Dacascos discussed how the movie mirrors his own relationship with Reeves (hes a fan), stepping into his role at a moments notice, and whether he thinks Zero could have survived. My understanding is that you were originally supposed to play a smaller, secondary character, but then there was a major change during production and you became basically the final boss in the movie. What happened? Thats a huge part of my whole John Wick journey. So last January, I did more episodes of Iron Chef America; then I did my second Hallmark movie, called The Perfect Bride 2; then I go to New York, and Im doing Shakespeare with my voice teacher. While Im there, I get a phone call from my agents, and they tell me that Mr. Chad Stahelski, director of the John Wick movies, would like to meet me. Of course, Im thrilled because I was a huge fan. So I took the meeting. I went in and met Chad and Jonathan Eusebio, his stunt coordinator and fight choreographer, and Chad was very upfront. One of the first things he said was We already have our lead villain, so that role is taken. Who was it? I dont know if Im at liberty to say. Thats why I kind of want to hold back. No ones asked me this yet. Its kind of cool because the actor that was originally supposed to play the part Im a huge fan of. So Im like, Ahh, the whole thing is just surreal. [Editors Note: After reaching out to representatives at Lionsgate, Vulture learned that Hiroyuki Sanada, who starred in 47 Ronin alongside Reeves, was originally cast in the role of Zero.] So in any case, he said they already have their lead villain, but if Im interested Chad would like to develop a featured character for me and this fight with Keanu. And I said, I would absolutely be interested. Id be honored to work with you guys. Anyway, Chad left it with Ill get in touch with you, and just plan on sometime in October in North Africa. So I dont hear from Chad for two or three months, and then cut to mid-May. I get a text on a Sunday night from Chad, and it reads something like, Hey, Dacascos, text me first thing in the morning. I said, Okay, Chad, will do. Great. I call him first thing in the morning, and he goes, Well, things have changed. We would like to move you from featured villain to the lead villain. At this point, I hadnt heard from him since that meeting, so there was nothing, really. It was just an idea or an invitation. I said, Yeah, Id love to. He goes, Well, read the script first, and then call me back after. So he sends the script. Two hours later I call him back. I said, I love the part. I would be honored to work with you. Thank you When would you like me out there? Im in Los Angeles now; hes in New York, already having shot maybe one week of the movie. He says, Come tonight. So I get on a flight a red-eye. Im now reading the script only for my second time. Im ecstatic but also going, Holy smokes! Ive got to put this backstory of this guy together. Ive got to get in his bones and feel. What helped you get into character? We kind of go through all the logistics, getting fit for wardrobe and all that. I ask Chad, Id like to shave my hair off for the role. My characters name is Zero. John Wick has long hair and a beard. Itd be great if Zero was the contrast shave his head off and clean-faced. He goes, Come back in an hour. Let me think about this. And of course, before I asked him I had talked with hair and makeup and they both agreed that it could be a very interesting choice. So hair and makeup and myself, we go back to Chad and say, Chad, you had your hour. What do you think? He goes, You sure you want to do this? I said, I do. He says, All right. Shave it off. Hurry up before I change my mind. So we did that. Then I showed him my head, and he was apparently happy with it. So did you ask Chad how this giant turnaround happened? I just know that something happened with [Sanada and] that they needed to find somebody else to replace him. For whatever reason, he wasnt able to do the part. Was it the same character? It was the same character, yes. This is why its kind of touchy, because [Sanada] already has a very good relationship with Keanu. So the whole thing was just abrupt. It was just a shock for everyone, from Keanu to Chad and then, of course, to me. When I read [the part], I thought, Okay, this is perfect for [Sanada]. But I thought, If theyre going to have me play it, Id like to put some of my ideas in there, if possible. Not changing the dialogue, but put my spirit or my take on it. Would you like to hear a little anecdote of the couch-scene sequence and how that evolved? Sure, I read that you improvised that. It was great because we didnt change the dialogue, but before Chad actually started filming, he said, Id like you guys to just do what you want to do, and then Ill take it from there. This is our actual first one-on-one scene. When I read the dialogue in the script, it said that Im a fan, but in my mind Im a fanboy. Theres fun things to play there. When is Zero ever going to have a chance in his life to have this moment with Mr. Wick? So the whole thing was building inside me. You start clicking. I took a chance and did the move and then moved a little bit closer. And then when I felt Keanus leg against mine and I could feel Keanus energy, it felt like his energy was saying, What the f, because my leg is touching his. Big kudos and credit to Keanu and Chad because either of them could have said, Cut. This is not working for me. This is too weird or awkward. But Chad let it go, and Keanu stayed in character. It was fantastic. And that energy we held it. Then he did that great thing where he actually turned his head and moved, because Keanus improvising too now. Hes looking at me like, Dude, move away. And I dont. So we finish the scene. Chad yells, Cut! Then Keanu starts laughing and drops some F-bombs, and says, Thats too funny. We cant do that, right? Theres a beat, and I hear Chad from the back go, I love it. Were doing it. And thats how that take evolved. Theres this interesting meta quality to the scene because it feels as if the film is playing up how people feel about Keanu himself. Did you have a similar experience when you met him, sort of like when Zero meets John Wick? Yes, Alex, thats awesome. Because after we did that take, I said, Keanu, I dont want to embarrass you, but this is kind of easy and organic for me to play because the way Zero feels about John Wick is how I feel about you. Im a huge fan. And that was so crazy because when I said that, he kind of gave the same John Wick response. He kind of smiled because I think he appreciated it, but I didnt mean to make him uncomfortable because I meant it. That was very earnest. That was probably the most true Ive been because all those good things weve heard about Keanu Reeves, theyre true. He is so humble and grounded. He worked, in terms of the cast, obviously harder than anybody, being there every day, and then on weekends hed still show up for fight rehearsals. To me, he was so incredibly welcoming. Do you have a favorite Keanu anecdote? I do. Its kind of a Keanu-and-Chad anecdote where were shooting the finale fight scene. There was one point during the fight that we had some choreography laid out, and Chad said, Hang on. I think Id like to change it up a little bit. So instead of Chad asking a stuntman to go over and perform it with another stuntman, Chad just takes his earpieces out and asks another stuntman to join him on one of the mats and then tells him what hes going to do. Chad jumps up, wraps his legs around the stuntmans waist, does a twist, and then they both go flying spectacularly through the air. And they land safely, and they both get up. For Chad, it was no problem. For me, I was just in awe because Id never seen a director, in his jeans and T-shirt, just walk over and do this fantastic move. I was like, Wow. Thats pretty darn crazy. I shouldnt have been shocked, but I was, just to see it happen. So Keanu goes, Huh. Keanu gets up, and hes like, All right, let me give it a try. So he goes over, and he does a couple tries where he just wraps his legs around the guy and kind of feels it out. Then the third time around, he just jumps up, hooks the legs, twists the body, and they both go flying. And Keanu is like, Okay. All right. Lets do this. And that was it. And I thought, Wait a minute. Are you kidding me? First the director does it incredibly well, and then Keanu Reeves himself, after doing all this stuff, just gets up in front of all of us and just goes over and gives it a try, does it too. And I was just blown away. I heard him say that hes not a fighter. He just learns the moves to movie fight. And okay, but in my estimation, he could fight if he wanted to. Not that you want him to fight, but he could. Youve done so many fight scenes and stunt work in your life. Is it tougher on your body now that youre older? I would say yes and no. Yes, just because its like a tire, theres been a lot of use on the body. So in that respect, I need a little bit more time to rest and heal in between. But the good thing is I can do this little diagnostic check, so to speak, of my body parts, and I can feel where Im at. Im a lot wiser with how to do the move, how many times, what speed. Im much more aware of what I have and what I have to work with, as opposed to before I was just like, Oh yeah, Im fit. I can do it. It becomes much more analytical, and I can see it in my own body and I can feel it. Im much more present now. So maybe before I could do many more takes before getting tired. Now I would say that I dont need quite as many takes, so I dont have to get that tired. As you get older, its a necessity if you want to survive. Do you think Zero is dead in the end? Oh goodness. I hope not. I mean, obviously you see what happened: A sword went through his body. I suppose if I break it down if it was able to miss the vital parts of the vital organs, and the muscles clamped around the sword and held off the blood from pouring out, and with the addition of Japanese shinobi-ninja homeopathic powder medicine and his fitness and his mind control and then, add to that, Western technology theres possibly a possibility that hes alive. In the Wick world, sure. On the other hand, if we find out that he didnt quite make it, oh, what a sweet death it was. Did you sustain any injuries while working? In terms of anything major or serious, Im happy to say no. I had tons of bruises. Oh man, I looked like a leopard. Theres a part in the finale fight scene where John Wick throws me against the wall and then it goes back and forth. That night, we get back in the morning, and I go back to my hotel. I take a shower, take my shirt off, and Im like, What? I had all these spots and blotches all over. Because although the glass is somewhat flexible, you hit your shoulder, your back, or whatever. It doesnt feel too bad because your adrenaline is running in the moment, but a couple hours later and the blood gets clogged up there. So there were a lot of bruises. Little aches and pains. But happily I can tell you, nothing serious. Did you bond with Keanu over being mixed-race Asian-Americans? I guess we did, yes. He has a connection to Hawaii, and I was born there, my parents were born there, my kids were there. So we talked a little bit about that, about him having some Chinese and Hawaiian, yes. We did. But the funny thing is, after we shot that couch scene, it really felt like I was Zero and that was John Wick, and of course I wanted to talk to Keanu, but I didnt want to bother him. So when we did speak, it was when he came over and invited us or left it open for us to. My last day of shooting, actually, doing the take where Im possibly dying or not, I was in my corner, and Keanu was on the other side. He sits on this little apple box. Then I saw him looking at me. He picked up his apple box, and he comes walking over. Were both really tired, and hes coming over. He puts his box right next to me and sits down, and with a big smile he goes, Okay. Slaps his hands together. Lets talk about what weve done the last three months. I just thought that was so sweet. Like a recap of Keanu and Mark and John Wick and Zero. That was that last day we filmed. It was just, I dont know, it was a beautiful finish. Thats Keanu, man. That was Keanu. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. A rookie Waco police officer was cleared of criminal wrongdoing Wednesday in the March shooting death of a man who police said stabbed a Waco man multiple times outside a hotel. A McLennan County grand jury determined Waco police Officer Claire Van Wolfe acted properly when she shot and killed 50-year-old Lorne Kyle Ashmore on March 1 outside the Deluxe Inn at 1430 Interstate 35 south frontage road. Grand juries routinely review officer-involved shootings as a matter of procedure. Reports state Van Wolfe, who started with the department in June, and another officer were sent to the hotel on a disturbance call. Van Wolfe, 22, encountered a man, later identified as Ashmore, who was threatening hotel residents with a knife and trying to force his way into another persons room, police reported. Ashmore was given repeated commands to drop the knife before he ran into the street behind the hotel, police said. Another man, described in reports as a 57-year-old whose address is the same as the hotels, chased Ashmore into the street. Oakley, 45, lives in China Spring with his wife, Karen, and their two children, Abby and Brady. Donors key Methodist Childrens Home has an endowment of more than $450 million and relies heavily on individual donations. Our long-term success is a credit to the donors, Oakley said. Less than 5% of our overall budget, which is $27 million annually, comes from state or federal funds, and less than 1% comes from the families we serve. We provide the highest level of care regardless of a familys ability to pay or not to pay. One thing we take very seriously is good stewardship. The gifts we receive from individuals, we put them back into our programs to ensure our ministry for years to come. The permanent endowment gives us stability. Oakley transitions to the presidency after being directly involved in fundraising since 2001, when he joined the organizations development department. He became vice president for development in 2006. Business Need for Modulation Process in Communication System and Types of Modulation | Soukacatv.com Digital modulator from Soukacatv.com 22.05.2019 14:55:38 - In the modulation process, the message signal of very low frequencies is impressed. And, only the carrier signal of high frequency is passed through the transmission process. (live-PR.com) - There is a huge importance of modulation in the communication system. It is defined as the modification process of the message signals in the communication system. In the modulation process, the message signal of very low frequencies is impressed. And, only the carrier signal of high frequency is passed through the transmission process. HDMI Encoder Modulator,16in1 Digital Headend, HD RF Modulator - There is a huge importance of modulation in the communication system. It is defined as the modification process of the message signals in the communication system. In the modulation process, the message signal of very low frequencies is impressed. And, only the carrier signal of high frequency is passed through the transmission process.HDMI Encoder Modulator,16in1 Digital Headend, HD RF Modulator at Soukacatv.com It is one of the important techniques in which the addition of signal is done to an optical signal carrier or electronic wave carrier. It is very important as it uses the properties of a periodic waveform the most. It is used in communication just to pass the signal which bears information from one source to another destination. Here, a transmitter is used which is normally present to modify the message signal. In this process, the message signal is modified in a suitable form and it is transmitted over various communication channels. This whole process of modification of message and carrier signals is termed as modulation. The need for Modulation Process in Communication It is necessary for a communication system to make a message and carrier signal ready for the transmission of communication channels. Another reason for its use is because of the multiplexing properties. During modulation, the size of the antenna matters the most. The size of the antenna depends upon the wavelength of the signal. Therefore, the practicality of an antenna is achieved with the help of modulation. Also, to remove the interference in the communication channel the modulation is preferred. The modulation process is also needed to reduce the quantity of noise present in the communication band. What Is Demodulation? The opposite of modulation is defined as demodulation. It is the process where the impressed message signal is recovered. Here, the conversion of a modulating carrier signal is done into the required signal which is equivalent to the original signal. In simple words, we can define demodulation techniques like the process of extracting the original information holding signal from a modulated signal wave. Types of Modulation There are various types of modulation. They are defined as amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and phase modulation. In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of the high-frequency carrier signal is changed. The amplitude of the carrier signal contains all the needed information. It depends upon the intensity of the signal. Similarly, in frequency modulation, the frequency of the carrier signal is changed and it does not depend on the amplitude or phase. The frequency of the carrier signal contains all the needed information. It uses the information signal for varying the carrier frequency within a desired range. And, in phase modulation, the phase of the carrier signal is changed. Vestigial side-band modulation (VSB-AM) One of the examples of modulation is vestigial sideband modulation. It is the type of Amplitude modulation technique and also called VSB-AM. Here, the VSB-AM stands for Vestigial Side Band Modulation- Amplitude Modulation where the encoding of the information is carried out by creating wide variations in the amplitude of a Signal. In this type of modulation process, the very low-frequency parts play an important role at the receiving end. Here, in vestigial sideband modulation along with the desired sideband, another part of the sideband is also transmitted. Established in 2000, the Soukacatv.com main products are modulators both in analog and digital ones, amplifier and combiner. We are the very first one in manufacturing the headend system in China. Our 16 in 1 and 24 in 1 now are the most popular products all over the world. For more, please access to CONTACT US Dingshengwei Electronics Co., Ltd Company Address: Buliding A,the first industry park of Guanlong,Xili Town,Nanshan,Shenzhen,Guangdong,China Tel : +86 0755 26909863 Fax : +86 0755 26984949 Phone: +86 13410066011 Email:ken@soukacatv.com Skype: soukaken at Soukacatv.comIt is one of the important techniques in which the addition of signal is done to an optical signal carrier or electronic wave carrier. It is very important as it uses the properties of a periodic waveform the most. It is used in communication just to pass the signal which bears information from one source to another destination.Here, a transmitter is used which is normally present to modify the message signal. In this process, the message signal is modified in a suitable form and it is transmitted over various communication channels. This whole process of modification of message and carrier signals is termed as modulation.The need for Modulation Process in CommunicationIt is necessary for a communication system to make a message and carrier signal ready for the transmission of communication channels. Another reason for its use is because of the multiplexing properties.During modulation, the size of the antenna matters the most. The size of the antenna depends upon the wavelength of the signal. Therefore, the practicality of an antenna is achieved with the help of modulation. Also, to remove the interference in the communication channel the modulation is preferred.The modulation process is also needed to reduce the quantity of noise present in the communication band.What Is Demodulation?The opposite of modulation is defined as demodulation. It is the process where the impressed message signal is recovered. Here, the conversion of a modulating carrier signal is done into the required signal which is equivalent to the original signal. In simple words, we can define demodulation techniques like the process of extracting the original information holding signal from a modulated signal wave.Types of ModulationThere are various types of modulation. They are defined as amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, and phase modulation. In amplitude modulation, the amplitude of the high-frequency carrier signal is changed. The amplitude of the carrier signal contains all the needed information. It depends upon the intensity of the signal.Similarly, in frequency modulation, the frequency of the carrier signal is changed and it does not depend on the amplitude or phase. The frequency of the carrier signal contains all the needed information. It uses the information signal for varying the carrier frequency within a desired range. And, in phase modulation, the phase of the carrier signal is changed.Vestigial side-band modulation (VSB-AM)One of the examples of modulation is vestigial sideband modulation. It is the type of Amplitude modulation technique and also called VSB-AM.Here, the VSB-AM stands for Vestigial Side Band Modulation- Amplitude Modulation where the encoding of the information is carried out by creating wide variations in the amplitude of a Signal. In this type of modulation process, the very low-frequency parts play an important role at the receiving end. Here, in vestigial sideband modulation along with the desired sideband, another part of the sideband is also transmitted.Established in 2000, the Soukacatv.com main products are modulators both in analog and digital ones, amplifier and combiner. We are the very first one in manufacturing the headend system in China. Our 16 in 1 and 24 in 1 now are the most popular products all over the world.For more, please access to www.soukacatv.com CONTACT USDingshengwei Electronics Co., LtdCompany Address: Buliding A,the first industry park of Guanlong,Xili Town,Nanshan,Shenzhen,Guangdong,ChinaTel : +86 0755 26909863Fax : +86 0755 26984949Phone: +86 13410066011Skype: soukaken Press Information: Dingshengwei Electronics Co., Ltd Contact Person: Phone: 13410066011 eMail: eMail Web: http://https://www.soukacatv.com 22.05.2019 14:55:38 - 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. HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) A Connecticut police department has reached a deal with a fugitive that would have him surrender if enough people respond to a wanted poster on social media, an agreement that at least one expert calls unethical. Jose Simms, 29, who is believed to be somewhere in New York, has seven arrest warrants and is being sought as a fugitive after failing to appear in court on charges that range from breach of peace to risk of injury to a child. Torrington police Lt. Brett Johnson posted on the departments Facebook page Wednesday that Sims had contacted him through the social media site and agreed to turn himself in if the post containing his poster gets 15,000 likes. Johnson said he negotiated Simms down from 20,000 likes. It will be difficult but is doable, Johnson wrote. He also suggested that if anyone knows where Simms is hiding they could let police know and save the department some suspense. Conservation tillage practices, such as no-till farming, would also be difficult without the aid of glyphosate, especially for sugar beets. Tillage and less-effective herbicides were necessary for weed control before Roundup Ready technology was adopted, Kniss said. Whenever the soil is disturbed through tilling, carbon in the soil oxidizes and is released into the atmosphere as a greenhouse gas. Water is also lost when soil is tilled. No-till practices keep moisture in the ground, allow for carbon to stay sequestered in the soil and require fewer inputs from the farmer in terms of applications and fuel used in preparing a field for planting. Generally, no-till has less leaching of fertilizers and pesticides into groundwater, less soil erosion, and a decreased carbon footprint. It could be argued that the loss of those practices, which are enabled largely by use of glyphosate, would impact the environment negatively. Business Whatre the Types of Multiplexing and Why We Need Multiplexing? | Soukacatv.com Analog modulator manufacturer from Soukacatv.com 22.05.2019 09:28:14 - Multiplexing is a technique that combines data from n number of channels and transmit that data over a single communication channel for efficient Bandwidth utilization of that transmission medium. e.g. a water pipe carries water to several separate houses at once. (live-PR.com) - Multiplexing is a technique that combines data from n number of channels and transmit that data over a single communication channel for efficient Bandwidth utilization of that transmission medium. e.g. a water pipe carries water to several separate houses at once. Why we need Multiplexing? Most of the individual data-communicating devices typically require modest data rate. But, communication media usually have much - Multiplexing is a technique that combines data from n number of channels and transmit that data over a single communication channel for efficient Bandwidth utilization of that transmission medium. e.g. a water pipe carries water to several separate houses at once.Why we need Multiplexing?Most of the individual data-communicating devices typically require modest data rate. But, communication media usually have much higher bandwidth. So, two communicating stations do not utilize the full capacity of a data link. When the bandwidth of a medium is greater than individual signals to be transmitted through the channel, a medium can be shared by more than one channel of signals. That is known as multiplexing. HDMI Encoder Modulator, 16in1 Digital Headend, HD RF Modulator at Soukacatv.com Types of Multiplexing 1. Frequency Division Multiplexing 2. Time Division Multiplexing Frequency Division Multiplexing 1. FDM is an analog multiplexing technique. Basic approach is to divide the available bandwidth of a single physical medium into a number of smaller, independent frequency channels. 2. Thus, many relatively narrow Bandwidth channels can be transmitted over the single wide bandwidth transmission system without interfering with each other. For example Commercial AM broadcast band occupies frequency spectrum from 535KHZ-1605KHZ. Each broadcast station carries an information signal (voice and music) that occupies a Bandwidth between 0 Hz to 5KHz. Each station amplitude modulates a different carrier frequency and produces a 10 KHz signal. Carrier frequencies of adjacent stations are separated by 10KHz, the total commercial AM broadcast band is divided into 107 10 KHz frequency slots stacked next to each other in frequency domain. Figure shows, how three voice signals from three sources are modulated by different carrier and multiplexed together and transmitted over single transmission medium. Voice signal range is 0-5KHz. suppose carrier f1 is 100 KHz, Carrier f2 is 105KHz and carrier f3 is 110 KHz. So output signal of Modulator 1 is 100-105 KHZ, Modulator 2 is 105-110 KHz and modulator 3 is 110-115 kHz using SSB-SC Modulation. After multiplexing these signals output band is 100-115KHz band that is transmitted over communication medium. Other applications of FDM like commercial FM and television broadcasting, cable television etc. Time Division Multiplexing TDM is a technique used to transmitting several message signals from different sources over a single communication channel by dividing time frame into slots, one slot for each message signal. As shown in Diagram there are four channels, channel 1 red, channel 2 blue, channel 3 yellow and channel 4 green. Multiplexing means combining information from all channels and send it on common carrier like coaxial cable, optical fiber cable etc. Here we are using time division multiplexing, where each channel uses entire bandwidth for particular allotted time. Information is forwarded in form of frames and frame is further divided into time slots. Each channel uses its own time slot to forward information and get full access of bandwidth for that particular time. As shown in above diagram, channel 1, channel 2, channel 3 and channel 4 uses their allotted time slot and form a frame and that frame is transmitted over transmission medium. MUX and DEMUX acts as a digital switch. Take data from channel 1 and immediately switch to channel 2 and so on. At the receiver end, DE multiplexer, receives that frames and sends information to respective channel by getting information from particular slots. Types of Time division Multiplexing 1. Synchronous Time division Multiplexing 2. Asynchronous Time Division Multiplexing Synchronous Time division Multiplexing 1. In synchronous TDM, each device is allotted a time slot in frame to transmit their data. If any device has no information to send, that slot is kept empty in that particular frame and transmits that frame. This causes wastage of bandwidth. 2. There is abundance of time slots within each frame, which contain no information (i. e. at any time instant, several of the channels may be idle). For example in PCM-TDM system, the voice conversation over telephone, information is transferred only in one direction at a time and causes several pauses that causes wastage of Bandwidth. As shown in above figure, there are four sources 1,2 and 3. During each sample time, data is collected from all sources in a frame. In frame 4, only source A and B has data to send, rest slot is transmitted empty as it has nothing to send. This causes wastage of Bandwidth in TDM. Asynchronous TDM 1. Asynchronous TDM is alternative to synchronous TDM to avoid wastage of Bandwidth. 2. It dynamically allocates time slots on demand basis. 3. Asynchronous MUX has a finite number of low speed data input lines with one high speed multiplexed data output line and each line has its own digital encoder and buffer. 4 MUX scans the input buffers and collect data until frame is filled and then transmitted. 5. At receiver end, DE multiplexer removes the data from frame and distributes them to their appropriate output buffers. Established in 2000, the Soukacatv.com main products are modulators both in analog and digital ones, amplifier and combiner. We are the very first one in manufacturing the headend system in China. Our 16 in 1 and 24 in 1 now are the most popular products all over the world. For more, please access to CONTACT US Dingshengwei Electronics Co., Ltd Company Address: Buliding A,the first industry park of Guanlong,Xili Town,Nanshan,Shenzhen,Guangdong,China Tel : +86 0755 26909863 Fax : +86 0755 26984949 Phone: +86 13410066011 Email:ken@soukacatv.com Skype: soukaken Website: Source: higher bandwidth. So, two communicating stations do not utilize the full capacity of a data link. When the bandwidth of a medium is greater than individual signals to be transmitted through the channel, a medium can be shared by more than one channel of signals. That is known as multiplexing.HDMI Encoder Modulator, 16in1 Digital Headend, HD RF Modulator at Soukacatv.comTypes of Multiplexing1. Frequency Division Multiplexing2. Time Division MultiplexingFrequency Division Multiplexing1. FDM is an analog multiplexing technique. Basic approach is to divide the available bandwidth of a single physical medium into a number of smaller, independent frequency channels.2. Thus, many relatively narrow Bandwidth channels can be transmitted over the single wide bandwidth transmission system without interfering with each other.For example Commercial AM broadcast band occupies frequency spectrum from 535KHZ-1605KHZ.Each broadcast station carries an information signal (voice and music) that occupies a Bandwidth between 0 Hz to 5KHz.Each station amplitude modulates a different carrier frequency and produces a 10 KHz signal. Carrier frequencies of adjacent stations are separated by 10KHz, the total commercial AM broadcast band is divided into 107 10 KHz frequency slots stacked next to each other in frequency domain.Figure shows, how three voice signals from three sources are modulated by different carrier and multiplexed together and transmitted over single transmission medium. Voice signal range is 0-5KHz. suppose carrier f1 is 100 KHz, Carrier f2 is 105KHz and carrier f3 is 110 KHz. So output signal of Modulator 1 is 100-105 KHZ, Modulator 2 is 105-110 KHz and modulator 3 is 110-115 kHz using SSB-SC Modulation. After multiplexing these signals output band is 100-115KHz band that is transmitted over communication medium.Other applications of FDM like commercial FM and television broadcasting, cable television etc.Time Division MultiplexingTDM is a technique used to transmitting several message signals from different sources over a single communication channel by dividing time frame into slots, one slot for each message signal.As shown in Diagram there are four channels, channel 1 red, channel 2 blue, channel 3 yellow and channel 4 green. Multiplexing means combining information from all channels and send it on common carrier like coaxial cable, optical fiber cable etc. Here we are using time division multiplexing, where each channel uses entire bandwidth for particular allotted time. Information is forwarded in form of frames and frame is further divided into time slots. Each channel uses its own time slot to forward information and get full access of bandwidth for that particular time.As shown in above diagram, channel 1, channel 2, channel 3 and channel 4 uses their allotted time slot and form a frame and that frame is transmitted over transmission medium. MUX and DEMUX acts as a digital switch. Take data from channel 1 and immediately switch to channel 2 and so on. At the receiver end, DE multiplexer, receives that frames and sends information to respective channel by getting information from particular slots.Types of Time division Multiplexing1. Synchronous Time division Multiplexing2. Asynchronous Time Division MultiplexingSynchronous Time division Multiplexing1. In synchronous TDM, each device is allotted a time slot in frame to transmit their data. If any device has no information to send, that slot is kept empty in that particular frame and transmits that frame. This causes wastage of bandwidth.2. There is abundance of time slots within each frame, which contain no information (i. e. at any time instant, several of the channels may be idle).For example in PCM-TDM system, the voice conversation over telephone, information is transferred only in one direction at a time and causes several pauses that causes wastage of Bandwidth.As shown in above figure, there are four sources 1,2 and 3. During each sample time, data is collected from all sources in a frame. In frame 4, only source A and B has data to send, rest slot is transmitted empty as it has nothing to send. This causes wastage of Bandwidth in TDM.Asynchronous TDM1. Asynchronous TDM is alternative to synchronous TDM to avoid wastage of Bandwidth.2. It dynamically allocates time slots on demand basis.3. Asynchronous MUX has a finite number of low speed data input lines with one high speed multiplexed data output line and each line has its own digital encoder and buffer.4 MUX scans the input buffers and collect data until frame is filled and then transmitted.5. At receiver end, DE multiplexer removes the data from frame and distributes them to their appropriate output buffers.Established in 2000, the Soukacatv.com main products are modulators both in analog and digital ones, amplifier and combiner. We are the very first one in manufacturing the headend system in China. Our 16 in 1 and 24 in 1 now are the most popular products all over the world.For more, please access to www.soukacatv.com CONTACT USDingshengwei Electronics Co., LtdCompany Address: Buliding A,the first industry park of Guanlong,Xili Town,Nanshan,Shenzhen,Guangdong,ChinaTel : +86 0755 26909863Fax : +86 0755 26984949Phone: +86 13410066011Skype: soukakenWebsite: www.soukacatv.com Source: ecedunia.blogspot.com/ by ECEDunia Press Information: Dingshengwei Electronics Co., Ltd Contact Person: Phone: 13410066011 eMail: eMail Web: http://https://www.soukacatv.com 22.05.2019 09:28:14 - 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. 5,000 unauthorised venues offering tourist accommodation in Rome. A special police unit dedicated to combatting unauthorised tourist accommodation in Rome is to be established this year by the city, according to Italian news agency ANSA. Rome's hotel association Federalberghi estimates that there are around 5,000 buildings offering illegal tourist accommodation across the capital. Federalberghi also revealed that as of 30 April this year it had received 2,209 reports regarding illicit tourist accommodation in Rome, via the website Turismo Illegale. 50 Roman roundabouts up for private sponsorship. Rome's mayor Virginia Raggi has invited private companies and individuals to sponsor a Roman roundabout, following the introduction of new legislation. There is a choice of 50 roundabouts, located across Rome, whose flowers and shrubs can be paid for by private firms in exchange for advertising their company name on the site. The mayor has described the initiative as a "winning model, above all for citizens." Culture / Events LUXUO Vietnam and WOW Vietnam has organised a launching event of WOW #2 Issue and the Business of Luxury Category on LUXUO.VN May 22, 2019 | By Angelyn Tan SR Media launched two licensed platforms in late 2018 WOW (World of Watches) and LUXUO Vietnam to meet the growing needs of luxury consumers in that market. SR Media re-launched WOW and debuted Luxuo in Vietnam with the highly successful The Oriental Touch event and now theyre following up with the ultra-exclusive Summer Wanderlust party to celebrate the launch of WOW Issue 2 as well as inaugurate the Business of Luxury Category on LUXUO.VN. Summer Wanderlust to celebrate WOW issue 2 and new Luxuo.vn category Business of Luxury Happening on May 25th 2019, Summer Wanderlust is an exclusive, invite-only event which celebrates the second issue of WOW as well as a new Business of Luxury category on Luxuo.vn. 30 VIP guests will get to experience the epitome of luxury curated by the team responsible for WOW and Luxuo at the special Summer Wanderlust event in Vietnam. The upscale party will see guests journey to three luxurious destinations: Landmark 81, sail aboard a Lagoon 630 MY courtesy of Tam Son Yachting and finally, visit Swan Bay an Asian-European village comprised of Villa residences. Starting from Saigons new and iconic project and the highest building in Vietnam, Landmark 81, will see familiar faces from representatives of luxury brands such as Maserati, Hublot, Tam Son Yachting, and Mortlach, at Pearl Club, nested on the roof of Saigons dominant landmark Vinpearl Landmark 81. SR Medias VIP guests will then continue their luxury journey with a Lagoon 630 MY Yacht provided by Tam Son Yachting, taking in vibrant views of the Saigon river comfortably seated aboard the 19.5 m yacht with luxurious fittings before heading to Swan Bay. Invested by SwanCity, one of Singapores leading real estate group, the Swan Bay townhouses and villas bring French style of architecture residential properties with a resort setting nested on the only island remaining in Ho Chi Minh City. Upon arrival at Swan Bay, the privileged guests then get the opportunity to test drive Maseratis supercars around the island. The upcoming Summer Wanderlust is expected to be a holistic luxury experience for 30 VIP guests encompassing the finest products from the luxury industry. From fine whiskey to megayachts, SR Medias Summer Wanderlust is physical manifestation of the high net worth lifestyles editorialised within the pages of WOW and Luxuo. Live jazz music and cocktails at Gregory's near Rome's Spanish Steps. This well-established jazz club hosts regular performances by some of the best Italian and international jazz artists. Located in the Spanish Steps area, Gregory's combines fine dining in its downstairs restaurant with live jazz and cocktails in its intimate concert hall upstairs. It is also known for its well-stocked whisky bar. Open for dinner at 19.30, concerts begin at 22.00. To reserve tel. 066796386 or email booking@gregorysjazz.com. Gregory's also has a "boat" venue on the river Tiber, between Ponte Margherita and Ponte Pietro Nenni, offering Sunday brunch with live jazz. See Wanted in Rome's guide to Jazz clubs in Rome. The busiest stretch of the 25-mile scenic route is about to get a complete makeover. (Matt McClain/The Post) The National Park Service has awarded a contract in a multiyear project that promises a new roadway and nightmarish traffic when construction begins in about a year. BT Groups EE division, which is preparing to launch 5G service in six British cities later this month, said Wednesday it would no longer offer a new Huawei smartphone as part of that service. Vodafone also said it would drop a Huawei smartphone from its lineup. Both companies appeared to tie that decision to Google s move to withhold licenses for its Android operating software from future Huawei phones. Culture / Design I.M. Pei was excoriated when he unveiled the Louvre Pyramid that is now synonymous with Paris. What does it say about our attitudes to novel infrastructures May 22, 2019 | By Leon Ngiam On 16th May 2019, the world mourned the death of architectural giant Ieoh Ming Pei (I.M. Pei), the American-Chinese famed for conceptualising the Louvre Pyramids. A visionary designer and an equally savvy businessman, I.M. Peh was was one of the few architects who were equally attractive to real estate developers, corporate chieftains and art museum boards (the third group, of course, often made up of members of the first two), according to NYT architecture critic Paul Goldberger. Its been a fulfilling 102 year legacy which sees his name emblazoned across some of the most iconic edifices in the 20th century, but despite his widespread and popular appeal, not all of Peis creations were embraced with gusto. How I.M. Peis Louvre Pyramid saga makes us rethink architectural debates Just looking at the buildings he designed, most would recognise the virtuosity of the architect from the chic, clean-lined, contemporary grandeur that his works emanate. Some of his more renowned works are Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar. Of course, this list is incomplete without the mention of the Louvre Pyramids that were opened in 1989 to commemorate the 200th year anniversary the Republic birthed from the French Revolution. And yes, the ultra-modernist glass pyramids (one massive pyramid accompanied by three small ones by its side) also started a revolution in its own right. Today, standing in front of the Louvre Pyramid, one cannot help but marvel at the diaphanous structure perched at the literal heart of the Louvre. In the day, the 22 metres tall glass pyramid floods the museum with natural light to instil a sense of vitality in the ancient quarters. As night falls, a gentle yellow-golden glow from the museum interior illuminates the glass pyramid from underneath, like the awakening of a mystical golden dragon; its body materialised by the reflection in the calm water. Its seemingly mammoth size complements seamlessly without overshadowing the medieval French architecture; the Parisians are proud of it, now. But the reception of the Louvre pyramids has not always been this good. When it was first unveiled, the same infrastructure was deemed to be a sacrilege to the museum that dates back to the 12 century. First, it was built by a Chinese-American architect, not a Frenchman. Secondly, it was too modern to be the face of the Louvre. Thirdly, it evoked the Egyptian death motif. In fact, I.M Pei faced a full-on fusillade of French vitriol with up to 90% of Parisians against the project at its peak. Recalling the stressful episode with the French public, I.M. Pei confessed, after the Louvre, I thought no project would be too difficult; the sting of the saga was the personal vilification and anti-Chinese racism that Pei encountered. 30 years on, how have Parisians reconciled with this ultra-modernist design? The turning point was when Pei showed a full-scale mock up to Jacque Chirac, mayor of Paris, who adored the architectural significance of the modern pyramid in the ancient precinct. That was followed by positive reviews from senior politicians and architecture aficionados. Eventually, Pei was feted for the masterful modernist as he was. While the monument certainly has not changed since it was unveiled in 1989, the peoples (especially the French) perspectives sure have. For one, it made the Louvre the most popular museum in the world at 10.2 million visitors. Coincidentally, one century before the Louvre Pyramid, in 1889, when the Eiffel Tower was unveiled, it was also dubbed an architectural farcea useless and monstrous tower. Anecdotally, the French are extremely proud of their heritage and may be resistant to change but once these revolutionary designs proved to embellish their skyline, most nod in concurrence. That is not to say that their passions are frivolous, rather, it is a case in point to reconsider how we are framing our debates on public infrastructures. At LUXUO, we concur on the importance of heritage preservation, but we believe that modernity also has a place in the City of Light (look at Philharmonie and Fondation Louis Vuitton). Debates are welcome to shed light on public sentimentsas it is their very sense of pride that we are tempering withbut they should be centred on the spirit of the edifice rather than the superficialities such as the race of the architect or be bogged by a loadstone like provenance. These debates should explore the question of what has been and then decide on what could be. More recently, the reconstruction of the Notre Dame after the fire on 15 April 2019 is the subject of heated debate; the public is torn between the pursuit of a contemporary or a traditional facade. Surely, it is more complicated than the Louvre or the Eiffel Tower due to the theological slant in this scenario, however, it is still worthwhile to question if a new structure faithful to the spirit of the times is preferable to slavish adherence to what was once before. But, in any case, lets not abandon our civility or be blinded by passions and descend into politically-biased squabbles. As we attempt to interpret the physical and figurative fit of new infrastructures, lets not shut down novel ideas for its novelty per se. Rather, lets accord these momentous debates the gravitas it deserves and base our decision on the cherished principles of our society and the essence of the construct. The eclectic mix of architectural styles, from gothic cathedrals to the contemporary glass pyramid of the Louvre, in Paris is testament to the transcendent potential of bold, but deliberative, endeavours at architecture. Just as how societies have evolved throughout the centuries, architecture, which is underpinned by societys paradigm, may evolve to reflect this change. Immoderate denial of innovation may only seem like a contrived effort to freeze time. Carroll, who had been appointed acting drug czar in February 2018, disputed that characterization and said the administration has taken numerous steps to combat the opioid crisis. He noted that the drug czars office is only one of several agencies that are trying to battle the epidemic and that he is in close contact with them. Despite the repeated attempts by the Office of Management and Budget to slash his budget, Carroll said he has the full support of the White House. He also said he has proposed spending an additional $1.3 billion on anti-drug efforts. Bate begins with a simple premise: Storytelling was Shakespeares method of making sense of the world, and no stories gripped him more fully than those of classical antiquity. Ovid, especially, taught him that what makes great literary art is extreme human passion. The Metamorphoses, after all, celebrates eros, movement and energy: Change is the only constant in life. Moreover, just as the Roman arts of rhetoric stressed the power of comparisons and illustrations drawn from the past, so too does Shakespeare. In just one speech Hamlet compares his father to the titan Hyperion, his uncle to a satyr and his mother to weeping Niobe, while contrasting his waffling, contemplative self with the forceful Hercules. Such classical retrospection wholly pervades the Renaissance zeitgeist: If you wish to praise a merchant adventurer, notes Bate, you liken him to Jason, leader of the Argonauts. The dystopia gives the designers lots to work with, though the menacing-looking sets abstract tangle of metal and nasty-looking tubes by scenic and multimedia designer Tennessee Dixon is beginning to feel like a Synetic cliche. More impressive is the weird harmony with computerization the show strikes for Millss Richard in the early going of Nathan Weinbergers trimmed, liberal adaptation, which envisions a Richard so badly wounded in battle that he has to be rebuilt like a machine. (Naturally, this action-amped staging includes a prologue that lets us see in live action, not on screen the ever-flexible Mills as Richard getting blown up by a grenade.) While Knopfs project of reviving cookbooks isnt explicitly a celebration of Joness work and vision, Bloom says unequivocally, Theres no culinary backlist at Knopf without Judith Jones. And indeed, while Knopf co-founder Alfred A. Knopf was interested in all things gourmand, it wasnt until Jones published Childs Mastering that Knopf became synonymous with excellence in cookbooks. For the decade after, Jones sought authors who could do for their own native cuisines what Child had done for French food. Joness work, at the time, reflected a sensibility then common among the American elite: that food from elsewhere especially from France was far superior to that of the United States. Take Sue Popkin, who pointed to one of my recent columns. You made a joke in your review of Old Ebbitt Grill about the stairs to the basement restrooms showing the age of the restaurant, the Vienna reader emailed. But the thing that jumped out at me a person with a disability who cannot use stairs without assistance is that the restrooms are down a flight of stairs. Like others who have contacted me, Popkin says she would like to take advantage of the areas bustling restaurant scene, but she needs to know if she will be welcome: at the entrance, in the restroom, by the staff. Moens Magnetix has the appeal of a fixed shower head, but it rests there on a magnet, says Melissa Haas, project designer at Case Design Remodeling in Charlotte ($59.99 to $69.99, bedbathandbeyond.com). You can pull off the shower head and use it as a hand shower, whether youre cleaning the tile, rinsing your feet off or cleaning the dog. Haas adds that its really popular in a hall bathroom or a kids bath setup, where you dont need this luxury-spa setup you just need an all-in-one sort of thing. It comes in chrome and brushed nickel. My job takes me to some deeply personal spaces, and so I have spent a lot of time in abortion clinics. Ive written articles about women driving hundreds of miles to end pregnancies. For a story about abortion doulas volunteers who hold hands and offer support through the procedure I spent two months of Saturdays in a Virginia clinic that performed nine or 10 each day. With patients permission, I stood in the corner of an exam room holding a notebook. And when patients didnt want a journalist present for one of the most intimate moments of their lives, Id excuse myself to the waiting area. Where Id sometimes talk to the men. Under the regulation, states face tighter rules about how they tabulate data about the demographics and treatment of children in special education to ensure there are not racial disparities. Those calculations may tip more states over a threshold that requires them to create a plan to ensure students of color are not being disproportionately targeted. If he fails, or the high court rules against him, Miller faces an August contempt finding by U.S. District Chief Judge Beryl A. Howell of Washington for refusing to testify, an order that would leave him facing jail if he continues to decline to appear. Jarvis Sq., 21700 block, 2:39 a.m. May 9. A man in need of medical attention became aggressive toward rescue personnel and then displayed a machete at deputies. A stun gun was deployed when the man did not comply with deputy commands. A 24-year-old Ashburn man was arrested and charged. The story imagined his coming out to his mother on her deathbed because of visa issues, he was unable to fly from South Africa to reach her in time and his decades-long struggle to embrace his sexuality. He had known he was gay since he was 5, he said, but did not act on his feelings until five years after his mothers death, when he received a massage and some brief, paid-for love in London. In an interview, Batchelor said Talbert Place and Shannon Street has always been a major concern for crime. The unfortunate part is the proximity to both Savoy and Thurgood Marshall [Public Charter School] down the street. I think the kids at Savoy have borne the brunt of this one to many times. Knowing the 86-year-old victim had died years ago, prosecutors went to see the remaining elderly victim. They found her in a bed, owing to her advanced spinal stenosis, in the senior living center where she was a resident. She told them shed be willing to come to court and speak, even if that meant having to be hoisted on a hospital bed, driven in an ambulance, and staying in Montgomery in a nursing home for a night or two. These were among reports received by the Calvert County Sheriffs Office and the Maryland State Police. Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 410-535-2800 or 301-855-1194, the Crime Solvers line at 410-535-2880 or the state police Prince Frederick Barrack at 410-535-1400. This is not an aesthetic issue. This is not just an issue that needs maintenance at some point in the future, Dorsey said. It is a risk each and every day that we have people crowding on those platforms. And while it can be very much said that the best time to have done this work would have been at some point in the past, the second best time to do it is absolutely right now. I am not in the racist and offensive photo that appears under my name in the 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook, the governor said. That being said, I know and understand the events of early February and my response to them have caused hurt for many Virginians and for that, I am sorry. I felt it was important to take accountability for the photos presence on my page, but rather than providing clarity, I instead deepened pain and confusion. Endorsing such a course is not easy, and I do not do so lightly, but I believe that the President has left Congress no other option but to pursue it. When I came to Congress I swore an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, Beyer said. In the document, Purdue said one of its goals was to make OxyContin the opioid of choice for Step Two. The plan went on to say that the goal was to replace the powerful opioids typically prescribed in Step Three by positioning OxyContin as the opioid to start with and stay with, thereby expanding the usage of Step Two. The new law which is not yet in effect would prohibit most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, at about six weeks, when many women may not know they are pregnant. There might have been relatively benign explanations. A great deal of CFC-11 is already banked in the built world, in the form of insulation that gradually leaks the gas into the atmosphere. Rigby and his colleagues looked at the possibility that new construction, and the replacement of building stock and destruction of older infrastructure, could have released the chemical into the air. The law imposes a geographic requirement on groups trying to gather hundreds of thousands of voter signatures to qualify for the ballot. No more than 15 percent of signatures can come from any one of Michigans 14 congressional districts, a restriction that could prevent ballot committees from solely targeting the most heavily populated, more Democratic urban areas. Two thirds of the allocated sum will go to a national initiative dubbed Decent Life, which was launched by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi The Ministry of Religious Endowments (Awqaf) has allocated an EGP 300 million to support the state's poorest villages and education services, Minister of Religious Endowments Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa announced. This move is part of the ministry's community service efforts, Gomaa added during a cabinet meeting Wednesday held under Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly. Two thirds of the allocated sum will go to a national initiative dubbed Decent Life, which was launched by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi to provide better living conditions for the neediest families, the minister said. The rest of the allocated sum will go to the Educational Projects Support Fund, Gomaa noted. Search Keywords: Short link: Top Democratic Presidential Candidates Opposing Trump At this early stage in the political propaganda war for the presidential 2020 election, the best the Democrats can come up with is "Anyone but Trump". Their chances for success resides in the talent that they perfected; namely, election fraud. The mainstream filtered media that attack President Trump share a bipartisan message. Whether wrapped in Marxist terms or Corporatist rational, they are based upon a globalist objective, which benefits international finance. Trump is not immune or exempted from the influence of these despots. The reason he is vilified as no other President has been is because he dares to push back against the established order. Donald Trump has earned an exemplified record of achievement in the face of a Congress that refuses to bring up or vote for most needed legislation. Add to this impediment a Federal Court system of recreant judges, who ignore the constitution or make up decisions that are illegitimate. When Barack Hussein Obama was selected for his two terms, against John McCain and Mitt Romney, the electorate would not support either NeoCons. Republicans and independents stayed away from the polls in droves. After eight years of Democratic expansion of government and a failed economic recovery, the rebirth of the 'silent majority' saw in Trump a hope for a true America First administration. Democrats were shocked when their entitled switch-hitter lost to a viral reality star. Fast forward to the 2020 build-up and ask if the Chicago political machine is able to overcome their lack of a new hotshot to play their identity politics game? Examine the background and informative summary of the leading candidates presented by the Chicago Tribune. This list will become outdated as the dropout rate begins in full force. Campaign 2020: The list of Democratic presidential candidates who want to topple Trump is greatly optimistic for these who are best known as UNKNOWN. Setting aside the guessing who may outlast the survivor "Edge of Extinction" episode, Amanda Alverez lists the Democrats New 2020 Platform. scare the hell out of voters so they wont vote Republican allow new born children to be murdered and call it late term abortion be anti-God be anti-Christian be anti-constitutional eliminate the 1st and 2nd Amendments have a two-tiered justice system enforce the religion of Global Warming bogus science eliminate health insurance have government run medical system be anti-Israel be anti-Male be anti-White Male support radical Muslim religions favor illegal aliens over US Citizens deny border crisis and eliminate borders give illegal aliens Constitutional rights allow terrorists to vote allow rapist and murderers to vote allow illegal aliens to vote eliminate middle America votes eliminate combustion engines eliminate airplanes eliminate vehicles eliminate ships eliminate farming eliminate cows rebuild all current buildings destroy and/or eliminate law enforcement impeach President Trump raise taxes replace Capitalism with Socialism If you deem your interests coincide with the above aspirations, pick a lottery number from the Democrat candidate collectivists; most cut from the same cloth. Another way to put it was stated by George Wallace: "There's not a dime's worth of difference between the Democrat and Republican parties." This insight explains the protracted betrayal from GOP careerists against Trump's reconstruction. The ruthless intensity that Democrats demonstrate against all things Trump is systematic of their hatred for the American Republic. Internalize the assessment that former Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) made back on 2/12/17. "Webb said the Democratic Party's message has "been shaped toward identity politics" "And they've lost the key part of their base," he said. "The people who believe that regardless of any of these identity segments, you need to have a voice in a quarters of power for those that have no voice. And we've lost that for the Democratic Party." Those party loyalists or lock step indoctrinated clones, who have been sucked into the latest version of socialist progressivism, readily will accept any candidate that runs on the platform that removes President Trump for a second term. Analyze closely the score of second rate egomaniacs who lack any qualifications, policies or leadership ability to sit in the oval office. Read from Politico in Here's where the Democratic candidates stand on the biggest 2020 issues. How likely would these positions rally a massive turnout of legal voters to go to the polls and support Democrats in 2020? Elitist establishment mouthpiece George Wills wrote in National Review article Democrats Foolishness Sweepstakes. "The eventual Democratic nominee is probably among the many already running. So the party, with its mosaic of factions to placate (affluent progressives, faculty-club socialists, suburban women, African Americans, Hispanics, climate worriers, identity-politics warriors, etc.) and its aversion to winner-take-all primaries, should remember 1972 or 1984. Its nominees, George McGovern and Walter Mondale won 25 percent and 38 percent, respectively, of the nominating electorates votes. In the two general elections, they lost 98 states." Mr. Wills is correct. The radical autocrats of the left are posed to get their way and nominate a deranged re-distributor, dedicated to expand government under the command of the technocratic cabal. This formula won't fly with voters. Only the destruction of Trump that diminishes his base and independent support from casting their ballot has a chance of defeating the President. The electorate will not vote for a Democratic nominee, but the fake news media might stir up voting against the continuation of the Trump agenda. How reprehensible that the Democrats are making a folly out of the election process. And Hillary Clinton calls Trump supporters; deplorable. What next, the Democratic Party turning to Hillary in a desperate attempt to avoid another defeat? Since the Trump 'Witch Hunt' is over and the President has not been charged with any crime, the Swamp will need to alter their strategy to prevent a second term. Trump will sweep the floor at the debates. Even if Tweeter bans Donald Trump, the backlash would re-elect the President. SARTRE Discuss or comment about this essay on the BATR Forum http://www.batr.org "Many seek to become a Syndicated Columnist, while the few strive to be a Vindicated Publisher" 2019 Copyright BATR - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. Bolsonaro backtracks on decree to ease gun control: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is drawing back on a decree to ease gun control that he signed earlier this month. The government has published a new decree that reverses or tightens some parts of the May 7 decree, which had drawn criticism. The May 7 decree allowed the purchase of more- powerful guns, including some semiautomatic rifles. It also let all minors practice sport shooting. The new decree bans sale of rifles in most cases and sets a minimum age of 14 for shooting practice. ELECTIONS TO the European Parliament usually dont attract much attention, even from Europeans, but this weeks vote for the transnational legislature has defenders of liberal democracy around the continent worried. Far-right parties, which mix economic populism, hostility toward immigrants and authoritarian leanings with disdain for the European Union itself, have banded together across national borders and expect a surge of support. While no one expects the rightists to capture a majority in the polls across 28 E.U. members, they could gain enough seats to obstruct the Parliament and further weaken a union already stressed by economic stagnation and Britains pending departure. Trump should pick his battles rather than try to do everything at once; so, for example, he shouldnt add Israel-Palestinian negotiations to a to-do list that is already way too long. He should marshal allies rather than alienate them e.g., dont start a new trade war with Europe while the old one with China remains unresolved. He should recognize that some issues dont have an immediate solution: North Korea simply isnt going to give up its nuclear weapons. And he should soften some of his demands. He might, for instance, have more luck ending Chinas intellectual property theft than its state support of key industries. Or getting Iran to stop its nuclear program rather than its activities abroad except, oops, Iran already agreed to that and Trump tore up the agreement. FAIRFAX COUNTY, among the nations best-educated, wealthiest and more diverse localities, has been well led by an array of long-tenured and moderate elected officials, most of them Democrats in recent years. Now, for the first time in decades, a vacancy for the chairmanship of the Board of Supervisors, the top job in a county of nearly 1.2 million people, has triggered a contested primary, on June 11, among four Democrats. The best by a mile is Jeff C. McKay, one of the regions most knowledgeable, effective and experienced local leaders. Then came Nadlers Republican counterpart, Rep. Douglas Collins of Georgia, who practically yelled out his statement and fired off taunts so quickly that those of us in the room struggled to understand him, and the transcript designated several sections as unintelligible. The words that did come through were mostly caustic and personal. Nadler rushed to maximize headlines, was politically expedient, issued an illegal subpoena, orchestrated a spectacle and a drama, and is more interested in the fight than fact-finding. Collins further accused Nadler and the Democrats of harangues, innuendo and warned of running roughshod over the Constitution. These days, Luber lives in a professional limbo. He claims guards have stopped him when he has tried to enter the CDCs Atlanta campus, where he used to work, because his photograph is on a BOLO (Be On the Lookout) list. So Luber is assigned projects that can be done from home, focusing on subjects that have little to do with his interests or expertise. In his May 17 Friday Opinion column, Can voters get fired up about decency?, Michael Gerson laid out a central challenge facing the Democratic Party presidential nominee: whether to copy President Trumps pugnacity. But maybe this is not an either-or proposition. Consider the middle road charted in Muhammad Alis advice to float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. A dominant sense of civic responsibility guiding the modest butterfly on the campaign trail will need to be set aside every time Mr. Trump lies so that the bee can deliver truths swift sting. The sustained onslaught of the opioid crisis and increases in the number of incarcerated individuals suffering from mental illness mean that sheriffs and corrections professionals must adopt health-care approaches to better serve those in their custody. We believe it is time for the federal government to assist in these efforts by revisiting federal laws that govern Medicaid coverage for this population. Where Congresss interest is concrete and compelling, the presidents interest in confidentiality is not. McGahn testified to the special counsel at great length, and the president did not object to the attorney generals public disclosure of the substance of that testimony in the Mueller report. While that does not represent a waiver of privilege with respect to matters going beyond what appears in the report (because both McGahn and Mueller were within the executive branch), it does all but eviscerate Trumps claimed need for his conversations with McGahn to be kept secret. Indeed, Trump himself has spoken publicly about his conversations with McGahn (disputing two notions: that he had ordered McGahn to fire Mueller, and that he had instructed McGahn to draft a memo falsely asserting that the president had never ordered Muellers firing). Older politicians have more opportunities to build track records, and those might be more important to the young than to voters of other ideologies and age brackets. Why? Strong left-leaning track records shared by Sanders as well as Gravel offer two major benefits. First, they bespeak a certain authenticity. When Sanders showed it was possible to rake in young votes with staunchly left policies, plenty of center-oriented Democrats began to show interest in things such as Medicare-for-all. Roast young lefties for naivete if you must, but they seem to realize that a fight such as universal health care is going to require somebody truly invested in the idea, whos willing to take enormous flak over it and suffer a few defeats without giving up. In short, endurance counts. Johnnies-come-lately inspire much less confidence on that front. As 18-year-old Henry Williams, who is co-running Gravels campaign, told me of his boss: I think what we started to realize was this guy is where left activists are. He was where we are now a decade ago. He was trying in a time where American politics wasnt ready for him. Global Economic Tensions Translate Into Oil Price Volatility Our continued efforts to alert and assist fellow traders to the incredible setups that are currently happening throughout the globe with regards to increased global economic tensions are starting to take root. We are hearing from our readers and follower and we love the comments we are receiving. Near April/May 2018, we started predicting that the end of 2018 and almost all of 2019/2020 were going to include incredible opportunities for skilled traders. We made these predictions at about the same time that we issued a series of incredible calls regarding the future market moves in 2018 & 2019. April 22, 2018: Predictive Modeling Is Calling For A Continued Rally https://www.thetechnicaltraders.com/our-advanced-predictive-modeling-is-calling-for-a-continued-rally/ May 8, 2018: If You Knew What We Knew https://www.thetechnicaltraders.com/if-you-knew-what-we-knew/ September 17, 2018: Predictive Trading Model Suggests Falling Stock Prices During US Elections https://www.thetechnicaltraders.com/predictive-trading-model-suggests-falling-stock-prices-us-elections/ January 20, 2019: Will China Surprise The Market? https://www.thetechnicaltraders.com/china-surprises-the-us-stock-market/ Our most recent multiple-part research post regarding the current global economic environment and how EU elections, US/China trade issues and a very contentious US Presidential Election cycle are poised to continue driving increased price volatility just hit the digital medium last weekend (https://www.thetechnicaltraders.com/us-vs-global-sector-rotation-what-next-part-ii/ ). We urge all of our followers to read this detailed article about how a series of global events are stacking up to create incredible opportunities for skilled traders. Today, we are focusing on Crude Oil because our proprietary adaptive learning Fibonacci modeling system is suggesting a surge of massive volatility is very likely to happen over the next few months in Crude Oil and we believe the DOWNSIDE price risk is the most likely outcome at this point. Fibonacci price theory dictates that price must ALWAYS attempt to seek out new price highs or new price lows ALWAYS. We interpret this price requirement as the following: Tracking major price peaks and valleys, one can determine if the price is currently achieving new higher high price levels or lower low price levels (thus continuing the price trend) or failing to reach these new higher high or lower low levels. Any failure to reach new higher highs or lower lows is a warning that price may be attempting to continue a previous price trend or reversing. This Weekly chart of Crude Oil clearly illustrates our thinking in terms of this Fibonacci price theory component and other technical aspects. The CYAN price trend line (downward sloping) suggests a failure to establish any new price highs over the longer term trend. Additionally, the recent downward price rotation suggests price weakness may be returning to Crude Oil. Pay very special attention to the Fibonacci price projection levels on the right side of this chart. Notice that the upside price projections start near $74 and the downside price projections start near $33. This is an incredible $41 price range in Crude Oil and this very wide Fibonacci projection range suggests massive volatility is about to hit. This Daily Crude Oil chart showing our proprietary Fibonacci price modeling systems results also suggests incredible upside and downside price projections. The upside levels target the current price level (near $63.50) as well as additional levels above $70. The downside levels target a range of lower price objectives between $53 and $57. The current Fibonacci price target level (CYAN) is quite interesting as it suggests Oil prices will find resistance near $63.50 and potentially move lower if this upside price trend fails. Therefore, we take the entire analysis into consideration and come to the following conclusion: If price falls below the $64 level and begins to move below $61.85 (the Daily Fibonacci Bearish Trigger Level), then we would consider the current upside price trend to have failed in attempting to reach a new higher high level (which would require price to move to levels above $66.60). This conclusion would suggest that the failure of the upside price move should prompt a downside price move attempting to take out the $60.07 lows (attempting to establish a new lower low price level). The longer-term downward sloping price channel suggests the failure to achieve recent higher price highs is indicative of a failed rally attempt which will prompt a new downside price move in the near future. The only condition that could reverse this analysis is if Oil prices rallied above $66.60 and attempted to break the longer term price channel. It is our opinion that Crude Oil will attempt a move lower, attempting to breach the $60.07 low price level and attempt a move back to levels near $55 to $56 before finding support. This current rotation in price is a process of setting up a downward sloping Pennant/Flag formation (we believe). Global economic factors, being what they are right now, are likely to see increased supply and decreased demand for Oil across the planet at least until more clarity and resolution is established with the US/China trade issues and the US Presidential elections. Get ready for a big move in Crude Oil. Our analysis suggests the move will be to the downside with a downside target between $53 and $55 right now. Any further price expectations will be updated as we get further information from our proprietary price modeling systems. Remember, any new conflicts/wars with Iran or in the Middle East will push Oil prices much higher and negate the technical analysis/supply/demand price analysis weve presented. We would not like to see any conflicts happen, but we have to be aware that this reality exists and that Oil could rally well past $70 if a new conflict occurred. If you want to follow the exact trades I take while learning to read the charts and make money be sure to join my Wealth Trading Newsletter today! 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. That urgency, that looming threat, is what makes me give. Its true that the plight of women who need reproductive care in states that restrict such care is not new. As it is now when abortion is still legal in Alabama there are only three clinics in the state that provide the service. But this new law would clearly and unambiguously shut the trap on pregnant women and lock it. Yes, we need to fight the law and, yes, we need to fight the politics that gave rise to it. But first, we have to pry open the trap, before its too late. Before women are forced to turn to a life-threatening, illegal abortion, or risk the dangers especially to black women of bearing a child. DeVos family members are megadonors to the Republican Party. Amash, who was not at risk of losing his seat, received $16,200 from them in 2018. They also gave $1 million to the Freedom Partners Action Fund, a super PAC aligned with Amashs ideology. Amash was a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus, though he has fractured from the group over his public critiques of Trump. The Post was not able to determine the authenticity of the invitations and whether anyone gained access to Trump through them. Officials with the Republican National Committee said that neither they nor the Trump campaign has had anything to do with the solicitations. But another official denied that the walkout had been planned before Pelosi made her coverup comments the sign, the individual said, had been printed weeks before, around the time special counsel Robert S. Mueller III completed his report. And this official said the Rose Garden statement was not planned before Wednesday morning and was orchestrated only after press secretary Sarah Sanders said shortly before the legislative meeting began that an impromptu Rose Garden event was needed. J. David Cox, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union, assailed the plan as another assault on the civil service. This administration has been trying to undermine the civil service since Day One, questioning the loyalty of federal employees, he testified. If the administration gets its way, GSA would provide fleets of leased employees, hired for discreet teams and available to be used, abused, discarded and replaced. Lanny Davis, an attorney for Cohen, said in a statement: These references widely reported in the media about statements contained in the warrant papers are pure innuendo. In fact, Mr. Cohen was not charged with anything to do with these allegations. Indeed, after Mr. Muellers office interviewed Mr. Cohen for 70 hours and 7 days, they publicly praised Mr. Cohen as credible offering relevant evidence going to the core issues under investigation. A recent poll of about 40 top economists by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that 73 percent believed a wealth taxwould be much more difficult to enforce than existing federal taxes because of tax evasion. Seven percent disagreed. Several cited the experience in Europe, where most countries have abandoned their wealth taxes in recent decades. Wealth taxes in the worlds richest nations have brought in far less revenue than expected as a result of tax avoidance, according to a 2018 report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Some people will say, If he should be impeached, then impeach him, said Pallone, who now chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee. I just know that, the way things are around here, we only have so many legislative days and so much that we can accomplish. I want to spend my time doing things that we can get done. The memo contains no methodological information on the polling, but it asserts that James is in a statistical dead heat with Peters, who is not especially well-known among Michigan voters. The memo notes that James performs unusually well for a Republican in Wayne County, where Detroit is located, cutting into the heavy Democratic advantage there, and enjoys a 27-point net favorable impression among voters in the suburban collar counties. Meanwhile, voters in those counties are evenly split on Trump, while Peters enjoys only a three-point net positive favorability. The protest movement is also showing cracks. From the start, women featured prominently at the sit-in, but now the vast majority of protesters on the streets are men, as are all members of the leaderships negotiating team. Some minorities and people from marginalized areas such as Darfur, who harbor perhaps the biggest grievances against the regime, also say they are sidelined. Authorities have characterized the demonstrations as orchestrated. The protests were organized by hard-line Islamic groups that have called for Prabowos supporters to come out in force to show their dissatisfaction with the results. The retired general had stoked nationalist and religious sentiment ahead of the vote, portraying himself as the only person capable of defending Islam in the majority-Muslim country. Chemin is accused of committing or attempting to commit the offense of revealing or disclosing, by any means, any information that could lead, directly or indirectly, to the identification of a person as a member of special forces, according to a copy of the police summons shared with The Washington Post. The document also notes that if charged and convicted, she could face jail time. The far right is now distributed across three separate blocs in the European Parliament, with both personal and policy differences standing in the way of a confederacy of nationalists. One divide is on Russia, since Western Europes far right tends to admire the Kremlin while its Eastern European compatriots can be suspicious of Moscow. While still a minority, these hard-liners say it would be best to provoke the United States into military action while Iran is still capable of delivering a robust response, according to Ellie Geranmayeh, an Iran expert with the European Council on Foreign Relations. They fear that sustained economic sanctions could eventually erode Irans ability to defend itself and argue for accelerating a conflict with the United States while Iran still has an economy that can manage any potential cost of military confrontation, Geranmayeh said. 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. From what I can glean from the memorandum basically they can use any factor they want to say no and they can make a determination what they think we need to do our job, Reed said in an interview. I think were better positioned to determine what we need to do our job. The opposition has become more vocal on the option of a foreign military intervention to oust Maduro. Guaido told The Washington Post this month that he would take a hypothetical offer of U.S. military assistance to the National Assembly. And on Monday, his representative to the United States, Carlos Vecchio, met with the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense to evaluate joint mechanisms of cooperation and strategic planning to advance in a solution, Vecchio said on Twitter. He said he was satisfied with the progress made. Last August, Jamie Oliver admitted that 40 per cent of his business ventures had soured. He can now add his restaurant empire to the list after it crashed into administration: 22 of the chef's 25 restaurants were immediately closed and 1,000 staff will lose their jobs. Jamie Oliver's brand may have become overexposed, say analysts. Credit:James Alcock He said he was "deeply saddened" by the collapse, while KPMG said other directors had worked "tirelessly" to save the outlets of Jamie's Italian, Jamie's Italian Coffee Lounge, Jamie Oliver's Italian, Jamie Oliver's Diner, Barbecoa and Fifteen. Oliver shocked insiders by pulling the plug late on Monday. Sources close to the negotiations claimed that one of the reasons talks to save the business by offloading it to an outside investor were scuppered was the looming wage bill. "The business was consistently portrayed as a viable going concern," said one person connected to the sale. "It wasn't the world's hardest deal." In truth, the failure of Oliver's restaurants had been a long time coming. Restructuring experts Alix Partners had been scrambling to find a new "investment partner" for months. But the seeds of yesterday's collapse were sown much longer ago than that. Across the state, Labor's primary vote fell by 1.8 per cent, with the party picking up just three out of every 10 voters. The tide turned against the Liberals as well, with their primary vote falling to 45.3 per cent. But the Liberals cleaned up once preferences were allocated, collecting 55.1 per cent of the vote, with a half a per cent swing towards them. The biggest two-party preferred swings were in Curtin and Canning. In Curtin, Liberal Celia Hammond suffered a 6.2 per cent swing away from her because of a well-resourced campaign from a progressive independent candidate and to a small degree the loss of former MP Julie Bishop's personal support in the electorate. But in Canning, a serious shift in the underlying vote was apparent. High-profile MP Andrew Hastie has increased his vote in every race since entering parliament in a 2015 byelection, winning blue collar, once-Labor voters in his outer metropolitan, semi-rural seat. In fact, a well-placed source in Labor's campaign said the party struck Canning off its wish list once it saw Mr Hastie on the back of a truck at a union rally lending his support to Alcoa workers who were striking for better conditions. Canning: A blue collar case study Mr Hastie was not shy about campaigning on the economic impact of Labors climate change policies. He ran social media ads targeting Bill Shortens policy to make half of all new cars sold electric. Andrew Hastie. Credit:Ross Swanborough He was particularly critical of Labors inability to explain how reducing carbon emissions by 50 per cent and a 45 per cent renewable energy target would affect jobs at Cannings biggest employer, Alcoa. The workers at Alcoa are the same men and women Mr Hastie backed during their industrial action, which forced a rethink in Labor about their hopes of winning the seat. It didnt help that Labor preselected a public servant from Perths inner city suburbs who belongs to the left of the party. Social conservatives on the move Dont listen to anyone who tells you religion wasnt front and centre on polling day. Not only was Prime Minister Scott Morrison under pressure on his beliefs absout hell and homosexuality, the Israel Folau decision dropped on election eve. Again in Canning, the Australian Christian Lobby ran a campaign targeting socially conservative Labor voters, with mail-outs and phone calls outlining what it said was Bill Shortens gender agenda. The ACL sent a series of three flyers into the electorate and asked its 15,000 Western Australian supporters to share information with voters in Canning. Outer metropolitan seats like Canning and Brand, which also had a big anti-Labor swing, have seen an explosion in the number of Christian churches in recent years. Libs ahead on ground game Liberal state director Sam Calabrese was coy when discussing the success of the Liberal campaign and the failure of Labors. But he credited the partys volunteers who out-campaigned Labor on ground game, or the number of supporters wearing out boot leather on the streets. We received incredible support from our members, volunteers and the community, who made the difference on the ground, door to door, person to person," Mr Calabrese said. There was a very noticeable difference out in the community. Although our volunteers had been told for months that we could not win, they still went out every day to wave signs, door knock and letterbox, some days in the pouring rain." Dirty deeds done dirt cheap This campaign was beset by dirty tricks, with Labor responsible for two against Hasluck MP Ken Wyatt, which Liberal strategists suggest turned off voters. A week before polling day, Mr Shorten's communications team tweeted a photo taken by Labor campaign volunteers of Mr Wyatt holding Clive Palmer's United Australia Party signs. The WA Labor campaign then bought up social media ads of the image showing a giant Clive Palmer looming out of the shadows and pulling Mr Wyatt's strings as though he was a puppet. But Mr Wyatt said he was just tidying up signs left behind by UAP volunteers. Then on election day, a poster appeared on booths in Hasluck, which was authorised by Labor, asking voters to Google "Ken Wyatt bullying". Signage displayed in Ken Wyatt's seat of Hasluck on election day. It is understood Google distanced itself from the material and asked the Labor campaign to remove it from polling places, but a spokeswoman from the US internet search giant declined to comment on record. A Labor insider who spent the day working on booths in Hasluck told WAtoday he was appalled and disgusted by the poster. "This is a new low and I've been a Labor member since the seventies," he said. "The party needs to grow up. Even if you disagree with Ken Wyatt's politics, attacking a person of his reputation and calibre beggars belief." Where to from here Scott Morrison will be coming after Labors safer electorates in WA. Labor took a serious hit to its vote in Brand, where the party's most senior WA MP Madeleine King suffered a 4.5 per cent against her on a two-party preferred basis and a 6.5 per cent swing on primaries. Blue collar voters deserted the party at this election. When the next election rolls around, which will be due in 2022, Labor will have gone from hunting for five seats to defending the few it already holds. University of Notre Dame politics expert Martin Drum said Labor had to think about why it's not connecting with voters, but WA was a more conservative state in federal elections. "But people vote for different things perhaps and I think they might vote a bit more ideologically at a federal level than they do at state level," he said. "At a state level, it's about who is best placed to deliver services; federally we look at the direction of the country." This is a reality Labor will need to confront. Working people in WA are beginning to vote against the direction the party wants to take the country. New research reveals about a quarter of those who have their retirement savings invested with a retail superannuation fund run by a major bank or big insurer think they are invested in a not-for-profit industry fund. And 85 per cent believe their retail fund's investment return is better, or at least as good, as an industry fund. Helen Rowell, deputy chair of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, says acquiring information and presenting it in a way that balances accuracy and simplicity is "extremely challenging". Credit:Ryan Stuart The research exposes an alarming lack of engagement, ignorance and misconception people have about their superannuation. A report by the Productivity Commission last year made it clear that retail funds on average underperform not-for-profit funds in most asset classes. As the Japanese-born mother began to broaden her designs people started stopping her on the street. Sayaka Nakamoto with daughter Mira, 5, wearing their face masks at their home in Altona. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui "They would ask 'where did you get that?' and after getting a lot of feedback I decided I would start selling them," the Altona mother-of-one, who now runs her own online store My Little Momo, says. Since 2017, Ms Nakamoto has sold dozens of the masks. Each mask takes about fifteen minutes to sew and they are made from a cotton fibre called 'Japanese double gauze' which can be washed and reused. Ms Nakamoto says she has observed a recent surge in sales in the last few months in the wake of the Victoria's horror summer flu season, with the number of diagnosed flu cases up from 2200 at this time last year to 10,683 so far this year. Loading "A lot of the time people are buying them because they want to prevent themselves or their children from getting sick with the flu or spreading their germs," she says. "I've also sold some to cancer patients who are going through chemotherapy who want to protect themselves." Does wearing a surgical mask prevent the flu? Evidence suggests that, when sick, wearing a mask can help protect others from getting sick. But the masks are not foolproof. "Many of the surgical masks that people use are not designed properly to filter out very small particles so if the flu virus is floating around it could potentially get through it," Professor Stephen Turner, head of Monash University's microbiology department, says. But he adds a surgical mask could limit the spread of influenza, if for example, a person with the virus was wearing a mask when they were sneezing in a public place. In a 2013 study in America researchers counted the number of virus particles in the air around patients with flu and found that surgical masks decreased the exhalation of large viral droplets significantly, but was less effective against the fine viral droplets that can remain suspended in the air longer and are therefore more infectious. Loading Doherty Institute head virologist Associate Professor Aeron Hurt says while face masks have some potential to stop the spread of viral particles the practical nature of wearing them often means they are not effective. Why do people wear surgical masks? Generally people who wear face masks do so when they are unwell to prevent others from becoming sick, Associate Professor Hurt says. "One of the difficulties of surgical masks is that they can become quite uncomfortable to wear," he says. "They also quite quickly become saturated with the moisture in the breath and because of their discomfort people often start touching in and around their face more than they would do if they weren't wearing a mask. But touching their faces more can actually spread influenza through touch and contamination of surfaces." Does taking more Vitamin C and other home remedies work? Loading There is no shortage of advice around on how to prevent influenza, including taking more Vitamin C, but Associate Professor Hurt says there is not enough robust scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of those measures. "We don't have studies that are as rigorous as we would normally use to evaluate medicine to tell us whether these types of things work well enough," he says. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Planning power in WA is concentrated in the hands of a few key government players, some of whom were appointed straight out of long private industry careers. While there are checks and balances in place to manage conflicts the closer to the top it gets, the murkier the process becomes; and you cant get closer to the top than the WA Planning Commission. The WAPC creates high level state frameworks, advises planning ministers on decisions and gets ultimate say over council schemes. Its boards monthly meeting agendas and minutes are not publicly available. Residents, developers and councils invited to state their case to the decision-makers have to do it blind, with no knowledge of the recommendations made. They are ushered out for the discussion and voting, and reasons for decisions are not routinely published. Agendas and minutes of its Statutory Planning Committee, which also makes high-level decisions, are available but any document for the Minister for a final decision is deemed 'confidential.' WAPC head David Caddy was appointed to the board early 2018 and flagged incoming transparency changes but nothing has changed yet. Advertisement Meanwhile, WAtoday has been contacted by several readers concerned about the membership and decisions of the board and committee. For almost three decades until March 2018, Mr Caddy was founder, director and shareholder at one of Perth's most prominent planning firms, Element Advisory (formerly TPG). He represented developer clients, appearing before decision-making bodies prosecuting their proposals, including several high-profile apartment tower projects in South Perth. In 2016 he appeared before the WAPC's SPC to argue it should not allow the City of South Perth to reintroduce building height limits on its peninsula. When the job was advertised as the chairman of the WAPC board, he applied for and got it. He ceased his directorship of Element and divested his shares before starting the role in April 2018. Advertisement Since then, Mr Caddy personally intervened to squash a fresh attempt by the City of South Perth to reintroduce building height limits, which the city was considering under pressure from angry residents. The appointment of Lino Iacomella to the SPC also raised eyebrows in South Perth. As one of the states most well known property industry lobbyists, he has spent the past decade advocating for developers interests as both deputy executive director and executive director of the Property Council WA. There is no suggestion either man has done anything wrong but their appointments outraged some South Perth residents, who viewed it as a slap in the face for the government to hand ultimate planning power over South Perth to a people who had so long argued in the developers corner. Mr Caddy defended his actions in South Perth and commitment to avoiding conflict. He said he had worked in planning roles in local and state government before he founded TPG in 1989. He was 65 years old and about to retire when the WAPC chairman's role was advertised. "When you've been a career planner to come back as chairman is the pinnacle, there's no doubt about that," he said. "It's the defining moment in a career." Advertisement He said while his predecessor had been drawn from the public service, all previous WAPC chairmen since 1985 had come from the public sector and his selection was the result of a rigorous three-month process. "It's not as if someone made a decision to say, 'let's appoint this bloke,' he said. His priorities in the role were guided by an accord signed with Minister Saffioti that revolved around two objectives: building Metronet and reforming the planning system. "It's as if I'm consulting to government instead of to the private sector,"- David Caddy. Credit:Hamish Hastie "The last 12 months has been the steepest learning curve that I've been through in 45 years of planning," he said. "In chairing the commission I am bringing a different perspective to the work that is being done by the department, and I think it's a very healthy perspective, but I do not interfere in the work that is being done. "It's as if I'm consulting to government instead of to the private sector. You obviously represent the best interests of your client at the time. Advertisement "Every time I see Element on an agenda I ring up and make sure that it was a job that was started after I left. If there's any hint that it was something that was started, even if I didn't know about it while I was there, I declare an interest and leave the room." He said the issues with South Perth went back many years and his intervention was at the invitation of the council's planning staff, to resolve an impasse between officers and councillors. He understood plans were now being considered by the planning department and hoped the situation in South Perth was resolved. "The relationship is so good that South Perth Mayor [Sue Doherty] rang me the other day before she went on long service leave and thanked me for working with the council to achieve the outcome that we've now got," he said. Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said the community of South Perth had been unable to define a vision for the future for many years now. Mr Caddy asked them to do what theyre meant to be doing and develop a plan for the area," she said. "The absence of these plans is creating a lot of uncertainty which isnt good for anybody. We need councils to get on with their jobs. Two residents of Shenton Park who have run the WAPC gauntlet say the problem is not Mr Caddy. Advertisement About six months after the simulation began, the Australian government effectively banned Huawei, the world's largest maker of telecom networking gear, from any involvement in its 5G plans. An Australian government spokeswoman declined to comment on the war game. After the Australians shared their findings with US leaders, other countries, including the United States, moved to restrict Huawei. Raised the alarm on Huawei: former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. Credit:AAP The anti-Huawei campaign intensified last week, when President Donald Trump signed an executive order that effectively banned the use of Huawei equipment in US telecom networks on national security grounds and the Commerce Department put limits on the firm's purchasing of US technology. Google's parent, Alphabet, suspended some of its business with Huawei. Until the middle of last year, the US government largely "wasn't paying attention," said retired US Marine Corps General James Jones, who served as national security adviser to President Barack Obama. What spurred senior US officials into action? A sudden dawning of what 5G will bring, according to Jones. "This has been a very, very fast-moving realisation" in terms of understanding the technology, he said. "I think most people were treating it as a kind of evolutionary step as opposed to a revolutionary step. And now that light has come on." This has been a very, very fast-moving realisation retired US Marine Corps General James Jones The Americans are now campaigning aggressively to contain Huawei as part of a much broader effort to check Beijing's growing military might under President Xi Jinping. Strengthening cyber operations is a key element in the sweeping military overhaul that Xi launched soon after taking power in 2012, according to official US and Chinese military documents. The United States has accused China of widespread, state-sponsored hacking for strategic and commercial gain. A threat to critical infrastructure If Huawei gains a foothold in global 5G networks, Washington fears this will give Beijing an unprecedented opportunity to attack critical infrastructure and compromise intelligence sharing with key allies. Loading Senior Western security officials say this could involve cyber attacks on public utilities, communication networks and key financial centres. In any military clash, such attacks would amount to a dramatic change in the nature of war, inflicting economic harm and disrupting civilian life far from the conflict without bullets, bombs or blockades. To be sure, China would also be vulnerable to attacks from the US and its allies. Beijing complained in a 2015 defence document, China's Military Strategy, that it has already been a victim of cyber-espionage, without identifying suspects. Documents from the National Security Agency leaked by American whistleblower Edward Snowden showed that the United States hacked into Huawei's systems, according to media reports. Reuters couldn't independently verify that such intrusions took place. "The tech cold war against China, like the original cold war against the Soviet Union, could last a long time." Credit:Bloomberg 'Deeply embedded' However, blocking Huawei is a huge challenge for Washington and its closest allies, particularly the other members of the so-called Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. From humble beginnings in the 1980s in the southern Chinese boom town of Shenzhen, Huawei has grown to become a technology giant that is deeply embedded in global communications networks and poised to dominate 5G infrastructure. Loading There are few global alternatives to Huawei, which has financial muscle the company reported revenue for 2018 jumped almost 20 per cent to more than $US100 billion ($145 billion) as well as competitive technology and the political backing of Beijing. "Restricting Huawei from doing business in the US will not make the US more secure or stronger," the company said in a statement in response to questions from Reuters. Such moves, it said, would only limit "customers in the US to inferior and more expensive alternatives." For countries that exclude Huawei there is also a risk of retaliation from Beijing. Since Australia banned the company from its 5G networks last year, it has experienced disruption to its coal exports to China, including customs delays on the Chinese side. In a statement, China's foreign ministry said it treated "all foreign coal equally" and that to assert "China has banned the import of Australian coal does not accord with the facts." Loading Tension over Huawei is also exposing divisions in the Five Eyes group, which has been a foundation of the post-Second World War Western security architecture. During a trip to London on May 8, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo issued a stark warning to Britain, which has not ruled out using Huawei in its 5G networks. "Insufficient security will impede the United States' ability to share certain information within trusted networks," he said. "This is exactly what China wants; they want to divide Western alliances through bits and bytes, not bullets and bombs." Huawei's 74-year old founder, Ren Zhengfei, is a former officer in China's military, the People's Liberation Army. Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of Huawei. Credit:AP "Mr. Ren has always maintained the integrity and independence of Huawei," the company said. "We have never been asked to cooperate with spying and we would refuse to do so under any circumstance." In an interview with Reuters at the company's headquarters in Shenzhen, Eric Xu, a deputy chairman, said Huawei had not allowed any government to install so-called backdoors in its equipment - illicit access that could enable espionage or sabotage - and would never do so. He said 5G was more secure than earlier systems. "China has not and will not demand companies or individuals use methods that run counter to local laws or via installing 'backdoors' to collect or provide the Chinese government with data, information or intelligence from home or abroad," the Chinese foreign ministry said in a statement in response to questions from Reuters. An employee seals a box on the assembly line of a Huawei mobile phone plant in Dongguan, China. Credit:Bloomberg Washington argues that surreptitious backdoors aren't necessarily needed to wreak havoc in 5G systems. The systems will rely heavily on software updates pushed out by equipment suppliers - and that access to the 5G network, says the United States, potentially could be used to deploy malicious code. So far, America hasn't publicly produced hard evidence that Huawei equipment has been used for spying. Asked whether the United States was slow to react to potential threats posed by 5G, Robert Strayer, the State Department's lead cyber policy diplomat, told Reuters that America had long been concerned about Chinese telecom companies, but that over the past year, as 5G loomed closer, "we were starting to talk more and more with our allies." Loading Banning Huawei from 5G networks remains "an end goal," he said. The tech threat The West has long harboured concerns about Chinese telecom equipment. In 2012, a US House Intelligence Committee report concluded Chinese tech companies posed a national security threat. Huawei denounced the finding. Despite such concerns, the US government's response to the threats posed by 5G only took shape more recently. In February 2018, Malcolm Turnbull, then prime minister of Australia, flew to Washington D.C. Even before Australia's eavesdropping agency had run its war game, Turnbull was already raising red flags in Washington. A former technology entrepreneur, he believed 5G presented significant risks and wanted to press allies to act against Huawei. "He was warning about how important 5G networks would be and the security risks we all needed to think about around countries that had capability, form and intent, as well as coercive laws," a senior Australian source told Reuters. A spokesman for Turnbull declined to comment. Turnbull and his advisers met US officials, including Kirstjen Nielsen, then US secretary of homeland security, and Michael Rogers, then head of the US National Security Agency, the US signals-intelligence operation. The Australians said they believed Beijing could compel Huawei to do its bidding and that this posed a threat should tensions with China rise in the future, said two of the Australian officials familiar with the meeting. The US officials were receptive to the Australian message, but imposing restrictions on the world's largest maker of mobile network gear didn't appear to be a high priority, according to the two Australian officials. "They didn't share our concern with the same urgency," said one. Rogers declined to comment. A Department of Homeland Security official did not elaborate on the meeting, but said the agency works closely with Australia on security issues and that "China will continue to use cyber espionage and bolster cyber-attack capabilities to support its national security priorities." 5G technology is expected to deliver a huge leap in the speed and capacity of communications. Downloading data may be up to 100 times faster than on current networks. But 5G isn't only about faster data. The upgrade will see an exponential spike in the number of connections between the billions of devices, from smart fridges to driverless cars, that are expected to run on the 5G network. "It's not just that there will be more people with multiple devices, but it will be machines talking to machines, devices talking to devices all enabled by 5G," said Burgess, the Australian Signals Directorate chief, in his March address. This configuration of 5G networks means there are many more points of entry for a hostile power or group to conduct cyber warfare against the critical infrastructure of a target nation or community. That threat is magnified if an adversary has supplied equipment in the network, US officials say. Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou. Credit:AP Huawei said in its statement that the company does "not control in any way the networks in which our equipment is deployed by our clients. The US and Australian allegations are fanciful and are not rooted in any evidence at all." In July 2018, Britain delivered a blow to Huawei. A government-led panel that includes senior intelligence officials said it was no longer fully confident it could manage national security risks posed by the Chinese telecom equipment giant. That panel oversees the work of a laboratory that was set up by the British government in 2010 and is funded by Huawei to vet the company's equipment used in the UK. The facility was established because even then Huawei was perceived as a security risk. The oversight panel said serious problems it had identified with Huawei's engineering processes "exposed new risks in the UK telecommunication networks and long-term challenges in mitigation and management." That report was a "bombshell," shaping how the Americans viewed the Huawei 5G risk, said one US official. US officials also point to Chinese laws enacted in recent years that they say could compel individuals and companies to assist the Chinese government in conducting espionage. China's foreign ministry called this portrayal by US officials of Chinese legislation "a misreading and a wanton smearing of relevant Chinese laws," adding: "Trying to smear others to wash oneself clean is futile." Australia awakes Through the middle of last year, the Australians continued to apprise other countries of their worries about 5G. "We were sharing our concerns about security with many allies, not just the US and not just the traditional partners," said one of the senior Australian officials. "We shared our thoughts with Japan, Germany, other European countries and South Korea." In Washington, the administration began imposing restrictions on Huawei. In August, Trump signed a bill banning federal agencies and their contractors from using equipment from Huawei and ZTE Corp, another Chinese telecom equipment maker. Huawei has since filed a lawsuit in federal court in Texas challenging the ban. In late August, the Australians went further: They banned companies that didn't meet their security requirements, which included Huawei, from supplying any equipment for the country's 5G network, whether run by the government or by private firms. Australia's decision, China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement, "has no basis in fact, and is an abuse of 'national security' standards. China urges the Australian side to abandon Cold War thinking and ideological prejudices, and provide a fair, transparent, non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies." In November, New Zealand's intelligence agency blocked the country's first request by a telecom service provider to use Huawei kit for a 5G network, citing national security concerns. Like the Australians and Americans, British security officials had concerns over China's potential use of Huawei as a channel for conducting espionage. Edward Snowden exposed data suggesting the US spied on China. Credit:AP But the options are limited. Huawei is one of only three major global companies that analysts say can supply a broad range of advanced mobile network equipment at scale. The other two are Ericsson and Nokia. And Huawei has a reputation among telecom operators for supplying cost-effective equipment promptly. Nevertheless, British security officials were becoming increasingly frustrated with what they viewed as Huawei's failure to fix software flaws in its equipment, particularly discrepancies in the source code the programs' underlying set of instructions. This problem means the laboratory near Oxford set up to vet Huawei equipment can not even be sure that the code it is testing is exactly the same as the code Huawei deploys in its real-world equipment. This makes it difficult to provide safety assurances about the company's gear. British officials say the array of flaws could be exploited by China, as well as other malevolent actors. Ian Levy, a British security official who oversees the UK's review of Huawei equipment, told Reuters the company's software engineering is like something from 20 years ago. "The chance of a vulnerability with a Huawei piece of kit is much higher than other vendors," he said. The company said it has pledged to spend at least $US2 billion "over the next five years" to improve its software engineering capabilities. British ministers have agreed to allow Huawei a restricted role in building parts of its 5G network, but the government has yet to announce its final decision. The European Union has left it to individual governments to decide whether to ban any company on national security grounds. Some European security officials say banning one supplier doesn't address the broader issue of the risks posed by Chinese technology in general. Huawei fights back As the tensions between the West and Huawei intensified through last year, they suddenly took a personal turn. US law enforcement officials had for some time been investigating links between Huawei and Iran, including the involvement of Meng Wanzhou, Huawei's chief financial officer, who is the daughter of the company's founder. The probe followed Reuters stories in 2012 and 2013 that revealed links between Huawei, Meng and another company that allegedly attempted to violate US sanctions on Iran. When US officials became aware that Meng would be travelling through Vancouver in December, they pounced, asking Canada to detain her on allegations of bank and wire fraud. Meng remains free on bail in Canada while the US government tries to have her extradited. Huawei said in its statement that Meng "is not guilty of the charges she faces," and that they are "politically motivated." The Huawei conflict isn't only about US-China superpower rivalry: The activities of Meng and Huawei were under scrutiny by US authorities long before Trump began a trade war with China, according to interviews with people familiar with those probes. But there is no doubt the wider showdown with Huawei has now become intensely geopolitical. In recent months, the US has ramped up diplomatic efforts to urge allies to sideline Huawei. 5G is a "game-changing technology with implications across all aspects of society from business, government, military and beyond," Gordon Sondland, US ambassador to the European Union, told Reuters in February. "It seems common sense to me to not hand over the keys to your entire society to an actor that has demonstrated malign conduct." Asked whether there is evidence of Huawei equipment having been used for espionage, Sondland said "there is classified evidence." He declined to expand on the nature of the material beyond saying there was no doubt that Huawei had "the capability to hack a system" and "the mandate by the government to do so upon request." Pompeo has publicly gone further than most US officials by directly linking the company to Beijing. "Huawei is owned by the state of China and has deep connections to their intelligence service," he said in March. "That should send off flares for everybody who understands what the Chinese military and Chinese intelligence services do." Huawei has repeatedly denied it is controlled by the government, military or Chinese intelligence services. "US Secretary of State Pompeo is wrong," the company said in its statement, adding that it is owned by its employees. While Huawei was initially muted in its public response, it too has become more combative. In late February, the company confronted the United States at a major annual gathering of mobile industry executives in Barcelona, where Huawei's red logo was ubiquitous. Top American officials arrived intent on warning government and industry representatives off Huawei. But the company had flown in a team of senior executives to offer customers and representatives of European governments reassurance in the face of the US accusations. In a keynote speech, Guo Ping, a deputy chairman at Huawei, took aim at America's own spying operations. "Prism, Prism on the wall. Who's the most trustworthy of them all?" he said. London: Tens of thousands of North Korean women and girls some as young as 9 are being trafficked into sexual slavery in China as they try to flee poverty and oppression in their homeland, experts on the reclusive state said on Monday. The sexual exploitation of North Koreans generates at least $US105 million ($153 million) in annual profits for the Chinese underworld, according to a report by the non-profit Korea Future Initiative, which includes harrowing accounts from trafficked women. A new report details the extent to which North Koreans fleeing poverty are being trafficked into sexual slavery. Credit:AP "Victims are prostituted for as little as 30 Chinese yuan ($6.30), sold as wives for just 1,000 yuan, and trafficked into cybersex dens for exploitation by a global online audience," the report's author Yoon Hee-soon said. "Many are sold more than once and are forced into at least one form of sexual slavery within a year of leaving their homeland." "There are attempts to create martyrs, blaming security officials for building public anger," he said. An additional 20,000 soldiers were deployed late on Wednesday after the Jakarta governor, Anies Baswedan, revealed in a TV interview that six people had been killed during wild protests in a number of locations in Jakarta late into Tuesday night. Prabowo's supporters set fire to the dormitory of the Jakarta police mobile brigade, torched cars and threw stones and molotov cocktails at police. They clashed with police again on Wednesday. Police limited the use of social media in Indonesia to slow down the posting of videos, pictures and memes relating to the protest, the information ministry said. Measures would stay in place for two or three days to try to calm the situation. Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto carry an injured man during a clash with Indonesian police in Jakarta. Credit:AP National police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said the protesters had been paid by unnamed parties. An ambulance belonging to a political party (which he did not name) had been found full of stones near the protesters, along with money in envelopes, he said. Wiranto, the minister for security affairs was asked who was behind the protests. He did not name any individual but said: "There is a correlation" between the election result and the violence. The president's chief of staff, Moeldoko, said, "We know who is behind this, it is a matter of time." Iqbal said 58 people who were suspected provocateurs were arrested. At the dormitory of the Jakarta police mobile brigade, protesters set 14 vehicles alight and damaged 11 others. Police arrested 11 and, "we found out they are paid protesters," Iqbal said. An Indonesian riot police officer fires a tear gas launcher to disperse supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto. Credit:AP "We said a couple of days ago that there would be third parties who would take advantage of the protest situation, so people should not get provoked." He did not name who the provocateurs might be, adding that "We are investigating the people we have arrested". Indonesia's Election Commission declared at midnight on Monday that Joko, known universally as Jokowi, had won a second term with 55.5 per cent of the vote in the April 17 election. The commission brought the announcement forward and held it in the dead of night to try to avoid unrest. Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto at a rally outside the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) building in Jakarta. Credit:AP Prabowo, a former general, refused to accept defeat, saying he was a victim of fraud. There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the election. Loading His supporters threatened a "people power" protest, but later said they planned to challenge the election in the Constitutional Court. The government has deployed some 50,000 police and soldiers in Jakarta in anticipation of protests, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said. Many residents have left the city and parts of the downtown are closed to traffic. In the past week, authorities have arrested three pro-Prabowo activists on suspicion of treason, Prasetyo said, including a retired general and a former commander of Indonesia's special forces. Police allege there was a plot to seize crucial government buildings in Jakarta. Prabowo, a retired general, has pledged he would "continue to make legal efforts in line with the constitution to defend the mandate of the people". Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, the legal director of Prabowo's campaign team, confirmed it planned to contest the result in the Constitutional Court. On Monday, an election supervisory agency dismissed claims of systematic cheating, citing a lack of evidence. Independent observers have said the poll was free and fair. Flanked by riot police, Prabowo's supporters had earlier gathered mainly at the election supervisory agency (Bawaslu) in the heart of the city's commercial and government district. There was also a small rally at the KPU in support of the election commission. Loading But after 9pm, the protests turned violent, with Wiranto saying a different group was responsible. "They were making anarchy, they were criminals," he said. Wiranto earlier told a briefing there had been plans for "massive demonstrations to storm the KPU, Bawaslu, Parliament and the state palace". He threatened severe punishment for criminal activity and vowed to maintain security, while denying authorities were being draconian. Former Kopassus commander and Prabowo's supporter, Major General (ret) Soenarko has been arrested on charges of treason and weapon smuggling, according to Wiranto. Video footage circulated a few days ago showing Soenarko talking to a group of people about the siege the election commission office and presidential palace. In a press conference, Wiranto said Soenarko was also involved in weapons smuggling "for a certain purpose" for "which we don't know". "But it was against the law," said Wiranto, "That's why the police are now investigating." Prabowo had warned the cheating claims could trigger "people power"-style protests, though ahead of the result he had urged supporters in a video to be "peaceful in our struggle". Authorities had earlier detained dozens of militant Islamists suspected of planning attacks on people attending the protests. Police said they had held or interrogated at least three leading opposition figures for suspected treason. Former president Hosni Mubarak appeared in a surprise interview on Sunday with Kuwaiti TV host Fajr Al-Said. In the interview, Mubarak spoke about the Deal of the Century, the threat posed by Iran, and gave a candid assessment of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. Mubarak also revealed facts about Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait in 1991, Egypts reclaiming of Sinai in 1982, the Six-Day War, the October War in 1973 and the negotiations between Israel and Syria in 1993. Al-Said tweeted a photo showing her and Mubarak sitting together but did not reveal where the interview had taken place. The important thing is that I was able to reach him without the help of anyone, said Al-Said. I told him I would like to interview him and he approved at once. The tweeted photograph was signed to Fajr Al-Said and to the friendly people of Kuwait. Hosni Mubarak. May 2019. Mubarak said he was pessimistic about the prospects of the Deal of the Century the details of which are expected to be made public on 25 June by Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser, during an economic conference in Bahrain. The main guidelines of the deal have yet to be made clear in any formal way. The Arabs must be ready to take an action once it is officially announced, said Mubarak. Whatever we know about what is being called the Deal of the Century comes from newspapers and unconfirmed leaks. And the early impressions, particularly after the transfer of the US Embassy to Jerusalem, Israel claiming sovereignty over the Golan Heights and the continued expansion of Israeli settlements do not lead to optimism. Mubarak described the Palestinian cause as one of endless lost opportunities since Anwar Al-Sadat launched his peace initiative. Netanyahu doesnt believe in a two-state solution, said Egypts former president, and seeks only to entrench the separation between Gaza and the West Bank. Netanyahu refuses the land for peace formula and will do everything in his power to undermine any meaningful peace deal. In 1993, said Mubarak, I urged Yitzhak Rabin to negotiate with Syria and he told me he would accept Syria recovering its land but the problem was the Syrians refused diplomatic relations. Then, after the assassination of Rabin in 1995 the Syrians wanted an agreement but then Netanyahu came to office and the opportunity was lost. I know how Netanyahu thinks. When Bill Clinton invited me for a meeting with Netanyahu and King Hussein in Washington I said no, I would not go as long as Netanyahu continues to disparage negotiations and refuses to withdraw from the remaining occupied Arab territories. I told Clinton that Netanyahu wants the Arabs to cede Jerusalem to Israel, something no Arab ruler could approve. On Iran, Mubarak said it represents a major threat not only to Israel and the Gulf countries but to the Arabs in general. Iran has been trying its best to infiltrate the region, posing a threat to Arab national security. Unfortunately, since 2011 many powers have been seeking a foothold in the region. They exploited circumstances [the Arab Spring uprisings] to secure their interests. Egypt supported Iraq in its war against Iran, sided with our brothers in the Gulf in the face of Iranian threats, and I and the late Saudi King Abdullah wanted to form a united front to contain Iran. Mubarak said he tried to open a dialogue with former Iranian president Mohamed Khatami. I met with him in Geneva but the hardliners in Iran moved to undermine any chances for improved relations. We should remember that in the wake of the events of January 2011 Irans supreme guide took the unprecedented step of delivering a provocative speech in Arabic, calling for an Islamic revolution in Egypt. Irans designs for the region are quite clear. Then we have Israeli schemes under the Netanyahu government. We have to accord equal weight to both threats." Mubarak, 91, said the Kuwaitis are dear to me, and I have a friendly relationship with many of them. I have contacts with Sheikh Sabah, and today Kuwait is playing a balanced role in the Arab world and the Gulf. On 2 August 1991, I was shocked by Saddams invasion of Kuwait. At the time Sheikh Zayed [late president of the United Arab Emirates] was in Egypt and I urged him to take an Egyptian plane back to Abu Dhabi because I feared Saddam might strike his jet. "With the approval of the Peoples Assembly I sent Egyptian forces to Saudi Arabia to help liberate Kuwait, and at Sheikh Zayeds request I sent a brigade of commandos to help safeguard the oil wells. Speaking on his service in the Egyptian army between 1967 and 1973 Mubarak said Egypts defeat in the 1967 Six-Day War had been a defining moment in his life. I returned from the war in Yemen on 15 May 1968. On 2 June [three days before the war] I told the head of Abdel-Hakim Amers [the minister of war] office that Israel was calling up its reserve and that the Air Force had to take precautions. On the morning of 5 June I took off in my fighter jet but once we were in the air we were told that Israel had hit the airport and we would not be able to land. I was about to run out of fuel so I headed for Luxor Airport. After just one hour the Israeli air force hit my plane at Luxor. I returned to Cairo by train in very low spirits, filled with the bitter taste of defeat. Then I had the honour to be the leader of Egypts Air Force in 1973. In the early hours of the war our fighters targeted Israels radar stations and communication centres and Israel lost any contact with its forces in Sinai. After Sadat was killed in 1981, I was honoured take over responsibility for this country and my first task was to recover all of our lands in Sinai. Indeed, 19 March 1989 was the happiest day in my life. It was the day we recovered Taba, the last part of Sinai under Israeli control. Hosni Mubarak was ousted from office after a popular uprising in January 2011. He was chief of Egypts Air Force during the 1973 War, and in April 1975 he was appointed vice president by Sadat, He succeeded to the presidency when Sadat was assassinated during a military parade in October 1981. In 2016 Mubarak was acquitted of charges of issuing orders to kill protesters, and of a host of corruption charges. He was, however, sentenced to three years in prison after he was found guilty of embezzling LE125 million in funds allocated to restore presidential palaces. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 May, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Mubarak speaks Search Keywords: Short link: Netiquette Die Kommentare auf weltwoche.ch dienen als Diskussionsplattform und sollen den offenen Meinungsaustausch unter den Lesern ermoglichen. Es ist uns ein wichtiges Anliegen, dass in allen Kommentarspalten fair und sachlich debattiert wird. Scharfe, sachbezogene Kritik am Inhalt des Artikels oder wo angebracht an Beitragen anderer Forumsteilnehmer ist erwunscht, solange sie hoflich vorgetragen wird. Personlichkeitsverletzende und diskriminierende Ausserungen hingegen verstossen gegen unsere Richtlinien. Sie werden ebenso geloscht wie Kommentare, die eine sexistische, beleidigende oder anstossige Ausdrucksweise verwenden. 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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. There was a 1.2% decrease in building construction investment in March, the latest month of data provided by Statistics Canada. The overall decline to $14.2 billion was due to a 2% decrease in the residential sector (to $9.4 billion), partly offset by a 0.5% increase for the non-residential sector (to $4.7 billion). Both multifamily and single-family construction decreased in March but multifamily construction investment surpassed that of single-family for the first time. Multifamily investment was down 0.5% and well short of the $6.4 billion record set in May 2017. Single-family dropped 3.4%. For the first quarter of 2019, there was a $2.1 billion (29.8%) year-over-year decline in investment in new singles of to $4.9 billion, representing a new record low since 2010. Record high for commercial sector For the commercial sector, construction investment was up for the 14th consecutive month to a record high of $2.7 billion. This was driven by BC, particular the redevelopment of the historic post office in Vancouver which will be a mixed-use development partly occupied by Amazon. Meanwhile, Ontario and Quebec led construction investment for the industrial sector which was up 1.3% nationwide. 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. By Kyle Lovern In the Bible, the apostle Paul reminded those who would listen of[Read More] The worlds widest suspension bridge will not only ease traffic congestion but is already attracting sightseers Yasser Al-Sherif, a 36-year-old fabric dealer, had driven from Nasr City with his brother and nephew especially to see the Tahya Masr Bridge. It makes me proud, he told Al-Ahram Weekly between snapping photographs. President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi inaugurated several projects last week, including the Rod Al-Farag Axis and the Tahya Masr suspension bridge. The state-owned Arab Contractors Company began work on the 17.2km axis in 2016 under the supervision of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. It comprises five bridges, including Tahya Masr, a 540m long 67.36m wide suspension bridge. Major General Ihab Al-Far, head of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority, said the total cost of the inaugurated projects was LE170 billion, and if they were to be constructed today they would be twice as expensive. In addition to Rod Al-Farag Axis the projects include the Martyr Ahmed Hafez Shousha Bridge, built by Al-Saada Group LLC, and Martyr Ahmed Abul-Naga Bridge built by Al-Salam International for Construction and Trade. Al-Sisi also opened the extension of the Moshir Tantawi Axis, built by the Military Engineering Department east of Cairo, and the Al-Shahid Axis, built by Orascom Construction. Egypt is working to complete public projects in the shortest possible time to save money, said Al-Sisi. The Rod Al-Farag Axis was not due to be inaugurated for a couple of months but was finished ahead of schedule. Since we were commissioned to construct the Rod Al-Farag Axis in 2016 we have been working around the clock, not even stopping for public holidays, Arab Contractors Chairman Mohamed Mohsen Salah said during a press conference attended by Al-Sisi. Up to 4,000 engineers, technicians and labourers worked on the axis. We are celebrating the completion of the project, the achievement of 4,000 engineers, technicians and young workers who used the most modern equipment and machinery to build this bridge, said Salah. Tahya Masr Bridge includes pedestrian walkways on either side, partly fitted with skywalks made of reinforced glass. The skywalks are the first in the Middle East. The skywalk has made the bridge into a new touristic destination, maximising the benefit of the axis and not limiting it to transportation, said Salah. We had a lot of fun walking on the glass and took a lot of stunning photos, said Yasser Saad, a teacher in his 40s. Hundreds of people have visited the bridge since it opened to enjoy the night breeze. Young people, couples and families come for leisurely walks. Saad, who came with his family, was as impressed by the detailing of the structure as by its overall shape. Mohamed Safwat, a 18-year-old student, was traversing the pedestrian walkway of the bridge with six of his friends. We came to check out the bridge ourselves. Its a great place to hang out, he said. Mona, a student of commerce, said she first heard of the bridge on Facebook. It looks more stunning than it does in pictures and the Nile view is fantastic, she told the Weekly. Its a beautiful place to stroll on summer nights. Yasmine Gamal, a housewife in her 40s, was crossing the walkway with her two daughters. The fact that the suspension bridge is the widest in the world makes me proud, she said. On the same day the Tahya Masr Bridge was inaugurated Salah received a certificate from Talal Omar, director of Guinness World Records for the Middle East and North Africa region, certifying that the structure was, at 67.36m, the worlds widest cable-stayed bridge. The axis is a significant contribution to Egypts road network, connecting the north and east of Cairo, Qalioubiya and the Ring Road with the west of Cairo, 6 October City, Sheikh Zayed and the Cairo-Alexandria Desert Road. Running parallel to the 26 July Corridor which links 6 October City and Sheikh Zayed with Greater Cairo, the axis will reduce traffic congestion on 15 May Bridge and along the 26 July Corridor. Sayed Abul-Naga, a truck driver, drove the length of the Rod Al-Farag Axis for the first time a day after its inauguration. It will save time and gasoline, he said. Mahmoud Ismail, who drives an HGV, also praised the axis. It takes from 30 to 45 minutes for me to drive from 6 October to Shubra. I have to pay a LE30 toll but its worth it, he said On Tahya Masr Bridge, private cars pay LE20, microbuses LE10, minibuses LE15, trucks between LE25 and LE30 and motorcycles LE5. Moreover, the Rod Al-Farag Axis has a separate toll which is LE10. Monthly subscription for private cars is available at LE200 for the bridge and LE70 for the axis. Tolls within Greater Cairo are an innovation and some commuters continue to use the congested route through 26 July Corridor. Islam Emad, a 35-year-old engineer who lives in Nasr City but works in the Smart Village, says that though the axis would save time he is sticking to his old route. Were not used to paying tolls to drive around Cairo. I tried the new Tahya Masr Bridge and the axis once but it cost me LE60 there and back. I could get a monthly pass, but even that, at LE300, is outside my budget, he told the Weekly. Mina is also an engineer who works in the Smart Village and lives in Heliopolis. I prefer to get up early half an hour everyday than to pay extra LE60 per day, he said. The Tahya Masr suspension bridge is 8km away from Tahrir Square, 9km from Nasr City and 24km from the Smart Village in 6 October City. Specifications of Tahya Masr Bridge 540m length 67.36m width 300m width beneath the navigation slot 6 giant concrete towers, each 92m high 160 cable of steel wire 290,000 tons of iron 1 million m3 of concrete 4,000 Egyptian engineers and technicians 4 years of construction works LE5 billion cost The first glassy pedestrian walkway in the ME *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 May, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Breaking the record Search Keywords: Short link: CHARLOTTETOWN - Canadians are increasingly concerned about how to pay for the care of aging baby boomers and fearful that seniors will have to pay out of their own pockets, according to a survey commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Dr. Gigi Osler, President-Elect of the Canadian Medical Association, speaks with a colleague at the hotel where a Liberal caucus retreat is being held, in Kelowna, B.C., on Wednesday September 6, 2017. A survey commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association is indicating that there's growing worry among citizens over how to pay for the care of aging baby boomers. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck CHARLOTTETOWN - Canadians are increasingly concerned about how to pay for the care of aging baby boomers and fearful that seniors will have to pay out of their own pockets, according to a survey commissioned by the Canadian Medical Association. The doctors' group presented its findings Tuesday evening and Wednesday to a gathering of federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for seniors gathered in Prince Edward Island. Dr. Gigi Osler, president of the association, said the fears of deepening costs are becoming reality for hundreds of thousands of Canadians. She noted a Conference Board of Canada study found caregivers and care receivers had to spend more than $9 billion out-of-pocket last year. "What we're seeing today reflects the limitations of seniors' care and we can, and must, do better," she said. The poll of 3,352 people conducted by Ipsos suggests citizens are pessimistic about the existing system's ability to deal with a population that is aging. Six out of 10 of those surveyed said they agree with the statement that "many will be delaying their retirement date to afford health care." Canadians aged between 45 and 54 were most likely to agree, with the concern most pronounced in Atlantic Canada which has the oldest population in the country where 65 per cent agreed. The poll conducted between Feb. 25 and March 4 is described as accurate within 1.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Osler said she told the seniors' ministers the health system is based on the demographics of decades ago, when the population was much younger, and needs a significant reworking. "What we need is more care delivered in the community, to seniors in their homes and long-term care. It's time to look at where we're spending our money and are we spending it where we need to spend it," she said in an interview. 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 doctors group is advocating for new federal investments in seniors care through the Canada Health Transfer, with a "demographic top-up" of $21 billion over 10 years divided among the provinces and territories based on the percentage of seniors in their population. In addition, it is suggesting the creation of an income-based, seniors' care tax credit to provide direct financial support to seniors and their caregivers. "You don't want to get into a situation where it's just Band-Aid over Band-Aid over Band-Aid," said Osler. "We think it's time to really show some dedication and commitment to meaningful changes in the health care system to look after our seniors now and protect our system in the future." By Michael Tutton in Halifax. Follow (at)mtuttoncporg on Twitter. TORONTO - Barrick Gold Corp. has made a proposal to acquire the shares in Acacia Mining that it does not already own. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Barrick Gold Corporation logo is seen during the company's annual general meeting in Toronto on Tuesday, April 28, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO - Barrick Gold Corp. has made a proposal to acquire the shares in Acacia Mining that it does not already own. 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. Under the proposal, Barrick, which holds a majority stake in the African gold miner, would swap 0.153 of a Barrick share for each Acacia share. The offer implies a value for Acacia of US$787 million, and the total consideration for Acacia's minority shareholders at US$285 million. The plan is subject to a number of customary conditions, including receiving the recommendation of the Acacia board. Barrick says it has been working to help settle a tax dispute between Acacia and the government in Tanzania, but the African country is not prepared to enter into a settlement agreement directly with Acacia. Acacia says it has been excluded from the negotiations and urged its shareholders to take no action on the Barrick proposal while its board reviews the situation. Companies in this story: (TSX:ABX) DENVER - Only hours before women marched through many U.S. cities in January, Christopher Cleary set off a manhunt when he posted a Facebook message threatening to kill "as many girls as I see" in retaliation for years of romantic rejection. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/5/2019 (951 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. DENVER - Only hours before women marched through many U.S. cities in January, Christopher Cleary set off a manhunt when he posted a Facebook message threatening to kill "as many girls as I see" in retaliation for years of romantic rejection. Cleary, 27, called himself a virgin who never had a girlfriend, stoking fears of another deadly rampage by a man blaming women for his problems. When police tracked his cellphone and arrested the Colorado resident at a McDonald's restaurant in Provo, Utah, Cleary said he had been upset and wasn't thinking clearly. In this Feb. 28, 2019, photo, Christopher W. Cleary, 27, makes a court appearance in Provo, Utah. ClearyAos arrest for posting a Facebook threat to kill Auas many girls as I seeAu fit a pattern of behavior for a troubled man with a history of terrorizing women he met over the internet. ClearyAos plea deal with Utah prosecutors fits a pattern of lenient punishments common for cyberstalking and online harassment cases. A judge who is scheduled to sentence Cleary on Thursday, May 23, must decide whether to accept prosecutorsAo recommended sentence of probation. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, Pool) The frightening Facebook post fit a pattern of behaviour for a troubled man with a history of terrorizing women he met over the internet. His plea deal with Utah prosecutors appears to fit a pattern of lenient punishments a common outcome for cyberstalking and online harassment cases. "The vast majority of people, if there isn't a lot of training and education going on, tend to dismiss these things," said Carol Tracy, executive director of the Women's Law Project in Philadelphia. "That's why stalking is so dangerous. You think, 'It's not a crime. He's got free speech.'" Cleary pleaded guilty in April to a reduced charge of attempted threat of terrorism, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. But prosecutors agreed to recommend probation, sparing him any additional jail time in Utah beyond the months he's served since his Jan. 19 arrest. If a judge accepts the recommended sentence during a hearing Thursday in Provo, it won't be the first time Cleary avoids a prison term. Judges in Colorado gave him similar breaks after a string of women and teenagers accused him of making threats and harassing them. The prosecutor on the Utah case said the plea bargain is designed to secure a felony conviction that could help Colorado authorities get a prison sentence for Cleary's probation violations. Agreeing to recommend probation was the key to securing his guilty plea, Deputy Utah County Attorney Douglas Finch said. Finch said Utah's criminal statutes leave a "huge gap" between a misdemeanour charge of threatening violence and a felony charge of making a threat of terrorism. He said his office views Cleary as an "unbelievably dangerous individual" but wasn't certain it could prove the "stupid, horrible" message he posted on his Facebook account rose to the level of a terrorism threat. "I did my review of the case with some concern over the statutes," Finch said. "The problem is that I feel (Cleary) falls right in the middle of those two areas, but most likely he falls in the lowest level." He noted the Utah judge is still free to sentence Cleary to prison. At least eight people since 2012 have contacted authorities to accuse Cleary of stalking or harassing them, according to an Associated Press review of police and court records. Police in Colorado also investigated complaints that Cleary threatened to bomb a grocery store in 2013 after an employee refused to cash his check, threatened to slit the throat of a Denver city employee after his car was towed, and threatened a mass shooting at a mental health facility during a phone call in 2016. Cleary was on probation for a marijuana conviction when, in 2016, he was charged with stalking two 18-year-old women he met online. He was on probation and in mental health court for the stalking cases when he was charged in 2017 with stalking and harassing a third woman who was Cleary's caseworker. Last year, judges in Jefferson County, Colorado, sentenced him to probation in all three stalking cases. Cleary, a Denver resident, was still on probation in Jefferson County when he was arrested in Utah. Pam Russell, a spokeswoman for the county prosecutor's office, said once the Utah case has concluded, Cleary will be returned to Colorado and prosecutors will seek to revoke his probation and send Cleary to prison. Cleary also has a warrant for his arrest in Denver, where a 17-year-old told police in 2015 that he sent her a string of threatening text messages, including "I own multipul guns I can have u dead in a second." A public defender representing Cleary in Utah declined to comment. Cleary told the officer who arrested him in Provo that he has "some kind of impulse disorder" and had been taking medication but couldn't remember what type, according to records. Earlier, a Colorado defence attorney said in court that Cleary had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. The timing of Cleary's Utah arrest on the second anniversary of the Women's March on Washington and the language of his Facebook threat led to speculation on the internet and in some news reports that he could be an "incel," short for "involuntary celibate." The incel movement, an online subculture linked to deadly attacks in California, Toronto and Florida, promotes the misogynistic idea that men are entitled to have sex with women. "All I wanted was to be loved," Cleary wrote in his post, "yet no one cares about me I'm 27 years old and I've never had a girlfriend before and I'm still a virgin, this is why I'm planning on shooting up a public place soon and being the next mass shooter cause I'm ready to die and all the girls the turned me down is going to make it right by killing as many girls as I see." A Colorado police detective who investigated two women's stalking accusations said he didn't find any evidence Cleary identified as an incel or had other ideological motives. "I truly think he's just wired differently," Arvada Police Detective Michael Roemer said. And two of Cleary's accusers have said they had a sexual relationship with him. Experts said Cleary appears to be emblematic of how police and courts typically handle cyberstalking and online harassment cases. University of Maryland law professor Danielle Citron, author of the book "Hate Crimes in Cyberspace," said state criminal statutes outlawing such behaviour typically are misdemeanours with light punishments that don't deter offenders. The criminal justice system tends to view online abuse as "no big deal," she said, and perpetrators get empathy while "we forget and erase the victims." Bennet Kelley, a Santa Monica, California, lawyer who represents victims of online abuse, said police turned away one of his clients, a revenge porn victim, even though California has one of the nation's strongest laws against revenge porn. "I've actually had judges tell me they don't do internet stuff," he said. "One of them transferred the case rather than deal with it." The sentencing in Cleary's Jefferson County, Colorado, case came in April 2018. He got three years' probation for stalking three women. One victim, Hannah Keller, saw his mugshot on television after his Utah arrest. She said he harassed her with phone calls, text messages and Facebook posts on and off for roughly two years before she finally contacted police in 2015. "He didn't ever explain a disregard for women when I was with him," she said. "I just thought he was messed up in general." A second victim, Cleary's former caseworker, told police in 2017 that she had a sexual relationship with him but tried to end it. She said Cleary made repeated death threats and created fake Craigslist ads soliciting sex and rape, using her phone number and an address within a block of her home. During a hearing last year, Jefferson County Judge Dennis Hall said he and a second judge struggled to fashion appropriate sentences for Cleary's convictions. Hall said they ultimately decided a prison sentence "would just make it all worse," according to a transcript. "I'm obviously concerned about the victim here ... but my concern is that I think to make the community a better place, you need to be treated here," Hall told Cleary. "It won't do the community any good if I put you in prison and make you worse." Prosecutors had urged Hall to sentence Cleary to Community Corrections, a residential supervision and treatment program that's an alternative to prison or probation. Cleary told Hall he was "100% committed" to getting help. He said he was seeing a therapist and psychiatrist. When the second judge asked Cleary how he planned to handle frustrating situations, Cleary insisted he was getting better at controlling his anger. "Before when I got angry, I used to flip out and things would just be the end of the world," he said, according to a transcript. That judge, Jeffrey Pilkington, warned Cleary a prison sentence may be "the only option" if his probation was revoked again. Victoria Lathrop is one of Cleary's earlier victims. She said he seemed like a nice guy when they met online in 2015. They communicated for a few weeks by texts and Facetime. But after she turned down his sexual advances, Cleary created a Facebook page using her name and a topless photo he apparently captured while she changed clothes during a video chat. She said Cleary sent Facebook friend requests to her friends from the fake account. 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. Lathrop's ordeal didn't end when a judge sentenced Cleary to probation for harassing her in 2015. She kept hearing from him for years, from different numbers or online identities. Then, last year, he sent her the naked Facebook profile. Lathrop called police again, but she says they told her there was no way to be sure it was him. She wonders if authorities should have taken her case more seriously. "If he's so persistent stalking women and doing this stuff, I don't think that violence is past him," she told AP. ___ Kunzelman reported from College Park, Maryland, Dale from Philadelphia, and Slevin from Denver. BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Latest on the indictment of officials in what prosecutors say was a fraudulent Vermont investment plan (all times local): Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Latest on the indictment of officials in what prosecutors say was a fraudulent Vermont investment plan (all times local): ____ 4:05 p.m. Vermont's top federal prosecutor says four men indicted on federal criminal charges lied about their plan to build a biotech facility using foreign investors' money. U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan spoke Wednesday in Newport, hours after three of the four men indicted by a grand jury appeared in federal court in Burlington. The indictments released Wednesday allege that Jay Peak's former owner Ariel Quiros, of Florida; former president William Stenger, of Newport; Quiros' adviser, William Kelly; and Jong Weon Choi, a businessman in South Korea, conspired to embezzle investors' funds and deceive them about the number of jobs they would create. Nolan says Choi is at large. She spoke in Newport in front of an empty city block that had been purchased by the investors with the money prosecutors say was fraudulently obtained. ____ 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. 10:50 a.m. The former owner and former president of a Vermont ski resort accused in a multimillion-dollar fraud case have been indicted on multiple federal charges over a failed plan to build a biotech facility using foreign investors' money. The fraud charges were filed Wednesday against former Jay Peak owner Ariel Quiros, of Florida, and former president, William Stenger, of Newport. Also indicted were Quiros' adviser, William Kelly, and Jong Weon Choi, a businessman in South Korea. The indictments allege that they conspired to embezzle investors' funds and deceive them about the project's number of jobs and its ability to generate revenue. Arraignments were scheduled Wednesday. Quiros declined comment. Quiros and Stenger were accused in 2016 of misusing more than $200 million raised from foreign investors through the EB-5 visa program. Fingers were pointed, insults were hurled and tears were shed during an emotional meeting in which a city committee voted to have two dogs euthanized for mauling a five-year-old girl last month. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Fingers were pointed, insults were hurled and tears were shed during an emotional meeting in which a city committee voted to have two dogs euthanized for mauling a five-year-old girl last month. Semiah Laquette, 5, was attacked by the dogs around noon on April 23 while she was walking home from school with her father in the North End. Semiah Laquette, 5, did not attend Wednesday's hearing; her mother says she's afraid to go outside. (Supplied) The dogs owners Victoria Heart, her son, Kingsley Heart, and his partner, Ashleigh Bowerman pleaded with the committee members to spare the animals' lives. "Well do anything to make sure our dogs live. Basically, youre putting down my other kids. Before I had my baby, those dogs were my children," Bowerman said through tears. The dogs which the owners claim are American bulldog-border collie crosses, but the city says show characterisitcs of American pit bull terrier, a prohibited breed in Winnipeg had slipped out of their fenced backyard through an open gate and lunged at the girl, dragging the screaming child away. Semiah's father, Gregory Ducharme, said he had to punch one dog and put the other in a chokehold to force them to release his daughter. The dogs' owners admitted the animals were not neutered nor vaccinated, and had never been seen by a veterinarian. They said they didn't have the money. Victoria Heart (above) repeatedly blamed Semiah and her family for provoking the attack, allegeding the girl and her siblings would taunt the dogs and steal their toys. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) The attack left Semiah with large puncture wounds and lacerations to her head, face, ears, armpit and chest. One of her ears had to be surgically reattached and its expected she may require additional surgery later in life. Lolanda Ducharme said the attack has changed her daughter. "She has big scars to her face. She doesnt like the way she looks because she has a really big scar right here, a really big scar to her ears, both ears. She doesnt like wearing tank tops or shirts that dont have sleeves because she has scars on her chest," she said. "She doesnt really like herself anymore." Lolanda Ducharme, seen with Semiah's sister, spoke in opposition to the appeal of an extremely dangerous dog designation. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) When addressing the committee, Victoria Heart repeatedly blamed Semiah, saying they provoked the attack. She claimed Semiah and her siblings would often taunt the dogs, which the Heart family had bought from an individual with a litter of 13 puppies. She said they would enter the yard to steal the animals toys because they didnt have any of their own. "This was an isolated, provoked incident. Weve had run-ins with that family. On April 20, the children were caught taunting my dogs at the back of the fence. Then they were throwing rocks and marbles," Heart said. "We asked the parents, Can you stop your kids from taunting our dogs? You know what they said? Well, kids will be kids. And look where we are now." SUPPLIED A city committee has voted to have these two dogs, Ronnie and Reggie, euthanized. Winnipeg Animal Services chief administration officer Leland Gordon said the decision to designate the dogs as "exceptionally dangerous" and order them euthanized was agonizing for his team. He characterized the attack on Semiah as unprecedented in Winnipegs history, and said he couldnt be certain the dogs wouldnt attack again or get the training they need, if released back to the owners. The animals have been in city custody since the attack. 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. "Its very hard for us to euthanize these dogs. Its hard for us to see the owners of these dogs crying. Its hard to see the victim and the pictures that I have right here. Its hard to see the parents of the victim and listening to that," Gordon said. The protection, community services and parks committee staffed by Couns. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry), Ross Eadie (Mynarski) and Vivian Santos (Point Douglas) voted unanimously to euthanize the dogs. Outside the committee room, Heart spoke to city councillors as reporters watched. She repeatedly swore and hurled insults at Semiah and her family, including a racial epithet, and called the proceedings a "disgrace." It's unclear when the dogs will be put down, but councillors promised Heart to inform her of the date in advance. ryan.thorpe@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @rk_thorpe What with being a crusading newspaper columnist, I have always strived to use a great deal of journalistic sensitivity whenever I tackle the controversial topic of cows. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion What with being a crusading newspaper columnist, I have always strived to use a great deal of journalistic sensitivity whenever I tackle the controversial topic of cows. I learned my lesson last year, when I foolishly wrote a column citing news reports stating cows pose a threat to the planet because they pump a lot of methane into the atmosphere via their flatulence and, especially, their belches. Q: Doug, are you trying to say you wrote a childish column in which you made a lot of stupid jokes about cows farting? A: Yes, and I am deeply ashamed. Despite the fact I was quoting a bunch of award-winning scientists, there was a great deal of (cough) blowback to the flatulent-cows column in the sense that Manitoba Beef Producers wrote me a long letter making the central point that I am a bit of a doofus. In an extremely polite and informative letter, Brian Lemon, general manager of the beef producers, sympathized with my wife for putting up with my personal emissions at home, but complained I had done a disservice to Manitobas hard-working beef producers. "The myth of our cattles burping and farting is exactly this a myth," Lemon wrote. "While there is no doubting that cattle do burp and fart, you are contributing to a myth that costs the beef sector millions of dollars to defend. The truth is that in Canada, GHG emissions from cattle contribute only 2.4 per cent to Canadas total GHG emissions. "By comparison, transportation contributes 28 per cent of the total GHG emissions in Canada. Furthermore, Canadian beef has one of the lowest GHG footprints in the world at 11.4 kg CO2 equivalent per kg of live cattle weight, less than half of the world average." So, yes, they had a beef with me and felt comfortable airing it in public, which is how I caught wind of their concerns and ended up feeling guilty that I had given cows a bum rap, so to speak. Which is why, today, I am going to try to exercise a great deal of sensitivity and discretion when I issue the following stern warning: STOP KISSING COWS ON THE LIPS! If you think I am being foolish in issuing that warning, then I assume you are blissfully unaware of the newest cow-related internet challenge that is causing a great deal of consternation in cow-intensive parts of Europe. According to the British newspapers the Guardian and the Daily Mail, a Swiss app called Castl launched the #KuhKussChallenge ("Cow Kiss Challenge") last week, encouraging users in Switzerland and other German-speaking countries to kiss cows "with or without tongues" to raise money for charity. Yes, you heard me correctly members of the general public in Europe are being encouraged to kiss cows directly on their lips (assuming cows have lips) without bothering to ask the cows involved whether they are in the mood (make that "moood") to lock lips (again, assuming they have lips). In a YouTube video of people performing the challenge, one unnamed man clutches a bunch of flowers as he presses his lips to a cow to get it to "kiss" him, then laughs into the camera. Yet another guy laughs loudly when his lips and nose are smothered by a cows tongue the size of an inflatable raft. The whole cow-kissing trend is not sitting well with the Austrian government, which is calling on internet users to just say no to canoodling with cattle because the whole thing is a "dangerous nuisance." Austrian Agriculture Minister Elisabeth Koestinger condemned the challenge in a statement and pointed out that cows with calves could become aggressive when a rogue human being decides to plant one squarely on their bovine kisser. "Pastures and meadows are not petting zoos actions like these could have serious consequences," she warned. "Actions like this challenge fly in the face of our efforts to promote coexistence on the pastures. I simply cant understand it." I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that cow-kissing must be the stupidest challenge in the history of the internet. Well, of course, you could not be more wrong about that. The dumbest internet challenge in history is something I wrote about earlier this year called the "Corn Drill Challenge," wherein you stick a cob of corn on the end of a power drill and then try to eat the corn in under 10 seconds while it spins wildly across your vulnerable teeth. I watched an online video of a woman attempting this challenge and having a large chunk of her hair ripped out by the spinning drill, which clearly hurt a great deal. 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. Do you know what else would hurt a great deal? I will tell you being crushed and/or stomped to death by a cow that did not appreciate someone sneaking up and smacking it on its mouth parts without first being introduced to the cows family. Its not that I am a prude. In fact, last year, I wrote a column praising the newest wellness trend cow cuddling, which is where you, a farm-animal enthusiast, for a small fee, are allowed to fling your arms around a hefty heifer under the supervision of a trained wellness instructor/farmer. But those were professional cows that were trained in techniques for reducing clients stress via being cuddled in a non-judgmental barnyard environment. Its another thing entirely when people taking part in an idiotic online challenge randomly kiss innocent and unsuspecting cattle. Its unlikely the cows will launch lawsuits "to err is human, to forgive bovine" but thats not the point. The legal and moral and ethical point is that you should never attempt to kiss anyone or anything unless you have first obtained permission from the udder side. doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca WINNIPEG - A member of the Manitoba legislature and former federal cabinet minister is planning to run for Maxime Bernier's People's Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Steven Fletcher will be running for Maxime Bernier's People's Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election. (Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press files) WINNIPEG - A member of the Manitoba legislature and former federal cabinet minister is planning to run for Maxime Bernier's People's Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election. Steven Fletcher confirms he will launch his campaign Thursday to run in the Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley seat for Bernier's party. An email from the party's electoral district association president describes Fletcher and Bernier as "ideological soulmates." Fletcher has said the federal Conservatives would not allow him to run under their banner in the next election. Fletcher won a seat as a Progressive Conservative in Manitoba's provincial election in 2016 but was kicked out of caucus a year later for publicly breaking from the party on a number of policies. He took over leadership of the Manitoba Party in 2018 after sitting as an Independent. Fletcher, who was a Conservative MP for 11 years before losing his Winnipeg seat to the Liberals in 2015, worked with Bernier for nine years under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He spent five years as a minister of state in Harper's cabinet and Fletcher supported Bernier in the Conservative leadership race that Andrew Scheer won. 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. Bernier founded the People's Party of Canada last year after leaving the Conservative party following a series of disagreements with Scheer. Among the party's policy positions are promises to reduce the total number of immigrants to 250,000 a year, increase border security and end reliance on the United Nations for refugee selection. It also wants to make the federal equalization program less generous, reduce interprovincial trade barriers and build more pipelines. Fletcher said Wednesday that he supports the party's policies and always intended to get back into federal politics. "I intend to work very hard for the people I've been called to represent for 15 years now and I will continue to do that," he said. Fletcher previously floated the idea that the Manitoba Party could sister with the People's Party of Canada, but Bernier's staff said they had no intention of having a provincial wing of the party. OTTAWA Indigenous Manitobans want the world to experience their foods and cultures, according to a national advocacy group. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Indigenous Manitobans want the world to experience their foods and cultures, according to a national advocacy group. This afternoon in Winnipeg, the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada is set to receive $2.5 million in federal funds, as part of the Liberals tourism strategy. "Visitors want to understand what makes Canada different, and part of that is Indigenous destinations," said Keith Henry, head of the Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada. The funding aims to co-ordinate a cross-country food tour called Taste of the Nations, as well as a marketing campaign and training so businesses know how to connect with tourism boards and market themselves abroad. Tourism Minister Melanie Joly will announce the funding this afternoon at the Manitoba Museums Grasslands Gallery. Its part of a plan aimed at making the Canadian economy take tourism more seriously. The Liberals have listed tourism as one of seven target industries to drive job growth, along with clean technology and food products. Of 1,800 Indigenous businesses in Canada, Henry said, just 130 are ready to welcome foreigners. "Were doing a significant push to help more Indigenous tourism businesses become more market- and export-ready. Thats a big challenge for us," he said. Henry said the Prairies in particular are lagging behind other regions in developing Indigenous hotels, restaurants and attractions for international guests. Tourists to Churchill take in Inuit art and Cree dog-sledding. But Winnipeg isnt as well-known for Metis jigging at festivals, stores that sell beaded goods and First Nations restaurants such as Feast Cafe Bistro. "Largely, (when) people think of Churchill, they think of fishing. They dont think of Manitoba as an Indigenous destination," he said. He added that businesses in British Columbia, Ontario, the Yukon and Quebec do a much better job at marketing such experiences. Hes hopeful the funding will help Metis people show visitors part of their history as part of next years Manitoba 150th birthday celebration. 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. Canadians make up half of the customer base for those businesses, followed by Americans and Chinese tourists, who tend to spend more. Western Europeans are also make up a large chunk of visitors. Henry feels his industry empowers Indigenous people, through economic opportunity and a chance to tell their own stories. "Indigenous cultural tourism is one of the most powerful ways to actually achieve reconciliation, because it gives people a non-politicized way to come and experience," he said, such as touring the land with an elder or trying traditional foods. Of the funds, a half-million is set to flow in the current fiscal year, with the other $2 million set to come in the year after. Henry said the schedule was at his groups request, so they have enough time to get projects off the ground. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Premier Brian Pallister is demanding a meeting with the prime minister to discuss federal delays of the Manitoba-Minnesota transmission project, which could cost the province hundreds of millions of dollars with construction at a standstill. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/5/2019 (951 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Premier Brian Pallister is demanding a meeting with the prime minister to discuss federal delays of the Manitoba-Minnesota transmission project, which could cost the province hundreds of millions of dollars with construction at a standstill. On Tuesday, Pallister told reporters he made a request to meet with Justin Trudeau, and would be ready to head to Ottawa as early as next week. "Theyre delaying the approval process and potentially threatening to delay it longer unless we pony up a certain amount of money. And thats none of their business," the Tory premier said. Pallister wouldn't say what amount of money Ottawa was requesting Manitoba "pony up" nor whether the federal government was referring to repayment of an abandoned financial deal with the Manitoba Metis Federation. He told reporters to ask federal spokespeople about their rationale for delays. "Our process is one that involves hearings that were available to all... It is an approval process that depends on science green science, not political science. And so its important that we let the process... go ahead," the Tory premier said. "Otherwise, why would people even engage in the process of bringing proposals forward if it all ends up on a ministers desk anyway?" A federal source with knowledge of the transmission line's consultation process said Ottawa isn't asking Manitoba to spend any more money noting Ottawa's delays are stemming from more time spent consulting with some two dozen Indigenous communities and the MMF. The MMF was previously on-side with the Manitoba-Minnesota line, until the province reneged on a tentative agreement the MMF had with Manitoba Hydro so as not to oppose the project. Since that deal was dissolved before the transmission line's consultation process was over, Ottawa had to revisit it over again, the source said. Meanwhile, a spokesperson in the Prime Minister's Office confirmed receipt of the premier's meeting request. Vanessa Adams, a spokeswoman with Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi's office, said the federal government delayed its decision until June 14 to ensure the Crown had sufficient time to fulfill its legal duty to consult Indigenous communities. "As the federal government moves ahead with finalizing its consultations, we remain committed to ensuring the process proceeds in a manner that protects the public interest. This means providing clarity and certainty, and it means engaging in a meaningful dialogue," Adams said by email. "This will uphold Canada's strong reputation as a place to do business and initiate good, sustainable projects in a timely manner." Last week, the Free Press reported the federal Liberals had sought another month to decide whether to green-light the $453-million Manitoba-Minnesota transmission line, hoping the province would rectify its spat with the MMF in the interim. 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. About a year ago, the provincial government reneged on a tentative deal negotiated by Manitoba Hydro that would have given the MMF $67.5 million over 50 years, as compensation for Hydro developments on Metis lands. Since then, the province has also scrapped two other agreements with the MMF. Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont said Pallister needs to shoulder the blame. "The problem has been the premier from the get-go. This was a transmission line that should have worked. And there were plans in place for the MMF and municipalities to be compensated for the fact that youre running a huge transmission line over peoples property," Lamont said. "A year ago, the premier tore up that agreement and said some incredibly offensive things about the MMF and about other people involved in the deal, and hes the one whos put this in jeopardy." jessica.botelho@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @_jessbu Manitoba's centralized restorative justice centre has zeroed in on domestic violence, as it aims to divert more cases from criminal courts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/5/2019 (951 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba's centralized restorative justice centre has zeroed in on domestic violence, as it aims to divert more cases from criminal courts. Probation orders would have been the criminal penalty for many of the individuals who are instead working with staff at the Winnipeg centre, which focuses on male and female domestic-violence offenders, according to documents released to the Free Press in response to an access-to-information request. Individuals must admit responsibility to be eligible for restorative justice diversion. When they complete program requirements, their criminal charges are dropped. Since it opened in October 2017, the Restorative Justice Centre at 686 Portage Ave. has been triaging cases police and Crown prosecutors recommend should be diverted out of the courts. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Since most restorative justice centre employees are probation officers, the centre has been working to "slide the ruler" to get people involved in the programs they need sooner than if they went through criminal courts, the documents state. In an interview, Shauna Appleyard, executive director of restorative justice and rehabilitation services for the community safety division of Manitoba Justice, said probation officers already have the expertise needed to work in restorative justice. Since it opened in October 2017, the centre has been triaging cases police and Crown prosecutors recommend should be diverted out of the courts. Some are sent to organizations such as Onashowewin, the Salvation Army, and Mediation Services. Other cases are dealt with at the centre, which employs three probation officers, one community corrections worker and one manager. "To increase capacity and also to focus on domestic violence, we realigned the probation officer skill set to it, so previously, probation caseloads in domestic violence would have been higher. Weve been able to divert some and work with individuals sooner in the process," Appleyard said. Data charting the progress the centre has made in its first year show 85 per cent of cases were successfully completed. From October 2018 to the end of December 2018, the successful-completion rate was about 51 per cent. Statistics for 2019 haven't been tabulated. Neither has data that tracks how many people go on to commit crimes after completing restorative-justice programs. Recidivism rates are tracked on a two-year basis, Appleyard said. Restorative justice is a main part of the province's plan to reduce Manitoba's incarceration rates, which remain high, especially among Indigenous people. The provincial government's criminal-justice modernization strategy aims to increase the use of restorative justice, and about 5,000 cases were diverted to various programs over the past year. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Police Service lays criminal charges in more than 2,000 domestic violence incidents per year, according to its most recent annual report. Appleyard said clients who go through the restorative justice centre generally learn about healthy relationships and communication skills, and have group sessions to keep each other accountable. "We have an open-door policy after the case is closed, where people can come back and continue to ask questions and receive supports, linking them with additional community supports," she said. katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay 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. It may have been a long weekend for many Winnipeggers but violence didn't take a vacation for Winnipeg police officers. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/5/2019 (951 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It may have been a long weekend for many Winnipeggers but violence didn't take a vacation for Winnipeg police officers. During the Victoria Day long weekend, Winnipeg police officers were assaulted in seven separate incidents they responded to while, in another one, officers were threatened. Winnipeg police spokesman Const. Robert Carver said on Tuesday that none of the officers needed "significant medical treatment," but they had to be assessed by paramedics and medical staff. Carver said for a long weekend "this was unusual, but it's also starting to be less unusual and that is problematic for us and for the city. "The takeaway is, as bad as it looks, the reality is we use as little force as possible and we don't use it too often." The violent incidents began Friday night when two cadets were assaulted by a 24-year-old man being lodged at the Main Street Project. The man was charged with assaulting peace officers and taken to the Winnipeg Remand Centre. A few hours later, on Saturday at about 3 a.m., an officer was leaving police headquarters on the Smith Street side when he saw two men assaulting another man. When the officer intervened, one of the suspects threatened him with a machete while the other armed himself with a bottle. After retreating into the headquarters building, general patrol units were able to arrest the two suspects who have both been charged with assaulting a peace officer. While responding to a domestic situation two hours later, an adult man, who earlier was brandishing a hammer and knives when officers arrived, tried to choke one of the officers while being taken into custody. The suspect was charged with assaulting a peace officer. 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. One officer was physically assaulted while arresting an adult female at about 6 a.m. The woman was charged with two counts of assaulting a peace officer after she was restrained and arrested. A man suspected of being under the influence of drugs was being arrested by the Guns and Gangs unit at Salter Street and Burrows Avenue on Sunday at 11:20 a.m., when he began to violently resist and tried to get an officer's Taser. He was charged with two counts of assaulting a peace officer and taken for a medical assessment. A suspect tried to punch an officer while being arrested on Monday at about 8 a.m., and, even after being handcuffed, tried to head butt and kick officers while being put into the cruiser. A search found he was concealing a knife. A 23-year-old man has been charged with 12 offences including assaulting a peace officer. Around 5 p.m. Monday, police charged a man with uttering threats after officers detained a man on Graham Ave. found intoxicated by hand sanitizer and the suspect threatened to kill both of them. The final assault came when cadets were spat on while checking on a man sleeping near Higgins Avenue and Austin Street at about 5:45 p.m. The man was charged with assaulting a peace officer and detained directly into custody. kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca If we need poster kids to warn about the dangers of a hookup culture that condones unsafe sex, or the perils of intravenous drug abuse, consider the 10 Manitoba babies born this year with syphilis. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/5/2019 (951 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. If we need poster kids to warn about the dangers of a hookup culture that condones unsafe sex, or the perils of intravenous drug abuse, consider the 10 Manitoba babies born this year with syphilis. For adults, syphilis is usually curable with a single dose of penicillin. For newborns infected with the disease, the consequences can include deformed bones, severe anemia, enlarged livers and spleens, jaundice, meningitis and brain and nerve problems such as blindness or deafness. The afflictions suffered by these innocent victims is heartbreaking, but babies are only part of the syphilis outbreak in Manitoba that has seen reported cases rise from 118 in 2014 to 350 in 2018. Manitoba is on target for 600 diagnoses in 2019. For adults, syphilis is usually curable with a single dose of penicillin. For newborns infected with the disease, the consequences can include deformed bones, meningitis and brain and nerve problems such as blindness or deafness. (Dreamstime / TNS files) Since the current outbreak began in 2014, the infection had mainly been transmitted between men having sex with men; recently, it has crossed that demographic boundary and spread to heterosexual people and women. The number of reported syphilis cases among women in Manitoba has jumped from 16 in 2014 to 168 in 2018. Medical officials cite two possible reasons: an increase in people sharing needles to inject illegal drugs, and a rise in unsafe sex practices driven partly by dating apps that offer easy access to multiple partners. Dr. Michael Isaac, Manitobas acting chief provincial public health officer, pointed to a spike in intravenous drug use, including crystal methamphetamine. A needle and syringe used by someone with syphilis can infect a second person who uses the same equipment. In New Brunswick, where there also is a rise in sexually transmitted infections, chief medical officer Dr. Jennifer Russell says social media connections enable anonymous sex while also making it hard for medical officials to track the people spreading diseases. Health Minister Cameron Friesen met with health officials last week to work on a plan to deal with the public-health challenge of syphilis. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) Its easy to speculate about causes. Its more difficult to implement solutions. Want more great journalism? Get our best news and features delivered in your inbox every weekday evening. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Sexually active people can virtually eliminate their chances of getting syphilis by adopting safer sex practices, including using condoms and getting regular STD testing. Intravenous drug users should not share or use dirty needles. If it was that simple, if people safeguarded their actions with common-sense precautions, the syphilis rate in Manitoba wouldnt be soaring. Its when citizens act irresponsibly and endanger others that the responsibility of governments is to act. Health Minister Cameron Friesen met with health officials last week and said Manitoba is forming a plan to deal with the public-health challenge of syphilis. Unfortunately, the provinces plan is unlikely to include safe injection sites that would openly offer single-use needles, thereby preventing carriers of syphilis from sharing their infections via reused needles. Premier Brian Pallister has in the past resolutely resisted calls for safe injection sites. The brainstorming on Broadway should include the possibility of a government-funded program to provide free condoms. When the Canadian Pediatric Society recommended on May 9 that all forms of contraceptives be available at no cost for Canadians under the age 25, the proposal was aimed mainly at reducing unplanned pregnancies. But the doctors group also mentioned protection against sexually transmitted infections as another benefit of making condoms free and widely available. Some people would balk at the cost of the government providing free condoms, but its better to protect than regret. It would be a good investment if it helps stem an epidemic of Manitoba babies sentenced to a lifetime of suffering because they inherited syphilis. Having met the requirements for graduation from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor's degree in history, Krystijan David Vander Zanden was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps on May 16. Vander Zanden was commissioned through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) program on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus. He successfully completed Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia, in August 2018. He will initially report to The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico where all new Marine Corps officers receive training and instruction in elements of tactics and warfare. Upon completion of TBS, Vander Zanden will be assigned to Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Fla., to begin training as a Marine Corps aviator. Vander Zanden is married to Elle Vander Zanden, and the couple currently resides in Minneapolis. He is the son of Randy and Basia Vander Zanden of St. Charles and is a 2015 graduate of Cotter High School. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy A Winona Area Public Schools district task force is preparing recommendations that would move forward on the future of its buildings, and could save the district more than $1.3 million annually. The WAPS Facilities Task force, which has been meeting throughout the fall, narrowed its list of possible recommendations to four late Tuesday night, with a final session scheduled for next week. The task forces final recommendation is set to be considered by the school board Dec. 15, with a facility bond referendum scheduled for spring 2017. The results of a straw poll at the close of the session showed a plurality favoring remodeling and expanding Jefferson and Goodview elementary schools, and closing Madison, Washington-Kosciusko and Rollingstone. The plan is estimated to save the district nearly $1.3 million annually in operating costs. The runner-up option would shutter all district elementary buildings except Goodview and build a new elementary school at a yet-unspecified site, netting the district an estimated $1.37 million in annual savings. The task force also will review variations on a third option that would keep Rollingstone open as a community elementary school, saving the district an estimated $1.1 million per year. The fourth option still under consideration would close Madison and Rollingstone, keeping Goodview, Jefferson and W-K open, for an estimated annual saving of $947,000. The district is facing annual budget cuts averaging more than $1.1 million per year for the next five years or longer to keep district finances stable and in the black. The task force, composed of community members, district staff, school board members and others, has been working through details related to the future of the districts facilities since September. After decades of declining numbers of school-age children, the Winona community finds itself with significantly more elementary school space than it needs, which must be maintained at a price it can ill afford, as the shrinking school-age population means falling revenues for operation and maintenance. A detailed facilities analysis by Wold Architects and Engineers shows the district has nearly 900,000 square feet of school building space the largest physical plant operated by any Minnesota school district of comparable size. Comparing that total building footprint with state recommendations shows Winona to have about 295,000 square feet of building space in excess of state recommendations 140,000 of which are in the districts elementary schools. Averaging district facility operating and maintenance costs over the districts total square footage shows it costs WAPS an average of $2.53 per square foot of building space to operate and maintain district school buildings. By multiplying that figure with the square footage in excess of state recommendations, operating and maintaining excess facility space costs the district nearly $750,000 annually. Unfortunately, the districts total 2015 state funding designated for capital projects and deferred maintenance amounted to slightly more than $650,000 a recurring shortfall that has left the district with a backlog of repair, renovation and replacement projects totaling nearly $63 million. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Apel and Andrew Beske, 18, also of Beaver Dam, were arrested and charged with armed robbery, and a 16-year-old boy was taken into juvenile detention. A separate court case for Beske remains open after he pleaded no contest to multiple charges including armed robbery. A judge on Feb. 4 withheld sentencing but ordered Beske to pay fines and volunteer for 100 hours of community service. Gergen said in court Tuesday that although Beske made contradictory statements to police, Apel did not know about the guns ahead of time and merely thought he was driving the other teens to buy marijuana. Gergen said his client has taken positive strides to learn from his mistake. Asked whether he wished to make a statement, Apel told Judge Todd Hepler that he has learned from a bad decision and is committed to making good life choices. I was hanging out with the wrong crowd, doing things I know I shouldnt have, Apel said. I just want to live a normal, happy life that God has planned for me. Hepler commended Apel for acknowledging his actions, reminding him that anytime someone displays a weapon during a drug deal, the situation could end fatally. Im so very impressed with the job youve done, Swanson said. For 36 years our school has done the Jump Rope for Heart (raising nearly $260,000). I see students here whose parents were involved, so it is a long history of giving. That has evolved and there is no longer a Jump Rope for Heart, although the American Heart Association is still a very worthy cause to give to. Still, I saw this change as a way for us to think in a different way and to take a different path. We still resolve to help others but in a different way. Weve now opened the doors to other avenues of giving. Republicans on the states budget-writing committee approved a 2% annual wage increase for most state employees Tuesday, plus a 14% boost to the minimum wage for state prison employees. The committee also set aside millions to fund compensation for prison employees working overtime as the states correctional institutions struggle with vacancy rates. Under the state worker pay increase Republicans approved, state employees would get a 2% pay bump on Jan. 1, 2020, and another one a year later. The measure they adopted does not go as far as Evers proposal, which would have provided about $8 million more to boost pay for some positions to keep it on par with those in the private sector. The University of Wisconsin System, which employs about 39,000 people statewide, proposed a 3% raise in each of the next two years. System president Ray Cross said in a Tuesday tweet: Todays vote will help us attract and retain talent to build a better Wisconsin. State Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, will consider running for Congress to replace U.S. Rep. Reid Ribble. Ribble announced this weekend that he won't seek re-election. Congressman Reid Ribble was not only a good friend, but a consistent conservative champion for Northeastern Wisconsin. I, like many others, was shocked to learn of his decision to not run for reelection. However, the decision was driven by what he felt was best for his family and to fulfill a commitment he made to the citizens of Northeast Wisconsin, a decision that anyone can respect," Nygren said in a statement. Nygren said he has been "humbled" by the number of people in the 8th Congressional District who have encouraged him to run since Ribble announced his retirement. Ribble, a Republican from Sherwood, was elected to Congress in 2010, ousting Democratic incumbent Steve Kagen. He defeated Democrat Jamie Wall to hold onto the seat in 2012 and defeated Democrat Ron Gruett in 2014. Announcing his retirement, he said he wants to spend more time with his family and return to the private sector. He also said he had promised not to serve more than four terms in office. The board hasnt advertised for applicants and it has no plan to meet for interviews of candidates, said La Follette and one of the Republican board members, state Treasurer Matt Adamczyk. The board chairman, Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel, didnt respond to requests for comment. Adamczyk said he has spoken with several applicants and could support almost anyone but Tom German, who was Nelsons deputy and is now acting secretary. Adamczyk has been highly critical of Nelson, although he acknowledged that staff members have followed laws passed by the Legislature. I call it environmental activism, Adamczyk said. This doesnt go back to global warming, its about buying land and keeping land. Adamczyk was the driving force behind the global warming ban, deeming it necessary because in 2007 then-Gov. Jim Doyle, a Democrat, appointed Nelson to a task force on climate change. After Adamczyk took office in January, he began peppering Nelson with questions and criticisms. On Monday, he blamed Nelson and German for the Legislatures passage of a 2005 law that he said resulted in the agency holding on to too much land instead of selling it and investing cash. Madison's progressive congressman, Mark Pocan, has decided he supports starting the process to impeach President Donald Trump. Considering that Pocan represents one of the safest and most liberal districts in Congress, where Trump is incredibly unpopular, it's hardly a bold move. TriEnda has 40 immediate job openings and PendaForm has 25. Kruger expects more job openings throughout the year as a result of the merger, since our business is going to grow. All in all, the merger is expected to generate 50 new jobs in Portage. Moreover, the merger wont result in cuts. Everybodys keeping their jobs. Adding more jobs in Portage creates a trickle-down effect that helps everyone, Portage Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marianne Hanson said. Its a unique partnership. Were always excited to hear when we can add jobs in the community thats always good for us. Its not just adding to one aspect of economy, since more jobs means selling more gas, food, clothing it does many good things in the community. TriEnda is looking for operators, assistant operators and entry-level finishers, Kruger said. Interested job seekers can contact the companys human resources department at 608-742-5303, ext. 2336. Fifteen stops will be featured on the Reedsburg Historic Preservations fourth annual historic bus tour, including Nishan Chapel. Commission Member and Historic Bus Tour Chairman Orris Smith said attendees on the bus tour will have the chance to take a look inside the chapel recently placed on the states historic registry. A representative will talk about the history of the chapel. Smith said the chapel was featured on previous tours, but was only mentioned while passing by because it was challenging for the buses to drive up the narrow path of Greenwood Cemetery or turn around. This year, the commission will have two 15 to 18 passenger vans for an easier commute to the chapel. Nishan Chapel was built in the 1930s, the featured era on the bus tour. The theme is 30s and 40s. The tour includes stops significant to Reedsburgs history from the 1830s and 1840s, when the first settlers began arriving in Reedsburg. One video depicts one of the older farmers, Katambara Pendeza Apoline, reflecting on the employee-employer relationship at Mighty Peace Coffee. I see the cooperative treats women well, we do not hide when there are benefits and when we withdraw we all withdraw by giving the signatures to the bank in the presence of everyone, Pendeza Apoline said. Pitsirilos emphasized the quality assurance benefits of being a fully integrated coffee company. We touch every step of the supply chain from seed to table, Pitsirilos said. That means when the coffee is grown, cooperative members pick the cherry and separate the coffee bean from it, it gets dried out, it gets washed, all of those steps. And we watch that, we can actually track every step of the supply chain from when its shipped from the cooperative all the way to importation in the United States. Stier hopes the prospects of the Congolese can be raised as interest in the coffee they produce grows. If they can tap the international market and get their coffee out the same way Kenyans, Ethiopians and Rwandans have got their coffee out, there could be a rapidly rising economic sector in the region, Stier said. I was very happy with the people who held out for the rain, and came down and watched the show, Dobbs said. A lot of spectators, and the classic car guys, were out and pushed forward. Dells Area Cruisers president Ron Nelson did not let the weather stop him or his crew, as they set out to judge the fleet of cars on display. According to Nelson, a typical car show uses a 100-point system for all the competing cars. However, Automotion proceeds differently. We have about 50 (classic car) club members that work the show, and we let each of them go out and pick a car, Nelson said. It didnt need to be the best car, but it was something special to them. While this system may be unconventional, Nelson finds it highly effective. He sees diversity as a highly important factor in these shows, and encourages drivers to bring in cars that wouldnt necessarily be awarded at other shows. Nelson calls these cars driver-quality cars that still merit recognition and discussion, but arent necessarily as polished as cars that tend to win awards at other shows. We dont look to give awards to all 100 percent or the best-built cars, Nelson said. And we strive to be more diverse so that the people coming in with a driver-quality because its unique, and its something that nobody has seen for a while makes it more unique and something thats interesting to look at. The embezzlement is a federal offense because the commissions received about $685,000 in federal funds in 2017. Czuprynko was charged in federal court April 29 after reaching a plea agreement, which she signed April 4. Tuesday was her first court appearance in the case. Neither Czuprynko nor her attorney, Mark Eisenberg, disputed Grabers statements about how and when the funds were embezzled. In the plea agreement, Czuprynko agreed to repay the commissions for the losses attributed to her and consented to sell real estate she owns on Hillside Drive in Wisconsin Dells. Czuprynko remains free on standard conditions until her sentencing hearing, when she will face up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, three years supervised release and restitution. If the parties cannot agree upon the amount of restitution Czuprynko owes, Conley will determine the amount. After court, Graber said Czuprynko was not a bonded employee with an insurer responsible for the loss she caused. Whether the commissions had other liability insurance for the thefts was not known Tuesday. Quorum Health Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides hospital and outpatient healthcare services in the United States. Its hospital and outpatient healthcare services include general and acute care, emergency room, general and specialty surgery, critical care, internal medicine, diagnostic, obstetric, psychiatric, and rehabilitation services. Quorum Health Corporation offers its healthcare services through its hospitals and affiliated facilities, including urgent care centers, diagnostic and imaging centers, physician clinics, and surgery centers. The company, through its subsidiary, Quorum Health Resources, LLC, provides hospital management advisory, healthcare consulting, and group purchasing services to non-affiliated hospitals, as well as Web-based applications and software tools; and various education programs for healthcare leaders, professionals, and other medical staff. As of December 31, 2018, it owned or leased 27 hospitals with approximately 2,604 licensed beds. The company was incorporated in 2015 and is headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Travelers Companies: 10762962 Canada Inc., 350 Market Street LLC, 8527512 Canada Inc., Aetna Life and Casualty Co, American Equity Insurance Company, American Equity Specialty Insurance Company, Aprilgrange Limited, Arch Street North LLC, Auto Hartford Investments LLC, Bayhill Restaurant II Associates, Camperdown Corporation, Constitution State Services LLC, Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Discover Specialty Insurance Company, F&G UK Underwriters Limited, Farmington Casualty Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters Inc., First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company, Gulf Underwriters Insurance Company, IHP Capital Partners Fund VIII L.P., Northbrook Holdings Inc., Northfield Insurance Company, Northland Casualty Company, Northland Insurance Company, Phoenix UK Investments LLC, SPC Insurance Agency Inc., Select Insurance Company, Simply Business Holdings Inc., Simply Business Inc., St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company, St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, St. Paul Protective Insurance Company, St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Standard Fire Properties LLC, Standard Fire UK Investments LLC, TCI Global Services Inc., TPC Investments Inc., TPC U.K. Investments LLC, The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford Connecticut, The Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, The Family Business Institute LLC, The Phoenix Insurance Company, The St. Paul Companies Inc., The Standard Fire Insurance Company, The Travelers Casualty Company, The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company of America, The Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut, The Travelers Lloyds Insurance Company, TravCo Insurance Company, Travelers (Bermuda) Limited, Travelers Brazil Acquisition LLC, Travelers Brazil Holding LLC, Travelers Casualty Company of Connecticut, Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Travelers Casualty UK Investments LLC, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of Europe Limited, Travelers Commercial Casualty Company, Travelers Commercial Insurance Company, Travelers Constitution State Insurance Company, Travelers Distribution Alliance Inc., Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company, Travelers Global Inc., Travelers Indemnity U.K. Investments LLC, Travelers Insurance Company Limited, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, Travelers Insurance Designated Activity Company, Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc., Travelers Lloyds of Texas Insurance Company, Travelers London Limited, Travelers MGA Inc., Travelers Management Limited, Travelers Marine LLC, Travelers Participacoes em Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Personal Insurance Company, Travelers Personal Security Insurance Company, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, Travelers Property Casualty Corp., Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company, Travelers Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Syndicate Management Limited, Travelers Texas MGA Inc., Travelers Underwriting Agency Limited, Ultramar Travel Management, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Xbridge Limited, Zensurance Brokers Inc., and Zensurance Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of AON: 6824625 Canada Ltd., 7193599 Canada Inc., A.B. Insurances Limited, ADIS A/S, AIB Services Limited, AIS Affinity Insurance Agency Inc., AIS Insurance Agency Inc., AMXH LLC, ARM International Corp., ARM International Insurance Agency Corp., ARMRISK CORP., AS Holdings Inc., ASPN Insurance Agency LLC, Access Plans USA Inc., Acumen Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Adm Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Administradora Aon C.A., Admiseg SA, Admix, Admix - Administracao Consultoria Participacoes e Corretora de Seguros de Vida Ltda., Aeropeople Limited, Affinity Group Insurance Services Limited, Affinity Insurance Services Inc., Affinity Risk Partners (Brokers) Pty Ltd, Agenion N.V./SA, Agility Credit Insurance Brokers Limited, Alexander & Alexander Holding B.V., Alexander Clay, Alexander Insurance Managers (Netherlands Antilles) N.V., Alexander Reinsurance Intermediaries Inc., Allen Insurance Associates Inc., Alliance HealthCard Inc., Alliance HealthCard of Florida Inc., American Insurance Services Corp., American Special Risk Insurance Company, Aon (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon (CR) Insurance Agencies Company Limited, Aon (DIFC) Gulf Limited, Aon (Fiji) Ltd., Aon (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon (Thailand) Limited, Aon 180412 Limited (in liquidation), Aon ANZ Holdings Limited, Aon APAC Holdings B.V., Aon Acore Sarl, Aon Adjudication Services Limited, Aon Affinity Administradora de Beneficios Ltda., Aon Affinity Argentina S.A., Aon Affinity Chile Ltda., Aon Affinity Colombia Ltda. Agencia de Seguros, Aon Affinity Mexico Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aon Affinity Servicos e Participacoes Ltda., Aon Affinity do Brasil Servicos e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Aon Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Americas Holdings BV, Aon Angola Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Antillen N.V., Aon Aruba N.V., Aon Assurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Australia Group Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 1 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 2 Pty Ltd, Aon Australian Holdco 3 Pty Ltd, Aon Austria GmbH, Aon Bahrain W.L.L., Aon Belgium B.V.B.A., Aon Benefit Solutions Inc., Aon Benfield (Chile) Corredores de Reaseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Argentina S.A., Aon Benfield Australia Limited, Aon Benfield Brasil Corretora de Resseguros Ltda., Aon Benfield Canada ULC, Aon Benfield China Limited, Aon Benfield Colombia Limitada Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Benfield Fac Inc., Aon Benfield Global Inc., Aon Benfield Group Limited, Aon Benfield Inc., Aon Benfield Israel Limited, Aon Benfield Italia S.p.A., Aon Benfield Japan Ltd, Aon Benfield Latin America SA, Aon Benfield Limited, Aon Benfield Malaysia Limited, Aon Benfield Mexico Intermediario de Reaseguro SA de CV, Aon Benfield Middle East Limited, Aon Benfield New Zealand Limited, Aon Benfield Panama S.A., Aon Benfield Peru Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Aon Benfield Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Bermuda Holding Company Limited, Aon Bermuda QI Holdings Ltd., Aon Beteiligungsmanagement Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Aon Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Seguros, Aon Botswana (Pty) Ltd., Aon Brazil Holdings LLC, Aon Broking Services SA, Aon Broking Technology Limited, Aon CANZ Holdings B.V., Aon CANZ Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Holdings N.S. ULC, Aon Canada Inc., Aon Canada Intermediaries GP, Aon Captive Services Antilles N.V., Aon Captive Services Aruba N.V., Aon Cash Management B.V., Aon Central and Eastern Europe a.s., Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics Ltd, Aon Charitable Foundation Pty Ltd, Aon Chile Holdings LLC, Aon Commercial Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Commercial Services Ireland Limited, Aon Commercial Services and Operations Ireland Limited, Aon Consolidation Group Pty Ltd, Aon Consulting & Insurance Services, Aon Consulting (Chile) Limitada, Aon Consulting (Thailand) Limited, Aon Consulting Bolivia S.R.L., Aon Consulting Ecuador S.A., Aon Consulting Financial Services Limited, Aon Consulting Inc., Aon Consulting Kazakhstan LLP, Aon Consulting Limited, Aon Consulting Private Limited, Aon Consulting Romania SRL, Aon Corporate Services (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Corporate Services Limited, Aon Corporation, Aon Corporation Australia Limited, Aon Corporation EMEA B.V., Aon Credit International Insurance Broker GmbH, Aon Cyprus Insurance Broker Company Limited, Aon DC Trustee Limited, Aon Danismanlik Hizmetleri AS, Aon Delta Bermuda Ltd., Aon Delta UK Limited, Aon Denmark A/S, Aon Deutschland Beteiligungs GmbH, Aon Direct Group Inc., Aon Edge Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Energy Caribbean Limited, Aon Enterprise Insurance Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Finance Bermuda 1 Ltd., Aon Finance Bermuda 2 Ltd., Aon Finance Canada 1 Corp., Aon Finance Canada 2 Corp., Aon Finance International N.S. ULC, Aon Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Finance N.S. 1 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 5 ULC, Aon Finance N.S. 8 ULC, Aon Finance US 1 LLC, Aon Finance US 2 LLC, Aon Financial & Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Finland Oy, Aon France, Aon Global Holdings 1 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 2 Limited, Aon Global Holdings 3 Limited [In strike-off], Aon Global Holdings Limited, Aon Global Operations plc, Aon Global Risk Consulting B.V., Aon Global Risk Consulting Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Global Risk Research Limited, Aon Grana Peru Corredores de Seguros SA, Aon Greece S.A., Aon Groep Nederland B.V., Aon Group (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Group (Thailand) Limited, Aon Group Holdings International 1 B.V., Aon Group Holdings International 2 B.V., Aon Group Inc., Aon Group International N.V., Aon Group Pty Ltd, Aon Group Venezuela Corretaje de Reaseguros C.A., Aon Hewitt (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Ireland) Limited, Aon Hewitt (PNG) Ltd., Aon Hewitt (Thailand) Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Aon Hewitt Consulting Korea Inc., Aon Hewitt Financial Advice Limited, Aon Hewitt GmbH, Aon Hewitt Health Market Insurance Solutions Inc., Aon Hewitt Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hewitt Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting Inc., Aon Hewitt Investment Management Inc., Aon Hewitt Japan Ltd., Aon Hewitt Limited, Aon Hewitt Ltd., Aon Hewitt Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Aon Hewitt Management Company Limited, Aon Hewitt Middle East Limited, Aon Hewitt Risk & Consulting S.r.l., Aon Hewitt Risk & Financial Management B.V., Aon Hewitt Trust Solutions GmbH, Aon Hewitt US Holdings Limited, Aon Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aon Holdings (Isle of Man) Limited, Aon Holdings Antillen N.V., Aon Holdings Australia Pty Limited, Aon Holdings Austria GmbH, Aon Holdings B.V., Aon Holdings Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Aon Holdings Corretores de Seguros Ltda., Aon Holdings France SNC, Aon Holdings Hong Kong Limited, Aon Holdings International B.V., Aon Holdings Israel Ltd., Aon Holdings Japan Ltd, Aon Holdings Limited, Aon Holdings Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Aon Holdings Mid Europe B.V., Aon Holdings New Zealand, Aon Hong Kong Limited, Aon Hungary Insurance Brokers Risk and Human Consulting LLC, Aon Insurance Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Agencies (Macau) Limited, Aon Insurance Brokers (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Aon Insurance Brokers (Pvt) Ltd., Aon Insurance Management Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Antilles) N.V., Aon Insurance Managers (Barbados) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Bermuda) Ltd, Aon Insurance Managers (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Dublin) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Guernsey) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Holdings) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Isle of Man) Ltd., Aon Insurance Managers (Liechtenstein) AG, Aon Insurance Managers (Luxembourg) S.A., Aon Insurance Managers (Malta) PCC Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (Shannon) Limited, Aon Insurance Managers (USA) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers (USVI) Inc., Aon Insurance Managers Gibraltar Ltd., Aon Insurance Micronesia (Guam) Inc, Aon Insurance Underwriting Agencies Hong Kong Limited, Aon Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers Philippines Inc., Aon International Cooperatief U.A., Aon International Energy Inc., Aon International Holdings Inc., Aon Investment Holdings Ireland Limited, Aon Israel Insurance Brokerage Ltd., Aon Italia S.r.l., Aon Japan Ltd, Aon Jauch & Hubener Gesellschaft m.b.H., Aon Korea Inc., Aon Latam Holdings N.V., Aon Lead QI B.V., Aon Life Agency of Texas Inc., Aon Life Agente de Seguros S.A. de C.V., Aon Life Insurance Company, Aon MacDonagh Boland Group Ltd, Aon Majan LLC, Aon Management Consulting Taiwan Ltd., Aon Mauritius Holdings, Aon Meeus Assurantien B.V., Aon Mexico Business Support SA de CV, Aon Mexico Holdings LLC, Aon Mexico Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Aon Middle East Co LLC, Aon Nederland C.V., Aon Netherlands Operations B.V., Aon Neudorf Finance S.a.r.l., Aon New Zealand, Aon New Zealand Group ULC, Aon Norway AS, Aon Overseas Holdings Limited, Aon PHI Acquisition Corporation of California, Aon PMI International Limited, Aon Parizeau Inc., Aon Pension Trustees Limited, Aon Pensions Insurance Brokers GmbH, Aon Polska Services Sp. z o.o., Aon Polska Sp. z o.o., Aon Portugal - Consultores Unipessoal Lda., Aon Portugal - Corretores de Seguros S.A., Aon Premium Finance LLC, Aon Private Risk Management Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Private Risk Management of California Insurance Agency Inc., Aon Product Design & Development Australia Pty Limited, Aon Product Design and Development New Zealand Limited, Aon Product Risk Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Property Risk Consulting Inc., Aon Qatar LLC, Aon Re (Thailand) Limited, Aon Re Bertoldi - Corretagem de Resseguros S.A., Aon Re Bolivia S.A. Corredores de Reaseguros, Aon Re Canada Holdings SARL, Aon Real Estate B.V., Aon Realty Services Inc., Aon Reed Stenhouse Inc., Aon Retirement Plan Advisors LLC, Aon Retirement Solutions Limited, Aon Risiko & Unternehmensberatungs GmbH, Aon Risk & Asset Management Pty Ltd, Aon Risk Consultants Inc., Aon Risk Insurance Services West Inc., Aon Risk Management (Pty) Ltd, Aon Risk Services (Chile) Corredores de Seguros Limitada, Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of Latin America Inc., Aon Risk Services (Holdings) of the Americas Inc., Aon Risk Services (NI) Limited, Aon Risk Services (PNG) Ltd., Aon Risk Services (Thailand) Limited, Aon Risk Services Argentina S.A., Aon Risk Services Australia Limited, Aon Risk Services Canada Inc., Aon Risk Services Central Inc., Aon Risk Services Colombia SA Corredores de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Companies Inc., Aon Risk Services EMEA B.V., Aon Risk Services Ecuador S.A. Agencia Asesora Productora de Seguros, Aon Risk Services Holdings (Chile ) Ltda., Aon Risk Services Inc. of Florida, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Hawaii, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Maryland, Aon Risk Services Inc. of Washington D.C., Aon Risk Services Northeast Inc., Aon Risk Services South Inc., Aon Risk Services Southwest Inc., Aon Risk Services Venezuela Corretaje de Seguros C.A., Aon Risk Solutions (Cayman) Ltd., Aon Risk Solutions Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas SA de CV, Aon Risk Solutions of Puerto Rico Inc., Aon Riskminder A/S, Aon Romania Broker de Asigurare - Reasigurare SRL, Aon Rus Insurance Brokers LLC, Aon Rus LLC, Aon S.p.A. Insurance & Reinsurance Brokers, Aon Saver Limited, Aon Securities (Hong Kong) Limited, Aon Securities Investment Management Inc., Aon Securities LLC, Aon Securities Limited, Aon Service Corporation, Aon Services (Guernsey) Ltd, Aon Services (Malta) Ltd, Aon Services Group Inc., Aon Services Hong Kong Limited, Aon Services Pty Ltd., Aon Sigorta ve Reasurans Brokerligi ve A.S., Aon Soluciones S.A., Aon Soluciones S.A.C., Aon Southern Europe UK Limited, Aon Sp. z o.o., Aon Special Risk Resources Inc., Aon Superannuation (PNG) Limited, Aon Superannuation Pty Limited, Aon TC Holdings Inc., Aon Taiwan Ltd., Aon Treasury Ireland Limited, Aon Trust Company LLC, Aon Trust Corporation Limited, Aon Trust Services B.V., Aon UK Group Limited, Aon UK Holdings Intermediaries Limited, Aon UK Limited, Aon UK Trustees Limited, Aon US & International Holdings Limited, Aon US Holdings 2 Inc., Aon US Holdings Inc., Aon Ukraine LLC, Aon Underwriting Agencies (HK) Limited, Aon Underwriting Managers (Bermuda) Ltd., Aon Underwriting Managers Inc., Aon Versicherungsberatungs GmbH, Aon Versicherungsmakler Deutschland GmbH, Aon Vietnam Limited, Aon Ward Financial Corporation, Aon-COFCO Insurance Brokers Co. Ltd., Aon/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services Inc., Asevasa Argentina S.A., Asevasa Caricam S.A., Asevasa Chile Peritaciones e Ingenieria de Riesgos S.A., Asevasa Mexico S.A. de C.V., Asevasa Panama S.A., Asian Reinsurance Underwriters Limited, Asscom Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Association of Rural and Small Town Americans, Associacao Instituto Aon, Assurance Licensing Services Inc., B E P International Corp., B.V. Assurantiekantoor Langeveldt-Schroder, BMS Insurance Agency L.L.C., Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships (Ireland) Limited, Bacon & Woodrow Partnerships Limited, Bain Hogg Group Limited (in liquidation), Baltolink UADBB, Bankassure Insurance Services Limited, Bayfair Insurance Centre Limited, Beaubien Finance Ireland Limited, Beaubien Finance Limited, Beaubien UK Finance Limited, Becketts (Trustees) Limited, Becketts Limited, Beech Hill Pension Trustees Ltd, Bekouw Mendes C.V., Benefit Marketing Solutions L.L.C., Benfield Advisory Inc., Benfield Corredores de Reaseguro Ltda., Benfield Finance (London) LLC, Benfield Group, Benfield Investment Holdings Limited, Benfield Juniperus Holdings Limited, Benfield do Brasil Participacoes Ltda. (dormant), Benton Finance Ireland Limited, Benton Finance Limited, Blanch Americas Inc., Bowes & Company Inc. of New York, CEREP III Secondary Manager LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners I LLC, CFSSG Real Estate Partners II LLC, CIF-H GP LLC, Cammack Health LLC, Cananwill Corporation, Cananwill Inc., Cardea Health Solutions Limited, Casablanca Intermediation Company Sarl, Celinvest Amsterdam B.V., Chapka Assurances SAS, Citadel Insurance Managers Inc., CoCubes, CoSec 2000 Limited, Coalition for Benefits Equality and Choice, Cocubes Technologies Private Limited, Coles Hewitt Partnership, Contingency Insurance Brokers Limited, Contractsure Limited, CoverWallet, Coverall S.r.l. Insurance and Reinsurance Underwriting Agency, Credit Insurance Brokers (Reynolds) Limited, Crion N.V., Custom Benefit Programs Inc., Cut-e, Cut-e (UK) Limited, Cut-e Assessment (Hong Kong) Limited, Cut-e Assessment Solutions Europe Limited, Cut-e Australia Pty Limited, Cut-e Consult DMCC, Cut-e Danmark A/S, Cut-e Finland Oy, Cut-e GmbH, Cut-e Ireland Limited, Cut-e Nordic AS, Cut-e Norge AS, Cytelligence, Delany Bacon & Woodrow Partnership, Dempsey Partners, Denney O'Hara (Life & Pensions) Limited, Doveland Services Limited, E. W. Blanch Holdings Limited, E. W. Blanch Investments Limited, E.W. Blanch Capital Risk Solutions Inc., E.W. Blanch International Inc., EW Blanch Limited, Elysium Digital IP Products LLC, Elysium Digital L.L.C., Ennis Knupp Secondary Market Services LLC, Essar Insurance Services Limited, Exploitatiemaatschappij Beukenlaan 68-72 B.V., Farmaseg - Solucoes Assistencia e Servicos Empresariais Ltda., Farmsure Limited [In strike-off], Finaccord Limited, Financial & Professional Risk Solutions Inc., Futurity Group Inc., GTCR/AAM Blocker Corp., Ge.f.it. S.r.l., Gefass S.r.l., Glenrand M I B (Mocambique) Corretores de Seguros Limitada, Global Safe Insurance Brokers S.r.l., Globe Events Management, Gotham Digital Science LLC, Gotham Digital Science Ltd., Grant Liddell Financial Advisor Services Pty Ltd, Grant Park Capital LLC, Groupe-Conseil Aon Inc., Grupo Innovac Sociedad de Correduria de Seguros SA, HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd., Hall Rhodes Holdings Limited, Hall Rhodes Limited, Hamburger Gesellschaft zur Forderung des Versicherungswesens mbH, Harbourview West Lake Co-Invest (GP) LP, Health Index Advisors LLC, Healthy Paws Pet Insurance, Henderson Corporate Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Brokers Limited, Henderson Insurance Partnership Limited [In strike-off], Henderson Risk Management Limited, Hewitt Amalco 3 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 4 ULC, Hewitt Amalco 5 ULC, Hewitt Associates (a partnership), Hewitt Associates Administradora e Corretora de Seguros Ltda., Hewitt Associates Corp., Hewitt Associates Outsourcing Limited, Hewitt Associates Pty Ltd, Hewitt Associates S.C., Hewitt Associates SAS, Hewitt Associates Servicos de Recursos Humanos Ltda., Hewitt Beneficios Agente de Seguros y de Fianzas S.A. de C.V., Hewitt Holdings Canada Company, Hewitt Insurance Brokerage LLC, Hewitt Insurance Inc., Hewitt International Holdings LLC, Hewitt Management Ltd., Hewitt Risk Management Services Limited, Hewitt Western Management Amalco Inc., Hogg Group Limited, Hogg Robinson North America Inc., Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency Inc., I. Beck Insurance Agency (1994) Ltd., IAO Actuarial Consulting Services Canada Inc., INPOINT INC., IRM/GRC Holding Inc., Impact Forecasting L.L.C., Inspiring Benefits, Inspiring Benefits Portugal Unipessoal Lda, Insuractive Limited [In strike-off], Insurance Broker Aon Kazakhstan LLP, International Risk Management (Americas) Inc., International Risk Management Group Ltd, International Space Brokers Europe Limited, International Space Brokers France, International Space Brokers Inc., International Space Brokers Limited, Inversiones Benfield Chile Ltda., J H Minet Puerto Rico Inc., J. Allan Brown Consultants Inc., JDPT Manager LLC, Jenner Fenton Slade Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Credit Insurance) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Insurances) Limited, John Reynolds & Company (Life & Pensions) Limited, Johnson Rooney Welch Inc., K & K Insurance Brokers Inc. Canada, K & K Insurance Group Inc., K & K Insurance Group of Florida Inc., K2 Technologies Inc., KVT GP LLC, Kloud S.a.r.l., Krumlin Hall Limited, Lake Erie Real Estate General Partner Limited, Lake Tahoe GP LLC, Lake Tahoe II GP LLC, Lake Tahoe III GP LLC, Lake Tahoe IV GP LLC, Lenzi Paolo Broker di Assicurazioni S.r.l., Lincolnshire Insurance Company PCC Limited, Linx Underwriting Solutions Inc., Lombard Trustee Company Limited, M.A. Shakeel Management Ltd. Amalco, MacDonagh Boland Crotty MacRedmond Ltd, Marinaro Dundas S.A., Marinaro Dundas SA, Mark Kelly Insurance and Financial Services PTY LTD, McLagan (Aon) Limited, McLagan Partners Asia Inc., McLagan Partners Inc., Membership Leasing Trust, Minet Consultancy Services Ltd, Minet Group, Minet Holdings Inc., Minet Inc., Minet Re North America Inc., Modern Survey Inc., Muirfield Underwriters Ltd., NBS Nominees Limited, National Insurance Office Ltd., Nauman Insurance Brokers Limited, Nexus Insurance Brokers Limited, One Underwriting Agency GmbH, One Underwriting B.V., One Underwriting Health B.V., One Underwriting Pty Ltd, Optica Agency A/S, Optimum Risk Solutions Limited, Ovatio Courtage SAS, P.G. Bradley & Co Limited, PGOF Manager 1 LLC, PRORUCK Ruckversicherungs Aktiengesellschaft, PT Aon Benfield Indonesia, PT Aon Hewitt Indonesia, PT Aon Indonesia, PWZ AG, Paragon Strategic Solutions Inc., PathWise Solutions LLC, Penn Square Manager 1 LLC, Penn Square Manager II LLC, Portus Consulting, Portus Consulting (Leamington) Limited, Portus Consulting Limited, Portus Online LLP, Praesidium S.p.A. - Soluzioni Assicurative per il Management, Premier Auto Finance Inc., Private Client Trustees Ltd., Private Equity Partnership Structures I LLC, Probabilitas N.V./SA, Protective Marketing Enterprises Inc., Randolph Finance Unlimited Company, Rasini Vigano Limited, Redwoods Dental Underwriters Inc., Richard Kiddle (Insurance Brokers) Limited, Risk Laboratories LLC, Riskikonsultatsioonide OU, Ronnie Elementary Insurance Agency Ltd, SA Special Situations General Partner LLC, SG IFFOXX Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, SLE Worldwide Limited, SN Re S.A., Salud Riesgos y Recursos Humanos Consultores Ltda. (former Aon Corporte Advisors Ltda.), SchneiderGolling IFFOXX Assekuranzmakler AG, SchneiderGolling Industrie Assekuranzmaklergesellschaft mbH, Scritch Inc., Shanghai Kayi Information Technology Co. Ltd, Sheppard Netherlands B.V., Specialty Benefits Inc., Sports Insure Limited [In strike-off], Strategic Manager-III LLC, Stroz Friedberg (Asia) Limited, Stroz Friedberg Inc., Stroz Friedberg LLC, Stroz Friedberg Limited, Stroz Friedberg Risk Management Limited, Superannuation Management Nominees Limited, Suresport Limited [In strike-off], Swire Blanch MSTC II SA, Swire Blanch MSTC SA, TTG BRPTP GP LLC, TTG Cayuga Bavaria Intermediate 2 S.a.r.l, TTG Core Plus Investments LLC, TTG German Investments I LLC, TTG Investments II LLC, TTG Irish Investments I LLC, TTG Manager LLC, Tecsefin S.A. en liquidacion, The Aon Ireland Mastertrustee Limited, The Aon MasterTrustee Limited, The John Reynolds Company Limited, The Key West Saxon Group LLC, The Townsend Group Inc, The Townsend Group LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager I LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager II LLC, Townsend Alpha Manager III LLC, Townsend Group Asia Limited, Townsend Group Europe Ltd., Townsend HWL GP Ltd., Townsend Holdings LLC, Townsend Lake Constance GP Limited, Townsend REF GP LLC, Townsend Re Global GP Limited, Townsend SO Manager I LLC, UAB One Underwriting, UADBB Aon Baltic, UK Credit Insurance Specialists Limited, UNIT Versicherungsmakler GmbH, US Underwriting Solutions S.r.l., USLP Underwriting Solutions LP, Underwriters Marine Services Inc., Unidelta AG, Unirobe Meeus Groep, UnitedPensions Deutschland AG, Univers Workplace Solutions, VERO Management AG, Ventiv Technology, WT Government Services LLC, WT Technologies LLC, Wannet Speciale Verzekeringen B.V., Wannet Sports Insurance GmbH, Ward Financial Group Inc., West Lake General Partner LLC, West Lake II GP LLC, Wexford Underwriting Managers Inc., White Rock Insurance (Americas) Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Europe) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Gibraltar) PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance (Guernsey) ICC Limited, White Rock Insurance (Netherlands) PCC Limited, White Rock Insurance (SAC) Ltd., White Rock Insurance Company PCC Ltd., White Rock Insurance PCC (Isle of Man) Limited, White Rock Services (Bermuda) Ltd., White Rock USA Ltd., Willis Towers Watson, Worldwide Integrated Services Company, Wrapid Specialty Inc., Zalba-Caldu Correduria de Seguros SA, and cut-e USA Inc.. VanEck Vectors Vietnam ETF's stock was trading at $12.42 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, VNM stock has increased by 69.2% and is now trading at $21.01. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. CAE Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and supplies simulation equipment and training solutions to defense and security markets, commercial airlines, business aircraft operators, helicopter operators, aircraft manufacturers, and healthcare education and service providers worldwide. The company's Civil Aviation Training Solutions segment provides training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, and ground personnel in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as end to end digitally-enabled crew management, training operations solutions, and optimization software. Its Defence and Security segment offers training and mission support solutions for defense forces across multi-domain operations, and for government organizations responsible for public safety. The company's Healthcare segment provides integrated education and training solutions, including surgical and imaging simulations, curriculum, audiovisual and centre management platforms, and patient simulators to healthcare students and clinical professionals. The company was formerly known as CAE Industries Ltd. and changed its name to CAE Inc. in June 1993. CAE Inc. was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V.. There is not enough analysis data for CNOOC. 4.0 Community Rank Outperform Votes CNOOC has received 306 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes CNOOC has received 207 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment CNOOC has received 59.65% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about CNOOC and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe CEO will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe CEO 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 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. Federated Investors, Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides its services to individuals, including high net worth individuals, banking or thrift institutions, investment companies, pension and profit sharing plans, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, state or municipal government entities, and registered investment advisors. Through its subsidiaries, it manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, balanced and money market mutual funds along with separate client-focused equity, fixed income, money market, and balanced portfolios. Through its subsidiaries, the firm invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. It invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap companies. The firm makes its fixed income investments in ultra-short, short-term, and intermediate-term mortgage-backed, U.S. Government, U.S. corporate, high yield, and municipal securities. It employs both fundamental and quantitative analysis to make its equity investments. Federated Investors, Inc. was founded in 1955 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with additional offices in New York City and London, United Kingdom. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Hyatt Hotels: CHANCELLOR STREET CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION INC., GLENDALE HOTEL PROPERTIES L.L.C., HT-SEATTLE HOLDINGS LLC, 1379919 ALBERTA INC., 319168 ONTARIO LIMITED, 3385434 CANADA INC., ADMINISTRACION DE PERSONAL ANDARES S. DE R.L. DE C.V., AIC HOLDING CO., AIRPORT PLAZA ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, AIRPORT PLAZA HOTEL LLC, AIRPORT PLAZA OFFICE BUILDING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, AMERISUITES FRANCHISING L.L.C., ARANCIA LIMITED, ARUBA BEACHFRONT RESORTS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, ARUBA BEACHFRONT RESORTS N.V., ASIA HOSPITALITY INC., ASIA HOSPITALITY INVESTORS B.V., ASIAN HOTEL N.V., ATRIUM HOTEL L.L.C., AUSTIN RESORT BEVERAGE LLC, AmeriSuites Hotel, BAKU HOTEL COMPANY - AZERI, BAKU HOTEL COMPANY - CAYMAN, BASTROP MARKETING L.L.C., BAY II INVESTOR INC., BELLEVUE ASSOCIATES, BH PLAZA LLC, BRE/AMERISUITES PROPERTIES L.L.C., BRE/AMERISUITES TXNC GP L.L.C., BRE/AMERISUITES TXNC PROPERTIES L.P., BURVAN HOTEL ASSOCIATES, CAL-HARBOR SO. PIER URBAN RENEWAL ASSOCIATES L.P., CELAYA RESORTS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., CHESAPEAKE COMMUNITIES LLC, CHESAPEAKE RESORT LLC, CIUDAD DEL CARMEN DIAMANTE RESORT S. DE R.L. DE C.V, COAST BEACH L.L.C., COMPAGNIE HOTELIERE DE LAGON BLEU, CPM SEATTLE HOTELS L.L.C., CRW INVESTMENT LLC, CTR INTEREST HOLDCO INC., DALLAS REGENCY LLC, DENVER DOWNTOWN HOTEL PARTNERS LLC, DESARROLLADORA HOTELERA ACUEDUCTO S. DE R.L. DE C.V., DH BEVERAGE LLC, DIAMANTE RESORT LA PAZ S. DE R.L. DE C.V., DISTRICT HOTEL PARTNERS LLC, EXHALE ENTERPRISES GIFT SERVICES COMPANY, EXHALE ENTERPRISES II L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES III INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES IV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES V L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES VIII INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES X INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XIV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XIX L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XV TCI LTD., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XVIII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XX L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXI INC., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXIV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXV L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXVIII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXI L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXII L.L.C., EXHALE ENTERPRISES XXXIII INC., FAN PIER L.L.C., FAR EAST HOTELS INC., G.E.H. PROPERTIES LIMITED, GAINEY DRIVE ASSOCIATES, GALAXY AEROSPACE COMPANY LLC, GHE HOLDINGS LIMITED, GRAND HYATT BERLIN GMBH, GRAND HYATT DFW BEVERAGE LLC, GRAND HYATT SAN ANTONIO L.L.C., GRAND HYATT SF L.L.C., GRAND RIVERWALK BEVERAGE LLC, GRAND TORONTO CORP., GRAND TORONTO VENTURE L.P., GREENWICH HOTEL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, H.E. ATLANTA CENTENNIAL PARK HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. AUSTIN L.L.C., H.E. BERMUDA L.L.C., H.E. CAP CANA L.L.C., H.E. DRISKILL LLC, H.E. GRAND CYPRESS L.L.C., H.E. IRVINE L.L.C., H.E. KANSAS CITY L.L.C., H.E. LENOX L.L.C., H.E. NASHVILLE L.L.C., H.E. NEWPORT L.L.C., H.E. ORLANDO L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC HOTEL L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC PARKING L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA HC RETAIL L.L.C., H.E. PHILADELPHIA SANSOM L.L.C., H.E. PORTLAND HC L.L.C., H.E. PORTLAND L.L.C., H.E. PROPERTIES HOLDING L.L.C., H.E. PROPERTIES L.L.C., H.E. SAN ANTONIO I L.L.C., H.E. SAN ANTONIO L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON JV L.L.C., H.E. TUCSON OWNER L.L.C., HAPP INVESTOR LTD., HARBORSIDE HOTEL LLC, HARBORSIDE LAND LLC, HC PORTLAND JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HC ROYAL PALMS L.L.C., HCV CINCINNATI HOTEL L.L.C., HE ORLANDO HOTEL LLC, HGP (TRAVEL) LIMITED, HH NASHVILLE HOLDINGS L.L.C., HH NASHVILLE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HH PORTLAND L.L.C., HHMA BURLINGTON BEVERAGE L.L.C., HI HOLDINGS (SWITZERLAND) GMBH, HI HOLDINGS BAJA B.V., HI HOLDINGS BRAZIL S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS CELAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS CIUDAD DEL CARMEN B.V., HI HOLDINGS CYPRUS LIMITED, HI HOLDINGS CYPRUS-INDIA LIMITED, HI HOLDINGS GUADALAJARA B.V., HI HOLDINGS HP CABO B.V., HI HOLDINGS HP TIJUANA HOTEL B.V., HI HOLDINGS KYOTO CO., HI HOLDINGS LA PAZ B.V., HI HOLDINGS LATIN AMERICA B.V., HI HOLDINGS NETHERLANDS B.V., HI HOLDINGS PLAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS RIO S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS RIVIERA MAYA B.V., HI HOLDINGS VIENNA S.A.R.L., HI HOLDINGS ZURICH S.A.R.L., HI HOTEL ADVISORY SERVICES GMBH, HI HOTEL INVESTORS CYPRUS LIMITED, HIHCL AMSTERDAM B.V., HIHCL HP AMSTERDAM AIRPORT B.V., HIHCL HR AMSTERDAM B.V., HILP HOTEL SERVICE PROVIDER LLC, HOTEL AM BELVEDERE HOLDING GMBH, HOTEL AM BELVEDERE HOLDING GMBH & CO KG, HOTEL INVESTMENTS HOLDING CO LLC, HOTEL INVESTMENTS L.L.C., HOTEL INVESTORS I INC., HOTEL INVESTORS II INC., HOTEL PROJECT SYSTEMS PTE LTD, HOTEL SERVICES CIUDAD DEL CARMEN S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HOTELS CS CELAYA S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HP ATLANTA CENTENNIAL PARK JV LLC, HP AUSTIN L.L.C., HP BEVERAGE DALLAS DFW AIRPORT LLC, HP BEVERAGE SUGAR LAND LLC, HP BOSTON HOLDINGS L.L.C., HP GLENDALE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HP GLENDALE L.L.C., HP INDIA HOLDINGS LIMITED, HP LAS VEGAS BEVERAGE L.L.C., HP M STREET L.L.C., HP ROUTE 46 TEXAS LLC, HP SAN FRANCISCO L.L.C., HP SAN JUAN L.L.C., HP TEN TEXAS LLC, HPHH ATLANTA L.L.C., HPHH DENVER L.L.C., HPHH SAN JOSE JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HPHH SAN JOSE L.L.C., HQ CHESAPEAKE LLC, HR LOST PINES RESORT LLC, HR MC HOTEL COMPANY S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HR MC SERVICES II S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HR MC SERVICES S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HRHC LLC, HT- WAILEA LLC, HT-AVENDRA GROUP HOLDINGS L.L.C., HT-AVENDRA L.L.C., HT-CHESAPEAKE COMMUNITIES INC., HT-CHESAPEAKE RESORT INC., HT-HOTEL EQUITIES INC., HT-HUNTINGTON BEACH INC., HT-JERSEY PIER INC., HT-JERSEY PIER L.P., HT-JERSEY PIER LLC, HT-LONG BEACH L.L.C., HT-MIAMI BEACH L.L.C., HT-PARK 57 INC., HT-SEATTLE LLC, HT-SIERRA L.L.C., HT-VANCOUVER INC., HTLB L.L.C., HTS - NS L.L.C., HTS - NY L.L.C., HTS-ASPEN L.L.C., HTS-BC INC., HTS-INVESTMENT L L.C., HTSF L.L.C., HTW BEVERAGE LLC, HY LONG BEACH HOTEL LLC, HYATT (BARBADOS) CORPORATION, HYATT (JAPAN) CO. LTD., HYATT (THAILAND) LIMITED, HYATT ARUBA N.V., HYATT ASIA PACIFIC HOLDINGS LIMITED, HYATT AUSTRALIA HOTEL MANAGEMENT PTY LIMITED, HYATT AUSTRIA GMBH, HYATT BEACH FRONT N.V., HYATT BORNEO MANAGEMENT SERVICES LIMITED, HYATT BRITANNIA CORPORATION LTD., HYATT CC OFFICE CORP., HYATT CHAIN SERVICES LIMITED, HYATT CRYSTAL CITY LLC., HYATT CURACAO N.V., HYATT DISASTER RELIEF FUND, HYATT DO BRASIL PARTICIPACOES LTDA, HYATT EQUITIES L.L.C., HYATT FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT SERVICES INC., HYATT FRANCHISING CANADA CORP., HYATT FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT FRANCHISING LATIN AMERICA L.L.C., HYATT FULFILLMENT OF MARYLAND INC., HYATT GLOBAL SERVICES INC., HYATT GTLD L.L.C., HYATT HOC INC., HYATT HOLDINGS (UK) LIMITED, HYATT HOSPITALITY SERVICES L.L.C., HYATT HOTEL MANAGEMENT LIMITED, HYATT HOTELS CONSULTANCY SERVICES ASIA PACIFIC LIMITED, HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION OF KANSAS, HYATT HOTELS CORPORATION OF MARYLAND, HYATT HOTELS FOUNDATION, HYATT HOTELS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, HYATT HOTELS OF CANADA INC., HYATT HOTELS OF FLORIDA INC., HYATT HOTELS OF PUERTO RICO INC., HYATT HOUSE CANADA INC., HYATT HOUSE FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT HOUSE HOTEL HOLDING COMPANY L.L.C., HYATT INDIA CONSULTANCY PRIVATE LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL (ASIA) LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL (EUROPE AFRICA MIDDLE EAST) LLC, HYATT INTERNATIONAL - JAPAN LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL - SOUTHWEST ASIA LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL -ASIA PACIFIC LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL -SEA (PTE) LIMITED, HYATT INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, HYATT INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS CO., HYATT INTERNATIONAL HOTEL MANAGEMENT (BEIJING) CO. LTD., HYATT INTERNATIONAL MILAN L.L.C., HYATT INTERNATIONAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT (BEIJING) CO. LTD., HYATT INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL SERVICES INC., HYATT JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., HYATT LACSA SERVICES INC., HYATT LOUISIANA L.L.C., HYATT MAINZ GMBH, HYATT MARKETING SERVICES INC., HYATT MARKETING SERVICES NIGERIA COMPANY LIMITED, HYATT MINNEAPOLIS LLC, HYATT MINORITY INVESTMENTS INC., HYATT MSS L.L.C., HYATT NORTH AMERICA MANAGEMENT SERVICES INC., HYATT OF AUSTRALIA LIMITED, HYATT OF BAJA S. DE R.L. DE C.V., HYATT OF CHINA LIMITED, HYATT OF FRANCE S.A.R.L., HYATT OF GUAM LIMITED, HYATT OF ITALY S.R.L., HYATT OF LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN L.L.C., HYATT OF LATIN AMERICA S.A. DE C.V., HYATT OF MACAU LIMITED, HYATT OF MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., HYATT OF PHILIPPINES LIMITED, HYATT PARTNERSHIP INTERESTS L.L.C., HYATT PLACE ANNE ARUNDEL BEVERAGE INC., HYATT PLACE CANADA CORPORATION, HYATT PLACE FRANCHISING L.L.C., HYATT PLACE OF MARYLAND INC., HYATT REGENCY COLOGNE GMBH, HYATT REGENCY CORPORATION PTY. LIMITED, HYATT SERVICES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED, HYATT SERVICES CANADA INC., HYATT SERVICES CARIBBEAN L.L.C., HYATT SERVICES GMBH, HYATT SERVICES INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, HYATT SHARED SERVICE CENTER L.L.C., HYATT TRINIDAD LIMITED, HYCANADA INC., HYCARD INC., HYSTAR L.L.C., Hyatt Corporation, INFORMATION SERVICES LIMITED, INTERNATIONAL RESERVATIONS LIMITED, JOINT VENTURE ITALKYR CLOSED JOINT STOCK COMPANY, JUNIPER HOTELS PRIVATE LIMITED, KSA MANAGEMENT INC., KYOTO HOLDING CO., LHR-PARTNERS LTD., LORING PARK ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, LOST PINES BEVERAGE LLC, MACAE PARTNERS S.A.R.L., MAHIMA HOLDINGS PRIVATE LIMITED, MARION RESERVATION CENTER L.L.C., MEXICO CITY HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V., MILAN HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V., MIRAVAL ARIZONA GUARANTOR LLC, MIRAVAL GROUP LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA HOLDINGS LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA LLC, MIRAVAL RESORT ARIZONA OPERATING CO. INC., MIRAVAL RESORT TUCSON LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS I LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS II LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS III LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS LLC, MONROE MR HOLDINGS TRUST, MRG ATX BEVERAGE HOLDINGS LLC, MRG ATX HOLDINGS II LLC, MRG ATX HOLDINGS LLC, MRG ATX INVESTMENT LLC, MRG ATX MANAGEMENT I LLC, MRG ATX MANAGEMENT II LLC, MRG ATX OPERATIONS LLC, MRG CRW HOLDINGS LLC, MRG CRW MANAGEMENT I LLC, MRG CRW MANAGEMENT II LLC, MRG CRW OPERATIONS LLC, MUNICH OPCO GMBH, Miraval Resort, OASIS LUXURY RENTALS INCORPORATED, PARIS HOTEL COMPANY B.V., PARK HYATT HAMBURG GMBH, PARK HYATT HOTEL GMBH, PARK HYATT WATER TOWER ASSOCIATES L.L.C., PH NEW YORK L.L.C., PHMC RESIDENCIAS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., POLK SMITH REGENCY LLC, PT HYATT INDONESIA, PVD INVESTMENT COMPANY S.A.R.L., Peabody Hotels & Resort, RCG PROPERTIES LLC, REGENCY BEVERAGE COMPANY LLC, REGENCY RIVERWALK BEVERAGE LLC, RESERVATIONS CENTER L.L.C., RIO JV PARTNERS PARTICIPACOES LTDA., RIO PRETO PARTNERS HOTEIS LTDA., RIO PRETO PARTNERS S.A.R.L., ROSEMONT PROJECT MANAGEMENT L.L.C., ROUTE 46 MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES CORP., RUNWAY HOLDING L.L.C., RUNWAY L.L.C., SAO PAULO INVESTMENT COMPANY INC., SAO PAULO INVESTORS LIMITED, SASIH, SDI EQUITIES INVESTOR L.L.C., SDI INC., SDI SECURITIES 11 LLC, SDI SECURITIES 6 LLC, SELECT HOTELS GROUP L.L.C., SELECT JV HOLDINGS L.L.C., SEOUL MIRAMAR CORPORATION, SERVICIOS DE HOTELERIA SAN JOSE S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SERVICIOS HOTELEROS LA PAZ S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SETTLEMENT INVESTORS INC., SHG PUERTO RICO INC., SIERRA HEALTHSTYLES LLC, SJC DESARROLLOS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., SKS CORP. N.V., SMC HOTELS B.V., SOROCABA PARTNERS HOTEIS LTDA, SOROCABA PARTNERS S.A.R.L., STANHOPE L.L.C., STARHILL LORING PARK L.L.C., SUGAR LAND/HP LLC, THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL COMPANY LIMITED, THE GREAT EASTERN HOTEL HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, TIJUANA PARTNERS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., TR MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT LLC, TUCSON VILLAS HOLDINGS LLC, TUCSON VILLAS LLC, TWO SEAS HOLDINGS LIMITED, Two Roads Hospitality, WAILEA HOTEL & BEACH RESORT L.L.C., WAILEA HOTEL HOLDINGS L.L.C., WAILEA MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION L.L.C., WAILEA RESORT VILLAS HOLDINGS L.L.C., WAILEA RESORT VILLAS L.L.C., WEST END RESIDENCES L.L.C., XENIA ASSURANCE COMPANY INC., XENIA ASSURANCE COMPANY OF ILLINOIS, ZURICH ESCHERWIESE HOTEL GMBH, and ZURICH HOTEL INVESTMENTS B.V.. Shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF reverse split on the morning of Monday, November 7th 2016. The 1-4 reverse split was announced on Friday, October 14th 2016. The number of shares owned by shareholders was adjusted after the market closes on Friday, November 4th 2016. An investor that had 100 shares of iShares MSCI Japan ETF stock prior to the reverse split would have 25 shares after the split. 3 hours ago China pursues tech 'self-reliance,' fueling global unease BEIJING (AP) To help make China a self-reliant technology superpower, the ruling Communist Party is pushing the world's biggest e-commerce company to take on the tricky, expensive business of designing its own processor chips a business unlike anything Alibaba Group has done before. Its 3-year-old chip unit, T-Head, unveiled its third processor in October, the Yitian 710 for Alibaba's cloud computing business. Read Article ORISKANY, N.Y. -- The Oneida County Sheriffs Department has released an updated mugshot of the No. 1 fugitive captured in the county this week. The first person on the Top 10 Most Wanted list in Oneida County, Tomas Zavalidroga, was already captured and was set for extradition back to the county. Tomas Zavalidroga, 2019 mug shot. Tomas Zavalidroga, 2019 mug shot. WKTV checked with the Oneida County Jail's listings and found Zavalidroga is listed under the inmates. He was found in New Jersey and is on his way back to Central New York to face charges. Last July, Zavalidroga fled police after a 911 hang-up call in Remsen. In 2014, he left his mother in the woods, in Oneida. SPRINGFIELD, N.Y. A police chase involving an Otsego County deputy turned into a deadly head-on crash Tuesday afternoon. The road patrol officer was seriously injured after being hit by a vehicle that crossed the center line of Route 20 in Springfield. The crash scene on Route 20 in Springfield on May 21, 2019. The crash scene on Route 20 in Springfield on May 21, 2019. State police say a suspect was accused of harassing and then threatening a victim with a knife, which led to the pursuit. The deputy, who Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin identified as James Mateunas, was rushed to Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. The sheriff says he was taken into surgery, and suffered several broken bones to his lower extremities. He is now in stable condition. New York State Police are investigating the crash, which happened around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. We're told the driver has died from his injuries. Police say he was fleeing law enforcement when the crash took place. State police say that the deputy's vehicle was parked with its emergency lights on when it was hit. Mateunas has been on road patrol with the sheriff's department for more than 10 years. He worked in corrections prior to that. The intersection was closed while police and rescue crews worked at the scene. The investigation is ongoing, and it is unknown at this time why the suspect crossed the center line. NEWSChannel 2 will continue to follow this story as soon as any new updates become available. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Representative for the 19th Congressional District, Antonio Delgado, spoke on the house floor to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the House passing the 19th amendment. That specific amendment grants women the right to vote. Delgado highlighted the role of Upstate New York and Ulster County's own Sojourner Truth. In his speech, Delgado said, "I rise today to celebrate the Women's Suffrage Movement, and the women who, at the time, were seen as revolutionary for demanding a voice and representation in our democracy. Today, we applaud the women who organized in Upstate New York in Seneca Falls, who marched down Pennsylvania Avenue, and who lifted their voices across this country to demand 'votes for women!' As we prepare to celebrate a century of women's suffrage, let us acknowledge the tireless work of women to demand the right to vote - and the women, including Ulster County's own Sojourner Truth, who recognized that suffrage still denied equal treatment under the law for all." Delgado adds that he's proud to celebrate the work of women to demand the right to vote, and the men who stood on the right side of history by voting to pass the 19th amendment. SPRINGFIELD, N.Y. -- New details on the deadly head-on crash with an Otsego County deputy have been released including the suspect's ID. Tuesday afternoon, a road patrol officer's SUV, sitting stationary with its lights on, on Route 20, was hit by a vehicle involved in a police chase. That vehicle, driven by Matthew All, 23 of Sharon Springs, crossed the center line before crashing head on. All was being pursued by state police and Otsego County Sheriff's Deputies after being accused of harassing someone with a knife. The deputy, James Mateuna, was sent to Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown with serious injuries not considered to be life-threatening. He is recovering at the hospital. All was pronounced dead at the scene by the Otsego County coroner. The investigation is ongoing. UTICA, N.Y. -- The United States Marshals have arrested a Georgia fugitive in Utica. The man was wanted for armed robbery in Georgia, that left one man severely injured. Jesse Patterson, 40 of Georgia, was arrested May 10 in Utica by U.S. Marshals. The Utica Police Department Uniform Division assisted in the case. Patterson was evading arrest when he was captured, and led police on a foot chase. Police say that during the armed robbery, Patterson had a handgun and severely beat a person with a metal tire iron while the victim's 11-year-old daughter watched. An undisclosed amount of money was taken, as well as an unknown number of firearms. Patterson was also wanted in Georgia for other violations. In a statement, U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of New York, David McNulty said: Mr. Patterson is obviously a danger to society whether it is in Utica, New York, or Georgia. We are proud to have secured his capture and wish to thank both the community and all our fellow law enforcement agencies whose cooperation was so very important in this case. NEWSChannel 2 will continue to follow this story as soon as any new updates become available. Deputy Secretary-General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) in charge of Water, Environment and Blue Economy Miguel Garcia said on Wednesday that Egypt is keen on cooperating with other Mediterranean countries in many fields. Speaking to MENA on the fringes of the UfM regional dialogue, which kicked off earlier in the day in Barcelona, Spain, Garcia hailed Egypt's constant willingness to cooperate with UfM countries to serve the interests of their peoples. Egypt plays a major role in promoting Euro-Mediterranean cooperation, Garcia said. He stressed that the appointment of Ambassador Nasser Ahmed Kamel as UfM Secretary-General came in recognition of Egypt's effective role in the region. Highlighting the importance of an investment forum Egypt will host on 18 June, Garcia shed light on several aspects of mutual cooperation, including water, energy and education, as well as youth and women empowerment. The UfM regional dialogue kicked off at the union's headquarters in Spain under the theme: "Shared views on key issues in the Mediterranean. The gathering comes in preparation for the "Summit of the two shores," which will be organised on 23-24 June in Marseille upon the initiative of President of France Emmanuel Macron. Search Keywords: Short link: LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) A Lafayette man was sentenced on Wednesday after being found guilty of multiple charges including attempted murder. Garrett Chaffin was sentenced to 40 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections according to court documents. Chaffin was found guilty in April of Attempted Murder, Domestic Battery Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, Strangulation, Criminal Confinement, Domestic Battery, two counts of Invasion of Privacy, and Aggravated Battery. On April 14, 2018, police responded to a call of a female who fell and an unwanted guest removal. After arriving police observed the victim had facial bruises and marks on her neck. It was revealed Chaffin had repeatedly hit the victim and choked her unconscious on multiple occasion over the last few months and threaten to kill the victim. CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (WLFI) A person was injured in an officer-involved shooting just blocks from the Wabash College campus, according to Indiana State Police. According to police, 36-year-old Lucas Anderson was treated at Franciscan Hospital with a gunshot wound to the face. He has been released from the hospital and is incarcerated in the Montgomery County Jail. Anderson faces possible charges of one count of Domestic Battery Level and two counts of Strangulation. Police were called to a home in the 300 block of Walnut Street around 1 a.m. Wednesday. ISP said it was for a reported domestic/suicidal dispute. Police said the home is not student housing, and no students are involved. The home is two blocks of east of campus. Shortly after police arrived, Riley said Anderson reportedly pointed a gun at the officers. In self-defense, Riley said one of the officers fired and hit the person at least once The officer was not injured, according to ISP. The officer involved in the shooting name will be released by the Crawfordsville Police Department. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)Zachary Baiel is joining the race for mayor with hopes you'll join the conversation. "You know, I see this as an opportunity to have that dialogue and discourse," said Baiel. He has been speaking up at public meetings since moving to West Lafayette in 2001. "We call him a constant commenter on what we do and I think that's great," said Mayor John Dennis. News 18 asked Dennis if an opponent makes the election more fun for him. "If somebody tells you it's fun, they're weird," said Dennis. "I mean it is kind of a drag, you really have to kind of go through an entire protocol." However, Dennis is willing and understands it is necessary to serve. "It is an elected position, you know you're only guaranteed each term as you earn it," said Dennis. Both candidates said they're open to debate but Dennis has stipulations. "I don't necessarily want to get involved in some free for all mudslinging contest," said Dennis. "But if it's structured through one of the bodies that normally do debates? Sure. Why not?" "It would be great to be the most transparent and accessible municipal entity in the state of Indiana," said Baiel. You can count on Baiel to campaign on more convenience in government transparency. He wants the public to be able to have access to all public documents online. As President of the Indiana Coalition for Open Government, this is his priority but he wants to know what others think. "What is important to you? What do you want me to talk about?" asked Baiel. He needs 241 signatures from people who live in West Lafayette in order to get on the November ballot. He has until July 1 to get the names. "We're about at 30 right now," said Baiel. He knows he's going to have to work to win. He's originally from Illinois but he's taking on a lifelong local who has been Mayor for 12 years. "I'm a west side guy, I've always been a west side guy and I take great pride in being a west side guy," said Mayor Dennis. Baiel thinks it's time to mix things up and get more voters to the polls this November. "You look online and everybody is talking about 2020 but 2019 is now and there is an election," said Baiel. "Sure, it may not be big in sense of the national stage but there is a lot going on locally and local is where it all happens." If you want to contact Baiel to learn more, head to his Twitter or website. Bucks County Recorder of Deeds reflects on her time in office Officially known as the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, this African nation is located on the central western coast of the continent. As a former Spanish colony, Equatorial Guinea gained its independence in 1968 but then became a dictatorship under elected president Francisco Macias Nguema. In 1969, however, the totalitarian regime was overthrown. With a land area of 10,830 square miles Equatorial Guinea is currently home to a population of 1,352,964 people with a population density of 126 people per square mile. Religion Equatorial Guinea is primarily a Christian nation with some 93% of its residents belonging to the Christian faith. Of these church goers the majority, about 88%, are Roman Catholics. Protestants make up approximately five per cent of the population. Other than Christianity, a small minority of Equatorial Guineas citizens (about two percent) are followers of Islam, particularly the Sunni denomination. Another five per cent of the population are followers of the Baha'i Faith or profess a belief in an array of traditional indigenous religions such as Animism. Festivals Citizens living in Equatorial Guinea may take part in various festivals and holidays throughout the year including those tied to the majority Christian faith such as Christmas. Other important dates observed by residents of this African country include Presidents Day, Armed Forces Day, as well as Independence Day. Presidents Day is observed every June 5th and marks the birthday of Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who overthrew his dictator uncle during a military coup in 1979 and has been the Equatorial Guineas president ever since. Armed Forces Day is held on August 3rd and celebrates the achievements of the nations military forces. In honor of Equatorial Guineas official independence from Spain the nation annually commemorates their Independence Day on October 12th. Two important festivals which take place in the country include the ten day long Malabo Hip Hop Festival held in December and the Music Day Festival, sponsored in part by the nations Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, in celebration of the countrys rich musical history. Cuisine Many cultures have played a role in shaping Equatorial Guineas national cuisine. Traditional meals enjoyed by locals include dishes rooted in the country's history as a Spanish colony, Islamic tradition, as well as recipes passed down through generations of local central and western African tribes. Ingredients in an array of native dishes include various types of meat including chicken, game, fish, snails, and so called bush-meat which can consist of wildlife such as lizards, gorillas, and lemurs. Fruits and vegetables used in the cuisine of Equatorial Guinea include locally sourced nuts, yam, plantains, sweet potato, rice, cassava root, bananas, and bread fruit. Some popular dishes among local residents include rocky mountain oysters (deep fried bull testicles) and spicy peppersoup (made up of ingredients such as chili peppers, meat, and nutmeg). Popular beverages in Equatorial Guinea include Osang tea, a sugar cane brew known as Malamba, palm wine, and beer. Music And Dance A number of musical genres are popular in Equatorial Guinea. These include reggae and rock music as well as a variety of African music including Makossa and Soukous. Makossa originated in the nearby nation of Cameroon and has been described as being an urban musical style which uses brass instruments in order to create its distinctive dance music. Soukous music can be traced back to its beginnings in the nation of the Congo and is a genre of dance music. Soukous is closely associated with the rumba. Because of its history as a Spanish colony this musical tradition is still popular in Equatorial Guinea; specifically this traditional music is associated with acoustic guitars. Other instruments popular in local music include drums, bow harps, and wooden xylophones. Dance also plays an important part in the culture of Equatorial Guinea. Two well-known dances are the sensually suggestive ibanga and the balele dance which is performed on special occasions such as holidays. Literature Due to the influence of Spanish culture and art, a large number of authors from Equatorial Guinea write in Spanish. In terms of history the literary tradition in this African nation has evolved over the years and is usually broken down into three distinct categories; the Elder Generation (1900-1968), the Exiled Generation (1968-1985), and the Contemporary Generation (post 1985). The writings of authors from the Elder Generation mainly used their art to write about with the realities of Spanish colonial rule on the people of Equatorial Guinea while many writers from the Exiled Generation were forcefully removed from their home country during the early years of political independence and the upheavals that followed. Contemporary authors are renowned for using their form of artistic expression as a way in which to explore a variety of social, cultural, and political aspects of the realities of life in modern Equatorial Guinea. Noted writers from Equatorial Guinea include Maria Nsue Angue (1945- 2017), Juan Tomas Avila Laurel (born in 1966), Justo Bolekia Boleka (born 1954), and Leoncio Evita Enoy (1929-1996). Social Beliefs And Etiquettes Most local residents live in rural areas and choose to wear traditional African clothing. In part because of the nations colonial Spanish history its system of law is based on traditional African tribal law as well as the Spanish legal system. The countrys government is very restrictive when it comes to affording its citizens with individual rights and freedoms. Family units are responsible for the welfare of their individual members and thus the task of caring for the aging and ill is largely a family matter. Because of this extended families tend to co-habituate with several generations living together in order to share resources and labor. Many of the beliefs and social etiquette rules which govern daily life in Equatorial Guinea have a basis in tribal (particularly the Fang tribe) customs and traditions. Polygyny, a practice in which a man marries more than one wife, is often practiced and female residents are restricted to obeying strict rules of behavior based on long held beliefs surrounding male and female roles in society. Officially known as the Republic of Croatia, Croatia is a country in southeastern Europe. There are a number of things driving the economy of Croatia. One of these drivers, as is the case with all the countries in the world, is the natural resources. Croatia has plenty of natural resources although the main ones include tourist sites, agricultural resources, water for hydropower, petroleum and natural gas, and coal. Tourism Tourism is a massive industry in Croatia with the country having hosted more than 18 million visitors in 2018 alone. The history of the sector goes all the way back to the middle stages of the 19th century and has been going from strength to strength ever since. As is the case with most countries, tourism is a seasonal affair that is at its peak in Croatia between July and August. Mostly, tourists prefer to visit the regions along the coast of the massive Adriatic Sea. According to a survey done by the European Environment Agency in 2010, the sea has Europes second cleanest water. The tourist months are also characterized by warm and sunny weather that makes the country one of the most popular destinations in the Mediterranean. Energy The nation also has enough resources to produce its own energy to satisfy its needs. Most of the energy is produced from thermal and hydroelectric plants with the rest being produced by other sources like nuclear power. The total power generation capacity is currently 3745 MW, which is mainly divided between hydroelectric power (2079 MW) and thermal power (1666 MW). In total, Croatia has 25 plants that produce hydroelectric power from the vast water resources, especially from the Adriatic Sea. Mining Croatia is also a producer of petroleum and natural gas. Presently, the country has about 380 miles of crude oil pipelines that connect the oil terminal at the Port of Rijeka with refineries in other parts. In a year, the pipeline system has the capacity of handling around 20 million tons of crude oil. Aside from that, the country also boasts of an even longer system (about 1,313 miles) for natural gas. Presently, Croatia is able to handle about 85% of its national demand for natural gas and 19% of its demand for oil. Interestingly, in 2008, the bulk of the nations energy production (around 47.6%) was accounted for natural gas followed by hydroelectric power with a contribution of 25.4%. Power from crude oil and other sources followed. Other Resources In total, the country has about 2.96 million hectares of land, of which 90% can be cultivated. Presently, only half of the cultivatable land is being utilized. Consequently, it is not a surprise that the sector only accounts for about 5% of the nations gross domestic product. The reason for the low contribution of agriculture is that most of the country is heavily industrialized. Most of the agricultural exports include blue water fish, which has experienced a hike in demand recently. Other agricultural products from Croatia include wines, lavender, olive oil, and other organic oils. When the British occupied parts of Africa, they established several Crown colonies. Although most of these colonies have since attained independence and are now sovereign states, the British still have jurisdiction over certain overseas territories. In some overseas territories known as protectorates, the British exercised very limited jurisdiction since such territories already had local rulers. One of the well-known British protectorates in Africa was the Bechuanaland Protectorate in Southern Africa now known as the Republic of Botswana. British Bechuanaland should not be confused with Bechuanaland Protectorate as the former was a Crown Colony of the United Kingdom that today forms part of South Africa. History of Bechuanaland When John Mackenzie, a Scottish missionary who worked for the London Missionary Society and lived at Shishong, felt that Boer freebooters were becoming a threat to the Ngwato and other Africans that he was working with, he championed for what would become Bechuanaland Protectorate which was to be administered from the UK. In Early 1885, the UK cabinet resolved to send military personnel to South Africa to reign over the contested area. Following the signing of several treaties between the British and the local rulers, the formation of the Protectorate was officially announced by Warren on March 31, 1885. The name Bechuanaland means the country of the Tswana. For the purpose of administration, Bechuanaland was subdivided into two; the northern portion which was the Bechuanaland Protectorate and the southern portion which was the British Bechuanaland (Crown colony). Initially, the British government had intended to hand over the administration of the Protectorate to South Africa or Rhodesia (modern Zimbabwe) but the Tswana opposed the move leaving the Protectorate under the British rule until 1966. Administration of the Protectorate When the Bechuanaland Protectorate was established, the Tswana rulers were technically in charge of the administration while the British role was to protect it against other Europeans. Perhaps one of the most popular local rulers was King Khama III who was strongly supported by the British government. He also worked closely with the British army and managed to keep intruders from South Africa off his vast land. However, on May 9, 1891, the administration of the Protectorate was given to the High Commissioner for South Africa who appointed own officials, effectively ending the independence of Bechuanaland. The territory was administered from Mafeking which was located outside the territory. Independence and Change of Name In 1964, the British government accepted a proposal for self-government Botswana. The following year, the administration of the Protectorate was moved from Mafeking in South Africa to Gaborone near the South Africa-Botswana border. Based on the constitution of 1965, an election was held under universal suffrage. The country attained independence on September 30, 1966, with Seretse Khama as the first president. The name Botswana, adopted immediately after independence, means the land of the Tswana in reference to the largest ethnic group in the country. Gujarati is an Indic language that is native to the Gujarat state in India and spoken by the Gujarati people. Gujarati was the worlds twenty-sixth most widely spoken language in 2007. It is about 700 years old and spoken by over 60 million people in the world. The Gujaratis are the considered to be among the greatest business entrepreneurs, industrialists, and merchants who played a crucial role in the introduction of Swaraj doctrine in British-ruled India. Countries with Significant Gujarati Populations India Gujarati is the ninth most widely used language in India that is spoken by over 55,492,554 people in India alone. Gujarati has official status in Daman and Diu, Gujarat state, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. It is recognized as one of the minority languages in Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The Gujarati-speaking people also form a significant percentage of the residents of Mumbai, Bangalore, Madras, Calcutta, and Delhi among others. The Gujaratis have been at the forefront of emigration in the world. Many Gujaratis have migrated to countries that were previously colonized by the British, including East Africa, New Zealand, and Fiji among others. Pakistan Pakistan is home to over 3 million Gujarati Muslims who have been in Sindh province for generations. A huge percentage of them migrated to Pakistan after India was partitioned in 1947. Most Pakistani Gujaratis belong to the Muslim Kutchi, Charotah Sunni Vohra, Chundrigar, Dawoodi Bohra, Khoja, and Ismaili groups. Other Gujaratis belong to the small Pakistani Hindu community. Some of the most famous Pakistani Gujaratis include Chundrigar Ismail (the sixth Pakistani Prime Minister) and the father of Pakistan (Muhammed Jinnah). United Kingdom The Gujaratis were among the first Indians to get involved with the British when the East India Company established a factory in Surat city in 1615. The fourth largest population of Gujarati speakers in the world is in the United Kingdom. The Gujaratis form over 50% of the Indian population living in the UK. The first Gujarati speakers visited Britain during the nineteenth century after the creation of the British Raj. A considerable percentage of the Gujaratis reside in Wembley, Harrow, Brent, and Leicester. The Gujaratis revolutionalized corner-shops while energizing the economy of the United Kingdom. United States The United States has one of the highest Gujarati population in the world with most of them living in the New York City Metropolitan Region. The Gujaratis started migrating to the United States in 1965 after the Hart-Celler Act was passed. The initial Gujarati immigrants were highly educated professionals. Given their propensity for opening businesses, most of them opened motels and shops in the US and currently, they control over 40% of the US hospitality industry. Gujarati Dialects According to William Tisdall, a British philologist and historian, there are three main varieties of the Gujarati language; a Muslim dialect, Parsi dialect, and Hindu dialect. However, this Indic language has undergone reclassification with respect to the regional difference in phrasing and vocabularies. Standard Gujarati is a standardized form of Gujarati that is used in various parts of Maharashtra. Some of the main variants of Gujarati include Gamadia, Kathiawari, Kutchi, Memoni, and Lisan ud-Dawat. Officially known as the Republic of Estonia, Estonia is a sovereign nation in Northern Europe. Its capital city is Tallinn. The country is bordered by four countries namely Finland to the north, the west by Sweden, Russia to the east, and Latvia to the south. The borders with Finland and Sweden are maritime ones. To provide a better sense of the countrys location, other geographical features around the country include the Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Sea, and Lake Peipus. Russia The international border between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Estonia has been present since 1954, which is also the tear when Estonia joined the Soviet Union. The border has a length of about 183 miles and has been unchanged since 1954 except for a minor change from 2014, which has still not yet been implemented. Anyone wishing to cross the border can only do so at authorized border controls with most people requiring a visa. These border controls include a local road situated in Narwa, Koidulas road 63, Saatses road 106, and the TallinnNarvaSt. Petersburg railway (also located in Narwa). Latvia From the Latvian side, the border can be crossed using either one of two major land routes. In total, the border between the two countries has a length of about 213.13 miles. One of the routes involves using the Baltika or E67, which goes along the Gulf of Rigas coast and all the way to Parnu. After that, the road gets to Tallinn in Estonia. The other route is the E264, which passes through Valga and then gets to Tartu before reaching Tallinn. However, most people prefer flying to Estonia where they land at the Lennart Meri International Airport in Tallinn. Estonia is classified as being part of the Schengen visa area, which means that European Union members only need a national ID or passport to cross. Recently, the two governments came up with an agreement to reintroduce border checks for people wishing to cross. However, the checks were only temporary. Other times similar checks were done was back in 2010 when NATOs foreign ministers met in Estonia as well as 2014 when President Barack Obama of the US made a visit. Africa is varied, from its landscapes, lakes, wildlife, and people. From Cairo down to Cape Town in the South, the continent has always captured the minds and lives of travelers, artists, photographers, and even thrill seekers. On this vast land is a country in the Southern region known as Malawi, a landlocked country which shares its borders with Zambia, Tanzania, and Mozambique. Known as the Warm Heart of Africa", Malawi is one of the most beautiful countries in the continent. Why Is Malawi Called the Warm Heart of Africa? Malawi is often referred to as the Warm Heart of Africa because of how kind its people are, its grand landscape, and its beautiful wildlife. The country is considered one of the kindest to strangers in the world and also one of the safest places to visit or live in Africa. Malawi, in the local language (Chichewa) means fire or flames. The name is derived from the fascinating sunrise and sunset over Lake Malawi. Lake Malawi is one of the countrys main attractions and the third largest lake in Africa, popular for its crystal clear water and a high number of fish species. Major Attractions In Malawi The Incredible People Malawi's residents are very friendly to strangers and often walk with smiles on their faces. Visitors from other countries continue to visit Malawi because of the overwhelming welcome they receive from the locals. Visitors are greeted with great respect and treated like family, no wonder Malawi was ranked the Happiest Country in Africa. While most communities in Malawi stick close to their cultures and traditions, visitors are always welcome to join, especially in the celebrations such as Gule Wamkulu dance (the Great Dance). Lake Malawi National Park The national parks and game reserves in Malawi are beautiful and less explored. Lake Malawi National Park is one of the main attractions in Malawi. Lake Malawi is one of the African Great Lakes, the third largest and the second deepest lake in Africa. The lake occupies one-fifth of Malawi and has the highest number of fish species in the world. The national park was created to protect fish and aquatic habitat. It is the worlds first freshwater national park and world heritage site. Other national parks in Malawi include Nyika National Park which is home to a vast herd of eland. Chogoni Rock Art Area The Chogoni Rock Art area is located in the central region of Malawi. The area features 127 sites of rich concentration of rock art in Central Africa. The sites reflect a rare tradition of farmer rock art and painting by the BaTwa hunters who lived in the area in late Stone Age and the Chewa agriculturalists who lived in the area during the Iron Age. The Chongoni Rock Art Area has been listed as a World Heritage Site. Thousands of people across the United States took to the streets on Tuesday to participate in protests and rallies in support of abortion rights. The nationwide protest was organized by #StoptheBans, a coalition of 50 groups including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood and the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws (NARAL). According to the organizers, there were more than 500 demonstrations, with events in all 50 US states plus Puerto Rico and Ottawa, Canada. The number of demonstrations, mobilizing students, workers and youth, reflected the broad popular support for the right of women to choose and in defense of democratic rights more generally. A CBS News poll published Tuesday showed more than two-thirds of Americans supporting Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision barring states from outlawing abortion. President Donald Trump is making opposition to abortion rights a major plank in his reelection campaign and has vowed to secure a reversal of Roe V. Wade. Tuesdays protests were triggered by a series of newly enacted state laws, including in Georgia, Alabama and Missouri, directly challenging that seminal ruling by criminalizing abortions after six or eight weeks of pregnancy and imposing draconian prison sentences on health care professionals who perform the procedure outside of the arbitrary restrictions laid down in the legislation. Most of these laws define a fertilized egg as a person, potentially making women who have abortions vulnerable to being criminally charged with child abuse, homicide or even murder. The explicit aim of the laws, which are all but certain to be blocked in the courts, is to force the US Supreme Court to reconsider Roe V. Wade. With the addition of two far-right anti-abortion justices appointed by TrumpNeil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaughthere is good reason to believe that the right-wing majority on the court may be prepared to overturn the 1973 decision. Part of the demonstration in Manhattan Members of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) attended the rallies and distributed the statement Mobilize the working class in defense of abortion rights. The organizations that sponsored the protests are linked to the Democratic Party, which politically dominated the events. Many of the more than two dozen Democrats who are contending for the partys 2020 presidential nomination were welcomed to address the rallies, with the aim of channeling mass opposition to Trump and his attacks on democratic rights behind a party that has for decades capitulated to right-wing attacks on abortion rights, to the point where in much of the country, the right to an abortion is a dead letter for working class and poor women. Because of this, for example, Medicaid and Obamacare do not cover abortion services, forcing women insured under these programs to pay large fees out of pocket, if they can afford them at all. Obama continued this treacherous course, refusing to challenge court rulings and laws exempting religiously affiliated entities from providing birth control services free of charge for employees covered by the health plans. At the featured rally in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC, Democratic speakers included 2020 presidential contenders Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker. Hillary Clinton lent her support to the demonstration by tweeting, Speak out and fight back to protest the recent abortion bans. Senator Kamala Harris, another 2020 presidential candidate, tweeted, We will fight with everything weve got to protect a womans right to make her own health care decisions. But last year, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, declared that abortion rights would not be a litmus test for supporting Democrats running in the midterm elections. And the Democratic governor of Louisiana announced last Thursday that he would sign the anti-abortion bill working its way through the state legislature. New York City Some 1,000 protesters gathered in Foley Square in Lower Manhattan for a spirited and angry rally. Protesters chanted, "Pro life is a lie, they don't care if women die." The World Socialist Web Site spoke to Will from Queens, an office worker. I am for a womans right to make the decision, he said. The government should not be involved, and I am sick of the hypocrisy of the right. They want to control a fetus, but as soon as it grows up to be 18, they ship it off to war. A WSWS reporter pointed out that the Democrats shipped young people off to war as well, and Will nodded vigorously. Thats why Im a registered independent. The Democratic Party has become corrupted. Protestors in New York City Amanda, a dog-walker who works in Manhattan, is originally from Louisiana. She said: Im disgusted by this attack on women and the fact that they want to ruin so many lives. I feel personally offended. I agree with mobilizing the working class. Most of the time it is working class women that suffer from restrictions on abortions. Ashley Ashley, a team leader at an NGO, said, I am appalled by what is going on in Alabama, Missouri and Georgia. I am also disgusted with the idea that there is no exception for rape or incest. You need to trust women with their own health. We say it is New York, it cant happen here. But I am not sure about that anymore. If it was actually about life it would look a lot different. In our country we dont do well for womens health. I was just reading that Alabama has a high infant mortality rate, and there is a crisis in health care for women across the board. I was reading that roughly 70 percent of the population supports a womans right to choose. I personally am for Medicare for all. Even if they are not necessarily for that, across the country polls show that most people are concerned about health care. That should be the focus. Los Angeles A rally in Westwood, Los Angeles attracted a large contingent of High School students. One spoke anonymously, saying, This is a completely unconstitutional ban on reproductive rights and will make abortion inaccessible for the community. Its going to affect the poor and underprivileged like people of color the most." Anna Weiss, a high school student, told the WSWS, When I saw what happened I got very scared. It was terrifying to me. I was angry, hopeless, and having this rally here really inspired me to go out and show my support. "This definitely affects working class people the most. If working class women cant get an abortion, then it'll be harder for them to finish high school and college and be able to be successful in life. Nashville, Tennessee Some 200 people attended the noon rally at Legislative Plaza in Nashville. Representatives from Planned Parenthood and the ACLU spoke, along with women who shared their own stories. No elected officials participated. Allison and Raeven Class is definitely an issue, said Raeven Offutt, 25. If abortion rights are taken away, people with money may find a way to have safe abortions, but for the lower class, they wont have the means to have a safe abortion or to take care of themselves. We have people challenging our safety, our right, what we have access to, and thats scary. That makes me angry, and thats what brought me here today, said Kaycee Whiteside, 25. Ann Arbor, Michigan Around 2,000 people attended a rally at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Mario and Erinna came to the rally with their young daughter. Erinna said, I want there to be the right to an abortion. I think its crazy that its still something that should be debated. The protest on the Diag at the University of Michgian in Ann Arbor She responded strongly to the emphasis of our reporters on the question of class. Its expensive to get an abortion! Its thousands of dollars. And what if people need it for medical reasons? Mario added, Its about the money. We are electing individuals that are funded by the corporations. The US is based on capitalism and money. I agree that we need our own party. Mario and Erinna WSWS campaigners explained that the right to an abortion is fundamentally tied to the fight for socialism and the reorganization of society. The economy should be planned scientifically and rationally, Mario said. Gina and Andrea are graduates from Eastern Michigan University. Keep abortion safe and legal, said Gina. Otherwise, women will die of unsafe abortions. Andrea added, Also, there will be silencing of women who are victims of incest. An extraordinary bid by Swedish authorities to rush a hearing into the possible extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to Sweden has been delayed by a court until June 3. That is because Assanges lawyers have not even been able to consult the jailed journalist and publisher. The haste with which the Swedish prosecutor sought a formal order to detain Assange on trumped-up sexual misconduct allegations, further highlights the overturning of basic legal rights by all the governmentsthe American, British, Australian and Swedishthat are conspiring to force Assange to the US on bogus charges that could carry life imprisonment, or even the death penalty. Julian Assange The Swedish legal operation was brought before the Uppsala district court on the same day that Ecuadorian officials, at Washingtons request, carried out an illegal search of Assanges personal possessions, including his legal defence documents, inside the countrys embassy in London. This twin operation proceeded in the face of growing international support for Assange and the courageous whistleblower, Chelsea Manning. She has been jailed indefinitely again in the US for refusing to testify against Assange to lay the basis of fabricated espionage and conspiracy charges. While the Swedish move was timed to divert attention from the London seizure scenes, it was equally a legal travesty. It is intended to assist the Trump administration, just as much as the direct handing over to the US of legal correspondence and other material to be used against Assange. Swedish deputy chief prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson urged the Uppsala court to convene the detention order hearing todaywithin just two days. But Assanges Swedish defence attorney, Per E Samuelsson, successfully objected that he had not been able to consult his imprisoned client. Assange remains locked up in virtual solitary confinement inside Londons Belmarsh maximum security prison, after being sentenced to 50 weeks imprisonment on May 1 on the grounds of a minor bail violation dating back nearly seven years. Assange only skipped bail in 2010 in order to exercise his internationally-recognised legal right to seek political asylum in Ecuador. He correctly feared that Swedens allegations, now suddenly revived, were a device to extradite him to the US. Assanges Swedish lawyer Samuelson told AFP on Monday: Ive written the district court and said that they cant hold a detention hearing until Ive met my client and received instructions. Since he is currently incarcerated in London I havent even been able to establish contact over the phone yet. Prosecutor Persson told the court there was no need for more time for the defence to meet. So blatant was this abuse of process, however, that the Uppsala court agreed that Samuelson must be able to consult with his client. Nevertheless, even the June 3 deadline leaves little time for Assange and his legal team to prepare to challenge the Swedish application, especially because of the harsh conditions in which he is being incarcerated in Belmarsh prison. The Swedish allegations, first issued in 2010, were always aimed at blackening Assanges name and devising a mechanism to have him dragged off to the US. Like the Trump administration today, the Obama White House was intent on getting its hands on Assange because of WikiLeaks' devastating exposure of the war crimes, illegal political interventions and mass surveillance committed by the US and its allies in Afghanistan, Iraq and globally. This remains the agenda behind the revival of the allegations, which were finally dropped in 2017. Persson announced last week that Swedens preliminary investigation into Assanges alleged sexual misconduct would be re-opened. This serves the dual purpose of feeding the concocted rape witch hunt against Assange and of keeping open the option for the British government to dispatch Assange to Sweden as a means of effectively handing him over to the US. This may have legal and political advantages for those involved in the anti-Assange witchhunt. Legally, it could offer a swifter route to extradition to the US, via Sweden, and by-pass British laws that formally bar extradition to face political charges or the death penalty. Politically, it further smears Assanges reputation while allowing the British Labour Party and pseudo-left groups to cynically wash their hands of Assanges fate at the hands of Washington. Many corporate media outlets reported that Sweden had filed a request for Assanges arrest on rape charges. This is doubly false. Assange has never been charged with any crime in Sweden. In fact, the June 3 hearing will decide whether or not to file a request for arrest. This could give Assange some opportunity to start fighting the sexual misconduct allegations, which he strenuously denies, in the Swedish courts. Assanges Ecuadorian lawyer, Carlos Poveda, further pointed out that the Swedish prosecutors claim, to be reopening the case because the previous investigation could not be continued, was false. It is not correct to say that it was impossible to carry out investigations, Poveda told reporters. He recalled that about three years ago cooperation was forged between the Swedish and Ecuadorian authorities to carry out inquiries about the case, so the investigation doors were completely open. Documents obtained in 2017 and 2018, via a freedom of information case pursued by the Italian journalist Stefania Maurizi, revealed two damning facts about the conspiracy against Assange. The first was that Britains Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) insisted in 2010 and 2011 that the Swedish authorities reject Assanges offer for them to question him in Britain, or via video link, about the allegations, rather than seek an extradition arrest warrant. The second is that Swedish prosecutors attempted to drop extradition proceedings against Assange as early as 2013, four years before they formally abandoned proceedings in 2017. The CPS, however, dissuaded them from doing so. The CPS lawyer handling the case, who has since retired, wrote: Dont you dare get cold feet!!! On Monday, more than 600 teachers in the New Haven School District of Union City and South Hayward in Northern California went on strike demanding higher pay and increased funding for public education. The strike is part of the growing wave of teachers strikes across the United States and internationally. The unions, headed by the National Educators Association (NEA) and the American Federation for Teachers (AFT), have done everything in their power over the past fifteen months to isolate each strike and shut it down before it could build into a broader movement. The California Teachers Association (CTA) is today carrying out a Day of Action in the state capital of Sacramento, attempting to channel the growing struggles of teachers and students behind appeals to the Democratic Party, which controls California state politics. The striking teachers in the New Haven district confront the exorbitant costs of living in the Bay Area. A May 4 article in Forbes found that teachers across the US can afford fewer than half of currently listed homes in 76 percent of major American cities. On the West Coast, which has among the highest costs of housing in the country, the situation is even more dire. According to the Forbes analysis, teachers in San Jose can afford less than 1 percent of available home listings, to cite only one example. Of those teachers who do own homes, however, many are forced to seek second and even third incomes to meet the cost of ownership. According to figures released by Airbnb, more than 45,000 teachers across the US act as hosts for the company. Hundreds of thousands more act as Uber or Lyft drivers or otherwise have some other sort of secondary jobs in the highly exploitative gig economy. The cost of teaching is also exacerbated by continually declining benefits. A recent investigation by National Public Radio found that California teachers must pay for their own substitutes when on extended sick leave. This often amounts to upwards of half a teachers wages or higher in a given sick leave period. As a result of this vicious policy, teachers undergoing treatments for severe and even terminal illnesses such as those undergoing cancer treatments return to the classroom early and against doctors wishes in order to pay bills. To make matters worse, many teachers, including those currently striking in the New Haven School District, are responsible for the entire cost of their health care premiums. New Haven teachers currently pay up to $20,000 per year in premiums. The New Haven teachers are receiving widespread support for their actions, echoing the widespread support for teachers and support staff in general. Most schools only reported 15 to 20 percent of students showed up for class on Monday, the first day of the strike. Attendance declined even further on Tuesday. The district is only offering teachers a one percent raise in the first year along with a 0.5 percent raise for each additional $1 million it receives in state funding. In other words, the California Teachers Associations (CTA) day of action, meant to appeal to Sacramento politicians, is being largely mobilized on the framework laid out for teachers by the school districts themselves. The unions treat the teacher strikes as either something to be avoided entirely or demobilized as soon as possible in favor of vain appeals to capitalist politicians at the local, state or federal level. In fact, the CTA and its associated local chapters are actively working to stop teachers from mobilizing a broader fight. This is precisely why the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA), called off a one-day strike only last Wednesday precisely because it would have joined Sacramento teachers in struggle with those of New Haven. Furthermore, SCTA president David Fisher announced that there were no plans to resume the strike on a later date. In the case of Sacramento, a district that serves nearly 48,000 students with more than 6,000 teachers and support staff, the strike was called off immediately before the school board voted on a financial report for the 2019-2020 academic year. The Sacramento school district was threatened with takeover by the County Office of Education if it failed to address a projected $72 million deficit while the union had called the one-day strike and a prior such event in April after the district failed on its promise to reduce class sizes in exchange for a reduction in teacher health benefits during the current contract. The SCTA has signaled in advance that it will not fight against any cuts in a new contract, especially after agreeing to significant concessions in the last. To add insult to injury, the SCTA called off the latest strike after the school board was able to temporarily resolve its latest budget deficit, saving $28 million through cuts and layoffs along with the use of reserve funding. The financial crisis is by no means over, however, with the board pledging to work with the union to achieve more savings before the final budget which must be submitted by June 30. Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon expressed hope that the union and the district could agree on further cuts before the deadline. I cant tell you what to spend your money on, but show me what youre willing to cut. Governor Gavin Newsoms latest budget, the first of his administration set to pass next month, in fact enshrines many of the public education cuts made by his predecessor Jerry Brown. To the extent that he has advocated for more funding for public schools it has only been in support of regressive tax measures such as Los Angeles Measure EE which institutes a new parcel tax in exchange for a thoroughly inadequate increase in funding for the nations second largest school district. Contract deadlines are looming at numerous school districts across the US, leading to the possibility of more strikes in large cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles whose contract already comes up for renewal in 2020. Las Vegas area teachers already voted by 78 percent to authorize a strike potentially involving more than 20,000 Clark County School District teachers last week. Over the past year, the unions shut down strike after strike on terms that resolved none of the problems confronting teachers and did nothing to address the crisis of public education. To fight to secure a well-funded public education for students and a living wage for teachers requires that the teachers unite their struggles by building rank-and-file committees independently of the unions for a statewide and nationwide strike. Just days after President Donald Trump threatened to put an official end to Iran, Washington has threatened renewed military aggression against Syria based on unsubstantiated charges of the use of chemical weapons in the military campaign being waged by Damascus against Al Qaeda-linked militias in the northwestern province of Idlib. The new US threats followed back-to-back closed-door briefings on the Iran war drive delivered to members of the US House and Senate Tuesday by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Patrick Shanahan, the acting US defense secretary, and US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford. The thrust of these presentations was reported to be a defense of the trumped-up intelligence alleging Iranian threats to carry out attacks on US interests or allies in the Persian Gulf region, along with the claim that the massive and menacing US military deployment to the region had thwarted Tehrans alleged plans. Even as this testimony was unfolding, the US State Department issued a statement claiming that it was gathering information about an alleged chlorine gas attack on May 19 in Idlib, combined with a threat that the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately. The State Departments missive included a denunciation of a continuing disinformation campaign by the Assad regime and Russia to create the false narrative that others are to blame for chemical weapons attacks that the Assad regime itself is conducting. This passage was no doubt added in response to the damning leak of a document prepared by a leading investigator from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concerning an April 2018 alleged chemical attack in Douma, a Damascus suburb, that was used as the pretext for US-led missile strikes against Syria. The analysis established that gas cylinders found on the top of an apartment block and blamed for the deaths of 49 people could not have been dropped from the air, as was alleged in blaming the Syrian government. Instead, they had to have been manually placed there, indicating the culpability of the Western-backed rebels, who staged the incident to provide a pretext for a US attack. The fabrication of new chemical weapons incidents by Washington and its allies in Syria would serve as a means of prosecuting the US campaign against Iran on another front. The threat over Syria follows Washingtons deployment to the region of a carrier battle group, led by the USS Abraham Lincoln, a bomber task force, including nuclear-capable B-52s and a Patriot missile battery. The carrier group has joined with a task force of amphibious assault warships carrying US Marines, warplanes and landing craft in a series of highly provocative war games in proximity of the Iranian coast, which a US naval commander said were aimed at increasing our lethality and agility to respond to threats. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has drawn up war plans calling for the shipping of as many as 120,000 US troops to the regiona similar number as that which was deployed to the region prior to the invasion of Iraqin apparent preparation for an all-out war with Iran. This military buildup has placed the Middle East once again on a knifes edge, with the prospect that virtually any incident in the regioneither real or inventedcan trigger a horrific military conflict that would dwarf the carnage of the US war in Iraq by comparison. Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif warned Tuesday that Washington is playing a dangerous game with its military buildup in the Gulf. Having all these military assets in a small waterway is in itself prone to accident particularly when you have people who are interested in accidents. So extreme prudence is required and we believe the US is playing a very, very dangerous game, Zarif said. Without any proof, Washington has attempted to blame Iran for the alleged sabotage of four vessels, including two Saudi-owned oil tankers, off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last week as well as the firing of a Katyusha rocket into Baghdads heavily-fortified Green Zone, which fell about a third of a mile from the US embassy. A previously unknown group on Tuesday claimed responsibility for firing the rocket, saying that it was in retaliation for Trumps issuing a full pardon to a former US Army first lieutenant convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for the 2008 extra-judicial execution of a prisoner, Ali Mansur Mohamed, in Iraq. Another potential trip wire for a full-scale war is the near-genocidal four-year-old Saudi-led and US-backed war against Yemen, that has killed an estimated 80,000 civilians, while bringing some 10 million to the brink of starvation. On Tuesday, both the Houthi-rebel movement that controls most of Yemen and the Saudi monarchy reported that an explosive-laden drone launched from Yemen struck an airport in Saudi Arabias southern Najran region. The Houthi-run al-Masirah television channel said that the attack was in retaliation for Saudi airstrikes that have caused the vast majority of the civilian casualties in Yemen. The Saudi regime branded the drone strike an attack on a civilian target and referred to the Houthis as the terrorist militias of Iran. In reality, the airport is the site of a military base from which attacks are launched on Yemen. US troops were earlier stationed there to aid the criminal Saudi-led war, but a Pentagon spokesman said that none were present when the drone strike took place. The claim that the Houthis are a proxy of Tehran is patently false, though incessantly repeated by both Washington and Riyadh. In the midst of the provocative military threats against both Syria and Iran, a bipartisan Congressional group comprising the majority of both the House and the Senate signed a letter to President Trump urging an even more aggressive policy in the region and in particular in Syria. The letter amounted to a demand that the Trump administration maintain a strong military presence in Syria, escalating confrontation with the government of President Bashar al-Assad as well as Iran and Russia and unconditionally supporting Israeli attacks on the country. It was signed by nearly 400 members of Congress, including leading Democrats in both the House and Senate. The letter was issued in the names of the Representatives Eliot Engel and Michael McCaul, the chairman and ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Senators James Risch and Bob Menendez, chairman and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. While briefly referring to the continued presence of Al Qaeda and ISIS in Syria, the letter centered on charges concerning the Iranian regimes threatening behavior and Russias destabilizing role in the country. It demanded that the administration increase pressure on Iran and Russia with respect to activities in Syria in order to stop the growing threats to US interests, Israel, and regional security and stability. The letter is a bipartisan demand that the Trump administration maintain the US troop presence in Syria, which officially has been stated at 2,000, but is undoubtedly significantly higher. While last December, Trump announced that he was withdrawing all US forces from the country, within weeks the administration backed off this position and indicated that several hundred troops would remain. Whatever criticisms have been leveled by Democrats over Trumps reckless tweets, the Congressional letter only confirms that the war drive against Iran is the working out of a bipartisan policy that has been pursued for decades by successive administrations, Democratic and Republican alike, to militarily assert US hegemony over the Persian Gulf and its vast energy resources, at the cost of millions of lives. Labors defeat in last Saturdays federal election has thrown the party into a crisis, characterised by bitter recriminations over the unexpected loss and open factional conflicts in the contest for a new leader. The election was a debacle for the Labor Party, which failed to make any substantial gains under conditions of widespread hostility to the Liberal-National Coalition government of Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Labors vote fell dramatically in regional and working class electorates across the country, including throughout Queensland and in the capital cities. Its support, however, increased in some of the wealthiest inner-city electorates of Sydney and Melbourne. Analysis by BCG Gamma, cited by the Australian Financial Review, found that swings toward Labor were more likely in electorates that had a median weekly household income of $1,800 or more. The Coalition won greater support than Labor in seats where a smaller proportion of voters held a full-time job or were studying. Julian King, principal of BCG Gamma, commented that while generational and other factors had an impact, income and education levels had more predictive power in determining the result. In other words, the vote was a repudiation by workers, young people and the poorer sections of the middle-class, of Labors claims to represent fairness. Within Labor ranks there has been incomprehension that the party could have lost what was regarded as an unlosable election. An anonymous trade union official told the Australian Financial Review the result was actually more problematic for the union movement than Labors defeats in 1996 and 2013. This one Im still struggling to understand, he said. What I dont understand is where to for unions and for Labor. The remarks underscore the disconnect and distance between the privileged Labor and union bureaucrats and the working class that has had to bear the brunt of Labors pro-business policies for decades. In the wake of the defeat, Labor has already signalled a further shift to the right. Senior Labor figures have declared that the result demonstrated that Labor had to rein in its already limited populist appeals. Labor-aligned pundits have blamed the working class for the return to office of the Morrison government, while desperately seeking to absolve the party and themselves of any responsibility. The anti-working class line has been most crudely summed up by the trade unions, which invested a collective $10 million on seeking to re-elect yet another big business Labor government. Hours after polling closed, the Queensland and Northern Territory division of the Electrical Trades Union issued a Facebook post stating: Shit result Australia you have voted for more hate more division and an erosion of workers rights. Good luck. Victorian Trades Hall secretary Luke Halkiari blithely stated that there was a bunch of stuff in Labors policies for working people. He added: Whether they heard it among the clutter of policy announcements Im not sure. Others have sought to lay the blame exclusively on the unpopularity of Labor leader Bill Shorten, and negative attack ads put out by the Coalition and various right-wing populists. In reality, after decades of Labor governments imposing the dictates of the financial elite, broad sections of the working class did not believe its phony promises over healthcare, jobs and wages. Labors health spending commitments, for instance, were minimal, and were spread out over six years, meaning that hardly any of the limited and inadequate funding would have reached a hospital in the next term of government. The party said it would subsidise a small increase in the poverty-level wages of childcare workers, but assured the corporate elite that the rise would be quarantined, so that the pay of other workers would not improve, amid declining real wages. Labor flagged deep cuts to social spending by pledging a budget surplus over four years that would be $17 million larger than the Coalition, and presented itself as a party of unity that could govern in the interests of big business. The result is a turning point in a decades-long rupture between Labor and the working class. Throughout the election, Labor and the unions invoked the legacy of the governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. Hawke, who died last week, was lionised by the entire political and media establishment. Hawke and Keating, however, in office from 1983 to 1996, oversaw the deregulation of the economy, the destruction of hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs and the smashing up of workers organisations, including shop stewards committees. This resulted in a collapse in the active support for Labor and the unions among broad sections of workers. More recently, Labor and the unions capitalised on widespread hostility to the Howard Coalition governments draconian Workchoices industrial legislation in the 2007 election. Labor and the unions pledged that they would guarantee your rights at work. The ensuing Labor governments of Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard proceeded to ban virtually all industrial action, slash healthcare, education and welfare, intensify the persecution of refugees and align Australia with the US plans for conflict with China, threatening a catastrophic war. As a result of this record, Labor is no longer able to make any credible appeal to workers and youth. Despite claims throughout the election campaign that Labor had overcome its previous divisions and established unprecedented unity, bitter factional warfare has erupted over the contest for a new leader. The two declared candidates, Anthony Albanese and Chris Bowen, have both signalled that Labors defeat will see it ditch its limited populist promises, stating their support for greater economic productivity, i.e., austerity measures and a stepped-up attack on workers jobs and conditions. Bowen has stated he will seek a blank canvas on policy development and tone down what he described as Shortens class war rhetoric. He would not spend so much time talking about the top end of town, Bowen said. Albanese similarly stated: We need to articulate how Labor vision will drive jobs, economic growth and prosperity. In an unusual move, Shorten, who stood down as leader on Saturday night, is reportedly campaigning against Albaneses election. At the same time, some members of the New South Wales Labor Right faction are supporting Albanese against their factional colleague Bowen. The divisions could reprise the controversy that erupted when Keating declared two weeks before the election campaign that the intelligence chiefs were nutters who had gone berko in a McCarthyite campaign against supposed Chinese interference in Australian politics. Keatings comments reflected the fears of a section of the political and media establishment over the implications of Australias unconditional alignment with the US confrontation with China, which could damage their lucrative trade and business interests. Keatings remarks were immediately repudiated by Shorten, who played a central role in the installation of Julia Gillard as prime minister in a 2010 backroom coup aimed at ensuring Australias complete integration into the US military build-up against China. Albanese, however, tacitly endorsed Keatings remarks, stating that they reflected broader concerns. NSW Right figures, who are apparently backing Albanese, also have previously voiced anxiety over the full-throated anti-China campaign. The intrigues demonstrate that various factions within Labor are desperately seeking to reposition the party, to advance the interests of Australian imperialism abroad and the corporate and financial elite at home. While millions sought to register their hostility in the election to all the official parties, the result is a far-right Coalition government, pledged to attacks on refugees and immigrants, tax cuts for big business and a deeper assault on social spending, and a Labor opposition shifting further to the right. This underscores the urgency of building an independent socialist movement of the working class against war, budget cuts, authoritarianism, and their source, the capitalist profit system. Rachel Kushner, The Mars Room, New York: Scribner, 2018, 352 pp. Rachel Kushners third novel, The Mars Room, concerns itself with depicting life inside a maximum-security womens prison in California and related matters. All the brutality and human degradation of Americas prison-industrial complex are effectively and memorably on display here. But artistic and other difficulties arise when Kushner portrays the broader situation outside of prison as little more than equally painful and miserable. This limits the truth and impact of the book. The Mars Room (2018) Kushner (born 1968) is the author of two previous novels. Telex from Cuba (2008) focuses on the lives of Americans in Cuba working for the United Fruit Company (the US multinational corporation infamous for its colonialist exploitation and political interference in the region) on the eve of the 1959 seizure of power by Fidel Castro and his guerrilla forces. The work has vivid descriptions of the lives of American managers and their families in Oriente Province in contrast to the lives and conditions of Cubans. The novel conveys a feeling of decline and finality not only about American colonial life on the island, but also American life in general. Her second novel, The Flamethrowers (2013), ranges across the history of the last century, from Milan at the end of the First World War to a Brazilian rubber plantation. Most of the novel, though, is set in the late 1970s. The main character, Reno, a woman in her early 20s, races motorcycles in Utah, moves to New York City and meets an artist who introduces her not only to the art world but also to Italian high society, from which she eventually finds her way to the Italian leftist protest movement. The figures and ideas that dominate each of the different but significant and volatile social movements or settings in The Flamethrowers do not make an apparent impression on Reno. There are oblique references to Andy Warhol, for example, but none of the New York artists has anything favorable or unfavorable to say about him, even in passing. The tensions present in the New York of the period only receive a surface treatment. We see a radical gang that steals food and redistributes it to the poor, but the near bankruptcy of the city several years earlier, in 1975, is not considered by either the author or the characters. As she does with the New York art world, Kushner depicts the tumult of the left-wing autonomist movement in Italy, but without adequate depth. She presents a hotbed of radicalism where there is oddly little political discussion. Characters are concerned with their love affairs, but terms such as Communist or Christian Democrat and the names of figures such as left academic Antonio Negri, much less Antonio Gramsci, Marx or Lenin, never come up, as they surely did in the intense political culture of Italy at the time. In other words, social life is also left at a surface level in The Flamethrowers and lacks historical concreteness and complexity. A scene of the looting during the 1977 New York City blackout resembles a street demonstration in Rome, for example: wild, spontaneous, elemental. In an afterword to the novel, Kushner explains that she wanted to conjure New York as an environment of energies, sounds, sensations. Not as a backdrop, a place that could resolve into history and sociology and urbanism, and similarly, she sees the Italian insurrectionaryfoment of the 1970s as a loose wave of people, all over Italy, who came together for various reasons at various times to engage in illegality and play, and to find a way to act, to build forms of togetherness. The Flamethrowers suffers from a haphazard and noncommittal treatment of the historical moment in which its characters live. The Flamethrowers (2013) At its best, there are echoes of Underworld (1997) by American novelist Don DeLillo (a friend of Kushners and an influence) in The Flamethrowers, but more in its form than in the greater accuracy and density of the history in DeLillos novel. The Mars Room, Kushners most recent novel, centers on Romy Hall, who has been sentenced, without a competent or caring lawyer, to two life terms plus six years for murdering a man who was stalking her. Romy narrates her life inside the fictional Stanville Womens Correctional Facility and her life before prison. We also hear from other characters, inside and outside Stanville: some of Romys fellow inmates, a killer cop in a mens penitentiary. Romys stalker has a voice, too, as does Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, an actual figure known for his anti-technology and anti-industrialization views backed up by terrorism. Kushner features the story of Gordon Hauser, a former PhD student from Berkeley who has taken a job as a teacher in the California correctional system. The scenes set inside the prison ring true with their picture of the authorities constant humiliation of the inmates. Some chapters simply list the restrictions on colors that visitors may wear. Inmates may not hold hands or hug, and a snitch is always present to tell a corrections officer if they do. When a woman dies on a prison transport bus, a corrections officer examines her and merely calls out nonresponsive. I dont plan on living a long life, Romy says when she is incarcerated, Or a short life, necessarily. I have no plans at all. The thing is you keep existing whether you have a plan to do so or not, until you dont exist, and then your plans are meaningless. Scenes from the lives of Kushners characters outside prison, especially Romy, make up a large part of the novel, and this not only rounds out and humanizes them, but also determines the premise of the novel: that there is a continuity, and even a causal relationship, between life in the US and incarceration. Romys descriptions of the disregard for justice by almost everyone during her appearances in court stand out. The author treats most of the characters compassionately (more so the women than the men), but she largely renders their lives cold and joyless in a manner characteristic of a good deal of recent American fiction that treats the lives of the most oppressed social layers. Even the lives of The Mars Room s middle-class characters seem stunted. Romy, for example, has a heroin-addicted mother and describes her youth in a morally and physically ugly San Francisco. Romy takes drugs throughout her youth (although she does not appear to use them as an adult) and ends up working in a particularly sleazy strip club, the Mars Room. The performers offer lap dances and are sometimes available for more. Family and friends are not a part of Romys life. It is the 1990s, though there is not much to indicate the time: no description of fashion or music, no events on the news. The character explains, in a typical passage: I said everything was fine but nothing was. The life was being sucked out of me. The problem was not moral. It was nothing to do with morality. These men dimmed my glow. Made me numb to touch, and angry. I gave, and got something in exchange, but it was never enough. I extracted from the walletswhich is how I thought of the men, as walking walletsas much as I possibly could. The knowledge that it was not a fair exchange coated me in a certain film. Something brewed in me over the years I worked at the Mars Room, sitting on laps, deep into this flawed exchange. The thing in me brewed and foamed. And when I directed ita decision that was never made; instead, instincts took overthat was it. Rachel Kushner in 2015 The women, the staff, the customers all live in an advanced state of misery. Romy has a child by a bouncer. The child becomes her one joy, but almost no phase of her life resolves itself into anything better. She is subsequently stalked by a customer. She escapes his presence and the Mars Room by making her way to Los Angeles, where she finds a sort of normalcy, but life overall is grim, and deep emotional attachments are few and far between. The author does not dispel the sense that Romy is somehow fated to be in prison. Kushner also relates the thoughts and memories of Doc, a killer cop connected with one of the inmates on death row in Stanville. From his maximum-security protective custody lock-up, he considers and describes the people he has killed. There is nothing about life in his police department and we dont get a sense of a police milieu, but we are struck by an extended memory of Docs as a boy when he saw President Richard Nixon playing the piano on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry in 1974, a few months before he resigned his office. It is an obscene sight and an episode from a cheap, false society that enters the psyche of the novelbut, to what end? Is this another example of a horrible America that produced police murderers? After Romy, perhaps the most significant character in the novel is Gordon Hauser, the former graduate student at UC Berkeley. Before he took a job teaching in prison to make ends meet, he was writing a dissertation on Henry David Thoreau. When he is transferred to Stanville, he lives in an isolated cabin, like the subject of his dissertation. But there is little genuine relation here to Thoreau. A friend tells him that he is living much more like the Unabomber, Kaczynski, and thereafter Kushner inserts selections from Kaczynskis journals as chapters (the journal entries are genuine: Kushner obtained them from her friend, artist James Benning, and they are published here for the first time). Kaczynskis paranoid and violent response to almost any irritation seems to stand as a symbol for the America outside of prison. Kushner, no doubt, is implicitly contrasting this to Thoreaus concern for the higher facilities of man. In a more compassionate scene, Hauser begins to research the inmates he teaches. He comes across horrible and stupid crimes, but he puts them into the context of poverty and abuse. But is that all there is to them? Are the poorest people in America foredoomed to prison or are there alternatives that might be revealed in a rounded and complex existence that is something more than dogged oppression and abuse? Kushner describes life in a maximum-security prison based on an enormous amount of research. She is a member of Justice Now, an advocacy group, and counts prisoners and ex-prisoners among her friends. Her sympathies are with the downtrodden. In one interview, she commented that no one I have met in prison had anything like a fair chance, from the very start of their lives. The weakness of the novel lies in the quality and content of the America outside of prison and how it conditions the miserable life in the penitentiary. Individual destinies recede and one sees a set of relations, an arrangement, a set of allocations, Kushner has said about prisoners in a profile in the New Yorker. But which relations and allocations? This requires a deeper, more complex and coherent approach to social life in the United States, with attention paid to the conflict between social classes and its explosive implications. Otherwise, prison and every other sort of barbarity afflicting the working class end up seeming inevitable and unstoppable. This is a dismal view of society, and although the author rejects the effects on the poorest Americans, no one anywhere in The Mars Room, incarcerated or not, has a plausible way out or feels much hope. Artistic decisions are made under the specific historical conditions in which an artist has matured, been educated and assessed her experiences and the world around her. Kushner, born in 1968, developed as a writer in a period of political retrogression: the Reagan years in the US, the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the suppression by the trade unions of strikes, the ever-mounting enrichment of a thin layer up top and the impoverishment of the bottom 90 percent, the ever-booming art market. The dominant irrationalism and postmodernism and the worship of subjectivism on the universities and in the art world are the principal analytical methods that have been readily available for writers to make sense (or not) of all of this. Life in America for Kushner is violent, coarse, primal and, in the broadest sense, unconscious and perhaps arbitrary or accidental. It is telling when Romy rejects books (gifts from Hauser) such as Harper Lees To Kill a Mockingbird and Willa Cathers My Antonia in favor of works by Charles Bukowski and Denis Johnsons Jesuss Son. A whole generation of artists, some of them with the best of intentions, lags far behind in its sensitivity to the deeper currents of social developmentincluding the inevitable emergence of mass opposition to the existing orderthat are beginning to assert themselves openly once more. Hundreds of salaried workers at Fords World Headquarters in suburban Detroit gathered up their belongings Tuesday after being told that they were laid off in what the automaker calls the final phase of its Smart Redesign cost-cutting campaign. In an internal memo Monday, Ford CEO Jim Hackett revealed that the company is on pace to eliminate 7,000 salaried workersor 10 percent of its global white-collar workforceby August. Some 900 engineers, managers, technicians and other salaried workers will be cut in the US this week, in addition to the 500 workers who have already been forced to take voluntary separations. This is only the beginning. Wall Street shrugged off Fords announcement and demanded more blood. On Tuesday, a Morgan Stanley analyst said Ford would have to cut another 23,000 salaried position to meet its cost-cutting targets. Ford is accelerating its global restructuring, with a new chief financial officer being brought in from online retail giant Amazon. In April, Ford announced plans to cut 5,000 jobs in Germany. It is closing plants or consolidating business operations in the UK, France, Russia and Brazil. It is also throwing thousands of workers in China out of their jobs after vehicle sales fell by 40 percent. All the global automakers are conducting similar job-cutting campaigns. GM is cutting 14,000 jobs, Volkswagen 7,000, Tata Motors Jaguar Land Rover 4,500 and Tesla 3,000. This will only be a down payment though if the wave of mega-mergers in the industry occurs as expected. This jobs massacre is being driven by the demands of Wall Street and other financial markets. Investors want the automakers to maximize profit margins and returns even as sales fall in the key North American, Chinese and European markets and warnings mount that trade war between the US and China could throw the world economy into a recession in the next six to 12 months. The capitalist profit system has eviscerated the divisions between blue-collar and white-collar workers by shoving lower-level managers, IT technicians and engineers down into conditions of exploitation and economic insecurity long familiar to assembly line workers. In a similar way, capitalism has forged a single international working class, which confronts the same problems and same enemy around the world. The increasing globalization of capitalist production has also created practical and technological means to unite workers in an internationally coordinated campaign to defend their jobs and living standards. The growth of the class struggle is increasingly taking on an international form, including the struggles of teachers throughout the world, the fight to defend the framed-up Maruti Suzuki workers in India, the revolt by maquiladora auto parts workers in Matamoros, Mexico and their appeal to American workers, and the recent international strike by Uber and Lyft drivers. Ford workers in the US have already begun communicating with their counterparts in Germany and the UK. These links must be strengthened and expanded. Salaried and production workers should forge new organizations, democratically controlled by rank-and-file workers and independent of the corporate-controlled unions. These committees should make preparations for national and cross-border strikes to stop plant closings and mass layoffs. This will require an irreconcilable fight against the nationalist poison spread by unions like the United Auto Workers (US), Unifor (Canada), IG Metall (Germany) and the CGT in France, along with Trump and the Democratic Party. The promotion of nationalism has long been the means through which workers were forced to take endless concessions based on the lie that increasing the competitiveness and profitability of ones own capitalist class would preserve the jobs and living standards of workers. The unions are not working-class organizations. In the US, the UAW is opposed to any struggle to defend jobs and living standards. It is a corporatist syndicate, controlled by wealthy and bribed executives, which has worked tirelessly to enforce concessions and suppress opposition. In the run-up to contract negotiations this fall, it is imperative that workers begin now to form independent organizations of struggle to advance their own demands. Autoworkers and all sections of the working class confront the reality of the capitalist system, to which workers must respond through the building of an international socialist movement. Plants are shuttered, tens of thousands of production workers, engineers, technicians and other skilled workers are idled at immense social cost. The savings squeezed out of the wages, health benefits and pensions stolen from workers goes directly into the bank accounts of the corporate and financial oligarchy that rules society. Over the last few years, GM and Ford have spent billions on stock buybacks and dividend payments for their richest investors and corporate executives. In 2018, US corporations spent more than $1 trillion on stock repurchases and that record amount could be broken this year. All the parties of the ruling class support the escalation of the attack on workers. While the Trump administration is a bitter enemy of all workers, it was a Democratic Party president, Barack Obama, who restructured the auto industry in 2009. As a condition for a federal bailout, Obama insisted that autoworkers accept tens of thousands of layoffs, the halving of wages for new hires and other concessions, while paying off the UAW by handing it control of a multibillion-dollar retiree health care trust. Social equality will not be achieved through appeals to the rich to accept a modest increase in taxes, let alone through the corporate-controlled Democratic Party. If the social rights of workers and their families for secure jobs and income are to take precedence over the profits of billionaire bankers and millionaire corporate executives, then workers must expropriate the private property of the capitalist class and transform the auto industry into a publicly owned utility, collectively owned and democratically controlled by the working class. The relentless and destructive pursuit of private profit must be replaced with a scientifically planned economy throughout the world, based on production for human need, not profit and parasitism. After decades of falling real wages, austerity and rising social inequality, anti-capitalist sentiment and support for socialism is growing. This was expressed in the comment of one salaried Ford worker on the web site thelayoff.com who said, There's a tiny minority of people in the ruling class, and all of us in the underclass. I just hope I'm still alive for the day when we rise up and topple them. The growing opposition to capitalism must be transformed into a conscious political movement. The Socialist Equality Party in the US and its sister parties in the International Committee of the Fourth International are fighting to arm the developing objective working-class movement with an uncompromising revolutionary socialist strategy and perspective. Andrew Scheer, the leader of Canadas official opposition Conservative Party, has used two recent policy speeches to big business audiences to outline the right-wing agenda of militarism and austerity a Tory government would pursue should it come to power following this falls federal election. Amid a sharp shift to the right within the Canadian bourgeoisie, including increasingly shrill attacks from big business on the Trudeau government for not fully matching Trumps tax cuts, Scheers pledges to step up military cooperation with the US, intensify Canadas aggressive stance against China and Russia, and gut social spending at home have received a warm reception from the corporate media. In his foreign policy speech delivered in Montreal on May 7, Scheer vowed to open negotiations with the Trump administration on Canadas participation in the US-led ballistic missile defence shield, which is aimed at enabling US imperialism to wage a winnable nuclear war. He then proceeded to denounce Russian President Vladimir Putins aggression, accusing him of turning the clock back to the Cold War. However, the largest portion of Scheers remarks were directed at fulminating against China, which he, together with a substantial faction of the ruling elite, feels the Liberals have failed to confront forcefully enough. Scheer argued for Canadas withdrawal from the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, pledged to launch a complaint against Beijing at the World Trade Organization over unfair trading practices, vowed to bar the Chinese tech giant Huawei from Canadas 5G network, and said a Conservative government would deny Chinese state-owned companies unrestricted access to the Canadian market. Canada-China relations, declared Scheer, require a total reset. Underscoring that Scheer, following Trumps lead, wants to put Canada on a war-footing with Beijing, he designated China as one of the three main threats to Canadas security and prosperity in the 21st century. The other two threats he named were Russia and state sponsors of terrorism, of which he claimed Iran was the prime example. The fact that, even as the Tory leader spoke, Trump was deploying a US aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf and vowing to wage war on Tehran should it attack US interests or those of its allies would not have been lost on Scheers listeners. Scheers demand for an even more aggressive stance towards China enjoys the backing of important sections of the ruling class, including Canadas two most influential newspapers, the Globe and Mail and National Post. This faction is pushing for an escalation of the highly provocative line taken by the Trudeau government, which, following on from the previous Harper Conservative government, has integrated Canada into the US military build-up in the Asia-Pacific and last year agreed to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) to make it a more explicitly US-dominated protectionist trade bloc, with China as its foremost target. Then, in December 2018 the Trudeau government served as Washingtons appendage in a dramatic enflaming of tensions with China by arresting Meng Wangzhou, Huaweis chief financial officer, while she changed planes in Vancouver. Canadian authorities are in the process of extraditing Meng to the US on trumped up fraud charges arising from Washingtons illegal economic sanctions against Irancharges which could lead to her spending 30 years in prison. A further intensification of Canadas already aggressive anti-China stance can only lead in one directionmilitary conflict. The Trudeau government has already acknowledged as much, adopting a plan in 2017 to hike military spending by over 70 percent by 2026. In her speech presenting the defence policy that outlined the governments plans to buy new battleships, warplanes and other weaponry, Liberal Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland identified Chinas rise as a threat to global stability and to the US-led, rules-based international order. But Scheer expressed the logic of Canadas turn to militarism and great-power conflict even more brazenly. He called for Canada to play an even more prominent role in NATO and demanded the modernization of the North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD), a US-Canada war alliance established during the Cold War to monitor North American airspace and prepare attacks, including a nuclear first-strike on the Soviet Union. He also called for intensified cooperation among the Five Eyes alliance, the global spying network led by the US National Security Agency (NSA) and that includes intelligence agencies from Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. This would require an upgrade of Canadas military equipment that goes beyond that ordered by the Liberals, said Scheer, including the procurement of new submarines. In concluding his foreign policy address, Scheer ominously declared, We must be honest with ourselves about the threats we face. Its why we must unite the forces of democracy and freedom across the globe to confront threats with greater resolve than those who pose them. And we must be ready to do our part, to back up our strength of our values with the strength of our forces. Even some bourgeois commentators pointed out in the immediate aftermath of Scheers speech that implementing the kind of wide-ranging militarist plans he outlined would cost tens of billions of dollars in addition to what has already been set aside for the armed forces. Scheer made clear how his government would approach this problem in his May 13 speech on the economy delivered to the Economic Club of Canada. Underscoring that the Tories will make sweeping cuts to social spending, Scheer declared, Under my leadership, any new spending not already budgeted must be paid for from savings within the government. He went on to denounce the Trudeau government for running bottomless deficits and burdening business with excessive taxes and regulations. Additionally, he vowed to deregulate the energy sector and weaken environmental oversight to make it easier for oil pipelines to be built to tidal water, and to lower business costs, through tax cuts and other handouts, to boost corporate competitiveness. Taken together, Scheers two speeches represent a declaration of war on the working class. Working people are to be made to bear even greater burdens than under the current Liberal government, so as to bolster Canadian imperialisms reckless drive to advance its predatory interests through aggression and war. That this agenda is advanced by Scheer should come as no surprise. His 2017 campaign for the Conservative Party leadership pitched him as a disciple of Stephen Harper Trudeaus Conservative predecessor, whose hard-right government shifted Canadian politics sharply to the right. Prime minister from 2006 to 2015, Harper expanded Canadas role in the Afghanistan war; sent troops into battle in Libya, Iraq and Syria; rebranded Canada as a warrior nation to fit with his right-wing nationalist outlook; enforced sweeping attacks on democratic rights in the name of the war on terror; and virtually abolished any right to strike for workers in federally-regulated industries. However, as reactionary as Harper was, a Scheer Tory government would not merely mean a continuation of Harpers policies. Since Harper stood down following the Tories 2015 election defeat, the Conservatives have shifted further to the right. This is exemplified in its demonization of immigrants and refugees fleeing Trumps vicious crackdown in the United States, a stance that has emboldened far-right and outright fascist forces in Canada to take to the streets. A Scheer government would come to power under conditions in which the right-wing populists Doug Ford and Francois Legault hold power in Ontario and Quebec respectively. Their governments are mounting a savage assault on the working class, which now will be joined by Jason Kenneys right-wing United Conservative government in Alberta, which won office last month. More fundamentally, the global capitalist crisis has deepened considerably even since Harpers decade in office. One expression of this is the promotion of far-right forces by capitalist elites the world over, whether it be the efforts of the billionaire oligarch Trump to build up a fascistic movement, the emergence of the neo-fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD) as that countrys official opposition, or the attempts of Frances ostensibly liberal president Emmanuel Macron to rehabilitate the Nazi collaborator and Vichy regime president, Marshal Petain. On the other hand, the growing war danger and ever worsening social conditions are propelling the working class into struggle around the world. From the mass wildcat strike by manufacturing workers in Matamoros, Mexico to Frances Yellow Vest protests and the working class mobilizations against Fords social spending cuts in Ontario, workers in every country are entering into struggle against austerity and social inequality. Implementing the kind of reactionary agenda outlined by Scheer in the face of these rising class struggles would necessitate a political regime far to the right of that led by Harper. Ultimately, the subordination of all aspects of government policy to the ruling elites insatiable pursuit of markets and profits, of which the imperialist drive to war is the starkest expression, is incompatible with democratic forms of rule. Major Spanish banks Santander and Caixabank, automakers Nissan and Ford and other multinationals have announced layoffs of thousands of workers. They are part of a global assault on jobs and working conditions. The state-sponsored redundancy schemes (Expediente de Regulacion de Empleo, ERE) enables companies to collaborate with the trade unions to regulate working hours, close for short periods and carry out collective dismissals. They were created in 1994 to maintain social peace by incorporating the unions still closer into the state apparatus while providing well-paid jobs to the bureaucracyduring the Socialist Party (PSOE) government of Felipe Gonzalez. Last week, Banco Santander announced it was preparing to lay off 3,700 workers, around 12 percent of its workforce and to close 1,150 branches (26 percent of its network). Santander is the largest bank in Spain and the fifth largest in Europe, with assets valued at 1.4 trillion (US$1.6 trillion). Earlier this year, Santander reported an 18 percent increase in net income for 2018 on the back of strong growth in the United States, Brazil and Spain. The bank reported a net income of 7.81 billion last year, compared to 6.62 billion in 2017. Santanders announcement came on the eve of the mass layoff negotiated between Spains third-largest lender, Caixabank, and the trade unions. In early May, Caixabank announced it had closed a deal with the CCOO, SECB, UGT, FEC, SIB and CIC unions to lay off 2,023 workers. Further job losses are expected after Caixabank merges with Unicaja y Liberbank. In a statement, the bank said that the cost of laying off workers would be 890 million, but in exchange it would save up to 190 million per year. On the same day, Caixabanks stock value rose by 1.25 percent. Both Santander and Caixbank cite organisational and productive reasons for the layoffs in their EREs, even as Santander had posted a 1.8 billion profit in the first quarter of this year and Caixabank 533 million. While thousands of jobs are being cut, Santander has distributed 4.7 billion in dividends and Caixabank 1 billion. Since the global economic crisis in 2008, 45 savings banks have either been taken over by other banks or forced to merge. Over 85,000 workers have lost their jobs and nearly 17,000 offices closed. Other multinationals have also announced layoffs. Japanese carmaker Nissan announced earlier this month it had reached an ERE agreement with the unions to cut 600 jobs at its plant in Barcelona, almost 20 percent of the plants workforcea condition the company demanded in exchange for a 70 million investment. Vodafone announced earlier this year it was laying off 1,200 workers, 25 percent of its workforce and supermarket chain Dia will cut 2,100 jobs after it announced it had lost 352 million in 2018. The Finnish company Nokia has announced it is planning 162 redundancies, representing 17 percent of its 915 staff. German chemical giant Bayer AG is planning to eliminate 67 jobs in Spain, one in 10, as part of its announced 12,000 job cuts worldwide. In Germany, it is eliminating 4,500 jobs. On Sunday, Ford announced it would activate its ERE at its Valencian plant of Almussafes where around 7,000 workers are employed. It is still unknown how many workers will lose their jobs, as the unions and the company are involved in backroom negotiations. The auto company has already said it will cut 5,000 jobs in Germany, close three plants in Russia, another in France and will also cut jobs in the UK. The automakers suppliers are also announcing EREs. According to Las Provincias, sources from the supplier industry point out that summer is going to be a key period for the application of adjustments in its workforce, which may exceed 20,000 jobs. These are only the latest examples of a process of restructuring that has swept major companies and the manufacturing industry in recent years, as firms have sought to offload the cost of the economic crisis onto workers by substituting older relatively better paid workers on more secure contracts with younger employees on precarious working conditions. The number of workers losing their jobs as a result of EREs has started to increase again after a fall from a record 483,313 in 2012. In 2017, the number of workers made redundant had fallen to 57,497 but rose in 2018 to 72,896. If companies can implement EREs it is due above all to collaboration with the unions. The unions even profit from each ERE, receiving direct financing for legal advice, which can be as much as 10 percent of the redundancy pay. This is on top of the large subsidies the unions receive from the state, regional and local government. The increase of EREs points to a looming economic crisis. As economic professor Gay de Liebana told La Vanguardia, companies see a storm is coming, and that is why they are adjusting now. The raft of recent job losses is further proof that increased exploitation of the working class is at the heart of the capitalist system, whether in bad or good times. The Spanish economic miraclegrowth is expected to be over 2 percent in 2019, outperforming most other European countrieswas due, in large part, to three labour reforms in the past decade that have had a devastating impact on the working class. The latest statistics show that unit labour costs in Spain remain 4 percent lower than they were at the beginning of 2008. Poverty and inequality are rampant. Spains Gini coefficienta measure of a countrys income inequalityis among the highest in Europe. More than a quarter of the population remains at risk of poverty or social exclusion and unemployment remains high, with total unemployment around 14.5 percent and youth unemployment close to 40 percent. The acting PSOE government, which recently won the elections but without a majority, is expected to form a coalition with the right-wing Citizens or pseudo-left Podemos parties or try to form a minority administration. Whatever the outcome, austerity, militarism and attacks on democratic rights will intensify. This is clear from the statement made by Manuel de la Rocha, senior economic adviser to acting PSOE Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who declared, I want to send a firm and reassuring message to investors and markets: The economic policies will continue. Fiscal consolidation, macro-economic stability and reduction of inequalities and very pro-European policies will be the priorities for the next government. The reference to reduction of inequalities is a fraud. The PSOE has already sent letters to the European Commission promising a new labour reform, cuts in pensions and more austerity. However, de la Rochas throwaway line about reducing inequalities performs a political functionto cover for a filthy deal with Podemos. Party leader Pablo Iglesias has been making constant appeals for a PSOE-Podemos government, saying that Podemos will not impose red lines or ultimatums in negotiations. Earlier this week, he insisted that he will not ask Sanchez for the moon, but a coalition government that guarantees social rights as spelled out in the Spanish Constitution. The UKs second largest steelmaker, British Steel, went into administration today, with the loss of nearly 5,000 jobs, mainly at its Scunthorpe plant but also at its site in Teesside. A further 20,000 jobs could go in its supply chain. The closure will have a devastating impact on the local area. Talks with the government yesterday over securing financial support failed. Although the company is named British Steel, a historic reference to the former nationalised entity, it is owned by the vulture fund Greybull capital. Greybull purchased the crisis-ridden Scunthorpe plant for 1 in 2016 from Tata Steel Europe. It branded its operations, centred on what was Tatas Long Products division in the UK, as British Steel. Just weeks ago, Greybull was granted a 120 million loan from the government to be paid back on favourable commercial terms to help it meet a European Union (EU) environmental bill over carbon emissions. The payments were necessitated due to the UKs delayed departure from the EU, originally set for March 29. The 120 million meant British Steel would not face EU non-compliance fines, on top of existing liabilities, which would have equated to an additional 600 million in bills. Greybull initially demanded a further 75 million loan from the government as a prerequisite to staying in business due to the adverse impact of Brexit-related issues, a fall in orders and an ultra-competitive global steel market, but has lowered this to 30 million. The parasitism involved is staggering. Greybull was demanding a bailout despite putting together a 400 million package, mostly from bank loanssupposedly to invest in British Steelwhen it took over the company. A further loan of 90 million was obtained last year. The Financial Times reported this week, Greybulls initial contribution into British Steel from its own funds was less than 20m, according to several people who spoke on condition of anonymity. Yet in the two years since, Greybull took 6m in management fees from British Steel. It also charged 17m a year in interest on loans it provided via a Jersey-based parent company, Olympus Steel, at a rate of 9 per cent Accounting records show that Greybull Capital partners, Marc Meyohas, Nathaniel Meyohas, and Richard Perlhagen, charged British Steel 3 million a year during 2017 and 2018. The Labour Party and trade unions will do nothing to defend the interest of workers at British Steel facing layoffs. Community union general secretary, Roy Rickhuss, dubbed the formation of British Steel as a new chapter in the course of the UK steel industry. The company was able to report a profit a year after Greybulls took over. But this was only due to a restructuring agreed between the unions and management in which staff were forced to take a cut in pay and pensions. In return, workers were given a paltry five percent stake in the firma stake that is now all but worthless. Greybull also formed part of the financial backing for electrical retailers Comet in 2012, only for the chain to collapse months later with the loss of 7,000 jobs. In 2014, it bought Monarch Airlines and imposed 700 job losses and other restructuring. The unions agreed to salary cuts of up to 30 percent and changes to terms and conditions for pilots, cabin crew and engineers. In 2017, Monarch went bust. The government stepped in to organise the return to the UK of 110,000 stranded tourists at a cost of 60 million in what was described as the largest repatriation since the Second World War. In response to the news that British Steel was nearing administration, the unions demanded the government and company act together in the national interest. The Unite union called for ministers to take British Steel into public control if a deal cannot be struck between owners Greybull, its lenders and the government to avoid the steelmaker collapsing into insolvency. The Labour Party took up the demand, writing that it had told the government that if a deal cant be agreed, it must prepare to take British Steel into public ownership to protect thousands of jobs. In real terms, this all amounted to nothing more than a call for the government to hand over more money to Greybull, which is cynically using the threat to jobs as a bargaining chip. There was never was any chance that the Tories would take any advice regarding nationalisation. However, any such capitalist state nationalisation would not be aimed at defending workers jobs and livelihoods, but to safeguard the interests of British imperialism against its rivals while imposing massive cuts on workers. Labours shadow steel minister, Gill Furniss, complained that the government had simply failed to take the steps necessary to ensure UK steel remains competitive. The Unite unions Assistant General Secretary Steve Turner declared, British Steels success is key to any future UK industrial strategy It is a national asset supporting UK Plc that cannot simply be left to the market. Continuing his nationalist diatribe, Turner complained many steelworkers will be questioning how Greybull could find the finance to fund the acquisition of a French steel works last week [Ascoval] while pushing British Steel to the brink of collapse. The Financial Times noted that what is driving the unions opposition to the 42 million Ascoval buyout was that it could be fitted with equipment to enable it to supply basic material to British Steels existing rail factory in France, in the process displacing metal currently supplied by the giant Scunthorpe plant in Lincolnshire that forms the core of the business. On Monday, Unite led the charge for a new charter being promoted by UK Steel, the employers body. This is to be based on the insistence that government and companies in the UK operate a buy British policy. Unite stated, We would urge the UK government to back this charter and use its buying power to put UK steel at the heart of major infrastructure projects and ensure projects like the Royal Navys new Fleet Solid Ships are built in the UK using UK steel. Such nationalist demagogy is aimed primarily at preventing a unified struggle by steel workers against job losses, pay cuts and speed-ups uniting British steel workers with steel workers in France, throughout Europe and internationally. Instead, the unions are seeking to convince workers to align themselves with British capitalism in its drive to impose ever-deeper attacks on workers in the name of global competitiveness. It means a fratricidal struggle between workers of different countries that can only benefit the corporations. The reactionary logic of this nationalist program was underscored by Unites insistence that the 2.5 billion worth of steel needed in the UK over the next five years included the building of warships. British Steel workers should reject this perspective. A genuine struggle to defend jobs and oppose closure requires the mobilization of workers through the formation of rank and file committees independent of Labour and the trade unions that would link the struggle of steelworkers with workers across Britain and internationally. This fight requires a socialist perspective aimed at reorganizing economic life on the basis of production for human need, not the private profits of the hedge funds and billionaires. A protest by tech workers in China over inhumane working conditions has gained widespread support from software engineers and others internationally. In March of this year a GitHub user with the name 996icu created a project named 996.icu. The project was named to protest the 996 work culture in Chinese tech companies. The name comes from the schedule of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. The ICU was added to illustrate that workers who follow this schedule run the risk of ending up in an Intensive Care Unit. GitHub is the largest open source code repository and development platform, which was bought by Microsoft last October for $7.5 billion. It has over 36 million users and hosts more than 96 million repositories from 2.1 million organizations worldwide. Unlike social media sites, GitHub is not blocked by Chinas firewall as it is the dominant platform for developers to collaborate and is a crucial part of Chinese tech companies daily operations. The 996.icu project has been starred (liked) over 244,000 times and is watched by 4,790 users, making it one of the most popular repositories in GitHub history. More than 500 users have contributed to a list of companies practicing 996 working hours. The list includes well-known companies such as Huawei, Alibaba, Baidu and Youzan. A project started by Microsoft and GitHub workers, MSWorkers/support.996.ICU has been starred over 9,000 times. The site hosts a petition in Chinese and English that is signed by 486 tech workers. The petition notes, Since going viral, Chinese domestic browsers, such as those by Tencent and Alibaba, have restricted access to the 996.ICU repository on their web browsers, warning users that the repository contains illegal or malicious content. We must entertain the possibility that Microsoft and GitHub will be pressured to remove the repository as well. The workers state that they stand in solidarity with tech workers in China and know this is a problem that crosses national borders. The petition states: These same issues permeate across full time and contingent jobs at Microsoft and the industry as a whole. Another reason we must take a stand in solidarity with Chinese workers is that history tells us that multinational companies will pit workers against each other in a race to the bottom as they outsource jobs and take advantage of weak labor standards in the pursuit of profit. We have to come together across national boundaries to ensure just working conditions for everyone around the globe, concluding, We encourage Microsoft and GitHub to keep the 996.ICU GitHub repository uncensored and available to everyone. Chinese labor law declares: The State shall practice a working hour system wherein laborers shall work no more than eight hours a day no more than 44 hour a week on average. Employers can prolong work hours due to needs of production or business but in general, shall be no longer than one hour a day or no more than three hours a day if due to special reasons. Technology companies have openly flouted labor laws in China for years. In September 2016 the classified advertising website 58.com officially declared its adoption of the 996 working hour system. Jack Ma, the billionaire co-founder of Alibaba and Chinas richest man called 996 a huge blessing and said, Those who can stick to a 996 schedule are those who have found their passion beyond monetary gains. The 996 protest is part of a growing movement of the working class internationally which is fueled by the global crisis of capitalism. The Nikkei Asian Review reported in March on a wave of layoffs across the Chinese tech industry. Tencent Holdings, which runs the social media platform WeChat, announced March 19 that it would demote 10 percent of middle managers for falling short of expectations. More than 200 individuals are affected, according to reports. Since February there have been reports that online game provider NetEase and JD.com, the second largest e-commerce platform, have also been cutting staff. US tech giant Oracle announced plans to lay off 500 senior staff at its China Development Center in Beijing prompting protests this month. As stated by the Microsoft and GitHub workers, these practices are by no means limited to China. Tesla co-founder Elon Musk recently tweeted that nobody ever changed the world on 40 hours a week. A Guardian article from May 2017 gives a glimpse of what this means for workers at Musks Freemont, California factory: Ambulances have been called more than 100 times since 2014 for workers experiencing fainting spells, dizziness, seizures, abnormal breathing and chest pains, according to incident reports obtained by the Guardian. Hundreds more were called for injuries and other medical issues, the article says. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos wrote in a 1997 letter, You can work long, hard, or smart, but at Amazon.com you cant choose two out of three. What this means for Amazon workers has been well documented by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Amazon Workers Voice. Last year saw significant protests among US tech workers. At Google and Amazon workers challenged contracts to sell artificial intelligence and facial-recognition technology to the Pentagon and police. At Microsoft and Salesforce protests were issued against selling cloud computing services to immigration agencies who were separating families at the southern border. Now workers at Microsoft and GitHub are taking a stand in solidarity with workers in China fighting against the super exploitation of transnational corporations. The confrontation between the Trump White House and congressional Democrats intensified on Tuesday as former White House counsel Don McGahn, at the direction of President Trump and the Justice Department, defied a subpoena and refused to appear before the House Judiciary Committee. The committee is seeking documents and testimony relating to McGahns interactions with Trump during the nearly two-year investigation of Special Counsel Robert Mueller into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 elections, as well as possible collusion with Moscow by the Trump campaign and obstruction of justice. McGahn figures prominently in Muellers report, a redacted version of which was released by Attorney General William Barr last month. The report cites his testimony to FBI investigators that Trump ordered him to have Mueller fired in June of 2017, and that when he failed to carry out the directive, Trump had White House officials tell McGahn to deny press reports about the incident. The Judiciary Committee is the body that would oversee impeachment hearings and make a recommendation to the full House of Representatives, should such action be initiated by the congressional Democratic leadership, which up to now has adamantly opposed opening an impeachment inquiry. McGahns rebuff to the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives was the latest in a series of actions by the White House effectively rejecting the constitutionally mandated oversight power of Congress over the executive branch and the principle of separate but equal branches of government. Earlier this month, the Judiciary Committee voted to cite Barr for contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena to turn over an unredacted version of the Mueller report as well as the underlying evidence compiled by Muellers team. Barr then boycotted a hearing where he had been ordered to appear and give testimony. Since the Democrats took control of the House in January, the administration has refused to comply with subpoenas for documents and testimony on subjects ranging from the Mueller report to foreign policy, immigration and environmental policy decisions, Trumps tax returns and financial records, and other topics. In effect, the White House is refusing to recognize the outcome of the 2018 midterm elections, which gave the Democrats a majority in the House. On Monday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., upheld a House Oversight Committee subpoena to Trumps accounting firm for financial records of Trump business entities. The White House informed the court shortly thereafter that it had filed an appeal. This unprecedented assertion of unchecked presidential powers includes Trumps declaration last February of a national emergency on the US-Mexican border, invoked to enable the White House to unilaterally appropriate Pentagon funds, which had been denied by Congress, to extend Trumps border wall. Earlier this month, Trump re-tweeted a suggestion by an ultra-right supporter that he extend his term of office by an additional two years, canceling the 2020 elections. Last week, the Washington Post reported that the administration was considering carrying out a nationwide sweep to arrest 10,000 immigrants, a move that would require mobilizing thousands of police and troops and imposing de facto martial law in major cities. The Democrats are warning about a constitutional crisis and the threat of dictatorship, but they refuse to seriously oppose Trumps authoritarian moves. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York ended Tuesdays hearing after 23 minutes, having denounced McGahns defiance as the latest act of obstruction from the White House that includes its blanket refusal to cooperate with this committee. He added that McGahns absence was an example of this administrations disdain for law. However, he did not move for a vote to cite McGahn for contempt, suggesting that such a vote would likely be held early next month. The fecklessness of the Democrats is bound up with the reactionary basis of their opposition to Trump. The Mueller report itself is the product of the anti-Russia witch hunt launched by the Democrats during the 2016 election campaign, based on the concocted and unsubstantiated claim that Russia was massively intervening in the elections to swing the outcome to Trump, who was a stooge of Russian President Vladimir Putin. On this war-mongering basis, combined with the promotion of identity politics, Democrat Hillary Clinton ran as the candidate of the military/intelligence establishment and Wall Street. The McCarthyite-style anti-Russia campaign has remained at the center of the Democrats opposition to Trump ever sincenot Trumps police state attacks on immigrants, his pro-corporate tax cuts and deregulation or his chauvinist America First policies of militarism and trade war. To the extent that they oppose Trumps appeals to far-right and fascist forces and his efforts to establish a personalist authoritarian regime, they do so on the basis of full-throated support for the FBI, the CIA and the military. They are no less fearful than Trump and the Republicans of the rising wave of working class struggles against social inequality and the growing popular hostility to capitalism and interest in socialism. The Democratic leadership is intimidated by the prospect of Trump responding to a serious challenge to his authoritarian actions by calling for an extra-constitutional mobilization of his far-right supporters, which would then trigger mass counterdemonstrations by workers and young people and a potential challenge to the capitalist system as a whole. That is why House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her top lieutenants continue to oppose any move toward impeachment, even as increasing numbers of congressional Democrats, including members of the House leadership and Judiciary Committee members, are urging the initial step of launching an impeachment inquiry. Within this group, there is growing concern that the party as a whole is being discredited by the cowardice and duplicity of its response to Trumps anti-democratic offensive. According to press reports, two internal meetings of House Democrats on Monday night, following McGahns announcement that he would boycott Tuesdays hearing, saw heated disputes over the impeachment question. The Washington Post reported that at a meeting in Pelosis office, at least five members of her leadership team pressed her to launch an impeachment inquiry. These included four members of the Judiciary Committee. Several hours later, Judiciary Committee Chairman Nadler met with Pelosi and argued in favor of starting an inquiry. Pelosi shot down these proposals. But at a meeting of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, Representative Steve Cohen of Tennessee stood up and demanded Trumps impeachment. Pelosi reportedly replied, This isnt about politics at all. Its about patriotism. Earlier this month, Pelosi declared her opposition to impeachment on the grounds of national unity. She said: We are onethat oneness that keeps us together as a nation is a compelling imperative for me and the House Democratic leadership. Impeachment is a very divisive course of action to take. On Tuesday, with more House Democrats calling for an impeachment inquiry, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said Trump was conducting one of the biggest cover-ups of any administration in the history of the United States, and then added on impeachment, I dont think were there at this point in time. Pelosi has called a meeting for Wednesday morning of the House Democratic caucus to discuss the issue. In Trump, the working class faces an implacable and dangerous enemy. But it cannot mobilize a struggle against him and defend its democratic and social rights by relying on or attempting to pressure the Democratic Party. Even in the event that Trump were to be removed by means of impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate, the result would be an administration of the no less reactionary vice president, Mike Pence. And to the extent that the Democrats were in the forefront of such a transition, the result would be a more belligerent and reckless policy toward Russia and no change in the growth of social inequality or attacks on democratic rights. On Saturday, May 25, Sosyalist Esitlik (the Socialist Equality Group), the sympathizing group of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) in Turkey, will hold a public meeting to demand the immediate release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and whistleblower Chelsea Manning. The meeting is part of the ICFIs ongoing international campaign to defend Assange and Manning. On April 11, British police arrested Assange on bogus bail charges after the Ecuadorian government, under pressure from Washington, illegally ended his asylum in its embassy in London. The British courts have now sentenced him to 50 weeks of rigorous imprisonment in the notorious Belmarsh Prison, where he is being held in solitary confinement. He faces extradition to the US and charges of espionage that carry life imprisonment or the death sentence. Manning, who courageously provided WikiLeaks with evidence of US war crimes in 2010, was jailed by a federal judge in the United States for contempt of court for the second time since March, after she again refused to testify before a grand jury impaneled to bring frame-up charges against Assange. Assange and Manning have committed no crime. They are being targeted for exposing the illegal wars, mass surveillance operations and daily diplomatic conspiracies of the US and all of its allies. They are class-war prisoners who must be defended by the international working class. The witch hunt against Assange and Manning is a part of the escalating attacks on basic democratic rights, including freedom of expression and freedom of the press, around the world, amid the growing war preparations by the US against Iran. A war against Iran would inevitably draw in the entire region, as well as the countries dubbed by Washingtons military and intelligence apparatus as US imperialisms great power competitors, including nuclear-armed Russia and China. Hand in hand with an intensifying campaign to censor the internet, the effort to silence Assange and Manning is aimed at crushing dissent and preventing the development of a mass antiwar movement. In Turkey, a country neighboring Iran, building a mass movement against war and for democratic rights is of great importance. It must be an integral part of an international working-class movement on the basis of a socialist program. The freedom of the press in Turkey has been under attack by the Erdogan government as part of its war policies in the Middle East, especially in Syria and the creation of a totalitarian regime against the working class. More than one hundred journalists are in prison and large numbers of websites are censored, including WikiLeaks. We urge workers, students, intellectuals and all genuine defenders of democratic rights, to support our campaign and participate in our public meeting. Public meeting details Free Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning! Saturday, May 25, 3:006:00 pm Location: Mehring Yayincilik Beydagi Sokak, Guclu Ishani, No: 3, D: 4 Rasimpasa, Kadikoy, Istanbul Facebook event page May 18 marked a decade since Sri Lankas protracted communal war ended in the bloody defeat of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In commemorating the military victory, President Maithripala Sirisena paid a glowing tribute to the armed forces, which had just been deployed in its first major, island-wide operation since the end of the conflict in 2009. Sirisenas brief speech on Sunday at a ceremony in the grounds of parliament was dominated by April 21 terrorist bombings that killed nearly 260 innocent people. Attacks on churches and luxury hotels was coordinated by the Islamic fundamentalist Islamic State with a local extremist group, National Thowheeth Jammaath. Sirisena praised the heroic soldiers who put an end to the barbaric LTTE once and for all. But, after ten years of peace and harmony, there was an unexpected act of terrorism... He boasted that with 30 years of experience, the military will be able to end international terrorism. Firstly, Sirisenas claim that the bombings were unexpected is an outright lie. The security forces had been warned in advance by an Indian intelligence agency of the planned attacks including some of the specific targets on Easter Sunday. The warning was ignored and the bombings allowed to happen. No one has plausibly explained why. Sirisena and the government, however, have seized on the attack to impose a state of emergency giving sweeping powers to the military and police. In the name of fighting international terrorism, tens of thousands of troops and police officers have been deployed across the island. At the same time, the media and political establishment are whipping up a vicious anti-Muslim campaign aimed at intimidating Muslims and dividing the working class. Above all, these police state measures are aimed against the working class, which has increasingly come into struggle against the governments attacks on living conditions. The claim that peace and harmony have prevailed over the past ten years is absurd. Sirisena was a senior minister in the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse, which, immediately after the LTTEs defeat, declared an economic war. The island was devastated economically by nearly three decades of bloody civil war, which was compounded by the global financial crisis of 2008-09. The economic war was above all directed at imposing the economic burdens onto the working class through the implementation of the International Monetary Funds austerity agenda. The mass opposition that emerged was channelled into ousting Rajapakse in the regime-change operation orchestrated by Washington in 2015 that brought Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe to power. The US had backed the communal war and Rajapakses autocratic rule, but opposed his close relations with Beijing. It sought to integrate Sri Lanka into its war preparations against China, and Sirisena and Wickremesinghe fell into line. Four years on, the mass struggles of workers, young people and the poor have erupted to the surface and fuelled bitter infighting in the competing factions of the ruling class led by Sirisena, Wickremesinghe and Rajapakse. Whatever their differences, however, they all support the mobilization of the military on the pretext of fighting international terrorism to prepare for class war against working people. In order to fight these police state measures, workers and youth must be politically equipped, particularly with the lessons of the countrys bloody civil war. Sirisena, like the entire Colombo establishment, treats the war in chauvinist terms as the consequence of LTTE terrorism. In reality, the civil war was the culmination of systematic official discrimination against the Tamil minority since Sri Lankas formal independence in 1948. Incapable of addressing demands for democratic and social rights, the ruling class in Colombo resorted to anti-Tamil chauvinism to divide working people along ethnic lines. One of the first actions of the United National Party government in 1948 was to strip a million Tamil plantation workers of their citizenship rights. In the wake of the 1953 Hartal that brought the UNP government to its knees, the ruling class turned to the Sinhala supremacism of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), which won power in 1956. The SLFP implemented its Sinhala-only language policy and in 1972 the SLFP-led government elevated Buddhism to a state religion, thereby reducing Tamils to the status of second-class citizens. Amid another crisis produced by the economic collapse of the mid-1970s, the UNP led by J. R. Jayawardene won power in 1977, and was among the first governments in the world to implement open market policies that had a devastating impact on the working class. Facing rising opposition, Jayawardene changed the constitution to vest autocratic powers in an executive president, and at the same time staged anti-Tamil provocations. Following the killing of 13 soldiers in July 1983, the UNP government unleashed a devastating island-wide anti-Tamil pogrom that killed hundreds, and declared war on the LTTE. The war against the LTTE terrorists was above all a war against the working class. Starting with Jayawardene, successive governments exploited the war to drastically slash social basic rights, including to free education, free health service and price subsidies for the poor. Privatisations in the state sector led to massive job losses. The war was also used to justify police-state measures that were used against workers. While it claimed to be fighting for the democratic rights of Tamils, the LTTE was a bourgeois party that represented the interests of the Tamil elites. It aimed to win the backing of the imperialist powers to establish an independent Tamil state where the bourgeoisie could offer up workers as cheap labour for foreign investors. The LTTEs defeat was above all a consequence of its political bankruptcy. As the Sri Lankan military closed in, it was incapable of making any appeal to the working class in Sri Lanka, Asia or internationally for support. Instead it was reduced to making pathetic appeals to the very powers that were providing political, financial and military support for the Rajapakse governments brutal war. The conflict left the island in ruins, with more than 100,000 dead, mostly Tamils, and many more suffering psychological and physical injuries. A UN report found that, in the final weeks of the war, the military massacred more than 40,000 Tamil civilians. Sirisena and Wickremesinghe, with the backing of the US, has blocked any investigation and prosecution of these war crimes. Nearly 300,000 people were herded to military controlled detention centres. Another 12,000 young men and women were seized and held in so-called rehabilitation camps where they were subject to torture and brain washing. Many disappeared without any trace. Several hundred are still in prison. The north and east of the island is still under military occupation by hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Thousands of Tamils still live in miserable conditions in makeshift camps without basic facilities. They have lost their businesses and occupations. Most of the land seized by the armed forces during the war has not been returned to its owners. About 90,000 war widows struggle each day to maintain their families without any real income. So much for Sirisenas ten years of peace and harmony. Now the entire political establishment is preparing another bogus war on terror which, in the first instance, is targeting the islands Muslims, but will be used to suppress the opposition of the working class. Very quickly, the police-state measures, built up and honed in 30 years of vicious communal war, have been activated and enforced throughout the island. The Tamil bourgeoisie has immediately fallen into line. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), which acted as the LTTEs mouthpiece, turned rapidly to the right after the end of war. It fully supports the imposition of emergency rule, and even demands the government not withdraw the military from the north and east because of the supposed danger of terrorist attacks. Like its Sinhala counterparts in Colombo, the TNA fears above all a rising movement of the working class. The overriding political lesson for workers is that they cannot defend their social and democratic rights if they are divided. The poisonous propaganda pumped out by the media and bourgeois political parties that seeks to set worker against worker on the basis of language and religion must be rejected. Workers face a common enemy in the exploiting class, the bourgeoisie, which will stop at nothing to maintain its power and wealth. The working class can only fight for its class interests by building a unified political movement, independent of all of the parties of the bourgeoisie, in the struggle to overturn capitalism and establish a workers and peasants government to implement socialist policies. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) fights for a Sri Lanka-Eelam Socialist Republic as an integral part of the struggle for socialism throughout South Asia and internationally. We urge you to join the SEP and build it as the revolutionary leadership necessary to lead the struggles ahead. According to media reports, the Stalinist Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM will be fortunate if it retains the two West Bengal Lok Sabha seats that it currently holds when the votes in Indias multi-phase national election are tabulated this Thursday. Not only has the CPMs traditional electoral base among the working class and rural poor hemorrhaged as a consequence of its role in implementing pro-market policies that have made India a cheap-labour haven for global capital and one of the worlds most unequal societies, the CPM is in the midst of an organizational collapse. According to its own admission, the CPMs West Bengal unit has lost almost 40 percent of its membership since 2010, and its once sizable apparatus is disintegrating, with party workers and even leaders deserting for the right-wing Trinamool Congress Party and, most tellingly, for the Hindu supremacist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Two former CPM members of the West Bengal state assemblyMafuga Kutan and Khagen Murmuare seeking election to the Lok Sabha under the BJPs banner; and across Indias fourth most populous state, hundreds if not thousands of former CPM workers have similarly defected to the BJP and are now providing muscle on the ground for the far-right party that has formed Indias national government since 2014, but which until recently was only a marginal force in West Bengal. There are also widespread media claims that current low-level CPM cadre, with the connivance of a section of higher-up leaders, are assisting the BJP election campaign, so as to weaken West Bengals ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Since ousting the Left Front in 2011, the TMC has used its control of the state apparatus to mount a campaign of violence and intimidation against the CPM, and supporters of the other components of the CPM-led Left Front, that has resulted in dozens of deaths. The CPM leadership vehemently denies the claims its activists are conniving with the BJP. A few corporate funded print media houses are publishing cooked up articles (alleging) that the Left cadres are helping BJP in its fight against Trinamool, complained the CPMs English-language weekly, Peoples Democracy . But already in the 2018 panchayat (local) elections, CPM cadres in some areas struck no-contest agreements with the BJP, as CPM Nadia district secretary and state committee member Sumit De conceded, telling the Times of India, Yes, there have been adjustments at the grassroots level. In many seats as the villagers had wanted one-to-one fight, we had to respect it. For his part, CPM Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty dismissed the CPM-BJP collaboration in 2018 as a few isolated instances. What is incontrovertible is that the CPMs pro-capitalist politicsits support for and implementation of big business neo-liberal economic reform agenda and support for the Indian bourgeoisies great-power ambitions, including in its reactionary strategic rivalry with Pakistanhave helped pave the way for the growth of virulently right-wing forces both in the form of the TMC and the BJP, including within its own politically debased and corrupt ranks. Needless to say, the Stalinists can provide no serious explanation for how people whom it promoted as communist legislators, veritable tribunes of the oppressed, are now to be found in the front ranks of the BJPa party the CPM decries as fascist and which, in the name of countering, the Stalinists have justified time and again subordinating the working class to the big business Congress Party and various regional and caste-ist parties. In fact, it is precisely the Stalinists suppression of the class struggletheir preventing of the working class from advancing its own socialist program and rallying the toilers behind it against all sections of the Indian bourgeoisiethat has provided the political terrain for the BJP to grow, by exploiting the social frustration and despair produced by mounting economic insecurity and social inequality. As for Khutan, the CPM legislator now standing for the BJP in the Jangipur Lok Sabha seat, she presents her defection to a party that combines Hindu supremacism with slavish support for big business and which, following on from the previous Congress-led government, has transformed India into a frontline state in the Washingtons military-security offensive against China, in the most matter of fact way. There is a leadership vacuum in the (CPM) after many leaders shifted to the BJP or the TMC, Khutan told The Print. Besides local leaders, hordes of grassroots workers across different levels have left, leaving the party in total disarray. I joined the BJP because there is nobody to give any direction, no strategy on how the party plans to take on the TMC. Khutans comments and the claims of the former CPM activists who have exchanged their red flags for the saffron banners of the Hindu right that they are embracing the BJP to oppose the TMC and shield themselves from its violence only serve to highlight the political collapse of the CPM and its role as a corrupt appendage of the Indian ruling class. So discredited are the Stalinists and so alienated from the working class and toilers, they could make no credible appeal for support from them in the face of the violence of the TMC. The defection of much of the CPM apparatus to either the TMC or the BJP exposes it to have been nothing more than a corrupt patronage networkone which itself deployed goon violence against working people as in the case of the violent November 2007 attack on peasants protesting against the Left Front governments pro-big business policies. Once shorn, as a result of the Left Fronts loss of power, of access to pelf and power and the protection of the West Bengal government-controlled security forces, the CPM grassroots network disintegrated. For decades, West Bengal was the principal bastion of the CPM, providing the Stalinists through their control of the state government and the sizable numbers of MPs West Bengal sent to New Delhi with a significant place in the Indian bourgeois political establishment. For 34 years, ending in 2011, the CPM-led Left Front formed West Bengals state government uninterruptedly. When it first came to power in 1977, the Left Front instituted land and other limited reforms, securing a solid base of electoral support in rural West Bengal. But with the Stalinist bureaucracy restoring capitalism in the Soviet Union and the Indian bourgeoisie abandoning its state-led capitalist development project in favor of forging a new alliance with imperialism based on transforming India into a cheap labour haven for foreign capital, the CPM lurched further right. It abandoned it national-reformist program in favour of the implementation of socially incendiary pro-investor policies. West Bengal Chief Minister and CPM Politburo member Jyoti Basu crassly justified the CPMs drive to woo investors, with his infamous dismissal of socialism as a far off cry. But it was his successor and disciple, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, who in the first decade of the current century came into open conflict with West Bengals workers and toilers as he ruthlessly pursued pro-big business policies, closing down public sector units, setting up Special Economic Zones, and outlawing strikes in IT and IT-enabled industries. In 2011, the Left Front government was ousted by Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress Party. An anti-communist demagogue who previously had allied with the BJP, Banerjee was able to exploit the growing popular anger with the Left Fronts self-proclaimed pro-investor policies. Particularly important in this regard were her efforts, supported by the Maoists, to project the TMC as the foremost opponent of the Left Front governments expropriation of the lands and livelihoods of impoverished peasants for big business development projects, Since 2011, the CPM has suffered a series of electoral debacles in West Bengal. In 2014, the CPM captured just 2 of the states 42 Lok Sabha seats and its Left Front allies none. This constituted a net loss of 13 seats for the Left Front from the previous election in 2009, and 33 seats from the 2004 election. In a desperate attempt to avert a similar wipeout in the 2016 state assembly elections, the CPM for the first time ever formed an open electoral bloc with the Congress Party, long its principal electoral rival in West Bengal and till recently the Indian bourgeoisies preferred party of government. The maneuver backfired. The Left Front lost half of its seats, suffered a further 11 percentage point-decline in its share of the popular vote, and the Congress, although with a far smaller vote-share, supplanted the Left Front as the official opposition. Nevertheless, the Stalinists were anxious to renew their alliance with Congress for the current election. But the Congress rejected their overtures. This was both because the Congress high command knows full well that the Stalinists, as part of their reactionary Anybody but BJP campaign, are already committed to rallying support for the Congress wherever it is the BJPs principal electoral opponent and to backing, if numbers permit, a Congress-led government; and because they did not want to alienate Bannerjee whose support they would likely need in any post-election bid for power. 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. Yellowstone unveils strategies for decision-making Yellowstone unveils strategies for decision-making JACKSON (WNE) The federal officials who oversee Yellowstone National Park unveiled last week five strategic priorities that will guide decision-making in the short and long terms. New Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly devised the conceptual goals with his senior leadership team. Each priority includes measurable actions that will be refined as work progresses, according to the park. Its important that our priorities and actions are clear, Sholly said in a statement, not only to the NPS team here in Yellowstone, but to ensure our partners and the public understand our direction in these very important areas. Yellowstones first priority is to focus on the core, which is, in essence, its workforce. Actions to be taken under the goal include improving employee housing, financial responsibility and developing more efficient organizational structures. The parks second priority is to strengthen its ecosystem and cultural heritage resources. Steps to be taken in this vein include planning for the impacts of climate change, shoring up historic structures, and integrating environmental and historic preservation law into internal decision-making. A third strategic priority is to deliver a world-class visitor experience. Yellowstone will focus on understanding and responding to more tourism, protecting people and resources, connecting people to the park and improving visitor amenities. Investment in Yellowstones infrastructure is the fourth priority listed. The goal is broken into four parts: improving the condition and capacity of employee housing, transportation infrastructure, historic structures and building an effective administrative framework. Yellowstones fifth and last priority is to build coalitions and partnerships, a goal that encompasses strengthening relations with gateway communities and establishing global partners. Man charged with murder in mothers death CHEYENNE (WNE) A Cheyenne man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his 80-year-old mother. If convicted, James Wallace, 48, faces a maximum penalty of life in prison or the death penalty. His mother, Carol Wallace, was found dead last week in the home the two shared. According to court documents: Laramie County Sheriffs deputies were dispatched to the 1100 block of Green Mountain Road, northwest of Cheyenne, for a possible weapons assault at 7:30 a.m. May 10. Glenn Wallace called to report his brother, James Wallace, was high on meth and freaking out, said he hit his mother with a hammer. When deputies arrived on scene, they discovered Carol Wallaces body in the basement on the east side of the home. She was lying face down, and deputies noticed what appeared to be drops of blood on the stairs from the basement to the first floor. A large hammer found outside the room where Carol Wallaces body was found appeared to have blood and hair on it, as did a knife found in the vicinity. During a May 11 autopsy, pathologists said Carol Wallace suffered blunt force trauma to the head and chest, a gunshot wound to the head and a cutting wound on the chest. Pathologists also identified what they believed to be several defensible wounds on one of Carol Wallaces hands caused by a sharp object. James Wallace had previously been arrested for domestic violence against Carol Wallace. He was released on bond March 25 in that case, and failed to appear for his May 6 court date. Gillette, Campbell Co. decide against opioid lawsuit GILLETTE (WNE) Neither the city of Gillette nor Campbell County have plans to join a nationwide lawsuit against a major prescriptions drug company after more than a handful of Wyoming municipalities and counties have joined the lawsuit. City Administrator Patrick Davidson said the citys attorney, Tony Reyes, has looked into the feasibility of joining the lawsuit but found that it wouldnt be financially beneficial to Gillette. There are over 2,000 plaintiffs suing one drug manufacturer and distributors and with that, its been a race to the courthouse, Davidson said. One issue with these class-action lawsuits is the first groups can settle up fairly effectively and then funds start to diminish. Davidson said Reyes and he looked at how the city could join the lawsuit, but the upfront costs and work from the citys side didnt line up with what it would bring in if it were to join the lawsuit. Campbell County has chosen to stay out of the lawsuit as well. County Administrative Director Robert Palmer said commissioners discussed it last year, but decided not to join because they were not sure what the benefit would be to the county. Green River joined Rock Springs, Casper, Cheyenne, Carbon County, the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the state of Wyoming in the lawsuit against the opioid pharmaceutical industry that was filed in Ohio. In total, there are more than 2,000 people, cities, counties and other entities around the United States that are suing Purdue Pharma and other drug companies for allegedly misleading the public of the dangerous and addictive qualities of opioids. Teton Co. provides raises rather than housing aid JACKSON (WNE) As Jackson Holes cost of living climbs, Teton County commissioners decided last week to invest more than $1.4 million in pay raises for all staffers instead of offering housing stipends. To me the goal is staff recruitment, staff retention, staff morale, Commissioner Luther Propst said. The best way to do that today is an all-staff increase. In 2015 commissioners agreed to a new compensation policy under which county salaries are calculated based on a comparison with those paid in a list of similar mountain communities. For each position that list is used to calculate the average market salary. Given Teton Countys high cost of living, commissioners decided to add an additional 5% to that market average. A consultants study last month performed the comparison analysis anew and found that 43 percent of jobs in Teton County were paid below that standard. As part of their annual budgeting process, commissioners voted to not only raise those salaries to 5% above market but go even further, raising all salaries to 7.5% above the market rate. The budgeted cost for that totals $1,414,588. Teton County Sheriff Matt Carr asked commissioners to budget $1,489 per month in housing assistance for all his offices employees, totaling $536,040 for the year. He said only four sworn deputies live inside Teton County, jeopardizing law enforcements response to emergencies when Teton Pass or the Snake River canyon close. But housing stipends, including Carrs request, didnt make it into the countys budget. After analyzing the numbers, commissioners chose the 7.5% above market salary approach rather than providing $500 monthly housing stipends to employees. Board of County Commissioners Chairwoman Natalia Macker said she was not comfortable creating different classes of employees. Science Initiative needs money to realize original goals LARAMIE (WNE) The University of Wyoming is likely to pitch for an increase in 2021-2022 biennial funding for the Science Initiative. The Legislature gave the program $2.3 million for the current biennium. If the Science Initiative is to achieve the goals set out by the 2014 report created by former Gov. Matt Meads task force, Science Initiative Program Coordinator Greg Brown said the biennial funding should increase to $7.7 million in 2021-2022 and then to $10 million for 2023-2024. The need for more funding for the Science Initiative before its namesake building opens in 2021 was a significant part of the discussions during this weeks budget hearings with four members of the universitys board of trustees. Brown, whos a botany professor and associate dean of Arts & Sciences, said the $2.3 million given to the Science Initiative has been used to halfway implement the Wyoming Research Scholars Program and the Learning Actively Mentoring Program. The research scholars program pays undergraduates, even freshmen, to participate in research with the goal of increasing the level of research experience for UW graduates. The LAMP program aims to train faculty on increasing the amount of hands-on learning that happens at UW. During the 2019 legislative session, the Science Initiative was given another $1 million in one-time funding for the current fiscal year. Almost all of that funding has been used to provide seed funding for 13 grant proposals. If all of those projects were funded, Brown said there would be a roughly 30 to 1 return on the states investment. States first solar power trade group forms GILLETTE (WNE) The cost of installing solar power has dropped 70 percent in the last 10 years and Wyoming solar installs have increased accordingly. In response to this growth, installers around the state recognized aneed for a coherent voice for the states growing solar energy industry. Last month in Casper, the Wyoming Solar Energy Association (WYSE) celebrated the industrys growth at its kickoff event, the Powder River Basin Resource Councils annual Spring Solar Celebration. As solar energy continues to grow, it is important for the solar industry to be unified, said Stacey Schmid, a solar installer and president of WYSE, in a press release. We need to make sure solar energy in our state stays locally based and helps our local economy. A trade organization created by and for Wyoming solar professionals will help to ensure that the state benefits from the continued growth of solar energy. To be a voting member of WYSE, solar companies must maintain an office in Wyoming. This provision helps ensure that revenue invested in solar energy remains in the state. If out-of-state companies want to be part of the organization, they can do so as long as they are willing to open an office here, provide local jobs and invest in Wyomings economy. WYSE will host educational events, provide information on solar energy, and be a part of the conversation around Wyomings changing solar landscape. Anyone working professionally in solar energy is eligible for membership. Islamic State's West Africa branch claimed responsibility on Wednesday for a raid in Nigeria two days earlier in which it said 20 soldiers had been killed, and released a video purporting to show the execution of nine other Nigerian soldiers. A security source and a humanitarian worker, both requesting anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to media, said insurgents struck the northeastern town of Gubio in Borno state on Monday evening, in vehicles mounted with heavy machine guns and on motorbikes. The insurgents and soldiers exchanged fire for more than an hour before the army withdrew, said the humanitarian worker, who counted the corpses of more than 15 soldiers. A Nigerian military spokesman said he would send a comment on the Islamic State claim, but at the time of writing had not. Nigeria has said the insurgency, and its rival Boko Haram, are on the back foot, as the sides engage in a battle of propaganda to show who has the upper hand in the decade-long conflict. The war has killed more than 30,000 people and displaced millions more. The Islamic State branch said in its claim of responsibility, translated into English and published by SITE Intelligence, that its fighters had attacked an army barracks and killed 20 soldiers in Gubio on Monday. In a separate video also released on Wednesday, Islamic State West Africa showed the execution of nine Nigerian soldiers. It was not immediately possible to independently verify the video. Before their executions, the soldiers identified themselves by their military service numbers, units and names. Some said where and when they had been captured. For others, it was not immediately clear. The video also showed Islamic State fighters pledging allegiance to the group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, along with artillery, tanks and boats it said it had captured from the military and attacks on Nigerian bases. Islamic State West Africa have made several claims of responsibility for attacks over the past months, which have often been verified by security sources and other people with knowledge of their attacks. Search Keywords: Short link: The Cave Church, located inside Gellert Hill, isn't your typical church with high ceilings and gilded interior. It has a unique setting inside a natural cave system formed by thermal springs. The cave, called Saint Ivans Cave (Szent Ivan-barlang) after a hermit who lived there and healed people, belongs to the Hungarian Paulite order. With such a historic feel no one would think that the church and the adjacent monastery was built less than 100 years ago. The church was founded in 1926, by a group of Pauline monks after a pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. Originally, the altar was located at the entrance of the cave and the congregation was seated outdoors on the terrace. This is why Cave Church is called Sziklatemplom ('Rock Church' or 'Church by the Rock') in Hungarian. Expansion of the cave and structural reinforcement followed throughout the 1930s. The monastery was also built around this time. During World War II, the church served as a hospital and asylum. After WWII, the monks were arrested and their superior, father Ferenc Vezer, was sentenced to death by the new Communist regime. In 1951, the church entrance was completely sealed with a thick concrete wall. A part of the wall can still be seen by the entrance. Cave Church reopened in 1991. The church was restored and given back to the Pauline monks and it continues to serve as a church today. Service is held three times a day. The chambers of the church are one of Budapest's most unique attractions. In the little square in front of the cave there's a modern statue of St. Stephen holding a church. There are also beautiful panoramic views of Liberty Bridge. Getting to Cave Church: The entrance to Cave Church is located near the Buda end of Liberty Bridge, across from the famous Gellert Baths. The large cross above the entrance can be seen from far away. Take streetcars 18, 19, 47 or 49 to Szent Gellert ter. MTI Photo: Beliczai Laszlo A small city in Pakistan has reported over 607 people have been infected with HIV, and 75% of those are children. According to BBC News, Ratodero, a poor neighborhood in the city of Larkana in southern Pakistan, first detected health issues with numerous children in February, and concerned parents took their kids to the doctors. Dr. Imran Arbani attended to the children, who were experiencing high fevers. After sending the childrens blood away for testing, the results shocked both Dr. Abrbani and the parents the children had HIV. The first 15 children were confirmed HIV positive on April 24, as Dr. Muzaffar Ghangharo, a pediatrician who first attempted to treat the childrens high fevers, wrote in an op-ed for the Daily Times. BBC News reports that in these first cases, the childrens parents were not HIV-positive, so it was not passed to them during pregnancy, labor or delivery. RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP/Getty Images) RELATED: 2 Test Positive for HIV After Getting Vampire Facials at New Mexico Spa As of May 20, 607 people 494 of them children have been diagnosed, after news of the outbreak caused families to rush to be tested at the hospital. According to NPR, the parents were quick to blame Dr. Ghangharo, who they felt failed to treat the children properly and could be responsible for their infections. Upon testing, Ghangharo was found to be HIV-positive as well. And here is when it was suspected that he was the source of spreading HIV in their kids through bad practices, Masood Banghash, a district police officer, told NPR. RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP/Getty RELATED: This Is How HIV Is Being Used by Doctors to Cure Children Suffering from Bubble Boy Disease According to the police, Ghangharo claims his infection may have originated from a blood transfusion he received after an automobile accident several years ago. On April 30, he was arrested based on the reports from the parents he was to blame. He is being held in jail until an investigation is completed. Story continues However, Ghangharo is vehemently claiming his innocence, saying in a video filmed in jail, I have been accused of playing the main role in spreading HIV. I am a qualified pediatrician. I had no idea I was infected. I would have taken treatment had I known I had HIV, he continued. I never felt any signs and symptoms. I am fully active. Also, why would I do this to innocent kids? What enmity do I have against these innocent children that I will infect them with HIV? Dr. Muzaffar Ghangro | RIZWAN TABASSUM/AFP/Getty RELATED: HIV Patient in London Appears to Be Second Person Ever Cured: There Is No Virus There All of the 494 children infected with the virus are between the ages of one month and 15 years, and the costs for the parents are proving to be insurmountable. For the childs medicines we have to go to Karachi, which means we spend several thousand rupees on each trip, a mother, whose three-year-old daughter has been diagnosed as HIV-positive, told BBC News. My husband is only a day-labourer, so we wont be able to afford this for long, she said. Britney Spears dad just made a move in her conservatorship case by asking a judge to extend the reach of control outside of California, and the move could have some seriously interesting implications. According to documents obtained by The Blast, Jamie Spears filed a notice Tuesday to register the conservatorship in states outside of California. [] Britney Spears Jamie Spears Britney Spears dad just made a move in her conservatorship case by asking a judge to extend the reach of control outside of California, and the move could have some seriously interesting implications. According to documents obtained by The Blast, Jamie Spears filed a notice Tuesday to register the conservatorship in states outside of California. The document states that Jamie wants the conservatorship to be noticed in Florida, Louisiana and Hawaii, but does not give a solid explanation as to why. Sources close to the conservatorship tell The Blast, Florida, Louisiana and Hawaii are the three states Britney travels to the most, and he most likely wants to make sure she is well cared for wherever she goes. Britney regularly travels to Hawaii, especially during the summer, and its possible while she gets her body in bikini shape, Jamie is thinking about keeping his daughter under control, even if she decides to take a vacation. Louisiana and Florida make sense as Britney and her family have property in both states. As we reported, the conservatorship is currently under a microscope as the judge in California has ordered a probate court investigator to take a hard look at the entire team, including Jamie. Britney is also ordered to undergo an evaluation to determine if the restraints on her conservatorship should be loosed at all. The post Britney Spears Dad Wants to Spread Conservatorship Control to Other States appeared first on The Blast. IndieWireFallTV With Disneys continuing cycle of live-action remakes of animated classics, the question invariably becomes: Is this really justified? While its been very hit and miss, thus far, in the case of Aladdin, director Guy Ritchie has made a much more engaging remake than the previous live-action version of a Howard Ashman/Alan Menken musical fantasy, Beauty and the Beast. The secret was providing greater relevance for today while staying true to the spirit of the original and yet opening it up in a way that plays totally to the strengths of live action. Chief among them was encouraging production designer Gemma Jackson (King Arthur) to create a whole new world that was colorful and diverse, which allowed Will Smith to be Will Smith as the beloved Genie, and empowered Naomi Scott to be a more politically active and ambitious as Princess Jasmine. Related stories Tripping Out on the Retro Madness of 'Maniac' and 'Catch-22' Through Imaginative Costume Design Will Smith and Guy Ritchie React to 'Aladdin' Genie Backlash by Looking On the Bright Side The biggest decision was expanding the mythical Agrabah into a trading port. Guy said, lets create our own world, then we can have everybody coming and going through that world, said Jackson. A trading port gave us that license. This not only established the political potential of Agrabah as a kingdom, surrounded by desert on one side and the sea on the other, but also benefited the power play between Jasmine and Jafar (Marwan Kenzar) in their quests to become sultan. Jackson likened Agrabah to Namibia, where the desert literally goes down to the sea and its astonishingly beautiful. The Agrabah sets were built at Longcross Studios in Surrey, England, and the layout was worked out between the art department and VFX team with mathematical precision. The rousing opening number, One Jump, was choreographed in a way that captured the thrill of the original in a more visceral way. Its a crowded town teeming with tanneries, rose water, and culinary delights. Jackson said she had to hang onto her vision without losing any of the necessary choreographed elements for the parkour-like chases and dancing. Story continues Meanwhile, at the Aladdin press conference on Sunday, Smith gave a shout out to Jackson about walking through her glorious sets: It was in the textures of the walls and all of that. And the stairs were real, he said. You could go up and go out onto the rooftop. It was a powerful way to transport the actors into the emotions and the smells of the time and place. But after researching Morocco as a potential location, Jackson was thrilled that they chose instead to shoot in Jordan. That was crucial, she said. Not only did it open up the film youve been in a town, youve been in a palace where theyre both kind of restrictive and then off you go [on a magic carpet]. It gives it that sense of breadth with vast areas of sand. Also crucial was the production designers inspiration for the palace: a Burmese monastery with a wooden structure painted gold. But rather than creating a mashup of different environments within the palace, Jackson went for a unified look that still conveyed the proper glam appeal in contrast to the rough and rumble market square outside the palace. It needed to have a more cerebral feel to it, a lusciousness, she said. The palace decor allowed Jackson to dabble in her favorite passions: Persian and Indian miniatures; Iznik ceramics; Turkish architecture and pottery; and Byzantium architecture. But there was a simplicity, she said. There were a lot of empty halls in the reception area and then the people that come in fill in the colors. They give it the energy. And there are two different princes with different entourages [Mena Massouds Aladdin, who pretends to be Prince Ali, and Billy Magnussens Prince Anders]. This complements Jasmine and the [pet] tiger. Jackson, who found the Disney animated original charming and beautiful, contributed a lovely inside/outside feeling to the palace. Sometimes when things werent working on the film, the solution usually was to go back to the original, she said. Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Daniel Dae Kim, best known recently for ABCs The Good Doctor, will join Anna Kendrick and Toni Collette in Joe Pennas sci-fi thriller Stowaway. The movie marks the second feature from Penna and Ryan Morrison, the duo behind the Cannes Official Selection film Arctic, which released earlier this year. XYZ Films and CAA Media Finance are arranging financing for the film, and handling worldwide sales at Cannes. Related stories French Producer Hugo Selignac Boards New Projects by Cedric Jimenez, Quentin Dupieux (EXCLUSIVE) French Animation 'I Lost My Body' Tops Cannes Critics' Week Winners The pics action takes place on a mission to Mars, where a stowaway (Anderson) accidentally causes severe damage to the spaceships life support systems. Facing dwindling resources and a potentially grim outcome, a medical researcher (Kendrick) emerges as the only dissenting voice against the clinical logic of both her commander (Collette) and the ships biologist (Kim). Stowaway will be co-written by Penna and Morrison, who will also serve as executive producer and editor. XYZ will produce alongside Augenschein Filmproduktion, Rise Pictures, and RainMaker Films, in association with Yale Productions. Kim starred in ABCs Lost, and CBSs reboot Hawaii Five-0, as well as films including Hellboy, The Cave, Insurgent, Mirai and Ms. Purple. He will next be seen in Netflixs Always Be My Maybe, alongside Ali Wong, Randall Park and Keanu Reeves. Principal photography for Stowaway is set to start on June 11 in Germany. Filming will take place at Bavaria Studios in Munich and MMC in Cologne, with funding support from the FilmFernsehFunds Bavaria, Filmstiftung North-Rhine Westfalia and the DFFF. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Daniel Craig Is Having 'Minor Ankle Surgery' After Sustaining an Injury on the Set of Bond 25 Daniel Craig is having surgery after getting injured on the set of Bond 25. In a statement released on the films Twitter account, it was revealed the 51-year-old actor would be undergoing minor ankle surgery resulting from an injury sustained during filming in Jamaica. Production will continue whilst Craig is rehabilitating for two weeks post-surgery. The film remains on track for the same release date in April 2020, the statement read. This isnt the first time Craig has been injured on a movie set. While working on 2006s Casino Royale, Craig smashed out his two front teeth during a particularly grueling fight scene, according to a report by the Sunday Mirror. BOND 25 update: Daniel Craig will be undergoing minor ankle surgery resulting from an injury sustained during filming in Jamaica. Production will continue whilst Craig is rehabilitating for two weeks post-surgery. The film remains on track for the same release date in April 2020. pic.twitter.com/qJN0Sn4gEx James Bond (@007) May 22, 2019 He was injured twice while filming 2008s Quantum of Solace and wore a sling during the promotional tour after he had surgery to repair his shoulder. RELATED: Daniel Craigs Latest 007 Wound: His Finger Craig told The Telegraph it was an old injury he had probably aggravated by jumping around on Bond movies. It wasnt an essential operation but if I dont do it now, I could do something on the next movie and rip it out of its socket, he said. Its just a pain in the ass, really, and itll be a long wait before it heals properly. Daniel Craig in 2012's Skyfall | Danjaq/EON Productions/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock His other injury involved his finger. It wasnt as extreme as all that. I lost the pad. Here, the actor told Playboy in 2008 while showing off a scab on his fingertip. This is after a months healing, so its nothing. Story continues He continued, I was bleeding a lot. I had to get it cauterized. Filming stopped and everybody went, Oh my God! He sliced the end of his finger off! They went looking for it, but couldnt find it. Craig also sprained his knee on the set of Spectre during the filming of a fight scene in London, according to The Guardian. He lucked out, however, as it was a minor injury and filming resumed within a few days. The latest movie is set to hit theaters Feb. 13, 2020. The closing line of David Milchs Deadwood movie is one of the greatest ever written. Part epitaph, part rebuke of that very thought, the ending note to Milchs long-awaited follow-up to an epic western cut short is every bit as enlivening, powerful, and motherfucking final as fans could want. Of course, the words wont be spoiled here, but the same encouraging sentiments can be said for the film overall, as a cast emboldened by grand dialogue and towering themes returns for a simple story, beautifully told. Given the brevity of the film, as well as its unencumbered plotting, here are the few details you need to know before diving in: Related stories 'Succession': Building the Unbearable Tension of That Memorable Boardroom Sequence 'Vida' Season 2 Review: The Insightful Starz Comedy Gets Down to Business The Deadwood movie picks up 10 years after the end of Season 3, as the citizens of Deadwood gather to celebrate South Dakotas statehood. These festivities serve to bring everyone back in one place, and all of the original cast returns for the film. Even some unexpected, once prominent actors make their way back into the mix. The sole missing player is Powers Boothe, who played Bella Union saloon owner Cy Tolliver. He died in 2017 after fighting pancreatic cancer. Whether you watched every episode of the first three seasons or are new to Milchs western world, you will find plenty to enjoy and appreciate about the Deadwood movie. It wont serve the same experience to veterans and newcomers, as its resonance doubles for anyone carrying endearing feelings for the characters, but it still works surprisingly well as a standalone feature. The rest is best preserved for viewing or the same as you remember it: Milchs gift for poetic conversation remains as enrapturing as it is remarkable. Only a writer so in tune with his characters, setting, and attitude could start an exchange with sewn to a moral certainty and end with the exclamatory cunt! Milch always knows how to spread vulgarities throughout dialogue for maximum impact, but its amazing how he can use such harsh language to endear viewers to the speaker instead of pushing them further away. Story continues Unaltered talent extends through the cast, as well. From Robin Weigerts jovial drunken ramblings to Molly Parkers deep, revealing stares, the performers slip back into their characters with ease and even ratchet up their focus to fit the occasion. Olyphant brings the burden of time to Sheriff Seth Bullocks disposition, adding an extra edge to a lawman whos grown weary of powerful men bending his regulations. There are moment with his wife, Martha (Anna Gunn) and lost love, Alma (Parker), where the former, more innocent man emerges. But Bullock is caught in a fight he knows hes losing, just as he knows theres no stopping, either. McShane, to compensate for his better halfs toughening, softens Al Swearengen into a more thoughtful but no less stubborn saloon owner. Still observing the town from his balcony and making plans accordingly, Al has nevertheless changed the most. The years have taken their toll on the hard-living hustler, and as Bullock charges headfirst into impossible odds, Swearengen slows down, considering the little shifts he can make to better his odds of survival, as well as his friends. Together, the two share a literal enemy and die-hard fans wont be surprised who that is but their more substantial foe is time itself. Its here that Milch makes an essential statement. Like the train rushing into view in the films first frames, some change is inevitable. Conductors could be swapped along the way, but the carried freight arrives nonetheless. Bullock, Swearengen, and the people of Deadwood have seen change already. From telephones to train tracks, theyve seen time pass by and have been waiting, like we all are, for it to stop. South Dakotas statehood always seemed like an endpoint for the series, and the film sees its arrival. Unlike other revivals, the Deadwood movie is not a continuation; its wise enough to acknowledge an ending when its arrived and Milch allows his characters to prepare for it accordingly. But that doesnt mean they have to like it. Theres something to be said for not going quietly into that good night, and Deadwood rages as ferociously and purposefully as ever never flailing about for show, or succumbing to the wishes of those who will live on after theyre gone. These characters, this film, and David Milch himself are here to honor the time they had by adding a brilliant final chapter in the here and now. This is not a passive, somber goodbye, but an active preservation. Think of it as a living monument, for thinking of it as dead and gone would be too cruel a fate for these spirited motherfuckers. Grade: A- HBOs Deadwood movie premieres Friday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET. Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. King Albert II, who abdicated from Belgiums throne six years ago, is facing a hefty fine for each day he refuses to take a paternity test to settle a claim that he fathered a child in the 1960s. Delphine Boel, a 51-year-old artist, claims to be the daughter of Belgiums abdicated King Albert II, and fought a lengthy and often embarrassing legal fight for public recognition. Should Boel prevail as a royal heiress, she is in line for a substantial share of the kings fortune, which is conservatively estimated in the hundreds of millions. She may also be entitled to a title, and possibly a distant place in the line of succession. She may receive it, but if the ex-King has his way, it will remain a state secret. Last November, Boel won a major court advantage when, after a five-year legal battle, a Brussels court ordered Belgiums former King Albert II (who resigned the throne to his son in 2013, citing ill health), to submit to a paternity test, by giving a DNA sample to resolve Boels suit. Former King Albert II of Belgium | Olivier Hoslet/REX The ex-king, 84, refused to cooperate and appealed the decision. But last week, his appeal was struck down in Brussels. (There is, however, another appeal proceeding to the nations highest court.) Faced with DNA evidence that industrialist Jacques Boel, the man who raised Delphine as his daughter, was not her biological father, the Brussels court decreed that in the absence of Alberts DNA sample, she would be presumed to be his daughter. In Thursdays ruling, the Brussels judge has decided to fine the ex-King $5,600 for each day he refuses to submit to the test. On Monday, his lawyer announced his intention to cooperate, but with one essential condition. His Majesty the King will accept the blood test, Guy Hiernaux said, according to the New York Times. Now that he is compelled to do so. He would, however, only do so on the condition that the results are kept secret until Belgiums highest court rules on the appeal against the order. Story continues Delphine Boel | ERIC LALMAND/AFP/Getty Local Belgian news media suggest the Court of Cassation could hear the appeal as early as December. The ex-Kings attorney, however, believes the process could easily take several more years, the Times says. Stories concerning the birth of a Belgian royal love child circulated for decades before becoming public with the publication of a 1999 biography of Alberts Italian-born wife, Queen Paola. The couple married in 1956 and had three children, including current King Phillipe. Boel, a Belgian artist and noblewoman, was born in 1968. She first came forward in 2005 claiming to have been born from a long affair between Albert and her mother, the Baroness Sybille Selys de Longchamps, and that as a child he had acknowledged her in private and had been very supportive. King Albert II of Belgium | Isopix/REX Things changed in 1993, she claims, when Alberts older brother King Baudouin died suddenly of a heart attack. Childless at the time of his death, Baudouins throne moved to Albert and his side of the family. The newly acclaimed King Albert II reportedly called Boel in 1993 once before cutting all ties. He has denied her claims since she first went public in 2005. He also opposed her legal action, which began in 2013, shortly after he abdicated in favor of his son, Phillipe. (Until his abdication, Albert was protected as King under Belgiums Constitution from suit or prosecution as head of state.) For her part, Boels mother Baroness Longchamps, 87, has long supported her daughters claim. Acknowledging she met the playboy Prince in Greece when her father was Belgiums Ambassador, she has provided intimate and somewhat explicit details of their relationship to television and other media outlets in Belgium and other European countries. Delphine Boel | Olivier Polet/Getty While Albert II remains a much-loved figure, Boel has won respect for her cause. A March survey in Brussels leading newspaper, Le Soir, found three out of four respondents supported her lawsuit. This is all so painful to him, Hiernaux told the Times. Hes over 80, not in good health. He underwent multiple heart operations. This is very hard to live with. He literally told me: Its affecting my health. In 2011, Rolling Stone asked readers to name their favorite punk bands of all time, with thousands of fans anointing the Ramones, the Clash, the Sex Pistols, Green Day and others as the best the genre has to offer. They were all wrong. Related stories Why 'Schitt's Creek' Is a Comedy Sleeper Hit Steve Martin and Martin Short's Netflix Special Is Showbiz Comfort Food There is only one right answer: The greatest punk band of all time is the Queenhaters. Formed (and disbanded) on March 18th, 1983, the British punk group, comprised of Martin Short, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Joe Flaherty and Andrea Martin, appeared on Mels Rock Pile, a show also hosted by Levy that was a regular bit on Canadian cult sketch-comedy show SCTV. As the perpetually nerdy Rockin' Mel Slirrup, Levy hosted an American Bandstandesque segment that sometimes featured actual musicians like Roy Orbison. But now, it was the punks turn to take over. How many kids here are into punk music? Slirrup asks to a sea of boos. The children want to boogie. They will not today. After interviewing clueless students Although I have a powerful command of the English language, I can neither read nor write, says Short. I still firmly believe that Italy is nestled between Australia and New Zealand and that my morning glass of milk comes from cats. Slirrup welcomes the Britpunks to perform their enduring contribution to the canon: I Hate the Bloody Queen, a song about hating the bloody queen. Ive always had a dream/Id like to meet the queen/Id punch her in the face/Yeah, that would make me laugh, Short screams. His manic gesticulations look like an amphetamine-fueled Johnny Rotten as Levys multi-colored hair, Flying V guitar and Eat the Rich cutoff T-shirt puts him somewhere between 1980s Sunset Strip d-bag and Black Flagloving hardcore kid. Candy bald, silent and stone-faced looks more New Wave than punk, but well give him a pass for committing to character. I feel sorry for you, Lady Di! Short screams at the end of the song. Havin a mother-in-law like that! Story continues Even though its seven years after the birth of punk, the Canadian teens have not caught up to the Queenhaters genius. Theyre bored. They just stand around. They dont mosh. They dont applaud. They have no idea what theyre witnessing. Slirrups attempt to start a slam dancing competition yields more boos and a Thats dangerous! from Short. Slam dancing. Everybodys getting into it now, says Slirrup, describing the only primer burgeoning punks need. What you do is you get half the people and you line em up on this side of the room and you get half the people and you line em up on that side of the room. And this is where the fun part comes in: Then everybody runs into each other and starts slamming. Violence finally ensues. The song has become a cult classic among a certain type of comedy nerd. Hell, even Mudhoney covered it 15 years later for a Canadian punk compilation. Which rock band today is gonna step up and cover this to bring it back to mainstream consciousness? The gauntlet has been thrown down. I Hate the Bloody Queen Ive always had a dream Id like to meet the queen Id punch her in the face Yeah, that would make me laugh Id love to kick her in the teeth And then Id make a picture of it In lovely Ektachrome And then Id give it to the prince I hate the bloody Queen She made me go to school I hate the bloody Queen And all her bloody rules Id like to drown the Queen Off the coast of Argentine Throw her off a battleship With her Falkland war machine She taxes me to death I cant afford me dope Id like to get her high Yeah, that would make me laugh I hate the bloody Queen I feel sorry for you Lady Di Havin a mother-in-law like that Sign up for Rolling Stones Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Laura Ingraham fired back at White House hopeful Pete Buttigieg Monday night, in response to his comments criticizing the Fox News host a day earlier during a Democratic town hall. Ingraham hurled a volley of insults at the South Bend, Indiana, mayor on The Ingraham Angle, essentially saying he doesnt stand a chance in the crowded field of Democratic contenders. She went on to call Buttigieg lame and suggested he lacks substance. Related stories Trevor Noah: Donald Trump Hurt Because Fox News Flirted With Younger, Hotter Candidate Pete Buttigieg Beyond his Boy Scout demeanor and Mayor Pete shtick, Buttigieg is but another creation of a media apparatus desperate to oust Trump, she added. Ingrahams comments followed Buttigiegs Fox News town hall with Chris Wallace on Sunday. During his appearance, the Democrat acknowledged some of his 2020 rivals disagreed with his decision to appear on the right-leaning news net. Still, he said he viewed it as an opportunity to connect with voters on all sides of the political aisle. Although he admitted he has problems with some of the personalities on Fox. When youve got Tucker Carlson saying that immigrants make America dirty, when youve got Laura Ingraham comparing detention centers with children in cages to summer camps, summer camps. Then there is a reason why anybody has to swallow hard and think twice before participating in this media ecosystem, Buttigieg told the town hall audience. I also believe even though some of those hosts are not always there in good faith, a lot of people tune into this network, who do it in good faith. There are a lot of Americans, who my party cant blame, if they are ignoring our message because they will never hear it if we dont go on and talk about it, he added. Ingraham responded by questioning Buttigiegs comments on faith during the town hall. Forget Mayor Pete. Maybe we should call him Pope Pete, she quipped. Dont you love how, because he attends church, were supposed to treat him like the be-all and end-all moral authority? The arbiter of who is and who is not operating in good faith? Story continues So he finds conservative media objectionable, but third-trimester abortions? Theyre perfectly moral, Ingraham added, mocking Buttigiegs political views on abortion. She ended the segment by inviting the eager beaver mayor onto her show. Watch the video of Ingrahams comments below at the 36-minute mark. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A couple married for nearly eight decades still share a pretty sweet bond, thanks in part to Hersheys chocolate. Curtis, 100, and Virginia Peters, 103, are still together in their golden years and their daughter says credit goes to the beloved chocolate bar. Hersheys chocolate just keeps him alive, and he keeps her alive, Susan Peters Cathoir told TODAY Food. He shares it with her all the time he shares everything with her and she with him. Susan told the outlet her parents, who tied the knot in 1940 after meeting during World War II at the University of Northern Iowa, always kept Hersheys in their house, with bars in the kitchen and Kisses in candy bowls. RELATED: Hersheys Redesigns Its Chocolate Bar for the First Time in Over 100 Years to Include Emojis They even loaded all five of their children onto a bus from their home in Iowa for a visit to Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania in the late 1950s. RELATED VIDEO: Reeses Debuts 2 New Cups: One with Extra Chocolate, Another with Extra Peanut Butter They love the Hersheys, she said. It melts in their mouth just the way [they] want it. Curtis and Virginia, who celebrated their 79th wedding anniversary on Saturday, live together in a nursing home in Illinois, where Susan visits regularly to ensure they have their daily dose of chocolate. I keep a pack in the freezer and go and give them one every day, she said. I always leave chocolate in their drawer so in case I cant make it or Im late, one of the [nurses] can make sure they still get it. RELATED: How to Live as Long as Possible, According to the Worlds Oldest People The couple threw a party to celebrate their milestone anniversary and yes, guests, noshed on Hershey bars. While the famed chocolate seems to have helped the Peters reach old age, other centenarians have also credited foods like eggs, bacon, and cookies with extending their lives. Susannah Mushatt Jones, who died at 116 in 2016, told Business Insider that she ate bacon and eggs every morning for more than 100 years. Emma Morano, meanwhile, who died at 117 in 2017, said she ate two raw eggs, one cooked egg and cookies every day. Martin Short has joined the cast of Good People, the Amazon comedy pilot from Lee Daniels and Whitney Cummings.He joins recently cast Greg Kinnear and Lisa Kudrow, as well as Cummings, who will star, direct and co-write. Per Amazon, the half-hour comedy follows three generations of women working in the Ombudsmans office of a college and navigating the current cultural climate, the concept of feminism across different generations, and the struggle to reconcile socially constructed ideas with current ethical views regarding complex issues such as sex, race, class and gender.Short will play Dean Ed Brown, who is described as the self-satisfied Dean of Sacramento University who has no concept of whats appropriate. He is of the old guard in terms of how he sees the world, and his casual sexism causes constant problems for the Ombudsmans office.Also Read: Lisa Kudrow Cast in Amazon's Comedy Pilot From Lee Daniels and Whitney CummingsKudrow will play Lynn Steele, The University Ombudsman, a tired, mercurial force of nature who finds herself being seen as out of touch by millennials, even though she has been a champion of women her entire career.Kinnear will play Dr. Paul Keating, the incredibly charismatic and charming philosophy professor at Sacramento University. Hes Indiana Jones meets Joan Didion. He causes problems for Lynn Steele (Kudrow) and Hazel Miller (Cummings) because of his unorthodox methods of teaching and refusal to acquiesce to PC rules.Good People is created, written and executive produced by Cummings and Daniels. Lisa Kudrow will also serve as an executive producer. Amazon Studios and Fox 21 Television Studios will produce.Also Read: Greg Kinnear Joins Lisa Kudrow in Amazon's Lee Daniels-Whitney Cummings PilotShort won his first Emmy in 1982 while working on Canadas SCTV, which led to him being cast on Saturday Night Live in 1984. He soon became a fan-favorite for characters like Ed Grimley, lawyer Nathan Thurm and legendary songwriter Irving Cohen. Hes known for films including Father of the Bride, Three Amigos, Pure Luck Inherent Vice and Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Short also won a Tony for his stage role in the revival of Little Me. His upcoming projects include providing the voice of the father in the animated movie The Willoughbys.Read original story Martin Short Joins Amazons Lee Daniels-Whitney Cummings Pilot Good People At TheWrap Martin Short has joined the cast of Good People, the Amazon comedy pilot from Lee Daniels and Whitney Cummings. He joins recently cast Greg Kinnear and Lisa Kudrow, as well as Cummings, who will star, direct and co-write. Per Amazon, the half-hour comedy follows three generations of women working in the Ombudsmans office of a college and navigating the current cultural climate, the concept of feminism across different generations, and the struggle to reconcile socially constructed ideas with current ethical views regarding complex issues such as sex, race, class and gender. Short will play Dean Ed Brown, who is described as the self-satisfied Dean of Sacramento University who has no concept of whats appropriate. He is of the old guard in terms of how he sees the world, and his casual sexism causes constant problems for the Ombudsmans office. Also Read: Lisa Kudrow Cast in Amazon's Comedy Pilot From Lee Daniels and Whitney Cummings Kudrow will play Lynn Steele, The University Ombudsman, a tired, mercurial force of nature who finds herself being seen as out of touch by millennials, even though she has been a champion of women her entire career. Kinnear will play Dr. Paul Keating, the incredibly charismatic and charming philosophy professor at Sacramento University. Hes Indiana Jones meets Joan Didion. He causes problems for Lynn Steele (Kudrow) and Hazel Miller (Cummings) because of his unorthodox methods of teaching and refusal to acquiesce to PC rules. Good People is created, written and executive produced by Cummings and Daniels. Lisa Kudrow will also serve as an executive producer. Amazon Studios and Fox 21 Television Studios will produce. Also Read: Greg Kinnear Joins Lisa Kudrow in Amazon's Lee Daniels-Whitney Cummings Pilot Short won his first Emmy in 1982 while working on Canadas SCTV, which led to him being cast on Saturday Night Live in 1984. He soon became a fan-favorite for characters like Ed Grimley, lawyer Nathan Thurm and legendary songwriter Irving Cohen. Hes known for films including Father of the Bride, Three Amigos, Pure Luck Inherent Vice and Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. Short also won a Tony for his stage role in the revival of Little Me. His upcoming projects include providing the voice of the father in the animated movie The Willoughbys. Read original story Martin Short Joins Amazons Lee Daniels-Whitney Cummings Pilot Good People At TheWrap Massachusetts investigators are looking into the death of a 13-year-old girl who passed away shortly after she was dropped off at a Lawrence hospital. Chloe Ricard died at the Lawrence General Hospital shortly after she was brought there around 4:45 p.m. Monday. Investigators are trying to determine how the teen died. An autopsy was performed Tuesday but results are still pending. Under the circumstances it doesnt appear to be a homicide, but we cant say one way or another until we have a ruling, Carrie Kimball, spokesperson for the Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgetts office tells PEOPLE. Chloes stepfather, Brian Dolan, told the Boston Globe that he heard that she had been dropped off at the hospital by a 47-year-old man. Kimball says investigators are aware of who dropped Chloe off but we havent disclosed any details of the investigation because it is still ongoing. The people made hospital officials aware that they needed help, Kimball says. Kimball says state law requires the district attorneys office to investigate all unattended and unexpected deaths. It doesnt necessarily mean there is a criminal aspect to it, she says. She was just a beautiful, kind girl, Chloes mother, Deborah Goldsmith-Dolan told The Globe. Everyone that met her loved her, she was so social. Goldsmith-Dolan said she last saw her daughter on Sunday when she dropped her off at a friends house. When I called the other friend, she said she was safe, she said, according to Boston25News. However, she became concerned when she didnt hear from her daughter on Monday and went to the local police station to file a missing persons report. According to The Globe, Goldsmith-Dolan received a text 40 minutes later informing her that her daughter was at the hospital. It was awful, she told Boston25News. They asked me how to identify her. My husband had to identify her by the scars. She just dyed her hair, and she looked amazing. Story continues 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. Im in shock, she told the station, and I cant believe Im telling this story. Kimball says investigators are aware of where Chloe was and who she was with and they are conducting an investigation to determine what exactly happened leading up to her death. A Minnesota woman has been able to return a lifesaving favor to a first responder who came to the rescue of her baby daughter. In August 2016, volunteer firefighter Bill Cox arrived on the scene to treat Becca Bundys then 1-year-old daughter, Hadley, who was having a seizure in the familys northern Minnesota home. I got there and helped settle people down until an ambulance could get there and take care of her, Cox, who was with the Bearville Volunteer Fire Department, told CNN. Though their meeting was brief, Bundy said the firefighters kind demeanor left a lasting impression on her. He seemed to care, it wasnt just another call, Bundy recalled, according to KARE 11. In October, Bundy and Cox crossed paths once again, this time at a local bar where he was bartending. It was there that Bundy noticed the heartbreaking message Cox had printed on the bright green shirt he was wearing, which read, Im in end-stage kidney failure and in need of a kidney. As she would find out, Cox was born with only one kidney and has been waiting for a transplant for two years. He was recently placed on dialysis. I couldnt get it out of my head, Bundy said. I just said, Im the one and I know it. Becca Bundy | Kare11.com While some of the bars patrons had offered to be tested to see if they were a match for Cox, none were candidates that is, until Bundy got tested herself. She was a perfect match for me, Cox, 66, told CNN. Bundy added, I can remember us both crying tears of joy of course and Bill thanking me. The two underwent a successful transplant operation in February at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, and now Cox has discontinued dialysis and is spending time with his wife at their lakeside home. RELATED VIDEO: Four Brothers with Same Fatal Bone Marrow Disease Fight for Their Lives: We Might Not Live Past 30 Kidney disease affects some 30 million people in the United States, and nearly 90 percent of people with kidney disease dont even know they have it, the National Kidney Foundation reports. Story continues About 20 people a day die awaiting organ transplants, according to the American Transplant Foundation, and there are over 115,000 people currently on the waiting list to receive a life-saving organ. A healthy person can donate a kidney, or a part of their liver, lung, intestine, blood or bone marrow, and make a valuable difference in someones life, the foundation says. RELATED: 10-Year-Old Girl Dying of Kidney Disease to Receive Transplant From Teacher I feel pretty blessed to be chosen to be on his journey with him, Bundy told KARE 11. It is that lifetime bond that will never go away. When Quentin Tarantino was 6 years old and living in Southern California, he remembers his parents taking him horseback riding. He doesnt remember where it took place but at a Cannes Film Festival press conference on Wednesday for his new film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the director said he had a secret wish for where the excursion took place: the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth on the outskirts of Los Angeles.At the time he and his parents would have gone for that ride, the Ranch, a former movie location popular with Western films and television shows, was occupied by a ragtag group of hippies who coalesced around Charles Manson, who would lead them to carry out brutal murders in the summer of 1969.Look, theyre creepy no two, three, four ways about it, he said of the Manson Family members, who are depicted in a lengthy scene in the movie in which Brad Pitts stuntman character goes out to the ranch. But even though theres a sinisterness you see in the Spahn Ranch scene, I also wanted to show what their day-to-day life was like.Also Read: Critics Love 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' - but Saying Why Might Spoil EverythingSo you see [Manson Family members] Lulu and Tex giving horse rides. And it turned out that the family members were really great at that. They were very, very personable, and good at leading rides through the canyon. He paused. I actually went horseback riding at 6 years old with my mom and dad. I dont know if we went to Spahn Ranch. I like to think that we did. A shrug. We probably went to Griffith Park, but I like to think that we went to Spahn Ranch.Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which premiered to a standing ovation and rave reviews on Tuesday night in Cannes, focuses on fictional characters played by Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. But Pitts Cliff Booth and DiCaprios Rick Dalton and Pitts Cliff Booth move through a version of 1969 Hollywood that finds them crossing paths with Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate and with members of the Manson family, who would murder Tate and others in August of that year.Some directors might balk at the idea of depicting real-life characters who were brutally murdered and other real-life characters who did the murders, particularly when putting them in a fictional context. But when Tarantino was asked at the Cannes press conference on Wednesday if he had any concerns about including Tate and other murder victims in his film, his answer was simple and succinct. Uh, no, he said, without elaborating any further.Also Read: 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' Film Review: A Contemplative Quentin Tarantino Still Blows the Roof Off CannesThe normally verbose Tarantino was also close-lipped when asked about Tates husband, Roman Polanski. When another reporter asked if he knew Polanski and if he admired the director, who has not returned to the United States since he was convicted of statutory rape in 1978, Tarantino said he had met Polanski a couple of times. Im a fan of Roman Polanskis work, but in particular Rosemarys Baby,' he said. I like that a lot.He didnt elaborate beyond that, and when he was asked if he had spoken to Polanski about the fact that the night Sharon Tate was murdered would factor into his film, his reply was quick and short: No, I didnt.Also Read: Sony Chief Tom Rothman on Quentin Tarantino and Original Films: 'You Have to Commit'Tarantino was more talkative when discussing why he thinks people are still fascinated by the Manson Family murders, which took place 50 years ago this summer.I think were fascinated by it because at the end of the day it almost seems unfathomable, he said. How [Manson] was able to get these girls and young boys to submit to him just seems unfathomable .. I studied a lot about it, and the more you learn about it and the more information you get, it doesnt make it any clearer. I think the unknowingness of it, the impossibility of being able to truly understand it, is what causes this fascination.Read original story Quentin Tarantino Says He Thinks He Might Have Gone Horseback Riding With the Manson Family At TheWrap When Quentin Tarantino was 6 years old and living in Southern California, he remembers his parents taking him horseback riding. He doesnt remember where it took place but at a Cannes Film Festival press conference on Wednesday for his new film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the director said he had a secret wish for where the excursion took place: the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth on the outskirts of Los Angeles. At the time he and his parents would have gone for that ride, the Ranch, a former movie location popular with Western films and television shows, was occupied by a ragtag group of hippies who coalesced around Charles Manson, who would lead them to carry out brutal murders in the summer of 1969. Look, theyre creepy no two, three, four ways about it, he said of the Manson Family members, who are depicted in a lengthy scene in the movie in which Brad Pitts stuntman character goes out to the ranch. But even though theres a sinisterness you see in the Spahn Ranch scene, I also wanted to show what their day-to-day life was like. Also Read: Critics Love 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' - but Saying Why Might Spoil Everything So you see [Manson Family members] Lulu and Tex giving horse rides. And it turned out that the family members were really great at that. They were very, very personable, and good at leading rides through the canyon. He paused. I actually went horseback riding at 6 years old with my mom and dad. I dont know if we went to Spahn Ranch. I like to think that we did. A shrug. We probably went to Griffith Park, but I like to think that we went to Spahn Ranch. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which premiered to a standing ovation and rave reviews on Tuesday night in Cannes, focuses on fictional characters played by Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. But Pitts Cliff Booth and DiCaprios Rick Dalton and Pitts Cliff Booth move through a version of 1969 Hollywood that finds them crossing paths with Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate and with members of the Manson family, who would murder Tate and others in August of that year. Story continues Some directors might balk at the idea of depicting real-life characters who were brutally murdered and other real-life characters who did the murders, particularly when putting them in a fictional context. But when Tarantino was asked at the Cannes press conference on Wednesday if he had any concerns about including Tate and other murder victims in his film, his answer was simple and succinct. Uh, no, he said, without elaborating any further. Also Read: 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' Film Review: A Contemplative Quentin Tarantino Still Blows the Roof Off Cannes The normally verbose Tarantino was also close-lipped when asked about Tates husband, Roman Polanski. When another reporter asked if he knew Polanski and if he admired the director, who has not returned to the United States since he was convicted of statutory rape in 1978, Tarantino said he had met Polanski a couple of times. Im a fan of Roman Polanskis work, but in particular Rosemarys Baby,' he said. I like that a lot. He didnt elaborate beyond that, and when he was asked if he had spoken to Polanski about the fact that the night Sharon Tate was murdered would factor into his film, his reply was quick and short: No, I didnt. Also Read: Sony Chief Tom Rothman on Quentin Tarantino and Original Films: 'You Have to Commit' Tarantino was more talkative when discussing why he thinks people are still fascinated by the Manson Family murders, which took place 50 years ago this summer. I think were fascinated by it because at the end of the day it almost seems unfathomable, he said. How [Manson] was able to get these girls and young boys to submit to him just seems unfathomable .. I studied a lot about it, and the more you learn about it and the more information you get, it doesnt make it any clearer. I think the unknowingness of it, the impossibility of being able to truly understand it, is what causes this fascination. Read original story Quentin Tarantino Says He Thinks He Might Have Gone Horseback Riding With the Manson Family At TheWrap Trevor Noah explained to Daily Show viewers the phenomenon of Dem 2020 hopefuls appearing on Fox News Channel, while other candidates blast the network as a hate-for-profit machine. Seeing as how there are 200 Democrats running for president, theres bound to be differing opinions on how to deal with Fox News, the late-night host explained. So while Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris are avoiding Fox News like cooties, others have appeared in town halls on the cable news network. Related stories Beto O'Rourke Puts On Suit And Tie To Trash Trump On Trade, Defends Haircut Livestream On CNN The Comedy Central star ran a clip of Bernie Sanders FNC town hall at which he explained his Medicare-for-all healthcare plan, after which FNC Bret Baier asked the audience if they would give up their employers plan for Sanders, and virtually all of them raised their hands. Noah guessed that shocked the hell out of Fox News viewers who tuned in and saw a crowd cheering for a socialists plan for Medicare-for-all. You realize thats the opposite of what Fox [News] viewers were expecting to see. Its like buying a ticket to see Paddington but you walk into the wrong theater and its Fifty Shades of Grey, Noah explained. Sanders, Noah said, stuck to his guns, and by the end, they were on his side. Then, last Sunday, Pete Buttigieg appeared on an FNC town hall with Chris Wallace, and acknowledged some Dems were critical of his decision. When youve got Tucker Carlson saying immigrants make America dirty, when youve got Laura Ingraham comparing detention centers with children in cages to summer camps, then there is a reason anybody has to swallow hard and think twice before participating in this media ecosystem, Buttigieg told the town hall-ers. I also believe there are a lot of Americans who my party cant blame if they are ignoring our message; they will never hear it if we dont go on [FNC] because they wont hear about it. Story continues At the end of his town hall, Buttigieg got a standing ovation. Thats amazing, Noah marveled. Meanwhile, Laura Ingraham, Tucker Carlson and Brian Kilmeade, were undie-bunched about Mayor Petes star turn on their network. But there was one Fox viewer who was downright heartbroken, Noah revealed, cuing up a clip of President Donald Trump at his Monday Pennsylvania rally telling his base, Something strange going on at Fox. Did you see this guy last night? He was knocking the hell out of Fox! Somebodys going to have to explain the whole Fox deal to me. Noah translated. Awwww, poor Trump! You realize what happened here? The news network he loves the most flirted with a younger, hotter candidate and hes clearly shook. Trump is basically a guy scrolling through his exs Instagram, trying to act like he doesnt care. Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This 11-year-old professional model is empowering girls everywhere originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com Meet Celai West, who at just 8 years old walked the runway at New York Fashion Week. Now 11, she's still breaking barriers in the fashion world, becoming an entrepreneur with her own T-shirt company and aspiring to be a role model for young girls. But modeling and entrepreneurial careers aside, Celai still attends school full time in Sacramento, California. Her mom, Linda Ligons-West, told "Good Morning America" that while Celai is "an outside of the box kind of kid," at heart she's "just a regular little girl." In Celai's Instagram bio, which is managed by her mother, she says she is the youngest self-taught pro runway model. But despite what you may think, she has had no professional training. "Weve never taught her how to walk. She literally taught herself everything," Ligons-West told "GMA." She started print modeling at the age of 3 after she was approached by a photographer and transitioned into runway a few years later. Ligons-West calls herself Celai's full time "momager," but has never pressured her to model. "We got her first modeling contract when she was 4 and I just wasnt sure if this was what she wants to do, so we never signed it," Ligons-West said. Ligons-West's advice for other parents? "You have to listen to your kid." Celai's signature look is her beautiful, natural hair. "Shes very adamant on not changing it," Ligons-West told "GMA." The young model has even posted a video of herself throwing a hair straightener in the garbage. Even though Celai has had a lot of success with her hair, her mom says there are still plenty of roadblocks. Story continues Ligons-West said her daughter has had trouble being booked because of her hair, due to the fact that a lot of stylists don't know how to style it. "What are these adults teaching the kids, that they have to look a certain way to be accepted?" Ligons-West told "GMA." (MORE: Give yourself a champagne shower every day with these bubbly inspired hair products.) Not only is Celai a model and full-time student, she also has a T-shirt company called The Chatty Chick. The phrases on the shirts all come from Celai and are designed by her mother. Originally, the T-shirts were for girls just like Celai who were struggling with their natural hair, but Ligon-West has since expanded to include phrases that cater to all types of hair. Her aim is to make the T-shirts inspiring to little girls just like her. (MORE: We tried barrettes for grown-ups -- 'hair's what happened.) With more than 143,000 followers on Instagram, Celai hopes to show girls everywhere they are perfect just the way they are. "She wants to show little girls that have hair like hers that it is beautiful and you can be proud of it," Ligons-West told "GMA." West also hopes to expand her T-shirt company and one day attend Howard University. Dems grill Homeland Security chief on conditions for migrants in detention originally appeared on abcnews.go.com In a hearing Wednesday examining the Department of Homeland Securitys latest budget requests, Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood accused the Trump administration of crafting intentional policies that have resulted in the deaths of migrants apprehended after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. "Congress has been more than willing to provide the resources and work with you to address the security and humanitarian concerns, but at this point with 5 kids that have died, five thousand separated from their families, I feel like and the evidence is really clear that this is intentional," Underwood said. "It's intentional. It's a policy choice being made on purpose by this administration and it's cruel and inhumane." (MORE: 3rd migrant minor dies in a month after being apprehended at US-Mexico border) Throughout the hearing, DHS Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan was pressed repeatedly by Democrats over the way migrants are treated in U.S. custody. PHOTO: Freshman members including Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., leave the Capitol office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Jan. 15, 2019. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call/Getty Images) "That's an appalling accusation and our men and women fight hard to protect people in our custody every single day," McAleenan said in response to Underwood's charge. Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson temporarily stopped the proceedings after a Republican member asked for Underwoods comments to be removed from the record. Following some procedural confusion, the committee voted to strike Underwoods comments and continued with questions for the acting secretary. When pressed on the current state of migrant holding facilities at the border, the acting secretary acknowledged that those conditions are not acceptable. He said funding from Congress was needed to improve Customs and Border Protection facilities along the border. "These tragedies are devastating to us and they are avoidable," McAleenan said. Dem. Rep. Nanette Barragan further pressed McAleenan, saying Trump administration policies have intentionally inflicted hardship on migrants to deter crossings. Referencing the Trump administrations now discontinued zero tolerance policy, Barragan called the practice despicable. Story continues "This administration is on record in saying they did this to deter people from coming," Barragan said. "And so to knowingly separate children and families by prosecuting parents that was going to result in the separation and then mentally harm children, that's despicable. And that is why people believe that what this administration is doing is intentional." PHOTO: Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan arrives for an immigration speech by President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden at the White House, May 16, 2019. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Earlier this week, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus demanded the administration take action following news of a teen who died while being held in Border Patrol custody. The 16-year-old, who was traveling without his parents, died at a U.S. Border Patrol station on Monday while waiting to be picked up by the Department of Health and Human Services. Joined by fellow Democratic caucus members, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, said the Trump administration should end policies that force migrants to return to Mexico throughout the asylum process. "This is an epidemic of death by the Trump administration," Castro told reporters. The Hispanic Caucus chairman accused the administration of withholding information from Congressional inquiries, citing the recent death of a 2-year-old whose name has not been made public. "They're concealing the truth of these atrocities to the American people," Castro said. Authorities continue to raise warnings about the dangerous conditions faced by thousands of migrants traveling to the U.S. through Mexico. Last year Border Patrol recorded 283 deaths along the southern border. North Carolina elementary school teacher threatened to 'shoot up' school, police say originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A North Carolina elementary school teacher has been arrested after she allegedly threatened to shoot up the school where she taught. Kristen Thompson abruptly resigned last Friday from Pathways Elementary School in Hillsborough, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. But it was only after her resignation that fellow teachers said she had previously "made threats to shoot up the school." Thompson was arrested on Tuesday and charged with communicating a threat of mass violence, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. (MORE: Student injured in shooting at University of North Carolina at Charlotte receives diploma) "This situation is being handled by law enforcement with the safety of our students and school staff as our utmost concern," Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a statement. "Meanwhile, this situation is also being dealt with by school leadership as a personnel issue as well as a safety one. As such, the principal and other administrators are strictly forbidden by law from sharing information about the case." "A threat of school violence is understandably unsettling for the community. Please know that the school and law enforcement are working together as a team to ensure the last few weeks of the school year are safe and productive for our students," the sheriff added. Thompson was held on a $1,000 bond and is next due in court on June 14. PHOTO: This photo provided by the Orange County Sheriffs Office, in North Carolina, shows Kristen Thompson. Authorities said Tuesday, May 21, 2019, that Thompson has been arrested and charged with threatening to 'shoot up' her school. (Orange County Sheriffs Office via AP) It was unclear whether Thompson had yet obtained an attorney. Orange County Schools spokesman Seth Stephens told The (Raleigh) News & Observer, "Once school administration was made aware about an alleged threat by Kristen Thompson, law enforcement was contacted immediately." The threat came just weeks after two people were killed and four injured in a shooting at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, about two hours away from Hillsborough. Story continues (MORE: Dogs who helped the students heal after Parkland shooting have their own yearbook page) Thompson's arrest also comes at a time when lawmakers in the state are pushing to arm teachers as a solution to school shootings. A bill was introduced in March in the North Carolina state legislature that would make teachers who carried a gun eligible for a raise, according to Charlotte ABC station WTVD. A similar bill failed to gain traction last year in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school massacre. ABC News' Will Gretsky contributed to this report. If at first you dont succeed, try, try, again. And recruit a few of your influential friends to help out. Equal Means Equal, a campaign supporting efforts to pass the Equal Rights Amendment, kicked off Tuesday night with a cocktail party at the Paradise Club at the Edition Times Square. Event hosts Natalie White, Lizzy Jagger, Georgia May Jagger, Jerry Hall, Paris Hilton, Theodora Richards and more showed up to help rally support. Related stories Paris Hilton Is Making Her First Outside Beauty Investment: The Glam App Jay Z Appeals Ruling in Parlux Fragrances Case 'The American Meme' Documents Social Media Stars' Ups and Downs White, who crafted the large flag that served as a prime photo backdrop, began working on the Equal Rights Amendment in 2015 while doing a performance piece about the lack of movement in the womens movement. While I was doing that performance art piece, someone told me women didnt have equal rights in the United States Constitution, so that made me extremely angry and I decided to do something about it, she said. We started going into the states to lobby for ratification. To successfully pass, a states house and senate both have to vote yes on the amendment in the same year. Before White began working on the cause, no state had voted on the amendment in the last 40 years; after rallying successful ratification votes in Nevada and Illinois, the measure is only one state away from being added to the Constitution. This year, the measure failed to pass in Missouri and Louisiana, as well as Virginia, where it failed by only one vote in that states House. Thats why we need all eyes on this election in November for the state house delegates in Virginia, White added. Hope ran deep in the room. We can go back to states we failed in last voting session so were going to keep pushing until we get that last [one], said Lizzy Jagger. Story continues She became involved with the cause after joining White in Washington, D.C., after the artist had walked from New York to Washington as part of a performance protest piece. White painted ERA on the steps of the Capitol Building when she arrived. I just couldnt believe that we still didnt have full rights in the Constitution under the law, Jagger added. Weve got to finish completely our paperwork, which the rest of the world finished in the Seventies. Were one of the last countries to join on the U.N.s [Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women]. Under the U.N., America cant sign that until it has its own equal rights amendments. Were one of seven countries that hasnt signed it. Lizzy texted me and asked me to be on the board and committee of this, and I just always obviously have been all about girl power, so I canceled my whole schedule to come here, said Paris Hilton, who gamely posed for all the social media content the campaign wanted. Its crazy to me that its 2019 and women still dont have that right. I thought this was figured out 50 years ago. But if theres an upside to recent events Alabamas abortion law, for example its that people are not only talking about the issues but taking action. Its not fair that there are other people making laws for peoples bodies for what they can do, Hilton added. For everyone to come together like sisters and really support each other, its exciting. Women are coming together in a way Ive never seen, especially this year. Its just like the year of the women, I think. While women ruled the room, there were plenty of men coming out to support the cause; Will Cotton, who donated work to the silent auction; Peter Brant Jr., and John Targon among them. The idea of perseverance is particularly potent for Targon, who recently launched his own fashion line, Fall Risk, as a nod to getting back up when life gets you down. Its a challenging time, but I hope its a unifying time. I hope that it brings people out with a real awareness, understanding and desire to prevent any further rollback, he said. [The amendment] had gone up in the Seventies and was knocked down twice, and now here we are. I think in light of Alabama, no better time, right? No better time to be out here and showing support. Launch Gallery: Equal Means Equal Launch Party 2019 Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. psamtik/Shutterstock When Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a 24-year-old who had been confined to a wheelchair for most of her life, was charged in the murder of her mother DeeDee in 2015, those who knew the two were in shock. Gypsy had a history of leukemia, asthma, muscular dystrophy, severe allergies, and other illnesses, and her mother was her doting caregiver. But as the facts surrounding the murder began to unfold, it became apparent that things weren't at all as they seemed. Gypsy was the victim of a type of medical child abuse known as Munchausen syndrome by proxy. The shocking-but-true tale is now the subject of a Hulu miniseries called "The Act" starring Patricia Arquette as DeeDee and it has left many viewers wondering how any mother could willingly and willfully harm their own child. This condition is a form of child abusehere are 12 subtle signs that a child is being abused that everyone should know. What is Munchausen syndrome by proxy? Marc D. Feldman, MD, a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Adjunct Professor of Psychology at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, has devoted his career to understanding the condition and other related disorders. "Munchausen syndrome by proxy occurs when a caretaker either feigns, exaggerates or induces illness in a child victim to gain attention and sympathy," he explains. (Munchausen's syndrome refers to acting as if you are the one who is ill. Both conditions are named for a fictional characterBaron von Munchausenwho was based on an 18th-century German officer known for exaggerating his war stories.) Sometimes financial gain or other tangible rewards are the motivation. "This is called malingering by proxy," he says. "It can start out as loving the attention and then shift to money over time," he says. This was the case with Gypsy and her mom. Many sympathizers sent cash, Habitat for Humanity built them a home, and the Make-A-Wish Foundation sent them on multiple trips to Walt Disney World and gave them backstage passes to a Miranda Lambert concert. Story continues How common is Munchausen syndrome by proxy? "It is unusual, but I wouldn't call it rare," says Dr. Feldman. "It is bathed in deceit and we can only count cases where deception has been found out." There are many barriers in diagnosing Munchausen syndrome by proxy, says Joni E. Johnston, PsyD, a clinical and forensic psychologist in San Diego, Calif. "It's not routine to question a mom when a child is ill." How does Munchausen syndrome by proxy happen? Often the condition begins with real illness: Gypsy did have legitimate health issues soon after her birth. "Often, the child is viewed as impaired or imperfect in some way," Dr. Feldman says. Another common denominator in cases is a lack of proper bonding between parent and child. This may occur because a child spends days or weeks in a neonatal intensive care unit right after birth; in some cases, untreated postpartum depression may play a role. "The lack of bonding predisposes some moms to engage in this form of child abuse." "Having a sickly child can provide a person with an instant definition as to who they are and what they were placed on this earth to do," Dr. Feldman says. His latest book, Dying to be Ill: True Stories of Medical Deception, details the lengths that some mothers go to harm their children and the toll it takes on their child victims. Fathers are rarely the culprit in Munchausen syndrome by proxy, he says, though they may turn a blind eye to the abuse and fail to protect the child. "Many of the abusers have a history of Munchausen syndrome," adds Johnston. "They may have started out by using their own illness to gain attention, and then they transferred it on to a child." Identifying bizarre beliefs in yourself can be a challengehere's how to tell if your weird thoughts are normal or not. Tawan Jz/Shutterstock What are the consequences of Munchausen syndrome by proxy? "Sometimes the child victim is pressured to continue the charade," Johnston explains. "Children victims are raised from day one in a bizarre reality and told all of these things that later turn out to be blatant lies," she says. "Most victims are infants or not yet verbal, so there is limited capacity to speak out. When they are older they may feel helpless and have become very dependent," Dr. Feldman says. There are times when savvy health care professionals or keen observers grow suspicious and call attention to the matter. The first call to action is to get the child out of the toxic environment, he says. Recovery is a long and challenging road. Munchausen syndrome by proxy survivors may remain physically or emotionally impaired, Dr. Feldman says. Many report depression and or post-traumatic stress disorder that overshadows their adulthood. Survivors of Munchausen syndrome by proxy are less likely to seek medical care as adults, which could lead to undiagnosed illnesses. Gypsy is currently serving 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder. As far as the abuser, jail time is unusual in cases of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. "That's unfair considering that the estimated mortality rate of Munchausen syndrome by proxy is as high as 9 percent, making it one of most lethal forms of child abuse," he says. Caregivers may not always intend to kill their victims, but repeated induced illnesses can lead to death. Another Munchausen syndrome by proxy case that made headlines involved the death of a five-year-old boy. While hospitalized, the boy's sodium levels increased dramatically and he ultimately passed away. His mother, Lacey Spears, had documented her son's long history of health problems on a blog and on Facebook. She was charged with second-degree murder for injecting sodium into the feeding tube in his stomach. Not all Munchausen-by-proxy cases end in murder. Typically, parental rights are terminated and the parent may be placed on probation. Often times the victims may not even realize what happened until much later when their parents are removed from the house. "When the parent is taken away, it's like losing a parent ten times over because even when mistreated, people still love their parents and then they must come to grips with the reason their parent was taken away," Johnston says. What is Munchausen by proxy by Internet? The advent of social media has further complicated this complex illness largely by offering up a new outlet for endless sympathy and attention. "There are instantly accessible and endlessly supportive groups out there that will pray with you and cry with you if you purport your child to be ill," says Dr. Feldman who was the first to identify Munchausen by proxy by Internet. "It used to be that these moms had to read up on procedures and medications and really decide how to sicken their child, but now you can take a shortcut for the same attention by posting about 'suffering' online," he says. Here's one woman's horrifying story of Munchausen by Internet. If you suspect someone you know is a victim of Munchausen syndrome by proxy, call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). Virginia is for mural lovers. The idyllic small town of Staunton, Virginia is looking for an artist to design a new mural "on a downtown wall that reflects the spirit and culture of Staunton." Per NBC 29, Virginia Tourism Corporation has given Staunton a $10,000 50 Years of Love Grant $7,000 of which will go to the art and artist, and the remaining funds will handle other administrative and sundry costs to bring a vibrant new mural to Staunton's downtown area. (Staunton is about 45 minutes outside of Charlottesville.) If you think you have what it takes to be the winning muralist, you can learn about the requirements and how to submit your proposal here. Well, we think this calls out for camping out at Reunion Bakery & Espresso and plotting our entry. Or perhaps staring at the sweeping Blue Ridge Mountains at Betsy Bell Wilderness Park for some local inspiration. Or slurping down some bloody marys at Zynodoa's Sunday brunch. Or... WATCH: Two Cracker Barrel Employees Found Love at WorkSee Their Wedding Photos Not a Picasso yourself? If you know a creative soul who would be great at designing this special mural, be sure to encourage them to apply and share this story. Photo credit: Facebook/Tori Jenkins From Prevention Nowadays, confidence is hard to come by even when it seems like we've made leaps in the right direction. Despite movements calling for body positivity and acceptance, women especially still find it difficult to step into the public eye feeling judgment-free. Take for example, what reportedly happened to Knoxville, Tennessee resident Tori Jenkins this week. It was hot, so she put on a bathing suit and headed over to her apartment complex's pool. But nearly three minutes after she arrived, Jenkins was told by two leasing consultants that the suit-a pink one-piece-was "inappropriate." She was given three options: change, cover up or leave. Jenkins' fiance, Tyler Newman, went to Facebook to share his outrage. "Today, my fiance was faced with either changing her bathing suit, covering up with shorts or leaving the pool that we paid a $300 fee to maintain," he wrote. "Tori was accused of wearing a 'thong bathing suit' and told there were complaints about the way she was dressed." The pool rules at Smoky Crossings apartment complex state that "duly appropriate attire must be worn at all times," and Jenkins' swimsuit seems ... duly appropriate. The couple has been living at the complex for about two months and said they've never encountered anything like this before. But when Jenkins went to the office to report her situation, she continued to be body-shamed by another woman. "She was told [by the leasing consultant] that her body, because it's built more curvy than others, is 'too inappropriate' for children to be around," Neman claims in his post. The consultant even went so far as the say she wouldn't want her own children around Jenkins. (Really!?) Here's the kicker: Jenkins was reportedly told she was responsible for how men might react to her scandalous appearance. Newman wrote that the consultant's exact words were: "There are a lot of teenage boys in this complex, and you don't need to excite them." Story continues "I think she's the most beautiful woman in the world, but I also respect her," Newman went on to write. "I would never make her or any other woman feel less than what she's worth because of her outfit or her looks." However, Newman stated, "Today my fiance was told that she is less important than how men feel around her." And boy is that a problem. People are showing their support. "You look beautiful in your swimsuit!" one Facebook user commented. "Wear. What. You. Like. Women, worry about your sons' behaviors instead of body-shaming other women." While the Internet is rallying behind Jenkins, she has also received some negativity about her appearance. She addressed the backlash in her own Facebook post. Jenkins told GoodHousekeeping.com that it has been hard, but she's trying to keep busy and focus on the positive feedback she's been receiving. "I've had so many amazing women and men reach out to me, and that's what has really gotten me through this whole ordeal." Her fiance said the situation has been an eye-opener. "I was raised to respect women, and I really despise people [who] make women out to be objects or property," he said. "And actually witnessing it firsthand just baffles me." Jenkins agreed. "Before this happened, I was always well aware that body-shaming and over-sexualization was an issue, but once you really see and experience it yourself, your view definitely changes." The couple apparently hasn't received any word back from apartment administration, and Newman revealed they feel uncomfortable living there and that, as of now, they're "exploring other options." "I'll definitely be speaking out on this issue more," Jenkins concluded. "I'd love for other women to take this as a reminder to lift each other up and support one another." GoodHousekeeping.com has reached out to Smoky Crossing Apartments, and they responded with the following statement: "Smoky Crossing is a welcoming family community. Multiple residents within our community complained and expressed concerns regarding Ms. Jenkins' swimwear. In accordance with our pool policies, which are posted near the swimming area, one of our leasing consultants requested Ms. Jenkins wrap a towel around herself when she was walking around the pool. Ms. Jenkins was never asked to leave the pool. In addition, our leasing agent did not state that Ms. Jenkins' swimwear would 'excite teenage boys.' Ms. Jenkins and Mr. Newman are valued members of our community. However, we feel it is inappropriate to equate requesting Ms. Jenkins to cover up with sexual harassment or 'rape culture.' Smoky Crossing denounces harassment in all forms." In response to their statement, Jenkins said she is standing by her side of the story. [h/t Scary Mommy] Stay updated on the latest science-backed health, fitness, and nutrition news by signing up for the Prevention.com newsletter here. For added fun, follow us on Instagram. ('You Might Also Like',) From planning collections based around social networks to making fiber from money, these grads are looking to the future to make fashion a better place. Looks from Jaadi Nogueira Fonseca's thesis collection. Photo: Emma Wedmore/Courtesy of Jaadi Nogueira Fonseca Each year in May, Parsons School of Design in New York City hosts its annual benefit and runway show featuring select talent from the graduating fashion design class, gathering together prominent figures in the industry as well as the occasional celeb, like Rihanna, who was honored in 2017. This year's event, which took place Monday, May 20, was no different, featuring a lineup including rapper, songwriter, entrepreneur and Chanel collaborator Pharrell Williams; Julie Wainwright, founder and CEO of The RealReal; Katrina Lake, founder and CEO of Stitch Fix; and Michael Preysman, founder and CEO of Everlane. That three of the four honorees are all CEOs of digital-first companies suggests digital really is the future of fashion. As it would happen, some of the star students presenting during the runway show have a similar mindset. Here, five standouts talk about using the internet to propel their fashion concepts forward, how they're implementing different aspects of sustainability and what's next for them. Josefina Munoz A look from Josefina Munoz's thesis collection. Photo: Courtesy of Josefina Munoz Josefina Munoz created not just a collection, but an entire online marketplace where anyone can donate and access materials to develop fashion or design objects. Knock-off luxury plastic bags from the Tepito market in Mexico, umbrellas, authentically branded bags from actual luxury stores like Gucci, luxury garment bags donated from a system of people around the world and chicken bones from communal eating sessions she hosts are just a few of the items that can be purchased. She titled her project "No Me Copies" with the goal of democratizing fashion through the questioning of authenticity, exploring knock-offs and luxury culture. "'No Me Copies' begins with knock-off markets and the overall knock-off effect that allows the product to reach populations that generally can't afford the original," Munoz explains. "The costs to the rightful owner are intangible, the pirates have taken something you own, they have reproduced something you own, so you don't suffer a loss but rather a lesser gain." Story continues On her Instagram account, she showcases some of the examples of items she's made using the aforementioned marketplace materials, such as pants and dresses constructed out of Chanel garment bags or Adidas shopping bags. "I've tried to show the spirit of these markets through an Instagram account that mixes both high-end fashion staples as well as knock-offs in its varying forms, and everything in between, just as I have done in my thesis," she says. She plans on continuing her project post-graduation. "I plan on continuing 'No Me Copies' as a movement by doing more workshops around the world, as well as setting a manifesto and instructions for others to replicate these workshops." Emma Yates A look from Emma Yates's thesis collection. Photo: Courtesy of Emma Yates Australian student Emma Yates focused her thesis on creating a bridalwear line using all Australian products, which she sourced by working directly with local farmers she's known since her childhood. Her garments also put a major emphasis on sustainability: She worked directly with her neighbor in Australia, Richard Hyles, to source her wool, then processed it in Victoria, Australia. "This small batch, direct sourcing, allows me access to the best quality wool in the world, and allows my customer to connect with the land and the fiber," says Yates. "Every lining is 100% silk, it was all sewn with silk thread. I used wood and wool-felt beads and buttons, as well as sheep, cow and kangaroo leather and fur, sourced local to these NSW [New South Wales] farms." "While I spent a lot of time on the ground in Australia sourcing, technology allowed me to connect with the people at home (10,000 miles away) working behind the scenes on my fiber production," she explains. "It also allowed the farmers to connect with my final outcomes of this collection, which is something not typically done in this industry. In fact, my neighbor Richard had never seen a final outcome of his hard work farming his merino sheep, as he traditionally sells the fiber in its greasy state." Pushing the boundaries of what modern bridal clothing can be, many of her pieces are also designed to be worn after the wedding day, and all pieces are biodegradable. After graduation, she plans to continue to expand her bridal concepts. Jaadi Nogueira Fonseca Looks from Jaadi Nogueira Fonseca's thesis collection. Photo: Emma Wedmore/Courtesy of Jaadi Nogueira Fonseca Imagine fashion textiles made entirely out of money. That's exactly what Jaadi Nogueira Fonseca has created for her final thesis. The idea behind her project is to create a movement for people to reimagine value systems. "I would say that the main source of inspiration for me is social and environmental issues that are affected by or affect the fashion industry while impacting a great number of people," says Fonseca. "At the beginning of my project, I used technology to visualize the research I have been doing with more than one hundred people. After asking them 'What would you save if your house was on fire?' I generated a large amount of qualitative data and used technology to visualize some patterns of: what are the values that people are most impacted by in reference to Holbrook's typology of value?" Fonseca explains. "After talking to people all over the globe, I came to understand that this project needed to have a life of its own, allowing people to plug in with the ideas and thoughts on how value should influence us." Fonseca now runs the Instagram account @_showmeyourpapers as a platform for people from around the world to talk about these subjects. Post-graduation, Fonseca plans to work on projects or with companies that are primarily mission-driven. "I would like to work on projects or with companies that understand that anything that is being put out in the world needs to be justified. We can no longer afford to produce things mindlessly." Helena Wang A look from Helena Wang's thesis collection. Photo: Courtesy of Helena Wang For her thesis, Helena Wang collaborated with Chinese Medicine doctors using acupuncture to address critical women's health issues through fashion. She incorporated balls into garments and accessories, which target specific pressure points to help heal the body. She began by using LinkedIn to find her two collaborators Jessica Liu and Kai Yim through a search for Licensed Chinese Medicine Practitioners and Acupuncturists based in New York. "I aim to keep in touch with my ancestors' culture, which is very commonly lost in Asian-American communities in the States," she explains. "I have seen the women I love most in my life, as well as myself, struggle with certain problems simply because we're women," says Wang. "This is why I created a fashion collection that functionally heals critical women's health issues combined with designs inspired by different forms of power and protection." Her next step is to try to gain industry experience by working under a designer or brand that shares similar design philosophies as her. She is also considering a master's degree related to business. "Nothing can compare to the feeling of seeing someone feel beautiful and healthy in a garment or accessory I designed," she says. Natalia Riedel A look from Natalia Riedel's thesis collection. Photo: Courtesy of Natalia Riedel Student Natalia Riedel's thesis is comprised of a community called "These Days," which is devoted to reimagining new entry points for recovery in relation to eating disorders and suicide. By focusing on an area of healing and wellness, she has designed hosiery, tarot cards and body-sensitive intimates with packaging that takes a critical approach to sensitive topics. As for the garments themselves, Riedel exclusively uses low-impact fibers. Her hosiery is also deadstock, sourced from thrift stores and non-profits. "When I design, it's not about finding a temporary muse but trying to reach real people and to make body-sensitive garments that are based on lived experience," she says. "I am inspired by other people and their stories. I am inspired by all of the women I met in eating disorder treatment, by their lives and their strength, and by the community we built even in the midst of struggling." As a community, These Days also hosts meet-ups and recovery workshops. Her Instagram account @recoverythesedays serves as a social network to talk about some of the topics she addresses. Riedel plans to expand her project and all digital platforms associated with it to create a wider accessibility. Sign up for our daily newsletter and get the latest industry news in your inbox every day. While the sight of Notre-Dame de Paris on fire a month ago shocked the world, the cathedral has been under siege many a timeand has been rebuilt and restored at great length more than once. Preservationists have extensive records of earlier restorations and the best technology for the task at their fingertips, so restoring the cathedral could be straightforward. But it isnt. The debate over how Notre-Dame should be restored, and by whom, is only just beginning. French President Emmanuel Macron has said he wants the structure rebuilt more beautifully and finished within five years, a mandate presumably related to the fact that Paris will host the Olympics in 2024. Lord Norman Foster has applauded Macrons plan, calling it an acknowledgment of that tradition of new interventions and a pledge for its continuation. The cathedral, after all, was the site of one of historys most noted interventions when the church was dubbed a Temple of Reason during the French Revolution, which nearly destroyed it. And thats only the latest and most visible such episode. While, yes, our Notre-Dame is merely the latest iteration in the long life of the building, other philosophies of restoration and preservation aim to recreate structures in their Golden Age, albeit perhaps with less flammable materials. Frank Matero, University of Pennsylvania architecture professor and chair of historic preservation, suggests a slow renovation without a new architects stamp on the design. I think the problem is that architects want their intervention to be visible, he says. They see the creative act as highly visible. But the best restoration is that which is invisible. More than half the French agree with him, with only one quarter in favor of contemporary architectural embellishment. The five-year deadline may also be impractical for a host of reasons, among them the guild system governing artisan construction and restoration work in France, Matero says. And even if the physical work could be completed in that time, there is emotional work to consider. Usually you need some temporal distance before creating something of lasting meaning, he says, pointing to the 9/11 memorial in Lower Manhattan. That decision was debated for years before the reflecting pool was finally chosen and constructed. Story continues Putting aside the matter of when, the more immediate question is who should design any interventions to Notre-Dames appearanceif, indeed, anyone should. Days after the fire, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced a competition for fresh ideas for the cathedral, and designers rushed to create original renderings and post them to Instagram. They range from the tasteful and restrained, to the borderline inscrutable, to social experiments never intended to be built. Among the more serious are designs from Spanish architects POA Estudio and Sao Paulobased Alexandre Fantozzi. Both use glass, giving the structure a lighter, brighter feeling while hewing to the Gothic style. Instead of trying to replicate the original roof, we understand that the fire is part of the history of Notre-Dame, therefore it shouldn't be camouflaged, Julio Rufian Andujar, founder of POA, told AD via email. We recreate the original volume occupied by the spire, in an ethereal materiality. Fantozzis design, meanwhile, replaces the roof and spire with stained glass in its entiretya gesture the architect himself calls grandiose. The multicolored glass will let in natural light while bathing visitors in colorful beams, creating a visual component that Fantozzi says connects earth to sky. The new roof will be a divine crown for the Notre-Dame, he says. Other architects have even more dramatic plans for the spire, from swimming pools to contemporary sculptures in bronze that would appear to memorialize the fire, rather than the church where Napoleon I was crowned in 1804. Two designs that have attracted online attention would make Notre-Dames roof into public space. La Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Paris vue de la Tour Saint-Jacques Rendering courtesy of Studio NAB Studio NAB envisions a greenhouse atop the cathedral. Founder Nicolas Abdelkader says their design was the result of reflection on the drama of Notre-Dame and a desire to avoid simple architectural response, which can be soulless. FILES-FRANCE-PARIS-FEATURE-AERIAL Rendering courtesy of Ulf Mejergren Architects While Ulf Mejergren Architects, a practice based in Stockholm that self-identifies as adventurous, suggests a swimming pool on the roof to replace all that highly combustible medieval timber. Practical and fun, or an affront to French, not to speak of Catholic, history? Wherever you land, you must admit theres little risk of a pool burning down. One architecture shop has taken a page from the post-9/11 book and suggested a stream of light forever reaching into the Parisian sky. There are also ideas about as likely to be approved as demolition plans. French designer Mathieu Lehanneurs rendering lit Instagram on fire with its depiction of the fire. He did not respond to a request for comment for this story, but told The New York Times that the rendering was initially meant as a provocation, to highlight the absurdity of trying to rebuild Notre-Dame exactly as it stood in the 19th century. Now, a few weeks since his mock-up hit the Internet, hes decided hes serious about it (the flame is actually a very strong symbol in the Bible, he says). But does a 12th-century cathedral need any contemporary architects stamp on its outward appearance? Or would creativity be best deployed in Notre-Dames interior, where design and materials innovations could render the structure virtually fireproof? For some whove thrown their hat into the restoration ring, it hardly matters. Cypriot designer Dakis Panayiotou, who directs a practice called Kiss the Architect, responded to the tragedy with what he calls a fictional design. Panayiotou says he was watching television when the Notre-Dame news interrupted programming. "I felt like reality and fiction merged into one, like a special effect scene of a sci-fi movie," he tells AD via email. "I know this is happening a lot more in the modern world of post-alternative facts but this was especially unnerving. The scale and the historical impact of what was happening was so intense that I started laughing through nervousness." Rendering courtesy of Kiss The Architect Panayiotous design, therefore, is more of a performative comment on this moment in time, which he hopes will soften the horror of a cultural loss. Its not supposed to suggest an actual direction for restoration plans, but rather to set a different set of rules. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest SheKnows Jeff Bezos and girlfriend Lauren Sanchez are not slowing down one bit when it comes to showing off that steamy heat between them on their holiday vacation to St. Barts. The couple is continuing to flaunt their PDA for the paparazzi every chance they get. Their latest photos involve everything a billionaire needs for a [] By Stella Qiu and Brenda Goh BEIJING (Reuters) - China's three biggest airlines have asked U.S. planemaker Boeing Co to compensate them for losses caused by the grounding and delayed deliveries of 737 MAX jets, just as regulators gather to discuss design changes for the troubled aircraft. The triple compensation requests come at a sensitive time in Sino-U.S. relations, with a string of tit-for-tat import tariffs culminating in Washington accusing Beijing of backtracking on almost all aspects of a proposed trade deal. The U.S. administration's latest tariff increase on $200 billion (158 billion pounds) worth of Chinese imports - and hints of more - has prompted fear that China could retaliate against U.S. companies. On Wednesday, Air China Ltd and China Southern Airlines Co Ltd told Reuters the pair have added their voices to a compensation request from China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd announced a day earlier. The latest requests were first reported by Chinese state TV. China was the first country to ground the 737 MAX two months ago after a crash in Ethiopia killed 157 people in March, in the second such incident for Boeing's newest aircraft. "China has grounded 96 aircraft, which is about 4 percent of its airplanes. The grounding causes huge losses for Chinese airlines," China aviation expert Li Xiaojin told Reuters. Daily losses are likely to be at least 100,000 yuan (11,423 pounds) per aircraft for each airline, Li estimated. "The potential costs are huge too. Slower growth in passenger volume across China's major airports for March and April was largely due to the grounding of 737 MAX jets, according to my calculations," Li said. China's state-asset regulator put the number of 737 MAX jets operated by the three biggest Chinese carriers at 53. Outside of China, carriers that have requested compensation include Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Ryanair and Flydubai. COORDINATED EFFORT Bloomberg last week reported the big Chinese airlines were considering teaming up to seek compensation. On Tuesday, state newspaper People's Daily said China Eastern had not communicated with the other carriers on the topic before making its request. China Eastern confirmed the content of that report to Reuters. Story continues On Wednesday, however, widely read tabloid Global Times reported that the action appeared to be a "concerted effort". "China seems to be ready now to put more pressure on Boeing as the company happens to have a genuine safety issue, and the trade friction between the U.S. and China started to go into a downward spiral," Global Times quoted Shen Yuxin, a partner at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, as saying. The latest compensation requests also come a day before the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration hosts global regulators in Dallas to review 737 MAX software and training proposals from Boeing before regulators decide whether to end the grounding. China and the European Union each have their own aerospace industries and so are likely to determine their own conditions for allowing 737 MAX flights to resume, analysts said. The International Air Transport Association has also convened a meeting of airlines with grounded 737 MAX jets on Thursday in Montreal. (Reporting by Stella Qiu and Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Christopher Cushing) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) In Yemen, the high-pitched whine of drones has been a part of life for over 15 years, ever since the first U.S. drone strike here targeting al-Qaida in 2002. But now, Iran-backed Houthi rebels increasingly deploy drones in Yemen's brutal civil war. Neighboring Saudi Arabia, which has been battling the rebels since 2015, said drones attacked an oil pipeline, targeting two pumping stations west of its capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday. The Houthis claimed a coordinated drone attack, underscoring how the Arab world's poorest country has become one of the world's top battlefields for drones. Both the rebels and the Saudi-led coalition fighting them, as well as the U.S., continue to use them for surveillance and attacks. While the U.S. uses American-made drones and the coalition has turned to Chinese suppliers, the manufacturer of the Houthis' drones in both the air and the sea has been a contentious question. Here are some key details about the rebels' drones: THE IRAN LINK A 2018 report by a United Nations panel of experts on Yemen looked particularly at the Houthis' Qatef-1 drone. The report said that although the rebel media announced the Houthis had manufactured the drone, "in reality they are assembled from components supplied by an outside source and shipped into Yemen." The Qatef, or "Striker," it added, "is virtually identical in design, dimensions and capability to that of the Ababil-T, manufactured by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries." The Ababil-T can deliver up to a 45-kilogram (100-pound) warhead up to 150 kilometers (95 miles) away. A research group called Conflict Armament Research, with the permission of the United Arab Emirates' elite Presidential Guard, also examined seized drones used by the Houthis and their allies to crash into Patriot missile batteries in Saudi Arabia. The research group similarly said those drones share "near-identical design and construction characteristics" of Iranian drones. Story continues ___ THE DRONE BOAT Saudi-led coalition forces last year also showed journalists a Houthi "drone boat," filled with explosives that had failed to detonate. The officials also shared black-and-white images they said came from the "drone boat." They said the pictures and associated data from the boat's computer showed Iranians building components for its guidance system in eastern Tehran, with a hat in the background of one picture bearing the symbol of Iran's hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard forces. They said those involved in building the components probably believed it would be destroyed in the blast, so they didn't wipe the computer's hard drive For its part, Iran repeatedly has denied supplying the Houthis with drone or ballistic missile technology. However, Iran would have an interest in seeing Saudi Arabia, its archrival in the region, tied down in a bloody, protracted conflict with no clear end in sight. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap . SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) The Bulgarian government says the country's agriculture minister has resigned amid allegations about the misuse of European Union funds. A government statement Wednesday says that while Rumen Porozhanov denies wrongdoing, he has stepped down to avoid attacks against him affecting the government's work. Several senior officials have resigned amid scandals about the purchase of upscale apartments at below-market prices and the construction with EU funds of guest houses for private use. Seeking to avoid setbacks before the European Parliament elections, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has already accepted the resignations of the justice minister, his party's influential parliamentary faction leader and several other officials. Polls show Borissov's ruling center-right GERB party losing support and facing a serious challenge from the opposition Socialists in the EU elections on May 26. A nearly fatal beating on the U.S. senate floor on this day in 1856 was another step toward a Civil War five years later. But the attacker wasnt an assassinhe was a fellow elected representative. On May 22, 1856, Representative Preston Brooks attacked Senator Charles Sumner with a metal-tipped cane, leaving Sumner seriously injured. Brooks received a $300 fine. The incident started when Senator Sumner, an abolitionist from Massachusetts, gave a two-day speech on the Senate floor after an incident in Kansas. During his speech, Sumner made fun of Brooks relative, Senator Andrew Butler of South Carolina, who had suffered from a stroke, and he used language that compared the Souths use of slavery to prostitution. During Sumners speech, Senator Stephen Douglas told a colleague, That damn fool will get himself killed by some other damn fool. Brooks had a history of violencehe used the cane because he was hurt in a political duel in 1840. An irate Representative Brooks sought advice from fellow South Carolina Representative Laurence M. Keitt, who talked Brooks out of a duel, because he believed Sumner wasnt worthy of the honor. Instead, Brooks confronted Sumner on a nearly empty Senate floor, as Sumner was stamping copies of his Crime Against Kansas speech. Brooks beat the defenseless Sumner to a pulp as Keitt stood by with a drawn gun. The incident made heroes of both men in the Northern and Southern press. The New York Times sent a champion bare-knuckles boxer to cover Congress as a reporter. Admirers in the South mailed canes to Brooks and held banquets in his honor. We are rejoiced. The only regret we feel is that Mr. Brooks did not employ a slave whip instead of a stick, said the Richmond (Virginia) Whig, echoing the sentiments of some Southern newspapers. Sumner survived the attack, but he didnt return to the Senate for three years. His desk remained empty as a symbol of a divided nation. After his return in 1860, Sumner served in the Senate until his death in 1874. Brooks was later challenged to a duel by another politician, but backed out at the last moment. Brooks died in 1857 from the croup, after he had been expelled from the House and then re-elected. Representative Lauren Underwood (D., Ill.) on Wednesday accused the acting Department of Homeland Security secretary of intentionally implementing border-security policies that would lead to the deaths of migrant children. During his appearance before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan was asked to explain why five children have died in federal custody after being apprehended at the southern border since December. These stories are appalling and yet they keep happening, Underwood said, referring to the recent migrants deaths, as well as reports of inadequate housing and medical care for migrant children apprehended at the border. Now Congress just provided half a billion dollars in February to address the humanitarian crisis at the border and will soon provide more. Why do these tragedies keep happening? McAleenan, who succeeded Kirstjen Nielsen in April, responded that the resources provided by Congress are insufficient to address the record number of asylum seekers, many of whom are women and children, arriving at the border each day. Theyre happening because the crisis is exceeding the resources provided. Thats why weve asked for more and weve asked for more authority to prevent this crisis from happening in the first place and to prevent the children from being placed at risk, he said. Underwood, a 32-year-old freshman lawmaker, dismissed McAleenans claims, suggesting instead that he was implementing policies intended to result in the death of children. People keep dying, sir. People keep dying. So, this is obviously more than a question of resources, she said. Congress has been more than willing to provide the resources and work with you to address the security and humanitarian concerns, but at this point, with five kids that have died, 5,000 separated from their families, I feel like and the evidence is really clear that this is intentional. Its a policy choice being made on purpose by this administration and its cruel and inhumane. Story continues Thats an appalling accusation and our men and women fight hard to protect people in our custody every single day, McAleenan responded. The acting DHS secretary denies the accusation that migrant deaths are "intentional" policy. pic.twitter.com/7xiThg8IVY VICE News (@vicenews) May 22, 2019 Republicans on the panel reacted forcefully to Underwoods assertion. The ranking Republican on the committee, Representative Mike Rogers (R., Mich.) called for a vote to strike her comments from the record. The vote passed 9-7. You cannot impugn the character of the witness by stating that he intentionally murders children. That is completely inappropriate and her words should be taken down, Rogers said during the hearing. She was very explicit. Its absolutely disheartening to see some radical Democrats stoop so low to say that the Acting DHS Secretary McAleenan is murdering children. McAleenan left the private sector to serve his country after the towers fell on 9/11. This is a sad day for America and the Democrat party, Representative Mark Green (R., Tenn.) said in a statement provided to National Review. On Monday, 16-year-old Carlos Hernandez Vasquez became the fifth migrant child to die in federal custody in the last six months. Vasquez crossed into the U.S. without his parents and died of the flu at a Border Patrol station in Weslaco, Texas after spending a week in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CPB). His death has drawn scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers, who have pointed out that policy dictates he should have been transferred to the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within 72 hours of his apprehension. Make no mistake: This is a pattern of death. This is an epidemic of death by the Trump administration, Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas told reporters during a press conference Tuesday. As I mentioned, nobody had died for ten years. And in the last six months, youve had five deaths. The Trump administration has for months urged Congress to provide resources for medical care and the construction of housing units that can accommodate the new asylum-seekers arriving at the southern border. The existing detention centers lack the capacity to handle the record influx and were built to accommodate the mostly single men who formerly comprised most of the illegal-migrant population. The administration has also urged Congress to reform the asylum system through legislation in order to limit the number of migrants who must be detained on U.S. soil while their claims are being adjudicated. More from National Review There are lots of ways to adjudicate the present political divide over the collusion hoax. One method might be to see whether those targeted by Robert Mueller had ever begun accusing each other of collusion to save their own skins. That did not happen. Even the perjurer Michael Cohen, who accused Trump of all sorts of improper business practices in an effort to negotiate a lighter sentence, never claimed that the president had colluded with the Russians the Holy Grail search of the Mueller all-stars. Yet John Brennan, James Clapper, James Comey, and Andrew McCabe are suddenly alleging that someone other than themselves is the guilty instigator in seeding the dossier into a presidential intelligence report, is the guilty party that deceived a FISA court, and is the guilty culprit who was leaking to the media. So apparently the new climate is now no longer There was no crime committed but rather He did it, not me. Yet another calibration might be who exactly is deleting documents and who is not. So far Robert Mueller has not accused Donald Trump or his subordinates of deleting Trumps emails. Indeed, Trumps campaign and administration reportedly turned over 1.4 million documents to Special Counsel Mueller. Again, no one has claimed that they have been destroyed. What a contrast with Trumps various antagonists. Take Nellie Ohr, who worked on the Steele dossier, in part because she was well connected in Washington her husband, Bruce Ohr, was the fourth-ranking official in the Obama Justice Department. In one email of a recent trove released to the public, thanks to a suit filed by Judicial Watch, Nellie Ohr announced to her husband and others that she was deleting emails from her husbands government email account. How many emails belonging to the government given that Bruce Ohr apparently used the account on government time and with a government computer did she delete? And why exactly did she wipe out government correspondence? Story continues Maybe it is because both Nellie and Bruce were funneling unverified accusations of collusion directly to the DOJ and FBI in hopes of seeding the damaging rumors before the 2016 election, and thus enhancing their own tag-team efforts as both producers and disseminators of dirt. Thanks also to Nellie, Bruce was able to deliver her memory stick of data directly to FBI grandees to ensure that his wifes contributions to the unverified research about nonexistent Trump-Russian collusion was planted in the top echelons of the bureau. And Bruce Ohr also briefed high-ranking officials of both the DOJ and FBI on the dossier during late July and August 2016 not too long before rumors mysteriously began appearing in the media based on unnamed FBI sources that candidate Trump was a veritable traitor who had for years colluded with the Russians and was compromised and subject to blackmail. Note as well that Bruce Ohr admitted to staying in close communication with Christopher Steele even after the FBI had officially severed its relationship with the supposed untrustworthy ex-spy. Why then believe that Bruce Ohr was worried about the veracity of the very dossier he helped spread and whose author he continued to cultivate, even after the FBI had had enough of the duplicitous Steele? We know that both Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, FBI members of Robert Muellers dream team, were fired (reassigned) from the special counsels army, for their improper or perhaps embarrassing behavior. The two paramours had sent each other thousands of secret text messages, which were uncovered by the inspector general, who was apparently concerned that the communications revealed their bias against the target of their investigation, Donald Trump, as well as gratuitous slurs about his supporters. In addition, the Strzok-Page trove brought to light possible illegal activity and hints of an ongoing insurance policy conspiracy to destroy candidate Trump either before the 2016 election or, if he were to be elected, during his transition, or to hide their own previous felonious conduct. When Mueller became aware of the corruption within his team, he quite cleverly staggered the firings of both and did not initially tell the media why the two were let go in the first place. But now we are getting a somewhat fuller accounting that a staffer assigned to Muellers own team apparently erased a sizable quantity of additional text messages from Strzoks government phone in apparent fear that a subpoena or suit would lead to their release. So nearly a month after Strzok was taken off the Mueller probe, all his messages on his additional FBI-issued iPhone were simply deleted by an unnamed individual who worked for Muellers special-counsel team. The anonymous bureaucrat reassured federal investigators that she determined that the phone did not contain records that needed to be retained. And she had noted as well that there were no substantive texts, notes or reminders. So Robert Muellers staffer decided that messages from its own fired investigator, Strzok (already exposed from other text messages as an anti-Trump partisan and near-conspirator), were so irrelevant that she just deleted them. So there was no need for the inspector general to read the texts, and, after all, the government needed that cleansed cellphone to be reassigned to someone else? Remember that about the same thing happened with the second half of that communications link. Just two weeks after Lisa Page left Muellers dream team, her government-issued cellphone likewise was mysteriously wiped clean, even though it was apparently never reissued to another FBI employee. Earlier, the inspector general had retrieved nearly 20,000 Strzok-Page additional texts that had been lost due to a purported mechanical error. The inspector general never referenced that additional trove in his initial report. In sum, people either on Robert Muellers own team or sympathetic to his efforts chose to destroy evidence that might well in theory have given additional proof that two of his teams investigators were not just Trump-haters but were actively seeking to destroy Trumps candidacy. Again, if there was no wrongdoing, why in such a politically charged climate delete messages? Answer: We are asked to believe that while Mueller was spending $34 million in an effort to incriminate or indict Trump, certain Mueller team members were so cost-conscious about saving government funds that they had to delete data to recycle a single FBI iPhone. There is not much need to review Hillary Clintons now well-known massive destruction of more than 33,000 subpoenaed emails found on her illegal private server, which she used while secretary of State. We now know that at least 100 emails of those that she did hand over contained classified information, along with other additional confidential and secret communications. In other words, if Clinton supposedly gave the FBI all her government business emails and yet overlooked that about 100 of them contained classified information, what are we to think was in those that she destroyed on the ground that their contents, in her own opinion, were strictly private? Why not let the FBI make that determination? Knowingly trafficking in classified government information on an unsecure device is a felony. Yet Clinton produced evidence that she had done just that, as well as arbitrarily deciding that thousands of her supposedly private mails had nothing to do with government business but mostly pertained to her daughters wedding, food, and yoga. Therefore, she simply destroyed them and assumed the government could worry about it. Or rather, Team Clinton employed the cyber tool bleach bit to ensure that the messages would be permanently unrecoverable by government investigators. Remember, key to Clintons eventual exoneration was James Comeys decision to accept Peter Strzoks suggested edit in the description of Clintons behavior: Her mishandling of classified communication should be described as merely extremely careless, he advised, rather than grossly negligent since the latter term might well constitute a felony. How can one be merely careless in nuking more than 30,000 emails or in deliberately setting up a private server to hide all record of her communications while secretary of State? In sum, what might we have known from these now deleted thousands of communications among federal officials? We do not know. We can infer only that these officials did not wish us to know whatever it is that we might have known. And they were so confident in their ability to ignore the law or to be exempt from it that they acted successfully to ensure that we did not know. In other words, the custodians of justice at the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the State Department, and their staff or family, destroyed evidence in a manner that would have likely sent any ordinary American to prison had he done the same thing. The media role in all this is surreal. Each day that journalists cling to the Brennan, Clapper, Clinton, Comey, McCabe, and Steele narrative is a day they must ignore that their supposed heroes are no longer denying unlawful behavior but rather accusing one another of it. And they must also forget that many of their resistance icons were not producing relevant data but instead doing their best to destroy it. More from National Review Brussels (AFP) - A Somali refugee standing as a Green in Britain, a jailed Catalan separatist and the former Greek finance minister running in Berlin are among the more unusual candidates for the European Parliament. - German nemesis comes to Berlin - At the height of the Greek crisis in 2015, finance minister Yanis Varoufakis was the bete noire of his hardline German counterpart Wolfgang Schaueble, who demanded drastic austerity in return for helping Athens. Four years on, the iconoclastic economist is running for the European Parliament in Berlin for Democracy in Europe, a German political party that is part of DiEM25 -- the anti-establishment movement Varoufakis himself helped to launch in early 2016. His poll numbers may be low but he chose to run in Germany hoping its favourable electoral rules will help him win a seat. The 58-year-old is running a stealth campaign with few major public events but his group is pushing for a "green new deal" and -- in the interests of transparency -- the broadcasting of all meetings of European leaders and the European Central Bank (ECB). - Another Mussolini - Caio Giulio Cesare Mussolini is the second descendant of Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini to run for the European Parliament after Alessandra, his father's cousin, who has been an MEP since 2014. The great-grandson of Italy's World War II leader, the former submariner is running for the small far-right Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party, which may not reach the threshold of four percent of votes needed to win a seat in Italy. If elected, the 51-year-old has said he would abolish the European Parliament's seat in Strasbourg and give more power to MEPs. - Somali refugee, Brit and Green - Born in Somalia, Magid Magid moved to Britain as a child refugee and grew up in a poor neighbourhood in the northern city of Sheffield. With his flamboyant sense of style and determination to reach young voters through social media, "Magic" Magid rose to prominence when he became the city's Lord Mayor in 2018. Story continues Now a candidate for the Greens in the European Parliament, he says he wants to be the voice of young people and refugees, but his chances of being elected are very slim. - Catalan separatist behind bars - Former separatist Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras, who is in pre-trial detention in Spain, is the leader of the European regionalist parties group for the May 23 to 26 elections and therefore their candidate for the presidency of the European Commission. He was able to stand for election because he has not yet been tried -- a conviction would have disqualified him. The 50-year-old former university professor, an MEP between 2009 and 2011, faces 25 years in prison for his role in Catalonia's October 2017 independence attempt. Junqueras has gained some kudos for staying in Spain and going to jail -- unlike his rival for the leadership of the Catalan independence movement Carles Puigdemont, who fled to exile in Belgium. - Polish transsexual - Anna Grodzka broke new ground in staunchly Roman Catholic Poland when she was elected its first transsexual lawmaker in 2011. The 65-year-old former filmmaker and publisher, who also made an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2015, is now running for the European Parliament with the left-wing Razem (Together) party. Razem holds no seats in the Polish parliament and polls suggest its bid to the enter the European Parliament will be unsuccessful. Grodzka is campaigning for an EU-wide minimum wage, coordinated labour and tax rules, as well as a financial transaction tax. She co-founded the Trans-Fuzja foundation to counsel others like her and is also active in the LGBT Business Forum. By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said a decision by France regarding the 5G telecoms network would be based on security and performance of networks, and added that Paris would not rule out a specific operator as not being welcome. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron said it was not the aim of France to block Huawei, nor to launch any form of technological war, a day after the U.S. government moved to blacklist the Chinese telecoms giant. "We want to carry out a careful control of this 5G deployment ... without designating an operator as unwelcome in France," Le Maire told reporters on Tuesday. France's ARCEP telecoms regulator also said on Tuesday that 5G deployment would go ahead as planned in 2020 despite the current difficulties faced by Huawei. "We will take decisions based on technological interest and the strategic security of our networks," said Le Maire. He added that it was by no means certain that Huawei had the best technology. Paris would assess all the alternatives very closely, he said. "I'm not sure that we don't have a choice. There are other operators that offer solutions and we are going to assess that in the coming months," he said, referring to Sweden's Ericsson. "I met the president of Ericsson and he presented technological options... this idea that there is only Huawei and all the other firms are so far behind needs to be checked and can be questioned," said Le Maire. The U.S. Commerce Department on Friday blocked Huawei from buying U.S. goods, saying the firm was involved in activities contrary to national security, a move that could in turn have an impact on Europe as it begins to roll out 5G services. "The Huawei-Google affair is quite rightly making so much noise because Google has restricted Huawei of access to technology on Android and this illustrates the clearest example of this technological war," said Le Maire. (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) By Emilie Dewarde PARIS (Reuters) - A French woman whose husband died in the crash of a Boeing 737 MAX airliner in Ethiopia has filed a U.S. lawsuit against the planemaker, seeking at least $276 million in damages. The crash of Ethiopian Airlines flight 302 in March killed all 157 passengers and crew aboard and followed the death in October of 189 people on a Lion Air 737 MAX which plunged into the ocean off Indonesia in similar circumstances. Dozens of families have sued Boeing over the Lion Air crash, and several lawsuits have been lodged over the Ethiopian crash near the capital Addis Ababa, which led airlines around the world to ground the Boeing 737 MAX. The lawsuit on behalf of Nadege Dubois-Seex, whose husband Jonathan Seex was a Swedish and Kenyan citizen and chief executive of the Tamarind Group of Companies, was filed in a U.S. District Court in Chicago, her lawyer said on Tuesday. The complaint, which was filed on Monday, alleges Boeing failed to inform pilots properly about the risks posed by software meant to prevent the 737 MAX from stalling which repeatedly lowered the plane's nose due to a faulty sensor data. U.S. attorney Nomaan Husain told a Paris news conference his client was seeking a minimum of $276 million in damages. "We have learned that Boeing relied on a single sensor that had been previously flagged in over 200 incident reports submitted to the FAA (U.S. Federal Aviation Administration)," Husain said in a statement. Two Boeing spokeswomen in Europe did not reply to messages seeking comment, while a Boeing spokesman in the United States did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. "Our family has lost its shining knight and the world has lost a brilliant entrepreneur," Dubois-Seex, a French citizen, said in a statement. Boeing said last week it had completed an update to the 737 MAX's MCAS software and was in the process of submitting a plan for related pilot training to the FAA. It is unclear when the 737 MAX aircraft will receive FAA approval to return to service. Safety regulators in other countries have said they plan to independently assess Boeing's fixes before giving their approval. (Reporting by Emilie Dewarde; Editing by Richard Lough, Jason Neely and Alexander Smith) Toothless and nearly blind, grandmother Pham Thi Ca refuses to leave her plot of land even after bulldozers demolished her house -- an extraordinary holdout against communist Vietnam's deepening addiction to coal. The 99-year-old was offered money to move as authorities hoovered up land for a planned $2.6 billion Japanese-funded coal plant in the remote Van Phong Bay she has called home since birth. But when she said no, around 100 authorities showed up, forcibly removed her from the house and bulldozed it as she and her grandson looked on. They were helpless to prevent the destruction of the property two years ago, but Ca, frail and wizened, has rebuffed all attempts to evict her from the land since. "The authorities carried me away, but I refuse to move," explains Ca, who now lives in a makeshift shelter of corrugated tin, wooden beams and coconut fronds next to the pile of rubble that was once her home. "My house is here, my land is here, so I will be buried here," she tells AFP, sitting on a small cot where she spends much of her time. It's a story playing out across Vietnam, where a strong-fisted government is powering ahead with coal projects to meet the soaring energy demands of a turbo-charged economy. Coal accounts for about a third of Vietnam's current energy production and is slated to rise to about 50 percent by 2030. That means building more coal plants in places like Van Phong Bay despite a chorus of opposition from locals who complain of land grabs, loss of livelihood and environmental damage. - 'I can't do anything' - Some 300 people have already been relocated from Ca's community in south-central Khanh Hoa province. They were offered cash compensation and rooms in state housing -- but the residences were far from their farms and fishing grounds. The $43,000 inducement to leave their 9,000 square-meter plot was not enough to upend Ca's family. "We cannot work there, there is no land for cultivation," says Ca's son Ho Huu Hanh, referring to the proposed relocation area. Story continues He insists that they were never told about the planned coal plant and accuses authorities of bending the law to strongarm residents to leave. The family lost their farmland anyway. Now Hanh works as a day-labourer or catches snails and small fish to get by, earning about $170 a month. "I can't do anything, I feel so sorry for myself," he adds, crying. Others in the area are worried about what the coal plant will do to fish and coral reefs in the bay where water temperatures could rise due to the plant's runoff. Like many of the 20 or so coal plants already operating in Vietnam, the bulk of the funding for the yet-to-be-built Van Phong plant is external. The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) last month approved a $1.2 billion loan for the project, which is sponsored by the Sumitomo Corporation of Japan and is set to come online in 2023. Sumitomo says assessments were conducted to measure the environmental, social and health impacts of the project which were "managed and mitigated appropriately". It says consultation meetings were held with residents and that compensation and resettlement was "carried out under the responsibility of local authorities in accordance with the laws of Vietnam". Vietnamese officials did not reply to AFP's request for comment. - Covered in ash - Developing economies like Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia are particularly attractive for investors from Japan, South Korea and China as the developed world turns away from coal in search of clean energy. Foreign investment has skewed Vietnam's energy strategy, locking it "into expensive and dirty power for decades," warns Julien Vincent, executive director at Market Forces, a non-governmental energy investment watchdog. But for power-hungry Vietnam coal is for now cheaper, more reliable and more familiar than renewables, which currently provide less than one percent of the country's power generation. That number will inch upward to 2.3 percent by next year, according to Vietnam's power plan, with private investment already rushing to fund wind and solar projects. But renewables alone cannot meet Vietnam's insatiable appetite for power. "Wind and solar are environmentally friendly but very unstable... we cannot just use renewable energy to supplement our big energy needs," says Bui Van Thinh, the director of Phu Lac wind farm in Binh Thuan province. Still, many are pushing for renewables to be favoured over the 30 or so coal plants slated to come online by 2030. "After 2020 we don't need to build new coal power plants," argues Nguyen Thi Hang, the head of the clean air and water program at Vietnamese NGO GreenID. "Energy efficiency and renewable energy should be prioritised, gas can be considered as a midterm bridge." Just down the road from the coastal perch of Thinh's 24-MW wind farm sits one of Vietnam's largest coal plants, the sprawling 6,200-MW capacity Vinh Tan complex. The enormous site in a once-sleepy fishing village has for locals come at a price. "It used to be nice, clean and pure here," recalls resident Nguyen Tai Tien. "Now there is smoke... and every morning and afternoon we have to sweep our house and the roads because of all the ash," he adds. By Renee Maltezou IOANNINA, Greece (Reuters) - He caused a stir with unorthodox tactics at the peak of Greece's debt crisis four years ago, sees politics as a job that stinks but still needs doing, and says the European Union needs fixing. Yanis Varoufakis, the former Greek finance minister, self-declared "erratic" Marxist and motorbike enthusiast, is back and wants to take his vision for a fairer society to the European Parliament. But, true to form, he won't be bound by conventional politics in the May 23-26 European election. Instead, of standing in Greece he is running for a European parliamentary seat in Germany, whose austerity-minded government he locked horns with during the Greek debt row. "There is no clash between the Greeks and the Germans, there is a clash between progressive rational humanist policies on the one hand and the varieties of authoritarianism on the other," Varoufakis told Reuters in the northern Greek city of Ioannina. He will be seeking a seat as leader of his DiEM25 movement, a group that says it wants to halt the "rise of misanthropy, xenophobia and toxic nationalism" and stop the EU disintegrating. As part of its transnational approach, DiEM25, which is part of the European Spring coalition, is fielding candidates across the continent regardless of nationality, so Greek Varoufakis aims to represent a German constituency in the assembly. "The mishandling of the euro crisis was a colossal trauma, a colossal wound that was inflicted upon European capitalism," said Varoufakis, who rattled state and commercial lenders as minister at the peak of the debt crisis in 2015 before quitting office when a third bailout was forced on Greece. FIGHTING XENOPHOBIA "This process of disintegration and deconstruction is continuing. Brexit is just an extreme example of that," he said of Britain's referendum vote to leave the European Union. His campaign has won over some well-known backers, not all of them Europeans, such as the U.S. linguist and political activist Noam Chomsky and former Baywatch actress-turned-activist Pamela Anderson. Varoufakis has travelled across Europe with an agenda he said "can tackle climate extinction and create good quality jobs - the best antidote to misanthropy and orchestrated xenophobia". Dressed in a black suit, Varoufakis strode into a hotel conference room with potential voters in Ioannina, displaying the same panache and confidence he did when he addressed disapproving European ministers in Brussels. This time, his policy proposals include a "Green New Deal" in which the euro zone would invest 5 percent of annual economic output or 500 billion euros in new technologies via European Investment Bank bonds guaranteed by the European Central Bank. "It's the minimum and it's highly doable," he said. "The money is there. Its sloshing around the financial sector doing damage ... all it does is bid up share prices. It's only useful from the perspective of CEO's whose bonuses are linked to share prices." Varoufakis said he was more "mellow" since his ministerial days when he was branded a rabblerouser for his cause. But he said he still felt an obligation to speak his mind. If he wins the seat in the European Parliament, he said it would be a symbolic gesture to reflect his pan-European programme and said he could hand the seat over to another candidate after a few months to prepare for a return to Greek politics. Although he professes to have never liked being a minister, he said he had always been a "political animal", describing the work of a politician as a duty like "taking the rubbish out at night". "It's a dirty job, somebody has got to do it," he said. "If you dont, you know, the place will stink." (Editing by Michele Kambas and Edmund Blair) By Jessie Pang HONG KONG (Reuters) - Germany has granted refugee status to two Hong Kong activists facing rioting charges at home, they said on Wednesday, apparently the first time Germany has acknowledged such status for democracy campaigners from the Chinese-ruled city. Ray Wong, 25, and Alan Li, 27, both told Reuters by telephone they were granted refugee asylum status in Germany in May 2018. Wong showed a document setting out that status. "We have become the first two political refugees (from Hong Kong) in Europe," said Li. Hong Kong's Secretary for Security John Lee earlier skirted questions from the media on whether the city would seek to extradite the pair back from Germany. The German consulate in Hong Kong said it was aware that the two Hong Kong residents were staying in Germany, although it could not provide details on individual cases. Wong and Li, former members of Hong Kong Indigenous, a group advocating Hong Kong's independence from China, were charged for rioting linked to a protest that turned violent in February 2016. The pair later skipped bail and fled to Germany in 2017 via Taiwan. Hong Kong activists have become increasingly defiant in recent years amid fears of creeping interference from Beijing despite a promise of special autonomy. Scores of activists have been jailed on various charges including contempt of court and public nuisance, with critics saying Hong Kong authorities were prosecuting them to stifle freedom of expression and assembly. "Our success in gaining political refugee status reflects the situation in Hong Kong is worsening in the eyes of the international community. Hong Kong has changed completely from the past," Li said. Hong Kong authorities deny persecuting activists. In April, a city court jailed four leaders of a 2014 "Occupy" pro-democracy civil disobedience movement, while young activist Joshua Wong was jailed for two months this month. BREAKING SILENCE Both Wong and Li said they decided to break their silence given their alarm at a proposed extradition law that will extend Beijing's control over the financial hub. "They would make use of the extradition law to suppress the democratic movement (and) dissidents," said Wong. Chris Patten, Hong Kong's last British governor before it returned to Chinese rule in 1997, said the extradition law was the "worst thing" to happen since then, and could jeopardize the city's global financial status in an interview with Bloomberg. Wong said freedoms in Hong Kong had been destroyed by Beijing and the Hong Kong government since the city was handed back from British rule under a "one country, two systems" deal meant to ensure freedoms not allowed in mainland China including an independent judiciary. The proposed extradition law would allow people in the city accused of a crime, including foreigners, to be extradited to countries without formal extradition agreements, including mainland China. Hong Kong authorities have stressed the extradition law would not be used to prosecute political crimes, but Wong said he feared it could be used to suppress the pro-democracy movement, as Beijing could extradite activists to China. The pair lived in three refugee camps in Germany for more than 10 months until August last year. They said they shared a room with up to 10 people at times, including ethnic Uighur and Tibetan refugees fleeing persecution in China. Both have been learning German and hope to study at a German university while continuing to defend Hong Kong's rights. "It's a very sad thing that I needed to leave Hong Kong," said Li. "I predict that once the (extradition) law is passed, more and more people will seek refuge in other countries." (Writing by Anne Marie Roantree; Editing by James Pomfret and Robert Birsel) Industries in northeastern China have spewed large quantities of an ozone-depleting gas into the atmosphere in violation of an international treaty, scientists said Wednesday. Since 2013, annual emissions from northeastern China of the banned chemical CFC-11 have increased by about 7,000 tonnes, they reported in the peer-reviewed journal Nature. "CFCs are the main culprit in depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects us from the Sun's ultra-violet radiation," said lead author Matt Rigby, an atmospheric chemist at the University of Bristol. Chlorofluorocarbon-11 was widely used in the 1970s and 1980s as a refrigerant and to make foam insulation. The 1987 Montreal Protocol banned CFCs and other industrial aerosols that chemically dissolve protective ozone 10-to-40 kilometres (6-25 miles) above Earth's surface, especially over Antarctica and Australia. Following the ban's entry into force, global concentrations of CFC-11 declined steadily until about 2012. But last year startled scientists discovered that the pace of that slowdown dropped by half from 2013 to 2017. Because the chemical does not occur in Nature, the change could only have been produced by new emissions. Evidence pointed to East Asia, but could not nail down the exact origin. "Our monitoring stations were set up in remote locations far from potential sources," explained co-author Ron Prinn, a professor at MIT. Reports last year from the Environmental Investigation Agency fingered Chinese foam factories in the coastal province of Shandong and the inland province of Hebei, which surrounds Beijing. Suspicions were strengthened when authorities subsequently shut down some of these facilities without explanation. To probe further, an international team of atmospheric scientists gathered additional data from monitoring stations in Japan and Taiwan. "Our measurements showed 'spikes' in pollution when air arrived from industrialised areas" in China, said another lead author, Sunyoung Park from Kyungpook National University. Story continues - Rogue factories - The team also ran computer simulations that confirmed the origin of the CFC-11 molecules. "We didn't find evidence of increased emissions from Japan, the Korean peninsula or any other country," added Luke Western, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Bristol. The findings also has implications for the fight against climate change. "Perhaps even more serious is the role of CFCs as long-lived greenhouse gases," Joanna Haigh, a professor at Imperial College London, noted last year in reaction to the initial report. Two decades ago, CFCs -- more potent by far as greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide or methane -- accounted for around 10 percent of human-induced global warming. Pouring more CFC-11 into the air could also prevent ozone from returning to normal levels, scientists warn. "If emissions do not decline, it will delay the recovery of the Antarctic ozone hole, possibly for decades," said Paul Fraser, an honorary fellow the CSIRO Climate Science Centre in Australia. CFC-11 persists in the atmosphere for about half a century, and still contributes about a quarter of all chlorine -- the chemical that triggers the breakdown of ozone -- reaching the stratosphere. At its most depleted, around the turn of the 21st century, the ozone layer had declined by about five percent. Today, the "hole in the ozone" over the South Pole is showing clear signs of recovery. But a study last year found that the ozone layer is unexpectedly declining in the lower stratosphere over the planet's populated tropical and mid-latitude regions. Up to now, CFCs and other molecules have mainly eroded ozone in the upper stratosphere, and over the poles. That study identified two possible culprits: industrial chemicals not covered by the Montreal Protocol called "very short-lived substances" (VSLSs), and climate change. At least six people were killed as Indonesia's capital erupted in violence when police clashed with protesters opposed to the re-election of President Joko Widodo. Police sirens blared as fresh skirmishes broke out Wednesday evening with thousands of protesters chanting and waving Indonesian flags in the heart of the capital. Some hurled stones and fireworks at riot police who lined up behind a razor wire barricade near the election supervisory agency building. Police pushed back the main group of rioters after firing tear gas and rubber bullets at the demonstrators. At least three officers were injured in the clashes and carried away, an AFP reporter on the scene said. Earlier, dozens were arrested and parts of Jakarta were littered with debris and burned-out cars, as the violence triggered security advisories from the US and Australian embassies. Authorities also restricted access to some social media in a bid to stop rumours and fake news from spreading online. National police chief Tito Karnavian said six people had died, but denied authorities had fired live rounds at protesters, and called for calm. "Some had gunshot wounds, some had blunt force wounds but we still need to clarify this," he told reporters. Jakarta's governor Anies Baswedan said about 200 people had been injured. The violence came after Indonesia's election commission on Tuesday confirmed Widodo had beaten retired military general Prabowo Subianto for the presidency in a poll held on April 17. Subianto has said he would challenge the results in court -- as he did, unsuccessfully, against Widodo in 2014 -- but also warned his claims of widespread cheating could spark street protests. That was borne out early Wednesday as protesters set market stalls and cars on fire while hurling fireworks and rocks at security personnel clad in riot gear and holding shields, an AFP reporter said. Authorities blamed the violence on paid "provocateurs", citing money-filled envelopes they said were found on some of the 257 demonstrators arrested. Story continues The early morning clashes started after several thousand Subianto supporters rallied peacefully on Tuesday evening. - 'Don't want chaos' - On Wednesday, roads were blocked off in parts of the sprawling metropolis -- with some shopping malls, businesses and schools also closed as small groups of protesters engaged in skirmishes with police. "I open myself to anyone who wants to develop this nation, but I won't tolerate anyone who tries to disrupt public security, the democratic process or the unity of our... country," Widodo said at a press briefing, flanked by his chief security minister and the head of the military. Early Thursday, Subianto called for the protesters to go home, and again urged them to avoid violence. "Trust in your leaders. We are struggling in the legal and constitutional way," he said in a video on his Twitter feed. "We're all looking for the best solution for the nation." The former military man -- who has strong ties to the Suharto dictatorship that collapsed in 1998 -- has kept up a steady stream of rhetoric since unofficial results for last month's poll put bitter rival Widodo ahead by a wide margin. The soft-spoken Widodo -- who pointed to his efforts to boost Southeast Asia's biggest economy with a huge infrastructure push -- stood in stark contrast to Subianto, a fiery strongman who courted Islamic hardliners and promised to boost military and defence spending. Election officials and analysts have discounted Subianto's claims, but many supporters appeared convinced of rampant cheating in the world's third-biggest democracy behind India and the United States. "We came here to demand justice because there was fraud in this presidential election," protester Mato told AFP. "We don't want chaos, but that depends on the police," he added. More than 30,000 troops had been deployed across the city in anticipation of unrest, and the elections commission office was barricaded with razor wire and protected by scores of security personnel. Elsewhere, hundreds took part in a peaceful rally over election cheating claims in Sumatra's Medan city, while a police station was torched in Pontianak on Borneo island. The protests in support of Subianto sparked a backlash online from opponents with the hashtag #TangkapPRABOWO (#ArrestPrabowo) trending widely on social media. Tensions have also spiked since police said last week that they had arrested dozens of Islamic State-linked terrorism suspects who had planned to cause chaos by bombing protests. Indonesian police said Wednesday they were probing reports that at least one demonstrator was killed in clashes that broke out in the capital Jakarta overnight after a rally opposed to President Joko Widodo's re-election. Authorities clad in riot gear fired tear gas to disperse crowds from downtown Jakarta early Wednesday morning, as some demonstrators refused to leave the area and hurled fireworks and rocks at police. Earlier, some protesters had set market stalls on fire, according to an AFP reporter on the scene, and a number of cars were set alight. It was not immediately clear how many demonstrators or police may have been injured. But National police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said authorities were probing reports that a protester had been killed by a stray bullet, although he denied that the police had fired live rounds. "We are still checking, but I need to reiterate that police officers were not equipped with live bullets," he told reporters. About 20 people were arrested, he added. A former special forces commander was earlier detained for trying to smuggle weapons into protests, according to the government. A major commuter train station in the area had been temporarily shut, while roads were blocked off in parts of the sprawling city. Some shopping malls, businesses and schools were also closed. More than 30,000 troops had been deployed across Jakarta in anticipation of protests after official election results were published. On Tuesday, Indonesia's election commission confirmed Widodo, 57, had beaten retired military general Prabowo Subianto for the presidency in a poll held on April 17. Subianto has said he would challenge the results in court, and earlier warned that his claims of widespread cheating could spark street protests. Several thousand people rallied in support of Subianto near the election supervisory agency office in the heart of the capital on Tuesday. The protest ended peacefully, but then violent clashes broke out several hours later after some demonstrators returned to the scene. Tensions have also spiked since police said last week that they had arrested dozens of Islamic State-linked terror suspects who had planned to cause chaos by bombing post-election protests. Last month, a record 245,000 candidates ran for public office in Indonesia's elections, from the presidency and parliamentary seats to local positions -- the first time all were held on the same day. Barcelona (AFP) - Former Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras has been in jail for more than 18 months but on Tuesday he will be temporarily released, and sworn in as a Spanish lawmaker. The head of Catalan separatist party ERC is one of five Catalan leaders on trial for their roles in an October 2017 Catalonian secession bid who were elected deputies in Spain's April 28 general election. Four won seats in the lower house of parliament and one was elected to the Senate. "They want to silence and marginalise us, and the ballot box has given our voice back. We defeated repression through the power of voting," Junqueras, 50, told AFP in a written interview from prison. He is the main protagonist in the trial that opened in February at Spain's Supreme Court in Madrid of 12 Catalan leaders accused of rebellion and other charges in connection with a banned independence referendum held on October 1, 2017 that was followed by a short-lived declaration of independence. Junqueras, a lifelong supporter of independence, could face 25 years in prison if convicted. "The fact that we are political prisoners in detention is a great anomaly. For what reason? for having staged a referendum. This is our crime, setting up ballot boxes and voting," he said. Junqueras seems as determined as when he was jailed in November 2017 after choosing to remain in Spain rather than flee abroad following the failed declaration of independence. "It is obvious that we will not renounce independence or the right to self-determination," he said. - Backing for Sanchez? - His ERC party won 15 seats in Spain's 350-seat lower house of parliament in last month's general election, ahead of the Junts per Catalunya party (JxCAT) of Carles Puigdemont who led the regional Catalan government during the independence bid. The JxCAT won seven seats, giving Catalan separatist parties a total of 22 seats in the assembly. Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's Socialists won the most seats in the election but fell short of an absolute majority. To be sworn in again as prime minister, he is likely to rely on some parties abstaining from voting. Story continues Spain's new parliament will likely vote at the beginning of July on who will become prime minister but Junqueras warned his ERC would not back the Socialists during the investiture vote. "We will not offer our votes to Sanchez. The separatist victory obliges him to sit at the negotiating table but he continues to look elsewhere. He is afraid of dialogue and if there is no dialogue, there is nothing to discuss regarding an investiture," Junqueras said. "We have always said that we will not set any red lines for dialogue. That is the starting point," he added. The ERC has said it is open to dialogue but insists on holding an independence referendum in Catalonia, which Sanchez steadfastly refuses. Junqueras is the lead candidate in this weekend's European Parliament election for a European regionalist party that defends the right to self-determination, the European Free Alliance. "I presented myself as a candidate most of all because it is a way to condemn the repression and democratic regression of the Spanish state," said Junqueras, who was already an MEP between 2009 and 2012. "I am convinced that the European Parliament will not leave anybody out and I will be able to exercise my mandate as a European member of parliament. Europe can't look away when democracy is at stake," he added. Antananarivo (AFP) - Madagascar's anti-corruption agency has begun legal action against more than half of the country's parliamentary deputies who are suspected of taking bribes, just two weeks ahead of legislative elections, a source said Friday. After a year-long enquiry, a dossier on 79 MPs was sent to the prosecutor's office this week "to begin legal action against the accused", the source told AFP. The prosecutor is now expected to examine the dossier and announce whether some or all of the parliamentarians involved will be charged. Madagascar's President Andry Rajoelina has pledged to fight corruption in the Indian Ocean island nation, a former French colony. Graft affects every level of society in one of the world's poorest countries which ranks 155 out of 180 on Transparency International's corruption perception index. Critics say graft seeps into infrastructure projects, the judicial system and even the African nation's illicit rosewood trade as bureaucrats take their cut for services or from business deals. Last year the corruption problem came to a head when parliamentary deputies supportive of then president Hery Rajaonarimampianina put forward a bill to reform electoral law, just months ahead of last year's presidential election. The bill was criticised by Rajoelina and Marc Ravalomanana -- both former presidents who were running for the top office again -- who accused the head of state of attempting to change the rules in his own favour. The opposition accused some deputies of accepting the equivalent of 12,500 euros ($14,000) to vote for the law changes, during a secret meeting at a luxury hotel in a suburb of the capital Antananarivo. The anti-corruption body then opened an enquiry into the 79 deputies, out of the total of 151 in the national assembly, who voted in favour of the electoral reform. The constitutional court eventually annuled part of the new electoral changes amid a political crisis built up by two months of opposition protests. Story continues All those under suspicion are from Rajaonarimampianina's camp. If found guilty they face up to five years in jail for receiving unjustified remuneration in the exercise of their duties. Only a handful of those targeted are seeking a new mandate in the parliamentary election on May 27. Rajaonarimampianina was beaten in the first round of last year's presidential vote which Rajoelina won, beating Ravalomanana in the second-round vote. Muscat (AFP) - Omanis on Wednesday hailed writer Jokha Alharthi's "historical achievement" and praised her for bringing "honour" to their Gulf nation after she became the first Arab author to win the Man Booker International prize. "It is a huge historic achievement for the author, for Oman and for Arabic culture in general," said Saif al-Rahbi, an Omani poet, essayist and writer. "It shows that Omani literature is moving along," he told AFP. Alharthi, 40, received the prestigious prize during a ceremony Tuesday in London for her novel "Celestial Bodies" which depicts life in her small Gulf nation. The 50,000-pound (57,000 euro, $64,000) Man Booker International prize celebrates translated fiction from around the world and is divided equally between the author and the translator. The judges said Celestial Bodies was "a richly imagined, engaging and poetic insight into a society in transition and into lives previously obscured". It tells the story of three sisters who witness the slow pace of development in Omani society during the 20th century. "I am thrilled that a window has been opened to the rich Arabic culture," Alharthi told AFP after the ceremony at the Roundhouse in London. "Oman inspired me but I think international readers can relate to the human values in the book -- freedom and love," she said. The jury praised an "elegantly structured and taut" novel which "tells of Oman's coming-of-age through the prism of one family's losses and loves". The director general of Oman's culture ministry, Said bin Sultan al-Bussaidi, agreed. The novel, he said, shows that Alharthi's work "reflects maturity and has reached an international level". "It is an honour for each and every Omani man and woman... (and the prize) will help spread Omani literature across the world," he added. Alharthi is the author of two previous collections of short fiction, a children's book and three novels in Arabic. Story continues She studied classical Arabic poetry at Edinburgh University and teaches at Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat. In an interview with the BBC at the weekend, Alharthi said she had wanted for a "very long time to write a book about life in Oman (but) couldn't when she was actually in Oman". "But when I went to Edinburgh, the first year was difficult for me, homesickness, cold, so I felt that I need to go back to warmth and feel something from home," she said. "Actually writing saved me." - 'Surge in translation' - Her prize-winning novel -- which the Guardian newspaper said offers "glimpses into a culture relatively little known in the west" -- came out in 2010. Alharthi said on Tuesday that the novel touches on the history of the slave trade in Oman, an absolute monarchy where Sultan Qaboos, who has ruled since 1970, has been pushing for reform. For one expert of Arabic and Middle Eastern literature, it could be a game changer for novels emerging from the region. "It has the potential to orient publishing away from the Arabic novel as answering the question 'what can we learn about them?' and towards the Arabic novel as a work of art," said Marcia Lynx Qualey, editor of ArabLit Quarterly. "The surge in translation of Arabic-language novels is already in progress, but I think this re-orients publishers somewhat," she told AFP. Qualey said there "is definitely a growing interest in works by Gulf authors". "In Kuwait, Oman, Saudi, and elsewhere there are authors writing on issues of class, domestic violence, slavery, racism, patriarchy, power, and other issues that are of global interest," she added. Celestial Bodies was translated by US academic Marilyn Booth, who teaches Arabic literature at Oxford University. Jury chair Bettany Hughes said the novel showed "delicate artistry and disturbing aspects of our shared history". JERUSALEM (AP) A Palestinian businessman who flouts political taboos by working with Israeli settlers in the West Bank could soon have a role in President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan. While Palestinian officials have swiftly rejected next month's planned Mideast conference in Bahrain, Ashraf Jabari says he will be thrilled to attend. Jabari has forged close ties with U.S. diplomats but is viewed with deep suspicion by his fellow Palestinians. That has raised questions about U.S. attempts to cultivate him and other businessmen as alternatives to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. The U.S. has not yet released an official list of attendees at the June 25-26 conference, which seeks to use economic development to lure the Palestinians to the negotiating table. U.S. officials have said it would convene individual business leaders, including some Palestinians who live outside the Palestinian territories. "Our economic plan is an ambitious but achievable vision; it presents an alternative path with the potential to unlock a prosperous future for the Palestinian people if they choose to follow it," said Jason Greenblatt, Trump's Mideast envoy. The Palestinian Authority has said that any plan focusing on economic development at the expense of people's political aspirations is unacceptable. Well-known Palestinian business magnate Bashar Masri, for one, has declined his invitation, vowing not to attend anything that flies in the face of the "Palestinian national consensus." The Palestinians seek an independent state on territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, including the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and the international community overwhelmingly still supports the two-state solution. But Jabari said it is time for some different thinking, noting a quarter-century of failed negotiations. "No Israeli prime minister will ever meet Palestinian demands or vice versa," Jabari told The Associated Press. "We can't keep waiting for a state. We have to think about this area as one entity, not two entities and two realities." Story continues Jabari's vision effectively erases Israel's pre-1967 boundary with the West Bank. It is a vision that is shared by Israeli settlers, who reject a pullout from the West Bank on a combination of religious and security grounds. He says the West Bank's more than 2 million Palestinians should be granted full citizenship rights a scenario that would threaten Israel's status as a Jewish-majority democracy. For now, Jabari's partnership with the settlers, called the "Judea and Samaria Chamber of Commerce," referring to the West Bank by its biblical name, claims not to have a political agenda. It says it seeks to bring Palestinians and Israeli settlers together, joined by a desire to make money and a shared resentment of the Palestinian Authority and disillusionment over failed peace talks. Its members talk of business ventures springing from unexpected personal relationships and gush about benefits of free trade. "We're talking about business-to-business relationships, unfolding on a sub-sovereign level to achieve greater regional stability," said Avi Zimmerman, the chamber's co-founder and a spokesman for the settlement of Ariel. It's a lofty ambition that squares with what Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior Middle East adviser, has revealed about his "fresh approach" to the still mysterious U.S. proposal to settle the conflict: it will start out as a business deal more than a political one, focusing heavily on attracting large-scale investment and infrastructure work to the Palestinian territories. The deal faces major questions. Without an official Palestinian partner in the West Bank, it remains unclear how the U.S. will carry out such large-scale projects there. The Gaza Strip is ruled by Hamas, which Israel and the U.S. consider a terrorist group. And it is hard to imagine donors lining up billions of dollars without an accompanying political plan. On the Israeli side, newly re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in the process of forming a coalition that is expected to be dominated by hard-liners who oppose even minimal concessions to the Palestinians. Like the architects of the peace plan, the chamber has offered only scant outlines of its projects. It promotes Palestinian-Israeli business partnerships, including plans for a few jointly owned shopping centers along the West Bank's main highway. More broadly, it seeks foreign investment for large-scale infrastructure projects connecting Israeli settlements with Palestinian cities, mutually accessible medical centers and tourism initiatives. "This is not about Palestinians working in Israeli factories," Zimmerman said of the Israeli-run industrial zones that have long employed low-wage Palestinian laborers near the settlements. "This is about a shared market, what can be gained from doing business with your neighbor." Its idealistic mission is enough to satisfy David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel and a long-time supporter of Israeli settlements. Friedman has nurtured ties between the council and the Trump administration. Friedman has lashed out repeatedly at the Palestinian Authority since it severed most ties with the U.S. after Trump recognized contested Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017. "To hold the Palestinian people hostage to a political solution to the conflict when business efforts are ripe in front of us is a grave mistake," Friedman said in a speech at the chamber's first international forum in February, drawing fervent applause from an audience of West Bank settlement mayors, ministers and a handful of Palestinian businessmen. At the forum, Jabari hailed Friedman as his "dearest friend," saying, "We are not afraid. We're ready to accept Jews in our houses and in our factory plants." Jabari often hosts Israeli settlers at his home in the West Bank city of Hebron. At a recent "iftar" dinner during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, Jabari served kosher food for his Jewish guests. While welcomed by the settlers, Jabari is seen much differently by fellow Palestinians. His embrace of the settlers has confined him to the political fringe, reviled by fellow Palestinians who regularly tar him as a "collaborator" an insult that bears threats of violence. His iftar meal drew harsh criticism and even death threats on Palestinian social media. Prominent Palestinian activist Issa Amro called Jabari "notorious" for befriending Hebron's ultranationalist settler community. And Ahmed Majdalani, a senior Palestinian official, declared that any Palestinian who participates in the Bahrain conference "is no more than a collaborator." Jabari responded: "The Palestinian Authority is the only collaborator, working with the Israeli government since the Oslo accords." He believes ordinary Palestinians would support his pragmatic approach to profit from their shared geography with Israel if it weren't for the authority's "brainwashing," crackdown on dissent and adherence to a two-state doctrine he says is increasingly divorced from reality. "What have we gained from bloodshed and separation? Nothing," he said. "We need to look at what went wrong and do something different so we can make it right." Singapore (AFP) - Smokers in Singapore will no longer have to sneak a drag on the street, with the launch of the city-state's first air-conditioned "smoking cabin", but the experience won few fans among cigarette puffers on Wednesday. The city-state has some of the world's strictest anti-tobacco laws and smoking is banned in most public places, with a fine of up to Sg$1,000 ($725) if caught. E-cigarettes are also banned outright. The new cabins, which are fitted with a Danish filtration system that can purify cigarette smoke before it is released into the air, can reportedly fit up to 10 people at a time. But tobacco enthusiasts appeared unimpressed, with many choosing to light up at a nearby open-air smoking corner instead. "The atmosphere in there is stifling, honestly. Because it's so small and squeezy, I feel a bit like a second-class citizen smoking in there," e-commerce executive Azfar Zain told AFP after using the cabin. "There are no seats, either. I'm not comfortable with smoking there unless they make the room bigger." Office worker Rama Dass said he preferred to smoke outside, adding, "sometimes I just need a bit of fresh air". Singapore-based Southern Globe Corporation, which launched the cabin on Tuesday, said it planned to deploy 60 such structures by the end of the year. Singapore first introduced anti-tobacco laws in the 1970s as part of a national effort to reduce smoking. It has since expanded the number of public places where lighting up is prohibited, including university campuses, common areas around apartment blocks, and inside private cars with the windows down. Though China ETFs have rallied this year, renewed trade tensions have once again put the countrys investing scene on the backburner. The month started with the incendiary move by President Donald Trump regarding his levy of tariffs on Chinese goods. The Trump administration raised the current 10% tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25% on May 10. The decision, however, has been retaliated by China (read: China's Retaliation Puts These ETFs and Stocks in Focus). Why China is Vulnerable Though trade talks are not dead yet and President Trump and Chinas president Xi Jingpin may resume talks in the upcoming G-20 meet, Trump said that he will impose a 25% tax on an extra $325 billion of Chinese goods shortly (read: Least-Hurt Tech ETFs as China Hits Back). We believe along with several other analysts that there are strong signals from companies of relocating supply chains and manufacturing out of China and into some of the Southeast Asian countries. About 200 American companies are looking to shift their manufacturing base from China to India post general elections, per a top US-based advocacy group in an interview with PTI. Chinas economic growth has also been decelerating. Of late, the economy has seen a retail sales slump and decline in industrial output growth. Fixed-asset investment and private-sector fixed-asset investment growth have also been disappointing (read: China Disappoints With Sluggish Numbers: 5 ETFs in Focus). Given escalating trade tensions with China, American firms may be lured to buy semiconductor parts from Malaysia and data-storage units from Thailand; or consider moving their factories to Vietnam; or start investing more in Indonesia. India, Thailand and Indonesia, being the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) countries, tend to benefit from the U.S.-China trade war, per a source. The GSP act promotes economic development by removing duties on thousands of products when imported from one of 120 designated beneficiary countries and territories. Story continues This is why Aberdeen Standard Investments probably sees opportunities in Southeast Asia as the trade war between the U.S. and China wages on. Aberdeen has strengthened their positions on Singapore, Indonesia and India (read: Slowing Indonesian Economy Puts These ETFs in Focus). ETFs in Focus If you are a believer of this investment thesis, you can try to have a close look on various country ETFs like iShares MSCI Singapore Capped ETF EWS, iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF EIDO and iShares India 50 ETF INDY (read: ETFs to Buy/Avoid on Higher Oil Prices). 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 iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (EWS): ETF Research Reports iShares MSCI Indonesia ETF (EIDO): ETF Research Reports iShares India 50 ETF (INDY): 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 President Trump seems itching for a fight against Joe Biden. Monday night he tried out some new jabs. Standing in front of thousands of supporters at a rally in north central Pennsylvania, Trump leveled multiple attacks on Biden, who leads Trump in an early poll in the state. Trump said foreign leaders will get their way with Biden as president and that Pennsylvanians shouldnt feel a kinship with the former vice president because Biden left the state when he was a child. Dont forget: Biden deserted you, Trump said as he wrapped up his speech to thousands of supporters gathered at an airport hangar at Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville, Pa. He left you for another state, and he didnt take care of you because he didnt take care of your jobs, he said. Biden is working to convince Democratic voters that he has the best chance of beating Trump out of the 20-plus contenders in the Democratic field because of Bidens ties to Pennsylvania, and his belief that he can block Trump from winning the state again. Biden was born in Scranton, Pa., and moved to Delaware with his family when he was about 10 years old. He later represented Delaware for 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Biden would lead Trump in Pennsylvania in a head-to-head race 53 to 42 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released May 15. The poll also showed Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont defeating Trump in the state 50 to 43 percent. Candidates Sen. Kamala Harris of California, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg and former Rep. Beto ORourke of Texas were within the polls 4.2 percent margin of error. Trumps campaign sees Pennsylvania as crucial to Trumps reelection strategy, which means holding on to a state that voted for a Democrat in the previous six Presidential elections before 2016. We gotta win this state, Trump said. We did great last time. Remember the fake polls they put out last time? Suppression they call them suppression polls, Pennsylvania will go for Hillary Clinton! Trump said, leveling an unfounded accusation that polls showing him trailing Clinton were fabricated. Trump said Pennsylvania voters should vote for him in 2020 because unemployment is low and the economy is growing. How the hell do you lose this election, right? Trump said. Sleepy Joe said that hes running to, quote, save the world,' Trump said. Well, he was. He was going to save every country but ours. WASHINGTON, May 19 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said one of its warships sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal claimed by China in the South China Sea on Sunday, a move likely to anger Beijing at a time of tense ties between the world's two biggest economies. The busy waterway is one of a growing number of flashpoints in the U.S.-China relationship, which also include a trade war, U.S. sanctions and Taiwan. The U.S. destroyer Preble carried out the operation, a U.S. military spokesman told Reuters. "Preble sailed within 12 nautical miles of Scarborough Reef in order to challenge excessive maritime claims and preserve access to the waterways as governed by international law," said Commander Clay Doss, a spokesman for the Seventh Fleet. (Reporting by Idrees Ali; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will not leave the European Union unless its Brexit deal can win the support of political parties across parliament, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday. May also said the Brexit legislation she plans to put to parliament early next month to enact her exit deal, would include "significant further changes to protect the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom". "The reality is that after three attempts to secure parliamentary agreement, we will not leave the European Union unless we have a deal that can command wider cross party support," May said in a speech setting out her offer to try to win over lawmakers to back her deal. (Reporting by William James and Costas Pitas, Writing by Kylie MacLellan, editing by Elizabeth Piper) KIEV, Ukraine (AP) Ukrainian lawmakers on Wednesday turned down the new president's proposal to amend the election law in a blow to his hopes to get more of his supporters into parliament. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a 41-year-old comedian who won 73% of the presidential vote last month, dissolved parliament on Tuesday, saying that current lawmakers were too focused on self-enrichment and lacked public trust. Zelenskiy, who became famous for playing the role of a Ukrainian president in a popular TV sitcom, was gambling that his popularity will allow his party to make a successful showing in the parliamentary vote set for July 21. His landslide victory reflected Ukrainians' exasperation with the country's economic woes and rampant corruption. Zelenskiy proposed changes to the electoral law to have the next parliament elected entirely on party lists, arguing that the current system in which part of the legislature is elected in single-ballot races foments graft. But lawmakers refused to consider Zelenskiy's proposal. Former President Petro Poroshenko's allies favor the current election system, hoping that it will help them keep their seats. Zelenskiy criticized his foes and urged voters to elect a new generation of politicians. "The old politicians chose the old system because it gives them a chance to extend their political existence," he said on Facebook. "They hope to sneak back into the Verkhovna Rada, but I'm sure they are mistaken and you will elect the new politicians capable of changing the country in deeds, not words." Zelenskiy's envoy to parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, accused lawmakers of breaking a deal on changing the electoral law he said had been agreed the day before. "I hope that there is still some time left to force Verkhovna Rada to do its work," he said. Rada speaker Andriy Parubiy denounced Zelenskiy's decree disbanding parliament as unconstitutional, saying that lawmakers will challenge it in courts. Story continues Zelenskiy's supporters have rejected the claim, saying that parliament long had lacked a majority coalition a legitimate reason for its dissolution. The parliamentary election was originally scheduled for Oct. 27. That would have left Zelenskiy facing a parliament dominated by his political opponents and unable to pursue his agenda for months. Zelenskiy's top campaign pledge was to bring peace to eastern Ukraine, where government troops have been fighting Russia-backed separatists for five years in a conflict that has left at least 13,000 dead. Lawyer Andriy Bohdan, whom Zelenskiy named his chief of staff, said in televised comments Tuesday that a possible peace deal with Russia must be put to a referendum. Poroshenko strongly criticized the idea, that such a referendum would "threaten Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity." ___ Associated Press writer Vladimir Isachenkov reported from Moscow. Yuras Karmanau in Minsk, Belarus contributed. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - A United Nations arms experts who was arrested in Tunisia in late March on espionage charges has been released and is recovering at home in Berlin, the UN spokesman said Wednesday. Moncef Kartas, a German-Tunisian dual national, is a member of the UN panel of experts investigating allegations of violations of an arms embargo and other sanctions imposed on Libya. "The UN confirms that Moncef Kartas was released from detention and that he is now at his home in Berlin in Germany," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. "We are pleased to see that Mr. Kartas has been freed and is recovering at home." Kartas was released on bail Tuesday following a review of the case by an appeals court in Tunisia. He was arrested on arrival in Tunis on March 26. Kartas's defense team has said the charges are linked to the arms expert's possession of a device allowing him to have access to data on flights of civil and commercial aircraft. Last week, the United Nations rejected Tunisia's reasons for Kartas's arrest and demanded charges be dropped and his immediate release, arguing that he was subject to diplomatic immunity as a UN employee. ATHENS, Greece (AP) The U.S. ambassador to Greece has condemned a vandalism attack on his home in Athens, after paint was thrown at the wall outside his residence near the embassy. Geoffrey Pyatt said in a tweet Wednesday that the paint attack was "childish vandalism" and that he would work with Greek authorities "to punish the culprits according to law." The ambassador said "destruction of property is not peaceful protest." Greece's foreign ministry also condemned the attack, saying it was an "unacceptable and irresponsible act that will however not harm the friendship and increasingly broad cooperation between our two countries." Anarchist and far-left groups often carry out vandalism attacks at the homes or offices of diplomats and politicians in Athens, usually by throwing paint. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is going to Israel with a large contingent of business leaders -- not surprisingly, especially as the GOP woos Jewish voters ahead of the 2020 presidential election. But DeSantis' plan to hold a meeting with his elected Cabinet while he's there has raised concerns about whether officials are violating the state's open-meeting laws. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter When DeSantis first announced the trade mission, he noted that his attorney general, chief financial officer and agriculture commissioner would accompany him, and that the Cabinet would hold a meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem during the trip, which runs from May 25 to May 31. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Democratic Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried had previously planned a trade mission to the country, but there was no apparent reason why the other two were going, except for the Cabinet meeting. "I see no reason to hold a Cabinet meeting in Israel," said Barbara Petersen, president of the open-government watchdog group First Amendment Foundation. "And we still don't have an agenda, so I don't know what they will be doing at that meeting." By law, the state has to post an agenda seven days before the independently elected Cabinet members meet, except during an emergency. As of Tuesday, the Cabinet website not only didn't list an agenda for the meeting, it didn't even have the meeting on the calendar. DeSantis' office isn't talking about his Israel plans, citing security issues. The Associated Press has made several requests to interview the governor about the trip by phone or in person, and his office said he wasn't available. Even Cabinet officials said they didn't know what is on the agenda because the meeting is being organized by the governor's office. Fried speculated that it could be largely ceremonial. "To have all four of us going over to show our support for the state of Israel and economic development between the two countries I think is the bigger picture," she said. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried The Cabinet, which also includes Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody and Republican Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, is scheduled to meet in Tallahassee less than a week after the officials return home -- another sign it will handle state business at home while focusing the meeting abroad on its support for and ties with Israel. Still, Cabinet meetings are supposed to be accessible for all. But unless they want to pay close to $2,000 for a round-trip airline ticket, not many regular Floridians will be able to attend -- even if they can figure out when it's going to be held. The FLORIDA Channel, a state-funded video service run by WFSU-TV that covers state government meetings, plans to travel to Israel, but it is still working out details on how to get the content back to Florida. "They should have an agenda up and they should be telling people where and when it's going to be," Petersen said of the governor's office. "It's nuts." DeSantis isn't the first Florida governor to embark on a trade mission to Israel. Former Republican Govs. Jeb Bush, Charlie Crist and Rick Scott all did the same. The trip could help Republicans politically in a state that is closely divided in presidential politics and where the large Jewish population could be a deciding factor as President Donald Trump tries to win Florida's 29 electoral college votes. Donald Trump campaigning in Florida (Photo: Reuters) "There's no question it's going to help us," said Sen. Joe Gruters, who also chairs the Republican Party of Florida. "When people are criticizing members of the Jewish faith and Israel, you have a stark contrast in what Ron DeSantis is doing ... letting people know that we do care and that it is a priority for him and the state to be mindful and respectful of the Jews that are living here." Gruters sponsored a bill recently passed by the Legislature that prohibits anti-Semitism in Florida's public schools and universities. It's possible DeSantis will sign the bill into law while in Israel. Soon after taking office, the governor pushed for additional money for security at Jewish day schools. He also publicly criticized Airbnb for delisting properties in the disputed West Bank, saying it was a move against Israel, and he persuaded his Cabinet to put the company on a "scrutiny" list for state investments. Before he was elected, he attended the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem. This trip will complete his campaign promise to make Israel his first trade mission. Saudi Arabia and the UAE confirm their participation in roll-out of the Trump peace plan in Bahrain next month. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported the Minister of Economy and Planning of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri is scheduled to take part in the workshop titled "Peace for the sake of Prosperity" to be held on 25 and 26 June 2019. . Saudi Arabia's King Salman (Photo: AP) The report went on to say that the minister's participation in this event is a continuation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's firm positions in support of the Palestinian people in a way that will achieves their "hopes and aspirations and yields security, stability and prosperity for the region". The UAE has also confirmed its participation in the economic workshop hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in cooperation with the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump (Photo: Reuters) In a statement, UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said "The UAE supports all international efforts aimed at supporting economic progress and increasing opportunities in the region, and alleviating the suffering of people in the region, particularly our brothers in Palestine.'' The ministry's statement adds that the workshop aims to "lift the Palestinian people out of misery and to enable them for a stable and prosperous future". The statement goes on to say that the is not in conflict with the UAEs position on the issue of Palestine and reiterates that "such efforts will only advance and support a political solution that culminates in lasting and comprehensive peace between the Palestinians and Israelis." Palestinian Pressident Abbas (Photo: Reuters) On Tuesday, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh, said "Any plan without a political horizon will not lead to peace" Earlier Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, the Palestinians " do not submit to blackmail and we don't trade our political rights for money." Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Wednesday confirmed their participation in the long awaited roll-out of Donald Trump's much anticipated peace plan, at an economic workshop next month to be hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain and in cooperation with the U.S. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammed bin Mazyad Al-Tuwaijri is scheduled to take part in the workshop, entitled "Peace for the sake of Prosperity" and to be held on June 25-26. The Palestinian Authority said earlier this week that it will not be attending the workshop. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, U.S. President Donald Trump and Jared Kushner (: ) The Saudi report said that the minister's participation in this event is a continuation of the Kingdom's firm positions in support of the Palestinian people "in a way that achieves their stability, growth, and good living, and achieves their hopes and aspirations and yields security, stability and prosperity for the region in general." The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said the Emirates "supports all international efforts aimed at supporting economic progress and increasing opportunities in the region, and alleviating the suffering of people in the region, particularly our brothers in Palestine,'' in the hope that the workshop will lift the Palestinian people out of misery and "enable them for a stable and prosperous future." The statement pointed out that their participation in the summit is not in conflict with the UAE position on the issue of Palestine, and reiterated that "such efforts will only advance and support a political solution that culminates in lasting and comprehensive peace between the Palestinians and Israelis." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh (: AFP) Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said Monday that none of the details of the conference had been discussed Palestinian Authority has not been informed about the conference. "The cabinet wasn't consulted about the reported workshop, neither over the content, nor the outcome nor timing," Shtayyed told Palestinian ministers in Ramallah in the presence of reporters. Ahhmed Majdalani, the Palestinian social development minister and a member of the executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, said later MOnday that the PA would not be attending. "There will be no Palestinian particaption in the Manama workshop," he said. "Any Palestinian who would take part would be nothing but a collaborator for the Americans and Israel." Donald Trump and Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: AP) In a joint statement with Bahrain last week to announce the workshop, the White House said the gathering would give government, civil and business leaders a chance to rally support for economic initiatives that could be possible with a peace agreement. "The Palestinian people, along with all people in the Middle East, deserve a future with dignity and the opportunity to better their lives," Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, said in a statement Sunday. "Economic progress can only be achieved with a solid economic vision and if the core political issues are resolved." Israel on Wednesday is expected to be hit by an extreme heatwave that will reign supreme throughout the country over the coming weekend. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter According to Meteo-Tech meteorological company, while in northern and central Israel the weather will be very hot, in the south of the country (and in the Sea of Galilee region) the temperatures will reach extreme heights. Tel Aviv beach amid heatwave (Photo: Yair Sagi) In the northern city of Haifa, the temperatures will range from 36 degrees celsius during the day Sunday to 25 degrees at night. In Tel Aviv, the weather will be slightly cooler with a range of 32 degrees during the day and 25 degrees at night. In the southern city of Beer Sheva, temperatures will range from 40 degrees throughout the day to 26 degrees at night. In Jerusalem, the temperatures will also be high, reaching 35 degrees celsius during the day and falling to 26 degrees overnight. The unseasonable heatwave coincides with the Jewish holiday of Lag BOmer, which prompted the Fire and Rescue Services to restrict the bonfires that traditionally accompany the celebrations. For instance, fires are not allowed to be lit in any forests, even in areas designated for such activity. Children light bonfire on Lag BOmer (Photo: Shutterstock) With the weather being so dry and the temperatures so high, lighting bonfires would be detrimental to our health, said Tzahi Wachsman from the Meteo-Tech. "I think the bonfires to be unnecessary for many reasons, especially since the heatwave is expected to hit not only along the coastal plain, but in the forested areas - Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Galilee - as well, said Wachsman. The fires, accompanied by dry weather and strong winds, could inflict damage and - God forbid - spread to forest areas. The Health Ministry urged the public to take precautionary measures since such extreme weather entails health risks. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority urged the public to refrain from prolonged walking outside at least until Friday evening. Israeli kids collect wood for Lag BaOmer (Photo: Shutterstock) On Thursday, the heatwave will intensify, with extremely high temperatures - ranging from 37 degrees to 43 degrees celsius - will be felt throughout the country. On Friday, the heatwave is expected to peak, with temperatures in southern Israel - especially the Arava region - becoming scorching and could reach up to 48 degrees. The temperatures are expected to ease on Saturday, while still remaining unseasonably warm. Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement (BDS) activists interrupted a literary event with Arye Sharuz Shalicar, a German Israeli who was introducing his new book on anti-Semitism in Germany, in the German town of Aurich. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter Shalicar, was reading segments of the book to a crowd of approximately 100 people, when a group of activists form the BDS movement began playing loud music and shouting "baby killer" and "representative of an apartheid state" at him. Arye Sharuz Shalicar Audience members shouted the BDS activists down and the event proceeded as planned. The activists were detained by police. One of them was indicted in the U.S. in 2017 after he interrupted a public with an Israeli member of Knesset. On Monday, the German parliament passed a motion defining the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement as anti-Semitic. BDS protest (Photo: EPA) The motion, backed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party, Is non-binding but stipulates Germany must resolutely condemn calls to boycott Israel. Shalicar, an official of the Ministry of Intelligence, in the outgoing Israeli government, said this disturbance proves that there is anti-Semitism in Germany and in the BDS movement. These people who interrupted my book event, are not interested in dialogue. I would have answered any of their questions. These are radical BDS activists who support terror in the way they de-legitimize Israel. The audience could see what radical left anti-Semitism looks like. Shalicar's new book, called "The New German anti-Semitism, Do Jews today belong to Germany" In a separate incident, Students at a University in California, in Los Angeles interrupted a gathering of Israelis and Kurds shouting slogans calling for a free Palestine. Once in 30 years, the end of the Muslim fast month of Ramadan coincides with the anniversary of Jerusalem's liberation and unification after the 1967 Six-Day War. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter In the late 1980s, this coincidence caused the Temple Mount to be closed to Jews, but at the time the number of visitors to the Mount was negligible and no one really cared. Muslims praying on the Temple Mount In 2019, however, the number of visitors is significantly higher, but in two weeks' time, when we mark 52 years of unification, the Temple Mount may again be closed to Jews, because at this site, as always, the Muslim calendar takes clear precedence over the Jewish one. Unlike the Cave of the Patriarchs in the West Bank, the policy on the Temple Mount does not have a mirror image and the site is never closed to Muslims on Jewish holidays. In fact, it is never closed to Muslims, except for in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack or attempted attack on the Mount, something that happens once every few months. Again, this is definitely not the case with the Jewish public. A few years ago, Israel Police began to close the Temple Mount to the entrance of Jews on a regular basis, due to violence and threats from the Muslim side. Muslim woirshippers and Border Police officers clash at the entrance to the Temple Mount Yes, threats of violence can change even the "status quo," which in any event does not really exist on the Temple Mount anyway. As with everything else connected to this issue, it is more than likely that countries and other sources are pressing Israel to keep surrendering to violence, namely, the Kingdom of Jordan, Turkey, the Palestinian Authority and more. Moreover, throughout the month of Ramadan, the Israeli police suspend the sole hour at which Jews can visit the Mount (1.30-2.30pm). During the hearing for a petition filed by Prof. Hillel Weiss against canceling visiting hours for Jews, which was discussed last week by the High Court of Justice, the police claimed that the reason for the cancellation was the large presence of Muslim worshipers at around 12.30pm. Of course, the police got the times of the Jewish visits wrong, and this error more than anything else illustrates a policy of obfuscation and excuses of "public peace and security" that lead to the closure of the Temple Mount to a non-violent public time and again. Unless the Israeli government changes its policy, the police will continue to close the compound to Jews at the end of Ramadan, despite Jerusalem Day. "Every year the Temple Mount is closed for visits during the final days of Ramadan, for reasons of public safety and security, and public order," the Jerusalem District Commander Yoram Ha-Levy said last week following a request from the Students for the Temple Mount organization. In the course of the High Court hearings, and following intervention by the Ministry of Public Security, the police changed its response and said that the Temple Mount would indeed be open to Jewish visitors on Jerusalem Day, pending a security assessment on the day itself. Jewish visitors to the Temple Mount Obviously, this is a smoke screen designed to thwart court intervention. Of course, in other cases, the High Court has found more reason to intervene in such matters. The mere thought of closing the Temple Mount on the day of Jerusalem's liberation makes my stomach turn. What was the point of liberating the Old City and uniting the capital if the local police cannot cope with potential disturbances without closing parts of the city to Jews? A sovereign capital city does not close its gates to some of its inhabitants, let alone when they constitute the majority in the country. Many times, we in our region mockingly describe France and England as countries that have succumbed to radical Islam. But can you honestly imagine the French government closing the Eiffel Tower to French Christians on Bastille Day for fear of Muslim violence? Or Britain blocking access to the Tower of London for a similar reason? Here in Israel, the fear that the Temple Mount will be closed to us is real and tangible, and does not receive proper attention by the media, elected officials or decision-makers. This silence encompasses the danger of national humiliation on the anniversary of the day our holy city was liberated. The Lag B'Omer celebration is one of the most powerful and spiritual events in the Israeli-Jewish calendar. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter It is not a religious decree or a biblical law, but rather a custom that began hundreds of years ago, as a pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai. The rabbi, also known as the "divine Mishnaic sage," stood in opposition to the Roman rulers at the time, and continued to study and teach Jewish studies at a real risk to his life. Lag B'Omer celebrations at Mt Meron Lag B'Omer is unique in the Jewish calendar, for there is no other event that creates so much Jewish energy, from the estimated half a million believers - of all different stripes of religious Judaism and beyond. But this year, a cloud hangs over the festivities, because of the participation of convicted sex offender and leader of the "Shuvu Banim" faction of the Breslov Hassidic movement. Rabbi Eliezer Berland. Berland is expected to be one of the rabbis honored at the celebration who was to be invited to light a bonfire as part of the festivities. Berland became a fugitive from justice after being charged with sexually assaulting women in his flock of followers. He escaped from the country, but was ultimately arrested and repatriated from South Africa to stand trial on reduced charges as part of a plea agreement. While in prison, Berland's followers claimed he was suffering from ill health, enabling him to serve some of his sentence on house arrest. When he had served his time, he returned to lead his followers who remained loyal to him throughout. Convicted sex offender Rabbi Eliezer Berland (Photo: Meshi Ben Ami) The secret of Berland's appeal remains an enigma. He regularly leads his people on dangerous late-night excursions into the Palestinian city of Nablus, to visit the site believed to be the tomb of Joseph, one of the biblical forefathers of the Jewish nation. He often travels in convoys at breakneck speed in complete disregard of the law and putting the lives of his followers and innocent bystanders at risk. But all of that aside, the immediate question remains, why the festivities on Mt. Meron, which are sponsored by the Israeli government, partake in this sham of including Berland in such a sacred event? How he can be allowed to contaminate this religious holiday with his filth remains inexplicable. But it is not too late. There are still a few of hours, before festivities begin, to stand up to his bullies and threats and stop him from entering the festival's compound. It a is simple choice. It's just a question of deciding to do the right thing. Not doing the right thing is a mark of shame on the organizers and on all of us. Attorney General Avichai Mandeblit said Wednesday that he has postponed a pre-indictment hearing for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by three months. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter According to Mandeblit's office, the much-anticipated hearing will take place at the beginning of October, after Netanyahu's lawyers asked for an extension to review the prosecution's material. The Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah ends on October 1 this year, and Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, begins on October 8. Benjamin Netanyahu with his then-cabinet secretary Avichai Mandelblit in 2015 (Photo: Marc Israel Sellem) The Justice Ministry has previously said the hearing would take place by July 10. Mandelblit - who was formerly Netanyahu's cabinet secretary - has recommended pressing charges against the prime minister in three corruption cases, pending the hearing. The attorney general recommended bribery, fraud and breach of trust charges in Case 4000, in which Netanyahu is suspected of receiving favorable coverage on the Walla! News website in return for regulatory benefits to telecommunications giant Bezeq, which owned the site. He also called for charges of fraud and breach of trust in both Case 1000, in which Netanyahu and his family are suspected of receiving illicit gifts from wealthy donors such as Israeli Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, and Case 2000, in which Netanyahu allegedly tried to negotiate favorable coverage in the Yedioth Ahronoth daily (Ynetnews' sister publication) in return for promoting legislation against rival paper Israel Hayom. The recently re-elected Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and has called the charges the product of a media-orchestrated witch hunt to depose him. U.S. President Donald Trumps way of managing things has shaken the international political system, creating a Trump effect. The president's unconventional approach to international relations, his tendency to cancel the existing agreements , his use of private channels over professional advisors, and his hatred for the word "no" - all serve as a basis for advancing the national interests of his country in 2019. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter This is how Trump got the Canadians and the Mexicans to sign a new free trade agreement. This is how he brought the Chinese to the negotiating table to restructure the trade policy with them. This is how he managed to arrange two summits with the North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un. This is how he was able to promise Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to withdraw all U.S. troops from Syria. And, this is how Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received full American support during the affair surrounding the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a journalist and critic of the Saudi government, who was brutally killed inside the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu (Photo: MCT) The most obvious example of Trumps polarizing ways is the U.S. relations with Israel and the Palestinians. Israel has Trumps VIP club membership (thanks to his recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital and of Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, as well as cancellation of the Iran nuclear deal). The Palestinian Authority, however (along with Iran), decided to sit out this storm until 2020, when they hope Trump will be replaced by a Democratic Party candidate. The Palestinians - the spoiled child - were embraced by the international community in recent years, but overnight found themselves in a completely different political reality. The Palestinians ignored the power Trump has and gave up an opportunity to exploit his strong desire to make his long-delayed Mideast peace plan a success, solely to gain some political and economic leverage. After Jerusalem was recognized as Israels capital, the Palestinians humiliated U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during his visit to Israel, boycotted Jared Kushners peace team, continued to make monthly payments to terrorists families and, perhaps worst of all, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas publicly insulted Trump. Jared Kushner and Mahmoud Abbas This prompted the White House to examine whether supporting the Palestinian Authority served American interests. As a result, the Trump administration imposed a series of painful measures: stopping all U.S. aid to Palestinians in West Bank and Gaza; eliminating U.S. funding for UNRWA, closing the PLO offices in Washington D.C., and essentially conducted a flanking maneuver against Abbas when it comes to relations with the moderate Arab states. All of this before the so-called deal of the century has even been revealed. However, this era of gift-giving to Israel could end in disaster, as the Palestinians look more and more miserable in the eyes of the world, dividing Americans on the issue. In todays America, those Democrats who associate with the Trump administration pay a heavy political price, while those joining the resistance get a hefty dividend. Already, there are clear indications the wheel has started to turn: a lack of vocal support for Israel from the Democratic presidential candidates during the latest deadly flare-up on the Gaza border; the fact that six out of seven Democratic senators voted against the law allowing states to legislate against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement; and above all, the political and public atmosphere that enables U.S. lawmakers like Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to make anti-Israel and even anti-Semitic statements. The fact that these womens political careers continue to thrive despite the vigorous activity of the Jewish organizations is a conspicuous warning sign. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) (Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Ilhan Omar (D-MN)) The Trump rule gave Israel an unprecedented advantage over the Palestinians. In order to prevent the tables from turning in the foreseeable future, Israel must deal with the damage its close ties to Trump has done to its relations with the Democrats. If we dont get our act together, we too will find ourselves trying to survive the reign of a U.S. president, except in our case he or she will be a Democrat who would undeniably want to erase the legacy of the Trump administration. We would find ourselves facing an American public that emphasizes with the Palestinians, who were badly bruised by the Trump era. LONDON - Iranian and U.S. leaders have reassured their nations that they do not seek war. But among ordinary Iranians who already face hardship from tightening sanctions, nerves are being strained by worry that the situation could slip out of control. In interviews conducted from outside the country by telephone and online, Iranians described heated discussions at home, on the streets and on social media. The prospect of war was now the main topic of conversation in workplaces, taxis and buses, Nima Abdollahzade, a legal consultant at an Iranian startup company, told Reuters. "Apart from the deterioration in the Iranian economy, I believe the most severe effect" of confrontation with the United States "is in the mental situation of ordinary Iranians," he said. "They are sustaining a significant amount of stress." A Palestinian businessman who flouts political taboos by working with Israeli settlers in the West Bank could soon have a role in President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook STRONG> and Twitter While Palestinian officials have swiftly rejected next month's planned Mideast conference in Bahrain, Ashraf Jabari says he will be thrilled to attend. Jabari with US Ambassador Friedman Jabari has forged close ties with U.S. diplomats but is viewed with deep suspicion by his fellow Palestinians. That has raised questions about U.S. attempts to cultivate him and other businessmen as alternatives to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. The U.S. has not yet released an official list of attendees at the June 25-26 conference, which seeks to use economic development to lure the Palestinians to the negotiating table. U.S. officials have said it would convene individual business leaders, including some Palestinians who live outside the Palestinian territories. Palestinians protest Trump "Our economic plan is an ambitious but achievable vision; it presents an alternative path with the potential to unlock a prosperous future for the Palestinian people if they choose to follow it," said Jason Greenblatt, Trump's Mideast envoy. The Palestinian Authority has said that any plan focusing on economic development at the expense of people's political aspirations is unacceptable. Well-known Palestinian business magnate Bashar Masri, for one, has declined his invitation, vowing not to attend anything that flies in the face of the "Palestinian national consensus." Bahrain's foreign minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa The Palestinians seek an independent state on territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, including the West Bank and east Jerusalem, and the international community overwhelmingly still supports the two-state solution. But Jabari said it is time for some different thinking, noting a quarter-century of failed negotiations. "No Israeli prime minister will ever meet Palestinian demands or vice versa," Jabari told The Associated Press. "We can't keep waiting for a state. We have to think about this area as one entity, not two entities and two realities." Solar panels at the newly inaugurated Nour Jericho solar plant Jabari's vision effectively erases Israel's pre-1967 boundary with the West Bank. It is a vision that is shared by Israeli settlers, who reject a pullout from the West Bank on a combination of religious and security grounds. He says the West Bank's more than 2 million Palestinians should be granted full citizenship rights -- a scenario that would threaten Israel's status as a Jewish-majority democracy. For now, Jabari's partnership with the settlers, called the "Judea and Samaria Chamber of Commerce," referring to the West Bank by its biblical name, claims not to have a political agenda. It says it seeks to bring Palestinians and Israeli settlers together, joined by a desire to make money and a shared resentment of the Palestinian Authority and disillusionment over failed peace talks. Its members talk of business ventures springing from unexpected personal relationships and gush about benefits of free trade. Protesters burn a photo of US President Trump "We're talking about business-to-business relationships, unfolding on a sub-sovereign level to achieve greater regional stability," said Avi Zimmerman, the chamber's co-founder and a spokesman for the settlement of Ariel. It's a lofty ambition that squares with what Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and senior Middle East adviser, has revealed about his "fresh approach" to the still mysterious U.S. proposal to settle the conflict: it will start out as a business deal more than a political one, focusing heavily on attracting large-scale investment and infrastructure work to the Palestinian territories. The deal faces major questions. Without an official Palestinian partner in the West Bank, it remains unclear how the U.S. will carry out such large-scale projects there. The Gaza Strip is ruled by Hamas, which Israel and the U.S. consider a terrorist group. And it is hard to imagine donors lining up billions of dollars without an accompanying political plan. Palestinian baker prepares 'shrak' a traditional bread sold during Ramadan in Hebron On the Israeli side, newly re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in the process of forming a coalition that is expected to be dominated by hard-liners who oppose even minimal concessions to the Palestinians. Like the architects of the peace plan, the chamber has offered only scant outlines of its projects. It promotes Palestinian-Israeli business partnerships, including plans for a few jointly owned shopping centers along the West Bank's main highway. More broadly, it seeks foreign investment for large-scale infrastructure projects connecting Israeli settlements with Palestinian cities, mutually accessible medical centers and tourism initiatives. "This is not about Palestinians working in Israeli factories," Zimmerman said of the Israeli-run industrial zones that have long employed low-wage Palestinian laborers near the settlements. "This is about a shared market, what can be gained from doing business with your neighbor." Its idealistic mission is enough to satisfy David Friedman, the U.S. ambassador to Israel and a long-time supporter of Israeli settlements. Friedman has nurtured ties between the council and the Trump administration. Traditional Ramadan sweets at a market in Hebron Friedman has lashed out repeatedly at the Palestinian Authority since it severed most ties with the U.S. after Trump recognized contested Jerusalem as Israel's capital in December 2017. "To hold the Palestinian people hostage to a political solution to the conflict when business efforts are ripe in front of us is a grave mistake," Friedman said in a speech at the chamber's first international forum in February, drawing fervent applause from an audience of West Bank settlement mayors, ministers and a handful of Palestinian businessmen. At the forum, Jabari hailed Friedman as his "dearest friend," saying, "We are not afraid. We're ready to accept Jews in our houses and in our factory plants." Jabari often hosts Israeli settlers at his home in the West Bank city of Hebron. At a recent "iftar" dinner during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, Jabari served kosher food for his Jewish guests. While welcomed by the settlers, Jabari is seen much differently by fellow Palestinians. His embrace of the settlers has confined him to the political fringe, reviled by fellow Palestinians who regularly tar him as a "collaborator" -- an insult that bears threats of violence. His iftar meal drew harsh criticism and even death threats on Palestinian social media. Prominent Palestinian activist Issa Amro called Jabari "notorious" for befriending Hebron's ultranationalist settler community. And Ahmed Majdalani, a senior Palestinian official, declared that any Palestinian who participates in the Bahrain conference "is no more than a collaborator." Jabari responded: "The Palestinian Authority is the only collaborator, working with the Israeli government since the Oslo accords." He believes ordinary Palestinians would support his pragmatic approach to profit from their shared geography with Israel if it weren't for the authority's "brainwashing," crackdown on dissent and adherence to a two-state doctrine he says is increasingly divorced from reality. "What have we gained from bloodshed and separation? Nothing," he said. "We need to look at what went wrong and do something different so we can make it right." UNITED NATIONS -- A key architect of the long-awaited U.S. plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace is warning that "nothing can be meaningfully fixed" until Gaza's Hamas rulers and Palestinian Islamic Jihad renounce their vows to destroy Israel and stop carrying out violent acts. Jason Greenblatt, President Donald Trump's envoy of international negotiations, also told the Security Council "it would be a mistake" for the Palestinians not to attend a conference in June that is part of the rollout of the White House plan, saying they have "much to gain." The Palestinian Authority said it will not attend. Greenblatt also lashed out at the U.N. agency that helps 5.3 million Palestinian refugees and their descendants, calling it "a band-aid" that is "running on fumes." He reiterated a previously rejected U.S. proposal for host countries or non-governmental agencies to take over services. McCool Junction is a village, so by law 100 percent of the total area can be declared as blighted. Currently, 65 percent of McCool Junction is declared to be blighted. So each still has room to go, Charlton said, meaning each community could still declare more area to be blighted and substandard. She also noted that there is a way cities and villages can blight areas outside the city limits, which has to be done by annexing. An example would be how McCool Junction handled the TIF project for the race track when it was first built. The report from McCool Junction says there are five current TIF projects. They are listed as Farmers Coop; East K Sixth and Eighth; Weiss Third and Fourth Sub; Weiss Third and Fourth Sub Project 2; and Weiss Third and Fourth Sub Donrich. McCool Junction did not have any new redevelopment projects using TIF in 2018, according to the report. The report from Henderson says there are 12 redevelopment projects using TIF in that community. One is for utility relocation and extension. One is for a community project. And the others are all associated with the Providence Subdivision (which is a housing area in Henderson). Just one project was approved for TIF in 2018. YORKNebraska Correction Center for Women in York (NCCW) employees are helping athletes from York to get to the Special Olympics. The Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) has been going strong since 1981, with the purpose of bringing awareness to the Special Olympics. Initially Special Olympics of Nebraska reached out to Nebraska Correctional Center for Women-York (NCCW)s facilities director, who asked NCCW Corrections Sergeant Devin Davis for assistance. From there, NCCW decided to volunteer in Yorks LETR. The 5K has been conducted by NCCWs leadership for three years. Former Warden Davidson asked me to host the May 2017 event, Davis said. For the last two years NCCW employee Erika Garcia has spearheaded NCCWs involvement. She said both years have been learning experiences, right down to mapping out the route. In 2017 we used the high school track and ran or walked a certain number of laps to equal a 5K, she said. It worked well, Garcia said, but she noticed Lincoln torch runs set up their routes through town. I thought it would be cool if we could do that as well, Garcia said. AT MONDAY evening's meeting of the Wakefield-Marenisco board of education, Hannah Plemons addresses members as part of her senior exit project, in which students engage in job-shadowing and career research, followed by a formal paper, portfolio and presentation to school officials. Board secretary Stacie Rooni is shown listening. By P.J. GLISSON [email protected] WAKEFIELD - Members of the Wakefield-Marenisco Board of Education voted at their Monday evening meeting to approve the school schedule for the coming 2019-20 school year. Due to recent approval by the Gogebic-Ontonagon Intermediate School District, the Wakefield-Marenisco K-12 School will start this year in the week before Labor Day, as opposed to the day after it, as in the past. According to the calendar, the first day of school will be Aug. 27, and the last day of school will be June 4. Superintendent Jason Gustafson noted that the final day is te... Latest News Washington, DC - White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Director Jim Carroll announced the formation of an Emerging Threats Committee to identify and respond to evolving and emerging drug threats in the United States. Through the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, ONDCP was reauthorized and given new authority to convene the committee to advise Director Carroll of emerging threats in the United States. The drug threats facing the United States are constantly changing and more complex than ever before. It is critical we not only meet the challenges of today, but also prepare to address the threats of tomorrow. By bringing together those people on the front lines of this fight, we can position ourselves to proactively respond to these threats, and preserve the safety and security of American citizens, ONDCP Director Jim Carroll said. The Committee, which Director Carroll will convene on May 22, 2019, consists of 14 representatives from National Drug Control Program Agencies, State, Local and Tribal governments, and non-governmental entities. Members include: Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - Arizona Western College agricultural students have donated 719 pounds of produce to the Yuma Community Food Bank so far this year, compared to 549 pounds donated in 2018. Donations grown at the Agricultural Sciences Land Lab this semester consisted of eight ball squash, summer squash, zucchini squash, spaghetti squash, and carrots. The produce was grown by Plant Science students as well as other members of the Agricultural Science Department. As part of the Plant Science class, students produce crops to use as visual examples of plant anatomy, physiology, and morphology. The course outline is designed to coincide with crop production in the field, said Sarah Berner, Professor of Agricultural Science and Manager of the Land Lab. At harvest, produce is provided to students for personal use, to the Culinary Arts department for use in courses, and to AWC faculty and staff. Our partnership with the Yuma Community Food Bank ensures an efficient use of any remaining produce. We are privileged to have productive fields due to the hard work of the agricultural students as well as our dedicated AWC Land Lab staff, added Leigh Loughead, Agriculture Science Manager. Additional produce is also donated to the Yuma Community Food Bank by students enrolled in Vegetable Crop Production and Integrated Pest Management classes as well as through independent study projects. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - A fourth uniquely crafted sign done largely by local high school students will welcome visitors to Yuma officially on Thursday. Members of the public are invited to join in the unveiling of the latest collaboration between the City of Yuma Clean and Beautiful Commission and area students on a Welcome to Yuma sign. The dedication of this mini-beautification project will take place 11 a.m. Thursday, May 23 near the northwest corner of 1st Street and 4th Avenue. As with three previous signs, local high school students took a large role in the project. Students from Yuma High School did the signs design and fabrication. They will be on hand for the unveiling of the landmark they helped create. City of Yuma Public Works will install the sign. Each of the three previous signs has had its own unique design, and this years installment will maintain that tradition. This sign consists of a metal structure approximately 3 feet by 6 feet. The location where the sign is intended to be installed is in a 20-foot diameter circle. The sign will be installed inside the circle on top of a concrete slab and the inside of the circle will be filled with landscape rock. The unveiling takes place during National Public Works Week, which is May 19-25. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. South Africa: SANDF all set for Presidential Inauguration The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) says it is more than ready to deploy its various units to the much-awaited Presidential Inauguration on Saturday. Speaking to SAnews on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Makopo said the Defence Department is this week putting the final touches to preparations for the ceremony. Makopo said the SANDFs contribution to proceedings is largely ceremonial. If you look at all the elements that are involved, we have the ceremonial guard, which will be part of the entire event. We will also be providing comprehensive, real time medical cover during the project, the motorcade and motorcycle movement by the military police. There will also be involvement of the Air Force, which will conduct a flypass, he said. The SANDFs four artillery regiments will also administer the 21-gun salute. Despite the inauguration this year being held at Loftus Versfeld stadium, away from the ancestral stomping ground of the Union Buildings, Makopo said this logistical arrangement has had minimal impact on the SANDFs preparations. Psychologically and physically, he said, the troops are 110% ready. For us, its just a change of venue. The rationale behind it is to get more people to the stadium. This will also give us more space. Planning and arrangement were not affected at all. He said individual services and divisions of the SANDF began preparing for the big day on 13 May. On 16 May, that was when everything was amalgamated. We started doing our rehearsals at a central location, where we are getting ourselves ready. We are going all out in terms of our contribution for the project. Although Makopo was unable to provide the precise number of SANDF personnel to be deployed on the day of the inauguration for security reasons, he said the defence force was ready for the ceremony. Meanwhile, Police Minister Bheki Cele will on Thursday address and inspect the law enforcement parade prior to deployment in preparation for the Presidential Inauguration, which is expected be graced by several Heads of State and thousands of South Africans. Therefore, the Police Ministry said in a media advisory, effective and efficient security of this event is paramount. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. One soldier was killed and eight were injured in a suspected IED blast along the Line of Control (LoC) in Mendhar area of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Wednesday. The cause of the blast is yet to be ascertained. The incident was reported hours after an encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in J&K's Kulgam district in the wee hours of Wednesday. Live TV Two terrorists were killed during the encounter. The cordon-and-search operation was launched after the security forces received specific inputs that some terrorists were hiding in the area. The encounter started after the terrorists opened fire at security forces. New Delhi: The Indian Army has launched a massive search operation in the jungles of Tirap, Longding, and Changlang districts to nab the killers of National People's Party (NPP) MLA Tirong Aboh and ten others near Khonsa in Arunachal Pradesh`s Tirap district on Tuesday, sources said here on Wednesday. According to Army sources, all the likely routes of escape have been effectively blocked. Troops have launched intensive checks along Nagaland - Arunachal borders."The Army has intensified operations with increased area domination teams and mobile check posts being deployed in the adjoining districts of Nagaland," sources said. "Additional forces including troops of Special Forces have also been inducted in the team," they said. The Army has confirmed the deployment of specialist helicopters with night flying ability and night vision equipment to ensure "dynamic, real-time and all-round surveillance of the area during the prevailing bad weather conditions."According to sources, reconnaissance helicopters, quadcopters, and tracker dogs are also extensively being employed in the operations.Sources further said the Army is working closely in synergy with the police, administration and intelligence agencies to identify the insurgents involved in the attack. Valsad: A massive fire broke out at a chemical factory in Gujarat's Valsad district late on Tuesday night, news agency ANI reported. Eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot. An official said that the fire-fighting operations would take time as the fire was massive. #UPDATE: Fire official says,"Fire fighting operations are still underway. It will take time to douse the fire as it is massive." https://t.co/nHbokzl7Zs ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2019 "Fire-fighting operations are underway. It will take time to douse the fire as it is massive," fire official Shivlal Rathore told ANI Live TV The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. No loss of life or injury has been reported so far. The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday successfully fired the BrahMos air version missile from its frontline Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. "The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target," the IAF said in a statement. #RulingTheSkies : IAF successfully fired the #BrahMos air version missile from its frontline Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft today. The launch from the aircraft was smooth & the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target. pic.twitter.com/nXLLlPR8qJ Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) May 22, 2019 The IAF had in 2017 successfully fired the BrahMos air version anti-shipping missile from Su-30 MKI off the Eastern Coast. After it fired the missile, the IAF became the first Air Force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category. The air-launched BrahMos missile is a 2.5-ton supersonic air to surface cruise missile with ranges of more than 400 kms. Live TV The BrahMos missile provides Indian Air Force the much-desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target be in sea or land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30 aircraft gives the IAF a strategic reach and allows it to dominate the ocean and the battlefields. NEW DELHI: Terror, connectivity and Afghanistan were the main focus areas for India during External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj statement at the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO) Foriegn Ministers meet in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Recalling the Sri Lanka terror attack on April 21, Swaraj said, "Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and the news from the neighborhood has made us more determined to fight firmly resolutely against this menace." SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure or RATS has emerged as an important forum for counter-terror cooperation and India has called for making it more effective. On connectivity, India talked about 5 connectivity initiatives the International North-South Transport Corridor that will connect Mumbai with Moscow, Chabahar Port that will connect India to afghanistan & beyond, the Ashgabat Agreement for central asia connectivity, the India Afghanistan air corridor & towards the east the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. But New Delhi said the connectivity projects needs to be, "inclusive, sustainable, transparent and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity", a comment that questions Chinese Belt & road initiative that is causing debt crisis in many countries participating in it. And finally on Afghanistan, Sushma Swaraj said, "India stands committed to any process" which can help "Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights." Comments on Afghanistan comes in the backdrop of Delhi's increased engagement with stakeholders such as US, China, Iran and Russia on the Afghan peace process. This is the last high level engagement of Sushma Swaraj in a foriegn country as the external affairs minister under the present government. This is the 2nd SCO FMs meet in which New Delhi is participating as a full member of SCO, the last being in April last year in Beijing. During the SCO FMs meet on Wednesday, Sushma Swaraj & her Pakistani counter part Shah Mahmood Qureshi came face to face for first time since the Pulwama terror attack on 14th February whose responsibility was taken by Pakistan based UN listed terror group Jaish e Mohammad. On expected lines, no meeting happened between the 2 India Pakistan ministers. The last time both ministers were under same roof was during informal SAARC meet on the sidelines of United Nation General Assembly in New York in 2018. India got full membership of the grouping along with Pakistan in 2017 during the Astana summit of SCO with the process beginning during 2015SCO summit in Russia. The SCO FMs meet comes weeks before the SCO leaders summit in Kyrgyzstan in which the new Indian Prime Minister will be participating. Focus in that summit will be on his likely meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping or if New Indian PM would like to meet his Pakistani counterpart--Pakistani PM Imran Khan. New Delhi: Days after two gang wars in the national capital, a young fitness instructor, also known for his posts on Tik Tok and Instagram, was on Tuesday gunned down allegedly by three assailants, police said. The incident occurred around 5.15 pm when the victim, identified as Mohit Mor (27), had gone to meet his friend at a photostat shop near his residence in Najafgarh`s Dharmpura area. "When Mohit Mor was busy talking with his friend inside the shop, three armed persons barged inside the shop and indiscriminately fired 13 bullets on him. Mohit Mor fell on a sofa kept inside the shop. He was rushed to nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. Mohit Mor suffered 7 bullets," said a senior police officer. "All the three accused, one of them wearing a black helmet, had come on a Scooty. They were seen in a CCTV footage running away from the busy narrow street after the crime," he added. Live TV Mohit Mor had 5 lakh subscriber on Tik Tok and used to put several videos on it. He had three thousand followers on Instagram. He used to put his fitness videos on Instagram. "We are trying to identify the accused. Prima facie, it appears a case of personal enmity and a money dispute," the officer added. "We are checking his Tik Tok and Instagram accounts comments and Call Details Record (CDR) to establish his enmity with anyone on social media that may help us to crack the case," he added. Continuing his efforts to mobilise opposition parties to forge a non-NDA front, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday met former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda in Karnataka's Bengaluru. The meeting lasted for more than one and half hours. Live TV Briefing the media in a joint press conference after the meeting, both the leaders discussed the controversy around alleged manipulation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He (Naidu) raised the issues of the faulty EVMs in the morning and he was of the suggestion that we should go back to paper ballot to avoid these complications. Today me or HD Kumaraswamy couldn't go to Delhi, our representative was there, said Gowda. I have been opposing EVMs since 2009 and said we have to go back to paper ballot, he added. Referring to the opposition parties' meet with officials of the Election Commission on Tuesday, Naidu said, Today we demanded that of the 5 per cent, if there are discrepancies, they should count all. In the meeting with EC, a delegation of 22 Opposition has demanded that VVPAT slips at randomly selected five polling booths should be counted first, and if any discrepancy occurs, then VVPAT slips should be tallied for the entire assembly segments. The Opposition leaders also submitted a memorandum to the EC and said that they represented "the voice of 70 per cent of the electorate in the country." Even today in UP these news are coming. Former president has also spoken about it. We are asking for that system where the VVPAT slip can be put in the ballot box. Now it's upto the EC, said the Andhra Pradesh CM. All 23 parties are raising the issue. Not just me. Why aren't you counting for transparency and accountability? Earlier even the BJP had opposed to EVMs, Swamy had opposed it. In UP, we are seeing EVMs in hotels and homes. Strong rooms are being changed, he added. However, the leaders refused to disclose the agenda of the meeting. Speaking on grand alliance and anti-BJP front, Naidu says, We will sit together and discuss on PM candidate after results on 23rd. The seven-phase Lok Sabha election 2019 ended on Sunday. Counting of votes will take place on May 23. Voting in Karnataka for 28 Lok Sabha seats took place in two phases on April 18 and 23, respectively. The fate of 237 candidates in the fray will be decided when the results of the same are declared on Thursday, May 23. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am and is likely to continue till today evening. The main battle is between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) JD (S) alliance in the state. The state witnessed a better voter turnout in both phases in comparison to the 2014 general election. While Karnataka recorded a total of 68.81 percent voter turnout in contrast to 2014's 65 per cent in its phase one, 68 per cent polling was reported in the second phase as compared to 67.28 per cent in 2014. Watch Live Streaming of Lok Sabha Election 2019 results for 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka Live TV One of the most talked-about seat in Karnataka is that of Mandya from where Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's son Nikhil is contesting. Former prime minister and JD-S supremo HD Deve Gowda is contesting from Tumkur in Karnataka against BJPs GS Basavaraj, while Gowda's elder son and PWD Minister H D Revanna is contesting from the party stronghold of Hassan Lok Sabha constituency. One of the most important Congress leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge is contesting from Gulbarga, while state Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda is contesting from Bengaluru North parliamentary. The exit polls on May 19 predicted that the saffron party will win more seats than the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance. Today's Chanakya exit poll predicted that BJP will sweep Karnataka with 23 seats 4 seats, while Congress will bag 5 4 seats. Meanwhile, News 18-IPSOS and India Today-Axis said that the BJP-led NDA will come to power by winning a minimum of 21 seats. NEW DELHI: Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday slammed opposition parties for raising questions over the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and said that the opposition must accept defeat with grace if Narendra Modi gets the mandate to become prime minister again. Taking a dig at the opposition, the senior BJP leader said that there were no problem with the EVMs Mamata Banerjee, N Chandrababu Naidu and Amarinder Singh won elections and became chief minister, but the EVMs become faulty when the BJP wins the poll. "EVM is good when Mamata Banerjee became West Bengal chief minister twice and Amarinder Singh became Punjab chief minister. If they win, EVM is good. But when there is expectation that we will win because people of this country want Narendra Modi to be prime minister again, then EVM is unreliable. The BJP condemns their (opposition) conduct and will tell humbly to accept their defeat with grace," he was quoted as saying by PTI. Live TV Prasad said the opposition is "demoralised and defeated" and they had realised by the end of fourth phase that BJP was going the Lok Sabha election and this prompted them to rake up the EVM issue. "By the end of the fourth phase they had realised that they are not going to win the election and people are overwhelmingly supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Therefore they started finding excuses," remarked Prasad Information and Broadcasting Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also echoed similar feelings and said that the opposition parties is aware that the BJP is going to win the Lok Sabha election and this is why they are raising questions over the credibility of EVMs. BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said the sudden mistrust of opposition in EVM is "unsurprising and unimaginary". "When they win, as they did in state polls recently, EVMs are trustworthy. But when they lose, they become questionable. Their selective trust in the EVMs is hypocritical and mischievous," he noted. Meanwhile, the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday set up a 24-hour control room to monitor complaints relating to EVMs. The poll panel decided to set up the control room amid concerns over alleged tempering and suspected manipulation of EVMs used in Lok Sabha election. ''The 24 hour EVM Control Room will be made functional from tonight at Nirvachan Sadan to monitor complaints relating to polled EVMs,'' the EC said in a statement. "The complaints related to storage issues at strongrooms, security of strongrooms, permissions to candidates to post their agents at strongrooms, CCTV monitoring, movement of any EVMs, and any complaints during counting related to EVMs can be informed at control room, number is 011-23052123 (with 5 hunting lines)," it added. The counting of votes for all the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh is scheduled to take place on Thursday. The state on April 11 witnessed polling in the first phase and 79.74 per cent voters cast their ballot for the 319 candidates in the fray. This was the first time Andhra Pradesh voted in Lok Sabha election since the reorganisation of the state and the formation of Telangana. Of the total constituencies, Narasaraopet registered the highest voter turnout at 85.53 per cent. Live TV Constituencies, voting percentage and total candidates per seat-- 1) Araku--73.67 per cent--10 candidates 2) Srikakulam--74.08 per cent--9 candidates 3) Vizianagaram--80.57 per cent--14 candidates 4) Visakhapatnam--67.26 per cent--14 candidates 5) Anakapalli--81 per cent--10 candidates 6) Kakinada--78.38 per cent--16 candidates 7) Amalapuram--83.67 per cent--10 candidates 8) Rajahmundry--80.95 per cent --11 candidates 9) Narsapuram--81.02 per cent--16 candidates 10) Eluru--82.94 per cent--14 candidates 11) Machilipatnam--83.70 per cent--12 candidates 12) Vijayawada--77.14 per cent--15 candidates 13) Guntur--78.55 per cent--20 candidates 14) Narasaraopet--85.53 per cent--14 candidates 15) Bapatla--85.49 per cent--13 candidates 16) Ongole--85.23 per cent--13 candidates 17) Nandyal--80.15 per cent--20 candidates 18) Kurnool--75.13 per cent--16 candidates 19) Anantapur--80.24 per cent--14 candidates 20) Hindupur--83.89 per cent--9 candidates 21) Kadapa--77.81 per cent--17 candidates 22) Nellore--76.14 per cent--13 candidates 23) Tirupati--78.99 per cent--12 candidates 24) Rajampet--78.38 per cent--10 candidates 25) Chittoor--83.68 per cent--8 candidates Exit polls: The number of seats that the exit poll has predicted are-- News24-Chanakya (TDP-17 seats) and (YSRCP 8 seats); Republic-CVoter (TDP 14 seats) and (YSRCP-11 seats); India Today-Axis poll (TDP-4-6 seats), (YSRCP 18-20 seats); News18-IPSOS (YSRCP-13-14), (TDP-10-12), (BJP 0-1); India Today-Axis Exit Poll (YSRCP-18-20 seats), (TDP-4-6 seats). Key contests: The key contest in the state is between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), followed by BJP and Congress. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu may get another term in the state, but arch-rival Jaganmohan Reddy's YSRCP is likely to crush his dream of playing the kingmaker's role at the Centre by making a significant dent in the Lok Sabha election, according to most exit polls. Unrest during polls: The polling in the state took place amidst several violent clashes between the workers of TDP and YSRCP. A TDP leader was killed during clashes at Tadipatri town and another TDP leader Kodela Siva Prasad Rao was attacked by YSRCP supporters in Guntur district. In another incident, TDP supporters attacked YSRCP leader A Anil Kumar Reddy in Kadapa. A YSRCP worker was also killed in Anantapuram district. In Anantapur district, former MLA and contesting candidate of Jana Sena Party, Madhusudan Gupta, smashed an EVM in a fit of rage. The fate of 145 candidates who are contesting the Lok Sabha election from Assam will be decided on Thursday, May 23 when the counting of votes will take place. Assam recorded a total voter turnout of 81.53 per cent. In the wake of the Supreme Court's instruction to the Election Commission (EC), the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips tally will also be taken into consideration while counting the votes this time around. According to the apex court's instructions, the VVPAT slips of at least five EVMs per assembly segment in a Lok Sabha constituency will be counted. The tally of votes will take place only after the last round of counting, something which is expected to delay results by at least five hours. Live TV Assam is one of the most populous northeast states and accounts for at least 14 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats. It was once a stronghold of Congress; however, in the 2014 election, the BJP won an unprecedented seven seats here, thus forming the government in the state for the very first time. Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had won three seats each and one seat had gone to Others. According to News18-IPSOS survey, the BJP will dominate the state by winning at least 8-10 seats while Congress will get 2-4 seats, despite massive violence over National Citizenship Registry and anti-incumbency issues. The exit poll added that the AIUDF will bag 2 seats. Republic C-voter predicted seven seats for the BJP and five for Congress and Others getting one seat. Chanakya-News24 Exit Poll said that BJP will get 10 seats and Congress three, leaving one for Others. This year too, the poll battle is between the BJP and the Congress. Voting in Assam was held under three phases - Tezpur, Kaliabor, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Lakhimpur voted in the first phase; Karimganj, Silchar, Autonomous District, Mangaldoi and Nowgong voted in second; and the remaining four - Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Barpeta and Gauhati in the third phase. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a strong regional party in the state, announced its sport for BJP in Assam in Lok Sabha election despite differences over Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 and National Register of Citizen. BJP's Citizenship Amendment Bill promises citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, a plan that left the Muslims in the northeastern state infuriated. The counting of votes for the 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana is scheduled to take place on Thursday. Post reorganisation, Telangana on April 11 witnessed polling in the first phase and an estimated 61 per cent of voters cast their ballot for the 443 candidates in the fray. In Telangana, the ruling TRS is hoping for an encore in the election after sweeping the December assembly elections, while both Congress and BJP are looking to increase their respective tallies. The Election Commission (EC) had set up 34,603 polling stations across the state for smooth conduct of polls. The fate of the candidates will be decided on Thursday when counting of votes will take place. Live TV Constituencies, voting percentage and total candidates per seat-- 1) Adilabad--66.76 per cent--11 candidates 2) Peddapalle--59.24 per cent--17 candidates 3) Karimnagar-- 68 per cent--15 candidates 4) Nizamabad-- 60.57 per cent--185 candidates 5) Zahirabad--67.80 per cent--18 candidates 6) Medak--68.60 per cent 7) Malkajgiri-- 42.75 per cent--12 candidates 8) Secunderabad--39.20 per cent--28 candidates 9) Hyderabad--39.49 per cent--15 candidates 10) Chevella--53.80 per cent--23 candidates 11) Mahbubnagar-- 64.99 per cent--12 candidates 12) Nagarkurnool-- 57.12 per cent--11 candidates 13) Nalgonda-- 66.11 per cent--27 candidates 14) Bhongir--68.25 per cent--13 candidates 15) Warangal-- 60--15 candidates 16) Mahabubabad--59.90 per cent--14 candidates 17) Khammam--67.96 per cent--23 candidates Exit polls: The number of seats that the exit poll has predicted are--Today's Chanakya (BJP 1 1), (TRS 14 2), (Congress 1 1), (Others 1 1); India TV-CNX (TRS 14 seats), (Congress 2) and (AIMIM 1); Republic-CVoter (TRS 14 seats). Key contests: The TRS has set itself a target of winning 16 seats, leaving the Hyderabad seat to its ally All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM). The other two parties are contesting the seats on their own. TRS working president KT Rama Rao had said in campaign meetings that neither the NDA nor the UPA, is in a position to form a government on its own post-election. TRS can play a key role at the Centre and ensure a better deal for Telangana if it wins 16 seats, he had said. In addition to its own strength, TRS has the backing of AIMIM chief Assauddin Owaisi, which is expected to help the party get minority votes. The main opposition Congress is going alone in the polls. The opposition CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), who are contesting in only a couple of seats each, have declared their support and help to the Congress. However, there is no formal alliance among Congress, CPI and the TJS. Having suffered a drubbing in the Assembly elections (winning only one seat among 119), BJP is contesting all the seats on its own. The party is banking heavily on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Interesting bits from Nizamabad constituency: * Nizamabad has become a cynosure of all eyes with a large number of candidates in the fray necessitating the deployment of as many as 12 EVMs in each booth. "This is the first time in the world where elections are conducted with such a large number of candidates using (such a large number of) EVMs," Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar had said. * In Nizamabad, there are 185 candidates, including 178 farmers who jumped into the fray to support their demand for a remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and setting up of a Turmeric Board based in Nizamabad. * Independent candidate for Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency Akula Hanmandloo caught attention with his unique campaigning--a slipper in one hand and a resignation letter in the other, urging the voters to hit him with slippers should he fail to deliver the promises made by him during the campaign. The voters have been asked also send the resignation letter on his behalf to the assembly speaker if they were not satisfied with his work. Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter, K Kavitha, is a top contender in the constituency. Union Minister Smriti Irani Wednesday took to social media to thank the nation and Bharatiya Janata Party karyakartas (workers) for supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the party in the last five years. In a series of tweets, the actor-turned-politician writes, 24 hours to go .. while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, heres taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership. We are all humbled to bear witness to the hard work, the perseverance and the selflessness of karyakartas who seek no post, no glory for self but are purely driven with a strong desire to build a New India resilient, resurgent, committed to sabka saath, sabka vikas, she added. 24 hours to go .. while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, heres taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 22, 2019 We are all humbled to bear witness to the hard work , the perseverance and the selflessness of karyakartas who seek no post, no glory for self but are purely driven with a strong desire to build a New India resilient, resurgent, committed to sabka saath, sabka vikas. Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 22, 2019 Raking up the poll violence in West Bengal and Kerala, Irani added, We are conscious of the sacrifices made by the families of karyakartas especially in Kerala and West Bengal. No words will ever be enough to pay homage to those who died. However, the best tribute would be that every day we contribute constructively to Nation building. We are conscious of the sacrifices made by the families of karyakartas especially in Kerala and West Bengal. No words will ever be enough to pay homage to those who died. However , the best tribute would be that every day we contribute constructively to Nation building. Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 22, 2019 Targetting the opposition, Irani added, In the last 5 years not a day went by when Narendra Modi was not subjected to humiliation and hateful barbs by the opposition. However, as karyakartas we take pride that the citizens of the Nation stood by the PM through every endeavour, every initiative. This election was about the people versus the opposition. The people stood firm against the anarchists who screamed Bharat ke tukde honge. It is to those citizens that I give my grateful thanks for they resolutely and unabashedly believed in Bharat & her future. In the last 5 years not a day went by when Narendra Modi was not subjected to humiliation and hateful barbs by the opposition. However, as karyakartas we take pride that the citizens of the Nation stood by the PM through every endeavour , every initiative. Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 22, 2019 This election was about the people versus the opposition. The people stood firm against the anarchists who screamed Bharat ke tukde honge. It is to those citizens that I give my grateful thanks for they resolutely and unabashedly believed in Bharat & her future. Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 22, 2019 Irani is up against Congress President Rahul Gandhi from Amethi constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The constituency voted on May 6 in the fifth phase. The BJP leader held back-to-back roadshows and political rallies in the state in an effort to woo voters. Rampur: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Tuesday said that if he does not win by over three lakh votes in Rampur, his parliamentary constituency, it means that the election was not held in a free and fair manner across India. Khan's statement comes amidst allegations by the opposition parties that EVMs were being tampered with and changed in several parts of Uttar Pradesh. Not just Khan, earlier BSP had also alleged that there is "large-scale bungling relating to EVMs in UP." However, the Election Commission (EC) rejected all allegations of EVM manipulation, stressing that the charges were baseless and frivolous. EC also added that the panel has followed strict protocol to keep the EVMs secure before the counting of votes on May 23. Live TV Khan is pitted against BJP candidate Jaya Prada in Rampur. He stoked controversies several times during the election campaign for his statements against Jaya Prada and against the poll authorities. Prada is an ex-SP member and joined BJP in April 2019. Khan was banned from campaigning at least twice for his provocative remarks. Uttar Pradesh voted in all the seven phases of national election, conducted between April 11 to May 19. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 23. EMVs will be opened, postal ballots counted and VVPATs tallied on May 23 (Thursday) across the 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala to find out the results of General Election 2019. The fate of 243 candidates in fray in the 20 seats including Wayanad, from where Congress president Rahul Gandhi is contesting, is expected to be announced by later Thursday. Kerala went to poll in a single phase on April 23 during the third phase of elections in the country and recorded a voter turnout of 77.67 per cent. While the total number of electors were 2,61,51,534, around 2,03,11,852 came out to exercise their franchise. The 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala are Alappuzha, Alathur, Attingal, Chalakudy, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasaragod, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Mavelikara, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Ponnani, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Vatakara and Wayanad. KEY CANDIDATES The most talked-about seat in Kerala is that of Wayanad from where Congress president Rahul Gandhi is contesting against CPI's P P Suneer and NDA's Thushar Vellapally. Besides him, two-time sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor and Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam are among other prominent candidates to watch out for. In the 2014 general election, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) won 12 seats while the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist)(CPIM) led Left Democratic Front managed to bag just eight seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on the other hand, has never won a Lok Sabha seat in Kerala. According to the exit polls which were declared on May 19 after the conclusion of the seventh phase at 6 pm, the Congress-led UDF is expected to gain massive victory in the state while the BJP is likely to open his account in the state. The ruling CPI(M) led LDF is most likely to face disappointment this time around. What were the predictions of exit polls? According to India Today-Axis, 15-16 seats will go to the UDF, three to five seats to the LDF and 0-1 seats will be bagged by the BJP in Kerala. While Today's Chanakya predicted 16 3 seats for the UDF, 4 3 seats for the LDF and 0 1 seats for the BJP, News 18 IPSOS exit polls suggested seven to nine seats will go to the Congress-led UDF, while the CPI(M)-led LDF could end up with 11 to 13 seats. The BJP is predicted to win one seat, according to News 18-IPSOS Though the exit poll predictions may not always be true, pollsters claim they give an idea of the emerging political situation. Election after election, it has remained a popular belief that the road to Lok Sabha passes through Uttar Pradesh. The importance of the politically significant state can be determined by the fact that of the 14 prime ministers that India has had since Independence, 10 were sent to the Lok Sabha from Uttar Pradesh. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who contested his first Lok Sabha election in 2014, moved out of his home state Gujarat to contest from Varanasi. The sheer size of the electorate in the state and the fact that it holds power to nearly 15% of Parliament with 80 seats makes it imperative for political parties to lay special focus on the state. The election in the state in 2019 was held in all seven phases from 11 April to 19 May. The estimated turnout in the state has been 59.60 per cent, which is likely to be the highest ever in the state in Lok Sabha elections so far. Earlier, the highest was 58.44 per cent which was recorded in the 2014 election. The total number of electors this year increased by 3.96 per cent since the previous election with a total of 14,43,16,893 electors who were eligible to cast their votes in 2019. Key contests and constituencies: Varanasi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a second term from Varanasi Lok Sabha seat where he is pitted against Congress candidate Ajai Rai. There were rumours earlier that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra may begin her electoral politics by fighting against Modi from Varanasi but Congress fielded Ajai Rai from the seat. Amethi: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is fighting a tough battle against BJP minister Smriti Irani. Irani, who gave a strong fight to Rahul in 2014, had spent a lot of time in the constituency to build a support base for her and defeat the Congress chief in 2019. Rae Bareli: Sonia Gandhi is in a straight contest with former Congress leader Dinesh Pratap Singh who recently joined the BJP in Rae Bareli. She won the seat in 2004, 2006 (bypolls), 2009 and 2014. The SP-BSP alliance has not fielded any candidate against the Gandhis in both Amethi and Rae Bareli. Azamgarh: Azamgarh was one of the 5 seats where Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav had won in 2014. His son Akhilesh is contesting the 2019 election from the seat. With an attempt to break into the SP's Yadav base, the BJP has fielded Bhojpuri film star Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua against the SP chief. Mainpuri: Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting the 2019 election from Mainpuri where he is pitted against BJP's Prem Singh Shakya. The seat has been a Samajwadi Party bastion since 1996. While BSP-SP alliance has not fielded any candidate against the Gandhi, the Congress as a quid pro quo has not named candidates in Mainpuri, Kannauj and Azamgarh, the seats where the immediate Yadav family is contesting. Lucknow: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is seeking a second term from Lucknow, a stronghold of the BJP. The Mahagatbandhan candidate from the seat is SP's Poonam Sinha and Acharya Pramod Krishnam is contesting on a Congress ticket. Sultanpur: The BJP has fielded Union Minister Maneka Gandhi from the Sultanpur Lok Sabha seat against BSP's Chandra Bhadra Singh and Sanjay Singh of the Congress. Maneka's son Varun had won the Sultanpur seat for the BJP in 2014. Pilibhit: Instead of the Maneka Gandhi, who won the 2014 election from Pilibhit, Varun will be fighting to retain the seat for the BJP in 2019. It is believed that the swapping of the seats was done as the BJP believed that Maneka has a better chance of surviving the triangular contest in Sultanpur. Gorakhpur: With Gorakhpur being the home turf of CM Adityanath, the contest for the seat is a prestige battle for BJP. The gathbandhan is a huge obstacle for the saffron party as the BJP lost the Gorakhpur seat in the bypolls that were held in 2018. Muzaffarnagar: RLD chief Ajit Singh is fighting from the Muzaffarnagar constituency as the mahagathbandhan candidate. Singh is contesting from Muzaffarnagar after he had lost his traditional Baghpat constituency in the 2014 election. He is pitted against BJP's Sanjeev Kumar Balyan who had won the election by a margin of over four lakh votes in 2014. Rampur: The main contestants in the fray in Rampur are Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his one-time party colleague Jaya Prada who is contesting the 2019 election on BJP's ticket. Live TV In 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party had swept the state winning 71 of the 80 seats and 2 others seats being won by its ally Apna Dal. Of the remaining 7 seats, the Samajwadi Party won 5 seats including the Yadav family bastions while the Congress managed to win just 2 seats - Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's Amethi and his mother Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli. While there was a Modi wave in the 2014 election, the exit polls in 2019 reflect the uncertainty in the dynamics of the state that could emerge when the final results are announced on 23 May. The key players in the state are Bharatiya Janata Party, which is fighting tooth and nail to repeat its 2014 numbers; the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party who have fought the election in an alliance along with Rashtriya Lok Dal with the sole objective to defeat the BJP; and the Congress which is trying to renew its political standing in the state and national politics. Key takeaways: - This is the first time that Lok Sabha election is being held when the BJP holds power in Uttar Pradesh with such a huge majority. In the 2017 assembly election in the state, the BJP had won 312 of the 403 seats in the state - its best-ever tally. The parliamentary election may well also be a referendum on the Yogi Adityanath government and its governance in the past 2 years. - Never say never in politics, was proved right when the SP-BSP joined hands ahead of the Lok Sabha election. BSP chief Mayawati, who had vowed never to come together with the SP after the infamous 1995 guest house scandal when she was reportedly manhandled by members of the latter party, shed her inhibitions and decided to fight in an alliance. In a historic press conference, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav draped a shawl around her, took her blessings and as the bua-bhatija posed for the shutterbugs, the conversation began over how the coming together of the two arch-rivals would impact the fortunes of the BJP in the election. The BSP, SP, RLD are contesting on 38, 37 and 3 seats each in the alliance. - Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the name that was the trump card of the Congress, was finally taken out in the 2019 election. While the Gandhi daughter has been campaigning for her brother and mother since the time the two entered electoral politics, Priyanka too took the plunge into politics officially by taking over as party general secretary for UP-East. By giving her the charge of the region, she has directly taken on Adityanath at his home turf and Modi who is contesting from Varanasi. Controversies: - Taking action against politicians for violating the model code of conduct, the Election Commission placed several bans on leaders during the poll campaigning. The prominent leaders who faced the EC's heat were Yogi Adityanath, Mayawati, SP leader Azam Khan and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi. Yogi Adityanath faced a 72-hour ban for saying the election is between 'Ali' and 'Bajrang Bali'; Mayawati faced a 48-hour ban for her speech in Deoband where she appealed to Muslims to not vote for a particular party; Azam Khan faced two bans, one for his comments against BJP's Jaya Prada and the next one for remarks against EC and other communal statements; Maneka Gandhi was barred from campaigning for 48 hours after she told Muslims to vote for her, otherwise she may not be inclined to be responsive to their requests. - BSP has been claiming that EVMs are being transported without security and that is leading to the actual machines are being swapped to suit the BJP. The EC, however, has rubbished the allegations and reassured that EVMs which were used in the election have been stored in strong rooms with 24-hour security and the machines which were being transported were the 'reserve' which are kept on stand by if there is malfunctioning at the time of voting. Exit poll predictions: Since the time the SP-BSP came together to fight the election as the Mahagatbandhan, speculation was rife over whether the two parties will be able to transfer their votes to each other's candidates. It has been a topic of intense discussion over whether the BJP would be able to retain its 2014 number or would it face a dent on 23 May. The exit polls have also thrown up mixed numbers for the state. While some have shown that SP-BSP-RLD mahagathbandhan is in the lead, the others have given BJP way more seats than all the others combined. *According to Times Now-VMP prediction, BJP+ is expected to win 58 seats in UP, Mahagathbandhan 20 seats, and Congress two seats. *ABP Nielsen has predicted that SP-BSP-RLD alliance would win 56 seats, BJP 22, and Congress just 2 seats. * News18 IPSOS has predicted that BJP and allies would win 60-62 seats, SP-BSP-RLD alliance 17-19 seats and Congress one-two seats. * Republic-Jan Ki Baat has predicted that BJP and its allies would win 46-57 seats, Congress 2-4 seats and the SP-BSP-RLD alliance 21-32 seats. * According to My Axis-India Today exit poll, the BJP is expected to win 62-68 Lok Sabha seats, SP-BSP-RLD alliance 10-16 seats and Congress 0-2 seats. Lok Sabha election 2019 has seen accusations and charges galore throughout its course over the last several weeks. With just a day left for Lok Sabha election 2019 result, Congress and BJP once again engaged in a tussle on Wednesday as the former alleged bias from Election Commission while the saffron party claimed Opposition feared lurking defeat. Live TV In less than 12 hours, counting for 542 Lok Sabha seats will begin across the country. Central paramilitary forces have been deployed for security of strong rooms in which the EVMs have been kept. The Election Commission has also set up 24-hour Control Room to monitor complaints relating to EVMs. Here are the highlights from all the election-related developments that took place on Wednesday: * Lok Sabha election 2019 now enters its final few hours before counting day dawns on the country. All the appeals, every prayer and each outreach will now either sail or fail for political parties in the country who could have a sleepless night before counting. Zee News will be tracking every single development and will present quick, accurate and in-depth analysis. So stay tuned for what promises to be a 'Thriller Thursday.' * As Congress continues to cry foul even before a single vote in Lok Sabha election 2019 being counted, BJP has maintained the counter-attack. Leaders like Ram Madhav, Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore are few among many to have joined party president Amit Shah in flaying the Opposition for having doubts over EVMs. * Ministry of Home Affairs has alerted state chief secretaries among others about the possibility of violence in various parts of the country during counting of votes. It has asked state administrations to ensure law and order is not compromised. * Dr K Sudhakar, Congress MLA from Chikballapur, backs EVMs. "I tweeted in the morning that there is no truth in allegations that EVMs are hacked. We must believe in democracy because when we win at accept and if we lose then we blame EVMs. ECI should try and address the suspicions of the opposition parties, it is its responsibility." * Amit Shah has reacted the angry outburst of Congress over EVMs. "How can a national party question the process of counting votes just a day before the process is to take place? Insulting EVMs is akin to insulting people of the country," he says. (Full report here) * Congress renews accusations of bias against the Election Commission. Party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi says that the EC is acting on the directions of BJP. The outburst comes shortly after EC rejected the demand from 22 opposition parties that VVPAT slips be verified on counting day. (Full report here) * Security has been beefed up at counting centres across India. * Newly elected MPs won't be put up in hotels but in state bhavans, Western Court and its annexe building, says Lok Sabha secretary general: PTI * As per the EC ruling against the opposition parties the schedule for counting will be 8 am postal votes counting and from 8:30 am EVM votes counting. Trends will start by 9:30am, says Maharashtra CEO. * Supreme Court granted protection from arrest till May 28 to BJP candidate from Barrackpore LS seat Arjun Singh, who is facing several cases. A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice MR Shah grants the five-day protection to Singh from arrest in cases registered against him by the West Bengal police. * Madhya Pradesh: "Three-tier security present at EVM Strong Room. All counting agents, polling agents and candidates to be frisked before entering the area. Movement of EVMs and counting to be done under police presence and CCTV surveillance," Bhopal Collector S Khade told ANI. Maharashtra: Security outside Shivadi counting centre ahead of counting of votes for #LokSabhaElections2019 tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/YjNB6raMeI ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 Maharashtra: Security outside Shivadi counting centre ahead of counting of votes for #LokSabhaElections2019 tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/YjNB6raMeI ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 * Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday night held a meeting with top bureaucrats from key ministries, said sources. The PM is believed to have taken feedback on various issues. According to sources, the government has already asked all the ministries and departments to prepare their 100-day agenda. There was no official word about the agenda of the meeting, which comes ahead of the Lok Sabha election results on May 23: PTI * In a series of tweet, Union Minister Smriti Irani writes, "24 hours to go .. while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, heres taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership "We are all humbled to bear witness to the hard work, the perseverance and the selflessness of karyakartas who seek no post, no glory for self but are purely driven with a strong desire to build a New India resilient, resurgent, committed to sabka saath, sabka vikas. "We are conscious of the sacrifices made by the families of karyakartas especially in Kerala and West Bengal. No words will ever be enough to pay homage to those who died. However , the best tribute would be that every day we contribute constructively to Nation building. "In the last 5 years not a day went by when Narendra Modi was not subjected to humiliation and hateful barbs by the opposition. However, as karyakartas we take pride that the citizens of the Nation stood by the PM through every endeavour , every initiative. "This election was about the people versus the opposition. The people stood firm against the anarchists who screamed Bharat ke tukde honge. It is to those citizens that I give my grateful thanks for they resolutely and unabashedly believed in Bharat & her future." 24 hours to go .. while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, heres taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 22, 2019 * New Delhi: Traffic advisory issued to residents of Dwarka for counting day on May 23. "On counting day Road no 224 in front of IIIT, Sector 9, will be closed from 4 AM till the closure of counting, from Sector 8/9 Red light point to 19/20 Red light point. The Residents of Societies situated on both sides of this closed road are requested to carry their identity card/society related documents to gain access and exit from this blocked road. Inconvenience is regretted. All office bearers of MC/RWA are requested to place it on their respective notice board and circulate to concerned Whatsapp groups in Dwarka," ACP Dwarka said in a statement. * Counting of votes for the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 146 Assembly segments in Odisha will be held at 63 different centres across the state amidst tight security on Thursday. Read more * SC takes note of violence during Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, agrees to hear the plea of BJP candidate Arjun Singh seeking protection from arrest. The top court will hear the plea at 12:30 pm today: PTI * EC decision on Diamond Harbour re-polling today: CPI (M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury met all members of the EC and raised the issue of massive rigging in Diamond harbour by Trinamool Congress and demanded re-polling. He also told them about the issue of re-scrutiny the details of which had already given to them in the letters etc which he had send them. Yechury also raised the issue of the post-poll violence in Bhatpara. *Polling underway at polling station number 200 in North Kolkata parliamentary constituency. #WestBengal: Polling underway at polling station number 200 in North Kolkata parliamentary constituency. ECI had declared void the poll held on 19 May at the polling station. pic.twitter.com/w3C85wZ1eY ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 * Punjab: Re-polling for Lok Sabha elections is currently underway at booth number 123 in Amritsar. The voters are being given 'certificate of appreciation' by the EC: ANI * The Election Commission to meet in New Delhi to address the concerns raised by leaders of 22 opposition parties, who met the poll panel on Tuesday, voicing their concerns over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and use of VVPATs. *Om Prakash Rajbhar woes likely may grow. Three Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party legislators may to join BJP. A day after sacking Rajbhar, Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik allocated his portfolio of Backward Welfare and Divyangjan empowerment to Minister of State (MoS) Anil Rajbhar on Tuesday. * Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Tuesday said that if he does not win by over three lakh votes in Rampur, his parliamentary constituency, it means that the election was not held in a free and fair manner across India. Read more * EC tweets: A dedicated 24 hour control room has been set up to respond to any complaints related to EVM. You can call at 011 23052123. #ITrustEVM pic.twitter.com/RGKFEnN9fC Election Commission #DeshKaMahatyohar (@ECISVEEP) May 22, 2019 * West Bengal: On counting day, Kolkata Police will deploy 4000 security personnel in the state capital. Two hundred companies of central forces have also been deployed inside counting centres. The joint forces will remain active in order to curb any violence. Sensitive areas are also under surveillance. Kolkata armed police along with city police will be posted outside the main gate of the counting centre. Counting of votes will take place at 13 locations in Kolkata. * Punjab: Polling is underway at Amritsar constituency's Polling Booth No. 123 of Rajasansi assembly constituency. The Election Commission of India ordered the re-poll on Monday. Voting will continue from 7 am to 6 pm. * West Bengal: Re-polling underway at Kolkata Uttar constituency at Booth No. 200. The EC had declared void the poll held on May 19 at the polling station. * UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of senior Congress leaders on May 22, a day before counting of votes, to discuss post-poll strategies. All senior leaders, General Secretaries and party 'in-charges' has been called in. Another meeting is likely to be held on May 23. According to sources, a team of four leaders has been set up who'll reach out to non-NDA parties to built a united front. * Continuing his efforts to mobilise opposition parties to forge a non-NDA front, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Chandrababu Naidu Tuesday met former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H D Deve Gowda in Karnataka's Bengaluru. The meeting lasted for more than one and half hours. Read more * Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Tuesday slammed opposition parties for raising questions over the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and said that the opposition must accept defeat with grace if Narendra Modi gets the mandate to become prime minister again. Read more New Delhi: Amit Shah has lambasted opposition parties, especially Congress, for claims that electronic voting machines are susceptible to tampering. A day before counting of votes to decide the outcome of Lok Sabha election 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party chief slammed aspersions being cast on the Election Commission of India and on EVMs. While the EC said on Wednesday that there won't be any change in the process of counting of votes, Congress reacted by claiming that EVMs have become BJP's 'Electronic Victory Machines'. Shah, however, fired back with equal intensity. "Insulting EVMs is like insulting people of the country. How can political parties demand a change in the process of counting of votes a day before they are to take place?" he said. "The demands made to the EC by the Opposition stems out of their own selfish reasons." Live TV Congress and a number of opposition parties have been jittery since Sunday when an overwhelming number of exit polls predicted BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to storm back to power. While Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter even before the exit polls were released and questioned the integrity of the EC, he asked party workers to remain brave in another tweet on Wednesday. This was just a day after 22 opposition leaders met with EC officials and demanded that VVPAT slips should be counted first. The demand was rejected. While opposition leaders have cried foul over EVMs repeatedly, a number of BJP leaders have said that the complaints are only due to the fear of the defeat that is coming for UPA and other parties in the opposition. It promises to be a thriller of a Thursday in India when Election Commission sits down to count crores of votes cast in Lok Sabha election 2019 - the largest democratic exercise in the world spanning the length and breadth of the country over more than 40 days. Seven phases, 542 constituencies, thousands of candidates and crores of eligible voters have defined Lok Sabha election 2019 over the last several weeks. Promises have been lofty, allegations have been scathing and not a single stone has been left unturned by political parties in their respective bids to either remain in power or seize it. Lok Sabha election 2019 has been a potboiler with ample doses of action, drama and even comic relief which now promises to end in an electrifying climax. Live TV Of predictions and prayers After voting in seven phases which concluded last Sunday (May 19), a majority of exit polls released predicted a comfortable win for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) possibly hitting the majority mark on its own. Zee News poll of polls - Maha Poll showed that the NDA could once again hit a triple century and form the government on the back of wins in 303 seats. It has also predicted that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance may be halted to 117 seats, quite unable to mount any challenge. The other parties are predicted to finish with a combined tally of 122 seats. The reason behind NDAs predicted power push once again could well be the forecast that the party could do well in states like West Bengal and Karnataka, apart from completely dominating states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where the saffron party has always batted on the front foot. The party has also been predicted to do reasonably well in Uttar Pradesh despite the coming together of Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party here. In the last Lok Sabha election, BJP had nearly swept the state with 71 of 80 seats. Little wonder then that most opposition parties are now on prayer even as they have been busy dismissing exit poll numbers as either gossip, guesswork or guile Of accusations and allegations The entire Lok Sabha election 2019 campaign was marred by tons and tons of accusations and allegations levelled by political parties at one another and by some political parties at the Election Commission. The most recent of these doing the round is one that firmly puts Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in cross hairs. A number of opposition parties have renewed their charge that the EVMs continue to be vulnerable to intentional manipulations, urging EC to take corrective measures like counting voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT). While there is nothing new about this demand, opposition parties resurrected the demand and met EC officials shortly after most exit polls predicted them to come to a cropper in this election. As many as 21 leaders from opposition parties met EC regarding this on Tuesday, just two days before the counting of votes. Among the several leaders who have denied the forecast of exit polls or cast aspersions on the EC are Chandrababu Naidu and Mamata Banerjee. While the Telugu Desam Party chief has demanded that VVPAT slips be counted and tallied with actual votes, the TMC supremo has been outrightly brazen throughout the course of this election. Of shooting from the mouth and being muted The entire duration of Lok Sabha election 2019 saw leaders cutting across party lines make controversial remarks ranging from personal attacks, derogatory jabs and blatant claims. Some even tried to play the cards of caste, community and religion in their respective bids to sway the minds of voters. And all of this despite EC enforcing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). So, while leaders like Azam Khan up against former SP colleague Jaya Prada in Rampur made sexist remarks, others like BSP chief Mayawati, Congress Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appealed to voters to keep religious and/or social considerations in mind when voting. And then there was Sadhvi Pragya BJP candidate from Bhopal - who made a number of controversial remarks including that of being proud to have been in Ayodhya when the Babri Masjid was demolished. Each one of these political leaders was banned from campaigning for varying time periods by the EC for violating the MCC. Of Bengal burning at the altar of democracy West Bengal, single-handedly, grabbed the spotlight this election with rampant violence in each of the seven phases of voting here. With BJP ramping up its efforts in the state after opening its account here in the last Lok Sabha election, TMC appeared rather nervy. The possibly-flayed nerves exploded by the time voting began with TMC and BJP cadre clashing repeatedly. Both parties accused each other of trying to influence or coerce voters, of fanning unrest and instigating violence and of generally undermining democracy. Mamata, accused of creating roadblocks in BJP leaders campaign schedule in West Bengal, led a fierce fight which often degenerated into crassness. At different points in the election campaign, she referred to BJP as a party of goons and authoritarians. She even launched repeated personal salvos against Modi, remarking on how she wants to send sweets of mud and with pebbles to him, and give him a slap of democracy. The belligerent West Bengal CM made matters even worse when she questioned the EC and said it was working on BJPs direction and that its officials were members of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Several political analysts believe that Mamata has harboured ambitions of becoming the PM and this coupled with BJPs forays into West Bengal could have made her try to grab as many headlines as possible and for as many reasons as she could. Other opposition leaders tried to keep up. Of Modi vs Opposition Lok Sabha election 2019 may well be remembered as a fight to defeat one man rather than to win an election. Several opposition parties led by the Congress attempted to combine forces and form pre-poll alliances with the supposed objective of removing Modi as Prime Minister of the country. Accusing him of having betrayed promises made in 2014 and charging him for almost every problem in the country, these parties dabbled with the possibility of a political knitwork against Modi in the election. It was not meant to be as several regional parties opted to remain out of the UPA fold while still spewing the venom against the PM. The task of spewing venom was primarily led by Rahul Gandhi who singled out the Rafale deal with Frances Dassault Aviation to term Modi as a thief. The Congress president, with aspirations of being the PM, tried to make the Chowkidaar Chor Hai campaign viral but ended up apologising twice to the Supreme Court for having misinterpreted it in relation to the Rafale case in the apex court. The government, meanwhile, provided Modi with a shield and the defensive wall hardly ever appeared to crack despite repeated onslaughts. Modi himself looked steadfast as ever and banked on his oratory skills yet again to reach out to the people of the country. Addressing hundreds of rallies in the country, Modi spearheaded the BJP campaign yet again with party chief Amit Shahs electoral acumen at his disposal at all times. If the BJP-led NDA manages to prove exit polls correct on Thursday, it could be a massive stamp of approval for Modi who has laid out a roadmap for governance in the next five years. If the numbers are proven wrong, there could be a massive tussle among opposition parties who have largely disagreed on who could be their PM candidate. Either way, Indias future beckons as the world waits with bated breath. Counting of votes start 8am on Thursday with a possible confirmed result by evening. The fate of at least 537 candidates contesting Lok Sabha election 2019 from Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh will be declared on Thursday, May 23. The results of all the 24 Lok Sabha constituencies (Punjab 13, Haryana 10 and Chandigarh 1) are expected to be declared by late Thursday evening. Some of the key candidates contesting the Lok Sabha election in Punjab are BJP-SAD's Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur, Hardeep Singh Puri from Amritsar, Sukhbir Singh Badal from Firozpur, Harsimrat Kaur Badal from Bathinda, Congres' Sunil Jakhar from Gurdaspur, Hardeep Puri from Amritsar, Preneet Kaur from Patiala, Manish Tiwari from Anandpur Sahib and AAP's Bhagwant Mann. In most seats in Punjab, the fight is straight up between Congress and SAD-BJP alliance. In Haryana, some of the most prominent names on the battlefield are BJP's Rao Inderjit Singh from Gurgaon, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Chief Minister of Haryana from Sonipat, and BJP's Krishan Pal Gurjar from Faridabad. Jannayak Janata Party (JJP)'s Dushyant Chautala is seeking a second Lok Sabha term in Hisar. In the previous Lok Sabha election, BJP had won seven out of 10 consistencies in Haryana. INLD managed to bag two seats while Congress was reduced to just one seat. This time too, BJP is expected to continue the momentum from the victories in the municipal polls. Punjab saw a polling percentage of 59 per cent in 13 seats while in Chandigarh, 64 per cent turnout was registered. A voter turnout of 69.50 per cent was recorded in the 10 Lok Sabha seats of Haryana, where 223 candidates, including two Union ministers and a former chief minister, are in the fray. The Union Territory of Chandigarh has one unreserved Lok Sabha seat. The voting for all the 10 seats in Haryana took place in a single phase in the sixth phase on May 12. Punjab and Chandigarh went to the polls on the same day in a single phase in the seventh phase of Lok Sabha election, on May 19. According to most of the exit polls, Punjab, which is currently being governed by Captain Amarinder Singh, is most likely to witness the flag of the grand old party flying high in the state. While the BJP-SAD alliance is likely to bag 4-6 seats, Congress is expected to lead with at least 6-8. Kejriwal's AAP, which had won 4 seats in Punjab in 2014 Lok Sabha election, is expected to settle down with 0-2 seats. According to Aajtak-Axis, the Congress is most likely to win eight to nine Lok Sabha seats, while BJP would settle with three to five seats out of a total number of 13 seats in the state. According to an IANS-CVOTER Exit Polls, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is expected to win nine out of Haryana's 10 Lok Sabha seats whereas United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is projected to win one seat, the same number as in 2014. Chanakya exit poll figures suggested that the BJP-led NDA government would sweep all the ten seats in Haryana, while India TV-CNX predicted nine seats for the saffron party in the state. Aajtak-Axis and Times Now-VMR 2019 said that the BJP is most likely to win a minimum of eight seats in Haryana. Congress is expected to bag a maximum of two seats in the state, the exit poll suggested. NDTV's poll of polls says BJP will win around 8 to 12 seats in Haryana, while Congress and INLD may have to face disappointment. India TV-CNX predicts BJP will win nine states in Haryana, while Congress is likely to bag just one seat. For Chandigarh, which is the capital of both Haryana and Punjab, India Today-Axis My India exit poll predicted a clear win for the BJP. Here, the BJP has retained its outgoing MP Kirron Kher, while the Aam Aadmi Party has fielded former Union Minister Harmohan Dhawan, a rebel BJP MP who had supported Kher in the previous Lok Sabha election. Congress nominee and former Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal is also in the fray from Chandigarh. NEW DELHI: Hours after Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha warned of "bloodshed" if the ruling BJP and its allies will try to manipulate EVMs, Union Minister and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan hit back at Kushwaha saying "there will be tit for tat". The Lok Janshakti Party chief made the statement in front of Home Minister Rajnath Singh during a dinner meeting of NDA allies hosted by BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi. "Dekhiye, PM ne kuch nahi kiya hai. Prastav me bhi kuch nahi hai. Lekin humlog...ye (Rajnath) bhi kuch nahi kahenge...Lekin hum kahna chahte hain tit for tat hoga...samajh gaye na...(see, PM has not done anything. There is nothing in the resolution. But we...he (Rajnath) will not even say...but I want to say...there will be a tit for tat... understand," Paswan said. Taking a dig at the opposition parties, Paswan said that they are aware of their defeat in Lok Sabha election and are raising questions over EVMs only to hide their failure. "When they see their defeat is imminent, they raise doubts about EVMs, but when they won in three states, then they didn't say anything on EVMs. Why did they not raise doubts after they won in Punjab," he said, adding that the LJP will win more seats than predicted by exit polls. Live TV On Tuesday, Kushwaha had stirred a controversy by saying that blood will spill on the streets if the results of the recently concluded 2019 Lok Sabha election are manipulated. Kushwaha, a former NDA ally and now part of the opposition Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, said that there was tremendous public anger after alleged exit polls prediction of NDA winning 30 or more seats in Bihar out of 40. "The exit poll surveys were aimed at causing demoralisation among our cadres, with a mala fide intent,'' he alleged. RLSP chief stressed that were being made to manipulate Lok Sabha poll results in favour of the ruling NDA, which will have seriou consequences. ''Earlier, we used to hear about booth loot. This time, it is suspected that attempts may be made to loot the results. These could be through manipulation of the EVMs or any other measures at the counting centres. The leaders of the NDA are hereby warned not to indulge in such a misadventure. There is tremendous public anger and blood may spill on the streets, for which we shall not be held responsible,'' Kushwaha had said. West Bengal: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Dinesh Trivedi yet again urged the Election Commission of India to ensure transparency and fairness in the counting process by verifying EVM results with VVPATs. "What harm will be done if paper trail is counted first?" Trivedi tweeted, urging EC to take the decision for democracy. ECI must keep it's integrity .What harm will be done if paper trail counted first?This will remove doubts .Do it for Democracy. Dinesh Trivedi (@DinTri) May 22, 2019 He also asked the EC to give a reason as to why they would "not heed to the logical demand of the opposition of tallying of votes with paper trail first?" Can the EC give one good reason why they would not heed to the logical demand of the opposition of tallying of votes with paper trail first? Dinesh Trivedi (@DinTri) May 22, 2019 On Tuesday, 22 opposition parties, including the TMC, met top EC officials and submitted a memorandum to the poll panel, demanding that VVPAT slips at randomly selected five polling booths should be counted first, and if any discrepancy occurs, then VVPAT slips should be tallied for the entire assembly segments. The EC said it would discuss the issue on Wednesday. "It is requested that the verification of VVPAT slips of randomly identified (05) polling stations should be done prior to the initiation of counting of votes and not after the completion of last round of counting," the memorandum to the Election Commission stated. Live TV "If any discrepancy is found anywhere during the VVPAT verification, 100% counting of paper slips of VVPATs of all polling stations of that assembly segment should be done," it added. The meeting came on a day the Supreme Court dismissed a PIL seeking 100 per cent matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs. (With agencies inputs) The fate of 145 candidates in the fray from 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam will be declared on Thursday, May 23. The counting will begin at 8 am across the two states and one union territory. Assam registered a total voter turnout of 81.53 per cent. As per the Supreme Court's order, the Election Commission will tally the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips with five EVMs per assembly segment. Catch the Live coverage of the counting process for 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam Assam is one of the most populous northeast states and accounts for at least 14 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats. It was once a stronghold of Congress; however, in the 2014 election, the BJP won an unprecedented seven seats here, thus forming the government in the state for the very first time. Congress and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) had won three seats each and one seat had gone to Others. According to News18-IPSOS survey, the BJP will dominate the state by winning at least 8-10 seats while Congress will get 2-4 seats, despite massive violence over National Citizenship Registry and anti-incumbency issues. The exit poll added that the AIUDF will bag 2 seats. Republic C-voter predicted seven seats for the BJP and five for Congress and Others getting one seat. Chanakya-News24 Exit Poll said that BJP will get 10 seats and Congress three, leaving one for Others. Live TV This year too, the poll battle is between the BJP and the Congress. The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), a strong regional party in the state, announced its sport for BJP in Assam in Lok Sabha election despite differences over Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 and National Register of Citizen. BJP's Citizenship Amendment Bill promises citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, a plan that left the Muslims in the northeastern state infuriated. HYDERABAD: 2,118 candidates are in the fray from 175 assembly constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, the results of which will be declared on May 23. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on May 23, Thursday. This time, following the Supreme Court's order, the Election Commission will tally the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with five EVMs per assembly segment, which can delay the counting process for over 5 hours or more. Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha constituency: All You Need To Know A little over 3.93 crore voters in Andhra Pradesh were eligible to decide the fortunes of 319 candidates who were in the fray for the Lok Sabha seats, and 2,118 candidates for the assembly polls. Watch live streaming of Assembly election 2019 for 175 seats in Andhra Pradesh. In Andhra Pradesh, the key electoral contest is between Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YS Jagan Mohan Reddys YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). While BJP, Congress and other regional players and some independent candidates are also there. The Jana Sena of actor Pawan Kalyan made its debut in alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Left parties. Meanwhile, the BJP and Congress contested all seats on their own. Live TV TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, Pawan Kalyan, Naidu's brother-in-law and actor N Balakrishna and state Congress chief Raghuveera Reddy were among the prominent candidates to watch out for. A key feature of these polls is the electoral debut of Naidu's son Nara Lokesh, who contested from the Mangalagiri assembly seat in the capital region of Amaravati. Naidu is seeking re-election from Kuppam in his native Chittoor district while Jagan has once again contested from Pulivendula, his family stronghold in Kadapa district. While TDP's Chandrababu Naidu cited development works under his tenure to garner support, his rival Jagan Reddy alleged that the Andhra CM has miserably failed in fulfilling his promises. The exit polls have made mixed projections as to which party will form the next government in the state. While some predicted that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) will storm to power, others said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will retain power and Naidu will comfortably get another term as CM. Some exit polls gave the YSRCP 111-135 seats in 175-member assembly, others predicted that the TDP will win 90-111 seats. They predicted 1-5 seats for actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, which made it electoral debut. According to India Today-Axis My India, the YSRCP is expected to win 130-135 seats while the TDP may finish with 37-40 seats. It projected 0-1 seat for the Jana Sena. CPS predicted 130-133 seats for the YSRCP, 37 for the TDP and one for the Jana Sena. Almost all the exit polls predicted that both Congress and BJP will draw a blank. In 2014 elections, the TDP had won 102 seats in the 175-member Assembly while its then alliance partner BJP secured 4 seats. YSRCP emerged as the only opposition bagging 67 seats. Two independents were also elected. Interestingly, the YSRCP polled 45.01 per cent votes, a mere 1.6 per cent less than the votes polled by the TDP-BJP combine. Out of 25 Lok Sabha seats, the TDP bagged 15 seats while BJP got two. The YSRCP secured eight seats. Facing people's wrath over bifurcation, the Congress was completely wiped out drawing blank in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Voting for 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan took place on April 29 (fourth phase) and May 6 (fifth phase) while the results will be declared after the counting of votes on May 23 (Thursday) . The main contest in Lok Sabha election 2019 in Rajasthan is between BJP and Congress. The state recorded a total of 66.07 per cent polling with 3,22,53,046 people (out of 4,88,19,246 registered voters) casting their votes. Ganganagar (SC) constituency witnessed the highest voter turnout of 74.39 per cent, followed by Barmer with 73.12 per cent and Banswara (ST) with 72.81 per cent. Rajasthan Lok Sabha constituency: All you need to know One of the most talked-about seats is Jodhpur from where Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot is fighting against Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhwat. Barmer constituency is witnessing a fight between Congress' Manvendra Singh a former BJP MLA and the son of BJP veteran Jaswant Singh is contesting against the BJP's Kailash Chaudhary. Watch Live Streaming of Lok Sabha Election 2019 for 25 seats in Rajasthan Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje's son and BJP leader Dushyant Singh is contesting against Congress's Pramod Sharma from the Jhalawar-Baran seat. Erstwhile Jaipur royal family member and former BJP legislator Diya Kumari is pitted against Congress' Devkinandan Gurjar from Rajsamand seat. Live TV Exit polls suggest a massive win for the BJP in Lok Sabha election result 2019 from Rajasthan. Republic-CVoter has predicted 22 seats out of 25 for NDA and three seats for UPA while ABP-CSDS says BJP is likely to win 19 seats in Rajasthan and Congress may get the remaining six seats. News 18-IPSOS has also predicted 22-23 seats for the saffron party and 2-3 seats for Congress. India TV-CNX says BJP will win 21 seats while Congress will win four. Aaj Tak-Axis says BJP will win with 23 to 25 seats while just two seats are likely to go to Congress. Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Lok Sabha election 2019 is all set to reach its climax on Thursday with the Election Commission of India to count votes and declare which political party will lead in governing the country for the next five years. Zee News will track the latest trends, leads and provide quick and in-depth analysis of all the day's developments on its channel, website and mobile applications. Lok Sabha election 2019 result can be followed closely on Zee News channels on all DTH platforms and for those on the move, the latest developments can also be tracked here and on mobile applications available on iOS and PlayStore. For live streaming, users can click here for the absolutely latest and exhaustive updates. Live TV Lok Sabha election 2019 has been an intense battle for political supremacy in the country. Major political parties have traversed the length and breadth of the country to reach out to voters and woo them with lofty promises. While the BJP campaign has been spearheaded by Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah, Congress has tried to create a dent with the likes of party president Rahul Gandhi, sister Priyanka Gandhi and others campaigning extensively. Regional players like Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh too have tried to grab some of the spotlight. A majority of exit polls have shown that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance is likely to form majority with considerable ease, prompting rival parties to doubt both the surveys as well as EVMs. The EC, however, remains stoic as ever and is determined to ensure fair counting on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all states and union territories to ensure law and order is maintained on counting day. Counting for 80 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will take place on 23 May. The election in the state was held in all seven phases from 11 April to 19 May. The estimated turnout in the state has been 59.60 per cent, which is likely to be the highest ever in the state in Lok Sabha elections so far. The total number of electors this year increased by 3.96 per cent since the previous election with a total of 14,43,16,893 electors who were eligible to cast their votes in 2019. Watch live streaming of Lok Sabha election result 2019 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 seats on Zee News Some of the key contests constituencies in the state are Varanasi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a second term. He is pitted against Congress candidate Ajai Rai. In Amethi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is fighting a tough battle against BJP minister Smriti Irani. In Rae Bareli, Sonia Gandhi is in contesting against former Congress leader Dinesh Pratap Singh who recently joined the BJP. In Azamgarh, which was one of the 5 seats where Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh, his son Akhilesh is contesting the 2019 election from the seat. The BJP has fielded Bhojpuri film star Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua from the seat against the SP chief. In Mainpuri, Mulayam Singh Yadav is contesting the 2019 election where he is pitted against BJP's Prem Singh Shakya. In Lucknow, Union Home Minister is seeking a second term from Lucknow, a stronghold of the BJP. The Mahagatbandhan candidate from the seat is SP's Poonam Sinha and Acharya Pramod Krishnam is contesting on a Congress ticket. Live TV In 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party had swept the state winning 71 of the 80 seats and 2 others seats being won by its ally Apna Dal. Of the remaining 7 seats, the Samajwadi Party won 5 seats including the Yadav family bastions while the Congress managed to win just 2 seats - Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's Amethi and his mother Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli. While there was a Modi wave in the 2014 election, the exit polls in 2019 reflect the uncertainty in the dynamics of the state that could emerge when the final results are announced on 23 May. The key players in the state are Bharatiya Janata Party; the Bahujan Samaj Party-Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance; and the Congress. Since the time the SP-BSP came together to fight the election as the Mahagatbandhan, speculation was rife over whether the two parties will be able to transfer their votes to the each other's candidates. The exit polls have thrown up mixed numbers for the state. While some have shown that SP-BSP-RLD mahagathbandhan is in the lead, the others have given BJP way more seats that all the others combined. *According to Times Now-VMP prediction, BJP+ is expected to win 58 seats in UP, Mahagathbandhan 20 seats, and Congress two seats. *ABP Nielsen has predicted that SP-BSP-RLD alliance would win 56 seats, BJP 22, and Congress just 2 seats. * News18 IPSOS has predicted that BJP and allies would win 60-62 seats, SP-BSP-RLD alliance 17-19 seats and Congress one-two seats. * Republic-Jan Ki Baat has predicted that BJP and its allies would win 46-57 seats, Congress 2-4 seats and the SP-BSP-RLD alliance 21-32 seats. * According to My Axis-India Today exit poll, the BJP is expected to win 62-68 Lok Sabha seats, SP-BSP-RLD alliance 10-16 seats and Congress 0-2 seats. The fate of 243 candidates in the fray from 20 Lok Sabha constituencies in Kerala will be decided when the results of the same along with 522 other seats are declared on Thursday, May 23. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am and is likely to continue till Thursday evening. Following the instruction of the Supreme Court, the Election Commission of India (ECI) will also take into consideration the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips tally while counting the votes this time around. The VVPAT slips of at least five EVMs per assembly segment in a Lok Sabha constituency will be counted. As the tallying of votes will take place only after the last round of counting, the result is expected to delay by at least five hours. Watch Live Streaming of Lok Sabha Election 2019 results for 20 seats in Kerala Live TV Kerala went to poll in a single phase on April 23 (third phase) after a high-decibel 40-day long campaign. The state witnessed a better voter turnout or voting percentage in comparison to the 2014 general election. The state registered a total voter turnout of 77.68% with a total of 203,13,833 votes polled in comparison to 73.94 percent voter turnout in 2014. One of the most talked about seat in Kerala is that of Wayanad from where Congress president Rahul Gandhi is contesting against CPI's PP Suneer and NDA's Thushar Vellapally. Two-time sitting Member of Parliament (MP) Shashi Tharoor and Union Minister Alphons Kannanthanam are among other prominent candidates contesting in Kerala to constitute 17th Lok Sabha. Kerala saw a triangular battle between the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)the Communist Party of India (Marxist)(CPI)(M) led Left Democratic Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at least in Pathanamthitta, which is the epicentre of the Sabarimala Temple protests. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has never won a Lok Sabha seat in the Kerala. According to the exit polls which were declared on May 19 following the conclusion of the seventh phase of voting, the Congress-led UDF is expected to gain massive victory in the state while the BJP is likely to open his account in the state. The ruling CPI(M) led LDF is most likely to face disappointment this time around. The fate of 50 candidates in the fray from six Lok Sabha constituencies in Goa, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep and Daman and Diu combined along with 536 other constituencies, will be decided when the results of the same are declared on Thursday, May 23. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am and is likely to continue till today evening. After the instruction of the Supreme Court to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips tally will also be taken into consideration while counting the votes this time around. Watch Live Streaming of Lok Sabha Election 2019 results for these six seats Live TV The VVPAT slips of at least five EVMs per assembly segment in a Lok Sabha constituency will be counted and the tallying will take place only after the last round of counting which is expected to delay the result for at least five hours. Goa went to polls in the third phase on April 23 for two seats namely North Goa and South Goa. While North Goa recorded 76.86 percent voter turnout, a total of 73.19 percent voter turnout was registered by South Goa in 2019. In Andaman and Nicobar Islands, people voted for the lone Lok Sabha constituency in the first phase on April 11 and at least 73 per cent of the electorate exercised their franchise. Meanwhile, Dadar and Nagar Haveli went to poll for single Lok Sabha constituency on April 23 during the third phase, recording 79.59 percent voter turnout this year. Voting for lone Lok Sabha seat in Lakshadweep held during the first phase April 11 and the union territory recorded a higher voter turnout of 84.96 percent. Daman and Diu recorded a total voter turnout of 71.83 per cent when the lone Lok Sabha constituency from this second smallest union territory of India went to poll in the third phase on April 23. The 2019 Lok Sabha election was held to elect Members of Parliament for 542 of the 543 parliamentary constituencies, spread across 29 states and seven union territories. Gandhinagar: Three-hundred-and-seventy-one candidates are in the fray from 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, the results of which will be declared on May 23, Thursday, along with the other 516 parliamentary constituencies. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on May 23, Thursday. This time, following the Supreme Court's order, the Election Commission will tally the Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with five EVMs per assembly segment, which can delay the counting process for over 5 hours or more. Watch live streaming of Lok Sabha election 2019 for 26 seats in Gujarat. Live TV Voting took place in seven phases between April 11 to May 19 and Gujarat voted in the third phase on April 23. Gujarat is the home-turf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders including Amit Shah, who is contesting Lok Sabha election for the first time. The exit polls predicted that it will be a clean sweep for the BJP in Gujarat and the BJP-NDA alliance will get 300+ seats across the country to easily form the government. The final voter turnout in Gujarat is at 64.11 per cent, which is almost similar to the voter turnout in 2014. For Gujarat, the ABP-CSDS exit poll predicts a massive victory for BJP in the state. It mentioned that the party is likely to grab 24 Lok Sabha seats while the rest two will go to Congress' kitty. The India Today-Axis My India exit poll says that the BJP will register victory in 25-26 seats. The IANS-CVOTER exit poll shows that the BJP is expected to retain 22 seats in Gujarat. The TimesNow-VMR predicts 23 seats for BJP in Gujarat while Today's Chanakya and IPSOS have given 25 seats each to BJP. In the 2014 General election, BJP had won all the 26 seats and the Congress, obviously, failed to open its account in the state. The counting for 542 out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats will begin at 8 am across India on Thursday. In Madhya Pradesh, the fate of 438 candidates contesting 29 Lok Sabha seats will be decided after counting of all the votes are done. Madhya Pradesh Lok Sabha constituency: All you need to know As per the Supreme Court's instruction to the Election Commission (EC), the Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips tally will also be taken into account while counting the votes this time. Paper slips of five VVPATs per assembly segment in every parliamentary segment will be counted. The vote tallying will begin after the last round of counting which will lead to delay in the results by at least five hours or more. Watch Live Streaming of Lok Sabha Election 2019 for 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh. Watch Live Streaming of Lok Sabha Election 2019 for 48 seats in Maharashtra For the 2019 General Election, BJP fielded Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, facing trial in Malegaon blast case, from Bhopal seat in Lok Sabha elections against Congress heavyweight and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh. While Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia is contesting again from Guna seat, KP Yadav is the BJP nominee from the seat. Live TV BJPs Shankar Lalwani is contesting from the Indore seat after Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, an eight-time MP, opted out of the general election. Lalwani, who is making his Lok Sabha poll debut, is fighting against Congress' Pankaj Sanghvi. Chhindwara seat has been a Congress bastion since 1957 and the only time the party lost it to BJP was in the 1997 byelection held when BJP candidate Sundar Lal Patwa emerged as the winner from here. This year Congress has fielded Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath's son Nakul Nath from this seat. Kamal Nath has represented the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat nine times. The fate of the 443 candidates in fray from Telangana will be decided on Thursday. The counting of votes began at 8 am for the 17 seats. Post reorganisation, Telangana on April 11 witnessed polling in the first phase and an estimated 61 per cent of voters cast their ballot for the 443 candidates in fray. In Telangana, the ruling TRS is hoping for an encore in the election after sweeping the December assembly elections, while both Congress and BJP are looking to increase their respective tallies. The Election Commission (EC) had set up 34,603 polling stations across the state for smooth conduct of polls. The fate of the candidates will be decided on Thursday when counting of votes will take place. Watch Live Streaming of Lok Sabha Election 2019 for Telangana Constituencies, voting percentage and total candidates per seat-- 1) Adilabad--66.76 per cent--11 candidates 2) Peddapalle--59.24 per cent--17 candidates 3) Karimnagar-- 68 per cent--15 candidates 4) Nizamabad-- 60.57 per cent--185 candidates 5) Zahirabad--67.80 per cent--18 candidates 6) Medak--68.60 per cent 7) Malkajgiri-- 42.75 per cent--12 candidates 8) Secunderabad--39.20 per cent--28 candidates 9) Hyderabad--39.49 per cent--15 candidates 10) Chevella--53.80 per cent--23 candidates 11) Mahbubnagar-- 64.99 per cent--12 candidates 12) Nagarkurnool-- 57.12 per cent--11 candidates 13) Nalgonda-- 66.11 per cent--27 candidates 14) Bhongir--68.25 per cent--13 candidates 15) Warangal-- 60--15 candidates 16) Mahabubabad--59.90 per cent--14 candidates 17) Khammam--67.96 per cent--23 candidates Exit polls: The number of seats that the exit poll has predicted are--Today's Chanakya (BJP 1 1), (TRS 14 2), (Congress 1 1), (Others 1 1); India TV-CNX (TRS 14 seats), (Congress 2) and (AIMIM 1); Republic-CVoter (TRS 14 seats). Live TV Key contests: The TRS has set itself a target of winning 16 seats, leaving the Hyderabad seat to its ally All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM). The other two parties are contesting the seats on their own. TRS working president KT Rama Rao had said in campaign meetings that neither the NDA nor the UPA, is in a position to form a government on its own post-election. TRS can play a key role at the Centre and ensure a better deal for Telangana if it wins 16 seats, he had said. In addition to its own strength, TRS has the backing of AIMIM chief Assauddin Owaisi, which is expected to help the party get minority votes. The main opposition Congress is going alone in the polls. The opposition CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), who are contesting in only a couple of seats each, have declared their support and help to the Congress. However, there is no formal alliance among Congress, CPI and the TJS. Having suffered a drubbing in the Assembly elections (winning only one seat among 119), BJP is contesting all the seats on its own. The party is banking heavily on the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Interesting fact in Nizamabad constituency: * Nizamabad has become a cynosure of all eyes with large number of candidates in the fray necessitating deployment of as many as 12 EVMs in each booth. "This is the first time in the world where elections are conducted with such a large number of candidates using (such a large number of) EVMs," Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar had said. In Nizamabad, there are 185 candidates, including 178 farmers who jumped into the fray to support their demand for remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and setting up of a Turmeric Board based in Nizamabad. * Independent candidate for Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency Akula Hanmandloo caught attention with his unique campaigning--a slipper in one hand and a resignation letter in the other, urging the voters to hit him with slippers should he fail to deliver the promises made by him during the campaign. He also send the resignation letter on his behalf, if the voters were not satisfied with his work to the assembly speaker. Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter, K Kavitha, is a top contender in the constituency. New Delhi: Union Minister and BJP leader Kiren Rijiju said on Saturday that if his party`s pre-poll alliance with the NDPP in failed reach the half-way mark in the Nagaland assembly, it would have an "understanding" with the ruling NPF to form a new government of the three parties in the state. "Our chief ministerial candidate is Neiphiu Rio (NDPP leader). But if we do not cross the magic mark, then we will have to have some kind of understanding that the party`s leadership will decide," Rijiju told India Today news channel. Interestingly, the BJP has two ministers in the Naga Peoples Front (NPF) government but had stitched a pre-poll alliance with the National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). Rijiju said the BJP did not dump the NPF neither has it quit the NPF-led government. He said a seat sharing agreement could not be reached between the BJP and the NPF but such a pact was finalised with the NDPP headed by Neiphiu Rio, one of the founding members of the NPF. The NPF has passed a resolution saying it would continue its alliance with the BJP. "As of now, in the present government, the BJP is in alliance. We have two ministers in the T.R. Zeliang government. So we are already there. "Since our alliance is with the NDPP, we would like to have comfortable majority with the NDPP. In the event of a hung assembly, there is no problem because there are major three parties - the BJP, NPF and NDPP. "The NPF has already sent (us) the resolution...and with the resolution, there is no issues left," Rijiju said. He said the election in Nagaland was a very special case because it was being held in the backdrop of the crucial Naga peace talks, which were progressing smoothly. "A favourable government, where the BJP is a very strong pillar, is important for the Naga people, for the peace talks," he said. New Delhi: Our desi beauties are slaying the red carpet at the ongoing prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Each year, Indian celebrities head to the coveted French Riviera and make their lasting impressions across the globe. Amul, the country's largest food product organisation has a strong online presence too. The cooperative dairy is known for sharing witty and hilarious topicals on relevant stuff. And how can they not have something interesting to share on Cannes. Amul's latest topical on Deepika Padukone and Aishwarya Rai's Cannes appearance is totally epic. Here's what it wrote on Twitter: #Amul Topical: Deepika and Aishwarya makes fashion waves at Cannes! Cannes Film Festival is an annual movie festival held in France, which previews new films, including documentaries from all around the world. This is the 72nd Cannes festival which began from May 14 and will last till 25th of this month. Many desi beauties made their presence felt this year. Global star Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Kangana Ranaut, Diana Penty, Huma Qureshi and telly beauty Hina Khan rocked the Cannes red carpet so far. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan landed at Cannes with daughter Aaradhya by her side. She too has been making headlines for her exceptional looks this year at the red carpet. Mumbai: Actor Jisshu Sengupta, who is balancing a film career in multiple languages and is geared up for his sci-fi web series "Skyfire", says slowly but surely Bengali cinema is reaching out to the national audience as the theatrical release of regional films has expanded. Bengali cinema has had an impact at international film festivals with the work of iconic filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak among others, apart from movies by filmmakers like Rituparno Ghosh, Aparna Sen and Goutam Ghose or Kaushik Ganguly and Srijit Mukerji. But now across India also, movies are getting a platform for release. On the changing scenario, Jisshu told IANS here: "I think slowly, but surely Bengali cinema is reaching out to the national audience as regional films are getting a wider theatrical release. When it comes to the global audience, our presence is very much there. For ages, Bengali cinema holds a position in the global map through international film festivals. "But when it comes to regular cine-goers who are not the festival audience, there was a limitation earlier. Since the business is growing and so is the audience, Bengali films are finding an audience nationally as well." In "Skyfire", Jisshu plays an important character. The show, which streams on OTT platform ZEE5, also features Pratiek Babbar and Sonal Chauhan. Sharing an insight into his character in the show, Jisshu said: "He is a good guy who is helping people in crisis. He is a social worker." The story of the show revolves around climate change. Asked about his opinion on the topic, the actor said: "I think climate change is one of the issues worldwide and we all are more or less aware of the reality. While on one hand, we tend to raise a finger at the government, are we doing enough to protect nature? That question is always there in my mind. I hope the story will offer some perspective on the matter." Recently, Jisshu also finished shooting for Mahesh Manjrekar's directorial project, which is tentatively titled "Power". Having started his career in 1999 at a very young age, Jisshu has acted in some commercially successful Bengali and Hindi films like "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer", "Noukadubi", "Piku", "Mardaani", "Byomkesh Bakshi" and "Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi". He said his collaboration with National Award-winning filmmaker, the late Rituparno Ghosh, added a dimension to his career as an actor. Talking about how the filmmaker influenced the artiste in him, Jisshu said: "I would say that Rituda changed me as a performer. One day, he asked me, 'Are you putting enough thought to whatever you are doing?' I replied, 'Not really, but do you think I am wrong?' "I clearly remember when he said, 'No, you are not wrong, but if you put a thought behind your actions, you are actually going to do things much better.' I have to say that line changed me as an actor. It changed me completely." "In his lifetime, Rituda said that I am the son that he never had. Working with Rituparno Ghosh was like a master class," added the actor, who has featured in Ghosh's "Abohoman", "The Last Lear" and "Shob Charitro Kalponik", to name a few. New Delhi: Rumoured love birds Disha Patani and Tiger Shroff are often spotted hanging out together. The duo was clicked by shutterbugs at the famous celebrity hangout spot, Bastian on Tuesday night. Both were seen twinning in black and were all smiles for the paps. Check out their pics here: (Image Courtesy: Yogen Shah) Patani and Shroff are rumoured to be dating each other for a long time. Ever since they starred alongside each other in the film 'Baaghi 2', their chemistry has received special attention. Fans love to see the two together and hope that they make things official soon. Tiger and Disha maintain the 'best friends' stand whenever they are asked about their equation with each other. Talking about Disha and Tiger's equation, the actor's father and veteran actor Jackie Shroff had earlier told Mumbai Mirror, He found his first friend who is a girl at 25, till then he never looked around. They share the same passions, dance and workout together. She comes from a family of army officers, so she understands the value of discipline. Who knows they may get married in future or remain friends for life, for now they are just friends. Actor Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas is confident on bagging a hit with Sita, a Teja directorial which is releasing on May 24. The film has Kajal Aggarwal in the title role and is produced by Ramabrahmam Sunkara and Anil Sunkara. As a part of the promotions, the actor spoke to the media on Wednesday and here is what he said. Working director Teja is something is every actors dream. At a very early stage of his career, Bellamkonda lad has bagged this chance. Asked about the working experience and whether it was useful, he said, Working with him is definitely an amazing experience. He taught me that to act, one has to believe that the character that we are playing is none other than us. To play Ragu Ram, the role I play in Sita, he said that I have to become Raghu Ram and only then I can perform well. It is such a small point, but made a huge difference in working style. I started implementing the same rule for Rakshasan too and the results are amazing. Initially, the director has narrated two scripts to Sreenivas. While he liked the first one, which is of Sita, his father Suresh liked the second one, which is a pucca commercial one. Asked what was that great in Sita, the actor said, My role in Sita offered me a chance to show my acting skills. It was different from the commercial hero oriented stories we listen. I wanted to do a character-based role and finally when I got a chance to do it, why should I say no. Kajal Aggarwal and Teja, at the pre-release event, have been praising Sreenivas for his performance in the film and when asked what is so challenging, he said, The role I have played has too many modulations. I havent done anything like that before and all were serious roles. In this role, I showed innocence, comedy, anger and a lot. So it was challenging. JAKARTA: Demonstrations over the outcome of last month`s presidential election gripped the heart of Indonesia`s capital on Wednesday after an overnight face-off between police and protesters in which, according to Jakarta`s governor, six people were killed. The protests followed an announcement before dawn on Tuesday by the election commission confirming that President Joko Widodo had beaten his challenger, former general Prabowo Subianto, in the April 17 poll. Crowds swelled in central Jakarta on Wednesday morning and police said they expected more protesters to join them before nightfall. Some of those arriving carried wooden poles and some had smeared toothpaste around their eyes, apparently to protect themselves from tear gas. The majority of the protesters appeared to have come from outside Jakarta and police found envelopes containing money on some of the people they searched, National Police spokesman Muhamad Iqbal told a news conference. "This is not a spontaneous incident, this is something by design. There are indications that the mobs are paid and bent on causing chaos," he said. Hundreds of students also protested peacefully in the city of Medan, in the north of the island of Sumatra, demanding an investigation into alleged election cheating, TVOne reported. "WE KNOW WHO IS BEHIND THIS" The General Election Commission (KPU) on Tuesday confirmed unofficial counts by private pollsters that gave Widodo a 55.5% share of votes against 44.5% Prabowo. Widodo won more than 85 million votes of 154 million cast in the world`s third-largest democracy, but retired general Prabowo has alleged "massive cheating and irregularities". Prabowo`s legal director has said his campaign plans to contest the result in the Constitutional Court. Prabowo also launched a legal challenge after he was defeated in the 2014 election by Widodo, which was rejected. On Monday, an election supervisory agency dismissed claims of systematic cheating, citing a lack of evidence. Independent observers have said the poll was free and fair. Analysts have said Widodo`s double-digit margin of victory means the opposition does not have a strong case to claim the election was rigged, but Islamist supporters of Prabowo could cause considerable disruption. Islamist groups, many of which support Prabowo, have in the past been able to mobilise hundreds of thousands of supporters. From late 2016, they organised a series of protests against then-Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the first ethnic-Chinese Christian to hold the job, who was subsequently jailed for insulting the Koran. Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said he believed there was "a systematic effort by a certain group ... that is riding on the situation to muddy the situation", adding that authorities had seized two pistols from people involved in riots. "We know who is behind this, it is a matter of time." Protests that began calmly in the sprawling textile market neighbourhood of Tanah Abang on Tuesday turned violent after nightfall, with police firing tear gas to disperse the crowd. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told TVOne that by the morning six people had died and 200 people had been wounded. News website Tirto reported a man died of bullet wounds in Tanah Abang, quoting a doctor at a hospital near the site. SOCIAL MEDIA BLOCK Fadli Zon, deputy chairman of Gerindra, Prabowo`s political party, accused police of initiating an attack on protesters and said he found 171 bullets, including live rounds, when he visited the area on Wednesday morning. "The public have a right to demonstrate. They are people who are concerned by cheating. They are not mobilised, paid or facilitated," Zon said. Prabowo campaign spokesman Dahnil Azar Simanjuntak called on "all sides to hold back and not commit violence". Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said that security forces on the ground, including military personnel, were not armed with live bullets. Indonesian authorities say 40,000 police and army personnel are on duty across Jakarta to maintain security. Television footage showed smoke billowing from behind dozens of protesters in the streets of Tanah Abang on Wednesday, with some throwing firecrackers and tearing down public fences. Many office buildings, businesses and embassies in downtown Jakarta were closed, as were train stations in the area. Hundreds of police in riot gear blocked the usually busy Sarinah intersection to hold back a crowd they said was expected to swell further in the afternoon. Chief security minister Wiranto said the government would temporarily block certain social media functions to prevent inflammatory hoaxes and fake news. Australia, the United States, and Britain issued travel alerts warning of an increased risk of violence across Indonesia and advising citizens to stay away from protests. By Lisa Soronen What will invariably catch everyones attention about this case is the fact that it is the second 5-4 decision where Supreme Court Justice Neal Gorsuch has joined the four more liberal Justices to rule in favor of a tribe. And a ruling in the courts most interesting tribal case of the term is yet to come. But none of this should distract from the holding of this case. The Supreme Court answered yes to the question in Herrera v. Wyoming of whether an old treaty allowing Native Americans to hunt on federal land is still valid. According to an amicus brief filed by the Crow Tribe [a]t least nineteen tribes, in at least a dozen treaties, reserved for themselves the right to hunt on Federal lands away from their respective reservations. In 1868, the Crow Tribe ceded most of its territory in what is now Montana and Wyoming to the United States in exchange for an agreement stating that the Crow could hunt on the unoccupied lands of the United States. Clayvin Herrera invoked this treaty to defend against a charge of off-season hunting in Bighorn National Forest in Wyoming. In a 5-4 opinion, the Supreme Court held that the treatys hunting rights survived Wyomings statehood and that lands in the Bighorn National Forest arent categorically occupied because they are in a national reserve. More than 100 years ago in Ward v. Race Horse (1896), the Supreme Court ruled that statehood extinguished hunting rights in an identical treaty between the Shoshone-Bannock tribes and the United States. The court in Race Horse relied on the fact that (1) new states were admitted to the union on equal footing with existing states and (2) there was no evidence in the treaty that Congress intended for treaty rights to continue in perpetuity. In 1999, in Minnesota v. Mille Lacs Band of Chippewa Indians, the Supreme Court explicitly rejected the equal footing rationale of Race Horse. The court in Mille Lacs also criticized the notion that treaty rights fail to survive statehood if they are temporary and precarious because all treaty rights can be unilaterally repudiated by Congress. According to the majority of the Supreme Court in Herrera v. Wyoming, although the decision in Mille Lacs did not explicitly say that it was overruling the alternative ground in Race Horse, it is impossible to harmonize Mille Lacs analysis with the Courts prior reasoning in Race Horse. Applying Mille Lacs rather than Race Horse, a majority of the Supreme Court, in an opinion written by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by the three more liberal justices and Gorsuch, concluded Wyomings admission to the United States didnt abrogate the Crow Tribes off-reservation treaty hunting rights. The Wyoming Statehood Act did not abrogate the Crow Tribes hunting right, nor did the 1868 Treaty expire of its own accord at that time. The treaty itself defines the circumstances in which the right will expire. Statehood is not one of them. Even though the treaty rights were valid following Wyomings statehood the treaty does not protect hunting in occupied federal lands. The majority of the court concluded the Bighorn National Forest didnt become categorically occupied when the national forest was created. Treaties are construed as they would naturally be understood by the Indians. According to the court, [h]ere it is clear that the Crow Tribe would have understood the word unoccupied to denote an area free of residence or settlement by non-Indians. Lisa Soronen is executive director of the State and Local Legal Center and a frequent contributor to the NCSL Blog on judicial issues. You've been dazzled by the toucans and the capybaras and the bougainvilleas. Now let me give you the whole context. After the end credit... Algeria's army chief of staff said on Wednesday that he had no political ambitions, amid accusations from activists that he was trying to duplicate the Egyptian model in Algeria. "Everybody should know that we have no political ambitions," Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah was quoted as saying by Ennahar TV. Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI MUMBAI: Budget carrier AirAsia India is looking to double its fleet in the next 12-15 months as well as launch international operations by October, a senior official said. The Bengaluru-headquartered airline - a joint venture between Tatas and Malaysia's AirAsia Berhad -- is eligible to fly overseas. Currently, it has a fleet of 21 A320 planes. "We are planning to double our capacity (fleet size) in the next 12-15 months, beginning May this year. We are planning to induct some fuel-efficient A320 neo planes as well in our fleet " the official told PTI. AirAsia India, which started operations on June 12 2014, had a market share of 6.2 per cent of the domestic traffic in April. As part of expansion plans, AirAsia India is likely to launch international services by September-October with flights to destinations in South East Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand. "After South East Asia, we plan to expand our operations to destinations such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in the SAARC region and also to Japan, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region," the official said. ALSO READ| Air Asia India eyes corporate clients, foreign flights SAARC stands for South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. "We are eligible to fly on overseas routes both by the earlier rules as well as the existing ones. We applied to the civil aviation ministry in January for approval, which we expect to receive after the new government is in place," the official said. Under the existing norms, airlines should have at least 20 aircraft to start international routes against the earlier one of having 20 planes and minimum five years of domestic operations. After receiving its 21st plane this week, the airline's chief operating officer Sanjay Kumar said AirAsia India was focusing on strengthening its presence in tier-I and tier-II cities. The official ruled out plans to induct long range A321 neo planes in its fleet. In 2016, AirAsia India's parent company AirAsia Berhad had signed a firm order for 100 A 321 neo planes worth USD 12.6 billion. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Eyeing leadership position in the subcompact SUV segment, Korean automaker Hyundai on Tuesday launched Venue at a competitive starting price of Rs 6.50 lakh, which goes up to Rs 11.10 lakh. The small SUV segment has been the fastest growing segment in the domestic car market and its share in the overall SUV market has gone up from 16 per cent in FY16 to 49 per cent in FY19. The venue, which also is the carmakers first offering in the segment, will compete with the likes of segment leaders Maruti Suzukis Vitara Brezza, Tatas Nexon and M&Ms XUV300. The Indian market is at the centre of Hyundais global growth plan and the launch of the Venue will strengthen our commitment to the Indian market and fulfill our promise of creating a happy life for our customers, said SS Kim, managing director and chief executive, Hyundai Motor India. Venue is being launched in India before it is launched in the developed markets such as United States, Canada and Australia. The company informed that Hyundai received 15,000 bookings of Venue, of which 64 per cent was for the petrol variant. Hyundais Venue comes with the companys Blue Link connected technology, which makes it Indias first connected car. The carmakers subsidiary Hyundai AutoEver India has tied up with Vodafone Idea to offer a range of connected technology-related services in its other models as well. By Bloomberg A slew of stocks, which have tracked the political fate of Narendra Modi, fell while India voted but rebounded after exit polls predicted the prime minister would win his re-election bid. Companies controlled by billionaires Gautam Adani, such as Adani Enterprises Ltd. and its units, as well as Mukesh Ambanis Reliance Industries Ltd. and Anil Ambanis Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. have gained. The firms have operations in or other links with the state of Gujarat, where Modi served as chief minister for a decade before he swept national elections in 2014. The stocks had also rallied following Modis victory five years ago, and dropped in December when his party lost local state elections. Election Blues With official results of the national vote due Thursday, the fate of these stocks lingers on how closely the exit poll trends bear out. Most forecasts show that Modis Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance will win between 277 and 350 seats, well above the 272-seat majority mark. A significant shortfall -- or surprise loss -- would probably trigger a sharp correction in financial markets. The exit poll predictions have comforted investors concerned about Modis ability to repeat his landslide 2014 win amid a resurgent opposition, farm distress and a job crisis. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Polls Apart Investor concerns were reflected in the performance of Adani Enterprises, which lost almost a quarter of its worth in the past six months through last week. The stock had doubled in value during the six-month run-up to Modis electoral sweep five years ago. The resource conglomerate is also benefiting from Prime Minister Scott Morrisons surprise election victory in Australia, which is seen as a win for the coal industry. Chairman Adani is a Gujarat native and runs the states biggest port. Hes said in the past that he doesnt receive nor expect any special treatment from Modi. Mukesh Ambani is the chairman of Reliance Industries, which operates two refineries at Jamnagar in Gujarat. His brother, Anil Ambani, is accused by opposition parties of being favored by Modi for key defense contracts. Anil Ambanis representatives have denied wrongdoing and the group on Tuesday said the statements were made for political purposes in the run up to the elections. By PTI NEW DELHI: Majority of companies in India plan to undertake divestments in the next two years, according to a report by consulting firm EY. According to the report, titled 'India Divestment Study', 81 per cent of the companies surveyed expect to divest in the next two years, while 67 per cent expect large-scale transformational divestments in the next 12 months. Evolving customer preferences, macro-economic uncertainties, technological changes, shareholder pressure and geopolitical instability are some of the key factors that are driving companies to consider divestments, the report added. The study is based on responses from over 40 organisations in India across sectors to gauge the success factors, challenges, collaboration landscape and growth areas for divestments in India. "One of the major reasons why corporates are looking to divest is that they now want to focus on the core. As there is a finite pool of capital, corporates are looking to divest the under-performing businesses and re-invest the proceeds into their core business," said Naveen Tiwari, partner and head (carve-out and integration), EY India. According to the study, companies today are broadly better at identifying assets that should be divested, but are increasingly slower in launching the process. According to the survey, 63 per cent of the companies said they held on to assets too long. Further, the report said 65 per cent of the surveyed companies used the proceeds from their last divestment to invest in their core business, with 56 per cent stating that the proceeds were used to fund investments in new products, markets and geographies. The report also highlighted that analytics can help companies create value pre-sale. Sixty-five per cent of sellers said advanced analytics would create even more value for them if it was used during buyer negotiation, such as highlighting growth opportunities from the buyers' perspective. Rajesh Abraham By Express News Service 1,300 acres of land, three terminals, over 1 crore passengers per year, 18,000 investors, C160-crore-plus profits per year, Indias first airport with public participation and worlds first airport fully-powered by solar energy. As CIAL celebrates its silver jubilee, Express looks at the amazing journey of Indias first private airport KOCHI: Everyone has their calling, their highest purpose on earth. V J Kurian firmly believes his calling was to build the airport in Kochi. I still wonder why I took such a huge risk. I was then the Ernakulam Collector, just nine years into service, and 25 years or so to go. Then this proposal to build the airport in Kochi came up. I thought why not take the risk, says Kurian, 62, recollecting the spectacular journey of Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), Indias first private airport which celebrates the silver jubilee of its inauguration May 25. I believe God has a plan for bringing someone into this Earth. My calling is to build this airport, Kurian, who has been at helm of the airport 18 out of the 25 years, says. Back in the early 1990s, the circumstances were that Kochi (then Cochin) needed a new airport. The naval airport was actually not good enough to accommodate the Airbus 321s. Indian Airlines were buying a lot of A320s during those days. If Airbus 320 cannot land here, we will be out of the aviation map itself. That was the time when the proposal to build a new airport came. A meeting happened where we were asked to produce money, says Kurian. In 1991, the central government convened a meeting to discuss the expansion and renovation of the naval airport at Willingdon Island. Kurian, who was then the Ernakulam District Collector, represented the Kerala government. The proposal for a new airport came up at the meeting, but the central government refused to provide any funds, explains Kurian. We required Rs 200 crore, and thats when we went for the new concept of raising funds from the public to build the airport, he says. The expectation was that over four lakh investors would put in Rs 5000 each but what it received was a meagre Rs 4.47 crore. Kurian then embarked on the hitherto novel concept of Securitisation of future receivables. We gave our right for refuelling to BPCL; ground handling rights were given for 10 years to Air India, he explains. LAND ACQUISITION Though it was easier than now, Kurians formula to acquire 1300 acres of land for building the airport at Nedumbassery can be a case study for land acquisitions. We gave a fantastic package. Wetland was then sold at `100/cent and the going rate for dryland was something like Rs 1000/cent those days. For the Rs 100/cent, we offered a minimum of Rs 2200/cent; and for Rs 1000/cent we gave Rs 6500/cent. Only four people come up with dharna and other protests, he points out. There were also people living in lakshamveedu colonies, who had to be rehabilitated for the airport project. There were people who were occupying duplex houses on three cents of land. We told them why to bother about 1 1/2 cents of land when we could give you money for their holding plus another six cents of land free of cost, he said. We rehabilitated 822 people, who lost their homes. For this, we had acquired 56 acres of land, developed it and distributed all six cents of land free of cost. We are talking about 1995-96. We compensated as well as rehabilitated. We also allowed those people to dismantle their houses and take them away. We ensured water connection, power connection and road in front of their homes situated on their six cents property, Kurian said. At a time when an over-bridge takes 10 years to complete, the work on the airport was completed in five years. Kurian says till the first flight landed, he was not sure if the project will fructify. We were always under financial stress. There were times when we used to forgo our salaries. In the 25 years, CIAL has notched up several important milestones -- its one of the four busiest airports in the country in terms of international traffic; seventh busiest in overall traffic. After CIAL earned global praise for becoming the worlds first airport to be fully-powered by solar energy in 2015, Kurian points out that no airport has achieved the feat even after four years. We produce 40 mw through solar, he says. FUTURE PLANS Exciting new projects keeps Kurian going. The inland waterways project, that he is occupied with now, will be completed by 2020 as assured by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Along with the solar projects, CIAL is also executing small hydroelectric projects. The 4 mw hydro-electric project at Arippara in Kozhikode will be commissioned in September this year. The work on a mega hotel near the airport has been completed and will be inaugurated next year, he says. Kurian feels the new civil service officers seem to be lacking motivation to take big risks, to take the nation forward. If young officers are reluctant to go for big project there is no point in coming to the service, he signs off. By Express News Service KOCHI: In a major haul, Excise sleuths on Wednesday seized 6.5 kg of charas worth Rs 10 crore in the global market and arrested an international drug carrier who has been smuggling the contraband to Kochi from Nepal. Excise officers arrested Varghese Judson, son of Antony, Aluvaparambu, Puthuvype, from the Container Road in Kochi on Wednesday. An SUV, a pistol and eight pellets were also recovered. The Excise Department said the accused has been committing the crime single-handedly. Receiving a tip-off from the Top Narcotics Secret Group, a shadow Excise team, the sleuths took about 50 youths into custody in Kochi and subjected them to a detailed interrogation. Following this, they received vital clues about Judson. He was under the surveillance of the team for the past several weeks. Though the sleuths traced him he managed to hoodwink them. Judson Biggest seizure of charas in Kerala This is the biggest seizure of charas in Kerala. Though the Excise team had confiscated hashish oil in Kochi before, its for the first time such huge quantity of charas has been recovered, said Excise Deputy Commissioner K Chandrapalan. He added that Excise Department had alerted the Union Home Ministry on the inflow of drugs to the country from Nepal border. How was the arrest made? The Excise team took into custody all the customers of Judson and one of the team members in the guise of a customer. The team trapped him on the Container Road when he took the contraband out of his secret location as the customers had offered a good price. However, spotting the Excise officers, the accused drove his SUV without stopping. When the sleuths chased and intercepted his vehicle, he pointed the pistol towards them. The officers resisted his move while he attempted to flee by diverting their attention. However, he was caught by the officers. Prasanta Mazumdar By Express News Service GUWAHATI: The security forces have launched a massive operation in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh where an MLA and ten others were killed in an ambush by suspected militants on Tuesday. Official sources said the operation was being carried out by Army, Assam Rifles and Arunachal Police. They said additional forces had been rushed to Tirap from adjoining districts. Currently, DIG (eastern range) and IG (law and order) of the police besides SP of neighbouring Changlang district were camping in Tirap coordinating the operation. The police are certain that the attack was perpetrated by militants belonging to an insurgent group from Nagaland. ALSO READ: Arunachal MLA Tirong Aboh, son, nine others killed in ambush Underground elements were definitely involved. We suspect that it was the handwork of the NSCN (National Socialist Council of Nagaland). But, the NSCN has several factions. So, we are trying to find out which faction of the NSCN was involved, IG of Arunachal Police Sunil Garg told The New Indian Express. He said the operation against the insurgents was being carried out at all places. Some NSCN factions are active in the three districts of Tirap, Changlang and Longding. These eastern Arunachal districts are often used by the militants from Northeast to sneak into Myanmar where they have their bases. The Congress in Arunachal alleged ruling BJP was responsible for prevailing lawlessness in the state. The party demanded a judicial probe into the incident of killings. Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel pilloried the BJP on the Naga Accord. In 2015, the BJP announced a Naga Accord with the NSCN (IM). Today they are blaming the NSCN (IM) for the Arunachal terror attack. So was there ever an accord or was the nation misled? he tweeted. Khonsa West MLA Tirong Aboh, his son Longgem, two personal security officers and some workers of his National Peoples Party were among the 11 people who were killed in the ambush. The victims were travelling in a four-vehicle convoy from Assams Dibrugarh to Khonsa. Two people, who were injured in the incident, were air-lifted to Dibrugarh for treatment. Aboh had contested the April 11 Arunachal elections from his Khonsa West seat. The results will be declared on Thursday. It was learnt that the MLA had bought an SUV two days ago which his 20-year-old son was driving when the attack was carried out. Mayank Singh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Soldiers who defended the nation are now fighting another battle post-retirement. The governments Ex-servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS), which looks after former soldiers, sailors and airmen, is beset with a major crisis. According to a source, The money earmarked to treat soldiers and their families is being eaten up by hospitals by producing false and inflated bills and keeping them in hospital for no reason. And, pressure was allegedly applied by some officials from the Department of Ex-Servicemen Welfare and some politicians to interfere with the investigations and the dis-empanelment proceedings against those hospitals. From the budget of Rs 3,800 crore earmarked for the year 2018-19, fake and inflated bills amounted to more than Rs 500 crore. Cases of similar malpractices were found by the ECHS in some hospitals in Meerut, Noida and Panipat. The details of the bills and the relevant recommendations are with this newspaper. The matter became further complicated once the investigations started and the recommendations were made. A hospital in Meerut was inspected in 2018 and the Board recommended the hospital unfit to be empanelled. Headquarter Meerut also approved the recommendation. Case was processed in November 2018, the letter from empanelment section sent to MoD, but it has not moved beyond that, revealed the source. Similarly, 24 per cent of the bills of a corporate hospital in Gurugram were found to be inflated and returned. Another hospital in Delhi is said to have sent 17 per cent inflated bills. The Ministry of Defence and the Army are aware of the hospitals which were found involved and the consequent decisions taken thereafter, added a source. Sixty-one per cent of these cases are concentrated in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, the source added. The ECHS is the last resort for most retired servicemen who belong to rural and far-flung areas. According to sources, despite having all the evidence, when dis-empanelment proceedings were launched against them, political pressure and officials from the Department of Ex-Servicemen interfered and action was allegedly slowed down. What is ECHS? The ECHS serves 52 lakh individuals, including soldiers and their dependents, after their retirement. It was due to the demand of the service headquarters (Army, Navy and Air Force) that ECHS was created to look after the expanding population of ex-servicemen and widows and their dependents. The department was created in the Ministry of Defence in 2004. By Online Desk The three-member Election Commission on Wednesday rejected the demand from 22 opposition parties to first verify voter paper trail (VVPAT) slips before counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 on Thursday. The poll body held the crucial meeting after the parties approached it on Tuesday over reports of alleged EVM tampering and calling for transparency in the counting process. Also, protests erupted in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday after videos of alleged movement and tampering of EVMs went viral on social media. Former President Pranab Mukherjee also stepped in to say that the onus is on the EC to put all speculation around these machines to rest. The Congress also said the EC should take immediate and effective steps to address the complaints of movement of EVMs from strongrooms in various parts of the country. Dismissing as "frivolous" and "unfounded" the allegations of EVM tampering, the EC said the voting machines used for the seven-phase polls that began on April 11 and ended on May 19 are "absolutely safe" in strongrooms. Amid allegations and complaints that fresh EVMs were being switched with those used in elections ahead of counting of votes on Thursday, the Commission came out with a statement to "emphatically and unambiguously" clarify that all such reports and allegations are "absolutely false, and factually incorrect." It said the visuals available on TV and social media "do not pertain to any EVMs used during the polls". Exit polls on Sunday projected that the NDA will retain power at the Centre. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Already locked in a battle with the EC over the reliability of the EVMs, the opposition also got fresh ammunition to press for their demand of increasing the tallying the paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with EVM figures and submitted a memorandum to the poll panel. In the memorandum, leaders of 22 opposition parties including from the Congress, the DMK, the TDP and the BSP demanded that the verification of VVPAT slips of randomly identified five polling stations in an assembly segment should be done prior to the initiation of counting of votes and not after the completion of last round of counting. "If any discrepancy is found anywhere during the VVPAT verification, 100% counting of paper slips of VVPATs of all polling stations of that assembly segment should be done," the memorandum stated. The meeting came on a day the Supreme Court dismissed a PIL seeking 100 per cent matching of VVPAT slips with the EVMs. "We are asking the EC to respect the mandate of people. It cannot be manipulated," Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters. Wading into the controversy over the EVMs, Mukherjee, in a rare intervention after demitting office in 2017, said there can be no room for speculation that challenges the very basis of Indian democracy. He expressed concern over the alleged tampering of voters' verdict, saying the onus of ensuring institutional integrity lies with the Election Commission, which should put all speculation to rest. "I am concerned at reports of alleged tampering of voters' verdict. The safety and security of EVMs which are in the custody of ECI is the responsibility of the Commission," Mukherjee, a former Congress stalwart, said in a statement posted on his Twitter handle. As political parties directed their leaders, candidates and workers to remain extra vigilant in all districts where EVMs have been stored, Mukherjee said people's mandate is sacrosanct and has to be above any iota of reasonable doubt. "The onus of ensuring institutional integrity, in this case, lies with the Election Commission of India. They must do so and put all speculation to rest," he said. Mukherjee on Monday had lauded the EC for conducting the Lok Sabha polls "perfectly". The BJP on its part condemned the opposition parties for questioning the credibility of the EVMs and asked them to accept their defeat with grace if people vote Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to power again. BJP leader and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad took a swipe at the opposition, saying EVMs were fine when its leaders like Mamata Banerjee, N Chandrababu Naidu, Amarinder Singh and Arvind Kejriwal win elections and come to power but they turn unreliable when "it appears that Modi will come back to power". BSP leader Satish Chandra Mishra alleged "there is large-scale bungling relating to EVMs in Uttar Pradesh. We demand deployment of central forces". The opposition parties also raised concerns over the transportation of EVMs ahead of counting of votes and urged the EC to probe the issue. As the videos of alleged movement and tampering of EVMs went viral on social media, workers of various parties held protests in Ghazipur, Chandauli and Dumariyaganj, alleging that EVMs were being "moved around" outside strongrooms. Congress spokesperson Rajeev Shukla said complaints about the movement of EVMs are coming from various parts of the country. "In Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Punjab -- there are complaints of taking out the EVMs from strongrooms from various places. People's suspicion and anger are increasing," he said. The reason that was being given was these were the reserve machines, but even then, the EVMs should be shown to the candidates' representatives, he added. UP's Chief Electoral Officer Venkateshwarlu allayed fears of tampering of EVMs. "There are CCTV cameras installed in strong rooms. Candidates are allowed to keep a watch on strong rooms through their representatives. All apprehensions are unfounded," he said. (With PTI inputs) By Online Desk With the Exit Polls clearly giving the Narendra Modi-led NDA a thumping majority ahead of Thursday's counting, now NCP chief Sharad Pawar joins the bandwagon to establish connections among the other key Opposition players, as the latter believe that the BJP-led ruling alliance will fall short of the magic figure of 272 seats. The Maharashtra politician has reached out to YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy, TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao and Odisha CM and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, reported NDTV. Sources said that Pawar called up KCR and Naveen seeking their support if the Opposition gets a slim chance to form the government. Sources also added that both Patnaik and KCR assured support to Pawar if the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has the required numbers to form a stable government with their support. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE Pawar called the exit poll projections a nautanki (farce) on Monday, adding the "truth" will be out in two days when the final counting takes place on Thursday. "There is a strange atmosphere in the country today. After 6 pm yesterday, there was a sense of unease after seeing all TV channels and newspapers." "People have been calling me. I told them that an attempt is being made by those who control the electronic media to present a different view (through the exit polls). The truth will come out after two days (on May 23)," Pawar said at an iftaar event in south Mumbai." The NCP chief also said that elections will come and go and someone is bound to win or lose. "But I have never seen that after elections, those who shoulder the country's responsibility have left Delhi and gone to the Himalayas," Pawar said, taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Kedarnath visit. "There is 'nautanki' in politics also," he added further. Pawar has also been reportedly in touch with TDP chief and Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu, the other leader who has been meeting the key Opposition leaders since last weekend, including Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, Akhilesh Yadav, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. On Tuesday night, he also met Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and his father and JDS chief Deve Gowda, which has been in an alliance with the Congress for the last one year. The sources said that Jagan was yet to return calls from the opposition, as he 'was unreachable'. The YSR Congress chief, who is also being tipped to overthrow the TDP government in Andhra, along with winning a lion's share of the Lok Sabha seats, is being pursued by the NDA too, which is looking to keep some back-up alliance partners, in case they fall short of a majority. Naveen reportedly admitted of receiving a call from senior Congress leader and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath. The two studied together in their Doon School days. Naveen, who has maintained his stance of equidistance from both NDA and UPA, reportedly may support whoever "offers the best package" for cyclone-hit Odisha. Exit polls Sunday forecast another term for Modi, with some of them projecting that the NDA will get over 300 seats to comfortably cross the majority mark of 272 in the Lok Sabha. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received on Wednesday a three-month delay, until October, for a hearing to argue against the attorney-general's plan to indict him on graft charges. Netanyahu's attorneys had requested a postponement until May 2020 to give them more time to examine the evidence in three corruption cases, in which he denies wrongdoing, Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit's office said. In a letter to one of Netanyahu's lawyers that was released to the media, Mandelblit said he was shifting the dates for the hearing from July to Oct. 2-3. He said a longer delay to a year from now would have "harmed the vital public interest in deciding as soon as possible" whether to issue an indictment. In office for the past decade, Netanyahu won a fifth term in April despite an announcement by Mandelblit in February that he intended to charge him with fraud and bribery, pending a hearing with the attorney-general. Set to become Israel's longest-serving prime minister in July, the right-wing leader has called the allegations a political witch-hunt and said he has no intention of resigning if charged, with a renewed public mandate to govern. Coalition building Netanyahu, who formally heads an interim administration, is trying to put together a new coalition with right-wing, ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties that would give him control of 65 of parliament's 120 seats. Under law, he has until May 29 to inform President Reuven Rivlin that he has formed a new government. If he fails - which political commentators say is unlikely - Rivlin can ask another party leader to try. With a new parliament already sworn in, members of Netanyahu's Likud party have said they will work towards granting him parliamentary immunity from prosecution while he serves as prime minister. Expecting legal challenges, they also have been advocating legislation that would annul any Supreme Court ruling rescinding immunity. Opposition legislators have described any attempt to shield Netanyahu or put limitations on Israel's highest court as threats to Israeli democracy. Postponing the hearing with Mandelblit could take some of the pressure off Netanyahu's loyalists to rush immunity moves through parliament in the initial days of a new government. In one of the investigations against him, Netanyahu is suspected of wrongfully receiving gifts, including champagne and cigars, from wealthy businessmen. In a second case, he is alleged to have negotiated a deal with the owner of Israels best-selling daily newspaper, Yedioth Ahronoth, for better coverage in return for legislation that would slow the growth of a rival daily newspaper. Netanyahu is also suspected of granting regulatory favours to the country's leading telecommunications company, Bezeq Telecom Israel, in return for positive coverage on a news website controlled by Bezeq's former chairman. Search Keywords: Short link: Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: On the order of the union home ministry the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will probe into the killing of Chhattisgarh BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi from Dantewada. According to the NIA website, the case has been registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Indian Arms Act and UA(P) Act 1967. The agency had registered the case under the title death of Bheema Mandavi in a IED blast by CPI (Maoist), Dantewada. Barely two days before the first phase of polling in Bastar Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP MLA and four policemen were killed in a powerful IED blast triggered by the Maoists at Dantewada on April 9. NIA in its summary of allegation stated that the union government has received information about the case being registered at Kuakonda police station in Dantewada regarding the death of Bheema Mandavi along with four police personnel. The rebels took responsibility for the assassination of Mandavi calling the attack as retaliatory to avenge the deaths of their senior cadres at the hands of security forces in Dantewada, the assembly segment represented by the slain BJP MLA. The Bhupesh Baghel government has already ordered a judicial probe into the incident, BJP suspecting a conspiracy had earlier demanded a CBI probe into it. Chhattisgarh is among those three states that bar the CBI from investigating cases in the state and had withdrawn the general consent granted to the premier investigating agency for probe. Dantewada is among the seven worst Maoist-affected districts in the strife-torn Bastar zone, south Chhattisgarh. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Two days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections verdict, the ruling NDA put up a show of strength at a dinner hosted by BJP chief Amit Shah to thank all allies, buoyed as it was by the exit polls predicting its easy victory. In the rival camp, there was apprehension and unease, with the Congress fearing the BJPs dirty tricks department was back at work to do a Goa in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath claimed the BJP had approached at least 10 Congress MLAs in his state to defect, so as to pull the rug from under his feet. The exit poll results got on senior Karnataka Congress MLA Roshan Baigs nerves, as he indulged in name-calling, labelling the partys state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao a flop show and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal a buffoon. At the NDA meet, there were smiles all around as alliance leaders like JD(U)s Nitish Kumar, Shiv Senas Uddhav Thackeray and Shiromani Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal took turns to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP described it as an informal get-together without agenda, with allies merely sharing their views on the just- concluded elections. I congratulate Team Modi Sarkar for their hard work and remarkable achievements in the last five years. Lets keep this momentum going for a New India under the leadership of PM Modi, tweeted Shah after the meeting. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE In Bhopal, Kamal Naths cabinet colleagues Pradyumn Singh Tomar and P C Sharma alleged that offers of Rs 25 to 50 crore had been made to each MLA to defect as the Opposition fears its leaders will have to face the music in Vyapam and e-tender scams. On the contrary, 25 BJP MLAs are in contact with the Congress and are ready to jump ship if the NDA is defeated at the Centre, Sharma claimed. Nath, however, indicated a quick cabinet reshuffle to accommodate the grumpy elements, including independents and BSP-SP MLAs to save his government. A worried UPA and leaders of other likeminded parties met in New Delhi to strategise on the post-results scenario. They also sought to pressure the Election Commission of India to first count the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail slips, though the prime minister saw the controversy surrounding Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) as needless. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, too, called the EVM fears bogus. Allies express faith in Modi's leadership The NDA adopted a resolution expressing faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, Union minister Rajnath Singh informed reporters after the dinner meeting. Leaders of 36 allies attended the meeting, while three others who couldnt make it, sent in letters supporting the leadership of Modi, he added. Minister Ram Vilas Paswan quoted Modi as having said that his focus was not winning elections but on helping people improve their quality of life. Our alliance represents Indias diversity and our agenda is Indias progress. We are best suited to address regional aspirations and enhance national progress, Modi tweeted after the dinner meeting. By IANS GANDHINAGAR: Not a single student from as many as 63 schools managed to clear the Secondary School Certificate examinations conducted by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, the results of which were declared here on Tuesday. The overall pass percentage was 66.97 per cent, slightly lower than 67.5 per cent of last year. The exams were held in March. In a press conference, Board Chairman A.J. Shah stated that, "Out of the total 8,22,823 regular candidates appearing in the exam, 5,51,023 have passed." He informed that not a single student from as many as 63 schools could pass the board exams, while 366 schools posted cent per cent results. Only 17.23 per cent of the repeat candidates passed the examinations, where as often, girls outshone boys with 72.64 pass percentage as against 62.83 per cent of the latter, Shah said. English-medium schools saw the highest passing percentage at 88.11, followed by 72.66 per cent of Hindi medium students and those from Gujarati medium reported the lowest at 64.58 per cent. Surat district in South Gujarat topped the charts with 79.63 per cent, while the backward tribal district of Chhota Udepur in the central region posted the lowest 46.38 pass percentage. The detailed results are on the official website at www.gseb.org. By IANS LUCKNOW: Troubles for dismissed Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar are far from over. According to sources, three of the four legislators of the Rajbhars Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) are reportedly in talks with the BJP and could join the saffron party shortly. Rajbhar, who is aware of the development, said on Wednesday: "Whoever wants to go, can go. I am not going to stop anyone." The SBSP has four legislators -- Rajbhar (Ghazipur), Kailash Nath Sonkar (Varanasi), Triveni Ram (Ghazipur) and Ramanand Baudh (Kushinagar) -- in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly. READ| OP Rajbhar welcomes dismissal from UP cabinet, says Yogi government has not done enough for backward castes The three legislators have been upset with Rajbhar since the past several months and did not even campaign with him in the elections. They said that they were being ignored by their own party president. One of the legislators had even voted against the party line in the Rajya Sabha biennial elections last year. A senior Bharatiya Janata Party functionary admitted that some party leaders were in talks with the disgruntled SBSP legislators. "We have convinced them that they would get a better deal with the BJP and they have agreed. In all probability, they will join us once the government formation at the centre takes place," he said. This will leave Rajbhar as the sole member of his party in the state Assembly. Debdutta Mitra By Online Desk With almost all the exit polls predicting a sweep for the BJP-led NDA government, ruling party leaders are sporting a smug look, while the opposition has been quick to dismiss them as fake. Will there be a twist in the tale? History suggests it could happen. Here are six instances when exit polls got it wrong. 2004 Lok Sabha elections The then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had dissolved Parliament early for a snap poll following the party's success in assembly elections in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Many exit polls had predicted that the BJP-led NDA government would win a second term with 240-250 seats. However, the Congress-led UPA sprang a surprise by winning 218 seats against the prediction of 170-205 seats while the NDA could muster just 187. The UPA went on to form the government with the support of the Left Front, Samajwadi Party and BSP. FOLLOW OUR FULL ELECTION COVERAGE HERE 2014 Lok Sabha elections In this election, which proved to be a gamechanger in Indian political history, the exit polls had indeed predicted an NDA victory. However, they indicated that the NDA would get a wafer-thin majority, with around 272 seats. On the contrary, however, the NDA stormed to a thumping victory under the leadership of Narendra Modi with 336 seats. In fact, the BJP won a majority on its own -- the first time in 30 years that any party had achieved the feat. The Congress-led UPA, which was predicted to bag 115 seats, got a paltry 60. 2015 Delhi assembly elections Two years after AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister over the failure to table the Jan Lokpal bill in the Assembly, Delhi went to the polls again. The elections came eight months after the Narendra Modi-led NDA government came into power at the Centre. While the exit polls predicted an AAP win, they suggested that the party would just cross the halfway mark in the 70-member assembly. However, the AAP swept the polls in one of the biggest routs in Indian electoral history, winning 67 seats. The BJP got just three while the Congress drew a blank. 2015 Bihar assembly elections Back when Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi didn't see eye to the eye, a Mahagathbandhan was formed between the JD(U), RJD and Congress to take on the Modi wave. The exit polls predicted a tough fight resulting in a hung assembly. But the actual outcome saw the NDA getting only 58 seats in the 243-member assembly while the alliance bagged 178. P.S: The NDA had the last laugh when Nitish dumped his allies and defected to their camp less than two years later. 2016 Tamil Nadu assembly elections The 2016 assembly polls in the state would turn out to be the last electoral battle involving AIADMK and DMK supremos J Jayalalithaa and M Karunanidhi. Most exit polls predicted that the DMK would return to power with 130-131 seats out of 234. They also predicted that the current CM Edappadi Palaniswami would lose his seat of Edappadi. However, the actual results saw the 'Iron Lady' winning 134 seats while the leader of the 'Rising Sun' was able to snatch just 89. Needless to say, Palaniswami won his seat. 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections The 2017 assembly elections saw a Congress-SP alliance taking on the BJP in a bid to stem the Modi wave in the countrys most populous state. Though exit polls had predicted the saffron party getting the most seats, they suggested that the party would fall short of a majority and hence it would be a hung assembly. However, the actual results saw the BJP getting 312 seats out of the 403 with the Congress-SP alliance winning just 59. By Online Desk NEW DELHI: Counting of votes, the grand finale in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections in 542 seats, will begin on Thursday along with state assemblies of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for smooth and hassle-free counting as well as for providing authentic and latest updates. The counting will begin at 8 a.m. and trends are likely to start coming in by afternoon, while results are expected by the evening, an official said. By evening a clear picture is likely to emerge on who would be the major player(s) in the 17th Lok Sabha and who all will be winners among 8049 candidates in the fray. ALSO READ: MHA alerts states, Union Territories of possible violence across country Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting from Varanasi while Congress President Rahul is contesting from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh and Wayanad in Kerala. Counting of Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballot System (ETPBS) and Postal Ballots will be taken up first. Counting personnel will randomly select five EVMs from each Assembly segments for matching with VVPAT slips as directed by the Supreme Court. There will be three-tier security in place with the outer cordon beginning 100 metres from the counting centre. In a statement, the Union Home Ministry also said it has asked the states and UTs to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquillity. "The home ministry has alerted the state chief secretaries and directors general of police regarding possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country in connection with the counting of votes tomorrow," the statement said. ALSO READ: Six times exit pollsters ended up with egg on their faces The ministry said the states and UTs have been further asked to take adequate measures for the security of strong rooms and venues of counting of votes. "This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes," it said. The central security agencies have received inputs that some organisations and individuals, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura, have given certain statements which may lead to violence and disruption in counting process, an official said. Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. (With input from agencies.) K Jayakumar By As the high decibel electioneering is drawing to a close, the nation discovers to its dismay and shame that the quality of election-eve public debate has plummeted to an all-time low. This unholy din has successfully obliterated many fundamental national issues. It seems to be our tragic fate to repeatedly look towards an election with hopes of solutions and to be thwarted by misplaced or misconceived national issues that an election underscores. It is an empirical fact that the disconnect between the collective desire of the nation and the priorities as perceived by political parties during the electoral battle and pursued subsequently by the elected governments is widening with every successive election. The current high-intensity election campaign that has monopolised our media for nearly two months will stand out in our history as one that has conveniently obliterated almost all the core issues of the nation. True, growing agrarian distress and rampant unemployment did find its place but only to be addressed with short-term solutions. Issues that call for long-term solutions and bold structural changes have been conveniently and cleverly brushed under the carpet by all parties in their pursuit of power. The underlying disturbing logic is very simple. Even if elected to power, no major party is prepared or equipped to address deep-rooted social and economic issues, potent with disastrous consequences. This is an attempt to identify five major areas this election campaign conveniently forgot to address. (Admittedly there are many more.) 1. Climate change and environment: Confronted with the unmistakable truth of climate change, the whole world is bracing itself up with mitigating measures and eco-sensitive policies. When the time is up to dedicate ourselves to a new eco-sensitivity and a nuanced development ethos, we seem to have fallen foolishly in love with a discarded development model that has taken humanity to the brink of ecocide. No national leader acknowledged the reality of climate change. Instead, we continue to promise more development which shall guarantee our hurtle towards ecological disaster. 2. Corruption: Though allegations of corruption were levelled by national and regional leaders at each other with considerable creativity and effective histrionics, the net result has been the dilution of the moral pungency of corruption in nations collective conscience. Unfortunately, no leader appeared to be convincingly impatient with the pervasive cloud of corruption. We witnessed no committed attack on the thousand-headed monster of corruption nor heard any meaningful and well thought out strategy to create a corruption-free India. 3. Governance: Every successive government has been high on promises and low on delivery. And the fault line of administrative inefficiency has been thwarting scheme after schemes for several decades. Yet the make-believe machinery of the governments covers the lifeless bodies of half accomplished schemes with the shiny apparel of flamboyant post-truth claims. Hardly any leader spoke in this election campaign about the inadequacy of governance. Poor governance continues to manifest itself all around in bureaucratic apathy and political indifference, reinforced by archaic rules and procedures and even more archaic mindset. If no party vows to change this where does an ordinary citizen look for administrative justice? 4. Affordable Healthcare: Insurance-linked healthcare seems to have been accepted as the only available model. It might have its set of positive aspects. Yet that is no reason for the state to withdraw from universal healthcare and affordable treatment to the economically and socially marginalised. In a country where literacy is still a mirage for a sizeable population, insurance-driven health care is nothing but a barren cloud. When the real need for treatment arises the cloud would have disappeared. In an increasingly commercialising health sector, the only real insurance is a vibrant public health infrastructure. 5. Education: Another area that the campaign overlooked is the abysmal record of our education. School enrolment has shown some signs of change but the quality and coverage still remain incomplete. It is a patchwork picture of small successes dominated by huge failures. Teacher absenteeism, poor quality of classroom transaction and the problem of drop-out continue to plague our school education. University education scene is no better. The gap between public institutions of higher education and privately funded universities and institutions has been widening as the marks on the surface of an enlarging balloon. This unequal system has already created a new hierarchy among the educated people. Evidently, these are not vote-catching issues. That itself betrays a poor idea of the electorate as conceived by the political class. It presumes that the voter too is not interested in such core issues but concerned only about short term issues and immediate gains. Therefore the rhetoric gets centered on issues which will have an immediate effect and electoral dividend. Deeper issues demanding serious structural changes are always postponed and later ignored as they have apparently no immediate nudging effect on the voter. Problems that cannot be addressed with simplistic solutions are thus ignored and a malady ignored can only worsen. So like the mythical bird, we the people wait. Wait for the next rains to quench the thirst. (The author is the former Chief Secretary to the Government of Kerala and former Vice Chancellor of Malayalam University. Email: k.jayakumar123@gmail.com) Just last week Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, the BJPs Lok Sabha candidate from Bhopal and an accused in the Malegaon blasts, called the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi, Nathuram Godse, a patriot. And on Sunday, the Hindu Mahasabha celebrated the birth anniversary of Godse in Surat and Aligarh. While Pragya later apologised and retracted her statement, after she was admonished by the BJP, eight people have been arrested for the Surat incident. But these two events indicate that fringe right-wing elements have likely been emboldened, if not empowered, ever since the BJP government came to power at the Centre in 2014. While communal riots and violence in the name of protecting the cow have taken place even before 2014, the latter has seen a recent spurt, according to reports. There have been quite a few cases of lynching of people belonging to the minority community and in most of them its the fringe that has been involved. While the BJP claims it has no links with organisations such as the Hindu Mahasabha, how is it that many elements from these groups got mainstreamed? Does not the latest induction of Pragya into the party who, hours later, was given an election ticket from a constituency that is considered a BJP bastion indicate the trend? What else can also explain the ascendance of Yogi Adityanath as the chief minister of a state that is caste-riven, communally-divided and saddled with myriad problems? A new government will soon assume office. Whichever party or grouping that comes to hold the reins, the need before it will be to control fringe elements. Indias beauty lies in its diversity. The new government must handle the cultural, regional, communal and caste differences sensibly. Else it will only play into the hands of its enemies, who are looking to exploit this. By IANS AMARAVATI: While a majority of the exit polls predicted victory for BJP-led NDA at the Centre, they were divided on the likely outcome in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections which were held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. The exit polls made mixed projections as to which party will form the next government in the state. While some predicted that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) will storm to power, others said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will retain power. They painted a hazy picture of Andhra Pradesh Assembly, elections for which were held along with Lok Sabha seats on April 11. Some exit polls gave the YSRCP 111-135 seats in 175-member Assembly, other predicted that the TDP will win 90-111 seats. They predicted 1-5 seats for actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena, which made it electoral debut. According to India Today-Axis, the YSRCP is expected to win 130-135 seats while the TDP may finish with 37-40 seats. It projected 0-1 seat for the Jana Sena. CPS predicted 130-133 seats for the YSRCP, 37 for the TDP and one for the Jana Sena. ALSO READ: 'Hope Chandrababu Naidu's excitement lasts till May 23' - Shiv Sena mocks Andhra CM According to VDP Associates, the YSRCP may win 111-121 seats while the TDP may get 54-60. The Jana Sena may finish with 0-4. However, an exit poll by INSS predicted that the TDP will retain power by winning 118 seats while the YSRCP may get 52. It gave 5 seats to Pawan Kalyan's party. Elite gave 101-111 seats to the TDP and 63-73 to the YSRCP. Former MP L. Rajagopal's RG Flash Team projected 90-100 seats for the TDP and 65-79 for the YSRCP. All the exit polls predicted that both Congress and BJP will draw a blank. In 2014 elections, the TDP had bagged 102 seats while its then ally BJP had won four seats. The YSRCP had won 67 seats while two independents were also elected. In the Lok Sabha elections held simultaneously, the TDP had won 15 and the BJP two seats. The YSRCP bagged the remaining eight seats. This time, exit polls have also made mixed projections for Lok Sabha polls. They gave the YSRCP 12-15 Lok Sabha seats and the TDP 10-13. ALSO READ: Aaraa survey predicts Jagan Mohan's YSRC sweep in Andhra Pradesh The IANS-CVOTER exit poll predicted 14 seats for the TDP while giving 11 to the YSRCP. Chief Minister and TDP President N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said he was "cent per cent" sure of the TDP retaining power. The TDP supremo believes that the welfare and development programmes undertaken by his government during last five years would help it get a fresh mandate. Naidu predicted that the TDP will win 110 seats in 175-member Assembly. "Our seats may even go up to 120-130," he told his party leaders. He was also confident that of 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the TDP will bag 18-20. YSRCP leader Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the exit polls broadly indicated the situation in the state. "They have confirmed what we have been saying for last several months," he said. Ramakrishna Reddy, who is political secretary to YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was confident that the party would get more seats than projected in the exit polls. By Express News Service KOCHI: The High Court on Wednesday criticised the Central Government for its failure to file a report on the loss suffered on account of the implementation of the Letter of Permit (LoP) scheme. The court issued the order on a petition filed by M K Salim of Kollam, seeking to stop the practice of transhipment of catch by licensed Indian trawlers operating in the high sea to US trawler ships or bunkers in the nearby ports of Maldives, Sri Lanka, and other southeast Asian ports. P Paul Pandian, Fisheries Development Commissioner, Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Department of Fisheries, was present before the High Court. T he court expressed its displeasure over the delay in filing the report and orally observed that sitting in a top position in New Delhi does not make a man above the law. His counsel assured the High Court that the report would be filed on Wednesday itself. The Lebanese government will hold a final session to discuss the draft state budget on Friday, the information minister said. Several government ministers had said Wednesday's session would be the last. However, Information Minister Jamal Jarrah said new proposals had been tabled that required further study. "The session on Friday, at 1:30 p.m (1030 GMT), will God willing be the final one," he said. He said the deficit had now been reduced to 7.5% of GDP from 7.6% announced earlier in the week. Search Keywords: Short link: Toby Antony By Express News Service KOCHI: The NIA investigation into Islamic State (IS)-linked module which planned suicide attack on Kerala has revealed that Palakkad native Riyas Aboobacker drew inspiration from Zaharan Hashim, the mastermind of Sri Lanka terror attack to conduct fidayeen attack on Kerala. The NIA on Wednesday produced the case diary before the NIA Court in Kochi while opposing the bail plea filed by Riyas Aboobacker. The national agency submitted a pen drive containing audio clips sent by an IS handler from abroad which was retrieved from the mobile phone of the accused. Though he was following IS ideology since 2016, it was only recently that he developed a mentality to conduct fidayeen attack. We have got evidence that the accused drew inspiration for the fidayeen attack from a person involved in the Sri Lanka blasts. He was also inspired by a story in the Quran in which a soldier sacrifices his life for the commander. Though the story was all about commitment, the handlers of Riyas wrongly interpreted it for conducting suicide attack, NIA prosecutor Arjun Ambalapatta submitted before the court. In the case diary, the NIA submitted pictures of Sri Lanka attack and other jihadi literature recovered from the mobile phone of Riyas. There were also statements given by the co-accused and witnesses. The contents recovered from the mobile phone runs over 2 lakh pages. There are also audio clips, books on jihad, videos and photographs to motivate Riyas to launch the attack. These documents have been submitted to C-DAC for detailed analysis, NIA submitted before the court. Considering the nature of the content, including audio clips, NIA Judge K Sathyan decided to access it in his chamber. The court reserved its order on the bail petition for Friday. According to sources, Riyas was planning the fidayeen attack at a place in Palakkad.Riyas focused on religious places to conduct the attack. He had identified a religious place in Palakkad for the attack. Abdul Khayoom alias Abu Khalid trained him to conduct the attack. We have recovered several chats between them in which they discussed the targets, sources said. Riyas Aboobacker was arrested on April 29, on the basis of a tip-off that a four-member IS module is active in Kerala. Raids were held at Kasaragod and Palakkad. Subsequently, two persons from Kasaragod and one from Kollam were interrogated by the NIA. They were arraigned as co-accused, along with Riyas. However, their arrest was not recorded. Toby Antony By Express News Service KOCHI: The IS wanted to establish its province in Kerala a few years ago, similar to the recently announced Wilayat al-Hind (India Province). According to NIA, Ansar-ul-Khilafah Kerala, the IS-linked group that was busted by security agencies in 2016, was keen to establish the terror groups province in the state. Discussions in this regard were held by members of Ansar-ul-Khilafa Kerala, in a chat group named Gate in the Telegram app retrieved by NIA from the mobile phones of the accused. In the chat on August 18, 2016, Shajeer Mangalasseri, of Kozhikode, who headed the group online from Afghanistan, told the members that the IS wants to establish a Wilayat in Kerala. The members of the module were to arrange infrastructure for establishing the Wilayat. If the module fails, the IS leadership will choose other jihadi cells for the purpose. Another discussion between the members of the group in another chat group named Baab-Al-Nur on September 6, 2016, was about 43 Wilayats of IS spread across the globe. In the chat, the group members claimed that the 44th Wilayat will be Ansar-ul-Khilafah Kerala. A member said establishing a Wilayat is the aim even if they have to fight and die for it. The members believed a day will come when Ghazwa-e-hind (Prophecy on Islamic Conquest of India) will be realised, sources said. It is estimated that over 50 persons from different parts of Kerala have joined the IS in Syria and Afghanistan. By PTI BHUBANESHWAR: A day before the counting of votes take place, Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik Wednesday conceded that the party will not be able to form a government on its own in the state and may lose opposition status also. Patnaik's statement indicated that its straight fight between the BJD and the BJP in Odisha, a state where Congress had its government for several times in the past and where it is principal opposition to the Naveen Patnaik headed party for previous 19 years. Amid indication of Congress poor showing, knives are out for the OPCC leadership. "We(Congress) will not be able to form the government in the state on our own. However, our performance will be better than in 2014," Patnaik told reporters here during an interaction while reacting to exit polls predictions. The Congress had in 2014 bagged only 16 out of the total 147 seats in Odisha Assembly and had failed to open its account in the Lok Sabha polls. Different exit polls this time predicted one Lok Sabha seat and 15 assembly seats for the party. Majority of the exit polls forecast an impressive performance by the BJP in Odisha this time. Many of them even suggested that the saffron party bagging more seats out of a total of 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha than the BJD. In the state assembly election also, the polls indicated the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the Naveen Patnaik's party. Congress President Rahul Gandhi had addressed several rallies in Odisha to boost party prospect at both the national and state levels. About himself, Patnaik, however, claimed that he will win from both Bhandaripokhari and Ghasipura assembly seats. Senior Congress leader and former minister Jagannath Patnaik Wednesday resigned from the posts of OPCC coordination committee and the Pradesh Election Committee(PEC) in protest against the poor poll preparedness and management by the party state leadership. "The state leadership failed to propagate Rahul Gandhi's NYAY and programmes for farmers. The party also failed to maintain its policy in ticket distribution and management of elections. I have sent my resignation letter to PCC president," he said. The former minister said that the wrongdoings in the party should be corrected and discussion needed on the reason for losing an opportunity this time. "I, therefore, did not resign from the PCC or AICC," Jagannth Patnaik said. Congress candidate from Sukinda assembly seat and former minister, Sarat Rout directly blamed the OPCC president and accused him of failing to manage the party's election strategy. "He (Niranjan) has betrayed the trust of Rahul Gandhi," Rout alleged adding that the Congress this time chose to take the third position giving an advantage to the BJP. "There was mismanagement at all levels - from ticket distribution to poll management. I was a candidate fighting against the BJD. Nobody from the party came to my help, I fought the election like an orphan," Rout said. Asked whether change in PCC presidentship will be the right action, Rout said: "Removing Niranjan Patnaik from the post will not help the party. Damage has already been done. He may quit the post on his own." Congress candidate from Cuttack Lok Sabha segment, Panchanan Kangungo also expressed a similar view. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Shocked and humiliated by calls from men seeking a prostitute, women from Hyderabad have been heading to the polices cyber crime wing for help. The reason their details have been uploaded on an online classifieds website. These women realise their contact information is on the Germany-headquartered website Locanto.net, under the category women-seeking-men-Hyderabad, which is often a portal for those seeking sexual pleasures. The phone numbers are usually put up by men who want to get back at their former partners, Additional DCP (Cyber Crime Police Station Hyderabad) KCS Raghuvir told The New Indian Express. As the women keep getting calls from men seeking their services, they approach the Cyber Crime Police Station for relief. The police help, but cannot investigate the issue, as no one has registered a case, Raghuvir said. It is a matter of dignity for the victim. They ask us to get their contact information deleted from the website, and once thats done, they dont want their names disclosed, he explained. In such cases, the police write to Locanto, asking for those numbers to be deleted from the website, and the operators comply. It is not possible to take further action against the website; it is based in Germany, Raghuvir added. The website has phone numbers of people introducing themselves as call girls and escorts. These could be the ones the cops get complaints about, or may also belong to people who scam others to the tune of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 By Express News Service HYDERABAD: A group of men claiming to be SWAERO members, attacked the president of National SC Reservation Parirakshana Samithi (NSCRPS) and other office bearers at the Press Club here on Tuesday while a press conference was being addressed by them on problems in Gurukulam schools in Telangana. The Gurukul schools are run by social welfare secretary RS Praveen Kumar. Claiming themselves to be supporters of Praveen Kumar, they also attacked media persons and damaged their belongings and furniture at the press club. NSCRPS national president Karne Srisailam took permission to hold a press conference on Tuesday on the irregularities taking place in Gurukulam schools and how SWAEROs are controlling the institutes across the State. On Monday, he met Governor ESL Narasimhan and submitted a representation, seeking action on the SWAERO network. #WATCH: National SC Reservation Parirakshana Samithi president, Karne Srisailam, attacked during a press conference at Press Club in Hyderabad yesterday. He was speaking on irregularities in Gurukul Pathshala (residential schools for SC/ST in Telangana) pic.twitter.com/e0brXDe1Tt ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 Speaking to Express, Srisailam said that on Monday night he got a call from a person identified as Pola Alexander, who abused him in vulgar language and also threatened him if went ahead with the press conference. On Tuesday as the press conference started at the Press Club, a group of unidentified persons barged into the hall, jumped on to the podium and thrashed Srisailam. Media persons intervened and tried to pacify the agitators. Police rushed to spot and brought situation under control. They also detained the members who attacked Srisailam and others. On the other hand, Pola Alexander lodged another complaint against Srisailam and others alleging that they attacked him when he came to the Press Club. By Associated Press DUBAI: Yemen's Iranian-allied Houthi rebels attacked a Saudi airport and military base with a bomb-laden drone Tuesday, an assault acknowledged by the kingdom as Middle East tensions remained high between Tehran and Washington. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The attack on the Saudi city of Najran came after Iran announced it has quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity, though still at a level far lower than needed for atomic weapons, a year after the US withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers. Underlining the tensions, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is seeking expanded executive powers to better deal with "economic war" triggered by the Trump's administration's renewal and escalation of sanctions targeting the Islamic Republic, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. "A person or a nation might be under pressure but the Iranian nation will not bow to bullies," Rouhani vowed in a televised speech Tuesday night. By increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the nuclear accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to put forth new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Middle East already on edge. The US has deployed bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf over still-unspecified threats from Iran, which is the biggest rival in the region to the US-allied Saudi Arabia. Before a briefing on the situation to Congress , acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan suggested the US military response to Iranian threats has already had an effect. He said US military moves have given Iran "time to recalculate" and as a result the potential for attacks on Americans is "on hold," although the threat has not gone away. ....Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse - very sad for the Iranian people! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2019 In the drone attack, the Houthis' Al-Masirah satellite news channel said they targeted the airport in Najran with a Qasef-2K drone, striking an "arms depot." Najran, 840 kilometers (525 miles) southwest of Riyadh, lies on the Saudi-Yemen border and has repeatedly been targeted by the Houthis. A statement on the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted Saudi-led coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki as saying the Houthis "had tried to target" a civilian site in Najran, without elaborating. Al-Maliki warned there would be a "strong deterrent" to such attacks and described the Houthis as the "terrorist militias of Iran." Similar Houthi attacks have sparked Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen, which have been widely criticized internationally for killing civilians. Civilian airports across the Middle East often host military bases. The New York Times reported last year that American intelligence analysts were based in Najran, assisting the Saudis and a deployment of US Army Green Berets on the border. Lt.Col. Earl Brown, a spokesman for US Central Command, said there were "no US personnel involved nor present at Najran" at the time of the attack. Last week, the Houthis launched a coordinated drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline. Earlier this month, officials in the United Arab Emirates alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged and US diplomats relayed a warning that commercial airlines could be misidentified by Iran and attacked, something dismissed by Tehran. In its nuclear program announcement Monday night, Iranian officials stressed that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. Iran said it had told the International Atomic Energy Agency of the development. The Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog did not respond to a request for comment. Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nuclear weapons, though the West fears its program could allow it to build them. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a promise to pull the US from the Iran deal, has alternated tough talk with more conciliatory statements - a strategy he says is aimed at keeping Iran guessing at the administration's intentions. Trump also has said he hopes Iran calls him and engages in negotiations. ALSO READ| US fingers Iran on Gulf attacks but eases tone But while Trump's approach of flattery and threats has become a hallmark of his foreign policy, the risks have only grown in dealing with Iran, where mistrust between Tehran and Washington goes back four decades. While both sides say they don't seek war, many worry any miscalculation could spiral out of control. Trump tweet on Monday warning Iran would face its "official end" if it threatened the US drew sharp rebuke from Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Twitter, who used the hashtag #NeverThreatenAnIranian. In Iran, it remains unclear what powers Rouhani seeks. In Iran's 1980s war with Iraq, a wartime supreme council was able to bypass other branches to make decisions regarding the economy and the war. "Today, we need such powers," Rouhani said, according to IRNA. He added that country "is united that we should resist the US and the sanctions." Meanwhile, former US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis told an audience in the United Arab Emirates on Monday night that America "needs to engage more in the world and intervene militarily less." While "Iran's behavior must change," he urged the US not to engage in unilateral action and that American "military must work to buy time for diplomats to work their magic." By PTI ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani court has allowed the country's anti-corruption watchdog to interrogate jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for allegedly using 20 bulletproof vehicles imported for the proposed SAARC summit in 2016 for himself and his family, according to a media report. Accountability Court judge Muhammad Arshad passed the order on an application filed by the anti-graft body, seeking permission to interrogate the 69-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo at the Kot Lakhpat jail, where he is serving 7-year-sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case. According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), 34 bulletproof vehicles were imported from Germany for diplomats attending the SAARC without paying custom duty on them, the Express Tribune reported. The 19th Summit, which was to be held in Islamabad, was called off after India pulled out of it following the deadly terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri. Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to attend, bringing the South Asian conference to a deadlock. No SAARC meeting has happened ever since. It further alleged that 20 of these vehicles were added to Sharif's own convoy and were also used by his daughter Maryam Nawaz. The NAB has already interrogated PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former principal secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad and former foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, who approved the proposal to import the vehicles, in connection with the case. The NAB had earlier filed three corruption cases against Sharif on the orders of the Supreme Court following the publication of the Panama Papers. Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law retired captain Mohammad Safdar were granted bail in September last year in the Avenfield properties case that involved buying of four luxury flats in London through fraudulent means. He was acquitted in December last year in the Flagship Investments corruption case in the high-profile Panama Papers scandal. By PTI BISHKEK: India on Wednesday said the ghastly bombings in Sri Lanka at a time when the wounds of the Pulwama terror attack were still raw in people's mind has made it more determined to resolutely fight against the menace. Addressing the meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers here in the Kyrgyz capital, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India is determined to consistently strengthen cooperation within the SCO framework for comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. ALSO READ | Sushma Swaraj meets Kyrgyz counterpart ahead of SCO foreign ministers meet on Tuesday "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and the news from the neighbourhood has made us more determined to resolutely fight against this menace," Swaraj said at the meeting, also attended by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi. "We are determined to consistently strengthen cooperation within the SCO framework for comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security" - EAM @SushmaSwaraj while delivering her statement at SCO Foreign Minister's Meeting in Bishkek. Full speech at https://t.co/mETyOQkDa3 pic.twitter.com/CLWN4uWXt9 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 22, 2019 Nine suicide bombers carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels on April 21, killing more than 250 people and injuring 500 others. The ISIS terror group claimed the attacks, but the government blamed the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) for the Easter Sunday bombings. The attack came months after India witnessed a suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed on CRPF personnel in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, killing 40 soldiers. Swaraj said India is open to ideas on how we can make the work of Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence, more effective. In spite of a turbulent global scenario, SCO member states have been steadily expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres, including political, security and development, Swaraj said. She said that India is committed to continue working for a favourable environment for the SCO member countries' economic activities and to intensify work on the relevant SCO documents dealing with economic and trade cooperation. "India subscribes to a rule-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system, centered around the World Trade Organisation, and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism," she said, amidst the trade war between China and the US. India was an observer at the SCO since 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region. Along with India, Pakistan was also granted the SCO membership in 2017. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. By PTI LONDON: A Sri Lankan diaspora body has challenged Britain's proscription order, imposed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since 2001, on the grounds that the outfit is no longer active and that it is inhibiting other non-violent political activities of Sri Lankan Tamils. The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), which describes itself as a "government-in-exile" body, had challenged the proscription in a petition to the UK Home Office but its plea to reverse the ban on the LTTE was turned down earlier this year. It has now filed a legal challenge to the ban via Prof. Conor Gearty of Matrix Chambers and the London School of Economics (LSE), which will be heard before an independent tribunal specially constituted for this purpose under the UK's Terrorism Act 2000 - the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC). "The main argument is that there is no longer any reason to continue banning the LTTE and the banning has a negative impact on peaceful advocacy of the sort promoted by the applicants, the TGTE," said Gearty. "It makes it difficult for anyone in Britain to raise issues about the possible human rights abuses that occurred during and after the final move again the LTTE some ten years ago, and more recently as well," he explained. "In its petition to the Home Secretary, the TGTE members argued that the ban on the LTTE is misperceived as a ban on advocacy for the establishment of a sovereign state of Tamil Eelam, and as a result it has a chilling effect in the people's participation of the TGTE's political work towards that goal. In addition, over the past 10 years there have been no violent activities carried out by the LTTE. The act of banning the LTTE means in practice that the political activities of all Tamils are cracked down on, which is a practice encouraged by the Government of Sri Lanka, according to the Prime Minister of the TGTE - Mr Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran," noted a statement from Matrix Chambers, the barristers' chambers behind the challenge. The legal team says that in the letter of refusal, the UK Home Office referred only to one alleged incident, noting that it had been "reported that in June 2018 the Sri Lankan police arrested individuals in the course of transporting explosive devices and LTTE paraphernalia including flags and that no other evidence was presented to explain a continued ban on the LTTE. The POAC has the power to direct the Home Office to lift the ban on the LTTE and a hearing date for the case is yet to be fixed, but it is expected to be some time later this year. "The (UK) government is seeking to have much of the evidence heard in secret, a proposal that the TGTE oppose on grounds of transparency and which they desire to challenge," the Matrix Chambers statement adds. LTTE was proscribed in Britain in March 2001, when it was characterised as a "terrorist group fighting for a separate Tamil state in the North and East of Sri Lanka". The proscription of a group makes it a criminal offence to be a member of such an organisation or show support in any form. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the high-powered National Security Committee and discussed the "geo-strategic environment" and the "recent developments" in the region, a day before the outcome of the general elections in India is known. The meeting was attended by senior federal ministers, the three services chiefs, including Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa, media reports said. "The forum discussed geo-strategic environment with special reference to recent developments in the region," The Express Tribune quoted an official statement as saying. ALSO READ| Pakistan, Russia vow to prevent outer space from becoming arena for military confrontation The meeting reiterated that Pakistan will continue all its efforts towards regional peace and stability. It discussed and fully supported ongoing efforts towards a sustainable and lasting resolution of Pakistan's economic woes. On the internal security, the committee reviewed the progress of the National Action Plan (NAP) against terrorism and extremism, sources told newspaper. The participants discussed recent measures to further tighten noose around the proscribed organisation, they added. The current situation in Afghanistan particularly the ongoing effort seeking a political solution was also on the agenda. Other issues include the current state of Pakistan-India ties and rising tensions in the Persian Gulf region were also part of the discussions, the report said. On Wednesday, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that Islamabad has delivered a "message of peace" by opening the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims from India. Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, also attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Qureshi said, "enduring peace and prosperity in South Asia will remain elusive without good-faith diplomacy and result-oriented dialogue," he said in his address. "Pakistan has given the message of peace by opening the Kartarpur Corridor for the Sikh community," Qureshi said. The Pakistani foreign minister has said that Islamabad is ready to restart talks with the new government in India after the election outcome is known on May 23. India has told Pakistan that talks and terrorism cannot go hand-in-hand. Algerias army chief of staff has rejected an initiative by nationalist figures that could have offered a breakthrough in the stalemate in the country It has been three months since Algerias popular protest movement took to the streets in massive numbers first to remove former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika from power and then to demand radical changes in the system. The protests, which began on 22 February in response to the ailing Bouteflikas bid for a fifth presidential term after 20 years in power, might now be approaching a turning point as the country falls deeper into political stalemate or crisis. An initiative by three prominent Algerian figures earlier this week offering a lifeline to both the protest movement and the Algerian authorities was flatly rejected by the Army Chief of Staff, Deputy Defence Minister and de facto ruler of the country Ahmed Gaid Saleh, raising fears that this could plunge the North African country into further political instability. The trios initiative, authored by intellectual and former minister Ahmed Taleb Ibrahimi, 87, prominent human rights activist Ali Yehia Abdennour, 97, and former general Rachid Benyelles, 72, proposed the postponing of the 4 July presidential elections, the formation of an independent body to oversee a brief transitional period, and dialogue between the military institution and representatives of the protest movement, the hirak. Gaid Saleh, who forced Bouteflika to resign on 3 April as a result of pressure from the protests, has announced a roadmap based on Article 102 of the Algerian Constitution, which provides for the replacement of a president who is deemed unfit to rule with the countrys parliamentary speaker until presidential elections can be held in 90 days. On 9 April, Algerias parliament named Abdelkader Bensalah interim president despite fierce opposition from the protest movement, which considers him to be one of the key figures of the Bouteflika regime that they no longer want to see in power. In his first rare public appearance since, Bensalah scheduled the presidential elections for 4 July, though this was immediately rejected by the hirak as calls for a boycott gained momentum. The protests have since continued in full force, with demands for Bensalah and premier Noureddine Bedoui to step down. Despite attempts by Algerian riot police to limit the weekly Friday demonstrations taking place in Algiers and other cities, the hirak has continued its demands for an overhaul of the system. The army chief of staff has also made a habit of issuing statements during military visits, addressing the public and the protesters on Tuesdays. Gaid Saleh broke this habit this week by responding indirectly to the trios initiative on Monday. He flatly rejected its contents, while leaving the door open to a delay in the presidential elections, which he nevertheless insisted should take place, though without mentioning the scheduled date of 4 July. It has become logistically impossible to hold elections on 4 July, said Dalia Ghanem Yazbeck, a resident scholar with the Carnegie Middle East Centre and an Algeria expert. The deadline for submitting applications for the countrys Constitutional Council ends on 23 May. Theres no serious candidate till now; no one has campaigned, so who will Algerians vote for on 4 July, she asked in an interview with the Weekly from Beirut. According to Gaid Saleh, proceeding with the presidential elections will put an end to all those who try to perpetuate this crisis. However, they will require the speedy formation of an independent body to supervise them. The elections will prevent what Gaid Saleh described as the trap of a constitutional vacuum, a fate he said he feared the most for Algeria. Gaid Saleh has continued to fluctuate between praise and criticism of the hirak over the past three months, and last week he expressed his frustration with its irrational demands such as the complete overhaul of the ruling system. This dangerous and malicious demand sought to dispossess the state institutions of their leadership figures, he said. It is imperative to review how to organise these events and the need to supervise them by people with a responsible, nationalist spirit, he said, claiming that many had jumped on the hirak bandwagon to promote ideas that did not serve Algeria in a possible reference to the triumvirate. The highly anticipated speech was met with disappointment. After Gaid Salehs speech, the dialogue of the deaf continues between the authorities and the people, proclaimed the independent TSA Algerie newszine. The independent French-language daily El-Watan said that Gaid Salah wants to impose the presidential elections and reorient the popular marches. However, Yazbeck said Gaid Salehs questioning of the hiraks representatives or lack thereof was not unreasonable. The protest movement needed to understand that after three months in the streets it could not go on indefinitely, she said. The military leadership cant talk to 40 million Algerians. It is rational and logical, and it is time for the hirak to mature. A leaderless movement cannot resist time. And since a leader for the protest movement is not an option, another option is to form a collegial leadership, she said. The hirak should not insist on an overhaul of the entire system in Algeria, she cautioned. This is a regime that has existed since 1962 and has created a system that is so well-oiled that it will be hard to remove. The deep state is still there. Today, the military is governing openly, she noted. For Gaid Saleh, 79, a man whose career was advanced by Bouteflika and who has been stigmatised for this, notably in first phase of the hirak, there is little tolerance for a transitional period over whose outcomes he and the military institution standing behind him have little control. This is a question of survival, Yazbeck said. The military in Algeria sees itself as the custodian, arbitrator and protector of the nation and the people. This stems from the War of Independence onwards, so whenever there is a crisis they react and intervene and then return to their barracks without ever really returning. In 1991, the military cancelled general elections the Islamists were winning, triggering a civil war that lasted almost a decade. Approximately 150,000 to 200,000 were killed and 8,000 disappeared. However, Gaid Salehs constitutional framework will become null and void in just a matter of days, observers say, and he will be forced to accept the transitional period he has been trying hard to avoid once the interim presidents 90 days expire on 9 July if there are no elections on 4 July. Whose fault is this, asked TSA Algeries Makhlouf Mehheni. The armys chief of staff had blamed the irrational demands of the protesters, but it was he, Mehheni said, who clings to an election without candidates or voters that is rejected by both the people and the officials who are supposed to supervise him and almost all the political class. The day after Gaid Salehs statements, thousands of students, lawyers and judges marched in Algeria, including in the capital. The students were met with tear gas and anti-riot police as they approached the Government Palace. Neither Gaid nor Bensalah, they chanted. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 May, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Algeria enters a dialogue of the deaf Search Keywords: Short link: By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia Wednesday voiced concern over the weaponisation of the outer space and vowed to prevent it from becoming an arena for military confrontation, nearly two months after India shot down one of its satellites in space with an anti-satellite missile. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov signed a joint statement on 'No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space' on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The joint statement said that the outer space should be used in compliance with international law for the benefit of all nations, regardless of the level of their economic, scientific or technological development. Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) in statement said that the two countries share a common position on the prevention of arms race in outer space and work collectively in various international fora towards that goal. "The signing of the joint statement on No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space is a reflection of convergence of views between the two sides," it said. The FO said Pakistan and Russia reiterated their commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force in outer space activities. "We encourage other responsible space-faring nations to follow this example," it added. FM Qureshi and FM Lavrov signed a Joint Statement on No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space.(1/2)https://t.co/azTxBBjiIm pic.twitter.com/7ucSjVlTuz Dr Mohammad Faisal (@ForeignOfficePk) May 22, 2019 The joint statement emphasised that the achievement of an international treaty preventing the arms race in outer space as well as banning the placement or use of weapons therein is a priority for the international community. It said the two countries "declare that they will not in any way be the first to place weapons of any kind in Outer Space, that they will make all possible efforts to prevent Outer Space from becoming an arena for military confrontation and to ensure security in Outer Space activities." The FO said the use of force against space based objects, the development and deployment of Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) systems and their integration into space assets have added worrying dimensions to the issues relating to outer space. Pakistan said there is an urgent need to address gaps in the international legal regime governing the exploration and use of outer space with a view to ensuring that no one threatens peaceful activities and applications of space technologies for socio-economic development. The development comes nearly two months after India announced that it shot down one of its satellites in space on March 27 with an anti-satellite missile, making it only the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to acquire the strategic capability to shoot down enemy satellites. Pakistan at the time said that it was against the militarisation of outer space. Pakistan's ties with Russia have moved past the bitter Cold War hostilities and the chill in the US-Pakistan relations has further pushed the country towards Russia and China. The two countries in August last year inked an agreement allowing Pakistani troops to train in Russia. The two armies have been holding the 'Friendship' drills since 2016. In October 2016, they held their first-ever joint military exercise in Pakistan. In 2017, over 200 servicemen took part in the drills, hosted by Russia at Minralney Vody in the North Caucasus at an altitude of 2,300 meters above sea level. In November 2018, the Pakistan and Russian armies held their third joint military drill - Druzhba-III - during which troops from both the countries took part in various exercises in the mountains in Nowshehra district of northwestern Pakistan. By AFP JAKARTA: At least six people were killed as Indonesia's capital erupted in violence when police clashed with protesters opposed to the re-election of President Joko Widodo. Police sirens blared as fresh skirmishes broke out Wednesday evening with thousands of protesters chanting and waving Indonesian flags in the heart of the capital. Some hurled stones and fireworks at riot police who lined up behind a razor wire barricade near the election supervisory agency building. Earlier, dozens were arrested and parts of Jakarta were littered with debris and burned-out cars, as the violence triggered security advisories from the US and Australian embassies. Authorities also restricted access to some social media in a bid to stop rumours and fake news from spreading online. National police chief Tito Karnavian said six people had died, but denied authorities had fired live rounds on protesters, and called for calm. "Some had gunshot wounds, some had blunt force wounds but we still need to clarify this," he told reporters. Jakarta's governor Anies Baswedan said Wednesday morning that about 200 had been injured. The violence came after Indonesia's election commission on Tuesday confirmed Widodo had beaten retired military general Prabowo Subianto for the presidency in a poll held on April 17. Subianto has said he would challenge the results in court - as he did, unsuccessfully, against Widodo in 2014 - but also warned his claims of widespread cheating could spark street protests. That was borne out early Wednesday as protesters set market stalls and cars on fire while hurling fireworks and rocks at security personnel clad in riot gear and holding shields, an AFP reporter on the scene said. Authorities blamed the violence on paid "provocateurs", citing money-filled envelopes found on some of the 257 demonstrators who had been arrested. The early morning clashes started after several thousand Subianto supporters had rallied peacefully Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, roads were blocked off in parts of the sprawling metropolis - with some shopping malls, businesses and schools also closed as small groups of protesters engaged in skirmishes with police. "I open myself to anyone who wants to develop this nation, but I won't tolerate anyone who tries to disrupt public security, the democratic process or the unity of our country," Widodo said at a press briefing, flanked by his chief security ministry and the head of the military. Subianto repeated calls for supporters to avoid violence. "We support people's constitutional rights (to protest) as long as they are civilised, peaceful and non-violent," he told reporters. The former military man - who has strong ties to the Suharto dictatorship that collapsed in 1998 - has kept up a steady string of rhetoric since unofficial results for last month's poll put bitter rival Widodo ahead by a wide margin. The soft-spoken Widodo - who pointed to his efforts to boost Southeast Asia's biggest economy with a huge infrastructure push - stood in stark contrast to Subianto, a fiery strongman who courted Islamic hardliners and promised to boost military and defence spending. Election officials and analysts have discounted Subianto's claims, but many supporters appeared convinced of rampant cheating in the world's third-biggest democracy behind India and the United States. "We came here to demand justice because there was fraud in this presidential election. We don't want chaos, but that depends on the police," protester Mato told AFP. More than 30,000 troops had been deployed across the city in anticipation of unrest, and the elections commission office was barricaded with razor wire and protected by scores of security personnel. Elsewhere, hundreds took part in a peaceful rally over election cheating claims in Sumatra's Medan city, while a police station was torched in Pontianak on Borneo island. The protests in support of Subianto have sparked a backlash online from opponents with the hashtag #Tangkapprabowo (#ArrestPrabowo) trending widely on social media. Tensions have also spiked since police said last week that they had arrested dozens of Islamic State-linked terror suspects who had planned to cause chaos by bombing protests. By PTI COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday extended by a month the state of emergency imposed in the wake of the deadly Easter Sunday bombings that killed nearly 260 people. The president issued a special gazette notification extending the state of emergency by a month, citing "public security". The emergency law gives police and the military extensive powers to arrest, detain and interrogate suspects without court orders. Sri Lanka initially imposed the emergency on April 23 to crack down on the nine suicide bombers who attacked three churches and as many luxury hotels April 21, killing more than 258 people and injuring 500 others. The ISIS terror group claimed the attacks, but the government blamed the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) for the Ester Sunday bombings. Following the deadly blasts, anti-Muslim riots broke out in the north of the capital as a backlash against the attacks. The riots killed one person and caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and mosques. Sri Lanka faced condemnation for the communal violence which was a fresh backlash from the Easter Sunday attack. Police say they have arrested over 80 suspects in connection with the attack. By PTI BISHKEK: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi exchanged pleasantries during a SCO meeting here on Wednesday and sat next to each other during a joint call on on Kyrgyz president, amid strained ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Swaraj and Qureshi attended the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. ALSO READ| Lanka & Pulwama attacks have made India more determined in fighting terror: Swaraj to SCO Pakistani media reported that two leaders sat next to each other during a multilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. According to the photos published by the Pakistani media, Swaraj and Qureshi were seen seated next to each other. On being asked about the Swaraj-Qureshi meeting, the MEA sources said the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries. "There was no meeting between them," they said. The picture of the two leaders is from a joint call on on Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, they said. They said the Pakistani media report that the two leaders were seated next to each other at the SCO meeting is "factually incorrect and misleading". "The seating arrangement at SCO follows the Russian alphabet system which does not put India and Pakistan together. This is a standard practise at SCO meetings," they added. Swaraj arrived here in the Kyrgyz capital on Tuesday to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting. India was granted the membership of the SCO along with Pakistan in 2017. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Office quoted Qureshi as saying, "Today (I) met Sushma Ji.She had a complaint that we sometimes talk in a bitter manner.She brought sweets today so we could also speak sweetly." "We made it clear to her that we want all the matters resolved through dialogue, and that Prime Minister Imran Khan had said in his very first speech that if India takes one step forward, we would take two steps forward," Qureshi said. He said, "Even today we are ready for a dialogue". ALSO READ| 'Conflict resolution' must for peace in South Asia: Pakistan Foreign Minister at SCO meet Earlier in Islamabad prior to his departure, Qureshi said besides addressing the inaugural session of the regional forum, he would also hold meetings with his counterparts from other countries. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. By PTI BISHKEK: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a multilateral meeting here and discussed issues of bilateral interest, including the implementation of understanding reached during last year's Wuhan Summit. Swaraj arrived here on Tuesday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council (SCO) of Foreign Ministers here in the Kyrgyz capital. The April 27-28 Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping was largely credited to have turned around the bilateral relations soured by the 73-day-long Doklam standoff, triggered by Chinese troops attempts to build a road close to Indian border in an area also claimed by Bhutan in 2017. Continuing the momentum of high-level exchanges EAM @SushmaSwaraj met Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi on the sidelines of #SCO Foreign Minister's Meeting in Bishkek. Discussed issues of bilateral interest, including implementation of understanding reached during Wuhan Summit. pic.twitter.com/apfo2sEv9D Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 22, 2019 India had objected to it as it came close to a key highway connecting with North Eastern states. The standoff ended after Chinese troops halted plans to build the road. After the Wuhan summit, both the countries stepped up efforts to improve relations on different spheres including the military-to-military ties. Modi and Xi issued strategic guidance to their militaries to strengthen communications to build trust and understanding, a move aimed at avoiding a Doklam-like situation in the future. Meanwhile, state-run Chinese news agency Xinhua reported that Wang congratulated Swaraj for successful conclusion of the general elections in India and expressed hope that the new government would further the development of Sino-Indian relations. The 2019 general election in India was held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results will be declared on Thursday. Wang told Swaraj that China hopes that India will set up a new government on schedule, and that both sides achieve a smooth transition and further development of bilateral relations, the report said. The Chinese leader also expressed hoped to initiate bilateral dialogue mechanisms as soon as possible, maintain peace and stability at the border region, and together celebrate the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two nations in 2020. Wang also hoped that India and Pakistan would improve their relations, to which Swaraj said New Delhi is willing to improve bilateral relations with Islamabad and she hope that the two sides can make joint efforts to that end. Swaraj said the new government in India will continue to make the development of India-China ties a diplomacy priority and will further boost bilateral cooperation in all fields, the report said. External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj holds delegation level meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. pic.twitter.com/cX9G05ZMRa India is willing to work with China to implement the key consensuses reached by leaders of both countries, strengthen communication and coordination, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and jointly safeguard peace at the border region, so as to promote the development of bilateral relations, she said. By PTI LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday set out what she called a "new" Brexit deal, with safeguards and legal assurances on aspects of her controversial withdrawal agreement in the hope of getting cross-party backing for the bill when it returns to the House of Commons next month. In a major compromise to a demand from the Opposition benches, she promised to include the option of a parliamentary vote on holding a second referendum on her deal if it clears the Commons next month. "I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the House on this important issue. The government will, therefore, include in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at introduction a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum," she said in a speech in London on Tuesday. ALSO READ | Indian-origin candidates in Brexit clash for EU polls "This must take place before the Withdrawal Agreement can be ratified," she noted, even as she reiterated her continued opposition to holding another referendum. "If the House of Commons were to vote for a referendum, it would be requiring the government to make provisions for such a referendum. So to those MPs who want a second referendum to confirm the deal: you need a deal and therefore a Withdrawal Agreement Bill to make it happen," she added. In what she termed as a 'last chance' to deliver the result of the June 2016 referendum in favour of Brexit, the British PM made some further commitments on a temporary customs arrangements and caveats on the Irish backstop in an attempt to win over more MPs to vote in favour of her Brexit agreement, defeated three times by Parliament by falling margins. "Should the backstop come into force, the government will ensure that Great Britain will stay aligned with Northern Ireland. We will prohibit the proposal that a future government could split Northern Ireland off from the UK's customs territory," she said. Her speech also covered a set of additional votes for the Parliament to decide on whether to impose a temporary customs union with the EU until a more permanent solution is found, in an attempt to placate the Opposition Labour Party. Assurances on workers' rights and the environment were among some of her additional commitments to see the withdrawal bill through Parliament. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill, legislation required to bring the withdrawal agreement negotiated with the EU into British law, is set to come up for a fourth Commons vote in the week beginning June 3. May has already announced plans to set a timetable for her exit as British PM once the bill returns for its next major parliamentary clash next month. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 34F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers late. Low 34F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 40%. The goal of present developments in the Gulf is negotiations with Iran, but the threat of war has not disappeared from the horizon, reports Ahmed Mostafa in Dubai Omani Foreign Minister Yusuf bin Alawi visited the Iranian capital Tehran on Monday, two days after a telephone call between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and sultan Qaboos of Oman. The Omani minister met his Iranian counterpart and government officials, according to Irans official press agency IRNA, though it did not elaborate beyond saying that they had discussed bilateral relations and regional issues. Hours after the visit, US President Donald Trump tweeted that his country was not seeking negotiations with Iran and was still waiting for a call from Tehran asking to negotiate. Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse very sad for the Iranian people, Trumps tweet said. However, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his country would not negotiate under economic siege and military threats. I favour talks and diplomacy, but under current conditions, I do not accept it, as todays situation is not suitable for talks and our choice is resistance only, Rouhani said, the IRNA reported. Such statements indicate that an effort by Oman and others is underway to get the two sides in the escalating crisis in the Gulf to the negotiating table. Developments on the ground show that each party is trying to set out its positions prior to the anticipated negotiations. Just days after the telephone call between Pompeo and the sultan of Oman, Saudi air defences shot down a group of missiles over Taif and Jeddah in what seemed to be a brazen act of stubbornness by Iran. Though the missiles were from Yemen, they were provided by Iran and launched by its proxy Houthi militia. The fact that they were used to target Saudi Arabia is mounting proof of what the Coalition for the Support of Legitimacy in Yemen has been saying all along: that Iran is meddling in its neighbours affairs and arming militias to destabilise the Gulf countries. Many in the Gulf, especially in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, see the attack sabotaging commercial vessels in Emirati waters in the Gulf of Oman and the drone attack on a Saudi pipeline last week as deliberate acts carried out by Iran, even if they were executed by proxy militias in Yemen or elsewhere. The Arab Gulf countries have increased their marine patrols in the Gulf and other territorial waters to guard against any further possible attacks that could threaten vital trade routes and affect the safety of international maritime transport. Some commentators have expected the US, with its naval and other military build-up in the region, to respond to the Iranian-backed attacks. Yet, it seems that all the parties are practising restraint for now. Official statements from all the parties say that none of them wants war, but all are prepared to defend themselves. As the US has the final call, the Iranians will understand that there are limits to US restraint. US President Donald Trump used Twitter to tell Tehran that threatening America would mean finishing Iran last week. If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again, he said in a tweet. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif replied to Trumps tweet by saying that the US sanctions would not end Iran and asking America to try respect rather than threats. Despite the heightened tensions in the region, many Gulf and Western analysts agree that the ultimate goal is negotiations. Pompeos call to Sultan Qaboos of Oman was seen as an overture to open the door to negotiations. The official US state department announcement of the contact said that the secretary and the sultan also discussed Iranian threats to the Gulf region more broadly. However, as Muscat was the venue of the secret Iranian-American negotiations that led to the nuclear deal with the West in 2015 (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPA), from which the US withdrew last year, there is now speculation that Oman might be mediating between Washington and Tehran. Yet, the Houthi missiles on Sunday may have poured cold water on that assumption. There have also been rumours that Qatar might be trying to play a mediation role, but as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain are still boycotting Qatar, there is little likelihood that Doha will be a negotiation venue. The Iranians seem to be in favour of a venue like Iraq, but the Americans are reluctant, noting the huge Iranian influence in the country. As one Gulf analyst put it, the negotiating table is ready, no matter where, but its up to Iran to abandon its aggressive approach and sit down at the table to avoid a catastrophic war. One Western source in Beirut hinted that a back-channel between the Americans and the Iranians had been active for some time, even before the latest escalation after the American decision to reduce Iranian oil exports to zero by cancelling sanctions waivers granted to countries importing Iranian oil like China, India and Turkey. The talks are not restricted to the Iranian nuclear programme or Irans missile development but will also likely cover issues including curbing Iranian proxy militias like Hashd in Iraq, Hizbullah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Israel also has concerns about the Iranian military presence in Syria. Though negotiations are the aim, the rising tension threatens the possibility of a war by mistake, as some European officials warned recently. But the US and its Gulf allies can easily hold out against any Iranian provocations, waiting for the latest sanctions to bite into Iranian arrogance and force Tehran to come to its senses, as the analyst put it. Over the last couple of weeks, Iran has tried to persuade oil-importers in Asia to avoid the sanctions, but with no success so far. Many are expecting Iranian oil production to go down to half a million barrels per day (bpd) from its April level of 2.6 million bpd. In 2017, Iranian oil production stood at more than 3.5 million bpd. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 May, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Hope for negotiations in the Gulf Search Keywords: Short link: Secretary for the Environment KS Wong will depart for a duty visit to Singapore tomorrow to exchange views with officials and visit renewable energy and waste treatment facilities there. He will have a bilateral meeting with Minister for the Environment & Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli on May 22. Mr Wong will also attend a signing ceremony for the memorandum of understanding between the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore and the Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on professional staff development. He will meet officials from the Ministry of the Environment & Water Resources, the NEA, the Land Transport Authority and the Government Technology Agency. On May 23, Mr Wong will tour Tengeh Reservoir and the School of Design & Environment at the National University of Singapore. He will also pay a visit to Semakau Landfill and Marina Barrage. He will have dinner with young Hong Kong people studying and working in Singapore. On May 24, Mr Wong will call on the Building & Construction Authority, the Housing & Development Board, as well as the Ministry of National Development. Mr Yau discusses the opportunities Hong Kong offers to UK businesses in exploring the Mainland and Asian markets at a seminar on creative industries and design. Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau (left) meets the UKs Minister of State for Asia & the Pacific at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Mark Field in London. Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau visited London to explore opportunities for further co-operation in trade and creative industries between Hong Kong and the UK. Mr Yau met the UKs Secretary of State for International Trade Dr Liam Fox and Minister of State for Asia & the Pacific at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office Mark Field to discuss global and bilateral trade issues. Noting economic relations, trade and investment between Hong Kong and the UK have gone from strength to strength, Mr Yau expressed the hope that both sides can continue enhancing trade and economic co-operation. Mr Yau also visited two UK-based international think tanks. He first met Chatham House Director Robin Niblett to discuss global economic developments and how UK enterprises can tap into the Mainland market through the Mainland & Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement. Mr Yau then called on Legatum Institute Chief Executive Officer Philippa Stroud. He was delighted to learn that Hong Kong had topped the Global Index of Economic Openness 2019 recently released by the institute. The commerce chief said it underlined the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Governments steadfast commitment in upholding free market principles. During a lunch with the Committee of the Hong Kong Association, Mr Yau shared his insights with local business leaders on the latest trade and economic situation in Hong Kong, and the opportunities available for Hong Kong in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Belt & Road Initiative. Speaking at a seminar on creative industries and design jointly organised by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office, London and Invest Hong Kong, Mr Yau talked about Hong Kongs efforts in spurring the development of creative industries. He emphasised the opportunities Hong Kong offers to UK businesses in exploring the Mainland and Asian markets, as well as the eagerness of Hong Kongs creative industries to embark on more collaborations with their UK counterparts. Before the seminar, Mr Yau met the UKs Minister of State for Digital & the Creative Industries Margot James to exchange views on how to drive closer collaboration between the two places in creative industries. Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau (third left) delivers remarks at a roundtable discussion at the Asia House in London. Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau today continued his visit to London by attending a roundtable discussion at the Asia House. He encouraged British enterprises to leverage on Hong Kong's unique advantages to tap into the opportunities brought about by the Belt & Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development. At a breakfast meeting with members of the All Party Parliamentary China Group of the UK Parliament, Mr Yau updated the parliament members on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's efforts in forging free trade agreements with like-minded economies. He also noted Hong Kong has been blessed with a number of Mainland policies and arrangements, like the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement, citing that a British telecom company was granted domestic telecom licences in China through the arrangement early this year. Before concluding his visit to London, Mr Yau paid a courtesy call on Acting Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom Chen Wen. He will next attend the Ministerial Council Meeting of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development and the World Trade Organization Informal Ministerial Gathering to be held in Paris from May 22 to 23. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Corruption was once part of the everyday lives of the people of Hong Kong. Bribery and extortion were rife. To quote from the Independent Commission Against Corruptions (ICAC) own history: "Ambulance crews would demand tea money before picking up a sick person. Offering bribes to the right officials was also necessary when applying for public housing, schooling and other public services. Corrupt police officers offered protection to vice, gambling and drug activities. Corruption had become a major social problem in Hong Kong, but the Government at the time seemed powerless to deal with it." But that was history. In response, the ICAC was born. From its beginnings, in February 1974, it made a difference, and a very significant one. Over the years, it has brought about a profound transformation in our day-to-day lives. The commission has wiped out systemic and syndicated corruption in the civil service and reduced overall corruption to minimal levels in business and the larger community. No less laudatory, its anti-corruption standards and best practices for business organisations are commended and applied worldwide. International recognition Today, Hong Kong boasts a vibrant international economy underpinned by the rule of law and free enterprise. Indeed, Hong Kong has been ranked the freest economy in the world for the past 25 years in a row by the Washington-based Heritage Foundation. In Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, Hong Kong is consistently ranked among the cleanest economies in the world. In the 2018 Index, Hong Kong placed 14th out of 180 countries and territories, alongside Austria and Iceland, and ahead of such countries as Belgium, Ireland, Japan, France and the US. In the latest Rule of Law Index, published in February by the World Justice Project, Hong Kong was ranked 16th among 126 countries and territories for its overall rule of law performance. We placed ninth, overall, in the absence of corruption category. All these rankings show that we've come an extraordinarily long distance - from a hotbed of vice to one of the world's least-corrupt societies. There are clear and compelling reasons behind this sweeping change. First, since its establishment, the ICAC has operated with an independent status ensured, initially through the colonial government, and since 1997, by the Basic Law. And, from the beginning, the ICAC adopted an anti-graft strategy combining law enforcement, corruption prevention and public education. That strategy, I'm pleased to say, is time tested and remains effective to this day. These efforts, however, would have been futile without our unwavering adherence to the rule of law, the defining ideology of Hong Kong, and a formidable system of checks and balances. They include an independent judiciary, independent advisory committees monitoring the ICAC's work and a free and enterprising press. Public education No less vital, the people of Hong Kong have, from the beginning, spoken out against corruption. Today, they treasure the core values of honesty and wholeheartedly support Hong Kong's anti-corruption efforts. In that regard, I believe that the ICAC's wide-ranging public education initiatives make a significant difference. It begins with our civil service, which is 190,000-strong. The ICAC's Ethical Leadership Programme brings together more than 150 Ethics Officers from all government departments and bureaus. Through regular integrity training, the commission reached over 32,000 government officers at all levels last year. Then there's the Business Ethics Development Centre, established in 1995 under the ICAC's Community Relations Department. It works with 10 local chambers of commerce. Last year, the commission's preventive education programmes reached some 44,000 employees at every level. The ICAC also develops education programmes for our youth and at every stage, from kindergarten right through to university. Such online platforms as Instagram, YouTube and Facebook have been used to promote anti-graft messages. Last year, the commission launched a multi-language publicity programme to communicate our probity culture to ethnic minorities and new arrivals in Hong Kong. There's a great deal more to the ICAC's public education programme. But to take just one additional example, the commission produces TV drama series based on completed cases. These are used to educate the public about corruption and enlist their support in preventing it. The latest drama series was broadcast from April into this month and I have heard positive comments about it. The ICAC's annual household survey conducted by independent polling institutions consistently finds that the Hong Kong public is highly intolerant of corruption. In last year's survey, on a scale of zero to 10, with zero representing total rejection and 10 total tolerance of corruption, the mean score came in at 0.5. In addition, 98.4% of the respondents said they had not personally come across corruption in the past 12 months. That makes a powerful statement about the lack of corruption in Hong Kong. Overseas rapport With our success, the ICAC is prepared to share its experience with its counterparts. In fact, from its early days, the ICAC has attached great importance to establishing and maintaining rapport with overseas anti-corruption and law-enforcement agencies. The accession of Mainland China to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in 2006 opened up new communications opportunities for the ICAC. Under the convention, the Mainland has designated the ICAC as the agency in Hong Kong to assist other state parties in building anti-corruption capacity. Since 2017, the ICAC has stepped up its efforts in anti-corruption training for Belt & Road countries, particularly the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations within the United Nations Convention. That's what I refer to as capacity building, and we've made it one of Hong Kong's contributions to the Belt & Road's people-to-people connectivity. Indeed, the ICAC has initiated communication already with more than 40 Belt & Road countries. To date, it has provided four tailor-made training programmes for more than 100 participants - from Cambodia, Myanmar, Bangladesh and Vietnam. Similar training arrangements for the anti-corruption agencies of Bhutan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Serbia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste are in the pipeline. In addition, over the past two years, the ICAC has presented a Chief Investigators' Command Course to some 60 participants. They came from 12 overseas countries, many also along the Belt & Road, and from the Mainland, Macau and Hong Kong. Corruption remains a global issue today and is affecting all countries, rich and poor, north and south. The World Economic Forum estimates that the global cost of corruption is at least US$2.6 trillion. That's 5% of the world's gross domestic product. And the World Bank tells us that businesses and individuals pay more than US$1 trillion in bribes each and every year. In the words of the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, corruption robs societies of schools, hospitals and other vital services, drives away foreign investment and strips nations of their natural resources. The global efforts in fighting corruption must therefore continue. This symposium is an excellent opportunity for the ICAC and other anti-corruption agencies all over the world to exchange experience, ideas and initiatives, and will help enhance the effectiveness of this global fight against corruption. Chief Executive Carrie Lam gave these remarks at the opening ceremony of the 7th ICAC Symposium on May 22. An Italian held hostage since being kidnapped in 2016 on the Turkey-Syria border has been released, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said Wednesday. "Our fellow countryman Alessandro Sandrini has been liberated following coordinated action in overseas territory," Conte said in a brief statement. Italian press reports cited Sandrini's father as saying he was released in Syria. Search Keywords: Short link: Government has set aside at least 500 hectares of land in each province to support income-generating projects for former freedom fighters. The move is part of President Mnangagwas unwavering support for the liberation war veterans across the country. Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has since written letters to Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs across the country instructing them to identify 500ha farms to be used for war veterans income-generating projects whose proceeds would be channeled into a revolving fund meant to cater for their welfare. Addressing a Mashonaland West provincial war veterans meeting in Karoi recently, Provincial Affairs Minister Mary Mliswa-Chikoka confirmed receiving the instruction. A letter came to my office that each province should identify and allocate war veterans a farm measuring more than 500 hectares, even the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association provincial chairperson Cde Cornelius Muoni is aware of the development. The farm will be used for income generating projects to cater for their welfare, so l am currently looking for a suitable place of 500 hectares in the province for the war veterans, she said. Minister Mliswa-Chikoka, however, challenged the liberation fighters to play a leading role in reviving the countrys economy. War veterans have a spirit of fighting, but now we are living in the phase of economic war. Its no longer that of guns that one can be won easily as everyone will just be given a gun and start firing, but the economic war is hard because it communicates directly through the stomach. President Mnangagwa is striving day and night to resuscitate the economy, but there are detractors frustrating his efforts. Let us be wary of these people in our societies. War veterans are our mouthpiece and spokesmen but they are sometimes humiliated, but they have remained resolute something which we applaud them for, but the economic fight calls for unity, she said. Minister Mliswa-Chikoka said there was also need to address issues around the relationship between the war veterans and Government so that they pull together. Meanwhile, Cde Muoni reiterated the war veterans support for President Mnangagwa adding that they will continue fostering good working relationships with the Zanu-PF-led Government. SEKE MP Munyaradzi Tobias Kashambe (Zanu PF) yesterday caused a storm in Parliament after he suggested that residents who cannot afford to pay for tap water should relocate to rural areas where the resource is obtained free of charge. The MP said this when Water Alliance leader Hardlife Mudzingwa appeared before the Justice Mayor Wadyajena-led Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands and Agriculture, where they advocated for revamp of the Water Act (Ahapter 20:24). The civic society organisation (CSO) wants the Act, which is administered by the Lands ministry, to have a clause that ensures there are no arbitrary water cuts to poor citizens and pensioners who cannot afford services. Kashambe then quipped: Those that cannot afford water, be it because of economic or social factors must know that there are places in this country where those people can stay instead of staying in cities. They can stay in rural areas, where water is free, so that they do not inconvenience those that will be sent to disconnect the water. His statement attracted murmurs of disappointment from the CSOs present during the oral evidence. Wadyajena also said water was a basic right for everyone enshrined in the Constitution. Mudzingwa requested Parliament to summon the City of Harare and the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe to explain how water chemical tenders are awarded. He said the tender was currently held by an expensive company which charges US$4 million per month to produce 600 megaliters of water per day, while another comparative company with modern technology offered US$2,5 million per month. Harare city is currently using nine to 12 chemicals to treat water because the city is built upstream of its water source and, therefore, all the pollution that happens find its way to Lake Chivero, which the International Lake Environment Committee said is heavily polluted, Mudzingwa said. The current suppliers of chemicals to Harare require US$4 million per month to produce 600 megaliters per day and these are huge costs for the City of Harare for the chemicals required and Parliament should look at how these tenders are awarded. The Lands and Agriculture Committee said the Water Alliance must provide proof of payment of the $4 million monthly payments. Water Alliance said the Water Bill also called for transparency and accountability on water loans signed to by government such as the $144 million water loan from China. Newsday We were in some partnership with Maburutse but now he is refusing to give me my money. On the issue of the clothes and underwear, I tried to give them back to him saying some of them were missing and will only take them once I released them all, Shumba told the court. Police said the suspects are expected to appear in court soon. Some of the injured were hospitalised but the rest managed to flee. We hope those that were arrested will help police locate the rest. We are considering investing in new technologies to keep our area safe. We are engaging other security stakeholders on how best we can ensure that the premises and the mining products are also safe in line with global practices, said Mr Chagonda. Zimbabwe has enough foreign currency for businesses to meet their foreign payments if the interbank starts operating efficiently, Secretary for Finance and Economic Development Mr George Guvamatanga has said. He said Zimbabwe was generating over US$1,2 billion per year in export proceeds, which should be enough to oil the operations companies if taken to the interbank market. Mr Guvamatanga said this on Tuesday night during a ZBCTV programme, Face The Nation. Once we get the interbank operate efficiently, there is enough foreign currency for everyone. The only problem is that at the moment it (forex) has been inefficiently allocated, said Mr Guvamatanga. As long as it is efficiently allocated, we have more than enough foreign currency. If you look at our total export receipts and compare them to our nearby countries and other countries in Africa which I will not mention, we actually have twice or three times the export proceeds compared to them and they do not have the same challenge we are facing. Mr Guvamatanga said citizens insatiable appetite for imports was draining forex. It has also been observed that exporters and some individuals are holding onto their money in nostro and offshore accounts without liquidating it for unclear reasons. Mr Guvamatanga said as of Friday last week, the country had US$800 million in nostro FCAs while US$700 million was due to be received in export receipts, making the country liquid. The challenge has been around having those funds available on the interbank market, which are the issues addressed by the Governor (of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, Dr John Mangudya) yesterday (on Monday) and we now expect that the Governor will be able to complement. It is not the responsibility of the Government or the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe to provide the market with foreign currency; it is industry, the miners, tobacco merchants. Those are the ones who have got access to foreign currency and are the ones that should bring foreign currency into the country, said Mr Guvamatanga. He said there was absolutely nothing structurally wrong with the economy, with an analysis he did showing that over the past 10 years, US$1,2 billion was generated per year. However, the receipts have not been brought in and exporters have been sitting on the money in their FCAs outside the country, said Mr Guvamatanga. Exporters are allowed by law to hold on to forex for 90 days. But if all that money had come through as we had expected, then at least US$1 billion would have come onto the market. If that billion had come in, we would have been able to pay for fuel, electricity, (and) cooking oil. But for one reason or the other, that money has not come in. That is why we have not been able to pay as we would have ordinarily been able to do under normal circumstances. Mr Guvamatanga criticised businesses that were pegging their on the parallel market forex rate, saying there was no justification for that. Mr Guvamatanga said while the parallel market was unavoidable, even in advanced economies, it did not determine what happens on the official market as is the case in Zimbabwe where the black market determines the direction of a $70 billion economy. to 5. That is what we are addressing now. There is no normal market that moves in a few hours, from 4 to 8 and at the weekend without trade (and) moves backto 5. It is actually a clear reflection that we cannot base our prices on that market, said Mr Guvamatanga. Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Cloudy with snow showers becoming a steady accumulating snow later on. Low 9F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Cloudy with snow showers becoming a steady accumulating snow later on. Low 9F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected. Libyan National Army Commander Khalifa Haftar, who is leading a military offensive against the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, rejected a ceasefire requested by French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Paris, an Elysee official said Wednesday. Hafter said the conditions for halting hostilities "were not met," while acknowledging that a "political dialogue" is needed to end the standoff with his rival, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, the official said on condition of anonymity. "But the mistrust between the two Libyans is stronger than ever," the official said, acknowledging "an impasse between the international community's desire for a ceasefire, and marshal Haftar's way of seeing things." He added that Haftar had justified the offensive he launched against Tripoli last month by saying he was fighting against "private militias and extremist groups" who are gaining influence in the capital. Haftar did not make a statement after meeting with Macron for over an hour, a visit that follows Haftar's surprise trip to Rome last week for talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Both Macron and Conte had already met recently with Sarraj, who has accused Paris of supporting Haftar and tacitly backing his assault on Tripoli, claims denied by French officials. After the talks with Haftar, Macron's office said the president reiterated France's priorities in Libya: "Fight against terrorist groups, dismantle trafficking networks, especially those for illegal immigration, and permanently stabilise Libya." France and Italy are the two lead European powers seeking to find a solution to years of instability, spreading Islamic extremism and a migrant crisis in Libya which fell into chaos after the NATO-backed toppling of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The UN envoy for Libya warned Tuesday the battle for Tripoli was "just the start of a long and bloody war" and called for immediate steps to cut off arms flows fuelling the fighting. Addressing the Security Council in New York, Ghassan Salame said "many countries" were supplying weapons to the UN-recognised government in Tripoli and to forces led by Khalifa Haftar. Haftar's forces initially moved fast against Sarraj's Government of National Accord (GNA) after launching his assault on April 4. But they were stopped outside the capital by a GNA counterattack, with neither side making progress even as fighting flared this week. The weeks of fighting have killed 510 people and wounded 2,467, according to the latest toll from the World Health Organization. More than 75,000 people have fled their homes, according to the United Nations, while 100,000 are trapped by the conflict. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. Foreign Minister Taro Kono said Tuesday he plans to ask overseas media outlets to write Japanese names with the family name first, as is customary in the Japanese language. As an example, Kono said that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's name should be written as "Abe Shinzo," in line with other Asian leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae In. Japanese names are usually written with the given name coming first when using a foreign language such as English, a practice that began in the 19th to early 20th centuries amid the growing influence of Western culture. Now is the right time to make the change, Kono told a press conference, given that the new Reiwa era has just begun and several major events including next month's Group of 20 summit and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are approaching. - Kyodo British Prime Minister Theresa May's final bid to salvage her EU divorce deal appeared doomed on Wednesday as pro-Brexit Conservatives and opposition MPs rejected her attempts at a compromise to end months of deadlock. The beleaguered leader is set to face a torrid session at Prime Minister's Questions in parliament on the eve of European elections that Britain had not even expected to take part in three years after the Brexit referendum. The poll could see the vote of the two main parties decimated. May vowed Tuesday to give lawmakers a vote on holding a public referendum on Brexit if they approve her unpopular withdrawal agreement in a series of votes starting in early June. She also dangled a package of other sweeteners to the deal aimed at opposition Labour MPs, in a bid to break trenchant opposition which has seen parliament reject her plan three times this year. May has said she will leave office shortly after the measures she outlined are voted on -- no matter the outcome. "I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the house on this important issue," May said. However, MPs from across the political spectrum reacted furiously to the prime minister's latest offer, with Conservative Brexiteers crying betrayal and Labour lawmakers saying she had not compromised enough. In a sign of the scale of the backlash, Environment Secretary Michael Gove hinted that the vote in the week of June 3 may not go ahead after all. "We will reflect over the course of the next few days on how people look at the proposition," he told BBC radio. A question of democracy May's offer comes as Britain votes in EU elections Thursday with the two main parties trailing behind the Brexit Party and the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, according to polls. The latest YouGov survey showed eurosceptic populist Nigel Farage's new Brexit Party claiming 37 percent of votes, with Labour in third on 19 percent and the Tories lagging in fifth place with just seven percent. "If we win big on Thursday, we will kill off any prospect of parliament forcing a second referendum upon us because they know they would lose!" Farage told supporters at a final rally Tuesday. Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable, whose party is set to come second in the polls, told a party gathering on Tuesday that a vote for his party was "a vote to stop Brexit". The pro-EU party's outright rejection of Brexit appears to be resonating with Remain voters who would normally back Labour or the Conservatives. Last chance May pitched her "new Brexit deal" as MPs' "last chance" to end political gridlock that has already delayed Britain's departure from the bloc past its original March deadline and prompted public anger. The government is aiming for the law to be approved by the time parliament's summer recess begins on July 20, which would let the country leave at the end of that month -- as long as lawmakers reject a second referendum. Otherwise the process could be delayed until October 31 -- the deadline set by the EU -- or even later if its leaders grant Britain another postponement. May on Tuesday set out a series of incentives for MPs to vote for her deal. Some were in line with demands from Labour, but fell short of their full demands put forward during weeks of cross-party talks which ended in deadlock last week. "The prime minister needs to today accept that what she announced yesterday is not going to work and pull the vote," the party's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said Wednesday. Must do better May's proposals threaten to further repel eurosceptics in her own Conservative Party. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, the favourite to replace her as leader, said on Twitter he would not support the new package, having backed it last time it was put to parliament. "We can and must do better -- and deliver what the people voted for," he said, rejecting the idea of any customs union or second referendum. Analysts and British newspapers gave May little-to-no chance of winning on this occasion, with the eurosceptic Daily Telegraph calling her move: "Desperate, deluded, doomed." Search Keywords: Short link: The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, last weekend commissioned the Hakeem Dickson road in Lekki, named after the convicted fugi... The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, last weekend commissioned the Hakeem Dickson road in Lekki, named after the convicted fugitive boss of the Lagos State Safety Commission. Mr Ambode was represented at the official unveiling of the Bisola Durosinmi-Etti/Hakeem Dickson road by the commissioner for works and infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya. Others present at the event were Muslim Folami, the commissioner for local government and community affairs; Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the head of service; Hakeem Sulaimon, special adviser to the governor on community and communications, and Ajibade Bade-Adebowale, the permanent secretary, ministry of energy and mineral resources, among others. PremiumTimes reports that since 2016, the Lagos State Government had repeatedly ignored requests for comments as to whether it was aware of Mr Dicksons criminal history. Again, on Monday, Kehinde Bamigbetan, the commissioner for information, and Habib Aruna, Mr Ambodes chief press secretary, did not respond to phone calls and text message requests for comments. Mr Ambode swore Mr Dickson into office as the director-general of the Lagos State Safety Commission in June 2017, eight months after he announced his appointment. Mr Dickson, a former chairman of Surulere local government, had earlier incurred the angst of the Lagos State House of Assembly after he immediately resumed office, after the announcement of his appointment, without first appearing before the lawmakers for screening. His appointment by the governor and subsequent confirmation by the House of Assembly occurred despite evidence that he is a fugitive convicted of fraud in the United States in 1992. Tunde Braimoh, a spokesperson for the Lagos lawmakers, told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that they did not receive any petition or information about Mr Dicksons criminal past during his screening. Mr Dickson, a former internal auditor at the now-defunct Nigeria Airways, was sworn into office despite fleeing a 24-month jail term in the U.S. after being convicted for credit card fraud. According to Judge Dickinson Debevoise of a U.S. District Court, Mr Dickson had not served the sentence handed to him since June 1992. For 20 years, Defendant (Mr Dickson) successfully evaded all United States government efforts to locate and arrest him, the judge said. Convicted for fraud On June 14, 1991, Mr Dickson, also a U.S. citizen, was arrested on a complaint of bank and credit card fraud. Four months later, he pleaded guilty to Count One of a four-count indictment which charged that from August 29, 1990, to September 10, 1990, he knowingly and willfully executed and attempted to execute a scheme to defraud a federally insured institution in violation of U.S. laws. On June 25, 1992, Mr Dickson was sentenced to a 24-month jail term, to be followed by a term of supervised release of three years. He was also ordered to repay $14,400. The judge fixed August 3, 1992, for his voluntary surrender, despite opposition from the U.S. government, the plaintiff in the suit. The government had urged at sentencing that Defendant be remanded forthwith or at least surrender to the Bureau of Prisons no later than the following Monday, June 29, 1992, the judge said. The court noted that while on bail, Defendant returned on three occasions after being given permission to leave the country. The court also took account of Defendants wish to spend more time with his one-year-old son, who suffered severe medical problems. Thus the August 3, 1992, surrender date. But on August 3, 1992, Mr Dickson was nowhere to be found in the U.S., forcing the judge to revoke his bail and issue a warrant for his arrest. About 20 years later, on January 27, 2012, Mr Dickson, filed a motion seeking to adjust his sentence of 24 months incarceration in the U.S. by claiming that he had already served 17 months on the same sentence in a Lagos prison. In his motion, Mr Dickson claimed that a series of events after his sentencing, preceded by violent clashes between Muslims and Christians in Lagos, forced him to disobey the August 3 surrender date. During these clashes, two of Defendants sisters were killed and the family home was burned to the ground, the judge quoted Mr Dickson as claiming, in his judgment dated May 12, 2012. Following his sentencing Defendant returned to Lagos to bury his sisters, assess the damage to his fathers house and to take his mother for treatment. When Defendant arrived in Lagos, he was arrested at the airport and was told that since he was convicted in the United States he would also serve time in Nigeria. He was retained in custody until December 10, 1993, a total of 17 months. Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, says any governor that promises to tackle insecurity is lying. The governors statement c... Darius Ishaku, governor of Taraba state, says any governor that promises to tackle insecurity is lying. The governors statement comes a few days after he banned the use of polythene and plastic bags in the state to boost clean environment. Ishaku said this while fielding questions from journalists after he flagged off the distribution of fertilizers, seedlings, and agrochemicals to farmers for the 2019 farming season, in Jalingo, on Wednesday. The governor reiterated the need for the establishment of state police in the country to curb the growing challenge of insecurity. He also called on the residents of the state to keep praying to God for peace to reign in the state, adding that he cannot do anything about the security challenges bedeviling the state. If any governor tells you that he will do anything about insecurity, such a governor is lying, he said. As governors, we dont have control over the police or army and virtually there is nothing we can do over security. We have been calling for the establishment of state police, but nobody seems to consider our position. The constitution did not place the security architecture of the country in the hands of governors. I am praying myself for peace and I have also asked the people of the state to pray for peace in the state. On his agenda for the next four years, Ishaku said he will consolidate on his achievements and boost the economy of the state through agriculture. We have experimented rice farming in Karim Lamido and the result is wonderful, we are now extending it to the River Donga and River Taraba plains in the southern and central parts of the state, he said. We have procured tractors for large scale and middle scale farmers as well as rice milling machines so that our rice can be processed locally, thereby stopping companies from exploiting our farmers. The state has continued to witness cases of kidnappings, armed robbery attacks as well as communal and religious crises. An FCT High Court, Apo on Wednesday fixed Oct. 3, for the arraignment of Deziani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum on five c... An FCT High Court, Apo on Wednesday fixed Oct. 3, for the arraignment of Deziani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum on five counts bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications. The court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission leave to arraign Alison-Madueke, former Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, Olajide Omokore, on five counts on Feb. 25. The date was fixed following the absence of Justice Valentine Ashi, trial judge who was on another official engagement. Mr Faruk Abdullahi, Counsel to the EFCC had told the court on Feb. 25, that the arraignment would not hold as Alison-Madueke and her co-accused were not in court. Abdullahi explained that the EFCC had forwarded a request to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for onward commencement of Alison-Maduekes repatriation process from the United Kingdom. He said the absence of the second defendant, (Omokore) was linked to the commissions inability to serve him with the courts processes. The prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court for further adjournment to enable the team tidy up its house. Mr Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, Counsel to Omokore said his client was prepared to stand trial but that the right process to commence the trial must be adhered to. Alison-Madueke and Omokore, are billed to be arraigned on five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal acts of accepting and giving bribe. EFCC averred that the accused persons had conspired at different levels to commit the fraud. The anti-graft body further alleged that the ex-minister accepted gift of properties described as penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana Island, Lagos. The EFCC said the alleged offence, contravened the provisions of Sections 26(1) and 17 of the EFCC Act, 2000. On Dec. 5, 2018, Justice Ashi ordered the police, EFCC, Department of State Services (DSS), and others to produce Diezani in court within 72 hours. Ashi gave the order, following an ex parte motion made before the court by the counsel to the anti-graft agency. The suspects are also to be arraigned for allegedly accepting and giving gifts of properties described as penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana Island, Lagos. The EFCC revealed that the alleged offence contravened the provisions of sections 26(1) and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. The house of representatives has rejected a bill seeking to reform the Nigeria police force. The bill was rejected during plenary ... The house of representatives has rejected a bill seeking to reform the Nigeria police force. The bill was rejected during plenary on Wednesday, about a month after being passed by the senate. The bill, which seeks to repeal the Police Act of 2004, would provide for the framework for the police service as well as ensure partnership between the police and communities. Some of its provisions include: Establishment of a police fund; a fine of N100,000 or six months imprisonment for anyone who assaults a police officer, obstructs or resists a police officer; fine of N20,000 or three months imprisonment for officers caught taking liquor or intoxicating substance while on duty; establishment of community police forum. The lawmakers specifically argued that some of the provisions are inconsistent with the 1999 constitution. Abubakar lawal, chairman, house committee on police affairs, said while the changes to the police act are long overdue, the bill is inconsistent with the constitution. Unless we amend the constitution, we can not implement the bill. The bill also proposed the reduction of the number of DIGs, are we moving forward or backward? The bill is also referring to the Police as police force which is against the constitution, he said. Lasun Yusuf, deputy speaker, agreed with him, saying the bill will further complicate things. Most of the provisions of this bill are against the constitution. This bill is complicating matters. How can we talk about consultation with the governor when the commissioners of police are not answerable to the governors, he said. Tobi Okechukwu from Enugu state said the major reform needed in the Nigeria force is the establishment of state police. According to him, the present structure is defective. The governors have all agreed that there is a need for state police. Judging by the crime rate, we need to consider the structure of the police. When you take an anambra man to Borno, it will take him time to adjust. Mohammed Monguno from Borno state, however, argued in favour of the bill. He said it will bring the standard operating procedure of police up to the level of international best practices. It was subsequently voted against when put to vote by Yakubu Dogara, the speaker. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has concluded arrangements for the presentation of awards to five tertiary ... The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has concluded arrangements for the presentation of awards to five tertiary institutions at its maiden edition of the 2018 National Tertiary Admissions Performance Merit Award (NATAP-M). The boards Head, Media, and Information, Dr Fabian Benjamin, made the disclosure to the newsmen on Wednesday in Lagos. According to Benjamin, the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, would be doing the presentation on Thursday in Abuja. The JAMBs spokesman noted that the award was in recognition of the institutions compliance to admission guidelines. We want to honour these institutions for doing what is expected of them in the past years, in terms of admission performance. Again, we looked at the most subscribed, the number of foreigners admitted, gender balancing and national spread. You know some tertiary institutions will like to localise their admission by narrowing it down to candidates from their locality, Benjamin said. All such practice does not give our institutions the deserved exposure and competition as obtained in institutions in other climes. This is also partly the reason such institutions cannot attract foreign scholars. It is also the reason why most of them find it difficult to breakthrough in terms of global ranking, aside research and other considerations. We want to encourage our institutions to be having global out look and we believe that with this kind of awards, things will change for good. He said that expected at the award ceremonies were Pro Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors of Universities, as well as Provosts of Colleges of Education and Rectors of Polytechnics. The trial of a former director in the Police Pension Office, Esai Dangabar and others over alleged N14 billion Pension Fraud, continue... The trial of a former director in the Police Pension Office, Esai Dangabar and others over alleged N14 billion Pension Fraud, continued on Tuesday before Justice Hussen Baba Yusuf of the Federal High Court, sitting in Maitama, Abuja with a prosecution witness, a former staff of Standard Chartered Bank, Mustapha Gadanya testifying on second defendants asset declaration. Gadanya affirmed in his testimony that Veronica Onyegbula, who is standing trial in the alleged N14billion fraud as the second defendant, declared her assets as required by law on February 14, 2012 and didnt own millions of naira nor properties. Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, Gadanya said Onyegbula only had N300,000 at hand on joining the Police Pension Office. No amount of money held on her behalf by trustee, membership, directorship, ownership, shareholding or related interest in a company incorporated in Nigeria and outside Nigeria, Gadanya said. The witness also said that the second defendant had no other property except a plot of land in Umuahia, Abia State before joining the civil service. The defence counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) pleaded with the court to conduct the trial in absentia for Dangabar, his client due to his health, which was objected to by Jacobs. The prosecution counsel argued that it was unconstitutional to proceed with a trial in the absence of the defendant, suggesting rather an adjournment. The Federal Government has called on the United States to assist the country in tackling unemployment by upgrading the skill acquisit... The Federal Government has called on the United States to assist the country in tackling unemployment by upgrading the skill acquisition centres already established in various parts of the country. A statement from the Ministry of Labour and Employment by Assistant Director Press, Rhoda Ilya, said the call was made when the Permanent Secretary, William Alo, received a delegation from the US Department of Labour on behalf of the minister, Dr Chris Ngige. He said highlighted the need for Nigeria to increase its intervention in reducing unemployment. He said, Assistance from the US to upgrade the skill acquisition centres in the country will be of immense benefit to Nigeria as it will enhance job creation. Crimes such as child labour, forced labour and other ills are the fallout of unemployment. Repositioning of the skills acquisition centres in the country will create more employment opportunities for the unemployed youths and others. The next NATO summit will be held in London in December, marking the alliance's 70th anniversary, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday. "The next Summit of Allied leaders will take place on 3-4 December 2019 in London... I look forward to a successful summit," he said. Stoltenberg said the had discussed preparations for the summit of heads of state and government with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a visit to London last week. The December summit will be a chance to "address current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead," Stoltenberg said in a statement. He added that London was a fitting venue to mark 70 years of transatlantic military cooperation as it was home to the alliance's first headquarters after the United Kingdom become one of NATO's 12 founding members in 1949. Nowadays the there are 29 member states and the headquarters is in Brussels. "London was the home of our first headquarters, so it is a fitting venue for NATO heads of state and government to plan the Alliance's future," said Stoltenberg. - Delicate time for NATO - The 70th anniversary comes at a delicate time for NATO. Tensions with Russia are at a high not seen since the Cold War. There are also concerns about US President Donald Trump's commitment to the alliance and his willingness to honour its mutual self-defence pact. Trump has been unstinting in his criticism of NATO's European members, accusing them of freeloading on the protection offered by the US military while not spending enough on their own armed forces. Before taking office Trump called NATO "obsolete". There had been talk of holding the leaders' meeting in Washington -- where NATO's founding treaty was signed -- but, amid fears of a new transatlantic bust-up, foreign ministers will gather in the US capital in April instead. NATO summits normally conclude with a formal, binding statement of aims and actions agreed by all allies -- such as the 2014 agreement to try to spend two percent of GDP on defence. It is yet to be confirmed whether a statement will be issued at December's meeting. Britain is due to leave the European Union in October and the December summit will be seen as a signal of solidarity between NATO and the UK -- which is the continent's leading military power, along with France. "Brexit will change the United Kingdom's relationship to the European Union but it will not change the United Kingdom's relationship to NATO," Stoltenberg said in February. On Wednesday, he was back in London for talks with British Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt. On Thursday, he will participate in a conference on cybersecurity in the British capital. Search Keywords: Short link: Reno Omokri, an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has called out a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiw... Reno Omokri, an aide to former President Goodluck Jonathan, has called out a National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu over his recent attack on the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In a brutal tweet Tuesday, Omokri described Tinubu as a coward and slave for shifting attention to the PDP instead of facing the Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-rufai, who has been taking swipes at him recently. Tinubu, during a visit to president Muhammadu Buhari in Saudi Arabia, took a swipe at the PDP, saying the party leaders made saucy and distractive statements because of their colossal defeat at the general elections. Omokri then took to Twitter to call out the former Lagos governor, saying: Elrufai insulted Bola Tinubu and Tinubu DID NOT respond to him. The @OfficialPDPNig DID NOT insult or attack Tinubu, yet Tinubu heavily insulted them. What does that make Tinubu? RETWEET if it makes him a COWARD LIKE if it makes him BRAVE. Truly, slavery is EVIL! Elrufai insulted Bola @AsiwajuTinubu. Instead of facing his SLAVE MASTER, who insulted him, Tinubu rather PROJECTS his anger in an UNPROVOKED attack on @OfficialPDPNig. This is what they call TRANSFERENCE in psychology! El-Rufai while speaking at a conference in Lagos recently had said he has the political formula to put an end to godfatherism in Lagos politics as he did in Kaduna State. Asked if hed targeted Tinubu with his statement, the governor doubled down, saying he owed the acclaimed godfather of Lagos politics no apology. Reno Omokri, a former New Media aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, has sent a message to President Muhammadu Buhari over the high... Reno Omokri, a former New Media aide to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, has sent a message to President Muhammadu Buhari over the high rate of suicide being committed by Nigerians. Recall that a music minister, Michael Arowosaiye sometime last week committed suicide. Michael, who reportedly left RCCG two years ago to Shepherd House Church where he served as a worship leader, was said to have taken his life following financial issues and the inability to pay his house rent. Reacting, Omokri called on Buhari to set up a National Suicide Prevention Team, ban the sales of sniper and also address the nation. In a tweet on Wednesday, Omokri wrote, Dear President @MBuhari, SUICIDE is at epidemic levels. I urge you to set up a National Suicide Prevention Team. Ban sales of SNIPER and similar substances. More than 30 persons were killed after suspected bandits attacked some communities in Katsina state between Monday and Tuesday. So... More than 30 persons were killed after suspected bandits attacked some communities in Katsina state between Monday and Tuesday. Some of the affected communities are Mara Zamfarawa village in Danmusa local government area (LGA); Sabon-Layin Galadima community of Faskari LGA; and YarGamji village of Batsari LGA. The suspects were said to have also carted away some animals. Eleven persons were said to have been killed at Sabon-Layin Galadima village of Faskari LGA. Gambo Isah, police spokesman in the state, said those killed in Faskari were members of a vigilante group. On the Faskari incident, a group of Yansakai (vigilantes) from Sabon Layi village, went into the forest and confronted the bandits since yesterday and did not report back. Two corpses were recovered and buried by the villagers yesterday, he told reporters. A search party led by the DPO in Faskari recovered three other bodies inside the forest. A bandits camp was also discovered abandoned by d bandits. Investigation is ongoing. Five persons were reportedly killed at Mara Zamfarawa village in Danmusa LGA on Tuesday. The suspects were said to have attacked the residents while working on their farms. In Batsari LGA, they killed 10 person, leaving others injured. They attacked YarGamji village of Batsari LGA and killed 10 persons. They entered the village on motorcycles. The attackers also rustled many animals and injured many people, an official of the local government said. Following the incident, youth from Batsari LGA protested the killings and displayed the corpses before the Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, emir of Katsina, and Aminu Bello Masari, governor of the state. While Usman sympathised with the protesters over the incident, Masari said the government would put measures in place to end the banditry. Following the interest shown by some individuals to become the countrys president in 2023, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congre... Following the interest shown by some individuals to become the countrys president in 2023, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adamu Kuta, has criticised the party National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for saying he is under pressure to contest after President Muhammadu Buharis 2nd term in office which begins on May 29. Kuta, a former member of the House of Representatives from Niger State made the statement on Tuesday, in Minna. He acknowledged that Tinubu has contributed greatly to the success of APC, but he is not fit to be the president of Nigeria. I like Tinubu as a person and he has contributed immensely to the success of our party, but honestly he is not the kind of president Nigeria needs in 2023. Nigerians need someone that can continue with the achievements and the foundation that Buhari has laid. We want someone that can continue from where Buhari will stop in 2023. The APC chieftain dismissed insinuations that in view of the current crisis in the ruling party, there might not be an APC after Buhari in 2023. Crisis is not new in party politics and every political party has its own share of the crisis. It is the good work of Buhari in the next four years that will determine whether or not the party can last beyond 2023. But the good work Buhari is doing now, there is no doubt that the party will win the 2023 election, he said. He further said that any zone can produce the president in 2023, noting that the Nigerian constitution does not recognise zoning of political offices. The last general election had presidential candidates from every region of the country and nobody stopped them because the constitution recognises them. So every region has the constitutional right to field candidates for any elective position in the country. Our focus should be how to get a credible candidate that will take over from Buhari in 2023, regardless of the region the person will come from. We want the best for the country. Tonto Dikeh has threatened a number of entertainers and she didn't hesitate to mention their names. The actress revealed on In... Tonto Dikeh has threatened a number of entertainers and she didn't hesitate to mention their names. The actress revealed on Instagram that she's in a new relationship but she warned her fellow entertainers to stay away from her man and desist from begging him for money as they are known to. She threatened to expose their "gay asses" if they go against her wishes. The mother-of-one then went on to specifically name a number of entertainers including IK Ogbonna, Tuface Idibia, Annie Idibia, Eniola, Praise, Toyin, among others. She warned them and threatened to disgrace and beat them up if they cross her. She wrote: "Dear Nollywood and music industry, I am in a new relationship now and, to God, if I see anyone of you begging him money, begging him to sponsor your shows or movies... I will mess you up and your whole life!! She added: "Idiots. Na if I find una beg abi. I will expose all your gay asses and the females to go!!" It is believed this might be in reaction to her being threatened by the Board of Trustee (BoT) of Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) for her continuous attack on her ex-husband. Tonto went on to add in her caption: "I WILL DISGRACE YOUR FUTURE! "Ik igbonna, Annie, 2face, eniola, praise, juju, TOYIN and co be warned I truly dont want problem!! But I will beat you up,if you can beat me get ready!!" See below: University forms new center to battle Miami's HIV epidemic The United Nation's goal of ending AIDS around the world by 2030 is undeniably ambitious, but within tantalizing reach. Thanks to medications that suppress the once-fatal human immunodeficiency virus and prevent its transmission, new infections have dropped by nearly 50 percent over the past two decades. Yet in 2017, Miami held the dubious distinction of being No. 1 in the nation for new HIV cases, with a rate nearly four times the national average. Why is not a big mystery to behavioral and social scientists at the University of Miami, who were recently awarded a four-year $3.32 million grant by the National Institute of Mental Health to establish a developmental AIDS Research Center to promote research aimed at curbing the local epidemic. As Steven Safren, principal investigator on the grant and director of the new Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health, or CHARM, notes, controlling Greater Miami's HIV/AIDS epidemic will not happen without addressing the mental and minority health disparities that help perpetuate the disease today--disparities that most affect the poor and marginalized, and the racial, sexual, gender, and ethnic minorities who live in view of the area's gleaming new condos and sun-splashed beaches. "HIV is different today than it was when it first started, largely among gay men," said Safren, a professor of psychology who also heads CHARM's administrative core. "Although men who have sex with men still comprise the majority of individuals living with HIV, it is now largely a disease of big-city poor and intertwined with behavioral health issues, like depression, problematic substance abuse, traumatic stress, stigmas, discrimination--all the things that make it very hard for a lot of people to access treatment, to stay in treatment, and to get the best benefit from treatment." Under ideal circumstances, every person infected with HIV would be promptly diagnosed and immediately start taking the antiretroviral therapy (ART) that would reduce their viral load to an undetectable level. That would not only keep them healthy, but would eliminate their risk of passing on the disease, either through sexual contact or sharing used needles, that has killed more than 34 million people around the world since the first U.S. cases were diagnosed in 1981. But adhering to a daily drug regimen often isn't a priority or even possible for people living with HIV who worry about their next meal or a place to sleep, who have no way to get to the lone pharmacy that provides free medications, who battle unrelenting depression or struggle with substance use, who are traumatized by violence or sexual abuse, or who are cast aside because they are gay, transgender, dark-skinned, or from another culture and speak another language. "When effective medication was discovered for HIV, the assumption was, OK, people are going to get it and take it, and we're going to be done," said Sannisha Dale, assistant professor of psychology and CHARM's scientific director for community engagement. "But there was no attention being paid to the mental and psychosocial factors that would impact people gaining access to treatment, getting their meds, and staying on them. And we scientists didn't do a very good job of engaging with the community experts on the ground." Though administered through the College of Arts and Sciences, CHARM is a cross-campus collaboration, encompassing faculty from multiple schools and complementing the Miller School of Medicine's Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), which the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases first funded as a developmental center in 2007. Transitioning to a full-fledged center in 2012, the CFAR has been refunded through 2022, and focuses primarily on biomedical research aimed at ending HIV/AIDS. Safren, who joined UM in 2015 after founding and leading the behavioral and social sciences core at Harvard University's CFAR, and his CHARM co-directors, the Miller School's Daniel Feaster, professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences,and Deborah Jones Weiss, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, hope CHARM will follow suit. By creating a research infrastructure that will not only help curb Miami's epidemic but be applicable to other under-resourced settings coping with uncontrolled epidemics, they believe CHARM will earn full-fledged center status after its four-year developmental period. Although CHARM is the NIMH's seventh AIDS Research Center, it is the first in the South, the U.S. region hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Like Miami, the South has many pockets that lack sufficient resources or face significant barriers to fight the epidemic with the existing tools that could, in theory, eliminate AIDS by 2030. That's the goal the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS adopted in 2014, and that President Donald Trump embraced in his last State of the Union address. As it stands today, Miami in particular, and South Florida in general, will not meet even the U.N.'s interim goal for 2020. Known as the 90-90-90 goal, it calls for 90 percent of all people living with HIV to know their status; 90 percent of those who know their status to be on ART; and 90 percent of those on ART to have suppressed viral loads, making their disease noncommunicable. As of 2017, of the 87 percent of the people living with HIV in Miami-Dade County who knew their diagnosis, only 64 percent of them were on treatment, and only 58 percent of them were virally suppressed. Yet, as Safren noted, "the Miami-Dade County Health Department has far fewer resources dedicated specifically to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment than health departments in cities like Boston, New York, and San Francisco, which have seen significant reductions in their rates of new HIV infections." The lack of such resources are among the structural barriers that, by working with state and community partners, CHARM investigators hope to resolve. They're also gearing up to support and catalyze the high-impact research needed to develop prevention and care programs for the most challenging and vulnerable populations. In addition to the administrative core, which will be the hub for community engagement activities that are central to the center's mission, CHARM has three other cores: a developmental core, and two unique research cores. The Developmental Core, which will award funding for pilot studies to early-career investigators, is designed to support and mentor UM's growing cadre of behavioral health-related HIV/AIDS researchers. Led by Adam Carrico, associate professor of public health sciences and psychology who has conducted significant research on people living with HIV and substance use disorders, and the Department of Medicine's Allan Rodriguez and Maria Alcaide, the core aims to award at least two grants a year to UM investigators engaging in research with community collaborations. The Methods Core, led by Feaster, who has more than 30 years' experience as a biobehaviorial statistician, and the Department of Public Health Sciences' Raymond Balise, will help researchers design, implement, and analyze their studies. Led by Jones Weiss and the School of Nursing and Health Studies' Victoria Mitrani, the Mental Health Disparities Core will train researchers to pursue the kind of culturally competent, theory-driven approaches, tools, and interventions that address the mental health disparities among the diverse populations living with or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS in South Florida. "The fact is one size does not fit all," said Jones Weiss, who has been conducting AIDS-related research around the world for more than three decades. "We have to be sensitive, knowledgeable, and respectful of racial and ethnic perspectives. Otherwise we will not connect to the people we want to help. But if we're successful, we can put ourselves out of this job and that would be a true success." ### This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The fund will be its own independent legal entity whose main goal will be to upgrade inter-bank infrastructure A fund to upgrade Egypt's banking system should be established as part of a new bill, an official source with the Central Bank of Egypt told MENA news agency. The fund will be its own independent legal entity, the source affirmed, noting that its supplies will constitute not more than one percent of the annual net profit that would otherwise be distributed to banks. The main goal of the fund is to upgrade inter-bank infrastructure in a way that would serve the national economy, according to the source. The fund will be used to upgrade the electronic identification system and instant payment system and ATM services, as well as the national payment system, he added. Search Keywords: Short link: Despite the rise in political temperatures in the Gulf, Egypt should focus on its western front with Libya and Sinai On Saturday, 18 May, the Saudi government called for two emergency summits in Mecca on 30 May. According to the Saudi Foreign Ministry, the purpose of the two summits is to discuss ways of strengthening security and stability in the Gulf. Other official Saudi sources talked about the attacks against four ships last week near the coast of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the two attacks that targeted certain oil terminals in Riyadh. On the same date and farther to the west, the Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) announced that it had received a shipment of military equipment of Turkish-made armoured carriers that were shipped out of a Turkish port according to news reports. The same reports indicated that Qatar paid for the shipment. The two developments seem unrelated. However, from an Egyptian point of view, these developments, coupled with the beefing up of American military presence in the Gulf, present a great strategic challenge. The urgent question is how will Egypt deal with such a challenge to its national security interests? Cairo is a member in an ad hoc alliance with three Gulf countries that are directly affected by the ongoing military escalation in the Gulf, namely Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, an alliance that was formed in June 2017 to confront Qatar. If the three countries are threatened or come under attack, Egypt should be ready to cooperate with them to contain any kind of threats to their territorial integrity and independence a position that has been reaffirmed on many occasions by the Egyptian government since 2014. On the other hand, Cairo is concerned with the escalation going on between the United States and Iran. So far, the Egyptian government has said nothing in this regard, which is a wise course of action. Monitoring the situation is the best possible approach right now. The Iraqi experience of 2003 should have taught Egyptian authorities a valuable lesson; that is, to keep away as much as possible from any American military engagement in the Middle East and the Gulf. Short of a direct attack on any member country of the Gulf Cooperation Council (minus Qatar, of course), Egypt has no interest at all to side with the Americans in military campaigns or wars in the region. With the announcement made in Tripoli last Saturday concerning the military shipment to the GNA, there is a proxy war going on at our western front that pits us against the Turkish-Qatari axis. It is all the more dangerous because the announcement referred to the long-term strategic goal of this shipment. Not only is the objective to stage counter attacks against the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Khalifa Haftar, but to go on the offensive across all Libya. In other words, the war going on around Tripoli will widen and could reach the western borders of Egypt. If this comes to pass, it would mean that the Egyptian army would become engaged on two fronts, the western front and in Sinai. The security of the western front and Sinai should be Egypts top strategic priority for the foreseeable future. Libya should not become our Yemen trap. The Egyptian state should not be dragged into any military campaigns outside of these two theatres. The Turks and the Qataris would love nothing more than to involve the army in a war of attrition that would help, as the thinking goes in Ankara and Doha, the terrorist groups that are presently fighting the army in Sinai. These are trying times for Egypt, militarily and economically. Any miscalculation would cost the country dearly. If Egypts allies in the Gulf expect Egypt to take an active part in any future war in the Gulf, they should understand that the military situation we are facing on our borders with Libya and in Sinai precludes such an option. This goes for the United States, as well. The Haftar campaign against Tripoli was poorly planned and has caused Egypt problems that should be quickly solved lest the military situation within Libya worsen and the LNA would find itself fighting on several fronts, a situation that could roll back all the military gains and political successes that Haftar has managed to achieve in the last two years, something that has helped us in securing our borders with Libya. A top priority for Egypt at present is to make sure that the rag tag militias working for the Tripoli government are not allowed to move close to Egypts western borders. Diplomatically speaking, de-escalation is the magic word to deal with the serious strategic developments in the region and in North Africa. No one doubts the ultimate result of war between the United States and Iran, as no one had been in doubt about the war against Iraq in Desert Storm in 1991 or in 2003. What is certain is that no one could predict the long-term ramifications of a war between the two archenemies. In the next few days till the convening of the two emergency summits in Mecca, the situation in the Gulf could worsen or the chances of de-escalation would be greater, an option that would benefit Egyptian interests. If not, the Egyptian message in the two summits should be of solidarity with the Gulf countries against any external aggression linked with a call for resorting to the status quo ante before the deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln and its support naval units in the Gulf. From a strictly Egyptian point of view, diplomacy should be the top priority, away from any entanglement outside our borders in any kind of military operations in the East and in the West. *The writer is former assistant foreign minister. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 May, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: No entanglement Search Keywords: Short link: Fate made a special status that Stephan Rosti enjoys in Egyptian cinema history. A man and a woman from different nationalities met in a third country and agreed to marry and their offspring carried the nationality of the third country. After 36 years, a half-known actress at the time was enchanted by cinema and assigned to a Turkish adventurer the direction of a film for her. The two of them had a falling-out. The woman then chose another man, who hadnt directed films before, to direct the film. He became the director of the first Egyptian feature film and this film was released by coincidence on the same day of this young mans birthday. It was as if Egyptian cinema chose his birthday to be its own birthday also. Stefano de Rosti Jr, or the actor Stephan Rosti, one of the silver screens most brilliant stars who blended villainy with comedy, and vice versa, died 55 years ago on 22 May 1964. Born to an Italian mother and an Austro-Hungarian baron, Rosti lived a mysterious childhood in which he received some form of education before joining foreign theatrical and show business companies visiting Egypt. By accompanying those companies, he visited some European countries where he also moved between a number of trades, such as translation and tourism, and even as a hawker before getting to know the comedian Naguib Al Rihani. They worked together in the shadow theatre, and then in The Arab Comedian Company, which included among its members Aziz Eid and Hassan Fayeq. When the Ramses Company was set up by Youssef Wahbi in 1923, he joined it and remained with it for four years, working as an actor, playwright, translator and director of several classics. From 1927 onwards, Rosti joined Naguib Al-Rihanis Company and stayed with until 1954 when he joined Ismail Yassins Company until his death in 1964. As for his cinematic career, his beginning was simultaneous with the emergence of the first feature film in Egypt. Actress Aziz Amir agreed with the Turk Wedad Orfi to direct The Call of God, but quarrels broke out and she dismissed Orfi. She started searching for another person to direct the film and chose Rosti, who had some cinematic experience acquired from his practice in Europe, but had never directed. He benefitted from previously shot scenes, made adjustments to the film and created a main role for himself. Finally, he directed Laila; the first silent feature released in 16th November 1927 when he was celebrating his 36th birthday. Afterwards, he directed another eight films, but his wide fame was built on his acting performance which bore his unique mark, making him one of the black and white cinema's stereotypes in Egypt. Stephan Rostis debut wasnt in the field of comedy. In Laila, he played a gallant man who saves a helpless girl and takes care of her. In his second film The Sea Laughs (1928), which he also directed, he played a comedic role along with his co-star Amin Attallah, who was a professional comedian. Throughout the 30s and 40s, he moved between a number of roles, while he seemed more inclined to comedy, as in His Excellency Keshkesh Bey (1931) and Antar Effendi (1935). At the same time, he reached the zenith of villainous roles in A Rainy Night (1939, directed by Togo Mizrahi). Perhaps his success in portraying the villain dexterously in this relatively early role made directors take notice and cast him in villainous roles later. However, his good sense of humour, which he acquired due to his mingling with genuine natives, took the better of him. Consequently, he began to add this special comic touch to his villainous roles. He created his own mark and became singular among the post-World War II period comedians. In addition, he was aided in this by his fellow comedians, who preferred attracting audiences through good-natured and even naive characters. In successfully blending villainy with comedy, he became the only villain comedian. Thus, Rosti became exceptional among the silver screens villains and comedians alike. This continued until the 70s, when Adel Adhams screen persona crystallised and made his mark within the formula of comedic villainy. Although he opted for a limited frame for himself, he was keen to present variations on villainous roles, which set him free from a monotonous performance as well as not making audiences feel bored. If the gang member was his most famous character role, as in Ember (1948, Anwar Wagdi) and Samara (1956, Hassan El-Seifi), he also skillfully acted the villain hatching plots that drive lovers to have a falling-out in order to seize a huge fortune, as in Passion Beach (1950, Henri Barakat) and Lady of the Palace (1958, Kamal El-Sheikh). He was the best actor in portraying the opportunist extortionist, as in The Millionaire (1950, Helmy Rafla) and Lady Ghost (1949, Henri Barakat). During his journey in search of variation, Rosti portrayed the Jewish man three times in Son of the Rich (1953, Hassan El-Seifi) and Hassan, Morcos and Cohen (1954, Fouad El-Jazairly) and in his penultimate film, Absolute Naughtiness (1964, Essa Karama), portraying the Egyptianised foreigner. Rosti didnt resort to farce, but relied on situation comedy, and sometimes on one liners. He was also adroit in body language and facial expressions, as well as his special nasal accent. On the evening of 22 May 1964, Rosti had a severe heart attack while he was playing backgammon with his friends in one of Cairo's cafes and he died minutes afterwards at the age of 73. 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: Doubts about vaccines have spread across social media like a disease and false information that kills people should be taken down by the companies running digital platforms, the head of global vaccine alliance Gavi said on Tuesday Speaking at a U.S.-sponsored event on the sidelines of the World Health Organizations annual assembly in Geneva, Gavi CEO Seth Berkley said there was a strong scientific consensus about the safety of vaccines. But social media algorithms favored sensational content over scientific facts, rapidly convincing people who had never seen family members die from preventable illness. We have to think about it as a disease. This is a disease, Berkley said. This spreads at the speed of light, literally. WHO says poor vaccination coverage is causing measles outbreaks globally, with numbers spiking in countries that were previously almost free of the disease, including the United States. Misinformation about vaccines, which the WHO says save two million lives annually, was not a freedom of speech issue and social media firms need to take it offline, Berkley said. Advertisement I remind people that this kills people, he said. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said complacency, misunderstanding and misinformation were causing vaccination rates to decline globally, with tragic results. In my country, social media conspiracy groups confuse well-meaning parents so they hesitate to get the recommended vaccinations, Azar said. He rejected any criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump, who repeatedly and erroneously tweeted about links between vaccines and autism in the years before he became president. A study says @Autism is out of control a 78% increase in 10 years. Stop giving monstrous combined vaccinations, Trump tweeted in 2012. Azar said Trump was extremely firm in support of vaccination. If you had been paying attention in the last month, you would know that the President of the United States, President Trump, was very clear and emphatic: get your shots, get your kids vaccinated, vaccines are safe, Azar said. Canadas Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said health authorities needed to up our game, adding that she was working with Twitter, Facebook, Google and other tech companies. Youve got to get into the trenches... and begin to get engaged much more on a personal and emotional level, because people dont understand statistics and data. If you do that (talk about data) youve lost them. Search Keywords: Short link: Putins next few political moves, especially in the Middle East, may define his legacy as Russian leader Modern Russian history has featured a number of political leaders that have managed to shift the countrys future direction and preserve its global influence. Among them is the incumbent Russian President Vladimir Putin. What has distinguished Putin from other global leaders has been his ability to remain calm and collected when the odds are stacked against him and his country. Then, after careful deliberation he surprises his opponents with a very strong message that sometimes includes a military move that places his opponents in a defensive position. The Georgian crisis in 2008 was a prime example of such deliberation. When the Georgian government led by former president Mikhail Sakashvili attempted to quell the Russian separatist rebellion in the Georgian provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, Putin, who was acting as Russian prime minister at the time, ordered Russian forces into Georgia and managed to defeat the Georgian army in nine days of war that resulted in preserving the Russian separatist gains. The move was seen as an act of aggression by Russia in many global political circles, but it sent a message that Putin and Russia were willing to go to war to protect Russian nationals even within countries that had ceded from the former Soviet Union. A similar situation occurred during the ongoing Ukrainian-Russian war following the ousting of pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. Putin supported Russian separatists in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk and Luhansk, and he managed to occupy parts of East Ukraine and annex Crimea, a strategically situated region where ethnic Russians represent 65 per cent of its 2.3 million population. Putin was believed to be acting in reaction to US involvement in these countries in order to send the message that Russia would not tolerate US political or military involvement in countries on its borders. The former US Obama administration, whose aides were seen among Ukrainian protesters against Yanukovych, dealt with Putin recklessly and arrogantly, which resulted in the latter gaining more ground in areas that were traditionally US domains such as the Middle East. The Obama administration believed that Russia would yield to its demands after a series of economic and diplomatic sanctions had been imposed on it. Obama even bragged about how smart the sanctions were. However, before long Putin had turned the tables and managed to sign $400 billion in contracts and numerous arms deals across the Middle East and China. He even administered rigorous financial and economic reforms in order to withstand American and Western sanctions. Putins next few political moves, especially in the Middle East, may define his legacy as Russian leader. For decades, he has been a supporter of the Iranian regime, and Russia delivered the nuclear technology that enabled the Iranians to build eight nuclear plants, some of which were aimed at enriching uranium capable of producing nuclear weapons. Putins ambitions are not about resurrecting the former Soviet Union, since he has indicated in many speeches that he does not wish to live in any other era than the present one, despite saying that he regrets the manner in which the Soviet Union collapsed and the adverse effects this had on the Russian people. He is quite aware of the dangers of over-expanding his countrys foreign entanglements at the expense of its economic and social welfare, as he does not want to see domestic disputes in Russia itself. Putins handling of the Syrian conflict is a prime example of the Russian states acting decisively at times of uncertainty, when the Western side has been dragging its feet in settling the conflict. Putins decision to fight the Islamic State (IS) group on its home turf in Syria and protect his long-standing ally in the shape of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad is a far cry from the initial position of Washington and its allies, who were seen to be dilly-dallying in addressing the challenge posed by IS. Four years after the Russian and later Western intervention in Syria, the presence of IS in Syria and Iran is a thing of the past. But one can well imagine how far the terrorist group would have expanded and what historical cities it would have reduced to ruins had IS with its black flags not been beaten back by the Russian intervention in the Syrian conflict. Yet, Putin has successfully maintained a careful balance of diplomatic relations with the opposing axis. He maintains an extremely good relationship with Egypt and a personal one with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi. At the same time, he maintains a good relationship with the Turkish regime led by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, as well as the Iranian regime. Both regimes are arch-rivals to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, but Putin has managed to keep his diplomatic relations separate. Thus far, Putin has kept diplomatic relations open in an effort to play the role of mediator should conflict erupt. Russia still sells substantial amounts of arms to Egypt, and it has also signed a contract to supply S-400 missiles to Turkey. The latter deal has caused ripples inside the western camp and NATO, as the US administration has expressed its explicit objection to the deal and has already imposed sanctions on Turkey, including ceasing to supply it with F-35 fighter jets. Some have seen this as Putins way of driving a wedge inside the NATO camp and slowly luring the Turkish state nearer to Russia. This divide-and-conquer strategy has been working thus far, and the Turkish president seems to be in a conundrum about honouring his countrys contractual obligations and purchasing the S-400 system with all its perks or maintaining the long-standing NATO alliance and receiving the new F-35s. Putin has also strengthened his countrys relations with China, since the latter, the rising economic and military superpower, has laid down its historical differences and feuds with Russia. Putins $400 billion deal for oil exports to China, along with many lucrative arms deals, has secured China as a friend and ally in the face of the West. Moreover, it has opened the door to Chinese investments in the Russian economy to replace those Western investments that tumbled as a result of the political events and tensions of the last decade. Despite the above successes, Russias relations with the EU countries remain strained as a result of the events in Ukraine and alleged political assassination attempts by Russian former spies in the UK. Nevertheless, the Europeans know better than to turn Putin into a full-blown enemy, even if they are wary of his political moves and years of rapprochement efforts. These have not altered the lack of trust between the two sides. Despite everything, Europe remains a critical partner for Russia that Putin cannot do without, and thus he has attempted to keep the rapprochement efforts going while maintaining Russias national interests abroad. Overall, Putins leadership of Russia has kept it as a major player in all the worlds major conflicts. From Middle East conflicts such as in Syria, Iran and Libya to Latin American ones such as in Venezuela, Russia remains a key player in global conflicts backed by its ever-growing military capability and an economy that has survived harsh sanctions and several falls. It remains to be seen, however, how the Russians will react should a new war occur in the Middle East, most probably one that involves Iran. Putin will have to calculate the winnings and losses when addressing the Iranian issue, and even with the Iranian ties to Moscow he may not place all his chips in support of one of the most-abhorred regimes in the world. But his cunning political prowess will be essential to prevent an escalation should it occur, while at the same time maintaining good relations with other Middle Eastern players such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Time has shown that Putin generally comes out the winner in most of the conflicts he has been involved in. *The writer is a political analyst and author of Egypts Arab Spring and the Winding Road to Democracy. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 May, 2019 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Putins upcoming political moves Search Keywords: Short link: Remarks by Angel Gurria OECD Secretary-General 22 May 2019, OECD, Paris (As prepared for delivery) Prime Minister, Ministers, Ambassadors, Ladies and Gentlemen, I cant think of a better way to begin our discussions than with the launch of the new OECD Recommendation on Artificial Intelligence (AI). This Recommendation represents the first set of intergovernmental principles on AI! A common policy imperative AI is dynamising economies, helping people make better predictions and decisions, be they a shop-floor manager or a doctor in the operating room. It is facilitating our everyday lives your smartphone can use AI to detect your fatigue levels while driving or provide you with personal health data. At the same time, AI technologies are still in their infancy. Much potential remains to be realised. And while AI is driving optimism, it is also fuelling anxieties and ethical concerns. There are questions around the trustworthiness and robustness of AI systems, including the dangers of codifying and reinforcing existing biases such as those related to gender and race or of infringing on human rights and important values such as privacy. These issues are global. It is estimated that in the first half of 2018 AI start-ups attracted over 12% of all worldwide private equity investments. The United States and China are leading on investments , but many other countries are accelerating their efforts to catch up. The technology is raising questions around human determination; security and safety; accountability; the impact of AI on competition and market power; and the divides in AI capabilities across countries. Many countries are developing national policy initiatives on AI but its clear we must work towards common solutions to such concerns. The OECD AI principles: A global reference point for trustworthy AI The OECDs Recommendation on AI is a global multi stakeholder response to the challenge of achieving transparent and accountable AI systems. It leverages the knowledge of an AI expert group numbering over 50 people from different countries, sectors and disciplines as well as guidance from our Committee on Digital Economy Policy and others. It benefits from contributions of the EU, UNESCO, ITU and other IOs, as well as MIT, IEEE and others. Standing here today with a collective vision establishing ground rules to facilitate innovation, adoption of and trust in AI, is testament to the effectiveness of OECD processes and the drive of our members. I would like to specifically thank for their tireless efforts the Vice Minister of Science and ICT of Korea Mr Wonki Min and Anne Carblanc in the OECD. The Recommendation places the interests of people at its heart. It defines five principles for responsible stewardship of trustworthy AI calling for i) inclusive growth, sustainable development and well-being; ii) human-centred values and fairness; iii) transparency and explainability; iv) robustness, security and safety; and v) accountability. It sets out four key actions for governments, including i) investment in AI research and development; ii) fostering a digital ecosystem for AI; iii) providing an enabling policy environment for AI; and iv) building human capacity and preparing for labour market transformation. Further multilateral dialogue for a stable policy environment Crucially, the Recommendation calls for international co operation. It recognises that we must progress together on AI-related technical, ethical and legal issues, to foster alignment of standards and inter-operability. The global relevance of the Recommendation is reflected in its adherents. Beyond OECD members, we welcome Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Romania and Peru as adherents today, and hope there will be many others in the future. In this regard, I call on OECD members to support Japans proposal of G20-OECD principles for AI, as elaborated by the OECD Recommendation, as a key channel to diffuse these important standards. Ladies and gentlemen, The OECDs Recommendation on AI is a critical step in helping countries realise the potential of this promising technology. The OECD will continue to bring its expertise and offer a participatory hub for dialogue, especially through our OECD AI Policy Observatory to be established this year. We will put our energy into implementing this Recommendation indeed, we are already working on practical guidance for countries. As Alan Turing, the great mathematician and computer scientist said, We can only see a short distance ahead, but we can see plenty there that needs to be done. See also: Press Release: Forty countries adopt new OECD Principles on Artificial Intelligence OECD work on Artificial Intelligence 22/05/2019 - OECD and partner countries formally adopted the first set of intergovernmental policy guidelines on Artificial Intelligence (AI) today, agreeing to uphold international standards that aim to ensure AI systems are designed to be robust, safe, fair and trustworthy. The OECDs 36 member countries, along with Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru and Romania, signed up to the OECD Principles on Artificial Intelligence at the Organisations annual Ministerial Council Meeting, taking place today and tomorrow in Paris and focused this year on Harnessing the Digital Transition for Sustainable Development. Elaborated with guidance from an expert group formed by more than 50 members from governments, academia, business, civil society, international bodies, the tech community and trade unions, the Principles comprise five values-based principles for the responsible deployment of trustworthy AI and five recommendations for public policy and international co-operation. They aim to guide governments, organisations and individuals in designing and running AI systems in a way that puts peoples best interests first and ensuring that designers and operators are held accountable for their proper functioning. Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising the way we live and work, and offering extraordinary benefits for our societies and economies. Yet, it raises new challenges and is also fuelling anxieties and ethical concerns. This puts the onus on governments to ensure that AI systems are designed in a way that respects our values and laws, so people can trust that their safety and privacy will be paramount, said OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria. These Principles will be a global reference point for trustworthy AI so that we can harness its opportunities in a way that delivers the best outcomes for all. (Read the full speech.) The AI Principles have the backing of the European Commission, whose high-level expert group has produced Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI, and they will be part of the discussion at the forthcoming G20 Leaders Summit in Japan. The OECDs digital policy experts will build on the Principles in the months ahead to produce practical guidance for implementing them. While not legally binding, existing OECD Principles in other policy areas have proved highly influential in setting international standards and helping governments to design national legislation. For example, the OECD Privacy Guidelines, which set limits to the collection and use of personal data, underlie many privacy laws and frameworks in the United States, Europe and Asia. The G20-endorsed OECD Principles of Corporate Governance have become an international benchmark for policy makers, investors, companies and other stakeholders working on institutional and regulatory frameworks for corporate governance. Download the AI Principles in full. In summary, they state that: AI should benefit people and the planet by driving inclusive growth, sustainable development and well-being. AI systems should be designed in a way that respects the rule of law, human rights, democratic values and diversity, and they should include appropriate safeguards for example, enabling human intervention where necessary to ensure a fair and just society. There should be transparency and responsible disclosure around AI systems to ensure that people understand when they are engaging with them and can challenge outcomes. AI systems must function in a robust, secure and safe way throughout their lifetimes, and potential risks should be continually assessed and managed. Organisations and individuals developing, deploying or operating AI systems should be held accountable for their proper functioning in line with the above principles. The OECD recommends that governments: Facilitate public and private investment in research & development to spur innovation in trustworthy AI. Foster accessible AI ecosystems with digital infrastructure and technologies, and mechanisms to share data and knowledge. Create a policy environment that will open the way to deployment of trustworthy AI systems. Equip people with the skills for AI and support workers to ensure a fair transition. Co-operate across borders and sectors to share information, develop standards and work towards responsible stewardship of AI. For further details, journalists are invited to contact Catherine Bremer in the OECD Media Office (+33 1 45 24 80 97). More on the OECDs work on Artificial Intelligence: www.oecd.org/going-digital/ai/. Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. New insights about carbon and ice could clarify inner workings of Earth, other planets Most people behave differently when under extreme pressure. Carbon and ice are no different. Two new studies show how these key planetary ingredients take on exotic forms that could help researchers better understand the composition of Earth's core as well as the cores of planets across the galaxy. Craig Manning, a UCLA professor of geology and geochemistry, is a co-senior author of one of the papers, which was published today in the journal Nature, and senior author of the other, which was published in Nature Communications in February. The Nature Communications paper revealed that high pressure deep inside the young Earth may have driven vast stores of carbon into the planet's core while also setting the stage for diamonds to form. In the Nature report, researchers found that water ice undergoes a complex crystalline metamorphosis as the pressure slowly ratchets up. Scientists have long understood that the amount of carbon sequestered in present-day Earth's rocks, oceans and atmosphere is always in flux because the planet shuffles the element around in a vast cycle that helps regulate climate. But researchers don't know whether the Earth locked away even more carbon deep in its interior during its formative years -- information that could reveal a little more about how our planet and others like it are built. To pursue an answer to that question, Manning and colleagues calculated how carbon might have interacted with other atoms under conditions similar to those that prevailed roughly 4.5 billion years ago, when much of Earth was still molten. Using supercomputers, the team created simulations to explore what would happen to carbon at temperatures above 3,000 degrees Celsius (more than 5,400 degrees Fahrenheit) and at pressures more than 100,000 times of those on Earth's surface today. The experiment revealed that under those conditions, carbon tends to link up with iron, which implies that there might be considerable quantities of carbon sealed in Earth's iron core today. Researchers had already suspected that in the young planet's magma ocean, iron atoms hooked up with one another and then dropped to the planet's center. But the new research suggests that this molten iron rain may have also dragged carbon down with it. Until now, researchers weren't even sure whether carbon exists down there. The team also found that as the pressure ramps up, carbon increasingly bonds with itself, forming long chains of carbon atoms with oxygen atoms sticking out. "These complex chains are a form of carbon bonding that we really hadn't anticipated at these conditions," Manning said. Such molecules could be a precursor to diamonds, which consist of many carbon atoms linked together. Solving an icy enigma The machinations of carbon under pressure provide clues as to how Earth-like planets are built. Frozen planets and moons in other solar systems, however, may also have to contend with water ice. In a separate paper, Manning and another team of scientists looked at how the molecular structure of extremely cold ice changes when put under intense pressure. Under everyday conditions, water ice is made up of molecules laid out in honeycomb-like mosaics of hexagons. But when ice is exposed to crushing pressure or very low temperature -- in labs or possibly deep inside remote worlds -- the molecules can assume a bewildering variety of patterns. One of those patterns, known as amorphous ice, is an enigma. In amorphous ice, the water molecules eschew rigid crystalline order and take on a free-form arrangement. Manning and colleagues set out to try and understand how amorphous ice forms. First, they chilled normal ice to about 170 degrees below zero Celsius (about 274 degrees below zero Fahrenheit). Then, they locked the ice in the jaws of a high-tech vice grip inside a cryogenic vacuum chamber. Finally, over the span of several hours, they slowly stepped up the pressure in the chamber to about 15,000 times atmospheric pressure. They stopped raising the pressure periodically to fire neutrons through the ice so that they could see the arrangement of the water molecules. Surprisingly to the researchers, the amorphous ice never formed. Instead, the molecules went through a series of previously known crystalline arrangements. However, when the researchers conducted the same experiment but raised the pressure much more rapidly -- this time in just 30 minutes -- amorphous ice formed as expected. The results suggest that time is the secret ingredient: When pressure increases slowly, tiny seeds of crystalline ice have time to form and take over the sample. Otherwise, those seeds never get a chance to grow. The findings, published May 23 in the journal Nature, could be useful to researchers who study worlds orbiting other suns and are curious about what conditions might be like deep inside frozen planets. "It's entirely likely that there are planets dominated by ice in other solar systems that could obtain these pressures and temperatures with ease," Manning said. "We have to have this right if we're going to have a baseline for understanding the interiors of cold worlds that may not be like Earth." ### Both papers were funded in part by the Deep Carbon Observatory, a 10-year program started in 2009 to investigate the quantities, movements, forms and origins of deep carbon inside Earth. The Nature Communications paper was also funded by the European Research Council and was co-authored by researchers at the Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon in France, one of whom -- Natalia Solomatova -- completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA. The Nature paper was co-authored by UCLA geologist Adam Makhluf and researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Research Council of Canada. (Written by Christopher Crockett) This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Rand-Whitney Container Agrees to Purchase Specialty Finance & Consulting Corporation May 22, 2019 - Rand-Whitney Container LLC yesterday announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire the assets of Specialty Finance & Consulting Corporation (SF&C) located in Red Lion, Pennsylvania. SF&C is in the business of manufacturing, warehousing and distributing corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and related ancillary products and services. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. This acquisition would also include the acquisition of the assets of Specialty Industries, Inc., NuPak Printing, LLC and Krafcor Industries, Inc. Rand-Whitney is excited about the opportunity to expand into the Mid-Atlantic region and will continue to invest in incremental capabilities in order to provide even more value to the SF&C customers in the future, the company said in a written statement. Rand-Whitney expects the acquisition to close by August 1, 2019. Rand-Whitney, based in Worcester, Massachusetts, is the largest independent corrugated manufacturer in New England. To learn more, please visit: www.randwhitney.com SOURCE: Rand-Whitney Fat and All That is a new weekly column by Editorial Director Mickey Boardman in which he discusses his lifelong battle with weight issues and society's views on overweight people. He'll discuss fat-shaming, body positivity and everything in-between, while also taking us on his current journey to get healthy and find the ideal weight for himself. Looking at my Instagram feed, people might assume that I'm a long-time yoga queen. They see me hanging upside down or doing backbends in the jungles of India and think I'm some kind of vagabond hippie who's been practicing yoga for decades. The truth is, I've done two week-long yoga intensives in India and then 3 individual classes in NYC. That's all. I'm a frequent traveler to India and love everything about the country, but somehow, I never felt the pull towards yoga. Then my best friend in India, Mihir, a successful model and big city boy from Mumbai, did a yoga teacher's training in the Himalayas and started teaching yoga in Goa. He traded the insanely fast pace of Mumbai for sitting in the lotus position under a palm tree nibbling vegan treats. I was going to visit him for Christmas anyway so thought, what the hell. I'll do some yoga. Mickey in Goa with his yoga guru Mihir Jogh I arrived at the Iyengar Yoga Center nervous and slightly excited. I'm freakishly limber in some areas and a total disaster in others. I tried to blend in wearing a black swimsuit, black Lacoste shirt and black adidas sneakers but since all the other students were wearing official yoga clothes like tights and tank-tops, I really didn't fit in. Being a label-whore/fashion victim, I had decided to break in my cruelty-free nylon Chanel bag as my official yoga bag. I was certainly the only one in the Yoga Shala with a designer handbag. I was also the only one a BMI in the obese category. For fat folks who are embarking on a healthy living transformation, any kind of exercise can be scary. But even though, for me what I eat is the most important thing, I need to exercise to feel my best. I love the feeling of stretching out and getting the blood circulating. I swear exercise gives you an emotional face lift that I'm convinced shows on your actual face. I'm lucky that my good friend was the yoga teacher because I knew I could trust him and for a non-athlete like me, it's all about trust. Having had almost zero experience, I really didn't know what to expect and frankly I love having no idea what I'm doing. It's oddly liberating. You have no pre-conceived ideas about what's right and wrong and I had no fear of looking silly because I expected to look like silly. Part of getting the most out of trying new things is being willing to look like awkward. Being friends with the instructor I felt like I had to be on good behavior, so it didn't look like I was getting preferential treatment. 'Oh, Mickey what beautiful form on your downward dog!' I mean I wanted preferential treatment. I just wanted the other kids to think it was spontaneous and deserved. Mihir has the charisma of a movie star. Before teaching yoga, he was a flying instructor and fitness teacher. "I'm happy to be serving people through this practice," he says, "and the most rewarding thing is to see everyone transform even in a short five day course. Mickey getting stretched by Mihir and his assistant "In many Western adaptations of yoga, the teachers are creating a competitive environment. This causes tensions in the atmosphere and within the body. This is exactly the opposite of what yoga is meant to do." I asked Mihir how Iyengar yoga is different than other types of yoga. He told me, "The method we follow is a physical practice but it has a much deeper meaning. It retains the essence of yoga which is actually to help deal with the fluctuations of the mind. We follow a non-egoistic and non-violent approach. We are able to respect our bodies by adopting a more friendly approach towards it." He continued, "In many Western adaptations of yoga, the teachers are creating a competitive environment. This causes tensions in the atmosphere and within the body. This is exactly the opposite of what yoga is meant to do." Often on Instagram, you'll see people holding the craziest poses that look unnatural and painful. Mihir says in Iyengar, "We encourage the practice of yoga with the least amount of strain or effort." We used tons of props: stools, bricks, pillows (or bolsters), all to prop ourselves up in the most comfortable way. Some super-fit and flexible students didn't need them, but I was the king of props. Being 52, obese and out of shape with a bad lower back and arthritis in my toes, I was happy to have props and also thrilled that Iyengar stressed being comfortable and not showoff-y and competitive. There were two older women in my class who needed a lot too, as did an older man with a neuromuscular disorder. So we were kind of the Golden Girls of the group. Mhir adjusting Mickey In Iyengar, it's all about activating the toes and balancing on the heels or the mounds of the feet. It actually felt great to stretch out my toes and feel my body align on my heels. I was not great at the standing poses which didn't feel great on my back, but I did my best. As Mihir told us, "There's no beginners here and no advanced students. We all start at the foundation. So drop your egos and raise your toes." I call this pose the showgirl One of the more dramatic poses we did was a shoulder stand. For some reason this pose our heads on a blanket, legs extended up in the air and resting on a bamboo railing always made people emotional. Usually at least one or two people burst into tears, not from pain but from released emotion. The funny thing is when I went back the following year for my second week-long intensive, I was a whiz at the shoulder stand and it felt so relaxing. The first time around I could barely do it. Mickey in a shoulder stand One amazing thing about the whole experience is that being in these poses really got me in touch with my body in a way I don't think I had ever been. Since I found out I have arthritis in my big toes, I've been afraid to even wiggle them, but here I stretched them in all kinds of ways and it felt great. I think so often fear convinces us that we can't do something and if we just try we'll really surprise ourselves. During one class Mihir told us, "You don't own your breath. It comes and it goes as it pleases." What a profound thought. That was the day we did backbends and I must confess that I'm a tiny bit obsessed with them. The same way I had imagined myself as a kid standing on my head, I imagined myself as an adult popping into backbends left and right. Of course, I also imagined that the backbend was the most difficult pose, achieved by only the most advanced students who were far more limber than paunchy old me. I doubted with my girth and weak lower back that I would even be able to raise up into a single backbend. But you just never know when magic will strike. Mickey's first backbend Along with a few other students who needed some props, I was lined up against the stage. That way we had a little less distance to reach back. Michelle, a fabulous South African teacher who was helping Mihir with the class, demonstrated the pose and Mihir pointed out that it was all about using the butt to lift yourself up into a bow. Mihir claimed this pose is actually incredible for people with back issues, despite the fact that people imagine it's a real back buster. Mickey doing a deeper backbend So, I flopped as gracefully as I could down on the bolsters reached back to grip the stage, stood up on my feet cushions and squeezed my large, not-very-well-toned ass and hoped for the best. Much to my amazement I made it all the way up without much fuss. Yes, I had some props but, wonder of wonder, miracle of miracles I was fully up in a beautifully arched backbend. We were supposed to each do 30, yes 30, of these poses but I was proud as a peahen to have done 16. And frankly, doing the backbends made me actually feel giddy. I'm sure it was partly the thrill of success, but I also think backbends release some kind of endorphin because the whole class suddenly was chatty and worked up. The yoga center also has a person named Regi who does breath work. I wasn't really sure what that meant but I was game. I had a breath work session the day before the classes started and that was amazing. Twice I started crying. It was so emotional for some reason. Basically, I have unresolved daddy issues and Regi said I need to be more aggressive on the inhale. Mihir adjusting Mickey At my second yoga intensive in Goa, the yoga class took place up a hill in the jungle under a canopy of trees that were usually filled with frolicking monkeys. It was like being on a deserted island. For this intensive, we did inversions every day and I must say, after the backbend, the inversions are my favorite. People see photos of me hanging upside down by a strap and think I must be so advanced, but really there's nothing to it except trusting your instructor. You just lean back on your upside down. Fold your legs in and you're done. The less you think about it, the better. When I was a child I was obsessed with the idea of standing on my head, which I never did. I fantasized about carrying around a little pillow so I could stand on my head anytime I felt stressed. Who knows? Maybe I did yoga in a past life. Whatever the case, nothing is more relaxing and invigorating than inversions. I come out of feeling like any stress has evaporated from my body and every part of me is stretched out and relaxed. Mickey doing an inversion Lessons From The Gulf Of Tonkin Incident: The Iran Script 05/22/19 By Paul Pillar (source: LobeLog) Disturbing similarities between the run-up to the Iraq War of 2003 and the Trump administration's bellicosity toward Iran keep accumulating. They include war-selling rhetoric seemingly derived from the same script. But in some respects, the more striking parallel to the present occurred over half a century ago, beyond the living memory of most Americans. The time was August 1964, and the place was the dark nighttime waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. Then, as now, a U.S. administration wanted to show toughness against an Asian country deemed to be an adversary. Lyndon Johnson, who had become president nine months earlier when John Kennedy was assassinated, was facing Barry Goldwater in the coming presidential election. Johnson had to balance his posture as the more peace-loving candidate with evidence that he had the backbone to use force when necessary. In a telephone conversation with his secretary of defense, Robert McNamara, Johnson interpreted the political environment this way as the Tonkin incident began to unfold: "The people that're calling me up all feel that the Navy responded wonderfully...but they want to be damned sure I don't pull 'em out and run. That's what all the country wants because Goldwater is raising so much hell about how he's gonna blow 'em off the moon." Then, as now, the United States was deploying its military forces assertively, to the point of brinksmanship, in the backyard of the would-be adversary. U.S. and South Vietnamese naval forces were conducting two operations at the time in the Gulf of Tonkin. One was intelligence-gathering by U.S. warships, including the two destroyers that would be involved in the incident, the Maddox and the Turner Joy. The other was a series of South Vietnamese raids and infiltrations along the North Vietnamese coast. Although the two operations were separate, it is unlikely that the North Vietnamese viewed them that way. Then, as now, policymakers in the U.S. administration welcomed-even sought-an incident as a rationale for air strikes against the adversary, in the absence of anything else that North Vietnam was doing that was a threat to U.S. interests. The Non-Attack in the Gulf There never has been any doubt that on August 2, 1964, North Vietnamese patrol boats fired on the Maddox, which was operating close to North Vietnam's coast. The Maddox quickly retreated to more distant waters in the gulf. Two days later, the now keyed-up crews of the Maddox and Turner Joy reported that they were again under attack, citing radar and sonar signals and the efforts of sailors on deck to make sense of glimmers of light on the dark and wind-swept waters. If an attack on August 4 had actually occurred, it would have been more significant than the earlier attack because it would indicate that North Vietnam had aggressive intentions extending beyond the protection of its coast. Later exhaustive study of the subject has shown that there was no second attack. But the Johnson administration let its preferred conclusion get ahead of the evidence. A prompt press leak about reports of a second attack made it difficult for the administration to hold back on a judgment about the reported incident or a retaliatory military strike without being accused of pusillanimously covering up an attack on U.S. forces. The Pentagon issued a statement that flatly asserted that North Vietnam had attacked the Maddox and the Turner Joy in the open waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. The search for evidence to back up this assertion was unashamedly tendentious. A message from the Joint Chiefs of Staff on August 6 made the intention explicit: "An urgent requirement exists for proof and evidence of second attack by DRV naval units...Material must be of type which will convince United Nations Organization that the attack did in fact occur." Intelligence professionals were left with no doubt that the mission was to make a case about North Vietnamese aggression and not to focus on any deficiencies in the evidence. A CIA officer who attended meetings on the subject later recalled, "We knew it was bum dope that we were getting from the Seventh Fleet, but we were told to give only the facts with no elaboration on the nature of the evidence...Everyone knew how volatile LBJ was. He didn't like to deal in uncertainties." Analysts at the National Security Agency who were charged with interpreting ambiguous North Vietnamese communications operated in the same environment. A later study by an in-house NSA historian faulted their work for misinterpreting the few intercepts that became part of the administration's case and not sending forward a larger amount of material that contradicted the case. The historian observed, "That there might have been a lot of pressure on the NSA people to produce 'proof' is quite likely." The politicization was sufficient to carry the day. Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which became the congressional authorization not only for U.S. air strikes against North Vietnamese naval facilities but also for a ground war in which 58,000 Americans would die. Possible Reprise in the Persian Gulf Today, spinning an incident into a rationale for offensive military action is likely to involve not just whether an incident occurred but also who was responsible for whatever did occur. The reported sabotage of oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab Emirates is just one example of the kind of incident that could be spun. As with Vietnam in 1964, politicians are susceptible to being swept up by a mood of revenge and bellicosity. In the current case, follow-the-leader partisanship will accentuate this tendency among members of the president's party. Also, as with Vietnam in 1964, the politicized interpretation and selection of fragmentary and ambiguous intelligence are likely to be part of the spinning. Such a process was part of the selling of the Iraq War in 2002-2003, with the pressure including repeated visits by Vice President Richard Cheney to CIA headquarters to try to get analysts to come up with anything that would support the administration's mythical "alliance" between Iraq and al-Qaeda. Now National Security Advisor John Bolton is convening meetings at CIA headquarters to discuss Iran. The specific topics for discussion have not been revealed, but given Bolton's personal history of blatantly attempting to politicize intelligence, a replay of something like the Cheney ploy is likely. Congress-which, unlike the public, can access classified information-bears the principal responsibility for countering such destructive gambits. The average age of members of the current Congress is 58 in the House and 62 in the Senate, meaning that the average member was only a young child at the time of the Gulf of Tonkin incident and probably has no direct memory of it. (Disclosure: being somewhat older, I remember the episode well, and served as an Army officer in the Vietnam War.) Some attention to this unfortunate part of U.S. history might help to avoid an additional painful and destructive chapter in that history. About the author: Paul R. Pillar is Non-resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Security Studies of Georgetown University and an Associate Fellow of the Geneva Center for Security Policy. He retired in 2005 from a 28-year career in the U.S. intelligence community. His senior positions included National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia, Deputy Chief of the DCI Counterterrorist Center, and Executive Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence. He is a Vietnam War veteran and a retired officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Dr. Pillar's degrees are from Dartmouth College, Oxford University, and Princeton University. His books include Negotiating Peace (1983), Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy (2001), Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy (2011), and Why America Misunderstands the World (2016). Iranian Minister's Son-In-Law Accused Of Embezzling $50 million 05/22/19 Source: Radio Farda Mohammad Hadi Razavi - the son-in-law of Iran's labor minister, Mohammad Shariatmadari - has been charged with embezzlement and "disruption of the economy" after receiving 2.11 trillion rials (around $51m) in loans from banks, which he has failed to pay back. Mohammad Hadi Razavi Tehran's deputy prosecutor Rasoul Qahremani accused Hadi Razavi along with 30 other suspects during the second hearing into alleged corruption at the Sarmayeh Bank, Monday May 20, at a special court in Tehran. Citing the Central Bank of Iran's report on the case, Qahremani alleged that Razavi had received 1,07 trillion rials ($25.5m) loan from Sarmayeh, and another 1.04 trillion rials ($24.m) loan from other banks. In the initial hearing, Qahremani had alleged that Hadi Razavi had bribed Sarmayeh Bank managers, from 2012 to 2015, to borrow $25.5m with no collateral. "Mohammad Hadi Razavi spent the loans for traveling overseas, boozing at lush parties, buying luxury cars and real estate," Qahremani told the court. The prosecutor claimed that Razavi deposited a part of the loans in front-companies registered under the names of homeless individuals. "One of the companies, Golgoon Tejarat Jahan, is owned by a young orphan, and Razavi borrowed three trillion rials ($23.7m) under its name. Although the owner of the company was promised to receive 50 million rials ($1,200) in return, Razavi never fulfilled his promise," the prosecutor told the court. But the case of Razavi's embezzlements havs another twist, and that goes back to Sarmayeh Bank as the main repository of Iran Teachers' Reserve Fund and a complex corruption case, which revolves around raiding the fund by corrupt bank officials and well-connected regime insiders. Several trials concerning the Sarmayeh Bank have been held in Iran. Earlier this year, Parviz Kazemi labor minister from 2005 to 2006 in hardline president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's cabinet, was sentenced to 20 years, and 24 lashes. Sarmayeh Bank managers Ali Bakhshayesh, and Mohammad Reza Tavassoli have also been convicted. Sarmayeh bank's principal shareholder is Iran's Teachers' Reserve Fund. The current legal suit was filed when an irregularity amounting to 150 trillion rials (about $3.6bn) was discovered at the fund. The fund has 800,000 members, all employed by the education ministry or retirees, who receive annual interest based on their monthly deposits. The prosecutor claims 150 trillion rials (roughly $3.6bn) of the fund's assets went missing as a result of fraud committed by the defendants. Mohammad Emami, the producer of the popular TV series, Shahrzad, is also implicated in the case. There are currently at least 10 economic-corruption trials under way in the special courts in Tehran, including cases involving financial institutions and petrochemical companies President Akufo-Addo has called on businesses in the country to make the necessary expertise and resources available to make the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Delivery Fund operational. The fund, when operational, is expected to provide support to transformational actions and human development projects that are geared towards attaining the SDG at the community level. The projects include sinking of boreholes, establishment of reading centres for deprived communities, organising teacher training programmes, executing ready for work programmes for the youth and scaling up of innovation through multi-purpose innovation centres. He emphasised the importance of businesses in attaining the SDG, which is aimed at ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring prosperity for all. Without stronger actions from businesses the SDGs would remain a mere aspiration, he said. The President also announced the establishment of a core group of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) as an advisory body on businesses and SDG. The group has already adopted a framework to coordinate corporate social responsibility and sustainability activities of companies. The president made the call in a speech read on his behalf by the Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia at the 4th edition of the Ghana CEO Summit, which was held in Accra. The summit was themed, The Futuristic Economy: Technology-Driven Future of Business and Governance for Economic Transformation. The President said that the profitability, competiveness and survival of businesses largely depend on technologies, which are the drivers of modern businesses. Sadly some of our local technologies have some catching up to do in terms of streamlining their business operations he said. The Vice President also indicated that the role of technology in governance is crucial in linking state institutions with the public, as well as providing convenient ways to reduce cost, improve performance and increase ease of doing business. He also attributed the low ranking of the country on the Doing Business Index to the structure of the countrys public administration. As a governance instrument for the ruling class, its rigid, unbending, centralised and slow to respond to public need, he said. The sector, he said, requires technological innovation to leapfrog activities of public administration, hence the introduction of the digitalisation agenda by the government. Dr Bawumia, however, cited the conventional nature of some Ghanaians and pessimistic approach to changes to the status quo as some challenges in improving the ease of doing business in the country. He advised corporate institutions to adopt proper records keeping systems and structures, adding that family businesses should pay more attention to succession plans. 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 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company Hanan Abdul-Wahab has announced that the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) is poised to ensure that it delivers on its mandate of feeding students under the free SHS programme and stabilizing prices of grains on the market. He disclosed this to DAILY GUIDE editors yesterday when he and his officers paid a working visit to the Western Publications Group to familiarize themselves with activities of the newspaper. He disclosed how his outfit constantly monitors the food supplies so beneficiaries of the free SHS are fed sufficiently. To this end, he said he pays unannounced visits to schools and eats the meals of the students so he can assess the quality and quantity of what is being fed the beneficiaries of the programme. The media, he said, is crucial in telling the story of NAFCO, a state agency responsible for supplying grains and other food items to schools under the free SHS across the country. It plays an important role in the socio-economic development of the country. Apart from the senior high schools, he said NAFCO also plays a role in the School Feeding Programme, and is working hard to engage with Prisons Service, Police, Ghana Health service and some local government institutions. He said NAFCO plays a role in the stabilization of prices of grains on the market which it does through the release of its stock of critical grains it buys from farm gates, among others. The CEO said that the challenge of inadequate storage facilities by the company is being addressed through the Presidents One District, One Warehouse initiative. This and the other flagship initiatives such as the Planting For Food And Jobs are areas in which NAFCO is active and hopes to make a mark. Eighty warehouses are already operational across the country, he announced, adding that in July one more would be commissioned in the Yagba Kubore part of the newly created North Eastern Region. One of his long-term programmes is to ensure an acceptance of locally produced rice in schools. This, according to him, is being hampered by inadequate production by farmers and a taste for imported ones. The team visited the press, newsroom and the studios of the Guide Radio and DGN. Arnold Arkah, Senior Operations Manager and Emmanuel J.K. Arthur, Head of Communications accompanied him on the visit. 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 fire burning up in the University of Education (UEW) seem not to have been quenched as some dismissed staff are set to go to court. If you may recall after the school was reopened following a shutdown, Vice Chancellor of the school, Rev Prof Afful-Broni was asked to reinstate the dismissed lecturers. However, it seems that has not been done. As a result, Alexander Afenyo Markin, Member of Parliament for the Effutu constituency has hinted that some of the parties involved will be going to court. I can state on record that by close of day, if they are not reinstated some of them will be going to court and I am going to represent them, he stated on Peace FM's morning show Kokrokooo, Wednesday. The UEW has been experiencing some challenges after Prof. Afful-Broni dismissed some lecturers; a situation which sparked student protests that led to the school being shut down indefinitely.The dismissed lecturers included local University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) President, Dr. Frimpong Kakyire Duku and the Principal of the Colleges of Languages at UEW, Prof. Ephraim Avea Nsoh.A senior lecturer popular with the students, Dr. Emmanuel Osei Sarpong, also had his appointment terminated.The students protests were backed by UTAG, which called the sackings baseless.Subsequently, it was decided after a series of meetings that the dismissed teachers be reinstated. 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 Ghana National Chief Imam Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu has commended Twellium Industrial company Limited for their effort toward the 2nd Edition of the National Quran Recitation Competition and encourages the public to patronize their products. The Holy Month of Ramadan is one of the important months in the muslim calendar, because it is discribed as the month of love, sharing, tolerence, meditating and reciting the Holy Quran. And to encourage the Muslims youth to recite the Holy Quran during this holy month of Fasting, Twellium Industry Ghana Limited producer of Rush Enegy Drink, Verna Mineral Water, Run Energy Drink, Planet, and more launched the 2nd edition of the Twellium National Quran Recitation Competition by paying a visite to the National Chief Imams house as usual every year to wish him Ramadan Mubarack and donate some beverage products from Twellium Industry Ghana Limited. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu endorsed the Quran recital competition and called on Muslims to support the organisers since it will help to educate members of the Muslim community to properly understand the doctrine of the Quran. As fasting in the month of Ramadan, the 4th pillar of Islam, the National Cheif Iman Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu in his residence at Fadama in Accra formulated prayers by endorsing the 2nd edition of the Twellium National Quran Recitation as well as encouraging more tolerence during and after the holy month of Ramadan and calling to support the organisers of this competition. Twellium Industry Ghana Limited also visited the leadership of the Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah ( ASWAJ ) Ghana and the Haj Board Chairman Cheick IC Quaye residence by donating some Twellium beverage products, they also endorsed the 2nd edition of the Twellium National Quran Recitation by giving some words of advice to the entire muslims that the practice of Ramadan should be in their daily life. The competition which is at its second edition will see winners rewarded by Twellium Industry Ghana Limited.The overall winner will receive a return ticket to Mecca this year while consolation prizes will be given to the other winners. It will be a 2 day event at the Accra international Conference Center on 25th and 26th May respectively. 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 Supreme Court has set June 19, 2019, to determine whether or not the Attorney General (AG) should return to an Accra High Court to complete the trial of Gregory Afoko, one of the accused persons in the murder of the Upper East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Adams Mahama. His lawyers in February filed an application at the apex court challenging the decision of the AG to discontinue the trial by filing a Nolle Prosequi due to the arrest of another suspect in the matter, Asabke Alagdi, in Cote dIvoire. Earlier Trial Afoko was on trial before an Accra High Court on the charge of murder to which he pleaded not guilty. The state closed its case after calling 14 prosecution witnesses, including the wife of the late Adams Mahama, to prove its case against the accused. Afoko subsequently opened his defence and vehemently denied the charges preferred against him. He called his elder brother, John Afoko, as the only witness in the matter. The court, presided over by Justice Lawrence L. Mensah, ordered Afoko to file his statement. Both parties also took turns to address the court before the decision of the jury. Nolle Prosequi But on January 28, 2019, the state entered Nolle Prosequi to discontinue the matter, which had been before the court since 2016, owing to the arrest of Asabke Alangdi, who fled to Cote dIvoire to escape arrest. But lawyers for Afoko filed a motion at the apex court to challenge the decision of the AG to enter Nolle Prosequi. Fate A Supreme Court presided over by Justice Julius Ansah and assisted by Justices Jones Dotse, Anin Yeboah, Gabriel Pwamang, Samuel Marful-Sau, Agnes M.A. Dordzie and Nii Ashie Kotey, as members, set June 11 to give its judgment. This was after Afokos lawyer, Osafo Buabeng and Marina Appiah Ohene, a Chief State Attorney, told the court that they had filed their memorandum of agreed issues which the court should consider. Gregory Afoko and Asabke Alangdi are before the magistrate court on two counts of conspiracy to commit crime and murder of Adams Mahama, who died of severe acid burns. The two, who have been accused of pouring acid on the late NPP member, were taken into the custody of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) pending the trial. 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 Information reaching DGN Online indicates that workers in the Chereponi district of the North East region have fled the area due to the renewed clashes between the Konkombas and Chokosis. The workers loaded in two separate buses left the Chereponi district through Togo to Tamale for their safety. According to them, the shooting of the district coordinating director indicated that workers in the district were not safe. They have stated that they would only go back to the Chereponi district when calm returns. A teacher, Seidu Rashid, told DGN Online that the security personnel deployed in the area were not enough to take charge of the situation. The fight started on Sunday between the people of Nambiri Zongo, a Chokosi community and a Konkomba community called Tombo, both in the Saboba District over a piece of farm land. 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 Three persons have been arrested following a violent protest by some youth of the two Krobo municipalities in the Eastern Region as they resisted an action by the Power Distribution Company (PDS) to recover an GH84 million debt owed by residents. There was chaos at Kpongunor, a suburb of Odumase-Krobo, as personnel of PDS were chased out by some irate youth despite the presence of police escort. A similar exercise to collect arrears or disconnect metres of those who have defaulted in payment of electricity bills at Kpong and Nuaso, two communities also in the same area, was successful in the previous week. However, upon entering Kpongunor last Monday at about 11:30 a.m., some youth, numbering about 500, massed up and attacked the PDS officials from the Krobo District and their police escort, and prevented them from carrying out the exercise. Police report The Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Mr Ebenezer Tetteh, said on receipt of the report, Police quickly mobilised and got to the scene where about 500 youth were met chanting and singing war songs, with the main road blocked with logs. He said the police quickly moved in and cleared the road for free vehicular and human movement. However, DSP Tetteh said, some youth, who were not happy about the police action, started pelting personnel with stones and other missiles. He said but for the timely reinforcement from the divisional command led by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Mr C.B. Bediako, and others, the situation could have escalated. Meanwhile, the situation is being monitored. Men based at Nuaso Police Station are on standby for any eventuality, DSP Tetteh said. Home opinion Speaking to Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity, an eye witness who is also an opinion leader in the community, said the youth were summoned to action by the Nadu war drums, a traditional call to mobilise, as soon as the PDS personnel entered the community. The source said I also come from here but I totally disagree with what my people are doing. It said some of the residents had failed to pay their electricity bills for two years after similar violent clashes with the then Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) in 2017. At that time, some of my people had complained of over-billing by the ECG which led to the violent clashes, the source said. Restrategise When contacted, the Krobo District Regional Director of the PDS, Mr Edward Okyere, confirmed the incident, and said the company would restrategise to collect the debt. He said even though residents owed so much, they did not want the PDS personnel to disconnect their electricity which generated the scuffle. Source: Daily Graphic 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 Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Tuesday said the 2020 population census will count every Ghanaian including those in slums, and the homeless, to enable the government fight inequality. "To fight inequality we must count everyone and make everyone accountable to pay their fair share in taxes that would be used to target assistance to those who may not have had access to critical social services previously", he stated. Vice President Bawumia said a digitized formal economy remained crucial plank of the Ghana Beyond Aid Agenda, thus the population and housing census would cover access to social amenities - water, healthcare, educational infrastructure and housing conditions as well. For this reason, Vice President Bawumia explained that the nation was rolling out the Ghana Identification Card to provide legal identity to her citizens, as well as established the digital address system for easy identification. The Vice President stated this at a dinner in Accra, organised by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) to welcome fellows attending the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data's Press Fellowship (GPSDD) to Ghana. Eight Journalists from Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, United States and United Kingdom are currently in the country for the four-day Data4SDGs Press fellowship underway in Accra. The United Nations Foundation (UNF) is sponsoring the fellows attending the programme, being organised by GPSDD in collaboration with the GSS. Vice President Bawumia noted there was huge emerging potential in the Africa Regional Data Cube to quantify deforestation or harmful mining activities across enormous swathes of land thus the need for a chance to exchange deep and valuable learning among African governments. "We cannot begin to solve intractable diseases, complex problems like fast-spreading diseases, polluted rivers, poor waste management systems without up to date data", he said. The Vice President observed that achieving the SDGs required informed choices about priorities and strategies that were based on better evidence than is available today saying improving sustainable development data remained a huge task for all. Political leadership, combined with the right institutional framework; financial, technical and human resources and partnership among public and private data producers and users are crucial for data to enable development. "Mobilizing political will and moral courage is not going to be enough if we do not have the right evidence - evidence that points us to making the right decisions", the Vice President explained. Professor Kobina Annim, the Government Statistician, said Ghana had taken different and new trajectory for data collection to produce reliable data to push sustainable development. He said the GSS had taken a transformational approach in data management saying with the current technological advancement in data collection, the 2020 population and housing census would enable Ghana to maintain her global attention. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Five NGO workers in Zimbabwe have been charged with plotting to overthrow the government. They appeared before a Harare magistrate, where they were alleged to have received training in the Maldives in acts of terrorism and civil disobedience. The state says they had attended a workshop there organised by a Serbian group. The five were arrested at Harare airport on their return. The state believes they were trained to operate firearms and to mobilise citizens to turn against the government and to evade arrest. The police say others are still at large. The five deny the charges. Their lawyers accuse President Emmerson Mnangagwas government of targeting human rights defenders and citizens. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A family in Granada, Spain was shocked to discover that the constant buzzing coming from behind their bedroom wall turned out to be a massive bee colony numbering over 80,000 honey bees. Spanish social media has been buzzing with the news of a couple in Pinos Puente, Granada, who recently asked a local beekeeper to investigate the increasingly loud buzz sound coming from behind their bedroom wall. They had been hearing it for a while and had long come to the conclusion that it must be caused by bees, but it wasnt until the buzzing got so loud that they couldnt sleep at night that they decided to get professional help. Beekeeper Sergio Guerrero had helped remove bee colonies from their properties before, but what he found behind the wall of this particular house left him speechless a hive of over 80,000 bees and honey combs over a meter long. To have a swarm this big, it could have been buzzing in its ear for a year, Guerrero told La Vanguardia. I can not understand how they have been living with that number of bees for so long. The beekeeper said that a queen can lay up to 1,400 eggs per day, but he estimates that a hive this large must have taken the bees at least two years to build. Although he has helped remove over half a million bees from peoples properties this year alone, he admits that he has never seen anything quite like this before. Guerrero advises people who notice signs of a beehive close to their homes to leave the insects alone and instead call a professional as soon as possible. Source: odditycentral.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Inmates of the Kumasi Central Prisons have pleaded with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to grant presidential pardon and amnesty to their colleagues who have served for so many years. The leader of the inmates, J.M. Aikins, said there are ill and aged inmates who have served several years rendering their lives miserable. He said Ghanaian prison inmates, especially those at the Kumasi Central Prions, have not had a presidential pardon or amnesty since the New Patriotic Party came into office in 2017. Mr Aikins said the Kumasi Central Prisons has become congested, adding that pardoning some of the inmates will greatly help the situation. He, thus, pleaded with the president to exercise his power of pardon. Mr Aikins said this when Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Wednesday, 22 May 2019 opened a water system at the Kumasi Central Prisons. Dr Bawumia said water supply systems initially installed in the prisons were no longer adequate because of the constant increase in the population of inmates. He said the government will ensure equitable water supply to all the prisons in the country. Source: classfmonline.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 Northern Regional Security Council has placed a partial ban on the use of motorbikes in the Chereponi and Saboba districts of the Northern Region. This follows the resurgence of violence between the Chokosis and Konkombas. Two Konkombas were killed while a Chokosi suffered gunshot wound in the renewed communal clashes which started on Saturday, 18 May 2019 at Naduni where feuding locals prevented each other from farming a disputed land. The incident spread to other communities on Sunday. In a statement issued and signed by the Chairman of the Northern Regional Security Council, Mr Salifu Saeed on Tuesday, 22 May 2019, REGSEC disclosed that health workers, teachers, public servants and women have been exempted from the ban. REGSEC also assured the residents that the security agencies have put in place adequate measures to protect them. 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 MINISTER of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, has lamented over the high numbers of uncollected passports nationwide. According to her, from 2010 to 2018, there were 20,000 uncollected passports nationwide. She explained meanwhile, the office continues to be saddled with uncollected passports. She disclosed that about 20,000 printed passports spanning the period 2010 to 2018 remain to be collected across the country. The Minister was addressing journalists on Wednesday in Accra after commissioning two new passport centres in Koforidua and Tema. She noted attempts were made to publish the names and passport numbers of some uncollected passports, but this seemed to have infringed on Data Protection Laws of the country. She added the Ministry is therefore discussing alternative methods of informing the public on uncollected passports. However, she stated that government would consider steps to address the situation. The Minister added the Ministry is also considering a home delivery service option to reduce the incidence of uncollected passports. 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 Light Foundation, an Accra based Islamic non-governmental foundation has supported some Muslim rural communities with food items to enable them go through the Ramadan period successfully. The foundation this year supported four rural based communities under its Ramadan food package project in the Northern region of Ghana. The beneficiary communities included Balshei, Janna, Nangbagu Yepala and Nangbagu Yekura all based in the Tamale Metropolis and Sagnerigu Municipality. The Ramadan Food Package to hundreds of poor Muslims across the four communities included bags of rice, cooking oil, sugar, flour, salt and other assorted items. The beneficiaries also received copies of the Holy Quran to enable them gain deeper understanding of Islam. The C.E.O of the Light Foundation, Sheikh Ali Napari speaking to the media thanked the benevolent Muslim Community in the UK who sponsored this years version of the Ramadan Food Package. He added that the sponsors are driven by the Islamic teachings of benevolence and sharing with the less-privileged in society as was done by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW). The C.E.O of the Light Foundation presenting the items to the beneficiaries stated that about GHC 20,000 has been spent on this years package. He underscored the need for Muslims to cultivate the habit of sharing, no matter how little they have with their neighbours, this is the way of the Holy Prophet and Islam. Sheikh Ali, also thanked the communities for receiving them warmly in the spirit of Islam. The beneficiaries across the four communities expressed their gratitude to The Light Foundation for the food items and the Qurans given them. They stated that this will go a long way to help them observe their fasting properly and Worship Almighty Allah with a peaceful mind. They also prayed for the sponsors of the package and The Light Foundation for giving back to them in the Holy month of Ramadan. 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 President Nana Akufo-Addo on Tuesday toured some parts of the Greater Accra Region to inspect ongoing dredging works on the Odaw river, and the construction of a storm drain at Kaneshie 1st Light, in Accra, aimed at reducing the flooding situation in the capital. Currently, there are some twenty-one (21) dredging and desilting works currently ongoing in the Greater Accra. Additionally, there are 11 storm drains currently under construction in some selected areas in the capital. But the Member of Parliament for Lower Manya constituency, Ebenezer Terlabi says the President's tour will amount to nothing. Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Tuesday, he said instead of going on tour, he should sit with various stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the problem. "There is a lack of coordination as far as development in this country is concerned. We need to sit down and fashion out alternatives . . . Akufo-Addo going on tour will not solve the problem. He needs to sit with all the stakeholders and really analyze the cause of the problem and how to solve it," he indicated. Watch video below 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 Some key elements within the National Democratic Congress have put the Electoral Commission (EC) under the spotlight and registered their doubt, over the neutrality of the body to conduct the 2020 general elections. Former President Mahama has joined the fray but has been quickly warned by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party to stop attacking the EC by creating an impression, it will be one-sided during the 2020 elections. Mr. Bernard Antwi-Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi asserted that the greater works of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia on Ghanas economy, were enough to make electorates retain the New Patriotic Party in 2020 and beyond. Developments such as the ongoing construction of a small-town water system at Yapei and the introduction and adoption of comprehensive Mobile Money Interoperability (MMI) in Ghana to solve the problem of ensuring basic financial inclusion, according to Chairman Wontumi, were some of the few things that would make voters from rural areas prefer the NPP in 2020. In an interview on Citi News, former President Mahama stated that the EC is not a secret society and all processes they are engaged in should be opened up to all political parties. When the EC starts behaving like the representatives of political parties are a nuisance [to the commission] then this affects the trust and confidence the people have in the EC [which is supposed to be] a neutral arbiter, the former President added. But Chairman Wontumi noted that the statements by former President Mahama about the EC were unfounded and reckless. He stated that even if former President Mahamas wife Lordina is made Chairperson of the EC, he would lose miserably. He shouldnt think for once that he has a greater chance to win the 2020 elections. He knows the grounds arent good for him so he is deliberately painting the EC black. This approach wont work for him. 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 convener of pressure group, Free Media Vanguard (FMV), Mr Prince Minkah, who recently organised the March for Free Expression, has been attacked at his home in Accra. The unknown assailants broke into Mr Minkahs home around 2 a.m. on Wednesday, 22 May 2019, and smashed the windscreen and glass windows of his car. The Radio XYZ and Power FM broadcaster told ClassFMonline.com that the attackers fled the scene after his neighbour fired warning shots upon hearing strange noises on Mr Minkahs compound. Mr Minkah said he later came out to inspect the damage cause to his car by the attackers after his neighbour called him up. Apart from the destruction caused to his car, he said some documents in it were also destroyed by the assailants as if they were on a mission to look for something. The assailants, however, did not steal any property from his vehicle. The incident occurred less than 24 hours after Mr Minkah led protestors on a march and presented a petition to have authorisation licences for the radio stations that were closed, restored. Even though he was unharmed, Mr Minkah said he fears for his safety as it appears the operation was a targeted attack on my life. The incident has been reported to the police station and an investigator has been assigned to the case. This will not be the first time an attack has been launched against a journalist of Radio XYZ. A reporter with the sation, Wisdom Hededzome, was brutally assaulted about a week before the latest incident. Source: classfmonline.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 A Governance Expert, Eric Oduro Osae has described former President John Dramani Mahamas comment about the Electoral Commission [EC] and its Chairperson as something that must be treated with some seriousness. John Mahama has cast doubts over the Electoral Commissions (EC) ability to conduct neutral general elections in 2020. He told Citi News in an exclusive interview that the EC needs to be more open with the political parties ahead of election 2020. Ahead of the election, Mr. Mahama said the EC needed to prove doubters wrong. They need to prove us wrong. We have our doubts that they can be neutral and fair . . . the current posture and the way they are conducting things makes us doubt that they will be neutral and fair in 2020. The EC is not a secret society. It is not somebodys private closet that needs to be shut and us not know what is going on there . . . they should open all the process. When the EC starts behaving like the representatives of political parties are a nuisance [to the commission] . . . then this affects the trust and confidence the people have in the EC [which is supposed to be] a neutral arbiter, the former President said. Speaking on NEAT FMs evening political show The Torch Light, with Mac Jerry Osei Agyeman, Mr Erica Oduro Osae noted that Mahamas comment must not be ignored, it carries a lot of weight. Listen to interview Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Washman007 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 Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa has reiterated that no one will be disenfranchised in the upcoming limited voter registration exercise. If you may recall the opposition National Democratic Congress have been up in arms with the EC because they claim the limited voter registration, scheduled to take place at the Commissions district offices, nationwide is a calculated attempt to disenfranchise some Ghanaians. However, the EC boss disagrees. Madam Jean Mensa who led a team of EC officials to Peace FM, Wednesday said the EC will ensure that no one will be disenfranchised. Watch video below 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 The Greater Accra regional branch Chairman of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Ras Caleb Appiah Levi, has launched his manifesto with a promise to change the structures of MUSIGA and make it attractive for musicians. 2019 is an election year for MUSIGA and the race to replace Bice Osei Kuffour also known as Obuor is getting competitive. Some notable members of the organisation have started filing for the position. Speaking to ClassFMonline.coms Ahmed Kollene on the sidelines of the launch of his manifesto in Kumasi on Tuesday, 21 May 2019, Ras Caleb said if he is elected president of MUSIGA, he will put in place the necessary structures so that artistes like Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy and others will find MUSIGA attractive to become members. MUSIGA is not strong enough, so, musicians will not listen to us, but when I come to power, Ill bring Shatta Wale, Stonebwoy and all the so-called wayward [artistes] on board. I dont see them to be wayward though, but were going to bring them to the union because Ive heard that they are ready to join MUSIGA but the union is not strong enough, the union must be strong, Ras Caleb said. Ras Caleb disclosed that he is contesting for the position because the union, as it stands now, has abandoned its members, especially its regional executives. MUSIGA has abandoned its members, especially those in the regions. They dont take regional issues seriously, if they were passionate about us, the regional executives, I, Ras Caleb, will not bother myself contesting for this position, Ill rather stand for the Chairman position for MUSIGA Greater Accra Region and wait for the right time, he stated, adding that: People keep asking: where is the GHS2 million that was given to MUSIGA? What did we do with the $100,000 that Kofi Amoah gave to MUSIGA? Go to Greater Accra Region and ask, our sign boards are broken down and we cant even fix it because we dont have money. Ras Caleb will be competing with veteran highlife singer Bessa Simons for the MUSIGA presidency. Source: Classfmonline.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 We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form A fire burns near High Level, Alta. on May 21, 2019 in this handout photo from the Alberta Government. Despite heavy smoke, officials say a lighter wind out of the northeast has allowed for great progress on reining in a wildfire that's forced thousands of people from their homes in northern Alberta. Authorities say the Chuckegg Creek fire remains out of control as it churns about three kilometres south of High Level, but favourable weather on Tuesday allowed crews to protect power poles west and south of the community. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Chris Schwarz, Government of Alberta *MANDATORY CREDIT* An antibiotic is an agent that either kills or inhibits the growth of a microorganism. This useful infographic outlines some of the major c... 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: Plaintiffs appeal against refusal to shut down notorious Moscow Regions landfill TASS, Stanislav Krasilnikov 10:53 22/05/2019 MOSCOW, May 22 (RAPSI) Authorities of Volokolamsk town have appealed against the Moscow Regional Commercial Courts refusal to grant their claim to shut down a notorious solid waste landfill Yadrovo, according to court records. The Volokolamsk town administrations lawsuit was dismissed on April 18. The court held that this damage may be removed with the further exploitation of the landfill but in compliance with legislation. The Volokolamsk authorities filed their lawsuit last summer. The defendant in the case is Yadrovo company. On June 19, 2018, the Volokolamsk City Court of the Moscow Region dismissed a lawsuit lodged by residents of the area, who asked to recover 1.4 million rubles ($21,800) in compensation from a company behind Yadrovo landfill. The plaintiffs asked to compensate their moral damages, stop collection and transportation of waste by the company and organize redevelopment measures at the landfill. According to the claimants, the company failed to meet its obligations regarding management of the site and violated their Constitutional right to live in beneficial environment and caused deterioration to the health of local residents. The defendants said that there was no cause and consequence effect between gas emissions and health problems of the plaintiffs, asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit. Local authorities also supported that motion. Earlier, the court dismissed several other lawsuits against the landfill. In March 2018, the Volokalamsk districts authorities initiated emergency protocol and announced measures to liquidate the consequences of ecological violations during exploitation of the landfill. Yadrovo company was fined 150,000 rubles ($2,300) by the Volokolamsk City Court. International sanctions center to help businesses seek damages in court RAPSI collage 11:33 22/05/2019 MOSCOW, May 22 (RAPSI) The International Sanctions Analysis Center will help countries and businesses count and seek compensation for damages caused by sanctions in the international arbitration, the Modern Diplomacy Development Foundations press service reports Wednesday. Sanctioned states and businesses as well as their partners are both interested in lifting the restrictions, the news release reads. According to the Bundestag member Robby Schlund, German citizens, firstly medium business, have seriously suffered from anti-Russian sanctions, which were forced on Germany by the European Union and USA. These measures hurt entrepreneurs and reduced earnings of the Germans, he said after signing the memorandum on cooperation with the Foundation. The Germans are interested in lifting sanctions and recovering damages and losses, he added. The Internationals Sanctions Analysis Centers working group includes lawmakers, economists, bank top managers, ex-court employees and lawyers from Austria, US, Russia, Germany and other countries, according to the Modern Diplomacy Development Foundations statement reads. It is also expected that similar agreements will be signed with leading experts of France, Italy, Poland, Switzerland, Montenegro, Serbia and others, the statement reads. First life sentence for drug dealing takes effect in Russia flickr.com/ TheOneShot (Gunnar Marquardt) 13:14 22/05/2019 MOSCOW, May 22 (RAPSI) - The first life sentence given in Russia for drug smuggling has become effective, the Interior Ministrys spokesperson Irina Volk has told journalists. The Moscow Regional Court convicted and sentenced the drug syndicate organizer Sherali Tabarov in December 2017. The man was found guilty of illegal drug trade and organization of a criminal group. Later, the Supreme Court of Russia upheld the ruling against the defendant and other members of the drug syndicate, who received prison terms ranging from 6 to 23 years. The Prosecutor Generals Office earlier claimed that Tabarov along with his accomplices transferred nearly 700 kilograms of heroin to Russia and Tajikistan from Afghanistan in a span of 3 years. The gang leader was captured in 2014 but it took a year to apprehend other members of the criminal group. Russian Lawyers Associations chair proposes to develop new drafts of legal codes RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 15:55 22/05/2019 MOSCOW, May 22 (RAPSI) Chairman of the Association of Russian Lawyers Vladimir Gruzdev proposed to develop a new draft of the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code during the Stolypin Forums business protection session on Wednesday. He proposed to create a special working group to develop the draft. According to Gruzdev, the need of the new draft codes is caused by numerous amendments violating the legal framework. The Stolypin Forum is a platform for constructive dialogue between Russian and foreign experts, governmental bodies and development institutions, representatives of business-community and mass media, the events website reads. During the session concerning protection of business entrepreneurs and heads of government bodies discuss aid to prosecuted businesspersons and steps to drop the enforcement pressure and soften its consequences. Federation Council removes senator Arashukov charged with murder RIA Novosti, Vladimir Pesnya 12:19 22/05/2019 MOSCOW, May 22 (RAPSI) The Federation Council has terminated senators powers of Rauf Arashukov charged with murder and participating in a gang, a statement of the upper house of parliament reads. According to the Federation Councils Deputy Chair Yury Vorobyev, an upper houses commission revealed that Arashukov had not submitted his and his relatives tax declarations in time. On March 12, the court suspended Arashukov from the exercise of his duties in the Federation Council. In April, Moscows Basmanny District Court ordered the seizure of assets belonging to Arashukov. The seizure has been applied to monetary funds, land plots, cars and residential houses. Rauf Arashukov was arrested and detained in late January. The upper house of parliament stripped him of immunity and gave consent to his prosecution upon an application by the Prosecutor General. He stands charged with murder, participation in a gang and witness tampering. According to investigators, ex-Federation Council member was involved in the murder of a Karachay-Cherkessia public youth movements deputy chairman Aslan Zhukov and the republican presidents advisor Fral Shebzukhov in 2010. Moreover, investigators believe that the former senator is implicated to natural gas embezzlement from Gazprom company. He has pleaded not guilty. Congratulates political leadership on occasion of 29th National Day: Ministry of Justice [22/May/2019] p class="MsoNormal" dir="LTR" style="text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi: embed">SANAA, MAY 22 (Saba) - The Minister of Justice, Ahmad Abdullah, sent a cable of congratulations to the President of the Supreme Political Council, Mahdi Al-Mashat andhis members on the occasion of the 29th National Day of the Republic of Yemen, May 22. He pointed out that the twenty-ninth anniversary of the Yemeni unity comes in light of a reality full of conspiracies, challenges and risks, as well as come in the month of Ramadan good. The Minister of Justice stressed the importance of strengthening cohesion and adherence to the values and principles of the brotherhood of faith. Amal saba Congratulates political leadership on occasion of 29th National Day: HM [22/May/2019] p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:left;direction:ltr;unicode-bidi:embed">SANAA, MAY 22 (Saba) - The Healthy minister Dr/ Taha Al Mutawakil sent a cable of congratulations to the President of the Supreme Political Council, Mahdi Al-Mashat andhis members on the occasion of the 29th National Day of the Republic of Yemen, May 22. The Minister of Health pointed that the people of Yemen will continue its struggle against the forces of colonialism and its ambitions of occupation until the expulsion of the invaders. Amal saba The constituents of BJP-led NDA allies on Tuesday expressed full faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of results of Lok Sabha elections, saying the past five years have brought about a change in Indias perception that it was a soft state. At the meeting attended by leaders of 36 parties, including Bihar Chief Minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackery and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal, the leaders expressed full confidence about the victory of the alliance on May 23 and said 2019 will be "a decisive moment" in history. Leaders from AIADMK, Chief Minister Edappadi K.Palanisamy, his deputy O. Panneerselvam and those from Asom Gana Parishad, and AJSU also attended the meeting. They said the ruling alliance had become "a principal pillar" of Indian politics. In his remarks, Modi said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was an "organic entity", " stronger than before" and "a strong pillar to fulfill regional aspirations". He said the election narrative was seeing a change and said "the poor were the biggest caste". Briefing reporters after the meeting, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that Modi and other NDA leaders expressed concern over attempts by the opposition to raise questions over Election Commission's credibility. They said that there could be global branding of Indian general election, but the opposition was creating roadblocks. He said NDA was committed to addressing problems of all regions. The meeting passed a resolution which hailed the development initiatives of the NDA government and noted that it had raised India's stature in the world. "There has been a change in the perception that India is a soft state. The era of India being a soft state has ended," Rajnath Singh said, adding that India has achieved success in diplomacy and security. The NDA, he said, has left a new mark in governance. Singh said the the NDA has firm plans for the next five years and it will invest Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure and take the economy to new heights. "We are committed to making the country strong, prosperous, developed -- as per the dream of the freedom fighters," he said. Food Minister and Lok Janshakti Party leader Ram Vilas Paswan said the election was "a tsunami" and not a mere wave in favour of Modi. He said candidates sought votes in the name of Modi. "All of us expressed our faith in the leadership of the Prime Minister," he added. He said NDA had shown how an alliance can be run successfully and noted that Modi had shown a big heart in dealing with allies. He attacked opposition parties for raising questions over EVMs, saying they have nothing to say when they win elections. BJP sources said leaders from Apna Dal (Sonelal), Pattali Makkal Katchi, Naga People's Front, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Tamil Maanila Congress, Sikkim Democratic Front, Republican Party of India (A), Bodoland People's Front, Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party, All India N.R. Congress, Rashtriya Loktantrik Party, National People's Party, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha and Shiv Sangram attended the meeting. Other leaders were from Goa Forward Party, Indigenous People's Front of Tripura, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, Bharath Dharmajana Sena, Kerala Congress (Thomas), Nishad Party, Puthiya Needhi Katchi, Rabha Hasong Joint Movement, All India Moovendar Munnani Kazhagam, Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, Tamil Nadu Kongu Ilaingar Peravai, Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam, Naga People's Front, All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi, Indian Makkal Kalvi Munnetra Kazhagam and Puratchi Bharatham. The Supreme Court has taken exception to the strike called by lawyers in West Bengal since April 29. Terming the strike extraordinary, the court observed that it is having major implication on the fundamental right of life and liberty of citizens, many of whom want to move court seeking bail. A vacation bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna made this observation during a hearing of a petition filed by eight persons arrested under the provisions of the West Bengal Gambling and Prize Competition Act, who moved the court seeking bail. The petitioners were arrested in an alleged IPL betting racket. The court directed the petitioners, in connection with bail plea, that they would be produced on Wednesday before the Calcutta High Court. "It is, however, made clear that this order is not to be construed as any observation with regard to entitlement of the petitioners to bail," the court observed. The court observed that the strike called by the Bar Council of West Bengal is creating obstruction for these petitioners, who sought relief from the court. The counsel appearing for the accused submitted to the court that the Chief Judicial Magistrate rejected their bail plea on April 26. And, as the lawyers are on strike in the state, the petitoners could not seek any legal remedy. Ancient toy inspires tool for state-of-the-art science A 5,000-year-old toy still enjoyed by kids today has inspired an inexpensive, hand-powered scientific tool that could not only impact how field biologists conduct their research but also allow high-school students and others with limited resources to realize their own state-of-the-art experiments. The device, a portable centrifuge for preparing scientific samples including DNA, is reported May 21 in the journal PLOS Biology. The co-first author of the paper is Gaurav Byagathvalli, a senior at Lambert High School in Georgia. His colleagues are M. Saad Bhamla, an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Soham Sinha, a Georgia Tech undergraduate; Janet Standeven, Byagathvalli's biology teacher at Lambert; and Aaron F. Pomerantz, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. "I am exceptionally proud of this paper and will remember it 10, 20, 30 years from now because of the uniquely diverse team we put together," said Bhamla, who is an assistant professor in Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. From a Rainforest to a High School Together the team demonstrated the device, dubbed the 3D-Fuge because it is created through 3D printing, in two separate applications. In a rainforest in Peru the 3D-Fuge was an integral part of a "lab in a backpack" used to identify four previously-unknown plants and insects by sequencing their DNA. Back in the United States, a slightly different design enabled a new approach to creating living bacterial sensors for the potential detection of disease. That work was conducted at Lambert High School for a synthetic biology competition. Thanks to social media and a preprint of the PLOS Biology paper on BioRxiv, the 3D-Fuge has already generated interest from around the world, including emails from high-school teachers in Zambia and Kenya. "It's awesome to see research not just remain isolated to one location but see it spread," said Byagathvalli. "Through this, we've realized how much of an impact simple yet effective tools can have, and hope this technology motivates others to continue along the same path and innovate new solutions to global issues." To better share the work, the team has posted the 3D-Fuge designs, videos, and photos online available to anyone. Frugal Science One focus of Bhamla's lab at Georgia Tech is the development of tools for frugal science, or real research that just about anyone can afford. The tools behind state-of-the-art science often cost thousands of dollars that make them inaccessible to those without serious resources. Centrifuges are a good example. A small benchtop unit costs between $3,000 and $5,000; larger units cost many times that. Yet the devices are necessary to produce concentrated amounts of, say, genomic materials like DNA. By rapidly spinning samples, they separate materials of interest from biological debris. The Bhamla team found that the 3D-Fuge works as well as its more expensive cousins, but costs less than $1. An Ancient Toy The 3D-Fuge is based on earlier work by Bhamla and colleagues at Stanford University on a simple centrifuge made of paper. The "paperfuge," in turn, was inspired by a toy composed of string and a button that Bhamla played with as a child. He later discovered that these toys, known as whirligigs, have existed for some 5,000 years. They consist of a disk - like a button - with two holes, through which is threaded a length of flexible cord whose ends are knotted to create a single loop with the disk in the middle. That simple contraption is then swung with two hands until the button is spinning and whirring at very fast speeds. The earlier paperfuge uses a disk of paper. To that disk Bhamla glued small plastic tubes filled with a sample. He and colleagues reported that the device did indeed create high-quality samples. In late 2017 Bhamla was separately approached by the Lambert High team and Pomerantz to see if the paperfuge could be adapted for the larger samples they needed (the paperfuge is limited to small samples of ~1 microliter--or one drop of blood). Together they came up with the 3D-Fuge, which includes cavities for tubes that can hold some 100 times more of a sample than the paperfuge. The team developed two equally effective designs: one for field biology (led by Pomerantz) and the other for the high-school's synthetic biology project (led by Byagathvalli). Bhamla notes that the 3D-Fuge has some limitations. For example, it can only process a few samples at a time (some applications require thousands of samples). Further, because it's 10 times heavier than the paperfuge, it can't reach the same speeds or produce the same forces of that device. That said, it still weighs only 20 grams, slightly less than a AA battery. "But it works," said Bhamla. "All you need is an [appropriate] application and some creativity." ### This work was funded by the National Science Foundation (award no. 181733), the Mindlin Foundation, and the Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalyst Award. CITATION: Gaurav Byagathvalli, Aaron F. Pomerantz, Soham Sinha, Janet Standeven, and M. Saad Bhamla, "A 3D-printed hand-powered centrifuge for molecular biology," (PLOS Biology, 2019) https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1371/ journal. pbio. 3000251 This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- The global anti-reflective glass coatings market is intensified in terms of competition and has robust landscape said by Transparency Market Research. This is majorly due to the presence of a large number of new companies that are actively working in the anti-reflective glass coatings market. For instance, In May 2013, Royal DSM unveiled its brand new KhepriCoat anti-reflective coating producing space at the Chemelot site in the Netherlands. The coating is basically utilized for the solar or sun-oriented application. In March 2015, Zeiss extended its lens coating portfolio and launcehed DuraVision Silver. The item would assist the organization with increasing its range to the cost-conscious user base. There are major organizations in the anti-reflective glass coatings markets like Anthony International, Guardian Glass, Falkberg, Schott AG, and Saint Gobain. Several enterprises as well as PPG, Royal DSM, and Honeywell have started concentrating on the solar application section for quickly rising demand for the item. Request For the Customization @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=33365 According to, the TMR analysts, the global anti-reflective glass coatings market is projected to grow at a stellar 9.5% CAGR in the forecast period of 2017 to 2025 and reach US$1,790.5 mn by the end of 2025. Based on technology, the global anti-reflective coatings market is segmented into physical vapor deposition, and chemical vapor deposition. Among these, the physical vapor deposition segment has the maximum revenue share of the global anti-reflective coatings market. There are factors like superior hardness, oxidation resistance, and wear resistance of physical vapor disposition. These factors are combined with its broad usage in optics, thin films, automotive, watches, aerospace, medical, and cutting tools will drive the physical vapor deposition segment in the global anti-reflective coatings market. Geographically, North America is leading the anti-reflective coatings market. The domination is owing to rising use of these coatings in electronics products which includes smart watches, smartphones, cameras, and tablets is expected to fuel the anti-reflective coatings market growth in the forthcoming years. The technological improvements in electronic devices and augmented eye disease is leading growth of the global anti-reflective coatings market. Rising Demand for Antiglare Lenses and Eyewear Will as a Boon for the Market The global anti-reflective coatings market is projected to feature substantial growth in the forthcoming years. This is due to rising demand for anti-reflective and antiglare lenses and eyewear. The antiglare lenses and eyewear are developed by layering the glass surface with an anti-reflective coating. This coating aids to remove back glare, surge in diffusion and lowers the glare. Rising application in solar, electrical, optical, and electronic usages is projected to drive the anti-reflective coatings market growth in the forthcoming years. The anti-reflective coatings advertise is driven by the developing use of the product in optical and electronic usages. These lenses increment the productivity and improve quality of pictures of several gadgets, for example, monitors and TV screens. The developing semiconductor and electronic sector as well as the rising interest for smartphones and flat panel displays will boost demand in the approaching years. Get PDF Brochure for more Professional & Technical industry insights: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=33365 High Costs Involved in The Production to Deter Growth of the Market A couple of limitations for anti-reflective glass coatings market have been high expenses associated with the manufacturing of these glasses. This is further is projected to hamper the market development to some degree. Anti-reflective coatings are broadly used to expand the effectiveness of solar panels. Quickly rising solar PV industry combined with rising concentration on clean energy development is projected to drive the anti-reflective glass coatings market in the forthcoming years. About Transparency Market Research 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 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email:sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Rockville, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Penetration of automation in the industries has increased the number of occupational hazards. Besides working personnel, industrial accidents pose damage to the machines as well as the finished goods, thereby summing up to the destruction of a significant scale. This has driven the need to improve the safety measures in the industries and the same is addressed by the development of Audio Signaling Devices Market that solely function to reduce the probabilities of industry mishaps. Request TOC of this Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=T&rep_id=3558 Audio signaling devices have been finding their applications in the automotive industry to generate signal during extreme weather conditions like fog to reduce the chances of road accidents. With the increasing need for fuel to facilitate the functions of machines and automotive, there has been an exponential increase in the oil and gas excavation activities. Such activities being susceptible to explosions have been contributing to the adoption rate of audio signaling devices. Audio Signaling Devices Market Competitive Landscape The key focus of the participants operating in the audio signaling market lies in increasing the efficiency of their supply chain and distribution channel. Manufacturers of the audio signaling devices have been defining strategies to leverage the sales opportunities generated by tactical product positioning. A track on the shifting preferences of consumers have also been made and the same is being addressed by the players. Some of the significant partakers functioning in the audio signaling devices market include Moflash Signaling Ltd., Tomar Electronics, E2S Warning Signals, Schneider Electric, R. Stahl AG, Honeywell, Potter Electric Signal Company, LLC, Rockwell Automation, Inc., Eaton Corporation PLC, Werma Signaltechnik GmbH, Federal Signal Corporation, and Patlite Corporation. Moflash Signaling Ltd In January 2019, the company completed the acquisition of Clifford and Snell from R.Stahl, which will serve as a portfolio-enricher to its products. The merger is aimed at meeting the demands of customers in the audio signaling devices market. The company consists of numerous ATEX approvals, which will be an addition to its product lines. E2S Warning Signals The company announced a significant development in the explosion-proof beacons, BExBGL2, with LED light sources and field-replaceable color lenses. The product is user configurable and allows the users to decide the notification of signal duties. The flameproof beacon is the best-suited device for Zone 1, 2, 21, and 22 applications and complies with the IECEx and ATEX standards. Federal Signal Corporation In February 2019, the company announced the expansion of Illinois-based facility to underpin the increasing demand for environmental-safe devices. The company plans to invest in the capacity to supplement the growth potential to the existing facility. The expansion is estimated to add about 100,000 square feet to the current production facility. To know more about the Audio Signaling Devices Market Visit the link- https://www.factmr.com/report/3558/audio-signaling-devices-market Rockwell Automation, Inc., founded in 1903 is an American developer of information technology and industrial automation. The company boasts a rich product portfolio in industrial automation and manufacturing execution system with its clients in over 80 countries across the world. Patlite Corporation Patlite Corporation was incorporated in 1947 and consists of sales subsidiaries in the U.S., Germany, Korea, Singapore, and China. It is a forerunning technology engineering company and a competent manufacturer of sound alarms, LED status indicating lights, and audible communication network system. Audio Signaling Devices Market Dynamics Customizable Nature of Audio Signaling Devices to Boost their Sales The primary factor driving the sales of audio signaling devices market is their wide availability and easy maintenance, which can be achieved at low cost. With the increasing awareness pertaining to safety among consumers, manufacturers have been developing audio signaling devices that can be tailor-made as per the demand of the end-users and the addition or removal of certain audio signaling devices is possible. These devices can comprehend external impact while being positioned both indoors and outdoors. As a result, consumers have been favoring these devices to enhance their safety, which will aid in sustaining the growth of the audio signaling devices market. Middle East and Africa to Remain a Significant Audio Signaling Devices Market An incessant growth in the number of excavation and mining activities have been witnessed in the Middle East and Africa region with the significantly high deposits of gas, oil, and minerals. However, owing to the high susceptibility of the region to explosions and blasts, there has been a growing demand for audio signaling devices to take charge of the situation at an early stage and prevent the large-scale damage. Continuous research and development in the audio signaling devices market have led to the improvement of these products with enhanced reliability of operation in the emergency situations, which has resulted in the growth of the audio signaling devices market. Request Brochure of this Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=B&rep_id=3558 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/ Rockville Pike, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 11/20/2020 -- Analysis of the Global Parenteral Feeding Devices Market Fact.MR has recently published a new research that provides detailed insights on the working dynamics of the global Parenteral Feeding Devices Market. The research report offers in-depth information about the key market segments, vendor landscape, geographical outlook, and the factors driving and inhibiting growth. The research report provides in depth information about the current condition of the competitive landscape of the global Parenteral Feeding Devices Market. Moreover, it also provides information the different factors that has shaped the marketing strategies of the key players operating in the global market. The research report sheds light on the some of the major and most recent developments in the competitive landscape of the global market. It also covers the key partnerships, mergers, acquisitions, and strategic alliances occurred in recent times. The report highlights the growth factors and entry barriers for the market players and talks about the new trends emerging in the global Parenteral Feeding Devices Market. Request Sample Report- https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=3408 The global Parenteral Feeding Devices Market report answers several pertinent questions, some of which are: What are some of the key areas of investments in the Parenteral Feeding Devices Market? Which region is projected to come up as the ones that will provide the most attractive growth rate in the coming years of the forecast period? Which factors will be crucial to growth of global Parenteral Feeding Devices Market? Which trends are expected to change the status quo of the positions held by leading players of the Parenteral Feeding Devices Market in the near future? Which product/service/technology segments holds game-changing potential to dramatically shape the competitive dynamic in the Parenteral Feeding Devices Market? What are the strategies adopted by top players to retain their stronghold in the Parenteral Feeding Devices Market? Which strategic moves will new entrants adopt to gain a strong foothold in the Parenteral Feeding Devices Market? How can Fact.MR Make Difference? In-depth understanding of key industry trends shaping the present growth dynamics Offers value chain analysis and price trend analysis of various offering of competitors Offers data-drive decision to help companies decide strategies that need recalibration Offers insights into areas in research and development that should attract Request/View TOC@ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=T&rep_id=3408 Parenteral Feeding Devices Market: Segmentation The global parenteral feeding devices market is segmented based on product type, application, end user and region By product type, the global parenteral feeding devices market is segmented as: Stationary Infusion Pumps Ambulatory Infusion Pumps By application, the global parenteral feeding devices market is segmented as: Ulcerative Colitis Bowel Obstruction Certain Pediatric GI Disorders Short Bowel Syndrome Due to Surgery By end user, the global parenteral feeding devices market is segmented as: Hospitals Clinics Ambulatory Surgical Centers Homecare Settings Elderly Care Settings Parenteral Feeding Devices Market: Key Players The key market players operating in the parenteral feeding devices market are: Micrel Medical Devices SA, Fresenius Kabi, Grifols, S.A., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Baxter, Amanta Healthcare and others. Regional analysis includes: North America (U.S., Canada) Latin America (Mexico. Brazil) Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain) Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia) Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand) Japan Middle East and Africa (GCC Countries, South Africa, Northern Africa) Why Opt For Fact.MR? Various analysis methods to deliver precise market information. Digital technologies to facilitate clients with updated market solutions. Multi-disciplinary approach to provide accurate insights of different industries. Data collection from extensive primary and secondary research. Round-the-clock availability to serve clients across the world. Get Full Access of the Report @ https://www.factmr.com/report/3408/parenteral-feeding-devices-market 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 MARKETACCESS DMCC Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU) Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A Jumeirah Lakes Towers Dubai United Arab Emirates Email: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Pune, Maharashtra -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Emergence of Eco-Packaging Solutions to Significantly Push Sales of Corrugated Fish Box Good insulation qualities of EPS traditionally drove its demand in the food packaging industry. However, growing environmental concerns shifted consumer demand towards eco-friendly packaging solutions, thereby creating lucrative growth opportunities for corrugated fish box market. Need for effective barrier solutions to fat, water and moisture further drives the demand for corrugated fish box. Companies such as Stora Enso had entered into collaboration with Walki for developing EcoFishBoxTM, which is likely to provide positive growth impact on the corrugated fish box market. Rapidly increasing demand for customers for fresh fish packaging solutions is expected to further drive the growth of corrugated fish box market. EcoFishBoxTM, newly developed by Stora Enso holds 100% recyclable properties and requires less space compared to conventional EPS box corrugated fish box. Key players and manufacturers in corrugated fish box market can enter into partnership with Stora Enso as it has been taking immense efforts in developing leak-tight and waterproof corrugated fish box. Fish industry is expected to increase the adoption of EcoFishBoxTM, thereby expanding the customer base in corrugated fish box market. Surging demand for meeting hygiene standards is anticipated to drive the demand and supply of EcoFishBoxTM, thereby offering potential growth opportunities for corrugated fish box market. Get Free Exclusive Sample Copy of This Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=976 Corrugated Fish Box Market: Overview Corrugated fish box is a sustainable solution from the packaging sector for processed and raw fish processors. Expansion of global trade has necessitated the use of innovative packaging formats and designs that ensure higher shelf life of perishable food items, such as fish and fish products. The globalization of local cuisines has also increased the demand for specific variety of fish across the globe, which needs an efficient packaging solution. Albeit, growing awareness regarding vegan food, a number of fish-consuming population has increased substantially over the past few years. In order to cater the demand for this specific consumer base, corrugated fish box is surfaced to be a reliable packaging option. Apart from prima facie growth drivers, the corrugated fish box market is also driven by the increase in the consumption of fish, rapid expansion in the aquaculture industry and rise in export and import of fish. In the last 20 years, production of captured fisheries has increased from 69 million to 93 million tons, whereas the aquaculture industry has increased its production from 5 million to 63 million tons. Transportation of fish safely and fresh is a challenging task for the fish suppliers. Corrugated fish box is highly preferred and recommended due to its recyclable nature and it occupies less space. Other fish packaging methods are most probable to gain acceptance in the coming years. Corrugated fish boxes has a coating of expanded polystyrene (EPS), which has waterproof and moisture-proof properties. Global Corrugated Fish Box Market: Scenario The global corrugated fish box market is expected to witness high-value growth in terms of CAGR over the forecast period. The growth of the corrugated fish box market is owing to rising demand for fish for human consumption. Consumption of fish is gaining traction due to its health benefits. The developed economies of North America and Europe have a large number of corrugated fish box manufacturing companies with high investment capabilities due to high consumption of the fish and fish products. The corrugated fish box market is expected have a decent growth in the developed economies, but it is expected to proliferate in the developing economies in the Asia Pacific. China and India rank first and second producers of the fish, which opens vast opportunities for the investors in these countries. Asia Pacific, North America and Europe are expected to contribute major shares in the global corrugated fish box market. Global Corrugated Fish Box Market: Dynamics The primary factor driving the growth of the corrugated fish box market in the packaging industry is the rise in the demand for the sea food. As fish has high protein content, the demand for fish and fish products is increasing. In Asia Pacific, the corrugated fish box market is expected to gain maximum share due to growing aquaculture industry and fish farming. Alternate factors influencing the corrugated fish box market are urbanization and preference of healthy food. The manufacturers of corrugated fish boxes are more concerned towards the quality, the use of the coating and laminating of corrugated fish boxes. However, the restraining factor for the growth of the corrugated fish boxes is use of expanded polystyrene (EPS), which has 80% of plastic content. Strict regulations against the use of plastic across the globe can impact the growth of the corrugated fish boxes market in a negative way. Ask For Customized Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=976 Global Corrugated Fish Box Market Segmentation The corrugated fish box market can be segmented based on Product Type, Weight and Region. On the basis of Product type, the corrugated fish box market is segmented into Coating Type and Lamination Type. By Weight, the corrugated fish box market can be segmented into up to 20 lbs, 20 lbs to 40 lbs, and above 40 lbs. Geographically, the global corrugated fish box market is segmented into six regions, namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific except Japan, and the Middle East Africa Global Corrugated Fish Box Market Key Players A large number of players are present in Europe and North America, but corrugated fish box manufacturers are focusing on expanding their presence in the Asia Pacific region, particularly China, Indonesia and India. Examples of some of the key players operating in the corrugated fish box market are Smurfit Kappa PlC, DS Smith PLC, Stora Enso Oyj, Walki Group Oy, Fronteir Packaging Inc, and VA Whitley & co., among others. You can Buy This Report from Here @ https://www.factmr.com/checkout/976/S This analytical research study imparts an all-inclusive assessment on the market, while propounding historical intelligence, actionable insights, and industry-validated & statistically-upheld market forecast. Verified and suitable set of assumptions and methodology has been leveraged for developing this comprehensive study. Information and analysis on key market segments incorporated in the report has been delivered in weighted chapters. A thorough analysis has been offered by the report on Market Dynamics Market Size Market Segments Demand & Supply Trends Current Issues and Challenges Companies and Competitor Landscape Value Chain Technology Regional Segments Analyzed Include North America (U.S., Canada) Latin America (Mexico. Brazil) Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain) Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia) Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand) Japan Middle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa) 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. Highlights from the Report Elaborated scenario of the parent market Transformations in the market dynamics Detailed segmentation of the target market Historical, current and forecast market size based on value and volume Latest industry developments and trends Competition landscape Strategies adopted by the market players and product developments made Potential and niche segments, along with their regional analysis Unbiased analysis on performance of the market Up-to-date and must-have intelligence for the market players to enhance and sustain their competitiveness Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @ https://www.factmr.com/report/976/corrugated-fish-box-market 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 FactMR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: www.factmr.com/ Pune, Maharashtra -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Overview Bixa Orellana L. Annatto plant majorly grown in the tropical countries is the primary source of annatto in the form of dried seeds. Annatto has found major applications in the food industry. Annatto is used as a condiment and for food coloring (imparts red or orange color to food products and beverages). Annatto's characteristics such as good heat stability and water and oil solubility are increasing the adoption of annatto globally. Properties such as flexibility applicability of the annatto including spices, culinary food, dairy products, dyes, cosmetic products, etc., have made annatto one of the consumer preference among other natural color ingredients. The governments of various countries have imposed stringent regulations on the use of artificial or synthetic food colors, which is expected to propel the demand for annatto, a natural form of food color, globally. The countries in Latin America such as Peru and Brazil are the leading producers of annatto. A majority of the production is exported to North America, where the demand for annatto is estimated to be high. Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Dynamics The demand for processed food and beverage products is rising globally, creating a huge demand for food colors. Annatto is directly extracted from plants and thus does not contain any harmful chemical as that in the synthetic or artificial food colors. With the increasing preference for natural food colors in the food processing industry, government regulations towards consumption of artificial food colors is expected to drive the growth of the annatto market globally. With natural origin and coloring property, annatto has also found applications in the textile industry as a dyeing ingredient. However, annatto contains some residual proteins that may cause Ig-E mediated reaction, which is expected to restrain the growth of the global annatto market. Besides, availability of other natural food colors such as cochineal and turmeric are expected to hamper the demand for annatto globally. Request Free Sample Report@ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1353 Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Segmentation The global annatto market can be segmented on the basis of form as: Powder Liquid The global annatto market can be segmented on the basis of solubility as: Norbixin or Water soluble Bixin or Liquid soluble The global annatto market can be segmented on the basis of the end-user industry as: Food Culinary Bakery Dairy others Beverage Cosmetics Textile Pharmaceutical Others (floor wax, furniture polish, etc.) The global annatto market can be segmented on the basis of the geographic region as: North America US Canada Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Chile Peru Rest of Latin America Europe EU 4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain) UK BENELUX (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg) NORDIC (Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden) Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Czech Rep., Etc.) Rest of Europe CIS & Russia Japan APEJ Greater China India South Korea ASEAN Countries Rest of APEJ Middle East & Africa GCC Countries Turkey Iran Israel South Africa Rest of MEA Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Regional Outlook The U.S. annatto market is expected to account for high market share among all the countries in the world, majorly driven by high production of processed food in the country. The North America annatto market is followed by Western Europe. Latin America is the major producer of annatto, but majority of the annatto is exported to North America, the primary export destination. Eastern Europe, Latin America and MEA markets are estimated to show sluggish growth for annatto market over the forecast period. Request/View TOC@ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1353 Global Annatto (Bixin/Norbixin) Market: Key Players Examples of some of the key players in the global annatto market are: Wild Flavors FMC Corporation Amerilure, Inc. Monterey Bay Spice Co. Hansen Holding A/S Vinayak Ingredients (India) Pvt. Ltd. DDW The Colour House Kalsec Inc. AICA COLOR SAC Aarkay Food Products Ltd. Brief Approach to the Research Our analysis will follow a modeling-based approach and triangulation methodology to estimate the data covered in this report. A detailed market understanding and assessment of the applications, types, forms, and end users of the product segments covered in the study is followed by carrying out a demand-side approach to estimate the sales of target product segments, which is then cross-checked with the supply-side assessment of value generated over a pre-defined period. The statistics and data are collected at the regional level, consolidated and synthesized at a global level to estimate the overall market sizes. Key Data Points Covered in the Report Some of the key data points covered in our report include: An overview of the vegetable carbon including background and evolution Macroeconomic factors affecting the vegetable carbon and its potential Market dynamics, such as drivers, challenges, and trends in the market Detailed value chain analysis of the market The cost structure of the products and segments covered in the study of the market In-depth pricing analysis, by key product segments, regions and by major market participants in the market Analysis of supply and demand, such as top producing and consuming geographies, imports/exports, and overall trade scenario Analysis of the market structure, including a tier-wise categorization of key market participants Competitive landscape of the market, including detailed profiles of the top players This analytical research study imparts an all-inclusive assessment on the market, while propounding historical intelligence, actionable insights, and industry-validated & statistically-upheld market forecast. Verified and suitable set of assumptions and methodology has been leveraged for developing this comprehensive study. Information and analysis on key market segments incorporated in the report has been delivered in weighted chapters. A thorough analysis has been offered by the report on Market Dynamics Market Size Market Segments Demand & Supply Trends Current Issues and Challenges Companies and Competitor Landscape Value Chain Technology Regional Segments Analyzed Include North America (U.S., Canada) Latin America (Mexico. Brazil) Western Europe (Germany, Italy, France, U.K, Spain) Eastern Europe (Poland, Russia) Asia Pacific (China, India, ASEAN, Australia & New Zealand) Japan Middle East and Africa (GCC, S. Africa, N. Africa) 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. Highlights from the Report Elaborated scenario of the parent market Transformations in the market dynamics Detailed segmentation of the target market Historical, current and forecast market size based on value and volume Latest industry developments and trends Competition landscape Strategies adopted by the market players and product developments made Potential and niche segments, along with their regional analysis Unbiased analysis on performance of the market Up-to-date and must-have intelligence for the market players to enhance and sustain their competitiveness Report Analysis@ https://www.factmr.com/report/1353/global-annatto-bixinnorbixin-market 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: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Blog: https://factmrblog.com/ Lewes, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- The global contact lenses market is predicted to reach nearly US$ 13 Billion by 2025. Contact lenses are thin plastic discs made from hydrogel or silicon hydrogel. Contact lenses are used for vision correction, and for cosmetic and aesthetic purpose to change the color or appearance of eye. Contact lenses are continuously gaining increased importance and adoption due to high prevalence of various eye related disorders such as myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, and other forms of vision disorders. The use of lenses offers varied medical and lifestyle-related benefits. Some of the therapeutic benefits of using lenses are corneal protection, for post-surgical conditions, and for corneal pain relief and healing. The growing focus on aesthetic look and popularity of colored contact lenses in the fashion industry will further boost the demand for contact lenses products. The factors such as ageing population coupled with increasing prevalence of eye related disorders, technological advancements, rising awareness, growing disposable incomes, and increasing preference for contact lenses over prescription eyeglasses to enhance aesthetics fuels the growth of global contact lenses market. Although these factors are expected to drive the contact lenses market growth, elements such as the high cost and dearth of skilled ophthalmologists are projected to hamper the growth of the market. By Segments - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast - On the basis of segmentation, corrective contact lens dominates the global contact lens market, followed by therapeutic contact lenses. - Therapeutic contact lenses are known to increase the speed of re-epithelization, reduce the discomfort of the patient and also possess some therapeutic and clinical effects. - Cosmetic lens captured nearly 10% share of the contact lenses market in 2018. - Prosthetic and Lifestyle-oriented segment is also gaining popularity in the global contact lens market. By Materials - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast - Silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses captured highest share of the overall contact lens market. - In 2018, methacrylate hydrogels were reportedly used in around 20% of fits. - Hybrid contact lens segment is expected to maintain stable growth over the forecast period. - The gas permeable contact lens segment is anticipated to expand at a significant rate due to rise in incidence rate of corneal irregularities and astigmatism. - Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) held least share of the overall contact lens market. By Design - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast - In 2018, Spherical design accounted for highest share of the overall contact lenses market. - Toric soft contact lenses have different powers in different meridians of the lens to correct astigmatism as well as nearsightedness or farsightedness. - Multifocal is the fastest growing design segment of the contact lens market. By Modality - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast - By modality, monthly disposable is the most preferred contact lenses. - The daily disposable contact lens market is likely to see the highest growth during the forecast period. - The weekly replacement lenses are more durable than daily disposable lenses. - Annual disposable lens is the least preferred segment and thus accounted for least share of the overall contact lens market. By Region - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast - In terms of region, the global contact lens market is dominated by North America. - In North America, United States captured highest share of the total contact lens market in 2018. - Europe represents a major market for contact lenses, owing to rising chronic eye diseases among geriatric population. - In Europe, United Kingdom and Germany are the major market for contact lenses. - There are around 3.6 Million contact lens wearers in the UK. - In Italy, around 6% of the population wear contact lenses. - Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period due to the presence of untapped opportunities in the emerging economies such as China and India. - In Asia Pacific, Japan captured highest share of the global contact lens market, followed by China. "Global Contact Lens Market (By Segments, Materials, Design, Modality, Region), Key Technologies, Key Players Analysis, Recent Developments - Forecast to 2025" provides a comprehensive analysis of the Global Contact Lenses Market. This 181 Page report with 94 Figures and 13 Tables has been analyzed from 11 View Points: 1) Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 - 2025) 2) Global Contact Lens Market Share and Forecast (2012 - 2025) 3) By Segments - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 - 2025) 4) By Materials - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 - 2025) 5) By Design - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 - 2025) 6) By Modality - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 - 2025) 7) By Region - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 - 2025) 8) Country Analysis - Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 - 2025) 9) Global Contact Lens Market - Key Technologies 10) Global Contact Lens Market - Key Players Sales Analysis (2013 - 2025) 11) Global Contact Lens Market - Growth Drivers & Challenges Global Contact Lens Market - By Segments - Corrective - Therapeutic - Cosmetic - Prosthetic - Lifestyle-oriented Global Contact Lens Market - By Materials - Silicone Hydrogen Soft Contact Lens - Methacrylate Hydrogel Soft Contact Lens - Gas Permeable Rigid Contact Lens - Hybrid - Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Global Contact Lens Market - By Design - Spherical - Toric - Multifocal - Others Global Contact Lens Market - By Modality - Daily disposable - Weekly disposable - Monthly disposable - Annual disposable Global Contact Lens Market - Regional Analysis 1. North America - United States - Canada 2. Europe - Germany - France - United Kingdom - Italy - Spain 3. Asia Pacific - Japan - China - India - South Korea - Australia 4. Middle East & Africa - Saudi Arabia - UAE - Israel 5. Latin America - Brazil - Mexico - Argentina 6. Rest of the World Global Contact Lens Market - Company Analysis - Alcon, Inc. - Bausch Health Companies Inc. - CooperVision, Inc - Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. Research Methodologies Primary Research Methodologies: Questionnaires, Surveys, Interviews with Individuals, Small Groups, Telephonic Interview, etc. Secondary Research Methodologies: Printable and Non-printable sources, Newspaper, Magazine and Journal Content, Government and NGO Statistics, white Papers, Information on the Web, Information from Agencies Such as Industry Bodies, Companies Annual Report, Government Agencies, Libraries and Local Councils and a large number of Paid Databases. Please visit this link for more details: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/igate/global-contact-lens-market-segments-materials-design-modality-region-key-technologies-key Find all Eye Care Reports at: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/eye-care For related reports please visit: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/search/site/Contact%2520Lens Read our Interactive Market Research Blog About MarketResearchReports.com MarketResearchReports.com is world's largest store offering quality market research, SWOT analysis, competitive intelligence and industry reports. We help Fortune 500 to Start-Ups with the latest market research reports on global & regional markets which comprise key industries, leading market players, new products and latest industry analysis & trends. Contact us for your market research requirements: https://www.marketresearchreports.com/contact Selbyville, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Asia-Pacific generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. Growing demand from automotive industry for high quality products, along with increasing labor costs encourages companies to invest in automotive robotics. With intense competition in the automotive industry, companies are setting up manufacturing facilities in these countries for timely deliveries of products to their customers. High demand of robots from Japan and South Korea would help in the growth of the automotive robotics market in the region. Other factors driving this market include rapid industrialization and increasing need for automation in manufacturing processes. Request a sample of this premium report at: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/1695163/?utm_source=Releasewire.com-AN There has been an increase in the demand of automotive robotics across the world owing to greater need for automation of manufacturing processes. With the increasing use of collaborative robots in automotive applications, the overall demand for robotics to also influence the automotive robotics market growth. Automotive robots are being adopted by small and medium sized organizations at a huge pace for automation of manufacturing processes. With international labor safety standards becoming more stringent, robots are being employed in hazardous environments in place of humans. Robots find application in situations that are dangerous and unsafe for human beings to work, such as working in irregular terrains and handling hazardous substances. Robots enable organizations to avoid risks and reduce the number of work accidents. This factor leads to greater adoption of robotics solutions in the global automotive industry. The Automotive Robotics Market is anticipated to reach over USD 14,170 million by 2026 according to a new research. In 2017, the articulated robots dominated the global automotive robotics market, in terms of revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading contributor to the global automotive robotics market revenue in 2017. Market players are introducing application specific robots to meet the growing needs of the automotive industry. Growing need for automation and increasing labor costs further fuels the automotive robotics market growth. In addition, availability of affordable, high quality customized robotics solutions for diverse applications in the automotive industry stimulates the market growth. Owing to stiff competition in the global automotive market, players are introducing low-cost and high quality robots to meet consumer demands. The advancements in technology enable developers to design new innovative products while maintaining the affordability of the product. The recently developed robots are energy efficient and designed to serve specific applications in the automotive industry. Acceptance of such robots by small and medium businesses has increased owing to its low cost and increased flexibility. The key players operating in the market include Fanuc Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Inc., ABB Ltd., Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kuka AG, Denso Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Yaskawa Electric Corporation, Nachi-Fujikoshi Corporation, DiFacto Robotics and Automation Pvt. Ltd. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Table of Contents 1. Overview and Scope 1.1. Research goal & scope 1.2. Research assumptions 1.3. Research Methodology 1.3.1. Primary data sources 1.3.2. Secondary data sources 1.4. Key take-away 1.5. Stakeholders 2. Executive Summary 2.1. Market Definition 2.2. Market Segmentation 3. Automotive Robotics Market Insights 3.1. Automotive Robotics Industry snapshot 3.2. Automotive Robotics - Ecosystem analysis 3.3. Automotive Robotics Market Dynamics 3.3.1. Automotive Robotics Market Forces 3.3.1.1. Automotive Robotics Market Driver Analysis 3.3.1.2. Automotive Robotics Market Restraint/Challenges analysis 3.3.1.3. Automotive Robotics Market Opportunity Analysis 3.4. Industry analysis - Porter's five force 3.4.1. Bargaining power of supplier 3.4.2. Bargaining power of buyer 3.4.3. Threat of substitute 3.4.4. Threat of new entrant 3.5. Degree of competition 3.6. Automotive Robotics Market PEST Analysis, 2017 3.7. Automotive Robotics Market Value Chain Analysis 3.8. Automotive Robotics Industry Trends 3.9. Competitive Ranking Analysis 4. Automotive Robotics Market Size and Forecast by Type, 2018-2026 4.1. Key Findings 4.2. Articulated Robots 4.3. SCARA Robots 4.4. Cartesian Robots 4.5. Cylindrical Robots 4.6. Others 5. Automotive Robotics Market Size and Forecast by Component, 2018-2026 5.1. Key Findings 5.2. Hardware 5.3. Software 5.4. Services 6. Automotive Robotics Market Size and Forecast by Application, 2018-2026 6.1. Key Findings 6.2. Painting 6.3. Welding 6.4. Material Handling 6.5. Assembly 6.6. Others 7. Automotive Robotics Market Size and Forecast by Region, 2018-2026 Purchase Complete Report at: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/securecheckout/paymenta/1695163?msfpaycode=sumsf/?utm_source=Releasewire.com-AN Related Report: Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Market [By System (Adaptive Cruise Control, Blind Spot Detection, Night Vision System, Intelligent Park Assist, Driver Monitoring System, Adaptive Front Light, Blind Spot Detection, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, Autonomous Emergency Braking System, Others) Market size & Forecast, 2018 - 2026 The global Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) market was valued at $19.8 billion in 2017 and is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 21.4% during the forecast period. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems offer improved passenger experience, comfort, and safety to vehicles and drivers. Integration of advanced driver assistance systems into vehicles enable enhanced situational awareness and control for easier and safer driving experience. Some components enabling efficient functioning of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems include LiDAR, sensors, radar systems, artificial intelligence software, and GPS among others. https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/1695121/ About Market Study Report Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management. Contact Us: Market Study Report LLC 4 North Main Street, Selbyville, Delaware 19975 USA Phone: 1-302-273-0910 US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150 Email:sales@marketstudyreport.com Website:https://www.marketstudyreport.com Blog: https://www.marketstudyreport.com/blog/ Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Global Home Health Care Market: Brief Overview There are a number of reasons why the global home healthcare market is predicted to multiply in the years to come. These are: the increase in geriatric population that find it difficult to visit hospitals as well as other diagnostic centres repeatedly, the efforts undertaken by the government for promoting home healthcare, chronic illnesses, the increasing healthcare expenditure, the growing need for reasonably priced treatments, and the technological improvements in the field of pharmaceuticals as well as medical science. But factors like stern reimbursement policies, the safety issues of patients, as well as the low insurance coverage are acting as hurdles for the growth of home healthcare market. View Report: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/home-health-care-market.html The players operating in the global home healthcare market are predicted to get new income sources because of the drifting trend towards telehealth and wide unfulfilled demand from the emerging economies but only if they can meet the needs of skilled home care employees. It is predicted that the global home healthcare market will have a significant success in the time to come. With the help of home health care, the patients receive a lot of treatments right from their homes and the home healthcare market is seen to be growing in popularity in cases where the patient does not need any major treatments, and it is also cheaper in comparison to the treatments in hospitals. Global Home Health Care Market: Trends and Opportunities In today's generation where most of the services can be availed from any place, it is only the healthcare services that still require to be held in a particular and professionally controlled environment. But with the change in the attitude of consumers now require quality services right from their houses is making it necessary to decentralize health care services and provide the patients with what they prefer. The factors that are boosting the global home healthcare market are the growth in the number of old people, the growing number of reoccurring illnesses, the favourable steps that the government has undertaken as well as the increasing need for cheap healthcare services. The primary drivers of the global home healthcare market are the growing demand for testing, monitoring, mobility care products, therapeutic products, as well as screening products, and among all these it is the need for products that are taken into use for testing for diagnosis of illnesses that are on the higher side. Request a Brochure of the Report @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=10292 To ensure optimum care and safety of a patient at home, it is very important to have HIV test kits, pulse oximeters, peak flow metres, heart monitoring systems, blood pressure monitors, to be right at the service for patients. Although the tools and equipment required may differ according to the kind of suffering the patient experiences. Also there has been a growth in the need for mobility care products like mobility scooters, crutches, walkers, as well as cranes and this will widen the scope of the global home healthcare market. Global Home Health Care Market: Geographical Analysis The research studies the potential of all the big economies like US, North America, Europe, Canada, France, Russia, Asia Pacific, Germany, which also includes the developing countries of Japan, India and China. However, North America is considered to be the most profitable market for the home healthcare market as the government policies favour them and the expenses are reimbursed. Request TOC @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=10292 Companies Mentioned: Braun Melsungen AG, Almost Family Inc., Abbott Laboratories, 3M Health Care, Sunrise Medical Inc., Baxter, Cardinal Health Inc., Medtronic, Roche diagnostics corp., Arcadia Health Care, Air Liquide, Bayer AG, Nxstage Medical, Inc., Amedisys, Inc., and Arkray Inc. About Transparency Market Research Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge. Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMR's syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement. Contact Us Transparency Market Research 90 State Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Rockville Pike, MD -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- The hormone replacement therapy market is foreseen to expand at a significant pace with sales of hormone replacement therapy products crossing US$ 12,000 Mn by 2019 end. Rising incidences of osteoporosis fractures coupled with growing menopause rates among women have remained instrumental in driving the demand for hormone replacement therapy. Fact.MR envisages that the demand for hormone replacement therapy is projected to expand at a CAGR of 6.0% in terms of value throughout the period of forecast, 2018-2028. Get Sample Copy of this Report @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=2224 Disorders associated with hormonal imbalance continue to influence the use of hormone replacement therapy worldwide. Hormone replacement therapy demand is further pushed with macroeconomic aspects such as growing geriatric population and significant increase in healthcare expenditure worldwide. Growing age directly impacts secretion of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen in women, which is expected to trigger the use of estrogen hormone replacement therapy. Expanding range of menopausal window (45-55 years) coupled with growing number of postmenopausal patients are few of the key factors influencing the growth of the hormone replacement therapy market. According to the report, the demand for estrogen hormone replacement therapy is expected to grow on the back of growing menopausal rate worldwide. The sales of estrogen hormone replacement therapy are likely to surpass US$ 18,000 Mn by 2028, higher than those of other hormone replacement therapy products including thyroid and growth hormone related hormone replacement therapy products, says the report. Sales of hormone replacement therapy products through hospital pharmacies and retail pharmacies are likely to be on an upswing with developers of hormone replacement therapy products relying on these channels than online selling. Retail pharmacies are expected to remain an attractive distribution channel for hormone replacement therapy products, with sales accounting for a larger revenue share of the overall hormone replacement therapy market. The sales of hormone replacement therapy through clinics are projected to grow at a steady during the 2018-2028 timeline. The hormone replacement therapy market is expected to remain influenced by increasing government support apropos to women's health. Governments and non-profit organizations of various countries are spreading awareness regarding hormone replacement therapy along with providing free treatments to lower and middle class people. Regulatory authorities such as FDA are also contributing to the cause of supporting women's health by launching initiatives such as Take Time To Care (TTTC) programs. This aspect is likely to support the growth of the hormone replacement therapy market in the coming years. Browse Complete Market Report with TOC Here @ https://www.factmr.com/report/2224/hormone-replacement-therapy-market Sales of hormone replacement therapy products are likely to remain concentrated among developed countries of North America and Europe. Tug-of-war between North America and Europe apropos to demand for hormone replacement therapy has been witnessed since the past couple of years, with the latter gaining tempo over the former, says the report. Stakeholders in the hormone replacement therapy can find attractive opportunities in developed countries in North America, particularly the United States. According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, around 6,000 women reach menopause every day, reaching a count of over 2 million annually. This has translated into significant adoption of hormone replacement therapy in the country. The demand for hormone replacement therapy in the US is also accompanied by higher GDP per capita, triggering high healthcare expenditure. The report also foresees that the hormone replacement therapy market in Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region is poised to expand at a relatively higher pace as compared to other regions. According to the report, the APEJ hormone replacement therapy market is projected to expand at a stellar pace of 7.2% during the assessment period. This growth can be attributed to increasing population coupled with higher life expectancy in emerging economies such as India and China. Against this backdrop, stakeholders in hormone replacement therapy market can expect optimistic growth in the region in the years to follow, leveraging its lucrativeness from an investment standpoint. For any query, connect with an Analyst @ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=2224 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 FactMR 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Email: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Blog: https://factmrblog.com/ Read Industry News at - https://www.industrynewsanalysis.com/ London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/21/2019 -- The new research from Global QYResearch on Global Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Report for 2019 intends to offer target audience with the fresh outlook on market and fill in the knowledge gaps with the help of processed information and opinions from industry experts. The information in the research report is well-processed and a report is accumulated by industry professionals and seasoned experts in the field to ensure of the quality of research. The research is backed by extensive and in-depth secondary research which involves reference to various statistical databases, national government documents, relevant patent and regulatory databases, news articles, press releases, company annual reports, webcasts, financial reports, and a number of internal and external proprietary databases. This estimated data is cross-checked with industry experts from various leading companies in the market. After the entire authentication process, these reports are shared with subject matter experts (SMEs) for adding further value and to gain their insightful opinion on the research. With such robust process of data extraction, verification, and finalization, we firmly endorse the quality of our research. With such extensive and in-depth research and comprehensive coverage of information, it is always a possibility of clients finding their desired information in the report with enclosure of key components and valuable statistics in all regards. We can provide sample pages for the better understanding of this report. Request Sample of This Report at: http://globalqyresearch.com/download-sample/627350 IoT devices can be used to enable remote health monitoring and emergency notification systems. These health monitoring devices can range from blood pressure and heart rate monitors to advanced devices capable of monitoring specialized implants, such as pacemakers, Fitbit electronic wristbands, or advanced hearing aids. Some hospitals have begun implementing "smart beds" that can detect when they are occupied and when a patient is attempting to get up. It can also adjust itself to ensure appropriate pressure and support is applied to the patient without the manual interaction of nurses. In 2019, the global Internet of Things in Healthcare market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2026, with a CAGR of xx% during 2019-2026. This report focuses on the global Internet of Things in Healthcare status, future forecast, growth opportunity, key market and key players. The study objectives are to present the Internet of Things in Healthcare development in United States, Europe and China. The key players covered in this study Apple Cisco Systems GE Healthcare Google IBM Koninklijke Philips Medtronic Microsoft Proteus Digital Health Qualcomm Life St. Jude Medical Market segment by Type, the product can be split into Implantable Sensor Devices Wearable Sensor Devices Others Sensor Devices Market segment by Application, split into Patient Monitoring Clinical Operation and Workflow Optimization Clinical Imaging Fitness and Wellness Measurement Drug Development Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report covers United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia India Central & South America View Detail Report With Complete Table of Content, List of Table and Figure: http://globalqyresearch.com/global-internet-of-things-in-healthcare-market-size-status-and-forecast-2019-2026 Ask Query Here: edwin@globalqyresearch.com or sales@globalqyresearch.com Table of Contents 1 Report Overview 1.1 Study Scope 1.2 Key Market Segments 1.3 Players Covered 1.4 Market Analysis by Type 1.4.1 Global Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size Growth Rate by Type (2014-2025) 1.4.2 Implantable Sensor Devices 1.4.3 Wearable Sensor Devices 1.4.4 Others Sensor Devices 1.5 Market by Application 1.5.1 Global Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Share by Application (2014-2025) 1.5.2 Patient Monitoring 1.5.3 Clinical Operation and Workflow Optimization 1.5.4 Clinical Imaging 1.5.5 Fitness and Wellness Measurement 1.5.6 Drug Development 1.6 Study Objectives 1.7 Years Considered 2 Global Growth Trends 2.1 Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size 2.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Growth Trends by Regions 2.2.1 Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Regions (2014-2025) 2.2.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Share by Regions (2014-2019) 2.3 Industry Trends 2.3.1 Market Top Trends 2.3.2 Market Drivers 2.3.3 Market Opportunities 3 Market Share by Key Players 3.1 Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Manufacturers 3.1.1 Global Internet of Things in Healthcare Revenue by Manufacturers (2014-2019) 3.1.2 Global Internet of Things in Healthcare Revenue Market Share by Manufacturers (2014-2019) 3.1.3 Global Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Concentration Ratio (CR5 and HHI) 3.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Key Players Head office and Area Served 3.3 Key Players Internet of Things in Healthcare Product/Solution/Service 3.4 Date of Enter into Internet of Things in Healthcare Market 3.5 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans 4 Breakdown Data by Type and Application 4.1 Global Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Type (2014-2019) 4.2 Global Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Application (2014-2019) 5 United States 5.1 United States Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size (2014-2019) 5.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Key Players in United States 5.3 United States Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Type 5.4 United States Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Application 6 Europe 6.1 Europe Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size (2014-2019) 6.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Key Players in Europe 6.3 Europe Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Type 6.4 Europe Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Application 7 China 7.1 China Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size (2014-2019) 7.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Key Players in China 7.3 China Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Type 7.4 China Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Application 8 Japan 8.1 Japan Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size (2014-2019) 8.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Key Players in Japan 8.3 Japan Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Type 8.4 Japan Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Application 9 Southeast Asia 9.1 Southeast Asia Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size (2014-2019) 9.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Key Players in Southeast Asia 9.3 Southeast Asia Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Type 9.4 Southeast Asia Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Application 10 India 10.1 India Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size (2014-2019) 10.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Key Players in India 10.3 India Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Type 10.4 India Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Application 11 Central & South America 11.1 Central & South America Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size (2014-2019) 11.2 Internet of Things in Healthcare Key Players in Central & South America 11.3 Central & South America Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Type 11.4 Central & South America Internet of Things in Healthcare Market Size by Application 12 International Players Profiles 12.1 Apple 12.1.1 Apple Company Details 12.1.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.1.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.1.4 Apple Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.1.5 Apple Recent Development 12.2 Cisco Systems 12.2.1 Cisco Systems Company Details 12.2.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.2.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.2.4 Cisco Systems Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.2.5 Cisco Systems Recent Development 12.3 GE Healthcare 12.3.1 GE Healthcare Company Details 12.3.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.3.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.3.4 GE Healthcare Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.3.5 GE Healthcare Recent Development 12.4 Google 12.4.1 Google Company Details 12.4.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.4.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.4.4 Google Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.4.5 Google Recent Development 12.5 IBM 12.5.1 IBM Company Details 12.5.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.5.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.5.4 IBM Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.5.5 IBM Recent Development 12.6 Koninklijke Philips 12.6.1 Koninklijke Philips Company Details 12.6.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.6.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.6.4 Koninklijke Philips Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.6.5 Koninklijke Philips Recent Development 12.7 Medtronic 12.7.1 Medtronic Company Details 12.7.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.7.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.7.4 Medtronic Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.7.5 Medtronic Recent Development 12.8 Microsoft 12.8.1 Microsoft Company Details 12.8.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.8.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.8.4 Microsoft Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.8.5 Microsoft Recent Development 12.9 Proteus Digital Health 12.9.1 Proteus Digital Health Company Details 12.9.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.9.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.9.4 Proteus Digital Health Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.9.5 Proteus Digital Health Recent Development 12.10 Qualcomm Life 12.10.1 Qualcomm Life Company Details 12.10.2 Company Description and Business Overview 12.10.3 Internet of Things in Healthcare Introduction 12.10.4 Qualcomm Life Revenue in Internet of Things in Healthcare Business (2014-2019) 12.10.5 Qualcomm Life Recent Development 12.11 St. Jude Medical 13 Market Forecast 2019-2025 13.1 Market Size Forecast by Regions 13.2 United States 13.3 Europe 13.4 China 13.5 Japan 13.6 Southeast Asia 13.7 India 13.8 Central & South America 13.9 Market Size Forecast by Product (2019-2025) 13.10 Market Size Forecast by Application (2019-2025) 14 Analyst's Viewpoints/Conclusions 15 Appendix 15.1 Research Methodology 15.1.1 Methodology/Research Approach 15.1.1.1 Research Programs/Design 15.1.1.2 Market Size Estimation 12.1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation 15.1.2 Data Source 15.1.2.1 Secondary Sources 15.1.2.2 Primary Sources 15.2 Disclaimer 15.3 Author Details The report is readily available and can be dispatched within 4hr after payment confirmation. Buy Now This Premium Report: http://globalqyresearch.com/checkout-form/0/627350 About Global QYResearch Global QYResearch is the one spot destination for all your research needs. Global QYResearch holds the repository of quality research reports from numerous publishers across the globe. Our inventory of research reports caters to various industry verticals including Healthcare, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Technology and Media, Chemicals, Materials, Energy, Heavy Industry, etc. With the complete information about the publishers and the industries they cater to for developing market research reports, we help our clients in making purchase decision by understanding their requirements and suggesting best possible collection matching their needs. Contact Us: Unit1, 26 Cleveland Road, South Woodford, London, E182AN, United Kingdom Contact: +44 20 3286 1546 Wuhan, May 22 (ChinaMil) -- Since the volunteer recruitment for the 2019 Military World Games (MWG) at Wuhan, capital of central Chinas Hubei Province, was launched on March 20, a total of 212,000 people have signed up by the registration deadline of May 20, exceeding the planned recruitment quantity. The reporter learned from the civilization office of Wuhan government on May 21 that the citizens actively run for online registration through the China Volunteer Service system and offline registration in various district and sub-district offices, to participate in the eight categories of volunteering services, including civilized etiquette, clean homeland, civilized transportation, information consultation, safe military games, cultural promotion, emergency rescue, and community care. The recruitment plan for 200,000 volunteers was completed within 57 days since the commencement of the recruitment activity, said the official in charge of the civilization office of Wuhan government. According to the registration record, the number of applicants for the post of clean homeland comes to the top, reaching 60,172, while the number for emergency care is minimum, only 15,202. After general training, the volunteers will be on duty in succession from June 21, the official added. It is reported that the 7th CISM World Games will be held in Wuhan, Hubei Province from October 18 to 27, 2019, when nearly 10,000 active military personnel from more than 100 countries and regions will participate in this event. Sellbyville, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Global Market Insights recently introduced new report on global Mining Equipment market with an in-depth study providing complete analysis of the industry size, share and statistics for the period 2019 to 2024. It also provides complete overview of Mining Equipment industry considering all the major industry trends, market dynamics and competitive scenario. Owing to the rapidly growing demand for automobiles, electronics, construction materials and industrial machines, the mining machinery market valuation has been soaring high over the last few years, with global revenues surpassing USD 70 billion in 2017. Rising consumption of commodities has encouraged companies to invest heavily into mineral exploration for replacing operations of soon to be depleted mines. Request for a sample copy of this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/793 The mining equipment industry has been able to cope with the mounting concerns regarding safety of miners and the required operational efficiency by evolving with constant advances in technology. Besides the existing mines that have huge amounts of annual output, there are a vast number of underground deposits being investigated to mine precious metals, ores and coal, which will enormously strengthen the global mining equipment market. Elaborating further, the government in Tajikistan, a country in Central Asia, had recently expressed a need for expanding underground coal mining for coping with internal needs of the people, as only two underground deposits had been explored so far. As per reports, twelve enterprises in the nation had been given a license for developing nine coal deposits and it can be surmised that the mining equipment market will see notable demand from underground mining in the country. Underground mining, undoubtedly, poses significant threats to the safety of personnel and equipment and the global mining segment is expected to adopt modern equipment and technology at a larger scale. Innovations in process automation and the influx of autonomous mining robots are thus steadily transforming the mining equipment industry worldwide. As per Global Market Insights, Inc., mining equipment market size from underground mining machinery is slated to register a CAGR of 6% over 2018-2024. Make an Inquiry for Purchasing this Report @ https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/793 In terms of protecting the life of miners, innovative automated systems help to lower the risk involved not only in exploring deeper into mines but also during the transport of mineral ores to the surface. Advanced robots are being used to scan mines, analyze ore deposits, conduct mining operations and take the raw ore to loading bins. Australia-based Resolute Mining's new Syama mine, located in Mali, would become the world's very first fully automated mine, signifying the tremendous evolution achieved by the mining equipment market. Utilizing technology designed in collaboration with Sandvik, extensive fiber-optic network will be present to ensure that an uninterrupted connection is maintained between autonomous trucks and other automated elements. Resolute estimates that by automating the mine, it would eventually be able to cut down mining costs by 30%. Demonstrating the massive impact which the underground mining machinery market could experience, the onset of automated machinery will help to minimize injury to miners, assist in training them better, carry out most of the dangerous tasks, while working efficiently in hazardous environments. As more mining corporations shift towards autonomous operations to improve their efficiency and lower operational costs, the market is anticipated to witness robust demand over the coming years. The Mining Equipment market report offers detailed competitive landscape of the global market. It includes companies, industry statistics, market share analysis and product portfolio of the major industry participants. The report provides detailed segmentation of the Mining Equipment market based on product, technology, end user and region. Browse Report Summery @ https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/mining-equipment-market With fast depleting mines threatening to disrupt the economic status of many communities, new mines are coming up and some companies are in the process of seeking approval from governments to begin underground mining. Whitehaven Coal, for instance, is looking to ramp up government approvals for tow new coal mines in Australia's New South Wales, which could be a promising growth avenue for the country's mining equipment industry. According to Whitehaven, the Winchester and Vickery mines will help the company to maximize productions levels as Australia's high quality of coal exported to Asian markets is being supported by recovering coal prices. Even smaller countries that have an increased demand for power are looking to develop underground mining operations to meet the fossil fuel requirements. 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. Sellbyville, DE -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Global Market Insights presents the Mobile Satellite Services Market provides a detailed overview of major drivers, restraints, challenges, opportunities, current industry trends and strategies impacting the global market along with estimates and forecast of revenue. North America is projected to dominate the mobile satellite services market due to the advanced technological infrastructure and the improved network connectivity. The government agencies have also taken significant efforts to introduce new satellite and navigation systems, which have further triggered the growth of the satcom industry. For instance, in June 2018, the U.S. Air Force awarded a contract of USD 130 million to SpaceX for the launch of Air Force Space Command Satellite (AFSPC)-52 satellites in the late FY2020. Request for an in-depth table of contents for this report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-toc/upcoming/2901 The satellite system's ability to deliver communication capabilities independent of terrestrial assets makes it a key component of connectivity in emergency situations. The advancement in satellite technologies with the introduction of high accuracy GNSS receivers, GPS systems, and sensors is expected to boost the growth of the mobile satellite services market. The marine & defense sector is expected to witness a higher adoption of mobile satellite services market during the forecast timeline due to the introduction of many satellite and cellular service systems. For instance, in March 2018, COMSAT teamed up with Iridium to provide secure global communications to government & military users. Request for customization @ https://www.gminsights.com/roc/2901 Under the partnership, the COMSAT leveraged the benefits of Iridium network, including on-the-move connectivity, providing services that meet the communications security requirements for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) such as personnel tracking, and real-time environmental assessment. In January 2015, the U.S. Navy launched military communications satellite to improve its tactical communications capabilities. Another factor that has fueled the mobile satellite services market growth includes the rapid adoption of mobile satellite and cellular services in emergency and disaster situations. As the deployment of wireless communications is one of the first priorities in emergency response, satellite communication systems are the only communications infrastructure that is not susceptible to damage from disasters. Also, MSS are also used in many countries to provide seismic data to government agencies to enable early warnings before the occurrence of disasters. Browse Complete Report Summary @ https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/mobile-satellite-services-mss-market Some of the leading players in the mobile satellite services market are Globalstar, Singtel, Iridium Communications, EchoStar, Telstra, Inmarsat plc, ORBCOMM, ViaSat, and INTELSAT. The leading players are focusing on strategic agreements to cater to the needs of their business customers. 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. San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Global Organic Food and Beverages Market: Overview Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic additives, chemicals, genetic manipulation, and coloring agents, and need to satisfy the criteria set by the USDA National Organic Program. Organic foods and beverages are in high demand as they are healthy alternative to their traditional counterparts. As the world becomes more aware about the goodness of everything natural and products free from chemicals, the demand for organic food and beverages is growing at a fast pace. Some of the other factors boosting the market include growing health hazards due to inorganic food products, high income level, and improvement in organic farming practices. Get Sample Copy of the Report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1952 Global Organic Food and Beverages Market: Key Trends Incidences such as the mad cow scandal in the U.S., Canada, and other countries have resulted in the questioning of using genetically modified foods. Such incidences also bring to light, the abuse of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides in traditional farming practices. The result is a society that is more aware and concerned about such unhealthy food products and therefore seeking organic food and beverages. Although, expensive than non-organic products, organic food and beverages are increasingly being purchased and it has become a lifestyle for many upper middle class people in the world. Retailers of organic food and beverages are recognizing the need to educate young families so as to ensure a long-term loyalty and this is expected to boost the global organic food and beverages market in the long run. Hotels and restaurants are also capitalizing on this trend and serving organic food and beverages to customers, further boosting the market. Manufacturers are attempting to develop products in an organic way and obtaining organic certification, thus attracting customers and furthering the growth of the industry. Organic Food and Beverages Market: Market Potential The success in the retail organic sector that offer organic food and beverages is creating huge opportunities for manufacturers to increase their sales. Many food and beverage companies are associating with organic food and beverage companies so as to enhance their brand equity and be linked to healthy platforms. Big names such as General Mills for instance, have purchased Small Planet Foods, which is a U.S. based company that grows, markets, and distributes organic food products. Coca-Cola acquired Odwalla, which is another American company that sells organic fruit juices, smoothies, and bars. Organic Food and Beverages Market: Regional Outlook The key markets for organic foods and beverages have been Europe and North America traditionally, but today, countries across the globe are proving to be lucrative markets for these products. There is high demand for organic food and beverages in countries such as India, Argentina, China, Brazil, and Mexico, and thus, manufacturers are forced to expand their manufacturing base to these countries. This in turn is ensuring a steady development of the market. Of regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World, Asia Pacific is anticipated to hold promising growth opportunities in the organic food and beverages market. The region's expected success in the market can be attributed to growing awareness and affinity for organic ingredients. The market in the Rest of the World is also expected to flourish in the coming years. Request TOC of the Report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1952 Organic Food and Beverages Market: Competitive Landscape The global food and beverages market is fragmented with players such as Kraft Foods Group Inc., Groupe Danone SA, Starbucks, Whole Foods Market, Dean Foods Co., 365 Everyday Value/Whole Foods, Eden Foods, The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Kellogg Company, Organic Valley, and Amy's Kitchen Inc. About TMR Research TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in today's 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 94121 United States Tel: +1-415-520-1050 Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Global Polyhydroxybutyrate Market: Overview Polyhydroxybutyrate is a biopolymer which is manufactured from microorganisms. It is a kind of polyhydroxyalkanoate and is synthesized via fermentation process. These are thermoplastic polymers with similar properties to petroleum based polypropylene. Polyhydroxybutyrate is biodegradable polymer and is widely used in the manufacturing of packaging material of medical devices and mulch films. Polyhydroxybutyrate is drawing heavy interest from end use industries such as food, agriculture and pharmaceutical owing to its environmental friendly features. Polyhydroxybutyrate is widely used in the packaging of cosmetic and food products. Increasing preference of packaged food due to easy availability and hectic lifestyle is set to uplift the market growth over the forecast period. Moreover, the increasing population has resulted in the reduction of agricultural land due to urbanization and industrialization has forced farmers to increase the productivity in the comparatively smaller areas. This led to increase in demand for polyhydroxybutyrate as mulch films. Additionally, increasing number of initiatives by environmental agencies and government coupled with rising awareness within consumers regarding the negative effects of the non-biodegradable packaging materials along with ecofriendly nature of the products is driving the polyhydroxybutyrate market growth. Global Polyhydroxybutyrate Market: Dynamics Increasing usage of polyhdroxybutyrate in packaging material such as cling films, bin bags, and garbage bags is expected to uplift the global polyhdroxybutyrate market in the coming future. The growing consumption of packaged food has also propelled the usage of polyhydroxybutyrate in food processing industry. Moreover increasing government initiatives and norms made by environmental agencies coupled with rising consumer wakefulness concerning the harmful effects of the non-biodegradable packaging materials along with environmentally friendly nature of the product is driving the polyhydroxybutyrate market growth. However, high price of polyhydroxybutyrate based polymers as compared to conventional polymers expected to hinder the polyhydroxybutyrate market growth over the forecast period. Download Sample Copy @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5351 Global Polyhydroxybutyrate Market: Segmentation Global polyhydroxybutyrate market can be segmented on the basis of applications, end use industry and regions. On the basis of applications, global polyhydroxybutyrate market can be segmented as Medical Devices Mulch Films Packaging Others On the basis of end use industry, global polyhydroxybutyrate market can be segmented as Food & Beverage Industry Automotive Industry Pharmaceutical Industry Agriculture Industry Others Global Polyhydroxybutyrate Market: Regional Outlook Asia pacific is anticipated to grow at the higher rate over the forecast period owing to rising demand from many end use industries such as food, pharmaceutical, agriculture, and automotive. In Asia Pacific the demand for biodegradable plastic is expected to increase mainly in developing countries such as China and India, owing to increasing pharmaceutical and food industries in these countries. Western Europe is expected to dominate the global polyhydroxybutyrate market owing to presence of paper and biodegradable packaging industries. In this region, countries such as Germany, UK, Italy, and Sweden are anticipated to be leading consumer of polyhydroxybutyrate markets and are expected to witness above average growth in the next coming years. North America is expected to witness a steady growth in the usage of biodegradable plastic and paper over the forecast period. U.S is predicted to be the leading polyhydroxybutyrate consumer in this region followed by Mexico and Canada. Latin America is also predicted to show a positive growth in the usage of polyhydroxybutyrate over the forecast period. The Middle East & Africa is estimated to witness substantial growth over the forecast period. This is mainly due to increasing technological advancement together with implementation of cultivation techniques to boost crop production is expected to uplift the product demand in countries like South Africa. Global Polyhydroxybutyrate Market: Market Participants Some of the main market participants of global polyhydroxybutyrate market are namely BASF SE Biomer TianAn Biologic Materials Co., Ltd. POLYHYDROXYBUTYRATE Industrial S.A BIO-ON Telles, LLC TEPHA INC Wacker Chemie AG Triveni Interchem Pvt Ltd Download Executive Summary @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5351 Pune, Maharashtra -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Global Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate Market - An Overview Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate also known as p-hydroxybenzoic acid ethyl ester sodium salt. It is mainly used as a chemical additive in several applications in industries such as food & beverages and pharmaceuticals, among others. Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate is available in the form of granules, solid, and liquid. In addition, sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate is a water-soluble chemical that can be used as an antiseptic in the pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate can also be used in pharma applications such as herbal medicines, instrument sterilization, parent drug, etc. In addition, sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate also helps prevent food deterioration caused by microorganisms that can be used as food additives in cooking. Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate is soluble in water, which enables its usage in several liquid & semiliquid food items such as dairy products, confectionery items, fruit juice, jelly, fruit beer, marmalades, etc. All these factors are expected to drive the sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market. Global Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate Market - Dynamics The global sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market is expected to grow significantly on the backdrop of the increase in consumption of food products such as fruit juice, jelly, etc. Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate is also expected to witness continuous demand due to the advantage of sodium as an essential mineral. Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate is used in the food industry for preserving the freshness of food items. Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate is also used in photographic applications, such as to wash-down fixers from photo films, to prevent designer solutions from oxidizing. However, one of the important factors likely to restrain the growth of the global sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market is the presence of stringent laws regarding the usage of sodium in food. Moreover, the sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market is hampered due to the ban on sodium used in sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate in several countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, etc., across the globe. Request Free Sample Report@ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=1354 Global Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate Market - Segmentation The global sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market is segmented by application type and end use. On the basis of application type, the global sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market is segmented into: Food Preservation Pharmaceutical Additive Flavoring Agent Others On the basis of end use, the global sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market is segmented into: Food & Beverages Juices Jams, Jellies, & Marmalades Soft Drinks Pickles Syrups Agriculture Personal Care & Cosmetics Pharmaceuticals Other Industries Global Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate Market Regional Overview The global Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market is divided into seven major regions as follows: North America U.S. Canada Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Chile Peru Rest of Latin America Europe EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain) U.K. BENELUX (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxemburg) NORDIC (Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden) Eastern Europe (Poland, Ukraine, Czech Rep., etc.) Rest of Europe CIS & Russia Japan Asia - Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) Greater China India Korea ASEAN Countries Rest of APEJ Middle East & Africa (MEA) GCC Countries Turkey Iran Israel South Africa Rest of MEA The Asia Pacific region is expected to dominate the global sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market during the forecast period 2018-2028. The North America and Europe sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate markets are expected to trace the Asia Pacific sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market, and are also estimated to register sluggish growth during the forecast period. The Latin America sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market is expected to witness growth as compared to the Middle East. Request/View TOC@ https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1354 Global Sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate Market Key Players Some of the key players operating in the sodium ethyl p-hydroxybenzoate market are Jiancheng Chemical Industrial Co. Ltd.; LGC Limited; Shengxiao Chemicals Co., Ltd.; Capot Chemical Co., Ltd.; Toronto Research Chemicals Inc.; Advanced Technology & Industrial Co., Ltd.; and Ai Tuo Chemical Co., Ltd. The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, and inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides an in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macroeconomic indicators, and governing factors, along with market attractiveness as per segment. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies. Report Highlights: A detailed overview of parent market Changing market dynamics in the industry In-depth market segmentation Historical, current, and projected market size regarding volume and value Recent industry trends and developments Competitive landscape Strategies for key players and products offered Potential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growth A neutral perspective on market performance Must-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint Report Analysis@ https://www.factmr.com/report/1354/sodium-ethyl-phydroxybenzoate-market NOTE - All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed in reports are those of the respective analysts. They do not necessarily reflect formal positions or views of Fact.MR 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: sales@factmr.com Web: https://www.factmr.com/ Blog: https://factmrblog.com/ Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Soil Testing Equipment Market: Introduction Soil testing equipment provides critical information which establishing the characteristics of soil material and rock needed by end use industries such as agricultural sector, construction industry, etc. In agriculture sector, soil testing equipment are used to analyze the soil to determine its nutrient levels, composition and various properties such as the pH balance. Soil testing equipment helps to determine fertility levels, identify potential toxics, nutrient deficiencies & trace minerals. Soil testing equipment used by civil and geotechnical engineers provide information having direct impact on selection of foundation systems, pavement materials and design parameters for buildings, bridges, dams, road and other infrastructures. Soil testing equipment performs a wide range of static and dynamic tests as defined by various testing and certifying agencies like ASTM, AASHTO, BS, IS, DIN etc. Soil testing equipment market had grown significantly in past decade and is expected to have steady growth over the coming years due to high demand from construction industry as well as agricultural sector. In order to meet high level of demand the market players are investing on developing new products and expanding product lines and enhancing global presences through mergers and acquisition strategies. Soil Testing Equipment Market: Market Dynamics Global soil testing equipment market is expected to have healthy growth rate over the forecast period. Soil testing equipment market is mainly driven by the growth of the construction and infrastructure industry, owing to growing population and rapid urbanization. Moreover, government of developed and developing countries are focusing on developing smart cities this shifting trend is expected to drive the demand of soil testing equipment. In order to meet the growing demand of food from the increasing population is expected to generate strong demand for soil testing instrument in the agriculture sector. Moreover, soil testing equipment contributes to sustainable intensification as it helps to produce more with less, through reducing cost, minimizing nutrient deficiencies and limiting environmental damage. Key players are focusing on development of cost and time effective customize soil testing equipment. Government initiations in many countries to develop small scale farming in effort to boost the job creation is also expected to significantly drive the soil testing equipment market. Download Sample Copy @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5378 However agriculture sector is facing a slower pace of adoption of new technologies mainly due to lack of training and reluctant nature posed by rural population. Moreover ongoing slowdown in growth of global economy is affecting the construction industry which is indirectly expected to hamper the growth of global soil testing equipment market in the near future. High initial cost of soil testing equipment along with inability to obtain soil characteristics rapidly is another limitation constraining the growth of soil testing equipment market. Strict government regulations and standards for construction materials are expected to drive the demand for development of advanced soil testing equipment. Moreover, initiatives taken by government and NGOs in many region to improve the agricultural productions and focus on training courses in expected to have positive opportunities for the soil testing equipment market. Soil Testing Equipment Market: Segmentation Soil testing equipment market segmentation based on location: Laboratory testing equipment On- site testing equipment Soil testing equipment market segmentation based on end use industry: Agriculture Construction Institutional Soil Testing Equipment Market: Regional Outlook Asia Pacific dominates the soil testing equipment market with a significant market share. Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market owing to rising per capita income along with rapid urbanization and development of smart cities in the region and expanding agricultural sector. However, economic slowdown in the countries such as India and China is expected to hamper the growth of soil testing equipment market. Europe and North America, being the mature market are expected to have moderate growth over the forecast period. MEA soil testing equipment market is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period to huge investment in construction and infrastructure industry in countries such as Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and UAE. Moreover, government initiations to improve agriculture production in countries such as South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, etc. are expected to create new market opportunities in the region. Soil Testing Equipment Market: Key Players Some of the prominent players operating in soil Testing Equipment market are as follows: EIE Instruments Controls S.p.A. Humboldt Mfg. Co. Gilson Company, Inc. Aimil Ltd. SGS SA Eurofins Scientific ELE International ALFA | Testing Equipment Matest S.p.A. LaMotte Company R J Hill Laboratories Ltd Intertek Group plc Geotechnical Testing Equipment M&L Testing Equipment (1995) Inc. Download Executive Summary @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5378 Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/21/2019 -- The report "Sorbitol Market by Product Type (Liquid/Syrup Sorbitol, and Crystal/Powder Sorbitol), Application (Cosmetics & Personal Care, Food & Beverage, Pharmaceuticals, Chemicals), and Region - Global Forecast to 2021", The market size of sorbitol is projected to grow from USD 1.09 Billion in 2016 to USD 1.42 Billion by 2021, at a CAGR of 5.3% from 2016 to 2021. Browse 92 market data tables and 41 figures spread through 145 pages and in-depth TOC on "Sorbitol Market by Product - Global Forecast to 2021" Download PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=2642977 Globally, people are diagnosed with diabetes; most of them are reported to be affected with type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is associated with food consumption habits and obesity. The increasing health problems due to consumption of sugar-based products and rising purchasing power parity is driving the demand for sorbitol in applications such as cosmetic & personal care, food & beverages, and pharmaceuticals. Asia-Pacific is the Largest Market for Sorbitol Asia-Pacific is projected to be the largest market for sorbitol. China is the largest market for sorbitol in Asia-Pacific. The increasing demand for high-quality consumer applications and growing end-use applications have led to innovation and expansion in the region, thus driving the growth of the sorbitol market. The rising investments in the cosmetic & personal care sector is expected to boost the growth of the sorbitol market in Asia-Pacific. Also, increasing health issues due to consumption of sugar promotes usage of sorbitol in this region. The cosmetic & personal care segment estimated to lead the sorbitol market Sorbitol is used in various applications, such as cosmetics & personal care, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and others. The cosmetic & personal care application segment led the sorbitol market in terms of value as well as volume, followed by the chemicals and food & beverage segments in 2016. The demand of sorbitol in the cosmetic & personal care industry is primarily driven by its excellent functionalities, such as humectant, thickener, and flavoring agent. Also, increasing concern of the people to use organic products to avoid hazards of inorganic products encourage the use of sorbitol in a wide range of personal care and cosmetic products. Liquid/Syrup Sorbitol is widely used product type of sorbitol The liquid/syrup sorbitol segment is expected to lead the s market. Liquid/Syrup sorbitol is primarily used in the cosmetic & personal care industry, especially in the manufacturing of personal care applications. Liquid/Syrup sorbitol is cost-effective as it requires less process cost and time in comparison with powder/crystal sorbitol. Liquid/Syrup sorbitol possesses several functionalities, such as sweetening agent, non-cariogenic, cooling effect, sugar-free, low-calorie, filler/diluent, and excellent compressibility. It is used to manufacture toothpaste, chewing gum, mouth fresheners, skin care, hair care, cosmetics, soaps & detergents, and shaving creams. Speak with our Expert @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=2642977 The major players operating in the sorbitol market are Roquette Freres Corporation (France), Cargill Inc. (U.S.), Ingredion Incorporated (U.S.), Tereos Starch & Sweeteners (France), Archer Daniels Midland (U.S.), SPI Pharma Inc. (U.S.), Ecogreen Oleochemicals Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), Merck Millipore Corp. (U.S.), Sukhjit Starch & Chemicals Ltd. (India), and Gulshan Polyols Ltd. (India). About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets is the largest market research firm worldwide in terms of annually published premium market research reports. Serving 1700 global fortune enterprises with more than 1200 premium studies in a year, M&M is catering to a multitude of clients across 8 different industrial verticals. We specialize in consulting assignments and business research across high growth markets, cutting edge technologies and newer applications. 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. M&M's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" 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. The new included chapters on Methodology and Benchmarking presented with high quality analytical infographics in our reports gives complete visibility of how the numbers have been arrived and defend the accuracy of the numbers. We at MarketsandMarkets are inspired to help our clients grow by providing apt business insight with our huge market intelligence repository. Contact: Mr. Rohan Markets and Markets UNIT no 802, Tower no. 7, SEZ Magarpatta city, Hadapsar Pune, Maharashtra 411013, India 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Los Angeles, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Turbine drip oil is a light mineral oil utilized to lubricate vertical deep well pump bearings. Drip oil utilizes mineral oil-based lubricants. It has excellent low temperature fluidity, which provides adequate lubrication for critical lower bearings at low temperatures. Drip oil premium is ultra-refined and clear group II base oil. Shift from mineral-based lubricants, used in drip oil, to biodegradable lubricants is expected to drive the turbine drip oil market during the forecast period. Furthermore, the ability of turbine drip oil to work efficiently under severe environmental conditions drives the market. Asia Pacific dominates the global drip oil market. Majority of turbine drip oil is utilized in industries such as oil & gas and power. Large volumes of turbine drip oil are imported from China. Rapid industrialization in countries in Latin America is anticipated to create opportunities in the turbine drip oil market in the near future. The market in Europe and Asia Pacific is projected to expand at a rapid pace due to the deployment of turbine drip oil by various end-user industries, especially agriculture and oil & gas. The global Turbine Drip Oil market was xx million US$ in 2018 and is expected to xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx% between 2019 and 2025. This report studies the Turbine Drip Oil market size (value and volume) by players, regions, product types and end industries, history data 2014-2018 and forecast data 2019-2025; This report also studies the global market competition landscape, market drivers and trends, opportunities and challenges, risks and entry barriers, sales channels, distributors and Porter's Five Forces Analysis. Ask for PDF Copy of this Report at https://www.qyresearch.com/sample-form/form/1118796/global-turbine-drip-oil-market Geographically, this report is segmented into several key regions, with sales, revenue, market share and growth Rate of Turbine Drip Oil in these regions, from 2014 to 2025, covering North America (United States, Canada and Mexico) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Italy, Russia and Turkey etc.) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam) South America (Brazil etc.) Middle East and Africa (Egypt and GCC Countries) The various contributors involved in the value chain of the product include manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, intermediaries, and customers. The key manufacturers in this market include Chevron Royal Manufacturing Cenex Archer Lubricants Mystik Lubricants United Lubricants Magnum Mfg Texas Refinery Corp By the product type, the market is primarily split into Traditional Grade Premium Grade Order a Copy of Report at https://www.qyresearch.com/settlement/pre/ebb228d7a979df0c170cd5d3e5968eef,0,1,Global%20Turbine%20Drip%20Oil%20Market%20Report,%20History%20and%20Forecast%202014-2025,%20Breakdown%20Data%20by%20Manufacturers,%20Key%20Regions,%20Types%20and%20Application By the end users/application, this report covers the following segments Power Oil & Gas Water Utility Agriculture 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. Maharashtra, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/22/2019 -- Explosion-Proof Motor Market The Explosion-Proof Motor market Report provide in-depth analysis and the best research of the various market. This new report on the Global Explosion-Proof Motor is committed 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 global Explosion-Proof Motor market is valued at million US$ in 2018 is expected to reach million US$ by the end of 2024, growing at a CAGR of during 2019-2024. To get holistic SAMPLE of the report, please click: https://www.reportsmonitor.com/request_sample/475570 The Major Players Covered in this Report: ABB , Regal Beloit , Siemens , Auma Gmbh , Emerson Electric Co , Rotork plc , Exlar Corp , Nidec , Toshiba , WEG , Welco , Bernard Controls , Schneider Electric , Nanyang Explosion Protection , Jiamusi Electric Machine , Xianda Explosion-proof , Dazhong Electric Motor, & More. Product Type Coverage Medium and High Voltage Low-vltage Application Coverage Oil and Gas Mining Chemical & Material Manufacturing Processing Others Global Explosion-Proof Motor Market: Regional Segmentation For further clarification, analysts have also segmented the market on the basis of geography. This type of segmentation allows the readers to understand the volatile political scenario in varying geographies and their impact on the global Explosion-Proof Motor market. On the basis of geography, the global market for Explosion-Proof Motor has been segmented into: North 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) Grab Your Report at an Impressive Discount ! Please click Here@ https://www.reportsmonitor.com/check_discount/475570 Reasons to buy: 1. To gain insightful analyses of the market and have comprehensive understanding of the global Explosion-Proof Motor market and its commercial landscape. Assess the Explosion-Proof Motor production processes, major issues, and solutions to mitigate the development risk. 2. To understand the most affecting driving and restraining forces in the Explosion-Proof Motor market and its impact in the global market. Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by leading respective organizations. 3. To understand the future outlook and prospects for Explosion-Proof Motor market. The report gives highly importance to following aspects of Global Explosion-Proof Motor Market: Dominant company/manufacturers profiles including business data, product description, and market share. Market analysis for past, recent years as well as forecast up to 2024. Qualitative and quantitative segment-wise evaluation of Explosion-Proof Motor market. Global market share, sales volume, and CAGR of Explosion-Proof Motor market. In-depth study of the market in terms of applications, types, and regions. Market driving factors, contemporary trends, investment opportunities, limitations, strength, challenges of the Explosion-Proof Motor market. Insightful counsels which helps investors, organisations, and novices to plan their business stratagem and making critical business decisions. Some of the key questions answered in this report: Detailed Overview of Explosion-Proof Motor market will help deliver clients and businesses making strategies. Influencing factors that thriving demand and latest trend running in the market. What is the market concentration? Is it fragmented or highly concentrated? What trends, challenges and barriers will impact the development and sizing of Global Explosion-Proof Motor market? SWOT Analysis of each defined key players along with its profile and Porter's five forces tool mechanism to compliment the same. What growth momentum or acceleration market carries during the forecast period? Which region may tap highest market share in coming era? Which application/end-user category or Product Type may seek incremental growth prospects? What focused approach and constraints are holding the Explosion-Proof Motor market tight? For More Details On this Report: https://www.reportsmonitor.com/report/475570/Explosion-Proof-Motor-Market 2019-2024 Explosion-Proof Motor market report explains detailed information about market growth trend, analysis of upstream raw materials, downstream demand, and existing market dynamics is carried out. In the end, the report makes some important proposals for a new project of Explosion-Proof Motor market before evaluating its possibility. About Reports Monitor Reports Monitor is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Materials, and Energy. With an intrinsic understanding of many business environments, Reports Monitor provides strategic objective insights. BEIRUT, May 22 (ChinaMil) -- Brigadier General Antonio Romero Losada, Sector East Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), issued a letter of commendation on May 20 to the 17th Chinese peacekeeping medical contingent to Lebanon to thank for their excellent work. This is the second commendation letter received by the contingent from the UNIFIL Sector East Commander during its one-year mission period. On the same day, Brigadier General Losada handed the letter of thanks to Luo Maohua, captain of the Chinese contingent, in which he highly appreciated the outstanding performance and extraordinary achievements of the Chinese medical team. He believed that the medical team has won the wide acclaim of the UNIFIL troop-contributing countries and is the best gift for the UNIFIL and the Lebanese people. We are very proud of getting the necessary support from Chinese medical personnel, and at the same time, we can also sense the common goal of safeguarding world peace as their own responsibility from their performance, he added. In last November, then UNIFILs Sector East Commander Brig-Gen Jose Luis Sanchez Martinez-Falero, also issued a commendation letter to the Chinese medical contingent to thank for their quality medical services, on behalf of the UNIFILs East Sector peacekeeping officers and soldiers. The 17th medical contingent consists of 30 officers and soldiers, mainly responsible for the tasks including daily medical security, emergency medical rescue, and evacuation of sick and wounded personnel, for more than 4,000 military and civilian personnel in UNIFILs Sector East. It also offers humanitarian medical assistance to local Lebanese people within its available resources. According to reports, since its deployment to Lebanon in May, 2018, the Chinese medical team has received more than 6,500 patients, including peacekeeping officers, civilians and local people, setting a record of the Chinas peacekeeping medical contingents to Lebanon in recent eight years. At present, the UNIFIL has a total of more than 10,000 peacekeepers and nearly 1,000 civilian personnel, respectively deployed in Sector East and Sector West. BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Du Fuguo, a soldier who lost his eyes and arms in an explosion during a mine clearance operation, was honored by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Wednesday. Du, who was a demining soldier of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), was awarded the title "role model of our times" at a ceremony in Beijing. Du's family members and fellow soldiers, as well as representatives from all walks of life, attended the award ceremony. The 28-year-old soldier was seriously injured in the landmine explosion trying to protect his fellow soldier during the operation in southwest China's Yunnan Province in October last year. Du would have finished his military service in December 2018, just two months after the explosion. In 2015, Du and over 400 fellow soldiers started clearing mines in the border area in Yunnan, where over 100 minefields were located. "I couldn't stay calm after getting to know the villagers living in the area suffered three explosions within 10 years," said Du, who volunteered to participate in the demining operations in 2015. Du's father wished to become a solider at an early age, which was not fulfilled, while Du Fuguo joined the PLA in 2010. "I am reflecting what kind of life is truly meaningful and valuable, and the only standard is what has been done for the country and for the people," Du wrote in his application submitted for mine clearance operations. "When the people are in need and the country is calling upon us, there is not even half a step that I can retreat," he responded when being told mine clearance was dangerous. A minefield Du worked has deterred local people from growing crops and picking tea. They beat gongs and sounded drums to welcome the arrival of the mine clearance group. Over the past three years, Du has entered minefields over 1,000 times, defusing more than 2,400 mines and bombs. "I feel like it is my destiny to carry out this mission and there was a voice calling me to clear the mines," he wrote in his application. While various equipment has been developed for mine clearance, it is believed that manual demining remains the most efficient method, albeit the most dangerous. The explosion happened in an afternoon when Du and a fellow soldier tried to defuse a bomb, but it suddenly exploded and Du quickly protected his colleague who was left with only bruises. "Step back and I'll do the job," Du said before he started the defusing work in which he lost his forearms and eyes. One month later, in November last year, Du's team members confirmed that the minefield where the explosion took place was safe to be used as farmland, meaning that the three-year demining operation had finished. In the area where Du was injured, people have named tea picked this year as "Fuguo." They are hoping that Du could come back to have a taste of his eponymous tea. "Despite my lost hands, I have legs to continue chasing after dreams; despite my lost sight, as long as the sun can rise in my heart, my world remains blazing with color," Du said. Press Release May 22, 2019 De Lima commends non-partisan volunteers and poll workers Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has commended the patriotism and steadfast commitment of volunteers, including non-partisan poll watchers, who offered their selfless service to ensure the orderly conduct of the recent midterm elections. De Lima said the dedication of the volunteers who set aside their personal comfort to protect the votes of the Filipino people and ensure smooth conduct of elections should be recognized despite some unresolved issues hounding the polls. "Nagpapasalamat po tayo sa ating mga volunteers na naging katuwang natin sa pagprotekta at pagsasabuhay sa diwa ng ating demokrasya--silang hindi lamang bumoto, kundi nagbuhos din ng panahon at dedikasyon para gabayan ang ating mga kababayan sa mga karapat-dapat na maging pinuno ng ating bansa," she said. "After the elections, majority of the Filipino populace were drowned with reports about electoral victories, losses and other issues that they forgot to give credits to volunteers who sacrificed their time and energy in the name of public service. They deserve our deepest gratitude and recognition - now more than ever," she added. Thousands serve as members of electoral boards, poll watchers, and canvassers at the local level to ensure orderly and safe conduct of elections in all polling places last May 13. Majority of Board of Elections Inspectors (BEI) members included over 500,000 public school teachers tasked to oversee polling places, verify voters, and handle election-related materials like ballots and vote counting machines on Election Day. The Commission on Elections (Comelec) also accredited three watch groups, notably, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), and the Citizens' Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reform (C-CARE) based in Muslim Mindanao. Despite the results of the recent elections, De Lima also said she sees hope for the future of the Philippines because more and more people are speaking out against injustices in an effort to bring back decency in government and dignity in the society. "The challenge now for the Filipinos who are fighting on the side of truth is to not relent in their fight for truth, justice and democracy as they keep the fires within them burning," said the former justice secretary. "Hindi po natatapos sa halalan ang pakikipaglaban natin para sa katotohanan, katarungan, at demokrasya. Nanalo man ang mga kaalyado ni Duterte, pero nasa sambayanang Pilipino pa rin ang kapangyarihan sa ating bansa," she added. De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, earlier warned against what she described as "terrible and frightening" plans of the Duterte administration during its second half of its term of office. She cited the Duterte administration's sinister plans to push for Charter change in Congress, a bloodier war on drugs and its subsequence increase of cases of extrajudicial and summary killings, and the total capitulation of the country to China. De Lima also added the prospects of an unmitigated and unchecked corruption and abuse of power in the Duterte administration, and more repression of the opposition, critics, and pro-democracy forces and human rights defenders. Press Release May 22, 2019 Dispatch from Crame No. 521: Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement on the Barring of Former Ombudsman Morales by HK Authorities 5/22/19 Like many others, I am appalled and disgusted upon learning of the events that transpired at the Hong Kong airport concerning the denial of entry of former SC Justice and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales. This incident is but another proof that authoritarian regimes are as vindictive and unreasonable as they can be. They either kill, jail or harass no end critics, dissenters and other perceived enemies. It is a testament to Ombudsman Morales' fortitude that the ordeal caused her nothing more than an annoyance, choosing to leave voluntarily even after she was later allowed entry. This incident must not be reduced into a personal affront to which the government should have no say. It should instead be considered by our government as a signal that the Del Rosario-Morales complaint vs. Chinese President Xi Jinping over "crimes against humanity" is being treated as a serious matter, and it should thus do the same. It should treat this controversial incident as nothing less than a national issue. Ombudsman Morales spoke up and stood for the Philippines, and was in turn considered a risk, held at immigration, and considered for deportation. Meanwhile, in the Philippines - our corals are being destroyed, our clams are being stolen, our jobs are being taken, our marine territory is being wrongfully claimed, but still with open arms and without qualms, we invite and welcome China, and even enter questionable loans with it. Mahiya naman kayo! Ombudsman Morales has served this country with the honor and dignity befitting a public servant of the highest order. I suggest you do the same. Press Release May 22, 2019 De Lima hails passage into law of 4Ps bill Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has lauded the signing into law of Republic Act No. 11310 institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program (4Ps) as one of the government's regular anti-poverty programs for qualified poor Filipino families. De Lima, the principal sponsor and author of the 4Ps bill in the Senate, said the enactment of such measure is "a big step forward in the continuing journey towards attaining social justice for the most vulnerable sectors of the society." "Lubos tayong nagpapasalamat sa pagiging ganap nang batas ng isinusulong nating pagpapatibay at pagpapalawak sa serbisyong hatid ng 4Ps. Tagumpay po ito, lalo na ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan na mabibigyan na ng higit na pagkakataong maiangat ang antas ng kanilang pamumuhay," she said. "Sa pamamagitan nga po ng batas na ito, namumuhunan tayo sa edukasyon ng kabataan, pati na sa kalusugan, at kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan na matagal nang naeetsapuwera ng pamahalaan. Patuloy po sana tayong magtulungan para sa tapat at epektibong pagpapatupad ng batas na ito, she added. Last April 17, President Duterte has reportedly signed Republic Act No. 11310 which provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, improve their health, nutrition, and the education of their children aged 0-18. De Lima, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, also acknowledged the leaders and groups who exerted their efforts and lent their voices to advocate for 4Ps and push for its immediate enactment into law. "Nagkaroon na ng katotohanan ang pangarap ng mga nasa laylayan na maisabatas ang 4Ps dahil sa hindi matatawarang dedikasyon ng ilang leaders at grupo, partikular na ang Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilyang Pantawid (SNPP), na nagsulong para maipasa ang batas na ito," she said. It may be recalled that prior to the enactment of 4Ps bill, the SNPP submitted to Senate Committee more than 500,000 signatures endorsing Senate Bill 2117, also known as the 4Ps bill, last year. Among the notable personalities who advocated for 4Ps also include Senator Antonio Trillanes III, who was designated as the Committee's Vice Chair for purposes of tackling several bills, and Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman and Rep. Tom Villarin. SB 2117 has been approved on third and final reading at the Senate last February with 18 votes, zero negative vote and no abstention. Its counterpart measure, House Bill No. 7773, was also approved at the House of Representatives last August. Now RA No. 11310, the law provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their health, nutrition and access to education. Under the law, the Department of Social Welfare and Development shall conduct and revalidate qualified beneficiaries using a standard targeting system every three years. Farmers, fisherfolks, and those in the informal sector and in disadvantaged areas shall be automatically included in the standardized targeting by the household-beneficiary. Upon its effectivity, a Congressional Oversight Committee referred to as the 4Ps Oversight Committee will be created to set the overall framework to review the implementation of the law to determine any gap or weakness and recommend necessary remedial legislation if necessary. Press Release May 22, 2019 HONTIVEROS URGES DUTERTE TO PROTEST MORALES'S 4-HOUR HOLDING IN HK Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros today challenged President Rodrigo Duterte to protest the Chinese government's four-hour holding of Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales at an airport in Hong Kong on Tuesday. Hontiveros said the act was a clear act of intimidation and retaliation for Morales's filing charges against the Chinese government before the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding its alleged crimes against humanity in the West Philippine Sea. "I challenge President Rodrigo Duterte's administration to defend one of the country's most accomplished public servants and bring this directly to the Chinese government, lest it be accused of siding with China against one of our country's own citizens," Hontiveros said. Hontiveros said that the Chinese government's denial of entry to former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales was "ludicrous." "Bullying a 78 year old former public servant who is known for her sterling public service record is ludicrous. I call on the Chinese government to explain why it held for four hours without any explanation a former high-ranking Philippine government official and a senior citizen who simply went to Hong Kong with her grandchildren to have a vacation," Hontiveros said. Hontiveros said that the Chinese government's action against Morales, whom she said is leading the fight in holding China accountable for the massive environmental damage it has caused and continues to cause in the West Philippine Sea, clearly shows that its intentions are far from friendly. The Senator feared that without a strong and definitive stand from the Philippine government, the incident could happen again to other Filipino citizens critical of China's incursions in the West Philippine Sea. "The Duterte government must see to it that our citizens are not intimidated and shabbily treated by foreign governments for simply voicing out their opposition to our neighbor-states' actions that tend to undermine our sovereignty and territorial integrity," Hontiveros. Press Release May 22, 2019 Senate commends Filipino scientists for exemplary work The Senate adopted today two resolutions commending eight outstanding Filipino scientists for their exemplary work in science, technology, and a doctor for bagging the 2018 Asean-US Science prize for women. Senate Resolutions 882 and 923 were introduced by Senator Paolo Benigno "Bam" Aquino IV. Aquino said eight Filipinos made it to the list of Asian Scientist 100 (AS100) last March 2018 bringing pride and prestige to the country. The honorees are Dr. Rogel Mari Sese, Jeffrey Perez, Dr. Mario Antonio Jiz II, Dr. Philip Alviola, Dr. Nathaniel Hermosa II, Dr. Lanndon Ocampo, Dr. Lucille Abad and Dr. Aletta Conception Yniguez. AS100 recognizes the invaluable contributions of researchers, academicians, innovators and business leaders in Asia in the various field of science and technology. It is released annually by an award-winning Science and Technology magazine, called the Asian Scientist Magazine, that highlights research and development news stories from Asia to the global community. "To be recognized as an honoree of AS100, one must have received a national or international prize in 2017 for scientific research or leadership," Aquino said. Sese, a University of the Philippines (UP) alumnus and leader of the country's National SPACE (Space Promotion, Awareness and Capabilities Enhancement) Development Program was commended for his contributions in astrophysics and as an advocate of space research and development. Perez, of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, was recognized for his contribution to the better understanding of fault line and earthquakes in the Philippines while Jiz, of the Immunology Department of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, was recognized for his contribution in schistosomiasis research and vaccine development. Alviola of the UP Los Banos Institute of Biological Sciences was recognized for his research contributions on wildlife studies; Hermosa of the UP National Institute of Physics was recognized for his research on the fundamental properties of light and light-matter interactions; Ocampo of the University of San Carlos was recognized for his contributions in theory and in the practice of manufacturing sustainability and risk analysis while Abad of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute was recognized for her work on radiation-modified carrageenan as food supplement for plants to further promote growth. Yniguez was recognized for her work on marine biology and fisheries. She was one of two Filipina scientists who received a grant under the For Women in Science (FWIS) program of cosmetics firm L'Oreal and the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for her research on harmful algal blooms (HBAs). The Senate also honored Dr. Gay Jane Perez for winning first place at the 2018 Asian-US Science Prize for Women. Perez was recognized for her work on using satellite date to forecast drought, its evolution over time and its impact, which would help farmers identify the ideal planting areas and seasons to improve their crop yield. Perez bested seven other female scientists from Southeast Asia and received $20,000 in cash from the US government and its private partners, Underwriters Laboratories, a global safety science company. Press Release May 22, 2019 Villar proclaimed as a duly-elected Senator, vows to continue work for more livelihood opportunities and better agriculture sector After dominating the Senate race with more than 25 million votes, Sen. Cynthia Villar was formally proclaimed as a duly-elected Senator in the May 13 midterm elections. Based on the votes officially tallied by the Commission on Elections en banc sitting as the National Board of Canvassers, Villar led the 12 candidates for senator who got the biggest number of votes. "I am very thankful for this opportunity to continue serving our people as a senator. Makakaasa po ang ating mga kababayan na sulit ang tiwala na binigay nila sa akin," Villar said. Villar was accompanied by her husband, former Senate President Manny Villar and their children during the proclamation ceremonies at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. The Nacionalista Party Senator said she hopes to retain the chairmanship of the Committee on Agriculture and Food, which puts her in "a better position to advance legislation that will ensure affordable and adequate supply of food for all Filipinos." Among the priorities that she will continue to work on for her second term in the Senate are measures that will increase the incomes and help improve the quality of life of farmers and fisherfolks. Among others, Villar said she will prioritize the re-filing of the bill on the disposition of the coconut levy fund, which will create the Coconut Industry Development Fund. She hopes this bill will be signed into law before the year ends. Villar will also see to it that Republic Act 11203 or the Rice Tariffication Law is properly implemented as well as the P10 billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund. "My work in the agriculture committee is part of my overall goal of lifting Filipinos out of poverty. I want to contribute in bringing back the glory days of agriculture in the country and to improve the life of about two-thirds of the country's population involved, directly or indirectly, in the agriculture sector," Villar said. She will also push for the passage of the law that will support the development of livestock, poultry and dairy industries. In addition to the 1,932 livelihood projects she helped establish all over the country, she will push for the creation of dairy centers, bamboo and coconut processing centers that will provide more jobs to the people in the countryside. Villar will also continue to help provide free trainings which will teach people with employable skills through the Villar SIPAG Farm Schools and Construction Schools. As chairperson of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, Villar will also continue to help protect critical areas in the country and oppose reclamation projects in Manila Bay. Based on the official tally of votes, Villar was elected by 57% of the 44 million actual voters and was the top choice as senator in vote-rich areas such as Metro Manila, Cebu, Cavite, Pangasinan, Laguna, Negros Occidental, Rizal, Iloilo, Leyte, Isabela, Bohol, and Negros Oriental. The founder of Chinese telecom giant Huawei is dismissing the decision by the United States to blacklist the company on the grounds it poses a threat to U.S. national security. In a series of interviews with state-run news outlets Tuesday, Ren Zhengfei said the Trump administration's actions underestimate his company's true capabilities to continue operating and developing the next generation of mobile technology commonly referred to as 5G. Last week's order would curb the future transfer of hardware, software and services to Huawei, possibly limiting the Chinese company's expansion globally and its efforts to overtake Korea's Samsung as the world's biggest smart phone manufacturer. The world's second biggest smartphone maker sustained a major blow Monday when the giant U.S. search engine Google announced it will restrict Huawei from access to its popular Android operating system in compliance with the order. The New Zealand dollar remained below 65 US cents as simmering China-US trade tensions continue to weigh on sentiment. The kiwi was trading at 64.94 US cents at 8am in Wellington from 64.97 at 5pm yesterday. The trade-weighted index was at 71.77 points from 71.81. Ongoing trade tensions have heightened concerns about global growth and sentiment soured further overnight on media reports that the US administration is considering Huawei-like sanctions on Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision. According to the New York Times, the move would mean that US companies would have to obtain government approval to supply components to Hikvision. It comes on the heels of the US Commerce Department blocking Huawei from buying US goods last week. "Risk sentiment and safe haven buying keeps the pressure on the kiwi as the currency breaks below 65 US cents and settles at a new low for 2019," said ANZ FX/rates strategist Sandeep Parekh. Minutes from the latest US Federal Reserve policy meeting had little market impact as "the key takeaway from the Feds May minutes was that a patient approach would be appropriate 'for some time,'" he said. The New Zealand dollar was trading at 51.28 British pence from 51.10 as Brexit woes continue to weigh on the British pound. UK Prime Minister Theresa May resisted growing calls to resign overnight despite mounting opposition from lawmakers over the latest Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which offered a vote on whether to hold a second referendum. "While there are no signs her departure is imminent, discussions are ongoing leaving the sterling, which fell for a record 13th day on the trot, in a precarious position in the meantime," Parekh said. The New Zealand dollar was trading at 94.39 Australian cents from 94.45, at 58.23 euro cents from 58.22, at 71.65 yen from 71.74 and at 4.4851 Chinese yuan from 4.4913 (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: 24th December 2021 Morning Report Goodman Property Trust (NZX: GMT) GMT to develop North Shore facility for NZ Post 23rd December 2021 Morning Report SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) EXPANDS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH GIG Spark New Zealand Limited (NZX: SPK) Spark to take full ownership of Connect 8 22nd December 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Wynyard Quarter Stage 3 Commenced AMP Limited (NZX: AMP) Announces Delisting from the NZX Main Board 21st December 2021 Morning Report Greenfern Industries Limited (NZX: GFI) Updates on NTA Metro Performance Glass blamed "significant challenges" in Australia for a 69 percent plunge in annual net profit and a slide in operating earnings consistent with the firm's March downgrade. Net profit for the year ended March was $5 million, down from $16.3 million the previous year both the previous years profit and the year before that also declined. It reported a profit of $20.5 million in the 2016 financial year. Operating profit before a $9.6 million write-down of the value of the firm's Australian assets fell 18.4 percent to $25.2 million. The company bought its Australian business in September 2016. Metroglass shares jumped 5 cents, or 12.5 percent, to 45 cents after the results announcement with one analyst suggesting there was relief there was no further bad news in the announcement. The company had last downgraded its guidance in mid-March and the operating result was in keeping with that guidance. The shares have fallen from 84 cents on May 21 last year and from $1.70 at its July 2014 float Asked whether this years write-down of the Australian assets will prove sufficient, chief executive Simon Mander says that there was a pretty robust process" around that. "How we arrived at that was quite slow we went through testing on that and looking at our model. That assessment included the improvements in the Australian operations the company expects to make, he says. Metroglass balance sheet is still carrying $146.4 million of intangible assets and more than 95 percent of that is goodwill. Progress has been made across all parts of the group this year and we are pleased with the operational improvements and stronger financial results achieved in New Zealand, Mander says. He has held the top job since November. The New Zealand operations lifted earnings before interest and tax before significant items by 6 percent to $31.1 million. Australian Glass Group made a $4.8 million loss before interest and tax compared with a $3.2 million profit the previous year. Operating cash flow fell 30 percent to $23.6 million and Mander says that predominantly reflects the poor performance in Australia We have a clear strategy and plan in place for AGG and, in the latter stages of the financial year, we improved service delivery in all three states, reduced reworks and achieved a more stable and engaged workforce, Mander says. AGG operates in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. These positive changes have resulted in a number of former customers already returning and were focused on regaining their confidence and trust. Revenue in Australia fell 9 percent to $50.4 million while New Zealand sales rose 2 percent to $217.4 million. Metroglass says its changes in Australia include a major capital programme, a shift from domestic to international glass supply, moving the manufacturing and sales focus towards double glazing products and opening a manufacturing plant in Tasmania. The company says the start-up of that factory, its seventh in Australia, met its first-year financial goals, including breaking even on an ebit basis in the final quarter of 2019. It also had operational problems in the other two states. In Victoria, which accounts for two-thirds of the Australian operations, a $2.5 million reduction in ebit reflected sales volumes lost to Tasmania and another $2.2 million drop in ebit reflected revenue declines due to the operational problems in Victoria. Revenue declines in NSW accounted for another $1.4 million fall in ebit. The company says New Zealand fundamentals remain strong but Metroglass expects supply constraints and it expects Australian housing starts will decline further. Metroglass is paying no dividends this year after paying 7.6 cents per share last year. Mander wouldnt be drawn on when dividends are likely to resume. He says the company will provide preliminary guidance for the current year at its annual shareholders meeting on July 26. While being acutely aware of the challenges ahead, Metroglass is firmly focused on rebuilding shareholder value through further improved performance in New Zealand and by executing its plan for stabilising and growing the Australian business, he says. (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: 24th December 2021 Morning Report Goodman Property Trust (NZX: GMT) GMT to develop North Shore facility for NZ Post 23rd December 2021 Morning Report SkyCity Entertainment Group Limited (NZX: SKC) EXPANDS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH GIG Spark New Zealand Limited (NZX: SPK) Spark to take full ownership of Connect 8 22nd December 2021 Morning Report Precinct Properties New Zealand Limited (NZX: PCT) Wynyard Quarter Stage 3 Commenced AMP Limited (NZX: AMP) Announces Delisting from the NZX Main Board 21st December 2021 Morning Report Greenfern Industries Limited (NZX: GFI) Updates on NTA Mumbai: As the nation waits for the Lok Sabha election results to be announced on 23 May 2019, the market has gone into a tizzy. Amidst the exit poll predictions, Nifty has gained 250 points while the BSE Sensex has gained 850 points. But, there's no denying that volatility is at an all-time high. Just the previous week, Nifty crossed the 11,400-mark, while the same week it went down to dip below 11,100. With clouds of uncertainty looming over markets, instead of investing in market-linked investments, it is best to wait for results to be declared, so markets can get stable. However, the current market scenario may take longer to stabilise. In the meanwhile, to ensure absolute security for your wealth and guaranteed returns, invest in fixed deposits. They aren't linked to the market and hence offer assured substantial returns. Here's why fixed deposits are great investment vehicles, amidst all the volatility and chaos: Beat other asset classes in 2018 In 2018, Fixed Deposit emerged as a winning investment, outperforming instruments such as mutual funds, and stocks. The numbers indicate that fixed deposit returns for 2018 were 6.5 per cent, whereas debt funds offered 5.5-5.9 per cent and equity offered 2.7 per cent. Given these statistics, you can rest assured that investing in a fixed deposit is surely a good way to grow your wealth. Offers customisable returns An advantage of investing in fixed deposits is that you can choose how you wish to receive payouts. For instance, when you invest in Bajaj Finance fixed deposit you can get interested at maturity, along with the principal invested, or throughout the tenor. When you choose the latter, you can even select the payout frequency, be it monthly, quarterly, bi-annually or annually. This makes the investment highly compatible with a range of financial goals ranging from wealth creation to supplementing income. Appeals to all investors Apart from the fact that it carries no risk, a fixed deposit investment is convenient because you don't have to invest a huge amount. For example, Bajaj Finance allows you to invest as little as Rs 25,000 for a tenor of your choice. Moreover, since it has the highest ratings from both ICRA and CRISIL, you can be sure that you'll get returns on time. Offers generous returns and multi-purpose benefits Most importantly, investing in fixed deposits doesn't deprive you of high returns. When you choose a worthy FD scheme, such as the one offered by Bajaj Finance, you can earn 8.95 per cent interest as a senior citizen when you start an FD for at least 36 months with payout at maturity, or 8.60 per cent if you're a regular investor. In fact, you get an increase in interest to the tune of 0.25 per cent each time you renew your FD. You can also use Bajaj Finance FD as collateral, by taking a loan against it. Thus, if you encounter an urgent need for finance in future, you can raise an amount without liquidating this high-yielding investment. With so many benefits to offer, it makes good sense to steer your attention to fixed deposits until the markets stabilise. In fact, to ensure that your portfolio is always in equilibrium, stay invested in fixed deposits. As Bajaj Finance allows you to apply FD Online, you can begin your investment journey right away. Despite favouring diplomacy on disputed issues, Rouhani said he is currently opposed to any negotiations with the US, Xinhua news agency reported on Tuesday. Tehran: Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the US under current circumstances. "Today's circumstances are not suitable for negotiations at all," he said. He also appealed unity and consistency among Iranians to overcome the economic challenges imposed by Washington. Last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also ruled out any talks with the US government on the disputed issues. US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the Iran international nuclear deal in May 2018 and re-imposed energy and financial sanctions against the Islamic republic. Washington seeks to seal a new nuclear deal with Iran to further curb its nuclear programme and stop ballistic missile development. The Tamil dubbed version of Dhanush'shas been titled as, the film is all set to release on June 21. Sashikanth's YNOTX will be releasing the Tamil dubbed version of the film. "We are very excited to bring this remarkable story to our Tamil audiences. The movie has already garnered international recognition and we are sure that Dhanush's stardom in Tamil Nadu, coupled with the movie's concept is going be treat for Tamil audiences and his fans who will love to watch Dhanush in an extraordinary avatar that they have never seen before," said Sashikanth in his official statement. "I'm so happy that The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir is coming to India so I can share it with my fans, who inspire me to keep working hard and taking chances," said the film's protagonist Dhanush. Directed by Ken Scott, The Extraordinary Journey of the Fakir is originally made in English and French. The film also has Berenice Bejo, Erin Moriarty, and Ben Miller in pivotal characters. Text & Images: MOVIEBUZZ his second project with Thala Ajith after Nerkonda Paarvai . Reliable sources say that H Vinoth of Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru fame has officially signed the dotted line for Reliable sources say that H Vinoth of Theeran Adhigaaram Ondru fame has officially signed the dotted line for his second project with Thala Ajith after Nerkonda Paarvai . We hear that Ajith gave his word even before the commencement of Nerkonda Paarvai that he would definitely act in the own script of Vinoth and hence, the director agreed to helm Nerkonda Paarvai, which is the remake of Hindi hit Pink. But there was an uncertainty in the second time collaboration with Ajith and Vinoth, as the former wasnt impressed with the latters storyline as it was a political action thriller. As Ajith prefers to be apolitical, he asked Vinoth to come up with another script and in the meantime, the director also approached other actors like Vijay for the same political thriller. Only recently Vinoth narrated another one-liner to Ajith and impressed by the idea, the actor asked him to work on the script. As Ajith has given the green signal, Vinoth also signed the dotted line with producer Boney Kapoor who will be producing the actors next. Interacting with the media in Hyderabad while promoting her new Telugu film Sita, Kajal has also opened up about the ongoing Indian 2 shelved reports. The actress has made it clear that contrary to media reports, the project is very much on and she will resume shooting for the film from June of this year. It is worth mentioning that we at Sify.com also reported that the shoot of the film will be resumed in June and all creative differences between Lyca and the films director Shankar have been sorted out. "I do not believe that this is a route she should take, but I recognize the genuine and sincere strength of feeling" on the issue, she said. But the Brexit referendum will only happen if Parliament backs the EU withdrawal bill and it becomes law, something that still seems unlikely. In a speech Tuesday, May said the bill would include "a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum and this must take place before the Withdrawal Agreement can be ratified." May made the offer as part of attempts to persuade Parliament to back a divorce agreement that will allow the U.K. to leave the EU in an orderly fashion. She plans to ask the House of Commons to vote in early June on a withdrawal agreement bill, in what she called a "last chance" to seal a Brexit deal. In a major concession, British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday offered U.K. lawmakers the chance to vote on whether to hold a new referendum on the country's membership in the European Union -- but only if it backs her thrice-rejected Brexit agreement. Britain was due to leave the EU on March 29, but the bloc extended the deadline until Oct. 31 amid the political impasse. Talks on securing a compromise on the Brexit deal between May's Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party broke down last week. May says she will try again the week of June 3 by asking lawmakers to vote on a withdrawal agreement bill implementing the departure terms. She has tried to secure backing from lawmakers with promises to maintain high standards on workers' rights and environmental protections -- issues that are priorities for the left-of-center opposition Labour Party. She also said U.K. lawmakers would get to decide how close a trade relationship to seek with the EU after Brexit, in a concession to Labour's demands for a customs union. May said she was "making a new offer to find common ground in Parliament." "I have compromised. Now I ask you to compromise too," she said. May has said that after Parliament votes on the bill she will set out a timetable for her departure as Conservative leader and prime minister. Pro-Brexit Conservatives blame May for the country's political deadlock and want to replace her with a staunch Brexit supporter such as Boris Johnson, a former foreign secretary. In a sign of the splits within the Conservative government over Britain's departure from the EU, Treasury chief Phillip Hammond cautioned against trying to leave the bloc without an agreement on trade and other terms. Hammond planned to tell a business dinner that politicians "on the populist right" are trying to redefine Brexit to mean a no-deal departure from the EU. In extracts released in advance, Hammond said "to advocate for 'no deal' is to hijack the result of the referendum, and in doing so, knowingly to inflict damage on our economy and our living standards." North Korean state media on Tuesday claimed that department stores are overflowing with goods that meet customer demand, quoting foreign media and visiting tourists. In an article titled "[North Korea] that is displaying its socialist might based on rapid economic development," the official Rodong Sinmun wrote, "You shouldn't lend your ear to fake propaganda campaigns by Western countries, but look squarely at [North] Korea that is doing what it should do in defiance of sanctions." North Korea's "economy grows constantly despite sanctions," it added. The daily denied economic difficulties even as the regime is begging the international community for food aid. The article represented a startling volte-face from recent complaints of "severe hardship" and calls for self-reliance. Rapper Psy will release a new album in early July, his management agency said Monday. It will be his ninth full-length album. With the release of the album, he will kick off his annual summer tour starting with a concert in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on July 13. Tickets will go on sale on June 11. Study finds lower ER triage scores associated with delayed antibiotics delivery for sepsis patients Providing early, appropriate antibiotic treatment for patients with sepsis -- a serious complication of infection that can lead to organ failure and death -- is crucial for their survival. But in a new study, researchers at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City found that antibiotic delivery was significantly faster -- by up to 32 minutes -- for sepsis patients being treated in an emergency department if they were assigned a slightly higher score on a subjective one-to-five acuity scale commonly used for patient triage. "Triaging patients and delivering antibiotics quickly in the emergency department is a constant challenge," said Sierra R. McLean, a University of Utah medical student and the study's lead author. "We're trying to figure out ways to provide better quality care to patients, and this study shows us we need to come up with interventions to make sure very-ill sepsis patients are appropriately recognized to help get their antibiotics on time." In the study, Intermountain researchers examined adult sepsis patients who were treated in four Intermountain Healthcare emergency departments in Utah between July 2013 and January 2017. Many emergency departments, including those in this study, assign patients an acuity score on a five-point scale to aid triage and resource allocation, with one being most in need of immediate care and five the least. The assessment is often made quickly, however, and the choice between mid-range triage scores can be subtle and subjective, researchers noted. For this study, investigators zeroed in on patients with mid-range scores -- those given a 2 (emergent) or 3 (urgent) - who also had abnormally low blood pressures. Among 799 eligible patients, 591 had a score of 2 and 208 had a score of 3. Researchers then evaluated how quickly they received antibiotics. They found that patients given a triage score of 3, or urgent, had door-to-antibiotic times that were 32 minutes longer than patients assigned a triage score of 2, or emergent. "Federal and international standards encourage the start of broad-spectrum antibiotics within three hours of a sepsis patient's arrival in the ED. Those 32 minutes can make a major difference in a patient's chances for survival," said Ithan D. Peltan, MD, MSc, senior author of the study and an attending physician in the Intermountain Medical Center Shock Trauma Intensive Care Unit and Intermountain Healthcare Telecritical Care. "If we could find interventions to help triage patients better, we might be able to help patients get antibiotics on time," added McLean. McLean and Dr. Peltan will present their findings from the study at ATS 2019, the annual international conference of the American Thoracic Society, in Dallas on May 22. Dr. Peltan said the study is part of a broader look at the system level challenges that make it hard to deliver high-quality sepsis care. "How do we help these incredibly busy, skilled ED clinicians - who are working in an environment where there's not much information -- to identify sepsis patients who are at risk for under-triage? This study is a step toward answering that question," he added. ### The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Intermountain Research and Medical Foundation. McLean joined the Intermountain research team as part of a competitive University of Utah Medical School program designed to provide students mentored experience in biomedical research. Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based not-for-profit system of 24 hospitals, 160 clinics, a Medical Group with some 2,300 employed physicians and advanced care practitioners, a health insurance company called SelectHealth, and other health services. Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through evidence-based best practices, high quality, and sustainable costs. This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Korea's exports are set to post their sixth consecutive month of decline after falling over 10 percent on-year in the first 20 days of May. The Korea Customs Service said on Tuesday that exports amounted to US$25.7 billion from May 1 to 20, down 11.7 percent or $3.41 billion from a year earlier. The average daily exports, which reflect working days, dropped 15 percent from $2.24 billion to $1.9 billion. Exports to major trading partners all contracted -- 15.9 percent to China, 4.4 percent to the U.S. and 19.4 percent to the EU. Korea has suffered declining exports for the last five months in a row. They fell 11.4 percent in February, 8.2 percent in March and 2 percent in April. Imports, meanwhile, stood at $27.7 billion in the first 20 days of May, down 0.1 percent or $10 million on-year. This translates into a trade deficit of $2 billion so far this month, making it very likely to end the 87-month-long trade surplus. Page Content Ministry of Public Housing, Environment, Spatial Development and Infrastructure (Ministry VROMI), announces that road works activities will be carried out on May 22, 23 and 24 in the vicinity of the new Texaco Gas Station and the Round-a-bout Union road/Causeway. The road work activities will start on Wednesday, May 22 at 8.00PM to 5.00AM; these works will continue on May 23 and 24. These works will be carried out by Windward Roads. The works entail the installation of and extension of concrete divider curbs that would regulate the traffic flow in and out of the gas station on both the Union road and the Causeway road. The road works on the Union roadside will be carried out during the evening hours as specified while those on the Causeway road near the round-a-bout will be carried out during the daytime. These road works are part of the already approved Building Permit. Motorists are advised to pay close attention as workmen and equipment will be busy along this part of the road network. The public and motorists are advised that tampering by removing barricades or any Government property is punishable by law. Ministry VROMI apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. Guest Commentary By Fergus Hodgson Canadas edge as a locale for foreign investment is slipping fast, but there is a way to turn the ship around without lowering tax rates. The nation can curb capital flight by lowering the cost of tax compliance. As recently as 2010-2015, Canada bettered the United States and almost doubled the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average for foreign direct investment as a percentage of gross domestic product. Since 2015, Canada has fallen below the United States and is on track to soon fall below the OECD average. Foreign direct investment outflows from Canada post-2014 have reached all-time highs. Canadians are losing confidence in their economy for investment. In policy terms, as put by Steven Globerman of the Fraser Institute, the outward flow indicates the relative investment environment in Canada deteriorated. The ease of tax compliance is a major consideration for international investors. Businesses in Canada spend on average 131 hours preparing and paying taxes. According to the World Bank, there are far more compliance-friendly nations such as Hong Kong (35 hours), Estonia (50 hours), Norway (79 hours) and even the United Kingdom (105 hours). Compliance cost involves more than just regular labour hours. Compliance almost always requires outside experts and/or specialized departments, including a small army of accountants and lawyers, to keep up with the paperwork and regulatory maze. The effort diverts resources away from innovation and raises purchase prices for consumers. The Business Council of Canadas 2018 Total Tax Contribution report revealed not only Canadas higher corporate income taxes but that the burden of tax compliance continues to rise. The 87 large companies surveyed on average spent $3.72 million and required 19 full-time employees to keep up with their Canadian tax obligations. The council concluded: The average effective U.S. federal-state corporate income tax rate has now fallen below the effective Canadian federal-provincial corporate income tax rate [there is concern] Canadas corporate tax system has lost its competitive edge. The entire tax compliance operation, for personal and business taxes, cost Canadians $24.8 billion in 2011, the latest year for which a comprehensive estimate is available. Administering the tax system is no free lunch either; various levels of government incurred up to $6.6 billion that year, a bill that diverted taxpayer funds from productive uses. By any measure, Canadas tax system is a failure to Canadians and the businesses that employ them, deterring investment and the attraction of top talent, Anita Huberman, CEO of the Surrey, B.C., Board of Trade, said in March, echoing similar sentiments across the nation. A 2018 report by Chartered Professionals Accountants Canada, Canadas Tax System: Whats So Wrong and Why It Matters, found 61 per cent of their members believe the Canadian tax system hinders competitiveness: Over the past six or so years, as Canada has maintained the status quo, other countries around the world have reduced corporate and personal tax rates while their (Canadas) take from consumption (sales) taxes has increased. Recent reforms have been targeted (read: complicated), as described by the federal Department of Finance. The governments decision last year to cut the small-business tax rate to 9 percent, for example, appeared to be a step in the right direction, but similar actions are needed for large businesses. As explained by the American think-tank Tax Foundation, taxation burdens should not favour or punish specific industries, activities, and products. Minimizing tax preferences broadens the tax base so that the government can raise sufficient revenue with lower rates. The same problem applies to the Canadian governments proposed writing off of new machinery and equipment to lower the marginal rate on new investments. Although favourable to capital formation, the plan is temporary, leaving confusion about long-term burdens and reporting requirements. Discussions of tax rates, although very important, shouldnt distract from the crucial work of simplifying the code. Its complexities arise from its use as a tool for manipulation: myriad exceptions, deductions, and special treatments, which grow every year, trumpeted through taxpayer-funded advertisements. Of course, outcomes not contemplated when legislation was passed need to be addressed and advertised. However, most of the advertisements issued boil down to drawing attention to what too often is political patronage for interest groups and lobbies that make no economic sense. The bald-faced bribe to qualified Canadian media outlets, which are to get preferential tax treatment, is a new and blatant example. Such exemptions and preferential rates inflate the breadth and complexity of the tax code, dragging the economy down discouraging newcomers and competition. Other tax incentives may no longer be relevant because the circumstances that initially created the problems have either disappeared or changed. This suggests the need for an agency with the sole mandate of removing complexity. It could separate the wheat from the chaff, harmonize and propose legislation to amend the code, akin to the United Kingdoms Office of Tax Simplification. International conditions for investment are evolving rapidly. The American governments tax cuts pose a new challenge to Canadas business environment. Canada has no choice but to respond if it is to be a sought-after destination for global capital markets. Fergus Hodgson is a research associate with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. Daniel Duarte contributed to this article. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Tuesday demanded an "appropriate response" from Seoul to Tokyo's call to refer a dispute over compensations for wartime forced labor victims to an arbitration panel. Kyodo News reported that Abe made the request in a meeting with Korean Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo, a day after the Japanese government mooted the plan. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono told reporters, "We hope that President Moon Jae-in takes complete responsibility on behalf of the Korean government and respond to the issue." "The Korean side probably feels it is not desirable for bilateral relations to worsen any further," Kono added ominously. Japan has protested against Korean court orders to seize the Korean assets of Japanese companies that refused to compensate their victims, but Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon pointed out "there are limits" to what the Korean government can do, which incensed Tokyo even more. Kono added that Korea must "accept our request for arbitration" and warned, "If necessary, we are prepared to handle the issue under international law." Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga earlier also called in the ambassador and said the Korean government needs to "resolve the problem quickly." But Cheong Wa Dae again refused to comment. Diplomatic experts believe the chances of an arbitration panel being set up are slim because the issue is too sensitive for any Korean government to tackle head-on. Japan insists that all compensation claims for wartime and colonial atrocities are settled by a lump sum payment under a 1965 treaty that normalized bilateral relations, but the Supreme Court here last year ruled that a treaty between states cannot override individual rights to claim compensation. That same treaty also stipulates that an arbitration panel can be created by each side appointing members within 30 days of a request being made. That means Japan cannot set it up alone and Korea is unlikely to comply because public anger against Japan has become so entrenched that the fallout of even an equitable ruling could be devastating for the government. A Foreign Ministry official here only said, "We are carefully considering Tokyo's request." Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul on Tuesday hinted that the government is pushing for another border summit with North Korea, saying Seoul is considering "various measures" to resume stalled dialogue. Speaking to reporters for the first time since he took the post, Kim said South Korea and the U.S. "are exchanging various opinions regarding measures to resume negotiations." "From a broad perspective, it is important to resume talks," he added. A high-ranking government official told reporters, "It is desirable to hold a summit without getting too tied up in formalities. There is no need to send an envoy [to North Korea] or hold high-level talks beforehand." But the prospects are dim. When President Moon Jae-in officially proposed another inter-Korean summit, last month, North Korea did not bother to respond. The new unification minister quoted former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who said, "A hungry child knows no politics," and stressed the need to offer humanitarian aid to North Korea. But he admitted that the government is still gathering public opinion "while considering things at the working level." There is growing suspicion that North Korea is exaggerating its food shortage to either force an easing of sanctions or save money from food donations to spend on its weapons programs. Council of Europe explores AI to reshape prisons Nicosia, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 From monitoring inmates on suicide watch to detecting cryptic messages in phone calls, artificial intelligence is reshaping the way prisons are run, a Council of Europe director said Wednesday. "Artificial intelligence and digital technology are not only here to stay, but can also help in offender management," said Jan Kleijssen, director of the council's department dealing with crime and information society. At the close of an annual conference of prison and probation directors from across the 47-member state alliance, he rolled off a series of pilots underway in countries such as Belgium, Britain and the Netherlands. One such project involves "analysing speech by telephone and trying to detect patterns which are unusual, to determine whether cryptic messages are being sent to the outside," he told AFP in Cyprus. Allaying concerns about prisoner rights, Kleijssen said the schemes being introduced are in areas where inmates are already being monitored by staff. They could also save prisoners' lives, he said, such as one pilot measuring heartbeats which can set off an alarm if a potential problem is detected. In one instance "artificial intelligence would alert prison staff if suicide were attempted," Kleijssen said, adding an extra layer of support for at-risk prisoners who are under close staff supervision. The Council of Europe, which aims to issue legal guidance on using AI in prisons, also views teaching inmates about technological advancements key to their futures beyond prison walls. He pointed to a voluntary project underway in Finland, where prisoners are involved in the development of AI through a partnership with a private company, to make them more employable on release. "Digital existence is as important as real existence -- and the work market has changed -- if you have no digital skills and don't keep them up-to-date you will be at serious disadvantage," said Kleijssen. Qualcomm shares slide after US antitrust ruling Washington, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 Smartphone chip giant Qualcomm suffered a fresh blow in its antitrust battle after a US federal judge ruled that it "strangled competition" for years at the expense of consumers and device makers. Qualcomm shares sank some 11 percent in morning trade Wednesday after the ruling that the company violated antitrust law, in a case with major implications for the smartphone market. US District Judge Lucy Koh ordered Qualcomm to change its pricing and sales practices, after finding it "engaged in anticompetitive conduct" toward customers like China's Huawei, Samsung and Sony. "Qualcomm's licensing practices have strangled competition" in the chip market for years, "and harmed rivals," she said in Tuesday's ruling in the lawsuit brought by the US Federal Trade Commission. Koh said Qualcomm's abusive tactics have been ongoing and that it "is likely to replicate its market dominance during the transition to 5G, the next generation of modem chips." The California-based company's shares had soared after reaching a settlement with Apple last month over royalty payments for chips used in smartphones, which was expected to generate a windfall of $4.5 billion. But the 230-page ruling showed the company violated the law by using "unfair methods of competition." - Qualcomm to appeal - The company said it will seek an expedited appeal of the ruling. "We strongly disagree with the judge's conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law," Qualcomm executive vice president and general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. Koh cited statements from company executives that showed the "unlawful practices are 'ongoing' or likely to recur" since they were part of the firm's strategy and it maintains a dominant position in the market. The judge ruled that Qualcomm must negotiate terms for its patents on fair and reasonable terms without using threats or discriminatory tactics. "Qualcomm must not condition the supply of modem chips on a customer's patent license status and Qualcomm must negotiate or renegotiate license terms with customers in good faith under conditions free from the threat of lack of access," the judge wrote. John Bergmayer of the consumer group Public Knowledge hailed the decision. "Judge Koh's ruling shows that the FTC has the ability to bring, and win, important cases that protect American consumers," he said. But Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy called the decision "a travesty." "To be found guilty, harm must be proved, and there was no evidence shown of harm to consumers, chipmakers or handset makers. Qualcomm will appeal and will likely win." The ruling marked the latest setback for Qualcomm, which has faced antitrust litigation in China, Europe and South Korea. Qualcomm's woes appeared to ease earlier this year when it agreed with Apple to settle all worldwide litigation in what had been a sprawling battle over royalty payments. - Impact unclear - Judge Koh said Qualcomm's actions harmed rivals in the smartphone modem business, including Taiwan-based MediaTek and US-based Intel, which last month pulled out of the market for 5G modems at the same time Apple settled its case with Qualcomm. In one example, the judge said Qualcomm has threatened to cut off chip supplies to Chinese device maker Lenovo if it began buying from Qualcomm rival MediaTek. But the immediate impact is unclear in a smartphone market in turmoil over a US decision to blacklist China's Huawei, the number two handset maker, from any American technology. The ruling could open the door for Qualcomm rivals and partners to seek damages, but "Qualcomm has already settled with Appl,e which was one of the key instigators of the case in the first place," noted Avi Greengart of the consultancy Techsponential. Still, the findings "could open up opportunities for MediaTek at the low end of the smartphone market, and in some markets for MediaTek's 5G solutions," Greengart noted. However, Qualcomm is likely to remain the dominant producer for smartphone market in the short-term, the analyst noted. "Tor the most part, Qualcomm has won based on its merits, not on its licensing terms," he said. hs-rl/oh New Zealand agreements will promote TCM, internships From:ChinaDaily | 2019-05-21 20:52 Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd, the second largest State-owned company in Guangzhou, signed an agreement on Monday with the Confucius Institute in Auckland, New Zealand to build the Shennong Caotang TCM Culture Communication Center, and strengthen cooperation in TCM-related education to facilitate the promotion of TCM in the world. The company also signed an agreement with the University of Auckland to set up the Wang Lao Ji Auspicious Culture Ambassador Scholarship to fund student internships in Guangzhou. The company made the moves as a member of the delegation from Guangzhou municipality that headed to Auckland on Saturday for Tripartite 2019. "The concept of preventive treatment of disease, valued by the TCM sector, is expected to go mainstream worldwide," said Li Chuyuan, chairman of the delegation. "I believe that the integration of Chinese and Western medicine will contribute more to the global health industry," he said. Tripartite 2019, held Monday and Tuesday, celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Tripartite Economic Alliance/Honongo Ohanga Tokotoru, first signed by the three partner cities of Guangzhou, Los Angeles and Auckland in 2014. With sales reaching 116 billion yuan ($16.78 billion) in 2018, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Ltd has 10 China time-honored brands, including Wang Lao Ji, all of which have a history of more than 100 years. Wang Lao Ji has launched overseas herbal tea museums in New York and Tokyo since 2018. Air raids kill 12 civilians in jihadist-held Syrian town: monitor Beirut, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 Air strikes by Damascus or its ally Moscow killed 12 civilians in a market in Syria's Idlib province, a monitor said Wednesday, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwestern region. Another 18 people were wounded when the warplanes hit the jihadist-held town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in the north of neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday against pro-government forces in the town of Kafr Nabuda. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 52 -- 29 troops and militia and 23 jihadists, the Observatory said. It said that the jihadists had retaken most of the town from government forces who recaptured it on May 8. The jihadist-dominatedIdlib region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the regime and its Russian ally have escalated their bombardment of it in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. A jihadist alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region which threatened humanitarian disaster for its three million residents. President Bashar al-Assad's government has renewed its bombardment of the region since HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks as Turkey proved unable to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. The Observatory says more than 180 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30, and the United Nations has said tens of thousands have fled their homes. Deadly strikes hit Syria market as Damascus battles jihadists Maaret al-Numan, Syria, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 Syrian government air strikes killed 12 civilians in a market in Idlib province, a monitor said on Wednesday, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwestern region. In neighbouring Hama province, government forces battled to repel a jihadist counteroffensive around the town of Kafr Nabuda that has left more than 50 combatants dead in 24 hours, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Hama, Aleppo and Latakia provinces. The jihadist-dominated region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the government and its Russian ally have escalated their bombardment in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. At least 12 people were killed and another 18 wounded when the warplanes hit the jihadist-held town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Observatory said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The bombardment blew in the facades of surrounding buildings, and ripped through the flimsy frames and canvas of stalls in the market square, an AFP photographer reported. The bodies of market-goers were torn apart. "Residents are still scared," stallholder Khaled Ahmad told AFP. The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 52 -- 29 troops and militia and 23 jihadists, the Observatory said. It said the jihadists had retaken most of Kafr Nabuda from government forces, who had recaptured the town on May 8. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region and protect its three million residents. President Bashar al-Assad's government has upped its bombardment of the region since HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks. The Observatory says more than 180 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30. - 'Worst fears'- The United Nations said Wednesday that Idlib's civilian population once again faced the threat of an all-out offensive. "Despite our repeated warnings, our worst fears are coming true," said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office. "A full military incursion threatens to trigger a humanitarian catastrophe for over 3 million civilians caught in the crossfire, as well as overwhelm our ability to respond." Swanson said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the upsurge of violence since April 28. A total of 20 health facilities have been hit by the escalation -- 19 of which remain out of service, Swanson said. Collectively they served at least 200,000 people, he added. The September deal was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from a planned buffer zone around the Idlib region. But it ushered in a relative drop in violence until earlier this year, with Turkish troops deploying to observation points around the region. The Syrian government has accused Turkey of failing to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. But Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar accused the Syrian regime late Tuesday of threatening the ceasefire deal. "The regime is doing all that it can to break the status quo including using barrel bombs, land and air offensives," Akar told reporters. But "Turkish armed forces will not take a step back from wherever they may be", he said. Turkey ready for US sanctions over Russian missile deal: minister Ankara, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 Turkey insisted it would go ahead with its controversial decision to buy the S-400 missile defence system from Russia, saying it was preparing for any possible sanctions from the US. Turkey's push to buy the S-400 system has strained relations with the United States, a NATO ally, which worries about integrating Russian technology with Turkey's Western equipment. Defence Minister Hulusi Akar told reporters late Tuesday that Ankara was "preparing" for US penalties under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which prohibits business with Russia's state and private defence and intelligence sectors. He added that Turkey was "fed up" with being just being a buyer of military equipment, and wanted to be involved in joint production and technology transfers. "The idea that we always buy, you always produce, is finished," he told reporters in Ankara. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said Turkey and Russia would jointly produce S-500 defence systems after the purchase of the S-400 system. Turkey has already sent personnel to Russia for training, Akar said, and the system could be delivered as early as June or July. Last month, he said the S-400 would likely be used to protect the capital Ankara and Istanbul. In a bid to force Turkey to cancel its S-400 deal, the US offered a renewed proposal in March for Patriots, its own anti-missile and anti-aircraft weapon system. The US has said buying the S-400 could jeopardise the Turkey's involvement in the F-35 fighter jet programme, for which it provides some parts. Akar said Turkey was still considering the offer but that there had been "general easing" in negotiations with the US on the F-35s and Patriots. Relations have been tense over multiple issues, including US support to a Syrian Kurdish militia viewed by Ankara as terrorists, and the refusal to extradite a Pennsylvania-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen accused of ordering a failed coup in Turkey in 2016. Deadly strike hits Syria market as Damascus battles jihadists Maaret al-Numan, Syria, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 Syrian government air strikes killed 18 civilians, including a dozen people at a busy market, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwest, a war monitor said on Wednesday. Regime forces battled to repel a jihadist counteroffensive around the town of Kafr Nabuda that has left 70 combatants dead in 24 hours, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. The jihadist-dominated region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the government and its ally Russia have escalated their bombardment in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. At least 12 people were killed and another 18 wounded when regime warplanes hit the jihadist-held Idlib province town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Observatory said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The bombardment blew in the facades of surrounding buildings, and ripped through the flimsy frames and canvas of stalls in the market square, an AFP photographer reported. The bodies of market-goers were torn apart. "Residents are still scared," stallholder Khaled Ahmad told AFP. Three more civilians were killed on Wednesday by air strikes in the nearby town of Saraqib, the Observatory said. Two others were killed in strikes on the town of Maaret Hermeh, it added. Another civilian was killed in air raids on the town of Jisr al-Shughur, the monitor said. The Britain-based Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria and says it determines whose planes carried out strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions. - 'Worst fears'- The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 70 -- 36 regime forces and militia and 34 jihadists, the Observatory said. It said the jihadists had recaptured most of Kafr Nabuda from government forces, who had taken control of the town on May 8. State news agency SANA on Wednesday however said the army repelled a jihadist attack in the area, killing dozens of insurgents. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region and protect its three million residents. But President Bashar al-Assad's government upped its bombardment of the region after HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks. The Observatory says nearly 200 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30. The United Nations said Wednesday that Idlib's civilian population once again faced the threat of an all-out offensive. "A full military incursion threatens to trigger a humanitarian catastrophe for over 3 million civilians caught in the crossfire, as well as overwhelm our ability to respond," said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office. Swanson said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the upsurge of violence since April 28. A total of 20 health facilities have been hit by the escalation -- 19 of which remain out of service, Swanson said. Collectively they served at least 200,000 people, he added. - 'Break the status quo' - The September deal was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from a planned buffer zone around the Idlib region. But it ushered in a relative drop in violence until earlier this year, with Turkish troops deploying to observation points around the region. The Syrian government has accused Turkey of failing to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. But Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar accused the Syrian regime late Tuesday of threatening the ceasefire deal. "The regime is doing all that it can to break the status quo including using barrel bombs, land and air offensives," Akar told reporters. "Turkish armed forces will not take a step back from wherever they may be", he however added. Earlier, the US State Department said it was assessing indications that the government had used chemical weapons on Sunday during its offensive in Idlib. HTS accused government forces of launching a chlorine gas attack on its fighters in the northern mountains of Latakia. But the Observatory said Wednesday it had "no proof at all of the attack". Deadly strike hits Syria market as Damascus battles jihadists Maaret al-Numan, Syria, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 Syrian government air strikes killed 23 civilians, including a dozen people at a busy market, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwest, a war monitor said on Wednesday. Regime forces battled to repel a jihadist counteroffensive around the town of Kafr Nabuda that has left 87 combatants dead since Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. The jihadist-dominated region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the government and its ally Russia have escalated their bombardment in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. At least 12 people were killed and another 18 wounded when regime warplanes hit the jihadist-held Idlib province town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Observatory said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The bombardment blew in the facades of surrounding buildings, and ripped through the flimsy frames and canvas of stalls in the market square, an AFP photographer reported. The bodies of market-goers were torn apart. "Residents are still scared," stallholder Khaled Ahmad told AFP. The 11 other civilians were killed in regime air strikes and shelling in various parts of the jihadist bastion, including five in the nearby town of Saraqib, it added. The Britain-based Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria and says it determines whose planes carried out strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions. - 'Worst fears'- The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 87 -- 51 jihadists and 36 regime forces and militia, the Observatory said. It said the jihadists had recaptured most of Kafr Nabuda from government forces, who had taken control of the town on May 8. State news agency SANA on Wednesday however said the army repelled a jihadist attack in the area, killing dozens of insurgents. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region and protect its three million residents. But President Bashar al-Assad's government upped its bombardment of the region after HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks. The Observatory says nearly 200 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30. The United Nations said Wednesday that Idlib's civilian population once again faced the threat of an all-out offensive. "A full military incursion threatens to trigger a humanitarian catastrophe for over 3 million civilians caught in the crossfire, as well as overwhelm our ability to respond," said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office. Swanson said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the upsurge of violence since April 28. A total of 20 health facilities have been hit by the escalation -- 19 of which remain out of service, Swanson said. Collectively they served at least 200,000 people, he added. - 'Break the status quo' - The September deal was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from a planned buffer zone around the Idlib region. But it ushered in a relative drop in violence until earlier this year, with Turkish troops deploying to observation points around the region. The Syrian government has accused Turkey of failing to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. But Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar accused the Syrian regime late Tuesday of threatening the ceasefire deal. "The regime is doing all that it can to break the status quo including using barrel bombs, land and air offensives," Akar told reporters. "Turkish armed forces will not take a step back from wherever they may be", he however added. On Wednesday, the civilian arm of HTS held said it had helped free an Italian who had been held hostage for more than two years. Alessandro Sandrini, 33, from the Italian region of Brescia, disappeared in October 2016 after going on holiday to Turkey, later appearing in a video pleading for help, with masked men. It was not clear who had held Sandrini, whose release was also announced by Italy. NATO summit in London on December 3-4: Stoltenberg Brussels, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 The next NATO summit will be held in London on December 3 and 4 as the alliance marks its 70th anniversary, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday. Stoltenberg said he had discussed preparations for the meeting of heads of state and government with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a visit to London last week. The December summit will be a chance to "address current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead," Stoltenberg said in a statement. He added that London was a fitting venue to mark 70 years of transatlantic military cooperation as it was home to the alliance's first headquarters after the United Kingdom become one of NATO's 12 founding members in 1949. Nowadays the there are 29 member states and the headquarters is in Brussels. "London was the home of our first headquarters, so it is a fitting venue for NATO heads of state and government to plan the Alliance's future," said Stoltenberg. - Delicate time for NATO - Last month NATO marked the 70th anniversary of the signing of its founding treaty with a meeting of alliance foreign ministers in Washington. The meeting closed with a joint statement pledging new action to counter Russia's "aggression", with tensions with Moscow at a high not seen since the Cold War. The alliance has approved new surveillance measures and naval exercises in the Black Sea in support of Ukraine and Georgia, aspiring members of NATO facing Russian-backed separatist forces. And US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said NATO had agreed to study strategies to counter non-traditional warfare from Russia, which is accused of meddling in a series of Western elections. But the festive mood of the anniversary year has been clouded by lingering concerns about US President Donald Trump's commitment to the alliance and his willingness to honour its mutual self-defence pact. Trump has been blunt in his criticism of NATO's European members, accusing them of freeloading on the protection offered by the US military while not spending enough on their own armed forces. Before taking office Trump called NATO "obsolete", though he has also welcomed plans for allies to increase defence spending. NATO summits normally conclude with a formal, binding statement of aims and actions agreed by all allies -- such as the 2014 agreement to try to spend two percent of GDP on defence. It is yet to be confirmed whether a statement will be issued at December's meeting. Britain is due to leave the European Union in October and the December summit will be seen as a signal of solidarity between NATO and the UK -- which is the continent's leading military power, along with France. "Brexit will change the United Kingdom's relationship to the European Union but it will not change the United Kingdom's relationship to NATO," Stoltenberg said in February. On Wednesday, he was back in London for talks with British Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt. On Thursday, he will participate in a conference on cybersecurity in the British capital. Rules and red tape holding back tech revolution, says Ma From:ChinaDaily | 2019-05-22 00:24 Entrepreneur opens up debate on need for boundaries Founder and CEO of Alibaba Jack Ma is interviewed by Maurice Levy in the VivaTech Exhibition in Palais des Expositions of Porte de Versailles, Paris, France on May 16, 2019. [Photo/IC] Alibaba founder Jack Ma says he is worried that over-regulation in Europe threatens to stifle innovation in the tech sector. Ma suggested Europe's attitude had held back its tech sector and was the reason it had lagged behind China and the United States in building the kind of tech giants that now dominate. "Everything they do is full with rules and laws," he told a tech conference in Paris. "And everything they think about, they start to worry. When they worry, they make rules and laws." Having grown what is now one of the world's top half dozen e-commerce and internet conglomerates in less than two decades, Ma knows what he is talking about. The tech giants in their present form probably would not exist if they had been held back at every turn by regulators more geared toward monitoring the old industrial economy. However, there are those who now challenge the tech free-for-all and say that regulators should be alert to the potential downsides of the online revolution in an increasingly connected world. In her book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism, the US academic and social psychologist Shoshana Zuboff warns that the pervasiveness of tech in every area of 21st century life threatens to alter human nature in the service of huge profits. Charting the evolution of Silicon Valley giants such as Google and Facebook, Zuboff shows how they found ways of monetizing the vast caches of personal and behavioral information they received from their users - the so-called data exhaust. Rather than dump this surplus data, tech companies realized they could use information from growing numbers of users to offer advertisers - their real customersnear-perfect predictions of individuals' needs and desires. The commitment to informing and connecting people began to come second to cashing in on what the tech giants learned about them. With the evolution of machine-learning and artificial intelligence, Zuboff fears that this surveillance phenomenon will extend to the everyday"smart"devices that surround us in our own homes and report back to big tech about every element of our behavior. She says that when tech giants are challenged on issues such as privacy and for providing a forum for hate speech and fake news, they tend to fend off regulation by committing to reform themselves. In most advanced tech markets, it has been left to private activist groups to sound the alarm against data intrusion. There is also a growing phenomenon of tech workers blowing the whistle on their employers when they believe ethical considerations are being breached. In Europe, as Ma pointed out, politics and the law have tended to follow a more interventionist line. A year ago, the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation came into force, requiring companies to justify their use of data, limit the distribution of personal data and put a higher threshold on how the public consents to the terms for using online services. Last month, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, set out guidelines for the ethical requirements of AI technology. These include maintaining human oversight of AI systems and putting mechanisms in place to hold systems accountable. Among the barriers to regulation that Zuboff and other critics cite is the fact that the resources of the tech giants, and their monopoly on the vast amount of data they hold, far exceed the resources of those seeking to keep them in check. It is also in Europe that a public backlash against the perceived excesses of big tech is most apparent. Activists have warned not only against invasions of privacy but also about the negative aspects of young people being constantly connected and threatened by online predators and cyberbullies. The reputation of the online giants has not been improved by claims that big data was abused to try to influence the 2016 US presidential election and the UK's Brexit referendum the same year. For all that, it is easy to sympathize with Ma's frustration. In its relatively brief history, big tech has given people ready access to a global store of information and made it easier to buy, sell and connect with friends, colleagues and counterparts across the planet. Ma said China's tech revolution began at a time when most government officials could not establish rules because most did not fully understand the capabilities of the internet. "That gave us the chance to grow fast," he told the Paris conference. There would always be bad players out there, according to Ma, who nevertheless pointed out that Alibaba had used AI to catch of lot of would-be internet thieves. He said tech advances should not always be viewed as a problem but also as an opportunity. Most enthusiastic online users, who enjoy the benefits that tech has to offer, would probably agree. But that does not mean regulators should not be there to make sure surveillance capitalism does not unintentionally end up leaving us all worse off. 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 Mr Jenkins, also a well-known trialist who farms Welsh Mountain ewes and Welsh Black cattle at Tynygraig Farm, Tal-y-bont, Aberystwyth, claimed his highest-ever price at Skipton of 8,500gns with his 13-month-old red and white bitch, Graylees Rose. Rose is by Michelle Andersons Red and was purchased as a youngster by Mr Jenkins from the Northumberland handler and trialist, who runs a Cheviot sheep flock on her 1,300 acre hill farm in Bellingham. The dam is Glan y Gors Peg, owned by fellow Northumberland shepherdess, near neighbour and good friend, Emma Gray, the reigning English Nursery Champion, who farms at Harwood Forest, Morpeth. Emma hit the headlines at Skiptons previous fixture in February when establishing a new world record price for a working sheep dog bitch at an official sale of 14,000gns with her two-year-old tri-coloured bitch Brenna, sold to an American buyer. At the same 2019 opener, Mr Jenkins, whose previous top price at Skipton for a dog was 8,100gns - achieved exactly a year earlier - made a combined 15,200gns for two well-bred bitches, itself thought to be a Skipton record for a brace of bitches sold at a single sale. His latest 8,500gns dog, thought an excellent nursery prospect, found a new home in Scotland with John S. Hastie, of Fife, a retired shepherd/stockman who still keeps a few sheep and will use Rose for both work and trial. Several lots later, he himself sold a June, 2016, black and white bitch, Jess, at 1,050gns. Back with the sire of the Skipton top price, Michelle Anderson herself bought Red as a ten-week-old pup and trained him to become her first trials dog, winning an open novice trial and also with placings in open trials. He is now our main work dog, strong and powerful with a fantastic temperament. Ive been running Red in the Northumberland League and he is very well-known in this part of the world. Hes standing at stud and has been registered as a stud dog with the International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS). He can literally move mountains! said Michelle. Second top call of 6,400gns fell to a superbly bred young tri-coloured bitch from a first-time vendor at Skipton, David Murray, a Shetland Islands sheep farmer and trialist who had made a 14-hour boat trip, followed by a six-and-a-half-hour drive south to attend the UKs leading sheep dog sales venue. His eight-month-old Maid, who was placed fourth in her first nursery trial, is by twice Irish National Champion and 2016 Reserve Supreme Champion, James McLaughlins Dan, out of Seamus McManuss Nell, whose own dam is Littledale-based Ricky Hutchinson's celebrated International Reserve Supreme Champion, Sweep. Mr Murray has a flock of Shetland-Cheviot crosses and has won Scottish trials, as well as running in the Scottish National. Maid was keenly contested and returned north of the border with Ewen Macmillan, of Lurg Farm, Fintry, who was present in person on the day and successfully fought off strong competition from a US phone bidder. I had seen Maid on YouTube and needed a youngster to bring on, explained Mr Macmillan, who will use his highly promising new acquisition as a work dog on his 800-strong flock of Scottish Blackface ewes. Well-known Scottish breeder and familiar face at Skipton, Dean Aitken, from Lockerbie, was next best at 4,800gns with his young black and white bitch, Midge, due to turn three-years-old two days after the sale. By his own Tweeddale Buzz, out of Bobby Dalziels Ruby, Midge ran in four of last years nurseries and was placed in all, also making reserve in the Dumfries and Kirkcudbright team at the finals. Midge fell to a telephone bidder who requested anonymity. Another Welsh handler from Ceredigion, Tregarons Dan Rees, stepped up on past Skipton sale prices when achieving 4,300gns with his two-year-old black and white bitch, Kate, by Brendan McAllister's multiple trials winner, Spot, out of Michael Gallaghers Templemoyle Hope. Kate returned to Wales with an unnamed buyer. Again form Wales, another eye-catcher at 3,900gns late in the afternoon was KB Williams, of Bryn Melyn, Ffestiniog, with his well-bred December, 2017, black and white bitch, Cynfal Jill, by Aled Owens Welsh National and International Supreme Champion, Llangwm Cap, out of Mr Williams own Floss. The buyer was T Elliot, of Jedburgh. County Antrims Michael McAlister, of Glenariffe, an Irish vendor who regularly achieves rock-solid prices at Skipton, was on the mark yet again. He first made 2,000gns early on with a 12-month-old brown, white and mottled dog, Jinx, the fourth dog to take to the trials field, stepping up later with a 3,400gns sale of his January, 2018, tri-coloured bitch, Peg, by Pat Byrnes Jim, out of P McQuillans Cindy, who returned to Ireland with Co. Sligos Eugene Feeney. Late in the day, a third young dog from former jump jockey Mr McAlister, the January, 2018, black and white bitch, Jess, made 1,400gns. Also hitting 3,400gns was another Skipton stalwart, North Cravens Shaun Richards, of Pen-y-Borough Sheepdogs in Eldroth, with his November, 2017, tri-coloured dog, Tweed, a grandson of Ricky Hutchinsons Sweep. By Jane Drinkwaters own Sweep, out of E Hopes Dot, Tweed found a new home high on the Cumbrian hills at Shap with Swaledale sheep and beef suckler cattle farmer, Richard Harrison, a winner of multiple open trials who is this year celebrating 40 years as a trialist. Feature: Vienna warmly welcomes giant panda from China From:Xinhua | 2019-05-21 08:29 Giant panda Yuan Yuan is seen at the Schoenbrunn Zoo in Vienna, Austria, on May 20, 2019. Giant panda Yuan Yuan was officially handed over to the zoo in a grand ceremony on Monday morning. Yuan Yuan is a 19-year-old male who has been in Vienna since mid-April and quarantined for a month before visitors could take a look at him. (Xinhua/Guo Chen) VIENNA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Among the many enthusiastic fans snapping shots from behind the thick glass window of the panda house in the Schnbrunn Zoo Monday afternoon, an old lady seemed rather different. She just sat there quietly, watching the panda with a tender, loving smile, for a long time. Her name is Bertha. She and her husband drove 60 kilometres to see the new panda, and it is the second time that they came to visit the panda house this year. "I love this one, he is very handsome," she said. The said panda is called Yuan Yuan, a 19-year-old male who has been in Vienna since mid-April and quarantined for a month before visitors could take a look at him. The zoo hopes that he would build a family with the 18-year-old female Yang Yang, who has been living here since 2003 but without a companion as her previous partner, Long Hui, died of cancer in 2016. Yuan Yuan was officially handed over to the zoo in a grand ceremony held in the Kaiserpavillon on Monday morning. Speaking at the event, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said the Chinese-born pandas have "a certain diplomatic mission" to fulfil as he regarded them a "symbol of friendship" between the two countries. "We really appreciate it, Yuan Yuan is in good hands here." The Austrians adore pandas, said Van der Bellen. There are two million visitors to the zoo every year, and many of them are fascinated by this rare and magnificent animal. "Kids adore them -- not just kids, all Austrians do -- they would wait in queues just to have a look at the pandas. But they are not tall enough to have a better view. So they would come again," said the president. In April last year, Van der Bellen and Chancellor Sebastian Kurz asked for a new partner for Yang Yang during their state visit to China. In December 2016, the president also visited the zoo to personally say goodbye to the panda twins before they left for China. He was very pleased that the Austrian panda success story could now continue. "I am very happy about the panda addition in Schnbrunn. I hope Yuan Yuan will feel comfortable with us." Minister of Economy Margaret Schrambck was also very pleased with the arrival of Yuan Yuan. "China not only connects us with strong trade relations, but also our common love for giant pandas," she said at the ceremony. "The unexpected death of our panda male Long Hui in December 2016 was very sad, so we are all the happier that we now get a new panda male with Yuan Yuan." "The high quality of panda care is known far beyond our borders and is ensured by the excellent work of the zookeepers of the Schnbrunn zoo. I am convinced that Yuan Yuan will feel at home with us and become a magnet for many visitors from near and far," she added. In addition to the studbook number, birth place and time, the documents handed over to the minister also include the personalities of the male panda: gentle and clever. He had settled in well since his arrival and gained some weight, according to Zoo Director Dagmar Schratter. The pair already eyed each other up through a glass. "He was very interested, but it will take a while until they can get together," said the minister. Since 2003, the Schnbrunn Zoo has been one of the few zoos in the world where giant pandas live. The endangered bears are the symbol of species protection par excellence. In Schnbrunn there have already been four offsprings, always the natural way. In 2016, there were even twins. "With Yang Yang and Long Hui, our Chinese colleagues had chosen a very harmonious couple back then. We are very grateful that once again, with such care, a male has been chosen that fits genetically and in terms of age perfectly with Yang Yang and also has breeding experience," said Schratter. "I saw the cubs a few years ago. They were so huggable," said Bertha. "I hope the new pair will be successful in building a family in Vienna." 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next TO VIEW MORE NEWS STORY, PLEASE CLICK ON NEWS TAB ON MAIN MENU BAR 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. The introduction of new direct train services between Stratford and London has been hailed as fantastic news for the town, as passengers boarded the first of the new weekday trains on Monday. Chiltern Railways is more than doubling the number of direct services to the capital, in a move which could potentially provide a huge boost to visitor numbers. The services are slightly slower than if passengers decided to travel to Leamington and jump on a London train, but travellers will have more chance of securing a seat and luggage space by taking the direct service and will not have the inconvenience of changing trains. A crowd of civic dignitaries joined representatives from Chiltern Railways, the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Shakespeares England and Escape Arts, to welcome the first new service on Monday morning. Fraser Pithie, secretary of the Shakespeare Line Promotion Group (SPLG), said: This is an absolutely fantastic day for Stratford, what it does is give passengers more options. If people are not focussed on getting to London as fast as possible they can get these direct services to London, knowing they can get a seat and have somewhere to put their luggage and enjoy the most comfortable journey. For passengers in a hurry, they will still have the choice of changing at Leamington if they want a slightly quicker journey. These services should increase visitors and day trips to Stratford, which can only be a good thing. Eleni Jordan, commercial director of Chiltern Railways, said: Were really proud to be more than doubling the number of direct London services to Stratford, were looking forward to attracting new markets to the town, especially seasonal participants this summer. Izzi Seccombe, leader of Warwickshire County Council, said: These services are great news for Stratford, not just for visitors but for residents too. Looking to the future, Coventry will be the City of Culture in 2021 and improvements to railway services like this are all part of making sure the region is ready. Extending the line the other way to Honeybourne really depends on numbers, the demand has to be there. Philippa Rawlinson, director of operations and marketing at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, added: "Stratford-upon-Avon has a long history of welcoming visitors as the birthplace of William Shakespeare, with tourism being one of the key drivers for our local economy. We welcome the increase of direct rail services between London Marylebone and the town, offering convenient transport links to and from the capital which supports economic growth, attracts new investment and jobs, and stimulates innovation as we strive to remain a must-visit destination all year round. The introduction of the new services is not the only positive for Stratfords rail commuters, with a 1.5million refurbishment of Stratford Station currently under way. That project, which is expected to be completed in July, will see new waiting and seating areas developed, better retail facilities introduced, new accessible toilets and cycle racks. For those interested in steam locomotives, Vintage Trains revealed earlier this year that it plans to make the Birmingham to Stratford line the UKs premier heritage railway line. Hypertension found in children exposed to flower pesticides In a study published online May 21, 2019 in the journal Environmental Research, researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine found higher blood pressure and pesticide exposures in children associated with a heightened pesticide spraying period around the Mother's Day flower harvest. This study involved boys and girls living near flower crops in Ecuador. Mother's Day is celebrated in May in most of the world and is a holiday with one of the highest sales of flowers. Ecuador is among the largest commercial flower growers in the world, with significant rose exports to North America, Europe and Asia. Commercial rose production relies on the use of insecticides, fungicides and other pest controls, but little is known about their human health effects. "These findings are noteworthy in that this is the first study to describe that pesticide spray seasons not only can increase the exposure to pesticides of children living near agriculture, but can increase their blood pressures and overall risk for hypertension," said first author Jose R. Suarez, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Researchers assessed 313 boys and girls, ages 4 to 9, residing in floricultural communities in Ecuador. The children were examined up to 100 days after the Mother's Day harvest. The analyses are part of a long-term study of environmental pollutants and child development in Ecuador, directed by Suarez. "We observed that children examined sooner after the Mother's Day harvest had higher pesticide exposures and higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures compared to children examined later. In addition, children who were examined within 81 days after the harvest were three times more likely to have hypertension than children examined between 91 and 100 days." Research regarding the effects of pesticides on the cardiovascular system is limited, but Suarez said there is some evidence that insecticides, such as organophosphates, can increase blood pressure. Organophosphates and several other classes of insecticides and fungicides are commonly used to treat flowers for pests before export. In a previous study, Suarez and colleagues had reported that children examined sooner after the harvest displayed lower performances in tasks of attention, self-control, visuospatial processing and sensorimotor than children examined later. "These new findings build upon a growing number of studies describing that pesticide spray seasons may be affecting the development of children living near agricultural spray sites," said Suarez. "They highlight the importance of reducing the exposures to pesticides of children and families living near agriculture." ### Co-authors include: Fatimaezzahra Amchich, University of Minnesota; Jonathan Murillo and Julie Denenberg, UC San Diego. This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 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 Dutch migration minister resigns over asylum-seeker crime report The Hague, May 21 (AFP) May 21, 2019 The Netherlands' minister for migration, Mark Harbers, resigned Tuesday after a parliamentary outcry over elided data on crimes committed by asylum-seekers, in a bad blow to the government just ahead of European elections. His departure adds to the struggle faced by centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte as he tries to counter a surge in anti-immigration populists who look poised to win big in the elections Thursday. Harbers was caught out over a report featuring statistics on crimes perpetrated by asylum-seekers in the Netherlands that he presented to parliament. In the report, misdemeanours such as shoplifting had their own separate categories but serious crimes such as sexual assault, murder and manslaughter were lumped together under the category "other" with no disaggregation. The revelation of that omission by the newspaper De Telegraaf triggered anger among lawmakers, some of whom questioned whether it was a deliberate attempt to skew reception of the report. Late Tuesday, during a parliamentary debate, Harbers announced he had offered his resignation. He assumed "total responsibility" for not correctly informing the chamber but said it was "not deliberate," Dutch media reported. Rutte responded by saying he "respected" Harbers's decision to step down, but declared on Twitter that it "incredibly regrettable that the cabinet must say goodbye to such a talented and committed liberal". Rutte's governing coalition already suffered a shock two months ago when provincial elections made the Forum for Democracy party -- an anti-immigration populist party that backs a Netherlands exit from the European Union -- the biggest party in the senate. The Forum for Democracy is course to possibly beat Rutte's Liberals in the European elections on Thursday. The Netherlands will be the first EU country -- along with Brexit Britain -- to vote in the polls, which will be held in other European countries over the subsequent three days. If Forum of Democracy does do well, it would be a bellwether of a populist tsunami that could shake the European Union. smt/rmb/klm TELEGRAAF MEDIA GROEP Bulwark against Duterte falls in Philippines vote: final results Manila, May 22 (AFP) May 22, 2019 Allies of President Rodrigo Duterte stormed to a landslide victory in midterm polls, final results showed Wednesday, dissolving a last bulwark against his controversial rule. Loyalists won both houses of the legislature, shutting out all opposition candidates in the Senate, which had served as a buffer against Duterte's most contentious plans. The results open a path for Duterte -- who has remarkably high approval ratings -- to make good on his call to bring back the death penalty and advance his project to re-write the constitution. "It's a clear signal that the people will be behind him as he pushes bills and processes that went nowhere previously," political analyst Ramon Casiple told AFP. With nine Duterte backers and three nominally unaligned politicians taking the 12 seats at stake in the 24-member Senate, only four oppositions members will remain, results from the elections authority showed. Duterte allies kept control of the lower House of Representatives, which has approved legislation to bring back capital punishment and re-write the constitution since Duterte's 2016 election. Among the new senators is former national police chief Ronald dela Rosa, the first enforcer of Duterte's narcotics crackdown that has killed over 5,300. Campaigners say the true toll is at least triple that and may amount to crimes against humanity. Senate seats also went to Christopher "Bong" Go, Duterte's long-time advisor, and Imee Marcos, daughter of deceased dictator Ferdinand Marcos who was ousted in a 1986 popular uprising. - Duterte family wins - Opponents fear the majority will allow Duterte to push forward his legislative agenda, which includes re-writing the constitution. In addition to opening avenues for him to stay in power beyond his legally mandated single term that ends in 2022, a charter change could reshape the Philippines for decades. Duterte has pitched constitutional reform to turn the Asian country into a decentralised federal republic where regions would have the power to fix local problems. But the various initiatives launched in his first three years in office have also included proposals dropping term limits, allowing him to run for another term and weakening checks on presidential power. "The pessimistic assessment is that what we're looking towards is the complete transformation of the Philippine political system in the years to come, well beyond 2022 when Duterte's term is supposed to end," political analyst Richard Heydarian said. The landslide victory was a crushing defeat for the opposition, leaving it mostly in disarray. "Voters were unable to relate to the issues highlighted by the opposition in the election, which was all about defeating Duterte," Casiple said. The pro-Duterte electoral tsunami was likewise a win for the Duterte family. Daughter Sara, touted as a possible 2022 presidential candidate, retained her post as mayor of the southern city of Davao, with sibling Sebastian winning as vice-mayor. The eldest son, Paolo, won a seat in the House of Representatives. Tug-of-war drives magnetic north sprint Paris (ESA) May 16, 2019 As far as we know, Earth's magnetic north has always wandered, but it has recently gained new momentum and is making a dash towards Siberia at a pace not seen before. While this has some practical implications, scientists believe that this sprint is being caused by tussling magnetic blobs deep below our feet. Unlike our geographic North Pole, which is in a fixed location, magnetic north wanders. This has been known since it was first measured in 1831, and subsequently mapped drifting slowly from t ... read more 2-metre sea level rise 'plausible' by 2100: study by Staff Writers Washington (AFP) May 21, 2019 Global sea levels could rise by two metres (6.5 feet) and displace tens of millions of people by the end of the century, according to new projections that double the UN's benchmark estimates. The vast ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica contain enough frozen water to lift the world's oceans dozens of metres. The expansion of water as oceans warm also contributes to sea level rise. But predicting the rates at which they will melt as the planet heats is notoriously tricky. The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said its 2013 Fifth Assessment Report that under current emissions trajectories -- a "business-as-usual" scenario known as RCP8.5 -- would likely rise by up to one metre by 2100. That prediction has since been viewed as conservative, as the levels of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise year on year, and satellites showing accelerated rates of melt-off from massive ice sheets atop Antarctica and Greenland. A group of the world's leading ice scientists this week released a expert judgement on the situation, drawing on their own experience and observations. While there was still a significant margin of error, they found it "plausible" that under the business-as-usual emissions scenario, sea-level rises could exceed two metres by 2100. The authors said the area of land lost to the ocean could be equivalent to that of France, Germany, Spain and Britain combined and would displace more than 180 million people. "A sea-level rise of this magnitude would clearly have profound consequences for humanity," they said. - 'The true risks' - The Paris climate deal, struck between nations in 2015, aims to limit global temperature rises to well below two degrees Celsius (3.6 Farenheit), and encourages countries to work towards a 1.5C cap. In October the IPCC released a landmark climate report that called for a drastic and immediate drawdown in coal, oil and gas consumption in order to arrest the rapid rise in the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. That report, however, did not include revised estimates of sea level rise. Earth has already heated 1C since pre-industrial times, contributing roughly 3mm to sea levels each year. The authors of the new study, released Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, argue that the IPCC's sea-level rise prediction was too constrained by focusing on what was "likely" to happen. At wider probabilities -- 5-95 percent likelihood -- they found that under 2C of warming seas could rise 36-126 cm by 2100. In world that has warmed by 5C -- unlikely but certainly not impossible given projected fossil fuel demand in the coming decades -- they calculated a five percent risk of sea levels surpassing two metres higher, topping out at 238 cm. Willy Aspinall, from the University of Bristol's School of Earth Sciences, said he hoped the study could provide policymakers with a more accurate worst-case scenario "crucial for robust decision making." "Limiting attention to the 'likely' range, as was the case in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report, may be misleading and will likely lead to a poor evaluation of the true risks," he added. Related Links Water News - Science, Technology and Politics Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution. SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only Ghoramara Island, India (AFP) May 19, 2019 Many cell phones in the world will be without the WhatsApp messaging application because it will not work from January 1, 2022.Those without WhatsApp will be vulnerable to those with Android OS 4.1 or lower, as well as iPhones with Princess Margaretha and Prince Axels official wedding portrait, May 1919 A hundred years ago today, the wedding of a Danish prince and a Swedish princess was celebrated in Stockholm. Today, weve got a look back at the nuptials of Prince Axel and Princess Margaretha. Princess Margaretha (sitting on sled) with her father, Prince Carl, and her sister, Princess Martha, ca. 1909 (Wikimedia Commons) Princess Margaretha, born in June 1899, was the first child of Prince Carl of Sweden, a younger brother of King Gustaf V, and his Danish-born wife, Princess Ingeborg. Her parents, who were cousins, had an arranged marriage, but by all accounts it was a remarkably successful one. Margaretha was followed by three more children: Princess Martha (born in 1901), Princess Astrid (born in 1905), and Prince Carl (born in 1911). Princess Margaretha (left) with her mother, Princess Ingeborg, and her sisters, Princess Astrid and Princess Martha, ca. 1910 (Wikimedia Commons) Carl and Ingeborg were very popular figures in Sweden, and they were known as the happy family in the Swedish press in contrast with the distant, passionless marriage of King Gustaf and Queen Victoria. Margaretha and her siblings were raised simply and taught basic household skills. Young Prince Axel (Wikimedia Commons) Prince Axel was nearly eleven years older than his bride. Born in August 1888, he was the second son of Prince Valdemar of Denmark, a younger brother of King Frederik VIII, and Princess Marie of Orleans, a great-granddaughter of King Louis Philippe of France. Marie died in 1909, a decade before Axels marriage. Axel followed his father into the Danish navy, and by the time he married, he had already risen to the rank of lieutenant commander. He was also a keen sportsman, often seen racing cars and flying planes. Later in life, he became a prominent member of the International Olympic Committee. At the time of his marriage, significantly, he was fourth in line to the Danish throne (after his cousins, Frederik and Knud, and his father). For a moment, he was also one of the rumored candidates to ascend to the throne of a proposed (but not realized) Finnish monarchy. Princess Margaretha, Prince Carl Jr., Prince Carl Sr., Princess Astrid, and Princess Martha (Wikimedia Commons) At the end of March 1919, Margaretha and Axels engagement was officially announced. Axel and his younger sister, Princess Margrethe, visited Margaretha and her family in Stockholm, and the engagement was announced during a family luncheon at the palace. According to Princess Ingeborg, the betrothal was a love match as well as a dynastic union. After all, the couple were first cousins once removed. (Prince Axels father, Prince Valdemar, was the uncle of Princess Margarethas mother, Princess Ingeborg.) The Washington Post highlighted the couples close family ties, noting that there will be many who will disapprove of this otherwise unobjectionable matrimonial alliance on that account, since consanguinity does not tend to promote the mental and physical stamina of sovereign dynasties. Prince Axel, ca. 1920s (Wikimedia Commons) Regardless, the paper had kind things to say about both couples. The Post described Axel as a good-looking stalwart specimen of Old World royalty and the son of a very rich father. In turn, Margaretha was deemed a pleasant-faced, lively and wholesome girl, and a daughter of the soldier brother of the Swedish monarch. The British press took some notice of the Scandinavian romance, as Queen Alexandra was an aunt of both the bride and the groom. In America, the press was familiar with Axel, thanks to a visit he had made to the United States in the autumn of 1918 as the head of a Danish naval commission. Princess Margaretha working for the Swedish Red Cross, 1914 (Wikimedia Commons) Most of all, though, American newspapers were dazzled by the notion that Princess Margaretha was a royal lady who had actually worked. It was widely reported by wire services that Margaretha was matron of a day nursery which has been established for working mens children and often helps bathe and dress the youngsters. Margaretha had also worked for the Swedish Red Cross during World War I. The photo above shows her doing sewing work for the organization in 1914, when she was fifteen years old. Axel and Margaretha drive through Stockholm after their wedding, May 1919 (The Scandinavian Review) When the engagement announcement was made, Margaretha was a few weeks shy of her twentieth birthday, while Axel was thirty. The wedding festivities took place on May 21-22, 1919, in the brides native Sweden. Stockholm was festooned with Danish and Swedish flags to mark the occasion. On the evening before the wedding, the pair were feted during a gala performance at the Royal Opera House. The ceremony was held in the Storkyrkan, Stockholms cathedral, which has hosted numerous coronations and royal weddings throughout Swedish history. Prince Carl escorted his eldest daughter down the aisle of the grand church. The Danish royal family was also well-represented. Prince Valdemar supported his son during the ceremony; and along with Queen Lovisa, the brides maternal grandmother, Princess Thyra, Prince Gustaf, Princess Dagmar, and Prince Harald were all in attendance. After the ceremony, the couple rode through the streets of Stockholm in an open carriage. Princess Margaretha on her wedding day, May 1919 (Wikimedia Commons) Back in London, the Times offered a simple report of the ceremony: The wedding of Prince Axel of Denmark, nephew of Queen Alexandra, and Princess Margaretha of Sweden, took place yesterday at the Story Kyrka [sic], Stockholm, the Swedish Archbishop Svederblom officiating. After the ceremony a great dinner was given at the Royal Castle, when King Gustaf delivered the congratulatory speech. After the wedding, the people of Britain got to see the newlyweds, when Prince Axel and Princess Margaretha traveled with his family to England in August 1919, where they visited with Queen Alexandra. Margaretha with her sons, Georg and Flemming (Wikimedia Commons) After their wedding celebrations, Axel and Margaretha settled down at Bernstorffshj, a villa near Bernstorff Palace outside Copenhagen. The house was a wedding present, and they were able to maintain it even after Axel lost the bulk of his fortune during the Landmandsbanken collapse in 1922. (Margarethas parents were also financially devastated by the same bank collapse.) Margaretha gave birth to the couples two sons, Prince Georg and Prince Flemming, in the villa, which is now the residence of the British ambassador to Denmark. Princess Martha, Princess Ingeborg, Princess Margaretha, and Princess Astrid at Leopold and Astrids religious wedding in Belgium, 1926 (Chronicle/Alamy) When they married in 1919, Axel and Margaretha couldnt have known that the brilliant marriages of her sisters would bring them even closer to two more European royal families. Princess Astrid married the Duke of Brabant in 1926, and in 1934, they became King Leopold III and Queen Astrid of Belgium. (Sadly, she died in an accident the following year.) In 1929, Princess Martha married Crown Prince Olav of Norway. She tragically died before he ascended the throne as King Olav V of Norway. Today, the sovereigns of Belgium, Norway, and Luxembourg are all descended from the royal sisters. Princess Margaretha attends the Nobel Prize festivities in Stockholm, December 1968 (Keystone Pictures USA/ZUMAPRESS/Alamy) Margaretha and Axel remained popular public figures and important family members throughout their lives, often representing Axels cousin, King Frederik IX, at important royal events. In 1947, they attended the wedding of Princess Elizabeth of the United Kingdom in London, and the following year, they represented the King at the inauguration of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. Both also attended the 1953 coronation. Axel died in 1966, and afterward, Margaretha still remained a vital member of the (then rapidly dwindling) Swedish royal family until her death in 1977. (She was affectionately known as Tante Ta by her nieces and nephews.) Later in her life, she could often be spotted at the annual Nobel Prize festivities in Stockholm, wearing pieces from her fascinating collection of jewels. (Learn more about her star tiara here, and her floral tiara here!) Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Some mixed winter precipitation possible. Low -8C. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snowfall around one inch.. Tonight Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Some mixed winter precipitation possible. Low -10C. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snowfall around one inch. MBABANE Eswatini means business. The kingdom is lobbying the Taiwan Economic Trade Development Council (TAITRA) TAITRA to set up their Southern African Development Community (SADC) regional office locally. TAITRA is seriously considering setting up in Eswatini. They also agreed to expand the participation of Taiwanese companies during this years Eswatini International Trade Fair (EITF), which we launched only last week by at least 30 per cent, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo disclosed yesterday. Reciprocally, Eswatini could also increase its participation in the Taipei Trade Fair to be held in June this year. It was stated that the kingdom intends to occupy a whole pavilion instead of a stand. It should be mentioned Eswatini, which recently unveiled eight new companies to invest over E1 billion, is set to become the economic hub for Africa, which is earmarked to be among the fastest growing economies globally. The country has also been earmarked to host the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Governments Economic Turnaround Strategy is already taking shape as the Kingdom has scaled its efforts to promote Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) through engaging international strategic partners. Khumalo is currently in the Republic of China, Taiwan, where he is having a series of meetings aimed at enhancing trade between the two countries. On Monday, the minister met with officials from the TAITRA as well as the Chairperson of the Taiwan Sugar Corporation, Charles Huang. Meet He is also due to meet the Taiwan Africa Business Association. It was also mentioned that discussions with TAITRA were focused on expanding trade across the two countries to optimise the Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA) by looking for further opportunities and encouraging Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into Eswatini. We are also requesting technical assistance in designing Eswatinis economy and infrastructure to effectively support an export-based economy, which is how Taiwan turned its own fortunes around, added Khumalo. There are nearly 200 products that could be exported by local businesses to Taiwan under 153 tariff lines courtesy of the Economic Cooperation Agreement (ECA) that was entered into between the two States. Taiwan Ambassador to Eswatini Jeremy Liang recently said they were greatly honoured to host the largest ever business delegation from Taiwan in the kingdom to explore business opportunities as part of an initiative that was organised by the Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA). The landmark pact eliminates 153 listed items such as avocados, beef, natural honey, sugar, timber and vegetables. The sky is the limit for high quality agricultural products from Eswatini and their popularity will help lift value of the countrys exports to Taiwan, said Liang during the Taiwan Eswatini business seminar which was convened at the Royal Swazi Spa early this year. Attended The seminar was attended by captains of industry in the kingdom and business representatives from 33 firms in agriculture and food, biotech, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, construction, electronics, metal products and machinery equipment. Eswatini imported E221 million (US$17 million) worth of goods from Taiwan in 2018 while the country exported a meagre E39 million (US$300 000). MBABANE Local gospel music giants are spewing poison at alleged fraudsters who are imitating them in South Africa. Pastor Vusi Shiba of Shiba and the Travellers and Reverend Elias Shongwe of Shongwe ne Khuphuka expressed their frustrations after they discovered that alleged fraudsters were imitating them and selling fake CDs of their music on South African streets. The artists, who were interviewed separately, confirmed that they received numerous calls from South Africa where they were informed that certain people were pretending to be them or giving the idea that they were sent by them to sell their music. Shongwe, a popular gospel artist whose music is known in most parts of the African continent, said he was saddened by these unlawful acts as he said these people were reaping what they did not sow and this practice frustrated them as artists as it was not something new. This has become a common practice especially in South Africa, we are helpless and hurt. This thing is happening even now and the sad part is that it is hurting our music careers. These people sell fake CDs and it is our names that go down the drain when people encounter complications with the fake CDs, Shongwe said. He added that he was told that a certain person was found selling his music and according to onlookers the person allegedly told them he was sent by the famous artist to sell and distribute his music. When asked on what steps he had taken to deal with this, Shongwe said he tried tackling it but it was unsuccessful. We are pleading with people to stop this as they are destroying our music careers. We are suffering because of these things, he said. Shiba advised their fans to buy music from music stores or directly from them. Called I was recently called and told that a person was selling my music in Johannesburg. These people are everywhere and they defraud our fans by promising to deliver our music to them, which they never do. We have worked hard to build our brands and it is painful to see people bringing it down like that, he said. He added that these people were smart because they bought the original CD then copied it and pretended to be selling original copies. He said some even printed out T-shirts with their albums sleeves on them to appear legitimate agents sent by the original musicians. ACASWA condemned these unlawful acts and said these people would receive their punishment, one way or the other. What is happening is very bad. We do not fight our battles but our God does on our behalf. Having said that, may our law enforcers take action to curb this daylight robbery. Gods ways are peculiar and higher than our human comprehension but He also uses other ways to fight our battles and in this case, He can use law enforcers, who will need our assistance in enforcing same, ACASWA Convener Mathokoza Mtetwa said. Urging He added by urging artists to act promptly whenever they come across this rot. Governments of both countries have, unfortunately, enacted laws to curb this rot, which we highly appreciate as artists. Artists are advised against taking the law into their own hands but rather trust those entrusted with that responsibility and go on to assist them by providing the required information and be ready to give evidence in court , he added. He then discouraged people from buying fake CDs. While speaking on behalf of the police, Chief Police Information Communication Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said it was a complicated matter for them since it was out of their jurisdiction. We advise artists to approach and consult with the legal structures and organisations in South Africa, she said. Mandla Cheeks Nxumalo of Leserato Events said the news broke his heart. It is really disappointing to hear of such and very much disheartening. Music is someones intellectual property, in the same way as a house is a property, and artists need to be paid for the use of that property, and the rights over that property needs to be protected. Discouraged Such acts are hugely discouraged and we urge the public and law enforcement officers to clamp down on this, by both buying original material and also bringing the perpetrators to face the wrath of the law, Nxumalo said. A South African man, Obedingwa Sibanda, said he was conned E600 by people who claimed to be representing Shiba and the Travellers. I ordered CDs and DVDs from them but now they have disappeared. I was trying to support gospel music artists, he said. It is worth noting that local artists are protected by the Copyright Act of 2015. MBABANE The political pre-conditions set by the Peoples Republic of China banning Taiwans participation in the ongoing World Health Assembly have been described as unreasonable and groundless. These were the words of the Minister of Health, Lizzie Nkosi, who spoke on behalf of the Kingdom of Eswatini on Monday during the annual meeting which is held in Geneva, Switzerland. This was during the two-plus-two debate at the 72nd World Health Assembly where Eswatini and 13 other allies of Taiwan requested for the inclusion of the supplementary item to be entitled: Inviting Taiwan to participate in the World Health Assembly as an Observer, in the agenda of the ongoing session. The minister informed the assembly that as stated in the Constitution of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the objective of the organisation shall be the attainment of the highest possible level of health by all people. The mandate of WHO will never be fulfilled if Taiwans 23 million people are left behind, said Nkosi. Decision-making The WHA is the decision-making body of WHO and is attended by delegations from all WHO member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. Eswatini through the minister said Taiwan was a significant partner in international health and humanitarian aid work. She said with Taiwans experience and expertise, it was committed to help advance global welfare and the right of all people across the world to access health. Taiwans participation in the World Health Assembly as an observer is a health matter and an issue of basic human rights, said Nkosi. She further submitted that the WHO was a neutral and professional body and should not be used as a political arena. Nkosi said recent years had seen a string of international outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola and Zika Virus, and it should be remembered clearly the human toll of the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic. The minister said globalisation had created a clear risk of the cross-border transmission of communicable diseases. Taiwan should not become a gap in the global health system, nor should its people be denied their right to health, said Nkosi. She said as the Director General Dr. Tedros had rightly said, The best thing we can do to prevent future outbreaks is to strengthen health systems everywhere she quoted. Nkosi said leaving any one region out of the global health network created a gap that undermined global public health and safety. MBABANE Returning to his desk job is proving to be an uphill battle for Eswatini Environment Authority (EEA) Executive Director Stephen Zuke. This is because the Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Moses Vilakati, has applied to the Supreme Court for the reinstatement of the matter in order to prosecute the appeal. This is despite the fact that the Supreme Court had previously struck off (took off the record) the appeal that was filed by the EEA after a full bench of the High Court ruled in Zuke favour to return to work. However, the minister, in his supporting affidavit filed at the Supreme Court, stated that the appeal sought to be reinstated had good prospects of success. In his affidavit, the minister stated that the second ground of appeal was based on clear statutory provisions in Section 14 of the Public Enterprises (Control and Monitoring) Act 8/1989 that it prevailed over any statute in so far as the regulations of the public enterprises was concerned. Appointed He submitted that as a result, Zuke, who is the first respondent in the matter was appointed by the minister in consultation with Cabinets Standing Committee on Public Enterprises (SCOPE) in terms of the Act. Vilakati submitted that the High Court manifestly erred in law to hold that Zuke was appointed by EEA in terms of the Environment Management Act No.5 of 2002. These are allegations contained in an affidavit whose veracity is still to be tested in court. Zuke, in the matter, is represented by attorney Derrick Jele of Robinson Bertram Attorneys. Vilakati claimed that even if Zuke were to be appointed under Act 5 of 2002, the minister remained the appointing authority under Section 17 (1) of the same Act. There was therefore no legal basis for the High Court to hold that EEA has any power to employ the first respondent, submitted the minister. Violation It was reported that the matter started off in the Industrial Court, which referred to the High Court the issue of alleged violation of the right to administrative justice. Vilakati said precedent on rules of civil procedure was that a party stood or fell on its papers such that the High Court gravely erred in granting Zuke tacit renewal of his contract of employment. The minister stated that on these grounds, the appeal would most likely succeed if reinstated. Vilakati submitted that the issue on appeal was the power to appoint the executive director or chief executive officer of the EEA In the High Court judgment, such power vests in the second respondent in terms of the Act 5/2002. On the face of it, this ultimately elbows out the powers of Cabinet under Section 8 (1) of the Public Enterprise Act yet even under the Environment Act, the EEA has no such power of appointment, alleged Vilakati. Prejudice The minister said if the judgment was not set aside, the prejudice it brought upon government in the regulation of public enterprises would not only affect his ministry. The corporate governance affairs of all public enterprises are administered neither by their various enabling legislations nor the Companies Act No.8 of 2009, said Vilakati. He stated that they were administered through the PEU Act. The minister said even though Zukes term of employment long expired, on August 21, 2016, he was unlikely to suffer any material prejudice other than the delay which had already occurred. The minister said it would be unfair to have Zuke reinstated through an erroneous order or judgment of the court. He submitted that worse still if Zuke was reinstated in this way, both parties would suffer the negative consequences of the removed power of regulation and control of the Public Enterprise Act in the running of the affairs of EEA thereby affecting its entire mandate. Zuke, through his attorneys, is vigorously opposing the matter and has filed a notice of intention to oppose. NGULWINI While lessons may have resumed at Mhubhe High School, teachers are conducting them in fear. Some of the teachers at the school claimed that following the mayhem which occurred a couple of weeks ago, they felt intimidated by the pupils and as such, feared for their lives. Information gathered from a reliable source was that the teachers feared for their lives to an extent that they dreaded chastising the pupils for any misconduct they could commit. Tense He mentioned that the situation at the school was tense because while they were conducting lessons, the pupils would from time to time make funny comments that made teaching difficult for them. Some pupils have the impression that they are now heroes after contributing to the recent riot that ensued at the school, said the source. The teachers are also afraid that the open day scheduled for next month at the school will not be a success because there is division between the pupils, parents and teachers. Mhubhe High School hogged the headlines from the day schools resumed for their second term calendar. On Tuesday, May 7, 2019, which was the first day of business, the school was littered with pamphlets inscribed with a variety of sexual misconduct allegations against one of the teachers. The allegations insinuated that the said male teacher was having sexual relations with some of the female learners. On the following day (Wednesday), business kicked off on a negative footing as pupils ignored the morning assembly bell. Instead, a riot ensued, which led to some classes having their window panes broken while the administration block was partially burnt and its furniture broken. Also, the office of the bursar was broken into and had its contents turned upside down; just like it was with the office of the deputy head teacher. The teachers also alleged that they were robbed of their valuable items including handbags and money while their motor vehicles were also not spared as they were vandalised during the riot. Following the riot, which resulted in the indefinite closure of the school, the police sought pupils suspected to be the ringleaders of the mayhem. Consequently, a day after the incident, they (police) had rounded up and detained four learners accused of being in the forefront. MANZINI Explosives man, Musa Ngubeni burst into tears as he disowned some of his supporters who frustrated and angered him during his appearance in court yesterday. The former student leader and member of the proscribed political entity, the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), appeared before Piggs Peak Principal Magistrate Joe Gumede at the Manzini Magistrates Court yesterday morning. However, his case delayed to start. In fact, he was almost sent back to prison without appearing. This was after his supporters, who are members of political parties, civil society groups and human rights activists, sang political songs inside Court One where his matter was heard. The case was supposed to start at 10am but the principal magistrate eventually stepped inside the court- room at 10:39am. While Ngubenis supporters were singing, a court orderly asked them to be quiet as the principal magistrate was about to enter the court. He told them that he would not bring the principal magistrate to the court if they were still making noise. However, the court orderlys plea seemed to fall on deaf ears as the supporters continued to sing political songs and slogans while clapping their hands. Reason Thereafter, Ngubenis lawyer, Thulani Sibandze from Rodrigues and Associates, intervened by trying to reason which his clients supporters that if they continued singing, the matter could end up not being heard. This will mean Ngubeni will go back to prison without getting justice, which you all want, the lawyer said. After a while, Wandile Dludlu, from the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF) stood up and asked his comrades who were still singing at the public gallery, to hold back in order for court proceedings to resume. Dludlus efforts were successful as there was silence in the court. However, while they waited for the court to resume, Ngubenis lawyer came back and told the supporters that even his client was not happy with their conduct. This seems to have not gone down well with Ngubenis supporters as they asked the lawyer why he went to the accused person because they were quiet by then. They asked him to talk to the principal magistrate that they were ready for the court to resume. MBABANE A former bursar at the prestigious Sifundzani Primary School in Mbabane is accused of having defrauded the institution a sum E506 577.79. Priscilla Katelue, who had worked for the school for a period of 14 years, was dismissed from work after she was found guilty of three counts of fraud by a chairman of her disciplinary hearing. A forensic audit revealed that there was sufficient evidence to suggest that fraud had been taking place for a long time even though audits had been carried out in the school without indicating that such deception was taking place. Retailers Her alleged modus operadi was that she would use the school funds to pay for various items from different retailers under the guise that they were for the school, but would later fetch them for her personal use. The items include a Whirpool washing machine worth E5 000 and a 49 LCD television set worth E9 000, among others. All these items, according to the forensic report, were never delivered to the school. Katelue is also said to have used the schools account to purchase paint brush, pains, turpentine and flower posts worth E3 971.85. Again these items were reportedly not delivered to the school. The audit report has been annexed to court papers and now forms part of evidence against the former bursar. According to the forensic audit that was conducted by Altersol Consulting Limited, from January 2017, Kateule received cash from the pupils parents which was against the schools policy. During the forensic audit, the chairperson of the school Finance Committee reportedly disclosed that Kateule was advised on numerous occasions never to receive cash and to advise all parents to deposit cash straight into the schools bank account held at Standard Bank. The auditors found that there was no evidence of banking of cash for school fees despite being received by Katelue. Information received from interviewees, including the chairperson of the Finance Committee, the acting accounts clerk (primary school) and accounts clerk, indicate that the bursar would say the amounts received in cash are then used to finance the schools operation as petty cash since getting signature for petty cash replenishment was sometimes difficult as signatories were employed professionals or businesspeople, reads part of the forensic audit report. BOYANE - The end of a relationship is suspected to have resulted in a 13-year-old pupil hanging herself. This is the shocking story of Sihle Ngwenya of Boyane, who ended her life after being allegedly dumped by her boyfriend, according to information sourced from her father, which he said he received from his daughters friends. The incident occurred on Monday at about 4pm next to Boyane Primary School where the minor was doing Grade VII. Boyane is situated in the northwest of Manzini city centre, about 17km from the city. According to the minors father, George Ngwenya, his daughter was traveling with a group of friends after school on the day she ended her life. He narrated that while travelling with her friends, just when they were outside the school premises, his daughter asked her schoolmates to excuse her after requesting to have a brief private moment, at a nearby bush where she wanted to relieve herself, the same bush where she ended her life. Her schoolmates were reported to have walked at a slow pace so that their friend could catch up with them after she had supposedly concluded her business. The deceaseds schoolmates were said to have suspected that something wrong might have happened to their friend after she took too long to come out of the bush. It was then that they decided to go back to check on her and upon arrival at the bush, they found her hanging from a tree. Screamed The deceaseds friends were reported to have screamed for help and a certain man identified as Ciniso Dlamini attended to them but it is believed that Sihle had already passed on. Dlamini is said to have untied the minor and swiftly contacted her father, who reported to the scene promptly. The father later called the police, who came and recorded a statement before taking the minors body to the mortuary. According to Ngwenya, when he arrived at the scene he found that his daughter had already passed on. He also mentioned that he found some bruises on the left side of her neck, possibly caused by the rope she used to hang herself. However, he highlighted that what puzzled him was the fact that the tree where the minor hanged herself was almost as tall as her. The way my daughter died is still questionable because the tree she used to hang herself is almost as tall as her, he said. However, he highlighted that he had a slight understanding after the police gave him a logical explanation on how his daughter could have ended her life using the tree in spite of its stature. Climbed He said the reasoning from the police was to the effect that the minor could have climbed on a nearby rock that was adjacent to the tree and then tied the rope to the tree before tying it around her neck. On another note, Ngwenya said he suspected that witchcraft might have played a major role in the demise of his daughter. This he said was because his daughter was brilliant at school and as a result, he suspected that someone who was jealous of her gift might have bewitched her to end her own life. I suspect that my daughter was bewitched. Even though it is hard to substantiate witchcraft, the least you can do is to point figures at those whom you suspect, but I believe someone bewitched my daughter, he said. Magagula cited that there would be a memorial to celebrate Sihles life at Boyane Evangelical Church at 2pm on Saturday. After the memorial, there will be a vigil at the minors parental home at Boyane, the same place where she will be laid to rest on Sunday at 9am. Professor Nonhlanhla Sukati, giving her comment as a Psychologist, said what contributed to young people to commit suicide was the environment in which they grew up. She said when they did not get love from the people around them, they normally felt worthless especially when dumped by the only people they thought loved them. MANZINI Government is dangling a carrot before Cabinet. The Phil Mnisi-led Royal Commission has recommended that politicians should get an equivalent of 24 months of their salaries if they achieve an economic growth of five per cent during their term in office. However, should this five per cent target not be realised, it is recommended that the gratuity for politicians be reduced from a year to six months, this publication has reliably learnt. According to impeccable sources, the upcoming circular, whose report was presented to Cabinet yesterday, will outline among other things that politicians should get a salary for only six months after their term of office has ended which is half of what members of the 10th Parliament received. However, such a provision is bound to change should government manage to revive the economy and improve the countrys financial situation. Package This, in essence, means that the politicians will receive a bigger package if, by the time their term of office ends, the country would have recovered economically. The previous Parliaments politicians received 12 months of their pay as gratuity if they were not re-appointed or re-elected. This tallied up to about E55 million. This was as per the stipulations of Finance Circular No.2 of 2013. The figure was inclusive of the 30 members of Senate, 65 Members of Parliament, 55 Constituency headmen and 336 bucopho. According to Finance Circular No.2 of 2013, the ex-gratia payment is a grant that is payable to former parliamentarians to assist with the costs of adjusting to non-parliamentary life. The ex-gratia payment is available to all parliamentarians who fail to be re-elected or reappointed into the new Parliament. The circular states that in the event that the parliamentarian does not fully serve the five-year-term, the ex-gratia payment will be pro-rated, taking into account the actual period served. However, following the commissioning of the Royal Commission, its recommendations are that all politicians will get a six-month gratuity at the end of their term, without taking into account if they are re-appointed or re-elected. Further, Mnisi and team are said to have recommended that Cabinet should be awarded 24 months ex-gratia, only if they achieve the economic growth of five per cent throughout their term. This recommendation, in essence, means that the politicians should work extremely hard to resuscitate the countrys fiscal standing - for them to take home this perk. Information attained by this publication is to the effect that their salaries will remain as is, while they will lose some of the perks that were enjoyed by the previous Parliament. Economy This could be translated to that the premier, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini will get E463 185 as ex-gratia for six months if he and his team miss the target of five per cent growth in the economy. However, if they attain it, he would stand to get E1 852 740. This is because his current salary stands at E77 197.50. Meanwhile his deputy, Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku, will take home E416 862 as his monthly salary is E69 477 if the target is not achieved; however, if they make it as Cabinet, he will get E1 667 448. On the other hand, each of the Cabinet ministers is remunerated E61 757.92 and they stand to get E370 547.52 if the target is not met, but should they meet it, they would each get E1 482 190.08. Also, despite that the 10th Parliaments Cabinet enjoyed hefty salaries even higher than some leaders of States in the Southern African Community (SADC), the taxpayer thanked them with among other things sport utility vehicles (SUVs). The SUVs were benchmarked at E800 000 while the ex-premier and his ex-deputy were to get new wheels upon exiting office. There were 23 BMW X5s that were bought and cost the tax-payer E18 400 000. The new recommendation is that they will not get cars after exiting office. Meanwhile, this publication has also reliably gathered that the premier will not get a house at the end of his term. This publications credible sources highlighted that the Royal Commission used the submissions gathered from the Peoples Parliament (Sibaya) and removed the house and vehicle as a terminal benefit for the prime minister while also removing the vehicles for the DPM and ministers. The public, during their presentations to the monarch at Sibaya, voiced their disapproval and wondered what was special about the politicians to be paid handsomely and also be bought vehicles. Disapproved The public also disapproved of the construction of the then premiers house, later dubbed lidlokolo; while also wondering what was special with him to get his gratuity, a state-of-the-art house and also a monthly salary equivalent to what he earned while in office. These perks were awarded to the former politicians at the backdrop of an ailing economy. Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Royal Commission, Mnisi, confirmed that they had submitted to the principal during the first week of the month. When probed on the recommendations submitted to the principal, Mnisi played his cards close to the chest, as he said: At the opportune time, well update the public on our recommendations. More than 26 people were killed and many more wounded when an armed group attacked two villages in northwestern Central African Republic on Tuesday, the UN\s peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) said. The massacre took place in the villages of Koundjili and Djoumjoum, MINUSCA head Mankeur Ndiaye said in a tweet on Wednesday. Ndiaye said the UN peacekeeping mission "utterly condemns" the killing, and vowed: "The authors of crimes such as these will be sought, arrested and brought to justice." The slaughter was the biggest single loss of life since the government and 14 militias signed a deal in February aimed at restoring peace to one of Africa\s most troubled countries. News of the bloodshed coincided with an announcement by the Vatican that a French-Spanish nun had been brutally murdered in a village in southwestern CAR where she had taught sewing to young girls. A UN source said the killings in the northwest were carried out by a group called 3R, which hosted a meeting with the villagers and then gunned them down indiscriminately. "Twelve people were killed in Koundjili and 14 in Djoumjoum," the source said. The group takes its initials from three words in French meaning "Return, Reclamation and Reconciliation". It claims to represent the Fulani, one of the CAR\s many ethnic groups. The militia was one of the 14 groups that signed the February 6 peace accord, the eighth attempt to end violence in the impoverished country. Under the deal, the government gave out key positions to warlords and agreed to set up mixed units of regular troops and militiamen. The head of 3R, Bi Sidi Souleymane, also known as Sidiki, was appointed one of three "special military advisors" to the prime minister, in charge of setting up the combined units. Communications Minister Ange-Maxime Kazagui, in a joint press conference with the UN, said "the government joins MINUSCA in demanding that Mr. Sidiki arrest those responsible for this massacre within 72 hours, or else be held responsible for these acts." "The government urges the public not to yield to the temptation of reprisals," Kazagui said. Unconfirmed reports from the region say that so-called "anti-balaka" groups militias claiming to protect Christians and animists from attacks by Muslim groups are mobilising. Bloody legacy The CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 percent of CAR, often fighting over access to the country\s mineral wealth. In a population of 4.5 million, thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December last year. In Rome, Vatican News said that a 77-year-old French-Spanish nun was found beheaded early Monday in the southwestern town of Nola, where she worked in a centre to help young girls. "According to a local member of parliament, the murder could be linked to trafficking in human organs," the site said. Pope Francis paid tribute to the nun, describing the murder of a woman "who gave her life for Jesus in the service of the poor" as "barbaric". He called for those gathered in St. Peter\s Square for his weekly general audience to pray in silence for her. SOURCE: AFP DMCC, a major free zone and Government of Dubai Authority on commodities trade and enterprise, has completed roadshows and presentations this month in Sweden, the UK and China, highlighting the opportunities available through DMCC for companies seeking expansion to global markets through Dubai. DMCCs senior management visited the cities of Gothenburg and Stockholm in Sweden for the first time with its Made for Trade Live international corporate roadshow. The events were held in partnership with the Swedish Trade and Investment Council (Business Sweden), and with the support of the United Arab Emirates Embassy in Sweden, and the Swedish Embassy in the UAE, said a statement from DMCC, which is headquartered in Dubai. A total of 80 Swedish business leaders and senior delegates attended the events, and discussed wide ranging issues such as Dubais economic growth, governance, regulation and trade; as well as DMCCs infrastructure, products and services, and the positive impact Expo 2020 Dubai will have on the citys local economy and the opportunity on offer to foreign companies. The next stop on the Made for Trade Live roadshow was London. Staged in partnership with the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, over 100 leading names of British business gathered in the room to discuss the opportunities for growth presented by Dubai. DMCCs position as a commercial hub and gateway to global trade flows was the focus of the discussion, especially within the context ongoing developments connected to Brexit. To date, there are over 1,400 British firms registered with DMCC. Executive chairman and CEO Ahmed Bin Sulayem said: "Our mandate at DMCC is to drive new trade flows to Dubai. These roadshows enable us to do just that by communicating the Dubai story and highlighting DMCCs commercial appeal to foreign businesses." "Our first visit to Sweden was very successful, and we look forward to working more closely with the Swedish business community and building partnerships in a new market," he noted. With bilateral trade between the UAE and the United Kingdom expected to reach approximately Dh121 billion by 2020, it was important to visit London again this year, stated Bin Sulayem. "DMCC offers British firms an unprecedented opportunity to expand their enterprise, and the economic impact of Expo 2020 Dubai should be appealing to all ambitious companies looking to do business in this part of the world," he added. Peter Bishop, Deputy Executive Chief, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: "We are delighted to partner with DMCC on this project. Representing the interests of London businesses, it made sense for us to support the latest Made for Trade Live roadshow and communicate the tremendous opportunity in Dubai for British firms." "Our members represent some of the finest businesses in the capital, and I was encouraged to learn of the support offered by DMCC to foreign companies seeking to do business in the Middle East, Africa and Asia and beyond," he noted. Meanwhile, Feryal Ahmadi, chief operating officer at DMCC, was invited by the Chinese Government to speak at the International Forum on Free Trade Zones Development, a two-day forum in Hainan focused on promoting free trade. The event was organised by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and The People's Government of Hainan Province. "DMCC has become a commercial hub and a critical connection point for trade ties between the UAE and China," stated Ahmadi. "Committed to driving the next phase of commercial growth between the two countries, DMCC has embarked on a comprehensive strategy to attract Chinese firms to DMCC. We have launched a range of bespoke Chinese-language services that have seen a rise of Chinese companies set up in Dubai and register with DMCC," he noted. "This is only the beginning and we look forward to creating more opportunity for Chinese firms in Dubai which will in turn, support Chinas Belt and Road Initiative," added Ahmadi. Since its inception, DMCC attracted over 3,000 businesses from 17 cities around the world to its international roadshows. The programme brings together business leaders interested in expanding their home base and offers them insights into the commercial appeal of Dubai and the opportunities it offers for growth in the region and beyond.-TradeArabia News Service Cinepolis, a leading global cinema chain, is continuing to move ahead with ambitious expansion plans across the Middle East with the opening of a new movie theatre in Sohar, Oman. Cinepolis second GCC theatre will welcome film lovers from Sohar, the capital city of Al Batinah North Governate, and surrounding areas from May 23. Cinepolis newest cinema will open with a screening of the Hollywood blockbuster Aladdin with regular screenings of Bollywood and global hit movies taking place each day. Located in the newly opened Landmark Groups Oasis Mall, Sohar, the Cinepolis cinema will feature an impressive eight state-of-the-art screens. The first Junior theatre of Oman is set to be a huge hit with parents and youngsters. The one-of-a-kind cinema has been designed to allow families to enjoy their favourite movies in a welcoming and fun space that expertly caters to their needs. The Junior Theatre features a colourful Jungle Gym, complete with slide and ball pit, as well as fun bean bag seating. Every screening shown in the Junior Theatre will be split to include a 15-minute intermission to allow restless children to take a break, enjoy some snacks or play a while. Only films rated G or PG will be shown in the Junior Theatre. The theatre also boasts one Macro screen complete with Dolby Atmos sound that creates a powerful audio experience thanks to the high-tech combination of the latest generation of audio speakers located throughout each of the venues premium auditoriums. Guests can relax with three super-comfortable seating options - Recliner, Deluxe or Premium, all with an uninterrupted view of the screen with rocking or fully reclining leather chairs available. The Sohar opening comes five months after Cinepolis, Latin Americas largest cinema exhibitor and the fourth largest in the world, made its debut in the GCC with the launch of its Bahrain movie theatre at the Atrium Mall, Saar. Founded in Mexico in 1971, Cinepolis boasts over 1.1 million seats worldwide. The companys new Oman location will increase its international reach to 17 countries. Cinepolis plans to open two more cinemas in Oman this year as part of long-term plans to further expand across the region. Visitors to Cinepolis Sohar cinema will be able to enjoy a premium range of delicious movie treats including buttered popcorn and nachos or opt for a hot drink prepared by in-house baristas at the specialty coffee shop, Coffee Tree. A full menu of gourmet snack items and concessions is also available to movie-goers, including paninis, sandwiches, crepes and high-quality coffee drinks. Ashish Shukla, CEO of Cinepolis Gulf, said: The launch of the first Cinepolis movie theatre in the Sultanate of Oman is an important part of our ongoing strategy to establish Cinepolis as the number one choice for film fans across the GCC." Movie-lovers in Sohar are invited to discover the very best cinema experience in our brand-new, state-of-the-art theatre that merges fantastic audio and visual technology with wonderful food, comfort and hospitality." Cinepolis is proud to serve the Sohar community and we look forward to welcoming film fans and their families to our new premium movie theatre, he said. - TradeArabia News Service Four Seasons Hotel Beirut was named 'Lebanon's Leading Hotel 2019' and 'Lebanon's Leading Hotel Suite 2019' for its Royal Suite, at the 26th World Travel Awards (WTA), recently held in Abu Dhabi. The World Travel Awards recognises exceptional levels of quality and service in the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. Commenting on the awards, regional vice president and general manager of Four Seasons Hotel Beirut, Rami Z. Sayess, said: We are honoured by these awards which are a true recognition of our continuous efforts to harness the companys culture commitment to our people, a passion for service, and evolution through guest-focused innovation, and which encourage us to continue striving towards redefining and setting the standards for luxury travel in the region and internationally." Located in the heart of the capital, Four Seasons Hotel Beirut sits steps away from the popular Zaytounay Bay and luxury shops and boutiques on the famous downtown district. The hotel features 230 guestrooms and suite; The Grill, a restaurant with the best prime cuts in the city; The Bar & Lounge, an art-deco inspired space featuring exquisite cocktails; Arabesque, a textbook example of a high-end shisha lounge, Level 26, the highest pool and rooftop bar and lounge in the city designed by Bernard Khoury, a 24-hour fitness centre, The Spa and more than 15,000-sq-ft of event space to cater to the needs of a variety of guests. - TradeArabia News Service Tehran, May 21 (UNI) Irans President Hassan Rouhani has said that he favored talks and diplomacy, but not under current situation, and so his country has chosen a path of resistance only. "I utalks and diplomacy but under current conditions, I do not accept it, as todays situation is not suitable for talks and our choice is resistance only," the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted him as saying on Monday. His comments came hours after US President Donald Trump said that any provocations by Iran would be met with great force, while noting that hes also willing to negotiate. Rouhani told the clerics that there was consensus among the leadership that Iran would stand up to the US and its sanctions. However, he said Iran would not officially leave the nuclear deal because that would open it up to further sanctions. "If we walked away from the JCPOA with the US provocative acts, then, in addition to the US, the UN and world would also impose sanctions on us," he said, using an acronym for the official name of the deal. Tensions have spiraled in recent days after the Trump administration sent an aircraft carrier and other military resources to the Persian Gulf region, and withdrew nonessential personnel from Iraq, raising alarms over the possibility of a confrontation with Iran. We have no indication that anythings happened or will happen. But if it does, it will be met obviously with great force, said Trump, speaking to reporters as he left the White House en route to a rally in Pennsylvania. Well have no choice. Despite saying there was no indication of a belligerent act from Iran, the US President called the Islamic Republic very hostile and the No. 1 provocateur of terror in this country. Trump had been downplaying the chances of potential conflict in recent days and again said he was willing to talk to Tehran. The crisis is rooted in Trumps decision to withdraw from the nuclear accord last year and impose sweeping sanctions on Iran. The Trump administration has criticized the 2015 accord for failing to rein in Tehrans regional ambitions. On Sunday night, Trump took to Twitter to warn Iran not to threaten the US or it will face its "official end." Trump tweeted, "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!" However, his warning to Iran was issued hours after a rocket was fired into the heavily fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, and hit a building about 0.5km (0.3 miles) from the US embassy. UNI XC TV SNU 1257 Kevin Mazur/One Love Manchester/Getty Images for One Love ManchesterAriana Grande is marking the second anniversary of the Manchester concert attack with a simple tribute. On her Instagram Story, she posted a black screen with the bee emoji in the center. The worker bee has been a symbol of the hard-working U.K. city of Manchester for decades and in the wake of the tragedy, it became a symbol of the citys resilience. Last year, following the one-year anniversary of the bombing, Ariana got a tattoo of the bee inked behind her ear. Arianas music video for No Tears Left to Cry also features a bee flying away in the last shot, as a nod to the city. Twenty-two people were killed and 139 injured on May 22, 2017, when a suicide bomber set off an explosive device outside of Manchester Arena following Arianas concert there. Two weeks later, Ariana helped organize and performed at the star-studded One Love Manchester benefit concert, to raise money for the victims. She was subsequently named an honorary citizen of Manchester. Ariana will return to Manchester in August to headline the citys Pride festival. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The 14th Meeting of the High Level Working Group of the CPLP took place from 7 to 10 May 2019, in Belem in Para, Brazil. The 2nd Tax Region of the Brazilian Federal Revenue welcomed representatives from the WCO Portuguese-language country-Members that compose the CPLP, namely; Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal and East Timor, as well as representatives from the WCO. The CPLP Customs administrations met for four days of intensive and fruitful activities. Participants exchanged experiences through presentations and analyzed statistical data related to the participation of members in different meetings, working groups and seminars throughout the community. Although geographically distant and with mixed levels of development, the CPLP countries have common challenges and objectives. This has enabled them to set development goals within their Customs Administrations over the next decade. Working together, the group approved a CPLP Strategic Plan in November 2018. Eleven projects were identified, with responsibility divided by country: Authorized Economic Operator and Promotion of Integrity (Angola), Risk Management and Training of Experts and Trainers (Brazil), Time Release Study (Cape Verde), Exchange of Information on Anti-fraud (Guinea Bissau), Post Clearance Audit (Mozambique), Tariff Nomenclature (HS) in Portuguese and Harmonized System Procedures (Portugal), Promotion of Information Technologies (Sao Tome and Principe), and Promotion of Cooperation between Actors in the Customs Clearance Process (Timor-Leste). These projects are directly linked to existing WCO instruments, which enable Customs administrations to meet the growing challenges of the 21st century. The CPLP will continue cooperative efforts between its members, under the existing and continued support from the WCO, to achieve its strategic plan goals, which they will discuss and review at the next meeting. For more information about this activity, please contact capacity.building@wcoomd.org On 21 May 2019, the World Customs Organization (WCO), in partnership with DigitalGlobe, hosted a Discovery Day in Brussels on geodata applications for Customs. The event provided the opportunity for three communities to come together, namely Customs, the public institutions responsible for earth observation programmes and the geospatial intelligence industry. Some 60 participants were able to share their views on various subjects, such as the European Unions Copernicus Programme - which provides free-of-charge high-resolution satellite images - the operations conducted by SatCen (the European Union Satellite Centre), the use of open-source data and the application of artificial intelligence to the monitoring of border areas. A variety of working solutions as well as solutions currently in development with the WCO Secretariat were introduced in a number of presentations. Practical examples of the use of geodata applications by Customs were also discussed by the representatives of United Kingdom and Nigeria Customs respectively. Already hints about strong storms on New Years Day Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. A girl takes a photo with her parents. [Tuchong] Zhang Chuyi, an 11-year-old girl from Shanghai, has drawn a lot of attention with her suggestion for parents: Please get your children's permission before posting anything about them on social media. She said many of her peers actually prefer that their parents not share any information at all. In research she did for the proposal, to be presented at a convention on June 1, Children's Day, Zhang found that most of her peers dislike posts by parents showing off moments such as their children's admission to prestigious schools or going abroad for summer camps. "Such comparisons usually lead to parental dissatisfaction and anxiety, and then they put more pressure on their children," said Zhang, a student at Qiangwei Primary School. Zhou Yanli, the mother of a first-grader in Shanghai, said, "Parents' good will in sharing their children's happiness and success with others is understandable." But she admitted that viewing her friends' posts about their children does sometimes increase her sense of anxiety. "Some friends show their children every day in videos or animations, touting such things as their progress with English-learning apps or family vacations overseas during holidays, which makes us feel pressure," Zhou said. She said children should have a right to make decisions about themselves, and getting permission shows respect for a child's privacy. Zhou said she began to ask her daughter for permission before posting pictures when she was in primary school. "If she doesn't nod, I won't post it," she said. You Lina, who is responsible for cases involving juveniles at Shanghai's Changning district procuratorate, said adults and children usually hold very different views on the matter. "What the parents post about their children that they believe is funny may embarrass the kids and even make them lose face in front of teachers or classmates, who usually access those posts," You said. "Very often, children believe that what they do at home is private and they don't want it to be shown to others." Legally speaking, children have a right to images of themselves, and custodians may not use images against a child's will, You said. She suggested parents think twice before sharing their children's information on social media. "Although parents don't post their pictures for profit, they can't control the speed that such images will spread in the age of new media and can't imagine how far they can go." (Source: China Daily) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with military officers and experts at the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in East China's Jiangxi Province. Xi inspected the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in East China's Jiangxi Province Tuesday. [Xinhua/Li Gang] President Xi Jinping underlined the importance of better education of military personnel for building strong armed forces, when inspecting the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in East China's Jiangxi Province Tuesday. Military education should meet the requirements of combat, the needs of the armed forces and the demands of future missions, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He told military academies and schools to have a strong political underpinning, clarify their direction, advance reforms and improve education quality. Arriving at the Army Infantry College on Tuesday morning, Xi came to the training ground to observe cadets tackle military obstacle courses. Leaving the training ground, Xi visited an institute dedicated to the research on revolutionary history and stressed the passing on of revolutionary traditions. When briefed about the work of the college, Xi stressed the need to follow the right political direction and strengthen Party leadership and Party building. He asked the college to train the cadets for combat and focus on how to win when called on. Xi stressed the need to accelerate innovation in school management and operation, strengthen integration and upgrading of the faculty, and introduce high quality educational resources from outside. He called for imposing strict discipline, as well as curbing the practices of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, watches a training session at the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in East China's Jiangxi Province. Xi inspected the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in East China's Jiangxi Province Tuesday. [Xinhua/Li Gang] (Source: Xinhua) Feng Zhenglin (L), head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Violeta Bulc (R), the EU commissioner for transport, sign agreements on civil aviation cooperation in Brussels, Belgium, May 20, 2019. [Xinhua/Council of the EU] China and the European Union (EU) on Monday signed two agreements on civil aviation cooperation in Brussels. The milestone deal meets a longtime aspiration of both sides to expand practical cooperation in this sector. European Commission (EC) President Jean-Claude Juncker said the agreements, "a first big step," "will create jobs, boost growth and bring our continents and peoples closer together." The move, which came amid uncertainties worldwide furthered by U.S. unilateralism and trade protectionism, reaffirms the EU commitment to safeguarding openness, free trade and multilateralism while enriching the content of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. "In an increasingly unsettled world, Europe's partnership with China is more important than ever before," Juncker noted. Landmark deal The deal is the first of its kind ever reached in the 20 years of cooperation in the civil aviation sector between China and Europe. The bilateral agreement on civil aviation safety provides a legal framework for expanding cooperation in multiple aspects such as environmental compatibility, and the design and manufacturing of aeronautical products. It will help promote policy coordination and technological and people-to-people exchanges. As a result of many rounds of consultations since August 2013, it is also expected to facilitate the trade of aircraft and related products. Among the measures is removing unnecessary procedural duplications in the evaluation and certification of aeronautical products to reduce cost. "We believe the newly-signed accord will help establish more efficient, streamlined and standardized aircraft certification procedures and we look forward to the promulgation and implementation of the detailed regulations," said George Xu, CEO of Airbus China. Moreover, the agreement serves as part of the joint efforts by China and the EU towards a higher level of civil aviation safety, especially after the crashes and the recent exposure of safety hazards of the U.S. Boeing 737 airliners. "Today's agreements will boost the EU's trade in aircraft and related products, and ensure the highest levels of air safety," commented Violeta Bulc, the EU commissioner for transport. Under the agreement on certain aspects of air services signed Monday, all EU airlines are allowed to fly to China from any EU member state with a bilateral air services agreement with China. "Cooperation, openness and adherence to the promise made by high-level leadership of both sides are delivered by the agreements," said Ambassador Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese mission to the EU. The two agreements were signed in line with the consensus reached at the 21st China-EU leaders' meeting in April. They are believed to be able to tap into the potential of growth in the aviation sector of both sides. The European aviation industry supports 5.1 million jobs and contributes 2.4 percent of the European gross domestic product, while China envisions a growing market of civil aviation as well as an emerging industry of aeronautical products, according to the five-year EU-China Aviation Partnership Project, which was initiated in 2015 by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). "The (Monday) agreements conform to the development needs of aeronautical industries in China and the EU ... and provide a legal basis for airlines operation of both sides," CAAC chief Feng Zhenglin told Xinhua. The deal "will benefit all the industrial players in both China and Europe," said Xu of Airbus China. Enriching China-EU partnership China and the EU established a bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership in 2003. "Today's agreements show the potential of our partnership and we should continue on this path of cooperation," said Juncker. The newly signed agreements, which came against the backdrop of the escalated U.S.-China trade tensions, highlights the EU efforts against protectionism, unilateralism and isolationism. The move also represents the latest progress China makes in its further opening-up and reform, in addition to its promotion of win-win cooperation, free trade and multilateralism globally. "In an increasingly unsettled world, Europe's partnership with China is more important than ever before. The EU firmly believes that nations working together makes the world a stronger, safer and more prosperous place for all," said Juncker. Chinese ambassador Zhang said, "The first China-EU agreements on civil aviation turn mutual high-level exchanges results into practice." "I believe China and the EU will continue to work together to encounter international uncertainties with stable cooperation," he added. Before signing the deal on civil aviation cooperation, the two sides decided in April to conclude a comprehensive bilateral investment agreement in 2020. "We are mutually interested in better connecting Europe and Asia and making it easier to move goods, services and people between Europe and China. That applies to aviation, too," said Bulc. The expanding civil aviation cooperation will also work to forge closer ties between China and EU member states. Czech President Milos Zeman recently told Xinhua he considers his country's civil aviation cooperation with China "most satisfying." There are currently four direct air routes linking the capital Prague to Chinese cities, with up to more than 20 flights a week. In the opinion of Shi Zhiwei, a senior marketing and sales officer of China's Hainan Airlines, the direct flights between Berlin and Beijing the company launched in 2008 "witnessed and greatly promoted the cultural exchanges" between China and Germany. Flight attendants of Air China holding bouquets pose for photos after the flight lands at Athens International Airport in Athens, Greece, Sept. 30, 2017. [Xinhua/Marios Lolos] A Chinese passenger checks in for Italian airline Alitalia's Rome-Beijing direct flight in Rome, Italy, July 18, 2016. [Xinhua/Jin Yu] A water salute ceremony to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Hainan Airlines' direct flight between Berlin and Beijing is held as a Hainan Airlines plane from Beijing arrives at Tegel Airport in Berlin, Germany, Sept. 5, 2018. [Xinhua/Shan Yuqi] Feng Zhenglin (L), head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Violeta Bulc (R), the EU commissioner for transport, shake hands after signing agreements on civil aviation cooperation in Brussels, Belgium, May 20, 2019. [Xinhua/Council of the EU] (Source: Xinhua) Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor visits the Shintomi Special Nursing Home for the Elderly in Tokyo, Japan, on April 8. [Photo provided to China Daily] Hong Kong is one of many cities making efforts to resolve the complex issue of social care in aging societies. Statistics released by Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications show that 35.57 million people or 28.1 percent of the country's population was age 65 and older in 2018, with more than 2.19 million age 90 and older. The World Health Organization defines an "aged society" as one where 14 percent of the population is age 65 and older, while a "superaged society" is one in which more than 21 percent of the population is in the same age bracket. Japan, the world's most "superaged" country and also the most rapidly aging society, has spent many years looking for solutions. During a business trip to Tokyo last month, Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, took special note of a visit to the Shintomi Special Nursing Home for the Elderly. Lam wanted to learn more about technological devices and the help they provide for caregivers, and how they improve quality of life for seniors. About 5,000 nursing care homes across Japan are assessing where and how robots will fit with senior care. Shintomi adopted such devices in late 2017, and they are now widely used at the home and other nursing facilities to help caregivers and frontline staff members lift, move and monitor seniors. Homegrown robots also play a role as companions for seniors at Shintomi. They include Paro, a robotic baby harp seal equipped with a small degree of artificial intelligence that is capable of responding when spoken to and when stroked. In April 2000, Japan inaugurated a long-term care insurance system to lift some of the burden on seniors. They pay just 10 percent of the cost for insured services, including rental of 13 kinds of assistive device, such as wheelchairs, electric beds, walking sticks and mobility aids. FranceBed, the first company to introduce healthcare bed rentals to Japan in the 1980s, now offers rental and sales of support equipment and at-home healthcare aids. It is working with the Hong Kong government and a number of nongovernmental organizations in the city. In reply to questions from China Daily, an email from France-Bed said the company plans to establish more tech rental plans for Hong Kong residents. Singapore, a country with issues similar to Hong Kong in terms of its economic, social and cultural environments, has set out a smart country blueprint to meet the challenges of the "silver tsunami". A 10-year master plan to improve Singapore's information-communication infrastructure was laid out in 2015. Under its healthcare and biomedical science program, Singapore proposes building an integrated health information system through a concerted effort by the island state's eight public hospitals. The hospitals run trials of innovative, productive devices or systems to assess their usefulness in managing the medical, administrative, financial and legal aspects of operating public hospitals. E-medical records, filmless X-rays, an online hospital pharmacy and an e-service portal for health and fitness training are also part of the plan. As of June last year, some 547,900 people age 65 and older were living in the country, accounting for 9.7 percent of the population, according to the Singapore Department of Statistics. It is estimated that the number will almost double to around 900,000 by 2030, meaning about a quarter of the population will potentially be in need of care. Noting Hong Kong's rapidly aging population, Lou Wei-qun, director of the Sau Po Centre on Ageing at the University of Hong Kong, said the city lags behind its Asian counterparts in terms of senior care. She said Hong Kong lacks a clear blueprint to become a smart city built on gerontech - technology designed to assist comfortable aging - and suggested the government should work with stakeholders to map out a detailed plan. Lou also proposed the establishment of a big data center focused on the senior care industry, particularly gerontech, to boost the sector's development. She also called for a change of mindset which would see seniors regarded as assets, rather than a burden on society. Source: China Daily Fa Yueping poses for a photo in her ecological agriculture park featuring organic planting and earthworm breeding in Lunzhen Town of Yucheng City, east China's Shandong Province. [China Women's News] When walking in anecological agriculture park in Lunzhen Town of Yucheng City, Shandong Province, you will find rows of green seedlings in the tomato planting green house with sweet-tasting fresh tomatoes. The successful planting in the eco-agriculture park is attributed to the commonly seen earthworms and Fa Yueping, the park's operator. Fa, 48, graduated from Nanjing University with a Ph.D. in Management Science and Engineering. When she began breeding earthworm seven years ago, she was engaged in corporate consulting with an income of more than two million yuan ($290,000) per year. What Fa wanted was to use the eco-circulation technology to develop agricultural production. As early as 2011 when she was engaged in her postdoctoral research at Shandong University, she started to be curious about earthworms because of a project she was involved in. She understood the unique role of earthworms in ecological plantation through the research. "The earthworm cast is a good organic fertilizer, which can improve soil, save cost and increase the harvest," Fa says. In 2012, Fa started raising earthworms in Jinan, capital city of Shandong Province, and two years later, she resignedfrom her consulting job and went back to Zibo, her hometown,to start her earthworm business. She extracted the active enzyme polypeptide from earthworms, which can be used to replace most of the chemical fertilizers and pesticides, help reduce fertilizer use, improve agricultural efficiency and make the land more viable. "The earthworm's active enzyme polypeptide has been used in planting apples, peaches, strawberries and vegetables in Shandong, enhancing the quality and yield of the vegetables and fruits significantly," said a R&D staff of Fa's team."The earthworms are rich in protein, amino acids and active substances, and we will further explore their added value." In 2017, Fa built two earthworm breeding workshops, increased investment in scientific research, and established herown research and development center and team. Fahas employed local rural women for her agricultural park to help them get rid of poverty. More than two-thirds of her staff are local rural women with annual individual income exceeding 20,000 yuan.She believes acompany should shoulder its social responsibilities. To help local farmers earn more money, she has been teaching them to grow organic vegetables with organic manure and active enzyme. "The earthworm ecological cycle technology enables farmers to achieve green and circular development of agricultural production. By making use ofearthworm cast and active enzyme polypeptide liquid extracted fromearthworms, farmers are able to reduce agricultural production costs and improve the quality of agricultural products," says Fa. "This agricultural production model can develop into a huge industrial chain, boosting the integration of the tertiary industry and the transformation and upgrading of agriculture. This requires us to arouse people's awareness, and more importantly, to carry out in-depth reform in technology and agricultural production structure. It is my real intention of raising earthworms,"she adds. Fa was elected as the Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Committee of the International Earthworm IndustryAlliance at the First International Earthworm Congress held in Shanghai In June 2018. "We will continue to expand our breeding and build earthworm breeding bases in Hebei and Jiangsu provinces," Fa says with great confidence. (Source: China Women's New/Translated and Edited by Women of China) Tian Yaxin helps local residents resolve disputes. [For Women of China] Many residents of Hongdong, a county in Linfen, a city in North China's Shanxi Province, consider Tian Yaxin, a judge with Ganting (a town in Hongdong) Court, under Hongdong People's Court, a trustworthy, intimate friend. Why? Tian has helped the residents resolve their disputes with others. Tian is pleased with her good reputation. As a grass-roots judge, she hopes all residents will live in harmony. Tian promised she would help the woman settle the dispute. [For Women of China] Handling Trifling, But Thorny, Matters It is routine for Tian and her colleagues to handle cases involving disputes among relatives and neighbors. The judges believe such seemingly trifle matters are meaningful, as they are related to individuals' interests and families' well-being. Tian, from time to time, has led her team in visiting residents, in various parts of the county, so they could better help the residents resolve disputes. As a result, the team has gained the residents' trust. An elderly woman in Beidu, a village in Ganting, is grateful to Tian, who helped her resolve a family dispute. The disagreement started a few years ago. One day, a village official told Tian the elderly woman's daughter and three sons refused to fulfill their filial responsibility to support their mother. For a year (since the woman's husband died), village officials and the woman's relatives tried, in vain, to persuade the woman's children to take care of their mother. The woman was reluctant to sue, out of fear that would disgrace her children and displease her son- and daughters-in-law. After a trial Tian was hearing had recessed, Tian went to the village to investigate the dispute between the woman and her children. Tian's heart ached as she watched the elderly woman calculate the cost of her various medicines. Tian promised she would help the woman settle the dispute; otherwise, she vowed, she would take care of the woman herself. Tian told the woman's children their mother had made excuses for their failing to provide for her, rather than complain to Tian about their behavior. Tian also urged the woman's children to fulfill their filial responsibility and support their mother. Eventually, the youngsters agreed to share the responsibility of taking care of their mother. Tian has put much effort in helping protect "left-behind" children and other disadvantaged groups. [For Women of China] Close to the Woman's Heart Tian in recent years has put much effort into helping protect the legal rights and interests of disadvantaged residents (including "left-behind" children, elderly residents who live alone, and disabled and/or impoverished women and children). Many residents, who have received help from Tian, are thankful for her efforts. A local rural woman, whose family name is Tian, is one of those residents. A few years ago, Tian Yaxin handled a case involving a sales-contract dispute. A local man, whose family name is Su, sued to force Ms Tian and Wang, Ms Tian's husband, to repay their loan (borrowed from Su). When an employee of the court called the couple to inform them the court would hold a hearing (for their case), the couple lied, saying they had left home to work elsewhere. They refused to attend the hearing. With the help of a village official, Tian Yaxin found Ms Tian in her house. Ms Tian was embarrassed and nervous. To ease her tension, Tian Yaxin chatted with the woman, and learned about her bitter experiences. The woman told Tian Yaxin she and her husband borrowed money (the previous year) from Su to establish a pig farm. The farm had been in the red, due largely to the couple's lack of pig-raising experience. "I'm tired of running from creditors," said the woman. "I would have divorced my husband and left home to work elsewhere had I not had to take care of my children." Tian Yaxin looked around the house, and she discovered it was virtually empty, with the exception of a shabby bed. She encouraged Ms Tian to make, with her husband, more efforts to start their own business, and to take good care of their children. Tian Yaxin also said she and her colleagues would try their best to help the woman escape the "dark valley" in her life. On the eve of Spring Festival of 2014 (on January 31), Wang visited the court. Tian Yaxin helped mediate the dispute between the plaintiff and the defendants. Both parties were satisfied with the result. Promoting Social Justice "We, the judges, must work hard to promote social justice, so more people will believe in the law." That is the creed of Tian. During the past two decades, Tian has strived to handle cases properly, to enable the parties concerned to receive justice. Tian went to great lengths to protect the plaintiff's rights and interests, while she, in July 2016, handled a case involving a housing dispute between two residents of Yangqu, a village in Ganting. Tian led members of the collegiate bench, under the court, in holding a hearing in the defendant's courtyard. That meant the crippled plaintiff did not have to walk along treacherous mountain paths to get to the court. The court eventually decided the defendant should vacate the house and return it to the plaintiff. The villagers cheered and applauded the "reasonable judgement." Soon after that, the court accepted Tian's advice on delivering mediation bills to the litigants, to define the terms and time limits that the parties involved shall perform the court's judgments and/or the agreements made in the court. After the court adopted the measure, the litigants of more than 97 percent of the cases performed the abovementioned judgments and/or agreements. "Every time I see litigants' smiling faces, my heart fills with delight," says Tian. (Women of China English Monthly January 2019 issue) Appeal against refusal of new homes surrounding historic Ruabon building is thrown out This article is old - Published: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019 An appeal against the refusal of a small housing development on land surrounding a historic monument has been thrown out. Wrexham Council officers rejected proposals relating to the former Wynnstay Colliery site in Ruabon because of concerns about how it would impact the listed Walker Fan House building. The structure was built in 1902 to ventilate the colliery and Cadw has described it as being of national importance because of its potential to enhance knowledge of industrial practices. Steven Davies, who is behind the plans for up to six houses, submitted an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate in February in an attempt to reverse the local authoritys decision. But an inspector appointed by the Welsh Government has now dismissed his case after concluding the scheme would have a negative impact on the building. Outlining her reasons, Kay Sheffield said: The erection of two storey dwellings to either side of the fan house would enclose the heritage asset and significantly alter the surroundings in which it is viewed. It is understood that there are currently no plans to stabilise the structure and hence any fencing required to secure it on grounds of health and safety would increase the sense of enclosure. Although the application has been made in outline, I am concerned that the development would significantly alter the current setting of the fan house and its relationship with the vertical winding engine house. There is also the potential that the appeal site may contain archaeological remains relating to the previous industrial use of the land. I have concluded that the development as proposed would have an adverse effect on the setting of the heritage asset. Ms Sheffield said the scheme had the potential to increase flood risks at the site and would be detrimental to highway safety. She added there were no factors which outweighed her concerns. Walker fans were first patented in 1887 and the building in Ruabon housed a fan measuring approximately seven metres in diameter. Like many structures in the area, it was built using red bricks. Ms Sheffield made her decision despite assurances from a planning agent that the scheme would not harm the fan house. Dafydd Edwards from Blueprint Architectural Services said: During the course of a previous application, a meeting on site with a CADW representative, planning officer and conservationist confirmed an application which included the area outlined as the ancient monument couldnt be supported. With direction provided during the site meeting, Blueprint set out to ensure a new proposal did not include an area as outlined by CADW as the ancient monument. This would then ensure no harm would be placed on the registered site and the area could remain un-touched. The development includes six dwellings on the site which demonstrated a good use of land available. By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme). First Minister Questions: Sabres rattled and desks thumped ahead of European Election This article is old - Published: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019 The below is the another in our now regular summaries of this weeks First Minister Questions session from Cardiff Bay. First Minister Questions takes place every Tuesday when the Assembly is sitting and can be watched live via Senedd.tv For those who have never ventured onto the Senedd site, you can view the session the below was taken from here, that displays a video of the meeting (along with creation of your own clips!) plus by clicking the meeting information and papers link you are able to view all the supporting documentation, along with a link to the full transcript. Wrexham was mentioned as being one of several areas that a clean air zone had been proposed by the Welsh Conservatives. Below is the now usual SeneddHome.com recap of the session. With the recent formal recognition of the Brexit Party group and the upcoming European Parliament election, yesterdays FMQs was of the livelier variety. Preliminary work started on Clean Air Act Leader of the Opposition, Paul Davies AM (Con, Preseli Pembs.), doubted whether the Welsh Government will meet carbon dioxide emission reduction targets. Doubts over the reliability of data alongside the estimated 2,000 excess deaths each year due to air pollution builds the case for a Clean Air Act. I can tell him that I have already had discussions with (Environment Minister) Lesley Griffiths about a Clean Air Act, and the preparation inside the Welsh Government has begun to think about how such an Act might be developed. Of course, we will want to talk with all those experts and those interest groups..having better data.that allows you to track changes over time would be a necessary part of any legislation. First Minister, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West) Paul Davies AM was pleased they were looking into this, but surely there was a more urgent need; between 2015-2016 greenhouse gas emissions in Wales increased and plans for a clean air zone in Cardiff have been dropped this was despite the Welsh Government being taken to court over air pollution. The First Minister said it was actually the UK Government in the dock as the Welsh Government were there solely as part of a UK system. Mr Glum vs Mr Disappointment Adam Price AM (Plaid, Carms. E. & Dinefwr) pointed to a string of failures under Labour: increases in child poverty and unemployment alongside falling life expectancy. Does Wales stand a chance after Brexit if this is the trend before? The First Minister thought Adam Price AM should be more cheerful: .the Member never has a good word to say for Wales. He never loses an opportunity to choose the most dismal statistics he can find and run Wales down.while.we do our best to build Wales up. We do our best to attract businesses to come to Wales. He never misses an opportunity to paint Wales as the most dismal place he has ever come across. First Minister, Mark Drakeford (Lab, Cardiff West) Well, if Mark Drakeford was disappointed in Adam Price, Adam was equally disappointed with him particularly on Brexit: .before tens of thousands of Labour supporters follow Hywel (Ceri Jones founder of the EUs Erasmus student exchange programme) in abandoning you at the ballot box, why not humbly admit, First Minister, that on the question of the second referendum, in slavishly following the British Labour line.you simply got it wrong? Adam Price AM The First Minister said Labours position reflected the complexity of Brexit, but it was for the UK House of Commons to decide whether it was time to return the question back to the people. Respecting the referendum Struggling over the noise generated by the rest of the chamber, Mark Reckless AM (BXP, South Wales East) returned to Brexit and whether the First Minister backed Leave or Remain? Nobody knew, with Mark Drakefords first major electoral test coming on Thursday. While Labour says they respect the referendum result, their actions show they clearly havent. The First Minister: Hark at him! No sooner had he arrived here under that (UKIP) ticket he flew across to the other side of the Chamber to be a cuckoo in the nest of the Conservatives. Now the bird has flown again. This sort of peripatetic (roaming) approach to politics is not one that I think leaves him in any position to ask others in this Chamber questions about respecting democratic mandates. First Minister, Mark Drakeford. He went on to add that the Welsh Government has always respected the result and focused on the form rather than the fact of Brexit. The Brexit Partys prospectus would leave Wales worse off whilst undermining the UKs security and global influence. Keep up to date with what is going on in the Senedd via SeneddHome.com Wrexham / Shropshire border area could see early 5G coverage This article is old - Published: Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019 Shropshire is bidding to be at the forefront of 5G mobile technology, saying it will be a game changer for businesses in the county. Shropshire Council said it is pitching to get the high speed mobile data technology rolled out in the county as soon as it is available. The authority said it would be a huge boost to businesses, who are already benefiting from a broadband roll-out still happening in rural areas. A mobile signal does not respect boundaries, it is possible that parts of Wrexham could benefit from a 5G rollout to the south. Mark Barrow, the Shropshire councils director of place, said he was working with the West Midlands Combined Authority on the project. He said: We are pitching to bring 5G to Shropshire as soon as it is available. The West Midlands Combined Authority is bidding to bring it to Birmingham and other areas as soon as it is ready to go. We are a non-constituent member of the authority and as part of that we are pitching to bring it here straight away. It is a game changer. It will being HD video quality on mobile data. We want to be there and at the forefront of this. Current 4G data powers 4,000 mobiles per square kilometre. 5G would be strong enough to power a million. Councillor Peter Nutting, council leader, added: Improving mobile phone service and internet speeds is absolutely vital. There are still areas of Shropshire where basic mobile phone signal is a struggle, so we want to transform that and ensure you can run a business from anywhere in Shropshire, no matter how rural it is. There has been no similar indications as of yet from Wrexham Council if they are looking to conduct a similar pitch on a 5G rollout. Top pic: mobile streaming of council webcasts, perhaps to see if Wrexham will follow suit. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-21 21:15:21|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KAMPALA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's ministry of agriculture on Tuesday urged vanilla farmers in the east African country to take advantage of the rising global demand for the flavoring product. Christopher Kibanzanga, minister of state for agriculture told reporters here that major global food companies are resorting to all-natural and organic vanilla, which has pushed up the demand and the price. "This offers a major opportunity for Uganda which has the most conducive climate to increase the production of premium quality natural and organic vanilla," said Kibanzanga. Ministry of agriculture figures showed that in 2018, Uganda produced about 300,000 kg of vanilla and exported 23,000 kg of cured vanilla worth 6.4 million U.S. dollars. Uganda accounts for about five percent of the global production. "We have a window of opportunity to secure a growing long-term profitable vanilla sector. Vanilla has proved to be a sustainable and profitable crop for farmers in Uganda that has potential to deliver the country into the medium income status," Kibanzanga said. The minister urged farmers to desist from harvesting premature vanilla, noting that this would compromise the quality and therefore less demand for Ugandan vanilla on the global market. "If we can work together to address practices that reduce the quality of vanilla, we will be in a stronger position to protect our farmers from the traditional peaks and troughs of the worldwide vanilla market. Uganda can certainly become number one supplier of the best quality vanilla in the world," he said. He said the government is working with Sustainable Vanilla Initiative, a consortium of the world's biggest vanilla buyers, to position Uganda as a pivot for stabilizing the natural vanilla market in the world. He said the government is also drafting regulations to address the vanilla challenges in order to harness the available world market opportunities. Some districts like Ntoroko and Buikwe already have these regulations. The minister warned that anybody involved in vanilla malpractices such as theft, harvesting pre-mature vanilla beans and de-coloring vanilla green beans through roasting, would be arrested. The minister announced that the harvest dates will start on June 15, for the first season and December 15 for the second season. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-21 22:52:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close WUHAN, May 21 (Xinhua) -- "Light in Darkness," a movie co-produced by China and Germany about Peking Opera, started shooting Tuesday in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Based on a true story, the movie tells how an underachieving Peking Opera actor grooms an abandoned child to become a star, with the help of Chinese and German actors and doctors. The "light" in the title refers to the inspiration the daughter provides to her father, who has gone through tremendous difficulties, said the movie's chief director Xia Pan. "I found that German audiences keen on German Opera and ballet also love Peking Opera," said the movie's investor Henry Lei. "For them, Peking Opera is like a mysterious world." "I hope China and Germany will deepen their cooperation in the area of cultural exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative," said Lei, who is the president of Panchina Development GmbH. The movie is expected to be screened in China and Europe next year. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 00:29:21|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BRUSSELS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Chinese telecom company Huawei on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to roll out 5G "the European way", at a debate held here at the Huawei Cybersecurity Transparency Center. "Huawei's 5G has been co-developed by Europeans and is tailor-made for Europe's needs and challenges," said Abraham Liu, Huawei's Chief Representative to the EU Institutions, in a speech. "Huawei's 5G solution is not just the best on the market. But it is to a large extent a European product, and it's tailor-made for Europe's needs," he added. Huawei has been operating in Europe for nearly 20 years. It now has 12,200 employees in Europe -- 70 percent hired locally, according to Liu. "We are pleased that Europe is coming out with its coordinated approach to 5G. The European Union has proved its capacity of bringing European countries together to develop some of the most advanced and comprehensive laws like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Europe should continue to drive that agenda forward," said Liu. "Huawei has been respecting all applicable laws and regulations. Now Huawei is becoming the victim of the bullying by the U.S. administration. This is not just an attack against Huawei. It is an attack on the liberal, rules-based order," he added. Huawei also took the opportunity at the event to "switch on" its new redesigned and restructured website at huawei.eu, which presents the company's priorities ahead of the rollout of 5G networks and technologies over the next few years. Huawei currently runs 23 R&D centers located in 14 European countries. It has participated in 13 Horizon 2020 projects on 5G in Europe since 2012, and trials 5G technologies in testbeds in Munich, Germany, at the University of Surrey in Britain and in Bari, Italy. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 01:55:10|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIRUT, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Economy Minister Mansour Bteish announced on Tuesday that the cabinet has approved a decision to impose a flat tax of 2 percent on some imports to protect local production, local media reported. "We are imposing a 2-percent flat tax on imports except for pharmaceutical drugs, electric cars and equipment that are used for industrial purposes," Bteish was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. Bteish's remarks came following a cabinet session held to discuss Lebanon's 2019 state budget. He said that the government issued this decision to protect Lebanese industries, activate its production and create job opportunities for the youths. He added that Lebanon's objective in the coming period is to increase its production which will influence citizens in a positive way. "This measure will go in parallel with our fight against smuggling and tax evasion," he said. Local TV channel OTV reported on Tuesday evening that Lebanese Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil is expected to present the final figures of the 2019 budget on Wednesday. Endorsing a state budget that slashes the deficit is among the measures that the government has pledged to take as part of the key financial and economic reforms recommended last year. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 02:35:24|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close A woman votes for the European Parliament election in Haarlem, the Netherlands, May 23, 2019. Between May 23 and 26, some 427 million eligible voters across the 28 EU member states will vote to fill 751 seats in the European Parliament. (Xinhua/Sylvia Lederer) by Kim Garratt STOCKHOLM, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Between May 23 and 26, some 427 million eligible voters across the 28 EU member states will vote to fill 751 seats in the European Parliament. With less than two days until the vote begins, campaigns for competing visions for the future of the EU are in full swing. The 2019 European parliamentary election takes place in a climate of deep uncertainty about the stability of the Union and the direction of the European project. In the wake of Brexit, support for the EU among citizens of the remaining 27 countries is at an all-time high. At the same time, so-called Eurosceptic parties are predicted to make the greatest gains. Since the last European elections in 2014, immigration and anti-immigration sentiment have touched every corner of the EU, and while research shows that concerns about immigration have fallen, following sharp drops in the volume of both conventional migration and refugees seeking asylum, the issue of immigration remains high on the political agenda for some European nations. Eurosceptic nationalists blame the EU for the 2015 surge in refugee arrivals. Federalists argue only European cooperation can control migration. The interlinked issues of economic growth and unemployment top voters' lists of concerns in countries hit hardest by the socio-economic woes of the last five years, but are less of a priority for citizens in countries that fared better. It seems the only thing that voters from all 28 nations can agree on is the need to tackle climate change, the issue has shot up in voter opinion polls to become the standout issue of the 2019 elections. COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE With over 200 natural disasters, predictions of global heating of between 3 and 4 degree Celsius by 2100, and widespread reporting that the Earth is officially experiencing a sixth mass extinction, 2018 has lifted climate breakdown and ecological crises to the forefront of voters' concerns. In a Europe-wide survey of EU voters, 43 percent of respondents agreed that "combating climate change and protecting the environment" was an issue they wanted to see given priority in electoral campaigns. Among the survey respondents who considered themselves "very likely" to vote in the upcoming election, climate and ecological crisis emerged the single most important across Europe as a whole. Experts project the Green political group to gain control of five seats in the European parliament. For the German green party, the 2019 European elections could be a chance to build a momentum that culminates in the party reaching the critical mass required to form part of a coalition in the next German national election. "For the Greens, it is important to convert good poll results into electoral success," Cerstin Gammelin wrote in Suddeutsche Zeitung this May. "The party has been on the up for months; a decent European result will boost the party as it fights regional elections that offer the promise of coalition power." The climate issue is a greater priority in Sweden than anywhere else, with 79 percent of Swedish respondents highlighting it as a crucial issue for the 2019 elections. It is also the top issue for German voters and the second most important issue for French voters. In September 2018, 15-year-old Swedish student Greta Thunberg began skipping class on Fridays to sit outside government buildings, accusing her country of not following the Paris Climate Agreement. Since then, young people all over Europe have been striking from school on Fridays to demonstrate in the streets. The Schools 4 Climate action has contributed to creating a global student protest movement aiming at driving world leaders into action on climate change, and in the process has raised the urgency of the issue in the minds of many EU voters. "Climate issues have been around for a long time," said Nicklas Kallebring, opinion analyst at international market research firm IPSOS, in an interview with Swedish newspaper DN, "but they have been lifted the last year by drought, fires and the demonstrations of young people." ECONOMICS AND LABOR SECURITY "Economy and growth" is the most-cited in Italy, according to the most recent Eurobarometer survey. As expected, the issue remains a major political priority for the nations which have endured the greatest economic turbulence in recent years -- Greece, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Cyprus, Croatia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia and Latvia. "Youth unemployment" is the most-commonly listed primary issue for voters in both Spain and France. In France, both the far-left and far-right parties are campaigning with policies of economic protectionism. Alexandre Lemarie of French newspaper Le Monde writes that far-left party La France Insoumise supports "solidarity protectionism" for the European Union, and has even proposed a "kilometric carbon tax" -- the further the product is shipped, the more it is taxed. Other parties support at carbon tax at the EU border, while the two most popular French parties, Macron's centrist liberal En Marche and the Republican Party (LR), support U.S.-style protectionism that favors European and French products and awarding of public contracts. NATIONALISM AND EUROSCEPTICISM As nationalism and right-wing populism have gained sway in national politics across Europe, these ideologies and their proponents are expected to influence overall results in the European elections. Eurosceptic political groups in the European parliament are expected to do well in 2019, with Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy (EFDD) and Europe of Nations and Freedom (ENF) projected to gain four and 25 seats respectively. The projected numbers for the far-right EFF represent the highest gain for any political group, both in relative and absolute terms. Mark Leonard, a seasoned EU observer and director of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has said that "anti-European parties are gaining strength and could paralyze the EU." A recent study by ECFR predicts such groups will do well in this year's European elections, enabling them to "frustrate activity, undermine the security and defense of Europe and ultimately sow discord that could destroy the EU over time." What will the impacts of this influence be on Europe as a whole? Success in the European elections could be used by Europe's nationalists as springboard for success in national elections, the ECFR says. "Their greatest impact on the elections might be on a wave of national elections in Denmark, Estonia and Slovakia this year, which could bring nationalists to power as coalition partners, frustrating the work of the European Council." In Italy, a nationalist-populist coalition which took power on an anti-immigration platform after last year's Italian election. One of the coalition parties, the right-wing League party, has formed an alliance for the upcoming European elections with far-right parties in Germany, Denmark and Finland: Alternative for Germany (AfD), the Finns Party and the Danish People's Party. Each of the far-right parties campaigning in the European elections shares a stance hostile to immigration. Although the issue has lost significant attention since the last European elections in 2014, and is still trending downwards as a priority compared to 2018, for Italy it ranked on equal footing with economy and growth, with 62 percent of Italian voters responding that the issue was an election priority for them. BREXIT Some 50 million Britons can vote on May 23, although there is a chance that the 73 lawmakers they elect may not get a chance to sit in the European Parliament. The European election in Britain is seen by many as a referendum on Brexit, an opportunity for voters to be heard on the issue as the debate continues on how, and whether, to leave. The UK is legally obliged to participate in the European elections, unless it approves a Withdrawal Agreement by May 22 -- unlikely given that there is now less than 24 hours left before that deadline. Nigel Farage's brand-new Brexit Party was launched just two months ago, but is topping European election opinion polls at around 30 percent and higher. Nigel Farage's previous party, UKIP, is credited with pressuring the UK government into holding the Brexit referendum in 2016. With Brexit now scheduled for Oct. 31 at the latest, some EU analysts have argued for a delay in key parliamentary appointments, including the next president of the European Commission, to avoid calling into question the legitimacy of both the president and the approval process. According to London-based think tank The UK in a Changing Europe, should a candidate be approved or rejected by a slim margin, the 73 British MEPs could be decisive in determining the outcome. Against the background of a drawn-out Brexit, EU sentiments among citizens of the other 27 EU nations have polarized. While Britain's exit has emboldened some Eurosceptic campaigns, the expected surge in votes for Eurosceptic parties contrasts with a higher-than-ever approval rating for the EU. An estimated 61 percent of Europeans believe their country's membership of the EU is a good thing, and 68 percent said they believed their country has benefited from EU membership. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 02:35:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close TIRANA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Albania and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) launched here on Tuesday a joint operation, which aims to support Albania on border control and to tackle cross-border crime. The launch event took place with the presence of the Albanian Prime Minster Edi Rama, Albanian Interior Minister Sander Lleshaj, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos and Frontex Executive Director Fabrice Leggeri. The joint operation followed the completion of the status agreement on border cooperation between the EU and Albania that came into force at the beginning of this month. According to the agreement, Frontex will deploy at Albania's borders with Greece 50 officers with 16 patrol cars and one thermo-vision van, which are from 12 EU members. Speaking at the event, Rama noted that Albania is the first country in the Western Balkans that will monitor its external borders. According to Rama, Albania has all capacities to protect its borders and to handle the migration flow that comes from third countries. "By deepening cross-border police cooperation,under this agreement, Albania will become a direct contributor, as well as directly benefit from the participation in this project," Rama said. Lleshaj said, "The joint mission aims to better address illegal migration towards Albania." Meanwhile, Leggeri said that border guards from all around Europe will work shoulder-to-shoulder with their Albanian colleagues at Albania's border with Greece. "We can only effectively deal with the many challenges at our borders if we work together across borders,"Leggeri added. In his remarks, Avramopoulos underlined that Frontex is opening an entirely new chapter in its cooperation on migration and border management with Albania and with the whole Western Balkan region. "This is a real game changer and a truly historical step, bringing this region closer to the EU by working together in a coordinated and mutually supportive way on shared challenges such as better managing migration and protecting our common borders,"Avramopoulos said. This is the first fully-fledged joint operation Frontex launches outside the EU. According to Frontex, the main aim of the operation is to control migratory flows, tackle cross-border crime, including migrant smuggling, human trafficking and terrorism, and to enhance European cooperation at the land border between Albania and Greece. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 03:20:42|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Kim Song (R, Rear), permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations, speaks during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 21, 2019. Kim Song on Tuesday denounced the U.S. seizure of a cargo ship of his country. (Xinhua/Xie E) UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations on Tuesday denounced the U.S. seizure of a cargo ship of his country. On May 9, the United States "committed an unlawful and outrageous act" of dispossessing DPRK's cargo ship Wise Honest by forcibly taking it to American Samoa under the pretext of unilateral sanctions and violation of U.S. domestic law, Kim Song told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. The cargo ship was detained in Indonesian waters in April 2018. Its seizure was announced by the U.S. Justice Department on May 9, 2019, for allegedly violating U.S. and UN sanctions. Kim said Tuesday that the unilateral sanctions and domestic law, which the United States has employed as legal grounds for the seizure, are "clearly illegality and injustice," because unilateral sanctions and extraterritorial application of national jurisdiction to a third country cannot be justified under international law. The Wise Honest is a state-owned ship and a property of the DPRK, he said. "We regard it as a part of our territory where our sovereignty is fully exercised." He noted that a spokesperson for the DPRK Foreign Ministry on May 14 demanded the immediate return of the ship and urged the U.S. government to consider how its actions might impact future relations between the two countries. Kim said he sent a letter last week to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with regard to the seizure "in order to inform our principled position." Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 04:06:00|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Abdul Majeed al-Hamdani, director of the Abu Hanifa mosque, receives an interview with Xinhua in Baghdad, Iraq, on May 21, 2019. On late Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of Iraqis formed a long queue at the Abu Hanifa mosque in northern Baghdad, waiting to receive Iftar meals offered by the Chinese embassy in Iraq. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD, May 21 (Xinhua) -- On late Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of Iraqis formed a long queue at the Abu Hanifa mosque in northern Baghdad, waiting to receive Iftar meals offered by the Chinese embassy in Iraq. Since early afternoon, several cooks prepared giant pots of rice and meat for distribution among poor families in the al-Adhamiyah neighborhood and nearby areas in the Iraqi capital. "I want to thank the People's Republic of China for this kind gesture of providing Iftar for fasting people in Iraq. It's a sign of goodwill and humanity," an old man told Xinhua after receiving his food. The Chinese embassy has donated 10,000 U.S. dollars this year to offer Iftar meals, which break the daylight fast by Muslims during the fasting month of Ramadan, for poor families in Baghdad. Hours before the sunset, each person in the line received a tray of Biryani rice topped by a chop of slowly-cooked lamb meat, chicken thigh or breast with lemon slices -- a delicious meal to break the fast when the sun sets. "The Chinese gesture will have a wonderful impact on the hearts and minds of Iraqis, and will eventually let the door widely open for cooperation between China and the Islamic world," Abdul Majeed al-Hamdani, director of the Abu Hanifa mosque, told Xinhua. "We are happy to see the Chinese embassy reach out to our people during times of joy and our religious observance, especially at this hard time in our country," he said, referring to the economic difficulties faced by many Iraqis after years of war with the extremist group Islamic State (IS). The Chinese embassy's donation will be enough to provide daily Iftar meals for hundreds of people throughout the holy month of Ramadan, al-Hamdani said. Fasting in Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is one of the main five pillars of Islam. It begins with the sight of the crescent moon and continues for about 30 days, which started on May 6 this year. For Muslims, Ramadan is characterized by fasting every day from dawn until sunset, and refraining from eating, drinking and all sinful thoughts, words and deeds. The fasting is meant to keep patience and modesty, while experiencing the pains of the poor people. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 04:11:03|Editor: yan Video Player Close NICOSIA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus's energy plans include eight more drillings in its exclusive economic zone in the next two years, even as Turkey protests that Turkish Cypriots have been left out of the energy planning process, Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said on Tuesday. The minister did not go into details as to the blocks or the companies which will make the drillings, but said that the targets have been located and drilling will begin before the end of this year or at the beginning of 2020. "Eight drillings have been scheduled for the next 24 months. Six exploratory and two confirmatory", said the minister, during a presentation of the work of his ministry from March 2018 through April 2019. The only two pending confirmatory drillings is one by ENI-Total in block 6, where a 6-trillion cubic feet capacity field has been discovered, and one by the ExxonMobil-Qatar Petroleum consortium in block 10, where a similar field was found earlier this year. Lakkotrypis said that the government is at the final stage of the licensing procedure for block 7, into which extends the natural gas field found in block 6. He added that the agreement between France's TOTAL and Italy's ENI does not concern only block 7, noting that they have reached a preliminary agreement setting out their cooperation in other blocks. Lakkotrypis further said that next week a development and production plan for the Aphrodite field in block 12 will be discussed during a workshop, while parallel negotiations will be held for a final agreement for the selling of gas. Regarding development of the other two gas fields, Lakkotrypis said the government has not decided yet whether to build a liquefaction plant or to pipe the gas to Europe. Asked about the presence of a Turkish drilling ship within the Cypriot exclusive economic zone 37 nautical miles off the island's western shores, Lakkotrypis said that the government is applying both legal and diplomatic means to counter Turkish actions. Tensions have flared up in the eastern Mediterranean between Cyprus and Turkey since early this month, after Turkey had sent a drill ship to explore for natural gas in an offshore area close to the Cypriot coast, which Cyprus considers part of its Exclusive Economic Zone. Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said last week that his country's actions are taking place within the Turkish continental shelf and in areas licensed by the so-called Turkish State of Northern Cyprus, a breakaway entity condemned by the United Nations Security Council as illegal. Cyprus was split along ethnic lines in 1974, when Turkey intervened militarily following a coup by Athens-backed Greek Cypriots. Numerous reunification talks between the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots have failed. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 04:46:23|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close The empty witness chair is seen at the hearing titled "Oversight of the Report by Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller, III" at which witness Don McGahn failed to appear before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee in Washington D.C., the United States, on May 21, 2019. The White House on Monday instructed former counsel Don McGahn to defy a congressional subpoena and skip a hearing scheduled for Tuesday relating to the Russia probe. The House Judiciary Committee, controlled by Democrats, last month subpoenaed McGahn to testify before the panel, as part of their investigation into whether President Donald Trump illegally obstructed the inquiry led by special counsel Robert Mueller. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) WASHINGTON, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Following the White House instruction, former White House counsel Don McGahn on Tuesday skipped a hearing about the Mueller report before the House Judiciary Committee, defying the panel's subpoena. In response, the panel's Chairman Jerry Nadler said: "Let me be clear: This Committee will hear Mr. McGahn's testimony, even if we have to go to court to secure it." "We will not allow the President to block congressional subpoenas, putting himself and his allies above the law. We will not allow the President to stop this investigation, and nothing in these unjustified and unjustifiable legal attacks will stop us from pressing forward with our work on behalf of the American people," he said. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, called Tuesday's hearing "theater" and said Democrats were "trying desperately to make something out of nothing." Nadler "wants the fight, but not the truth," Collins said. The White House on Monday instructed McGahn to defy the subpoena and skip the Tuesday hearing held by the Democrat-controlled committee. "The Department of Justice has provided a legal opinion stating that, based on long-standing, bipartisan, and Constitutional precedent, the former Counsel to the President cannot be forced to give such testimony," the White House said in a statement. "Mr. McGahn has been directed to act accordingly." The statement added that the action "has been taken in order to ensure that future Presidents can effectively execute the responsibilities of the Office of the Presidency." The hearing is part of the congressional investigation into whether Trump illegally obstructed the inquiry led by special counsel Robert Mueller. McGahn reportedly figures prominently in the part of Mueller's work that examined whether Trump tried to obstruct the investigation. Mueller concluded his 22-month investigation in March by submitting a report to Attorney General William Barr, a redacted version of which was made public last month. The report stated that there was no evidence that Trump's campaign conspired with the Russian government during the 2016 U.S. presidential election but didn't conclude if the president had obstructed justice. Barr and his deputy Rod Rosenstein, who stepped down earlier this month, have concluded that the Mueller did not have "sufficient" evidence to support a charge in the obstruction case, a move that has drawn scrutiny from Democrats. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 05:21:39|Editor: yan Video Player Close TUNIS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Tunis Court of Appeal on Tuesday ordered the release of the United Nation expert Moncef Kartas, who was arrested in Tunisia in March on "espionage" charges, reported Tunis Afrique Presse. Sufian Sliti, spokesman of Tunisia's anti-terrorist judiciary body, said in local media that the authorities decided to temporarily release Kartas and prevent him from traveling. Kartas was arrested after an investigation that began last year, the spokesman added. Moncef Kartas, a member of a UN panel investigating violations of the UN arms embargo on Libya, was arrested on March 26 when he arrived in Tunis. He was accused of espionage and contacts with foreign parties. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 05:21:43|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close Edward Beneda is seen in front of posters about Flying Tigers at a Flying Tigers conference in Las Vegas, the United States, on May 11, 2019. The sacrifices Chinese and Americans made side by side in the war are our common heritage which should be cherished by our two countries, said Edward Beneda, vice chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation (SAAHF) and son of U.S. Flying Tigers pilot Glen Beneda, "We disagree from time to time, but the important thing is remembering the history, remembering the investment that we have in the lives of the Chinese and the Americans." (Xinhua/Han Fang) by Xinhua writers Han Fang, Wu Xiaojun and Pan Lijun NEW YORK, May 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Flying Tigers veteran Glen Beneda could hardly hold back his tears when he saw the wreckage of his fighter plane shot down by the Japanese during the World War II still lying in the mud in a lake in central China. In his tour to Jianli, a county in Hubei Province in 2005, then 81-year-old Beneda was greeted by more than 7,000 local residents, and was carried by young farmers in a bamboo chair to the lake just like what the local villagers did about 60 years ago to rescue him after he ejected himself from his P-51 fighter plane, badly wounded. This is one of the heartwarming scenes in the documentary "Touching the Tigers," shown by Glen's son Edward Beneda at a gathering of eight Flying Tigers veterans, as well as more than 30 family members in Las Vegas in mid May. Many of them were moved to tears. The sacrifices Chinese and Americans made side by side in the war are our common heritage which should be cherished by our two countries, said Edward, vice chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation (SAAHF). "We disagree from time to time, but the important thing is remembering the history, remembering the investment that we have in the lives of the Chinese and the Americans," said Edward. "Peace is what we want," Edward stressed. "Let's continue to trust one another, let's continue to go forward. And hopefully this world will be a better future for our children, our grandchildren, and great grandchildren." The Flying Tigers, a U.S. air squadron composed of airmen from the United States Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps, helped the Chinese fight Japanese invaders in WWII. About 18,000 American Air Force came to China and joined the War Against Japanese Aggression, and 2,193 Flying Tigers among them lost their lives. The Chinese people saved the lives of nearly 900 American Flying Tigers pilots and other airmen, at the cost of tens of thousands of Chinese who sacrificed their lives in the rescue efforts. "CHINESE PEOPLE ARE HEROES" To fulfill his father's wish and educate younger generations, Edward committed himself to documenting and publicizing the U.S.-China relationship in the war that brought the two countries close together as friends and allies. The documentary tells the story about his father Glen Beneda, who was assigned to China as a fighter pilot in the U.S. 14th Air Force in 1943 at the age of 19. During his career in China, Glen flew 79 missions in a P-40 fighter plane before changing to a P-51. In May 1944, when he was on his 81st mission, an attack on a large Japanese army base in central China's Hankou, his P-51 was shot down by the Japanese. After parachuting in Jianli, Glen was surrounded by curious farmers working in the rice paddies. He tried to talk to them with the help of an English-Chinese phrase book for emergency use. The farmers finally realized the man in front of them was an American soldier. They took good care of him and managed to find medical assistance for his badly wounded legs. To hide him from the Japanese troops, they tied heavy stones to his plane and sank it to the bottom of the lake. On a stretcher, Glen was transferred by anti-Japanese guerrillas from one village to another. To avoid the Japanese troops, they hid by day and marched at night, and finally arrived at the Fifth Division of China's New Fourth Army led by Li Xiannian, who later became Chinese president from 1983 to 1988. "General Li was very generous to us. He gave us each a Japanese officer's pistol, and he gave me a beautiful sword," Glen recalled in a previous interview. After a hard journey of nearly 60 days, he finally returned safely to the headquarters of the 14th Air Force in Chongqing in southwest China. "I know that the Chinese people called the Flying Tigers hero. But my father always said that the Chinese people are the heroes, because they saved his life," Edward recalled. PASSING FRIENDSHIP ON "Without the Chinese people's help, I could not have had my family," Glen always said. He wished that the Beneda family would always be friends with the Chinese people from generation to generation. Glen went back to China in 2002, and then again in 2005, that was when they got to know Li Xiaolin, daughter of Li Xiannian and then vice president of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). She arranged his trip to the very village where he was saved. In 2010, even though he was in a wheelchair and living with a pacemaker after several heart bypass operations, Glen still decided to go back to China to fulfill his last wish of expressing gratitude to the Chinese people, regardless of his doctor's warning. This time, he took 10 family members of three generations to the small village to which he said he owed his life. He visited the Li Xiannian Memorial Park, the former residence of Li Xiannian, in Hong'an County of Hubei, and presented the pistol given by General Li as a souvenir to the museum as a permanent collection. In an interview during the trip, Brian Beneda, Glen's grandson, said the spirit of his grandfather also exists in his later generations. "The trip is very meaningful to know about China, about WWII and U.S.-China involvement ... and to continue the friendship that was built so many years ago." Shortly after his last journey to China, Glen passed away from a heart attack in October. According to his wish, some of his cremains were sent to China by his wife Elinor Beneda and two sons, and laid to rest in the Li Xiannian Memorial Park. "We consider the Chinese people as part of our family. I'm not talking about just the ones that saved my father's life, but we have a very profound and strong relationship with all the Chinese people," Edward said emotionally. KEEPING STORY ALIVE Edward said his father regarded the China experience a valuable lesson, namely to be good to others and to serve. Indeed, Glen worked his whole life as a serviceman. After the war, Glen came back to his hometown in McCook, a small town in Nebraska, and continued his family business planting wheat and corn. In 1951, he moved to California and landed a job in a post office. Later, he was hired by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and worked as a firefighter for 25 years until retirement. "My father, along with many of the WWII veterans, they were very humble people. They went and did their job that they were supposed to do," Edward said his father didn't talk much about his experience in China until the last decade of his life. Although seldom mentioning this experience, Glen got together with the other Flying Tigers members every couple of years. In his thirties, Edward began to join his father and got to know some of the veterans. "We didn't know the story, then we found out that they are heroes and they did many heroic things." He began to keep an eye on their stories and accompanied his father to China several times. In his father's last years, Edward developed a strong sense of mission to keep the story alive. With the help of Li Xiaolin, a documentary about Glen was made. After the documentary's premier in 2011, Edward often showed it at local schools in Los Angeles where he lives, and talked to the youth about what happened in WWII. He said that for the young generation, reading the history in the book is one thing, but actually listening to somebody tell the real story is much better. "My family is involved in this part of the history, and it really brings it to life ... my wife and I most probably will not be here in the next 20 or 30 years, but we want the stories to live on." "It's very important for our two countries to keep this strong relationship in the history ... we have the responsibility to keep the record true, so that future generations can know about it and continue to build upon this great Chinese-American cultural heritage," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 05:36:51|Editor: yan Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Tuesday called for restoring calm in the Middle East region, amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. During a visit to Kuwait's Foreign Ministry, the emir was quoted by the official news agency KUNA as saying that the escalation of tensions has been accelerating in the region and "we hope calm is restored and wisdom prevails." The foreign ministry has a further responsibility to carry amidst critical and very dangerous circumstances in the region, the emir noted. He commended the ministry's employees for building bridges of peace and cooperation with people around the world and staying away from interfering in the domestic affairs of others. It has been almost one and a half years since Kuwait became a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, during which Kuwait succeeded in playing a realistic and balanced role in a host of issues. Kuwaiti Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said that the deterioration of the regional situation due to the rising tensions "requires strengthening of efforts to protect our region from tension and confrontation." Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 08:07:37|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat receives an interview with Xinhua in Singapore, May 17, 2019. The scope for Singapore-China cooperation is growing despite the rise of anti-globalization sentiment, Heng said. (Xinhua/Then Chih Wey) by Wang Lili, Toh Ee Ming SINGAPORE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The scope for Singapore-China cooperation is growing despite the rise of anti-globalization sentiment, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said. Against the backdrop of technological and structural changes, the scope for cooperation between Singapore and China has been enlarged, Heng told Xinhua ahead of his visit to China, which will take him to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. In Shanghai, he will co-chair the inaugural meeting of the Singapore-Shanghai Comprehensive Cooperation Council (SSCCC) -- the eighth business council between Singapore and China with Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong, and deliver a keynote speech at the 2019 Pujiang Innovation Forum. Noting that the SSCCC serves as a good example of expanded potential, Heng said, "The challenges (today) are greater, but so are the opportunities." As Singapore and China look to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relationships in 2020, Heng reaffirmed robust economic relations between the two countries, adding that Singapore will continue to seek new growth opportunities with China, the world's second largest economy. The SSCCC will cover six cooperation areas - China-proposed Belt & Road Initiative (BRI), financial services, technology and innovation, ease of doing business, urban governance and people-to-people exchanges. These will be crucial in shaping future growth, improving the quality of people's livelihood and opening up new collaboration in trade, investments and modern services, which are all needed as "the global supply chain evolves to adapt to structural changes happening all around the world," said Heng, who is also Singapore's finance minister. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road Initiative is "a strategic and forward-looking initiative," which can help to promote connectivity, facilitate flow of goods, capital and services, and enable economic collaboration and deeper understanding among peoples across different parts of the world, Heng said. "We've been a very early supporter of the Belt & Road Initiative because we see the strategic value of this initiative, and how it can be a key enabler for the next stage of regional as well as global economic development," he added. Reflecting on the history of long-standing cooperation through the Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC), Heng said the two countries have been able to find new modalities and areas of cooperation at every stage of its own development and in the global economy. The JCBC is the top institutionalized platform overseeing cooperation between Singapore and China, which Heng is now co-chairing with Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng. In addition, Singapore has seven existing business councils with China, in the provinces and municipality of Shandong, Sichuan, Liaoning, Zhejiang, Tianjin, Jiangsu and Guangdong - which are crucial to driving different areas of development, said Heng. East China's Jiangsu Province is home to the Suzhou Industrial Park, the first government-to-government cooperative project between Singapore and China, which has just celebrated its 25th anniversary. Since then, the two countries have embarked on two other projects, such as the Tianjin Eco-City and the Chongqing Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity, which has a new trade route the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor significantly cutting the time span and expenses of goods transport between northwest inland Chinese cities and Singapore, and beyond. Heng said these business councils have helped enhance the knowledge of collaboration potential as well as mutual people-to-people understanding, adding that he "looks forward to seeing how Singapore and Shanghai can cooperate and deepen this collaboration." "We will have to think of ways to build on what is already a very good foundation and take it to a higher level (in order to) grow new areas of cooperation that will meet the needs of both China and Singapore (as well as in) the wider ASEAN region." China has witnessed "an impressive and spectacular" set of developments since its founding 70 years ago, which "has helped to catalyze developments all around China," said Heng. With around 800 million Chinese people lifted out of poverty, they now enjoy a much higher standard of living, while its cities and infrastructure have undergone massive development, which Heng lauded as an "unprecedented" feat in human history. As China continues to restructure its economy, stimulate domestic consumption, upgrade infrastructure and environment, and try to provide better healthcare, housing and education for its people, Heng believed these are major drivers for China's continued economic growth. China's continued growth "can help to add driving forces to the global economy and certainly to the regional economy." China is now Singapore's largest trading partner. Looking at a broader spectrum, China now stands as the largest trading partner for most ASEAN countries, a 10-member regional bloc which includes Singapore, and also with neighboring countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea - a signal of the significantly growing interlinkages between China and other countries in the region, he added. Initiatives like the BRI and the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement would continue to drive growth and open up more business opportunities for partners involved in the region. By keeping Singapore "united, cohesive and forward-looking," it can then tackle these longer-term challenges, such as an ageing population and economic transformation through technology and innovation, which is rendered harder by shrinking support for globalization, Heng said. Despite domestic adverse elements and global uncertainties, Heng remained optimistic about Singapore's future. Asia will continue to be among the fastest growing regions in the world and Singapore will benefit as it is situated "in the heart of this vibrant growing region," he said. Even though global forces have shaped Singapore's development, Singaporeans have come together to respond to these challenges and created new opportunities, said Heng. He opined that Singapore can ride on the tide of the 4th Industrial Revolution by tapping on new developments in science and technology, and search for new business models and innovative ideas in order to address these challenges to help the nation prosper. Some of the key areas going forward will be building Singapore as "a global Asia node of technology, innovation and enterprise," while strengthening Singapore's social fabric, said the deputy prime minister. In addition, Singapore will continue to maintain very constructive relationships with China and other partners in Asia and all around the world. "I believe that this is important for us to build a more stable and prosperous world in the coming years," Heng said. SourceXinhua| 2019-05-22 08:50:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close People attend the "Dine Around Downtown" event in New York, the United States, on May 21, 2019. Dine Around Downtown has brought the neighborhood's restaurateurs together for the annual lunchtime festival since 1995. This year's event brought together nearly 40 restaurants in Lower Manhattan. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 09:12:59|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The California state government Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the U.S. federal government for canceling a nearly 1-billion-U.S.-dollar fund contracted to support the state's high-peed rail project. The lawsuit, filed with the federal court in San Francisco, attempted to recover money from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which has announced that it would end its 928-million-U.S.-dollar contract with California because the state "failed to make reasonable progress on the project." However, the California government argued in the lawsuit that the FRA's action "to abruptly terminate" the 2010 agreement rather than work with the California High-Speed Rail Authority is "a sharp departure from ordinary agency practice." The Golden State charged that the federal government's decision to ax the grant "was precipitated by President Trump's overt hostility to California, its challenge to his border wall initiatives, and what he called the 'green disaster' high-speed rail project." The lawsuit noted that California Governor Gavin Newsom on Feb. 18 criticized Trump's effort to build more barriers at the Mexico border as a "manufactured crisis." The next day, Trump on Twitter criticized California's high-speed rail plan, the lawsuit said. The state also planned to file a request for a temporary restraining order, asking a judge to block the federal government from using the high-speed rail money for other purposes, according to the local Sacramento Bee newspaper. In 2008, California voters approved nearly 10 billion dollars in bond money for the construction of the high-speed rail system linking Los Angeles and San Francisco, but the project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. Construction is underway on the first leg of the project, which has been cut down to a 119-mile section connecting Central Valley cities Merced and Bakersfield, and 6 billion U.S. dollars have been spent on it. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 09:58:38|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Ma Xiaocheng) BISHKEK, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov said Tuesday that his country is ready to align its development strategies with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and strengthen practical cooperation with China in various sectors. During a meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jeenbekov said China has been providing Kyrgyzstan with a large amount of selfless and sincere assistance for a long time without imposing its will on others, adding that China is indeed Kyrgyzstan's good neighbor, good friend and good partner. Kyrgyzstan firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China's anti-terrorism measures in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and will combat jointly with China the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, he said. Jeenbekov said his country looks forward to the upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his attendance at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan is ready to work with China to make Xi's visit a historic one which will push the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, he added. For his part, Wang said China never interferes in Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs, always respects Kyrgyz people's choice, and intends to achieve common prosperity together with Kyrgyzstan. Beijing appreciates Bishkek's support on the issues concerning China's core interests, including Taiwan and Xinjiang, Wang said, adding that China is willing to further cement political mutual trust with Kyrgyzstan, strengthen security cooperation, and jointly fight the "three forces." China is ready to cooperate within the framework of the BRI with Kyrgyzstan in economy and trade, agriculture and inter-connectivity, he said. Wang proposed more high-level interactions, closer coordination, and joint efforts for the success of the SCO Bishkek summit. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 10:18:57|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close YANGON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The third Myanmar-China Think Tank Forum kicked off on Tuesday in Myanmar's Yangon, gathering about 40 experts from both countries. Focusing on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Myanmar-China Economic Corridor, discussions and views were exchanged under four topics -- "Economic Cooperation and Border Trade" "People-to-people Connectivity" "Socio-Economic Development" and "Cross-border Ethnic Communities" at the forum which will last until Wednesday. Nyunt Maung Shein, chairman of Myanmar Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Myanmar-ISIS), stressed the need of conducting deeper discussions regarding to the challenges and opportunities in implementations of the projects under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which was signed to establish China-Myanmar economic corridor. The forum was jointly organized by Myanmar-ISIS, China's Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences, Chinese Academy of South and Southeast Asian Studies (Kuming) and Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of China. Li Xiaoyan, counselor of Chinese Embassy in Myanmar, expressed her belief that the think tank forum could bring the mutual understandings between the two countries' experts on the future potentials of the Belt and Road Initiative. The first and second of such forum were held in Mangshi, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of China in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The Tuesday forum hosted the discussions based on the outcomes of the 2nd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation which was held in Beijing late April. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 11:09:36|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close CARACAS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The "criminal" financial blockade by the United States against Venezuela puts the lives of children who received transplants in Argentina at risk, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said Tuesday. Via his Twitter account, Arreaza said that the state oil company PDVSA, which is on the U.S. sanction list, has been supporting health programs sending the children to Argentina. "It has been impossible to transfer the funds to continue with the treatments," he wrote. He has sent a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet to highlight the plight of five Venezuelan children receiving treatment in Argentina. The letter was also signed by the parents of the children. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 11:19:43|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HAVANA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Tuesday urged Washington to cease meddling in his country's internal affairs and to overcome the differences between the two countries through diplomacy. During a speech at the XVIII Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) taking place in Havana, Arreaza reiterated Caracas' will to live in peace without threats from the U.S. government. "We call on the United States to apply diplomacy, dialogue, and understanding, respect each other, and end the military threat, the arrogance, and the economic blockade," said Arreaza. The senior official said domestic issues should be solved by the Venezuelan people and the political forces in the South American nation, without foreign interference. He thanked Mexico, Uruguay and some Caribbean nations for initiating dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the local opposition, and condemned the sanctions imposed by Washington against his country, especially the "financial persecution" which impedes the country from buying goods and medicine abroad. This ALBA meeting is of "vital importance" due to U.S. threats against regional peace and security, as well as solidarity with Caracas, he said. During the meeting, several nations including Cuba, Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Suriname expressed their opposition to threats of foreign military intervention in Caracas and called for dialogue to resolve the political crisis in the South American nation. Founded initially by Cuba and Venezuela in 2004, the ALBA bloc aims to reduce Latin America's reliance on Western aid by promoting intra-regional alliances and cooperation in key sectors such as energy and trade. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 11:24:46|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close YANGON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar President U Win Myint has urged for proper preparation of the holding of a free and fair general election in 2020, according to the Union Election Commission (UEC) Wednesday. Meeting with the UEC, led by its Chairman U Hla Thein, in the capital of Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday, the president called for preparation of voters list, formation of all levels of election sub-commissions systematically, proper assignment of election officials, full security of the stations and demarcation of constituencies as well as ensuring that constituents have full voting rights. U Win Myint also instructed to prevent election crimes and election irregularities, conduct vote counting correctly and announce election results under law. The National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, won a landslide victory in 2015 general election and began to run the government on April 1, 2016 for five-year term under the constitution. Over NLD government's first three years in office, two by-elections were also held in April 2017 and November 2018 respectively to elect representatives to fill the vacant seats in the parliament, the majority of which was won by the NLD. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 11:29:58|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said on Tuesday that America's actions so far had been deterring Iran rather than seeking a war. "This is about deterrence, not about war. We're not about going to war," the acting Pentagon chief told reporters after attending a briefing at the U.S. Congress. "Our biggest focus at this point is to prevent Iranian miscalculation, we do not want the situation to escalate," Shanahan added. Washington and Tehran have been trading words of war over the past two weeks, escalating tension that had been stoked up following America's increasing military buildup in the Middle East citing a threat of Iranian attack. On Tuesday, senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford and Shanahan, held the briefing at the Congress, informing the lawmakers about recent developments concerning Iran. Mike McCaul, the ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told reporters after attending the briefing that the officials made it clear that the Trump administration has no intention to "go to war in the region." "This is a deterrent operation to stop Iran's escalation and aggression," McCaul said. Over recent weeks, Washington has ratcheted up pressure against Tehran with a series of sanctions, designations and military threats, following Washington's year-long campaign against Iran after the U.S. exit from the landmark Iran nuclear deal in May last year. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday that his country will never bow to the pressures exerted by the United States. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Tuesday said that Iraq will send delegations to the United States and Iran to ease the tension in the Middle East. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 11:35:02|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HAVANA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Cuba denied on Tuesday any link to the illegal drugs which were hidden in a container from the island country and intercepted by Panamanian authorities. It was found after investigations in Cuba and Panama that the container seal was changed after placing the drugs, the General Customs Office of the Republic of Cuba said in a statement. Cuba also reaffirmed its policy of zero tolerance towards drug trafficking in the statement, pledging to strengthen cooperation with agencies, countries and services to fight this scourge. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 11:35:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) on Tuesday called for adherence to a political settlement of the Libyan crisis and proper handling of sanctions against the country. "There is a need to stick to a political solution. China has always believed that the Libyan issue must be settled through political means," Ma Zhaoxu told the Security Council. "We hope that parties to the conflict in Libya will put the interests of the country and the people first, respond to the calls of the international community for a cease-fire as soon as possible, ease the tensions and return to the path of settlement through peaceful dialogue and consultation." He added that the safety and security of civilians must be protected and the humanitarian situation in the country must be improved. While the sanctions on Libya should continue to be enforced, they must be properly handled so that they do not negatively impact civilians, the Chinese envoy said. "We have always believed that sanctions are not an end, but rather a means. They should always serve the purposes of a political solution to the problems at hand," Ma said. "The sanctions should not jeopardize the overall interests of Libya as a nation and should not undermine the normal life and humanitarian needs of Libyans," Ma said. The Chinese ambassador asked for synergy of international efforts toward a political settlement in Libya. The international community should respect Libya's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. The countries of influence should push for resolution of differences among the parties, help build trust and provide constructive assistance to the parties to achieve a cease-fire and return to political dialogue, he said. Ma also stressed the need for coordination of efforts. China supports the promotion of the political settlement process in Libya under the leadership of the United Nations, he said. China also supports the active role of regional organizations such as the African Union, and hopes that the mechanisms will fully leverage their advantages and enhance coordination and cooperation. Since early April, military conflicts that broke out around Tripoli have resulted in heavy casualties, an increasing number of refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons. Terrorist activities are re-emerging. All these undermine Libya's political security and socio-economic stability and development, the Chinese ambassador said. The situation also has a spillover effect to the Sahel region and the Mediterranean coast, he warned. China is highly concerned about the developments in Libya. The international community should heighten its attention to Libya and work together to push for an early solution to the Libyan crisis, he said. China is willing to work with the international community to contribute to Libya's lasting peace and stability, he said. In his briefing to the Security Council on Tuesday, Ghassan Salame, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Libya, said the country is on the verge of civil war. "Libya is on the verge of descending into a civil war, which could lead to the permanent division of the country. The damage already done will take years to mend, and that's only if the war is ended now," said Salame. "Forty-eight days into the attack on Tripoli by Gen. Haftar's forces, there has already been too much death and destruction," he said, referring to the new offensive on the Libyan capital launched on April 4 by the self-proclaimed Libyan National Army led by Khalifa Haftar. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 11:45:10|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian government condemned on Tuesday the recent attacks against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). On May 18, terrorists targeted the MINUSMA in Timbuktu and Tessalit in northern Mali, killing a Nigerian soldier and wounding several others. The Brazilian government deeply regrets the two attacks last week, and expresses condolences to the family of the victim and to the government of Nigeria, the Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement. "Brazil reaffirms its support for the work of MINUSMA and the efforts of the international community to stabilize Mali," the statement said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 12:30:28|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HANOI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's interbank e-payment system handled over 37.3 million transactions worth nearly 20.7 quadrillion Vietnamese dong (some 900 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of this year, posting year-on-year increases of 23 percent and 17.8 percent, respectively, according to the State Bank of Vietnam, the country's central bank. Between January and March, domestic payment via bank cards reached 65 million transactions totaling 171 trillion Vietnamese dong (7.4 billion U.S. dollar), local daily newspaper Vietnam News quoted Nghiem Thanh Son, deputy head of the central bank's Payment Department, as reporting on Wednesday. The number and value of transactions performed online in the same period rose by 68.8 percent and 13.4 percent year-on-year. Infrastructure and technologies for non-cash payment have seen increased investment and improved quality, according to the central bank. By the end of March, Vietnam had 18,668 ATMs and 261,705 Point of Sale (POS) terminals. Vietnam is setting to make the rate of cash payment to be below 10 percent among all means of payment by 2020 and 8 percent by 2025, according to the country's national plan on non-cash payment market development. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 12:45:33|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close KABUL, May 22 (Xinhua) -- About 185,000 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan, Iran and European Union states since the beginning of this year, United Nations migration agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Wednesday. About 184,185 Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since Jan. 1, 2019, said IOM in a statement. A total of 174,666 Afghans have reportedly returned their homeland from Iran as Afghan refugees have been facing difficulties in finding jobs for a long time. Meanwhile, 9,519 Afghans have come back home from Pakistan during the period, said the statement. Up to 715 Afghans also returned from European Union states over the period. More than 849,000 Afghan refugees had returned or been deported to Afghanistan in 2018 mainly from neighboring countries, according to figures from Afghan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 12:55:38|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close CANBERRA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The number of influenza deaths in Australia since the beginning of the year have tripled from the same period in 2018, the government said on Wednesday. Data released by the Department of Health on Wednesday revealed that 99 people have died from the flu in Australia between January 1 and May 20. It is a near 200 percent increase from the 34 deaths in the same period in 2018 and from the five-year national average, which is also 34. The number of cases of laboratory-confirmed influenza was 54,432, a 450 percent from the five-year average of 9855 and a 304 percent increase from 13,444 in the same period in 2018. In Victoria, Australia's second biggest state by population, influenza has killed 26 people -- three children and 23 aged-care residents -- compared to zero deaths at the same time in 2018. Jenny Mikakos, the state's Health Minister, told News Corp Australia that the high toll was a result of flu season starting earlier than usual. "We are seeing a lot of communicable diseases spread through overseas travel, that's certainly been the case in terms of measles cases and flu cases," she said. "We have seen a very significant summer flu season this year as a result of people coming back from the northern hemisphere with the flu and that spreading in the community. "(Juvenile flu deaths) tend to be associated with situations where there might be other illnesses and vulnerabilities involved with those children." More than 11.4 million doses of the influenza vaccine have been administered nationwide. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 13:00:41|Editor: Liu Video Player Close OTTAWA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Out-of-control wildfires in the northern part of the Canadian province of Alberta, which are rated at the highest danger level, are expected to further increase this week because of dry weathers, CBC reported on Tuesday night. There have been 430 wildfires in Alberta since March 1, of which 30 are still active and five are classed as out of control. The number of fires currently burning across Alberta is slightly higher than the five-year average. Logistical and personnel supports from provinces of Ontario, Nova Scotia and British Columbia are expected to arrive on Wednesday. Evacuation has been ordered for more than 4,000 people living in High Level, a town about 730 km north of Edmonton, the capital of Alberta. Eighty-nine firefighters, 24 helicopters and three air tankers are involved in fighting the blaze there which started Sunday and has reached an estimated 69,000 hectares on Monday. A wildfire in Fort McMurray of Alberta in 2016 destroyed one-tenth of the city, and some 88,000 people were forced from their homes. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 13:40:54|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- In the next two to four decades, China is poised to grow strongly due to business opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China Daily reported Wednesday. Other economies in the world would benefit from the country's business wisdom, said the newspaper, citing participants of the 8th London Business School China Business Forum. "Growth is going to continue to come from China for the next 20, 30, maybe 40 years... The greatest growth opportunity in the world is the Belt and Road Initiative," Stephen Perry, chairman of the 48 Group Club, said in a keynote speech at the forum. "What China is trying to do is to free the productive capacity and consumer demand from China, across Central Asia, central Europe, and down into Africa," Perry said. Cases of Chinese brands such as infant milk producer Firmus and down jacket maker Bosideng were cited during the panel discussions as illustration of successful players, reported the paper. "To win the fierce business competition, the best approach is 'Wining without Fighting'," said participant Xie Weishan, chairman and co-founder of Kmind Counsulting. . 20 2021 . , , . . . -. . . II. ... Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 14:06:06|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close HERAT, Afghanistan, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 300 youth were commissioned to the national army after completion of a 12-week military training course in the western Herat province, brigadier Nazir Ahmad, head of the military training course in the western region, said Wednesday. The usage of various light and assault weapons, including war tactics had been thought to the newly graduated cadets, the official said, adding they would serve in Farah and Badghis provinces to stabilize security there. The Afghan government has been recruiting more youth and training them military tactics to enhance the capability of security forces in the militancy-plagued country to fight the Taliban, al-Qaida and like-minded groups. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 14:16:09|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China Southern Airlines has filed a claim for compensation against the Boeing Company after the grounding and delayed delivery of the 737 Max aircraft, according to the airline Wednesday. The Guangzhou-based airline said it has suspended commercial flights of 24 737 Max aircraft since March 11 and requested a negotiation with Boeing over the compensation plan as soon as possible. China became the first to halt the commercial operations of all Boeing 737 Max 8 airplanes after a fatal Ethiopian Airlines plane crash on March 10. It was the second crash of the new aircraft after one operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed in October last year, triggering global scrutiny and bans on operating Boeing 737 Max aircraft. On Tuesday, China Eastern Airlines said it formally requested compensation from Boeing for the grounding of its 14 737 Max aircraft and delayed delivery of the aircraft. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 14:16:11|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close KATHMANDU, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Nepal's central bank has banned the foreign digital payment systems as they are not registered in Nepal. By issuing a notice on Monday, the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) barred the use of these payment systems stating that their use resulted in the Himalayan country losing foreign income and as well as Nepali government losing taxes from the service transactions inside the country. Use of any QR Code, POS Machine related to foreign payment system or other payment system issued from foreign countries by anybody other than firms licensed by the Nepal's central bank will be illegal, states a notice of NRB. "Such use of them means misappropriation of foreign exchange. So, anybody using these payment systems within Nepal will face legal action as per the Foreign Exchange (Regulation) Act of Nepal." However, NRB Spokesperson Laxmi Prapanna Niraula told Xinhua that there are licensed e-payment service providers in Nepal whose service could be taken for payment within the Himalayan country. According to NRB, it has licensed five e-payment service providers so far which include: IME Digital Solution, eSewa Phone Pay, Cellcom Private Limited, CGpay Private Limited and Sparrow Pay Private Limited. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 14:56:36|Editor: mingmei Video Player Close SHENYANG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Phoenix Tower, a well-known ancient building at the Shenyang Palace Museum, reopened to the public on Tuesday and welcomed 10 tourists, after being partially closed for nearly 30 years. The move aims to help people better understand royal culture in a broader scope, said Li Shengneng, curator of the museum. Located in the capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Phoenix Tower is one of the most important buildings of the Shenyang Palace Museum. The museum will allow 20 visits to the building every day, 10 in the morning and 10 in the afternoon, Li said. Built between 1627 and 1635 in the Qing Dynasty, the three-story building with a gable and hip roof was the tallest site in the ancient capital of Shengjing, now the northeastern city of Shenyang. Its second and third floors had been closed since 1990 due to safety reasons. Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 21, 2019. BISHKEK, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov said Tuesday that his country is ready to align its development strategies with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and strengthen practical cooperation with China in various sectors. During a meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Jeenbekov said China has been providing Kyrgyzstan with a large amount of selfless and sincere assistance for a long time without imposing its will on others, adding that China is indeed Kyrgyzstan's good neighbor, good friend and good partner. Kyrgyzstan firmly adheres to the one-China policy, supports China's anti-terrorism measures in its Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and will combat jointly with China the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, he said. Jeenbekov said his country looks forward to the upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping and his attendance at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek. Kyrgyzstan is ready to work with China to make Xi's visit a historic one which will push the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a higher level, he added. For his part, Wang said China never interferes in Kyrgyzstan's internal affairs, always respects Kyrgyz people's choice, and intends to achieve common prosperity together with Kyrgyzstan. Beijing appreciates Bishkek's support on the issues concerning China's core interests, including Taiwan and Xinjiang, Wang said, adding that China is willing to further cement political mutual trust with Kyrgyzstan, strengthen security cooperation, and jointly fight the "three forces." China is ready to cooperate within the framework of the BRI with Kyrgyzstan in economy and trade, agriculture and inter-connectivity, he said. Wang proposed more high-level interactions, closer coordination, and joint efforts for the success of the SCO Bishkek summit. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 15:06:40|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW YORK, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Abortion rights supporters in New York City (NYC) joined a nationwide protest Tuesday afternoon against a recent wave of moves to legalize abortion ban and restrictions in several states of the country. Thousands of protestors rallied at the Foley Square in downtown Manhattan, right in front of a federal courthouse, waving various banners that read "Abortion is a human right," "Free abortion on demand forever" and "Your body, your power." New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who recently announced his 2020 presidential run, joined the rally with his poet and activist wife Chirlane McCray. "We know a majority in this country believes in the (women's) right to choose," said the mayor. "It is a small group of right-wing extremists who are trying to ignore that American majority, or trying to undermine your rights ... but we are not going back, are we?" Hosted by NYC for Abortion Rights and National Women's Liberation, the Stop The Bans rally in New York echoes hundreds of other similar protests across the United States, appealing for abortion rights for every woman in the country. "I'm here today because abortion rights are part of women's reproductive health and are essential parts of my rights," said 32-year-old Alex Lacost, a data scientist who grew up in France and lives in New York, representing the beliefs of most young female protestors at the rally. Last week, the U.S. state of Alabama passed a near-total abortion ban, which would make it a felony for a doctor to perform an abortion in almost all cases, including rape and incest. This was seen as the latest challenge to Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court case that legalized abortion nationwide. Some other states, such as Kentucky, Ohio, Georgia and Mississippi, also adopted similar bans recently and are counting on an eventual overturn of the Roe v. Wade in the Supreme Court. "I was out protesting for Roe v. Wade in the 1970s. And here we are again," said 67-year-old Robin Strauss, a psychotherapist. "That's just rolling back on women's rights to control their own body and make their own choices around their own healthcare." In her opinion, gender equality and justice can never be realized "in a system that puts profits ahead of people, ahead of healthcare, ahead of education, and ahead of safety," she said. Seth Galinsky, who labeled himself a socialist, has been involved in demonstrations for women's right to choose since his early 20s. He believes this is not simply a women's issue. "There's no way the working class here can advance in the fight for our interests if half our class has a second class status," said the 62-year-old. "It's in the interest of not just women, but men." Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 15:06:47|Editor: zh Video Player Close SANTIAGO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The relationship with China has opened a world of opportunities for Chile, an expert on Chile-China ties said on Tuesday. "A new world of opportunities is opening up to us, and we should take advantage of it with a strategy that can contribute to the development of our country, the reduction of the gaps of inequality, and better quality of life for everyone," Francisco Silva, president of the Chilean chapter of the Chile-China Bilateral Business Council, wrote in a column published Tuesday on Chile's El Mercurio newspaper. "Just as Chilean President (Sebastian) Pinera said in Beijing (last month), a new 'roadmap' for the relationship between Chile and China is before us," Silva said. On April 24-28, Pinera paid a state visit to China and attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing. In the Chilean expert's view, the Belt and Road Initiative is "the most important (idea) of a century", given that it will "unite billions of people, boost trade, tourism, growth, and reduce poverty globally." For nearly 50 years, the bilateral relations between Chile and China have stayed in an "unbeatable situation," Silva added. Chile was the first South American country to establish diplomatic ties with China, and the bilateral ties have long taken a lead among China-Latin America relations. In 2005, Chile became the first Latin American country to sign a free trade agreement with China, and in 2019, it became the first country in the region to update such an agreement with China. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 15:06:50|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- In the name of "fair trade," trade hawks in Washington are waging a global assault on the flow and the spirit of free trade. Because of Washington's hegemonic hubris, the global economy is under huge downward pressure, and the long-established international rules that govern global trade transactions are in serious jeopardy. "We will not allow the WTO Appellate Body and dispute settlement system to force the United States into a straitjacket of obligations to which we never agreed," said the Office of the United States Trade Representative in a March 2019 report, a public demonstration of insolence. With China in the crosshairs of U.S. tariffs, such U.S. allies as the European Union, Canada, South Korea and Japan also cannot get away. "With friends like that, who needs enemies?" European Council President Donald Tusk spoke of Washington at a news conference in May 2018. The principles of equality and consultation are instrumental in maintaining international economic and trade relations. It means that for a trade deal to succeed, all parties, while respecting market choices, need to treat each other as equals and respect their legitimate demands. It seems that the United States does not care about that. As Washington is bullying its trading partners worldwide, it is also damaging the already gloomy prospects of global economic recovery. A minor global trade war where tariffs rise 10 percent would reduce GDP of most countries by 1-4.5 percent, and a 40-percent hike in tariffs would cause a deep global recession, according to an August 2017 paper co-authored by Warwick J. McKibbin from the Australian National University. "The Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930 comes to mind," said McKibbin in an op-ed of the Brookings Institution. The tariff nine decades ago further fueled protectionism worldwide and drove the economy deeper into the Great Depression. "It was driven by similar isolationists arguments that the Trump Administration now relies on." As other parts of the world face the crunch, it has too taken a toll on the United States. By the end of 2018, import tariffs were costing U.S. consumers and the firms that import foreign goods an additional 3 billion U.S. dollars per month in added tax costs, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Princeton University and Columbia University. "By now, it is likely no surprise to American families that tariffs raise the cost of living," said Mary E. Lovely, a professor at Syracuse University, in March in a CNN article. "These tariffs burden American households and producers and offer no relief from the problems they were supposed to solve." A nation keen to flex muscles may get some unwilling concessions in the short term. In the long run, its credibility will go down the drain. "A country's attractiveness is based on the deeds of that country's leadership rather than on its culture and political value," said Yan Xuetong, a professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, in his new book "Leadership and the Rise of Great Powers." "This argument can explain why US soft power declined so dramatically after the Trump administration had been in office for only half a year, even though American culture and political values remained the same," he argued. In the face of Washington's aggressive trade policies, many around the world have begun to fight back. WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo in September 2018 said countries have already launched roughly 30 disputes at the WTO that year, the most since 2002, among which about 20 of the cases stem from the tariffs Washington imposed on other WTO members. As Washington further escalates trade tensions, China will join hands with others around the world to reject its bullyism, uphold multilateralism and share development opportunities. At the end of the day, the trade warmongers in Washington will know that a trade war is bad, and nobody will win. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 15:22:04|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PARIS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Tuesday warned that a trade war would threaten the global economic outlook for 2019 and 2020. The Paris-based intergovernmental economic organization urged the world's leading economies to enhance cooperation and multilateral dialogue to stimulate growth. Being broadly more pessimistic than March when the last report was published, the OECD projected that the world economic growth rate will lose 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent this year, its lowest since 2015. As for 2020, it kept the 3.4-percent growth unchanged. "Growing trade tensions drive uncertainty, thus business investment is hit and global growth is stifled," OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria said in his opening remarks at the 2019 OECD Forum held on May 20-21 in Paris. "This in turn will undermine people's well-being: jobs will be disrupted and consumers' purchasing power will be hurt," he said. "The world economy is in a dangerous place, unless there is a de-escalation of trade tensions." The OECD figures showed world trade -- a key artery of the global economy -- would grow 2.1 percent this year, a 10-year low. That would negatively impact manufacturing, disrupt global value chains and generate significant uncertainty that would weigh on investment decisions. "We must reinforce transparent, predictable and rules-based trade. Waves of trade liberalization have benefited people around the world, with something like a billion people lifted out of poverty, new industries and new markets created across the globe," Gurria said. "So, there is urgent work to do at the multilateral table to ensure that trade can continue to underpin global and inclusive growth," he added. In the name of protecting domestic industries, the United States has placed steep tariffs on billions of U.S. dollars' worth of products from its major partners, including the European Union, Canada, China and Japan, raising trade tensions around the world and shaking the foundation of the global trading system. "The fragile global economy is being destabilized by trade tensions. Growth is stabilizing, but the economy is weak and there are very serious risks on the horizon," said OECD Chief Economist Laurence Boone. "Governments need to work harder together to ensure a return to stronger and more sustainable growth," Boone added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 15:27:08|Editor: zh Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The most recent achievements of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) will be displayed and discussed during the tenth China Satellite Navigation Conference that opened in Beijing Wednesday. The BDS is China's self-developed navigation system and is compatible with other navigation systems. According to Ran Chengqi, director of the China Satellite Navigation Office, the construction of the BDS-3 primary system had been completed and has started to provide global service. In the future, it will offer new services such as satellite-based augmentation system and international search and rescue. The navigation signals will be improved globally, Ran said. An exhibition during the conference will showcase BDS's chips, modules, antennas and terminals. The three-day conference features seminars, academic exchanges and exhibitions, inviting experts from both home and abroad to exchange ideas on key technologies, innovation applications as well as industry development. China Satellite Navigation Conference is one of three major international satellite navigation conferences. The annual conference has been held in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou since 2010. AWelshLad/iStock(CHICAGO) -- As his family prepared to bury the mother who never got to cradle him, a baby cut from her womb in a heinous Chicago homicide has opened his eyes while in his father's arms, a family spokesman said Tuesday. In critical condition and on life support, the newborn infant of murdered 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez is defying the long odds doctors initially gave him for survival. "He has opened his eyes," Julie Contreras, a spokeswoman for Ochoa-Lopez's family, told ABC News on Tuesday. "He seems to be a fighter." She said the baby, named Giovanni Yadeil Lopez, first opened his eyes on Sunday while receiving a visit from his father, Giovanni Lopez, and his 3-year-old brother, Contreras said. She said the baby opened his eyes again on Monday as his father cradled him, she said. "He opened his eyes when his daddy held him and his daddy was cooing him. He was telling him, 'My precious, beautiful, handsome little boy. My handsome little prince. I love you. Your dad loves you,'" said Contreras. But Contreras said doctors at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn are not ready to say if the baby, who police initially said had zero brain activity, will survive. His family, she says, has not given up hope. "There's been no talk of disconnecting him from life support," Contreras said. Police said Ochoa-Lopez, who was nine months pregnant, was killed on April 23 when she was lured to the Chicago home of Clarisa Figueroa, 46, a woman she met on a Facebook page called "Help a Mother Out." Police said Figueroa promised Ochoa-Lopez free baby clothes. When Ochoa-Lopez arrived at the home, Figueroa allegedly strangled her with a cable while her daughter, Desiree Figueroa, 24, allegedly distracted her with a photo album, authorities said. The baby was then cut from Ochoa-Lopez's body, prosecutors said. Following Ochoa-Lopez's murder, Clarisa Figueroa took the baby to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where it was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, prosecutors said. Clarisa Figueroa then allegedly formed a GoFundMe page in an effort to raise money for the baby, who she was passing off as her own. Both Clarisa and Desiree Figueroa have been charged with murder. Clarisa Figueroa's 40-year-old boyfriend, Piotr Bobak, was arrested and charged with helping to cover up the alleged crime. Ochoa-Lopez family reported her missing on the day she went to Figueroa's home, but her body wasn't discovered until May 14, when police executed a search warrant at the suspects' residence. "What Ms. Figueroa is accused of is nothing short of barbarism," Anthony Guglielmi, spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, told ABC News on Tuesday. "She's a coward who preyed on this young woman and certainly took a life and severely impacted the life of someone who wasn't even given a chance." According to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, the hospital contacted the agency on May 9, more than two weeks after Figueroa first checked into the hospital with the newborn, ABC station WSL-TV in Chicago reported Tuesday. Both Oak Lawn Police and Chicago police said they were never contacted by hospital staff and do not know the hospital's policy on such matters. Contreras told ABC News that she and Ochoa-Lopez's family met with administrators at Advocate Christ Medical Center on Monday to demand answers on why the hospital didn't contact authorities earlier. "We did discuss protocols and procedures, wanting to know what those were when it comes to any woman that arrives that has given birth in a home," Contreras told ABC News. "But all those legal questions actually were secondary and will be answered in another meeting and time and place because our focus was baby Giovanni to make sure that he's receiving the utmost proper care." Hospital officials declined to comment on the delay in notifying the Department of Children and Family Services. "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the Ochoa-Lopez family. Our clinical team is committed to meeting regularly with patients and families to ensure there is open dialogue about treatment paths. Out of respect for the family's privacy, we are unable to comment on the specific content covered during our time together," the hospital said in a statement. Ochoa-Lopez's funeral is scheduled for Saturday at the Mount Auburn Funeral Home in the Chicago suburb of Stickney. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 15:52:33|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close In this aerial photo taken on April 2, 2019, a Line S2 train of Beijing Suburban Railway (BSR) pulls out of Qinglongqiao station of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou railway in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Witnessing original speed of 35 kilometers per hour up to 350 today, the Beijing-Zhangjiakou railway, the first designed and built by Chinese, shows the development of the country's railways and economy. Linking Beijing and the city of Zhangjiakou in north China's Hebei Province, the upgraded 100-year-old railway will play an important role in the transport for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, which is co-hosted by the two cities. The Beijing-Zhangjiakou railway was designed by Zhan Tianyou, known as the "father of China's railroad," and was opened in 1909 after four years of construction. The construction of the railway was considered impossible at the time without foreign assistance. Zhan, with his colleagues, strived to complete its construction two years ahead of schedule, overcoming a series of problems in terrain and shortage of train power by building a zigzag railway that climbed upward, using two locomotives instead of one. With a speed of 35 kilometers per hour more than a hundred years ago, the railway will be upgraded into a high-speed one that is nine times faster by the end of 2019. There are 10 stations on the 174-kilometer-long high-speed railway connecting the two cities, which will also be linked with the subway lines in Beijing, serving as a crucial traffic line for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. The station of Qinghe, the departure station of the high-speed railway, will be another comprehensive transport hub in Beijing when it is put into use. "We are using a lot of advanced equipments and technologies in the construction of the new high-speed railway, which I believe represents the rapid development of our country," said Li Ran, a member of the railway construction team. "The railway not only reflects the economic development and the progress in modern science and technology of China, but also witnesses the unyielding and striving spirit of the Chinese people," said Yang Cunxin, the head of Qinglongqiao station, where Zhan was buried. "A lot of people including university students visit here every spring in memory of Zhan," he added. The country's railway network hit 127,000 km in length at the end of 2017. China also helps build railway lines in foreign countries. China's high-speed railways exceed 25,000 kilometers and are expected to reach 30,000 by 2020, covering over 80 percent of cities with a population of more than 1 million. (Photo Editors: Wang Jianhua, Wang Haijing, Niu Xiaolei, Yu Yang, Lian Yi, Li Mangmang, Li Xiao; Video Editor: Ding Hongfa; Writer: Xuan Liqi) Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:07:49|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SANAA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels said they launched a new drone attack on Wednesday on "Saudi military aircrafts hangars" at Najran airport in the Saudi Arabia's border city of Najran, the group TV al-Masirah reported. It was the second attack on the airport in less than 24 hours. "The attack was carried out by bomb-laden Kasif-K2 drone and targeted the Saudi military aircrafts hangars at Najran airport," it said. There were no comments yet from the Saudi-led coalition on the Houthi fresh attack. On Tuesday, Saudi-led coalition's spokesman Turkie al-Maleki said a vital civilian facility in Najran was targeted with a drone carrying explosives. The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for Tuesday attack and said they targeted an arms depots at Najran airport and caused fire to break out in the facility. The coalition's spokesman vowed that there will be "a strong deterrence against the Houthi militias in accordance with the international humanitarian law," Saudi-owned Arabiya TV quoted al-Maleki as saying in a briefing on the Tuesday's drone attack. The attacks on Najran airport came after Saudi forces intercepted "ballistic missiles" above the Saudi western cities of Jeddah and Taif on Monday. Houthis have been targeting Saudi border cities since the beginning of the war in Yemen. Earlier this week, the Iran-allied Houthi rebels vowed to strike 300 vital military targets inside Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Houthi rebels said they would halt their attacks once the Saudi-led coalition halts its military operations inside Yemen. Last week, the Houthi drone attacks damaged two Saudi Aramco's oil pump stations and caused limited fire, according to Al Arabiya television. The Saudi-led coalition has been intervening in the civil war in Yemen since 2015 to support the Yemeni exiled government against the Houthi rebels who seized Yemen's northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:18:00|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close People attend a rally in Los Angeles, the United States, on May 21, 2019. Dozens of rallies were held Tuesday in southern California's major cities to denounce the growing number of states passing restrictive abortion laws and demand women's rights in the contentious abortion issue. (Xinhua/Li Ying) LOS ANGELES, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of rallies were held Tuesday in southern California's major cities to denounce the growing number of states passing restrictive abortion laws and demand women's rights in the contentious abortion issue. The largest local protest took place in the city of West Hollywood with a news conference and rally outside the city hall. Meanwhile, rallies were also held in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Van Nuys, Torrance, Huntington Beach and Irvine. West Hollywood claims to be the first city in the United States to declare itself pro-choice back in 1993. Tuesday's rallies were in response to the recent anti-abortion legislation in several conservative states, the most notable being Alabama. Last week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey approved the most stringent abortion law in the nation. "This is happening right now in our world, on our watch," West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore Lindsey Horvath told the demonstrators. "Now is the time for us to join the National Organization for Women, join Supermajority, find your tribe and fight this," said Karen Eyers, vice president of feminist organization Hollywood NOW. "Fight this, and let your legislators know that we will not stand for this, that it ends now," Eyers said. On Tuesday, the West Hollywood City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed resolutions vowing to refuse to do any business with states that have passed restrictive abortion laws. The Los Angeles Unified School District also considered a resolution condemning Alabama's abortion ban. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:18:02|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen state governors of Brazil on Tuesday published an open letter opposing a presidential decree to relax gun possession restrictions in the South American country. They said they believe relaxing gun control will not help curb violence in the country, but lead to even a higher level, while urging an immediate revocation of the decree issued earlier this month by President Jair Bolsonaro. At the same time, the governors called for government efforts towards "an effective and responsible policy for the control of arms and ammunition in the country." "The measures proposed by the decree will not contribute to making our states safer. On the contrary: they will have a negative impact on containing violence, increasing, for example, the amount of guns and ammunition to supply criminals and the risk that arguments and fights between ordinary citizens end up in tragedy," the governors said in the letter. The presidential decree allows a significant increase in the number of gun models available to ordinary citizens, and in the amount of bullets they can buy annually. Local media reports warned that the decree, with licensing purchase of even automatic rifles, would make easier the gun purchase by drug gangs as many of the young dealers do not have police records. The governors are not alone in questioning the presidential decree to ease gun laws. The decree's suspension has been appealed for by federal prosecutors' office, in addition to at least three lawsuits filed in the supreme court. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:18:07|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close by Peter Mertz DENVER, United States, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The biggest snowfall in 44 years didn't dampen the spirits of pro-choice protesters at a rally Tuesday at the Colorado State Capitol. A small but vocal crowd of 32 protesters chanted slogans and got hundreds of cars honking horns in approval, as the coat-wearing crowd braved record cold temperatures to demand women's rights in the contentious abortion issue. They joined thousands of protesters and more than 500 demonstrations staged Tuesday in all 50 states to support abortion rights following recent laws passed in several states to ban most abortions. "I'm not here for myself -- I'm not worried about getting pregnant," said Way Chen, 75, a retired Denver social worker. Chen, born in Kunming, China's Yunnan Province in 1944, told Xinhua that she was protesting because of a rash of legislation hitting state houses across the country meant to restrict a woman's right to an abortion. "MY BODY, MY CHOICE" "Barbaric, just barbaric," said Chen, whose parents were born near Shanghai. Chen was referring to the strictest abortion law in the America, which has been passed last week in Alabama and makes abortion illegal in virtually all cases, including rape and incest, and across the south, similar draconian measures are on the table. "If a child in Alabama is the victim of rape or incest and is forced to have a child ... that's barbaric," she told Xinhua. On May 7, Georgia joined Mississippi and Ohio to enact a so-called "heartbeat law," meaning virtually all abortions are illegal once a heartbeat is detected, and more states, including Missouri and Louisiana, may follow suit. The new Alabama law, that has been assailed by liberals and feminists in the American social media, says doctors who perform an abortion could face up to 99 years in prison, a similar term for rapists and murderers. Abortion rights activists say these kinds of restrictive laws are an attack on Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in America. "Several states have been passing abortion bans and I'm concerned it will lead to Roe v. Wade being overturned," said Janara Nerone, an environmental educator. Nerone was standing outside Colorado's gold-domed 1894 state capitol building wearing a green coat, as morning temperatures slowly climbed above freezing. She was holding a large sign that said "My Body, my Choice." "The issue comes down to the simple fact that women are human beings, and we deserve to have bodily autonomy," she told Xinhua. In the United States, typically, conservatives, Republicans and religious groups dominate the anti-abortion voice, while liberals, Democrats and especially feminists champion a woman's choice to choose her form of birth control and the pro-choice movement. "We are concerned that these cases, once they are challenged legally, will end up in the Supreme Court of the United States, which is now very conservative and Republican," Chen said. Thanks to Republican U.S. President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominees -- Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh -- the highest court in the United States now has an anti-abortion majority. MORE COLORADO FLURRIES Also on Tuesday, Colorado joined 19 states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit filed in Manhattan to stop a new rule that allows health care clinics to deny abortions and other services to patients based on moral or religious beliefs. "A patient's access to quality, affordable healthcare should not be driven by the personal beliefs or the discriminatory practices of one individual or organization," Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat from Boulder, said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. "Colorado providers should not be forced to choose between giving effective and efficient patient care or risking the loss of more than 6 billion U.S. dollars in federal funds that they rely on to provide that care." The lawsuit was filed to block the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rule, which is scheduled to take effect in 40 days. Hospitals, universities, clinics and other entities that receive federal funding would have to comply with 25 new HSS laws that protect conscience and religious rights, including abortion, sterilization and assisted suicide. "This refusal of care rule threatens to cause incredible mischief. It is wrong, unnecessary, and threatens to do real harm," Weiser said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:23:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close VIENNA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen has assured people of the country on Tuesday that "we will get through this," following a collapse of the coalition government. "Austria is just not like this," he said of the ongoing drama in a televised address about a recent corruption scandal, which has led to the collapse of the coalition government. The affair began on Friday evening when German media released secret video footage dating back to 2017, which appears to show now-former Vice-Chancellor and leader of the right-wing populist Freedom Party Heinz-Christian Strache proposing government contracts to representatives of a Russian oligarch in exchange for political aid during a meeting on the resort island of Ibiza. Strache resigned from all posts shortly after. In the wake of the scandal, Interior Minister Herbert Kickl was dismissed by Van der Bellen at the request of Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, leader of the conservative People's Party in the coalition government, which lead to resignations of the remaining Freedom Party ministers. Van der Bellen said in his address that politicians should not all be seen in the same light, even though he understands that many people think "they are all the same." They were chosen by the people to serve their country, and must be able to decide "what is proper and what is not," he said. He also urged the various political parties not to use the current situation for campaigning, saying it is "not the time." Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:23:13|Editor: zh Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The 2019 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), set to open on May 28 in Beijing, will inject new energy into the world economy and global service trade development. "The fair will upgrade the level of global service trade development," said Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Bingnan Wednesday during a press conference on the fair. A total of 130 countries and regions, and 21 international organizations are confirmed to participate in the event, said Wang Hong, vice mayor of Beijing. Among the delegations, 98 come from the Belt and Road Initiative partner countries. A series of themed activities will be held during the fair, including forums on service trade cooperation. The fair will run from May 28 to June 1, with exhibitions covering an area of 150,000 square meters. Thailand will be the guest of honor at the fair. China's service trade continued to maintain the trend of stable and sound development with its total service trade rising 2.6 percent to 1.29 trillion yuan (about 191 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter of 2019. In the first quarter, the share of service trade in the country's total foreign trade stood at 15.6 percent, 1 percentage point higher than the share for the whole of 2018. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:28:15|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Tuesday the establishment of a task force in Oakland city to tackle homelessness and a housing crisis in Northern California, the KPIX5 TV outlet reported. The new Homeless and Supportive Housing Advisory Task Force, co-chaired by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, will help guide local governments in their process of drafting plans to address homelessness that has troubled Bay Area cities for years. Newsom launched the task force at the Henry Robinson Multi-Service Center, a transitional housing facility in downtown Oakland, which shelters about 160 homeless people for about half a year before they get permanent housing. "Homelessness is a matter of statewide concern, but solutions will come from the local level," Newsom said. In a revised budget plan released earlier this month, 1 billion U.S. dollars was earmarked for homelessness programs to help get the homeless people off the streets, according to the San Francisco Chronicle daily. Newsom hoped the task force will accumulate successful experience from local governments, so that their efforts to combat homelessness could be applied statewide. Last week, a federal count showed that the homeless population in San Francisco has increased by 17 percent over the past two years to hit 8,011 people in 2019, while the number of those living on the streets rose by 31 percent to 9,700 this year in Santa Clara County in Silicon Valley. In Alameda County, which includes the city of Oakland, more than 8,000 people were counted as homeless, a 43-percent increase over the past two years. A new poll issued Tuesday found that one in five residents in the Bay Area listed the problem of homelessness as one of their top concerns that affected their confidence in the future of the region which they called their home. About half of the residents are considering leaving the Bay Area in the next few years, up from 34 percent just three years ago, due to a number of worrisome factors including high cost of living, homelessness, bigger housing pressures, and worsening traffic, said the poll conducted online. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:38:23|Editor: zh Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts have called for prudence and coordination in protecting and developing the heritage of the Grand Canal, the world's longest man-made waterway. According to a plan issued in February by the general offices of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, a cultural belt will be built along the canal's existing main river course and those used in recent history. Wu Xiaohua, deputy head of the team that compiled the plan, said implementation should be firmly based on the concept of respecting, complying with and protecting nature. "Efforts should be made to gradually improve water conditions of the river course after a long-term pre-phase deliberation. We must make coordinated efforts to avoid drastically changing the current water and navigation capabilities," said Wu, also deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research. He also called for strict control on industries and industrial capacities that have negative environmental impacts along the Grand Canal. "We should also promote the integrated development of culture and tourism based on the canal's unique cultural and tourist resources and its well-developed water and land transportation," Wu said. Fan Zhou, director of the Culture Development Institute of the Communication University of China, said promoting culture and tourism should focus on the uniqueness of the canal culture while offering more diversified and tailored tourist services and improving infrastructure. A smooth mechanism for coordination is also key to the work, said Wu, urging to step up coordination at the national level and establish a multi-regional and multi-sectoral coordinating mechanism. The eight provinces and municipalities along the canal are among the most economically developed and urbanized areas of China. Accounting for less than 10 percent of the national total land area, they held over one-third of the country's overall population and contributed nearly 45 percent to China's economy in 2017. The Grand Canal is almost 3,200 km long in total, including the one stretching from Beijing to Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. It has a history of more than 2,500 years. Over 1,000 km of the canal was recognized as a world heritage site in 2014. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:43:31|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TOKYO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Japan booked a goods trade surplus in April from a year earlier of 60.4 billion yen (546 million U.S. dollars), owing to falling exports amid ongoing global trade issues, the government said in a report Wednesday. According to the Finance Ministry's preliminary data, while the reading marked the third straight month of black ink, the surplus tumbled 90.3 percent in the recording month from a year earlier. The ministry said exports had dropped for a fifth straight month to 6.66 trillion yen (60.32 billion U.S. dollars), falling 2.4 percent, while imports had increased by 6.4 percent to 6.60 trillion yen (59.78 billion U.S. dollars) in the recording period. Exports to China, Japan's largest trading partner, fell 6.3 percent on year, the ministry said, marking a second straight month of decline, while imports jumped 5.9 percent, which equates to a 318.3 billion yen (2.88 billion U.S. dollars) deficit with the world's second-largest economy. Japan logged a surplus of 3.4 billion yen (30.78 million U.S. dollars) with the European Union, the ministry said, but saw its surplus to Asian countries including China retreat 36.8 percent to 450.1 billion yen (4.07 billion U.S. dollars) in the recording period. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 16:53:40|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Wednesday launched a nationwide campaign to promote workplace health and safety, authorities said. The campaign called "safe workplaces" is co-organized by the National Police Agency (NPA) and the State Professional Inspection Agency, "with the aim of improving occupational health and safety," Buyant Baatarkhuu, head of the press office of the NPA, said at a press conference. During the month-long campaign, the organizers will provide people with information about the importance of following safety procedures in workplaces through both traditional and social media, and give lectures on how to prevent workplace hazards. There were 947 workplace health and safety cases reported across the country over the past three years, causing 88 deaths, according to the NPA. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 17:19:01|Editor: zh Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presides over a work symposium on the rise of the central region and delivers a speech in Nanchang, May 21, 2019, during his inspection tour of Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) NANCHANG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has required efforts to enhance the comprehensive strength and competitiveness of the country's central region and to make new advances in the rise of the central region. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of Jiangxi Province from Monday to Wednesday. During the inspection, Xi presided over a work symposium on the rise of the central region and delivered a speech. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 17:49:21|Editor: zh Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The United States and China should solve their problems through engagement rather than confrontation, said a U.S. expert. Progress has been made in the U.S.-China relationship through engagement at all levels, but this is sometimes "missing or misunderstood in the conversation on U.S.-China relations," said Andy Rothman, an investment strategist at San Francisco-based investment firm Matthews Asia. "That reflects the way to solve the remaining problems through engagement, rather than starting a Cold War-like confrontational relationship," he told a panel discussion at a seminar held in downtown San Francisco on Monday. The event, titled "Untangling the U.S.-China Narrative: Technology, Trade, and Tensions," touched upon a wide range of issues concerning the U.S.-China relationship. It was co-organized by Asia Society Northern California and the Committee of 100, a non-profit U.S. organization of prominent Chinese Americans. Rothman said his experience of traveling around the United States and speaking to various groups told him that the "anti-China sentiment that we see in Washington doesn't seem to be present in most of the rest of the country." Trying to prevent China from rising economically, strategically and politically and from sharing the world stage with the United States is "something that seems to me to be really difficult to accomplish and probably counterproductive for us," he said. Rothman, who has lived and worked in China for more than 20 years, also reminded the panel of China's development over the years. "If they made no changes at all, how is it that GM is selling almost 4 million cars a year in China, more than they sell in the United States?" asked Rothman. "Last year, Cadillac sales were up 30 percent -- the first time ever Cadillac sold more cars in China than in the United States," he added. Rothman also warned of possible risks of "racism" and "xenophobia" which may drive the United States into "the dark parts of our society." The "dark parts" include those that were responsible for the Chinese Exclusion Act in the late 1800s and the executive order in 1942 which resulted in the incarceration of Italian Americans, German Americans and Japanese Americans, he explained. "I think we need to push back hard on people who are either deliberately or accidentally talking about the problem of U.S.-China relationship in a way that's tinged with racism and xenophobia," said Rothman. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 18:04:32|Editor: zh Video Player Close COLOMBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan Police have identified all the nine suicide bombers who carried out attacks in several places across Sri Lanka on April 21 killing over 250 people and injuring over 500, the police media unit said here Wednesday. Police Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara said the identities of all the suicide bombers had been identified through DNA tests and these tests had proven that Mohamed Zahran, who was the leader of the radical National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ), was one of the bombers killed in the explosions. The NTJ has been blamed for the terror attacks which targeted three luxury hotels and three churches. Gunasekara said at least 89 suspects have been arrested over their alleged links to the attacks and the suspects were currently under the custody of the Criminal Investigations Department and the Terrorism Investigations Department. He added search operations were ongoing across the country to hunt for more suspects who would be linked to the explosions but assured that most of those involved had now been arrested. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 18:14:46|Editor: zh Video Player Close MANILA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on Wednesday that it has signed an agreement to provide 750 million U.S. dollars equivalent in Indian rupees in long-term financing to fund a railway track electrification project in India. The financing to Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) will be used to fund the Railways Track Electrification Project, as part of a broad modernization program that will help India's railway sector transition to electric power and away from dependence on fossil fuels, the Manila-based bank said. ADB said the financing is the largest single non-sovereign loan ever committed by the bank. IRFC, an entity owned by the Indian government, will use the proceeds from the loan to install electric traction equipment along approximately 3,378 km of existing railway lines, which will enable the migration of passenger and freight traffic from diesel to electric traction, ADB said. It added the electrification assets will be leased to Indian Railways, the country's national railway system, under a long-term lease agreement. "This is a flagship project demonstrating ADB's strategy of supporting key state-owned enterprises in strategic sectors," ADB Vice-President for Private Sector Operations and Public-Private Partnerships Diwakar Gupta said. IRFC was set up in 1986 as the financing arm of Indian Railways for mobilizing funds from domestic and international capital markets. It is fully owned by the government and is registered as a non-banking finance company. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 18:24:57|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Two Chinese tourists had died in a car crash in northwestern Cambodia's Banteay Meanchey province, a local traffic police chief said on Wednesday. The victims were identified as a 28-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, said Suth Hour, chief of O'chrov district traffic police office, adding that the man was from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the woman from Guangdong province. The fatal accident took place on National Road No. 5 in O'chrov district on Tuesday at 5:10 p.m. local time when the speedy taxi carrying the two Chinese overtook a car and accidentally collided with a truck, he said. "The two Chinese passengers were killed instantly during the crash and the taxi's driver, who was a Cambodian, died on the way to hospital," Hour told Xinhua via telephone. He said the two Chinese took the taxi from the Siem Reap International Airport in northwestern Siem Reap province to Poipet town in Banteay Meanchey province when they met the accident. Death toll from road traffic accidents remains high in Cambodia. In 2018, a total of 1,761 people were killed, as 4,771 others were injured in road crashes across the country, according to a government report. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 18:30:00|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close COLOMBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's black and green tea exports to China has risen sharply so far this year with Chinese youth acquiring a taste for Sri Lanka's popular Ceylon tea, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Lucille Wijewardena said here Wednesday. In an interview with local media EconomyNext, Wijewardena said that in the first quarter of this year, almost 2.8 million kg of Ceylon tea were exported to China, up 210,300 kg or 8.2 percent from a year ago. "These numbers are huge. And this is a great opportunity for our industry as we are now open to a market with the highest population in the world," Wijewardena said. Wijewardena attributed the surge in tea exports to China mainly to Chinese youth developing a liking for consuming black tea with milk. China was the seventh highest export market for "Ceylon tea" in March this year, ahead of other key markets like Syria, Germany and Japan. He added that Sri Lankan tea carries a premium quality image, which attracts higher demand and global recognition. Sri Lanka's Plantation Industries Minister Navin Dissanayake said in February that a mega global campaign would be launched this year to promote Ceylon Tea in order to boost the island's tea exports. The global campaign will first start off in China and then in Russia, Germany, Ukraine and Japan. Sri Lanka earned an estimated 1.43 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 through its tea exports. Dissanayake said that with a better year expected for the tea industry, the government was targeting a revenue of 1.60 billion U.S. dollars from its tea exports in 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 18:45:07|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close GHAZNI, Afghanistan, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Casualties were feared after a car bomb blast rocked outside an army camp in Afghanistan's eastern province of Ghazni on Wednesday, a local government spokesman confirmed. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 18:45:09|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Completely and effectively implementing the nuclear agreement is the only realistic and effective way to resolve the Iran nuclear issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Wednesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the situation in Iran and they stressed the importance of the Iran nuclear agreement. In response, spokesperson Lu Kang said all parties related to the Iran nuclear deal had maintained close communication and consultation for some time, and all stressed firm commitment to safeguard and implement the agreement. Ensuring the complete and effective implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement is not only a requirement of the UN Security Council resolution, but also the only realistic and effective way to ease tension and solve the Iran nuclear issue, Lu said. "China will work with relevant parties to continue making efforts for that goal and meanwhile firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 18:50:15|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MANILA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the "immediate" shipment of tons of Canadian garbage back to Canada even if Manila has to pay the cost of the shipment, Duterte's spokesperson said on Wednesday. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said at a news conference that Duterte is "outraged" by Canada's inaction in collecting the tons of waste that Canada illegally shipped to the Philippines from 2013 to 2014. "President Duterte is upset about the inordinate delay of Canada in shipping back its containers of garbage. We are extremely disappointed with Canada's neither here nor there pronouncement on the matter," Panelo told reporters. "Canada is not taking this issue nor our country seriously," he said. "The Filipino people are gravely insulted about Canada treating this country as a dump site." "As a result of this offending delay, the president has instructed the appropriate office to look for a private shipping company which will bring back Canada's trash to the latter's jurisdiction," he said. "If Canada will not accept their trash, we will leave the same within its territorial waters or 12 nautical miles out to sea from the baseline of any of their country's shores," he added. The trash dispute between the Philippines and Canada escalated last week when the Philippines decided to recall its ambassador and consuls general in the Northern American country after Ottawa missed the May 15 deadline imposed by Manila to collect the garbage. The Canadian garbage has been sitting in the Philippines for about six years. In 2013 and 2014, a private Canadian firm exported 103 shipping containers of garbage to the Philippines. Thirty-four of the containers were already disposed of while 69 are now quarantined in ports in Manila and Subic Freeport north of Manila. The Philippine Bureau of Customs (BOC) found the containers were consisting of household trash, plastic bottles and bags, newspapers, and used adult diapers, according to local media reports. The Philippines has been urging Canada to collect its waste since 2014. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 18:55:21|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close An Afghan man stands beside a damaged shop at the site of a car bomb blast in Ghazni, Afghanistan, May 22, 2019. Two police officers and an assailant were killed and 15 people wounded after a car bomb blast near an army camp in Afghanistan's eastern province of Ghazni on Wednesday, a local official confirmed. (Xinhua/Rohullah) GHAZNI, Afghanistan, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Two police officers and an assailant were killed and 15 people wounded after a car bomb blast near an army camp in Afghanistan's eastern province of Ghazni on Wednesday, a local official confirmed. "The explosion occurred roughly at 01:50 p.m. local time along a main road on outskirts of provincial capital Ghazni city," spokesman Harif Noori told Xinhua. "A militant driving a car bomb tried to enter Ghazni city but security forces intercepted the car. The vehicle exploded after security forces fired on it, leaving the casualties," Ramazan Ali Mohsini, deputy provincial police chief, told Xinhua. The injured included 10 civilians and five police officers, he said. Rescue teams, police and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the wounded to the hospitals. Witnesses said the militant used a hijacked armored military vehicle in the attack. The blast is the latest in a string of bombings that have targeted dozens of military and security compounds across the country. Taliban militant group routinely claims responsibility for attacks. The Taliban-led insurgency has been rampant since early April when the militant group launched its annual rebel offensive in different places of the country, which had claimed hundreds of lives including militants, security personnel and civilians. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:00:23|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close TIANJIN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Foreign trade via the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin rose 7.8 percent year-on-year in the first four months of the year on stronger imports. The trade value reached 441.6 billion yuan (63.9 billion U.S. dollars) in the January-April period, said the Tianjin Customs. Exports edged up 2.1 percent year-on-year to 207.1 billion yuan while imports grew 13.4 percent to 234.5 billion yuan, customs authorities said. Foreign trade in April alone grew at a stronger annual pace of 14.2 percent to 118.2 billion yuan. The top three export products were steel, agricultural and textile products while the top three imports products are automobiles, agricultural products and crude oil. Natural gas and crude oil drove up import growth by 5.6 percentage points. In the four months, the imports of natural gas totaled 3.1 million tonnes, up 110 percent year-on-year, while its import value grew 170 percent to 12.5 billion yuan. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:15:30|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MOGADISHU, May 22 (Xinhua) -- At least four people were killed and 12 others injured in a car bomb attack in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Wednesday morning, police and medical sources said. A police officer who declined to be named told Xinhua that a car filled with explosives went off as police were checking vehicles in Mogadishu's Bondhere District, causing deaths and injuries. "The blast happened in a traffic area at a police checkpoint, so far we can confirm four people died in the explosion. We are establishing more details on the incident," the officer said. Independent sources said among the dead included a Somali military officer and her bodyguards while a lawmaker was among those injured in the blast. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan, director of Mogadishu's free ambulance service Aamin Ambulance, said that they had taken 12 injured people from the scene. The blast came barely four days after a car laden with explosives went off at El-Gabta junction in Mogadishu's Hamarweyne District leaving no casualties. Al-Qaida-allied group al-Shabab, which is fighting to overthrow the government, claimed responsibility of the latest attack. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:25:34|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese Interior Minister Raya el Hassan said Wednesday that a new security system funded by the European Union (EU) will soon be operated in Beirut's airport, local media reported. "The new system will allow the airport's staff to inspect travelers' luggage in a faster and securer way, and check passports more quickly, in order to enable a smooth flow of passengers," Hassan was quoted as saying by Elnashra, an online independent newspaper. The EU has offered Lebanon last year a funding of 3.5 million euros (3.9 million U.S. dollars) aimed at securing Beirut-Rafic Hariri International Airport (RHIA) against illicit trafficking and the threat of terrorism. It will also provide training for relevant agencies working at the airport under civilian authority, and allow for the improvements of existing security infrastructures. Lebanese Finance Ministry approved last year 18 million U.S. dollars in funding for the expansion of the RHIA. The funding came after a steady increase in passenger number in the airport since 2008, according to a study released by the airport's Research and Studies Department in March 2018. The study predicted that as many as 10 million passengers would travel via the airport by 2020. Beirut's new airport will be opened in June 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:30:40|Editor: Xiang Bo Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday urged the United States to heed the "reasonable call" from within after more than 170 footwear companies in the U.S. warned of the "catastrophic" effects of proposed tariff hikes against Chinese goods. In a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, the footwear manufacturers and retailers including big names such as Adidas, Nike and PUMA said a new round of tariff hikes on footwear imported from China will have "catastrophic" effects on consumers, companies and the U.S. economy. There should be no misunderstanding that U.S. consumers pay for tariffs, and companies cannot simply move factories out of China, the letter reportedly said. "As a matter of fact, it's not the first time U.S. businesses publicly voiced opposition to tariff hikes," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press briefing, adding it's understandable that they are not satisfied with U.S. government's arbitrary interpretation of the consequences of the trade war. There is no winner in a trade war, as stated by the Chinese side many times, Lu said. "The wantonly used tariff hikes will ultimately victimize U.S. consumers and enterprises." "We urge the U.S. side to pay serious heed to the reasonable call from within its own country," the spokesperson added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:35:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BISHKEK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) today has taken place as a unique international association for interaction and the development of mechanisms for cooperation in various fields, Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov said Wednesday. Jeenbekov made the remarks during a meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers, attended by foreign ministers of SCO member states, according to the president's press service. "This is not just a declaration, but a real principle of mutual trust, equality and respect. The Kyrgyz side considers multilateral cooperation within the framework of the SCO as one of the priority areas of foreign policy," Jeenbekov said. The president vowed to "further strengthen cooperation in the political sphere, increase security, and intensify the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian component of the SCO." During its rotating presidency of the SCO, Kyrgyzstan focused on the development of the practical component of the partnership, including spheres of politics, economics, security, cultural and humanitarian ties, as well as promotion of inter-parliamentary cooperation, said Jeenbekov. He added that the objectives of the SCO Qingdao Summit last year are "systematically implemented." The ministers also expressed confidence that the upcoming Bishkek Summit would strengthen the interaction of the countries and give new impetus to multilateral cooperation in all spheres. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:35:48|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JERUSALEM, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday that he would postpone in three months the hearing on the three investigation cases against him, which was set for July. In a letter to Netanyahu's lawyers, the attorney general stated that the hearing would be held on October 2 and 3, and that if necessary, another hearing would be scheduled for the following week. Netanyahu had asked to schedule the hearing after May 14, 2020, that is, a year's delay from the day he applied for a postponement, but Mandelblit refused. Mandelblit clarified in his letter that the postponement given to Netanyahu beyond the original three months that were given for this purpose exceeds the time frame prescribed in the regulations. "There is no justification for the hearing to be set for another year, which will harm the vital public interest in making a decision in the case as soon as possible, and in the circumstances of the matter there is no substantive justification," Mandelblit wrote. Last February, Mandelblit announced the filing of indictments subject to a hearing against Netanyahu in three cases, called "Case 1000," "Case 2000" and "Case 4000." Netanyahu is expected to be charged with fraud and breach of trust in all three cases, as well as with bribery in case 4000. In case 1000, Netanyahu and his family allegedly received expensive cigars, champagne, and jewelry worth about 1 million new shekels (about 277,000 U.S. dollars) from Arnon Milchan, an Israeli businessman and Hollywood tycoon, between 2007 and 2016. In case 2000, Netanyahu is suspected of conducting negotiations with the publisher of the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Arnon Mozes, for positive coverage in exchange for limiting the power of the rival newspaper "Israel Hayom," owned by Netanyahu's close friend, U.S. billionaire Sheldon Adelson. In case 4000, the Israeli prime minister is suspected of granting benefits to Shaul Elovitch, former control-holder of Bezeq, Israel's largest telecom company, in exchange for positive coverage on Bezeq's "Walla" news website. Netanyahu denies all the suspicions against him and claims that this is an attempt to oust him from the position of prime minister. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:40:51|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NEW DELHI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- An Indian army trooper was killed and two others wounded Wednesday in a blast during a training activity in restive Indian-controlled Kashmir, officials said. The blast took place inside an army post at Mendhar sector of frontier Poonch district, about 180 km southwest of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "Today in the morning during a training activity on a military post here three troopers were wounded, one of them critically, during a blast," a senior army official said. "Later on the critically wounded trooper succumbed to his wounds." According to the official the two wounded troopers were immediately removed to the nearest military hospital. Officials said the blast was "accidental" in nature and occurred due to mishandling. Indian-controlled Kashmir is considered as one of the highest militarized regions in the world. A guerilla war is also going on between militants and the Indian troops stationed in the region since 1989. Gunfight between militants and stationed Indian troops takes place intermittently. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:40:53|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LOS ANGELES, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Tariffs and economic uncertainties triggered by U.S. trade policies are causing headwinds against foreign investment in Southern California, said head of an international trade promotion organization. "Some of the trade policies are influencing decision-makers around the world," Stephen Cheung, president of World Trade Center Los Angeles, was quoted on Monday by local newspaper Orange County Register as saying. On the recent trade disputes between the United States and China, he said tariffs impact the flow of goods between nations, and thus reduce business and investment opportunities. "With the U.S.-China impact there is a direct correlation. It's nothing new ... but it has shaken the confidence of both manufacturers and investors," he added. Cheung's remarks was echoed by Brenda Xu, a corporate attorney of Squire Patton Boggs Los Angeles Office, a global law firm that has represented clients in U.S.-China cross-border deals for more than two decades. "In 2019, the rate of major acquisitions and investments has slowed down a bit, especially with respect to investments from China into the United States," Xu told Xinhua on Tuesday. "This may be partially attributed to trade tensions and uncertainties over markets," Xu added. Cheung also noted that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which is intended to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, has not been approved by Congress although it was signed by all the three governments last year. "Some companies don't know if there will be a tariff with Mexico and this is going to be dragged into the political climate for the 2020 presidential race," he said. "There won't be a lot of support from either side because it will become a scapegoat for domestic turmoil. It's easy to point to international trade as the culprit," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:40:54|Editor: zh Video Player Close CHONGQING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Li Yinhua has collected a box of 567 train and bus tickets over the past 10 years, traveling a total distance of more than 80,000 km, even though she is not a collector, nor obsessed with traveling. The tickets outlined the trails of Li's dedicated love and support to her husband Lyu Junfei, a serviceman, as well as his serving the nation, despite the long distances between them. Earlier this year, Li was honored by the Chongqing Corps of the armed police force as one of the "Top Ten Servicemen's Wives." LONG DISTANCE LOVE The couple fell in love when they were both students at Yunnan University in the southwestern city of Kunming. After graduation, Lyu joined the Chinese People's Armed Police Force in Chongqing, while Li stayed behind and went on with a graduate program. Being a girlfriend or wife of a serviceman is never easy, because in many cases it means a long distance relationship as servicemen are often stationed away from home and don't have much time for the families. "Now that you cannot come to see me, I will go wherever you are," Li told her boyfriend. From then, she embarked upon a journey of "collecting tickets." The first ticket in her "collection" was for a trip during the National Day holiday in 2009, when she took a train to the eastern city of Hefei where Lyu was undergoing a training. However, their reunion only lasted less than half an hour before Lyu had to go back, leaving her alone in heavy rain. After Lyu started serving in Qianjiang, southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Li got adapted to bearing a 26-hour journey for seeing her love. She collected a total of 57 tickets during this period of distance love. When she finished her graduate study, she declined high-salary job offers and chose to settle down near Lyu's units in Chongqing, working there as a judge assistant. The couple got married on Jan. 4, 2013, a romantic date that sounds like "Ai Ni Yi Sheng Yi Shi" in Chinese (literally "love you all my life" in English). DEDICATED SUPPORT The first 57 tickets saw Li build a family with an armed police soldier, while the remaining 510 tickets told how she became a strong support for her husband and family. Not long after their son was born in April 2014, Lyu got a promotion. He became too busy to lend Li a hand to take care of the family. The news that Li's father was diagnosed with cancer added fuel to the fire. "No matter how hard it is, I must bear it and pull through," Li said. She struggled to strike a tough balance between her job and the family, all on her own, hoping to let her husband stay focused on his work. Catching the first bus in the early morning with her little son still asleep on her back, and rushing to the hospital to care for her father became her daily routine. With a packed schedule, she collected another nearly 500 bus fares marking her commute between home, workplace and hospital every day. The rest of the tickets in the collection had different destinations, far or near, where Li voluntarily managed to solve problems for other servicemen, such as organizing donations for soldiers with financial difficulties, settling disputes or even helping a soldier repair a broken relationship. "My husband guards our country and I guard my family. It is worthwhile to sacrifice myself so he can concentrate on his work," she said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 19:56:11|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Demonstrators are seen during a clash in Petamburan, Jakarta, Indonesia, May 22, 2019. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said on Wednesday the clashes between police and demonstrators that occurred around 5 hours from midnight until morning has killed 6 persons, injured around 200 others. The clashes between police and protesters who rejected results of presidential election occurred in several spots in downtown central Jakarta area, near the election supervisory body (Bawaslu) building. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.) Photo taken on March 26, 2019 shows road equipment during their inspection in Juba, capital of South Sudan. South Sudan has reached an agreement with Chinese firm Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co. Ltd to embark on construction of major highways linking the capital Juba to the remote countryside. (Xinhua/Denis Elamu) JUBA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan has vowed to strengthen cooperation on infrastructural development with China to speed up transformation of the country following five years of turmoil. Rebecca Joshua Okwaci, minister of roads and bridges, said Tuesday that China has provided strong support for South Sudan's peace and stability, including the country's national development, adding that Chinese engineers are currently helping the ministry to build the capacity of staff and construction personnel. "With the advancement of South Sudan's peace process, South Sudan and China will strengthen cooperation in infrastructure construction and personnel training," Okwaci said in Juba. Okwaci, meeting Chinese ambassador to South Sudan, Hua Ning, said her government will further improve the business environment and continue to provide safety to Chinese constructors across the country. Infrastructure cooperation will speed up reconstruction and enhance resilience of local communities to shocks, the minister said. Hua, for his part, said infrastructure construction is an important foundation that will spur South Sudan's future development, and that the road and bridge construction is a manifestation bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative. "China will work with South Sudan to deepen the friendly cooperation in the field of infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable development, so as to benefit the South Sudanese people," Hua said. In March, South Sudan reached an agreement with Chinese firm Shandong Hi-Speed Group Co., Ltd to embark on the construction of major highways linking the capital Juba to remote parts of the country. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 20:06:16|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BANGKOK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is set to pick a House speaker and two deputy House speakers in secret fashion on Saturday, which will be followed by the voting of a prime minister next week. House of Representatives Secretary General Sorasak Phianvej confirmed on Wednesday that MPs will cast votes in secret fashion for the House speaker and two deputy House speakers on Saturday, following Friday's state ceremony for the opening of the first parliamentary session. Each MP will cast a secret vote by writing the name of a candidate for House speaker on a piece of paper and put it in an envelope with a sealed flap which will be dropped into a box for an ad hoc committee to count the votes, according to Sorasak. Being the most senior lawmaker, the Bhumjaithai (proud Thais) Party's MP Chai Chidchob will act as a temporary House speaker during the time-consuming selection process for the House speaker, he said. The following selection for the deputy House speakers will be the same as that for the House speaker. A Senate speaker and two deputy Senate speakers will be picked on Friday, hours after the state ceremony for the opening of the first parliamentary session has been finished. However, no competition for the posts of Senate speaker and deputy Senate speakers is expected among all senators handpicked by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The 498 MPs and 250 senators will attend a joint parliamentary meeting to vote in open fashion for a post-election prime minister in the following week, the exact date of which is to be scheduled by the House speaker. Each MP and senator will vote in open fashion by saying the name of a candidate for prime minister on a roll call basis which will take several hours. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 20:16:26|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NICOSIA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Six new F-35B Lightning stealth aircraft arrived at the Royal Air Force base at Akrotiri in the south of Cyprus on Tuesday afternoon to take part in familiarization exercises, the English language Cyprus Mail newspaper reported on Wednesday. The paper cited Group Captain Ian Townsend, commander of the RAF Marham Station in Britain, from where the planes flew off, as saying that this was the first overseas deployment of the F-35 jets. Townsend was quoted as saying that "the exercise in Akrotiri will prove our ability to operate F-35 away from RAF Marham and allow us to learn the lessons of operating the air system whilst on deployment." According to a previous announcement by the UK's Ministry of Defence, the F-35 jets will eventually replace a squadron of eight Tornados, which were withdrawn from service after several years of operation in support of NATO interventions in Libya, Syria and Iraq. The base at Akrotiri also provided logistics support for NATO operations in Afghanistan. The British Ministry of Defence said that the exercise will also examine all aspects of moving these aircraft to a new location, including logistics, maintenance and sustainment of equipment and crew, while also enhancing preparedness for first operational carrier deployment. The F-35B Lightning planes combine radar-evading stealth technology with supersonic speeds and the ability to conduct short take-offs and vertical landings. The United Kingdom retained two bases on Cyprus when it granted independence to the eastern Mediterranean island after a century of British rule. Both of these bases are on the southern shores of Cyprus, one near the city of Larnaca and the other at Akrotiri, next to the port city of Limassol. The Akrotiri base is considered to be the most important, serving both as an air base and as a communications and surveillance center, equipped with powerful radar and monitoring installations. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 20:21:28|Editor: zh Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Washington last week declared a national emergency over what it claimed are technological threats, and announced restrictions on sale and transfer of American technologies to China's Huawei. The telecom company has long been accused by the United States of being able to use its network equipment to spy on foreign nations for the Chinese government. However, "no intelligence service has published clear evidence that Huawei inserted 'backdoors' for Chinese authorities to access the data that passes through its networks," according to a December 2018 article by U.S. media Politico. Given the lack of proof that Huawei threatens U.S. security, last week's twin moves by Washington -- the use of state apparatus to oppress a company -- are a reflection of nothing but bullying. The smearing campaign against Huawei aside, the United States has also been trying to rally Europe to abandon Huawei products, citing security threats. It was not welcome. "Europe must not be dragged into the trade dispute between China and the United States," Germany's powerful BDI industrial lobby group was quoted by media reports as saying in a statement on Thursday. France too refused to take orders from the United States. "Our perspective is not to block Huawei or any company," President Emmanuel Macron told the VivaTech conference in Paris on Thursday. Launching a tech war or a trade war against any country is not appropriate, nor is it the best way to defend national security, Macron said. The ban on the supply of U.S.-made chips to Huawei is a lose-lose in any sense, as it poses a threat to Huawei's viability and U.S. companies also pay the price. Out of the total of 70 billion U.S. dollars Huawei spent on buying components in 2018, some 11 billion dollars went to U.S. companies, the Reuters reported Friday. "The ban will financially harm the thousands of Americans employed by the U.S. companies that do business with Huawei," said Catherine Chen, a Director of the Board at Huawei, in a The New York Times article on Friday. "A total ban on Huawei equipment could eliminate tens of thousands of American jobs." Although Huawei does not do much business in the United States, the company is the sole provider of networking equipment to many rural American internet providers, according to a CNN article on Tuesday. "Those companies have said it will take time -- or may be impossible -- to replace their Huawei technology with a rival's," it added. As a move to ease the repercussion of the ban, the U.S. Department of Commerce on Monday issued a 90-day temporary license loosening restrictions on business deals with Huawei. Huawei doesn't intend to isolate itself from others, but wants to make as many friends as possible, its founder Ren Zhengfei told Chinese media on Tuesday when asked why Huawei didn't use substitutes before the United States took the latest aggressive measures. "We don't want to do harm to friends," he said. "We want to help them achieve good balance sheets. Even if we make adjustments, we still ought to render help." The spirit of openness is what helped the United States develop. However, Washington's restrictions on Huawei, based on unfounded allegations and political speculations, fall foul of the golden rules it once embraced. For Washington to win in an era of cooperation and inter-dependence, it would be better to revive the spirit of openness. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 20:36:45|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close HANOI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Southern An Giang province has been stricken by African swine fever (ASF), becoming the 37th locality of Vietnam affected by the animal disease, Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday. Fifty-two pigs raised by a household in An Giang's Long Xuyen city have contracted the ASF virus, the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said, noting that all the infected pigs have been culled. An Giang has established eight temporary quarantine checkpoints on major roads and two others on two rivers to monitor the transport of poultry and cattle, especially pigs. About 1.5 million pigs or 5 percent of Vietnam's pig herds nationwide have been culled since the first case of ASF was detected in northern Hung Yen province on Feb. 1, local newspaper Vietnam News on Monday quoted Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong as saying. Without stronger preventive measures, "the most dangerous outbreak that the husbandry industry has faced so far" may spread to all 63 localities in Vietnam, he said. ASF is a severe viral disease affecting domestic and wild boars which can be spread by live or dead pigs and pork products, the World Organization for Animal Health said, noting that the ASF virus is harmless to human but causes hemorrhagic fever in pigs and wild boars that is almost fatal. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 20:46:53|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The African Union (AU) on Wednesday urged African countries and pan African institutions to encourage better reading culture to spur Africa's human and social capital. The urgent call was made by the AU's Director of Strategic, Policy, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Resource Mobilization (SPPMERM) Mesfin Tessema, who emphasized an improved provision of books and reference materials that would encourage people to read. AU's resource mobilization and policy director's call followed a recent agreement that was signed by the AU and the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) to foster closer collaboration between the two institutions. It is a strategic move to drive sustainable development of the continent, through education and skills revolution, the AU said in a statement on Wednesday. "The collaboration seeks to encourage a reading culture in the continent and to enhance human intellectual capital, through provision of relevant resources," the statement read. According to Tessema, the agreement would enable a rich provision of books, reference materials and documents that would encourage people in Africa to read." "In this era, we need to encourage people to read and that is what we are missing in the world particularly where people are focused more on the internet than the books, we need to educate our young people to take the advantage of reading," Tessema said. President of AfLIA, John Tsebe, also affirmed the institution's "keenness to support AU in the realization of the Agenda 2063 aspirations, by using libraries to contribute to the knowledge uptake." "Libraries are drivers of information and knowledge and as you know, knowledge and information are strategic resources for development," Tsebe said. According to the AU, the latest collaboration aligns to the AU's aspiration towards the realization of "A Prosperous Africa" based on inclusive growth and sustainable development. The AU also announced its ambition to develop Africa's human and social capital through an education and skills revolution, with particular emphasis on science and technology. The agreement between the AU and AfLIA, among other things, calls the two pan African organizations to "enter into a reciprocal free of charge agreement towards the development of African information and knowledge society, national, academic and community libraries with a view to enhancing delivery of the right information to the right person at the right time." It also recommends the development of library and information professional associations, as promoters and driving force for equitable access to information, knowledge, and innovative services in Africa, it was noted. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 20:57:01|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BERLIN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Exports of the German electrical industry amounted to 18.4 billion euros (20.6 billion U.S. dollars) in March, marking a year-on-year increase of 6.7 percent, the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (ZVEI) announced on Wednesday. During the first quarter (Q1) of 2019, the German electrical industry's total exports grew by 5.8 percent to a total of 54.1 billion euros compared to the same period last year. "Exports have thus developed significantly better than new orders, production and sales, despite trade conflicts and a cooling global economy," commented Andreas Gontermann, chief economist at ZVEI. China remained the most important partner country for German companies in the electrical industry. Goods worth a total of 5.1 billion euros were exported to China last year, meaning a "rather modest growth" of 0.9 percent, according to ZVEI. During the same period in 2018, companies in the German electrical industry had recorded a growth in exports to China of 13.9 percent. Speaking to Xinhua, ZVEI economic expert Juergen Polzin said exports from the German electrical industry to China had been very strong in recent years. "The weaker growth can be seen as a counter-reaction to the recent very strong growth." Exports by the German electrical industry to the United States, its second largest export market, rose comparatively strongly by 12.7 percent to 4.7 billion euros in the first quarter. "The United States are currently experiencing high economic growth, which is why a lot is being invested," said Polzin. The trend in the U.S. would offer good export opportunities for the German electrical industry, especially in the segment of factory automation, according to Polzin. In the ZVEI's latest business forecast, it was expecting the German electrical industry to "continue on its growth path". Production of the electrical industry is set to increase by 1 percent, with sales exceeding 200 billion euros in 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 21:02:06|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BEIRUT, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon and Belarus signed an agreement on Wednesday to boost industrial cooperation between the two countries, the National News Agency reported. "This is the first step for adopting a framework of cooperation between Lebanon and Belarus by increasing exchange on the industrial level between the two countries," Lebanon's industry minister was quoted as saying during the ceremony that was held to sign this agreement. Abou Faour added that Lebanese businessmen will visit Belarus and attend exhibitions in the country to identify the extent to which Lebanon's industrial sector can cater to this new market. Meanwhile, Ambassador of Belarus in Lebanon Yury Sluka emphasized the importance of this agreement which will increase cooperation between businessmen in the two countries. File Photo: A Fuxing bullet train G1372 pulls out of Guiyangbei Railway Station in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Dec. 28, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Xu) SAN FRANCISCO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- China has made a lot of improvement in intellectual property (IP) rights protection thanks to years of governmental and industrial efforts, said a U.S. expert. "China has improved this IP environment quite a bit," said Mark Cohen, a senior fellow and director of the Asian IP Project of Berkeley Center for Law and Technology at the University of California, Berkeley. "They improved it even more" since the country started trade talks with the United States, he added. Cohen made the remarks at a China-U.S. relations seminar on Monday organized by Asia Society Northern California and the Committee of 100, a non-profit U.S. organization of prominent Chinese Americans. He noted that China now has the biggest number of patent offices around the world, which "in fact is greater than all the other patent offices in the world combined." "They have great judges. There are a lot of IP faculties and IP newspapers," he told the audience at the event, which was themed "Untangling the U.S.-China Narrative: Technology, Trade, and Tensions." The expert criticized some Western media for creating sensations about China's IP issues and using the term as "a pretext" to fan up tensions. As regards the escalating trade tensions between China and the United States, Cohen, who has almost 20 years of involvement in China's IP licensing environment, said he is worried that there is less room to "have honest debate and offer constructive suggestions to both sides." The two countries, he suggested, should build confidence in order to resume their relations and get themselves back on track. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 21:32:27|Editor: zh Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presides over a work symposium on the rise of the central region and delivers a speech in Nanchang, May 21, 2019, during his inspection tour of Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) NANCHANG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has required efforts to enhance the comprehensive strength and competitiveness of the country's central region and to make new advances in the rise of the central region. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of Jiangxi Province from Monday to Wednesday. During the inspection, Xi presided over a work symposium on the rise of the central region and delivered a speech. NEW LONG MARCH Xi's first stop in Ganzhou City of Jiangxi was JL MAG Rare-Earth Co. Ltd. Visiting the company Monday, he underlined scientific and technological innovation to raise the technological level of exploitation of rare earth, which is strategically important but nonrenewable. Arriving at Yudu County on Monday afternoon, Xi paid tribute to a monument marking the departure of the Long March by the Central Red Army and met families of the Red Army veterans and revolutionary martyrs. Noting that China is on "a new Long March," he said that the country will depend on firm faith and strong will of the whole Party and all people to overcome major challenges at home and abroad and secure new victories in building socialism with Chinese characteristics. Visiting a local vegetable farm, Xi reiterated the original aspiration of the CPC, which was to fight for the people's wellbeing and national rejuvenation. At Tantou Village in Zishan Township, Xi called on Sun Guanfa, a villager and veteran, at his home. Carefully checking the kitchen, bedroom, backyard and toilet, Xi was pleased with the improvement in housing and hygiene conditions of Sun's family. He demanded every region and department make more efforts to secure decent lives for the people in old revolutionary bases at the decisive stage of poverty alleviation. When he was to leave the village, villagers gathered at the exit to see him off and some of them shed tears. RISE OF CENTRAL CHINA At the symposium in Nanchang on promoting the rise of China's central region on Tuesday afternoon, Xi said that the rise of central China is a crucial step toward completing the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realizing socialist modernization. China must be clear-headed about the long-term and complex nature of both domestic and international unfavorable factors and well-prepared for any difficult circumstances, Xi emphasized, adding that the most important thing for China is to do its job well. He made an eight-point instruction on the development of central China, which consisted of facilitating high-quality growth of the manufacturing industry, enhancing innovation capability in key fields, improving business environment, undertaking the layout and transfer of emerging industries, expanding high-level opening-up, sticking to green development, improving people's livelihood, and optimizing policies and institutions. On Wednesday morning, Xi heard a work report from the Jiangxi provincial authorities and called on them to set an example in speeding up the high-quality development of the old revolutionary bases and vie for the forefront in boosting the rise of the central region. Describing Jiangxi as a land full of revolutionary history and memories, Xi called for a deep understanding of the hard-earned establishment of the political power of the CPC, the People's Republic of China and socialism with Chinese characteristics, and demanded greater efforts to carry forward the revolutionary spirit and traditions. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 21:37:32|Editor: zh Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Du Fuguo, a soldier who lost his eyes and arms in an explosion during a mine clearance operation, was honored by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee on Wednesday. Du, who was a demining soldier of the People's Liberation Army, was awarded the title "role model of our times" at a ceremony in Beijing. The 28-year-old soldier was seriously injured in the landmine explosion trying to protect his fellow soldier during the operation in southwest China's Yunnan Province in October last year. Du's family members and fellow soldiers, as well as representatives from all walks of life, attended the award ceremony. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 21:37:34|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LAGOS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The governor of Nigeria's northwest state of Katsina has confirmed that 18 farmers were on Tuesday morning killed in their farmlands in a village of Batsari area of the state. Aminu Masari, who confirmed this to reporters in Katsina, the state capital on Wednesday, said his administration was doing all it can to stop the killings. The governor addressed some people of the area who went to Government House to complain of the incessant killing of their people by bandits. "It is our duty to protect lives and property in the state, yet, this is what is happening, we are doing our best," he added. "We are going to table the problem of insecurity challenges bedeviling all the northern states before President tomorrow," he said. The governor said the protest will not solve the problems, urging them to remain calm, as the government was doing its best to end the menace. The northern part of Nigeria has witnessed a series of attacks by armed groups in recent months. There have also been recurring incidents of livestock rustling and armed banditry in the region. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 21:42:36|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at a ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yong) BISHKEK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here at a ministerial meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Wednesday. Congratulating on the successful conclusion of India's general election, China hopes India will set up a new government on schedule, and that both sides achieve a smooth transition and further development of bilateral relations, Wang said. China and India shall fulfill the important consensuses reached by leaders of both countries, prepare well for high-level exchanges at the next stage, initiate bilateral dialogue mechanisms as soon as possible, maintain peace and stability at the border region, and together celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2020, Wang said. As a neighbor of India and Pakistan, China sincerely hopes that they can seize opportunities to improve their relations and promote peace and stability in the region, Wang said. For her part, Swaraj said the new government of her country will continue to make the development of India-China ties a diplomacy priority, and will further boost bilateral cooperation in all fields. India is willing to work with China to implement the key consensuses reached by leaders of both countries, strengthen communication and coordination, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and jointly safeguard peace at the border region, so as to promote the development of bilateral relations, she said. Swaraj also said that her country is willing to improve bilateral relations with Pakistan, and that she hopes the two sides can make joint efforts to that end. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 21:47:39|Editor: zh Video Player Close CHENGDU, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Tang Zuo and Tan Yingchun trudge miles in mountains rising 2,000 to 5,000 meters above sea level, up to 200 days a year, collecting faeces of wild animals and installing infrared cameras, while leaving almost no human traces that might disturb the wildlife. Both researchers at the Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Tang, 38, and Tan, 51, regard themselves as the "invisible men" in both the wild and the society. To many, they are the lucky ones who can hug China's unofficial national mascot, giant pandas, and wander about to enjoy the beauty of nature. Some media even ask them to chase after the wild pandas in order to get the most eye-catching photos for the next day's newspapers. But the reality is the other way round. "We need to monitor the natural behaviors and living environment of wild animals, so we must make as little noise as possible in the wild," Tan said. "It's our greatest wish to come across the wild animals, but, if it ever happens, we will not disturb them, just quietly observe." LAST STALWARTS In the primeval jungles, the researchers' raincoats are often cut by thorns. Carrying more than 15 kg of necessities and infrared cameras, the researchers have to wade through waist-deep rushing waters more than ten times a day. The freezing rivers left them haunting illness including rheumatism and asthma. Due to the complex local landscape, they have to climb several lofty mountains in a day, find their way along the cliffs, and sometimes get lost and trapped in landslides. Every two or three weeks, Tang gets the chance to go back home downtown, but he feels estranged. "Now I don't even walk in the crowds, and just walk along the roadsides by myself." As tourism booms in the surrounding villages, the locals have become less willing to be their guides in the towering mountains. The meagre salary, gruelling field work, and long separation from the outside world fail to attract young people, making Tang and Tan among the last stalwarts. However, Tan still remembers what his teacher told him when he took the college entrance exam in the 1980s. "The world of the future is a world of biology," he said. "When you see the plants and flowers in the primeval forests on the mountains, completely different from those in the tourist attractions, you just feel different," said Tan. "Smelling the freshness of the soil, you will be lighted up and desire to keep on going, so as to see more and better things in store." DEFENDER OF NATURE Not only are they plagued by the reality of no successor in the protection stations, but also the rampant uninvited hikers and the mounting rubbish they left in the mountains. "Especially in Dengshenggou, two steps down the road is the virgin forest, so plenty of tourists want to go there, and advertisements for hiking are all over the place," said Duan Zhaogang, Party secretary of the reserve administration. "Though there are signs prohibiting tourists from entering the area, the travel agencies still organize hiking trips and some even climb over the locked gates," Duan said. In 2017, three tourists sneaked into the mountains in Wolong and got trapped on the cliffs. It was the researchers of the reserve's protection stations who carried them down the mountain because the tourists were suffering from severe altitude sickness. Nearly 40 people participated in the rescue, and the cost including medical expense totaled more than 60,000 yuan (about 8,902 U.S. dollars). Each tourist was fined about 5,000 yuan, which was the only time the stations punished the uninvited visitors to the mountains. "Living in peace with nature is not to get in touch with the wildlife. Rather, we should keep a distance from them," said Duan. Though setting up pulleys between the valleys would facilitate the researchers to cross the river quickly and safely, Tan, who is also head of the Sanjiang protection station, insists not to install any. "We hope there's no road at all in the mountains so that tourists and poachers won't find it possible to get into the forests," Tan said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 21:47:44|Editor: Xiaoxia Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, China, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Guangzhou Evergrande reached the last 16 of the AFC Champions League after overcoming Daegu FC 1-0 here on Wednesday, thanks to a goal from Paulinho. In a must-win match without top-scorer Anderson Talisca, Paulinho stood out to save the team with a header just after the hour mark. The Brazilian tested the keeper in the 10th minute with a right-footed shot from right side of the box. Cesinha's effort from left side of the box went wide of the goal in the 29th minute. Guangzhou's keeper Liu Dianzuo saved Kim Dae-won's shot outside of the box in the 34th minute. One minute later, Zhang Linpeng had chance to break the deadlock but his header went directly into the keeper's gloves. The home side had been desperate for a goal after Wei Shihao and Yang Liyu missed their chances to score, until Paulinho headed Huang Bowen's fine corner cross into the back of the net in the 64th minute. Daegu tried to pull level but Cesinha and Tsubasa Nishi's efforts missed the target. Guangzhou finished second in the group to reach the last 16, they will face Chinese rivals Shandong Luneng in the first round of the knockout stage. In the other match, Sanfrecce Hiroshima beat Melbourne Victory 3-1 to top the group, setting up an all-Japanese clash with the Kashima Antlers in the elimination phase. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 21:52:48|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close COLOMBO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday extended the state of emergency by a further one month considering the security situation in the country, local media reports said. The president extended the state of emergency by signing an extraordinary gazette notification which said that the emergency was in effect for public security, the preservation of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community. Sirisena declared the state of emergency on April 22, a day after multiple terror attacks in the country which killed over 250 people. Under the emergency regulations, security forces have been conducting nationwide raids to hunt for suspects linked to the terror attacks. Police said 89 suspects had been arrested over the terror attacks so far. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:08:00|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JUBA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The six-month delay in forming South Sudan's new unity government helped to salvage the September 2018 peace deal from collapse and prevented the conflict-torn country from returning to war, an expert said on Wednesday. Abraham Kuol Nyuon, assistant professor of the Department of Political Science at the University of Juba said the extension will give the parties to the peace deal time to address the outstanding issues that prevented them from forming the government after the elapse of the eight-month pre-transitional period on May 12. "To me, the extension means that the peace agreement has been rescued from collapsing. The coming of the warring parties to Juba means less death to our people because there will be no more fighting," Nyuon told Xinhua in an interview. Signatories to the fragile peace agreement on May 3 agreed to extend the formation of the transitional government by six months following delays in the implementation of the pact over unresolved issues. But South Sudan's President Salva Kiir has instead called for a one-year delay, arguing that the six months may not be enough to implement the outstanding issues such as security arrangements. Nyuon said though the extension may prolong the economic woes in the east African country since resources would be diverted towards peace implementation, it is better to have stability rather than continuation of war that would claim more lives. He urged the peace partners to exert maximum political will to ensure that they address the pending issues within the six-month period to rescue the peace deal from unraveling. South Sudan descended into civil war in late 2013 and the conflict has created one of the fastest growing refugee crises in the world. The UN estimates that about four million South Sudanese have been displaced internally and externally. A peace deal signed in August 2015 collapsed following renewed violence in the capital Juba in July 2016. Under the 2018 peace deal, opposition leader Riek Machar with four others will once again be reinstated as Kiir's deputy. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:18:20|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yong) BISHKEK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi in the capital of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, with both sides pledging to enhance anti-terrorism cooperation. The China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership has been developed in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, Wang said while meeting with Qureshi on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers' meeting. The two sides should jointly implement consensuses reached between leaders of China and Pakistan when Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan attended the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) in Beijing, Wang said. The two countries should enhance high-level exchanges, strengthen pragmatic cooperation, and promote bilateral ties to achieve new development given the complicated and changing international situation, he added. Wang condemned a recent terrorist attack against the Pearl Continental Hotel in the Pakistani port city of Gwadar, saying China appreciates Pakistan's efforts in combating terrorism. China believes that Pakistan will strengthen security and protection for Chinese personnel and institutions in Pakistan and maintain bilateral cooperation, Wang added. For his part, Qureshi said Pakistan is willing to jointly prepare for high-level exchanges for the next stage and implement the outcomes of the second BRF, so as to deepen bilateral cooperation by strengthening the construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as a central theme and promote bilateral ties so that they will yield more results. Pakistan shares the same goal with China in combating terrorism and extremism, Qureshi said. Pakistan will do its best to protect Chinese personnel and institutions in the country, continue to enhance bilateral cooperation on anti-terrorism within multilateral frameworks and preserve the two countries' common interests as well as regional peace and stability, Qureshi said. The two sides also exchanged views on the Afghanistan issue, agreed to strengthen communication and coordination, jointly promote a prompt political settlement of the Afghanistan issue and preserve regional peace and stability. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:28:30|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close NAIROBI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Businessman Gilbert Wandera is currently building a house in his rural home in Busia, western Kenya. Working in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, Wandera relies heavily on mobile money to pay his workers and buy construction materials, work that has been going on for the past four months. Last week, the businessman was in a fix after running short of cash. After trying several commercial banks, the maximum loan they could offer him via their digital apps was 40,000 Kenyan shillings (400 U.S. dollars), but he needed more. He turned to leading telecom Safaricom, which runs a digital credit platform, and was offered 750 dollars that he needed via his mobile phone. Apparently, the telecom used his mobile money data to assess his credit worthiness and offered him the money. "Being a businessman, I do most of my transactions via mobile money. Unlike the banks, the telecom has all the data on my transactions and I believe it is the reason why they gave me the money," he said on Wednesday. In the past, Wandera would have had to walk into a bank and apply for the loan and surrender a title deed or car log book to get the money. But all that is now in the past as banks and other lenders turn to digital customer data to extend credit to Kenyans. The data include bank account and mobile money transactions and airtime top-ups. The new method is revolutionizing Kenya's credit sector, with millions of Kenyans who initially would never have borrowed money from banks accessing credit. The money, which ranges from 5 dollars to 3,000 dollars, is mainly disbursed via the mobile phone. The use of the data has now put Kenyan banks on the path to disbursing all their loans, big or small, via mobile phone. With some 46 million Kenyans owning mobile phones and 30 million subscribed to mobile money, according to the latest data from the Communications Authority of Kenya, lenders are easily collecting customer data that inform decisions when offering loans. The data has given Kenyan lenders confidence to offer businesses and individuals huge sums of money via the mobile phone. On Monday, five Kenyan banks launched a digital credit facility that will see small-and-medium-sized businesses borrow up to 2,500 dollars via mobile phone, thanks to use of data. It is a first in a country where over 90 percent of loans are currently being disbursed via the phone. During the launch of the digital credit product by the banks, Central Bank of Kenya governor Patrick Njoroge termed the growing use of digital customer data to disburse loans in the east African nation as revolutionary. "Lending has been constrained by the lack of reliable information to assess their creditworthiness. The innovation in this product is the use of all data on customers' transactions to fill this gap. In that sense it is revolutionary," he said. Analysts noted that use of digital data will radically change the lending sector in Kenya, with banks being forced by the customers' needs to adopt this method. "An increase in lending through digital platforms, especially by independent lenders, pointed to the direction the industry was headed, making banks which initially were rigid to conform," said Bernard Mwaso of Edell IT Solution in Nairobi. Mwaso noted that globally, data is being used to drive business, therefore, the Kenyan banking industry is no different. "Huge data is collected on mobile money platforms each minute which can be used to analyze peoples' income, remittances and even the state of the economy. This data has a big economic value, it is the reason banks and other lenders are leveraging on it," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:33:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Battles between the rebels and the Syrian government forces flared in northwestern Syria on Wednesday amid shelling and airstrikes, a war monitor group reported. The battles escalated when the rebels of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the umbrella group of the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front, launched counter-offensives to retrieve what they had lost in battles with the army in the northern countryside of Hama province. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the rebels are heavily shelling government areas in the northern Hama countryside and the adjacent southern countryside of Idlib province. The Observatory said tens of airstrikes targeted the rebels' positions in Idlib and the areas in the countryside of Latakia province as a retaliation for the rebels' attack. Fifteen people were reportedly killed as a result of the airstrikes, according to the Observatory. The army is fighting to defeat the HTS in their last major strongholds in northwestern Syria. Such areas are included in a de-escalation zones' deal established in September 2018 by Russia and Turkey. But the deal didn't materialize and battles escalated since late last month. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:33:35|Editor: yan Video Player Close KUNMING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China's Yunnan Baiyao group announced that it is building a 1.16-billion-yuan factory to produce toothpaste to meet the demands of consumers who are becoming increasingly health-conscious. Established in 1902, Yunnan Baiyao is a time-honored brand based in southwest China's Yunnan Province. It became famous for producing baiyao, or white powders that are used to stop bleeding and relieve pains. The company has crafted new products including toothpaste and other personal-care items injected with the medicinal elements. General manager Yin Pinyao said the firm became the No. 1 toothpaste seller in the domestic market in December last year. Though a tube of the Yunnan Baiyao toothpaste is sold for over twice the price of Colgate, buyers of the products believe the medicinal traces help treat tooth and gum problems and are willing to pay up. Yin said the new facility will be used to produce customized toothpaste products, with digitized manufacturing and modern logistics. It is expected to be put into operation by the end of this year, with an expected output value of 10 billion yuan (1.47 billion U.S. dollars). Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:33:37|Editor: yan Video Player Close BELGRADE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Serbia plans to continue and improve cooperation with Huawei, disregarding the U.S. restrictions on the Chinese tech giant, said Tatjana Matic, State Secretary in the Ministry of Trade, Tourism and Telecommunications, on Wednesday. Reflecting on the fact that Huawei is one of the most prominent companies on the Serbian market, Matic assured that there are no potential consequences for Serbia's consumers of Huawei products, nor for the future of the joint projects of Serbian government with Huawei. Washington last week declared a national emergency over what it claimed are technological threats, and announced restrictions on sale and transfer of American technologies to China's Huawei. The Chinese telecom company has long been accused by the United States of being able to use its network equipment to spy on foreign nations for the Chinese government. However, "no intelligence service has published clear evidence that Huawei inserted 'backdoors' for Chinese authorities to access the data that passes through its networks," according to a December 2018 article by U.S. media Politico. In a statement to RTS, Serbian national broadcaster, Matic said "I think that this conflict will not reflect in the cooperation that we have with this company, which spans through several years and is a part of the very significant Belt and Road Initiative. The conflict will have no consequences whatsoever on Serbia's cooperation with the company, and it will continue to implement the projects that we have agreed." Since 2017 Huawei has been engaged on several projects for Serbian government, including the installment of intelligent police video surveillance, information and communication infrastructure in educational facilities, while most recently it has been engaged to install infrastructure for broadband internet. "We do not expect any damage to our consumers here in Serbia, because we believe it is of short term. I would like to remind that Huawei has partnerships with some 40 countries across the world, implements various projects and is present on the market. Even 23 countries of the European Union have cooperation with Huawei and I think this means that, because EU is a bigger market, their consumers are much more worried. This will not reflect in this moment on our consumers," Matic said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:38:39|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday launched the Kenya Mortgage Refinance Company (KMRC), a financial institution whose sole function is to provide long-term loans to primary mortgage lenders. KMRC, which starts operations with an initial capital base of 35 billion shillings (about 350 million U.S. dollars), is expected to address inherent financing challenges and unlock liquidity for affordable housing. Kenyatta said KMRC will provide long-term loans to mortgage lenders in order to increase the availability and affordability of mortgage facilities in the country. "The intervention is based on recognition that reaching the goal of adequate, safe and affordable housing for all, especially the lower income group, requires a fundamental rethinking of the traditional approach used in the past," Kenyatta said during the launch in Nairobi. He said the move to provide long-term cheaper funding to primary mortgage providers including banks, microfinance banks and Saccos (financial and nonfinancial cooperatives) is aimed at making mortgage cheaper for Kenyans. Kenyatta said the initiative is a partnership between the government and the private sector, noting that the initiative demonstrates the possibilities of the growing synergy between the private sector and the government towards the delivery of public goods. He said the new venture is aimed at addressing the deficit in housing created by the huge rise in the country's population as well as boosting the government's job creation initiatives. "As we continue to experience the dividends of our growing population, the housing supply has, over the years, not kept pace with the concurrent growth in the demand for houses. As a result, this has led to a huge housing deficit, particularly for the lower income households," he said. KMRC was incorporated as a non-deposit taking financial institution under the supervision of the Central Bank of Kenya. The initial loans to kickstart KMRC were provided by the World Bank which contributed 250 million dollars, and African Development Bank which contributed 100 million dollars. Kenyatta said the government is making deliberate interventions in the housing sector to make it more responsive to middle and lower income segments of the population. He said the uptake of housing mortgages in Kenya remains below its potential with the Central Bank of Kenya statistics showing that the total outstanding mortgage debt in 2017 stood at about 2.23 billion dollars. This, Kenyatta said, represents only about 2.74 percent of Kenya's GDP, which shows that the housing mortgage business in Kenya is still very small. "We expect the refinance company to significantly contribute to the development of the housing finance market in Kenya and help reverse the low mortgage penetration, by increasing the number of mortgages from the current 26,000 to over 60,000 by the year 2022," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:48:49|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- African countries and pan African institutions have been urged to find lasting solutions to forced displacement in Africa as the continent commemorates Africa Day on Saturday. As African countries gear up to mark the Africa Day on Saturday, they were urged to find sustainable solutions to Africa's forced displacement crisis in line with African leaders' recent pledge to tackle the nexus between conflict and forced displacement. Africa Day, which is annually commemorated on May 25, marks the foundation of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of African Union and its legacies to the betterment and unity of Africa. On Wednesday, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), while calling for more efforts against forced displacement and migration in Africa, stressed that Africa is home to the largest forced displaced population globally. According to figures from the ECA, more than a third of the 68 million forcibly displaced people in the world are in Africa. Conflicts, human rights violations, natural disasters, serious public health problems, and humanitarian crisis are potential causes of forced displacement across the African continent, among other factors, according to the ECA. The ECA also on Wednesday disclosed that in line with the Africa Day celebrations, the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning - subsidiary and training arm of the ECA - will convene a high-level conference-debate on Thursday on the status of refugees, returnees and internally displaced persons in Africa. The high-level diplomatic conference, which is organized at the request of the African Group of the Diplomatic Corps, is expected to "deepen the reflection on the root causes of forced displacement in Africa, discuss its consequences and propose sustainable solutions," according to the ECA. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:53:55|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Civil aviation agreements signed by China and the the European Union (EU) will enrich the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang said Wednesday. The signing also demonstrated their resolve to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation for common interests under current circumstances, he said. Lu made the remarks at a press briefing when asked if China's increasing cooperation with the EU in civil aviation safety area was due to the safety concerns of Boeing aircraft. China and the EU signed two milestone agreements on civil aviation in Brussels on Monday, the first of its kind ever reached in the 20 years of cooperation in the civil aviation sector between China and Europe. Lu said the agreements marked a concrete measure to implement the joint statement of the 21st China-EU leaders' meeting last month, and both China and the EU have always had a strong will to cooperate in the field of civil aviation safety. As for the safety concerns of Boeing aircraft, the spokesman said it is natural for relevant stakeholders to show concerns over safety risks of Boeing's relevant aircraft and claim their legitimate rights. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 22:59:01|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attends the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Council of Foreign Ministers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, May 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yong) BISHKEK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Facing unstability and uncertainty in the world, the members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) should boost all-round cooperation to promote regional stability and prosperity, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Wednesday. Since the SCO Qingdao Summit last year, the member states have made steady progress in cooperation across the board, said Wang at an SCO foreign ministers' meeting held in the capital city of Kyrgyzstan. While the world is grappling with the resurrection of protectionism and a cold-war mentality, the SCO remains a vital and constructive force for world peace and development, said Wang. To deepen cooperation within the SCO, efforts should be made to strengthen solidarity and mutual trust, said Wang, adding that member states should firmly support each other's efforts to safeguard core interests and jointly resist interference by external forces. Wang also urged member states to deepen security cooperation by jointly combating the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, adding that China is willing to share its useful experiences of taking preventive counter-terrorism and de-radicalization measures in China's Xinjiang. In terms of pragmatic cooperation, Wang said that member states should take concrete actions to safeguard free trade and the multilateral trading system, including implementing the results of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, accelerating negotiations on agreements to facilitate trade, and launching feasibility studies on the SCO free trade zone as soon as possible. Wang also urged more extensive people-to-people exchanges among member states. It is important for SCO member states to advocate multilateralism and uphold the international system with the principles of the United Nations Charter at its core, said Wang. All parties should show a united front on major international and regional issues, and resolutely oppose unilateralism and protectionism in all forms, said Wang. During the meeting, other foreign ministers fully acknowledged the key role played by the SCO in maintaining regional stability and boosting development, and voiced their opposition to unilateralism and protectionism. The ministers also signed preparatory documents for the upcoming Bishkek Summit. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 23:04:08|Editor: yan Video Player Close TASHKENT, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law to grant tax privileges to renewable energy producers and power generation equipment manufacturers, the Uzbek Justice Ministry said on Wednesday. According to the law, companies that have installed power generation equipment that uses renewable energy will be exempted from income and land taxes for 10 years if the power output is 0.1 megawatt or more. Also, companies which produce power generation equipment are exempted from all taxes for five years from the date of their state registration. Individuals who use only renewable energy resources will be exempted from the property and land tax for three years, authorities said. According to the law, renewable energy resources are defined as solar and wind power, geothermal and hydro power, as well as biomass energy. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 23:04:12|Editor: yan Video Player Close MOSCOW, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Russian and Syrian Joint Coordination Headquarters in charge of the settlement of Syrians fleeing civil war on Wednesday called for the urgent evacuation of the Rukban and Al-Hol camps for internally displaced persons (IDP), where the living conditions are worsening. It is necessary to accelerate the evacuation as high temperatures in July and August, as well as the water and food shortage, will make the lives of people in the camps more difficult, it said in a statement, stressing that any delay may result in the deaths of the IDP. The Rukban camp is home to 50,000 displaced Syrians, who are suffering from the harsh humanitarian situation because of lack of supplies. Thanks to the joint efforts of Russia and Syria, the exit from Rukban in southern Syria has started with about 13,000 Syrians having left the camp, the statement said. Syria's state news agency SANA reported last week that a new batch of civilians had left the battered Rukban camp and reached government areas in the country's central region. The situation in the Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria is even worse as it is overcrowded. "The camp is overcrowded and although humanitarian partners have rushed to scale up, critical needs remain in key sectors including health, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene," said Najat Rochdi, a senior humanitarian adviser to the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, last week in Geneva. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 23:24:28|Editor: yan Video Player Close HONG KONG, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Speakers at an ongoing international symposium hosted by the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) on Wednesday called for international anti-corruption cooperation including cooperation in the areas of extradition and mutual legal assistance. "As corruption often transcends borders, local efforts are not enough. International cooperation is called for. Chapter IV of UNCAC (the United Nations Convention against Corruption) is dedicated to international cooperation and covers a wide range of measures including extradition and mutual legal assistance," Teresa Cheng, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's Secretary for Justice, said in her keynote address at the 7th ICAC Symposium. Describing Hong Kong as "an active and responsible player in the area of international cooperation," Cheng said that under the principle of "one country, two systems", the Basic Law allows Hong Kong to establish its own regime of reciprocal juridical assistance with foreign states, including extradition and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. "The existence of a suitable legal framework for surrender of fugitive offenders and mutual legal assistance is a hallmark for the rule of law ... Hong Kong's surrender of fugitive offenders and mutual legal assistance regimes contain prerequisites of cooperation which are in line with international standards," she said, adding that "amendments to further enhance the legal framework have been put in place and under discussion at the moment" in Hong Kong. Speaking at the symposium, jointly hosted by ICAC and the World Justice Project (WJP), ICAC Commissioner Simon Peh said the fight against corruption is a shared responsibility of different stakeholders. "It requires not only the relentless efforts of anti-corruption agencies but also the tenacious endeavor of different stakeholders in the public and private sectors as well as the civil society," said Peh. Entitled "Fighting Corruption -- A New Perspective" and bringing together over 500 representatives of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies from more than 50 jurisdictions, the three-day symposium was opened Wednesday by HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. "Corruption remains a global issue today and is affecting all countries," Lam said. "The global efforts in fighting corruption must therefore continue." Hailing ICAC's critical role in helping to realize today's Hong Kong, one of the most law-abiding societies in the world, Lam said, "With our success, the ICAC is prepared to share its experience with its counterparts. In fact, from its early days, the ICAC has attached great importance to establishing and maintaining rapport with overseas anti-corruption and law-enforcement agencies." Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 23:29:32|Editor: yan Video Player Close HARARE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwe is seeking to become a member of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), a specialized agency established by the African Union in 2003 as a self-monitoring initiative to promote good governance in Africa, an official said on Wednesday. Speaking to journalists after paying a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House, visiting APRM chief executive Edward Maloka said Mnangagwa expressed huge interest for Zimbabwe to join the agency. "He (Mnangagwa) met us in Addis Ababa and he felt that APRM is very important in Africa in terms of the work that we are doing. He said that it was high time Zimbabwe becomes a member of this family and then he invited us to come and visit so we are honoring his invitation," Maloka said. He said during their meeting at State House, Mnangagwa expressed the country's readiness to become the APRM's newest member. Maloka said the agency works with member countries to share experiences on what to improve on issues of governance, in addition to sharing best practice and learning from each other. "So it is a responsibility and I am happy that His Excellency has challenged us to work with Zimbabwe to assume this responsibility," he said. Maloka added that membership of APRM brings additional responsibilities to what member states already have under the AU. "APRM philosophy is that once you are a member, there are certain obligations, and as part of those responsibilities, you open yourself to others to look at you." Maloka said the agency will soon have a report on Zimbabwe which will be debated by Zimbabweans. Thirty-eight countries are currently members of the APRM where they undertake self-monitoring in all aspects of governance and socio-economic development. APRM was established under the framework of the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 23:39:42|Editor: yan Video Player Close BISHKEK, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states said Wednesday that they advocate a multipolar world and oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism. The top diplomats of India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, as well as SCO Secretary General Vladimirov Norov and Dzhumakhon Giyosov, director of the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), attended a ministerial meeting on Wednesday in Bishkek. The ministers said in a press release that the top priority of the international community is to establish a multipolar world in accordance with common interests and based on the norms of international law as well as principles of respecting each other's interests, multilateralism, equal and indivisible security and rejection to confrontation and conflict. The ministers called for common aspirations of promoting the building of a new type of international relations, featuring mutual respect, equality, justice and win-win cooperation, and building a community with a shared future for mankind. They said it is necessary to improve global economic governance system and develop trade and investment cooperation. The World Trade Organization remains the important and only platform for global trade negotiations, they stressed. They oppose any form of unilateralism and trade protectionism, and agreed to conduct close coordination to establish an open world economy and consolidate the multilateral trade regime that is open, inclusive, transparent, non-discriminatory and based on rules. The foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan reiterated their support for the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and welcomed the outcomes of the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation held last month in Beijing. They acknowledged the efforts of relevant parties to cooperate under the BRI and align the BRI with the Eurasian Economic Union. The foreign ministers supported tapping the potential of national and international institutions to build up broad, open, mutually beneficial and equal partnerships in the SCO area. They agreed to improve the legal basis for cooperation in trade, finance, science and technology and people-to-people exchanges. The diplomats urged the international community to pay due attention to global threats and challenges, including terrorism, separatism, extremism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, organized crimes, cyber crimes, regional conflicts, uneven development, grain market fluctuations and climate change. They also underlined the significance of safeguarding and implementing the Iran nuclear deal and called on all sides to fulfill respective obligations. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 23:39:46|Editor: yan Video Player Close KUNMING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Local authorities in southwest China's Yunnan Province said Wednesday that arson was suspected in a forest fire that swept through 54 hectares of land in six days. The government of Yulong Naxi Autonomous County said police had detained one suspect, and the open fire was put out around 3:20 p.m. Wednesday. A total of 878 people and two helicopters responded to the blaze that erupted on Friday night in a collectively-owned forest in the county's Fengke Town, officials said. No casualties have been reported. Meteorological authorities have warned of increased risks of forest fire in Yunnan, which has seen a worsening drought since spring. Earlier this month, more than 2,500 people and four helicopters were sent to put out a forest fire that burned an area of 86 hectares in the city of Anning. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 23:39:49|Editor: yan Video Player Close SINGAPORE, May 22 (Xinhua) -- For Singapore to produce its Nobel laureate in the scientific field, there needs to be "a safe space for bright students to explore what they find interesting" and the freedom to make mistakes, said Israel's Ambassador to Singapore Simona Halperin here Wednesday. Halperin made the remarks in response to a question raised at a public lecture organised by the World Scientific Publishing house with a theme of "What is behind Israel's innovative culture: Understanding the secrets of Israel and the Jewish people." Israel, a country with limited natural resources and a vast desert, has tapped on its human capital to transform into a start-up nation - in areas ranging from medical devices to cyber security, from digital health to agriculture and water technologies, from Internet of Things (meaning the concept of connecting any device to the Internet and to other connected devices) to artificial intelligence. To build a nation with creative and innovative thinkers, the secret lies in shaping attitudes in the younger generation, she said. In Israel, children grow up in a supportive environment, where they embrace the joy of learning by being allowed to be themselves and encouraged to try even though they may end up in failure. While Singapore typically has the highest achieving students in international education rankings, Israel's students do not fare as well, said Halperin. But unlike Singapore's highly regimented education system where rote-learning and following the rules is the norm, the Israeli children constantly ask questions and challenge their teachers' authority, which Halperin said creates a national culture that can "produce excellent science" and unconventional solutions. She said, "If you teach them that only what the teacher says is right, they will conform to it ... If you want to be creative and innovative, it's not about asking questions that have been asked and answered a million times before. It's about providing the supportive environment for people to ask their own questions." The Israelis also possess an innate curiosity and hunger to make their society a better place. Halperin explained, "They don't go to the lab and do science because they are dreaming of (achieving the) Nobel Prize, but because they are puzzled about something." Besides a supportive learning environment, Halperin said that there are numerous factors that allow Israel's innovative culture to flourish. Namely, its people have the freedom and the "license to fail" - one of the most critical and important ingredients for entrepreneurship and real breakthroughs, she said. Halperin cited the example of how Better Place - an electric-car venture founded by Shai Agassi who had the visionary idea of using swappable batteries - winded up bankrupt in 2013. Investors might have seen it as a "colossal failure", but it has spurred the growth of more than 500 new Israeli start-ups with innovations in automotive and smart mobility solutions - which Halperin described as a "major victory" for the country. More recently in April this year, Israel's Beresheet spacecraft - the first privately funded mission to the Moon - crashed on the lunar surface. It had hoped to be the fourth country to achieve a soft landing on the Moon, following the former Soviet Union, the United States and China. Again, it might have seemed a massive failure, but Halperin pointed out that it has sparked an interest among thousands of Israeli children towards astrophysics and space studies. Undeterred, the team is already working on building the Beresheet 2, the second Israeli spacecraft designed to carry the mission to land on the Moon. "If you ask me, (we're) a small country, but we have big dreams ... The sky is not the limit," said Halperin. Israelis also possess the unique "chutzpah" (a Hebrew word) attitude which embodies the "spirit of audacity and cheekiness, and never taking no for an answer," she said. There are other factors such as its vibrant population comprising of immigrants from different cultures, its high level of literacy, its status as a happy society, and government policies which supports and funds even high-risk innovative projects for applied research. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-22 23:55:03|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- More than 20,000 Syrian refugees have returned from Jordan since October of 2018, state news agency SANA reported Wednesday. The return of refugees started when the Nasib border crossing between the two countries was re-opened in October of 2018, said SANA. Earlier in the day, another batch of refugees returned to Syria from the Zarqa camp in Jordan. The report pointed to the efforts the Syrian government is exerting to secure the return of refugees and displaced people after the army captured large swathes of territories from the rebels. Mazen Ghandour, head of the Immigration Center in Nasib, said Syria is ready to secure buses and cars to transport refugees as well as on-spot medical treatment and checkup. It is estimated that Jordan is hosting 1.4 million Syrian refugees. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 00:00:12|Editor: yan Video Player Close SHANGHAI, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The US-initiated trade row with China has cast a shadow on foreign businesses in China and elsewhere in the world, setting back their long-term efforts in establishing trade connections, according to Xinhua's interviews with foreign firms and unions. Caitlin Kennedy Eannello, director of communications of the U.S. National Association of Wheat Growers, told Xinhua on Wednesday that American wheat growers have spent a lot of time building trade relationships with China. Due to the tariffs, they don't expect to export to China in the near future. According to the association, between June 2016 and February 2018, China imported about 2.6 million tonnes of the U.S. wheat products. Eannello said the association is an advocacy organization, committed to getting growers' messages heard. At a meeting in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, Friday, Charles Freeman, former assistant U.S. Trade Representative and senior vice president for Asia at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said the trade tensions are hurting U.S. farmers. "They are not selling the products they otherwise would. That's a big concern," he said. Freeman said the cost of decoupling between the U.S. and China on companies and the global economy is extremely high. Carlo Diego D'Andrea, vice president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, said the chamber launched a business confidence survey this week asking its members about the impact of the trade pressure. A total of 585 members responded to the questionnaire. Among them, 25 percent, or over 100 companies, said U.S. tariffs on China would have a negative impact on them, as their businesses involve exports from the Chinese market into the U.S. market. D'Andrea said the European firms are caught in the middle. The chamber advocates for a multilateral approach to resolving the trade friction between the U.S. and China. "Our European member firms are committed to the Chinese market. Even if we lose a bit of optimism, we still believe that China is a top destination for further investment," said D'Andrea. CHINA DRIVES GLOBAL INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT While the US-initiated tariff war is biting, foreign companies believe in China's ability to roll with the punches. Alain Le Couedic, a partner at Roland Berger, a global consulting firm, said China is not just a manufacturing hub, but a very significant part of the world's supply chain element. He said with impacts from the trade rows, goods sourced from China will not be as cheap as before. That will obviously impact the U.S., which is a big importer, but also any other companies in the world that need imports from China. "The fundamentals of the Chinese economy are still very strong due to its internal demand, " he said adding the Chinese government has tried to push and rebalance the economic growth engine towards consumption. In many sectors, there are opportunities for new businesses and existing businesses to develop. More than 250 of the Fortune 500 companies and industry leaders have signed up for the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in November, said Sun Chenghai, vice director of CIIE bureau. He said the exhibition area for the second session would be expanded to 300,000 square meters from 270,000 square meters for the first session last year, which was the world's first import-themed national-level expo. He said CIIE promotes an inclusive development for trading partners, thereby benefiting the global economy. The area for medical equipment & healthcare products at this year's session is fully booked, with 70 percent of the Fortune 500 pharmaceutical companies attending the event. Foreign firms including General Electric (GE) and Hyundai Motor Group have announced to book larger exhibition areas at the upcoming CIIE than last year to bring more of their foreign auto part suppliers to China. "The expo plays a big role in promoting global trade exchange. We will bring our newest products to the expo to exhibit GE's new technologies ranging from aviation, medical care to renewable energy sectors," said Max Chen, vice president of government affairs and policy of GE China. LVMH, the world's biggest luxury goods company, has announced to attend the second CIIE, with Antoine Arnault, the group's director, citing it as "clear testimony of LVMH's confidence in the long-term vigor of the Chinese economy and the friendship with Chinese people." Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 00:05:18|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close A demonstrator throws a rock to the police barricade during a clash in front of the election supervisory board building in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 22, 2019. The Jakarta police have arrested 257 rioters involved in violent election demonstrations and more are expected to be arrested as the demonstrations are still going on, Jakarta police spokesperson Argo Yuwono said here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Veri Sanovri ) JAKARTA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Jakarta police have arrested 257 rioters involved in violent election demonstrations and more are expected to be arrested as the demonstrations are still going on, Jakarta police spokesperson Argo Yuwono said here on Wednesday. "Those rioters were arrested in the last two days in Gambir, Petamburan and around the Bawaslu building," Argo told a press conference in his office. He said the rioters involved in clashes with police are apparently from different groups with supporters of the defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto. The spokesperson said the rioters had been paid to incite chaos and carry out aggressive acts against the police. "We suspect their acts have been well-planned." Police confiscated money, stones, Molotov cocktails, machetes and cellphones from the arrested rioters. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 00:10:23|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China will improve the sound development of private hospitals in a bid to increase medical service supplying and improve people's wellbeing. The decision was made at a State Council executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday. Deepening reform of the medicine and healthcare system and actively promoting the development of private hospitals will help meet people's needs for medical services, better stimulate market vitality and unleash service consumption potential, said a statement released after the meeting. Space for the development of private hospitals should be expanded, it said, adding that government departments should not impose restrictions on the aggregate volume as well as layout of private hospitals. The meeting also required enhancing approval efficiency for private hospitals and that all localities should establish a cross-department approval mechanism by the end of this year. China will beef up policy support for private hospitals and treat them equally with public ones in terms of interprovincial on-the-spot settlement of medical bills through basic medical insurance accounts. Private hospitals will be encouraged to conduct cooperations with public medical institutions in developing Internet Plus Healthcare models and carrying out remote medicare services, according to the statement. Private hospitals providing services in communities will enjoy reduction or exemption of fees and taxes in accordance with related rules. Meanwhile, supervision over the sector will also be enhanced to crack down on violations. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 00:15:29|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Wednesday urged Chinese technology firms to explore the abundant investment opportunities in Ethiopia, with particular emphasis on investments in the medical technology sector. The call was made by Ethiopia's State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Aklilu Hailemichael, during his meeting with representatives of various Chinese medical technology firms in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on Wednesday. "The Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in partnership with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and other relevant institutions, will support Chinese firms to invest in the medical technology sector," Hailemichael said. The Chinese investment delegation, consisting of representatives from giant Chinese medical technology firms, also during the discussions noted that Chinese high-end medical equipments would help Ethiopia's efforts to modernize its healthcare sector, with particular importance to the treatment of cancer and related diseases. The representatives also expressed their keen interest to positively contribute to Ethiopia's healthcare sector through experience sharing and knowledge transfer, once their companies commence operations in the East African country. Last month, the Ethiopian government had commended China's Haier Biomedical Ltd. Company - a subsidiary of the Chinese multinational consumer electronics and home appliances giant Haier Group Corporation - for its life-saving contributions through the introduction of its innovative Solar Direct Drive (SDD) vaccine refrigerators. The company's Solar Direct Drive (SDD) vaccine refrigerators are considered by many Ethiopian healthcare officials and experts as an "ideal solution" for thousands of healthcare facilities across the East African country where access to electricity is scarce. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 00:40:45|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat said here on Wednesday that without sufficient mutual trust and respect for each other's security concerns, and without a commitment to common security, nuclear transparency could be "hypocritical and meaningless", or a tool for the strong to bully the weak. Li Song, Chinese ambassador for disarmament affairs, told a session of the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament on Wednesday that transparency is not an end in and of itself but a way to enhance trust, avoid misjudgments and relieve tensions. "Transparency is not a standalone concept, it has everything to do with the international security environment and national security policies," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 00:45:48|Editor: yan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- An average of 10 people are dying every day in the Rukban camp in southeastern Syria, said state news agency SANA on Wednesday. The Joint Russian-Syrian Coordination Committee for Refugees' Return blamed the United States, which has a military presence in southeastern Syria, for hindering the evacuation of civilians from the camp, SANA said. About seven to 10 people are dying on a daily basis in the camp, said the joint committee. Diseases are also spreading among the people there, particularly children, the committee added. A total of 12,967 people have so far succeeded in leaving the camp to government-controlled areas in Homs Province in central Syria, after steep prices paid because of extortion by the Syrian rebels in the area. The Syrian government is exerting huge efforts to secure the safe and voluntary return of people to their homes and temporary shelters. The Rukban camp is home to 50,000 displaced Syrians, who are suffering from harsh humanitarian situation because of the cold weather and lack of supplies. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 00:55:56|Editor: yan Video Player Close BERLIN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The German cabinet adopted plans on Wednesday to provide 40 billion euros (44.7 billion U.S. dollars) of financial support to federal states undergoing the structural changes needed for Germany to achieve its planned phase out of coal by 2038. According to the German government's plans, detailed in a key issues paper, the government is aiming to develop the existing mining areas in East Germany as well as the Rhine region "into energy regions of the future". Support would be provided to "particularly affected sites" of hard coal-fired power plants as well as the former lignite mining area of Helmstedt in Lower Saxony, according to the German government. "We are keeping our promise. The exit from coal must become an opportunity for the affected regions," said German Minister of Economics and Energy Peter Altmaier, who presented the cornerstones. The German government "is ensuring clarity in the affected regions and creating long-term prospects with sustainable jobs for the local people," Altmaier stated. "We are setting the course for the districts to develop into modern energy and economic regions. Now it is a matter of filling this concept with life together with the federal states, the municipalities and the local people," the German economics minister emphasized. The prime ministers of the affected German federal states welcomed the paper adopted by the German cabinet in a joint statement. "The federal government acknowledges its responsibility for the future prospects of those regions which will make major contributions to the achievement of national climate targets and the progress towards energy system transformation," said the German federal ministers. "A central prerequisite" had been established that would enable the regions affected by the coal withdrawal "to develop sustainable prospects for growth and employment," according to the statement by the German federal prime ministers. A positive assessment also came from the Institute for Economic Research (Ifo). Most of the infrastructure projects were sensible, as was the establishment of research facilities in the lignite regions "because this makes a contribution to successful structural change," said Ifo researcher Joachim Ragnitz. Nonetheless, "it would be desirable to concentrate the measures even more on the lignite areas in the narrower sense as in large parts of the selected regions, there will be no negative effects at all from the phase-out of coal," added Ragnitz. According to the German government's key issues paper, an "investment law for coal regions" was being planned which would provide 14 billion euros to the affected federal states. With a further 26 billion euros, the German government proposed to implement its own projects, for example in research and transport. In order for rapid structural change to begin, an "immediate program" was planned which would be supported by the German government through up to 240 million euros in funding. The German government will present a draft law implementing the energy policy recommendations of the coal commission in the second half of 2019. An "adjustment allowance for older workers" in Germany's lignite industry" would also be proposed, according to the paper. Around one third of Germany's electricity is still generated from coal-fired power plants and at the end of January, a government commission agreed that Germany should phase out coal by 2038 at the latest. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 00:55:57|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Li Song (C), Chinese ambassador for disarmament affairs, addresses a session of the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 22, 2019. Li Song said here on Wednesday that without sufficient mutual trust and respect for each other's security concerns, and without a commitment to common security, nuclear transparency could be "hypocritical and meaningless", or a tool for the strong to bully the weak. (Xinhua/Xu Jinquan) GENEVA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese diplomat said here on Wednesday that without sufficient mutual trust and respect for each other's security concerns, and without a commitment to common security, nuclear transparency could be "hypocritical and meaningless", or a tool for the strong to bully the weak. Li Song, Chinese ambassador for disarmament affairs, told a session of the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament on Wednesday that transparency is not an end in and of itself but a way to enhance trust, avoid misjudgments and relieve tensions. "Transparency is not a standalone concept, it has everything to do with the international security environment and national security policies," he said. During its last plenary meeting under the presidency of the United States, the Conference on Disarmament discussed on Wednesday the issue of transparency in disarmament. Responding to a senior U.S. official's recent accusation that "China's lack of transparency regarding the scope and scale of its nuclear modernization program raises questions regarding its future intent", Li said that this is a typical example of projecting one's own logic onto others. "Let me make it crystal clear: the U.S. accusation has no basis in fact. It is using other countries as an excuse to evade the international responsibilities expected of it," he said. "The U.S. keeps saying that other countries make it feel unsafe -- this is truly baffling," Li said. "If you choose to see some countries as rivals, you might most probably create the same number of enemies, even though it is not their intention to be your enemies." Li also mentioned the U.S.'s intention to push for a trilateral (U.S., Russia and China) nuclear arms control agreement, saying that "the premise of and basis for the so-called trilateral arms control negotiations do not exist at all and China will definitely not participate in them." In the current international security environment, Li said, it is particularly important for the five states with nuclear weapons to advocate coordination and win-win cooperation instead of major power competition and a zero-sum game. He stressed that China is committed to peaceful development and pursues a nuclear strategy of self-defense. It unconditionally commits itself never to be the first to use nuclear weapons, and never to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear weapon states or nuclear weapon-free zones. "We have no hidden strategic agenda and no country will be threatened by China's nuclear weapons," he told the conference. Members of the 76th Squadron of the 23rd Fighter Group of the 14th U.S. Air Force, in which Flying Tiger pilot Glen Beneda served as a pilot, pose for photos in front of two shark-teeth fighter planes in China during the World War II. (Xinhua) by Xinhua writers Han Fang, Wu Xiaojun and Pan Lijun NEW YORK, May 21 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Flying Tigers veteran Glen Beneda could hardly hold back his tears when he saw the wreckage of his fighter plane shot down by the Japanese during the World War II still lying in the mud in a lake in central China. In his tour to Jianli, a county in Hubei Province in 2005, then 81-year-old Beneda was greeted by more than 7,000 local residents, and was carried by young farmers in a bamboo chair to the lake just like what the local villagers did about 60 years ago to rescue him after he ejected himself from his P-51 fighter plane, badly wounded. This is one of the heartwarming scenes in the documentary "Touching the Tigers," shown by Glen's son Edward Beneda at a gathering of eight Flying Tigers veterans, as well as more than 30 family members in Las Vegas in mid May. Many of them were moved to tears. The sacrifices Chinese and Americans made side by side in the war are our common heritage which should be cherished by our two countries, said Edward, vice chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation (SAAHF). "We disagree from time to time, but the important thing is remembering the history, remembering the investment that we have in the lives of the Chinese and the Americans," said Edward. "Peace is what we want," Edward stressed. "Let's continue to trust one another, let's continue to go forward. And hopefully this world will be a better future for our children, our grandchildren, and great grandchildren." The Flying Tigers, a U.S. air squadron composed of airmen from the United States Army Air Corps, Navy, and Marine Corps, helped the Chinese fight Japanese invaders in WWII. About 18,000 American Air Force came to China and joined the War Against Japanese Aggression, and 2,193 Flying Tigers among them lost their lives. The Chinese people saved the lives of nearly 900 American Flying Tigers pilots and other airmen, at the cost of tens of thousands of Chinese who sacrificed their lives in the rescue efforts. "CHINESE PEOPLE ARE HEROES" To fulfill his father's wish and educate younger generations, Edward committed himself to documenting and publicizing the U.S.-China relationship in the war that brought the two countries close together as friends and allies. The documentary tells the story about his father Glen Beneda, who was assigned to China as a fighter pilot in the U.S. 14th Air Force in 1943 at the age of 19. During his career in China, Glen flew 79 missions in a P-40 fighter plane before changing to a P-51. In May 1944, when he was on his 81st mission, an attack on a large Japanese army base in central China's Hankou, his P-51 was shot down by the Japanese. U.S. Flying Tigers pilot Glen Beneda is pictured in the U.S. Air Force uniform during the World War II. (Xinhua) After parachuting in Jianli, Glen was surrounded by curious farmers working in the rice paddies. He tried to talk to them with the help of an English-Chinese phrase book for emergency use. The farmers finally realized the man in front of them was an American soldier. They took good care of him and managed to find medical assistance for his badly wounded legs. To hide him from the Japanese troops, they tied heavy stones to his plane and sank it to the bottom of the lake. On a stretcher, Glen was transferred by anti-Japanese guerrillas from one village to another. To avoid the Japanese troops, they hid by day and marched at night, and finally arrived at the Fifth Division of China's New Fourth Army led by Li Xiannian, who later became Chinese president from 1983 to 1988. U.S. Flying Tigers pilot Glen Beneda is seen in front of a P-40 figther plane in China during the World War II. (Xinhua) "General Li was very generous to us. He gave us each a Japanese officer's pistol, and he gave me a beautiful sword," Glen recalled in a previous interview. After a hard journey of nearly 60 days, he finally returned safely to the headquarters of the 14th Air Force in Chongqing in southwest China. "I know that the Chinese people called the Flying Tigers hero. But my father always said that the Chinese people are the heroes, because they saved his life," Edward recalled. PASSING FRIENDSHIP ON "Without the Chinese people's help, I could not have had my family," Glen always said. He wished that the Beneda family would always be friends with the Chinese people from generation to generation. Glen went back to China in 2002, and then again in 2005, that was when they got to know Li Xiaolin, daughter of Li Xiannian and then vice president of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). She arranged his trip to the very village where he was saved. In 2010, even though he was in a wheelchair and living with a pacemaker after several heart bypass operations, Glen still decided to go back to China to fulfill his last wish of expressing gratitude to the Chinese people, regardless of his doctor's warning. This time, he took 10 family members of three generations to the small village to which he said he owed his life. He visited the Li Xiannian Memorial Park, the former residence of Li Xiannian, in Hong'an County of Hubei, and presented the pistol given by General Li as a souvenir to the museum as a permanent collection. In an interview during the trip, Brian Beneda, Glen's grandson, said the spirit of his grandfather also exists in his later generations. "The trip is very meaningful to know about China, about WWII and U.S.-China involvement ... and to continue the friendship that was built so many years ago." Shortly after his last journey to China, Glen passed away from a heart attack in October. According to his wish, some of his cremains were sent to China by his wife Elinor Beneda and two sons, and laid to rest in the Li Xiannian Memorial Park. "We consider the Chinese people as part of our family. I'm not talking about just the ones that saved my father's life, but we have a very profound and strong relationship with all the Chinese people," Edward said emotionally. KEEPING STORY ALIVE Edward said his father regarded the China experience a valuable lesson, namely to be good to others and to serve. Indeed, Glen worked his whole life as a serviceman. After the war, Glen came back to his hometown in McCook, a small town in Nebraska, and continued his family business planting wheat and corn. In 1951, he moved to California and landed a job in a post office. Later, he was hired by the Los Angeles County Fire Department and worked as a firefighter for 25 years until retirement. Li Xiaolin, daughter of Li Xiannian and then vice president of Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Glen Beneda's wife Elinor Beneda, son Edward Beneda and Henry Beneda (from L to R) mourn during the cremains laying ceremony of Glen Beneda, a U.S. Flying Tigers pilot during the World War II, in Hong'an County, central China's Hubei Province, on May 11, 2011. (Xinhua) "My father, along with many of the WWII veterans, they were very humble people. They went and did their job that they were supposed to do," Edward said his father didn't talk much about his experience in China until the last decade of his life. Although seldom mentioning this experience, Glen got together with the other Flying Tigers members every couple of years. In his thirties, Edward began to join his father and got to know some of the veterans. "We didn't know the story, then we found out that they are heroes and they did many heroic things." He began to keep an eye on their stories and accompanied his father to China several times. In his father's last years, Edward developed a strong sense of mission to keep the story alive. With the help of Li Xiaolin, a documentary about Glen was made. After the documentary's premier in 2011, Edward often showed it at local schools in Los Angeles where he lives, and talked to the youth about what happened in WWII. He said that for the young generation, reading the history in the book is one thing, but actually listening to somebody tell the real story is much better. "My family is involved in this part of the history, and it really brings it to life ... my wife and I most probably will not be here in the next 20 or 30 years, but we want the stories to live on." "It's very important for our two countries to keep this strong relationship in the history ... we have the responsibility to keep the record true, so that future generations can know about it and continue to build upon this great Chinese-American cultural heritage," he said. A Palestinian girl plays outside her home in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, on Sept. 2, 2018. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday that the question of the Palestinian refugees has to be resolved in accordance with the legitimate international resolutions. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar) UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday asked for more support for the UN relief agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA). "China calls on the international community to lend greater support to UNRWA. We hope that the pledging conference to be held in June will be a success," Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council. Last year, on the basis of the regular annual pledge to the agency, China increased greatly its contributions to it, he said. "We will continue to make financial contributions to UNRWA." Over recent years, the hotspot issues in the Middle East triggered numerous humanitarian crises. UNRWA, in the face of extremely harsh and difficult conditions, has carried out humanitarian relief efforts and achieved positive results, Ma noted. "We have noted that UNRWA has been working hard to improve the humanitarian situation of Palestine refugees, safeguard their rights, alleviate the burden on their host countries, actively promote regional peace and stability, and prevent the spread of terrorist and extremist ideologies in the refugee camps. China applauds such efforts," he said. The UN agency, officially known as the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, is a relief and human development aid body for Palestine refugees and their descendants. It currently helps more than 5 million people in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria as well as West Bank and Gaza. The agency was confronted with its most severe funding crisis in 2018 after the United States, traditionally the largest donor, suddenly cut its funding before it completely stopped its support. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 05:23:32|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, May 22 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday asked the international community to provide more support for Somalia in security capacity building and humanitarian and socio-economic development aid. "Somalia is an important country in the Horn of Africa. Maintaining peace and stability in the country is in the common interests of the region and international community as a whole," Yao Shaojun, minister counselor and political coordinator of China's permanent mission to the United Nations, told the Security Council. At present, the overall situation in Somalia remains complex, and it faces challenges on multiple fronts, he said. The Security Council, the United Nations as a whole and the international community should provide better support and assistance. He asked for full respect for the ownership of the Somali federal government in domestic affairs. "We should respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Somalia, help establish an authoritative and capable federal government, and optimize its federal institutions." "We should strengthen communication and coordination with the Somali government, give full play to its own initiative, and improve its ability to achieve development on its own," he added. He asked to support the efforts of the African Union and other regional and subregional organizations to help maintain peace and security in Somalia. At present, Somalia is still faced with serious threats from al-Shabaab militant group. It is necessary for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) to continue its deployment in Somalia. "China supports the Security Council in extending AMISOM's mandate, and supports AMISOM in keeping necessary forces in the country," said Yao. He expressed the hope that the United Nations and the international community could provide stable, predictable and sustainable financial support to AMISOM, help relevant troop-contributing countries with capacity building so as to fight al-Shabaab more effectively. At the same time, the international community should continue to help Somalia improve its security capacity building in order to ensure that the Somali security forces could take over the maintenance of security responsibilities from AMISOM in a gradual and steady manner. Yao asked the international community to increase humanitarian assistance and socio-economic development support to Somalia. The socio-economic foundation in Somalia is weak. There is still a relatively big gap in international humanitarian assistance. China hopes that all international partners honor their commitments in earnest and provide assistance in a timely manner, he said. China will continue to actively support the Somali peace process and play a constructive role in realizing peace, stability and development in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, said Yao. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 06:18:55|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Mahmoud Fouly, Emad al-Azrak CAIRO, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Egypt can learn from the Chinese expertise and advanced technology to boost the quarry sector which is very promising and witnessing an unprecedented leap, an Egyptian official said in a recent interview with Xinhua. "The quarry sector is promising and distinguished, as Egypt is rich in unique quarries with its rare materials with high quality, various colors and rare specifications," said Ibrahim Ghali, head of the Quarry Section of the Chamber of Building Materials Industries at the Federation of Egyptian Industries (FEI). "It can be a leading industry in the Egyptian economy in the coming period," he added. According to Ghali, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi encouraged boosting the quarry sector to save foreign currencies, provide more job opportunities and increase production to meet the needs of the industrial and urban development in Egypt. Egypt has about 3,000 quarries, 40 percent of which are located in Red Sea Province, 20 percent in Upper Egypt and 15 percent in Suez Province. The country annually produces about 5 million tons of natural ornamental stones, according to the Quarry Section chief. Ghali described cooperation with China in the field as "great," referring to several Chinese companies working in the quarry sector in Egypt, either in raw materials or end-user products. The Egyptian official expressed his aspiration for Egypt to cooperate with China to boost its own quarry sector. "China has great experience in the quarry sector and I hope there will be further cooperation with the Chinese side in this industry, especially as China is one of the biggest importers of Egypt's quarry products and the Chinese companies are strongly present in the Egyptian quarry market," he said. Ghali noted that there is a long history of cooperation between Egypt and China in the industry, adding "China is the largest foreign investor in the field of quarry." "We hope that there will be fruitful cooperation with the Chinese in the technology required for quarry products and the training of technical personnel, as China has vast and distinguished expertise in the industry," Ghali told Xinhua. According to Ghali, Egypt has been exerting efforts to develop the quarry industry to attract more investments and increase the added value of the sector, which until recently was based on exporting raw materials. Among the efforts is the ongoing discussion of the quarry law at the Egyptian parliament on an amendment which would provide a suitable and attractive environment for investment in the field. "Egypt has recently witnessed an unprecedented development in logistics services, road networks, infrastructure and energy, which are key factors for the development of the quarry industry," said the chief of the Quarry Section of the Chamber of Building Materials Industries. Ghali explained that the Egyptian government is trying hard to manufacture the necessary supplies for the quarry industry. "We are currently planning to establish an international stone institute that will be unique and unprecedented in the world," he said. Ghali also highlighted the government's work on establishing industrial complexes close to the quarries, which would provide suitable conditions to boost the industry, save the time, money and effort consumed in transportation and increase the competitive advantage of quarry products. "A number of technology-based stone factory complexes have already been established in Beni Suef Province and Al-Galala area of Red Sea Province," he said. Russian S-400 air defence mobile missile launching systems drive during a rehearsal for the Victory Day parade in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia, on May 7, 2015. (Reuters File photo) ANKARA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Turkish defense minister said Turkey had sent military personnel to Russia for training on the S-400 air defense system, state-run Anadolu Agency reported Wednesday. "The military training will continue in the coming months," Hulusi Akar told reporters late Tuesday. Highlighting the defense capabilities of the S-400 systems, Akar said "no one should be bothered" by their use. Turkey "is making necessary preparations" for the potential sanctions from the United States over the purchase of the Russian S-400 system, he added. Turkey's determination to buy the S-400 missile system from Russia has strained relations with the United States, its NATO ally. Washington has warned that Ankara will risk sanctions if it insists on receiving S-400 defense systems in July. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 06:54:07|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADEN, Yemen, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's government representatives at the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah suspended their meetings with Michael Lollesgard who heads the UN monitoring mission in the city, a military spokesman said Wednesday. According to Waddah Dubaish, spokesman for joint pro-government forces in the country's western coast, the government team suspended all meetings and discussions with Lollesgard during the past days. "The government team was not allowed to enter Hodeidah's ports to monitor the Houthi withdrawal and decided to continue boycotting the meetings with Lollesgard for that reason," Waddah told Xinhua by phone. "The government team has the right to enter Hodeidah's ports to ensure removal of all armed elements," he said. The spokesman described the Houthis' withdrawal from Hodeidah's ports as "a misleading step that affected the credibility of Lollesgard" who supervised the process as a head of the joint RCC. The last meeting that included the government's representatives together with Lollesgard was held in the southern port city of Aden on May 11. The warring parties in Yemen reached a UN-backed deal in Stockholm in December 2018, which included a governorate-wide cease-fire of Hodeidah and the formation of the RCC to monitor withdrawal of troops by both the government and the Houthis in the area. During the past weeks, the Houthi rebels announced that the first phase of their three-day redeployment in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah was completed under the UN supervision. According to the Stockholm Agreement, the first phase will see Houthi rebels withdraw five km from the three ports of Hodeidah, while the government forces should pull out four km to the south of Kilo-8 area. The UN monitoring mission headed by Lollesgard visited the war-torn city and welcomed the Houthi rebels' handover of the security of Hodeidah ports to the coast guards. Yemeni government officials said the coast guard forces that took over the ports were recruited and trained previously by the Houthis for the mission. On Tuesday, Yemen's parliament issued a strongly-worded statement and called on the government to stop dealing with the UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, accusing him of violating the UN resolutions and approving the Houthis' unilateral withdrawal from Hodeidah's ports. The long-delayed UN-sponsored Stockholm Agreement, the first step toward a comprehensive political solution focused on the port city of Hodeidah, lifeline for Yemen's most commercial imports and humanitarian aid. The Iran-allied Houthi rebels control the city of Hodeidah which has been the focus of intense clashes since 2017. The government forces, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, have advanced to the southern outskirts of the port city, but the forces have halted a major offensive to recapture Hodeidah to pave the way for peace efforts. Source: Xinhua| 2019-05-23 07:19:16|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close OTTAWA, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Canada is to earmark 15.7 billion Canadian dollars (about 11.7 billion U.S. dollars) to construct 18 guard ships for the Canadian Coast Guard fleet, according to Canadian Prime Minister's Office on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Canadian government is to allocate an additional 351 million Canadian dollars (about 261 million U.S. dollars) to improve capacity of the coast guard management. The 15.7 billion figure is an early estimate of the cost for construction, support, infrastructure, project management and cost overruns, or contingency funding. The costs of each ship will be announced after contract negotiations have been completed. The Canadian Coast Guard is responsible for a number of services, including search and rescue, environmental response, ice breaking, ocean science, and maintaining a massive navigation and communication system. Spectacol de muzica electronica in Piata Sfatului Brasov, de Revelion Un spectacol de muzica electronica in Piata Sfatului si peste 7000 de artificii au fost pregatite, pentru brasoveni si turisti, de Primaria municipiului Brasov, pentru seara de Revelion. Spectacolul va incepe la ora 20,00, cu doua show-uri de cate o ora [citeste mai departe] Open source On Monday, May 20, inauguration of Volodymyr Zelensky took place. And on May 21 it became known about the first appointment of the new president. So, Zelensky dismissed the head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Viktor Muzhenko and appointed Lieutenant-General Ruslan Khomchak instead. What is known about the new commander in chief of the Armed Forces? Biography Ruslan Khomchak was born on June 5, 1967 in Rivne. He graduated from the Moscow Military School. He served in Germany, and then in Belarus. Seven years he served in the 24th separate mechanized brigade, after which he studied at the National Academy of Defense. Khomchak was the commander of the 300th separate mechanized regiment in Chernivtsi, and in April 2005 he headed the 72nd separate mechanized brigade. Since 2009 - Chief of Staff of the 8th Army Corps. In 2011, Colonel Khomchak was awarded the rank of major general by decree of President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. In May 2012, Khomchak became commander of the 6th Army Corps, and in August 2013 he was given the rank of lieutenant general. In November 2013, the 6th Army Corps was reorganized into the South Command, the acting commander of which was Ruslan Komchak. Open source The enemy did not use the Minsk-banned weaponry Donbas conflict, soldier smoking RFE/RL The Russia-backed militants violated the ceasefire regime twice in the Donbas conflict zone. The press service of JFO HQ reported this. In Donets region, the enemy fired with the automatic easel grenade launchers near Marinka settlement. In the Luhansk region, the occupants opened fire with grenade launchers of various systems near Popasna village. As a result of the attack, one soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was wounded. As we reported earlier, over the past 24 hours, Russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions in Donbas five times. The Defense Ministry of Ukraine reports that the illegal armed units used grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, small arms, and sniper rifles. The enemy opened fire in Donetsk region four times; in Vodyane, Pavlopol, and Hnutove, the militants fired grenade launchers, heavy machineguns, and small arms. No Minsk-banned weaponry was used on May 21 Ukrainian Army uniform Open source Over the past 24 hours, Russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions in Donbas five times. The Defense Ministry of Ukraine reports that the illegal armed units used grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, small arms and sniper rifles. The enemy opened fire in Donetsk region four times; in Vodyane, Pavlopol and Hnutove, the militants fired grenade launchers, heavy machineguns and small arms. In Luhansk region, the occupants fired just once, in Shumy. Sniper fire was reported in this area. No attacks were observed in the combat area since the beginning of May 22. Open source The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine did not allow opening an airport in Kramatorsk for the civil flights. They explained this with the war in Donbas. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated that as the News of Donbas reported. According to the report, using an airport for civil flight is not possible for now due to the situation in the Joint Forces operation. Thus, Kramatorsk airspace is closed for passenger airplanes. The Defense Ministry has decided not to open an airport for civil aviation on the Kramatorsk airfield and suggested to reconsider the issue after stabilization of the situation in the state and the restoration of full control by the state authorities of Ukraine over the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the report said. According to the report, the issues of Mariupol airport is not within the competence of the ministry, since the object was transferred to the communal property of local self-government bodies in 1996. A group of men lost their way near Novotroitske and ended up on the enemy territory Eight servicemen of the Ukrainian military ended up in captivity in Donbas. The Joint Forces Operation HQ reported that on May 22. 'This morning, eight servicemen of the Armed Forces from the line-up of the Joint Forces were moving in the area of Novotroitske, riding a truck; they lost the designated route and ended up in the temporarily occupied territory, where they were detained by militants of the armed units of the Russian Federation', reads the report. The Joint Forces Operation HQ takes all possible measures in order to find and bring the servicemen back. Over the past 24 hours, Russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions in Donbas five times. The Defense Ministry of Ukraine reports that the illegal armed units used grenade launchers, heavy machine guns, small arms and sniper rifles. The enemy opened fire in Donetsk region four times; in Vodyane, Pavlopol and Hnutove, the militants fired grenade launchers, heavy machineguns and small arms. The reason for such a decision is the dissolution of the Ukrainian Parliament Open source The IMF mission has shortened the working schedule in Ukraine; it is not going to reconsider the IMF-Ukraine stand-by program. UNN news agency reported that with the reference to an informed source. May 22 or 23, the mission returns to Washington. 'There will be no program revision. The reason is the dissolution of the Parliament', reads the message. The source added that certain appointments in Zelensky's administration did not go unnoticed. President Volodymyr Zelensky officially disbanded the Parliament and approved the date of the snap parliamentary election, July 21. Gerry Rice, the Head of Communications Department of the IMF earlier said that the Fund supports ties with the newly elected president Volodymyr Zelensky, and that the Mission would soon come to Ukraine. May 21, the Mission started working in Kyiv. On May 14, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court finished the cases on suits of property guarantors Open source The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) and PrivatBank won the courts against companies connected to the former co-owner of the bank, Ihor Kolomoysky, through which they wanted to relieve themselves of their obligations on refinancing loans, as Interfax-Ukraine agency reported. According to court materials, the NBU and PrivatBank won a lawsuit against Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant and Trovelko Holdings Ltd (Cyprus), which demanded from the court to release them from obligations on refinancing issued earlier to PrivatBank by the NBU in amounts of 98.6 million dollars and 5.4 million dollars, respectively. According to the NBU press service, the purpose of the lawsuits is to avoid obligations not only by the legal entities associated with the former owners of the bank, who transferred the property belonging to them to the National Bank, but also by the financial guarantor - Kolomoysky. This category of cases was considered by the courts of all instances, starting from 2017. Kyiv Economic Court and the Kyiv Economic Court of Appeal initially satisfied all such claims, and only after the Cassation Court in the Supreme Court expressed the legal position in support of the NBU and PrivatBank and canceled previous court decisions, did the Northern Economic Court of Appeal also sided with regulator. "On May 14, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court completed cases on claims of property guarantors related to the former owners of PrivatBank, on refinancing loans to the NBU and PrivatBank in the obligations of the regulator to write off funds from the banks correspondent accounts of the bank to pay off the debt on refinancing and PrivatBanks liabilities to pay off the debt to the NBU, the NBU spokesman said. It is noted that, taking into account the provisions of the economic procedural legislation, the legal positions of the Supreme Court are binding on the courts of all instances in such disputes. As it was reported earlier, the court merged five Kolomoyskys lawsuits against Ukraine's National Bank, PrivatBank. The Prosecutor General Office launched an investigation on alleged pressure put by President Poroshenko on judges of PrivatBank case. On April 18, Kyiv-based court ruled that the nationalization of Privatbank in late 2017 was 'conducted with multiple law breaches.' The court, thus, granted the motion by Ihor Kolomoysky, the oligarch who appealed against the nationalization of the bank he had owned. District Administrative Court of Kyiv granted the claim of Ukrainian oligarch Ihor Kolomoysky against the National Bank of Ukraine and Ukraines Government on nationalization of PrivatBank. Merkel and Macron emphasized that the military actions in Donbas influence the relations between Russia and the EU German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed the readiness to work for implementation of Minsk Agreements within the Normandy Format as TASS reported. They wished Russia to assume the necessary actions to create the favorable terms for the dialogue and reminded about full readiness to assume all possible efforts to implement Minsk Agreements within the Normandy Format, the message said. It is noted that Macron and Merkel emphasized the necessity to stop the conflict in the east of Ukraine. The leaders of France and Germany noted that the military actions in Donbas influence the relations between Russia and the EU. Earlier President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he was ready to negotiate with Russia in the Normandy format. Besides, Foreign Minister of Germany Heiko Maas stated that Berlin is in favor of maintaining the role of Germany and France as mediators during negotiations on the Donbas conflict settlement. The meeting lasted at least three hours The meeting between Ukraines SAP Head Nazar Kholodnytsky, Trumps lawyer Rudolph Giuliani and famous French jurist Charles Pratt took place in Paris, as the SIPA Press reported. According to sources, the meeting lasted at least three hours, which may indicate the preparation of a series of high-profile loud corruption exposures in Ukraine. An additional argument in favor of this version is the position and track record of Charles Pratt. Pratt - Magistrate (Senior Administrative Officer) on fraud and tax fraud investigations. In France, Charles Prat has gained popularity thanks to the successful investigation of a number of high profile corruption cases. The result of his work was the return to the state budget of about 14 billion euros. As we reported earlier, Rudolph Giuliani stated that Zelenskys entourage became the reason he canceled his visit to Kyiv, as Giuliani told the Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Anopchenko. In particular, the lawyer confirmed that he intended to meet with President-elect Volodymyr Zelensky, but he changed his plans as Zelenskys advisors are hostile to Trump. Suprun emphasized that Russia continues to violate the international right and human rights all this time Acting Healthcare Minister of Ukraine Ulyana Suprun urged the UN to exclude Russia from the Security Council. She stated it during her speech at the 72nd session of the World Health Organization in Geneva as Healthcare Ministry reported. She noted the promotion of the reform of the healthcare system in Ukraine despite the fact that it took place amid the five-year aggression from the Russian Federation. Suprun emphasized that Russia continues to violate the international right and human rights all this time. The UN should not tolerate the presence of the Russian Federation at the Security Council until it returns to the system of the international right, Suprun stated. She noted that Russia cannot stay in the Security Council until it withdraws its troops from Donbas and Crimea; until it releases the POWs and political prisoners. Suprun also urged the WHO and other international organizations to refuse from the Russian financing not to become the hostages of Kremlin. She also noted that it is necessary to maintain and extend anti-Russian sanctions. On May 18, Russias representation to the UN appealed to the Chairman of the Security Council asking to call the session because Verkhovna Rada adopted the language law. However, UN Security Council denied Russia discussion the Ukrainian language law. As it was reported earlier, on April 25, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the draft law #5670-d on the provision of the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state one in the second reading and in general. David McNew/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Federal prosecutors in New York charged Michael Avenatti with additional financial crimes Wednesday, including allegedly forging the signature of his former client Stormy Daniels and diverting nearly $300,000 owed to her for a book advance into his own account, according to court records filed on Wednesday. Prosecutors said that he then used money he took from Daniels to make monthly payments on his Ferrari, as well as to cover airfare, dry cleaning, hotels and restaurant bills, as well as payroll and insurance costs for his law firm's employees. The new charges accuse Avenatti of misappropriating money that was supposed to be paid to Daniels when Avenatti was representing the adult film actress in her public battle against President Trump and his former attorney Michael Cohen. "Avenatti used misrepresentations and a fraudulent document purporting to bear his client's name and signature to convince his client's literary agent to divert money owed to Avenatti's client to an account controlled by Avenatti," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in a statement. "Avenatti then spent the money principally for his own personal and business purposes." Federal prosecutors in Manhattan -- who have already accused Avenatti of extortion in a case involving Nike -- also indicted him separately on extortion charges in the Nike case on Wednesday. On Wednesday, Avenatti denied the fraud and identity theft charges to ABC News, saying that No monies relating to Ms. Daniels were ever misappropriated or mishandled." "She received millions of dollars worth of legal services and we expended huge sums in expenses," he wrote in a statement to ABC News. "She directly paid only $100.00 (not a typo) for all that she received." Not so, said Berman in a statement. Federal prosecutors charge in court papers that Avenatti forged Daniels signature on a document for the purpose of diverting the funds she was owed into an account of his own, and leaving Daniels with the impression that the publishing house she was contracted with to write a book had not delivered the promised advances. "A month after diverting one payment of $148,750 into his own account, Avenatti allegedly used funds received from another source to pay" Daniels, prosecutors said in the statement. One week after that, according to prosecutors, Avenatti diverted a second payment of $148,750 to Daniels into his own account. "To conceal his scheme, and despite repeated requests to Avenatti as [Daniels'] lawyer, for assistance in obtaining the book payment that [Daniels] believed was missing, Avenatti led [her] to believe that [her] publisher was refusing to make the payment...," prosecutors claim. An attorney for Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford, did not immediately respond to a request from ABC News for comment. Avenatti "abused and violated the core duty of an attorney -- the duty to his client," Berman charged in the statement. "As alleged, he used his position of trust to steal an advance on the client's book deal. As alleged, he blatantly lied to and stole from his client to maintain his extravagant lifestyle, including to pay for, among other things, a monthly car payment on a Ferrari. Far from zealously representing his client, Avenatti, as alleged, instead engaged in outright deception and theft, victimizing rather than advocating for his client." In a subsequent statement to ABC News after the charges were filed, Avenatti again reiterated his innocence and said he was entitled to the money from the book advance. "I look forward to a jury hearing all of the evidence and passing judgment on my conduct," Avenatti wrote in the statement. "At no time was any money misappropriated or mishandled. I will be fully exonerated once the relevant emails, contracts, text messages, and documents are presented. I was entitled to any monies retained relating to a book per my agreement with the client. It was part of my agreement for representation and compensation. Daniels' current attorney, Clark Brewster, had a different take when contacted by ABC News. I doubt Michael Avenatti is looking forward to jury hearing evidence about his blatant dishonesty and embezzlement of Stormys book advances," Brewster told ABC News. "If that sentiment is true he has a delusional disorder that merits attention. News of prosecutors inquiry into his business dealings with Daniels marks the latest legal blow for Avenatti, coming after federal prosecutors on both coasts unsealed charges against the controversial 48-year-old attorney. The Daniels investigation is not related to those charges. But it is being run by the same team of federal officials who slapped Avenatti with two counts of extortion for his alleged role in what prosecutors called an old-fashioned shakedown of Nike. He and another celebrity lawyer, Mark Geragos, allegedly threatened to release damaging information about the sportswear giant if it refused to pay the two attorneys millions of dollars. Geragos was not charged with a crime. In the Central District of California, prosecutors targeted Avenatti with wire- and bank-fraud charges in a scheme that included stealing funds from a client to pay off his own expenses. Avenatti gained prominence last year when he began representing Daniels in a defamation lawsuit against Trump. A federal judge in California later threw out the suit and ordered Daniels to reimburse Trump for legal fees. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. President of the WCU Pavlo Grod congratulated the head of the state on starting his cadence The World Congress of Ukrainians (WCU) reacted to President Volodymyr Zelensky's offer for the Ukrainian diaspora to return to Ukraine. Head of the WCU Pavlo Grod thanked Zelensky in person during the meeting, as the website of the presidential service reports. 'I am grateful that you urge Ukrainians to return and work on the development of Ukraine. And we would like to bring that to life jointly, together with you', Grod said. The WCU Head congratulated the Ukrainian leader on starting his cadence. He also thanked Zelensky for the option to meet in the very first days of his work - in spite of the tough schedule. Zelensky's inauguration ceremony took place May 20. During his speech, the President urged the members of Ukrainian diaspora to return from abroad. The head of the state promised the international partners that the world would be 'proud of Ukraine'. The bill foresees the implementation of the proportional electoral system; it also offers to cut the election threshold from five percent to three. Besides, it foresees the voting for non-public lists of MPs Open source The Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament will consider the bill on changing the electoral system in terms of parliamentary elections. The draft law was submitted by President Volodymyr Zelensky May 22. The respective message appeared on the parliament's website in the afternoon. The President marked the draft law as urgent. Andriy Parubiy, the Parliament's Speaker announced that the bill is accepted for consideration. The document foresees the implementation of the proportional electoral system; it also offers to cut the election threshold from five percent to three. Besides, it foresees the voting for the closed, non-public lists. Recently, Parubiy said that the draft law on the dismissal of the Parliament was illegal, while the bill on changing the electoral system in terms of parliamentary elections was filed with severe law breaches. The urgent parliament session takes place in Kyiv, on the request of President Zelensky. The head of the state previously signed the decree on disbanding the Verkhovna Rada, offering to hold the snap parliamentary election on July 21. Chairman of the political council of the Opposition Platform - For Life Viktor Medvedchuk 112.ua Chairman of the Political Council of Opposition Platform For Life Viktor Medvedchuk commented on the statement of Volodymyr Zelensky concerning the release of POWs, which he said during his inauguration on May 20, on the air of the TV Channel 112.Ukraine. We were not just speaking about it, we were doing it. Yes, we liberated people, our party and I deal with this issue. We conducted exchanges together with the authorities indeed, but they were exchanges. Yes, we wanted peace, and not just wanted, but we suggested a peace plan that was developed and agreed upon as a negotiating position in Donetsk, Luhansk, and Moscow. We insisted on the fact that Kyiv would agree to negotiations for the implementation of those provisions of the Minsk agreement, foreseen by these agreements, which are approved by the decisions of the UN Security Council and which, I emphasize, can be realized indeed, because the preliminary agreement to discuss this particular agenda, this peace plan, which I proposed, we received from Donetsk, Luhansk, and Moscow, and it was made publicly, and you know it well " the politician said. "And the very fact, which today the new government and Mr. Zelensky claimed in his inauguration speech, of course, is optimistic. However, this optimism has not lasted for long, because you correctly stated that he said in his inauguration speech he was ready to lose his ratings, even his position for the sake of peace, but the hostilities should be stopped and the territories should be returned. And after a few hours, I suppose it is an indicator, he said, that Ukraine was grateful for the U.S. sanctions against Russia and he asked the USA to strengthened the sanctions in a conversation with the U.S. delegation, headed by the Energy Minister Perry. How should one understand that? We should negotiate including with Russia, and we have to negotiate concerning peace with the Donetsk and Luhansk, and in order to do so should the sanctions against Russia be strengthened?" Medvedchuk added. As we reported earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated that it is impossible to lose something, which is rightfully ours. Crimea and Donbas is the territory of Ukraine, as Zelensky said during his speech in the Verkhovna Rada. The moments, which were not shown by the mass media appeared in a new video A new vlog with the inauguration of newly elected President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky was published on the YouTube channel Ze!President. Today, a little bit behind-the-scenes from the inauguration of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Wait for the next videos to know how to be a president and remain a human, the message under the video stated. Earlier the videos of election campaign of Volodymyr Zelensky were published on this YouTube channel. Volodymyr Zelensky assumed the office and became the sixth president of Ukraine. The solemn ceremony of inauguration took place in Kyiv on Monday, May 20. The new head of the state greeted the audience that welcomed him at Mariinsky Park in the downtown Kyiv. Zelensky passed the improvised corridor in the park, shaking hands and making selfies with his supporters. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky officially dissolved the Verkhovna Rada and appointed the snap elections for July 21. The Cabinet of Ministers should provide the financing of the elections. Ukrainian diplomat was at first appointed for this office, but then a decree appeared, canceling the previous document; Zelensky team said she had declined the offer to work as one of the deputy heads of the presidential administration Open source Olena Zerkal, Ukraine's deputy foreign minister for European integration affairs said she would explain the situation with her job at the presidential administration. She posted that on Facebook. 'Thank you for all your emotions. These are inspiring! The paradoxes of Decree No.309 lead to rumors and misunderstanding. As far as I'm concerned, I don't like keeping people tense in this fashion, which is why I'll make it clear later in the evening', she wrote. 'It's not about the job, I can tell you that much for now', Zerkal added. May 21, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the decree No.309, appointing the Ukrainian diplomat Deputy Chief of the presidential administration. Zerkal refused; however, she agreed to continue to serve as the full-fledged envoy dealing with Ukraine vs Russia international lawsuits. The bill on the lifting of the MPs immunity is ready for the second reading by the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Ryaboshapka, the Deputy Head of Presidents Administration Open source The bills on impeachment and on the lifting of parliamentary immunity have already been prepared. Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration Ryaboshapka stated this, as RBK-Ukraine reported. According to the report, the bill on impeachment is ready to be reviewed by the parliament. The bill on the impeachment of the president, and the bill on the procedure of lifting the immunity are ready to be reviewed, Ruslan Ryaboshapka said. According to the Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, the bill on the lifting of the MPs immunity has already been passed to the Verkhovna Rada. The bill is ready for the second reading. The bill on immunity is in the parliament today. It is ready for the second reading. The parliament could have already voted, but they try to avoid this, Ryaboshapka added. As we reported earlier, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine refused to include the draft law on the amendment of the electoral system on parliamentary elections in the agenda as well as the draft law on the procurement system during the elections. Moreover, the alternative election draft law filed by the group of the MPs was also not included in the agenda of the extraordinary session. The reason for the withdrawal is uncertainty about the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers Open source The International Monetary Fund ceased its mission to Ukraine, as Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Olexandr Sayenko stated at the conference Responsibility, trust, inclusivity: the reforms of tomorrow in Kyiv on May 22. According to the report, the INF approved this decision taking into account the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the fact the new government has not been formed yet. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed the decree on the dismissal of Verkhovna Rada and appointed the election on July 21 as the decree#303/2019 reported. The Cabinet of Ministers is ordered to provide the financing of the elections. The decree comes into force from the moment it is published. Earlier, after the consultations with President Zelensky Oleg Lyashko, the header of Radical Party of Ukraine, said that snap elections to the Parliament of Ukraine might be held on July 21. In Mykolayiv, a man threw a smoke bomb on the territory of the Arsenal of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Security units managed to react on time. The press service of the Ukrainian Naval Forces reported this on Facebook. The man, who threw the smoke bomb, tried to escape. He was noticed by the guard, and the unit on duty detained a provocateur. It is known that surveillance cameras recorded the moment of provocation. According to the report, the command of the unit immediately strengthened the arsenal security and inspected the territory. No other foreign objects and persons were detected near the arsenal. We remind that military facilities are guarded by armed guards, guards have the right to use lethal force in case of unlawful actions of offenders. Any provocations near military objects will be stopped immediately. We will not allow the country to be threatened. We urge citizens to immediately report to law enforcement bodies about suspicious persons near military sites and to remember that the territory of the military unit is under guard 24 hours", the report said. According to the report, the militants informed the police workers, the Security Service of Ukraine and the service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine about the incident. Open source Head of State Security Administration Valery Geletey resigned as he reported on Facebook. Geletey wrote the letter of resignation. He stated that he was not going to leave the office before the inauguration because it would be irresponsible. I wish force, wisdom and inspiration to my successor at the honorable service for the benefit of our Motherland. I am pleased that during almost five years we could make the professional service of the European level from the security institution. There were a lot of challenges, dangers, difficulties, big and small issues but it made us stronger and more experienced every day. Leaving the post of the Head of the State Security Administration of Ukraine, I will continue my devoted service to the State, People, Law. Honor is mine!, Geletey wrote. Valery Geletey was appointed at the post of the administrations head on October 14, 2014. Then he was the Defense Minister of Ukraine but filed letter of resignation on October 12. Ukraines PM Groysman wrote a letter of resignation, which is dated May 20. He said he would resign on Wednesday, May 22. Groysman headed Ukraines Government since April 14, 2016. Besides, representative of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to the Verkhovna Rada Vadym Denysenko resigned. gas Open source Ukrainian government would consider various ways to reduce price for gas. This was announced by the head of Presidential Administration of Ukraine Andriy Bohdan on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel during The Pulse political talk show. In fact, we talked about this with many experts - it is a big dialogue. However, we can take certain decisions after consulting with international partners, because Ukraine in dependent, unfortunately, on the previous government, on their decisions, largely dependent on the IMF and other organizations ... In this situation, we must agree on certain solutions, since reducing the gas price for several months can have very different consequences in the credit and banking policy, Bohdan said. Bohdan noted that the presidents most firm intention is to simplify the lives of Ukrainians as much as possible, especially in the terms of tariffs. Of course, we will consider this way, Bohdan added. As it was reported earlier, at the meeting with Vice-President of the European Commission for the Energy Union Maros Sefcovic President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the question of Russian gas transit through Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky assumed the office and became the sixth president of Ukraine. The solemn ceremony of inauguration took place in Kyiv on Monday, May 20. The new head of the state greeted the audience that welcomed him at Mariinsky Park in the downtown Kyiv. Zelensky passed the improvised corridor in the park, shaking hands and making selfies with his supporters. The head of the state made the oath the traditional way, with his right hand on Peresopnytsia Gospels and the Constitution of Ukraine. In his bold speech, the new leader announced he would dismiss the Ukrainian Parliament. He also urged the Ukrainian Government to resign if they could not act effectively anymore. The representatives of the International Monetary Fund are conducting the meeting with officials President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky intends to meet with the representatives of the International Monetary Fund. The press service of the president of Ukraine. According to the report, the meeting is planned for the next week. Now the IMF mission meets with the officials. Earlier, the International Monetary Fund ceased its mission to Ukraine, as Minister of the Cabinet of Ministers Olexandr Sayenko stated at the conference Responsibility, trust, inclusivity: the reforms of tomorrow in Kyiv on May 22. According to the report, the INF approved this decision taking into account the dissolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the fact the new government has not been formed yet. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed the decree on the dismissal of Verkhovna Rada and appointed the election on July 21 as the decree#303/2019 reported. FORT IRWIN, California -- Army combat units rotating through the National Training Center will soon face swarms of drones and long-range communications challenges if the combat training center expands by 80,000 acres. NTC is one of the Army's three combat training centers that put brigade combat teams through realistic, decisive-action training rotations designed to prepare them to face near-peer threats such as Russia or China on a modern battlefield. In addition to fighting an armored opposing force (OPFOR), BCTs will soon have to face a greater drone presence here. "We are going to test out drone swarms -- so 40 drones by one operator flying overhead dropping grenades," Col. Carl Michaud, deputy commander of NTC, recently told Military.com. Related content: Drone swarm technology that involves a single operator is fairly new, he said. "You see it like in Super Bowls and stuff like that, but that is all computer controlled and there are towers and they are all pinging it off of it," Michaud said. "This is no-kidding autonomous with one pilot." The Army's Training and Doctrine Command is overseeing the effort, and "we are implementing it for the Army," he said, adding that he hopes to have the first drone swarms go up in the current rotation. NTC officials also hope to upgrade the center's internal cell-phone network to give insurgent role-players better communications capability. "We run our own cell phone network out here. It's right now a 2G 900 megahertz, and we are getting ready to upgrade that to a 4G LTE," Michaud said. "It will create more realistic problems. ... So now, if I am an insurgent and I am in [the fictional town of] Razish, I can take a picture and text it back to the OPFOR commander, who is my buddy or who is my brother's friend in the scenario, and he can get real-time footage." NTC officials hope to have the project completed by December, he said. In the long term, NTC will likely expand its 1,000-square-mile training area by 80,000 acres, Michaud said. "The western training area is what we are calling it," he said. "We hope by 2025 this will be fully ready for training." The expansion is more about providing units with realistic, long-range communications challenges than it is about increased maneuver space, Michaud said. "The corps support battalion and the aviation task force would base out of this space, so now they are geographically separated [from the BCT] and you have to use higher levels of strategic communications ... you can't just use FM," he said. "We want to use that to stretch out the lines of communication and make it more realistic in terms of distances." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Two key House lawmakers on Wednesday slammed a Pentagon proposal that would limit what top brass tells Congress about operational plans and orders. The internal proposal, mandated by Acting Defense Secretary Shanahan, was recently sent to lawmakers in the House and Senate. The Washington Post was first to report the news. In the memo, Shanahan, who was recently nominated by President Donald Trump to take the position permanently, highlighted new guidelines that would require military officials to evaluate whether the Pentagon should provide detailed military plans to lawmakers or a "summary briefing" of a plan instead, the Post said. Following the report, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington, and ranking member Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said the guidelines single out lawmakers as a "security risk" rather than their role as the additional oversight needed for Pentagon operations. Related content: "This policy accuses Congress of being a security risk for classified information, which is both inexcusable and inaccurate," Smith and Thornberry said in a joint statement Wednesday. "The department is not in a position to evaluate defense committees' worthiness to receive classified information, nor characterize our ability to appropriately protect it." They continued, "If implemented, the department's new policy guidance would dramatically limit Congress' ability to execute our constitutional prerogative. The department is overstepping its authority by presuming to determine what warrants legislative oversight." Thornberry and Smith added that this issue will be addressed in the National Defense Authorization Act, but did not specify whether it would be in the current fiscal 2020 request that lawmakers are in the process of finalizing. In March, House lawmakers balked at another unpopular move by Shanahan: The Pentagon notified Congress it would reprogram up to $1 billion of infrastructure funding on the U.S. southern border in response to a request from the Department of Homeland Security. Though the House Armed Services Committee did not approve the reallocation of funding, the Pentagon was still able move forward on the effort because it did not break any legal requirements. Since former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' departure-turned-ouster in December, Shanahan, a former Boeing executive recently cleared in an ethics probe of showing favoritism to his former employer, has juggled issues ranging from the Pentagon's role at the U.S.-Mexico border to the latest show-of-force operations the U.S. is conducting as a message to Iran. As a result, lawmakers in recent months have voiced their concerns about the Pentagon's global footprint. The proposal to limit information sharing with Congress could complicate matters for Shanahan, who is expected to go before the Senate next month to begin his confirmation process. "By applying this policy to all members of Congress, regardless of committee assignment, the department misunderstands the role and prerogatives of its committees of jurisdiction," Smith and Thornberry said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Senators considered 17 veteran-centric bills Wednesday, weighing proposed legislation on subjects such as mental health and unlicensed physicians at the Department of Veterans Affairs to health care for women and newborns, as well as stipends for Medal of Honor recipients. With Memorial Day weekend and a congressional break approaching, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee considered three bills introduced by veterans who now serve in the Senate. The first, from Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, would increase the monthly stipend for Medal of Honor recipients from roughly $1,300 to $3,000 per month. Noting that Medal of Honor recipients make dozens -- and sometimes hundreds -- of public appearances each year, Cotton said the increase would go toward transportation, lodging and meals that the 70 living recipients often pay out of pocket. Calling these veterans heroes and inspirations who contribute to military recruitment and retention, he said they deserve the increase. "Medal of Honor citations often read like Hollywood scripts. Not only is the heroism so amazing, most people wouldn't believe it really happened," Cotton said. "This is modest change ... but it would go a long way to helping our Medal of Honor recipients share their stories." Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, a former Iowa National Guard officer, pressed for her bill, the Ensuring Quality Care for our Veterans Act, which would require a third party to review VA medical care provided by physicians who had their licenses terminated for cause before they were hired by the federal government. Ernst cited the case of a constituent, Anthony, who underwent surgery for a brain tumor at the hands of Dr. John Schneider at an Iowa City VA hospital, but who later learned that Schneider had previously had his license revoked and did not remove Anthony's tumor as promised. "Dr. Schneider should have never been hired to treat our veterans," Ernst said. "VA has reformed its hiring practices, thank goodness, but there are still veterans out there who were treated by those with revoked licenses and they don't know." Other bills designed to improve care include the Deborah Sampson Act, which would expand the number of counselors for female veterans at VA facilities, increase coverage for maternity care, and expand the number of female health care providers. Noting that women veterans continue to avoid many VA facilities because they feel uncomfortable or are harassed, Melissa Bryant, chief policy officer at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said the bill is needed to encourage an environment of inclusion at the VA. "When I've said I felt harassed walking into VA ... I was told to come in the back door. I should never have to come in the back door. My father didn't have to come in the back door," Bryant said. "We need to have privacy, and we need to feel safe when we walk in there." Regarding services for female veterans, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, introduced a bill that would increase the length of health coverage a baby delivered by a veteran has after being born past seven days to ensure care for those with health problems. The bill also would cover the cost of transportation for the infant if extended care is needed at another facility. The third piece of legislation introduced by a veteran is the Highly Rural Veteran Transportation Program Extension bill, which would allow the VA to provide grants to veteran service organizations for transporting vets to health care services. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, a former Marine, is the bill's sponsor. On Tuesday, the House passed several bills designed to address veterans' needs, including mental health measures and suicide prevention legislation. It also passed a bill that would allow members of the Coast Guard, National Guard and reserves to receive counseling and services at more than 300 Vet Centers across the nation. The proposed legislation passed by the House must now go before the Senate before it can be signed into law by President Donald Trump. The measures in the Senate must be approved by a number of committees, as well as the full Senate, before being considered in the House. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @patriciakime. Agrilyst which has re-branded to Artemis has closed an $8 million Series A funding co-led by two London-based investors, impact group Astanor Ventures and tech firm Talis Capital with participation from existing investors New York States Empire State Development Fund and the MidWests iSelect Fund. This brings the companys total funding to nearly $12 million. Artemis offers a software-as-a-service platform to help indoor agriculture operations to maximize their efficiency. The platform offers workflow management tools, inventory tracking, and pest and nutrient management. The company analyzes data about these metrics to provide growers with recommendations on the best way to fine-tune their growing plans and increase profitability. Since launching in 2015, it has seen strong customer growth with companies worth a collective $5 billion using the platform daily by its estimate. Along with its new name, the company will roll out a new logo, branding, and overall messaging beginning in June. Artemis is the goddess of all things living. The decision to rebrand came about as we started to expand into enterprise, and added more operations across state and country borders. The majority of the worker population who uses our product does not speak English. They speak Spanish, French, and Arabic, Artemis founder and CEO Allison Kopf told AFN. We wanted a name that transcends our buyer and that resonates across our full user base. Artemis shift towards enterprise-level operations, which includes businesses generating upwards of $5 million in revenue, started in 2018 when the team recognized that there were boundless opportunities to assist large-scale operators with streamlining their operations and improving their margins. Part of the reason for the shift in focus is that the opportunity is bigger for us. What our system is good at doing is managing people, plants, processes, and compliance things oriented around the bottom line. The problems that arise from managing these things are exponentially bigger for enterprise growers because they have larger facilities in different cities or states and they are managing a lot of people, Kopf explains. The Series A round will be focused entirely on helping the New York-based startup secure its foothold among large-scale growers. To aid its expansion efforts, Artemis has two superstar members to its Board of Directors including Dr. Kathleen Merrigan, the former Deputy Secretary of Agriculture under President Obama and the first Executive Director of the Swette Center for Sustainable Food Systems at Arizona State University. Charlie ODonnell, partner and founder of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures, also joins the board. ODonnell led the startups seed round. Dr. Merrigan is an advocate for ag in general and especially women in agriculture. She is a great partner for us because of her background in ag and because she is a huge champion for what we are doing. She knows our customer, our market, and knows what we are trying to build here, says Kopf. In her new capacity, she has a lot of opportunities to be around young people innovating. In 2018, Artemis completed an undisclosed strategic round with Horizons Ventures with the aim of entering the Chinese market. From its early days, growth has always been a focus for the indoor ag startup. The company reported 500% growth in revenue and customers between 2016 and 2018, offering its product in 10 countries and helping cultivate 800 different crop varieties including fruits, vegetables, flowers, cannabis, and hemp. Although the startup didnt start out by providing solutions for cannabis growers, it quickly added the feature to its platform around the same time that it started targeting enterprise growers. It provides some aspects of regulatory compliance capabilities and the system compliments many of the existing regulatory compliance tracking systems on the market, according to Kopf. Compliance has been a focus beyond the cannabis space, particularly in light of recent enhancements in food safety regulations for produce growers. The platform now allows users to create logs that provide information about a number of data points including people, standard operating procedures, and production. The logs are available in whatever form you need them and they are easily searchable. You can create logs to give to a food safety auditor or to pass on to an integrated system for cannabis compliance. Weve made the process tremendously easy for growers to trace and track the product throughout the whole production cycle, she adds. With any expansion-related goals, there are always challenges. For Artemis, finding enough people to support its growth has proven difficult. The company is currently hiring for a wide variety of positions throughout the organization from sales to engineering. As part of its RESILIENCIA! The Experience of Jewish Communities in Spain and the Americas festival, the National Hispanic Cultural Center (1701 Fourth Street SW) is hosting several nights of documentary film screenings this coming week. On Saturday, May 18 at 3pm theres a lecture on Women of Valor in the NHCCs Bank of America Theater. Following the lecture at 6:30pm you can watch Challah Rising in the Desert, an evocative documentary celebrating the history, influences and people of New Mexicos Jewish Community. Thats followed by a Q&A with the films director, Isaac Artenstein, and producer Paula Amar Schwartz. Tickets are $25 for the lecture and film. On Tuesday, May 21 theres a double-feature of short documentaries starting at 7pm. Persecuted and Saved chronicles the 5,000 to 7,000 Jews who managed to reach the Spanish border, fleeing Europe by crossing the Lleida Pyrenees. Your Wishes in Heaven looks at the life of Rachey Muyal, an 87-year-old descendent of Sephardim expelled from Spain in 1492, as she delivers a handwritten letter to the tombs of Catholic monarchs in Grenada, forgiving those responsible for the ancient expulsion. Director Miguel Angel Nieto Solis is on hand for a post-film Q&A. Tickets are $15 for both films. Finally, on Thursday, May 23 theres a round table discussion about Spains relationship with the State of Israel and the efforts of Instituto Cervantes to promote and preserve Jewish culture. Thats followed by the documentary The Caborca Jew: A Mexican Story. Inspired by the narrators own grandfather, the film tells the story of a Polish immigrant trying to get into the US who inadvertently finds himself the only Jew in the small, heavily Catholic town of Caborca, Mexico. For a complete schedule of other events at RESILIENCIA!including concerts, lectures, discussion and exhibitsgo to nhccnm.org/events. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) Photo by Projekt Visuals It sure goes fast. Our narrative so far: A UNM undergrad was shot dead by a known prior offender after engaging in a drunken, closing time fight with others at a club near main campus, in Nob Hill of all places. The shooter was out on a pass from the judgeeven though he had been involved another shoot em up Downtown at another nightclub recentlyand apparently used that free time to revisit old ways. Thats called recidivism, citizens, and it happens when a society punishes without embracing community responsibility while simultaneously commodifying values like violence and power. The magical ability of the prime murder suspect and his suspected accomplicealleged shooter Darian Bashir and alleged getaway driver DAngelo McNealto perpetrate such a heinous crime is due to the fact that Bashir had been previously released from custody in an upcoming, gun-related casedue to a judges decision that was based on a new set of laws meant to reform the criminal justice system in 2017. Besides setting off a furor about the bail reform amendment which went into effect in New Mexico a couple years ago, the crime demonstrated just how lawless stretches of Albuquerque have become. Following this transgression of the normative by chaotic, ill-defined but nonetheless violent forces that have arisen as a result of endemic poverty, lack of proper funding and community engagement, et cetera, Mayor Keller met with leaders from all over the state and at all levels and stations of responsibility to discuss plans to bring violence, particularly gun violence, under control in Albuquerque. Bring the Police Among the strategies to be employed: 50 New Mexico State Police officers would be stationed in Albuquerque from various parts of the statemostly assigned to patrol late night and early morning hours, mind youto help with traffic patrol, callouts and to generally boost the police presence in Burques sprawling scene. Weekly Alibi staffers witnessed three separate groupings of these state police patrols three separate times in the past week. All of them were on the Westside. And yeah, their presence in places where people sometimes drive very dangerouslywhere road rage is common, street people abundant and the after-dark shopping vibe corroded by fear of petty crimedefinitely had an initially ameliorative effect on the overall neighborhood vibe, to our mind and way of thinking. After all, what could go wrong? A History of Violence But the response on social mediaand ultimately the community response as a whole, if you have been listening, dear readerwas not nearly as supportive. Many of those locals who objected to having state police officers driving around town worried that their presence signaled outright oppression. At least two commenters in our respective news feeds were concerned that the state police presence was being inordinately and unreasonably felt in the International District, and that it was by any reckoning, the people of color in that part of town who would be most likely to be negatively affected by this brazen display of jack booted power. Or something like that. Is this really the next step in a city plagued by crime but committed to police reform at the behest of common sense, progressive politics and federal authorities? Certainly, the amount of violent lawlessness in this town is at at an all-time high; what do we expect as citizens, as a society? Of course the state police are operating here, primos. We brought them here through years of inaction, through years of letting Republicans advance an agenda that meant fewer government social services and more privatized incarceration. Weve seen some crazy things on the streets in the past couple years that one could not have imagined going down in this town just 15 years ago. The sheer number of outrageous, criminal incidents currently being foisted off on this city requires immediate and practical solutions, including more city cops on the beat. But the current thinking on entrusting state police officers (often seen by the public as the next level in a policing authority hierarchy) with specific duties here in the metropolitan area is ill conceived. The plan may have been poorly executed and does nothing to advance a progressive agenda designed to lower crime by dismantling its root causes and instituting community policing practices. This latest move by the Keller administration complicates political relationships for a citizenry repeatedly exposed to years of violent policing techniques foisted on a mostly brown public as a means of demonstrating power and status by the ruling class. Old woundsemotional triggers reallywere surely exposed in some neighborhoods graced this week by the presence of state troopers in their shiny black SUVs. Meanwhile, the whole thing continues to crest, as if its on some awful, gravitational autopilot. The most sadly ironic thing about the violence in the city situation came late Thursday nightand it came right from the belly of the beast in the middle of Burque. Two state cops on patrolneither from Albuquerque, one from Farmington and the other a patrolman in the Gallup areawere involved in two separate, on-duty shootings that evening. One of the shootings happened at the busy corner of Lomas and Washington; the suspect fled, leaving locals to ponder the contagion of gun violence happening in their midst. Earlier that evening, the first officer-involved shooting happened in the valley and resulted in the arrest of a wanted man who ran a red light and was then pursued. Neither of these encounters followed current APD policygoverned by that same DOJ settlement by the wayon encounters with offenders, chases or use of force, according to local news reports. By the weekend, it had become clear that the idea of dropping unfamiliar, outsider cops into the milieulaw enforcement officers who are certainly competent and willing to interact positively with the Albuquerque community but do not have to work within the city policing framework that is part of the citys settlement with the DOJwas not going unscathed by observers in the either the community or the press. A Community Solution On Saturday, the crime problem in Albuquerque became the feature for a story in Santa Fes daily. Quoting experts who conclude that the fear of violence is often exacerbated and drawn out into public anxiety by a news media thats more concerned with sensationalizing with the aim of getting better ratings, (a bunch of hooey at an alternative newspaper, by the way) the paper also quoted a rightly concerned director of the ACLU, who went on record about the elephant that is still ensconced in our citys living room. Peter Simonson, executive director of New Mexicos branch of the ACLU said, For years the Albuquerque Police Department operated with impunity, shooting and killing someone practically every month. We dont want to return to those days. Were deeply concerned that the deployment of New Mexico State Police officers in our communities threatens to wreck progress towards constitutional policing in Albuquerque at a time when there is still much reform to be made. We wholeheartedly agree. Ending violence, especially gun violence, in Albuquerque is bound to be a long process involving delicate extraction techniques. That group of humans being evolved away from unnecessary gun violence must include law enforcement. Ultimately changing the perception of guns among a wide percentage of the population is necessary and the outcomea peaceful, law-abiding community where police are not seen as part of the patterns of force that previously defined this citys culturewill result. We all need to be reminded that special masters of the Department of Justice descended on Burque to confirm what many already knew to be truethat the 47 officer-involved shootings starting in 2009 and leading up to the death of James Boyd in March of 2014 pointed to a culture of oppression and violence at APDmore than five years ago in a place where return is impossible by progressive standards. But folks love their guns in The Land of Enchantment; thats part of the Western mythos carved into the operating patriarchy in these parts. Its not something that can be easily erased or even altered. Yet in order to advance, the city and state must strive for policing solutions that are in line with community values and generally eschew violence as an immediate response. In retrospectand despite the immediate shock value induced by seeing State Police personnel filling in for beleaguered city police officersthis particular part of the plan to eradicate lawlessness in Albuquerque seems heavy-handed. A law and order response is typical of Republican governance methods and clearly a tool from the rights bag of democracy-limiting implements; such machinations have no part in a progressive platform. The fact that two officer-involved shootings can already be traced to outsiders acting without the Albuquerque/DOJ agreement on use-of-forcein mind and in practiceshould be a cause for deep reflection among the NMSP, the mayor and the governor, not a reason to crow that the problem is only now being properly addressed. South Africa: Compensation Fund to modernise claims process The Compensation Fund (CF) is set to introduce a new electronic Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases (e-COID) claims management solution. The ITC system, which will be introduced in September, intends to improve the ease of doing business, says Compensation Fund Commissioner Vuyo Mafata. Mafata said the organisational restructuring started more than two years ago following the massive backlogs in the claims process was beginning to yield results. He said the CF has during the period embarked on a process of decentralisation of its services, opened new claims processing centres, appointed medical adjudicators in its processes and moved to online platforms. We will soon enter the second phase of our restructuring. The focus is on what we do in provinces. We want to be responsive to the needs of our clients. We are not where we were in the past, yet we are not where we want to be, Mafata said. Mafata was addressing a breakfast networking session in partnership with the East London Industrial Development Zone (ELIDZ). The engagement is part of fulfilling the objective of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with ELIDZ. The engagement is also part of the Compensation Funds national roadshow to interact with its stakeholders and to improve relations. Precious Mdlokovana, Compensation Fund Deputy Director: Information Technology, said the CFs information communication technology (ICT) modernisation journey is well underway, and it will improve online registration processes. This modernisation process will also introduce a new system to replace the current uMehluko online claims platform. There have been challenges with past and previous claims systems. The upcoming modernisation system will have benefits such as faster turnaround, correct workflows, open communications and provide for timeous payments, among others, she said. The Compensation Fund is a public entity of the Department of Labour, which provides compensation for disablement caused by occupational injuries or diseases sustained or contracted by employees, or for death resulting from injuries or diseases. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A 1970s test kitchen, which was once housed in Chicagos Johnson Publishing headquarters (known for creating the innovative Black magazines Ebony and Jet), is coming to New York City in 2020. When it arrives, it will be part of a national traveling exhibit called African/American: Making the Nations Table, which will begin its journey at the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) in Brooklyn. Back in its heyday on South Michigan Avenue, this 1971 kitchenwhich is best described as downright groovywas used for decades by Ebony food editors to test all of the recipes featured in the magazines "A Date With a Dish" column. The oval-shaped kitchen, which sprang from the minds of interior designers William Raiser and Arthur Elrod (who were celebrated for their mid-century modern sensibilities), is defined by its bright orange refrigerator, cactus-green countertops, and psychedelically-patterned walls and cabinets. The kitchens central island and original 1970s General Electric appliances are also notable details. The test kitchen was located on the buildings 10th floorthe same floor where the Ebony employees cafeteria was. In a recent interview with Landmarks Illinois, Charla Draper, Ebonys Director of Food & Home Furnishings from 1982 to 1984, praised the spaces functional "work triangle" layout because it allowed her to move quickly between the sink, refrigerator, and counter. In the same interview, Charlotte Lyons, a food editor at Ebony Magazine for 25 years and an advisor on the upcoming MOFAD exhibition, also spoke to the novel design choices and historical importance of this kitchen. "It was my great honor to be the food editor of that publication and to create 25 years' worth of one-of-a-kind meals in a one-of-a-kind kitchen." Though Ebony, Johnson Publishings flagship publication, left this landmarked building in 2012 after 41 years, the test kitchens unique interior was never destroyed or redecorated. Columbia College owned the buildingand instead of deciding to repurpose it, they simply sold it to a Chicago developer instead. With this sale, the trippy test kitchen was at risk of being lost to history, but a local nonprofit, Landmark Illinois, stepped in and saved the historic culinary tableau; they bought the kitchen for one single dollar in 2018. While the kitchen sat disassembled in a temporary storage unit, MOFAD proposed to acquire it for their forthcoming exhibit dedicated to the Black American dining experience and the communitys contributions to American cuisine. MOFAD is still raising funds for the full exhibit, but plans to make Ebonys Test Kitchen the centerpiece. MOFAD's exhibition team is led by American culinary historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris, author of several cookbooks and works of nonfiction. "For many African Americans who lived in the second half of the 20th century, Ebony was a touchstone that inspired, informed and defined," said Dr. Harris in a press release. "It would not be hyperbole to say that the magazine had a large part in forming the aspirations of more than two generations of African Americans. It is difficult to overstate its importance." MOFAD will reveal where the iconic kitchen will be heading next once additional funds for the traveling exhibit are secured. Since announcing his presidential campaign last week, Mayor Bill de Blasio has pulled out all the stops. He has ingested meat from a regional restaurant chain while smiling. He has hugged a farmer. He has acquired new denim, declared himself the CEO of New York City and unleashed a schoolyard nickname for his opponent that is a little bit confusing but also rhymes. As of tomorrow night, he will have made two trips to Iowa in the span of six days. These are the sort of presidential qualities that used to be enough. But according to a new Quinnipiac University pollthe first conducted since the mayor entered the racede Blasio has the very worst unfavorability ratings among 23 total candidates. The national survey of more than 1,000 voters across the political spectrum found just eight percent of them view his nascent campaign favorably, compared to 45 percent who said they did not. That leaves a large chunk of people who don't know about de Blasio at alla group that the two-term mayor believes will come around once they learn "what this campaign is about." Though considering his reception from Americans who are familiar with him, that lack of name recognition might also be one of his biggest strengths at this point. Among Democrats who do have an opinion of de Blasio, the poll found that nearly three quarters of them feel negatively toward him. When voters were asked who they would be least happy to see as a candidate, de Blasio placed third (after Biden and Sanders, who have consistently led the race, and have thus generated more expected backlash.) In fact, the animosity that de Blasio has managed to stoke this early, while generating almost no significant support to balance it out, is itself a kind of statistical accomplishment. As Phillip Bump explains at the Washington Post: "Its a pretty impressive feat that de Blasios pulled off here. No one picked him as their preferred nominee, but one out of every 12 respondents said affirmatively that they didnt want him to win. Why? Well, de Blasio is really unpopular among the Democratic candidates. Fourteen percent of Democrats view him favorably, and 35 percent view him unfavorably, a net favorability of minus-21. Thats substantially worse than any other Democratic candidate... Overall, it gets worse. While most of the Democratic candidates have net-negative favorable ratings overall, excluding Biden and Buttigieg, no one comes close to de Blasios minus-37 net favorability...his unpopularity with Democrats means theres not really anything to offset those negative opinions." Moreover, the New York City mayor currently has a net favorability rating that is roughly twice as bad as Trumpa historically unpopular president currently facing the threat of impeachment and some 16 criminal investigations. "Were in an entirely different time," the mayor said on day one of his candidacy. "What we used to think of as ground rules of democratic process dont exist anymore." Indeed, being a sturdy white man who awakens one day with little more than a federal PAC and a dream of being the most powerful person in the world just doesn't command the respect that it once did. Perhaps America has lost its way. Police are hoping the public can help them find a suspect accused of stabbing a man on a Midtown Manhattan sidewalk. The incident took place on Sunday, May 19th, around 11 p.m., in front of 835 8th Avenue. According to the NYPD, a 56-year-old man "got into a verbal dispute with an unknown male individual who was riding an electric scooter which escalated into a physical altercation." The e-scooter rider then stabbed the man with an "unknown object" before fleeing westbound on 51st Street on the scooter. The victim was taken to Bellevue Hospital in stable condition to treat a small laceration. The suspect is described as being 20-30 years old and was last seen wearing a dark hoodie and camouflage pants. The police shared video of him before the incident: WANTEDfor an Assault (Stabbing) in front of 835 8th Avenue @Manhattan #Hellskitchen @NYPDMTNPct on 05/19/19 @ 11 PM Reward up to $2500Seen him? Know who he is?Call 1-800-577-TIPS or DM us!Calls are CONFIDENTIAL! #YourCityYourCall @NYPDDetectives @HellsKitchenNYC pic.twitter.com/5FsQmAIWlW NYPD Crime Stoppers (@NYPDTips) May 21, 2019 Anyone with information in regard to the identity of this male is asked to call the NYPD's 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.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips. I was born in 1956 in Madison, Tennessee, while my parents were attending Madison College. I grew up along the Front Range in Colorado, attending schools in Longmont, Brighton, Boulder and Loveland, Colorado. Two years after graduating from Campion Academy, I married my sweetheart, Regina. We lived in Loveland, Colorado for six years before moving to Mena in western Arkansas. I love the people of Mena and the friendly easy going way of life here. I have owned and operated my own business since moving to Mena. I enjoy the natural beauty of western Arkansas and being out of doors. recep-bg/iStock(HILLSBOROUGH, N.C.) -- A North Carolina elementary school teacher has been arrested after she allegedly threatened to shoot up the school where she taught. Kristen Thompson abruptly resigned last Friday from Pathways Elementary School in Hillsborough, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Office. But it was only after her resignation that fellow teachers said she had previously "made threats to shoot up the school." Thompson was arrested on Tuesday and charged with communicating a threat of mass violence, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said. "This situation is being handled by law enforcement with the safety of our students and school staff as our utmost concern," Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a statement. "Meanwhile, this situation is also being dealt with by school leadership as a personnel issue as well as a safety one. As such, the principal and other administrators are strictly forbidden by law from sharing information about the case." "A threat of school violence is understandably unsettling for the community. Please know that the school and law enforcement are working together as a team to ensure the last few weeks of the school year are safe and productive for our students," the sheriff added. Thompson was held on a $1,000 bond and is next due in court on June 14. It was unclear whether Thompson had yet obtained an attorney. Orange County Schools spokesman Seth Stephens told The (Raleigh) News & Observer, "Once school administration was made aware about an alleged threat by Kristen Thompson, law enforcement was contacted immediately." The threat came just weeks after two people were killed and four injured in a shooting at University of North Carolina at Charlotte, about two hours away from Hillsborough. Thompson's arrest also comes at a time when lawmakers in the state are pushing to arm teachers as a solution to school shootings. A bill was introduced in March in the North Carolina state legislature that would make teachers who carried a gun eligible for a raise, according to Charlotte ABC station WTVD-TV. A similar bill failed to gain traction last year in the wake of the Parkland, Florida, school massacre. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. If you have a view of the Hudson River between Battery Park and the George Washington Bridge, you'll be able to see this year's Fleet Week Parade of Ships! The ships began entering New York Harbor at 7:21 a.m. on Wednesday morning, passing under the Verrazano Bridge. Around 7:46 a.m., Fort Hamilton will conduct an 11-gun salute to the flagship USS New York as it passes by. (According to NotifyNYC, "No live ammunition will be used.") The Parade of Ships will end around 11 a.m. There will also be a flyover from U.S. Coast Guard HC-144 aircraft. Here are the ships included: San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS New York (LPD 21), from Mayport, Florida Kingston-class coastal defense vessel HMCS Glace Bay (MM 701), from Canadian Forces Base Halifax Sail training vessel HMCS Oriole (KC 480), from Canadian Forces Base Halifax Four USNA YPs, from Annapolis, Maryland Sentinel-class cutter USCGC Lawrence O. Lawson (WPC 1120), from Cape May, New Jersey Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), from Norfolk, Virginia Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), from Mayport, Florida Keeper-class cutter USCGC Katherine Walker (WLM 552), from Bayonne, New Jersey Medium endurance cutter USCGC Campbell (WMEC 909), from Kittery, Maine Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship USS Tornado (PC 14), from Mayport, Florida Fleet Week is the U.S. Navy's almost annual (save for a Congressional budget impasse) celebration of sea services; the Navy says about 2,600 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen will be on hand. There are also other events today around the city: Event: Fleet Week at Fort Hamilton Time: 7:30 a.m. - noon Location: Fort Hamilton, Engeldrum Bluff, 101st St. & Fort Hamilton Pkwy, Brooklyn Annual event sponsored by Fort Hamilton. Spectators will be able to view participating ships as they travel through the New York Harbor during the Parade of Ships. Not open to the public. DOD ID required to enter base. Event: Fleet Week at Fort Wadsworth Time: 7:30 a.m. - noon Location: Fort Wadsworth Overlook, 210 New York Ave, Staten Island Annual event sponsored by the Gateway National Recreation Area and the National Park Service. Spectators will be able to view participating ships as they travel through the New York Harbor during the Parade of Ships. Event is free to the public to view. Event: Navy Band Concert at South Street Seaport Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Location: South Street Seaport, 12 Fulton St., Manhattan U.S. Fleet Forces "Brass Band" will perform a concert at the South Street Seaport. Event is free and open to the public. Event: Navy Band Concert at Arch in Washington Square Park Time: 4 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. Location: Washington Square Park Arch, W. 4th Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan Navy Band Northeast's "Ceremonial Band" will perform a concert at the Arch at Washington Square Park. Event is free and open to the public. You can see the full Fleet Week schedule here. YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. Artsakh Republic President Bako Sahakyan on May 22 sent a congratulatory address to Hero of Artsakh, major-general Arkady Ter-Tadevosyan on the occasion of his 80th jubilee, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The address runs as follows: Respected Mr. Ter-Tadevosyan, On behalf of the Artsakh people, authorities and myself personally I extend my cordial congratulations to you on this memorable jubilee - 80th birthday anniversary. Everyone in Artsakh, Armenia, and the Diaspora is familiar with your glorious path, high human qualities and principality. Your contribution to the Artsakh liberation struggle and carving our glorious victories is invaluable. Today you continue to render services to the Motherland, taking active part in military-patriotic upbringing of the younger generation. Respected Mr. General, dear Comandos, I once again congratulate you on this significant anniversary wishing robust health, happiness, greatest success and all the best to you, your family and relatives. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) has rejected Foreign Minister Stef Blok's lax response to the call from the House of Representatives to condemn the unacceptable words about the Armenian Genocide by Turkish president Erdogan on 24 April 2019, the commemoration day of the Armenian Genocide, Armenpress reports citing FAON website. During the debate in the Chamber on 15 May 2019 on the situation in Turkey, the minister was urged by various factions to condemn the inadmissible denial practices by Turkish President Erdogan, who stated that the relocation of the Armenian gangs and their supporters, who massacred the Muslim people, was the most reasonable action that could be taken in such a period. In his plea, MP Joel Voordewind (Christian Union CU) recalled also the still valid motion by Rouvoet, in which the Chamber unanimously instructed the government to put constantly and explicitly the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the agenda in the dialogue with Turkey. This motion from 2004 is the first unanimous recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Dutch Parliament. The motion has been quoted countless times in the Parliament, when the human rights situation in Turkey in general and the denial of the Armenian Genocide in particular have been discussed. MPs Martijn van Helvert (Christian Democratic Appeal CDA) and Kees van der Staaij (Reformed Political Party SGP) also made an important point, that a Dutch response is necessary to the unheard statements made by the Turkish president. Minister Blok dismissed these urgent questions about, in his words, "the issue of the Armenian Genocide", by saying that he will not respond each time to what other people say. The FAON believes that the trivialising responses of the Minister are an evidence of a far-reaching and dangerous political opportunism. In the discussions, the Minister had to answer several times the question about the method used not only to restore the relations with Turkey but also expand them. The question has also been raised if it wouldnt be naive to hope that by increasing trade relations, it will be possible to achieve improvements in the rule of law in Turkey. Erdogan and Armenian Genocide In a speech at a symposium on national archives and historical research and in a tweet on 24 April 2019, President Erdogan raged in unprecedented ways, suggesting that the Turkish archives uncover the truth about history. He spoke in terms of "Armenian gangs killing Muslims", making the deportations of the Armenians "the most reasonable action". He also addressed France full of hatred, where this year 24 April was declared a national day of commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. Alteration and denial of the facts around the Armenian Genocide have been at the heart of Turkey's denial policy for decades. Like the Dutch government, many have presumed to show a positive development trough vague statements about ''compassion with Armenians'' from Turkey, but the recent comments show not only that the policy of denial has not changed, but as well that Erdogan will not hesitate to spread hate over the backs of innocent victims. This is a dangerous and unacceptable fact. In fact, a start should be made finally to face the black pages in history. The Netherlands In the Netherlands, the Armenian community tries to keep the memory of the victims of the Armenian genocide alive in a peaceful and dignified manner. The Turkish community is taken into account here, and where possible it is involved, such as at the national commemoration on 24 April 2019 in Assen, where the Armenian genocide monument also involved a joint wreath laying of Armenian, Turkish and Kurdish youth. At the resumption of diplomatic relations between Turkey and the Netherlands, Minister Blok recently spoke about the many pillars on which they rest. It was assumed that the Netherlands would strongly condemn the flagrant denial in the aforementioned judgments and that Turkey would be challenged. The FAON points out that in 2004 the House of Representatives had already instructed the government to put the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the agenda in negotiations with Turkey. Also, apart from this motion, an appropriate response is necessary. The Parliament also explicitly recognized the Armenian Genocide in later rulings, such as in February 2018 with the virtually unanimous adoption of Motion by MP Voordewind. This is a moment when the government cannot remain silent. Even in the mistaken view of the government, that the government could not legally use the term genocide, which is strongly criticized by FAON, the Netherlands, which advocates international law, cannot remain silent. Silence is equivalent to consent! YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. May 22, 2019 marks the 95th anniversary of the co-founder of Aznavour Foundation, legendary artist Charles Aznavour. In the eve of the great artists birthday, different events are being organized around the world throughout the year, the Aznavour Foundation told Armenpress. Within the framework of these celebrations, on 21 May 2019 the Paris Municipality, in cooperation with the Aznavour Foundation, organized two remarkable events in the French capital. Opening of the memorial plaque On the morning of May 21 a memorial plaque was inaugurated at the first Paris apartment building of the Aznavour family. The memorial plaque was placed at the 6th district of Paris, 36 rue Monsieur-le-Prince, where the Aznavouryans originally settled and where Charles Aznavour spent his childhood. At the beginning of the ceremony Nicolas Aznavour, the co-founder of the Aznavour Foundation and the youngest son of the illustrious artist greeted all the guests. He thanked Mrs. Anne Hidalgo and the city of Paris for their support on the behalf of Aznavour family: Tomorrow, we will celebrate my father's 95th birthday, but we celebrate his life every day. Our goal, the goal of the family and the Aznavour Foundation is to preserve the cultural and humanitarian heritage of Charles Aznavour, to honor and to make his memory live. The inauguration of the commemorative plaque on the street Monsieur Le Prince marks the launch of a long celebration campaign during which other events will be organized and monuments will be inaugurated in Paris and around the world. The event was attended by the large number of guests including city authorities, prominent figures and members of the Aznavour family. During her speech, Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, mentioned: Paris pays tribute to Charles Aznavour, a city which saw this immense talent emerge. He is the beloved child of our city, which loves those who come from elsewhere and who share its values of generosity and discovery. The mayor also revealed that "other surprises will come to mark the presence of Charles Aznavour in Paris" because the city wishes to pay tribute to him also in other symbolic places marking the history, the life of Charles Aznavour by his report to the French capital. She thanked the Aznavour Foundation for initiating the ambitious campaign of this tribute. Concert on the forecourt of Paris City Hall The celebration continued with an evening concert dedicated to Charles Aznavour Birthday on the forecourt of Paris City Hall. The concert featured Joana Mendil, Essai Altounian, Eric Berchot and other musicians. ---------- The Aznavour Foundation was established by Charles Aznavour and his son Nicolas Aznavour. The goal of the Foundation is to implement development programs in the fileds of culture, education, and social welfare. One of the most important objectives of the Foundations mission is to preserve and perpetuate the immense cultural and humanitarian legacy of Charles Aznavour. YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. At the invitation of President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian will take part in the upcoming Eurasian Media Forum in Almaty from May 22 to 24, the Armenian Presidential Office told Armenpress. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian has been one of the co-founders of the Eurasian Media Forum. In his invitation letter, the Kazakh President expressed confidence that the participation of such a famous and leading political and state figure like Armen Sarkissian to the Forum, will, undoubtedly, will be interesting for the participants and guests. The Eurasian Media Forum is being held in Kazakhstan for already 15 years. It has become a leading platform for dialogue in the Eurasian region. The annual Forum brings together the most significant figures of politics, economics, social issues and, in particular, the media. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. 74.1% of the respondents of the survey conducted by GALLUP International Association positively assessed the last 100 days of activity of the Armenian government led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, MPG LLC Director Aram Navasardyan said during a press conference. We ask the citizen to assess the 100 days in office of Pashinyans government. 53.8% of the respondents said they rather assess positively, and 20.3% said they assess it as completely positive, Navasardyan said. 57.7% said they agree with the appointments made by Pashinyan in the new government. The survey has been conducted in Armenia from April 30 to May 9. 1108 citizen participated in the survey. Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, 22 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 22 May, USD exchange rate up by 0.04 drams to 479.64 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 0.86 drams to 535.66 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.03 drams to 7.47 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.95 drams to 607.85 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 86.25 drams to 19602.13 drams. Silver price up by 0.25 drams to 222.52 drams. Platinum price down by 14.38 drams to 12506.25 drams. YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Collective Security Treaty Organization approved to nominate Stanislav Zas for the position of Secretary General of the structure, spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Armenia Anna Naghdalyan told ARMENPRESS. She added that he will assume the post starting from January 1, 2020. Foreign Minister of Armenia Zohrab Mnatsakanyan also participated in the session that took place in Kirgizstan, Bishkek. On November 2, 2018, by the initiative of the Armenian side, CSTO Secretary General Yuri Khachaturov was recalled from the position of CSTO Secretary General. Yuri Khachaturov was charged with Article 300.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia within the framework of the March 1 case. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan Hundreds of abortion rights supporters gathered in Foley Square on Tuesday night to protest the wave of restrictive abortion laws recently passed across the country in states like Ohio, Georgia, Alabama, and Missouri. The event was one of several #StopTheBans rallies that took place around the country, organized by abortion providers and civil rights groups including the ACLU, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and NARAL Pro-Choice America. Participants waved signs and chanted slogans: My body, my right, wont give up without a fight. The laws have yet to go into effect and will likely be challenged in court, but drafters of the legislation have said that the bills are intended to challenge the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade. Despite living in a state that just expanded access to abortion, many of the activists that gathered in lower Manhattan said the issue feels immediate and urgent. They need to know that were not far away, said 37-year-old Melissa De Jesus, referring to the people in the affected states. Were with them, and were behind them, and well fight for them, even if their representatives arent. New York lawmakers passed the Reproductive Health Act in January, expanding access to late-term abortions (after 24 weeks) in the case that the womans health is at risk or the fetus is not viable. The bill had previously failed to pass the state legislature when Republicans controlled the senate. The protest in lower Manhattan brought together people of all ages, including two 65-year-old women who met each other that evening. We have a lot in common, said Amy Sultan, standing next to Karen Shapiro. You know, protesting our whole lives. Both Sultan and Shapiro said they were extremely disturbed by the laws passed in other states, many of which ban abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy. They said the political effort to curtail abortion access seemed even more hostile than the era before Roe. The blessing of all of this, if there is a blessing, is that the mask is completely ripped off, said Sultan. This is really where we are. And we all have to stand up and [protest] all the time. Other attendees said they came to the protest with future generations in mind. Ryan Casupana and Christina Morris stood in the crowd with their 11-month-old son, Ethan. The things that we do today impact his life much later on, and his generation, said Casupana. Morris added that she was scared to think about how children might not eventually be able to make their own choices about reproduction. I find that terrifying, she said, rocking her son while holding a protest sign. For some participants, the series of antagonistic state laws has an inevitable association with future elections, particularly the 2020 presidential race. I think we've been on the defensive for too long, and now we have to strike back, said Katie Miller, a Jersey City resident who works at an abortion clinic in New York City. And I think 2020 its gonna be the year for that. YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. There are 5 Armenian citizens among the injured of the touristic bus crash on the Siena-Florence highway in Italy on May 22, ARMENPRESS reports the Foreign Ministry of Armenia informed on its Facebook page, citing the Armenian Embassy in Italy. The injured received the necessary medical treatment. 4 of them have already been discharged, while the other one has slight injuries and is still in hospital, the Ministry informs, adding that the embassy is in direct connection with responsible bodies for getting new details. Earlier the embassy of Armenia in Italy reported about 2 injured. There were 60 tourists in the bus. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 22, ARMENPRESS. The reputation of PM Nikol Pashinyan has not declines, but vice the versa, he enjoys greater reputation today than months ago, PMs spokesperson Vladimir Karapetyan told ARMENPRESS. Referring to the remark that some political circles announce that PM Pashinyan no longer enjoys public trust, Karapetyan emphasized, Recently an international organization carried out a research in Armenia, according to which the PMs reputation goes beyond 80 percent. A few months ago the political force led by the PM received a great support of the people 70% votes. During the following months the PMs reputation further grew thank to his efforts. He added that all such rumors are absurd. Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan While sceptical of any claims that kiaps generally were all too willing to use lethal force upon Papua New Guineans, I thought that it was only fair to draw attention to two prominent and well documented examples of kiaps who, on the one hand, were both praised for their resourcefulness and courage while, on the other hand, severely criticised for excessive use of force. IN The sad story of the colonial massacre of Golen Keri, Simbu (PNG Attitude, 1 September), Mathias Kin reported on anecdotal evidence he has gathered in which he claims that colonial patrol officers (kiaps) were responsible for many unreported acts of unjustified homicide in the course of imposing colonial rule upon the Simbu region in PNG. Charles Arthur Whitmore Monckton (1873-1936), magistrate, was born on 30 May 1873 at Invercargill, New Zealand, son of Francis Alexander Monckton, surgeon, and his wife Sarah Ann, nee Newton. Educated at Wanganui College, he went to British New Guinea in 1895 seeking employment in the magisterial service. Unsuccessful, he went prospecting for gold on Woodlark Island, then pearling and trading in the Louisiades. In 1896 and 1897 he published two short articles on native customs in the Journal of the Polynesian Society. He returned to New Zealand to study navigation, and then in 1897 sailed a small boat from Sydney to Port Moresby (1). This time, Lieutenant-Governor Sir William MacGregor was able to offer Monckton relief posts as resident magistrate in the Eastern Division, the Mekeo district and the South-Eastern Division during 1897-99. His first permanent appointment was to the newly created North-Eastern Division and he arrived at Cape Nelson with the new lieutenant-governor, (Sir) George Le Hunte, on 4 April 1900. Cape Nelson was established to gain better control over numerous belligerent indigenous clans as well as to provide law and order for miners on the Yodda goldfields. The Orokaiva people in particular were especially warlike. Inter-clan warfare was endemic and the Orokaiva warriors prided themselves on their ability to kill their enemies, including women and children. They did this without pity or remorse. Not surprisingly, they were exceedingly hostile to attempts to impose colonial rule upon them. Accompanied by his native police, whom he had trained to a high degree of efficiency, Monckton mounted a series of expeditions, some punitive, some exploratory. Tough, efficient, quick-witted and ruthless, he conducted each expedition as if it were a military campaign. In bringing under control combative people such as the Doriri, Dobodura and Paiwa, his policy was to 'shoot and loot'. With more peaceful people, such as the Agaiambu, who, living in the swamps of the Musa River, were marked by a physique that made it difficult for them to walk on land, he showed some anthropological awareness. While some contemporaries admired him as a fearless fighting man, others deplored his readiness with a gun, his callous punishments and his sexual exploitation of local women. His handling of the 'Paiwa affair', when his police went berserk with bayonets, provoked widespread criticism. Relations with miners in the area, generally mutually helpful, sometimes became explosive, particularly with those who thought an even tougher line should be taken against Papuans. In 1903 Monckton was given the additional responsibility of the Northern Division. He was also appointed to both the Legislative and Executive Councils. Monckton always took the most direct and violent course of action. If he suspected a man of malingering, he prescribed an emetic; if a native met with on patrol refused to disclose the nearest source of water, Moncktons police stuffed his mouth with salt and waited until thirst got the better of him. If carriers refused to work, the police beat them with steel rifle-cleaners; and, if a village defied his orders, Moncktons policy was, in his own words, shoot and loot. The only way you can stop these beggars hurting their neighbours with a club is to bang them with a club, he wrote. Criticism of Monckton's methods eventually led to his being eased out of the colonial service. He went on to write three well-received books about his experiences as a resident magistrate, although these are now regarded as being, to some degree at least, somewhat self serving. Monckton's methods were, by today's standards, the acts of a criminal. He was a ruthless killer who placed no real value on the lives of the people upon whom he was imposing colonial rule. The duality of the moral outlook of the day is reflected in the fact that he was criticised by missionaries for being unduly heavy handed and by gold miners for being unduly reluctant to use lethal force. What is not disputable is that his brutal methods had the desired effect, with Orokaiva resistance to colonial rule being crushed within a few years of his arrival. A generation later, it was the exploits of Jack Gordon Hides (1906 - 1936) that attracted both criticism and praise. In 1935 Hides was chosen by Lieutenant-Governor Sir Hubert Murray to lead an expedition into the last large unexplored region of Papua, between the Strickland and Purari rivers. Patrol Officer Louis James O'Malley was his second-in-command. The patrol left Daru by water on 1 January 1935, ascended the Strickland River to the Rentoul River junction, then followed the Rentoul to the limit of canoe travel. With 10 police under Sergeant Orai and 28 carriers, Hides and O'Malley then entered unknown country, crossing the great Papuan Plateau and the limestone barrier of the Central Range into the Tari basin. After a violent conflict with the wig-wearing Huri tribesmen, they passed on to the heavily populated Waga and Nembi River valleys. Attacked by bowmen, they went on to the Erave River and thence through the Samberigi valley to Kikori on 17 June. (2) The patrol fought at least nine skirmishes and shot dead at least 32 tribesmen. One carrier and a police constable died from exposure and exhaustion. It was the last major exploratory expedition in Papua-New Guinea to be carried out without radio or aerial support. The patrol completed the work of the Leahy brothers, J L Taylor and administration officers in the highland districts of the Mandated Territory of New Guinea and proved that the dense populations found there extended into Papua. The violence which marked his (Hides') expedition has been attributed to several causes. Hides' group suffered from severe food shortages, and indigenous communities he encountered were often unwilling or unable to trade. Hides had bargained on trading steel tools for food, but found people who were not interested in steel. In addition, the Nembi people were suffering from acute food shortages themselves, and had none to spare. It has been suggested that the Etoro and Onabasulu people "did not sell food to the patrol because they feared it and wanted it to go away". By necessity, Hides' expedition resorted to stealing food, which led to violence. Another factor was Hides' ignorance of these uncontacted peoples' "fragmented political organisation", and of the "social and political implications of the patrol's movement". He often appeared, from Papuans' perspectives, to be coming from enemy territory, making people instantly wary. Some Papuan peoples greeted the patrol hospitably, however. Among these were the Kewa. By the time the expedition reached Kewa territory, Hides was severely ill, exhausted and famished. "His by now exaggerated expectations of native treachery and attack and the desperate condition of the patrol led him to misperceive the Kewa's intent and allowed his patrol to open fire on them on two occasions, resulting in seven or eight Kewa deaths". (3) Handsome, a fluent speaker and the epitome of the dashing explorer, Hides was the centre of intense publicity when he returned to Australia. He was widely criticized for the bloodshed, particularly after Ivan Champion and C J Adamson successfully completed their Bamu-Purari patrol in 1936 through the same general region without firing a shot. Sir Hubert Murray, Administrator of Papua New Guinea, however, praised both leaders, calling the Strickland-Purari patrol the most difficult and dangerous ever carried out in Papua. Like Monckton, Hides went on to write about his experiences as a patrol officer and enjoyed considerable fame as a consequence until his premature death in 1936. The evidence suggests that, unlike Monckton, Hides did not routinely resort to intimidation and violence if this could reasonably be avoided. He did not set out, as an act of policy, to kill those who opposed or hindered his patrol. Nevertheless, both men were responsible for many deaths and this would have rapidly become part of the local folklore amongst those directly affected by them. The stories of those times will have been repeated over the years, probably with embellishments to add colour and drama to what must have already been very traumatic events. Somewhat perversely, the kiaps who came after Monckton and Hides benefitted from their legendary and sometimes infamous reputations. There is little doubt in my mind that the indigenous people associated the past acts of these men with their successors, conferring upon kiaps a certain aura or prestige that enabled them to move mostly unmolested amongst people whose collective memories of past violence made them reluctant to again challenge the representatives of the gavman. The imposition of colonial rule upon PNG was not a bloodless affair. There are many documented examples of kiaps using their rifles to fend off life threatening attacks and at least some examples of the use of excessive force. Anecdotal claims that the use of excessive force was routine are unproven but it seems plausible that at least some instances occurred. The problem for historians is to find the verifiable evidence. ___________ (1) Derived largely from Nancy Lutton in The Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 10, MUP, 1986 (2) Derived largely from James Sinclair in The Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol.9, MUP, 1983 (3) Schieffelin, Edward and Crittenden, Robert, "Remembering First Contact: Realities and Romance", in, Borofsky, Robert (ed.), Remembrance of Pacific Pasts: An Invitation to Remake History, Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, ISBN 0-8248-2301-X, pp.135141 Despite weighing up to 16kg, tree kangaroos are remarkably elusive, and often invisible high in the forest canopy. Tree kangaroos are found only in the rainforests of Australia, West Papua, and Papua New Guinea. Looking like a cross between a kangaroo and a lemur, they have adapted to life in the trees, with shorter hind legs and stronger forelimbs for climbing. WASHINGTON, USA - Sought after for subsistence-based hunting, as part of rural communities diets for centuries, the critically endangered tree kangaroos have been hunted almost to extinction, but now local communities and conservation groups are fighting together to save them. In PNG, tree kangaroos are the flagship species for the rare cloud forests a high elevation rainforest characterised by low-level cloud cover. As a flagship species, the health of the tree kangaroo reflects the health of their wider ecosystem. By focusing on and achieving conservation of the tree kangaroo, the status of many other species that share its habitat or are vulnerable to the same threats - may also be improved. Found from the western side of PNG to the eastern coast of the Huon Peninsula, many of the 14 known tree kangaroo species call PNG home, living in some of the last undisturbed rain forest habitat in the world. Papua New Guinea is a cultural and biodiversity hotspot. It has nearly 1,000 indigenous tribal groups who speak more than 850 different languages, accounting for nearly 12% of all existing languages on earth. Despite its relatively small land area, PNG is estimated to contain from 5-10% of all floral and faunal diversity in the world. Working in some of the most remote corners of the planet, local and indigenous communities are advancing innovative sustainable development solutions that work for people and for nature. Under PNGs unique land tenure system, more than 90% of all land in the country is held and controlled by customary landowners. As such, the sustainability of conservation efforts depends upon the commitment of local tribes and clans. In these remote, difficult to access places, work in PNG to save the tree kangaroos is fundamentally about empowering local environmental stewards. Papua New Guineas Huon Peninsula is an extremely rugged mountainous area rising from the famed coral triangle to 4,000-metre peaks, and is blanketed by one of the worlds largest remaining cloud forests. The peninsulas Yopno-Uruwa-Som region is dotted with 50 remote villages, home to 15,000 people who, under PNGs customary land tenure system, collectively own and control their entire 1,600km2 landscape. Rural communities in PNG live a primarily subsistence lifestyle, relying on their natural resources and fertile soil as their ancestors did for generations before them. However, community leaders in Yopno-Uruwa-Som noticed worrying challenges that previous generations had never experienced: important resources were becoming scarce. "Our hunters had to travel longer distances to find animals in the forest. Sometimes we had to hunt in areas belonging to other clans without their consent because we could not find enough in our traditional land to feed our families," said Matthew Tombe of Isan village. The landowners were determined to find a lasting solution and, in 1996, met Dr Lisa Dabek, a conservation biologist studying the endangered Matschies tree kangaroo endemic to the Huon Peninsula. Despite diverse perspectives and interests, they discovered a common objective: protecting the Matschies tree kangaroo and its habitat. With this partnership, the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program (TKCP) was born. Over the years that followed, the landowners - inspired by respected landowner Mambawe Manaono of Kumbul village traversed their landscape to advocate for conservation and sustainable use of their forest for the well-being of future generations. Together with TKCP, the landowners had an ambitious goal: collecting land pledges from dozens of clans across YUS and creating the countrys first nationally recognised conservation area. In 2009, with more than 78,000 hectares of land pledged, their goal was achieved and the Yopno-Uruwa-Som Conservation Area was established. In the subsequent decade, TKCP and the conservation area have become a national model for conservation within the unique context of PNGs customary land tenure system. With funding from the Global Environment Facility and UNDP support, TKCP is building the capacity of local communities and other stakeholders to manage the conservation area. "I can see young people are beginning to realise their role in the community as future leaders. Likewise, the broader community has shown their appreciation for youth interest in upholding cultural values in connection with the YUS environment," notes Gibson Gala, TKCP Education & Leadership Coordinator. The conservation area is working the forests and ecosystem are healthy, and key species like the Matschies tree kangaroo are thriving in the protected areas. The people are also benefitting from their actions, which have brought substantial improvements to local livelihoods as well as new opportunities for education and health. Now a team of local conservation area rangers monitors the protected area on a monthly basis. Elsewhere in PNG, in the southern foothills of the Torricelli Mountain Range in Sandaun Province, complementary efforts are underway to save their own regions species of tree kangaroo. Before his death in 2017, the late Caspar Wakien of Wilbeite village remembered seeing Tenkile tree kangaroos around his village as a boy growing up in the 1940s. In 2001, with the tree kangaroos long absent from the village and on the brink of extinction with fewer than 100 individuals, the Tenkile Conservation Alliance (TCA) was established to save the the Tenkile. In 2004, TCA discovered the Weimang tree kangaroo still existed in a few fragments of its former distribution, and expanded activities to include both species of critically endangered tree kangaroos. Turning hunters into conservationists and stewards of their unique ecosystem, and signing on many villages in order to establish the proposed Torricelli Mountain Range Conservation Area has meant many key species and crucial biodiversity in the Torricellis are now being protected. This is the best work Ive seen with TCA and its partners. Now even the government are here to help. I now know my Tenkile will be seen by future generations after I leave, the late Caspar Wakien said. Caspars work is now bearing fruit: this year marks the first time that the Tenkile tree kangaroo is now reappearing in areas where it hadnt been seen in living memory. As of April 2019, there have been two reports of Tenkile found close to the villages. It's answering a question I have often been asked How will you know if the Tenkile is recovering? Jim Thomas, CEO of TCA, remarked. My response has always been, When the Tenkile is being seen near the villages, as it was 70 years ago. Incredible that this is now starting to happen. This is just great and has made a tremendous difference to the attitudes of all of our stakeholders - they believe in conservation. With nearly one million species at risk of becoming extinct within decades, we need radical action. We need transformative partnerships that recognise the universal importance of biodiversity the diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. Coordinated action must stop the extinction of species like the tree kangaroo, and reduce biodiversity loss. The work of the Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program on the Huon Peninsula - and particularly in the YUS Conservation Area to save Matschies tree kangaroo, coupled with the work in the Torricelli Mountain Range to save the Tenkile and Weimang tree kangaroo species are the best chances we have for saving these unique, flagship species, so important to their ecosystems. The annual festival is set by the university administration for the students to acknowledge their indigenous roots in traditional song, dance, costumes and folklore. The highlands students usually appear more spectacular when their elders put the finishing touches on the face painting and traditional attire. The inclusion of mostly highlands parents was a testament to the level of pride and support they have for their student sons, daughters, nephews and cousins. Many students had their parents, guardians and extended relatives on campus to assist them with the preparations and performances as well. The people of Madang and visiting tourists and the growing expatriate community of Chinese, Filipinos and Europeans usually take the chance to see a sampling of the diverse cultures and traditions of Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. Its a lively event with traditional songs and dances as students from all 22 provinces in PNG, Solomon Islands and Fiji take centre stage showcasing their cultures in what is something closer to a Pacific festival. PORT MORESBY - Divine Word University community in Madang is always pleased to host its DWU Cultural Festival every year in the third week of August. A Siassi group from Morobe Province warms up Former president of the Divine Word University and now PNGs education secretary, Fr Jan Czuba, says the cultural day is not a show but a day when students are given a chance to reflect on the importance and values of the indigenous cultures of Papua New Guinea amidst the influences of modern times. Living up to the universitys slogan Valuing our Culture and Heritage through Collaboration, students from various provinces put on a lively display of their heritage through bilas (traditional regalia) and dancing and singing at the Madang campus. Its a proud moment when parents and relatives to see their young ones take to the arena to promote their culture. The event, which has now become part of the Madang calendar, is one of the national cultural festivals recognised by the government through its PNG Tourism Promotion Authority. DWU, a keen promoter of Melanesian culture, encourages students to value their traditions and heritage. It was established as a university in 1996 (it had previously been an institute) by the government under then prime minister Sir Julius Chan. Women dancers from New Ireland await their turn The annual cultural event provides an avenue to bring together PNGs shared heritage through songs, dancing and enactments of ceremonies. Tourists will be captivated by the colours of the costumes, the differences in attire and dances you have never seen before. You can take as many photos as you like, and you might run out of space in your memory card if you dont bring extra batteries and cards for your camera. DWU as a tertiary institution is a special place for students from different backgrounds to come together and study and engage in peace and harmony. It is a beautiful campus, carefully tended and known as a safe, peaceful and pleasant environment in which to pursue ones higher education. Many times the international and local news is not good wars, bombings, terrorism, tribal fights, rape, corruption, domestic violence. there is too much violence. We should passionately discuss and debate the issues that face our nation, but not allow political rivalries to destroy friendship and unity. How wonderful it is, how pleasant it is, for Gods people to live together in harmony and enjoy a festival. Dancers from Enga are always a crowd pleaser Here at DWU there is a cacophony of traditional songs, kundu beats, the stirring melodies of a brass band and the police bagpipers intermingled with the applause and delighted laughter of children and the shouting of adults. In 2016, Ramu NiCo in Madang also took the opportunity to display its project by reaching out to the general public at the DWU cultural festival. The president of Ramu NiCo, Wang Jicheng, along with other senior staff visit cultural festival to experience firsthand the unique cultures of the country while also supporting the promotional activities of their company. "I am very excited to come here and see the different cultures of PNG as shown by the dances and the beautiful body decorations, Mr Wang said. Academics John Imbal and Nathaline Murki from DWUs tourism department, in a study of the festival, are investigating aspects of its promotion, program, economic impacts and visitor demographics. The assessment will provide useful information to improve and develop the event. The universitys Student Representative Council (SRC) cultural committee organises the festival. SRC secretary Lavina Lore, a third year tourism student, said the festival will be on 17 August this year. Peter S Kinjap is a freelance writer and a blogger, email pekinjap@gmail.com Departing Labor leader Bill Shorten is reportedly trying to prevent Anthony Albanese from becoming the next party leader in a move labelled by other MPs as weird. Mr Albanese, representing the Labor left-wing faction, has been campaigning for the leadership since confirming he'd make a second tilt at the position on Sunday. His last attempt in 2013 ended in a loss to Shorten, who resigned from the leadership after Saturday's election loss. Shorten immediately threw his support behind deputy leader Tanya Plibersek, but she ruled herself out on Monday, saying it was not her time. "He was initially ringing people around the country urging them to vote for Tanya. He has also been actively lobbying people making sure someone runs against Albo," one senior MP told the Sydney Morning Herald. "It's weird. As a former leader you have an opportunity to be above it. You get treated with a whole respect for making that choice." Bill Shorten initially threw his support behind deputy party leader Tanya Plibersek. Source: AAP Frontbenchers back Albanese Labor frontbencher Penny Wong looks set to endorse Albanese as the "best person" to become the party's next national leader. The South Australian senator will make the announcement on Wednesday, a day after shadow treasurer and NSW right faction member Chris Bowen launched his bid for the role. Senator Wong "genuinely believes he (Albanese) is the best person to take them to government in the next election", the Adelaide Advertiser reported. Frontbencher Tony Burke is also believed to be backing Mr Albanese over Mr Bowen. Mr Bowen, the shadow treasurer says he has support from both the left and right of the party after speaking to most of his colleagues. "I think it's fair to say I would have majority support in a Labor caucus," he told ABC News Breakfast. Mr Bowen could face internal headwinds as the architect of Labor's plans to change the franking credits regime and crack down on negative gearing. The Coalition branded these "new taxes" that would hurt retirees and mum and dad property investors, and the policies were key factors in Labor losing the election. Story continues Anthony Albanese (left) is running for the position of Labor leader, putting him in contest with colleague Chris Bowen. Source: AAP Calls for generational change in the Labor party Mr Bowen was under fire from the Coalition during the campaign for saying Australians didn't have to vote for Labor's policies if they didn't like them, a sentiment he admits he could have worded better. He says he will start with a blank policy slate if he becomes leader. Mr Albanese and Mr Bowen are the only declared contenders to replace Mr Shorten, but it's not too late for others to put up their hand. "We got the votes of one-in-three of every Australian on Saturday. We need to do much better," Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney. It is understood Labor's finance spokesman Jim Chalmers is being encouraged to run, but his thinking has been impacted by factional colleague Mr Bowen's announcement. Mr Bowen received a mix of positive and negative comments on his Facebook page on Tuesday, with many linking him with Labor's loss and calling for "generational change" in the party. The leadership will be decided by a vote of grassroots members and the federal parliamentary caucus, with each group given 50 per cent weight. Caucus will not be told the result of the grassroots vote before MPs make their decision. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoos daily newsletter. Sign up here. Internationally-renowned Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina, whose high-profile coming out in a country that criminalises homosexuality made him a revered figure for gay rights in Africa, has died aged 48, his publishing house said Wednesday. The celebrated author came to world prominence with the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2002. He died just days before Kenya's High Court was scheduled to deliver a long-awaited ruling on whether to abolish colonial-era anti-gay laws. "He passed on some time last night," Tom Maliti, the chairman of the Kwani Trust, a Nairobi-based publishing house founded by Wainaina, told AFP. Wainaina had suffered a stroke in 2015 and was living with HIV. His brother James told Capital News that messages of condolence were pouring in from around the globe. "We lost Ken last night. We are grieving the loss... but Ken was an incredible person, with an incredible wit," he said. "The wound is still fresh, but we have received an outpouring of messages, from the people across the world, we are greatly comforted by them." At times a divisive figure in his native Kenya, where same-sex relationships are outlawed, Wainaina sparked huge debate in 2014 with his bombshell short story entitled "I am a Homosexual, Mum". "I, Binyavanga Wainaina, quite honestly swear I have known I am a homosexual since I was five," he wrote in the explosive self-published story addressed to his late mother. It was imagined as a lost chapter to his own acclaimed memoirs, "One Day I will Write about this Place", which appeared in 2011 but failed to mention his sexuality. - Anti-gay law - The influential literary figure said he timed his public announcement with the passing of controversial anti-gay legislation in Nigeria, a country he admired and considered his second home. "So as far as the emotional side was concerned, I did that a long time ago, this is more a political act," Wainaina told AFP in a January 2014 interview. He was flooded with messages of support at the time, and was named among the world's most influential people that year by Time Magazine. But he also became a lightning-rod for criticism across sub-Saharan Africa, where most countries have laws penalising same-sex relationships. "A gallant human rights defender who stood up and fought for the dignity and rights of LGBTQ community and others. Rest in power," Amnesty International's local office posted on Twitter. In 2016, timed around World AIDS Day, Wainaina announced he was HIV positive. Last year he unveiled plans to marry his long-term partner in South Africa. His work received wide attention and praise, including a satirical essay "How to Write About Africa". - Court ruling - Kenya's high court is scheduled to issue a ruling on Friday on the country's anti-gay laws, although the LGBT community fears a delay. The court has already postponed its decision once, on the grounds of a heavy workload, prompting dismay from a persecuted community which has fought for years to be accepted. Activists believe Kenya has a chance to blaze a trail in a continent where homophobia is virulent in many communities. Twenty-eight out of 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have laws penalising same-sex relationships, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Angola, Mozambique and Seychelles have scrapped anti-gay laws in recent years, while Chad and Uganda have introduced or toughened legislation. The death penalty is on the books, under Islamic sharia law, in Mauritania, Sudan and northern Nigeria, although there have been no known executions in recent times. In southern Somalia, gay men are believed to have been put to death in territory ruled by the Al-Shabaab jihadist group. Binyavanga Wainaina, pictured in an AFP interview in January 2014, shortly after he declared that he was gay Shady middle-men are openly advertising on Chinese social media to smuggle blood samples of pregnant women to Hong Kong to skirt the mainland's ban on gender testing, an AFP investigation has found. The business thrives on a well-organised underground network that serves the huge demand for illicit sex-selective abortion in mainland China ?- driven by limits on family size and an entrenched cultural preference for sons. Chinese authorities vowed to crack down on the trade in 2015. But dozens of blood smuggling agents are openly advertising services on the Twitter-like platform Weibo and on websites, despite China's proven ability to scrub digital content. Gender testing -- except on medical grounds -- is outlawed in China, where sex-selective abortions have helped create a surplus of about 31.6 million men, with some 115 boys born for every 100 girls last year. A long-standing one-child policy was eased to permit two children in 2016 but gender testing continues, with many parents of daughters trying for a son the second time around. Gender testing is legal in Hong Kong, with some clinics apparently turning a blind eye to the origins of the smuggled samples. Three agents contacted by an AFP reporter posing as a customer offered to arrange in-person appointments with medical testing labs or transport blood samples to Hong Kong for around US$580, promising results starting from six weeks into pregnancy. Upon payment of a deposit, the agent sends a testing kit to the client through a delivery service. One advised using an app to hire a nurse who could come to the patient's home in mainland China to extract blood. - 'Nothing will go wrong' - The client sends the blood sample to Shenzhen from where it is smuggled across the border to Hong Kong. The agents did not directly address questions about how the samples would be transported, but assured the reporter they would arrive safely at their destination. "They will be taken to the lab in a designated vehicle, the samples can be safely sent over for testing, nothing will go wrong," one representative said, adding that results would be sent out in one working day. Other agents use human smugglers. In February, a 12-year-old girl headed to Hong Kong was caught at the Shenzhen border carrying 142 vials of blood samples from pregnant women in her backpack. The tests analyse small fragments of foetal DNA in a pregnant woman's blood and can detect the presence of a Y chromosome. They are also used to screen for chromosomal disorders such as Down's syndrome. They can often accurately predict the gender of a foetus weeks before doctors can see the sex organs in an ultrasound. Some mainlanders take the legal option of travelling directly to Hong Kong for gender testing. "I have three daughters already. To be honest I want a son," a 39-year-old man surnamed Wang told AFP outside a lab in Kowloon where his wife was getting her blood tested. Wang, who circumvented the one-child policy as many well-connected or wealthy Chinese families do, said he was under intense parental pressure to produce a male heir and had made the journey from the southern province of Guizhou. "Chinese people still want to have a son to carry on the ancestral line, this is an antiquated way of thinking, but back home there are lots of people who think this way," he explained. He added he and his wife would terminate the pregnancy in China if it turned out be a girl. "Right now she's only about 50 days along, so it can be solved by taking some medicine," he said. - 'Ethically unacceptable' - The trade raises questions over the willingness of Hong Kong labs to ignore their own rules. According to industry guidelines, laboratory technicians should not test blood without a patient referral from a local doctor, and risk losing their licence if they do. It is illegal to mail or transport blood samples out of China without a permit, but Hong Kong only outlaws importing blood samples if a person has reason to suspect that it contains an infectious agent. The city's Department of Health told AFP the number of cases it investigated every year has tripled since 2016 but none was prosecuted due to insufficient evidence. A lab that one agent claimed to be working with told AFP it does not perform tests on couriered samples and denied working with mainland middle-men. Multiple Chinese government departments did not respond to requests for comment. Hong Kong lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki, who is also a doctor, called on the territory's government to work with mainland authorities to take down the networks. "Ethically this is completely unacceptable because this will only encourage more people to perform gender selection," he told AFP. "And in mainland China, gender selection has already led to many tragedies and a skewed population with more males than females -- they are all directly affected, so how can we abide this?" A thriving business of shady middle-men is openly advertising their services to smuggle blood to Hong Kong from China, to skirt the mainland's ban on gender testing Chart showing the population imbalance between boys and girls in China Some agents use human smugglers to transport the blood illicitly over the border from mainland China to Hong Kong, where it can be tested to determine the sex of the foetus The illicit trade raises questions over laboratories in Hong Kong willingness to ignore their own rules -- a patient's blood should not be tested unless the lab gets a referral from a local doctor, otherwise they risk losing their licence Syrian government air strikes killed 18 civilians, including a dozen people at a busy market, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwest, a war monitor said on Wednesday. Regime forces battled to repel a jihadist counteroffensive around the town of Kafr Nabuda that has left 70 combatants dead in 24 hours, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. The jihadist-dominated region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the government and its ally Russia have escalated their bombardment in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. At least 12 people were killed and another 18 wounded when regime warplanes hit the jihadist-held Idlib province town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Observatory said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The bombardment blew in the facades of surrounding buildings, and ripped through the flimsy frames and canvas of stalls in the market square, an AFP photographer reported. The bodies of market-goers were torn apart. "Residents are still scared," stallholder Khaled Ahmad told AFP. Three more civilians were killed on Wednesday by air strikes in the nearby town of Saraqib, the Observatory said. Two others were killed in strikes on the town of Maaret Hermeh, it added. Another civilian was killed in air raids on the town of Jisr al-Shughur, the monitor said. The Britain-based Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria and says it determines whose planes carried out strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions. - 'Worst fears'- The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 70 -- 36 regime forces and militia and 34 jihadists, the Observatory said. It said the jihadists had recaptured most of Kafr Nabuda from government forces, who had taken control of the town on May 8. State news agency SANA on Wednesday however said the army repelled a jihadist attack in the area, killing dozens of insurgents. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region and protect its three million residents. But President Bashar al-Assad's government upped its bombardment of the region after HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks. The Observatory says nearly 200 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30. The United Nations said Wednesday that Idlib's civilian population once again faced the threat of an all-out offensive. "A full military incursion threatens to trigger a humanitarian catastrophe for over 3 million civilians caught in the crossfire, as well as overwhelm our ability to respond," said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office. Swanson said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the upsurge of violence since April 28. A total of 20 health facilities have been hit by the escalation -- 19 of which remain out of service, Swanson said. Collectively they served at least 200,000 people, he added. - 'Break the status quo' - The September deal was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from a planned buffer zone around the Idlib region. But it ushered in a relative drop in violence until earlier this year, with Turkish troops deploying to observation points around the region. The Syrian government has accused Turkey of failing to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. But Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar accused the Syrian regime late Tuesday of threatening the ceasefire deal. "The regime is doing all that it can to break the status quo including using barrel bombs, land and air offensives," Akar told reporters. "Turkish armed forces will not take a step back from wherever they may be", he however added. Earlier, the US State Department said it was assessing indications that the government had used chemical weapons on Sunday during its offensive in Idlib. HTS accused government forces of launching a chlorine gas attack on its fighters in the northern mountains of Latakia. But the Observatory said Wednesday it had "no proof at all of the attack". The market in northwest Syria was crowded with people during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when the air strike happened Syria's White Helmets rescue volunteers rushed to the market to help the wounded Jihadist-led fighters have launched a counterattack against Syrian government forces advancing on their stronghold in the Idlib region in the northwest There was a time when the Brooklyn Democratic machine hated few people more than it did Margarita Lopez Torres. First elected as a civil court judge in 1992, Lopez Torres clashed with the powerful Brooklyn Democratic Party boss, Clarence Norman Jr., when she refused to hire the politically connected staff Norman demanded she take on. Ten years later, when her term was up, something nearly unprecedented happened: The Brooklyn Democratic Party refused to support an incumbent judge. Left to fend for herself, Lopez Torres won anyway. In 2005, she beat back the partys candidate to win a contested election for Surrogates Court judge in Brooklyn, the post she still holds today. She later served as the plaintiff in a judicial-reform case that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2019, as Lopez Torres seeks re-electionsurrogate judges serve 14-year termsin a June 25th primary that has attracted little public attention, the political winds have shifted dramatically. The current Brooklyn Democratic chair, Frank Seddio, is supporting her, as well as a wide array of elected officials belonging to both the partys more machine-aligned and reform wings. Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, and the Working Families Party are among her numerous backers, in addition to many political clubs. Its been a bit surreal, Lopez Torres told Gothamist. Im appreciative because Ive been a judge for 26 years and I have not been going around to the clubs and dinners in order to get their support. Ive been out of touch with people who could be helpful. But at least one of Lopez Torres's opponents in the three-way Democratic primary is making her newfound establishment ties an issue in the race. The consultant who guided Lopez Torres's 2005 campaign, Gary Tilzer, is now working for one of her opponents, Elena Baron, a civil court judge elected in 2017 without party support. Tilzer and Baron have questioned Lopez Torres's intentions, since she would be forced to retire from the bench in two years, when she turns 70, if she wins next month. Its very important for the court to be independent of all the politics that are going on, said Baron. Im running as the independent Democrat. A third candidate, Meredith Jones, also questioned Lopez Torress decision to seek another term. Jones, who is running with the support of Norman alliesafter serving a prison sentence on corruption charges, Norman has regained influence as a borough power brokertouts her lengthy experience working in Surrogates Court as a court attorney referee, a quasi-judicial post that conducts hearings and trials over estates. Im the only candidate with that experience that can fill the full term of 14 years, she said. I want to make sure the court runs at its potential and serves the needs of Brooklyn. Im proud to support Judge Margarita Lopez Torres for re-election to the Kings County Surrogates Court. If you are not familiar, Google her name. She is the real deal. Please join me in voting for the Honorable Margarita Lopez Torres in the June 25th Democratic primary. pic.twitter.com/uMTfTPSa94 Justin Brannan (@JustinBrannan) May 20, 2019 Little understood by outsiders, Surrogates Court is where wills and estates are settled, and where politically plugged-in lawyers can earn a killing on the estates of those who die without wills. In New York, it has been the site of particular patronage and abuse, especially in Queens County, where one lawyer who effectively runs the Queens Democratic Party can make millions from the court each year. The last bastion of true political patronage is the local judicial system because party leaders still play a decisive role in electing judges. Seddio, the Brooklyn Democratic leader, is himself a former surrogates court judge. He only served two years, stepping down in 2007 amid an ethics scandal concerning unspent campaign cash he funneled to political allies. Brooklyn, though, is not quite Queens. There are two surrogates judges instead of one. Competitive judicial elections, for surrogates and beyond, are much more common. Lopez Torres serves with Harriet Thompson, a Norman ally who won last year. The lone Queens surrogates judge, Peter Kelly, ran unopposed in 2010; his sister was the chief of staff to Joe Crowley, the former congressman and Queens Democratic boss defeated by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. One way the Brooklyn Democratic Party has played a dominant role in picking judges is through the so-called backfillfilling vacancies after judges move up to a higher court. In civil court, party leaders can choose a Democrat as the automatic nominee to fill a vacancy, avoiding a contested primary. In overwhelmingly Democratic Brooklyn, this is tantamount to an election victory. Elena Baron and the Surrogates Court Race in Brooklyn, NY - OP ED, an Independent Surrogates Court Judge https://t.co/9WHirZVJnt pic.twitter.com/XStTX9yz0r LostMessiah (@messiah_lost) May 17, 2019 Surrogates Court cannot be backfilled in the same way. A vacancy would simply trigger another open, boroughwide primary, according to election law. Baron and some other critics have raised the possibility that the Democratic chair, Seddio, could choose to elevate Lopez Torres shortly after she wins the June primary to the State Supreme Court, where she would be able to serve until she turned 76. A vacancy created after the Democratic primary and before the general election could be filled without staging another open primary. This is a scenario Seddio and Lopez Torres deny is the offing. The longtime judge stated unequivocally she has no interest in moving on to the State Supreme Court. The Democratic Executive Committee is proudly supporting the re-election of Judge Margarita Lopez-Torres, who has served with distinction as Kings County Surrogate Judge and has been found qualified by the independent Judicial Screening Committee, said a party spokesperson in a statement. Allies of Lopez Torres have criticized Barons campaign, which has been most vocal about potential backroom deals, for skipping a 25-member judicial screening panel for candidates seeking judgeships. Both Lopez Torres and Jones have been deemed qualified by the panel. A vast majority of judicial candidates in Brooklyn submit to screening. Tilzer, Barons consultant, has railed against the Brooklyn panel for having too many appointees who are made by the Brooklyn Democratic chair. Seddio can select three members himself and another seven recommended by Democratic district leaders. The rest are picked by various bar associations, legal groups, and Brooklyn Law School. Brandon West, the president of New Kings Democrats, a reform political club that has tussled with Seddio and is not endorsing any candidate in the race, said he supported the idea of candidates going to screening panels but wanted the process to be more transparent, since panel members do not disclose the details behind decisions. Its shrouded in a degree of mystery, he said. In her time on the bench, Lopez Torres has called for reforms that would actually take power away from her. In New York City, surrogates judges choose the public administrator, a city-funded position that processes the estates of those who die without wills. Lopez Torres has urged the state legislature, to no avail, to change the law so the mayor of New York selects the public administrators for each county. The public administrator is a commissioner of the City of New York. Workers in the office are employed by the City of New York, Lopez Torres said. A judge shouldnt be appointing a litigant who appears before it. For many years, Lopez Torres was the face of judicial reform in the borough. When she served as a civil court judge and battled with Norman, the party boss, she was repeatedly denied promotions to the State Supreme Court, where judges are picked through highly choreographed judicial conventions that typically reward allies of the party. Lopez Torres argued the way judges were selected in New York was unconstitutional because they denied voters the right to choose among candidates in a genuinely contested election. She won lower court rulings and the case was eventually heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2008. But while the justices were sympathetic to the arguments she and good government groups made in front of the court that New Yorks judicial system is highly convoluted and could disenfranchise voters, their opinion was summed up by then Justice John Paul Stevens, quoting Thurgood Marshall: The Constitution does not prohibit legislatures from enacting stupid laws. Lopez Torres lost. The June 25th primary is a low-information affair; beyond visits to political clubs, the candidates are not partaking in highly advertised debates or public forums, which is not uncommon. For Democratic voters coming to the ballot in an off year with nothing at the top of the ticket, the names and races of candidates will matter. Jones, who is black, is counting on votes from the boroughs large African-American and Afro-Caribbean communities, and has released a plan to protect estates from deed and equity theft, an ongoing problem in working class Brooklyn neighborhoods. Baron is a native of the former Soviet Union and speaks often of representing immigrant communities. And Lopez Torres, the first Latina elected to the civil court in New York City, touts her Puerto Rican heritage. If she wins re-election next month, Lopez Torres said she intends to retire from the legal system entirely after she turns 70. She and her husband have a sailboat, and she said she would like to spend more time on the water. Theres more to life than work, she said. The NSW cliff where a mother and her daughter were found dead below, has a dark history. Police on Tuesday found a 33-year-old woman and her two-year-daughter dead after the pair went over the edge of a cliff at tourist spot Robertson Lookout, at Mount Keira, near Wollongong, in the Illawarra region. Mum, 33, and two-year-old daughter were found dead at the bottom of the cliff at Robertson Lookout, in Mount Keira near Wollongong on Tuesday. Source: Nine News The lookout is about one-and-a-half hours drive from Sydney and offers stunning views over Wollongong. The cliff has been revealed as the same place from which a 31-year-old woman plunged to her death, holding her child 17 years ago. Robertson Lookout, at Mount Keira, near Wollongong is a popular tourist spot. Source: National Parks NSW On April 18, 2002, the mother jumped off the same cliff holding her five-year-old son. In that tragedy, the child miraculously survived the fall with his mothers body taking the brunt of the impact, The Sydney Morning Herald reported at the time. Emergency workers heard the boy crying hours after the pair fell and rushed to rescue him. The young boy reportedly suffered multiple abrasions, but managed to survive the fall, however his mother was killed instantly. Police at the scene at Robertson Lookout, in Mount Keira, on Tuesday. Source: 7 News Both bodies in Tuesdays double fatality have since been retrieved from the dense bushland at the bottom of the Mount Keira lookout. NSW Police told Yahoo News Australia that while the police operation was completed, the area remained a crime scene and was closed to the public. If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14 Mensline 1300 789 978, the Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467, or Beyond Blue 1300 22 46 36. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoos daily newsletter. Sign up here. British Prime Minister Theresa May vowed Tuesday to give lawmakers a vote on holding a second Brexit referendum as part of her final effort to salvage her hated EU divorce deal. The embattled British leader dangled a package of sweeteners that she hopes can resolve the Brexit crisis three years after the country first voted to end more than four decades of membership in the European project. Success on the fourth attempt in parliament would help May reclaim her legacy as the leader who kept her promise to safely steer a bitterly divided nation through its most profound strategic shift in generations. May has already said she will leave office shortly after the measures she outlined Tuesday are put up for a vote early next month -- no matter the outcome. The most eye-catching is a promise to give lawmakers a chance to set a confirmatory referendum on whatever version of Brexit they end up approving in the weeks or months to come. "I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the house on this important issue," May said in a nationally televised address delivered from the offices of a major accounting firm in London. "The government will therefore include in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at introduction a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum," she said. "This must take place before the Withdrawal Agreement can be ratified." The measure is a key demand of the main opposition Labour Party. But it is also bitterly opposed by Brexit-supporting Conservatives whose votes May also needs if she is to get her deal passed. The British pound rose sharply in response to May's announcement. Many businesses oppose Brexit and hope that the two sides can preserve much closer ties. - 'Last chance' - May said her proposals were this parliament's "last chance" to end a political deadlock that has already delayed Brexit past its original March deadline and caused huge public anger. She called them "a new Brexit deal" that Britain must now rally behind. The government is aiming for the law to be approved by the time that parliament's summer recess begins on July 20, which would allow Britain to leave the EU at the end of that month -- as long as MPs reject a second referendum. Otherwise the process could be delayed until October 31 -- the deadline set by the EU -- or even later if EU leaders grant Britain another postponement. "The majority of MPs say they want to deliver the result of the referendum. So I think we need to help them find a way. And I believe there is now one last chance to do that," May said. May set out 10 incentives in all that will be included in a new Brexit bill that is expected to come up for a vote in the week starting June 3. The measures would give parliament a chance to approve a temporary customs union with the other 27 nations. They also commit the government to preserve the rights of European workers and maintain EU environmental standards. These are all major Labour demands. But they threaten to only reinforce the resistance within Brexit-backing ranks of her own Conservative Party. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, the favourite to replace May in a leadership contest, said on Twitter that he would not support the new incarnation of the deal, having voted for it the last time it was put to parliament. "The Bill is directly against our manifesto - and I will not vote for it. We can and must do better - and deliver what the people voted for," he said, rejecting the idea of any customs union or second referendum. May warned EU sceptics within her party ranks that a rejection of her final throw of the dice threatened to doom Brexit for good. This compromise solution "is practical," May said. "It is responsible. It is deliverable. And right now, it is slipping away from us." - 'Harder than anticipated' - The last vote on the Brexit deal in March was the closest. She lost that by 58 votes in the 650-seat House of Commons. But most analysts and UK newspapers still give May little-to-no chance of winning on this occasion. The vote also comes with the race to succeed her as party leader in full swing. British media estimate that a third of her cabinet members have either openly declared their ambitions to become prime minister or are preparing their campaigns. Her speech was billed by some as her possible swansong -- and May conceded that her time in office has not been smooth. "I knew that delivering Brexit was not going to be simple or straightforward," May said. "It has proved even harder than I anticipated." Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged to leave office after the lawmakers' vote -- no matter the outcome Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson is the favourite to replace Prime Minister Theresa May in a leadership contest British Prime Minister Theresa May warned EU sceptics within her party that a rejection of her final throw of the dice threatened to doom Brexit for good Getting Boeing's top-selling 737 MAX back in the skies faces a critical test this week as the company and US regulators each seek to restore their reputations after two deadly crashes. The US Federal Aviation Administration convened a summit of global aviation regulators on Thursday to walk through the steps taken to address concerns with the MAX following criticism the agency dragged its feet on the decision to ground the jets. Most agencies around the world have said little or nothing about the situation since the 737 MAX was grounded following the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines crash, which together with a Lion Air crash in October, claimed 346 lives. So the gathering in Fort Worth, Texas is expected to provide clues as to whether the aviation safety authorities will be willing to set aside any skepticism about the FAA, which has not yet given the green light for the 737 MAX to fly again. Regulators "are going to want a lot of explanation," said Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group. "We're going to learn a lot." The FAA would prefer to have other agencies quickly follow its lead -- which previously would have been likely -- but several aviation experts think that is improbable. Europe and Canada could follow the US by weeks in allowing the MAX jets to return to the skies. China is a wildcard. It was the first country to order the planes grounded in March, and has been sparring with the US for months over trade policy. - Still the 'gold standard'? - The FAA said 57 agencies from 33 countries will attend the summit, including China, France, Germany, Britain, India, Indonesia and Ethiopia, as well as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the United Nation's International Civil Aviation Organization. The meeting comes after Boeing announced on May 16 that it completed a software update to address a problem with the flight handling program known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System. In both of the MAX crashes, the MCAS pointed the plane sharply downward based on a faulty sensor reading, hindering the pilot's effort to control the aircraft after takeoff, according to preliminary crash investigations. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has said repeatedly that there was no design flaw in the 737 MAX, and has described changes to the MCAS system as an "update" rather than a fix. Still the company's reputation has taken a hit amid reports it knew of the issue before the Ethiopia Airlines crash, and received complaints from US pilots. Boeing said it is providing additional information to the FAA in anticipation of a certification test flight, a key step in winning regulatory approval. Long considered an "gold standard" internationally, the FAA's reputation has suffered, amid scrutiny of the oversight process and reports it allowed Boeing to effectively self-certify some features of the MAX. US lawmakers last week once again castigated acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell for lagging behind virtually all other regulators in grounding the planes, acting only after seeing data linking the two crashes. "So the opposite of data is common sense," bellowed Representative Steve Cohen, a Tennessee Democrat, bellowed during a hearing. "Data is fine but it's something that's right before your eyes," he said, noting that non-US regulators reacted with appropriate urgency. Elwell told the panel the agency would permit the 737 MAX to resume flights "only when the FAA's analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is safe to do so." - Lag after US? - Aviation experts expect the US agency to clear the way for the 737 MAX in time for major American airlines to resume flights in mid-to-late summer, as they have publicly announced. Elwell said he hoped other regulators "make their un-grounding as close to ours as possible." Thursday's gathering will offer clues as to whether that is likely. "We'll have a much better idea of the timeline for the return of the 737 MAX," said Michel Merluzeau of aerospace consultancy AIR. The process would be slowed if other regulators break with precedent and insist on conducting their own test flights with the upgraded 737 MAX rather than deferring to the FAA's judgment. Another key question is whether other regulators have different expectations on pilot training than the FAA, which has said simulator training is not needed for all pilots. Scott Hamilton, founder of Leeham Company, an aviation consultancy, said the FAA's job has been made more difficult with a "drip drip" of negative media reports. And over the weekend, Boeing acknowledged that it had to correct flaws in the flight simulator software for the MAX. "How has Boeing assured the FAA there are no more surprises?" Hamilton asked in an email. The global fleet of Boeing 737 MAX planes has been grounded after two deadly crashes, including this group of Southwest Airlines planes photographed in California in March Daniel Elwell, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, hopes to coordinate global regulators on the resumption of flights of the Boeing 737 MAX Mourners carry portraits of victims of the crashed accident of Ethiopian Airlines during a mass funeral at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in March WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: Disturbing footage exposing horrifying cruelty within the cashmere production industry has emerged. The graphic footage shot inside Chinese and Mongolian warehouses shows workers ripping combs viciously through the wooly fur of goats. In a statement to its website, fashion giant H&M announced recently the material was in the process of being completely phased out. As part of our 2030 goal to only use sustainably sourced materials, we are now beginning to gradually phase out conventional cashmere, H&M stated. Horrific footage showed goats yelling in pain as workers ripped out their fur. Source: YouTube/PETA Asia For example, H&M will stop placing orders on conventional cashmere at the end of next year. While cashmere is popular for its soft texture and known as a high-quality material, it comes with both environmental and animal welfare challenges. The topic has long been a source of debate between consumers and clothing companies with poor conditions and cruelty the cause of a majority of concern. Footage, obtained by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) Asia, shot inside the Asian warehouses showed workers using large combs on goats fur as they screamed out in pain. The video was uploaded to YouTube on May 13, sparking outrage at the horrendous conditions evident inside the facilities exposed. Facilities in China and Mongolia were exposed for their treatment of the animals. Source: YouTube/PETA Asia Once used for their coat, the animal advocate group said the animals were taken to be slaughtered for their skin and meat. Additional footage showed goats bleeding out after having their throat slit at the slaughterhouse, often wriggling for extended periods as their body shut down. Workers were also shown slamming bodies into the ground and beating their heads with a hammer. A significant amount of cashmere used for fashion internationally is sourced from China and Mongolia. Nearly all cashmere is produced in China and Mongolia, so if you buy a cashmere item, it likely came from goats who were abused and killed in this way, PETA said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoos daily newsletter. Sign up here. A lawyer for former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has slammed "outrageous" restrictions on his client's ability to see his wife, and predicted the tycoon's trial will not start for at least a year. In an interview with AFP, Takashi Takano revealed that Japan's top court this week backed a lower court's decision to restrict Ghosn's access to his wife Carole under the terms of his bail. The former Nissan chief was bailed for a second time on April 25 and is now preparing for trial on four charges of financial misconduct ranging from concealing part of his salary, to using Nissan funds for personal expenses. The tough terms of his bail mean he needs court permission to visit his wife Carole, whom prosecutors believe has made contact with people involved in the case against the tycoon. Ghosn applied for permission shortly after his release, but was denied. His lawyers separately filed an appeal to overturn the restrictions altogether, but the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected that appeal, Takano said. "It's inhumane. It's outrageous, even by Japanese standards," Takano said. - 'Clear violation' - The longtime attorney said it was the first time in his career he had seen a court ban a client from seeing their spouse. "It's very rare," he said at an interview in his Tokyo office, arguing that the restrictions violate the UN's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. "This is a clear violation of our own constitution as well as a violation of the human rights treaty, which our government ratified... (a) long time ago," he added. Ghosn's case has gripped observers inside Japan and internationally since his dramatic November 19 arrest as he stepped off his private jet in Tokyo. He was detained for 108 days as prosecutors investigated financial misconduct allegations and then charged him with three counts. He finally won bail for the first time in March, agreeing to conditions including living in a court-appointed residence monitored by cameras. But when prosecutors levelled a fresh allegation against him in April, he was rearrested and spent another 21 days at the Kosuge detention centre before winning bail a second time. - Ghosn 'depressed, disappointed' - Ghosn is due to attend his first pre-trial meeting with judges and prosecutors on Thursday as part of procedures dealing with evidence and arguments ahead of a trial, Takano said. "There are four indictments and those cases are a little bit complicated," he said. "And this process will last, I think, at least one more year" before the trial begins, he added. Ghosn denies all the charges against him, and has vowed to "vigorously defend himself against these baseless accusations," Takano said, adding he "fully expects to be vindicated". He argues the allegations against him are the result of a "plot" by Nissan executives who were opposed to his plans to bring the Japanese firm closer to its alliance partner Renault. Ghosn has been stripped of his leadership positions at Nissan, Renault and the third firm in the auto alliance, Mitsubishi Motors. Takano said the 65-year-old was in "good fighting spirits" but that his health appeared fragile. "He looks depressed and he is so disappointed to know that he could not communicate with his wife," Takano said. "His mental as well as physical condition looks not so good now," Takano said without elaborating. Former Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn is said to be in fragile health since his release from detention at the end of April Takashi Takano says Ghosn is frustrated by the court ruling that restricts his contact with his wife Takashi Takano says Ghosn is frustrated by the court ruling that restricts his contact with his wife A 15-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly possessing a toy gun after a school went into lockdown in Melbournes southeast. Police were called to the Beaconsfield school, believed to be St Francis Xavier College, on Wednesday after the school activated its emergency management plan sparked by the firearm scare. Officers arrested the boy at the school for possession of an imitation firearm, police confirmed to Yahoo News. St Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield went into lockdown as a 15-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly taking a toy gun to school. Source: Google Maps The student is being questioned. There is no threat to the school community and the investigation is ongoing, police said. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoos daily newsletter. Sign up here. Corey Johnson just bought his first Juul. The NYC Council Speaker quit the combustibles on May 1st. But after a decade of sucking down a pack of Parliament 100s each day, kicking the habit proved harder than expected. So like many aspiring quitters (coughs, ex-smokerly) he turned to the e-cigarette. His cartridge of choice is tobaccoa dignified, if not particularly hip flavor, and not one of the ones his legislative body is in the process of outlawing. Mostly he just misses cigarettes. While Johnson has not spoken publicly about his Juul use, he's repeatedly discussed his efforts to quit smoking. On Twitter, the sophomore speaker has shared frequent updates about giving up cigarettes, admitting when he is really, really struggling or passing out tips to beat cravings. Its hardly out of character: he also tweets about his love life, his frustration with cops confiscating e-bikes, and videos of him singing Lady Gaga. 72 hours without a cigarette. Today was hard. But I didnt smoke. I ate a lot of sugar free jolly ranchers, drank water, and reached out to friends when I was struggling. 3 days down. Good night with gratitude. Corey Johnson (@CoreyinNYC) May 3, 2019 Johnson, who is 37 years old, HIV-positive and sober, tells Gothamist that his candid online persona is all part of his quest to live openly and authentically. Speaking frankly about battling his smoking addiction, he says, is his way to "take the shame and stigma out of it." Last week, we spoke by phone with City Halls most powerful ex-smoker to discuss the monkey on his back, as well as e-cigarettes, marijuana, smoking bans in public housing, and presidential candidate Bill de Blasio. How are you doing? I miss smoking. I miss smoking, too. But you know, its a good thing. I guess. People say its good. It's fucking hard, man. The last few days have been really hard. I thought the first two days were not that hard, maybe because I was excited. I was like, "I'm doing it!" Then I settled in and it's hard. Yesterday was two weeks. Its day 15. Have you cheated at all? I just started using a Juul. Last night I was freaking out. I walked to the bodega to buy a pack of cigarettes. I put on my sweatpants and a sweatshirt. I was like, "I need a fucking cigarette." I got to the bodega that I always bought cigarettes from, I looked up, and I was like, "Oh, there are Juuls right there. Maybe I should buy one of those." So, I bought a Juul instead. It's not nearly as satisfying. But it's better for you than a cigarette. How much were you smoking before? Oh, I smoked at least a pack a day for 10 years. I was a chain smoker. Sometimes I would smoke three cigarettes in a row. I'd put one out and I'd have another right away. How does being a chain-smoking elected official work? Are you lighting up in the bathroom of City Hall? On the roof? I would always stand on the east side of City Hall facing the Brooklyn Bridge. I would go outside many, many times a day to smoke. Even in my own apartment, I never ever smoked indoors. I would smoke outside in the middle of the winter. I'd smoke in a blizzard. I had a whole routine. Its the first thing I did in the morning when I woke up, before I took a shower, before I had a cup of coffee. It's the last thing I did at night before I brushed my teeth and went to bed. I'd smoke in the car. I'd smoke on the phone. I'd smoke on my stoop. I had it down. I feel like I really enjoyed smoking, and I guess I forget the parts I didn't enjoyhaving to constantly wash my hands and my face to try to get the smell off of me. I didn't enjoy those things, but I forget about them when I'm in the middle of a craving. I'm being nostalgic about it. I feel like I lost my best friend a little bit. That feels like a sad, pathetic thing to say. Youve talked openly about overcoming past addictions, including alcohol and cocaine. Does this feel like the last mountain for you? I always say that my biggest accomplishment was getting sober, in July of 2009, at 27 years old. I had only really been a serious drinker and drug user for six years. When I got sober, that's when I started really smoking. I smoked a little bit when I drank, but I didn't buy packs of cigarettes. I would bum cigarettes off people when I was drinking. When I got sober, it was sort of my way to still have something. It feels like the final mountain to climb, and it feels much harder than quitting alcohol and drugs. I wasn't a daily drinker. I was kind of a weekend warrior. But smoking I do every day, multiple times a day. It was much more part of my routine. This feels much, much harder than getting sober. The thing about the Juul is that feeds those addictive impulses so seamlessly, its almost scary. Ive seen so many people who thought they were quitting smoking, only to end up with this robot tube basically attached to their hands I'm not happy that I bought the Juul. I feel bad about it, but also I'm trying not to self judge. Even though my own sobriety has been one that is centered on abstinencenot drinking or using drugs at allI do believe in harm reduction model as well. I'm trying to be easy on myself, and telling myself this is better than smoking cigarettes, even though I wish I wasn't using a Juul. On a citywide level, the drop-off in smoking rates has been in a lot of ways set back by the explosion in popularity of e-cigarettes, particularly among young people. Are you worried that too many New Yorkers are vaping? I feel sort of split. I'd rather people of course not smoke and not vape at all. But again if using a Juul and vaping gets people away from cigarettes, which are a lot more destructive, and bad for one's health, then I think it's a step in the right direction. Though, nicotine is not a great thing for you, regardless of how you're taking it in. It's very, very hard. My hope is that the Juul for me is just kind of going to be a bridge. It's not going to be something I do forever, but it's going to help take the edge off in the short term. I'm not using a nicotine patch. I'm not using Nicorette gum or Chantix. I've been hypnotized before, but it didn't work for me. Some people find smoking pot helps. No, no. When I smoked [marijuana] before I got sober I thought Armageddon was coming. I wanted the biggest bag of Cool Ranch Doritos on the planet. It wasn't a good combination for me. Its still unclear whether New York is going to legalize marijuana this year on the state level. In the city, the mayor told the NYPD to stop arresting New Yorkers for smoking pot in public. But the directive has a host of exceptions that some drug policy advocates say essentially swallows the rulefor people on parole or probation, or with a misdemeanor or felony warrant, or if the person does not have identification, among other things. Should the NYPD be arresting these people for smoking in public? There potentially could be some exceptions that I'm not thinking of, but we should first say that it's already legal to smoke pot in New York City if you're white. This has been racially disproportionate, and totally criminalized people of color for years and years and years. The right way to handle this is to create a regulatory framework and handle these things in a thoughtful, rational way. Right now, the highest number of people that are being sent back to Rikers Island are parole violators. They're typically for minor crimes like smoking pot or violating a curfew charge. These are not reasons to re-incarcerate people. The costs to society and the individual is too high, and there has to be more rational ways to think about this. Just like I am not for significant exemptions to congestion pricing, I am not for creating a Swiss cheese-like policy on marijuana. I think you need to have some level of consistency and rationality on these policies. I hope the state does move forward with figuring this out. It's disappointing that New Jersey wasn't able to do it, and it would be disappointing if the legislators in New York weren't able to get this across the finish line. New federal guidelines handed down last summer required all public housing to become smoke-free, with individual municipalities allowed to create their own specific rules for enforcement. Shortly after, NYCHA announced that tenants could now be evicted if they violated the indoor smoking ban. Do you think public housing residents should face eviction for smoking in their own homes? Well, it's a complicated issue. It's complicated because smoke travels, so even if you're smoking in your own apartment, it gets through cracks, crevices, air shafts and vents. So, it gets into other people's apartments, and into public spaces. Secondhand smoke, and third hand smoke affects people in a very serious way. Even if you're smoking in your own apartment, it likely is not just affecting you, it's affecting your neighbors, and people in your building. I don't think the first course of action for the Housing Authority is going to be to bring eviction proceedings against individuals. It's going to have to be a escalating system of punishment and warnings. Ultimately we don't want people smoking indoors because it's a public health measure, and we want to protect people. So, the Housing Authority and HUD have to figure out what exactly that escalating punishment would be. It's a balance between protecting people who live in public housing, while at the same time not evicting people who are really struggling with quitting, and getting them the help that they need. Now Im wondering if smokers should have an advocate in local government. Whos the most powerful smoker in City Hall these days? I mean, there are multiple members of the City Council who smoke. I'm not going to shame them because I think most people are not proud of their smoking. But, you know, the mayor doesn't smoke, the comptroller doesn't smoke, and the public advocate doesn't smoke. Now, the speaker of the city council doesn't smoke. So we're heading in the right direction. You don't seem to have much shame about this process. What's driving you to share this battle online with so many people? I think it's multiple things. I've always said one of the biggest lessons I've learned in my own recovery from alcohol and drugs is that you're only as sick as your secret. It's better not to have secrets, and it's better to be open, and really take the shame and stigma out of things. For me, that's been around my own recovery, that's been around my sexual orientation since I was 16 years old, that's been around my HIV status. So, I'm someone that tries to live openly and authenticallythat's number one. Number two is I think it creates a level of accountability for me, which is good. Hopefully, it inspires other people who are struggling and or having a hard time sharing. It creates a little bit of a community for people to know that they're not alone. So, I think those are kind of the three things of why I've been sharing so openly about it. Apparently when President Obama was trying to quit in the White House, there were some anti-smoking advocates who were disappointed that he didnt more publicly discuss it. I understand that. I had shame about it for a very, very long time. I understand that instinct of not wanting to talk about it or be publicly associated with it. But for me I think this is the best way to go about it. Speaking of...presidents: Mayor de Blasio is widely expected to declare his candidacy this week [ed note: he did!]. What are your feelings on the mayor running for president? Oh, I don't know. Everyone's running, and I think not many people are going to get to the finish line. Not many people are probably going to make it to the caucuses. I don't even say that personally about the mayor. I say that generally about the field of candidates. I think it's going to be hard for him. Maybe harder than other people because the level of intensity for the job of being the mayor of New York City. The number of emergencies and unexpected events that happen every single day in the largest and greatest city in the worldits constant. I think that's going to be a challenge for him. When you're traveling and unexpected things pop up, the New York City press corps and New Yorkers, understandably, are going to be giving you an extra level of scrutiny and attention. I think it's going to be a challenge for himthat's a downside. An upside for him, I guess, is you get to go out there and talk about what you're proud of in a concrete way. As a mayor, not just this mayor, but any mayor, you can talk about that in concrete terms. That's more than just casting a vote in the United State Senate, but talking about things like universal pre-K and other progressive policies that you're proud of. He has not asked for my advice. If he did ask for it, I would say: "Be authentic, be joyful, be a cheerleader and champion for New York City, have a message that inspires people, and make New York City proud." This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Deep in the Russian Arctic anticipation runs high ahead of the launch of a natural gas pipeline that has emerged as a source of tensions pitting Moscow and Berlin against Washington. Gas sourced from the giant Bovanenkovo field on the remote Yamal Peninsula far above the Arctic Circle will feed the Nord Stream 2, a multi-billion-euro energy link between Russia and Germany. Critics of the Gazprom-led project -- in particular Washington and Kiev -- say the pipeline aims to increase Europe's reliance on Russian gas and isolate Ukraine, which it bypasses. US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said in the Ukrainian capital Kiev this week that Washington was moving towards imposing restrictions on the companies involved in the project. The Nord Stream 2 consortium and supporters of the project say the 1,230-kilometre (765-mile) pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea will help secure Europe's rising gas needs at lower prices. "We have all these political discussions saying it's a political project," Henning Kothe, chief project officer at Nord Stream 2, told reporters during a tour of the field on Tuesday. But, he added, the shortest way for gas to reach Europe was "via Nord Stream 2, which is 2,000 kilometres shorter than the existing route through Ukraine. "That is for me a fact and not politics," he said. Half of the 9.5-billion-euro ($10.6-billion) project is financed by Gazprom, with the rest covered by its European partners: Germany's Wintershall and Uniper, Anglo-Dutch Shell, France's Engie and Austria's OMV. The consortium insists that Ukraine will retain its role as a transit country. The project had been due to be launched in late 2019, but Gazprom said Sunday it could go online in 2020. Denmark has still not issued a permit for the pipeline to cross its waters. - 'Unfair competition' - US President Donald Trump charged in angry tweets last year that the project made Germany a "captive" of President Vladimir Putin's Russia. Speaking after talks with Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen last week, Putin accused Washington of "unfair competition" and using political pressure to sideline a competitor. "Our partners know that their product is more expensive and its quality is by no means better," Putin said, referring to the United States. The Austrian president said for his part that his country had no intention to quit the project. "US liquified gas is considerably more expensive than our current sources," he told reporters. "So there's no economic reason whatsoever to change our position." The field's gas reserves are estimated at 4.9 trillion cubic metres, and plans are under way to increase its capacity to 140 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year from 115 bcm now. More than a thousand kilometres of pipes have already been laid in the Baltic Sea. Pipelay vessels are working to install eight kilometres of pipelines a day. The twin pipeline system consists of two 1,230-kilometres-long pipelines. - 'Nightmare scenario' - Pushing back the launch date could create considerable difficulties. Most of Russia's gas destined for Europe passes through Ukraine. But the transit agreement between Kiev and Moscow expires at the end of the year. With the two countries at loggerheads over Crimea, Ukraine's territory annexed by Russia, and a separatist conflict, Moscow and Kiev have struggled to agree on the deal's extension. Dmitry Khandoga, deputy head of Gazprom's external economic affairs department, said ending the year without completing Nord Stream 2 and without a transit deal with Ukraine would be a "nightmare scenario". The threat of US sanctions also looms large. US Secretary of Energy Perry said the planned bill would have "very, very onerous restrictions on companies that continue to do business with Nord Stream 2". Kothe downplayed the risks, saying that none of the partners had left the project. Some experts say the possible sanctions would hardly affect the project but will put the European Union on a direct collision course with the United States. Elina Ribakova, deputy chief economist at the Washington-based Institute of International Finance, said it was too late to stop the construction so US Congress felt it can only call for sanctions. "It is a highly controversial issue for Germany and therefore particularly risky for US-German relations," she said on Twitter. The giant Bovanenkovo gas field will feed the Nord Stream 2, an energy link between Russia and Germany that has come in for US criticism A worker walks down the stairs of a gas drilling rig at the Bovanenkovo gas field on the Yamal peninsula in the Arctic Circle A woman walks along a booster compressor station in the Bovanenkovo gas field An employee watches monitors in the control room of the Bovanenkovo gas field Experts say possible sanctions would hardly affect the project but will put the European Union on a direct collision course with the United States A driver travelling along a remote road in central Victoria could not believe their eyes when the night sky lit up with what appeared to be a meteor. The stunning moment was captured on dash cam on Tuesday just after 11pm and posted on Facebook. This is the second meteor spotted on camera in Australia in less than a week. On Monday morning residents in Alice Springs were treated to a rare meteor shower that was captured on CCTV. In a split second, the sky lights up from white to a bright yellow. Source: Facebook Dash Cam Owners Commenters were stunned by the footage and speculated over what the flash of light was. What's Optimus Prime doing here? one person asked. Here come the Men In Black! another jokester said. One person suggested the driver should have gone to investigate the strange light. I think the dash cam car could [have] gone over to see if the blob was there waiting, the person wrote. The striking light was captured on dash cam at 11.05 pm on Tuesday while driving along Wimmera Highway in Victoria. Source: Facebook Dash Cam Owners There have been reports of several other sightings across Victoria from Geelong to the Mornington Peninsula. Some people even spotted it in South Australia. My husband saw this last night in SA but his dash cam was facing the wrong way, one woman said. Monash University astronomer Michael Brown told Yahoo News that the light was most likely a bright meteor and perhaps a basket ball size. He said the reason meteors can be seen by so many people, so far apart is because of the speed they travel, at over 10 kilometres every second. For those concerned about the danger of the speeding basketball shaped meteors, Dr brown said most look more dangerous than they actually are. Most meteors are harmless and burn up at high altitude, only a few get low enough to produce an audible sonic boom. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, download the Yahoo News app from iTunes or Google Play and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoos daily newsletter. Sign up here. A bill approved Wednesday by the state Senate would ensure candidates for state and local offices in New York could use campaign funds to cover child care expenses. The legislation sponsored by state Sen. Shelley Mayer passed by a 60-0 vote. It would allow campaign funds to be used for child care costs if the expenses are "incurred as a direct result of campaign activity." The state Board of Elections issued an advisory opinion last year that permits candidates to use campaign funds for child care expenses. Mayer, D-Yonkers, explained at a Senate Elections Committee hearing this month that the bill will codify that provision into state law. "We need more young people, young mothers and fathers, running for public office," Mayer said in a statement. "We need their voices and experiences represented in local and state government. Child care costs are already too burdensome for many households, and these costs should not prohibit qualified candidates from running for public office." Mayer introduced the bill last year after Liuba Grechen Shirley, a Democrat who challenged U.S. Peter King in New York's 2nd Congressional District, asked the Federal Election Commission whether she could use campaign funds to pay for child care. Federal and state campaign finance laws prohibit using campaign funds for personal purposes. However, the FEC has said candidates can use campaign money for "expenses that result from the campaign." In May 2018, the FEC ruled that Grechen Shirley's committee, Liuba for Congress, could pay for campaign-related child care expenses. One year after the FEC's decision, Grechen Shirley praised New York lawmakers for pushing to allow state and local candidates to use campaign funds for child care. If the state Legislature passes the bill and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs it into law, Grechen Shirley said New York will become the ninth state to allow campaign funds to be used for child care costs. "It's a game-changer," she said in a phone interview. "It's critical. It will break down barriers for working parents to run for office." Since Grechen Shirley's congressional campaign ended she lost to King by six points she founded Vote Mama, a political action committee that supports Democratic mothers running for office across the country. The organization is assisting candidates with requests to approve the use of campaign funds for child care expenses. Grechen Shirley said the policy is needed because it will help encourage people with young children to run for office. For the first six months of her campaign, she cared for her two children and fulfilled her duties as a candidate. "Without the ability to use your campaign funds on child care, so many working parents will just wait until their kids are grown before they run," she said. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. Reform groups are accusing some counties of attempting to sabotage early voting in New York because the municipalities haven't agreed on polling locations or may not have enough sites for voters. Common Cause New York and VoteEarlyNY said Wednesday that four counties Cattaraugus, Columbia, Ulster and Westchester haven't released early voting poll locations. In Erie County, the groups noted that there is one early voting site in Buffalo the largest upstate city and two in Cheektowaga, a large suburb. The limited number of sites in the Buffalo area, they argue, underserves the county's minority population. The groups also highlighted the dispute in Onondaga County, where the Democratic elections commissioner is calling for two additional early voting sites after agreeing with the Republican commissioner to have six locations throughout the county. Dustin Czarny, the Democratic elections commissioner in Onondaga County, wants to add Cicero Town Hall and Onondaga Community College as early voting locations. But Michele Sardo, the GOP elections commissioner, doesn't support the proposal. She believes the six sites the minimum required by law are enough. Advocates also reiterated their complaints about New York City's early voting sites. Earlier this month, the city announced 38 polling locations. Common Cause, along with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and the New York Civil Liberties Union, sent a letter to the New York City Board of Elections calling the proposal "inadequate" and "inequitable." "New Yorkers need access to voting centers in non-traditional locations, close to transportation, county-wide, and including local and state facilities," said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York. "We've fought too hard to let New York vote, we're not about to back down now." New York became the 38th state to allow early voting when Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation in January. The new law establishes a nine-day early voting period before an election. Counties have until May 29 to submit early voting plans to the state Board of Elections. The plans are necessary to secure state funding. The 2019-20 budget contains nearly $25 million to help counties fund the implementation of early voting. There is $10 million available for operational expenses and $14.7 million for the purchase of software, including electronic poll books, to support early voting. The law requires counties to have one early voting location for every 50,000 registered voters. Counties with more than 350,000 registered voters are mandated to have at least seven poll sites. Four New York City boroughs the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens each have more than 800,000 registered voters. Brooklyn has more than 1.6 million voters. But the early voting law didn't establish a higher minimum number of early voting poll sites for larger municipalities. The four largest boroughs in New York City must have at least seven sites. "The goal of New York's new early voting law is to improve access to the ballot by providing more convenient options instead of rigid single-day, single-location voting," said Jarret Berg, founder of VoteEarlyNY. "But unfortunately, several counties, including many with larger populations, are planning programs that underserve their communities and fail to meet the clear dictates in the law that any early voter should be able to use any vote center in their locality, and that sites be allocated in an equitable and principled way." Early voting begins Saturday, Oct. 26 and concludes Sunday, Nov. 3. Next year, early voting will be in place for the presidential primary, federal and state primary election and the general election. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday that the redesign of the $20 bill has been delayed and he hasn't decided whether Harriet Tubman should replace President Andrew Jackson on the note. Mnuchin's comments came in response to questions from U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley at a House Financial Services Committee hearing. Pressley, D-Massachusetts, asked for an update on the redesign of the $20 bill announced in 2016 by Mnuchin's predecessor, former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew. Lew said at the time that the $5, $10 and $20 bills would be redesigned, and the new designs of the notes would be released in 2020 the 100th anniversary of women winning the right to vote. Mnuchin revealed that new designs of the $10 and $50 bills will be released before the new $20 bill. The new version of the $20 bill won't come out until 2028, he said. "It is my responsibility now to focus on what is the issue of counterfeiting and the security features," Mnuchin explained. "The ultimate decision on the redesign will most likely be another secretary's down the road." After further questioning from Pressley, Mnuchin clarified that the security features of the $20 bill redesign will be completed in 2020. But the imagery on the paper money "will not be an issue that comes up until 2026," he said. When asked by Pressley whether he supports putting Tubman's likeness on the $20 bill, Mnuchin said he hasn't made a decision. He deferred to his successor who would make that decision in 2026. The $20 bill redesign announced in 2016 would make Tubman the new face of the $20 bill. The reverse side of the note would includes images of Jackson and the White House. African Americans and women would appear on the new $5 and $10 bills, too. The proposed redesign of the $5 bill would highlight historic events at the Lincoln Memorial, including Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, "I Have a Dream" speech. The reverse side of the $10 bill would recognize leaders of the women's suffrage movement, including Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Women have appeared on paper money before, but none of the existing bills feature women. "Our currency does not reflect the diversity of individuals that have contributed to our great American history," Pressley said. Members of Congress have introduced a bill that would require the Treasury to put Tubman on the $20 bill. U.S. Rep. John Katko is the sponsor of the House bill. He represents Auburn, where Tubman lived during the latter part of her life. Tubman died in 1913. Her grave site is at Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn. Two weeks ago, Katko, U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen issued a joint statement urging the Trump administration to include Tubman's likeness in the $20 bill redesign. Katko met with Mnunchin in February and he asked the secretary to put Tubman on the $20 bill. During that meeting, Mnuchin didn't reveal whether Tubman would appear on the redesigned money. On Wednesday, Katko said he's disappointed the Trump administration is delaying the redesign. "This inaction is a missed opportunity to celebrate the achievements of a remarkable woman who dedicated her life to fighting for equality," he said in a statement. "I hope the administration reconsiders this decision. In the meantime, I encourage my colleagues to support the Harriet Tubman Tribute Act, legislation to ensure Harriet Tubman is included on the $20 bill by 2020." Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ASSOSA, Ethiopia Actress Priyanka Chopra is in Ethiopia to promote access to education for refugee children. Chopra is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations children's agency. She spoke with The Associated Press after visiting a school for refugees from neighboring Sudan. She says that "if we don't care about these children, I feel that they will be extremely vulnerable to extremism and violence." The Bambusi camp's primary school director, Yetinayet Girma, told Chopra they have shortages of teachers, classrooms and textbooks for over 6,000 students. UNICEF says Ethiopia has 906,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers mainly from neighboring South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia. Chopra calls that "incredible, given that Ethiopia itself is not such a well-to-do country." She says the world should learn from the government's commitment to refugee children's welfare. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. After Emma Sroka found out she qualified for the Scripps National Spelling Bee, she smiled so long that her jaw hurt. Emma, 10, of Auburn, is heading to Washington, D.C., to compete in the May 26-31 contest against children from every state and other countries. The William H. Seward Elementary School student qualified for the event after winning a regional competition in Syracuse in March. She said she let loose a smirk when she was given her winning word, "deceitful," as she was confident in her ability to spell it. Her father, Randy Sroka, said he noticed her smirk as he watched from a closed-circuit TV in another room, and thought she must have felt good about the word. He and Emma's mother, Heidi Sroka, said with pride that Emma reached a high school reading level by the time she was in third grade. She won the spelling bee at Seward in December and completed a written qualifier at Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse in January, and moved on to the next round with more than 30 students. Emma said she believes her father was more nervous at the competition in March than she was, and Randy agreed. Heidi said she believes it might have been a good thing that she wasn't in the same room as Emma. "I was happy and excited for her to reach that level, but I was really biting my nails in that room," Heidi said. While Emma's parents were nervous at the time of the competition, they were in good spirits when they and their daughter spoke to The Citizen May 16, with calm smiles on their faces. Emma, on the other hand, was all vibrant energy, and rattled off a laundry list of places she wants to visit once she and her parents get to Washington. Randy reminded her, however, that they will be practicing for the competition and occupied with different events connected to the bee. He said he contacted Rep. John Katko's office, and one of Katko's aides will take the Srokas on a tour of the Capitol. Emma's victory caught the attention of more than Katko, as Randy said his daughter has received letters from Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck and Cayuga County Legislator Michael Didio. "Every day people I don't know are saying 'Congrats!' to me," Emma said. Although Emma is ecstatic to be competing at the bee at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Maryland, she has ambitions beyond the tournament. She said she has eyes on attending Harvard University, becoming the president of the United States and starting an animal sanctuary, adding, "I'm going to have rhinos," before giggling. "The sky is the limit for her," Heidi said with a mile-wide smile. Randy said they have been practicing for the bee on a daily basis. Emma said she's slightly nervous about the competition, but her excitement is trumping her reservations. Emma approaches her life with similar zeal and energy, her parents said, adding that they are extremely proud of their daughter. "She has this much enthusiasm for everything," Heidi said. "It doesn't stop." Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 9 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. AUBURN The Auburn Enlarged City School District's proposed budget passed overwhelmingly Tuesday, and two incumbents and a newcomer were added to the district's board of education. The $78.9 million budget passed 1,225 to 397. That spending amount accounts for a 3.3% bump from the current year and a 2.23% tax levy boost, equal to the district's tax cap set by the state. Two incumbents, Jeff Gasper (1,030) and William Andre (1,002) were re-elected, and Danielle Wood (1,199) was voted in as well. The trio, along with newcomer Brianne Neabel (856), ran for three open three-year seats on the nine-member board. No staff layoffs are expected under the budget. The district plans to save $118,497 by using fewer services from Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES and spend $2 million in reserves. The district is also set to save $222,296 by transferring a teacher who performs art and academic intervention services to a full-time art position to replace a retiring art teacher and by not filling two elementary school spots that will see retirements. District business official Lisa Green was the first to congratulate Wood after the votes came in at the Harriet Tubman Administration Building. "I can't wait to get started," Wood said. "it's going to be great." Moments after the votes were posted, district Superintendent Jeff Pirozzolo immediately encouraged Neabel to run for the board in the future. Gasper said his re-election made him feel good about the work he has already done. He thanked community members for voting. Anthony Saurini said after casting his vote at Auburn Junior High School that he voted for the budget, adding that he felt the spending amount wasn't calling for "anything extravagant." "We got to do what we got to do," he said. "It costs a lot of money to run a school district." Susan Querns said after voting at Owasco Elementary School that she voted for the budget and that she voted for Andre and Gasper, as she said the two had done good work in the past on the board. Querns said she voted for Wood over Neabel, noting that Wood has children in the district and that Wood is older than Neabel. Patrick Crawford a district employee and Christina Crawford said before voting at the junior high that they intended to vote in favor of the budget. Christina Crawford said she wants Auburn children "to have the very best the district can offer." Staff writer Kelly Rocheleau can be reached at (315) 282-2243 or kelly.rocheleau@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @KellyRocheleau. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. With the deadline expired for filing an appeal in a lawsuit related to the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York leadership dispute, the faction led by Clint Halftown on Wednesday said the fight is officially over. The nation members who have opposed Halftown, however, said that's not an accurate portrayal of the lawsuit's impact. A March 12 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington dismissed an effort to overturn a U.S. Department of Interior determination about who is in charge of the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York. Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the interior department's Bureau of Indian Affairs properly recognized Halftown and his council as the nation's leaders in a December 2016 determination. That BIA ruling was meant to end a longstanding dispute between Halftown, his followers and a group of chiefs and clan mothers formerly known as the Unity Council, but the council filed a lawsuit challenging that ruling. The plaintiffs in that case decided not to file an appeal of Kollar-Kotelly's decision. "As a result, the decision is final (and) the litigation is over," a press release from Halftown's group said Wednesday. "The Courts approval of the Council chosen by will of the Nations citizens Clint Halftown, Tim Twoguns, Gary Wheeler, Donald Jimerson, and Mike Barringer confirms it is the only rightful governing body of the Cayuga Nation." Halftown's council said it will "move swiftly on all fronts to restore order to the Nation by regaining possession of the properties and businesses that were wrongfully and forcibly seized from the Nation more than four years ago and to pursue compensation from those who acted without authority." Amid the dispute in recent years, the two sides had each taken control of operations of different Cayuga Nation businesses, with Halftown's group mostly running companies in Union Springs in Cayuga County and the other side operating Seneca County sites. In response to Halftown's declaration on Wednesday, an attorney representing Cayuga Nation chiefs and clan mothers said the Washington lawsuit related to a narrowly focused question of who can administer federal contracts with the U.S. government. "To this day, Mr. Halftown refuses to accept the authority of the Nation's Clan Mothers, whose recognition by the Federal government has never been questioned," said lawyer Alex Page of Berkey Williams LLP in Washington. "Cayuga citizens remain deeply divided and there is strong support for the traditional leaders, whose authority is grounded in the Great Law of Peace. Only the Nation and its citizens, not any outside court or government, can resolve this ongoing internal governmental dispute. Although the Nation's traditional leadership has chosen to put aside the federal contracting challenge, it continues to work peacefully with Nation citizens to maintain governmental authority at Cayuga consistent with Cayuga law." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 4 Gothamist has learned that the White Horse Tavern will reopen its doors Wednesday night, following several weeks of renovations under their new owner Eytan Sugarman. Earlier today, a tipster informed Gothamist that the bar would be reopening, with a menu to come later on. A representative for Sugarman confirmed the news to Gothamist, saying that the 19th century barone of the oldest in New York City, and a storied literary hauntwill open tonight (it's unclear what time). Starting Monday, they'll be serving "a limited summer menu," with a fuller menu unveiling sometime in the fall. Several months ago, news broke that the building that the White Horse is housed in, including the rent-stabilized apartments above it, had been sold to notorious slumlord Steve Croman, who recently got out of prison. Sugarman, a restaurateur, took over the longtime bar's reins. Though the White Horse Tavern has a landmarked exterior, and efforts are underway to landmark the interior, changes could ostensibly still be made to the bar. Locals have been worried about what changes might possibly come to the White Horse under the new ownership, and staged an "Irish wake" at the bar back in March. At a community board meeting, Sugarman insisted that he had "every intention of keeping this amazing institution the way it is," while making repairs and instilling "a little bit of a better burger." When asked about what changes people can expect at the bar, Sugarman's representative reiterated that it would look and feel very similar to the original. Enjoy a weekend celebration of the culture, arts and traditions of the Zuni people, who have lived and farmed on a tributary of the Colorado River for 4,000 years. Zuni artists and performers travel from their home in the Pueblo of Zuni to share their art, language, life ways, traditional music and dances at the Museum of Northern Arizona for the festival. There will be presentations about Zuni history and traditions as well as music and dance performances. A favorite are the Zuni Olla Maidens, who dance balancing clay pots on their head, honoring ancestral women who carried water on their heads. More than 50 Zuni artists will be demonstrating and selling their artwork including potters, weavers, fetish carvers and jewelers. Children will enjoy Zuni-inspired puppet shows and crafts. The Zuni Festival will be held at the Museum of Northern Arizona, 3101 North Fort Valley Road in Flagstaff this Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A weekend pass is $18 for adult and $12 for youth, students or American Indians. For more information call the museum at 928-774-5213 or visit musnaz.org. Fifth annual Granitica Festival to feature Sedona climbing The North American Climbing History Archives (NACHA) is pleased to announce that the 2019 Granitica Festival will be held over Memorial Day weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m at the Flagstaff Aquaplex, 1702 North Fourth Street. Participants will be examine the history of climbing in the Sedona area starting in the 1950s to the present day. The two full day program on will feature speakers discussing their climbs of record and other experiences with images. On Monday, there will also be a Sindicato banquet open to all attendees at the Fort Tuthill County Campground Group sites B, C and D. Planned speakers include Scott Sellers, Bill Hiscox, Tom Taber, Lee Dexter, David Lovejoy, Tim and Larry Coats, Paul Davidson, Jim Haisley, Steve Grossman, Tim Dolan, John Mattson, David Bloom, Glenn Rink, Stan Mish, Mike Lawson Jeff Snyder, Jake Dayley, Blake McCord, Zach Harrison, Laura Sabourin, Jake Tipton and more. Those in attendance have the opportunity to hear about establishing the many great routes that this area has to offer and then meet those involved to learn even more. This will be a unique gathering of climbers which will be recorded by Steve Grossman as part of his work as executive director of the NACHA. The NACHA mission is: to gather, document and celebrate climbing history in image, word and artifact with special emphasis on personalities and events in North America and fostering climbing culture. Tickets are $30 plus tax in advance and $35 day of show and are available from the Flagstaff Climbing Center at (928) 556-9909 or online at flagstaffclimbing.com. Alexandra Wittenberg can be reached at 928-913-8624 and awittenberg@azdailysun.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A former congressional representative of Flagstaff and northern Arizona is looking for a presidential pardon for a conviction that he says was the result of misconduct on the part of the FBI and prosecutors. A lawyer for former GOP congressman Rick Renzi sent a letter to the Department of Justice last month asking the department to open an investigation into alleged misconduct on the part of investigators who put Renzi away for about two years. In an email, a spokesperson for Renzi called the original investigation of the congressman a witchhunt, comparing it to the claims by President Trump that the FBI illegally spied on his campaign. According to the Associated Press, the director of the FBI has said any surveillance on the Trump campaign was conducted legally. In 2013, Renzi was convicted by a Tucson jury of 17 out of 32 counts for corruption including wire fraud, conspiracy, extortion and lying to insurance regulators. According to the prosecutors, Renzi had used his position to enrich himself and help fund his 2002 political campaign by embezzling money from an insurance company and orchestrating a federal land swap. Renzi entered the prison system in February of 2015 and was released in January of 2017, but maintained his innocence throughout that time. And now, from his home in Virginia, Renzi is working to clear his name. Last year, the former congressman formed a nonprofit called Abuse of Power that, according to the organizations website, is dedicated to exposing abuses of power within the government. In addition to the letter sent to the Justice Department, two weeks ago, the organization also released a nearly eight-minute documentary on YouTube. The documentary makes the case for Renzis innocence and alleges the investigation into the land swap was politically motivated, although it does not touch on the conviction of insurance fraud in the same way. The letter sent to the Justice Department alleges investigators illegally wiretapped conversations between Renzi and his attorneys, concealed evidence and introduced false testimony into the trial. We submit that the prosecution and investigation of Mr. Renzis case violated his basic constitutional right to a fair trial, the letter from Renzis lawyer reads. Renzi was not available for comment, but Blake Gober, a spokesman for both Abuse of Power and Renzi, wrote in an email that neither Renzi or his lawyer have received any response from the Justice Department other than that the letter has been received. The push has been supported by some members of Congress, including Republican Rep. Paul Gosar. Renzis push for an investigation comes in the wake of the presidents own insistence that the FBI illegally spied on his campaign, spurning the recently concluded investigation by a special counsel. And Gober said he believes that context makes the case for an investigation stronger. The actions of some in agencies like the FBI have been so political that they have sullied the reputation of the entire agency. This is exactly the case in Congressman Renzi's situation. Just like the attorney general has started an investigation into the genesis of the witch hunt against President Trump, it only makes sense that the attorney general should do the same into the genesis and actors in the witch hunt against Congressman Renzi, Gobar wrote. I believe that when the President and his pardon attorneys look at the case of Congressman Renzi, they will experience deja vu. This is not the first time Renzi has fought the charges of corruption since the original conviction -- he appealed his conviction all the way to the Supreme Court, who decided against hearing the case, upholding his conviction. Renzi represented Arizonas first congressional district from 2003 to 2009 when he did not seek a fourth term in office because of the controversy. At the time, the district covered almost half of the states land -- most of northern and eastern Arizona including Flagstaff, Prescott and Winslow in the north and Florence and Casa Grande to the south. Adrian Skabelund can be reached at the office at askabelund@azdailysun.com, by phone at (928) 556-2261 or on Twitter @AdrianSkabelund. Love 0 Funny 17 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 6 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. A provider of forensic exams for victims of sexual assault is afraid of losing a significant source of funding under a newly Republican Congress and President. Northern Arizona Care and Services after Assault (NACASA) a branch of North Country Healthcare receives nearly 61 percent of their funding from Department of Justice STOP grants, according to NACASA Program Manager, Jennifer Runge. STOP grants are given to states and territories to help local authorities enforce and develop strategies to combat violence against woman. The organizations worry stem from a proposed federal budget submitted by The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that promotes a decrease in taxpayer funded federal spending. The proposed budget calls for a total elimination of DOJ violence against woman grants which the foundation says will save the federal government $480 million in 2017. Runge said if the Heritage Foundation were taken seriously in Congress it would put NACASA in a hard-to-overcome financial bind. We depend heavily on DOJ grant money, Runge said. That money pays for proper exam equipment our clinical coordinator who schedules new nurses and proper call time for our nurses. NACASA received $117,000 from DOJ grant funds for 2017. The organization receives close to $200,000 in total funding. While the Heritage Foundation did propose a $480 million cut in grant funding no official move has been made by Congress or the President to cut funding to the programs. However, Runge and other NACASA employees worry that the budget created by the Heritage Foundation would be taken seriously by a conservative White House and legislator. We understand that it is just a budget proposal right now, but there is a concern that this budget might be taken more seriously than in the past, Runge said. If DOJ grant funding were cut then NACASA would have to rely on Coconino County and City of Flagstaff funding, which is an amount of money that Runge worries would not be enough. Funding from the county and city are barebones, Runge said. That funding gets us a room and base equipment for testing, we are looking at other means of funding but I dont think we have the volume of resources that counties like Maricopa County have to stay sustainable. In a brief statement the Heritage Foundation wrote that We are against violence against women, but we are also against failed federal programs. The foundation's budget proposes that the success of grant programs that protect woman against violence are overstated and that the individual states would better address the issue than the federal government. In 2016 NACASA provided forensic medical exams to 136 women who were victims of violent crimes. The organization currently has five clinical facilities in Northern Arizona located in Flagstaff, Springerville, Show Low, Holbrook and Page. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WASHINGTON Arizona saw a 6 percent increase in solar jobs in 2016, bouncing back from a sharp drop the year before but still trailing well behind the national average growth of 25 percent in solar jobs. Arizonas 7,310 solar-related jobs put it seventh-most among states last year, according to the Solar Foundations 2016 National Solar Jobs Census released Monday. But experts said the nearly 400 new jobs in the state last year followed a drop of more than 2,000 in 2015, when a change in utility company charges to owners of solar-powered homes drove down demand for solar power installation. We used to be number two right next to California, now were number seven, said Harvey Bryan, senior sustainability scientist at Arizona State University. Bryan and others blame the change on the states net metering rules, which had allowed solar system owners to get credits for excess electricity they put back on the grid. But utilities began imposing a fee on solar customers in 2015, and Bryan said the rooftop solar industry in Arizona collapsed. Utilities like SRP eliminating net metering in their service area or on any new installations literally killed rooftop solar in the SRP territory so almost every installer left the area because they cant make the projects pencil out, Bryan said. The attractiveness of rooftop solar is just not there anymore because there is a surcharge that has to be paid to the utility for connecting your system, he said. But an SRP spokesman defended the practice Monday, saying the new price plan for residential solar customers lets the utility adequately recover the cost rooftop solar customers impose on maintaining the energy grid, which they still rely on for electricity at night and when skies are cloudy. Customers in SRP service territory who install solar on their homes today continue to save on their monthly SRP bill, said Jeff Lane, the spokesman. Calls seeking comment from other utilities and the Arizona Corporation Commission were not immediately returned Monday. But an official with the Solar Foundation said net metering is an important part of the favorable policy environment that states need to ensure consistent growth in their solar industries. One of the important things is the ability to sell your excess power back to the grid at the retail electric rates, said Ed Gilliland, senior director of programs at the Solar Foundation. About 45 states in the country allow you to do that. If you put solar power on your roof, an excess goes back to the grid at the retail rate, he said. A lot of utilities are pushing back on that rate. Gilliland said solar industry growth has started to spread from its traditional base in California and the Southwest, as payment incentives such as net metering have been effective in other parts of the country. He said states like Massachusetts and Vermont, not typically thought of as centers of solar jobs, are going strong because they have encouraged solar development and have policies that support the industry. Massachusetts 14,000 solar jobs put it second to California, which dwarfed other states with 100,050 jobs last year. Nationally, there were more than 260,000 solar workers in 2016, a near tripling of solar jobs in just six years. Were not just having a good year, were having a lot of good years, said Andrea Luecke, president and executive director of the Solar Foundation. Seventy-eight percent of jobs are on the demand side, they have to do with people saying, I want solar, and all those companies clamoring to make that happen. Luecke said growth is a direct result of falling solar costs for consumers. The Solar Foundation report said it expects Arizona to see solar job growth of about 17 percent this year. Despite that projected increase, Bryan said the states net metering policies are not helping the situation. The utilities are legacy companies that want to protect their interest and theyre threatened now by distributed solar, Bryan said. Theyre creating as many impediments to the industry as possible, but its subtle. It adds up to creating a really negative climate in this industry. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A group of angry students holding signs and chanting "Not for profit" and "Student lives matter" waited for NAU President Rita Cheng outside of the High Country Conference Center after her once-a-semester campus forum Wednesday afternoon. The first student to the microphone after Chengs speech about the state of the university asked what Cheng was doing to fill the recently vacated chief diversity officer position. Carmen Phelps was hired in August 2016 as the universitys first chief diversity officer. The office was part of a list of 22 demands made by NAU students in December 2015 to increase the schools diversity awareness and to make students of diverse backgrounds, races and from LGBTQ community feel more welcome. Phelps position was part of Chengs cabinet and was supposed to bring student concerns directly to Cheng. According to an email sent out by Phelps to some NAU administrators and friends, she resigned March 10. I have decided to pursue an opportunity that allows me to deepen my investment in diversity, inclusion, equity, access, advocacy and social justice ideals within higher education and beyond, she wrote. NAU spokesperson Kim Ott confirmed that Phelps was no longer the chief diversity officer for NAU. She declined to say why Phelps had left, saying it was a personnel issue. Calls to Phelps were not returned. But I can say that NAU is exploring various options related to the Diversity Officer position and until a decision is made Priscilla Mills, Assistant Vice President NAU Equity and Access, will facilitate the coordination of the Diversity Strategic Planning efforts, Ott wrote in an email. Cheng told the packed ballroom at the High Country Conference Center that she was committed to diversity and was working with staff, faculty and students to fill the position before the end of the semester. She, too, declined to say why Phelps had left. That didnt put a stop to the questions about what the university was doing to promote diversity or protect minority students. At least three students who identified themselves as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients asked what Cheng was doing to make sure that DACA students still got in-state tuition and about making NAU a sanctuary campus. A petition to make NAU a sanctuary campus circulated in December. The term sanctuary campus has different meanings at different universities, but loosely means that the university will not share documents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and would not allow immigration authorities on campus unless a serious crime has been committed. The Arizona Board of Regents sent a letter to President Donald Trump in December asking him to protect DACA students but rejecting the idea of designating Arizona universities sanctuary campuses. In a letter to ABOR, Cheng supported DACA students but declined to make NAU a sanctuary campus. At Wednesdays forum, Cheng said that she and NAU will continue to advocate for state and national policies that support international and DACA students. The university would continue to honor the Regents commitment to in-state tuition and scholarships for DACA students. Students also asked about creating safe spaces for minority students, LGBTQ students and staff who were the target of harassment because of their beliefs, sexuality or race. Free speech is a complex issue and a fundamental right, Cheng said. But she did not support safe spaces, which are seen by some as exclusionary. NAU has a responsibility as an academic institution to make sure that a respectful and civil discussion could be had on such topics. A discussion that was anchored to academics rather than emotion. Part of NAUs responsibility was to also provide opportunities for students to grow by learning from others. There are codes of conduct for both staff and students, she said. We need to hold onto our values and relationships and not let this tear us apart. Minimum wage also made the list of student concerns voiced at the forum. A student asked if there were any specific plans for NAU to increase student wages to the local or state minimum wage. Arizona voters approved an increase in the state minimum wage in November. The law took effect in January and increased the state minimum wage from $8.05 to $10 an hour. At the same time, Flagstaff voters approved a local minimum wage increase to $15 an hour by 2021. The Flagstaff law is due to go into effect in July and will increase the local wage to $10.50. State institutions, including universities like NAU, are exempt from state or local wage laws. Cheng said there were no specific plans to do so. The university did not have the funding to increase student wages. Most student positions were already making more than minimum wage, she said. However, she had created a committee that was looking into student wage policies, including pay, with a possible recommendation coming in the fall. The reporter can be reached at sadams@azdailysun.com or (928)556-2253. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. WASHINGTON (AP) Arrests of people crossing the border illegally dropped roughly 44 percent during President Donald Trump's first month in office, according to Homeland Security data. The Border Patrol reported that about 23,500 people were arrested trying to cross the border illegally in February, compared to about 42,500 arrests in January. The February figures, which also include significant drops in the arrests of families and children trying to cross the border alone, are the lowest monthly tallies since at the least the start of the 2012 budget year. It is not clear exactly what prompted the steep declines. The number of people caught crossing the border illegally in the winter typically is lower than during warmer summer months, though Trump has also made clear he intends to take a hard line on illegal immigration. The president has pledged to build a massive wall along the Mexican border and hire at least 5,000 new Border Patrol agents, though that hiring process is likely to take at least several years and may face some logistical hurdles as the agency tries to ease polygraph exams for certain applicants. Homeland Security John Kelly credited Trump's executive orders on immigration calling for the wall, hiring thousands of immigration agents and cracking down on immigrants living in the country illegally for the steep declines. "This trend is encouraging because it means many fewer people are putting themselves and their families at risk of exploitation, assault and injury by human traffickers and the physical dangers of the treacherous journey north," Kelly said in a statement issued late Wednesday. Kelly, in a meeting with reporters earlier this week in Dallas, said smugglers have also increased prices to get immigrants from Central America including Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala across the border since Trump took office. He said the prices have gone from about $3,500 to about $8,000. Though he didn't disclose the latest border arrest figures, Kelly suggested that many would-be border crossers couldn't afford the higher smuggling fees. Mexican Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray rejected Kelly's comments. "A figure for one month cannot be analyzed as if it was a trend," he said at a press conference at the Mexican embassy in Washington. "We will be able to have an opinion if this figure becomes a trend over the next months. Today is just a figure of a specific month." Trump has struck a decidedly stricter tone on his approach to immigration enforcement though so far there have been very few direct changes to enforcement along the border. Kelly confirmed last week that his agency was considering separating children and parents caught crossing the border as part of a broader effort to deter families from making the dangerous trek from Central America across Mexico. A final decision has not been made on that issue. Nonetheless, thousands fewer children and families were caught at the border in February, compared to January. Tens of thousands of children and families have fled violence and poverty in Central America in recent years, with the wave of people at times overwhelming border security authorities. Maureen Meyer, a senior associate for Mexico at the human rights advocacy agency Washington Office on Latin America, said it's too early into Trump's term to fully understand what caused the decline in arrests. Data from March and the coming months, she said, is likely offer a better gauge on whether the decline is a seasonal anomaly or more significant trend. ___ Associated Press reporters Claudia Lauer in Dallas and Luis Alonso in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow Alicia A. Caldwell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acaldwellap Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Earlier this week, a crowd of mostly government officials and employees gathered around a colorfully painted shipping container stationed outside the city of Flagstaffs Rio de Flag Wastewater Treatment Plant. One side of the container was open to the crowd, showing a system of tubes, pressurizers, tanks and filters that looked like a giant science experiment. But the setup is far beyond the experimental phase. In fact, it is a portable water treatment system being hauled across the state via semi truck. Its multi-step process treats reclaimed wastewater to the point of being clean enough to drink. The truck is making its rounds to spread awareness about advanced treatment processes that can make wastewater potable again a technology many see as promising to bolster the state's water supplies in the future. To help promote public education and acceptance, more than 30 Arizona breweries have agreed to brew beer with the potable water from the truck later this summer as part of what's called the AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge. The initiative comes at a time when state environmental regulators are nearing completion of interim rules that will allow utilities to treat reclaimed wastewater for drinking water reuse. A draft of the rule came out last week. The state's process is being watched closely in Flagstaff as the city has already begun its own assessment of the cost and feasibility of advanced wastewater treatment. For Flagstaff it gives us one more tool in our toolbox for future water supplies should the community elect to go that route," said Brad Hill, utilities director with the city of Flagstaff. THE WATER TRUCK On Monday, the Pure Water Brew truck had its first go at processing water from the Rio de Flag facility. It was the first time the system was being used to treat water from a city participating in the brew challenge, while the trucks statewide tour marks the first time that wastewater is being treated for reuse as drinking water in the state of Arizona, said Channah Rock, a water microbiologist who is leading public outreach for the Pure Water Brew Challenge. The city of Scottsdale does a similar treatment process, but only injects the water into the ground to recharge aquifers, Rock said. Inside the shipping container on Monday, Flagstaff's treated wastewater went through several steps including ultra filtration to block bacteria and other small organisms, reverse osmosis to dissolve things like salts, minerals and pharmaceuticals, and ultraviolet disinfection with advanced oxidation to break down the DNA of bacteria and viruses. Next, the final product will be sent through a barrage of water quality tests, with results expected in a few weeks, Hill said. The initial run-through of the advanced treatment process will be a big step for Flagstaffs utilities department as it evaluates the potable reuse of treated wastewater as a part of the citys long-term water supply plan. Hill stressed that something like this has to be done right the first time because of the risk to public health and the fact that it is a challenging thing for people to get over the fact of drinking reclaimed water. "We can't get this wrong," he said. After tests are back and if they show the treatment was successful, the Pure Water Brew truck will come back up to Flagstaff in August. It will again run reclaimed wastewater through its system and then truck it to four breweries, which will use it to make beer specifically for the challenge. Flagstaff's participating breweries are Historic, Wanderlust, Lumberyard and Mother Road. The concept of making beer with the newly potable water is a great way to help break down that yuck factor barrier," Hill said. The reuse of wastewater for human consumption has long battled the toilet to tap label, he said. For its part, Flagstaff's utilities department has already started an updated economic analysis of the city's future water supply options, and it includes a much more in-depth look at indirect and direct potable reuse than the city has ever done, Hill said. Next year, the city will take a deeper look at feasibility of the treatment technology as well. That way, as the city evaluates future water supplies, it will have the same level of detail and analysis for direct potable reuse as it will have for the other main alternative of pumping and piping groundwater from the city-owned Red Gap Ranch property about 40 miles to the east, Hill said. Current estimates put the cost of that project at $200 million. Hill estimated that new decisions on future water supplies including whether to move forward with Red Gap or more advanced treatment on wastewater will face the city in about two decades. Currently, advanced treatment of wastewater still faces a big hurdle of getting public buy in, Hill said. For these projects to be successful you have to have the public behind it, he said. We are trying to get people to think about not judging water on history but its quality. RULE MAKING After more than a year of work, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality last week released draft rules for allowing utilities to treat wastewater for potable reuse, said Chuck Graf, principal hydrogeologist with the agency. The rules are interim because they will eventually be replaced with more permanent, and much more detailed regulations for the process, called direct potable reuse, Graf said. Two groups of experts are currently developing recommendations about criteria that should be included in the permanent rule, he said. Already, several states have laws or are in the process of creating laws that allow for direct potable reuse and both Graf and Hill said the technology is readily available. We think its about time that ADEQ is willing to look at this, Hill said. The utility industry is already there, we've developed these tools and treatment processes, so it is nice to see the regulatory aspect is beginning to catch up. Graf echoed those points. I think everyone including our department have been convinced that the technology exists. We can treat any source water we want to virtually any standard we desire, he said. Heading into the future, it is important that the state consider alternatives like reusing wastewater for drinking water, Hill said. As we look forward, for local communities this is a supply we can control and its the only supply that grows with a community, Hill said So how can we use it more beneficially than only for irrigation? Emery Cowan can be reached at (928) 556-2250 or ecowan@azdailysun.com Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 6 Angry 1 Fleas collected in prairie dog burrows in the Red Lake area, about five miles northeast of Williams, have tested positive for plague. Officials with the Coconino County Public Health Services District were notified of the possible plague outbreak by a resident who noticed a die-off of a prairie dog colony on their property, said Trish Lees, spokeswoman with the health services district. The burrows are being treated and the area will be closely monitored to determine if further action is required. Lees said the prairie dog burrows are on private land and there are no trails or other public recreational amenities in the area. According to a county press release, this is the first location in the county where fleas have tested positive for plague this year. The disease is endemic in Coconino County, however, so there are likely additional locations with infected fleas. Health department staff will continue to collect and test flea samples from locations throughout the county. The health department urges the public to take precautions to reduce their risk of exposure to this disease, which can be present in fleas, rodents, rabbits and predators that feed upon these animals. The disease can be transmitted to humans and other animals by the bite of an infected flea or by direct contact with an infected animal. To limit possible exposure, people are encouraged to avoid rodent burrows and keep dogs on a leash as required by Arizona state law. Symptoms of plague in humans generally appear within two to six days following exposure and include the following: fever, chills, headache, weakness, muscle pain and swollen lymph glands in the groin, armpits or limbs. The disease can spread throughout the bloodstream and/or affect the lungs, but is curable with proper antibiotic therapy if diagnosed and treated early. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. PHOENIX The question of whether cities can decide what to do with seized and forfeited guns and a lot of other issues could end up being decided based on how extensive the Arizona Supreme Court believes is the right of local governments to make their own laws. During nearly an hour of arguments Tuesday, the justices peppered attorneys with questions ranging from whether they should even intercede in the dispute between Attorney General Mark Brnovich and the city of Tucson over its gun-destruction ordinance to the constitutionality of 2016 law that Brnovich says gives him the power to withhold money from cities that enact any local laws at all he finds run afoul of state statutes. But Rick Rollman, representing the city, told the justices the issue is more simple than all that. He pointed out the Arizona Constitution allows cities to establish their own charters. Nineteen, including Tucson, have gone that route. Rollman said the constitutional crafters wanted to give city councils the right to write their own ordinances on matters of purely local concern. And he said that the 2005 Tucson ordinance requiring that hand guns seized or forfeited to Tucson police fits squarely in that area. Assistant Attorney General Paul Watkins disagreed, contending that ordinance is trumped by state laws, one which specifically bars cities from regulating firearms and the other which mandates that weapons that come into the city's hands have to be sold off. And since the Tucson council has refused to rescind its ordinance, Watkins told the justices they should uphold the 2016 law conditioning state aid on compliance with state laws and allow Brnovich to direct the state treasurer to withhold all of the city's state aid. Rollman said such a finding would undermine the reason that the crafters of the Arizona Constitution allowed cities to adopt their own charters in the first place. The people that are being governed have the best opportunity to express their concerns and the local government has the best opportunity to respond, Rollman said. But Justice Clint Bolick said that right may not be as absolute as Rollman contends. All I see in the constitution is (that) city ordinances are subject to state law and, second, that a charter repeals conflicting charter provisions and ordinances, the judge said. I see absolutely nothing that indicates that state law is ever subordinate to city ordinances. Rollman, however, said he reads the constitution in a more liberal fashion, saying it was crafted to allow local laws to control over local matters. He pointed out that the high court has, in previous cases, upheld the right of cities to decide how to conduct their local elections and how to dispose of land and buildings they acquire. Rollman said this is no different. That argument, however, did not satisfy the justices. How do you identify what is a purely municipal affair? asked Chief Justice Scott Bales. He said an argument could be made that how a city deals with seized personal property like firearms is very different than how a city chooses its council. Rollman said where to draw that line is indeed a very difficult task, suggesting the justice may have to provide some guidance. Justice Ann Scott Timmer said the problem could be resolved simply: If a city ordinance conflicts with state law, then the state law prevails. What's wrong with that? she asked. A lot, Rollman responded. Once you begin to say the state can occupy any area, particularly where it involves personal property of the city, you're going to effectively nullify the charter authority, he said. Why bother with a charter? Rollman asked. The charter is now meaningless. One thing may undermine the state's claim that its laws requiring seized firearms must be sold off overrule the Tucson ordinance. Justice John Pelander noted that the Tucson ordinance requires the destruction of hand guns which have been seized by police, are forfeited or simply left behind at crime scenes. But Pelander noted that part of Watkins' contention that state law trumps the ordinance is based on the argument there is a constitutional right to bear arms. More to the point, the judge said, the contention is that allowing Tucson to destroy guns interferes with that right by making fewer guns available and therefore more expensive. This legislature was motivated by the federal and state constitutional rights to bear arms, Watkins acknowledged. But here's the problem: Watkins told the justices that it would be just as illegal for Tucson to require that seized guns be sold off if the legislature had instead directed they all be destroyed. Pelander suggested that undermines the state's contention that lawmakers can cite the Second Amendment as a legitimate reason to say their laws on guns overrule city ordinances. How about everybody else in Arizona who wants to buy a firearm at a reasonable or reduced price? Pelander asked. Because that seems to be the gist of the right to bear arms argument in this case. The justices could sidestep the entire legal fight and simply decide they will not intercede in the fight between the state and the city, at least not at that point. That, however, would not end the legal dispute. Tucson already has filed a separate lawsuit in Pima County Superior Court asking a judge there to declare unconstitutional the 2016 law giving Brnovich the power to order state aid withheld. And whatever the judge there rules would likely be appealed by whoever loses, putting the issue back before the high court. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On April Fools Day, 1997, artist Tina Mion and Allan Affeldt coasted into Winslow, Arizona, in a van packed with an old basset hound, rabbits and a single chair no joke. Graduates of University of California-Irvine, Affeldt planned to advise a local non-profit on how to save the towns most iconic building. The couple quickly realized that to save famed architect Mary Colters Route 66 masterpiece, La Posada Hotel, theyd need to buy it themselves. Soon, Winslows fortunes found an uptick along with residents desire to reclaim their artistic, affordable hub on the Mother Road. Then and now At the Navajo Nations edge, 58 miles east of Flagstaff, Winslow was a railroad headquarters founded in 1880, according to documents from Winslows Old Trails Museum. La Posada, completed in 1930, brought increased travel as well as a cultural meeting place for Hopi and Navajo until hotel operations ceased in 1957. The current owners still host public and private ceremonies and dances. Since Jackson Browne immortalized the town in lyrics, Standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona folks line up to snap photos with his bronze statue at Standing on a Corner Park, established in the heart of the city in 1999, and visit souvenir shops. Records show the largest job sector is the service industry in the town of 9,600 people. La Posadas growth has led to more than 60 employees a real trick for a private company in a rural community, Affeldt said. Major employers continue to be the BNSF railroad with 500 employees and the Arizona State Prison Complex-Winslow, which employs 460, according to the Arizona Department of Corrections. Mayor Robin R. Boyd knows the inside of the prison well as a dentist. Boyd has served on City Council since 1997 and was elected mayor in 2008. Since moving to Winslow the year after the prison complex opened in 1986, he said he has seen the town change immensely, adding, The railroad has always been the backbone of Winslow. The population has shifted since Winslows heyday, and current demographic data shows 26 percent of the city population claims Native American heritage on the census, 52 percent in the Winslow School District. After the 2016 fatal police-involved shooting of a Dine woman, Loreal Tsingine, the police department has initiated outreach programs, like Coffee with a Cop, to reconnect with residents who have expressed their concerns, especially within the Justice For Loreal movement. Separately, the WPD is hiring a new police chief who will be expected to reinforce these ties, and the city council has proposed some social and cultural initiatives to reconnect and offer resources to the community. Winslow also straddles a kind of political dividing line in Navajo County. Precincts north of the city on the Navajo Nation, for example, voted solidly for Clinton last November, while precincts to the south in the White Mountains went heavily for Trump. In Winslow, the vote was 47.3 percent for Trump, 41.8 percent for Clinton. Right house Another draw is the areas rock-bottom home prices and historic brickwork architecture. Flagstaffs median price for a single-family detached house is $343,000. But Christine Henderson, a West U.S.A. associate broker, said sales of area single-family homes in the last six months are averaging $92,225 and most spend just one or two weeks on the market. Some Winslow residents work in Flagstaff and commute the hour to and from home, noted Boyd. Despite its affordability, Winslow combats what locals point to as the aftershock of being bypassed by Interstate 40: roadside blight, slow job growth, and a 9 percent unemployment rate compared to the states 5 percent average, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. When Mion and Affeldt moved in, the couple said downtown essentially had been abandoned. [La Posadas revitalization] more than anything probably helped Winslow turn the corner as far as improving, Boyd said. The couples friend, sculptor Dan Lutzick, moved to Winslow three years ahead of them. He and his wife, Old Trails Museum Director Ann-Mary Lutzick, eventually took on a crumbling department store, once a Babbitt Mercantile, and transformed the 7,000-square-foot footprint into Snowdrift Art Space. Their home and revolving gallery is named for a historic advertisement for food shortening painted on the side of the building. Since then, artists have continued to thrive in those converted shops purchased at the right price. Semi-hidden gems like Paul Ruschas El Gran Garage and metalsmith John Suttmans soon-to-be-renovated home and gallery across the street from Snowdrift represent creative innovation in Winslow. After a 2005 state grant for facade and infrastructure repairs flushed Winslow with cash, the low price of building materials during the Recession helped maximize dollar-for-dollar returns on capital investments that improved the citys look, said Boyd. Conversely, he added, the economys high-tide has led to the reverse problem now. To increase property values, Boyd noted the city draws contractors to voluntarily demolish abandoned buildings along the towns main roads. For speedier approval or denial, City Council is incentivizing development by clearing administrative hurdles in the building permitting processes. BRIGHT FUTURE Today, Winslow is still the gateway to indigenous landmarks: Little Colorado River, Homolovi, Petrified National Forest, and East Clear Creek an easy-to-access lake featuring cliff walls and petroglyphs. Affeldt and Mion, while expanding La Posadas gallery space, are refurbishing the historic train depot on the south end of the building with matched grant dollars. Proceedings are winding through a governmental clog, but they expect ground broken on the Route 66 Museum later this year. Overseen by the Winslow Arts Trust, a collective of Affeldt, Mion, Lutzick, Ruscha and James Turrell, the museum will showcase fine arts and artifacts, including the massive Hubbell Rug and a Turrell light installation. Boyd also noted more industries have been eyeballing Winslow even Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk scouted the city for a Supercharging station. The crux here, he added, is Winslow is changing for the better. Love 7 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Each spring and summer when lightning strikes in northern Arizonas ponderosa pine forests, fire managers no longer rush to suppress any flame that may be sparked. In recent years their charge has been to instead evaluate whether a naturally-caused fire could be allowed to burn for the benefit of the forest. Last year, on the Coconino National Forest alone, Forest Service crews intentionally allowed wildfire to burn across 53,000 acres. Victor Morfin, forest fuels specialist with the Coconino, said that in recent years, even early spring fire starts have been considered potential opportunities for managed, or resource objective fires. Generally, fire managers aim to keep these fires at low intensity, with less heat and flames that stay close to the ground, progress slowly and dont climb into tree canopies. But a new study from Northern Arizona Universitys Ecological Restoration Institute suggests that strategy isnt maximizing the potential for such fires to accomplish one of their major goals of restoring the forest to its historical conditions. Its actually fires that burn at moderate severity that best accomplish forest restoration goals. In short, the higher intensity flames are needed to kill enough trees to create the more open forest conditions that existed before human settlement and fire suppression, said Dave Huffman, director of research and development at ERI and one of the studys co-authors. In examining 10 sites where resource objective fires were allowed to burn on the Kaibab and Coconino national forests, the study found that areas of low burn severity met 50 percent of restoration objectives, like reduced tree density and increased canopy base height, while areas of moderate burn severity met 67 percent of restoration objectives. Despite being more effective, moderate severity burns covered just 12 percent of the fire areas studied while low severity burns covered 50 percent of the fire areas studied. What that means, Huffman said, is that if we want to use natural fire to meet restoration objectives, then at least according to the fires we studied, we would need more moderate burn severity to get there. That may mean, for example, letting a fire burn under higher temperatures or wind speeds to get more fire activity, he said. But that strategy also comes with more risk that a fire could get out of control or quickly escalate to a more intense blaze, risking firefighter safety, nearby people and infrastructure or other ecological values. Firefighters have to consider all of those factors, along with forest restoration and fuels reduction goals, Morfin said. It is a balancing act between being able to control the fire and being on that edge where we are getting desirable fire effects, he said. We don't want to have a black eye and we don't want to harm the environment, so we have to operate on that edge. Good news for firefighters is that other researchers doing work in New Mexicos Gila Mountains have shown that moderate severity fire isnt the only way to use managed fire to return the forests to a condition more in line with historical norms. Jose Iniguez, a research ecologist with the Forest Services Rocky Mountain Research Station in Flagstaff, has done studies in the Gila National Forest, where managed fire has been common practice since the 1970s. Areas that have been burned two or three times by lower intensity managed fires saw beneficial changes similar to those that experienced one moderate intensity fire, Iniguez said. And once an area has burned once, it is much easier to reintroduce fire a second time, he said. Huffman is now doing a similar study in an area on the Kaibab National Forest that has seen fire multiple times. When it comes down to it, whether a fire is low or moderate severity, the most important thing is just getting fire on the ground, Iniguez said. What managers are doing now is coming in with a first fire knowing they're not going to get it all perfect but knowing it is a step in the right direction, he said. It took us 100 years to get where we are now and to restore fire, to restore (historical) structure to these systems its going to take more than one fire. Emery Cowan can be reached at (928) 556-2250 or ecowan@azdailysun.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Brits can now create Big Mac-style burgers at home as Iceland rolls out a triple-layered bun. The Big Triple Bun, which hit shelves yesterday (21 May), is a three-layered sesame seed brioche burger bun, which Iceland said was designed to help shoppers recreate the fast food classic at home. It has a full crown, wedge and heel, according to the retailer. The bun is priced at 69p for a pack of two. Iceland suggested pairing it with two 100% British Beef Quarter Pounders, British Mature Cheddar Cheese Slices, iceberg lettuce, onions and Mrs Elswood Burger Gherkins plus sauce, with Thin & Crispy Coated French Fries on the side. Iceland claimed the triple-layered bun was a UK supermarket first and predicted that it would be the barbecue trend of the summer. In 2018, research by Lantmannen Unibake brand Americana found that brioche is the burger bun of choice for burger fans in the UK, followed by seeded brioche and grill-marked buns. The company recently teamed up with Burger Lad Simon Dukes to help identify new industry trends and research that have the potential to drive new product development in the future. Sen. Mike Groene's third attempt to give educators the authority to physically restrain students who become violent in schools did not advance out of committee this year. Earlier iterations of the bill (LB147), which allows teachers, administrators and staff to restrain students who are harming others, school property, or themselves, fell victim to a filibuster. This year's amended version, tagged as an Education Committee priority with the backing of the state teachers' union, was what the North Platte lawmaker called a statement of support for teachers' efforts "to maintain a learning environment in their classrooms." Opposed by school administrators, Groene couldn't muster the votes needed in committee to send it to the floor for debate. "At the end of the day, we came to an impasse along political-ideological lines," Groene said of the 4-4 vote in committee, casting blame on four members who are registered Democrats in the officially nonpartisan Legislature. "This situation, I believe, is why a pull motion is in our rules." On Tuesday, Day 79 of a likely truncated legislative session, Groene launched an attempt to raise his own bill out of committee, a seldom-used legislative tactic requiring a simple majority of the full body. Last year, lawmakers successfully raised former Bancroft Sen. Lydia Brasch's priority bill (LB1069), changing Nebraska's Americanism statutes, from the Education Committee, where it was stuck. Brasch's bill got minimal floor debate before falling off the agenda. In 2017, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn successfully pulled her priority bill (LB651) that would set higher reading standards for Nebraska third graders out of the Education Committee, but it failed on the floor only to be revived a year later following a legislative study. Other senators said Groene's attempt to use the procedure, however, created a "dangerous precedent" of a chairman trying to pull his own bill out of the committee he leads over the wishes of other senators. Omaha Sen. Sara Howard, who chairs the Health and Human Services Committee, said introducers and committee members often refine legislation until a majority of senators can back the proposal. "I think it's concerning to see another leader in this body try to subvert the will of his own committee," Howard said. Without a committee vote, other senators are not provided a record of support or a committee's statement of intent to consider during debate, she added, which erodes the structure of the unicameral institution. Sen. Steve Lathrop, also of Omaha, said it was rare for senators to try and pull their bill from committee during his previous two terms in the Legislature. "This is going to be water going over the dam and you are going to be sorry you voted for a pull motion because you are going to have a lot of them next year," the Judiciary Committee chairman said. The motion to pull a bill out of committee was intended for senators who had their bills blocked by a committee chairman, not for committee chairmen stymied by a lack of support for their own bill, said Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg, the chairman of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee. Groene disputed Williams' reading, however, saying the pull motion existed to keep party politics from blocking a committee's proceedings. Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks lauded Groene's work on LB147, but described the bill as "not ready for prime time," and proposed a legislative study of the issue. While he has supported previous student restraint bills, Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld said LB147 included language that could potentially confuse teachers into thinking they had legal immunity when using physical restraint when they did not. "There is a reason why this bill is still in committee," Morfeld said. "That's because the committee process works." Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont criticized Groene's leadership of the Education Committee, saying he passed over several bills in committee in lieu of his own student restraint legislation. She described this year's committee proceedings, in which 56 bills were introduced but only 18 were deliberated during executive session, as a "struggle," and suggested it was useless to introduce education-related legislation next year. "This is one of the first major education bills we are able to talk about this year," Walz told the Legislature. "To put it in perspective, this is a committee priority bill, typically a bill that is supported by the entire committee, that we now have to debate a pull motion on." But backers such as Linehan and Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil said the bill addressed a growing problem in Nebraska's schools and deserved to have a full debate. Groene was successful in convincing enough senators to give him that debate but just barely. His motion passed 25-14, with eight senators declining to vote, and two excused. If it is placed on the agenda, Groene will need 33 votes to defeat a filibuster promised by opponents to the bill. Reach the writer at 402-473-7120 or cdunker@journalstar.com. On Twitter @ChrisDunkerLJS. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs, a pot belly pig and construction of a new facility: the Beatrice Humane Society had a busy 2016. Staff saw increased numbers of animals taken into the shelter and adopted out in 2016 than in the two years prior. They also reaped successful fundraising efforts for the new shelter that will open this spring. 2016 was an extremely busy year, said President of the Board of Directors John Rypma. A lot of the people involved in the shelter were involved with the whole campaign in raising money. We were busy designing the building. It was just an extremely demanding year for people on the board and who work in the shelter. It was an extremely consuming year but extremely worth it. Conversation for a new Humane Society shelter in Beatrice started within the board three or four years ago. Animals and staff will move into the new space, which is across the highway from the Southeast Community College, between April 15 and May 1, Rypma said. Were really looking forward to getting into the new building, Rypma said. Itll be so much more animal-friendly and a new environment. Small dogs can be kept separate from big dogs. Any animal with health issues will be kept separate from the rest. Isolation areas will be used in case of contagious conditions and the heating and air system will not circulate infected air, Rypma said. The site will also have large spaces for dogs to get exercise. Weve had tremendous support from the community, Rypma said. 100 percent of the money to build the building and purchase all of the equipment inside 100 percent was donated money. The land was also donated. The Beatrice Humane Society is still looking for sponsors for some cat cages and dog kennels. To do so, Rypma can be reached at 402-239-0420. Our long-term supporters have been there to help us, Rypma said. A lot of this money is from new donors. Were fortunate to have three donors into the six-figures. On top of the fundraising campaign and constructing the new facility, the shelter (300 Ella Street) kept busy last year with its usual operations. Shelter Manager Bryce Caulk said the Humane Society accepted 598 cats and 360 dogs into its doors last year. Eighteen cats were returned to their owners and 170 dogs were returned to their owners. You see more people not reclaiming their cats, Caulk said. 90 percent of those cats last year were strays. A lot of animals found homes: 453 cats and 197 dogs were adopted from the shelter, in addition to seven other animals, which included one pot belly pig. Caulk, who started in Jan. 2015, said the most cats the shelter has housed at one time was 60. It has 22 dog kennels. The new shelter is not necessarily built to hold more animals, but its to make the space for the animals a little more humane, to give more room for the animals to live in, Caulk said. Caulk said he hopes the new facility will drum up continued support and excitement from the community. We hope to get the community involved a little bit more, Caulk said. We hope the new shelter will bring some excitement and something new for people to come check out and come down to to volunteer. The building were in now is not really fit for the animals, let alone people wanting to come down and volunteer. Caulk said volunteers can do an array of work from sitting and socializing with animals to taking dogs on walks, mailing thank you notes and helping staff with dishes, laundry and cleaning. More information can be found by visiting the shelter, calling it at 402-228-9100 or by visiting its website or Facebook page. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Officials gathered at the Indian Creek Mall in Beatrice Tuesday to break ground on a new coffee shop in Gage County. Construction is now underway on Scooters Coffee, which will be located near the intersection of Sixth Street and Industrial Row, directly north of Security First Bank. Katie Kieffer, who will run the Scooters Coffee franchise in Beatrice, said she was excited to break ground on the new location, and is eager to open the shop. Im just ready to hit the ground running, get this thing open and start meeting people, she said. Thats my favorite part of the whole thing, building relationships with the community, and its more fun in a smaller community. Permits for the location were issued in April, and Kieffer expects Scooters to be operational before the end of the year. Plans to launch a Scooters in Beatrice were announced last October, after the Kieffer family was announced as a new Nebraska franchisee with Scooters Coffee last August. Walker Zulkoski, director of the NGage economic development group, commended Kieffer for seeing the process through, despite several delays as officials worked with the city. These projects dont happen overnight, Zulkoski said. Theres a lot of going back and forth and a lot of negotiations and things you have to jump through. We really appreciate Katie sticking through it. Kieffer is currently a manager at one of the Scooter's locations in Lincoln and will own and operate the store in Beatrice. She intends to relocate to Beatrice and work from the Scooters full time. We are so excited to open the store and finally be able to serve the community of Beatrice, Kieffer said. Its taken quite a while, but its finally here and I cant wait. The Scooters store will be a walk-in building with a drive-thru window. In March, the Beatrice City Council vacated and replatted a lot into two smaller lots for the location. Scooters Coffee is originally based out of Omaha, and has been serving coffee for around 17 years. When in operation, the Beatrice location is expected to employ 10-12 people. Reach Scott Koperski at scott.koperski@beatricedailysun.com. Follow him on Twitter @ScottKoperski. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Gage County is seeking to overturn or get a judge to reduce a jury's $28.1 million verdict awarded to six people who went to prison in 1989 for a Beatrice woman's killing because of the reckless, cold-case investigation behind their arrests. Nearly 20 years later, three of the six still were in prison when DNA testing tied another man to the crime. Attorneys for the county late Wednesday afternoon filed a flurry of documents in U.S. District Court arguing that the judge should disregard the verdict and find in the county's favor or grant a new trial in the case, citing alleged misconduct by an attorney for the six and by the judge as well as a verdict that didn't add up. Melanie Whittamore-Mantzios called it contrary for the jury to find in favor of Jerry DeWitt, the former Gage County Sheriff, and all the defendants on the conspiracy claim, but against Gage County. "No reasonable jury could possibly find in favor of the plaintiffs on the claim against Gage County when there was no evidence to support that Sheriff DeWitt had issued policies, by word or by deed, that affirmatively commanded that the deprivation of rights occur," she wrote. The judge had instructed the jury that to find the county liable the six had to prove that DeWitt either directed the violation of their rights, authorized it or agreed with a subordinate's decision which led to it. Yet, in its verdict, the jury found against Deputy Burdette Searcey, who led the 1989 investigation that led to their arrests, and Dr. Wayne Price, a psychologist and reserve deputy who met with three of the six during the investigation, and found Gage County liable for it. "While hindsight might suggest that the case developed by Deputy Searcey had holes, as most cases do, a reasonable law enforcement officer in 1989 could have been convinced that the plaintiffs were guilty and that the evidence obtained from them as well as other witnesses supported the cases against them, including plaintiff (Joseph) White," Whittamore-Mantzios wrote. She argued that Searcey and Price's actions simply could not shock the court's conscience. But, on July 6, at the end of a four-week trial, the jury found otherwise and awarded Joseph White, Ada JoAnn Taylor, Thomas Winslow, Kathy Gonzalez, James Dean and Deborah Shelden $28.1 million in damages, split among them based on how long they had served in prison on charges related to the brutal murder of Helen Wilson in her Beatrice apartment Feb. 5, 1985. Together, they spent more than 75 years locked up before White got DNA testing that tied Bruce Allen Smith to the crime. By then, Smith already had died in an Oklahoma prison. A task force in 2008 found no connection between him and the six. After White's conviction was overturned and dismissed, and the other six were granted pardons, they sued, alleging the investigation was so reckless it shocked the conscience. A first trial, in January 2014, ended in a mistrial after the jury deadlocked. The second trial started June 6 and resulted in the multi-million-dollar verdict that left Gage County elected officials talking behind closed doors about their options. Asked about the decision to ask for a new trial, Myron Dorn, chairman of the Gage County Board of Supervisors, said board members worked with the outside legal team and County Attorney Roger Harris over the last month to determine which option to pursue. But he declined to comment further, citing pending litigation, and Harris could not immediately be reached. In the brief, Whittamore-Mantzios pointed to misconduct by attorneys for the six for saying they were innocent despite the judge determining before trial that wasn't for this jury to decide. Rather, this case was about whether the deputies' actions in the 1989 investigation had been reasonable. Whittamore-Mantzios also pointed to off-the-record comments Senior U.S. District Judge Richard Kopf made during the trial advising Gage County to go after the state for errors its employees made if the county was "dinged" in the case. She argued that the judge's remarks, which appeared in news articles about the trial, could've been seen by jurors, despite a warning given by Kopf for them not to read or listen to news about the trial. Lastly, Whittamore-Mantzios argued the damages were excessive and evidence that the jury was driven by emotion and sympathy and that jurors were trying "to punish the defendants for not admitting that the plaintiffs were wrongfully convicted." She said the county was at minimum entitled to a $1,095,000 reduction of the verdict because it included time Winslow served in prison on an unrelated assault. Attorneys for the Beatrice 6 will get a chance to respond to the motion. But, reached Wednesday evening, attorney Maren Chaloupka said she hadn't yet read it and declined to comment. In addition to the verdict award, Gage County also faces a bill for attorney fees and costs for the six to be represented during the seven-year-long lawsuit. They have filed a motion seeking $1.8 million. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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 Beatrice resident and long-time member of the Beatrice Rotary Club was honored by the club last weekend and named the recipient of a prestigious, annual award. Dorothy Zimmerman was named the 2016 recipient of the Charles N. Cadwallader Award on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the Rotary International District 5650 Conference. She joined the local Rotary club in 1993. Zimmerman was selected because of her significant international service to the Zimba Mission Hospital in Zambia, her wide ranging community activities in Beatrice and Gage County, and her exceptional leadership in Rotarys District 5650 and her local Beatrice Rotary Club, a press release from the club states. The award is presented annually in honor of Charles N. Cadwallader, a distinguished Rotarian who served as president of Lincoln Rotary Club #14, district governor and director of Rotary International, and who sponsored 11 Rotary Clubs in the district. Dorothy Zimmerman is the third resident of Beatrice to receive the Cadwallader Award. William W. Cook Sr. was so honored in 1964 and Everett R. Jones was the 1981 recipient. Rotary Internationals emphasis on service connects 1.2 million members and more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work focuses on improving lives locally and internationally. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The American Red Cross pumps up its blood drive efforts at this time of year. A conference room of the Holiday Inn in Beatrice held a busy, 11-hour blood drive on Tuesday. Samantha Pollard, the Red Cross communications manager for Nebraska, said the organization can count on communities like Beatrice to put others needs before their own comfort. Over half of Red Cross donors are repeat donors, Pollard said. You can see that here in Beatrice. People come in here and greet each other by name. Its really neat to see. Limited stations and numerous donors resulted in long wait times and many pints of blood that will help individuals facing a variety of health situations. Our phrase this year is, Give the perfect gift, because its free and it helps so many people out, Pollard said. Pollard named examples of beneficiaries: a person suffering from a traumatic car accident, a cancer patient going through chemotherapy, a woman who lost a lot of blood during childbirth and a person with a blood disorder such as anemia. The goal of the drive was 154 pints of blood. By 11 a.m., 46 donors had been through the line. In the winter, we see a steep decline in donors probably because people are traveling, seeing family and not thinking about giving blood, Pollard said. The American Red Cross is hosting seven major blood drive throughout Nebraska in the span of two weeks. A total of about 1,000 pints will be donated from all of those combined, Pollard said. Blood type O negative is the most sought after because it is the only type that can be transferred into any human. Less than 10 percent of the population has type O negative blood, Pollard said, while type O positive is the most common. While some donors squeezed stress balls as blood pumped from them, others waited for their turn and sat patiently in a row of chairs. One donor said her wait time was nearly two hours, which she hopes doesnt happen in the future as it would repel donors from giving. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As Stoddard Elementary students, staff and parents gathered at the House of Orange Tuesday morning, Macarena blared through the speakers, followed by Y.M.C.A. and Cotton Eye Joe. Excited and dancing, more than 200 children and additional adults took off on the track around the field, running and walking as part of their effort to support heart disease research. Students also participated in games and activities on the field for four hours in celebration for raising more than $1,400 during the past week for the American Heart Association. Instead of Jump Rope for Heart, we have all of these other games planned for them as a reward for raising money, said Jordan Johnson, physical education teacher at Stoddard and Paddock Lane. Its a fun day for them. Paddock Lane Elementary School mirrors the same effort each year, but for the American Diabetes Association. Families and staff of the school raised more than $1,600 for the organization during the past week. Their field day on Monday was moved from the stadium to the school due to weather. As of this morning, Stoddard raised over $1,400, said Betty Replogle, principal of both elementary schools, on Tuesday. Im very confident well reach our goal of $1,500. Replogle said the tradition is in its 10th year at both schools. This day is so great, she said. Its a way to show how important physical activity is and to get out in the sunshine and remember those who cant be as active as easily due to heart or other conditions. Replogle said parents enjoy the day of fun, too, and that everyone participates. We get 250 kids out here and we dont have one single problem, Replogle said. Rachael Bauman was at the event Tuesday as a parent, but commented from her position as the wellness coordinator at the YMCA in Beatrice. We love seeing schools do things like this, getting kids out and moving and using their muscles and bodies, Bauman said. And any time they can bring awareness to chronic diseases is a good thing -- and (to) get the community involved. Bauman said a goal for the YMCA is youth development and that studies prove that children who are active perform better academically. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Southeast Community College in Beatrice hugely impacts the economy of Beatrice, Gage County and surrounding areas in several ways, campus and area officials say. The college provides teaching and training to its students, area high school students and area employees, which helps strengthen the local workforce, officials say. I think Southeast Community College plays a major role in the economic impact of Gage County and the surrounding counties attached to Gage County, said SCC-Beatrice Campus Director Bob Morgan. We certainly are here to meet employer and student demand. Our job is to help provide an educated workforce for not only Gage County but our 15-county area. That advanced education and training can certainly help provide workers that will have an economic impact for our area. Southeast Community College offers 50 programs of study through its three campuses in Beatrice, Lincoln and Milford and its online courses. The Beatrice campus offers six programs: agriculture business management, business administration, office technology, academic transfer, criminal justice and licensed practical nursing. Glennis McClure, executive director of NGage (Gage Area Growth Enterprise), called the graduates from those programs very critical to economic development of the area. Its wonderful for Beatrice that we have a Southeast Community College campus here, McClure said. We have a very strong presence with Southeast Community College. Its really important for our current businesses to be able to draw from the whole Southeast Community College area as far as what theyre doing with programs and teaching students. As we look to recruit, as we talk to businesses, as we tell about our area, its so important, so wonderful that we have Southeast Community College as a partner in this area. The Continuing Education division of SCC helps boost workforce development of communities throughout its 15-county area by offering contract training to community employees. SCC Dean of Continuing Education, Amy Chesley, said employees of Gage County area businesses have taken advantage of contract training by SCC in topics including welding, precision machining, blue print reading and computer training (such as Excel). The college has also hosted a series of workshops in precision agriculture management, Chesley said. The training is offered at receiving businesses or the college campuses. Marguerite Himmelberg, SCC director of client solutions, said SCC is Nebraskas leading college in Global Corporate College, a membership of community colleges that share resources and information. Some of the colleges are more active than others in providing services for community workforces, Himmelberg said. A community college is a vital part to a strong economy and workforce, Himmelberg said. I think especially today when were looking at a very low unemployment rate in Nebraska, a lot of employers are looking at the workforce demographic changing and sometimes they have gaps in critical skills, Himmelberg said. We can provide a real important resource to these companies that want to develop skills that are missing or that arent able to hire immediately. (SCC) helps them to be sustainable. SCC also serves area high school students through dual-credit courses and Southeast Nebraska Career Academy Program courses. Beatrice High School offers dual-credit classes in topics including English, math and Spanish that apply toward students credit at SCC-Beatrice. At half the cost of in-state tuition, BHS students can also enroll in classes under six different academies agriculture; education; welding; health; business, marketing and management; and law enforcement. SCC projects new learning centers will be in Falls City, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth, Wahoo, York and Hebron by 2017. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Greek philosopher Aristotle. (Ludovisi Collection, Giovanni Dall'Orto March) About a year ago, Princeton philosopher Robert P. George came to Chapel Hill to speak about civil discourse and diversity of thought with the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors. He returned Feb. 8, but this time he came with Cornel West , a long-time friend and philosopher at Harvard University, as guest speakers for Duke University's Kenan Distinguished Lecture in Ethics.Instead of directing their message to policymakers, George and West came to speak face-to-face with students, faculty, and residents. The two spoke about how they navigate their vastly different political views while maintaining a strong friendship, a skill seemingly rare on most college campuses. Their message and example aren't just a much-needed antidote to an increasingly polarized culture, either. It contains an essential ingredient for what George and West call athe desire to be challenged in one's most fundamental beliefs.Indeed, George and West argue students can't receive an authentically "deep" or "liberal" education unless they look for opportunities to beSo, even though their talk touched on the importance of courteously engaging with one's intellectual opponents, the heart of their message went beyond mere platitudes to the importance of civil discourse. In their view, civil discourse is much more than politeness or putting up with others' opinions. Far from simply tolerating those who challenge one's beliefs, George and West insist they should be considered one's "truest friends."Why? Because actively engaging with an ideological opponent refines one's own understanding of an issue and can lead one closer to the central goal of all education: the pursuit of truth. In a 2014 essay, George elaborates on this point:West emphasizes that he and George don't have aInstead, they have what he describes as aIn the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle describes friendship aswhere true friends will the good of the other for the sake of the other. Aristotle also says that "concord" - like-mindedness or agreement - is aImportantly, Aristotle doesn't mean friends must agree on all matters. Rather, they share a general unity of purpose toward a common goal. Sharing a common goal, however, doesn't mean that George and West- or any friends - must always agree on how to reach that goal. In terms of their friendship as thinkers and scholars, George and West share the common goal of truth-seeking. They are of "one mind" in the sense that they, according to Aristotle, "wish for what is just and advantageous, and seek it in common."Even though West says true friendshipthe professors' differences in political views should not be downplayed.Arguably, the two professors became friends because of their fundamental differences of opinion.Over the years, they have taught a Great Books seminar together designed to teach students to look at issues from multiple points of view. Each professor chooses six primary texts for the students, including Sophocles, St. Augustine, John Dewey, and John Stuart Mill.Students in North Carolina have ample opportunities to emulate George and West's Aristotelian friendship. Take Duke University's Center for Political Leadership, Innovation, and Service. The center created an initiative called the North Carolina Leadership Forum to facilitate conversations on contentious issues.Another promising project out of POLIS is the "Devil's Discourse" podcast, which records Duke students participating in civil discussions on contentious issues such as abortion, taxes, and immigration.While coordinated events may facilitate a culture of friendly dialogue across ideological lines, the majority of students don't need officially organized programs to find their "Robby George" or "Cornel West." There are countless opportunities every day to talk with an ideological opponent - whether it be a classmate or someone handing out fliers on campus. However one finds these encounters, the importance of cultivating friendships with those of different convictions is vital for true learning to take place.As academics in a field dedicated to debating ideas, George and West are an ideal example of the traits all discourse - and friendships - on college campuses should have: rooted in a love of truth over opinion and a respect for the other's common humanity. Have Sheriff Offices in North Carolina, possibly even Beaufort County's Sheriff Office, become too political in the discharging of their sworn constitutional duties? No, the sheriff is a constitutional officer. Yes, the Sheriff Office, on strong occasion, often reverts back to political patronage in the dispensation of their sworn constitutional duties. Rep. Ed Goodwin, R-Chowan, speaks against certificate-of-need laws at a May 15 news conference. (CJ photo by Dan Way) Legislative opponents of certificate of need laws are confident. This may be the year they prevail against the restrictive health-care regulations.But opposition from the powerful hospital lobby remains. Hospitals claim competition would hurt their bottom line. It would place hospitals, especially rural ones, at risk of closing, they say. Charity care they must provide also would be jeopardized if newcomers encroached on their profitable services.Lawmakers, doctors, and academics used a news conference Wednesday, May 15, to say patients would pay less - and state government would reduce Medicaid and State Health Plan costs - if the archaic CON system were abolished.CON laws require medical providers to get state permission before they can offer many clinical services and buy expensive equipment. Providers must survive a slow and costly review process, creating barriers to entering the health-care market.With fewer CON restrictions competition would flourish, access to health care would increase, and quality of care would improve, they said. Several proposals would tackle CON's rules to differing degrees.State Rep. Ed Goodwin, R-Chowan, said rather than try to repeal CON outright, he wants to chop away CON restrictions. He is a primary sponsor of House Bill 857 . It would exempt ambulatory surgery centers and gastrointestinal endoscopy rooms from CON laws.said Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell. One reason: Many House defenders of CON aren't in office anymore.Sens. Joyce Krawiec, R-Forsyth, and Jim Burgin, R-Harnett, joined Hise at the news conference. They sponsored the much broader Senate Bill 646 . It exempts from CON review ambulatory surgery centers and endoscopy rooms, operating rooms, diagnostic centers, kidney disease treatment centers, chemical dependency treatment facilities, some home health agencies, and most mental health facilities.Burgin said S.B. 646 accounts for concerns about charity care. For instance, it would require a new surgery center to allocate a percentage of its surgery revenues to help nearby hospitals pay for uncompensated care.He is a former member of the State Health Coordinating Council, the bureaucracy that decides CON approvals and rejections.Burgin said.Hise said he was confident hospitals would open more ambulatory surgery centers than anyone else if they are exempted from CON review.Although they oppose CON reform, hospitals also think many CON regulations are unnecessary and costly, Hise said.Hise said.Goodwin said his six-county legislative district has two small hospitals but no walk-in clinics, forcing residents to drive long distances for treatment. He said CON laws interfere with free enterprise, which could ease that shortage.Matt Mitchell, senior research fellow at George Mason University's Mercatus Center, said 39% of the U.S. population lives in states with no CON laws. Those states have more hospitals and hospital beds per capita than states enforcing CON laws. Communities can support more hospitals when there are fewer barriers to entry.In states without CON, residents have greater access to care, more hospice facilities, more ambulatory surgery centers per capita, and more access to diagnostic equipment, Mitchell said. Patients are less likely to go out of state for care, hospital admission rates are lower, survival rates for heart attack and heart failure are better, and racial health care disparities are lower.Research shows North Carolina would save $213 per person annually on total health-care spending without CON laws, and physician spending would be $73 less per person, Mitchell said.Dr. Richard Bruch, a Durham orthopedic surgeon, said a North Carolina patient pays roughly twice as much for surgery at a hospital compared to an ambulatory surgery center. In North Carolina, more than 70% of surgeries are same-day procedures, and more than 70% of those are performed in hospital outpatient settings.Goodwin cited a cost estimator from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina showing cataract surgery in Wake County costs $2,813 at a physician-owned surgery center, compared to $10,613 at Duke University Medical Center. Similar disparities exist in Columbus County ($2,463 to $7,340), and in Mecklenburg County ($1,643 to $11,871). If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2019 President Donald Trump fired a warning shot at Iran on Sunday afternoon, warning the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism that if they want to fight the United States, that will be the official end to their country.On Saturday,The New York Post reported Revolutionary Guard head Gen. Hossein Salami told the Fars news agency.Late last week, Politico reported that senators who attended a "lengthy classified briefing on Iran" left the meeting saying the threats coming from Iran areSen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) described the threats from Iran as aand said Trump was correct in moving military assets to the region to be "position to retaliate" if Iran or any of the proxy terrorist groups it supports should launch any kind of attack.Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) said.Former CIA Director David Petraeus warned Iran on Sunday to beamid rising tensions in the regionfor them and if they do something stupid, they will receive a very serious response." Petraeus said." Petraeus added.At the beginning of the month, the Trump administration sent a carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Middle East to send ato Iran in response toBolton said.Last week, several ships were attacked in the Persian Gulf, which a U.S. military assessment and a foreign entity said came from a terrorist group backed by Iran. His jaunts included searches for new minerals to test, and Fiske is just beginning to make pottery with his finds. His private studio space resembles a rock shop. Small dishes, numbered to distinguish the ground minerals inside, sit on a table along with chunks of rock and gallon-size plastic bags of red clay. Fiske reaches up to take a rich brown cup from a shelf in his private studio space and turns it slowly. Like his earlier work, the glaze shimmers on the surface like molten glass. Its only ingredient - plain red clay dug from a Montana road cut. Minerals prospected at mines also go into Fiskes glazes. From a corner, he pulls out a bucket and sifts a hand through a mixture of green rock and sand, then holds out a small container. The cup is rustic and elegant; different than his other work. Streaks of blues and greens originating from the buckets copper ore cover the surface, contrasting with granite pebbling. After a visit to the Carbon County Historical Society and Museum, he was given a box of coal samples bored from Red Lodge. Customers at Red Lodge Clay Center are drawn to Fiskes pottery; fascinated by its backstory, he said. For the second time this year a Yellowstone County District Judge has ordered the Office of the Public Defender to answer allegations it has failed to appoint public defenders to cases in a timely manner. Louis Engels gets this question a lot: Just what are ratepayers getting for the $65 million or so theyre set to spend on a new wastewater treatment plant? The answer, in short, is quite a lot of technology, improved odor control and the approval, at least for the foreseeable future, of state regulators over whats being discharged into the Yellowstone River. Engels, utility systems engineer in the Billings Public Works Department, said during a tour of the existing plant last week that odor control alone will comprise up to $9 million of the project, which will go to bid Dec. 13. Construction is set to begin this spring and be completed two years later. Located near MetraPark along the Yellowstone River, the plant treats the sewage generated by the city of Billings in accordance with state and federal requirements. Sewer rates have been ratcheted up in recent years to provide enough money to upgrade the plant. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality has set a deadline of 2019 for reducing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorous that the plant can discharge into the river. Nitrogen and phosphorous serve as fertilizers that promote algae bloom. The crash snarled traffic west of the Dick Johnston Bridge after 6 p.m., when a Nissan Maxima, traveling westbound on Highway 87 hit a stopped Dodge Ram pickup. The pickup in turn rear-ended a Chevy Malibu from the impact of the Nissan, MHP Trooper David Hankins said. Five people, 2 women and 3 men, were involved in the crash and suffered injuries, Hankins said. Three people in the Nissan were injured and taken to a Billings hospital, he said. The driver of the pickup was taken to a hospital. Later the male driver of the Malibu checked himself into a hospital complaining of neck and back pain, Hankins said. In total, all five people involved were injured with not life-threatening injuries. She had to be more responsible and more mature than other people at an early age, Gunkel said. Its not something that her family expected of her by any means. Its just something that she took on. Youngs academic drive was also apparent. But as high school started offering more opportunities, like college credit courses, health problems started. During her freshman year, Young started showing symptoms of an undiagnosed disease. She went through an alphabet of medical tests and procedures, but a clear diagnosis was elusive. She has been through so many tests and so many different diagnoses, Gunkel said. She always wants to know what the answer is. Eventually her diagnosis turned to Crohn's, but managing the disease is challenging. There's no cure, but treatments can help control the effects of the disease. Young is still experimenting with medications just trying to figure out what works. Kevin Brooke, a Skyview English teacher, saw the process unfold. She was in pain, he said. (But) she did not want to be pitied. Another woman filed an order of protection against Caraway after he pulled her over for 45 minutes and made her feel uncomfortable. The woman later dropped the order, but made it clear there was no reason for Caraway to have done what he did. Caraway reported to his superiors the woman was depressed. Columbus police sergeant suspended; dispatcher reports sex harassment to state The City of Columbus Police Department has suspended one of its sergeants without pay becaus A Stillwater County Victim Witness Advocate said Caraway had come into her office and said "not to take it as sexual harassment but that I was hot, and in the same meeting time also said I needed to be taken over somebody's knee and given a spanking." Another woman reported coming home and finding Caraway standing in her garage with no explanation. Caraway interviewed Caraway was interviewed on Aug. 25, about a month after the woman dispatcher's second interview. He brought his lawyer with him. Knutson asked Caraway why the dispatcher would have reported him assaulting her. Caraway blamed the woman for crossing the line, and referring to the DCI investigator by his first name, said "I guess, Len, because if you know the gal, she's not right in the head." GREAT FALLS A former carnival worker has been found guilty of sexually assaulting four people during Montana State Fair in Great Falls last summer, including a 13-year-old girl and an off-duty special victims unit detective. A Cascade County jury found 43-year-old Roberto Salaman-Garcia guilty of two felonies and two misdemeanors on Wednesday. The police officer reported Salaman-Garcia groped her while tightening her seat belt on a ride. Three more people reported similar interactions. Salaman-Garcia testified he was just checking seatbelts. Defense attorney Carl Jensen argued the detective's work in dealing with sexual predators every day has her "seeing the enemy everywhere she looks." A sentencing date has not been set. Salaman-Garcia faces between four and 100 years in prison. Deputy County Attorney Susan Webber says if Salaman-Garcia is released from prison he would face deportation to Mexico. Salaman-Garcia is a Mexican citizen who was in the country on a temporary work visa. He worked for the Mighty Thomas Carnival, which after the State Fair in 2018 headed next to Billings for MontanaFair. Salaman-Garcia was arrested in August and prohibited from leaving Cascade County. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 13 John Edward Szydlowski was sentenced Tuesday to serve 80 years in prison for killing 22-year-old Kayla Kinder in March last year. Kinder met Szydlowski, 31, the night before she was killed at a home on the 3400 block of Cherylon Street. Szydlowski was charged with deliberate homicide, and his plea agreement recommended an 80-year sentence to the Montana State Prison. He appeared before Yellowstone County District Court Judge Russell Fagg with his attorney, Public Defender Clark Mathews. Szydlowski shot Kinder March 22. Kinder died the following day at St. Vincent Healthcare after her family had her removed from life support. County Attorney Scott Twito recommended a sentence of 75 years to the Montana State Prison for the homicide charge and weapons enhancement, as well as an additional five years for other charges. +5 In prerelease system, walkaways part of the deal In the summer of 1991, Michael Michell attended a Seattle Mariners game at the Kingdome. He The additional charges include felony escape for walking away from a Billings prerelease center a week before the shooting as well as criminal endangerment and assault. He was in the center for previous convictions including robbery and criminal possession of dangerous drugs. JACKSON, Wyo. A Wyoming man who was initially sentenced to life in prison for beating his ex-girlfriend could be released next year. The Jackson Hole News & Guide reported Wednesday that 39-year-old Josh Black who was convicted for the October 2014 assault was granted parole earlier this year. The state Department of Corrections says the parole is contingent upon his completion of the Adult Community Corrections program. The Wyoming Supreme Court had ordered a new trial for Black after finding misconduct by Teton County prosecutors at the 2015 trial. Prosecutors offered him a plea deal last year instead of taking the case back to trial. Black pleaded no contest to felony aggravated assault and was sentenced to up to 10 years in prison with credit for time served. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 1 No one should have to leave their community or their school or their place of worship just to find a good job, Bullock told the guests, using almost the exact line with which he launched his campaign in Helena. Certainly the private sector has to do a significant share more to provide good jobs and pathways for workers, but we also can't expect them to do it all alone. As governors and as state leaders, we really are well-positioned to bring together employers, educators and workers to build that new infrastructure for jobs today and jobs of the future. To that end, he said later, the federal government will also need to step up. I think the federal government can play a critical role. Apprenticeships and work-based learning is an example. Federal grant dollars, he said, had helped Montana expand opportunities for its workers. But in existing programs, Bullock sees too much of a focus on traditional, four-year higher education, when in todays world, its not always about a degree. Sometimes, its shorter-term programs. Carol Williams sized up the Montana Senate on her first day in office and knew what had to be done. The place needed more women. In 2005, there were only six women. There were five Democrats and one Republican in the Senate that year, Williams recalled. That was when I decided we have to do something about this. It was not OK. Women make up more than half Montana's electorate. It only made sense that a similar percentage of the people writing Montanas laws should be female, she reasoned. Eleven years later, after a lot work, the number of women serving and running for public office is improving. There are 76 women in legislative races this year, up 49 percent from 2012. The number of women in the Senate since Williams, a Missoula Democrat, arrived in 2005, has nearly quadrupled. What that means is that while Democrats and Republicans fight to boost their numbers and secure majorities, the most significant gains will likely belong to women. Montana is actually up in the top 10 states in terms of female legislators, said Craig Wilson, a retired Montana State University Political Science professor. Thats outstanding. I find that Republicans have a big hole to fill. Women tend to be more Democratic. POWELL, Wyo. A Wyoming man is getting his long-lost high school class ring back after it turned up during sewer work. Crews in Powell have been flushing out storm drains. They've been using a vacuum truck to collect the grit and trash that comes loose. The Powell Tribune reports city worker Levi Kary found a 1991 Powell High School class ring in the debris. The ring was engraved. Kary looked online and soon found the owner - Gary Bessler, of Buffalo. Bessler recalls a friend lost the ring when he gave it to her to wear one night in 1991. He says he was pretty upset but eventually forgot all about it. Kary says he's mailing the ring back to its owner. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Smith said she sent a second letter a couple weeks ago, asking for an extension on the deadline to remove the mural while Mandan Planning and Zoning continues to review possible changes to the city's mural ordinance. The city denied the request, and instead told them they had to remove it by Thursday or they could be fined up to $1,000, according to Smith. "We gave the city ample opportunity to stop trampling on our clients' free speech rights and they refused," Smith said. Berube said he doesn't plan to remove the mural by Thursday, despite the threat of fines and fees. "I don't believe in what they're doing to not only myself, but anybody else in Mandan," he said. "It's asinine." Smith said she learned about Lonesome Dove's struggle to keep its mural in a newspaper article, and said her firm has repeatedly taken cases involving "abuse" of sign codes and mural regulations. "Unfortunately, sign codes are something that municipalities tend to abuse, and we see it over and over again. So we're hoping this lawsuit will stop Mandan and also serve as an educational tool to other cities," she said. Meanwhile, Montana State Parkss staff and board has been ranking its parks to prioritize funding for its most important sites. The agency has ruffled feathers in Eastern Montana with a proposal to possibly walk away from Hell Creek State Park on Fort Peck Reservoir in 2021 in part because the millions of dollars required to upgrade the facility far exceeds what could be recouped through visitation. If Montana State Parks were to move to a different department, like the Department of Commerce, the other 15 identified parks would have to stay behind under FWP management, helping to reduce Montana State Parks overhead. But thats not a goal, said Tom Towe, president of the Montana State Parks and Recreation Board. We believe that can be worked out with a memorandum of understanding, he said, leasing the sites from FWP and ceding management of fish and wildlife issues to the agency. The 15 parks are spread across the state and vary from little-visited to some of the top spots in the state, including: Brush, Wayfarers, Smith River (which includes Eden Bridge and Camp Baker), Finley Point, Lone Pine, Logan, Lake Elmo, Missouri Headwaters, Beavertail Hill, Greycliff Prairie Dog Town, Sluice Boxes, Lake Mary Ronan, Lost Creek, Giant Springs and Spring Meadow Lake. Tribal members gathered on the state Capitol grounds Tuesday to protest the Dakota Access crude oil pipelines Missouri River crossing as lawmakers met to address a budget shortfall left by a drop in price of the very oil the pipeline project would carry. I just hope that the lawmakers listen, said Joye Braun, of Eagle Butte, S.D., an organizer with the Indigenous Environmental Network and member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Camp of the Sacred Stones members have vowed to continue their fight against the 1,172-mile pipeline project. About 15 campers arrived Tuesday morning with more expected by the evening. Braun said the campers will remain for the full three days of the special session called by Gov. Jack Dalrymple. They are encouraging the governor to issue an order to stop work on the pipeline and calling on lawmakers to be less dependent on fossil fuels. Theyre in financial straits because of their miscalculations on oil, said protester Cante Ohkitika, of Cannon Ball. Last week, the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its approval of easements allowing the pipeline to cross corps-controlled waterways, one of them being the Missouri River near the reservation. The tribe, represented by EarthJustice, alleges the corps violated the National Historic Preservation Act and other laws and is seeking an injunction to stay the pipeline's construction until its case can be heard. In a complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., the tribe says the corps wrote off its concerns and ignored the pipelines impacts to sacred sites and water sources. The pipeline still needs permit approvals on five corps-controlled sites in South Dakota and Illinois to complete its route. Dakota Access Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners has said it is disappointed the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and EarthJustice have decided to take legal action to try to stop what it calls one of the most important energy infrastructure projects in U.S. history. Additionally, the project is contributing millions of dollars into the U.S. tax base from direct tax benefits to sales tax from material procurement and manufactured goods, and tens of thousands of jobs. We support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and plan to provide whatever support we can to defend and protect this project and our national interests as Americans, spokeswoman Lisa Dillinger said in an email. Braun said the tribe was still waiting Tuesday for a judge to be assigned to their case. Meanwhile, the tribe received notice of the start of construction, slated to have begun July 30. She said the drilling pad to be used by contractors to do the directional drilling has been moved on site. Though the drill is not there yet, it is expected to arrive any day. Cepa Seaboy, a Spirit Lake native who lives in Mandan, said she feels very strongly about stopping the pipelines current route. Water is very important; it keeps all of us alive, said Seaboy, adding she wants to protect tribal water sources for her daughter and future generations. Seaboy also said she worries about the speed at which the pipeline has gone into the ground and fears that could increase the possibility of a leak. Water and oil dont mix, Ohkitika said You cant cook with (contaminated water); you cant shower with it; you cant water your animals with it; you cant wash your clothes in it. The campers will hold a prayer vigil at 8 p.m. today and Braun said the public is encouraged to come out. It can be stopped, she said of the pipeline. Reach Jessica Holdman at 701-250-8261 or jessica.holdman@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. STANTON One of the oldest coal-fired power plants in North Dakota has been evolving since the first day it opened for business back in the mid-60s. For the men who raised the sheets of steel at Stanton Station, learned how to operate it 50 years ago and made running it their lifes work, the evolution into oblivion is the hardest of all. To see that plant shut down, and if they decide to remove it, that will be heartbreaking, said Marvin Leer, of Stanton, who was there the first day of operations in 1966 and stayed on for 29 years. The plant just outside Stanton on the Missouri River will cease operations in nine months. The announcement by owner Great River Energy was one of those surprises that wasnt really a surprise, given that the plant had been on standby status for the past several months. But standby operations are one thing the plant operated intermittently with a full complement of employees decommissioning is quite another. The employees will go and so, eventually, will the plant itself after so many years of humming faithfully and sending power out on the wire. GRE says it cant pencil out the improvements the plant would need going forward and made the hard decision three weeks ago in its board room, announcing it to the public the next day. A hard fought history Leer said the news hit him hard. They hired all the young people from around the area and trained them on the job. We started that rascal up and it wasnt easy. There was turmoil, upheaval and difficulty. But that group of guys out there was just unbeatable, he said. The plant was among the first to run on lignite coal and Leer remembers continual problems with ash slagging, turbine issues and design faults that had to be constantly corrected and modified. We never could maintain a full load though we tried desperately. It was extremely complicated to begin with and that made it extremely tough to operate. We knew we could make it work, we just had to prove that we could, he said. It wasnt until nearly 20 years later, when then-owner United Power Association added a second boiler, that sufficient steam could be generated to spin the turbine at full efficiency. The plants capacity rating was increased to 192 megawatts and there was a solid two-year run when the turbine spun coal-fired steam into electricity without a single hitch. A workplace family Leer became the plant superintendent in 1974 and retired in that position 20 years later. He said the workers jelled into a family, were committed to the team and many raised families together in Stanton. They were golden years of purpose and middle-class prosperity for these lignite pioneers. One was Glen Sailer, who first worked construction on the Minutemen missile silos and then operated a crane during Stanton Station construction. He moved a trailer to Stanton in 1963 and eventually became a plant operator after the plant was built. The crap we went through, he said, shaking his head in the manner of a person who cant quite believe what all happened. Because theyd borrowed the money from the REA we had to produce electricity by New Years Eve 1966. We went online to produce a few megawatts to satisfy the REA and then we shut it down to finish the job." He loved the work and he loved his co-op employer until the day he retired. I never worked for a better company. They treated us like we were made out of gold and we worked hard for them, he said. Like Leer, Sailer said he really hates to see the old plant go. For sure, Stanton isnt going to grow; all the businesses are hurt when something like that goes out of business, he said. Leer is 84 now and his wife, Katie Leer, just a smidgen older. She was one who stood by him, waking him the middle of the night when the phone rang and the guys needed help out at the plant. She prepared steak dinners or breakfast in the plants kitchen because her husband wouldnt stand for his men going without a meal on his watch, especially those whod dropped everything to come and fix a problem. The Leers were a team and those were the times they remember. I thought that plant would outlive us, Katie Leer said. Turning out the lights Today there are 65 employees who depend on the plant for a livelihood and GRE says it will take special care to ease that transition as much as possible over the next nine months. John Weeda is GREs director of generation in North Dakota. Closing the Stanton Station will be his job primarily, though hes gathering a team to guide the process. It isnt going to be easy for many reasons. We approach this with a significant degree of sadness. The Stanton Station had a great history, one of the first to burn low-ranked coals. We overcame a lot of difficulties with very dedicated employees, he said. He said the plant will need employees up until the very last day on or about May 1, but if workers leave for other employment, well try to deal with a smaller staff or bring in temporary resources. In the meantime, a to-do list gains its own head of steam: matching the coal supply and commodities like lime for the scrubber to the remaining days of operation, planning for how to drain equipment and preserve it with the proper lubricants and chemicals and determine whats salable, perhaps even internationally. Weeda said GRE will have the plant demolished by a specialized company that will separate what can be resold and recycled from what will go into a landfill. The plant was constructed before much regulatory authority was in place and there is no specific condition to remove the building and reclaim the site, either with the Health Department or the Public Service Commission. PSC Commissioner Randy Christmann said he is sure GRE will do the right thing with the property. But I dont intend to sit there waiting for the price of scrap metal to go up. It needs to be cleaned up. But it was built before siting laws, so they can do what they want down there, he said. Weeda said the plant will be gone, but there is no certain timeline yet. We are committed to that; we would not want the Stanton Station to become an unwelcome eyesore, Weeda said. GRE has two solid waste permits and will have to submit a plan to permanently close landfills where it has buried its fly ash and bottom ash, said Scott Radig, manager of the state Health Departments solid waste disposal program. The plant produces about 25,000 tons of fly and bottom ash for disposal each year in the former Glenharold Mine area to the south. The disposal landfills will have to be monitored for 30 years after they are closed, longer if problems are detected, Radig said. On the air quality front, the closure of Stanton Station will not greatly reduce the overall amount of carbon dioxide emitted from coal plants in North Dakota. The Health Departments air quality chief Terry OClair said the plant accounts for about 4 percent of the total carbon dioxide plant emissions from all eight plants in the state. The industry is facing a federal mandate to reduce coal-related carbon by 45 percent, though the requirement is stalled for now in a federal court review. Its not a big number, but every little bit pushes it toward the goal, OClair said. Stanton Station also adds about $7,500 a month in tax revenue to Mercer County, shared among the schools, cities and the county. GRE says it will continue to pay that post-closure, in an amount declining by 20 percent each year over the next five years until its gone. (Reach Lauren Donovan at 701-220-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. With cuts to statewide funding, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development expects its loan program, and those like it, to take on greater demand. State Director Ryan Taylor said many small communities want to handle the population growth that has come to the area and make their communities attractive places to live for the long term. With state coffers running below expectations due to low energy prices, many rural towns could turn to one of Rural Developments more than 40 federal funding programs. I think we will probably see more applications, Taylor said. Were definitely part of the mix. For example, Taylor said proposed domestic violence crisis centers in oil country that did not get state oil and gas impact funding looked to Rural Development. While committing to a loan was a concern for the nonprofit centers, the agencys programs and others like it could become another option. During fiscal year 2015, Rural Development invested $301 million in projects statewide, according to Taylor, who said Rural Development attempts to spur economic development in rural areas from a variety of angles. The agency has invested in health care, including financing a new medical campus in Hazen for Sakakawea Medical Center. Rural Development made a direct loan for $11 million and a guaranteed loan through Union State Bank for $10.3 million, which together financed about 70 percent of project costs. For child care, the agency partnered with Cankdeska Cikana Community College and the Spirit Lake Tribe for a new Head Start facility. North Dakota is among the top five states for broadband connectivity in the nation because of the aid provided by the agency. And for housing, the agency provided $66 million for affordable housing in 2015. We really pave the way for businesses to come into the community and be successful, said Taylor, adding community facilities are important to workforce attraction and retention. Rural Development also partners with rural cooperatives and helps businesses directly. Helping more rural businesses start and expand diversifies the rural economy, getting small towns off the roller coaster of commodity driven cycles," according to Taylor. This could be helping an equipment manufacturer expand funding ideas that would add value through processing of the agriculture products or, in the case of Hettinger, Rural Development provided a $2 million no interest loan for a new veterinary clinic. Taylor said a lot of projects the agency funds also include business plans and feasibility studies, providing seed money vital to startups. In 2015, Rural Development funded 37 business projects. It funded 32 in 2014, 30 in 2013 and 30 in 2012. The agency has helped more than 500 businesses, directly or indirectly, since 2009. Reach Jessica Holdman at 701-250-8261 or jessica.holdman@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SEVEN COUNCIL FIRES CAMP A one-room schoolhouse has a unique feel at a protest camp near Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The Defenders of Water School opened earlier last week and the children of Dakota Access Pipeline protesters are gathered in open-sided tents and the great outdoors for lessons in reading, writing and arithmetic as well as traditional skills and crafts. Students wake in the tent or tepee where they sleep with their family and walk up the grassy slope past the aromatic council fire to the main camp center, where breakfast is served and they are sorted by age into hourly sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Alayna Eagle Shield, a young language specialist with the Standing Rock Language and Culture Institute, is the school coordinator. She said the need for a school came into focus Aug. 24, when a federal judge delayed an important decision and it became clear the protest camp with hundreds of people and many families wasnt going to be disbanded any time soon. Theres no official count of the number of children still in the camp, and its fluid as people go home for business and return. About 40 children showed up the first day. We need a school, there are so many kids here and we dont want to wait until they go back home, Eagle Shield said. She starts the day with a session on the Lakota language and continues with anything from teaching about traditional foods, the history of one of the many Native tribes from all over the country and the world sharing the camp, leadership, treaty politics, government and history, and arts and crafts. The school sends a message that real life continues even in the transient impermanent setting of a camp in a wide meadow near the reservation. T.J. Running Bear, whose daughter, Santana, 8, is at the school, will always have her memory of the camp every wedding anniversary. She and her new husband, Joel Running Bear, put on bright ribbon shirts and were married at the camp on Aug. 21. It was beautiful, she said. Running Bear said she came to the camp planning to spend one night and, other than returning to the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota for clothes and necessities, has remained for what will soon be a month. I wanted my whole life to see a gathering like this for good and for a purpose, and, in my lifetime, Ill never see this again, she said. The school is good for her daughter and so is the camp itself, with the exposure to the language and culture of so many other tribes, at least 70 by some estimates, according to Running Bear. She said she has lost her job in the reservations legal office as a result of being gone and said she had planned to start homeschooling her daughter anyway. Jobs come and go, but this is historical, she said. The camp on the north bank of the Cannonball River, not far from the Missouri River-Lake Oahe confluence, has been in existence since Aug. 10. Thats when the tribes started actively protesting construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline just north of the reservation, where the Bakken crude line is planned to be bored under the Missouri River in its 1,100-mile route from Williston to Illinois. It started as an overflow camp and soon became a semi-permanent village with services, a full-time kitchen, council fire, operations planning and emergency center and now a school. The children range in age from preschool to 16, and many are already home-schooled or will be enrolled in a home-school agreement. Were hoping they can go back home and catch up. Were trying to work on their needs, Eagle Shield said. She expects the camp will remain active and the school in session at least through Sept. 14. Thats when a federal court judge said hell hear any appeals of a decision he plans to make by Sept. 9 whether to issue an injunction to stop the pipelines water crossing. An injunction would be in effect while the court decides the tribes larger suit, claiming the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers failed to follow federal law in approving the pipeline water crossings. That may be the last week of the camp, and maybe not, she said. Ric Kenney, of western Washington, showed up at the camp and found himself teaching math to young children. He has no textbooks and the kids have only limited supplies, but they're making do. Were working on getting some workbooks together. Theres quite a range of kids and subjects, he said. Meanwhile, hes teaching out of his lap, literally, with a large writing pad, while the children follow along, shaded by the tent from the hot sun with the council fire smoke always in the air. Math was the biggest need, so thats where Im at, Kenney said. Each school day includes a walk to the nearby water, where children are taught to pray for the water flowing by the camp. They are taught we fight with our prayers and that prayers are way stronger than angry words or putting their bodies in harms way, Eagle Shield said. Reach Lauren Donovan at 701-220-5511 or lauren@westriv.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Ken Ryan couldnt believe the attention his wooden car attracted when he drove it from the Canadian border at Antler to the Gulf of Mexico and back to North Dakota. The vehicle drew questions from young men, old women and everyone in between curious about its unorthodox appearance. Many whipped out their phones to snap a picture before he continued down the interstate. Ryan told them the story of how, 20 years after he bought a 1985 Pontiac Fiero, he replaced all but the frame to make the wooden car thats street-legal today. It follows the idea of a hot rod, he said. You start with an older car, and you rebuild to your taste. Ryan lived for years in south central Virginia after spending several decades in Sweden, where his wife is from. His start with wood began in his 20s as he crafted musical instruments, such as guitars and stringed dulcimers, in his spare time. During the day, he worked as an international press officer for Ericsson, a telecommunications infrastructure company based in Stockholm. Eventually, he moved from instruments to wooden boats before trying his hand at a car. Ive had desk jobs all my life, so its something that is fun to do, and creative and manual, he said. While on the East Coast, Ryan purchased the Fiero and later put in a new V8 engine. He redid the brakes and suspension and acquired Atlantic white cedar, a lightweight wood used in boat building. The material is resilient, stands up to moisture and forms the bulk of the cars body. The vehicles front end is Kevlar with a smooth curvature reminiscent of cars of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ryan finished the bulk of the car in Virginia but ran into problems trying to get it registered. He said the state required it to be a replica of a previously made vehicle by an established car manufacturer. I could build a copy of a Corvette, he said. Thats not something I wanted to do. I didnt want to paint somebody elses picture. So he shipped the car to Bismarck, where his sister, Pat Conrad, lives. He had to add a wooden bumper to comply with North Dakotas regulations before he was able to register it here. Ryan returned to Sweden a year ago, so he planned a cross-country road trip in the United States this spring . He first took the car from Bismarck to the border crossing near Antler before returning to his sisters house to gear up for the rest of the journey. Headed south, he had just crossed into Nebraska from South Dakota when a state trooper flashed his lights. He stopped me, Ryan said. Really, I think he just wanted to see the car. The officer checked Ryans license plates because he had one only on the rear of the car. South Dakota residents need plates on both sides, Ryan said. Ryans car was not registered there, so he said the officer let him continue on his journey. But first, the man snapped a photo. The picture went viral on the Nebraska State Patrol Facebook page, garnering several hundred comments and more than 3,000 shares. Ryan continued south to Galveston, Texas, where the temperature hit 90 degrees and he learned the cars air conditioning did not work. He plans to fix that and make several other adjustments before taking the vehicle next on a trip around North America. Still, hes pleased with its performance. The car averaged 26.4 mpg on the 4,000-mile journey. Ryan returned last week to Sweden, where hes working on another wooden vehicle. He hopes to register it there. Meanwhile, he intends to store his first wooden car in Bismarck until his next trip to the United States, when he can take it for another spin. This is what I had intended to do with the car, he said, get out and drive it. (Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8267 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. State agencies are feeling the burn from Gov. Jack Dalrymple's mandated budget cuts, and administrators from nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are bracing for diminished funding starting January. Some are exploring creative cost-savings measures and other ways to grow revenue. In North Dakota, nursing facilities stand to lose at least $25.1 million next year as a result of cutbacks, said Shelly Peterson, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association. Most nursing homes and long-term care facilities receive funding through the North Dakota Department of Human Services, which had to reduce its 2015-17 budget by $53.9 million. The $25.1 million represents a loss in reimbursement nursing facilities receive from the state and federal government each year compensation and incentives many facility administrators rely upon when structuring budgets. Though no facilities are expected to close, many will have to deficit spend or dip into their savings. The Long Term Care Association determined exactly how much funding facilities will lose: about a 5 percent decrease in overall revenue for each facility, ranging from $73,000 to $1.2 million. Nursing home administrators are looking at what they can do now and in January, when cuts kick in. In addition, North Dakota Long-Term Care Association members and representatives of nursing homes are meeting with legislators to talk about the impacts of the budget cuts and how to get funding restored next session. Staff reductions When Peterson first heard about the required cutbacks, they seemed unreal. The vast majority of spending in nursing homes is staff, and cutting staff is not an option, she said. We fear having to cut back on staff because we need them. Its the last place that we should be cutting back," said Peterson, who estimates that nursing facilities would need to cut about 900 positions to account for the $25.1 million loss, an amount calculated by the average salary of a certified nursing assistant around $28,000. Were not saying at all that facilities are going to do that because its inconceivable," Peterson said. But many nursing homes have no where else to cut except staff wages or the number of employees. Employee pay is one cost you can control, said Reier Thompson, CEO and president of Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center in Bismarck. Well, you can say, OK, were not going to do raises this year, and thats something you can control. But we cant control the fact that health insurance is going up, or the cost of electricity is going up, or the cost of food is going up," he said. Costs are always going up every year, and reimbursement from the state helps a lot, Thompson said. For many nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, there is never enough help. In November, 53 nursing homes in the state reported 741 vacant positions. To help fill some of those openings, facilities often rely upon contract staffing. Nursing homes as a whole spent $19 million last year on contract agencies, Peterson said. Four out of five nursing homes are using contract agencies. Richard Regner, administrator at Napoleon Care Center, said last month he spent $11,000 on contract staffing. Currently, the facility is staffed at a comfortable level, Regner said, and the hiring of contract staffing or CNAs "runs in stretches." Regner said the nursing home is the town's largest employer, and though the budget cuts aren't going to cause the facility to go broke and close its doors, decisions will have to be made on where in its budget it can make cuts. We dont know where to cut," Regner said. As far as growing our revenue, I dont know what other options there are other than keeping our beds full," Thompson said. Out here in the rural areas, resident occupancy is always a challenge. Youre always running several beds open. Thompson said he and other administrators at Missouri Slope are looking at cost-saving measures, everything from changing the paper they use to attrition in non-direct care services, such as housekeeping or custodial positions. A management position also will be left unfilled, he said. Were looking at all positions, but, as far as prioritizing, were trying to make sure we keep as much of the direct care as possible," Thompson said. "If we can cut other amenities, other services, that wont affect the ability for us to provide the nursing care that they need each day, thats what were going to do first. Also, Thompson said he's looking at growing revenue rather than cutting expenses. One possibility is a restorative nursing program. The program, starting potentially next month or August, will include nursing interventions to help residents gain more independence, or strength, and prevent decline. If we can get some more people in restorative nursing, that will help us bring more revenue to the organization, Thompson said. Its providing more therapy, which is a billable service," he said. And therapy is a win-win. Its a revenue generator, and it helps people maintain their health and well-being. At a meeting in Bismarck last month with nursing home administrators and legislators, Rep. George Keiser, R-Bismarck, said all state agencies are "making adjustments." Were going to come into session and everybodys going to be in a difficult position," Keiser said. Everyone. The argument that, Well, we just want to be held harmless, is going to be a tough sell," he said. In recent years, lawmakers have supported the nursing industry by increasing funding for nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to remain competitive in the marketplace, but "that tide has turned right now," Keiser said. "Were working on it. The good news is were going to support your patient population. Ongoing monitoring Peterson, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, said the association will continue to monitor the quality of care within nursing homes as a result of the budget cuts. In addition, Peterson said she hopes funding for nursing homes will be restored next session; otherwise, facilities will become financially disabled. The association is requesting lawmakers restore funding by July 1, 2017, so facilities will only absorb seven months of cuts. "We're hoping that's when relief will come in," Peterson said. (Reach Blair Emerson at 701-250-8251 or Blair.Emerson@bismarcktribune.com) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A room full of nursing home directors from across the state met Tuesday at the Baptist Health Center in Bismarck to express their support for a bill that would increase veterans access to long-term care facilities. Sen. John Hoeven met with long-term care providers to discuss a bill he introduced that would eliminate paperwork and extensive reporting requirements that make it difficult to contract with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. In North Dakota, only 15 of the states 80 nursing-care facilities accept VA reimbursement. Hoevens bill, Veterans Access to Long Term Care and Health Services Act, which he sponsored with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., would allow more facilities and in-home service providers to accept VA reimbursement. This isnt just about getting VA reimbursement for nursing homes, it is also for getting VA reimbursement for in-home care so the veteran can also stay in their home and get long-term care services, Hoeven said Tuesday. Theres an additional set of reporting requirements for long-term care facilities that take VA reimbursement. The paperwork was tremendous, said, Kirk Greff, administrator of Sanford Health St. Vincents Continuing Care Center, who considered contracting with the VA two years ago. Greff was approached by a veterans family who asked if he could stay at the facility with the VA picking up the tab. So, Greff looked into what it would take to become a VA-contracted facility. He consulted other nursing homes who accepted VA reimbursement, and they told him it wasnt worth it for just one person. It just wasnt feasible with all the red tape and regulations around it, Greff said. In the Bismarck-Mandan area, there are no nursing homes contracted with the VA, said Shelly Peterson, president of North Dakota Long Term Care Association. That means veterans may have to pay for long-term care services through federal and state programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, and through insurance or private funds. It would be like any other funding source, Peterson said. Currently, nursing homes in the state receive 7 percent of their funding through Medicare, 52 percent from Medicaid and private pay is 39 percent, she said. The VA and other sources is less than 1 percent. So yes, were excited at facilities wanting to contract, Peterson said. Rather than 15, well have 80. This will allow veterans to have more of a choice of where they will be cared for and open access for veterans to stay in their local communities, she said. Hoevens proposal passed through the Senate Veteran Affairs Committee in December. It was later added to a larger bill called the Veterans Choice Improvement Act, which addresses veterans access to health services in their local communities, in addition to nursing home reimbursement. What were doing is were empowering the VA to help veterans go directly to a local health care provider and be approved to get health services from their local clinic or hospital or whatever health care provider they have in the community, rather than having to go to the health center in Fargo, Hoeven said. If theyre up in Williston or somewhere where its a long trip, they can go into Mercy Hospital or get those health care services locally, he said. Hoeven said hell be meeting with the Fargo VA Health System on Friday to discuss the larger bill. (Reach Blair Emerson at 701-250-8251 or Blair.Emerson@bismarcktribune.com) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A 3-year-old got her wish granted Tuesday when Make-A-Wish North Dakota presented her with a Pomsky puppy. Jillian Nordsven wouldnt stop smiling when she was presented with a 4-month-old black-and-white puppy at PetSmart in Bismarck. Shes beautiful! said Jillian, who was diagnosed with bilateral retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer of the eye, in both eyes. She was technically born with cancer, said Mellissa Nordsven, a payroll manager at Sanford Health. We didnt notice until she was 2 months old. Jillians parents detected a reflection in her right eye whenever they would take her picture, almost like the reflection of a cats eye. Then her eye started to wander in. She was taken to a pediatrician, who sent her to a local ophthalmologist, who then sent her to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. where she received the cancer diagnosis. She can see in her left eye, but shes pretty much legally blind in her right eye, Mellissa Nordsven said. Jillian and her mother travel to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York for chemotherapy. Originally, Jillian received traditional IV chemotherapy, but, when she weighed enough, she started intra-arterial chemotherapy in New York, which is when doctors thread a catheter through an artery near the groin, through the heart and then straight into the eye, Mellissa Nordsven said. So that theyre just delivering chemo to the place they need to, as opposed to getting side effects everywhere else, she said. She had three rounds of that and she responded really well. In fact, Jillians retina in her right eye, which started to detach itself because of the tumor, has reattached itself during chemotherapy. There are still tumors in Jillians eyes, but theyre not active. Her left eye has been stable for two years and the right eye has been stable for just over a year. Now, Jillian and her mother go to New York every 12 weeks for checkups. The trips to New York have become less and less as Jillians condition has improved. Last summer, Mellissa Nordsven said she was encouraged by Jillians social worker in New York to apply to Make-A-Wish in North Dakota. Make-A-Wish grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical condition. Since 1985, Make-A-Wish North Dakota has granted more than 750 wishes to children across the state. Mellissa Nordsven said Jillians long-awaited wish was to have a puppy. Pretty frequently, when she would wake up from her treatment, she would be really groggy but she would lean over and ask for a puppy, she said, chuckling. And whenever we would see the Ronald McDonald service dogs that would come to the Ronald McDonald House, those were always her favorite. On Tuesday, Jillian and her parents adopted a Pomeranian and Husky mix puppy provided by Caliber Kennels, located in Kimball, Minn. Mellissa and Ben Nordsven, along with Jillian, picked up the pup at PetSmart after having pizza at Brunos Pizza. PetSmart also provided a shopping spree for Jillian to get all the things her new puppy needs, as well as obedience training, grooming services and a years worth of food. She loves animals so much, Mellissa Nordsven said. Having that pet thats special to her is something thats going to make her feel better. On Tuesday, Jillian was faced with the tough decision on what to name her new puppy, she was torn between Molly or Cupcake. She went with Molly. (Reach Blair Emerson at 701-250-8251 or Blair.Emerson@bismarcktribune.com) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A standing room-only crowd of 100 arrived in downtown Bismarck on Wednesday night to bid on 22 guns rifles, pistols, revolvers, shotguns and pellet guns. This was not a gun show or private auction: It was an event hosted by the Burleigh County Sheriffs Department, and it took place in Courtroom 301 a place where people more often lose their right to carry a gun. A new law requires the department to auction found, seized and forfeited guns to the public, unless they can be lawfully returned to their owners. So the department set up its first sale of crime guns and found firearms just upstairs from its offices. Deputies were not familiar with the stories behind individual guns, but it is conceivable that some were used in crimes committed by people tried and convicted in the same venue. Theres always a risk that we could sell a gun, and the gun could be misused, Maj. Kelly Leben said. But I think law-abiding citizens will do what is right. The sheriffs department conducted background checks on everyone who successfully bid on a gun. Crowd fills the courtroom Mostly men, many sporting camouflage, filled the benches and jury box, where defendants, victims, jurors and grieving families usually sit. They came for a variety of reasons: They wanted to support the department, score a bargain, add to a collection or pick up a practice gun for a child or grandchild. The guns were spread neatly on the lawyers tables where manila folders of legal documents typically lie. Instead of perusing evidence, people circled weapons and scrutinized them. Some were intact, while others missed backstraps or scopes. Many people had set price limits: One young man brought along $150 cash, which he hoped to spend on a handgun for self-defense. Most found out about the sale in the newspaper or on Facebook. New law, new system Before the new law, no uniform procedure existed for handling guns confiscated by law enforcement. The Burleigh County Sheriffs Department would destroy guns deemed inoperable or damaged and exchange the rest for weapons they needed from gun stores, Leben said. If a gun owner asked for his or her weapon back, the department would return it, but disposing of the guns was a low priority, he said. Rep. Karen Karls, R-Bismarck, introduced House Bill 1457 in February 2015, because she wanted to make sure that working weapons were not destroyed, she said in a recent interview. In her testimony before the Senate, she cited laws in Indiana and Georgia, which require law enforcement to return firearms to their owners after disposition of a case, if possible, and sell other guns at public auction. I was looking at other states and saw a way that we could have a systematic way of disposing weapons that are still useful and put them in the hands of people that like to hunt or have a personal defense weapon, she said in the interview. As before, the law states that if someone is convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving violence or intimidation, the gun used in the crime is forfeited to law enforcement. The court can decide whether the gun ought to be sold at auction, sold or traded to another law enforcement agency or dealer, retained for use or destroyed. What is new in the law is that if an owner is found innocent or if the gun was not used in a crime, law enforcement must try to find that person and return the gun. Operable guns that are not returned must be sold at live or online auctions at least once per year. All proceeds go to the countys general fund. The agency has some discretion: If a family requests that a gun used in a suicide be destroyed, for example, they can do that, Leben said. Leben said his department sorted through its evidence room and returned eight guns to their owners since the law passed. The department also was able to sell a few guns that would have otherwise been destroyed, because bidders were willing to buy guns that needed repair, which a dealer might not have purchased. Similar procedures are common in some parts of the country: Last month, a Tennessee sheriff hosted an online auction. An Indiana sheriff sold the seized guns at an estate auction house. Meanwhile, in some other states, law enforcement does the opposite: Guns are bought from the public, in order to keep them from being used in a crime. Bids pour in The bidding began at 6 p.m., when Lt. Jim Hulm sat in the judges chair and began to call out prices for a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk single action revolver. A deputy sat in the chair usually reserved for the clerk and reported the winning bidders on her cellphone. Four hundred? Four and a quarter? Four and a half? Hulm called out calmly, banging the judges gavel when the bidding relented. Conducting his first auction, Hulm egged on the bidders gently. We all know what these go for brand new, he chided the crowd of a Heckler and Koch semi-automatic pistol, which sold for $600. This is a little gem right here. A lot of you know that, he said of a Browning A-5 Magnum 20 Belgium shotgun. Bidders conferred softly among themselves and discretely waved green cards when they wanted to make an offer. The guns sold for $20 at the cheapest, up to $625 for the most expensive. Together, gun sales totaled $5,870, Leben said. After expenses, the auction netted $4,088 for the general fund, Leben said. Since the sheriffs department spent 58 hours planning the event and returning guns to their owners, they were allowed to subtract $1,782 from the total, he said. Good first pistol for the kids Jeff Japel, a financial adviser, brought his 8- and 10-year-old sons to the event. He said he was looking for a cheap deal. He had his eye on the pistols, either as concealed carry for his own safety or as a good first pistol for the kids. He said he wanted to teach them to target shoot at the gun range. Seated in the jury box, his sons swiveled eagerly in their chairs whenever he raised his placard. Japel did buy a gun an Iver Johnson model TP22 semi-automatic pistol for $130. He carried it out in a white, cardboard evidence box. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The 61-year-old man murdered in his low-income apartment in downtown Bismarck in April was a highly skilled engineer, who struggled with medical issues and alcoholism. Greg Comes was a Western-styled guy with a stoic philosophy, said John Metzger, a friend and former colleague. Have it all, lose it all, figure out what's next. "We used to joke about it," Metzger said. "But in the end, it wasn't much of a joke." Comes had a promising start to life. The oldest of three, he was president of his senior class in Belle Fourche, S.D. He studied at the South Dakota School of Mines and later got a master's degree in geotechnical civil engineering, according to a resume provided by his family. He held numerous jobs in Colorado, Virginia, Texas and Wyoming. In one role, he traveled the world Africa, South America managing radar systems that warned of potential rockfall in mines, Metzger said. In another, he did tunnel monitoring in South Korea for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "He was very good with people," Metzger said. "He was a problem solver." Greg Comes loved to ski and ride motorcycles, his sister-in-law Carolyn Comes said. He was always messing with computers and once owned an old Corvette. He was also devout and considered becoming a priest, according to Carolyn Comes. "He was a Christian for sure. I know he was," said Carolyn Comes, adding he was married twice, but never had kids. Family and friends pinpoint the start of Greg Comes' troubles differently. Carolyn Comes said he fell off a horse in the early 1990s. He passed out, and, when he woke up, he didn't know where he was. His mind was never quite as good after that. Metzger said Greg Comes developed knee problems from working in the field and did not take care of his health. Metzger also described an odd incident in which Greg Comes said he was shot in the shoulder when he lived in Dickinson. Carolyn Comes said she could never confirm the gunshot story. "He often had incidents that were difficult to believe," she said. But family agreed he struggled with drinking for some time. In 2007, Greg Comes was hospitalized for alcohol-related disease, Carolyn Comes said. He went to treatment in 2011, his sister, Marybeth Jaeger, said. "Even in the last 10 years, he was still getting jobs as an engineer," Jaeger said. "It became worse as he got older." Greg Comes moved to Dickinson about two years ago to work as an engineer in the oil industry, Carolyn Comes said. After he lost his job, a friend took him to the Ruth Meiers homeless shelter in Bismarck. He got on disability, because of deteriorating eyesight, and moved into the Patterson Place apartments. "He lived in a (nearly) million-dollar house in Colorado and ended up in a Section 8 apartment," Metzger said. Jaeger said she believed Greg Comes' life was improving when he died. "It sounded like he was getting back on his feet as best he could," Jaeger said. "At least he was out of the homeless shelter." Family said they think Greg Comes met Morris Pederson, who is charged with his murder, when he was homeless. They worry Greg Comes' generosity might have been his demise. "I could see him opening his door. I could see him befriending someone and letting him in," Jaeger said. Reach Caroline Grueskin at 701-250-8225 or at caroline.grueskin@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 The state is heavily reliant on oil revenues and needs to diversify its economy and get its fiscal house in order to ensure a prosperous future. That was the primary message North Dakota Republican Party candidates for the partys endorsement for governor told a near-capacity crowd at the Belle Mehus Auditorium Thursday night in Bismarck. It was the state GOPs first-ever state sponsored gubernatorial pre-convention debate. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, Fargo businessman Doug Burgum and Bismarck Rep. Rick Becker sparred at length on the states budget and tax structure, sharing differing visions on how to reform each and move the state forward. North Dakota has its first open governors race in 16 years after Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple announced last summer he wouldnt be running for another term. Discussion of the states $1.074 billion budget shortfall came early and dominated a large portion of the debate. Candidates were asked what they wouldve done differently if they were governor in 2015 when the state overshot on its budget forecast with oil prices already beginning to fall. I dont know that I would have done anything differently, Stenehjem said, adding that the current rainy day funds and processes for cutting budgets has been in place for decades and have worked. Last month general fund agencies were ordered to cut 4.05 percent from their budgets; the rest of the cuts came from rainy day funds and state general fund surplus dollars. Burgum attacked that method, saying a better budget forecast shouldve been crafted in advance of the 2015 session. He also took aim at largely using rainy day funds that took several years to build up. We can pat ourselves on the back for creating those rainy day funds, but theyre gone, Burgum said. Gone in an afternoon. Becker, touting his staunch fiscal conservative principles, said hed have submitted a far smaller budget to begin with. We wouldnt have found ourselves in the situation were in now, Becker said, adding that with a smaller budget I wont have to take out that red pen and line-item veto. When it came to taxes and the states reliance on oil revenue, the candidates all agreed the state is heavily reliant. How to fix that was where the candidates differed. What we need to do is improve our whole tax climate, Becker said. Becker said rather than provide a wide array of tax incentives the rates should be lower in order to benefit everyone and eschew picking winners and losers. Stenehjem said the problem with the reliance on oil revenue is the large impact it has on income and sales tax collections. He succinctly outlined a key platform plank his administration would have in solving the problem. Diversity, diversity and diversity, Stenehjem said. Stenehjem said ways to diversify the states economy is to push for value-added energy and agricultural products as well as grow the states unmanned aerial systems industry. Burgum said balancing the states budget in light of declining revenues will be an extreme challenge. This is not about belt-tightening, this is about reinvention, Burgum said. He later said everything should be on the table including review of the states oil taxes in order to remain competitive with other states and a global commodities market. One of the sharper exchanges Thursday came over the issue of abortion. Candidates were asked if they wouldve signed the multiple pieces of abortion legislation signed by Dalrymple in 2013, some of which have been litigated in court and defended by Stenehjems office since then. Becker said he was pro-life and that its the governments responsibility to protect human life. Stehehjem said hed have signed the legislation and is pro-life. He also recognizes exceptions for rape and incest. Burgum took a different tone, rejecting labeling sides and saying hed prefer to put the issue to a vote of the people. This is too important for any one person to vote on, Burgum said of signing abortion legislation. Stenehjem latched on to Burgums statement, saying the Legislature passes bills and its up to the governor to act. You have to make a decision, Stenehjem said. Candidates also had varied stances on potential marijuana ballot measures, one which would allow medical marijuana and another that would legalize marijuana in the state. I would vote yes, Becker said of the measures. Burgum said he was in favor of medical marijuana but not for recreational use. Stenehjem said hes spoken to attorney generals in other states where marijuana has been legalized and didnt see any positives, vowing to vote against it. North Dakota will not be healthier or safer, Stenehjem said. (Reach Nick Smith at 701-250-8255 or 701-223-8482 or at nick.smith@bismarcktribune.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Math and English lessons for North Dakota students will soon be based on a new set of standards written over the next year to replace Common Core, State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler announced Tuesday. Students will continue to take the Smarter Balanced standardized test in spring 2017 until the new standards are finished, she said during a press conference at the Capitol. The state will then look for an assessment aligned to the future standards. Baesler said she anticipates educators tasked with writing the new standards will wrap up their work in early 2017 so schools can begin implementing them that fall. We will create a set of standards by North Dakotans for North Dakotans, she said. These standards will set clear and high expectations for all students. North Dakota schools began implementing the Common Core standards six years ago. Critics push against Common Core Common Core marked the first effort to use the same education standards for grades K-12 in all states, a move which came under fire across the nation for exemplifying an overreach of the federal government. The majority of states adopted the standards, and North Dakotas participation has drawn criticism from some Republican lawmakers, parents and community members. A legislative effort failed last year to force North Dakota to sever ties with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, an organization of states that developed the standardized test students take on computers each spring to measure their ability to meet Common Core standards. Opponents then filed a lawsuit against the state for its membership in the consortium. Baesler on Tuesday acknowledged that the backlash flared up again last month at the state Republican convention in Fargo. She referenced the strong support for Common Core opponent Rep. Rick Becker, R-Bismarck, in his campaign for governor. Becker, however, did not secure the nomination at the convention. What that did was affirm this is a process that we need to begin at this point in time, that this is what our community, our state wants to do, she said. Becker welcomed Tuesdays news that North Dakota would write new standards to replace Common Core. I am glad they are making a move in the right direction, he said. Clearly, the control of the education system needs to be brought back to the state and to the schools, teachers and parents. He called the move a first step and said opponents voices are starting to be heard. Without their efforts, the state would not be rewriting its standards, he said. Baesler's challenger in her bid for re-election, Joe Chiang, has also criticized Common Core. The Bismarck Tribune made three attempts to seek a comment from him Tuesday afternoon but was unable to reach him. Education groups back review process Leaders of several education organizations spoke Tuesday in support of Baeslers effort to revise the standards. North Dakota has a standards review process that works well, said Russ Ziegler, assistant director for the North Dakota Council of Educational Leaders. For many years, we have asked our best teachers to come together and review standards for each subject we teach in a three- to five-year cycle, he said. Baesler said the new federal education law replacing No Child Left Behind regulations provides an opportune time to review the standards, which have been used in all North Dakota schools the past three years. Some schools chose to implement them earlier. Since then, teachers have identified instances in which certain standards dont pair well or should be moved to a different grade level, Baesler said. Nick Archuleta, president of the North Dakota United union for teachers and public employees, agreed with her assessment. Teachers want to fine-tune these standards and make sure they are relevant to the age group, he said. Developing new standards The Department of Public Instruction will seek applications from teachers and professors interested in sitting on committees to write the new standards. They will research other states standards, as well as the existing ones in North Dakota, Baesler said. The committees will meet for the first time in June. The department also will convene three review committees of elected leaders, business and industry leaders, and parents and other citizens to offer feedback on the educators work. Drafts of the standards will be available for public comment, Baesler said. This process will be thoughtful, deliberate and transparent, she said. Becker said its important to bring people onto the committees who have an appreciation of what North Dakota is looking for and will not merely tout the lines of out-of-state academics. I have full faith, if there is a true array of people on the committees who have that in mind, it will be a success, he said. Baesler said applications to sit on the committees will be available on DPIs website Friday. Searching for a test After the standards are written, the state next year will seek a test assessing students ability to meet them. Once we have these new standards, we will need a test that aligns to those standards, Baesler said. The state will request proposals from testing organizations, which must ensure the exam they offer is relevant to North Dakotas new standards, she said. In February, lawmakers on the interim Education Committee heard from the heads of two of those entities the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and the ACT Aspire, which offer different standardized tests used in various states. Baesler said Tuesday that North Dakotas options are not limited to those two groups. Students in grades 3-8 and 11 currently are taking the annual Smarter Balanced test for the second year in North Dakota. (Reach Amy R. Sisk at 701-250-8267 or amy.sisk@bismarcktribune.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. A school at a protest camp near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation has raised some unprecedented questions about home education in North Dakota. The school which started in early September has been functioning as a home-school setting for parents and their children, many who have traveled from other states to protest the Dakota Access oil pipeline in the past several months. Those running the school maintain that parents are aware of the option of sending their children to schools in Solen or Mandan school districts, which have indicated they have or will take additional students from the camps that fit in the districts' boundaries. But some parents have chosen an alternative education: home schooling. The camp's school, called the Defenders of Water School, is situated in a long tent lined with books and supplies. Students learn about subjects, such as math and reading, but also learn the Lakota language and Native American traditions and history. State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler recently raised concerns about the school, which has been operating without state approval. Last week, she formally sent the tribal council a letter stating the school must seek approval, and, in the meantime, requested that students enroll in an approved school nearby. Baesler said she has been in contact with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, starting around the time the school began and was aware that many students there were being home-schooled. We gave them options for children that were living at the camp," Baesler said earlier last week. Children at the camp could enroll in an approved school or, if parents wanted to home educate their child, they would have to follow North Dakota's home education law, she said. Baesler said the law is "very clear" in stating that parents may home school their children, but they must be the ones doing the teaching. Setting up a school and turning over the educational responsibilities to someone who happens to be also living at the camp and a parent is not allowable under our state law," she said. Two primary teachers at the camp's school said they are surprised by Baesler's comments and say they operate as a resource for parents who are home schooling their children. The kids that are here long term, their parents have done their home-school paperwork. We work with the families and function as a home-school resource center, said Teresa Dzieglewicz, a former certified teacher who has been working with the school resource program since it started in early September, when it became clear that the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camp was seguing into a semi-permanent situation for many families. About 25 to 30 kids, ages 7 to 13, get help with the basics and more. The parents choose how much time the kids spend with us. Its all up to the parents. Were here to support what they need to do for their home districts, but the verification and policing is not up to us," said another school leader, Blaze Starkey, who has a bachelors degree in language arts. Theresa Deckert, office administrator for the North Dakota Homeschool Association, said a parent wishing to home-school their child in North Dakota must fill out a document called a statement of intent and file it with the district in which they are residing, which, at the protest camp, means either Solen or Mandan. Mandan Superintendent Mike Bitz said he's been in contact with the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction since August after learning about the school at the protest camp. Here in Mandan is the home-school district for a lot of these kids," Bitz said, explaining anything north of Cannon Ball is his district. Solen Superintendent Justin Freyer said the southern protest camp is in his school district. He said he's been working with DPI and has taken around 14 students from the camp to Solen schools. Theyre in our district, and we just want to educate the kids," Freyer said. Neither Bitz nor Freyer said they've received statements of intent from parents at the camp. Bitz said he reached out to the tribe and those at the camp offering to bring in children, but communication has been limited. The frustrating part for us and when I say us I mean, DPI, Mandan, Solen we just want to work together, and we just want the kids to be in school," Bitz said. I just want to make sure these kids are getting an education. It can be public school and their school. They can do both." Baesler and Deckert said those who fill out home-schooling documentation must be the one who do the educating. Deckert said, in other states, it's different, which is why she thinks there may be some confusion. "Sometimes thats the problem when people come in from out-of-state; they assume it will be the same as their own state," Deckert said, noting Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem wrote a letter of opinion on this in 2007. Dan Beasley, a staff attorney with the Home School Legal Defense Association, a nationwide advocacy organization that assists parents looking to home school, says North Dakota's law isn't exactly precise about who must provide the education. Does the parent have to provide some education? Thats a separate question from does the parent have to provide all of the instruction?" said Beasley, adding he thinks the statute doesn't put any limitation on the parent utilizing other resources. To Beasley, who works with the organization handling legal contacts in 13 different states, including North Dakota, the situation with the school at the protest camp is unheard of. Its interesting," Beasley said. This could certainly be an educational opportunity for the children. -- Lauren Donovan contributed to this article. Reach Blair Emerson at 701-250-8251 or Blair.Emerson@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Dave Pearce normally wouldnt have had so many hay bales at Papas Pumpkin Patch in June, but 2011 had been a wet year and farmers didn't want the damp bales. So when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened the floodgates of the Garrison Dam spillway June 1, those 1,000 bales helped protect Pearces family home and those of his neighbors. Today, that hay is strewn across the fields at the pumpkin patch, composting and acting as fertilizer for the coming crops. The Becks, who grow pumpkins for the patch and other area retailers, lost almost 300 pine and apple trees as a result of the flooding. Theyre still cutting down trees that died, Maureen Beck said. It was a mess, she said. Their home sat in water for about three months. They thought it had been bermed properly, but the barrier didnt work and the home ended up with 3 to 5 inches of water, Beck said -- "enough to ruin the wallboard. But the structure was built in 1938 as a hunting cabin, and it was sturdy enough to withstand the damage. The family held its pumpkin patch event in Mandan as usual that year to keep it going. The communitys love for the annual event was the impetus. Pearce said they had heard stories from Dorothy Moses Elementary students saying their trip to the patch was among their best memories. The family thought the 2012 pumpkin crop would be bad, too, but it ended up being the best weve ever had, Beck said. In 2012, puddles from rain showers stuck around longer than usual, not draining into the soil right away, according to Pearce. Silt had settled on the property as waters receded and changed the soil drainage. And the year brought incredible yields. But the patch has lost a lot of its fruit and nut trees, including wild plums, choke cherries and crabapples. Pearce said the Bismarck/Burleigh Combined Communications Center likely knows his phone number by heart because he calls so often to inform them of controlled burns. This year, his Russian olives started to die off. The top branches of some of the cottonwoods have fallen, and a fungus is growing on some of the ash trees. Pearce knows theyll lose some of those, too, and has started planting new trees. And the pumpkin seeds are in the ground to continue the patchs nearly four-generation history for yet another year. I dont think we ever had intended to quit, Pearce said. Reach Jessica Holdman at 701-250-8261 or jessica.holdman@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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 trial lane reduction in downtown Bismarck is not backed by all drivers and merchants in its path. Main Avenue's four-lane road system was reconfigured June 26 to three lanes from Washington Street to Seventh Street. It consists of two through lanes and one left turn lane. City street officials and SRF Consulting are monitoring how well traffic operates through late September. "I haven't heard anything positive," said Orlyn Wanstrom, explaining his customers at Main Street Barbershop, 515 E. Main Ave., tell him they try to avoid downtown because of the congested traffic. The lane conversion was identified in a Bismarck Downtown SubArea Plan to make the stretch more walker-friendly and make it safer for pedestrians and motorists. "I say put it back the way it was. It's been tested long enough," said Wanstrom, who has run his shop full-time in that location for 20 years. "It's backing up traffic. It's so slow. When I step out, I see it backed up. It's not flowing. You've got one lane. Those drivers trying to get across the street are sitting. I've seen cars caught at the intersection. How do they come across Sixth?" The backup is worst around 4:30 to 6 p.m., he said. He prefers the four-lane road as it was before. Others are in agreement. "I use Ninth and Seventh north and south and Washington north and south to avoid it because it's crowded," said John Miller, a customer and beekeeper from Gackle. "It's alright when there's less traffic, but, at rush hour, it doesn't seem to work as well. It backs up for blocks," said George Kaiser, another barbershop customer, on break from the special legislative session. "It gets crowded." Wanstrom said he would like to see traffic counts from before and during the demonstration project. He suggests the city cut two feet off the sidewalk if it wants more parking. "I have yet to see the sidewalks full of people, he said. An informal survey was conducted by the Blarney Stone with about 100 customers responding July 19-24. Guests were asked to fill in if they liked or didn't like the road switch and allowed comment in a separate box. "It was about 50-50 with a little more against," said manager Ben Oleson. "The feedback against was the backup of the turn lane and the blocks being too short. They said, if you were heading south on Fourth Street onto Main and there was a red light, you couldn't turn onto Main because the line of cars was too long." "The ones that liked it said because of the slow traffic, it made it safer for pedestrians and parking," he said. The results of the survey will be submitted to the Bismarck Downtowners Association. Mark Berg, Bismarck's traffic engineer, said the city is gauging drivers' reactions by comments received through the city website and phone calls. He said the city will receive the responses through late September and present findings to the Bismarck City Commission in October. "We are just receiving comments online on our web page, reviewing crash data and doing traffic counts," he said. "Anybody can submit comments." In addition, SRF Consulting is studying the traffic numbers before and after the reconfiguration, according to Berg. Lisa Ternes, a manager at Seeds of Hope, has no issue with the change. "I'm alright with it. I think it's better for people parking. I think it's way safer for people getting out," she said. Cindy Dockter, of Mandan, a customer at Seeds of Hope, doesn't like the three-lane on Main Avenue. "It's confusing. All of these years, it's been like that and now it's different. You come and there's a bunch of cars and there's just one lane," she said. "Driving and parking is important downtown, but what's more important is creating an experience downtown," said John Severson, of Montana Furniture, 508 E. Main Ave. "It's too soon for me to recognize a noticeable difference." He said North Dakota is in its version of a recession with crude at $40 and it shows. "This downtown isn't busy like it was a year and half ago," he said. "I don't think you will be able to tell the difference until oil is back and the economy is back where it was a couple of years ago." (Reach LeAnn Eckroth at 701-250-8264 or leann.eckroth@bismarcktribune.com) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Members of a coalition seeking an increase in the states tobacco tax say their proposed increase would reduce smoking rates as well as state health care costs among other benefits. Thats the missing leg of the three-legged stool, Eric Johnson, a Grand Forks physician and head of the measures sponsoring committee, Raise It for Health North Dakota. Two-thirds of North Dakota voters in 2012 approved a ballot measure making public places smoke-free. In 2008, nearly 54 percent of voters approved the creation of a state tobacco prevention and control program. Other states that have raised the tax have seen decreases in smoking, according to Johnson, adding that the measure will help beef up the states tobacco prevention efforts. This is a tax nobody has to pay. Its a product that creates death, Johnson said. Kristie Wolff, with the American Lung Association in North Dakota, said the measure would increase the tobacco tax for cigarettes in North Dakota from 44 cents per pack to $2.20. Taxes on liquid nicotine products would be increased from 28 percent of the wholesale purchase price to 56 percent. The national average tax on a pack of cigarettes is $1.61. New tax revenues created through the measure, estimated at about $100 million per biennium, would be split between health-related programs in the states Community Health Trust Fund as well as a newly created Veterans Tobacco Tax Trust Fund. Were confident that North Dakota voters will respond positively yet again, Wolff said. Only Georgia, Missouri and Virginia have lower tobacco taxes than North Dakota. The tobacco tax in North Dakota hasnt been raised since 1993. Being a statutory initiative, 13,452 legitimate signatures will be required at least 120 days before the election. The deadline for turning in signatures for the Nov. 8 election is July 11. Several unsuccessful attempts have been legislatively in the year since the last tax increase. Wolff said the increase would bring North Dakota in line with the surrounding states in the tax per pack of cigarettes. The tax in Minnesota is $3 per pack, in Montana its $1.70 and in South Dakota its $1.53. We based it on polling weve done, Wolff told reporters when asked how the group came to the $1.76 per pack increase being proposed. According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the tax increase could result in a 20 percent drop in youth smoking, preventing about 5,800 youths from becoming adult smokers, Johnson said. North Dakota Retail Association president Mike Rud said the group he leads will need to review the measure language and watch to see if it gets the necessary signatures for a vote. The group opposed both 2015 bills. Rud said on first glance the proposed increase is substantial, adding that taxing cigarettes would negatively impact lower-income smokers. Taxing a group that can least afford it? Its a bit troublesome to us, said Rud, clarifying that tobacco products arent illegal and retailers sell them to meet demand among legal buyers. Theres got to be a limit to how involved we get with these things, Rud said. For more information on ballot petitions being circulated, visit sos.nd.gov. Reach Nick Smith at 701-250-8255 or 701-223-8482 or at nick.smith@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Additional mineral acre tracts have been revealed to have been assigned to the wrong trust back in 1943, according to State Land Commissioner Lance Gaebe. Auditors in a recent review found multiple mineral tracts were assigned to the Youth Correctional Center trust in Mandan rather than to the Ellendale trust. After further investigation, the inflated figure for the YCC trust was determined to be $6.1 million rather than $2.8 million. Roughly two-thirds of the recommendations in a performance audit of the North Dakota Department of Trust Lands have been addressed or are in the process of being dealt with, the departments head revealed this week. Gaebe told the five-member North Dakota Board of University and School Lands on Wednesday that the department reviewed tracts that have been leased for oil and gas exploration or have been producing. Of the 121 active tracts that have been critically examined thus far, one third were incorrectly assigned to the Youth Correctional Center trust. There are approximately 450 tracts that are identified in the database as being owned by the YCC, which all will ultimately be reviewed, Gaebe said in a memo to the board. The department has reassigned the tracts to the proper trust allocation within its database and adjusted the paper records to document the correction. In addition, accounting adjustments have been made transferring $6.1 million from the YCC Trust to the Ellendale Trust, Gaebe said. The fix for what was paid out will require legislative action during next years session, Gaebe said. His office requested and received direction Wednesday from the Land Board to put forward legislation to correct the past errors. Distributions to the trusts will continue for the current biennium to avoid any disruption to trust beneficiaries. Gaebe also asked for and received a one-time exception from the Land Boards distribution calculation policy. He said this will allow the department to use corrected fund balances for both trusts for the past four years, as determined by staff, to determine distributions for the 2017-19 biennium. The most confusing part was explaining the process, Gaebe said of Wednesdays meeting. Gaebe said the department has also developed a database from which to track the progress made on recommendations in the audit. At the April board meeting, Gov. Jack Dalrymple directed Gaebe to have the recommended changes made and to keep the board updated. In documents provided to the board, a total of 35 items in the performance audit were listed as being completed, with another 34 items in the process of being addressed and the final 34 were pending action. They have developed an extensive plan to address the audit. Theyre definitely moving forward on a plan of action, Jeff Zent, a spokesman for Dalrymple, said. (Reach Nick Smith at 701-250-8255 or 701-223-8482 or at nick.smith@bismarcktribune.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Opponents of the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline project took to the streets Thursday evening for a peaceful protest in solidarity against a project they say could cause severe harm to Missouri River drinking water for tribal members and others. Even though the oil companies might have the money, they cant subdue the message, Cody Hall of Eagle Butte, S.D., spokesman for the Red Warrior Camp, said. This is our stand. We all depend on water. More than 200 protesters initially lined both sides of East Boulevard Avenue while about 60 members of state and local law enforcement looked on at the south entrance of the state Capitol. A city permit for 4 to 6 p.m. was granted for the protest. East Boulevard Avenue was soon shut down between Fourth Street North and Seventh Street North to traffic, allowing participants to chant, dance and drum in the intersection in front of the Capitol. We will win this fight. We have to take a vigorous stance to fight for whats right, Hall said. Holding signs with phrases including No Dakota Access Pipeline and Rezpect our Water, participants chanted, cheered and were in high spirits. We cant drink oil. Keep it in the soil was a popular chant among the crowd. As the protest wound down, participants invited members of law enforcement to join in the dancing, which a few obliged in doing briefly. Afterward, protesters formed a line and walked the police line at the Capitol entrance, shaking hands and joking with officers. Thursdays protest was an extension of the movement thats sprung up off of Highway 1806 near the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. From 1,500 to 2,000 protesters are camping near a part of the project site in Morton County. At the same time as the protest by the Capitol, about 20 people were at the now-closed work site along the Cannonball River, where protests have been staged over the past week. As no law enforcement or pipeline workers were there, the protesters walked around both sides of the barricade and up the path towards the construction site. Construction workers recently began ground work near where a section of the pipeline will go and a portion is planned to be bored under the Missouri River and run less than a mile from the tribes reservation boundary. This week, work temporarily ceased at the site. Oral arguments in a lawsuit filed by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers last month over the permits issued for the project are set for Wednesday in U.S. district court in Washington, D.C. Protesters' concerns include potential contamination of the Missouri River if the pipeline were to rupture as well as the disturbance of cultural sites along the route. Dakota Access LLC, a partner of Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners, countered the Standing Rock lawsuit earlier this week by filing a lawsuit against several protesters, alleging threats to the safety of construction workers and law enforcement. At least 28 arrests had been made during the protests near the project site for disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. Dallas Goldtooth, a member of the Lower Sioux Dakota Nation in Minnesota and of the Indigenous Environmental Network, said Thursdays effort helps put the issue in the spotlight. He said putting it closer to the public in an urban setting also builds momentum. It definitely helps to engage and bring this discussion into public spaces. Folks are committed for the long run, Goldtooth said. Doris Anderson, who lives along East Boulevard Avenue a few doors down from the intersection, said shes neutral on the project but said she understood opponents concerns. I think its been pretty calm. Respectful and calm, Anderson said as she looked on from her front lawn. And theyve got a lot to say. Anderson suggested that, if the company altered the design of the project slightly, it might alleviate concerns by opponents. She added shed never seen a large protest in person before. The 1,172-mile, 30-inch diameter pipeline when finished would originate in western North Dakota near Stanley and end near Patoka, Ill. Dakota Access began work on the nearly $3.8 billion project this spring following permit approval by state and federal officials. It would transport up to 450,000 barrels per day of Bakken crude when finished this year with a future capacity of 570,000 barrels per day. Vicki Granado, a spokeswoman for Energy Transfer Partners, said in a statement the construction timeline remains unchanged. We are constructing this pipeline in accordance with applicable laws, and the local, state and federal permits and approvals we have received. This is an important energy infrastructure project that benefits all Americans and our national economy," she said. Additional reporting by Caroline Grueskin. Reach Nick Smith at 701-250-8255 or 701-223-8482 or at nick.smith@bismarcktribune.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. aluxum/iStock(NEW YORK) -- A New Jersey man who threatened to shoot everyone at a pro-Israel rally and said he wanted to bomb Trump Tower, was arrested Wednesday on charges of trying to provide support to Hamas. Jonathan Xie, 20, of Basking Ridge, allegedly had social media accounts loaded with terror propaganda, according to the FBI. The agency said he had also declared support for Syrian leader Bashar al Assad, former Iraq leader Saddam Hussein and North Korea. In April, Xie allegedly appeared in an Instagram Live video in which he said he was against Zionism and the neo-liberal establishment. In the same video he displayed a Hamas flag, retrieved a handgun and stated Im gonna go to the [expletive] pro-Israel march and Im going to shoot everybody. In another Instagram post quoted in court documents, Xie said, I want to shoot the pro-Israel demonstratorsyou can get a gun and shoot your way through or use a vehicle and ram peopleall you need is a gun or a vehicle to go on a rampage. FBI surveillance observed Xie outside of the Trump Tower building in New York City around April 20 of this year. Shortly thereafter, Xie posted two photos to his Instagram account, according to Instagram records. One photo had the words I want to bomb Trump Tower" imposed over the building image, and the other photo had the words [S]hould I bomb Trump Tower, a Yes/No poll, and an emoji of a bomb imposed over an image of the Trump Tower building. Xie subsequently posted on Instagram, Okay, so I went to NYC today and passed by Trump Tower and then I started laughing hysterically...I forgot to visit the Israeli embassy in NYC...i want to bomb this place along with trump tower. He was arrested without incident on Wednesday morning, and is due to make an initial appearance in federal court in Newark in the afternoon. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Two pipeline projects were approved by state regulators Wednesday, continuing a steady pace of planning and infrastructure development in western North Dakota by companies during the current downturn in oil activity. The first project approved by the North Dakota Public Service Commission was proposed by Houston-based Oasis Midstream Services LLC. The company plans to build a 19-mile, 10.75-inch diameter crude oil pipeline in McKenzie County. An 18.3-mile mainline would begin at the Wild Basin Gas Processing and Crude Handling Facility and would end at the Tesoro Johnsons Corner Station about 2.8 miles east of the area known as Johnsons Corner. From there, a .9-mile lateral line would transport crude from the mainline to the proposed Dakota Access Pipelines Johnsons Corner Terminal. This was a pretty straightforward pipeline project, Commission Chairwoman Julie Fedorchak said. The pipeline would have a maximum capacity of 75,000 barrels per day of crude oil. The company also plans to build three above-ground storage tanks at the Wild Basin facility with a maximum storage capacity of 200,000 barrels. The estimated cost of the project is $13 million, with construction expected to begin next month and take four months. A second project approved Wednesday was proposed by Tulsa, Okla.-based Oneok Pipeline LLC, a subsidiary of Oneok Partners LP. Oneok plans to build a 38-mile, 8-inch natural gas liquids in Dunn and McKenzie counties. The project would begin at the Oneok Bear Creek Plant in Dunn County, then go northwest to a pipeline interconnect with the companys existing Targa Pipeline east of U.S. Highway 85 in McKenzie County. Fourteen thousand barrels per day of NGLs will be transported through this line to another line and out of state, Fedorchak said. Were really pleased to be seeing these ongoing infrastructure projects. Construction, expected to cost $45 million, is tentatively set to begin this spring and be done by the end of August. Commissioner Randy Christmann said the continued work to build out mature infrastructure while oil prices and activity are down is a positive sign. Theyre here for the long haul, Christmann said. (Reach Nick Smith at 701-250-8255 or 701-223-8482 or at nick.smith@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Sister Jobita Thachuthara George is an unlikely barista. A year ago, she moved to Mandan from southern India to work with the Spirit of Life Church as a Carmelite sister. Today, she lives out her vocation by serving espressos at the Jocutla coffee truck, a project of the church's Mother Teresa Ministry. "Come taste and see the goodness of the Lord," she is known to cry out to the uncaffeinated guests. Dressed in her habit, the sister dispenses coffee and the word of God. "When they see me as a sister, they share their happiness and sadness," she said. The truck serves gourmet, organic coffee drinks from a distributor in Mexico. Profits from the 2-month-old business support the food pantry and homeless outreach efforts of the church. "It's a little more ambitious than just asking for help," Monsignor Chad Gion said. "We want to run this like a business. The charity side is what goes on in the church." The truck got its start about a year ago when Cheryl Hansen, the business manager at Spirit of Life, met Mayela Assad, a young coffee producer from Mexico. Assad had come to Mandan to escape violence at home, and a mutual friend introduced them. Assad wanted to bring her coffee to America, and Hansen saw an opportunity for the church. At first, they had trouble understanding each other. Assad spoke little English; Hansen spoke no Spanish. Each is learning, though they still use a translator for business discussions. "It just sort of evolved," Hansen said. The coffee is grown along the Gulf of Mexico in the Veracruz region; all of the beans are grown organically and hand-picked. Assad recently won top honors for her brews at a competition in Europe. Assad is temporarily back in Mexico; but while she was in the United States, she trained the monsignor and the sister on how to make the coffee just right. "There is definitely a correct way to do it and a lot of incorrect ways to do it," Gion laughed as he demonstrated the proper way to press espresso. Assad described the response to her product in Mandan as "fabulous." Many people have quickly become regular customers. In October, the church will open a year-round operation at the new strip mall in Lincoln. Employees and volunteers will serve coffee and food at the new location. There will be seating for at least 50 people and a room for meetings and events. Lance Hagen, the mall's developer, said it will be a good fit for Lincoln, which lacks a coffee shop or deli. "We need something like that," Hagen said. After expenses, all of the profits will support the Mother Teresa Outreach program of the church, Hansen said. These include a food pantry, a daily hot meal, and rental assistance for the homeless or needy. Profits will also go toward the transitional housing unit the church is opening at the old junior-high school in Mandan. Hansen said the coffee truck has already made about $5,000. Hansen said she wants to use the coffee shop as a place for job training of people who receive help from the ministry. "The whole process is driven by mission," she said. "It gives us even more incentive, since the outcomes we generate can go on to help so many more people." Reach Caroline Grueskin at 701-250-8225 or at caroline.grueskin@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A former musher living in Bismarck will highlight his dog run that recreated the historic 1925 serum run from Nenana to Nome, Alaska, which saved a village from an outbreak of diptheria. Jim Ryder, 65, who will give his presentation at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Bismarck Public Library, speaks about the physical, emotional and mental challenges it took to complete the journey. He will show mushing gear and vivid pictures of conditions and villages he came upon for the trip. Between mid-February to late March of 2011, Ryder, then 60, used a team of 10 Greenland Huskies for the journey that covered more than 670 miles. Instead of attempting to complete the trek in 4.5 days as done 91 years ago with a relay of 20 dog sled teams, Ryder finished it in six weeks with one team, going through 13 villages and much isolation. My mission was to survive and get there, said Ryder, who described the trek as a spiritual journey as well as an opportunity to prove to himself that he had the mental and physical endurance to complete the run. Now, I know what they went through. He learned living in the present was important. Know yourself and dont push your dogs beyond what they can do, said Ryder, who calculated his dogs would be able to run 18 to 28 miles per day. He overestimated the amount of food he needed. If I got stuck out there, I wanted to make it to spring rice, noodles, fish, meat, vegetables, said Ryder, who dropped four pants sizes during the journey. For the 1925 run, updates were given around the country by telegraph. They went all out for their run, whatever the weather was. There mission was one of saving lives, disregarding their own safety, he said. Ryder faced a few environmental challenges. He met with severe weather and temperatures of 43 below and colder. The Japan tsunami of 2011 rippled through the ice he crossed, causing slushy conditions for the dogs. In the snowstorm, I couldnt see the trail. I couldnt see the markers. You got to know when to hunker down, when to stop and not sweat and overwork yourself, said Ryder, who stopped when he could no longer find the trail. Ryder, who acknowledged he was the recipient of stellar hospitality from people whenever he stopped at a village, said there are three ways to produce heat in the cold conditions: build a fire, eat food and walk. He stayed in a tent two-thirds of the time. At one point, Ryder went four days without seeing a human being. Food consisted of one-pot meals prepared on a two-burner Coleman stove, lunch was nuts and candy bars and breakfast was a hot drink and hot meal. He encountered wolves, a fox and a grizzly bear and carefully commanded his team away when there was danger. Previously a Wisconsin resident, Ryder moved to North Dakota when employment opportunities opened because of the oil boom. In north Wisconsin, he conducted dog sled tours on Lake Superior while running a five-room motel. His fascination with sled dogs started early. When I was a little kid, I saw a dog team in our city go by in a parade .... Since then, I read anything on the Arctic I could get my hands on, Ryder said. Those attending the presentation will learn what preparations are necessary to take on such a venture. Success depends upon a plan B, he said. I had all of my food and gear with me except dog food. I only had enough dog food to get from one village to the next. At one point, I was in a storm and cut the dog food in half, said Ryder, reporting that a local Eskimo gave him frozen fish for the dogs to gnaw until he could reach the next village. Reach LeAnn Eckroth at 701-250-8264 or leann.eckroth@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Maryann Delzers classroom is a bit unconventional. The middle school teachers room is filled with funky-looking blocks kids can sit on, wobble stools, rockers and yoga mats. She also has a basket of fidgets in the classroom, featuring various textured toys and stress balls. Delzers balanced learning classroom is the first of its kind at the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Bismarck, a 16-bed psychiatric residential treatment facility for youth with severe mental health issues. Residents typically have four to five mental health diagnoses at a time, many times stemming from trauma, abuse or neglect. Theres a day school program for boys and girls, ages 12 to 17, staying at the facility, which is similar to a private school. Five instructors teach in classrooms located conveniently below the dorm rooms. The school also is open to those living in the surrounding community. Currently, there are 20 students at the school eight who live off-campus. Learning can sometimes be difficult for these students, who may be anxiety-ridden and befuddled by course teachings. Jim Upgren, the schools principal, said many of the students admitted to the program may have been already falling behind because they werent going to school. In an effort to accommodate students needs and help them learn better, Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch incorporated Delzers balanced learning classroom this school year. The room is designed to help students choose their preferred method of learning, whether that means lying on the floor or sitting on a squishy block. Last period one of the kids wanted to lay on the floor and work, so I have (yoga) mats. I like to use the mats, Delzer said, adding shell often do yoga sometimes for physical education, incorporating deep breathing exercises for stress relief. It is important for these kids to relax because if their brain isnt relaxed then theyre not going to be learning, she said. Each students method of learning is different, and its not a one-size-fits-all kind of thing, Delzer said. The school even has a foot pedaler that also gets passed around the classrooms for the kids who like to keep their feet moving. There also are wobble stools for students to teeter on. Delzer said shes found the tools or alternative furniture in the balanced learning classroom to be helpful in reducing negative behaviors and helping students focus and relax. The kids are able to focus longer more, and theyre just more successful in the classroom because they can stay in the class, she said. Both Delzer and Upgren said theyve had high success with the balanced learning classroom so far and are hoping to expand it to more rooms. Probably not all at once, but well start adding one or two classrooms each year, Upgren said. Increased classroom time Upgren said the idea to bring a balanced learning classroom to Bismarck came from the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch in Minot. Tina DeGree, principal of the Minot campus, said the school has incorporated balanced learning tools into their classrooms for about three years. It started in the schools elementary classrooms, but later got moved into the high school rooms as well. A balanced learning classroom looks like a traditional high school classroom, with different learning zones that incorporate tall tables and chairs, rocking chairs, and wobble stools. At first we thought, Oh my goodness the kids are just going to sit there and spin, and they dont, DeGree said. Kids really use it to help themselves. The classrooms are important for the students who may be dealing with sensory issues, she said. The small ability for students to be able to move around room has been huge, she said, adding students are staying longer in the classrooms and focusing better. If we can increase students time in the classroom by five or even 10 percent, thats a lot of learning, DeGree said. It is important for these kids to relax because if their brain isnt relaxed then theyre not going to be learning. Maryann Delzer, a teacher at Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch residential center in Bismarck (Reach Blair Emerson at 701-250-8251 or Blair.Emerson@bismarcktribune.com) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Harry Renschler, 92, Bismarck, went joyfully to meet his Lord and Savior Jesus on May 4, 2019. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 28, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 615 E. Turnpike Ave., Bismarck, with Pastor Jonathan Walla officiating. Burial will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Family will be greeting visitors one hour prior to the service at the church. Harry was born in Emmons County on March 12, 1927, to Edward and Pauline (Maier) Renschler. He lived and was educated in Linton. Growing up along the Missouri River provided great enjoyment for Harry and his siblings and he developed a passion for hunting, which he enjoyed throughout his life. In 1945, on his 18th birthday, he was drafted into the U.S. Army to serve in WWII. He served two years in the Army with half of that time being spent in Germany. After discharge in 1946, he joined the National Guard and was federalized in 1950 at the age of 23. He was sent to Incheon, South Korea, and placed into battle as a forward observer. He spent nearly two years in the Korean War before being honorably discharged in 1952 as a Sergeant First Class. Harry then returned to North Dakota and completed his education at North Dakota State College of Science in the electrical program, graduating in 1954. He traveled to Seattle and was employed by Puget Sound Engineering. The summer of 1955 brought Harry back to North Dakota for a short visit, or so he thought. That is when he met his future bride, Irene Rath, of Bismarck. Harry and Irene were married on Nov. 16, 1956, in Bismarck. Harry then began working for Montana Dakota Utilities. He continued there until 1964 when he began working for Western Area Power Administration until his retirement in 1991. Harry was active in several organizations throughout his lifetime, including the VFW, where he was Commander of Post 1326 from 1996 to 1997. In 2009, Harry was delighted to be part of the Roughrider Honor Flight to Washington. It was a wonderful experience for him, of which he had fond memories. Harry and Irene were blessed with two daughters and three granddaughters. Family and faith were his first priority and brought him great joy. Together they enjoyed many trips with and to visit family and friends. Harry enjoyed being active in church activities and held various positions in his congregation throughout the years. But his greatest joy was worshiping his Lord and studying The Word. Harry is survived by his wife of 62 years, Irene, Bismarck; his daughters and son-in-law, Darcy and Scott Miller, Sartell, Minn., Korrie Slayter, Bartlett, Ill.; three granddaughters, Megan Miller, Phoenix, Ariz., Laura Miller and fiance, Anthony Duhn, and Claire Slayter, all of Minneapolis, Minn.; and one sister, Aileen Bradsher, McCook, Neb. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Lester, James and Arlo; and one sister, Lucille Fettig. Memorials are preferred to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Disabled American Veterans or Bethel Lutheran Church. Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Harry and sign the online guest book (Eastgate/Parkway Funeral Service, Bismarck) In 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was hanging on to the Missouri River like an experienced horseman reining in a wild stallion. Through the spring and a long wet summer, the corps used every mechanism and feature it had to prevent the Missouri River from causing the most severe flood in modern history. Garrison Dam and its upstream Montana sister, Fort Peck Dam, were built decades ago to control flooding on the longest river in the country. If nothing else, the U.S. taxpayers had the chance to see if they were getting their moneys worth. The dam reservoirs filled to the brim with heavy mountain snowmelt and spring rain, but they held. Emergency spillway gates were opened for the first time for flood control, and they worked exactly as envisioned. The river still ran too fast and too high to prevent downstream erosion and flooding; but without the dams, experts say, the situation could have become catastrophic rather than critical. The dams allowed the corps to rein in the Missouri River flow to a peak flow of 150,000 cubic feet per second; unchecked, the river would have galloped toward Bismarck at the rate of 260,000 cfs, about 10 times the flow of a normal high-release rate. Jody Farhat, chief of the corps Missouri Basin division, said at that rate the flood stage would have reached 24.2 feet at Bismarck, rather than 19.2 feet. With another 5 feet of water at that rate of flow, it's hard to know where and how emergency dikes and levees might have failed. It was really something to experience, according to Farhat. It was just amazing to see the spillway, built so many years ago. We opened it in a crisis, and it operated as it was designed. Even as the corps worked with state and local officials to help understand and mitigate the high water heading south, it had its hands full at the dam works. Turned out, people were absolutely fascinated by the historic use of the spillway, normally a dry concrete expanse with 28 massive gates out of sight beneath the causeway. Thousands gathered to watch June 1 as the gates started creaking upward and water roared down the structure, out into a spillway pond, through a 2-mile pilot channel and into the Missouri River. Todd Lindquist, Garrison Dam's project manager, remembers that time as a series of 18-hour days, coordinating emergency levee works in Bismarck-Mandan with one hand and managing emergency dam operations with the other. I do remember telling my wife there had to be easier ways to make a living. It was very stressful, said Lindquist, pointing out that Garrison Dam also neared capacity in 1997, so he had no doubt the embankment would hold. As prepared as he and the staff tried to be, he said they were caught off-guard by the sheer number of onlookers who came to observe the historic flood release. To control the flood of people arriving at the dam from all corners of the region and the state, the corps contracted with the McLean County Sheriffs Department to set up parking and crosswalks. The corps closed all of its downstream camping and boat ramp facilities during the release, partly because there was no way of knowing where the water would go. Turned out, the pilot channel was too narrow and water backed up into the catchment pond and pushed west, damaging the popular day-use recreation facilities. The force of the water blasted the narrow channel into the much wider opening it is today. Lindquist said money intended to repair the spillway pond and swimming beach had to be diverted to the spillway gates, which held strong but got beaten up in the process. Work on the spillway gates continues. When it's done next year, it will have taken every summer construction season since the flood. The swimming beach is the feature that we regret losing the most. We hope to restore that day use at some point, he said. Farhat said the main lesson learned from the event was that the corps needs to have a better handle on the amount of snowpack in the plains, not just in the mountains, as well as the soil moisture level prior to the freeze. The state was collecting that information that we were not aware of. We now have much better systems in place, and are coordinating more on runoff forecasts, she said. The corps spent $20 million on temporary levees during the flood event. Since then, the corps has spent $580 million on repairs to the dams and dam works. The Missouri River wasnt the only one in trouble in 2011. Every river basin in North Dakota was impacted, and 21 peak records were set. Its estimated the public cost for the 2011 flood fight and mitigation exceeded $1.4 billion, according to a Department of Emergency Services report from November that year. Lindquist said it was difficult being in the position of opening the spillway gates when everyone knew the heartache that water would cause downstream; but there was no easy compromise between creating a flow of faster, higher water that would last a short time, and allowing a slower, lower level of water that would last longer. I hope we never have to go through that again, he said. (Reach Lauren Donovan at 701-220-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Pierce County Commission shut down any opportunity to drill an exploratory borehole near Rugby that would allow researchers to probe any potential for nuclear waste disposal. On Tuesday, the commission unanimously voted to tell the Energy and Environmental Research Center thanks but no thanks for the project, which the EERC wanted to conduct on state-owned land to help the federal Department of Energy determine whether crystalline rock 3 miles deep could be used for storing spent nuclear fuels. We want them to know were not interested in this project, said commission chairman Dave Migler, adding the county did not have a drilling application from EERC and wanted to pre-empt any attempt to submit one. About 300 people attended a public hearing in Rugby Feb. 16, and it was clear from comments made that there was very little support for the project, he said. We have no regrets at all, Migler said of the countys position. That leaves the EERC with a partnership in the $35 million federal project and nowhere yet to drill. Associate research director John Harju said the countys action is consistent with the public meeting and not unexpected. A lot of people couldnt believe that it was about science and technology. I know it is, but I fully respect their self-determination, said Harju, adding that the EERC, the DOE and project lead Battelle Memorial Institute will keep talking and figure out whats next. Migler said people in the county understand the research aspect of the project, but remain worried that nuclear disposal could happen in the future, despite reassurances from EERC, DOE and Battelle to the contrary. It didnt leave our mind that it sure could happen, maybe not in my lifetime, but in the life of my grandchildren and great-grandchild. We just dont want it, Migler said. Harju said the partners will keep looking for options. Its too soon to say whether we will or will not look in North Dakota. Its not about the location, but the similar conditions of crystalline rock, which exists in much of the United States and much of the world, Harju said. The DOE wants to study at the rock to determine if it is stable and sequestered enough for long-term storage of spent nuclear waste capsules. (Reach Lauren Donovan at 701-220-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BURT Trish Schneider carries the weight of 150 cows on her young shoulders and they feel mighty heavy in a year of poor hay. Schneider, 25, is the sole operator of a cow-calf operation on family land southwest of Burt, a fading but picturesque hamlet in eastern Hettinger County. Shes strong, cheerful and hardworking, but none of those worthy attributes can scrape this years hay into bigger piles or make her animals less hungry when winter rolls around. Like many livestock producers, shes looking for hay ground and finding some on nearby Conservation Reserve Program acres that are set aside from crop production for erosion control and wildlife habitat. Its an odd crop out west this year: Grains are rolling in fairly strong, the corn is standing lush and tall, but the hay grasses and alfalfa were heavily damaged in a dry spring. Hettinger County has the second-most CRP acreage of all 53 counties in North Dakota and a strong number of landowners enrolled in the program are opening it up for hay. Margie Herner, director of the county Farm Service Agency, said her office has released 260 contracts for haying amounting to about 50,000 acres, close to half of all enrolled acres. She estimates about half the hay is going to livestock producers from out of the area Belfield and beyond where the hay crops are struggling, or to local producers, such as Schneider. Theres a lot of pressure for hay and a lot of contracts that need management anyway, Herner said. In Schneiders case, a nearby neighbor had some CRP that was available under his contract conditions and gave her a call. The set-aside land has to be managed with some disking or harrowing every five to six years, or owners can mow it for hay every three years. She was more than glad to take him up on the offer. Im trying to make as much hay as I can, said Schneider, who is out baling until after midnight, a one-woman fencing, corral-building, feeding and hay-making machine getting a helping hand up from friends and family. If it werent for them, Id be in trouble. Ill be looking for more. Im really hoping to get 1,200 bales, she said as she did the math in her head and hopes her carryover hay and the hay acreage she can cut here and there and on her own place will add up to enough. If not, shell sell cows this fall. Good deal for all On the other side of the equation are landowners such as Ben and Nadra Auch, of rural Mott, who own a couple of quarters in Bowman County. They were due to manage their CRP with hay or disking and were happy to find a livestock producer in Bowman County willing to cut hay on their ground. It was a good coincidence since it saved the Auchs the time and the expense of doing the management themselves. The Auchs arent charging the producer anything, though its customary for the landowner to charge the 25 percent deduct he gets in his annual CRP payment for taking the hay off. The contracts normally pay from $38 to $40 an acre, so the hay-taking cuts that payment back by about $10 an acre. It would have been time out of our pocket, and they are really short of hay down there, Auch said. Bowman and Slope counties were recently released for emergency CRP haying, which exempts the 25 percent deduction if landowners provide the hay to an in-county livestock producer. Auch said they missed that opportunity by a few weeks. Our deal was in place before the emergency declaration come out. Were just giving him the hay. The qualitys not bad, but then its so dry down there in Bowman County, she said. Dry hay, fire threat Jim Honeyman, a livestock producer on the Enchanted Highway country north of Regent, said other counties in the district are also releasing sizable numbers of hay contracts this year. Its higher than normal because its not normally this dry. On my own hay acres, the yield is down about 50 percent. Ranchers are looking for anything they can get, said Honeyman, the district director for the Farm Service Agency, overseeing 13 counties in the southwest region. He also cuts on neighbors set-aside acres and can count on three to four bales an acre, normally. This year, itll be two to an acre, fair to poor, he said. Some landowners worry about releasing CRP for hay when its so dry because of the fire danger, according to Honeyman. Back at the Farm Service office in Mott, Herner digs out her cell phone, where she captured pictures of a hay cutter engulfed in flames on the familys CRP. A Belfield rancher was cutting hay northeast of Mott with a John Deere demo model and sparked a flame in the dry grass. The machine was a total loss and about 14 acres burned to a black crisp. The operator was fine, but the Aug. 5 incident does underscore the need for hay-makers to equip themselves with fire extinguishers. Herner said rain that came through Hettinger County Tuesday night will help with the fire danger and could spark some additional interest in CRP hay, which could improve with this late-season shot of moisture. A few could still straggle in, but its getting late and it is so dry, she said. Wildlife prime goal The federally managed conservation program has a lot of rules and one of those is that haying cant start until Aug. 2 and has to be completed by Aug. 31, though the bales can be loaded out late into the fall. Thats admittedly a fairly short and late window for prime hay anyway but Herner said its important to remember the intention of the CRP. Its not a haying program. It really is intended to benefit wildlife, she said. Anyone who needs a list of landowners with available CRP should contact the local county extension agent, who keeps track of whos looking for hay and whos got it. (Reach Lauren Donovan at 701-220-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WAHPETON Five years later, there still are no clear answers in the disappearance and death of Andrew Sadek, a 20-year-old college student turned police informant whose body was recovered in the Red River in June 2014. However, the legal questions raised by a wrongful death lawsuit that Sadeks parents filed against Richland County and Jason Weber, a sheriffs deputy who recruited Sadek as an informant, were answered this week when a judge dismissed the case. The stark reality of this case is that there is not, and perhaps can never be, any evidence of how, when, where, or why Andrew Sadek died, Southeast District Judge Jay Schmitz said in court documents filed Monday, May 20. Sadeks parents, John and Tammy, of Rogers, sued in 2016, seeking damages stemming from their sons death. The suit accused Richland County and Weber of negligence, fraud and deceit in their recruitment of Sadek, and alleged that he was misled into becoming an informant. Its disappointing for the family to have to go through this aspect of it, Timothy OKeefe, attorney for Sadeks parents, said of the dismissal. They will definitely be appealing. An appeal would be heard by the North Dakota Supreme Court. If the appeal is successful, the case will come back to Richland County District Court where it could go to trial, said Corey Quinton, attorney for Richland County and Weber. In April 2013, Sadek sold a total of 3.3 grams of marijuana to two confidential informants working for the Southeast Multi-County Agency Narcotics Task Force (SEMCA), according to court documents. Later the same year in November, SEMCA searched Sadeks dorm room and found drug paraphernalia, court documents stated. Weber met with Sadek and told him the marijuana sales were felonies that carried a maximum combined sentence of 40 years in prison. Weber told Sadek that he likely would not receive that sentence but would get some prison time for the offenses, adding that they could possibly be reduced to misdemeanors if Sadek became an informant. In his findings, Judge Schmitz noted that in keeping with its general practices, SEMCA provided only limited guidance to Andrew on undercover methods and did not inform or train Andrew on the hazards of undercover narcotics work. As an informant, Sadek completed three undercover buys of marijuana from two different people. Authorities expected him to conduct more buys, but he stopped contacting them. Surveillance cameras captured Sadek walking out of his dorm at the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton early on May 1, 2014. There is no evidence of where Andrew went, what he did, or who (if anyone) he might have met after leaving, Schmitz wrote. Sadeks body was found in the Red River two months later wearing a backpack filled with rocks and with a gunshot wound to his head. The gunshot was determined to be his cause of death, but his autopsy was inconclusive regarding the manner and time of death. One can only speculate, almost endlessly: Was Andrews death a suicide or homicide? If it was homicide, who did it? What was the killers, or killers, motivation? Was Andrew killed during a drug deal? If so, was it related to his role as a confidential informant? the judge wrote. The heart cries out for an answer to what happened to Andrew, but the mind searches the record in vain for that answer. Sadeks parents have maintained he was murdered because of his work as an informant, something they say authorities coerced him into doing. An investigation revealed that Sadek apparently had brought a .22-caliber pistol from his parents home to Wahpeton in early 2014. Tammy Sadek has previously said her son was shot with a .22-caliber bullet. Judge Schmitz wrote that he dismissed the suits fraud claim because the solution would be to revoke the informant contract made between SEMCA and Sadek, and it is impossible to rescind the parties contract and restore them to their original positions. The deceit claims were dismissed because Webers statements regarding Sadeks possibility of felony charges and prison time constitute a prediction of a future event and is not deceit as a matter of law. Schmitz dismissed the negligence claims, concluding theres been no evidence produced that Sadeks death was caused directly by Weber and Richland Countys alleged negligence in assessing the dangers Sadek faced as an informant. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 7 Angry 7 Expansion of a wildlife management area may be the answer to Washburn-area flooding issues. For the past six to eight years, backed-up water flowing into Painted Woods Lake has been flooding adjacent farmland, said McLean County Water Resources Board member Lynn Oberg. To mitigate damage, McLean County and several state and wildlife advocacy group partners hope to purchase nearby land to build drainage infrastructure. That land will then be turned over to North Dakota Game and Fish to be managed as part of the Painted Woods Wildlife Management Area. A public hearing on the 255-acre purchase by the American Foundation for Wildlife is scheduled for 1 p.m. March 10 at the McLean County Courthouse. Oberg said that on some private property, backed-up water has cut ditches 25 feet deep and 100 feet wide in places as it tries to make its way to the Missouri River. Between 700 and 800 acres of crop and hayland has been flooded in recent years, causing some of it to go out of production. The problem is caused by years of silt build up restricting drainage into the lake. Half of the lake area is filled with cattails, Oberg said. The Painted Woods area receives runoff from more than 300 surrounding acres. In years of excess snow pack or heavy spring rains, the lake is unable to handle the extra water. Oberg said he believes it is the water boards responsibility to take action to prevent further water damage to private and public lands. The countys engineer is doing design work now on how to develop alternative flow channels on the land after it is purchased. Oberg said the North Dakota State Water Commission and U.S. Bureau of Reclamation will be tapped for funding for the flood mitigation measures. Casey Anderson, assistant chief of the wildlife division for Game and Fish, said the agency was contacted by the county and Natural Resource Trust, another partner on the project, about joining the effort. Anderson said that with state approval, Game and Fish will put in $290,000 on the purchase of the land and will ultimately take over management of the property. Anderson said not only with the project help manage the level of Painted Woods Lake, it will add wildlife habitat for primarily deer, pheasant and waterfowl. Combining it with the wildlife management area increases public opportunity for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Next Thursdays hearing before the North Dakota Natural Areas Acquisition Advisory Committee will determine a recommendation to the governor on the land purchase. Game and Fish will need budget committee approval for its portion of the purchase, Anderson said. Oberg said work on flood mitigation projects could be several years out. Reach Jessica Holdman at 701-250-8261 or jessica.holdman@bismarcktribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WILLISTON A proposal to keep some man camps open in Williston for temporary oilfield workers failed 3-2 Tuesday night, but at least one camp operator said the issue isnt over. About 200 people attended the Williston City Commission meeting Tuesday, with several oil company representatives advocating for a compromise to keep some worker housing open for rotational workers. But investors in Williston hotels and apartment buildings, warning of possible foreclosures, asked commissioners to keep the July 1 sunset date they approved in November. Why are we killing the permanent investors so the man camps can continue to go? said Tom Rolfstad, Willistons retired economic development director who was asked to speak by private investors. We can let the temporary stuff go to some other town or some other county. Commissioner Deanette Piesik introduced the compromise aimed at phasing out temporary worker housing, which would have allowed some Williston man camps to stay open through Dec. 1, 2019. The proposal, endorsed by an alliance of several oil companies, would have reduced the number of man camp beds in Williston and the 1-mile extraterritorial area by about 50 percent by 2017. The proposal also doubled the fees charged to those facilities. Our oil and gas industry is a main employer of our region, Piesik said. Its an industry that is hurting. Is this the right time for us to impose more hardships on them? Commissioners listened to two hours of public comment Tuesday, with most opponents speaking on behalf of hotel or apartment buildings. A survey in late 2015 showed that Williston apartment buildings were about 68 percent full and rents have dropped by more than 40 percent, according to memo by city staff. Developers who wrote to city commissioners opposing man camps said some new apartment buildings have occupancy rates as low as 30 percent. The buildings are emptying out and the rates have plummeted. We are all on the verge of bankruptcy, Kent Roers, owner of Roers Investments in Long Lake, Minn., wrote to commissioners. Richard Rowell, general manager for the Holiday Inn Express and Suites, said hotel rates have decreased significantly and hotels want to accommodate the oil industry. The 25 hotels in Williston had an average occupancy of 27 percent in January with an average daily rate of $100.51, according to the Williston Convention and Visitors Bureau. Rowell said investors committed to hotels and other permanent housing did so with the understanding that man camps were temporary. Oil company representatives said many of their employees do live in permanent housing, but they need some temporary housing to accommodate workers who work rotating schedules and cant commit to apartment leases. Ed Eberhard, a vice president for Weatherford, said the company agrees with the citys position that temporary housing should go away at some point, but is seeking a longer timeframe to phase it out. Piesik and commissioner Brad Bekkedahl supported the compromise, but Mayor Howard Klug and commissioners Chris Brostuen and Tate Cymbaluk voted against it, the same split as the November meeting. Travis Kelley, regional vice president for Target Logistics, the largest worker housing provider in North Dakota, said he was disappointed with the vote. Kelley referenced the November meeting when Mayor Klug indicated a desire to find a compromise. This is not the end, Kelley said. We will pursue this further. Klug said after the meeting he meant that he was open to finding a compromise on the September deadline of requiring man camps to be removed. And that may still happen, Klug said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Millions of years ago, a warm shallow sea covered much of present-day North Dakota. In that sea lived mosasaurs enormous creatures related to present day lizards. Fossils of the creatures have been found preserved in North Dakota in the Pierre Shale formation. The North Dakota State Fossil Collection contains six partial mosasaur skeletons and isolated mosasaur bones. Clint Boyd, senior paleontologist at the North Dakota Geological Survey, said no published works have been completed on North Dakotas mosasaurs. No one who works here is specifically focused on those animals, he explained. Now a Texas researcher wants to raise $4,000 on scientific crowdfunding site Experiment.com to study the states mosasaurs. If Nathan Van Vrankens project can garner more supporters than 11 other paleontology projects on the site, it will get an additional $1,000 grant. Boyd said the Geological Survey posted images on social media of some eastern North Dakota mosasaur specimens while putting together a display for the Barnes County Museum. The images caught the attention of Van Vranken, a freelance paleontologist. Van Vranken has been captivated by the evolutionary success that took mosasaurs from land-dwelling reptiles to marine animals that were among the top predators in the Western Interior Seaway. Mosasaur fossils can be found from Texas to Canada. The Pierre Shale is younger than the Texas rocks that preserved mosasaurs, so the North Dakota mosasaurs offer a look at a later stage in their evolution, Van Vranken said. I am interested in helping try to promote knowledge of mosasaurs but also help figure out what was going on in their last days, a time when the massive Western Interior Seaway was starting to shrink, said Van Vranken, adding he wants to come to North Dakota to describe, photograph, document and update the information on the states mosasaurs. He is aiming to discover variations among the specimens, including ages and genres. Perhaps if we are lucky, we might be able to find enough variation to describe a new species of mosasaur, which will add another piece to the biodiversity of the state, Van Vranken said. Van Vranken brought up a paleontology contest on Experiment as a possible source of funding when he contacted the Geological Survey about looking at the mosasaurs. Research funders tend only to back obvious ideas, leaving many good ideas unexplored, according to Experiment co-founder Cindy Wu, who was among a team of researchers who learned their promising antibiotic research had little chance of being funded. While they founded Experiment to fund their own research, they later opened it to other scientists. The site allows researchers to post details about their potential projects, and the public can pledge money to help get them going. Only projects that reach their goals get funded. Since 2012, the public has supported 449 of the 1,098 projects launched on the site. The successful projects have resulted in 4,695 lab notes shared and 31 published papers. The projects also can be published in Experiments online journal. Wu said none of the research funded through Experiment would have been possible without the crowdfunded support. And Van Vranken said he does not believe he will be able to accomplish his research if his project does not get funded on Experiment. Doing paleontology professionally requires funding that is hard to come by when you are a freelance paleontologist, Van Vranken said. A lot of this funding will help not only to evaluate the specimens and gather data but also develop the collections and make fossils more accessible to researchers and the public. Without funding this project, we cannot tell the story. While all 12 of the projects featured in the sites Paleontology Challenge could get funded, the project with the most supporters by May 3 will receive an additional $1,000 courtesy of Lance Schnatterly. Schnatterly, who lives in New Jersey, studied astronomy and computer science and has spent his career working in programming and engineering. But in the past 10 years, Schnatterly has returned to his love of paleontology. He calls himself an engineer by day and an amateur paleontologist by night. Im a dinosaur guy at heart. I guess it appeals to the kid in me, said Schnatterly, who learned about Experiment after backing a friend on the platform. His friend told him about opportunities to contribute to the Paleontology Challenge, and Schnatterly put up the first-place prize and backed all of the projects. Its truly amazing stuff, he said. Van Vranken is seeking $4,000. The money will go toward travel, room, board and supplies, and hell be able to study and classify fossils already here. While none of the money raised will go to the North Dakota Geological Survey, paleontologists here are excited about the knowledge that could come from the project. Were not going to get any funding out of it, Boyd said. Were trying to get more people here to work with our specimens and get that research out there. To support the project, visit https://experiment.com/projects/the-diversity-of-north-dakota-s-mysterious-monsters-of-the-deep. I am interested in helping try to promote knowledge of mosasaurs but also help figure out what was going on in their last days, a time when the massive Western Interior Seaway was starting to shrink. Nathan Van Vranken, freelance paleontologist Reach Jenny Schlecht at 701-595-0425 or jenny.schlecht@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 When crop prices went sky high, Hurdsfield farmer Chad Weckerly wanted to add drain tile to aid in ridding his fields of excess water and make them more productive. That required consulting with the Natural Resource Conservation Service to make sure he wasnt going to be changing a wetland. Five years later, hes still going through the process. The NRCS in North Dakota and other states with substantial wetland areas have struggled to keep up with wetland determination requests. Though the North Dakota office has used new techniques to shrink its backlog, people involved in the process say more improvement is needed. Since the passage of the 1985 Farm Bill, producers who want to use certain U.S. Department of Agriculture programs have been prohibited from draining wetlands. The NRCS, a division of the USDA, has to determine what makes up a wetland and how producers can farm in those areas. The high prices of 2011-12 came around the same time as advancements in subsurface tile drainage technology, leading to a significant increase in requests for wetland determinations, said Jenny Heglund, assistant state conservationist for compliance at the North Dakota office of the NRCS. In addition, a wet cycle for the past 20 years has made some formerly dry land into possible wetlands. The North Dakota backlog of determinations reached nearly 4,000 in 2012. Weckerlys case was among those. At one point, the NRCS determined there were 118 wetlands on a 640-acre section he farms. Many of those supposed wetlands were so small you cant park the tractor on them, he said. Other spots were dry much of the year. He would like to see a minimum-size definition for wetlands. The North Dakota Farm Bureau, of which Weckerly is a director, supports legislation proposed by Rep. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., South Dakota Rep. Kristi Noem and Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson that they say would enact permanent reforms that make the determination process more efficient, accountable and transparent. Darryl Lies, president of the Farm Bureau, said many producers shouldnt have to wait years to find out what they can do on their land. Thats unacceptable, he said. Tackling a problem The NRCS doesnt like it, either. Bogged down under the weight of the determinations, the North Dakota staff started looking at new methods to handle the process. We put together a dedicated team of conservation professionals in order to basically focus only on developing wetland determinations for agriculture purposes, said Heglund. They now use imagery, elevation data, soil information and other resources from their offices to make preliminary technical determinations. If producers dont agree with that or want to provide more information, then NRCS staff members make farm visits. They also do farm visits for reports of unauthorized wetland drainage. Weckerly said he has had Heglund visit his farm to review the preliminary technical determination, and he found that process helpful. He was able to show Heglund that many of the 118 wetlands on his section were little more than puddles. The NRCS also has been looking at alternatives to the process. It has ramped up assistance to producers who wish to manipulate wetlands by creating a new wetland elsewhere, Heglund said. The backlog has gone from nearly 4,000 to more than 700. Heglund said 500 to 800 requests come in annually, so it might take a few years to get to the bottom of the backlog. The new process also has cleared up some misunderstandings and has allowed producers to assist in providing photographs and information about drainage that aid in the process, she said. Theyll do whatever they can to give information up front to help make a determination that makes sense, Heglund said. Legislation looming Weckerly wants to see producers have more influence in the process, as well as more certainty. The proposed legislation would put a 60-day deadline on the NRCS to make determinations, as well as streamline the appeal process and improve transparency. If the legislation were to be passed, Heglund said meeting a 60-day deadline would take more staff, additional offsite tools and refined methodology. But once the backlog is cleared up, she hopes the process moves faster than it has in recent years. Our thought process is it should take three to four months once a person has a request, she said. Three or four months would be a definite improvement over the current situation, Lies said. He believes the real issue is that the NRCS needs to be accountable to the farmers whose livelihood depends on what they can do on their land. Farmers get all sorts of guidelines of what they can and cant do on their land, but yet the agencies that are responsible for giving them the determinations so they know what they can and cant do dont seem to have expectations of performance," he said. Heglund explained the NRCS doesn't want to push out determinations so fast that they lose contact with producers, who often need to understand how to stay in compliance in order to maintain USDA benefits. Weckerly says he is glad he began the process. He wants more certainty about where wetlands are on his property so he knows not only where he can use drain tile but also where he can use chemicals that cant be used within given distances of wetlands. But he advises farmers to be ready to advocate for themselves. Heglund didnt want to comment on the proposed legislation, but she said Cramers office has done its research and has been in contact with the NRCS about the issue. She said her office is committed to trying new ways to clear the backlog. Reach Jenny Schlecht at 701-595-0425 or jenny.schlecht@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As millions of people evacuate the area expected to be hit by Hurricane Matthew, groups of volunteers from North Dakota will be driving into the storm. Its pretty scary, said Carol Becker, a Red Cross volunteer from Minot. With her husband, Allen, shell take an emergency response vehicle 1,800 miles to Tallahassee, Fla. Were kind of hoping we dont get right in the middle of it," she said. Driving into an emergency scenario is nothing new for the Beckers, who returned in late August from a Red Cross response to flooding in Baton Rouge, La. Allen Becker has been a Red Cross volunteer since 2008, and Carol Becker joined in 2010 after the two met. They helped during the 2011 Minot flooding and in Montana wildfires. This isnt even their first hurricane response. We actually flew in to the Sandy one just as it hit, she said of the 2012 hurricane that struck the eastern United States. Rob Stotz, western North Dakota disaster program manager for the Red Cross, said six people from North Dakota were planning to head to Florida as of Thursday morning, with calls out for more help. About 20 people will deploy from the region, which includes North Dakota, South Dakota and part of Minnesota. We typically send a dozen if not more to something like this, he said. When devastating floods hit North Dakota in 2009 and 2011, Red Cross volunteers from across the nation rushed to help, Stotz said. Were all in this together, he said. If its not them today, its going to be us tomorrow. For the Beckers, the desire to be of assistance to others is what drives them to spend weeks at a time in areas of devastation and destruction. We really just enjoy going out and helping people, Carol Becker said. Since they are taking an emergency response vehicle, the Beckers assume they will be on meal duty making sure people in the disaster area get two hot meals a day during their two weeks in Florida. Stotz said other duties include managing shelters and handing out supplies during the cleanup process. Theres a lot of little things that go on, he said. When we get down there, whatever they ask us to do well do, Carol Becker said. You have to be flexible and work with whatever they say needs to be done. For her, seeing the difference she can make in someone elses life makes the effort worth it. In Louisiana earlier this summer, the Beckers saw a little girl crying every day at meal time. Carol Becker learned from the girls mother that they had lost her best friend the stuffed animal she slept with every night. Carol Becker gave the girl a little stuffed dog, and she was amazed at the difference in the little girl the next day. She was smiling and laughing, and her mother said she slept well the night before for the first time since losing her toy. Stuff like that really sticks with me, she said. Stotz said people who want to volunteer with the Red Cross can visit www.redcross.org to begin the screening and vetting process. Volunteers will be trained for emergency response. Not all of their calls are to faraway places. The Beckers have responded to fires in the Minot area to help with shelter and other needs. Stotz said the Red Cross also lines up counseling for those affected by disaster. Other projects include fire education programs for elementary school students and a program that has volunteers check and replace smoke detectors in homes throughout the state. The American Red Cross is pretty active in our own little communities -- small amounts of people doing a heavy lift, Stotz said. He said monetary donations also are vital to the Red Cross response. Donations may be made at www.redcross.org or by calling 800-733-2767. Text "redcross" to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Reach Jenny Schlecht at 701-595-0425 or jenny.schlecht@bismarcktribune.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SACRED STONES CAMP Alex Briggs is a twig on the family tree of William Rockefeller, co-founder of Standard Oil and brother to the better-known John D. Rockefeller. He inherited good looks, a high IQ and a trust fund to see him through a university degree in mechanical engineering. At 26, he could have it all, if all is what he wanted. Instead, hes living in a small tent nestled in deep grass at the Sacred Stones camp on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. His belongings fit into a backpack the size of shopping bag. He is booted, bearded and bandana-ed, and its hard to see anything of him in the black and white photos of his buttoned-up great-great-great grandfather. If that man could have looked down through six generations of time, he would be shocked to see this descendent, who Dumpster dives for food on principle, now standing in unity with Native Americans against the Dakota Access Pipeline, a massive Bakken oil delivery system routed to run right past the reservation. This young man burns to have a personal relationship with the earth and save it from the very oil that enriched his family. He has designed and would build open source energy sites starting with a foundry and metal shop on a small community scale. If everyone has the capacity to provide for himself, it would lead to a peaceful and prosperous world," said Briggs, who describes oil as equal "to a centralization of power that corrupts the human spirit." Those words would have made triple-great-granddad choke on his oysters, but Briggs says his mother, back East, understands where hes coming from. She grew up with that guilt of coming from a ruthless capitalist who created a monopoly. My parents are very proud of me, he said. Briggs admits that, not only is he white, he was given everything he needs to prosper in a competitive society. Leaving college without debt, thanks to that trust fund, gives him the freedom to live by his beliefs, instead. This camp is really a transforming thing, having a powerful culture here that is rooted in the earth, experiencing the world as a sacred and spiritual place, said Briggs, adding that he is in for the winter. While Briggs certainly has an uncommon background, his type is not uncommon among those attracted to the camp. Generously sprinkled throughout the temporary world of the Sacred Stones camp and larger overflow camp, where hundreds are living in tents and tepees to protest the pipeline and protect the water, are other non-native young adults. Theyre generically referred to as hippies or rainbow kids around the camps, and they bring guitars, blankets and the hope that, by showing up, they are helping the cause. Hayley Porter and her friend, Shaunti Lally, of Colorado, held events back home to raise a couple hundred bucks, awareness and donations for the camp. They drove up in his old beater car, with their black lab in the back seat and camped near the river for a few days. Lally has a masters degree in social change and sociology and says its up to this generation to break the world of its destructive dependency on oil. If we dont do something, we wont have a world. Its up to us, we have to speak up. We have to have patience for the process and disrupt the momentum thats pushing us to the edge, he said. The camp seemed a perfect place to try to build Native American trust at the same time, according to Lally. They are the First Nation defenders. Thats why a lot of us are here, to try to heal those wounds. We have to deal with it and address it, he said. Jakob Halldor, 27, a red-haired native of Iceland and now of Colorado, camped nearby and said he is part of a growing number of young people, many from the mostly white festival-awareness culture, who want respect for all life. Were here supporting people who are protecting water. We need to bridge the ethnicity groups, or we wont be able to, he said. In the next tent down, Dan Isler, of Illinois, looks like the former U.S. Army infantry man he once was, with a tour in Iraq under his belt. He is more tightly wound than his long-haired, herbal-tea drinking neighbors, but no less passionate. His niece was born with birth defects from tainted well water on their farm and he knows the value of clean water. In Iraq, I served Halliburton and all those guys. I was a gunner, searching out incendiary explosive devices. I served my country in Iraq, but here, for the first time, I feel like Im serving my nation, he says. I feel at home. For the threesome from Colorado, its time to pack up the tent in a cold wind with hopes of coming back one day soon. Isler turns to help and has another thought to share, running to catch up. He points to the camp, where the Native families are camped, many warming themselves to wood fires against the cold that particular morning. There is a prayer circle being held in the shallows of the Cannonball River and the sound of drumming is faint on the northwesterly wind. Were all affected, not just these people, he says. Why isnt it up to everyone? (Reach Lauren Donovan at 701-220-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The newest work by North Dakotas poet laureate and celebrated novelist will be old-school, printed on an antique letterpress that went out of use decades ago. Larry Woiwode, of rural Mott, said he plans to be there while college students with ink-stained hands print a small, artisan-style book of his poetry on a museum press in a small rural town. The presses will be cranked today and Saturday and, God willing, the ink dries, and, even if it doesnt, Woiwode will read from Land of Sunlit Ice at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Bismarck Public Library. Woiwode said hes excited about the process, especially the idea of using a museum-piece press to print these poetry chapbooks in a day and age when digital technology rules the printing world. All books are becoming artifacts and soon will be museum pieces, he said. The 200 or so chapbooks so called for their small size when they were hawked by chapmen on the street long ago in Europe will be numbered, signed by the author at the reading and could be collectible one day, Woiwode said. It will contain the best gathering of 14 of his poems, recent and past, to appear in a single collection, he said. North Dakota State University students will be printers of this first edition using antique letterpresses dating from the 1920s at the Braddock News Letterpress Museum in Braddock. The students will hand feed the pages one at a time through engraved plates, use antique wire stitchers to bind the 32-page books and trim them on a 40s-era paper cutter. Allan Burke, a newspaper publisher in nearby Linton and founder of the letterpress museum, said firing up the old presses for a student project is his dream of how the museum should be used. I believe its beneficial for students of all ages, third grade through college, to have a hands-on chance to learn about the history of communication and to create it with 100-year-old machines, Burke said. Suzzanne Kelley, the students professor, has a more prosaic thought about the experience, which will require a very quick turnaround from the printers shop. Im hoping the ink is dry, Kelley said of Woiwodes reading. My class is so excited to use these antique presses. Its so tactile, smelling the ink, and getting a feel for how books used to be made, Kelley said. The letterpress museum is located on the grounds of the South Central Threshing Association and presses are run at least once a year during the fall threshing show. Burke said local volunteers helped prepare the museum for the students project, installing a furnace and fans to warm the building and help dry the pages when they roll off the press. He said the letterpress could be used by artists and folks interested in hand-printed works, including announcements or invitations. Im hoping others will use the presses over time, Burke said. The students are enrolled in Kelleys Introduction to Publishing class. They stenciled and printed the chapbook covers on an even older press, dating from the 1890s at the Hunter Times museum newspaper at Bonanzaville in Fargo. Kelley is also editor in chief of the North Dakota State University Press and Land of Sunlit Ice will be among its published works. (Reach Lauren Donovan at 701-220-5511 or lauren@westriv.com.) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The chancellor and State Board of Higher Education are expected to name an interim president for the University of North Dakota soon. The choice will likely hold the position for at least a year as a search is conducted for a new president. However, the Tribune Editorial Board believes a suggestion by Dan Traynor, a SBHE member, has merit. He favors a shorter timetable with a focus on North Dakotans or someone with ties to the state. He wants the board to seek nominations and then trim the list to two or three finalists. After the candidates meet with the board, Traynor would like a decision by the end of June. Its an ambitious proposal, but its worth a try. If by the end of June the board doesnt find a satisfactory candidate it can hire an interim president and launch a national search. The board will have lost four to six weeks in the process, but thats not much when the boards looking at a yearlong search. If Traynors proposal works it could save the state money. Recent searches for university presidents and the chancellor have ranged from almost $79,000 to almost $140,000. Using a month to look for a president should be less expensive. There are qualified people in the state or with ties to the state. One name that has been mentioned is Steve Shirley, president of Minot State University. He was a candidate when Mark Kennedy was hired as UND president. There are advantages to conducting a nationwide search. It broadens the field and opens the possibility of luring someone with a special skill set. A candidate like that would probably cost more in salary and the odds of a long tenure would be less. Still, thats an attractive option. While Chancellor Mark Hagerott favors a national search he agrees with Traynor that a candidate with ties to the state or knowledge of the state would be preferable. Hagerott told the Forum News Service it would be desirable if the next UND president has ties to the state. The chancellor also said the president needs to put UND and the state over career or personal interests. Kennedy was perceived by some as more interested in advancing his career than planting roots in North Dakota. "(They should) be a servant leader," Hagerott told the Forum. "Servant leadership is really important. You're there to serve something bigger than yourself." Thats an admirable goal, one that could be best achieved with a North Dakotan in the presidents chair. A North Dakotan will have extra incentive to succeed. Someone who loves the state will do whats best for UND and North Dakotans. The challenge facing the chancellor and board is finding that person, whether through a short or long search. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Today The Atlantic has published a response essay from Fr. Robert Sirico to James Carrolls call for the abolition of the priesthood, the magazines cover story this month: James Carroll, the author of this months Atlantics cover story, Abolish the Priesthood, is famous in certain Catholic circles for his bitter denunciations of the Church. To the well-documented renunciation of his own priesthood years ago, Carroll now adds the claim that, by its very nature, the Catholic priesthood is inextricably tied to clericalism (all priests being clerics, of course), and thus to its cult of secrecy, its theological misogyny, its sexual repressiveness, and its hierarchical power based on threats of a doom-laden afterlife. He also argues that in its more pristine first centuries, Christianity had no priesthood and no hierarchy, and so was far more egalitarian. Reading Carroll, I find not so much a hatred for the priesthood or the Church more generally, but rather a deep misunderstanding of Catholicism, which has resulted in a conflicted love throughout his public life. As a priest myself, I can only hope that he will one day find some peace and reconciliation. On this episode of Acton Line, Jordan Ballor and Tyler Groenendal break down the last season of Game of Thrones, discussing positive and negative aspects of the show as well as lessons on the role of government and the danger of power. Afterwards, Caroline Roberts speaks with Li Ma, senior fellow at the Henry Institute, about Mas book The Chinese Exodus. Ma explains how the current economic system in China drives agricultural workers to the city, setting them on a path for family disintegration, poverty and alienation from community. Check out additional resources for this podcast: On Game of Thrones, Absolute Power Corrupts Daenerys Targaryen Absolutely Game of Thrones Finale: Daenerys Vows to Make a Hell of Earth 5 questions about the last episode of Game of Thrones Game of Thrones and the judgment of history Buy: The Chinese Exodus: Migration, Urbanism, and Alienation in Contemporary China Chinas Northeastern rust belt struggling to retain population as economic slowdown speeds up exodus Conversation with a Migrant-Worker Church Minister Educational Inequality for Migrant Children Perpetuates Poverty New to the Acton Line podcast? Subscribe here! We also recommend starting with these episodes: Mourning the Notre-Dame cathedral inferno; Rev. Robert Sirico on education F.A. Hayeks Road to Serfdom; The media vs. Unplanned Rev. Robert A. Sirico on the reality of socialism; Interview with a Venezuelan dissident Do you have feedback for the Acton Line podcast team? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] Lastly, if you like what you heard on todays episode, please leave a review and rating on iTunes. In preparation for the 2020 presidential elections, democratic candidates are playing by an increasingly progressive rule book: which candidate can promise the most (supposedly) free stuff? Sen. Elizabeth Warren has announced plans to forgive two and four-year college debt by raking in $640 billion from ultra millionaires. Sen. Kamala Harris wants low-income renters to receive billions in tax credits in addition to further Medicare expansion. South Bend, Indiana Mayor, Pete Buttigieg, recently added climate change proposals to his platform, promising to implement a Green New Deal with all available tools including a carbon tax-and-dividend for Americans, and major direct investment to build a 100 percent clean energy society. Democratic presidential candidates think money grows on trees. Terry Paulson, psychologist and author, writes that at the heart of the democratic candidates wish-granting strategy is a cancerous cynicism about the economic engine thats been so critical in maintaining Americas position in the world. The economic engine Paulson refers to is capitalism. Paulson draws inspiration from Rev. Robert Siricos book, Defending the Free Market: The Moral Case for a Free Economy, while arguing for a clearer understanding of the core principles of capitalism, including the importance of private property and dignity in work and business. For those who support redistribution from those who earn to those who take, Sirico has a warning: There is a contradiction at the heart of the progressive project of striving toward equality of outcome by redistributing wealth. A tenacious focus on outcomes (as in redistribution to achieve income parity) inevitably leads to treating people unfairly-unequally-by taking from one who has worked and produced superfluous wealth and giving it to one who has not. In place of a culture of wealth makers (the entrepreneurs and their increasingly productive employees), you end up with a culture of wealth takers. Read Paulsons full article, Defending Capitalism. Featured photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America [CC BY-SA 2.0] A blog for the Bloomingdale neighborhood in Washington, DC. From Mark Harris at the Economist, this news: The Federal Communications Commission has granted PointView Tech, a subsidiary of Facebook, permission to operate its experimental millimeter-wave CubeSat to provide satellite internet. Here's the FCC experimental permit and license in entirety (page 1 screengrabbed below). Excerpt: Station Locations (1) MOBILE: Nongeostationary (2) Northridge (LOS ANGELES), CA NL 34-13-27; WL 118-30-00 (3) Mount Wilson (LOS ANGELES), CA NL 34-13-30; WL 118-03-24 And here was the initial application from PointView, with a description of the satellite internet project's goals: From an earlier Ars Technica report in 2018 about Facebook's lesser-known experimental satellite internet subsidiary: Facebook has confirmed plans to launch a low-Earth orbit (LEO) broadband satellite early next year in what could be the first step toward a constellation of satellites, according to Wired. A May 2018 report from IEEE Spectrum provided evidence that a satellite company called PointView Tech LLC is a subsidiary created by Facebook to pursue broadband plans under the code name "Athena." "When contacted by Wired, Facebook confirmed that Athena is their project," Wired wrote on Friday. While traditional broadband satellites suffer from high latencies because they orbit the Earth at about 35,400km, low-Earth orbit satellites could provide gigabit Internet service with latencies similar to cable and fiber. Facebook is one of several companies with LEO satellite plans, but companies including SpaceX and OneWeb are further along in their development. PointView described the Athena project in an application to the Federal Communications Commission. "While we have nothing to share about specific projects at this time, we believe satellite technology will be an important enabler of the next generation of broadband infrastructure, making it possible to bring broadband connectivity to rural regions where Internet connectivity is lacking or non-existent," a Facebook spokesperson told Wired. (Wired and Ars Technica are both owned by Conde Nast.) A Wired public records request also turned up an email thread in which PointView Tech requested a meeting with FCC officials about its satellite application. The emails show the meeting was scheduled for May 10 of this year; one email from PointView's lawyer noted that four Facebook executives would be attending. The public records request also turned up similar emails between PointView representatives and the FCC in July 2016. We contacted Facebook for more details this morning and will update this story if we get a response. UPDATE: Facebook confirmed to Ars that it owns the Athena satellite, but called it a small research and development experiment. [image: pxhere.com] And that application was granted today. A "small research and development experiment." Uh-huh. The American Law Institute is a group of 4,000 judges, law profs and lawyers that issues incredibly influential "restatements" of precedents and trends in law, which are then heavily relied upon by judges in future rulings; for seven years they have been working on a restatement of the law of consumer contracts (including terms of service) and now they're ready to publish. The ALI's restatement affirms that terms of service are enforceable, even when they are not read by the people they affect, and even if they are written in impentrable legalese that no one could be expected to comprehend. The ALI says that so long as people are given "reasonable notice" that there are terms of service and are afforded a "reasonable opportunity to review" the terms, they are binding. That includes terms of service that force you to surrender your right to sue or join class actions, and that require you over to take any claims before binding arbitration, a system of corporate kangaroo courts where the "judge" is literally in the employ of the company you're seeking justice from. The ALI's plan is so egregious that a bipartisan coalition of 23 state attorneys general have published an open letter to the ALI demanding that it be changed. John Bergmayer, Senior Counsel at consumer group Public Knowledge, told Motherboard that while restatements may not be legally binding they are hugely influential. He said that the ALI's reworded interpretation of consumer legal rights is problematic because it would effectively allow corporations to impose contracts on customers without consumer consent. "To call boilerplate language that consumers never read (or if they did read, could not understand) a "contract" simply has the effect of locking consumers in to terms that are likely to be stacked against them," he said in an email. Traditionally, "contracts" are legal documents that are mutually agreed to after negotiation between two parties. Functionally, this isn't how Terms of Service, which few people read and few people can be expected to read and understand, work in the real world. "For some reason, everything you learn about contracts in the first year of law school gets tossed out the window when it comes to large companies unilaterally setting terms for consumers," Bergmayer added. New Proposal Would Let Companies Further Screw You Over With Terms of Service [Karl Bode/Motherboard] 58-year-old Republican lawmaker Douglas McLeod was arrested this week after allegedly punching his wife in the face for not undressing quickly enough when he wanted sex. McLeod, Mississippi state representative for Lucedale, was "intoxicated and holding a glass of alcohol in his hand" when deputies responded to his home late Saturday, reports the Sun-Herald. He was charged with misdemeanor domestic violence and released on a $1,000 signature bond. McLeod tried to explain to deputies that everything was OK, then said something else the deputies said they couldn't understand because of his slurred speech. When deputies went inside, they saw two women standing at the top of a stairwell, both of whom the deputies described as frightened. McLeod's wife eventually came outside after deputies assured her they would keep her away from her husband. The deputy said McLeod's wife was shaking and upset. McLeod's wife said her husband was drunk and "just snapped," as he often does when under the influence of alcohol, the report said. More details from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: The lawmaker's wife said McLeod was intoxicated and "snapped" because she undressed too slowly when he wanted sex, authorities said. She told deputies that he struck her in the face, giving her a bloody nose. McLeod's wife then fled to the other woman's room, the report said. He banged on the locked door and threatened to kill the woman's dog if she didn't let him in, the woman told deputies. What a way to celebrate a vote for an abortion ban. New leaders of FLDS polygamy cult known for ritualized child rape have reportedly purchased property and started building in Northern Minnesota. Known polygamist and convicted felon Seth Jeffs, brother of convicted pedophile Warren Jeffs who's serving life plus 20 for child sexual assault, obtained permit to build a 6,000-sq ft compound. Construction equipment has arrived. SETH STEED JEFFS is "a known polygamist, a convicted felon and a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS)." One of Seth's brothers is Warren Jeffs, the convicted pedophile and former FLDS boss who is in prison. Seth Jeffs is currently being sued over claims he participated in that same ritual sex abuse orchestrated by Warren Jeffs in the FLDS. Seth is reported to be in hiding from the child rape lawsuit, and has faced related legal troubles around a food stamp abuse scheme the authorities say funded the FLDS. In 2011 Warren was convicted of two felony counts of child sexual assault, for which he is currently serving a prison sentence of life plus 20 years. After Warren went to prison, media attention mostly faded. People still live in the communities along the Utah-Arizona border where men like Warren and Seth were once kings. The Utah town of Hildale has a female mayor now, who grew up in the FLDS. She's amazing, and her name is Donia Jessop. Those former FLDS temple buildings in the Utah and Arizona border towns of Hildale and Colorado City no longer host FLDS worship services, and most of the faithful moved on to colonies elsewhere. Colorado. Canada. Mexico. The FLDS didn't stop. Seth Jeffs didn't stop. Seth is believed to have first moved to South Dakota and founded a new FLDS community there. The 140-acre compound near Pringle, South Dakota, has a watchtower and armed guards. There have been no reported births or deaths there for 14 years. Lawmakers are looking into what they can do to shut down Seth's activity in South Dakota. Seth now appears to be active in Minnesota. Minnesota's KARE-11 reported in January 2019 that Seth Jeffs has relocated to a remote area in Northern Minnesota, and is likely one of the men behind a shadow entity that's been purchasing properties and construction equipment in the area. Minnesota TV news station KARE-11 has been on the story for months, and today KARE-11 published photos that show construction equipment has already arrived at that remote Minnesota property, the one where residents fear Seth Jeffs is building a new promised land for FLDS members, like the "Yearning For Zion" ranch closed by authorities in Texas. The aerial photos of the construction equipment and compound-building were taken by drone. You can view them here, in KARE-11's report from May 22, 2019: In January, KARE 11 reported that Seth Jeffs had relocated to Minnesota and a company listing him as the "Managing Member" had purchased the remote property on Pike Lake Road west of Grand Marais. Seth Jeffs is a known polygamist, a convicted felon and a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). He is the brother of convicted pedophile prophet Warren Jeffs, now serving a life sentence in Texas for sexually abusing two child brides. Records obtained by KARE 11 show Seth Jeffs has obtained a permit to construct a nearly 6,000-square-foot building on the property. The reports sparked fears that Jeffs might be planning a compound similar to one located in South Dakota's Black Hills, complete with a guard tower. Residents of Grand Marais, MN recently held a community meeting at which Sam Brower, a private investigator who wrote the excellent book "Prophet's Prey" about his 7-year investigation of the FLDS, spoke about what's at stake. A large crowd packed a community meeting in Grand Marais over the weekend to discuss fears that the polygamist group is preparing a new complex on the heavily wooded property. "We wouldn't be able to tell if anything is going on there," one neighbor worried. The meeting came in the wake of KARE 11's reports that Seth Jeffs had opened a handyman business based in the Twin Cities and was buying land between Lutsen and Grand Marais. Also at that Minnesota town hall meeting was Tonia Tewell, founder of Holding Out HELP, a Utah-based nonprofit group that helps people from the FLDS and other polygamy sects who want to leave. Getting out isn't the only impossible challenge these people face. Holding Out HELP's work is excellent, and really deserves support. They're on Twitter as [@holdingouthelp], and Facebook. This video features just a few of the people Holding Out HELP has served over the last decade. The progress, independence & success each of them have achieved is INSPIRING. We hope you enjoy! https://t.co/kSMEADCqrv Holding Out HELP (@HoldingOutHELP) March 12, 2018 More on their work: Holding Out HELP provides those who come from a polygamous culture the resources needed to transition from isolation to independence. Donate something today. Be part of the solution. Sam Brower's book 'Prophet's Prey' was also made into a 2015 documentary film directed by Amy Berg. Might want to watch it. Here's a famous photo of Warren Jeffs with one of his many, many victims. This image was introduced by the State of Texas in the trial that led to Warren's demise. The girl in the image is an adult woman now. Her name is (or was) Merrianne Jessop. There's a really great feature story about her and YFZ in Texas that you can read here: 'With God On Their Side,' 2009 in the Texas Monthly. Elissa Wall was another one of Warren's victims. Her book is amazing, as is her resilience and strength. Qualities she shares with so many of the women I have encountered from the FLDS. May each of these girls and women be allowed to live their own lives, in true freedom. There's a long list of chemicals you can't put in cosmetics in Europe that are found widely on American store shelvesoften from the same companies. Oliver Milman reports on "enfeebled" U.S. regulators' inability to do anything about ingredients considered potentially harmful. The disparity in standards between the EU and US has grown to the extent it touches almost every element of most Americans' lives. In cosmetics alone, the EU has banned or restricted more than 1,300 chemicals while the US has outlawed or curbed just 11. It's possible to find formaldehyde, a known carcinogen banned in EU-sold cosmetics, in US hair-straightening treatments and nail polish. Parabens, linked to reproductive problems, are ruled out in the EU but not the US, where they lurk in skin and hair products. Coal tar dyes can be found in Americans' eyeshadow, years after they were banned in the EU and Canada. "In the US it's really a buyer beware situation," said Janet Nudelman, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. "Cosmetics companies can use any raw material that they like and there's no way to know if they are safe before they reach the shelves. The contrast with the EU is stark and troubling." Note: This blog contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me at no extra cost to you. Book Review Policy I am very interested in receiving review copies from authors and publishers. Each book I complete will receive an honest review from me. If you would be willing to send me a copy of a book, please contact me at ristaut@gmail.com News / National by Mandla Ndlovu And then they get so outraged. Do they know what they want? https://t.co/1HNvuna8ci Trevor Ncube (@TrevorNcube) May 21, 2019 Presidential Advisory Council member Trevor Ncube has blamed ordinary Zimbabweans for the step taken by the central bank to liberalise the price of fuel by removing the 1:1 exchange rate.The move by RBZ caused an increase to the price of fuel on Tuesday.Ncube said Zimbabweans have been calling for the removal of the 1:1 exchange rate and they must feel the pain."Dear Zimbabwe, I am completely outraged by your outrage over things that you have been calling for which have just happened." Ncube said." Your rush to be part of popular opinion and in with the outraged crowd is so pedestrian. Yours Equally Outraged Compatriot."Journalist Maynard Manyowa questioned whether Ncube was using Twitter views to advise the President."If you advising the executive based on what people want on twitter vs what is sensible then am afraid you smarter than zwitter but no less stupid. My son wants to drink 10 cans of coke, I don't allow it cause I know better. Can't blame him for wanting it when he gets sick." Manyowa said.On Tuesday self-styled communications strategist William Mutumanje warned President Mnangagwa that if he does not fire his advisors the people of Zimbabwe are going to fire him. News / National by Staff reporter Desperate emergency passport seekers have taken to camping at the Registrar-General's Office in Marondera, but officials are only processing 10 applications per day.A visit to the passport office in Marondera yesterday morning revealed a group of desperate passport seekers gathered outside the government complex.They have mobilised firewood for a fire to keep themselves warm, while others have turned the complex fence into a washing line, a sign that they have spent days at the offices.Some of the women with babies strapped to their backs said they had been at the premises since Sunday, despite the chilling weather often associated with Marondera.The passport seekers showed NewsDay a book they are writing names according to the day a person arrives to queue for the travel document."I have been here since Sunday and only got served today. They are just attending to 10 people per day for those in need of emergency passports. However, those who are applying for ordinary passports are being attended to without hassles, but the collection date is being pushed to close to a year. We have this book, which people are writing their names to avoid chaos," said an elderly woman, who declined to be named.Some of the women outside the government building said they would wait until tomorrow for their turn. Chaos often characterised the queues."According to this book, I am on number 25, I failed to make it today and I have to wait until tomorrow for my turn. Some people are coming early in the morning to create chaos. Some of us have been here for a day or so. Last night (yesterday) the police had to arrest a man who was causing chaos, as he disregarded the system of writing names in this book," she said.Those applying for the emergency passports are vetted first.Efforts to get a comment from officials at the Registrar's Office were fruitless. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu Police have arrested the Founder of Rozaria Memorial Trust Farirai Gumbonzvanda and charged her with plotting to subvert a constitutionally elected government.Giving an update on Wednesday morning Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said, "In Zimbabwe authorities intensify crackdown on human rights defenders with arrest of Farirai Gumbonzvanda at Robert Mugabe International Airport and detained at Harare Central Police Station for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Mnangagwa's govt through inciting civil disobedience."Gumbonzvanda joins four other civic society leaders who are appearing in court on Wednesday over similar charges.The four are the Citizens Manifesto coordinator Tatenda Mombeyarara (37), Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe advocacy officer George Makoni (38), Nyasha Frank Mpahlo (35) of Transparency International Zimbabwe and executive director of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), Gamuchirai Mukura (31).On Tuesday Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana confirmed that the police had arrested the four soon after their arrival from the Maldives."The four were arrested after disembarking from a South African Airways flight while coming from the Maldives and are currently assisting police with investigations," he said.A tight vigil has been mounted by the police followed information that there were shadowy organisations seeking to unleash a wave of violent demonstrations beginning next month, with ring leaders of civil unrest having received training in the Czech Republic and the Maldives. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu Honai wo nyika dzevamwe president. Please gear number 2 now pic.twitter.com/VnR3l1pdUe zak (@ZakeyoZak) May 21, 2019 MDC leader Nelson Chamisa has called upon Zimbabweans to unite and and exercise maturity so that Zimbabwe can develop."Great nations are built strong on the pillars of unity upon singleness of focus and an extraordinary fixity of purpose," Chamisa said. "Every country divided against itself will be laid waste, and every community or household divided against itself will not stand."Chamisa took to Twitter to congratulate the interaction between ANC and EFF Presidents Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa and Julius Malema for the maturity they showed in parliament by congratulating each other.Said Chamisa, "I salute and congratulate this type of non-acerbic engagement upon progressive politics. Kudos to these great African brothers!"Chamisa's spokesman Dr Nkululeko Sibanda said Cjamisa has always held Mnangagwa is high esteem."SA Maturity - to put things in context, President Chamisa was the first to call for national dialogue and continues to call for it. He is humble and respectful. When Mnangagwa called him Satan, terrible language, President Chamisa, called him a brother." News / National by Staff reporter The new dispensation has taken yet another giant move to open up to the international community, with Zimbabwe set to join the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).APRM is an organ under the African Union (AU), which looks at issues of governance, poverty reduction and had 22 countries joining at its inception.APRM CEO, Professor Edward Maloka this morning paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House, Harare, where he expressed readiness of his organisation to work with Zimbabwe."We are here at the invitation of His Excellency, the President. We met him in Addis Ababa and he invited us to come and work with a team here for Zimbabwe to join the APRM. I am glad that the President has taken this move which comes with extra obligations," he said.Joining APRM comes with responsibilities and it is a sign that Zimbabwe has accepted to be reviewed, scrutinised and that it has nothing to hide."The APRM philosophy is that once you are a member, there are certain obligations and as part of those responsibilities, you open up to others to look at you. So you have a mirror, which is the APRM, and others can look at you and say you are not that beautiful, go and fix this and that, so it is responsibility, it is courage. To be a member of the APRM means that you are opening up your country to others, that is what the President was saying, that we can come in, the doors of the country are open. We write reports on countries and countries engage and talk freely about each other, you will soon have a report on Zimbabwe, which will be discussed by citizens and even people from other countries," he said.Professor Maloka said they expect 54 countries to be members of the organisation soon.Currently headquartered in South Africa, the APRM was viewed with skepticism over the years by some countries that feared that it could be manipulated by outsiders to demonise their countries.Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa has met local business people led by the Chairperson of the Young President Organisation (YPO), Pascal Gerken at State House.The meeting was also attended by members of YPO local chapter, and Ecocash CEO, Natalie Jabangwe.The team spoke positively on Zimbabwe's engagement and re-engagement exercise and the enabling business environment created by the new dispensation. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu The Zimbabwe National Army stepped in to provide collateral for the African Export-Import Bank's $500 million loan advanced to Zimbabwe recently.Bloomberg has reported that the loan, which will be paid over four years when production starts, is backed by a mine that Great Dyke Investments, a venture between Russian investors and the Zimbabwean military, plans to build at a cost of $4 billion.The Minister of Finance, the central bank and their officials have refused to disclose the source of the money and the process done to acquire it.Afreximbank, which is based in Cairo and is partially owned by African governments, has lent to Zimbabwe before. In addition to the gold-backed loan it extended a $600 million line of credit to the country in 2017. While the country is mired in an economic crisis, it has the world's third-biggest platinum group metals deposits and abundant reserves of gold, iron ore, diamonds and lithium. It also has some of the most developed infrastructure in Africa and one of the region's best educated work forces.Bloomberg reports that the structure of the deal was decided earlier this month at a meeting attended by officials from Zimbabwe's treasury, central bank, mines ministry, Afreximbank, and Great Dyke Investments chairwoman, Hespinah Rukato, the people said. The mine could produce about 800,000 ounces of platinum group metals a year if built. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu MDC Presidential Spokesman Dr Nkululeko Sibanda has come under fire from Twitter users for comparing President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC leader Nelson Chamisa's popularity on social media.Celebrating Chamisa's half a million Twitter followers mark, Sibanda said, "Meanwhile, Mnangagwa is at a paltry 370k and claims to be President. And his timeline is full of comments and not likes or agreement. He gets more comments than approvals all the time. Approval rating is surely negative."One user cautioned Sibanda saying, "Twitter numbers mean nothing Malema regretted use of social media as it gave him falsehoods on elections, Malema thought he was going to win as president of South Africa basing on social media. My advice is go on the ground for MDC to win elections. Join us on the ground."Ask EFF they will confirm for you that twitter, (social media) doesn't make u win an election. Social media followers do not translate to voters. It will not work."Dr Sibanda defended his act by alleging that, "75% of Zimbabwe depend on the 25% for their news. Ask the Scientists who study these things and we will help you. Do you somehow think you live in the bow and arrow age?"The following Twitter users also expressed their views on the matter:Manley Mabhikwa: I do not think the comparison is necessary, such utterances have the further effect of reducing your standing amongst reasonable people.Tafadzwa Masango: Social media popularity doesn't translate to votes on the ground. The bulk of yr followers post election even confessed to be unregistered voters futi. Maybe Chamisa is Twitter President and Mnangagwa is Zimbabwe's President.Simba Musonza: 500K followers are not all Zimbabwean, not all registered to vote in Zimbabwe elections. Less than 17% of Zimbabweans are active on social media at least once every month according to Twitter, FB and Google. News / National by Staff reporter The respected global journal, International Policy Digest, has flagged opposition MDC-Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa for snubbing the recently launched Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) and for openly calling for further protests, going against the national spirit.POLAD was launched last week by President Mnangagwa at the Harare International Conference Centre and 17 parties were represented.The launch was a culmination of the call by President Mnangagwa for engagement between political parties to address the country's challenges.In a recent article, the key policy journal's writer Martin Banks said the main aim of POLAD was to provide a platform for the exchange of political ideas and opinions in a peaceful and respectful environment."Most Zimbabwean parties are participating in the initiative. Obert Gutu, vice president of the opposition party MDC-T, said they were committed to improving people's lives," Banks wrote, in an article that is likely to raise the interest of the international community including the United States of America."However, the main opposition party, the MDC-Alliance, headed by Nelson Chamisa, decided to snub the initiative. In fact, the very day POLAD participants appealed for unity, peace and an end to economic sanctions, Chamisa deliberately seemed to broaden the chasm, openly calling for further protests, which in the past have led to violence."Banks said when President Mnangagwa was elected, he promised to crackdown on corruption, resolve controversial land issues, restore relations with the West, and deliver economic reforms and democratic freedom."He vowed to re-engage the world' and open Zimbabwe for business'. Yet the immediate challenges on the ground were near insurmountable, largely due to the grave mismanagement that had piled up during the Mugabe regime."Banks said the West's lack of patience was compounded by Mr Chamisa's hostility towards President Mnangagwa's Government."The unofficial successor (a recent High Court ruling has invalidated Chamisa's party leadership) of MDC founding party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who died last year of cancer, Chamisa has taken a disruptive stance following his election defeat, orchestrating violent protests, endorsing sanctions and rebuking conciliatory talks with Mnangagwa."Even Tsvangirai's son Edwin urged the two political protagonists to negotiate in the national interest."He said the West should pay more attention to the actions of President Mnangagwa."It should not squander this opportunity for change and potentially trigger a return to hardline politics, but support President Mnangagwa as he tackles national unity, a challenging economy and natural disasters among many other issues," Banks said. News / Press Release by ZCP The arrest of four people; Tatenda Mombeyarara, George Makoni, Gamuchirai Mukura, and Frank Mphalo upon arrival at the Harare International Airport on Monday 20th April 2019 is clearly an attack on those fighting for the rights of the oppressed people of Zimbabwe.The charge that they were organizing the violent overthrow of the Zimbabwe government exposes the foolishness of the so-called Central Intelligence Organization. The people involved were returning from an international meeting of civil society organizations in the Prague, Czech Republic.The CIO is very aware that the organization of violence, when it occurs, does not take place at such international gatherings. We must wonder who they are trying to convince. They know they are lying and we know they are lying. What the state security forces have done disgraces Zimbabwe and in itself can be regarded as an act of treason as it directly contradicts the provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, a democratic Constitution voted for by the overwhelming majority of the Zimbabwean people in 2013.This is not an isolated incident. The National Political Commissar of the Zimbabwe Communist Party, Ian Beddowes, was accused - in the ZANU(PF) publication "The Patriot" - of giving militant training to Mthwakazi youth yet his opposition to separatism is very well known. Then on Friday 27 th April 2019, ARTUZ Secretary-General Robson Chere, together with 3 other teachers, Jess Drury, Precious Ndlovu and Munyaradzi Ndawanawere were abducted from a private house in Greystone Park, Harare. They were holding a political education meeting for teachers based on the well-known book by Brazilian educationist Paulo Freire, The Pedagogy of the Oppressed.Four men in plain clothes without an arrest warrant broke into the house after which they were and then taken to Harare Central Police Station where they were charged under Section 37 of the Criminal Code, "Participating in a meeting which promotes violence or bigotry." The ARTUZ lawyer, Doug Coltart, was summoned to the police station the following day, Sunday 28th April 2019 to face similar charges.On 26th of April, Mackswell Basiyavo, Secretary for Legal Affairs in ARTUZ was abducted and tortured. ARTUZ played an important role in the formation of the Guruve Residents' Association in Mashonaland Central. He was kidnapped by men carrying an AK-47 at Shamwari Filling Station, taken to a secret place and tortured for some hours for exposing land fraud.What is clear is that there is a new movement growing among the people of Zimbabwe which rejects the neo-liberal, pro-imperialist and anti-poor policies of ZANU(PF) and MDC. ZANU(PF), at present begging to join the British Commonwealth, cannot characterize the growing peoples' movement as pro-imperialist' as correctly it has been able to do with the MDC. We areopposed to sanctions imposed by the US and Britain the countries which gave us Mugabe and ESAP. The black Rhodesian elite now have to invent reasons to arrest us.The ZCP was the first to call for National Economic Dialogue in 2017. But ZANU(PF) has refused to include us in their discussions. Worse. The working-class organized through the trade union movement has not been involved. According to the neo-liberals, National Economic Dialogue is supposed to take place without the producers of wealth the workers. President Mnangagwa is running a National Monologue, not a Dialogue. The ZCP demands the dropping of the ridiculous charges by the state and the end of thuggery and harassment of trade unionists and other activists working for the interests of the Zimbabwean majority, the working-class, the peasants and the poor. The ZCP calls for the revival of the principles and the demands of those who fought and gave their life's blood for the liberation of Zimbabwe. The Bolshevik Red Star is on our beloved national flag. It is the Red Star of Socialism.The Zimbabwe Communist Party demands the adoption of a National Democratic Economy as the first step towards socialism and calls for genuine dialogue. We demand the release of the PRAGUE 4! Vaccinations: A controversial issue in the ultra-Orthodox community Its a measles epidemic, a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time. Some 704 cases of measles have been reported by the CDC as of the end of April. Of the total, 423 cases were reported in New York, almost all in the Torah-observant communities in Brooklyn. Another 236 cases were reported in Rockland County, which include the communities of Monsey and New Square. Epidemiologists trace the cause of the measles outbreak in New York among Orthodox Jewish families to the decision not to vaccinate their children. The members of this community are very religious, deeply conservative and suspicious of authority. Its a community targeted by an organized, anti-vaccine campaign. The anti-vaccine message uses language and symbols the community is familiar with, and tends to recognize as authoritative. As the number of measles cases increased, government and public health officials in New York first attempted to get parents to vaccinate their children through education and outreach. When that didnt work, city officials issued a ban to keep unvaccinated students from going to school. When that failed, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a public health emergency. The emergency requires unvaccinated individuals to receive the measles vaccine or face fines for non-compliance. The anti-vaxxers dug in. One example was a vaccine symposium, held on May 13 in Monsey, where hundreds of religious Jews packed a ballroom in the Atrium, in which a mechitza had been erected. Although the evening was advertised as a night of science, discussion and truth, there was little science, discussion or truth from the hard-core anti-vaccine proponents. The New York Times reported Rabbi Hillel Handler described the measles outbreak among Jews as part of an elaborate plan concocted by Mayor de Blasio to deflect attention from more serious diseases brought by Central American migrants. A pediatrician, Dr. Lawrence Palevsky, claimed that failed vaccines were producing a new strain of measles. Andrew Wakefield addressed the crowd by Skype. Wakefield is a former physician, who was stripped of his license to practice in Britain after his study, linking measles vaccines with autism, was found to be fraudulent. Wakefield accused the Centers for Disease Control of being engaged in a conspiracy against him. What happened to me is what happens to doctors who threatened the bottom line of the pharmaceutical companies, he told the audience. * * * Some time in 2018, an anonymous anti-vaccine group, called PEACH (Parents Teaching and Advocating for our Childrens Health), began circulating a booklet, All Your Vaccine Questions Answered, that claims hundreds of thousands of parents, whose childrens lives have been ruined within hours of vaccines. The booklet was delivered to the homes of families in ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. Among the booklets claims: The medical media is completely obscuring the obvious repercussions of vaccines The safety of vaccines hasnt been scientifically studied (science isnt always so scientific) The CDC and the FDA are covering up evidence that vaccines cause autism Unvaccinated children dont spread disease One way to respond to anti-vaccination arguments is with rational, data-driven arguments. But, that often doesnt work among the tight-knit religious community, which rejects modern secular culture, and which often gets their health care information by word of mouth from members of the community. Enter the Orthodox Jewish Nurses Association. Begun in 2008 as an Orthodox Jewish nursing network, OJNA responded to the current measles outbreak and the misinformation being spread by PEACH by organizing its Vaccine Task Force. Through their EMES Initiative, the OJNA provides evidence-based vaccine education to women in intimate settings. They also created A Slice Of PIE (Parents Informed & Educated), a booklet that refutes the misinformation and outright lies in the PEACH publication. Unlike PEACH, which published anonymously, claims widespread conspiracies, gives no sources or footnotes, and almost totally depends on anecdotal evidence, all information given by OJNA sources is evidence-based. Evidence-based practice is a conscientious, problem-solving approach to clinical practice. It incorporates the best evidence from well-designed studies, patient values and preferences, and a clinicians expertise in making decisions about a patients care. Rebecca Feldman, FNP, R.N., is a member of the Vaccine Task Force. Shes a board-certified family nurse practitioner and holds a position as an emergency room nurse practitioner in Long Island, N.Y. Feldman explained to the JHV how evidence-based information given by the Vaccine Task Force differs from the selective information given by PEACH. All of medicine is supposed to follow evidence-based practice, explained Feldman. We look at the many tests done over the course of years, as to whether vaccine, medicine and procedures are safe, effective, if the benefits outweigh the risks, and what are the side or adverse effects. When we talk about vaccines, there are many studies available to look at. What PEACH tries to say is that there have not been enough studies done on vaccines. Not true. Vaccines are thoroughly and heavily researched. To say otherwise is a complete fallacy. In going through the PEACH magazine with the JHV, Feldman pointed out how the anti-vaccination argument relies on anecdotal evidence. It quotes a physician, who claims to have seen thousands of cases in his practice to prove an anti-vaccine message. How do you verify something like that? asked Feldman. Research is valuable, because the results can be replicated, and the findings are consistent across multiple studies. When one doctor claims that vaccines are dangerous or cause autism based on his clinical practice theres no real way to verify that. As a frum Jew, Feldman, and the other members of OJNA, understand the thinking, the mindset and the unique circumstances that the community faces. So, when a mom comes to her and says shes read in a booklet that unvaccinated children dont spread disease, Feldman first responds with empathy for the mothers concerns. We dont brush off any questions they ask. Nor are they made to feel like a moron for asking. Our approach is that every parent should be asking questions when it comes to anything related to their childs health and well-being. Were hearing a lot of hesitancy about vaccinations, because our community relies a lot on word of mouth. People come to us and relate a story they heard second- or third- hand about someone who experienced bad effects coming after vaccinations. So, theres fear because of concerns about the health and safety of the children. When it comes to research, most lay people dont have the tools to analyze medical research and data. Were here to help them do that, to explain what the research shows, and help them feel confident about making the right choices for their families. Ultimately, vaccinations become a public health issue. If enough people stop vaccinating, the disease becomes widespread in those neighborhoods. Besides the danger to children, we are trying to protect people on chemotherapy and others with compromised immune systems. Unvaccinated children put vulnerable people in our community at risk. Thats why it becomes a public health issue. The Vaccine Task Force members discovered PEACH runs a hotline, a call-in number that offers support for not vaccinating. PEACH also organizes podcasts, featuring a rebbetzin who urges religious women not to vaccinate and leave it to Hashem to guarantee their childrens health. At stake is the health and welfare of the frum community, said Feldman. Weve come so far, in terms of science and medicine. Overwhelmingly, weve seen that medical advances have benefitted society. When people become so against these advances, we risk losing our trust in medicine, doctors and nurses. Its frightening that, despite the efforts of many dedicated, individuals in the health care community, people are choosing to disregard and argue against the benefits that are available to us. When we see individuals demonstrate a total disregard, in order to advance their individual agendas, its frustrating and quite honestly, dangerous. It used to be normal to lose babies to childhood diseases. Now, we have vaccines, medicines and technology for people to take advantage of and expand the lifespan and quality of life. Why do we want to go backwards? * * * One argument PEACH uses to scare parents away from vaccinating their children is to claim that vaccines have not been scientifically tested, or that vaccines are not run through the same rigorous trials as drugs. Not true, countered Lawrence Waldman, R.N. The Houston nurse is senior clinical project manager for IQVIA, the largest contract research organization in the U.S. IQVIA is a publicly owned entity, not owned by any pharmaceutical company. Waldman is the project lead for clinical trials in IQVIAs research and development division. Few people have as much knowledge as Waldman does about how drug and vaccine clinical trials work. Hes been running or monitoring clinical trials for 21 years. A pharmaceutical company will give us a molecule, an active drug. We can package it, label it, blind it and distribute it. We offer all services required for a clinical trial, including data management, biostatistics, clinical monitoring, regulatory and compliance, and reporting any adverse events to the FDA and other regulatory bodies, explained Waldman. Anti-vaxxers claim no one has ever done a double-blind, placebo-controlled study on multiple-dose vaccines given multiple times. Thats not true, said Waldman. He explained that, in order for a drug or vaccine to be FDA approved, it has to undergo three levels of scientific testing: for safety, efficacy and long-term safety. Tests are conducted in a double-blind manner. A blinded table is created that randomly assigns subjects to the study drug or a comparator. Thus, neither the subject, investigator nor pharmaceutical company knows what arm of the study drug the subject is assigned to. In that way, bias is avoided, said Waldman. It also removes the placebo effect, the psychological feeling that youre feeling better, even when youre not getting the study drug. Testing also observes and records any untoward effect of the drug on a persons health, whether or not it can be attributed to a medication. If you have had any change in how you felt since your last study visit, that is recorded and reported. The investigator makes a judgement as to whether that change can be attributed to the study drug or not. When a drug or vaccine passes protocols, the results are reviewed by an institutional review board or ethics committee. What that should tell people is: Any vaccine or drug that passes protocols is safe and effective, said Waldman. There has been no credible scientific research that links the measles vaccine to autism, which is the primary battle cry of the anti-vaxxers. They are putting the general population at risk. Because of the number of people not getting vaccinated, were seeing diseases we wiped out decades ago, like measles, polio, whooping cough, become an epidemic again. * * * Rabbi Asher Bush lives in Rockland County. He is the rav of Congregation Ahavat Yisrael of Wesley Hills. He also serves as chairman of the Rabbinical Council of Americas Vaad Halacha and on the Frisch Schools Talmud, Tanakh, Halacha and Jewish History faculty. As far back as 2012, when Rabbi Bush published the authoritative article, Vaccination in Halakhah and in Practice in the Orthodox Jewish Community, in the journal Hakirah, he remarked on the striking phenomenon that has developed in recent years where rabbanim have been asked to play an increasingly significant role in medical decisions. Rabbi Bush wrote, It seems that, in some cases, this increased rabbinic involvement may be playing a significant part in the anti-vaccination movement in segments of the Orthodox community, making it much harder to create an environment where such healthy and prudent practices are a matter of course. With one or two exceptions, the most expert rabbi, who is an authority on Jewish law, does not possess expertise in medicine, Rabbi Bush told the JHV. Its not the rabbis authority to decide whether vaccinations are medically appropriate or not, said Rabbi Bush. It is the rabbis job to work with the accepted medical knowledge of the day. Unfortunately, there are some rabbis who have such strong anti-vaccine agendas, that it colors their ability to give an objective and appropriate ruling. These anti-vaccine rabbis are catering to an unworldly population, who tend to be very suspicious of the outside world. In their minds, an anecdote that you hear from your sister-in-law carries the same weight as the surgeon general. The so-called anti-vaccine experts traffic in conspiracy theories. And then, you have discredited doctors who go against what serious authorities are saying. For Torah-observant Jews, there is a halakhic obligation to vaccinate, said Rabbi Bush. The obligation is based on the well-accepted psak that it is a parental obligation to remove ones child to safety. Halakha obligates us to remove ones child from a dangerous situation in our midst. Theres also the general mandate for parents to protect the health of their children. The Rema [Rabbi Moses Isserles] makes it quite clear that he does not require specific acts of rabbinic legislation for an activity to be prohibited due to its dangerous nature. Thus, any situation that is generally deemed dangerous, whether the sages commented about it or not, whether it even existed in Talmudic times or not, these activities are not allowed. Rabbi Isserles specifically wrote that when a plague breaks out in a city, the inhabitants of that city should not wait for the plague to spread. Rather, one is obligated to flee the city at the onset of the outbreak. From there, some authorities argue there is no difference between vaccinating and having to flee a city when there is an epidemic. The concept that we can extract is to conduct ourselves in a proactive manner to halt the spread of disease, which, for us, means vaccination, said Rabbi Bush. The rav also argues schools have the right and/or responsibility to prevent unvaccinated children from attending. It is the consensus of almost every poskim, that even though a parent may have the Halakhic right to refrain from vaccinating their child, that does not exempt them from following the law or school policies, particularly when it could well mean jeopardizing the health and safety of others, he explained. * * * The anti-vaccine movement is active in Houston, but not in any segment of the Orthodox Jewish community. In 1956, in response to a question about vaccinations, the Lubavicher Rebbe wrote, It is with regard to matters such as these that the axiom Do not set yourself apart from the community applies. You should act according to that which is done by [the parents of] the majority of children who are in your childrens classes The Orthodox Union and the Rabbinical Council of America strongly urge all parents to vaccinate their healthy children on the timetable recommended by their pediatrician. You may have the right to make decisions for yourself, but you dont have the right to endanger others. You may have individual rights, but not the right to jeopardize the health and safety of others, said Rabbi Bush. He referenced Rav Elyashiv, who wrote that the parents of vaccinated students have the right to insist that all other classmates be vaccinated, so as not to subject their children to unnecessary risk of illness. Refusing childhood immunizations on the basis of unsubstantiated fears of vaccine side effects is irresponsible, and out of order halakhically, said Rabbi Bush. Right-wing yeshivot have a lot of rules, such as proper dress. If a student comes to school dressed improperly or immodestly, they will be sent home. To suggest that they believe that parental autonomy should supersede school rules is disingenuous. In numerous states, parents wishing not to vaccinate their children are permitted to sign a document stating that their religious convictions do not allow them to. If signed by parents, this allows the child to attend school under the law. It is reported that small numbers of parents in Jewish schools have signed such documents. For a parent of a yeshiva student to sign such a statement in the name of Judaism is just not inappropriate it is false, stated Rabbi Bush. There is no position in Halakha that says you may not vaccinate. If you say that, youre a liar. Thats not the Jewish religion. When religious authorities dispense misleading or false information Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetzky, dean of the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, and a member of Agudath Israel of Americas Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah, publicly calls all vaccines a hoax and just big business. His wife, Temi Kamenetzky, lectures extensively against vaccines. In 2015, Rabbi Kamenetsky co-signed a letter that claimed in 2011, the Supreme Court stated that vaccines are unavoidably unsafe. This was used to justify a psak prohibiting yeshivot from refusing admission to unvaccinated children. Rabbi Malkiel Kotler and Rabbi Matisyahu Salomon, two of the leading rabbis in Beth Medrash Govoha, the largest yeshiva in the U.S., co-signed the letter. Rabbi Kamenetsky was referencing Bruesewitz v. Wyeth, 562 U.S. 223 (2011). To be clear, the case was not about the safety of vaccines. When the Bruesewitz family originally brought their suit in a Pennsylvania court, they sought to show their daughters later developmental problems were the result of receiving Wyeths DTP vaccine. The suit was dismissed for failure to prove a link between the vaccine and the childs health problems. The case went through state court, local federal court and the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals, which held the suit was improper because the federal law preempted any state claims. In a 6-2 decision, the Supreme Court held The National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act, which created a no-fault program to provide compensation for vaccine-related injuries, preempts all design-defect claims against vaccine manufacturers by individuals seeking compensation for injury or death. In short, the argument in the Supreme Court was over statutory language, not whether vaccines are safe or unsafe. Justice Antonin Scalias majority opinion affirmed that, in state law, design-defect vaccine injury lawsuits were preempted by the 1986 federal vaccine act. The court never stated an opinion on whether vaccines are unavoidably unsafe. To write that the Supreme Court stated vaccines are unavoidably unsafe is inaccurate at best deliberately false and misleading at worst. Aaron Howard Opinion / Columnist Government failure and inaction has become an increasingly common aspect of our political system, whether it is due to political polarisation or through poor planning, which characterised the slow implementation of government policies. When the man in the street feels the cruel punch of the economy it is natural that the blame is squarely placed on the ruling party's door steps. But how does the nation apportion blame for these sorts of failures? It is true that people apportions blame to a particular political party in office. You will find that even when experts say otherwise, people still blame the party that rivals their own political views for the failure. This goes against the idea that a better informed electorate would be less partisan in actuality, people simply ignore the extra information they are given if it challenges their beliefs. People chose to criticise the ruling party for the hardships they are facing. Zimbabwe woke up to the shocking prices of fuel which threaten to trigger a free rise of prices of basic goods.Gas is never cheap in Zimbabwe. But if you've filled up your tank in recent days, you may have found yourself wincing more than usual. The rise in the gas prices has set the tongues wagging "That's a psychological benchmark for a lot of people," It's been a long time coming. The price hikes have made people believe that the government has failed.Government failures are a reality in any political system, and we should not just defend for political reasons. In the present situation failures have included the government's woeful response to corruption and in more recent years the inability to make policy and tackle societal problems. The question is, who do people blame when these failures occur? Prices have gone wild a plate of T bone steak is now 40 US dollars in A Zimbabwean hotel. By far Zimbabwe is the most expensive country in the world and investments are stalling. The situation in itself does not reflect the inability of the president. It reflects the criminals around the president getting very powerful.The electorate overwhelmingly blame the party for the failure. The opposition will blame the ruling party and the buck stops with the party in power. This is not entirely surprising and is consistent with the normal reaction of the general populace. What is most interesting is how people blame the ruling party for the rain. People are very selective about who to blame. But when there is a problem people tune it out, seemingly unwilling to listen and blame their own party.For one, representative democracy requires that the people are able to hold elected officials accountable for performance in office. When politicians fail to produce desired outcomes, citizens need to be able to accurately place blame and potentially vote them out of office. We have shown that rather than consider relevant facts, people are more interested in pointing the finger at the other party.When the information confirms our beliefs, we use it, and when it challenges us we ignore it. Partisanship colors much of our political experience, and expecting people to take off the partisan glasses when considering information about who is to blame does not appear to happen.So it is clear that the failures of the government reflect badly on the party. Defending the party blindly destroys the party more.If the party takes no decision to deal with the failing government then the party is losing the plot. It is thus important that the party be in charge of the government so that they are able to control the damage exerted on them by the government in action. Party will have a bad name if government fails. As we have entered another day with no fuel no cooking oils swimming in price hikes and poverty being a luxury the party must rise above all this.The blame game must not be the pointer to the effects of the party. ZANU PF is facing a lot of problems and it is fighting for dominance. For the first time after independence there are four fronts the party is fighting it needs the full support of members to see itself through this tough time.There are the Mai Mujuru followers. They are still in the party. They have put their. Heads in the sand but remains very active working against ZANU PF while they are in ZANU PF. This is another front ZANU PF is facing. After the Gamatox there a well organised and very calculative outfit. These are the G40 cabal. Most of the G40 members remained in the government. Some are ministers and most of them are MPs. They systematically work against the government. The reason is simply to turn the people against the government. The G40 are real and they do act against the government. The party is having strong enemies within. The most difficult and yet effective enemy is the one within.This G40 syndrome is with the party. A lot of sabotage has been perpetrated by the G40 within. These are the people who have attacked the party in every aspect. The economy is proving a tough nut to crack this is because those who are supposed to help are in charge of destruction. The softness of Our system is not helping. Then we have the opposition. The opposition is less dangerous than the enemy within. But the opposition has caused pain and suffering to the masses.Now Zimbabwe is being faced by damaging price hikes. The problem is political parties are politicising the otherwise pure industrial action. It becomes political.It is usual that new leaders will always have their hard times These times are the most difficult ones. They have plunged Zimbabwe into difficult times. The problems facing the party are plenty and decisive action has to be taken. Diplomatic approach towards the enemy within is a futile exercise. It will take the party a longtime to cleanse itself from the opposition within.The challenges facing the party make it difficult to concentrate on the burning issues of the economy. This year must be the year of weeding out the enemies within and move on.The blame will always be on the ruling party. It is great to sit and say we did our best despite the challenges. Heroes are made by their survival from challenges. They are polished by the victories they squeeze through. Tough times are with us in zimbabwe it is how we get out of them which makes us the victors. We need to be patient and we will see us through.With all the problems and the blames ZANU PF gets it must be comforting that ZANU PF will steer the nation out of the economical shadows.We need to hang on there 2019 promises better days. We have sacrificed enough and now we must wait. And seeVazet2000@yahoo.co.uk - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." Businessmen teamwork brainstorming meeting. Retirees and other income investors are searching for top-quality dividend stocks to add to their TFSA portfolios. Inside the TFSA, investors get to keep all of the interest, dividends, and capital gains. This is a big deal for income investors who want to give themselves a bit of extra cash without worrying about being bumped into a higher tax bracket. Lets take a look at three reliable stocks that might be interesting picks for your passive-income buy list today. 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Size is important in this industry, and BCE has access to the billions of dollars in capital needed to continuously upgrade its network to keep up with rising broadband demand. At the same time, BCE generates sufficient free cash flow to support the attractive dividend. Investors who buy the stock today can pick up a yield of 5.2%. Toronto Dominion Bank (TSX:TD)(NYSE:TD) TD is a profit machine. The company generated $12 billion in adjusted net income in fiscal 2018 and investors should see steady earnings growth continue at a 7-10% rate. The bank is widely viewed as being the safest pick among the big Canadian banks. This is primarily due to its focus on retail banking activities in Canada and the United States. The American division actually has more branches in its network, serving personal and commercial clients from Maine all the way down the east coast to Florida. Story continues TD has raised the dividend by a compound annual rate of better than 10% over the past two decades. The existing payout provides a yield of 4%. The bottom line Canadian investors can take advantage of their TFSAs to hold reliable dividend stocks without worrying about tax hits on the income or gains. Adding Fortis, BCE, and TD should be a good start to building a passive-income portfolio today. More reading Fool contributor Andrew Walker owns shares of BCE. The Motley Fools purpose is to help the world invest, better. Click here now for your free subscription to Take Stock, The Motley Fool Canadas free investing newsletter. Packed with stock ideas and investing advice, it is essential reading for anyone looking to build and grow their wealth in the years ahead. Motley Fool Canada 2019 Alaska Air Carrier Suspends Operations After Being Involved in Two Fatal Crashes in One Week Alaskan Airline Involved in Two Fatal Crashes in One Week The Alaskan airline whose planes were involved in two fatal crashes in a week has suspended operations, Taquan Air announced on Tuesday. Six passengers died in a mid-air collision on May 13, and a pilot and one passenger died Monday after a plane crashed into Metlakatla Harbor in southeastern Alaska, NBC News reported. As you can imagine, the past 24 hours have been incredibly overwhelming, and we are reeling from not only the incident yesterday, but also from last week, the airline said in a statement released on its website. Our priority has been our passengers and their families and our internal staff and pilots. We have voluntarily suspended all of our operations until further notice, said the air carrier, which calls itself one of the most successful floatplane operators in Alaska. It operates in the Ketchikan area, where both crashes occurred. Peter Knudson/AP/REX/Shutterstock RELATED: Plane Carrying 143 People Skids Off Runway Into Florida River Injuring 21 The causes of both deadly plane crashes are currently under investigation. On Monday, the plane was landing and touched down in the harbor when the right float dug in to the water, causing the plane to cartwheel, the chief of the National Transportation Safety Boards Alaska office, Clint Johnson, told NBC. The plane lost its right wing and ultimately landed upside-down and partially submerged underwater, Johnson said Tuesday. The boats in the area obviously responded, tried to get the folks out, Johnson said to the outlet of rescue attempts. Unfortunately, that didnt work out. The right wing has yet to be recovered as of Wednesday. RELATED: American Among 41 Killed in Fiery Russian Plane Crash Last week, a Taquan plane collided mid-air with a Mountain Air plane, with six passengers dying out of a total of 16 aboard the two planes. The remaining 10 passengers were rescued, according to officials. The airline has been involved in a handful of plane crashes in the area, with a non-fatal crash occurring back in July 2018 and five people killed in a 2007 crash. Taquan Airlines, which provides sightseeing tours as well as commercial flights, has since suspended operations following the two plane crashes this month. It was a picture reminiscent of a past era at the Goose Bay air force base Monday morning as residents gathered to catch a glimpse of some World War II relics on their way to Europe for the upcoming 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. "There's a lot of old spirits and old souls around that remember these quite well and that we're able to participate in this sort of situation here, this event here in Goose, basically with the same infrastructure possibly is amazing," Happy Valley-Goose Bay resident George Andrews said. Jacob Barker/CBC Ten out of 15 Douglas C-47s that are taking part in the commemorative event made their way through Goose Bay over the long weekend. The aircraft, a military version of the DC-3, were used in World War II to transport troops and supplies. Goose Bay served as a jumping-off point for the planes flying on to Europe. They will make their way through Greenland and Iceland before arriving in Scotland. "We are actually replicating the same route," said Moreno Aguiari, who is in charge of marketing for the D-Day squadron. "These airports are here because of the war in a way and we are still using them today and it's definitely the safest way, and for these airplanes, the only way." Jacob Barker/CBC The mission is complicated and costly. The budget for each plane to make the trip was between $250,000 and $300,000, raised mainly through sponsorships and donations. It was the No. 1 challenge for the non-profit organizations and museums, which, for the most part, own the planes. "If you don't have the money you can't even plan the trip," Aguiari said. D-Day drop The planes will join 15 European aircraft to commemorate D-Day when they fly in formation together across the English channel into France, where they will be dropping 250 paratroopers onto the beaches of Normandy. Pilot Sherman Smoot, who flew fighters in the military, said it is an honour to be behind the controls of the aircraft. Story continues "Every time I crawl into the seat of this airplane to fly, I think of a 21-year-old, 22-year-old, maybe, flying this aircraft across the English Channel at night with 29 paratroopers on the back," he said. Jacob Barker/CBC The plane arrived in England about a month after D-Day in 1944 but it was very active in the Allied campaign. What sets their plane apart from the others is that it was never converted to a passenger or cargo aircraft. "The inside is just like it was during the war," Smoot said. "We haven't changed that. We've tried to preserve it." Candy Bomber The aircraft Smoot is piloting was put on display for the public Monday morning on the tarmac at 5 Wing Goose Bay base. Busloads full of curious residents were shuttled onto the runway to get a look both inside and out. "What a great piece of living history," said aviation enthusiast Geoff Goodyear. "We're still acknowledging the anniversary of D-Day, and then to have all these wonderful aircraft come through, it's special." Jacob Barker/CBC It's named "Betsy's Biscuit Bomber," partly for the wife of the man who donated it to the California museum where it normally resides as well as for its role in the Berlin airlift a massive food and medicine airlift that took place during the war where it became known as one of the candy bombers. To think about what they had to go through to get the mission done it's pretty amazing. - Shane Wallace "During the Berlin airlift the crews were throwing candy out with little parachutes on it," said John Doyle, who helped work on the plane. Jacob Barker/CBC The plane will also help re-enact the Berlin Airlift this summer. "The Jelly Belly company made a bunch. We're going to be throwing them out over Germany," Doyle said. Emotional voyage Doyle said they've bumped into a few C-47 pilots on the way already, and the aircraft awakens a lot of memories and feelings. "There's a lot of history with this, a lot of emotion with it. There's been some tears from the people we've met," he said. Jacob Barker/CBC It's a special trip for Shane Wallace as well, who will be piloting the C-47 during the D-Day event his grandfather served in World War II. "To think about what they had to go through to get the mission done it's pretty amazing," he said. Jacob Barker/CBC Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador By Kanupriya Kapoor and Tommy Ardiansyah JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian police fired water cannon and rubber bullets at protesters setting fires and trying to breach barbed wire barricades on Wednesday as demonstrations over the outcome of the presidential election hit the capital for a second night. The riots followed an announcement on Tuesday by the General Election Commission (KPU) confirming that President Joko Widodo had beaten his challenger, former general Prabowo Subianto, in the April 17 poll. Widodo won more than 85 million votes of 154 million cast, but retired general Prabowo has alleged "massive cheating and irregularities" and refused to concede defeat. The election supervisory agency dismissed claims of systematic cheating, citing a lack of evidence. Independent observers have said the poll was free and fair. Protesters gathered outside the election supervisory agency in central Jakarta. Some arriving carried wooden poles and some had smeared toothpaste around their eyes, a practice commonly carried out to eliminate the effects of tear gas. Many left peacefully but as night fell others hurled firecrackers and other objects at officers and set blazes as they tried to breach the barbed wire separating them from police. Police responded with rounds of tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon. Medics were seen treating dozens of protesters affected by tear gas and using oxygen to revive some who had passed out. On Tuesday, the Tanah Abang area had also seen protests turn violent after nightfall. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said by Wednesday morning six people had been killed and 200 wounded. Widodo warned of tough action against those instigating riots. "I will not tolerate anyone disrupting the security ... or those who disrupt the democratic process or the unity of the country," he told a briefing at the presidential palace. Chief security minister Wiranto said the government would temporarily block certain social media functions to prevent inflammatory hoaxes and fake news. Indonesian authorities say 40,000 police and army personnel are on duty across Jakarta to maintain security. Many office buildings, businesses and embassies in downtown Jakarta were closed, as were train stations in the area. "WE KNOW WHO IS BEHIND THIS" Police said at three locations in the capital 257 suspects had been detained who were suspected of starting riots. Prabowo called for peaceful protests and restraint. "I urge all sides, the people who are expressing their aspirations, the police, the military and all sides to refrain from physical abuse," he told a briefing. Many of the protesters appeared to have come from outside Jakarta and police found envelopes containing money on some of the people they searched, national police spokesman Muhamad Iqbal told a news conference. "This is not a spontaneous incident, this is something by design. There are indications that the mobs are paid and bent on causing chaos," he said. Later at a news conference, police displayed suspects in orange jumpsuits as well as petrol bombs, makeshift arrows, sickles and cash in envelopes. The KPU on Tuesday confirmed unofficial counts by private pollsters that gave Widodo a 55.5% share of votes against 44.5% for Prabowo. A Prabowo campaign official said they planned to contest the result in the Constitutional Court on Thursday. Prabowo also launched a legal challenge after he was defeated in the 2014 election by Widodo, which was unsuccessful. Analysts have said Widodo's double-digit margin of victory means the opposition does not have a strong case to claim rigging, but Islamist supporters of Prabowo could cause considerable disruption. Islamist groups, many of which support Prabowo, have in the past been able to mobilize mass support. From late 2016, they organized a series of protests against then-Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, the first ethnic-Chinese Christian to hold the job, who was subsequently jailed for insulting the Koran. Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko said he believed there was "a systematic effort by a certain group ... that is riding on the situation to muddy the situation". "We know who is behind this," he said. Of the six reported fatalities, a 30-year-old man was killed due to a blunt force trauma, said Dr. Sumariyono at the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital in Jakarta. Another man died of bullet wounds, news website Tirto.com reported, quoting a doctor at another hospital. National police chief Tito Karnavian said reports of the deaths were being investigated. Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said security forces, including military personnel, were not armed with live bullets. (Additional reporting by Wilda Asmarini, Kanupriya Kapoor, Agustinus Beo Da Costa, Gayatri Suroyo, Fransiska Nangoy, Ed Davies, Fanny Potkin; Writing by John Chalmers and Ed Davies; Editing by Alison Williams) Cases of measles across Canada have prompted the P.E.I. Public Health Office to warn people to be on the lookout for it on the Island. Alberta has issued an alert for several communities after a confirmed case there, and there are confirmed cases in New Brunswick and Montreal. Measles is highly contagious, spreading through the air around people that have it, so Chief Public Health Officer Heather Morrison said it is important for people to be vigilant to avoid spreading it. "The initial symptoms are fairly mild with runny nose; red, watery eyes but a fairly high fever and a cough," said Morrison. "After about three or four days a red, blotchy rash appears. Usually starts on the head and goes towards the trunk and the arms." Vernon Bryant/The Associated Press If you suspect you have measles, or if you have been in close contact with someone who has measles, you should contact your health-care provider, Morrison said. Because measles is so contagious, you should call ahead before arriving at the hospital or your doctor's office. If you do have measles, you will be asked to avoid public places for four days after the rash appears. A public health nurse will ask you about your immunization history, and the places and people you were in contact with while you were contagious. Vaccines had eliminated measles in Canada Before the measles vaccine was introduced around 1970 the disease was common, with 300,000 to 400,000 cases a year, Morrison said. In some of those cases pneumonia developed, and the patient died. In other cases there were serious complications such as deafness, blindness, and brain damage. By 1998 immunization programs had eliminated measles from Canada, but there were still some cases from people travelling abroad, Morrison said. Measles vaccines are available from the P.E.I. Public Health Office, and are part of the recommended vaccine regime for all children born on P.E.I. More P.E.I. news Oli makes yet another remark that contradicts the spirit of federalism Local government representatives demand that either the statute be amended or such comments need to stop Here we reproduce news and opinion articles in the print and electronic media since October 8, 2008, about each of our 58 county grand juries. Most are about grand jury reports. Our posting of these articles does not purport to reflect the opinions of CGJA or our members. We hope that this feature is a resource to grand juries, grand jury advisors, CGJA chapters, the media, and the public. Sponsored by the California Grand Jurors' Association, www.cgja.org/ For the third time since Wisconsins Alice in Dairyland program began in 1948, Dunn County has been chosen to host the competition finals. Dunn County will host the 74th Alice in Dairyland finals in May 2021. The new Alice in Dairyland will be announced at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, county supervisor James Anderson of Menomonie said last week. Each Alice travels the state for a year, making public appearances, speaking to media and promoting Wisconsins agriculture industry. She also travels, nationally and internationally, as an ambassador for the states agriculture. Dunn County also hosted Alice in Dairyland finals in 1962 and 1989, program director Ti Gauger said Thursday. In the history of the competition, the county has had one winner. Sylvia Lee Kafkas of Colfax was chosen as the 15th Alice in 1962. Being chosen as a host county means more than organizing one or two events, Anderson said. Beginning in the summer of 2020, the county can expect a year of statewide attention, local public appearances by Alice and a focus on local agriculture. Alice will visit Dunn County once or twice per month starting in summer 2020 until the finals in May 2021, Anderson said. A local steering committee will decide where Alice and her entourage will visit in the county. One year from this July, Dunn County starts the activities, Anderson said. The search for the newest Alice begins in January, when the application period opens. Applicants must have three years of experience or training in public relations and knowledge or experience in Wisconsin agriculture, according to the Wisconsin Department of Trade, Agriculture and Consumer Protection. In March 2021, 16-18 candidates will come to Dunn County, along with their families and friends, to compete, Anderson said. As many as six final candidates will be announced that spring at a Dunn County press conference. In May, the final five to six candidates will return to Dunn County for the finals a three-day, partially-public job interview, according to the DATCP. Well tour them throughout Dunn County, show them all the features we think are great here, and the final is the coronation of Alice in Dairyland, Anderson said. Two evening events during the final will be open to the public, according to the DATCP. The new Alice begins the job on the first Monday in June. Extension Dunn County and the Dunn County Economic Development Corporation will join the county in planning the events. Dunn Countys selection as the 2021 host county was announced May 11 in Green County, where the 2019 Alice in Dairyland final was hosted, Anderson said. Also on May 11, Abigail Martin of Milton was chosen as the 72nd Alice in Dairyland. Walworth County is scheduled to host the finals in 2020. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This month, in partnership with 10 local churches, African Enterprise (AE) has embarked on The Huye Mission 2019 in Rwanda. Previously known as Butare, Huye was once the largest and most important city in Rwanda. Now, according to a report from the University of Rwanda,Huye is one of six secondary cities under development. With close to 330,000 rural and urban residents and a number of central universities, Huye is uniquely positioned to evolve into a knowledge, culture and agribusiness hub. Unfortunately though, many of the youth who can contribute to the reformation of Huyeare exposed to vices like prostitution and drugs at an early age. In order to cover education and living costs, the youth are vulnerable to the abuse of these industries, which is a trend local churches would like to see eliminated. Currently, there are 13 active churches that operate in Huye District. Theyre well respected, and considered just as important as international and local NGOs that serve the region. During the Huye Mission,AE will work with churches to further establish their connection to the community, and ensure locals know they are a place of support and refuge. Part of the mission initiatives will be training local evangelists to assist students recovering from drug and alcohol abuse, and those impacted by prostitution. AE will also coordinate a wide variety of Gospel proclamation events during the mission, inviting people to experience the love of God, and find relationship with Jesus Christ. Trained evangelists will lead open air meetings at market places, bus stations, schools and universities, prisons, children homes and more. The Huye Mission will also focus on sex workers in Tumba village, and some socio economic actions will be underway to help the most vulnerable families get health insurance and promote independent business initiatives. Bringing solutions to Huyeseconomic and social challenges will take time, but African Enterprise is committed to the region, and encourages you to join us as we care for the people of Rwanda. Find out more about African Enterprise and theirmissions at www.africanenterprise.com/missions Ben Campbell is the CEO Africa Enterprise and Laura Bennett is a contributor for African Enterprise and radio host at Hope 103.2 based in Sydney. A family assemble for a vacation in Portugal and to confront a looming loss in Ira Sachs gentle talkathon, Frankie. The film takes place in the Portuguese city of Sinta, a beautiful location, and a family of disparate elements have gathered here to swim, eat and walk, but mainly to chat and chat some more. Isabelle Hupperts titular matriarch has got Hollywood cancer Its spread everywhere, she tells her friend and now must prepare her family for her imminent death. Her second husband is the softly grieving Jimmy (Brendan Gleeson). Her son Paul (Jeremie Renier) has a petulant self-regard that seems to inhibit him from expressing himself. And Jimmys daughter Sylvia (Vinette Robinson) is herself in the midst of a marital breakdown. Frankies hairstylist friend Irene (Marisa Tomei) has also been invited as a potential spouse for Paul, but she arrives with Gary (Greg Kinnear), a boyfriend whos working on Star Wars as a DoP, though he doesnt seem to know George Lucas is no longer in charge of the franchise. Everyone goes for a few walks and talk: sometimes in the mist; sometimes in the rain; sometimes in the sunshine. But their conversation is like a very dry white wine, and the fact that everyone sounds the same despite different accents, could be written off to the fact that theyre all from a similar upper-middle-class background, but even the local teenagers sound like a middle-aged screenwriter. Gleeson is wonderful as Jimmy but he is given very little to do and Huppert who takes up the lions share of the screen time is doing Huppert schtick. Making her an actress feels lazy and watching her being adored by a bunch of locals when she wanders into their birthday party has no comic or satirical effect. Its just Huppert on autopilot and like that dry white wine, you can have too much of it. Frankies story, such as it is, develops over the course of a single day, and relationships are redefined, but nothing is accomplished and threads are left dangling almost as if Sachs got as bored as we quickly become and left off. The aforementioned cancer plot needs to be dropped as a plot device to give this whimsy some emotional heft. Its an emotional McGuffin that feels cheap and easy. It gives the characters something to care about but it has nothing to say about death and allows Huppert to practice a theatrical swoon. John Bleasdale | @drjonty EMS Industry 2019: Sunny with a Chance of Showers Published: 22 May 2019 The flow of migrants from south of the border is choking supply-chain routes. As we enter the middle of 2019, it appears to be shaping up as a good year for many in EMS. Anecdotally, Im hearing the best reports in years on firm backlog from the providers I regularly talk with. I think this is part function of a good economy, but also due to the material constraints the market has experienced for several years. OEMs recognize that having orders in place can be critical to parts availability. Hopefully, this is actual demand and not the double-booking phenomenon seen in previous constrained markets. The materials market appears to have good news as well. While a few commodities are showing longer lead-times or allocation, the bulk of component lead-times and prices appears to be stabilizing. A few have even decreased lead-times. This is good news for EMS because component availability has impacted companies ability to grow. This is a good time to check customer forecasts, since if orders have been inflated, stabilizing material availability may translate to a pushout in demand. A few clouds are on the horizon. The China tariffs continue to increase cost, add to invoice and receivables complexity, and drive changes in sourcing patterns. As I wrote this, duties were on the rise, but the prospect of more trade talks remained, and hopefully the tariffs will soon end. While I think this type of move was necessary to get serious discussion started, I also think there were significant unintended consequences in terms of tariff avoidance strategies. The tariffs have incentivized US production to move to Mexico. That brings me to the largest cloud on the horizon. This one has the potential to develop into significant supply chain disruption. While the national news has done a good job reporting on the humanitarian crisis at the border, whats been lost is its impact on border security infrastructure, including commercial truck traffic processing or the cartels human trafficking business, which has evolved from coyotes guiding small groups north into an efficient process for moving large numbers of so-called economic migrants emigres who seek an improved standard of living, rather than political asylum in short periods of time. According to an Apr. 9 article in Mexico News Daily, the impact of longer wait times at the border is costing Mexican exporters $800 million per day. In an Apr. 29 news story by El Pasos KVIA TV, El Paso Mayor Dee Margo and International Business Accelerator executive director Jerry Pacheco cite numerous instances of companies in Juarez, which has bridges connecting directly with the US interstate, choosing to air-freight products. In some cases, Pacheco noted, companies are trucking product 250 miles south to Chihuahua City to air freight into the US, adding an estimated 30% to logistics costs. Other strategies include moving production to areas farther east that are experiencing less migration. I honestly dont see this situation improving. In the view of many people not on the border, this is the normal seasonal migration of agricultural workers. Even long-term border residents who see migration as just part of life in this part of world recognize this is an entirely different situation. The number of migrants apprehended while attempting illegal border crossings exceeded 100,000 in March, the highest mark in 12 years. And the numbers continue to climb. While I dont want to dismiss the humanitarian aspect of this situation, I think it is important to highlight this isnt just migration. It appears to be a cartel strategy to deliberately overwhelm our border security systems. The migrants themselves are victims who are being promised the ability to live and work in the US with no restrictions. And it is working very well. CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel are being tasked with activities related to catching, screening, detaining and caring for migrant groups. This means fewer personnel manning normal screening activities at ports of entry. I dont see moving production to other parts of Mexico as fixing the problem, since CBP and ICE are transferring personnel from ports of entry as far away as the US-Canadian border to staff areas that are getting high migration numbers. Consequently, without legislative change, I suspect well see delays developing at all ports of entry over time, as ICE and CBP get stretched even thinner. The bottom line: weve got a great economy, a strong EMS sector and improvement in areas that were causing issues last year. However, border-related logistics challenges and costs may rain on that parade in the coming months. Susan Mucha is president of Powell-Mucha Consulting Inc. (powell-muchaconsulting.com), a consulting firm providing strategic planning, training and market positioning support to EMS companies, and author of Find It. Book It. Grow It. A Robust Process for Account Acquisition in Electronics Manufacturing Services; smucha@powell-muchaconsulting.com. COLUMBUS Andrew Gassman, Charli Preister, Sammy Nahorny and Jeff Cleary have a lot in common. Theyre all from Columbus, have fought a life-threatening illness and taken part in Make-A-Wish. In the past year, 93 terminally ill youths ages 2-17 have been granted wishes through Make-A-Wish Nebraska, with 38 of those kids living in Platte County. Now a local event, Walk for Wishes, is helping raise money to give back to the nonprofit organization thats helped so many in this area. And the fundraising idea all started with a 9-year-olds passion to help. I was talking to my little boy (Moses) one day and he was telling me about some of his friends who are less fortunate health- and finance-wise and he asked me if there was anything we could do to help them, said Willie Dove, co-coordinator of the Walk for Wishes event scheduled for Oct. 1. Doves mind went straight to Make-A-Wish, not only because Moses friend has made a wish before, but because the company he works for, Isagenix International, is a big supporter of the nonprofit. Make-A-Wish Nebraska was established in 1983 and averages about 110 wishes a year, with no monetary limit set on a request. Some wishes have been as small as asking for a bucket of Legos while others have involved trips overseas. Its a great opportunity to let them live out their childhood, said Lauren Piller, manager of events and community outreach with Make-A-Wish Nebraska. Theyre always at doctors visits having to act like an adult. This is a chance for them to be a kid, if just for a moment. Gassman, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic lymphoma in 2009, has fought against all odds and is now in remission at age 11. But before he was a cancer survivor, his family fought the unknown, turning to Make-A-Wish for a little relief from their hectic situation. Katie Gassman, Andrew's mother, said when they went to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, about a year after his diagnosis they got to be a normal family of six again. The same went for Preisters family, also choosing Disney World when she was 5. That's a popular request, according to Piller, with the location accounting for 40 percent of wishes across the nation. Preister was only 7 months old when she was diagnosed with stage 3 neuroblastoma, but having the never-give-up attitude as her mother Brenda describes it, Preister is now 10 years old with a magical tale to tell of the day she got to meet her superheroes at Disney World alongside her little brother Harper. It was such a fun and amazing, once-in-a-lifetime experience. We were able to do things as a family that we will likely never get to do again. More importantly, we spent an entire week not thinking about cancer, not even for one second, Brenda Preister said. We enjoyed each magical moment, where we were treated like royalty, and this opportunity filled our hearts with smiles and laughter that had at one time been stolen from us. Nahorny, of Sammys Superheroes, who is still battling neuroblastoma, also chose Disney World a year after his 2012 diagnosis. It was absolutely amazing and the kids will likely never have another experience like that again, his mother, Erin Nahorny, said. Cleary, now 29, took a slightly different route years ago when he made his wish. Rather than traveling, he wanted something he could use. He was born 14 weeks premature, suffering from a grade 4 intraventricular hemorrhage on his brain and bleeding in his lungs. He has cerebral palsy, is legally blind, mostly nonverbal and suffers from a seizure disorder. Jeff is able to do more and appreciate life more than anyone would have ever predicted, his mother Helen Cleary said. One of his favorite things to do is watch TV. But with his poor vision, his mother noticed he often leaned in close to the screen, straining to see. Travel isnt fun for him nor is going to ball games or concerts. So we wanted to give him something he could really use, Helen explained. They wanted to give him his own space. Make-A-Wish granted Jeffs wish for a custom-made workstation with a desk and TV stand set up perfect for him to read, listen to music and watch television. It has been a true godsend, Helen said. Shortly after he got his wish, Jeff had surgery on his ankle to have it fused. If he hadnt had his workstation to come home to, it would have been a very stressful recovery. Wishes like these are what Moses and his father are hoping to help grant more of in the Columbus area. I wanted to do something thats worth something, Dove said. Even if its not a big turnout Oct. 1, Im just glad were getting the word out that there is a need. The 2-mile Walk for Wishes will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 1 in Pawnee Park near Memorial Stadium. Freewill donations will be accepted at the event, which also includes a light lunch, bounce houses for children and silent auction. For more information, call Dove at 402-217-3244 or Amber Stary at 402-910-2757. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. COLUMBUS Photographer Michael Forsberg and videographer Peter Stegen are getting an up-close look at the Platte River the entire Platte River. The men began traversing the river July 1, starting at its beginning in western Wyoming. But when they were traveling south of Columbus last weekend, they had to walk instead of paddle. There wasnt enough water to float the canoe, said Forsberg. It became basically a llama to carry our equipment. It's part of canoeing on the Platte, he said. Forsberg has been documenting waterways since 2011 when he and Michael Farrell, a special projects manager at NET television, started a time-lapse project to explore waterways across the state. Their final destination is where the Platte meets the Missouri River south of Omaha. I thought (this project) would be a good way to connect the dots of all these places, said Forsberg. I wanted to explore where our water comes from and explore its story as it makes its immense journey. Along the way hes taken note of wildlife, such as deer, coyotes, raccoons, great horned owls and screech owls. Forsberg said hes also seen some wildlife that were endangered but seem to be thriving along the river, such as bald eagles. We saw a family of river otters, which was really cool, he said. River otters are making a comeback in Nebraska, but theyre very uncommon, so that was really neat. Hes also seen some of the challenges for the rivers ecosystem. It's not Disneyland out there, Forsberg said. There are huge issues with invasive species. One of those invasive species is the Asian carp, which is causing problems in rivers across the Midwest and South and threatening the Great Lakes. Forsberg has seen the fish in the Platte. Theyre infamous. When youre paddling, theyre like fish shot out of a cannon, he said. They fly out of the water. Humans are also responsible for some of these challenges. Theres some areas of the Platte that are really beautiful and theres other areas where its trashed, where theres a bunch of junk in the river, said Forsberg. Its not that way everywhere, but thats the reality. Forsberg and Stegen have met and heard the stories of people whose lives are closely tied to the river either they live, work and, increasingly as they travel east, vacation along the water. South of Columbus, an area businessman gave them permission to camp on his land for the night. They think were nuts but then they want to know more (about the project) and then they think its cool, he said. Pete and I are doing this trip to tell the story of water and what it means in our lives. Its also a gateway to other peoples lives." Forsberg found many people with personal memories of the river. My impression is how intimate water is in their lives. They remember the time the river flooded, or remember growing up along the banks of the Platte hunting or fishing with dad, the first time they saw an eagle, said Forsberg. Its those stories. Forsberg said the area south of Columbus is particularly important for the life of the river because that's where the Loup River flows into the Platte, bringing water from the Ogallala Aquifer. When you turn on your water in Lincoln, it comes from three places. It comes from snowpack in the Rockies, rainfall and from the aquifer, Forsberg said. Very few of us understand the story of it except that were thankful it comes out of the tap. But we dont want to take that for granted, because its not guaranteed. Forsberg and Stegen arrived Wednesday at the Missouri River, completing the 1,000-mile journey. Their route, images and reporting on the river and water issues can be viewed online at plattebasintimelapse.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 What is happening with Olis policy think tank? The governments promise of cooperation has fallen short West Park Elementary School dedicated its new percussion playground Tuesday during the schools annual year-end picnic despite pouring rain. The new playground is designed to give the Columbus community an opportunity to show off their musical abilities while providing a place for outdoor fun in any season of the year. This was a project for the community, said Paula Lawrence, principal of West Park. Its not just a West Park project. When we talked about where we would place it on our playground, we wanted to make sure we placed it where people would see it, so that they knew that driving by, (they would go) Hey, we can stop and use the percussion equipment. The playground was the brainchild of fourth-grade teacher Gayle Farmer, who saw a similar setup at an amusement park in Iowa. Farmer brought the idea to Lawrence, and the idea grew from there. As I was sitting there watching other people interact with it, it occurred to me that we needed something like this at West Park in Columbus, Farmer said. It took two years for Farmers suggestion to become a reality. Local businesses ponied up money and support to be used by the school. The school itself also raised money through a series of fundraisers at local establishments. In total, the school raised more than $8,000, barely enough to get the project underway. The playground includes a set of bongo drums, a cadenza, two congas, chimes and hand pipes. Columbus Public Schools maintenance crews spent a week putting in the equipment, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held the first week of May. The kids have had about two weeks to play with it, Lawrence said. I hear it throughout the day. Farmer said that the students were incredibly excited after the opening, when the kids first had the opportunity to play, or perform, with it. I kind of stood back and watched them (play with it), Farmer said. Every recess, when Im out there, they are out there interacting with it and theyre not holding back. Theyre just out there playing the instruments and having fun. The playground could also be used as a teaching tool for the schools music classes. Farmer said that music teacher Brianna Blunck was looking forward to getting to explore the new playgrounds possibilities. Shes hoping to use it during the school year to have the children interact with it, Farmer said. Both Lawrence and Farmer are hoping that both West Park students and others in Columbus use the new playground to create new musical possibilities. Already, people are using the new playground at all times of the day and having a ball doing so. It is so enjoyable, Lawrence said. Its fun. Its something (that) you can come and have family time with, and thats important. Farmer wants anyone that uses the new playground to get an appreciation for music and to enjoy their time doing so. I hope people in Columbus come and take the time to interact with it because its really kind of an amazing playground, Farmer said. Zach Roth is a reporter for The Columbus Telegram. Reach him via email at zach.roth@lee.net Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 COLUMBUS A Chevrolet pickup slammed into the side of a railroad tank car early Sunday morning while a suspected drunken driver was fleeing an attempted traffic stop. According to Columbus Police, a citizen reported the possible intoxicated driver, later identified as 28-year-old Andrew Rosno of Columbus, around 2 a.m. as his vehicle traveled from 33rd Avenue onto Howard Boulevard. The Chevrolet Silverado later turned east onto Lost Creek Parkway from U.S. Highway 81, then made a U-turn through the median to travel west on the parkway. Columbus Police initiated a traffic stop, but Rosno continued driving west on the parkway. The pickup was traveling southwest on the parkway around 2:30 a.m. when it crossed Highway 81, struck a road sign and continued into the ditch. It collided head-on with the side of the Union Pacific tank car, which was parked on the Nebraska Central Railroad tracks that run parallel to the highway. Columbus Fire and Rescue personnel extricated the driver from the pickup. He was transported by ambulance to Columbus Community Hospital then transferred by helicopter to Bryan Medical Center in Lincoln. Rosno was conscious and communicating with rescue personnel. The collision caused some of the tank cars to shift on the tracks, but there were no leaks. Tow trucks were called in to remove the pickup, which was partially wedged under the railroad car. Charges have not yet been filed in connection with the accident, which remains under investigation. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SCHUYLER Schuyler Central High School seniors Preston Hall, Paul Castanon and Arami Perez now get to work on their construction project inside. Before, when they were putting up the frame and attachments for the roof, they spent hours in the cold outdoors doing heavy lifting. Its a lot harder than building a table, said Hall. Well, none of its hard, you just have to pay attention." This is the 16th year Schuyler Highs construction classes are building a house that will be lived in by a local family. Its on one of the 18 lots laid out near 21st and Chicago streets, an up-and-coming subdivision where one house already stands. The construction classes' house has already been sold, as well as the one theyre building next year. Unlike other small towns, Schuyler is growing and the city is barely managing to keep up. In 1865, Union Pacific Railroad began laying track from Omaha west across the Nebraska Territory, and built the Shell Creek station a year later. By 1869, Nebraska was a state, and the Legislature split up Platte County and named one of the new counties Colfax, after former Vice President Schuyler Colfax. Shell Creek became the county seat and was renamed Schuyler. Schuyler and Colfax Countys early history is documented in the book Images of America: Colfax County," which was compiled by Mary L. Maas, Jim Krzycki, Judy Brezina and Ruth Waters of the Colfax County Historical Society along with Arcadia Publishing. Schuyler was the first community in the state to have a municipal water plant, electric plant and telephone exchange. During the height of the Chisholm Trail, Schuyler and Columbus competed to be the main shipping point for longhorns. Today, the two economies are still closely tied, with many residents living in one community but working, shopping and socializing in the other. They are also both growing at a time when many small towns across Nebraska, and the Midwest, are shrinking and aging. Schuyler economic development director Kem Cavanah said other small towns would love to have the city's problems. A growing population creates challenging opportunities, said Cavanah. A declining population is a real problem. As an economic development person, I can deal with a growing population. One challenging opportunity is the need for more housing in Schuyler. Real estate agents say the Schuyler housing market is tight, with a lack of homes available for purchase. City officials are well aware of the problem and Schuyler has a few housing projects at various stages of development. Construction on a 14-lot subdivision along West 22nd Street is expected to begin this spring. A second subdivision with 60 lots is under development. The city has invested in expanding its infrastructure, such as with a new sanitation system at 22nd and Chicago streets and completion of the Shell Creek levee to make the outskirts of the city more salable as potential housing developments. Other major projects have either happened recently or are currently under development. The Homestead Center, which houses community service organizations, opened in August 2015. Frontier Co-op invested $8 million in its Schuyler dry fertilizer facility. A $1.5 million recreation building is under construction next to the middle school. Private donors have written large checks for other community projects. The library foundation received a $500,000 donation for a new library and an alumni of Schuyler Community Schools donated $250,000 to the district's foundation. Cavanah said the flurry of investments in infrastructure, schools and businesses are a strong positive indicator for the city, and they wouldnt happen if the citys population wasn't growing. Do you want to invest in a community thats struggling to keep itself together? said Cavanah. Whereas were busting at the seams. One big advantage Schuyler has is the Cargill beef processing plant on the west side of town. Cargill bought the facility in 1969 and now employs more than 2,000 people there. Its also an entry point for immigrants to gain a foothold in the community. Mayor Dave Reinecke has lived in Schuyler his whole life, so hes seen the towns immigrant population shift from eastern European to Latin American. You'd be around town and you'd hear all these guys talking Czech and you didn't know what the heck they were talking about, said Reinecke. Now its the same thing going on except they're speaking Spanish. Along with their language and families filling the schools, Latino immigrants have also brought their entrepreneurial spirit. A tour through downtown would include Burrito House, Chichihualco grocery store and Zapatos Para Todos (Shoes 4 All). The chamber of commerces Business of the Year Award was presented last month to Schuyler Inn owners Javier Arizmendi and his wife Ada Sanchez. When Arizmendi bought the dilapidated inn in 2011, everything from the roof and windows to the carpeting and furniture had to be replaced. Reinecke remembers it was in bad shape. People used to refer to it as the Johnny Bates motel because it was called Johnny's at one time, he said. They have just done wonders with that thing. Arizmendi was an accountant in Mexico and working for a farm in Monroe when he decided to buy the inn. Arizmendi and Sanchez moved their family to Schuyler and poured lots of time, money and energy into the project. And now, thank God, we are seeing the fruits of our labor, Arizmendi said in his acceptance speech during the chamber event. They now plan on opening a bar and grill in downtown Schuyler, possibly by October. As a businessman Arizmendi, sees a lot of opportunities in Schuyler. The community is growing, he said. The Schuyler Community Development is trying to build houses and in my opinion that would bring more business. That economic and demographic power has not transferred to political power yet. Victor Lopez, owner of El Pueblo Tires, founded the organization Comite Latino to educate Latinos on the civic and government processes. "We see that need for our Latino community to be involved in the community like schools, school board, city council, all the things that have to do with the community," said Lopez. "Seeing as how we are a pretty good portion of the population and up until now we havent gotten involved." Comite Latino has held workshops on the roles of elected officials and encouraged residents to register to vote. Mynor Hernandez, who is running for a seat on the school board this year, said in 2012 they learned that in the prior election there were only 17 registered Latino voters. Their goal for 2012 was to increase that to 50, and they ended up with more than 130. They've also worked with the school district to increase parent participation in strategic planning meetings. Lopez said the goal wasn't just to advance the profile of Latinos, but also connect Schuyler's communities so they can work together. "Our purpose more than anything else is to build a bridge with everyone in town and have a more harmonious life," said Lopez. Reinecke admitted not everyone greeted the demographic shift with open arms, but that hasnt slowed the city down. I had a very good friend of mine that left Schuyler and it was white flight, he said. I dont mean to sound wrong, but if you don't want to be in Schuyler, don't be in Schuyler. And we'll move on without you. While the community will continue to grow, a redrawn flood map from the Federal Emergency Management Agency may shift exactly where that growth occurs. The new map added a large swath of Schuyler south of the railroad tracks, including downtown, to the flood plain for the Platte River. Property owners with mortgages will be required to purchase flood insurance. The owners of homes and businesses who have to take out a federal loan for construction or improvements will have to comply with flood regulations. To give downtown business owners more flexibility, the city is applying for its downtown to be designated as a historical district. Cavanah is leading the project and working with a consultant in Kansas City. The final application will not be submitted until April, so the outcome won't be known until the summer or fall. City officials have known the flood map changes were coming for years now and planned accordingly. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cut the ribbon on the Shell Creek levee almost a year ago. Once FEMA gives its final approval, the area around Shell Creek will no longer be considered part of a flood plain and be open for new construction. Infrastructure and housing projects were also planned north of tracks, out of the new flood plain. The city did look into building a levee for the Platte River, the source of the southern flood plain, but funding isn't currently available for that project. Still, city officials are confident that years of planning and building have Schuyler prepared for a future of growth and opportunity. We are prepared where we weren't 30 years ago, Reinecke said. If some entity (like a large business) was coming to look at Schuyler, we were never prepared to really sell Schuyler. Now we are. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 On the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg Battlefield in 1863, President Lincoln pledged that our country can never forget the last full measure of devotion given by our service members. This Memorial Day, Nebraskans and people throughout this nation will carry on a solemn tradition of honoring the fallen of our wars. Every one of them share this in common: they loved America, and they were willing to give their last full measure of devotion to protect our freedom. Those who gave everything when our country needed them most ask only one thing of us, that we remember them. On Memorial Day, and every day, we honor and remember our fallen service members. We do so not just with our words, but also with our actions. And we dont have to look far for evidence of this in our communities. Before World War I came to an end, plans were underway to build Memorial Stadium in honor of those who sacrificed their lives overseas. Its northeast corner is inscribed with timeless words: Their lives they held their countrys trust; They kept its faith; They died its heroes. First Lieutenant Jarvis Offutt was among them, who is the namesake of Offutt Air Force Base. Nebraskans commitment to honoring our fallen is alive and well among younger generations. Last year, The Washington Post chronicled the work of Vanessa Taylor, a high school student in Ainsworth, and her teacher, Nichole Flynn, as they dove into research for a history project. The goal was to honor a silent hero from their home state, as part of the National History Day Normandy Institute Program. Over several months, they brought the story of two twin brothers from Nebraska to life. Julius and Ludwig Pieper of Creston, were both stationed on a Landing Ship Tank called Stardust off the coast of Normandy during World War II. When the vessel struck an underwater magnetic mine, both brothers were killed. Ludwigs remains were found, but Juliuss name was etched on the Wall of the Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery in France. Vanessa and Nichole contacted the brothers family, the National Archives, and the Department of Defenses Prisoner of War and Missing in Action (POW/MIA) Accounting Agency, and after thorough research, authorities were able to find a match for Juliuss remains. Julius no longer remains anonymous and he was buried, fittingly, right next to his twin brother. In the article, the twins niece highlights one unforgettable memento, a letter the brothers wrote two days before their death, which read: Do not worry about us, we are together. Thanks to Vanessa and Nicholes hard work that statement is true once more. Nebraska is also home to other remarkable efforts to properly memorialize members of the Greatest Generation we lost. Recently, the Department of Defenses POW/MIA Accounting Agency, based at Offutt Air Base, identified the remains of Navy Fireman First Class Grant Cook Junior of Cozad. He was serving aboard the U.S.S. Oklahoma and sacrificed his life during the attack on Pearl Harbor. For over 70 years, his grave was topped with Known But to God. Grant Cook Junior was buried for a second time with a grave that bears his name. As we commemorate Memorial Day, I encourage every Nebraskan to reflect on the sacrifices made for our freedom. This year, Im looking forward to participating in the Adams County Memorial Day program at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. It is my honor to join Nebraskans at this special event to remember those who gave their lives in service to our great nation. In the days ahead, please take a moment to lay flowers on the grave of a fallen service member or pause for a moment of silence. Our hearts are with the families of our fallen, who carry a heroic burden of their own. We honor their memory. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 " " The latest attack in Finland highlights some critical security problems with the way we've implemented the internet of things. Richard Legner/Getty Images The residents of two apartment buildings in the city of Lappeenranta in Finland found themselves bundling up at home when the heat in the buildings shut down. The reason for the failure wasn't an accident it was a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack primarily using internet of things devices that lasted for several days. It's the latest in a string of attacks that have leveraged the internet of things to overwhelm systems. In this most recent case, the hackers directed traffic to the computer system that controls the heating (including the hot water heaters) for the apartment buildings. The system belongs to a company called Valtia, which provides facility management services. Advertisement Once this massive amount of traffic swamped the system, the computer attempted to reboot itself. This caught the computer in a reboot loop, shutting down heat to the buildings and confounding the maintenance staff. Fortunately, network administrators were able to limit internet traffic to the targeted system, and residents got their heat back. Earlier this year, tech security journalist Brian Krebs found himself in hackers' crosshairs. The web servers hosting his site, KrebsOnSecurity, became inundated with traffic from a collection of internet devices including routers, DVRs and security cameras. Akamai, a company that provides security services to Krebs' site, was able to fend off the attack. But according to Akamai officials, the amount of traffic they saw was nearly twice that of the largest attack they had seen previously. And in late October, many in the U.S. became frustrated when they found themselves unable to reach services like Twitter, Netflix and others. Again, the reason for the outage was due to hackers commandeering poorly secured internet of things devices. This group of hackers sent traffic to domain name servers (DNS) belonging to a company called Dyn. Those servers act like a phone book to the Internet they help direct traffic to where it needs to go. With the servers busy dealing with bogus traffic, they couldn't handle legitimate requests. It's clear that there are some critical security problems with the way we've implemented the internet of things. Too many devices have inadequate security, and some have no security measures in place at all. With more hackers learning how to take advantage of those devices, we'll likely see more attacks like these. Fortunately for the residents of those apartment buildings in Finland, they aren't in the coldest part of winter yet. In late December, Lappeenranta gets barely more than five hours of sunlight, and the high is around 26 degrees Fahrenheit (about negative 3 degrees Celsius). Previous DDoS attacks mostly caused an inconvenience, but this latest example from Finland could put people's lives in danger. Advertisement Advertisement Kinky Friedman, Cousin Nancy (Nancy Parker-Simons) and Tony Simons founded Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch in '98. Friends Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver, Spike Gillespie, Richard Pryor, Jerry Jeff Walker, Molly Ivins, Dwight Yoakam support the ranch. We primarily rescued dogs. Nancy, author of "The Road to Utopia: How Kinky, Tony & I Saved More Animals Than Noah" by UT Press '06 utopiarescue.com. cousin nancy blog 2021 by Cousin Nancy All rights reserved. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Miami, May 22, 2019The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Colombian authorities to ensure the safety of photojournalist Federico Rios, who was forced to flee his country after being harassed online over comments by lawmakers. Rios, a freelancer who works for outlets including The New York Times, told CPJ today that he left Colombia on May 19, for safety reasons, after at least three lawmakers circulated a photograph on Twitter that wrongly identified Rios as New York Times Andes bureau chief, Nicholas Casey. Rios said that the lawmakers posts were retweeted thousands of times, and that other users on Twitter harassed him and accused him of being a guerrillero and being in the pay of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) paramilitary guerrilla group. Casey also left Colombia after several lawmakers falsely accused him over social media of associating with FARC, CPJ documented this week. He told the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo that such accusations are serious due to the lack of security and safety in Colombia for journalists. The harassment followed a New York Times article by Casey, alleging that the head of Colombias army ordered troops to double the number of criminals and militants they kill. The irresponsible conduct by several Colombian lawmakers, who made false and incendiary accusations, has real effects on the day-to-day lives of journalists, especially local ones such as Federico Rios, said CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna, in New York. In a country where journalists are at risk of attack for their work, elected officials should be working to ensure their safety, rather than leveling claims that further endanger them. The photograph of Rios was first circulated on Twitter by Senator Maria Fernanda Cabal, from the Democratic Center party, on May 18. That tweet identified Rios incorrectly as Casey. A report published yesterday by Agence France-Presses Spanish-language fact checkers, AFP Factual, who spoke with Casey and Rios, confirmed that the person pictured on the back of a motorcycle driven by a FARC rebel was Rios and not Casey. Rios told CPJ that the report reignited the issue on Twitter, causing a second wave of harassment aimed at him. Rios said that he did not work on the New York Times article that led to the harassment of Casey. He worked on a separate article published days before. The journalist added that the Times has been supportive throughout the incident. Rios told CPJ that he has covered the peace negotiation between Colombian authorities and rebel groups in recent years, and that the picture circulated on Twitter was taken during a previous journalism assignment to a FARC encampment. The tweets from the lawmakers showing the picture of Rios have been retweeted more than 5,400 times, according to CPJs review of posts on the social media network. The New York Times confirmed to CPJ today that it was Rios in the photo. When CPJ requested comment on the harassment earlier this week, New York Times directed CPJ to its response to Cabal on Twitter in which the paper said that it does not take sides in political conflict in any part of the world, and that it reports impartially. Cabal did not immediately respond to CPJs requests for comment. Colombia is a dangerous country for journalists, ranking eighth on CPJs annual Impunity Index of places where journalists are slain and their killers go free. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram On May 8, 2019, Lebanese state security forces raided the office of the independent Beirut-based daily newspaper Al-Akhbar, according to news reports, the regional press freedom group Skeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom, and a report by Al-Akhbar Deputy Editor Pierre Abi Saab. The agents confiscated footage from the buildings security cameras and inquired about the address of Ibrahim al-Amine, Al-Akhbars editor-in-chief, but did not arrest anyone or take anything else, according to those reports. Security forces stormed into the Al-Akhbar office in the Concorde Building in Beirut and requested from the management the footage of the CCTV cameras, Abi Saab wrote in his report. The managers of Al-Akhbar complied and provided them with footage of the past three days. They complained about the short memory span of the surveillance cameras and left. It is unclear whether the agents obtained al-Amines address; CPJ emailed Al-Akhbar for comment but did not receive a response. In his report, Abi Saab said he believes the raid was a response to the newspapers recent publication of leaked diplomatic cables between the Lebanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and the Lebanese Foreign Ministry. Under the title Washington Leaks, Al-Akhbar published the leaked diplomatic cables on its website on April 15 and April 24. On May 6, state security forces raided the Lebanese Foreign Ministry building to conduct an investigation into the leaked cables, following a complaint filed by Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil with the countrys attorney general, Judge Ziad Abu Haidar, according to news reports and a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry. In a statement cited by news reports, the General Directorate of State Security, which is in charge of the state security forces, said that the raid was part of an investigation launched by the judiciary. CPJ emailed the Lebanese General Directorate of State Security and the Foreign Ministry for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Berlin, May 22, 2019 A federal court today charged Jones Abiri, the publisher and editor-in -chief of the Weekly Source, under Nigerias cybercrimes act, anti-sabotage act, and terrorism prevention act for crimes allegedly carried out in 2016, and ordered the journalist to be detained, according to his lawyer, Samuel Ogala, and charge documents seen by CPJ. The charges match accusations made against Abiri in 2016, when the Department of State Security held him without charge and without access to his family or a lawyer, from July 2016 to August 2018, according to CPJ research. The re-arrest of Jones Abiri showcases once again the brazen willingness of the Nigerian government to intimidate and harass the press, said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Angela Quintal, in Durban, South Africa. Nigerian authorities should immediately release Jones Abiri and permit him to continue his work without fear of retaliation. Abiri pleaded not guilty to terrorism, economic sabotage, and fraud, according to the charge documents and the Premium Times. Abiri was earlier this week summoned to Abuja from Bayelsa state, where he lives, by the Department of State Security, his lawyer, Ogala, and local activist Alagoa Morris, who have both spoken with the journalist, told CPJ. Ogala said he is preparing a bail application. Abiri was previously summoned for questioning by Department of State Security in March and April, according to CPJ research and Morris. CPJs repeated calls to Peter Afunanya, a spokesperson for the Department of State Security, went unanswered, but in a response on a messaging app today, Afunanya said he was in a meeting and would hopefully respond. Calls and messages to Garba Shehu, a spokesperson for President Muhammadu Buhari, went unanswered. Lai Mohammed, Nigerias minister of information, asked for communication via text message, but CPJs subsequent messages to Mohammed went unanswered. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram In a Q&A with CPJ, British war photographer Paul Conroy discusses his last assignment with Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin in Syria, in 2012, and the dangers for photojournalists, especially when covering conflict. Bearing witness. Thats what everything boiled down to. Photojournalist Paul Conroy is speaking about his reporting partner, Marie Colvin, in the documentary Under The Wire, released on the U.S. network Starz last month. Based on Conroys book of the same name, the documentary details the pairs reporting trip to Syria in 2012, during which Colvin and the photojournalist Remi Ochlik were killed, and Conroy and Le Figaro reporter Edith Bouvier were severely injured after forces for President Bashar al-Assad bombed their improvised media center in Homs. On January 30, a U.S. federal court in Washington, D.C. found the Syrian government culpable in Colvins murder. CPJ ranks Syria as one of the most dangerous countries in the world. And for photojournalists globally, the risks are heightened. Over the past decade, 103 photographers have been killed in relation to their work, CPJ has found. The killing of freelance photojournalist Ben Khalifa outside Tripoli, Libya, in January, and clashes that injured Italian photojournalist Gabriele Micalizzi in Syria in February emphasize the dangers, especially in conflict zones. CPJ last month launched the #SafetyInFocus initiative to improve safety for photojournalists. Despite the dangers, Conroy told the British journalism publication Press Gazette earlier this year that he and Colvin didnt take completely foolish risks when they reported from Homs. Conroy, who has worked as a photojournalist for about two decades, says in Under the Wire that when they returned to the Baba Amr district of Homs after a brief break, a part of him was saying This doesnt feel right. He added, Whenever Ive got this feeling, Ive heeded it, because its one of the only lines of defense I have. When he spoke with CPJ this month, ahead of his next assignment, he said that journalists should always trust their instincts, but that more training and preparation were also important in ensuring safety. [This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.] What are the biggest issues for photographers and their safety? People are getting away with killing the messenger. Over the last 15 or 20 years, you dont walk around so much with Press written on you. The difference for photographers and reporters, editors used to say, is a few yards: photographers always have to be popping their head around the corner. Its a different danger, but that dangers always been there. The danger isnt coming from just one angle, either. People are also taken hostage and ransoms are paid. Look at [the militant group] ISIS; its an ideological thing to do. What safety training did you receive? If you were starting over, would you like or need different training? I received a bursary from the Rory Peck Trust for HEFAT [Hostile Environment First Aid Training], despite my military background. Frontline Freelance Register has a really good set-up, too. When you undergo HEFAT, you dont have a long time to spend doing it, but its still important, even if its only a week, and especially for people who are coming straight to it. Its important to have awareness of the weaponry thats used against you. Its not just war or conflict journalists should be trained on. You need to know how to handle yourself in crowds; when things go wrong, they go wrong quickly. The idea of mission creep, or becoming desensitized to danger or violencethat comes with experience. It all depends on who youre with. It looks extremely hard when you watch it in the film or read [Under The Wire], but its a series of small steps. Each step was carefully weighed up. Its experience, but people can get sucked up in it. How has the landscape for photographers safety changed over the past few years, especially after the high-profile deaths of Western journalists such as Marie Colvin, James Foley, and Steven Sotloff? After Maries death, there was a big clampdown on allowing people to roam [in Syria]. After, they did rein things in there. I think The Sunday Times [the national British newspaper that Colvin and Conroy worked for] certainly took the stance, at least morally, to not encourage freelancers to go. However, once youre going somewhere, once the decision is made then or now, theres not a lot on the ground that changes with protocols and safety. Not that much that can be changed, so its all in your hands then. Do you think photographers are well-equipped against digital threats, and how can photographers improve safety in this area? The actual danger that is so obvious is people announcing theyre going to these places. Ive seen people on Facebook, on Instagram, on Twitter announcing theyre going to dangerous places. We face a different danger as photographers. You can end up beaming out your location, so Id set my BGAN [Broadband Global Area Network, a device that allows users to access the internet from anywhere in the world] and get about 200-300 yards away. Its a whole new world and the people youre working with, youre putting them in danger [if you dont take precautions]. In Under The Wire, fixers and media support staff were integral to your and Colvins ability to work inside Syria. What support do they have? We were duty-bound to do everything for Wael [Conroy and Colvins fixer, who is referred to only by his first name]. We got him into Beirut and hes set up in Europe now. That was an absolute priority. Wael wouldnt take money for us when we were reporting in Syria; he did it out of a sense of duty. Fixers like Wael should be given the same protection as journalists. Some people tend to wash their hands of them when theyre done working. Without them, as you know, we couldnt do our work. [CPJ recently documented the death in Syrian custody of Ali Othman, a freelancer who also worked with Colvin and Conroy in Syria, and who ran a makeshift media center in the Baba Amr district of Homs that numerous international journalists used.] What needs to be done to ensure better safety for photographers? Right now, most HEFAT courses are one-week long. There needs to be longer hostile environment courses that are set-up almost like a basic training like the army. There should be more awareness and longer, more rigorous courses. Everybody is starting from scratch, and no one comes out of their studies and is prepared. One-week is laughable. Training should be more adapted to the environments youre going to face, and there should also be more thorough battlefield trauma training and medical training. Ive seen so many levels of injury while on assignment. Finally, can you take us through the steps you take to protect your safety when on assignment? It starts before you arrive in-country. Before we went out to Beirut, and even before we went in, we established one really good point of contact on the ground. Theres no point showing up in these places with nothing. We talked to people who knew people there, and found a trusted person. Every connection that was made was pre-verified. That got us in with good people all the way in. Dont just show up and hope youre going to find someone. You should also trust your instincts. You might not speak the language, but you know your instincts. Me and Marie used to do that in Libya a lot. It wasnt something wed seen or heard or knew. It was an instinct. Once youre in the conflict zone, everyone always thinks that everyones always desperate to go to the front line. Dont spend any longer than you have to on the front. For information on photojournalist safety, visit CPJs Emergencies Response Team Resource Center Asian civilisation There are several questions and apprehensions about the emerging Asian Century. Information is from police reports and may be incomplete depending on the status of an investigation. Phone numbers are nonemergency. Barring any substantial write-in campaigns in the primary, there are a number of candidates who will move ahead to the November election after uncontested races Tuesday. Among the countywide races, there was one candidate each on the Republican and Democratic ballots for treasurer. Kelly Neiderer was on the Republican ballot, and Jake Miller was on the Democratic ballot. Their race will likely be contested in the November election. The Republican county commissioner race was uncontested, with only two Republicans seeking the two party nominations to head to the November election. Incumbents Gary Eichelberger and Vince DiFilippo are looking to retake their seats, and will face the two Democratic candidates chosen in the primary for seats on the 3-person board. While the West Shore district court saw three new candidates vying for that position, Magisterial District Judge Kathryn Silcox ran unopposed for her seat as the 09-3-04 district judge. She could be unopposed again in the November election, since she was cross-filed on both ballots. A number of school board races were uncontested in Tuesdays primary. Camp Hill School District has five seats open on its board and only five candidates were cross-filed on the ballots. The candidates were Randall Gale, Laurie Kennedy, Geoffrey McInroy, Neil Connelly and Bob Latham. None of the Mechanicsburg Area School District seats were contested in this years primary. The seats are split into regions and have only the exact numbers of candidates for open seats. In Region 1, Richard Bradley was the only candidate on the Republican ballot for one seat, with no Democratic candidate on the ballot. There are two seats open each for Region 2 and Region 3, and there were two candidates each in those races on the Republican ballot, with one candidate in each race cross-filed to list one candidate on the Democratic ballot. In Region 2, Dawn Merris and Tracy Morgan were running for school board, and Dennis Burkhard and Layne Lebo were running for the Region 3 seats. South Middleton School District has five seats open on its school board, but only three candidates were cross-filed on the ballots: Liz Knouse, Elizabeth Meikrantz and Edyie Rob. West Shore School District has a board split into regions and only had one cross-filed candidate each for two regions: Frank Kambic in Region 1 and Sheri Moyer in Region 2 (which has two seats open). The municipal races, however, will likely see contested November races, even though a number were not contested in the primary. Carlisles Borough Council had an uncontested primary, with four Democratic candidates vying for four seats Sean Shultz, Jeff Stuby, Sean Crampsie and Joel Hicks and only one Republican candidate on the ballot. Incumbent Robin Guido is looking to get re-elected, and write-in Republican candidates could join her on the November ballot. Camp Hill Borough Council may not be contested in November after a last-minute change to the election. Republican Mike Berney is no longer seeking re-election, though his name was on the primary ballot Tuesday. Two other Republicans were on the ballot for three open seats on the borough council: Julie Mower and Jennifer Hoover. Democratic candidate Melissa Schoettle was the only one on her partys ballot, though more Democratic write-in candidates could be approved for the November ballot. Mechanicsburg Borough Council will also see a contentious November election after its uncontested primary. The council has three seats open, with three Republican candidates Kyle Miller, Mark Stoner and John Anthony and one Democratic candidate, Sara Agerton. East Pennsboro Townships board of commissioners will likely be contested in November. Two Democrats Walter Joe Fidler and John Kuntzelman vied for two open seats, and Republican George Tyson was the only candidate on his partys ballot. Dickinson Township only had one Republican candidate, Robert Line, for a supervisor position, with no Democratic challenger on the primary ballot. Hopewell Township had a candidate on each ballot for its supervisor position: Verne Wadel on the Republican ballot and Dana Hoover on the Democratic ballot. Republican Colleen Alleman is the only candidate running on either ballot for auditor. Lower Frankford Township only had one Republican candidate on either ballot for township supervisor: James Burkholder Jr. Likewise, Lower Mifflin Township only had a single Republican candidate in the primary for its township supervisor seat, with Jacob Fealtman running unopposed. Mount Holly Springs Borough Council has three seats open, but only three candidates were on the ballot, all of whom are Republicans. Deborah Halpin-Brophy, James Collins II and Gay Bowman ran for seats. Write-in Democratic candidates could join the ballot in November, potentially making it a contested race. New Cumberland Borough Council also has three seats open, but will see a contested November election when both parties candidates come together. Republicans Chad Wilson, Donald Kibler and David Stone ran for the three seats, and Democrats Robert Hasemeier and Donna Johnson were also looking ahead to November. Newville Borough Council only had one Republican candidate for its South Ward Jack Ericksen and no candidates for its North Ward. A 2-year South Ward seat will be contested in November, with Republican Joey Diehl and Democrat Scott Penner being the only names on their respective ballots in the primary. North Middleton Township has two seats open on its board of supervisors and only two Republican candidates on the ballot: Harry Kelso and David Smith. Republican Gary Martin was the only candidate on either ballot for Penn Township supervisor, and Shippensburg Borough only had a Democratic candidate for its East Ward seat, Josefine Smith. The borough council did not have a candidate on either primary ballot for the Middle Ward seat. Shippensburg Township also only had one Republican candidate, Steve Oldt, for its township supervisor board. Southampton Township had only one Republican candidate each for two township supervisor races: Steven ODonnell for the 6-year seat and Talon Landreth for the 2-year seat. Upper Allen Township will see a contested race for its three seats in November with five candidates total on the ballots in Tuesdays primary. Two Republicans, James Cochran and Ken Martin, were on their ballot, with Democrats Bob Melphis, Judith Gilroy and William Holloway likely moving into November. Upper Frankford Township had only a Republican candidate, Steve Arnold, for its township supervisor seat, and Wormleysburg had only two Republican candidates for three open seats on its borough council. Sue Stuart and Margaret Stuski were the only ones on the Republican ballot in that race. Some municipal races didnt have any candidates. Cooke Township did not have any candidates for two supervisor positions and two auditor positions. Newburg Borough didnt have any candidates for its mayor or three members of borough council. Shiremanstown Borough had no candidates on the ballot for its three 4-year borough council seats, one 2-year council seat or tax collector. South Newton Township didnt have candidates for township supervisor or three auditor positions. Email Naomi Creason at ncreason@cumberlink.com or follow her on Twitter @SentinelCreason Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Skip Ebert appeared to take the Republican nomination for district attorney, according to unofficial results Tuesday night. Longtime District Attorney David Freed left the position in November 2017 to become the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Ebert, who previously served as district attorney from 1996 to 2006 and as a Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas Judge from 2006 through 2017, was appointed by the countys common pleas judges to replace Freed, and he currently holds the position. His Republican challenger, Jaime Keating, served more than 20 years as a prosecutor and served as first assistant district attorney under Freed. As of 10 p.m., with 100 of 118 precincts reporting, Ebert had received 9,729 votes, and Keating had received 5,133 votes. There were 33 write-in votes on the Republican ballot. The unofficial results do not specify who received the write-in votes. Sean Quinlan, who was running uncontested for the Democratic nomination, had received 7,333 votes. There were also 221 write-in votes for the Democratic nomination, according to unofficial tallies as of 10 p.m. Daniel Walmer covers public safety for The Sentinel. You can reach him by email at dwalmer@cumberlink.com or by phone at 717-218-0021. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 1 75 Years Ago Three thousand people gathered in the Square in Carlisle to dedicate an honor roll listing the names of 2,100 Cumberland County residents who were serving in the military during World War II. The great white board was presented to the community by the local Lions Club. Denying children a hot meal apparently isn't a popular way for schools to deal with unpaid lunch money. After a flood of angry Facebook comments and phone calls, a Rhode Island district last week abandoned its plan to serve cold sandwiches to students whose families owe money. "The outcry was global," said Catherine Bonang of Warwick Public Schools. Such practices aren't new, but they are facing more scrutiny. As the push against "lunch shaming" gains traction, here's what you should know: What happened in Rhode Island? Previously, students in Warwick with unpaid charges were served cheese sandwiches that are not on the regular menu, which made it clear who owed money, Bonang said. The district was trying to make it less obvious by switching to sunflower butter and jelly sandwiches, since those are offered as a daily option to everyone, she said. But the backlash prompted officials to go further and say all students would get the choice of a hot meal. A policy of not letting older students with unpaid meal charges take part in activities like dances and field trips was also recently scrapped, the district said. How common is lunch shaming? It's difficult to gauge the prevalence among the nation's thousands of schools. But in 2011, a majority of districts surveyed said they had unpaid meal charges, according to a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the federal school lunch program. Among those schools, serving alternative meals was common. Cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were cited as alternatives. Districts also reported taking other actions to recover costs, such as withholding grades. Are there rules against it? New Mexico passed a law against it in 2017, and several other states including California, Iowa and Oregon have followed suit. The laws generally prohibit practices like stamping students' hands or making them do chores, though serving alternative meals isn't always explicitly banned. The laws' supporters say students should never go hungry at school or be shamed with food. Last month, federal lawmakers introduced "anti-lunch shaming" legislation to help shield children with unpaid charges. The USDA also discourages practices that stigmatize students, but lets districts set their own policies. Aren't alternative meals a form of shaming? A child can feel shame even if it's not obvious to others why they're getting a cold sandwich, said Jennifer Ramo of New Mexico Appleseed, which advocates against the practice. After forgetting to pay for lunches one week, Aniece Germain said her son was given a sun butter sandwich in kindergarten last year. She said her heart broke when she picked him up at school, and he asked why she hadn't paid for him. She was also charged $2.50 for the sandwich, the same as for a hot meal. "So the purpose of that is to humiliate the kids, shame the kids, to get the parents to pay," said Germain, who lives in Cranston, Rhode Island, not far from Warwick. Cranston's school district said it no longer serves alternative meals. Who's affected by it? The national school lunch program serves around 30 million children. About 20 million of those students qualify for free lunches, and 2 million qualify for a reduced price lunch of 40 cents. The roughly 8 million remaining pay the regular price determined by local districts. Students with unpaid meal charges are the ones affected by lunch shaming. Why do families have unpaid charges? Even if families with unpaid charges could afford to pay, many say children shouldn't be punished for their failure to do so. Reasons for unpaid charges can also vary. Some families may struggle to make ends meet, even if they're not eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Others may feel there's a stigma to applying, or not realize they qualify. In Warwick, the district said $12,000 of its $77,000 in unpaid charges is owed by children who qualified for free lunch, with charges incurred before their applications were approved. The School Nutrition Association, which represents cafeteria operators and suppliers, said providing free lunches for all students would end confusion about charges. Are unpaid charges a big problem? The USDA report from a few years ago said lost revenue from unpaid meals tended to represent a tiny percentage of a school food program's overall spending. But situations can vary, and the School Nutrition Association said unpaid charges are a widespread issue, with debt esca2lating in places that adopted anti-lunch shaming policies. In Maine, officials estimate the state's new law will have unknown but "significant " costs for local districts. In Cranston, where the debt is at about $90,000, officials in January started using a debt collector. Michael Crudale of Cranston Public Schools said simply getting a letter from a collection agency can sometimes get families to pay. "They feel like it's been turned up a notch," he said. He said credit scores aren't affected, but that letters are sent every 30 days until the school year ends. At that point, Crudale said the district eats the cost and the debt is erased. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PHILADELPHIA Police say a Philadelphia police detective driving an unmarked car shot and critically wounded a man who he mistakenly thought had a weapon and was trying to rob him. Police say the 29-year-old detective, who joined the force in October 2011, was on his way back to headquarters Monday night after processing a crime scene, but as he was stopped in traffic he saw a man in the street with his arms extended and his hands together. The detective said he believed the man was pointing a firearm, yelling and about to rob him, so he fired four times from inside the vehicle, hitting the man in the stomach. The man was taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition. Residents say he's a known panhandler in the neighborhood. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 YORK An inmate is out of prison, about a year after he admitted in court he stabbed to death his 13-year-old brother in the laundry room of their family home in 1998. A Corrections Department spokeswoman said Zachary Witman, 36, was released Tuesday from the State Correctional Institution-Smithfield. Witman, convicted of first-degree murder in 2003 and sentenced to life in prison, maintained his innocence for almost 20 years. But he pleaded guilty last year to third-degree murder, leading to his release. Zachary Witman was a 15-year-old high school honor student when he stabbed his brother more than 60 times in their New Freedom home, nearly decapitating him. Zachary Witman told authorities he did it because Gregory Witman was angry he had hung up on the younger brother's girlfriend. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Malawian soldier Chancy Chitete will be honoured with the United Nations (UN) highest peacekeeping award, dubbed as Captain Mbaye Diagne Medal for Exceptional Courage. He will be awarded posthumously in New York, US on May 24 2019. About Chancy Chitete The late UN peacekeeper from Mali is being honoured for his brave and selfless action demonstrated in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In an operation undertaken November 2018, he sacrificed his life while saving his fellow comrade blue helmet during operation against local armed group named Allied Democratic Forces (ADF). The ADF is an armed force in DRC which had been terrorizing civilians and disrupting the UNs ongoing efforts to halt and treat spread of the deadly Ebola virus. About UNs Highest Peacekeeping Award The Vice President of India, M. Venkaiah Naidu called for protecting and promoting the indigenous Ongole cattle breed. He also released a Compendium on Ongole breed of cattle at the Swarna Bharat Trust in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. Key Highlights Vice President Naidu asserted that cattle wealth was national wealth. He pointed out that Brazil which had imported these cattle and now produced hybrid Ongoles is gaining huge revenue through its export. As per him, India do not focus enough attention on its own indigenous breed and now the time has come for promoting Ongole cattle breed and also to take up research on animal. He asked concerned officials to expedite the works at National Kamadhenu Breeding Centre , Chintaladevi in Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh. , Chintaladevi in Nellore District, Andhra Pradesh. Agriculture: Vice President Naidu observed that Indian agriculture is facing many challenges thus stressed need for taking up multi-pronged efforts from all concerned stakeholders to making agriculture sustainable, more profitable and to double farmers income. He also urged farmers to take up in house dairy and backyard poultry for fetching additional income source. About Compendium The Compendium released by Vice President Naidu has 1200-page which traces history of animal, from year 1885 to 2016. It provides information from 13 books and 80 research findings on Ongole Cattle. Agricultural scientist, Mullapudi Narendranath and former Joint Director of Animal Husbandry Department, Adusumilli Madhusudan Rao were credited for compilation of the Compendium. About Ongole Cattle Breed Krishana Prasain is a business reporter for The Kathmandu Post covering markets. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2018, she spent 3 years in New Business Age magazine covering business. The Fredericktown Junior ROTC students were given a treat Friday, as the Missouri National Guard flew in two Black Hawk helicopters to Fredericktown High School. During this rare opportunity, some of the students opted to take a ride as the two helicopters took three trips around town. Fredericktown JROTC Instructor LTC John Francis said it is rare for an event like this to happen at a school, but not for the reason you may think. "It is rare, because not very many people know how to coordinate it," Francis said. "Fortunately, I was aviation in the Missouri National Guard. I worked very closely with the muckety mucks of the state aviation office, so for me it was nothing more than a call." Francis said he hopes this is something he can continue to do every year, and thanks to the support from school administration, he thinks that will be possible. Support from the school district and the community could visibly be seen as members of the Fredericktown Fire and Police Departments were on hand to ensure the safety of everyone in the area and Assistant Superintendent Shannon Henson volunteered to ride in the second helicopter along with his students. Francis said this opportunity for his students is invaluable to them and may inspire some of the students. He said he knows of three who are already wanting to be pilots and believes this experience may inspire more of them. "For me, it was kind of a recruiting effort, but more for me to take care of these kids because they put so much into the program with community service, learning leadership and discipline," Francis said. "Even the superintendent was here and he said 'you know after one year, we see a measurable difference in discipline and attitude in our school.'" Francis said JROTC provides a unique environment for the kids and teaches them discipline. Francis said he was in aviation for 22 years and spent 6 years as a combat engineer. He said he has flown in Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, served in Egypt and Israel and was a NASA Space Shuttle Recovery Program Air Mission Commander. Francis said the fact that he and fellow JROTC instructor 1st Sgt. Brian Coffer both graduated from Fredericktown High School shows the cadets they can "do phenomenal things in life" even if they come from a small town. "To come back and be able to give what they have the possibility of doing in life, what they can achieve even from being from Fredericktown," Francis said. "It's a great town, even after going through all those countries and all throughout the United States, these kids are more disciplined and more kind and considerate than any of the other schools." Victoria Kemper is a reporter for the Democrat News. She can be reached at 573-783-3366 or at vkemper@democratnewsonline.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As the Madison County Retired School Personnel (MCRSP) organization held its last two monthly meetings before summer break, two very notable presentations took place. For many years, the MCRSP has sponsored a chili supper each March as an event to raise money for local scholarships. One scholarship, jointly awarded by CARE, the Community Association of R-I Employees, is awarded in the R-I District, and the other, co-sponsored with the Marquand-Zion CTA, is awarded in that district. Both scholarships are available to high school senior applicants in their respective districts who meet the criteria of the applications. Present at the MCRSP April meeting was Tammy Follis, director of the Fredericktown Senior Citizens Center. Each year after the chili supper fundraiser, MCRSP donates a portion of the proceeds back to the center as a thank you for allowing the group to use the facilities to host the chili supper. Tammy accepted the check and thanked the members for the contribution. Guests at the MCRSP May meeting were Cora Spain and her mother Lisa Ivy. Cora is the recipient of this years R-I District Scholarship, better known as the Garland and Ilerea Hamilton Scholarship, in honor of two of the districts long-time outstanding educators. Cora accepted her award and answered questions from the group about her plans to attend Central Methodist University to pursue a degree in secondary education to teach high school biology. Not present at the May meeting were the recipients of the Marquand-Zion scholarships, all of whom were awarded later that night at the schools graduation. Accepting scholarships were: Valedictorian Daryann Whitener, who will be attending Murray State University to pursue a pre-med degree; Salutatorian Jessi Wilfong, who will be attending Mineral Area College to pursue a degree in radiology; and Angel Blake, who plans to study animal behavioral science. MCRSP extends an open membership to all retired school employees in Madison County. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, September through May. Even if retired school employees cannot attend every meeting, we encourage them all to join our local organization by paying a simple $5 annual dues and also supporting the state retirement system with the $35 annual dues," current MCRSP President Kim Steska said. "The local dues are used to serve our local schools and community, and the state dues are used to promote benefits and protect pensions of all public-school personnel in retirement." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This years legislative session was historic for Missouri agriculture. The General Assembly passed many bills supporting farming and addressing concerns in rural communities. The biggest victory for family farmers was the passage of SB 391. This new law prevents counties from implementing local ordinances that are inconsistent with or more stringent than Missouri Department of Natural Resources regulations on animal operations. Some counties have enacted anti-agriculture ordinances based on fear mongering rather than science. Ensuring that regulations are science-based is best for animals, the environment and the rural economy. Expanding broadband access will also help our rural communities grow in the modern economy. MOFB has been a leading proponent of increased broadband access for several years. In January, Governor Parson suggested a $5 million appropriation to the Rural Broadband Development Fund. This fund will offer grants to defray installation costs to bring broadband to unserved or underserved areas. The legislature chose to fully fund this request, which is a huge win for rural Missouri. Wind and solar energy are becoming more widespread across Missouri. The legislature acted to ensure tax revenue from commercial wind farms remain in local communities. Under prior law, these taxes would have been taken out of the local area and spread thinly across the state. The people who host the wind and solar farms should also get their tax benefit. Governor Parson also spearheaded a plan to repair 215 bridges across Missouri through a $301 million bonding proposal. This plan will only move forward if Missouri obtains a federal grant to help replace the Missouri River bridge on I-70 near Rocheport. MOFB sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation in support of this grant application. This will not solve our states infrastructure woes, but it will be a big step in the right direction. Not every issue was resolved this session. When the Public Service Commission granted eminent domain powers to a private merchant electricity transmission line, hundreds of Missourians rallied at the capitol to stop this abuse of property rights. The House voted overwhelmingly to prohibit merchant transmission lines from using eminent domain. Unfortunately a handful of senators prevented the Senate from addressing the issue. This obstruction handed out-of-state energy companies the right to take our land for private money-making ventures. While we are disappointed, our fight on behalf of Missouri landowners will continue. Every session leaves some items unaddressed, but on balance this was one of the most successful in recent memory for the citizens of rural Missouri. Having a governor who is a lifelong farmer clearly made a difference. Governor Parson has signaled his support for all of these bills and is expected to sign them into law. We are grateful for his leadership on these issues, as well as the many leaders in the House and Senate who worked tirelessly to complete them. When rural Missouri thrives, our entire state thrives. We look forward to building on this years progress in the years to come. Eric Bohl, of Columbia, Mo., is Director of Public Affairs for Missouri Farm Bureau, the states largest farm organization. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 St. Paul Lutheran High School held commencement ceremonies Sunday afternoon for the class of 2019 at St. Paul Elementary Schools Craig Thomas Gymnasium. Dressed in burgundy robes and mortar boards perched securely upon their heads, Principal Andy Sherrill led the 10 graduating students into the gymnasium prior to Pastor Stephen Constien opening the ceremony with the invocation. Following Sherrills welcoming remarks, choir director Cara Robbs led the schools mixed choir in a rendition of one of the schools favorite hymns Home a song that represents how the students and faculty feel about St. Paul. Following the choirs performance, Sherrill introduced Salutatorian Lana Detring and invited her to address her classmates. At the beginning of her speech, Detring took a moment to thank her friends, family and teachers, but paused a moment for a special thanks to a person who she said had shown her the true meaning of love. I want to give special thanks to Brad, she said. If it wasnt for you, I do not know where I would be today. You have shown me the true meaning of love and I am honored to call you my dad. Detring smiled as she recalled how it only seemed like yesterday when she was in kindergarten showing off her pink Tinkerbell backpack and how quickly 12 years seemed to pass. She spoke of the obstacles she and her classmates had to overcome as well as the tears, laughs and prayers they had shared all of which she said would lead her through the next chapters of her life. Detring told the audience how St. Paul helped her learn the importance of focusing on herself and not seeking the approval of others. To the class of 2019 and future graduates, focus on yourselves and your future, she said. Do not let others bring you down. Detring added that she has learned to put her family first, but specifically add a special thank you to her mother. I have learned the hard way, to always listen to my mother, because whether we want to admit it or not, a mother always knows best, she said. Before finishing, Detring offered one more piece of advice to future students, saying, Do not procrastinate because it is nearly impossible to write a 10-page paper in one night. Following the salutatorian address, Sherrill introduced Valedictorian Gabe Ayers who will be attending Webster University in the fall on a track and cross-country scholarship. Ayers eventually plans on pursuing a career in dentistry. Addressing the crowd, Ayers spoke about the nine most important things he had learned at St. Paul. These are the just some of the life lessons I have been able to take away from my time as a Giant, he said. They are things I can use every day of my life, but this speech is for you too, so I challenge you to apply them to your lives. The first lesson was he shared was about how to balance ones life and time. He encouraged his fellow classmates and the rest of the crowd not to squander their time and let opportunities slip them by. You dont want time to slip away from you, Ayers said. There are going to be many good opportunities in your life and if you let time tick away, you just might miss something. Ayers added that it was just as important not to rush through life. I learned later that it is also important not to rush through every second of the day, he said. You are still not far from the starting line of life, so pace yourself. If you rush everything, you will miss something. Ayers suggested that his fellow classmates, as well as the schools underclassmen, adapt a why not? attitude. You could easily have a regular high school experience during your time here, or you could say why not every time you have a new experience and learn something new, he explained. IAyers told how taking hold of an opportunity led to him and his friends learning how to cook on a stove a gift greatly appreciated for many collegebound students. One of the life lessons Ayers spoke about was about learning how to find ones smile. Learn to make yourself happy and smile on the inside, he said. Learn to find joy in the ordinary things. Following Ayers address, Principal Sherrill introduced this years keynote speaker, Cara Robbs. Explaining that the senior class chooses a special person to give them a final farewell, Sherrill said the class of 2019 had selected Robbs who was their choir director, teacher, school activity director and confidant. As she spoke to her students one last time, Robbs left them with a few jokes, along with a heartfelt life lesson about making mistakes. I want to tell you something now that I wish someone had told me when I was your age many, many, many years ago, she said. Even when you try your best, you will make mistakes. Mistakes are a necessity. You will make many in your lifetime. There is no way around it. Robbs then shared a quote by Thomas Edison on the same subject. We can allow mistakes to discourage us. We can ignore mistakes, or we can learn from them. Robbs closed her address by offering one last piece of advice, saying, Dont ever let anyone tell you that you are not enough. You are a masterpiece. You have been chosen by God Himself to do great works. So, my wish for you is to be successful in these things. So successful that you change the world. So successful that you cant be ignored. So successful that everyone around you will want to follow your lead. Following the keynote address, a student-produced video was shown that highlighted the life of each member of the senior class. Sherrill, along with former St. Paul principal and teacher Duane Giesselmann, presented the class of 2019 their diplomas. Upon conclusion of the presentation of diplomas, Sherrill went over some of the accomplishments of the class of 2019 that included two students who decided to join the U.S. armed services upon graduation. Andrea Stetina has already enlisted in the Navy and Detring will soon be enlisting in the Air Force. In addition, Sherrill announced that Hailey Debert had accepted a track and field scholarship from Mineral Area College and Ayers had accepted a track and cross country scholarship from Webster University. Prior to the ceremonys conclusion, a special presentation was made to Giesselmann in recognition of his graduation 50 years ago from Concordia University, Nebraska. Members of the St. Paul Lutheran High School graduating class were Gabe Ayers, Hailey Debert, Lana Detring, Jason Miller, Mia Montgomery, Chloe Props, Levi Reese, Megan Saunders, Andrea Stetina, Alexandra Wiles and Emilie Chambliss. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The owners of the Offsets in Madison County, where at least nine people have died since the 1980s, announced Monday the destination will be "temporarily" shut down amid a legal fight with the state. "The government should not be able to dictate nor demonize a privately owned business/swimming hole," a post on the Offsets' Facebook page read. The Missouri attorney general's office in August 2018 sued the owners of the Offsets Gary and Rebecca Henson and Offsets Recreation LLC, following two drowning deaths there in July. The flooded former quarry is 70 miles south of St. Louis, near Fredericktown. Then-Attorney General Josh Hawley called the swimming hole a "public nuisance." He asked a 24th circuit court judge to issue an injunction to close the swimming hole until owners address safety concerns. As of Tuesday, the court has not issued any injunction to close the swimming hole, but the state filed a proposed judgment on Monday. The proposal asks the court to close the grounds until further notice. Hawleys office said that some bluffs are taller than 40 feet, and that when patrons jump into the water, they cant easily access flat ground because they are surrounded by bluffs. There is nowhere for an injured or tiring swimmer to rest, and a swimmer in trouble may have to swim hundreds of feet to safety, the lawsuit says. Hawleys office said that the owners of the destination use signs and waivers that are insufficient in warning guests about the propertys dangers. The lawsuit also says there are no life preservers available near the bluffs and no lifeguards on duty. The lawsuit also says that an added danger is the force with which swimmers hit the water, noting that at least one of the victims broke his neck while jumping. The Offsets waiver does note that there is a risk of injury or death by jumping off the cliffs, and there are signs posted around the property. But near the tallest cliffs, most popular with guests, the only signs read no flipping, the lawsuit says. No one answered the Offsets' phone when a reporter called on Tuesday. The Facebook post blames the temporary closure on "government over reach" and says the state is holding a private business to a higher standard than it holds operators of state-owned attractions. Love 0 Funny 5 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 4 Everyone eligible should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. Vaccination should be voluntary but those who don't get vaccinated should be frequently tested for COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel and employment. Both vaccination and testing should be voluntary and not required as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. I defer to the judgment of lawmakers as long as they base their decisions on a consensus of medical professionals. Vote View Results Chandan Kumar Mandal is the environment and migration reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering labour migration and governance, as well as climate change, natural disasters, and wildlife. Odisha: Cyclone Fani took us 20 yrs behind, snatched our livelihood': Distressed Chilika fishermen await aid by Sudarshan Chhotoray May 22,2019 | Source: News 18 Akhila Behera, 45, a resident of Baghlanji village of Puri district in Odisha, has a family of five. He earns his livelihood by fishing in the 1200 sq km of Asias largest brackish water lagoon Chilika. Behera used to earn Rs 10,000-Rs 15,000 on an average each month. However, due to reasons like siltation, weed deposits, illegal gheries temporary barricades for prawn cultivation and encroachment of fishing areas by non-fishermen, his income had already dwindled over the past few years. His agony worsened after cyclone Fani struck the states coast on May 3 and ravaged 14 of the 30 districts. Behera's boat and nets were washed away, much like those of other fishermen living adjacent to the Chilika lake. There are thousands of such people whose daily livelihood depended on fishing in the lake. In many places like Baghalanji, Chilika waters have eaten up lands and even entered temporary jetties where boats and nets were sheltered. Baghalanji village, with 200 households, is on the banks of the lake and has no cyclone shelters. However, while there is a shelter about 3km away, people living here did not leave the village despite repeated cyclonic alerts due to their attachment to the land. We dont want to leave this place. Our ancestors lived here and had survived devastating storms in the past. Our properties and all personal belongings are here Chilika is like our mother. How do we leave her to save our life? says Rabindra Das, a villager. About 90 boats in the village have been damaged. A few wooden pieces were found nearby and many boats are still untraceable. Bapina Behera said almost every household in the village suffered losses due to the cyclone. It will take a few more months for us to get back to our basics, he said, adding that Fani took them 20 years behind. As Chilikas ecosystem largely depends on changes in the Bay of Bengal three of the lakes mouths open into the Bay of Bengal in Ganjam and Puri the lake and its dependent communities are vulnerable to all kinds of natural hazards, especially tropical cyclones. The fishing community had suffered huge losses during the Odisha super cyclone in 1999, Phailin in 2013, Hudhud in 2014 and even during cyclone Titli in 2018. Dooryodhan Behera, 53, from Barakuda, a neighbouring village, has similar troubles. Barakuda has 150 households, all of them are traditional fishermen. Behera had borrowed money from a fishing cooperative to buy nets and taken a boat on rent. But with an income of about Rs 300, it was difficult to pay back the loan, and manage rent and other household expenses. And then, his boat was broken to bits by the cyclonic storm. Explaining their current situation, Parthsarathi Behera from Barakuda says his community has been sitting idle for almost a fortnight, just watching the lake. The people here say while the government may announce compensation packages, they are almost certain it will not be sufficient and also that they would have to go to moneylenders again. According to government estimates, more than five lakh houses have been fully or partially damaged in 14 affected districts. As of now, the state government has announced financial assistance of Rs 40,000 for a new FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastic) boat and Rs 10,000 for nets for the affected Chilika fishermen. Similar packages have also been announced for inland fishermen and assistance for freshwater and brackish water fish farming. The state government has also sought central assistance to rebuild houses and provide other help in these areas. Harihar Behera, a community leader and president of the Primary Fishermen Cooperative, said the government must announce interim assistance for fishermen in the area, otherwise they will migrate to other states in search of jobs. Odisha is situated in the eastern seaboard of India and has been exposed to periodic tropical cyclonic storms. Over the last two decades, five major cyclones have struck the state and left behind trails of devastation and causing irreparable loss to the states economy. And during the last 50 years, 35 of such extremely severe cyclonic storms have hit Odisha. Almost 60% of the tropical cyclones that take shape in the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal region also hit parts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal. The Bay of Bengal region is the sixth most vulnerable zone in the world as far as tropical cyclone storms are concerned. Bishnupada Sethi, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) and Managing Director of Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA), says because of its geographical location, 482km of the Odsiha coast is exposed to all kinds of tropical cyclones, some of which are severe in nature. The 1999 super cyclone, which killed 10,000 people, was the first major cyclone that brought the states development to a grinding halt. It was the first major natural disaster in the post-liberalisation era that took the state 50 years behind. Meanwhile, the Odisha government has estimated Fani-related losses at Rs 12,000 crore and submitted a memorandum to Centre. The Union government had already released Rs 340 crore before the cyclone and after an aerial survey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised further assistance of Rs 1,000 crore. According to initial estimates, the total affected population stands at about 1.65 crore and the death toll at 64. And while the government has stepped up its relief and restoration work, it is to be seen how long it takes to restore the livelihood of severely affected communities like the states fishermen. Bangladesh: Protests as Bangladesh slaps two-month ban on shallow-water fishing May 22,2019 | Source: France 24 Bangladesh has banned fishing in the Bay of Bengal for the next two months in an effort to replenish stocks, a minister said Tuesday, triggering protests by hundreds of fishermen. The junior minister for fisheries, Ashraf Ali Khan, said the ban would run from May 20 to July 23, and that navy and coast guard vessels would patrol the bay to prevent boats from putting to sea. Bangladesh frequently slaps seasonal bans on fishing in deep seas and coastal rivers, but authorities said this was the longest-ever imposed for shallow waters. The decision triggered angry demonstrations in the coastal region, and hundreds of fishermen took to the streets to protest the ban. Some 15 million people in southern Bangladesh are either directly or indirectly involved in the fishing industry, one of the largest in the world. Abdul Khalek, president of a fishing trawler owners association in Cox's Bazar, said members were in shock as the ban comes during the peak season for catching Hilsa, a type of herring. "We were neither prepared nor received any early warning," he told AFP. "The order came suddenly. We already couldn't go to the sea for 15 days due to Cyclone Fani." Khalek said fishermen had in the past welcomed short bans on fishing which seemed "healthy" forall parties. "But two months of unemployment would be too hard," he said. Chittagong fisheries department official Mominul Haque said some 25,000 registered fishermen had returned to port since the ban was declared. "Fishermen have only one thought in mind: how they will feed their children as there will be no work for the next two months," said boat owner Delwar Hossain. Authorities have not announced any compensation scheme, but minister Khan said: "The fishermen will be the ultimate beneficiaries." Every year Bangladesh imposes a weeks-long ban on the fishing of Hilsa, the country's most popular fish, and has created six sanctuaries in its network of coastal rivers to allow spawning. The bans have helped boost the catch by more than 150 percent in the last 15 years to become a nearly $2 billion global market. Early election results Tuesday night showed the possibility of two new faces on the Greater Albany Public Schools board. Michael Thomson appeared to beat out incumbent Lyle Utt for his Zone 3 seat, leading by a 3,707 to 1,564 margin in results from Linn and Benton counties released just after 8 p.m. In the three-way race for the at-large position, Eric Aguinaga, with 2,317 votes, appeared to have a lead over Miriam Cummins and Jim Jansen. Cummins and Jansen each had less than 2,000 votes. The position is currently held by Frank Bricker, who announced he would be retiring at the end of the school year. Thomson, 48, has a second-grader at Takena Elementary School and said he ran for the position to work to lower class sizes and find resources to help students meet their mental and emotional needs as well as expand career technical education. "I was a little surprised," he said Tuesday night. "Here's the thing. I ran a campaign where I went door-to-door. I worked hard and took it seriously and put in the time." Aguinaga, 35, also has students in the district and previously sat on the districts bond oversight committee. "I wasn't watching that closely," he said of election results. "I usually give it 15 minutes or so. I'm just happy and thankful for my supporters and am excited for the future." Cummins, while appearing unsuccessful in her run for a seat on the GAPS board, had an early lead over Amber Aguinaga for a spot on the Linn-Benton-Lincoln ESD board in Zone 6. Early results showed Cummins with just over 57% of the vote. Elsewhere in the county, Randell Smith, a retired math teacher for the Central Linn School District, appeared to have won a seat on that districts school board, garnering 351 votes to Carin Simons 207. A $17.9 million bond proposal from the Santiam Canyon School District to replace schools, improve safety and add vocational classrooms appeared to be leading in early returns. As of 8 p.m., the vote to approve the bond measure was 517 "yes" votes to 444 "no." In April, Superintendent Todd Miller said the district was running out of room and experiencing an increase in students, causing the need for a new junior/senior high school. Erin Cramer appeared to have beat out Coral Ford for the Zone 2 seat in Santiam Canyon, 195 votes to 155. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CORVALLIS POLICE Stolen car 8:30 a.m. Friday, 900 block SE Centerpointe Drive. A woman reported that her 1997 tan and silver Honda Accord sedan, Oregon license number CA35009, was stolen overnight from her residence. Stun gun attack 1:04 p.m. Friday, NW Ninth St. and Tyler Ave. Officers were dispatched to the vicinity, where a man was reportedly chasing people with a stun gun. The suspect, identified as Jeffery Cecil Watson, 46, allegedly struck a man multiple times in the arm and at least once in the head with an activated stun gun, injuring him. Watson was arrested on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, fourth-degree assault and illegal use of a stun gun. Unattended children 11:49 a.m. Saturday, 2305 NW Kings Blvd. An officer went to the Starbucks cafe to investigate reports of two unattended children. The children, ages 2 and 4, were determined to have wandered away from their home while their parents were resting. The parents said they went to check on the children, who had been playing in their rooms, and found them missing. No citations were issued. LINN COUNTY SHERIFF Truck, tools taken 7 a.m. Monday, no address listed. An officer responded to a report of a stolen 2017 Ford F-450 truck with a 10-foot utility box. The trailer was full of construction equipment. Numerous tools were also taken from a shop. The total loss was estimated at more than $100,000. Solar panels 3:27 p.m. Monday, 32000 block Bellinger Scale Road, Lebanon. A caller reported the theft of solar panels from a motorized gate. Loss: $200. Missing wheel 5:56 p.m. Monday, 500 block Territorial Street, Harrisburg. A caller reported losing a wheel while crossing railroad tracks. The vehicle was towed. Bad attitude 6:06 p.m. Monday, 3200 block Santiam Highway, Mill City. An officer stopped a vehicle bearing a fake license plate. Its driver, Roger Rankin, refused to identify himself and was arrested for failure to carry and present license and DUII. He was lodged at the Linn County Jail. SWEET HOME POLICE Arrests made 5:15 p.m. Monday, 400 block Oak Terrace. A caller reported two people in a car with open containers and a baby in the back seat. Terri McMahon, 61, was cited for driving while suspended, driving uninsured and operating a vehicle while using a mobile communications device. Veronica Schmidt, 29, was arrested on a Sweet Home Municipal Court warrant. The vehicle was towed. Contact Linn County reporter Alex Paul at 541-812-6114. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I am a retired newspaperman. I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 44 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images(LONDON) -- Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are now three weeks into parenthood with their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. Meghan, 37, has already celebrated her first Mother's Day and Harry, 34, has already returned to work, picking up a onesie and a rattle for Archie at an engagement in the Netherlands just a few days after his birth. The new parents, who celebrated their first wedding anniversary on May 19, are also living in a new home, Frogmore Cottage, where they moved shortly before Archie's birth. With all that going on, here is a look at how Harry and Meghan are settling into parenthood: No nanny, no problem The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not relying on a nanny or a night nurse to care for Archie and they have no plans to hire one -- for now, according to ABC News royal contributor Omid Scobie. "Both Harry and Meghan are keen to do as much of the work as they can," he said. "These moments are so precious to them and they want to be present for as many as possible." The couple is also keeping staff members at their Frogmore Cottage home to a minimum, so far relying on only one housekeeper for the 18th-century home that they began renovations on last October. "It's important for Harry and Meghan to have as normal a home environment as possible, especially now that they are a family," Scobie said. "Meghan was even cooking for the family days before she gave birth." Relying on grandmother Doria What they may lack in staff, Harry and Meghan have made up for with family support. Meghan's mother, Doria Ragland, who lives in Los Angeles, has been staying with the couple at Frogmore Cottage since mid-April. Meghan is Ragland's only child and Archie is, of course, her first grandchild. Buckingham Palace described the new grandmother as "overjoyed" at Archie's birth. Introducing Archie to friends and family Queen Elizabeth II and Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Archie's great-grandparents, were the first members of the royal family to meet Harry and Meghan's son, just two days after his birth. Since then, Archie has also met his Aunt Kate and Uncle William, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and his grandfather, Prince Charles, when they paid visits to Frogmore Cottage. Prince Harry's aunt, Lady Jane Fellowes, Princess Diana's sister, was also among the first visitors to meet Archie. Harry and Meghan have also been supported by a number of Meghan's close friends who have stopped by to visit, with many more coming in the weeks ahead, according to Scobie. One of the friends who has already visited is Markus Anderson, who was by Meghan's side in 2017 when she attended her first public royal engagement with Harry, at the Invictus Games in Toronto. "Harry and Meghan's first week at home with Archie was all about bonding as a family but since then Frogmore Cottage has been a revolving door of excited friends and family meeting their baby for the first time," said Scobie. Up next for Archie will be meeting his three cousins, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, for the first time. Enjoying the quiet life Harry and Meghan's move from London to Frogmore Cottage in Windsor was a lifestyle change as much as a location change, and the couple have been enjoying the serenity with Archie, according to Scobie. Windsor is a town about 25 miles from London where the main attraction is Windsor Castle. "They love Frogmore Cottage for its idyllic location and are said to love taking walks around the acres of beautifully landscaped grounds," he said. "It's also the perfect place for their two dogs to run around." The new home also provides more of a distinction between work and home for the couple. Meghan and Harry's staff remain based in London, at Buckingham Palace, and the couple commutes into the city for official events and meetings. Taking maternity, paternity leave Meghan will remain on official maternity leave for the remainder of the summer. Harry, while not officially on traditional paternity leave, is currently working a reduced schedule, according to Scobie. Harry has attended several official engagements since Archie's birth, but they have been for causes close to his heart, such as the Invictus Games, or to support his family, such as joining Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Royal engagements also are typically just a few hours of the day, compared with a typical 9-to-5 job. Meghan stepped away from her public royal duties in March and only returned to the spotlight on May 8 when she and Harry debuted Archie at Windsor Castle. She is expected to make an official appearance next month, when she joins Prince Harry and other members of the royal family for the queen's birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, on June 8, according to Scobie. Copyright 2019, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Wednesday, May 22 Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (May 22, 2019). Severe lack of diversity in the Alabama state Senate. Notice who voted to end women's Choice? Blue America doesn't endorse candidates because of their racial, gender, religious identities-- or any other identities. We pick them because we think they will be excellent members of Congress. That said, so far this cycle, 4 out of the 7 House candidates we have endorsed are women. Only one is a straight white male (and he's great too). That said, there are too few women in Congress. More diversity in decision-making has been proven to lead to better outcomes. In the Alabama state Senate last week, two dozen white men decided that women in their state shouldn't be able to have abortions any longer. All of the candidates Blue America has endorsed strongly disagree with that decision. Several of them-- including the two women below have sent me letters about it. Eva Putzova was a Flagstaff city councilmember and is now running for Congress in Arizona's vast first district. The incumbent, Tom O'Halleran, was a Republican state legislator who flipped to independent and then, when he saw an opportunity to get into Congress, flipped to Blue Dog, still as conservative as he was when he was a Republican. A few days ago Eva explained to us that she "first came to the U.S. in 1998 to spend one year immersing myself in the culture and language. I couldnt afford to study in the U.S., so I signed up for a year-long au-pair program. It was after the third year of my 5-year masters program at the University of Economics (Slovakia) when I took a year off and at age of 21, boarded my very first trans-Atlantic flight." I spent a year in Asheville, North Carolina, taking care of two little boys. And I fell in love. But my stay was soon over and I had to go back to Slovakia to finish school. My partner with whom I fell in love at the time had college loans to repay and couldnt just move wherever to be with me. It was me, a girl from a former Eastern Bloc country, who was free-- not financially independent but without any college debt-- to go where my heart was pulling me. My love for one person then grew into love of people and land that became my forever home-- here in Flagstaff, Arizona. For me, theres no more stunning landscape than that of the American Southwest-- with a big blue sky, canyons, desert, and an endless ponderosa pine forest. And the people Ive met along the way are kind, generous, thoughtful, and full of life. Every immigration story is different and its this diversity that the Trumps administration wants to take away that makes this country so very special. My immigration experience also made me think a lot about the concept of freedom-- an idea that for a 21-year old myself was synonymous with the United States of America. When you are in your early twenties, you want to live for new adventures and to explore the world and your own potential. And I realized-- maybe not right away, but over time-- that I was truly free because I didnt have the burden of paying back the cost of my college education. I also started to understand how that is not the case for most people going to college here today. It's one reason why Im running for Congress-- to give young people back the freedom they deserve. After all, their grandparents used to enjoy an affordable college experience. Theres no reason why we cant make college debt a thing of past. I'm sure you have heard about the abortion law in Alabama by now. It outlaws all abortions, even from rape and incest. The only exceptions are in cases where the mothers life is at risk or the baby has a "lethal anomaly". If a provider carries out an abortion, they can be given up to a 99 year jail sentence. I know what the outcomes of a law like this can be. My grandmother died of a botched abortion. She was only 20 years old. This isn't just a women's issue. It's a social, racial, and economic issue. This law punishes low-income people and people of color. It is about power, control, and oppression. At the same time Eva was writing that, Audrey Denney, running in the first district of California-- also huge, mostly rural and small town district like Eva's-- wrote about the abortion bill in Alabama. "This, she wrote, "is a terrifying moment in U.S. history, when 46 years of precedent for recognizing womens right to privacy and sovereignty over their own bodies is being systematically dismantled. The policymakers who have put forward these archaic bans on safe and legal abortion claim to be doing so because they value human life." I deeply respect the sanctity of life. I believe that life is created by God, and I believe that every woman has the right to choose whether or not she will participate in bringing life into being. No one has the right to tell her that she must. Making the decision to end a pregnancy is a difficult and tragic one-- but having the right to make that decision is foundational to protecting womens health, privacy, and well-being. If the people who wrote these laws truly cared for the sanctity of life, they would be working tirelessly to reduce our countrys maternal mortality rate (currently the worst among industrialized nations), but instead they are limiting or eliminating care, and more mothers are dying during childbirth. They would be investing in initiatives to improve infant and child health and access to early education and child care. They would be fighting for paid family leave, so that parents have adequate time to regain their own health and support their new child. They would be losing sleep over the 12 million children in this country who will go to bed hungry because their parents are trapped in poverty, unable to earn a living wage. I imagine a world where fewer women face the difficult decisions surrounding ending a pregnancy. Statistics have proven since Roe v. Wade, the path to that kind of world is not through restrictive legislation around abortion. That path is achieved through policies that support women and families, and make it easier for families to thrive in our country. The legislators who support abortion bans have failed us. They have failed their constituents. They have failed our nation. Their time is up. New York Magazine, Wall Street Journal survey asked respondents, 'The Supreme Courts 1973 Roe versus Wade decision established a womans constitutional right to an abortion, at least in the first three months of pregnancy. Would you like to see the Supreme Court completely overturn its Roe versus Wade decision, or not?' Fifty-two percent of Republican voters chose 'not.'" See what I mean about the value of a diverse group of people making decisions. Maybe it would have been a very different decision the other day in the Alabama state Senate if women like Eva and Audrey were members. And, I'm sorry to say, that all 6 Republicans that Alabama has sent to Congress are virulently anti-Choice, even though only 31% of Alabama voters agree with the approach that passed the legislature and was signed by the governor. If you'd like to help Eva and Audrey replace two very conservative men in Congress-- one Blue Dog and one Trump-enabling Republican-- please click on the Blue America congressional thermometer on the right and contribute what you can to their campaigns. As Eric Levitz noted last week inMagazine, The GOPs assault on abortion rights is tyranny of the minority . "The government of Alabama just decided that providing an abortion to a 12-year-old girl who was raped by her father is a more serious crime than raping a 12-year-old girl... Although some putatively 'moderate' Republicans like Marco Rubio believe that the state should coerce victims of rape and incest into incubating their abusers fetuses, the vast majority of Americans do not. A 2018 Gallup poll found that 77 percent of voters felt abortion should be legal in such circumstances during the first trimester of pregnancy (while 52 percent said it should remains so in the last three months of a pregnancy)... But the notion that a fetus with a heartbeat is a person-- and that the state should therefore treat aborting a pregnancy after six weeks as an act of murder-- is an utterly fringe notion in American life. And this is true not merely at the federal level but also in every U.S. state... [T]here is not a single state in the union where a majority of voters support making abortion illegal in all circumstances... The Alabama GOP isnt out of step with its own voters merely on the question of fetal personhood. This past July, an NBC Newssurvey asked respondents, 'The Supreme Courts 1973 Roe versus Wade decision established a womans constitutional right to an abortion, at least in the first three months of pregnancy. Would you like to see the Supreme Court completely overturn its Roe versus Wade decision, or not?' Fifty-two percent of Republican voters chose 'not.'" Progressives cannot beat back the GOPs assault on reproductive rights merely by winning the argument over abortion; in many respects, that argument is already won. America does not lack a pro-choice consensus; the pro-choice majority lacks the power to hold Republican lawmakers accountable to that consensus. Thus the fight for reproductive rights in the United States is inextricable from the struggle against the tyrannical rule of our nations far-right minority. I think we can all agree that the source ofpiece, Its Time to Hold American Elites Accountable for Their Abuses , is suspect, to say the least, but when Rahm Emanuel wrote that "if Democrats want to address simmering middle-class anger, they need to deliver justice," he struck a nerve. The scandal didn't begin with Felicity Huffman-- nor even with Donald Trump and his crooked family in the mid-1960s -- but Emanuel, a political fixer turned crooked congressman and ineffective Chicago mayor, made a good point when he wrote that "normally, a scandal centered on how rich parents used bribes to win their childrens admittance into elite colleges wouldnt play so heavily in the national news. No one much cared when Donald Trump promised large donations as his children enrolled at Penn. But the outrage over the Varsity Blues investigation perfectly illustrates what may be the most important, least understood, and underappreciated political dynamic of our era: a full-on middle-class revolt against the elites and the privileges they hoard. For all the focus on inequality and social justice, this middle-class revolt is the most important barrier standing between Democrats and the White House. They cant afford to ignore it." Emanuel was also a cheerleader for the Iraq war and a crooked bankster but asks he asked, however incongruously, his readers to "think of whats happened over the past decade and a half. America endured a war sold on false premises, a bailout of bankers issuing entirely toxic debt, and a massive public effort to prop up auto executives who were building cars that werent selling. Is it any wonder so many middle-class taxpayers resent the elites? Theyve been forced to bail them out from their own mistakes time and time again-- and yet the beneficiaries of that goodwill havent apologized, let alone taken responsibility. Americas middle class is Cinderella, and the nations elites are her evil stepsisters-- only now its the stepsisters who get to marry the prince. Its infuriating." Ever since the disaster of the 2016 election, Democrats have engaged in (an often pointless) debate about whether President Trumps supporters were drawn to him on account of economic or cultural grievances. Yes, Hillary Clinton drew more votes, but she was 1,000 times as qualified, and 10,000 times as personally appealing. She should have demolished him-- but something drew many voters to Trump instead. Im not denying that racism (against President Barack Obama) and sexism (against Secretary Clinton) played their roles. Nostalgia surely played another. But beneath all of that was the American middle classs belief that the Lori Loughlins and Felicity Huffmans of the world, let alone the Don Rumsfelds and Dick Fulds, arent asked to play by the same set of rules. The elite get all the breaks and are shown all the shortcuts. In the meantime, ordinary people are forced to pay full freight. And thats the point. No matter how noxious he was personally-- and despite the irony that he was a perfect example of elite privilege-- Trump embodied the countrys desire to hit back. Justice was a long time coming. Maybe the clearest early manifestation was the Iraq War. After 9/11, the Washington elite claimed that the country needed to neutralize Saddam Husseins weapons of mass destruction. Congress and the media largely went along for the ride. But $1 trillion and 5,000 lives and 16 years later, the public had been told that those WMDs had not existed after all. Yet as clear as that became, no one ever took it on the chin. No one from the Bush administration ever took responsibility. Middle-class families paid in both blood and treasure, but the people who had made the worst foreign-policy decision in U.S. history never owned their failure. The same thing happened during the Great Recession. The nations banking elite had lent billions to home buyers without any realistic hope of making good on their debts. Their irresponsible lending not only precipitated a global financial meltdown, but also necessitated a bailout from the nations financially stressed middle-class taxpayers. Yet even after being bailed out, the nations banking executives never faced any real consequences. No one went to jail. They never had to repay the personal fortunes theyd made by passing out those bad loans. Once again, the middle class was called to bail out the elites who were responsible for the mess while the elites got off scot-free. And it was the same story arc with the auto bailout. For decades, executives in Detroit had made indefensible decisions. Theyd been selling less reliable cars. Theyd never found a way to compete effectively with their foreign competition. Theyd continually lost market share. But when the bottom fell out and they were forced to ask middle-class taxpayers for a bailout, they never took responsibility. Most of the top brass kept their jobs. And once theyd recovered, they returned to business as usual. The middle class was once again expected to foot the bailout while the execs kept on like it had never happened. Washington wasnt wrong to prevent a global financial meltdown. Obama was certainly right to save the domestic auto industry. But those decisions came at a real cost. After the Recovery Act had passed and the auto bailout was rolling, we had a fierce debate inside the White House about how to sequence our pushes for health care, climate change, and financial reform. As the White House chief of staff, I argued, unsuccessfully, that the American people needed the catharsis of seeing that the bankers who had gotten the country into this mess were being forced to take responsibility-- that faith in government would plummet if we failed to deliver some Old Testament justice. Others feared that attacking Wall Street would undermine the recovery, and they won the day. Perhaps they were right on the economics. But the political implications were significant, and were still living with them today. The middle class believes even now that elites have license to make irresponsible decisions without paying a price. Consider the issues the Trump White House has chosen to highlight at a moment when many of the nations schools are in dire need of resources and health-care costs are on the rise. Trump is focused on tariffs because theres a widespread belief that existing trade agreements have been crafted to benefit the rich. The White House picks fights on immigration because the issue paints Democrats as champions of constituencies that arent following the rules. And both issues add fuel to a middle-class revolt thats been simmering, largely unnoticed, for the better part of a decade. Democrats have become increasingly cognizant of the anger, but too often theyve drawn the wrong conclusions. The answer certainly isnt socialism. Middle-class voters currently presume that elites already control the government-- so why would they want to give the bureaucracy any more power? Rather, Democrats need to become the party of justice. They need to demand accountability from bad actors-- and point out where Republicans would give them a pass. They dont need to castigate entire industries, as some might recommend. But when people make decisions that affect innocent bystanders-- beating the drums for an ill-conceived war, making complicated financial instruments-- they should be the party standing up for middle-class interests and values. Every time Democrats look at a problem, they think of a program. And while those programs often point the way forward, they need to focus their energy on convincing the middle class that they share their values more than just their economic interests. There is more to voters than their wallets. To do that, Democrats need to prove to them that they know the difference between right and wrong, and that begins with owning the terms accountability and responsibility. No matter how privileged, Democrats need to be the ones demanding that those who fall short be made to answer for their own decisions. Every one of us should have to live by the same moral and ethical codes. The nations elite shouldnt have any special license to take the easy way out. French supermarket Auchan Retail has announced it will close 15 of its 18 stores in Vietnam on June 3. Auchan Retail Vietnam Communications director Vu Thi Kim Nuong told VnExpress that three stores in Ho Chi Minh City would be retained, two in District 2 and one in Tan Binh District. She did not provide a reason for keeping them, but Auchan Retail CEO Edgar Bonte told French newspaper Les Echos last week the company had decided to sell all 18 stores in Vietnam. Nuong said the pullout was due to losses and Auchan Vietnam had not been able to come up with a suitable development strategy. The parent company is changing its policies and restructuring, and has decided to pull out of unprofitable markets. "We are in the process of negotiating with a few retailers, so we cannot say anything at the moment," said a company spokesperson who did not wish to be named. "Negotiations are moving forward quickly, and are expected to end before Auchan withdraws from Vietnam early next month." Because negotiations are still ongoing, what happens to these stores would depend on the buyer, the spokesperson said, without revealing who the suitors were. The supermarket reportedly stopped buying from suppliers last Sunday, and will be offering discounts to liquidate stocks quickly. Auchans decision to withdraw from Vietnam follows its deal earlier this week to sell almost all of Auchan Retail Italy to Conad, an Italian retail co-operative. Auchan, which came to Vietnam in 2015, has 13 stores in HCMC, four in Hanoi and one in Tay Ninh north-west of HCMC, and employs around 1,000 people. The supermarket chain had planned to invest $500 million and open 300 outlets in Vietnam, but stopped at 18 when business did not meet expectations. Vietnam currently has 17 strategic partnerships with major economies which have invested nearly $230 billion. Photo by Reuters/Kham. Strategic partners play an important role in Vietnams economic development, says Vu Tien Loc, president of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "Vietnam has strategic partnerships with 17 countries, which have invested nearly $230 billion, contributing 50 percent of the country's trade turnover," he said at a recent seminar titled Promoting trade and investment between Vietnam and strategic partners: Perspectives from business. The seminar sought to identify the obstacles to trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and its strategic partners and propose solutions. "These strategic partners play a crucial role in further enhancing foreign direct investment in Vietnam, creating more added value to help achieve sustainable development," Loc said. Vietnam is working toward promoting its trade and investment ties with strategic partners such as the U.S, China, Japan, South Korea, countries that lead in terms of financial capacity, market size and technology, he said. Loc proposed that the country's trade and investment promotion strategy should boost ties between ministries and promotion organizations, and offer incentives to digitization and small and medium enterprises. However, there is still a wide gap between Vietnamese enterprises and their foreign partners in terms of development status and competitiveness, he noted. Bjorn Koslowski, vice president of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said many Vietnamese companies fail to meet requirements to join German supply chains, and therefore German companies find it hard to initiatively connect with them. According to Virginia Foote, deputy head of AmCham Vietnam, many U.S companies seek to invest in Vietnam in several fields like energy and transport, and expect more improvement in both hard and soft infrastructure, along with Vietnamese goverment's policies. She also recommended that a non-cash economy and intellectual property protection should be enhanced. Kim Han Yong, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam, complained that many Korean companies have difficulties due to the rapid changes of Vietnamese ministries' policies and their scrapping of incentives. "The investment policies for foreign companies in Vietnam should be consistent and stable to mitigate risks for investors and attract more FDI to Vietnam," he said. A man works at an e-scooter assembly line of a motorcycle factory in Hai Phong City, Vietnam. Photo by Reuters Vietnam underlined its attractiveness as a destination for private equity investment with a 285 percent jump year-on-year to $1.6 billion last year. The figure put Vietnam among the top three ASEAN countries in attracting private equity investment, said a report by Grant Thornton, a tax and advisory service provider. The capital was raised in 38 major deals, the highest number in a decade, with 27 startups, it said, citing data from Bureau Van Dijk, a Moodys analytics company. Technology remained the most attractive area, accounting for 40 percent of total number of deals. Grant Thornton said that Vietnam has the potentials to remain a leading destination in ASEAN for private equity investment. In the coming months, fintech is set to be the most attractive sector for investors as the government strives to build a cashless society. It was followed by education and green/renewable energy. However, investors also expressed concern about the business environment in Vietnam. The majority, 87 percent, said they were worried about inconsistent investment regulations and policies, as well as corruption. Seventy-six percent said a lack of transparency in business information was a constraint in striking deals. The lack of skilled human resources was another constraint mentioned by investors. Seven of ten private equity investors said it was difficult for them to find the right talent. They struggle to make early, high-impact talent decisions, the report said. Ineffective corporate governance by local firms was also a challenge for investors. The country scored just 41.3 points of over 130 in the 2017-2018 corporate governance scorecard, while Thailand scored 82. "Improper management practices and lack of effective corporate governance are hindering Vietnamese firms competitiveness, making Vietnamese businesses slow to grow," the report said. For several years now, Vietnam has been seeking to strengthen its private sector as the majority of the countrys exports are made by foreign direct investment businesses. Last year, local firms accounted for just 28.3 percent of exports, while FDI firms accounted for 71.7 percent, according to the General Statistics Office. A woman stands in front of an Ocean Bank branch located at the PetroVietnam building in Hanoi. Photo by Reuters/Kham Several PetroVietnam subsidiaries are struggling to maintain cash flow after being told not to withdraw their deposits with the ailing OceanBank. According to a report submitted to the National Assembly by State Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc, many firms belonging to the state-owned oil and gas group PetroVietnam (PVN) are having trouble cash flow because they have deposited money with OceanBank. OceanBank was one of Vietnams three weakest lenders that the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) was forced to acquire in 2016 for zero dong to prevent them from going bust. The other two were the Vietnam Construction Bank, and Global Petro Commercial Joint Stock Bank. A PVN executive who did not want to be named said the SBV has requested enterprises to temporarily stop withdrawing their deposits from the ailing bank, but the central bank has also issued guarantees for the deposits. Enterprises are still receiving interest on their deposits, despite being unable to withdraw the money, he said. According to the auditors report, parent company PVN has over VND5.02 trillion ($214.75 million), $86 million and EUR 2,171 ($2,423) stuck at OceanBank. Of its subsidiaries and affiliate companies, PetroVietnam Oil Corporation currently has VND262 billion ($11.2 million) deposited with the bank; PetroVietnam Ca Mau Fertilizer JSC has VND333 billion ($14.24 million); and Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC, which controls Dung Quat, Vietnams first oil refinery, VND2.7 trillion ($115.17 million). In a report this week to the National Assembly, the State Bank of Vietnam said it plans to sell OceanBank to a foreign investor to be restructured. Official data show that the number of drivers exceeding alcohol limits is increasing. Photo by Shutterstock/Freedomz Social media was shaken by the image of a boy weeping in front of his dead mother on a street after a recent accident. Le Thi Thu Ha, a Hanoi sanitation worker, had been hit by a car on the night of April 22. She had been cleaning a street in the capital when a drunk driver lost control of his car and slammed into her. The alcohol level in his breath was very high, and he was not sober enough to talk to the police until the next morning. Another accident a week later claimed two lives when a drunk driver crashed his car into a motorbike. He admitted he had drunk six beers and alcohol with friends before the accident. Official data shows there were over 4,000 traffic accidents in the country in the first quarter of 2019, leading to 1,905 deaths. Drunk driving was to blame in 274 accidents. Alarmingly, the number of drivers exceeding alcohol limits is increasing, according to statistics from the traffic police department. Last year over 91,000 drivers had received sanctions for drunk driving, but in just four months this year the number is 50,000, a 45 percent increase over the same period last year. A survey found that 90 percent of people drive after drinking alcohol despite knowing it is illegal, Tran Huu Minh, a representative of the National Traffic Safety Committee, said. Experts said the lenient penalties for drunk driving are also to blame. The increasing number of drunk drivers shows that "legal punishments are not strong enough to deter the behavior," Phan Thi Thu Hien, deputy director of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, said. Public outcry Heartbreaking images and the fatal consequences of some recent drunk driving accidents have caused a wave of public anger on social media. Thousands of people have been expressing great apprehension about going in traffic every day. A reader wrote on VnExpress: "Going out is now frightening; at any time, in any place we could be hit from behind by a car." "Drunk driving is no different from holding a knife to kill people," another reader wrote. Following an accident that killed two people on April 30 many Facebook users began an online campaign against drunk driving. They put up profile pictures with slogans like "Dont drive when you are drunk" to tell the community about the deadly consequences of the action. A Facebook user named Hai Phuong uploaded a picture of her with a placard against drunken driving, saying: "Driving after using drugs and alcohol is a crime. People who deliberately drive when inebriated will sooner or later become murderers." Besides, the Vietnamese drinking culture seems to bother many people. At almost any gathering or meeting, drinking alcohol has become a sine qua non, especially for men, and refusing a drink could even be considered impolite. The belief that business negotiations tend to be smoother over a few drinks is well entrenched. Vietnam is the biggest beer market in Southeast Asia, consuming nearly four billion liters in 2017. The country spends on average $3.4 billion a year on alcohol. Vietnamese consumed 8.9 liters of pure alcohol per person in 2017, surpassing Japan (7.9 liters), China (7.4 liters) and India (5.9 liters). A netizen expressed disapproval of the old custom where people sometimes have no choice but to drink. "Stop forcing others to drink and stop letting others force you to drink," she wrote. "Customs are what people create, so we have to stop the harmful ones." The anger is spilling over into the real world. Early this month, 8,000 people marched against drunk driving in central Hanoi. Some of the organizers were friends of car crash victims and decided to march to demand a change in drinking habits. "We just lost two friends in an accident caused by a drunk driver," Nguyen Duc Hiep, a participant, said. The sadness at the friends death was manifesting into determination to oppose drunk driving, he said. Many people have begun to call for more stringent punishment for offenders. "I strongly recommend that we should permanently confiscate the licenses of people driving while under the influence," a reader wrote into an online newspaper recently. In response to the public outcry, the Ministry of Transport is planning amendments to laws like increasing the fine and duration of license suspension, Le Van Thanh of the ministrys department of traffic safety, said. People are also calling for a change in the public attitude toward drinking. "If we dont want to drink, no one can squeeze your mouth open and pour alcohol into it," Bao Thanh, a participant in the march against drunk driving, wrote. "So improve your own awareness for the safety of your family and the community." Crawfish, an invasive species but a delicacy in Vietnam, poses a threat to the countrys agriculture and fisheries since it is an indiscriminate feeder. Crawfish seized at a border gate in Lao Cai Province which neighbors China in May 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Trung Dung The red crustacean was first imported for food a few years ago and quickly became a favorite, with restaurants serving crawfish soon mushrooming. "Crawfish used to cost up to VND1 million ($43) per kilogram at restaurants but thanks to its popularity, prices have dropped to VND250,000-500,000," a Ho Chi Minh City wholesaler named Thoa said. China and the U.S. in that order are the major exporters of the crustacean to Vietnam. But agriculture experts are warning this represents clear and present danger. Dang Huy Huynh, former head of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, said the species could become a "disaster" for both agriculture and the ecosystem and called stopping its import. "Crawfish feeds on almost all kinds of aquatic species and competes for food with local species, and if they live together in the same environment, it is possible that some local fish or shrimp species could disappear." Bui Quang Te of the Research Institute for Aquaculture said scientists identified the crawfish as a species harmful to agriculture after a pilot breeding program in the northern province of Phu Tho in 2012. They reproduce quickly and withstand environmental changes. With their strong claws, they easily cut paddy stalks, feed on many species of young plants and burrow and destroy dykes, he said. "If crawfish spread across fields in Vietnam, they could spread diseases and viruses that could damage the crops." Crawfish could become a "disaster" for both agriculture and the ecosystem. Photo acquired by VnExpress. China has been having a hard time dealing with the explosion of crawfish in the Yangtze River. Vietnam put crawfish on the list of foreign species banned from being imported in 2013 and its 2018 Law on Biodiversity prohibits all activities related to raising and distributing the creature. "But managing the trade in crawfish has been a hard task because usually it is imported into Vietnam in small quantities via minor border gates," Hoang Thi Thanh Nhan, deputy director of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environments Biodiversity Conservation Agency, said. Between May 12 and 18, border guards and customs officials in Lao Cai Province which borders China seized 945 kilograms of crawfish in seven smuggling attempts at its border gates. All of them have been destroyed. The agriculture ministry has made an urgent demand to the customs and market management departments and local authorities to strictly enforce crawfish import regulations. The Penal Code stipulates a fine of VND100 million ($4,270) to VND1 billion and jail terms of up to five years for the import and distribution of invasive species. A plastic tank in which a male body was found in Binh Duong Province on May 15, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Phuoc Tuan Two men whose bodies were found entombed in concrete in southern Vietnam were killed for failure to follow a sects rules, police said. Police in Binh Duong Province last Saturday detained four women, Pham Thi Thien Ha, 31, her mother Trinh Thi Hong Hoa, 66, Nguyen Ngoc Tam Huyen, 40, of Ho Chi Minh City and Le Ngoc Phuong Thao, 29, from the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang. The four were held to investigate the murder of two men whose bodies were discovered two days earlier, one entombed in concrete in a plastic water tank and the other embalmed in tea leaves, put in a water tank and covered with concrete. One murder took place in a house in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, and the other in a rented house in Binh Duong, both around two hours from HCMC. Ha, the leader of the group, has told the police that the four women, along with the two victims, Tran Duc Linh, 51, from the north central province of Nghe An, and Tran Tri Thanh, 26, from HCMC, rented a house in Ba Ria-Vung Tau for their religious practice in December last year. While no information has been released on the sect, it appears that it was loosely based on qigong, which refers to a system of gentle physical exercises. According to rules set by Ha, no member of the sect was allowed to eat, drink or go out of the house for 10 straight days during the practice session. But Linh was not able to obey the regulations so he tried to escape halfway. He jumped out of the house from the second floor and suffered severe injuries. Instead of taking him to the hospital, Ha and the rest of the team brought him back into the house, and let him die. Later they put his body in an air-conditioned room for preserving. A week later, the group moved to the rented house in Binh Duong along with Linhs body. It was Thanh who embalmed the body there with tea leaves, packed it in sponge, glue and silicon before putting it in a plastic tank that was then covered in concrete. The group decided to keep it that way, so that nobody could track down the death of Linh. But Thanh was haunted by what he had done and could not follow the practice anymore. This made Ha angry. She decided to lock Thanh in a room and starve him so that he could have time and space to "repent his sins." But as the rest of the group learned that Thanh could not "improve himself" to continue with the practice, they made plans to get rid of him. Ha sent Thao to buy a battery and an electric actuator. They pretended to give Thanh an acupuncture, but electrified him instead, making him unconscious. Ha then strangled Thanh to death. Three days later, the all-female group bought a plastic water tank, put Thanh's body in and filled it up with concrete. The two murder cases were discovered on May 15 when a man who bought the house in Binh Duong was cleaning up the place to move in. He found the tank with Thanhs body in the bedroom and had some workers break it in order to move it out. Linhs was found later by the police by the side of the house. As police probed the case, the group moved to a hotel in Thu Dau Mot Town in Binh Duong. A staff there identified and reported them to the police. Ha used to study and work in Japan. She could communicate in English, Japanese and Chinese. After returning from Japan in 2015, Ha opened a coffee shop at a prime location in HCMC. The coffee shop reportedly did very well, but it was shut down in late 2017, investigation found. One of Has friends said that around the time that the coffee shop closed, Ha changed her lifestyle completely and repeatedly shared videos and photos related to a sect on social media. She told others that she had become a follower of that sect. Ha told the police that she covered the cost for all activities from transportation to renting accommodation for the group. In the seven-seat car that Ha owns, police found 30 ounces of gold, $20,000 and VND300 million ($13,000) in cash. Ha said she got the money from selling her house in HCMC. Ha and the other three women are being investigated for murder. Quach Huu Toan, 35, at a trial in HCMC on May 21, 2019, for causing a traffic accident that injured three Americans and one Vietnamese in April last year. Photo by VnExpress/Binh Nguyen A Saigon taxi driver will spend 15 months in jail for causing an accident that injured a group of pedestrians including three Americans last year. Quach Huu Toan, 35, who works for Vietnams biggest taxi company Vinasun, was found guilty of violating traffic regulations. According to the indictment, Toan was driving in the central District 1, HCMC when he hit a group of people, three Americans and one Vietnamese, who were using the pedestrian crossing. The accident took place on April 2 last year at the intersection on Dong Khoi and Ton Duc Thang streets. The American tourists sustained severe injuries while the Vietnamese man suffered a spinal fracture. Toan fled after the accident and turned himself in to the police in November. He paid the Vietnamese victim VND12 million ($514). The American tourists returned home after recovering from their injuries. The court has requested the U.S. consulate in Ho Chi Minh City to contact the victims for receiving compensation, but has not received a response. Road crashes are a leading cause of deaths in Vietnam, with one person dying almost every hour. A total of more than 18,720 accidents occurred in 2018, killing 8,244 people and injuring nearly 14,800, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee. Laid-off workers demand payment from Unilever The trade union coordination centre said they were preparing to stage a sit-in at the main entrance of the Unilever factory in Makwanpur Two jailed in Vietnam for burning police cars during last year's SEZ law protests Dang Ngoc Tan and Pham Thanh stand trial in Binh Thuan Province, May 21, 2019, for burning police cars during a protest in June 2018. Photo by VnExpress/Phan Thanh Two men have been sentenced to jail for burning six cars during last years protests against the Special Economic Zones bill, causing losses of $200,000. A court in the south central province of Binh Thuan on Tuesday gave Dang Ngoc Tan, 19, 17 years and Pham Thanh, 31, 11 years for "deliberate destruction of property." They were the first to be tried for destruction of property during last June's protests in Binh Thuan. They have already received jail sentences of four and four and a half years for disrupting public order at a trial last September. According to the indictment, on the morning of June 10 hundreds of people gathered on a section of National Highway 1 for the protests, disrupting order and blocking traffic. Many were found to have incited the crowd to block vehicles and throw objects at police officers sent to disperse the crowd and restore order. The following afternoon the protesters stormed a fire station where police officers had taken refuge, vandalized the building and destroyed 12 vehicles parked inside. Tan and Thanh were found guilty of burning down six cars with petrol bombs. At the trial on Tuesday both men admitted to their crimes and asked for leniency. The protests in Binh Thuan were among several that erupted across Vietnam on June 10 and 11. Thousands of people had also taken to the streets in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and several provinces with banners and signs calling for the SEZ bill to be scrapped. Earlier trials held in Binh Thuan, nearby Khanh Hoa and Ninh Thuan Provinces, Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring Dong Nai Province saw nearly 100 other protesters imprisoned for "disrupting public order." They were objecting in particular to a provision that would allow foreign investors to lease land for 99 years, saying it would undermine Vietnams sovereignty. All acts to incite public protests remain illegal after the passage of the Law on Demonstrations was deferred several times. After the demonstrations, the police detained hundreds of protesters and said they had uncovered evidence the protests were anti-state actions incited by organizations based in other countries using false, distorted information about the bill. But passage of the bill has been put off for further discussions in the National Assembly. Many trials regarding bribery and mismanagement of state assets are scheduled to be held in Vietnam this year. Graphics by Pixabay/mohamed_hassan Intensifying its corruption crackdown, Vietnam will take several former officials to the court from now until year end. The Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption said on Tuesday that by year end, relevant agencies need to finish investigating 28 cases, prosecute 24 cases, bring 29 cases to trial, hear the appealing court of seven cases, aside from verifying 36 other cases. Among them are eight cases that are treated as "massive" in which many former high-ranking officials are involved. One of them deals with economic mismanagement and negligence causing serious consequences at Vietnam Social Security, in which its former general director Le Bach Hong, who is also former Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, was arrested last November. The second case is about mismanagement of public land and state assets causing losses at Hai Thanh Company, which operates under the umbrella of the Vietnams Navy. The third case involves charges of bribery and mismanagement of public investment causing serious consequences at Vietnams third largest telecom firm MobiFone. The state-run MobiFone's acquisition of pay TV AVG in 2016 was found to have violated regulations, causing an estimated loss of about VND7 trillion ($307 million) to the state budget. Former former ministers of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son and Truong Minh Tuan were arrested in February and have been accused of receiving bribes in the case while Pham Nhat Vu, AVG chairman, was accused of giving bribes. Other trials will concern violations on investment at PetroVietnam Biofuels Joint Stock Company (PVB), violations of banking regulations at Phuong Nam Bank, violations in management of state assets at Vietnam's largest brewer Sabeco (Saigon Beer Alcohol Beverage Corporation). There will be two trials over mismanagement of public lands and state asset in the central city of Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, whose many top former officials have been arrested the past year. At a meeting with top officials on Tuesday last week, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong called for fiercer fighting against corruption, a campaign he has spearheaded since 2017. "We have to continue the fight against corruption and negativity with the spirit of determination and perseverance, we have to raise the spirit of solidarity and unity at all levels and branches," Trong said at the meeting which was joined by top government and party officials. Over the past three years, the sweeping corruption crackdown has ensnared scores of high-profile officials, especially in the energy and banking sectors. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Secretary of State Pompeo said the United States stands with the millions of Sri Lankans who support the freedom of their fellow citizens to worship as they please. No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Vice President Pence warned that Iran has been working with Nicolas Maduro to establish a safe haven for its terrorist proxies, including Hezbollah. Today (5/16), Enel's subsidiary Enel Green Power Germany (EGP Germany), the German renewable energy company ENERTRAG and the Switzerland-based energy storage solutions company Leclanche inaugurated the 22 MW Cremzow Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), located in Cremzow, in the German state of Brandenburg. The system, which involved a total investment of approximately 17 million euros, is supporting the stability of the German electricity network by providing frequency regulation services to the country's Primary Control Reserve (PCR) market. "The Cremzow project demonstrates how storage is increasingly becoming an integral part of renewable energy systems due to its enabling role in making them more reliable, flexible and stable," said Antonio Cammisecra, Head of Enel Green Power. "Leveraging on our expertise in the storage segment and the fruitful collaboration with our project partners, we launched this innovative storage system which allows us to contribute to the stability of the electricity transmission network around the clock in Germany, the heartland of the European PCR market." Jorg Muller, CEO of ENERTRAG, highlights not only the project's daily contribution to the primary balancing purposes but also its possible contribution to security of supply. "Cremzow BESS allows us to back up the renewable energy system in case a black start is necessary. Our consortium demonstrates that battery energy systems are profitable without subsidies. Renewable energy systems are mature." Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanche, said: "Cremzow is a landmark project which clearly demonstrates how energy storage solutions are solving some of the key challenges faced by our electricity grids today. We are delighted to be working with forward looking partners Enel Green Power and ENERTRAG, to deliver this important energy storage project which ensures the grid's stability and reliability, with the ambition of increasing the level of renewables in the grid and reducing curtailment." The Cremzow BESS is providing the grid with a real-time primary frequency regulation service contributing to its stability. When the grid's frequency decreases due to high power demand, the battery is able to deliver its stored energy within 30 seconds, while in response to frequency increases due to low demand, the battery is charged with the surplus energy. Furthermore, the possibility to integrate the BESS with ENERTRAG wind farms, using the wind energy surplus to charge the batteries avoiding curtailments, is currently being studied. The BESS is owned by a special purpose vehicle (SPV) in which EGP Germany holds a 90% majority stake and ENERTRAG the remaining 10% stake. Leclanche acts as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project, in charge of integrating battery and power conversion systems and energy management software. The German PCR market has evolved greatly in recent years with the early 2017 auction of approximately 600 MW of FCR attracting bidders from Austria, Belgium, France, Netherlands and Switzerland, thereby confirming the market's cross-border appeal. As of May 2019, the tendered PCR capacity in Germany amounts to 605 MW. The introduction of battery storage systems is an important development in the German PCR market: in 2017, BESS provided about 200 MW of PCR, equal to about 31% of the market. Enel Green Power is the Enel Group's business line dedicated to the development and operation of renewables across the world, with a presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Enel Green Power is a global leader in the green energy sector with a managed capacity of over 43 GW across a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal and hydropower, and is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable power plants. ENERTRAG provides all services related to renewable energy. We efficiently bring together electricity, heat and mobility for all areas of life. As an energy producer with an annual production of 1.5 million MWh and a service network with over 1,120 wind turbines, we know from personal experience what is important for our customers. With more than two decades of experience in Europe, our 540 employees combine all the skills required for the successful operation and efficient maintenance, as well as citizen-oriented planning and reliable construction of wind turbines, grids, and even complete integrated power plants. We are always one energy ahead - whether in sector coupling, local stakeholder investment models or need-based night-beaconing. Leclanche SA is a leading provider of high-quality energy storage solutions designed to accelerate our progress towards a clean energy future. Headquartered in Switzerland, Leclanche's history and heritage is rooted in over 100 years of battery and energy storage innovation and the Company is a trusted provider of energy storage solutions globally. This coupled with the Company's culture of German engineering and Swiss precision and quality, continues to make Leclanche the partner of choice for both disruptors, established companies and governments who are pioneering positive changes in how energy is produced, distributed and consumed around the world. Leclanche is at the heart of the convergence of the electrification of transport and the changes in the distribution network. Leclanche is the only listed pure play energy storage company in the world and is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN). On May 20, 2019, U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry led the U.S. Presidential Delegation on behalf of President Donald J. Trump to the Inauguration of His Excellency Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine. Secretary Perry was joined by U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker, U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon D. Sondland, Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council Alexander Vindman, Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine Joseph Pennington, as well as U.S. Senator Ron Johnson. Secretary Perry and the delegation met with several Ukrainian and European leaders while in Ukraine to discuss efforts to further economic and energy cooperation within the transatlantic community, and particularly with Ukraine. President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy On Monday, the delegation attended the inauguration of President Zelenskyy and held a bilateral meeting with the new President. They reaffirmed the United States is strongly committed to the success of a free, prosperous, and resilient Ukraine. The U.S. looks forward to working with President Zelenskyy as Ukraine seeks reforms and promotes an environment attractive to foreign investment, particularly in the energy sector. The Ukrainian people stand to benefit from their vast potential and realize the economic prosperity they have sought since their independence 27 years ago. The deep partnership between the U.S. and Ukraine, and the vision held by President Zelenskyy for the next generations of Ukraine will help ensure this becomes a reality. Prime Minister of Ukraine, Volodymyr Groysman Secretary Perry held a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman. He thanked him for his service as Prime Minister to the people of Ukraine, and supports the peaceful transition of power taking place this week. The United States strongly supports the people of Ukraine, and we look forward to working with President Zelenskyy under his new leadership. Secretary Perry reiterated the United States' opposition to the construction of the Nord Stream 2 and Turkish Stream pipelines, as it will stifle the security of the European Union. The U.S. and Ukraine remain committed to stopping bad actors who use energy as a weapon and on behalf of President Trump and his Administration, we will continue to support our friend and ally, Ukraine, against Russia's aggression. Speaker of Ukrainian Parliament, Andriy Parubiy Secretary Perry and Ukraine's Speaker of Parliament, Andriy Parubiy, had a productive discussion regarding the U.S.-Ukraine Strategic Energy Dialogue and reaffirmed our country's commitment since their last discussion last November. Both leaders emphasized the importance of energy security and diversity in Ukraine and our continued cooperation in these efforts. President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili Secretary Perry and delegation members met with President Salome Zourabichvili of the Republic of Georgia where they discussed a wide range of issues related to regional security, economics, and energy opportunities. They discussed ways to improve Ukrainian and Georgian energy security and diversity, including creating an environment that fosters increased investment and benefit to the citizens of the Black Sea region. This includes a desire for maintaining discussions about the potential for LNG as a means of diversification. Buenavista Renewables Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V. ("BVR"), a Buenavista Renewables company, and ESCO Comercializadora Energetica S. de R.L. de C.V., a qualified supplier from Mexicali, Baja California, announce they have entered into a tripartite long-term Power Purchase Agreement with Zodiac Aerospace Equipo de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., an affiliate of France's Safran Group. The electricity to be delivered under the PPA will be generated by roughly 13 MW of the Los Santos Solar II solar facility (the "Project"), which BVR is developing in Ahumada, Chihuahua. The Project is located contiguous to BVR's operational Los Santos Solar I project. Under the PPA, Zodiac Aerospace, as off-taker, will be supplied 100% of its electricity, Clean Energy Certificates, and capacity from ESCO, as qualified supplier under Mexican market rules; approximately 70% of these products will come from the Project. In total, Zodiac Aerospace has committed to purchase more than 30,000 MWh of electricity annually from the Project. The Project will be constructed on 80 hectares of private ranchland located between Ciudad Juarez and Chihuahua. Zodiac Aerospace will be consuming the electricity at factories in Chihuahua, Chihuahua. BVR and ESCO will announce the Project's other off-takers in the coming weeks. Dean G. Hull, Principal - Structured Finance of BVR, had the following to say: "It has been a pleasure working with Safran Group on this transaction and to see a global company committed to environmental protection, while concurrently benefiting from the economic advantages of fixed electricity pricing." Felipe Sandoval, General Manager of Zodiac Aerospace said the following, "The signed agreement with BVR and ESCO is in line with Safran's strategy to develop new sources of reliable and clean energy in order to become carbon neutral." The transaction shows BVR's continued commitment to structuring deals that make sense for all stakeholders, as stated by Jose Ruiz, Principal - Business Development of BVR: "We look forward to working with other private sector clients in Mexico on similar initiatives, which will also aid Mexico in reaching its stated energy independence goals." About Zodiac Aerospace In February 2018, Safran took control of Zodiac Aerospace, significantly expanding its aircraft equipment activities. Zodiac Aerospace's former activities are now the focus of three new companies within the Safran Group: Safran Aerosystems, Safran Cabin and Safran Seats. About BVR Buenavista Renewables is a greenfield renewable energy developer focusing on emerging markets. BVR specializes in utility-scale and distributed generation renewable energy, employing creative financial and technical solutions to develop projects in challenging markets. At present, BVR boasts a pipeline of more than 3 GW in Mexico, the Philippines, the islands of the Western Pacific, Colombia, and Chile. About ESCO ESCO is a qualified supplier headquartered services dozens of clients in Mexico, with a particular emphasis on northern Mexico. In addition to market representation services, ESCO also imports/exports electricity from the US and provides electrical and electricity market consulting services. Contact Jesus Ruiz jesusruiz@buenavistarenewables.com +52-1-614-247-7006 A preliminary report on a fatal truck accident at the Gold Bar Mine in Eureka County describes the trucks path but does not explain why it crashed. Haul truck driver Dean V. Pilcher, 57, of Colorado was killed May 13 when his vehicle overturned while operating at the mine. Pilcher was employed by N.A. Degerstrom of Spokane, a contractor for mine owner McEwen Mining Inc. The Mine Safety & Health Administration reported that the Caterpillar 777D haul truck was ascending the Cabin Pit Haul Road when the truck slowed and stopped, then rolled backwards. The truck traveled more than 300 feet and ran up a hill, causing it to roll over once. The truck came to rest upright on its tires. It was Nevadas first mining fatality of 2019 and the seventh nationwide fatality that MSHA is investigating. Gold Bar is located about 30 miles northwest of the city of Eureka, on the Cortez Trend. McEwen Mining began construction in November 2017. The first gold ingot was poured at the mine on Feb. 16, 2019. In 2018, there were two mining fatalities in Nevada, both in northeastern Nevada. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 12 Angry 2 May 21 Marcus Blackhawk, 33, of Owyhee was arrested on Indian View Heights Road on two BIA/tribal charges. Bail: $1,000 Luis F. Castollo, 21, of Maywood, California was arrested on a felony warrant for selling a controlled substance, possession to sell a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon without a permit, and failure to appear after bail on a misdemeanor crime. Bail: $39,655 Brandon L. Councilman, 22, of Boise was arrested on U.S. Highway 93 on a criminal justice detainer and for speeding 11-15 mph over limit. Bail: $800 Alfredo G. Puentes, 51, of Long Beach, California was arrested at Elko County Jail on a Nevada State Prison hold. No bail Anthony R. Rogers, 35, of Spring Creek was arrested at 2020 Hamilton Creek Trail on a bench warrant. No bail The charges above do not imply guilt. Under the law, everyone is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 1 Angry 0 Meritxell Batet, the new speaker of Congress. Eduardo Parra (Europa Press) When Spanish deputy Clara Campoamor demanded womens right to vote in a famous speech made on October 1, 1931, she was just one of three female members of Congress. Eighty-eight years after womens suffrage was enacted in Spain, the new Congress that convened on Tuesday has the highest number of female deputies in the countrys history: 166, representing 47.4% of seats. This makes Spanish parliament the EU leader in gender parity, and the fifth in the world according to figures from UN Women. The presence of women in politics paves the way for todays little girls to believe that they can be anything they want to be Cuca Gamarra, PP deputy Spains leap to the global forefront of female leadership is also reflected in the fact that a woman, Meritxell Batet, is the new speaker of the lower house, and that she is taking over from another woman, Ana Pastor. This new reality was reflected in the opening remarks by Batet, who spoke of the need to advance toward a more feminist Spain and who addressed the senoras y senores diputados, putting the women first instead of using the more traditional formula of senores y senoras. The Socialist Party (PSOE) has contributed the largest number of female lawmakers: 64 deputies, representing 52% of the Socialist seats. There are also more women than men in the Popular Party (PP)s congressional group: 34, or 51.5% of its own deputies. They are followed by Ciudadanos (Citizens) with 21 female lawmakers, although these account for just 36.8% of all Ciudadanos deputies. And Unidas Podemos brings 20, representing 48% of its own deputies. For many of these women, Tuesday was the first time that they had set foot in the hallways of Congress. They represented several generations and varying degrees of experience in politics. Presiding over the scene was a bust of Clara Campoamor. The girls in this country need female role models in all walks of life Ines Arrimadas, Ciudadanos deputy These new deputies underscored the importance of gender equality in Congress. The girls in this country need female role models in all walks of life. We need to keep increasing the number of female leaders and eliminating the barriers that continue to halt the careers of many women, said Ines Arrimadas, 37, a deputy for Ciudadanos who will likely be its congressional spokesperson. This is good news and it should not go unnoticed, added Cuca Gamarra, 44, of the PP. The presence of women in politics paves the way for todays little girls to believe that they can be anything they want to. Gender parity is a social achievement thats been fomented by the PSOE in Spain, said Beatriz Corredor, 50, a former Socialist minister who has earned a seat in the new parliament. But for the younger deputies, such as the 25-year-old Maria Teresa Perez of Unidas Podemos, the increased female presence in Congress is a result of the influence of feminism and March 8, alluding to the large feminist demonstrations staged in recent years in Spain on International Womens Day. But Perez thinks this is not enough. Its good to break through glass ceilings, but it is also necessary to enact feminist policies and de-patriarchalize politics, which means engaging in dialogue based on greater empathy, less testosterone and less over-acting. In contrast, a female deputy for the far-right Vox party, Cristina Esteban, 43, said she did not attach so much importance to the issue of gender parity in Congress: I see it as neither a good thing nor a bad thing. English version by Susana Urra. Nepal Krishi, Bayer BioScience to pilot hybrid paddy seeds project The use of hybrid seeds by farmers to grow paddy is insignificant compared to 90 percent for vegetable cultivation A condolence book in tribute to Ignacio Echeverria. Pablo Blazquez Dominguez (Getty Images) An inquest into the London Bridge and Borough Market terrorist atrocity in London in 2017 has shone a light on the valiant efforts of Spains so-called skateboard hero, Ignacio Echeverria, to fend off the perpetrators with his skateboard and protect the victims of the attack. Echeverria, 39, died after trying to defend a woman who was being stabbed by one of the three terrorists who drove a vehicle into pedestrians, then attacked passersby with knives on the night of June 3. Echeverria took on one of the terrorists using his skateboard as a weapon, and was stabbed to death. If I had stayed, they would have also stabbed me Guillermo Sanchez-Montisi, a friend of Echeverria The Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey, heard on Monday from several witnesses about Echeverrias brave actions, which were captured by security cameras in the area. He didnt even think about it, Guillermo Sanchez-Montisi, a friend of Echeverria who was at the scene, told the court. One of the attackers tried to cover his face as Ignacio hit him. Echeverria was riding his bicycle near London Bridge with Sanchez-Montisi and a third friend when the terrorists launched their attack. Hours earlier, the three had been practicing skateboarding in the South Bank neighborhood in London. According to Sanchez-Montisi, they first witnessed a man with a knife wound running away from London Bridge; then saw the man get stabbed in the neck and fall to the ground, when he tried protect two victims: Marie Bondeville and Oliver Dowling. Ignacio Echeverria in a video screenshot. ATLAS The court watched CCTV footage of the incident, which shows Echeverria jumping immediately from his bicycle and running to help. One of the terrorists, Rachid Redouane, is seen to lunge at Echeverria and he falls to the ground. Redouane and another terrorist, Youssef Zaghba, continue to assault him as he lies on the pavement. From the way they were attacking the pedestrians it was clear their intentions were to kill everybody, Sanchez-Montisi told the court, adding the terrorists appeared prepared and professional. When Sanchez-Montisi saw one of the terrorists coming for him, he threw something at the man and cycled away as fast as he could toward London Bridge. Everyone was running. If I had stayed, they would have stabbed me too, he said. Echevarria had moved to London a year before the attack to be closer to his sister and nephew Sanchez-Montisi said he continues to feel guilty about leaving his injured friend behind, adding he would not wish that feeling of futility on his worst enemy. Echevarria had moved to London a year before the attack to be closer to his sister and nephew. He lived in the Poplar neighborhood in the London borough of Tower Hamlets. The eight-week inquest began on May 7 and will examine the deaths of the eight people killed in the June 3 attack, which left another 48 injured. English version by Melissa Kitson. The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) and PrivatBank have won lawsuits with companies affiliated with former co-owner of the bank Ihor Kolomoisky, where the latter sought to lift liabilities on refinancing loans, the press service of the NBU has told Interfax-Ukraine. "On May 14, 2019, the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court put an end to cases No. 910/16744/17, 910/16979/17 launched under claims of property guarantors related to the former owners of PrivatBank, regarding refinancing loans, against the NBU and PrivatBank about the obligations of the regulator to write off funds from the correspondent accounts of the bank to repay debt on refinancing and obligations of PrivatBank to repay the debt to the NBU," a spokesman of the central bank said. According to court materials, the NBU and PrivatBank won a lawsuit under the claims of Nikopol Ferroalloy Plant (NFZ) and the Cyprian company Trovelko Holdings Limited, which sought to release them from the refinancing obligations that the NBU issued to PrivatBank in the amount of UAH 2.6 billion and UAH 143 million, respectively. According to the spokesman for the central bank, the purpose of these lawsuits, of which about 30 were filed, is to discharge not only legal entities associated with the former owners of the bank who transferred their property as collateral to the National Bank, but also the financial guarantor Kolomoisky from the debts. This category of cases was heard by the courts of all instances, starting in 2017. The Kyiv business court and the Kyiv business court of appeals initially satisfied all these claims and only after the Supreme Court of Cassation expressed the legal position in support of the NBU and PrivatBank and overturned previous court decisions, the Pivnichny business court of appeals also sided with the regulator. After that, the property guarantors, taking into account the legal positions of the appellate and cassation courts, tried to appeal the relevant decision by appealing to the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court. However, the Grand Chamber also refused to satisfy cassation complaints of the property guarantors associated with the former owners of the bank. The representative of the press service of the NBU added that, taking into account the provisions of the economic procedural law, the legal positions of the Supreme Court are mandatory for courts of all instances in such disputes. Ukraine exports 45.4 mln tonnes of grain since start of 2018/2019 MY Ukraine since the beginning of the 2018/2019 marketing year (MY, July-June) and as of May 22, 2019 had exported 45.4 million tonnes of grain and leguminous plants, which is 26% more than on the same date of the previous MY. According to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food, farmers exported 26.4 million tonnes of corn, 14.8 million tonnes of wheat, and 3.5 million tonnes of barley. On the specified date, some 262,000 tonnes of flour had been also exported. As reported, with reference to the ministry, Ukraine exported 39.4 million tonnes of grain in the 2017/2018 MY. According to the ministry, grain exports in the 2018/2019 MY are projected to be 49 million tonnes. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has met with representatives of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) on Tuesday and expressed gratitude for their work in protecting the territorial integrity of the Ukrainian state, the presidential press service said. "I am grateful to you for protecting Ukraine no matter where you are. You are protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country," Zelensky said. In turn, UWC President Paul Grod congratulated Volodymyr Zelensky on his election and taking the office. He also thanked the president for the opportunity to meet in the first days of his work, despite the tight agenda. "I know this is a difficult period for you. Thank you for taking time to meet with the representatives of the UWC. This is very important for us," he said. Grod also noted that it would be very important for our community to hear that this meeting took place, that we can say what you declared in your speech: "We are one nation of 65 million people and we are Ukrainians no matter where we live." "I am grateful that you urge Ukrainians to come back and work at the development of Ukraine. And we want to do it together with you," the UWC president noted. Head of the Ukrainian state Volodymyr Zelensky, by his decree, has appointed ex-member of the National Commission for Energy, Housing and Utilities Services Regulation (NCER) Andriy Gerus to the position of the presidential representative in the Cabinet of Ministers. "To appoint Gerus Andriy Mykhailovych as the representative of the president of Ukraine in the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine," decree No. 314/2019, published on the website of the head of state on Wednesday morning says. The representative office of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday refuted some media reports on the alleged early drawdown of the mission that earlier started working in Kyiv. The IMF representative office said that IMF experts continue their meetings with authorities, the office told Interfax-Ukraine. As reported, the IMF mission started working in Kyiv on May 21. The mission is to assess the implementation of the current Stand-By Arrangement in Ukraine and consultations on Article IV of the IMF Agreement. Earlier, IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman said that the IMF mission planned to work in Ukraine for two weeks. Among the main issues of concern, he noted the adoption of the new wording of the law on liability for illegal enrichment after the abolition of the previous one by the Constitutional Court in February of this year. The IMF Executive Board, following a meeting on December 19, 2018, approved a new program of cooperation with Ukraine under the Stand-By Arrangement. The amount of the 14-month program is equivalent to SDR 2.8 billion, or about $3.9 billion. Some SDR 1 billion (about $1.4 billion) was provided immediately, while the remaining funds will be provided based on the results of the program reviews in 2019. The parliamentary faction of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc will not support the bill of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on amending the law on parliamentary elections regarding the refusal of the majority component and the reduction of barrier for entering parliamentary. "A closed-list proportional system is a big corruption. This is what civil society tells us. Therefore, our faction will not support this bill," BPP faction leader Artur Herasymov said from the rostrum of the parliament at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday. Madhav Ghimire is the Province No. 1 Chief correspondent for Kantipur Media Group. Zelensky will meet with IMF mission, as planned, next week presidential press service President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky will hold meetings with the mission of the International Monetary Fund in Kyiv next week, as planned. According to the official website of the head of state, representatives of the IMF mission are currently holding meetings with officials. On Friday, May 24, at 12.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Snap Parliamentary Elections: Main Intrigue and Key Rivals." Participants include Director of Ukraine's Institute for Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov, expert of the Gardarica Strategic Consulting Corporation Kostiantyn Matviyenko, and Director of the Ukrainian Barometer Sociological Service Viktor Nebozhenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration of journalists with editorial IDs on the spot. The report was jointly conducted by Vietnams Ministry of Science and Technology and Data61|CSIRO, which is part of the Australian-funded Aus4Innovation programme worth AUD10 million. According to Dr. Lucy Cameron, senior research consultant at Data61|CSIRO, the report identifies key trends that will affect Vietnam's digital economy in the future, including the impacts of emerging digital technologies, Vietnams new export markets, the development of modern digital infrastructure, smart city development, the increase of digital skills and services, and changes in consumer behavior. The report also builds four scenarios for the future of Vietnam's digital economy by 2045 based on the digitaltransformation level and the development of informationand technology in Vietnam. Under the traditional scenario, digital technology isexpected to contribute US$196 billion to GDP, whileunder the "digital export" scenario, digital technology is expected to contribute US$217 billion to the nationalGDP. Meanwhile, the scenarios of "digital consumption" and digital transformation are predicted to contribute US$331 billion and US$544 billion respectively to the GDP by 2045. The scenarios also feature an overall picture for policy makers to build plans for Vietnam's digital economy in the future. The report also outlines priority areas in the development roadmap for Vietnam's digital economy includinginformation-communication and energy infrastructure, network security, digital skills, the modernisation of the Government apparatus, Industry 4.0 and national innovation, tax reform and legal regulations. Dr. Lucy Cameron said that, regarding a favourable scenario, digital applications will promote Vietnam's GDP growth by 1.1% per year until 2045. However, Vietnam also has to face and address major challenges including climate change, aging population, labour productivity, and others to achieve the above objectives, she noted. The event was attended by Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue. Speaking at the conference, Deputy PM Hue hailed the efforts and positive response from the agencies and units under the Industry and Trade sector to the campaign over the past ten years. The campaign has brought good achievements, significantly contributing to promoting production, stabilising macro-economy and domestic consumption, reducing import of goods, and ensuring social security, he added. The Deputy PM asked the MoIT to continue improving the quality of the ministrys Steering Committee for the campaign. He also noted that the ministry should closely coordinate with other agencies, localities and Vietnam Fatherland Front committees at all levels to accelerate the implementation of the Governments scheme on developing the domestic market in association with the campaign, while replicating advanced examples in the research and application of new technologies. * US President Donald Trump signed deals to lift tariffs of 25% on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico which took effect on May 20. * Security is tightened outside Indonesias election agency when official results of a presidential poll are released this week. * Top US tech giants have frozen the supply of critical software and components to Chinas Huawei. * Japan has considered to tighten exports of high technology such as artificial-intelligence and robotics amid similar moves from the US. * The Transitional Military Council of Sudan has resumed talks with protest leaders on the establishment of an interim government. * The US Navy says it has conducted exercises in the Arabian Sea with a carrier strike group ordered to the Persian Gulf to counter an unspecified threat from Iran. * Yemens Houthi group said targeting Saudi Aramcos installations last week was the beginning of military operations against 300 vital military targets including vital military headquarters and facilities in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, as well as their bases in Yemen. * Saudi Arabias energy minister Khalid al-Falih recommended driving oil inventories down and that global oil supplies were plentiful. * At least three people were killed and 87 others injured after the roof of a night bar collapsed early Monday morning in the city of Bose, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. * Swedish prosecutors have filed a request for the detention of Julian Assange over an allegation of rape. If approved, it would be the first step in a process to have the Wikileaks founder extradited from the UK. * Egyptian security forces have killed 12 terrorists from the Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated Hasm group in raids on their hideouts in Giza and Cairo governorates. * Turkish authorities ordered the arrest of 249 foreign ministry personnel over suspected links to the network of cleric Fethullah Gulen accused of orchestrating an attempted coup in 2016. * At least 11 people have been shot dead in a bar in Belem city, northern Brazil. The case is under investigation. * At least 12 people were injured on Sunday in a blast targeting a tourist bus near the new Egyptian museum close to the Giza Pyramids. The Egypt Ministry of Interior said a device exploded near the bus carrying 25 South African citizens. As tensions grow between Tehran and Washington, the British foreign secretary warned Iran not to test the United States' resolve; the EU called on both sides to calm down and Iraqi politicians expressed concern over Baghdad being dragged into a possible conflict as rockets landed near U.S Embassy. Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif angrily responded to U.S. President Donald Trump's Tweet in which he had said Sunday evening, "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran, and warned," Never threaten the United States again!" Trumps tweet immediately followed news that a rocket had landed in Baghdads Green Zone, not too far from the U.S. embassy. Zarif called Trump's words "genocidal taunts," adding that "Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors were all gone. Economic terrorism and genocidal taunts won't 'end Iran'," Zarif wrote on Twitter. "Never threaten an Iranian. Try respect -- it works!" he added. Trump said on Monday Iran would be met with "great force" if it attempted anything against U.S. interests in the Middle East, adding that Tehran has been very hostile toward Washington. Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for an event in Pennsylvania he was still willing to have talks with Iran "when they're ready." This was seen as a slight softening of his earlier tough tweet. During the past week, social media users noted that Zarif "mentions" Trump in various tweets, hoping that the U.S. chief executive would respond to him and start a conversation. Others doubted that Trump would respond to anyone other than Iran's top leaders, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei or President Hassan Rouhani. Regardless of the bitterly tactful exchange on twitter, tensions between Tehran and Washington appear to be dangerously on the rise following the rocket attack in Baghdad Sunday evening. All along the past week tension was bubbling in the region as mysterious explosions in the Persian Gulf endangered shipping and Houthi drones attacked Saudi oil establishments near the capital. Just hours after Zarif's reply to Trump, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt warned Iran not to test the United States' will. "I would say to the Iranians: Do not underestimate the resolve on the U.S. side," UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said while in Geneva for a UN conference in Geneva. Hunt said "They don't want a war with Iran," However, he warned, "But if American interests are attacked, they will retaliate. And that is something that the Iranians need to think about very, very carefully." In the meantime, Oman's Foreign Minister Rushed to Tehran Monday morning May 20 apparently in a bid to help ease the rising tensions between Tehran and DC. Yousuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, who in the past helped pave the way for negotiations between Iran and the United States, discussed regional and international issues with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian state news agency IRNA said. Meanwhile, concerns have been rising in Iraq over the possible ramifications of the Tehran-Washington tension in Iraq. Following Sunday evening's events, prominent Iraqi Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and several other Iraqi politicians warned against dragging Baghdad into a conflict between Iran and the United States. "We need peace and construction and any party who drags Iraq into war and turn it into a battlefield will be the enemy of the Iraqi people," Sadr said, while Qais al-Khazali, the leader of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq Shiite militia, warned against "giving pretexts to the war between Iran and the United States, " adding that "The war will harm Iraqs political, economic and security stability." However, the definitive words came out of Iraq's Parliament as Hadi al-Amiri, the leader of Iraqi parliaments al-Fatah bloc, warned in a statement "if war breaks out, it will burn all." Anticipating some kind of escalation between Iran or its regional proxies and the United States following the exchange of bellicose threats between the two, the European Union warned against further provocations. "The region does not need further elements of destabilization. This is something that we have been saying consistently," said EU foreign policy spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic. "Any provocations must be avoided and all efforts should be made to defuse tensions," she added. Both Iranian and U.S. officials have said repeatedly during the past ten days that although they do not want a war with the other side, they would retaliate if their interests are attacked. IRGC Commander Hossein Salami said on May 19 that Iran does not seek war, but is not afraid of it either and U.S. President vowed on the same day that war between Washington and Tehran would result in "the official end of Iran." A pro-reform member of the Iranian Parliament (Majles) has suggested Tehran should form a group of 100 politicians to strengthen Iran's lobbying efforts in other countries including the United States. The official news agency of the Iranian Parliament (ICANA) has on Wednesday May 22 quoted Elias Hazrati, as having suggested that this lobby should be formed by the Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the Supreme National Security Council. Social media activists have characterized the lobby suggested by Hazrati as a group to pave the way for negotiations with the United States. But it is not clear if Hazratis suggestion of forming a group for advocacy has the blessing of top leaders, such as Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Hazrati who is the proprietor of reformist daily newspaper Etemad in Tehran says the lobby can prevent wars against Iran by countering the campaigns of anti-Iranian lobbies in major Western countering. The politician suggests that the 100 strong lobby can hold talks with U.S. congressmen and congresswomen as well as with other U.S. or European journalists, political figures, intellectuals and industrialists. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on May 22, Trend reports. 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, May 22 Trend: On May 22, the Office of the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, in accordance with its mandate, plans to conduct the next ceasefire monitoring exercise on the Azerbaijan and Armenia state border in the direction of Kazakh district, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The Personal Representative's field assistants Mihail Olaru and Simon Tiller will carry out the monitoring exercise from the territory of Azerbaijan. The Personal Representative's field assistants Ognjen Jovic and Ghenadie Petrica will carry out the monitoring from the territory of Armenia. 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. Police seize huge cache of drugs in Parsa district Acting on a tip-off, the security team seized 178 kg marijuana, 75 kg marijuana dust, and 42 kg hashish Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: The ceasefire monitoring exercise on the Azerbaijan and Armenia state border, in the direction of Kazakh district, held in accordance with the mandate of Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on May 22, ended with no incident, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. The Personal Representative's field assistants Mihail Olaru and Simon Tiller carried out the monitoring exercise from the territory of Azerbaijan. The Personal Representative's field assistants Ognjen Jovic and Ghenadie Petrica carried out the monitoring from the territory of Armenia. 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, May 22 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Estonia is interested in intensifying political dialogue with Azerbaijan, Urmas Reinsalu, the Foreign Minister of Estonia, said in an exclusive interview with Trend. Bilateral relations between Estonia and Azerbaijan are good and stable. We have made progress in enhancing political cooperation through high-level meetings in recent years. We have established very good contacts between our parliaments; I am pleased that our Vice Speaker visited Baku in October 2018. An Estonia-Azerbaijani parliamentary group has been formed in our new Parliament as well and good contacts will definitely continue. We are interested in intensifying political dialogue and diversifying spheres of cooperation, he said. Reinsalu said the sides already have excellent cooperation in the ICT and education sectors, but there is a lot of potential to further develop economic relations and increase trade flows. The Estonian government highly values cooperation with all Eastern Partnership countries and actively promotes this initiative in the European Union. The EU is an important partner for Azerbaijan and we welcome the positive dynamics in EU-Azerbaijan relations, noted the minister. Reinsalu recalled that on 13 May 2019, the foreign ministers of the European Union and the foreign ministers of the six Eastern Partnership countries met in Brussels to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Eastern Partnership, to reiterate its importance, to celebrate its success and achievements so far, as well as to reflect on the future of continued strategic and ambitious partnership. I am glad to have met my Azerbaijani colleague during the celebrations in Brussels, with whom Im hoping to develop a good and productive working relationship, he said. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov received heads of diplomatic missions of Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile on May 21, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. At the meeting, the minister appreciated the observer status granted to Azerbaijan at the Ministerial Council meeting of the Pacific Alliance (PA) in Mexico City on May 10. He noted that PA, which unites four above-mentioned member countries, four associate members including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore, as well as 57 observer countries, is a vital platform for the development of regional trade relations. The minister emphasized that Azerbaijan in its foreign policy attaches special importance to cooperation with Latin American countries and actively collaborates with the existing organizations and economic bodies in the region. In this context, taking into account PA's partner ties with various economic cooperation formats and particular countries, it was noted that Azerbaijan, which plays an important role in the connection of the Pacific Ocean with the European space can provide additional opportunities for PA countries as well. Peru's Ambassador Maria Milagros Castanon Seoane presented the document that officially affirms Azerbaijan as an observer to PA. Then, Heads of the PA countries diplomatic missions talked about the dynamic development of relations with Azerbaijan over the recent period and mentioned the outstanding role of the Embassies in promoting this process. They highly appreciated the active foreign policy of the country serving the global and regional progress and expressed confidence that their states' cooperation with Azerbaijan would further develop in both bilateral and multilateral formats. The sides, along with economic cooperation, exchanged views on existing perspectives in the humanitarian and other spheres. An active involvement of the private sector in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and the holding of the Business Forums were considered as favorable formats. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. Details added (first version posted May 21 at 12:13) Baku, Azerbaijan, May 21 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the inauguration of Sabunchu Railway Station Complex, and viewed the work done on the newly built Baku passenger-Sabunchu railway line. The head of state first met with local residents and talked to them. The Sabunchu resident Arazkhanim Mardanova welcomed and thanked President Ilham Aliyev for attention and care on behalf of the residents. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said: - Thank you very much, thank you! I am also very glad that this beautiful station is being commissioned today. It is a beautiful building. Its construction once again demonstrates that the problems of every settlement are in the spotlight. We are trying to work on the improvement and creation in all our settlements, to create new opportunities for our citizens. New cars produced by one of the leading companies in the world have been purchased, and it will now be very comfortable to travel by train. Along the railway, the Bakikhanov and Keshla stations have also been reconstructed. The station pleases the eye. I am glad that we are celebrating such a wonderful event together today. This shows again that a lot of attention is being paid to city transport. Buses have now been purchased another 300 buses will be purchased this year. The construction of the underground is underway, new cars are being purchased, roads are being laid, railway stations are being built. In other words, our transport infrastructure is being comprehensively updated. How are you doing? Residents: Thank you very much! President Ilham Aliyev: What are the pending issues? What issues still remain outstanding? Resident Akbar Huseynov: Such a beautiful station has been built in an ordinary settlement. That is great. I am a resident of this settlement, I have lived here for about 70 years. We could not even think that such a magnificent building would once be built here. We were delighted to watch every opening ceremony on TV. Today I take part in an opening ceremony myself and see it with my own eyes. I am very happy. Of course, all this is the work you are doing to improve the well-being of our people. Thank you! President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. Every day there is an opening ceremony of some facility, some social and infrastructure site in our country in Baku, in the districts and in the suburban settlements of Baku practically everywhere. Currently, road construction has gained momentum. In Sabunchu district too, work is also underway related to the repair of roads. So we are trying to do our best for our people to live even better, to improve their well-being and prosperity. Therefore, steps will continue to be taken in this direction. Raising pensions, salaries and benefits is one of the issues on the agenda. Such beautiful buildings will serve our citizens. Resident Akbar Huseynov: Of course, all this is thanks to you. The launch of the railway will significantly reduce the load on buses. President Ilham Aliyev: Of course, it will also be beneficial in terms of saving time. Residents: Thank you very much! President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. Then President Ilham Aliyev went to a nearby grocery store and had a chat with customers and shop assistants. Karabakh war disabled Mazahir Orujov: Welcome, Mr President! We are proud of you! May Allah bless you! Martyrs mother Sayyara Nazarova: You are welcome, Mr President! President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you, how are you? Sayyara Nazarova: Thank you very much, may Allah bless you and our state. You are a wonderful person. We have a wonderful state, there is calm everywhere, everyone cares about us. Thank you very much! Mazahir Orujov: Mr President, we, the Karabakh fighters, are proud of you. May Allah protect you and our state! President Ilham Aliyev: How is the business? Sayyara Nazarova: Very good, praise be to Allah. President Ilham Aliyev: What percentage of products is local? Shop assistant: About 90 percent. Residents: Thank you very much, Mr President. We are proud of you. May Allah bless you. President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you very much! President Ilham Aliyev then cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the railway station. Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways Closed Joint Stock Company Javid Gurbanov informed the head of state of the work done under the project. President Ilham Aliyev viewed conditions created at Sabunchu railway station. President Ilham Aliyev then arrived at Baku Railway Station by train to familiarize himself with the work done on Baku passenger-Sabunchu railway line. The head of state then arrived at Bakikhanov and Keshla stations by a passenger train and viewed conditions created here. President Ilham Aliyev completed his tour at Baku Railway Station. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: The issue of journalist Fuad Abbasovs detention by officers of the Police Department of the Russian Interior Ministry of the city of Khimki is under control of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia, Trend reports with reference to the embassy. On the instructions of Azerbaijani Ambassador Polad Bulbuloglu on May 20, the consular officers met with Abbasov in the temporary detention center for foreigners in the city of Korolev of the Moscow region. The embassy is taking all necessary measures regarding this case, which has caused great public concern, the embassy states. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Samir Ali Trend: The Georgian media is exaggerating the issue revolving around the Keshikchidag historical monument located on the border with Azerbaijan, Rizvan Huseynov, Chairman of the Center of Caucasian History, told journalists, Trend reports. He noted that, despite the issue having been resolved at the state level, the Georgian press is overemphasizing it yet again. "The issue has been resolved in the best possible way. According to the protocol, it is necessary to obtain an official permit in order to enter the territory of Azerbaijan," Huseynov said, adding that these monuments are gradually being destroyed due to natural processes. Huseynov noted that the Georgian media and some foreign media have exaggerated the matter. "Creating such conflicts is in the interests of neither Georgia nor Azerbaijan. Only a third party is interested in this," he commemted. The chairman of the Center of Caucasian History expressed hope that the Georgian side will put an end to the campaign of certain individuals against Azerbaijan in their press. As Leyla Abdullayeva, head of the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, reported earlier, the Keshikchidag (David Gareji) monastery complex includes many historical, architectural and religious sites scattered in an area encompassing about 25 kilometers along the slopes of the ridge, which divides it into two parts and along which the Azerbaijani-Georgian state border runs. "The matter of the delimitation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Georgia is being resolved within the framework of existing bilateral formats based on internationally existing procedures for reconciling such issues. Azerbaijan has always been a supporter of the earliest delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Georgian border. Azerbaijan is ready to complete this process as soon as possible," said the head of the press service of the Foreign Ministry. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, which are at a high level, will continue to develop dynamically under the new leadership of the country, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan Beibit Isabayev said at a press conference in Baku, Trend reports on May 22. Isabayev noted that Kazakhstan remains committed to its international obligations, and the country will continue its balanced policy in accordance with national interests. In Kazakhstan, the presidential election will be held on June 9, he said. For the first time in the history of Kazakhstan, a woman is claiming for the presidency. All candidates submitted their platforms. The [presidential] campaign will continue until June 7. As many as 125 international observers have already been accredited to observe the election. In general, we expect more than 1,000 international observers, he noted. Representatives of Azerbaijan are also invited to Kazakhstan to observe the elections. They represent the Central Election Commission of the republic and the Azerbaijani parliament, and will observe the elections as part of the missions of observers from international organizations. According to the available information, the Azerbaijani delegation includes more than 40 people. He noted that a polling station No. 262 will be opened in the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Baku for the Kazakh citizens to vote in Azerbaijan. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: Azerbaijan is a country that is always at the forefront of the fight against terrorism, Ziyafat Asgarov, first vice-speaker of the Azerbaijani parliament, said. Asgarov, who is also chairman of the parliamentary committee on defense, security and the fight against corruption, made the remarks at the meeting of the parliamentary committee in Baku on May 22, Trend reports. Therefore, Azerbaijan pays great attention to strengthening the corresponding legal framework, he added. Asgarov updated the members of the committee about the agenda issues. He stressed that the issue of amendments to the laws "On Combating Terrorism" and "On Amending the Law 'On the Prevention of the Legalization of Criminally Obtained Funds or Other Property and the Financing of Terrorism" is aimed at bringing these laws into conformity with the current legislation. The committee considered the issue of approving the Agreement on Cooperation in the Military Sphere between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Government of Saudi Arabia, which was signed on April 7, 2019, in Riyadh. While commenting on the issue of amending the law "On Emergency Situation", Asgarov added that these changes are of an editorial nature. The bills considered at the committee meeting were recommended for the plenary session of the Azerbaijani parliament. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani presidential press-service. I extend my sincerest congratulations to Your Excellency and through you to the whole people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of your national day, the Republic Day, President Erdogan said. The great success that the friendly and brotherly Azerbaijan has gained in all areas since the restoration of its independence is a source of pride for Turkey too, he added. Thanks to your far-sighted leadership, we are absolutely confident that Azerbaijan will continue to multiply these achievements. I would like to reaffirm our determination to further strengthen our strategic relationship, which is expanding under one nation, two states slogan, the Turkish president stressed. I sincerely believe that our future close cooperation will make a significant contribution to peace, prosperity and stability in and beyond our region. Taking the opportunity, once again I would like to wish Your Excellency the best of health and happiness, and the friendly and brotherly people of Azerbaijan peace and prosperity, he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Samir Ali Trend: Baku Metropolitan CJSC will receive 10 railroad cars from Russia next week, chief engineer Alikhan Osmanov told journalists, Trend reports. Osmanov noted that a delegation of Baku Metropolitan CJSC will be headed to Moscow on May 28. Ten railroad cars will be received during the visit. This year we have to buy 30 cars from Metrowagonmash, 10 of which are ready for being handed over, he said. Power utility chief butts head with ruling party lawmaker Public Accounts Committee had called the electricity authoritys managing director, secretary at the energy ministry and other officials to deliberate on the recent row over due amount between industrialists and the power utility Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: The State Migration Service of Azerbaijan has detained 143 illegal foreign migrants, Trend reports referring to the Service. According to the report, 5 of them were identified during the course of measures taken jointly with the State Security Service of Azerbaijan. It was revealed that 8 of the detainees were engaged in activities that did not meet the stated goal, 6 were involved in illegal labor activities, 1 did not live at the specified place of registration, and the remaining 128 stayed in the country illegally. Administrative decisions were taken against 129 people who violated the legislation on migration, and appropriate measures are being taken against other foreigners to expel them from the country. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: The 19th meeting of the Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Units of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of the Member Countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) will be held in Baku, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee. The event will be attended by heads of law enforcement units of customs services of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and their colleagues from Estonia and Latvia will attend the meeting as observers. Representatives of the Anti-Terrorism Center of the CIS Member States, the Bureau for the Coordination of the Fight against Organized Crime and Other Dangerous Types of Crimes in the Territories of the CIS Member Nations, and the Coordination Service of the CIS Council of Commanders of Border Troops will also participate in the event. The agenda includes discussions of law enforcement work in the countries of the region, reports of the working groups, and exchange of views on the development of cooperation. The meetings of the working groups started on May 21. The meetings participants discuss, inter alia, issues of cooperation in the fight against trafficking of drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors as well as against online offenses. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: Azerbaijan needs additional 50 passenger trains and 4,000 freight railcars, chairman of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov said, Trend reports on May 22. The Azerbaijan Railways company ordered three trains from Stadler company for this year, he said. Twelve more trains are planned to be bought during the following years. We plan to expand the infrastructure of railway transport in Baku. The railway will be extended to the airport. A positive feature is the safety, comfort and affordability of rail services. So far, 3,100 freight railcars have been purchased, Gurbanov added. As a result of the negotiations with Stadler company, we bought seven trains, with four cars each. Some of the trains will run on diesel. In total, we should buy 50 passenger trains and about 4,000 freight railcars." He stressed that the new railway stations are being built on the basis of a new concept. "The new concept is based on comfort and safety, Gurbanov said. There are parks around the stations where people can relax. Special attention is paid to the security issues. A shopping center, cafes and other catering facilities are planned to be opened at the stations. He stressed that a transport hub is planned to be created in Bakus Sabunchi settlement. "The essence of the negotiations with the Baku Transport Agency is that the number of buses entering the city center will decrease thanks to this hub, Gurbanov added. Sabunchi settlement will become a kind of urban center." Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Matanat Nasibova - Trend: The Azerbaijani company Agronaft plans to start importing mineral fertilizers, Zaur Rashidov, financial manager of the company, told Trend. He said that this decision was made in connection with the companys multidirectional activities in the field of agriculture. We plan to import mineral fertilizers from Russia for domestic sales, and we are actively looking for potential partners in this market segment, he noted. We have certain proposals that we will discuss with our Russian partners. The financial manager noted that the company will import and sell fertilizers for the first time. For us, this market is completely new, so at the first stage we are going to purchase small volumes of products, he said. Of course, we will increase supplies in the future if the products are in great demand in Azerbaijan. Rashidov added that the company is engaged in the purchase and sale of agricultural equipment and import of cattle. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The Executive Officers of the project company ICGB gave start of the construction activities for the gas interconnector Greece Bulgaria, Trend reports citing the project company. During the groundbreaking ceremony near the border with Greece Teodora Georgieva and Konstantinos Karayannakos made the first groundbreaking in the presence of officials from Bulgaria, Greece and Azerbaijan. The key event was attended by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov and the Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras, the energy ministers of both countries, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and high-level officials from the European Commission (EC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). During the ceremony it was announced that earlier today the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria has approved the text of Intergovernmental Agreement on the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria as the basis for the conclusion of the negotiations and has authorized the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria to conclude the final agreement. The Intergovernmental Agreement regulates the project's support at government level and stabilizes its tax treatment for a period of 25 years. The continuous corporate efforts of ICGB and its shareholders, the political will of the governments of Bulgaria and Greece and the unquestionable support from the EC helped us to successfully overcome the challenges before IGB, announced the Executive Officer from Bulgarian side Teodora Georgieva. According to her, the gas project already has secured funding, the contractors for all key activities have been selected, the contracts for owners engineer and construction supervision have been signed and the reserved capacity will ensure the successful operation of the interconnector. The synergy of IGB with other key energy projects part of the Southern Gas Corridor like TAP and TANAP, makes the need of the interconnector undeniable and inseparable part of the comprehensive energy strategy and the priorities of Europe, underlined the Executive Officer of ICGB from Greek side Konstantinos Karayannakos. He noted that the project ensures real diversification of gas supplies, which will improve Greece and Bulgarias positions on the energy market and will contribute to the integration of the entire region. The Vice President of the EC Maros Sefcovic sent his regards and congratulated the project via video message. In his address he noted that IGBs realization will improve the security of the gas supplies for the region and will contribute to Europes energy connectivity. The first Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Yagub Eyyubov attended the groundbreaking ceremony personally to express support for the completion of the project. He called for successful and continuous cooperation between Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Greece not only in the energy sector. IGB also received support by the Azerbaijani company SOCAR, which supplies the main capacity for Bulgargaz, the shipper representing the backbone of the project. The groundbreaking ceremony, which was held near Kirkovo, Kardzhali district, was attended by over 150 guests and high-level officials from different countries. After giving the start of the construction activities, the Executive Officers together with the Prime Ministers of both countries signed one of the 12-meter line pipes that will be used for the construction of the interconnector. IGB is developed by the project company ICGB AD, where shareholders with equal rights are the Bulgarian Energy Holding and IGI Poseidon SA. The Public Gas Corporation of Greece (DEPA S.A.) and EDISON S.p.A are co-shareholders in IGI Poseidon SA. The key gas interconnector will have the length of 182 km and a technical capacity of up to 3 bcm per year with an option for increasing the transmission capacity to up to 5 bcm per year by construction of a compressor station. The route of the project will connect the Greek town of Komotini with the Bulgarian town of Stara Zagora. The IGB gas pipeline will connect the transmission systems of DESFA and TAP in the town of Komotini with the transmission system of the Bulgarian Bulgartransgaz. After a successfully completed Market test, the project already has capacity of 1.57 bcm booked. IGBs completion will bring four new shippers to the Bulgarian market which will improve the countrys capabilities in the energy field. The financing of the project is secured through a shareholder investment, a European Investment Bank loan secured with a sovereign guarantee of EUR 110 million and a EUR 39 million grant from the European Structural and Investment Funds for Bulgaria through the Bulgarian Operational Program OPIC. The regulatory status of IGB is regulated by an exemption decision from third party regulated access. All key public procurement procedures have been completed successfully, with selected contractors as follows: Design, procurement and construction J&P AVAX (Greece) Line pipe supply - Corinth Pipeworks S.A Pipe Industry S.A (Greece) Owners engineer - Consortium TIBEI with participants in the consortium TRACTEBEL ENGINEERING S.A (Belgium), TRACTEBEL ENGINEERING S.R.L. (Italy), INTBER GMBH, YPSILON CONSULT EOOD (Bulgaria) and Bulgaria Engineering EAD (Bulgaria), Construction supervision - Eco Bul Control with participants in the consortium Ecoengineering EOOD, Bul Stroy Control Engineering AD and Control Engineering AD Archaeological studies of archaeological sites found along the route of gas interconnector Greece-Bulgaria National Archeological Institute with Museum The construction of the gas interconnector Greece-Bulgaria aims to ensure diversification not only of the routes but also of the natural gas sources for Bulgaria and the region. As part of the development of the Southern Gas Corridor, through IGB Bulgaria and its neighboring countries will have access to alternative supplies from the Caspian region as well as from existing or prospective LNG terminals. IGBs implementation also provides opportunities for transit transmission through the gas pipeline Greece-Bulgaria and the gas transportation system of Bulgartransgaz EAD to the other gas interconnectors with Romania and Serbia. The significance of IGB lies beyond the national boarders of Bulgaria and Greece as it also provides opportunities for connectivity with other future important projects in the region like the LNG terminal at Alexandroupolis, Greece; East Med for direct connection of resources from the Eastern Mediterranean and with Greece through Cyprus and Crete as well as liquefied gas from Israel, Egypt. The deadline for completions of the construction of the interconnector is 18 months after initiation construction activities. IGB is expected to enter into operation in 2020. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: Kazakhstan is to export nuclear fuel to Chinese nuclear power plants following the construction of the fuel assemblies plant, Trend reports via LS news agency. The construction of the plant is estimated to cost no more than 49 billion tenge and is to take place in East Kazakhstan region. The output volume of the plant is to be 200 tons of nuclear fuel a year. The plant is estimated to reach the designed capacity by 2023. Some 129 work places are to be created within the framework of the project, the statement said. Furthermore, the fuel assemblies are to be exported to Chinese nuclear power plants. The first trial export is expected in 2021. The volume of the trial export is to be 50 tons of nuclear fuel. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: The key participants of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) are the national transport companies of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, a representative of the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan told Trend in an interview. "Azerbaijan is a key political and economic partner for us in the Caucasus region. We are optimistic about the prospects of further progressive development of bilateral relations," the Ministry's representative said. An important stage of bilateral cooperation is the work of the seaports of Kuryk Kazakhstan and Alat in Azerbaijan. In December 2016, the construction of the ferry complex in the port of Kuryk was completed. It is focused on the transshipment of petroleum products, grain, chemicals, fertilizers and other goods, allowing their transshipment without unloading them from the cars. In order to reduce the time for processing ferry cargoes between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan ports, a new procedure for issuing transportation documents according to the "one window" principle has been introduced. As a result, the time reduced from 10-12 hours on average to 4 hours, and border authoritiesas well as customs and temporary storage warehouses work around the clock, the representative noted Moreover, launch of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, which provides direct transportation of passengers and cargo through the territories of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, serves to increase the transit potential of the countries in the region. The implementation of this project, as well as the introduction of freight traffic between the countries of Europe and Asia along this line, also contributed to the increase in the volume of intermodal and container traffic in both directions. Starting from March 1, 2017, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Georgia agreed on the conditions for the carriage of goods by rail and ferries on the Alyat-Aktau-Alyat and Alyat-Kuryk-Alyat routes. The representative of the Ministry said that a container train from the Kazakh-Chinese logistics terminal in the port of Lianyungang in China was launched on November 28, 2018. The container train will proceed via TITR through Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to its final destination in Istanbul. According to the Ministry, the current plans imply that the transportation to this destination will be carried out on a regular basis; container shipments will be sent from the port of Lianyungang every month. The frequency of shipments will be increased In the future. --- Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) is a priority project for Greece and for the European Unions (EU) energy strategy, Greek Ambassador to Azerbaijan Nicolaos D. Kanellos told Trend ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony of the interconnector to be held May 22. "Greece supports the policy for the diversification of energy sources and routes. In this context, I believe that no country should depend entirely on one, single supplier, through an exclusive route of energy sources. This aplies also to the common policy that we have as the members of European Union. The Vertical Gas Corridor (Greece Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary, possibly Ukraine, Serbia and Republic of Moldova) represents an excellent choice for enhancing the diversification of the energy sources in the region. The IGB (Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector), as an essential part of the Vertical Corridor, constitutes a priority project for Greece, but also for the European Union's energy strategy. The Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria is a strategic project for the diversification of sources and routes for the supply of natural gas to the Southeast European region," he said. Kanellos noted that its construction will provide Europe with natural gas from additional sources, from the Caspian region through the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline, as well as liquefied natural gas from Greece. "The Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector is among the seven priority projects for the EC and is part of the CESEC Initiative for Gas Connectivity in Central and Southeastern Europe. The mplementation of the pipeline will contribute to connecting the energy markets, increasing competition and ensuring security of gas supplies in Southeast Europe," noted the envoy. "In a moment of many big changes and unstable policies the IGB will further enhance our role as an "energy security provider" for Europe. "Greece is becoming a natural gas hub for SE Europe. Important elements to this are: the delivery of natural gas from the Caspian through the Southern Gas Corridor and the TAP pipeline and the access to liquefied natural gas in the Aegean, through the existing terminal at Revythoussa which is upgrading significantly, and the planned liquefied natural gas Alexandroupolis. We understand the Vertical Corridor as an energy chain linking infrastructure in our broader neighborhood, promoting regional cooperation and gasification and making markets more competitive," added the ambassador. IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets. The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 22 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: There are plans to complete construction of the fourth line of Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline by 2021, Trend reports with reference to the Neytralni Turkmenistan newspaper. The pipeline with a total length of about 1,000 kilometers will be laid through the territory of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The design capacity of the pipeline is 30 billion cubic meters of gas per year. Commissioning of the fourth line will allow increasing the overall throughput of gas pipelines to 85 billion cubic meters, 65 billion cubic meters of which will come from fields in Turkmenistan, the article said. It was reported earlier that the construction of the fourth branch "D" of the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline via Kyrgyzstan is scheduled to commence by late 2019. At present, three branches of the pipeline have been built and are functioning on the route Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China (branches "A", "B", "C") . Altogether, they supply 40 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year altogether. It was earlier reported that, as of December 2018, more than 250 billion cubic meters of Turkmen gas was exported to China since December 2009. The deposits of Bagtyyarlyk and Galkynysh in Turkmenistan are used as sources for raw materials. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Fakhri Vakilov Trend: President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law according to which producers of energy from renewable sources (RES) receive tax benefits, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan. "Renewable energy producers are exempt from property tax for renewable energy sources installations and from land tax on the areas occupied by these facilities (with a nominal capacity of 0.1 MW or more) for a period of ten years from the moment they are put into operation," reads the message. Plant manufacturers are exempted from paying all types of taxes for a period of five years from the date of their state registration, and consumers of "green" energy in residential premises are exempted from paying land tax and property tax on individuals for a period of three years, provided that they are completely disconnected from existing energy networks. Responsibility for scientific, technical and innovative support of the production of renewable energy sources installations is assigned to the state and economic management bodies, which shall cooperate with the Academy of Sciences. The Ministry of Energy is named a specially authorized state agency in the field of using renewable energy sources . The document states that renewable energy sources are the energy of the sun, wind, heat of the earth (geothermal), natural movement of water flows and biomass, which are naturally restored in the environment. Earlier, Deputy Minister of Energy Sherzod Hadzhaev said that about 25 solar power plants will appear in Uzbekistan until 2030. --- Follow author on Twitter:@vakilovfaxri 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. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Bulgarian Council of Ministers has approved the draft intergovernmental agreement with Greece on the interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria,Trend reports. This intergovernmental agreement will establish a tax framework for the project, Bulgarian media reports citing the Council of Ministers. The intergovernmental agreement stabilizes corporate tax rates in Bulgaria and Greece for 25 years. The document provides for the avoidance of double taxation. The proposed draft intergovernmental agreement will introduce a fixed corporate tax regime that will be applied for 25 years from the beginning of the commercial operation of the interconnector. A fixed tax regime implies a predictable amount of expenses for investors, the report reads. The conclusion of the intergovernmental agreement is subject to ratification by the parliaments of Greece and Bulgaria. IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets. The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria will ensure real diversification of sources, said Bulgarias Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, Trend reports. He made the remarks during a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras before the groundbreaking ceremony of the interconnector that took place May 22 in Bulgarias Kirkovo. The realization of the project for construction of gas interconnection between Bulgaria and Greece will have a key role for the whole region and for Europe. The project is of strategic importance not only for our two countries but also for the whole of Europe, including the countries of the Western Balkans," said the prime minister. Borissov pointed out that the interconnector will lead to a real diversification of the sources and routes for natural gas supply. IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets. The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The interconnector Greece-Bulgaria, the groundbreaking ceremony of which took place on May 22, will contribute to creation of integrated gas market in Balkans, said Greek Minister of Energy and Environment Georgos Stathakis, Trend reports citing the ministry. "Today we celebrate the imminent start of IGB's construction work, which will be carried out by Greek companies. It is a historic moment for the Balkans, but also for the wider area of Southeastern Europe. We are laying the foundation stone for moving to a unified gas market in our region while ensuring security of supply. I would like to thank all those who worked to implement this project, and especially my colleague, Teromenuska Petkova, for the excellent cooperation, he said. The Greek Ministry of Energy and Environment said that it is the foundation stone of the Vertical Corridor that will transport the natural gas from the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) to the heart of the Balkans. In the future, the pipeline may be an option for channeling gas from the Eastern Mediterranean deposits to Europe's markets. In addition to enhancing security of supply, the IGB will also contribute to the creation of an integrated gas market in the Balkans, with stable product flows and low prices, which will allow the entry of new players, said the ministry. IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets. The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 Trend: Lari depreciated against the dollar by 2.06 tetri, and at the moment 1 US dollar is worth 2.7676 lari, according to the National Bank of Georgia,Trend reports with reference to Accent News. Georgian Finance Minister Ivane Machavariani attributes the change in lari rate to the latest developments in Turkey, one of the major trade partners of Georgia, and the depreciation of Turkish lira. In his words, this is one of the external factors influencing depreciation of lari. "For more than a year, we have been talking about dedollarization in order to be less dependent on the dollar, so that our population will be less dependent on foreign currency," Machavariani said. He added, "There was a heated debate in parliament when we said that we imposed restrictions on mortgage loans in dollars. The purpose of this is to have immunity to this kind of fluctuations that occur everywhere, especially in small and developing countries. However, economist Lasha Gotsiridze advises the government not to intervene in the economy. Gotsiridze says that now the authorities need to refrain from introducing new rules and, if possible, reduce taxes. At the same time, according to the Minister of Finance, despite the depreciation of lari, the price increase will be within the limits set by the National Bank. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Jeyhun Alakbarov - Trend: The cost of a trip along the Baku-Sabunchu railway branch will be 0.50 manats in one direction, said Javid Gurbanov, chairman of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, Trend reports on May 22. He said that the length of the route is 13.5 km. The railway stops 'Bakikhanov', 'Koroglu', 'Keshla' and 'Narimanov' have been rebuilt on this branch, he noted. Sabunchu Railway Station Complex is fully ready for servicing passengers. He added that in the future, the railway line is planned to be extended to the settlements of Ahmadli, Zira, Pirallahi and Heydar Aliyev International Airport. On May 21, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of Sabunchu Railway Station Complex and viewed the work done on the newly built Baku passenger-Sabunchu railway line. Baku passenger-Sabunchu railway line was rebuilt on the basis of the presidential decree dated January 22, 2018. As a part of the project, Sabunchu Railway Station was completely reconstructed. The total area of the three-story building, the construction of which began in June last year, is 4,100 square meters. Modernization of the railway infrastructure in Azerbaijan in accordance with international standards is the result of a targeted economic development strategy being implemented by the Azerbaijani president. This strategy is turning Azerbaijan into a major transportation hub between West and East, North and South. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: The flights to the neighbouring countries, namely, Azerbaijan (Baku), Turkey (Istanbul) and Dubai may be operated via Fokker 100 aircraft, repaired by Iran, head of the repair and engineering department of Iran Air, the flag carrier of Iran, Mahmoud Naderi told reporters in Iran on May 22. The aircraft was not used for about two years and a half, Naderi added, Trend reports referring to Mehr News Agency. However, the aircraft has been repaired in Iran and it is in Iran Airs fleet, he added. Naderi added that the airports of the abovementioned countries will allow the aircraft to land, given that the flight safety after the aircraft repair has been confirmed by the international organizations. In general, the flights may be operated via the repaired aircraft to the countries, except for the EU countries, he said. Naderi said that the manufacturer of the Fokker 100 aircraft has not given any guarantees for the spare parts of Iran Air airplanes since 2013. Nevertheless, Iran Air engineers repaired the aircraft at a minimum cost within the country, he said. Several Fokker 100 aircraft, two Airbus aircraft, will also be repaired and will be used by Iran Air, Naderi said. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 22 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan hosted a meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry on May 22. The parties discussed issues of security and stability in the region. Miroslav Lajcak noted significant efforts of Turkmenistan in the process of resolving the situation in Afghanistan and establishing civil peace in this country, which is very important for the entire world community, the report says. It was noted that, in accordance with the realities of the modern world, it is necessary to solve issues exclusively through peaceful dialogue, mainly within the authoritative international organizations, the report reads. The meeting participants noted initiatives and projects of Turkmenistan in the areas of development of transport, energy security, conservation of water resources and environmental protection. Turkmenistan has a long border with Afghanistan and has repeatedly offered to hold talks in Ashgabat under the auspices of the UN to restore peace in the neighboring state. Ashgabat is in favor of providing more ambitious and targeted international economic assistance to Afghanistan, primarily through the involvement of Afghanistan in the implementation of large infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors. They include the projects of laying power transmission lines and fiber-optic communications along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) route, and the construction of railway lines from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan. A large-scale project to lay gas pipeline to India and Pakistan for the supply of Turkmen gas is also connected to the territory of Afghanistan, where unstable situation has remained for a long time. Observers believe that the implementation of this project may contribute to the restoration of Afghanistan, as it will allow creating jobs and provide the country with guaranteed income from transit. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Elnur Baghishov Trend: Let the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs return the aid coming from European countries to flood victims in Iran as a sign of protest, said Brigadier General Gholam Reza Jalali, head of Iran's Civil Defense Organization, Trend reports referring to the organization's website. According to Jalali, the aid sent by European countries to flood victims in Iran is worth 180 million euros. In his view, considering the scale of the recent floods, the aid sent by European countries is ludicrously low. Even the poor regions of Iran collected more funds for helping flood victims," he said. Some 77 people were killed, more than 1,000 people were wounded and four went missing as a result of floods in Iran, which started on March 18 and lasted for about a month. According to estimates, the floods which took place between March and April this year, caused 300-350 trillion rials (app. $7.14-8.33 billion) worth of damages. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Azer Ahmadbayli Trend: Why are the Americans and other foreigners fleeing from Iraq? What is being expected there, if not only the US non-critical personnel of the American Embassy were told to promptly leave the country, but also the ExxonMobil staff, the Bahrainis, military instructors from Netherlands, Germany, etc.? Iran and the US are preparing for the "battle" for Iraq. The one who wins it, will win the overall confrontation. This is clearly seen from statements made by both sides. A couple of weeks ago, the commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) al-Quds Force, General Qassem Soleimani, was reported to have told Iraqi Shia militias loyal to him to "prepare for proxy war", Alaraby reported. In turn, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Iraqi leaders that if they are not going to stand with the US against Iran, then they should stand aside, AP reported. The latest news from Iraq indicates that the US is strengthening its military presence in Iraq. Recently, American troops have launched expansion of airport at the "al-Assad" air base in the Western province of Anbar. Iran is very nervous about the US reinforcement, as losing its power in Iraq, Iran risks losing much of what it has managed to acquire in the entire region during the Arab spring. In fact, Iraq is the best place to press the US indirectly, by using proxies. It is necessary to remind in this regard that Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi Shia militia is formally considered a part of the Iraqi military forces. Furthermore, Iraqi leaderships unity and its abilities to suppress activities of Iran-backed militias and to provide safety of the US military, are also under a big question. Maybe, realizing that, Iraqi influential Shia cleric and head of the Sairoon Alliance, Muqtada Al-Sadr, warned that making Iraq a battleground for the Iranian-US conflict will be the end of Iraq. Any party that would drag Iraq into the war and turn it into a scene for conflict will be an enemy to the Iraqi people, he added. What comes next, may very well become the next storyline of the Homeland TV series. Someone like Dar Adal, one of the movies protagonists and CIA black operations director, for whom the US supremacy is much higher than a dozen of human lives, arranges clandestine operation to strike (by hands of Hashd al-Shaabi militants or somebody else) against the US military base with a number of casualties among the US soldiers. It is one thing to bomb a Saudi oil pipeline or vessels in an Emirati port, but it is quite another thing to kill American soldiers in Iraq. The US President gives the order to strike back at the militants and their Headquarters, as well as on the territory of Iran. Sadr and his numerous supporters declare Iran and a part of its local Iraqi blind adherents the enemies of Iraq. A chance to undermine Iran's influence in Iraq is increasing dramatically. The so-called Irans land bridge across Iraq to Syria, Lebanon and the Eastern Mediterranean is being destroyed. Iran has lost. The prize is worth the cost. The scenario can be written in a less cynical manner for the US reputation. Not the CIA, but a third party, such as the Saudi Arabian or Israeli intelligence, going behind back of the US, initiate the attack. As everybody remembers, one shell has already fell in the "Green zone" of Baghdad, from "nowhere". If Iran really does not want a war, then Qassem Soleimani should instruct his proxies in Iraq to keep away from the US bases as far as possible. In reality, no one or almost no one wants a war. And yet, all this looks like an old pile of firewood that is ready to burst into flames. All it takes is just a match. Indonesian police have arrested at least 20 people accused of provoking riots in Jakarta following official results showing President Joko Widodo had been re-elected, a police spokesman said on Wednesday, Trend reports citing Reuters. Television footage on Wednesday showed smoke billowing from behind dozens of protesters who were dancing in the street in the Tanah Abang district of central Jakarta. A separate crowd in front of the election supervisory body threw rocks at police, a Reuters witness said. The General Election Commission (KPU) on Tuesday confirmed unofficial counts by private pollsters in the April 17 election, which gave Widodo a 55.5% share of votes against 44.5% for his opponent, former general Prabowo Subianto. Widodo won more than 85 million votes of a total of 154 million cast in the worlds third-largest democracy, but Prabowo told reporters he believed there had been widespread cheating and about 1,000 supporters gathered in Jakarta a day earlier. On Monday, an election supervisory agency dismissed claims of systematic cheating, citing a lack of evidence. Independent observers have said the poll was free and fair. Protests that started peacefully on Tuesday turned violent in the evening, forcing police to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd. Cars parked near an apartment housing the polices mobile brigade were set ablaze, media reported. As of now, police have arrested more than 20 people we thought were the provocateurs and who did other crimes, said police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo. Prasetyo said police were checking on reports of casualties, but stressed that security officers on the ground, which include military personnel, were not equipped with live bullets. The importance of dialectics Dialectics opposes the formal and fixed definition and understanding of a social issue and encourages us to understand the truth in totality rather than through a one-sided view The European Commission said its antitrust inspectors had raided the premises of two companies active in the French grocery retail sector earlier this week, on concerns that they broke EU antitrust rules prohibiting cartels, reports Trend citing to Reuters The Commission has concerns that two grocery retail companies may have violated EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive businesses practices, it said on Wednesday. French retailer Casino had said earlier that EC agents visited its Paris headquarters this week, but did not provide further details. Le Figaro newspaper reported that EC agents also raided the headquarters of French rival Intermarche, but the company could not be immediately reached for comment. Unannounced inspections are a preliminary investigatory step into suspected anti-competitive practices, said the European Commission in a statement. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behavior nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself, it added. There is no legal deadline to complete inquiries into anti-competitive conduct. Their duration depends on a number of factors, including the complexity of each case and the extent to which the companies concerned cooperate with the Commission. Casino and Intermarche announced in 2014 a purchasing alliance in France that was dissolved last year when Casino and Frances Auchan sealed a global buying deal. France has seen a flurry of purchasing alliances in recent years as supermarkets battle to keep prices down to counter fierce competition from rivals offering prices at discounts and the looming shadow of U.S. internet giant Amazon. Google is complying with an EU order to boost competition in online shopping, Europes antitrust chief said on Wednesday, brushing aside complaints from rivals demanding more regulatory action, reports Trend citing to Reuters Hit with a 2.4-billion-euro ($2.7 billion) fine two years ago for unfairly promoting its own comparison shopping service, Google has since offered to allow competitors to bid for advertising space at the top of a search page, giving them the chance to compete on equal terms. European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the measure appeared to be working. Now we are in a situation where in 75 percent of queries there would be at least one rival to Google in the shopping box and 40 percent of clicks would go to a merchant hosted by one of the rivals, Vestager told reporters on the sidelines of a Centre for European Reform event. This means we do not have a non-compliance case but at the same time also means that we keep monitoring monthly developments, she added. Open Internet Project, a Google critic, however argues that the situation has not improved. By putting these Google-powered Shopping Units at the top of every relevant results page, above more relevant comparison services, Google continues to reserve the important market for comparison shopping services to itself, Open Internet Project said in a statement last week. Algerias army chief of staff said on Wednesday he had no political ambitions in response to democracy activists who say that he intends to copy the authoritarian model of Egypt, reports Trend citing to Reuters The armed forces have been a pivotal power center in Algeria for decades and have been managing a transition after mass protests forced President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign last month after 20 years in office. Street demonstrations have continued to press demands for a dismantling of the elite of independence veterans, security commanders and business tycoons that have run the major oil and natural gas producer since independence from France in 1962. Everybody should know that we have no political ambitions, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah told state television. A presidential election has been scheduled for July 4 but an informed source said on Friday it might be postponed. Algerian activists say they are concerned the army-steered transition toward democracy will prove illusory as in Egypt. As Egypts army chief in 2013, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled freely elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, won election himself in 2014 and then suppressed Mursis supporters as well as the liberal opposition in a pervasive crackdown on dissent. In Algeria, analysts the army fears the crisis will continue at a time of worsening disorder in neighboring Libya, where there is factional fighting for control of the capital Tripoli. Salah also said a fight against corruption and cronyism, among protesters main grievances, would continue and that he disagreed with some officials who said this was not a priority. Earlier this month a military judge placed Bouteflikas youngest brother and two ex-intelligence chiefs in custody. They joined a string of businessmen and officials under investigation over corruption ahead of the presidential election. Said Bouteflika, who served as a top adviser to the presidency, acted as Algerias de facto ruler after his brother suffered a stroke in 2013 that left him in a wheelchair. Several businessmen, including Algerias richest man, Issad Rebrab, have also been placed in custody pending completion of investigations into corruption allegations. At least six civilians were wounded on Tuesday by renewed mortar shells fired by the rebels on residential areas in the northern city of Aleppo, state news agency SANA reported, Trend reports citing Xinhua. The mortar fire targeted several residential areas in Aleppo in the afternoon, causing injuries and property losses, said the report. The wounded were rushed to the city's hospitals to get medical treatment. In response, the army fired on the rebels' positions in the countryside of Aleppo, said the report. SANA accused the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front of repeatedly targeting Aleppo with mortar shells. This comes as the Syrian Army and the rebels of the Nusra Front are fighting in the countryside of Hama province in central Syria. The army on Tuesday foiled a renewed attack by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the umbrella group of the Nusra Front, in the northern countryside of Hama. Adjacent areas in the countryside of Hama, the countryside of Idlib as well as areas in the countryside of Latakia province and Aleppo are considered as the last rebel strongholds in Syria. Late last month, the army went on an offensive to dislodge the rebels from northern Hama countryside after the HTS violated the de-escalation zones' deal brokered by Turkey and Russia in September 2018. The Syrian Army said its targeting of the rebels comes as a result of the rebels' breaches of the deal, supposed to see the withdrawal of the al-Qaida-linked groups from the designated zone, which didn't take place. On the contrary, the HTS and likeminded groups dislodged less radical rebel groups from Idlib and took over the entire province. Two shells fall in the centre of the Syrian city of Aleppo, Reuters reported citing Syrias Ikhbariya television, Trend reports citing Sputnik. No further details were immediately available. Earlier in the day, the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that six civilians were injured on Tuesday in terrorist rocket attacks on Masaken al-Sabil and al-Shihan square in Aleppo. The terrorist attacks have reportedly caused material damage to private properties. Following the attacks, a unit of the army destroyed the terrorist dens, according to SANA. An Italian man held hostage in Syria for almost three years has been freed, the Italian prime ministers office said in a statement on Wednesday, Trend reported citing Reuters. The statement said Italian intelligence, police and the foreign ministry had worked together to secure the release of Alessandro Sandrini a 32-year-old from the northern city of Brescia. Sandrini flew to Turkey in October 2016 for a holiday but soon disappeared. A year later, he called his family, telling them he had been seized off a street in Adana, southern Turkey. His captors released two subsequent videos, including one posted on the Internet last July, showing him dressed in an orange jumpsuit, with two men standing behind him holding guns. They say they are fed up with me and that I will be killed if everything is not solved quickly, Sandrini said, asking Italy to reach a deal with his kidnappers. Sandrini is the second Italian hostage in Syria to be released in the last two months. The first was businessman Sergio Zanotti, who was also from Brescia and was seized in April 2016. An average of 10 people are dying every day in the Rukban camp in southeastern Syria, said state news agency SANA, Trend reported citing Xinhua. The Joint Russian-Syrian Coordination Committee for Refugees' Return blamed the United States, which has a military presence in southeastern Syria, for hindering the evacuation of civilians from the camp, SANA said. About seven to 10 people are dying on a daily basis in the camp, said the joint committee. Diseases are also spreading among the people there, particularly children, the committee added. A total of 12,967 people have so far succeeded in leaving the camp to government-controlled areas in Homs Province in central Syria, after steep prices paid because of extortion by the Syrian rebels in the area. The Syrian government is exerting huge efforts to secure the safe and voluntary return of people to their homes and temporary shelters. The Rukban camp is home to 50,000 displaced Syrians, who are suffering from harsh humanitarian situation because of the cold weather and lack of supplies. South African Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday elected Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the republic, Trend reported citing Xinhua. Speaking after the election, Ramaphosa said he is "honored and humbled" to be elected to serve the South African people. "I will be a president of all South Africans," said Ramaphosa, who promises to do the best job as president. He said his mandate is derived from the masses of the people. "Collectively, we have a mandate to build a nation through the principle of social justice," said Ramaphosa. "My interests are in advancing the interests of the masses of our people." In light with the Constitution, Ramaphosa must assume office within five days by swearing or affirming faithfulness to the republic and obedience to the Constitution. Ramaphosa is expected to take the oath at his inauguration scheduled for May 25 in Pretoria. Ramaphosa was nominated by the ruling African National Congress (ANC) which garnerd 57.51 percent of the votes to win the May 8 general elections, maintaining its dominance in Parliament but with a reduced majority. The ANC's victory secured Ramaphosa a full term in office as president. But this must be endorsed by MPs in the new Parliament through an electoral process, as required by the Constitution. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkey has reduced the duties on products imported from the US in 22 items, Trend reports citing Resmi Gazete. This includes fruits, dried fruits, rice, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, cosmetic products and coal. The reduction in duty rates varies within 22-50 percent. On May 17, the US reduced duties on Turkish steel to 25 percent. Earlier, US President Donald Trump imposed a 50 percent tariff on Turkish steel. Measures were also taken against other countries; for example, a 25 percent tariff was imposed on Russian steel and 10 percent on Russian aluminum. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, May 22 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: France has offered Turkey to deploy SAMP/T air defense systems, Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said, Trend reports with reference to Resmi Gazete on May 22. He said that negotiations are being held in this direction between the countries. Commenting on the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, Akar said that the Turkish military personnel had already been sent to Russia to study the operation of the S-400 systems. On April 11, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that specialists from the US and NATO could come to Turkey to make sure that Russian S-400 air defense systems do not pose a threat to NATO. "Although the US urges Turkey to abandon the purchase of Russian S-400 air defense missile systems, it does not guarantee that it will sell us Patriot air defense systems," Mevlut Cavusoglu said. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said that Turkey may receive the S-400 missile systems earlier than scheduled. According to the President, it was expected that Turkey would receive the first supplies of S-400 missile systems in July 2019. He noted that despite appeals from the US, Turkey will not abandon the purchase of the S-400. 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 would 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 to receive the S-400 air defense systems from Russia. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu 1. Yes. The economy is strong and unemployment low. Thats a good basis for a solid year. 2. Yes. Health experts are getting a handle on COVID. 2022 should be a better year. 3. No. If any large-scale COV ID-related shutdowns take place, it will hit the nation hard. 4. No. Inflation is still too much of a wild card. It could really cause a drag on the economy. 5. Unsure. There are too many variables at play to predict with any degree of certainty. Vote View Results Soon after, Arjun Rampal and Soth African girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades jetted off to the Maldives to celebrate their babymoon and thanks to social media, Arjun has been posting his babymoon pictures and in the latest, it is being reported that post their babymoon, Arjun Rampal will be hosting a baby shower for girlfriend and mom-to-be Gabriella Demetriades. Post his separation with Mehr Jessia, Arjun Rampal started dating model Gabriella Demetriades and a few days back, Arjun Rampal took to social media to announce that they are expecting their first child. Alongside a loved-up picture with Gabrielle flashing her baby bump, Arjun wrote, Blessed to have you and start all over again....thank you, baby, for this baby. For all those who dont know, it was last year that Arjun separated from ex-wife Mehr Jessia and the couple announced their split via social media post. Post his separation, the actor started dating Gabriella and the lovebirds are often papped during their various dinner/lunch outings. A few days back, Arjun was snapped on a dinner outing with his daughters- Mahikaa Rampal and Myra Rampal in Mumbai. Now, according to a report, Arjun will be hosting a baby shower for Gabriella in Mumbai on May 25, 2019, and while Mehr has been informed about the news, Arjuns daughters, too, seem to be happy with this latest development in their dads life. read: Salman Khan says he does not want a National Award On the work front, handsome hunk Arjun Rampal was last seen in J P Duttas film Paltan, co-starring Jackie Shroff, Sonu Sood, Harshvardhan Rane, Esha Gupta, Sonal Chauhan. MADISON, Wis. -- In August 2016, areas of Yellowstone National Park that burned in 1988 burned again. Shortly after, in October 2016, ecologist Monica Turner and her team of graduate students visited the park to begin to assess the landscape. "We saw these areas where everything was combusted and we hadn't seen that previously," says Turner, a professor of integrative biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison who has closely studied Yellowstone's response to fire since 1988. "That was surprising." In a study published this week [May 20, 2019] in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Turner and her team describe what happens when Yellowstone -- adapted to recurring fires every 100 to 300 years -- instead burns twice in fewer than 30 years. Yellowstone as we know it faces an uncertain future, the researchers say, and one of the big questions they hope to answer is whether the forests can recover. With Rapid Response Research funding from the National Science Foundation, Turner and her team returned to Yellowstone in the summer of 2017 to study the areas that re-burned. These include the Maple Fire, which burned 28-year-old lodgepole pines that regenerated following the 1988 North Fork Fire, and the Berry Fire, which contained 28-year-old lodgepole pines that had regenerated after the 1988 Huck Fire and 16-year-old trees that regenerated following the 2000 Glade Fire. In each area, they compared to areas that burned in 1988 or 2000 but did not burn again in 2016. In some areas, fire burned so severely that nothing but the stumps of young trees remained. Logs that had once been scattered on the forest floor combusted, leaving negatives of their former selves -- ghost shadows -- where they'd fallen. "Everything was gone," Turner says. "That was astonishing." Typically, most trees killed by fire remain standing for years. Surface fires leave dead needles on trees. Crown fires burn needles off but leave standing trunks. However, four of the 18 re-burned plots Turner's team sampled saw fire so severe they had to come up with a new name to describe them: crown fire plus. In these, 99 percent of the stems of previous trees combusted. In 2011, modeling work by Turner's group challenged pre-existing notions that young forests lack enough fuel in the form of trees and downed logs to sustain severe fire. The 2016 fires confirmed their predictions. "The idea was that if fires are recurring more frequently, we will we see some self-limitation, young forests will not be able to re-burn," says study co-author, graduate student Kristin Braziunas. "We definitively saw this was not the case -- even at just 16 years old, there was sufficient fuel for these forests to burn at the highest possible level of severity." The team also found a six-fold decline in the number of lodgepole pine tree seedlings that re-established in the first year following the 2016 fires. In some patches of re-burned forest, regeneration rates were significantly lower. Dense, young forests were converted into much sparser ones. Lodgepole pine trees are known for their serotinous cones, which are adapted to open in fire and release their seeds, replenishing the forest with a thick blanket of new trees once the blaze has fizzled. Historically, the 100-to-300-year fire intervals gave trees the chance to mature and build up their seed banks. But younger trees have not yet built up their savings, so a quick re-burn is like dipping into a bank account before the funds have been replenished. The researchers also found that the re-burned forests lost significant carbon storage capacity. Nearly two out of three logs on the forest floor were consumed in the 2016 fires. These pieces of dead wood were carbon sinks, storing carbon that the tree took up while alive. When burned, they release carbon into the atmosphere. Turner explains that once an old forest burns, it takes about 90 years for the forest to recover its lost carbon. "We care about carbon storage and recovery because forests play a very important role in the global carbon cycle," says Braziunas, who before joining Turner's research group spent more than seven years working as a municipal firefighter in Oberlin, Ohio. Braziunas adapted a model previously created by Turner's collaborator, Rupert Seidl, to estimate how long it would take for the forest to recover the carbon it had lost to the atmosphere in the 2016 fires, between tree loss, downed wood consumption, and reduced tree regeneration density. She found it would take more than 150 years, assuming the forests do not burn again in that time. "We were essentially able to reconstruct what the forest looked like before the fire happened, how many trees there were and how big they would have been," Braziunas says. "Because we also measured nearby stands (of trees) that didn't burn, we could compare what happens after the reburns and game out the scenarios in the model." The estimate, she and Turner say, represents a best-case, conservative scenario. With a warming climate and increased frequency of drought, the forests are likely to burn again in short intervals. However, the forest has long shown itself to be resilient. "The landscapes are going to look different than they have in the past," says Turner, "but that doesn't mean they won't be beautiful. There will be species that benefit and species that see their ranges contract." "Change is going to happen and change is going to happen more quickly than we thought it would," she adds. "We are learning how the system responds, but we don't know to what degree it will be resilient or adapt in the future. But I am not ready to write it off. We have been surprised in the past." ### The study was supported by NSF grant DEB-1719905, the Joint Fire Science Program 16-3-01-4, the University of Wisconsin-Madison Vilas Trust, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation UW2020 initiative, the Earth Institute at Columbia University and Columbia University's Center for Climate and Life. Other co-authors include Winslow Hansen at Columbia University and Brian Harvey at the University of Washington. Kelly April Tyrrell, kelly.tyrrell@wisc.edu, 608-262-9772 IMAGES AND VIDEO LINK AT https://uwmadison.box.com/v/yellowstone-reburn 'Very dangerous': Putin, Trump want to weaken the European Union, top official says There is at least one thing in common between the U.S. and Russia their willingness to weaken the European Union, a high-ranking European official told CNBC. As European voters prepare to head to the polls later this week and choose new lawmakers to the European Parliament, there is a lot of debate about the challenges within the 28-member union. However, Jyrki Katainen, vice president of the European Commission told CNBC Tuesday that the external challenges have never been so hard. "Countries like Russia, China but also the United States have challenged us harder than before," Katainen said in Brussels. "We are (for the) first time in the history in a situation where the President of the United States and (the) President of Russia seem to share the same view on Europe: the weaker, the better, because they think that it's better for their own country, which is obviously not right," Katainen, who is also the former prime minister of Finland said. The transatlantic relationship has been particularly challenging for the EU since President Trump came into power in 2016. Their differences have been clear on issues such as climate change and trade. But the EU's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin is yet another challenge. The EU has essentially been at odds with Russia, particularly since 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea and the 28-member bloc decided to impose sanctions against the Kremlin. According to Katainen, Russia is also responsible for boosting some populist parties, which are shaking the EU and represent an internal challenge. "The EU is also challenged from within," Katainen said in reference to the nationalist rhetoric surging across the EU. "(These parties) want to weaken and fragment the EU and some of those have also very close connection to Russia, to President Putin. So Russia has obviously financed some of those parties, they have interfered to our democratic processes, for instance referenda or national elections in order to weaken the EU, in order to create division between the people inside the country," he said, describing this issue as "very dangerous." Story continues In Austria, the European elections have been clouded by a scandal involving the country's deputy prime minister. Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of the far-right Freedom Party, was forced to resign after a video showed him proposing government contracts to a supposed Russian oligarch's niece. Opinion polls have suggested that nationalist parties could gain as much as 30% of seats in the European Parliament after this week's election. However, Katainen sounded relieved that despite their growing size in EU politics, the majority in the European Parliament and most European governments are still pro-EU. More From CNBC (Bloomberg) -- Apple Inc. and Qualcomm Inc.s settlement of a two-year legal battle and their ongoing licensing-and-supply agreement will remain in force despite a ruling by a California judge against the chipmaker, according to people familiar with terms of the arrangement. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh sided Tuesday with the Federal Trade Commission in a case brought in 2017 accusing Qualcomm of anti-competitive practices. The ruling comes one month after Qualcomm and Apple settled a similar lawsuit brought by the iPhone maker. Qualcomm Will appeal Kohs ruling and ask for a stay. The judge sided with almost all of the FTCs arguments that the company violated antitrust rules. She said that Qualcomm should renegotiate existing licenses with phone makers and abused its strength as the largest provider of chips that connect smartphones to cellular networks. Qualcomm unfairly threatened to withhold supply of its products to force phone makers to sign up for artificially inflated licensing payments, she argued. There are no provisions in the deal between Apple and Qualcomm that allowed for a reversal or change in the event the FTC won its case against the chipmaker, according to one of the people. Analysts speculated, following the announcement of the ruling late Tuesday, that the Apple agreement might be automatically invalidated. To contact the reporters on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net;Mark Gurman in San Francisco at mgurman1@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tom Giles at tgiles5@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Alistair Barr For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Investing.com - Asian stocks were mixed in morning trade on Wednesday as traders remained cautious amid worries that the trade war between the U.S. and China could become protracted. Chinas Shanghai Composite edged up 0.1% by 10:30 PM ET (02:30 GMT), while the Shenzhen Component slipped 0.2%. Hong Kongs Hang Seng Index was up 0.6%. Overnight, Wall Street ended higher after the U.S. Commerce Department said it would temporarily lift restrictions on Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Tensions between the U.S. and China remained high despite the move, after Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the U.S., said in an interview with Fox News that Washington changes its mind so often in trade talks. If we review the process of trade talks between us over the last year or so, it is quite clear it is the U.S. side that, more than once, changed its mind overnight, and broke the tentative deal already reached, said Cui, adding that the door is still open for further talks. He also said U.S. sanctions on Huawei are without any foundation and evidence and are politically motivated. Japans Nikkei 225 rose 0.4% as data showed a pickup in business sentiment for the first time in the past seven months. South Koreas KOSPI was little changed at 2,060.28. Down under, Australias ASX 200 traded 0.1% lower. Related Articles British Steel forced into liquidation but will continue to trade Daimler says all costs under scrutiny after moderate start to 2019 Investors run for safety amid threat of broader U.S.-China spat MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's Queensland state premier on Wednesday called for India's Adani Enterprises to sit down with the state regulator to work out a definitive timeline to obtain approvals for a controversial coal mine project in the state. Premier Anna Palaszczuk said the community required certainty on the long-delayed Carmichael mine's outlook, and was tired of waiting for approvals after environmental reviews that have stalled the project. "I think everyone's had a gutful of this, frankly," said Palaszczuk, a member of the Labor Party. The Adani project was at the heart of campaigning for last weekend's national election, which resulted in a shock win for the ruling Liberal-led coalition despite polls that said Labor would triumph. "I want them (Adani) to sit down and work up a definite time frame on decisions around these reports," Palaszczuk said. "And I want a timeline, hopefully agreed to by all of the parties, by Friday." The comments signal the potential for a thaw in Queensland's process of granting approvals for the mine, which has been under development for almost a decade and has become a touchstone for climate change concerns. Australian voters had been expected to hand a mandate to the Labor party to pursue ambitious targets for renewable energy and carbon emissions cuts while turning away from coal. But Australia rejected the opposition's plans, with voters in coastal Queensland towns that would benefit from the mine voting in droves with job prospects in mind. Adani Mining Chief Executive Lucas Dow said that the miner expected a timeframe for future decisions within the next fortnight. "Any timeframe for a decision on these outstanding management plans longer than the next two weeks is nothing more than another delaying tactic by the Queensland Labor government designed to delay thousands of jobs for regional Queenslanders," Dow said in a statement. Story continues He had said at the weekend that the state government, which has repeatedly extended environmental reviews of Adani's Carmichael mine, should learn from Labor's defeat in Queensland, listen to its own voters and let the mine go ahead. But environmental groups repeated their call for the state government, which is up for re-election late next year, to block the mine to aid Australia's commitment to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade, in line with the Paris Agreement on tackling climate change. "If the Adani mine goes ahead, it will open the floodgates to the Galilee Basin, one of the largest untapped carbon reserves on earth," said David Cazzulino, a campaigner with the Australian Marine Conservation Society. "To protect our reef for the next generation we must do our bit to achieve that 1.5C goal and that means the Galilee's coal must stay in the ground." (Reporting by Melanie Burton and Sonali Paul in MELBOURNE; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) Sen. Bernie Sanders will attend Walmart's annual meeting and introduce a measure to give workers a seat on the retailer's board. Sanders has long pushed Walmart to boost benefits for workers and is trying to appeal to labor during his 2020 presidential bid. Sen. Bernie Sanders will take his fight against Walmart WMT closer to home. The Vermont independent and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate will attend the retailer's annual shareholders meeting in Arkansas next month, a campaign spokeswoman said Tuesday. He will push to boost pay and benefits for workers and introduce a measure to give hourly employees a spot on Walmart's board. "If hourly workers at Walmart were well represented on its board, I doubt you would see the CEO of Walmart making over a thousand times more than its average worker," Sanders told The Washington Post , which first reported the news. In a statement, Walmart said it will "respond to specific shareholder proposals once they are formally presented" at the June 5 meeting. "If Senator Sanders attends, we hope he will approach his visit not as a campaign stop, but as a constructive opportunity to learn about the many ways we're working to provide increased economic opportunity, mobility and benefits to our associates as well as our widely recognized leadership on environmental sustainability," the company said. Sanders has long pushed Walmart, the largest U.S. retailer by sales, to hike its minimum wage to $15 per hour. He introduced a bill last year aiming to push the company to raise workers' pay. The senator has cited the Walton family relatives of Walmart founder Sam Walton who own about half of the company's shares as evidence for a "rigged economy" and a need to raise taxes on the wealthy. Sanders' latest push to change Walmart's practices comes as the roughly two dozen candidates in the Democratic primary field jostle to win workers' support. In a party increasingly focused on populist economic ideas, the candidates vying to challenge President Donald Trump next year have tried to cast themselves as the best option to boost wages and benefits such as health care and parental leave for workers. Story continues Democratic presidential contenders, who broadly back a $15 per hour minimum wage, have put pressure on other major companies early in the campaign. Sanders, Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee plan to join striking McDonald's MCD workers during the burger chain's annual meeting Thursday, according to Fight for $15, which advocates for a higher pay floor. Several candidates, such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, also supported workers on strike from grocer Stop & Shop earlier this year. Sanders will vie with Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden, among others, for support from organized labor. Biden got a major union endorsement from the International Association of Fire Fighters shortly after he launched his campaign last month. Organized labor traditionally backs Democratic candidates. But Trump performed better with union members in 2016 than Republicans have in recent elections and hopes to keep that support in 2020. Last month, he argued union members "love Trump" even if what he called "Dues Crazy union leadership" does not. Walmart and McDonald's workers are not unionized, despite some efforts to organize. Walmart says it employs about 1.5 million hourly associates in the U.S. CNBC's Lauren Thomas contributed to this report. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. More From CNBC May 22 (Reuters) - Brazilian makeup brand Natura Cosmeticos SA agreed to buy Avon Products Inc, according to two media reports early on Wednesday. Natura will buy Avon in an all-stock deal that values the U.S. group at more than $2 billion, the Financial Times reported https://on.ft.com/2HMtdu2, citing people familiar with the matter. Reuters reported last week that Natura was close to completing the deal to buy Avon. The U.S. company has a market capitalization of $1.42 billion, as per Refinitiv data. The boards of the companies have approved the deal, which has been in the works for several months, the Wall Street Journal said https://on.wsj.com/2HGLCIS, but did not provide a deal value. Natura will end up owning about 76% of the combined group, while the rest will be owned by Avon shareholders, FT said, adding that the deal is set to be announced on Wednesday. Natura and Avon did not immediately respond to requests for comments. (Reporting by Bhargav Acharya in Bengaluru; editing by Gopakumar Warrier) By Maytaal Angel and Costas Pitas LONDON (Reuters) - British Steel, the country's second largest steel producer, has collapsed and put 25,000 jobs at risk after failing to secure emergency government funding, Britain's Official Receiver said on Wednesday. The High Court ordered the compulsory liquidation of the company, although staff will remain employed for now as the liquidator oversees the operation of the main site in Scunthorpe, northern England. Business Minister Greg Clark said British Steel was open to new buyers, while the opposition Labour Party called on the government to bring it back into public ownership. Owned by investment firm Greybull Capital, British Steel employs around 5,000 people, mostly in Scunthorpe, while 20,000 more depend on its supply chain. Greybull Capital, which specializes in trying to turn around distressed businesses, said it had tried to keep British Steel alive but the challenges of Britain's looming exit from the European Union proved insurmountable. Greybull paid former owners Tata Steel a nominal one pound for the company three years ago. After being renamed as British Steel, the company made a profit in 2017 but cut around 400 jobs last year, blaming factors such as the weak pound and uncertainties surrounding Brexit, which it said hammered its order book. TARNISHED STEEL EU steel company shares are currently trading at their lowest in nearly three years, driven down by weak demand, high raw materials costs and cheap imports that can no longer reach the United States due to trade tariffs. Turning a profit in steel is particularly difficult in Britain, where steelmakers pay some of the highest green taxes and energy costs in the world, as well as facing high labor costs and business rates. Jeff Kabel, chairman emeritus of the International Steel Trade Association (ISTA), said the government is paralyzed by Brexit and unable to address the steel sector's challenges. The collapse of British Steel comes after Germany's Thyssenkrupp and India's Tata Steel ditched a plan this month to merge their European steel assets to create the EU's second largest steelmaker after ArcelorMittal. That failed merger left the wider EU steel sector fragmented and vulnerable to economic downturns. It also called into question the fate of Britain's largest steelworks in Port Talbot, Wales, owned by Tata Steel. Story continues Ratings agency Moody's lowered its outlook on the European steel sector to negative on Wednesday, adding operating conditions would likely worsen in the next 12-18 months. The outlook had been stable since April 2017. (For a graphic on 'UK steel production since 1970' click https://tmsnrt.rs/2LX989V) SEEKING CASH Signs of the ripple effect of British Steel's collapse are already beginning to emerge. Hargreaves Services, a materials services company based in Durham, northern England, said earlier if the steelmaker ceases to trade, this could reduce its profit before tax in the next full year by about 1.3 million. Accountants UHY Hacker Young said the three worst UK areas for increasing personal insolvencies over the last five years were all steel towns, raising concerns over the impact of the British Steel collapse on local economies. British Steel had asked the government for a 75 million pound loan, later reducing its demand to 30 million pounds after Greybull agreed to put up more money, according to a source close to the negotiations. It had already secured a government loan of around 120 million pounds ($154 million) this month for its liabilities under the EU's Emissions Trading System rules which taxes carbon emissions. Law firm Mayer Brown said the fact that the Official Receiver has taken control of the British Steel liquidation suggests administration was not an option due to a lack of secure funding. Britain's business minister said it would have been unlawful to provide a loan to British Steel on the terms the company or any other party had made. The European Commission said it had not been formally notified of any concrete plans by the UK authorities to provide additional public finance to the company. British Steel also operates a business in France producing rail, and a wire and processing unit in the Netherlands. Greybull had been negotiating with the government for the loan, a source said, adding the government wanted Greybull out of the picture before putting more money into the business for fear those funds would eventually end up in Greybull's hands should the steelmaker collapse. Greybull are British Steel's only creditor at the holding company level and have secured their loans against its assets. The UK government has a chequered history with Greybull, after the collapse of the firm's airline Monarch in 2017 forced the government to repatriate more than 100,000 stranded tourists at a cost of about 60 million pounds. "In light of events over the past few weeks, it is clear Greybull needs to do the right thing by getting out of the road and let those who are committed to our industry work to save the business," the union Community said in a statement. (Reporting by Costas Pitas, Guy Faulconbridge, Maytaal Angel, Lawrence White and Kate Holton. Additional reporting by Barbara Lewis; Graphic by Andy Bruce; Editing by Michael Holden/Keith Weir) New brand celebrates credit union principles while raising awareness Toronto, ON, May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Canadian Credit Union Association is launching a new national brand program that will celebrate the defining principles of Canadas credit unions, highlighting how they deliver on what Canadians are really looking for with their You First, Banking Second campaign. We are so excited to launch this new campaign says Martha Durdin, President and CEO of the Canadian Credit Union Association. Our research has confirmed that the one thing Canadians are looking for focus on people above all is also what sets credit unions apart. So, our new campaign will show Canadians we can meet their needs, while also complementing and aligning with messaging from individual credit unions across the country. The campaign launches today and will encourage Canadians to learn more about their local credit unions and how they can help meet life goals large and small while making people first the focus, by visiting http://canadacreditunions.ca/. About Canadian Credit Union Association Canadian Credit Union Association is the national trade association for Canadas credit unions and caisses populaires outside Quebec. These financial institutions offer a full-range of retail banking services to over 5.7 million Canadians. Collectively Canadas 252 credit unions generate over $6.5 billion in economic impact, are leaders in small business lending, and have assets of over $225 billion. To learn more about the credit union difference and find a credit union near you, visit www.ccua.com . Nicole Parr Canadian Credit Union Association switch@ccua.com A Chinese official in Hong Kong is urging quick passage of legal measures to allow fugitives to be transferred to the mainland. The Hong Kong government plan has spawned protests and business organizations, human rights groups and the U.S. government have expressed concern the plan could erode the city's local autonomy, make it a less attractive place to do business and ensnare its residents in China's legal system. Song Ruan, an official at the Chinese foreign ministry office in Hong Kong, says fears are unfounded and urges Hong Kong to act. A Chinese official in Hong Kong is urging the quick passage of legal measures to allow fugitives to be transferred to the mainland a controversial proposal that is mired in political gridlock and opposed by business groups. The Hong Kong government has asked the city's Legislative Council to approve extraditions to countries and regions with which it has no such agreements, including mainland China . But the plan has sparked unease and protests in the territory of 7.4 million people a former British colony that since July 1, 1997 has been a semi-autonomous region of China with its own legal system. Local business and law groups, the U.S. government and human rights organizations have expressed concern that the plan could erode Hong Kong's local autonomy, make it a less attractive place to do business and ensnare its residents in China's legal system. Demonstrators have taken to the streets. But Song Ruan, deputy commissioner for the Chinese foreign ministry office in Hong Kong, sought Tuesday to offer reassurance that the city has nothing to fear, telling reporters that China "respects the jurisdiction" of the local government. Still, he suggested patience is running out, stressing it is long past time to act as nearly 22 years have passed since Hong Kong's reversion to China and the territory has fugitive transfer facilities with a number of countries and regions. Story continues "Nevertheless, it has no such arrangements with the mainland, Macau and Taiwan ," Song said. Lawmakers in favor of and opposed to the changes have locked horns in the legislature over how to proceed. Tempers have flared with debate descending into a melee earlier this month. 'Gossip making' The local government, led by Chief Executive Carrie Lam, has said the measures are necessary to close a legal "loophole" whereby accused fugitives cannot be sent to certain jurisdictions. The government cites a murder allegedly committed by a Hong Kong man in Taiwan last year as the impetus for the proposed changes. He returned to Hong Kong but can't currently be extradited to Taiwan. It says that safeguards, such as no extraditions for political offenses and veto power over any court-approved extraditions by the chief executive, will prevent abuses. It has also said no extraditions can take place for crimes that carry the death penalty. Still, the Hong Kong International Chamber of Commerce wrote to lawmakers on May 8 to raise concern, citing an "adverse impact on Hong Kong as a place to live and work, and to continue growing as a major international business center attracting overseas investment." Song, the foreign ministry official, acknowledged the existence of local apprehension. "At present we can see there is some kind of worry and fear circulating in Hong Kong society," he said. But he attributed it to "gossip making" by opposition lawmakers who he accused of stoking "panic" over the proposal. More From CNBC VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Coral Gold Resources Ltd. (TSX-V: CLH; OTCQX: CLHRF) ("Coral" or the "Company") reports that Barrick Gold continues to advance activities on the Robertson Project in the Cortez region of Nevada where Coral retains a net smelter returns royalty (NSR). Barrick recently delivered its Q1 2019 summary of work completed at Robertson, reporting that the 2019 core drilling program (13,920-meters) began in early March. Drilling has focused on infill and comparison drilling at the Porphyry and Altenburg Hill zones and infill drilling at the Gold Pan/39A zone. Barrick is also developing updated geological and metal models for completion by end of Q2 2019. This work includes data addition from 45 core holes drilled in 2018 to develop the mineral inventory, upgrade the geology understanding and advance metallurgy. Barrick noted that, "Results from 2018 whole core assaying increased the grade thickness and highlights a previous under sampling trend." "We're very encouraged to hear about the increasing grade thickness and also that past work at the property under-reported grades," said Coral's President and CEO David Wolfin. "This is positive news, and it speaks to Barrick's thoroughness and methodical approach to completing prefeasibility work, modifying their sampling program to utilize large volume, whole core assaying to overcome analytical variables. As I have said a number of times, there is absolutely no better partner for us in this region than Barrick." Barrick also reported that baseline study work, including waste/mineralized material characterization is ongoing, along with Phase II heap leach column testing. Baseline study work must be completed prior to the permitting stage. SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) mineralogy analysis was also completed on 2018 rock samples. Coral's NSR at Robertson After the sale of the Robertson Project to Barrick in 2017, Coral retains a sliding scale, 1% to 2.25% NSR on the project. Coral's NSR is subject to potential advance royalty payments as well as a right of first refusal enabling Barrick to acquire the NSR if the Company wishes to sell the NSR to any third party. The royalty increases with increases in the price of gold. Details of the NSR are available on Coral's website. Story continues Qualified Person The technical data in this press release was reviewed and approved by Alan Morris, P.Geo, who is a qualified person within the context of National Instrument 43-101. About Coral Gold Resources Ltd. Coral Gold Resources is a precious metals exploration company operating in Nevada, where it has explored one of the world's richest gold districts for over 30 years. The Company's primary asset is a sliding scale net smelter returns production royalty on Barrick Gold's Robertson Property in Nevada. The Company also holds a portfolio of strategically-located exploration projects near Barrick Gold's Pipeline/Cortez Mine Complex on Nevada's Battle Mountain/Cortez Trend. Coral remains debt free with a strong balance sheet. Our overall objective is to generate long-term wealth for shareholders. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "David Wolfin" David Wolfin President & Chief Executive Officer Coral Gold Resources Ltd. 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. This release contains statements that are forward-looking statements and are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such information contained herein represents management's best judgment as of the date hereof based on information currently available. The Company does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. SOURCE: Coral Gold Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/546099/Coral-Gold-Provides-Q1-Report-on-Barricks-Progress-at-Robertson-Project-in-Nevada View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/546099/Coral-Gold-Provides-Q1-Report-on-Barricks-Progress-at-Robertson-Project-in-Nevada Bitcoin can be viewed as an uncensorable form of money that can be sent by anyone to anywhere in the world. It can be sent much cheaper and more quickly than traditional methods, thereby improving cross-border payments and bypassing third parties. Bitcoin isnt the only cryptocurrency capable of this feat either. The current predicament In an increasingly globally-connected world, sending money from one person to another, from one bank to another, and from one country to another has proved difficult. Large fees can be applied and the process can take days to clear. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, the movement of money can be contentious. Anti-money laundering laws are in place so that criminals are not able Bitcoin can be viewed as an uncensorable form of money that can be sent by anyone to anywhere in the world. It can be sent much cheaper and more quickly than traditional methods, thereby improving cross-border payments and bypassing third parties. Bitcoin isnt the only cryptocurrency capable of this feat either. The current predicament In an increasingly globally-connected world, sending money from one person to another, from one bank to another, and from one country to another has proved difficult. Large fees can be applied and the process can take days to clear. There are a few reasons for this. Firstly, the movement of money can be contentious. Anti-money laundering laws are in place so that criminals are not able to hide their ill-gotten funds from governments wanting their tax money. This is undercut however through the use of tax havens such as the Cayman Islands. The release of the Panama Papers showed how ineffective these anti-money laundering rules can be. Companies such as Western Union or PayPal base their business model off the fees collected for transferring money, so it is never going to be as cheap as one would like. New companies though are beginning to make a dent in this market. This is in part due to the influence cryptocurrencies have had, as they highlight how money can be moved anywhere cheaply and quickly. How does Bitcoin solve this problem? Bitcoin is independent of any state or third party. Should an American wish to send Bitcoin to a country with strict sanctions such as Iran, there is relatively little that the US government could do about it. They can not control Bitcoin or how people use it. The other important factor for Bitcoin is that the fees when compared to traditional methods are extremely cheap. This again is due to the lack of a third party. There is no profit motive behind Bitcoin the money is used on a fair basis. Critics of Bitcoin, particularly those in the Bitcoin Cash camp, will argue that the fees for Bitcoin have already become too high as it has failed to scale. They go on to state that Bitcoin Cash provides the benefits of cheap international money transfers thanks to its larger block scaling solution. Story continues What about Ripple? XRP, or Ripple, is another cryptocurrency that can be used as a cross-border payments solution. XRP is a hotly-debated cryptocurrency, with some arguing that it isnt a cryptocurrency at all. The current international financial system runs on the SWIFT network and has done so since the 1970s. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication is what Ripple hopes to replace with its protocol. Ripple claims its platform is quicker and cheaper and still has all the benefits of a cryptocurrency. Whether these claims are true is a debate that will continue to run on. Ripple also claims that many banks have begun to test its technology, but despite being around for many years now, we have seen relatively few real-world use cases. The criticism Ripple receives is largely due to the different philosophies between the Ripple and Bitcoin camps. Bitcoin aims to overthrow the current financial system and Ripple wants to incrementally improve it. What is not in doubt is that both cryptocurrencies are both quicker and cheaper than the traditional system of cross-border payments. Will we see new regulations? Traditionally, financial institutions have been reluctant to change. The arrival of Bitcoin, despite plenty of discussion on forums, came out of the blue for many in the traditional finance sector. The same can also be said for governments and their regulators. Therefore, many countries have been extremely slow to adapt and regulate this new industry in a productive manner. Although transactions through the Bitcoin blockchain have become easier to trace thanks to advances in technology, this is being combated by Bitcoin developers who hope to improve the privacy of Bitcoin through upgrades such as Schnorr Signatures. Whether this will make money laundering easier in an ever-increasing global economy remains to be seen. However, if you are looking to send money overseas, then cryptocurrencies are now a clear alternative that many argue perform better than the traditional system. Conclusion Many cryptocurrencies have lofty goals of changing the world, from helping to serve the unbanked to removing the effects of fiat money from the world economy. Cross-border payments are a clear example of the benefits that cryptocurrencies can provide. As development continues, cryptocurrency should only become an easier and much better solution for sending money overseas. The post How can cryptocurrency improve cross-border payments? appeared first on Coin Rivet. Deutsche Bank, already with highest S&P 500 target on Wall Street, stands by its call for a 30% return this year Binky Chadha, chief equity strategist at Deutsche Bank, expects the market to pull back over the next three months before quickly bouncing back up. According to the CNBC Market Strategist Survey, the average 2019 S&P 500 target among 17 firms is 2,961, with 2,750 as the lowest. Deutsche Bank DBK-DE is standing by its call for a 30% return on the S&P 500 this year, despite increasing global fears over the escalating U.S.-China trade dispute. Binky Chadha head of asset allocation and chief equity strategist at the firm told CNBC on Tuesday that he is keeping the S&P target at 3,250, which is the highest among major Wall Street firms. If the S&P were to hit 3,250 by the end of the year, that would represent a 29.7% increase from the index's 2,506 close on Dec. 31, 2018. The end of last year was rough for the stock market. But so far in 2019, even with uncertainty about whether Washington DC and Beijing can reach a trade deal and call off their increased tariffs, the S&P has gained about 14%. The S&P, as of Monday's close, was only off about 4% from its all-time intraday record high of 2,954 on May 1. According to the CNBC Market Strategist Survey, the average 2019 S&P target among 17 firms is 2,961, with 2,750 as the lowest from Morgan Stanley MS 's Mike Wilson and Barclays BARC-GB ' Maneesh Deshpande. In a " Squawk on the Street " interview, Chadha said he expects the market to pull back over the next three months before quickly bouncing back up into the end of the year. "I'm very much of the view that things need to get worse before they can get better." Meanwhile, Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren said in a speech Tuesday that the U.S.-China trade conflict was a " prominent downside risk " that could increase pressure on the economy. More From CNBC If you own shares in China 33 Media Group Limited (HKG:8087) then it's worth thinking about how it contributes to the volatility of your portfolio, overall. In finance, Beta is a measure of volatility. Volatility is considered to be a measure of risk in modern finance theory. Investors may think of volatility as falling into two main categories. First, we have company specific volatility, which is the price gyrations of an individual stock. Holding at least 8 stocks can reduce this kind of risk across a portfolio. The second type is the broader market volatility, which you cannot diversify away, since it arises from macroeconomic factors which directly affects all the stocks on the market. Some stocks mimic the volatility of the market quite closely, while others demonstrate muted, exagerrated or uncorrelated price movements. Beta is a widely used metric to measure a stock's exposure to market risk (volatility). Before we go on, it's worth noting that Warren Buffett pointed out in his 2014 letter to shareholders that 'volatility is far from synonymous with risk.' Having said that, beta can still be rather useful. The first thing to understand about beta is that the beta of the overall market is one. A stock with a beta greater than one is more sensitive to broader market movements than a stock with a beta of less than one. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Check out our latest analysis for China 33 Media Group What we can learn from 8087's beta value Looking at the last five years, China 33 Media Group has a beta of 1.12. The fact that this is well above 1 indicates that its share price movements have shown sensitivity to overall market volatility. If this beta value holds true in the future, China 33 Media Group shares are likely to rise more than the market when the market is going up, but fall faster when the market is going down. Beta is worth considering, but it's also important to consider whether China 33 Media Group is growing earnings and revenue. You can take a look for yourself, below. Story continues SEHK:8087 Income Statement, May 22nd 2019 How does 8087's size impact its beta? With a market capitalisation of HK$173m, China 33 Media Group is a very small company by global standards. It is quite likely to be unknown to most investors. It has a relatively high beta, suggesting it is fairly actively traded for a company of its size. Because it takes less capital to move the share price of a small company like this, when a stock this size is actively traded it is quite often more sensitive to market volatility than similar large companies. What this means for you: Since China 33 Media Group tends to moves up when the market is going up, and down when it's going down, potential investors may wish to reflect on the overall market, when considering the stock. In order to fully understand whether 8087 is a good investment for you, we also need to consider important company-specific fundamentals such as China 33 Media Groups financial health and performance track record. I urge you to continue your research by taking a look at the following: Financial Health: Are 8087s 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. Past Track Record: Has 8087 been consistently performing well irrespective of the ups and downs in the market? Go into more detail in the past performance analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of 8087's historicals for more clarity. 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. 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. ROWAYTON, Conn. and LONDON, May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eaton Partners, one of the largest capital placement agents and fund advisory firms and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Stifel Financial Corp. (SF), today named Steve Eaton as Head of Europe, The Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), based in London. Steve is in his 10th year with Eaton Partners, most recently serving as a Partner and Head of the New York office. During his tenure with the firm, Steves primary role has been on the distribution of private equity, private credit, real estate, and real assets offerings. He has also been heavily involved with origination efforts to help identify quality fund offerings to bring on the Eaton Partners platform. Prior to joining Eaton Partners, Steve spent a decade in various business development and sales positions in the financial services industry across the U.S., Eastern Europe, and China. We are thrilled to have Steve lead our efforts in Europe, which continues to be a key area of growth for us, said Peter Martenson, Partner at Eaton Partners. Over the years, Steve has earned the respect and trust of both colleagues and clients for his deep sector knowledge and timely insight that crosses asset classes and geographies. This appointment clearly underscores our ongoing commitment to Europe and surrounding regions. I am excited to help build on the success my colleagues have enjoyed since Eaton Partners first entered Europe 15 years ago, commented Steve Eaton. We will continue making strategic investments in our European operations to better serve clients, which include some of the most innovative fund managers and influential investors in the world. Eaton Partners is a true global placement agent and advisory firm, with offices in major financial centers throughout the United States, Asia, and Europe. Most recently, Eaton Partners served as placement agent for several successful European fundraises including Copenhagen Infrastructure III K/S (3.5 billion) and DIF Infrastructure V (1.9 billion). Story continues About Eaton Partners Eaton Partners, a Stifel Company, is one of the worlds largest capital placement agents and fund advisory firms, having raised more than $100 billion across more than 125 highly differentiated alternative investment funds and offerings. Founded in 1983, Eaton advises and raises institutional capital for investment managers across alternative strategies private equity, private credit, real assets, real estate, and hedge funds/public market in both the primary and secondary markets. Eaton Partners maintains offices and operates throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Eaton Partners is a division of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, Member SIPC and NYSE. Eaton Partners subsidiary Eaton Partners (U.K.) LLP is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Eaton Partners subsidiary Eaton Partners Advisors (HK) Limited is approved as a Type 1-licensed company under the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) in Hong Kong. Eaton Partners and the Eaton Partners logo are trademarks of Eaton Partners, LLC, a limited liability company. Eaton Partners, 2019. About Stifel Stifel Financial Corp. (SF) is a financial services holding company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, that conducts its banking, securities, and financial services business through several wholly owned subsidiaries. Stifels broker-dealer clients are served in the United States through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, including its Eaton Partners business division; Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.; Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC; Century Securities Associates, Inc., and in the United Kingdom and Europe through Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited. The Companys broker-dealer affiliates provide securities brokerage, investment banking, trading, investment advisory, and related financial services to individual investors, professional money managers, businesses, and municipalities. Stifel Bank and Stifel Bank & Trust offer a full range of consumer and commercial lending solutions. Stifel Trust Company, N.A. and Stifel Trust Company Delaware, N.A. offer trust and related services. To learn more about Stifel, please visit the Companys website at www.stifel.com. Media Contact: Neil Shapiro, (212) 271-3447 shapiron@stifel.com Investor Relations Contact: Joel Jeffrey, (212) 271-3610 investorrelations@stifel.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/944e7c55-07f8-4df4-af2f-498a646e6685 By Dmitry Zhdannikov, Olga Yagova and Gleb Gorodyankin LONDON (Reuters) - Hopes for a speedy resumption of oil exports from Russia to Poland and Germany along the Druzhba pipeline route are fading after plans to remove dirty oil from the pipeline had a major setback last week, three trading sources said. Russia halted oil flows along the pipeline to Eastern Europe and Germany in April because of contaminated crude, leaving refiners in Europe scrambling to find supplies. Under the restart plan, Total was due to take the lion's share of the dirty oil into its Leuna refinery in Germany to dilute and process it there, sources said. The plan, not previously reported, would allow the pipeline to restart clean oil shipments after its biggest ever outage, now in its fourth week. But last week the Leuna refinery had a major outage and had to stop many units after an equipment failure which sources said was possibly related to refining the dirty oil. The outage, which sources said could last for at least another week, has derailed the dirty oil evacuation plan. Some 8-9 million barrels of contaminated oil - worth $560-$630 million in normal circumstances - are still sitting in the pipeline. "The plan has collapsed. Someone needs to come up with plan "B"," said an industry source who is involved in discussions about dirty oil evacuation. "At the moment, there is no plan B. It is a deadlock". Total declined to comment. Russia's pipeline monopoly Transneft and top Russian oil suppliers along Druzhba, Rosneft and Surgut, did not respond to a request for comment. The Druzhba pipeline, built in Soviet times, can pump 1 million barrels per day or 1 percent of global output. The contaminated oil crisis has become the biggest ever supply outage for Russia, the world's No.2 oil exporter. The country has had only one other significant disruption when Moscow suspended shipments in 2007 for three days over a pricing dispute with Belarus. DEADLOCK The current crisis has escalated since Belarus told oil refiners and pipeline operators in Europe nearly four weeks ago that the crude heading down the 5,500 km (3,400 mile) Druzhba was heavily contaminated with organic chloride, which is used to clean oil wells and accelerate the flow of crude. Flows via Druzhba were halted, sending crude to a six-month high above $75 a barrel and tarnishing Russia's reputation as an exporter at a time of rising competition with the United States and Middle East. Story continues Organic chloride should be removed before oil enters the supply chain as it can damage refining equipment. The dirty oil needs to be removed from the pipeline and stored so it can be diluted with clean oil. Besides Leuna, Druzhba's northern spur supplies Germany's refinery Schwedt, which is co-owned by Rosneft, ENI and Shell. It also ships oil to PKN Orlen and Grupa Lotos refineries in Poland. "Schwedt will take a much more cautious approach in taking dirty oil after the Leuna outage," a second trading source said. A third trading source said Schwedt was not taking dirty oil. Rosneft, ENI and Shell declined to comment. PKN Orlen and Grupa Lotos also declined to comment on options for evacuating the dirty oil. PKN's chief executive said on Monday Poland would not be able to get clean oil from Russia until refineries agree how to divide tainted crude still in the system. Russia has repeatedly promised to restart clean oil flows towards Belarus, Poland and Germany "within days". But it has yet to happen and even when it happens it will not mean the crisis is over, traders said. "All this news about clean oil flows resumption is meaningless. Dirty oil is still blocking the pipelines," said the first industry source. Russian officials will meet with European pipeline firms and oil buyers later this week to discuss the impasse. A fourth industry source familiar with discussions said one of the suggestions for dirty oil evacuation was to reverse the pipeline and pump oil from Poland, Germany and Belarus back to Russia for storage and dilution. But the oil has already changed hands multiple times and the Russian government has collected taxes and customs duties after the oil crossed the border. All those payments would need to be reversed in a unprecedented move for the Russian government and the oil industry, the fourth source said. (Additional reporting by Olesya Astakhova, Alexander Ershov, Maxim Nazarov, Katya Golubkova, Felix Bate, Anna Koper; Writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; Editing by Jane Merriman) Per AP, Fiat Chrysler N.V.s FCAU plan to set up an assembly hub in Detroit, MI, has been approved by the Detroit City Council. The company will invest $1.6 billion to construct the plant that is likely to start rolling out vehicles by the end of 2020. Apart from the new factory, the automaker will invest $900 million to upgrade and modernize the Jefferson North Assembly Plant, which will be used to manufacture Dodge Durango and next-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee. The to-be-build plant and the existing Jefferson plants will be adjacent. The recent investment approval is part of Fiat Chryslers plan to invest $4.5 billion at five existing Michigan plants. In February 2019, the company announced the investment that will help it meet the growing demand for vehicles under the Jeep and Ram brands. Apart from the go-ahead signal, the automaker has been approved a $223-million incentive package from Michigan's economic development board. The incentive is in exchange for the 6,400 jobs that will be created once the hubs start working. Out of the total incentive, $55 million is for site preparation and $168 million is in forms of tax breaks, exemptions and cash. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. Price and Consensus Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. Price and Consensus Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. price-consensus-chart | Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. Quote At the beginning of May, the European automaker announced first-quarter 2019 results. During the period, its net revenues and earnings per share witnessed year-over-year rise of 5% and 42%, respectively. Its financial growth was driven by product launches, and drop in launch and logistics costs. Price Performance Over the past six months, shares of Fiat Chrysler have lost 17% compared with the industrys decline of 5.5%. Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider Fiat Chrysler currently carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). A few better-ranked stocks in the broader auto sector are LCI Industries LCII, Meritor, Inc. MTOR and AB Volvo VLVLY. LCI currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) while Meritor and Volvo sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. LCI Industries has an expected long-term growth rate of 16%. The stock has gained 24.7% in the past six months. Meritor has an expected current-year growth rate of 16.8%. The stock has gained 29.45% in the past six months. Volvo has an expected long-term growth rate of 5%. Over the past six months, shares of the company have gained 8%. 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 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCAU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Meritor, Inc. (MTOR) : Free Stock Analysis Report AB Volvo (VLVLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report LCI Industries (LCII) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. FILE PHOTO: The logo of French gas and power group Engie is seen on the company tower at La Defense business and financial district in Courbevoie, near Paris, France. May 16, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo By Nina Chestney and Geert De Clercq LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) - French utility Engie and Portugal's EDP said on Tuesday they will invest 15 billion euros ($16.7 billion) with the aim of becoming the world's number two offshore wind developer after Denmark's Orsted. The two utilities, which have no operational offshore wind parks so far, said they will combine their offshore wind assets and project pipelines, starting with a total of 1.5 gigawatts (GW) under construction and 4 GW under development. "From day one, the JV will be among the top five players in this market," Engie CEO Isabelle Kocher said at a press briefing on the new joint venture in London. The joint venture, which for EDP will be through its EDP Renovaveis (EDPR) renewables business, aims to reach 5-7 GW of projects in operation or construction and 5-10 GW under advanced development by 2025. Orsted had cumulative installed offshore capacity of about 3 GW at the end of 2018, giving it a market share of about 16 percent, WindEurope data shows, with Germany's E.ON, Sweden's Vattenfall and Germany's Innogy in second, third and fourth, each with more than 1.0 GW installed. The offshore wind sector is forecast to grow significantly by 2030 as demand for low-carbon energy increases and the new Engie-EDP venture will initially target countries such as France, the United States, South Korea and Japan. EDP's chief executive Antonio Mexia said the offshore wind sector is different from other renewables as the scale of projects is large and the technology challenges are huge. "In this (sector), size really matters," he said. The two firms have been partners in the long-delayed French offshore projects of Treport and Noirmoutier and are also bidding for a new project in Dunkirk together. Engie renewables chief Gwenaelle Avice-Huet said on a call the JV wants to be the number two offshore developer by 2025, adding that projects under construction or under development in France, Britain, Portugal, Poland, Belgium and in the United States add up to 5.5 GW. Story continues Engie operations chief Paulo Almirante said the JV's pipeline in Europe, the U.S. and Asia adds up to about 14 GW, of which 5 to 7 GW can be in construction or operation in 2025. Almirante said offshore wind capital costs are 2 to 3 million euros per megawatt, which would add up to about 15 billion euros for a 5 to 7 GW portfolio. He specified that part of that will be financed and that the JV will bring in partners at project level, typically keeping a 50 percent ownership. EDPR will appoint the JV's first CEO, while Engie will appoint the chief operating officer and non-executive chairman. After three years the positions will rotate. (Reporting by Nina Chestney and Geert De Clercq, editing by Louise Heavens and Alexander Smith) TAINAN, Taiwan, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Himax Technologies, Inc. (HIMX) (Himax or Company), a leading supplier and fabless manufacturer of display drivers and other semiconductor products, today announced that the Company will attend Cowen and Company 47th Annual Technology, Media & Telecom Conference on May 29 30, 2019 at the Lotte New York Palace in New York City. The Company will host one-on-one meetings with interested investors during the conference dates. Conference participation is by invitation only and registration is mandatory. For more information on the conference to schedule a one-on-one meeting, please contact a Cowen and Company representative or the conference coordinator at: Liz.Woods@cowen.com . About Himax Technologies, Inc. Himax Technologies, Inc. (HIMX) is a fabless semiconductor solution provider dedicated to display imaging processing technologies. Himax is a worldwide market leader in display driver ICs and timing controllers used in TVs, laptops, monitors, mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, car navigation, virtual reality (VR) devices and many other consumer electronics devices. Additionally, Himax designs and provides controllers for touch sensor displays, in-cell Touch and Display Driver Integration (TDDI) single-chip solutions, LED driver ICs, power management ICs, scaler products for monitors and projectors, tailor-made video processing IC solutions, silicon IPs and LCOS micro-displays for augmented reality (AR) devices and heads-up displays (HUD) for automotive. The Company also offers digital camera solutions, including CMOS image sensors and wafer level optics for AR devices, 3D sensing and machine vision, which are used in a wide variety of applications such as mobile phone, tablet, laptop, TV, PC camera, automobile, security, medical devices, home appliance and Internet of Things. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Tainan, Taiwan, Himax currently employs around 2,200 people from three Taiwan-based offices in Tainan, Hsinchu and Taipei and country offices in China, Korea, Japan, Israel, and the US. Himax has 2,965 patents granted and 517 patents pending approval worldwide as of March 31st, 2019. Himax has retained its position as the leading display imaging processing semiconductor solution provider to consumer electronics brands worldwide. Story continues http://www.himax.com.tw Forward Looking Statements Factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially include, but not limited to, general business and economic conditions and the state of the semiconductor industry; market acceptance and competitiveness of the driver and non-driver products developed by the Company; demand for end-use applications products; reliance on a small group of principal customers; the uncertainty of continued success in technological innovations; our ability to develop and protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures including declines in average selling prices; changes in customer order patterns; changes in estimated full-year effective tax rate; shortages in supply of key components; changes in environmental laws and regulations; exchange rate fluctuations; regulatory approvals for further investments in our subsidiaries; our ability to collect accounts receivable and manage inventory and other risks described from time to time in the Company's SEC filings, including those risks identified in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2018 filed with the SEC, as may be amended. Company Contacts: Jackie Chang, CFO Himax Technologies, Inc. Tel: +886-2-2370-3999 Ext.22300 Or US Tel: +1-949-585-9838 Ext.252 Fax: +886-2-2314-0877 Email: jackie_chang@himax.com.tw www.himax.com.tw Ophelia Lin, Investor Relations Himax Technologies, Inc. Tel: +886-2-2370-3999 Ext.22202 Fax: +886-2-2314-0877 Email: ophelia_lin@himax.com.tw www.himax.com.tw Sky Wang, Investor Relations Himax Technologies, Inc. US Tel: +1-949-585-9838 Ext.223 Fax: +1-312-445-3643 Email: sky_wang@himax.com.tw www.himax.com.tw Investor Relations - US Representative John Mattio, President Lamnia International Tel: +1-203-885-1058 Email: jmattio@lamniaintl.com www.lamniaintl.com House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler subpoenas former White House officials Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson to testify. Donaldson was chief of staff to former White House counsel Don McGahn, who on Tuesday defied the Judiciary panel's subpoena to testify about special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. Hicks is a former White House communications director. "As I said earlier today, the Judiciary Committee's investigation into obstruction of justice, public corruption and abuse of power by President Trump and his Administration will continue," Nadler says. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., on Tuesday subpoenaed former White House officials Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson to testify before his committee and provide documents related to a sweeping probe of figures in President Donald Trump 's orbit. Donaldson was chief of staff to former White House counsel Don McGahn, who on Tuesday defied the Judiciary panel's subpoena to testify about special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. Hicks is the former White House communications director. Both Hicks and Donaldson were ordered to produce the requested documents to the committee by June 4. Hicks' subpoena sets a June 19 date for her to testify in a hearing before the Judiciary Committee, while Donaldson is asked to appear June 24 for a deposition. The Judiciary Committee said in a statement that the subpoenas for Hicks and Donaldson were issued for "testimony and documents" related to its probe of "obstruction of justice, public corruption, and other abuses of power by President Trump, his associates, and members of his Administration." The panel noted that Mueller's report had "documented alarming misconduct and obstruction of justice by" Trump and that "Donaldson and Hicks were critical witnesses to this behavior." "As I said earlier today, the Judiciary Committee's investigation into obstruction of justice, public corruption and abuse of power by President Trump and his Administration will continue," Nadler said in a statement. Story continues "I have issued these subpoenas today to two critical witnesses who have worked closely with the President. We are seeking the information in order to conduct proper oversight, consider potential legislation and perform our constitutional duties." Hicks referred CNBC's request for comment to her attorney, who did not immediately return calls. Donaldson did not immediately return emails requesting comment. A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to CNBC's inquiries about whether the president planned to invoke executive privilege to prevent either woman from turning over documents or from testifying before Nadler's committee. Hicks was at the center of the White House's response to reports that high-level Trump campaign officials, including Donald Trump Jr. and Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, had secretly met with Kremlin-connected Russians in Trump Tower in June 2016. The White House said at the time that Trump himself was not involved with crafting the response, which said the meeting was primarily about adoption. It was later revealed that Trump Jr. had been told by Rob Goldstone, a British publicist who set up the meeting, that the Russians had incriminating information to offer about Trump's political opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "If it's what you say I love it especially later in the summer," Trump Jr. responded. Donaldson, as McGahn's chief of staff, took notes chronicling Trump's decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey in May 2017. Those notes are referenced dozens of times in Mueller's 448-page report on Russian election interference, possible conspiracy between Trump's campaign and Russia, and possible obstruction of justice by Trump himself. Mueller did not uncover sufficient evidence to show Trump-Russia coordination, and Attorney General William Barr and former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein determined there was insufficient evidence for an obstruction offense. The subpoenas to Hicks and Donaldson are only the latest to come from House Democrats, who have sent requests for information or cooperation to dozens of current and former Trump associates. The Judiciary Committee alone had launched a wide-ranging corruption probe into Trump and the White House that served requests to 81 entities and individuals. The White House responded harshly to that investigation, accusing the committee of making "illegitimate oversight attempts" and trying to engineer a "do-over" of Mueller's probe. Separately, Trump has vowed to fight "all the subpoenas " from House Democrats. The Judiciary panel had subpoenaed Barr to hand over the unredacted Mueller report and its underlying evidence, which the attorney general had refused to do, citing federal rules about releasing confidential grand jury information. On Monday, Trump directed McGahn not to comply with the House panel's subpoena to testify about the Mueller report. At an empty-chair hearing Tuesday morning, Nadler vowed that his committee "will hear Mr. McGahn's testimony, even if we have to go to court to secure it." Other Democrat-led committees have issued subpoenas, as well. The House Ways and Means Committee subpoenaed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to hand over six years of Trump's personal and business tax returns subpoenas that were defied on Friday . The president's lawyers have also launched lawsuits to block subpoenas issued by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee requesting Trump's financial information. U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled against Trump in one of those suits Monday, striking a blow to arguments made by Trump's legal team that the subpoenas did not serve a "legitimate legislative purpose." CNBC's Dan Mangan and Christina Wilkie contributed to this report. WATCH: Hope Hicks lands at Fox More From CNBC LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 21, 2019 / HSBC (HSBC) (contact: 'synd manager'; telephone: +44 207 992 8066) hereby gives notice, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilisation Manager(s) named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities: The securities: Issuer: HSBC Holdings plc Guarantor (if any): na Aggregate nominal amount: GBP Benchmark Description: Fixed due May 2030 (call date May 2029) Offer price: tbc Other offer terms: Stabilisation: Stabilising Manager(s): HSBC Bank Stabilisation period expected to start on: 21st May 2019 Stabilisation period expected to end no later than: 28th June 2019 Existence, maximum size & conditions of use of over-allotment facility[1]: 5% of the aggregate nominal amount Stabilisation Venue(s) Over the counter (OTC) In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. Story continues This announcement and the offer of the securities to which it relates are only addressed to and directed at persons outside the United Kingdom and persons in the United Kingdom who have professional experience in matters related to investments or who are high net worth persons within article 12(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in the United Kingdom. [1] Please note that the existence and the maximum size of any greenshoe option, the exercise period of the greenshoe option and any conditions for exercise of the greenshoe option must also be disclosed, if such option exists. In addition, the exercise of the greenshoe option must be disclosed to the public promptly, together with all appropriate details, including in particular the date of exercise and the number and nature of securities involved This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: HSBC Holdings PLC View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/546051/HSBC-Holdings-PLC-Announces-Pre-Stabilisation-Notice View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/546051/HSBC-Holdings-PLC-Announces-Pre-Stabilisation-Notice (Bloomberg) -- Sign up for Next China, a weekly email on where the nation stands now and where it's going next. Millions of Huawei smartphone owners around the world are suddenly interested in the trade war between China and the U.S. A recent ban by U.S. President Donald Trump means many U.S. companies cant work with the Chinese technology giant. On Monday, there was a 90-day reprieve. But after that, Huawei phones wont get the same access to Google software updates as most other major handsets that use the U.S. companys Android operating system. Huawei phones arent that popular in the U.S., but they are widely used almost everywhere else. For millions, the devices are cheap-but-quality alternatives to the $1,000 phones Americas hardware champion Apple Inc. peddles. Inside China, Huawei devices wont be affected. But nearly half of these handsets are sold outside that country, according to Counterpoint Research. "Im very worried. Im the owner of a P30 Pro which I bought a month ago," Ania K from Poland wrote on Twitter. "I dont know if I will have any updates any more. Many people are very worried about that too." A Google spokesman said the company will continue to provide software updates and security patches to existing Huawei models for the next 90 days. "While we are complying with all US govt requirements, services like Google Play & security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning on your existing Huawei device," Googles Android unit wrote on Twitter. All Huawei phones developed and certified by Google before May 16 will still get access to Googles Play app store and other pre-loaded apps and services from the internet giant. Updates from Google will continue because these are transactions between Google and end users, not Google and Huawei. However, Google wont be allowed to work with Huawei on software bugs and other technical fixes for Googles version of Android going forward. Instead, the Chinese company will have to do this on its own, using the open-source version of Android. Story continues For new Huawei phones beyond May 16, there will be no Google support because that would require a new transaction between Google and the Chinese company. Huawei Technologies Co.s marketing team was enacting a full-court press on social media on Tuesday, assuring customers their phones would continue to be safe and usable. "Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products covering those which have been sold or still in stock globally," the company wrote on Twitter to fans in Nigeria. Some Huawei customers asked on social media if they could return their handsets. Others said they would stick with the company and encouraged it to keep fighting what they saw as an attack on a foreign company by President Trump. You can do it, Huawei. You didnt come all the way to the top to get beaten for nothing, Boon Leo, a Huawei user from Malaysia wrote on the companys Facebook page. Huawei is working on its own mobile operation system and will consider rivals to Googles Android. "Not letting go of your phones so you better come up with your own softwares and OS.... Asap," wrote another user from Kenya on Twitter. --With assistance from Mark Bergen. To contact the reporter on this story: Gerrit De Vynck in New York at gdevynck@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Alistair Barr For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. DUBLIN, May 22 (Reuters) - Google's lead regulator in the European Union, Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner, opened its first investigation into the U.S. internet giant on Wednesday over how it handles personal data for the purpose of advertising. The probe was the result of a number of submissions against the company, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner said, including from privacy-focused web browser Brave which complained last year that Google and other digital advertising firms were playing fast and loose with people's data. Brave argued that when a person visits a website, intimate personal data that describes them and what they are doing online is broadcast to tens or hundreds of companies without their knowledge in order to auction and place targeted adverts. "A statutory inquiry pursuant to section 110 of the Data Protection Act 2018 has been commenced in respect of Google Ireland Limited's processing of personal data in the context of its online Ad Exchange," the Irish DPC said in a statement. It said the enquiry would establish whether processing of personal data carried out at each stage of an advertising transaction was in compliance with the landmark European GDPR privacy law introduced a year ago. That would include considering the lawful basis for processing, the principles of transparency and data minimisation, as well as Google's retention practices, it added. Many of the large technology firms have their European headquarters in Ireland, putting them under the watch of the Irish DPC. The regulator said earlier this month that it had 51 large-scale investigations under way, 17 of which related to large technology firms including Twitter, LinkedIn, Apple and a number into Facebook and its WhatsApp and Instagram subsidiaries. Under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), regulators have the power to impose fines for violations of up to 4% of a company's global revenue or 20 million euros, whichever is higher. Story continues GDPR seeks to ensure that individuals have greater control over the data that companies hold about them, prompting the complaints from Brave, set up by Silicon Valley engineering guru and Mozilla co-founder Brendan Eich, and others last September. Google said at the time that it had already implemented strong privacy protections in consultation with European regulators and is committed to complying with the GDPR. The probe could become a test case into the foundations of the data-driven model the online ad industry depends on. "The Irish Data Protection Commission's action signals that now - nearly one year after the GDPR was introduced - a change is coming that goes beyond just Google," Brave's chief policy officer Johnny Ryan said in a statement on Wednesday. (Reporting by Padraic Halpin; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) (Bloomberg) -- Phone companies are scrapping plans to sell Huawei handsets as the impact of a U.S. supply ban spreads, threatening to impede the Chinese technology giants global smartphone ambitions. Carriers in Japan, Taiwan and Britain stopped taking early orders for newer smartphone models from Huawei Technologies Co. on Wednesday or shelved plans to offer its handsets equipped for new fifth-generation wireless networks. President Donald Trumps move last week to put Huawei on an export blacklist amid a trade war with Beijing threatens to cut the tech company off from U.S. software and component suppliers. Telecom operators fear that could affect the functioning of its newest handsets as Huawei wont get access to the most popular version of the Android mobile operating system developed by Alphabet Inc.s Google. If the boycotts multiply, it would be a major blow to Shenzhen-based Huawei, which is trying to overtake South Koreas Samsung Electronics Co. as the worlds No. 1 handset supplier this year after leapfrogging Apple Inc. Mobile phones and other devices in Huaweis consumer business account for almost half of its revenue. More than a billion smartphones are sold annually worldwide, and many are bought wholesale by telecom operators. They include the devices in their wireless subscription plans for a monthly fee, making them a vital sales channel. Britains BT Group Plc decided not to include Huawei phones in Britains first 5G network because of uncertainty over whether they could use Android, a spokesman for the carrier said. Weve put the Huawei devices on pause until weve got a bit more information on that, the head of BTs consumer division, Marc Allera, told reporters ahead of the start of 5G services next week. Rival Vodafone Group Plc paused pre-orders for the Huawei Mate 20X (5G) in the U.K. as a temporary measure while uncertainty exists regarding new Huawei 5G devices, a spokesman said. British retail chain Dixons Carphone Plc followed suit in the afternoon, also pausing Huawei 5G phone preorders, a spokeswoman said. Story continues NTT Docomo Inc., Japans largest operator, stopped taking pre-orders for Huaweis new P30 handset, and KDDI Corp. delayed the introduction of the phone indefinitely. SoftBank Corp.s YMobile announced a similar move, citing concerns over the availability of software updates. Taiwanese carrier Chunghwa Telecom Co., meanwhile, said it wont procure new Huawei models. This is an unfortunate time for a 5G handset manufacturer to suffer damage to its reputation, said CCS Insight analyst Ben Wood, who estimates the next generation of phones will make up over 30% of the roughly 18 million devices sold in the U.K. market next year. The problem is that even if all of this was fixed overnight, and the U.S. administration said, Terrible mistake, its all fine, silly us, the uncertainty that its created is Huaweis biggest enemy now, he said. Anxious Consumers Huawei phones developed and certified by Google before May 16 will still get access to Googles Play app store and its pre-loaded apps and services. Updates from Google will continue as they are transactions between Google and end users, not Google and Huawei. However, Google wont be allowed to work with Huawei on software bugs and other technical fixes. Instead, the Chinese firm will have to do this on its own, using the open-source version of Android. Some owners of Huawei phones around the world took to social media to express concern over the potential impact on their handsets. Huaweis marketing team assured customers their phones would continue to be safe and usable. Should Googles system no longer be available, then the alternative option will naturally come out -- either from Huawei or someone else, Abraham Liu, Huaweis representative to the European Union institutions, said at an event in Brussels on Tuesday. Europe is a key market for Huaweis consumer business because of its appetite for high-end phones. Huawei is also the regions biggest supplier of mobile network equipment and has staked out a major role in rolling out 5G networks worth billions of euros. Huawei is already effectively barred from the U.S. Backup Plans With U.S. allies under growing pressure to restrict Huawei, carriers have been reviewing their ties to the company and devising backup plans in case of bans or supply disruption. In the U.K., BT plans to remove Huawei from the core of its EE units 4G network, while giving it a major role supplying 5G infrastructure. The Trump blacklist affects the devices more than it does the radio access network, said BT Chief Technology Officer Howard Watson. There are also U.S. suppliers to Huawei radio access equipment. Thats something were monitoring very closely as well. A U.K. spokesman for Huawei, commenting on the smartphone decision by BTs mobile unit EE, said: Our priority remains focusing on our customers and their requirements. We look forward to continuing our successful collaboration with EE. (Updates with analysts comment after 10th paragraph.) --With assistance from Debby Wu, Gao Yuan, Giles Turner and Deirdre Hipwell. To contact the reporters on this story: Thomas Seal in London at tseal@bloomberg.net;Takahiko Hyuga in Tokyo at thyuga@bloomberg.net;Lily Nonomiya in Tokyo at lnonomiya@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rebecca Penty at rpenty@bloomberg.net, Nick Turner, Rob Golum For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's Antitrust Division staff has recommended the agency sue to block T-Mobile US Inc's $26 billion acquisition of smaller rival Sprint Corp, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The final decision on whether to allow two of the four nationwide wireless carriers to merge now lies with political appointees at the department, headed by Antitrust Division chief Makan Delrahim. That decision is expected to be made in about a month, the two sources said. (Reporting by Sheila Dang and Diane Bartz Editing by Chizu Nomiyama ) WELLINGTON, Fla. (AP) _ KLX Energy Services Holdings Inc. (KLXE) on Wednesday reported a loss of $5 million in its fiscal first quarter. The Wellington, Florida-based company said it had a loss of 24 cents per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring costs and amortization costs, came to 25 cents per share. The service provider to oil and natural gas producers posted revenue of $145.8 million in the period. For the current quarter ending in August, KLX Energy Services expects its per-share earnings to be 80 cents. The company said it expects revenue in the range of $180 million for the fiscal second quarter. KLX Energy Services expects full-year earnings to be $4.50 per share, with revenue expected to be $800 million. KLX Energy Services shares have increased slightly more than 6% since the beginning of the year. _____ This story was generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on KLXE at https://www.zacks.com/ap/KLXE Eli Lilly and Company LLY announced that a phase II study evaluating its pipeline candidate mirikizumab in patients with moderately-to-severely active Crohn's disease (CD) met the primary and secondary endpoints. Data from the phase II SERENITY study showed that treatment with mirikizumab led to significant reductions in clinical and endoscopic measures of disease activity at 12 weeks compared to placebo. The data were presented at Digestive Disease Week medical conference in San Diego, CA. Lilly plans to begin phase III studies on mirikizumab in Crohn's disease later this year. Mirikizumab is already being evaluated in phase III studies in other immune diseases, psoriasis and ulcerative colitis. Some popular drugs approved to treat Crohn's disease are AbbVies ABBV Humira and UCBs Cimzia, among others while several others like AbbVies newly approved psoriasis drug Skyrizi (risankizumab), Theravance Biopharma, Inc.s TBPH JAK inhibitor TD-1473 Galapagos and Gileads GILD filgotinib and RedHill Biopharma Ltd RHB-104 are in late-stage studies for CD. Immunology is a key therapeutic area for Lilly and its portfolio includes popular drug Taltz, which is marketed for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Meanwhile, regulatory applications seeking approval of Taltz for axial spondyloarthritis are also under review with the FDA. Lilly is also seeking to expand its immunology pipeline. In the first quarter, Lilly announced global licensing and research collaboration with two companies, ImmuNext, Inc. and Avidity Biosciences, Inc to make new medicines in immunology and autoimmune diseases. Lillys shares have risen 0.7% this year so far against the industrys decline of 1.2%. Lilly currently has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Today's Best Stocks from Zacks Story continues 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 Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Theravance Biopharma, Inc. (TBPH) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Lockheed Martin Corp.s LMT Rotary and Mission Systems (RMS) business unit recently won a modification contract for the Navys Surface Ship Undersea Warfare (USW) system. The deal was awarded by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC. Valued at $63.1 million, the deal is expected to be completed by May 2020. Per the terms of the agreement, Lockheed Martin will provide incremental funding to support the continued development, integration and production of 15 AN/SQQ-89A(V) Surface Ship Undersea Warfare (USW) system. Majority of the work related to the deal will be executed in Manassas, VA. A Brief Note on Surface Ship USW Lockheed Martins Surface Ship USW combat system is a naval anti-submarine warfare designed to search, detect, classify and track underwater contacts. These warfare systems are also equipped to attack enemy submarines, mines and torpedoes. The AN/SQQ-89(V) Surface Ship Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Combat System provides integrated USW combat management, fire control, command and control, and onboard training to enable surface combatants for supporting engagement of USW targets in both open ocean and littoral environments. When installed on Aegis equipped destroyers and cruisers, the AN/SQQ-89(V) is integrated with the Aegis Combat System. What Favors Lockheed Martin? In recent times, heightened geo-political tensions looming across the globe and rapid modernization of Chinas submarine fleet have compelled the United States to modernize its naval defense. Being one of the major manufacturers for maritime combat and undersea warfare systems, Lockheed Martin hugely benefits from such modernization initiatives, in terms of significant contract wins. Moving ahead, factors like growing disputes over maritime borders, offshore resources and trade routes are expected to boost the global demand for USW systems. Notably, the United States is a forerunner in the global undersea warfare systems market. In this line, Research and Markets firm expects the global undersea warfare systems market to witness a CAGR of 6.6% over the 2017-2021 period and attain a value worth $8.26 billion by 2021. Being the Pentagons largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin is expected to capture a sizeable share of this expanding market and fortify its dominant position in the defense space. Story continues Price Performance In a years time, shares of Lockheed Martin have gained 5.7% against the industrys 3.2% decline. Zacks Rank & Other Key Picks Lockheed Martin currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). A few other top-ranked companies in the same space are Leidos Holdings, Inc. LDOS, Northrop Grumman Corp. NOC and Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Inc. WAIR, each carrying a similar rank as Lockheed Martin. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Leidos Holdings delivered average positive earnings surprise of 6.81% in the last four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has moved 1.1% up to $4.58 over the past 60 days. Northrop delivered average positive earnings surprise of 18.50% in the trailing four quarters. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has climbed 1.8% to $19.29 over the past 90 days. Wesco Aircrafts long-term growth estimate currently stands at 12%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2019 earnings has moved 3.7% north to 84 cents over the past 90 days. 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 Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Leidos Holdings, Inc. (LDOS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Wesco Aircraft Holdings, Inc. (WAIR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research LyondellBasell Industries N.V.s LYB Spheripol polypropylene process technology has been selected by Phu My Plastics Production JSC for a 300 KTA plant in Vietnam. The process is a widely used polypropylene (PP) technology globally and is well established in Asia. The technology was picked for the PP project owing to its strong licensing record along with the operational expertise of LyondellBasell and the well-established Spheripol PP product position across Southeast Asia and Vietnam. Spheripol is a leading PP process technology with more than 25 million tons of licensed capacity. The fifth generation Spheripol technology includes process improvements, which maximizes the companys operational efficiency. The plant will start operations using Avant ZN (Advanced Ziegler-Natta) catalyst, which includes non-phthalate, metallocene and chromium catalysts for the full range of polyolefin production. Notably, new licensees may take advantage of LyondellBasells in-house expertise of continuous production improvement. They can leverage the companys sustainable product development and catalyst knowhow by the joining Technical Service program, which is optional. Shares of LyondellBasell have lost around 29.8% over the past year compared with the industrys decline of 33.1%. LyondellBasells adjusted earnings came in at $2.22 per share in the first quarter of 2019, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.20. The company gained from improved market demand in the quarter. The company witnessed the signs of industry improvement within the first few weeks of April. It also noted that strong market sentiment is driving margins in its Olefins & Polyolefins - EAI segment. Moreover, LyondellBasell is seeing volume improvement in its Olefins & Polyolefins Americas unit. It is also witnessing an uptick in the refining market with higher gasoline spreads and wider discounts for heavy sour crude oil. The company will advance its growth strategy and boost earnings with a robust pipeline of licensing revenues for 2019. It will also initiate its world-scale HDPE plant in the third quarter. Zacks Rank & Key Picks LyondellBasell currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Some better-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Materion Corporation MTRN, Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. FSUGY and AngloGold Ashanti Limited AU, all currently sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Materion has an expected earnings growth rate of 23.1% for 2019. The companys shares have gained 15.5% in the past year. Fortescue Metals has an expected earnings growth rate of 101.5% for the current year. The stock has soared 74.5% in a years time. AngloGold has an expected earnings growth rate of 86.8% for 2019. Its shares have rallied 43% in a 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 LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (LYB) : Free Stock Analysis Report AngloGold Ashanti Limited (AU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Fortescue Metals Group Ltd. (FSUGY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Materion Corporation (MTRN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - M2 Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: MC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will seek approval for its proposed merger with Jervois Mining Ltd. ("Jervois") at a special meeting of shareholders to be held on June 14th, 2019 at Suite 2200, 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3E8 at 9:00 a.m. (Pacific time). In connection with the meeting, the Company has prepared and mailed a management information circular which describes the proposed merger with Jervois and the expected business of the Company following completion of the merger, and which includes a summary of the preliminary economic assessment, prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, for Jervois' wholly-owned Nico-Young Nickel-Cobalt Project in New South Wales, Australia. A copy of the management information circular has been mailed to shareholders of record as of May 10, 2019. The circular, and the preliminary economic assessment on the Nico-Young Nickel-Cobalt Project, are also available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website at (www.m2cobalt.com). The Company is also pleased to announce that Jervois has received conditional approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") to list its ordinary shares as a Tier 1 Mining Issuer, following completion of the merger. It is anticipated that Jervois' ordinary shares will trade on the Exchange under the ticker symbol "JRV". Completion of the merger with Jervois remains subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of the approval of the shareholders of the Company at the meeting to be held on June 14th, 2019, as well as the final approval of the Supreme Court of British Columbia and the Exchange. The listing of Jervois on the Exchange remains subject to completion of the merger, and the satisfaction of customary conditions and filing requirements imposed by the Exchange. Story continues For further information regarding the merger of the Company and Jervois, readers are encouraged to contact Simon Clarke at sclarke@m2cobalt.com or Andy Edelmeier at andy@m2cobalt.com On behalf of the Board, M2 COBALT CORP. Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer 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. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to completion of the merger with Jervois, the reliability of third party information, and certain other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Corporate Logo To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44957 Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation VAC has announced that one of its operating businesses, Aqua-Aston Hospitality, added CopperWynd Resort & Club in Scottsdale, AZ, in its portfolio. Aqua-Aston Hospitality already holds nearly 40 properties and CopperWynd would be its first property in Arizona. The 32-roomed property will be located in close proximity to the Phoenix airport and will feature Marriott Vacations luxury offerings. The property is currently undergoing an extensive $60-million renovation and expansion. It is slated to open in 2020. The move not only underscores Marriott Vacations expansion strategies but is also in line with the companys differentiated offerings to attract more customers. Backed by a strong brand presence, shares of the company have gained 37.2% so far this year, outperforming the industrys 17.9% rally. Our Take We believe that the addition of CopperWynd will help Marriott Vacations to fortify its top line. As it is, the company continues to impress investors with robust top-line growth. In first-quarter 2019, revenues increased 85.6%, following 87.2% gain in the preceding quarter. The upside can be attributed to revenue growth across segments. Also, consolidated Vacation Ownership contract sales, rental, financing, and resort management and other services revenues increased 74%, 98%, 89% and 79%, respectively, in the quarter. For 2019, the company expects consolidated contract sales to be $1,530-$1,600 million. This is also Marriott Vacations way of countering intense competition from the likes of Marriott MAR, Hilton HLT and Hyatt H. Marriott Vacations currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 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 Marriot Vacations Worldwide Corporation (VAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hyatt Hotels Corporation (H) : Free Stock Analysis Report Marriott International (MAR) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc. (HLT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Bloomberg) -- Masayoshi Son cant stop talking about how artificial intelligence is going to change the world. Now SoftBank Group Corp. will finally have a board member who is an expert on the subject. SoftBank on Tuesday named a new director: Yutaka Matsuo, a professor at the University of Tokyo who focuses on social network mining, natural language processing and AI. SoftBank also said former Goldman Sachs banker Mark Schwartz will resign from the board, subject to shareholder approval at the general meeting on June 19. SoftBanks $100 billion Vision Fund has made large bets on industries ranging from ride-hailing and autonomous driving to vertical farms and co-working spaces. Son says that what unifies the disparate investments is the way these companies use AI, which he believes will redefine every industry and create many new ones. Yet until now, there were no people in Sons inner circle that had an intimate understanding of the technology. Matsuo, 44, received a masters degree in electrical engineering and a doctorate in information and communication engineering from University of Tokyo. Hes the president of Japan Deep Learning Association and also serves as technical adviser to Tokyo-based deep learning startups Pksha Technology Inc. and Abeja Inc. The recent explosion in AI activity dates back to 2012, a year that was a turning point for computer vision. A breakthrough in deep learning algorithms at a science competition called ImageNet vastly improved the ability of machines to identify objects in photographs by using massive data sets to find patterns. It put deep neural networks on the map and sounded the starting gun for the current boom in AI. For Son, AI became a major topic in 2016, after SoftBanks $32 billion acquisition of chipmaker ARM Holdings Plc. The following year, ARM Chief Executive Officer Simon Segars joined the Japanese conglomerates board and for a while was the only director with a technical background. Story continues Son likes to think bold when it comes to the future. He believes AI-powered superintelligence is inevitable and has a plan for SoftBank to survive successive waves of seismic, technological change for the next 300 years. Thats something the two men may have in common. In 2016, Matsuo took the stage at SoftBank World, an annual event for customers and suppliers, with a message Son would surely approve of. There is no point in thinking small, Matsuo said in a keynote speech entitled Will AI Exceed Humans. We arent talking about boosting sales 5% or 10%. You have to think five-fold or 10 times. (Updates with details on Matsuo from the fifth paragraph.) To contact the reporter on this story: Pavel Alpeyev in Tokyo at palpeyev@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edwin Chan at echan273@bloomberg.net, Peter Elstrom, Robert Fenner For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. SALT LAKE CITY, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Overstock.com, Inc. (OSTK) announced that Medici Land Governance (MLG), its blockchain subsidiary focused on land administration, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Lusaka City Council (LCC) that will lead to the issuance of no fewer than 250,000 certificates of title related to real property under the jurisdiction of LCC in and around the capital city of Zambia. In addition to establishing a simplified, time-sensitive, and streamlined titling process that builds on the 50,000 homes upon which MLG collected governance information in the fall of 2018, the MOU calls for developing and deploying a land information management system to handle title transfers, title searches, and other transactions. The MOU stipulates a revenue sharing arrangement between the Lusaka City Council and MLG. Under the terms of the MOU, the parties will work together to execute a definitive agreement within 90 days. The agreement is open ended, subject to review every two and a half years. Data related to issuance of occupancy licenses, deed titles, payments and other revenue-generating transactions will be posted on a blockchain. The data will be accessible on an open source mobile platform to land owners, government agencies, local authorities, and private sector interests. MLG recently completed a proof of concept project with Zambias Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources which has facilitated the subsequent process, currently underway, of issuing 50,000+ certificates of title related to real property in and around Lusaka. One of the fastest growing cities in southern Africa, Lusaka has a population of at least 2.5 million in its metropolitan district. We are thrilled to extend our collaboration with the leaders of Lusaka, especially the city council and the mayor, who have graciously placed their confidence in this groundbreaking initiative, said Ali El Husseini, PhD, CEO of Medici Land Governance. Last year, Lusaka was the site of our first project and we look forward to working with city planners to show how blockchain and a digitized land administration system can transform the ways governments (especially local governments) and businesses operate along with giving individuals new opportunities for economic mobility and empowerment. Story continues There is no more noble fulfilment to me than being part of a project that will empower Lusaka residents with housing ownership, said Miles Sampa, Mayor of Lusaka. While partnering with Medici Land Governance, we shall not leave anyone behind in the drive to create real sustainable wealth for families. Overstock CEO and founder Patrick M. Byrne said, I believe this is a very big deal. Rule of Law begins with good land governance, which permits capital to come into existence, which is the first step of the process by which Less Developed Countries can emerge from poverty. It also permits local governments to develop their first proper tax revenue base to support the services which their citizens desire. This agreement with Lusaka City Council will allow Medici Land Governance to implement its world-leading blockchain land governance technology to accelerate economic growth in Zambias capital through proper, accurate, inexpensive land governance. As importantly, for us it is a demonstration project to show not just Lusaka, but Zambia, the rest of Africa, and beyond, the benefits of land governance. Medici Land Governance was founded in 2018 to put the power of property ownership and equity into the hands of citizens by applying blockchain and other technologies to provide low-cost, easy-to-use land titling and administration systems. MLG is a subsidiary of Medici Ventures, Overstock.coms wholly-owned blockchain accelerator. Medici Ventures mission is to introduce blockchain technology to existing markets to democratize capital, eliminate middlemen, and re-humanize commerce. Today, Medici Ventures oversees a global keiretsu of companies building the foundation of a technology stack for civilization based on trust systems that utilize blockchain and other technologies to reduce transactional friction. Medici Ventures network of companies are introducing blockchain technologies to industries such as capital markets, money and banking, identity, property, voting, and supply chain. About Overstock.com Overstock.com, Inc Common Shares (OSTK) / Series A Preferred (Medici Ventures tZERO platform: OSTKP) / Series B Preferred (OSTBP) is an online retailer and technology company based in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its leading e-commerce website sells a broad range of new products at low prices, including furniture , decor , rugs , bedding , home improvement , and more. The online shopping site, which is visited by nearly 40 million customers a month, also features a marketplace providing customers access to millions of products from third-party sellers. Overstock was the first major retailer to accept cryptocurrency in 2014, and in the same year founded Medici Ventures, its wholly-owned subsidiary developing and accelerating blockchain technologies to democratize capital, eliminate middlemen, and re-humanize commerce. Overstock regularly posts information about the company and other related matters on the Newsroom and Investor Relations pages on its website, Overstock.com . About Medici Land Governance Medici Land Governance leverages blockchain and other technologies to support land governance, titling, and administration with a secure public record of land ownership. With land records stored on the blockchain, land ownership is standardized and can be recognized by local and global economies. Blockchain applied to land improves lives, stimulates economies, and strengthens communities. Medici Land Governance supports agencies in the digitization of their current records, engendering trust and security in data by diminishing human error and accidental damage to records. O, Overstock.com, O.com, Club O, Main Street Revolution, and Worldstock are registered trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. O.biz and Space Shift are also trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. Other service marks, trademarks and trade names which may be referred to herein are the property of their respective owners. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact. Additional information regarding factors that could materially affect results and the accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained herein may be found in the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on May 9, 2019, and any subsequent filings with the SEC. Media Contact: pr@overstock.com Investor Contact: ir@overstock.com LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - The breakup of Austria's ruling coalition government puts the continuation of the government's reform agenda at risk and is "credit negative", ratings agency Moody's said on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) quit the government after the president sided with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and sacked the hardline FPO interior minister, paving the way for a caretaker government. "This puts the full implementation of the tax relief package presented at the end of April at risk because it will depend on the composition of the next government," Moody's analyst Heiko Peters said in a note to clients. "We considered the coalition's fiscal consolidation measures and supply-side reforms credit positive because they support economic growth and improve fiscal metrics." (Reporting by Karin Strohecker; editing by Sujata Rao) To access a PDF version of this newsletter, please click here http://share.thomsonreuters.com/assets/newsletters/Morning_News_Call/MNCGeneric_CA_05222019.pdf You can read Morning News Call Canada via TOPNEWS Canada page. If you would like to receive this newsletter through your email, please register at: http://solutions.refinitiv.com/MorningNewsCallENsubscriptionpage ECONOMIC EVENTS 0830 Retail sales mm for Mar: Expected 1.0%; Prior 0.8% 0830 Retail sales ex-autos mm for Mar: Expected 0.9%; Prior 0.6% COMPANIES REPORTING RESULTS May 22: Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM). Expected Q2 earnings of C$2.98 per share Converge Technology Solutions Corp (CTS). Expected Q1 earnings of 2 Canadian cents per share May 23: Legend Power Systems Inc (LPS). Expected Q2 loss of 2 Canadian cents per share Royal Bank of Canada (RY). Expected Q2 earnings of C$2.21 per share Silvercorp Metals Inc (SVM). Expected Q4 earnings of 2 cents per share Siyata Mobile Inc (SIM). Expected Q1 loss of 1 Canadian cent per share Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD). Expected Q2 earnings of C$1.67 per share CORPORATE EVENTS 1030 Sienna Senior Living Inc (SIA). Shareholders Meeting 0800 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CM). Q2 earnings conference call 1000 Protech Home Medical Corp (PTQ). Q2 earnings conference call 1300 Trilogy Metals Inc (TMQ). Annual Shareholders Meeting 1330 Entree Resources Ltd (ETG). Annual Shareholders Meeting EX-DIVIDENDS Finning International Inc (FTT). Amount C$0.20 Inter Pipeline Ltd (IPL). Amount C$0.14 Keyera Corp (KEY). Amount C$0.15 Lassonde Industries Inc (LASa). Amount C$0.59 Parkland Fuel Corp (PKI). Amount C$0.09 Thomson Reuters Corp (TRI). Amount $0.36 For Morning News Call U.S. -- a preview of market-moving news for the trading day: - type US/MNC in a news browser if you are an Eikon user, or type RT/US/MNC in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For The Day Ahead -- a recap of the day's events and preview of the next trading day: - type DAY/US in a news browser if you are an Eikon user or type RT/DAY/US in a news browser if you are a Thomson One user For an index of our newsletters click on (Bloomberg) -- New Yorkers wont have to worry much longer about perfecting their subway swipe. More than 20 years after the initial switch to MetroCards from tokens, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is unveiling the ability to use tap-to-pay credit and debit cards for subway and bus fares. And its not just public transportation. Visa Inc. says 80 of the top 100 U.S. retailers now accept the cards, with companies including Target Corp. and CVS Health Corp. adding the technology in recent months. Mass transit is a really terrific use case for tap and pay -- people commute 10 times a week, Visa Chief Executive Officer Al Kelly said in a Bloomberg Television interview. It gets them in the habit of using the card to tap and go. The transition has prompted banks around the country to quickly update cards. JPMorgan Chase & Co. was the first major lender to commit to tap-and-go technology for its entire portfolio of credit and debit cards, in November, and Bank of America Corp. and Wells Fargo & Co. made similar announcements months later. Outside the U.S., almost half of all in-store transactions use the tapping technology. New York subway riders will be able to use tap-to-pay credit and debit cards or mobile payments at stations along the 4-5-6 line between Grand Central and Barclays Center beginning on May 31. At first, the new payment system -- known as OMNY, for One Metro New York -- will be available only on a pay-per-ride basis. The MTA plans to roll out additional fare options in late 2020, when contactless entrance will be available across the entire subway system and for all buses. Muscle Memory As weve seen around the world, and why were so excited about the MTA, is transit is the most important use case because it builds that habituation, that muscle memory, said Oliver Jenkyn, head of North America for Visa. When Chase and the MTA take action, they move markets. Visa predicts that the number of contactless cards issued in the U.S. will rise to 300 million by the end of 2020 from 100 million at the end of this year. JPMorgan alone has handed out close to 20 million cards with the functionality, said Abeer Bhatia, president of card marketing, pricing and innovation for the bank. Story continues The move may help banks bottom lines. They could boost profits by $2.4 billion by transitioning to contactless cards, researchers at A.T. Kearney led by Monica Gabel said in a report last year. Thats because tap-and-go transactions often replace cash. Quicker, Easier Bhatia said that JPMorgan cardholders have picked up the tap-to-pay motion reasonably quickly, and that the functionality has made in-store transactions quicker and easier for cardholders. Its even popular among consumers who have never used mobile payment options such as Apple Pay or Google Pay, he said. Theres a big segment that never used mobile wallets, but the moment they got their contactless cards, theyre starting to tap right away, Bhatia said. When they have the choice to use either, theyre overwhelmingly using tap-to-pay versus mobile wallets. Theres still work to be done. Close to 40% of payment terminals in the U.S. arent yet contactless. And there are major holdouts, such as Walmart Inc. and Nordstrom Inc., that have been hesitant to accept the technology because it would also mean accepting mobile-payment options that may compete with their own offerings. Snowball Effect I expect that as customers get used to it and merchants see that customers are delighted by the experience, the reality is that adoption will start to take off, Visa CEO Kelly said. Our experience around the world is that the first 10% is the hardest 10% to get and, after that, theres a snowball effect and it really takes off. The New York subways transition alone could be a boon for Visa and rival Mastercard Inc. Analysts at Mizuho Securities USA led by Thomas McCrohan said in a note to clients this week that it could add $40 million in annual revenue for Visa and $27 million for Mastercard once OMNY is fully implemented, in 2021. The two card networks could see an additional 2.5 billion transactions from the subway each year after the transition, the analysts estimated. Mastercard expects more than 20 cities across the U.S. to add the technology to their transit systems in the next few years. This is another example of our sustained investment to help New Yorkers move around the city and find new ways of making it easier to get to where they want to go, Al Putre, executive director of the MTAs new fare-payment program, said in a statement. JPMorgan is on track to have half its cards converted to contactless technology by the end of 2019, Bhatia said. While the lender was initially focused on adding the functionality to its credit cards, it will begin adding it to its debit cards later this year as well. The biggest reason that things are moving at this pace and not immediately is there are only so many vendors that can make them, Bhatia said. Theres huge demand from us and others in the industry too. (Updates with MTA statement in 15th paragraph. A previous version of this story was corrected to fix the name of the MTA.) --With assistance from Emma Chandra. To contact the reporter on this story: Jenny Surane in New York at jsurane4@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michael J. Moore at mmoore55@bloomberg.net, Daniel Taub, Dan Reichl For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. For years, the Permian Basin has been contributing to the United States oil production boom. Since 2010, production growth of crude volumes in the prolific basin has crossed 300%. Permian drillers have now become more efficient as they are now deploying lesser rigs to produce more of the commodity. Although the pipeline bottleneck problem in the basin may act as a damper, favorable oil prices along with production growth of the commodity are likely to support the Permian drillers cashflow, thereby helping upstream energy players consistently return capital to shareholders. Permian Drillers Efficiency Improves In its latest weekly release, Baker Hughes, a GE company BHGE, reported that Permian, which employs roughly half of the nations total rigs, has seen a decline in oil drilling rig count for five consecutive weeks. Despite the decline, the Permian is likely to witness growth in oil production volumes. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), in June, the basin will produce 8,495 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBbl/D), up by 83 MBbl/D from Mays production. Not only that, of all major plays in the United States including Anadarko, Appalachia, Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville and Niobrara, Permian will contribute to 48.9% and 49.1% of total oil production volumes in May and June, respectively, added EIA. Hence, higher expected production volumes despite decline in oil drilling rig count reflect improving efficiency of the Permian drillers. Boosting Shareholders Returns Permian drillers are focused on returning cash to shareholders through dividend payments and share buybacks. Along with its first-quarter 2019 result announcement, Diamondback Energy, Inc. FANG which exploits and produces oil in the Permian said that its prime objective is to consistently pay capital back to stockholders. The company has received approval from the board of directors to repurchase up to $2 billion of shares through Dec 31, 2020. Diamondback also recently raised its quarterly dividend payment by 50%. Story continues In December 2018, Pioneer Natural Resources Company PXD, a pure-play Permian driller, got an authorization from its board of directors to repurchase $2 billion common stock. As of May 6, Pioneer Natural has managed to repurchase a total of $328 million worth shares. The upstream energy stock is also returning cash to shareholders through dividend payments. The company recently increased its semi-annual dividend payments by 100% and is also planning to raise dividend further. Drillers in the Spotlight Given that Permian has a huge inventory of low-cost premium wells, drillers operating in the basin are likely to keep ramping up oil production. For the higher production levels, most of the Permian drillers expect capital spending related to drilling, completions and facilities (D, C & F) to decline significantly through 2019. This reflects improving capital efficiency levels of such explorers and producers. It seems to be an opportune moment for energy investors to consider stocks of Permian drillers. Here, we present two stocks carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) that are well positioned to gain. There are two other stocks with a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Devon Energy Corporation DVN, headquartered in Oklahoma City, has been ramping up activities in the Permian. The company is allocating 50% of its capital budget toward exploration and production operations in the Delaware sub-basin, inside the broader Permian. This is likely to help the company fulfil expectation of boosting oil production volumes by 17% through 2019. Moreover, over the past 12 months, the Zacks #2 Ranked firm has returned more than $4 billion capital to stockholders. With the divestment of its Eagle Ford resources, Pioneer Natural Resources Company has become a pure-play Permian stock. With sole exposure to the nations most prolific basin, the Irving, TX-based firm looks to extract as much as 1 million barrels of crude oil every day by 2027. In the first quarter of 2019, this Zacks Rank #2 company produced more oil than it estimated. Moreover, the company projects oil production from the basin through 2019 in the band of 203 to 213 thousand barrels of oil per day (MBbls/D), higher than 181 MBbls/D in 2018. For increasing production volumes, the company expects capital spending related D, C & F to decline almost 11% through 2019, reflecting improving efficiency in capital spending. Headquartered in Midland, TX, Diamondback Energy, is a pure-play Permian player having presence across more than 344,000 net acres in the Permian. The company, with a Zacks Rank of 3, expects oil production growth of 30% through 2019. Importantly, despite reducing its 2019 capital budget, Diamondback expects oil production to grow. Moreover, the company is planning to hike annual cash dividend by 50% through 2019. Concho Resources CXO, headquartered in Midland, TX, is a leading explorer and producers in the Permian. The company, with a Zacks Rank of 3, has revised upward its oil production growth projection for 2019 and is expecting to derive sufficient free cashflows to return adequate capital to shareholders. 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 Pioneer Natural Resources Company (PXD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Concho Resources Inc. (CXO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Diamondback Energy, Inc. (FANG) : Free Stock Analysis Report Devon Energy Corporation (DVN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research WILMINGTON, Del., May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Long-time Greater Delaware Valley banker Anthony Ryan is the new Senior Vice President and Director of Small Business for WSFS Bank. He will lead a team of 18 small business lenders across WSFS Banks expanded footprint, which now includes Delaware, the City of Philadelphia, Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, following WSFS recently completed combination with Beneficial Bank. Mr. Ryan will report to Glenn Kocher, Senior Vice President and Director of Retail Lending, WSFS Bank. Anthony is the utmost dutiful banker to our small business Customers, owners and entrepreneurs, and a creative leader who has the right management experience to continue growing our small business banking segment, said Kocher. We are excited for Anthony and our growing small business banking team. As Director of Small Business, Mr. Ryan will be responsible for the management, administration and strategic planning of the Banks small business unit. In addition to overseeing the team of 18 small business lenders, Mr. Ryan will also manage the sales and credit functions that support small business banking at WSFS. He will also lead collaborations with the Banks retail management and marketing teams on strategies to drive small business loan and deposit growth and increase market share. Mr. Ryan joined WSFS Bank in 2011 as a Vice President and Small Business Relationship Manager, later becoming Vice President and the Small Business Lending Team Leader. Prior to his career with WSFS, he held various retail and small business banking leadership roles with Sovereign Bank (now Santander Bank) and CoreStates Bank (now Wells Fargo). In 1983, he earned a B.A. in economics and philosophy from Trinity College Dublin, in Dublin, Ireland. Mr. Ryan actively supports his alma mater as a member of the Trinity College Dublin Alumni Association. About WSFS Financial Corporation WSFS Financial Corporation (WSFS) is a multi-billion dollar financial services company. Its primary subsidiary, WSFS Bank, is the oldest and largest locally-managed bank and trust company headquartered in Delaware and the Delaware Valley. As of March 31, 2019, WSFS Financial Corporation had $12.2 billion in assets on its balance sheet and $19.0 billion in assets under management and administration. WSFS operates from 152 offices located in Delaware (49), Pennsylvania (72), New Jersey (29), Virginia (1) and Nevada (1) and provides comprehensive financial services including commercial banking, retail banking, cash management and trust and wealth management. Other subsidiaries or divisions include Beneficial Equipment Finance Corporation, Cash Connect, Christiana Trust Group, Cypress Capital Management, LLC, NewLane Finance, Powdermill Financial Solutions, WSFS Institutional Services, WSFS Wealth Investments, West Capital Management, and WSFS Mortgage and Arrow Land Transfer. Serving the greater Delaware Valley since 1832, WSFS Bank is one of the ten oldest banks in the United States continuously operating under the same name. For more information, please visit wsfsbank.com. Story continues Media Contact: Jimmy A. Hernandez (302) 571-5254 jhernandez@wsfsbank.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e1d0f711-129f-439b-9d9e-4fcd89d5f287 WATERLOO, Ontario, May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Descartes Systems Group (DSGX) (DSG.TO), the global leader in uniting logistics-intensive businesses in commerce, announced that Pinnachem, a leading consultancy serving the pharmaceutical, fine and specialty chemicals industries in the areas of safety, compliance and market research, is using the Descartes Datamyne global trade data solution to produce in-depth analysis on imports of raw chemical materials that helps U.S. chemical producers better manage global supply chain operations. Many chemical producers do not have the in-house expertise to continually monitor and analyze international trade flows for raw materials of interest, said G. Michael Laidlaw, Founder and President of Pinnachem. Using Descartes Datamyne, Pinnachem can provide these companies with highly valuable trade intelligence on chemical imports to help make effective and profitable sourcing decisions. With accurate data on the sources of chemical supply, including the flow, volumes, costs and parties involved, companies have the opportunity for significant savings. In one instance, research using the Datamyne database saved a large U.S. producer over $300,000 annually. One of the worlds largest, searchable global trade databases, Descartes Datamyne aggregates accurate, up-to-date import-export information from global customs authorities and trade ministries in 50 countries across 5 continents. The solution delivers actionable intelligence for market research, sales insight, supply chain management, enhanced security and competitive strategy. Manufacturers, shippers, wholesalers, transportation and logistics service providers, management consultants, legal practitioners, industry analysts and more use the searchable and granular data within Descartes Datamyne to initiate growth strategies, explore new markets, benchmark performance, monitor commodity volumes and values, simplify trade data research, discover buyer-seller relationships and refine sourcing strategies. Story continues Were pleased to help Pinnachem deliver actionable trade intelligence to the chemicals industry using Descartes Datamyne, said Enrique Brum, VP Sales, North America at Descartes. With access to sophisticated trade intelligence on commodities, at such a granular level of detail, manufacturing companies in many diverse industries are better positioned to control supply chain costs, manage risk and strengthen their negotiating positions with suppliers. About Pinnachem G. Michael Laidlaw, PhD, is the Founder and President of Virginia-based Pinnachem, a company dedicated to serving the pharmaceutical, fine and specialty chemicals industries. Pinnachems services cover the areas of safety, compliance (FDA, DEA, EMEA and Kosher), technology transfers, market research and employee development. Dr. Laidlaw was previously the President and Chief Operating Officer at Boehringer Ingelheim Chemicals from 2009-2010. During his tenure, the site was successfully audited by the US FDA, Japanese FDA, and EMEA from Europe as well as the Drug Enforcement Agency. In addition, during this time, the site capacity was expanded by 50% through a $150 million capital expansion; a strong safety culture was implemented resulting in the site culture now being implemented world-wide within the Boehringer Ingelheim group. Dr. Laidlaw was also associated with BASF Corporation from 1984 to 2006 and was the Site Manager for: an ethylene oxide/propylene oxide non ionic surfactant plant; a chemicals (dyes and fine chemicals) and APIs (UV absorbers including sunscreen APIs) plant; and Team Leader for Technology Transfer and start-up of a new specialty chemicals plant in Tampico, Mexico. About Descartes Systems Group Descartes (DSGX) (DSG.TO) is the global leader in providing on-demand, software-as-a-service solutions focused on improving the productivity, performance and security of logistics-intensive businesses. Customers use our modular, software-as-a-service solutions to route, schedule, track and measure delivery resources; plan, allocate and execute shipments; rate, audit and pay transportation invoices; access global trade data; file customs and security documents for imports and exports; and complete numerous other logistics processes by participating in the world's largest, collaborative multimodal logistics community. Our headquarters are in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and we have offices and partners around the world. Learn more at www.descartes.com, and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Global Media Contact Mavi Silveira Tel: +1(800) 419-8495 ext. 202416 msilveira@descartes.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements") that relate to Descartes' solution offering and potential benefits derived therefrom; and other matters. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance or achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the factors and assumptions discussed in the section entitled, "Certain Factors That May Affect Future Results" in documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Ontario Securities Commission and other securities commissions across Canada including Descartes most recently filed management's discussion and analysis. If any such risks actually occur, they could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In that case, the trading price of our common shares could decline, perhaps materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. (Removes extraneous word in headline) HOUSTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Environmental groups and demonstrators arrested near an Energy Transfer LP crude pipeline filed a lawsuit on Wednesday challenging a 2018 Louisiana state law that made trespassing near oil and gas pipelines a criminal offense. Felony charges that carry sentences of up to five years in prison were brought last year against protesters and a journalist near the Dallas-based operator's Bayou Bridge pipeline, which was then under construction, according to the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. After protests erupted near Energy Transfer's Dakota Access Pipeline and Bayou Bridge beginning in 2016, 18 states including Texas, Pennsylvania and South Dakota have introduced bills similar to the Louisiana law, according to the non-profit Center for Constitutional Rights. Trespassing near pipelines previously drew misdemeanor charges in Louisiana. The new law aims "to chill, and harshly punish, speech and expression in opposition to pipeline projects," the plaintiffs said in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs include environmental groups Louisiana Bucket Brigade, 350 New Orleans and four of the people arrested for trespassing at Bayou Bridge. They also include landowners opposed to the pipeline. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and two other state and local officials were named as defendants in the lawsuit. Landry's office declined to comment until it reviews the lawsuit, spokesman Jacques Ambers said. Energy Transfer did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Collin Eaton in Houston; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) ST. LOUIS and OAK BROOK, Ill., May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Post Holdings, Inc. (POST), a consumer packaged goods holding company, and TreeHouse Foods (THS) today announced that the Federal Trade Commission has granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the HSR Act), with respect to the previously announced Post acquisition of the private label ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal business of TreeHouse Foods (the TreeHouse RTE cereal business). The termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the closing conditions of the transaction. The transaction is now expected to be completed in July 2019, subject to customary closing conditions. Forward-Looking Statements Certain matters discussed in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made based on known events and circumstances at the time of release, and as such, are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These forward-looking statements include the expected timing of completion of the transaction. There is no assurance that the acquisition of the TreeHouse RTE cereal business by Post will be consummated, and there are a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements made herein, including risks relating to the timing and ability to satisfy other closing conditions for the proposed acquisition, the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could delay the closing of the proposed acquisition, and other risks and uncertainties described in Posts and TreeHouse Foods filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent Posts and TreeHouse Foods judgement as of the date of this release. Post and TreeHouse Foods disclaim, however, any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Story continues About Post Holdings, Inc. Post Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a consumer packaged goods holding company operating in the center-of-the-store, refrigerated, foodservice, food ingredient, and active nutrition food categories. Through its Post Consumer Brands business, Post is a leader in the North American ready-to-eat cereal category offering a broad portfolio including recognized brands such as Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, Great Grains and Malt-O-Meal bag cereal. Post also is a leader in the United Kingdom ready-to-eat cereal category with the iconic Weetabix brand. As a leader in refrigerated foods, Post delivers innovative, value-added egg and refrigerated potato products to the foodservice channel and the retail refrigerated side dish category, offering side dishes and egg, sausage and cheese products through the Bob Evans, Simply Potatoes, All Whites, Bettern Eggs and Crystal Farms brands. Posts Active Nutrition platform brings good energy to a wide range of consumers looking to live healthy lives through brands such as Premier Protein, PowerBar and Dymatize. Post participates in the private brand food category through its investment with Thomas H. Lee Partners in 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, a leading, private brand centric, consumer products holding company. For more information, visit www.postholdings.com. About TreeHouse Foods, Inc. TreeHouse Foods, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of private label packaged foods and beverages in North America. We have over 40 production facilities across the United States, Canada and Italy, and our vision is to be the undisputed solutions leader for custom brands for our customers. Our product portfolio includes shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen and fresh products, including baked goods (refrigerated and frozen dough, cereal, cookies, crackers, pretzels and snack bars); beverages (broth, single serve hot beverages, creamers and powdered drinks); meal solutions (dressings, hot cereal, macaroni and cheese, pasta, pickles, sauces and side dishes); and healthy snacks (dried fruits and vegetables, nuts and trail mix). We have a comprehensive offering of packaging formats and flavor profiles, and we also offer natural, organic and preservative-free ingredients across almost our entire portfolio. Our purpose is to make high quality food and beverages affordable to all. Post Holdings Contacts: Investor Relations Jennifer Meyer jennifer.meyer@postholdings.com (314) 644-7665 Media Relations Lisa Hanly lisa.hanly@postholdings.com (314) 665-3180 TreeHouse Foods Contact: Investor Relations PI Aquino pi.aquino@treehousefoods.com (708) 483-1331 (Bloomberg) -- Qualcomm Inc., smarting from a major legal setback that could unravel its business model, will now look to an appeals process that historically has gone in its favor -- as well as to possible intervention from the Trump administration, which is eager to ensure the U.S. company remains competitive in 5G technology. The San Diego-based chipmaker is dealing with the fallout from a decision by a California federal judge, who sided with the Federal Trade Commission in a case brought in 2017 accusing the company of anticompetitive practices. Qualcomm is asking that U.S. District Judge Lucy Kohs decision be put on hold while it pursues a rapid appeal, where it may get support from other branches of the federal government, which in the past have indicated the companys importance to U.S. technology leadership and security outweigh questions about how it does business. Kohs judgment this week came about a month after Qualcomm settled a worldwide legal fight with Apple Inc. The relief gained by that settlement and the hope for a future clear of costly legal entanglements, which had sent Qualcomms stock rallying this year, is now on hold. Its stock was down 10.9% at the close on Wednesday in New York. Shares fell as much as 4% during pre-market trading Thursday. Koh endorsed almost all of the FTCs accusations against Qualcomm and said the company will need to change the way it operates. A chief concern for shareholders is the order to renegotiate technology licensing deals with all major phone makers. Those agreements generate billions of dollars in high-margin revenue for Qualcomm each year. If the chipmaker is forced to do that, customers such as Apple, Samsung Electronics Co. and Huawei Technologies Co. could cut what they pay to use patents underpinning how modern phone networks work. Such an action is exactly what the Trump administrations Justice Department was hoping to avoid when it recently asked the judge to limit the scope of any penalties she planned to levy against Qualcomm. Attorneys for the government had told Koh that an aggressive remedy could undermine innovation and the companys central role in commercializing 5G mobile networks. Story continues Koh balked at the suggestion that she needed to hear more arguments three months after the 11-day trial concluded on Jan. 30. The Trump administration is likely to support Qualcomm through its appeals process, arguing some of Kohs injunctions will stifle American innovation and possibly threaten national security. But government filings wont be a silver bullet in Qualcomms quest to overturn the judges decisions related to the companys anti-competitive practices. If there is a national security concern, then thats something the appeals courts will have to consider, said Ankur Kapoor, an antitrust attorney in New York. But the support of the Justice Department is no trump card. If the evidence shows that Qualcomm itself undermined industry innovation with its anti-competitive behavior, the governments support will only take Qualcomm so far. Qualcomm brought in more than $5 billion in licensing revenue last year, helping fuel an industry-leading research-and-design effort that makes Qualcomms chips and inventions central to high-speed mobile data systems and devices. That leadership is seen as crucial for the U.S. by the Trump administration. Qualcomm still exists as an independent company because of the administrations viewpoint. A hostile takeover bid from Broadcom Inc. was thwarted at the last minute by a presidential order in March 2018 that cited security concerns and fears the acquisition would lead to less investment in 5G. Beyond any support Qualcomm gets from the administration, the company also has legal moves left to play out. Appeals and settlements are legal venues where Qualcomm has fared better than with initial decisions. The companys licensing model has been challenged for years in jurisdictions around the world. In South Korea, home to Samsung, the U.S. chipmaker is appealing two rulings that it transgressed antitrust rules. Samsung, as part of a recent agreement with Qualcomm, wont oppose the appeal as one of rulings is re-examined. Japans Fair Trade Commission this year reversed an almost decade old cease-and-desist order against Qualcomm related to licensing agreements. In Taiwan, home to its nearest direct rival MediaTek Inc., an initial ruling against Qualcomms business practices was overturned. And in China, the biggest market for smartphones, the chipmaker emerged from an investigation by antitrust authorities with the right to charge licensing fees, albeit after paying a fine. That record aside, if Kohs ruling were to stand, it would have the potential to upend Qualcomms licensing model, forcing them to renegotiate agreements with existing licensees, ostensibly at lower rates, according to Raymond James analyst Chris Caso. Some still believe Qualcomms negotiating and courtroom skills will win out. The ruling by Judge Koh in the FTC case versus Qualcomm may appear daunting, but in our opinion, they are unlikely to change the reality for the company or investors, according to Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette. (Updates with shares in 3rd paragraph.) --With assistance from Kartikay Mehrotra. To contact the reporter on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Nate Lanxon For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Qualcomm Inc. shares fell the most in more than two years after a U.S. judge ruled that the company violated antitrust law by abusing its dominant position in the market for cellphone chips to exact excessive licensing fees from phone makers and suppress competition. The ruling, made public late Tuesday in California, challenges Qualcomms business model and could upend the smartphone industry. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh sided with the Federal Trade Commission in a case brought in 2017 accusing the company of anti-competitive practices. The ruling comes one month after Qualcomm and Apple Inc. struck a settlement in a similar lawsuit brought by the iPhone maker, which agreed to continue paying the licensing fees. Qualcomms licensing practices have strangled competition in certain modem chip markets for years, and harmed rivals, OEMs and end consumers in the process, the judge wrote. She also found that Qualcomms key role in manufacturing modem chips for smartphones using 5G made it likely that its behavior would continue. Qualcomm said it will seek an immediate stay and appeal. We strongly disagree with the judges conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law," said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel of Qualcomm. The company didnt have a comment beyond the statement and Apple didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. While some investors might have expected Koh to have softened her stance after the Apple settlement, that wasnt the case, with the judge ruling against Qualcomm on virtually every measure, Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote in a note. He said Qualcomm could possibly win on appeal, especially due to the recent Apple settlement. Qualcomm shares fell as much as 11 percent, to $69.03, Wednesday morning in New York. It was the biggest intraday decline since January 2017. The shares had rallied after the agreement with Apple in April, which eased investors concerns that a drawn out legal battle with Apple would undermine Qualcomms business. Story continues Kohs ruling casts a pall over Qualcomms business model and has broad implications for the smartphone industry. Qualcomms licensing business, which provides the majority of corporate profits, funds an industry-leading research and design effort that has made its chips the central technology in shifts between generations of mobile phone technology. Any separation or change to that could hurt its competitiveness. Koh ordered Qualcomm to negotiate or renegotiate licensing agreements with customers in good faith and under conditions that wouldnt threaten to cut off access to its chips. Qualcomm will also have to license its patents to competing chipmakers on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. Koh has also prohibited Qualcomm from entering into exclusive agreements for the supply of its chips. That includes existing deals with Apple, Samsung Electronics Co. and five other handset makers. These exclusive deals could foreclose rivals from competing in the 5G market, Koh said in her order. Qualcomm currently has the most advanced 5G modems in the market and almost all phones launched or planned for the new services are using them. Renegotiating its existing licensing agreements would force an overhaul at Qualcomm of a business that brought in more than $5 billion of high-margin revenue last year. It makes little sense for the court, having found that Qualcomms patent licenses are the product of anticompetitive conduct, to leave those licenses in place, the ruling said. Koh said Qualcomm must be subject to monitoring for the next seven years to make sure it follows guidelines to ensure fair competition. Qualcomm tried to resolve the FTCs claims starting months before the case went to trial. But Bloomberg News reported that the company hit a wall with the U.S. government in February, failing to win over a majority of the FTC and its top officials despite extensive negotiations. The ruling also comes as the U.S. is waging a war against China over dominance of 5G networks, which President Donald Trump views as key to national security. The government has said Qualcomm is key to heading off Chinas dominance in the next generation of cellular networks thats beginning to be rolled out worldwide this year. While we dont know what Trumps options are, we would not be surprised if he were to interject himself into the process, Christopher Rolland, an analyst at Susquehanna Investment Group, wrote in a note. (Updates with shares in first paragraph.) To contact the reporters on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net;Kartikay Mehrotra in San Francisco at kmehrotra2@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Molly Schuetz, Robin Ajello For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. May 21 (Reuters) - Carl Icahn-backed U.S. oil refiner CVR Energy Inc said on Tuesday it was evaluating potential strategic alternatives, including a sale of the company, sending its shares up 3.7% after the bell. The company has engaged BofA Merrill Lynch as its financial advisor to assist it in the process. CVR also said it has sold its 1.5 million-barrel oil storage terminal and related assets in Cushing, Oklahoma to Plains All American Pipeline LP for about $36 million. Sugar Land, Texas-based CVR does not have a defined timeline for the exploration of strategic alternatives, the company said in a statement. Carl Icahn took a controlling state in the company in 2012 and Icahn Associates Corp had a near 71% stake as of March 31, according to Refinitiv data. (Reporting by Debroop Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) By Ritah Kemigisa. Kampala lord Mayor EriasLukwago has described the just concluded Inter party organization for dialogue summit as a waste of time. Lukwago claims the summit which took place yesterday only served to give President Yoweri Museveni an edge over others to present himself as a true democrat and one who is ready to dialogue with others. Lukwago however questions the whole agenda of continuously holding the IPOD summit arguing that they have derailed from its original principles. Mondays summit was aimed at discussing the IPOD council recommendations among them; public funding to political parties and the Public Order Management Act. Lukwago says the agenda of the summit deviates from the key issues that led to formation of the summit which was meant to among other things discuss the political crisis in the country. Related stories. Mao blasts FDC for eating IPOd money but snubbing summit meetings Award Cements Companys Leadership in Delivering Global, Secure, Carrier-Grade Low Power Wide Area Network Connectivity for the Broadest Set of IoT Applications PORTSMOUTH, N.H., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Senet, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-based software and services platforms to enable global connectivity and network build-out for the Internet of Things (IoT), today announced the companys patent-pending, Low Power Wide Area Virtual Network (LVN) solution has been named the Best IoT Connectivity Solution at the first-ever IoT World Awards. Editors, analysts, researchers, and consultants participated in selecting exemplary IoT projects, products, services and people in 11 categories. Winners were recognized for delivering products and services aimed at improving the implementation of IoT applications, enhancing security, lowering costs and driving business value. The Senet LVN was selected for its unique approach to providing Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) coverage by connecting Network Operator, Application Provider and Radio Access Network (RAN)Provider networks under a cooperative model. Operators and RAN Providers participating in the LVN benefit from immediate expansion in coverage area while IoT Application Providers can contribute to the network buildout and provide connectivity services to support the unique geographic and business needs of their customers. Further streamlining connectivity delivery and management, the Senet LVN supports standardized global device activation and deployment processes, single billing for global device connectivity and cost and connectivity benefits over traditional roaming. In addition, the Senet LVN manages and rates the quality of service delivery for each participant, ensuring a carrier-grade experience. Deploying IoT applications at scale requires a modern network architecture and flexible business models that support unique connectivity needs across markets and use cases, said Bruce Chatterley, CEO at Senet. We are honored to have the Senet LVN and our market progress selected by IoT World as the best in the industry and are committed to providing our customers with the flexibility and value that is needed to deliver on the promise of IoT. Story continues Supporting their selection, judges noted Senets partnerships with industry leaders and innovators across the IoT ecosystem including: Arrow Electronics for simplifying network deployment by offering LoRaWAN gateways with out-of-the-box interoperability with the Senet LVN. SenRa for their rapid buildout of LoRaWAN networks across India using Senets Managed Network Services for IoT (MNSi). Inland Cellular for their delivery of Low Power Wide Area network services as a Senet RAN Provider partner. Anova for delivering LoRaWAN propane and oil tank monitoring solutions connected to the Senet LVN, resulting in reduced delivery costs and CO2 emissions by 30% or more. In addition to notable expansion of Senets LVN, now delivering coverage and connectivity readiness in over 80 countries, Senet and its Low Power Wide Area Virtual Network have received third-party validation from leading industry experts including recognition by CRN (15 Coolest IoT Software and Services Companies), FierceWireless (Fierce15), IoT Evolution (Product of the Year), Frost & Sullivan (Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Awards) and Mobile Breakthrough (Industrial IoT Solution of the Year). To learn more about Senet and the Senet LVN, please contact us at +1 877-807-5755, info@senetco.com or schedule a meeting at upcoming events including the WBA Wireless Global Congress, May 20-23, Atlanta; American Water Works ACE19, June 9-12, Denver; or the LoRa Alliance All Members Meeting, June 1-13, Berlin, Germany. About Senet, Inc. A Founding and Contributing Member of the LoRa Alliance, Senet is the leader in global Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity used to instrument the physical world and enable businesses to revolutionize their operations. With core values centered around changing the world for the better, Senet is committed to promoting IoT Network and Network Management innovation and supports an open partner ecosystem to ensure that IoT realizes its full potential of delivering economic, environmental, and social improvements. Senet is dedicated to supporting the LoRaWAN protocol as the open global standard for secure, carrier-grade Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) connectivity for IoT solutions across all industries. For additional information, visit www.senetco.com. Senet Contact: Betsey Rogers BridgeView Marketing 603-821-0809 betsey@bridgeviewmarketing.com MEXICO CITY, May 21 (Reuters) - An executive in Japan's SoftBank Group said on Tuesday that the technology conglomerate is open to partnering with major Mexican consumer companies, such as retailer Femsa and bread-maker Bimbo, along with startups in the country. SoftBank announced in March that it would launch the $5 billion Innovation Fund dedicated to Latin America, focusing on financial technology, e-commerce, healthcare and mobility. Shu Nyatta, a fund partner who is based in Silicon Valley and Miami, said at a conference in Mexico City that SoftBank wants to support companies that provide better access to consumers for a variety of services. Entrenched players have something to bring to the table as well, he said. "The Bimbos and Femsas of the world all have this opportunity, to take their distribution, relationships, advantages, add some technology through partnerships or in-house, and transform their businesses," he said. "We're not biased against these incumbents with advantages. We're happy to partner where it makes sense. But has to be the right progressive thinking, the right technology," he said. Nyatta pointed to Brazilian retailer Magazine Luiza as an example of a long-established consumer company that used technology to reinvent itself. Bimbo, one of the world's largest bread producers, has a vast distribution network in Mexico that covers markets and corner stores even in remote corners of the country. Femsa's footprint in Mexico spans nearly 18,000 Oxxo convenience stores. Shoppers can pay in cash for a variety of online merchants and financial services. The retailer has also partnered with Amazon.com Inc to let shoppers pay for purchases in cash and pick up packages in its stores. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon; editing by Julia Love and Leslie Adler) By Tracy Rucinski CHICAGO (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines Co's mechanics union said on Tuesday its members had overwhelmingly voted to ratify a tentative contract agreement with the airline, ending seven years of labor negotiations fraught with legal disputes and flight disruptions. The agreement, which brought to a close one of the most disruptive labor disputes to hit a top-four U.S. airline in more than a decade, came a day after rival U.S. carrier American Airlines Group Inc said it was filing a labor-related lawsuit against its mechanics. Analysts have highlighted labor issues as a main concern for airlines this year, in addition to rising fuel costs and the grounding of Boeing MAX jets after two fatal crashes. Mechanics at both American and Southwest have complained that the airlines are moving to outsource maintenance work that has traditionally been done in-house. In a statement on its website, the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, which represents around 2,500 Southwest mechanics, said about 95 percent of its members had voted to accept a labor agreement that includes significant pay increases and headcount protections. Southwest, which had been forced to cancel hundreds of flights earlier this year stemming from the mechanics dispute, welcomed the agreement. "Our mechanics will receive well-deserved pay increases, and the company will realize additional flexibilities necessary to compete in today's airline industry," Russell McCrady, vice president of labor relations, said in a statement. AMERICAN AIRLINES MECHANICS RESPOND TO LAWSUIT Separately on Tuesday, American Airlines' mechanics union, the TWU-IAM Association, said it was "ready and willing" to return to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract, as long as it had a willing partner. The comment followed a federal lawsuit filed by American alleging an illegal slowdown by its mechanics aimed at disrupting operations to improve their position in labor talks, which began in 2015. Story continues "We would much prefer to be at the negotiating table than in a legal battle brought on by American," the TWU-IAM Association said in a statement. American said the slowdowns had escalated following the last joint bargaining session on April 25, which was overseen by the National Mediation Board. The action has caused hundreds of flight cancellations and more than 1,000 maintenance delays, threatening further disruption during the busy U.S. summer, it said. TWU-IAM, formed in 2015 after the merger of US Airways and American Airlines, said it wants to keep the company from outsourcing more maintenance and repair work to South America, China and Europe, and is "standing strong" against cuts to medical benefits and retirement security. (Reporting by Tracy Rucinski; Editing by Susan Thomas and Bill Berkrot) Satoshi Nakamoto jump-started an incredible era of innovation for decentralised internet applications with the introduction of Bitcoin as a digital, peer-to-peer payment system. Blockchain, the technology underlying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, facilitates the formation of decentralised, trustless networks capable of handling transactions and data securely. Recent decades have seen large-scale irresponsibility by traditional financial corporations from banks who needed to be bailed out in 2008 to credit reporting agencies like Equifax, which was subject to one of the largest consumer data breaches in history. Its no wonder that trust in centralised financial institutions has eroded so rapidly. As users demand more sovereignty, security, and control over their financial lives, its only a matter of time before blockchain-based dApps Satoshi Nakamoto jump-started an incredible era of innovation for decentralised internet applications with the introduction of Bitcoin as a digital, peer-to-peer payment system. Blockchain, the technology underlying Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, facilitates the formation of decentralised, trustless networks capable of handling transactions and data securely. Recent decades have seen large-scale irresponsibility by traditional financial corporations from banks who needed to be bailed out in 2008 to credit reporting agencies like Equifax, which was subject to one of the largest consumer data breaches in history. Its no wonder that trust in centralised financial institutions has eroded so rapidly. As users demand more sovereignty, security, and control over their financial lives, its only a matter of time before blockchain-based dApps begin to supplant more traditional applications. This transition to a more decentralised internet is not inevitable, however. Before device owners can choose dApps over apps, these decentralised applications need to perform as well as their competition. This boils down to one key factor: speed. And on the blockchain, speed is limited by how fast we can achieve consensus on a trustless network. dApps need their underlying blockchain platforms to form consensus rapidly, securely, and at a fraction of todays cost. Consensus isnt just for blockchains Consensus is the process by which entities come to an agreement across time and space. All internet-based applications must reach consensus to function. In fact, whenever you need to combine multiple lines of computation together, you need a consensus mechanism, whether your application runs on the internet or a single multi-core PC. In some contexts, the term synchronisation is used instead of consensus, but the meanings are essentially the same. Modern multi-core processors, whether made by Intel or anyone else, use special instructions to ensure that processor cores form consensus on the contents of memory. These instructions are called memory barriers or memory fences. Googles MapReduce framework famously runs on millions of cores across tens of thousands of machines every single day. Story continues MapReduce solves a wide variety of practical problems for Google. But, MapReduce relies on a synchronisation system called Chubby to obtain consensus on which parts of the computation exist and how they should be recombined. Though some of this language may be new to those less familiar with internet infrastructure, the applications are not. When you use Google Docs, the various computers viewing the same document are constantly coming to consensus. Making a purchase on a vendor platform, posting to social media, playing an online gameall these actions require achieving consensus between different devices and entities. The difference between apps and dApps is that apps can reach an agreement by referring back to one centralised authority. In the Google Docs example, the central authority is Google. If you purchase an item on Amazon, the authority is Amazon. If you play Overwatch, the authority is Overwatch. You get the idea. When theres a single source of truth, agreement can be achieved very, very quickly. But, everyone must rely on that source of truth to be honest. And in todays day and age, extending that level of trust to central authorities is less attractive than ever. dApps must be more creative in reaching consensus There is no central authority in a decentralised network, so dApps have to find agreement in more creative ways. The big question all decentralised systems must answer is: Who should be in charge of validating a given transaction? Proof-of-work and proof-of-stake are two common mechanisms blockchains use to determine who (miners in proof-of-work and validators in proof-of-stake) is responsible for creating a block of transactions and broadcasting that to the rest of the network. Proof-of-work protocols ask miners to compete to solve a very difficult mathematical problem. Solving such a problem requires an extraordinary amount of computing infrastructure and huge amounts of electricity. To incentivise people to perform this essential but expensive function, the winning miner acquires cryptocurrency as a reward. Some proof-of-stake protocols delegate validators in a deterministic fashion, often based on the number of tokens held. Proof-of-stake protocols are more varied in their behaviour than proof-of-work. In the delegated proof-of-stake model operated on the EOS network, a small number of master nodes take turns producing blocks. This is fast, but far more centralised than Bitcoin. Other proof-of-stake protocols propose alternative ways to achieve speed without sacrificing decentralisation, but many have yet to be implemented and proven in the real world. Proof-of-work blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are incredibly slow and inefficient, because block creation depends on the consumption of huge amounts of electricity. Already Bitcoin consumes as much energy as the countries of Greece, Israel, and Bangladesh. In terms of speed, Bitcoin processes about 7 transactions per second while Ethereum can process about 15. For comparison, Visa is capable of processing 45,000 transactions per second. As of now, the two most well-known blockchains are simply not fast enough and use too much energy. How can dApps scale? dApps need to be faster and more energy-efficient if they are to meet the needs of millions of internet users at the ease and convenience expected. Though its clear proof-of-work is too slow and energy-inefficient, it remains too early to be sure that proof-of-stake is the answer. Some attacks on proof-of-stake chains may be cheaper to execute without proper safeguards. Casper invented by Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin is intended to address this issue by economically punishing poorly-behaving validators by removing their deposited tokens. But Casper is known to have major flaws in its ability to reach consensus correctly. Moreover, given the need to achieve extremely high throughputs, it seems natural that a systems bandwidth should be at least as important as the amount of tokens held when determining the importance of a particular node on the network. Ultimately, if we want to build truly robust distributed applications, including blockchains capable of processing financial transactions, then we have to get the consensus layer correct. We can no longer rely on half-baked algorithms that lack good proofs. We can no longer rely on implementations that dont have any formal verification. Correct algorithms are fast algorithms, and fast consensus algorithms will affect the entire ecosystem of internet software. By Nash Foster, CEO of Pyrofex (In disclosure, the team I lead at Pyrofex is developing a solution called CDelta, which will use Casanovas optimistic consensus protocol.) About Nash Foster: Nash Foster, CEO and co-founder of Pyrofex, has more than 20 years of experience in the computing industry and has served on the engineering staffs of Google, Oracle, Counterpane, iBiblio, and many others. Nash studied mathematics and the theory of computation at the University of North Carolina and George Mason University. He has helped Fortune 100 companies design, implement, and manage networks and network applications securely. The post Speed will always be king in a world of dApps appeared first on Coin Rivet. By Benjamin Jumbe. The Ministry of Tourism Wildlife and Antiquities, through Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute has signed a memorandum of agreement with Kent State University, to establish a mutually beneficial wildlife conservation and educational relationship. The institute is mandated to coordinate, undertake and promote applied research and training to support sustainable wildlife management in Uganda. The agreement will enable traditional exchange programs, exchange of academic and research personnel for teaching and research, the organization of joint seminars and conferences, development of joint research and publications, and development of specialized academic and research programs among others. The Tourism minister Prof Ephraim Kamuntu said this MOU will go along way in boosting Ugandas tourism training. (Bloomberg) -- Billionaire moneymen Peter Thiel, Alan Howard and Louis Bacon have seen plenty of big paydaysbut probably none as unusual as this one. A buyback by Block.one, a cryptocurrency startup, will return as much as 6,567% to its earliest investorsin less than three years. That translates into $6.6 million for a $100,000 stake, a stunning result any time but especially in a market that crashed in 2018. Block.one is very much the odd one out in the crypto market, said Tom Shaughnessy, co-founder of Delphi Digital, a crypto research firm in New York. Block.one stands out because of the scope of its ambitions and size of its balance sheet: it raised about $4 billion in the biggest sale of digital tokens. The promise is to help produce key buildings blocks for a new secure version of the internet. The company plans to announce a social-media product in June. But with few outward signs of progress since the sale of EOS tokens, which was made over the course of a year and wrapped up in June 2018, investors and analysts have had an overriding question: what is 32-year-old Chief Executive Officer Brendan Blumer doing with the money? They designed a very clever mechanism to hoover up as much capital as possible In a March 19 e-mail to shareholders seen by Bloomberg, the company, which is registered in the Cayman Islands and operates mainly from Hong Kong, disclosed some of the answers: Its assets, including cash and investments, totaled $3 billion at the end of February. Most of the companys holdings, $2.2 billion, are in what the e-mail called liquid fiat assets, with the majority of that invested in U.S. government bonds.The e-mail said volatility had adversely impacted its cryptocurrency portfolio, halving it to about $500 million. The company held as many as 140,000 Bitcoins, making it one of the largest holders of the original cryptocurrency, according to people familiar with the matter. In an e-mail Tuesday, the company said those losses were more than fully recovered as of May 15, as Bitcoin rallied this year. Story continues The firm has so far made $174 million in venture capital investments, either directly or through its partner funds, which include a tie-up with billionaire Mike Novogratz. All along, Block.one has said the money it raised from selling tokens would be funneled to developers building out its EOS platform, including a pledge to allocate $1 billion to venture-capital firms investing in the network. A spokeswoman for Block.one said the company is using the revenue generated from selling tokens to expand its resources and build its business. She declined to comment on the details of the stock repurchase. They designed a very clever mechanism to hoover up as much capital as possible, said Richard Burton, San Francisco-based founder of Balance.io, a blockchain company that designs applications for open source financial products. Bitcoin was started on a shoestring and Ethereum raised just a few million dollars, which goes to show you dont need anything like the money Block.one raised to launch and scale a successful network. It should be beholden on them to explain why they needed that much and what they are doing with it. The buyback of 10 percent of its stock values the company at about $2.3 billion, up from about a $40 million valuation in the 2017 seed round. The repurchase price of about $1,500 per share, compared to the $22.50 investors paid in that fundraising. (For context, Uber was valued at about $5 million in a 2010 seed funding and now has a market capitalization of about $70 billion after its initial public offering.) Thiel, Bacon and Howard bought into the company in July 2018. Bacon and Howard declined to comment on whether they would tender their shares in the buyback. Thiel didnt respond to multiple messages. An earlier backer, fintech investor Christian Angermayer, doesnt intend to sell any shares. Block.one is one of the most promising and best positioned companies in the blockchain industry, and its success story is just beginning, he said in e-mailed comments. In a statement Tuesday, Novogratz cited substantial outperformance by Block.one for the decision to sell most of his shares. His investment firm reported a 123 percent return and proceeds of $71.2 million in the transaction. The buyback offer comes less than a year after a first stock repurchase offer in which Block.one sought to acquire 15% of its outstanding shares at $1,200 each. A total of 13.8% was tendered, equating to around $300 million. Blumer said in a November interview with Bloomberg television that too much transparency into everything that we are doing on an ongoing basis can actually take away a lot of the competitive advantage when were trying to put out new types of technology. Indeed, the buyback could make an opaque company less transparent since it will have fewer people to share information with. A private buyback of this sort signals to me that the company believes that there are few growth opportunities in sight, or badly wants to consolidate ownership and avoid outside scrutiny, said Nic Carter, a partner who focuses on blockchain at investment firm Castle Island Ventures in Boston. It has not invested in Block.One or EOS tokens. --With assistance from Eyk Henning. To contact the author of this story: Alastair Marsh in London at amarsh25@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. Our country faces some of its biggest international challenges in modern times from a potential military conflict with Iran to a trade war and fight for our economic future with China, to the threat of a Cold War-like crisis in Venezuela that is unlike anything we have seen since the Cuban missile crisis. Yet we have 23 Democrats (and still counting) running for the office of president of the United States who will pretty much all tell you that climate change is the biggest issue confronting America right now, along with debt-free college and tax cuts for the middle class. Hey, Earth to Democrats, the middle class got a massive tax cut, and according to the tax policy center, 64 percent of Americans paid less tax last year. Imagine that, considering tax revenues went up! The point being that while they are fixated on everything from impeachment to open borders, we have real challenges in front of us. Donald Trump, when it comes to his economic and foreign policy, is looking like the only adult in the room Steve Bannon, the presidents former chief strategist, whom I spoke with last night from Paris, slammed the Democrats for their immaturity. They have some terrific young candidates, but nobody has broken out. I think one of the reasons they are in single digits is Kamala Harris, Mayor Pete, Beto [ORourke], across the board, they are running like they are running for student council president. You know, they are not talking about China. Theyre not talking about Iran. Theyre not talking about Venezuela. This is a very dangerous world right now, and President Trump has got a very sane policy hes going through. This is almost like 1930s to a degree. and you hear debates, and you hear people like ... [the] United States exists on an island. That is not the case. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX BUSINESS APP No, we are not on an island. We live in an increasingly complex global world and if were not careful, were going to have challenges we never dreamed wed have. Story continues There is a lot of responsibility that goes with being the most powerful, most prosperous nation in the world. We cannot afford to ignore that. Related Articles By Benjamin Jumbe. UPDF Deputy Chief of Defence Forces Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi has applauded UPDF Forces in Somalia for their tireless efforts in dealing with Al-Shabaab terrorists and deterring them from destabilizing peace in the region. Gen Mbadi made the remarks while touring Forward Operating Bases (FOBs) that include Sea Port of Barawe, Beledamin and Golowenyi in lower Shabelle. He attributed the relative peace in Somalia and the entire region to the tireless efforts of AMISOM and other International partners who are striving to rid Somalia of all remnants of Al-Shabaab terrorists. Gen Mbadi whose purpose of tour was to assess the progress of self-sustainment projects undertaken by troop contributing countries to support their forces to the Mission informed officers and men that the UPDF Leadership is working to improve the welfare of troops in the Mission area. Turkey has a little more than two weeks to decide whether to complete a complex arms deal with the U.S. or risk severe penalties by going through with an agreement to buy a missile system from Russia, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. By the end of the first week of June, Turkey must cancel the Russian deal and buy Raytheon's U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system or face removal from Lockheed Martin's F-35 program, forfeiture of 100 promised F-35 jets, imposition of U.S. sanctions and potential blowback from NATO. The U.S. State Department's current offer is the final one, according to multiple sources. WASHINGTON Turkey has a little more than two weeks to decide whether to complete a complex arms deal with the U.S. or risk severe penalties by going through with an agreement to buy a missile system from Russia, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. By the end of the first week of June, Turkey must cancel a multibillion-dollar deal with Russia and instead buy Raytheon RTN 's U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system or face removal from Lockheed Martin LMT 's F-35 program, forfeiture of 100 promised F-35 jets, imposition of U.S. sanctions and potential blowback from NATO. As it stands now, the U.S. State Department's current offer is the final one, multiple sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told CNBC when asked whether the deadline had room for more extensions. Turkey, a NATO member, is slated to receive the Russian-made S-400, a mobile surface-to-air missile system, next month. The S-400 is said to pose a risk to the NATO alliance as well as the F-35, America's most expensive weapons platform. "NATO countries need to procure military equipment that is interoperable with NATO systems. A Russian system would not meet that standard," said a U.S. State Department official who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter. "We underscore that Turkey will face very real and negative consequences if it completes its S-400 delivery," the official added. Story continues In 2017, Ankara brokered a deal reportedly worth $2.5 billion with the Kremlin for the S-400 despite warnings from the U.S. that buying the system would come with political and economic consequences. In multiple efforts to deter Turkey from buying the S-400, the State Department offered in 2013 and 2017 to sell the country Raytheon's Patriot missile system. Ankara passed on the Patriot both times because the U.S. declined to provide a transfer of the system's sensitive missile technology. All the while, Turkey has become a financial and manufacturing partner for Lockheed Martin's F-35 jet, the world's most advanced fighter. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon were preparing to make massive adjustments to their intricate production schedules amid a contentious negotiation with Turkey. If Turkey goes through with the Russian deal, Lockheed Martin would have to rework its supply chain on components for the F-35 fighter jet, while also making changes to its production schedule. Yet if Turkey abandons its deal with Russia, Raytheon would reorganize the Patriot missile defense system production schedule to guarantee that Turkey could receive the missile system within a faster time frame. Last year, Turkey was in the process of constructing a site for the S-400 system , according to a person with firsthand knowledge of an intelligence rep The intelligence assessment included satellite imagery of a concrete launch facility as well as bunkers, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The new construction fits the pattern for Russia's S-400 system, the person indicated. If Turkey does receive its S-400 from the Kremlin this summer, the system is expected to be ready for use by 2020. WATCH: Weapons sale between U.S., Turkey & Russia gets far more complicated More From CNBC (Bloomberg) -- If you feel like youve been seeing more Twitter ads lately, its not just your imagination. A Twitter Inc. spokeswoman said Tuesday that the company is experimenting with ad load, the industry term used to describe the frequency that users see advertisements. As a result, some people are getting more ads in their Twitter feed than usual. We are always running experiments with our ad experience, including with the various aspects of ad frequency and targeting, the social-media company said in a statement, which also encouraged users to share feedback on the experience. Some journalists first noticed and started tweeting about seeing more ads on Twitter earlier this week. Not all Twitter users have the same ad load, which means the experiment wont affect everyone. Some people see more ads than others depending on a variety of factors, including how the number of ads influence their use of the platform. (Facebook and Instagram do something similar.) Three years ago, Twitter shut off ads for some of the networks most prominent users as part of an effort to keep them engaged. Some users still have an ad-free Twitter. A Twitter spokeswoman declined to say how big this experiment is. San Francisco-based Twitter makes most of its revenue from advertising, and while its daily audience has been growing, its monthly user base has been shrinking for most of the past year. Its plausible that Twitter may be trying to increase ad load as a way to sustain revenue growth despite a declining user base. Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, produces TicToc, a global breaking news service for Twitter. (Includes more details about Twitters ad load in the fourth paragraph.) To contact the reporter on this story: Kurt Wagner in San Francisco at kwagner71@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack, Alistair Barr For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- U.S. chipmakers are coming to grips with the costs of an escalating trade dispute between the U.S. and China as President Donald Trump steps up tariffs and sharpens his attacks on Huawei Technologies Co. The emerging consensus: the price will be high. Were all going to suffer in this industry if we dont get this thing resolved, said Tom Caulfield, chief executive officer of Globalfoundries Inc., the largest U.S. contract manufacturer of chips. Even though you try to do the right thing and force a better balance in trade, it could have negative consequences. The presidential order banning the sale of U.S. technology to Huawei provides a clear illustration of just how interconnected the global supply chain has become -- its almost impossible to avoid hurting domestic companies in the process of pressuring their Chinese customers and rivals. Over the years, the semiconductor industry has lobbied multiple administrations arguing for protection from alleged overseas efforts to steal its inventions. Now, measures meant to shield U.S. interests may hurt chipmakers as much as they help. Caulfields company has plants in New York state, Germany and Singapore. On the surface, that makes him look well-positioned to take advantage of any migration of orders away from China. But thats a simplistic view that doesnt take into account where electronics parts originate and where they end up, he said. For example, a chip may be designed in California; manufactured in Taiwan or another part of Asia; shipped to Malaysia or the Philippines for packaging; then sent on to China for inclusion in a device. From there, the gadget could be sold locally or shipped anywhere in the world, including the U.S. The supply chains in the semiconductor industry are completely entangled, he said. We cant separate them. The U.S. governments blockade of business with Huawei, which it accuses of aiding Beijing in espionage, cuts off the worlds largest networking-gear maker and No. 2 smartphone vendor from the U.S. semiconductors and software it needs to make its products. The company was granted a partial reprieve on Monday with a temporary general license, though that license will only permit the continuing export of parts under existing contracts -- it still wont allow companies to move forward on new projects. That only provides short-term relief to the Chinese companys suppliers. Story continues The Huawei ban came on the heels of the Trump administration raising tariffs and taxes on imports from China, including clothing, shoes, handbags and electronics. According to a report by the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, strict export restrictions on emerging technologies could lead U.S. companies to lose $14.1 billion to $56.3 billion in revenue over five years, threatening as many as 74,000 jobs. The semiconductor industry alone could lose more than 9,000 jobs after a year of 20% tariffs, the researcher said. Some smaller chipmakers are already saying fewer orders from Huawei and China are taking a bite out of their income. Lumentum Holdings Inc. cut its forecast on Monday followed by Qorvo Inc. early Tuesday, a trend thats likely to pick up speed amid the combination of 25% tariffs on Chinese goods and the U.S. blacklisting of Huawei, according to analysts. We would expect that many, if not most, semiconductor companies will need to lower estimates, Raymond James & Associates analyst Chris Caso wrote in a note to clients. A swoon in industry stocks shows many investors expect the same. Since reaching a record high on April 24, the Philadelphia Stock Exchange Semiconductor Index has plunged 14%. Huawei suppliers such as Skyworks Solutions Inc. and Xilinx Inc. have been among the biggest decliners. Most industry executives have declined to comment on the trade situation or the Huawei crackdown. They dont want to risk upsetting their home government -- or raising the ire of customers in their biggest market. The U.S. produced about half of the $470 billion worth of chips sold globally last year, and China, whether for domestic consumption or for use in products that are later exported, was the biggest purchaser. The Semiconductor Industry Association trade group has attempted to call for moderation in a way that underscores the difficult position its members are in. We hope to work with the Administration to broaden the scope of the license so it advances U.S. security goals in a manner that does not undermine the ability of the U.S. semiconductor industry to compete globally and ensures the economic security of an industry that is the backbone of this countrys technology leadership, SIA President John Neuffer said in a statement. Illustrating the importance of China, Qualcomm Inc., for example, got two thirds of its sales from China in its most recent fiscal year. As recently as 2011, the country accounted for less than a third. And underlining the complicated relationships that exist, Qualcomm doesnt make chips. It designs them at its San Diego home base and has them manufactured in Taiwan, Korea and China by subcontractors. The chips are then assembled into smartphones in China and are sold there, or make their way to the U.S. and Europe. Were too far into free trade that the world cannot have countries not trading," Globalfoundries Caulfield said. To contact the reporter on this story: Ian King in San Francisco at ianking@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Jillian Ward at jward56@bloomberg.net, Andrew Pollack For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. By Sayanti Chakraborty and Jan Wolfe (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc illegally suppressed competition in the market for smartphone chips by threatening to cut off supplies and extracting excessive licensing fees, a U.S. judge ruled, a decision that could force the company to overhaul its business practices. The decision issued late Tuesday night by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, caused Qualcomm shares to plunge 11 percent on Wednesday. "Qualcomm's licensing practices have strangled competition" in parts of the chip market for years, harming rivals, smartphone makers, and consumers, Koh wrote in a 233-page decision. She ordered the San Diego-based company to renegotiate licensing agreements at reasonable prices, without threatening to cut off supplies, and ordered that it be monitored for seven years to ensure its compliance. Qualcomm said it will immediately ask Koh to put her decision on hold, and also seek a quick appeal to the federal appeals court in California. "We strongly disagree with the judge's conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law," general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. Koh's decision followed a 10-day non-jury trial in January, and is a victory for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which has accused Qualcomm in 2017 of violating antitrust law. The decision followed Qualcomm's April 16 settlement of a long-running legal battle with Apple Inc, where Apple agreed once again to use Qualcomm chips in its iPhones, displacing Intel Corp. It is unclear whether the sanctions will be challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice, which has taken a different view of the case than the FTC and emerged as an ally to Qualcomm. On May 2, the Justice Department argued Koh should hold a hearing before placing sanctions on Qualcomm. Placing stringent conditions on the company would "reduce competition and innovation in markets for 5G technology," the agency said. The courts are not required to defer to the Justice Department's recommendations. But "the possibility certainly exists for Qualcomm to prevail upon appeal," given the government's "somewhat schizophrenic" approach to the case, Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote. The Justice Department was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday. Qualcomm shares have risen about 51% since the company's settlement with Apple last month. The fall on Wednesday left them still comfortably above their level before the Apple deal. UNDERMINING RIVALS Koh said Qualcomm engaged in "extensive" anticompetitive conduct targeting more than one dozen original equipment manufacturers including Apple, BlackBerry, Huawei, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, Samsung, and Sony, often by cutting off or threatening to cut off chip supplies or withholding technical support. She also said Qualcomm's monopoly power in modem chips enabled the company to sustain "unreasonably high" royalty rates not justified by its contributions to the marketplace. "With practices that result in exclusivity and eliminate opportunities to compete for OEM business, Qualcomm undermines rivals in every facet," she wrote. She also found Qualcomm knew its licensing practices harmed competition "yet continued anyway" despite government investigations in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the European Union and the United States. "This evidence of Qualcomm's intent confirms the court's conclusion that Qualcomm's practices cause anticompetitive harm because no monopolist monopolizes unconscious of what he is doing," she wrote. Koh also said testimony from some Qualcomm witnesses "lacked credibility," faulting Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf and others for giving "long, fast, and practiced narratives" and saying company emails and notes contradicted his testimony. Koh said Qualcomm cannot bundle patent licensing deals with its hardware, a practice regulators called "no license, no chips." That ruling could give chip customers more leverage in negotiations over patent terms and result in lower royalty rates for Qualcomm. Koh also said Qualcomm must license its patents to rival chipmakers like MediaTek Inc. Qualcomm argued during the trial that it achieved market dominance through technological leadership. The company began its licensing business in the 1980s and 1990s, decades before it began selling chips, and has charged broadly similar patent rates since then. Qualcomm also argued that the FTC failed to show harm to competition, arguing that the chip industry is thriving and prices are declining. Qualcomm's next move will likely be to request Koh's ruling is put on hold while the company seeks expedited review by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Gaston Kroub, a patent lawyer in New York not involved in the case, said Koh's decision was unlikely to be reversed on appeal because she made detailed factual findings and witness credibility determinations. Appeals courts are reluctant to second-guess such findings by trial judges, he said. Qualcomm makes cellphone processors and modem chips, but generates most profits by licensing its technology to mobile phone makers. "Qualcomm's customers and competitors will finally be able to negotiate licenses without the threat of having Qualcomm cut off their chip supply," FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra said in statement. Rasgon, the Bernstein analyst, said Koh had indicated at trial she was leaning against Qualcomm, but some investors had hoped her views would be "softened" by the Apple settlement. "Apparently not," Rasgon wrote. (Reporting by Sayanti Chakraborty in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Jan Wolfe in Washington, D.C., Stephen Nellis in San Francisco, and Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Bernard Orr and Nick Zieminski) (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. is considering cutting off the flow of vital American technology to five Chinese companies including Megvii, widening a dragnet beyond Huawei to include world leaders in video surveillance as it seeks to challenge Chinas treatment of minority Uighurs in the countrys west. The U.S. is deliberating whether to add Megvii, Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co., Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co. and two others to a blacklist that bars them from U.S. components or software, people familiar with the matter said. The two others under consideration are Meiya Pico and Iflytek Co. Ltd., according to one of the people. The Trump administration is concerned about their role in helping Beijing repress minority Uighurs in Chinas west, they said, asking not to be identified talking about private deliberations. Theres concern also that Hikvisions or Dahuas cameras, which come with facial-recognition capabilities, could be employed in espionage, the people said. Such a move would escalate tensions with China and raises questions about whether the U.S. is going after more of the countrys corporate champions. Trumps administration last week barred Huawei Technologies Co. from American technology, a move that pummeled shares in U.S. chipmakers from Qualcomm Inc. to Intel Corp., and threatens to damp global economic growth and disrupt the rollout of critical next-generation wireless networks. Chinese offshore yuan erased earlier gains after Bloombergs report. Shares of Hikvision and Dahua plunged in Shenzhen after the New York Times first reported on the potential ban. Both companies have been accused by human rights groups of facilitating Beijings persecution of the Uighurs, a Muslim ethnic group, in the western region of Xinjiang. The Trump administration however has held off on taking action because of sensitive trade negotiations with China, the people said. Those talks have since stalled. The people said that other companies may join the five under consideration on the so-called Entities List, which prohibits the sale of American technology without a special license. Chinese firms such as Hikvision and Dahua are the worlds largest purveyors of surveillance hardware, along with smaller rival Yitu Technology. Others such as SenseTime Group Ltd. and Face++ parent Megvii specialize in image processing software and are less reliant on American components. Story continues We hope the company receives a fair and just treatment, Hikvisions secretary of the board, Huang Fanghong, said in a statement. Dahua representatives had no immediate comment. SenseTime declined to comment, while Megvii and Yitu didnt respond to requests for comment. The latest threat will elevate fears in Beijing that President Donald Trumps ultimate goal is to contain China, triggering a cold war between the worlds biggest economies. In addition to a trade fight thats rattled global markets, Washington has pressured allies and foes alike to avoid using Huawei for fifth-generation networks that will power everything from self-driving cars to robot surgery, forming the backbone of a modern economy. At the heart of Trumps concerted campaign is suspicion that Chinese firms aid Beijing in global espionage while spearheading its ambitions of becoming a technology superpower. The Justice Department accuses Huawei also of willfully violating sanctions on Iran, and last year engineered the arrest of the eldest daughter of Huaweis billionaire founder. Huawei has denied those allegations. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and other senators sent a letter in April to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross urging them to impose sanctions against officials and companies complicit in gross violations of human rights in Xinjiang. A United Nations assessment said tens of thousands to upwards of 1 million Uighurs have been detained. In a draft letter to Trump dated May 22, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas argued that exporting technology to the Chinese companies not only runs counter to the foreign policy of the United States, but the stated values of the American companies involved in the deals. I urge you to conduct a comprehensive review of how U.S. technology exports are being utilized by Chinese commercial companies to enable surveillance in Xinjiang, Cruz wrote. Hikvision, Dahua and other companies have benefited handsomely from Chinese President Xi Jinpings unprecedented push to keep tabs on the countrys 1.4 billion people. About 176 million video surveillance cameras monitored Chinas streets, buildings and public spaces in 2016, versus 50 million in America, according to IHS Markit. Hikvision -- the industry leader -- now sells its cameras around the world. Its devices use artificial intelligence, enabling them to conduct facial recognition on a vast scale. Thats helped it build a dominant position in a market that BIS Research says was worth $32 billion in 2017 and will grow 16% a year through 2023. Along with Dahua, its a constituent of the MSCI Asia Pacific Index and is among Shenzhen stocks most owned by overseas investors. (Updates with three other companies names in top two paragraphs. A previous version of this story was corrected to spell out Dahuas full name.) --With assistance from Steven T. Dennis, Shawn Donnan, Alyza Sebenius, Robert Fenner, Gao Yuan and Lulu Yilun Chen. To contact the reporters on this story: Jenny Leonard in Washington at jleonard67@bloomberg.net;Nick Wadhams in Washington at nwadhams@bloomberg.net To contact the editors responsible for this story: Michael Shepard at mshepard7@bloomberg.net, ;Peter Elstrom at pelstrom@bloomberg.net, Edwin Chan, Larry Liebert For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. NEW YORK(BUSINESS WIRE)Wilshire Phoenix Funds, LLC, the sponsor of the United States Bitcoin and Treasury Investment Trust (the Trust) announced today that the Trust has filed Amendment No. 3 to its registration statement on its Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to the planned initial public offering of its common shares (the Shares). The Trust is an exchange traded product that will issue Shares that will trade on NYSE Arca once approved by the SEC. The initial registration statement was filed with the SEC on January 11, 2019 and Amendment No. 3 was filed on May 21, 2019. The purpose of the Trust is to provide investors and/or financial institutions with exposure to Bitcoin in a manner that is more efficient and convenient, while also mitigating some of the risk by reducing the volatility typically associated with the purchase of stand-alone Bitcoin and without the uncertain and often complex requirements relating to acquiring and/or holding Bitcoin. The Trusts constituents will be (a) Bitcoin, a digital asset based on the cryptographic protocols used by the decentralized, peer-to-peer bitcoin computer network and (b) short-term duration United States Treasury Bills (T-Bills) in proportions that seek to closely replicate the Bitcoin Treasury Index (BTI). The BTI rebalances its allocation of Bitcoin and T-Bills on a monthly basis utilizing a mathematically derived passive rules-based methodology that is based on the daily volatility of the Chicago Mercantile Exchanges Bitcoin Reference Rate. The Trust rebalances its assets on a monthly basis in order to closely replicate the BTI without the use of derivatives or leverage methods. The Trust will also hold U.S. dollars for short periods of time in connection with (i) the purchase, sale and/or maturity of T-Bills, (ii) the purchase and sale of Bitcoin, and (iii) the payment of redemptions, if any, and fees and expenses of the Trust. Story continues The number of common shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. Electronic versions of the Trusts filings with the SEC, including Amendment No. 3 to its registration statement on its Form S-1, can be found at the SECs EDGAR system at https://www.sec.gov/cgi-bin/browse-edgar?company=united+states+bitcoin&owner=exclude&action=getcompany. The offering of shares of the Trust will be made only by means of a prospectus. A copy of the preliminary prospectus, when available, may be obtained by mail from Wilshire Phoenix Funds, LLC, 2 Park Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10016, or by emailing funds@wilshirephoenix.com. The registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet been declared effective. These securities may not be sold nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About Wilshire Phoenix Wilshire Phoenix is a New York based investment management firm dedicated to helping its clients manage assets throughout the investment lifecycle. The fundamental premise upon which the firm is built is to fulfill the needs of its clients in a rapidly evolving market. Whether providing financial solutions for institutions, private clients or individual investors, Wilshire Phoenix delivers informed investment management services for both traditional and alternative assets. To learn more, contact info@wilshirephoenix.com. Forward Looking Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) concerning future events and the Companys growth strategy and measures to implement such strategy. Words such as will, expects, intends, plans, believes, anticipates, hopes, estimates, and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, no assurance can be given that such expectations will prove to have been correct. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company expressly disclaims any obligations or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the Companys expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any statement is based. Contacts Tom Hannaford Wachsman (917) 900-5752, tom@wachsman.com Jim Teague, CEO, Enterprise Products Partners LP EPD, stated that virtually, no Chinese company is willing to ink a long-term deal with the oil exporters in the United States. Although China has not levied any tariff on U.S. oil, the escalated trade tensions between Washington and Beijing are deterring the Chinese energy players to purchase oil for a long haul from the United States. For almost a year now, the two big economies are being involved in a trade war with recently, the United States more than doubled its tariff on $200 billion worth of Chinese products to 25% from the earlier 10%. Investors should know that Beijing imported 377,000 barrel per day (Bbl/D) of crude from Washington to become the largest importer of U.S. crude through the first half of 2018, according to Reuters. However, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the export volumes reduced to 41,600 Bbl/D for the six-month ended February. Now a million-dollar question that may come to investors mind is that will the drastic contraction in crude volumes, imported by China from the United States affect the American midstream infrastructure giant Enterprise Products? The oil volumes exported by the United States balloons post the Obama administrations lifting of a 40-year ban in 2015 on crude exports by America. With the presence of Enterprise Products pipeline network spreading over 49,200 miles across most of the major American shale plays, the partnership has been capitalizing on the upsurge in demand for midstream assets to support the growing oil export volumes from the United States. Good news is that the dwindling oil volumes imported by China from the United States is not likely to dent the partnerships fortunes. This is because America is not dependent on China alone to sell its oil. Rather the nation has increased its crude oil shipments to other countries over the months. Through March 2019 from October 2018, the United States made a shipment of 470.2 million barrels of oil to 38 nations, per Bloomberg. This marked a sharp increase from 359.3 million crude barrels, shipped by America to 31 countries from last April through September, Bloomberg added. Story continues Americas ramped-up shipments of its crude to other nations reflect strong demand for domestically produced oil volumes. Thus, Enterprise Products is likely to continue capitalizing on demand for midstream infrastructures that will be connecting the producers of crude to the key markets. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Price Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Price Enterprise Products Partners L.P. price | Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Quote Headquartered in Houston, TX, Enterprise Products currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other prospective top-ranked players in the energy space include Apache Corporation APA, Ecopetrol S.A. EC and Anadarko Petroleum Corporation APC, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Apaches average positive surprise in the last four quarters is 6.6%. Ecopetrol is likely to witness earnings growth of 25.3% through 2019. Anadarko Petroleum delivered average beat of 6.6% in the last four quarters. 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 Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (EPD) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ecopetrol S.A. (EC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Apache Corporation (APA) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Volkswagen AGs VWAGY truck brand Scania made the announcement to invest 1.4 billion reais ($344.14 million) to modernize its factory in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, per Reuters. In a joint statement with the Sao Paulo state government, it revealed that the new investment will begin in 2021 and end in 2024. Scania, which is the long-standing Swedish brand, manufactures heavy trucks, buses and engines. It now aims to overhaul its assembly line as well as to launch a new generation of trucks in Latin America. Per the local automakers association Anfavea, in the first four months of 2019, the sale of Scania heavy trucks increased 31% on a year-over-year basis. Notably, the latest decision of this company under the Volkswagen Group has come after Ford Motor Companys F decision to exit the heavy truck business in South America and close its plant in Sao Bernardo do Campo. Another auto giant, General Motors Company GM also thought of big cuts in its Sao Paulo factories. This prompted aggressive negotiation by the state governor. Finally, General Motors decided to invest $2.7 billion to take advantage of the tax program. In this backdrop, the decision of Volkswagen to invest in the historic center of Brazils auto industry is very significant. Over the past three months, shares of Volkswagen have outperformed the industry it belongs to. During the said period, shares of the company have lost 4.2% compared with the industrys 6.6% decline. While Ford currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), Volkswagen and General Motors have a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Volkswagen, Ford and General Motors have expected long-term growth rates of 4.8%, 7.3% and 8.9%, respectively. One better-ranked stock in the auto space is Fox Factory Holding Corp. FOXF, which currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Fox Factory has an expected long-term growth rate of 16.4%. Over the past three months, shares of the company have gained 14.3%. 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 Ford Motor Company (F) : Free Stock Analysis Report General Motors Company (GM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Fox Factory Holding Corp. (FOXF) : Free Stock Analysis Report Volkswagen AG (VWAGY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. By Alberto Alerigi and Marcelo Rochabrun SAO PAULO, May 21 (Reuters) - Volkswagen AG truck brand Scania said on Tuesday it will invest 1.4 billion reais ($344.14 million) to modernize its Brazilian factory in Sao Bernardo do Campo, an industrial city near Sao Paulo. The investment in the historic center of Brazil's auto industry follows Ford Motor Co's decision to exit the heavy truck business in South America and shut down its plant in the same city, which could benefit the remaining players in the sector. During the first four months of 2019, sales of Scania heavy trucks increased 31% compared to the same period a year ago, according to data compiled by local automakers association Anfavea. The investment comes at a time when the state of Sao Paulo, which long dominated the Brazilian auto industry, has seen auto companies set up factories elsewhere, lured by tax incentives. Earlier this year, General Motors Co threatened big cuts in its Sao Paulo factories. That prompted state governor Joao Doria to negotiate aggressively, ending in the launch of a new incentive package for auto makers in the state. GM then decided to invest $2.7 billion to take advantage of the tax program. The new Scania investment will start in 2021 and end in 2024, following its 2016 to 2020 investments, which total 2.6 billion reais, the company said in a joint statement with the Sao Paulo state government. Scania's latest financial commitment is aimed at overhauling its assembly line, as well as introducing a new generation of trucks in Latin America. The Swedish company is among the largest truck firms in Brazil, behind Mercedes-Benz and Volvo. ($1 = 4.0681 reais) (Reporting by Alberto Alerigi Jr and Marcelo Rochabrun; writing by Gabriela Mello; editing by Bill Berkrot) Wynn Resorts, Limited WYNN has decided to end talks regarding the sale of $2.6-billion Encore Boston Harbor to MGM Resorts International MGM. Last week, the companies announced that the discussion was in the preliminary stage. Notably, Wynn Resorts, which received its Massachusetts license in 2013 for the construction of 671-room Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MA, is likely to open the property in June. It expects to have 8 million visitors every year at the casino that will have 242 table games as well as 3,158 classic and state-of-the-art slot machines. However, MGM Resorts, which already operates a casino in Springfield, wouldnt have been allowed to operate two casinos in the same state. Per Massachusetts law, a company can have only one casino license in the state. Moreover, management at MGM said, We have noted the anxiety raised by various stakeholders regarding a transaction and this troubles us at MGM. We only wish to have a positive impact on communities in which we operate. These apart, in April, Wynn Resorts was fined $35 million by Massachusetts Gaming Commission for not disclosing the sexual misconduct allegation against Steve Wynn, the companys former chief executive officer. However, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission had allowed the company to keep its casino license. Stock Performance Shares of Wynn Resorts have gained 24% year to date compared with the industrys 14.8% growth. This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) company generates a solid share of its revenues from Macau resorts. Apart from the gaming business in Macau, Wynn Resorts has been increasingly focusing on driving non-gaming revenues. Given the decent visitation pattern in Macau, infrastructure development and governments efforts to boost tourism in Macau, non-gaming sources are expected to boost revenues, going forward. Key Picks Better-ranked stocks worth considering in the same space include Century Casinos, Inc. CNTY and Las Vegas Sands Corp. LVS, each carrying a a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Story continues Century Casinos has an impressive long-term earnings growth rate of 25%. Las Vegas Sands current-year earnings are likely to witness 3% growth. 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 Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report MGM Resorts International (MGM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Century Casinos, Inc. (CNTY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Wynn Resorts, Limited (WYNN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. For Immediate Release Chicago, IL May 22, 2019 Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Nike Inc. NKE, adidas AG ADDYY, Rocky Brands, Inc. RCKY and Wolverine World Wide, Inc. WWW. Here are highlights from Tuesdays Analyst Blog: Will Tariffs on Imported Shoes Tie a Knot Around U.S. Footwear? After increasing tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports from 10% to 25%, the Trump administration is reportedly mulling to impose additional tariffs on remaining $325 billion worth of imports to rake in more revenues. These include a wide array of consumer electronics items, toys and shoes that were hitherto left outside the purview of the trade war to shield the American shoppers from the cascading impact of higher tariffs. With China playing a vital role in the supply chain process for most U.S. footwear firms, the proposed tariffs are likely to be a death knell for the industry that is already reeling under a $3 billion annual duty bill. Consequently, advocacy groups from the industry are urging the administration to rethink the issue to avoid any catastrophic impact on consumers, the overall sector, and the U.S. economy as a whole. Open Letter In an open letter posted on the website for the Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America, the industry trade group made an earnest plea to Trump to desist from the temptation to slap 25% additional tariff on the footwear industry. Ratified by more than 170 footwear firms, the letter was also addressed to U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer, treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin, commerce secretary Wilbur Ross and Larry Kudlow the director of the National Economic Council. The petition reasoned that tariffs are imposed disproportionately on the footwear industry, averaging 11.3% and often reaching as high as 67.5% in some cases compared with an average of 1.9% on all consumer good items. An additional 25% tariff will eventually lead to Americans paying almost 100% tax on some shoes, leading to $7 billion in added annual costs to consumers. This is likely to lead to lower demand for discretionary items like shoes, forcing several industry participants to run out of business. Story continues Viable Alternatives? Despite efforts in recent years to move out some of the production facilities to other low-cost countries like Cambodia and Vietnam, footwear firms rely heavily on Chinese suppliers and its cheap labor force. In 2017, about $14.8 billion worth of shoes were imported from China, making it the fifth largest import product category, per the data by the American Enterprise Institute. Notably, China alone accounted for 72% of all shoes imported in the United States in 2017. The footwear industry is highly capital intensive and requires effective planning and supply-chain mechanism for seamless operations. Consequently, possible knee-jerk reactions to shift manufacturing operations from such a dominant and established market to offset higher tariffs are likely to take considerable time with adequate planning and involve higher costs. Financially weaker companies could also find such an exercise to be potentially unviable, leading to an untimely death. Moving Forward Leading footwear manufacturer Nike Inc. has revealed that about 26% of its footwear was produced in China in fiscal 2018. The company maintained that the communist country was an integral part of its business operations, both in terms of raw material supply and end-market consumption. With increased tariffs, the company would be left with no other option but to raise product prices, passing on most of the added expenditure to consumers and thereby, making a larger dent in their wallet. Several other footwear firms such as adidas AG, Rocky Brands, Inc. and Wolverine World Wide, Inc. have echoed such sentiments and have collectively appealed to the government to save the industry from further distress. Whether the administration will heed to such SOS calls from the industry remains to be seen. Will you retire a millionaire? One out of every six people retires a multimillionaire. Get smart tips you can do today to become one of them in a new Special Report, 7 Things You Can Do Now to Retire a Multimillionaire. Click to get it free >> Media Contact Zacks Investment Research 800-767-3771 ext. 9339 support@zacks.com https://www.zacks.com Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release. 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 Rocky Brands, Inc. (RCKY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (WWW) : Free Stock Analysis Report NIKE, Inc. (NKE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Adidas AG (ADDYY) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research PLATTSMOUTH A problem has been discovered concerning the repair of the citys water treatment plant damaged from this springs flood. Water has cut through a portion of the Platte River bank north of town sending water flowing through the Schilling Wildlife Management Area and onto the area surrounding the plant, according to City Administrator Erv Portis. The cut was discovered last week from helicopter flights over flood-damaged areas, he said. The cut in the bank is 150 feet wide and 10 to 15 feet deep, Portis said. Its a big deal problem, he said on Tuesday. Mayor Paul Lambert added, It will be that deep forever unless something is done. Between three and five feet of water is currently surrounding the plant and its nearby wells, Lambert said. Portis brought up this development at Monday evenings City Council meeting. All of this complicates our access to the plant, he told council members. City officials are seeking solutions with other stakeholders on this issue, such as identifying the best way to repair this cut, the cost and who is responsible for the repair, Portis said. Among the stakeholders are FEMA, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, the states Game and Parks Commission, the Lower Platte South Natural Resources District, the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Corps of Engineers and the private owner of that land, Lambert said. The city has held meetings individually with some of these stakeholders and hopefully will meet with all of them together soon, he said. Portis said, Theres clear agreement that this is a problem that needs to be fixed. Lambert added, Its going to be an expensive fix. Despite this development, Portis was still hopeful that the goal of having the plant operational again in six months since the flooding began can still be met. Meanwhile, there seems to be progress in getting the citys wastewater plant running again. Portis said electricity has been at least temporarily restored and equipment repaired allowing for raw sewage to flow through the plant with limited treatment before being released into the Missouri River. For about two months, the city had no choice but to release the sewage into the river without any treatment because of the plants shutdown. We had no other option, Lambert said, adding that other cities along the Missouri River, including Omaha, were doing the same with their raw sewage. We were not the only ones, Lambert said. Portis did say there are still major components that still need repair. These include electrical, mechanical and pumping equipment. Again, Lambert expressed hope that the wastewater plant can be up and running also in six months since the flood closed it down. On a related topic, Portis and Lambert both agreed that local residents are continuing to conserve water usage because of the flood. After the water plant shut down, the city was able to reach an agreement with Cass County Rural Water District #1 to use some of its water, but also asked the community to conserve usage. People are doing a great job, Portis said. Lambert added, They are thinking of more ways to conserve. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne kept his hemp bill moving Wednesday with a new amendment worked out with the Nebraska attorney general and county attorneys. Wayne successfully removed the bill (LB657) from final reading to attach an amendment he said would close a loophole in the current law. It allows that if a person is caught with plant material without proper documentation, it can be seized by law enforcement. The amendment creates a Class IV misdemeanor, with violators facing fines of up to $1,000. Also with the amendment, a noxious weed inspector could inspect hemp, until the hemp program and its collected fees are large enough to pay for inspections, Wayne said. A handful of protesters gathered outside the Rotunda before the bill was debated. Children held signs that said, "We need hope not dope," and "We're Cornhuskers not Hemphuskers." During debate, Sen. Jon Lowe of Kearney continued his opposition to the bill, saying it created a slippery slope. "The hemp bill's a Trojan horse bill for marijuana," he said. "If you don't want your children or grandchildren getting easy access to drugs, because that's what this is, don't vote for this bill." Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said he didn't believe claims that allowing the growing of hemp was going to help the farm economy, save farms and improve incomes. "What this will do is create a bunch of farmers who have never grown anything in their life," Erdman said. "So this is the wrong way to go." The Nebraska Hemp Act would set up licensing and fee requirements for farmers who wish to grow hemp, outline reporting and enforcement requirements by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and create a hemp checkoff program, similar to the checkoff programs that aid in marketing commodities produced in the state. Hemp crops must be registered with a GPS location and plants grown must be submitted for testing to determine they contain less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive drug in marijuana. Hemp is a variety of the cannabis plant, and has been used around the world as a fiber and oil seed for industrial and consumer products. It contains much lower levels of THC than marijuana. The 2018 farm bill passed by Congress legalized hemp as an agricultural commodity. Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The award winners were selected by committee for their strong dedication to keeping Nebraska safe from the dangers of impaired driving and underage drinking either through direct law enforcement, prosecution, probation or education and awareness. Midland University hosted its inaugural Follow Her Lead event at its Omaha location on Monday where a panel of local female leaders shared personal stories and insights into their experiences as women in leadership positions. The universitys first annual Womens Leadership Forum was split into two days, with the first being held on May 16 and the second on May 20, where seven panelists spoke about their experiences during the course of the two events. On Monday, the panel featured Midland University President Jody Horner; Westside Community Schools Director of Communications and Engagement Brandi Paul; American National Bank Senior Vice President Stephanie Gould; and Brianne Mathew, mergers, acquisitions and market conversion at First National Bank. The total group of panelists over the two-day event also included Don Peterson & Associates President Jennifer Bixby, Immanuel Vice President of Mission and Spiritual Care Rev. Peggy Hall and YWCA of Lincoln Executive Director Karen Bell-Dancy. Each of these women, I think represent leadership well, but also women in leadership well, Midland Vice President for Institutional Advancement and forum moderator Jessica Janssen said. They each have their own personal stories, they have families, they have really interesting paths that have brought them to their current positions. The event was timed around the 2019 ICAN Womens Leadership Conference, an annual event in Omaha at the CHI Health Center, which was held on May 15. The Midland talk built off of this years ICAN theme of staying relevant, Janssen said. It really came out of visiting with a number of our female alumni, our community, a number of our MBA and graduate students who are really craving an opportunity to gather together in community and talk about what it means to be a woman in leadership, she said. With the forum focused on relevant leadership, Horner shared her thoughts on the subject through the prism of a quote by American philosopher Eric Hoffer: In times of change learners inherit the earth; while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. Horner challenged the audience to be learners and not knowers. If you are a knower in the world today when things are changing all the time, the world is going to pass you by. The notion of being a lifelong learner and adapter staying relevant in our professional career or personal lives is really important to me, she said. That word relevance to me means you are a continuous learner. Throughout the forum questions focused on how to define leadership, what makes a good leader, as well as each panelists leadership journey. Mathew spoke of her own journey to her current position at First National Bank, which included a six-year stint at Union Pacific where she says she learned that being a leader doesnt always include being a manager of people. That became real to me when I was working at U.P. and part of it was just questioning the way we were doing work to a point where it allowed me to create a job for myself, she said. Because I was able to raise questions and push back on things, it put me in a leadership role. That was the first time I really realized I could influence people. Each panelist also provided insights on how they try to maintain a work-life balance as women in leadership roles. Gould provided two examples of strategies she has implemented as she has navigated her career and family life raising two children. I have learned to set more physical boundaries to make myself more compliant to giving the right thing my attention at the moment. Wherever I am I want to be fully present and fully invested, she said. The other thing is trying to be really intentional about the ways in which I want my kids to remember the time we spend as a family, so we have sacred Sunday nights where we just spend the night as a family. Other questions during the forum focused on mentorship and developing the next generation of female leaders, which Paul said is dependent on cultivating an atmosphere of kindness, inclusion and leading by example. You inspire more positivity and you inspire a mentoring culture when you exhibit that in your own life, she said. I cant express enough how far kindness goes, its viral. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 I have been to China once. I found the Chinese people welcoming and warm. The academic conference I attended with Chinese officials was thorough and thoughtful. At a break, I walked over to the conference area window and looked out. It was a very strange sitelike fog had set in mid-day; but it wasnt fog, it was pollution. The air was so thick you could barely see. Studies show that if you live in Beijing, air pollution takes several years off your life. As bad as it is, the pollution signifies a deeper problema polluted economic relationship between our countries. Its foul, dirty, unclear, and it needs to be cleaned up. Chinese trade practices hurt America. China sells America around $540 billion worth of stuff. America sells China around $120 billion worth of stuff. The full impact of the imbalance can be debated, but it is clearly structurally unfair. Lets be brutally honest: Americans want low prices, China delivers; American farmers depend on new markets for their products, China buys. There is, however, an uglier side to this dance. Through draconian joint venture mandates, restrictions on foreign investment, corporate espionage, and forced technology transfers, China prevents American companies from even remotely righting the imbalance. Chinas outright theft of intellectual property alone causes huge losses to our country. More than trade is at play. Recently, Secretary of State Pompeo appeared before my Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations. I asked him, Mr. Secretary, how much does China give in foreign assistance? Clearly, the Secretary didnt have a ready answer and I didnt intend to receive one. It was a rhetorical question. I said, I dont expect you to answer, Mr. Secretary, because the amount is minimal. For a country like China, with the prodigious size of its economy, its military might and growth, its pervasive and transactional global activity, especially in developing nations, this power should invoke a set of responsibilities. The United States generously provides about $25 billion a year in non-security assistance alone: helping the poor, creating food security, sustainable agriculture, conservation, and medical care for the worlds sickest. We do this because it is our humanitarian impulse. We do it because it facilitates relationships, economic and cultural. We do it for our own national security to prevent conflict. Stable societies are secure societies. Given its long history of invasions, poverty, and repression under Communist rule, Chinas raison detre seems invested in an unyielding economic nationalism, a capitalist-communist hybrid that devours resources, produces excess stuff, and extends its long reach across the world. Economics is important to us too, but it stands alongside a spectrum of values that includes personal liberty, the free exercise of opportunity, and the ability to engage in free associations. In a recent speech before the House of Representatives, I waded into the litany of concerns about China, along with a call for some self-examination about our own role in the present dysfunction. Taking advantage of lax environmental laws, unfair labor provisions, and new trading rules started in the 1990s, manufacturing moved to China, causing massive dislocations throughout America. Now, China makes the stuff; we buy the stuff. We run up debt; they have our cash; they buy our debt. We find ourselves in a dysfunctional marriage of tense codependency. Ever marching toward the glory of more riches, China exploits resources, wrecks the environment, and ignores the demands for just governance around the world. But, we just keep buying. The hard truth is: Its time for American businesses to do business in America. Unfair trade for the short-term gain of Americas industrial complex will not bring about a healthy economic or diplomatic future for two great powers. This means hitting the pause button and quickly resetting the conditions for reciprocally beneficial trade. It also means mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual responsibility. As the Chinese told me, there is room enough in the Pacific for both of us. Congressman Jeff Fortenberry represents the First District of Nebraska. He can be reached at: 1514 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515, (202) 225-4806; or 301 S. 13th St., Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68508, 402-438-1598; or P.O. Box 377, 641 N. Broad St., Fremont, NE 68026, 402-727-0888. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A coalition of candidates in this years Afghan presidential election has said it will lead protests countrywide for President Ashraf Ghani to step down after what it says is the end of his constitutional term. The presidential palace has countered that the demand violates the law. A presidential spokesman said the countrys Supreme Court has already allowed Ghani to remain in office until after the election, which is scheduled for September. Speaking on behalf of a council of 13 presidential candidates, Shahab Hakeemi said he and his fellow candidates will organize protests to uphold the rule of law and democracy in Afghanistan. Beginning today, the national unity government has lost legitimacy and cannot run the government, he said, alluding to Article 61 of the Afghan Constitution, which defines the presidential term. The council maintains that Ghanis term ended on May 22. Our council has decided to mobilize people within the parameters of the law, he said, adding that their supporters will engage in protest rallies, conferences, and other forms of civil disobedience. Hanif Atmar, a leading presidential contender, says the issue is a major test for Ghani. If he fails to honor our supreme law, there will be a crisis in the country, he said. Presidential spokesman Arif Samim says the administration does not agree with the oppositions interpretation of Afghan law. He says the Supreme Court validated their position by ruling in April that Ghani can remain in office until the results of the polling on September 28 are announced. Individuals and political factions cannot interpret laws on their own, he told Radio Free Afghanistan. What the governments political opposition is suggesting contravenes the supreme law. This amounts to a coup and an effort to undo the current political system. But supporters of most presidential candidates are unlikely to agree with the governments position anytime soon. Karla Grazier, president and CEO of Discover Goodwill of Southern and Western Colorado, was recently honored as the 2019 ATHENA Leadership Award recipient. By Lee Min-hyung North Korean Ambassador to the United Nations Kim Song plans to raise his voice against Washington's recent seizure of a North Korean cargo ship by holding a press conference at the U.N. headquarters, Tuesday (local time in New York). This is in line with Kim's recent letter sent to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The letter was written to express the North's regret over the U.S.' decision to seize the 17,000-ton North Korean freight vessel. Earlier this month, Washington detained the North's second-largest vessel, called Wise Honest, for allegedly violating U.N. Security Council resolutions by illicitly shipping coal from the North. "We are, obviously, studying the letter it relates to the issue of sanctions on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (the North's official name) and actions taken on the implementation of those sanctions," U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said Monday. Expectations are that Kim will ramp up criticism of the U.S. for engaging in what Pyongyang called "illegal robbery" during the press conference. According to the North's propaganda outlet the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the North said in the letter that the U.S. conducted the illicit act of robbery by taking the Wise Honest to American Samoa, which the North claimed was a violation of international law. The KCNA also urged the U.N. to make a fair decision at a time when concerns are growing over the future of the Korean Peninsula after Washington's "gangster-like behavior." "We are going to keep a close watch on the upcoming behaviors from the U.N.," the KCNA said. A heated debate takes place every year around Christmas time. Its not about which relatives house you should visit for the holidays, its a topic with greater importance. Its a question everyone wants to know the answer to but cant seem to agree on. Is the 1988 film Die Hard, starring Bruce Willis, a Christmas movie? You voted: Denver police arrested a 31-year-old mother after her 7-month-old son died at Rose Medical Center early Tuesday morning. Investigators say medical experts tried to revive the boy who was not breathing, but were not successful. Police say Cintrease Dailey and another family brought the boy to the hospital at 3:45 a.m. Police responded after trauma was suspected on the boy. Dailey faces a charge of child abuse resulting in death. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death. Read more at CBS Denver Equal pay for equal work is the law of the land in Colorado, again, after Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill Wednesday at the Capitol. Senate Bill 85 puts state enforcement behind the federal Equal Pay Act, which passed in 1963. Polis began his address before signing the bill Wednesday by pointing out that then-Sen. Polly Baca introduced the first Colorado equal pay legislation in 1980. It took 39 years to get it done, but we got it done, Polis said. Democrats have tried and failed for years to pass such a pay parity law, but Republicans then in the Senate majority bottled up the bill. Democrats won the majority in the chamber last November, however. The new law gives direct authority to an individual to sue an employer over discrimination complaints based on gender. The state now investigates complaints and enforces existing law, which supporters of the new law said offered virtually no protections or guarantees. The law also requires more transparency on pay and job openings, while preventing an employer from asking about a persons pay history. Polis lauded the work of the bills sponsors: Sens. Jessie Danielson of Wheat Ridge and Brittany Pettersen of Lakewood, with Reps. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez of Denver and Janet Buckner of Aurora. Danielson spoke at the bill-signing ceremony holding her 2-year-old daughter, Isabelle Kabza. Thanks to this bill, Isabelles career will be on a very different path, the senator said. She will actually earn what she should and not be discriminated against because shes a woman. She wont have to toil away, day in and day out at a lesser wage simply because shes a girl. Im proud to stand here with her, because she will be treated with fairness and dignity in the workplace and so will all Colorado daughters. Pettersen said, This will change what opportunities women have in Colorado. Buckner spoke of the work the bill sponsors put in to pass the legislation after so many years of setbacks for the issue. This has been quite the journey, and when we were discouraged we never gave up as a team, she said. ... Were all here because we never gave up. The bill passed this year with largely Democratic support, after members of the party had been trying to pass the bill for years, only to hit a roadblock in the state Senate. Democrats won the majority in the Senate last November while building on their majority in the House. Republicans argued that the equal pay law would only burden small businesses. Small businesses are not equal to large businesses, not even close, Rep. Lori Saine, R-Dacono, said during the bills House debate on April 3. Small businesses dont have the luxury of legal departments. The private right of action contained in this bill ... could bankrupt a small business. Even those found not to have violated the law will be forced to spend thousands of dollars defending themselves in time and money. University of Colorado Regent Chance Hill declared success Tuesday for CUs leadership in saving the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps program at its Colorado Springs campus. Hill, who represents Colorados 5th Congressional District on the CU system governing board, called it a a big win for UCCS students and El Paso County, given the importance of the military to our regional economy and its impact on the shared values of our community. He said the UCCS program had grown so much and so fast, with 99 enrollees, that the Air Force didnt have adequate funding to keep it going, raising questions of whether the program was sustainable now and into the future. But by working together with Air Force leadership, we have been able to resolve this challenge, Hill said in a statement to supporters Tuesday. Your UCCS leadership, including Chancellor Venkat Reddy, has been very effective in helping to save the program. I also personally have been working with Congressman (Doug) Lamborn and his office in this effort to find resolution with the Air Force. As part of the plan, most of the UCCS students in the Air Force ROTC program will coordinate their studies and training with the states the main ROTC detachment at CU Boulder, with UCCS providing transportation, as well as virtual classes. Hill called the financial save for the program a team effort. Welcome, President Donald Trump, to Colorado Springs. Thanks for traveling to help our community celebrate and honor the U.S. Air Force Academ With 8,465 ribbons to hang on a tree in Lions Park, it may have been the best show in town May 15. From left, the Barbers, Doloretta, Royce and Bob, and Mike Kannmacher, with A-Mark Budget Signs. On the cherry picker is Levy Stenson. Others who stopped by include Jory Cox, Chris Albarelle and Thom Seehafer. Eric Eaton captured this photo of a festive tiger beetle during the 2019 City Nature Challenge. The beetle is identifiable by its striking iridescent reddish bronze, green and blue coloring. It lives in dry, sandy habitats with sparse vegetation, according to BugGuide.net. Escape the crowded city and enjoy some mountainous open space with a quick trip to Spruce Mountain. Despite its proximity to I-25, this area feels remote, nestled among 17,000 acres of preserved open space and conservation easements. Hey guys I'm still not 100% today but I'm going to see what I can manage but in the event I go missing I should be back tomorrow with a fresh coat of paint. This is a video of Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques demonstrating how honey reacts in microgravity. Interesting, but how does it TASTE in microgravity? "The same." But you don't know that for sure. Keep going for the video. Thanks to Jeffrey S, who agrees do peanut butter next. 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Concerns for timely planting are always forefront, Iowa State University Extension Field Agronomist Angie Rieck-Hinz said. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast for March through May shows 33 to 40 percent chance of above average temperatures for most of Iowa as well as a 33 to 40 percent chance for above average precipitation for the northern third of Iowa. Given this forecast I would anticipate we will have normal to possibly warmer soil temperatures at planting, but soil moisture conditions might hamper planting. Rieck-Hinz said. We will just have to wait and see. The one concern is the possibility of a wet spring that could cause delays. Farmers are beginning to prep equipment and assess conditions before planting. It will be crucial to assess soil conditions prior to planting each field as conditions change from field to field, Rieck-Hinz said. This will help ensure uniform planting depth, uniform stands and mostly importantly, uniform emergence that can lead to maximizing yields. Due to flooding and excessive rainfall in several areas through North Iowa last fall, conditions may not have been ideal when farmers harvested. This may have left ruts, large clods and areas with standing water that wont drain due to compaction, Rieck-Hinz said. Consequently, these areas may require greater attention to planting this spring or may delay planting. Warmer conditions in February and early March have caused decent growth for spring cover crops, such as cereal rye. Rieck-Hinz said that farmers with a cereal rye cover crop may need to rethink termination since cereal rye may have more growth, more biomass to terminate prior to corn or bean planting. Warmer temperatures this spring may bring an early arrival of insects from southern states, such as black cutworm and armyworm. Armyworms are attracted to green cover such cover crops. They may feed until the cover crop is terminated before moving to corn, Rieck-Hinz said. This will be a spring to scout for insect activity, Rieck-Hinz said. Russ Euken, an ISU Extension field specialist focusing on livestock, said that there are always concerns with each season between weather, disease, markets and more. It is hard to know whether anything will develop, Euken said. Risk management is important. Lower and more stable corn prices are effecting feed costs in the industry. Corn is a major feed ingredient for most livestock, so feed costs increase or decrease as the price of corn goes up and down, Euken said. Market prices for livestock in general have been lower as well, but with lower feed costs, there are opportunities to be profitable. There is some concern within the industry surrounding Mexico, as some officials have threatened to no longer buy U.S. corn in response to comments made by President Donald Trump. Iowa State Extension Farm and Ag Business Management Specialist Kelvin Leibold said Mexico is an important trading partner, buying dried distiller grains from the ethanol industry. A tariff would impact Iowa corn farmers, but it is still speculation, he said. The Iowa Corn Growers and other agriculture organizations are sending letters to the Trump administration and continuing to promote U.S. Corn in Mexico. The letters ask to continue open and duty-free access on corn, beans, pork, beef, ethanol, and dried distiller grains with Canada and Mexico. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Political scandals in Brazil, like much in the fast-growing, global food giant, are so bold and so far out bounds that calling them outrageous slanders their perpetrators. Moreover, the scandals occur so frequently that it seems Brazil requires political chicanery and bribery to even function. The latest evidence involves JBS SA, the Brazilian meatpacker that dominates global poultry and beef exports and is a huge player in the highly integrated U.S. poultry and beef markets. Surprisingly though, JBSs global reach and financial power arent the main drivers behind its rapid rise; sharp knives are. By its own admission, JBS has skinned nearly as many Brazilian politicians as it has American cattle. In late April the companys key leaders, Chairman Joesley Batista and his CEO brother Wesley, struck a deal with government prosecutors over their decade-long scheme that paid more than $150 million in bribes to nearly 2,000 politicians, including allegedly Brazils current president, Michel Temer, and his two predecessors. What the Batista boys got for all that fatty tallow was more than enough dough to buy their way into the most lucrative meat market in the world, the U.S. The key ingredient was the cozy ties to politicians (that) gave the company cheap credit and friendly regulation, noted the May 27 Wall Street Journal. Both led to the U.S. and trouble. The credit came from BNDES, Brazils development bank. For a decade BNDES gave JBS billions in subsidized loans (that) left JBS with a sprawling business empire. Most of that new empire JBS grew from $1.8 billion in revenue in 2007 to $49 billion in 2016 was located in the U.S. With almost unlimited access to subsidized loans, JBS bought Swift Foods, the third largest U.S. beef packer, in 2007; then Smithfield Beef Group, the fifth-largest U.S. beef packer in 2008; and, a year later, Pilgrims Pride, Americas second biggest poultry processor. According to the brothers plea deal, the cheap government money was available because they agreed to send a share of it to offshore bank accounts tied to Brazilian politicians. Those implicated deny any role but the Batistas say they have recordings to prove many of their claims. That scheme came on the heels of another red meat-hard cash scandal in March when several Brazilian meatpackers, including JBS, topped the news for allegedly doling out bribes to inspectors to certify meat that was either rotten or tainted with salmonella as fit for sale. The meat was later sold both in Brazil and abroad. JBS denied any involvement but key beef importing nations like Japan, Mexico, the European Union, and China suspended Brazilian meat purchases until all gained assurances on quality and safety. And yet theres another, ongoing scandal; this one as homegrown as it is stupid. With no country of origin labeling, or COOL, for most of the beef and pork sold in the U.S., no American eater knows if the beef they had for dinner or the bacon they had for breakfast came from South Dakota or southern Brazil, Oklahoma or Sonora. The reason we have no COOL here, claims Big Meat, involves complicated World Trade Organization rules meant to facilitate global trade, not market knowledge or personal choice. True enough, but influential U.S. commodity groups like the National Cattlemens Beef Association use their money and political clout to keep the rules and deep financial ties to global meatpackers like JBS in place and consumers in the dark. Of course, American eaters could join other, less-flush, less influential American farm and food groups to challenge President Donald America First Trump to change the ignorance-peddling WTO labeling rules to empower buyers, not sellers. Short of that challenge, though, dont expect any change in COOL because Capitol Hill, like the scandal-ridden Brazilian government, now runs more on money than integrity. The only difference is that in Brazil the bribery is usually under the table; here its usually on the table. We just call it campaign contributions. By either name, its still corruption, and livestock growers and the meat-buying public here and there are the losers. The Farm and Food File is published weekly through the U.S. and Canada. Source material, past columns and contact information are posted at farmandfoodfile.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 KANAWHA Over 100 flags gently swayed in the breeze Friday afternoon above the tombstones at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha. The red and white strips on the American flags popped against the blue sky while cemetery goers placed smaller flags and flowers on graves in time for Memorial Day. Kanawha American Legion members and volunteers put up the new flags and flag poles Friday afternoon. The flags and poles were purchased through funds raised this past year. "We posted it on Facebook last year that flags needed to be updated. And the money just started pouring in," Marv Johnson, of the Kanawha American Legion, said. That post was put up in November of 2016. The American Legion members have collected $5,500 to date, reaching their goal to replace all 115 flags and poles at the Amsterdam Township Cemetery. "I'm thankful to the generous donors so we were able to do this," volunteer Bernie Blank said. The project is one the Kanawha American Legion has been wanting to complete for a few years now. The group wasn't sure when the last time the flags were updated. "When I was in the Marines Corp in 1969, they were still using the old flags. When people died, we got a new flag as they were casket flags," Johnson said. The old poles weighed around 62 pounds and needed to be sandblasted and painted. The new poles are maintenance-free and weigh only 14 pounds. The volunteers put up 114 flags and poles in just 40 minutes on Friday afternoon. The old flags and poles were typically put up at 6 a.m. on Monday morning before the Memorial Day service. "Then people coming over the weekend couldn't see them," Johnson said. A couple placing flowers on a grave stopped by the group on their way out of the cemetery to thank the group for updating the flags. "It's a neat part of it," Johnson said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TITONKA | For many of the North Iowa Woodcarvers, it was an interest in woodcarving, or learning to wood carve, that drew them to the group, but its the friendships theyve created that have kept them around. Some months, others years, and few decades. You meet a lot of people, a lot of good people, said Jim Meyering of Woden, whos been carving since 1986. Meyering was one of about 10 men and women from a four-county area who gathered at the Buffalo Creek Activity Center in Titonka on Monday, Oct. 16, for the monthly North Iowa Woodcarvers meeting. The Woodcarvers meet at 7:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month from September to June. Experience is not a requirement, said Keith Goetz, North Iowa Woodcarvers president. The idea of the club is to introduce people to woodcarving. Thats done through wood crafts and shared techniques and ideas. Amy Frankl and Mark Bonnstetter of Algona started woodcarving in February with the help of Bruce Meurer, a longtime North Iowa Woodcarvers member, who showcased some of his work with the Stinson Prairie Arts Council. Its something I always wanted to do, so I asked him one time if he knew where I could get any classes, said Frankl, a member of the Stinson Prairie Arts Council in Algona. He said he could teach me the basics, so thats what we did. Frankl and Bonnstetter took classes from Meurer once a week for nearly two months learning about different woods, tools and techniques before he brought them to their first Woodcarvers meeting. The club is neat because everyone supports each other, and that motivates you more, Frankl said. And because there are a variety of techniques to use in woodcarving, everyone is bound to find one they are able to do and enjoy. Bonnstetter said woodcarving is one of those hobbies you get out of it what you put into it. Herb Olson of Forest City, who has been a woodcarver since 1989, attended his first meeting in a long time in October. Were happy to see him, Meyering said with a smile. Olsons specialty is realistic human busts. Its a great hobby because you can pick it up, work on it for five minutes or you can work on it for five hours and you can put it down and come back to it next week, he said. When you finish something, you feel like youve accomplished something. Olson said hes finished carving a lot of realistic human busts since he began in the late 1980s, and hes hoping to get more finished now that hes returned to North Iowa Woodcarvers. Ive known Jim ever since I started, and theyre a great bunch of people, he said. If you dont know how to do something, carving an eye or something on a face or some kind of carving, somebody will show you how to do it. Meyering added, Were ready to help. If you want to learn, were ready to help. Marie Thompson of Mason City who was carving her grandchildrens Christmas ornaments across from Melvin Mitchell, also of Mason City, said shes been carving since the late 1990s. I enjoy that its not housework, and it stays done when its done, she said. Mitchell, who likes chip-carving, said its the people hes met, and the friendships hes made, over the years that have made woodcarving enjoyable. Goetz said the North Iowa Woodcarvers has about 15 members, which is down significantly from its peak of 60 members. We just have gotten older, he said. Our club has gone down in numbers, like all the wood-carving clubs, but we invite others, especially the younger generation, to come and try it with us. Reach Reporter Ashley Stewart at 641-421-0533. Follow her on Twitter at GGastewart. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. OSAGE | As soon as visitors to the Mitchell County Historical Society Museum walk through its front doors, they will find themselves on a little journey to Mitchell (and West Mitchell), Iowa. The display is the second in a series of six-week exhibits featuring communities throughout Mitchell County. The first exhibit featured the city of St. Ansgar. In addition to artifacts owned by the historical society and used to create the exhibit, several current and former Mitchell residents also contributed to the exhibit, including the city of Mitchell and Dorothy and Bob Clayton. One resident, in particular, helping with the exhibit was James Mostek. Mostek, who has spent most of his life living in Mitchell, said he has always been interested in the history of Mitchell and its twin city, West Mitchell. Many people may not realize West Mitchell was once called Eureka, Mostek said. There was quite a rivalry between the towns of Mitchell and West Mitchell. Maybe not as big as the rivalry that existed between Mitchell and Osage. Mostek was referencing the dispute the towns of Mitchell and Osage had in regards to the location of the county seat, specifically, the location of the county courthouse. At one time, Mitchell, with 1,000 residents, had several mills, shops, churches, businesses and schools and was divided into Mitchell and West Mitchell, each with their own mayor and post office. In 1954, the two towns were combined into Mitchell. Mostek became more involved in learning more about the history of Mitchell while serving on Mitchells council. A year or two before our 150th anniversary, I suggested we needed to start planning the towns sesquicentennial, he said. Well, you know how that goes. I became the chairperson. Mostek was recently called upon to again to help with Mitchell history, when the owners of the County Seat Bar and Grill were looking for decorations and items specifically about Mitchell. Mostek started a Facebook page, Mitchell Iowa Memories, where he, as well as others, share their memories and photos of Mitchell. I'd have to say one of my favorite memories of growing up in Mitchell is being a kid in the summer, you had no shortage of fun, he said. We had the Cedar River for fishing, swimming and floating down it on old inner tubes. We would hike through the woods or take a friend's boat upriver to camp out around the campfire and night fish for catfish and turtles. Mitchell was a great place to grow up, as we knew everyone in town by name. Mostek recalled a guy named Earl Turner, who would sometimes take him and his friends to the Bel Air Drive In Theater north of St. Ansgar to see a movie and meet up with some of their friends from that area. Another old guy took some of them to Stan's Drive in Osage for ice cream once. Another time the same guy even let a friend and me take his new Plymouth Duster out east of town to see how fast it could do a quarter-mile run, Mostek said. He rode along of course. Another lady sold me a car and when I didn't have enough cash to cover the registration of it she borrowed me the money. Halloween was great as we weren't afraid to walk all over town at night to any house with no worries of bad treats. The great fireworks display on July 4th and the annual Mitchell street sale were two of the yearly highlights also. As most local people know the local history of Mitchell, Mostek shared some possibly, less-known or tall-tale history about the town. Mostek said there was supposed to be a legend of an old woodsman who got his foot caught in a bear trap many years back and it grew into his leg. He was said to still haunt the area at night, he said. He was known as Clubfoot and as the story went, you could hear the sound of him dragging the bear trap and the rattle of the trap chain as he moved through the woods." Mostek said three local boys went camping at a place known as The Point, a clearing across the river from Interstate Park. One of the older guys, from town, came running down the hill into their campsite yelling the clubfoot was coming, he recalled. They seriously considered swimming across the river to the park and after a few tense moments as they prepared a log to float the youngest brother across the river, the older kid sat down on the riverbank and started to laugh. Mostek said he hoped people would recall their own memories of Mitchell when they visit the exhibit. The Mitchell County Historical Museum is open from 1 5 p.m. Wednesday Sunday and is located in the Cedar River Complex, 809 Sawyer Drive, Osage. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 OSAGE The 16th Annual Distinguished Alumni Reception will be held with a champagne brunch at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17, at the Cedar River Complex, 809 Sawyer Drive, Osage. The Osage Education Foundation, which sponsors the annual event, has announced Larry Decklever (Class of 1958), Robert Frein (Class of 1959), Paul Borchardt (Class of 1961) and Marcia Shoger Rosendahl (Class of 1980) as this years honorees. Larry Decklever was the owner and president of Benchmark QA, Inc. for 27 years in Bloomington, Minnesota, with a satellite office in Phoenix, Arizona. His company delivered projects and services to improve the quality of software for most Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies in Minnesota, including Wells Fargo, Medtronic, 3M, Medica and HealthPartners. In a letter submitted by several of Decklever's friends, they said, "Teachers, classmates and friends who knew Larry Decklever during his early years, recognized that he was extremely capable and quietly on a mission to succeed." An employee said, in her nomination letter, "he cares about his employees as individuals and treats them with respect and on an individual basis." Robert (Bob) Frein retired in 2002 after working for the City of Osage for 42 years. He started as a maintenance employee, was promoted to foreman and eventually became the Superintendent of Public Works. Frein was and continues to be a significant volunteer in many different organizations in his community including Osage Fire Department, Relay For Life and Sacred Heart Catholic Church. One nomination letter states, "Bob Frein is a special man and certainly represents what is great about being from Osage. His loyal leadership to his community is laudatory. "His positive attitude about Osage and its citizens is infectious. He does not ever bad mouth anyone, even those with differing opinions. He just shows respect, offers his two cents and moves on." Paul Borchardt has been the owner and CEO of Wonderland Amusement Park in Amarillo, Texas, since 1969. In 1970, he founded Borchardt Coin Machines, Inc. It is now one of the largest coin-operated businesses in the Texas Panhandle. Over the years, Borchardt has served on many different Chamber, Business and Civic Boards in Texas. "I think we all knew that Paul was destined for far greater accomplishments as his life unfolded. He was certainly well liked and admired by those of us who knew him," said a classmate. "I believe Paul to be a noteworthy choice," another letter said. "His success is directly attributed to his strong leadership, sense of direction and tireless efforts to make Amarillo a better place to love, work and raise our families." For almost 40 years, Marcia Shoger Rosendahl has had a career in the field of nursing. She currently works as a nurse practitioner in the Emergency Department and Cardiology at Mayo Clinic Health Systems in Austin, Minnesota, as well as in the emergency room at Mitchell County Regional Health Center. She has also spent many, many hours volunteering as a mentor for nurse practitioner students from nine different educational institutions. "When she is concerned about a patient, she goes above and beyond to ensure they receive the best care," said a physician of Rosendahl. Another said, "She delivers high quality medical care to each patient she sees and makes a positive impact in their lives. She is respected by both her patients and her colleagues." The selection committee, made up of five community members, both alumni and non-alumni, selected this years group from a pool of applicants. The award recognizes OHS graduates for outstanding achievements in the arts, business, community service, humanitarian efforts or in a profession, and their contributions to society following graduation. Tickets are being sold at all three local banks and at Hardware Hank for $15. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 State Sen. Nate Boulton, a first-term lawmaker who represents a district that includes the east side of Des Moines, announced Thursday that he will seek the Democratic nomination for governor. Boulton joins a lengthy list of Democrats who are running or considering a bid for the job next year. Boulton won praise in Democratic circles for his resistance to the Republican proposal in the state Legislature this year to strip away collective bargaining rights for most of Iowas public employees. Democrats lost the fight, but Boulton got attention across the state for his fight against it. For too long the Branstad-Reynolds agenda has been about holding people back and taking away. I launch this campaign for governor knowing we are fighting for the soul of our state, Boulton said in a statement. "We will put forth a vision for Iowa that enhances the quality of life for all Iowans by investing in education, rewards hard work, protects Iowas resources and grows our rural economy." The 36-year-old kicked off his campaign with an early-morning appearance in Columbus Junction, his hometown. Boulton, a lawyer, is new to the Legislature. He was elected to a state Senate seat just last year, replacing Sen. Dick Dearden, D-Des Moines, who retired after 22 years in office. In addition to announcing his candidacy, Boulton announced a list of supporters. His campaign chair is state Sen. Pam Jochum, who represents a district in Dubuque and was president of the state Senate last year. Republicans jumped on Boulton's announcement Thursday, pointing to his website's use of the phrase "Building Iowa's Future." They pointed out that Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds used the same phrase in their 2014 campaign. "Des Moines' politician and trial attorney Nate Boulton has already shown he has no ideas or accomplishments of his own in his botched campaign rollout," Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann said Monday. The Boulton campaign took down the phrase from its website. But those words aren't original to Branstad's 2014 campaign, either. Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, also used the words "Building Iowa's Future" on a 2009 tour. After Boulton's announcement Thursday, he set out on a six-day campaign swing across the state, which will include stops in 16 cities. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The White House may be moving on to tax reform the aftermath of last Friday's health care defeat, but Iowa Republicans say they aren't abandoning their effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Rep. Rod Blum, R-Iowa, who opposed the alternative proposed by the House GOP leadership, said Monday that finding a solution still is a priority. "This is not dead. It's not going away. It continues to be our priority," said Blum, who represents Iowa's 1st Congressional District. Blum was on a conference call Monday with Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, both Iowa Republicans, in which the three briefed reporters after a meeting with Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney about getting support for Iowa flood projects. The decision to pull the health care legislation without a vote was a defeat for House Speaker Paul Ryan, as well as President Donald Trump, who had pushed for the bill. The president said during the campaign that repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, would be an early priority. But with the White House now moving to focus on reforming the nation's tax code, it appears repeal efforts will have to wait. On the conference call, Blum said he has been told the president will come back to the issue when the House comes to an agreement. He also noted Democrats under President Barack Obama took a longer period of time to pass the Affordable Care Act. "For us to try to do this in 18 days, I think, was too quick," he said. For his part, Grassley said that "you don't really move beyond" health care because something needs to be done about the current law and rising premiums in the individual marketplace. Ernst did not address the issue on the call, but in a statement later, she said "while the House did not advance a bill, we all must continue to work together to promote affordable, patient-centered health care solutions that work for Iowans." She said it should be done "thoughtfully and carefully." The bill failed last week after House GOP leadership could not garner enough support within its caucus for its alternative to the Affordable Care Act, which it called the American Health Care Act. In Iowa, Blum and Rep. David Young, R-Iowa, both said they opposed the legislation. In a statement last Friday after the bill was pulled, Young praised the president and House leaders. "Great leaders know when to pause a journey down a path that isnt working and see the opportunity and optimism in starting over," he said. Multiple news outlets reported last week that a Super PAC aligned with Ryan had yanked support for Young after he declared his opposition to the bill. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, had said that he would support the Republican bill. On Friday afternoon, he tweeted his support for legislation that would simply repeal the Affordable Care Act. Ed Tibbetts writes for the Quad City Times, another Lee Enterprises newspaper. Reach him at etibbetts@qctimes.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 It was another rough week for political reporters. Well, one in particular. I know Ben Jacobs. Some of you may as well. He was here in Iowa a lot during the 2016 caucuses. For those who may not know, Jacobs is a reporter who covers U.S. politics for the U.K. newspaper The Guardian. On Wednesday night, on the eve of a special Congressional election in Montana, Jacobs was body-slammed, he said, by Republican candidate Greg Gianforte after Jacobs tried to ask Gianforte about the estimated impact of U.S. House Republicans health care reform bill. An audio recording seemed to confirm his account. Gianforte was charged with assaulting Jacobs, a misdemeanor. The next day, Gianforte won the election. He never did answer that question about the health care reform bill. Its the latest and certainly most violent incident in what has become, for this reporter at least, an unsettling trend of increasing hazards for political journalists. In recent months other journalists also trying to ask questions of people in positions of government power have been arrested and pinned against a wall by security guards. Jacobs handled his incident with aplomb, even joking with a New York Times reporter who called for a story on the incident. While still in the hospital, Jacobs asked that the New York Times not post its story online before Jacobs had a chance to post his story because he did not want to be scooped on an incident in which he was involved. I am pleased to report that Jacobs has emerged from his brief stint as professional wrestling heel relatively unscathed. Equally upsetting as journalists being physically attacked and arrested for nothing more than doing their jobs, perhaps even more so, is the disinterest with which so many people reacted. Heck, some conservative commentators darn near celebrated the incident involving Jacobs. One Fox News personality called it a bit of Montana justice. Many folks on the ground level, in Montana and across the country, doubted the story (even though it was confirmed in small part by the audio recording and in large part by a local Fox News television crew that witnessed it), said they were unfazed by it or even cheered it, according to various media reports. Steve Thomma, executive director of the White House Correspondents Association, listened to Rush Limbaughs radio show and tweeted one quote from a caller who said, If enough of this happens, those reporters are gonna learn to back off a little bit. Fortunately, with only a rare few exceptions of which I am aware, I have not experienced or witnessed similar hostility toward the press in Iowa in the past couple of years. Maybe there really is something to that Iowa nice thing. It would be better if that was the case everywhere else, too. We need less anger toward and more trust of the press in this country these days. Thats not a lecture and its not laying blame at anyones feet. Im not smart enough to know how we repair the publics trust with the press; I just know we need to, because our democracy will not function as well as it should without that relationship. The best thing I know to do is maintain an open dialogue with readers. If someone calls or emails me, even in passionate anger, I try to respond. It may not always sway an upset readers viewpoint, but I hope it at least helps develop a trust that Im just trying to do a job, not promote an agenda. We need more trust in that relationship between the press and the people. Fewer gas lighters would help, too. Speaking of which, Im sorry to disappoint that caller to Limbaughs program who expects a few more assaults would teach reporters to back off a little bit. Unfortunately for him or her, we reporters dont learn very quickly. Pin us to the wall, arrest us, body-slam us ... were going to keep doing our job, keep asking questions. That reminds me, I have a quick question for Rep.-elect Gianforte: Could you give us your reaction to the CBOs impact analysis of the American Health Care Act? Erin Murphy covers Iowa politics and government for Lee Enterprises. His email address is erin.murphy@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 AMES | Anita Micich will be joining Iowa State University's School of Education this fall. Micich, 69, will teach in the school's educational leadership graduate program as a clinical assistant professor, according to Angie Hunt of Iowa State University's News Service. "The program primarily focuses on preparation for school principals working on a graduate degree," Hunt said via email Wednesday. "In addition to teaching, Micich will work with students and schools to provide oversight for the principal practicum component." Micich, who receive approximately a $60,000 salary in the non-tenured position, will also have administrative duties, Hunt said. She is filling a position opened by recent retirements. "The School of Education typically hires one or two former school administrators who can share their experience in the classroom," Hunt said. Those in clinical positions contribute to the service, teaching or outreach missions of the university, according to Iowa State's website. "I am excited to serve Iowa State University as assistant clinical professor within the School of Education," Micich said in an e-mailed statement. "My role will support the education and development of school leaders. This position is a good match for me because I bring my experience as a practitioner to it." Micich has been a "lecturer in education" at Iowa State since January, according to her LinkedIn page. Micich was Mason City's superintendent from 2008 to 2016 and Clear Lake's shared superintendent from 2010 to 2016. The Clear Lake School Board in January 2016 decided to end its sharing agreement with Mason City and hire a full-time superintendent for the 2016-17 academic year. Micich's position with Mason City ended in June 2016 after the School Board reached an agreement to end her contract early. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MASON CITY | Gatehouse Capital has approved a pre-development agreement to build a hotel and connect it to The Music Man Square, City Administrator Brent Trout said Tuesday. The City Council will act on the agreement following a public hearing Thursday night. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Mason City Room of the public library. Gatehouse is proposing to build the hotel in the south parking lot of Southbridge Mall and connect it via a skywalk to The Music Man Square. It intends to build a ballroom/conference center in The Music Man Square and relocate the museum. It is a $15 million project. The project is included in the city's request for $10 million in state funds through the Iowa Reinvestment Act. It is part of a $36 million plan that includes an ice area/multipurpose center, music pavilion, parking ramp and possibly a mixed-use building. The city received preliminary approval for $7.2 million for the state and upped its request to $10 million when more state money became available. The hotel is a key component because the state requires $10 million in private investment which the hotel fulfills. But there have been several changes since the city's pre-application for state funding was approved. Originally, G8 Development of San Diego was the proposed hotel developer but was eliminated when it failed secure financing in the required time last year. The city put out a new request for proposals for a hotel. G8 and Gatehouse responded and the City Council chose to go with Gatehouse. Last month, Trout met with state officials to update them on the changes in the proposal. He said he was told to stick with present developer and have the pieces of the plan finalized by the end of the year. The proposal, signed by Gatehouse official David Rachie, authorizes Gatehouse Capital to build a 100-room hotel in the Southbridge lot, connect it to The Music Man Square and build a conference center with a 6,500-square foot grand ballroom that could accommodate events with up to 600 attendees and a 1,500-square foot catering/kitchen area. Gatehouse is requesting a $150,000 refundable payment from the city to pay for a pre-development plan that, in effect, is a feasibility study. If the city decides to move forward within 90 days of completion of the pre-development plan, the $150,000 would be refundable within 45 days of project financing. The amended plan includes: Development and funding for the music pavilion. A $150,000 refundable payment to Gatehouse. City funding for a "mezzanine loan," which fills the gap between the developer's equity and traditional financing. The loan would be made with general obligation bonds and would be an "interest forgivable" loan in which Gatehouse would repay the principal estimated to be $3.5 to $4.3 million over 20 years. The city would be responsible to pay the interest to retire the bonds. Renovations to The Music Man Square, museum and skywalk construction. A parking facility. Although the parking facility planned for the north portion of the City Hall parking lot is no longer anticipated as an Iowa Reinvestment Act project, staff is recommending keeping it and the mixed-use building in the urban renewal plan to serve possible future development. The new Downtown Revitalization Loan program. Allowing the city to enter into other development agreements consistent with the intent of the urban renewal plan. Love 8 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 3 Angry 6 DES MOINES Roughly 1 in 5 Iowans does not have access to the broadband internet speed recommended by the federal government, and those who are underserved by and large live in rural areas. In addition to the luxuries afforded by broadband internet streaming movies and music and online video game access to broadband also can be important for education and health care, industry experts say. Because private internet providers must weigh the profitability of introducing broadband internet to any area, some state and federal lawmakers have in recent years worked on programs, such as tax relief incentives, that aim to encourage broadband expansion. Home broadband use in Iowa rose 10 percent from 2010 to 2013, according to Connect Iowa, a state program designed to foster broadband expansion. Despite that progress and more since, 22 percent of Iowa residents in 2015 did not have access to broadband internet at 25 megabytes per second the speed recommended by the Federal Communications Commission, according to Connect Iowa. All the progress weve made the past few years, we want to keep that moving, said David Daack, community technology adviser for Connect Iowa. A dozen Iowa counties had less than 40 percent of its residents with access to 25 mbps broadband internet in 2015, the most recent data available to Connect Iowa. Of those 12 counties, 10 are among the bottom half in terms of population. Most schools have broadband speeds they need to properly educate students with current internet-based technology. But if a town does not have sufficient broadband speeds, students may have difficulty using internet-based learning at home. You run into a disparity where the educational community could have solid broadband at their school, to where theyre running virtual (education programs) at their school, but when (students) are going home, they dont have enough bandwidth to continue their work, said Ric Lumbard, executive director of the Iowa Communications Network, the states broadband carrier network. A critical challenge to expanding broadband internet to rural or sparsely populated areas is that private telecommunications companies determine it would not be profitable to offer the service there. Access to high-speed broadband also can be crucial for small businesses. The Iowa Association of Business and Industry, which advocates on behalf of Iowa businesses, has among its formal positions support for access to broadband internet and programs that promote expansion. This will enable continuous, uninterrupted access to a host of services all contributing to a vibrant business community and quality of life for Iowans, the organizations position states. "It is critical to economic growth that all areas of the state have access to broadband." Installing broadband infrastructure is an expensive undertaking, Lumbard said. Telecommunications companies must weight a significant investment of resources against how many people live in an area and whether a sufficient number of residents will pay for broadband service. Its not true that if you build it, they will come, Lumbard said, referring to the famous line from the movie Field of Dreams. To the private telecomm providers, that requires them to put high-dollar investments in areas that theres not high human density. ... At the end of the day, its basic math. Lumbard said methods to foster broadband expansion include program partnerships between government and private industry and tax relief programs that encourage companies to install broadband infrastructure. Availability is a major piece, Lumbard said. "There has to be other incentives to drive availability." Iowa has an incentive program that exempts telecommunications companies from paying property taxes for 10 years on broadband infrastructure built in underserved areas. The program reduced Iowas taxable value of telecommunications property by $260 million, $515 million and $479 million in the past three fiscal years, according to an analysis by the states nonpartisan fiscal estimating agency. There are two federal programs that direct money to broadband expansion projects, according to a December 2016 congressional report. U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, D-Iowa, signed a letter with dozens of other congressional members asking President Donald Trump to include broadband expansion in his national infrastructure plan. Loebsack serves on the U.S. Houses Energy and Commerce Committee, including a subcommittee that has oversight of broadband issues. He also serves as co-chair of the House Rural Broadband Caucus, a group of Democrats and Republicans that works to improve broadband access in rural areas. I have hosted roundtables in all 24 counties of my district to discuss expanding broadband access, especially in rural areas, Loebsack said in an emailed statement. "And without fail, at every stop I heard from Iowans about how important broadband access is, but also how difficult it can be to get." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Alliant Energy's electrical customers can expect to rate increases beginning in April, officials say. The company will file with the Iowa Utilities Board next month for a rate increase of 10 to 12 percent for $2.5 billion in investments into power grid upgrades and the recently built Marshalltown natural gas generating station. Alliants Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Joel Schmidt said the company understands the rate increase may cause customers frustration on the heels of a summer billing issue and delays surrounding the Pierce Avenue gas line project in Mason City. We own that history, Schmidt said. We also own what our power grid does. The average residential Alliant bill is about $114. Beginning in April, customers can expect their electric bills to increase by $3 to $5 per month. By 2018, monthly rates for the average customer are estimated to increase $12 to $14. Notices on the rate increases will be sent to customers April 3, and Alliant will file the same day with the Iowa Utilities Board for the rate increases. There will be several town hall customer comment sessions throughout the state in May and June for customers to share their thoughts with representatives from Alliant, the Office of Consumer Advocate and the Iowa Utilities Board. One of those sessions will be in Mason City 5:30 p.m. May 25 at NIACCs Muse-Norris Conference Center. Rough year The rate increase follows months of bad headlines in North Iowa for the company. Alliant Energy and the Office of Consumer Advocate reached a settlement agreement on a summer billing issue for some Iowa customers. The company said high bills sent to some Iowans were caused by higher energy use due to a hotter summer and problems with Alliant's new billing system. The billing system caused some customers to receive bills with their usage estimated based on the previous years use. Customers later received high bills adding in actual usage. The company took steps to work with those affected by higher bills by spreading the additional charges over 12 months with no negative impact to the account or credit score. At the same time, construction on a new natural gas pipeline in Mason City hit several delays since it began in August. The company is installing a pipeline along both sides of Pierce Avenue from 12th Street Northwest to 19th Street Southwest. It was originally slated for completion in December. Alliant Spokesman Justin Foss said the project is scheduled to be completed by April 21 and work repairing yards will be completed by May 1, weather permitting. On the increase This will be the first base rate increase in six years. Base rates are not the total bill, Schmidt said. Schmidt said the company doesn't increase rates until two things happen. First, the utility or equipment must be in power and in use. Second, changes must be approved by the Iowa Utilities board, Schmidt said. Updates to the power grid are expansive and important, Schmidt said. Iowa is No. 1 for grid reliability, Schmidt said. It costs about $100,000 per mile to replace grid. Iowa had 20,493 miles of line in 2016. Alliant serves customers in 83 of Iowas 99 counties. Base rate increases are for Alliants electricity customers only. The base rate covers service costs, maintenance and equipment costs. The Utilities Board hearing is expected to be held in October, Schmidt said. The board will then approve or deny Alliants request based on testimony from parties involved. The full rate increase would then go into effect if approved, or customers would be rebated if it is denied. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MASON CITY | A man who was stabbed on a Mason City street May 30 has died, according to police. Wraymond Leon Todd, 23, Mason City, died Sunday while recovering in the hospital, the Mason City Police Department said in a news release Monday afternoon. Police say Braedon Steven Bowers, 20, Mason City, stabbed Todd in the chest May 30 on West State Street. Bowers was likely to be charged with first-degree murder Monday afternoon, police said, but no charge had been filed as of 5 p.m. Monday. He was arrested for attempted murder May 31. Bowers is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on a $50,000 bond, pending his next court hearing Thursday. Police say Bowers stabbed Wraymond Todd in the chest about 3:30 p.m. The incident occurred on the street near a two-story home at 325 W. State St. Cody Michael Bublitz, 28, Mason City, was also cut during the assault but declined immediate medical attention, according to police. Police say Bowers and Todd knew each other, but haven't released details of that relationship or said what they think motivated the incident. Bowers, who fled the scene, was found about 24 hours later. Police towed a vehicle they believe Bowers was driving as he left the scene and later abandoned. The Britt Police Department on the afternoon of May 31 spotted a vehicle Bowers was believed to be in and stopped the vehicle. Bowers, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was taken into custody. Bowers had his initial court appearance June 1 via videoconference. Bowers, who was wearing a black and white striped jail uniform, stood quietly for most of the hearing, hands cuffed in front of him. He had a question about a court document mentioned by the judge, as well as about his detention at the Cerro Gordo County Jail. "I was just wondering why I'm being in isolation," Bowers asked. "I'm not the jailer, but you could ask the jailer regarding your status," Aronsen replied. "They may or may not answer, but that would also be a question for you to ask your attorney." Love 0 Funny 4 Wow 0 Sad 6 Angry 5 CLEAR LAKE | Darrold Mohr of Clear Lake left Buena Vista College during his final semester to enlist in the Army during the Korean War. It was early 1951 and the news from Korea "didn't sound good," said Mohr, now 86. After basic training and specialized training as an engineer, the Ayshire native was sent to an Army administrative school in Japan to learn about Army procedure. He also taught there. Mohr, who would later become a math teacher and a principal, said that's when he became interested in education as a career. "I thoroughly enjoyed teaching," he said. In late 1951, Mohr received orders to go to Korea, where he would remain for the next 12 months. He was assigned to 10th Corps Headquarters Co., which he described as being "in the middle of nowhere." His assignment was in the orders section. He typed many orders for personnel coming to Korea for assignment and for those rotating home. The compound was "a beehive of activity," Mohr said, noting he met a lot of different people from generals to enlisted personnel. Everyone worked seven days a week, with an occasional Sunday off. The most difficult part about the war was being so far from home for the first time, he said. Letters were the only form of communication he had with his family. The winters were extremely cold and the summers were hot, he said. The compound was about 20 miles from the front line, so they could hear the artillery. Morh said he was glad to return home after 18 months overseas. He finished his college education and got married. Mohr's career in education lasted 37 years. He taught junior and senior high school math in Ringsted, Estherville, Fort Dodge, Humboldt, Jefferson and finally Ventura. Mohr, who received a master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa, also served as a school principal in Humboldt and Jefferson. Mohr and his wife, Joyce, moved to Clear Lake in 1977 so he could accept the teaching job at Ventura. He retired from teaching after 16 years there. Joyce opened the Mohr for Her store in Clear Lake after she retired from her own career as an elementary teacher. She ran the store for the next 20 years. Joyce died in 2009. Mohr, who was raised on a farm, said going to Korea was "a real awakening for me." "I was very happy to be a part of this," he said. "I never regretted my time in the service." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Why do Jewish divorces cost so much? Theyre worth it! So said standup comedian Henny Youngman, last centurys King of the One-Liners. While this and many of Youngmans gags would be labeled anti-Semitic and misogynistic by todays politically correct standards, they were delivered with tongue firmly in cheek by a devoted husband and father of Jewish descent. Much of the humor lies in the fact that under the shtick lay a universal truth: sometimes the cost of staying together is greater than the loss associated with breaking up. This can be true in a marriage, a business partnership, or in Mason City, a development agreement. The city is to face a lawsuit from G8 Development just under a year from now. G8, headed by Phillip Chodur, has had an on-again, off-again partnership with the city for at least six years as part of the River City Renaissance. The firm was to have developed a hotel and convention center in a public-private joint venture to also include an ice arena and performing arts pavilion. G8 was dropped from the partnership on two occasions after city officials said it failed to meet construction deadlines and provide satisfactory proof of financing to the city and to the Iowa Economic Development Authority, which is contributing over $9 million. In his lawsuit, Chodur claims he was not contractually obligated to meet the deadlines or to furnish information to the IEDA and was thus not in default on the agreement. If so (and shame on city officials for producing a sloppy agreement if it is!), Chodur would indeed be entitled at the least to reimbursement for his expenses associated with the project. Even if it isnt true the city will invest significant resources defending against the suit. Regardless the outcome, everything thats transpired up to now indicates this partnership needed to end. Chodur entered into the agreement knowing he would be working in conjunction with the city on a multi-phase project to include significant state funding. He must surely have realized the venture would be under scrutiny from the public as well as multiple levels of government, requiring a high degree of accountability and a greater level of transparency than is normally needed in a private-sector undertaking. An optimal partner is such a venture would have welcomed, or at the very least tolerated, these heightened expectations and made every reasonable effort to accommodate them. Instead Chodur seemed to want to fly under the radar, disclosing as little as possible and proceeding at whatever pace he saw fit. He seemed to expect the city, the IEDA and the general public to simply sit quietly, wait patiently and trust him despite his having provided scant evidence of being trustworthy. Barring a settlement, a jury will eventually decide whether this behavior was sufficient to place G8 in default of the agreement. Regardless of the legal niceties, any impartial and fair-minded individual could agree that Chodur was at the very least being difficult. Big projects in small towns are almost always challenging and controversial. Naysayers and financial constraints provide numerous obstacles. The last thing such a venture needs is a key contributor who creates additional roadblocks. It seems the city is fortunate to have rid itself of such a partner before the project was fully underway. Even if its eventually established that Chodur was meeting his minimal legal obligations, its also been made evident that he simply wasnt the right man for the job. Mason City is moving forward on the project with a new developer, hopefully one willing to do as much as is needed to make it a success as opposed to one looking to do as little as is required. Time will tell how much it will eventually cost the city to finally and completely move on from its repeated ill-considered dalliances with Chodur. Whatever the amount proves to be, it will have been worth it. Tim Ackarman, a regular columnist for the Globe Gazette, lives in Miller. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Why Donald Trump is great news for Xi Jinping The US president has disarmed America in the battle of ideas Gideon Rachman Donald Trump has been in office long enough for certain patterns to emerge in his behaviour. The US president likes to create a crisis, let it run a while and then announce that he has solved it. He will frighten friend and foe alike with dire threats, before striking an agreement that he self-certifies as tremendous. In reality, the new deal will often be superficial and the underlying issues will remain largely unaddressed. This is the model that the Trump administration has followed with North Korea, as well as with Mexico and Canada. And it is the model that is pretty clearly going to emerge in Mr Trumps trade war with China. In a few weeks time, the US president will declare a great victory. His loyal aides will play along. But the underlying reality will be that not much has actually changed in the economic relationship between the US and China in the same way that not much changed in the trade relationship between the US, Canada and Mexico after Mr Trumps team renegotiated the North American Free Trade Agreement. Just as North Korea has not actually scrapped its nuclear weapons, so China will not actually scrap its system of state subsidies for industry, the most fundamental way in which Beijing disadvantages foreign competitors. Instead, the Chinese are likely to buy off Mr Trump with pledges to purchase lots more American goods. They will also open up more sectors of their economy to US investment and tighten laws on intellectual property. This will probably not affect Americas trade deficit with China. And it will certainly not impair Chinas drive for dominance in the technologies of the future. But calling off the trade war will not be the only gift from Mr Trump to Chinese president Xi Jinping. For Mr Trump has already disarmed America in an even more important battle the battle of ideas. That matters because Americas most potent weapon in its emerging contest for supremacy with China is not its economy, nor its aircraft carriers, but its ideas. The notion that abstract principles like freedom and democracy are powerful American assets is sometimes dismissed as liberal wishful-thinking. But Chinese actions suggest otherwise. The government of Mr Xi does its utmost to suppress the circulation of liberal and western ideas, censoring the internet and cracking down on dissidents, students and human rights lawyers. The fact that previous US presidents spoke up for human rights was more than an irritant to the Chinese one-party state it was a threat. There was no better symbol of this than the Goddess of Democracy, built by pro-democracy demonstrators in Tiananmen Square in 1989, which bore an uncanny resemblance to Americas Statue of Liberty. The Tiananmen uprising was bloodily repressed and the Goddess was torn down. But Chinese liberals have continued to look to America for inspiration and support. Human rights were only one item on the US agenda when dealing with China. But they were a crucial part of what America stood for in the world. Sadly, that has now changed. As a candidate, Mr Trump gave a very ambiguous reply when asked about the Tiananmen massacre of 1989, stating: they were vicious, they were horrible, but they put it down with strength. As president, he has made it clear that he is an admirer of authoritarian strongmen around the world. The US state department continues to issue an annual report on human rights worldwide, which has strong things to say about China. But the message coming from the Oval Office is rather different. On various occasions, Mr Trump has praised Mr Xi as a great leader and a very good man. This matters because Mr Xi is actually the most authoritarian leader of China since the death of Mao Zedong in 1976. Mr Trumps over-the-top praise for him risks giving the American stamp of approval for repression in China. When Mr Xi abolished presidential term limits, making it possible for him to rule for life, Mr Trumps response was to joke that America should consider that model of government. But repression in Mr Xis China is no laughing matter. Controls on the media, the internet and universities have all been tightened significantly since he came to power in 2012. And there has been an unprecedented crackdown in the province of Xinjiang, with up to 1m Uighurs confined to re-education camps. Compared to China, America still provides an inspiring example of a free society in action. But the fact that the US president regularly trashes the fake news media, and that his administration has separated thousands of illegal migrants from their children at the US border, blurs what should be a bright line between the practices of a democracy and those of an authoritarian state. The resolution to the trade dispute may do further damage. Mr Trump shows every sign of wanting to move on from his battle with China, and to declare a new trade war on the EU and Japan. In doing so, the president will drive a wedge through the middle of the western alliance, making it all but impossible to take a co-ordinated approach to China. If that happens, Mr Trump will look less like Chinas toughest adversary and more like the answer to Mr Xis prayers. Marc Serres, CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency, announces the Luxembourg Space Agency (LSA) Data Center, at the Space Forum, Luxembourg Luxembourg Space Agency / Dominique Gaul Marc Serres, CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency The LSA Data Center has been created to support businesses in Luxembourg with reliable, fast and intuitive access to data streams from the European Copernicus Earth Observation programme. Marc Serres, CEO of the Luxembourg Space Agency, said: Data collected through space infrastructure are becoming more and more critical for applications and services developments. And therefore a performant and easy access to data is essential for enterprises willing to develop their business. This initiative of the LSA is just a first step to facilitate access to space data with the aim to stimulate new services provided by Luxembourg as a hub for commercial space in Europe. Purpose of the LSA Data Center The goal of the LSA Data Center is to promote the development of products and services which rely on accurate Earth Observation data that are constantly updated. The detailed optical and radar imaging data has many possible uses, including the management of the environment, understanding and mitigation of the effects of climate change and ensuring civil security. It is hoped that the new products which utilize these data will be of interest to businesses in many sectors including the environment, maritime, meteorology, agriculture, mobility, aviation and health, thus leading to a massive uptake of satellite-based products by end users. Part of a larger program Announced at the Space Forum conference in Luxembourg, the LSA Data Center is a primary component of the LSAs Access To Space flagship. An important initiative, aimed at supporting the growing space industry in Luxembourg, the Access To Space flagship will facilitate the access to space generally and to space data in particular. The LSA Data Center is fully consistent with the objectives of the Ministry of the Economy to support the further emergence of a trusted data-driven economy in Luxembourg and accelerate the digital transformation of its strategic sectors to which the space industry belongs. Luxembourg will proactively invest in companies using space infrastructure and data to develop their services and competitive position. Free access The LSA Data Center provides users with search and download access to a fully indexed and referenced, real-time geo-catalogue, set up with products from the Copernicus Sentinel 1 and 2 satellite constellations. Users can query the archive based on criteria such as location, orbit or cloud coverage and download data sets accordingly. This information is provided on a full, free and open access basis. There are two levels of access: Standard and Premium. Premium, granted by the LSA, gives high-performing access to Luxembourg entities. For more information about the LSA Data Center: www.lsa-datacenter.lu Press release by the Luxembourg Space Agency Grand Old Partisan commemorates the beginning of US-Korean diplomatic relations. This day of 1882, presidential envoy Robert Shufelt signed a treaty of friendship and commerce with Korean government officials. The ceremony took place at Incheon. Rejecting claims by China and Japan and Russia, the United States thereby became the first nation to recognize Korean independence. Senate confirmation came about eight months later. Chester Arthur then received King Gojong's diplomats. Korea set up its first embassy at 15 Logan Circle in Washington, DC. Here is a Video Version of this article on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GJ08i3JmkLw Michael Zak is author of Back to Basics for the Republican Party, a history of GOP civil rights achievement. Each day, Michael Zak's grandoldpartisan YouTube channel and Grand Old Partisan blog celebrate more than sixteen decades of Republican heritage. And, see Speech Raves for audience feedback from his presentations in thirty-one states so far. He also wrote the 2005 Republican Freedom Calendar. Clarence Thomas cited Back to Basics for the Republican Party in a Supreme Court decision. Buy the book at Amazon See www.youtube.com/q?v=IzxKCiXc5Qc for a brief video of a Texas Republican praising Back to Basics for the Republican Party. "This is the most amazing book about politics that I have ever read. The Overview should be required reading for anyone with even a minor interest in government. The remainder is an enthralling history lesson that I will never forget. For years, we have all been misled about the true nature of the GOP. This is the real deal! Read it and be proud!" "Michael Zak wrote the definitive history of the GOP." "Back to Basics for the Republican Party is the most significant contribution to the Republican Party in the last twenty years apart from Ronald Reagan." "Back to Basics for the Republican Party is more important to our party now than ever before." and "one of the best books I ever read" Geist is a strategic communication associate with the University of Missouri. Hamilton is an extension dairy specialist and Lock is a research specialist, both with the University of Missouri. T hrough a Conservation Innovation Grant from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, the University of Missouri is developing tools to improve the yield and nutritive value of pasture forages. One of the newest technologies, PaddockTrac, helps producers make sound decisions on when to graze and when to fertilize pastures, according to Extension Dairy Specialist Stacey Hamilton. It also helps producers track forage inventory and decide where to graze cattle first, and then consider if there is extra forage to harvest for hay or silage. In 2006, a Grazing Wedge tool (grazingwedge.missouri.edu) was developed to help farmers with these decisions. To use the tool, farmers still had to walk over pastures, using rising plate meters, to measure forage yield. They manually entered data into the website every week. The Grazing Wedge website helped forage managers for years but required a lot of time walking across pastures to take measurements and then manually enter the data on the website every week. This process needed to be improved to reduce the labor needed to collect the necessary data, said Ryan Lock, a research specialist at the University of Missouri. An improved approach Hamilton, Lock, and Missouri Extension Forage Specialist Rob Kallenbach made the process easier, more affordable, and less time consuming when they developed the PaddockTrac app. The automated tool uses ultrasonic sensors to measure forage yield in pastures. Sensors mounted on an all-terrain vehicle send data to the producers smartphone via Bluetooth. PaddockTrac stores both GPS location and forage height 10 times per second on the users smartphone. The phone uploads data to a GIS-based website and then an online tool accurately assigns the data to an individual paddock. Once completed, the producer can see their Grazing Wedge showing forage yield in each paddock, sorted from high to low. This allows producers to be proactive in their decision-making, said Hamilton. Basically, the tools give a weekly forage inventory of your farm, Hamilton explained. Instead of knowing how many bales of hay you have stored in the barn and then subtracting bales as they are used, or adding bales, the tools tell you how much forage you have available for feed or harvest. PaddockTrac also lets producers decide if their pregrazing forage mass is right for the desired postgrazing residual. How long cows stay on a paddock; the amount of supplement needed, if any; nitrogen application; and the amount of forage available for haying or silage can be estimated through the use of these web-based tools, Hamilton said. As a result of proper measurement and monitoring, improvements in forage yield, enhanced nutritive value, improved longevity of stands, and better utilization of forage by grazing animals can be realized. This app allows adaptive management strategies in forage systems that mitigate overgrazing, degraded plant vigor, and soil loss. The teams first attempt to use ultrasonic sensor technology began in 2008. The initial idea came from our need to measure hundreds of paddocks each week for Kallenbachs grazing experiments, said research specialist Danny England. England located sensors that fed data into a military-grade laptop computer mounted onto an all-terrain vehicle. It could withstand rugged travel over pastures. However, the cost of the military-grade laptop made this option too expensive for most farmers, Hamilton said, and drove the team to find another means that made the tools user-friendly and affordable for the average producer. Extension specialists in Missouri offer group and one-on-one training on how to use the grazing tools as part of an integrated system. User proven Fourth generation Monett, Mo., dairy farmer Mike Meier and his wife, Janan, know the value of incrementally putting new systems in place. They are beta testers for the PaddockTrac program. Working on this project and others has improved the Meiers profits and herd health. It also has given them more time to spend with family. Meier is a believer in the PaddockTrac system that gives him better profits in the unstable dairy industry. Naysayers are leaving money on the table, he commented. He estimates that those not using technology can lose 5 to 7 pounds of milk per cow daily. Hamilton agreed. When farmers get cows to eat nutrient-filled grass, it means better gains, more milk, and healthier cows. Long-term benefits of the research give producers the incentive to try new ideas. The biggest motive to stick with it is profit, Meier said. Some people yearn for data-driven methods; others find them a burden. It is very difficult to manage what you dont know, Meier explained. Hamilton said the key is to start slow and improve the operation each year. This article appeared in the April/May 2019 issue of Grower on page 42. Not a subscriber? Click to get the print magazine. The Montana Nurses Association hosted a sign and window painting party on Friday to support St. Peters nurses who have been unable to convince the hospital to raise their base wages. In a meeting last week to negotiate contracts, administrators from St. Peters left the table. The next mediation session is scheduled for July 26 and the MNA is spending the next month rallying the community to support nurses and encourage the best patient care and safety possible. They are also asking the hospital for measures to improve their safety and create a unit counsel to ensure nurses are included in decision making. Businesses have asked for signs to put in windows to support raising wages for nurses, and cars around town are painted with phrases such as I love nurses and patients before profits. The last contract for the nurses expired on May 31, but the hospital has agreed to honor the old terms until a new contract is signed. If nurses do receive any wage increases, theyll also receive back pay beginning June 1. Nurses are asking for an 8 percent increase in wages for the first year, a 7 percent increase in the second year and a 6 percent increase in the third year. St. Peters nurses are paid the lowest base rate in the state among large facilities, Vicky Byrd, executive director of MNA, said. Byrd said its not abnormal for hospitals and nurses to take several meetings before agreeing on terms, but she said conditions that encourage nurses to leave St. Peters are already noticeable. Nurses are the backbone of a hospital, she said. The nurses are coming together to protect the quality of care. Nurses at St. Peters said low wages are already encouraging experienced nurses to relocate for better pay. A shortage of nurses could impact the quality of patient care at St. Peters. Gina Davis, a nurse in the womens and childrens unit, said she loves her job, but she doesnt want to be forced to give her patients subpar care when resources are stretched thin. She said she already knows of nurses leaving or commuting out of Helena for higher paying jobs in nearby communities. We have had a pretty high turnover recently, she said. I know its difficult to attract quality nurses. Davis said she often works with parents who have sick kids and can often take out their frustrations on a nurse. The nurses have proposed both methods to prevent violence in the first place and if it does occur, make sure the employer is responsible for the cost instead of the employee. Michelle Smith, a nurse in oncology, said shes also noticed units where jobs go unfilled for months. Were losing good people, she said. Theres nobody applying. St. Peters declined to answer questions on whether its taken as long to reach an agreement during past contract negotiations or if having multiple meetings is normal. Instead, the hospital provided the following statement: We intend to negotiate directly with the Montana Nurses Association without engaging in public contract negotiations. St. Peters Hospital is committed to providing fair compensation for our nurses, and what we have proposed is in good faith and reflects this commitment. We hope to reach an agreement in the coming weeks that is both sustainable for the organization and accepted by our nurses. Love 2 Funny 4 Wow 1 Sad 3 Angry 11 In a mint green mobile home adorned with American flags and Easter eggs, a pot of Mosulian dolmas rested on a stovetop, swaddled in towels. Dolma is a busy word. It comes from the Turkish dolmak, which means to fill. Its an appropriately general name, given a wide dolma diaspora that includes sweet, sour and salty incarnations. The best-known dolmas are the Mediterranean-style grape leaves filled with plain, lemony rice, but the word dolma can also refer to a nut-filled apple in northern India, or a bulgur-stuffed eggplant in Turkey. In spite of this range, somehow the name itself has remained unchanged, from Crete to Tbilisi. As long as something is filled with something, its a dolma. My dolma instructor Nabeeha Alkhosho came to the U.S. with her family six years ago from Mosul, Iraq. I had eaten dolmas before, or so I thought. When I first tried Nabeehas, at her Iraqi food stand at the Clark Fork Market, it felt like an awakening, as if every dolma I had eaten until that point was a fraud. Nabeeha, bespectacled and earnest with her hair in two long braids, generously invited me into her Missoula home to show me the Mosulian way of preparing the rice, and filling and cooking the dolmas. Now the finished pot of dolmas rested on the stove, and it was time for the grand finale. Nabeeha placed a metal platter atop the dolma pot. With one hand below the pot and the other pressing down on the platter, she lifted everything above her head, deftly flipped the whole assembly, and placed it gently on the table, like a pool shark racking up cue balls in 3D. She gave the pot a quick spin left and right, slapped a few beats on the side, and lifted it, revealing a perfectly round tower of dolmas. Stuffed grape leaves formed the bulk of the presentation, but it also contained sweet peppers, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, zucchini and feisty jalapenos. Everything was stuffed, wrapped or rolled with spicy tomato rice and crowned with a brown cap of caramelized garlic, cauliflower and carrots. Nabeehas daughter Anne, statuesque with curly hair, speaks English. She explained the importance of this layer of browned goodness at the top of the dolma pile. Composed of innumerable combinations of vegetable and meat, this browned layer cooks in the lemony dolma juices at the bottom of the pot. Anne refers to it simply as the bottom. The bottom can be rich, elaborate and whimsical. The Alkhosho family pines for mutton at the bottom, but its hard to get, and lamb is expensive. When their neighbor, a taxidermist, offers elk, its a much-appreciated substitute. At serving time, when the pot is flipped, this juicy, browned bottom becomes the top. Anne, who calls the whole stacked structure a shape, scrolled through images of just-flipped pots of Iraqi dolmas on her phone, some had bottoms composed of large fava beans, or star shaped patterns of vegetables. There are many shapes, she said, pausing on a photo with a bottom of caramelized lamb chops atop the dolma tower. That one is cute. With Anne translating, Nabeeha reminisced about picnics in Mosul. Families would bring pots of dolmas to the parks, and feast. Muslims and Christians alike made similar dolmas. The only difference, Anne said, is that Muslims make them on Friday, and Christians on Sunday. Nabeeha shook the tower of dolmas. It collapsed into a steaming heap of color and flavor. The plump dolmas glistened, bursting with a tangy, sour flavor that was spicy yet smooth, with no single taste or flavor jumping out as dominant. Iraqi dolmas typically have tomato sauce mixed in with the rice. The Alkhoshos use a lot of mint, and sometimes parsley. But the real secret, Anne says is how we balance the salt, sour and water. I watched them make the dolmas in front of me, and took copious notes, and still it took me many attempts to get it right in my dolma pot, on my stove, with my rice (white jasmine). If you dont use the right amount of water, or pack them tightly in the pot, or cook them properly, the shape will crumble and scatter. Worse, the dolma can be soggy, with tough, fibrous grape leaves. Maybe they fall apart and scatter rice everywhere, and the bottom can blacken beyond recognition. But Id take my worst attempt at an Iraqi dolma over any other dolma Id eaten before my apprenticeship. The chubby green fingers filled with starchy mush in the deli case are empty calories to me now. Mosulian dolmas Each vegetable has its own way of being stuffed. Zucchini, tomato and eggplant are hollowed out. Peppers come basically pre-hollowed and just need to be trimmed. Cabbage and onions, like grape leaves, are rolled unlike grape leaves, onions and chard must be steamed or microwaved briefly so they arent brittle. On Nabeehas recommendation I made some dolmas with chard leaves for wrappers (also steamed first) and they turned out great. She also recommends Japanese eggplant. But as lovely and diverse as a pot of mixed veggie dolma are, grape leaves are my favorite but not so much that I dont want to eat other types too. A pot that is half grape leaf dolmas and half mixed veggie dolmas is about perfect. Serves 10 cup grated potato cup grated carrot cup thinly sliced onion 2 cloves of garlic, minced 3 cups white rice 4 teaspoons dried mint 2 tsp salt 2 tsp pepper 1 tsp paprika 1 tsp hot chili powder, like Allepo or cayenne 1 tsp cinnamon 1 can tomato sauce A cup or so of bottom ingredients, either vegetables, meat, or some combination 1 cup lemon juice 1 cup olive oil One jar of grape leaves Fry the potato, carrot, onion and garlic in 3 tablespoons olive oil on medium heat until everything is shriveled and golden. Set aside. Rinse the rice in a bowl by adding water, swishing it around, draining and repeating until the water is no longer cloudy. Drain. Add 1 teaspoon of salt, all of the dried spices, the fried veggies and the tomato sauce to the rice. Mix well. Place the bottom ingredients loosely about the bottom of the pot, and fill the dolmas easier said than done. Place a grape leaf on a plate with the place where the stem was cut out facing your belly. Put two tablespoons of rice in the center of the leaf, just above the stem cut area, and form it into a dolma shape, with its axis directed left-to-right in front of you. Think of the stem cut area as 6 oclock, and the point of the leaf facing away from you at 12. Find the points at 5 and 7, pointing to either side of you, and fold those two points over the rice, toward 12. Then, tuck over both ends of the roll, at 3 and 9. Next, grab the points at 10 and 2, and wrap those around the dolma toward you. Finally, roll the dolma toward 12 oclock. You will get the hang of it. Stack the rolled dolmas in the pot, interlocking the pieces so as to help hold the structure together. When the dolmas are filled, add a teaspoon of salt to the pot, followed by the lemon juice, the rest of the olive oil and about cup of water or until the water level is about an inch below the top of the dolmas. Cook on medium for about 45-60 minutes, watching for when the water disappears, and smelling for the bottom, which you only want to burn maybe a little. Turn off the heat, swaddle with towels on the stove (taking care not to start a fire), and let it rest for 20 minutes. Invert and serve. Ari LeVaux writes Flash in the Pan, a syndicated weekly food column carried in more than 60 newspapers nationwide. Though his audience is national, he says he "always writes about Montana. Usually." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 One man is dead and another is jailed on a charge of deliberate homicide after an early morning shooting at a Helena motel Wednesday. Authorities say Brandon James LeClair, 41, shot Kenneth Lee Purcell Jr., 31, during a fight at Motel 6, 800 N. Oregon St. Purcell died in the parking lot from a gunshot wound to the chest around 1 a.m. LeClair ran from the motel. Police apprehended him without incident around 2 p.m. at a gas station in Boulder, 30 miles south of Helena. Helena Police Chief Troy McGee said a citizen provided a tip that helped investigators track LeClair. Police also arrested 30-year-old Travis Holly Stephens of Butte, who was staying at the motel with LeClair, on a felony charge of criminal possession of dangerous drugs (methamphetamine). Court documents say the room they were sharing contained a small amount of methamphetamine alongside a meth pipe that appeared to have recently been used. Both men have past drug convictions. Stephens told police she and LeClair had traveled to the motel from Butte the previous night but would not say why they came to Helena, court documents state. Purcell was in the room with them, she said, and an argument broke out between the two men. During a subsequent fight, Purcell hit LeClair in the head with a whiskey bottle and kicked him after LeClair fell to the ground, she told investigators. The fight then moved to the parking lot, where the shooting occurred. Stephens later told police she believed both men were carrying guns. A semi-automatic .9 mm pistol and a spent casing were found near Purcells body. On Purcells body, police found a magazine for a semi-automatic weapon believed to be from a different gun. McGee said only one gun had been recovered as of Wednesday afternoon. Stephens said she did not witness the shooting, but later saw Purcell laying in the parking lot. LeClair had bleeding head injuries from the fight, court documents note. Police have seized the vehicle Stephens and LeClair used to drive to Helena. LeClair, who lived in Billings at the time, was sentenced to five years in federal prison in 2007 after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. He had been convicted in federal court in 1999 for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute and was sentenced to just over three years in prison. LeClair completed his probation in November 2014, according to federal court records. An arrest warrant with a $50,000 bond was issued in Deer Lodge County after LeClair failed to appear in court in early November for a felony drug possession charge, court records show. LeClair is named in another arrest warrant in West Yellowstone, police said. LeClair is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond. As of Wednesday afternoon, he was to be held at the Jefferson County jail in Boulder. Purcells criminal history includes a conviction for criminal distribution of dangerous drugs out of Silver Bow County for a crime that occurred in 2009, state court records show. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Helena College Dean and CEO Daniel Bingham will leave Helena College in June to become a mission president for the LDS Church in Sydney, Australia, directing the work of 170 missionaries from all over the world. His steady and confident leadership has earned admiration and praise from his staff and Montana's top education leaders. Among his many accomplishments over the past 12 years, Bingham has overseen enrollment double at Helena College. Its currently around 1,500, Bingham said, but has peaked at 1,750. We have expanded our programs in the past decade, both in technical programs and general education, he said. Nursing, fire and rescue and business are just a few of the programs that expanded significantly. General education courses have particularly grown, not only to help students seeking professional and technical degrees, but also preparing students who want to go on to pursue four-year degrees at other Montana campuses. The core credits are 100 percent transferable to any other institution in the state, Bingham said. Also, under Binghams leadership, Helena College is now the largest single feeder school to Carroll College. Helena College now partners with a wide array of area businesses, such as Boeing and Pioneer Aviation, so Helena College can offer cutting-edge job training for those eyeing employment in aeronautics. It also partners with local school districts, offering dual enrollment classes for high school students who want to earn college credit. And it offers Access to Success with Helena Public Schools, providing high school dropouts a high school diploma completion program. Its just been fun to watch this institution grow, Bingham said. He acknowledges just how hard his staff works, with some taking on two or three job descriptions to meet the needs of the students. Im extremely proud of the staff and faculty and the administration at this college, he said, for how they put every ounce of effort they have into helping the students be successful. His staff, likewise, has lauded his work. Based on their nomination, Bingham was named 2014 Boss of the Year by the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce. This is like a family, said Bingham. A family works together and sticks together for the common good. There would be no boss of the year, he said, without a family of the year. Binghams looking forward to his new challenge in Sydney. Its a beautiful city and wonderful people. ... Its a huge melting pot of cultures. When he was 19 years old, he served a two-year mission in Melbourne, Australia. Im very familiar with the Australian people. And having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, hes looking forward to being near the ocean for the next three years. Bingham was very, very instrumental is the growth of that institution and the maturation of that institution from its vo-tech roots, to community college. ... Its very much a full-service community college that has a robust transfer mission, yet still providing some great career, technical education for the community, said Commissioner of Higher Education Clayton Christian. Christian served on the Montana Board of Regents prior to becoming Montana Commissioner of Higher Education in 2011. During those years, hes had a close-up look at Binghams work and accomplishments. He oversaw a couple remodels that really brought that facility into the modern educational facility that it is today. Its been a real transformational period for Helena College, and Daniel was a great inspiration while that happened. Christian praised Bingham as a quiet, steady, confident leader who oversaw a lot of change with a very steady hand. He kept his eye on the target in the long run. I truly have enjoyed working with Daniel." These words were echoed by Interim University of Montana President Sheila Stearns, who is the former Commissioner of Higher Education. He was able to interweave stability with innovation and with an overriding sense of confidence that we can do this at Helena College, said Stearns. It was kind of an unstable and kind of rocky transition -- not of his making, she said, at the time Bingham stepped in. He created stability on one hand, she said, but he did it with a sense of we can change but not at such a breakneck pace that we dont do it wisely. His leadership "provided a sense of optimism for the future, but also a sense of confidence in our stability right here and now. ... It kind of invigorated people when they could have been feeling unsettled. She said he changed that to a feeling of: We can pull together and build an even stronger college. When asked about Binghams qualities, Stearns responded with five adjectives: confident, determined, energetic, creative and kind. You put those five things together and tell me youre not going to have a successful administration. All of Montanas two-year vo tech schools transitioned to become comprehensive community colleges, she said, adding that Helena College did that in a particularly smooth and deliberate and confident way -- to embrace change. The campus changes were all made to better meet the needs of local communities. Helena College "did it methodically, wisely and thoughtfully. His leadership guided it every step of the way. While Stearns was Commissioner of Higher Education, she and Bingham became friends during commutes together to Missoula for various meetings. When you have windshield time, you become friends. ... He became a person that I developed a real deep sense of his integrity and values and leadership. I came to really admire him and became very fond of him. I will miss him. So far, there is no firm plan for Binghams replacement, Christian said. Bingham announced his departure to his staff late Thursday afternoon. Advertising for his position will begin soon, said Christian. If the search is successful, a dean will be in place in July. If the search takes longer, an interim dean will step in. Reporter Marga Lincoln can be reached at 447-4083 or marga.lincoln@helenair.com Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Atlantic Richfield Company and the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday asked U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon to loosen the confidentiality agreement shrouding the long-running Butte Hill Superfund negotiations so that the public may be briefed on an agreement reached by all the parties in the talks. The joint motion, filed Thursday afternoon, represents the fulfillment of a promise made in January, when Doug Benevento, EPA's Region 8 administrator, announced that after some 12 years of secret talks, the EPA, state agencies, Butte-Silver Bow, Atlantic Richfield, and the railroads had reached an "agreement in principle" on a consent decree, a legal document that would dictate the precise parameters of the cleanup. At that time, Benevento said that the parties would go to court and seek to ease the confidentiality agreement, allowing the community to be briefed as soon as possible on the framework of the agreement setting out exactly what is to be cleaned up, how it is to be done, and how it will be paid for. "This is the first step," Benevento said yesterday. "We've reached agreement and filed the motion, and the filing speaks for itself." If Haddon grants the motion, Benevento said, "We plan to be back in Butte immediately for a public hearing to answer questions" about the agreement and the cleanup. In the joint motion, EPA and Atlantic Richfield said, "The parties have made substantial progress in their efforts to reach agreement upon a settlement framework for funding and implementing a modified remedy" for the Butte Hill. Northey Tretheway, spokesman for the Restore Our Creek Coalition, said Thursday, "Mr. Benevento kept his word from a January meeting to lift the gag order on the agreement in principle. Let's continue to hope that his words hold up once again and that the released agreement adheres to statements Mr. Benevento made at that same meeting, while prominently holding the vision document of a restored Silver Bow Creek, that decisions under the gag order are being driven by that book and the community's wishes." The wording of the filing indicates that even if the gag order is lifted, complete financial details won't yet be made public. But it does say that Atlantic Richfield, the primary responsible party under Superfund law for the site, will assume most if not all of the cleanup cost. "Under the negotiated framework, Atlantic Richfield would implement and provide funding to construct the remaining elements of the modified remedy," the motion states. Atlantic Richfield spokesman Brett Clanton said Thursday evening that while he could "confirm the motion has been filed ... we cannot comment further until the court rules on the motion." In the motion, the EPA and Atlantic Richfield seek approval to undertake a three-step process with the other parties to the talks to inform the public. Step one would include "narrative descriptions and figures of proposed work plans to implement the 'modified remedy' that has been agreed upon, as well as descriptions of proposed restoration actions to be implemented by the state of Montana." Also to be discussed at this point, the petitioners wrote, is an analysis of whether it is technically practicable to meet surface-water pollution standards on the hill. That means the parties will be discussing whether or not it is possible for Silver Bow Creek and Blacktain Creek to meet water quality standards. The second step would come "after further progress is made" on the details of the consent decree, the motion states. It would include the release of a more detailed proposed plan of action. As a part of that, the EPA would seek public comment on the proposed changes to the Record of Decision on the cleanup. Written in 2006, the Record of Decision is a document that laid out the damage to the Butte Hill from more than 100 years of mining and smelting waste. The EPA and Atlantic Richfield said they expect that a 60-day public comment period on the proposed plan would occur "during the summer of 2018." In step three, once a consent decree is lodged with the court, the Justice Department must then seek public comment on that version. After those public comments have been considered, "The United States, joined by the state, would present the Court with a motion to either modify the consent decree, withdraw the consent decree or approve and enter a final consent decree." The motion said that even as materials are shared with the public, ongoing negotiations will stay confidential. The goal, according to the motion, is to file a consent decree "to the public and the Court" by the end of the 2018 calendar year. The filing comes a day after EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, during a Senate budget hearing, told Montana's senators Democrat Jon Tester and Republican Steve Daines that the EPA was trying to bring more transparency to the process and would make sure community stakeholders are heard. Thursday, Daines's office ballyhooed the filing, issuing a statement that "just a day after" Daines "urged" Pruitt to lift a court gag order, the motion was filed. But the filing of the motion had been in the works for months since the announcement of the agreement and appeared Thursday to have no connection to Pruitt's appearance at the budget hearing. Benevento said Thursday that he had not spoken with Pruitt after Wednesday's hearing, although he said he did give the administrator some talking points about Butte and Anaconda before the hearing. "This progress and transparency have been a long time coming," Daines said in the statement Thursday. "I applaud the EPA's major step toward removing the gag order, and urge them to seek the Butte community's input." There is no timetable for Haddon to rule on the motion. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Helena city officials urged residents Wednesday to help them enforce a point-of-sale ordinance approved this past fall aimed at curbing youth access to tobacco products. City commissioners voted six months ago to prohibit the sale of tobacco products from self-service displays, except in adult-only retailers. The ordinance defines a self-service display as an open display or storage of tobacco products in a manner that is physically accessible in any way to the general public without the assistance of the retailer or employee of the retailer without a direct person-to-person transfer between the purchaser and the retailer or employee of the retailer. The ordinance, in its first year, calls for tobacco retailers to be inspected twice for compliance and then annually thereafter, with additional inspections following violations. Beyond inspections, enforcement of the ordinance is driven by complaints filed through the City Attorneys Office to Municipal Court. If the City Attorney's Office finds a complaint to be credible, a citation will be issued. Commissioner Andres Haladay said at a Wednesday press event that the ordinance is only the citys first step in fighting youth tobacco use, noting that the ordinance as originally considered last October was much stronger, robust and more effective than the version approved a month later. We, as a city, need to keep working toward ways to better regulate and limit youth access to tobacco products, Haladay said. But I am glad that Helena is leading the way in Montana and joining the national movement on this issue. We would not be here today without you community advocates. This was not a commission-driven issue alone. In 2017, 32.7% of Montana high school students surveyed as part of the state Office of Public Instructions Youth Risk Behavior Survey admitted to using cigars, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or vapor products in the past 30 days. Language in an early draft of the ordinance that would have restricted where flavored tobacco products could be purchased within Helena city limits generated heated debate from local business owners. Commissioner Ed Noonan moved to strike a section of the ordinance that would have confined the sale of flavored tobacco products to adult-only retailers before an initial vote on Oct. 15, 2018. For us to go, were preventing this by stopping it at just this little spot, and then a mile beyond the next gas station can sell it, in the end didnt seem to me to be the most effective way to try to address this, Noonan explained at the time. Commissioners later requested that City Attorney Thomas Jodoin and then-interim City Manager Dennis Taylor consider an exemption from the ordinance for adult-only retailers. The ordinance as approved last November exempts facilities where the tobacco retailer ensures that no person younger than 18 years of age is present, or permitted to enter, at any time. Helena High students who spoke at Wednesdays event said they regularly see vaping products used in and around school facilities, sometimes between and during classes. Of students who took part in the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 46.6% said they had tried a vapor product before but only 6.7% of those who used the products in the past 30 days said they "usually" obtained them from a store. General Manager Crystal Collins of Town Pump said that in addition to changes made to comply with the ordinance, her employees are trained to be aware of potential secondhand sales, including in store parking lots. Were doing this more than just in the Helena area but statewide, Collins said, making sure that we can have all tobacco products moved behind our counters. City Manager Ana Cortez, who took office two months after the ordinance was approved, said the city welcomes input on the ordinance from all community members and assured residents that officials are taking enforcement very seriously. This should be an ongoing conversation with the business community so that we can better protect our young people, Cortez said. The link to make a general complaint on the city website now mentions improper tobacco sales next to potholes and sidewalk obstruction, which Lewis and Clark Public Health spokesperson Gayle Shirley said is a recent addition. Wednesdays announcements came two days after U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, introduced legislation to raise the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21. Fourteen states already require residents to be 21 or older to purchase tobacco products, according to the Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation. McConnell declared the use of vaping products among American youth "a public health crisis" when introducing the bill on the Senate floor Monday and said vaping contributes almost entirely to the increase in American high school students using tobacco products. A reported 1.5 million more American youth used e-cigarettes in 2018 than the year before, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimated that use of all tobacco products among high school students increased 38.3% over the same time period. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. In Our Care PENDING GAILUSHAS, Jill M., age 56, of Helena, passed away Monday, May 20, 2019. Services are pending at this time and will be announced when theyre complete. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Jill. TODAY BRAZIER, Marie Catherine, age 80, of Helena, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2019. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 p.m. today, May 22, at the Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N. Ewing St. A reception will follow the mass at the lower level of the Brondel Center at the Cathedral. Following the reception, burial will be held at Resurrection Cemetery, 3750 North Montana Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Marie are suggested to the St. Peters Health Foundation, St. Peters Cancer Treatment Center, Carroll College, or the charity of your choice. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Marie. FRIDAY CHAFFEE, Carol A., age 89, of Helena, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. A memorial service with brunch will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 24, at the First Presbyterian Church, 535 N. Ewing St. in Helena with a graveside service to follow at Montana State Veterans Cemetery. Memorials in honor of Carol are suggested to the Montana Native Plant Society at www.mtnativeplants.org. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Carol. SATURDAY MCCULLOGH, Grace, age 97, of Helena, passed away Monday, February 11, 2019. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 25th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A reception will immediately follow the service in the social hall of the funeral home. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or share a memory of Gracie. Digging through mud and dirt sounds like a chore to most, but to students of CR Anderson Middle School it sounds like a hunt. What are they hunting for exactly? Phages. "Phages are a virus that infects and kills bacteria," said Marissa Pedulla, professor of Biology at Montana Tech. "They can't infect human cells, but do attack specific types of bacteria." Pedulla says the number of phages, short for bacteriophage, are approximately 10 times the total number of bacteria. One type of bacteria can have more than 13,000 different phages that can attack it. This makes phages an invaluable scientific tool that can be used to combat certain bacteria that develop resistance to antibiotics. In 2005, Pedulla met a Helena High School teacher who asked her to hold a meeting speaking to the teachers of Helena Public Schools. It was there that she met Megan Lane, a seventh grade biology teacher at C.R. Anderson, who asked her to come present to her class. Every year since, Pedulla has worked with the students as they collect samples in hopes that they might hit the one-in-100 chance of finding the right kind of phage. "Every student's tube has phages in it," Pedulla said. But the students of C.R. Anderson are seeking phages that are closely related to Mycobacterium smegmatis. This bacterium is of the same genius, but different enough from tuberculosis that its phages still might attack it. These phages are not dangerous in any way to the students collecting them. The idea is that these students may find phages that are able to help combat tuberculosis in the future. With approximately 150 students collecting phages each year for the project, they have contributed just over a dozen useful samples to a collection held at the University of Pittsburgh. "One milliliter of pond water has about 10 million phages in it," Pedulla said. This is how students go about hunting for phages. Lane said they simply collect a sample in nature, typically from dirt or water. Mycobacterium smegmatis is soil based, so dirt and muddy water samples are great ways to find phages that affect it. Lane described the phage hunt as a numbers game. There are so many phages that the potential number is measured in exponents. Of that massive number, each bacteria has a huge number that will impact it specifically. As the numbers whittle down there are even fewer that can ultimately kill that bacteria. "The question is: Can it affect the mycobacterium?" Lane said. When phages can make an impact on a bacteria, the scientific value can be huge. Articles recently published by PBS and NPR told the story of 17-year-old Isabelle Carnell-Holdaway, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of 15. After a double lung transplant, Holdaway was left with a "superbug" infection of Mycobacterium abcessus that was killing her. A highly experimental procedure where she was injected with a cocktail of genetically modified phages allowed her to recover. Though Holdaway isn't cured, she has managed to return to a normal life. Most patients in her position die shortly after. She still receives the phage cocktail injection on a daily basis. Pedulla said it's very likely the phages C.R. Anderson students collected were tested in the study that led to saving Holdaway. The phages in the cocktail were part of the same 15,000-phage collection held at the University of Pittsburgh. Lane said that with so many bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics, phages have more potential than ever. Phages have the ability to adapt, giving them a better chance to keep evolving alongside the bacteria and killing it. Lane said the results of this case will likely blow her students' minds. "It makes this very real for them," Lane said. However, saving lives isn't the only contribution of the phage hunt. Lane said the biggest contribution is what her students take away from it. "It makes the world of science more personal, and students might consider science as a career even if they haven't before," Lane said. "The kids get to work with exciting equipment and get to meet with real scientists and see that they are real people." Lane said she has seen the motivation the phage hunt inspires in the students she has taught for the past 14 years. "It's a genuine taste of scientific discovery for students," Pedulla said. "And it gives them motivation." With phage research becoming more prominent and Pedulla's research expanding to more schools, her motivation to continue has been stronger than ever. "I think an equally valid aspect of this is 'What kind of organisms are on our planet?'" Pedulla said. "We don't really know what is here if we don't count microbes." Ultimately, students at C.R. Anderson are contributing to something that could save more lives in the future. Since 2014, the phage discovery project, funded by the National Institute of Health's Science Education Partnership Award, has been in partnership with the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program. Funding and teamwork through these agencies has allowed the project to spread to thousands of students across the state. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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 representative of the real-estate affiliate of Corrections Corporation of America and CCA itself offered to provide Lewis and Clark County with a cost for a detention center to meet local needs. However, they were also advised by Eric Bryson, the countys chief administrative officer, that a request for proposals would be issued should the county decide to seek a contract with a private company. When speaking at a local government lunch on March 29, Bryson said the issue facing the county isnt the cost of construction as much as the cost to operate it. While voters in November opposed a 20-year construction bond to fund a $41 million facility, they rejected by an even larger margin a proposal for a permanent levy to operate it and provide inmates services such as for mental health and screening to determine which inmates must be incarcerated pending trial. Even if a private firm came in, built the facility and leased it back to us at a certain amount per day, we need an operating levy to be able to pay for that lease, Bryson said. And when the cost of the county constructing and operating a detention center over 30 years is compared to the cost of a private company doing that, the county will pay more because of the private companys up-front costs of construction, added. Were looking at it because it may be the only option we have, he said. County officials and those in the local criminal justice system have been exploring options for how to address detention center overcrowding since the ballot issues failed. While the jail opened in 1985 with 54 beds, additional beds have been welded in to increase the capacity to 80 that has proven insufficient. On Friday morning, April 8, the detention center held 91 inmates locally of the 114 that were in its custody. The nearly $41 million construction bond was rejected with roughly 65 percent opposed. The levy failed with nearly 70 percent opposed. Voters had been asked to approve a 244-bed detention facility that would have also had room for the Sheriffs Office. The roughly 109,000-square-foot building was proposed for vacant land east of Interstate 15 and north of Custer Avenue. The facility would have been able to easily add another 44 cells to accommodate future demand, according to presentations made to community groups. In anticipation of construction, the county had purchased nearly 40 acres for $1.5 million. A feasibility study released in March found converting the basement of the Law Enforcement Center building into detention space to be too costly and conditions would fail to meet standards for housing inmates. A second feasibility study is now under way to determine whether the basement and first floor, which houses the Sheriffs Office and Helena Police Department, could be converted into detention space. In that plan, Bryson has said, its envisioned that booking offices would be located in the basement and the buildings first floor would become detention space. The American Civil Liberties Union has been working with the county, and county officials have said they dont know how much longer the ACLU will remain patient because of the jail conditions. Every option is still on the table for us, Bryson said after meeting with Core Civic, the real estate division of Corrections Corporation of America, and CCA. While Bryson noted they can use the countys preliminary architecture report, assembled by Slate Architecture of Helena and Goldberg Group Architects of St. Joseph, Missouri, to prepare a proposal, he also said he wasnt requesting them for one. CCA and Core Civic would try to crunch some numbers, said Andrea Evans, senior director of partnership development with CCA. John Malloy, managing director with Core Civic, agreed and said they would look at it and that maybe they could construct a facility for less than the $41 million that voters rejected. Right now were overcrowded, Sheriff Leo Dutton said. And its a safety issue. A substantial safety issue for the people who work there and the inmates as well. People who are crammed into a small space fight, Dutton said. In the Gallatin County Detention Center, where people have room to roam, there are fewer incidents, he added. The county has been sending out its overflow inmates to contract jails, Dutton said and explained that while the daily rate is $65 for these facilities, that doesnt include medical and transportation costs among others. So the total bed cost is actually about $123 a day, the sheriff explained and noted that the county budgeted $250,000 and may spend more on holding inmates in contract jails. CCA is already a partner with the state of Montana and operates the Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby. The facility went operational in 1999, CCA representatives told Bryson. According to the CCA website, the facility houses 715 state and federal prisoners although the two populations are separated. Three facilities were built in the last year, Bryson was told during the meeting with CCA whose representatives said the company manages a jail operation for Indianapolis and a part of the Washington, D.C. jail. CCA has also had them in Florida and New Mexico, Evans added. Well assist counties housing their jail offenders like youre having to do with your overflow population in our existing adult detention centers, Malloy said. Our goal is to provide value to government and get deals done so we are willing to be flexible, he told Bryson. We are willing to recognize realities on the ground. It would have to obviously make sense for us but they also have to make sense for the government. Its not a long-term solution for us to tie a county into an agreement that theyre not comfortable and then you end up with a partner whos not happy. Thats not a long-term strategy for us. You dont end up growing the business by creating agreements that people dont want to honor because they feel like something was promised to them that wasnt delivered, Malloy said. If a private entity builds a detention center for the county, staffing would be by the Sheriffs Office, Dutton said. Al Knauber can be reached at al.knauber@helenair.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Medical marijuana advocates are asking the Montana Supreme Court to delay implementing a ruling last month that will limit providers to selling the drug to no more than three patients and force the closure of the state's large dispensaries. Helena pot providers vow to stay open as long as possible The legal defense fund donation box at Lionheart Caregiving is certainly large enough to not A petition for rehearing was to be filed Friday, the deadline before the ruling was to take effect upholding most of a 2011 state law imposing severe restrictions on medical marijuana. Attorney James Goetz provided The Associated Press a copy of the petition before it was filed with the court. It requests a transition period through the end of the next legislative session, which would be sometime in April 2017. It also asks the court to consider lifting the three-patient limit. The transition period would prevent the disruption of patient care, ease providers' fear of prosecution and help state officials prepare for enforcing the ruling, Goetz wrote in the petition. The Supreme Court rarely takes up petitions for rehearing after a ruling. However, the act of filing the petition delays implementation of its ruling and grants dispensaries a temporary reprieve while the court considers the request. If the court agrees to the year-long delay, the status quo would be kept while advocates attempt to place an initiative on November's ballot to loosen the restrictions. If that fails, advocates would lobby the state lawmakers next year for changes to the law, Goetz said. The head of the Montana Cannabis Information Association, which is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit challenging the 2011 state law, said any additional time could help vulnerable patients from losing their source of medical marijuana. "This is a catastrophe, when it comes down to it, for a lot of people," said Bob Devine, MTCIA president and owner of the Spark1 dispensary in Bozeman. Department of Justice spokesman John Barnes did not have an immediate comment on the filing, but said state attorneys will respond promptly in court. The state Legislature passed the 2011 law after a medical marijuana boom that led to abuses and widespread recreational use. By then, the number of registered users had grown to more than 30,000 and there were more than 4,800 providers. Besides the three-patient limit, the law requires the automatic review of doctors who recommend the drug to more than 25 patients in a year and bans marijuana advertising. The Supreme Court struck down a provision that would have prevented providers from charging patients for marijuana. At the end of February, there were 13,594 registered users and 476 providers. Twenty-six of those providers sell to more than 100 patients each. Devine's Spark1 is one of them. Some have already left the state, Devine said. If the Supreme Court denies the reconsideration request, those who remain will have to hunker down and hope that the proposed voter initiative makes it onto the November ballot. "There are those that are running off to Oregon, those committed to this and not going anywhere, and there are those in between," Devine said. "We feel that in the end, Montanans will see the benefit to this, as opposed to trying to do away with it." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 HELENA U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke's dormant congressional campaign committee recently sold a 2004 motor home at a steep discount to an old friend in the Montana Legislature. But a seemingly ordinary transaction between friends, when seen through the optics of stringent campaign finance laws, can raise a bevy of questions - especially when those friends are politically high-powered and well-connected. After learning about the transaction, campaign finance watchdogs are raising a $25,000 question: Why would Zinke's campaign committee sell the Kountry Star Freightliner for half the price of its apparent $50,000 market value? It's a head-scratcher for Lawrence Noble, a senior director of the Campaign Legal Center, a nonpartisan group of election law experts. "If the asset is worth $50,000, and they sell it to somebody for $25,000, it's the equivalent of them giving $25,000 to that person," Noble said. The Federal Election Commission prohibits political committees to sell assets, including campaign vehicles, below fair market value. It's akin to a gift, Noble said. "The campaign cannot give a $25,000 gift to somebody," he said. The treasurer of Zinke's congressional campaign referred questions about the sale to campaign directors, both of whom declined to comment. Heather Swift, communications director for the Interior Department who also served as Zinke's congressional and campaign spokeswoman, did not respond to requests for an interview. The buyer, state Sen. Ed Buttrey, said the 37-foot recreational vehicle had engine problems and other damage, which would undercut its value. But he still felt he got a "nice deal." Buttrey maintains there was nothing improper about the transaction. Yet he acknowledged it might prompt questions, especially because he says he's in the final vetting stages for a key post in Zinke's Interior Department. "I know that wouldn't look good," Buttrey said. The sale was finalized months after Buttrey began spreading word that he was up for an appointment as an assistant interior secretary. Whether the White House formally nominates Buttrey for the position remains an open question. The White House and Interior Department have declined to comment. An aide to Montana Sen. Steve Daines, who sits on the committee that would hold a hearing on the nomination, said it was hard to say how much longer the vetting will take. Federal officials have been making the rounds, including visits to state agencies as part of their background checks. The motor home shuttled Zinke around his home state during a failed bid for lieutenant governor and two successful runs for Montana's lone congressional seat. With Zinke now ensconced in Washington, he apparently had no further need for the RV. Buttrey, a wealthy businessman from Great Falls, said he developed an attachment to the vehicle while campaigning with Zinke. So when he was in the market to buy an RV, he said, "I made them an offer, and they accepted it." Buttrey said he wrote a check for the entire purchase price in June after cashing in some stocks. The title was transferred July 25. The Associated Press first learned about the vehicle's sale after inquiring about a $25,000 transaction listed in Zinke's latest filing with the Federal Election Commission. The FEC's rule on the disposal of campaign assets is meant to ensure money raised for politics is used for politics, and "not pocketed by the candidate or in this instance pocketed by someone outside the campaign," said Paul S. Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation for the watchdog group Common Cause. He, too, questioned why the campaign gave the state legislator a deep discount, saying "it's easy to be generous to your friends when you're using other people's money." State law prohibits lawmakers from accepting gifts of "substantial value," defined as $50 or more. But the law suggests there would have to be a demonstrable quid pro quo associated with the gift for it to be a violation. Montana Commissioner of Political Practices Jeff Mangan said he could not comment on the RV sale because there was no complaint before him. The Billings Gazette reported last year that the Zinkes bought the motor home for personal use in 2011 for $80,000, with more than 75,000 miles on the odometer. Lolita Zinke later sold it to the campaign for $59,000. NADA Guides, an online motor vehicle valuation service, listed the average retail value for a base model in good condition with up to about 100,000 miles on it at $49,300, with the low retail valuation for $40,900. Several RV dealers contacted by the AP said it's unlikely any repairs to the body or interior of the vehicle including installing a new refrigerator and television, and repairing awnings and a slide-out compartment would amount to $25,000. But the dealers said estimating the cost of any repairs would be difficult without an inspection. Regardless of whether anything improper occurred, both buyer and seller were public officials and should have known the sale was sure to raise eyebrows, said Edwin Bender, executive director of the Helena-based National Institute on Money in State Politics. "This is less about the details," he said, "but more about the optics." Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week's contribution is from Cole Messa, Ph.D. student, and Ken Sims, professor of Geology and Geophysics, both at the University of Wyoming. Imagine for a moment that you could turn back the clock some 200 years or so and embark on a journey from east to west across the North American continent. You would be unaware of what lay beyond the great plains of the American heartland and oblivious to the Rocky Mountains that would thwart your path. Imagine that you had never heard of Yellowstone, or geysers and hot springs, and as far as you were concerned nature was epitomized by the patchy, deciduous forests and rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains. During your march west, you would find yourself alone at the doorstep of another world, the smell of rotten eggs in the air, game abundant, the ground soft but warm beneath your aching feet, and all around you are jets of steaming water and pools of colorful splendor. Would anyone ever believe you if you told them what you saw? So goes the life of John Colter, the first mountain man to see what is now Yellowstone National Park. It was 1803 when Colter, already a skilled hunter and scout, joined the Corps of Discovery the Lewis and Clark expedition before it set out from St. Louis, Missouri, in an effort to document the lands of the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. Upon reaching the Pacific Coast of modern-day Washington and Oregon, the expedition began its return trip to the Mandan villages of what is now North Dakota. It is here, in 1806, that Colter made a choice that would etch his name into history forever. The company encountered a couple of fur trappers, Forest Hancock and Joseph Dickson, who were planning to follow the Missouri River in search of game. Colter joined up to lead the two fur trappers, and they embarked northward along the Missouri River. The partnership lasted only a few months, however, and by early 1807 Colter was on his way back to St. Louis. As he approached the Platte River Colter encountered another trading company run by Manuel Lisa and including some former members of the Corps of Discovery. They were en route to the Yellowstone River, and Colter again turned west, back to the wilderness. The group would build Fort Raymond at the intersection of the Yellowstone and Bighorn rivers. It was from here that Colter set out alone late in 1807 to establish trade relations with the Crow Nation. During the next year Colter's nearly 500-mile route would take him across the Continental Divide into what today is Jackson Hole and eventually over Teton Pass into modern-day Idaho. Colter would then venture back across the Teton Range and travel north along Jackson Lake and into what is now Yellowstone National Park, making Colter the first European-American to set eyes on the Teton Range and the Yellowstone region. Most notably, Colter's journey took him along Yellowstone Lake, where he would have encountered abundant thermal features, like hot springs and geysers. Alone in this completely uncharted territory, one can only begin to imagine the emotions that Colter was experiencing. There is much debate among the historical community regarding what exactly Colter saw during his lonesome trek through the Yellowstone wilderness. One thing is certain: Colter's tales of fire and brimstone would seldom be accepted by the people with whom he shared his tales of adventure. In fact, a region of land along the Shoshone River that today is marked by mostly extinct thermal features is known appropriately as "Colter's Hell" a name that started as a joke by Colter's disbelieving audiences, but is now a mark of respect for his incredible journey. Now, ask yourself: If a mountain man told you the story of a place, deep in the mountains of the American West, where water spewed from the ground with such force and heat that the Earth shook beneath your feet, would you believe him? It is this sense of wonder and disbelief of a place so extraordinary that drives our reverence for the first national park. It is this idea that fuels the need to protect, conserve, and study Yellowstone, for it is a uniquely special environment that, no matter how many times one lays eyes on it, continues to challenge our very understanding and perception of the natural world. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BLOOMINGTON Since measles numbers began increasing nationally and statewide earlier this year, more parents are making sure their children are vaccinated as soon as they are eligible. Statewide, there have been seven confirmed measles cases so far this year in Champaign, Cook and DeKalb counties, said Melaney Arnold of the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been no measles' deaths. McLean, Macon and Coles counties have had no confirmed measles cases, said representatives of those counties' health departments. Still, Central Illinois medical professionals remain concerned that children receive their MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccinations. "Parents need to make sure their children are up to date on their vaccines," said Carol Carlton, Macon County Health Department director of clinical nursing services. "Getting those two MMRs are important," she added. "People not getting their children vaccinated are putting their children at risk." As Jaleesa Davis waited Tuesday for her one-year well-baby checkup and vaccinations including the MMR her Bloomington parents were matter-of-fact about why she was getting her shots. "To help protect her from these diseases," said her mother, Brandie Davis, 32; her husband, Joshua, 28, agreed. "To keep her safe and healthy," added Brandie Davis, at OSF HealthCare Medical Group-Pediatrics in Bloomington. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get one dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months old and a second dose at 4 to 6 years old. Both are required by the state of Illinois before a child enters kindergarten. Before, some parents waited until their child was about to begin kindergarten before agreeing to their child's second MMR dose, said Dr. Samina Yousuf, pediatrician with OSF HealthCare Medical Group, and Dr. Aaron Traeger, pediatrician with Advocate Children's Medical Group, both in Bloomington. "Now, a lot of them are saying they want to get it done at age 4," Traeger said. "In my own practice (in recent weeks), there has been much more discussion of vaccinations and a push (by parents) to have it done as soon as recommended," said Yousuf. "More people want to have it done at 4 years old rather than 6. I love that." In April, Advocate Children's Medical Group began contacting parents whose children are not fully vaccinated and encouraging them to immediately all their pediatrician. "They've said, 'Thank you for protecting us,'" Traeger said. CDC reported Tuesday that there have been 880 measles cases nationwide since Jan. 1 the highest number since 1994. "It's really pretty alarming that we have the highest number of measles cases since 1994," Yousuf said. In 1989-90, there were 55,000 measles cases in the United States and 123 deaths, Yousuf said. Most of the cases involved people who weren't vaccinated or had only one dose, Yousuf said. For that reason, two doses have been recommended since 1989 and the disease was declared virtually eliminated in the United States in 2000, she noted. But measles outbreaks in pockets of the country where people haven't been vaccinated have health officials worried. Some people have pointed to a study from several years ago that drew a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but that paper has been debunked, Traeger and Yousuf said. "At the health department, our mission is to keep communities safe and healthy and vaccines are a major way to keep communities safe and our children healthy," said Mara Hildebrand, Coles County Health Department director of nursing. "Vaccination is the most effective measles prevention," agreed Melissa Graven, McLean County Health Department communicable disease supervisor. People who are vaccinated also protect people who can't be vaccinated, such as children under 12 months old and people going through cancer treatments, Yousuf said. Statewide, 98.1 percent of school children were vaccinated for the 2018-19 school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. "McLean County averages 98 percent in school-aged children for the MMR vaccine," Graven said. In Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie and Shelby counties, "all of our school districts are greater than 96 percent," said Kyle Thompson, assistant regional superintendent of schools. Macon County schools are averaging 98 to 100 percent compliance, according to the state board of education. While schools in McLean, DeWitt, Logan and Livingston counties are close to 100 percent compliance, Regional Superintendent Mark Jontry would like it to be 100 percent. "Get your kids vaccinated," he said. Contact Paul Swiech at (309) 820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHICAGO The cannabis industry in the U.S. has long been centered around states like Colorado and Oregon, but now, marijuana sales in Illinois and its neighboring states east of the Mississippi River are poised to rival those out west. The U.S. cannabis market is staring down massive growth, with sales that are expected to reach $22.7 billion by 2023, including $16.8 billion in recreational sales, according to a report out Tuesday from Chicago-based cannabis research firm Brightfield Group. Political support is growing around legalization efforts, and medical programs are expanding around the country. In Illinois, lawmakers are working to capture some of those potential recreational sales. They hope to pass a bill by the end of May that would legalize recreational use of the still federally illegal drug by January. Currently, the top five markets are west of the Mississippi, with Colorado, Oregon and Washington making up 42% of total U.S. sales, according to the Brightfield report. Sales in Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey and New York together make up 11 percent. By 2023, those market shares are expected to flip, Brightfield predicted, with the eastern states making up 34% of the market, and the western states dropping to 20 percent. A lot of it comes down to population density, said Bethany Gomez, managing director of Brightfield Group. Theres much more opportunity in these areas that have larger populations and the market size can be larger Illinois is going to be huge. California is expected to remain on top, with one-fifth of total demand. But Illinois and Michigan are expected to rival Colorado and Nevada. States in the Midwest and along the East Coast are more populous than those out west, offering greater potential for long-term growth among cannabis companies, according to the report. Their marijuana programs have so far limited the number of licenses issued to operators. That has created a fertile environment for scale and consolidation, and added value for big-time investors, according to the report. Though some argue that the caps on licenses have kept out smaller operators, they have also given rise to about a dozen large, well-capitalized cannabis companies that operate in several states. Chicago-based companies like Green Thumb Industries, Grassroots and Cresco Labs are among the highest valued companies in the industry, according to the report. As these big players establish themselves in the medical marijuana markets in the East, we can expect to see explosive growth from scale once these states become legal recreational markets, according to the report. Illinois medical program has also expanded, adding more than 12,500 patients since February, when the state dropped fingerprint and background check requirements for patients, allowed people prescribed opioids access to medical marijuana, and started granting provisional access while medical card applications are reviewed. The reports findings hinge on politics and other unforeseen factors. Lawmakers are already working to amend the Illinois bill, introduced earlier this month. Vermont remains the only state to legalize marijuana legislatively so far. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TAYLORVILLE A Taylorville attorney will have his law license suspended for 60 days after a state commission found that he lied about living in Shelby County when he sought to become a judge there. Dennis Roy Atteberry was among attorneys whose conduct was evaluated by the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission, an administrative agency for the Illinois Supreme Court. The high court on Tuesday released names of those being disciplined. Atteberry, first licensed in 2001, claimed a false residence address on a statement of candidacy for the Shelby County circuit judge position, according to the ARDC. The agency said he claimed the false address to comply with the residency requirement for that judicial position. Atteberry said in an emailed statement he takes full responsibility for his actions. "Over the last 18 years, I have built a reputation of honesty and integrity," Atteberry said. "In 2016, I made a mistake when I ran for Shelby County Circuit Judge." Atteberry said he has an associate who will cover his cases during his suspension that will begin on June 11. Contact Analisa Trofimuk at (217) 421-7985. Follow her on Twitter: @AnalisaTro Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR Joseph A. Baker, 48, has pleaded guilty in Macon County Circuit Court to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse of a child. At a Thursday, May 16, hearing, a charge of predatory criminal sexual assault was also dismissed as part of Baker's open plea agreement, with a sentence cap of six years, according to court records. Baker has a sentencing hearing scheduled for June 24. Speaking Wednesday, Decatur police detective Sgt. Chris Copeland said that in October 2017 a man reported to police that Baker sexually abused the man's daughter between 2010 and 2013. Baker was in a county jail in Wisconsin at the time and was arrested on a warrant following his release on Oct. 24, 2018, Copeland said. Baker was brought to the Macon County Jail on the same day, where his bail was set at $200,000 and he has remained since. Also as part of his plea agreement, Baker will have to pay a $500 sex offender fee, a $200 sexual assault fee, a $50 STD test, register as a sex offender for life and undergo sex offender evaluation. 2019 mug shots from the Herald & Review Contact Kennedy Nolen at (217) 421-6985. Follow her on Twitter: @KNolenWrites Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The National Weather Service has issued a Tornado Watch for areas from Shelbyville to Mattoon, southward through Flora and Olney, until 3 a.m. "An area of strong to severe thunderstorms will continue to be capable of producing brief tornado touchdowns as it moves into southeast Illinois late this evening. Make sure you have multiple ways to receive warnings, and be prepared to act quickly as these storms approach," the weather service said. 7:12 p.m. LINCOLN The National Weather Service says damaging winds are possible Tuesday as a powerful storm system moves into Central Illinois from the St. Louis region. The most severe part is expected to arrive in a line from Bloomington to Decatur to Charleston between 9 and 10 p.m. Showers and thunderstorms are forecast before 3 a.m. The storms are part of a weather system moving across the Midwest that began last weekend and will continue through the week, according to the weather service. A tornado warning was issued for the city of St. Louis. Gusts up to 70 miles per hour and the possibility of tornadoes were forecast there. The St. Louis Cardinals game was postponed because of the inclement weather and rescheduled as an interleague, day-night doubleheader Wednesday. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson declared a state of emergency as the state braced for severe weather. A Flash Flood Watch is in place for Christian, De Witt, Logan, Macon, Marshall, Mason, McLean, Menard, Peoria, Piatt, Sangamon, Shelby, Stark, Tazewell, and Woodford counties until 1 a.m. Wednesday. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MACON Work starts next week to bring the state's first "J-turn" intersection to U.S. 51 in Macon, a $1.9 million project that aims to improve safety in an area that county officials and lawmakers have long deemed hazardous. Work on the highway's intersection with West Andrews Street Road was set to begin today, but was pushed back to May 28 because of wet weather in the forecast, said Tim Hemmen, project implementation engineer for the Illinois Department of Transportation's District 7, which includes Macon County. Weather will also determine whether the project will meet its initially scheduled completion date of Sept. 1. Since the highway expanded from two lanes to four in the early 2000s, the intersection has been the site of a number of crashes. The changes are designed to restrict through traffic and left-turn movement on West Andrews Street Road, and to keep drivers from attempting to cross four lanes of U.S. 51 at once, IDOT engineer Greg Jamerson previously told the Herald & Review. "Some people don't use turn signals," said Damon Reed, who works in Macon and was pumping gas at the P&V Quick Stop, 399 E. Andrews St., on Tuesday, "so you don't know if they're turning, or if they're going straight or the same direction you are." The J-turn project will be the latest of several safety improvements the state will make to the intersection. Previous attempts have included reducing the speed limit of U.S. 51 and installing flashing stop signs and beacons. But crashes have continued to occur. Last year, the intersection was the site of a collision between a pickup truck and a semitruck. In September 2017, retired Herald & Review writer and photographer Phil Jacobs Sr. was killed in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection. Jacobs' wife Norma was also injured in that crash. Andrew J. Johnson, 30, of Decatur was convicted Sept. 28, 2017, of failure to yield at the intersection in that crash. Asked whether he thought the intersection was safe enough or could use improvements, Reed, of Mount Zion, said he felt it was "a little bit of both." The stop signs at both ends of Andrews Street Road and other markers are clear to see, he said, but it's hard to predict the actions of other drivers. IDOT engineers first unveiled their design in August during an open house at the Macon Community Center. Officials have said the intersections are common in states such as Minnesota and Missouri, and that statistics show J-turns have helped reduce traffic crashes at major expressways. "I've been on a couple in Florida (and) they seem to work fine," Hemmen said. "It seemed to flow well. I could follow the striping and signs with no problems." When finished, the J-turn will primarily restrict through traffic and left-turn movement on West Andrews Street Road. Greg Jamerson, IDOT's District 7 program development engineer, told the Herald & Review in August that this will keep drivers from attempting to cross four lanes of U.S. 51 at once. U.S. 51 will mostly be the same when the J-turn is done, but drivers heading east or south on Andrews Street Road must make a right turn, drive along U.S. 51 and make a legal U-turn using a marked lane. They'll also have to use the U-turn lanes when turning left onto U.S. 51 from Andrews Street Road. Hemmen said Andrews Street Road will likely remain open until June, which is when crews are expected to close down the median area at the intersection. He said U.S. 51 will be reduced to one northbound lane and one southbound lane. IDOT said motorists should expect delays and allow for extra time when driving through the area, and should consider alternate routes if needed. To help ensure drivers will understand how the J-turn works when finished, Hemmen said signs and markings will be put up for people to follow. "Once (drivers use the intersection) once or twice, it'll probably become normal," he said. "... It's a very unusual intersection configuration." Contact Jaylyn Cook at (217) 421-7980. Follow him on Twitter: @jaylyn_HR Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGFIELD Smokers could get tickets for lighting up in a car with minors under a bill sent to the full Illinois Senate Tuesday. House Bill 2276 already passed the House on a 78-20 vote. The bill says someone can be ticketed if they are caught smoking in a car with a person under the age of 18. The bill says it doesn't matter if the vehicle is moving or parked at the time, nor if the windows are open or closed. A first offense can garner a fine of up to $100. Additional violations can be fined up to $250. Electronic cigarettes are exempted from the bill. Similar legislation has been proposed in the past but failed to get approval in the General Assembly. Morrison said one reason for that is the previous version made smoking with a minor in the car a primary offense, which means police could stop a car just because they suspect someone is smoking with minors present. The new version makes the smoking violation a secondary offense. That means an officer would need another reason to stop a vehicle -- such as for speeding -- and then could issue a ticket for smoking in addition to the primary offense. Minority lawmakers were concerned law enforcement would use a smoking law to harass minority drivers. No one voted against the bill during a Senate Public Health Committee meeting Tuesday, but Sen. Laura Murphy, D-Des Plaines, had reservations about it. "I hate smoking and I will vote all day long to tax cigarettes," Murphy said. "I really think this is an overreach to say that people can't smoke in their vehicles. I just think it is too much government." However, Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said the bill is needed to protect children. "The question is whether you think it's right for a little 4-year-old to be trapped in a small space and be forced to smoke by the person doing that," he said. "That's what killed my mom, was secondhand smoke." Sen. Julie Morrison, D-Deerfield, the bill's sponsor, said she plans to make an additional change to the legislation before she'll call it for a final vote. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 SPRINGFIELD Illinois State Police Lt. Col. David Byrd was the on-call supervisor the night Chicago Fire Department Lt. Scott Gillen was struck and killed while assisting a crash scene in 2000. In the nearly two decades since, Byrd said, poor driving hasnt diminished. Nineteen years later, its come full circle for me, Byrd said. Were still dealing with the same situation that occurred that night. Byrd testified Monday evening on a recent House amendment made to Senate Bill 1862, which would create the Scotts Law Fund. According to the bill, the fund would be used to produce materials related to educating drivers on approaching stationary authorized emergency vehicles. He said its been a difficult year for the Illinois State Police, which has had to deal with the deaths of troopers Brooke Jones-Story, Jerry Ellis and Chris Lambert in the first five months. And this is more of a situation where we have to educate the public, Byrd said. And were trying to change driving behavior. Thats what we want to do. Two of the three troopers died in incidents where there was a violation of Scotts Law, named after Gillen and sometimes referred to as the move-over law. It requires a motorist to slow down while passing stationary vehicles with flashing lights and, if safe, change lanes. The increased focus on Scotts Law this year has lawmakers pushing for steeper penalties. A current violation could result in a fine of $100 to $10,000. If the Legislature passes the bill, first-time violators on roadways within state police jurisdiction would pay $250 to $10,000, which would go to the Scotts Law Fund. A second violation would lead to a fine between $750 and $10,000. A $250 assessment fee would be added to each fine. The measure dictates the money collected be used to educate drivers on how to comply with Scotts Law. The bills House sponsor, Democratic Rep. Marcus Evans, of Chicago, said drivers arent being vigilant when it comes to approaching first responders on roadways. But he said enforcement alone wont usher in the change thats being sought. From my understanding, its not just fine more; we need to educate drivers to eliminate these tragedies, Evans said. Byrd said changing driving behaviors can be accomplished over time through educating the public and enforcing Scotts Law. Believe me, Illinois State Police would prefer to be spending their time working on some more serious crimes, Byrd said. But until we change that behavior, this has to be put to the forefront. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Largely unnoticed outside southern Illinois 116th House district, Democrats did another end around on voters this month, denying them the chance to have any voice in the selection of their Illinois House Representative. Jerry Costello II, heretofore an anti-progressive tax Democrat, resigned and his successor, Nathan Reitz, was appointed by a committee of political leaders to replace him. Voters of the 116th have not been allowed to select their new representative in over 20 years. Nathans father, Dan Reitz, was appointed to his House seat in 1997. He held that position until 2011, when he resigned immediately after an 11th hour yes vote on the Madigan tax hike, making way for the appointment of Costello II. So why would Costello II do this so close to a vote to junk the constitutionally protected flat tax? It must have been the job offer from Gov. Pritzker to become the director of law enforcement for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, along with a second pension. Costello II gets taken care of and Pritzker gets another ally in his fight for a progressive tax. This is a time honored tradition and well-honed fix in the corrupt landscape of Illinois. It needs to be called out every time. This habit of appointing rather than electing senators and representatives must stop. So must the revolving doors of former senators and representatives moving immediately to politically connected lines of work. It shows nothing but disdain for voters. Pritzker promised honest state government. This is a back room deal just to further his so-called fair tax agenda. Tim Newman, Lake Forest Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 " " Decluttering a house as you age can be good for you and your loved ones. But it can be hard to have that conversation with elderly parents. kali9/Getty Images Cleaning out the home of a loved one who has recently died or entered a nursing home is something most people dread, especially if they have no idea what to do with the all the items their loved one has accumulated. Enter the Swedish death clean. It may sound morbid, but it can actually lighten the burden of grieving loved ones. Popularized in the book "The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning," by 80-something artist Margareta Magnusson, Swedish death cleaning is basically decluttering in your later years so that someone else doesn't have to do it for you. Advertisement Magnusson herself is Swedish, but has lived all over the world. Her book was an immediate sensation in Sweden, and garnered serious interest in the U.S. once it was published there in 2018. In the book, Magnusson explains that the Swedes call it dostadning (a combination of the word "do," which means death and "stadning," which means cleaning). So is this another integral part of Swedish culture that Americans could do well to emulate? Ann-Charlotte Gavel Adams, professor emerita of Swedish studies at the University of Washington, emails that dostadning is not listed in any Swedish Academy dictionaries. She first heard of the concept 10 years ago from a man in his 70s, who was clearing out his artworks and books so that his sons wouldn't have to do it when he passed away. "He is still alive though. He used the word in a humorous tone," she says, adding, "I think the Swedes are as uncomfortable discussing death as Americans." Even so, the concept has clearly struck a nerve in both countries. Boston-based professional organizer Rhea Becker, aka, "The Clutter Queen," added Swedish death cleaning to her list of services after reading Magnusson's book. "I have worked with so many relatives of people who never streamlined their belongings through Swedish Death Cleaning, only to leave a massive amount of stuff to the unfortunate next generation," she says in an email. Author and motivational speaker BJ Gallagher has been on the receiving end of this accumulated stuff not once or twice, but three times in the last eight years. One of those homes was her mother's residence, where she lived for four decades. "Along the way, I decided I wanted to start liquidating my own estate before I become elderly and/or incapacitated because I don't want my son to have the same headache dealing with my household at the end of my life," she explains in an email interview. "I decided that the greatest gift I can give my son is 'the gift of no burden' so that's what I've been doing the past couple years long before I ever heard the term Swedish death cleaning." First on the chopping block was her art, clothes and jewelry because they all have significant value and aren't simple curbside donations. "I've used eBay and social media to sell these items with great success. I made $30,000 last year selling my clothes, jewelry, and art and it feels so great to lighten up and clear out space in my closets and in the rooms of my home," she notes. Discussing the Swedish Death Clean With Loved Ones Although it may seem like an awkward conversation to have, the irony is that streamlining personal belongings during those golden years actually improves the quality of life. "Some people feel squeamish about the idea that they are essentially preparing their personal environment for their eventual death. But it makes so much sense. And once completed, the person who chooses to do Swedish Death Cleaning can enjoy a simpler life, surrounded only by the things they truly need or love," Becker says. Still, it can be a difficult topic to broach with a loved one, as no one wants to imply that Grandma or Mom has one foot in the grave. So if you think the person in question might be (somewhat rightfully) put off by the phrase "death cleaning," take a different approach. "When people contact me about their parents, wanting to suggest downsizing for them, I always encourage them to position it from the perspective of how it will improve their parents lives NOW (rather than their families'/children's lives later)," says Julie Bestry, a Chattanooga, Tennessee-based professional organizer, via email. "Accent [to your parents] how a less cluttered environment means there are fewer things to dust/vacuum/make space to store. Perhaps mention a 'friend' whose parent had excess and fell, breaking a hip, and recuperating at home wasn't possible because the cluttered spaces left little room to move about with a walker." Once your loved ones are on board with a full-house declutter you can offer to lend a hand on a gradual basis, or use the services of a professional organizer. Then, start slowly. "My client chooses the room that is bugging them the most. We handle every item, while the client makes decisions, and then we move on to the next room," Becker says. "This process may sound time consuming, but we can often complete an entire room in 2-4 hours." Here are a few other tips for successful death cleaning from professional organizers: Dispose of anything that could be hurtful or embarrassing. No one else needs to see those boudoir pics, not matter how tasteful they are. Bring other friends/relatives in on the action. Ask them what items of value they want and write it down or note it in the will. This will limit hurt feelings and fighting after your loved one has gone to the great beyond. He/she may even decide to distribute the items before passing. Pack a "throw away" box, items that can't be parted with for sentimental reasons, but that no one else will have a use for. When all is said and done, few people are likely to feel that they've lost anything other than a cloud hanging over their head. "Clients are always relieved to have 'thinned the herd.' They actually feel a lightness they may have never experienced before," Becker says. "As I like to say, it's only stuff." Advertisement Advertisement Now That's Interesting It's not surprising that death cleaning seems scary to discuss with loved ones, as dying in general is still such a taboo topic. Six out of 10 people know little to nothing about those last hours of life, according to a survey by the Academy of Medical Sciences in England. In fact, one-third of the participants declined to answer the questions, leading researchers to surmise that they're uncomfortable or unwilling to talk about death. 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 Point 1: International sanctions In order to survive, the Iranian regime needs to continue funding its proxy groups and militias across the region so that it can continue spreading chaos and suppressing its opposition. International sanctions are a major impediment to the regime and it cannot get around the oil sanctions enough to bring in the revenue that it requires. The main opposition to the Iranian regime, the PMOI / MEK and the NCRI, welcome the tough economic sanctions and have called on all governments and the UN Security Council to increase economic pressure on the regime. The Iranian regime had access to billions of dollars when previous sanctions were lifted. It could have made a huge difference to the lives of the Iranian people but it was plundered on terrorist activities. And to make the corrupt regime officials even richer, while the people got poorer and poorer. The economic sanctions are wholly justified when we consider that any funds the regime has access to through trade will be plundered on belligerent or corrupt practices. Anyone who does not support the U.S. sanctions are playing right into the regimes hands. The regime must be cut off from the funds that it uses to support terrorist groups and to spread chaos, as the opposition and the people of Iran know. Point 2: IRGC designation The IRGC is the regimes backbone, without which survival would not be possible. It is the main force behind the brutal oppression of the Iranian people and it is in charge of the regimes bloody exploits outside its borders. It is also the major power behind the countrys nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Those wanting to make the world a safer place will support the IRGC designation. Point 3: The MEK The main opposition to the Iranian regime, and the only viable alternative, is the Peoples Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI / MEK). It has extensive support both inside Iran and abroad and the Iranian regime considers it to be the main enemy because of this. The MEK is striving for a democratic Iran that is free and where the people can enjoy human rights. It has Resistance Units the whole way across the country and they work together to organize the major protests in which the people make their desire for regime change heard. The Iranian regime has executed more than 100,000 members of the MEK in its four decade rule and anyone who dares to speak in support of the MEK in Iran risks arrest, imprisonment, torture and even execution. The regime has spread much misinformation about the MEK and those that fall into the trap of believing the lies without looking up the facts are fuelling the misinformation. How can the Iran threat be mitigated? Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, the leader of the opposition, calls on democratic governments to ignore the regimes lobbies and listen to the long-suffering people of Iran. She suggests 6 ways in which the international community can curb the Iran threat. Recognize that the people of Iran want freedom and not the clerical and despotic rule of the mullahs. Designate all of the agencies and departments that export terrorism and fundamentalism as terrorist organizations, in particular the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Ensure that MOIS and IRGC Quds Force agents are not allowed to reside in the U.S. or Europe. Ensure that the United Nations Security Council and the International Court of Justice take the dossier of the Iranian regimes human rights violations and massacre of political prisoners into account. Ban the illegitimate regime from the UN and recognize the Iranian Resistance as the voice of the people of Iran. Remove the regime and its proxies from Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. Last month, the Trump administration announced that it would not be renewing any waivers, meaning that every country continuing to import Iranian oil after the 1st May deadline would face consequences. Turkish officials had strongly criticised the United States move. Turkey was one of the countries that had been granted a six-month waiver. However, despite the rhetoric from Ankara, the country is now fully compliant and will no longer allow Iranian oil to enter Turkish ports. Iran was Turkeys main oil supplier. Nevertheless, Tupras, the biggest oil refiner in Turkey, has requested an extension of the waiver, but made it very clear that it would not import Iranian oil if it was not granted. Data indicates that Turkey started to cut down imports of Iranian oil over the past few months, and its supply has now been replaced by oil from Russia, Iraq and Kazakhstan. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has previously slammed the sanctions, saying they are destabilising for the region. In Washington last month, his spokesman said the country didnt want to be deprived of its right to buy oil and gas from Iran. The Turkish foreign minister also weighed in on the decision, saying that the country was being given a very short timeframe to get other suppliers a mission that could well be impossible. When President Trump announced that the United States would be withdrawing from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he made it very clear that it was because of Irans ongoing interference in the affairs of other nations and its support of terrorist groups and militias across the region. When he announced that oil sanctions were to be imposed, he said that the goal is to cut the regime off from the revenue that it uses to fund terrorist groups and activities. It is a move that has been welcomed by many, not least the long-suffering people of Iran. The more pressure that the regime is under, the more it will be forced to cut back on its belligerent activities. For the people of Iran, less revenue means less can be spent on domestic oppression. It appears that the Trump administrations goal is being met because reports indicate that the Lebanese Hezbollah group is not able to pay its fighters or provide them with the benefits they are used to. Many fighters are being sent home or put on reserve so that the salary bill can be lowered. Expense packages that senior fighters were awarded are no longer applicable and the group has been forced to call for public donations. It appears that the oil sanctions are working as they were intended. The Iranian regime, as bold and as full of pretence as ever, is reporting that the United States does not have enough forces to be able to attack Iran, claiming that the Trump administration was simply engaging in psychological warfare. The Trump administration, on the other hand, has stated that the Iranian regime would be crushed if it entered into war with the United States. And there is no denying that there could be any other outcome. Iran is not prepared for such conflict, especially with the United States that would no doubt be supported by regional allies, including Irans arch-rival Saudi Arabia. Iran would have very little regional support giving the precarious situation of its allies in Lebanon and Iraq. Furthermore, Iran relies so heavily on its militias and proxy groups across the region that it would be very unwise to put them at risk. Irans partners across the region spread instability and chaos in a strategy that will prolong the regimes survival. The Trump administration has adopted a completely different policy towards Iran than that of his predecessor Barack Obama. The Obama administration put an emphasis on diplomacy rather than firmness, but this just gave the Iranian regime the confidence to carry out its malign activities. During the so-called golden years, the regime knew that it would not be held accountable. The tide has turned and the current administration is keeping a very close eye on Iran. Iran has always been bold when it comes to the United States. While Obama was giving Iran concessions during the nuclear negotiations, turning a blind eye to despicable behaviour by the regime and ignoring his own red lines because he didnt want to jeopardise the nuclear agreement, the Iranian regime did not even have the decency to cease with the anti-America rhetoric. The United States is treating the Iranian regime and its terrorist proxy groups and militias as one and the same. And so it should. The Iranian regime is trying to persuade the people of Iran that it is not pursuing war with the United States. It is very aware that domestic unrest is at a very high level and war would push the people even further. Although war would almost certainly cause the regime to collapse, the biggest threat to the regimes existence is the people. They will not stop until they finally have freedom, democracy and human rights and they know that their only way of achieving this is through regime change. Domestic pressure, reinforced by pressure from abroad, will result in regime collapse. Military intervention is not needed. Tensions between Iran and the US have certainly risen since the US withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. They have risen even more dramatically in roughly the past month, as the Trump administration announced terrorist designation and accompanying sanctions for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, then declined to renew waivers on oil purchases by eight countries that had been exempted from the sanctions that came back into force after the US stopped enforcing the JCPOA. But the White House has consistently framed such actions as part of a strategy of maximum pressure aimed at compelling the Islamic Republic to return to the negotiating table and agree to a laundry list of changes that constitute behaving, in the words of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, like a normal country. The same explanation has been applied to the recent response to alleged threats from Iranian forces and Irans regional proxy groups. Earlier in May, White House National Security Advisor John Bolton announced that a US Navy aircraft carrier group would have its deployment to the Persian Gulf expedited in response to these threats. It was later revealed that the relevant US intelligence included reports of the IRGC ordering regional allies to prepare for conflict, as well as satellite imagery showing missiles on the decks of Iranian naval vessels, possibly intended for those same proxies or possibly for use in the waters of the Persian Gulf, against American and Arab targets. Threats and Responses Confirmed The threat of Iranian aggression was reinforced last week, and again this week, with reports of strikes against commercial and military assets belonging to US allies in the region. On Tuesday, the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen took credit for the latest drone attack against Saudi Arabia. That incident reportedly involved an airport that has a Saudi military base inside of it, according to the Associated Press. An earlier Houthi strike apparently utilized technology with its origin in Iran to damage a Saudi pipeline and temporarily halt the flow of oil. The likely presence of Iranian technology was also cited in reporting about a May 12 attack upon four tanker ships near the coast of the United Arab Emirates. Two of these vessels belonging to the UAE itself, while one belonged to Saudi Arabia and another to Norway. All four were damaged by explosions, although no casualties were reported. Some parties were quick to hold Tehran responsible, and these accusations were reportedly upheld by a formal inquiry that completed on Monday. The results of that probe were apparently among the crucial pieces of information shared with American lawmakers on Tuesday, in what the AP described as unusual and competing dual hearings held virtually simultaneously by the two chambers of Congress. Whereas the Republican-led Senate hearing gave voice to the Trump administrations legislative allies, the hearing by the Democrat-majority House of Representatives conveyed a greater degree of skepticism regarding the administrations strategy and the intelligence purporting to show an increase in Iranian threats. But participants on both sides of the hearing affirmed that those threats were real, echoing a sentiment that was expressed earlier in the day by acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan. He nonetheless took the opportunity to downplay warnings about the potential for war, which he described as having actually decreased in likelihood since the initial reports of Iranian provocations. The USA Today published a video clip of Shanahan saying the threat remains high, but there have been no new displays of aggression by the Iranians in recent days. He went on to reassure reporters that the American strategy in the region is focused on deterrence and on preventing miscalculation by the Islamic Republic. He also expressed confidence that the information being furnished to Congress on Tuesday would underscore the appropriateness and arguably the necessity of the Trump administrations assertive moves, including the accelerated deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and a bomber task force. Additionally, the AP quoted Shanahan as saying that these efforts have already proven effective, with the absence of new Iranian threats being a direct result of the firm American rejection of preexisting provocations. The presidents allies in the Senate hearing accordingly urged the further extension of such a firm strategy in the face of threats that they agree are very real. At the same time, the presidents own statements in recent days have sought to underscore the fact that assertiveness is not the sole defining feature of his Iran strategy. As the AP explained, Trumps remarks reflect what has been a strategy of alternating tough talk with more conciliatory statements, which he says is aimed at keeping Iran guessing at the administrations intentions. Compelling Iran to Talk Still, the periods of tough talk have been very tough indeed, with Trump tweeting over the weekend that the result of any attack launched by the Islamic Republic would ultimately be the official end of Iran. Then, on Monday evening, he insisted that it would be a very big mistake for Iran to take any military action in response to the existing tensions, and that if they did so it would be met with great force. But Trump immediately reiterated that in the wake of the latest deterrents, we have no indication that they will do anything to raise the prospects for war. Among those deterrents were naval exercises in the Arabian Sea involving two large US warships. Fox News explained that the weekend maneuvers represented a rare sort of training exercise and a clear response to credible threats stemming from the Islamic Republic. Rear Admiral John Wade, the commander of Carrier Strike Group 12, did not identify Iran by name but was quoted in the report as saying the exercises were aimed towards increasing our lethality and agility to respond to threats, and deterring destabilizing actions in this important region. Fox News also noted that the Pentagon has gone to great lengths to reinforce the message of deterrence. Meanwhile, the presidents strategy of alternating public statements makes it clear that he is prepared to engage in direct talks with his Iranian counterparts upon their request. A video report by the Wall Street Journal explained that if such talks took place they would likely follow the pattern of direct negotiations that Trump has conducted with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The report also suggested that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani or Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei might see such person-to-person conversations as the best means of avoiding a crisis, given that some of Trumps foreign policy advisors are regarded as being even more hawkish on Iran than he is. According to the Wall Street Journal, the prospect for negotiations is not as implausible as it might seem during this period of escalating tensions. Whats more, the report affirms that Trumps alternating strategy entails using those tensions as an opportunity to urge conversation. So far, though, both Rouhani and Khamenei have rejected the idea of holding talks with the US, even though the two Iranian figures ostensibly represent opposing political factions. Rouhani reiterated that rejection on Tuesday, specifically responding to Trumps prediction that the Iranians would eventually call Washington to ask for negotiations. Todays situation is not suitable for talks and our choice is resistance only, Rouhani said via Iranian state media. In recent months, his administrations public position has been that talks will only be considered if the US removes pressure on the Iranian regime and apologizes for the actions taken since the US withdrew from the JCPOA. Statements to this effect have presumably been intended in part as a warning to the European signatories to the nuclear deal, against following the US toward a strategy of maximum pressure or failing to provide Iran with adequate financial incentives for adhering to the provisions of the agreement. But if so, there are growing signs that Tehrans strategy may be backfiring. Speaking from Paris on Tuesday, French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire accused Iran of dispensing ultimatums, and he declared that European governments would not succumb to such intimidation. Furthermore, Le Maire warned that by threatening to ramp up uranium production and pull out of the JCPOA, Tehran was only hurting its own chances of receiving assistance in resisting American pressure. This situation is no doubt made worse for Iran by the ongoing release of details regarding the provocative Iranian actions that have led to the latest rounds of American deterrence. According to Reuters, European policymakers are already broadly in agreement with their counterparts in the US regarding the likelihood of Iran having encouraged its regional proxies to launch attacks in Saudi Arabia and near the UAE. Another Real but Overstated Danger Although the presence of missiles on Iranian naval vessels demonstrates a potential direct threat from the Islamic Republic, it is generally understood that the more immediate threat comes from militant groups operating with Irans backing and encouragement. Aggression by proxy provides the Iranian regime with a measure of plausible deniability while also allowing it to reach much more distant targets without moving military personnel and equipment openly across the region. Alongside the aforementioned tanker explosions and attacks on Saudi infrastructure, the danger posed by such proxies was underscored on Sunday night when a rocket was fired into Baghdads fortified Green Zone, apparently by a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran. The weapon landed near the US embassy, but reportedly caused no casualties. Days earlier, the embassy and a US consulate in Erbil were evacuated of non-essential personnel on the understanding that just such an incident might take place. Reuters noted that Secretary of State Pompeo had travelled to Baghdad earlier in May for the express purpose of emphasizing to Iraqi leaders the importance of keeping the countrys many civilian militias in check. The attempted rocket attack seems to suggest that the Iraqi government has had, at best, limited success in so doing. But the same Reuters report also indicates that some of the militias are making their own efforts to urge restraint, apparently out of concern for the same American deterrent measures that have been deployed against Iran. Soon after the rocket breached the Green Zone, the militia leader Hadi al-Ameri issued a statement telling his supporters not to add fuel to a fire that could burn everyone. Ameri is also part of an electoral bloc that holds the second largest number of seats in the Iraqi parliament, a testament to the extent to which militant groups have become integrated into the countrys political infrastructure. But as this trend has developed, so have challenges to such groups supposed loyalty to their foreign supporters in Tehran. An article in the Washington Post highlighted this issue on Tuesday, insisting that Irans network of fighters in the Middle East arent always loyal and have sometimes proven more than willing to ignore what Iran tells them to do. Ameris efforts at de-escalation may be representative of this trend. And while the Post article still acknowledges that Irans militant proxies are the crux of the threat that Tehran currently poses to the world, its central message is that this threat, like the threat of direct conflict between Iran and the US, may be overstated. While the current tensions are naturally alarming, there is reason to take the White House seriously when it professes to believe in a strategy of deterrence and maximum pressure for the sake of forcing negotiations. The members of Congress were briefed on Tuesday by Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford. Senator Graham, speaking to the press, said that the Iranian threat streams are different this time and that the recent attacks were co-ordinated and directed by Irans government and the Supreme Leader. The attacks had the aim of sabotaging oil interests in the Gulf and U.S. President Donald Trump had predicted that Iran was involved. He also said that Americans were not targeted because of his administrations deployment of military reinforcements to the Gulf. The weeks previous to this had been fraught with tension and there were concerns from many that a military conflict intentional or not would ensue. Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, had warned Iran earlier this month that the United States would use unrelenting force if the Iranian regime dared to threaten Americans. The Iranian regime is in the weakest place it has ever been. It is being subjected to extremely tough economic sanctions and the United States is not easing up on its maximum pressure campaign. Adding to all of this is the domestic pressure that is also being maintained by the people of Iran. The Trump administration has made it very clear that it will not accept the regimes meddling in the region and its support of terrorist proxy groups and militias that work all over the world on Irans behalf. Trump pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) last year in a bid to get Iran back to the negotiating table. Trump explained that the 2015 Iran nuclear deal is weak and one-sided and said that the United States would withdraw because it does not cover the entire Iran threat. Trump made it very clear that he is encouraging dialogue with Iran. The Iranian regime flat out refused to negotiate with Trump. When Trump re-iterated that the door to negotiations remains open, a number of Iranian officials stated that Iran would never negotiate. The Supreme Leader himself also confirmed that Iran would not negotiate. However, since then, a number of officials, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, have said that Iran could be persuaded to engage in dialogue. Without the massive oil revenues to fund its militias and proxy groups, the regime is doomed. Negotiating with the United States is the only real option that remains. Military conflict, as the Trump administration has said, would result in the immediate collapse of the regime. It would not survive a conflict, and its regional allies, Lebanon and Iraq, are hardly in a position to help. The Australian Computer Society has appointed former StartCon chief executive Cheryl Mack as its NSW state manager. Mack developed StartCon, Australias largest start-up and growth conference, which the ACS says is now considered the cornerstone event for the Australian start-up community. The ACS says that under Macks leadership, StartCon grew internationally in 15 cities across Asia Pacific, and supported the growth of over 600 start-ups each year. ACS chief executive Andrew Johnson said: We recognise that start-ups are a huge source of innovation in Australia and that supporting them is key to enabling the industry and enhancing domestic clusters of advantage. Cheryl has extensive experience in the technology sector and a deep understanding of how to foster early-stage innovation. She has been recognised by many in the start-up community for her contributions to the growth of the startup ecosystem in Australia. Having moved from North America to Australia 4.5 years ago after working for start-ups in Canada, USA, and Italy, Cheryl will also bring a unique perspective on areas like attracting global talent in her role at ACS. ACS vision for Australia to be a world leader in technology talent that fosters innovation and creates new forms of value is something that deeply resonates with me and I believe that I am in a position to help them move the needle, Mack said. ACS has recently made some incredibly exciting moves to demonstrate its commitment to innovation and the technology sector, with the new Innovation Hub in Barangaroo and the acquisition of RCL. I'm looking forward to contributing to the next steps in their journey on the way to make Australia a world leader in technology talent. EFFINGHAM -- Illinois State Police in District 12 urge motorists to exercise due caution while traveling on Illinois roadways during spring planting season. As farmers begin to move equipment from field to field, they may be traveling at speeds of 25 miles per hour or less. Today's Highlight in History: On May 22, 1992, after a reign lasting nearly 30 years, Johnny Carson hosted NBC's "Tonight Show" for the final time (Jay Leno took over as host three days later). On May 22: In 1868, a major train robbery took place near Marshfield, Indiana, as members of the Reno gang made off with $96,000 in loot. In 1939, the foreign ministers of Germany and Italy, Joachim von Ribbentrop and Galeazzo Ciano, signed a "Pact of Steel" committing the two countries to a military alliance. In 1960, an earthquake of magnitude 9.5, the strongest ever measured, struck southern Chile, claiming some 1,655 lives. In 1962, Continental Airlines Flight 11, en route from Chicago to Kansas City, Missouri, crashed after a bomb apparently brought on board by a passenger exploded, killing all 45 occupants of the Boeing 707. In 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson, speaking at the University of Michigan, outlined the goals of his "Great Society," saying that it "rests on abundance and liberty for all" and "demands an end to poverty and racial injustice." In 1968, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Scorpion, with 99 men aboard, sank in the Atlantic Ocean. (The remains of the sub were later found on the ocean floor 400 miles southwest of the Azores.) In 1969, the lunar module of Apollo 10, with Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene Cernan aboard, flew to within nine miles of the moon's surface in a dress rehearsal for the first lunar landing. In 1981 "Yorkshire Ripper" Peter Sutcliffe was convicted in London of murdering 13 women and was sentenced to life in prison. In 1998, a federal judge ruled that Secret Service agents could be compelled to testify before the grand jury in the Monica Lewinsky investigation. Voters in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland turned out to cast ballots giving resounding approval to a Northern Ireland peace accord. In 2001, Ford Motor Co. said it planned to spend more than $2 billion to replace up to 13 million Firestone tires on its vehicles because of safety concerns. In 2009, President Barack Obama promised graduating midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy that, as their commander in chief, he would only send them "into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary." Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Lebanon to reinforce U.S. support for the government ahead of key parliamentary elections. In 2011, a tornado devastated Joplin, Missouri, with winds up to 250 mph, claiming at least 159 lives and destroying about 8,000 homes and businesses. In 2014, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to end the National Security Agency's bulk collection of American phone records (however, the USA Freedom Act was later blocked in the Senate.) Thailand's military seized power in a bloodless coup. In 2017, a suicide bomber set off an improvised explosive device that killed 22 people at the end of an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England. In 2018, Stacey Abrams won Georgia's Democratic gubernatorial primary, making her the first woman nominee for Georgia governor from either major party. (Abrams, seeking to become the nation's first black female governor, was defeated in November by Republican Brian Kemp.) Novelist Philip Roth, whose books included "Portnoy's Complaint" and the Pulitzer Prize-winning "American Pastoral," died in New York at the age of 85. A judge in upstate New York ordered a 30-year-old man to move out of his parents' house after they went to court to have him ejected. Thought for Today: "We have all, at one time or another, been performers, and many of us still are politicians, playboys, cardinals and kings." Laurence Olivier, British actor (born this date in 1907, died in 1989). Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CHARLESTON -- Encounters with city police will have more video transparency outside of the footage collected from squad vehicle dash cameras. Along with the gun, the taser and the flashlight, Charleston and Mattoon officers will soon add body cameras to the list of equipment on their person, joining other officers across the country, including those in the Coles County Sheriff's Office. The Charleston City Council has approved the purchase of 32 officer-worn cameras, as well as nine higher definition in-car cameras, for a total cost of $77,189 to be reimbursed through a grant awarded by the Illinois Training and Standards Board. The Charleston cameras will be operational and on the street by the mid- June. Mattoon Police Department Deputy Chief Sam Gaines said the Mattoon department is waiting for the arrival of its body cameras and hopes to put the new equipment into service by early summer. Gaines said he plans to have all of its patrol officers wear body cameras. He said this move is designed to promote transparency and has not been mandated by any other governmental organizations. Charleston Department officials have been wanting body cameras for several years but were not able to obtain the funds to do so. It was situations like the one at 20th Street and Grant Avenue several weeks ago where body cameras would have been especially helpful, Charleston Police Chief Chad Reed said. At the start of the month, police were involved in a brief foot pursuit of the suspect of the Verizon Team Wireless store robbery through a neighborhood. "It would've been video evidence of him running from us, despite being told to stop and get on the ground several times," Reed said. Reed said the footage obtained by the equipment will better serve the investigations teams in finding evidence. "The body camera sees better than the human eye," Reed said. "So you could review body camera footage on a case you were working, and maybe sees something that was tossed and you did not see it at the time." For Reed and other officials at the Charleston Police Department, the cameras will also better protect the officers. "Our officers want them," Reed said. "It protects the officers against complaints that are unfounded." Studies have shown complaints go down when body cameras are in operation. "It creates a culture of accountability, not only for the officers but for us," said Jesse Danley, Coles County state's attorney, said. Recordings usually confirm what the officer says happened and "any good officer" will say they prefer having a camera. Reed said he was not nervous about the footage that might surface. "Our guys, I feel, are doing it 100 percent right, every day and every night... not that we do not make mistakes," Reed said. "The body cameras will prove that." Those on the other end of the legal divide are hailing body cameras as well. Terese Matthews, Coles County assistant public defender, said it will add a layer of transparency to interactions with police. She said it makes everyone accountable, both police and citizens. "Video tells the truth," she said. In some cases, though, these cameras have been used in a misleading manner. Officers on the national stage have been investigated and, in some cases, indicted for turning off body cameras or turning them on in the middle of a call in an attempt to mislead or conceal evidence. Reed said department policy will prevent that from happening. He said officers will be required to turn on their cameras when handling an official police matter. Reed noted the camera records a minute before it is turned on. If they don't tun them on, that will be something the defense could point to in court, Matthews pointed out. "(If the camera is turned off) it will raise questions," she said. Coles County Sheriff's department implemented cameras more than a year ago. In that time, county police officials say the cameras have been well received, noting they have already proved an to be an asset. Sheriff's Department Capt. Brian Huston said there have been instance where videos have been used to show a different side of complaints that have been lodged. "The body camera itself, in a recent situation that I had to look into, showed that what was reported by a member of the community wasn't quite what was actually happening," Huston said. "It allowed us to be able to see that our officer did, in fact, do that which was trained." Coles County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Tyler Heleine reiterated the potential use in the courtroom, although it has not been used so far. Danley said he hasn't handled any cases yet with a video from one of the cameras as evidence. When used, Huston said it is supplemental support to reports and other evidence collected. "It is not infallible," Huston said of the cameras. In some instances, the camera turns off. The batteries wear. The cameras malfunction. Should the camera be turned off, Heleine said processes were already in place should a camera turn off, intentionally or not, during a call. "It is no different from our in-car cameras," he said. It is logged and replaced or fixed. "That is always possible that someone -- if they have nefarious intent-- could, in fact, try to beat the system, but there are checks and balances in place," Huston said. Heleine added it has not been an issue for the department so far. The county is still in the process of fully transitioning to the latest Focus body cameras. Eastern Illinois University Police Department is examining ways of funding the the purchase of body cameras, Police Chief Kent Martin said. Contact Jarad Jarmon at (217) 238-6839. Follow him on Twitter: @JJarmonReporter Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Editor's note: This story has been updated. MATTOON -- The city is seeking to help Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois move its Mattoon office to a new, larger location on the east end of town where the company would add at least 48 new jobs. During a special meeting tonight, the City Council voted to apply for a $1.2 million state Community Development Block Grant to help fund water/sewer line and street work for the development of this facility in the Coles Centre business park at the southwest corner of Illinois Route 16 and Lerna Road. The Coles County Regional Planning & Development Commission is helping the city apply for this grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity. Grant application documents on file with the commission show that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois plans to move its Mattoon office from 1100 Broadway Ave. to the new location. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois spokeswoman Colleen Miller said after Tuesday's meeting that the company is committed to expanding access to quality, cost-effective health care to as many communities as possible in Illinois. "Weve been proud to call Mattoon home to one of our service centers since 1990. We are now partnering with a local developer to modernize our presence in the community. We expect to open an updated service center in mid-2020. The decision to further invest in Mattoon demonstrates our commitment to supporting and empowering our local communities," Miller. Commission Executive Director Kelly Lockhart said prior to the meeting that to qualify for such as Community Development Block Grant, the participating business needs to pledge to create at least one new job for approximately every $25,000 in grant funding. He said this would result in at least 48 new jobs as part of the proposed grant application. "With the current local economy, this project will have a major positive impact on the community, creating several jobs," Lockhart said during the meeting. Lockhart said the grant funding will be used to perform street construction and a water main extension, plus sanitary sewer, sidewalks, lighting, and traffic control improvements. He said the grant will also pay for a portion of the engineering and the grant administration. "Private funding, totaling more than 4 million dollars, will be used to construct a new building at the Coles Centre development," Lockhart said. Blue Cross Blue Shield's current office is located in a former supermarket building about three blocks east of downtown, where this office has been in operation for more than 30 years. Company officials could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. Local officials have estimated recently that the Blue Cross Blue Shield office employs well more than 100 workers. City Administrator Kyle Gill said Tuesday morning that the grant is related to the construction of a "call center" building where Coles Centre Parkway curves southeast to Lincolnland Home Medical Equipment. Gill said he is limited in what he can say about this prospective project, but estimated that this center would initially have 300 employees with the possibility of adding 100 later. Agracel, Inc. of Effingham, which provides economic development services, owns the land where the construction project would take place. Agracel President Dean Bingham said Tuesday afternoon that he also is limited in what he can say about this prospective project, but noted that plans call for the construction of a two-story, 50,000-square-foot building that could accommodate more than 250 employees. "It will be a very attractive building. We are trying to develop a great project out there," Bingham said. He added that Agracel is fielding inquires from a couple of other possible projects that are looking at Coles Centre. Gill said the city also will apply for a $1 million grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation to help fund the planned infrastructure work. He said the new section of roadway would curve southwest around the "call center" and connect with Coles Centre Parkway southeast of the center. Once the grant applications are submitted, Gill said the city hopes to get an answer from state officials within two to six months. If one or both grants are not awarded, he said the city will work with the project developer on other infrastructure funding options. Gill said some grant funding may be available from the city's Interstate 57 tax increment financing district, which includes Coles Centre. He said Lincolnland Home Medical Equipment is the only building that has been constructed in this business park so far. "We have had minimal development out there. We are hoping this (project) might spur some development," Gill said. Contact Rob Stroud at (217) 238-6861. Follow him on Twitter: @TheRobStroud Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPRINGFIELD Lawmakers and advocates praised Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker for allocating funds for affordable housing in his proposed capital plan, but said Tuesday his proposal is not nearly enough to properly address the infrastructure need that exists in Illinois. In a preliminary plan called Rebuild Illinois and shared with legislators Friday, the governor allocated $175 million to build and improve cost-effective housing options primarily for seniors, those who are homeless, and people with disabilities. But Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez and Sen. Mattie Hunter, both from Chicago, were joined by community leaders from across the state in calling for the General Assembly to allocate nearly six times that amount. Allison Clements, executive director of the Illinois Housing Council, said increasing the level of funding available for permanent, supportive housing to $1 billion would provide a golden opportunity. Not only would citizens in need of a residence be able to find one, neighborhoods would receive investment and jobs and residents would remain in Illinois, she said. Housing is our states most important economic and social infrastructure, Clements said. Lets provide an opportunity for Illinois families to build wealth and rebuild our neighborhoods in urban, suburban and rural communities. Hunter said she knows $1 billion is a big ask from state coffers, and a leap from Pritzkers proposal, but is confident data proves affordable housing substantiates the need for the request. The coalitions plan is to ask the General Assembly to come up with an additional $325 million, bringing the total ask to $500 million. That would enable Illinois to apply for federal matching dollars to shore up the rest. But were running out of time right now because folks are looking to pass the capital budget next week, Hunter said, referring to the sessions scheduled end date of May 31. Even if the $1 billion or the $500 million is not in the capital budget, we are, in the Senate, continuing to work on it until we get the money that we need to get the job done. The senator did not identify specific grants or federal programs to which the state would apply. Ramirez added securing funding for permanent, supportive housing projects often means a process she called lasagna the layering of financing which could take years. Thats outrageous, it shouldnt certainly take that long, so this is why, for us, seeing this opportunity that wont come around for another 10 years is being one of the most important, pertinent moments to be able to justify and push for as much as possible, she said. Illinois would need to build or rehabilitate at least 23,000 affordable housing units to catch up, said Erica Smith, executive director of Helping Hands of Springfield. Chicago is facing a large share of the states cost-effective housing shortage. Some Democratic legislators tried introducing rent control legislation this session as a way of keeping housing costs low as neighborhoods across the city continued to gentrify, and to assist smaller cities in the state. Ramirez, Hunter and the coalition of advocates are moving forward with funding for affordable housing because, Hunter said, they felt [they] could better address that issue than rent control at this point of session. Weve not forgotten about it. Thats something thats on the side right now, and well continue to revisit it until we can get enough legislators that are willing to vote for rent control in the state of Illinois, Hunter said. Funding for permanent, supportive housing projects would help downstate communities as well, advocates said. Paris, Illinois, is a community with 9,000 residents that is six miles from the Indiana border. It is home to big industry North American Lighting, a car lighting manufacturer; and Simonton Windows & Doors, to name a few and a workforce to match A problem the city ran into was providing enough homes for the labor pool the companies needed. With Indiana so close, said Bob Colvin, president of the City of Paris Economic Development Commission, some of the businesses threatened to go across the border. Affordable housing has helped us in Paris, Illinois, grow business and houses out of the cornfields of east-central Illinois, Colvin said. Illinois last put money toward a capital bill in 2009. From that plan, $145 million was allocated for affordable housing, according to Build Up Illinois. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD Illinoisans soon may have to be fingerprinted and pay an increased fee to be a licensed gun owner in the state. In the wake of a shooting at an Aurora workplace in February that left five people dead, lawmakers have debated how to better track Firearm Owner's Identification Card holders who have had their license revoked. Senate Bill 1966 was advanced to the full House on Tuesday by the House Judiciary Committee on a vote along party lines. Sponsored by Rep. Kathleen Willis, D-Addison, an amendment to the bill would require new FOID card holders and those renewing their license to submit to a fingerprint. It also would increase application fees from $10 to $50, and reduce the time a license is valid from 10 years to 5 years. Willis said the purpose of the bill is to keep up with FOID revocations and create better communication between local and state law enforcement agencies. One of the reasons that we saw that revocations were not followed up as best as they could was because there was no money in resources to be able to do that, Willis said. State Police Lt. John Thompson testified Tuesday about the challenges his agency faces with the limited funds it receives for FOID revocation enforcement. He said the fee of $10 for 10 years isnt enough to sustain the nearly 1,000 applications the department receives daily. Were running a very, very basic operation, and its not whats expected of us and we need to do better, Thompson said. Ed Sullivan, on behalf of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said fees required for concealed-carry permits have amounted to $78 million over 10 years. So tell me, please, somebody, wheres the lack of money? Sullivan asked. Sullivan said what happened in Aurora was a systematic failure of government that could have been avoided if the shooters FOID card had been taken, and added that the bill being presented does little to address those failures. The problem, Sullivan said, is not going and taking FOID cards from people who shouldnt have them. Republicans who spoke Tuesday opposed additional requirements to exercise rights guaranteed in the constitution. State Rep. Margo McDermed, R- Mokena, said the Aurora shooting is being used by gun grabbers to enact more laws to reduce access to firearms. State Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, the committees Republican spokesperson, said she would never vote for a law that mandates fingerprints for any constitutional right. State Rep. Arthur Turner, D-Chicago, said he was fine with everything in the bill and supports sensible gun laws, but believes the increased FOID card costs would be a burden to those in poorer communities. If I have to pay hundreds of dollars, potentially, to have a FOID card, Im worried that youre going to price out certain communities that cant afford to pay that, Turner said. You could make a criminal out a person whos already a FOID card holder that didnt get it renewed because they couldnt afford it at the time. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD The Illinois Senate on Tuesday passed and sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker a bill that would pave the way for people to use robotic personal carrying devices in Illinois. Those are robotic devices designed to follow their owner around, carrying items that might be too heavy or bulky for the person to carry themselves. One, known as the Gita (pronounced jee-ta) is produced by the Italian automotive company Piaggio, which is best known for its Vespa brand of scooters. Gitas, however, have been slow to enter some markets where laws dealing with traffic and pedestrians havent caught up with the new technology. House Bill 245, which passed the House March 11, would establish a legal framework for using such devices in Illinois. It would provide that the devices be designed to stay within 10 feet of their owners and that the owners or operators have the same rights and obligations of pedestrians, except that they would have to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians on a sidewalk or crosswalk. It also provides that the devices cannot be used to transport a person. In addition, the bill would give local governments authority to enact their own regulations for how the devices are used within their jurisdictions. It also contains a number of consumer protection provisions that would limit legal remedies for damages or injuries caused by the devices or their operators. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 47-to-6. That bill was just one of dozens the Senate passed and sent to the governor Tuesday as both chambers worked through piles of legislation in advance of the May 31 adjournment date. Among the other notable bills passing the Senate on Tuesday were: State Fair horse racing: House Bill 3667 which authorizes the Illinois State Fair to hold fewer than five days of horse racing each year. Current law requires the State Fair to provide five days of horse racing, but the fair has been out of compliance with that law due to a shortage of horses in the state. A spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Agriculture said in a phone interview that thoroughbred horse breeding in Illinois has been in a steady decline for about the past 20 years and there are no longer enough Illinois-bred horses to sustain the traditional five-day schedule. Criminal justice reform: Current Illinois law prohibits people who have been convicted of certain crimes from obtaining professional health care worker licenses, unless they can show certain mitigating factors to justify issuing a license, certificate or registration. House Bill 2670 would expand the definition of mitigating factors to include, any information, evidence, conduct, or circumstances before, during, or after the offense or offenses. It also provides that the mitigating factors are intended to be used as guidance for the agency issuing the credentials. As under current law, however, the mitigating factors could not be considered in cases of people convicted of certain sex crimes that require them to register as a sex offender. The bill passed the House on April 11 by a vote of 69-to-42. It passed the Senate Tuesday, 36-to-18. Motor fuel taxes: Federal law requires states to conduct vehicle emissions testing in large urban areas such as Chicago that do not meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone. In Illinois, the program is operated by the state Environmental Protection Agency. House Bill 2943 would shift the cost of that program to the states Motor Fuel Tax Fund. That sparked debate on the floor of the Senate, where Republican Sen. Dale Righter, of Mattoon, said it was arguably unconstitutional under the states 2016 so-called lockbox amendment. That amendment provides that transportation taxes and fees collected by the state can be used only for their stated purpose, which typically involves the construction and maintenance of road and bridge projects or other transportation infrastructure. But Sen. Heather Steans, a Chicago Democrat and chief Senate sponsor of the bill, argued that vehicle emissions testing is an allowable use of motor fuel taxes. The bill passed the Senate on a vote of 31-to-16, just one vote more than the constitutional majority needed for passage. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SPRINGFIELD Illinois Treasurer Mike Frerichs announced a bill Thursday that would require insurance companies to review their records as far back as 1996 to ensure that theyve paid death benefits to their customers. Frerichs said at a Statehouse news conference that life insurance goes unclaimed mainly because people are unaware that their family member had a life insurance policy. The treasurers office has identified $550 million in unpaid death benefits in Illinois since 2011. Spouses are unlikely to tell their loved ones that they secured a life insurance policy, Frerichs said. Children do not have the maturity to understand life insurance. The treasurers office has called the new legislation a commonsense change and a further step following a law Frerichs proposed last year. That law, which Gov. Bruce Rauner signed in August, requires life insurance companies to use Social Security death records to determine if a policyholder has died. It only applies to policies from January of this year forward. The new proposal would require life insurance companies to request updated contact information, such as telephone numbers, email addresses and home addresses, of policyholders and beneficiaries to avoid unpaid policies. The legislation also would forbid finders from charging beneficiaries a fee to retrieve their benefits from the time the property is assumed abandoned until it has been listed with the treasurers office as unclaimed property for at least two years. The new legislation also would give the treasurers office access to Illinois Department of Public Health records to help find the owners of unclaimed life insurance benefits. Frerichs said corporate lobbyists claim this type of legislation is burdensome. Corporate lobbying against commonsense measures taints insurers who do the right thing, he said. We live in an age that contemplates driverless cars so it is a bit dramatic for some lobbyists to declare that its too hard to search their files. Missy Dundov, a spokeswoman for Bloomington-based State Farm, said the company was unable to comment on the new bill because it had just been introduced. State Farm supported the law that took effect Jan. 1. Insurance companies that were opposed to the new law said they had no means to know if a policyholder had died unless someone informed them. Also, they claimed their policy agreements do not require them to start benefit payments unless theyre informed of a policyholders death. Three subsidiaries of Chicago-based insurance company Kemper Corp. sued the treasurers office last year to prevent it from auditing their unclaimed benefits. Frerichs established a task force last year to examine the issue of unclaimed life insurance policies. State Rep. Dan Brady, R-Bloomington, was one member of the group, which also included other lawmakers and organizations such as the NAACP, AARP and Citizen Action Illinois. State Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, the House sponsor of Frerichs new proposal, said government is needed to help protect consumers and balance business competition. If government is not there to balance the scales in protecting consumers that would otherwise be duped by bad actors, why do we need government? Martwick said. You buy an insurance policy because you think that when you pass your family will be taken care of. Illinois NAACP President Teresa Haley said the organization is working to educate minorities about claiming their life insurance. Likewise, Drew Edwards, president of the Illinois Funeral Directors Association, said his organization is working to help families find life insurance funds to help pay for their family members funeral. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. Sen. Steve Lathrop, also of Omaha, said it was rare for senators to try and pull their bill from committee during his previous two terms in the Legislature. "This is going to be water going over the dam and you are going to be sorry you voted for a pull motion because you are going to have a lot of them next year," the Judiciary Committee chairman said. The motion to pull a bill out of committee was intended for senators who had their bills blocked by a committee chairman, not for committee chairmen stymied by a lack of support for their own bill, said Sen. Matt Williams of Gothenburg, the chairman of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee. Groene disputed Williams' reading, however, saying the pull motion existed to keep party politics from blocking a committee's proceedings. Lincoln Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks lauded Groene's work on LB147, but described the bill as "not ready for prime time," and proposed a legislative study of the issue. While he has supported previous student restraint bills, Lincoln Sen. Adam Morfeld said LB147 included language that could potentially confuse teachers into thinking they had legal immunity when using physical restraint when they did not. Sen. Steve Erdman of Bayard said he didn't believe claims that allowing the growing of hemp was going to help the farm economy, save farms and improve incomes. "What this will do is create a bunch of farmers who have never grown anything in their life," Erdman said. "So this is the wrong way to go." The Nebraska Hemp Act would set up licensing and fee requirements for farmers who wish to grow hemp, outline reporting and enforcement requirements by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, and create a hemp checkoff program, similar to the checkoff programs that aid in marketing commodities produced in the state. Hemp crops must be registered with a GPS location and plants grown must be submitted for testing to determine they contain less than 0.3% THC, the psychoactive drug in marijuana. Hemp is a variety of the cannabis plant, and has been used around the world as a fiber and oil seed for industrial and consumer products. It contains much lower levels of THC than marijuana. The 2018 farm bill passed by Congress legalized hemp as an agricultural commodity. Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or jyoung@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSLegislature. Love 7 Funny 14 Wow 1 Sad 6 Angry 3 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. The University of Nebraska system could name an interim president next week as the Board of Regents huddles to hire a search firm to aid in finding a new permanent leader. Regents will meet in a special meeting May 30 to approve a contract with AGB Search, the search consultant arm of the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges. The contract will be for $169,750, plus reimbursable expenses, pulled from state appropriations and tuition revenues. NU's search will be aided by Rod McDavis, the managing principal for AGB Search and former president of Ohio University; Sally Mason, president emerita of the University of Iowa; and Garry Owens, founding dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Texas Tech University. Working alongside a university-appointed search committee, AGB Search will meet with regents, administrators, faculty, staff, students, alumni and others to develop a profile of the next university president. The firm will also recruit a "diverse candidate pool," according to the agenda item published Wednesday, and will conduct reference and background checks on potential candidates. He isn't leaving the council. He had just completed his turn as council chair, and she knew that means more bike time for Shobe. "I wish it could be more," Raybould said. "As you know very well, we can't accept gifts for more than $25. And if we do, we must report them lest anyone think we're now trying to influence your vote." Tracking use of cycle track City sensors counted 24,000 cyclists using the protected bike lane along N Street during a four-month stretch last year, according to a memo from the Mayor's Office. That's about 202 a day past the sensor between 12th and 13th streets on the $3.2 million N Street Cycle Track, which has been a lightning rod issue with motorists questioning whether it gets much use. The city doesn't have a complete count for last year, in part because there was an issue with the sensor system that helps time the traffic lights for cyclists and measure usage. For the first eight months of 2018, city crews were replacing defective sensors along the bikeway that opened in late 2015, said engineering technician Christopher LeFrois of Lincoln Transportation and Utilities. The count covers September through December. The city has held individual meetings with some of the stakeholders. Theres clear agreement that this is a problem that needs to be fixed," Portis said. City officials are still aiming to have the plant operational by fall. Meanwhile, there seems to be progress in getting the citys wastewater plant running again. Portis said electricity has been temporarily restored and equipment repaired, allowing for raw sewage to flow through the plant with limited treatment before being released into the Missouri River. For about two months, the city had no choice but to release the sewage into the river without any treatment. Major components still need repair, including electrical, mechanical and pumping equipment. Again, Lambert expressed hope that the wastewater plant can be fully functional by fall. After the water plant shut down, the city was able to reach an agreement with Cass County Rural Water District No. 1 to draw some of its supply, but also asked the community to conserve usage. People are doing a great job, Portis said. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 1 Two deaths, both in Missouri, were blamed on the severe weather that started in the Southern Plains Monday night and moved to the northeast. Missouri and parts of Illinois and Arkansas were in the crosshairs Tuesday. By Wednesday, the storm will move into Great Lakes region, where it will weaken. But another storm system was gathering steam for later this week, potentially covering an area from Texas to Chicago, according to the National Weather Service. The skies grew dark over St. Louis before nightfall Tuesday and a tornado warning was issued for the city and surrounding suburbs, but the storm passed overhead without producing the rotation that often spawns tornadoes and the city was mostly spared except for heavy rain. "The danger has passed for the St. Louis area," said National Weather Service St. Louis meteorologist Jason Gasselin said. The NWS Storm Prediction Center website listed 37 reports of tornadoes on Tuesday in Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Justina and Dick Clark are new members of LCIV and have three children (ages 6, 5 and 4), so their hectic household perfectly suits the purpose of placing international visitors with dinner diplomats to let them see real, regular life in America. We've enjoyed sharing American customs and meals with these guests and learned so much about their lives and families, said Justina. Having our children involved in the dinners has been the most fun and exciting part of our experience. It is very important to me that my children have the opportunity to meet and learn about different people from around the world and to see that, just as these visitors have come from so far to visit us, they too can go far and wide in their own lives. The Clarks have stayed in touch with Cameroon visitors Acham and Benedicte through Facebook and WhatsApp, where they exchange pictures and pleasantries. With all of our guests, we've found that we ALL have much more in common than not, and we look forward to more chances to grow our circle of friends, Justina added. But such logical guardrails could be absent from the question that goes before voters one widely expected to pass, given other states experience and Nebraskans propensity to approve such measures. Lawmakers refusal to act on a restricted program, therefore, opens the door for less control going forward. One of the common criticisms of medical cannabis in Nebraska one of just four states with no such program is that it provides a gateway to the legalization of recreational marijuana. But only 10 of the remaining 46 states have gone that route, meaning the slope ahead isnt as slippery as opponents fear. And while medical research is limited by the federal governments continuing to classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug which deems it of no medicinal value the limited studies done have portended some optimism in addressing difficult conditions. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. KENOSHA Fleet Farm has canceled plans to build a store in Kenosha. Last year, the Appleton-based company proposed building a 185,000-square-foot store west of I-94 and south of 60th Street (Highway K). Those plans were canceled, however, when company officials decided it would be too costly to make the necessary infrastructure upgrades to meet the citys suggested requirements. Last June, the city Plan Commission granted approved a conditional use permit for the project. However, Fleet Farm still had some conditions to meet before it could break ground on the site, 6238 122nd Ave. Fleet Farm, formerly known as Mills Fleet Farm, was to install access lanes, curbing and other infrastructure. City Development Director Brian Wilke said Fleet Farm elected not to continue with the project despite having conditional approval. We have worked with local officials to bring a Fleet Farm to the city of Kenosha since 2016, Tom Carrico, Fleet Farms vice president of real estate and construction, said. After a number of delays, we came to the disappointing decision to forgo our efforts to build a store in Kenosha. We still look forward to serving the Kenosha community through our online state at www.FleetFarm.com and will continue to explore opportunities to bring a store to this area. Recent expansions Fleet Farm opened five new stores in 2018, including stores in Eau Claire, Oconomowoc, DeForest and Delavan. The company said on average one Fleet Farm store creates more than 200 jobs. We are working to bring our stores to even more towns and cities in the Midwest, Carrico said. As of May 10, the retailer had 42 stores, 22 of which are located in Wisconsin. Officials said plans call for more new stores in the upper Midwest with the goal to double the store count by 2023. The company, not to be confused with Blains Farm & Fleet which has a Sturtevant store, said, The Fleet Farm growth story continues this year with four new stores and one major store remodel. One of those stores will be opened in West Bend. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 3 PLEASANT PRAIRIE A 19-year-old man shot outside a Pleasant Prairie restaurant Monday is dead, and police were still searching for suspects as of Tuesday night. Police identified the victim Tuesday afternoon as Khaled M. Alchaar from Pleasant Prairie. The shooting occurred in the parking lot of Cheddars Scratch Kitchen, which is at 10366 77th St. and fronts Highway 50, at 8:45 p.m., according to Randy Myles, Pleasant Prairie assistant police chief. Myles said Alchaar was found with a gunshot wound in the parking lot and taken to nearby Froedtert Souths St. Catherines Medical Center, where he later died. An autopsy was conducted Tuesday. Alchaar lived in an apartment complex about a half-mile from the restaurant, Police said. Police swarm area Dixie Lee Nelson of Kenosha said she was working as a server at the restaurant Monday night when she heard a commotion outside she said she thought she heard a shot and screaming and soon after saw police lights outside. The police had the whole area surrounded, and I dont mean just the restaurant, the whole area, she said. It couldnt have been more than minutes before the entire area was surrounded. She said it appeared an ambulance was held at the back of the restaurant until police cleared the area outside. According to police scanner traffic at the time of the shooting, the shooter may have fled into woods or bushes near the restaurant. From everything I gathered, it was considered an active shooter situation because they had no idea where the shooter fled to, Nelson said. Nelson said police some in regular uniforms with guns drawn, some in tactical gear with rifles came into the restaurant to search. They had everyone standing up against the wall with their hands against the wall and all patrons sitting with their hands above their heads, she said. They went car-by-car with dogs. They ran every plate in the parking lot. She said people inside were frightened. I had three tables at the time. Two people were crying; one was praying, she said, adding that the restaurant was on lockdown for hours as police searched the area. Myles said police believe the shooting Monday was not random. This appears to be isolated incident. There is no danger to the public, Myles said. I would say there is no indication that this was a random act. What precipitated it were still working on. Alchaar was active on social media selling used cars through an online marketplace. Police are asking anyone with information about the case to contact the Pleasant Prairie Police Department at 262-694-7353 or Kenosha Area Crime Stoppers at 800-807-8477. Calls to Crime Stoppers that lead to arrest earn up to a $1,000 reward and can be made anonymously. Journal Times reporter Alyssa Mauk Contributed to this report. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Republican plan to pull the Medicaid expansion out of the budget is blatantly partisan at the expense of every person in Wisconsin and is, according to the most recent Marquette polls, against what 70% of the citizens of this state want. Speaker Vos appears to consider that his opinion, and the Republican party opinion, should override the election of Tony Evers as governor. To Speaker Vos and Senator Fitzgerald: Take the money. Hundreds of millions of dollars will benefit this state, to say nothing of the improved healthcare (and reduction of devastating health care outcomes that will be even more costly) to thousands of Wisconsinites. Across the US, 37 states have accepted the Medicaid expansion. Speaker Vos has said that he doesn't care that the majority of people in the state want it. He doesn't and that's the end of it. Not so fast, Robin. You are supposed to be representing all of your constituents, and when 70% want something, it's time to reassess your short-sighted, politically motivated stance. Get Wisconsin's share of the federal money, and help those who are going uninsured or severely struggling to buy insurance. It's time to do the right thing. Linda Haack Racine Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 - 51 party-lists won in the 2019 midterm elections - Topping the race was Tulfo-backed group called ACT-CIS - The names of the winning party-lists as well as the seat allocation were reported here PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed The Commission on Elections (Comelec) finally proclaimed Wednesday the 51 party-lists that won in the recently-concluded 2019 midterm polls. KAMI learned that there were 134 groups that tried to snatch a slot in the Lower House but only less than half of them emerged victorious. The Tulfo-bannered group called Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) ranked number 1 in the race and it got 3 slots from the allotted 61 seats for party-lists. Bayan Muna, which landed on the second spot, also acquired the maximum number of seats in Congress which is 3. Meanwhile, six party-lists representing different sectors will be filling in 12 slots and the other 43 will be given one seat each. 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! Here are the winning party-lists as well as the allocation of seats:1. ACT-CIS - 3 seats ACT-CIS - 3 seats Bayan Muna - 3 seats Ako Bicol - 2 seats Citizens' Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) - 2 seats Ang Probinsyano - 2 seats 1PACMAN - 2 seats Marino - 2 seats Probinsyano Ako - 2 seats Senior Citizens - 1 seat Magsasaka - 1 seat Association of Philippine Electric Cooperatives (APEC) - 1 seat Gabriela - 1 seat An Waray - 1 seat Cooperative Natcco Network (COOP-NATCCO) - 1 seat ACT Teachers - 1 seat Philippine Rural Electronic Cooperatives Association, Inc (PHILRECA) - 1 seat Ako Bisaya - 1 seat Tingog Sinirangan - 1 seat Abono - 1 seat Buhay - 1 seat Duterte Youth - 1 seat Kalinga - 1 seat Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) - 1 seat Alliance of Organizations, Networks and Associations of the Philippines (ALONA) - 1 seat Rural Electronic Consumers and Beneficiaries of Development and Advancement, Inc (RECOBODA) - 1 seat Bagong Henerasyon - 1 seat Bahay - 1 seat Construction Workers' Solidarity (CWS) - 1 seat Abang Lingkod - 1 seat A Teacher - 1 seat Barangay Health Wellness (BHW) - 1 seat Sagip - 1 seat Trade Union Congress Party (TUCP) - 1 seat Magdalo - 1 seat Galing sa Puso Party (GP) - 1 seat Manila Teachers - 1 seat Rebolusyonaryong Alyansang Makabansa (RAM) - 1 seat Anakalusugan - 1 seat Ako Padayon - 1 seat AAMBIS-OWA - 1 seat Kusug Tausug - 1 seat Dumper Philippines Taxi Drivers Association, Inc (Dumper-PTDA) - 1 seat Talino at Galing ng Pinoy (TGP) - 1 seat Public Safety Alliance for Transformation and Rule of Law, Inc (PATROL) - 1 seat Anak Mindanao (AMIN) - 1 seat Agricultural Sector Alliance of the Philippines (AGAP) - 1 seat LPG Marketers Association, Inc (LPGMA) - 1 seat OFW Family - 1 seat Kabayan - 1 seat Diwa - 1 seat Kabataan - 1 seat In a previous article by , Nancy Binay and Grace Poe refused to do the Duterte fist pose during the proclamation of wining Senators. Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! A little bit silly, but extremely hilarious random pranks. In this video, we have included the funniest moments that will definitely put a smile on your face. Do you want to have a good laugh? on HumanMeter! Source: KAMI.com.gh Think tank formed to counsel government The government has formed a five-member think tank to suggest it on various policy issues concerning economic, political, social and administrative reforms. Experts question rationale behind new government think tank The formation of a new think tank by the government last September is being watched by many as to how it will function and how its relationship with other similar entities within the government machine will evolve. Mishras resignation throws the future of the governmental think tank into disarray Insiders believe Chaitanya Mishras discomfort with governmental bureaucracy was the primary reason behind his departure After four months of deliberation, the home care feasibility committeeled by Houston County Public Health Director Mary Marchel recommended the disbandment of Houston Countys home care services at the Houston County Board of Commissioners meeting. The board approval of the request at the May 2 meeting was not the only role of business; Houston County Interim Assessor Cindy Cresswell had a public interview for the role of assessor, and the gambling permit for Houston Money Creek Snowmobile Club was approved. The dissolution of the home care services will lay off seven home care aides and will impact 53 home care clients. At the heart of this, we are talking about peoples lives and livelihoods, Marchel said. Thats why its such a hard decision. According to Marchel, the committee has been working together since January 2017 to clarify the countys sustainability while providing home care. Although Houston County has its own home care services, it is tied with Fillmore County as a joint board of health. It found that there is no state mandate to provide home care. It also found that the reimbursement of the program will not catch up to its expenses. Houston Countys home care has decreased in the past few years. In 2014, there were 107 clients while there are currently only 53 this year. Since January, we have had informal and formal proposals that we have not accepted because of staffing issues. Even if we would have accepted those clients, we still would not break even, Marchel said. To soften the blow to the employees, Marchel plans to work with human resources to put together a career fair for the seven laid off employees. According to Marchel, there are five other private home care agencies in the area that are interested in hiring. The county will have to pay out $30,000 to the seven home aides for sick and vacation time. The current home aide clients will receive hand delivered notices in the next week. Houston County Public Health plans to help the clients transition to a new agency. The end date for the program is July 31, 2017. Years ago there were no options, commissioner Teresa Walter said. There are options now. The home health aides are very aware that their clients are going down and their hours. In Other News Houston County Environmental Services Director Rick Frank presented the three planning-commission-approved conditional use permits to the board. All three were approved by the board. Sentence to Services contract has been renewed for the next two years by the board. The county will owe $131,595.73 to the state of Minnesota for the jail-alternative program, which allows low-risk offenders to perform community service, rather than be incarcerated. Rachel Meyer was approved by the board as a probationary jailer/dispatcher. She will start May 22, 2017. Jacob Reburn was approved by the board as a mechanic for the highway department. He will start on June 5, 2017. Cindy Cresswell was formally interviewed by the board. She has acted as interim assessor since April 12, 2017. She has her Senior Accredited Minnesota Assessor certification, as well as a bachelors of science in geology from Winona State University. She has worked in the Houston County Assessors Office since 1998. A gambling permit was approved for Houston Money Creek Snowmobile club for gambling activities at Valley High Country Club in Mound Prairie Township. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 0 WAUKON, Iowa -- The Main Feature Theater will host Dr. Michael Luick-Thrams as he presents "The Enemies Within: Midwest and German POWs in Each Others' Homes, 1943-48" from 3 to 5:30 p.m. May 27 at the historic Town Theater, 38 W Main St. The presentations will demonstrate the connections and impacts between Midwestern and German POWs in one another's homelands. During World War II, the most U.S. POWs held in German came, per capita, from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Simultaneously, Iowa housed some 20,000 German, Italian and Japanese POWs, part of 600 POW camps across the U.S. Between the two presentations, from 4 to 4:30 p.m., the program will honor men and women who have served in the U.S. military, especially former POWs. The event is free and open to the public, courtesy of the Robey Memorial Library foundation and Allamakee Historical Preservation Commission. For more information, call 563-568-4954 or visit www.TRACES.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Pela has put together a gardening to-do list to help you start preparing for spring while waiting out the cold months of the year. Republicans on the states budget-writing committee approved a 2% annual wage increase for most state employees Tuesday, plus a 14% boost to the minimum wage for state prison employees. The committee also set aside millions to fund compensation for prison employees working overtime as the states correctional institutions struggle with vacancy rates. Under the state worker pay increase Republicans approved, state employees would get a 2% pay bump on Jan. 1, 2020, and another one a year later. The measure they adopted does not go as far as Evers proposal, which would have provided about $8 million more to boost pay for some positions to keep it on par with those in the private sector. The University of Wisconsin System, which employs about 39,000 people statewide, proposed a 3% raise in each of the next two years. System president Ray Cross said in a Tuesday tweet: Todays vote will help us attract and retain talent to build a better Wisconsin. The Republican plan also gutted a provision Democratic Gov. Tony Evers put forward to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour for employees of state agencies outside of the System, state Legislature and Courts. The proposal to boost the Department of Corrections minimum wage, which Republicans passed 11-4, goes further than that of Evers by increasing pay for entry-level corrections employees by $2.35 per hour, from $16.65 to about $19 per hour by 2021. Evers had proposed increasing the Corrections minimum wage to $18.22 per hour. The wage hikes for correctional officers amount to a $37 million increase over current levels, more than the $24 million the governor had proposed. GOP members of the Joint Committee on Finance, Reps. John Nygren of Marinette, Shannon Zimmerman of River Falls and Mark Born of Beaver Dam, said the package includes wage increases for more senior correctional officers by an amount similar to that of entry-level employees to achieve fairness. Their plan would provide one-time service awards of $250 to correctional officers after 10 years served; $500 after 15 years served; $750 after 20 years served; and $1,000 after 25 years served and every 5 years thereafter. OT pay addressed Separate from those increases are those approved for overtime compensation for correctional officers. Republicans on the committee voted 11-4 for about $122 million over the two-year budget cycle to pay for prison worker overtime costs, about $7 million less than the governor proposed. Part of the reduction in overtime is due to the pay raises for correctional officers, which have the potential to reduce the need for overtime in the coming years. Republicans say the increase in funding will help address increasing position vacancies at many of the states prisons and underscore the value of correctional officers. The plan to boost funding comes as many of the prison systems security officer positions go unfilled. In April, 739 of the states 4,651 correctional officer and correctional sergeant positions were vacant, representing a 16% vacancy rate. Vacancy rates have contributed to low employee morale at some prisons. The Evers administration has attempted to address the problem through a patchwork of $5 per hour temporary pay increases at select prisons. Republicans have criticized those temporary increases, arguing they could prompt corrections officers to leave their current positions for higher paying ones at other institutions, creating a new vacancy problem. Taylor lashes out Democrats on the committee, such as Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, slammed members of the GOP for creating the vacancy crisis. Republicans previously instituted similar temporary pay increases, but by a lesser amount. We continue to hear this hypocrisy of going after this governor for doing targeted hourly add-ons to our maximum security prisons when you all did this but you did it ineffectively, Taylor said. Republicans in their plan would bar employees receiving the $5 per hour temporary pay bump from receiving a $2.65 per hour raise until the second year of the budget cycle. The Joint Finance Committee did not take up a proposal from Evers to provide $15 million to build 3 barracks-style units to house prisoners. They could reconsider the motion when they take up the state capital budget for large building projects. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Tuesday vowed to veto a slate of contentious abortion-related bills Republicans in the state Assembly passed last week and that lawmakers in the Senate are set to consider in early June. Evers announcement, which comes as no surprise, means the package of bills has no chance of becoming law because Republicans lack a two-thirds majority to override a veto. One of the bills Assembly Republicans passed, dubbed the born-alive bill, would require a health care provider who is present when a fetus survives an abortion or abortion attempt to exercise the same degree of professional skill, care and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child. We shouldnt be limiting the right for women to make their own health care decisions, Evers wrote on Twitter. Thats why Ill veto the bills passed by the Assembly last week if they arrive on my desk. Its time to listen to women. Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, one of the born-alive bills authors, said Evers position makes clear hes for abortion at any time for any reason. Democrats say the born-alive bill is unnecessary because cases where a fetus survives an abortion attempt are extremely rare. Wisconsin Right to Life, an anti-abortion group that supports the born-alive bill, said such a case hasnt been reported in Wisconsin since 1982. Such cases are not tracked by the state Department of Health Services. Wisconsin already bans abortions after 20 weeks, before the point of fetal viability outside the womb, and federal law provides legal protections to all babies born alive, including after an abortion attempt. Republicans have argued the bill would ensure protections for the unborn in case the 20-week ban is repealed. Other bills Republicans in the Assembly passed last week include one that would bar abortion selection on the basis of factors such as the fetus sex, race or disability. Another GOP bill lawmakers in the Assembly approved would require providers to submit more information to the state about abortions they perform. A fourth bill they passed would make health care providers ineligible for the states Medicaid program if they perform abortions, with certain exceptions. Wisconsin Republicans received an earful about their abortion position at their annual convention in Oshkosh last weekend from the Rev. James Reiff, pastor of St. Johns Lutheran Congregation in Oshkosh. Heavenly father, you know that when Wisconsin Republicans had the majority under Gov. Walker, they did nothing to safeguard the rights of the preborn, Reiff said during the opening prayer. Now, however, when we have a Democrat governor, these same Republicans piously claim that theyre against abortion, all the while knowing that any abortion bill they bring to the governors desk will be vetoed. Dear heavenly father, forgive our Republican legislators for their hypocrisy. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, later in the day defended the Wisconsin GOP record on abortion, arguing Republicans are profoundly proud of their abortion record, which includes a bill former Republican Gov. Scott Walker signed in 2015 that prohibits abortion after 20 weeks gestation. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 With lawmakers nearing a planned budget vote on school funding, Senate Republicans are discussing increasing state aid to school districts by $200 per pupil in each of the next two years, their leader said Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, told the Wisconsin State Journal on Tuesday districts would get $200 per pupil in 2019-20, then an additional $200 more per pupil in 2020-21. That approach would mirror the centerpiece of the school-funding increase in the most recent state budget that former Gov. Scott Walker signed in 2017, which translated to about a half-billion increase in state aid to districts. It contrasts with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposal for the next budget. Evers wants to pump $611 million into general school aids through a revised state funding formula that would guarantee a basic level of funding for each student, but provide additional funding for low-income students. The per-pupil funding stream gives districts a flat amount per student, not accounting for a districts property-tax base. Assembly Republicans plan to announce their position on school funding Wednesday, a spokeswoman for Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said. GOP legislative leaders are set to meet Wednesday with Evers, and the Legislatures budget-writing Joint Finance Committee is set to take up school funding in its Thursday session. The 16-member committee typically builds the budget and sends it to the full Assembly and Senate for final passage. Fitzgerald spokesman Alec Zimmerman said the official Senate Republican position wont be finalized before Senate Republicans discuss it in closed caucus. Theyre set to meet Wednesday to discuss school funding and other topics, he said. Assembly Republicans held their own closed-door budget meeting Tuesday afternoon. Fitzgeralds office did not respond to inquiries about whether Senate Republicans are discussing other major school-funding increases, such as for special education. Also Tuesday, Fitzgerald continued his critique of what he described as a lack of communication by Evers office with legislative leaders, saying Evers has done a poorer job on that front than previous Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle, who served from 2003 to 2011. Under Doyle, Fitzgerald said legislative leaders worked closely with then-Department of Administration Secretary Marc Marotta. Fitzgerald said Marotta attended Joint Finance Committee budget sessions and was deeply engaged in legislative budget proceedings. But he said so far in this budget, no one has played a comparable role in the Evers administration. That dialogue was happening (under Doyle) and it just doesnt feel like its happening at all right now, Fitzgerald said. Vos, R-Rochester, has said he expects to meet with the governor directly to hold budget talks. Evers office did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. Evers school-funding plan, which calls for a total $1.4 billion state-aid infusion to K-12 districts, also gives $606 million over two years to districts to help them bridge the gap between services theyre required to give students with special needs and the money they get to do it. GOP lawmakers previously signaled they would not support a school-funding increase as large as Evers proposed, or as large of a special education increase as he proposed. Sen. Tom Tiffany, R-Hazelhurst, a Joint Finance member, told the State Journal last week he views the funding increase given to schools in the most recent budget as a template for a similar increase in this budget. Another finance committee member, Sen. Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, questioned whether GOP lawmakers would be able to match the increase given two years ago. The 2017-19 budget, covering the two-year cycle ending June 30, gave school districts a $639 million funding boost. Its centerpiece was a $505 million increase in per-pupil aid to districts of $200 per pupil in 2017-18, then an additional $204 per pupil beyond that in 2018-19. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MADISON With the city of Madison and its metropolitan area popping up consistently in national rankings on economic vitality, many people would assume all is well in the seven other counties that make up the Madison Region Economic Partnership. Dont assume too much. Data revealed last week at MadREPs State of the Madison Region Economy event highlighted significant challenges facing the seven counties outside Dane while also breaking down research reports on the regions target economic sectors: agriculture, food and beverage; advanced manufacturing; health care; information communications technology; and bioscience. The findings included lessons that shouldnt be lost on the rest of Wisconsin. Our rural areas are significantly under-performing compared to Dane County, said MadREP President Paul Jadin, who presented the regions next five-year economic development strategy. There are many reasons for that, not the least of which is the lack of robust broadband connections in parts of those counties, a farm economy that is suffering in some sectors and a mix of opportunity and social factors that have contributed to rural out-migration in America for a century or more. The MadREP example is instructive, however, because it shows that prosperity in a region doesnt necessarily improve at the same pace as the nearest large city unless there is a regional approach to solving common problems. William Fruth, president at POLICOM Corp., is an economist who has studied regional clusters of activity. He has ranked the Madison metropolitan statistical area among the top dozen or so nationally when it comes to economic vitality. However, as Fruth told the MadREP group, its a different picture when the larger region is included. The broader Madison region ranked in the bottom quartile when compared to similar regions surrounding Ann Arbor, Austin, Boulder, Columbus, Indianapolis, Lincoln, Portland, Raleigh and Salt Lake City. The question is why job growth is strong in Dane County but flat to even declining in some of the seven adjacent counties: Columbia, Dodge, Green, Iowa, Jefferson, Rock and Sauk. Jadin noted that parts of the MadREP region are broadband deserts, meaning slower or even non-existent connections to the internet are holding back economic progress. Its not just a problem in northern Wisconsin, he said. Daily migration data reveals that roughly 50,000 people per day are commuting to Dane County from those seven counties and that 42,000 per day are moving in the opposite direction. Another 46,000 people are commuting each day to Dane County from the rest of the states counties, which illustrates that people recognize opportunity when they see it. Another reason for lack of economic growth in some rural communities may be a problem evident in other parts of Wisconsin: Lack of cooperation among government units. Wisconsin has 3,128 local governments units counties, cities, villages, towns and other special units which is among the most in the nation. Only eight other states have more, and most of those states have larger populations, according to Governing magazine. Wisconsin has 54.6 local governments per 100,000 people; the U.S. average is 28.7 per 100,000 people. Thats becomes a problem when those units of government dont talk among themselves about common challenges, such as water supply, transportation, land-use planning and economic growth that is managed across boundaries. In Colorado, for example, part of the prosperity of the Denver region can be directly attributed to a regional approach to growth. Some of the friction in Wisconsin is cultural and political. Local officials in parts of the state often see cities such as Madison and Milwaukee as wealthy enemies, even if so much of the states economy depends on healthy urban centers. City officials, on the other hand, are sometimes accused of land grabs to build municipal tax bases. The fact is that rural communities need urban centers, and vice versa. A report released by the Brookings Institution in 2018 countered the argument that cities are a drain on rural resources. Studies in Minnesota, Georgia and Wisconsin reveal that metropolitan areas contribute more to state coffers than they receive in education, infrastructure, and other public services investments, the report noted. The Brookings report didnt call for ever-bigger super-cities, but urged investment in smaller cities close to rural areas. A more strategic approach would aim to accelerate economic growth across mid-sized metro areas and micropolitan areas that are accessible to nearby rural areas, it read. Local control is a Wisconsin mantra, but economic challenges in much of rural Wisconsin suggest that governments can cooperate while not surrendering control over their own affairs. Tom Still is president of the Wisconsin Technology Council. He can be reached at tstill@wisconsintechnologycouncil.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe This story was originally published June 9, 2016. Jacaranda season may be brief, but for a short burst of time all of Los Angeles seems to be in purple-blue bloom. Ordinary trees explode in a riotous violet haze. Palm Drive becomes a tunnel; North Whittier a lavender canopy. Stansbury Street is engulfed. The Santa Monica stretch of jacaranda trees from Wilshire to Colorado on 3rd is a designated city landmark, and for good reason. Technically, there are 49 species of jacaranda trees, but it's the Jacaranda mimosifolia, also known as the "blue jacaranda," that is ubiquitous here. They bloom twice a year, once in spring, usually in late May or early June, and again in the fall. "Vladimir Nabokov is said to have claimed that he could live in Los Angeles simply for the Jacaranda trees." Like many things intrinsic to the city, jacarandas are not actually native to Los Angeles. The trees are indigenous to South America, originally found in the tropical and subtropical regions of Argentina and Brazil. In 1944, a scholar visiting from Chicago described "the immense clusters of violet blue flowers" in a scientific journal, explaining that an illustration of a Jacaranda mimosifolia flower on the facing page was "made from specimens collected in the environs of Los Angeles where this tree is widely grown for its beauty." Have you ever heard a more L.A. thing? One can only imagine what those weary midwesterners must have thought of us, we Californians, who grew things just for their beauty. Vladimir Nabokov is said to have claimed that he could have lived in Los Angeles for the jacaranda trees alone. There were 148,530 jacaranda trees in the city, as of 2010. Mature jacaranda trees can reach 25 to 45 feet, with an oval canopy that spreads almost as wide as the tree's height. Up close, the trumpet-shaped flowers are an inch or two long, and usually five-petaled. From afar, they are a fairytale, a free pass to a foreign land. (Photo by Chris Eason via the Creative Commons on Flickr) "They make a huge visual impact," Elizabeth Skrzat said in a phone call. "They're absolutely gorgeous, and people respond to that." Skrzat directs City Plants, a public-private partnership that works with the city to expand L.A.'s green canopy and plant street trees. "We get a lot of requests for [jacarandas to be planted]," she said. 1822 illustration (Image via Wikimedia Commons) According to Frank McDonough, a botanist at the Los Angeles County Arboretum, the jacaranda bloom has been especially profuse this year. "We had an evenly cool winter," he explained, "followed in March by warm temperatures and somewhat significant rain and then--boom--warm weather right after that, which does interesting things," McDonough said. "I've seen them since I was a kid," he told me with a whiff of nostalgia. The botanist was born and raised here. The fall bloom is shorter and less certain, dependent on temperatures. According to McDonough, in years with strong Santa Ana winds, which coincide with bright sunlight and "heat everything up," the jacarandas are less likely to bloom. Surely there is some poetic symmetry to that, the trading of one element of mythic Los Angeles for another. The exact timing of either bloom is as difficult to predict as the blossoming of any single tree. Even at the height of the spring surfeit, no two streets will flower on exactly the same schedule. "They're like humans, and each tree has its own temperament," a representative from the Bureau of Street Services explained over the phone one day last month. *** (Background photo by David McNew/Getty Images) "A Southern Californian would still know that it was wonderful to be alive merely for the jacaranda," a Los Angeles newspaper columnist wrote more than a hundred years ago. It remains true today. So, how exactly did the jacarandas get here? Accounts of their original point of entry differ. As McDonough told me, "when exactly they came, nobody really knows." He posits that it's possible they first arrived in California during the Gold Rush. Most of the schooner ships making their way west stopped in Buenos Aires, where they would have witnessed the glory of a jacaranda tree in bloom. McDonough explains that those early arrivals may have "brought seeds or clippings" with them to California. It's also possible that freight tycoon Phineas Banning had the trees shipped in to his Wilmington estate from the Amazon in the late 1860s. Still, in 1868, Reverend James C. Fletcher, a scholar of Brazil, would write that their lilac blossoms were rarely seen north of the equator except in "small specimen-pieces." All that would change in the new century. "The flowering jacaranda, which in June showers its purple blossoms on the passerby, has come as an ambassador from the Amazon to proclaim the magnificence of that court," Lannie Haynes Martin wrote of Southern California in 1912. By 1916, naturalist Charles Francis Sanders would write that driving Foothill Boulevard (the precursor of the 210 freeway) was "nothing short of entrancing" when "the jacaranda trees are a cloud of blue," and by 1920, the L.A. Times would call the trees, now "not uncommon," the "finest foliage of any used for street planting." And for their profusion, we have but one person to thank, a pioneering woman who was arguably the Johnny Appleseed of not just jacarandas, but a host of other iconic Southern California flora. Her name was Kate Sessions and she spent more than 50 years importing seeds and plants into Southern California. She is credited with introducing and popularizing more than 143 species in Southern California, including our beloved bougainvillea, birds of paradise, yellow oleander, star jasmine, and, of course, jacaranda trees. Kate Sessions (Photo via Women's Museum of California/YouTube Sessions was born a native Californian, a rare breed in 1857, though perhaps not as rare as a woman receiving a degree in the sciences, which she did from Berkeley in 1887. Her father and his three brothers had arrived in San Francisco at the height of Gold Rush to try their luck out west. At six, she moved across the bay to Oakland, then "a small village with lots of open space." It was a good place for a girl to fall in love with the natural world. As a teenager, Sessions made a hobby of collecting flowers, drying and pressing them. For her 15th birthday, her mother gave her a black leather-bound notebook for preserving her specimens. The young Sessions spelled out the word "Herbarium" carefully in leaf fragments across its cover. Today, the book resides in the San Diego Natural History Museum. After Berkeley, Sessions worked as a teacher, then the only acceptable line of work for an educated young woman. She moved south to San Diego, and after a short tenure in the classroom, she left to do what she loved most--study and grow plants. "Her mind," as San Diego historian Clair Crane once said, "was blank to everything except horticulture." Sessions discovered that here in California, under the great western sun, things could grow that would never survive back east. She sought out plants that needed little water, and began to introduce many of the tropical species that had first caught her eye when she travelled to Hawaii at 18, along with exotic plants and trees from Latin America and others parts of the world that would be suitable for the Southern California climate and landscape. Sessions opened her San Diego nursery in 1885. Then 28, she would soon become the leading plant dealer in the area, her rise coinciding with a time of explosive growth in the region. Through her nurseries (she would own a succession of them, in Coronado, City Park, Mission Hills and Pacific Beach), Sessions wielded enormous influence over the physical character of the rapidly developing residential areas of San Diego and its environs. As environmental historian Vera Norwood explained, families moving into the area "looked not to landscape architects as much as to the local nursery owner to help them design and plant their grounds," and, as Norwood wrote, "hardly any homeowner landscaped her yard without the advice and plants of Kate Sessions." But Session's legacy, according to the San Diego History Center, is most visible through her role as "Mother of Balboa Park." New York has Central Park, London has Hyde Park, and, thanks to Kate Sessions, San Diego has Balboa Park as its crown jewel. Influenced by the growing parks movement across the country, San Diego had had the foresight to set aside 1,200 acres in its center for what was then called City Park, but the city lacked the resources or wherewithal to develop it. By 1889, "the large vacant tract had become something of an attractive nuisance," with scattered trash, stray animals, and a "pest house" within its bounds. Desperate for space to expand her growing nursery business, Sessions struck up an enterprising deal in 1892: she would take over 32 acres of land in the northwest corner of the barren mesa, and in exchange for rent, she'd plant a hundred trees a year in the park, and make an additional 300 trees available to be planted around the city. The arrangement continued for a decade, with Sessions furnishing the city with an approximate total of 4,000 trees, including many of her exotic favorites, and, to some degree, inventing Southern California as the tropical Eden we know today. As her acclaim grew, her influence rippled outward from San Diego. As Gabe Selak, public programs manager at the San Diego Historical Society explained, "a lot of what we have today--the lush and tropical experience you have when you come to Southern California, didn't look like that [before her]." At one point, a list was made of all the plants Sessions either introduced or popularized and made widely used in Southern California. It ran four pages long. Sessions died in 1940 at 82. She reportedly requested a death bed visit from then-San Diego City Planner Glen Rick in 1940. He was in the midst of developing the 5 freeway, and she wanted to tell him what sort of things ought to be planted alongside it. *** Jacarandas, like many of the plants Sessions introduced, were soon planted across the Southland, painting streets and skies purple from San Diego to Santa Barbara. According to McDonough, the trees became truly popular in Los Angeles during the 1920s and '30s, and their population further swelled during the middle of the century. The 1950s and '60s saw a concerted effort directed toward planting more street trees, alongside "the population and commensurate building boom that was occurring," according to the Bureau of Street Services, who report that from 1946 to 1970 the street tree population in the city more than doubled from "perhaps 300,000 trees" to approximately 680,000. According to Elizabeth Skrzat of City Plants, street trees serve a number of useful purposes, including energy efficiency (shading homes and buildings, which then require less energy to cool), stormwater capture, and a role in combating the urban heat island effect. As "moderate" water users, jacarandas do well in our climate, and they are also tall enough to provide some energy relief. Interestingly, as Huell Howser pointed out in an episode of California's Gold, despite their prevalence in Southern California (along with Australia, South Africa, and of course, South America), jacaranda trees are rare to be found across the rest of the U.S. Howser dedicated one of the show's final episodes to the trees, and the question of whether they are "mess" or "miracle." Though the tree's appreciators far outweigh the detractors in number, both camps seem to harbor their opinions with an intensity. Jacaranda foes complain of the trees' endless violet litter, left behind as their petals soil streets and sidewalks, gumming up car windshields and sneaker soles. "People love them or hate them," I heard over and over again in conversations with friends, botanists and bureaucrats. Gene Sherman, in a 1960 entry of his fantastic L.A. Times column Cityside, addressed this very quandary. "We've been getting a lot of complaints," he quotes Bob Talmadge, a tree inspector with the city Park Department as saying. "People complain about the flowers. They fall down and then the kids track them into the house. And wall-to-wall carpeting being as important as it is today, you know..." Talmadge told Sherman. You know? In the half century since Sherman's column ran, we've put a man on the moon, eradicated smallpox, invented the internet and seen the Soviet Union fall. Wall-to-wall carpeting may no longer be in vogue, but some things, it seems, never change. "A lot of people enjoy their beauty and shade, but we do get complaints in certain times of the year," a tree surgeon with the city's Department of Urban Forestry told me in 2016. "When it's flowering, people complain about the fact that they walk through them and then they walk inside the house and stain the carpets," he said. But the pooling of the purple petals that infuriate so many? "In my opinion," McDonough said, "that's one of the most beautiful parts of the tree. When they're all on the ground, you sit around and you're surrounded by them." As Skrazk put it, "very few people have neutral feelings about jacaranda trees." *** What exactly makes their blossoms so bewitching? Part of the magic must be their hue. Blue as a color is rarely found in nature--less than 10 percent of the world's 280,000 species of flowering plants have the ability to produce blue flowers. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) As horticulturist David Lofgren told the L.A. Times in 2008, "Blue is a very difficult color to achieve in botany." "They don't serve more than for the purpose of eye candy, but we as humans are inherently drawn to color," he said. "Why is it that we pay more for a color TV than for one that's black and white?" But all the city is in Technicolor, and we have never been short on rare and lovely things. Surely, there must be something more to their spell. Here, you can sit at the edge of a swimming pool in the dead of winter and find it nearly impossible to ascertain the time of year or the age of the women sitting next to you. It could be January or June, and they could be ingenues, or old enough to be your mother. Los Angeles, 1941: Mr. Nelson and his jacaranda tree. (Photo by Charles W. Cushman) There are no seasons here, they say, no way to separate the days. How does one calibrate time when history is liquid and seemingly lived in the ageless present? Somewhere, likely in the basement of some talent agency, there must be a pile of Faustian pacts stacked a mile high. "The terrible thing about LA," Orson Welles once said, "is that you sit down, you're 25, and when you get up you're 62." In a city of eternal sunshine, what could be more seductive than impermanence? Our eyes can adjust to all the evergreen beauty Los Angeles has to offer; stay here long enough and you'll take it all in without even blinking. But the jacaranda trees? Blink and you'll miss them. In fact--look up!--they're already almost gone. As Raymond Chandler, a master of not just sunshine and noir, but also the perfect simile, put it in an early story, "Beautiful hands are as rare as jacaranda trees in bloom, in a city where pretty faces are as common as runs in dollar stockings." "It's the kind of tree you feel nostalgic for even when you're standing right in front of it," a San Diego horticulturist wrote. Their purple pageantry is the closest thing we have to seasons, to any season at all. They dazzle us and then disappear. And, as we look up at the space that was briefly purple and is now just sky, we Angelenos feel the rarest thing of all: time passing. Jacaranda seeds (Photo via Wikimedia Commons) Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe As more and more states vote to pass highly restrictive abortion bans, city officials in West Hollywood are taking a stand. The West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously on Monday to pass a resolution that would suspend official travel to Georgia and look into cutting ties with any Georgia-based businesses that work with the City of West Hollywood, as long as the law remains in effect. Georgia legislators passed a bill which would prohibit abortions at six weeks, often before a person knows they're pregnant. The timeline would be longer in cases of rape or incest. At a rally on Tuesday, the city's Mayor Pro Tempore Lindsey Horvath spoke out about the resolution. "We will not conduct the city's business in places that do not honor, respect and protect a woman's right to choose," she said. "We will not spend taxpayer dollars on goods, services or travel in or from any state that undermines women's health, dignity and privacy, and we denounce any and all efforts to endanger the lives of women and girls who cannot survive a pregnancy physically, spiritually, emotionally, financially." West Hollywood's rally was one of at least nine events happening in the L.A. area as part of the national #StopTheBans day of action. Other events were scheduled to take place in Pasadena, DTLA, Beverly Hills and more. The motion isn't the first local action taken around the recent wave of anti-choice bills. Three film and television production companies announced last week that they would not shoot in Georgia, with more following suit by the day. The announcements come on the heels of a call from Los Angeles Times columnist Mary Mcnamara for the industry to leave the state. According to The New York Times, eight states have passed new, highly restrictive laws on regulating abortion care this year, with more pending. Some ban the procedure at or around six weeks, at which time the tissue that will develop into a fetus' heart may be detectable by a medical professional. Alabama's new law, passed last week, is the most restrictive, banning abortions from the point of conception. It also makes performing an abortion a felony for doctors, who would face up to 99 years in prison. Many architects of bans such as those that were passed in Alabama and Georgia have acknowledged that they are part of a larger plan to challenge Roe v. Wade at the Supreme Court level. Emily Dugdale contributed reporting to this story. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe The leader of the Los Angeles Unified School District has finally released details of a long-anticipated plan to re-shape the relationship between the system's 900-plus schools and a massive central bureaucracy. Superintendent Austin Beutner's plan, outlined in a memo sent to LAUSD board members late Monday, focuses on the educator smack in the middle of that relationship: the LAUSD campus principal. The superintendent has set in motion a series of changes centered, chiefly, on making the principal's job simpler. Each change alone is relatively subtle, but Beutner says taken together, he hopes they'll help principals spend more time learning from peers, mentoring teachers, and communicating more directly with the parents of the district's half-a-million students. WHAT'S NOT IN THE PLAN Beutner's plan -- the result of a months-long process that consumed much of his first year as superintendent -- is almost as notable for what it does not include. Last year, L.A. Unified hired consultants who recommended breaking up the district and its central office bureaucracy into 32 "networks," according to documents published by Chalkbeat. Word of these recommendations leaked to the L.A. Times last November, and during the ramp-up to the January strike, the district's teachers union sounded the alarm, accusing Beutner of setting the stage for school closures or charter school expansion. Beutner has said he "never" intended to follow through with any sweeping internal reorganization. Though Beutner is following through on some of the consultants' recommendations, the plans he released this week are far less dramatic. Even the name consultants had given the shake-up -- the "Reimagining L.A. Unified Plan" -- is conspicuously absent from Beutner's memo to the board, which is simply entitled "The Work Ahead." "Those who think our schools should be test kitchens -- 'Let's just try something new every 24 months' -- don't have an understanding of how the work is done," Beutner said. "It's evolution, it's incremental change in a consistent direction that we think is going to provide the most opportunity for real change in our schools." A NEW MANDATE FOR PRINCIPALS To illustrate how his plan would make principals' jobs simpler, Beutner brought in Richard Ramos. When he took over at Northridge Middle School two years ago, Ramos thought he had the whole principal gig figured out. At Haddon Elementary, another LAUSD school in Pacoima, he had successfully warded off an attempt by parents to take over the school and convert it to a charter. In his three years at Haddon, everyone -- from teachers, to staff, to parents -- looked to him to make decisions about what was next. "I thought I'm going to come in here and do what I did at Haddon," said Ramos. "Well, [at Northridge] I realized very quickly, it couldn't be a cookie cutter. I had to do something very differently." At Northridge, Ramos is now part of a cohort of schools in LAUSD's Local District Northwest -- the regional office in the West San Fernando Valley -- that does operate differently. Administrators in the Local District office convene principals from about 22 area schools. These principals learn from each other and take what they learned back to their campuses to help lead instruction. Instead of calling all the shots, Ramos discusses what he learned with his teachers -- and he facilitates a conversation about how they're going to teach. "I believe that's accelerated change at this school exponentially compared to Haddon," Ramos said. The Local District Northwest program's aim is to create coherence between schools in the same neighborhood. His cohort includes schools that, like Northridge Middle School, ultimately send most of their students to Cleveland High School. "We don't want it to be top-down," Ramos said. "We want it to be an organization that says, 'Hey, we're rowing in the same direction for the benefits of students at school sites.'" WHAT IS IN THE PLAN The chief aim of Beutner's plan is to "make it possible for principals to be the leader we want them to be," according to Monday's board memo. To achieve that goal, Beutner calls for re-organizing each of LAUSD's six Local Districts around many of the same ideas at work in the West Valley: Principals should be "instructional leaders." Beutner's plan calls on principals to undergo additional training themselves and also to take on more responsibility for training and guiding instruction in their schools -- what Ramos described as "facilitating." Beutner also said the plan asks principals to increase contacts with parents: "Instead of that monthly coffee with the principal, maybe it's weekly." Reduce principals' administrative headaches. Before saddling principals with added expectations, Beutner said in an interview on KPCC's Take Two, "you have to start by saying, 'What can I take off your plate? How can I help?'" The superintendent's plan calls for reducing the amount of administrative paperwork principals must complete annually by about one-third -- from roughly 147 "annual certifications" to 103. This would be achieved by consolidating or eliminating some reporting requirements. Additionally, principals will receive a single biweekly document from the district's Central Office rather than "multiple" nagging emails. Beutner's plan also calls for consolidating data systems, making it easier for principals to find information about any one student. Organize Local District middle management around "feeder patterns." Currently, mid-level administrators may oversee a wide swath of a Local District -- for example, all of its middle schools. Next year, administrators in two LAUSD Local Districts (South and East) will find school portfolios of a dozen or two-dozen schools arranged geographically, regardless of the level of the schools. The aim is to promote better school alignment so that, for example, students leaving an elementary school will find similar instructional practices or programs at work in their nearby middle school. Currently, mid-level administrators may oversee a wide swath of a Local District -- for example, all of its middle schools. Next year, administrators in two LAUSD Local Districts (South and East) will find school portfolios of a dozen or two-dozen schools arranged geographically, regardless of the level of the schools. The aim is to promote better school alignment so that, for example, students leaving an elementary school will find similar instructional practices or programs at work in their nearby middle school. Funding flexibility. Beutner's plan folds in some initiatives already underway: for example, divvying up a greater share of schools' annual budget based on an index of how vulnerable or needy their student populations might be. Instead of receiving an allotment for the number of employees they must hire, Local Districts would receive their funding based on enrollment and the student-need index -- between roughly $7.5 million and $9.5 million each. The plan also calls for giving Local District offices more flexibility in how they spend that money. Among other items, Beutner's plan also calls for creating "Local Advisory Councils" within each of the six Local Districts to engage "families, community members, philanthropy and local businesses." WHAT'S NEXT Beutner now faces the challenge of trying to redefine an effort many in LAUSD already think they understand. While some of the elements of this plan are already underway or well within Beutner's powers as superintendent, some must be baked into the district's annual budget -- and that means a vote of the school board. As recently as last month, newly elected LAUSD board member Jackie Goldberg -- who has expressed her eagerness to work with Beutner despite early criticism of his hire -- voiced doubts about Beutner's intentions with the plan. "It's the plan to close schools," then-candidate Goldberg said at an April 24 forum. "It's a plan to say, 'We're going to give you all this power and all this money, and you have a couple of years, and if you're not at this level, your school is closed as a failing school.'" Beutner's plan doesn't call for giving schools substantially more money than they were due to receive anyway. Still, Goldberg highlights a potential pressure point: does Beutner intend to make schools more responsible for their own success -- and more susceptible to sanctions if they don't? "There's nothing about closing schools here," Beutner said in an interview. "It's about making our local schools better ... It's about smaller class sizes, it's about better support in the schools, it's about better-equipping principals with the tools they need to help drive change." UPDATES: 10:15 p.m.: The board memo embedded in this document was updated after LAUSD officials provided are more up-to-date version of the memo. This article was originally published at 10:10 a.m. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Today, the city of Encinitas will use some giant scissors to cut a giant ribbon, to celebrate some giant piles of sand on Cardiff State Beach. Sometimes giant piles of sand are just sand. But these piles are not. They're engineered "living dunes" that have been five years in the making. And they're part of an ongoing effort to save Cardiff from rising sea levels. These super dunes may even provide a roadmap for saving other beaches that are susceptible to climate change, up and down California's coast. EROSION, EROSION, EROSION! When it comes to California's beaches, erosion is normal. Our coastal landscapes are meant to change. However, rising sea levels and intense storms have exacerbated the dangers of erosion, and the fact that we've built homes and infrastructure right up against it means that it's a huge concern. In many places, we fight against erosion by "nourishing" beaches, which means adding a bunch of sand to increase their size, like at Zuma Beach in Malibu. We sometimes also line the beaches with giant rocks, especially along roads, the hope being that those rocks will absorb some of the energy put out by the powerful ocean, thus saving the infrastructure behind them. That's what officials were doing at Cardiff for years, in an effort to protect the beach and North Coast Highway 101, but it wasn't working. "[Cardiff] was already experiencing flooding during extreme high tide events and during extreme storms," said Jayme Timberlake, Coastal Zone Program Administrator for the City of Encinitas. Any sand that they used to nourish the beach was quickly washed away, shrinking its usable area. And the rocks that they used to protect the 101 were just being thrown up onto it. "It did cause a lot of issues with access, access to the highway itself. The highway is pretty critical for daily commuters," said Timberlake. Recognizing that the problem wasn't going to get any better as sea levels rose, the city decided to act, and over the course of five years designed and built a "living shoreline." While the process is similar to beach nourishment in that it uses a lot of sand, it's completely different in that it's meticulously engineered, offers tiers of protection and is designed to last a long time. The living dunes at Cardiff state beach in Encinitas are roughly 14 feet above sea level and three feet above Highway 101. (Jacob Margolis) LIKE A SANDY LAYER CAKE Beneath the piles of sand are rocks, or cobble, that are stacked at specific angles, and increase in size the further you get from the water. They're buried about ten feet deep and are sitting on top of a thick fabric that's designed to keep them from sinking. "There's science backing cobble at being pretty effective at shoreline protection. It stacks up more steeply and higher as waves attack it," said Brian Leslie, Senior Coastal Scientist with GHD, a firm that the city contracted with on the project. "It's ... like this first line of defense for the dune, so the dune doesn't get eroded right away when we start to get these big waves and tides." The city installed sand fences and planted native vegetation on top of the mounds to stop them from blowing away. There's also the added benefit of building natural habitat for the adorable snowy plovers. "This is a coastal strand that was formerly ... a dune system, so it's bringing back what used to be here and it's meant to be a permanent feature," said Leslie. The dunes will erode so they'll require nourishing, though it's unclear how often. Sand fencing establishes a thoroughfare through the living dunes at Cardiff state beach. (Jacob Margolis) A BIG EXPERIMENT "The Cardiff project is very unique. Nobody has really tried that before in California," said Nick Sadrpour, Science, Research & Policy Specialist at the University of Southern California's Sea Grant Program. "This burgeoning idea of living shorelines, of working with nature, of mimicking nature, is really exciting from a coastal resilience perspective." While living shorelines have had success on the East Coast, we don't know how they're going to work out here. There are a few places they're being tested, including Santa Monica and Orange County. Cardiff, though, is a big experiment. Researchers from the SCRIPPS Institute of Oceanography and UCLA, as well as government groups like the California Coastal Commission and the State Coastal Conservancy, will all be keeping tabs on what goes on there. They'll be watching for changes in the growth and slope of the dunes, as well as the movement of cobble and sand migration. "Success is the stabilization of the dunes," said Timberlake. "While we try to discern the next steps in adapting to sea level rise, and to these larger sea level rise projections." If all goes well, similar projects could pop up all along the coast. However, they won't be workable for every location, and it's not like the project was exactly cheap. The dunes cost 2.8 million dollars according to Evyan Borgnis Sloane, Project Manager at the State Coastal Conservancy. They, along with Ocean Protection Council, provided funds for the construction and monitoring of the dunes. And even if the dunes are successful, both Timberlake and Leslie acknowledge that they may only last 20 - 30 years before rising sea levels make them impractical, at least at Cardiff. "Once we get to the three feet and over [range], it's going to be tough to keep a dune system here," said Leslie. "It's a problem now and that problem's going to get worse over time." California could lose roughly half of its beaches by 2100, according to the United States Geological Survey. "After 30 years, we haven't quite identified what we're going to do yet," said Timberlake. "It basically bought us some further time to devise plans for that area." Sand fencing has been installed on the living dunes to slow erosion via wind. (Jacob Margolis) UPDATES: 4:32 p.m.: This article was updated with additional information about funding for the project. This article was originally published at 11:00 a.m. on May 22, 2019. Senator Kamala Harris Reintroduces Legislation Addressing Black Maternal Mortality Crisis WASHINGTON, D.C. U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) on Wednesday reintroduced the Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (Maternal CARE) Act, legislation to address persistent biases and shortcomings in our nations medical system that have contributed to the ongoing crisis in Black maternal mortality. The United States is one of only thirteen countries in the world where the rate of maternal mortality is now worse than it was 25 years ago. For Black women, the risk of dying from pregnancy-related causes is three to four times higher than that of white women. Further, Black women are twice as likely to suffer from life-threatening pregnancy complications. Black mothers across the country are facing a health crisis that is driven in part by implicit bias in our health care system. We must take action to address this issue, and we must do it with the sense of urgency it deserves, said Harris. My Maternal CARE Act will establish implicit bias training throughout the medical profession and help ensure that womenespecially Black womenhave access to comprehensive, culturally competent care. ADVERTISEMENT Companion legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC). We cannot address the black maternal health crisis facing this country until we address racial disparities in healthcare. The Maternal CARE Act will confront the persistent biases in our health system to ensure Black women have equal access to the quality pre and post-natal care they deserve, said Congresswoman Adams, founder and co-chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. I thank Senator Harris for her leadership in the Senate and look forward to continuing to work together to address this public health crisis. The Maternal CARE Act: Creates a new $25 million program to address racial bias in maternal health care. The new grant program will be directed to medical schools, nursing schools, and other health professional training programs to support evidence-based implicit training that will improve care for Black women by reducing bias in judgment or behavior resulting from implicit attitudes or stereotypes. Allocates $125 million to identify high-risk pregnancies, and provide mothers with the culturally competent care and resources they need. The new grant program will help states develop and carry out pregnancy medical home programs. These programs improve care by incentivizing maternal health care providers to deliver integrated health care services to pregnant women and new mothers and reduce adverse maternal health outcomes, maternal deaths, and racial health disparities in maternal mortality and morbidity. Helps medical schools incorporate bias recognition in clinical skills testing by directing the National Academy of Medicine to study and make recommendations. Supporters of the legislation include the American College of Nurse-Midwives, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Black Women Birthing Justice, Black Womens Health Imperative, Center for Reproductive Rights, Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, Commonsense Childbirth National Perinatal Task Force, Every Mother Counts, In Our Own Voice: National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda, March of Dimes, National Association to Advance Black Birth, National Birth Equity Collaborative, National Black Midwives Alliance, National Health Law Program, National Partnership for Women & Families, National WIC Association, National Womens Law Center, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, WomenHeart, and 1,000 Days. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is proud to support the Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (Maternal CARE) Act, said Ted Anderson, M.D., Ph.D., president, ACOG. We strongly believe that every woman should receive the high quality affordable care she needs, regardless of her zip code or the color of her skin, and are committed to the goal of eliminating preventable maternal deaths. Achieving this goal requires that physicians and all clinicians eliminate implicit bias in health care, and we see great potential to improve the delivery and quality of care for women through pregnancy medical homes, two key components of this important legislation. ACOG thanks Sen. Harris and Rep. Adams for recognizing this important problem and for their leadership in helping improve outcomes for pregnant women. We applaud the collaborative efforts of Senator Kamala Harris and Representative Alma Adams in the reintroduction of the Maternal CARE Act, said Angela Doyinsola Aina, MPH, Co-Director of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance.Community-based models of maternity care that is grounded in birth and reproductive justice are effective approaches in advancing optimal maternal health outcomes for Black women and their families. Most importantly, we commend the inclusion of perinatal health workers and Doulas within the Pregnancy Medical Home model to represent the communities most affected by maternal health disparities. In addition to Harris, the Maternal CARE Act is co-sponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ) Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bob Casey (D-PA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Doug Jones (D-AL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Delays Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Until 2028, the Tubman 20 was to be Unveiled in 2020 Harriet Tubman / Steven Mnuchin Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said today that designs for an updated $20 bill featuring Harriet Tubman will be delayed by eight years. The unveiling scheduled in 2020, had been timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. ADVERTISEMENT Mnuchin told lawmakers on the House Financial Services Committee that the redesign process, which started during the Obama administration, would be delayed until 2028. Mnuchin said he would instead focus on anti-counterfeiting upgrades to the $10 and $50 bills. The primary reason weve looked at redesigning the currency is for counterfeiting issues, Mnuchin said. Based upon this, the $20 bill will now not come out until 2028. The $10 and the $50 will come out with new features beforehand. Rep. Ayanna Pressley who sits on the House Financial Services Committee tweeted the following after his comments: People other than white men built this county. And Sec Mnuchin agrees, yet he refuses to update our #currency. #HarrietTubman #MarianAnderson & #EleanorRoosevelt are iconic Americans & its past time that our reflects that. #RepresentationMatters | https://t.co/nJmhiktHPm pic.twitter.com/hKQSR3Gl8P Rep Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) May 22, 2019 American President Donald Trump on Wednesday unexpectedly ended a meeting with Democratic lawmakers on infrastructure spending. The president later explained he would no longer work with Democrats unless they drop all investigations related to the special counsels report on Russia election interference and contacts with the Trump campaign. After walking out of the meeting, Trump spoke with reporters who had gathered outside the White House. He attacked comments made earlier Wednesday by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in which she accused the president of a cover-up. I dont do cover-ups, Trump told reporters. He also accused Democrats of holding a meeting the same morning to discuss what he called the I word -- impeachment. That is the process set up by the U.S. Constitution for Congress to remove a president from office. The president said he told Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that he wanted to make an infrastructure deal more than they did. But he said, You cant do it under these circumstances. So get these phony investigations over with. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is seeking to investigate materials and witnesses related to special counsel Robert Muellers report on Russia and the Trump campaign. Trump has repeatedly said he and his advisers do not need to answer lawmakers requests for information. The meeting at the White House had been set weeks ago, after Trump and the Democratic leaders agreed to talk more about a possible $2-trillion infrastructure proposal. Trump was expected to provide the Democrats his ideas on how to pay for it. Schumer said when Trump was forced to say how he would pay for it he had to run away. Pelosi added, He just took a pass. And it just makes me wonder why he did that. She called Trumps actions Wednesday very, very, very strange and said she was praying for the country and the president. Later on Wednesday, Pelosi spoke at the Center for American Progress in Washington. She said, "This is why I think the president was so steamed off this morning: Because the fact is in plain sight...this president is obstructing justice and he's engaged in a cover up. And that could be an impeachable offense." On Twitter, Trump accused Democrats in Congress of tearing the United States apart. He added, You cant investigate and legislate at the same time. I'm Ashley Thompson. Ashley Thompson adapted this article based on reports by VOA News, Reuters and the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story infrastructure - n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly circumstance - n. a condition or fact that affects a situation phony -adj. not true, real, or genuine steamed off - phrasal verb To leave in a very angry way. engage in - phrasal verb. to do (something) British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing widespread pressure to give up power, but can her lawmakers force her from office? May has already promised she will resign and let someone else negotiate Britains future relationship with the European Union (EU). She has agreed to set out details for the end of her leadership. But she first wants another vote in parliament on her plan for separating from the EU. That vote would be held in early June. Some lawmakers have strongly criticized May for attempting to relaunch her EU exit deal, an effort known as Brexit. They are unhappy with measures aimed at winning over opponents and members of her own Conservative Party. Some Conservative lawmakers now say May should resign immediately. Can her party force her out before she wants to go? Formal leadership challenge Conservative Members of parliament cannot use the partys normal process for removing the prime minister until December 2019. In December 2018, lawmakers tried and failed to remove May, and the rules say they must wait 12 months to try again. It is possible for the committee that represents Conservative lawmakers to change the rules of the process, but they have so far chosen not to do so. Vote of confidence Parliament can vote on whether it is supportive of Mays government. If a majority of lawmakers decide they do not, she could be forced to resign. After losing a vote of confidence, there are 14 days in which she could try to hold onto power by winning another confidence vote. During this time, the opposition Labour Party can also try to form its own government. A general election is called if no government with majority support in parliament can be formed after 14 days. In January, the government survived a vote of confidence called by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. But there are no rules preventing Labour from calling another vote at any time. To succeed, a handful of Conservative lawmakers or members of the small allied Democratic Unionist Party would need to either abstain or vote with the opposition to oust the government. Some pro-Brexit lawmakers have suggested they might be ready to take this step. But it is unclear if this would happen in the event of a vote being called. Losing a vote of confidence would not automatically force May to resign as head of the Conservatives, but politically it is unlikely she would be able to continue. Peer pressure Without an official method to remove May that does not risk a general election, Conservatives are looking at other ways to put pressure on her. May once said that Brexit would not be delayed beyond June 30. Yet she recently agreed with EU officials that Britain could remain a member until the end of October. These words have been used to make the case that she should resign. So have recent heavy losses by Conservative candidates in recent local elections. Political observers say the Conservatives are likely to suffer more losses in European parliamentary elections this week. Im Susan Shand. The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story confidence n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something abstain v. to choose not to do or have something automatically adv. having controls that allow something to work or happen without being directly controlled by a person beyond adv. on or to the farther part or side The head of an international vaccine group says that misunderstandings and false information about vaccines are spreading on the internet and should be stopped. Seth Berkley of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, spoke Tuesday to a gathering in Geneva, Switzerland, where the World Health Organization is meeting. Berkley said that false information kills people. He noted strong scientific evidence of the safety of vaccines. But, he said social media algorithms favor misinformation over facts. He added that such misinformation easily influences people who have not had a family member die from a preventable disease. Berkley said people must consider the belief in misinformation as a contagious sickness. He added, This is a disease.This spreads at the speed of light, literally. The World Health Organization says not enough people are getting the vaccine that prevents measles. It says this is why the disease is spreading around the world. The organization says vaccines save two million lives every year. Measles infections have risen sharply in countries that earlier had few cases, including the United States. Seth Berkley argues that misinformation about vaccines is not a freedom of speech issue. He said Tuesday that social media companies should remove such content from their websites. Alex Azar is Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He made similar comments in his speech to the yearly meeting of the WHO. He said in the U.S., social media conspiracy groups confuse parents so they avoid getting needed vaccinations. The American official also spoke of U.S. efforts to strengthen immunization programs around the world. He said, Just recently, the U.S. supported a mass measles vaccination campaign in Nigeria that reached almost 10 million kids. We assisted with a diphtheria outbreak among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. And he noted U.S. support of recent research about the yellow fever vaccine. Azar has rejected criticism of comments about vaccines made by U.S. president Donald Trump before he became president. Trump posted on Twitter that vaccination could cause autism, a developmental disorder. A study says @Autism is out of control a 78% increase in 10 years. Stop giving monstrous combined vaccinations. Azar said that Trump was extremely firm in support of vaccinations. Canadas Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam also spoke to the WHO delegates. She said health officials needed to do more about online misinformation. She said she was working on the issue with Twitter, Facebook, Google and other companies. Im Jonathan Evans. Tom Miles wrote this story for Reuters news agency. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story algorithm n. a set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process contagious adj. capable of being easily spread to others literally adv. (an adverb) used to express strong feeling while not being literally true. conspiracy n. a secret plan made by two or more people to do something that is harmful or illegal confuse v. to make something difficult to understand monstrous adj. having extraordinary often overwhelming size The man who allegedly started a chemical fire at the Lebanon Walmart left the store, met up with a friend, admitted to setting the blaze and s Gunmen shot and killed five police officers and wounded seven others during a protest over fatal police shootings of black men in other states, authorities said. It appeared to be the deadliest day for U.S. law enforcement since the 2001 terrorist attacks. When US hardware and software companies started severing ties with Huawei this week, I figured that would be tough on the Chinese companys smartphone division, but it wouldnt necessarily be the end of the world. After all, Huawei is one of only a handful of phone makers that designs its own chips. So even if Qualcomm, Intel, and other chip makers were to pull the plug, Huawei could continue producing phones with its own Kirin chips. Except those chips are based on ARM architecture and now the BBC reports that ARM Holdings is also suspending work with Huawei. That could be a big problem for Huawei. According to the BBC, while ARM is based in the UK, officials at the company have told employees that its chip designs include technology that originated in the United States which means its subject to the trade restrictions put in place by the Trump administration. Huawei has been half-expecting this sort of move for years, and has been developing its own smartphone operating system that it could use in lieu of Android. The company could be ready to start rolling it out as soon as this fall, if necessary. Meanwhile, Huawei has been trying to attract app developers to its own app store, and the company is said to be looking at a possible partnership with third-party Android app store Aptoide as well. So from a software standpoint, its theoretically possible that Huawei could survive without support from Google. While conventional wisdom is that theres not room in the market for a mobile operating system other than Android and iOS, Huawei may be big enough and have enough going for it to pull off the launch of a new OS where others have failed. Huawei is currently one of the top three smartphone makers in terms of shipment volume, and the companys latest phones have received stellar reviews for innovative camera features like high-quality low-light shots and advanced optical zoom photography. But if the company loses the right to license ARM designs for its Kirin processors, that could make it difficult to produce next-gen chips. Sure, Huawei could theoretically try to switch to an alternate architecture such as MIPS or RISC-V, but it would probably take years for the company to produce something as good as its current-gen Kirin processors. Maybe Huawei could try buying chips from Chinese companies like MediaTek but for the most part those are also based on ARM designs and could be subject to similar restrictions if those companies try to sell products to Huawei. All of which is to say, its really unclear where Huawei goes from here. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Montgomery's history of racial violence is bringing a building boom to the Confederacy's first capital. Hotels are rising and historic buildings undergoing revitalization because of Bryan Stevenson's two memorials to black victims of slavery and lynching, as reported in a New York Times article Wednesday. Visitors are streaming to Montgomery to view Stevenson's Legacy Museum and National Memorial for Peace and Justice. The Legacy Museum in downtown Montgomery documents the old cotton port's past as one of the South's top slavery markets. The National Memorial remembers those lynched in the United States, primarily in Southern states, from Reconstruction until after World War II. As Montgomery, Birmingham, Atlanta, Charleston and other cities express sorrow for their slavery legacies, Southern legislatures pass repressive anti-abortion laws. The horror of lynching was intertwined with white men's desire to control women's sexuality. Many of the lynchings resulted from perceptions of black men's insults to white women. Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and other states' harsh laws to criminalize abortion echo Jim Crow laws from the Reconstruction era. As downtown Montgomery atones for its racially violent past, the state has entered a new era of repression with its anti-abortion law. Tapping the U.S. market could boost Barry Callebaut's sales and help establish ruby as the fourth type of chocolate. The invention is also being officially rolled out in Canada, where Nestle already sells its ruby KitKats. But there are still some hurdles. The Swiss firm will have to wait for approval from the Food and Drug Administration to be able to call it "chocolate." For now, the product will be launched as ruby couverture, with early adopters using names like ruby cacao bar and ruby cacao truffle, Smit said. A similar approval process is needed in Canada, he added. "We filed the application in March 2018," Smit said of the FDA process. "Because there's such a high demand and requests coming from our businesses and brands in the U.S., it feels the right moment to give them the opportunity to unlock ruby chocolate." Another main hurdle the company may face is that Nestle has been the biggest adopter of ruby chocolate for its KitKat bars. But in the U.S., the KitKat brand is made by The Hershey Co. instead. While Barry Callebaut says it won't trademark ruby, the recipe to the world's first naturally-pink chocolate remains a secret. "Trademark is of course different than trade secrets," Smit said. "Even if you know what the ruby bean is about, what the ruby production process is about, you still need to be comfortable enough to commit to volumes of big brands, meaning you need to be able to source enough ruby beans" and that's not an easy task, he said. OPENING Cameron Mackintosh opened this new production of Miss Saigon in London in May 2014. The greatest musical of all time just got better, the Daily Mail review said. The show is based on the story of the opera Madama Butterfly, in which a young Asian girl falls in love with an American serviceman and has his baby before theyre tragically separated. Giacomo Puccinis opera was set in Japan, but the musical is updated and set in Vietnam, where airlifts out of the country during the war provide a powerful plot device. A flood warning issued Monday morning will continue until further notice, officials said. The National Weather Service advises people in the St. Louis area to never drive cars or other vehicles through flooded areas, as the water could be too deep to safely pass through. The Mississippi River has been above flood level of 30 feet for weeks, reaching 41.7 feet on May 6, said Patrick Walsh, with the National Weather Service in St. Louis. That's the seventh highest crest in the records. The river had since receded to about 35 feet by Tuesday, but was expected to rise back to 41 feet or higher by Memorial Day, Walsh said. Authorities in Lincoln County urged evacuation of an area east of Highway 79 from Foley south to the southern section of the Winfield Main Levee. The river is expected to peak at 34.9 feet in the area of Winfield, where a 300-foot wide breach in the Winfield Main Levee remains from flooding earlier this month. "If you live or work in these areas, you are urged in the strongest possible terms to evacuate," Lincoln County Emergency Management said in an alert. "The breach in the levee means you will experience the rise of the Mississippi River as it happens, with little or no lag time." In hindsight, Joles said he recommends starting with two hives. He started with one. I had my queen take off on me and she took about half the bees with her. I had to scramble to find another queen, which I bought. I think thats why my bees didnt survive the winter. Making a business In Lyndon Station, Laurie Oldigs and her family turned to experts when their honey production started getting serious. They took classes at the University of Minnesota to learn how the better manage their bees. Now they are producing Queens to sell to other beekeepers. In Loganville, Jake Meyer also broke into beekeeping recently. Weve only got three hives, Meyer said. Its small scale were basically (in the) backyard doing it. For now, the honey Meyer produces is just for personal use and for family, but hes hoping to produce enough to sell one day. Meyer just joined the Sauk-Columbia County Honey Association, an organization that connects beekeepers with one another and helps new ones get started. Rodgers currently serves as the Associations president. For Meyer, the local interest in his products means a lot. Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. The Republican Party was founded 165 years ago in Ripon, Wisconsin, by a few dozen dissidents who placed their faith in the radical promise of the United States Constitution: that the rule of law might apply equally to all. They rejected the compromises imposed by southern slaveholders and their northern allies, refusing to bend to the will of the presidents and partisans who were making the American experiment into a pale reflection of their infamy. At its best over the ensuring decades, the Republican Party has maintained the high ideals of its founding. At its worst, the party has abandoned those ideals. No serious observer of the partys trajectory would suggest that the party is today at its best. When Wisconsin Republicans gathered in Oshkosh, barely 20 miles from Ripon, for last weekends annual party convention, the event confirmed the sad degeneration of a once-great party. The principles that once animated Republicans were tossed aside in favor of cult-of-personality politics, as media reports described a convention where the party faithful gathered to gear up to defend President Donald Trump in his 2020 re-election bid. Fitchburg is a unique community. It is the only community in the state with three separate school districts. Of the more than 13,000 acres of land in its city limits, about 11,000 are farmland. And it is one of the most diverse communities in the state, with more than 30 percent of its residents being African-American or Hispanic. Fitchburg is also of the fastest-growing communities in the state, with a population of now more than 28,000 residents living in our urban core, suburban neighborhoods and on family farms. Its location is ideal: directly between one of the fastest-growing companies in Wisconsin Epic and a world leading university and the state Capitol. These characteristics pose challenges by themselves, and having four mayors leading our city in the past four years makes it even more challenging. To move forward and make the most of what we have, we need to come together and focus on Fitchburg-centered issues. We need to avoid the natural inclination to be divided by where we send our kids to school, where we live in our city, where we came from and how we feel about the debates at the state Capitol and in Washington, D.C. "A Gentleman in Moscow" by Amor Towles. The only work of fiction on this list, Towles' 2016 novel was a longtime best-seller, just now out in paperback. The book is, writes Gates, "a fun, clever, and surprisingly upbeat look at Russian history through the eyes of one man" - a count, sentenced in 1922 to house arrest in an elegant Moscow hotel. Though Gates has a special interest in Russian history, he thinks the book provides something for everyone. "There's fantastical romance, politics, espionage, parenthood and poetry. The book is technically historical fiction, but you'd be just as accurate calling it a thriller or a love story." "9 Pints: A Journey Through the Money, Medicine, and Mysteries of Blood" by Rose George. Gates, who's long been interested in blood and diagnostic tools involving blood, was immediately drawn to this book by British author George - its title refers to the amount of blood in the average adult. By the time Auburn was an undergraduate at University of Chicago in the early '90s, that unrestrained, buoyant Bellow of "Augie March" had been replaced with a literary lion - and a crank. "I would see him on campus, at bookstores, at student demonstrations, standing on the periphery, looking skeptical. He was a kind of exalted eminence, at the top levels of the highest of ivory towers." You see this Bellow emerging in his archives, just after "Augie March" makes a seismic impact in 1953. Responding to Bellow's attempts to get out an old contract, a 1958 letter from smallish Vanguard Press begins: "When you write that you are not the kind of writer that Vanguard can do much for, you imply there is another publisher who could do more for you." More telling are The New Yorker letters, written after its negative review of "Augie March." Bellow complained, and received, for months, apologies from Katherine White, the longtime fiction editor: "(Editor William Shawn) feels you and your book have been done an injustice and therefore he thinks in this one instance we must make an exception to our policy of not letting authors reply to reviews and allow you, if you should care to, to write a letter to be run under our usual heading Department of Correction." (Bellow declined the offer.) Well, in 2017 he was operated on for what doctors suspected was cancer. It wasn't but this experience gave him a hard taste of his own mortality. As he writes, "As you start to get older and your body begins to break down, it does get you thinking about your legacy, what you'll leave behind, what you're proud of." The cumulative effects of these events has been transformative. "The hard-ass pose I've tried to maintain just doesn't work for me anymore," he writes. "It was a safe world but a lonely one - a kind of prison." His first two books are not on the shelves of any of the homes he owns (yes, more than one). "It's like looking at old photographs. I don't like the way I looked," he said. "I don't listen to myself on old radio shows. I don't like the way my voice sounds. I almost don't recognize myself in the previous book. I am not proud of them. But I love this new book so much." It is, on a number of levels, a terrific book. Only two of its interviews (one with Trump and another with Ozzy Osbourne) are from the pre-Sirius era, when his obsession with ratings combined with his self-absorption "didn't lend itself to doing serious interviews." When he first sees Cari, he thinks, "It would be a waste to throw her away. With those interesting scars he could get a lot for her. Maybe $100,000 ... that's with all her limbs and no tattoos. If he had to customize her for top dollar, with the downtime, it would be more." If you're getting a whiff of Hannibal here (that's the point on Page 7 when my skin began to crawl), you're right. Cari is introduced to Hans-Peter as the new renter of the house, and her reaction is elemental: "But when Cari shook his hand in the kitchen, she caught a whiff of brimstone off him. Like the smell of a burning village with dead inside the houses." Hans-Peter and his "jailbird" crew claim they'll be shooting a movie in the house, but Cari doesn't believe it for a minute, even before they start using a jackhammer on the floors. She's already friendly with Don Ernesto's Miami crew, who have a certain honor among thieves (and who are all a little in love with Cari). They come to scope out Hans-Peter, and one of them, an old man named Benito who actually worked for Escobar back in the day, is standing in the yard when a spot near the seawall collapses. Eman Foods 320 Main Ave. East; outside of the Super 7 Motel Hours: 12 to 8 p.m. Monday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday Menu: Eman Foods offers a wide variety of food from Afghanistan with inspiration from surrounding countries Price range: $6 $12 Why we love them: Afghanistan is more of a melting pot of customs and culture than it is given credit for. The landlocked country is surrounded by Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan Pakistan, Tajikistan, India and even reaches out to China. That blending of cultures is most evident in Afghan food. Eman Foods, the newest food truck in Twin Falls, hopes to highlight Afghanistans expansive cuisine. The food truck opened three weeks ago behind Swensons supermarket. The truck found a home outside of the Super 7 Motel on Main Avenue. Fathe Noori, the owner of Eman Foods, worked with the U.S. Army for five years as an interpreter. Noori and his family moved to Twin Falls in 2014 and started attending the Magic Valley Refugee Day where they would serve Afghani food. Everyone would ask where they could eat this food in the Magic Valley outside of Refugee Day. For the menu, the family tried to find food common in other countries. Jalebi, a common dessert in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a tasty treat made by deep-frying maida flour which is soaked in a sugar syrup afterward. The spicy chicken biryani rice is a particular highlight on the menu. The dish is common throughout India and the Middle East. Its a spiced dish of delicious chicken on a bed of Afghan rice with a mild kick of spice. They are trying the food from the Middle East, Noori said. Afghanistan is called the heart of Asia. Its a mix of cultures. Noori hopes to someday open up an Afghanistan restaurant where guests will sit on the floor as per standard Afghan dining etiquette. He envisions a place that celebrates the culture with pictures of the home that he left behind. My goal is to have this restaurant where people will see the pictures and hear Afghan music, he said. Itll make people feel like they are in Afghanistan. For more information call 208-293-4891 Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 TWIN FALLS Megan Brown is focused on graduating from high school, despite many obstacles standing in her way. In addition to going to school, the Twin Falls 19-year-old has been responsible for taking care of her younger siblings ages 11 and 15 for most of the year. And she works two part-time jobs that total about 60 hours a week. Brown is among 54 graduates Wednesday wholl earn a diploma from Magic Valley High School, an alternative school in Twin Falls. She told the Times-News on May 13 shes determined to graduate from high school. I know I gotta stay on top of it, she said. That motivation is really driving me right now. She plans to attend the College of Southern Idaho in the fall to pursue an associates degree in biology. She earned a one-semester full tuition scholarship as a finalist in an essay contest sponsored by the Twin Falls County Prosecuting Attorneys Office and a $500 CSI theater scholarship. After earning an associate degree, Brown hopes to earn bachelors degrees in biology and chemistry at Idaho State University, and she wants to attend medical school in South Korea, with the goal of becoming a trauma surgeon. Brown said she has met wonderful people from South Korea and says medical schools in the country are excellent. She said the country is also beautiful, and she wants to spend time exploring and traveling in the area. A challenging transition to Twin Falls Brown grew up in the Monterey Bay, California, area and attended kindergarten through eighth grade in Bradley, California, which had only about 95 students. Her family moved briefly to Logan, Utah, for her first semester of ninth grade and she started at Twin Falls High School during the second semester of ninth grade. Transitioning from a tiny school in her earlier years to Twin Falls High which has more than 1,100 students was rough. It was very much anxiety-inducing, Brown said. She said she was depressed and wasnt going to school regularly. When she did, she became physically ill from the stress. I was so anxious I was making myself sick, she said. Brown tried taking classes online, but it wasnt for her. Online students need a lot of self-motivation, she said, something she didnt have at the time. Browns mother told her there was a school Magic Valley High right down the road from where they lived and that Brown needed to go there. Magic Valley High is the perfect size and felt comfortable, Brown said. At first, I just wanted to do my thing and graduate, she said. She avoided interacting with other people. But she ended up getting involved in the theater program last school year and it snowballed from there. Brown joined a robotics team and became a student ambassador for Magic Valley High, which included planning prom, fundraising and helping make decisions at the school that affect students. Shes active with the schools art program, too, and her drawings are displayed in one of the hallways. She has done everything she can to get as involved as she can, school counselor Amy Rothweiler said. Brown contributes positively to the school and is a positive light for Magic Valley High out in the community, Rothweiler said, and always puts forth her best effort. She excels at everything she does. Work and taking care of siblings This school year, Brown has been taking care of her younger siblings. But she said its not the first time she has done so. Brown said her mother is incarcerated and her father was estranged from the family for about seven years but is now back in the picture. Brown and her siblings are living with their father. Its a challenge not micromanage them, Brown said about taking care of her siblings. I feel really responsible for their actions. In addition to helping with her siblings and going to school, Brown has two part-time jobs: She works about 30 hours a week; evening shifts at MOD Pizza, and online for about 30 hours a week doing computer programming for websites. Sometimes, it gets very overwhelming, Brown said. She said she tries to get in as much work as possible. Rothweiler described Brown as just delightful, and someone who is able to maintain a positive attitude and excel in school and extracurricular activities despite challenges in her personal life. Its a testament to who she is as a person, Rothweiler said. Shes a pretty spectacular individual. She really is going to succeed. Love 16 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Kenna Lenker March 5, 1984 - May 9, 2019 Kenna Marie Lenker, 35, of Sandpoint passed away on Friday, May 9, 2019 at her home from a sudden illness. Funeral services were held on Thursday May 16, 2019 at Coffelt Funeral Chapel in Sandpoint, ID. She was born March 8, 1984 in Twin Falls, Idaho the daughter of Jan and Lewis Lenker. She attended Twin Falls School and graduated from Twin Falls High School in 2002. Following her graduation she attended Northwest Nazarene University and later Southern Nazarene University. Kenna lived in Oklahoma City, OK for several years before returning to Idaho. In 2013 she moved to Sandpoint, Idaho where she has since resided. She worked in various capacities during her lifetime. She was a heath care provider for disabled adults, in the auto insurance business, and most recently in auto body repair shops as a receptionist/customer care representative. Wherever she worked her attention to detail and industriousness was appreciated by her employer. Perhaps her greatest asset was her genuine friendliness and kindness. Kenna LOVED all animals especially her beloved dogs, Dallas, who was with her when she died, Molly and Buddy who had died previously. The family suggests memorials to Panhandle Animal Shelter at 870 Kootenai Cutoff Rd. Ponderay, ID 83852. She is survived by her parents: Jan and Lewis Lenker of Gig Harbor, WA; four brothers : Shawn (Michele) and Lance (Stephanie) both of Roseville, CA, Korby of Nashville, TN and Keegan (Jayme) of Gig Harbor, WA; and by two nieces; Jordyn and Kaizlee; and 2 nephews: Peyton and Joncee, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. She was preceded in death by her grandparents. Family and friends are invited to sign Kenna's online guestbook at www.coffeltfuneral.com Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service. Under the President Clinton administration, the non-scientific EPA mandated to lower arsenic levels in drinking water from 50 parts per billion to 10 ppb. The change was not based on scientific research and has cost Magic Valley residents millions of dollars to comply. Filer will spend $6 million to lower the arsenic level from 11 to 10. What a waste of money, and the water will not be any safer. Government grants taxpayer money will pay for some of the Filer cost, but citizens in Buhl, Castleford and Twin Falls already pay needlessly much more for drinking water. The Trump administration has reined in some EPA unscientific bureaucratic regulations, but they still have entrenched bureaucrats to needlessly harass our economy. The United States, Mexico and Canada trade agreement is very bad. It must be stopped. I feel that President Trump does not know what is in the agreement, as it allows illegal aliens into our country, which would void the building of the border wall open borders. President Trump rightly got the U.S. out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but provisions of the USMCA are taken almost word for word from the TPP. The USMCA was negotiated by a 20-year member of the world government promoting Council on Foreign Relations. Richard Haass, president of the CFR, said the USMCA is NAFTA plus the TPP. The USMCA would supersede our Constitution by subordinating U.S. laws to international compliance to the World Trade Organization, United Nation's Conventions, etc. The USMCA will be NAFTA on steroids. Our Constitution created limited government with few and defined powers, but the USMCA dictates unconstitutional authority over our personal liberties. It allows changes without Congressional approval. The USMCA must not be ratified by Congress. Inform President Trump of the bad provisions to prevent his signature. Adrian Arp Filer Love 0 Funny 5 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 John F. Kennedy once said, Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike. Politics set aside, here in the Magic Valley cyclists can find opportunities in several places. One iteration is fat biking. It is not a new sport but it is up and coming. Whether you crave carving through the ancient lava flows in the Snake River Canyon or pedaling long winding trails in the South Hills, there are copious places to visit on a bike. If exploring is your modus operandi, ecstasy is your reward. And no matter where you go, take some friends along for the journey and be sure to take your fat bike. The off-trail model with oversized tires can confront every obstacle. They have become popular for navigating snow and sand, bogs and mud. Heavy Hitters Auger Falls Within Twin Falls city limits; 23 Trails, 1 black, 14 blue and 8 green trails The Snake River formed through several epochs. Around 14,500 years ago, the Lake Bonneville Flood event gave the canyon its depth. Today, activities ranging from paddle boarding to bicycle riding are abundant in and around the canyon. The Auger Falls trail system offers 23 trails. And the spectacular local system is only a 15-minute drive from downtown. Single track riding is popular throughout Idaho, and the Auger system offers plenty of it. Trails such as Haunted Forest, Matties and Porcupine are sandy and smooth, with a few smaller rocks, but on a fat bike you will hardly notice them. If you are seeking more challenging terrain, Eagle Trail, Acid Trail, Rock Creek Trail and Blue Bottle offer bigger features along their routes that can be eaten up with a hard tail fatty with only moderate effort. Suspension fat bikes plow through the trails even more easily, allowing for fast laps and ample smiles. Riders can travel the majority of the trails from east to west (out and back) from the parking lot. The Eagle Trail hugs the Snake River on the north side, and the Acid Trail and Rock Creek Trail hug the canyon cliffs on the south side. One could spend all day sessioning the trails or opt to enjoy a quick lap on a lunch break. Indian Spring South Hills; 25 trails, 5 black, 12 blue, 5 green, and 2 access roads The South Hills rise prominently from the Magic Valleys floor, where farm roads disappear and dirt trails emerge. The quiet countryside offers an expansive, sage-laden desert. As the elevation rises, the views become more awe-inspiring, as does the fat biking. Nestled in the slopes and canyons of the Rock Creek drainage, the Indian Spring trail system is a riders paradise. Starting from the parking lot at 4,265 feet, trails Swami, Sugarloaf and Sweet N Low meander around small lava rocks, sage and greasewood bushes; the pedaling is intense from the first stroke. Higher on the trails, larger rock outcroppings dominate the landscape as the single track bobs and weaves over and around the edifices on trails Brennan, Backdoor and Matts Gulch. Providing soft and fast riding with the Magic Valley below, the top portion of Indian Spring is challenging, but deeply rewarding. Trails Hot Shot, Smittys and Sly Gulch crest near the top of Indian Spring Road. Dont forget to wipe the mud from your tires for the downhill. Some sections hide from the sun and slosh mud up into the derailleurs, but the risk is worth the reward. Indian Spring is a vast system with miles of trails to potentially get lost on, but if you point your fat bike due north, you will end up back in the parking lot eventually. Off the beaten path Water Canyon Declo Hills, 1 blue trail Driving east on the I-84 corridor, the Magic Valley countryside has abundant farms lining the valley below Mt. Harrison and Cache Peak. These two peaks precipitously rise from the valley floor, shadowing small towns below such as Declo and Almo. Traveling south from town on Highway 77, look for the left-turn at East 500 South to find a hidden gem of a trail tucked away on the southern slopes of East Hills High Point. Meet Water Canyon trail Note: The Water Canyon trail is on private land owned by the Skaggs family beginning from the cattle guard at the trailhead. The land on either side of the road is for cattle grazing, however the trails near the top of the East Hills High Point are said to be on public land. Beware of signs that state NO TRESPASSING and stay on the access road. The Declo Hills trail is a fast downhill double track/gravel descent, but the climb up is arduous; bring an oxygen bottle. A nice feature of Water Canyons uphill death-march is that many offshoot single tracks weave along the climb. Exploring a 5-minute detour while your buddy navigates the road tantalizes your senses as the high point comes into view around mile two. Rain runoff cuts deep fissures into the gravel road due to its steepness, but pedaling smart with good line choices rewards riders at the top with a magnificent view of the Magic Valley below. Now comes the fun part. What takes most riders a solid two hours or more to ascend will take 30 minutes or less to descend. Cow patties and washed-out channels are the two main obstacles perhaps stopping any rider from a true downhill world record at Water Canyon. Wildcard Cottonwood Creek South Hills, 1 green trail Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to follow North Cottonwood Creek Road 2 miles south to a right turn, then park .2 miles further south next to Cottonwood Creek. Here you will jump on your fat bike and seek out ear-to-ear smiles, smooth grassy double track and not a single soul in sight. As always, should you or any members of your biking team not have fun, nobody back at the brewery will believe where you just rode. Cottonwood Creek trail, (not to be confused with Cottonwood Canyon), is an out and back double track offering something very different than marked trails and immense single track in the Magic Valley. The parking lot, (grass field), is your first clue that you have stumbled upon the right place. The creek is calming as your fat bike tires whisk across the dirt and grass trail; climbing is gentle to start. Southern Idahos blue sky meets the green blue-grass as Cottonwood Creek trail hugs the water line for about a mile. Fat bike tires will slip some on the muddy sections, but can easily power through whereas 2.5 inch tires would have a tough time. A surprise water feature awaits the bold, a refreshing reminder that Idahos runoff is still ice-cold. But it's not too deep and sure to shallow as spring turns to summer. When you come to a fork in the road, take it, Warren Miller said in a ski film once, as will be the case for the fork around mile 1.5 in Cottonwood Creek. Go right; a very steep ascent leads to heaven. Go left, and follow an old cow track farther down the rabbit-hole in the canyon. Either ride leaves you giddy with excitement. But like all good things, what goes up must come down. The right fork ride will beat your hands up some without suspension and the left fork allows your brain to function on autopilot due to smoothness. Dont forget the river crossing! It will surprise you and your team on the descent. Nevertheless, the soft grass you floated over on the way up is not slippery on the way down. Apres after the ride Bouncing back down dirt roads or cruising super highways, the Magic Valley and surrounding hills are unique with abundant places to ride. Twin Falls and southern Idaho are not made up of only farms and cows. The history of the outdoor lifestyle is prevalent throughout the state. So grab a fat bike, grab a friend or five, but be sure to secure an adventure two wheels on gravel, grass, dirt and snow will take you to places you may have never imagined. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 El 2 de diciembre de 1970, Oscar Arnoldo Rios Maldonado, estudiante de Periodismo de la Universidad de Concepcion y militante del MIR, fue asesinado por un disparo de un integrante la Brigada Ramona Parra del Partido Comunista. Salvador Allende, quien habia asumido la presidencia de Chile el 4 de noviembre, solicita a las direcciones de ambos partidos que logren un acuerdo que impida conflictos que empanen el desarrollo del naciente gobierno. En la foto de izquierda a derecha aparecen Andres Pascal Allende, Luciano Cruz y Miguel Enriquez, quienes aun clandestinos por el caso Osses Santa Maria se presentan en el velorio de Rios que se realizaba en esos momentos en la pinacoteca de la universidad. Al fondo de la foto se puede apreciar el conocido campanil de la Universidad de Concepcion. Foto y texto tomado del muro de Facebook de MARCO BRAVO, 29 de sept 2018 4 Comments 2 Shares 23 Rolando Briones, Matias Salvador Villa Juica and 21 others In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. ~ Credit: CC0 Public Domain After her second double-lung transplant in 2012, Cassie Stanley was able to travel to Miami, Mexico and Las Vegas, root for her beloved Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field, work as a nanny and land a job as a paraprofessional at her local elementary school. But then, about a year ago, when Stanley and her boyfriend were walking to the beach during a Florida vacation, she noticed something odd. "Wow," Stanley said. "I'm kind of out of breath." Her lungs were once again starting to fail, and this time, Stanley, who has the lung-clogging genetic disorder cystic fibrosis, was in uncharted territory. Only 11 Americans received a third double-lung transplant from 1995 through November 2018, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), and Stanley's doctor at Loyola University Medical Center referred her out of state to Duke University, which has performed two of the rare surgeries. Now Stanley, 34, of Elburn, Ill., her mother, Rhonda May, and her dog, a Yorkie-Maltese named Murphy, are in North Carolina, where Stanley is working out with Duke physical therapists five days a week to build up her strength for a life-saving third transplant. "It's extremely scary," Stanley said. "My first and second transplants, I was very, very sick going into them, and this time, I'm a lot more healthy, so I can actually think about it, and I can actually freak out about it. They say the third time is a lot more riskythere's going to be a lot of scar tissue, there's going to be more bleeding, and the surgery is just very rare." Still, Stanley is keeping her spirits up, bonding with two other third-lung-transplant patients, one of whom made "Third Time's A Charm" T-shirts for the trio. She's walking for 30 minutes at a time during physical therapyup from just five minutestoting her portable oxygen tank as she goes. "She's a pretty amazing person," said Dr. John Reynolds, medical director of the Duke Lung Transplant Program. "This is a lot to take on, to go at this a third time, but she has a love for life, and she's driven. And we are fully confident she'll do everything we ask her to do, and we are hopeful we can get her a good outcome." Duke doctors believe that it's important to build your strength before a lung transplant, so Stanley is also working out on a stationary bike and doing core exercises. "This is the most I've worked out in my life," she said with a laugh. Among the risks of a third transplant: Patients may have scars from previous operations that can make it more difficult to remove the old lungs, according to Reynolds. That can prolong surgery and lead to more bleeding, he said. Damage to the kidneys from medications used to support previous transplants combined with the rigors of a complex surgery can lead to kidney failure. The patient would then require dialysis, in which a machine filters the blood to remove harmful waste. And Stanley has chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD), with scarring of the airways that doctors can't reverse, although they may be able to slow it down. Without a third transplant, Reynolds said, she would die. Some transplant candidates are allowed to get third lung transplantsdespite a shortage of donor organsbecause of the way lungs are allocated in the U.S. Transplant list rankings take into account factors such as how sick a patient is and how much she would benefit from a transplant, according to the UNOS website. How many transplants a patient has had is not factored in, although previous transplants may affect variables that are considered in calculating the lung allocation score, Reynolds said. Stanley's current lungs lasted seven years, and she's young, so Reynolds says her doctors are hoping for a similar outcome or even a better one. Fourth lung transplants have been attempted in Europe, Reynolds said, and he believes the field is heading in that direction. The immediate plan is for Stanley to receive a transplant sometime in the next few monthsand perhaps as early as June, depending on donor organ availability. In the meantime, she's enjoying outings with her boyfriend, who lives in Chicago but tries to visit every other weekend. Friends from her street in Elburn raised over $5,000 to help Stanley with the costs of treatment and temporary relocation to North Carolina, her mother said. And a GoFundMe page has raised over $27,000. "I've never been so grateful in my life," Stanley said. She's also drawing strength from new friends in North Carolina, both her fellow patients and a former patient who returned recently for a checkup. The former patient, a young woman who was on a Jet Ski not long after her third lung transplant last year, is now back at work and planning her wedding. "I just kind of hope that I'll be like that one day," Stanley said. "She was in this position, too, and now she's home and doing really well." Explore further Device helps doctors select lungs for transplant 2019 Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. From 2012 to 2016 the drug industry donated over 57 million to UK patient organisations, with priority given to a small number of organisations supporting commercially high profile conditions like cancer, reveals an analysis published by The BMJ today. The researchers call for greater transparency to ensure that industry funding is not unduly influenced by commercial objectives. Patient organisations are increasingly involved in policy and research, including decisions on public funding of medicines and treatments. Yet existing evidence suggests that many patient organisations have widespread, and often not entirely transparent, financial relationships with drug companies. Since 2012, corporate members of the European and UK pharmaceutical industry associations have had to disclose their payments to patient organisations, creating new opportunities for analysis. Using payment disclosure reports published on company websites, combined with patient organisation websites and charity regulator records, researchers from the University of Bath (UK) and Lund University (Sweden) set out to assess the scale of industry funding, its main providers and recipients, and the nature of funded activities. They found that during 2012 to 2016, industry disclosed 4,572 payments worth 57.3m to 508 UK patient organisations. While this represented only a sixth of its funding for healthcare professionals and organisations (340.3m) in 2015 alone, patient organisations seemed increasingly important for drug companies, note the authors. For the 21 companies that disclosed consistently over the five years, the number of payments increased slightly, from 738 to 772, but their value was 1.4 times higher (7.6m vs 10.8m). A few companies dominated the funding landscape, with the top ten providing more than two-thirds (69.2%) of all funding. As with payments to healthcare professionals, the largest donors were "big pharma" companies. The top funding priority was supporting patient organisations' public involvement, including "advocacy, campaigning, and disease awareness", "communication" and "policy engagement", which together attracted 17.9m (31.2%). This was followed by support for engagement in research activities, which attracted 14m (24.6%) of funding. In contrast, "support for patients" attracted 3.4m (5.9%) and "organisational maintenance and development" attracted just 1.6m (2.8%) of funding. When funding was assessed by 30 condition areas, the authors found that priority was given to commercially high profile conditions, such as cancer and diabetes. For example, neoplasms (any unusual tissue growthbenign or malignantencompassing cancerous and pre-cancerous changes) attracted 20.9m (36.4%) of all funding. The hierarchy of funding within each condition area also reflected the industry's commercial priorities. For example, within neoplasms, multiple myeloma (blood cancer) attracted 7.5m (35.9%), followed by breast cancer (19.6%). Diabetes received 3.7m (57.6%), the most of any endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic disease, while the bulk of funding for infectious and parasitic diseases went to HIV (37.4%) and viral hepatitis (23.6%). Importantly, the biggest donors in these condition areas have recently launched several high priced drugs, say the authors. The emerging picture of industry funding shows that companies might seek to use some patient organisations as "third parties" in reaching other audiences, they write. Responding to risks posed by the concentration of industry funding requires structural solutions, such as a shared corporate funding pool detached from current commercial objectives or treatment areas or a programme of public grants, say the authors. This "would make for a more level playing field for patient organisations that cover currently underfunded condition areas or have weak industry links," they conclude. More immediately, low-cost solutions to increase the transparency of funding might involve introducing a single standard of reporting for all companies and creating a searchable publicly available database of payments to patient organisations, they add. These solutions could be modeled on the Disclosure UK initiative, which has covered industry payments to healthcare professionals and organisations since 2015. Explore further Study reveals financial interests of patient organizations assessing NHS treatments Credit: CC0 Public Domain While snapping a photo of a suspicious mole with a phone and uploading it to an app might seem like the swiftest way to a diagnosis, dermatologists say users should be wary of such technology, especially when it comes to screening for skin cancer. Several apps allow users to provide a list of symptoms and an image of their skin, whether it be a changing mole or an itchy rash, and submit itfor a feeto an online dermatologist. That dermatologist can then recommend a cream, provide information on how to watch a benign-looking mole, or suggest making an appointment for an in-person biopsy with a local dermatologist. The practice is called teledermatology, and it's not only prevalent in smartphone app stores. Dermatologists say this practice is used in their profession, especially in rural or underserved areas where patients don't have the opportunity to visit a dermatologist's office. But with more apps popping up, doctors warn users to be cautious, even if the convenience is tempting. "There's a huge spectrum in the appsthis is the problem," said Dr. Carrie Kovarik, associate professor of dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania. "It's difficult to know what's good, what's not, what they do, who's on the other side." If the app is created by a medical provider, that's usually a good sign, Kovarik said. That way, users can be sure who is on the other side, and if they need a follow-up appointment, the app can connect them. Many apps "often don't close that loop of care," she said. "If you need to be seen in person, a lot of times those (apps) don't have ability to get you to the next step." But Dr. Alexander Borve, a California-based orthopedic surgeon who developed one of these apps, called First Derm, said users of his app are able to take feedback from the dermatologists consulting for his product and use it to get an appointment sooner at their local provider. "We are very good at triaging skin conditions." The app also isn't as daunting for users as going to the doctor, and provides useful information about skin conditions and what to look for, he said. "When we're not 100% sure, we are very transparent," he said of opinions on suspicious moles. "We recommend you go in, and a dermatologist will take a skin biopsy." Borve said health insurance companies do not include apps like his in their coverage, but he has kept his prices to around the cost of a co-pay. First Derm services range from about $30 to $60, depending on how fast a user wants results, which can take up to two days, or just hours, he said. Dr. Elizabeth Fahrenbach, a dermatologist at North Branch Dermatology on the Northwest Side and at Amita Health Resurrection Medical Center, said she's skeptical about using apps, specifically for patients worried about skin cancer. May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Fahrenbach said that although she appreciates teledermatology in some situations for skin conditions like acne or eczema, she worries it can provide a false sense of security to patients looking to be checked for skin cancer, including melanoma. "It doesn't take the place of a dermatologist." "Specifically for moles, it makes me nervous. Melanoma can be so varied in its presentation," she said. And the app "relies on the patient to notice an abnormal thing first." Fahrenbach said that often her patients will come in for a skin check, worried about a mole or spot they've noticed on their body, but in doing the check, Fahrenbach will notice other things that need to be further examined. "That (mole is) benign, but there's something they didn't even notice." "That's a pretty common phenomenon; an app isn't going to address that issue," she added. And "it's unrealistic to take a picture of every mole on your body and send it in. You might as well go to the doctor." Explore further When you need to see a dermatologist 2019 Chicago Tribune Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: CC0 Public Domain In a study published in the multi-disciplinary peer-reviewed journal PLOS One, CUNY SPH Associate Professor Chris Palmedo and co-author Lauren Gordon, Research Project Manager at the Mount Sinai Health System, assess the readiness for a sugar sweetened beverage-free zone at a community health clinic in the Bronx, NY. The study employed focus group interviews with video clips to explore belief patterns and message framing of sugar-sweetened beverages (e.g. soda and energy drinks) among patients and employees at the health center. Informed by the literature on multilevel frameworks on change readiness and social marketing, the researchers sought to better understand the social practices, motivations, and emotions behind sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption, and assess staff and patient attitudes about the imposition of the SSB-free zone before implementation. "There were quite a few relevant findings that emerged from these sessions," Dr. Palmedo says. "One surprise to me was that both patients and staff wanted more information about the dangers of SSB consumption. Public health researchers may be well aware that these products are associated with numerous non-communicable diseases, but our study reminds us that these dangers may not be top-of-mind to the general public." Another important finding, Palmedo says, is that most participants reported being supportive of the SSB-free zone, but still felt that most other people would not be. "I interpret this to be a reminder of how entrenched beverage companies are in the American ethos," Palmedo observes. "It still feels 'wrong' to try to limit our access to a ubiquitous consumer product, no matter how unhealthful it may be." As the authors conclude, "An evidence-based combination of education and policy change seems to be most likely to result in sustainable behavior change in this important public health domain." More information: P. Christopher Palmedo et al. How to be SSB-free: Assessing the attitudes and readiness for a sugar sweetened beverage-free healthcare center in the Bronx, NY, PLOS ONE (2019). Journal information: PLoS ONE P. Christopher Palmedo et al. How to be SSB-free: Assessing the attitudes and readiness for a sugar sweetened beverage-free healthcare center in the Bronx, NY,(2019). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215127 A thriving business of shady middle-men is openly advertising their services to smuggle blood to Hong Kong from China, to skirt the mainland's ban on gender testing Shady middle-men are openly advertising on Chinese social media to smuggle blood samples of pregnant women to Hong Kong to skirt the mainland's ban on gender testing, an AFP investigation has found. The business thrives on a well-organised underground network that serves the huge demand for illicit sex-selective abortion in mainland China - driven by limits on family size and an entrenched cultural preference for sons. Chinese authorities vowed to crack down on the trade in 2015. But dozens of blood smuggling agents are openly advertising services on the Twitter-like platform Weibo and on websites, despite China's proven ability to scrub digital content. Gender testingexcept on medical groundsis outlawed in China, where sex-selective abortions have helped create a surplus of about 31.6 million men, with some 115 boys born for every 100 girls last year. A long-standing one-child policy was eased to permit two children in 2016 but gender testing continues, with many parents of daughters trying for a son the second time around. Gender testing is legal in Hong Kong, with some clinics apparently turning a blind eye to the origins of the smuggled samples. Three agents contacted by an AFP reporter posing as a customer offered to arrange in-person appointments with medical testing labs or transport blood samples to Hong Kong for around US$580, promising results starting from six weeks into pregnancy. Chart showing the population imbalance between boys and girls in China Upon payment of a deposit, the agent sends a testing kit to the client through a delivery service. One advised using an app to hire a nurse who could come to the patient's home in mainland China to extract blood. 'Nothing will go wrong' The client sends the blood sample to Shenzhen from where it is smuggled across the border to Hong Kong. The agents did not directly address questions about how the samples would be transported, but assured the reporter they would arrive safely at their destination. "They will be taken to the lab in a designated vehicle, the samples can be safely sent over for testing, nothing will go wrong," one representative said, adding that results would be sent out in one working day. Other agents use human smugglers. In February, a 12-year-old girl headed to Hong Kong was caught at the Shenzhen border carrying 142 vials of blood samples from pregnant women in her backpack. The tests analyse small fragments of foetal DNA in a pregnant woman's blood and can detect the presence of a Y chromosome. They are also used to screen for chromosomal disorders such as Down's syndrome. They can often accurately predict the gender of a foetus weeks before doctors can see the sex organs in an ultrasound. Some mainlanders take the legal option of travelling directly to Hong Kong for gender testing. Some agents use human smugglers to transport the blood illicitly over the border from mainland China to Hong Kong, where it can be tested to determine the sex of the foetus "I have three daughters already. To be honest I want a son," a 39-year-old man surnamed Wang told AFP outside a lab in Kowloon where his wife was getting her blood tested. Wang, who circumvented the one-child policy as many well-connected or wealthy Chinese families do, said he was under intense parental pressure to produce a male heir and had made the journey from the southern province of Guizhou. "Chinese people still want to have a son to carry on the ancestral line, this is an antiquated way of thinking, but back home there are lots of people who think this way," he explained. He added he and his wife would terminate the pregnancy in China if it turned out be a girl. "Right now she's only about 50 days along, so it can be solved by taking some medicine," he said. 'Ethically unacceptable' The trade raises questions over the willingness of Hong Kong labs to ignore their own rules. According to industry guidelines, laboratory technicians should not test blood without a patient referral from a local doctor, and risk losing their licence if they do. It is illegal to mail or transport blood samples out of China without a permit, but Hong Kong only outlaws importing blood samples if a person has reason to suspect that it contains an infectious agent. The illicit trade raises questions over laboratories in Hong Kong willingness to ignore their own rulesa patient's blood should not be tested unless the lab gets a referral from a local doctor, otherwise they risk losing their licence The city's Department of Health told AFP the number of cases it investigated every year has tripled since 2016 but none was prosecuted due to insufficient evidence. A lab that one agent claimed to be working with told AFP it does not perform tests on couriered samples and denied working with mainland middle-men. Multiple Chinese government departments did not respond to requests for comment. Hong Kong lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki, who is also a doctor, called on the territory's government to work with mainland authorities to take down the networks. "Ethically this is completely unacceptable because this will only encourage more people to perform gender selection," he told AFP. "And in mainland China, gender selection has already led to many tragedies and a skewed population with more males than femalesthey are all directly affected, so how can we abide this?" Explore further Hong Kong to cull 6,000 pigs as first swine fever case found 2019 AFP (HealthDay)Women with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) appear to have a harder time than men with the progressive lung disorder, a new study suggests. Smoking is its leading cause, and while women report smoking less than men, those with COPD have more trouble breathing, more frequent flare-ups and a poorer quality of life, researchers found. "Physicians need to be aware that symptoms for women may be worse for a given level of lung function and that exacerbations may be more frequent," said lead researcher Dr. Allison Lambert. She is a clinical instructor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, in Spokane. Half of COPD sufferers are women and that proportion is increasing, the researchers noted. COPD refers to several long-term lung diseasesincluding chronic bronchitis and emphysemathat make breathing difficult. There is no cure. COPD can also be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or other environmental hazards. It's the third-leading cause of disease-related death in the United States, according to the American Lung Association. The new findings come from data on more than 1,800 men and women with COPD. Lambert hopes the findings will prompt other researchers to include more women in trials of new treatments, as the condition appears to be worse in women than in men. "Up until recently, women were excluded from many interventional clinical trials," she said. "If we can better understand why the disease is better or worse for either sex, we have the opportunity to make scientific advances for all patients." Dr. Len Horovitz is a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City who reviewed the findings. Horovitz said the study may be skewed because researchers relied on patients reporting on their own condition. As such, they may not represent a real difference in COPD severity between men and women. "Subjective reports of symptoms are difficult to quantify," he said. "But if exacerbations of COPD are more common in women, there may well be hormonal factors." Other cultural factors may also be at play. More research is called for to see if these differences between men and women are real, Horovitz said. "These coming studies will be revealing," he predicted. The findings were to be presented Wednesday at the American Thoracic Society annual meeting, in Dallas. Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. Explore further Studies: Benralizumab not effective reducing exacerbations in moderate to very severe COPD More information: For more about COPD, visit the For more about COPD, visit the American Lung Association Copyright 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Toomer et al. found that primary cilia (green), which serve as cellular antennae to receive signals from the extracellular space (grey) are required for cardiac valve development. Blue stained are cell nuclei. Credit: Katelynn Toomer, Johns Hopkins postdoctoral Fellow; Russell Norris, Associate Professor of Medicine, the Medical University of South Carolina Genetic variation in heart valve cells of the developing fetus create the blueprint for the later development of mitral valve prolapse, according to the cover story of today's Science Translational Medicine. The mutations cause defects in antenna-like cellular structures called primary cilia that previously had no known function in the heart valves. These findings were made possible by an international research collaborative that included scientists, geneticists, cardiologists, echocardiographers and surgeons. "These tiny structures are really important in establishing how the heart valve develops in utero," says Russell A. Norris, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Norris, who has been studying heart valve disease for more than 20 years, is senior author on the Science Translational Medicine article. What made Norris and the rest of the research collaborative suspect these tiny culprits of playing a role in the development of mitral valve prolapse? In mitral valve prolapse, the mitral valve, whose job is to keep blood flowing in one direction from the left atrium to the left ventricle of the heart, becomes enlarged and no longer closes securely, allowing blood to flow in both directions. Many of the one in forty Americans who have mitral valve prolapse experience minimal symptoms. In some, however, this valve defect can cause damage to the heart muscle itself. This can result in congestive heart failure, scarring of the heart tissue, and in serious cases, sudden cardiac death. The research collaborative had initially assembled for a Leducq Foundation-funded project that culminated in 2015 Nature and Nature Genetics articles announcing identification of genetic variants that cause mitral valve prolapse. The researchers, who have continued their collaboration, have since noticed that each of the genes they had identified could be linked to a pathway involving primary cilia. This led them to test whether removing cilia in mice would cause something like mitral valve prolapse. "We have ways of removing cilia genetically in animal models," explains Norris. "We thought that if we took out the cilia in heart valve cells, then the mice should develop the same disease. And that turned out to be the case." Next, the team looked at a multigenerational family with a history of mitral valve prolapse to see if there was additional evidence for a causative role for cilia in the disease. "Through our existing, long-term collaborations with geneticist Dr. Susan Slaugenhaupt, cardiologist Dr. David Milan and echocardiographer Dr. Robert Levine at Mass General Hospital, genetic analyses of this family were performed," says Norris. "Through many years of study we were able to identify a causative gene in this family, which ended up being a cilia gene." To further support that finding, Norris developed a mouse model of mitral valve prolapse. "A problem in the field today is that there are no really good animal models to study non-syndromic mitral valve prolapse," says Norris. "Now that we had a novel mutation, we felt obligated to develop a genetically accurate mouse model, which would enhance our understanding of disease initiation and progression." Instead of knocking out whole genes, as others had done, Norris and his collaborators at MUSC used CRISPR CAS-9 technology to "knock in" the genetic mutation identified in the large family. "We knocked in the mutation, and it fully recapitulated the phenotypic spectrum of the disease and impaired formation of primary cilia during development," says Norris. Primary cilia (green), which serve as cellular antennae to receive signals from the extracellular space (grey), are required for cardiac valve development. Credit: Dr. Russell Norris of the Medical University of South Carolina "These mice were quite beneficial in that they confirmed that mitral valve prolapse could be caused by a defect in cilia formation during embryonic development." Finally, the research team used an existing dataset from a previously conducted genome-wide association study, in which they looked at 300 known cilia genes to see if there was an association between the variants and mitral valve prolapse. "We found that there was an increased prevalence of cilia gene variants in the mitral valve prolapse population," says Norris. "Whether it's relevant to ten, 40, or 70 percent of the broader population, we don't know yet." Norris now hopes to use the unique mouse model the team has developed to better understand the temporal progression of the disease. "Mitral valve disease is most commonly seen when somebody in their fifties or sixties," explains Norris. "Yet, all of these genes that we've identified that cause mitral valve prolapse do not appear to be expressed in the adult. So how can a developmental error result in an adult pathology?" The research collaborative's data indicate that mitral valve prolapse can be present early but is clinically benign and not likely to present with any symptoms. The disease can take decades to become clinically relevant and represents a slow degeneration of the tissue. Possibly contributing to that degeneration are changes in the geometry of heart tissues and valve anatomy that cause secondary defects. "So we think that the geometry change, combined with altered biomechanics plus additional secondary responses that have yet to be discovered, result over time in the tissue being destroyed," says Norris. Norris will use his unique mouse model to test that theory. "We're the only group in the world that has this particular model," states Norris. "We want to use this model as our test bed to look at the mechanisms and timing by which the disease progresses." Norris also hopes to begin to identify biomarkers of disease severity that could inform treatment. He will work with cardiothoracic surgeons in Leipzig, Germany and echocardiographers in Boston, who are collecting biopsy specimens from patients with mitral valve prolapse. He will compare those specimens with tissue biopsies from his animal model. "Once we have the biopsies, we can then correlate changes in protein profiles in valve and heart tissues in humans with those in our animal models to look for markers of disease severity and/or progression," explains Norris. "Is there something predictive in the patients that will allow us to know that they are at a particular stage of fibrosis or heart failure or let us know what sort of outcomes they are likely to have?" The findings of a developmental cause for some forms of the disease by Norris and other members of the collaborative team could signal the importance of early intervention and lead to rethinking of current treatment guidelines. "If you have mitral valve prolapse, our findings suggest that you may not want to wait for intervention," says Norris. "There's a good chance that your heart is already being stressed and that changes in the heart muscle have already begun, which may be difficult to reverse. So earlier intervention is likely better. We're hopeful that, with the help of additional funding, some of our discoveries will help change guidelines for the timing of surgical intervention as well as lead to non-surgical therapies to treat the disease." Explore further Common heart condition linked to sudden death Credit: Wikimedia Commons We know that the environment in which children and young adults are raised influences healthy brain development. Now, a psychologist at Yale is taking a stance against the negative effects of a particularly harrowing environment in her own backyard: the U.S. prison system. In a paper published May 22 in the journal Neuron, the author declares that everybody, including young offenders, deserves healthy brain developmenta right she says U.S. jails often infringe upon. "Healthy psychological brain development is not a privilege for the elite, but is a right for all," says B.J. Casey, a Professor of Psychology and member of the Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program and Justice Collaboratory at Yale University. She believes that this right is often infringed upon by the U.S. legal system because the U.S. jails more adolescents than any other country, yet doesn't provide opportunities for them to build the skills necessary to become a person who functions well in society. To that end, more protections are needed for young people who ultimately wind up in the legal system to ensure they can have healthy psychological development. Specifically, Casey believes bail reform is essential. In fact, 80% of detainees at Rikers, a notoriously harsh correctional facility in New York, have not been convicted of a crime, and many of them remain in custody simply because they cannot afford bail. Of those detainees, nearly 15% are teens. Casey argues that "reforms need to be implemented to prevent as many of these kids from landing in jail in the first place." Additionally, she recommends reforming the transfer system. She points out that many U.S. states have no minimum age for transfer to adult courts. Lastly, closing facilities that are strictly disciplinary and lack rehabilitation components is critical as well. Casey says these monumental failings of the justice system are exemplified in the case of Kalief Browder, a 16-year-old who was never convicted of a crime but was detained at Rikers for three years because his family could not post bail, with two of those years spent in solitary confinement. Two years later, Browder would take his own life. "Typically, when we think of young offenders, we think of teenagers," Casey says, "but research is emerging that suggests significant changes in brain function extends into the early 20s that are relevant to justice policy." She reports that policy-makers are beginning to recognize the life stage of young adulthood as markedly different from other life stages. The creation of young adult courts popping up throughout the country, as well as pilot programs that require more rehabilitation rather than strictly punitive measures for individuals up to the age of 25, demonstrate this slow shift. But more work is needed, she says. "None of this addresses the white elephant in the room. When we talk about young people who come into contact with the law or who are transferred to adult courts, a disproportionate number of them are youths of color," she says. Casey notes that her future research involves looking at how encounters with individuals of color can impact actions and perceptions. "As developmental scientists, we need to continue to do objective, empirical research that responsibly informs policy," she says. "I feel very compelled to try to answer these difficult questions." More information: Neuron, Casey, B.J.: "Healthy Development as a Human Right: Lessons from Developmental Science" DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.03.035 Journal information: Neuron , Casey, B.J.: "Healthy Development as a Human Right: Lessons from Developmental Science" www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(19)30298-3 (HealthDay)Broadband penetration rates are considerably lower in the most rural counties, especially where access to primary care physicians and psychiatrists is inadequate, according to a study published online May 21 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. Coleman Drake, Ph.D., from the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues examined broadband internet access among Americans with inadequate access to primary care physicians and psychiatrists. Broadband internet access was measured as the county-level fixed broadband penetration rate, defined as the percentage of the county's population with internet access at a download speed of at least 2 MB per second, sufficient to support video-based telehealth visits. The researchers found that as counties became more rural, broadband penetration rates decreased, ranging from 96.0 percent in urban to 82.7 percent in rural to 59.9 percent in Counties with Extreme Access Considerations (CEAC). Relative to rural counties, in CEAC, there were decreases in adequate access to primary care physicians and psychiatrists. Counties with inadequate access to primary care physicians or psychiatrists generally had poorer broadband penetration rates within rurality categories. For example, the broadband penetration rate in CEAC was 62.4 and 38.6 percent if primary care physician access was adequate and inadequate, respectively. Likewise, the broadband penetration rate was 62.4 and 49.1 percent, respectively, in CEAC with adequate and inadequate psychiatrist access. "Our findings suggest that inadequacies in broadband infrastructure have broader consequences than limited internet access," the authors write. Explore further Broadband usage up Copyright 2019 HealthDay. All rights reserved. A new study led by Brian Baumann, M.D., of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, found that proton therapy (bottom) is associated with fewer severe side effects than conventional X-ray radiation therapy (top) for many cancer patients. Credit: Brian Baumann/Mike Worful Proton therapy results in fewer side effects than traditional X-ray radiation therapy for many cancer patients, according to a new study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania. Even with reduced side effects, proton therapy resulted in cure rates similar to those of X-ray radiation therapy. The findings will be presented June 1 by the study's first author, Brian C. Baumann, MD, a radiation oncologist at Washington University School of Medicine, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, in Chicago. The study is the first major side-by-side comparison of side effects related to proton therapy and X-ray radiation therapy. It included almost 1,500 patients receiving combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy for lung, brain, head and neck, gastrointestinal and gynecologic cancers that had not yet spread to other parts of the body. Such patients receive both radiation and chemotherapy, a treatment regimen that often cures nonmetastatic cancer. But it also causes severe side effectssuch as difficulty swallowing, nausea and diarrheathat reduce quality of life and can, in some cases, require hospitalization. After controlling for differences between the groups, such as age and additional medical problems, the researchers found that patients receiving proton therapy experienced a two-thirds reduction in the relative risk of severe side effects within 90 days of treatment, compared with patients receiving X-ray radiation therapy. Forty-five of 391 patients receiving proton therapy experienced a severe side effect in the 90-day time frame (11.5 percent). In the X-ray radiation therapy group, 301 of 1,092 patients experienced a severe side effect in the same period (27.6 percent). Patient data on side effects were gathered as the trial was ongoing, rather than after the fact. "Proton therapy was associated with a substantial reduction in the rates of severe acute side effectsthose that cause unplanned hospitalizations or trips to the emergency roomcompared with conventional photon, or X-ray, radiation for patients treated with concurrent radiation and chemotherapy," said Baumann, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Washington University and an adjunct assistant professor of radiation oncology at Penn. "The opportunity to reduce the risk of severe side effects for patients and thereby improve their quality of life is very exciting to me. While there have been other studies suggesting that proton therapy may have fewer side effects, we were somewhat surprised by the large magnitude of the benefit." A proton treatment room at Penn. Credit: Penn Medicine The researchers focused their study on what are called grade 3 adverse events, which are severe enough to require hospitalization. These can include pain, difficulty swallowing that might result in weight loss, difficulty breathing, and nausea and diarrhea severe enough to cause dehydration. The researchers also found no differences between the two groups in survival, suggesting that proton therapy was just as effective in treating the cancer even as it caused fewer side effects. Overall survival at one year for the proton therapy group was 83 percent of patients versus 81 percent for the X-ray radiation therapy group. This difference was not statistically significant. This study is the first large review of data across several cancer types to show a reduced side-effect profile for proton therapy compared with X-ray radiation therapy for patients receiving combined chemotherapy and radiation. Both types of radiation therapy are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cancer treatment. Protons are relatively heavy, positively charged particles that hit their target and stop. X-ray beams consist of photons, which are much smaller particles that have almost no mass, allowing them to travel all the way through the body, passing through healthy tissue on the way out. Baumann noted that patients in the proton group had fewer side effects despite the fact that they were olderwith an average age of 66than patients in the X-ray radiation therapy groupwith an average age of 61. Baumann said this age difference is due to a quirk of insurance. Medicare, with its minimum enrollment age of 65, covers proton therapy. But since proton therapy is more expensive to administer than X-ray radiation therapy, most private insurers do not cover it. Baumann, who treats patients at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, said he and his colleagues did not compare the costs of the two different therapies and their associated adverse events, but they plan to in future studies. More information: Baumann BC et al. Comparative effectiveness of proton therapy versus photon therapy as part of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced cancer. American Society of Clinical Oncology poster session. June 1, 2019. Michael-in-Norfolk disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, reliability, operability, or availability of information or material displayed on this site and does not claim credit for any images or articles featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies, and Michael-in-Norfolk does not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site's content. If you own rights to any of the images or articles, and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact Michael-in-Norfolk via e-mail and they will be promptly removed. Michael-in-Norfolk contains links to other Internet sites. These links are provided solely as a convenience and are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information or content in such site has been endorsed or approved by this blog. A draft of a new Downtown Master Plan for Missoula will be presented to the community Wednesday night at the Wilma Theatre, after an eight-month process of public engagement and planning. A town planning consulting firm called Dover, Kohl & Partners has sent senior team members here, and their community presentation will take place May 22 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Wilma at 131 S. Higgins. The event is free and open to the public. The consultants have been studying and taking input in what Missoulians want their downtown to look like as it grows over the next 10 years and beyond. Everything from small businesses retention to affordable housing to parking to land use to transportation to parks has been considered. Missoula has an incredibly educated and engaged population that really cares about their downtown, and the level of participation in this process has been extraordinary, said Jason King, principal and senior project director for DKP. We are excited to showcase what we heard from the community and how we have incorporated what we heard into the new vision for downtown Missoula. King gave a presentation to Missoula Countys Transportation Policy and Coordination Committee on Tuesday and said 30% of trips to Missoulas downtown dont involve a car. If you had to summarize all our work in a downtown plan, its to increase that number, he said. Lets get it to (60%). We want to imagine every tool kit to make it safe and comfortable for pedestrians. He said people feel like Missoula's traffic congestion is a problem, but the city wants to better utilize the river and increase mobility. King also said Missoula is one of the few cities he knows that still has an intact system of alleys. Some towns like Fort Collins or Greeley in Colorado have turned those spaces into pedestrian thoroughfares with lots of art and retail shops, he said, and showed images of string lighting and landscaping that can turn an alley into an inviting downtown attraction. Following the community presentation on Wednesday at 5:30, Victor Dover, a co-founder of DKP and the co-author of a book called Street Design: The Secret to Great Cities and Towns will give a presentation called Street Talk: Streets for People. According to Linda McCarthy, the executive director of the Downtown Missoula Partnership, nearly 3,000 Missoulians have participated in the process of developing a new vision for the heart of town since the update of the master plan was launched in October of 2018. She said she hopes as many people as possible turn out for the Wednesday event. King told the transportation committee that hes been impressed with how much Missoulians care about their community. Missoula is a city thats committed to not leaving anyone behind, he said. Theres a downtown for everyone section in our plan. Its about affordability. Its about retaining small businesses and we have an (Americans with Disabilities Act) section. Missoulas commitment to the less fortunate as Missoula improves and things get more exciting and hot and vibrant, your commitment to making sure everyone comes along is something I havent seen before. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. It was an offer in the engineering world that Ed Toavs couldnt refuse. Toavs (say Taves) will retire Friday after 25 years with the Montana Department of Transportation, the last seven as Missoula District administrator, to help give the largest engineering firm in the United States a presence in Montana and the Inland Northwest. He starts June 3 with Jacobs Engineering Group, which leaped into the top spot last year according to two industry publications. That came after the 2017 acquisition of CH2M, a company Montana and the Inland Northwest are more familiar with. This has been a great job, Toavs said Tuesday in MDTs Missoula office on West Broadway. Im not leaving the department because I dont like my job. I enjoy my position. I enjoy building relationships and building projects for the communities in western Montana. Jacobs is based in Dallas, Texas, with a regional office in Bellevue, Washington. Its worldwide annual revenue soared from $10 billion to nearly $15 billion in fiscal year 2018, according to U.S. Security Exchange Commission records. The company came knocking late last year. My wife Tracys cousin and his wife work for Jacobs Engineering in Seattle, Toavs said. They had a staff meeting and said they were interested in looking at Montana and doing some growth as part of their Northwest Region. Tracys cousin suggested they look at Toavs. He met with Jacobs recruiters in Missoula in February, and came away duly impressed. A trip to Bellevue only solidified the notion that Jacobs was a progressive company with an emphasis on building relationships. Toavs will work out of his home in Frenchtown until something more is established. He and Tracy have daughters in college in Great Falls and Seattle; son David, a sophomore at Frenchtown, and daughter Becca in seventh grade. Hell be a vice president and group leader for this part of the Northwest, Toavs said. That includes not only Montana but Idaho, South Dakota, North Dakota and Wyoming. Born and raised in Columbia Falls, Toavs retirement comes 25 years and a day after he started working for the state transportation department. He started in Kalispell in 1994 as a temporary technician on a construction crew and was eventually promoted to a full-time civil engineer in the Flathead. He and Tracy Erickson married in 1997. In 2002 Toavs took the job as MDTs assistant district construction engineer in Great Falls, working under Doug Wilmot, the current district administrator there. Eds a really energetic and enthusiastic person, Wilmot said Tuesday. Hes one of those that was willing to jump in and do any job. Just a really good resource for us to have. Were going to miss him. In Great Falls Toavs worked on modeling for software for a 7-mile bypass south of 10th Avenue. It turned out too expensive a project for the state to consummate, but bore remarkable similarities to one that was the $140 million Highway 93 bypass around downtown Kalispell that was completed in late 2016. He was also on a team that developed the design-build concept at MDT, which expedites projects by allowing both phases to proceed simultaneously. Toavs left his family in Great Falls to spend two years as acting construction engineer in the Glendive District. In 2009 he landed back in Kalispell as the Missoula District construction engineer, a position Bob Vosen currently holds. Toavs said Vosen will take his place as acting district administrator until a permanent one is named. A super-busy time, Toavs said of his three years back in Kalispell. He spearheaded development of the south half of the Kalispell Bypass and finished Highway 93 projects at Evaro and Arlee, the last projects to date of the Evaro-to-Polson corridor. His years in Missoula since 2012 have included working with civic and government entities in the Flathead to complete the north end of the Kalispell Bypass, and what that led to. At the urging of MDT administrators in Helena, Toavs took two years of executive masters-level business classes at the University of Idaho. There he worked with an assistant economics professor on an impact analysis of the bypass. Toavs graduated first in his class in 2017 and his work revealed a $1.21 billion boon to the Flathead economy with the bypass. I guess I would look at that as the single biggest highlight of my professional career, seeing the bypass finished and the work done on the MBA, said Toavs. Thats something Im probably the most proud of because it was a team effort. It wasnt an Ed Toavs effort. Collaboration comes up time and again in a conversation with Toavs. It helps explain how the city and MDT came up with a quick fix when the Madison Street Bridge sprouted holes. And it helped wade through a morass of hurdles to get dirt moved on the ongoing Russell Street Bridge project. He lauds his working partnership with Mayor John Engen, with whom Toavs said hes had a lot of visionary discussions. From my perspective, Eds leadership helped whatever powers that be recognize that public information communicated locally about road projects was not MDTs strong point, and he began contracting with Big Sky Public Relations, which has worked brilliantly, said Ginny Merriam, the citys communications officer. Its been a great help for the public and has certainly made my job easier in the realm of road projects. Toavs is leaving plenty of MDT projects in the Missoula District, but said that doesnt mean he wont be consulting on them with Jacobs Engineering. One of the things Im most pleased about leaving the position is we have good relationships with all the counties in western Montana, he said. Specifically we have good relationships in the Missoula area, in the Kalispell-Flathead area and with (Confederated Salish Kootenai Tribes). We dont have a tenuous relationship out there. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. GREAT FALLS A former carnival worker has been found guilty of sexually assaulting four people during Montana State Fair in Great Falls last summer, including a 13-year-old girl and an off-duty special victims unit detective. A Cascade County jury found 43-year-old Roberto Salaman-Garcia guilty of two felonies and two misdemeanors on Wednesday. The police officer reported Salaman-Garcia groped her while tightening her seat belt on a ride. Three more people reported similar interactions. Salaman-Garcia testified he was just checking seatbelts. Defense attorney Carl Jensen argued the detective's work in dealing with sexual predators every day has her "seeing the enemy everywhere she looks." A sentencing date has not been set. Salaman-Garcia faces between four and 100 years in prison. Deputy County Attorney Susan Webber says if Salaman-Garcia is released from prison he would face deportation to Mexico. Salaman-Garcia is a Mexican citizen who was in the country on a temporary work visa. He worked for the Mighty Thomas Carnival, which after the State Fair in 2018 headed next to Billings for MontanaFair. Salaman-Garcia was arrested in August and prohibited from leaving Cascade County. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ROCKY BOY Two Chippewa Cree law enforcement officers have been suspended after being charged with assault. Prosecutors say officers Cody Lamere and Kyle LaFramboise were not on duty when they allegedly broke into a house at 4 a.m. on April 22 and Lamere assaulted a sleeping man who was in bed with the mother of LaFramboise's child. Prosecutors say LaFramboise slapped and punched the woman later that day. KOJM-AM reports Lamere is charged with breaking and entering along with assault and battery while LaFramboise is charged with domestic violence and assault and battery. Both men have pleaded not guilty to the charges and are free after posting bail. The Rocky Boy Police Department says the two officers have been suspended. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 BIG TIMBER From the deck of his mobile home, Tim Thompson can look across a greening field 284 yards to where his troubles started. There sits an empty newer manufactured home, one his cousins now claim ownership of and the place where those same cousins cared for Thompsons aged and sickly mother, Annette, while he was overseas working for a contractor in Iraq. Annette died in 2006 and Thompson returned to his hometown in 2007. Since then, things have gone awry for whats left of a family synonymous with sheep and outfitting industries in this small town along the banks of the Yellowstone River, at one time the powerhouse of wool production in the United States. Now downtrodden and ailing, the 65-year-old Thompsons tale of woe underscores the problems that can follow a family members death, the difficulty of doing business with relatives, the danger and nastiness of infighting among families and the plight of some landowners who are land rich but cash poor. Homestead Thompsons grandfather Sven homesteaded in the Big Timber area in 1920 and sponsored other Norwegians immigrating to Montana. Sven started out leasing land from what Big Timber native Elaine Allestad called a warlord of sorts who held a stranglehold on the regions land and many of the sheep industrys workers. He would manipulate them into buying supplies only from certain people, said Jim Baldwin, a longtime Big Timber resident. In 1960, Thompsons father, Teddy, purchased 400 acres just east of where the Boulder River meets the Yellowstone River, a cottonwood bottomland that during high water in the springtime can turn into a large, spongy marsh. Granddad bought it once but then lost it during the Depression, Thompson said. Outfitting Prior to the creation of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in 1978, many of the areas sheep ranchers would trail their flocks into what is now the Custer Gallatin National Forest to reach summer grazing allotments in the Beartooth Mountains south of Big Timber. Allestad said at the height of the areas sheep industry 32 bands of 1,000 sheep grazed in the highlands near the northern border of Yellowstone National Park. As Teddy Thompson would help trail sheep up the Boulder River Valley to the mountains in spring and back in fall, he met and made friends with more affluent visitors to the area. Thats how his family outfitting business started in the 1950s. Weve catered to thousands of different people over the years, and theres a lot of history here, Tim Thompson said. The clients came mainly to hunt elk, but also deer, antelope, mountain goats and bears. In the summer, clients could hike and fish while being fed and sleeping at a canvas tent base camp. The fishing was so good at some lakes that Tim Thompson said the trout seemed eager to bite a bare hook. Each year, Teddy Thompson would highlight some of the past years activities in a newsletter, at first hand-written and later typed. All were filled with the names of the clients and where they were from, Illinois to Minneapolis, California to Virginia. The letters recount humorous anecdotes involving partly clad men and bears, misfiring rifle shells when a bull elk was sighted, the heroic rescue by helicopter of a stroke victim and a pack horse wreck down a steep mountainside. The letters often detailed more shots fired than animals killed, but there were exceptions, too. The next morning Tom, Jim and Doc took off for the peaks about 9 a.m. When they got back about 4 p.m. they had a billy goat hanging on Patterhorn. Tom was sure there were powder burns on the goat as he had gotten very close to it before he shot, Teddy Thompson wrote in 1969. In 1960 he wrote praising a female clients helpfulness with camp chores, and then added: I do not object at all to taking women providing the trip is not too rough. With the creation of the A-B Wilderness and increasing outfitting regulations, the Thompsons eventually got out of both businesses. The government got too involved with everything, Tim Thompson said. Between the Forest Service and the Fish and Game, they wanted us out of there. Rock n roll After his father died, Tim Thompson found other ways to open the ranch to the public. Instead of guiding clients or ranching sheep, he rounded up music fans for concerts that brought throngs of patrons to the property. He also invited Boy Scout troops who camped while earning merit badges and cleaning up downed trees. Ive been going there since the 70s. Its like a second home to us, said Bill Glaze, a New Jersey businessman who started visiting as a hunting client. Its just a nice place to retreat to. A covered concrete dance pavilion was built for the concerts. Rows of colorful tents would line the green pastures during events. After working in Iraq, Thompson invited veterans to camp on the property to decompress. He organized a Hitchin of the Rivers Veterans Retreat and wanted to raise money to build cabins for the veterans to stay in. Thats when problems began mounting for Thompson. Lawsuits To fund the veterans retreat he sought a bank loan. The ranch would be collateral. But during his stay in Iraq, Thompsons mother had given three-eighths of the land to Bruce Townsend, Thompsons cousin. Townsends wife, Gladys, was taking care of Thompsons mother, Annette. In an email to his cousins after his mother died, and while he was still in Iraq, Thompson wrote, The house is yours now, according to court documents. He had purchased the manufactured home for his mother after selling off a portion of the ranch. He had also made his cousin, Bruce Townsend, a partner in his fencing business to run it while he was in Iraq. According to court documents, when Townsend said he wouldnt agree to co-sign the loan for a veterans retreat, Thompson presented his cousins with a bill for rent. The Townsends went to court and won a case saying they didnt owe their cousin rent, but ownership of the home is still in dispute. When contacted for comment on the disputes, Townsend said he wanted to talk but couldnt. On the advice of my lawyer I have no comment, he said. In his defense, Thompson said he was taken advantage of by his cousins. For five years the case has dragged on. Thompson just hired a new attorney after his first lawyer put a lien on his ranch for nonpayment of her fees. The Townsends want the ranch sold, or they would like to be bought out, so they can move on. But Thompson has limited income and wants to keep intact whats left of the ranch which would mark 100 years of family ties in 2020. He has posted a Facebook plea for financial help with the legal battle. I hate to see it happen, said Baldwin, whose friendship with Thompson dates back to when they were youngsters. Hes been too kind of a guy. In court papers the Townsends attorney paints a much less flattering picture of Thompson, alleging he is an alcoholic, has sold joint property and not shared the proceeds with his cousin while also harassing the Townsends and their guests when they were still living in the modular home. Mediation on the dispute had been scheduled for May 10 but the judge allowed an extension after Thompson hired a new attorney. The new mediation date is set for July 29. If no resolution can be reached the case will go to trial. Its kind of a mess, Thompson said, and Im just holding on to what I can. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The Trump administration's decision to lift a moratorium on coal sales from public lands could hasten the release of more than 5 billion tons of greenhouse gases, but officials concluded Wednesday it would make little difference in overall U.S. climate emissions. That conclusion from the Bureau of Land Management comes after a judge ruled last month the administration had failed to consider the environmental effects of resuming coal sales from public lands. Sales were largely halted in 2016 under President Barack Obama over worries about climate change. But the moratorium was rescinded by then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke soon after President Donald Trump took office, fulfilling a campaign pledge from the Republican. Critics said the Trump administration's contention that resuming sales would have negligible effects on the environment was absurd given the scope of the federal coal program. About 40% of coal burned in the U.S. comes from federal leases, primarily in Western states including Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana and New Mexico. Companies have mined about 4 billion tons of coal from federal reserves in the past decade, contributing $10 billion to federal and state coffers through royalties and other payments. In Wednesday's report , the Bureau of Land Management analyzed applications from companies for coal leases totaling more than 2.5 billion tons of the fuel. Just over 5 billion tons of greenhouse gases would be produced by burning the fuel for electricity over the next 20 years, the agency said. That's equivalent to just over 1 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector for 2017, according to the agency. The agency's conclusion was based on the assumption that coal sales would have resumed as normal once the moratorium ended in 2019. "The lifting of the coal leasing pause would not change the cumulative levels of (greenhouse gas) emissions resulting from coal leasing," officials wrote. Environmentalists who sued to reinstate the moratorium said that assumption was flawed. They also blasted officials for providing only a 15-day comment period. "This seems to be both absurd and tremendously insulting to the public," said attorney Michael Saul with the Center for Biological Diversity, one of several groups that sued to block the moratorium. "Economics plus physics tell us that mining more cheap coal means burning more coal, which means more CO2 in the atmosphere and a hotter planet." The attorneys general of California, New Mexico, New York and Washington all Democrats also had challenged Trump's move to end the moratorium. In his April ruling, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris in Montana said federal officials wrongly avoided an environmental review of their action by describing it "as a mere policy shift." In so doing, officials ignored the environmental effects of selling huge volumes of coal from public lands, the judge said. The office of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said in a statement that the Trump administration had rushed through its response to Morris' order without making any substantive changes. Attorneys for the state were prepared to return to the judge to seek full compliance with the ruling, Becerra's office said. A spokeswoman for the National Mining Association, which intervened in the court cases on behalf of the Trump administration, declined to comment on Wednesday's report. The industry group has said previously that it was the Obama administration that violated federal law, by imposing the moratorium without first analyzing its effects on the coal industry. In February, Interior Department officials had announced a sale of coal leases on public lands in Utah by issuing a statement headlined "The War on Coal is Over." They said the sale would not have been possible if the administration had not overturned the Obama-era moratorium. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Much of Montanas history was made from the back of a horse and the horse is a part of Western society still. Montanans value horses and want them to be treated humanely. A healthy, pain-free horse is the best partner. Those who know, respect, work with and enjoy horses must oppose soring. Its an antiquated, outdated, inhumane practice. Sored horses are generally found in show rings catering to the Tennessee walking, racking and spotted saddle horse breeds. In this practice, the horse is hauling around 8 pounds or more of platform horseshoes on its front hooves. You dont see these horses working a fence line because the best they can manage to do is struggle around an oval track, but only for a short period of time. Hitting a big lick animated show gait is the goal of owners and trainers. Almost all horse experts agree soring is an appalling, inhumane practice. For the horse, it means exposure to caustic chemicals on his front legs (like diesel fuel or kerosene) and days covered in plastic wrap to cook the chemical into sensitive skin. It means wearing chains that bang against the tender flesh and being shod in a way that no normal horse would ever be shod. This is all done in combination with other techniques that no ethical horseperson would inflict on his or her equine partner. The only purpose is to cause pain, causing the horse to move in an unnatural way or in an artificial gait. Many if not most of these horses end up prematurely arthritic, with damaged hooves and joints. Soring has been illegal for decades under the federal Horse Protection Act, yet it is still widespread in some horse show circuits. The act has loopholes that have allowed violators to continue this abusive practice. Powerful political lobbies and individual politicians help to keep these antiquated traditions alive by impeding legislation to fix the problem and not engaging the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has jurisdiction. The few supporters of the big lick, according to the Humane Society of the United States, try to conceal the cruelty in their show circuit but they are also well-funded and willing to spend large sums to ensure that their hobby practice isnt impacted by stronger law enforcement. The Prevent All Soring Tactics (PAST) Act, H.R. 693/S.1007, currently under consideration, will ban the use of devices that are integral to the soring process. The PAST Act will also increase penalties as a way of creating a meaningful deterrent and eliminating the failing system of industry self-policing that has allowed soring to continue unchecked for decades at no additional cost to the taxpayer. The American Quarter Horse Association, the American Horse Council, HSUS and many other horse industry organizations, along with animal protection and veterinary organizations (including the Montana Veterinary Medical Association), endorse the PAST Act. Any U.S. senator or representative opposed to animal abuse should advocate and work to get this legislation passed. Speaking as someone who owns gaited horses, their natural gait is beautiful enough. Something as unnatural, unethical and inhumane as soring really has no place in the horse world. Montana horse owners opposed to soring should be very grateful U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, an original co-sponsor of the PAST Act, is once again a co-sponsor and supporter in this Congress, and we urge U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte to join him in co-sponsoring this bipartisan effort to stop soring. Its long past time to pass the PAST Act once and for all. Its also the right, humane thing to do. J. Rose, Horse Haven Montana Equine Rescue and Adoption, Equus International Film Festival. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Two hundred nineteen healthcare economists recently sent an open letter to Congress and U.S. citizens in support of Improved Medicare for All. Financing good-quality health care as a basic right and significantly reducing overall healthcare spending is viewed as a public good. People need to realize that evidence from around the world demonstrates publicly financed health care results in improved health outcomes, lower costs and greater equity. The U.S is currently spending 17% of GDP ($3.3 trillion) each year, which is about $10,000 per person. Other developed countries are spending 9-11% of GDP, averaging $3,000 to $5,700 per person, and have better results. Think of the impact on well-being that could be achieved by 80-90% of Americans if we insist and move to accomplish Medicare for All. The blunt fact is that public financing for health is not a matter of raising new money! A unified single-payer system would reduce administrative costs, eliminate employer insurance premiums, out-of-pocket costs and, if combined with public control of drug prices and a global budget system, sensible Medicare financing would reduce healthcare costs while guaranteeing access to comprehensive care and financial security for every American. Richard A. Damon, Bozeman You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The 66th Montana Legislature passed seven bills that will help Montana State Parks. House Bill 229: Sponsored by Brad Hamlet: Clarifies that dinosaur bones and fossils are part of surface estate or surface rights not subsurface or mineral rights. This bill makes it clear that paleontological artifacts located in state parks like Makoshika are the property of the state of Montana, not various subsurface rights owners within the parks. House Bill 423: Sponsored by Edward Buttrey: Provides discounted state park camping opportunities for veterans across Montana. House Bill 652: Sponsored by Mike Hopkins: Revises the long-range building infrastructure bonding program and includes approximately $1.3 million dollars for a waterline from the Makoshika State Park Visitor Center to the campground and facilities in Cains Coulee. House Bill 695: Sponsored by Jim Keane: Appropriates funds to Fish, Wildlife & Parks for the purchase of a permanent recreation easement at Big Arm State Park on Flathead Lake. The purchase of this recreational easement settles a decades long challenge facing state parks as they grappled with how to pay rising annual lease payments to the the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation to operate Big Arm State Park. By law, DNRC is required to charge 5% of assessed property value for an annual lease of State Trust Lands in order to generate revenue for Montana's school system. State parks could no longer afford the annual lease payments as property values on Flathead Lake have dramatically increased in the past decades. By securing the funds to purchase a permanent recreational easement at the park, FWP can ensure access to Big Arm State Park and Flathead Lake in perpetuity. Senate Bill 24: Sponsored by Terry Gauthier: Provides for a modest increase in the optional Light Motor Vehicle registration fee that benefits state parks, fishing access sites, historic preservation, and trails-based recreation across Montana. The optional fee currently provides nearly 40% of the annual operating revenue that state parks rely on. The increase of $3 per vehicle will still allow Montanans to access one of the largest state parks systems in the country (55 parks) and 332 fishing access sites without having to worry about paying fees at the park while also providing beneficial funds for trails and historic preservation. By 2021 the fee is expected to raise an additional $2 million a year. Senate Bill 70: Sponsored by Pat Flowers: Removes Missouri Headwaters State Park from the "primitive parks" designation. Removing Missouri Headwaters from the "primitive parks" list is a critical first step in allowing park managers to be more proactive in managing growing demand for recreational opportunities, addressing environmental impacts, complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and ensuring historic preservation at park. Senate Bill 338: Sponsored by Terry Gauthier: Provides funding for construction of the Montana Heritage Center, the new home for the Montana Historical Society. After the Montana Heritage Center is completed in 2025, 6.5% of the 1% bed-tax increase passed as a part of the bill would go to state parks to provide critical funding for park maintenance, staffing, and visitor services. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Incoming Anaconda-Deer Lodge County chief executive Bill Everett wants open meetings held on the financial agreement the county has worked out with Atlantic Richfield Company. The county has been in confidential negotiations with ARCO since at least July 2015 to reach an agreement that could potentially solve some long-standing Superfund problems for the county and give it a financial boost. ARCO is the responsible party for 100 years of smelting waste in Anaconda. Everett takes over from current chief executive Connie Ternes-Daniels on Jan. 1. Everett says he has already sought his own legal counsel into the situation and may refuse to sign the confidentiality agreement himself. Transparency is huge to me, said Everett by phone last week. Contentious as soon as it rolled out in August, the institutional controls agreement, or IC agreement, the county brokered with ARCO would mean the county will get $120 million spread over 100 years time. In exchange, the county will manage the waste left in place. The agreement also resolves some longstanding issues, voiding an older agreement the county signed in 1994 with ARCO that left the county responsible for hundreds of acres that contain waste. What sort of effect such a move on Everetts part might have on the agreement is not yet known. Everett does not have the ability to vote on the agreement, said county Board of Commissioners member Terry Vermeire. Only Anacondas legislative branch can vote on it. Unlike Butte-Silver Bow, Anacondas chief executive cannot vote even to break a tie among commissioners, Ternes-Daniels previously told The Montana Standard. The Montana Standard, in conjunction with Silver Bow Creek Headwaters Coalition, launched a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice in September to open up the confidential Butte Hill Superfund talks. If The Montana Standard had prevailed, the suit could have had long-term repercussions for Anacondas Superfund talks as well, said Jim Goetz, attorney for The Montana Standard in the case. Helena U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon ruled against the Standard last month. Anacondas confidential talks, which have not formally begun yet, are also protected under Haddons original 2003 order. Because the countys financial agreement with ARCO involves the Environmental Protection Agencys cleanup plan for Anaconda, the county had to sign the confidentiality agreement with ARCO and the EPA, Anacondas Superfund coordinator Carl Nyman previously told the Standard. Everetts goals may quickly come to a test. Vermeire wants to move forward again on the agreement. Vermeire and commissioner Elaine Lux-Burt both sit in on the confidential talks with ARCO. The agreement went back to ARCO with edits after the August public meeting, said Vermeire. Vermeire said many of the changes sought by local attorney Michael Grayson, one of the foremost critics of the agreement, were made to the draft. The county is waiting for ARCO to give their OK to the edited version and finish up some supplemental material, said Vermeire. He said the county expects to hold a meeting with ARCO in mid-January. Vermeire defends the countys process to reach an agreement with ARCO. Im a firm believer in the process, and I want every single person in the community to understand what the IC agreement is and what itll do for Anaconda, said Vermeire. Everett says he is "not opposed" to bringing in an "outside" team of legal and technical experts to get a second opinion on the draft agreement. ARCO has given the county around $1.3 million since 2012 to pay for legal and technical assistance on creating the agreement, according to county Superfund coordinator Carl Nyman. How the county might pay for another set of eyes to wade into the complexities is not clear. Everett says he believes the county could apply for a grant from the EPA for some assistance. Nyman told the Standard that the grants the county has received in the past from EPA is money that ultimately comes from ARCO. Vermeire and Everett have at least one goal in common. Both say they are willing to wait whether its 2 months or 2 years to get an agreement with ARCO that is good for the county. "Some kind of agreement with ARCO needs to happen, maybe at a future time. I'm not sure this is the time," said Everett. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. After serving nearly 37 years as the executive director of the Anaconda Local Development Corp., Jim Davison plans to retire and to assume instead the role of quality control at his favorite Anaconda brewery, as Davison likes to say. Meanwhile, an energetic, thirty-something entrepreneur and ALDC board member stands poised to take his place. The transition is expected to happen sometime this summer. Following in Davisons footsteps will be Adam Vauthier, who, among other things, has served as the ALDCs board chair, is a founding member of the Anaconda Trail Society, and is a former member of the Anaconda-Deer Lodge Planning Board. Hes also been at the helm of Accelerate Anaconda, a community-development offshoot of the ALDC. Vauthier comes to the position at just 32 years old, but Davison was actually younger than his successor when he took over as executive director in 1982. Davison was just 29 at the time, and he surprisingly wasnt nervous about having so much responsibility suddenly thrust on his shoulders. I was too young to be nervous, Davison said. A former buyer, warehouse worker and transportation superintendent for Atlantic Richfield Company, Davison had been laid off four times in one year by the company by the time 1982 rolled around. Each time the company had found new positions for him, but when it appeared the next position would be on the East Coastin Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey or maybe Manhattan, he saidhe decided to seek out a new career. In his words, he was a country boy and didnt want to leave Montana. By all accounts, Davison should have been nervous when he assumed the leadership position. Two years earlier, the Washoe Smelter had closed, while hospitals around the country were beginning to deinstitutionalize, causing state-run hospitals like those in Warm Springs and Galen to cut patient loads. It was a trend that would leave many in Anaconda fearful that the town would lose yet more jobs. Meanwhile, the ALDC had challenges too. A plastics company called Northwest Polymeric Inc. moved to Anaconda the year prior with the help of a $1 million loan. The loan was given to the company by the now-disbanded Anaconda Task Force, which was charged with administering $3 million that Atlantic Richfield gave to the city after the smelter closed. The ALDC took over as the administrator of the loan, but Northwest declared bankruptcy, leaving the organization holding the bag. According to a 1990 article in The Montana Standard, Northwest Polymeric officials boasted of defense contracts lined up to manufacture Kevlar helmets for the military. But those contracts didnt come through, and the company and its promise of 500 jobs eventually went up in smoke. In the same article, Davison described the events as being symptomatic of smoke stack chasing the desire to land large employers and replace what had been lost. As an alternative, Davison advocated for building a diversified economic base. Speaking with Davison today, that message hasnt appeared to change all that much. He told The Standard last week that he sees the way forward as not being dependent on any one industry, and that the medical field, resource management, internet-enabled businesses and visitation will all be important players in the years ahead. Davison said the landscape of economic-development in Butte and Anaconda looked very different in the 1980s. In those days, discussions were mostly about survival. But flash forward to today, and people are talking about thriving instead of just surviving. Theres been a resurgence of people investing, Davison said, taking note of small business success stories in Anacondas downtown district, the establishment of Tax Increment Financing districts, the successful recruitment of the manufacturer Intercontinental Truck Body Co. to Anacondas Arbiter Building, and the emergence of several engineering houses, whose remote work wouldnt have been possible before the internet. When asked what he likes about the executive director role, Davison responded, Its the funnest job around. It can be frustrating, but every day is different. Vauthier said what hes learned by working alongside Davison is the importance of building relationships and using resources creatively. It was great being able to shadow him, Vauthier said. Like Davison, Vauthier didnt plan on going into economic development when he graduated from college. Nor did he envision himself becoming an entrepreneur. Nonetheless, after graduating with a degree in web development from the International Academy of Design in Seattle, Vauthier co-founded a web-based marketing and advertising firm in Anaconda with a high school buddy. Vauthiers transition into economic development began with a handful of volunteer activities and contract work with the ALDC, which led him to become increasingly immersed in the organization. In 2012, he started serving as the board chair of the organizations Accelerate Anaconda group, and around six years ago he became a member of the ALDCs board, eventually serving as the board chair. During that time he also became involved with the ALDCs popup shop initiative, which helped small businesses many of them home-based businesses attain short-term leases at various locations throughout downtown Anaconda. With the help of scholarships from the Montana Economic Developers Association and the ALDC, Vauthier has completed coursework with the International Economic Development Council, which provides professional certificates in the field of economic development. Today, he continues to work in web-development through his company Tea & Lemonad Digital Solutions. When asked about his vision for the ALDC, Vauthier said hed like to help prospective employers move forward with their projects with greater ease, reducing the time and headache it takes to get something new off the ground. Secondly, hed like to concentrate on community development and quality-of-life issues. Its one thing to create incentives for new businesses, he said, but its another to create an environment in which residents, company leaders and their employees want to live. Last but not least, Vauthier said he wants to improve Anacondas online presence with digital marketing and stronger websites, seeing to it that more positive messages about Anaconda are out there in the ether. When asked what he thinks Vauthier will bring to the table in his new role, Davison noted the Anaconda natives experience in economic development and knowledge of Superfund and digital media. Lastly, he said Vauthier is committed to the community and has fire in the belly. As for Vauthier, he said he applied for the job because of his positive experience with the ALDC. I got really passionate about the work that we were doing . Its really exciting when you know that you played some kind of role in helping a business expand or stay open, or you helped create another piece of (revitalized) downtown that helps this community become more liveable, said Vauthier. I feel like this is a perfect fit, he added. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. On top of approving the estimated $1.9 million addition to Kennedy Elementary School during Monday nights meeting, the Butte school board also approved the public school districts contract with the Butte Teachers Union, and voted to push Butte High School graduation at least a day earlier to account for the 2020 primary elections next year. Toward the end of the May 20 school board agenda, Sally Hollis, Butte-Silver Bow Countys clerk and recorder, was invited to speak to trustees about her proposal to move Butte Highs graduation at least one day earlier next year. Traditionally, Butte High School holds its graduation ceremony in the Civic Center on a Thursday night in late May. But on Monday, Hollis asked trustees to move it to Wednesday night next year, as the 2020 primary elections for Montana are tentatively set for June 2, 2020. Hollis explained to the school board that the Thursday before these Montana primaries, which fall on a Tuesday, is when she would want to start getting the Civic Center ready for the elections. Her ability to prep for the primaries early is a result of a bill passed in the recent Montana legislature that allows election administrators to start processing absentee and mail-in ballots before Election Day, Hollis said. But that last Thursday in May is also when Butte High School was planning to have its 2020 graduation, which would keep Hollis from being able to start her election preparations. We want to be able to start processing ballots Friday through Tuesday, Hollis said. Please take this into consideration and move graduation one day earlier. It would be much appreciated. After Hollis spoke, the trustees talked about the date change. Superintendent Judy Jonart noted that the district would incorporate the new graduation date into a 2019-20 school year calendar that would be presented to the school board in June. We need to remember, next year is a major election year, Chairperson Ann Boston said to trustees. I think we need to go ahead and approve this because its the law, it supports Butte-Silver Bow County and we can accommodate our seniors. And with that, the school board approved to move the 2020 high school graduation. The board also voted to approve the new labor contract between the Butte Teachers Union and Butte School District No. 1 without discussion. For about a month, union and district representatives met numerous times in the Butte School District No. 1 administration building to discuss the new terms of their next 2-year contract. After back and forth discussion over issues like teachers salaries and benefits, both sides reached agreement and the BTU ratified the contract on April 29, with 96% of teachers voting for the contract and 4 percent voting against. As outlined by the union, the major changes negotiated into the agreement included a 3% salary increase for the 2019-20 school year and 2% increase for the 2020-21 school year; the potential for separate high school and middle school calendars; 11% increase in pay for Drivers education teachers; and new teachers to Butte school district will have to have a Masters degree in Education or an endorsable area to qualify for the Masters level pay on the salary scale. According to Therese McClafferty, human resources director for the school district, she and other district officials try to communicate with teachers union representatives about both sides questions and concerns on a consistent basis to make this re-negotiation process as smooth as possible. McClafferty feels both groups strive to always discuss school-related topics with openness and sincerity, and to do whats best for the districts students. The district and the union have always had a good working relationship, McClafferty said. We always maintain our district strategic plan focus during negotiations, and that is that every decision is based on the students. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. The Environmental Protection Agency said it will seek the $50,000 Restore Our Creek Coalition wants to hire an engineering firm to determine if a fully restored creek would be feasible from Texas Avenue to George Street at the confluence. The EPA asked Restore Our Creek Coalition to meet privately Tuesday afternoon at the Chamber of Commerce meeting room to discuss the latest letter the consent-decree negotiators sent back to Restore Our Creek. The negotiators include the county, Atlantic Richfield Company, the state and EPA. The negotiators hope to have a signed consent decree by August 12. A signed consent decree will put Atlantic Richfield back to work on finishing the cleanup on the Butte Hill. Letters have recently gone back and forth between the coalition and the consent decree negotiators over the coalitions asks the group made last fall. The earlier response letter the coalition received created consternation for members of the group. Joe Vranka, EPA Montana Superfund chief, said Tuesday that the agency was surprised at the coalitions response to the earlier letter which said Atlantic Richfield Company would provide money through a Butte settlement with the Department of Environmental Quality to partially fund building a future restored creek. But what the coalition didnt get previously was a promise for money to fund what the coalition calls a feasibility study to determine if a creek would even be possible from Texas Avenue to George Street. The coalition estimates the cost of the study would be about $50,000. The letter emailed this week from EPAs office said that Atlantic Richfield could not fund a feasibility study because there are private landowner issues, plus the question of where the water would come from and other issues that would need to be resolved before a feasibility study could be done. At the start of the meeting some of the Restore Our Creek members and Vranka could not even agree on the term feasibility study and what it meant as tempers flared. To say were seriously disappointed with the response would be a minimal statement, said Evan Barrett, a Restore Our Creek member. But by the end of the two-and-a-half hour meeting, EPA said it would go back to Atlantic Richfield to ask the company if it would provide the $50,000 so the coalition could get the study it wants. EPA also said that if Atlantic Richfield refuses, the agency can try to explore other venues such as a federal grants program to see if the money can found that way. Theres one major thing ROCC needs from the consent decree parties and that is a feasibility study, Nikia Greene, Butte Hill Superfund project manager, said. Were open to looking at venues to fund a feasibility study. The EPA also emailed letters to the congressional leaders, Democrat Sen. Jon Tester and Republicans Sen. Steve Daines and Congressman Greg Gianforte. All three emailed letters earlier this month in support of Restore Our Creek. The letters listed ways in which the negotiators have worked with the public and ticked off commitments such as the Butte settlement, the proposed park amenities for the future of Butte and fishing amenities DEQ plans along a reconstructed Blacktail Creek. The letters to the congressional leadership also said the term lined water feature, was not meant to be interpreted as substantively different from the lined creek, Restore Our Creek advocates for. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 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. For the second time in the past year, there was heated opposition at a public meeting to a Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks plan to build a fish barrier on French Creek, near Wise River, to clear 40 miles of streams with poison and to reintroduce native species to the drainage. The most recent opposition came Thursday night in a crowded room at Butte's Copper King Hotel, where a contingent of seven FWP officials gathered with a number of landowners, anglers, contractors, and other stakeholders ostensibly to discuss a recently issued document entitled "Supplemental Analysis for the Restoration of Westslope Cutthroat Trout and Arctic Grayling to French Creek." In response to the continued opposition, agency officials said Friday that the public comment timeline, set to end April 30, would be extended but said they did not yet know for how long. At the Thursday meeting, after a pair of PowerPoint presentations on technical aspects of the fish barrier's engineering and on analysis of how the barrier would perform in the event of a catastrophic flood, the discussion quickly turned back to much-bigger-picture issues with the project. Sandy Gordon, who lives in the house about 1,000 feet from the proposed barrier site, began the question-and-answer portion of the meeting by asking, "Since a geotechnical study was never done for the barrier and was signed off on to start the construction, who will be responsible for endangering the lives and safety of my family and grandchildren? Also, who will be responsible if the barrier fails and contaminates our wells?" After Gordon asked other questions about how rotenone the fish poison being proposed for use in the project might harm the Big Hole water supply as well as the animals and humans who rely on it, an engineer from Pioneer Technical discussed the structural integrity of the barrier that he has helped design, a lawyer for FWP gave an "attorney's answer" on the question of responsibility, and FWP's habitat bureau chief discussed the scientific evidence of rotenone's safety. Over the next couple of hours, the meeting proceeded along similar lines, with people opposed to the project questioning its safety, the agency's motivations, and the fairness of the public process while various agency specialists defended the science and engineering behind the process and explained the benefits of completing the project. FWP has been planning native fish restoration since at least 2009 and has been formally seeking public input on the proposal since 2013. In 2016, the agency produced an environmental analysis of the project and put it out for public comment. When that analysis received only two public comments, FWP extended the comment period. But in June 2016, the agency issued a decision, which notified the public that FWP planned to proceed with the plan. Under normal agency processes, that decision notice should have settled the question of whether the barrier would be built and whether existing fish would be killed and westslope cutthroat, Arctic grayling, and other native aquatic species restored to the fishery. But last year, as a growing number of Wise River-area residents caught wind of the plan, opposition to it grew. That opposition culminated in an August meeting at the Wise River community building, where a crowd of some 70 people had a contentious exchange with agency officials over the plan. Then, in September, the only two bids for building the barrier came in over budget, preventing construction from proceeding immediately. In response, Butte-based FWP biologist Jim Olsen and his colleagues collected more information, performed additional study, produced the supplemental analysis being discussed this Thursday night, and reopened the comment period as of March 30. While the supplemental analysis did not recommend many changes to the original plan for French Creek, it did respond to a number of public comments on a range of issues, many of which were raised at the August meeting in Wise River. The new analysis also sought to explain why the project is important, why French Creek is an appealing site for native fish restoration, why the naturally occurring substance rotenone will be used to poison non-native fish, and why the original proposed location for the fish barrier remains the best site for it despite consideration of alternative barrier locations. But as Thursday's meeting wore on, it became clear that many in the audience still felt as though their concerns about the project had not been addressed, even as some expressed support for the agency's work. These lingering concerns led FWP fisheries administrator Eileen Ryce to suggest the agency could accommodate requests for more time to provide input and express concerns about the project by extending the latest comment period which was set to end April 30 by another 30 days. On Friday, FWP officials confirmed that the public comment time would be extended for an as-yet-undetermined period. Thursday, the agency urged meeting attendees to submit their comment at the meeting itself, either in writing or aloud. As people did so, it became clear that there was more than just opposition to the project, with some expressing strong support and others ambivalence. Dave McKernn rose in favor of the project: "I'm a fisherman. I really appreciate what Fish, Wildlife & Parks is trying to do by restoring the native trout. And I really looking forward to catching those in that basin and also in the Big Hole." Steve Luebeck seconded the sentiment: "I think projects like this, that reintroduce cutthroat and grayling, frankly to this system, are important to do, and I support it. Keep in mind that we have lots of projects on the Big Hole River for grayling. All of them involve some degree of sacrifice for ranchers and landowners. I understand the sacrifice landowners are asked to make with a project like this, but you're part of a community, and you're part of a community that's given sacrifice the last 25 years, and I applaud that. I applaud that people are willing to step up to the plate and do what it takes to recover sensitive fish. If grayling gets on the endangered species list, it could change life for everybody on the Big Hole." Lewis Pesanti, however, was among those who was "strongly opposed" to the project. Pesanti explained that he is the father of three teenage boys who recreate often up French Creek: "Unfortunately, we have one of the boys that is very severely handicapped and very, very sick. This is one of the places to him, it's not home, but it's one of the next closest things. He's very, very fragile. I assure you that he will not be in those waters again if this (project) goes on, because of that (the use of rotenone). So I don't think that you guys will be able to explain to that young man why he's not going to be able to recreate at French Creek anymore, and I don't think I will be able to either. So I ask you to consider that, 'cause it's a very special place in our hearts and to him, and I'm not going to take the chance with him in those waters." When the comment period ends either on April 30 or late next month the decision about whether to proceed with the project will likely be made by FWP Region 3 Supervisor Mark Deleray, who was in attendance at Thursday's meeting. However, Deleray suggested that due to the controversy the project has elicited, the agency's director, Martha Williams, may make the final call. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. At a time of what paradoxically appears to be some real trust-building for the Environmental Protection Agency in Butte and Anaconda as well as big ethics issues for the agency's top boss, a high-level EPA official with a blot on his own record came to town last week and seems to have won some hearts. Who is EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt's senior advisor Albert "Kell" Kelly? A former banker and a trusted friend of Pruitt's, Kelly is, like Pruitt himself, an Oklahoman. Married with four children and six grandchildren, Kelly is a lawyer and former banker. But he's a banker with a past and he represents Pruitt, who is facing mounting ethics accusations in Washington D.C. Despite all that, many Superfund critics in both Butte and Anaconda were heartened that he showed up as well as impressed with his message. Photos: Crowd turns out in Butte to air concerns with EPA officials Several members of the Butte Superfund community expressed their dismay to Environmental Protection Agency officials at a community meeting We Anaconda community leader Jim Davison previously told The Montana Standard that the last time he could recall a top EPA official setting foot in Anaconda was during the early years of the George W. Bush administration. Long-time Butte Superfund watchdog Fritz Daily said that for Butte, it goes back longer than that. He said a top EPA official hasn't visited the Mining City since the Bill Clinton administration. The two towns' Superfund sites comprise the largest Superfund complex in the nation. Gratitude for Kelly's attention, which appears to imply Pruitt's, seems to have tempered even some of the EPA's most vociferous critics in Butte and Anaconda, both cities saddled with 35 years of being on the National Priority List. Meanwhile, just as Pruitt's trust with the American public appears to be significantly eroding, his appointee Doug Benevento, Region 8 administrator, appears to be enjoying a singular degree of trust from conservatives and liberals alike in the area. Daily, an former Democratic legislator, told the Standard Friday he's "not a Pruitt guy" but believes both Kelly and Benevento are "sincere." "I believe they care and they want to make things better," Daily said. Conservative community leader Mick Ringsak, who was appointed by George W. Bush in 2000 as a regional director of the Small Business Administration, said that Benevento's popularity in Butte despite Pruitt's long list of alleged ethics violations "doesn't sound ironic at all." Ringsak calls Benevento "truly heartfelt" and only had good things to say about Kelly. "I think he's sincere," Ringsak said. "He has the administration's ear. There's an extremely strong personal connection there. When you're talking to Kelly, you're talking to Pruitt." The word "sincere" came up a lot in Kelly's wake. While community activist Sister Mary Jo McDonald said she has some reservations about Kelly, she, too, said, "I thought he was sincere." Pruitt under fire Pruitt has a mere 29-percent approval rating due to his growing list of alleged ethics violations, according to a poll released Thursday by the left-leaning Public Policy Polling. Kelly is also no stranger to ethical issues. Voluble, direct, and engaging in his manner, Kelly told The Montana Standard last week during an interview at the Standard's office that he was "very glad" the Standard "brought this up." "I get this tagline, 'banker banned for life,'" he said. He addressed his problems with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. publicly for the first time while talking to the Standard last week. The FDIC banned Kelly for life from banking last year just a few months after he accepted his appointment with the EPA. Pruitt has said he knew his old friend and former banker was under fire with the FDIC at the time of his hire. The EPA has also said Kelly disclosed the trouble he was in to the agency before he came on board. According to the consent decree between Kelly and the FDIC, the former banker neither admitted nor denied the agency's allegation but agreed to pay a fine of $125,000. Kelly's bank, SpiritBank of Tulsa, made several loans to Pruitt over the years. "There are no questionable loans by my bank to the administrator. If you go back and look at any loans to the administrator, without going into his privacy, they were very solid," Kelly told The Montana Standard last week. "They were done in a very positive way and were paid off." His problem with the FDIC involved a completely different transaction, he said. "My problem with the FDIC emanated from one singular transaction in 2010. They didn't like it. The bank didn't lose any money. The bank made money. There was nothing untoward about it," Kelly said. Kelly ran SpiritBank of Tulsa for 34 years. He went on to explain what happened. "I ran out of money to oppose it (the FDIC's charge). When you run out of money, you have to take the best settlement you can. You can litigate against the federal government for a long time. There are two sides to the story, and mine rarely gets out there," Kelly said. Butte crowd turns out to express Superfund and health concerns with EPA officials Butte residents peppered some of the Environmental Protection Agencys top brass Wednesday over health and other Superfund concerns at a meeti Why the FDIC "didn't like it" Kelly didn't say. But the consent decree, signed by Kelly last summer, said the FDIC "has reason to believe that (Kelly) violated a law or regulation, by entering into an agreement pertaining to a loan by the bank without FDIC approval." The consent decree does not state when the alleged questionable transaction took place. As for Pruitt, according to last week's poll, the many allegations of ethics violations against him from his first-class airline travel to his taxpayer-funded security detail have raised "very serious concerns" with 49 percent of those polled. Kelly called the allegations against Pruitt "insulting and inane." "It's like putting your life under a microscope," he said. "We were accused of a $70,000 bulletproof desk, but we got the desk from GSA (Government Services Administration) surplus." According to various news sources, the EPA made requests under Pruitt's leadership for a $100,000-per-month private jet membership and $70,000 for furniture that included a bulletproof desk for an armed security guard. The requests were denied. Also controversial were raises the EPA gave to two staffers even after the White House denied the pay increases. Kelly, who makes $171,000 a year, said he has not received any raises in the time he's been at the EPA. He also said the raises were not Pruitt's fault but the fault of the EPA's chief of staff, Ryan Jackson. Jackson told media earlier this week that he was to blame for the raises. But also last week, national media outlets reported that an internal email shows Pruitt did have prior knowledge of the questionable raises, which he had denied. Critics have also questioned Pruitt's air travel, including EPA staff allegedly working to find ways to fly Pruitt home to Oklahoma on weekends on the taxpayer dime. Apparently referring to the $100,000-per-month private jet membership, Kelly told The Montana Standard, "It's tantamount to you saying, 'Wouldn't it be great not to have to go through commercial air?' Nothing came of that. I don't know if someone may have said it, but nothing came of it. Why is that a story?" he asked rhetorically. "It's not even close to the truth." Trump has so far maintained support for Pruitt. More than any of Trump's other cabinet members, Pruitt is viewed by conservatives as having followed through on campaign promises by working to reduce regulation at the agency. But the Inspector General is investigating the raises as well as some of Pruitt's other alleged violations. "A number of things (in the press about Pruitt) are not accurate," Kelly insisted. He suggested sources in opposition are using the press to spread "negativity" about his old friend. Kelly shrugged off the frequent criticism that Pruitt is too friendly with big oil. "I'm sure coming from Oklahoma, he knows a lot of people in the oil business," he said. Resources Since Benevento took his place as the top dog of the region six months ago, he has been delivering much welcome news to Anaconda and Butte. Both have been looking at the EPA through the long lens of 35 years with a federal agency that critics say has been at best out of touch with the residents the cleanup impacts. Benevento's many fans in Butte say he has brought forward energy, humility, a can-do spirit, and a willingness to listen. Some critics say he demonstrates what has been missing from EPA leadership in the past he is a true public servant. But most of all, he has delivered. With remarkable swiftness, Benevento has done what no one else within the EPA has been able to do before him: get an agreement with responsible party Atlantic Richfield Company for a deal that is now expected to bring closure to Butte's Superfund site. Benevento announced during last week's visit that parts of Anaconda's Superfund site would begin delisting this year and the entire site would be removed from the National Priority List by 2025. Benevento said the move would lift the "stigma of Superfund" that Anaconda has suffered under for 35 years due to nearly 100 years of copper smelter emissions. Benevento told Butte nearly two months ago that the Mining City would begin delisting in 2024. Butte's 35 years as a Superfund site are due to more than 100 years of historical mining and smelting. Even Butte's possibly most vociferous Superfund critic, Montana Tech professor John Ray, said that with Benevento's ascension, he sees reason to hope for a better future. "This ironic notion of 'trust us' from the government has always been treated cynically by me," Ray said Friday. "Who will guard us from the guardians? But there seems to be a new atmosphere of new cooperation and openness." Longtime Anaconda government critic Rose Nyman judged Kelly as "talking the talk" but said of Benevento, "I was more confident with Doug. I felt his remarks were sincere. I think he really wants to end this agony." But what Benevento hasn't yet brought or talked about - are resources. After the Trump administration proposed slashing the EPA's budget by 30 percent including Superfund the recent omnibus spending bill passed by Congress and signed by Trump restored the EPA's budget for 2018 to previous-year levels. Kelly said the EPA will spend the restored 30 percent "And if you give me another 30 percent, I'll spend that too." But whether additional resources will be allocated to Butte and Anaconda during the accelerated work schedule for both cities and only one EPA project manager each to provide oversight to Atlantic Richfield's work has not been addressed. One good sign: Pruitt himself is still planning on visiting Butte in August, Kelly said. When The Montana Standard asked Kelly if he thought there was irony involved in the EPA trying to rebuild trust with Butte and Anaconda at a time when Pruitt is under fire and Kelly has had his own problem, Benevento jumped in to answer the question himself. "Trust us on what we're doing. Trust us on what you see," he said. "I don't not work for the administration," Benevento said. "I work for the administration. We are busting it to try and eliminate that image (of collusion between Atlantic Richfield's parent company BP and the EPA). "This isn't coming because I'm a great guy. It's because I'm getting direction from the top. I'm being told to rebuild trust." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Between next weekend and the end of September, about 4 million visitors will pass through Yellowstone National Park. Most of them will stick close to the 400 miles of paved roads that loop through the 2.2 million acre wonderland of geysers and grizzlies. Is the 137-year-old park ready for this crowd? Not as ready as it should be. Park visitation has grown much faster than park staff to ensure safe, enjoyable visitor experiences while protecting Yellowstone's incomparable landscapes and wildlife. Yellowstone's popularity soared even as the federal budget "sequestration" forced across the board cuts during the Obama administration and in past two years as the Trump administration slashed Interior Department spending on parks. Funding for Yellowstone and the other units of the National Park Service has been lagging behind operational and maintenance needs for decades. As a result, there's now an estimated $12.9 billion in deferred maintenance throughout the system. Together, Yellowstone and neighboring Grand Teton National Park have nearly $1 billion in deferred maintenance needs, Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly told a Cody, Wyo., group last week. Seventy percent of the NPS maintenance backlog involves structures that are more than 60 years old, according to a report published last month by Pew Charitable Trusts. Yellowstone and Teton have many beautiful, historic structures dating to the turn of the 20th century. But they also have urgent needs for updating the sewer and water systems, roads, bridges, campgrounds and trails that serve millions of visitors who drive the regional economy. An extensive visitor survey conducted in the summer of 2016 found that visitors hailed from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 25 foreign countries. About 13% of those completing the survey were international travelers with about half coming from Europe and 34 percent from China. Yellowstone Park needs more staff who can speak the languages of these visitors. The park needs more rangers to educate visitors about wildlife, forests, history and geology. It needs more staff to direct traffic. All these needs are obvious to visitors. In the 2016 survey, lack of parking was the problem visitors cited most frequently, followed by too many people in the park, other visitors acting unsafe around wildlife, traffic congestion on park roads, traffic congestion at park entrances, not enough overnight accommodations and visitors acting unsafe around thermal features. Working in the park requires sacrifices. Park and concessionaire employees often have substandard housing in moldy trailers. NPS is considering proposals from concessionaires to add housing units at Canyon and West Yellowstone as one step toward remedying the housing crunch. "Improving the working and living conditions of the Yellowstone team" is the first strategic priority Sholly listed in an announcement last week. This strategy includes a five-year plan to "substantially improved employee housing" and to "explore new housing partnership opportunities with gateway communities and partners." Building coalitions and partnerships may be Yellowstone's most important future priority. Yellowstone already relies on nonprofit and corporate partners for significant support. For example, the Old Faithful Visitors Center was built several years ago with assistance from the Yellowstone Foundation, a forerunner of Yellowstone Forever, the private, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the park. The renovation of the Roosevelt Arch, rerouting of north entrance traffic and creation of a pedestrian friendly park was a project of federal, state, local and private collaboration. NPS says Yellowstone's partnership strategy aims to: Make the NPS a better partner Ensure alignment with Yellowstone Forever philanthropic goals Build trust with gateway communities Honor tribal legacies and heritage Cultivate relationships with elected officials Strengthen conservation, environmental, economic, and recreation partnerships Build global partnerships Those are big goals. The federal government hasn't demonstrated the will to fund the park at levels that will sustain services, preserve natural resources and meet growing visitor demands. Those of us who love Yellowstone must step up. Those of us whose livelihoods depend on Yellowstone's attraction must invest in this place. Montana and Wyoming citizens must keep advocating for Yellowstone with our congressional delegations. The protection of the Yellowstone Gateway in a new law this year shows that grass roots appeals can work. But we don't expect that citizens will get a major, ongoing boost in federal funding to do all that the park needs. Yellowstone visitation pumped $629 million into neighboring communities in 2017, according to NPS. To keep money flowing from the park, local partners will need to put some money back in. The Billings Gazette Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Butte-Silver Bow commissioners approved a $128-million budget Monday that steers more money to roads, helps fund four additional firefighters, and provides small pay raises for all county employees. The spending plan also raises property taxes, with the bill on a home worth $100,000 increasing $18.56 per year. The increase amounts will be less for houses valued under $100,000 and more for those worth more than that. If commissioners approve a separate measure next month, water rates will go up 10 percent on Oct. 1 and another 10 percent the next year. Over a five-year period, property taxes have gone up little. There was a big drop in fiscal year 2014 more than $38 on a house worth $100,000 and even including this year, the tax bill over that time has increased $1.12. The council approved the plan on a 10-0 voice vote. Commissioners Bill Andersen and Dan Foley were absent. The biggest reason for the tax hike this time is because county officials did not tap into reserves from Buttes industrial taxing district to prop up spending. That left a big revenue hole, since they got $1.3 million from that kitty last year. Budget Director Danette Gleason said every fund within the budget was balanced, meaning none spends more than projected revenues. Chief Executive Dave Palmer got funding for three of five new positions he wanted, failing to win council backing for a new construction superintendent and an accountant for the Parks Division and building manager. But he said Gleason did a great job crafting the plan and making sure it was balanced, and overall, I think it worked out very well. Butte-Silver Bow employees get a 1.5-percent pay raise and $30 more toward health insurance. But those in the countys self-funded health plan will see premiums jump significantly once again, this time by 13.5 percent a $170-per-month increase on average, or $140 counting the $30 offset. But not everything is going up. There are no increases in sewer rates or fees for storm water, street maintenance, or the landfill. And even though a proposal to revamp street fees was put on hold, there will be more money for roads the top funding priority among county residents year after year, based on surveys. Higher gasoline taxes enacted by Montana lawmakers will generate about $240,000 in new road funding for Butte-Silver Bow this year with a county match of only $12,000. And the county didnt spend all of its own road money last year, meaning some rolls over for this year. The budget is retroactive to July 1, the start of the countys fiscal year, and runs through June 30, 2018. The property tax increases will be reflected first on November bills, with the second half payable in May. There are a few other reasons for the tax increases, including new operation and maintenance costs for the waterpark expected to open next May. A federal grant will pay 75 percent of costs this year for hiring four additional firefighters, with the county match increasing taxes slightly. Fire officials say it will add a firefighter to every shift and enhance public safety. The budget could spend up to $128 million, but that is from all revenue sources, including federal and state money, bills people pay for their water and sewer services, and private donations. Projects and their possible spending amounts this year include the waterpark at $6.3 million and Uptown parking garage at $4.5 million. The parking garage is expected to open in December, the waterpark by May 2018. The plan creates three new county employee positions, but because of budgetary moves or outside funding, they should not cost taxpayers more money. The positions are arborist, taxing-district accountant, and part-time Superfund coordinator. The budget will increase the allotment given to the YMCA from $40,000 to $42,000 and the contract with Action Inc., a non-profit social services agency, from $152,000 to $172,000. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An Indianapolis, Indiana man was sentenced Friday to 96 months eight years in federal prison in connection with five pharmacy robberies Davenport, Iowa City and Des Moines. Rontel Nijae Mial, 19, also was ordered by U.S. District Court Chief Judge John A. Jarvey to serve three years of supervised release when he completes his prison sentence and pay a $100 special assessment per count to the Crime Victim's Fund in 2017. There is no parole in the federal system. He pleaded guilty on Sept. 12 to five counts of robbery in U.S. District Court, Davenport. According to court documents, on Dec. 16, 2017, Mial traveled from Indiana to a Walgreens store in Davenport with the intent to rob the pharmacy. Just after midnight, Mial displayed a handgun at the pharmacy counter, and demanded controlled substances, which included oxycontin and oxycodone. He made a getaway in a vehicle driven by David Andrew Nathaniel Madden, 21. A GPS tracker device was included in one of the stolen pill bottles and Davenport police officers were dispatched to the GPS tracker devices location. MUSCATINE A recent addition to the long list of Democratic Presidential hopefuls believes the course of the nation should be to go big, be bold, and do good. California Congressman and Iowa native Eric Swalwell, who just last month officially declared his candidacy, brought that message to an audience of about two dozen attendees Monday afternoon at the Black Pearl restaurant in downtown Muscatine. Swalwell, 38, was born in Sac City, Iowa, and now lives in Dublin, Calif. He told the audience his Republican parents left Iowa after his father was fired as the Algona Police Chief for not dismissing parking tickets that had been issued to highly placed community members. "Here I am on the House Judiciary Committee, running for president of the United States, making the case that nobody is above the law," he said. "The President tells us over and over that the stock market is at an all-time high and the GDP (gross national product) continues to grow. Those may be the only true two things in a row he has told." Swalwell was a prosecutor for seven years and a city council member before being elected to Congress seven years ago. INDEPENDENCE Sentencing for reality TV star Chris Soules in the April 2017 crash that killed an Aurora farmer Kenneth Mosher will have to wait for another day. Soules, a 36-year-old rural Arlington resident who appeared on ABC's "The Bachelor" and "Dancing with the Stars," had been scheduled for sentencing on Tuesday. But the defense successfully argued against victim impact statements that had been a cornerstone of a pre-sentence report that was prepared by corrections officials. And because the state had agreed to follow the recommendations in the report, Judge Andrea Dryer agreed with the defense to strike the report and order a new one. Sentencing was delayed to another day. The defense had argued that the written victim statements that were part of the report shouldn't have been allowed because Soules was charged with leaving the scene which happened after the crash and not charged with causing the collision. Because the charge had nothing to do with the cause of the crash, Mosher's family can't be considered victims under Iowa Code. Wireless operators in Asia have begun to drop Huawei mobile phones after the U.S. put the Chinese telecom-gear giant on a blacklist blocking it from buying vital American components. NTT Docomo Inc., Japans largest operator, said Wednesday it stopped taking pre-orders for Huaweis new P30 handset, while its rival KDDI Corp. said it would indefinitely delay introduction of the phone, without elaborating. SoftBank Corp.s YMobile announced a similar move, saying it is looking into concerns over the availability of software updates. Taiwanese carrier Chunghwa Telecom Co. said it wont procure new Huawei models. The moves are a fresh blow for Huawei Technologies Co., the company thats been accused by the U.S. of aiding China in espionage. A supply ban imposed by the Trump administration threatens to cut off Huawei from crucial U.S. software and semiconductors it needs to make its products. The restrictions also spill over to the Android operating system, hitting the manufacturer that recently surpassed Apple Inc. as the worlds second-largest maker of smartphones. A Huawei representative declined to comment. Docomo, KDDI and YMobile didnt say whether they would halt service or sales of all Huawei products. Flex Ltd., a U.S.-based supplier, said Wednesday that it has stopped shipments to the Shenzhen-based manufacturer until further notice. We continue to take this situation very seriously, it said in its statement, adding Flex will ensure it remains in compliance with U.S. and other applicable trade laws. As for smartphones, the most urgent concern among users of Huawei handsets is related to Android, the most popular mobile operating system, a product of Google. A spokesman for the Mountain View, California-based company said the technology giant will continue to provide software updates and security patches to existing Huawei models for the next 90 days. While we are complying with all US government requirements, services like Google Play and security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning on your existing Huawei device, Googles Android unit wrote on Twitter. Some owners of Huawei phones around the world took to social media to express concern about whether the cut-off of suppliers would affect their handsets. Assuring Customers Im very worried. Im the owner of a P30 Pro which I bought a month ago, Ania K from Poland wrote on Twitter. I dont know if I will have any updates any more. Huaweis marketing team used social media on Tuesday assure customers their phones would continue to be safe and usable. Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products covering those which have been sold or still in stock globally, the company wrote on Twitter to fans in Nigeria. In Japan, SoftBank is looking into how customers would be affected by the introduction of a Huawei handset, including whether the Android software it runs on will be updated, Maiko Tsuji, a spokeswoman for the company, said by phone. Taipei-based carrier Chunghwa Telecom said it will continue to sell products it offers from Huawei, despite its halt in procurement, according to the statement Wednesday. The 2019 MyBroadband Cloud Conference and Expo will be hosted on 6 June 2019 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Gauteng. The event will showcase the latest products and services from South Africas premier cloud, hosting, data centre, and cloud telecoms providers. All delegates will also receive a voucher booklet with special deals and promotions on cloud and hosting products and services for their business. Excellent speakers Radio 702s Aki Anastasiou will serve as emcee for the conference, and he will share the stage with South Africas top cloud and hosting experts. Liquid Telecom CEO Reshaad Sha will deliver the keynote address, followed by Connection Telecom MD David Meintjes, and Microsoft Axizs Kevin George. Delegates will also hear from Teraco CFO Jan Hnizdo, VMWares Dave Funnell, Google Cloud specialist Brett StClair, and Schneider Electrics Derek Friend. In addition to this, the conference will feature discussions about moving your business to the cloud, involving experts from SAP, Oracle, and Mimecast. Register now MyBroadband readers can register for the conference at a big discount using the voucher code below. Promotional Code: MyBroadbandCloud2019 Please note that only 47 tickets are still available at this discounted rate, after which the standard rate will apply. 2019 Cloud Conference and Expo Sponsors Uber Eats has launched a Pick-Up service for users in Johannesburg. From today, users can order food through Uber Eats and then pick up their meal from the restaurant. Just under 400 restaurants including KFCs, Krispy Kreme, and ColCacchios are available for Pick-Up requests. The price of the meals in app remain the same, and there is no charge to pick up a meal. Ailyssa Pretorius, General Manager for Uber Eats South Africa, said they want to support the growth of the restaurant industry in South Africa. Thats why were launching a new service to help bricks and mortar restaurants grow their business, while providing users with a quick and convenient way to access food on-the-go, said Pretorius. Although this is primarily a test and learn opportunity, we look forward to receiving feedback from customers before optimising and expanding further. Uber launched Pick-Up services in several US cities at the start of 2019, while the Pick-Up offering is also available in Paris and London. Now read: Uber tests PIN feature to speed up airport rides Millions of Huawei smartphone owners around the world are suddenly interested in the trade war between China and the U.S. A recent ban by U.S. President Donald Trump means many U.S. companies cant work with the Chinese technology giant. On Monday, there was a 90-day reprieve. But after that, Huawei phones wont get the same access to Google software updates as most other major handsets that use the U.S. companys Android operating system. Huawei phones arent that popular in the U.S., but they are widely used almost everywhere else. For millions, the devices are cheap-but-quality alternatives to the $1,000 phones Americas hardware champion Apple Inc. peddles. Inside China, Huawei devices wont be affected. But nearly half of these handsets are sold outside that country, according to Counterpoint Research. Im very worried. Im the owner of a P30 Pro which I bought a month ago, Ania K from Poland wrote on Twitter. I dont know if I will have any updates any more. Many people are very worried about that too. A Google spokesman said the company will continue to provide software updates and security patches to existing Huawei models for the next 90 days. While we are complying with all US govt requirements, services like Google Play & security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning on your existing Huawei device, Googles Android unit wrote on Twitter. All Huawei phones developed and certified by Google before May 16 will still get access to Googles Play app store and other pre-loaded apps and services from the internet giant. Updates from Google will continue because these are transactions between Google and end users, not Google and Huawei. However, Google wont be allowed to work with Huawei on software bugs and other technical fixes for Googles version of Android going forward. Instead, the Chinese company will have to do this on its own, using the open-source version of Android. For new Huawei phones beyond May 16, there will be no Google support because that would require a new transaction between Google and the Chinese company. Huawei Technologies Co.s marketing team was enacting a full-court press on social media on Tuesday, assuring customers their phones would continue to be safe and usable. Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products covering those which have been sold or still in stock globally, the company wrote on Twitter to fans in Nigeria. Some Huawei customers asked on social media if they could return their handsets. Others said they would stick with the company and encouraged it to keep fighting what they saw as an attack on a foreign company by President Trump. You can do it, Huawei. You didnt come all the way to the top to get beaten for nothing, Boon Leo, a Huawei user from Malaysia wrote on the companys Facebook page. Huawei is working on its own mobile operation system and will consider rivals to Googles Android. Not letting go of your phones so you better come up with your own softwares and OS. Asap, wrote another user from Kenya on Twitter. Huawei Technologies Co. said its working on its own operating system for its mobile handsets and will consider rivals to Googles Android, after the U.S. blacklisted the company, threatening its partnerships with chip, component and software suppliers. The Chinese telecom equipment giant said Tuesday it was in talks with the Alphabet Inc. unit about how to proceed after Google confirmed it would cut access to some of Huaweis operating system features for the companys new devices in response to the announcement. Should Googles system no longer be available, then the alternative option will naturally come out either from Huawei or someone else, Abraham Liu, Huaweis representative to the European Union institutions, said at an event in Brussels on Tuesday. Liu said Huawei had been working on its own operating system but that he didnt have the details about when this would be ready. Huawei would do everything in its power to mitigate the impact of the U.S. decisions, Liu said. The Trump administration late last week signed an order that could restrict Huawei which it says is obliged to support Beijing spying from selling equipment in the U.S. Washington also put Huawei on a blacklist, threatening its supply of American components from semiconductors to the Google apps that run on its smartphones. Obviously there is a challenge here, said Liu. I hope that very soon that the leaders from my consumer business group will be able to share with you our new strategy based on the new situation. Android continues to power Huaweis smartphones globally, and the Chinese company depends on Googles most popular apps to win mobile phone shoppers. Huawei phones outside China have used a version of Android that comes with a package of Google services, including search, Maps, YouTube and crucially the Play store for downloading a range of apps. There are few major alternatives to Android, the dominant operating system for smartphones. Blackberry shut down its OS in 2016, Microsoft Corp. has all but ended support for its Windows Phone system, and Samsung Electronics Co.s Tizen is used for the companys smartwatches. The U.S. Department of Commerce on Monday granted a 90-day relief for certain U.S. broadband companies and wireless customers using Huawei equipment. For Huawei phone users, the temporary reprieve means Google will be able to provide key Android security updates during the 90-day time frame, but future Huawei phones will still lack Googles apps. For existing models already in market there is no major impact, Liu said of Huawei devices running on Googles Android. For the future one, both teams are still working together to figure out what to do. Bloomberg reported late Monday that Huawei has been pitching app makers and European carriers in a bid to develop and spread its own mobile app store in Europe. The companys proprietary app store would have been an important feature of Huaweis own operating system, which it said last year it had started to build. That faces uncertainty now that U.S. companies may be restricted from contributing to it. Huawei is said to have stockpiled enough chips and other vital components to keep its business running for at least three months. Its been preparing for such an eventuality since at least the middle of 2018, hoarding components while designing its own chips, people familiar with the matter said. Liu said Tuesday that while there might be some minor impact of some components or parts, I can assure that the leading, advanced solutions has been safeguarded by our own back-up plan. Linda McClure said one of the things she enjoys about her job is that she is constantly learning something new. Medical insurance is ever-evolving, said McClure. McClure is the controller the numbers lady at Ag Health Benefits Alliance. The Alliance in St. Helena has been providing affordable health insurance and other benefits to agricultural employees in Northern California since its founding as the California Winegrower Foundation in 1972. McClure has been with the organization for 43 years almost as long as the Alliance has existed. 1. What was your first job? Convalescent home, St. Helena. 2. How did you get into the benefits industry? My career began while I was a senior in high school. A relative was working at California Winegrower Foundation and the rest is history. I started out as a part-time clerk, was a receptionist, processed medical claims, distributed vacation checks, did bookkeeping and now I have been controller since 2016. 3. How are employers dealing with rising health care costs? Employers have to ask the employee to contribute a portion of the monthly premium. An employer cant take the full brunt of it all. 4. Whats something that people are surprised to find out about the Alliance? People dont realize we are local and people can walk in and ask us a question at the drop of a hat. Its not like you get on the phone with an 800 number. But we (do) have an 800 number. 5. Whats new with your business? After operating for more than 40 years as California Grower Foundation, we were often confused with other similarly named organizations and foundations. We decided a new name was needed to better describe the work we do and the audience we serve. We created and introduced our new (name) effective January 2019: Ag Health Benefits Alliance. 6. What is the biggest challenge your industry has faced? Employer-sponsored health care is expensive and the rules affect employers in different ways, depending on the number of people they employ. 7. Who do you most admire in the business world? Lee Henderson, my former boss and friend, led California Grower Foundation from the mid-70s until her retirement in 2006. Rebecca Barlow, our executive director, has also helped the organization thrive under her leadership, providing financial security and peace of mind to thousands of workers who serve our community. It is a real privilege to be a part of this legacy. 8. If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be? Simplify (or better yet, eliminate) the cumbersome and overly-complicated employer-mandated reporting requirements. 9. Whats something people might be surprised to know about you? How long I have been at California Winegrower Foundation/Ag Health Benefits Alliance. And my love for tent camping. 10. Whats your favorite place to tent camp? Casini Ranch in Duncans Mills. Weve been going there for the last 23 years. McClure can be reached at 707-963-7191 or lmcclure@aghealthbenefits.org. Her office is located at 176 Main St. #C in St. Helena. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Q: I applied for two jobs this year: professor at a well-known university and executive director of a foundation. For both jobs, I went through multiple rounds of interviews, my references were contacted and then . . . nothing. My follow-up emails went unanswered. The university sent me a form email about three months later. Is it common these days even for finalists for high-level positions to be ghosted by employers? A: From what I see in my inbox, this lapse by employers is common in two senses of the word: frequent and rude. The executive managing editor of Business Insider stirred up a kerfuffle this year with a column arguing against hiring interviewees who fail to send thank you notes. Interestingly, in a follow-up column, the author admitted her own employer is less than consistent about sending thank yous or even notifying candidates when a decision has been made. At a minimum, employers that get swamped with applications should be able to manage an automated We have received your application. Bonus points for giving a time-frame on when successful applicants can expect to hear back. Regardless, if an employer has the resources to track down select candidates and schedule in-person meetings with them, it certainly has the resources to track down those same candidates and notify them when it has made its decision. Case in point: Q: I am a recruiter for nonprofits. What is the best and most polite way to deliver bad news to candidates? If I send an email, candidates can take their time to read and process the bad news. Or should I call the candidate so I can deliver the bad news in person and offer feedback if requested? A: Besides allowing candidates to process bad news in private, email would spare you potential in-the-moment backlash. And you can always invite them to call you if they want feedback. But why not ask candidates what their preferred contact method is? Q: I am applying to large companies with online application processes. One company I have been applying to regularly only sends me automated thanks, but no thanks emailseven when my skill set checked every box in the job description and I included a solid cover letter. The company does not publish any direct phone numbers, so I could not follow up. Could I have been filtered out by software? Additionally, is it common practice for companies to post a public job description as a formality, even if they already have an internal candidate lined up? A: Its possible the employer is advertising unavailable positions publicly as a formality or even as a way to check the temperature of the current talent pool. You cant do much to overcome that, but you can take steps to boost your profile as a candidate. First, double-check what youre submitting to ensure youre using keywords that match the job description. Meanwhile, work on building a presence for yourself on LinkedIn and at industry networking events; personal connections beat blind applications every time. Two years ago, Dan Dawson sold one of Napas highest-end wine merchants, Back Room Wines. Starting in 2001, he had built up the business from a tiny hidden location on Franklin Street, moving in 2008 to a more than 2,200 square-foot-store on First and Main streets that had wine sales, a tasting area and racks of locally rare-to-find producers. More than a place to buy wine, Back Room Wines became a hangout for winemakers and industry professionals to come and learn about the newest and finest examples of wine from the area and around the globe. Dawson had become a trusted voice, leading his dedicated customers toward wines of quality, often at low prices. Now, without a storefront, Dawson has embarked on a new journey a personal wine adviser/educator, which seems a blending of equal parts expertise and experiment. Dan Dawson Before Back Room Wines, Dawson already had years of experience. As the buyer at All Seasons Bistro and Wine Shop (1992-1998), the first head sommelier at The French Laundry (1998-1999) and wine merchant at Dean & Deluca (1999-2001), Dawson had refined his skills at scouring the back roads and hidden vineyards of the area in search of the undiscovered. He had grown up in Eureka, where he started working at the Red Lion right after high school in 1985. It was the fanciest restaurant in the area at the time, Dawson said. As a server, I wore a polyester suit with a bowtie and a name tag, prepared steak Diane tableside flambe style and got my first experience serving wine. It was also around a team of pretty special folks. Like many young people entering into the world of fine dining, Dawson was smitten by the fast pace, camaraderie of the team and the allure of fine wine and fancy food. He quickly rose from busboy to dining-room captain, where he joined two other captains on the team who had also risen quickly in the ranks. One of them was Guy Fieri, who is now one of Americas best-known restaurateurs, cookbook authors and an Emmy Award-winning television personality. The other was Matt Guyot, who for the last 20 years has been at Brix in Yountville. It was a great team, and I learned a lot about wine fast, Dawson said. I also learned that wine and hospitality were two sides of one coin. According to Dawson, Fieri, now known for his spiky bleach-blond hair and penchant for loud clothes and spicy food, was a charismatic personality who had a way of capturing the attention of the room. Can you imagine Guy Fieri preparing a flaming steak tableside? Dawson said and then laughed. Even back then he was the center of attention and amazing to watch interacting with people. Both Dawson and Fieri left Eureka to attend the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), each graduating with a bachelor of science degree in hotel management. After graduating, Dawson moved to San Francisco, where he interned at the Olympic Club and then moved to Iowa to become the maitre d of the Davenport Club. I still didnt know much about wine, but at the time people were buying a lot of Cakebread Chardonnay and also white Zinfandel one from Sutter Home and the other from Deloach, Dawson said. I was like, These wines do make sense to me with the food we were serving, and so I started making suggestions and almost to my surprise people agreed with me. Dawson was learning that he had the ability to taste elements within wine that others might not. After surviving one winter in Iowa, he headed back to Northern California, hoping to secure a position at a Napa Valley restaurant. Wine and food in the Napa Valley the early years Today, the Napa Valley is known as one of the worlds most famous wine regions, but that didnt happen overnight. Charles Krug is credited with building the valleys first commercial winery in 1861, with more than 140 more wineries and 16,000 acres of vines planted by 1889. However, changing tastes, bouts of root louse (phylloxera) and Prohibition decimated the nascent wine industry so that by the 1930s there were only a handful of wineries and vineyards left standing. But by the late 1960s, Robert Mondavis winery had been built and helped usher in what we know as the Napa Valley today. By 1970, the planted vineyard acres had again reached 1889 levels, and the number of wineries was growing. In 1976, when the famous Judgment of Paris awarded Napa Valley vintners with higher-ranked wines than the more famous French first-growth Bordeaux wines, a near flood of new investors descended on the area, further accelerating both growth and wine quality. At about this same time, California was becoming obsessed with French cuisine, and by the late 1970s the Napa Valley saw the opening Etoile in Yountville and the nearby French Laundry (originally owned by Don and Sally Schmitt). Beyond Yountville, by the early 1980s there were other culinary destinations throughout the valley with a distinctly French bent. Restaurants such as St. Helenas Miramonte, Le Favour Cafe Oriental (one of the first French-Thai fusion restaurants in America), Trilogy and the nearby Auberge du Soleil were gaining national prominence. The small town of Calistoga was also making its culinary mark with a restaurant owned by Alex and Gayle Dierkhising that they called All Seasons. Unlike other eateries at the time, the Dierkhisings also sold wine in what was a small backroom near the kitchen. All Seasons By the 1980s, All Seasons had become one of the first restaurants in the United States to receive the Wine Spectators prestigious Grand Award. By the early 1990s, the Calistoga restaurant wine/shop had become a must-stop for wine collectors and aspiring wine professionals alike. Dawson worked at All Seasons as a server from 92 to 94 and then took over the restaurants wine store from 94 to 98. But before he could even start, he first needed to take a wine-knowledge test from the Dierkhisings. [Alex] asked me what was the difference between Pinot Noir and Burgundy, Dawson said. Of course, the answer is nothing but at the time I went blank, but somehow I got the job. Their love of wine and cutting-edge wine program seemingly drew the next generation of wine professionals to All Seasons like a magnet. It has been a center of wine culture for Napa Valley that has helped launch many careers in the wine industry. Dan has a great palate but also always was looking for a good deal for the customer, Dierkhising said. His specialty was Cabernet Sauvignon, but give him a well-made old-vine zinfandel and he could tell you what vineyard the grapes had come from without looking at the label. It was the heyday of Napa Valley wines, and Dawson was in the middle of the action. You could still get some of the cult wines from Napa at a reasonable price then, Dawson said. And what I was seeing was that people were starting to shift their attention, starting to go nuts over wines from the valley. His recommendations were getting peoples attention, and soon he was pondering his next move. Becoming Backroom Wines By the late 1990s, a nearby small restaurant in Yountville was also gaining national attention. The French Laundry had been purchased by Thomas Keller in 1994 and had quickly gained accolades, awards and stars for his innovative haute-inspired cuisine. I became the first official sommelier at The French Laundry, Dawson said. Up until 1998, they really didnt have a dedicated somm on the floor, which seems strange now but at the time it just wasnt all that weird. After The French Laundry, he spent time at Dean & Deluca, and through all of Dawsons experiences his understanding and love of Napa Valley wines grew. I found that there were a lot of wines out there that people hadnt ever heard of before and many of those were at reasonable prices, so I decided to strike out on my own, he said. Back Room Wines was born, and for nearly the next two decades Dawson created a strong network and reputation for finding many of the newest and greatest wines, often with an eye for value. I have always focused on small-production wines that overdeliver for the price, Dawson said. For example, finding a delicious Napa Valley Cabernet for $45 can be done. Dan Dawson, Wine Advisor Now, beyond enjoying time with his wife (Holly Dawson, public information officer for Napa Valley College) and their daughter (Talia, who is of African American/Korean heritage, born in New York and adopted at birth) and teaching wine-appreciation classes at the Napa Valley Wine Academy, Dawson has also started Dan Dawsons Wine Advisor, an online subscription-based guide to the artisan wines from California. Subscribers who pay $60 a year receive discounts at selected wineries, monthly wine recommendations, access to the Dawson wine-rating database and reviews. He also contributes stories to the Napa Valley Registers Wine section. Although I sold the shop, Im still finding people value getting recommendations on the newest and greatest wines that are also exceptional values, he said. The world of wine is constantly changing and I believe that today there is even a greater need for someone who has the customers backs, someone with a history of finding the hidden gems that dont cost an arm and a leg. My hope is that I can be that person. John Benedict McGovern was a hero of World War II in the Pacific, achieving the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy. He was also a mayor of St. Helena. John was born in New York City in 1896 to John and Ann McGovern. On Nov. 3, 1917 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy at Brooklyn Navy Yard, New York as the U.S. entered World War I. After attending the Naval Academy at Annapolis, he was appointed an officer on June 6, 1918. His first tour of duty was on the USS Montana. He returned to Annapolis in 1924 and studied at Columbia and Fordham universities, achieving a masters degree in engineering. He was stationed at Mare Island in 1938. McGovern was already a recognized career officer in engineering when World War II broke out. He soon saw action in the Pacific when the Americans ousted the Japanese from the Aleutian Islands off Alaska. Admiral McGovern took part in the ferocious battle for Attu in the Aleutians, in which the Japanese fought to the last man and inflicted heavy casualties on the American landing force. In November 1943 Captain McGovern was awarded the Navy Silver Star for conspicuous gallantry as commanding officer of a naval vessel [USS J. Franklin Bell] during the occupation of Attu from May 11-16, 1943. He carried out landing operations in the vicinity of Holtz BayHe saved his ship from damage by torpedoes fired by an enemy submarine. Battle of Tarawa Later came the Battle of Tarawa in 1943, one of the bitterest battles in the Pacific due to Japanese resistance. McGovern was one of the top American commanders in this action as the U.S. began its westward advance across the Pacific Ocean and received the following citation: For exceptionally meritorious conductas commander of a Transport Group engaged in operations for the capture of Tarawa Atoll during the period Oct. 25 to Nov. 25, 1943, and for Kwajalein Atoll from December 28, 1943, to February 4, 1944. His skill outstanding leadership and personal courage contributed to the success of these operations ... C.W. Nimitz, Admiral, U.S. Navy. In 1944 McGovern was awarded the Legion of Merit for outstanding service as a transport group commander in south and central Pacific waters during June-July 1944. He had led the transport group in landing a Marine brigade on a hostile beach so that the island was captured with a minimum of losses. McGovern also earned many other awards and commendations for his leadership during 30 years in the Navy. In 1940 Admiral McGovern and his wife Lillian bought Sherwood, the former Hans Jensen home, at 1855 Main St. The family of four daughters and one son were active in St. Helena community life. During World War II McGovern was rarely home, so his visits to town were noted in the St. Helena Star. Lillian McGovern was president of the local Red Cross during the war. Son John B. McGovern, Jr. also joined the Navy. In 1944 both father and son were listed in the Star among the list of local men serving in World War II. The son married Josephine Grassi. Retires from Navy In 1947 Admiral McGovern retired from the Navy. Soon he was a member of the Napa County Grand Jury. Upon the resignation of Harry Thorsen, he was appointed to the St. Helena City Council in January 1948. In April 1948 he was elected to the council, which chose him as mayor of St. Helena (today the mayor is elected by the voters). McGovern was a strong and effective leader, though he disagreed with the majority of the council often. He was re-elected to the council in April 1950 and again chosen mayor. During his term McGovern supported new water and development projects for the city. He tried to bring modern management to city hall, where he was often thwarted. Mayor McGovern also passed a curfew for children under 16. In January 1951, Admiral McGovern was called to Washington, D.C. amid rumors he might return to active duty in the Navy because of the Korean War. In a letter to the council dated Jan. 18, 1951 he resigned to rejoin the military. When no longer in office, the former mayor joined the battle over replacing St. Helenas aging city hall, campaigning to defeat a bond election because he disagreed with the site chosen. On May 5, 1953 the bond for a new city hall and fire house was defeated. The two thirds needed to pass was far from reached. Many voters disapproved of the tax increase, as well as the site chosen. Admiral McGovern lived out his days in retirement in St. Helena. He died Sept. 30, 1975 and his funeral was at St. Peters Chapel on Mare Island. McGovern is buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Editor Starr Baldwin wrote an editorial on McGoverns strong character and opinions, which aroused passions on both sides of an issue before the council. No one doubted his abilities and dedication to public service. I looked into Measure F to learn how it would affect a St. Helena homeowner or landlord. I found there really is no reason to be afraid of voting yes to keep the ordinance. 1) This type of ordinance is not uncommon. Several California cities and towns have one like it and no one seems to have been hurt by it. 2) This ordinance only affects Vineyard Valley property. It will not apply to any mobile/manufactured home put on a St. Helena parcel outside of Vineyard Valley. 3) The ordinance does not apply to a home or apartment rental in St. Helena either. It applies only to space rentals in an established mobile home park. 4) This ordinance will not affect the park owners ability to sell his property. Parks in high-value property areas like St. Helena are attractive to buyers because owners earn higher rents here than anywhere else even without a cap. Rents here still exceed most if not all rents in the Napa Valley because of St. Helenas already high-property value location. Higher rents equal higher profits, especially when youre the only park in town and the park is well-established. Its logical that when rents start off high, a 3 percent or Fair Market Value increase will be high also. 5) The ordinance imitates annual rent increase caps already used in office and commercial lease contracts. Building owners typically include rent-increase language in their contracts because it protects them as well as their tenants. I had an office lease with very similar language. 6) Courts across the nation and California have ruled over and over again for decades that this kind of ordinance is legal, fair and Constitutional. The park owner likely put this on the ballot because his lawyers would have advised him he could not win a court lawsuit and that hed have a better chance to overturn it by ballot initiative. In short, I dont think theres any reason to be afraid of the ordinance. Im one of the people who signed the ballot petition. I wanted to support our elected representatives who likely studied this issue from all angles and thought most voters would feel the same way. Im also aware of the parks litigious history. I knew if it was paying for canvassers like the one who showed up on my doorstep, hed likely pay to sue. A local ballot initiative was going to be cheaper than wasting up to $1 million in attorneys fees for a court to likely uphold the ordinance. Id rather see the city pave Grayson Avenue with that money! Kathleen Herdell, attorney St. Helena Once again, the Star Editorial Board fails us ("Vote no on Measure F," May 16). It seems to have bought the owners vacancy control argument without a close look at the numbers, or an understanding of the economics of mobile home parks as a real estate investment. Ive been attending RSO meetings regularly. The owner has consistently refused to provide the city with any information throughout the entire process of developing this ordinance. He objected to the formula for the annual increase. The council asked whether there was another index more closely tailored to the operating characteristics of the park. He sat silent. His attorney claimed that the city formula would drive profits to zero. The city attorney advised the council that the courts had analyzed and rejected that very argument. Lets look at vacancy control. The owner raised this issue at a public meeting in August. The council asked him to provide basic rent roll informational data to help the council understand the magnitude of the issue that concerned him. What does he consider market level? How many spaces are unusually low? He refused to provide any information. Oddly, it seems that he has just provided some of this data to his park tenant insiders, those who have just written to the paper. Lets look at those numbers. It is a fact that as a real estate investment opportunity, mobile home parks have low operating margins compared to other real estate investments. They also produce healthy rates of return for their investors. Lets look at Vineyard Valley. The above and below market rents cited in the recent letter appear to generate around $2 million or more in annual revenue. There is no debt. Prop 13 limits property taxes. The park operates with four landscape maintenance workers, three managers, the owner, and a weekend manager who lives in the park. Like most mobile home parks, at Vineyard Valley the return on investment after expenses appears quite healthy. And under RSO, gross revenues continue to increase by 3 percent year after year, an amount that the owner said was sufficient to keep the park up to par. There is no evidence that RSO will cause park maintenance to decline. But beyond that, there is ample room in the ordinance for the owner to make a case to raise rents above the cap. To do so would require the owner to produce some verified, relevant, financial records that confirm his expenses. This is needed so that owner and tenants, or a neutral mediator or arbitrator have relevant financial information to determine whether the owner is prohibited from obtaining a reasonable return which is one of the objectives of RSO. Based on past experience, one can only assume the park owner is unwilling to provide any financial information whatsoever. Perhaps that is why he is fighting this ordinance so fiercely with the help of his monied, outside PAC. There is no basis for the speculation that RSO will force the park owners to sell. More likely, after all these years, the investors will want to cash out. And there are plenty of real estate investors and hedge funds looking to buy mobile home parks and then raise the rents. Money on litigation? The council designed this ordinance to withstand legal challenge based on legal precedents. It is the owner who would throw away money needlessly if he files a lawsuit. What about the owners last-ditch effort to gain support by increasing the lease term to 15 years? A long-term lease does nothing to protect a fixed income senior in St. Helena who wants to move into Vineyard Valley from losing the chance because of an exorbitantly high base rent. Finally, property rights are a constitutional matter. California courts have consistently upheld the constitutionality of mobile home park rent stabilization. After all, protection of tenants from unreasonable rent increases must be balanced against the ability of the park owner to obtain a reasonable return on investment. Somewhere along the line, the Editorial Board failed to recognize that as well. Yes on F is endorsed by scores of elected officials and thoughtful, informed St. Helena residents. Cast your vote based on balanced and verifiable facts, not speculation. Vote Yes on Measure F! Michael Merriman St. Helena In a letter to the Star of May 16 ("Vote no on Measure F") Ferenc Brunner states that the City Council is being sly and deceptive and has put the community of Saint Helena in the position to vote on something they know nothing about and that this intrusion is manipulating our lives. I attended the Feb. 26 meeting of the City Council at which the vote was taken to authorize the special election on June 4. I do know about the issue. This vote was in response to a referendum petition submitted to the council. An outside PAC had paid several young men to collect the 579 signatures on the petition, 82 of which were from Vineyard Valley residents. The purpose of the referendum petition was to reverse the councils previous decision to establish a rent stabilization ordinance for Vineyard Valley. The idea of such an ordinance originated in 2014, and in 2017 it was listed as a study item for the council as part of a housing plan for the city. Last fall the ordinance was recommended to the council as part of a white paper study of housing in St. Helena. The council voted in favor of the ordinance last October. All of these discussions were open to public participation. As a result of the referendum petition, the council had a choice either to repeal the ordinance or to call a special election. In the interest of fairness to all the residents of Vineyard Valley, the choice was made on Feb. 26 to hold the special election. However, it was very clear that the council members did not relish spending the money it would cost to do so. Glenn Smith St. Helena After going through something as life-altering as a car accident, the best thing you can get out of it is... Increasing Institutional Capacity for Innovation presented By Nika Gamtsemlidze The Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Nikoloz Alavidze, attended a presentation of Increasing Institutional Capacity for Innovation (IICI), which will be implemented by Innovations and Technology Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, financed by the European Union and the World Bank.During his welcoming speech, Alavidze expressed his gratitude towards the World Bank and the European Union for supporting the project and Georgias development in this field.We need more initiatives, which will assist the establishment of an innovative ecosystem in Georgia. We must encourage innovative companies and researchers to be able to monetize their ideas and projects and then transfer them into commercially profitable products, stressed Alavidze.During her speech, Mercy Tembon, World Banks Regional Director for the South Caucasus, noted that this project will help Georgias Innovation & Technology Agency (GITA) to take further steps, saying :"World Bank continues to support Innovations and Technology Agency, as it has turned itself from startup agency to well-developed structure, which coordinates Georgia's innovations and entrepreneurship policy and practice. The project supported by the European Union and the World Bank's technical assistance will enable GITA to take further steps to increase institutional capacity and efficiency.The first secretary of the delegation of the European Union to Georgia, Stig Kjeldsen, also attended the meeting, he talked about the importance of the project for Georgia.Innovation increases the competitiveness of small and medium businesses and creates new job opportunities for people this is, say, an 'advantageous business environment.' The innovation policy is a significant part of the EU's 2020 strategy in terms of creating new job opportunities. So, GITA's support for the development of Georgian National Innovative Ecosystem is in full compliance with EU's commitment to business development in Georgia, noted Kjeldsen.The overall objective of the project is to increase the capacity of Georgias agency responsible for innovation and entrepreneurship, to effectively coordinate the Governments approach to innovation and entrepreneurship policy formulation and implementation.IICI is sponsored by the European Union with 2.7 million euros and is implemented by the World Bank.The project has the following goals: a. Increasing the agency's capacity to develop and implement innovation and entrepreneurship policies and programs with medium- and long-term strategies and results; b. Testing (and demonstrating) the viability of technology transfer in Georgia; and c. Improving the deal flow of innovative startups ready for investment, and of funding availability for early-stage companies. This last three weeks I have been traveling for a variety of reasons, some church-related, others not so much. Along the way, a number of locations and contexts have triggered memories, old friends and new have reminded me of the joy and cost of relationship and always the bitter-sweet awareness of time moving forward, of life continuing its ongoing process of change and expansion. Over the years, I have recognized that life is a wonderful and terrifying mystery, requiring my patience, love and presence. The week of April 29-May 2 found me in Santa Cruz for the initial presentation of a regional clergy retreat, Called to Wholeness, for those who minister in the United Methodist Church. Three-plus days of inquiry, reflection and quiet for men and women serving in a variety of settings in the regional church, from very urban to quite remote to suburban and in a wide variety of communities. My work was to serve as the logistics person for the event, welcoming, assisting and serving those who came to be renewed and celebrated for their call. It was a blessing to be a part of this process of remembrance of call, of why people serve and what each ones gifts and challenges are. A retreat center in Danville the week of May 5-10 hosted the Academy of Spiritual Formation, a two-year program, to support a fuller understanding of each participants spiritual life. This was the fourth of eight gatherings for the Academy with times of prayer and silence, of worship and wonderful lectures. The most impactful part of this last week was my small covenant group; eight people passionately engaged, dedicated to one another and to realizing their divine purpose. Then, this last week, from May 12-20, I was in New England for three purposes. First were the college graduations of my twin nephews, Josh and Sam. Saturday and Sunday, May 18-19, my sister and I celebrated their four years of study, socialization and life skill development, as they received bachelor of science degrees. Amazing to see these young men, who I still remember as babies, achieving so much, going out into the world with excellent educations and surrounded by love. The second reason for my trip east was to visit old friends who I have not seen in quite a while. Michael, Christopher and I grew up together in the little town of Bethel, Connecticut. We ran, played and lived late childhood, adolescence and early adulthood together, adventuring and consoling each other through lifes wonders and heartbreaks. But over the years, we have grown distant, living quite different lives, in neighborhoods far apart of each other. So, it was past time to visit with each, Mike in Brattleboro, Vermont and Chris in the Berkshires of Massachusetts. Springtime was cold and rainy this year in the northeast, but it was a joy to see old companions, to catch up and share in each others lives. Finally, I had one last visit to make, the commune that my wife Caroline and I had lived in for before we moved to California. The Abode of the Message, a spiritual community founded by the Sufi Order in 1975, is housed in the former Mount Lebanon Shaker Society in New Lebanon, New York. We moved there early on in our relationship. It was my first faith community experience, my initial deep dive into the spiritual life, and forever changed us. Back in 1980-83, it was a vibrant community of 70-90 people, families, singles, young and old, who gathered to live and work to create a place dedicated to Love, Harmony and Beauty. I went back to visit not knowing if I would see anyone I knew or what state the Abode was in. The setting is still peaceful and beautiful, with rolling hills, tall maples, oaks and sycamore trees, a working farm and all the old Shaker buildings still in use. Mostly anyway. Fewer than 20 people live at the Abode today, with less spirit than in the past. I was struck by how different it felt and how empty the community seemed. The people I knew are gone, the worship services occasional and the dining hall, once bustling and the heart of the community, more often empty than not. These last three weeks travels have shown me a number of things. First of all, looking back on the past can be shocking. I knew that my old community had changed, how could it not? Yet there are some signs of hope nearby. Local, younger farmer families have taken on the farming on the property and are turning it into a sustainable business. The spiritual community is struggling but the back to the land movement appears to be setting deep roots. I believe that God still has plans for the Abode! My friends, sister and nephews and I grow older, and at times, even wiser. We have and continue to lead full lives, bringing our gifts and graces into this world. The church in St. Helena and all the Methodist churches in our regional conference continue to work to create a place where the divine can be found, through worship and fellowship, by outreach and acts of compassionate justice, and most importantly in the act and practice of recognizing the miracle that is God within each of us, that is at the heart of all. Home is not what it once seemed, a place where I was a child and was protected as one. Home today is where I live and support the unfolding of Gods grace in the midst of this world, where I look to see the beauty and miracle that is the essence of creation. The place where we meet in fellowship, in love, and in gratitude for all we have and all we share. Burke Owens is pastor of the Saint Helena United Methodist Church located at 1310 Adams St. at Oak in St. Helena. Sunday Worship Services are at 10 a.m. and childcare is provided. Regular weekly small groups, classes and events are also held. Please call 707-963-2839 or check our website, sthelenaumc.org for more information. All are welcome here! Can you run so far from yourself that you end up going in a full circle? This is what happens to CJ Beck in Home is Where the Heart is, a compelling new novel from former North Bay resident Casey Dawes now living and working in Montana. Home in CJs case is the Rocky Mountains of Montana, a setting vividly evoked in this heartfelt story. CJ returns to her family ranch battle-scarred from her work as a photojournalist in Iraq. After witnessing her husbands death, she is on furlough until a psychiatrist okays her return to the war zone, and all CJ wants is to get back. But why? As Dawes takes readers on the journey of this tough, restless, solitary woman, what emerges is that CJ was wounded long before she arrived in Iraq. The discovery of the truth about her beloved father, the death of her parents, and the painful heartbreak when her first love drops her for someone else all of this sent her fleeing from home years earlier, determined to find a life anywhere else. And all of these memories make her childhood home as dangerous for her as any battlefield. Still, she is stuck there, until she can find some means of healing herself. CJ is relentlessly honest with herself as she rediscovers her old home and becomes reacquainted with her brothers and the challenges they are facing, the sacrifices they have made while she was roaming the world. She also encounters the man who broke her teen-aged heart, Nick Sturgis, now a single dad struggling with a rebellious son. Nick is appealing as well as repentant, but CJ doesnt take the easy way out: a romance that makes the happy ending. She is looking for sounder footing for herself: she wants to make a difference. Dawes is charting a different route with a womans story that doesnt discount the power of romance, but doesnt make it the answer to everything either. Love, in this story, encompasses more something more than throbbing hearts and heavy breathing. Its family, community, strangers on the street, and the magnificent landscape of Montana. And romance, if it happens, has to be a meeting of equals. Dawes story brings with it a freshness thats like a mountain wind. I like nothing better than finding a book that keeps you reading just another few pages as you wonder what will happen, because you dont really know. Home is Where the Heart is one of those books. I was glad to discover, when I reached the end, thats part of a planned series. Im in. Sasha Paulsen can be reached at spaulsen@napanews.com . Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Californias high-speed rail agency announced Tuesday it is suing the U.S. Department of Transportation and its senior officials over the Trump administrations decision to terminate a $929-million grant for the states beleaguered bullet train. In a 20-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court, the state effectively accuses the administration of playing politics with a decision that contradicts federal regulations and makes faulty allegations about the projects lack of progress. The decision this month by the Federal Railroad Administration, a part of the Transportation Department, was made in violation of its own procedures and policies, was arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, and contrary to law, and threatens to wreak significant economic damage on the Central Valley and the State, the complaint says. The lawsuit further escalates the conflict between California and the Trump administration over a project that aims to make the state a leader in advanced transportation but has been hobbled by lengthy delays and massive cost overruns. The suit names as defendants Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and FRA Chief Ronald Batory. Gov. Gavin Newsoms office said the state will also seek a temporary restraining order that will argue that the real motive underlying FRAs action was political: to punish California for opposing President Trumps proposed border wall. The complaint filed Tuesday details the sequence of events on Feb. 19, a day after California and 15 other states sued to invalidate Trumps border emergency declaration. The complaint notes that Trump tweeted that the lawsuit was led by California, the state that has wasted billions of dollars on their out of control Fast Train, with no hope of completion. The complaint notes, Later that same day, in a curt, three-page letter, the FRA abruptly notified the authority of its intent to terminate the grant agreement. But the FRA has argued that Newsom, in his State of the State speech in February, substantially curtailed the scope of the project to focus on a Central Valley operating segment, and pushed the original goal of a Los Angeles-to-San Francisco system into the indefinite future. Chao later called Newsoms plan a classic bait and switch. The state complaint, however, argues that Newsom confirmed that he shared the ambitious vision for high-speed rail of prior governors. The suit also says that the federal action contradicts the grant terms and federal practice, which requires that both parties work to help correct problems within grants, take modest initial steps to withhold funds and terminate a grant only as a last resort. The lawsuit, filed by California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on behalf of Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California High-Speed Rail Authority wasnt completely unexpected, since Newsom vowed last week to commence legal action after the FRA announced it was terminating the $929-million grant. The grant has not been paid out and the state had not expected to use the money until 2021. Newsom, after holding a news conference in Oakland on homelessness, blasted Trump on Tuesday as a petulant president who is concerned only about ginning up fodder for his political rallies. Newsom noted that the courts have blocked many of the presidents actions, and he expects that to happen again regarding the funding for Californias high-speed rail system. The moneys been appropriated. Basically, it puts every large-scale infrastructure project in the United States of America at risk. You would have no trust or confidence in an appropriation, Newsom said. The FRA had justified its termination in a 25-page letter to state officials, outlining what it believed were a wide range of violations of a 2010 agreement with the state. It noted that the agency had rejected the projects budgets and funding plans since 2016, because they were flawed. But California rail officials said the FRA had failed to make the state aware of any problems in its execution of the project or its relationship with federal regulators. The suit asks for a decision setting aside the termination of the grant and a permanent injunction against the possibility that the money could go to another project, which the FRA had threatened in its termination letter. The Trump administration has vowed to also claw back a $2.5-billion grant for the bullet train, which was fully spent by the state by 2017. Separately, the state Assemblys Transportation Committee held a three-hour hearing on the Newsom plan Tuesday, taking in testimony from eight witnesses. Rail authority Chairman Lenny Mendonca said the accounting firm KPMG and the German rail firm Deutsche Bahn would further review the ridership and business assumptions of Newsoms plan to build a high-speed-rail operating segment from Bakersfield to Merced by 2027. Members of a state-appointed peer review panel and the Legislative Analysts Office said the Newsom plan faces a wide range of risks that could affect its construction cost, funding and future ridership. Lou Thompson, chairman of the peer review panel, noted that the plan would require a large bridge loan to complete construction by 2027, since some of the funds for the work would not arrive until 2030. The loss of the $929-million grant is another unknown. We are all making decisions on imperfect information, but the more information we get, the more the project seems imperfect, said Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield), a critic of the project. When Napas LGBTQ community celebrates its presence in June, the rainbow banner that is their symbol will fly in front of City Hall. Throughout next month, the multicolored flag that has symbolized the gay-rights movement for more than 40 years will be raised outside the seat of city government, after the City Council approved the gesture Tuesday night to the raucous cheers of a flag-waving, near-capacity audience. Council members also voted to formally recognize June as a pride month honoring Napas lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer residents and visitors. City staff plan to raise the rainbow-stripe banner on the School Street flagpole on June 1, according to Councilmember Liz Alessio. The rainbow symbols monthlong display will cover pride ceremonies scheduled in Napa and worldwide, as well as the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall Inn uprising in New York City that is credited with launching the modern battle for the rights of LGBTQ people. The decision moved LGBTQ Napans in attendance to words of heartfelt, often emotional gratitude. Its so amazing to see the Napa community here, standing strong, Daisy Zamora, a Napa High School student and a youth leadership team member for the LGBTQ Connection support agency, told the council before its 4-1 vote to display the rainbow standard. There is a big fear every time I have to come out, and I dont (always) know if its safe to come out or not, said Zamora in a council chamber heavily dotted with miniature rainbow flags and heart-shaped stickers among the spectators. Raising the flag is that big step that shows Im here, that Napa has my back, that Im safe and wanted here. The move to win Napas official recognition of its gay community took shape over the course of a month, organizers said earlier this week. Advocates for flying the rainbow flag made their case at the councils May 7 meeting, and the city scheduled its decision for its next meeting just two weeks later. Visibility and safety are linked, said Anne Sutkowi-Hemstreet, a LGBTQ mother of two and contracts manager for First 5 Napa County. Some choose to be invisible for fear of being harassed or assaulted, and yet visibility is what has shifted attitudes in our city, our state and our country. This tells my family, my kids, LGBTQ teens and elders that we are visible to you. After considering various placements of the rainbow standard outside, on the side of or inside the City Hall building balancing visibility with protection against vandals staff members settled on placing the banner on the same pole facing School Street that carries the U.S. and California flags, said City Manager Steve Potter. Among more than 20 people who addressed the council, several shared stories about how the long-running campaign for LGBTQ rights had touched their lives and those of relatives and friends. Peg Maddocks, executive director of Napa Learns, spoke of a transgender brother and daughter; Earle Craigie told the council of a lesbian sister discharged from the military before the lifting of a ban on gay people serving in the armed forces. When we meet someone new, we have a split second to decide if we can be our full selves or if we have to watch our backs, said Ian Stanley Posadas, who came out as gay 14 years ago and now directs LGBTQ Connection in Napa. And despite the social strides in Napa and the nation culminating in the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage the fact that city staff had to weigh the possibility of vandals attacking a rainbow flag shows the battles still to be waged against bigotry and discrimination, he said. If youre worried about someone tearing down the flag, he asked the council, what about someone tearing on people here? The councils sole dissenting vote against a City Hall display was cast by Doris Gentry, who while praising Napas LGBTQ citizens questioned whether the city has developed an equitable way to decide what non-governmental flags should be displayed at headquarters. What will our policy be for other groups to fly other flags? she asked. Do we fly a Democratic flag or a Republican flag? Planned Parenthood? Pro-life? Gun rights? No flag represents every person, except the flag of the United States of America. Any (other) flag will have some people who love it and some people who dont. Councilmember Scott Sedgleys reply was succinct. The policy to me is, we wouldnt fly anything that was divisive or (stoked) hatred we just wouldnt do it! he said, drawing spectators laughs and applause. Minutes later, he voted in favor of the flag display, and the recognition of June as a pride month, joining Alessio, Mary Luros and Mayor Jill Techel. The rapid advance from residents petitions to a council decision in a few weeks was a contrast with a previous effort to fly the LGBTQ colors at the heart of city government. In 2013, more than 1,000 people joined an online petition urging the raising of the gay-pride flag at City Hall. Council members did not vote on the flag raising proposal, but instead teamed with local merchants to declare a 10-day Pride Week during which rainbow banners were hung from downtown lampposts. Napas support for the local gay community in June may be echoed by the public school system later this week. On Thursday, the Napa Valley Unified School District board is scheduled to vote on recognizing a LGBTQ+ Pride Month to commemorate the contributions of people from sexual minorities. 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. Dozens of supporters of abortion access gathered in downtown Napa at midday Tuesday to protest a wave of new state laws that restrict abortion access. Napas rally was one of hundreds of #StopTheBans events planned across the country, on the heels of Alabama Gov. Kay Iveys move last week to pass a law that bans nearly all abortions, including those in cases of rape and incest, unless the procedure is necessary to save womans life. Its considered to be the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. I can hardly believe were standing here, again, still, Leslie Lew of Rise Up Napa said to a crowd of protesters at Veterans Memorial Park. Anti-abortion advocates hope restrictive abortion laws passed by Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Mississippi and Kentucky will set the stage for a legal battle before the Supreme Court that could overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that determined women have the right to receive abortions until the fetus is able to live outside the womb usually around 24 to 28 weeks into a pregnancy. Protesters decry war on women Protesters in Napa and elsewhere at #StopTheBans rallies were asked to bring wire clothes hangers, a symbol of self-induced abortion. Napa organizers collected hangers in three cardboard boxes to be mailed to Iveys office. Protesters carried signs that said Politicians make crappy doctors, Abortion is health care, and My body, my religion. Womens March Napa Valley organized the event. Irit Weir, head of the organization, opened Tuesdays rally by telling the story of her own experience with abortion at 19 years old. For her, it was safe and legal. She said she was one of the lucky ones. Ive never met a woman who was excited to get an abortion, Weir said. She handed the mic to Larkin Dewyer, a St. Helena High junior, who spoke of war on women. Its a war that women intend to win, she said. We refuse to go back to clothes hanger abortions and unsafe operations, Dewyer said. Lisa Seran of Indivisible Napa noted that supporters of the Alabama law have said it was drafted to challenge Roe v. Wade. She called the law a power play and said its important to get people educated and to the polls. The Alabama law was the last straw for me, she said. Members of the crowd were allowed to come to the mic and share their thoughts, though Weir said many women who had experience with abortion hesitated to speak for fear they would get too emotional. One woman told the story of accompanying a friend to get an illegal abortion in the 1970s. She said she waited in the airport while her friend took a cab to a restaurant and met a man who took her to the home of a doctor who performed abortions in his basement. Another woman called abortion a form of forced organ donation. The crowd filtered out of the park and headed down Main Street to march on Third Street, Soscol Avenue and First Street. Pro-life, thats a lie, you dont care if women die, the crowd chanted. Sophie DiBiase, a Vallejo resident raised in Napa, said she came to the march in search of hope in all this chaos, including attacks on womens rights and health care. She said there was a need for people with differing viewpoints to try to see things from the others perspectives. Ellen Vinci of Napa said restrictive abortion laws violated a much-needed separation between church and state. Women opposed to abortion arent forced to have one, but women who are unable to receive an abortion are forced to give birth, she said. To Vincis left was Kathryn Winter of Napa, who said she had a friend who almost died of an illegal abortion performed in Mexico. Winter recalled her own struggle to get an abortion as a 19-year-old student at UC Davis. She was told she needed a parents permission because she was younger than 21 years old, she said. Winter later miscarried. I didnt know what I was going to do, she said. For others, abortion is barbaric Not all women who have faced abortion walked away with a favorable view of the procedure. Alexandra Snyder of the Napa-based Life Legal Defense Foundation, a nonprofit and pro-life law firm that handles cases across the country, said she had an abortion at 17 because her family pressured her into it. Its a decision she has come to regret. Snyder said she did not condemn women who have gotten abortions and said she knows what its like to be scared. But she later learned that she would have had some support if she kept the child. While Snyder said thats not true for everyone, she said women may have more support and resources available to them than they realize. The foundation supports Alabamas abortion laws and is opposed to abortion, unless it is to save the mothers life, Snyder said. She said she hopes that people can one day look back at abortion with horror and a recognition that its absolutely barbaric to destroy human life at any stage. We are talking about the killing of absolutely innocent human beings, she said. Snyder said shes hopeful that abortion will be banned in America and some recent state laws on abortion will prompt a Supreme Court challenge to Roe v. Wade. And while protester Vinci, too, was hopeful for the future of Roe v. Wade, she still found herself back fighting for abortions after marching for access in the 1970s. Im so shocked that I have to do it all over again, she 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. The California Highway Patrol's air unit helped rescue a motorist whose vehicle plunged 150 yards down a cliff next to Monticello Road Tuesday morning. Napa resident Karla Hernandez-Zambrano, 20, suffered major, unspecified injuries after veering off the road in her 2007 Saturn, according to a CHP news release. She was taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center. The crash happened at 9 a.m. on a cloudy morning on Monticello Road/Highway 121 near Wooden Valley Road. It's unclear why Hernandez-Zambrano drove off the cliff, but she was wearing her seat belt. She does not have a license, according to CHP. A bicyclist saw the vehicle go over the cliff and summoned authorities, the CHP said in a release. Had there been no witness, the victim might have gone undiscovered under the thick forest canopy, the CHP said. A CHP flight officer/paramedic was lowered on a hoist from a hovering helicopter to provide advanced life support to Hernandez-Zambrano, the CHP said. After a lengthy extrication from the vehicle, the patient was flown to Queen of the Valley Medical Center where she was reported in stable condition, the CHP said. Cal Fire/Napa County Fire Department and AMR ambulance also responded to the incident, which closed Monticello Road for three hours. 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. SACRAMENTO -- Powerful interests lined up behind Senate Bill 50, a proposal in the California Legislature to dramatically increase home building near mass transit and in neighborhoods zoned only for single-family homes. On board were labor and business groups, environmentalists and developers, students and retirees, all of whom argued that radical change was necessary to solve the state's housing affordability crisis. But an influential cohort with membership across the state opposed the measure with all its political might: suburban homeowners. And last week, a legislative committee blocked SB 50, a decision principally made by the panel's chairman Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Democrat from the Los Angeles bedroom community of La Canada Flintridge. Other legislators from the suburbs said they were alarmed about the legislation's potential effects on their communities. Local elected officials and neighborhood groups from San Diego to Marin County united to push back against the bill with activists from smaller, affluent areas taking the lead. All believed SB 50 represented a significant incursion by the state into local affairs. "There is a wake-up call that our legislators are not representing people at the grass-roots level," said Susan Kirsch, an activist from Mill Valley and head of Livable California, a slow growth organization. "We were very concerned about decisions being made further and further away from people who have to live with the consequences of them." Without a strong push from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), the weight of the opposition led to the bill's demise. The legislator behind SB 50, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), argued that major changes to how local governments plan and zone for housing were necessary to address a severe shortage of available homes and to help the state meet its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. His proposal would have required local governments to allow mid-rise apartment construction near rail stations and four or more homes on parcels of land in most single-family neighborhoods. With some exceptions, the bill would have allowed more growth in nearly every area of the state where homes already have been built. But to many residents in suburban areas, the legislation was a threat -- one they felt would have taken power away from local officials, destroyed the character of neighborhoods and allowed development interests to overrun communities with expensive new projects. Kirsch founded Livable California in 2018 shortly after Wiener put forward an earlier version of the bill that was defeated with broader opposition. This year, as SB 50 gained support from more interest groups, the group mobilized to oppose it. Kirsch said she believes state officials have demonized suburban homeowners and local governments, blaming them for California's housing problems. The true culprits, Kirsch said, are giant technology companies that rapidly grew but did not invest enough in affordable housing to offset the effects of an influx of new workers on the housing supply. Legislative leaders should instead force those companies to do more, she said. "Success led to the housing crisis," Kirsch said. "These companies are having enormous profits without having to take responsibility for their own contribution to the jobs-housing imbalance." Kirsch considered her organization a clearinghouse for information about SB 50 that she disseminated to like-minded activists across the state. Her Northern California group joined with the Coalition to Preserve L.A., an organization that has backed measures to restrain the amount of building in the city, to start a website identifying communities that would be most affected by the bill. The effort connected neighborhood groups and local officials from San Diego to Silicon Valley. Earlier this year, Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand attended a Livable California event nearly 400 miles away in Palo Alto. More than 90% of residents in Redondo Beach work outside the city, Brand said. Forcing Redondo Beach to allow more housing would not attract the jobs the community needs to boost its budget and fix traffic problems, he said. "For the state to come down and say we're going to take away your ability to control what happens in your town is misguided," Brand said. "They don't know what they're doing." Brand is part of a group of local officials and neighborhood activists that is considering filing a statewide ballot initiative for 2020 to amend the California Constitution and ensure planning and zoning rules remain the sole responsibility of cities and counties. "Why should we have city councils if we can't control the type of development we have in our town?" he said. "We should just dissolve the city and let [the state] handle it." State lawmakers felt the full force of community groups that came out against the bill. Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), who represents the San Fernando Valley, said the neighborhood councils in his area were all so opposed to SB 50 that they formed special committees within their groups to fight the bill. Hertzberg said the bill would have undermined the character of his district, which saw a boom in single-family tract home development after World War II. "The San Fernando Valley that I represent was the American dream where people could have a barbecue and a backyard," Hertzberg said. He said the state should find less radical means to incentivize growth, such as providing leases on public land and tax breaks for investors to build low-income housing. "You do not need to destroy single-family housing in order to achieve the necessary goals that we need to meet," Hertzberg said. But supporters of SB 50 said those fighting hardest against the bill are wedded to a system that favors suburban homeowners. "We all talk about the climate change crisis, the homelessness crisis, the affordability crisis, but when push comes to shove we all keep doing the same things we've always been doing," said Michael Lane, deputy director of Silicon Valley at Home, an affordable housing advocacy group. "Our elected officials at every level are listening to the loudest voices, those who want no change, those who are already comfortably housed." Suburban communities and neighborhood groups weren't the only ones against SB 50. The Los Angeles City Council voted to oppose the bill, as did the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Many groups that represent low-income tenants were instrumental in defeating last year's version of Wiener's bill but did not oppose SB 50. Still, they raised concerns that growth spurred by SB 50 would lead to wealthier newcomers pushing out longtime residents. But it was suburban lawmakers from more affluent areas who controlled SB 50's path through the state Capitol. In April, Wiener agreed to limit the bill's effects in small counties by reducing required building heights near rail and lowering density requirements in single-family neighborhoods from those proposed for larger counties. The move was a concession to Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), who represents Marin and Sonoma counties and other suburban and rural Northern California communities. In turn, McGuire threw his support behind SB 50 and the bill advanced from the committee he leads. The deal between Wiener and McGuire prompted Kirsch, who was vacationing in Greece, to write a letter to nonprofit news site CALmatters, arguing that lawmakers were providing giveaways to developers by undermining the foundations of local democracy. "As earthquake and erosion destroyed Athens, the housing bills of Wiener and McGuire, rather than solving the housing crisis, chip away at the pillars of Western Civilization," Kirsch wrote. "That's the crisis." After McGuire's committee, the bill headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee, led by Portantino. The lawmaker is a former mayor of La Canada Flintridge, a suburb of 20,000 people where city officials say no multifamily housing developments have been built in a decade. The median sales price for a home in La Canada Flintridge is $1.6 million, according to the most recent monthly data from real estate tracker CoreLogic. State legislators can block bills in appropriations committees without explaining how or why action was taken, and there was no public vote to shelve SB 50. Portantino said he was opposed to the bill because it stripped decision-making authority from local governments. He also believed the legislation would create a disincentive for cities and counties to expand transit in their communities if it meant they would lose control over land use at the same time. "I think it was the time to take a breath and we took a breath," Portantino said after blocking the bill, which is eligible to come up again next year. While Portantino's opposition to SB 50 was expected, it was still a surprise that the bill did not advance to a vote on the Senate floor. Legislative leadership plays an outsized role in deciding whether bills move forward from appropriations committees. In December, Atkins created a new housing committee in her chamber and made Wiener the chairman, a move that appeared to be an endorsement of his aggressive approach to housing legislation. Atkins declined requests for an interview, but said in a statement that she deferred to Portantino's wishes. "Short of significantly amending the bill and limiting its applications in large swaths of the state, there was no path to move forward this year," Atkins said. Newsom, who has pitched a nearly five-fold increase in home building as part of his plan to address the state's affordability problems, did not support the bill in advance of it being shelved last week. Soon afterward, he said he was "disappointed" by the decision to block it. At a news conference on Tuesday to announce a new task force on homelessness, the governor declined to say whether he wanted the bill to be revived this year. "To the extent that we can find a pathway to take core components of SB 50 and getting it over the finish line, I'm committed to helping support that effort," Newsom said. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. AMERICAN CANYON Current and projected declines in Napa Valley Unified School District enrollment could cost American Canyon a new middle school that was to break ground this summer, with still more district budget cuts possible. The school district has money to build the school from the 2016 Measure H bond and the project was moving full steam ahead early this year. But Superintendent Rosanna Mucetti on Monday said the district doesnt have the $2.2 million needed annually to run the school, not without cutting programs. Mucetti tied the American Canyon situation to larger district budget challenges. The districts reserve of 3.6 percent is close to the state-mandated 3 percent it must maintain to avoid the possibility of state receivership and the loss of local control, she said. NVUSD right now is on the cusp of that potential reality, like many of our district counterparts in the state of California that are suffering from declining enrollment, Mucetti said. She talked about the planned, second American Canyon middle school and the district budget situation during a community meeting Tuesday night in the American Canyon High School library. About 75 people attended a session that lasted close to three hours, with Mucetti often stopping to take questions from skeptical listeners. Mucetti said shell recommend to the district Board of Education that it reconsider the construction of the middle school. That idea proved unpopular with some in her American Canyon audience, with some saying they voted for Measure H because a new middle school was promised. One resident who worked to help pass Measure H told Mucetti this sudden turn of events seems like a betrayal. Another who did phone banking for Measure H called it a slap in the face. Who doesnt want a brand-new, beautiful facility in the community that alleviates what feels like tremendous overcrowding, Mucetti said. Specific promises like this in a bond campaign are risky for that very reason. Mucetti, who wasnt with the district at the time of the Measure H campaign, said she understands peoples frustration. She also stood her ground. It could be very irresponsible to build that school despite the fact a political promise was made, she said. Mucetti explained that the district receives state money based on how many students it has. Enrollment has fallen from about 18,000 in 2016-17 to about 17,500 and is expected to be down to 16,000 by 2025-26. Each student nets the district $10,000 from the state. We are currently in a very, very aggressive decline, Mucetti said. That cannot be denied and that cannot be ignored. Other financial factors are also in play, such as rising pension costs mandated by the state. The district recently cut $7 million because it can no longer use reserves to mask the financial situation, she said. Among other responses, the district has begun demanding that the three charter schools it oversees pay market rates for the school facilities they rent from the district. Charter schools face their own financial challenges. River School in Napa discovered it can no longer afford being a charter school, Mucetti said. It is returning to the district as of July 1 after being a charter school since 1995. The district could also take such steps as try to attract more interdistrict transfers, make certain the number of teachers is in proportion to the number of students and avoid large variances in the maximum class sizes. I didnt sign up to take the district into fiscal insolvency, Mucetti said. Some in Mucettis audience remained skeptical that enrollment in American Canyon will decline. After all, American Canyon has been a hotbed of Napa County growth and has the big, Watson Ranch community in the works. Mucetti said Watson Ranch is included in the growth projections. Still, the projections show overall American Canyon enrollment falling from 4,350 in 2016-17 to 4,050 by 2025-26. More students are predicted to be leaving than coming in. The existing American Canyon Middle School has 1,103 students and was built for 700 students. It has handled the extra students by having portables. Enrollment there is projected hover around the 1,000 range in coming years. We dont build new schools for 300 kids, Mucetti said. She said it might be easier to tell people in the room that the new middle school will be built. Then she would be coming back in a few months to talk about making $2.2 million in budget cuts to cover the operational costs. That would be felt in every other school in American Canyon, trust me, Mucetti said. Resident Jason Kishineff, who attended the meeting, wasnt convinced. The next day, he released a Facebook message urging residents to contact the district Board of Education to voice their displeasure. The problem is that they show two years of decline and the rest is just prediction, which clearly does not factor in growth from the new apartments at American Canyon and Highway 29, Watson Ranch (which will add more than 1200 new units) or the Broadway specific plan, Kishineff wrote. Some audience members noted that the cost to build a new middle school will likely rise with delays. Also, district officials said they cant bank the Measure H bond money to build the school at some point in the distant future, if enrollment unexpectedly picks up. The Measure H bond sale money is to be used in three years. District Executive Director of Facilities Maintenance and Operations Mike Pearson told the audience ways the Measure H money might be spent if no new middle school is built. The existing American Canyon Middle School and Donaldson Way Elementary School could be renovated, he said. The district would have backup plans for an unexpected American Canyon enrollment uptick. One idea is to change the planned Watson Ranch elementary school to include seventh and eighth grades. Mucetti pointed out that American Canyon High School has 500 vacant seats. The new, second American Canyon middle school has been targeted for 17.5 acres next to American Canyon High School. The district did an environmental impact report for the project that looked at such issues as traffic. Pearson during a January community meeting in American Canyon said the new school could open as soon as August 2020. Now the question is whether it will even be built. 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. As anticipated on Oct. 6, 2018, the day alleged sexual assailant Brett M. Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court, high-stakes gynecology is back in the news. Last week, Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama, signed into law a bill that could jail for life anyone who performs an abortion. Reminder: Abortion is a 20-minute procedure for ending a pregnancy or, conversely, restarting a menstrual period. Its one of the safest, least eventful procedures in all of medicine. The Alabama law comes timed with proposals and passed legislation in red states across the country restricting access to abortion, in some cases after as little as six weeks of pregnancy and even in cases of rape or incest. Since politicians are newly fascinated by our monthly cycles, we might as well note this too: Girls and women often have no idea theyre pregnant at six weeks. The flood of new, sweeping restrictions is widely seen as what the legal scholar Dahlia Lithwick calls a Supreme Court squeeze play, an attempt to get the justices, five of whom are conservatives, to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to privacy when making decisions about pregnancies. Ivey, a politician in a nation founded on the principle of separation of church and state, didnt bring up privacy in Montgomery on Wednesday. Instead, as she signed the abortion ban into law, she invoked religion: This legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God. A lot of people probably didnt blink at her words. Maybe they dont know that more than 40 percent of the citizens of Alabama have told pollsters about their deeply held belief that abortion should be legal. Anti-choice grandstanding is so commonplace that weve begun to grow deaf to the relentless sophistry. When President Trump stirs up his pep rallies with haphazard lies about Democrats supporting the slaughter of newborns, hes just Trump being Trump. Whats worse, twisted anti-abortion ideology with its references to magical thinking (you cant get pregnant from rape) and the minutiae of ultrasound microscopy (the millisecond an ootid is penetrated by a spermatid, it has legal rights) is kept so relentlessly center stage that its easily mistaken for a mainstream Republican position. Its not. Just 18 percent of Americans say they oppose abortion across the board, in the way that the reddest of red states legislatures have in mind. And only a fraction of that fraction has made Roe a decision about privacy rights its bete noire, supercharging any discussion of reproductive health with increasingly hysterical rhetoric about fetal heartbeats, bloodshed, cherubic babies, murderous mothers and genocide. The extremists may invoke Gods precious gift of life, but their rhetoric is prurient, aggressive and nasty. And way over the line. Right now, as a result of the Trump administrations truculent approach to immigration and asylum, children are sleeping in heaps on the ground or in cages along the southern border. Theyre given nothing but plastic blankets and what one man told Buzzfeed News was food for a dog. Because the law wont allow the government to seize migrant babies anymore, the administrations hope now seems to be that if it mistreats families, theyll self-deport. In this context, its unconscionable to criminalize safe, legal abortions in the name of child welfare. But thats the United States in 2019. Catastrophic internment camps are represented as business as usual, and standard gynecological practice is called a moral crisis. Lithwick argues that the frank extremism of Alabamas new law may force the Supreme Court to confront and reject its own antiabortion leanings. With either an up and down high court vote, or a lower court overrule thats allowed to stand, the antiabortion forces could lose big rather than win with this showy and cruel law. This makes some sense. At the very least, the Alabama law makes it clear that singling out abortions for undue regulation is never a matter of concern for a womans life or health. One way or another, though, jurists like Kavanaugh, who sounds anti-choice dog whistles under cover of narrow, gentlemanly jurisprudence, will soon have to wrestle with the unscientific and illiberal assumptions that undergird their panic about womens reproductive freedoms. If a Roe challenge makes it to the Supreme Court, less partisan figures, notably Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., who has been outspoken in defense of the judiciary as apolitical, will be faced with ceding authority to extremists blatantly using religious language and pseudoscience to undermine the Constitution. Betting on rationality or hoping that institutionalism will prevail in Trump times has rarely panned out. As we head into the latest gut-wrenching battle over reproductive rights, disinformation will be pervasive. The worst of it will come from the president, who, in addition to spinning psycho myths about murder in maternity wards, entertains we were told on Thursday graphic fantasies of impaling migrant families on a spiked border fence. The biggest lie of all? That Trump, like so many others who support his border camps and impaler wall, gets to call himself pro-life. Virginia Heffernan is a prolific author and columnist. She wrote this for the Los Angeles Times. Has the Napa Valley Unified School District committed a disservice to the Napa community? The answer is yes, and here are the reasons why. I have been involved in a in-depth investigative research and fact-finding project in concern of the debacle that occurred in deciding the keeping or the abolishment of the Napa High School Indian symbol and logo. In the process, the true nature of why our schools have mascots, symbols, logos and such for their school spirit crossed my mind. Entering my thoughts and asking myself why? To offer simply, it is a rite of passage, something that all of us enjoyed, loved or hated in our K through 12 experience. So when I shake away the apparent grudge match between groups of supporters for the Napa Indian and those who are against, I come to the real conclusion, what is the role of the school district? As we can see, the district has many roles, yet our district building formerly Napa Union High School continues to maintain that emotional connection to the community as a school. But now it houses the district offices. Is this an element that by its own existence creates the air of hierarchy (a system or organization in which people or groups are ranked one above the other according to status or authority?) With the community sufficing to the pecking order? I have been through the experience and can say confidently that has been my experience of being less than. While the bureaucracy has evolved at the district, the symptom of Michaels Iron Law Of Oligarchy has reared a ugly head too. And that can clearly be seen as I comb through the facts and findings of the Napa High Indian debacle. A new website has agreed to publish my findings at ournapahighindian.info. There you will find the facts of my first two investigative reports. In those reports, we see that the superintendent and the board were acting on the information given to them from a small group of individuals who were not even aware of changes in their supported political reasons for wanting to change the mascot. And as well, the legal footing that they vocalized to the board in this matter changed too. The superintendent appears to have erroneously interpreted the California AB-30 Redskins Law and the Education sections, specifically 221.2. Yet, you can read all the facts at the new page. The fiasco appears to be a scene from the "Caine Mutiny" with a specific bean counter handling ball bearings wanting to discuss strawberries. I still ask what is the role of the executive branch, and primarily, the district? Simply, they are there to serve our children in the community with the hand of education extended. There was no accomplishment by the former superintendent and the board in reducing discrimination towards Native Americans. For in choosing to not discriminate against a small group of Native Americans, they discriminated against a larger majority group of Native Americans that support a conservative use of Native American symbols and language with the positive actions of educating and developing positive role models for Native American children. The evidence will come to fruition in my report. Thinking about all of this and seeing the Napa Indian alone in the entrance of the district building caused me to realize that the district has committed a disservice to the community. In as such, only the Napa Indian appears at the entrance to welcome all. Things change, yes, I thought to myself where is the Crusher symbol? American Canyon Wolves? Now the Grizzlies? The Knights? The Chiefs? All of these symbols of the past and the present are the expression and attachment to our community. The board, as member Jose Hurtado has said, the Napa Indian will be removed. For me, that implies that the district will further distinguish itself as an autonomous element directing the community but not serving the community. It would be wonderful to walk in and see our historic education identified to the many generations of our community. The Napa Indian should remain and the other symbols should join to mark our acceptance of a community that believes in diversity. That, in itself, is the call of true leadership and I say if our trusted servants so elected cannot fathom this diversity, show them the door in 2020. Again, my investigative report continues to build, give it a read and educate yourself to this issue that so affected our community. However know that it is a national battle waging over cultural identity. Dalton J. Piercey Napa OSGF publishes a study on the ethnic minority participation in politics By Levan Abramishvili No law prevents members of minority groups from participating in the political process in Georgia, but in practice, these groups are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making.The basics of democracy include the engagement of minorities in the political processes, creating equal opportunities, and representing their interests in the decisions that affect their lives.According to the Georgian Public Defenders office, the integration of ethnic minorities into the civil, political and social processes remains one of the main challenges for the democratization of Georgia. Despite numerous projects and initiatives, there hasnt been a significant development in the engagement of ethnic minorities in the political processes.Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF) conducted a study about the engagement of ethnic minorities into the political life. Several findings highlight the gaps in the governmental policies geared toward minorities.One of the essential tools for ethnic minorities to participate in political processes is the elections. Therefore it is interesting how involved they are in the election process. The research was carried out in 2018, before the Presidential elections.In the survey, 65.5% of the participants, all representatives of ethnic minorities, said that they were planning to use their constitutional right and cast a vote. There were no significant differences found in terms of the gender difference (see chart 1).According to the surveys, 74.5% of the respondents said they participated in the 2016 elections, and only 20.7% said that they didnt. These results are in line with the Caucasus Barometer survey conducted in 2018, according to which, 74% of the general population of Georgia said that they cast their vote in the elections and only 25% didnt. But these answers arent reflective of the reality since only 51.94% of the population participated in the 2016 elections.The survey also showed that over 90% of the respondents never participated in the planning of a political campaign, the number of those who have is only 5.9%.Another important finding of the survey is that the ethnic minorities have low trust towards the political parties. Only 12.6% trust them (mostly trust and fully trust answers).On average, on the scale of 1-5, the respondents trusted Georgian Dream and the United National Movement with 2.62 and 2.41, respectively.The respondents trust in social institutions and political organizations is important as well. The survey showed that ethnic minorities in Georgia trust their respective religious organizations the most, closely followed by the European Union.On the scale from 1 (dont trust at all) to 5 (fully trust), on average, religious organizations got 3.95 and EU received 3.27 (see chart 2).The study found that compared to the general population, ethnic minorities in Georgia face more social and economic problems: the education level is lower and the unemployment and poverty levels are higher. It is also noteworthy that the knowledge of Georgian language also poses a significant barrier in the political participation of these groups. Older generations have less understanding of Georgian.The most severe socio economic problems that the ethnic minorities in Georgia face are unemployment and poverty, but the lack of state language is also a significant problem, especially in the Azerbaijani community, where the level of Georgian language knowledge is the lowest.The study shows that in the Georgian political sphere, there are no political parties that represent the interests of ethnic minorities. No quota system encourages these groups to be represented in the parties. 43.8% of the respondents mentioned that the programs and the work of the parties do not include their needs.The majority of the respondents agree with the political inclusion. But one third of them agrees that politics is the job for the elites and not for the 'ordinary' people. Only of the survey participants considered themselves politically active. The low rate of activities was explained with: the lack of interest in politics, family work, and the imperfect knowledge of the Georgian language. The NSCN (IM) has strongly condemned the military offensive launched by Myanmar Army (Tatmadaw) against the NSCN (K) in the neighbouring country. Condemning the Tatmadaws military action, the NSCN (IM) said the aggression on Naga territory in the guise of flushing out other armed groups is a naked and deliberate violation of human rights. What is happening in Nagalim areas in Myanmar at the hands of the Tatmadaw (Myanmar Army) is a matter of serious concern for NSCN, the outfit said in a statement. It accused the Indian security forces of coordinating with the Myanmar army for the diabolic and outrageous military action. The rebel group said the chaotic situation created by the Tatmadaws offensive has destabilized the livelihood of the Naga villagers and the Naga people are made to bear the brunt of the Tatmadaw onslaught. The NSCN (IM) urged the Myanmar government to take cognizance of the historical and political rights of the Nagas and go for peaceful means, saying that neither India nor Myanmar is an enemy of the Nagas. Myanmar army on May 16 launched a fresh operation against the NSCN-K near Hoyat and Laonyu village along India-Myanmar border. Two civil society organisationsthe Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and the Naga Mothers Association (NMA) besides NNC (Parent Body of NSCN) have also expressed concern at the armed offensive by the Myanmar Army (Tatmadaw) against the NSCN (K). The organisations issued separate statements on Monday, calling for restraint and honouring the regional-level ceasefire initiated by the Myanmar government with the NSCN (K) in April 2012. The FNR affirmed its commitment to the principle of promoting a people-based peace process and implored the Myanmar government to enable the intervention of Naga community leaders, humanitarian aid and human rights workers based on accepted international principles. It viewed that the armed confrontation between the Myanmar Army and NSCN (K) is buttressed by regional national security interests, adding it should not sabotage the mental, economic and physical wellbeing of innocent Naga civilians. The forum said it continues to stand for a culture of peace and respect for human rights. It appealed for avoiding armed confrontation, torture and harassment of people and destruction of properties in civilian inhabited areas. The NMA said it is the unarmed population whose lives and property are endangered through such violent incidents. The poor villagers bear the brunt and trauma of such warfare and conflicts, the mothers said. They appealed to the Burmese authority, the Tamadaw, the NSCN (K) and the Indian army on the borders to ensure that initiatives for peace are upheld for the sake of the people. Let there be recognition of rights and peace through dialogues for even our North east brothers and not through the barrel of guns, it said. The NNC (parent body) condemned the Myanmar armys attack on the NSCN (K) and the Indian Army for allegedly sealing the border with Myanmar and imposing curfew. The innocent public are made to suffer immensely because of the fight in the area, especially the old, women and children who are made to run to different places in the jungle, it said. The group appealed to the Naga people to pray for protection of our people in the area. Myanmar army carried out similar offensives against Northeinsurgents, particularly NSCN (K) and ULFA since January this year. YEREVAN. The EU assesses the May 20 announcement of Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan about the judicial system of the country as a firm commitment for carrying out reforms, Ambassador Piotr Switalski, Head of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Armenia, on Tuesday told this to reporters, according to Armenpress. We have not had the opportunity to discuss the issue in detail with the Government, or the Justice Ministry of Armenia, or other people, Switalski said. Anyway, as an announcement as a political act, I think what the PM said is very understandable for us. He adding that it is very clear and firm commitment to carry out reforms in Armenias justice system. Today the Justice Minister talked about vetting, presenting the example of Albania, the EU envoy stressed. As you may know, the EU closely cooperated with the government of Albania, developing the so-called Albanian model, and today this vetting model is supported by the EU. This is something the Armenian side could take into account. Switalski stressed that the EU believes the reforms in the justice domain of Armenia are of vital importance for the future. I can say that deep and comprehensive reforms in the justice sphere are of significant importance for your future for a number of reasons, he explained. But the first reason is that the Armenian people do not trust the courts. Last year the EU financially supported the independent researches that documented that extremely many Armenians do not trust the courts. Also, the EU diplomat highlighted the need for reforms to restore public trust, and added that these reforms should be carried out in line with the Constitution of Armenia and honoring the countrys international commitments. Piotr Switalski noted that he can once again officially present the following position: We are ready to support Armenia in implementing deep and comprehensive reforms in justice sphere by providing technical or consultative support and quite large financial support. We intensively support the obligations assumed by the Prime Minister to carry out reforms in justice sphere. This is an extremely serious commitment. We never enforce anything, but the Government of Armenia should know that it can rely on our support during the implementation of those reforms based on the mentioned principles. And when asked why the people in Armenia do not trust the courts, the Head of the EU delegation said, The two main reasons are the following: corruption; and the political dependence, political manipulations of courts. This is the official position of the EU. Azerbaijani MP sentenced to prison after beating police officers Armenians charged with murder of ex-serviceman sentenced to 5-20 years in Moscow Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of 1,704 killed servicemen found after truce Armenian premier: We hope it will be possible to create completely new moods in Armenia and Artsakh in 2022 Armenia opposition MP on Constitutional Court's decision on coronavirus vaccinations and testing Armenia government discusses implementation of target program for 500 kindergartens and 300 schools Armenian serviceman Narek Yeremyan who returned from captivity is under arrest Karabakh President receives representatives of Russian community Karabakh State Minister addresses all Armenians to continue the struggle for Artsakh Armenia PM to leave for Russia to attend non-official meeting of leaders of CIS countries Azerbaijan defense minister convenes consultation Armenia ex-minister Gagik Beglaryan and family members show up at Prosecutor General's Office Armenia PM visits Constitutional Court NEWS.am daily digest: 27.12.21 Armenia ex-President Sargsyan to hold press conference in 2nd half of January Dollar gains value in Armenia 26 MPs of pro-Kurdish party charged with 'offending Turkish state' after calling for Armenian Genocide recognition Armen Sarkissian sends condolence telegram over death of ex-President of Greece Armenia 2nd President says he supports a semi-presidential system of government Cavusoglu: Turkish-Armenian Protocols of 2009 have lost their significance Bayramov: Azerbaijan will file two more claims against Armenia in international arbitration Bayramov: There is no alternative to delimitation of Armenia-Azerbaijan border Bayramov says the question of enclaves is a reality that no one can deny Artsakh parliament expresses outrage at distorted formulations of Armenian PM MFA: Possibility of meeting of special representatives of Armenia and Turkey in Moscow is being discussed Baku supports normalization of relations between Ankara and Yerevan Azerbaijani MFA says tension between Baku and Tehran eliminated How Karabakh was left out of peace talks? Ex-President Kocharyan on international communitys disproportionate reactions: Does Armenia want that not to happen? Robert Kocharyan: If West-Russia relations escalate further, this may cause harm to Armenia Cavusoglu says Armenia-Turkish's representatives 1st meeting to be held in Moscow Armenia 2nd President: These authorities will throw Karabakh issue into Russias 'pockets' Magnitude 5.2 earthquake hits Iran Armenia ex-President Kocharyan on reopening railway link: We will have only 45 km via Meghri for transit Armenia 2nd President: These authorities serve foreign interests on Artsakh issue Ex-President Kocharyan to incumbent Armenia authorities: You have fulfilled all preconditions of Turkey Ibrahim Kalin: Armenia-Turkey process will destroy arguments of Armenian diaspora in US Zas assesses situation on border of Armenia and Azerbaijan Armenia 2nd President on Meghri option: Azerbaijan president refused to sign at last moment in Key West Kocharyan: Armenia has washed its hands of Karabakh Armenia 2nd President: We continue losing propaganda war to country where power is hereditary Copper is getting cheaper UN Secretary General Guterres urges to prepare for a new pandemic Opposition MP: Armenia authorities attempting to create internal political crisis in Artsakh Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: We lost control not only over those 40-45 km but over ten times larger areas 59 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia At least 13 people killed in Bolivia floods Armenia 2nd President Kocharyans year-end press conference World oil prices fluctuate Armenia premier: Discussions that followed my interview on Karabakh peace process revealed some falsifications Armenia ex-President Kocharyan to hold year-end press conference today starting at 11am Russian peacekeepers ensure entry of about a thousand vehicles into Nagorno-Karabakh Researchers report aurora borealis at equator Armenia PM Pashinyan will rule for another 10 years if opposition does nothing, says political scientist Peskov labels topic of NATO's security guarantees as 'a matter of life and death' for Russia Armenian political party: Artsakh can never be a part of Azerbaijan, no govt can subordinate will of people Armenia PM responds to criticism from Karabakh officials in regard to his statements Armenia and Karabakh Ombudspersons issue statement on Nikol Pashinyan's statements Karabakh President responds to Armenia PM Nikol Pashinyan Taliban advise US to not interfere in Afghanistan's domestic affairs Karabakh Parliament Speaker: We are in a sad situation, sirs Armenia opposition MP: Nikol stole from Karabakh-Armenians their small homeland, did he steal their dignity too? 2 more persons die of coronavirus in Karabakh Armenia opposition MP on Pashinyan's recent statements on Artsakh and Karabakh legislature's upcoming session Turkish drone strikes Kurds' Kobani in Syria - mass media Karabakh Parliament to convene special session for adoption of statement 102 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Stoltenberg wishes to convene session of NATO-Russia Council on Jan. 12 - mass media 2 earthquakes hit coasts of Kamchatka Peninsula in one hour Armenian President congratulates Justin Trudeau Macron calls launch of the James Webb telescope a historic event Iran closes land border with neighboring countries due to omicron strain Ariane successfully launches with latest James Webb telescope Turkey and Azerbaijan Foreign Ministers discuss situation in South Caucasus Pashinyan congratulates Trudeau on his anniversary Flight to Yerevan cancelled due to plane engine fire Yerevan ex-mayor Marutyan submits letter of resignation from his city council seat Artsakh Prosecutor's Office: Chartar village resident killed by long-range shot by Azerbaijan 4 dead after Sri Lanka policeman opens fire on fellow officers Newly appointed Yerevan mayor takes oath of office At least 16 people die after boat full of migrants capsizes off Greece coast of Amirabdollahian: Iran Azerbaijan charted roadmap to further enhance ties Christmas Eve does not pass without incident for Biden 118 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia New mayor of Yerevan to swear in today Huge ichthyosaur fossil reveals new theories about evolution speed Rare walking fish spotted off Tasmania coast for first time in 22 years Rice-sized microchip placed under skin can become Covid vaccination passport Thailand authorities seize $30M of crystal methamphetamine hidden in boxing punch bags Newspaper: No contract signed with any lobbying organization since Makunts appointment as ambassador to US Newspaper: Armenia ex-President Kocharyan to also hold press conference Newspaper: Armenia authorities instruct but investigative body can no longer continue Armenia PM: There are no legal grounds for existence of enclaves Armen Ashotyan to Pashinyan: Real catastrophe took place when a nincompoop like you came to power in Armenia Armenia PM: Catastrophe took place in Karabakh negotiations in 2016 Armenia PM on first meeting held in '3+2' regional format Armenia PM on opening of communications Yerevan mayor's oath-taking ceremony to be held on Dec. 25 Putin to not call Biden on the phone to wish him a Merry Christmas Armenia PM on granting status of observer to Azerbaijan within Eurasian Economic Union China can use strategically important rare earth metals in high-tech industries demand as a trump card in the growing trade war with the US United States, SCMP reported. The edition drew attention to Chinese leader, Xi Jinpings visit to the JL Mag Rare-Earth enterprise in the eastern province of Jiangxi, the object of production of rare-earth metals. . On his first domestic trip since the escalation of the US-China trade war this month, Xi was accompanied by vice-premier Liu He, who has been the top negotiator with Washington amid the ongoing dispute. According to experts, the visit sends a signal that Beijing can use rare earth metals as a trump card in the trade war with the US, and also indicates the authorities' readiness to support this industry. After Xi Jinpings trip, Chinese manufacturers shares showed rapid growth. In particular, the securities of China Rare Earth Holding on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Tuesday soared 108%. China is the world's largest producer of rare earth metals and their key supplier in the US. The country satisfies up to 80% of the global demand for this raw material, which is highly demanded in high-tech areas. This group includes 17 elements used in electronics, chemical, automotive, optics, military technology and many other areas. In 2018, 120 thousand tons of rare-earth elements were mined in China - about 71% of the global production. According to the source, the US deliberately excluded this category of strategically important commodities from the list of Chinese exports, which will be subject to increased duties. Since May 10, the US has once again raised tariffs on Chinese goods from 10% to 25% for a total of $ 200 billion. The US administration is considering the feasibility of including the Chinese company Hikvision (Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology), which develops and manufactures video surveillance systems, on the black list, The New York Times reported. According to the source, it implies that Hikvision has limited access to US technology and components. In this case, the US Commerce Department will require American companies to contact the federal government for permission to supply components to the equipment of this Chinese enterprise, which is one of the world's leading manufacturers of video surveillance systems. According to the newspaper, the US administration will take a final decision in the coming weeks. On May 15, President Donald Trump signed a decree imposing a state of emergency to protect the US information and communications infrastructure from foreign threats. Later it became known that the US Ministry of Trade decided to put the Chinese company Huawei and related legal entities on its blacklist because of the threat to national security, this decision came into force on May 17. Last August, Trump signed a decree that banned US government agencies from using equipment made by Huawei and another Chinese company, ZTE. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus A.Dapkiunas meets the Ambassador of Benin 20-05-2019 O n May 20, 2019, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, Andrei Dapkiunas, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Benin to Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus non-resident, Noukpo Clement Kiki, on the occasion of the presentation of copies of credentials. During the conversation, the most topical issues of bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic and other fields, in education, as well as ways of its expansion were discussed. print version Suspected gold scammer Jared Otieno was on Tuesday charged with conspiracy to defraud, obtaining money by false pretences and preparing to commit a felony. The flamboyant businessman and 15 other suspects denied the charges before Magistrate Francis Andayi. They are accused of fraudulently receiving Sh300 million in a fake gold transaction. Magistrate Andayi set their cash bail ruling for May 27, 2019 meaning they will remain in police custody until then. Jared Otieno was arrested on May 17 and has been detained at the Kileleshwa Police Station. Last week, Senior principal magistrate Paul Mayova allowed an application by the prosecution seeking to detain Otieno longer on grounds that he would interfere with investigations. The DCI in the application sworn by Felix Banzi said Jared Otieno is linked to many more fraudulent activities related to fake gold. Detectives said more complainants and several allegations have come up from victims of the scam who are mostly foreigners. US President Donald Trump lashed out at the representatives of the Democratic Party for appeals to start the impeachment procedure. Everything the Democrats are asking me for is based on an illegally started investigation that failed for them, especially when the Mueller Report came back with a NO COLLUSION finding. Now they say Impeach President Trump, even though he did nothin wrong, while they fish! Trump tweeted. Everything the Democrats are asking me for is based on an illegally started investigation that failed for them, especially when the Mueller Report came back with a NO COLLUSION finding. Now they say Impeach President Trump, even though he did nothin wrong, while they fish! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019 Impeachment may be announced to the US President based on the results of the trial in the House of Representatives, the Senate must confirm the charges. Impeachment has not been announced yet to any US president. However, the 37th President Richard Nixon in 1974 was forced to resign because of the real threat of impeachment amid the Watergate scandal. President Bill Clinton was impeached in the House of Representatives in 1998 on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice, but the charges were not confirmed by the Senate, and Clinton remained as president. Mueller completed an over two-year investigation in April 2019. He confirmed the accusations against Russia of interfering in the US elections, but did not find evidence of Trump's conspiracy with Russia. Authorities in Kisii County are probing an incident where an 11-year-old minor was killed by his relatives on Monday. Citizen Digital reports that three of the boys relatives beat him up for allegedly stealing a phone belonging to his grandfather. Kisii Police County Commander Martin Kibet confirmed the incident saying they have two suspects in custody. We have arrested two suspects and are still hunting for the third suspect who is still at large. A police report shows the deceaseds grandfather Charles Getugi and two others George Getugi and Jared Getugi beat him to death on Monday evening. The deceased was a class five pupil at Amariba Primary School. His body had visible injuries on the face and upper limbs. Police moved the body to Kisii County Referral Hospital pending an autopsy. One of the arrested suspects is the deceaseds grandfather, Charles Getugi. Turkey is preparing for possible US sanctions due to the purchase of Russian S-400s, the Turkish defense minister said, also pointing to some progress in talks with the US on the acquisition of F-35 fighters, Reuters reported. We are doing whatever normal bilateral agreements mandate. Though there are some issues from time to time, we are pleased that there has been no sharp turn until now... Turkey is also making preparations for the potential implementation of CAATSA sanctions, said Defence Minister Hulusi Akar. There is no clause anywhere in the F-35 agreement saying one will be excluded from the partnership for buying S-400s, he said. Turkey has paid $1.2 billion. We also produced the parts ordered from us on time. What more can we do as a partner? Washington stated that Turkeys purchase of the S-400 threatens the safety of the F-35, and warned Ankara of the possible imposition of sanctions under the CAATSA Act. Russia is counting on the successful completion of the deal with Turkey and considers the US requirements unacceptable. Poland and the United States are close to a deal on an increased U.S. military presence in the central European state, including more personnel and infrastructure, ahead of a visit by President Andrzej Duda to Washington in June, officials told Reuters. Disagreement remains, however, on who will pay for any new construction, as well as how long the American commitment will last. Polish and U.S. officials hope the deal, which was first proposed by Warsaw in September, will be approved by Duda and U.S. President Donald Trump during the trip. After months of lower levels talks, officials say the agreement wont resemble Dudas initial request for a permanent base he dubbed Fort Trump. Instead, two U.S. officials said Washington and Warsaw are closing in on a deal that would increase the number of non-permanent American troops in the country by between 1,000 and 1,500. There are on average about 4,500 U.S. troops in Poland on rotation as part of NATO force. Instead of a new American base, the United States will either upgrade or build new facilities on existing Polish bases, U.S. and Polish officials said. The U.S. officials said there are discussions about building an air strip for American unarmed drones as well. The Polish official confirmed an air strip wasnt being ruled out. The State will not negotiate ransom demands with Al Shabaab militants for the release of two Cuban doctors abducted in April. Kenyas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma, said it is against Government policy to negotiate with terrorists. She, however, said an operation was ongoing to rescue the two doctors who were abducted in Mandera. We believe that well secure their release in the ongoing security operation but as a matter of policy, the government does not negotiate ransom. Were hopeful that we shall retrieve the doctors safely back home, CS Juma assured on Tuesday. She spoke during a joint media briefing with European Union (EU) High Representative Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini. The CS was responding to reports that abductors demanded Sh150 million ransom for the release of the medics: general practitioner Herera Corea and surgeon Landy Rodriguez. Read: Suspected Al Shabaab Militants Demand Sh150 MILLION Ransom for Cuban Doctors The medics who were attached to Mandera County Referral Hospital were abducted on April 12 while commuting to work. In her remarks following the bilateral talks with the visiting envoy, CS Juma commended the EUs efforts towards peace in Somalia through the Counter-terrorism Law Enforcement Project. She urged the EU to support Kenyas bid to have Al Shabaab listed as a terrorist organization under the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1267 of 1999. We have decided not to appeal the decision of the Prosecutor Generals Office on rejection of the motion to stop the unlawful criminal prosecution against me. This is the statement that former head of the State Oversight Service of Armenia Davit Sanasaryan posted on his Facebook page. His statement particularly reads as follows: Taking into consideration the issue on lack of confidence in the judiciary that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently raised, as well as my political stance, which falls in line with that, we have decided not to appeal the decision of the Prosecutor Generals Office on rejection of the motion to stop the unlawful criminal prosecution against me. I am certain the court cant serve as a body restoring the violated rights of a person until the actions specified by the Prime Minister are not carried out properly and we dont have a fair and legitimate court that enjoys the trust of the public. On April 18, Davit Sanasaryan was charged with misuse of official powers in the criminal case being examined by the National Security Service, and a signature to not leave the country was selected as a preventive measure. ISWAP Military Official Details Incursion in Sabon Gari and Calls for Support in Naba 182 "Exclusive" (Adds details, background) By Lamine Chikhi ALGIERS, May 22 (Reuters) - Algeria's army chief of staff said on Wednesday he had no political ambitions in response to democracy activists who say that he intends to copy the authoritarian model of Egypt. The armed forces have been a pivotal power center in Algeria for decades and have been managing a transition after mass protests forced President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to resign last month after 20 years in office. Street demonstrations have continued to press demands for a dismantling of the elite of independence veterans, security commanders and business tycoons that have run the major oil and natural gas producer since independence from France in 1962. "Everybody should know that we have no political ambitions," Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah told state television. A presidential election has been scheduled for July 4 but an informed source said on Friday it might be postponed. Algerian activists say they are concerned the army-steered transition toward democracy will prove illusory as in Egypt. As Egypts army chief in 2013, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled freely elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, won election himself in 2014 and then suppressed Mursi's supporters as well as the liberal opposition in a pervasive crackdown on dissent. In Algeria, analysts the army fears the crisis will continue at a time of worsening disorder in neighboring Libya, where there is factional fighting for control of the capital Tripoli. Salah also said a fight against corruption and cronyism, among protesters' main grievances, would continue and that he disagreed with some officials who said this was not a priority. Earlier this month a military judge placed Bouteflika's youngest brother and two ex-intelligence chiefs in custody. They joined a string of businessmen and officials under investigation over corruption ahead of the presidential election. Said Bouteflika, who served as a top adviser to the presidency, acted as Algerias de facto ruler after his brother suffered a stroke in 2013 that left him in a wheelchair. Several businessmen, including Algerias richest man, Issad Rebrab, have also been placed in custody pending completion of investigations into corruption allegations. (Reporting by Lamine Chikkhi Writing by Aziz El Yaakoubi and Ulf Laessing Editing by Mark Heinrich) (Adds wide voting margin, background on local regulation and other facial recognition vendors) By Jeffrey Dastin May 22 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc said shareholders rejected proposals to curb and audit its facial recognition service on Wednesday, just as members of Congress indicated there was bipartisan support to one day regulate the technology. In the past year Amazon has found itself at the center of a growing debate over the use of facial recognition by governments, with critics warning of false matches and arrests and proponents arguing it keeps the public safe. Law enforcement in Oregon and Florida have used Amazon's face and image ID service, known as Rekognition. With support from civil liberties groups, two non-binding proposals on facial recognition made it to the ballot ahead of Amazon's shareholder meeting on Wednesday. The world's top online retailer and cloud computing company had tried to stop the votes, but it was effectively overruled by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The first proposal would have made the company stop offering facial recognition to governments unless its board determined sales did not violate civil liberties. A second would have requested a study by September of the extent to which Amazon's service harmed rights and privacy. According to an Amazon spokeswoman, the resolutions failed by a wide margin. The vote breakdown will be disclosed at a later point in time. Adding to shareholders' concerns was recent research that showed Amazon's technology struggled to identify the gender of individuals with darker skin, prompting fears that a faulty technology would put innocent people behind bars. Amazon has defended its work and said all users must follow the law. It also added a web portal for people to report any abuse of the service https://pages.awscloud.com/rekognition-abuse.html. The proposals faced an uphill battle. Amazon's board recommended against them, and Jeff Bezos, the company's chief executive and founder, controls 16 percent of its stock and voting rights. Story continues Still, critics of the technology believed the vote was beneficial. "This shareholder intervention should serve as a wake-up call for the company to reckon with the real harms of face surveillance and to change course," said Shankar Narayan of the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington state. A key congressional committee also met on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., to discuss the civil rights impact of all facial recognition technology, not only Amazon's. Responding to the shareholder vote, Democratic U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez said, "that just means that it's more important that Congress acts." Republican members of the committee expressed concern about U.S. citizens having their rights violated and their information shared with the likes of the FBI without elected officials' oversight. A second hearing on the topic is scheduled for June 4. Any federal regulation would follow a major decision by San Francisco officials earlier this month to ban city personnel from using the technology. That contrasts with New York, Chicago and Detroit, where law enforcement have reportedly used facial recognition or acquired it with the hope of speeding up post-crime investigations. Amazon is one of many facial recognition vendors, alongside France's Idemia, Japan's NEC Corp and Microsoft Corp , which has repeatedly called for regulation and said https://reut.rs/2IygqgS it turned down sales for human rights concerns. Mark Meadows, a Republican, said it was time to start legislating. "You've now hit the sweet spot that brings progressives and conservatives together," he said. (Reporting By Jeffrey Dastin in San Francisco; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli) They came to Kenya, liked what they saw, decided to stay and now, Morgan Heritage are keen on registering for the Huduma Namba. The Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae group encouraged Kenyans to register. They noted it[Huduma Namba] will put things in place because if we have no system, we have no order. Asked if they have registered, Mojo said, If I will be allowed to register I will definitely do it. He added, Back home, your name does not mean anything. We may find ten people in a city with the exact name living and born in the same city as yours. A number called social security number is what identifies you as a citizen. To our Kenyan friends, dont be afraid of the Huduma Namba. The reggae family spoke during the launch of Tomorrow Leaders Festival. Peter Morgan said they have been living around Africa and the first place they fell in love with was Senegal. But when they came to Kenya they felt like they were in Jamaica. We consider Kenya as one of the warmest places in the world that we would want to live in. Mojo has not left Kenya since December last year and the fruit of what he has been doing here on behalf of the Morgan Heritage foundation is the concert. The youth charity festival is scheduled for Saturday, June 8th at Kasarani Stadium. (Adds U.S. military statement) GENEVA, May 22 (Reuters) - The United States and its supporters do not dare attack Iran because of its "spirit of resistance," a senior Revolutionary Guards commander was quoted on Wednesday as saying. Tensions have spiked between Iran and the United States after Washington sent more military forces to the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and Patriot missiles, in a show of force against what U.S. officials say are Iranian threats to its troops and interests in the region. "If the criminal America and its Western and regional allies don't dare carry out a face-to-face military attack against our country it is because of the spirit of resistance and sacrifice of the people and youth," Major General Gholamali Rashid said, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. In a Twitter message addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday, an adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the U.S. military deployment to the region was a deliberate provocation. "You @SecPompeo do not bring warships to our region and call it deterrence. That's called provocation. It compels Iran to illustrate its own deterrence, which you call provocation. You see the cycle?" the adviser, Hesameddin Ashena, tweeted in English. Later on Wednesday, Fars quoted another Guards commander as saying the elite force and regular Iranian military units had complete control of Gulf waters north of the Strait of Hormuz. "Everything north of the Strait of Hormuz is under our control," Ali Fadavi was quoted by Fars as saying, referring to the strait at the Gulf's southeastern end through which about a fifth of the oil that is consumed globally flows. "(Movements of) American battleships in the region are under the complete control of Iran's army and the Revolutionary Guards," Fadavi told Fars, without providing details. In a statement, the U.S. military said it would continue to fly and sail wherever international law allowed. "We stand ready with our allies and partners to ensure freedom of navigation and the free flow of commerce throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility," Captain Bill Urban, a spokesman of U.S. Central Command, said. On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted: "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!" (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington Editing by Mark Heinrich and Alistair Bell) * No-confidence motion in Kurz expected on Monday * Social Democrats could hold the crucial swing votes * President holding talks with parties, seeking stability * Kurz defies president's call to rise above party politics * Civil servants replace departing far-right ministers (Recasts with Kurz speech) By Francois Murphy VIENNA, May 22 (Reuters) - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz sought on Wednesday to contain the fallout from the collapse of his coalition government but did little to quell the anger of opposition parties that could depose him within days. Kurz, 32, came out on top in the initial power struggle with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) on Tuesday after he managed to oust their hardline interior minister in the wake of a video sting that brought down the FPO's leader. But he must now win the support of the opposition Social Democrats (SPO) or a furious FPO to survive a no-confidence vote due on Monday. Losing would deal him a serious blow as he seeks to use his caretaker role as a springboard from which to win a snap election expected in September. "It is now important to do everything to ensure that one party's crisis does not turn into a state crisis," Kurz told a news conference. Despite the uncertainty over whether parliament will sack him, Kurz, a young star among Europe's conservatives, said he would continue talks with other parties and was not worried. The FPO, whose ministers stepped down in unison in response to Kurz firing Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, said it had not yet decided how to vote. But with much of the FPO angry at Kurz for ending their coalition and saying they are now unsuited to government after 17 months of working together, the Social Democrats are likely to determine the outcome of Monday's vote. They have not said how they will vote. EUROPEAN VOTE Rather than offer them an olive branch, however, Kurz's plan seemed to be to strong-arm them by appealing directly to voters, who will take part in the European Parliament election on Sunday, the day before parliament meets. Story continues "On election Sunday the people have the possibility to set the course and decide which political direction they want to support," Kurz said. Deputy parliament speaker Doris Bures, a heavyweight within the SPO, called on him to take "confidence-building measures" in the coming days. "It would really be the order of the day for the chancellor to move from 'I' to 'we' now," she told broadcaster ORF overnight. Her party said Kurz did not consult them on his choices of civil servants to fill the four vacant ministerial posts, who include a former Supreme Court president and two people with ties to the SPO. "In life you always have to earn trust. And the last few days have shown that the chancellor has done nothing to ensure that parliament, which at the end of the day will take this decision, can place this trust in him," Bures said. Kurz's election call also appeared to defy President Alexander Van der Bellen, who has the power to dismiss governments and dissolve parliament, who on Tuesday night told political leaders to put country before party, adding: "Now is not the time for campaign speeches." Kurz pulled the plug on his coalition last weekend after the release of a video that showed FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strache apparently discussing fixing state contracts and how to circumvent party financing laws with a woman posing as a Russian oligarch's niece. It is unclear who was behind the sting. Strache has acknowledged that the video was "catastrophic" but denies breaking the law. (Additional reporting by Kirsti Knolle and Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich; Editing by Gareth Jones and Alison Williams) (Adds comment on Labour nationalization plans) By Nina Chestney LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - A third of British lawmakers called on Wednesday for their 700 million pound ($885 million) parliamentary pension fund to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies to address the climate change "emergency." Pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, religious groups and universities have sold oil, gas and coal stocks in recent years because of their impact on climate change. Britain's parliament declared a symbolic climate change "emergency" this month. Although it has no direct consequences for policy, it was seen as a nod to increasingly vocal activist movements demanding change. Globally, more than 1,000 funds with assets in excess of $8.7 trillion have made divestment commitments, including Norways $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest. "The climate emergency demands that all pension funds divest from fossil fuels and invest in positive solutions to the climate crisis," British Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said. A third of the 650 serving members of parliament (MP) from different parties and 29 former MPs have been calling on Britain's Parliamentary Pension Fund since 2014 to disclose its investments in carbon-intensive industries and commit to phasing out fossil fuel investments. The fund holds around 11.7 million pounds of shares in oil major BP and nearly 11 million pounds in Royal Dutch Shell. Activists on Tuesday disrupted BP's annual shareholder meeting, a day after protesters blockaded the entrance to its London headquarters, demanding it end all new oil and gas exploration. Speaking at a debate in parliament on Wednesday, former energy secretary Ed Davey said opposition Labour Party plans to nationalize energy infrastructure would not aid a low-carbon transition. "It would be the wrong approach, delay action and not enable us to (use) the power of capitalism through its market mechanisms and innovation. We need to make capitalism our servant not our master," the Liberal Democrat MP told fellow lawmakers. Labour has laid out plans this month to re-nationalize utilities, who have hit back saying it would lead to higher costs for taxpayers and a slower move to clean energy. ($1 = 0.7906 pounds) (Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by Alexander Smith and Andrew Cawthorne) (Adds federal government comment) By Nia Williams CALGARY, Alberta, May 22 (Reuters) - Canada's main crude-producing province Alberta introduced a bill to repeal the provincial carbon tax on Wednesday, setting up a legal tussle between Premier Jason Kenney's United Conservative Party and Justin Trudeau's Liberal government in Ottawa. Premier Kenney and his party swept to power in Alberta last month on a platform that promised to champion the province's beleaguered energy industry and stand up to the federal government. Scrapping Alberta's carbon tax, introduced by the previous government, was a major part of Kenney's campaign. It will be the first piece of legislation tabled by the new government, but puts the province on a collision course with Trudeau's Liberals ahead of a national election this fall. The move will automatically trigger a federal carbon tax aimed at provinces that do not have their own plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions. "The carbon tax has been all economic pain and no environmental gain," Kenney told reporters at a news conference. "If Justin Trudeau's government then seeks to impose a federal carbon tax in Alberta, we will see him in court." Alberta will join Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan when it challenges the federal carbon tax in court. Earlier this month Saskatchewan's Court of Appeal ruled the tax does not violate the Canadian constitution, marking a victory for Trudeau on one of his trademark policies. Kenney said his government has a stronger case than Saskatchewan because Alberta will still impose a levy on large industrial carbon emitters. The Carbon Tax Repeal Act will provide C$1.4 billion in tax relief to Albertans and create 6,000 jobs, the government said in the first legislative session in the provincial capital Edmonton. "Now more than ever Canadians expect their leaders to work together to reduce pollution, not play politics," said Vanessa Adams, spokeswoman for the Minister of Natural Resources Canada, in an emailed statement. "If Premier Kenney dismantles Alberta's climate plan, the federal backstop will apply." Kenney's government also plans to table legislation to lower Alberta's corporate tax rate from 12% to 8%, cut back on regulation and guarantee oil and gas royalty rates, moves aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the energy industry. Alberta is home to Canada's vast oil sands but has seen billions of dollars in foreign investment flee the province since 2017 in part because of concerns about market access and regulatory uncertainty. (Additional reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa Editing by James Dalgleish and Richard Chang) (Adds quotes from ambassador, details on trade dispute) By David Lawder and Makini Brice WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said on Tuesday that Beijing was ready to resume trade talks with Washington, but blamed the U.S. side for frequently "changing its mind" on tentative deals to end U.S.-China trade disputes. "China remains ready to continue our talks with our American colleagues to reach a conclusion. Our door is still open," Cui said in an interview on Fox News Channel. No further trade talks between top Chinese and U.S. negotiators have been scheduled since the last round ended in a stalemate on May 10, the same day U.S. President Donald Trump sharply increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and took steps to levy duties on all remaining Chinese imports. Negotiations between the United States and China have soured dramatically since early May, when Chinese officials sought major changes to the text of a proposed deal that the Trump administration says had been largely agreed. Asked about this reversal, Cui turned the tables and said it was U.S. negotiators that had abruptly backed away from some previous deals that had been tentatively agreed over the past year. "It's quite clear it is the U.S. side that more than once changed its mind overnight and broke the tentative deal already reached." Cui said. "So we are still committed to whatever we agree to do, but it is the U.S. side that changed its mind so often." In June 2018, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross held negotiations with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on an offer by China to increase its purchases of U.S. goods by around $70 billion, U.S. officials said at the time. But U.S. President Donald Trump did not accept the offer, choosing instead to begin imposing tariffs on Chinese goods. The United States is seeking sweeping changes to China's trade and economic policies, including an end to forced technology transfers and theft of U.S. trade secrets. Washington also wants curbs on subsidies for Chinese state-owned enterprises and increased access to U.S. markets. Cui told Fox News Channel that U.S. restrictions on Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd announced last week "are without any foundation and evidence" and could undermine the normal functioning of markets. "Everybody knows Huawei is a privately owned company. It is just a normal Chinese private company," Cui said. "So all the action taken against Huawei are politically motivated." (Reporting by David Lawder and Makini Brice; Additional reporting by Eric Beech; editing by Grant McCool) (Adds more details, quotes from FAA) By David Shepardson and Allison Lampert FORT WORTH, Texas/MONTREAL, May 22 (Reuters) - The acting head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Wednesday he does not have a specific timetable to approve Boeing Co's 737 MAX for flight after two fatal crashes since October prompted the plane to be grounded worldwide. The FAA is meeting with more than 30 international air regulators including China, the European Union, Brazil and Canada on Thursday to discuss a software fix and new pilot training that Boeing has been developing to ensure the jets are safe to fly. "It's a constant give and take until it is exactly right," Deputy FAA Administrator Dan Elwell told reporters of the discussions with Boeing. "It's taking as long as it takes to be right," he said, adding: "I'm not tied to a timetable." The plane was grounded in March following a fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash just months after a similar Lion Air disaster in Indonesia which together killed 346 people. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have both canceled flights into August because of the 737 MAX grounding, while United Airlines has canceled flights into July. Asked if it is realistic that the 737 MAX could be flying again by August, Elwell declined to be specific. "If you said October I wouldn't even say that, only because we haven't finished determining exactly what the training requirements will be," Elwell said. "If it takes a year to find everything we need to give us the confidence to lift the (grounding) order so be it." Elwell said he plans to share the FAA's "safety analysis that will form the basis for our return to service decision process" on Thursday. But he said the agency is still waiting for Boeing to formally submit the software upgrade for approval, and emphasized the FAA has not decided on the revised training requirements, including whether to require simulator training. Story continues Global airlines that had rushed to buy the fuel-efficient, longer-range aircraft have since canceled flights and scrambled to cover routes that were previously flown by the MAX. Elwell rejected any idea that he was trying to win consensus with international regulators over the path to re-approving the MAX at the meeting. "We have to be the first to lift the order. We are the state of design," he said. He said he would explain the FAA's thinking to international regulators but added: "I'm not going to try to persuade anybody." At the same time, he also denied there was friction. "We have peace with other regulators. We're talking to them constantly. You want to make this like, 'We at war with the other countries over this.' We're not," Elwell said. Foreign regulators have signaled disagreements over measures to end the grounding, with Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau calling in April for pilots to receive simulator training for the MAX, rather than just computer courses. Canada and Europe said on Wednesday they would bring back the grounded aircraft on their own terms if their specific concerns are not addressed. "From our point of view, if we all work together and we all reach the same aim, fine. If we don't, we'll choose our own time to decide when the planes are safe to fly again," Canada's Garneau told Reuters in an interview. A spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency said on Wednesday that it would complete an additional independent design review of the plane once the FAA approves Boeing's proposed changes and establishes "adequate training of Boeing MAX flight crews." Elwell told Congress last week the FAA is working closely with other civil aviation authorities "to address specific concerns related to the 737 MAX." United Chief Executive Oscar Munoz said on Wednesday that FAA approval is only the first step, with public and employee confidence key to deciding when to fly its 14 MAX jets again. (Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Shepardson in Fort Worth, Texas Additional reporting and writing by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago Editing by Susan Thomas and Sonya Hepinstall) (Recasts with comments about fixing GE's internal problems) By Alwyn Scott May 22 (Reuters) - General Electric Co, once seen as the epitome of corporate greatness, is trying to end infighting between its divisions, tighten up management and fix quality problems in its products, Chief Executive Officer Larry Culp said on Wednesday. The 127-year-old conglomerate, which was a storied CEO training ground under prior chiefs Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt, also needs to simplify its bewildering financial reports and become more frank with investors, Culp said. The unvarnished admissions at the annual Electrical Products Group conference in Florida underscored a cultural shift Culp is attempting since becoming GE's first outsider CEO in October. "What we're really trying to do is move away ... from flashing a page of 30 metrics and leaving ... the impression that we are actively managing 30 discrete initiatives," he said. "This is ultimately all about culture." GE shares were down 0.5% at $9.91 in afternoon trading. At the start of the meeting he ticked off problems that struck him when he became CEO: GE had high ambition but lacked focus, and it had lost sight of its customers' demands for quality. When Culp asked employees about quality, a top customer concern, he said, "I got a lesson on the cost of quality." When he asked leaders of the healthcare business about meeting its delivery schedule, "they teach me about SCOT - Supply Chain On Time," he said. "The customer doesn't care if the supply chain's on time. They care about GE being on time." Culp said GE is rooting out "intramural skirmishes" between equipment and services units that hampered profit. It is trying to manage billings and cash daily to avoid "quarter-end and year-end sprints," he said. Culp also affirmed GE's grim forecast. It will lose up to $2 billion in free cash flow in 2019, but sees the outflow ending in 2020 and an "acceleration" of improvement in 2021. That is in line with earlier forecasts, and suggests stability after prior CEOs repeatedly missed targets. While he cited progress, Culp stressed the difficulties GE faces. It has cut more than 1,000 jobs at its ailing power unit this year, is not banking on a recovery in turbine sales to China and does not expect the market for power plants to improve. "I don't want anyone to walk out of here thinking this is something that is easily fixed," Culp said. "There's a lot to do here." (Reporting by Alwyn Scott in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Phil Berlowitz) (Adds Serraj comment) By Marine Pennetier PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - Libyan eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, speaking on Wednesday with French President Emmanuel Macron, ruled out a ceasefire and said he wanted to rid the capital of militias that had "infested" the U.N.-backed government, a French presidential official said. The flare-up in the conflict in Libya - which has been gripped by anarchy since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011 - began in early April, when Haftar's Libyan National Army advanced on the capital Tripoli. The LNA is now bogged down in southern suburbs by fighters loyal to Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj's Government of National Accord (GNA). Macron and French officials have for weeks repeated their official support for the GNA and have called for an unconditional ceasefire. But some European countries, including France, have also supported Haftar as a way to fight Islamist militants in the country. "The distrust we see between the Libyan actors is stronger than ever today," said the official after the meeting between Macron and Haftar in Paris. "When the question of the ceasefire was put on the table, Haftar's reaction to this was to ask: 'negotiate with whom for a ceasefire today?'" the official said. The battle for Tripoli has killed at least 510 people, forced 75,000 out of their homes, trapped thousands of migrants in detention centers, and flattened some southern suburbs. It has also forced closures of schools, split families on different sides of the front line, and brought power cuts. "He (Haftar) considers that the GNA is completely infested by militias and it is not for him to negotiate with representatives of these militias," the official said. The official said Macron had asked Haftar to make a public step towards a ceasefire and Haftar responded by saying that an inclusive political dialog was necessary and he would be ready for it if the conditions for a ceasefire were in place. Story continues However, the official said Haftar had given no indication as to when he would be ready for any potential talks. Speaking on Euronews television on Wednesday, Serraj also appeared to rule out a ceasefire, warning that the fighting would not stop until Haftar's troops had pulled back east. The United Nations' Libya envoy, Ghassan Salame, said on Tuesday the current fighting could be the start of a long and bloody conflict in the country that could permanently divide it. "We can clearly see the impasse that exists today between the desire of the international community to say that there must be a ceasefire and a resumption of political discussions and the way in which Haftar sees things with his explanation of the lack of legitimacy of the interlocutors (on the other side)," the French official said. The official also said Haftar had rejected suggestions he or forces loyal to him were benefiting from oil sales in the east of the country. (Additional reporting by Ulf Laessing in Tunis; Writing by John Irish; Editing by Frances Kerry) (Adds comment from UNHCR) By Lizbeth Diaz and Delphine Schrank MEXICO CITY, May 21 (Reuters) - Buckling under surging asylum applications and the lowest budget in years, Mexico's tiny refugee agency has turned to the United Nations for help opening three new offices across the country starting next month, its director said on Tuesday. Mexico is on track for 60,000 asylum applications this year, double the 2018 number, said Andres Ramirez, the head of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). The increase is a result of a surge in people leaving Central America, along with Cuba and countries further afield. The number of undocumented migrants reaching the U.S. border is the highest in a decade, triggering threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to punish Mexico if it does not do more to stop the flows. Ramirez, who served 28 years with the U.N. refugee agency before joining the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said COMAR was so overwhelmed he had turned to his former employer for help. "We at COMAR are simply trying to survive," Ramirez said in an interview with Reuters. As well as the rising number of applications, which have doubled for three consecutive years, COMAR is facing its lowest funding in seven years, with a budget of $1.2 million, as the government tries to meet austere fiscal targets. "Our central issue is a concern with resources - we are fighting for them, we are struggling for them - but we can't self-finance, we don't have the capacity in our hands alone to revolve this," Ramirez said. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is offering financial support and staff that will enable COMAR to open offices to deal with the surge, he said. The first new office will be in the northern border city of Tijuana, then Monterrey, and Palenque in the southern border state of Chiapas where the vast majority of mainly Central American migrants cross into Mexico from Guatemala. Story continues The new offices would double COMAR's current number. Ramirez said the UNHCR support included the secondment of personnel to supplement COMAR's 48-person core staff nationwide. In response to a request for information, UNHCR said it currently has 104 contractors on loan with COMAR and was discussing additional staffing. Silvia Garduno, a spokeswoman for the agency, emphasized that the financial assistance was temporary. "Reinforcing capacity requires an increase in the allocation in the federal budget for COMAR, but also measures to simplify procedures and speed up asylum processing," the agency said. At the COMAR office in Tapachula, Chiapas state, the opportunity to seek an interview with COMAR staff has reached such a premium that migrants told Reuters on a recent visit that night-time sidewalk spots beside the gate can sell for $11 (200 pesos) to give people a headstart in lines that stretch three blocks. Ramirez said he recently told staff there to cut back on 12-hour days to avoid exhaustion. The Lopez Obrador administration took office in December and handed out at least 12,000 year-long humanitarian visas to Central Americans it expected to stay in Mexico. Many quickly moved to the U.S. border. After it stopped the program cold within weeks, overwhelmed and facing threats from Trump to shut the border, more migrants have applied for asylum in Tapachula, COMAR staff say. (Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz and Delphine Schrank; editing by Michael Perry and Leslie Adler) * General election vote count starts early Thursday * Exit polls have predicted clear victory for Modi's alliance * Congress party derides "false propaganda of fake exit polls" * Home Ministry warns of violence on vote count day (Adds govt warning on violence on Thursday, paragraphs 11-12) By Krishna N. Das NEW DELHI, May 22 (Reuters) - India's ruling coalition has promised to rev up growth, double farmers' income and boost infrastructure spending in the next five years, after exit polls showed it would retain power when general election votes are counted on Thursday. The exit polls have predicted an outright majority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance in the seven-phase election that ended on Sunday. However, such surveys have proved misleading before, and the main opposition Congress party on Wednesday dismissed them as fake. The coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met in New Delhi on Tuesday confident of victory. "The NDA has resolved to speed up economic growth and fulfill the needs of the people in the next five years of our government," Home Minister Rajnath Singh, a senior member of the BJP, told reporters. "We're committed to a strong, developed and inclusive India." Six of seven exit polls have predicted the NDA will comfortably exceed the majority mark of 272 seats in parliament's lower house. But Congress has dismissed the polls and urged its workers to remain vigilant at centers where votes are being stored before Thursday's count. "The next 24 hours are important, stay alert and vigilant," its president, Rahul Gandhi, said on Twitter on Wednesday, addressing party workers. "Don't be scared. You are fighting for the truth. Don't be disheartened by the false propaganda of fake exit polls. Believe in yourself and the Congress party, your hard work will not go in vain." Story continues The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned of violence on Thursday and asked top police and civil officials of states to take preventive measures. "This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes," the ministry said in a statement. "TSUNAMI" FOR MODI Economic growth eased to a five-quarter low of 6.6% in the three months to December and there are signs it is still slowing. Modi has also faced criticism for weak farm prices and a shortage of jobs. March industrial output contracted for the first time in nearly two years, and surveys show a slackening in manufacturing and services growth, while car and motorbike sales have tumbled. Some economists have called for some stimulus. Singh said plans were ready to meet the BJP's manifesto pledge to spend 100 trillion rupees ($1.44 trillion) on infrastructure in the next five years and 25 trillion rupees on agriculture and rural development. He also reiterated the BJP goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022, the 75th year of India's independence from British colonial rule. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, whose regional party is part of the NDA, said the election had unleashed a "tsunami" of support for Modi. Political analysts say the result could cement Modi's dominant position in politics while undermining the role of Congress and opening up space for newer parties. They have also said that another bad showing by Congress would prompt questions over the leadership of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which has dominated politics for decades. "If the exit polls are to be believed, Modi's image as the incorruptible defender of the faith and nation has triumphed once again," said Nikhil Menon, assistant professor of history at the University of Notre Dame. "Narendra Modi may well be leading his party into an era of electoral dominance." Nearly two dozen opposition parties have complained to the election panel of attempts to tamper with voting machines in vote-counting centers. It has rejected the accusation. ($1=69.6425 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Krishna N. Das Editing by Robert Birsel, Clarence Fernandez and Peter Graff) Authorities in Lodwar on Tuesday arrested four Chinese nationals accused of assaulting a Kenyan roads engineer in Turkana. The four are Liu Jiang, Wang Kai, Zhao Liangbin and Li Shaoqing. They were hiding in a house at Kilomita 54 area in Lochore-Emoit, Turkana South. The arrests come in the wake of protests by 400 workers employed by the Chinese contractors. The workers alleged that the four Chinese men beat up Rodgers Imasia at the construction site of Loichangamak-Lodwar road last week Friday. Reportedly, Imasia, who was inspecting the road, questioned its quality before one of the Chinese nationals attempted to bribe him. When he declined to accept the bribe, the Chinese attacked him with kicks and blows. Lodwar Officer Commanding Police Station David Mutengi said the suspects went into hiding after committing the offense. They were arrested in Turkana South in the wee hours of Tuesday morning as they attempted to leave the county to evade arrest, said the officer. We are probing the matter and we shall charge the suspects with assault and causing bodily harm, Mutengi said. The suspects who are being detained at a Turkana police post will be arraigned today in the afternoon. On Monday, Kenyan workers protested increased cases of assault and mistreatment by their Chinese counterparts. Construction workers chairman Wilberforce Dida said several workers have been attacked by the Chinese workers over minor mistakes during construction. Many of us are being assaulted every day. The company is not taking workers safety measures seriously. We have cases where 15 local workers have been injured while on duty, he claimed. Workers spokesman Joseph Kimtai added, It is unfortunate and disrespectful that someone can attack a government official who is also the representative in a construction project. (Adds Canadian statement) MANILA, May 22 (Reuters) - The Philippines' President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his government to hire a private shipping company to send 69 containers of garbage back to Canada and leave them within its territorial waters if it refuses to accept the trash, his spokesman said on Wednesday. "The Philippines as an independent sovereign nation must not be treated as trash by other foreign nation," Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo told a media briefing. Canada says the waste, exported to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014, was a commercial transaction done without the government's consent. Canada had already agreed to take the rubbish back and the two countries were in the process of arranging the transfer. But Canada missed a May 15 deadline set by Manila to take back the shipment, prompting the Philippines to withdraw top diplomats from Canada last week. "Obviously, Canada is not taking this issue nor our country seriously. The Filipino people are gravely insulted about Canada treating this country as a dump site," Panelo said. On Wednesday, Canada said it had hired a company, Bollore Logistics Canada, "to safely bring the waste back to Canada as soon as possible," according to a government statement. "The removal will be complete by the end of June, as the waste must be safely treated to meet Canadian safety and health requirements," the statement said. The Philippines has made several diplomatic protests to Canada since a 2016 court ruling that the garbage be returned. The consignments were labeled as containing plastics to be recycled in the Philippines but were filled with a variety of rubbish including diapers, newspapers and water bottles. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke to her Filipino counterpart, Teodoro Locsin, about the garbage spat last week. "As I mentioned to their Foreign Secretary last week, we are committed to resolving this issue as quickly as possible. Today is an essential step forward in accomplishing that," Freeland said in the statement on Wednesday. The issue is not the only one to strain ties between the two countries. Last year, Duterte ordered the military to cancel a $233 million deal to buy 16 helicopters from Canada, after Ottawa expressed concern they could be used to fight rebels. (Reporting by Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales, additional reporting by Steve Scherer in Ottawa Editing by Robert Birsel and Susan Thomas) (Adds comment from Louisiana Attorney General's office) HOUSTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Environmental groups and demonstrators arrested near an Energy Transfer LP crude pipeline filed a lawsuit on Wednesday challenging a 2018 Louisiana state law that made trespassing near oil and gas pipelines a criminal offense. Felony charges that carry sentences of up to five years in prison were brought last year against protesters and a journalist near the Dallas-based operator's Bayou Bridge pipeline, which was then under construction, according to the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana. After protests erupted near Energy Transfer's Dakota Access Pipeline and Bayou Bridge beginning in 2016, 18 states including Texas, Pennsylvania and South Dakota have introduced bills similar to the Louisiana law, according to the nonprofit Center for Constitutional Rights. Trespassing near pipelines previously drew misdemeanor charges in Louisiana. The new law aims "to chill, and harshly punish, speech and expression in opposition to pipeline projects," the plaintiffs said in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs include environmental groups Louisiana Bucket Brigade, 350 New Orleans and four of the people arrested for trespassing at Bayou Bridge. They also include landowners opposed to the pipeline. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and two other state and local officials were named as defendants in the lawsuit. A Landry spokesman said the attorney general will vigorously defend the 2018 law, and that environmental groups are free to protest but not "in a manner that obstructs and threatens infrastructure." "Our state has an obvious and compelling reason to protect vital infrastructure from criminal trespass, damage, or possible attack," Landry spokesman Jacques Ambers said in an email. "That should be immediately apparent to rational people." "We respect that there are varying opinions on infrastructure projects such as ours and we support the right of all Americans to protest lawfully," Energy Transfer spokeswoman Vicki Granado said in an email. (Reporting by Collin Eaton in Houston; Editing by Cynthia Osterman, Richard Chang and Sonya Hepinstall) (Updates story from May 21 with comment from China on the United States, elaborates on Dwan quote about action needed) By Tom Miles GENEVA, May 22 (Reuters) - The risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War Two, a senior U.N. security expert said on Tuesday, calling it an "urgent" issue that the world should take more seriously. Renata Dwan, director of the U.N. Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), said all states with nuclear weapons have nuclear modernisation programs underway and the arms control landscape is changing, partly due to strategic competition between China and the United States. Traditional arms control arrangements are also being eroded by the emergence of new types of war, with increasing prevalence of armed groups and private sector forces and new technologies that blurred the line between offense and defense, she told reporters in Geneva. With disarmament talks stalemated for the past two decades, 122 countries have signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, partly out of frustration and partly out of a recognition of the risks, she said. "I think that its genuinely a call to recognize and this has been somewhat missing in the media coverage of the issues that the risks of nuclear war are particularly high now, and the risks of the use of nuclear weapons, for some of the factors I pointed out, are higher now than at any time since World War Two. The nuclear ban treaty, officially called the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was backed by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. The treaty has so far gathered 23 of the 50 ratifications that it needs to come into force, including South Africa, Austria, Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico. It is strongly opposed by the United States, Russia, and other states with nuclear arms. Cuba also ratified the treaty in 2018, 56 years after the Cuban missile crisis, a 13-day Cold War face-off between Moscow and Washington that marked the closest the world had ever come to nuclear war. Story continues Dwan said the world should not ignore the danger of nuclear weapons. How we think about that, and how we act on that risk and the management of that risk, seems to me a pretty significant and urgent question," she said. She added that it was not being adequately addressed in arms control talks or multilateral bodies such as the U.N. Security Council nor by bilateral arrangements between states. On Wednesday, China's disarmament ambassador in Geneva accused Washington of sabotaging and tearing up deals and having a "Cold War mentality," and said Washington displayed bullying behavior. (Reporting by Tom Miles Editing by Frances Kerry) * Cost of Lake Charles plant up around $1 bln * Expects lower return on project * Shares fall more than 10% (Adds CEO comment, share price, asset sale) By Tanisha Heiberg and Emma Rumney JOHANNESBURG, May 22 (Reuters) - Sasol has raised the expected cost of its U.S. ethane cracker project by around $1 billion following a review by the project's new management, the South African petrochemicals firm said on Wednesday, sending its shares more than 10% lower. The estimate for the Lake Charles Chemicals Project (LCCP), which will convert natural gas into plastics ingredient ethylene, is now $12.6-12.9 billion, including a contingency of $300 million, Sasol said in a stock exchange announcement. The company said the review of the project, which was initially expected to cost $8.9 billion in 2014, revealed oversights such as duplicate credits and overlooked contracts, adjustments for potential insurance claims, procurement back-charges and remaining work and repairs that needed to be done. "We are extremely disappointed with the increase in LCCP's capital costs. We take accountability and we are confident that the revised plan will be delivered," said joint president and chief executive officer Bongani Nqwababa on a conference call. Sasol had said in February the plant in Louisiana, which saw the first of seven units start production earlier this year, was expected to cost up to $11.8 billion. Shares in Sasol, the world's biggest maker of motor fuel from coal, were down 12.5 percent to 377.45 rand at 0753 GMT. "The numbers just don't look very flattering at all," said Ryan Woods, market trader at Independent Securities. Sasol also cut the forecast return from the project to 6-6.5% from 7.5% due to the increased cost as well as the outlook for market prices. It reduced the project's expected earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) for the 2022 financial year to $1 billion from $1.3 billion. Story continues Sasol said the project was 96% complete, with capital expenditure at $11.4 billion as of the end of March. The cost increase will result in higher gearing - net debt to EBITDA - for Sasol for 18 to 24 months, with gearing expected to peak at 2-2.3 times during fiscal 2019, the company said. "We believe that the balance sheet is sufficiently robust to absorb the increase in cost and our capital allocation strategy is unchanged. We remain confident for the long-term outlook for the LCCP," said Nqwababa. Sasol, which has plans to offload around $2 billion in assets across its portfolio, said the sales would further support deleveraging. (Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg and Emma Runmey, Editing by Subhranshu Sahu and Mark Potter) (Recasts with Saudi participation, changes dateline from CAIRO) RIYADH, May 21 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will participate in a conference next month in Bahrain aimed at encouraging investment in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, part of U.S. President Donald Trump's long-awaited Israel-Palestinian peace plan. The "Peace to Prosperity" economic workshop, to be hosted on June 25-26 in cooperation with the United States, has already been rebuffed by Palestinian officials and business leaders who want their political demands to be addressed in any solution to the decades-old conflict. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Islamist group Hamas have called for an Arab boycott of the meeting. The Saudi minister of economy and planning will attend, state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Abu Dhabi would also send a delegation. The Palestinian Authority has boycotted U.S. peace efforts since late 2017 when Trump decided to move the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, reversing decades of U.S. policy. The Trump administration has sought to enlist support from Arab governments. The plan is likely to call for billions of dollars in financial backing for the Palestinians, mostly from oil-rich Gulf states, according to people informed about the discussions. Saudi Arabia has assured Arab allies it would not endorse any U.S. plan that fails to meet key Palestinian demands which include Arab East Jerusalem as the capital of a Palestinian state, a right of return for refugees displaced by the Arab-Israeli wars, and a freeze on Israeli settlements in lands claimed by the Palestinians. The U.S. initiative follows a recent upsurge in cross-border fighting between Gaza militants and Israel. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah in Cairo and Stephen Kalin in Riyadh; editing by Jonathan Oatis, William Maclean) (Adds comment by congressional Democratic leaders) By Eric Beech and David Shepardson WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump told Democratic leaders on Tuesday to pass the United States-Mexico-Canada trade pact before working on an infrastructure bill, a sign that crumbling roads and bridges are unlikely to get significant federal funding for repairs this year. Trump's letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer comes before a scheduled meeting at the White House on Wednesday where Democrats were expected to detail how they would like to spend $2 trillion on infrastructure improvements. Tensions are rising between the Republican president and Democrats who on Tuesday subpoenaed two more former White House aides in connection with a House committee's probe of whether the president obstructed Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. "Before we get to infrastructure, it is my strong view that Congress should first pass the important and popular USMCA trade deal," Trump wrote. Trump's administration negotiated a trade pact to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico, but has yet to get Congress to approve it. Last week, his administration announced it would remove U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum, a major hurdle to the passage of the agreement, but a number of Democrats have expressed concerns about other parts of the deal. "Once Congress has passed USMCA, we should turn our attention to a bipartisan infrastructure package," Trump wrote. Pelosi and Schumer said in a statement late on Tuesday they were looking forward to hearing the president's plan on how to pay for an infrastructure package. But they did not mention the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact or highlight specific infrastructure priorities. Even before Trump's letter, any infrastructure bill already faced a tough road to approval as the White House has not agreed to raise taxes or enact new taxes to fund repairs. Story continues Trump waited until 2018 to outline an initial proposal that did not include new tax revenue. The proposal largely relied on private sector and state funding, and the plan was widely panned and never got a vote in the Republican-led Congress. Trump met with Democratic lawmakers in April, where the group agreed to spend $2 trillion to repair and build the United States' aging roads, bridges, power grids, water and broadband infrastructure, but did not develop a plan on how to pay for such a package. Trump suggested that Congress should use the surface transportation bill as "the best vehicle to achieve our goals" on infrastructure. The existing surface transportation law expires in September 2020 and Congress has added $140 billion from the general fund to make up for shortfalls in the highway trust fund over the last decade. That September 2020 deadline makes it less likely Congress will act on infrastructure this year, two administration officials said Tuesday. Trump's letter said congressional Democrats canceled a scheduled meeting of their aides, "preventing them from advancing our discussions. Nevertheless, I remain committed to passing an infrastructure bill." (Reporting by Eric Beech and David Shepardson; Additional reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by David Alexander and Lisa Shumaker) (Adds quotes, details on chemical weapons allegations) By Humeyra Pamuk and Ellen Francis WASHINGTON/BEIRUT, May 22 (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday called for a new ceasefire in Syria as rival forces clashed in the country's northwest, where the government is waging an offensive on the last big stretch of rebel-held territory. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched his assault late last month, saying rebels had breached an existing ceasefire, triggering a civilian exodus by bombarding Idlib and adjacent areas. The latest clashes mark the biggest escalation since last summer between Assad and his rebel enemies in Idlib province and a belt of territory around it. Washington late on Tuesday said it had seen signs that Assad may be using chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack, in the latest offensive and warned that it would respond "quickly and appropriately" if this were proven. Assad has denied such allegations throughout the war. "What we really need in Idlib and throughout the country is a ceasefire," James Jeffrey, U.S. special representative for Syria engagement and special envoy to the global coalition to defeat the ISIS militant group, said at a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. "These conflicts, back and forth exchanges .... just put tremendous pressure on civilians, they raise the specter of nation-to-nation clash," he said. "So we're very much engaged in trying to get this stopped and get it back to the ceasefire we had basically since September." However, fighting raged on Wednesday as rebels sought to roll back army advances in the face of a heavy bombardment, state media, insurgents and a war monitor said. Weeks of air strikes, shelling and clashes have driven some 180,000 people from their homes, raising fears of a new humanitarian disaster. The Syrian government says it is responding to attacks by al Qaeda-linked militants. Story continues When asked about the use of chemical weapons, Jeffrey said the United States remained vigilant on any potential such attack but said it did not have confirmation. "We do not at this point have any confirmation that chlorine, which was the substance that was suggested or alleged, has been used. ... We haven't finished our review," he said. France's foreign ministry said it noted the allegations "with a degree of alarm" and that they needed to be investigated. The Trump administration has twice bombed Syria over Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons, in April 2017 and April 2018. In September, a senior U.S. official said there was evidence showing chemical weapons were being prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib. Jeffrey also said the U.S. was engaging with Russia to help de-escalate the conflict in Idlib. "Despite the recent tragic offensive there, Moscow has reconfirmed, at least on paper, their commitment to the ceasefire deal with the Turks," he said. "LIVING UNDER BOMBARDMENT" The region, home to an estimated 3 million people, including many who fled other parts of Syria as government forces advanced in recent years, has been partly shielded by a truce agreement since last year, brokered by Russia and Turkey. However, Russia has voiced increasing frustration with what it calls violations of the agreement. Turkish army posts were established along the front line last year to monitor compliance with the agreement. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday they would remain, despite reports in Turkish state media that the Syrian army had carried out attacks near one of them. Many displaced people, camping on the Turkish border, voiced anger and frustration that Ankara had not done more to help them. "We can no longer put up with living under bombardment or in the open under the trees," said Abu Abdullah, one of thousands of Syrians in white tents dotted around the rock-strewn olive groves close to the frontier. Turkey-backed rebels had sent reinforcements on Saturday to the front lines of the insurgent enclave, which is dominated by the jihadist Tahrir al-Sham group, the latest incarnation of the former al Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front. The war monitor, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 100 air strikes hit rebel-held northwest Syria on Wednesday. Syrian state media reported that the army had stopped a large attack by rebel groups in several places, killing many insurgents. Rebels said they had recaptured the small town of Kafr Nabuda, which the government said it had taken early this month. "There are a large number ... killed from Assad's forces ... there are many bodies still on the ground in the town," said Naji Mustafa, a spokesman for the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front. Mustafa said the army had used chlorine gas when shelling Kubayna, in the mountainous frontline area in the northwest of the rebel enclave, causing choking symptoms among some fighters who were treated at a field hospital. However, he said that because of the intense bombardment, they had not properly documented the cases. Italy said on Wednesday that an Italian man held for three years in Syria had been freed. (Reporting By Humeyra Pamuk and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall in Beirut and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow; editing by Mary Milliken and Jonathan Oatis) (Adds details, background, stock movement) May 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. administration is considering limits to Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision's ability to buy U.S. technology, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, deepening worries about trade frictions between the world's two top economies. The move would effectively place Hikvision on a U.S. blacklist and U.S. companies may have to obtain government approval to supply components to Hikvision, the paper said https://nyti.ms/2MfgBS3. The U.S. Commerce Department blocked Huawei Technologies from buying U.S. goods last week, effectively banning U.S. companies from doing business with the Chinese firm, a major escalation in the trade war, saying Huawei was involved in activities contrary to national security. Hikvision and Dahua Technology which produce audio-visual equipment that can be used for surveillance were specifically cited in a letter to Trump's top advisers last month, signed by more than 40 lawmakers. The lawmakers said China's actions in its western region of Xinjiang "may constitute crimes against humanity" and urged tighter U.S. export controls to ensure that U.S. companies are not assisting the Chinese government's crackdown there. The group of signatories were led by U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and U.S. Representative Chris Smith on the Republican side and Senator Bob Menendez and Representative James McGovern on the Democratic side. China has faced growing condemnation from Western capitals and rights groups for setting up facilities that U.N. experts describe as mass detention centers holding more than 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims. Hikvision shares opened 10% lower. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. Hikvision could not be immediately reached for comment. (Reporting by Rama Venkat and Philip George in Bengaluru; Editing by Sandra Maler and Gopakumar Warrier) (Adds details, background) WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - A ceasefire is needed in Syria's Idlib province where there has been a recent upsurge in violence, and the United States is working towards halting the clashes, which have put tremendous pressure on civilians there, U.S. envoy James Jeffrey said on Wednesday. "What we really need in Idlib and throughout the country is a ceasefire," Jeffrey, U.S. special representative for Syria engagement and special envoy to the global coalition to defeat the ISIS militant group, said at a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. "These conflicts, back and forth exchanges....just put tremendous pressure on civilians, they raise the specter of nation-to-nation clash," he said. "So we're very much engaged in trying to get this stopped and get it back to the ceasefire we had basically since September." At least 180,000 people have fled an upsurge in violence in northwest Syria, the last major stronghold of rebels who have fought against President Bashar al-Assad's government since 2011. Government bombing has killed dozens in the past three weeks. The latest clashes mark the biggest escalation since last summer between Assad and his rebel enemies in Idlib province and a belt of territory around it. The region, home to an estimated 3 million people, including many who fled other parts of Syria as government forces advanced in recent years, has been partly shielded by a truce agreement since last year, brokered by Russia and Turkey. Much of the recent fighting has hit a buffer zone agreed under that deal. The Syrian government says it is responding to attacks by al Qaeda-linked militants. The dominant insurgent faction in the region is the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), although the army offensive has not focused on the central Idlib area where it is most concentrated, an HTS-aligned opposition figure said. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Bernadette Baum) (Adds background on previous trials, next federal Roundup trial date, cases being sent to other courts) By Tina Bellon May 22 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday appointed prominent attorney Kenneth Feinberg as mediator for court-mandated settlement talks in the federal litigation over allegations that Bayer AG's glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer caused cancer. Feinberg has been instructed to meet with lawyers for Bayer and plaintiffs within the next 14 days, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco said during a court hearing on Wednesday. Chhabria, who oversees some 900 federal Roundup lawsuits, on April 11 ordered the parties to start confidential mediation. He appointed Feinberg after the parties failed to agree on a mediator. Feinberg is well known for having facilitated dispute resolutions in high-stakes litigations in the past. He led mediation talks over the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal and General Motors ignition switch litigation. Chhabria on Wednesday also scheduled the next federal Roundup trial for February 2020. The case would mark the second bellwether, or test trial, to help determine the range of damages and define settlement options for federal cases. The judge also wants to prepare some 20 cases currently pending before him for trial and send them to other courts across the country. More than 13,400 plaintiffs nationwide allege Roundup caused non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and that the company failed to warn about that risk. The majority of lawsuits are pending in state courts across the country. Bayer, which acquired Roundup maker Monsanto in a $63 billion deal last year, denies the allegations, saying studies and regulators have deemed glyphosate and Roundup safe for human use. The company in the past said it would comply with Chhabria's mediation order in good faith, while believing strongly in the "extensive body of reliable science supporting the safety of Roundup." Story continues Bayer has also said it would defend itself in all cases and await the appeals process underway for the three cases that have gone to trial and resulted in jury verdicts against it. A California jury on May 13 awarded $2 billion to a couple alleging Roundup caused their cancer. In March, a federal jury in San Francisco awarded $80 million to a California man after finding Roundup caused his cancer. That decision came after another California jury in August 2018 awarded $289 million to a groundskeeper in the first U.S. Roundup trial. That award was later reduced to $78 million. (Reporting by Tina Bellon in New York Editing by Bill Berkrot) A man allegedly killed his 10-year-old son after he pooped and vomited in the house in Kayole, Nairobi. Daniel Odongo reportedly beat up his son on May 16, causing his death. Investigating officer Edward Mlanda told the court that Odongo severely beat the boy after he developed a stomach problem. The Court also heard that the boy had eaten food that caused a stomach upset. Since he was all alone in the house, the minor was unable to go to the toilet which forced him to relieve himself in the house. He is also said to have vomited in the house. The suspect allegedly assaulted him and left him lying in bed. When Odongo came back to the house after cleaning the mess and utensils, he found the minor shivering, said Mlanda. The suspect then rushed the boy to Wilmad health centre where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The officer further said Odongo was arrested on the same day at the health centre and detained at Kayole station. I have not completed my investigations and need more time to enable me to record statements from prosecution witnesses, said the officer. In an affidavit, Mr Mlanda further indicated he is waiting for a postmortem report. Makadara Chief Magistrate granted more time to police. The matter will be mentioned on June 3. (Adds background on companies' pledges regarding deal) By Sheila Dang and Diane Bartz WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust division staff has recommended the agency block T-Mobile US Inc's $26 billion acquisition of smaller rival Sprint Corp, according to two sources familiar with the matter. While Justice Department staff balked at the merger, the Federal Communications Commission indicated on Monday it had reached an agreement in principle with the companies to allow the deal after the companies agreed to sell Sprint's prepaid brand Boost Mobile. The final decision on whether to allow two of the four nationwide wireless carriers to merge now lies with political appointees at the department, headed by antitrust division chief Makan Delrahim. Sprint shares fell 4.2% at $6.92 while T-Mobile dipped nearly 1% at $76.49. The Justice Department, which often follows staff recommendations, is expected to make a final decision in about a month, the sources said. Staff at the antitrust division, who remain in their jobs even when administrations change, have long been skeptical of the proposed merger, sources have told Reuters. T-Mobile has a reputation for aggressively seeking to cut prices and improve service to woo customers away from market leaders Verizon Communications Inc and AT&T Inc, and staff may want to preserve that dynamic. T-Mobile and the Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment. One critic of the deal, Gene Kimmelman, president of Public Knowledge, the nonprofit public interest group, said top brass in the Justice Department's antitrust division do not generally overrule the staff but they occasionally do. "I'd be extremely surprised if the front office overruled this," added Kimmelman, a veteran of the Obama Justice Department. A second antitrust expert, who declined to be identified, noted a previous deal during the Trump administration in which staff recommended filing a lawsuit to block the transaction but they were overruled. Story continues AT&T and Verizon each have 34% of the U.S. wireless market, T-Mobile has 18% and Sprint has 12%, analyst Craig Moffett of MoffettNathanson said in a blog post this week. Smaller carrier make up the balance. In discussions with the FCC, T-Mobile and Sprint also promised not to terminate a deal that would allow cable operator Altice USA Inc to offer mobile phone service later this year using Sprint's network. Altice had urged the FCC to reject the deal because it was concerned it would be stopped from offering the phone service. The companies also pledged that the merged company would build a "world-leading" 5G network, touted as the next generation of wireless service. They promised to give rural Americans robust 5G broadband and enhanced home broadband. The FCC and Justice Department almost always agree publicly on merger reviews, and experts say they have not had a major review disagreement in four decades. Now, state attorneys general and public utility commissions will review the deal, potentially pushing a closing to the third quarter of this year, a Citibank note said. T-Mobile, which is about 63 percent owned by Deutsche Telekom AG, has about 80 million customers. Sprint, about 84 percent owned by SoftBank Corp, has some 55 million customers. (Reporting by Sheila Dang and Diane Bartz; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Jeffrey Benkoe) (Recasting with details from hearing) By Steve Gorman SAN DIEGO, May 22 (Reuters) - A judge in the court-martial of a decorated Navy SEAL charged with war crimes in Iraq said on Wednesday the trial would start at least a few days late as lawyers on both sides grappled over allegations that prosecutors illegally snooped on the defense. The timing of the trial could be rendered moot in light of reports that President Donald Trump is considering offering a pardon to Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher and other U.S. military personnel accused or convicted of battlefield atrocities. Gallagher is charged with fatally stabbing a helpless, wounded Islamic State fighter in his custody and with shooting two unarmed civilians - a school girl and an elderly man - from a sniper's perch during his 2017 deployment to Mosul, Iraq. In addition to murder and attempted murder, Gallagher is charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly trying to intimidate his accusers into silence. The 39-year-old career combat veteran and platoon leader has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Defense lawyers say the allegations against Gallagher were fabricated by subordinate SEAL team members disgruntled with his leadership style and seeking to force him from his command. The New York Times reported on Sunday that Trump was reviewing several high-profile U.S. war crimes cases, including Gallagher's, for possible pardons to be announced over the Memorial Day holiday honoring military veterans at month's end. PREEMPT JUSTICE? Timothy Parlatore, the civilian attorney leading Gallagher's defense, told reporters after the hearing on Wednesday at U.S. Naval Base San Diego that he had discussed the possibility of presidential clemency with his client. He declined to say whether Gallagher was inclined to accept a pardon. "We've not asked for one," he told Reuters on Tuesday night. During a recess in court, Gallagher, dressed in Navy whites, declined comment when asked about a pardon by reporters in the courtroom. Story continues Characterizing Gallagher's court-martial as a wrongful prosecution, Parlatore disputed the notion that granting a pardon before the case concludes would preempt justice. "If the president decides to step in, that's what the commander does," he told reporters. The presiding judge, Navy Captain Aaron Rugh, granted additional time to resolve questions over tactics Navy prosecutors used to pinpoint the origin of leaks from case files the judge had placed under seal. He ordered prosecutors to furnish the defense more information about the scope and nature of its probe, including notice of whether anyone remained under scrutiny. Parlatore insisted he would need at least two more weeks to prepare for trial once matters of alleged prosecutor misconduct were settled. He has accused prosecutors and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) of conducting illegal surveillance of defense attorneys and reporters with electronic tracking software secretly embedded in emails. Such methods were tantamount to warrantless wiretapping, he said. Prosecutors said the email "auditing tools" it used were designed merely to detect the flow of emails without revealing their content. Nevertheless, Parlatore said he may request that the lead prosecutor be disqualified from the case, and for recusal of the judge. Rugh, denying that he had ordered a leaks investigation, gave Parlatore until this Friday to file any remaining pleadings on the issue and set a hearing for May 29 - the day after the trial had been scheduled to commence - to argue those motions. Barring any further upheavals, Rugh said, he hoped to seat a trial jury by May 31 and to begin hearing testimony the following week. Trump weighed in on the Gallagher case publicly in March, ordering the defendant moved to less restrictive pre-trial confinement "in honor of his past service to our country." (Reporting by Steve Gorman Additional reporting by Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Bill Tarrant, Susan Thomas and Leslie Adler) (Adds quotes, background) DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates said on Wednesday that the participation of several countries in an investigation into last week's attack on oil tankers off its coast would support the "impartiality and transparency" of the findings. The Gulf Arab state has not yet blamed anyone for the acts of sabotage on four vessels including two Saudi oil tankers, but a senior UAE official has said Abu Dhabi was concerned about Iranian behavior in the region. "The keenness of our international partners to participate in the investigation and the concerted efforts support the impartiality and transparency in arriving at results," the UAE foreign ministry said in a statement carried on state news agency WAM. U.S. government sources told Reuters they believe Iran encouraged Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group or Iraq-based Shi'ite militias to carry out the operation. Tehran has distanced itself from the attack, which comes as Iran and the United States spar over sanctions and the U.S. military presence in the Gulf region. The UAE foreign ministry statement welcomed the participation of several "friendly and brotherly" countries in the investigation, but did not name them. It did not give a timeframe, saying the probe would take "the time required." UAE officials have said that the United States and France, which has a naval base in Abu Dhabi, were participating in the investigation as well as Saudi Arabia and Norway. A Norwegian-registered oil products tanker and a UAE fuel bunker barge were among the vessels hit near Fujairah emirate, one of the world's largest bunkering hubs located just outside the Strait of Hormuz. UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash has said Abu Dhabi would show restraint after the attack and that it was committed to de-escalation during what he described as a "difficult situation" caused by Iranian behavior in the region. Sunni Muslim ally Saudi Arabia has called for emergency Gulf and Arab summits in Mecca on May 30 to discuss the implications of the tanker attack and an armed drone strike two days later on Saudi oil installations in the kingdom, for which the Houthis have claimed responsibility. (Reporting by Maher Chmaytelli; Writing by Ghaida Ghantous; Editing by Susan Fenton) (Adds quotes, context) PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - The United States is not ready to launch trade talks with the European Union, European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said on Wednesday. "We are ready from the European Union side to start and we have the mandate... But I don't think the U.S. is ready to start on the tariff negotiations," Malmstrom told reporters at the OECD in Paris. Malmstrom did not detail why Washington was not in a position to enter into tariff negotiations. Member states have given the commissioner a mandate for the scope of the talks, which does not include agriculture, something the United States had pressed for. But speaking after talks with the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Malmstrom said that if the two sides agreed to move ahead, the process would advance swiftly. "If we were to agree that now we start (negotiations) and we can agree on the scope of this ... it could move in a couple of weeks," she added. U.S. President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker agreed in July 2018 to reduce to zero tariffs on "non-auto industrial goods." (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Writing by John Irish; Editing by Richard Lough and Alison Williams) Ah, midyear, the point at which were well past the typical January-to-February slump of unexciting releasesthough there are always exceptionsand right at the cusp of the summer blockbuster season. Though its true that many of the studios save their big prestige movies for the fall, the first half of any year should never be underestimated. There are always gems that sneak in, often in the form of smaller movies that may have slipped past your radarespecially if, earlier in the year, you were busy playing catch-up before the Oscars. Here are 10 of this years best films so far, including some you might have missed. Catch up with them now, and youll be well ahead of the 2019 Oscar curve. Read TIMEs picks for the best TV shows, songs, albums, fiction books and nonfiction books of 2019 so far. The Mustang For her feature debut, director Laure de Clermont-Tonnere drew from a real-life prison rehabilitation program in Carson City, Nevada, in which inmates train wild mustangs to ready them for sale or adoption. Matthias Schoenaerts gives what will surely be one of the best performances of the year as Roman, an angry, withdrawn prisoner who finds a sense of purpose and connection with the horse hes assigned to train, a willful creature named Marquis. Like its stars, both human and equine, this movie has a glorious, generous spirit. Gloria Bell There are two kinds of great actresses: Grand dames, who command your respect, and jewel thieves, who sneak off with it, seducing you with gestures and expressions so delicate that you might barely notice themuntil you snap to and realize something inside you has shifted. Julianne Moore is the latter type, and her gifts are on full display in Chilean director Sebastian Lelios sublime, and supremely entertaining, Gloria Bell. Moore plays Gloria, a single Los Angeles fiftysomething in search of an elusive missing element in her life that may or may not be love. Has she found that whatever-it-is in John Turturros Arnold, the recently divorced owner of a small recreational park whose chief attraction is paintball? That depends on what shes willing to settle for. Its one of the most radiant, bittersweet films of the year, and one thats particularly keyed in to the experiences of women in middle age. Story continues They Shall Not Grow Old To make this unusual and deeply moving experimental documentarywhich had some special event screenings in late 2018 but was not released to a wider U.S. audience until this yearPeter Jackson, director of the Lord of the Rings movies, took archival World War I footage from Great Britains Imperial War Museum, carefully and respectfully colorized it, and added audio culled from BBC and IWM interviews with men who survived the conflict. In a climate where even fairly recent wars, like Vietnam or the Gulf War, are already fading into a dim fog for many people, the Great War almost feels like ancient history. But Jackson makes the experience of these early-20th-century soldiers feel immediate and raw. Sometimes these menall of them so very, very younglook right at the camera, right at us. Its as if theyre piercing our very souls. High Life French director Claire Denis has made movies about lovesick cannibals, about the hearts and minds of men isolated in their own all-male world, about immigrants to France who are as French as those whose families have lived there forever. Denis is often a challenging filmmaker, and her latest, High Lifein which Robert Pattinson gives a terrific performance as a convict sent into space as part of an inhumane experimentqualifies as one of her most demanding films. But its also bleak and beautiful, a film with so many emotional and intellectual threads to follow that you might find yourself lost in spacein the good way. Birds of Passage In most dramas about the drug trade, womenwives, girlfriends, mothers, daughterstend to hover quietly in the background, often as trophies of sorts for the men who support them. Rarely are they central characters, figures who have everything to gain or lose as the result of the illicit business dealings of the men around them. But Cristina Gallego and Ciro Guerras spellbinding Birds of Passage, set in an indigenous Wayuu community in the early days of the Colombian drug trade and based on real events, is a drug-dynasty epic like no other. As the movie opens, young Zaida (Natalia Reyes) chooses a suitor whose ambitions will shape her future; its a choice that gives her mother, Ursula (Carmina MartInez), the tribes leader, more status and power as well. Birds of Passage is a visually resplendent epic that builds to a mournful end: Even in a small, cloistered community where women call the shots, they still have the most to lose. The Beach Bum All hail The Beach Bum! Harmony Korine has made an assertively shapeless, ridiculously enjoyable movie about an aging slacker poet-genius, Moondog (Matthew McConaughey), who toodles through the Florida Keys drinking, wooing beautiful, bikini-clad women and, once in a while, tapping out a poem or two on the portable typewriter he keeps slung in a pillowcase over his shoulder. The vibe is sunny and tie-dyed, but theres a strain of tenderness here too, in the romance between Moondog and his wife, Minnie (a radiant, loopy Isla Fisher), and in the friendship between the couple and happy-go-lucky drug dealer Lingerie (and if thats not a name, what is?), played by the great Snoop Dogg. The Beach Bum is wholly absurd and possibly brilliant. Amazing Grace Aretha Franklins live album Amazing Grace, recorded over two nights in 1972 at Los Angeles New Temple Missionary Baptist Church, would go on to become the best-selling gospel album in history. For years, few people knew that there was any documentary footage of Franklins performance at that Watts churchdirector Sydney Pollack had shot footage there, but the film hed planned was never completed, because hed failed to sync the sound with the images. The uncompleted film languished for decades, until music producer Alan Elliott managed to finish it, roughly nine years agoonly to have Franklin block its release. The Queen of Soul is, sadly, no longer with us, but our consolation for her loss is this gorgeous, stirring documentary. Its enough to bring even nonbelievers a little closer to Heaven. (TIME was a distribution partner, along with NEON, for this film.) Us Jordan Peeles second film, the horror parable Us, is an imperfect picture, but theres no denying its ambition: Lupita Nyongo stars as Adelaide, a young woman with a husband and kids whos suddenly confronted with a set of doppelgangerspeople who look almost identical to her family, including a woman who looks just like her, though theres more than a little something off. With Us, Peele wades deep into the conflicted territory of class and race and privilege; he also ponders the traits that make us most human. Hes got so many ideas he can barely corral them, let alone connect them. But his dazzling visual style is enough to keep you watching, and thinking about, all thats unfolding before you. The Souvenir This stunning memoir of a movie from English filmmaker Joanna Hogg tells the story of a young film student in early 1980s London, Julie (Honor Swinton Byrne, daughter of Tilda, who also appears in the film). Julie wants to make real films about the working class, but her artistic ideas ring hollowthey just dont click with her privileged upbringing. Enter Anthony (Tom Burke), well-mannered and charming but also enigmatic. His pedigree is similar to Julies, though theres a gulf between them that doesnt become clear until the second half of the movie. By the end, the painful spiral of their romance is as piercing as a drill bit. The Souvenir is a soulful reminiscence about the mistakes you make when youre youngwhich, years after the fact, come to seem less like mistakes and more just part of the patchwork of choices that have made you what you are. Its a movie about all the things you cant see when youre 20, viewed with sorrow and tenderness in the rear-view mirror as you approach 50, 60 and beyond. Tolkien You dont have to be a Lord of the Rings nut to respond to Tolkien, Finnish director Dome Karukoskis sensitive, handsome-looking movie about the formative years of one of the worlds great writers of fantasy literature, J.R.R. Tolkien. Nicholas Hoult gives an extraordinary performance in the title role, as a bright young man of little means who relies on scholarships to get him through Oxfordand who, as he struggles to finish that education, risks forever losing his first love, Edith (played, with understated allure, by Lily Collins). Through it all, young Tolkien is inventing Elvish-sounding languages and sketching all kinds of winged and slithery beasties, ideas that will be the foundation of his later work. Hes also forging close friendships with a group of schoolmates, particularly Geoffrey (Anthony Boyle), an aspiring poet. These are the kinds of friends you hang onto for lifeor at least for as long as you can. Tolkien is a marvelous picture about creativity, love and loss. When Canadian Pacific Railway Limited (TSE:CP) announced its most recent earnings (31 March 2019), I compared it against two factor: its historical earnings track record, and the performance of its industry peers on average. Being able to interpret how well Canadian Pacific Railway has done so far requires weighing its performance against a benchmark, rather than looking at a standalone number at a point in time. In this article, I've summarized the key takeaways on how I see CP has performed. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! See our latest analysis for Canadian Pacific Railway Was CP's recent earnings decline indicative of a tough track record? CP's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 March 2019) of CA$2.0b 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 14%, indicating the rate at which CP is growing has slowed down. What could be happening here? Well, let's look at what's transpiring with margins and if the whole industry is experiencing the hit as well. TSX:CP Income Statement, May 22nd 2019 In terms of returns from investment, Canadian Pacific Railway has invested its equity funds well leading to a 30% return on equity (ROE), above the sensible minimum of 20%. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 11% exceeds the CA Transportation industry of 7.7%, indicating Canadian Pacific Railway has used its assets more efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Canadian Pacific Railways debt level, has increased over the past 3 years from 15% to 16%. What does this mean? While past data is useful, it doesnt tell the whole story. Companies that are profitable, but have capricious earnings, can have many factors influencing its business. I recommend you continue to research Canadian Pacific Railway to get a better picture of the stock by looking at: Story continues Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for CPs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for CPs outlook. Financial Health: Are CPs 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 March 2019. 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. * Mall operator trades below IPO price of 26 riyals/share * IPO first after new rules to limit stock fluctuations * Saudi Arabia's main index up more than 10 pct this year (Updates share price, adds CEO quotes, adds TV) By Marwa Rashad and Hadeel Al Sayegh RIYADH/DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian mall operator Arabian Centres shares traded below their initial public offer price on Wednesday, underperforming the market and reflecting limited retail investor demand. The Arabian Centres IPO was priced at the lower end of an indicative price band and coincided with a fall in global markets driven by fears over the wider economic impact of a growing trade dispute between the United States and China. Arabian Centres was the kingdom's third biggest IPO since Saudi Arabian lender National Commercial Bank raised $6 billion in 2014, according to Refintiv data. Although Arabian Centres shares hit 26.10 Saudi riyals at their open, they were trading at 24.44 riyals by 0957 GMT, against an IPO price of 26 riyals. This valued the deal, which represents 22.7% of the company, at 2.8 billion riyals ($747 million), including a so-called greenshoe option. Arabian Centres plans to expand its operations to 27 malls within four years and is building cinemas after a decades-long ban on movie theaters was lifted last year. "We have a strong development plan for the future...We have more than 3 billion (Saudi riyal) investments to build in the other shopping centers which we are going to open in the next four years," Oliver Nougarou, its chief executive, said. Arabian Centres shares were priced at 26 riyals, Arabian Centres said in a statement that 94% of the offering went to institutional investors and 6 percent to individuals. It had said it could sell 10% to retail investors. 'TEPID RESPONSE' Riyadh has been encouraging more family-owned companies to list in a bid to deepen its capital markets as part of reforms aimed at reducing its reliance on oil revenue. Story continues "The fall today is not surprising given the tepid response to the offering and many institutional investors who might have been over allocated must be offloading their position today," said Nishit Lakhotia, head of research at Bahrain-based SICO. Other market analysts said the fall reflected the risk associated with the firm and wider negative sentiment on retail. The company's listing comes after new rules introduced by Saudi Arabia's market watchdog, the Capital Markets Authority, which aim to limit stock fluctuations after a public share-sale. Goldman Sachs was appointed as a stabilizing agent for Arabian Centres, where a bank oversees a newly-listed stock in the early hours of trading. The IPO of Arabian Centres, majority-owned by Fawaz Alhokair Group, is the first in the kingdom under Rule 144a, which allows the sale of securities primarily to qualified institutional buyers in the United States. Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, has indirectly invested in offering, sources told Reuters this month. The Saudi stock market is up by more than 10 percent so far this year, one of the best performing in the Middle East, as it entered global emerging market benchmarks such as the FTSE Russell emerging market index. ($1 = 3.7500 riyals) (Additional reporting by Saeed Azhar; Editing by Alexandra Hudson and Alexander Smith) Chasu Kitchen. | Photo: Nicolette S./Yelp Looking for a delicious Chinese meal near you? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable Chinese restaurants around Plano, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to fill the bill. 1. Wu Wei Din Chinese Cuisine Photo: tiffany w./Yelp Topping the list is Silverwood's Wu Wei Din Chinese Cuisine, situated at 2909 W. 15th St. With 4.5 stars out of 395 reviews on Yelp, the Taiwanese and Chinese spot, offering noodles and more, has proven to be a local favorite for those looking for a cheap option. Start off with cucumber salad, fried chicken thighs, blazing tofu or a scallion pancake before honing in on heartier entrees like shrimp fried rice, chicken curry or veggie lo mein. Noodle dishes and a variety of protein-specific meals are also on offer. (Check out the full menu here.) 2. Chasu Kitchen Photo: imran k./Yelp Chasu Kitchen, located at 2100 Dallas Parkway, Suite 130, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the inexpensive Asian fusion and Chinese spot, which offers fast food and more, 4.5 stars out of 263 reviews. Make your own customizable bowl at this Asian fusion spot by first selecting a base (rice, noodle, veggie blend, wrap) before adding on protein (chicken, beef, shrimp, pork, tofu), veggies (pickled cucumber, carrot, corn, kale, cabbage), sauce (peanut, curry, miso) and garnishes (seasonal selections available). Five signature bowls, like the House Beef Bulgogi Bowl with cabbage, romaine lettuce, kim chi, cucumber, pickled daikon and sesame, are also available. (Visit the website here for a full list of offerings and for more information.) 3. Bull Daddy Noodle Bistro Photo: bull daddy noodle bistro/Yelp Check out Bull Daddy Noodle Bistro, which has earned four stars out of 226 reviews on Yelp. Dig in at the Taiwanese and Chinese spot, which offers noodles and more, by heading over to 3309 Coit Road, Suite 100. Look for specific menu choices like spicy seafood noodle soup, drunken chicken and fried pork chop rice at this popular joint. The expansive menu also includes beef noodles, spicy plates, soup, snacks, fried rice and other protein-specific entree choices. (The full menu can be seen here.) Story continues 4. QQ Teahouse Photo: qq teahouse/Yelp Last but not least, there's QQ Teahouse, a Silverwood favorite with four stars out of 235 reviews. Stop by 2909 W. 15th St. to hit up the Taiwanese spot, which offers bubble tea and more, next time you're looking to satisfy your cravings on a budget. Rice bowls, such as the Katsu-Don with pork chop, egg and onion, and soup, such as milky cheese ramen, are popular selections. Noodle dishes, snacks and hearty entrees are also on offer. (Check out the menu here.) This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Another row is being reported in the presidency, after it emerged that Deputy President William Ruto has been forced to cancel a planned trip to the US and Canada. According to The Star, Ruto was to fly out on Monday for a tour of the two countries. While there, he had been scheduled to meet Kenyans in the diaspora, a potentially significant voting constituency. His planned entourage was large, made up of top officials in his office and several loyal MPs. What the Deputy Presidents office termed as an official trip was interpreted by others in the office of the President as an extension of his 2022 campaign. It has not all been rosy between the DP and his boss, and officials working under them. The President has time and again pleaded with politicians to suspend their 2022 campaigns, but his deputy has been the first to ignore these wishes. On Tuesday, the DPs communications secretary David Mugonyi confirmed that the trip had indeed been scheduled. He said that Ruto had several official engagements in the US, and would then have proceeded to Canada to speak at the Open Governance Partnership Conference scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday next week. He however noted that there was nothing sinister in the cancellation, as it was only due to scheduling challenges. President Uhuru will also be travelling out of the country this week, and apparently the two cannot be out of the country at the same time. His Excellency the President is scheduled to travel to South Africa for the presidential inauguration of Cyril Ramaphosa this Friday. Afterwards, the President is expected in Vancouver, Canada, for a Women Deliver Conference scheduled for June 3-6, Mugonyi said. That argument is however not very strong, as it has indeed happened before that Uhuru and Ruto are both out of the country. Some time in 2016, Uhuru traveled to Zambia while his deputy was in Turkey. The rumours of a rift in government are made strong by reports that an official in the Directorate of America in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs may have been sent packing by Cabinet Secretary Monica Juma for facilitating Rutos trip. This has however been denied by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Macharia Kamau. Massive protests opposing a series of bans against abortions have continued for several days after one of the most stringent abortion laws in the nation was signed into law in Alabama last week. Crowds of demonstrators on Capitol Hill were joined by prominent womens rights activists and politicians on Tuesday, including 2020 presidential hopeful Kirsten Gillibrand, for a rally titled #StopTheBans. Our democracy only works when the people of this country stand up and demand it, the New York senator said to cheers. Do not allow this moment to pass without putting everything you have behind it organise, advocate and vote. Across the country, Americans from all walks of life marched in major cities and small towns to oppose bans like the one in Alabama, which makes performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases. The bill, signed by Republican Governor Kay Ivey, is effectively designed to set up a lengthy legal battle that could result in the Supreme Court revisiting a decades-old decision for Roe v. Wade, which deemed abortion a Constitutionally-protected right. To the bills many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God, the governor said in a statement while signing the bill on Wednesday. Hundreds of demonstrators then marched to the Alabama Capitol on Sunday to protest the states newly approved abortion ban, chanting my body, my choice! and vote them out! In a statement addressing the cheering crowd, Planned Parenthood Southeast President Staci Fox said Banning abortion does not stop abortion. It stops safe abortion. Governors in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have also approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. But none of the laws have actually taken effect, and all are expected to be blocked by the courts as the legal challenges play out with an ultimate eye on the Supreme Court. Story continues Marchers have said the measures are energising supporters of legalised abortion, and they say they are digging in for a legal and political fight. Along the route they took, the protesters passed by scattered counter-demonstrators raising signs against abortion. The Alabama law would make it a felony, punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison to perform an abortion. There would be no punishment for the woman receiving the abortion. But the protest outside the Alabama Capitol on Sunday occurred in a state where a majority of voters recently agreed to put anti-abortion language in the Alabama Constitution. Fifty-nine per cent of state voters in November approved the constitutional amendment saying the state recognises the rights of the unborn. As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions - Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother - the same position taken by Ronald Reagan. We have come very far in the last two years with 105 wonderful new..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 19, 2019 Donald Trump, while not mentioning Alabamas law, wrote in a weekend tweet that he is strongly pro-life but favours exceptions. As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions - Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother - the same position taken by Ronald Reagan, The president wrote in a series of tweets. Alabamas abortion ban would go into effect in six months if it isnt blocked by legal challenges. Additional reporting by AP US abortion-rights campaigners, including several Democrats running for president in 2020, rallied in front of the supreme court and across the country on Tuesday to protest against extreme new restrictions on abortion passed by legislatures in eight states. According to the website #StoptheBans, about 400 events were set to take place across all 50 US states. Some of the new laws recently passed by Republican state legislatures amount to the tightest restrictions on abortion seen in the United States in decades. Alabama passed an outright ban last week, including for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, unless the womans life is in danger. Hundreds of abortion rights supporters rallied for nearly two hours outside the supreme court, applauding fiery speeches from senators, members of Congress, activists and six presidential candidates who made clear the issue is likely take centre stage in the 2020 election. Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, Seth Moulton, Tim Ryan and Eric Swalwell, all competing to be the Democratic presidential candidate, described the anti-abortion drive as an attack on human rights and an attempt by Trump-emboldened Republicans to turn back the clock. Another candidate, Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, was also in attendance but did not make remarks. Democratic US presidential candidate Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) addresses abortion rights activists in Washington DC The Democratic US presidential candidate Senator Cory Booker addresses abortion rights activists in Washington.Photograph: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters The mood among the crowd in bright sunshine was defiant, energetic and hopeful. Protesters waved signs saying, We wont be punished and Protect Safe, Legal Abortion. A small counter-demonstration also took place. We are not going to allow them to move our country backward, Klobuchar, senator from Minnesota, told the crowd through a megaphone. You know whos with us? The American people are with us. The rally is one of scores being organized by the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood Action Fund and other civil rights groups, in what they are describing as a Stop Abortion Bans Day of Action. Story continues One of the most powerful speeches of the day came from congresswoman Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. I am outraged because this is outrageous, she said. This nation was built on the backs and grown in the wombs of women and our rights are not up for debate. Among those in attendance outside the supreme court was Kathy Kleeman, 66, from South Brunswick, New Jersey. She said: For all women in this country, its essential we protect these rights. I remember before Roe v Wade and it wasnt good: it was very spotty and dangerous for a lot of women, and we mustnt go back to that. She added: Right-wingers are in the ascendant. I dont believe Donald Trump cares about the issue one way or another, but this is red meat for his supporters. Gillibrand, senator from New York, said Trump is turning women into second-class citizens in America. This is the beginning of President Trumps war on women. If he wants this war, he will have it and he will lose. Booker, senator from New Jersey, said: We must wake up more men to join this fight and its not because we have mothers and wives and daughters. But because this is an assault on human dignity, on freedom. Warning of the danger of apathy, Booker added that current generation cannot rest on the laurels of what previous generations achieved for civil rights. This is a day in America when we must understand there can be no neutrality Today is a day in our land when we see people trying to take us backwards, but we must go forwards. Ryan, congressman from Ohio, acknowledged that he used to be pro-life but, having worked with politicians and advocacy groups, and heard the stories of women, he had changed his position. I find it insulting that some white male legislator is going to accuse women of infanticide and not caring about these kids. Demonstrations were planned across the US on Tuesday in defense of abortion rights, which activists see as increasingly under attack. Demonstrations were planned across the US on Tuesday in defense of abortion rights, which activists see as increasingly under attack.Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images Many of the restrictions are intended to draw legal challenges, which religious conservatives hope will lead the nations top court to overturn the 1973 Roe v Wade decision that established a womans right to make the choice on whether to terminate a pregnancy. Other states, including Ohio and Georgia, have banned abortions absent a medical emergency after six weeks of pregnancy or after the fetuss heartbeat can be detected, which can occur before a woman even realizes she is pregnant. At six weeks an embryo is neither a fetus nor has a recognizable heart. Those laws are in defiance of the Roe v Wade ruling, which affords a woman the right to an abortion up to the moment the fetus would be viable outside the womb, which is usually placed at about seven months, or 28 weeks, but may occur earlier. Several speakers in front of the supreme court argued that Congress must take action to codify Roe v Wade into law. Leaders of Naral Pro-Choice America and Planned Parenthood also addressed the gathering. The bans have been championed by conservatives, many of them Christian, who say fetuses should have rights comparable to those of infants and view abortion as tantamount to murder. The supreme court now has a 5-4 conservative majority following two judicial appointments by Donald Trump. .@SenGillibrand attends #StopTheBans rally in DC: "[President Trump] apparently wants to have a #waronwomen in America and if this is a war that he wants to have, he will have it and he will lose it." pic.twitter.com/6OocyCx1g0 The Hill (@thehill) May 21, 2019 Civil rights groups are suing to overturn the bans as eroding a womans right to bodily autonomy and say they endanger women who seek riskier illegal or homespun means to terminate a pregnancy. On Tuesday, nearly two dozen states and municipalities sued the federal government to stop a new rule letting health care clinicians object to providing abortions and other services that conflict with their moral or religious beliefs. The lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court asked a judge to block a rule by the Department of Health and Human Services that is scheduled to take effect in July. Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report Advance Auto Parts closed Wednesday to the upside on the heels of its better-than-expected earnings report. The auto-parts retailer recorded its seventh straight day of gains, marking its longest winning streak since November 2, 2015. But can the momentum continue? While some of the industrys biggest players, including Advance Auto Parts, have warned that the Trump administrations latest threat of 25% tariffs on $300 billion worth of Chinese imports could translate to higher costs to consumers, Wedbush Securities analyst Seth Basham doesnt seem too concerned. He told Yahoo Finance that he thinks auto-parts retailers are best positioned going into the second half of 2019. Best positioned in my universe going into the second half of 2019 would be the auto parts retailers, said Basham. We had companies like Advance Auto Parts report today outstanding results, better than expected. The company is managing its turnaround while at the same time taking advantage of industry trends, which are much less sensitive to the macro economy and housing. Laramie, Wyoming, USA - October 14, 2012: An Advance Auto Parts location in Laramie, Wyoming. Founded in 1932, Advance Auto Parts is a chain of automotive parts stores with over 3,500 locations. During its earnings call, Advanced Auto Parts executive vice president and chief financial officer Jeff Shepherd played down the risk of tariffs. However, he did say that the potential for more tariffs could have a greater impact on the company moving forward. Weve taken several steps to mitigate the impact, including sourcing refinements and working collaboratively with our suppliers. But without a doubt, the 25% of tariff for this round is a meaningful increase passed on to our customers. But the industry historically has been able to pass on these increases. Seana Smith is the anchor for The Ticker. Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn,YouTube, and reddit. By Saumya Joseph (Reuters Health) - When people with moderate or severe injuries are discharged from the hospital, follow-up care, especially at rehabilitation centers, is a crucial part of their recovery - but African Americans are less likely than white patients to seek out or receive these important services, a U.S. study suggests. "The results are important in that they highlight yet another disparity that exists in this vulnerable patient population," study coauthor Dr. George Kasotakis from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina, told Reuters Health by email. Kasotakis and colleagues analyzed data from three trauma centers in Boston on 182 black and 1,117 white patients who were injured between December 2015 and July 2018. When contacted between six and 12 months after they'd left the hospital, only 64.3 percent of the black patients said they had sought rehab services after discharge, compared to 79.8 percent of white patients. Similarly, only 40.0 percent of African-Americans went to doctors' offices or clinics for injury-related visits, compared to 47.0 percent of whites. African-Americans, however, were more likely than white patients to go back to emergency rooms for problems related to their injuries. The pattern was similar when the research team compared two matched subsets: 141 black and 628 white patients who were similar in age, gender, insurance status and injury type. Compared to white patients, African-Americans were 36 percent less likely to use rehabilitation services, and they had 41 percent fewer outpatient visits. Traumatic injuries can result in reduced quality of life, chronic pain, psychological disturbances and the burden of high medical costs, the study authors note in the American Journal of Surgery. Rehabilitation services have been found to improve long-term outcomes and functional independence after injury. Independent of socioeconomic status, African American trauma patients have been found in previous studies to have a higher mortality rate and a higher likelihood of long-term disability compared to white patients, the researchers write. Prior studies have also shown that injured African American patients are more likely to be sent home when they leave the hospital, rather than being sent to rehab centers or skilled nursing facilities, the researchers note. Dr. Anthony Fabio, an assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh who wasn't involved in the current study, pointed out that it doesn't address whether affluent African Americans are more or less likely to receive rehabilitation services than their low-income counterparts. "Being black isn't the issue," Fabio said in a phone interview. "The issue is probably that there's institutionalized racism in the United States and if you're African American you're more likely to be born in a poor neighborhood, which has a whole plethora of disadvantages as you grow up and move through life." Patients' understanding of the importance of follow-up care, access to rehab services and distrust of medical providers could be contributing to the disparities, the researchers write. Having doctors engage in more active conversations with patients on the benefits of post-injury care and setting up systems providing resources such as transportation to make it easier to access rehab centers could help, Fabio said. The experts admit it will be difficult to resolve the disparity, given the innate issues at play. "How can you address lower education, lower pay, lack of quality insurance across the board?" said Kasotakis, noting that expanding mandatory insurance has helped close the gaps to a certain extent. SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2PhmYlr The American Journal of Surgery, online April 1, 2019. Cape Town (AFP) - South African lawmakers on Wednesday re-elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the nation's president, two weeks after the ruling ANC party returned to power in legislative elections. Ramaphosa was "duly elected president of the Republic of South Africa," chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng told parliament. Ramaphosa was the only name nominated by lawmakers in Cape Town. MPs from the African National Congress, which won 230 out of 400 seats on May 8, choose the head of state in the parliament's first post-election sitting. The ANC won the ballot with 57.5 percent of the vote, its thinnest majority since the end of apartheid. Ramaphosa will be sworn in on Saturday and is expected to name a deputy president and cabinet at the weekend. Under South Africa's 1996 constitution, electors vote for a party, and the party selects individuals who go to the National Assembly, which then chooses the head of state. Ramaphosa, 66, is a trade unionist who played a prominent part in the struggle against white minority rule before becoming a successful businessman after the end of apartheid. He will serve his first full five-year term since taking over last year from Jacob Zuma who was forced out over a series of corruption scandals. "We have been given a responsibility to revive our economy, to rebuild our institutions and to restore hope," Ramaphosa told parliament. "This adminstration is about change and you are going to see the change." His first test as he starts his new term will be his choice of a cabinet -- a task beset by rival factions within the ANC. - Shadow of scandals - Prospects of a major reshuffle were heightened when Deputy President David Mabuza announced he would defer taking his oath as a lawmaker. An ANC integrity commission report has alleged Mabuza -- the party's No. 2 -- "prejudiced the integrity of the ANC and brought the organisation into disrepute". Seen as a pro-Zuma figure, his name has repeatedly come up in media reports into corruption and political killings when he was premier of the eastern Mpumalanga province. Story continues He later became the ANC's vice president in December 2017 when Ramaphosa was elected party leader. "Ramaphosa will never be more powerful than he is right now," political analyst Richard Calland told AFP. "He has to impose his authority. He can't dispense all of the Zuma faction... but he has to take them out of key positions so that he can govern decisively." Another senior ANC official, outgoing environment minister Nomvula Mokonyane, who has been named in the ongoing judicial inquiry into state corruption, also pulled out of the swearing-in and will not be an MP. Mmusi Maimane, leader of the main opposition Democratic Alliance party, called on Ramaphosa to act decisively against corruption in the ANC, saying he must ensure "those who have looted from our country actually see jail." The radical left Economic Freedom Fighters, founded six years ago by former ANC youth leader Julius Malema, grew from 25 to 44 parliamentary seats in the election. "We hope that you will be a president of a corrupt-free government and you will not subject yourself to views of factionalism," Malema told Ramaphosa. The ANC's reputation was badly sullied under Zuma's 2009-2018 rule. Its support has fallen in every election as it has been confronted by deepening public anger over its failure to tackle poverty and inequality in the post-apartheid era. South Africa economy grew just 0.8 percent in 2018 and unemployment hovers around 27 percent -- soaring to over 50 percent among young people. Cape Town (AFP) - South African lawmakers were set to re-elect Cyril Ramaphosa as the nation's president on Wednesday, two weeks after the ANC returned to power in legislative elections. MPs from the African National Congress, which won 230 out of 400 seats on May 8, will choose the head of state in the parliament's first post-election sitting. The ANC won the ballot with 57.5 percent of the vote, its thinnest majority since the end of apartheid. Lawmakers were sworn in before the maiden session starting at 2.00 p.m. (1200 GMT). The next president will be sworn in on Saturday and name a deputy president and cabinet at the weekend. Under South Africa's 1996 constitution, electors vote for a party, and the party selects individuals who go to the National Assembly, which then chooses the head of state. Ramaphosa, 66, is a trade unionist who played a prominent part in the struggle against white minority rule before becoming a successful business after the end of apartheid. He will be serving his first full five-year term since taking over last year from Jacob Zuma who was forced out over a series of corruption scandals. Ramaphosa's first test as he starts his new term will be his choice of a cabinet -- a task beset by rival factions within the ANC. - Shadow of scandals - Prospects of a major reshuffle were heightened hours before Ramaphosa's expected return to office, when Deputy President David Mabuza announced he would defer taking his oath as a lawmaker. In a report, the ANC's integrity commission alleged Mabuza -- the party's No. 2 -- "prejudiced the integrity of the ANC and brought the organisation into disrepute". His name has repeatedly come up in media reports for corruption and political killings, when he was premier of the eastern Mpumalanga province before becoming vice president last year. He became the ANC's vice president in December 2017 when Ramaphosa was elected party leader. Story continues "We have accepted and agreed to a request by the deputy president... to postpone his swearing-in," party spokesman Zizi Kodwa said on local TV news channel ENCA. Kodwa said it was not a given that Mabuza, as the party's vice president, would become the nation's deputy president. "The fact that he is deputy president of the ANC is not a guarantee or guarantor of a position of the deputy president of the republic," said Kodwa. Another senior ANC official, outgoing environment minister Nomvula Mokonyane, who has been named in the ongoing judicial inquiry into state corruption, has also pulled out and will not be an MP. The main opposition Democratic Alliance's chief whip in parliament, John Steenhuisen said the last-minute withdrawal by two senior ANC members is "very clearly a sign that something is afoot in the ANC". "It is completely bizarre ...and telling the divisions that exist within the governing party are continuing to exist and we are seeing manifestations of the various factions now playing out," said Steenhuisen. By Stella Qiu and Brenda Goh BEIJING (Reuters) - China's three biggest airlines have asked U.S. planemaker Boeing Co to compensate them for losses caused by the grounding and delayed deliveries of 737 MAX jets, just as regulators gather to discuss design changes for the troubled aircraft. The triple compensation requests come at a sensitive time in Sino-U.S. relations, with a string of tit-for-tat import tariffs culminating in Washington accusing Beijing of backtracking on almost all aspects of a proposed trade deal. The U.S. administration's latest tariff increase on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports - and hints of more - has prompted fear that China could retaliate against U.S. companies. On Wednesday, Air China Ltd and China Southern Airlines Co Ltd told Reuters the pair have added their voices to a compensation request from China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd announced a day earlier. The latest requests were first reported by Chinese state TV. China was the first country to ground the 737 MAX two months ago after a crash in Ethiopia killed 157 people in March, in the second such incident for Boeing's newest aircraft. "China has grounded 96 aircraft, which is about 4 percent of its airplanes. The grounding causes huge losses for Chinese airlines," China aviation expert Li Xiaojin told Reuters. Daily losses are likely to be at least 100,000 yuan ($14,469.90) per aircraft for each airline, Li estimated. "The potential costs are huge too. Slower growth in passenger volume across China's major airports for March and April was largely due to the grounding of 737 MAX jets, according to my calculations," Li said. China's state-asset regulator put the number of 737 MAX jets operated by the three biggest Chinese carriers at 53. Outside of China, carriers that have requested compensation include Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Ryanair and Flydubai. COORDINATED EFFORT Bloomberg last week reported the big Chinese airlines were considering teaming up to seek compensation. On Tuesday, state newspaper People's Daily said China Eastern had not communicated with the other carriers on the topic before making its request. China Eastern confirmed the content of that report to Reuters. Story continues On Wednesday, however, widely read tabloid Global Times reported that the action appeared to be a "concerted effort". "China seems to be ready now to put more pressure on Boeing as the company happens to have a genuine safety issue, and the trade friction between the U.S. and China started to go into a downward spiral," Global Times quoted Shen Yuxin, a partner at law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, as saying. The latest compensation requests also come a day before the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration hosts global regulators in Dallas to review 737 MAX software and training proposals from Boeing before regulators decide whether to end the grounding. China and the European Union each have their own aerospace industries and so are likely to determine their own conditions for allowing 737 MAX flights to resume, analysts said. The International Air Transport Association has also convened a meeting of airlines with grounded 737 MAX jets on Thursday in Montreal. ($1 = 6.9109 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Stella Qiu and Brenda Goh; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Christopher Cushing) Beirut (AFP) - Air strikes by Damascus or its ally Moscow killed 12 civilians in a market in Syria's Idlib province, a monitor said Wednesday, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwestern region. Another 18 people were wounded when the warplanes hit the jihadist-held town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in the north of neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday against pro-government forces in the town of Kafr Nabuda. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 52 -- 29 troops and militia and 23 jihadists, the Observatory said. It said that the jihadists had retaken most of the town from government forces who recaptured it on May 8. The jihadist-dominatedIdlib region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the regime and its Russian ally have escalated their bombardment of it in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. A jihadist alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region which threatened humanitarian disaster for its three million residents. President Bashar al-Assad's government has renewed its bombardment of the region since HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks as Turkey proved unable to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. The Observatory says more than 180 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30, and the United Nations has said tens of thousands have fled their homes. When A Whole New World is the most iconic song of the film youre remaking, you better be sure your version truly has a new fantastic point of view. And from the opening sequence of Guy Ritchies live-action version of the classic Disney film Aladdin, viewers are merrily disoriented by a wash of known and unknown elements. The known, of course, is the handsome street rat Aladdin, singing One Jump as he dashes down alleyways and vaults across rooftops, pursued by men brandishing sabersall while wooing a disguised Princess Jasmine. But the unknown is in the rich, real-life particulars of the fantasy city he moves through, Agrabah which is where production designer Gemma Jackson comes in. Obviously, the animation is completely adorable, and we all know it so well and love it, Jackson tells AD. But in fact the clever thing about animation is that they dont give you that much information. Its very character driven, so youll find a lot of blank walls and not much detail, which is fine for me! Im there to find all the details. But the question we asked at the beginning was, Where is this imaginary place that weve created, and whos living there? Who are all these people roaming around? Aladdin main Photo: Daniel Smith Youve likely spent some time in a cinematic world conceived by Jackson. She built the sets of Bridget Joness Diary, Finding Neverland, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, and the first three seasons of Game of Thrones. But she says that Ritchies vision for Aladdin was particularly liberating, because it was so abstract. While many viewers assume that Aladdin is set in the Middle East, the 1991 animated film draws many aesthetic cues from India, and the original folktale, Aladdins Wonderful Lamp from One Thousand and One Nights, actually takes place in China. So Ritchie made Agrabahs location purely fictional. Guy wanted it to feel very international. He didnt want it to be of any particular religion or race, and to keep it in this imaginary world, Jackson says. For me, it was really a very blank canvas in a sense, so I could just go to the parts of the world that I love. Im very happy in the East, and my mind wanders off in that direction when theres no restrictions, so that was where I ventured to. And its not set in a certain period; it just kind of is. So you take the bits you want, and I think thats part of the joy of this film. There were no constraints. Story continues aladdin jasmine castle Photo: Daniel Smith Jackson envisioned Agrabah as a bustling, vibrant port city, heaving with details and stuff. Early on, she made a trip to Morocco and did a big haul with lots of architectural detailsdoors, windows, a lot of timber. She did research on Iranian architecture and mosaics. She called her contacts in India and gave them quite precise instructions on what we were looking for, and then they shipped over a couple of containers, filled with pots and timber, and a lot of that lovely basketwork. From there, she began constructing Agrabah and the sultans palace on a massive soundstage in Surrey, England. She says that there were early discussions about shooting somewhere like Morocco," but ultimately the demands that were going to be made of the set were so particular that it would be kind of nuts to try to build it into a location. The desert and Cave of Wonders scenes were shot in Jordan, but most everything else was built from scratch to accommodate massive dance sequences. One of Jacksons first bouncing-off points, inspirationally, was a wooden Burmese monastery, which she resurrected as the sultans palace and painted gold. They filled the space with Persian and Indian miniatures (small traditional paintings) and ornate Iznik pottery, and made it very glamorous with drapes and lights. aladdin flowers Photo: Daniel Smith But perhaps the most important design element of Agrabah and the palace, Jackson says, was the lush vegetation and flora she incorporated into the open-air spaces of the city and palace. That was terribly important to me, because often when youre in these hot places there is this wonderful indoor-outdoor feeling, so youd just as well have a canopy of bougainvillea flowers to give some shade as you would an umbrella. So I love that because I think it tells you the type of country youre in. Jackson dotted Agrabah with palm trees, and flowering prickly pears, and placed a live 1,000-year-old olive tree in the center of the palace courtyard, which gave the opulent surroundings an aura of antiquity and tradition. aladdin tower Photo: Daniel Smith The word Jackson returns to more than any other when recalling the whole design process is joyful. Even places that evoked poverty had an imaginative charm. Its true, we ended up making this place look rather joyful and gorgeous, Jackson says. The tower where Aladdin lives was a bit more grim to begin with, but even that turned out to be rather delightful. Aladdins crumbling citadel had the best view of the city, and when he tugged on a rope, a fabric canopy sprang open over his bed. I guess Guy wanted to make a film that gave children a good view of life, even if youre a street rat. How Aladdin s Production Designer Created a Dazzling Live-Action Version of Agrabah Courtesy of Disney Courtesy of Disney Photo: Daniel Smith Photo: Daniel Smith Photo: Daniel Smith Photo: Daniel Smith Photo: Daniel Smith Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest Algiers (AFP) - Algeria's army chief said Wednesday he has "no political ambition", days after the key powerbroker urged anti-government protesters to take part in presidential polls set for July. "I have personally committed myself repeatedly... to support the Algerian people" who are protesting "as well as the efforts of state institutions and the justice system," General Ahmed Gaid Salah said in his third speech in as many days. "We have no political ambition aside from serving our country in accordance with our constitutional roles," Salah said, according to a transcript of the text seen by AFP. The army has backed the July 4 presidential polls, which were announced following the resignation of ailing leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika last month in the wake of mass protests. A former Bouteflika loyalist, Salah played a key role in his downfall by calling for the president's impeachment just hours before he stepped down. Protests have continued as Algerians call for transitional bodies to be set up ahead of any election, arguing the existing institutions are too marred by corruption for a legitimate vote to take place. On Monday, Salah reiterated his support for the elections and said the polls could help Algeria "avoid falling into the trap of a constitutional void, with its accompanying dangers and unwelcome consequences". Since Bouteflika quit, numerous judicial investigations have been launched against members of the former president's inner circle. Salah on Wednesday denied accusations he was behind the probes, saying the judicial institutions were free "from all forms of constraint, diktats and pressure". While the interim president, Abdelkader Bensalah, has remained relatively quiet since his appointment, Salah has upped the number of speeches delivered to troops. Some observers have pointed to similarities with Egypt's general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who took power in 2014 despite claiming the army would stay away from politics following a coup the previous year. In Algeria the army has played a central role since the country's independence in 1962, and was considered the real holder of power up to Bouteflika's 1999 election. DUBAI, May 22 (Reuters) - Algeria's army chief of staff said on Wednesday that he had no political ambitions, amid accusations from activists that he was trying to duplicate the Egyptian model in Algeria. "Everybody should know that we have no political ambitions," Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaed Salah was quoted as saying by Ennahar TV. (Reporting by Lamine Chikkhi; Editing by Alison Williams) American Airlines has filed a lawsuit against its mechanics unions, saying a concerted work slowdown has caused nearly 2,200 flight cancellations and delays since February and shows no signs of abating as the summer travel season begins on Friday. The airline filed a lawsuit Monday in federal court in Texas against the Transport Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (TWU). The two sides have been in contract talks since 2015 following the American-US Airways merger. American says mechanics are unlawfully engaging in a slowdown to gain leverage in negotiations. The lawsuit says they are taking an "inordinately long time to repair aircraft'' and refusing to work overtime. It says the moves have resulted in 644 unplanned canceled flights and 1,500 delays, including 270 delays of two plus hours. "The odds of this being random as opposed to concerted activity is less than one-in-one billion,'' the lawsuit says. The unions did not address the allegations of a slowdown in their response on Tuesday. In a statement, the joint IAM-TWU Association said it's unfortunate American is taking them to court rather than negotiating a contract and that American is frustrated because mechanics refuse to allow more maintenance and repair work to be be outsourced to South America, China and Europe. The association is ready and willing to get back to the bargaining table at any time and negotiate a fair joint collective bargaining agreement, but to do so would take a willing partner,'' the statement said. "We would much prefer to be at the negotiating table than in a legal battle brought on by American. American's allegations are strikingly similar to those leveled by Southwest Airlines against its mechanics union earlier this year during a bitter labor dispute. The airline, which said the maintenance delays and cancellations were costing the airline millions of dollars weekly, filed a lawsuit against the union in early March. The two sides reached a tentative contract later that month. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association announced Tuesday that Southwest mechanics overwhelmingly ratified the new contract. Story continues American said the alleged maintenance slowdown has intensified since the last negotiation session with the unions, overseen by the National Mediation Board, ended on April 25. The lawsuit says it is now causing an average 14 cancellations per day, compared with eight a day a few weeks ago. It asked for a preliminary injunction against the union because the alleged campaign threatens to seriously disrupt the airline's summer travel operations. American said an additional 2,200 flights would be canceled or significantly delayed (2+ hours) during the peak summer travel season if the slowdown persists at current levels, which would affect more than 300,000 passengers. That compares with 914 canceled and significantly delayed flights since February. American Airlines President Robert Isom said Tuesday the airline needs the unions to stop the slowdown and said he has "full confidence'' they will. "We need everybody pulling In the same direction, and Im quite confident we'll get there,'' Isom said during a presentation to investors in New York. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: American Airlines blames mechanics for 2,200 flight delays, cancellations, warns of summer travel trouble Many companies have shortcomings. Some don't offer ample vacation time. Others don't do a good enough job of supporting career development. If you're an employer, it's important to know what areas you're falling down in to avoid losing talent when better opportunities present themselves. To this end, financial technology company Self Lender enlisted the help of OnePoll to ask 2,000 Americans how their companies could improve. Based on that survey, these are the top five ways U.S. companies are letting workers down. 1. Salary Of the various ways American employers are falling short, salary tops employees' list: A good 54% of workers feel that they're not paid fairly. If you can't remember the last time you did an internal salary review, carve out some time to do some research and see how your compensation holds up to what competitors are paying. It may be worth allocating more resources to salary if it means retaining key talent you don't want to lose. Woman sitting at a laptop, with hands over her face IMAGE SOURCE: GETTY IMAGES. 2. Benefits Benefits are an essential component of compensation, yet 43% of workers aren't happy with the benefits package offered by their companies. Therefore, it pays to assess your benefits and see if there's room to improve. You may decide to offer better health insurance, a more generous 401(k) match, or wellness programs to help employees better manage their stress. Less common benefits, like pet insurance, can also go a long way. 3. Working hours An estimated 34% of employees aren't happy with their working hours. And given that many companies expect their workers to be perpetually available, that's not shocking. If your company tends to demand extra time from employees, it may be time to rethink that practice. Asking too much of your workers could lead them to burn out completely, and that, in turn, could cause them to either jump ship or simply give up on doing a good job. Neither is good for your company. Story continues 4. Management For 33% of workers, bad management is the source of their discontent. Even if your managers are seasoned professionals who know the industry well, that doesn't mean they're overseeing employees effectively. So spend some time observing your managers and seeing how they interact with their direct reports. Are they making themselves available enough? Are they treating workers with respect? Do they support their team members when challenges arise? Do some digging to see how good a job your management team is doing, and consider some training, or even an overhaul, if you find that your workers are being let down. 5. Workload Given the amount of time most workers spend on the job, it's natural that they'd want their hours to be filled with interesting, meaningful tasks. Yet 31% of employees aren't happy with their actual workload and the tasks they're assigned on a regular basis. To avoid losing people because of this, encourage your workers to give their managers feedback about their job responsibilities, and make it clear that your company is willing to invest in helping steer their careers in different (and more fulfilling) directions. At the same time, give your employees tools and training that will help them better manage their existing workloads and minimize their stress. The more satisfied your employees are, the less likely you'll be to see them move on. Take some time to see if your company is falling down in the above arenas. A little effort could save you a whole lot of recruiting in the long run. More From The Motley Fool The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. John Walker Lindh, the US Muslim convert who came to be known as the "American Taliban" after being captured while fighting in Afghanistan in 2001, was released Thursday after serving 17 years in a federal prison. The US Bureau of Prisons confirmed his early morning release from the federal high security prison in Terre Haute, Indiana. His lawyer Bill Cummings told CNN that 38-year-old Lindh, suspected by some of still harboring radical views, will settle in Virginia under strict probation terms that limit his ability to go online or contact other Islamists. President Donald Trump said he was unhappy about the release but that government lawyers had told him there was no legal way to keep him in prison. "We'll be watching him and watching him closely," Trump told reporters. "What bothers me more than anything else, here's a man that has not given up his proclamation of terror. We have to let him out," he said. "Am I happy about it? Not even a little bit." US Secretary of State and former CIA director Mike Pompeo denounced his release, noting a CIA officer died in an uprising of a group of prisoners Lindh was captured with in 2001. Lindh is "still committed to the very jihad that he engaged in that killed a great American and a great officer," Pompeo said on Fox News. - Plans unknown - Known as "Detainee 001" in the US War on Terror, Lindh's early release on a 20-year sentence has resurrected memories of the September 11, 2001 attacks, when he became for many Americans one of the faces of the jihadist threat against the United States. But his release also underscores that, almost two decades later, the US remains mired in a fight with the Taliban with no end in sight. There was no information released about Lindh's plans, other than that he will settle in Virginia, the state abutting the US capital Washington. His family, which lives near San Francisco, California, remained silent Thursday. Story continues The release comes amid concerns that Lindh may not have abandoned support for hardline Islamist thinking while incarcerated. In a letter this week to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, two senators asked how his alleged threat would be contained, citing unproven allegations that he "openly" supports extremist violence. "We must consider the security and safety implications for our citizens and communities who will receive individuals like John Walker Lindh," they said. The quiet son of a middle-class couple, he converted to Islam at age 16 and travelled to Yemen in 1998 to study Arabic. After returning home for several months, Lindh went back to Yemen in 2000, and then on to Pakistan to study further in a madrassa, or religious school. In mid-2001, ostensibly drawn by stories of the mistreatment of Afghans, he enlisted in the Taliban's fight against the Northern Alliance. After the United States intervened in Afghanistan following the September 11 attacks, Lindh was one of hundreds of Taliban fighters captured by Northern Alliance forces on November 25. He revealed his American identity to two CIA officers. One of them, Johnny Micheal Spann, was killed in a prisoner revolt hours after he interrogated Lindh, making him the first American killed in post-9/11 conflict in Afghanistan. While Lindh had no role in Spann's death, his case became politically and emotionally entwined with it. Lindh was quickly charged with multiple counts of terrorism and conspiracy to kill Americans, with politicians and generals demanding the death penalty. But in July 2002, he pleaded guilty to much-reduced charges of illegally aiding the Taliban and carrying weapons and explosives in the commission of that crime. - Remains a devout Muslim - By most accounts, Lindh clung firmly to Islam throughout his imprisonment. He spent years with a few dozen other Muslim prisoners in the Communications Management Unit of the Terre Haute prison, where their contacts with outsiders, media and information were tightly controlled. An internal 2017 report from the US National Counterterrorism Center, obtained by the Foreign Policy website, said Lindh "continued to advocate for global jihad and to write and translate violent extremist texts." The claim was not supported by any public evidence. \ But Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, a researcher at the George Washington University Center for Extremism, says that while in prison Lindh became close to Ahmad Musa Jibril, an Arab-American who, since his 2012 release, has preached an extremely conservative version of Islam that is popular among jihadists. - Restrictions on internet use - He will face extremely tough conditions in his three-year probation. Lindh, who gained Irish citizenship while in prison, cannot obtain a passport or travel abroad. He can only possess or use an internet-capable computer or phone with official permission, and the device has to be monitored continuously by authorities. He will also remain under tough scrutiny from a society where many believe he should be imprisoned for life. LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - Prominent Brexit supporter Andrea Leadsom resigned from British Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet on Wednesday, saying she could no longer support the government's approach after May's latest gambit to pass her Brexit deal backfired. "I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result," Leadsom, who served as Leader of the House of Commons, said in a resignation letter to May. "It is therefore with great regret and with a heavy heart that I resign from the government." (Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Catherine Evans) LONDON (Reuters) - Prominent Brexit supporter Andrea Leadsom resigned from British Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet on Wednesday, saying she could no longer support the government's approach after May's latest gambit to pass her Brexit deal backfired. May resisted growing calls to resign on Wednesday, vowing to press on despite mounting opposition from lawmakers and even some of her own ministers to her latest Brexit gambit. But Leadsom said she could not announce the new Withdrawal Agreement Bill in parliament on Thursday as she did not believe in it. "I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result," Leadsom, who served as Leader of the House of Commons, said in a resignation letter to May. "It is therefore with great regret and with a heavy heart that I resign from the government." May's new Brexit plan includes a vote on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum -- once her legislation passes the first stage -- as well as closer trading arrangements with the EU in future as incentives to lawmakers. But that met a swift backlash, with several lawmakers who have supported her in previous Brexit votes saying they could not back her new plan. "I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the government willingly facilitating such a concession," Leadsom said. May is due to meet the chair of the powerful 1922 committee of Conservative lawmakers on Friday, after campaigning for European Parliament elections on Thursday. "No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have," Leadsom wrote to May. "But I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this government and our party." (Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Elizabeth Piper) By Ahmed Kingimi and MAIDUGURI MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - An armed gang killed at least 18 people in the northwest Nigerian state of Katsina, police and residents said on Wednesday, as unrest spreads across the region and into the president's home state. Hundreds of people have died in Nigeria's northwest since the beginning of the year, in attacks the government attributes to bandits, a loose term for gangs of outlaws carrying out robberies and kidnappings. Despite military and police operations to quell the conflict, the death toll continues to rise, along with incidents of kidnapping and robbery. Security experts say Nigeria can ill-afford more instability, with the country already struggling to contain Islamist insurgencies in the northeast, brutal pastoral conflict in the central states and militant groups in the Niger Delta to the southeast. In the latest incident, bandits attacked farmers at the village of Yar Gamji, near Nigeria's border with Niger, on Tuesday morning killing 18 of them, police said. The attackers escaped into a nearby forest, police said in a statement. Residents said that while 18 bodies had been found, many more people were feared dead. "Right now we are at the Emir's palace for the mass burial of our relatives, but more than 18 people were killed in this attack," said Hassan Ibrahim, whose brother was killed. "There is no peace in Katsina," he said. "Almost every day they carry out attacks on villagers, killing innocent people." (Writing by Paul Carsten; Editing by Frances Kerry) Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) - More than 26 people were killed on Tuesday and many were wounded when an armed group attacked two villages in northwestern Central African Republic, the UN's peacekeeping mission said. The massacre took place in the villages of Koundjili and Djoumjoum, Mankeur Ndiaye, head of MINUSCA, said in a tweet on Wednesday. Ndiaye said MINUSCA "utterly condemns" the killing, and vowed: "The authors of crimes such as these will be sought, arrested and brought to justice." The slaughter was the biggest single loss of life since the government and 14 militias signed a deal in February aimed at restoring peace to one of Africa's most troubled countries. A UN source said the killings were carried out by a group called 3R, which hosted a meeting with the villagers and then gunned them down indiscriminately. "Twelve people were killed in Koundjili and 14 in Djoumjoum," the source said. The group takes its initials from three words in French meaning "Return, Reclamation and Reconciliation". It claims to represent the Fulani, one of the CAR's many ethnic groups. The militia was one of the 14 groups that signed that February 6 peace accord -- a controversial arrangement under which the government gave out key positions to warlords and would set up mixed units of regular troops and militiamen. The head of 3R, Bi Sidi Souleymane, also known as Sidiki, was appointed one of three "special military advisors" to the prime minister, in charge of setting up the combined unit. The CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 percent of the CAR, often fighting over access to the country's mineral wealth. Thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December last year. Bangui (Central African Republic) (AFP) - More than 30 people were killed and many more wounded when an armed group attacked villages in northwestern Central African Republic on Tuesday, the UN's peacekeeping mission (MINUSCA) said. The massacres took place in several villages near the town of Paoua, not far from the Chad border, Major General Pascal Champion, head of MINUSCA's police component, said at a press conference in Bangui on Wednesday. "Criminals arrived and opened fire" on the residents, he said. Thirty-one people were killed in Koundjili and Lemouna. At least three other were killed in Bohong. Local security forces also reported the deaths of 15 people in Maikolo village, but this information was not immediately confirmed by the UN. The slaughter was the biggest single loss of life since the government and 14 militias signed a deal in February aimed at restoring peace to one of Africa's most troubled countries. The UN peacekeeping mission "utterly condemns" the killings, MINUSCA head Mankeur Ndiaye said in a tweet on Wednesday. "The authors of crimes such as these will be sought, arrested and brought to justice." News of the bloodshed coincided with an announcement by the Vatican that a French-Spanish nun had been brutally murdered in a village in southwestern CAR. In Rome, Vatican News said that the 77-year-old was found beheaded early Monday in the town of Nola, where she worked in a centre to help young girls. "According to a local member of parliament, the murder could be linked to trafficking in human organs," the site said. - 'Temptation of reprisals' - A UN source said the killings in the northwest were carried out by a group called 3R, which hosted a meeting with the villagers and then gunned them down indiscriminately. The group takes its initials from three words in French meaning "Return, Reclamation and Reconciliation". It claims to represent the Fulani, one of the CAR's many ethnic groups. Story continues The militia was one of the 14 groups that signed the February 6 peace accord, the eighth attempt to end violence in the impoverished country. Under the deal, the government gave out key positions to warlords and agreed to set up mixed units of regular troops and militiamen. The head of 3R, Bi Sidi Souleymane, also known as Sidiki, was appointed one of three "special military advisors" to the prime minister, in charge of setting up the combined units. Communications Minister Ange-Maxime Kazagui, in a joint press conference with the UN, said "the government joins MINUSCA in demanding that Mr Sidiki arrest those responsible for this massacre within 72 hours, or else be held responsible for these acts." "The government urges the public not to yield to the temptation of reprisals," Kazagui said. Unconfirmed reports from the region say that so-called "anti-balaka" groups -- militias claiming to protect Christians and animists from attacks by Muslim groups -- are mobilising. - Bloody legacy - The CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly Muslim Seleka rebels. Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 percent of CAR, often fighting over access to the country's mineral wealth. In a population of 4.5 million, thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December last year. Pope Francis paid tribute to the murdered nun, describing her as a woman "who gave her life for Jesus in the service of the poor" and her killing as "barbaric". He called for those gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly general audience to pray in silence for her. BANGUI, May 22 (Reuters) - An armed militia killed 34 civilians in an attack on Tuesday in Central African Republic, a government spokesman said, issuing a deadline for the group's leader to give up the perpetrators to the authorities. The attack was the most deadly since 14 armed groups agreed a peace deal in February that was meant to bring stability to a country rocked by violence since 2013, when mainly Muslim Selaka rebels ousted the then president, prompting reprisals from mostly Christian militia. The group 'Return, Reclamation, Rehabilitation,' or 3R, attacked a number of villages in the northwest region Pahoua, seeking revenge for the killing of an ethnic Peul, government spokesman Ange Kazagui said at a joint briefing on Wednesday with the United Nation's MINUSCA peacekeeping mission. The government calls on 3R leader Sidiki Abass to "arrest and hand over those responsible for this massacre to the authorities in the next 72 hours or risk being held personally responsible," Kazagui said. The bloodshed will further test the peace agreement, which has already come under strain due to disagreements over representation in the cabinet. "MINUSCA asks 3R in particular and all the armed groups in general to show strict respect for international human rights and the reconciliation and peace agreement," MINUSCA spokeswoman Uwolowulakana Ikavi-Gbetanou said at the briefing. The government and rebels expressed optimism when the accord was signed on Feb. 5. But lasting peace is not guaranteed: similar agreements in 2014, 2015 and 2017 all broke down. The 3R group emerged in late 2015 to protect the minority Peul population, who are mostly Muslim cattle herders, from attacks by Christian anti-balaka militias. Thousands of people have died because of the unrest in the diamond and gold-producing country, and a fifth of the 4.5 million population have fled their homes. (Reporting by Crispin Dembassa-Kette; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing by Catherine Evans) By Francois Murphy VIENNA (Reuters) - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz sought on Wednesday to contain the fallout from the collapse of his coalition government but did little to quell the anger of opposition parties that could depose him within days. Kurz, 32, came out on top in the initial power struggle with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) on Tuesday after he managed to oust their hardline interior minister in the wake of a video sting that brought down the FPO's leader. But he must now win the support of the opposition Social Democrats (SPO) or a furious FPO to survive a no-confidence vote due on Monday. Losing would deal him a serious blow as he seeks to use his caretaker role as a springboard from which to win a snap election expected in September. "It is now important to do everything to ensure that one party's crisis does not turn into a state crisis," Kurz told a news conference. Despite the uncertainty over whether parliament will sack him, Kurz, a young star among Europe's conservatives, said he would continue talks with other parties and was not worried. The FPO, whose ministers stepped down in unison in response to Kurz firing Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, said it had not yet decided how to vote. But with much of the FPO angry at Kurz for ending their coalition and saying they are now unsuited to government after 17 months of working together, the Social Democrats are likely to determine the outcome of Monday's vote. They have not said how they will vote. EUROPEAN VOTE Rather than offer them an olive branch, however, Kurz's plan seemed to be to strong-arm them by appealing directly to voters, who will take part in the European Parliament election on Sunday, the day before parliament meets. "On election Sunday the people have the possibility to set the course and decide which political direction they want to support," Kurz said. Deputy parliament speaker Doris Bures, a heavyweight within the SPO, called on him to take "confidence-building measures" in the coming days. Story continues "It would really be the order of the day for the chancellor to move from 'I' to 'we' now," she told broadcaster ORF overnight. Her party said Kurz did not consult them on his choices of civil servants to fill the four vacant ministerial posts, who include a former Supreme Court president and two people with ties to the SPO. "In life you always have to earn trust. And the last few days have shown that the chancellor has done nothing to ensure that parliament, which at the end of the day will take this decision, can place this trust in him," Bures said. Kurz's election call also appeared to defy President Alexander Van der Bellen, who has the power to dismiss governments and dissolve parliament, who on Tuesday night told political leaders to put country before party, adding: "Now is not the time for campaign speeches." Kurz pulled the plug on his coalition last weekend after the release of a video that showed FPO leader Heinz-Christian Strache apparently discussing fixing state contracts and how to circumvent party financing laws with a woman posing as a Russian oligarch's niece. It is unclear who was behind the sting. Strache has acknowledged that the video was "catastrophic" but denies breaking the law. (Additional reporting by Kirsti Knolle and Alexandra Schwarz-Goerlich; Editing by Gareth Jones and Alison Williams) Vienna (AFP) - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz appointed new cabinet ministers on Wednesday to replace those from the far right who have left their posts in the wake of the so-called "Ibiza-gate" affair. The centre-right chancellor -- who has called for snap elections in September following the collapse of his coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) -- named four of his allies to the interior, defence, transport and social affairs ministries. Kurz also appointed his finance minister, Hartwig Loeger, as his new vice-chancellor. The new ministers were immediately sworn in by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. "The goal of the president and of course also my goal as chancellor is to do everything in this phase to ensure stability in Austria," Kurz told reporters before his first meeting with the new cabinet. The ruling coalition between the FPOe and Kurz's People's Party (OeVP) started to collapse on Saturday when vice-chancellor and FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache resigned over a hidden-camera sting. In the recordings, filmed in a villa on the holiday island of Ibiza, show him appearing to offer contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer. In the fall-out from the scandal, Kurz also fired the interior minister, another prominent FPOe member, leading to the resignation of three other FPOe ministers. But the chancellor could still be forced out himself by a no-confidence motion expected in a special parliament sitting next Monday. It is not yet clear whether the FPOe and the main opposition Social Democrats (SPOe) will back the motion, even though the SPOe has accused Kurz of causing the current turmoil by entering an alliance with the far-right in the first place. Meanwhile, the head of Austria's Jewish Community (IKG) organisation, Oskar Deutsch, called on other parties not to allow the FPOe back into government. "I said this at the last election, and we have now been proved right," said Deutsch, pointing to what he said were 70 anti-Semitic incidents linked to FPOe members during its time in government. Kurz, 32, took office in late 2017, heading the coalition of the OeVP and the FPOe after both parties won votes on an anti-immigration platform. Strache, who has admitted that his behaviour was "stupid" and "irresponsible", has also vowed to prove his innocence and "unmask those behind this illegally made video". Photo: Baltimore Underground Science Space/Yelp From a Super Science Sleepover to a math and science symposium showcasing student projects, there's plenty to do if you're on the lookout for upcoming science and tech events. Read on for what to look out for, coming up this week in Baltimore. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 2019 Ingenuity Math and Science Symposium From the event description: The Ingenuity Project provides a rigorous math, science and research curriculum to 650 middle and high school students in Baltimore City Public Schools at four locations, including Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. The symposium offers a platform for our students to showcase their projects from the mathematics and research curriculum. During the Research Practicum experience, students work with mentors at Baltimore-area colleges, universities and other research institutions to develop independent research projects. They submit their work to national pre-college competitions such as the Regeneron Science Talent Search. When: Wednesday, May 22, 5-8 p.m. Where: Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, 1400 W. Cold Spring Lane Price: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Super Science Sleepover: May the 24th be With You. From the event description: Hop into your Landspeeders and head to the Maryland Science Center for a night of family fun in a galaxy far, far away. Embrace your inner Kylo Ren and prepare to join the dark side. Train like a sith to take down the resistance, program an evil First Order droid through a maze, and build your own star destroyer. Children must be age 5 or older, and all children must have an adult in their party. When: Friday, May 24, 5:30 p.m.- Saturday, May 25, 9 a.m. Where: Maryland Science Center, 601 Light St. Price: $40 member, $45 non-member Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Urban Ecology for Community Engagement Story continues From the event description: Join us as bird ecologist Eric Fishel talks about his research and associated world adventures. Eric is an Open Society Institute Baltimore Community Fellow. His project, Baltimore Foodparks, is looking for innovative ways to engage people with their local ecosystems to improve underserved urban neighborhoods. Can we engage a community through the study of birds? Will it help people to see vacant land in a new way - as potential green space? Eric engages communities through up-close and personal research. When: Friday, May 24, 7-9 p.m. Where: Baltimore Underground Science Space, 101 N. Haven St., #105 Price: Free with RSVP Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. File photo dated 21/12/2018 of the logo on BBC's Broadcasting House in London. Women at the BBC continue to be paid "far less" than men for the same work, a report into equal pay at the broadcaster has said. A BBC manager has publicly turned down a promotion after learning she would be paid 12,000 less than her male counterpart. Karen Martin sent a group mail out to hundreds of BBC staff announcing she would no longer me taking up her role as deputy editor in the BBC radio newsroom as her colleague Roger Sawyer had been offered the same role and title for a substantially higher salary. The BBC World Service producer wrote in an email to all BBC radon newsroom staff: Despite being awarded the same job, on the same day, after the same board, during the same recruitment process, BBC News asked me to accept a considerably lower salary than my male counterpart. A lot less. Ive been assured our roles and responsibilities are the same. Ive also been told my appointment was very well deserved. Its just that Im worth 12,000 less. BBC producer Karen Martin (Credit: Facebook) Over the past four months I have asked BBC News to think again. And theyve inched their offer up by addressing historical under payments. Now the gap is nearer to 7,000. But for me it has never been about the actual salary. It has been about equal pay. Martin is now threatening legal action against the BBC and claims the corporation is still struggling to tackle the pay gap between men and women. She wrote: As a single mother I decided to discuss the dilemma with my two daughters who are 13 and seven. There were no long meetings, no need for reviews and no wrestling with consciences. There were no attempts to explain away the injustice. They said: You always tell us to stand up for what is right. If it means less pocket money or not going on holiday, we dont mind. What matters to us is that when we grow up we want to be paid the same as a man for the same job. And just like that, my decision was made. Read more: BBC pay: List of highest paid stars reveals men still receive more than women Martin said she had been in touch with the BBC director general, Tony Hall, about the issue. She also revealed she had been warned that going public with her decision could damage her future career prospects. Story continues The BBC is already facing an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission into claims men have consistently been paid more than women for doing the same job. Martin said she would consider helping the inquiry. The head of BBC news output, Gavin Allen, later emailed staff saying: Roger has worked at or above this level for several years whereas Karen was offered this role as a promotion, with a significant pay increase. We think most people would understand that these factors would result in some difference between their individual pay. I accept that we have not always got things right in the past on pay but I believe this is not one of those cases. The relevant pay band in this instance is thought to be 60,000 to 100,000. BBC Radio 4 Today presenters Sarah Montague and John Humphrys broadcast today's Today programme at Wigmore Hall in central London as the BBC Radio 4 Today programme celebrates its 60th anniversary. Last year BBC Radio 4 presenter Sarah Montague said she was incandescent with rage and felt a sap when she learned she was paid far less than her Today programme co-stars. Montague, who was a core member of the team for 17 years, said she was paid 133,000 and that it was a very good wage for a job that I loved. But in July 2017 the BBC revealed Today programme host John Humphrys was earning 600,000 to 649,000. Nick Robinson was on 250,000 to 299,000, and Justin Webb earned between 150,000 and 199,999. Mishal Husain was revealed to be 200,000 to 249,000 pay bracket. Read more: BBC Settles With Carrie Gracie, Journalist at Centre of Gender Pay Dispute In January last year the BBC's China editor Carrie Gracie resigned from her post after 30 years with the corporation due to pay inequality. Gracie wrote in an open letter posted on her blog: "The Equality Act 2010 states that men and women doing equal work must receive equal pay. "But last July I learned that in the previous financial year, the two men earned at least 50% more than the two women. "Despite the BBC's public insistence that my appointment demonstrated its commitment to gender equality, and despite my own insistence that equality was a condition of taking up the post, my managers had yet again judged that women's work was worth much less than men's." BBC's China editor Carrie Gracie speaks to the media outside BBC Broadcasting House in London, Monday Jan. 8, 2018. The BBC's China editor has resigned her position in Beijing in protest over what she called a failure to sufficiently address a gap in compensation between men and women at the public broadcaster. Carrie Gracie's departure is the latest aftershock from the public corporation's forced publication last year of pay levels for its top earners that showed two-thirds of those in the top bracket were men. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP) Gracie said she asked for the four international editors to be paid equally. "Instead the BBC offered me a big pay rise which remained far short of equality," she added. "I believe I am very well paid already - especially as someone working for a publicly funded organisation. "I simply want the BBC to abide by the law and value men and women equally." BREST, Belarus, May 22 (Reuters) - Belarus on Wednesday buried more than 1,200 Jewish Holocaust victims whose remains were unearthed this year after builders stumbled across a Nazi-era mass grave beneath a construction site in a residential area. Soldiers were called in to the city center of Brest on Belarus' western border with Poland where they exhumed the bones of 1,214 people killed during the Nazi occupation at the site of what served as a Jewish ghetto from 1941-42. Their remains were buried on Wednesday in 120 blue caskets embossed with the star of David that were laid side-by-side and two-deep in a giant grave in a city cemetery to the north of Brest at a ceremony led by a local Jewish rabbi. The funeral ceremony, which also featured a gun salute by Belarusian soldiers, was attended by around 300 people including Israel's ambassador in Belarus and Jewish community members. Attendees, some of whom closed their eyes in prayer, took turns to toss earth onto the caskets before the pit was filled in. "The soul goes up to heaven through this process, so it was very important for the Jewish community that it was all done with Jewish custom," said Israel's ambassador in Belarus, Alon Shoham. Nazi Germany occupied Belarus, then part of the Soviet Union, during World War Two. Tens of thousands of its Jews were killed by the Nazis. Brest was part of Poland before the war. The mass grave was uncovered by chance in January as builders were laying the foundations for an elite housing development, prompting an operation to exhume their remains. Some of the skulls they found bore bullet holes, suggesting victims had been executed by a shot to the back of the head. Soldiers also found personal effects such as leather shoes that had not rotted. "I have mixed feelings," Jewish community member Regina Simonenko said after the funeral. She said she had been shaken by the sheer horror of the events, but that it was important that they had been remembered. "If we don't remember, then things like this can happen again." (Reporting by Reuters TV; writing by Tom Balmforth; editing by Gareth Jones) Los Angeles (AFP) - Posh Beverly Hills is poised to outlaw the sale of all tobacco products -- except at cigar lounges where the rich and famous like Arnold Schwarzenegger are assured they can keep puffing away. Under the proposed ordinance, described as the first of its kind in the nation, the sale of tobacco products would be banned starting in January 2021. An initial vote on the measure is scheduled for late Tuesday, with a final vote is set for June 4. Beverly Hills already has strict rules that outlaw smoking on sidewalks or in multi-unit housing. The new law would apply to the sale of cigarettes, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco and electronic cigarettes at gas stations, pharmacies, convenience stores and other retailers. "We are a city that has taken the lead on restricting smoking and promoting public health," Mayor John Mirisch said in a statement. "Somebody has to be first, so let it be us." However three cigar lounges whose customers include celebrities and local elites would be exempt from the ban. Fearing that their beloved parlors could go up in smoke because of the new law, aficionados in recent months flooded the Beverly Hills Health and Safety Commission with letters urging that the clubs be exempt. Rigoberto Fernandez, owner of the Buena Vista Cigar Club, wrote that a radical ban would be devastating for his family and drive him out of business. Hollywood star and former state governor Schwarzenegger wrote in support of the exclusive Grand Havana Room, which he called a "home away from home," where community members ranging from politicians to artists and rabbis are known to gather. "It is unthinkable that the city might adopt a policy that would intentionally or unintentionally cause the closure of this character-defining institution, and it should not do so," Schwarzenegger wrote. Even the chairman of cardiac surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles has chimed in, saying he visits the Grand Havana Room several times a week to kick back and have a cigar. Story continues "At the end of a busy (day) doing cardiac surgery, I go to the Grand Havana Room to relax and enjoy the company of friends," wrote Richard Shemin. The proposed ordinance has been met with mixed reactions, with some business owners saying it would turn away well-heeled tourists while health advocates insisting that it is the right thing to do. City officials said they also expect legal challenges from tobacco companies who stand to lose in sales. BRUSSELS (AP) The elections to the European Parliament have never been so hotly anticipated, with many predicting that this year's ballot which starts Thursday will mark a coming-of-age moment for the euroskeptic far-right movement. The elections, which run through Sunday and take place in all of the European Union's 28 nations, have never had stakes that high. Europe's traditional political powerhouses the center-right European People's Party and the center-left Socialists & Democrats are set to lose some clout and face their strongest challenge yet from an array of populist, nationalist and far-right parties that are determined to claw back power from the EU for their own national governments. Here's a look at the vote that starts Thursday in the Netherlands and Britain: A CLASH OF VALUES This clash of basic values between Europe growing more united or more divided has put the continent at a historic political crossroads. French President Emmanuel Macron, champion of the closer-integration camp, says the challenge at the polls this week is to "not cede to a coalition of destruction and disintegration" that will seek to dismantle the unity the EU has built up over the past six decades. Facing off against Macron and Europe's traditional parties are Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and a host of other populist, right-wing or far-right leaders who have vowed to fundamentally upend Europe's political landscape. Nationalist leaders from 11 EU nations stood together in Milan last weekend a show of unity unthinkable in previous years from a group once considered to be on Europe's political fringe. Salvini then declared "the extremists are in Brussels," the home of EU institutions, for wanting to retain the status quo. "We need to do everything that is right to free this country, this continent, from the illegal occupation organized by Brussels," Salvini said. Story continues TAKING FROM THE TRUMP PLAYBOOK Europe's far-right and nationalist parties hope to emulate what President Donald Trump did in the 2016 U.S. election and what Brexiteers achieved in the U.K. referendum to leave the EU. That is to disrupt the powers that be, rail against what they see as an out-of-touch elite and warn against migrants massing at Europe's borders ready to rob the continent of its jobs and culture. Standing with Salvini, Le Pen promised the far-right "will perform a historic feat," saying they could end up as high as the second-biggest political group in the EU parliament. Predictions show that is still extremely ambitious. Projections released by the European Parliament this month show the center-right European People's Party bloc losing 37 of its 217 seats and the center-left S&D group dropping from 186 seats to 149. As for the far-right and nationalists, the Europe of Nations and Freedom group is predicted to win 62 seats, compared to 37 currently. Such statistics though could be irrelevant as soon as Monday if national parties start shifting to other EU-wide political groups in the 751-seat European legislature which meets both in Brussels and France's Strasbourg. Orban's nationalist Fidesz party is now in the EPP's ranks, but has been suspended for its anti-EU stance and virulent anti-migration rhetoric. The Hungarian prime minister might well bolt after the election to a new radical-right group, perhaps to be formed by Salvini, Le Pen and other nationalist leaders. WAR, TAXES, UNEMPLOYMENT For many among the EU's half billion citizens, the memories of war have vanished and the EU's role in helping to keep the peace for 75 years, a feat for which it won the Nobel Prize, is overlooked. Yet Europe was body-slammed by the financial crisis a decade ago and struggled through a yearslong debt crisis that saw nations like Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus get bailouts and produced recessions that slashed the incomes of millions. Europe's high taxes, stagnant wages and gap between rich and poor are still a sore point, highlighted now by weekly protests by France's yellow vest movement demanding more help for hard-pressed workers. EU nations have also not been able to forge a common approach to migration, fueling inter-bloc tensions, and its impotence in quickly containing a migrant influx in 2015 has propelled a surge of support for far-right and nationalist parties. "We have a crisis of the European Union. This is a matter of fact," Macron acknowledged. Experts say he's right. "There are a lot of people who fear that things potentially are moving in the wrong direction or already have moved in the wrong direction," said Janis Emmanouilidis at the European Policy Centre think-tank in Brussels. "It is a mix of multiple insecurities which, at the end of the day, is pushing people toward those who are coming up with easy answers." TURNING INTO A POTENT FORCE Since the first European Parliament election in 1979, the legislature has slowly changed from a toothless organization where over-the-hill politicians got cushy pre-retirement jobs to a potent force with real decision-making powers. The EU at first primarily regulated farming but now sets international trade policy for all members and even monetary rules for the 19 nations who use the shared euro currency. The legislature itself affects Europeans' daily lives in thousands of ways: cutting smartphone roaming charges, imposing safety and health rules for industries ranging from chemicals and energy to autos and food, supporting farming, reforming copyright rules and protecting the environment. There are no cross-border elections this week, just national polls in 28 nations. Each EU nation gets a number of seats in the EU parliament based on its population. Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta have the fewest seats with six each, while the EU's most populous member, Germany, has 96 seats. Up until now, EU elections were tepid affairs. Voter turnout slumped to just 42.6% in 2014 but that could well change this year. WHICH WAY FORWARD? The pro-EU side says increasing integration is essential for the EU to survive in a globalized world. Euroskeptics say it robs national identity whenever more decisions are made at EU headquarters in Brussels. Yet even some mainstream conservatives can have a euroskeptic streak. Czech politician Jan Zahradil, lead candidate for the Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists, is among those seeking to return more control to Europe's national capitals. "(We want) an EU that is scaled back, that is flexible, that is decentralized," Zahradil said. "(An EU) that respects national governments and that cooperates with them, that doesn't fight them, that doesn't patronize them, that doesn't lecture them." For the pro-EU side, in a world in which China, the U.S. and Russia are all flexing their political and financial muscles, Macron urges voters to think about the strength and unity that comes from 28 smaller nations working together. "If you fragment Europe, there is no chance you have a stronger Europe. Unity makes strength," Macron said. ____ Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels, Angela Charlton in Paris, Elena Becatoros in Athens and Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report. ___ For more news from The Associated Press on the European Parliament elections go to https://www.apnews.com/EuropeanParliament Another tech giant has followed Google in turning its back on Huawei, as the Chinese company struggles with heavy US pressure on firms to cut ties. Britains biggest technology firm Arm Holdings appears to be cutting ties because of US president Donald Trumps curbs on American firms doing business with the Chinese telecoms company. Chipmaker Arm may be based near Cambridge in the UK and owned by Japanese firm Softbank, but its designs reportedly contain US technology so risked falling foul of the rules. The timing could barely be worse as Huawei prepares to unveil plans for a major new UK tech hub just a few miles from Arms offices near Cambridge, where it had hoped to collaborate more with the chip firm. A Huawei shop in Beijing. Photo: AP Foto/Ng Han Guan READ MORE: Huawei plans huge UK tech hub just as security fears grow Documents seen by Yahoo Finance UK show Huawei is set to publish detailed construction plans and seek planning consent this month for the new research and development facility in the Silicon Fen tech cluster around Cambridge. The loss of potential partnerships with Huawei could come as a significant blow. An Arm spokesman said it was complying with the latest regulations by the US government, but gave no further comment. Huawei uses Arms blueprints to design the processors that power its smartphones. But the US decision to block Huawei from buying US goods has jeopardised its relationship with global firms involved in making its products, and not just US-based ones. It comes shortly after Softbank announced this morning its planned launch this Friday of the Huawei P30 Lite smartphone had been delayed as it reviewed the US restrictions. READ MORE: The real fallout from Googles Huawei boycott The USA added Huawei to a list of firms US companies could not trade with. The BBC has reported that ARM, owned by Japan's Softbank, had instructed employees to halt "all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements" with Huawei. A memo seen by the BBC is said to have told staff they were no longer allowed to "provide support, delivery technology (whether software, code, or other updates), engage in technical discussions, or otherwise discuss technical matters" with Huawei. Britain's biggest mobile operator EE also said on Tuesday it had dropped a Huawei smartphone from the launch range of its 5G network next week. RENO, Nev. The Nevada Assembly on Tuesday advanced a wide-ranging bill to decriminalize abortion procedures, moving it closer to becoming law as protests unfolded nationwide against abortion restrictions in other states. No Republicans joined the near-unanimous bloc of Assembly Democrats who supported the bill known as the Trust Nevada Women Act. It now heads back to the state Senate, where lawmakers must agree on an amendment before sending the bill to Gov. Steve Sisolak. The bill would repeal existing prohibitions on self-induced abortions and drugs that cause a miscarriage. It also removes a requirement that doctors explain the physical and emotional implications of an abortion. Doctors could simply describe the nature and consequences of the procedure in a patient-signed consent form, and would no longer need to record the age of a patient seeking the procedure. Pro-choice advocates see the bill as a bulwark against a rising tide of threats to federal abortion protections. Last week's near-total abortion ban passed in Alabama is just the latest reason Nevada needs to fortify its own abortion-friendly statute, they said. More: Mississippi governor signs 'heartbeat' abortion ban into law All across the country womens rights are being threatened by extremist politicians, said Assemblywoman Shea Backus, D-Las Vegas. These are draconian laws that have no business in a free society. Women, no matter where they live, deserve to feel safe. These are matters that should be decided by women themselves. Women were the only ones who spoke from the Assembly floor ahead of Tuesdays vote. GOP women say bill could allow abuse, trafficking Republican lawmakers Jill Tolles and Robin Titus offered passionate statements against the measure, which they feared did not go far enough to ensure the age of patients seeking an abortion. "I don't support criminal penalties for women who have an abortion," Tolles said. "If that was all this bill did, I would support it. However, this bill goes beyond cleaning up antiquated laws. Story continues "Without the provision requiring a physician to ask the age of a patient, we may be missing clear red flags of abuse and trafficking." Nevadas abortion statute, first enacted in 1973 and upheld by voters in a 1990 referendum, allows a woman to have a physician-provided abortion within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Abortions provided outside that time frame are only legal if the mothers life or health is in danger. Violations of the law are punishable by up to 10 years in prison and as much as $10,000 in fines. No one has ever been prosecuted under the statute. The bill advanced Tuesday would do away with all that, prompting fierce resistance from pro-life advocates, including a few who earlier begged lawmakers to stand against "murder" and "legalized infanticide. Why Nevada is likely unaffected if Roe overturns Tuesdays vote came amid renewed concerns about whether an increasingly conservative U.S. Supreme Court might overturn Roe v. Wade the landmark 1973 ruling that limited restrictions on abortion. But Nevadas decades-old, voter-approved abortion law, known as Question 7, would likely insulate the state from the impact of reversing Roe. The popular measure, passed in 1990 with support from nearly two-thirds of Nevada voters, effectively sealed Roes protections into state law. It would take another statewide vote to reverse the referendum. Abortion foes have lost such a fight before, most recently in 2012, when they failed to gather the signatures needed to put a Question 7-killing measure to voters. Any future efforts to undo the initiative would require a pair of majority votes in the state Legislature or the collection of at least 112,000 autographs from Nevada voters. Assemblywoman Dina Neal, D-North Las Vegas, was the only Democrat who voted against the bill on Tuesday. Democratic Sens. Marcia Washington and Mo Denis opposed the bill's April passage out of the state Senate. This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: Bill allowing self-induced abortions advances in Nevada Paypal co-founder and bitcoin bull Peter Thiel stands to make a mighty payday. |Source: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo By CCN: Block.one is returning jaw-dropping profits to its earliest investors like Peter Thiel. Its a stock buyback of epic speed and proportions. In only three years the blockchain startup is buying back shares sold in a seed round of funding in 2017. The ROI for anyone who cashes out will be as much as 6,567%. Where did Block.one come up with all that money in so little time? It executed the biggest ICO in cryptocurrency history. The company raised $4 billion over a year-long token sale of EOS coins to power Block.ones EOS.IO blockchain. The year-long crowd-funded token sale of EOS concluded in June 2018. That month Block.one launched the open source software to run EOS.IO. Other Blockchain Startups Are Suffering Layoffs block.one eos peter thiel blockchain investors While many blockchain companies struggle to recover from crypto winter, Block.one is one of cryptos greatest success stories so far. | Image: Media file Ever since the brutal crypto winter of 2018, other blockchain startups are struggling. Last month Coinbase cut 30 engineers from its payroll and closed its Chicago office. In January and February a Cleveland-based voting blockchain company named Votem Corp laid off over 60 workers. Last December Ethereum Classics dev team had to ask for donations to continue working after running out of funds. Read the full story on CCN.com. Nairobi (AFP) - Internationally-renowned Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina, whose high-profile coming out in a country that criminalises homosexuality made him a revered figure for gay rights in Africa, has died aged 48, his publishing house said Wednesday. The celebrated author came to world prominence with the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2002. He died just days before Kenya's High Court was scheduled to deliver a long-awaited ruling on whether to abolish colonial-era anti-gay laws. "He passed on some time last night," Tom Maliti, the chairman of the Kwani Trust, a Nairobi-based publishing house founded by Wainaina, told AFP. Wainaina had suffered a stroke in 2015 and was living with HIV. His brother James told Capital News that messages of condolence were pouring in from around the globe. "We lost Ken last night. We are grieving the loss... but Ken was an incredible person, with an incredible wit," he said. "The wound is still fresh, but we have received an outpouring of messages, from the people across the world, we are greatly comforted by them." At times a divisive figure in his native Kenya, where same-sex relationships are outlawed, Wainaina sparked huge debate in 2014 with his bombshell short story entitled "I am a Homosexual, Mum". "I, Binyavanga Wainaina, quite honestly swear I have known I am a homosexual since I was five," he wrote in the explosive self-published story addressed to his late mother. It was imagined as a lost chapter to his own acclaimed memoirs, "One Day I will Write about this Place", which appeared in 2011 but failed to mention his sexuality. - Anti-gay law - The influential literary figure said he timed his public announcement with the passing of controversial anti-gay legislation in Nigeria, a country he admired and considered his second home. "So as far as the emotional side was concerned, I did that a long time ago, this is more a political act," Wainaina told AFP in a January 2014 interview. Story continues He was flooded with messages of support at the time, and was named among the world's most influential people that year by Time Magazine. But he also became a lightning-rod for criticism across sub-Saharan Africa, where most countries have laws penalising same-sex relationships. "A gallant human rights defender who stood up and fought for the dignity and rights of LGBTQ community and others. Rest in power," Amnesty International's local office posted on Twitter. In 2016, timed around World AIDS Day, Wainaina announced he was HIV positive. Last year he unveiled plans to marry his long-term partner in South Africa. His work received wide attention and praise, including a satirical essay "How to Write About Africa". - Court ruling - Kenya's high court is scheduled to issue a ruling on Friday on the country's anti-gay laws, although the LGBT community fears a delay. The court has already postponed its decision once, on the grounds of a heavy workload, prompting dismay from a persecuted community which has fought for years to be accepted. Activists believe Kenya has a chance to blaze a trail in a continent where homophobia is virulent in many communities. Twenty-eight out of 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have laws penalising same-sex relationships, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Angola, Mozambique and Seychelles have scrapped anti-gay laws in recent years, while Chad and Uganda have introduced or toughened legislation. The death penalty is on the books, under Islamic sharia law, in Mauritania, Sudan and northern Nigeria, although there have been no known executions in recent times. In southern Somalia, gay men are believed to have been put to death in territory ruled by the Al-Shabaab jihadist group. Bitfinex is praising a recent New York Supreme Court judge's ruling, which the exchange claims supports its assertion that the New York Attorney General's office actions against it lack legal validity. Hon. Joel M. Cohen of the New York Supreme Court today granted a motion that limits the scope of the documents Bitfinex and Tether must produce at the request of New York Attorney General's office, according to a news release from Tether. Bitfinex and Tether had filed a motion to dismiss the case outright, but the judge instead granted a stay of document demands, which restricts the NYAG's office to documents regarding its activities in New York. Bitfinex and Tether argue New York has no jurisdiction over them, and with Cohens granting of the motion, they will have to produce documents supporting that claim, with their counsel submitting a brief and arguing the claim. The companies also filed a motion to dismiss the proceeding altogether, citing a lack of jurisdiction since they say neither Bitfinex nor Tether conduct business in New York. They also pointed to the states Martin Act, which would give the NYAG more power to execute its case, as not applicable to the situation at hand. The anti-fraud law empowers the NYAG in securities fraud investigations, but the companies argue it does not apply since they are foreign corporations and the documents requested are stored overseas. Tether called Cohens decision to grant the stay of documents another victory in the legal battle. We welcome Justice Cohens decision, which reflects that our motion raises significant legal challenges to the validity of the Attorney Generals actions, the company said in a release. The company submitted the motion limiting the document demands under penalty of perjury. If Cohen rules that Tether and Bitfinex currently have no ties to New York, and no previous ties over what the court deems a reasonable amount of time, the state will no longer have jurisdiction over the case. The hearing for the motion to dismiss is slated for July 29, according to the release. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday revived a lawsuit against BNP Paribas SA by alleged victims of a genocidal regime in Sudan, who sought to hold the French bank liable for aiding in the government's atrocities. The 3-0 decision by the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan came nearly five years after BNP Paribas agreed to plead guilty and pay an $8.97 billion penalty to settle U.S. charges it transferred billions of dollars for Sudanese, Iranian and Cuban entities subject to economic sanctions. Circuit Judge Barrington Parker said claims against BNP Paribas based on genocide in Sudan were subject to U.S. judicial review, and a lower court judge erred in concluding otherwise. Twenty-one refugees now living in the United States filed the proposed class action against BNP Paribas in 2016, over its role as the Sudan regime's main bank from 1997 to 2007. They said BNP Paribas' processing of thousands of illegal transactions through its New York offices furthered the regime's campaign of murder, mass rape, torture and deliberate HIV infection against its own people. A bank spokeswoman declined to comment. Lawyers for the plaintiffs had no immediate comment. In dismissing the lawsuit in March 2018, U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan said the act of state doctrine barred her from examining the validity of Sudan's official actions, and therefore whether BNP Paribas should be liable for aiding them. Parker, however, said Sudan's own laws and the "universal international consensus" against genocide prevented U.S. courts from declaring genocide an "official act" of Sudan. "Considering the lack of evidence introduced by BNPP that genocide is the official policy of Sudan, and the countervailing evidence that genocide blatantly violates Sudan's own laws, we conclude that there is simply no 'official act' that a court would be required to 'declare invalid' in order to adjudicate plaintiffs' claims," he wrote. The appeals court also said Nathan erred in dismissing some claims as untimely. It returned the case to her for further proceedings. BNP Paribas' June 2014 guilty plea was the first by a global bank to large-scale, systematic violations of U.S. economic sanctions, the Department of Justice said at the time. The case is Kashef et al v BNP Paribas et al, 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 18-1304. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Susan Thomas) Brasilia (AFP) - Brazilians will no longer be permitted to carry assault weapons on the street after pro-gun President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday revised an order that enabled millions of civilians to be armed in public. Eligible "common citizens" will be allowed to carry handguns but not rifles, the government said in a statement, admitting the change was in response to public outcry and legal and political challenges to the decree announced earlier this month. Only rural landowners will be permitted to purchase such weapons, provided they are kept at home. "There were criticisms that there might be some excesses (in the decree) and the government was sensitive to these criticisms," Justice Minister Sergio Moro said in an interview with Brazilian media on Wednesday. "Normally the use of those weapons with the greatest potential for harm is restricted to the security forces," Moro added. The controversial decree still enables a wide range of professions, including truckers, politicians, hunters and even some journalists, to carry weapons without having to prove why they need them. Brazilian arms maker Taurus said Monday it had received 2,000 orders for its T4 assault weapon that is designed for police and military use following the loosening of restrictions. Its shares soared 7.6 percent Tuesday, but on Wednesday had given up more than half of those gains. The Supreme Court is considering whether Bolsonaro's decree breaches the constitution after an opposition party challenged the order on the grounds it was "an abuse of power." The decree also faces political hurdles. An open letter signed by the governors of 14 states, including some with high rates of violence, that was published Wednesday criticized the decree for failing to improve security. "On the contrary, it will increase the amount of arms and ammunition that can supply criminals and also the risk of arguments and fights between citizens ending in tragedy," they wrote. Story continues Bolsonaro, a former army captain, has defended the order as honoring the result of a 2005 referendum in which nearly 64 percent of Brazilians rejected a law that included, among other things, a total ban on the sale of firearms. But experts warn the loosening of restrictions will fuel gun violence in a country which already has one of the highest homicide rates in the world. Brazil recorded 64,000 murders in 2017 -- a rate of almost 31 per 100,000 inhabitants, or three times higher than the level the United Nations classifies as endemic violence. Senator Cory Booker (D., N.J.) announced on Wednesday that he will create a White House Office of Reproductive Freedom if he triumphs in the expansive Democratic primary field and is elected president in 2020. According to a plan released by Bookers campaign, the office would coordinate with officials from multiple agencies to ensure the fulfillment of his administrations reproductive-health priorities, including, among other things, access to abortion, contraception, paid family leave, and pregnancy care. Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country are mounting a coordinated attack on abortion access and reproductive rights, Booker said in a statement. A coordinated attack requires a coordinated response. Thats why on day one of my presidency, I will immediately and decisively take executive action to respond to these relentless efforts to erode Americans rights to control their own bodies. I will also pursue a legislative response, including legislation to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law. As part of this effort, Booker also vowed to reinstate funding for the United Nations Population Fund, which focuses on promoting global reproductive health. He also would reverse the Trump administrations Mexico City policy, which prohibits clinics that receive federal funding under Title X from providing or promoting abortion overseas. The announcement comes just days after Alabama governor Kay Ivey signed the nations most restrictive abortion bill into law. The bill, which prohibits virtually all abortions at any stage of pregnancy, is currently unenforceable but was advanced by the states Republican legislature in order to prompt a challenge to Roe v. Wade. Booker and a number of his fellow presidential aspirants have vowed to advance federal legislation to codify the federal abortion policy created by the Supreme Court decision in Roe. More from National Review GABORONE (Reuters) - Botswana, home to almost a third of Africa's elephants, lifted a ban on big game hunting on Wednesday, citing growing conflict between humans and wildlife and the negative impact of the hunting suspension on people's livelihoods. Conservationists estimate the southern African country has around 130,000 elephants, but some lawmakers say the number is much higher and causes problems for small-scale farmers. "The Government of Botswana has taken a decision to lift the hunting suspension," the Environment Ministry said in a statement. "The Ministry would like to reiterate that it will work with all stakeholders to ensure that re-instatement of hunting is done in an orderly and ethical manner". It said the return of wildlife hunting would take place in accordance with laws and regulations governing wildlife conservation, hunting and licensing, but did not elaborate. Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism Onkokame Kitso Mokaila would hold a news conference on Thursday to give details, it said. President Mokgweetsi Masisi set up a committee in June last year to consider the hunting ban, which was imposed by former President Ian Khama in 2014 after surveys showed declining wildlife populations. The committee recommended in February that Botswana consider allowing big game hunting again. At the time, the committee chair said it recommended "a legal framework that will enable the growth of a safari hunting industry and manage the country's elephant population within the historic range". The committee also called for "regular but limited" elephant culling. Botswana, a mostly arid country the size of France, has a population of around 2.3 million people and its vast tracts of remote wilderness make it a magnet for foreign tourists who want to view wildlife. (Reporting by Brian Benza; Writing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by Frances Kerry) The FCT High Court, Apo on Wednesday fixed Oct. 3, for the arraignment of Deziani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum on five counts bordering on conspiracy and illegal act of accepting and giving gratifications. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission leave to arraign Alison-Madueke, former Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Company, Olajide Omokore, on five counts on Feb. 25. The date was fixed following the absence of Justice Valentine Ashi, trial judge who was on another official engagement. Mr Faruk Abdullahi, Counsel to the EFCC had told the court on Feb. 25, that the arraignment would not hold as Alison-Madueke and her co-accused were not in court. Abdullahi explained that the EFCC had forwarded a request to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) for onward commencement of Alison-Maduekes repatriation process from the United Kingdom. He said the absence of the second defendant, (Omokore) was linked to the commissions inability to serve him with the courts processes. The prosecutor, therefore, prayed the court for further adjournment to enable the team tidy up its house. Mr Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, Counsel to Omokore said his client was prepared to stand trial but that the right process to commence the trial must be adhered to. Alison-Madueke and Omokore, are billed to be arraigned on five-count charge bordering on conspiracy and illegal acts of accepting and giving bribe. EFCC averred that the accused persons had conspired at different levels to commit the fraud. The anti-graft body further alleged that the ex-minister accepted gift of properties described as penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana Island, Lagos. The EFCC said the alleged offence, contravened the provisions of Sections 26(1) and 17 of the EFCC Act, 2000. NAN reports that on Dec. 5, 2018, Justice Ashi ordered the police, EFCC, Department of State Services (DSS), and others to produce Diezani in court within 72 hours. Ashi gave the order, following an ex parte motion made before the court by the counsel to the anti-graft agency. NAN reports that the suspects, are aso to be arraigned for allegedly accepting and giving gifts of properties described as penthouse 22, Block B, Admiralty Estate, Ikoyi, and penthouse 21, building 5, block C, Banana Island, Lagos. The EFCC revealed that the alleged offence contravened the provisions of sections 26(1) and 17 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000. NAN reports that on Nov. 11,2018, the EFCC confirmed that the process to repatriate the former Minister of Petroleum, Alison-Madueke, from the United Kingdom has begun. Gaborone (Botswana) (AFP) - Botswana on Wednesday lifted its ban on elephant hunting, saying the population had increased and farmers' livelihoods were being impacted, in a move set to trigger outrage from conservationists. A prohibition on elephant hunting was introduced in the southern African country in 2014 by then-president Ian Khama, a keen environmentalist. But lawmakers from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) have been lobbying to overturn the ban, saying numbers have become unmanageably large in some areas. President Mokgweetsi Masisi took over from Khama last year and a public review began five months later, with reports suggesting growing political friction between Masisi and his predecessor. "Botswana has taken a decision to lift the hunting suspension," the environment ministry said in a statement. It said a cabinet committee review that found that "the number and high levels of human-elephant conflict and the consequent impact on livelihoods was increasing". "The general consensus from those consulted was that the hunting ban should be lifted," it added, vowing that hunting would be re-started "in an orderly and ethical manner". Landlocked Botswana has the largest elephant population in Africa, with more than 135,000 roaming freely in its unfenced parks and wide open spaces. Some experts say the number of elephants in the country, renowned as a luxury safari destination, has almost tripled over the last 30 years, and that the population could now be over 160,000. - Crops destroyed - Farmers struggle to keep elephants out of their fields where they eat crops and can kill people. Lifting the hunting ban could be a popular move with rural voters ahead of an election due in October. Many of Botswana's elephants roam across borders into Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. All four countries have called for a global ban on elephant ivory trade to be relaxed due to the growing number of the animals in some regions. Story continues "We cannot continue to be spectators while others debate and take decisions about our elephants," Masisi told a meeting of the countries' presidents this month in Botswana. "Conflict between elephants and people is on the rise as the demand for land, for agriculture and settlements is growing," he said. While elephant numbers have increased in some areas, over the past decade, the population of elephants across Africa has fallen by about 111,000 to 415,000, largely due to poaching for ivory, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Zimbabwe said this month it had sold nearly 100 elephants to China and Dubai for a total price of $2.7 million over six years due to overpopulation. Botswana last year rejected claims by a leading conservation charity that there had been a surge of elephant poaching. Hong Kong (AFP) - Shady middle-men are openly advertising on Chinese social media to smuggle blood samples of pregnant women to Hong Kong to skirt the mainland's ban on gender testing, an AFP investigation has found. The business thrives on a well-organised underground network that serves the huge demand for illicit sex-selective abortion in mainland China - driven by limits on family size and an entrenched cultural preference for sons. Chinese authorities vowed to crack down on the trade in 2015. But dozens of blood smuggling agents are openly advertising services on the Twitter-like platform Weibo and on websites, despite China's proven ability to scrub digital content. Gender testing -- except on medical grounds -- is outlawed in China, where sex-selective abortions have helped create a surplus of about 31.6 million men, with some 115 boys born for every 100 girls last year. A long-standing one-child policy was eased to permit two children in 2016 but gender testing continues, with many parents of daughters trying for a son the second time around. Gender testing is legal in Hong Kong, with some clinics apparently turning a blind eye to the origins of the smuggled samples. Three agents contacted by an AFP reporter posing as a customer offered to arrange in-person appointments with medical testing labs or transport blood samples to Hong Kong for around US$580, promising results starting from six weeks into pregnancy. Upon payment of a deposit, the agent sends a testing kit to the client through a delivery service. One advised using an app to hire a nurse who could come to the patient's home in mainland China to extract blood. - 'Nothing will go wrong' - The client sends the blood sample to Shenzhen from where it is smuggled across the border to Hong Kong. The agents did not directly address questions about how the samples would be transported, but assured the reporter they would arrive safely at their destination. Story continues "They will be taken to the lab in a designated vehicle, the samples can be safely sent over for testing, nothing will go wrong," one representative said, adding that results would be sent out in one working day. Other agents use human smugglers. In February, a 12-year-old girl headed to Hong Kong was caught at the Shenzhen border carrying 142 vials of blood samples from pregnant women in her backpack. The tests analyse small fragments of foetal DNA in a pregnant woman's blood and can detect the presence of a Y chromosome. They are also used to screen for chromosomal disorders such as Down's syndrome. They can often accurately predict the gender of a foetus weeks before doctors can see the sex organs in an ultrasound. Some mainlanders take the legal option of travelling directly to Hong Kong for gender testing. "I have three daughters already. To be honest I want a son," a 39-year-old man surnamed Wang told AFP outside a lab in Kowloon where his wife was getting her blood tested. Wang, who circumvented the one-child policy as many well-connected or wealthy Chinese families do, said he was under intense parental pressure to produce a male heir and had made the journey from the southern province of Guizhou. "Chinese people still want to have a son to carry on the ancestral line, this is an antiquated way of thinking, but back home there are lots of people who think this way," he explained. He added he and his wife would terminate the pregnancy in China if it turned out be a girl. "Right now she's only about 50 days along, so it can be solved by taking some medicine," he said. - 'Ethically unacceptable' - The trade raises questions over the willingness of Hong Kong labs to ignore their own rules. According to industry guidelines, laboratory technicians should not test blood without a patient referral from a local doctor, and risk losing their licence if they do. It is illegal to mail or transport blood samples out of China without a permit, but Hong Kong only outlaws importing blood samples if a person has reason to suspect that it contains an infectious agent. The city's Department of Health told AFP the number of cases it investigated every year has tripled since 2016 but none was prosecuted due to insufficient evidence. A lab that one agent claimed to be working with told AFP it does not perform tests on couriered samples and denied working with mainland middle-men. Multiple Chinese government departments did not respond to requests for comment. Hong Kong lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki, who is also a doctor, called on the territory's government to work with mainland authorities to take down the networks. "Ethically this is completely unacceptable because this will only encourage more people to perform gender selection," he told AFP. "And in mainland China, gender selection has already led to many tragedies and a skewed population with more males than females -- they are all directly affected, so how can we abide this?" By Ana Mano and Stefani Inouye SAO PAULO, May 22 (Reuters) - Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture officially banned three laboratories from conducting food inspections over their involvement in a food safety testing scandal that ensnared meatpacker BRF SA, according to decisions published in the official government gazette on Wednesday. The three laboratories run by Merieux NutriSciences Corp in Brazil, which performed testing on BRF products, are no longer authorized to process samples under the ministry's official control program, according to the decisions. BRF and the Agriculture Ministry did not immediately reply to requests for comment. Reuters reported in February that the three Merieux labs had lost their "ISO 17025" accreditation, which is essential to performing tests recognized by the ministry. The loss of ISO accreditation was based on an ongoing investigation of alleged cheating by BRF and Merieux on food safety inspections, the federal agency responsible for the lab certification said at the time. Merieux said in statement on Wednesday that it is in discussions with Inmetro, the federal certification agency, to restore the accreditations to perform food tests. BRF suffered financial losses from the scandal, which briefly closed several markets to the world's largest poultry exporter. The company has said it was cooperating with authorities. Earlier this year, Merieux denied involvement "in any organized fraud or corruption system with any of its customers in relation with the investigations." The labs affected by the ministry's decision on Wednesday are based in two cities in the state of Parana and another in Sao Paulo state, according to the official gazette. The loss of accreditation is effective immediately. (Reporting by Ana Mano and Stefani Inouye; Editing by Bill Berkrot) BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil is suing the world's largest cigarette makers, British American Tobacco Plc and Philip Morris International, in a landmark case aimed at recovering the public health treatment costs of tobacco-related diseases over the last five years. The Brazilian solicitor general's office, known as the AGU, announced the lawsuit late on Tuesday against the two multinational companies and their Brazilian subsidiaries, who produce most of the cigarettes sold in the country. The suit seeks to recover the cost of treating patients for 26 illnesses related to smoking tobacco or coming into contact with cigarette smoke, the AGU said in a statement. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in Brazil. It kills over 156,000 each year from related diseases, costing the healthcare system about 57 billion reais ($14.1 billion), according to a statement from Bloomberg Philanthropies. The value of the costs that the government seeks to recover will be calculated at a later date if it wins the lawsuit, filed in the southern city of Porto Alegre, the AGU said. "Since the profit from this business is sent abroad, it is fair that these multinational companies pay for this responsibility they have left to Brazilian society," prosecutor Davi Bressler said in the statement. The lawsuit was heralded as historic by groups that advocate for reducing tobacco consumption. "The suit is the first of its kind for Brazil and a significant step toward holding the two major tobacco companies who do business in Brazil and their parent companies responsible for the enormous financial and health burdens caused by tobacco use," the Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said. Michael Bloomberg, the World Health Organization's global ambassador for noncommunicable diseases, said Brazil spends billions every year to treat tobacco-related illness "and tobacco companies must be held accountable." The international companies, through their subsidiaries, Souza Cruz Ltda, Philip Morris Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda and Philip Morris Brasil SA, produce about 90% of the cigarettes sold in Brazil, the AGU statement said. Philip Morris Brasil said it had not been informed of the case and would hold off from commenting on the lawsuit. BAT's Souza Cruz said it had not been given access to the court documents. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle, editing by G Crosse and Bernadette Baum) Documents and money have been stolen from an office used by Indian military personnel near Paris, a French prosecutor said Wednesday, with the break-in thought to be linked to India's purchase of French Rafale fighter jets. The robbery took place overnight Saturday-Sunday in Saint-Cloud, a suburb west of Paris, near the offices of France's Dassault Aviation, which is building 36 fighter jets for the Indian military under a highly controversial contract. An investigation has been opened, a source in the local prosecutor's office told AFP on condition of anonymity, confirming that "documents and money" had been taken from a safe. A separate police source told AFP that the site was "classed as sensitive" and security services were alerted early Monday by an employee of Dassault Aviation. Indian news agency ANI, citing unidentified Indian Air Force officials, reported that the robbery occurred at the office used by the Indian Rafale project management team. Military personnel in the project office are responsible for overseeing the production schedule for the jets as well as training for maintenance and flight operations, the newspaper said The Hindustan Times newspaper suggested the break-in could have been a spying attempt on an $9.4 billion arms purchase that has dogged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi since it was signed in 2016. The opposition Congress party has accused Modi of corruption and favouritism in handing the deal to Dassault and stipulating that the French group had to work with a conglomerate owned by the Indian tycoon Anil Ambani. Dassault initially won a contract negotiated under a Congress government in 2012 to supply 126 jets to India, with 18 built in France and the rest in India by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Modi denies the allegations of misconduct. The Hindu nationalist leader looks on course to secure a second term in office after elections. Neither Dassault Aviation nor the Indian embassy in Paris was available to comment on the break-in when contacted by AFP. amd-cal-alv-adp/rmb Theresa Mays departure from Downing Street and the premiership has been promised so many times and not materialized once that I react to the latest version of it like the Charlie Ruggles character to a rival suitor in the great Lubitsch comedy, Trouble in Paradise: See here. You keep saying youre leaving and then you stay. Why dont you say youll stay and then leave? Last week it certainly looked as if May would finally gratify the wishes of almost all Tories outside Parliament (and now, it seems, most inside Parliament too) and resign as prime minister in early June. She and Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, agreed on a statement that kind of promised she would go but also left open the delicate question of when: The prime minister is determined to secure our departure from the European Union and is devoting her efforts to securing the second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill in the week commencing 3rd June 2019 and the passage of that bill and the consequent departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union by the summer. We have agreed that she and I will meet following the second reading of the bill to agree a timetable for the election of a new leader of the Conservative and Unionist Party. The statement had an almost surrealist unrealism to it. The withdrawal-agreement bill she hopes to secure is regarded by almost all Tories, except hard Remainers, as the opposite of Brexit rather than its achievement and even some of them see it as a roundabout way to Remain. Most Tories want it deep-sixed rather than secured. As regards Mays departure, there are lots of loopholes and escape hatches on that too. If the withdrawal-agreement bill gets its second reading, she is threatening to shepherd it through the entire legislative process, which, given the bills complications and unpopularity, could mean a parliamentary slog of many months. If the bill fails, she has consented only to meet Brady to discuss a timetable for the election of her successor as Tory leader. In either case, shes dragging out her departure for an indefinite period (which yesterday seemed to be either the Twelfth of Never or until she gets what she wants). Story continues Until the end of last week, May had two reasons to hope she might get her withdrawal bill and so some sort of legacy through. The first was that the Labour party might agree to a compromise policy of softening Brexit even more than her bill does already. That hope evaporated last Friday when the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, issued his own statement closing down the negotiations between government and opposition. It was a courteously worded letter, but only because Mays government was so divided and disintegrating that it wasnt reliable as a negotiating partner. Labour could unite around that. The coup de grace to her hopes was then delivered when one of Corbyns more moderate front-bench colleagues, the lawyer Keir Starmer, confirmed that Labour would oppose Mays withdrawal deal when presented for the fourth time in the week of June 3. Mays second hope was that enough Tory rebels would be persuaded by the whips to vote for her Brexit-lite legislation that it would pass on Tory votes and save her own position in the first week of June. That has looked a forlorn prospect for several months. The miscalculation that has bedeviled Mays Brexit strategy from the very start is simple: She thought she could win against the majority of her own party. She has mass-produced enemies on her own backbenches as a result. And as her fourth attempt to force the legislation through the Commons looms, Paul Goodman pointed out a further weakness in Conservative Home: Mays opponents now have a very clear extra incentive to oppose it at Second Reading since she would have no alternative in the wake of its defeat but to quit. The third Meaningful Vote whittled those opposed to her deal down to 34. But 117 of her colleagues expressed no confidence in her earlier this year. So the number of those Conservative MPs who vote against the Bill at Second Reading is likely to rise from the mid-30s. Labour may yet come to the Prime Ministers rescue, but that is very doubtful indeed. But it seems that May herself doesnt accept this pessimistic analysis. She knows that some MPs want her to stay, and she knows why. Hardcore Remainer MPs in all parties now see her tenure at Downing Street as a guarantee that nothing like the hard Brexit the so-called no deal Brexit they detest will be allowed to happen. For most such MPs, stopping Brexit matters much more than the electoral fortunes of their parties. The prospect of a Brexiteer any Brexiteer but in particular Boris Johnson being elected Tory leader and then changing policy in a no-deal direction alarms them. They will try either to keep her in Downing Street or, if that seems impossible, to tie her successors hands on Brexit before she goes. So we arrive at the present moment. Mays desperate final strategy to get what she wants abandons any idea of getting her legislation through with majority Tory support. She will now cobble together a coalition of all parties committed to stopping both a no-deal Brexit and Boris Johnson at all costs. That emerged yesterday when she got her new! improved! withdrawal bill accepted by her cabinet colleagues and then revealed it in a speech (and in a mistaken symbolic piece of presentation) to the headquarters of an international accounting company. Almost all of it was the same as the three previous versions of the legislation that Parliament has already rejected by large majorities. But it added significant concessions to Labour and Remainer MPs, concessions designed to persuade them to vote for the withdrawal bill on second reading in return for allowing them to amend it in the later stages of parliamentary lawmaking. If the bill passed on second reading, she assured them, the government would not block amendments that (1) kept Britain inside a customs union with the EU, (2) required a second referendum, and (3) somehow made the final act binding on a future government and prime minister. All of these assurances break solemn promises that May has made repeatedly in the last Tory election manifesto and in speeches. But that probably wont damage her. She has reached the point where no one expects her to tell the truth or to keep her promises. Its all survival tactics now. Her speech will also alienate those many Tories who are mired in guilty ambivalence about Brexit. They would like Brexit taken off the table long before the next election ideally yesterday but they dont like the withdrawal bill either. They will like it even less if its amended by Labour Remainers in ways that openly abandon their own pledges. Indeed they are already rebelling. Within the first hour, about 20 Tories who had voted for her deal last time announced their decision to vote against it in early June. Boris Johnson is among them. Other things being equal, that would mean the bill being defeated, say, by a majority of 74. And last night the conventional wisdom was that Mays bill now faces certain defeat. As before, I doubt May sees it that way. Between now and June 3, and beyond, a parliamentary-majority coalition for Remain, led by May from behind, that wants to pass a feeble and straitjacketed imitation of Brexit (so that it can claim to have fulfilled the referendum mandate) will be against a majority of the governing Tories who are now moving to adopt a no-deal Brexit under a new leader in the hope of staving off electoral oblivion and the collapse of support among their own traditional voters. Given that theres a two-thirds Remain majority among MPs, but no majority for any particular outcome, the Brexit impasse might drag either indefinitely or until the EU itself loses patience and pulls the plug on any deal. And May would remain in situ, still determined to secure the U.K.s departure, etc., etc. That said, its more likely that her bill will fail for the fourth and final time. And if it does, her departure would presumably follow shortly. Her own party is now angry and despairing. It feels, not without reason, that time is running out. As Goodman concludes his earlier analysis: Whatever happens, Mays replacement needs time to settle down over the summer, get dug in, appoint ministers, make some announcements and changes, and at least try to set the agenda before facing the Commons in the autumn. This will be impossible if the leadership election drags on throughout August into September. Let her resign in June, however, and a new Tory leader would present a new Brexit policy to a relieved Tory conference in October. Thats nice, of course. But will it be too late? * * * Watching MPs acting out these calculations, including maneuvers by about 20 Tory ministers, some quite obscure, to offer themselves as the next prime minister, Im reminded of the 1970s movie poster for Jaws 2 showing a pretty bikini-clad water-skier blithely cresting the waves as, unseen behind her, a huge shark is erupting from the water and about to swallow her up. The shark in question is wearing a pinstriped suit and its name is Nigel Farage. The pretty young thing represents the mainstream parties, especially Labour and the Tories. Its only about a month since Farage set up the Brexit party to protest against Mays postponement and evident betrayal of Brexit. But it has already become the party with the largest single bloc of support in this Thursdays European elections. Polls consistently give it between 30 and 35 percent support in an election that, in most constituencies, offers voters a choice of six or more parties. That is a massive tsunami of support in which Farage is swimming. The most recent poll has the Brexit party at 37 percent and the Tories at only 7 percent. What this also means, of course, is that the other parties are doing very badly. Most polls have the Tories falling into the doldrums of being over or under 10 percent. Thats an appalling result for a governing party. Labour hovers about in the teens and low twenties, losing some Leave supporters to the Brexit party and some Remain supporters to the Liberal Democrats. Nor is the Brexit party a purely English phenomenon, as its critics often suggest. Its now the second-largest party in Scotland and the largest party in Wales two countries in which the Tories have now fallen to below sea level in the polls. Two weeks ago, in the Australian magazine Quadrant, I wrote that these shifts in party support were dramatic but in line with recent political developments: The unexpectedly smooth and professional launch of the Brexit party which has mustered an impressive roster of candidates; Farages own assured performances in television interviews; the hostile public reaction to a fly-on-the-wall documentary film in which the EUs Brexit negotiators were shown sneering at the Brits and boasting (apparently after guzzling the Sherry) that they had turned the Britain into a colony as they had intended from the start; fast-growing support for a No Deal Brexit, which was minimal a year ago; and above all, Mays betrayal of her Brexit Day promise which seems to have been a more significant turning point in popular attitudes to her and to the Tory party than anyone expected in advance. If Farage seemed to be enjoying the Mandate of Heaven two weeks ago, heaven has become more generous since. With only two days to go before the polls open, Farage was given three boosts that most politicians can only daydream about: a milkshake was poured over him by a bearded Leftie; the prime minister obligingly broke a major promise not to hold a second referendum on Brexit, as if to remind the voters why they were opposing her and supporting him; and an establishment quango, the Electoral Commission, having given the Brexit party a clean bill of health on its financing the week before, responded to an evidence-free demand from former Labour prime minister Gordon Brown that the partys finances should be investigated for illegal contributions by returning to its offices two days before the election and going through its books again for several hours and finding nothing wrong almost as if there were, you know, an establishment conspiracy against Farage, Brexit, and the party bearing its name. In fact, theres almost a conspiracy of events to help them. Even before the election results are known on Sunday, therefore, theres a growing sense that the Brexit party may be a permanent factor in British politics. Opinion polls on how people would vote in a general election show that the party would do less well than in European elections but still run about level with the Tories and Labour. There are deep divisions on policy apart from Brexit that have allowed critics to argue that the party would fall apart once its main goal had been achieved. But the divisions dont seem deeper than those of other parties, and power or its prospect is itself a unifying social glue. Farages rallies around the country are hugely successful packed, good-humored, more diverse socially and politically than those of the other parties, full of confidence and optimism, and notably without rancor. As with Trumps election rallies, people seem to find them enjoyable as well as genuinely serious. A kind of Brexit party spirit already exists with many different types of people happy to be together on the bandwagon. It seems less class-bound than any of the existing parties. And if the Brexit party wins one-third or more of Britains votes this week from a standing start, it will change British politics. Such a result would have the effect of a second referendum victory for Leave. It simply would not be possible for Parliament and the mainstream parties to push through a Brexit that doesnt get the effective consent of Farage and his party. If such a thing is attempted, it will be seen to be anti-democratic and will have to be abandoned quite quickly. It would force the EU to confront the fact that there is little chance of getting a deal like Mays withdrawal deal accepted, and that even if one were to make it into the statute book, it could never be effectively implemented. In those circumstances the EU might simply throw up its collective hands and declare that the U.K. has left without a deal. The third effect of a Farage success in the European elections would be to realign political parties and, in particular, to place the Conservative party in mortal peril. Voting for a political party is a matter of both loyalty and habit. For lifelong Tories, the idea of voting for another party is anathema. Most people who think about it never actually get around to doing it. But the Tories have certainly given their traditional supporters and those new supporters who voted for them in order to achieve Brexit good reason to leave them on this occasion. Many will do so this week. And as with adultery, betraying your party for another is much easier the second time around. Its still unlikely, though not impossible, that the Brexit party will replace the Tories. But for the first time in 200 years the Tories would no longer enjoy a monopoly on the right. They would face a patriotic party on their own turf. And that would force them to pay more attention to what their voters want starting with Brexit. Theresa May may be the worst prime minister in British history, as her critics often say. But it also seems that she is becoming one of the most consequential. More from National Review In a stinging defeat for Britain, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly demanded Wednesday that London cede to Mauritius the British-ruled Chagos Islands, home to an important military base. The Indian Ocean archipelago has been at the center of a decades-long dispute over Britain's decision to separate it from Mauritius in 1965 and set up a joint military base with the US on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands. A total of 116 countries voted in favor of a non-binding resolution presented by African countries that urged Britain to "withdraw its colonial administration" from the Chagos Islands within six months. Only six countries, including Britain and the United States, voted against the measure in the 193-nation assembly while 56 others abstained, including Canada, France and Germany. Fifteen countries did not vote. The vote came three months after the International Court of Justice handed Mauritius a victory when it said in a legal opinion that Britain had illegally split the islands and should give up control of the Chagos. After Britain rejected that ruling, Mauritius turned to the United Nations. The resolution decides that the United Nations and its agencies shall recognize Mauritius's sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and calls on all governments "not to recognize, support or abet the unlawful colonial administration" in the Chagos. Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are not legally binding, but they do carry political weight. - Keeping the world safe - Taking the UN podium, Britain argued that the dispute was a bilateral matter and stressed that it had opposed the move to seek the ICJ legal opinion. British Ambassador Karen Pierce said the Diego Garcia military base "plays a vital role in keeping allies and friends -- including Mauritius -- in the region and beyond safe and secure." The United States has sent fighter jets from Diego Garcia to bomb Afghanistan and Iraq. The facility was used as a CIA interrogation center after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Story continues In 2016, Britain renewed a lease agreement with the United States for the use of Diego Garcia until 2036. Richard Gowan, UN director for the International Crisis Group, described the vote as "an embarrassing moment for the UK" as Britain seeks to show that it remains an influential global player post-Brexit. African countries sought to frame the dispute over the Chagos as an issue of decolonization. Addressing the assembly ahead of the vote, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said UN member states must send "a clear signal to the world that colonialism can no longer be tolerated." Australia, Hungary, Israel and the Maldives voted "no" alongside Britain and the United States. The vast majority of European countries abstained except for Spain which backed the resolution as did Russia and China. It was the second time in two years that Britain has had to defend its rule of the Chagos Islands at the United Nations. In 2017, only 15 countries including Britain and the US voted to oppose a request for the ICJ ruling. The billionaire Hinduja brothers -- Britain's wealthiest people -- are considering a bid for India's grounded Jet Airways, a spokesperson said Wednesday, sending shares in the firm soaring almost seven percent. Saddled with debts of more than $1 billion, Mumbai-based Jet has been in a tailspin for months, defaulting on loans and failing to pay many staff and aircraft leases, forcing it to suspend operations last month. The firm's main lender, State Bank of India (SBI), is seeking to sell a majority stake and has received two unsolicited bids and a conditional offer from Etihad Airways of Abu Dhabi. Etihad already owns a 24 percent share and says it will inject funds to maintain its stake if a majority shareholder can be found. Indian business dailies reported Wednesday that the Hinduja Group -- led by London-based brothers Sri and Gopi Hinduja -- had held talks with Etihad, separately telling AFP: "Hinduja Group is evaluating the Jet Airways opportunity." Shares in Jet, which have almost halved over the past six months, soared 6.97 percent on the Bombay Stock Exchange Wednesday, a day after rocketing 15 percent on the back of early reports of the move. SBI refused to comment on the Hinduja Group's interest while Etihad was not immediately available for comment. Thousands of jobs are at risk if Jet goes under and employees protested in New Delhi Tuesday, calling for a government rescue of the airline. The Hinduja Brothers topped Britain's annual Sunday Times rich list earlier this month with a fortune of 22.0 billion ($28.6 billion). Their sprawling conglomerate includes interests in power, oil and gas, banking, and healthcare. LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May should not put her Brexit deal to a fourth vote in parliament after her new offering to lawmakers met with renewed criticism, the opposition Labour Party said. "I genuinely think it would be sensible for the Prime Minister to say I will not now put this package to the vote," Labour's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer told the BBC. (Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) By Nina Chestney LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - A third of British lawmakers called on Wednesday for their 700 million pound ($885 million) parliamentary pension fund to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies to address the climate change "emergency." Pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, religious groups and universities have sold oil, gas and coal stocks in recent years because of their impact on climate change. Britain's parliament declared a symbolic climate change "emergency" this month. Although it has no direct consequences for policy, it was seen as a nod to increasingly vocal activist movement demanding change. Globally, more than 1,000 funds with assets in excess of $8.7 trillion have made divestment commitments, including Norways $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest. "The climate emergency demands that all pension funds divest from fossil fuels and invest in positive solutions to the climate crisis," British Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said, ahead of an expected parliamentary debate on the issue. A third of the 650 serving members of parliament (MP) from different parties and 29 former MPs have been calling on Britain's Parliamentary Pension Fund since 2014 to disclose its investments in carbon-intensive industries and commit to phasing out fossil fuel investments. The fund holds around 11.7 million pounds of shares in oil major BP and nearly 11 million pounds in Royal Dutch Shell. Activists on Tuesday disrupted BP's annual shareholder meeting, a day after protestors blockaded the entrance to its London headquarters, demanding it end all new oil and gas exploration. ($1 = 0.7906 pounds) (Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by Alexander Smith) Clementine LaLonde is not a fan of how British men date. [Photo: Pickable] A French woman has criticised British men, saying they dont make any effort while dating. Brit men just spend too much time at pubs, dating expert Clementine LaLonde, 36, tells Yahoo UK. And as if it is not enough, they bring their dates to the pub as well. Guys, seriously? Going to a pub is not a date. Put some effort in and plan a proper date!" British blokes dont fare any better once theyre coupled up, according to LaLonde, the founder of slow dating app Pickable. READ MORE: 2019s biggest dating trends explained "They think acts like buying lingerie is romantic, she adds. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to do, we love lingerie as much as them but I feel like they underestimate the value of small gestures. For those with a vested interest in wanting to improve their dating game, LaLonde has some simple advice. [Men] don't need to spend loads of money to make a woman happy. A surprise note without a reason, a complimenting text out of the blue, even a compilation playlist can make us happy, she says. Show your partner that you're really into her, that you really care about her. That's the true romance." However, when it comes to the challenge of dating, mismatched expectations can be a recipe for disaster. READ MORE: Is lying about yourself on a dating app ever acceptable? Earlier this year, one woman took to Twitter after a dinner date called her 'disrespectful' for not texting him after he paid, despite the fact he didnt contact her either. In another harrowing incident, a woman received an almost unbelievable set of tips from a guy she met through Tinder three months after their disaster date. And they say romance is dead. LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - British protesters inflated a blimp depicting Donald Trump as a snarling, nappy-wearing orange baby on Wednesday, a trial run ahead of a planned flight during the U.S. president's state visit to Britain next month. At the invitation of Queen Elizabeth, President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are due in Britain on June 3-5 for a state visit - a pomp-laden affair involving a carriage trip through London and a banquet at Buckingham Palace. Britain's so-called special relationship with the United States is one of the enduring alliances of the past century, but some British voters see Trump as crude, volatile and opposed to their values on issues ranging from global warming to his treatment of women. The blimp greeted Trump when he visited Britain in 2018, in what he described as an attempt to make him feel unwelcome. The team behind the giant inflatable said they would let it fly again if a crowdfunding campaign can raise 30,000 pounds for groups backing causes from climate action to women's rights. In a park in central London, protesters - who cast themselves as "Trump babysitters" - inflated the six-meter (20 foot) tall balloon. "Why pick on Trump? He is the most powerful bully in the world," said Max Wakefield, one of the self-appointed "Trump babysitters." "His power is built on division and about trashing the rights of some of the most vulnerable communities. So for us particularly as people here in the UK, which has a close relationship with the U.S., he is absolutely public enemy number one." London's mayor Sadiq Khan gave permission for to the blimp to fly next to the Palace of Westminster in central London during Trump's previous visit, provoking anger from the U.S. president's supporters who said it was an insult to the leader of Britain's closest ally. While the British monarch makes the formal invitation for a state visit, the visit was offered by Prime Minister Theresa May when she became the first foreign leader to visit him after his inauguration in January 2017. Story continues During his trip last year, Trump shocked Britain's political establishment by giving a withering assessment of May's Brexit strategy. He said she had failed to follow his advice, such as suing the EU, but later said May was doing a fantastic job. Queen Elizabeth has hosted U.S. leaders including Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton in her 67-year reign. But Trump is only the third U.S. president to be accorded the honor of a state visit, after George W. Bush in 2003 and Barack Obama in 2011. Last year, as hundreds of thousands protested across Britain, Trump was feted with a lavish dinner at Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of British World War Two leader Winston Churchill. He and Melania also had tea with the queen at Windsor Castle. (Reporting by Juris Abramenko; Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Alistair Smout) LONDON (AP) British Steel Ltd has been ordered into liquidation as it struggles with industry-wide troubles and Brexit, threatening 5,000 workers and another 20,000 jobs in the supply chain. The company had asked for a package of support to tackle issues related to Britain's pending departure from the European Union. Talks with the government failed to secure a bailout, and the Insolvency Service announced the liquidation on Wednesday. "The immediate priority following my appointment as liquidator of British Steel is to continue safe operation of the site," said David Chapman, the official receiver, referring to the Scunthorpe plant in northeast England. The company will continue to trade and supply its customers while Chapman considers options for the business. A team from financial firm EY will work with the receiver and all parties to "secure a solution." "To this end they have commenced a sale process to identify a purchaser for the businesses," EY said in a statement. The government said it had done all it could for the company, including providing a 120 million pound ($152 million) bridging facility to help meet emission trading compliance costs. Going further would not be lawful as it could be considered illegal state aid, Business Secretary Greg Clark said. "I have been advised that it would be unlawful to provide a guarantee or loan on the terms of any proposals that the company or any other party has made," he said. Unions had called for the government to nationalize the business, but the government demurred. The opposition Labour Party's deputy leader, Tom Watson described the news as "devastating." "It is testament to the government's industrial policy vacuum, and the farce of its failed Brexit," he said in a tweet. The crisis underscores the anxieties of British manufacturers, who have been demanding clarity around plans for Britain's departure from the EU. Longstanding issues such as uncompetitive electricity prices also continue to deter investment in U.K. manufacturing, said Gareth Stace, the director-general of U.K. Steel, the trade association of the industry. Story continues "Many of our challenges are far from unique to steel - the whole manufacturing sector is crying out for certainty over Brexit," Stace said. "Unable to decipher the trading relationship the U.K. will have with its biggest market in just five months' time, planning and decision making has become nightmarish in its complexity." Greybull Capital, which bought British Steel in 2016 for a nominal sum, said turning around the company was always going to be a challenge. It praised the trade union and management team, but said Brexit-related issues proved to be insurmountable. "We are grateful to all those who supported British Steel on the attempted journey to resurrect this vital part of British industry," it said in a statement. British Steel has fallen into administration, putting up to 25,000 jobs directly and indirectly at risk. Britains second largest steelmaker was wound up by the high court this morning, in a move that threatens thousands employed at Scunthorpes huge steel plant and hundreds more on Teesside. With an estimated 20,000 jobs also at risk in the supply chain in Scunthorpe, it could spell disaster for the local communities. In a statement, the Official Receiver who oversees company administrations, said staff at the liquidated company would continue to be employed, and the firm would continue to trade and supply customers for now. The government was under pressure to step in with another loan of 30m yesterday, and now faces further calls from Labour to take the company into public ownership. British Steel has collapsed. Photo: Anna Gowthorpe/PA via AP READ MORE: The EAT brand is dead as stores set to become Veggie Prets Business secretary Greg Clark said today the government had worked tirelessly with its owners Greybull Capital and lenders to find a solution. But he said it would have been unlawful to give the kind of loan or guarantee that had been called for, saying the law required such loans had to be on a commercial basis. Devi Shah, a partner at law firm Mayer Brown, said she hoped a new owner could still step in and save the Scunthorpe plant. The immediate priority will be to seek a buyer, and secure the future of as many employees as possible, he told the Guardian. The industry has been battling many headwinds, from Chinese competition and Trumps tariffs on EU steel to high energy bills and sterlings plunging value. Customers fears of further tariffs and higher prices had also been damaging orders at British Steel. Unions warned earlier this year that governments plans to cut global import tariffs on steel to zero would destroy jobs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. READ MORE: Three reasons why Royal Mail isn't going to die just yet The official receiver said: The immediate priority following my appointment as liquidator of British Steel is to continue safe operation of the site. I appreciate that this a difficult time for the companys employees and I want to thank them for their ongoing cooperation. Story continues Labour shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey called it absolutely devastating news for thousands of workers, their families, suppliers and communities. She called for nationalisation of the firm immediately to save the plant and a strategically important industry. Freddy Khalatschi, a business recovery partner at Menzies LLP, said it marked the biggest industrial insolvency since Rover in 2005. He told the Guardian previous government loans and uncertain times made state intervention unlikely unlikely to be a way back from the brink. With additional reporting by Tom Belger. Canada has a fairly high adoption and awareness rate for cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin. It also has an active crypto community and authorities who support the development of blockchain technology. So if you want to know how to buy Bitcoin in Canada, there are plenty of options from top-rated cryptocurrency exchanges to Bitcoin ATMs. Around 85% of Canadians are aware of Bitcoin, and more than half of the population owns digital currencies. In addition to these eye-opening statistics, the Canadian government is open to cryptocurrency exchanges and blockchain-based start-ups. Canada has pretty clear laws and regulations for cryptocurrency owners and traders. Not only does the government make it easy for citizens to report earnings and pay taxes, but it also educates the population about the risks of investing in digital assets. Youll have no trouble purchasing Bitcoin or using it to pay for goods and services. So, check out how to buy Bitcoin in Canada here. How to buy Bitcoin in Canada Cryptocurrency exchanges are the most popular places to buy Bitcoin in Canada, as theyre generally considered safe and easy to use. According to the Canadian Bitcoin Index, the most popular platforms for buying and trading in Canada are Coinsquare, Kraken, and Bitvo. Most cryptocurrency exchanges accept multiple payment methods. So, you should be able to buy Bitcoin using wire transfers, credit cards, PayPal, or any payment method youre comfortable with. Coinsquare Coinsquare is a Canadian cryptocurrency investment platform where you can buy Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Ethereum using both fiat and cryptocurrencies. Its popular among Canadians because it has a simple interface and user-friendly features. You can buy Bitcoin from your computer, tablet, or smartphone in seconds. All transactions are secure. Coinsquare claims never to have lost any of its clients funds during operations, unlike some other Canadian exchanges that come to mind. Story continues Registering on the platform is easy, but it can take some time. The exchange requires its users to upload a series of documents to prove their identity. Coinsquare also enables users to trade gold and silver as well as cryptocurrencies. Kraken Kraken is less beginner-friendly than Coinsquare, but it is still a reliable option when looking at how to buy Bitcoin in Canada. The platform has users from over 190 countries worldwide. You can trade cryptocurrency pairs easily Kraken lists more than 15 different cryptocurrencies besides Bitcoin. If you want to buy cryptocurrencies with fiat, trading will take you longer. Users who register with Kraken must verify their identity before trading. Depending on the type of account you have, you may need to take several steps and upload a series of documents to prove your identity and residence. If you want to buy Bitcoin with fiat, you need to deposit the funds via bank transfers that take a couple of extra days. Bitvo Bitvo is another Canadian cryptocurrency exchange that provides a same-day guarantee service as well as a Visa debit card for cryptocurrencies. The platform promises to register every account immediately upon sign-up. This is as long as all goes well with your KYC (know your customer) process. Bitvo also claims it can move your funds between accounts on the same day you make a request. Users get immediate access to their funds thanks to the Bitvo Cash Card, which works just like any other credit card. Buying Bitcoin from ATMs or OTC Canada has 696 Bitcoin ATMs most of them are available in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Bitcoin ATMs are expensive, but they allow you to buy Bitcoin using cash and without revealing your identity. Buying Bitcoin from ATMs is far more expensive than using cryptocurrency exchanges. Fees can run between 10-17%, around 8% more than other ways. Another option is to find a broker and buy Bitcoin over the counter (OTC). Canada has a large number of licensed brokers and trading desks you can use to invest in cryptocurrencies. Tax policy for Bitcoin in Canada The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) treats cryptocurrency as a commodity for tax purposes. So, any income from trading cryptocurrency is considered capital gain or business income (or capital/business loss). You need to keep accurate records of your transactions. The value of your cryptocurrencies is usually determined using the highest price in Canadian dollars (the fair market value). However, you can decide to use the amounts listed by an exchange as long as youre consistent. If you hold multiple cryptocurrencies, each one is considered a separate digital asset. The takeaway Now you know how to buy Bitcoin in Canada, youll see theres no shortage of ways for beginners and experts alike. From purchasing digital coins with your credit card to exchanging Bitcoin for cash, you can test them all and decide which suits you best. Do keep in mind, however, that despite being well regulated, the Canadian cryptocurrency market cant protect you against scams and fraud. So, make sure you invest in a secure Bitcoin wallet and keep your funds protected. The post How to buy Bitcoin in Canada appeared first on Coin Rivet. Does the May share price for Phoenix Mecano AG (VTX:PM) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. I will use the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! See our latest analysis for Phoenix Mecano Crunching the numbers We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. Generally we assume that a dollar today is more valuable than a dollar in the future, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 Levered FCF (, Millions) 14.60 33.85 35.20 35.50 36.40 37.33 38.37 39.49 40.69 41.95 Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x2 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 2.56% Est @ 2.78% Est @ 2.93% Est @ 3.03% Est @ 3.1% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 10.61% 13.20 27.67 26.01 23.72 21.98 20.38 18.94 17.62 16.42 15.30 Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF)= 201.24m Story continues "Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the intial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 10-year government bond rate of 3.3%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 10.6%. Terminal Value (TV) = FCF 2029 (1 + g) (r g) = 42m (1 + 3.3%) (10.6% 3.3%) = 591m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV) = TV / (1 + r)10 = 591m ( 1 + 10.6%)10 = 215.40m The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is 416.64m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. This results in an intrinsic value estimate in the companys reported currency of 434.23. However, PMs primary listing is in Switzerland, and 1 share of PM in EUR represents 1.128 ( EUR/ CHF) share of SWX:PM, so the intrinsic value per share in CHF is CHF489.87. Relative to the current share price of CHF447.5, the company appears about fair value at a 8.6% discount to where the stock price trades currently. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. SWX:PM Intrinsic value, May 22nd 2019 The assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. If you don't agree with these result, have a go at the calculation yourself and play with the assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Phoenix Mecano as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 10.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.231. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Phoenix Mecano, I've put together three pertinent aspects you should further examine: Financial Health: Does PM have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does PM's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Are there other high quality stocks you could be holding instead of PM? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every CH stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search 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. By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - California and its high-speed rail authority filed suit on Tuesday to prevent the Trump administration from canceling a nearly $1 billion federal grant awarded in 2010 for a "bullet" train project hobbled by extensive delays and rising costs. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, claims the U.S. Transportation Department lacks authority to withhold the $929 million in question, which the Obama administration allocated nearly a decade ago but has remained untapped. The court challenge seeks an injunction to keep the grant intact. The state also plans to petition for an immediate temporary restraining order to prevent the department's Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) from redirecting the money to other projects. In formally canceling the grant last week, the FRA said California had "repeatedly failed to comply" with terms of the allocation and "failed to make reasonable progress on the project." But the suit, which was assigned to Judge James Donato, an appointee of President Barack Obama, argues the move stems from President Donald Trump's "overt hostility to California" and its opposition to his initiative, so far unrealized, to build a wall along the entire U.S.-Mexico border. Trump first threatened to pull the high-speed rail funding after California Governor Gavin Newsom said in February that he wanted to scale back the $77.3 billion project, beset by rising costs, construction delays and management concerns. Newsom later said the state remained committed to high-speed rail but would concentrate first on finishing a smaller segment of the line through California's Central Valley. In a speech last week, Trump called the project a "disaster" and "totally out of control." Beyond the unspent $929 million, the FRA said last week it was considering seeking the reimbursement of $2.5 billion in federal funds the state previously received for the project. Story continues The clash is the latest in an ongoing battle between the Republican Trump administration and Democratic-controlled California over issues ranging from immigration to air quality standards. The most populous U.S. state has repeatedly challenged the Trump administration in court, and the lawsuit to preserve California's rail funding was expected. The Trump administration first said it planned to withhold the money on Feb. 19, which California noted in its suit came one day after it joined 15 other states in suing Trump over his decision to declare an immigration emergency at the southern U.S. border. The U.S. Transportation Department declined to comment on Tuesday. California had planned to build a 520-mile (837-km) system that would allow trains to travel at up to 220 miles per hour (354 kph) from Los Angeles to San Francisco in the first phase, with full service beginning by 2033. Newsom said in February the state would focus instead on finishing a 119-mile segment by 2028 between Merced and Bakersfield, which Trump described last week as running "from this tiny little town to another tiny little town." California voters approved the initial $10 billion bond for the project in 2008, and $3.5 billion in federal money was allocated two years later. By March 2018, total costs projected by the state had jumped to $77 billion, with analysts warning the tally could ultimately exceed $98 billion. (Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by James Dalgleish, Meredith Mazzilli and Sonya Hepinstall) By Prak Chan Thul PHNOM PENH, May 22 (Reuters) - Cambodia's royal oxen predicted a plentiful harvest of rice, the country's biggest crop, at an ancient plowing ceremony on Wednesday. King Norodom Sihamoni presided over the televised annual ritual in which two oxen are given offerings after plowing a field, marking the start of the rice-growing season in the Southeast Asian country. Dressed in ornate robes and colorful headdresses, the oxen ate 85% of the rice and beans on offer and 90% of the corn in decorated bowls - indicating a bountiful harvest. Palace astrologers make their predictions each year depending on the oxen's choice of crops and the amount they eat. "I pray ... for seasonal rain and regular weather," Korng Ken, a Brahmin priest dressed in traditional white robes, said at the ceremony in Takeo province. He prayed that "Cambodia avoid any natural disasters that would destroy the agriculture harvests which are the lives of the people and country." The good omen will be welcomed in Cambodia after the European Union imposed tariffs in January on rice from Cambodia and Myanmar in a bid to protect EU producers. Cambodia has since seen a surge in rice exports to China. Cambodia's ceremony mirrors similar traditions in nearby Thailand and Myanmar in which oxen ceremonially plow the ground and then choose between eating bowls of rice, beans, corn water, grass, sesame seeds or alcohol. Thailand's royal oxen predicted a good harvest at a plowing ceremony this month presided over by newly crowned King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his queen. (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul Editing by James Pearson and Darren Schuettler) By David Shepardson and Allison Lampert FORT WORTH, Texas/MONTREAL, May 22 (Reuters) - In a potential challenge to U.S.-led efforts to build consensus on the Boeing Co 737 MAX flying again, Canada and Europe said on Wednesday they would bring back the grounded aircraft on their own terms if their specific concerns are not addressed. Global regulators will meet in Fort Worth, Texas, on Thursday where the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration hopes to reach an international consensus on how to move forward with the MAX, U.S. officials told Reuters. The plane was grounded worldwide in March following a fatal Ethiopian Airlines crash just months after a similar Lion Air disaster in Indonesia which together killed 346 people. Global airlines that had rushed to buy the fuel-efficient, longer-range aircraft have since canceled flights and scrambled to cover routes that were previously flown by the MAX. "From our point of view, if we all work together and we all reach the same aim, fine. If we don't, we'll choose our own time to decide when the planes are safe to fly again," Canadian Transport Minister Marc Garneau told Reuters in an interview. "The number one focus for us is that we in Canada must be satisfied. It doesn't matter what others do. So if we are not perfectly synchronized with certain other countries that's how its going to be," Garneau said. Regulators are expected to discuss Boeing's proposed software fix and new pilot training that are both key to re-starting flights. Boeing has not yet formally submitted its proposals to the FAA. A spokesman for the European Aviation Safety Agency said on Wednesday that it would complete an additional independent design review of the plane once the FAA approves Boeing's proposed changes and establishes "adequate training of Boeing MAX flight crews." Foreign regulators have already signaled disagreements over measures to end the grounding, with Garneau calling in April for pilots to receive simulator training for the MAX, rather than computer courses, going a step beyond FAA-backed proposals. Acting FAA Administrator Dan Elwell told Congress last week the FAA is working closely with other civil aviation authorities "to address specific concerns related to the 737 MAX." United Airlines Chief Executive Oscar Munoz said on Wednesday that FAA approval is only the first step, with public and employee confidence key to deciding when to fly its 14 MAX jets again. (Reporting By Allison Lampert in Montreal and David Shepardson in Fort Worth, Texas Additional reporting by Tracy Rucinski in Chicago Editing by Susan Thomas) Ottawa (AFP) - Canada plans to build 18 new Coast Guard ships as part of a Can$15.7 billion (US$11.7 billion) program to upgrade its ageing fleet, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday. "The Coast Guard has been making do with the vessels they have, some of which are almost as old as the Coast Guard itself," Trudeau told a press conference in Vancouver. "But the ships just aren't up to the demands of the job" and the fleet, whose ships have an average age of 38 years, is on the verge of "rusting out," he said. Another Can$2 billion also has been earmarked to extend the life of current vessels, including refits and maintenance work while waiting for delivery of the new ships. The new ships -- 16 multi-purpose vessels and two Arctic and offshore patrol ships -- will be built at Canadian shipyards. Initial contracts will be awarded to Seaspan's Vancouver Shipyards and Irving Shipbuilding of Halifax while the government looks to add a third shipyard in the coming months. "These new vessels will do everything from ice-breaking on the Great Lakes to official fisheries patrols to conducting pollution responses." Trudeau noted also that the Coast Guard saves 50 lives a day on average as it patrols the world's most extensive coastline, some 202,080 kilometers (125,570 miles) along the Altantic, Arctic and Pacific oceans. Beto O'Rourke and Jay Inslee on climate change. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: AP(3), Getty Images(2). Presidential elections are decided by many things: media exposure, financial backing, personal chemistry, timing and luck. Policy positions often are just a way of signaling where a candidate stands on the political spectrum. But 2020 is shaping up to be different, the most ideas-driven election in recent American history. On the Democratic side, a robust debate about inequality has given rise to ambitious proposals to redress the imbalance in Americans economic situations. Candidates are churning out positions on banking regulation, antitrust law and the future effects of artificial intelligence. The Green New Deal is spurring debate on the crucial issue of climate change, which could also play a role in a possible Republican challenge to Donald Trump. Yahoo News will be examining these and other policy questions in The Ideas Election a series of articles on how candidates are defining and addressing the most important issues facing the United States as it prepares to enter a new decade. If not all Americans can agree on the causes of climate change, at least theyre starting to agree that the weather is getting weird. The connection of climate change to day-to-day weather is often misunderstood (remember Sen. James Inhofe throwing a snowball in the Capitol to attempt to disprove global warming?), but scientists say extreme weather and record-breaking wildfires are linked to the warming planet. These events, coupled with a series of recent blockbuster reports on the impacts of climate change, have injected new urgency into the issue, and a majority of Americans throughout the country now favor more government action to mitigate climate change. The landmark report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released in October 2018 concluded that the planet has already warmed 1 degree Celsius (1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) since the pre-industrial era. If the planet continues at the current pace, another half a degree of warming will occur by 2040. Past that point, experts predict multiple crises around the world mass migrations from flooded coastlines; more droughts and wildfires; deadlier heat waves and hurricanes; food shortages and water rationing, accelerating species extinction, and the irreversible loss of entire ecosystems, including the worlds coral reefs. Story continues Photo: Getty Images; digitally enhanced by Yahoo News Throughout the world, a rapid shift from fossil fuels, which provide nearly 80% of U.S. energy, is urgently needed. While China is now the worlds largest greenhouse gas emitter, for a long time, Americas thirst for oil meant it was responsible for most of the emissions that contributed to warming. Under President Trump, the U.S. is no longer taking the lead on reining in carbon emissions the president has stated his intention to pull out of the Paris climate agreement, and is reversing Obama-era regulations. The unwillingness by Republicans to address climate change stands in the way of action to prevent catastrophe. Historians point to 1986 as a watershed moment in the understanding of climate change. Experts testified at a Senate hearing on the effect of manmade pollution, saying that overwhelming evidence and research from NASAs earth observations showed temperatures were on track to rise to levels not seen in 100,000 years. Protecting the environment has not always been a partisan issue. The Environmental Protection Agency was created by President Richard Nixon; it was Reagan who signed the Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer; and George H.W. Bush helped launched the first global framework to address climate change, saying at the time that the United States fully intends to be the worlds preeminent leader in protecting the global environment. President George H.W. Bush addresses a conference on climate change, April 18, 1990. (Photo: Barry Thumma/AP; digitally enhanced by Yahoo News) As politicians of both parties began working on solutions in the 1990s, the fossil fuel industry mounted a disinformation campaign to undermine climate science. It was so effective that by the time former Vice President Al Gore was promoting his climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth, the country was deeply divided on the issue. Jay Inslee and Beto ORourke are the first two Democratic presidential candidates in the 2020 election to describe their plan to address climate change. While they differ in some details, both are framed around an ambitious 10-year mobilization to get the nation to a net-zero carbon future. Environmentalists say the excitement generated by the Green New Deal, introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Edward J. Markey, has raised expectations for climate action, especially among Democratic voters. The plans being proposed are comprehensive and would transform the American economy. I think that the new baseline for ambitious climate policy has shifted dramatically in just the last six months, says Derek Walker, vice president of U.S. climate at the Environmental Defense Fund. Partially because of the new reports out there and partially because of the impact of the Green New Deal on the policy debate on both sides of the aisle. A target for bringing the U.S. to net-zero emissions by investing and incentivizing a massive shift to clean energy is part of both plans, but on slightly different timelines. Net-zero emissions refers to the point at which human activity is no longer increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. ORourkes plan aims to accomplish this by 2050. Inslee has set an end date to reach net-zero carbon emissions in the U.S. by no later than 2045. Both say the U.S. needs to cut emissions by half by 2030, as advised by the IPCC report. Beto O'Rourke, left, with Anne Kelly, center, director of the Sierra Nevada Research Stations, and environmental advocate Leslie Martinez in Yosemite National Park, Calif. (Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP; digitally enhanced by Yahoo News) Inslee, the governor of Washington since 2013, has been advocating for climate action for decades and has presented the most detailed and encompassing climate plan thus far. His $9 trillion proposal (mobilizing government and private funds) would aim to create 8 million jobs, rebuild and upgrade the nations infrastructure to optimize energy efficiency, and use various market mechanisms to move the economy away from fossil fuels and toward 100 percent clean energy. Seventy percent of U.S. emissions currently come from electricity, transportation and buildings. Inslee would require electricity generation to be carbon neutral by 2035. It would mandate zero-emissions for most new vehicles produced, and all new commercial and residential buildings by 2030. Trying to avoid global warmings worst impacts is like steering the Titanic and Inslees plan requires all hands on deck marshaling existing programs to move energy markets toward renewables, an upfront government outlay of $3 trillion to spur trillions more in private investment, and a revolution in auto and building production. He calls it the Evergreen Economy. Envisioning $300 billion in annual government spending in the first ten years, Inslee predicts incentives will generate an additional $600 billion in matching private sector investment that would fund renewable energy and other infrastructure projects, such as municipal water systems. He also proposes providing job training to displaced coal industry workers and would guarantee health insurance and pension benefits for them. Against the backdrop of Yosemite National Park, former Rep. Beto ORourke called climate change the greatest threat we face one which will test our country, our democracy and every single one of us. At its heart, his $5 trillion dollar plan is a massive economic stimulus intended to spur innovation in the private sector, while building new public infrastructure toward a zero-carbon future. It would require an initial $1.5 trillion investment that ORourke says would be leveraged to mobilize $5 trillion in public and private capital for everything from research and development to tax credits for clean energy innovators. He proposes that this outlay would be funded by ending subsidies to fossil fuel companies and changing the tax code specifically, raising rates on corporations and the wealthy. A linchpin of ORourkes plan is getting Congress to pass a legally enforceable standard that will send a clear market signal. The plan is vague about what this standard is, but ORourke has hinted at some form of carbon pricing, which could be a tax. To illustrate how hard it is to pass legislation on climate change in the United States, consider that the Democrats couldnt pass a version of a cap and trade bill originally devised as a free-market approach that would appeal to conservatives in 2009, when they had control of Congress and President Obama was in the White House. The bill had its predictable critics in the oil and gas industry and among Republicans who opposed it on ideological grounds, but it was also attacked on the left by environmentalists who said it didnt go far enough. The bill passed the House, but was never taken up by the full Senate. Even before former Vice President Joe Biden announced a formal climate change policy, the left wing of the Democratic Party was decrying him for what an adviser called his middle ground approach to climate change. Ocasio-Cortez told a gathering of Green New Deal supporters, Ill be damned if the same politicians who refused to act then are going to try to come back today and say, We need a middle-of-the-road approach to save our lives. Biden now says he will take a strong stand on the issue. As a senator he successfully pressed for formation of a climate change task force, approved by Reagan. The portfolio of climate initiatives that Inslee and ORourke have presented would target greenhouse gases across the economy, require large federal appropriations and probably would include some form of carbon tax, a daunting task for even the most skilled politician. Foreseeing an uphill battle, Inslee is calling for an end to the filibuster and the Electoral College to give his climate agenda a chance. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington. (Photo: Zach Gibson/Getty Images; digitally enhanced by Yahoo News) No candidate has put forward a plan that would be adopted in toto, and put into law, says Walker. The key thing is that all the candidates that have talked about climate are putting ideas and themes and momentum into the bloodstream of the American electorate and the media. Polls show voters, particularly young people, increasingly want the government to act on the issue. A recent survey commissioned by the EDF and conducted by Global Strategy Group found voters in battleground states overwhelmingly support strong action on climate change. Among Democrats, climate change is now a top issue that could swing the primaries. A Monmouth University poll which surveyed Iowa voters found climate change is the second issue after health care that Democratic voters are thinking about when choosing a candidate. Even many Republican voters support action on climate change, and former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, who is challenging President Trump for the Republican nomination, has said the Trump administrations handling of the issue is antithetical to every principle of conservation and conservatism, and every tenet of Theodore Roosevelts Grand Old Party. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: When we visited the Los Angeles set of Captain Marvel in spring of 2018, we watched the filming of a scene in which Vers (Brie Larson) and her fellow Starforce members prepare for the early mission to rescue to an endangered Kree operative who is undercover in Skrull country. The scene not only establishes Vers (soon to be known as Carol Danvers, aka Captain Marvel) as a hotshot/wildcard, it also reveals a rivalry between her and squadmate Minn-erva (Gemma Chan). "Just remember, Twinkle Fists," Minn-erva taunts Vers, "think with your head and not your hands." The sequence never actually made it into the final cut, which came as a surprise to Chan when we interviewed her before the movies release (the Crazy Rich Asians actress had not yet screened the film). "Maybe they toned [the rivalry] down," Chan said at the time. But it does appear on the upcoming Blu-ray and digital release (you can watch it exclusively above), so does that make it canon? Of course, the playful rivalry depicted here is nothing compared to how heated it eventually gets between Carol and her Kree friends. Captain Marvel is available on digital May 28 on iTunes and on DVD and Blu-ray June 11 on Amazon. Watch Brie Larson talk about what playing Captain Marvel meant to her: Read more on Yahoo Entertainment: Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyle's newsletter. By Anne Harding (Reuters Health) - Most infant deaths in car-safety seats happen when the seat is being used as a napping spot, rather than for transportation, a U.S. study shows. "Car seats are for cars, and they're not a substitute for cribs or bassinets," the study's senior author, Dr. Jeffrey D. Colvin of the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, told Reuters Health. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises against letting babies sleep in car seats, strollers and other sitting devices, Colvin and his team note in Pediatrics. But while parents seem to be aware of the AAP's other safe-sleep recommendations, like putting babies to sleep on their back and not co-sleeping, "what seems not to have got out there as much is that babies not only need to sleep alone and on their back, but also in a crib or bassinet," the researcher said. Colvin and his colleagues reviewed U.S. data on 11,779 infant sleep-related deaths in 2004-2014, of which three percent took place in a sitting device, such as a car seat, stroller or bouncer. Car safety seats accounted for nearly two-thirds of these deaths, and the sitting devices were being used as directed less than 10 percent of the time. Most deaths occurred while a child was at home or at a friend or relative's home, and while a child was being supervised by a parent or guardian. Deaths in sitting devices were almost three times more likely to occur when a child was being supervised by a child-care provider rather than a parent, and were twice as likely when a babysitter was watching the child. In many cases, infants had not been strapped into the seat properly, Colvin noted in a phone interview. "What we saw a lot as well was that the infants had been placed in that car seat in the house for hours and hours, and the parent who was supposed to be supervising the child went to sleep." Because car seats are safety devices, and the safest place for babies to be while in a car, parents and caregivers may mistakenly believe that the seats are safe for sleep too, Colvin said. Low-income families may be forced to let their child sleep in a car seat because they can't afford a crib or a bassinet at home, he added. "All parents, me included, have been guilty of taking a sleeping infant in a car seat out of the car and not wanting to risk waking them up," Colvin said. "The safest thing to do for a sleeping infant outside of a car is to place them in a bassinet or a crib, but at an absolute minimum, that infant should be directly observed and fully strapped in." SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2HwqjLc Pediatrics, online May 20, 2019. WASHINGTON Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson responded to a video that went viral yesterday of him appearing to mix up a real estate term, REO, and Oreo, the sandwich cookie. In an interview with Fox Business Networks Varney and Co., he told the host Stuart Varney that he was having difficulty hearing during the committee hearing. Carson went on to say that of course Im very familiar with foreclosed properties and with REOs, citing his upbringing in Detroit to make clear that he had grown up among many foreclosed properties. Ive read extensively about them, knew about them even as a teenager there was a lot of blighted areas in Detroit where I grew up." A video of Carson went viral on Tuesday after Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., questioned Carson about disparities in foreclosure rates among properties granted loans by the Federal Housing Administration. Carson appeared not to know the term that Porter was talking about, instead asking about Oreos, the snack cookie. Oreo?: HUD Secretary Ben Carson mixes up a real estate term and Oreo sandwich cookies Carson also took criticism from House Democrats for his offices attempts to remove undocumented immigrants from subsidized housing. On Fox Business, Carson defended his remarks yesterday that Its not that were cruel, mean-hearted. Its that we are logical in reference to that proposal. Well you know, we have an obligation to follow the law. And Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980 says specifically that the HUD Secretary may not support housing for people who are not here legally, Carson explained on Fox. So, what theyre asking me to do is violate the law. They have the ability to change the law Sunia Zaterman, the Executive Director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, told USA TODAY that the 1980 law explicitly authorizes both those with eligible and ineligible immigration status to occupy units in covered housing programs. Story continues This is a punitive act. Even HUDs justification laid out the negative impacts of doing this on the households themselves which often include children that are eligible and parents and heads of household who are not, she continued. So were really talking about a policy that intentionally separates families, which is contrary to the intent of the 1980 law. Following the hearing, Carson sent a family-sized box of double stuf Oreos to Porter and invited her to speak with his staff at HUD about the issue. Porter was skeptical of Carson's explanation, saying in a statement to USA TODAY that "it's very clear that the Secretary was not familiar with the terminology." "Im glad that hes taken the time to read about the critically necessary reforms to the Federal Housing Authoritys foreclosure and conveyance processes," she said. "I worked on exactly these issues until the day I was sworn into Congress; I dont need to be "'brought up to date.'" This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Carson says he had 'difficulty hearing' during viral Oreo testimony, defends HUD proposals London (AFP) - British celebrity TV chef Jamie Oliver said Tuesday that he was "devastated" to announce that his restaurant group had collapsed, with the loss of 1,000 jobs. The group, which comprises 25 restaurants across Britain and includes the chains Jamie's Italian and Barbecoa steakhouse, has appointed administrators KPMG. "I'm devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into administration," Oliver tweeted. Oliver's company has officially fallen into administration -- the process whereby a troubled company calls in outside expertise to try and minimise job losses. "Following their appointment, all but three of the group's 25 eateries have closed," KPMG said in a statement. "Both Jamie's Italian restaurants and Jamie Oliver's Diner at Gatwick airport will continue to trade in the short term while the joint administrators explore options for the site. "Regrettably, these closures will result in approximately 1,000 redundancies." The company's international division meanwhile remains unaffected by the move and continues to trade as normal. "The current trading environment for companies across the casual dining sector is as tough as I've ever seen," added Will Wright, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, in the statement. "The directors at Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group have worked tirelessly to stabilise the business against a backdrop of rising costs and brittle consumer confidence. "However, after a sales process which sought to bring new investment into the business proved unsuccessful, the team took the incredibly difficult decision to appoint administrators." - 'Dark day' - Oliver expressed "deep" sadness at the move, which also comes amid fierce competition in the sector in Britain. "I am deeply saddened by this outcome and would like to thank all of the staff and our suppliers who have put their hearts and souls into this business for over a decade," he added in a separate statement. Story continues "I appreciate how difficult this is for everyone affected." The news follows a string of closures at the group's restaurants over the last two years, including 12 of its 37 Jamie's Italian outlets in 2018. Louisa Bull, national officer at trade union Unite, said that the high street was suffering "dark" times from ongoing economic turmoil in Britain, adding that the group had also expanded too fast. "This is another dark day for the UK high street, following hard on the heels of the collapse of (British cafe chain) Patisserie Valerie early this year," Bull remarked in a statement. "Restaurants are not being helped by the current economic uncertainty, although those businesses like Jamie Oliver's that dashed for expansion in recent years seem particularly precarious. "As ever, it is the workers at the restaurant and in the supply chain who bear the heavy cost of boardroom decisions." Birmingham (United Kingdom) (AFP) - "I've never, ever known it like this," said Brexit Party supporter Peter Stokes-Chapman following a febrile rally in the Midlands, where shifting loyalties point to a looming electoral disaster for Britain's two main parties. "I've never been so passionate about politics, I've been sucked up by it," fellow Brexit supporter Dave, a 47-year-old floor-layer, added before the rally in Willenhall, a few miles north of Birmingham. The area voted strongly to leave the EU, and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage had few problems in whipping up the 1,000-strong crowd ahead of Thursday's European Parliament elections, in which he is expected to score a crushing victory. Meanwhile the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats also made major gains in the area in local council elections earlier this month. The common theme? A massive Brexit-fuelled rejection of the Conservatives and Labour, the two parties which have dominated British politics for over a century. "I've voted Tory before, I wouldn't vote for either of the main parties again," Baron Weston, 48, said outside the rally. Former Labour voter Jamindar Hayre, 54, said that on a scale of one to 10, "if 10 is the most angry, I would be on 20 or 30 or 50. "Everyone is not very happy," he said of Prime Minister Theresa May's handling of Brexit, which was supposed to take place on March 29 and has been delayed twice, with Britain now required to elect MEPs. - Lib Dem revival - Only 20 percent of voters who backed the Conservatives in the 2017 general election intend to do so on Thursday, with 62 percent planning to vote for Farage, according to a YouGov poll published on Friday. "A change is coming," Brexit Party candidate Katharine Harborne warned at the rally, a reference aimed at fans of TV series "Game of Thrones". The hit show was inspired by the War of the Roses -- the fight for the British crown that ended with the death of King Richard III in the 1485 Battle of Bosworth. Story continues The same Midlands town, around 20 miles (12 kilometres) east of Birmingham, was the scene of another unexpected power shift earlier this month, albeit of less epic and violent proportions. Despite being a Leave-supporting constituency, Hinckley and Bosworth elected the Liberal Democrats, whose EU election slogan is "Bollocks to Brexit", in local polls. "We are the party with momentum," the party's MEP candidate Michael Mullaney said as he pounded the streets of Hinckley. "People who don't want to see a big victory for the Brexit Party need to coalesce around one party. "Labour's support has also fallen very heavily here. We are seen as the best alternative," he added. Labour looks set to pay for its Brexit ambiguity, with predictions that only 35 percent of their 2017 voters will stick with them on Thursday, while 21 percent are seen switching to the Liberal Democrats, now running second in some polls. Mullaney was interrupted on his rounds by well-wisher Fred, 51, who congratulated him on the recent election win. "I've been Labour but (leader Jeremy) Corbyn's not strong enough," he told AFP. "Farage could have been a temptation at one time, but he doesn't support the National Health Service." - 'Totally let down' - Fred's concerns reveal an unprecedented fluidity in Britain's political landscape. Brexit Party candidate Martin Daubney, former editor of men's magazine Loaded, told AFP that Brexit had "pushed the reset button" on British politics. The view was echoed by voters in central Birmingham's Bullring markets, where some stalls were decorated with Brexit Party placards. "I'm totally confused and let down," said butcher Alan Doherty, 73, in between serving customers. "We've got a successful country and they are fighting and squabbling, and together they are ruining it," he said, adding that he may even vote for Farage in a general election despite voting to Remain in 2016. Colleague Dave said it was "definitely" the end of the two-party system, and "I'm very happy about it." "Abso-definitely-lutely", said florist Anthony Rowe, 52, when asked if he would vote for Farage in a general election, saying Labour and the Conservatives were wrong to rely on age-old loyalties. "It's not really how the people think anymore," he said. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Photo: Doggi's Arepa Bar/Yelp Spending time in Coral Way? Get to know this Miami neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from an Arepa bar to an upscale Portuguese restaurant. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Coral Way, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Doggi's Arepa Bar Photo: DOGGI'S AREPA BAR/Yelp Topping the list is Venezuelan and breakfast and brunch spot Doggi's Arepa Bar, which offers coffee and tea and more. Located at 1246 S.W. 22nd St., it's the most popular business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 1,027 reviews on Yelp. 2. Oh My Gosh! Brigadeiros Photo: EMILY H./Yelp Next up is chocolatier and shop OH MY GOSH! Brigadeiros, which offers desserts, coffee and tea and more, situated at 2205 S.W. 23rd Ave. (corner of Coral Way). With 4.5 stars out of 213 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. 3. The Mighty PHOTO: RONY M./YELP Bar and New American spot The Mighty is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 2224 S.W. 22nd St., 4.5 stars out of 210 reviews. 4. Ponte Vecchio Ristorante E Pizzeria PHOTO: PONTE VECCHIO RISTORANTE E PIZZERIA/YELP Ponte Vecchio Ristorante E Pizzeria, a bar and Italian spot that offers pizza and more, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 179 Yelp reviews. Head over to 2250 Coral Way to see for yourself. 5. Jardim de Portugal PHOTO: REINA Q./YELP Check out Jardim de Portugal, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 174 reviews on Yelp. You can find the Portuguese and Mediterranean spot, which offers seafood and more, at 2960 S.W. Coral Way. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Shanghai (AFP) - China's three biggest airlines have filed claims seeking compensation from Boeing over the grounding and delayed delivery of 737 MAX 8 aircraft following two deadly crashes, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday. The reports in various state-run media that China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Air China would seek payouts from the American aerospace giant come against the backdrop of an escalating US-China trade war. China Southern is Asia's largest carrier by fleet size, China Eastern is the country's number two, while Air China is the state flag carrier. A spokesman for China Eastern confirmed to AFP that a dispatch by state-run Xinhua news agency saying the airline had presented Boeing with a compensation claim was correct. Neither the spokesman nor the report gave any financial or other details. Spokespersons for China Southern and Air China could not immediately be reached for comment. On March 11, China became the first country to order its airlines to ground the 737 MAX as a result of the two tragedies. The day before, an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board, including eight from China. That followed the October crash of a Lion Air 737 MAX, which went down shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. Xinhua had reported that "grounding Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes had resulted in great losses for the company (China Eastern), and the losses are still expanding". Shanghai-based China Eastern has grounded its 14 MAX planes while the US aviation giant addresses the safety risks, Xinhua reported. It was not immediately clear how many planes the other two airlines had grounded. But Chinese media have previously reported that a combined 96 MAX aircraft were in service among all of China's carriers. There was no immediate indication that the move was related to the increasingly bitter trade conflict. Story continues Trump launched the trade war last year to extract profound economic reforms from Beijing, accusing China of seeking to forge global industrial dominance through massive state intervention in markets and the theft of US technology. The two sides have exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade. The conflict has widened recently with the United States taking unprecedented steps to bar US technology sales to Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Washington suspects Huawei has deep links with China's military which could allow Beijing to potentially use Huawei-enabled networks for espionage or cyber-sabotage. Boeing acknowledged Saturday it had to correct flaws in its 737 MAX flight simulator software used to train pilots. The firm's statement about the simulator marked a first acknowledgement of a shortcoming since the two accidents led to the worldwide grounding of the top-selling airliner. The anti-stall system on the MAX models has been blamed in large part for the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy. BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) - China will prosecute the former deputy party secretary and chairman of luxury liquor maker Kweichow Moutai, the ruling Communist Party's graft buster said on Wednesday. Yuan Renguo, a former official of the world's largest listed alcohol firm, with market capitalization of 1.12 trillion yuan ($162.3 billion), has been expelled from the party and removed from all posts, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said on its website. Yuan "severely violated political discipline and political rules, and used dealership qualification of the Moutai liquor as tools of strings pulling and exchange of interests," it said in a statement. He took exceptionally large bribes and ran illegal for-profit business, it added, among other accusations. Since taking office more than five years ago, President Xi Jinping has waged war on graft at all levels of the ruling party, pledging that the fight will continue until corruption is impossible and unimaginable for officials. Moutai, which sells its fiery Feitian 53 baijiu for close to $250 per bottle, is often served at official banquets and business dinners, as China's burgeoning middle-class builds an appetite for more expensive drinks. The brand has close ties with Chinese politics and culture, drawing on its long history as the national liquor of choice and was once hailed as helping the Red Army survive the tortuous Long March of the 1930s. In March, the firm posted its second consecutive double-digit annual profit growth, racking up 35.2 billion yuan ($5.22 billion) in full-year net profit for 2018, up from 27.08 billion a year earlier. ($1=6.9022 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Pei Li and Brenda Goh; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) A NASA image shows the ozone hole over Antarctica in Some alarming news from the stratosphere. Chinese foam manufacturers are releasing an ozone-destroying chemical into the air that goes against an international agreement meant to fix the ozone layer, scientists announced in a study Wednesday. The chemical is a chlorofluorocarbon known as trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), which the world agreed to phase out starting in 2010. But just in the past six years, emissions of CFC-11 have increased by around 7,000 tons each year, and the source is eastern China, the study suggests. Located up in the stratosphere, the ozone layer acts like a sunscreen, blocking potentially harmful ultraviolet energy from reaching our planet's surface. Without it, humans and animals can experience increased rates of skin cancer and other ailments such as cataracts. (The naturally occurring ozone high up in the atmosphere is the "good" ozone and is in contrast to the "bad" ozone near the surface, which is man-made pollution that can cause respiratory problems.) "It was unexpected when we saw that, starting around 2013, global emissions of one of the most important CFCs suddenly began to grow, said study lead author Matt Rigby, an atmospheric chemist at the University of Bristol in England. The new study said that two provinces in eastern China Hebei and Shandong appear to be a major source of the CFC-11 emissions. Researchers used air-monitoring equipment in Japan and South Korea to detect the Chinese emissions. Scientists first discovered the dramatic thinning in Earth's protective ozone layer in the 1970s and also the infamous "ozone hole" over Antarctica. They determined the production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), used in refrigerators and aerosol sprays, caused the problem. In the late 1980s, 196 countries signed the Montreal Protocol, a treaty that limited production of CFCs around the world. Businesses soon came up with safer alternatives for spray cans and refrigerators. Story continues But any increase in emissions of CFCs will delay the time it takes for the ozone layer, and the Antarctic ozone hole, to recover. The study is very definitive, providing firm evidence that there is a continuing problem with emissions from China, Ian Rae, a chemist at the University of Melbourne in Australia who was not involved in the study, told Science magazine. There are other sources out there, scientists say, since the Chinese emissions account for less than half of the banned chemical. It is now vital that we find out which industries are responsible for the new emissions, Rigby said. If the emissions are due to the manufacture and use of products such as foams, it is possible that we have only seen part of the total amount of CFC-11 that was produced. The remainder could be locked up in buildings and chillers and will ultimately be released to the atmosphere over the coming decades. Study co-author Sunyoung Park, a geochemist at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea, told Science that "we hope that the information that this new study provided helps the Chinese government take steps to address the issue." The new study was published in the peer-reviewed British journal Nature. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: China is shredding the ozone layer with banned chemical emissions, study says By Tom Miles GENEVA, May 22 (Reuters) - China told the world's main disarmament forum on Wednesday that U.S. foreign policy was destabilizing, baffling and redolent of Don Quixote, the Spanish fictional hero whose misplaced determination leads him on a series of doomed endeavors. "The Cold War mentality has come back to drive the security strategy and policy of a major power," China's disarmament ambassador Li Song told the Conference on Disarmament, a long-stalemated arena for arms talks at the United Nations in Geneva. "In particular the U.S. keeps saying other countries make it feel unsafe this is truly baffling," he said. Li was responding to U.S. calls for other nuclear powers to accept shared standards on nuclear weapons transparency, which he said represented an attempt by Washington to bully weaker powers into accepting a U.S.-designed set of rules. The idea of demanding such shared standards made a mockery of the situation the world was facing, Li said, with an international security environment characterized by a pervasive sense of insecurity, in which "unilateral and bullying practices" were the new forms of hegemony. "We cannot but help be reminded by Don Quixote, depicted in Cervantes writing, who was all geared up and belligerently ready to tilt at windmills," Li said, referring to Spain's most famous work of literature, a 17th century work by Miguel de Cervantes. "Don Quixote" is the story of an errant, daydreaming knight and his faithful servant Sancho Panza. The hero attacks windmills, believing them to be giants, making his name a byword for attacking imaginary enemies. "National security policy informed by such a mindset is itself a potential threat to international peace and security, Li said. Other issues in the growing number of flashpoints in the U.S.-China relationship include tensions over navigation in the South China, a trade war, U.S. sanctions and Taiwan. Story continues A senior U.N. disarmament expert said on Tuesday that the risk of nuclear weapons being used was now at its highest since World War Two, an urgent issue the world should take more seriously. Li said the United States pursued its security interests at the cost of international rules, made a habit of sabotaging and tearing up deals, while expanding its own offensive and defensive capabilities, "adding to tensions, stoking (an) arms race and eroding strategic stability. By choosing to see countries as rivals, Li said, the United States was likely to turn them into enemies, even though they had no such intention. (Reporting by Tom Miles, Editing by William Maclean) China's ambassador to the United States said in a Tuesday interview with Fox News that Washington repeatedly "changed its mind overnight" and sunk deals that could have ended the two countries' trade war. Ambassador Cui Tiankai also slammed as "politically motivated" the White House's move to ban the transfer or sale of US technology to Chinese telcom giant Huawei. "We are very worried. Such actions will really undermine people's confidence in the normal function of the market," Tiankai told Fox. Washington has long suspected deep links between Huawei and the Chinese military, and its moves against the company came amid the churning trade dispute. After a six month ceasefire, the standoff erupted anew on May 10 when the United States increased punitive duties on $200 billion in Chinese imports after talks in Washington collapsed. Beijing followed suit three days later, saying it would raise tariffs on $60 billion in US exports starting on June 1. In the interview, Tiankai said the administration of President Donald Trump was to blame for the failure to reach an agreement. "If you review the process of trade talks between us over the last year or so, it's quite clear it is the US side that more than once changed its mind overnight and broke the tentative deal already reached," Tiankai said. "China remains ready to continue our talks with our American colleagues to reach a conclusion. Our door is still open," he added. US officials this week however issued a 90-day reprieve on the ban on dealing with Huawei, saying breathing space is needed to a avoid huge disruption. Shares in two top Chinese surveillance firms plunged Wednesday following reports Washington is considering banning them from buying US components, just as the blacklisting of telecoms giant Huawei fanned their escalating tech war. The move -- over alleged human rights abuses -- would make it harder for Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology and Zhejiang Dahua Technology to access the US market and suppliers, Bloomberg News cited people familiar with the matter as saying. The action, first reported by the New York Times, would also likely exacerbate a worsening row with Beijing after President Donald Trump stopped US firms from selling to Huawei and barred it from the US market. Huawei has been given a 90-day reprieve. Shenzhen-listed Hikvision dived 5.54 percent to 26.07 yuan and Dahua tumbled 5.91 percent to 12.74 yuan Wednesday. Hikvision is the world's largest seller of surveillance equipment, employing 34,000 people worldwide. It has grown quickly as Beijing has expanded surveillance on its population and especially in its restive northwestern Xinjiang region. The Uighur ethnic minority make up almost half of the region's 23-million-strong population and have been targeted with pervasive surveillance from cameras like those made by Hikvision, among other draconian security measures, following a flare-up in violence in 2014. Chinese authorities have placed an estimated one million mostly Muslim ethnic minorities including Uighurs in internment camps, which Chinese authorities downplay as "vocational education centres". Last year US lawmakers wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin calling for sanctions on Chinese officials in charge of the region and on the two surveillance equipment manufacturers supplying equipment, Hikvision and Dahua. "We have taken note of The New York Times' report this morning and hope our company receives fair and just treatment," said Hikvision board secretary Huang Fanghong. Story continues "Hikvision is a product supplier, we have not done anything improper in Xinjiang, our company has not in the past, does not right now, and will not in the future take any business that has violating human rights as a requirement," Huang said on her WeChat social media account. Asked about the reports, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told reporters: "We have repeatedly stated China's opposition to the US's abuse of state power to wilfully smear and suppress enterprises of other countries, including Chinese enterprises." Hikvision's controlling shareholder is state-owned China Electronics Technology HIK Group. As many as five Chinese surveillance hardware makers, including Hikvision and Dahua, could be added to the US Commerce Department entity list, Bloomberg News said. The Commerce Department action against Huawei threatens to bar the company from using Google's Android software for its smartphones, remove US chips from its handset and telecoms gear, and could slow down the rollout of next generation 5G networks in parts of the world. Detectives have sniffed out a big source of an outlawed, invisible, and odorless gas, currently wafting through Earth's atmosphere. This chemical, CFC-11, is illegal everywhere in every country, because it depletes Earth's ozone layer which protects life from solar radiation. The detectives are a team of global scientists who exposed specific provinces in eastern China that are responsible for emitting loads of this ozone-killing gas into the atmosphere since 2013. The researchers published a study on Wednesday in the journal Nature, describing how they used detection instruments to sleuth out major sources of this banned chemical, without stepping foot in China. "The results point to an emissions increase primarily in two provinces of China," said Steve Montzka, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientist who has been following the CFC-11 trail. "A big part of the [CFC-11] global emissions can be accounted for." But, although about half of global emissions of CFC-11 used to make foam insulation have almost certainly been produced in the eastern Chinese provinces of Shandong and Hebei, the rest of globe's perpetrators remain unknown, for now. They could be operating in another part of China, Asia, or the opposite side of the globe. "We dont know where the rest of it is coming from," explained Montzka, a study coauthor. "It could be coming from other regions around the world." The thinned-out region of ozone over Antarctica. Image: nasa The evidence against the rogue CFC emitters has been mounting. Last year, Montzka published research that found an "unexpected and persistent increase" in CFC-11, likely from somewhere in Eastern Asia. Separately, the Washington D.C.-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), which investigates environmental crimes and abuse, engaged in an undercover probe to film and record Chinese factories who were using CFC-11, a relatively cheap chemical, to make their goods. To top it off, The New York Times conducted its own investigation, which pointed to culprits at a "scrappy industrial boomtown in rural China." Story continues This latest research essentially seals the deal for a good chunk of the outlawed emissions, anyhow. "The paper corroborates what we found on the ground," said Avipsa Mahapatra, the Climate Campaign Lead at the EIA. "These illegal actors were practiced, fly-by-night operators who were circumnavigating their own laws of government." "It's not like elephant ivory that you can easily see," added Mahapatra, who had no role in the new study. "Theyre odorless, colorless gases." SEE ALSO: From space, powerful thunderstorms look like boiling water And they promise to slow down the planet's ozone-recovery. Since global nations agreed to ban CFC chemicals in the late 1980s a landmark climate and environmental treaty called the Montreal Protocol the ozone layer began to repair itself, after a substantial and worrisome thinning. But with the new rise in CFC-11, by some 7,000 tons (7 Gigagrams) per year since 2013, the recovery will be slowed. "It means we should immediately find the [exact] source of the emissions," said Sunyoung Park, a study coauthor and researcher at Kyungpook National University's Department of Oceanography in South Korea. "It certainly won't help the recovery of the ozone layer. The question is how much [will it delay the recovery]," added Ray Weiss, an atmospheric scientist at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and also a study coauthor. NOAA's Montzka has estimated the unexpected uptick in CFC-11 will delay the ozone layer's recovery by yet another decade, which already will take at least a half-century to fully restore. To better pinpoint the source of CFC-11 emissions, the researchers used two atmosphere detecting stations, one on a Korean island, and another on a Japanese island, which sampled the air every two hours for some 10 years. The scientists then employed sophisticated weather models of how winds have swirled over East Asia in recent years to identify where the CFC-11 must have originated. "You can back-calculate where that air is coming from," said Weiss. The clues pointed to two provinces in Eastern China, though the two monitoring stations could not pick up what was happening in rest of the burgeoning industrial nation, nor places beyond South Korea, Taiwan, and southern Japan. "This pinpoints a specific region," said the EIA's Mahapatra. "Thats key to the international effort to understand where the emissions are coming from." And it's key for assisting the Chinese government in catching the polluters. There is no league of international, law-enforcing guardians of the ozone. Under the Montreal agreement, it's up to each nation to stop their CFC emissions. Fortunately, the Chinese have taken action, likely spurred on by last year's surprise detections and resulting media coverage. "The Chinese have undertaken massive enforcement efforts," said Mahapatra. They investigated over 1,000 enterprises, she added, and have already shut down CFC-11 producers. This is no easy task in a booming industrial society with a population of over 1.3 billion. There's industry everywhere. Banned chemicals will inevitably be used, whether in bad faith or not. "It's the product of the enormous growth of China," said Weiss. Yet the ability of rogue-operators to use CFC is coming to its end. You can't hide CFC-11 from atmospheric scientists. This scientific sleuthing is critical to enforcing the Montreal Protocol. And this type of scientific verification, Weiss emphasized, is also a model for how researchers can monitor emissions of another odorless, invisible gas that's now saturating the skies at unprecedented rates: the heat-trapping greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, which has driven 18 of the last 19 years to be the warmest on record. If global nations agree in 2020 to hold themselves accountable for human-generated carbon emissions that are stoking weather extremes around the globe, scientists will need to watch closely to see who's following the rules, and who isn't. "We ought to have some numbers. We can't manage things without having numbers," said Weiss. Berlin (AFP) - As Germany plans to shutter its coal sector, the government pledged Wednesday to pour 40 billion euros ($45 billion) into mining regions over the coming years to stimulate growth and jobs. The top EU economy, having decided to phase out nuclear power by 2022, pledged in January to also end the use of dirty coal by 2038 in order to meet its climate targets. While Germany now meets one third of its electricity needs with clean renewables such as wind, solar and biogas, it produces another third with coal, a climate killer with huge CO2 emissions. The coal phase-out has however stoked anger against Chancellor Angela Merkel's government in mining regions where the industry accounts for tens of thousands of jobs. Protests have been loudest in the ex-communist east, the electoral stronghold of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party which opposes immigration and denies that climate change is man-made. Economy and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier on Wednesday hailed the plan to boost infrastructure spending and to attempt to lure new businesses to the affected regions. "For the first time in our post-war history, we are reacting to a structural change before it occurs," he told a Berlin press conference. "We are creating new jobs before the old jobs disappear," added Merkel's close ally Altmaier, speaking days before European parliamentary elections. He said that an initial 240 million euros should flow immediately so that "the campaigns of some populist parties on the right and on the left will collapse like a house of cards". The 40 billion euros earmarked until 2038 would go mainly to the western industrial region of North Rhine-Westphalia and to the eastern states of Brandenburg, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. Much of the money will be spent on roads, rail lines and internet cables to make the regions more attractive for investment. The broader aim is to attract modern high-tech businesses, such as a plant to produce batteries for electric vehicles. Story continues The government also wants to move federal government departments and research facilities to the impacted regions. A coal commission set up by the government has also proposed that several billion euros will be required to cushion the social impact of the coal phase-out. Elderly mine and coal plant workers would receive allowances to bridge the gap between the end of their employment and their entry into the pension system. Corrections and Clarifications: This story has been updated to reflect that polling firm PerryUndem works with clients that include Planned Parenthood and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. Do conservative women have abortions? The answer is, obviously, yes. But it's not often we hear from them. Nearly one in four women in the USA will have an abortion by age 45, according to the American Journal of Public Health, and they don't all share the same values and political views. Cultural stigma can make it difficult for any woman to talk about her abortion, but the particular pressures facing conservative women mean that stigma often equals silence. "Republicans don't have fewer abortions than Democrats or liberals or anarchists or communists. It's that our political rhetoric paints people who have abortions as largely the same poor women, young women, irresponsible women, women who hate children," said Amanda Reyes, president of the Yellowhammer Fund, which provides funding for women seeking access to any of Alabama's three abortion clinics. "It's gotten us to a point where we can't see the fact that we're all having abortions, and we're doing it for reasons we personally think matter and that's all that matters. Pro-life women are having abortions, too." Liz Satterfield poses for a portrait in Ingram Park in Birmingham, Alabama, May 19, 2019 during the March for Reproductive Freedom. - "If it does goes through, and we get it reversed it will be much better," Satterfield said. The state of Alabama passed a near-total abortion ban on May 14, 2019 making it the most restrictive law in the United States. (Photo by Seth HERALD / AFP)SETH HERALD/AFP/Getty Images ORG XMIT: 'March Fo ORIG FILE ID: AFP_1GO3VG If you just read the headlines, it would seem Democrats are on one side of the abortion debate and Republicans are on the other. But the issue is more complicated and less partisan than one might think. Polling shows about a third of Republicans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center, and more than half of Republican women support keeping Roe v. Wade, according to a poll in 2018 from the public opinion research firm PerryUndem, whose clients include Planned Parenthood and the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. Nearly 90% of voters say they would support a friend or family member if they had an abortion. Story continues In 2019, four states enacted abortion bans after six weeks of pregnancy, and Alabama passed a law banning abortions except for when the mother's health is at risk. INTERACTIVE MAP: Where is abortion legal? Everywhere. But ... "If you look at national polling, this isn't where the American public is, and it frankly isn't even where mainstream Republicans are," said Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University. "The harshness of it is pretty shocking." Lawmakers expect the bans will lead to lawsuits that could push the Supreme Court to consider overturning Roe v. Wade, which recognizes a womans constitutional right to abortion. ENDING ROE V. WADE: It wouldn't end abortion. This is what would happen next. The bills have received vocal support from many conservative women. Alabama's near-total ban "stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God," said Republican Gov. Kay Ivey, who signed the most restrictive abortion law in the nation this month. ALABAMA BAN: Out of line with beliefs of most Americans Other conservative women, even abortion opponents, find such laws draconian. South Carolina state Rep. Nancy Mace is a Republican who is against abortion, but she said she was stunned by the lack of compassion her colleagues showed when they voted to pass a six-week "fetal heartbeat" abortion ban without including exceptions for rape and incest. She introduced an amendment to the bill, and in a pair of 10-minute floor speeches, she cited her personal experience as a rape victim. It was the first time in 25 years she had spoken publicly about her rape at 16, which she said was perpetrated by someone she believed was a friend. Post by nancyrmace. "I was gripping the podium so hard I thought I was going to pull it out of the floor," Mace said. "I was angry at the language my colleagues were using. They were saying rape was the fault of the woman. They called these women baby killers and murderers. That language is so degrading toward women, particularly victims of rape or incest. And I said to myself I'm not going to put up with that bull----. I was nearly yelling into the mic. I gave a very passionate speech to my colleagues, and that is what got the exception through." Then she was chastised. State Rep. Josiah Magnuson put a card from Personhood South Carolina, an anti-abortion group, on Maces Statehouse desk that read, It is a twisted logic that would kill the unborn child for the misdeed of the parent. Mace said most Republican men at the highest levels are anti-abortion, though they make exceptions. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky a state that banned abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected, providing no exceptions for rape and incest said he supported exceptions. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the same. "I don't see them being attacked for having the same position," Mace said. "The only difference is I'm a woman, and I'm a victim of rape. And you would think that that would be a legitimate voice in the discussion of abortion in South Carolina and across the U.S." Not only is it difficult for Republican women to speak about abortion, but it's also become nearly impossible for Republican female politicians to get elected unless they're unequivocally anti-abortion, Walsh said. "It's become harder and harder for pro-choice Republican women or men to get elected, because in the primaries the most conservative voters are who show up," Walsh said. In the Senate, there are two Republican women who support abortion rights: Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska. In the House, there is none. Conservative politicians aren't the only ones who struggle with stigma. Last year, Jenna King-Shepherd hosted a get-together at her home. It was intended as a coming out of sorts. There would be wine and cheese, but the conversation would be anything but light. King-Shepherd decided she would tell the 25 women she invited from her community of Guntersville, Alabama, how she had an abortion at 17. King-Shepherd hoped to persuade the women to vote no on Amendment 2, which would add language to Alabama's Constitution making it state policy to "recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life." All the women RSVPed yes. On the day of the gathering, excuses trickled in. One woman said her husband didn't want her to attend. Another said that although she supported what King-Shepherd was doing, she couldn't risk people recognizing her car in the driveway. Of the 25 women who said they'd come, only two showed. In November, Amendment 2 passed. "I felt frustrated and defeated," she said. "It feels like an uphill battle that can never be won because you're dealing with culture, and how do you fix that? Because it's systemic. ... I just think it speaks to the stigma here. In the South, it's OK to support abortion, as long as people don't know." King-Shepherd grew up in Guntersville, which she described as a town with a church on every corner. Her father is a Baptist preacher. Abortion was never discussed in her home. She was conservative, identified as a Republican and said she did all she could to fulfill her family's expectations of a good Southern girl. Jenna King-Shepherd with her son Barron. Right before she was set to leave for college at the University of Alabama, King-Shepherd learned she was pregnant. She knew she wouldn't have the baby. "It's really easy to think you believe something until it happens to you, and you really understand the gravity of the situation," she said. "It's easy to say you shouldn't have a choice until you're left without one." King-Shepherd shared her story publicly for the first time with AL.com in January, and says that although she received supportive messages, she's also been harassed. A direct message on Facebook read, "Keeping your legs closed before college was an option." People told her parents they were "disturbed" by her choice. Laurie Bertram Roberts also had a conservative, religious upbringing. She was raised in a fundamentalist Baptist church, and when she got pregnant with twins at 16, abortion wasn't on the table. The only option, she said, was to marry the father. So she did. Roberts had five more children (though she eventually split from her husband) and considered herself anti-abortion until the day she found herself in a Planned Parenthood clinic seeking an abortion. An ultrasound revealed her pregnancy was not viable, and she was told she would miscarry. "I realized then I'm not actually better or different," she said. "I was sitting in the waiting room with all of these women who were just as scared as me. None of us looked like we wanted to be there. Some looked ready to get it over with. Life brought us to be at this spot, on this day, and it wasn't a value judgment." Roberts co-founded the Mississippi Reproductive Freedom Fund, an organization that helps fund abortion access in Mississippi, primarily serving low-income black women. Mississippi has one abortion clinic. Roberts said most of the women she takes calls from are religious. "We're always going to encounter some callers, it doesn't matter what we say, they are going to believe what they did is a sin that they're murderers," Roberts said. She recalled a woman who "proceeded to tell me why her abortion was different than everybody else's. Folks who are entrenched in their anti-choice views think they are the exception to the rule. Their abortion is a good abortion, and once it's done, they'll go back to shaming other women." Reyes and Roberts work closely together. Even though they run funds in different states, the dearth of abortion clinics in the South means getting women access often requires coordination. Both lamented how an issue they see as personal has become so politicized, preventing nuanced conversations about not only how complex abortion can be but also how practical it becomes under certain circumstances, regardless of political or cultural beliefs. "A lot of people I talk to have never considered or thought they would be the kind of person who would get an abortion," Reyes said. "We explain this is a choice that you're making for you it's not a political choice." You may also be interested in: This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When it comes to abortion, conservative women aren't a monolith In 2012, I was the Supreme Allied Commander at NATO, in overall command of NATO operational forces worldwide. My trusted subordinate commander of the International Security Force Afghanistan was a superb U.S. Marine Corps General and a Naval Academy classmate of mine, John Allen. He called me late in the year to inform me that a group of U.S. Marines had been videotaped and photographed that summer by their fellow Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban combatants who had been killed in a firefight in Afghanistan. John was deeply, justifiably upset. He outlined the difficulties ahead particularly the real additional danger to our troops caused by the enormous backlash that we both knew would come in country, once the world knew what these Americans had done. I remember the anguish in his voice. Those Marines were subsequently charged and punished by military courts for, or themselves pled guilty to, obvious violations of our code of conduct. Some were demoted a rank or, in at least one case, discharged albeit honorably. The fellow Marines who conducted the disciplinary activity were sober, thoughtful and fully knowledgeable of the stress of combat operations. (One Marines conviction was overturned in 2017, due to meddling by an enraged four-star general who oversaw the investigation into this case, though even then, the general took action to attempt to, he wrote, protect the institutional integrity of the military justice process. This was correctly construed by the military appellate system as undue command influence demonstrating the military judicial system is indeed self-policing.) There was not a shred of political correctness in the convictions. Though some judges could not inflict harsher punishment due to plea deals, the Marines actions represented a real failure in our overall command discipline, disgraced the Marine Corps and put their fellow Marines in more danger on the battlefield. It was a low point in our campaign in Afghanistan, where at that moment we had 150,000 brave U.S. and Alliance troops engaged in a difficult and frustrating fight. Story continues But according to the New York Times, it appears that President Trump is considering pardoning those men, as well as other military members credibly charged with a variety of crimes, including murdering an enemy captive or killing unarmed civilians. (The President is also reportedly considering pardoning a security contractor twice convicted by a federal court.) All of these actions are gross violations of the laws of war and the U.S. code of military conduct. They are extreme ethical and moral failures. Some of the Marines who desecrated the corpses accounted their actions to the stress of war. Yet while the impulse to act with leniency toward the servicemen who, in the crucible of combat, fall short of our expectations for acceptable behavior is understandable especially some sympathetic civilians actually doing so leads us in the wrong direction. These men are not heroes. Far from it. Each of the cases is unique. The circumstances, motivations, outcomes and punishments all differ. But they share one crucial element: the military members went through, or still face, the military judicial system, which includes a strong presumption of innocence by fellow military members; a very high bar for conviction; a set of judges, prosecutors and defense teams composed of military personnel, most with real combat experience themselves; and a fully engaged appellate system that likewise was composed of military judges. While there may be a very atypical case wherein a Presidential pardon could right an obvious wrong, such a situation is extremely rare the punishments meted out take fully into account the circumstances. At a minimum, the President should let the full course of military justice run its course through conviction, potential incarceration and the appellate process before even considering such an action. For the Commander-in-Chief to reach into the military system and provide a pardon, especially in a preemptive way before a trial and appeal process, is a mistake. It will undermine our own standards, as junior enlisted personnel try to understand a pardon for doing something we constantly train to avoid. It strengthens enemy propaganda, as they will correctly say that we do not hold ourselves accountable for our own standards. It undercuts our relations with allies who have strong systems in place to prevent these kinds of actions. And it spurs our enemies on to even more barbaric behavior as the battlefield descends into moral chaos on both sides of the line of combat. This kind of pardon disrespects every single one of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who follow the strict standards of the Code of Conduct. They do not abuse captives who have surrendered, use torture to interrogate, cause needless casualties to civilians through collateral damage or desecrate corpses. For an example of a serviceman who truly is a hero and faced similar circumstances but made the courageous and honorable decision in that combat crucible, consider the story of SEAL Lieutenant Michael Murphy. On a mission in Afghanistan in 2008, his four-man SEAL patrol stumbled across Afghan goat herders. The squad considered killing them to preserve operational security. As the team leader, the decision was Murphys to make, and he released them, knowing that execution of civilians would have been a violation of military law. Later, his team was ambushed and three of them died, including Lieutenant Murphy. He subsequently received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in the final firefight, and today his name graces the bow of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer named in his honor. The man who survived the mission, Navy Seal Marcus Luttrell, tells the story in his memoir Lone Survivor, illuminating the hard choices on the battlefield and the way in which Michael lived up to our standards fully. When he was a boy growing up, Michael Murphys nickname was the protector, because he tried to shield the weak and always take the moral and ethical path forward. That is the kind of young leader we cherish in the U.S. military, and Michaels actions in combat represent the vast majority of Americas extraordinary armed forces. President Trump would do well to consider the actions of leaders like him as he considers wielding the enormous powers of the presidency in pardoning those at the other end of the moral spectrum. He should tread carefully indeed. In the years since World War II broke out in Europe and President Franklin Roosevelt foreshadowed support for France and England in a radio fireside chat, presidents have spoken to the American people at length about conflicts threatening to involve the nation. As tensions rise precipitously between the United States and Iran with bombers set on hair trigger alert and naval battle groups on the move thats not what were getting from President Donald Trump. Standing in the front door of the White House last week he blurted out, I hope not, to a reporters shouted question about the prospect of war with Iran. Then on Sunday, he seemed to contradict that sentiment in a tweet, If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again! As tightening sanctions cripple the Persian Gulf nation, an American carrier group is rushed to the region and nonemergency personnel are evacuated from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and the U.S. Consulate in Erbil a step not taken even when Islamic State terrorists were rampaging across Iraq in 2014 Trump needs to explain what he is trying to achieve. The commander in chief is preparing the military for the outbreak of violence, but hes not fulfilling his role in preparing the public. On Tuesday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Joseph Dunford will brief the House of Representatives in a secure auditorium. The New York Times reports that military officials expect Middle East commanders to ask for a fresh wave of American forces to deter Iran. The White House and the Pentagon say the moves are a response to intelligence that Iran is planning attacks on U.S. troops in the region. But this conflicts with threat assessments by allies. President Donald Trump at the White House on May 16, 2019. OPPOSING VIEW: Donald Trump replaces Barack Obamas mirage with containment Beyond this immediate urgency, confusion persists about the broader endgame behind the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign of sanctions, levied against Iran ever since Washington last year withdrew from a 2015 agreement that was successfully containing Tehrans nuclear program. Story continues Now Iran threatens to resume stockpiling enriched uranium that could be the precursor to a nuclear warhead. Theres no question Iran is a bad actor in the Middle East, growing its ballistic missile program and using proxy forces in Lebanon, Syria and Yemen to provoke violence and instability. But how Trump intends to change this is not at all clear. The sanctions are aimed at making Iran conform to the normal things that normal nations do, Pompeo said this month. But he clearly doesnt believe this himself. I just dont see it, the secretary of State said earlier about Iran moderating its behavior. And Trumps other leading foreign policy consultant, national security adviser John Bolton, has made a career out of advocating force against Iran. Is regime change the goal? This hasnt worked in Venezuela, where a weaker dictator with a devastated economy still resists U.S.-led efforts to install a new government. And Iran has resisted U.S. efforts to moderate its behavior for 40 years. Trump, who relishes summitry, has repeatedly offered to meet with Iranian leaders and cut a deal to curb their behavior and accept tougher nuclear restrictions. Tehran has thus far shown zero interest. Trump has long promised to avoid foreign entanglements and has told the Pentagon that his wish is no war with Iran. Then why did he hire Bolton? And what is the plan? Soundbites shouted at reporters and belligerent tweets cant convey to Americans the risks Iran poses and what the United States is compelled to do about it. If there is to be a face-off that includes the prospect of a wider conflict, President Trump owes it to the American people to speak before the saber rattling becomes a sobering reality. USA TODAY's editorial opinions are decided by its Editorial Board, separate from the news staff. Most editorials are coupled with an opposing view a unique USA TODAY feature. To read more editorials, go to the Opinion front page or sign up for the daily Opinion email newsletter. To respond to this editorial, submit a comment to letters@usatoday.com. If you can't see this reader poll, please refresh your page. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Commander in chief Donald Trump, threatening 'official end of Iran' is not the endgame America needs Here are the companies Yahoo Finance is watching today. Major trouble for Qualcomm (QCOM). A Federal judge says the chipmaker violated antitrust rules, blocked the competition and charged excessive licensing fees. The judge ordered Qualcomm to renegotiate its licensing deals. Qualcomm says it strongly disagrees with the ruling and will appeal. China is weighing on Apple (AAPL). Goldman Sachs says Apple's earnings could slide 29% if China retaliates on the tech giant and bans the iPhone and other products. It's not clear if China is weighing any such ban, but Goldman has now lowered its price target for Apple to $178 a share. Speaking of China, one of the country's biggest carriers wants Boeing (BA) to pay up for those grounded 737 Max jets. Air China is asking for compensation as Boeing works on a software fix for the 15 Max jets already in the airline's fleet. They also want money for the delayed delivery of additional jets. Avon (AVP) is closing in on its sale to Brazil's Natura Cosmeticos. The boards of both companies have approved the deal and it's expected to be announced next week. The deal would end the independence of the iconic 20th century business. Beyond Meat (BYND) is taking a hit. The company's stock continues to decline, but there hasn't been any company-specific news out. The business boasts a market cap of about $4.4 billion, but there's no denying that a lot of growth is being priced into shares right now. Over the past week, the leading U.S. department store operators have released a steady stream of dismal first-quarter results. Unseasonal weather patterns and slower growth in U.S. consumer spending weighed on sales throughout the sector. However, these headwinds didn't bother TJX Companies (NYSE: TJX) whatsoever. Indeed, the off-price retail giant posted another quarter of strong sales growth, beat its earnings guidance (as well as analysts' estimates), and raised its full-year forecast. This shows that TJX continues to capitalize on the upheaval sweeping across the retail industry. TJX beats expectations again Back in late February, management projected that TJX's comparable-store sales would rise 2% to 3% in the first quarter, while earnings per share would come in between $0.53 and $0.54, down from $0.56 a year ago. TJX comfortably beat its forecasts for both metrics, though. Comp sales rose 5% for the quarter. Net sales increased 7% to $9.3 billion, despite a roughly 1 percentage point headwind from currency fluctuations. That beat the average analyst estimate of $9.2 billion. The TJX International segment -- which encompasses stores in Europe and Australia -- achieved the strongest sales trends last quarter, with comp sales up 8%. That compared to a 1% comp in the prior-year period. Domestic T.J. Maxx and Marshalls stores also outperformed, with 6% comp sales growth. A woman with a shopping cart outside of a Marshalls store. TJX posted another quarter of stellar sales growth in Q1. Image source: Marshalls. TJX did experience some margin compression last quarter. Gross margin fell to 28.5% from 28.9% a year earlier, due to surging supply chain and freight expenses. Meanwhile, operating expenses rose 9.8%, exceeding TJX's revenue growth, mainly due to rising wage levels. In total, TJX's operating margin fell to 10.1% from 11% a year earlier. However, the company was able to offset this margin pressure through a combination of revenue growth, lower net interest expense, and share buybacks. As a result, EPS ticked up by a penny to $0.57, beating the analyst consensus of $0.55. Story continues Cashing in on big market share opportunities Over the past 12 months, TJX has posted stronger sales growth than it had achieved in many years. To some extent, that reflects strong economic growth last year. However, TJX's market share gains have accelerated, as well. Toys R Us and regional department store chain Bon-Ton both liquidated their operations around the middle of last year. Sears and Kmart avoided liquidation, but only by shuttering more than half of their stores since last March. Many other retailers that survived have closed some stores over the past year. TJX appears to be doing a good job of capturing sales from these past and present competitors. If anything, TJX's market share opportunities could grow over the next few years, as more and more struggling retailers run out of time. Since the beginning of 2019, Midwest-focused general merchandise retailer Shopko and national chains Payless ShoeSource, Gymboree, Crazy 8, and Charlotte Russe have announced that they are going out of business. And just this week, Ascena Retail decided to begin winding down its Dressbarn discount chain. That brought the number of store closures announced this year to more than 7,000. Guidance is already rising Based on its strong start to the year, TJX bumped up its full-year forecast on Tuesday. The company is now calling for adjusted EPS between $2.56 and $2.61 -- a penny higher than its initial guidance range. History would suggest that is still a very conservative estimate. For the second quarter specifically, management expects comparable store sales to rise 2% to 3% and EPS to reach $0.61 or $0.62, up from $0.58 a year ago. This outlook indicates that the labor and freight cost headwinds that weighed on earnings last quarter are already starting to ease up. TJX stock barely reacted to the earnings report on Tuesday. As a result, it trades for less than 21 times the midpoint of the company's full-year EPS guidance range (which is likely conservative). That's not cheap, but it provides plenty of upside for long-term investors if TJX can continue to gain market share at the expense of its reeling competitors. More From The Motley Fool Adam Levine-Weinberg owns shares of The TJX Companies. The Motley Fool recommends The TJX Companies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. By Krishna N. Das NEW DELHI, May 22 (Reuters) - India's ruling coalition has promised to rev up growth, double farmers' income and boost infrastructure spending in the next five years after exit polls showed it would retain power when general election votes are counted on Thursday. Exit polls have predicted an outright majority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance in the seven-phase election that ended on Sunday. Such surveys have proved misleading before and the opposition has dismissed them as "gossip." The coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met in New Delhi on Tuesday confidant that victory was assured. "The NDA has resolved to speed up economic growth and fulfill the needs of the people in the next five years of our government," Home Minister Rajnath Singh, also a senior member of the BJP, told reporters late on Tuesday. "We're committed to a strong, developed and inclusive India." Six of the seven exit polls conducted have predicted that the NDA would comfortably surpass the majority mark of 272 seats in the lower house of parliament. But the main opposition Congress party has dismissed the polls and urged its workers to remain vigilant at centers where votes are being stored before the Thursday count. Economic growth eased to a five-quarter low of 6.6% in the three months to December and there are signs it is still slowing. March industrial output contracted for the first time in nearly two years, and surveys show a slackening in manufacturing and services growth, while car and motorbike sales have tumbled. Some economists have called for some stimulus. Singh said plans were ready to meet the BJP's manifesto pledge to spend 100 trillion rupees ($1.44 trillion) on infrastructure in the next five years and 25 trillion rupees on agriculture and rural development. Singh also reiterated the BJP goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022, the 75th year of India's independence from British colonial rule. Story continues Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, whose regional party is part of the NDA, said the election had unleashed a "tsunami" of support for Modi. Political analysts say the election result could consolidate Modi's dominant position in politics while undermining the role of Congress party and opening up space for newer parties. "If the exit polls are to be believed, Modi's image as the incorruptible defender of the faith and nation has triumphed once again," said Nikhil Menon, assistant professor of history at the University of Notre Dame. "Narendra Modi may well be leading his party into an era of electoral dominance." Nearly two dozen opposition parties have complained to the Election Commission of attempts to tamper with voting machines in vote-count centers. The commission has rejected the allegation. ($1 = 69.6425 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Krishna N. Das Editing by Robert Birsel) By Krishna N. Das NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The National Democratic Alliance has promised to rev up growth, double farmers' income and boost infrastructure spending in the next five years, after exit polls showed it would retain power when general election votes are counted on Thursday. The exit polls have predicted an outright majority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance in the seven-phase election that ended on Sunday. However, such surveys have proved misleading before, and the main opposition Congress party on Wednesday dismissed them as fake. The NDA, which is led by Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met in New Delhi on Tuesday confident of victory. "The NDA has resolved to speed up economic growth and fulfil the needs of the people in the next five years of our government," Home Minister Rajnath Singh, a senior member of the BJP, told reporters. "We're committed to a strong, developed and inclusive India." Six of seven exit polls have predicted the NDA will comfortably exceed the majority mark of 272 seats in parliament's lower house. But Congress has dismissed the polls and urged its workers to remain vigilant at centres where votes are being stored before Thursday's count. "The next 24 hours are important, stay alert and vigilant," its president, Rahul Gandhi, said on Twitter on Wednesday, addressing party workers. "Don't be scared. You are fighting for the truth. Don't be disheartened by the false propaganda of fake exit polls. Believe in yourself and the Congress party, your hard work will not go in vain." The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned of violence on Thursday and asked top police and civil officials of states to take preventive measures. "This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes," the ministry said in a statement. Story continues "TSUNAMI" FOR MODI Economic growth eased to a five-quarter low of 6.6% in the three months to December and there are signs it is still slowing. Modi has also faced criticism for weak farm prices and a shortage of jobs. March industrial output contracted for the first time in nearly two years, and surveys show a slackening in manufacturing and services growth, while car and motorbike sales have tumbled. Some economists have called for some stimulus. Singh said plans were ready to meet the BJP's manifesto pledge to spend 100 trillion rupees ($1.44 trillion) on infrastructure in the next five years and 25 trillion rupees on agriculture and rural development. He also reiterated the BJP goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022, the 75th year of India's independence from British colonial rule. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, whose regional party is part of the NDA, said the election had unleashed a "tsunami" of support for Modi. Political analysts say the result could cement Modi's dominant position in politics while undermining the role of Congress and opening up space for newer parties. They have also said that another bad showing by Congress would prompt questions over the leadership of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which has dominated politics for decades. "If the exit polls are to be believed, Modi's image as the incorruptible defender of the faith and nation has triumphed once again," said Nikhil Menon, assistant professor of history at the University of Notre Dame. "Narendra Modi may well be leading his party into an era of electoral dominance." Nearly two dozen opposition parties have complained to the election panel of attempts to tamper with voting machines in vote-counting centres. It has rejected the accusation. ($1=69.6425 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Krishna N. Das; Editing by Robert Birsel, Clarence Fernandez and Peter Graff) By Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - Democratic Republic of Congo called on Wednesday for Merck's experimental Ebola vaccine to be fully licensed to facilitate its use in the Ebola-hit country, while saying Johnson & Johnson's rival drug would complicate matters. Both vaccines are experimental drugs that can be used under strictly controlled research protocols but Merck's has been used throughout the outbreak and has proven highly effective, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. Congolese Health Minister Oly Ilunga Kalenga told reporters in Geneva that the government would roll out a "geographic ring" vaccination strategy in the coming days. "You do not only vaccinate the people in the household," he said. "You have to consider the household as the case and then vaccinate all the households around the case." The virus has killed 1,223 of the 1,847 people who have fallen ill, making it the second-worst Ebola outbreak on record. The new approach aims to protect people in an area where a new Ebola case is reported, irrespective of whether they have a known risk of contact with the patient, as is the case in the current "ring vaccination" approach. "Somehow we have to catch up with the outbreak and break the transmission chain very quickly," Ilunga said, adding that the new approach had already been used in a few remote villages. He preferred to use just one vaccine. "It would perturb the population to be faced with several different types of vaccines and that would muddle the message, and, as you know in a complex outbreak response, the message needs to be simple and clear, he said. Merck's vaccine should be fully licensed as soon as possible to make it easier to use, he said. "You must realise that all the 100,000 patients have been vaccinated according to a very strict protocol, with compliance, information, consent and so on, so it was not easy. If the vaccine is licensed, it would be easier. Story continues Merck's licensing process is underway but it was unclear how long it would take, he said. Congo's government had not discussed or requested the introduction of J&J's vaccine. Earlier this month, experts advising the World Health Organization recommended a dramatic expansion of vaccination, as well as introduction of the J&J treatment and a revised dosage of the Merck vaccine to ensure supplies last longer. (Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Democrats grabbed control of the House of Representatives in January of this year determined to restore congressional oversight. But with the Trump administration now at a moment of reckoning, a battle royal has unfolded. What exactly is the White House doing? The Trump administrations strategy is simple: block any and all requests from Democrats in Congress, even if it means defying a subpoena, such as blocking compliance by former White House counsel Don McGahn, a key witness in the Mueller inquiry, to testify on Capitol Hill this week. Also this month, the attorney general, William Barr, has ignored a subpoena for the full report by Robert Mueller on his Trump-Russia investigation and treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin rebuffed a House request to hand over six years of Trumps tax returns. Trump, who has dismissed the congressional inquiries as presidential harassment, suggested the Democratic chairs of House committees instead turn their powers to investigating his former political opponent Hillary Clinton. Why are the Democrats not looking into all of the crimes committed by Crooked Hillary and the phony Russia Investigation? They would get back their credibility. Jerry Nadler, Schiff, would have a whole new future open to them. Perhaps they could even run for President! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 20, 2019 The White House strategy appears designed either to force Democrats to take the administration to court which could take years or pull the trigger on impeachment. What can Democrats actually do? Democrats on the House judiciary committee have voted to hold Barr in contempt and have threatened to hold McGahn in contempt, too. The House majority leader, Steny Hoyer, said the chamber may consolidate multiple contempt citations against officials. Some Democrats cite the Houses inherent contempt powers, which grant them the right to jail individuals in the Capitol an action that hasnt been taken since the 1930s or issue fines. Story continues Adam Schiff, the House intelligence committee chairman, suggested US officials held in contempt of Congress be fined $25,000 a day. Were looking through the history and studying the law to make sure were on solid ground, Schiff told Axios in a recent interview. Others see the third branch of US government, the judicial branch, as the answer. The only recourse is litigation, which the president will likely lose, but it will cause delay, said Greg Brower, a former assistant director in the FBIs office of congressional affairs. The White House could drag court action out beyond the 2020 election. Is impeachment really in the cards? The heart of the debate among Democrats is whether or not to begin impeachment proceedings. Some rank-and-file lawmakers have already embraced the idea, stating the 11 instances outlined in Muellers report in which Trump or his campaign sought to obstruct justice are reason enough alone. But Democratic leaders are treading cautiously, because they would never win a conviction in the Republican-led Senate. The American public is split on the issue , with polls showing a majority against it and support for the idea falling even among Democrats. Justin Amash, a representative from Michigan, just became the first Republican to call for impeaching Trump, an important bipartisan point that drew widespread backlash for him. And Jerry Nadler, Democratic chair of the powerful House judiciary committee, signaled impatience on Tuesday, after McGahn was a no-show to testify. We will not allow the president to stop this investigation, and nothing in these unjustified and unjustifiable legal attacks will stop us from pressing forward with our work on behalf of the American people, Nadler said. We will hold this president accountable, one way or the other. RIVERHEAD, N.Y. (AP) A 62-year-old man who spent more than half his life in prison for the 1975 murder of a high school classmate had his conviction overturned Wednesday after a case review found Long Island prosecutors had long hid the fact that police looked at another possible suspect. Other red flags in the case that put Keith Bush behind bars for 33 years included Bush's claims that detectives used a telephone book to beat a confession out of him and a trial witness who later said she lied about seeing Bush and the victim together. Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini, who went to court with Bush's lawyer seeking to have the conviction overturned, said it's clear to him that Bush did not kill 14-year-old Sherese Watson. He apologized to Bush on behalf of his office and the law enforcement community. "I am truly humbled by this decision," Bush said. Bush was 17 when Watson's body was found in a vacant lot in North Bellport. They had attended the same house party a few blocks away, and a witness who testified at Bush's trial said she had seen them leave together. That woman later said she lied. Convicted of murder and attempted sexual abuse, Bush spent 33 years in prison. He was paroled in 2007 and moved in with his mother in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but has had to register as a sex offender. The rush to convict Bush, who is black, came at a time when the forces policing and prosecuting crime in Suffolk County were almost exclusively white men and prone to cutting corners. Watson was also black. When interviewed by Sini's investigators, a retired detective who worked on the case used a racist term to describe Bush and said "he should have been executed" for Watson's killing, according to a report filed with the DA's request to overturn the conviction. Sini called the review and reversal of Bush's conviction "a window into a very dark aspect of Suffolk County's history." Story continues During the investigation of Watson's death, detectives interviewed John Jones, who said he had stumbled over her body while drunk, but neither police nor prosecutors informed Bush's lawyers or the judge at his trial about the possible suspect. The police department's interest in Jones, who had a long criminal record and died in 2006, finally came to light last year when authorities turned over his police statement in response to a lawsuit seeking case records filed by Bush's lawyer, Adele Bernhard. Bernhard runs the Post-Conviction Innocence Clinic at New York Law School. The questions surrounding Bush's conviction led Sini to order his newly formed Conviction Integrity Unit to conduct a full review of the case. The unit's nine-month investigation determined that it was "forensically impossible" for Watson to have been killed in the manner described in Bush's confession. The investigation also debunked the trial prosecutor's theory of how the crime unfolded. Investigators reviewing Bush's case said that in an interview this year, the detective who took his confession alluded to using coercive tactics. "All the evidence used to convict Mr. Bush is undermined or simply not true," Sini said. "In fact, there's evidence that goes to his actual innocence. There's a much more probable suspect, and that's John Jones." New York (AFP) - A US federal judge on Wednesday rejected an attempt by President Donald Trump to block Congressional subpoenas sent to two banks for records related to his businesses. Lawmakers from the Democrat-controlled House of Representative's finance and intelligence committees in April sent Deutsche Bank and Capital One requests for documents related to Trump and his Trump Organization as part of a larger probe into election meddling by Russia. The investigation is particularly focused on the relationship between Trump and Deutsche Bank, one of the few major banks to continue lending him money after a series of bankruptcies in the 1990s. Trump and three of his children involved in the businesses, together with several of his companies, sued to block the release of these documents, saying the subpoenas were "intrusive and overbroad." But federal judge Edgardo Ramos disagreed, and at a court hearing in Manhattan ordered the subpoenas upheld, paving the way for the documents to be sent to Congress. The ruling followed a Monday report in The New York Times that said Deutsche Bank failed to raise the alarm over suspicious transactions involving Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Certain dealings in 2016 and 2017, including some with entities and individuals outside the US, set off automated alerts in the bank's systems, prompting employees to prepare "suspicious activity reports" that bank executives stopped from being forwarding to US financial regulators, the newspaper said. The report prompted a denial from the bank, which told AFP on Monday "at no time was an investigator prevented from escalating activity identified as potentially suspicious." New York (AFP) - British actor Daniel Craig will undergo "minor ankle surgery" after an injury on the set of the latest James Bond film, but his operation and recovery will not affect the film's expected release next year, producers said Wednesday. Craig -- who will play the legendary British super spy for the fifth time in the as-yet untitled film -- sustained the injury "during filming in Jamaica," a statement on the official James Bond Twitter account said. "Production will continue whilst Craig is rehabilitating for two weeks post-surgery. The film remains on track for the same release date in April 2020." Rumors about Craig's injury first started last week, when Variety reported that he "slipped and fell quite awkwardly" while "sprinting" on set. His agents did not respond to AFP requests for comment. Among the actors who have played Bond on the big screen, Craig is the first to do a lot of his own stunts -- a move that has resulted in several injuries. He lost two teeth in his Bond debut in "Casino Royale," and tore a muscle in his shoulder on the set of "Quantum of Solace." In his last Bond outing in "Spectre," he injured his knee. The 51-year-old actor, who has not always been the most enthusiastic Bond, finally agreed to take on the role for the fifth -- and likely last -- time in the 25th installment of the 007 saga. Other actors to have played the role include Sean Connery and Roger Moore. But Craig has brought both a new ruthlessness and an emotional vulnerability to the character that audiences have enjoyed. Oscar winner Rami Malek has been tapped to play the villain in the new film. Maaret al-Numan (Syria) (AFP) - Syrian government air strikes killed 23 civilians, including a dozen people at a busy market, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwest, a war monitor said on Wednesday. Regime forces battled to repel a jihadist counteroffensive around the town of Kafr Nabuda that has left 87 combatants dead since Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. The jihadist-dominated region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the government and its ally Russia have escalated their bombardment in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. At least 12 people were killed and another 18 wounded when regime warplanes hit the jihadist-held Idlib province town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Observatory said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The bombardment blew in the facades of surrounding buildings, and ripped through the flimsy frames and canvas of stalls in the market square, an AFP photographer reported. The bodies of market-goers were torn apart. "Residents are still scared," stallholder Khaled Ahmad told AFP. The 11 other civilians were killed in regime air strikes and shelling in various parts of the jihadist bastion, including five in the nearby town of Saraqib, it added. The Britain-based Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria and says it determines whose planes carried out strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions. - 'Worst fears'- The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 87 -- 51 jihadists and 36 regime forces and militia, the Observatory said. Story continues It said the jihadists had recaptured most of Kafr Nabuda from government forces, who had taken control of the town on May 8. State news agency SANA on Wednesday however said the army repelled a jihadist attack in the area, killing dozens of insurgents. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region and protect its three million residents. But President Bashar al-Assad's government upped its bombardment of the region after HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks. The Observatory says nearly 200 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30. The United Nations said Wednesday that Idlib's civilian population once again faced the threat of an all-out offensive. "A full military incursion threatens to trigger a humanitarian catastrophe for over 3 million civilians caught in the crossfire, as well as overwhelm our ability to respond," said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office. Swanson said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the upsurge of violence since April 28. A total of 20 health facilities have been hit by the escalation -- 19 of which remain out of service, Swanson said. Collectively they served at least 200,000 people, he added. - 'Break the status quo' - The September deal was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from a planned buffer zone around the Idlib region. But it ushered in a relative drop in violence until earlier this year, with Turkish troops deploying to observation points around the region. The Syrian government has accused Turkey of failing to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. But Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar accused the Syrian regime late Tuesday of threatening the ceasefire deal. "The regime is doing all that it can to break the status quo including using barrel bombs, land and air offensives," Akar told reporters. "Turkish armed forces will not take a step back from wherever they may be", he however added. On Wednesday, the civilian arm of HTS held said it had helped free an Italian who had been held hostage for more than two years. Alessandro Sandrini, 33, from the Italian region of Brescia, disappeared in October 2016 after going on holiday to Turkey, later appearing in a video pleading for help, with masked men. It was not clear who had held Sandrini, whose release was also announced by Italy. Hong Kong: Green bond offering successful The Government today announced the successful offering of its inaugural green bond under the Government Green Bond Programme. The green bond, with an issuance size of US$1 billion and a 5-year tenor, sets an important new benchmark for potential issuers in Hong Kong and the region. It saw strong demand from global investors, attracting orders exceeding US$4 billion, which was more than four times the issuance size. Orders were received from more than 100 global institutional investors, and 50% of the green bond was distributed to Asia, 27% to Europe and 23% to the US. By investor type, 29% was distributed to banks, 30% to fund managers, private banks and insurance companies, and 41% to sovereign wealth funds, central banks and supranationals. Proceeds raised under the programme will be credited to the Capital Works Reserve Fund to finance public works projects that provide environmental benefits and support the sustainable development of Hong Kong. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said the Government is pleased to see such strong demand for its inaugural green bond. The favourable response from global investors indicates not only their recognition of Hong Kongs credit strength but also their support of Hong Kongs determination and efforts in promoting sustainable development and combatting climate change. The green bond is expected to be settled on May 28 and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Joseph Ax NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democratic U.S. Senator Cory Booker on Wednesday announced a series of executive actions he would take to protect abortion rights if he is elected president, as new statewide restrictions have thrust the issue into the 2020 campaign. Booker proposed a new White House Office of Reproductive Freedom, whose mission would be "coordinating and affirmatively advancing abortion rights and access to reproductive health care" across all federal agencies. He also said he would guarantee access to contraceptives for people with employer-covered health care as part of the Affordable Care Act. The announcement came one day after Booker joined several Democratic presidential hopefuls at an abortion rights rally outside the U.S Supreme Court after a series of state laws restricting abortion, including Alabama legislation passed last week that would criminalize virtually all abortions. Other Republican-controlled states have passed so-called "heartbeat" laws that prohibit abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The state laws directly challenge the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which established a woman's right to end her pregnancy. The legislation is part of a broad effort by conservatives to push the issue before the Supreme Court once again, after President Donald Trump's appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh shifted the court further to the right. "Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country are mounting a coordinated attack on abortion access and reproductive rights," Booker said in a statement. "A coordinated attack requires a coordinated response." On Tuesday, Democrat Beto O'Rourke, the former Texas congressman seeking the presidency, unveiled his own proposals, saying he would work with Congress to pass laws preventing states from taking away those rights. Last week, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, another Democratic contender, called on Congress to codify Roe's protections with federal legislation. Like those candidates, Booker said on Tuesday he would push Congress to enact laws securing Roe's holding. But he also said he would use presidential executive authority to protect abortion rights, perhaps a recognition that such legislation would face intractable Republican opposition in Congress. Among other actions, Booker would reverse the Trump administration's plan to prevent providers like Planned Parenthood from offering abortion counseling to low-income patients and would appoint federal judges committed to upholding Roe. (Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Susan Thomas) By Tim Reid LOS ANGELES, May 21 (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke unveiled an ambitious plan to protect abortion rights on Tuesday through mobilizing every branch of the U.S government to defend a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy. Former Texas congressman O'Rourke, 46, made the announcement during his first nationally televised event before a live audience, part of a strategy to re-energize a campaign that has seen slumping poll numbers since he announced his White House bid amid a blaze of publicity in March. O'Rourke's plan comes amid an intensifying national debate about abortion rights, one that is set to become a major issue as a huge field of Democrats seek to become the candidate to take on Republican President Donald Trump in next year's election. Last week, Alabama enacted one of the strictest abortion laws in the United States. It would make abortion illegal in nearly all cases, including those of rape and incest. Several other Republican-controlled states have recently passed so-called "heartbeat" laws, which outlaw abortion if a doctor is able to detect a fetal heartbeat. Those laws form part of the latest challenge by conservatives to the landmark 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, which established a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy. O'Rourke said during a CNN town hall in Des Moines, Iowa, the state where the Democratic nominating contest kicks off in February, that as president he would appoint only judges, including those to the U.S. Supreme Court, who view Roe as the "settled law of the land." He said he would work with Congress to pass laws preventing states from taking away abortion rights, and would work to pass other federal laws, including a universal health care system providing coverage for reproductive healthcare and access to contraception and abortion. O'Rourke said he would also use the powers of the executive branch to safeguard a woman's right to choose, including appointing an attorney general who would protect abortion rights under Roe. Story continues "For so long, women have been leading this fight, shouldering the burden of making sure that their reproductive rights are protected. It is time all of us join them in this fight," O'Rourke said. In reality, O'Rourke's plan would struggle in Congress, especially in the Republican-controlled Senate. But it will appeal to Democratic activists and many primary voters as he battles in a field of 23 candidates currently vying to be the nominee to take on Trump in next November's election. O'Rourke's CNN appearance was well received by the audience, who frequently cheered his responses to questions. His aides will be hoping that the appearance before a national audience will help breathe new life into a candidacy that has been struggling to gain traction. In recent weeks, O'Rourke has been languishing low down a second tier of Democratic candidates, with his poll numbers falling to between three and five percent support among likely Democratic primary voters. He has largely focused on meeting voters in small events, a strategy that so far has not been working. In the past week he has stepped up national television appearances, with interviews on MSNBC, an appearance on ABC's The View, and then Tuesday night's CNN town hall. O'Rourke rose to national prominence last year when he narrowly lost his bid to defeat Republican U.S. Senator Ted Cruz in Texas. (Reporting by Tim Reid; editing by Darren Schuettler) Cannes (France) (AFP) - Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt said Wednesday they had to tap into distant memories of being Hollywood outsiders for their star turns in Quentin Tarantino's new movie, calling it a "love letter" to the industry's dreamers. Speaking after their movie "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" was rapturously received at the Cannes film festival, the A-list actors said they bonded on set over fame's surreal strangeness and hoped to work together again. "There was an incredible ease and comfort getting to work alongside Brad, we kind of grew up in the same generation, got our start around the same time," Di Caprio said. "Quentin gave us this incredible back story for our characters... their work together, their friendship together, what they've been through in the industry together. "All that fed into the incredible comfort and ease that I think he and I had with one another." In the dark fairytale set in the Los Angeles of 1969 just before the Manson murders, DiCaprio, 44, plays a fading television western star with Pitt, 55, his stunt double and off-screen sidekick. DiCaprio called the movie by the director of "Pulp Fiction" and the "Kill Bill" movies a "love letter to the outsiders of the industry". - 'Best of the best' - He said his and Pitt's high-flying careers had long run in parallel until they finally converged thanks to Tarantino. "When Quentin puts you into these improvised scenarios... it was incredibly easy working with Brad. We forged hopefully a great cinematic bond in a film about our industry," DiCaprio said. Pitt said remembering what it was like as young actors on Hollywood's fringes, and later dealing with the often bizarre world of mega-celebrity led the two actors to bond. "It was really great fun, I had a great laugh with him. It's that thing of knowing you've got the best of the best on the opposite side of the table holding up the scene with you. And there's a great relief in that," he said. Story continues "As Leo said, we have the same reference points... we've been going through this at the same time, have similar experiences to laugh about. I hope we get to do it again." - 'It scared people' - Pitt said the tragic story of actress Sharon Tate murdered by Manson cult members, played by Australian Oscar nominee Margot Robbie, held an enduring fascination. "In the time building up to that, there was a free-love movement, there was a lot of hope, there were a lot of new ideas floating out there, cinema was being recalibrated," he said. "When that event happened and the tragic loss of Sharon and others -- it quite scared people. That's why it lasts so much today I think because it's a sobering, dark look at the dark side of human nature. That pivotal moment was a real loss of innocence and that's what the film so beautifully addresses." Robbie, who wore double braids framing her face in tribute to Tate's hairstyle during a 1968 visit to Cannes, said she felt an obligation to do justice to the late actress. "Quentin said it to me early on -- she's the heartbeat of the story. I just saw her as a ray of light," she said. "I felt like I could honour the memory of real-life Sharon Tate who so many people said was such a bright light." Although they had never worked together before, both Pitt and DiCaprio have starred in films by Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who heads the Cannes jury this year. It took decades for each to finally win Oscars, after always falling short despite multiple nominations. DiCaprio finally won best actor in 2016 for Inarritu's "The Revenant" while Pitt took home the statuette in 2014 as a co-producer of best picture, "12 Years a Slave". The festival runs until Saturday with the awarding of the Palme d'Or top prize. Understanding how Ibstock plc (LON:IBST) is performing as a company requires looking at more than just a years' earnings. Today I will run you through a basic sense check to gain perspective on how Ibstock is doing by comparing its latest earnings with its long-term trend as well as the performance of its basic materials industry peers. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! See our latest analysis for Ibstock How Did IBST's Recent Performance Stack Up Against Its Past? IBST's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2018) of UK76m has jumped 17% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 13%, indicating the rate at which IBST is growing has accelerated. What's enabled this growth? Let's see if it is solely owing to industry tailwinds, or if Ibstock has experienced some company-specific growth. LSE:IBST Income Statement, May 22nd 2019 In terms of returns from investment, Ibstock has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 17% instead. However, its return on assets (ROA) of 11% exceeds the GB Basic Materials industry of 8.3%, indicating Ibstock has used its assets more efficiently. And finally, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Ibstocks debt level, has increased over the past 3 years from 13% to 14%. What does this mean? While past data is useful, it doesnt tell the whole story. While Ibstock has a good historical track record with positive growth and profitability, there's no certainty that this will extrapolate into the future. You should continue to research Ibstock to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for IBSTs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for IBSTs outlook. Financial Health: Are IBSTs 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. Moroccos Royal Guard is organizing, at the instructions of King Mohammed VI, during the current holy month of Ramadan the distribution of Ftour meals to needy families in several Moroccan cities. A statement by the Royal Guard said under the operation, 5.000 Ftour meals are distributed daily in Rabat, Sale Tangiers, Tetouan, Marrakech and NKhilat (Rommani). The distribution operation is carried out in the presence of representatives of local authorities and Royal Guard officials, the statement, relayed by MAP, said. At the beginning of Ramadan, King Mohammed VI launched from Rabat, the solidarity and support operation Ramadan 1440, initiated by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity. This action of generosity is of particular significance in this blessed month and reflects the Kings constant solicitude towards the needy. It also consecrates the values of humanity, solidarity, mutual help and sharing that characterize Moroccan society. Operation Ramadan 1440, mobilizing 70.242 million dirhams, benefits more than 2.5 million people or 500,300 households, in 83 provinces and prefectures of the Kingdom. Of the beneficiary households, 402,238 live in rural areas. The humanitarian operation, which is in its 20th edition this year, has become an annual event to bring help and comfort to the most vulnerable social layers, including widows, the elderly and people with disabilities. Titan International, Inc. (NYSE:TWI), which is in the machinery business, and is based in United States, saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of $7.19 and falling to the lows of $4.45. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Titan International's current trading price of $4.75 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Titan Internationals outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Check out our latest analysis for Titan International What's the opportunity in Titan International? According to my valuation model, Titan International seems to be fairly priced at around 15% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Titan International today, youd be paying a fair price for it. And if you believe the companys true value is $5.59, then there isnt much room for the share price grow beyond what its currently trading. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that Titan Internationals share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. What does the future of Titan International look like? NYSE:TWI Past and Future Earnings, May 22nd 2019 Future outlook is an important aspect when youre looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that its the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. Titan Internationals revenue growth are expected to be in the teens in the upcoming years, indicating a solid future ahead. Unless expenses grow at the same level, or higher, this top-line growth should lead to robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in TWIs positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the track record of its management team. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuates below the true value? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on TWI, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the positive outlook is encouraging for the company, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on Titan International. You can find everything you need to know about Titan International in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Titan International, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. 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. David Kennedy, founder of TrustedSec (trustedsec.com) and Binary Defense Systems, is a white hat hacker and cybersecurity consultant to major corporations, manufacturers, financials and governments. Prior to the private sector, David worked for the US Marine Corps and was deployed twice to Iraq for intelligence related missions. The auto industry is rapidly moving toward a future of driverless cars. One of the main arguments in favor of this new technology is that it will make driving safer. But what about the flip side of the coin? What new risks could it create? Tesla (TSLA) has led the field in self-driving technology for years, and it is now getting closer to what it calls FSD: full self-driving technology. At the same time, other car manufacturers and leading tech companies like Apple (AAPL), Google (GOOGL), and Uber are also developing driverless vehicle technology, which could begin rolling out soon. Kaushik Raghu, Senior Staff Engineer at Audi, takes his hands off the steering wheel while demonstrating an Audi self driving vehicle. (Photo: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) For the past four years, our team at TrustedSec has been working with leading auto manufacturers to check these vehicle systems for potential security risks a criminal hacker might exploit. While I cant disclose what weve found, what I can say is this: vehicle systems are not exactly bulwarks of security. Just like any other electronic device that runs code, they have vulnerabilities which can be attacked. To make matters worse, car manufacturers also source many of their products and components from diverse outside vendors, which makes it harder to tell what technology is actually running inside the car. Heres what consumers and investors need to know. How will cars be hacked? As cars become more like computers, they can be hacked like computers. The future risks to cars range from data breaches to hijacking critical systems, backdooring the car network, extortion, and more. Criminal hackers could target the car itself, the back-end servers supporting it, or the outside systems that communicate with the car, like smart traffic lights. The possibilities are vast. Story continues A criminal could steal personal information by hacking the cars WiFi or cellular network, or compromising a third-party service provider. The coming trade in driver data could be particularly useful for identity thieves. Ransomware could seize control of a cars functions, or disable it altogether, until the owner or automaker pays the ransom. Its also possible to carry this out on a larger scale, if an attacker is able to find a model-specific vulnerability. Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi speaks about CarPlay on stage during Apple's World Wide Developers Conference in San Jose, California on June 05, 2017. (PHoto: JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images) The infotainment system is perhaps the most vulnerable point of entry for the car. If unprotected, it is a direct conduit into the CAN bus, where an attacker could then migrate to other controllers and take over the cars critical functions. In theory, this could allow a criminal hacker to remotely control or sabotage the vehicle similar to what security researchers Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek demonstrated with the Jeep Cherokee hack. Attackers could seize control of an entire fleet of vehicles by breaching the back-end infrastructure. This type of attack could occur if the hacker was able to compromise a manufacturer or key service provider and then use it to deploy malicious code to every car under its servers reach. Weve seen this type of attack in other industries. Recently, ASUS was hacked and used to distribute the ShadowHammer malware as a fake software update to hundreds of computers. Driverless technology could enable remote car theft. If the attacker can get a shell on the vehicles system, s/he could in theory order the car to drive itself away, while also disabling any GPS tracking feature. As driverless cars will rely heavily on V2V and V2X communication to navigate, any successful breach of one of these outside systems could be used to manipulate the car. For instance, researchers recently tricked Teslas lane recognition software by placing fake lane marking stickers on a test track. This shows the potential for manipulating cars based on this external data input. Dan Kiely, CEO of Voxpro, takes his hands off the wheel of his Tesla Model S car at a launch event for the MobilityX self-driving conference, a gathering of global autonomous vehicle leaders, in Dublin. (Photo: Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images) Todays car is already a computer on wheels Most vehicles since the 1970s contain dozens of computer controllers known as electronic control units (ECUs) to monitor and regulate the cars functions like the engine, transmission, brakes, and even steering. Additionally, since the early 90s, they also have a centralized network to manage them known as the controller area network (CAN bus). However, a computerized system has one important downside it can be manipulated through malicious code. If a criminal hacker can gain access to this system, that person could potentially jeopardize the safe operation of the vehicle. In the past, vehicles had no connection to the internet. But that is quickly changing with the rise of connected vehicles, driverless cars, and 5G. This raises the stakes considerably for cybersecurity. For instance, both 4G and the upcoming 5G networks provide direct access to the cars, their back-end servers, and ultimately, a substantial amount of data coming out of the car, known as telemetry. If vehicles arent properly protected, an attack on the infotainment system could spread throughout the cars other systems. This is why Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) recently introduced the Secure Gateway (SGW), which is like a firewall that sits in between un-trusted networks on the CAN bus (like the infotainment system) and the vehicle's ECUs. FSD takes this to a whole new level Full self-driving capabilities will significantly increase the scale of computerized controls and the cars need to connect with outside systems. These are autonomous vehicles: A Lincoln one being tested in Pittsburgh by Aurora Innovations, right, and a Ford Focus designed by Argo AI, on display in Pittsburgh Monday, March 4, 2019. (Photo: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) The technology will add higher power computers, additional ECUs, enhanced sensors to monitor critical applications (like the engine), and substantially more code to run the vehicle autonomously. For instance, many cars today now have graphics processing units (GPUs), similar to those used in video game systems, just to handle the road telemetry and to process images of the vehicle's surroundings. New connectivity measures like vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) will also be essential for driverless cars to navigate, manage traffic hazards, and reduce congestion. All of this increased complexity and added connectivity means the vehicle now has more potential points of failure and a larger attack surface for a criminal hacker to exploit. Vehicle updates further compound the risk To sustain all of these sophisticated systems, driverless cars will require software and firmware updates from the manufacturer. The most practical way to manage this is with over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and by 2020, many more automakers will begin to make OTA updates available for their vehicles. Tesla is a good example of what this will be like. It already has functional OTA updates for its vehicles and continuously releases new software updates. For instance, when I first purchased my Tesla, it had all the necessary hardware for AutoPilot v1.0, but the software had not been released yet. One morning I woke up and noticed the update was available, and, voila, I had AutoPilot 1.0. A few months later, the Summon feature was released, which enabled owners to backup or move forward their cars using just the Tesla mobile app or key fob. But OTA updates can be a double-edged sword. While they are vital for vehicle safety and performance, they also introduce a direct pathway into critical vehicle systems. If the update process is compromised or spoofed, an attacker could push malicious code directly into the vehicles controllers. Security mandate for automakers People look at the Waymo car, formerly the Google self-driving car project, during the Las Vegas Convention Center during CES 2019 in Las Vegas on January 9, 2019. (Photo: DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images) The shift toward connected and driverless vehicles is creating many new security risks which the industry may not be prepared for. These are vehicle systems which have generally lacked network connectivity before, so adding this type of integration and then combining it with autonomous capabilities is a massive leap forward and that creates a lot of potential blind spots for manufacturers and other key players. Many automakers still havent addressed older security problems and they are not yet conducting thorough cybersecurity tests of the third-party hardware and software which enters these vehicles. In order to secure these vehicles, automakers have to make cybersecurity testing a top priority. They need to fully audit all third-party materials, and they need to implement strong security controls on their back-end server infrastructure and the data they collect from these vehicles (telemetry). Automakers will need to carry out end-to-end testing across their entire manufacturing process and back-end IT infrastructure. READ MORE: Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. The Dutch man duped dozens of investors by soliciting finance in exchange for high returns through bitcoin mining. | Source: Shutterstock By CCN: Authorities in the Netherlands have arrested a suspect who allegedly operated a bitcoin mining investment scam, according to Dutch daily De Gelrderlander. The fraudulent scheme which was reportedly started in 2017 earned the man named Berry van Mourik at least 2 million ($2.24 million). Berry was apprehended in Apeldoorn, a city in the Dutch province of Gelderland. Per the publication, van Mourik was a senior executive of two firms which sold bitcoin mining rigs. He sought investors to buy rigs with the understanding that he would operate the bitcoin mining operations on their behalf. The suspect promised the investors monthly returns of 0.3 bitcoin. At the current prices this is about $2,382. However, the investors neither got the promised returns nor the mining rigs they purchased. Investigations have revealed that the mining rigs were never bought. van Mourik is believed to have spent the money on a lavish lifestyle. This included gambling, travelling and buying luxury cars and motorbikes. The home and business premises belong to van Mourik were raided last year and some of his possessions seized. Not His First Bitcoin Scam Per the Dutch anti-fraud agency, FIOD, about 100 people are estimated to have been defrauded by Berry. This is not the first time that van Mourik is getting into trouble with the law. In February 2018, an Amsterdam court declared his bitcoin mining firm Koinz Trading bankrupt. Dutch bitcoin mining farm Koinz Trading declared bankrupt https://t.co/PSJhQINYtd Ikki (@ShadeStar81) February 16, 2018 Read the full story on CCN.com. The influx of tourists could threaten the famous statues (Getty) Legions of tourists are unable to resist snapping nose-pick selfies with the gigantic statues on Rapa Nui or Easter Island. Now an archaeologist has warned that tourists are disrespecting the statues, by climbing on them, sitting on graves and trampling preserved spaces. Jo Anne Van Tilburg said that last year, visitors to Easter Island reached 150,000 a rise from just 2,500 in the early 80s. You know the heads of the Easter Island figures, but often overlooked is the fact that they also have bodies. Archaeologists at the University of California, Los Angeles have developed the Easter Island Statue Project to dig deeper into these Pacific Island icons and explore whats below the surface. The answer? Full-bodies statues measuring as much as 33 feet high. She says that the influx of visitors is having a troubling impact on the islands delicate ecosystem and its archaeology. Read more from Yahoo News UK: Furious Tories to try and oust Theresa May today Pensioner left seriously injured in nonsensical attack Sharks are eating British songbirds, scientists find Van Tilburg said, I am troubled by the lack of genuine tourist interest in the island and its people. There is a lack of genuine appreciation for the Rapa Nui past. Van Tilburg said that the number of visitors is small relative to the people who visit the Pyramids for instance but their impact is large. Van Tilburg said, By Rapa Nui standards, on an island where electricity is provided by a generator, water is precious and depleted, and all the infrastructure is stressed, 150,000 is a mob. The ancient Easter Island people carved and transported the islands 900-plus large statues by hand and fitted stone hats weighing several tonnes on each one. One of the enduring mysteries is how the Polynesian Rapa Nui society transported the so-called pukao, stones six feet in diameter and weighing 12 tonnes. The Rapa Nui society mysteriously collapsed before Western missionaries arrived in the 18th Century. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK With Ebola response teams struggling to contain the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the World Health Organization and its partners can make changes to shore up their effort and try to prevent the crisis from escalating further, according to a handful of experts surveyed by STAT. The experts are wary of criticizing WHO officials and others trying desperately to stop the virus from spreading. Violence aimed at Ebola response workers and a refusal to cooperate with control measures in some communities has rendered this outbreak, the second largest on record, unlike anything the world of Ebola responders has seen before. There have been repeated attacked on Ebola treatment centers, and on many days response workers have been unable to move about in outbreak hotspots. At the same time, the experts believe global health officials have opportunities to bolster their efforts. Here are three. Good data are key The foundation of any Ebola response is epidemiology. Knowing where the virus is spreading and who is in its path is crucial to bringing an Ebola epidemic under control. But from the earliest days of this outbreak, thats been a problem. Read more: Could an emergency declaration over Ebola make a bad situation worse? I dont think there is a good record of whats going on. I dont think theres a good database, said Dr. Pierre Rollin, a veteran Ebola responder who retired earlier this year from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Were just driving in the fog because we dont have good data. Every single previous Ebola outbreak was stopped using the same techniques: find the cases and isolate them so they cannot infect more people. Figure out with whom theyve had contact and monitor those people daily. If any of them become ill, isolate them and find their contacts. Bury the dead safely, so that funeral rituals dont end up infecting more people. Story continues In this outbreak, responders have had an additional tool: an experimental vaccine. For this approach to work, though, the surveillance teams need to know in which social networks the Ebola virus is spreading. In this outbreak, that often hasnt been the case. Significant numbers of the new cases were not previously on contact lists. Their health hadnt been monitored and they werent offered vaccine because no one knew they had been exposed. The impact of these unidentified chains of transmission appears to be growing as the outbreak expands. Since the beginning of May, only one-third of new cases were known contacts of a previous case. Only about half of those had agreed to be monitored to see if they were developing symptoms. Most had not agreed to be vaccinated. Dr. Scott Dowell, deputy director for surveillance and epidemiology at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, shares concerns about the expanding number of unrecognized cases. I think there is very likely a large pool of unrecognized transmission out there and unidentified patients, said Dowell, who worked for decades for the CDC and has worked a number of Ebola responses. And its uncertain just how big that pool is. And also uncertain to me about whether the current response can get on top of it, which is really worrisome. Read more: On a knife edge: Ebola outbreak threatens to escalate as violence rises Rollin, who is following the outbreak closely, is worried about the fact that so few probable cases are being added to the outbreak totals. Probable cases are people who had Ebola-like symptoms and who had contact with people who either were known cases or who also had what looked like Ebola. Often these are people who died and were buried without being tested for the disease, but for whom there is a high likelihood that they were infected. Given how many people are refusing to cooperate with the Ebola response teams staying home when they are sick, fighting off safe burial teams that try to test corpses there should be a steady stream of probable cases, Rollin said. And yet they are rare. So theyre missing a lot of cases, he said. Lab capacity needs to be increased There are serious concerns that the existing laboratory capacity to test samples from suspected Ebola cases can no longer keep pace with the number of tests that need to be conducted. DRCs National Biomedical Research Institute INRB is overseeing the testing. Rollin and others fear the current needs exceed its capacity, leading to delays in getting test results. The lab is overwhelmed, Rollin said. If a laboratory cant quickly process all the tests taken, it is effectively capping the number of new positive cases that can be found, said Dowell. Its not that they arent there; its that the lab cant pinpoint them in a timely manner. That leads to slowdowns in identifying the contacts of new cases and inviting them to be vaccinated. People who need vaccine may be vaccinated too late to prevent infection. The delays in getting test results are also discouraging people from coming forward to be tested, said Dr. Axelle Ronsse, an emergency coordinator for the Belgian branch of Doctors Without Borders. Test results can sometimes take two or three days. The Gates Foundation is urging the Congolese Ministry of Health and the WHO to start using rapid point-of-care tests that were developed after the West African Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016, said Dowell, who noted these tests could greatly increase the number of people who are tested. Theres a concern the tests could lead to some false negatives people who are actually infected, but dont test positive Dowell admitted. But finding more infected people more quickly, even if its not all of them, should help, he said. The lab capacity issue also extends to the sequencing of Ebola viruses, a technique that can be used to fill in information gaps of chains of transmission when, as with this outbreak, they occur. Newly confirmed cases may not know where or how they became infected. But by comparing the sequence of their virus to the sequences of other cases, it can become clear that the infection occurred when two unrelated people were in a clinic on the same day, or that this patient likely infected that taxi driver. INRB, the Congolese national lab, has been sequencing viruses. But the information it is finding isnt always being shared in a timely way with the teams doing case surveillance. And capacity is an issue here as well. As the number of daily positives has grown, the sequencing hasnt nearly kept pace with those positives, Dowell said. A report to the World Health Assembly from a group that advises the WHOs emergencies program hinted at insufficient use of the sequencing data, saying that timely analysis of genetic sequencing data are critical to fully characterize the evolution of the [Ebola] outbreak in order to inform diagnostic, vaccine and treatment approaches. It recommended closer collaboration between INRB and WHO. If Ebola treatment centers are seen as toxic, find alternatives In some communities, there remains deep-seated reluctance to go to Ebola treatment centers. Doctors Without Borders, which pioneered the current system of Ebola treatment centers, has suggested diversifying care options might help. ETCs, as they are called, have become a place of stigma, associated with death. In fact, people who seek care in treatment centers quickly after the onset of symptoms have a higher chance of survival than those who eschew the centers but that reality has not been recognized in the affected communities. Doctors Without Borders has proposed that some hospitals in the outbreak zone be trained to treat Ebola patients safely without posing a risk to their other patients because the reality is that many people with Ebola symptoms turn to clinics or hospitals rather than ETCs. Likewise, the group has urged the health ministry to consider allowing for some home care of Ebola patients, even suggesting that experimental Ebola drugs might be administered by a team of visiting health workers to some patients being cared for at home. Ronsse said ETCs should remain the primary sites for care of Ebola patients. But with so many patients refusing to go for to them, finding ways to minimize the risk these patients present to the health workers who care for them in hospitals or family members in households could help reduce transmission. Recently the WHO reported that 68% of the people who have died from Ebola in this outbreak died in the community at home or in a health facility that was not a treatment center. Its something else we could do, Ronsse explained. But we cannot do only home-based care or only treatment at the level of the health center. We should have the three levels. Likewise, Ronsse said home care which would involve training family members to take precautions and giving them protective equipment and cleaning materials is not something that could be done on a large scale. Its really for the people who would not accept to come to the center, she said. Every time a pop musician makes an exasperating political comment, a piece of the culture fractures. Thankfully Echo in the Canyon steers clear of political commentary even though its subject 1960s folk-rock, the pop genre that started with the group The Byrds and extended to other California-based pop musicians is considered a peak moment of pop-music political consciousness. Jakob Dylan (son of the bard) and former Capitol Records exec Andrew Slater made the film as background to their 2015 concert that celebrated the 50th anniversary of folk-rock. The genre was created by a coterie of white counterculture musicians drawn to Laurel Canyon, a hilly, wooded section of Los Angeles, where they were close to Sunset Strip clubs yet still got the feel of living in the country. That history has sociological significance, but Jakob and Slater resist the PBS and foundation-grant tendency to make a doc that exploits politics as its substance. (Its nearly impossible to find a recent documentary that doesnt at some point name-check Obama as proof of the makers bona fides.) Echo in the Canyon pays tribute to Laurel Canyon creativity and social license from a Millennial perspective that is politically neutral. And that makes it unique. Both Jakob and Slater cite a remarkable inspiration: Jacques Demys 1969 film Model Shop, an unsuspected time capsule of the folk-rock eras look, feel, and musical vibe, and of Laurel Canyon itself. Clips from Model Shop intersperse interviews with Roger McGuinn of The Byrds, David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, and Michelle Phillips, while Model Shop extracts complement the concert scenes performed by Jakob and such contemporaries as Beck, Cat Power, and Fiona Apple. Whereas Martin Scorseses 1978 The Last Waltz theatricalized rootsy folk-rock based on the blues, the music in Echo in the Canyon was Beatles-influenced when McGuinn first dared to play I Want to Hold Your Hand in folk clubs. This justifies the films transcontinental approach. Story continues Demys transcontinental Model Shop culminated a trilogy that began with Lola and The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. Demys search for a romantic ideal led to California, where a young American (Gary Lockwood) also seeks to fulfill a spiritual dream (embodied by Anouk Aimees Lola). Model Shops account of a spiritual quest is as substantial as Scorseses anthropology in The Last Waltz and the Demy influence takes us deeper into personal muses and artistic aspirations. It is why that music is still infectious, as Jackson Browne affirms to Jakob. What Regina Spektor struggles to describe in Echo in the Canyon as psychedelic is the genres introspection the personal figuring-out that saves the music from facile politics. Perhaps this explains why Jakobs Millennial peers are fascinated by that Rickenbacker guitar-based sound and the close vocal harmonies of groups such as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Buffalo Springfield, and The Mamas and the Papas. The personal confessions that Crosby and Michelle Phillips vouchsafe through stories about Triad, Goin Back, and Go Where You Want to Go (which eventually led to Fleetwood Macs Go Your Own Way) share Demys erotic intimacy. It has become standard to think back on the Sixties for political instruction, but Jakobs musical commitment (pass it on to a new generation, and keep the echoes of that music going) avoids political cliches and partisan fracturing. One Model Shop clip prefiguring the counterculture imagery in Five Easy Pieces reminds us that what once was counterculture has become the dominant culture. And yet theres a conservative aspect to Jakob and Slaters curatorship. Sure, the artists they celebrate were famously liberal, but Echo in the Canyon prizes class opportunity and artistic consciousness. It promises that musicians who stay true to their muse dont then have to make exasperating soundbites. More from National Review Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has laid out an ambitious slate of proposals as a candidate for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination: universal childcare and pre-K, free college tuition and student debt relief, building affordable housing, combating the opioid crisis and more. Her plans would involve some $3 trillion in spending over 10 years, according to estimates by her campaign cited by The Washington Post and they would all be paid for by higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations. But, the Posts Toluse Olorunnipa reports, Warrens ambitious agenda relies on two assumptions that defy a long history of U.S. policymaking: First, that the countrys wealthiest taxpayers wont find ways to evade the targeted tax hike she proposes; and second, that new entitlement programs wont result in ballooning costs that plunge the federal government deeper into debt. Olorunnipa notes that a recent poll of about 40 economists by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that 73% agreed or strongly agreed that Warrens proposed wealth tax would be much more difficult to enforce than existing federal taxes because of difficulties of valuation and the ways by which the wealthy can under-report their true wealth. One of the economists behind Warrens wealth tax plan, Gabriel Zucman of the University of California at Berkeley, told the Post that Warrens plan is designed to limit tax evasion and that the estimate that it could raise $2.75 trillion over 10 years factors in 15% tax avoidance. If its properly enforced, and theres a serious effort at having no exemptions and enforcing it strongly, then it can collect a lot of tax revenue, he said. Read the full piece at The Washington Post. Like what you're reading? Sign up for our free newsletter. How you respond to Quentin Tarantinos dazzling elegiac fairytale Once Upon a Time in Hollywoodplaying in competition here at the Cannes Film Festivalmay depend on how much you like old guys, people who see how the changing of the guard is leaving them behind, who are beginning to reckon with the ways their bodies will betray them, who have seen their profession change so much that they can barely keep a toehold in it. Youll also need some affection for Los Angeles, past and present, for the way, unlike other American cities, it keeps its ghosts around for a long, long time: Theyre poured into martini glasses at Musso & Frank, or they rush like a traveling breeze alongside the mosaic tiles of LAXs Terminal 3. You dont have to remember every television showMannix, The FBI, Bonanza, The Green Hornetfrom 1969, when the film is set. Just recognize that pop culture used to be a very different creature: In the old days it didnt come to you, parceled out in personalized packets via earbuds; you had to come to it, yielding first to its time slot and then to its charms. That, or wait for the rerun. It also helps to have some feeling for the tragedy of one fledgling movie star who was murdered almost before anyone could get to know her name: Sharon Tate, the pregnant wife of Roman Polanski, was stabbed to death in Benedict Canyon by members of the Manson family on August 8, 1969, along with three friends, celebrity hairstylist Jay Sebring, aspiring screenwriter Wojciech Frykowski and coffee-fortune heiress Abigail Folger. (Polanski was in London working on a film.) Tate had done some TV and a handful of movies at the time of her death; as an actor, she was winsome and elegant at onceher beauty was delicate without being fragile, and she seemed to have a sense of humor about how unreally gorgeous she was. The career she didnt have is itself a kind of ghost, and you can occasionally feel it rustling through Tarantinos movie: It is, above all, a Valentine to her. Story continues Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is Tarantinos most affectionate movie since Jackie Brown (1997), the picture that remainsthe idolatry surrounding Pulp Fiction notwithstandinghis masterpiece. Tarantino is at his best when hes motivated by affection, and for that reason, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ranks among his finest; the serrated bitterness of his last picture, The Hateful Eight, has vanished. This is a tender, rapturous film, both joyous and melancholy, a reverie for a lost past and a door that opens to myriad imagined possibilities. Like all of Tarantinos movies, its filled with references you may or may not get: There are woolly, rambunctious Jack Davis caricatures from MAD magazine, nods to blond dream girls like Joey Heatherton and Anne Francis, allusions to the brutally electric spaghetti westerns of Sergio Corbucci. But what you dont recognize, you can Google; new worlds await. This is a welcoming picture, not an alienating one, an open door into a vanished world that still feels vital. You could also look at it as Tarantinos own Wild Bunch, a story of outmoded gunslingers getting their last blast of glory. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt play Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth, a fading TV star and his longtime stunt double, two aging guys who have practically grown up together. They were in clover when Rick was a 50s TV star, on a western series with a jaunty horse-trot of a title, Bounty Law. But those days are gone, and Rick has been relegated to playing the heavy in random TV episodes. Theres not much for Cliff to do but to drive Rick around and keep him company, though if he occasionally shows glimmers of resentment toward his more famous pal, the loyalty between the two is unshakable. (Cliff, as the movies unseen narrator puts it, is more than a brother and a little less than a wife to Rick.) Brad Pitt stars in Columbia Pictures Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Cliff is also the more well-adjusted of the two, even though he has less money and less status than his TV-star friend. Rick lives in a comfortably appointed house on Cielo Drivehis new neighbors, renting the house next door, are newlyweds Tate and Polanski. Cliff lives in a disheveled trailer with a pit bull named Brandy, a sweetie-pie with a satin-gold coat and jaws of steel. But while Rick is rattled by insecurity over no longer being a leading manhe cries in gratitude when a pint-sized but ineffably wise young actor compliments him on a brief sceneCliff takes everything in stride. He tools around town in his bosss car, wearing a Hawaiian shirt as if it were a tuxedoall of his class comes from the inside. He keeps seeing the same hippie girl around town, an underage cutie in tiny cutoff shorts and an even tinier crocheted top, a fringed suede bag swinging around her hips. Shes always hitchhiking, and one day, he offers her a lift. This strange, zonked-out girl (her name is Pussycat, and shes played by Margaret Qualley), is part of the new generation thats taking over Rick and Cliffs world like a pernicious weed. She asks him to take him to Spahn Movie Ranch, a site formerly used in the making of movie and TV westerns. Now its a commune headed by charismatic sicko Charles Manson. Cliff doesnt yet know that, but he remembers the ranch from its earlier days. The old world has merged with a new, more sinister one. Throughout Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, fiction and fact meet; sometimes they criss-cross and hurtle in opposite directions. But the setting always feels bracingly real: Tarantinos 1969 Los Angeles is a dreamland of multi-hued bar and restaurant signsin a lovely sequence, they blink on one by one at twilight, just as actors all around town are leaving their jobs for the day and moving toward that beckoning after-work drink. (The film, every frame of it stunning, was shot by veteran cinematographer and Tarantino regular Robert Richardson.) As the storys mood turns dark, the recording of California Dreamin you hear on the soundtrack isnt the Mamas and the Papas creamy, sunset-flavored version, but a more foreboding one by Jose Feliciano, the sound of vultures circling. There are moments in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood that are purely terrifying. The movies tone shifts drastically during the finale, a sequence marked by ruthless, cartoonishly orchestrated violencesomehow it doesnt fit, almost jolting the picture out of whack. But the movies final moment sets everything right, gently, a grace note of serenity in the context of an all-too-mad reality. Pitt and DiCaprio are marvelous together, and though neither are what any of us should call old, their faces, once as flawless as airbrushed high-school portraits, have now achieved a more weathered perfection. DiCaprios Rick looks mischievously boyish, though you cant help noticing the tiny crows feet marking the skin around his eyes, etched there by dried-up work and dwindling bank accountstheres an alluring, Robert Ryan-style weariness about him. And Pitt is superb, striding through the movie with the offhanded confidence of a mountain lion who knows his turf. This is swagger freed from self-consciousness; Cliff was groovy before the word was invented. Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon A Time... in Hollywood. | Andrew CooperANDREW COOPER But Once Upon a Time in Hollywood really belongs to one person, a figure who gets less screen time than either of the male leads but who fills the movie with light even so. Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, and in the movies most stunning sequenceset sometime in February 1969she comes upon a theater, the Bruin, thats showing her most recent film, The Wrecking Crew, one of those absurd Matt Helm spy joints starring Dean Martin. She goes up to the box-office booth to buy a ticketand then it occurs to her that if she explains to the ticket girl that shes actually in the film, she might be able to get in for free. It works! She slips on a pair of oversized, owlish eyeglasses and sits down to watch her own image flash on the screen. Theres no vanity or self-congratulation in her expression, only curiosity and an almost mystical kind of fascination, as if she were observing a deer in the forest. She waits to see if the audience laughs at one of her funnier linesthey do. She mimics the martial-arts movies her character executes on-screen, her hands slashing and dipping through the air, her muscles remembering what it was like to learn the routine. Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate is watching, as we are, the real-life Sharon Tate playing a character in a movie. But for us, the two have blended into one person, a young woman, recently marrieddoes she even yet know shes pregnant?who has everything to look forward to. In real life, no one could save Sharon Tate. With Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Tarantino and Robbie restore life to her. The magic spell lasts only a few hours. But no one has ever brought her closer to a happily ever after. Moroccan Minister Delegate for African Cooperation Mohcine Jazouli is visiting Cote dIvoire since Monday to check on the progress made in the projects launched within the frame of the bilateral agreements signed before King Mohammed VI and President Alassane Ouattara. During the visit, Jazouli co-chaired in Abidjan with Secretary General of Ivorian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Daouda Diabate a meeting aimed at ensuring a follow-up of the cooperation agreements concluded between the two countries, respecting the projects deadlines and providing solutions to hurdles. The meeting, which was attended by representatives from the Moroccan and Ivorian public & private sectors, reviewed the progress of some twenty projects, including the rehabilitation of the Cocody Bay, the Mohammed VI Mosque of Treichville, the construction of roads, social housing, primary schools, hotels, pharmaceutical factories, power plants The Moroccan-Ivorian cooperation is remarkably dynamic, said Jazouli, noting that of the 120 projects concluded 45 have been completed. For his part, Daouda Diabate praised Moroccos great and deep interest in the completion of the projects launched with Cote dIvoire within the frame of a win-win and solidarity-based South-South cooperation. The landmark projects launched by Morocco in Cote dIvoire are of great importance for the Ivorian populations, underlined Diabate. The Moroccan minister also conferred with Ivorian Minister of Economy and Finance Adama Kone. Talks focused on joint cooperation projects, namely Cocody Bay rehabilitation and the setting up of Abidjan Financial Center, based on the success of Casa Finance City, which has become a leading financial center in Africa. Jazouli held a meeting with Moroccan businessmen operating in Cote dIvoire in banking, construction, call centers, pharmaceuticals, insurance, energy, commending their commitment which enabled them to gain the trust of their Ivorian partners. The Moroccan official also met with Ivorian Minister of Planning & Development Niale Kaba, Minister of Transport Amadou Kone and leaders of the employers union, Confederation generale des entreprises de Cote dIvoire (CGECI). Emily Thornberry speaks out against Donald Trump. (ITV) The Labour Party would refuse to work directly with Donald Trump if they were in power, the Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has said. The senior MP said Labour would work around the controversial US leader as they do not agree with him. Her comments on ITV come weeks before President Trump will visit the UK on a state visit, which will take place from 3-5 June. Speaking on Good Morning Britain (GMB), Ms Thornberry said: What you do is you work with other people in the administration. Donald Trump will visit the UK at the beginning of June. (AP) I have been working with people in the Senate and in Congress. There are lots of allies there, there are lots of people who share our values. That is how you do it. Ms Thornberry said she would have interaction with Mr Trump as Foreign Secretary but she would be quite clear with him about what she disagrees with. She also said in the interview it is about time Britain stands up of what it believes for as a country and holding our heads a bit higher. Ms Thornberry said Trump has appointed two extremists to Supreme Court and she does not want to work with him. Read More on Yahoo News Russia is interfering in the European elections, Guy Verhofstadt warns voters 'Secret' voters favored Trump over Clinton 2 to 1 She said last month that the US president is a threat to our world order and does not deserve a state visit. Theresa May has said President Trumps visit is a chance for the UK and the US to strengthen their already close relationship. Foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said the country should offer "the best possible welcome" to Trump. Fortunes Entry/Level column is dedicated to people looking for and working in entry-level positionsread the full series here. We interview entry-levelers about their jobs, how they got them, what they want to do next, and more. The subjects answers are edited for clarity. Kiran Ramsey is a 23-year-old UX designer from Indianapolis working at Amazon in Seattle. She interned at the company the summer before her senior year at Syracuse University and was offered a full-time position at the end of her internship. She started in her current role in August 2018. Heres what Ramsey has to say about Getting her foot in the door: I actually applied [for the internship] online. Ive heard thats pretty rare to not have a connection and to get an internship interview. So, I was pretty lucky. I think I can attribute it to my online presence. I had a portfolio online, a LinkedIn, and a BeHance. The recruiter was able to look through all of my design work just based on my online application. Getting hired after her internship: You either get a full time job or you dont at the end of the internship, its never a question. So the whole summer, you know that there will be a final presentation. I had my final presentation my last week, [which] kind of told the story of my summer at Amazon. My manager came back and told me the same day [that I got the job]. Having a job locked down a year before graduation: Oh my gosh, it was rewarding. I did work very hard in college and I really pushed myself. To be able to relax my senior year was really gratifying. I was able to study abroad. It was something I pushed off because I wanted to concentrate on classes, so being able to go to Italy to eat food and relax, and not have to worry too much was an incredible feeling. What her job really is: A UX designer is the voice of the customer. Our job is to look beyond the business goals. Were not only designing what the experience looks like, but really questioning each part of the experience. We listen to what customers are saying about what were building and then go back and iterate on the product based on customer feedback. Story continues The Amazon track: Im a UX Designer I. They actually dont call an entry level UX designer a junior UX designer because they want everyone to be on the same playing field. On my job profile, it doesnt even have the I, it just says UX designer. There is a distinction just based on pay level. Theres UX Designer I, UX Designer II, Senior UX Designer, and then Principal UX Designer. Her daily grind: I get in around 9 a.m. and then I leave by 5:00 or 5:30 p.m. Throughout the day I usually have a few meetings. I make sure to block off time so that I just have time to design. And then I have like half an hour for lunch. I have a pretty flexible team, so if I dont have any meetings, Im able to work from home. I do that once a week. I work for Amazon fashion and Im really passionate about clothing, and sustainable clothing specifically. I try to take an hour a week to work on writing documents for new ideas that I have in the sustainable fashion space. I hope that one day it could become a project and that definitely has happened in the past [for other people]. Amazon perks: We dont necessarily have the same perks as Google or Facebook. We dont have gyms in our offices. We dont have free lunch or free dinner. But I would say that the perks are the salary and stock options. Financial freedom is more important to me. I probably wouldnt trade that for a gym or free breakfast. And as far as the work life balance that I get on my team, I would say that is a definite perk. The relocation package is also a great perk. Oh, and you can bring your dog to work! The hardest part of her job: [My boss] does not micromanage and I appreciate that, but it also means that I keep track of my own responsibilities. The ambiguity of the job and having to manage your own projects and set goals for yourself and not have them be given to you [is hard]. It gives you a lot of freedom and the ability to make your own timelines, but its also just an ambiguous environment. Thats a challenge for me because its very different from having a syllabus that you go through every week at school. Her education: I had three majors: photojournalism, graphic design, and information management and technology with a concentration in web design. So I had this background of coding, visual design, digital design, and UX and user research on the side. Thats the power of going to a liberal arts school. It makes you a more holistic and well-rounded professional. Where I see that come out the most is the ability to communicate across disciplines. Her mentors: Every intern gets a mentor, which is lovely. And now as a full-time employee, its not required, but its highly recommended. Right now I have a few mentors. I am looking for ones even outside of Amazon that can give me even more of a breadth of knowledge about the field of UX design or just design in general. As a woman, I am looking for the guidance in how to ask for a promotion or ask for a raise, things that women arent really taught in school. For me, its also about navigating Amazon because its such a huge company. Having a mentor thats been through that and knows the ropes, its something that can really help you kickstart your career and kind of help you find your path. Impostor syndrome: Cliches are cliches for a reason. You fake it til you make it. I was terrified to take the Amazon internship because I knew that it was going to be the biggest challenge Id ever faced in my life. And it was. It was really challenging, but it made me grow as a person. Coming into this full-time position, I knew that it would be the same thing times 10. So I dont see impostor syndrome as a bad thing. I see it as, you know, good for you for pushing yourself because a lot of people dont do that. They dont get out of their comfort zone. So own that. Own the fact that youre young. My team loves to rip on me for being born in the late nineties. You laugh about it and you own that you have a different perspective because youre young, youre from a different generation, you have a different perspective. Especially as a designer. It brings a whole different creative perspective to the team. Seattle: I do not want to leave Seattle anytime soon. I love it. Its an amazing place. Im a big outdoorsy person, so I have been rock climbing a lot, Ive been hiking, and in the summers the beaches are beautiful. Lake Washington is gorgeous and theres so much to do. I wouldnt move if anyone paid me. Relocating for her job: For most full-time jobs at Amazon, there is a relocation package. Youre able to choose whether you want them to help you find an apartment and move your stuff for you, or they will give you a lump sum of money to be able to help you do that yourself if youre more of a DIY kind of person. I ended up doing [the latter] and I moved myself out here, shipped my car, and had three suitcases of clothes. The rest I got on Craigslist. Her living situation: I have a studio apartment in a neighborhood called Ballard. It was really nice to have the internship because I got to know about the neighborhoods [in Seattle] while I was living here. So coming out here [for my full-time job], it was a lot easier to say I want to live in this neighborhood. I kind of knew the city. Seattle is a very expensive city. Im paying more for my apartment than my parents are for their mortgage. Its a little crazy, but Amazon does a great job at competitive pay. My apartment is $1,700 per month for an urban one-bedroom. Its an open apartment plan but theres a sliding door to the bedroom. Based on what Im being paid, Im able to live comfortably in a place that I really enjoy spending my time. Whats next: Im really happy in my position right now. I dont really want to put a timeline on it, but I dont see myself here forever. And think if I were to stay at Amazon, I would definitely want to move laterally within the company. Instead of taking the traditional route, I would probably want to learn as much as I can within the different roles here at Amazon. I would want to dive into more coding, more user research, even get a taste for mentoring or management of some sort. Her long-term goals: My goals are to be in the nonprofit space. There are so many avenues to help people through design and thats what I see myself doing. But I definitely dont want to close myself off to any opportunity by pigeonholing myself into this one idea of what I want to do in the future. Because I have no idea what I want to do. Im still a kid whos growing and learning. And I love the idea of that and embracing that and just taking whatever challenge life throws at me. More must-read stories from Fortune: How this NYU grad landed an entry-level job at Google What its like to work an entry-level job at Madewell Corporate Why companies are hiring more part-time professionals Heres why its time to start planning a (work-free) vacation Listen to our new audio briefing, Fortune 500 Daily Follow Fortune on Flipboard to stay up-to-date on the latest news and analysis. The Dutch Financial Criminal Investigative Service has seized the website of a bitcoin transaction mixer in a crackdown involving Europol and other authorities. Calling it the the first law enforcement action of its kind against such a cryptocurrency mixer service, Europol said in a statement Wednesday that the seizure of Bestmixer.io followed an investigation that began last summer. As part of the move, police seized six servers based in Luxemourg and the Netherlands. Coin mixers or tumblers like Bestmixer.io work by pooling funds together and creating a web of new transactions in an effort to obfuscate their original source. Typically, coin mixer users pay a fee on top of the funds they send in, receiving back their money from a wholly new address. New York State Sees First Conviction for Crypto Money Laundering Europol alleged that much of the money that passed through Bestmixer.io had a criminal origin or destination, contending that in these cases, the mixer was probably used to conceal and launder criminal flows of money. The agency said that the service, which launched in May 2018, mixed approximately 27,000 bitcoins. Todays Bestmixer seizure shows an increase in law enforcement activities on pure crypto-to-crypto services, said Dave Jevans, CipherTrace CEO. This follows on the heels of European AMLD5 regulations and the views expressed by US FinCEN that crypto-to-crypto services are considered to be money services businesses and must comply with those regulations. This is the first public seizure of a bitcoin mixing service, and shows that not only are dark marketplaces subject to criminal enforcement, but other services are as well. Europols statement suggests that the investigation isnt complete and that authorities intend to follow up on the information gleaned from this weeks server seizures. The Dutch FIOD has gathered information on all the interactions on this platform in the past year. This includes IP-addresses, transaction details, bitcoin addresses and chat messages, the agency said. This information will now be analysed by the FIOD in cooperation with Europol and intelligence packages will be shared with other countries. Story continues The Hidden Effects of Crypto Money Laundering Rules Bestmixer has blatantly advertised money laundering services, and falsely claimed to be domiciled in Curacao where they claimed it was a legal service. The reality is that they were operating in Europe and services customers from many countries around the world, said Jevans. Mixed marbles image via Shutterstock Related Stories Paris (AFP) - The European Court of Justice has thrown out a landmark case brought by 10 families who sued the European Union over the threats climate change poses to their homes and livelihoods, lawyers said Wednesday. The team behind the case said the bloc's top court earlier this month dismissed it on procedural grounds, arguing that individuals do not have the right to challenge the bloc's environmental plans. The ruling could have a major impact on future climate litigation, experts said. Lawyers for the "People's Climate Case" said they would appeal. Families from across Europe, Kenya and Fiji in May last year filed suit against the European Union, claiming it must do more to limit climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions and the droughts, floods and sea level rises it brings. The plaintiffs were "already being impacted by climate change, already incurring damage," their lawyer Roda Verheyen told AFP at the time. They include a Portuguese forester who had all his trees destroyed by wildfires in 2017 and a family from the Italian Alps which has seen the tourists their livelihoods depend on dwindle due to warmer winters. Another complainant, Sanna Vannar, is a 23-year-old reindeer herder from Sweden's indigenous Sami group. "Since we launched the case, impacts of climate change got worse and worse," she said Wednesday. "This is not just a case. It is about protecting our rights and future." In their ruling on the ECJ's website, the judges acknowledged that "every individual is likely to be affected one way or another by climate change". But it decided that this did not provide grounds for suing the EU, which has already committed to reduce emissions. "The case is not dismissed on the merits," said Verheyen in reaction to the ruling. "On the contrary, the Court accepts that climate change is impacting everybody but refrains to engage with the facts of climate change and its human rights impacts." Story continues - Hundreds of cases - The Paris climate agreement, signed in 2015, commits to limiting global temperature rises to "well below" two degrees Celsius (3.7 Farenheit). This would be achieved by a significant reduction in the use of the fossil fuels that currently power the global economy. The pact saw countries submit voluntary emissions-cutting pledges but experts say it is still more likely the Earth will warm by closer to 3.0 C -- a level which could bring even more super-storms, forest fires and mass displacements similar to those witnessed in recent years. The EU has pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. But the families argued this was inadequate to protect their "fundamental rights such as the right to life, health, property and occupation". They called for the bloc to boost its emissions cuts target to 55 percent. Since the lawsuit was launched, 10 EU member states including France and Spain have called on leaders to agree to net zero emissions by 2050. There are currently around 1,000 cases brought against governments across the world related to climate change and habitat loss, according to a database compiled by the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment. Lawyers in the People's Climate Case say they plan to appeal within the next two months, but cautioned that since the case was dismissed on procedural grounds, no new evidence could be submitted. The families vowed to keep up their legal fight, however, and to keep the pressure on world leaders to act to stave off the worst effects of climate change. "At my age, besides joining climate marches with young people, this case is the only thing that I can do to protect my children and grandchildren," said Maurice Feschet, a 73-year-old French farmer. "As a citizen, I will keep turning to the courts as politicians fail to deliver the needed climate action." Who should you vote for in the European elections? (Picture: Getty) The UK is going back to the ballot box - again - with the European elections taking place on Thursday. But the spectre of Brexit means many people might be looking at voting for a different party to the one they usually support. Tory peer Lord Heseltine is one person who has said he will go against his usual party politics, saying he will vote for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections because of the Governments Brexit policy. The former deputy Prime Minister is unlikely to be the only one. So who should you vote for in Thursdays elections? The major parties and their stance Conservatives What do the Conservatives want out of Brexit? (Picture: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth, pool) Its no secret that the Conservatives are divided in their Brexit stance, but Theresa May has made it clear that she will not support a no-deal Brexit. The party hasnt published a manifesto for the EU elections, though it has issued a campaign leaflet which says its the only party which can get Brexit done. The PM is keen to get her own deal through Parliament, which would lead to withdrawal from both the customs union and single market following a two-year transitional period. The Conservatives are against a second referendum and want to get a deal through Parliament before MEPs would sit in the European Parliament in July. Labour Labour wants to leave but to retain a closer relationship with the EU (Picture: Peter Byrne/PA via AP) Labours position is to honour the result of the EU referendum and to leave Europe, but it wants the UK to stay in a permanent customs union. Its preferred deal would see a closer relationship with Europe including the protection of the Good Friday peace agreement in Northern Ireland. The party has agreed to keep the option of a second referendum open but the leadership has avoided backing such a move. Labours manifesto says it is the "only party trying to bring our country back together" and that its policies will "transform Britain and Europe, for the many not the few". The Liberal Democrats The Liberal Democrats are calling for a second referendum (Picture: AP/Matt Dunham) The Liberal Democrats have positioned themselves as the stop Brexit party - aligning themselves with Remainers. Story continues The party named its EU proposals the stop Brexit manifesto and supports a public vote on the proposed Brexit deal, including the option of remaining in the EU. Every vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to stop Brexit and stay in the European Union, it says. The Lib Dems also want to make EU institutions more democratic and efficient, with greater transparency on negotiations and voting and says it will reform the Common Agricultural Policy and defend Britain's fishing industry. The party has also pledged to create an "emergency Brexit Support Fund" of more than 7.5 billion to support businesses affected by Brexit uncertainty. The Brexit Party Nigel Farage's Brexit Party's stance on the issue is clear (Picture: AP/Frank Augstein) The Brexit Partys stance on the issue is clear. Nigel Farage has said that a vote for his newly-formed party is a vote in favour of a no-deal Brexit, effectively on WTO terms. The party hasnt published a European manifesto for the elections and has said it will not until after the elections, but is clearly the party of choice for those who want an immediate departure from the EU. Change UK Change UK interim leader Heidi Allen speaks during a pro EU-party Change UK rally at Church House in Westminster, London in April (Picture: Kirsty O'Connor/PA via AP) Recently-formed Change UK, whose members include Heidi Allen and Chukka Umunna, has positioned itself as a pro-Remain party. The partys manifesto says staying in the EU is the only way for Britain to remain prosperous and healthy, and its MPs are also campaigning for a 'People's Vote' - a second referendum on any Brexit deal. Ukip UKIP is campaigning under the banner: "Vote UKIP: Vote to make Brexit happen." (Picture: AP/Matt Dunham) Nigel Farages former party has maintained its approach to Brexit, campaigning under the banner: "Vote UKIP: Vote to make Brexit happen." The party's manifesto claims Brexit is being "betrayed by the political class in Westminster" and pledges to block a second referendum so the 2016 result can be "honoured and implemented". The party wants the UK to adopt a "unilateral and unconditional withdrawal" from the EU and has also vowed to "repeal or amend EU derived legislation". The Green Party Newly appointed joint Green Party leaders, Sian Berry and Jonathan Bartley outside their party's headquarters in south east London following the Green Party leadership election result (Picture: PA) The Green Party has said that a vote for them would be a vote to Remain in the EU, backing a second referendum. The party said its MEPs will also tackle the causes of Brexit in their communities to make sure a similar result doesnt happen again. What else do you need to know about the EU elections? Which region are you in? The constituencies for the European elections are different to UK general elections (Picture: European Parliament) Your constituency for UK general elections is different to that for the European elections. For the EU vote, there are only 12 constituencies in the UK compared to 650 for the general election. These are:- East Midlands (five MEP seats) East of England (seven) London (eight) North East (three) North West (eight) Northern Ireland (three) Scotland (six) South East (10) South West (six) Wales (four) West Midlands (seven) Yorkshire and the Humber (six) How many people are likely to vote? While European elections may not have garnered huge interest in the past, Thursdays vote is expected to attract a large UK turnout. Many see the election as an opportunity to see exactly how strong feeling is about the UKs departure from the EU, hence parties aligning themselves to leave or remain. For young voters, its the chance to have their own say on Brexit, especially if they were too young to vote in the 2016 EU referendum. When will we know the result? Results of the elections can be officially declared on Sunday, May 26 from 10pm onwards. In most areas, votes are likely to have been counted earlier in the day and the results passed to one of the regional declaration centres. That said, were unlikely to know results until the early hours of Monday morning. ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- * EU parliament to be elected from Thursday to Sunday * Brussels' enemies rally for new gains * Macron warns integration at risk, urges unity * Britain to vote despite Brexit plan to leave By Alastair Macdonald BRUSSELS, May 22 (Reuters) - Europeans start voting on Thursday in four days of elections to the EU parliament that will influence not just Brussels policy for the next five years but, to some extent, the very future of the Union project itself. In 2014, nationalists hostile to the EU doubled their presence in the assembly, topped the poll in Britain and won a referendum there that yanked out one of the bloc's biggest members. Almost. Five years on, polls show eurosceptics gaining again. But Brexit is yet to happen, and may not; Brussels' enemies will still struggle to top 20%; and the far-right goes into the weekend hit by scandal over its Austrian flagbearer's videotaped collusion with a supposed Russian oligarch's niece eager to buy favor. Others who want to halt or reverse federalist trends if not scrap the European Union altogether, also face headwinds. Some who are tasting national power must also face disillusioned supporters - notably Italy's co-rulers the League and 5-Star. The European project is facing a list of challenges, including unprecedented transatlantic slights from a U.S. president who fetes Europe's populists, border rows over migrants and an economy hobbled by public debt and challenged by the rise of China. But parties seeking collective continental action on shared issues such as trade, security, migration or climate change should still dominate the chamber, albeit with a smaller overall majority. NATIONALIST TIDE Europeans are preparing to remember events that shaped the Union - 75 years since Americans landed in France to defeat Nazi Germany and since Russian forces let the Germans crush a Polish bid for freedom; 30 since Germans smashed the Berlin Wall to reunite east and west Europe. Story continues But memories of wars, hot and cold, have not sufficed to build faith in a united future. Jean-Claude Juncker, the Luxemburger who will be replaced as EU executive head after the election, warns of a rising tide of nationalism, not just on the fringes. Mainstream parties pushing closer integration of the euro currency economy are struggling to capture the imagination of a public jaded with political elites. Describing it as "undoubtedly the most important" since the first such election in 1979, centrist French President Emmanuel again Macron flourished the standard he has raised for Europe, calling on Thursday for cooperation from conservatives, socialists and Greens to face down a caucus of anti-EU forces. "In today's world we need a stronger, more united Europe," Macron told Belgium's Le Soir newspaper. Asked if he believe his opponents destroy the EU, he replied: "Of course." He need look no further than home turf to see the threat. Marine Le Pen's National Rally hopes to top the French EU poll, again. And she is delightedly telling voters that she will find many more allies to block what she calls a "rush to federalism." BREXIT BALLOT Matteo Salvini's League may pip the Christian Democrats of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the bloc's power broker beset by nationalists to her right, to become the biggest single party in the 751-seat chamber. Right-wing ruling parties in Poland and Hungary , defying Brussels over curbs to judicial and media independence, will also return eurosceptic lawmakers on Sunday. The anti-EU Brexit Party could also finish in first place in Britain - though the circumstances surrounding the election there are verging on the absurd. Britons will kick off the voting on Thursday two months after they were supposed to have left the EU. They will be choosing 73 MEPs who cannot be sure of even taking their seats in July. The results should be clear by late on Sunday, ushering in weeks of bargaining, among parties to form a stable majority in the Parliament, and among national leaders to choose successors to Juncker and other top EU officials. While many Europeans may remain indifferent to the doings in Brussels, governments in Moscow, Washington, Beijing and elsewhere will be watching closely for signs of political weakness, or strength, in the world's biggest economic bloc. (Editing by Andrew Heavens) Most people are unable to name any MEPs. (GETTY) Just five in a hundred Brits can name a Member of the European Parliament standing in their area, YouGov research has discovered. The YouGov research found that 92% of Brits say they can not name a singe one of the MEPs for their region and of the 8% who said they could, four in ten gave the wrong answer. The research, which used a sample size of 1,797 adults and was carried out over May 15th and 16th, revealed that Brits feel mainly disconnected from the consequences of the European elections. Nigel Farage's Brexit Party is leading in the polls. (GETTY) It found that only 32% of Brits think that the European elections have a great deal or a fair amount of impact in general. MEPs are the elected representatives in the EU and they question and lobby the Commission and the Council of Ministers. MEPs are also behind the passing of laws affecting our lives such as how many hours employees throughout the EU can be required to work and how much rest they should be given. The final European Parliament voting intention survey before the election has found the Brexit Party to dominate with 37% of the vote. Read More on Yahoo News: European elections: Who should I vote for if Im a Remainer or a Leaver? EU elections: key timings The Lib Dems are in second place, holding a six-point lead over third-placed Labour. The European elections will take place on Thursday May 23. The UK has 73 seats in the European parliament, and there are currently 72 MEPs in their posts, 43 of whom will be seeking re-election on Thursday. By William James LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing widespread pressure to quit but can her lawmakers actually force her from office? May has already promised she will resign to let someone else negotiate Britain's future relationship with the EU and has agreed to set out the timetable for her departure after putting her exit deal to another vote in parliament early next month. But an attempt to relaunch her European Union divorce deal with sweeteners aimed at winning over skeptics in her own party and opponents has been loudly criticized. Some Conservative lawmakers now say there is no point delaying her exit, but can the party force her to go sooner than she wants to? FORMAL LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE Conservative Members of Parliament cannot use the party's formal process to challenge May until December because they tried and failed to oust her in December 2018. The rules of the process state that May is immune to further challenge for 12 months from the date of any failed leadership challenge. It is possible for the committee which represents Conservative lawmakers - known as the 1922 Committee - to change the rules of the process, but they have so far chosen not to do so. Nigel Evans, one member of the committee's executive, said May should make way and he would be pushing for a vote on the issue at a meeting on Wednesday. VOTE OF CONFIDENCE Parliament can vote on whether it has confidence in May's government. If a majority of lawmakers decide they do not, she could be forced to step aside. After losing a vote of confidence there are 14 days in which she could try to retain power by winning another confidence vote. In this period, the opposition Labour Party can also try to form their own government. A general election is called if no government with majority support in parliament can be formed after 14 days. In January this year the government survived a vote of confidence called by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. But there are no rules preventing Labour from calling another one at any time. Story continues To succeed, a handful of Conservative lawmakers or members of the small allied Democratic Unionist Party, would need to either abstain or vote with the opposition to topple the government. Some pro-Brexit lawmakers have hinted they might be prepared to take this radical step, but it is unclear whether this would materialize in the event of a vote being called. Losing a confidence vote would not automatically force May to resign as leader of the Conservative Party, but politically it is unlikely she would seek to carry on in the role. PEER PRESSURE In the absence of a formal route to get rid of May that does not risk a general election, Conservative lawmakers and activists are looking at alternative ways to apply pressure. May previously said she was not prepared to delay Brexit beyond June 30, but she has now agreed with the EU that Britain could remain a member until the end of October. These words have been used to make the case that she has to stand down, as have recent heavy losses in local government elections. An expected heavy defeat in European parliament elections this week are also likely to add to this. Both elected Conservatives and grassroots members are exploring whether there is any way for them to change the party rules to get another shot at ousting May, or whether petitions and no-confidence letters could bring about a change. (Reporting by William James and Kylie MacLellan; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) Oscar's Mexican Seafood. | Photo: Cia P./Yelp Looking to uncover all that Pacific Beach has to offer? Get to know this San Diego neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from an authentic sushi bar to a Spanish tapas restaurant. Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Pacific Beach, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results. 1. Yogurt On The Rocks Photo: Lauren L./Yelp Topping the list is Yogurt On The Rocks, a spot to score ice cream and frozen yogurt and more. Located at 1886 Garnet Ave. (between Kendall and Lamont streets), it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting 4.5 stars out of 330 reviews on Yelp. On the menu, you'll find 14 flavors of ice cream and frozen yogurt, including Italian Kiss gelato and cake batter yogurt. 2. Oscar's Mexican Seafood Photo: Christine K./Yelp Next up is Mexican spot Oscar's Mexican Seafood, which offers seafood and more, situated at 703 Turquoise St. (between Wrelton and La Jolla Mesa drives). With 4.5 stars out of 2,582 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite. Oscar's boasts fresh seafood, with menu items including citrusy ceviche and spicy shrimp tacos. 3. Sushi Ota Photo: Char C./Yelp Sushi bar and Japanese spot Sushi Ota is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 4529 Mission Bay Drive, 4.5 stars out of 3,489 reviews. The spot is known for its fresh sushi, though Yelpers recommend reserving a table. 4. Crushed Crushed, a bar and breakfast and brunch spot that offers tapas and more, is another much-loved neighborhood go-to, with 4.5 stars out of 1,902 Yelp reviews. Head over to 967 Garnet Ave. (between Bayard and Cass streets) to see for yourself. Brunch-goers can expect menu items like crabcake benedict, fish tacos and avocado toast. 5. Costa Brava Photo: Jimmy D./Yelp Check out Costa Brava, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 1,557 reviews on Yelp. You can find the tapas bar and Spanish and Basque spot at 1653 Garnet Ave. (between Ingraham and Jewell streets). One can expect authentic Spanish food and wine from the coast of the Mediterranean at this popular tapas spot. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Spain has maintained its position as Moroccos first trading partner in the first quarter of 2019, both in terms of exports and imports, according to latest data released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. Spanish exports to Morocco reached 2,091 million at the end of March, a decrease of 1.28 pc compared with the same period last year, says Eurostat. At the EU level, Spain remained Moroccos first supplier, accounting for 33.5 pc of the total European exports to the Kingdom in the first quarter of 2019, ahead of France (21.6 pc) , Germany (8.9 pc), Italy (8.0 pc) and the Netherlands (5.1 pc). Spanish imports of Moroccan products rose to 1,841 million in Q1 of 2019, a 7.95 pc increase over one year. During the same period, Spain was also Moroccos first customer, accounting for 41.1 pc of the total EU imports, advancing France (29.3 pc), Italy (6.1 pc), Germany (6.1 pc) and UK (4.7 pc). New York (AFP) - Getting Boeing's top-selling 737 MAX back in the skies faces a critical test this week as the company and US regulators each seek to restore their reputations after two deadly crashes. The US Federal Aviation Administration convened a summit of global aviation regulators on Thursday to walk through the steps taken to address concerns with the MAX following criticism the agency dragged its feet on the decision to ground the jets. Most agencies around the world have said little or nothing about the situation since the 737 MAX was grounded following the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines crash, which together with a Lion Air crash in October, claimed 346 lives. So the gathering in Fort Worth, Texas is expected to provide clues as to whether the aviation safety authorities will be willing to set aside any skepticism about the FAA, which has not yet given the green light for the 737 MAX to fly again. Regulators "are going to want a lot of explanation," said Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group. "We're going to learn a lot." The FAA would prefer to have other agencies quickly follow its lead -- which previously would have been likely -- but several aviation experts think that is improbable. Europe and Canada could follow the US by weeks in allowing the MAX jets to return to the skies. China is a wildcard. It was the first country to order the planes grounded in March, and has been sparring with the US for months over trade policy. China's three largest airlines filed claims seeking compensation from Boeing over the grounding and delayed delivery of the jets, state media reported Wednesday. - Still the 'gold standard'? - The FAA said 57 agencies from 33 countries will attend the summit, including China, France, Germany, Britain, India, Indonesia and Ethiopia, as well as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the United Nations' International Civil Aviation Organization. Story continues The meeting comes after Boeing announced on May 16 that it completed a software update to address a problem with the flight handling program known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System. In both of the MAX crashes, the MCAS pointed the plane sharply downward based on a faulty sensor reading, hindering the pilot's effort to control the aircraft after takeoff, according to preliminary crash investigations. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg has said repeatedly that there was no design flaw in the 737 MAX, and has described changes to the MCAS system as an "update" rather than a fix. Still, the company's reputation has taken a hit amid reports it knew of the issue before the Ethiopia Airlines crash, and received complaints from US pilots. Boeing said it is providing additional information to the FAA in anticipation of a certification test flight, a key step in winning regulatory approval. Long considered a "gold standard" internationally, the FAA's reputation has suffered, amid scrutiny of the oversight process and reports it allowed Boeing to effectively self-certify some features of the MAX. US lawmakers last week once again castigated acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell for lagging behind virtually all other regulators in grounding the planes, acting only after seeing data linking the two crashes. "So the opposite of data is common sense," bellowed Representative Steve Cohen, a Tennessee Democrat, bellowed during a hearing. "Data is fine but it's something that's right before your eyes," he said, noting that non-US regulators reacted with appropriate urgency. Elwell told the panel the agency would permit the 737 MAX to resume flights "only when the FAA's analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is safe to do so." - Lag after US? - Aviation experts expect the US agency to clear the way for the 737 MAX in time for major American airlines to resume flights in mid-to-late summer, as they have publicly announced. Elwell said he hoped other regulators "make their un-grounding as close to ours as possible." Thursday's gathering will offer clues as to whether that is likely. "We'll have a much better idea of the timeline for the return of the 737 MAX," said Michel Merluzeau of aerospace consultancy AIR. The process would be slowed if other regulators break with precedent and insist on conducting their own test flights with the upgraded 737 MAX rather than deferring to the FAA's judgment. Another key question is whether other regulators have different expectations on pilot training than the FAA, which has said simulator training is not needed for all pilots. Scott Hamilton, founder of Leeham Company, an aviation consultancy, said the FAA's job has been made more difficult with a "drip drip" of negative media reports. And over the weekend, Boeing acknowledged that it had to correct flaws in the flight simulator software for the MAX. "How has Boeing assured the FAA there are no more surprises?" Hamilton asked in an email. Fort Worth (United States) (AFP) - The head of the US air safety agency said on Wednesday his agency hadn't yet evaluated Boeing's patch for its 737 MAX 8 jet, ahead of a Thursday summit of global aviation regulators. The 737 MAX was grounded following the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines crash, which together with an Indonesian Lion Air crash in October claimed 346 lives and were both blamed on faulty technology in the aircraft. The summit in Fort Worth, Texas is expected to provide clues as to whether global aviation safety authorities will be willing to set aside any hesitation about the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which was the last to ground the plane and has not yet given the green light for the 737 MAX to fly again. In a sign of the work remaining to be done before the MAX 8 can fly again, interim FAA chief Dan Elwell said his agency has not yet received Boeing's proposed fix for the automated control system blamed in the crashes. "We are still waiting for Boeing to formally submit the software for approval," Elwell said ahead of the summit. "It takes as long as it takes to be right," Elwell said, saying the delay was caused by the FAA sending Boeing additional questions about its proposed fix. However US carriers appear ready to put the plane back in the air, with American Airlines and Southwest both scheduling flights using the jet for August in the apparent hope that it will be cleared to fly then. - Explanations - But before that can happen regulators "are going to want a lot of explanation," said Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group. "We're going to learn a lot." The FAA would prefer to have other agencies quickly follow its lead -- which previously would have been likely -- but several aviation experts think that is improbable. Fifty seven agencies from 33 countries will attend the summit, including China, France, Germany, Britain, India, Indonesia and Ethiopia, as well as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UN International Civil Aviation Organization. Story continues Officials from the European Union and Canada said Wednesday they will not clear the 737 MAX for takeoff until their questions are answered. "There are conditions for us to have (the 737 MAX) return to fly and that is we do our independent review," said Jagello Fayl, communications chief for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. Meanwhile, Transport Canada "has provided US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing a list of questions and action items to address as part of the validation process and evaluation," Transport Canada spokeswoman Frederica Dupuis said in an email. "Our expectation is that all data required to address these inquiries will be provided." Dupuis said she "cannot speculate on the timelines" for approval of the 737 MAX by the FAA or Canadian officials. - Still the 'gold standard'? - The meeting comes after Boeing announced on May 16 that it had completed a software update to address a problem with the flight handling program known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). In both of the MAX crashes, the MCAS pointed the plane sharply downward based on a faulty sensor reading, hindering the pilots' effort to control the aircraft after takeoff, according to preliminary crash investigations. China's three largest airlines have sought compensation from Boeing over the grounding and delayed further delivery of the jets, state media reported Wednesday. A Boeing spokesman said the company does not comment on conversations with customers, but that they are providing additional information to the FAA in anticipation of a certification test flight, a key step in winning regulatory approval. Long considered a "gold standard" internationally, the FAA's reputation has suffered amid scrutiny of the oversight process and reports it allowed Boeing to effectively self-certify some features of the 737 MAX. US lawmakers last week once again castigated Elwell for lagging behind virtually all other regulators in grounding the planes, acting only after seeing data linking the two crashes. Elwell meanwhile said the agency would permit the 737 MAX to resume flights "only when the FAA's analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is safe to do so." Elwell said he hoped other regulators "make their un-grounding as close to ours as possible." By Guy Faulconbridge and Kylie MacLellan LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - Nigel Farage's Brexit Party is on course to win Thursday's European parliamentary election in the United Kingdom while pro-European Union parties remain divided. How will the election work, when will we get results and what were the results last time? WHEN DOES VOTING START? Polling stations open at 0600 GMT on Thursday and close at 2100 GMT. WHO CAN VOTE? Around 46.8 million people in the United Kingdom. Any adult who is a British citizen, an Irish, EU or qualifying Commonwealth citizen can register to vote in the election. British citizens living overseas who are registered as overseas electors within the last 15 years can also take part. WHAT DO VOTERS NEED TO DO? In Britain, voters put one cross against the party or independent candidate they wish to vote for. Parties are listed first on the ballot paper, alphabetically, followed by individual candidates who are standing as independents. In Northern Ireland, the single transferable vote (STV) system is used so voters mark 1, 2, 3 and so on against candidates in order of preference. WHO GETS ELECTED? The United Kingdom is divided into 12 electoral regions - nine in England, and one each for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. In total it will elect 73 MEPs (Members of the European Parliament). WHAT SYSTEM IS USED? In Britain, parties submit a list of candidates for each region and voters select a party rather than an individual candidate, unless they are backing an independent. As the seats are allocated to a party, they in turn allocate them to candidates starting from the top of their list. In Northern Ireland, as votes are counted the candidate with the least votes in eliminated and their votes redistributed. This is repeated until there are only the required number of candidates left for the number of seats available. ISN'T THE UK LEAVING THE EU? Britain is taking part in the elections because it delayed the date of its exit from the EU, but its MEPs will leave the parliament when Brexit happens. WHEN WILL RESULTS COME? No results are allowed to be published before 2100 GMT on Sunday - when polls close across other parts of the EU. Counting will begin in England and Wales before 2100 and results will come soon after that time. Counting in some parts of Scotland will begin after 2100 but the Western Isles of Scotland do not count on Sundays so the result will not be declared until Monday. Counting in Northern Ireland will start on Monday 27 May and is expected to take 1-2 days. IS THERE AN EXIT POLL? No. WHO WILL WIN? Farage's Brexit Party has maintained a big lead over both the Conservatives and Labour in polls on voting intentions. On the "remain" side however, the vote will be splintered between several strongly pro-EU parties: the Liberal Democrats, Change UK and the Green Party. WHO ARE THE MOST FAMOUS CANDIDATES? - Nigel Farage, Brexit Party, South East - Daniel Hannan, Conservative (ECR), South East - Syed Kamall, Conservative (ECR), London - Gerard Batten, UKIP (ENF), London - Rachel Johnson, Change UK (N/A), South West - Ann Widdecombe, Brexit Party (N/A), South West - Annunziata Rees-Mogg, Brexit Party (N/A), East Midlands - Richard Tice, Brexit Party (N/A), East England - Tommy Robinson, North West WHAT WERE THE RESULTS IN 2014? Turnout: 35.6 percent MEPs % of votes UK Independence Party 24 26.77 Labour 20 24.74 Conservative 19 23.31 Green 3 7.67 Scottish National Party 2 2.4 Liberal Democrat 1 6.69 Sinn Fein 1 0.66 Democratic Unionist Party 1 0.54 Plaid Cymru 1 0.69 Ulster Unionist Party 1 0.35 Sources: UK Electoral Commission, European Parliament (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge Editing by Andrew Heavens) May 23 (Reuters) - Global tech firms, including chip suppliers, are cutting ties with China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd after the U.S. government put the world's largest telecom equipment maker on a trade blacklist citing national security concerns. The United States has effectively banned its companies from doing business with Huawei, exacerbating an ongoing Sino-U.S. trade war. The ban applies to goods that have 25% or more of U.S.-originated technology or materials, and may therefore affect non-American firms. Huawei is allowed to buy U.S. goods until Aug. 19 to maintain existing telecoms networks and provide software updates to its smartphones. Following are companies that have suspended business with the Chinese firm: ** ALPHABET INC: Google on May 19 suspended the transfer of hardware, software and technical services to Huawei, except what it has made publicly available via open source licensing. ** U.S. CHIPMAKERS: Intel Corp, Qualcomm Inc , Xilinx Inc and Broadcom Inc told their employees they will not supply critical software or components to Huawei until further notice, Bloomberg reported on May 19. ** LUMENTUM HOLDINGS INC: The optical components maker said on May 20 it discontinued all shipments to Huawei, adding it "intends to fully comply with U.S. imposed license requirements." Huawei represented 18% of the company's total revenue in the latest quarter. ** QORVO INC: The radio frequency chipmaker said on May 21 it expects first-quarter revenue to take a $50 million hit due to a halt in shipments to Huawei. The Chinese firm represented 15% of Qorvo's total revenue in the year ended March 30. ** ANALOG DEVICES INC: Chief Executive Officer Vincent Roche on May 22 said his company will not be shipping anything to Huawei for the foreseeable future. [http://bit.ly/2QfqzRz ] ** Inphi Corp: The optical communications chipmaker on May 22 lowered its second-quarter earnings forecast based on its understanding of the U.S. government blacklisting of Huawei, which accounted for 14% of Inphi's sales in 2018. [http://bit.ly/2HI5GKW ] Story continues ** ARM: The British chip designer, owned by Japan's SoftBank Group Corp, said on May 22 it has halted relations with Huawei to comply with the U.S. ban. ** PANASONIC CORP: The Japanese electronics giant said on May 23 it had stopped shipments of certain components to Huawei. It will still sell some components to Huawei, a point it made clear on its China website. (Compiled by Sayanti Chakraborty in Bengaluru; Editing by Anil D'Silva and Christopher Cushing) May 22 (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc illegally suppressed competition in the market for smartphone chips by threatening to cut off supplies and extracting excessive licensing fees, a U.S. judge ruled, a decision that could force the company to overhaul its business practices. The following are a few selected quotes from U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh's 233-page decision. ** "In order to ensure Qualcomm's compliance with the above remedies, the court orders Qualcomm to submit to compliance and monitoring procedures for a period of seven years. Specifically, Qualcomm shall report to the FTC on an annual basis Qualcomm's compliance with the above remedies ordered by the court." ** "Qualcomm's failure to alter its unlawful licensing practices despite years of foreign government investigations, findings, and fines suggests an obstinance that a monitoring provision may address. Other courts in FTC enforcement actions have held that compliance reporting requirements are not 'unduly burdensome,' even when the provisions require reporting for a period of twenty years." ** "Qualcomm may not interfere with the ability of any customer to communicate with a government agency about a potential law enforcement or regulatory matter." ** "The evidence demonstrates that Qualcomm's anticompetitive conduct is ongoing and that an injunction is thus warranted." ** "Qualcomm continues to refuse to provide patent exhaustion, refuse to sell modem chips to an OEM until the OEM signs a license, and engage in chip supply threats and cutoffs. Steve Mollenkopf (Qualcomm CEO) conceded at trial that Qualcomm does not sell chips to unlicensed OEMs." ** "Qualcomm's exclusive dealing agreements have foreclosed Qualcomm's rivals from a substantial share of the CDMA and premium LTE modem chip markets." ** "To permit Qualcomm to continue to charge unreasonably high royalty rates would perpetuate its artificial surcharge on rivals' chips, which harms rivals, OEMs, and consumers, and would enable Qualcomm to continue to reap the fruits of its Sherman Act violation. Thus, the court finds it necessary to require Qualcomm to renegotiate those license agreements." Story continues ** "Qualcomm's own documents show that Qualcomm knew its licensing practices could lead to antitrust liability, knew its licensing practices violate FRAND, and knew its licensing practices harm competition, yet continued anyway even in the face of government investigations in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, the European Union, and the United States. This evidence of Qualcomm's intent confirms the court's conclusion that Qualcomm's practices cause anticompetitive harm because 'no monopolist monopolizes unconscious of what he is doing'." ** "In addition, even though Intel is supplying modem chips to Apple, Aicha Evans (Intel Chief Strategy Officer) testified that Intel has never met its target margins and that Intel's sales of modem chips to Apple have not yet been profitable. When asked about the probable effect of losing Apple's business in any given year, Evans testified that losing Apple's business 'would not be near death, that would be death'." ** Cristiano Amon (Qualcomm President) not only approved the plan for QCT to cut off chip supply to Chinese OEMs who refuse to pay patent royalties to QTL, but Amon agreed to start communicating this plan to customers. "Despite Amon's own handwriting acknowledging 2015 chip supply threats, Amon testified under oath at his deposition and trial that he was unaware of QTL threats to cutoff chip supply." ** "China's National Development and Reform Commission investigated Qualcomm's licensing practices and in 2015 imposed a rectification plan that altered some of Qualcomm's licensing practices in China. Presentation notes from a slide deck that Boston Consulting Group presented to the Qualcomm board of directors in 2015 explain that Qualcomm was able to avoid caps on non-SEP royalty rates, more aggressive rate cuts, and forced sales to non-licensees due to a $150 million payment to the Chinese government." (Compiled by Vibhuti Sharma, Sayanti Chakraborty and Akanksha Rana in Bengaluru; Editing by Bernard Orr) A Tunisian court of appeal Tuesday ordered authorities to release on bail German-Tunisian UN expert held in custody on espionage charges. Moncef Kartas was arrested upon arrival in the North African country two months ago. Moncef Kartas, according to his defense, has been freed but charges against him have not been dropped. Kartas, a UN expert on a panel monitoring the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya was arrested in March as he landed in Tunisia for a UN mission. The interior ministry accused him of spying and passing secret information to a foreign country. The defense said authorities accused Kartas of being in possession of a device allowing him to have access to data on flights of civil and commercial aircraft. The device, the defense added is an RTL-SDR used for monitoring air traffic to Libya, in order to identify flights that could be linked to violations of the arms embargo. Kartass arrest clouded relations between the UN and the North African country, which insisted that the expert was not protected by diplomatic immunity. We have been informed that earlier today a Tunisian appeals court has reviewed the case against Mr Kartas and has decided to release him, spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. We are currently seeking further information from the government including with respect to the status of the legal proceedings against Mr Kartas. The lawmaker in charge of New Zealand's parliament said Wednesday he fears a rapist is stalking the building's corridors, after an inquiry exposed the toxic work culture that staffers endure. Speaker Trevor Mallard said he was disturbed by the findings of the independent inquiry, which said bullying, harassment and other abusive conduct was rife in the parliamentary precincts. The most serious accusations concerned three sexual assault allegations against an unnamed man, which the inquiry's report said "appeared to be part of a multi-year pattern of predatory behaviour". Mallard, who is responsible for administering the parliament, said such behaviour amounted to rape. "We're talking about serious sexual assault. Well, for me, that's rape," he told Radio New Zealand, saying he did not know the identity of the alleged perpetrator or victims. He added: "Reading the report carefully, I get the sense that the man is still on the premises." Mallard described the situation as "intolerable" but said he could not go to police as all submissions to the inquiry were made on the basis that they would be kept strictly confidential. He said he hoped the women involved would contact police directly, and would receive support from rape counselling services. There are 120 MPs in the New Zealand parliament, known as The Beehive, but the number of people working in the complex swells to the thousands when advisers, bureaucrats, media and security are taken into account. The five-month inquiry by workplace consultant Debbie Francis was called after allegations against lawmakers from both sides of politics, including that a minister physically attacked a press secretary who she blamed for missing an appointment. Francis found parliament was a high-pressure, insular environment where unacceptable conduct was too often tolerated. In a 120-page report released Tuesday, she said there was a reluctance to hold MPs accountable over bullying behaviour, even though some were regarded by staffers as serial offenders. Story continues "The fundamental problem is the power imbalance. It's a master-servant relationship and they're treated like gods," an anonymous respondent told the inquiry. Others described "creepy" behaviour towards young women and those who made complaints often said they received little support. Mallard said he was examining Francis' recommendations and was committed to improving parliament's culture. By Oscar Lopez RIO DE JANEIRO, May 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - H omophobia and transphobia could become crimes in Brazil if its highest court rules in favor of reform on Thursday, amid fears that its right-wing president could roll back other LGBT+ gains. Four out of the 11 judges on the Supreme Federal Tribunal already ruled in February that anti-LGBT+ acts should be criminalized but the remaining votes were postponed because proceedings lasted longer than expected. The two cases, brought by Brazilian rights group ABGLT and the Popular Socialist Party, ask the court to acknowledge that Congress's failure to criminalize violence against gay people is "unconstitutional" and to set a deadline for legal reform. "It would mean that LGBT (people) would actually have real protection," said David Miranda, one of the country's only openly gay congressmen. "We need a major law to protect and give rights to the LGBT community." Homophobia is common in Brazil, a deeply religious country where both the Catholic Church and the popular evangelical Christian movement are frequently critical of gay rights. But like many Latin American countries, Brazil is also home to a growing population of young, educated urban liberals eager to stand up for gay and trans rights. The supreme court in 2011 legally recognized same-sex partnerships and in 2015 allowed LGBT+ couples to adopt. It also ruled in 2018 that the government can no longer require trans people to have surgery in order to legally change their gender identity. But the election last year of President Jair Bolsonaro, a former army captain who has described himself as a "proud" homophobe, has raised fears of a gay rights reversal. At least 320 LGBT+ people were killed in Brazil in 2018 and 126 murders have been reported so far this year, according to watchdog group Grupo Gay da Bahia. Brazil is also the most dangerous country in the world to be trans, according to the Trans Murder Monitoring project, with at least 167 people killed in the 12 months up to September 2018. Story continues Miranda introduced a bill this month that would provide legal protections for gay and trans victims of crimes, such as imposing restraining orders against their attackers. "Resilience is in our blood and bones," he said. "No president that's homophobic, LGBT-phobic and transphobic is going to stop us from living our lives and loving who we love." PANIC For Roberto, the court's decision is personal. Coming home one afternoon four years ago, he was stabbed in the neck by a neighbor yelling homophobic slurs. "(He said) that I was a despicable being, an inferior being and that I should die," Roberto, who declined to give his real name, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation via text message. "Every time I see the scar, or pass my hand across it, I remember what happened - bleeding, being in hospital, almost dying in my own apartment," the 37-year-old said. Roberto also lost his job and many of his friends because of the trauma. "I had panic attacks," he said. "It took me a long time to be able to go back out into society." Although the attacker was charged with "bodily harm," he was released that same day, according to Roberto, taking advantage of a legal provision that allows some offenders to pay a fine instead of going to jail. Outlawing homophobic violence and imposing stronger penalties could deter future attacks, Roberto said. "If the law on the criminalisation of homophobia had already been approved, the bastard who stabbed me would be in prison. He wouldn't be out on the street, able to hurt some other gay person," he said. JAIL A draft law criminalizing homophobic attacks was approved by Brazil's lower house of Congress, and in 2006 introduced to the upper house. But it faced fierce opposition from religious groups and, after eight years of debate, it was shelved in accordance with congressional rules. In Thursday's case, the supreme court has been asked to rule that homophobia and transphobia are based on the belief that some social groups are inferior, and to equate this to racism, which is an unbailable offense in the 1988 constitution. "Cases of LGBT-phobia would no longer be considered as aggression, attempted homicide, or any of the various forms that we have in common law," said Renan Quinalha, a law professor at the Federal University of Sao Paulo. "It would be a specific crime, like racism." As four judges have already ruled in favor of criminalizing homophobi and transphobia, Quinalha said it is likely at least two others will follow suit - providing an LGBT+ win in court. Campaigners said the case has become even more crucial with the election of Bolsonaro, who has removed LGBT+ concerns from the responsibilities of the human rights ministry and declared that Brazil must not become a "gay tourism paradise." "(A positive ruling) would definitely be a challenge for the current administration, considering that the president has made a career out of scapegoating LGBT people," said Leandro Ramos, a campaigner at LGBT+ rights group All Out. "We can get killed or attacked on the streets just because of who we are ... So I think it gives a different perspective to LGBT Brazilians: that this is not going to be tolerated." (Reporting by Oscar Lopez @oscarlopezgib; Editing by Katy Migiro and Hugo Greenhalgh. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) By Trevor Hunnicutt NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials trying to shore up their arsenal to defend the economy in the next U.S. recession received a warning about one approach they have been considering. Plans to hold more short-term bonds to prepare for a downturn could create risks of its own, Fed staff told policymakers, according to minutes from the Fed's April 30-May 1 meeting that were released on Wednesday. Many Fed officials think it would be a good idea for the central bank to hold more bonds that come due soon. The logic is that during the next recession, the Fed could trade in those soon-to-expire bonds for longer-term ones, putting downward pressure on borrowing costs without expanding the U.S. central bank's overall asset pile. It is an approach called a maturity extension program, or "Operation Twist," and the Fed did it 2011-2012. There is a potential problem, though. If the Fed shifts to more short-term bonds, that could make longer-term debt pricier now, pressuring rates that business and consumers get on mortgages and other loans. In other words, instead of helping its goal of making monetary conditions easier, the Fed would be tightening financial conditions. All else being equal, the Fed would have to offset the extra pressure by lowering rates, the central bank's staff told policymakers at the meeting. That might be hard to do with rates already at 2.25-2.50%, not far from zero. The Fed made no abrupt shift to shorter bonds prior to Operation Twist. Meanwhile, it could take five to 15 years for the Fed to transition to the sorts of bonds policymakers want going into a recession, Fed staff said. The Fed holds nearly $4 trillion in assets, much in government-backed bonds bought to support the economy after the 2008 global financial crisis and not scheduled to come due for a decade or more. A faster transition may require the Fed to start selling some of the mortgage bonds it bought. Story continues "There is a group of officials who want to shorten the maturities of Treasuries now so they could do an Operation Twist later," said Matthew Luzzetti, chief U.S. economist at Deutsche Bank in New York. "There isn't a consensus agreement on this right now." Fed officials are not forecasting a recession but want to be ready. Several policymakers at the most recent meeting saw no need to resolve this debate "for some time." Still, policymakers' skepticism over holding shorter-term bonds seems to show more debate over the issue than previously reported, for instance in March, when Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker described "a general consensus" to build a shorter-maturity portfolio. Skepticism over that conclusion could lead to a narrower gap between bonds maturing soon and longer-term Treasuries, according to "a couple" of Fed policymakers during the meeting who worried if that fact could push investors to take on more risk. But some Fed officials see risks in favoring short-term bonds, as well, if the Fed becomes too large a part of the market for those bonds or if they encourage companies to take on more short-term debt. The gap between 2- and 10-year Treasuries narrowed to its lowest levels in more than a month on Wednesday. (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt Additional reporting by Howard Schneider and Jason Lange in Washington, Richard Leong in New York Editing by Leslie Adler) NEWARK, N.J. (AP) A 20-year-old New Jersey man sought to aid the Islamic militant group Hamas and threatened to "shoot everybody" at an unspecified pro-Israel demonstration, federal authorities said Wednesday. Jonathan Xie was charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, making false statements and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. The material support carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. At his initial court appearance Wednesday afternoon, he was ordered held without bail. His public defender didn't say whether he would file a motion for a bail hearing. Xie entered the courtroom in shackles and wearing a green T-shirt and dark sweat pants. His only comments during the brief hearing were to say he understood the judge's instructions. His parents attended the proceeding but declined to comment afterward. Xie sent $100 to a person he believed was affiliated with a faction of Hamas last December, and a few days later, posted on his Instagram account that he was "pretty sure it was illegal but I don't give a damn," according to a criminal complaint. The U.S. has designated Hamas a foreign terrorist organization since 1997. Xie also allegedly lied on security forms he filled out when he sought to join the U.S. Army by not mentioning the donation. The U.S. attorney's office also alleged Xie posted on Instagram that he wanted to bomb the Israeli embassy and Trump Tower in New York. According to the criminal complaint, a person wearing a black ski mask later identified as Xie said in an Instagram video that he was against "Zionism" and the "neo-liberal establishment" and, in response to a question, said he would join Hamas "if I could find a way." Later in the video, Xie allegedly displayed a handgun and said he was going to go to a pro-Israel march "and I'm going to shoot everybody." According to the account of a person who interacted online with Xie and later contacted the FBI, Xie said the attack would be at an Al-Quds Day parade, an annual pro-Palestinian event held around the final Friday of Ramadan. Story continues Assistant U.S. Attorney Joyce Malliet said in court Wednesday that authorities believe one of the events is to be held in New York's Times Square on May 31. After an April trip to Trump Tower in which he was observed by FBI surveillance, according to the complaint, Xie posted photos of the building along with his intent to bomb it. "Okay so I went to NYC today and passed by Trump Tower, then I started thinking about bombing it and I was imagining that the explosion would kill Trump and then I started laughing hysterically," he wrote according to the complaint. "I forgot to visit the Israeli embassy in NYC...i want to bomb this place along with trump tower." Johannesburg (AFP) - The business executive who became the first black African woman to climb Mount Everest said Wednesday that knowing her climb would be in the record books helped her push on South African climber Saray Khumalo, 47, reached the peak of the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) mountain last week after three previous failed bids to conquer the world's highest peak. "Giving up is not an option," Khumalo told South African television from Kathmandu in Nepal. "I was aware, taking on the project, that it was big and it needed to be done. I think that was one of the reasons I kept pushing, even after failing before." Khumalo is on a quest to conquer the highest peaks on each continent. She has also climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Aconcagua in Argentina and Mount Elbrus in Russia. "Summiting Everest or any other mountain from here on should be the norm because other people are doing it -- why not us?" she said in her first interview since her climb. "It doesn't matter where you come from, or what curve ball has been thrown at you, keep going because the summit is just next door, it is just the next step." One member of Khumalo's team -- Seamus Lawless from Ireland -- died on the descent. "One life... is one too many," Khumalo said. "It is very unfortunate but it is the reality of climbing." Khumalo said she had talked to her two sons, aged 16 and 21, about the dangers involved. "They know I am not going to take risks that are unreasonable," she said. "I took longer than anticipated (to come down). We didn't take a cell phone to the summit... so I only spoke to them when I got to base camp, but they were very happy." Khumalo uses her expeditions to raise funds for libraries and support children's educational activities in Africa. In 2003, South African park ranger Sibusiso Vilane became the first black person to summit Mount Everest. Brussels (AFP) - As the clock counts down to the European Parliament elections that start Thursday, here are five key figures in the battle, from arch-eurosceptic Nigel Farage to French President Emmanuel Macron. - Farage, veteran eurosceptic - Nicknamed "Mr Brexit" by his friend Donald Trump, veteran eurosceptic Nigel Farage, 55, has been an MEP since 1999, first for the UK Independence Party (UKIP), then as an independent and latterly for his new Brexit Party. Farage was for many years at the vanguard of the campaign for Britain to leave the EU. During his two decades in the European Parliament that position has moved from the fringe to the heart of government policy. He left UKIP and founded the Brexit Party in protest at the government's failure to deliver Brexit. Now, despite the fact it only came into being in January, the party is way ahead in opinion polls, on course to win more European seats than any other party in the UK. Such a result would be yet another slap in the face for the two main British parties, Conservative and Labour, from a man they have struggled to contain or counter. - Salvini, Italian populist - The populist strongman of the Italian government deputy PM Matteo Salvini aims to unite a nationalist group in the European Parliament with his French "friend" Marine Le Pen. The 46-year-old Milanese entered the European Parliament in 2004 and left in 2018 after coming to power in Italy. His populist government angered most of its European partners by closing its ports to refugee arrivals. And it locked horns with the European Commission over a national budget that broke EU rules, before eventually reaching a compromise. Equipped with a strong team of young social media specialists, Salvini's party is predicted to get around 30 percent of votes in Italy. - Orban's populist wave - With poll ratings of 57 percent for his party Fidesz, Viktor Orban, the Hungarian prime minister since 2010, is about to strengthen his grip on his country and his status as a key figure of the European far right. Story continues Suspended by the centre-right European People's Party grouping because of his attacks on Brussels, Orban does not want to leave the EU, which pays Hungary substantial sums in structural funds. Instead he intends to try to reconstruct the European right, boosting contacts with Salvini, Austria's Freedom Party and the PiS of Poland. - Europe's defender Macron - French President Emmanuel Macron came to power in 2017 on a pro-European platform and has consistently called for a "revival of Europe", positioning himself as the number one opponent of the populists. In France, his La Republique En Marche (LREM) party is neck and neck with Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN). Macron hopes to reshuffle the centrists at the European Parliament, calling for "building a great coalition of progressives" against "those who want to destroy Europe through nationalism". His party is expected to join forces with the Liberal ALDE group to play a pivotal role in the parliament and in the job sharing of the European institutions. Macron wants a common eurozone budget and a European finance minister and less dependence on the United States for defence and is in favour of a strong and coherent "European identity". - Sanchez, the socialist hope - After winning snap national elections at the end of April, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is the only social democrat in power in a major EU country and should emerge stronger from Sunday's European poll. His PSOE party is predicted to get around 30 percent of the vote and wants to take the opportunity to increase Madrid's influence on the EU stage, particularly after Britain quits the bloc, leaving Spain as its fourth largest economy. Brexit could lead to a shortage of food for schools, according to a new report (Getty) Councils have been urged to pile pressure on the Government over claims that there will be food shortages in schools after Brexit. The Food Research Collaboration (FRC) claim that uncertainty over how and when Britain leaves the EU has led to concerns about supplies after the Brexit date. They have warned that groups including school pupils, the elderly and people in social care could suffer more as a result of food shortages and stockpiling in the event of a no-deal exit. The FRC published their briefing following earlier guidance on how to prepare for Brexit. They wrote: Six months on, we still have little clarity on how or when the UK will leave the European Union. Councils say they are continuing to pressure the Government to provide better information about food supply risks (Flickr) However, it remains the case that under any circumstances, withdrawal from the EU will have major impacts on the UKs food systems and food consumers. And as we identified last year, Local Authorities, which have executive responsibilities in relation to food and which are also repositories of expertise on local food systems, will be in the front line in coping with whatever challenges arise. They added: If anything, this seems more likely, given the lack of evidence of coherent planning at national level. Read more from Yahoo News UK: Who should I vote for if Im a Remainer or a Leaver? Child picks up remains of a pipe bomb in Derry Furious Tories to try and oust Theresa May today The Government have previously told schools that they should be more flexible in what dinners they serve children in England if there are food shortages because of Brexit. In a no-deal technical notice, the Government said it has been working to plan arrangements that ensure goods can continue to flow into the UK without significant delays but it could not control what happened on the other side of the EU border. However, the Department for Education said it was confident that schools will continue to be able to provide pupils with nutritious school meals no matter the outcome of Brexit. ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- Beirut (Lebanon) (AFP) - A number of foreigners remain missing in war-torn Syria, even after the announced fall of the Islamic State group "caliphate", following years of abductions and executions. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Wednesday the release of an Italian hostage, Alessandro Sandrini, seized in 2016 by unknown kidnappers in the southern Turkish city of Adana and taken to Syria. IS's self-proclaimed "caliphate" which spanned large swathes of Iraq and Syria for years collapsed in March, but the jihadists still reportedly have fighters scattered in hard-to-reach areas. Here is a list of other foreign nationals still believed to be held or missing in war-torn Syria, whether detained by IS or other parties: - Louisa Akavi - The New Zealand nurse was snatched along with Syrian drivers Alaa Rajab and Nabil Bakdounes in 2013 while travelling in a Red Cross convoy delivering supplies to Idlib, in northwestern Syria. The ICRC has said it believed they were abducted by IS, two years into the civil war and the year before the extremists declared a cross-border "caliphate" in Syria and Iraq. US-backed forces last month expelled IS from their last patch of that proto-state in eastern Syria, but the jihadists maintain a presence in the war-torn country and neighbouring Iraq. New Zealand has said it disagreed with making the abduction public, but confirmed it had dispatched a special forces unit to Syria to search for Akavi. The New York Times reported the ICRC had reason to believe she was alive, because at least two people described seeing her in December at a clinic in the eastern village of Sousa, one of the last villages held by IS. - John Cantlie - The British journalist was detained by IS on November 22, 2012. He was kidnapped along with US reporter James Foley, who became the first of a string of foreign hostages to be slain in gruesome propaganda videos. Cantlie however appeared in several subsequent videos released by IS in which he delivered jihadist propaganda to the camera in the style of a news report. Story continues His last appearance was during the battle for Mosul in late 2016. He looked gaunt and tired. In February, media reports quoting Britain's Security Minister Ben Wallace said Cantlie could still be alive. But the Free John Cantlie support group on Twitter said those reports were not substantiated, although they hoped they turned out to be true. - Austin Tice - The 36-year-old American journalist was kidnapped in Syria in August 2012 by unidentified armed men after reporting south of Damascus. His kidnapping was never claimed by any organisation. US special envoy for hostage affairs, Robert O'Brien, said in November there was every reason to believe he was alive and still detained in Syria. In December, Tice's father said he believed the Syrian government was best placed to help bring the journalist home. - Grigory Tsurkanu and Roman Zabolotny - The pair, believed to be Russians, were captured in September or early October 2017 in Deir Ezzor province in eastern Syria. Moscow never confirmed the identity of the two men, who appeared in an IS propaganda video. A Cossack group identified them as two veterans from southern Russia in their late 30s. Some Russian media reports said they were mercenaries for a shadowy outfit called Wagner which has been sending ex-servicemen to fight alongside Syrian regime forces. A Russian newspaper said they were executed but their deaths were never confirmed. - Sky news team - Mauritanian national Ishak Moctar and Lebanese citizen Samir Kassab went missing on October 15, 2013, along with their Syrian driver, near the northern city of Aleppo. They were believed held by IS but their fate was never confirmed and they are still considered missing. The pair were believed to still be alive in 2016 and held in the then de facto Syrian IS capital of Raqa. - Paolo Dall'Oglio - The Jesuit priest known to most as Father Paolo was a well-known figure in Syria, where he lived for years in the 6th century Deir Mar Musa monastery that he renovated, north of Damascus. He was exiled from Syria in 2012 for meeting with members of the opposition to President Bashar al-Assad's regime and kidnapped by IS near Raqa when he returned the following year. He was reported to have been executed and his body dumped in a crevice soon after, but his death was never confirmed by any party. The Chief of the Algerian army has called on protesters and the opposition to accept the planned July 4 presidential elections, noting that the poll is the only way forward to avoid power vacuum after unpopular transition presidents 90 days come to an end. Algeria has been reeling from tumultuous political uncertainty since March after waves of demonstrations have called for the fall of the 20-year old regime. The resignation of former ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika early April following pressure from the army did not calm the protests. Interim President, Abdelkader Bensalah set elections for July 4 but the move was widely rejected by thousands of Algerians and a dozens of organizations including leading opposition parties. Algerians are demanding a complete overhaul of the regime. Army Chief, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, who has been instrumental in Bouteflikas resignation and has appeared as a kingmaker, early this week indicated that the election would help the country avoid a constitutional trap. Holding a presidential election could help [Algeria] avoid falling into the trap of a constitutional void, with its accompanying dangers and unwelcome consequences, he told the media at a press conference. Sunday, the interior ministry, in charge of organizing the election, said 75 people including three political parties have submitted their candidacy application, Huffpost Maghreb reports. ASHDOWN, Ark. (AP) A former state lawmaker in Arkansas has been sentenced to four months in jail after pleading guilty to a theft charge. Fonda Hawthorne was accused of using public money from the Ashdown-Little River Chamber of Commerce to buy alcohol and tobacco when she was serving as the organization's director. She was sentenced to Tuesday to four months to be served in Arkansas Community Correction custody and five months of probation. Hawthorne was a Democratic state representative from 2013 to 2015 representing southwest Arkansas. According to Shreveport, Louisiana, TV station KSLA , Hawthorne said in court that she committed the thefts because of a drinking problem. She said that since her arrest, she has been to rehab for alcoholism and has also repaid nearly $7,400 to the chamber of commerce. The former head of Chinese liquor firm Kweichow Moutai, the world's most valuable spirits company, has become the latest Communist Party figure to fall in President Xi Jinping's sweeping anti-corruption campaign. Yuan Renguo, 62, was dismissed from public office and expelled from the party on corruption allegations, the Communist Party's anti-graft agency said on Wednesday. Yuan "seriously violated Party discipline and national laws and regulations" by using his position in return for political gain and money, according to the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI). An investigation found Yuan engaged in "family-style corruption", facilitated illegal sales of Moutai for unscrupulous dealers, and failed to report related personal affairs. "The nature (of the matter) is vile and should be seriously dealt with," said the statement, without specifying the amount of money he allegedly acquired through illegal actions or bribes. Yuan was no longer the president of Kweichow Moutai Group as of May 2018 after serving in the position for more than six years and being part of the company for more than two decades. The CCDI in China's southern province of Guizhou will transfer Yuan's case to prosecutors. Kweichow Moutai, which makes "baijiu", a fiery grain alcohol popular in China, has seen its share price soar this year on good earnings and bullish market sentiment. Moutai leapt past London-based Diageo in 2017 to become the most valuable spirits company in the world. But that followed several tough years for the industry. An anti-corruption campaign launched in 2012 by Xi hit baijiu sales particularly hard as bottles of premium brands like Moutai had become a popular gift for schmoozing with or bribing Communist officials. Baijiu, which is distilled from sorghum, rice or other grains, is the largest category of spirits consumed in the world, largely due to China's huge population and baijiu's ubiquity at weddings, banquets and business meetings in the country. Moutai had gained the status in part because it was the tipple that then Premier Zhou Enlai and President Richard Nixon raised to toast the historic China-US rapprochement in 1972. Sales at major producers cratered in the aftermath but have recovered in recent years in part because producers have sought to develop new products tailored to wider audiences. WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - A U.S. combat veteran was indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday for allegedly planning to bomb a rally in Long Beach, California, last month, the Justice Department said. Mark Steven Domingo, 26, of Reseda, California, who served with the Army in Afghanistan, was arrested over the plot to bomb a white nationalist rally last month. The grand jury's indictment charged Domingo with providing material support to terrorists and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction, the Justice Department said. (Reporting by David Alexander) At least four people were killed and more than a dozen injured when Afghan security forces fired a rocket on a Humvee stolen by the Taliban and packed with explosives, officials said Wednesday. The US-made armoured vehicle was being chased by security forces as it raced for the gates to the eastern city of Ghazni, an interior ministry spokesman said. "After it failed to stop at the signal of security forces, they opened fire, first hitting its tyres, then hitting it with a rocket," the spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi, said. Local officials in Ghazni confirmed the account, saying that two civilians and two members of the Afghan security forces were killed in the explosion. "Ten civilians and five security forces were injured," Ahmad Khan Sirat, a spokesman for provincial police in Ghazni, told AFP. Several previous deadly attacks in Afghanistan have begun with militants blowing up a Humvee or another vehicle outside a target to devastate security forces protecting it, before gunmen rush to assault those inside. Security forces can take hours to clear buildings after such attacks. The Taliban claimed Wednesday's attempted attack in a WhatsApp message, but said the Humvee blew up after its militants detonated their explosives, contradicting the official claim. The interior ministry said as many as four militants were inside the Humvee, and were also killed in the blast. The militant group, who have been waging a bloody insurgency to overthrow the Western-backed Afghan government, have continued their attacks even during the holy month of Ramadan, and despite government calls for a ceasefire. The violence also comes as the group has met with the US for several rounds of talks in Doha, as Washington seeks a way out of its longest war. Both sides have previously cited progress, though the talks appear to have stalled in recent weeks and it is not clear when the next round will begin. On Wednesday, Afghanistan's interior ministry also said Afghan forces had killed at least seven "key members" of the so-called Islamic State group, in an operation in the eastern province of Kunar. IS, which first emerged in Afghanistan in 2015, holds some ground in parts of Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, close to the border with Pakistan. The UN estimates that the extremist group has between 2,500 and 4,000 members in Afghanistan -- about the same number the Pentagon was citing two years ago, even though officials say thousands of jihadists have been killed. Vatican City (AFP) - A French-Spanish nun has been brutally murdered in a village in the Central African Republic where she taught sewing to young girls, the Vatican said Wednesday. The 77-year old was found beheaded early Monday in the southwestern town of Nola according to the Vatican News website, while a bishop in CAR said her throat had been slit. Pope Francis paid tribute to the nun on Wednesday, describing the murder of a woman "who gave her life for Jesus in the service of the poor" as "barbaric". He called for those gathered in Saint Peter's Square for his weekly general audience to pray in silence for her. "Her attackers broke into her room on the night between Sunday and Monday and took her to the centre she was running for the young girls, where they beheaded her," Vatican News said. "According to a local member of parliament, the murder could be linked to trafficking in human organs," the site adds. A spokesman for the diocese of Burgos in Spain told AFP a bishop in the Central African Republic had described the state of the nun's body. "They cut her neck to the point of killing her, but they didn't cut off her head completely," he said. The bishop said the motives for her murder were not known and "no terrorist organisation" has claimed responsibility for it, the spokesman added. The bishop of the diocese of Berberati led the funeral for Ines Nieves Sancho on Tuesday, he said. - 'Not take anything' - The vice general of the diocese of Berberati, Isaie Koffia, told AFP that the nun was murdered on Sunday afternoon. "Strangers entered the back gate and dragged her into the bush behind the house to slaughter her. They did not take anything at all, they just came to kill her," he added. The nun belonged to the small congregation of the "Filles de Jesus", or "Daughters of Jesus", which is based in Massac-Seran in southwestern France. Story continues Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took to Twitter to express his "condolences and affection for Ines' family" as well as for a Spanish missionary, Fernando Hernandez, who was killed on Saturday in Burkina Faso. Hernandez, a 60-year-old member of the Salesian congregation in Bobo-Dioulasso, "was attacked by knives by a former employee who was fired two months ago," according to the website of the Salesian congregation, salesianos.info. He is the second Salesian to have been murdered in Burkina Faso this year. In February Antonio Cesar Fernandez, 72, was the victim of a "jihadist attack", according to the website. CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly-Muslim Seleka rebels. Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 percent of the CAR, often fighting over access to the country's mineral wealth. Thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December last year. Paris (AFP) - A young man who was filmed assaulting a transgender woman was sentenced Wednesday to 10 months in prison, four of them on parole, by a Paris court. Seddik A., 23, was found guilty of assault because of the victim's gender by the Paris Criminal Court and was ordered to abstain from contacting the victim, Julia Boyer, or appearing near her residence. He was also ordered to pay her 3,500 euros ($3,900), and 1,500 euros to each of three LGBT defence associations that had supported her. "Justice has been served," commented Boyer, 31, before adding: "I am not sure prison is the best solution but I hope he will think about this and not do it again." On March 31, Boyer, who had begun "transitioning" to female eight months earlier, was singled out by a group of men near a Paris metro station in the midst of a demonstration against former Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. She was called a "filthy homo," and had beer thrown at her before video surveillance cameras shows Seddik A. touch her hair and punch her several times in the face. Boyer escaped into the metro station with the help of several workers for the underground network. "This trial is symbolic, because the French justice system took into account the discriminatory aspect of transphobic acts," her lawyer Etienne Deshoulieres remarked. Seddik A. did not deny attacking the victim, but said he did not utter insults against transgender people and was not "homophobic". His lawyer Mariame Toure called the sentence "severe" and said it was a reaction to "media frenzy about the case". In Namibia, German firm Droege Energy, one of the independent power producers (IPPs) that have signed power purchase agreements with Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM), plans to install floating solar power panels on the Lake Malawi. The information was disclosed at the signing ceremony Monday of 14 power purchase agreements (PPAs) involving ESCOM, Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) and three other IPPs. The plan will be the first of its kind in Africa and the project is expected to be completed within a year to generate 20 megawatts of power in the southern African nation. Earlier this week, Namibia announced a policy framework to liberalize the energy sector for Independent Power Producers (IPP) in line with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) road map for cleaner energy in future. According to Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy, Tom Alweendo, the countrys energy policy aims to encourage more investments by both local and foreign investors. Namibias policy, conceived on the basis of a white paper on energy drafted few years ago, touches on issues relating to pricing, fair competition, licensing and implementation of projects, the official said. As a reminder Namibia relies solely on the state-owned power utility, Nampower for its energy supplies despite the fact that the parastatal imports up to 60 percent power at peak periods from Zimbabwe and South Africa. Craig Wright fumed at 'What Bitcoin Did' podcaster Peter McCormack, demanding the vocal critic call Wright 'Satoshi Nakamoto' in open court. | Source: YouTube (i), Shutterstock (ii). Image Edited by CCN. By CCN: We previously reported on Craig Wrights legal actions against Peter McCormack, host of the What Bitcoin Did podcast. Wright claims McCormack engaged in libel by calling him a fraud for claiming to be Satoshi Nakamoto. McCormack has received his second notice from Wrights legal team, which claims in part that the podcaster failed to acknowledge the suit against him properly. The following is the latest letter from his solicitors of Craig Wright. Based on the copyright news yesterday, it is very clear their game plan. I have until Friday to make a decision. Not contesting this is an option but in no way will I read a statement in court as they want. pic.twitter.com/Gwulw4Smok Dr. Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) May 22, 2019 Bitcoin Podcaster Stands Ground Against Craig Wrights Legal Threats McCormack had previously sent a letter to the law firm, stating that he was fully prepared to defend his claim. He also doubled-down on that claim. My formal response to the letter issued by the lawyers of Craig Wright and @CalvinAyre. This was sent today. We look forward to resolving this quickly and efficiently. pic.twitter.com/ANSmF1kH8k Dr. Peter McCormack (@PeterMcCormack) April 14, 2019 The new letter from Wrights lawyers describes a few scenarios. In one of them, McCormack has to back down and say in a UK court that he committed libel against Wright when he alleged that Wright wasnt Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto. Story continues In the event that he obtains [an order of default judgment], our client will be entitled to apply to the court for [] an order permitting a statement to be read in open court. In that statement our client would seek to vindicate his reputation publicly by explaining that you libeled him. The statement will refer to what you said about our client, namely that he falsely and fraudulently claimed to be Satoshi Nakamoto; and will explain that this was untrue. It will also refer to any award damages that the court makes against you. Call Me Satoshi, Baby! craig wright bitcoin Craig Wright desperately wants his critics to call him Satoshi. | Source: nChain/YouTube Read the full story on CCN.com. Theresa Mays future as Prime Minister is hanging by a thread after Commons leader Andrea Leadsom quit as swathes of Tories deserted the PM over her latest plans for Brexit. Mrs May is facing mounting pressure from her own party to resign or be ousted, but she insisted today: I believe in what Im doing. Cabinet ministers joined the revolt, signalling they were no longer willing to back PM after she buckled under pressure and opened the door to a second Brexit referendum. Leading the charge was Mrs Leadsom, who quit the government at around 7.30 pm. In her resignation letter, Mrs Leadsom said: I do not believe that we will be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed. I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive. It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the Government. pic.twitter.com/f2SOXkaqmH Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) 22 May 2019 A Number 10 spokesperson said: "We are disappointed that she has chosen to resign, and the prime minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for." Other cabinet ministers requested private meetings with the PM to express their fury and demand she change tack or accept she no longer has a hold on power. Tory backbenchers stepped up their attacks over the course of the day, making their opposition to Mrs Mays leadership clear. However, the 1922 Committee - a group a powerful backbench MPs - decided no to change the rules of the Tory party to allow MPs another vote on Theresa Mays leadership. As it stands, a leadership challenge cannot be brought until December as the PM survived a no-confidence vote at the end of last year. The PM will meet the 1922 Committee on Friday, suggesting her job is safe until then. Theresa May was deserted by some of her Cabinet at PMQs this afternoon (PA) And in a highly visible sign that Mrs Mays authority is slipping away, Brexit-supporting colleagues were absent for the start of Prime Ministers Questions, with Cabinet ministers including Mrs Leadsom only appearing once the session was well under way. Story continues A disastrous performance in the European elections could also precipitate her resignation on Monday. The Conservative Party is careering towards a humiliation in the European Parliamentary elections. The gloomiest polls for the Tories predict the party will win just 7% of the vote, behind the Greens and Lib Dems and trailing far behind the Brexit Party who are comfortably in the lead. It all follows the PMs last-ditch effort to unite MPs behind her deal yesterday, offering the possibility of a second referendum in an attempt to get Labour behind her. However her attempt was roundly rejected by a cross-section of Parliament, prompting Tory MPs to abandon her. Eurosceptics including Boris Johnson and Jacob Rees-Mogg, who have reluctantly backed Mrs Mays Brexit deal in the past, were among those who withdrew their support. High-profile Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg withdrew his support for Theresa May's Brexit deal. (House of Commons/PA via AP) The Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) is scheduled to be published on Friday and MPs are currently set to have a vote in the first week of June, the Government confirmed today. Defending her Brexit deal in the Commons, Mrs May said voting against the WAB would bring about division and deadlock. She said: We risk leaving with no deal, something this House is clearly against. We risk stopping Brexit altogether, something the British people would simply not tolerate. We risk creating further division at a time when we need to be acting together in the national interest. And we guarantee a future in which our politics become still more polarised and voters increasingly despair as they see us failing to do what they asked of us. None of us want to see that happen. ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- Libreville (AFP) - Gabon's leader Ali Bongo on Tuesday announced the dismissal of his vice president and the minister of forests, in a move that comes amid a scandal over the smuggling of precious timber. The president did not give a reason for the sackings of Vice President Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou and Forestry and Environment Minister Guy Bertrand Mapangou, in his statement late Tuesday. No new minister was appointed to the forest and environment portfolio, which was placed "under the direct authority" of the prime minister. There have been intensifying calls for Mapangou to resign in recent days in the press and from civil society groups in the aftermath of the theft of hundreds of seized containers of kevazingo, a rare wood considered sacred. Nearly 5,000 cubic metres (177,000 cubic feet) of kevazingo worth some 7 million euros ($7.8 million) was found in two depots belonging to Chinese companies in the Libreville port of Owendo in February and March. Several suspects were arrested, but 353 of the containers -- which had been confiscated -- mysteriously disappeared. The wood had allegedly been loaded into containers bearing water and forestry ministry labels, falsely describing it as okoume -- a kind of timber cleared for export. Local media have called the scandal "kevazingogate". Earlier in May, the government said several top Gabonese officials had been suspended over suspected involvement in smuggling the precious timber. Kevazingo is a rare central African wood that is prized in Asia, notably for sculpting into temple doorways, tea tables and meeting tables. Gabon, three quarters of whose land mass is forested, last year banned the exploitation of kevazingo after illegal felling reached alarming proportions. The industry is hugely important for the West African nation's economy, supporting some 17,000 jobs, and is second only to the petroleum sector in terms of foreign earnings and accounts for 60 percent of non-oil related GDP. LIBREVILLE, May 22 (Reuters) - Gabon's President Ali Bongo has fired his vice president and his forests minister, his office said on Wednesday, after hundreds of containers of illegally logged kevazingo wood that had been seized went missing. The statement gave no reason for their removal, but said forests would be managed under the office of the prime minister for the time being. Bongo had promised to punish anyone implicated in the disappearance of a cache of 392 containers of the wood, which were seized at the port of Owendo in late February and early March. Two Chinese nationals are being held in relation to the case, and last week the head of customs Dieudonne Lewamouo was detained. Gabonese authorities said last month that they had recovered 200 containers. Illegal logging is ravaging the forests of West and equatorial Africa, most of it driven by Chinese demand, but rarely do governments take action against suspected culprits. Since taking over from his father in 2009 - continuing a family dynasty that has exceeded five decades - Ali Ben Bongo has cast himself as an environmental crusader. He has delighted conservation groups by banning raw wood exports, expanding protected zones and creating 13 new national parks. Despite those efforts Gabon remains a hub for poaching, illegal logging and the illicit wildlife trade. Bongo suffered a stroke last October while abroad, but returned home in March. Secrecy surrounding the state of Bongo's health during his five-month absence has fueled instability in Gabon, where declining oil revenues and widespread poverty have dented his popularity. (Reporting by Gerauds Wilfried Obangome Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Susan Fenton) A lit ring on a gas hob at a home in north London. Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire A company that left thousands of customers without gas for weeks at a time has received the biggest-ever enforcement action of 44m from Ofgem. Cadent Gas, which operates and maintains local pipes in four regions of England, will pay 24m for improvements and compensation, as well as 20m for a community fund that will support customers in vulnerable circumstances. The energy regulator said Cadet also had no record of 775 properties. READ MORE: More people walking away from Big Six energy firms The discovery was prompted by an information request from a council following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, which opened an investigation into Cadets record-keeping. However, Grenfell was not one of the premises missing from Cadets database. Cadets improvement plan will address three serious failings: Data supplied to Ofgem showed the company was leaving residents in blocks of flats without gas for longer than necessary for example, while repairs to gas pipes were carried out. READ MORE: Why British Gas is struggling as 230,000 customers switch It also reported to Ofgem earlier this year that it failed, over a six-year period, to compensate up to 12,000 residents who were left without gas for over 24 hours. It also reported it had no record of gas pipes in many high-rise blocks of flats in its London network meaning they did not receive inspection or maintenance. As part of the penalty, Cadet will double the statutory compensation payments at a cost of 6.7m to customers who experience an unplanned gas supply interruption for longer than 24 hours over the next two years. READ MORE: Netherlands could become the world's most important gas market Cadent has a duty of care and responsibility to millions of people across half of the country who rely on the gas it pipes to their homes for cooking and heating, said Dermot Nolan, chief executive of Ofgem. He added: Ofgem has worked with the company, which is under new ownership and has given commitment to improve its operations to put customers at the heart of the business, to help it address its failings and prevent further harm to customers interests. Though largely overshadowed by the ongoing abortion battle, a quieter controversy came about in Alabama last week: Alabama Public Television (APT), one of the states PBS affiliates, declined to air the premiere for the 22nd season of the popular childrens cartoon Arthur. The episode, titled Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone, depicts the marriage of elementary-school teacher Mr. Ratburn, a long-time recurring character, to another man. Justifying the refusal to air in a statement to local news site AL.com, APT programming director Mike McKenzie argued that parents trust that their children can watch APT without their supervision. Many parents, he said, would not consider the topic addressed in the episode appropriate for unsupervised viewing by young children. This type of controversy is nothing new for the Arthur franchise. In 2005, spinoff series Postcards from Buster produced an episode in which its traveling title character visited multiple Vermont families, two of which were headed by same-sex couples. Prior to its intended release, the episode drew sharp criticism from Margaret Spellings, then the U.S. secretary of education, who expressed concerns similar to McKenzies. Spellings also questioned the propriety of using government funds to produce the content. In the end, PBS decided not to distribute the episode for national airing, but WGBH a Boston-based PBS affiliate and the originator of both series aired it independently and provided it to a handful of other affiliate stations that did the same. In 2005, the issue of same-sex marriage was hot. Vermont, where the episode took place, had just recently recognized civil unions for same-sex couples, one of the first states to do so. But the debate on legal recognition has now largely faded into the background of, if not completely evaporated from, most Americans political consciousnesses. In post-Obergefell America, where same-sex couples are a common part of our social fabric, does it make sense to represent such a marriage in a program intended for young children? After all, these shows are meant to introduce kids to the real world and prepare them to engage with it. Story continues Many who have criticized the inclusion of same-sex couples in the storylines of childrens shows have argued that, while educational programs should prepare children for real-world challenges, there is still a line between acceptable and unacceptable subjects. No reasonable person would deny that this line exists, though some hardcore social libertarians might recognize only the most absurd extremities as actually being over the line. The question regarding Arthur, then, is whether sexuality which, while only implicit in the premier episode, is the source of the outrage here falls on the wrong side of that line. The shows critics will almost certainly say yes. The nature of marriage and its foundation in sexuality are better left to parents to teach, they might say, not government-funded television. But would these same critics object to a heterosexual marriage being depicted in the same medium? Obviously not. Arthurs parents (heterosexual and married) appear in every single episode. No parents have ever complained that the presentation of this sexual union is putting ideas in their childrens heads. This is a clear double standard. Why should we forgive it? The answer is: Because it exists. While the strictly legal equality of heterosexual and homosexual marriages has been firmly established in recent years, the larger question namely, whether the two types of union are identical in fact or merely in law is far from settled in the minds of many Americans. This is especially true in Alabama, which a 2017 survey by the Public Religion Research Institute showed to be the only state where a majority of citizens remain opposed to same-sex marriage. (Its neighbor Mississippi demonstrated a plurality of 48 percent who oppose same-sex marriage.) McKenzie is right that parents should be able to trust that public television will present nothing objectionable to their children. The fact that parents would not typically object to the presentation of a heterosexual marriage is itself vindication that it is appropriate material for public childrens television. The obverse is also true: That a majority of Alabamans and a significant minority of Americans do object to homosexual marriage is evidence enough that public broadcasters should not be using taxpayer dollars to present it to their children, who have limited faculties for critical analysis of the material, as educational programming. Of course, this standard has to be applied very carefully. Programs should not be cancelled or altered at the first sign of outrage, nor should objections on trivial matters be taken too seriously. But something like Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone, which is bound to offend the convictions of a sizable group of citizens, is both imprudent and improper for release by a public, educational, childrens network. There is a fine line between depicting the world as it is for realisms sake and normalizing the current state of affairs. For Arthurs target audience, who are all under the age of ten, that line is virtually indistinguishable. This leaves the shows creators, who are funded by the taxpayers and answerable to them, with an obligation not to push that line, to teach kids the things that most people should know and agree on basic respect and arithmetic, mostly and leave the unanswered questions unanswered for now, or at least unanswered by PBS. More from National Review Berlin (AFP) - The German government on Wednesday relaxed rules on culling wolves, as the population of the predator has grown since its return to the country two decades ago. After a emotional debate pitting environmental against farming concerns, the government decided that wolves can now be shot if they cause "serious damage" to livestock farmers. In cases of repeated attacks against sheep flocks or cattle herds, individuals can be hunted down even if it is unclear which animal in a pack was responsible. Previously, wolves could only be culled if they were deemed to spell a real threat to human lives. A ban has also been imposed on feeding wolves, so as not to encourage the wild animal from shifting closer to human habitations for food. The environment ministry estimates that there are currently 400 wolves in Germany, while the German Hunters' Association believes the population is more than 1,000 strong. There have been no confirmed wolf attacks on humans since the animals returned to Germany from Poland in 2000 after a 150-year hiatus. But livestock farmers have complained of attacks especially on sheep. The far-right Alternative for Germany party has seized on the issues, particularly in their eastern stronghold state Saxony, urging wolf culls to control their population numbers. With three major state elections due in the autumn in eastern Germany including in Saxony, Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party has now also backed the tougher stance against the wolf. At long last, 4-year-old Audrina Hatton-Wright was able to ring her hospitals cancer bell to celebrate the end of one of her treatments to fight off a rare and deadly disease and she did so while dressed as a Star Wars character! Ever since Audrina was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma in July 2018, she has undergone numerous rounds of chemotherapy and multiple operations, including a surgery to remove the tumor in December. Yet, her most recent procedure, a stem cell transplant while taking high dose chemotherapy, was the hardest yet. [It was] absolutely heartbreaking as we watched our baby girl go through some horrific symptoms, mom Gemma Gould wrote on the familys website. Audrina had to resort to sign language due to an unbearably painful mouth and we held her as she vomited blood and experienced hallucinations from the high level of morphine required to ease her pain. I will never forget those weeks or the bravery Audrina showed, she added. According to FOX 7 Austin, Audrina has endured 14 rounds of radiation, four rounds of chemotherapy and four operations since being diagnosed with the neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer that often starts in the abdominal area. For high-risk patients, the five-year survival rate is only 50 percent, according to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital. The disease can cause symptoms such as a hard, painless mass in the neck, loss of appetite, leg weakness and stomach pain, the hospital says. Audrina recently completed months of therapy at Nottingham Radiotherapy Center in England, and she had a special idea to mark the occasion she dressed up as a silver Stormtrooper from Star Wars to ring the hospitals ceremonial bell, a tradition for patients who have reached the end of their treatment. RELATED: New York Community Rallies Around Little Boy Fighting Neuroblastoma Video posted to the familys Facebook page, Keep Audrina Dancing, shows the young girl marching triumphantly to the bell, while surrounded by hospital staff holding lightsabers. The footage has received thousands of views since it was posted. Story continues While Audrinas time at Nottingham Radiotherapy Center has come to an end, her treatment has not the family is now hoping to raise money to fly from the United Kingdom to New York to have her participate in a clinical trial that may help her avoid a reoccurrence of the tumor. RELATED VIDEO: Dad Shares Emotional Dance with 2-Year-Old Daughter Battling Cancer It is imperative Audrina receives this treatment to ensure her cancer does not return and she can finally get back to living a normal life and enjoying her childhood, reads a description on a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds for the trip. In just over five months, the family has raised more than $75,000 of their $254,000 goal from thousands of donors. The world needs kids like Audrina to keep hope and happiness alive, Audrinas mother wrote on the familys website. Together we can do this for Audrina. Please. Help make that happen. Help my little girl survive this. Help give Audrina the chance to grow up. It Was All Glitz and Glamour at Saks and Memorial Sloan Ketterings Chic Spring 2019 Ball Dr. Lisa DeAngelis, neuro-oncologist and acting physician-in-chief at Memorial Sloan Kettering, delivers a poignant speech. Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. The MSK Spring 2019 Balls cochairs: Hope Geier Smith, Kate Davis, president Jamee Gregory, Ferebee Taube, Roopal Patel, and Amanda Taylor. Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. Carolina de Neufville, Amanda Waldron, Sara Zilkha, and Lauren duPont Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. Inside the room, styled by Ron Wendt Designs. Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. Scott Stuart and Lisa Stuart Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. Martha Sharp, Marcie Pantzer, and Alexia Ryan Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. Natasha Diggs providing musical stylings from the DJ booth. Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. Brent Neale Winston, Amory McAndrew, Annie Taube, Sara Gilbane Sullivan, Ali Edwards, Virginia Tomenson, and Ferebee Taube. Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. Lili Buffett from the dance floor Photo: Nicole Janok at Sharp Communications, Inc. Fashion and science joined forces on Tuesday night when Saks Fifth Avenue accompanied the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering in hosting the hospitals 12th annual Spring Ball. Notables including Wes Gordon, Marigay McKee, and Brent Neale Winston flocked to the Plaza Hotel for an evening of fine dining in the name of New Yorks most revered cancer institute. Ron Wendt Designs imbued the room with a springtime flair, ornamenting cerulean tables with pink peonies and candlelight. With 73 years of operation under its belt, the societys initiatives span from research to patient care to public educational opportunities for cancer prevention. For this evening in particular, all dollars raised benefited MSKs Department of Pediatrics. Weve accomplished so much in the last two years, says Jamee Gregory, who has presided over the Society of MSK since 2017. Tonight, I want to remind everybody that every penny they donate could potentially save someones life. When it comes to patient care at MSK, the devil is in the details. The society has fine-tuned improvements to enhance the patient experience, including increased activities (a pediatric spring prom, for example), phone-charging stations, and an updated stable of current DVDs for the taking. By providing hospitality and opportunities for engagement, the society strives to keep patients and their families vital during long afternoons at the clinic. With an audience still reeling from the success of last years ball, which raised over $1 million, the mood was auspicious as Gregory opened the evening with a welcome from the 2019 cochairs: Kate Davis, Hope Geier Smith, Ferebee Taube, Amanda Taylor, and Saks Fifth Avenues Roopal Patel. Other goings-on included a short film on the Spring Balls initiatives, a dance party courtesy of DJ Natasha Diggs, and a live auction that helped rake in a whopping $1.7 million for the Department of Pediatrics. Story continues Regarding the long-standing partnership between Saks and MSK, Patel says it was an obvious choice when it first came to fruition: Memorial Sloan Kettering really is such an icon of New York City. People from all over the world come here for the best care for cancer there is. Were so honored and so grateful to be a part of this and to help champion that fight against cancer. Originally Appeared on Vogue Little red Corvette gets a tune-up as General Motors puts cutting-edge technology in the driver's seat. GM's all-new Digital Vehicle Platform will function as the electronic "nervous system" for its next-generation lineup, beginning with the Cadillac CT5 and Corvette C8 this Summer. That's according to President Mark Reuss, who spoke to Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist Rick Newman at the Wall Street Journal Future of Everything Festival in New York. Reuss says we'll see the technology across all new GM cars and trucks "within the next year or two." The platform will feature over-the-air (OTA) software updates; 4.5 terabytes of data processing per hour; ethernet connections of 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps; and a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity system. These changes come as industry headwinds weigh on vehicle sales and enterprise multiples. GM is now adapting its product portfolio to meet consumer demand in what CEO Mary Barra calls "a transportation revolution." The two Norwegian students expelled lately from Morocco were deliberately sent back to the Kingdom to provoke an incident, catch the attention and stir the emotion of the Norwegian people, says a press release issued by the Moroccan Embassy in Oslo. Following the news published by Norwegian newspapers on the arrest and deportation of two Norwegian students by Moroccan authorities on Monday, the Moroccan Embassy in Oslo says it knows the profound and sincere attachment of the Norwegian people to the legality, explaining that the status of an observer, all over the world, includes competencies and legal procedures. No country on Earth, including Norway, would ever accept students be credibly designated as observers having the required competencies to observe trials, adds the press release. It recalls the meeting the Moroccan Ambassador held on April 4th with the Bergen Student Society to discuss with them openly the issue. During this meeting, the Ambassador explained to the students and the representatives of the Western Sahara Committee that, if they really want to play a fair and positive role in the peace negotiations, they should first stop provoking incidents just to manipulate their public opinions. This conflict has generated too much pain and sorrow on the ground, and Morocco regrets that Nordic students can be used to distract the parties involved from the positive confidence building measures the UN Secretary General has generated, stresses the communique. The Moroccan embassy notes that all Norwegian organizations and individuals that wished to attend the trials of the murderers of Maren Ueland and her Danish colleague respected the process of their accreditation. Finally, the embassy regrets that all the stories that have been published are exactly the same. They are all copied from one source: the Western Sahara Committee website and are thus repeating a hostile and erroneous wording that is contrary to the official position of the UN and the allies of Norway. It is worth nothing that the Polisario paramilitary forces forbid the United Nations to access the Tindouf camps in Southern Algeria, to count the camps inhabitants, sequestered by the polisario militia, which are armed, funded and sheltered by the Algerian regime to undermine Moroccos territorial integrity. By Zandi Shabalala LONDON (Reuters) - Gold miners must focus on maximizing returns and more mergers to attract investors seeking to diversify after years of under-investing in mines, Barrick Gold's chief executive said on Wednesday. "The industry is in decline and we have put ourselves in a very a tight spot because we haven't invested in exploration and our future," said Mark Bristow, who took the helm in January at Barrick after its takeover of Africa's Randgold. "The supply side of our industry is very tight." Gold miners have for years been accused of eroding profits through expensive deals but the takeovers of Randgold by Barrick and Goldcorp by Newmont Mining has spurred speculation about a pick up in long-dormant gold M&A. Bristow said of the recent consolidation "while (it) is important, we have got to become relevant." Barrick in March pulled its $18 billion offer for Newmont and agreed instead to form a joint venture in Nevada with its rival, ending a hostile takeover bid that sought to unite the world's two largest gold producers. On Tuesday, Barrick offered to buyout the remaining 36.1% of shares it does not already own in London-listed Acacia Mining at a discount to its current share price. Bristow declined to comment on the issue further. The Nevada operation, which will be 61.5% owned by Barrick, will be reviewing mine plans and based on geological and geotechnical modeling will be reviewing mining methods and along with other assets in the miner's portfolio will be focusing the combined team on driving efficiency improvements, Bristow said. "We have to be better we have to be more focused on returns if we going to attract investment around our industry," Bristow told delegates at a conference. "The world has never been more chaotic economically than it is today ... people are searching for alternative reserve currencies and gold will play a natural role as it has done." Story continues Analysts say gold has recently failed to fully capitalize on its traditional role as a hedge against financial and political uncertainties with investors betting more on a run in riskier assets such as stocks. But analysts at Swiss bank Julius Baer said investors seeking safe havens would be lured into gold by expectations of a U.S. recession and a related cooling of global growth towards the end of next year. (Reporting by Zandi Shabalala; editing by David Evans) By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, May 22 (Reuters) - Google is complying with an EU order to boost competition in online shopping, Europe's antitrust chief said on Wednesday, brushing aside complaints from rivals demanding more regulatory action. Hit with a 2.4-billion-euro ($2.7 billion) fine two years ago for unfairly promoting its own comparison shopping service, Google has since offered to allow competitors to bid for advertising space at the top of a search page, giving them the chance to compete on equal terms. European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the measure appeared to be working. "Now we are in a situation where in 75 percent of queries there would be at least one rival to Google in the shopping box and 40 percent of clicks would go to a merchant hosted by one of the rivals," Vestager told reporters on the sidelines of a Centre for European Reform event. "This means we do not have a non-compliance case but at the same time also means that we keep monitoring monthly developments," she added. Open Internet Project, a Google critic, however argues that the situation has not improved. "By putting these Google-powered Shopping Units at the top of every relevant results page, above more relevant comparison services, Google continues to reserve the important market for comparison shopping services to itself," Open Internet Project said in a statement last week. ($1 = 0.8957 euros) (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee Editing by Keith Weir) European Parliament Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt speaks out about his concerns of Russia interference in EU elections. (AP) Guy Verhofstadt has urged Europes voters to push back to stop Russia from gaining power at the upcoming EU elections. The leading Belgian MEPs comments warning of Russias interference come just two days before UK voters will go to the polls for the EU elections. The Brexit negotiator tweeted: The evidence of European populist & far-right parties' allegiance and debts to Vladimir Putin has been piling up. With the Kremlin now fully engaged in swinging the EP election, it's up to Europe's voters to push back. The Brexit Party has been making headway in the UK's EU elections polls. (Getty) This comes after Mr Verhofstadt, who is the former Belgian prime minister and leads Brexit talks for the European Parliament, told The Times that the rise of populism and the far-right could bring down the EU. Writing in Project Syndicate, Mr Vehofstadt said: Do not become another one of Putins puppets. When you cast your ballot, have pride in your European identity. Vote for a renewal of the European project, not for its destruction. The evidence of European populist & far-right parties' allegiance and debts to Vladimir Putin has been piling up. With the Kremlin now fully engaged in swinging the EP election, it's up to Europe's voters to push back. #EUelections2019 https://t.co/svwptskpHi Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) May 22, 2019 This is our chance to show resilience in the face of the Kremlins long shadow war against the EU. Now is the time to stand up for unity and democratic governance and against the corruption and compromised loyalties of the European right. Russia has denied any accusations of interference calling them completely false. In 2015 the East Stratcom Task Force was created, which is a team of 15 people whose mission is to expose any attempts by the Kremlin to mislead EU citizens. Story continues Read More on Yahoo News: Europe's Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt is 'sure' the UK will rejoin the EU one day Europe reacts to Prime Ministers Brexit deal defeat Head of the force, Giles Portman, said: The evidence is being compiled for several years now that Russia has been seeking to influence European democratic processes. "Attempts have been made to hack and leak, or to denigrate particular politicians, or to misrepresent certain policies. The best way [for Russia] to strengthen itself is to weaken its opponent." The EU believes that Russia is trying to boost support for parties that are eurosceptic or friendly to Russia. By Chris Kahn (Reuters) - Half of all Americans believe that the United States will go to war with Iran "within the next few years," according to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll released on Tuesday amid increased tensions between the two countries. While Americans are more concerned about Iran as a security threat to the United States now than they were last year, few would be in favor of a pre-emptive attack on the Iranian military. But if Iran attacked U.S. military forces first, four out of five believed the United States should respond militarily in a full or limited way, the May 17-20 poll showed. Historically tense relations between Washington and Tehran worsened in May after U.S. President Donald Trump hardened his anti-Iran stance and restored all sanctions on Iranian oil exports following his decision a year ago to pull the United States out of a 2015 international nuclear accord with Tehran. The United States moved an aircraft carrier and forces to the Gulf region in response to intelligence that Iran may be plotting against U.S. interests, an assertion Iran denies. Nearly half - 49% - of all Americans disapprove of how Republican Trump is handling relations with Iran, the poll found, with 31% saying they strongly disapprove. Overall, 39% approve of Trump's policy. The survey showed that 51% of adults felt that the United States and Iran would go to war within the next few years, up 8 percentage points from a similar poll published last June. In this year's poll, Democrats and Republicans were both more likely to see Iran as a threat and to say war was likely. Iran was characterized by 53% of adults in the United States as either a "serious" or "imminent" threat, up 6 percentage points from a similar poll from last July. In comparison, 58% of Americans characterized North Korea as a threat and 51% characterized Russia as a threat. Despite their concerns, 60% of Americans said the United States should not conduct a pre-emptive attack on the Iranian military, while 12% advocate for striking first. If Iran attacked, however, 79% said that the U.S. military should retaliate: 40% favored a limited response with airstrikes, while 39% favored a full invasion. Both the United States and Iran have said they do not want war, although there have been bellicose statements from both. Despite Trump's decision to withdraw, the poll showed 61% of Americans still supported the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers to curb Iran's potential pathway to a nuclear bomb in return for sanctions relief. Republicans also favored the accord negotiated by the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama, with a little more than half saying they supported it. Gulf allies and U.S. government officials have said they believe Iran-backed groups are responsible for a series of attacks on shipping and pipelines in the Gulf in the last week. Trump has said he would like to negotiate with the Islamic Republic's leaders. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected talks on Tuesday and has said "economic war" is being waged against Iran. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 1,007 adults, including 377 Democrats and 313 Republicans, and has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of 4 percentage points. To see a copy of the full poll results and methodology, click here: https://tmsnrt.rs/2WUpjFT (Reporting by Chris Kahn; Editing by Mary Milliken and Grant McCool) KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) A Hawaii county has closed a bay to prevent disruption of coral spawning that scientists predicted would occur over two days, officials said. Hawaii County officials closed Kahaluu Bay to allow the spawning event on Monday through Tuesday on the Big Island, West Hawaii Today reported . The bay reopened on Wednesday. "It's so critical for these to be able to successfully reproduce in order, basically, for the population to survive," said Kathleen Clark of the Kahaluu Bay Education Center's ReefTeach program. A mass bleaching event in 2015 killed 95% of the cauliflower coral on West Hawaii reefs. ReefTeach set up a tent at the bay's entrance to inform visitors of the temporary closure. Human presence can be disruptive during a spawning event, when corals release gametes, both sperm and egg, into the water where fertilization occurs. The process forms coral in an embryonic state called planulae, Clark said. Kahaluu Bay is the only park Hawaii County has closed to facilitate a spawning event. The area was also off limits for two half-days in 2018. The closure this week was a pilot program to gauge the possibility of similar closures at other sites in the future, Clark said. A couple of years will pass before the success of the Kahaluu Bay closures of 2018 and 2019 can be accurately assessed, Clark said. "We are seeing some new, small juvenile coral out there, which is a really great sign," she said. ___ This story corrects the county name to Hawaii County. ___ Information from: West Hawaii Today, http://www.westhawaiitoday.com As the wireless industry races to install thousands of new cellular sites to create super-fast 5G networks, questions about the impact of the new technology on human health may delay its arrival, one Wall Street analyst warns. In the U.S., both the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Communications Commission say there is nothing to worry about. Most studies have not linked radio signals from mobile phones and cell towers to disease, the agencies say. But some researchers have found heightened risks from cellular networks, and additional research will be coming over the next few years, HSBC Securities analyst Sunil Rajgopal said in a new report on Tuesday. The World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer classified cellular radio waves as a possible carcinogen in 2011 and is undertaking a high priority study seeking a more definitive answer, he added. The race to 5G could be slowed by alleged health concerns related to radio frequency, Rajgopal writes. These concerns have been around as long as mobile phones, but there have been a number of recent regulatory/public initiatives demanding delays or outright bans on the rollout of 5G. Rajgopals report cited a number of countries and U.S. states that have slowed or stopped 5G deployments due to health risks. In Belgium last month, for example, the government halted a 5G test in Brussels over difficulty in measuring radiation emissions. Switzerland has also started to delay 5G rollouts and will create a radiation monitoring system. In New Hampshire, lawmakers are considering establishing a commission to study the health impacts of 5G networks. And Mill Valley, Calif., near San Francisco, last year banned new 5G wireless cells. But many more states, including Florida, Maine, and Ohio, are following the lead of the FCC and considering legislation to speed the installation of 5G cell sites. Story continues The carriers, mainly through their industry trade association, CTIA, have adamantly denied any harmful effects from wireless network transmissions and equipment. Theyve set up a web site, Cellphone Health Facts, that cites research from the American Cancer Society and the National Institutes of Health, among others, that concluded there were no risks. CTIA said it hadnt seen the HSBC report and could not comment on it directly. But the trade group reiterated its position that the scientific evidence shows no known health risk to humans due to the RF energy emitted by antennas and cellphones. Since the introduction of cell phones in the 1980s, the rate of brain tumors in the United States has declined, the group added. Typical 4G cell networks transmit at frequencies such as 700 MHz and 2.5 GHz, well below the much higher wavelengths, like X-rays and gamma rays from medical devices and radioactive treatments, that can cause cancer and other health problems. Some of the new 5G networks will use higher bands, like 28 GHz, which still do not emit ionizing radiation like x-rays and gamma rays. One question for future studies is whether there is any mechanism by which the non-ionizing transmissions could harm human tissue. Although Verizon vz , Sprint s , and AT&T t are just starting to offer 5G phones, they arent likely to generate much new revenue from 5G service for the next few years, Rajgopal notes. The main losers from slower 5G deployment would be equipment makers like Nokia nok and Ericsson eric and phone makers like Apple aapl and Samsung. For phone makers, the slow moving and scattered 5G rollouts may possibly dampen upgrade momentum, Rajgopal writes. With fewer exciting features to lure consumers to buy new models, the manufacturers may have to resort to discounting, he says. By Elaine Lies TOKYO (Reuters) - Takuya Yokota chokes up as he talks about a photograph of his older sister Megumi, whom he has not seen since she was abducted from a beach by North Korean agents one winter evening 41 years ago. Megumi, 13 at the time, is one of scores Japan believes were snatched away in the 1970s and 1980s to train spies. Pyongyang has admitted to abducting 13 but says eight of them, including Megumi, taken as she walked home from school, are dead, although it gave Japan photographs from North Korea of the big sister Takuya remembers as chatty and cheerful. "She was shut in the hold of a ship, it took hours to get to North Korea. A former spy has said she was screaming 'Help me, Mama, help me, I can't get out,' and when she got off, her fingertips were shredded and bloody," he told Reuters. "We never, ever saw such sad eyes in her face. It's tough to look at," he added, displaying a picture of a pale, red-eyed Megumi taken in North Korea shortly after her abduction. With progress on the issue largely stalled since 2002, hopes are pinned on U.S. President Donald Trump, who has twice held talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, most recently in February, and is set to meet Yokota and other families whose loved ones were stolen during a visit to Japan from Saturday. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has made resolving the abduction issue a keystone of his political career, has yet to set up talks with Kim despite recently saying he is ready to meet without conditions, a shift from his long-held position that a summit depends on progress regarding the abductions. But Yokota is not worried about Abe softening on the issue and thinks that, with Trump in office, bringing his sister and the others home may be closer than ever, as the meeting set with Trump could help them further press their case. "North Korea's economy is pretty much on the brink, and Trump has told Kim that without solving the human rights issue Japan will do nothing (to help)," he said, referring to economic sanctions and Pyongyang's warning of a looming food crisis. Even the collapse of Trump and Kim's second summit in February could be taken positively as a show of U.S. strength that may bring faster results, he added. "If there'd been some strange moderate agreement that both sides could take as success, I think that would've increased the nuclear threat in Asia and left the whole human rights issue behind," he said. "Instead, North Korea has now been pushed into a corner from which it cannot escape." Speed becomes essential as the families of the abductees age. Yokota's father, 86, has been hospitalized for a year. "He's waited 41 years, he's fought (for her) for 41 years," Yokota said. "If my parents can't meet Megumi again, if we can't all be together and embracing in Japan, for our family this issue won't truly be resolved." (Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Photo: National Review Three years ago, National Review famously published a special issue titled Against Trump, denouncing the Republican front-runner as a con man unfit for office. Its latest issue has a theme much less likely to offend the magazines base of subscribers and donors: Against Socialism. That the flagship organ of American conservative thought opposes socialism should come as no surprise. What the issue does help explain is the magazines progression from Against Trump to Against Socialism, and why its famously heretical step is unlikely to be repeated. In a short introduction, editor Rich Lowry explains the motivation. In the 1990s, Bill Clinton operated within the broad economic consensus established by Ronald Reagan, and when Republicans called Barack Obama a socialist, some on the left considered it a racially charged smear. But here we are: A self-avowed socialist nearly won the Democratic nomination in 2016 and is a serious contender this time. Another socialist, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is the hottest thing in progressive politics today. National Review was hardly shy about charging previous Democrats with socialism, either. Obama was the subject of NRs previous spate of loud warnings of impending socialism. Authors like Dinesh DSouza, Stanley Kurtz, and Andrew McCarthy all regaled National Review readers with lurid tales of Obamas alleged secret ties to the Marxist netherworld. A 2009 cover story warned, Most Americans dont yet grasp the scale of the Obama project were all doomed. And by doomed Im not merely making the usual overheated rhetorical flourish in an attempt to persuade you to stick through the rather dry statistics in the next paragraph, but projecting total societal collapse and global conflagration, and all sooner than you think. A better title for National Reviews new anti-socialism package might have been, Socialism: This Time, Were Actually Not Making It Up. It is true, as Lowry observes, that socialism has entered the political debate as a positive creed, not just as a smear tossed about by the paranoids and grifters of the right. As a long-standing adherent of mixed-economy liberalism, Im receptive to critiques of socialism. NRs package makes little effort to distinguish between real socialism and the mixed-economy liberalism that NR so frequently called socialism. Perhaps because National Review cannot confess its tradition of red-baiting liberals since the days of Joe McCarthy, an ally of the magazine, it is largely bereft of engagement (even of the most critical kind) with its putative subject matter. Analyzing the specifically socialist character of Sanders or Ocasio-Cortezs ideology would require conceding theyre different than the liberal ideology of most Democrats. (Such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has repeatedly spoken for the party by insisting were capitalist and socialism is not the view of the party.) Acknowledging the tension between the Democrats dominant capitalist wing and insurgent socialist faction would, among other things, undermine the Republican messaging operation which is premised on conflating the two. Rather than explaining what the new socialism stands for, various essays wander off on rants against unrelated branches of the left-wing tradition. While the issue does, this time, contain actual socialists, it does not contain many actual members of the Democratic Party. A historical review of Soviet communism by Joshua Muravchik concedes in passing, at the very end, Of course, not all socialists followed the bloody trail Lenin blazed. Some, usually under the banner of parties calling themselves labor or social democratic, insisted on pursuing only democratic and peaceful paths which led no farther than the welfare state undergirded by a capitalist economy. But since Sanders and his supporters in Congress are social democrats, and not Marxist revolutionaries, this means the entire remainder of Muravchiks essay is irrelevant to the subject that putatively inspired it. The same problem occurs in a Kevin Williamson essay. After hundreds of words denouncing a centrally planned economy, it allows this small aside: The Nordic social democracies so dear to the self-styled socialists of the United States mostly have been divesting themselves of state enterprises. In other words, the self-styled socialists of the United States reject the model that every other sentence in his essay is devoted to denouncing. After the reader is promised an issue devoted to countering the ideas of a rising faction in the Democratic Party, Muravchik and Williamson quietly admit that they are arguing with a completely different faction that has no important adherents in the United States. A more relevant and illuminating argument can be found in another essay, by Charles C.W. Cooke. Cookes subject is not socialism, but (though he fails to use the term) economic democracy. Cooke argues that democracy, properly understood, does not allow the voters to make any decision they want on economic policy. Democracy and the Constitution require small government. Cooke is frustratingly vague about exactly how small the government must remain in order to satisfy this definition of democracy. Is universal health insurance undemocratic? A $10 minimum wage? $15? He does not say. Cooke leaves a hint at the answer when he describes the proper, democratic level of taxation: Keeping the lions share of the fruits of your labor is, itself, a democratic act. Later, he specifies lions share as a universal right to a total tax rate below 50 percent, and equates it with rights like freedom of speech, religion, the right to representation, and so on. Of course, this means that a large number of European countries, which tax their richest citizens at over 50 percent effective rates, are not democracies by Cookes definition. But I dont think he would consider this fact a problem for his thesis. Cooke also lists the right to bear arms as one of these fundamental human rights that 6,000 years or so of human civilization has shown is essentially to human liberty; since the United States is the sole major democracy to allow almost completely unfettered access to military-grade firearms, this would disqualify nearly all the worlds other freely elected government from democracy as he defines it. Cookes argument tells us very little about socialism, unless you define socialism to mean every country other than the United States. It tells us a lot about conservatism, especially its virulently anti-statist American variety. Cooke is hardly the first thinker on the right to argue that freedom means more than just a set of political rights. It is a long-standing theme on the American right. Conservative parties in most advanced democracies have made their peace with a larger welfare state, but American conservatives have never relinquished their conviction that the entrenchment of the New Deal is not only suboptimal but fundamentally undemocratic. Milton Friedman argued, economic freedom i.e., small government is an end in itself. National Reviews Jonah Goldberg recently endorsed this idea, arguing markets are not just a tool but instead an inalienable right. This belief explains why American conservatives have fiercely and even hysterically attacked every advance of the safety net and the regulatory state, from the abolition of child labor to Social Security to Obamacare, as not merely unwise but as struggle to death to snuff out liberty itself. They believe more than mere fractions of GDP growth is at stake with every advance of government. They truly and genuinely believe that freedom rests upon victory over seemingly mundane questions like a few points added to the top tax rate. Conservatism at its core is a fear that democracy enables the majority to redistribute income from the rich. More pertinently, this belief on the right also explains why even conservatives who greeted Trump with perfect horror and recoiled at his demagoguery and and authoritarianism have settled in to defend him. To liberals and moderates, it seems myopic in the extreme to weigh the merits of Trumps fleeting policy victories on taxes and regulation over his utter contempt for democratic norms. To conservatives, the policy victories amount to a large part of what they define democracy to be. It may not exactly be democratic for the president to order government retribution against critical media outlets, or to be legally permitted to obstruct any investigation the president considers unfair. But from the conservative standpoint, these flaws balance against what they count as large advances for democracy in the form of tax cuts, deregulation, and judges likely to strike down future regulations and social-welfare programs. This view explains why the House Freedom Caucus, an organ devoted to small-government fanaticism, condemned Representative Justin Amash for endorsing Trumps impeachment. It would also explain why National Review is running an advertisement for donations called Weve Had Bill Barrs Back. It itemizes no less than 35 pieces in the National Review defending Trumps attorney general, whose willingness to placate a president who has pure contempt for democratic norms and the rule of law has made Republicans who care about those values recoil in horror. In 2016, National Review warned against Trumps strong-man overtones which were anathema to the ordered liberty that conservatives hold dear. Those fears have been fully realized. The conservative movements embrace of Trump has puzzled so many outsiders as a betrayal of principle. Cookes essay makes clear that, on the contrary, their support for the plutocrat-in-chief is a vindication of conservative principle: Strongman government in the pursuit of oligarchy is no vice. The goal of this article is to teach you how to use price to earnings ratios (P/E ratios). To keep it practical, we'll show how Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Company Limited's (HKG:50) P/E ratio could help you assess the value on offer. Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) has a price to earnings ratio of 9.05, based on the last twelve months. That means that at current prices, buyers pay HK$9.05 for every HK$1 in trailing yearly profits. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Check out our latest analysis for Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) How Do You Calculate A P/E Ratio? The formula for P/E is: Price to Earnings Ratio = Price per Share Earnings per Share (EPS) Or for Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings): P/E of 9.05 = HK$8.75 HK$0.97 (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 is not a good or a bad thing per se, but a high P/E does imply buyers are optimistic about the future. How Growth Rates Impact P/E Ratios P/E ratios primarily reflect market expectations around earnings growth rates. That's because companies that grow earnings per share quickly will rapidly increase the 'E' in the equation. That means even if the current P/E is high, it will reduce over time if the share price stays flat. A lower P/E should indicate the stock is cheap relative to others -- and that may attract buyers. Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) increased earnings per share by an impressive 11% over the last twelve months. And it has bolstered its earnings per share by 3.3% per year over the last five years. This could arguably justify a relatively high P/E ratio. Does Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) Have A Relatively High Or Low P/E For Its Industry? We can get an indication of market expectations by looking at the P/E ratio. As you can see below, Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) has a higher P/E than the average company (6.2) in the real estate industry. Story continues SEHK:50 Price Estimation Relative to Market, May 22nd 2019 That means that the market expects Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) 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. In theory, a company can lower its future P/E ratio by using cash or debt to invest in growth. While growth expenditure doesn't always pay off, the point is that it is a good option to have; but one that the P/E ratio ignores. Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings)'s Balance Sheet With net cash of HK$903m, Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings) has a very strong balance sheet, which may be important for its business. Having said that, at 29% of its market capitalization the cash hoard would contribute towards a higher P/E ratio. The Verdict On Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings)'s P/E Ratio Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings)'s P/E is 9 which is below average (11.1) in the HK market. It grew its EPS nicely over the last year, and the healthy balance sheet implies there is more potential for growth. One might conclude that the market is a bit pessimistic, given the low P/E ratio. Investors should be looking to buy stocks that the market is wrong about. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. Although we don't have analyst forecasts, you might want to assess this data-rich visualization of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Of course you might be able to find a better stock than Hong Kong Ferry (Holdings). 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. Today we'll take a closer look at Gujarat Ambuja Exports Limited (NSE:GAEL) from a dividend investor's perspective. Owning a strong business and reinvesting the dividends is widely seen as an attractive way of growing your wealth. On the other hand, investors have been known to buy a stock because of its yield, and then lose money if the company's dividend doesn't live up to expectations. A 0.4% yield is nothing to get excited about, but investors probably think the long payment history suggests Gujarat Ambuja Exports has some staying power. Some simple research can reduce the risk of buying Gujarat Ambuja Exports for its dividend - read on to learn more. Explore this interactive chart for our latest analysis on Gujarat Ambuja Exports! NSEI:GAEL Historical Dividend Yield, May 21st 2019 Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Payout ratios Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. As a result, we should always investigate whether a company can afford its dividend, measured as a percentage of a company's net income after tax. Gujarat Ambuja Exports paid out 4.2% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. Given the low payout ratio, it is hard to envision the dividend coming under threat, barring a catastrophe. We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Gujarat Ambuja Exports paid out 126% of its free cash flow last year, suggesting the dividend is poorly covered by cash flow. Gujarat Ambuja Exports paid out less in dividends than it reported in profits, but unfortunately it didn't generate enough free cash flow to cover the dividend. Cash is king, as they say, and were Gujarat Ambuja Exports to repeatedly pay dividends that aren't well covered by cashflow, we would consider this a warning sign. Story continues Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Gujarat Ambuja Exports's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health. Dividend Volatility One of the major risks of relying on dividend income, is the potential for a company to struggle financially and cut its dividend. Not only is your income cut, but the value of your investment declines as well - nasty. Gujarat Ambuja Exports has been paying dividends for a long time, but for the purpose of this analysis, we only examine the past 10 years of payments. The dividend has been stable over the past 10 years, which is great. We think this could suggest some resilience to the business and its dividends. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was 0.40 in 2009, compared to 0.90 last year. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.4% a year over that time. Dividend Growth Potential Dividend payments have been consistent over the past few years, but we should always check if earnings per share (EPS) are growing, as this will help maintain the purchasing power of the dividend. Strong earnings per share (EPS) growth might encourage our interest in the company despite fluctuating dividends, which is why it's great to see Gujarat Ambuja Exports has grown its earnings per share at 21% per annum over the past five years. The company is only paying out a fraction of its earnings as dividends, and in the past been able to use the retained earnings to grow its profits rapidly - an ideal combination. Conclusion Dividend investors should always want to know if a) a company's dividends are affordable, b) if there is a track record of consistent payments, and c) if the dividend is capable of growing. First, we like Gujarat Ambuja Exports's low dividend payout ratio, although we're a bit concerned that it paid out a substantially higher percentage of its free cash flow. Next, growing earnings per share and steady dividend payments is a great combination. Gujarat Ambuja Exports has a number of positive attributes, but it falls slightly short of our (admittedly high) standards. Were there evidence of a strong moat or an attractive valuation, it could still be well worth a look. See if management have their own wealth at stake, by checking insider shareholdings in Gujarat Ambuja Exports stock. We have also put together a list of global stocks with a market capitalisation above $1bn and yielding more 3%. 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. DENVER (AP) Democratic presidential candidate John Hickenlooper says gun owners should have to be licensed and pass a safety test to own firearms. The former Colorado governor on Wednesday released a detailed gun control proposal, similar to that of presidential rival and New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker. The licensing proposal would only affect people born after 2001. Upon turning 21 they would have to pass a safety test to obtain a gun license. Hickenlooper also proposes making the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms part of the FBI, and banning assault weapons and 3-D printed guns. Gun licensing is sure to spark controversy with gun rights groups, who have long seen it as the start of gun confiscation. Honeywell CEO Darius Adamczyk says he is hopeful that Boeings beleaguered aircraft, the 737 Max, will get back in service by summer. He believes the aerospace company is close to resolving the tech problems that caused two deadly crashes in March and grounded the planes all around the world. This is a critical week for Boeing which is meeting with global regulators who will assess the software updates and other fixes the company has made. Honeywell (HON) has a lot at stake with what happens at Boeing (BA). The conglomerate is a big supplier to Boeing, manufacturing mechanical systems and avionics for the Max. Those systems were not connected with the crashes, but as Adamczyk says of the Boeing business relationship, they are a very, very important customer for us. Were here to assist them in any way we can to get that aircraft flying again. So far, the financial impact on Honeywell has been relatively modest, according to Adamczyk. And while it might take time to convince passengers that the planes are safe, Adamczyk is still a big believer in the Boeing 737. We do think it s a good aircraft that has some challenges that need to be addressed, he says. But long-term, we believe this is a sound aircraft that will be flying again. He adds, To me, I continue to be bullish on the aircraft. Adamczyk also talks with Fortune about how he plans to transform Honeywell into a software industrial. Acquisitions are a big component of the plan. Ever since Adamczyk became CEO in 2017, he has been spinning off assets and making several new acquisitions. That means technological change for the 113-year-old company that is ranked number 77 on the Fortune 500 list of the biggest companies in America. There will be other big changes too. Adamczyk recently announced Honeywell is relocating its global headquarters to Charlotte, North Carolina from Morris Plains, N.J. Watch the video above for more from my interview with Adamczyk. By Jessie Pang HONG KONG, May 22 (Reuters) - Germany has granted refugee status to two Hong Kong activists facing charges at home, one of them said on Wednesday, in what is apparently the first time Germany has acknowledged such status for democracy campaigners from the Chinese-ruled city. Ray Wong, 25, and Alan Li, 27, were granted refugees status in Germany in May 2018, Wong told Reuters in a telephone interview from Germany. He was able to show a document setting out that status, "Now Hong Kong also has political refugees," Wong said. A city government spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The German consulate in Hong Kong said it was aware that the two Hong Kong residents were staying in Germany, although it could not provide details on individual cases, nor confirm whether the pair had been granted refugee protection. Wong, a former member of independence group Hong Kong Indigenous, and Li were charged for a rioting offense linked to a protest that turned violent in February 2016. The pair later skipped bail and fled to Germany in 2017. Hong Kong activists campaigning for great democracy have become increasingly defiant in recent years amid growing fears of creeping interference from Beijing despite a promise of special autonomy. Scores of activists have been jailed on various charges including contempt of court and public nuisance, with critics saying Hong Kong authorities were prosecuting activists to deter protests and stifle freedom of expression and assembly. Hong Kong authorities deny persecuting activists. In April, a city court jailed four leaders of a 2014 "Occupy" pro-democracy civil disobedience movement, while young democracy leader Joshua Wong was jailed for two months this month. Wong said he was speaking up because he wanted to raise awareness about a proposed extradition law that will extend Beijing's powers over the financial hub and has stoked criticism both within the city and from abroad. Story continues "The expansion of China is significant and I hope to use my case to say, 'please pay attention to the expansion of China'," he said. 'SPEAK UP' Wong said freedoms in Hong Kong had been destroyed by the Chinese authorities and Hong Kong governments since the city was handed back from British rule in 1997 under a "one country, two systems" deal promising autonomy. The proposed extradition law would allow people in the city accused of a crime, including foreigners, to be extradited to countries without formal extradition agreements, including mainland China. Hong Kong authorities have stressed the extradition law would not be used to prosecute political crimes, but Wong said he feared it could be used to suppress the pro-democracy movement, as Beijing could extradite activists to China. Wong said he lived in refugee camps in Germany for more than 10 months until August last year. "I lived in three different refugee camps and the last one was a big one in the middle of nowhere," Wong said. The activist, who said he now believes it's more important to focus on human rights rather than to push for Hong Kong's independence from China, said he was learning German and hoped to study philosophy once he passes his language exams. He said it was important to raise awareness of Hong Kong's plight internationally. "It's necessary for Hong Kong people to speak up for Hong Kong," he said. (Writing by Anne Marie Roantree Editing by James Pomfret and Robert Birsel) Rep. Lauren Underwood, a first-term Democratic congresswoman from Illinois, accused the head of the Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday of implementing policies that have directly resulted in the death of five migrant children in U.S. Border Patrol custody. "I feel like, and the evidence is really clear, that this is intentional," Underwood said to audible gasps in the committee room. "Its a policy choice." Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan called her assertion an "appalling accusation" before the hearing took a recess. Underwood's comments came as McAleenan was testifying before a House committee to defend his department's budget request, but he was repeatedly questioned about the treatment of migrant children along the border. That's when Underwood, a nurse, began asking McAleenan about his department's treatment of migrant children, pointing to recent photos of migrants sleeping on the ground outside Border Patrol facilities despite increased funding from Congress to provide humanitarian assistance at the southern border. Five children from Guatemala have died since December amid a record-setting surge of families and children pouring across the border. House Homeland Security Committee member Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Ill., questions Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2019, during the House Homeland Security Committee on budget. Before the hearing took a recess, an enraged Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala., the ranking member of the House Homeland Security committee, said Underwood basically accused McAleenan and his department of committing murder, and requested that Underwood's comments be "taken down." Such a procedure marks questionable comments made by a House member and opens the possibility of punishment against that member. Members of the committee voted 9 to 5 to approve Rogers' request, meaning Underwood could face a variety of punishments. More: Pressured by Trump, Mexico cracks down on migrants; many will never reach the US border Once the hearing restarted, McAleenan was allowed to explain his recent efforts as DHS secretary, and his previous work as commissioner of Customs and Border Protection, to improve medical conditions along the border. Story continues He ordered increased medical screenings of children after the first Guatemalan child died in December. The Coast Guard and the U.S. Public Health Service have sent medical personnel to the border to help screen migrants. His department requested $800 million from Congress in January for humanitarian assistance along the border, and requested an extra $1.1 billion in the 2020 budget. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan speaks during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee on oversight of Customs and Border Protection's response to the smuggling of persons at the southern border, in Washington, March 6, 2019. President Donald Trump said in a tweet on April 7, 2019, that McAleenan will become the acting head of the Department of Homeland Security, after he accepted the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. "I'm proud of that record," McAleenan said. "Were working hard to address it." Before Underwood's comments, Democrats and Republicans on the committee had asked pointed questions, but praised McAleenan's work in his first month as head of the department. Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said McAleenan has done "good work" in his tenure so far. And several other Democrats praised McAleenan, who rose to the position amidst a leadership shakeup that saw former secretary Kirstjen Nielsen ousted as Trump pushed for a stronger approach to seal the southern border. More: Trump administration drops plan to send migrants from southern border to Florida, elsewhere But, after Underwood spoke, other Democrats piled on. Rep. Nanette Barragan, D-Calif., agreed that the migrant deaths were "intentional" based on actions taken by the Trump administration to halt or limit Central American migrants from seeking asylum in the U.S. That includes the "zero tolerance" policy that led to the separation of more than 2,800 migrant families in the summer of 2018, a policy that was derided by so many officials in both political parties that Trump rescinded it and a federal judge ordered those families reunited. Given that track record, Barragan asked McAleenan how he could express any level of pride in a record that features five migrant deaths in six months. "That is despicable to say," she said. "You should not be proud of a record of having five children die under your watch." More: TSA sending up to 400 workers to southern border, but says it won't slow air travel McAleenan insisted that he's doing everything he can to protect migrants, but said the only true solution lies with Congress. He said Washington needs to change laws to allow him to detain migrant families together while their immigration cases are resolved, to quickly deport Central American children if their asylum requests are denied, and to open refugee processing centers in Central America so migrant can make their claims there. "Every day congress does not act puts more lives at risk," he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Freshman congresswoman tells Trump's Homeland Security chief that deaths of migrants were 'intentional' For months, the European Unions leaders have waged a fierce battle against Hungarys Prime Minister Viktor Orban. They have accused him of targeting minorities and opposition media, and threatened to withdraw Hungarys voting rights in the E.U. Parliament, and to eject permanently members of Orbans far-right Fidesz party from the biggest political grouping in the legislative body in Brussels. Yet none of that has succeeded in softening Orbans views far from it. As his campaign has ramped up for this weeks crucial E.U. Parliament elections, so has his hardline rhetoric especially his opposition to migrants coming to Europe. In his annual speech to mark Hungarys national day on March 15, Orban said that unless the E.U. halts the flow of migrants to the Continent, Europe will no longer belong to Europeans. Last Monday, 10 days ahead of the E.U. elections, that hard line received a pre-election boost, when President Donald Trump welcomed Orban to the White House. Trump told him in the Oval Office that you have been great with respect to Christian communities, you have really put up a block up against non-Christian immigrants. With migration one of the most divisive issues in the European elections, which take place between May 23 and 26, the government is vowing not to soften its stance of accepting zero immigrants, as Hungarys Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told TIME in a recent interview. We have to stick to our tradition, our religion, and we should stick to our cultural heritage as well, he said, during a far-ranging discussion at the E.U.s headquarters in Brussels. The battle over how to resettle the 1.4 million or so people who crossed illegally into Europe during the 2014-2016 migrant crisis has opened deep schisms within the 28 E.U. member countries (27 after Brexit). Despite years of summitry and negotiations, leaders have failed to agree on how to resettle those arriving, with countries like Hungary refusing to abide by E.U. quotas in accepting migrants. Story continues At the height of the migrant crisis in 2015, about 410,000 people crossed into Hungary in a chaotic scramble to reach countries further West. Hungarian police fired tear gas and beat migrants, in tumultuous scenes that briefly transfixed the world, and the government has vowed to stop any future migrant influx. So far, they have not yielded. We would never accept any kind of methods or procedure that would change the composition of the population of the European continent, Szijjarto said. Szijjarto, 40, a strong Orban loyalist who helped found Fideszs youth movement 20 years ago and has spent his career in politics, admits that religion is a key factor in Hungarys anti-migrant policies. Europe is a Christian continent. We are based on Christian heritage, Christian history, Christian roots, he says. This is something we would like to preserve. When asked whether the anti-migrant statements were a form of Islamophobia, Szijjarto said, If you are a Christian that means you must not be anti-anything. Yet, he says, Sometimes I feel that Christianophobia will be the last acceptable form of discrimination left. Which I find equally unacceptable. Hungary, in fact, has a long history of Islam, dating back to the 16th and 17th centuries, when it was part of the Ottoman Empire. In the governments mind, that history only reinforces their determination not to settle migrants. Living under Turkish occupation for 150 years, nobody is going to tell us that it is possible to, quotation-marks, integrate, assimilate, Islam into European culture, Orbans spokesman Zoltan Kovacs said in an interview in Budapest in early March. You cannot possibly bring together things that are so different. Szijjarto, the Foreign Minister, told TIME that each country should accept whether to accept migrants. It should be only us countries, which should make a decision with whom we would like to live, he says. We are happy with our position. But national solutions to migration are difficult to implement in Europe, which has free movement across 28 countries. That is one reason for Orbans virulent anti-E.U. talk. One election poster plastered across Hungary featured the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker with Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, warning voters, falsely, that E.U. officials in Brussels were planning to weaken Europes border controls, and allow uncontrolled migration. Despite the fierce anti-E.U. campaign, Hungary benefits heavily from its membership of the E.U., which allocates billions of euros every year for the countrys roads, schools, hospitals and other public projects. Orbans Fidesz party remains a member of the biggest bloc in the E.U. Parliament, called the European Peoples Party, or EPP. EPP leaders have stopped short of expelling Fideszs 12 members, largely because they risk losing their leading position in the European Parliament in this weeks elections. Orbans popularity has soared on an anti-E.U. message. Yet he too has little desire to break ties with Brussels. Hungary joined the E.U. in 2004, in the middle of a major expansion of the bloc that drew in former Communist countries once aligned with Moscow. Hungary accuses E.U. leaders, almost all of them from Western Europe, of dictating terms to newer members of the bloc from Central Europe, who are more virulently nationalist.We respect Western Europe, we do not judge them, Szijjarto says. We expect our approach to be respected as well. That, he says, is not the reality. I feel a total lack of respect, he says. When it comes to any kind of national approach against the mainstream, it is being attacked immediately. Instead, he says, Hungary is now interested in strengthening the E.U.despite its anti-Brussels politics. What Brussels has been doing for the past four and a half years is everything but strengthening the E.U., he says. The British are leaving. Illegal migrants are in. The competitiveness of the E.U. has been terribly decreasing. After years of bitter political divisions and economic stagnation, even many Western European politicians would likely agree with Szijjartos tepid assessment of the E.U.s performance. Later this week week, it will be the voters turn to deliver their judgment on Brussels. By Caroline Copley BERLIN (Reuters) - IBM and British start-up Cera Care plan a six-month pilot to test whether lidar laser sensors, used to help self-driving cars "see", can enable elderly people to stay in their homes for longer - without compromising privacy. Lidar systems that work by using laser light pulses to render fine-grained images of surroundings, have typically been used to make high-resolution maps, catch speeding motorists and more recently help automated cars navigate through the streets. If the pilot is successful, it could potentially open up a new market for lidar just as it falls out of favour with some automakers, including Nissan and Tesla, who have called it expensive and unnecessary. Jack Narcotta, a senior smart home analyst at Strategy Analytics, said lidar lasers were one of the more advanced solutions for elderly monitoring, but were still in the very early stages. Even though lidar doesn't recognise faces, some consumers may be concerned about the amount of tracking and location data collected and the ability to see repeatable patterns, he said. In the pilot, IBM Research UK and Cera Care plan to install lidar sensors in around 10-15 volunteer households in Britain from June, and see whether they can build up a detailed picture of a care client's daily routine and home environment using IBM's machine learning software. Their aim is to alert caregivers to any possible deterioration in a person's physical and psychological health, such as changes in gait, or emergency situations such as a fall. Ben Maruthappu, co-founder and CEO of Cera Care, hopes the technology will help the care system become more personalised even as the demand for care outgrows the number of careworkers on the front line. "Technology like this can help us solve that gap between demand and supply because it means we can pinpoint when a careworker needs to be in a person's home," Maruthappu told Reuters. Story continues The world's population is ageing rapidly, with those over 60 expected to more than double to 2 billion by 2050 from 900 million in 2015, according to the World Health Organization. EMERGING FIELD Lidar sensors have become a key element in self-driving systems from General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Alphabet Inc's Waymo. But their use in the home remains an emerging field. Narcotta sees competition from the likes of 'Hive Link', a connected care service from a division of Centrica's British Gas, launched last December, that uses sensors and smart plugs to learn a person's routine and sends notifications to subscribers when it detects any unusual changes. Nicola Palmarini, IBM's top research scientist for ageing and longevity, says lidar - which doesn't recognise personal characteristics such as faces, age and gender - provides precise data without people feeling like they are being watched. He believes they will only need one lidar sensor per room, potentially making it more scalable and reducing overall care costs if people can stay at home for longer. Still, the technology comes with a high price-tag, with 3D sensors currently costing between $800 and $1,000 each, according to Palmarini. He expects the cost to fall over time. Aejaz Zahid, a director at assistroniX and expert on new technologies to help people age well, said one major benefit of lidar could be fall detection - a major pain point for health systems that researchers have struggled to crack with wearables. Other firms looking at lidar's potential in the smart home include scanning technology maker Microvision that has launched a lidar sensor with a range of up to 10 metres with machine-learning capabilities. Researchers are also examining the possibility of using lidar to give smart home devices "vision". While there is some concern that prolonged staring into even Class I lasers - which use less power - may pose a risk to eyesight, IBM and Cera Care said they plan to trial lidar technology that has been certified as safe for domestic use. (Reporting by Caroline Copley, editing by Louise Heavens and David Evans) Live shot from the House floor Monday. Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer. Photos: C-Span; iStock/Getty Images House Democratic leaders sparred once again over whether to launch an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump Monday night, with speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterating her opposition to such a move. At a leadership meeting that multiple sources described as heated, four Democrats on the Judiciary Committee implored Pelosi to allow their panel to begin an inquiry. In the view of these lawmakers, simply initiating such proceedings would strengthen the Houses legal position when seeking compliance with its subpoenas, document requests, and multiple resolutions forbidding the Executive branch from cloning any more dinosaurs. But Pelosi and her top deputies rejected this plea, warning that calls for impeachment are drowning out the Democrats message. Specifically, the speaker argued that all of the chatter about removing Trump from office had caused the media to shower attention on the presidents various scandals, and burgeoning menagerie of reanimated dinosaurs, instead of covering the Houses plan for guaranteeing universal access to gym-membership tax credits. The latest round in the Democrats civil war over impeachment began earlier this week, when Don McGahn failed to show for a hearing before the House Judiciary committee. In defiance of well-established precedent, the White House blocked its former counsel from giving testimony to the panel, and sent a pack of velociraptor clones to the hearing in Mr. McGahns place. The reptiles proceeded to disembowel committee chairman Jerrold Nadler and maul several spectators in the Rayburn House Office Building. The White Houses decision to block McGahns appearance and sic carnivorous dinosaurs on an open congressional hearing infuriated some Democrats, who said it was the last straw following the presidents refusal to honor other Democratic subpoenas. We should be having the conversation about how this will help us break through the stonewalling of the administration, said representative Ted Deutch of Florida, a Judiciary Committee member, referring to an impeachment inquiry. If the answer is, No, you cant talk to anyone, you cant have anything, and were going to keep extracting DNA from ancient mosquitoes trapped in amber, and using it to expand the presidents private army of dino clones no matter how many federal courts order us to cease and desist, then at that point, the only avenue that we have left is the constitutional means to enforce the separation of powers, which is a serious conversation about impeachment. Still, some Democratic leaders remain skeptical. We did not campaign on impeachment. We did not run on stopping this president from awakening giant, vengeful reptiles from their 66-million-year-long slumber, said representative Hakeem Jeffries of New York. So logic suggests that we should carry forward with the agenda that we communicated to the American people. Cheri Bustos of Illinois, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, echoed Jeffriess sentiments. My constituents arent asking, Did Trump collude with Russia? or Why did that pack of raptors head straight for chairman Nadler? Did they know he was the chairman? Is the president forming a squad of super-intelligent dino assassins? Bustos said. Ordinary voters are sick of that noise. What working families in my district are asking is, Will my kids grow up in a country where every American regardless of color, gender, or socioeconomic background can claim a tax credit that will cap their gym membership fees at 5 percent of gross annual household income? And Ill be damned if we let that answer be no, just because CNN would rather talk about a bunch of lab-grown reptiles than the challenges that cost-burdened gym members face every day in this country. Nevertheless, there is a growing chorus of pro-impeachment Democrats, who are being egged on by outside groups devoted to removing Trump from office. To many of these liberal activists and leftwing back-benchers, Pelosis position made little sense even before the first pterodactyl clone was sighted above Capitol Hill last month. At that time, the speaker was already arguing against impeachment on the grounds that the Democrats messaging isnt breaking through because everyone is talking about corruption, Muellers report, and impeachment, instead of the various pieces of legislation the House had passed. Many progressive commentators found this argument incoherent, noting that the national press was never going to pay more attention to wonky, messaging bills with no chance of clearing the Senate than to a historic crisis in Americas system of divided powers. Of course the ongoing constitutional meltdown is drowning out your policy message! the housing policy expert Will Stancil tweeted (shortly before the presidents dinosaur program came to light). Its like complaining, in 1943, that your tax proposal cant get any attention. This sentiment has grown more prevalent in the wake of representative Nadlers untimely demise. But in an interview before a candlelit vigil for the New York congressman Tuesday, Pelosi made it clear that her views remain unchanged. Of course, the primordial predators that this president is reviving are a threat to democracy, Pelosi said. The Nadler [autopsy] report makes that clear. But is the best way to combat that threat to vote for an impeachment that the Senate will never approve? Or is better to listen to the American people, and focus on finding common-sense, revenue-neutral solutions to the crisis of CrossFit affordability that the Senate will never approve? As Pelosi finished her sentence, the raspy barks of hungry raptors rang out across the national mall and for a moment, a look of petrified uncertainty appeared to pass across the speakers face, as though she were no longer sure whether the question shed just posed was a rhetorical one. But the moment passed, and the speaker regained her poise. Our activists were so preoccupied with whether or not we could impeach, she continued, they didnt stop to think if we should. On the first day of 2018, someone (we presume in Northern Nevada) tried to immortalize their disdain for the Silver States largest city, Las Vegas, with a custom vanity plate. Destined for a 1998 Chevrolet, the requester wanted the stamped aluminum plate that would officially identify their vehicle to read IHA8VGS. In the custom plate application a required form for all custom vanity plates in the state the requester made no attempt to hide the meaning of their desired plate. I hate Vegas, the person simply wrote in the provided space. But IHA8VGS never made it onto Nevadas roadways. That custom plate, along with over 1,000 other vanity plates requested by Nevadans in 2018, was denied by a committee of Nevada Department of Motor Vehicle bureaucrats charged with approving or denying custom vanity plates. A composite image of rejected custom license plates from 2018. The committees rub with IHA8VGS? It is derogatory to Las Vegas, explained Kevin Malone, a public information officer for the Nevada DMV and a member of the committee. Malone paused for a minute, rescanning the law that governs what is and what is not acceptable for a license plates; It also can't make a defamatory reference toward a person or group. "(Las Vegas) is a pretty big group, a diverse group, but a group nonetheless," he said with a chuckle. Drive to work: Here's how to cope with a work commute you hate More Ford cuts?: 23,000 more Ford layoffs needed, analysts say Who gets to decide if a license plate is too dirty? On guard against profanity, sexual innuendos, gang references and the occasional racist message, the committee reviews hundreds of the most salacious license plate applications submitted by Nevadans every year. The committee is comprised of department heads and a handful of other DMV officials. They meet most every Tuesday, according to Sean McDonald, the DMVs central services administrator and a member of the committee. The meetings are definitely interesting to sit through, McDonald said with a laugh. Story continues The Reno Gazette Journals request to sit in on one of these meetings was respectfully denied by the DMV on grounds that a reporter's presence might hamper free discussion on the plates. More Reno news: Cannabis lounges are coming to Las Vegas. Is Sin City the next Amsterdam of weed tourism? But per a list of all the plates that were denied in 2018 obtained by the RGJ, the group rejected a total of 1,013 custom plates last year. Among those rejects are a host of obscure references, obscenities in other languages or things that can be interpreted as just unfortunate coincidences (like childrens initials that, when put together, create a sexual innuendo). And sometimes, requesters appeared to do their best to dupe DMV staff and the committee by just flat-out lying on a plate application. A lot of times they will just make up something, McDonald said. When you start seeing these really long, detailed explanations it sometimes makes us look at it even closer." So what kind of plate usually gets rejected? A common example of this were the multiple denied plates that attempted various ways to slip a--hole by reviewers by spelling the word backward. In one of those applications, which requested 37OHSSA, the requestor claimed the combination of letters and number was simply an OSHA number, but the committee saw through it. Other dubious plate explanations included BDAZMOM, for Brandon Alexanderz mom, which was denied on grounds that it reads closer to bad a** mom, and GVNOFK, explained as initials of my wife and kids, but was denied for profanity. The list of probable lies goes on: "EJOH22A" (a--hole backwards, again) disguised as "random letters"; "BJAYYY" explained away as "my son's initials"; And, among a laundry list more, "IH8TPPL" as an acronym for the alleged song lyrics "I HIeght (hate?) panda panda love." None of those explanations fooled the committee. Those plates, along with the DMV's reason for denying them, make for some colorful (and rather adult) reading. In those 1,000-plus denials: 449 were denied for profanity 379 for sexual references or innuendoes 128 were denied for drug references 27 for racial slurs And 21 for being inappropriate The remaining denials ranged from gang references (three of those) to being too vulgar (five of those) South bound traffic moves on Sparks Blvd on a rainy Wednesday morning in Reno on Feb. 13, 2019. Here's how the Nevada vanity plate law works This gang of DMV officials is not left to their own discretion to decide whether or not a particular custom plate will be approved. Theyre guided by Nevada Administrative Code. Aside from various limitations on what letters and numbers can be placed next to one another, the grounds for a plate denial are relatively straightforward. A custom plate cannot: Express contempt, ridicule or superiority of race, ethnic heritage, religion or gender Contain any connotation that is sexual, vulgar, derogatory, profane or obscene Contain a direct or indirect reference to a drug, drug paraphernalia or a gang Make a defamatory reference to a person or group But it turns out, according to McDonald, reading between the lines of that administrative code can be relatively tough theres some interpretation (and, we suspect, colorful Google searches) involved. Custom plates are first reviewed by DMV staff who have the power to approve, deny or forward the plates to the committee for further review. The plates that usually make it up to us are the ones that are definitely pretty questionable, McDonald said. "You can probably guess what comes through. The committee then put their heads together to suss out the true meaning of a requested plate. Sometimes, the committee runs into plates where the requestor had the best of intentions maybe they wanted their children's initials on a plate but when put together, those letters and numbers make for an unfortunate spelling. Auto reviews: You'll never be able to drive this rare 2019 Range Rover Sport but I did "We have an eye for it because that's what we do, we look at these every week," McDonald said. "Whereas the public may see something and not realize it can be perceived a different way." "So a lot of ways, we're fending off something that could be problematic for someone driving down the street with a license plate that can be perceived totally different." For the price of a $41.50 initial fee and an extra $20 a year, you too can have your own Nevada personalized plate. The DMV even has a nifty online tool that lets you see if a combination of letters and numbers has already been taken. But perverse requestors beware: McDonald, Malone and the rest of the DMV's plate review committee are watching. This article originally appeared on Reno Gazette Journal: IHA8VGS? This is how Nevada decides whether your vanity license plate is too dirty Washington (AFP) - Every year, nearly five million breeding pairs of ortolan buntings -- a type of tiny songbird classified as endangered in several countries -- migrate from Europe to Africa for the winter. About 300,000 of the birds pass through southwestern France, where they fall prey to hunters who for decades have defied bans on harvesting them in the name of gastronomic tradition. You see, the ortolan bunting is seen by elite chefs and foodies as a rare culinary treat -- one that is consumed whole, bones and all, with a napkin over one's head, for privacy and to better inhale its aroma. Late French president Francois Mitterrand was a noted fan. And even though his country listed the species as protected in 1999 after his death, the hunt has gone on. Now, European experts say in a study published Wednesday in the US journal Science Advances that illegal hunting is precipitating the demise of the ortolan bunting (Emberiza hortulana), which is already suffering due to loss of its natural habitat and other factors. "If hunting of the ortolan continues, it will lead to the ortolan's disappearance," Frederic Jiguet, a professor at France's national museum of natural history and the study's main author, told AFP. - Extinction? - Jiguet had already led a study commissioned by France's environment ministry to try to settle the battle between the French state and hunters about the ortolan on a scientific basis. That study, published in 2016 and financed in part by the hunting federation in the southwestern Landes region, estimated the number of songbirds migrating across France had dropped 20-30 percent from 2000 to 2014. In the new study, researchers went farther, calculating the risk of the bird's extinction under several scenarios. The most optimistic case would yield a risk of extinction of 66 percent within a century, if the hunt in France were to be cut by 15,000 birds a season, out of the estimated 30,000 that are caught each year. Story continues "Removing 30,000 birds each autumn from the population crossing France constitutes a significant contribution to the decline of the species," Jiguet said. Like all birds in rural areas, the ortolan buntings are also falling victim to modern agricultural practices, a drop in the insect population, and pesticide use, but hunting is seen as compounding those factors. "Ending the hunt would give the ortolan an average of twice the chance of survival," Jiguet said. "It would not necessarily save it. We'd then have to change ways of farming." - European and activist pressures - The ortolan only weighs 20 grams (0.04 pounds). Its consumption is seen by many as something of a transformative culinary experience. Michelin-starred celebrity chef Alain Ducasse angered animal rights activists by serving the birds at an invitation-only meal at the posh Le Cirque in New York in 1995. "It's sort of a hot rush of fat, guts, bones, blood and meat, and it's really delicious," the late chef Anthony Bourdain told Stephen Colbert of the meal in a 2011 interview. The bird was even consumed in an episode of the Showtime drama "Billions" last year. In 1979, the European Union's Birds directive listed the bird as a protected species, but the French state long turned a blind eye to ortolan hunting, only proceeding with its own listing 20 years later. But in the Landes region, local authorities still allowed a limited number of traps despite pressure from Brussels, which eventually filed a legal complaint over the practice before an EU court in 2016. France's Birds Protection League has consistently battled for the hunt to end. Its members regularly tried to destroy traps -- prompting an angry scene in 2015 that went viral, with an underwear-clad hunter wielding a shovel to chase them away. Last week, France's highest court upheld a ruling that fined hunters who had violated the laws on ortolan hunting. Frederic Dutin, a lawyer for an association of traditional trappers in the Landes, told AFP on Wednesday that the group wanted "the re-establishment of a strictly regulated 'tolerance' to allow for observation of the evolution of ortolan populations." But for Jiguet, recent studies have "helped the government to make decisions, and hunters to accept them." Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed an "inclusive" future for all Indians on Thursday after a landslide election victory that crushed the Gandhi dynasty's comeback hopes once again. "Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!," Modi tweeted as delirious supporters of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated nationwide. "The faith placed in our alliance is humbling and gives us strength to work even harder to fulfil people's aspirations," he said before arriving at BJP headquarters flashing victory signs with both hands and being showered in petals. Although final results were yet to be published, a rolling vote count by the election commission showed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) increased its majority with 302 out of 543 elected lower house seats. The BJP's main rivals Congress were on just 51 seats, with Rahul Gandhi -- the great-grandson, grandson and son of three premiers -- conceding defeat and congratulating Modi. In an added personal humiliation Gandhi, 48, also admitted he had lost Amethi, a seat long held by his famous family, to a former television star running for the BJP. The BJP's headquarters in Delhi erupted in celebration with drummers, firecrackers, dancing and singing as hundreds of party faithful thronged the yard and nearby streets waiting for Modi. "Modi will make India great again. Modi is the strongest prime minister India has ever had and will get. We need to support his policies to prosper," said one supporter, Santosh Joshi. At Congress headquarters, a handful of dejected supporters sat in groups under the shade of trees. "We are sad but we will rise again. Modi won because of his lies and false promises. The country is in danger now," Rajesh Tiwari, a Congress supporter, told AFP. India's main Sensex index breached the 40,000-point level for the first time as the count pointed to a Modi win, following strong gains since Monday. Story continues - Fake news - The vast size of India -- stretching from the Himalayas to the tropics, taking in polluted megacities, deserts and jungles -- made the world's biggest election a marathon six-week endeavour. The campaign, estimated to have cost more than $7 billion, was awash with insults -- Modi was likened to Hitler and a "gutter insect" -- as well as fake news in Facebook and WhatsApp's biggest markets. Gandhi tried several lines of attack against Modi, in particular over a French defence deal and high unemployment and saying Modi was dividing the officially secular country. Lynchings of Muslims and low-caste Dalits for eating beef and slaughtering and trading in cattle have risen, with critics saying extremists have been emboldened by the BJP coming to power. Several cities with names rooted in India's Islamic Mughal past have been renamed, while some school textbooks have been changed to include references to Hindu right-wing ideology, culture and history. - The watchman - But Modi, 68, managed to deftly turn the election into a referendum on his rule while depicting himself, often in the third person, as the only one able to defend India. In this he was given a major boost when a suicide bombing, claimed by a Pakistan-based militant group, killed 40 Indian paratroopers in Indian-administered Kashmir on February 14. Doubts abound about the efficacy of India's subsequent air strikes on Pakistan, but the action enabled Modi to style himself the "chowkidar" ("watchman"). "We have shown the world that India is a great country. We have shown Pakistan that they cannot mess with us," said Vishal Sharma, a BJP supporter in Delhi. "Congress sold the country for all these decades. Now is the time to rebuild the nation." Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday congratulated Modi and said he looked forward to working for "peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia". His message came just hours after Pakistan's military said it tested a surface-to-surface ballistic missile capable of carrying conventional and nuclear warheads -- a day after an Indian missile test. But while Pakistanis consider Modi a hardliner, analysts say his victory could improve relations between the arch foes. "The expectation in Pakistan is that there will be an incremental improvement in Pakistan-India relations as Modi's attitude would be more relaxed," retired Pakistani general Talat Masood told AFP. str-burs-stu/amu We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. On the other hand, we'd be remiss not to mention that insider sales have been known to precede tough periods for a business. So before you buy or sell RKEC Projects Limited (NSE:RKEC), you may well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling. What Is Insider Selling? It is perfectly legal for company insiders, including board members, to buy and sell stock in a company. However, rules govern insider transactions, and certain disclosures are required. We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. For example, a Columbia University study found that 'insiders are more likely to engage in open market purchases of their own companys stock when the firm is about to reveal new agreements with customers and suppliers'. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Check out our latest analysis for RKEC Projects RKEC Projects Insider Transactions Over The Last Year While no particular insider transaction stood out, we can still look at the overall trading. Happily, we note that in the last year insiders bought 61000 shares for a total of 4.4m. While RKEC Projects insiders bought shares last year, they didn't sell. The chart below shows insider transactions (by individuals) over the last year. If you want to know exactly who sold, for how much, and when, simply click on the graph below! NSEI:RKEC Recent Insider Trading, May 22nd 2019 There are plenty of other companies that have insiders buying up shares. You probably do not want to miss this free list of growing companies that insiders are buying. Insider Ownership For a common shareholder, it is worth checking how many shares are held by company insiders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. RKEC Projects insiders own about 1.1b worth of shares (which is 81% of the company). This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At RKEC Projects Tell Us? It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded RKEC Projects shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Judging from their transactions, and high insider ownership, RKEC Projects insiders feel good about the company's future. 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. 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. * North Korean envoy in Geneva denounces U.S. sanctions * Says seizing of cargo ship violates international law * Indicates short-range missile tests to continue * Seeks "big decision" to lift sanctions, resume nuclear talks By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, May 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. seizure of a North Korean cargo ship is the biggest stumbling block to improving bilateral relations, a senior North Korean official said on Wednesday, warning Washington against using the "logic of strength" against Pyongyang. The Trump administration must make a "big decision" on lifting sanctions before stalled nuclear negotiations can resume, Han Tae Song, North Korea's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, added in an interview. "It would be the greatest miscalculation if America thought my country is among the countries where American-style logic of strength or pressure might work," Han, who is also North Korea's disarmament ambassador, told Reuters. North Korea, under U.S. and U.N. sanctions for its nuclear and missile programs, has stepped up a campaign for the return of the ship, which Washington says it seized over accusations it was used for coal shipments in violation of the curbs. The country has warned Washington that the impounding of the "Wise Honest" ship had violated its sovereignty and could affect "future developments" between the two countries. "Yes, (it is) the biggest issue," Han said of the vessel, which U.S. officials say is en route to American Samoa. "It is because it is the infringing upon the sovereignty of our country." Han described the seizure as a "wanton violation of international law" and demanded its immediate return. Han said he had no information on its cargo, but on the consequences of a U.S. failure to return the ship, he said: "We don't want, the Americans also don't want and the international community don't want the situation again worsening." Story continues At their second summit meeting in February, talks broke down between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stalling moves toward denuclearisation. Han said his country's short-range missile tests carried out earlier in May were a "routine checking of our national defense capabilities," indicating that they would continue. "WE ARE NOT OBSESSED" OVER MORE TALKS The U.N. Security Council has unanimously strengthened sanctions on North Korea since 2006 in a bid to choke funding for Pyongyangs nuclear and ballistic missile programs, banning exports including coal, iron, lead, textiles and seafood, and capping imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products. Asked whether North Korea was ready to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States, Han referred to Kim's speech to the Supreme People's Assembly in April. "If they don't change their minds, if they don't make a big decision, we are not obsessed over another round of talks with the USA, out of (being) thirsty for lifting sanctions," Han said. "That's why our leader said that if they made a big decision, there will be another round of talks with America." Han said that North Korean grain production was lower last year following drought, leading to a "shortage of food." U.N. agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), are providing food assistance, from donor contributions, he said. "If there is food aid, it's ok. But if there is no food aid, then we have to manage ourselves." Asked whether the food shortages were manageable, he replied: "It is manageable, but the problem is U.N. sanctions. "We can't transact for importing the food through banking systems, that is the main problem." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, Editing by William Maclean) GENEVA (Reuters) - A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander said on Wednesday that Guards and regular Iranian military forces had complete control of Gulf waters north of the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. "Everything north of the Strait of Hormuz is under our control," Ali Fadavi was quoted by Fars as saying, referring to the strait at the Gulf's eastern end through which about a fifth of the oil that is consumed globally flows. "(Movements of) American battleships in the region are under the complete control of Iran's army and the Revolutionary Guards," Fadavi told Fars, without providing details. Tensions have spiked between Iran and the United States after Washington sent more military forces to the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and Patriot missiles, in a show of force against what U.S. officials say are Iranian threats to its troops and interests in the region. (Reporting by Babak Dehghanpisheh; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Iran has quadrupled its production of low-grade uranium enrichment amid increased tensions with the United States, nuclear officials have said. Iranian officials stressed the uranium would only be enriched to the 3.67 per cent limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal, making it suitable for civilian nuclear power generation but well below the 90 per cent purity required to make atomic bombs. However, by increasing production Iran will soon exceed the stockpile limit of 300kg. This is part of Irans pushback strategy against the Trump administrations maximum pressure campaign, Sanam Vakil, a Chatham House expert on Iran, told The Independent. This is their effort at building up various portfolios that can then be used as leverage or bargaining positions if and when they come back to the negotiating table. Tehran has set a deadline of 7 July for Europe to set a new terms for the deal after US president Donald Trump withdrew from the deal. It has warned it will enrich to medical grade levels of 20 per cent, closer to the 60 per cent needed for a dirty bomb or the 90 per cent for nuclear war head, if no deal is reached. Ms Vakil said said Iran would probably breach the deals stockpile limit in 60 days, sending a message to Europe and Russia and China that its compliance cant be taken for granted anymore. Former US director of national intelligence James Clapper, speaking to the BBC, played down the uranium announcement, saying I dont know that its necessary to go into the panic mode yet. He warned about the danger of accidental escalation, particularly as both US and Iranian vessels patrol in close proximity in the Strait of Hormuz. The thing I would be concerned about is some inadvertent incident that could go incendiary, he said. Tensions in the Middle East have flared after officials in the United Arab Emirates alleged four oil vessels including two Saudi Arabian oil tankers were sabotaged and Houthi rebels allied with Iran launched a drone attack on an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. Iran has denied it was behind any of the attacks. Story continues The US has ordered B-51 bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf after warning of unspecified threats from Iran. US president Donald Trump warned on Monday Iran would be met with great force if it attacked US interests in the Middle East, after a rocket landed near the US Embassy in the Green Zone of Iraqs capital Baghdad. No one was reported injured in the rocket attack, which happened days after nonessential US staff were ordered to evacuate from diplomatic posts in the country. Mr Trump told reporters: I think Iran would be making a very big mistake if they did anything. If they do something, it will be met with great force but we have no indication that they will. The attacks all followed Mr Trumps decision to attempt to cut off Irans oil exports, roughly a year after he withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and six major powers. Iranian president Hassan Rouhani rejected any talks with the US on Tuesday and called for the government to be given more power to run the sanctions-hit economy in an economic war. Todays situation is not suitable for talks and our choice is resistance only state news agency IRNA quoted Mr Rouhani as saying. Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticised the US for sending its aircraft carrier and bombeer group to the region. Having all these military assets in a small area is in of itself prone to accidents, he told CNN. Extreme prudence is required and the United States is playing a very, very dangerous game. Iraq will send send delegations to Washington and Tehran to help halt tension amid fears of a confrontation between the two powers in the Middle East, Iraqi prime minister Adel Abdul Mahdi announced on Tuesday. He said officials from both countires had informed Iraq they have no desire to fight in a war and Iraq is playing a role to calm the situation. Governor Matt Bevin and Attorney General Andy Beshear prepare for November grudge match in Kentucky. Photo: Bryan Woolston/AP; Timothy D Easley/AP Kentucky primary voters set up a long-awaited gubernatorial grudge match for this November, as Democratic attorney general Andy Beshear turned back two challengers on Tuesday, and incumbent Republican governor Matt Bevin beat a single opponent with a bare majority. The two men have battled incessantly on the airwaves and in the courts since Beshear was elected attorney general a year after Bevins election as governor. The AG is the son of Bevins predecessor as governor, Steve Beshear, whom Bevin and his appointees have accused of corruption. Bevins own less-than-scintillating personality and right-wing policies have earned him the distinction of being Americas least popular governor via quarterly survey ratings from Morning Consult (their latest, last month, gave Bevin a wretched job approval ratio of 33/52). The incumbents weakness was illustrated by his underwhelming 52 percent showing against a little-known primary opponent, a self-funding freshman legislator, despite a last-minute tweeted endorsement from the president, who is much more popular in Kentucky than Bevin. Beshear didnt win easily, either, as the New York Times observed: Mr. Beshear survived a scare of his own in Tuesdays primary. He won with about 38 percent of the ballots after splitting voters with another mainstream Democrat, the former state auditor Adam Edelen, and a conservative Democrat, State Representative Rocky Adkins Adkins is an old-school anti-abortion rural Democrat with some labor backing, and Edelen challenged Beshear from a more progressive perspective. In the end, the attorney generals high name ID and combative stance toward Bevin was enough for the win. He will continue to blast the incumbent for a state pension reform proposal that provoked a teachers strike; for his efforts to gut a Medicaid expansion that was Steve Beshears signature accomplishment; and for support of the states extremist heartbeat bill seeking to ban most abortions. Bevin will rely on Kentuckys strong partisan lean, and on a campaign to treat both father and son as part of a corrupt and entitled multigenerational Beshear cabal. A deputy attorney general and longtime Democratic activist convicted of taking bribes from a lobbyist will be cited regularly. Republicans figure Bevin can survive his personal unpopularity much as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has over the years. Bevins own statewide political career began with an unsuccessful challenge to McConnell in 2014. A Beshear win in this red state would be touted nationally as a good sign for Democrats as they take on Bevins patron in the White House next year. Off-year gubernatorial elections will also be held in two other conservative states, Louisiana and Mississippi. (Refiles to remove extraneous phrase in first paragraph) GENEVA, May 22 (Reuters) - Iran's youth will witness the demise of Israel and American civilization, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday in comments published on his official website. "You young people should be assured that you will witness the demise of the enemies of humanity, meaning the degenerate American civilization, and the demise of Israel," Khamenei said in a meeting with students. He gave no further details. Tensions have spiked between Iran and the United States after Washington sent more military forces to the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and Patriot missiles, in a show of force against what U.S. officials say are Iranian threats to its troops and interests in the region. Khamenei said last week that there would be no war with the United States. Separately, Khamenei distanced himself from a landmark 2015 nuclear deal in his comments on Wednesday. U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal with Iran last year and reimposed sanctions, saying the accord did not address the Islamic Republics missile program and what he saw as their malign influence in the region. The way (the nuclear deal) was put into action, I didnt have much faith (in it), Khamenei, who is the highest authority in Iran, said. And we repeatedly told the president and the foreign minister and gave them notice. Irans President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif have been the main advocates of the nuclear deal within Irans political system. Two weeks ago, Iran notified the remaining signatories to the deal - China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom - that it would halt some commitments under the nuclear deal, a year after the United States unilaterally withdrew from the accord. (Reporting By Babak Dehghanpisheh Editing by Susan Thomas) By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin LONDON (Reuters) - Iranian and U.S. leaders have reassured their nations that they do not seek war. But among ordinary Iranians who already face hardship from tightening sanctions, nerves are being strained by worry that the situation could slip out of control. In interviews conducted from outside the country by telephone and online, Iranians described heated discussions at home, on the streets and on social media. The prospect of war was now the main topic of conversation in workplaces, taxis and buses, Nima Abdollahzade, a legal consultant at an Iranian startup company, told Reuters. "Apart from the deterioration in the Iranian economy, I believe the most severe effect" of confrontation with the United States "is in the mental situation of ordinary Iranians," he said. "They are sustaining a significant amount of stress." The United States pulled out of an agreement between Iran and world powers a year ago that limited Iran's nuclear program in return for lifting economic sanctions. This month tensions have risen sharply, with Washington extending its sanctions to ban all countries from importing Iranian oil. A number of U.S. officials led by National Security Adviser John Bolton have made hawkish remarks, citing Iranian threats against U.S. interests. Trump himself tweeted: "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran." Iran has tended to dismiss the tough talk as a bluff - "psychological warfare" from a U.S. administration not ready for a fight. But some Iranians say the tension could have its own logic, raising the chance of a mistake leading to violence. 'A DOG THAT WON'T BITE BARKS' A labour activist who spent months in an Iranian jail for his activities and asked not to be identified, said: "War and sanctions are two sides of the same coin, designed by the (U.S.) capitalist system. The working class would bear brunt of the pressures." Some Iranians expect pressure to lead to negotiations, as when former President Barack Obama tightened sanctions that crippled the Iranian economy and led to the 2015 deal. But others believe their leaders will never go back down that road following Trump's reimposition of sanctions. "Any politician who starts negotiations with America would make a fool of himself," said a student who also asked not to be identified. "Even (Mohammad Javad) Zarif has given up on that," she said, referring to Iran's U.S.-educated foreign minister. Zarif told CNN this week Iran had "acted in good faith" in negotiating the deal that Washington abandoned. "We are not willing to talk to people who have broken their promises." Trump has said Washington is not trying to set up talks but expects Tehran to call when it is ready. A U.S. official said last week Americans "were sitting by the phone, but had received no call from Iran yet. Foad Izadi, a political science professor at Tehran University, told Reuters that phone call is not coming. "Iranian officials have come to this conclusion that Trump does not seek negotiations. He would like a phone call with Rouhani, even a meeting and a photo session, but that's not a real negotiation," Izadi said. Despite saying talks are now off the table, Iranian leaders still say war is unlikely. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, said the United States would not attack as "its not in their interests." The logic makes sense to Mohsen Mortazavi, a young cleric who graduated from a religious school in the city of Qom. "There won't be any war because a military confrontation will not resolve any of the U.S. problems, it will only add to them," Mortazavi told Reuters. "Trump's shouts and threats are a psychological war. A dog that cannot bite barks." But Izadi, the political science professor, disagrees. "A war is highly probable. There are officials in Washington who have planned for invading Iran for years," he said. STOCKPILING Meanwhile, Iranians cope with the day-to-day implications of sanctions and tension. Worries over access to products have prompted some Iranians to stock up on rice, detergent and tinned food, residents and shopkeepers said. An advertisement on state TV discourages stockpiling. A middle-aged man heading home after work is drawn to a supermarket when he sees people panic shopping. He buys anything he can put his hands on, causing shelves to be emptier. Ali, an Iranian student in Tehran, told Reuters that unlike many, he was not against a U.S. military invasion, as he believed the fall of the Islamic Republic would be the only solution to the rising economic and political problems. "My only hope is a war so I can take my revenge. I am telling my friends in the university that our only way is an armed struggle.... We have nothing to lose." Shahin Milani, a 38-year-old who tweets about Iranian politics to more than 7,000 followers on Twitter, believes military intervention could never bring democracy. "The people should do it themselves ... If someone is truly worried about the threat of war, they should work to create a democratic, secular government in Iran ... As long as the Islamic Republic is in power, the shadow of war will loom over Iran." (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Peter Graff) By Anthony Boadle BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro surmounted a crucial hurdle for his young government on Wednesday by winning approval from disgruntled lower house lawmakers for his move to reorganize the country's executive branch. The vote on the first decree he issued the day he took office in January was a test of his ability to govern without courting traditional parties in Congress, which is threatening to derail his agenda after months of mutual antagonism. The decree that reduced the number of ministries to 20, from 29 previously, was due to expire on June 3. Failure to gain approval would have thrown the government into crisis, forcing a ministry reshuffle and increasing doubts that he can rally support for an ambitious pension reform bill - the cornerstone of his economic agenda - now in the hands of a political class he openly insults. A former army captain and apologist for Brazil's 1964-85 military dictatorship, Bolsonaro wielded little influence in his three decades in Congress and cast his grassroots campaign as a crusade against the horse trading of Brazil's "old politics." "Bolsonaro despises democracy. We have to isolate his anti-democratic attitude and lack of respect for institutions so this does not paralyze the country," lawmaker Marcelo Ramos, chairman of the congressional committee on pension reform, told Reuters. Ramos said Bolsonaro was unable to build a coalition with the 308 votes needed to pass the pension bill, aimed at saving 1.2 trillion reais ($300 billion) in a decade to restore investor confidence and jump-start a weak economy. Ramos estimated the bill could currently only muster 200 votes. Labor and Pensions Secretary Rogerio Marinho said on Wednesday that between 250 and 270 lower house lawmakers had spoken favorably about pension reform. Bolsonaro has said he would rather work with issue-focused caucuses than party leaders and has called on his supporters via social media to pressure lawmakers obstructing his agenda. He attacked the political class on Monday for being the country's "big problem" and blamed interest groups for impeding him from governing. Ramos and Speaker Rodrigo Maia, who broke off talks with the head of Bolsonaro's coalition in the lower house on Tuesday, have said they plan to move ahead with the legislative agenda with or without the government's help. Wednesday's vote was a sign that the center-right parties in Congress intend to do just that, despite their frustration with Bolsonaro's refusal to reach out to them with government jobs and support for projects in their constituencies. (Reporting by Anthony Boadle; and Maria Carolina Marcello; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Tom Brown) ABUJA (Reuters) - Islamic State's West Africa branch claimed responsibility on Wednesday for a raid in Nigeria two days earlier in which it said 20 soldiers had been killed, and released a video purporting to show the execution of nine other Nigerian soldiers. A security source and a humanitarian worker, both requesting anonymity because they were not allowed to speak to media, said insurgents struck the northeastern town of Gubio in Borno state on Monday evening, in vehicles mounted with heavy machine guns and on motorbikes. The insurgents and soldiers exchanged fire for more than an hour before the army withdrew, said the humanitarian worker, who counted the corpses of more than 15 soldiers. A Nigerian military spokesman said he would send a comment on the Islamic State claim, but at the time of writing had not. Nigeria has said the insurgency, and its rival Boko Haram, are on the back foot, as the sides engage in a battle of propaganda to show who has the upper hand in the decade-long conflict. The war has killed more than 30,000 people and displaced millions more. The Islamic State branch said in its claim of responsibility, translated into English and published by SITE Intelligence, that its fighters had attacked an army barracks and killed 20 soldiers in Gubio on Monday. In a separate video also released on Wednesday, Islamic State West Africa showed the execution of nine Nigerian soldiers. It was not immediately possible to independently verify the video. Before their executions, the soldiers identified themselves by their military service numbers, units and names. Some said where and when they had been captured. For others, it was not immediately clear. The video also showed Islamic State fighters pledging allegiance to the group's leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, along with artillery, tanks and boats it said it had captured from the military and attacks on Nigerian bases. Islamic State West Africa have made several claims of responsibility for attacks over the past months, which have often been verified by security sources and other people with knowledge of their attacks. (Reporting by Paul Carsten in Abuja and Ali Abdelaty in Cairo; Additional reporting by Cynthia Karam in Beirut) Bab al-Hawa (Syria) (AFP) - An Italian hostage was on his way home Wednesday after more than two years in captivity in Syria, where an unknown number of foreigners remain missing eight years into the country's devastating war. Alessandro Sandrini, 32, disappeared in October 2016 after going on holiday to Turkey. His hair buzzed short and salt-and-pepper beard neatly trimmed, he appeared at a press conference in the northern Syrian border town of Bab al-Hawa on Wednesday ahead of his announced crossing over to Turkey. After speaking to journalists, he got into a car to be driven across the border, an AFP reporter said. A representative of the jihadist-linked authorities in northwest Syria said the Italian had been held captive by an unnamed "group carrying out kidnappings". They got in touch with the kidnappers through "informants" and negotiated until "the hostage was released", said Ahmed Latuff of the so-called Salvation Government. "We immediately contacted the concerned parties to repatriate him," said the representative from the civilian branch of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate. Sitting quietly behind a table at the press conference, Sandrini recounted being abducted in the Turkish town of Adana. "I lost my way to the hotel and found myself walking around the streets of Adana," he told journalists in Italian, wearing a stripey brown shirt. - 'I felt drugged' - Suddenly, "I felt someone putting something on my face. I felt drugged and I fell asleep," said Sandrini. "I woke up in a room where there were two people who were armed and hooded." Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also announced the release. "Our fellow countryman Alessandro Sandrini has been liberated following coordinated action in overseas territory," he said in a brief statement. Italian media cited Sandrini's father as saying his son was still in Syria but in the hands of the Italian police. Story continues "I am more than happy, it is the end of a nightmare," Gianfranco Sandrini said in a report on the La Repubblica website. News of Sandrini's kidnapping only surfaced in the Italian press in August last year, saying he had been seized in October 2016 while on holiday in Turkey. His mother broke the news blackout after receiving phone calls from her son. In August last year, he appeared in a video pleading for help with masked gunmen standing behind him. The video did not identify which group was holding him or include specific demands. Rome prosecutors have opened an investigation into his kidnapping. - Two criminal cases - Media reports say it is expected that when he returns to his home town of Brescia, in the north, he will be confined to his residence because he is implicated in two criminal cases. He faces one arrest warrant for handling stolen goods and another for a burglary in 2016 before he left for Turkey. Sandrini is the second Italian to be released in Syria this year after businessman Sergio Zanotti last month. The Salvation Government has previously publicised other foreigners leaving Syria after their alleged intervention. Those freed late last year include a 54-year-old Argentinian woman who was lured into Syria on a marriage promise, and a four-year-old girl who was handed over to her Belgian mother after her father died. HTS control the Idlib region of some three million people, parts of which have come under deadly bombardment by the Syrian regime and its Russian ally in recent weeks. The United Nations has warned any full-blown assault would spark a humanitarian disaster. Dozens of foreigners have been held hostage during Syria's eight-year civil war, including by the Islamic State jihadist group. Syria's war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since starting in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. ROME, May 22 (Reuters) - An Italian man imprisoned in Syria for almost three years has been freed, the Italian prime minister's office said on Wednesday. "Italian compatriot Alessandro Sandrini was freed at the end of an extensive activity conducted, in foreign territory, in a coordinated and synergic manner by Italian intelligence, judicial police and the Foreign Ministry crisis unit," the PM's office said in a statement. Alessandro Sandrini, a 32-year-old from the northern city of Brescia, flew to Turkey in October 2016 for a holiday. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Catherine Evans) ROME (Reuters) - An Italian man held hostage in Syria for almost three years has been freed, the Italian prime minister's office said in a statement on Wednesday. The statement said Italian intelligence, police and the foreign ministry had worked together to secure the release of Alessandro Sandrini -- a 32-year-old from the northern city of Brescia. Sandrini flew to Turkey in October 2016 for a holiday but soon disappeared. A year later, he called his family, telling them he had been seized off a street in Adana, southern Turkey. His captors released two subsequent videos, including one posted on the Internet last July, showing him dressed in an orange jumpsuit, with two men standing behind him holding guns. "They say they are fed up with me and that I will be killed if everything is not solved quickly," Sandrini said, asking Italy to reach a deal with his kidnappers. Sandrini is the second Italian hostage in Syria to be released in the last two months. The first was businessman Sergio Zanotti, who was also from Brescia and was seized in April 2016. (Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Catherine Evans and Crispian Balmer) Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images For years, Trumps anti-tax-return panacea has been his claim that he will not release his IRS history because he is under audit. Last Friday, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig stood with the president, defying a subpoena from the House Ways and Means Committee to supply the past six years of Trumps personal and business tax returns. Mnuchin defended his action, claiming that there was no legitimate legislative purpose for the committee to see the documents. But that stalling tactic may have run its course. According to a confidential Internal Revenue Service legal memo obtained by the Washington Post, the agency is required to hand over the presidents tax returns. The ten-page memo states that the disclosure is mandatory and that federal law does not allow the Secretary to exercise discretion in disclosing the information provided the statutory conditions are met. The document written by a lawyer in the Office of Chief Counsel in the fall of 2018 also directly rejects Mnuchins argument for ignoring the subpoena. Though other Congressional committees must include a purpose for their request for returns and return information when seeking access, the House Ways and Means Committee, along with the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation, does not have to provide a reason for requesting tax information. The memo writers interpretation is that the IRS has no wiggle room on this, David Hemel, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School, told the Post. Mnuchin is saying the House Ways and Means Committee has not asserted a legitimate legislative purpose. The memo says they dont have to assert a legitimate legislative purpose or any purpose at all. In a statement to The Hill, the IRS said that the memo in question is a draft background paper that was never finalized and is not the official position of the IRS. The memo also provides Trump with his likely next step: The only basis for the IRS to reasonably ignore a Ways and Means subpoena would be the invocation of the doctrine of executive privilege, which the president has already done for his financial records and the unredacted Mueller report. But the IRS draft also states that the law might be read to preclude a claim of executive privilege, a legal bind that, if enacted, could mean Trump is out of moves. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Six people have died and 200 injured in civil unrest in the Indonesian capital, its governor, Anies Baswedan, said on Wednesday after the election commission confirmed President Joko Widodo had won last month's election. "As per 9 o'clock this morning, there were 200 people hurt being brought to five hospitals," the governor told broadcaster TVOne. "The number of people dead was six," he said, adding that hospitals were conducting post mortems to determine the cause of death. (Reporting by Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by Ed Davies and Clarence Fernandez) Japan plans to target bitcoin exchanges with new crypto regulations amid a sweeping crackdown on money-laundering ahead of the 2019 G20 Summit. | Source: Shutterstock By CCN: Japans financial regulators are considering enacting new rules aimed at bitcoin exchanges as it steps up anti-money laundering countermeasures. This issue will also be raised at the forthcoming G20 Summit, which takes place in Osaka on June 28 and 29. Specifically, the Financial Services Agency (FSA) is targeting crypto exchanges that dont adequately confirm their clients identities or offer anonymous transactions, the Nikkei Asian Review reported. Japan has recently been roiled by money-laundering and hacking scandals, in tandem with the rise of the crypto industry. To address this, the FSA will conduct a thorough inspection of Japans anti-money laundering protocols this fall. G20 to Address International Crypto Regulations In addition, world leaders are expected to discuss international regulations for cryptocurrencies at the G20 Summit next month, which Japan is hosting. While China and South Korea have both banned initial coin offerings, Japan still allows regulated ICOs. In 2017, Japan became the first country to require crypto exchanges to register with the FSA. Currently, there are no uniform transnational cryptocurrency regulations, but the topic will be broached at the G20 Summit. bitcoin hacks money laundering Cyberhackers love to target cryptocurrency exchanges. | Source: Nikkei Asian Review Read the full story on CCN.com. Japan's trade surplus dropped by around 90 percent in April, official data showed Wednesday, with exports affected by a slowdown in China's economy as it wages a trade war with Washington. Meanwhile, Japan's politically sensitive trade surplus with the United States grew 17.7 percent in April from a year earlier, the data showed, days before US President Trump arrives on a state visit. Japan's overall trade surplus plummeted by 90.3 percent to 60.4 billion yen ($550 million). The decrease, sharply lower than market expectations, was chiefly due to falls in exports of chip-related products to China, the finance ministry data showed. But the trade surplus with the United States was up for a second consecutive month, led by exports of automobiles, chip-making equipment and aircraft. The jump in the surplus with the US -- to 723.2 billion yen ($6.5 billion) -- follows an almost 10 percent rise in March and a 1.6 percent dip in February. The latest figures come ahead of Trump's visit to Japan this weekend for meetings with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. They are expected to focus on issues including trade. Trump has frequently complained that Japan has an unfair advantage in bilateral trade, and is seeking to negotiate a new trade agreement with Tokyo. Last week, Trump announced a six-month delay in imposing steep tariffs on auto imports, seeking to pressure Japan and Europe into bargaining concessions on trade. The temporary reprieve, from what would have been a sizable escalation in Trump's multi-front trade wars, was welcomed by the global market. However, some trade experts say it could mean Washington is still trying to take Tokyo's cherished auto industry hostage to put pressure on Japan to open up its agricultural market. Japan's trade deficit with China -- the thirteenth consecutive monthly deficit -- stood at 318.3 billion yen ($2.9 billion). With the European Union, Japan's trade surplus dropped 96.7 percent to 3.4 billion yen ($30 million). The day is cloudy and so is Jeff Daniels. The actor has walked to Central Park directly from watching the news conference in which Attorney General William Barr defended President Trump in the moments before the release of special counsel Robert Muellers report, and it has done even less for his mood than the drizzle that arrives at the park entrance with him. Im waiting for the hero, Daniels growls, after sitting gamely for a portrait with the two Australian shepherds he has come to walk. The older one, Magglio, is named for a Detroit Tigers outfielder his daughter had a crush on in high school. Scout joined the family last summer after Daniels signed on to play Atticus Finch in a new Broadway production of To Kill a Mockingbird. Aaron Sorkin adapted Harper Lees 1960 novel for the age of Trump, and the shows roaring success is fueled by the steady combustion of liberal sensibilities and the kind of news Daniels is stewing over. Its exactly what Mockingbird is about, he says of Barrs news conference. You know, its about, wheres goodness and decency? Its respect and honesty and truthfulness and do unto others. Where is that? I didnt see it this morning. I havent seen it for two years. He pauses to pick up after one of the dogs. But the country is divided between people who want to believe it and people who dont believe it. Dangerous times. Daniels in real life sounds a bit like Will McAvoy, the cable anchorman he played in the HBO series The Newsroom, another Sorkin creation. The show, which ran from 2012 to 2014, got mixed reviews. But the declamation McAvoy uncorked in one episode, on Why America is not the greatest country in the world anymore, has been viewed upward of 15 million times on YouTube. Its a self-critical summons to remembered greatness that makes its appeal from pretty much the opposite pole as a Trump rally, and it suits Daniels as comfortably as the Atticus Finch that Sorkin wrote with him in mind. Story continues Usually, how it works, the actor gets a job and two weeks into a 12-week shoot is calling the agent going, Whats next? Or, Get me off this set. Get me out of this movie. Thats not happening with this, Daniels says. Hes doing eight shows a week. Theres a bit of makeup from last nights performance on his right temple. You got one of the great fictional American heroes, maybe just a great American hero because people think hes real. And youre onstage at the Shubert Theater, the Carnegie Hall of Broadway, as it was described to me. Riding Aaron Sorkin like hes Secretariat. At the Shubert, Daniels draws cheers just walking onstage. People, he says, are jumping to their feet every night. The $1.77 million the show took in the first week of May set a record for an American play on Broadway. And its up for nine Tonys, including one for Daniels for Best Leading Actor in a Play. Theres all that, Daniels says, and then theres the thing that happens, I dont know, three or four times a monthwhat a gift: Ive had prominent people coming back with tears in their eyes and just overwhelmed. So changed, rocked, moved that 15 minutes after the curtain came down, theyre in the restroom and theyre still crying. Hes still walking, eyes straight ahead. The American theater has a voice. At 64, Daniels came to gravitas the long way. His breakout role was playing the weak, unfaithful husband of a dying woman in Terms of Endearment. I certainly wasnt on the leading mans square-jaw track, he says. But the guys I modeled after, or loved, were Jack Lemmon and Dick Van Dyke, Alan Arkin in The In-Laws, Peter Sellers Pink Panthers, Strangeloveguys that could do comedy and drama. And comedys always been a second-class citizen, a lesser art form. Theres little gravitas in a guy getting in trouble in Something Wild, he says, referring to his 1986 crime comedy. But theater, like Daniels, is limber. He came to New York City in 1977 to work at the Circle Repertory Theatre, and remained invested in the stage throughout his film career. At no time did I stand in the first day of rehearsal of a play and have anyone say to me, Could you do what you did in that last play, just do it here? Which is what Hollywoods all about. Do you have a brand yet? Do you have an image yet? Can you play to that? Dont deviate from that, its not why we hired you. So that was the choice behind Dumb and Dumberthe 1994 Farrelly brothers comedy that had him stuck by frozen urine to Jim Carrey on the back of a motorcycle. How out-of-the-box can I go? Far enough, apparently. In just the past two years, Daniels has starred in the Hulu series The Looming Tower as a legendarily troubled real-life FBI agent, in the Netflix western Godless as a one-armed child killer and now hes Atticus Finch. In his hometown of Chelsea, Mich., where his father served as mayor and Daniels and his wife chose to raise their family, he founded the Purple Rose Theater Company, named for the 1985 Woody Allen movie that made him a leading man. He doesnt mind the time away (his Mockingbird contract runs through October). I relax more here than back there, Daniels says. Its the most overcaffeinated city in the world. I come here to relax. He stands 6 ft. 3 in. and moves through the park either unrecognized or too quickly for anyone to snag him. Were walking! he tells the dogs, when one pauses to snuffle. When he first left Michigan, Daniels threw a guitar in the trunk. He still plays, often in public, often with his son, Ben, and usually his own songs. He wrote the gentle Hard to Hear the Angels Sing after reading a Kathleen Parker Washington Post column from November 2016, lamenting a public sphere where people talk past one another. But Daniels also writes plays (for the Purple Rose) and says thats what lets him appreciate what Sorkin, best known for The West Wing, has done with arguably Americas most treasured novel, which still sells a million copies a year, never mind the iconic 1962 film. The dry humor, specifically tailored for Daniels, is only part of it. You cant just sit up there in 24 chairs and read the book, he says. Or take a Horton Foote screenplay and put it on the stage word for word. That feels like a money grab. Whats the added value of doing Mockingbird on Broadway right now? The question might have been answered differently four years ago, when the U.S. had a black President and Lees previously unpublished first novel, Go Set a Watchman, was about to be released. The book includes the same trial featured in Mockingbird, but its version of Atticus sees no contradiction between defending a wrongly accused black man and sitting on a committee dedicated to keeping the towns African-American population subservient to its whites. Sorkins Mockingbird focuses less on race than on some electoral divide, with white liberals and African Americans (chiefly Calpurnia, the maid) assembled on one side, resentful whites on the other. This Atticus gets into a physical tussle with a redneck, to cheers from the audience. Daniels sees the hunger every night. Yeah, yeah, he says. Remind us whats right again? What is ethical? Remind us what is honest, remind us what decency looks like, remind us what compassion looks like. He shrugs. Apparently we need reminding. A New Jersey man was arrested on multiple charges after a Snapchat video showed him urinating on a young cancer victim's memorial at a park, ABC News reports. Bryan Bellace, 23, was charged this week with lewdness, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and having an open alcoholic beverage in Underhill Park. His friend, Daniel Flippen, 23, who shot the video, was also charged with carrying open alcohol publicly. The clip surfaced on Sunday, sparking outrage across social media and an investigation by the police. It showed Bellace drunkenly relieving himself on the shrine for Christian Clopp, a 9-year-old boy who inspired his community in the town of Mays Landing but succumbed to brain cancer in 2012. "It was a big mistake I made," Bellace told ABC News. "I was intoxicated. I didn't know what I was doing at the time. When I came to my senses the next day, I realized I made a huge mistake. I wish I could take it all back and make things right." Clopp's father Mark, a former police officer, posted about the incident on Monday, acknowledging that he originally wanted to take action into his own hands and hold Bellace and Flippen responsible. "I admit, my initial reaction was to find you and beat you senseless in defense of my sons honor and the distress you caused my family," Mark wrote on Facebook. "I am better than that. I hope it doesnt take the heartache my family has lived through to open your eyes. Something is wrong in your life and you need to fix it." The post, which received hundreds of comments condemning the perpetrators, also noted that supporters of the Clopp family had gone to the park to help disinfect the memorial following the incident. "Those who went to clean the playground: You are the glue that holds this community together," Clopp said. "Your actions were kind, thoughtful and selfless. You are the example of 'loving thy neighbor.'" In addition to being charged, Bellace was fired from the family plumbing business, his father Bruce told The Press of Atlantic City. Bruce said he learned about his son's actions from his wife, who received Facebook messages regarding the episode Sunday morning. "Ultimately, it's my fault," Bruce said. "Maybe we didn't teach him right." John Walker Lindh, dubbed the "American Taliban" after his 2001 capture in Afghanistan, is scheduled to be freed Thursday from a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, federal prison records show. Lindh, a Californian who moved to the Middle East three years before the Sept. 11 terror attacks, has served 17 years of a 20-year sentence for supporting the Taliban regime. He traveled to the Middle East to study Arabic at age 17, the New York Times reported. Lindh was a volunteer at an al-Qaeda training camp in Afghanistan. Lindh will be placed on probation, which bars him from going online or owning a device that can access the web without permission, the Times reported. He is also prohibited from international travel and can't obtain a passport, the paper reported. Vic Ryckaert is available on Twitter: @VicRyc. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: John Walker Lindh, an American who joined the Taliban, to be freed from Indiana prison By Tim Reid LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A comedian who asked for help with her love life on Twitter said she was left "crying and shaking" from an inspirational phone call with Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday, after the two had connected on the social media platform. Ashley Nicole Black, a 33-year-old comic based in Los Angeles who is a former writer for "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee," asked jokingly in a tweet on Saturday: "Do you think Elizabeth Warren has a plan to fix my love life?" Her message was a reference to one of the Democratic candidate's campaign slogans, "I have a plan for that." Warren, a U.S. senator from Massachusetts, has one of the most detailed policy programs of the 23 Democratic candidates hoping to become their party's nominee to take on Republican President Donald Trump in next year's election. On Sunday, Warren replied on Twitter: "DM me and let's figure this out." Warren's request to Black to direct message her set off a social media frenzy, with over 75,000 Twitter users "liking" Warren's response and over 1,000 commenting on it by Tuesday. Black tweeted out on Tuesday that the two had spoken, saying: "Guess who's crying and shaking and just talked to Elizabeth Warren on the phone?!?!? We have a plan to get my mom grandkids, it's very comprehensive, and it does involve raising taxes on billionaires." Warren, a progressive, proposes taxing the wealthiest 75,000 American families to pay for programs including free universal child care and student debt relief. Kristen Orthman, a campaign spokeswoman for Warren, confirmed in an email that Black and Warren had spoken. Rachel Marie, one Twitter user, told Black: "I love her. I love you. This is magical!" Another user, Razan Ghalayini, declared: "She's got my vote." According to polls, Warren leads a second-tier pack of Democrats seeking the party's nomination, but is still well behind the frontrunner, former Vice President Joe Biden. (Reporting by Tim Reid) Follow the money. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images House Democrats made significant headway toward finding out what Donald Trump has been hiding in his tax returns Wednesday, as a federal judge in New York City rejected the presidents request to bar Deutsche Bank and Capital One from honoring a congressional subpoena for his financial records. Trump, his three eldest children, and their companies had argued in court that the Democrats subpoenas lacked any legislative purpose and violated the Right to Financial Privacy Act. The House committee that issued the subpoenas countered that Trumps records were needed for wide-ranging investigations of issues bearing upon the integrity of the U.S. financial system and national security, including bank fraud, money laundering, foreign influence in the U.S. political process, and the counterintelligence risks posed by foreign powers use of financial leverage and that the Right to Financial Privacy Act does not apply to Congress. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos favored the Democrats argument. If the ruling is not overturned by a higher court, Democrats will secure access to records of the myriad accounts Trump and his family have held with Deutsche Bank as well as information about transactions and investments they made with the banks help. The subpoena of Capital One, meanwhile, will yield records on the Trump Organizations hotel business, which Democrats hope to scour for any signs of conflicts of interest that might be informing the presidents policies. Trumps relationship with Deutsche Bank has long been a source of avid interest among congressional and media investigators. The German firm has been Trumps main lender for years, loaning him and his businesses more than $2 billion even as other banks refused to work with the bankruptcy-prone mogul. Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that Deutsches internal anti-money-laundering watchdogs had flagged multiple transactions involving entities owned by Trump and Jared Kushner as suspicious. Wednesdays decision comes two days after a similar ruling in a fight over Trumps records with the accounting firm Mazars USA. On Monday, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., refused to block a subpoena into eight years of the presidents records with Mazars, ruling that the public interest in maximizing the effectiveness of the investigatory powers of Congress overwhelmed Trumps concerns about the adverse impact the records may have on himself and his businesses. NEW YORK (AP) A federal judge has ruled that Qualcomm unlawfully squeezed out cellphone chip rivals and charged excessive royalties to manufacturers such as Apple in a decision that undercuts a key part of its business. The decision vindicates the U.S. Federal Trade Commission two years after it filed its antitrust lawsuit against the San Diego chipmaker. It's a potentially costly setback for Qualcomm, as the decision could slash its ability to extract big royalties from phone makers. Qualcomm said Wednesday that it would appeal, suggesting the case could still take a few years to resolve. "We strongly disagree with the judge's conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law," Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. The outcome seems likely to reduce the licensing fees paid to Qualcomm, but it's unclear if device makers will pass on any of their savings and lower their prices. The royalties represent a relatively small portion of smartphone prices that now top $1,000 for some premium models. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, ruled Tuesday that Qualcomm Inc. must renegotiate licensing deals with customers. It must license its patents to rival chipmakers at fair prices and can't sign exclusive agreements that block competitors from also selling chips to smartphone makers like Apple. Qualcomm must submit to FTC monitoring for seven years. The case has geopolitical ramifications. If Qualcomm suffered a big hit to its profitability, that could mean less spending on research and development a knock to an American tech icon as the U.S. embarks on a politically sensitive race with China to update to 5G, a new wireless technology. "The Trump administration views Qualcomm as almost the crown jewel for the U.S. in terms of U.S. technology development. Similar to the way China views Huawei," said Angelo Zino, CFRA analyst. "It will be interesting to see if this gets revisited." Story continues Qualcomm's rivals are mostly Asian companies, including Huawei, Zino said. The Trump administration has set bruising sanctions against Huawei and pushed European allies not to use the Chinese company's technology due to national-security concerns of China spying. The U.S. government is also in a spiraling trade war with China. The Trump administration's attitude to Qualcomm can be seen in a case from last year, when it blocked a Singapore company, Broadcom, from buying Qualcomm over concerns about national security and who would dominate 5G technology. Trade group Computer & Communications Industry Association said Tuesday's ruling was a win for wireless technology, as it would mean more competition. Qualcomm has justified its "no license, no chips" system as a repayment system for the $40 billion it has spent through several decades working on wireless technology essential to smartphones. Last month Apple and Qualcomm settled a bitter financial dispute centered on some of the technology that enables iPhones to connect to the internet. The deal requires Apple to pay Qualcomm an undisclosed amount. It also includes a six-year licensing agreement that likely involves recurring payments to the mobile chipmaker. Apple had already lost an earlier battle with Qualcomm in March when a federal court jury in San Diego decided the iPhone maker owed Qualcomm $31 million for infringing on three of its patents. Qualcomm shares dropped 12% to $68.18 in afternoon trading. ___ Liedtke reported from San Francisco. Michelle Chapman in Newark, New Jersey, contributed to this report. ___ This story corrects the spelling of the last name of the analyst to Zino throughout. Ravindra Goyal has been the CEO of Kalyani Steels Limited (NSE:KSL) since 2011. First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. This process should give us an idea about how appropriately the CEO is paid. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! View our latest analysis for Kalyani Steels How Does Ravindra Goyal's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? Our data indicates that Kalyani Steels Limited is worth 8.8b, and total annual CEO compensation is 76m. (This number is for the twelve months until March 2018). While this analysis focuses on total compensation, it's worth noting the salary is lower, valued at 49m. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations under 14b, and the median CEO total compensation was 1.3m. As you can see, Ravindra Goyal is paid more than the median CEO pay at companies of a similar size, in the same market. However, this does not necessarily mean Kalyani Steels Limited is paying too much. We can better assess whether the pay is overly generous by looking into the underlying business performance. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at Kalyani Steels, below. NSEI:KSL CEO Compensation, May 21st 2019 Is Kalyani Steels Limited Growing? On average over the last three years, Kalyani Steels Limited has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 1.1% each year (using a line of best fit). It achieved revenue growth of 5.6% over the last year. I'm not particularly impressed by the revenue growth, but I'm happy with the modest EPS growth. So there are some positives here, but not enough to earn high praise. Although we don't have analyst forecasts, shareholders might want to examine this detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Story continues Has Kalyani Steels Limited Been A Good Investment? I think that the total shareholder return of 38%, over three years, would leave most Kalyani Steels Limited shareholders smiling. As a result, some may believe the CEO should be paid more than is normal for companies of similar size. In Summary... We examined the amount Kalyani Steels Limited pays its CEO, and compared it to the amount paid by similar sized companies. As discussed above, we discovered that the company pays more than the median of that group. Over the last three years returns to investors have been great, though we might have liked stronger business growth. As a result of the juicy return to investors, the CEO remuneration may well be quite reasonable. CEO compensation is one thing, but it is also interesting to check if the CEO is buying or selling Kalyani Steels (free visualization of insider trades). Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies. 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. Photo: Dylan Freedom/Unsplash If the playground, park and movie routine is getting a little tired, why not do something different with the kids this weekend? From a chance to meet the Kansas City Public School board members to deals on scavenger hunts and LEGOLAND, these events will win approval from everyone in the family. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Family Dinne to Share Your Input on KC Girls Prep From the event description: The Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy is hosting a family dinner to get to know the founding team members and families on Wednesday. We'll discuss the design of our new school together over dinner. Childcare will be provided. When: Wednesday, May 22, 5:30-7 p.m. Where: Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy, 5000 E. 17th St. Price: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Happy Hour to meet the KCPS School Board! From the event description: The Kansas City Public Schools is holding a happy hour on Thursday at the Ed Hub KC for an informal opportunity to meet the KCPS school board and learn about their goals for Kansas City Public Schools. When: Thursday, May 23, 5:30-7 p.m. Where: Ed Hub KC, 4049 Pennsylvania Ave. Price: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Up to 68% Off Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt from ScavengerHunt.com From the ScavengerHunt.com deal description: Fifteen clues. Two hours. One city. This is ScavengerHunt.com, a self-led scavenger race that sends groups capering around Kansas City to solve riddles and challenges. ScavengerHunt.com does not use official start times and concrete dates. Players simply click on a launch code, head to the starting line, and set afoot whenever they've got two hours to spare. Guided by clues sent to their smartphone, they'll discover hidden gems while getting fun stories and insights about historical sites they encounter. Story continues Where: 400 Grand Blvd., Kansas City Price: $23 (42 percent discount off regular price) Click here for more details, and to nab this deal Up to 62% Off at Operation City Quest From the Operation City Quest deal description: Operation City Quest sends players on real-life scavenger hunts. The goal: to find over a hundred notable objects in Kansas City, each differing in points and difficulty and document the process along the way. The entire game is played via smartphone, which acts as a guide to the next destination. As you check off the items on your listand send in photos to earn pointsyou can answer fun trivia or perform silly street challenges to score more and move up the leaderboard. Where: 200 W. 12th St., The Downtown Loop Price: $18 (55 percent discount off regular price) Click here for more details, and to score this deal Single Day Tickets to LEGOLAND Discovery Center From the LEGOLAND Discovery Center deal description: The LEGOLAND Discovery Center is the ultimate indoor LEGO playground designed to provide fun-filled and safe environment for visitors of all ages.Join Emmet, Wyldstyle and the gang during event days with exclusive building activities, out-of-this-world character experiences, interactive photo opportunities and more. Where: 2475 Grand Blvd., Downtown Kansas City Price: $24 (0 percent discount off regular price) Click here for more details, and to score this deal This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Nairobi (AFP) - Kenya's High Court is on Friday expected to deliver a long-awaited ruling on whether to scrap colonial-era laws which criminalise homosexuality, a verdict that could have repercussions across Africa. However, the LGBT community fears yet another postponement. In February, the three-judge bench pushed back its decision, citing a heavy workload, prompting dismay from a persecuted community who have fought for years to be accepted. "There are a lot of mixed emotions around this because people are just wary of the fact that it could be postponed yet again," Brian Macharia of the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK), one of the petitioners, told AFP. "Everyone is just hopeful and we recognise that things could go either way." Gay rights organisations are asking the court to scrap two sections of the penal code that criminalise homosexuality. One section states that anyone who has "carnal knowledge... against the order of nature" can be imprisoned for 14 years. Another provides for a five-year jail term for "indecent practices between males". Activists believe Kenya has a chance to blaze a trail in Africa where homophobia is virulent in many communities, with similar laws in over half the countries on the continent. While convictions under the decades-old laws are rare, gay activists say the legislation is unconstitutional and fuels homophobia. The National Gay And Lesbian Human Rights Commission says it dealt with 15 prosecutions under the laws in 2018, with no convictions recorded. - 'Unimaginable harm' - The petitioners argue that under Kenya's 2010 constitution, every person is said to be equal before the law. However members of the LGBT community are blackmailed, evicted, fired, expelled from school, or assaulted over their sexual orientation, but are unable to access justice without effectively confessing to a crime. "LGBTQ people in Kenya for years and years have faced and suffered violence and harm in unimaginable ways, but justice has not been afforded to them because of the penal code," said Macharia. Story continues Activists are optimistic of an eventual ruling in their favour, given recent decisions by the court. In March, the High Court banned forced anal testing of men suspected of being gay. And in September, a court ruled that "Rafiki" ("Friend"), a film about a lesbian love affair which was the first Kenyan movie to be shown at the Cannes film festival, could be screened domestically for seven days after its initial banning. Macharia said Kenya's powerful churches had been holding special events in the leadup to the ruling to fight what they term "the LGBT agenda". "The church is spreading a lot of hatred, a lot of misinformation," he said. The petition is being fought by an association of Catholics, Protestants and evangelicals. Twenty-eight out of 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have laws penalising same-sex relationships, according to Neela Ghoshal, a Human Rights Watch (HRW) specialist in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. The death penalty is on the books, under Islamic sharia law, in Mauritania, Sudan and northern Nigeria, although there have been no known executions in recent times. In southern Somalia, gay men are believed to have been put to death in territory ruled by the Al-Shabaab jihadist group. Angola, Mozambique and Seychelles have scrapped anti-gay laws in recent years. On the other hand, Chad and Uganda have introduced or toughened legislation. By John Ndiso NAIROBI, May 22 (Reuters) - Binyavanga Wainaina, the award-winning Kenyan writer who challenged stereotypes of Africa with biting satire and took on prejudice by documenting his life as an openly gay man, has died aged 48. The author, essayist and campaigner - who also championed African literature through the Kwani Trust he founded with other writers - passed away in Nairobi on Tuesday, the organization's chairman, Tom Maliti, said. Wainaina's 2005 essay "How to Write About Africa," was a pointed and hilarious lesson to would-be journalists and historians. Its compilation of the absurd, yet all-too-common, cliches was a call for more nuanced portrayals. "Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West," Wainaina wrote in satirical instructions to aspiring writers. "Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty. She must look utterly helpless. She can have no past, no history; such diversions ruin the dramatic moment." Wainaina won the prestigious Caine Prize for African Writing in 2002 for his short story collection "Discovering Home" and went on to set up Kwani?, a literary journal dedicated to publishing new writers from Africa. LEGACY "His legacy is Kwani? and the many new writers who were contributors to that journal and for whom opportunities opened up," said Maliti. "Kwani? inspired a generation of writers younger than Binyavanga to also write poetry, short stories, novels and writing became something that people believed was a career that they could pursue." Wainaina, who announced in 2016 that he was HIV positive, had been in and out of the hospital for the past year and suffered several strokes, Maliti said. "He had been ailing for a while," he added, without going into further detail. Story continues Wainaina was also known for his decision to live as an openly gay man in Kenya, where gay sex is illegal under a colonial-era penal code and homosexuality is taboo. A high court ruling on whether to uphold that law is due on Friday. In 2014, he spoke to the Guardian newspaper about his decision to make his home in a Nairobi suburb, rather than abroad: "This is my place ... I want to put a stake in the ground. My mum and dad are not here. It's kind of my turn." Both new and established writers posted tributes on Twitter, many of them noting Wainaina's influence on their work. "His writing packs a punch, makes you nostalgic and then leaves you unsettled," wrote Archie Okeyo, who describes herself on her Twitter profile as a Kenya-based writer. "Binyavanga Wainaina was the public intellectual we needed but didn't deserve. The world is worse off today without him to challenge our prejudices and defend the humanity of everyone. And now his watch is ended," wrote BBC Africa Business Editor Larry Madowo. (Reporting by John Ndiso Writing by Maggie Fick Editing by Andrew Heavens) Photo: Sauce Pizza & Wine/Yelp Food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending right this minute? We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to uncover which eateries have been in the spotlight this month. To find out who made the list, we looked at Dallas businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month, and tracked businesses that consistently increase their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance. Read on to see which spots are extra cool right now. Snooze, an A.M. Eatery PHOTO: SUSAN S./YELP This breakfast and brunch spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Breakfast & Brunch" on Yelp. Citywide, breakfast and brunch spots saw a median 3% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Snooze an A.M. Eatery saw a 52.7% increase, with a slight upward trend from a four-star rating a month ago to 4.5 stars today. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis, Snooze, an A.M. Eatery's review count increased by more than 430%. Located at 3211 Oak Lawn Ave., Suite A, in Oak Lawn, Snooze, an A.M. Eatery offers custom breakfast and lunch creations, including takes on pancakes and French toast, sandwiches, breakfast burritos and more. Sauce Pizza & Wine Photo: sauce pizza & wine/Yelp If you haven't hear the buzz about Lake Highlands's Sauce Pizza & Wine, an Italian restaurant serving pizza, salads and more, it's a hot topic in the neighborhood, according to Yelp review data. While businesses categorized as "Pizza" on Yelp saw a median 3.6% increase in new reviews over the past month, Sauce Pizza & Wine bagged an 81.2% increase in new reviews within that time frame, maintaining a strong 4.5-star rating. Open at 8185 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 1410, Sauce Pizza & Wine offers a full menu of pizzas, paninis, pasta, soups and desserts. Story continues El Bolero Fitzhugh Photo: el bolero fitzhugh/Yelp M Streets's El Bolero Fitzhugh is also making waves. Located at 2722 N. Fitzhugh Ave., Mexican restaurant and cocktail bar, which serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, has seen a 27% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 3.8% for all businesses tagged "Mexican" on Yelp. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis, El Bolero Fitzhugh's review count increased by more than 250%. There's more than one hot spot trending in Dallas's Mexican category: Twisted Trompo has seen a 17.8% increase in reviews. El Bolero Fitzhugh offers authentic, regional Mexican cuisine that you won't find at your average taco shop. Over the past month, it's maintained a mixed 3.5-star rating among Yelpers. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. MOSCOW, May 22 (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Wednesday condemned as unacceptable an alleged U.S. ultimatum to Turkey designed to force it to cancel a deal to buy Russian S-400 missile systems and buy U.S. hardware instead. Moscow was responding to a CNBC report from Tuesday which said Washington had given Turkey just over two weeks to decide whether to complete an arms deal with the U.S. or risk severe penalties. (Reporting by Polina Nikolskaya/Maria Kiselyova Editing by Andrew Osborn) Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn outside a steelworks. Photo: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images The Labour party unveiled radical plans to bring several major British industries into public ownership earlier this month, sending the share price of utility firms tumbling. Labour argues the public have been ripped off and poorly served by private firms running vital services. But nationalisation would be highly controversial particularly if investors are not paid at market value, and politicians, experts and the public alike are deeply divided over its benefits. What would Labour nationalise? Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn has said Labour plans to nationalise the UKs energy, water and rail firms if Labour wins the next general election. Some sectors have many different companies Labour would need to take control of, with more than 30 firms likely to be affected in the energy sector alone. It has also proposed taking over the National Grid and Royal Mail, and potentially the private finance initiative (PFI) firms that have been used to fund new public buildings for more than a decade. How would nationalisation work? With the utilities, Labour would pass a law doing two things - creating new state-owned bodies to run the services, and transferring over the affected firms equity and possibly debt. Its newly published blueprint includes a national energy agency to lead and regulate electricity and gas, bringing over staff from Ofgem, the National Grid and other firms. But new regional agencies below it would own power distribution, accountable to councils, workers and residents. They could in turn hand the network over to any local councils keen to run their own services. Similar agencies would be created to take over the nationalised water firms in each region. READ MORE: Corbyns former adviser calls him a pro-Brexit buffoon The railways are a fairly unique case, as part of the network is already publicly owned and private firms merely have time-limited contracts to run the services. Labour says it wont buy the firms, instead letting contracts expire and replacing them with public operators. But that will take years, and it may face demands to step in sooner. Story continues Would nationalised services be better or cheaper? Rows over the quality of nationalised versus privatised services have dogged British politics for decades, often splitting on ideological and party-political lines. There are deep divisions over whether more political involvement at the expense of business involvement makes for better or worse decision-making, and over whose interests such organisations should serve. For almost every example of a heavily criticised state-run company like British Rail, there is usually an example at home or abroad of a private firm heavily criticised for its handling of similar services. READ MORE: Why the OECD says Britain shouldnt brag over record employment Labour says ending the need for profits, dividends and duplicated services would free up cash to cut prices for users and invest in a greener future. It says water bills have risen 40% since privatisation in 1989. But companies defend competition and the profit motive, and Severn Trents chief executive warned on Tuesday customers would pay 120 more a year if water had not been privatised. SSE also said recently that electricity prices were cheaper than before privatisation. Meanwhile the National Grid warned the massive upheaval of nationalisation would delay and take money away from investment in decarbonisation. The debate will run and run. Has Britain nationalised firms before? Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn plans to nationalise several industries. Photo: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images British governments have nationalised many firms in the past, and previously ran several of the sectors affected before they were privatised in the 1980s. Other firms like BT, BA and the old British Steel were all publicly owned for many years. But a review of nationalisation published on Tuesday by the law firm Clifford Chance says the state has tended to step in at times of crisis, such as the railways after the Second World War, carmakers in the 1970s and the banking sector in 2008-9. By contrast, Labours plans to take over firms seen as successful by shareholders would make for an unprecedented programme, it says. Dan Neidle, the reports author, told Yahoo Finance UK nationalisation was also a complex process, estimating it would take a year to draft a bill for a single sector alone. You have to identify the bits of companies you want to nationalise, and the bits you dont, he said. The report notes Labours 1974 pledge to nationalise shipbuilding and aerospace faced so many hurdles it took three years to become law, shortly before the government lost its majority. Will Labour compensate investors? Labour says it will compensate investors by issuing them new government bonds, and says it is cost-neutral as the state gains a profitable asset. But critics raise eyebrows at a socialist government transferring taxpayers money to investors, and taking on companies huge debts. And Labours admission it may deliberately pay investors less than the market value of their holdings is hugely controversial. It argues that asset stripping, land sales, pension fund deficits and previous state subsidies at the relevant firms could justify paying less. But Clifford Chance research says this would be almost unprecedented, with virtually every past nationalisation in Britain or abroad at least nominally at market value. The only one thats done it is Venezuela, said Neidle. Trade body Water UK has warned it could be a devastating blow for millions of pensioners with savings in pots like BTs pension fund, which owns part of Thames Water. How much would nationalisation cost? Estimating the total cost of nationalisation is far from easy. For example, Labour has quoted the book value of water firm shareholders equity at just under 15bn, but the Social Market Foundation puts their market value at 44bn and says nationalisation would cost 90bn. Costs depend on how market value is decided, which assets and debts are nationalised and whether some debts have clauses requiring immediate payment. Crucial is the time period over which firms value is calculated, as share prices will have clearly moved before and during the planned takeover. Is paying investors less than market value legal? Labour argues that the law allows parliament to decide compensation levels, and cites the Northern Rock nationalisation as precedent for paying sub-market compensation. But Clifford Chance says the Northern Rock intervention to protect the financial system was no precedent for profitable utility firms. It says that takeover did involve paying market value too - but Northern Rocks was judged to be nil. It says fair compensation is expected under international law, as well as international norms. That means Labours plan would almost inevitably trigger compensation claims by investors. Some investors are protected by their countries treaties with Britain. Neidle said they had the best chance of winning claims, and it would be an unholy mess if Labour then failed to also pay UK and other investors the same rate. As Neidle points out: The idea you pay 60p to a British pensioner and 100p to an international investor seems far-fetched. All investors could also argue their right to property had been breached under international law, though Neidles report suggests such claims face greater challenges. READ MORE: 25,000 jobs at risk as British Steel battles to survive Stormy Daniels and Michael Avenatti. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images In a Vanity Fair interview published on the eve of his federal grand jury indictment in Manhattan, Michael Avenatti said that he flew too close to the sun. I know I did, the lawyer added. No question. Icarus. But the comparison to the tragic Greek character fails when subjected to a slight bit of scrutiny. Icarus attempted to escape the island he and his father were imprisoned on; Michael Avenatti, as already known from his 36-count indictment in California and criminal complaint in New York, had attempted to extort another mythology-adjacent entity, Nike, and allegedly shorted a paraplegic client of $4 million in settlement money. Nowhere in the original Greek myth does Icarus allegedly embezzle millions from the disabled or threaten a sneaker company. On Wednesday, the list of charges against the embattled celebrity attorney grew when a grand jury in Manhattan indicted Avenatti in two additional scams, charging him with fraud and aggravated identity theft for his treatment of ex-client Stormy Daniels. Avenatti who represented Daniels in her legal disputes with the president involving a $130,000 hush payment was charged with misappropriating a significant portion of the adult-film actresss book advance, and spent that money on his law-firm payroll and his coffee business. Prosecutors allege that in total Avenatti took over $295,000 from Daniels. After securing a book deal for his client, the indictment states that he sent a fraudulent and unauthorized letter with Danielss signature on it to her literary agent, complete with instructions that the agent wire a chunk of the advance to an account controlled by Avenatti. According to the indictment, Daniels had not signed or authorized the letter, and did not even know of its existence. Avenatti, not known to stay quiet in times of his legal duress, tweeted shortly before the indictment was made public: No monies relating to Ms. Daniels were ever misappropriated or mishandled. She received millions of dollars worth of legal services and we spent huge sums in expenses. She directly paid only $100.00 for all that she received. I look forward to a jury hearing the evidence. The lawyer better be confident in his grasp of the indictments: If he is convicted on all charges, he could face over 300 years in prison. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Getty In the days leading up to Beto ORourkes presidential campaign, a top Republican opposition research firm was brimming with requests from political reporters angling for dirt. America Rising, a political action committee that shared details of its internal inquiries with The Daily Beast, said the asks came from a dozen or more reporters and ranged from broad questions to more tailored points of interest. But 10 weeks after ORourkes official launch, those requests are virtually nonexistent. The requests for oppo on him have completely died off, a staffer at the oppo group said. The lack of oppo requests suggests a larger problem looming over ORourkes campaign: a visible decline in public interest. Once elevated to the top of Democratic watch-lists, the former congressman is now registering in single digits in several national polls, nosediving from 12 percent in a Quinnipiac poll conducted in March to just 5 percent in the same survey in April. And while hes beginning to roll out new hires in key voting states, some say hes already fallen behind other candidates whose field operations have been interfacing with voters for months. Beto ORourke Blew It America Rising, which has cornered the market on opposition research on the nearly two dozen presidential contenders, has tracked what it considers a steady decline in the publics interest in ORourke. The Republican National Committee, known for slinging insults about Democrats into mainstream consciousness, has not received any requests from reporters for ORourke information in recent weeks, according to a senior official. Typically, a high level of curiosity in revealing a candidates political past is one indicator of their perceived viability. And a noticeable downtick in interest could signal an enthusiasm gap between where ORourke started and where hes ended up in two months. ORourke, himself, seemed to acknowledge the flagging interest in a recent interview with MSNBCs Rachel Maddow. Story continues I recognize I can do a better job also of talking to a national audience, O'Rourke said. I hope that Im continuing to do better over time, but weve been extraordinarily fortunate with the campaign that weve run so far. His next big chance will be Tuesday night, when hell appear in his first CNN town hall at 10 p.m. from Drake University in Des Moines. The network has previously hosted such events for several of his rivals, giving a boost to some lesser-known candidates early into their campaigns. On Monday, ORourke told reporters he would participate in a Fox News town hall, a general-election strategy favored by some 2020 hopefuls as an attempt to reach voters beyond the traditional Democratic base. But according to an analysis shared with The Daily Beast by Media Matters, a nonprofit that tracks right-wing coverage, even Fox News daily mentions of ORourke online have visibly declined since he announced his bid, indicating that he may no longer be considered a serious threat as a Democratic contender. ORourkes campaign sees it differently: From my perspective theres been no decline of oppo to respond to, a source within the campaign said. Press requests from print and television outlets, including bookers in charge of getting candidates on the air, have not declined since the launch, the campaign source added. While its still early to plot ad buysthe Iowa caucuses are nine months awaya source who tracks ad information for multiple political campaigns says that ORourkes failure to get into that world early coincides with a frenzied campaign thats no longer top-of-mind for voters. It fits with an overall theme of his campaign being a little disorganized, the source who analyzes political ads said. He had such a moment in 2018 but it seems to have fizzled out. While no pollsters or ad makers have been hired, a source within ORourkes campaign first told The Daily Beast that they have been in initial discussions with various polling, data, and analytics firms, as well as outfits who do campaign ads. Bringing on a pollster had not previously been a top priority, the source said, adding that the campaign has been focused on talking to voters in 154 town halls and traveling to 116 cities. ORourke has made recent inroads on the political staffing front, bringing on Jen OMalley Dillon, Jeff Berman, and Rob Flaherty, top talent from Hillary Clinton and Barack Obamas campaigns, among other recent national and state hires. But he has missed out on other high-level talent who wandered to other campaigns, multiple sources said. Meanwhile, other presidential campaigns have already hired staffers who previously worked with or expressed interest in ORourke. Shelby Cole, a top ORourke aide who helped him raise an eye-popping $80 million during his Senate campaign, joined California Sen. Kamala Harris team as its digital fundraising director. Emmy Ruiz, who served as Clintons state director in Nevada and Colorado in 2016, was thought to be seriously weighing joining ORourke before he announced, according to multiple Democratic sources unaffiliated with current campaigns. She later joined Harris as a senior adviser. One top Democratic operative admitted to eyeing ORourke for months, but changed candidate loyalty after reading his announcement article in Vanity Fair. I was definitely interested in him back in January and February, the veteran operative said, who has since joined another presidential campaign in a top position. The Vanity Fair story fed a fear I had, which was that he was a little too fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants, the veteran operative said. I just felt that he hadnt totally thought this through. So that kind of soured me on him. Asawin Suebsaeng contributed reporting for this article. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Tokyo (AFP) - A lawyer for former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn has slammed "outrageous" restrictions on his client's ability to see his wife, and predicted the tycoon's trial will not start for at least a year. In an interview with AFP, Takashi Takano revealed that Japan's top court this week backed a lower court's decision to restrict Ghosn's access to his wife Carole under the terms of his bail. The former Nissan chief was bailed for a second time on April 25 and is now preparing for trial on four charges of financial misconduct ranging from concealing part of his salary, to using Nissan funds for personal expenses. The tough terms of his bail mean he needs court permission to visit his wife Carole, whom prosecutors believe has made contact with people involved in the case against the tycoon. Ghosn applied for permission shortly after his release, but was denied. His lawyers separately filed an appeal to overturn the restrictions altogether, but the Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected that appeal, Takano said. "It's inhumane. It's outrageous, even by Japanese standards," Takano said. - 'Clear violation' - The longtime attorney said it was the first time in his career he had seen a court ban a client from seeing their spouse. "It's very rare," he said at an interview in his Tokyo office, arguing that the restrictions violate the UN's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. "This is a clear violation of our own constitution as well as a violation of the human rights treaty, which our government ratified... (a) long time ago," he added. Ghosn's case has gripped observers inside Japan and internationally since his dramatic November 19 arrest as he stepped off his private jet in Tokyo. He was detained for 108 days as prosecutors investigated financial misconduct allegations and then charged him with three counts. He finally won bail for the first time in March, agreeing to conditions including living in a court-appointed residence monitored by cameras. Story continues But when prosecutors levelled a fresh allegation against him in April, he was rearrested and spent another 21 days at the Kosuge detention centre before winning bail a second time. - Ghosn 'depressed, disappointed' - Ghosn is due to attend his first pre-trial meeting with judges and prosecutors on Thursday as part of procedures dealing with evidence and arguments ahead of a trial, Takano said. "There are four indictments and those cases are a little bit complicated," he said. "And this process will last, I think, at least one more year" before the trial begins, he added. Ghosn denies all the charges against him, and has vowed to "vigorously defend himself against these baseless accusations," Takano said, adding he "fully expects to be vindicated". He argues the allegations against him are the result of a "plot" by Nissan executives who were opposed to his plans to bring the Japanese firm closer to its alliance partner Renault. Ghosn has been stripped of his leadership positions at Nissan, Renault and the third firm in the auto alliance, Mitsubishi Motors. Takano said the 65-year-old was in "good fighting spirits" but that his health appeared fragile. "He looks depressed and he is so disappointed to know that he could not communicate with his wife," Takano said. "His mental as well as physical condition looks not so good now," Takano said without elaborating. Paris (AFP) - Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is leading a military offensive against the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, rejected a ceasefire requested by French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Paris, an Elysee official said Wednesday. Hafter said the conditions for halting hostilities "were not met," while acknowledging that a "political dialogue" is needed to end the standoff with his rival, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, the official said on condition of anonymity. "But the mistrust between the two Libyans is stronger than ever," the official said, acknowledging "an impasse between the international community's desire for a ceasefire, and marshal Haftar's way of seeing things." He added that Haftar had justified the offensive he launched against Tripoli last month by saying he was fighting against "private militias and extremist groups" who are gaining influence in the capital. Haftar did not make a statement after meeting with Macron for over an hour, a visit that follows Haftar's surprise trip to Rome last week for talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Both Macron and Conte had already met recently with Sarraj, who has accused Paris of supporting Haftar and tacitly backing his assault on Tripoli, claims denied by French officials. After the talks with Haftar, Macron's office said the president reiterated France's priorities in Libya: "Fight against terrorist groups, dismantle trafficking networks, especially those for illegal immigration, and permanently stabilise Libya." France and Italy are the two lead European powers seeking to find a solution to years of instability, spreading Islamic extremism and a migrant crisis in Libya which fell into chaos after the NATO-backed toppling of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. The UN envoy for Libya warned Tuesday the battle for Tripoli was "just the start of a long and bloody war" and called for immediate steps to cut off arms flows fuelling the fighting. Story continues Addressing the Security Council in New York, Ghassan Salame said "many countries" were supplying weapons to the UN-recognised government in Tripoli and to forces led by Khalifa Haftar. Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) is backed in particular by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, His forces initially moved fast against Sarraj's Government of National Accord (GNA) after launching his assault on April 4. But they were stopped outside the capital by a GNA counterattack, with neither side making progress even as fighting flared this week. The weeks of fighting have killed 510 people and wounded 2,467, according to the latest toll from the World Health Organization. More than 75,000 people have fled their homes, according to the United Nations, while 100,000 are trapped by the conflict. Paris (AFP) - Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar, who is leading a military offensive against the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, rejected a ceasefire requested by French President Emmanuel Macron during talks in Paris, an Elysee official said Wednesday. Hafter said the conditions for halting hostilities "were not met," while acknowledging that a "political dialogue" is needed to end the standoff with his rival, Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj, the official said on condition of anonymity. "But the mistrust between the two Libyans is stronger than ever," the official said, acknowledging "an impasse between the international community's desire for a ceasefire, and marshal Haftar's way of seeing things." He added that Haftar had justified the offensive he launched against Tripoli last month by saying he was fighting against "private militias and extremist groups" who are gaining influence in the capital. Meanwhile, Sarraj said in Tunis Wednesday that any ceasefire could not be achieved without "the withdrawal of the forces of the aggressor", according to a statement. In Paris, Haftar did not make a statement after meeting with Macron for over an hour, a visit that follows Haftar's surprise trip to Rome last week for talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Both Macron and Conte had already met recently with Sarraj, who has accused Paris of supporting Haftar and tacitly backing his assault on Tripoli, claims denied by French officials. After the talks with Haftar, Macron's office said the president reiterated France's priorities in Libya: "Fight against terrorist groups, dismantle trafficking networks, especially those for illegal immigration, and permanently stabilise Libya." France and Italy are the two lead European powers seeking to find a solution to years of instability, spreading Islamic extremism and a migrant crisis in Libya, which fell into chaos after the NATO-backed toppling of dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011. Story continues The UN envoy for Libya warned Tuesday the battle for Tripoli was "just the start of a long and bloody war" and called for immediate steps to cut off arms flows fuelling the fighting. Addressing the Security Council in New York, Ghassan Salame said "many countries" were supplying weapons to the UN-recognised government in Tripoli and to forces led by Khalifa Haftar. Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) is backed in particular by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. His forces initially moved fast against Sarraj's Government of National Accord (GNA) after launching his assault on April 4. But they were stopped outside the capital by a GNA counterattack, with neither side making progress even as fighting flared this week. The weeks of fighting have killed 510 people and wounded 2,467, according to the latest toll from the World Health Organization. More than 75,000 people have fled their homes, according to the United Nations, while 100,000 are trapped by the conflict. By Marine Pennetier PARIS (Reuters) - Libyan eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, speaking on Wednesday with French President Emmanuel Macron, ruled out a ceasefire and said he wanted to rid the capital of militias that had "infested" the U.N.-backed government, a French presidential official said. The flare-up in the conflict in Libya - which has been gripped by anarchy since Muammar Gaddafi was toppled in 2011 - began in early April, when Haftar's Libyan National Army advanced on the capital Tripoli. The LNA is now bogged down in southern suburbs by fighters loyal to Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj's Government of National Accord (GNA). Macron and French officials have for weeks repeated their official support for the GNA and have called for an unconditional ceasefire. But some European countries, including France, have also supported Haftar as a way to fight Islamist militants in the country. "The distrust we see between the Libyan actors is stronger than ever today," said the official after the meeting between Macron and Haftar in Paris. "When the question of the ceasefire was put on the table, Haftar's reaction to this was to ask: 'negotiate with whom for a ceasefire today?'" the official said. The battle for Tripoli has killed at least 510 people, forced 75,000 out of their homes, trapped thousands of migrants in detention centers, and flattened some southern suburbs. It has also forced closures of schools, split families on different sides of the front line, and brought power cuts. "He (Haftar) considers that the GNA is completely infested by militias and it is not for him to negotiate with representatives of these militias," the official said. The official said Macron had asked Haftar to make a public step toward a ceasefire and Haftar responded by saying that an inclusive political dialogue was necessary and he would be ready for it if the conditions for a ceasefire were in place. However, the official said Haftar had given no indication as to when he would be ready for any potential talks. Speaking on Euronews television on Wednesday, Serraj also appeared to rule out a ceasefire, warning that the fighting would not stop until Haftar's troops had pulled back east. The United Nations' Libya envoy, Ghassan Salame, said on Tuesday the current fighting could be the start of a long and bloody conflict in the country that could permanently divide it. "We can clearly see the impasse that exists today between the desire of the international community to say that there must be a ceasefire and a resumption of political discussions and the way in which Haftar sees things with his explanation of the lack of legitimacy of the interlocutors (on the other side)," the French official said. The official also said Haftar had rejected suggestions he or forces loyal to him were benefiting from oil sales in the east of the country. (Additional reporting by Ulf Laessing in Tunis; Writing by John Irish; Editing by Frances Kerry) PARIS (AP) Libyan commander Khalifa Hifter said in a meeting on Wednesday with French President Emmanuel Macron that he cannot work toward a cease-fire because he has no one with whom to negotiate. Hifter opened a military offensive on the Libyan capital of Tripoli in early April despite commitments to move toward elections in the North African country. Libya is divided between Hifter, whose self-styled Libyan National Army controls the east and much of the south, and Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Sarraj, who runs the U.N.-supported but weak government in Tripoli. During a more than hour-long closed door meeting, Macron asked Hifter to work toward a cease-fire and a return to the political process, according to a statement from Macron's office. When the question of a cease-fire is put on the table, "the reaction of ... Hifter is 'with whom can I negotiate a ceasefire today?'" an official of the presidential Elysee Palace said. Hifter considers the Sarraj government is being eaten from within by armed militias and considers "it's not for him (Hifter) to negotiate with representatives of these militias," the official said. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the delicate talks and asked to remain anonymous. The closed-door meeting came two weeks after Macron hosted Libya's struggling U.N.-backed prime minister, who has denounced Hifter's offensive as an attempted coup. Macron's office has expressed support for Sarraj. The official rejected claims that France is secretly backing Hifter, saying that France is trying "to create a dynamic" between the two. "Sarraj is the legitimate prime minister of Libya and Hifter ... is an essential actor in the Libyan crisis," the official said. Paris hosted the two men in 2017 in a bold bid to launch a peace process and organize elections. The statement from the president's office said the meeting was "to facilitate dialogue between the two Libyans, in the context of military operations on the outskirts of Tripoli." Story continues The statement noted commitments by the Libyans in Paris, Italy and the United Arab Emirates: creating a transitional government, unifying Libyan institutions and preparing elections. Hifter used the meeting to justify his offensive on Tripoli, the official said, but added that the Paris meeting was able to advance the situation. "At the end of the meeting, Hifter recognized that inclusive political discussions are necessary, and he agreed that, when conditions are right, to the relaunching of political dialogue," the official said. "He didn't say he would make a political (gesture) tonight or tomorrow, but was convinced at the end of the meeting of the need" for it, the official said. The fighting over Tripoli erupted on April 4, with the LNA led by Hifter and aligned with a rival government in the east, launching a push on the country's capital, located in the west, and militias loosely allied with the U.N.-supported government in Tripoli. The death toll from the fighting stood at 510 on Sunday, according to the World Health Organization, mainly combatants but also including civilians. Tens of thousands have been displaced or trapped by Hifter's offensive. The U.N. envoy for Libya warned on Tuesday that the oil-rich nation was "on the verge of descending into a civil war" that could imperil its neighbors. Ghassan Salame told the U.N. Security Council that extremists from the Islamic State group and al-Qaida are already exploiting the security vacuum. Libya has been split between rival authorities in east and west since 2014, with each side backed by various militias. Hifter's forces have battled Islamic extremists and other rival factions across eastern Libya, and recently made inroads in the south. Hifter presents himself as a strong hand that can restore stability after years of chaos that transformed Libya into a haven for armed groups and a major conduit for migrants bound for Europe. His opponents, however, view him as an aspiring autocrat and fear the country could return to one-man rule as under longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi, who was ousted and killed in 2011. ___ Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report. The Louisiana senate approved a state constitutional amendment on Tuesday declaring that citizens have no constitutional right to abortions. The move is the latest salvo in a broader assault against reproductive rights in the state, and it comes on the heels of extreme legislation in Georgia, Missouri and Alabama all aimed at near-total bans of the procedure. The measure now heads back to the house, which has already passed a version, for final approval. The amendment still, however, needs to be ratified by Louisiana voters in a referendum this fall. Critics called the senates move shameful, noting that it did not make exceptions for victims of rape or incest. Constitutions are meant to protect rights, not deny them. But thats exactly what the state senate did today when it passed an amendment that will directly hurt some of our most vulnerable citizens: poor women, said Michelle Erenberg, the executive director of Lift Louisiana, an advocacy group that defends womens access to healthcare. While the legislation is similar to extreme anti-choice bills that have popped up in statehouses throughout the US in recent months, the party politics present a wrinkle fairly unique to Louisiana. The bill, like several others currently up for consideration, was introduced by a Democrat the state representative Katrina Jackson. Im pro-woman and Im pro-life because abortions hurt more women than anything else, she said in front of the state capitol before the proposal passed. Thats also true of a fetal heartbeat bill, in the model of those passed in Georgia and Missouri, which was introduced by the Democratic senator John Milkovich. The bill would ban abortions after cardiac activity is detected in the fetus, which is about six weeks into a pregnancy before many women are even aware they are pregnant. Milkovichs bill has already passed in the senate and is likely to receive a vote in the House early next week. Governor John Bel Edwards, a self-described pro-life Democrat, has said he intends to sign it when it reaches his desk. Story continues Related: 'It's not a little child': gynecologists join the fight against six-week abortion bans That both bills originate with Democrats is hard to square with national party politics. In 2016, the party approved a platform plank stating: Every woman should have access to quality reproductive health care services, including safe and legal abortion. But thats not the common wisdom in Louisiana, according to Bel Edwards, who addressed the dissonance on his monthly radio show earlier this month. I know that for many in the national party, on the national scene, thats not a good fit. But I will tell you, here in Louisiana, I speak and meet with Democrats who are pro-life every single day, Edwards said. Statewide polling suggests a majority of Louisiana residents oppose abortion in all or most cases, but only a quarter say the procedure should never be permitted. Elisabeth Smith, an attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights, said that, in part because of the cross-party unity on anti-abortion measures, Louisiana is already one of the most restrictive states on abortion. There are lots of abortion restrictions that are passing in other states that Louisiana has already legislated. In some ways, there are not many more places where the state can go, Smith said. This includes a 2006 trigger law that would make abortion illegal in the state if Roe v Wade were overturned; five other states have passed similar laws. Jacksons constitutional amendment is, in a sense, an effort to one-up that measure and provide an additional layer of protection from future legal challenges. By enshrining this in the constitution, it makes it just that much more difficult for a future legislature to change the law, said Ellie Schilling, an attorney who has represented all three of Louisianas remaining abortion providers in various legal challenges. Like the trigger law, Tuesdays constitutional amendment would require the overturning of Roe v Wade to have any real impact in Louisiana. The states fetal heartbeat bill, too, conflicts with the landmark 1973 supreme court ruling, and would be immediately subject to extensive legal challenges if and when it passed. For that reason, lawmakers tethered the bill to similar legislation that passed in neighboring state of Mississippi in March. With this strategy, Louisiana can save the cost of fighting off a challenge estimated to cost upwards of $1m in Mississippi and simply piggyback off the ruling there. That law went before the US district judge Carlton Reeves on Tuesday, but even if he strikes the law down, the state of Mississippi will appeal to the very conservative fifth circuit court of appeals, which Erenberg said is not one that has been willing to really scrutinize abortion restrictions in recent memory. Ultimately, the case, or one like it from another state, is probably bound for the supreme court. At least thats largely what the architects of these plainly unconstitutional bills are hoping for with a firm five-to-four conservative majority now in place on the court. In the meantime, anti-choice lawmakers in Louisiana are still chipping away at reproductive rights through more immediate means, pushing a number of restrictive laws intended to make abortion services more difficult to provide and receive. This includes bills: requiring medication abortions (those induced by taking a pill, rather than a surgical procedure) to be completed only at abortion clinics requiring clinics to keep seven years of medical records (and 10 years for minors) requiring anyone working at an abortion clinic who has contact with patients (including receptionists) to be a mandatory reporter of human trafficking requiring providers to tell patients, in writing, their physicians names, where they completed their residencies, whether they have malpractice insurance, and whether they have been placed on probation in the last decade. Its all just aimed at the strategy of just making it more and more onerous and difficult for abortion providers to provide abortion, Erenberg said. She added that even before any of these laws fully take effect, they have a profound impact on womens access because of the misunderstandings they can create. The average Louisianan not keeping tabs on the finer points of the legislative process might see the governor signing a bill like the one passed today and reasonably believe that abortions are now illegal. There is absolutely a chilling impact on womens basic understanding about whether or not they still have these rights and still have the ability to access these services, Erenberg said. (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos Inc cut its full-year profit forecast after reporting disappointing first-quarter earnings, as the home improvement chain failed to raise prices in time to make up for higher costs, sending its shares down 9%. Since taking the helm in July, Chief Executive Officer Marvin Ellison has replaced nearly the entire merchandising team to get more in-demand products on shelves as the company tries to close the gap with larger rival Home Depot Inc. While the new team helped Lowe's record better quarterly same-store sales growth than Home Depot for the first time in three years, it was not fast enough in reacting to cost increases, crimping margins, which fell nearly 3%. "Because of ... the transition of our merchandising team, we literally had no visibility to those cost increases until the inventory that was increased in cost hit the P&L," Ellison said on a post-earnings call with analysts. The CEO said Lowe's was looking to raise retail prices to help offset higher costs. "We are doubling our efforts, making sure we limit the number of surprises that will get us in the future," he said. Excluding one-time items, the company earned $1.22 per share in the three months ended May 3, missing analysts' average estimate of $1.33, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Overall, net sales rose 2.1% to $17.74 billion, beating expectations of $17.66 billion. Even with strong sales, Lowe's results showed just how challenging it is to take market share in the home improvement space, Gordon Haskett analyst Chuck Grom said. Lowe's now expects 2019 earnings of $5.54 to $5.74 per share, down from its prior forecast of $6 to $6.10 per share. (Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Anil D'Silva) PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday laid out his clearest plans yet for alliance-building after the European Parliament elections, favoring a centrist coalition broad enough to work with the Greens and attract some conservative parties. Speaking to Belgium's Le Soir newspaper, Macron described the elections, taking place in all 28 European Union states from May 23-26, as the most important since the bloc's first parliamentary ballot in 1979. With Washington and Beijing locked in a trade war, Britain mired in Brexit, multilateralism under threat globally and the EU still emerging from 10 years of financial crisis and split by a debate over migration, he said it was essential that those who were committed to Europe worked together. "On the basis of the election results, we have to build a coalition that delivers on policies," said Macron. "We don't want to end up with bad backroom compromises." His Republique En Marche party, competing on the EU stage for the first time and running neck-and-neck with Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National, is expected to be the core of the centrist, liberal alliance, currently known as ALDE but which could change its name. Le Pen came first in France in the last EU vote in 2014, partly as a result of low turnout. The ballot is also often a protest vote, and nationalist parties have since seen a rise in support across Europe. "We need men and women who understand Europe well, who have a strong mandate and can be part of a progressive coalition that I'm hoping for, working together with the Social Democrats, with elements of the Christian Democrats and the Greens," Macron told the newspaper. Since no single party will secure the required 376 seats to hold a majority, coalition-building will be key. As opinion polls stand, Macron's camp within the new centrist alliance is forecast to secure around 100 seats in the 751-seat European Parliament, making it the third largest group after the center-right European People's Party (EPP) and the center-left Socialists and Democrats. Story continues Teaming up with the Greens would add around 55 seats to Macron's putative alliance, polls suggest. If the centrists also manage to pull in one or more Christian Democrat parties, that would contribute to sidelining the EPP, which is dominated by German Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party and has been at the forefront of EU politics for the past decade. Macron reiterated his opposition to the "spitzenkandidat" system whereby a lead candidate is chosen by a party. The EPP has chosen German MEP Manfred Weber, meaning that if that bloc comes top in the vote, he would be best placed to become the next European Commission president. Macron has said EU leaders should decide who becomes president, and has indicated his support for Frenchman Michel Barnier, the chief Brexit negotiator. (Writing by Luke Baker; editing by Richard Lough and John Stonestreet) Photo: JMichl/Getty Images Summer hikes call for summer hiking sandals: Your regular boots will be too hot, and despite being waterproof and lightweight, low-top hiking shoes or trail runners arent ideal for crossing streams or hiking waterfalls. Unlike hiking shoes or trail runners, hiking sandals can get wet without getting waterlogged, said Alex Beale of 99 Boulders, an outdoor-gear review site focusing on climbing and camping. To find the best ones for both men and women, we spoke with a group of eight experts that includes trail guides, outdoor gear buyers, experienced hikers, and even one of the fastest women to ever hike the Appalachian Trail. They passed along their advice for what to buy everyone really likes Chacos and even some hiking socks for anyone interested in a sporty socks-and-sandals look. Best all-around hiking sandal Chaco, the chunky, durable sandal company, was a near-unanimous favorite: Five people we spoke to said these specific ones are the best all-around hiking sandals. There were a few rationales: Chacos come with super-grippy Vibram soles that are heavy-duty and dense, said Paul Ronto of RunRepeat, who is an experienced hiker in his own right and told us he does 90 percent of his hikes in sandals. You not only have confidence that your feet will grip onto the slickest surfaces, but as you hike on rocky terrain, your feet will also be protected, unlike some sandal brands that use lightweight, softer rubber for their soles. Steve Silberberg, head guide at Fitpacking, a backpacking adventure company that helps people lose weight while getting outdoors, prefers Chacos when hiking in the desert for their thick soles and because theres no Velcro to wear out from use. I hike in both Chacos and Tevas in the desert, but the Velcro on Tevas wears out after a fair amount of use. Silberberg also warned against sandals with a less-substantial sole: If youre hiking in the desert, skip the Crocs. Even though theyre lightweight, cactus spines will penetrate them and become lodged in your foot. Matt Schonwald, a certified ski-mountaineering and avalanche guide and founder of BC Adventure Guides, recommends the Chaco Z/1 for its simplicity: I do not like bells and whistles they usually cause blisters, fall apart, or just underperform. The Chaco Z/1 Classic is made up of only eight components, including a strong sole and customizable straps. So its about as simple as it gets. Crucially, people also say Chacos feel the best. All models in the series have also earned seals of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association for promoting foot health the only sandals on this list to do so and fans of the shoe agree: I walked 1,200 miles in a single pair on the Pacific Crest Trail, says Michael Hervey, a senior instructor with Outdoor Outreach, of his bombproof Chaco sandals. Photographer Erika Skogg, a National Geographic explorer, loves that theyre incredibly weatherproof and seem to last forever, even after years of travel wear and tear. Plus, Chaco lets you design your own one-of-a-kind pair, so you can finally have the taco-printed, houndstooth, or Pac-Man-adorned sandals you always wanted. Best sandals for difficult terrain When the trail gets steeper, less predictable, and rockier, extra security and protection are key. For these types of trails, Silberberg recommends Keen Whisper sandals for women and Keen Clearwater CNX sandals for men. I love these sandals first and foremost because they are close-toed, which gives me the freedom to power through rivers without the worry of stubbing my toes. I also love that they are lightweight, they have outstanding traction, and are quick-drying and washable. And while Chacos remain his go-to, Ronto also mentioned Keen sandals for those whore worried about exposed toes on difficult terrain: Keen sandals protect your feet a bit more with their toe cup. The Chaco Z/2 has all the benefits of the Z/1, but with an added toe loop to keep your feet in place when trails turn rocky and treacherous. Ive hiked, camped, paddleboarded, biked, and basically lived in them over the summertime, says Taylor McFarland, administrative assistant at the Sierra Club New Jersey chapter. McFarland has worn hers, from hiking in the parks of Monmouth County to dancing at Mountain Jam, the annual music festival held at Hunter Mountain. Matt Smith, youth-programs manager at Outdoor Outreach, said his Z/2s are still going strong after a decade of more than 500 outings, from the jungles of Ecuador, the mountains of Yellowstone, the forest of Northern California, and the beaches of San Diego. Best sandals for long hikes Still more Chacos: Kelly Maggs, a merchandise manager for footwear at REI, prefers the Z/Cloud for its pillowy footbed, a necessity for arch support on long hikes. The Z/Clouds soft feel comes from an extra layer of polyurethane foam that adds cushioning without packing on weight. I love the strap adjustments to customize the fit to my foot, she said. And the great grippy outsole so I stay upright when scrambling on rocks. Most experts agreed that their hiking sandals had to meet the high standards they set for their boots. Although Merrell and Chaco share the same parent company, Merrells expertise in hiking-boot technology informs this sandals design. Nicole Brown, founder of Women Who Hike, a community for female hikers with chapters organizing group hikes in all 50 states, Canada, Europe, and Australia, likes the Merrell All Out Blaze sandal because it features the same durable, slip-resistant Vibram sole found on many hiking boots by Merrell. Since its durable enough for any adventure, she recommended it as a reliable hiking sandal for trails with stream crossings and waterfalls, and its great for hiking mixed terrain, including hikes with any rock scrambling. Also, unlike the Chaco buckle closure, the Velcro straps on these sandals allow for easy on-and-off, and quick tightening or loosening on the go. [Editors note: The open-toed version of this sandal is sold out, but the closed-toe version is still available for men and women at Amazon, starting at $75 and $85 respectively.] Merrell Choprock Strap $126 Like the Merrell All Out Blaze mens sandals, this pair of womens Merrell hiking sandals feature a grippy Vibram sole and durable construction with Velcro straps for quick and easy adjustments mid-hike. $126 at Amazon Buy Best packable hiking sandal Xero Shoes Z-Trail - Lightweight Hiking and Running Sandal $80 For backpacking and camping trips that last more than a day or two and cover lots of different terrain, it can be helpful to have the choice between traditional hiking shoes and sandals. Like the name suggests, Xero shoes weigh very little and give the sensation of hiking barefoot. Plus they roll up like a lil burrito for easy packing. Every year, our family hikes a trail that goes to the top of South Arapahoe peak, says Jennifer West, a movement coach who loves hiking the Colorado Mountains. West packs these minimal but grippy sandals in her backpack for areas of the trail with water: They take up next to no space in my backpack, they have great grip, and they dry quickly. $80 at REI Buy $80 at Zappos Buy Best budget hiking sandal Less than half the price of a pair of Chacos, the Teva Orginal Universal sandals are an affordable pick that also feature adjustable straps and a sole with lots of grip for traction on uneven terrain. And just like Chacos, theyre designed to get wet so theyll be able to handle hikes that go from trail to river and back. Maya Eliahou, a backpacker and recent Berkeley grad whos been hiking since she was 5 years old, told us she prefers Tevas Original Universal sandals for simple hikes or short backpacking trips with water crossings or swims. She adds, I use my Teva Original Universals because theyre about $50 and very light compared to other Teva models at 5.4 oz. per shoe. They get the job done. Eliahou also mentioned that shed heard great things about the Cairn Pro sandals from Bedrock, but reportedly didnt love the feeling of the strap between my toes. Best socks to pair with hiking sandals Wearing sandals over socks is so uncool to the extreme that its actually become cool again. When hikers do this, they go with wool socks under hiking sandals. Wool is naturally moisture-wicking and odor-resistant, so these socks are actually a good match for active hikers and wet terrain. Erika Skogg said, If its a cold summer morning in Alaska or Montana, I usually start the day with Chacos and thick wool socks because I know how quickly those mornings can transition into hot afternoons. She loves these cozy, lightweight Darn Tough socks that she can throw in her pack when it warms up. Theyre made in Vermont and come with a lifetime guarantee. Matt Schonwald agreed: Any sock from Darn Tough will be the best socks you own. These two pairs for men and for women will keep your feet cool and dry in hot weather thanks to moisture-wicking materials. get the strategist newsletter Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts. 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. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best womens jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. Los Angeles (AFP) - A major Texas border station has been temporarily closed due to a fever outbreak, officials said, one day after a Guatemalan teenager diagnosed with flu at the facility died in immigration custody. Medical staff imposed the quarantine at the McAllen processing center after a "large number" of detainees were found to have high fevers and symptoms of a flu-related illness. "To avoid the spread of illness, the Rio Grande Valley Sector has temporarily suspended intake operations at the CPC," Customs and Border Protection said in a statement late Tuesday, referring to the Central Processing Center. "Medical staff are currently working to provide all subjects with proper medical treatment." People detained in Rio Grande Valley will be held in other stations until the situation is resolved, it said. A 16-year-old boy died Monday in immigration custody in Texas, becoming the fifth child from Guatemala to die since December after being apprehended by US border patrol agents. The boy, identified as Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, had been detained on May 13 after crossing the border, and was processed at the McAllen center, according to US media reports. He was seen by a nurse who determined he had the flu and moved to a nearby facility at Weslaco to avoid other detainees getting sick. He was found unresponsive Monday during a welfare check, an hour after agents had last checked on him. The Border Patrol agency has come under intense scrutiny in recent months over its treatment of children apprehended at the border. Border enforcement officials earlier this year said the country's immigration system had reached a "breaking point" of illegal border crossings that have overwhelmed the system, especially in the Rio Grande Valley. Almost half a million people have been stopped at the southern US border since October. Most who cross without authorization surrender to authorities and file for asylum. Overcrowding at emergency shelters has forced authorities to release some migrants from detention as they await a review of their asylum applications. The McAllen center is one of the busiest along the US-Mexican border. Blantyre (Malawi) (AFP) - Malawi opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday warned against attempts to rig the country's election, claiming he was leading as votes were slowly tallied. Chakwera said his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was conducting its own count, even though local observers earlier declared the election largely free and fair. "So far the message is clear, we know that we have a tremendous lead," he told an impromptu news conference at his house in Blantyre. "No one is going to rig this election. Justice is going to prevail." Early official results had shown President Peter Mutharika in the lead but the electoral commission website said only 20,000 ballots had been counted. The country has around 6.8 million potential voters but turn-out has not yet been published. Mutharika, in office since 2014, has faced accusations of corruption and cronyism. "Those in power, I know you, you're trying to tamper with elections," Chakwera said, who came a narrow second in the 2014 election. "I warn you, you will soon face the long arm of the law". Chakwera has campaigned on an anti-graft platform and has been credited with reviving the MCP. Two months ago, he secured the high-profile support of former president Joyce Banda. The MCP ruled Malawi from 1964 to 1994 under Hastings Banda's one-party rule but has since been in opposition. The other main candidate contesting the election is Mutharika's own deputy president Saulos Chilima. Nandin Patel, political science lecturer at the Catholic University in Malawi, told AFP that the election count could be "very contentious". Malawi has a "winner takes all" system and in 2014 Mutharika won with just 36 percent of the vote. He came to power in the aid-dependent country vowing to tackle corruption after the "Cashgate" scandal erupted a year earlier, revealing massive looting from state coffers. But his government has been dogged by several high-profile cases of corruption and nepotism. Story continues Jane Ansah, chairwoman of the Malawi Electoral Commission, told reporters that transmission problems had slowed the vote count. The National Initiative for Civic Education, which deployed more than 5,000 monitors, said in a statement that despite isolated incidents of scuffles and disputes, election day was largely peaceful. Foreign observer missions are expected to give their verdicts on Thursday. A man who threatened to murder as many girls as he could see may escape a jail sentence, despite pleading guilty to a charge of attempted threat of terrorism. Christopher Cleary wrote a detailed Facebook post about how he planned to become the next mass shooter in January 2019. The 27-year-old described himself as a virgin who had never had a girlfriend. He also said he wanted to make the fact that so many women had turned him down right by going on a shooting spree, according to documents filed by Provo Police. Cleary was arrested on 19 January after publishing the Facebook post. Cleary then struck a deal with Utah prosecutors, pleading guilty to a reduced criminal charge. Attempted threat of terrorism is a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. But Utah prosecutors agreed to recommend him for probation, despite his extensive criminal record. A judge will decide whether or not to accept the deal at a hearing on Thursday. The 27-year-old has been accused of stalking multiple times, with at least eight alleged victims contacting the authorities about his behaviour since 2012, according to police and court records. He was on probation following a marijuana conviction in 2016 when he was charged with stalking two teenagers he had met online. Cleary was put on probation for the stalking cases but in 2017 was charged with stalking and harassing his case worker. In 2018 judges in Jefferson County, Colorado sentenced him, once again, to probation for all three stalking cases. In one of the cases a 19-year-old woman said she lived with Cleary for a fortnight in a hotel room. She said that he strangled and urinated on her during that time, court records show. Cleary was out on probation for the three cases when he was arrested in a McDonald's in January, after publishing his Facebook post. Pam Russell, a spokeswoman for the Utahs county prosecutors office, said once the case was concluded Cleary would be returned to Colorado. Story continues Prosecutors in Denver will seek to revoke his probation and send him to prison in relation for the stalking and harassment cases, she added. All I wanted to be was loved, Cleary wrote in his Facebook post. Yet no one cares about me, Im 27 years old and Ive never had a girlfriend before and Im still a virgin, this is why Im planning on shooting up a public place soon and being the next mass shooter cause Im ready to die. It is unclear how truthful the Facebook post was, as at least two of Clearys accusers have said they had a sexual relationship with him. Some news reports have speculated that Cleary could be part of the incel movement, which promotes the misogynistic idea that men are entitled to have sex with women. But a Colorado police detective, who investigated two accusations against the 27-year-old, said there as no evidence he was part of the movement. I truly think hes just wired differently, he said. Additional reporting by agencies The Urbanist Insider travel recommendations from local experts. A street in Sodermalm, Stockholm. Photo: CSP/Getty Images/AWL Images RM Its commonly understood that the best way to explore a new place is to go straight to the locals. Each week in the Urbanist, we take that wisdom one step further by seeking out not just locals but local experts those who are especially well versed in their cities newest and most noteworthy scenes to give us insider tips. This week, we asked Johannes Carlstrom, interior architect and founder of Note Design Studio, for his recommendations in the Swedish capital. I think Stockholm has the same kind of values as Scandinavian design: clean, functional, democratic, and aesthetically pleasing. The city has been preserved quite well. Theres a strong idea of preserving old buildings and restoring and keeping what has been for the future. If you come to Stockholm, come in the spring or summer. The days are long and people are just starved for sunlight from the long, dark winter and the city is buzzing with activity. Stockholm is surrounded by water, so you can easily end a late night by having an outdoor swim or go out in the archipelago to enjoy nature and relax. Gamla Stan, the Old Town, is a bit touristy during the summer, but otherwise its a really nice part to visit just to walk around lots of narrow streets and old buildings. In Djurgarden, you have the Nordic Museum (Nordiska museet, Djurgardsvagen 6-16), which shows the history of the Swedish home, as well as Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet, Galarvarvsvagen 14), which has a big old wooden ship from the 17th century. Thats quite impressive. His Other Musts Hotel Ett Hem was originally built as a private residence in 1910. Photo: Courtesy of Ett Hem In the last few years, theres been an explosion of new hotels. One of the standouts might be Ett Hem (Skoldungagatan 2), which means a home. Its a small hotel, but its super-well-curated. Its not cheap, but it has a homey vibe to it. And its super, super, superaesthetically nice. They have treated the interior as a private space, not as a public hotel, with the scale and functionality and comfort of a home creating a relaxed but elegant vibe that I really enjoy. Neighborhood The view from Sodermalm. Photo: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images I would go to Sodermalm to search for an Airbnb. It is, generally speaking, the creative part of Stockholm. There you will find experimental restaurants, vintage stores, and small-scale, edgy fashion stores. If you want to go out dancing in Soder, I recommend Under Bron (Hammarby Slussvag 2), a big outdoor club under one of the central bridges a really creative and fun place. Its also close to Gamla Stan and Skeppsholmen, where many art and design museums are (Moderna Museet, ArkDes). Scandinavian Design Stores The Arranging Things showroom is open Thursdays. Photo: Courtesy of Arranging Things One of the go-to places is Asplund design store (Sibyllegatan 31). Its been around for more than 20 years. Theyve been doing really nice work for a long time, and its still really updated. Now theyre even producing themselves. Its a really good place to find not only Scandinavian but a selection of European design. Its located in Ostermalm, which is one of the more posh areas. If you go in the other direction, theres a small place that hasnt been open for long not too many people have found it yet called Arranging Things (Erstagatan 17). Its just a beautiful little store. They have a selection of mostly secondhand or antique stuff. You can find really unique stuff. If were talking about a curated selection, you will find it there. Local Restaurant Pelikan's meatballs (left) with cream sauce, gherkins, and lingonberries. Photo: Jack Bengtsson/Courtesy of Pelikan (meatballs); Christer Fahlstrom/Courtesy of Pelikan. Pelikan's meatballs (left) with cream sauce, gherkins, and lingonberries. Photo: Jack Bengtsson/Courtesy of Pelikan (meatballs); Christer Fahlstrom/Co... more Pelikan's meatballs (left) with cream sauce, gherkins, and lingonberries. Photo: Jack Bengtsson/Courtesy of Pelikan (meatballs); Christer Fahlstrom/Courtesy of Pelikan. Its not cliche to order Swedish meatballs; its just good food. One of the best places is Pelikan (Blekingegatan 40). Its super-traditional. It was a beer cafe in the beginning, a big room, old furniture. Now its a restaurant with a bar, of course. Theyve preserved everything. Its loud and its a bit messy but the interiors are really nice. There you find the best meatballs and lots of locals. Not too many tourists find that place. The guys next to you on one side of the table will be like the guys drinking beer every day, but on the other side there will be business guys having meatballs. Brewery From left: Photo: Erik Wahlstrom Photo: Erik Wahlstrom/Courtesy of Omnipollos Hatt From left: Photo: Erik Wahlstrom Photo: Erik Wahlstrom/Courtesy of Omnipollos Hatt Theres this brewery called Omnipollo. Its craft beer, quite small scale, but theyre starting to pick up a little bit. They have a place where they serve pizza and beer called Omnipollos hatt (Hokens gata 1A). The beer is fantastic. Its rich and its complex. I recommend the Aon Pecan Mud imperial stout, but beware, its heavy, with a powerful aroma. All the interior is bespoke, made by Kristoffer Sundin, Simon Klenell, and Fredrik Paulsen. Spa Yasuragi spa. Photo: Courtesy of Yasuragi Centralbadet (Drottninggatan 88) is nice and located right in the middle of the city, but I would recommend the Yasuragi (Hamndalsvagen 6). Its more of a Japanese spa, but it has some Swedish influences. Its located a bit outside of Stockholm in Nacka. Super-nice, with a view of the water and the forest nearby. You could just do the sauna. You could also take a sauna, swim a little bit to cool down, take a sauna again, swim a little bit, and take the sauna again. You dont want to stay in the sauna for too long. Its good to stay there for maybe 10, 15 minutes, have a little break, and then do it again. Park Hellasgarden. Photo: Karin Alfredsson I like Hagaparken. Its a bit on the outskirts of the city center. Its a big park and theres nice cafes. Theres a butterfly house with butterflies from all over the world. If you want to have an experience of nature, you can go to Hellasgarden. You can go there by bus; it takes like 15 to 20 minutes. You can book a sauna: In the winter, they cut up the ice from the lake right next to it, so you can have a sauna and go out and have an ice bath. You can also rent ice skates and go skating around the lake. There are also nature trails there, so you can hike. Day Trip One of the smallest islets (left) outside of Stockholm. The boardwalk at Artipelag (right). Photo: Sven Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images; enricobbbb/CC BY-SA 4.0. One of the smallest islets (left) outside of Stockholm. The boardwalk at Artipelag (right). Photo: Sven Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images; enricobbbb/CC BY-... more One of the smallest islets (left) outside of Stockholm. The boardwalk at Artipelag (right). Photo: Sven Nackstrand/AFP/Getty Images; enricobbbb/CC BY-SA 4.0. Theres an archipelago right outside of Stockholm. Theres lots of boats going from the city center out to the archipelago daily, because people live in the archipelago and work in the city. You can go on boats through Stromma. In the summertime, its really nice. You can go to these places where theres a lot of restaurants or go further out and find small islands where just a few people live. I would recommend to take the boat to Artipelag (Artipelagstigen 1), a very nice art gallery and restaurant, for a combined cultural and nature experience. OCEANPORT, N.J. (AP) Maximum Security has breezed through four furlongs at Monmouth Park. The track says the 3-year-old was timed in 53.80 seconds on Wednesday during a leisurely workout. Trainer Jason Servis didn't immediately respond to a text message from The Associated Press seeking comment. Servis hasn't indicated where Maximum Security will race next. Monmouth Park officials hope Maximum Security runs in either the Pagasus or the Haskell Invitational, both at the Jersey Shore track. The Pegasus is in June and the Haskell in July. Maximum Security arrived at Monmouth Park on May 7, three days after becoming the first horse to be disqualified after finishing first in the 145-year history of the Kentucky Derby. Servis trained him for one day and then decided to give the colt more rest. London (AFP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May stared at the prospect Thursday of her political career coming to an inglorious end after her final attempt to save her unpopular Brexit deal was met with condemnation in parliament and the resignation of a senior government figure. The beleaguered premier is in the last throes of a tumultuous rule focused all-but exclusively on guiding her fractured country out of the European Union. But three overwhelming rejections by parliament of the terms she struck with the other 27 nations last year have forced Britain to miss the original March 29 departure date and plead for more time. Anxious members of May's party met behind closed doors Wednesday to discuss changes to the rules that would let them vote no-confidence in her leadership in the days to come. Her woes were made worse when Andrea Leadsom -- one of cabinet's strongest Brexit backers -- resigned from her post as the government's representative in parliament over May's handling of the slowly-unfolding crisis. "I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the (2016) referendum results," Leadsom said in her resignation letter. In her response May thanked Leadsom for her "passion, drive and sincerity", but took issue with her assessment of the government's Brexit strategy. "I do not agree with you that the deal which we have negotiated with the European Union means that the United Kingdom will not become a sovereign country," May said. May is now paying the price for failing to deliver on the wishes of voters who chose by a narrow margin in 2016 to break their uneasy four-decade involvement in the European integration project. Her Conservatives are set to get thumped in European Parliament elections Thursday in which the brand new Brexit Party of anti-EU populist Nigel Farage is running away with the polls. May has already promised to step down no matter the outcome of her fourth attempt to ram her version of Brexit through parliament in early June. Story continues But even that sacrifice -- and a package of sweeteners unveiled Wednesday that included a chance for lawmakers to get a second Brexit referendum -- failed to win hearts and minds. "It's time for the prime minister to go," Ian Blackford of the pro-EU Scottish National Party told May as she tried to defend her latest proposals in parliament. "Will she do it?" May ignored the question and called the upcoming vote Britain's last chance to leave the EU with a negotiated deal that can avert economic chaos. Parliament should "stop ducking the issues and get on with the job that British people instructed us to do," she said. Many of Thursday's newspaper front pages pictured May apparently with tears in her eyes. "May set to go after Brexit fiasco," said The Sun tabloid. - Election drubbing - Things look set to get even worse for May in the days and weeks to come. The European elections are being interpreted in Britain as a referendum on Brexit and on May's ability to get the job done. They make grim reading for the government team. A YouGov survey Wednesday showed Farage's Brexit Party claiming 37-percent support. The pro-EU Liberal Democrats were second on 19 percent. The main opposition Labour Party was on 13 percent and May's Conservatives were lagging in fifth place with just seven percent. "If we win these elections and win them well, we have a democratic mandate," Farage said Thursday. Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable told supporters that a vote for his party was "a vote to stop Brexit". His group's open rejection of Brexit appears to be resonating with pro-EU voters who would normally back one of the two main parties. - 'We can do better' - May is still hoping to stay in power long enough to somehow win parliament's approval of the EU divorce terms before its summer recess begins on July 20. This would let the country leave at the end of that month -- as long as lawmakers reject a second referendum. Otherwise the process could be delayed until October 31 -- the deadline set by the EU -- or even later if its leaders grant Britain another postponement. But pressure within both May's government and party is building for her to go now so that a new leader can rescue the process before Britain crashes out without a deal. UK media reports said that Wednesday's meeting of Conservative parliamentarians discussed changes in rules focused on pushing May out the door within days. The field of candidates to succeed May is led by former foreign secretary Boris Johnson -- a divisive figure who enjoys relatively strong public support. The drumbeat among Democrats to begin impeachment proceedings against President Trump got a little louder on Tuesday, when former White House counsel Donald McGahn failed to appear before the House Judiciary Committee after Trump instructed him to defy a subpoena. Our subpoenas are not optional, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler said at the hearing, McGahns empty seat directly in his view. The president has taken it upon himself to intimidate a witness who has a legal obligation to be here today. This conduct is not remotely acceptable. Nadler vowed to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress, and to hold Trump accountable one way or the other. We will not allow the president to block congressional subpoenas, putting himself and his allies above the law, he said. We will not allow the president to stop this investigation. Nothing in these unjustified and unjustifiable legal attacks will stop us from pressing forward with our work on behalf of the American people. McGahn was a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Trump's attempts to stop his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. House Democrats want to hear more from McGahn about an episode of possible obstruction detailed in the Mueller report. McGahn said Trump ordered him to tell Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to fire Mueller. Trump has falsely claimed that the report totally exonerated him. While the special counsel declined to charge Trump with obstruction of justice, investigators explicitly refused to exonerate the president. The witness chair for former White House counsel Don McGahn is seen empty on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. (Photo: J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Trumps vow to defy all congressional subpoenas has led some Democrats and one Republican to call for the launch of impeachment proceedings. On Tuesday morning, the two co-chairs of the Progressive Caucus issued statements pushing for those proceedings to begin. Regrettably, the Presidents most recent actions and continued disrespect for the Constitution are forcing us down the road to impeachment, said Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis. Congress is a co-equal branch of government, charged with oversight of the Executive Branch and with the power to subpoena information and individuals. The President and his associates are engaging in a campaign of obstruction and lawlessness that undermines the rule of law and does not reflect the actions of someone who is exonerated as innocent. Story continues We are now at the point where we must begin an impeachment inquiry, wrote Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., in a tweet. I don't say that lightly. We've taken every step we can w/subpoenas and witnesses. Trump obstructs everything. A president who thinks hes king, accountable to nobody & above the law is absolutely unacceptable. They were joined by Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who told the Washington Post he supported moving forward with the process. I think that overwhelming evidence has been presented to us in the Mueller report, and outside of it too, of high crimes and misdemeanors, and we should launch an impeachment inquiry, said Raskin. Remember, an inquiry doesnt prejudge the outcome. Were not talking about articles of impeachment. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa., vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said in a statement that "the time has come to start an impeachment inquiry." Congress has patiently tried to work within traditional means to get to the bottom of this extraordinary situation," Scanlon said. "But we have reached an inflection point." The House cannot remove the president on its own. If it votes one or more articles of impeachment, the Senate would be required to hold a trial and vote on removal. Two presidents, Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, have been impeached but were acquitted by the Senate and remained in office. Richard Nixon resigned in the face of likely impeachment. White House Counsel Don McGahn sits behind President Trump during a meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., June 21, 2018. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/File Photo) On Monday, Democrats held a contentious closed-door debate, per a Politico report. While some members pushed for an impeachment inquiry if McGahn refused to testify, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team rejected the call to move forward. The Speaker pointed to a federal ruling that Trump had to turn over accounting information to the House Oversight Committee as evidence that the Houses oversight procedures were functioning. Others disagreed. Its a fact-finding process, said Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., of the push to start an impeachment inquiry after making the case to Pelosi in the meeting. Theres no doubt that opening an inquiry strengthens the hand of Congress in forcing compliance with subpoenas, whether its for documents or individuals. While most of the Republican Party has closed ranks around Trump, Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., came out in support of impeachment proceedings over the weekend. Amash, a libertarian who came to Congress in the tea party wave of 2010, said there was enough evidence in the special counsels report to begin a congressional investigation of the president. Trump replied by calling the five-term representative a loser and total lightweight. On Tuesday morning, CBS News reported that Amash was talking to a school group outside the Capitol about why impeachment proceedings needed to begin, stating that people who didnt tell the truth are really dangerous for our country. A pro-Trump Republican in Amashs district has already announced he will be challenging the congressman in the primary prior to next years election. Pelosi originally came out against impeachment in March. Im not for impeachment, said Pelosi in an interview with the Washington Post. This is news. Im going to give you some news right now because I havent said this to any press person before. But since you asked, and Ive been thinking about this: 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. Freshmen Democrats have been pushing for impeachment since beginning their tenure. Shortly after being sworn in in January, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., said Were going to impeach the motherf***er. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told Yahoo News in April that she was in favor of the process. It is just as politicized a maneuver to not impeach in the face of overwhelming evidence as it is to impeach w/o cause, wrote Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter Tuesday. Congress swore an oath to uphold the Constitution. That includes impeachment. We have a duty to preserve our institutions + uphold the rule of law. ___ Read more from Yahoo News: Chris Hemsworth (H) with M (Tessa Thompson) in Marrakech in Columbia Pictures' MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL. (Sony Pictures) Its been seven years since Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones last put on their shades for Men in Black 3 and more than two decades since the first film came out back in 1997. But now Agents J and K are gone, replaced by Chris Hemsworth (as H) and Tessa Thompson (M) in a spin-off which expands the MiB universe and aims to relaunch the franchise. The production will soon be heading to the Amalfi Coast and Marrakech (site of the hoverbike chase you get a taste of in the trailer), but today (August 2018) cast and crew and Yahoo are standing on an East London street in the aftermath of an alien battle, recreated inside a large soundstage at Leavesden studios. Meanwhile, two Marvel stars fire large silver laser guns at nothing, occasionally ducking imaginary debris. Its not a reboot or a remake, its a continuation of whats been before, explains Hemsworth, during a break in the intergalactic fracas. Weve had such a great foundation we just have to not screw it up. New recruit Agent M (Tessa Thompson) and Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) riding the Marrakesh Hyperloop in Columbia Pictures' MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL. (Sony Pictures) Anyone whos seen Thor: Ragnarok will know how good chemistry is between Hemsworth and Thompson. After becoming friends on that set they talked about what else they could work on (We joked about remaking The Bodyguard, says Tessa) and Men in Black: International felt like the perfect fit. I love the originals, says Hemsworth. I thought it was an opportunity to take something that was familiar and do our own version of it. Read more: Men In Black: International first trailer I think we traded a text message or email [about doing it together], continues Thompson. I play a new agent who instead of being recruited by the Men in Black has found the Men in Black and we end up together on mission. HOLLYWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 10: Actors Tessa Thompson (L) and Chris Hemsworth at The World Premiere of Marvel Studios' 'Thor: Ragnarok' at the El Capitan Theatre on October 10, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney) [When Tessas character] is a 7-year-old, something happens and the MiB come to visit, explains executive producer E. Bennett Walsh. Her parents are neuralised, but she isnt. Shes obsessed with trying to find [the Men in Black]. Hired by MiB New York boss Emma Thompson (a holdover from the initial trilogy), she is soon dispatched to the bureaus London branch. Story continues For my character M, shes someone that for whatever reason has felt like she doesnt belong and she has an experience as a young child that makes her interested in this organisation, adds Thompson. I think what shes really after is sense of belonging. How the world works MIB agents in the MIB London office in Columbia Pictures' MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL (Sony Pictures) Like Hemsworth says, this isnt about retconning the narrative or pretending the Smith/Lee Jones storyline didnt exist. Instead, it simply takes place in the present day and reveals that the MiB is in fact a global concern, with offices all over the world connected by a secret, high-speed subway called the Hyperloop (Elon Musk cameo confirmed?). Once H and M team up, they are faced with a number of potentially apocalyptic problems a mole in the organisation, a three-armed interplanetary arms dealer called Riza (who also happens to be Hs ex) played by Rebecca Ferguson, a pair of identical assassins comprised of pure energy (French model-dancers Les Twins) and a gadget called the Triple D, which is essentially a pocket black hole. That may sound complicated, but at its heart, the concept is pretty simple. I always say that the Men in Black films are cop movies, says producer Walter Parkes, who helped birth the franchise. Its in the merging of the hardboiled cop movie and the imaginative science fiction that we have our special place in the universe. That MiB look Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) in London's MIB Headquarters in Columbia Pictures' MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL (Sony Pictures) They do wear the suits. And the glasses. But while the design of the original series was inspired by 60s modernism, Walter Parkes says the London office is more 1940s art deco. Were staying in the realm of making this distinct architectural choice, but were freshening it up, he says. The currently-half-finished office set (which in the movie is hidden in plain sight inside a poky corner London pub) still has that airport terminal feel. At one end theres a large ball structure that will house boss High Ts (Liam Neeson) office, while at the other, the escalators up from Canary Wharf station will be digitally inserted. Read more: Hemsworth was exhausted with Thor Itll be populated by some of the 100 new prosthetic aliens, which, according to make-up and hair designer Jeremy Woodhead, will keep to the vernacular of the original in some ways with echoes and memories of whats gone before while being fresh and new. Mail and File Delivery Person in the MIB NY office in Columbia Pictures' MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL. (Sony Pictures) Once the duo head off to Europe, theres an even cooler Mediterranean vibe. Riza lives in a beautiful villa cut into the side of an island off the coast of Italy. The interior is recreated at Leavesden theres a tree in the middle of the house and real vegetation planted all around. As for the weaponry, director F. Gary Gray (Fast & Furious 8, Straight Outta Compton) wanted things to be shiny. I get a chance to be a kid again, he laughs, have some fun with the toys. So yes, the neuraliser will return, as will an arsenal of chrome. As Hemsworth and Thompson attempt to fend off the baddies on their fake London street, the newbie discovers various parts of their car house more than just an exhaust pipe or wing mirror. Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) and Agent M (Tessa Thompson) in London for Columbia Pictures' MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL. (Sony Pictures) Theres a Tommy gun, a laser version of that which is pretty epic, smiles Hemsworth, who spends a lot of time in the scene whooping and hollering like some kind of be-suited cowboy, while firing CGI bullets at something. 21 Alien Street Arriving at this point has been a while in the making. Back in 2014, word broke of plans for a crossover between Men in Black and 21 Jump Street. Scripts were written and a director was hired. An MIB agent in Columbia Pictures' MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL. (Sony Pictures) Its one of those ideas that when you first hear it, its almost like a marketing executives dream, reveals Parkes. But when you really come down to it, the two franchises [operate] on very different principles. Jump Street kind of takes ordinary undercover cop ideas and plays them as big and broad and goofy as you can Men In Black takes very exotic, almost absurd situations of science-fiction and plays them straight. So I thought, from the very beginning, that that was going to be a tough one to pull off, because I thought the tone of the two movies were very, very different. But it was certainly something we tried. Read more: Men In Black Jump St film shelved But while this new version is more of a tentpole FX blockbuster, as well as what someone on-set describes as a road movie, the success of Men in Black is mostly down to how much we care about the people wearing those noir threads. Its a buddy comedy, admits Parkes. At the end of the day, what really made [the first movies] was the relationship between J and K as embodied by the chemistry between Will and Tommy. Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith in publicity portrait for the film 'Men In Black II', 2002. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images) Youre highly unlikely to be seeing any cameos from those guys and the producers didnt actively reach out to them. I know [original director] Barry [Sonnenfeld] has [given his blessing], says exec producer Walsh. Instead, the pressure rests on the not-insubstantial shoulders of Hemsworth and Thompson. My characters a little unhinged, a little nutty, says the Aussie star. He certainly has a style and way of doing things which is pretty unorthodox. He sort of gets away with it because he gets results and because of his close relationship with his boss and mentor figure. That bumps against Ms approachits a sort of head versus heart vibe. They definitely clash. Agent M (Tessa Thompson) and Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) in Morocco in Columbia Pictures' MEN IN BLACK: INTERNATIONAL. (Sony Pictures) And for any of you concerned the filmmakers might attempt to water down that central relationship by introducing a romantic element, dont worry. Its against company policy, deadpans Thompson. Hes a friend from work. Men in Black: International will be in cinemas worldwide from 14 June. By Diego Ore MEXICO CITY, May 22 (Reuters) - Mexico aims to slow a surge in U.S.-bound Central American migrants from entering its territory from next year once a regional development plan begins taking hold, a senior Mexican official said. Mass migration from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador has strained relations between Mexico and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico if its government does not stop the flow of migrants. The United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on Monday presented a development plan for the three countries and Mexico that seeks to address the migration surge by reducing violence and boosting economic growth. Maximiliano Reyes, Mexico's deputy foreign minister responsible for Latin America and the Caribbean, said the first priority was to cut the rate at which migrants leave the three key countries, all of which suffer from high levels of violence and poverty. "We hope that this year we can start with some steps (from the ECLAC plan) so that next year we can bring down the rate," Reyes said in an interview with Reuters on Tuesday. "We can get to a turning point as of month 13 or 14 from when we start applying public policy steps agreed." The ECLAC plan proposes raising investment to at least 25% of gross domestic product in the targeted Central American countries, better integrating their energy networks, improving education and ramping up local welfare spending. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wants the United States to contribute to development plans, but Trump has instead threatened to slash aid to the region citing the spike in migrants pressing toward the U.S. border. Skepticism is widespread in Mexico that Trump, who has frequently criticized Mexico and Central America, will commit additional U.S. funds to helping the region. Mexico's government estimates annual investment of $10 billion is needed to make the plan a success. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Wednesday that if investment did not increase in Central America and Mexico's poorer south, the number of migrants would keep rising. "The U.S. budget for the border with Mexico keeps rising, and in the last few years it's even doubled. Migration and the people getting to the United States aren't coming down," Reyes said. "If we want to get a different result, we should do things differently." (Reporting by Diego Ore, additional reporting by Anthony Esposito; editing by G Crosse) MEXICO CITY (AP) A morgue in western Mexico was so overcrowded and poorly run that some unidentified bodies were left to rot for two years before being autopsied, a report said Wednesday. The Jalisco state human rights commission said that by the time the bodies were autopsied, many no longer had readable fingerprints due to decomposition. The commission said some bodies remained in refrigerated drawers or trailers for almost four years before being buried in paupers' graves. Few attempts were made to identify the dead, even though many had ID cards in their pockets, it said. Morgue officials said they hadn't performed DNA testing because of the cost, estimated at around $200 a body. The commission said the morgue in the city of Guadalajara violated the rights of the victims and their families. The case came to light in September, when neighbors complained about the smell coming from a trailer that was found to hold 273 corpses. IL&FS has initiated a comprehensive claims management process for 70 group entities and claims worth over Rs 50,000 crore are expected to be filed by creditors, according to industry sources. The new board of IL&FS Group, which has a debt burden of more than Rs 90,000 crore, as well as the government are working on ways to address the issues. The IL&FS board has initiated a comprehensive claims management process for 70 group entities, a statement said on Tuesday. Industry sources said the 70 companies account for a large part of the group's overall debt and claims worth over Rs 50,000 crore are expected to be filed by creditors in this process. ALSO READ:ED carries out fresh raid at premises of 4 directors of IL&FS in Mumbai "The claims process is being run in an effort to crystallise the financial and operational liabilities of IL&FS Group to facilitate distribution of proceeds from the resolution process," the statement had said. Grant Thornton India LLP is the claims management advisor for overseeing and executing the process. The distribution of claims amount would be in accordance with the proposed resolution framework filed with the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) by the the government. ALSO READ:IL&FS begins claim process for 70 group entities "All financial and operational creditors to these 70 entities are invited to submit a proof of their claim in respect of liabilities due up to and including October 15, 2018 to Grant Thornton," the statement had said. On Tuesday, the corporate affairs ministry informed the NCLAT that the resolution process for 10 profitable IL&FS group companies, having total debt of Rs 11,564 crore, was underway. The board IL&FS has decided to adopt an "asset level resolution" with regard to various group companies and entities. IL&FS Group comprises over 300 entities. By Lizbeth Diaz and Delphine Schrank MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Buckling under surging asylum applications and the lowest budget in years, Mexico's tiny refugee agency has turned to the United Nations for help opening three new offices across the country starting next month, its director said on Tuesday. Mexico is on track for 60,000 asylum applications this year, double the 2018 number, said Andres Ramirez, the head of the Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR). The increase is a result of a surge in people leaving Central America, along with Cuba and countries further afield. The number of undocumented migrants reaching the U.S. border is the highest in a decade, triggering threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to punish Mexico if it does not do more to stop the flows. Ramirez, who served 28 years with the U.N. refugee agency before joining the administration of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, said COMAR was so overwhelmed he had turned to his former employer for help. "We at COMAR are simply trying to survive," Ramirez said in an interview with Reuters. As well as the rising number of applications, which have doubled for three consecutive years, COMAR is facing its lowest funding in seven years, with a budget of $1.2 million, as the government tries to meet austere fiscal targets. "Our central issue is a concern with resources - we are fighting for them, we are struggling for them - but we can't self-finance, we don't have the capacity in our hands alone to revolve this," Ramirez said. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is offering financial support and staff that will enable COMAR to open offices to deal with the surge, he said. The first new office will be in the northern border city of Tijuana, then Monterrey, and Palenque in the southern border state of Chiapas where the vast majority of mainly Central American migrants cross into Mexico from Guatemala. The new offices would double COMAR's current number. Ramirez said the UNHCR support included the secondment of personnel to supplement COMAR's 48-person core staff nationwide. In response to a request for information, UNHCR said it currently has 104 contractors on loan with COMAR and was discussing additional staffing. Silvia Garduno, a spokeswoman for the agency, emphasized that the financial assistance was temporary. "Reinforcing capacity requires an increase in the allocation in the federal budget for COMAR, but also measures to simplify procedures and speed up asylum processing," the agency said. At the COMAR office in Tapachula, Chiapas state, the opportunity to seek an interview with COMAR staff has reached such a premium that migrants told Reuters on a recent visit that night-time sidewalk spots beside the gate can sell for $11 (200 pesos) to give people a headstart in lines that stretch three blocks. Ramirez said he recently told staff there to cut back on 12-hour days to avoid exhaustion. The Lopez Obrador administration took office in December and handed out at least 12,000 year-long humanitarian visas to Central Americans it expected to stay in Mexico. Many quickly moved to the U.S. border. After it stopped the program cold within weeks, overwhelmed and facing threats from Trump to shut the border, more migrants have applied for asylum in Tapachula, COMAR staff say. (Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz and Delphine Schrank; editing by Michael Perry and Leslie Adler) JACKSON, Miss. Gov. Phil Bryant signed one of the strictest abortion-ban proposals into law at a Thursday morning ceremony at the Mississippi State Capitol. Senate Bill 2116 would outlaw abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected, which comes about six weeks into pregnancy. "We think this is showing the profound respect and desire of Mississippians to protect the sanctity of that unborn life whenever possible," Bryant said of the legislation. "It also protects, we believe, the physical and mental health of the mother. We here in Mississippi believe in protecting and defending the whole life of that child." The law is certain to be challenged in court, however, a move likely to prevent it from taking effect July 1. A federal judge blocked a similar law in Kentucky last week. Here's what you need to know about the new law. 1. What does the legislation do? It outlaws abortion after a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is usually around six to nine weeks into a pregnancy sometimes, before a woman even knows she is pregnant. It provides an exception if the pregnancy threatens a woman's life or would cause serious injury, though there is no exception in the case of incest or rape. Doctors who perform an abortion after a heartbeat is detected could see their license suspended or face other discipline. Alabama clinic owner: Wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of aborted fetus 'preposterous' 2. Will it be challenged in court? Yes. Even Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who backs the new law, acknowledged as much Thursday, saying, "I'm sure that's going to happen. And that's OK." He pledged the state would fight back in court. The New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights this week called the legislation unconstitutional and promised to sue. "The term 'heartbeat bill' is a manipulative misnomer," the organization tweeted Wednesday. "These bills actually rob women of their choice to have an abortion before they even know theyre pregnant." Story continues Abortion debate: How generations born after Roe v. Wade are leading the countrys abortion conversation Bryant responded on Twitter: "We will all answer to the good Lord one day. I will say in this instance, I fought for the lives of innocent babies, even under the threat of legal action.'" The American Civil Liberties Union sued when a similar bill was signed into law by Republican Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin last week, and a federal judge blocked it from taking effect. We will all answer to the good Lord one day. I will say in this instance, I fought for the lives of innocent babies, even under threat of legal action. https://t.co/4bHEmCqN74 Phil Bryant (@PhilBryantMS) March 20, 2019 3. If the law will likely be halted, why are Mississippi and other states pushing the bans? Republican-controlled legislatures in several states have pushed the same general heartbeat ban bills in recent months. They hope a case could get to the U.S. Supreme Court that would overturn the landmark 1973 ruling, Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion and put limits on how early in a pregnancy it could be outlawed. The Supreme Court has a new conservative majority, which some view as favorable to such a major shift. In Mississippi, the measure has endured heated debate in both chambers, mostly on party lines. Democrats have often criticized Republicans backing the bill as bringing it up because it's an election year. More: An 11-year-old rape victim in Argentina begged for an abortion. Instead, she was forced to have a C-section 4. What else did Bryant say about the ban on Thursday? "The heartbeat has been the universal hallmark of life since man's very beginning," the governor said. "It starts with the child from six to nine months. I can remember the exciting moments both with my children and grandchildren ... when that heartbeat could be heard. "The celebration is often turned into tragedy when the child's life is taken. We're going to try and protect that child whenever we can." Bryant later added that he and other Republicans were "haunted by the hundreds of thousands of babies that are murdered across the nation" every year. More: Trump administration approves rule to restrict abortion clinic funding Surrounded by Mississippi legislators, Gov. Phil Bryant signs into law a bill banning abortions after a heartbeat is detected. The new legislation is among the most restrictive in the country. Thursday, March 21, 2019. 5. What do critics say about the legislation? A primary criticism is that it will waste taxpayer money defending something that will likely be found unconstitutional and not take effect. Democrats said it was Republicans pandering in an election year. State legislators last year already passed among the strictest abortion laws in the country, a ban after 15 weeks. And it was halted by a federal judge, who later found it to "unequivocally" violate women's constitutional rights. The state has continued to spend money to fight the case in court. Reeves appeared to anticipate that criticism Thursday, talking up his "record of fiscal responsibility." He said he would have "absolutely no problem supporting strongly whatever it costs to defend this lawsuit, because I care about unborn children." Others point out legislators should be focused on improving Mississippi's infant-mortality rate which ranks worst in the nation if they have deeply held beliefs about children's sanctity of life. Bryant also appeared to expect that criticism, mentioning he'd asked the state auditor earlier this year to examine $4 billion in federal and state funds spent on child services in the state to see if it could "increase the effectiveness in that." "It is worth it," Bryant said of the ban. "I think the attorney general will carry that fight to the courts." Opinion: I had a later abortion because I couldn't give my baby girl both life and peace Opinion: Liberal feminists embrace 'impurity' and post-birth abortion, excluding mainstream women Follow Luke Ramseth on Twitter: @lramseth This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Mississippi governor signs 'heartbeat' abortion ban into law. Here's what you need to know By Alan Baldwin MONACO, May 22 (Reuters) - Kimi Raikkonen is attending his 300th Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco this weekend, and the 2007 world champion could hardly care less about the milestone. In fact, the Finn told reporters on Wednesday, he had wanted no fanfare. "I tried to force them to cancel everything, but Ive not had very good success so far," said the Alfa Romeo driver, who joined from Ferrari at the end of last year. "Its no different from last week or the next race. In the end this is just a number. For sure its different from the first race but after that, once you go on for a while, it doesnt really change." The team had sent out an email race preview earlier in the day with Raikkonen's head superimposed on a picture of a bare-chested Spartan warrior from the 2006 movie '300' with the number written in blood against a backdrop of battle. "Everyone is talking about my 300th race, but Im more interested in our performance," it quoted the 39-year-old as saying. Since his race debut with Sauber (now Alfa) in Australia in 2001, the Finn has won 21 grands prix but took two years out to go rallying. Raikkonen's actual 300th race start has yet to come, however, since the veteran has missed a couple over the years for various reasons despite taking part in most of the weekend. Monaco, by most statisticians' reckoning, will be the Finn's 298th start. Retired Brazilian Rubens Barrichello holds the record number of starts with 323, a tally Raikkonen can surpass if he sees out his contract and races on to the end of 2020. Only three drivers apart from Barrichello and Raikkonen have started 300 races in their careers and all are retired -- Spaniard Fernando Alonso (311), Britain's Jenson Button and Germany's seven times world champion Michael Schumacher (306). (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Toby Davis) Johannesburg (AFP) - The US Wednesday said it was greatly disappointed that South Africa had sent home a disgraced former Mozambican finance minister who it wanted to face corruption charges in America. The US embassy in Pretoria expressed Washington's "great disappointment" at the decision, saying former minister Manuel Chang was accused of carrying out a $2 billion fraud and money laundering scheme that defrauded US investors. Earlier Wednesday, Mozambique had welcomed South Africa's move. "This is a free and sovereign decision," Mozambique Foreign Minister Jose Pacheco said in an interview with the local daily O Pais. Chang, 63, was arrested in South Africa in December at the request of US authorities over alleged involvement in fraudulent loans to Mozambique state firms. In the US, Chang faces charges of conspiracy to commit electronic fraud, financial security violations and money laundering. Mozambique has accused Chang of receiving $17 million in kickbacks in a scam which creamed off hundreds of millions of dollars. The charges against Chang relate to loans taken out by the government in Maputo when he was head of treasury between 2005 and 2015. When the hidden debt was revealed, Mozambique -- which relies on donor aid and is one of the world's poorest countries -- was plunged into the worst financial crisis in its history. Renamo, the main opposition party in Mozambique, said Wednesday it doubted whether Chang would ever face justice in his home country over the allegations. Mozambique has arrested several other suspects linked to the scandal, including the son of ex-president Armando Guebuza, and senior intelligence officials. In January, three former Credit Suisse workers were arrested in London and charged over the allegations. With just a day left for the final decision on the new government, the Election Commission has set up a 24-hour EVM Control Room at Nirvachan Sadan to monitor complaints relating to polled EVMs. Complaints regarding EVMs during counting can be registered with the control room on 011-23052123. Additionally, the EC has said that there are around 1,600 counting servers to monitor the counting of 22.3 lakh ballot units, 16.3 lakh control units and 17.3 lakh VVPATs. Moreover, reports suggest that there might be a delay in the final outcome. Trends are likely to trickle in from 8am tomorrow. Follow Lok Sabha Election 2019 latest updates on our live blog here: 5.55 PM: The Ministry of Home Affairs has alerted the state chief secretaries and DGPs (director generals of police) about the possibility of violence in different parts of the country on the counting day on Thursday. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry has asked states and the Union Territories to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility. The authorities have also been asked to take adequate measures for the security of strong rooms and the venues where the counting will be held. 3.48 PM: Catch authentic results of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 at voter helpline, the official mobile app of Election Commission of India. The much-awaited day is here. Counting of votes starts from 8 AM tomorrow. Catch authentic results of #LokSabhaElections2019 at Voter Helpline, the official mobile app of #ElectionCommission of India. Download here https://t.co/i5XKgIkkefpic.twitter.com/YqOmL6L3OF - PIB in Maharashtra (@PIBMumbai) May 22, 2019 2.50 PM: Security outside a counting centre in Pune ahead of counting of votes for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 tomorrow. Maharashtra: Security outside a counting centre in Pune ahead of counting of votes for #LokSabhaElections2019 tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/ZputqIeAA9 - ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 2.35 PM: Don't be disappointed with propaganda of fake exit polls, Rahul Gandhi tells Congress workers. , 24 , - Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 22, 2019 2.27 PM: Security outside a counting centre in AN College, Patna ahead of counting of votes for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 tomorrow. Bihar: Security outside a counting centre in AN College, Patna ahead of counting of votes for #LokSabhaElections2019 tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/8xREo7JGfA - ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 2.15 PM: Indian electorate create history by registering the highest voter turnout in the 17th General Election. Indian electorate create history by registering the highest voter turnout in the 17th General Election. #LokSabhaElections2019pic.twitter.com/muAmqQJYEE - Election Commission #DeshKaMahatyohar (@ECISVEEP) May 22, 2019 2.03 PM: Madhya Pradesh recorded it's highest ever voter turnout in Lok Sabha Elections 2019, which is almost 10 per cent higher than Lok Sabha elections 2014. Creating history!#MadhyaPradesh recorded it's highest ever voter turnout in #LokSabhaElections2019 which is almost 10% higher than LSE2014. pic.twitter.com/z6pnStVIsB - Election Commission #DeshKaMahatyohar (@ECISVEEP) May 22, 2019 1:32pm: Election Commission rejects demands of Opposition parties' regarding VVPAT. More details awaited. 1:21pm: "It's a disservice to officers to say EVMs in their custody gets hacked," says Inspector Gneral of Police, D Roopa. We r forgetting d fact tht elections are conducted by bureaucratic machinery. It's a disservice to officers to say EVMs in their custody gets hacked. Timeframe-prior,during,after polls till results,EVMs remain in officers custody. Can all officers all over country get compromised D Roopa IPS (@D_Roopa_IPS) May 22, 2019 1:17pm: "Their failure and embarrassment on providing evidence against EVMs during the discussion was like 'Khoda Pahad Nikli Chuhiya' (much ado over nothing)," said BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. He added that since Opposition was unable to digest 'defeat of the dynasty', they want to discredit democracy. 1:14pm: All counting agents, polling agents and candidates to be frisked before entering the area. Bhopal Collector S Khade: Three-tier security present at EVM Strong Room. All counting agents,polling agents & candidates to be frisked before entering the area. Movement of EVMs & counting to be done under police presence & CCTV surveillance. #MadhyaPradeshpic.twitter.com/hDMmDjoR7L ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 1:11pm: Supreme Court gives BJP candidate from Barrackpore, West Bengal, Arjun Singh, protection from arrest for five days. A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice MR Shah grants protection to Singh from arrest in cases registered against him by the West Bengal police. 1:00pm: Here's how counting of votes takes place: The counting will begin on May 23 at 8 am. The Returning Officer and the Assistant Returning Officer will take the oath to maintain the secrecy of voting and read it out aloud before the commencement of counting. EVMs will be inspected in the presence of Returning Officers before counting. Contesting candidates along with their counting agents or election agents are allowed to be present at the counting centres. Counting agents oversee the counting of votes. Once postal ballot papers are counted, the EVM counting will begin, under the supervision of the Returning Officer. In case of destruction or loss of ballot papers at the time of counting, the Returning Officer will immediately report the matter to the Election Commission. Depending on the situation, the ECI may allow completion of counting or declare it void and order repolling. If the counting ends without any complain, the Returning Officer declares the result on completion of counting. 12:45pm: Security outside Shivadi counting centre ahead of counting of votes. Maharashtra: Security outside Shivadi counting centre ahead of counting of votes for #LokSabhaElections2019 tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/YjNB6raMeI ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 12:39pm: Ahead of counting of votes for Lok Sabha polls, UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Wednesday claimed that May 23 will witness the "political funeral" of the anti-BJP alliance of opposition parties. The month of May, he said, will prove to be a "sad month" for SP, BSP and Congress, which are fighting for their political survival. "May 23 will witness the political funeral (rajnitik antim sanskar) of the anti-BJP 'gathbandhan' of SP, BSP, RLD and Congress. These parties will level allegations and counter-allegations against each other," Sharma told PTI. The deputy chief minister also claimed that in the 'gathbandhan', the SP is contesting elections to decimate the BSP and vice versa. Taking a jibe at the 'gathbandhan', he said, "With mercury rising everyday, the temperature of the 'gathbandhan' is also rising as they can easily see defeat approaching. It is for this very reason that they are making preposterous remarks.' He said, "Transfer of votes among gathbandhan partners could not take place. Akhilesh knew this very well and in order to make Mayawati happy said the BSP chief should be made the prime minister. When Akhilesh's party is contesting on 37 seats, how can he think of making someone the prime minister? It seems Akhilesh is showing 'Mungeri Lal ke haseen sapne' (day dreaming)," Sharma remarked. (PTI) 12:30pm: Congress leader Udit Raj on his tweet: When 22 parties went to SC asking for increase in number of VVPAT slips being counted, SC rejected it saying it'll cause a delay. Election process continues for 3 months hampering development work, so what is the big deal if it takes 1-2 days more? I'm not levelling allegations on Supreme Court, I'm only raising concerns. 12:18pm: Seventy-eight constituencies will see a tough fight as the vote share margin is of less than 3 per cent. 12:11pm: Jaydutt Kshirsagar, NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister, has resigned from MLA post. He will join Shiv Sena later today. 11:59am: The Election Commission meeting is underway to discuss the Opposition parties' demands on VVPAT machines. 11:50am: "This is a resounding pro incumbency vote," said Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Why blame the EVMs. I have all along said that it is for the first time that a govt has gone to the people on a positive agenda. It asked for votes for what it has done for the people. This is a resounding pro incumbency vote. #ModiAgain#300Paar@BJYM@ABVPVoice@BJP4Indiapic.twitter.com/JCE04CV4Gt Chowkidar Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) May 22, 2019 11:40am: Counting of votes for the 21 Lok Sabha seats and 146 Assembly segments in Odisha will be held at 63 different centres across the state amidst tight security on Thursday, a senior election official has said. Polling was held in 21 Lok Sabha seats and 146 Assembly segments in four different phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29. The counting of votes will start from 8 am on Thursday and will be conducted in around 2,500 tables, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S Kumar said on Tuesday. 11:30am: A day before the counting of the votes polled in the Lok Sabha election, the Congress on Wednesday termed as "constitutional travesty" the EC's rejection of Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa's demand that dissent notes should be recorded and alleged that the poll watchdog wanted to set a new precedent of "dark secrets" and "secluded chambers" in performing its duties. "A Constitutional travesty! ECI wants to set a new precedent of 'dark secrets' & 'secluded chambers' in doing its constitutional duties. If CEC can't play fair in its functioning, can it play fair in ensuring a free & fair election?," Congress's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala wrote on Twitter. His comments came a day after the Election Commission (EC) decided not to record the dissents put forward by the members of the "full commission", overruling Lavasa. 11:15am: Counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections, in which over 8,000 candidates were in the fray for 542 seats, will begin at 8.00 am Thursday and results are expected only by late evening due to tallying of voter verified paper audit trail slips with EVM count for the first time. A total of 67.11 per cent of the 90.99 crore electors had cast their vote in the seven phase elections.This is the highest ever-voter turnout in Indian parliamentarian elections. This is for the first time in a Lok Sabha election that results of voting machines will be matched with slips generated by paper trail machines. The exercise will take place in five polling stations per assembly segment which effectively means that out of nearly 10.3 lakh polling stations, the EVM-VVPAT matching will take place in 20600 such stations. (PTI) 11:05am: Rouse Avenue Court reserves order on a complaint seeking direction to police for registering an FIR against Congress President Rahul Gandhi under charges of sedition for accusing PM Modi of "hiding behind the blood of soldiers and doing dalali on their (soldiers') sacrifice". 10:45am: MP Udit Raj asks why does the Supreme Court not want VVPAT verification to be done, further asking what harm would come if it takes two-three more days after the elections were already conducted over a period of two months. 10:40am: Polling underway at polling station number 200 in North Kolkata. #WestBengal: Polling underway at polling station number 200 in North Kolkata parliamentary constituency. ECI had declared void the poll held on 19 May at the polling station. pic.twitter.com/w3C85wZ1eY ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 10:30am: According to India Today-Axis My India exit poll, Congress is looking to increase its vote share to 30 per cent, while AAP is likely to crash with 17 per cent. BJP, on the other hand, is likely to maintain its 2014 vote share with 47 per cent. In 2014, BJP had got a similar vote share of 46.41 per cent while the Congress had garnered 15.1 per cent share and AAP had managed 32.9 per cent share. 10:14am: "To ensure free and fair poll, VVPats must be counted," said Kapil Sibal. Controversy over EVM is not adversarial . It is not about Opposition versus NDA . Its about integrity of electoral process . None : Not Supreme Court Not E C Not Government are approaching the issue in this light To ensure free and fair poll VVPats must be counted Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) May 22, 2019 10:11am: National Geographic has announced a documentary on Indian elections that will soon make its way to the small screen. The documentary has been shot at 37 locations across the country. Several facets of the elections have been captured - from several booth level officers, political leaders to ground level party workers, from first-time voters to 100-year-old voters, said a statement from the channel. 10:09am: On being asked who will be the next Odisha CM, BJP's Jay Panda: I joined BJP after much soul searching. I'm happy to carry out whatever responsibility the party gives me. BJP has a lot of talent, whosoever takes which ever responsibility, we are going to cooperate with each other. 10:07am: With 167 votes, Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat saw highest turnout of transgenders. The count was below 10 in most constituencies. Bangalore North had the second highest turnout in "other" segment with 105 votes followed by 72 in Kalyan, 71 in Puducherry, 64 in Tiruchirapalli and 55 in Chennai Central, according to Voter Turnout app. 10:04am: BJP's Baijayant Jay Panda on being asked if BJD will support NDA: My party president has said that we are confident of getting more than 300 seats. We will form the govt with NDA allies. If other parties seeing the national mood want to also join in, I think, BJP will keep an open mind. 10:00am: Re-polling underway at booth No. 123 in Amritsar. Punjab: Re-polling for #LokSabhaElections2019 underway at booth No. 123 in Amritsar. The voters are being given 'certificate of appreciation' by the Election Commission pic.twitter.com/eI1IUFIF8h ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 9:55am: Jaydutt Kshirsagar, NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister, to join Shiv Sena today. 9:50am: BJP Kerala unit president PS Sreedharan Pillai: Kerala BJP has decided to sue and prosecute Finance Minister Thomas Isaac of CPM for a defamatory statement he made on May 6. I have claimed Rs 10 crore as compensation besides seeking criminal prosecution against Isaac.Thomas Isaac had reportedly alleged that Pillai is making use of his position as BJP state president to sabotage development in Kerala and had said that "Sreedharan Pillai, who tried to disrupt development of National Highway in Kerala should be treated as a public enemy of state" 9:45am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed concern over the "needless controversy" created by the Opposition over EVMs at a meeting of NDA leaders, even as the ruling alliance laid out its agenda for the next five years if it is elected to power again. The prime minister expressed concern over the Opposition making "needless controversy" over electronic voting machines, the home minister said. Earlier Tuesday, leaders of 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission and demanded verification of VVPAT slips of randomly-selected polling stations before the counting of the votes. (PTI) The CEO of OptiBiotix Health Plc (LON:OPTI) is Stephen O'Hara. First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! Check out our latest analysis for OptiBiotix Health How Does Stephen O'Hara's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? At the time of writing our data says that OptiBiotix Health Plc has a market cap of UK75m, and is paying total annual CEO compensation of UK213k. (This is based on the year to November 2018). Notably, the salary of UK213k is the vast majority of the CEO compensation. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations under UK157m, and the median CEO total compensation was UK247k. So Stephen O'Hara is paid around the average of the companies we looked at. Although this fact alone doesn't tell us a great deal, it becomes more relevant when considered against the business performance. You can see a visual representation of the CEO compensation at OptiBiotix Health, below. AIM:OPTI CEO Compensation, May 22nd 2019 Is OptiBiotix Health Plc Growing? On average over the last three years, OptiBiotix Health Plc has grown earnings per share (EPS) by 3.1% each year (using a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is up 169%. I like the look of the strong year-on-year improvement in revenue. With that in mind, the modestly improving EPS seems positive. I'd stop short of saying the business performance is amazing, but there are enough positives to justify further research, or even adding the stock to your watch-list. We don't have analyst forecasts, but you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Story continues Has OptiBiotix Health Plc Been A Good Investment? OptiBiotix Health Plc has not done too badly by shareholders, with a total return of 8.7%, over three years. But they would probably prefer not to see CEO compensation far in excess of the median. In Summary... Stephen O'Hara is paid around the same as most CEOs of similar size companies. The company isn't showing particularly great growth, and shareholder turns haven't been particularly inspiring in the last few years. While the CEO may not be underpaid, we don't think the pay is too generous either. If you think CEO compensation levels are interesting you will probably really like this free visualization of insider trading at OptiBiotix Health. Arguably, business quality is much more important than CEO compensation levels. So check out 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. Photo: David Rangel/Unsplash If you love to take advantage of the live music offerings near you, this week offers several great reasons to leave the house. From a saxophonis to a comedy concert, read on for a local music to-do list to fill your calendar this week. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Holly Herndon From the event description: Holly Herndon left her Tennessee home as a teenager to immerse herself in Berlin techno culture, eventually returning wide-minded to the States to pursue a Masters in Electronic Music at Mills College. Home is a new song with an accompanying video directed by Dutch design studio, Metahaven. Holly channels this sensation into a battery of found textures and fragmented voices bustling around Hollys inimitable brand of cyber pop music. When: Wednesday, May 22, 7:30 p.m. Where: Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St. Price: $25 for general admission; $35 for an opera box. Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Greg Ward's Rogue Parade From the event description: Considered one of the most versatile saxophonists of his generation, the bandleader, composer and arranger Greg Ward is excited to introduce his wide-spanning audience to his new, innovative group, Rogue Parade. A quintet of heavyweight creative Chicago musicians, Rogue Parade features Dave Miller on guitar and effects, Matt Gold on guitar and effects, Matt Ulery on upright and electric bass, and Quin Kirchner on drums. When: Wednesday, May 22, 8:30 p.m. Where: The Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave. Price: $10 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Nate Martin & S.I.G.N. Album Release Concert From the event description: Chicago's beloved gospel group, Nate Martin & S.I.G.N., will be releasing their first live CD on Friday, May 24 at 7 p.m. The celebration will be held at the historic Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, where Charles Jenkins is Pastor, and it will be hosted by Pastor Vincent Bohanan from New York. This is an event you will not want to miss! Story continues When: Friday, May 24, 7-10 p.m. Where: Fellowship Chicago, 4543 S. Princeton Ave. Price: $15 for general admission; $25 for VIP Click here for more details, and to get your tickets "Fudge" From the event description: "Fudge" is an evening of comedy and music brought to you by the independent improv team Fudge. Comprised of Damian Anaya, Tim Lyons, Vince Portacci and Dan White, Fudge's goal has always been to exist at the intersection of creative disciplines. Every show's unique atmosphere is directly influenced by that night's musical and comedic performances, which either compliment or juxtapose one another. Half concert, half comedy show, "Fudge" is a wholly unique experience unlike any other comedy show in Chicago. When: Tuesday, May 21, 8 p.m. Where: iO Theater, 1501 N. Kingsbury St. Price: $5 - $6 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. NagaCorp Ltd. (HKG:3918), which is in the hospitality business, and is based in Cambodia, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the SEHK over the last few months, increasing to HK$11.3 at one point, and dropping to the lows of HK$8.88. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether NagaCorp's current trading price of HK$8.88 reflective of the actual value of the mid-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at NagaCorps outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! See our latest analysis for NagaCorp Is NagaCorp still cheap? The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to my relative valuation model. In this instance, Ive used the price-to-earnings (PE) ratio given that there is not enough information to reliably forecast the stocks cash flows. I find that NagaCorps ratio of 12.57x is trading slightly below its industry peers ratio of 13.99x, which means if you buy NagaCorp today, youd be paying a fair price for it. And if you believe that NagaCorp should be trading at this level in the long run, then theres not much of an upside to gain from mispricing. So, is there another chance to buy low in the future? Given that NagaCorps share is fairly volatile (i.e. its price movements are magnified relative to the rest of the market) this could mean the price can sink lower, giving us an opportunity to buy later on. This is based on its high beta, which is a good indicator for share price volatility. Can we expect growth from NagaCorp? SEHK:3918 Past and Future Earnings, May 22nd 2019 Investors looking for growth in their portfolio may want to consider the prospects of a company before buying its shares. Buying a great company with a robust outlook at a cheap price is always a good investment, so lets also take a look at the company's future expectations. NagaCorps earnings over the next few years are expected to increase by 52%, indicating a highly optimistic future ahead. This should lead to more robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? 3918s optimistic future growth appears to have been factored into the current share price, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at 3918? Will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuate below the true value? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on 3918, now may not be the most advantageous time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the optimistic forecast is encouraging for 3918, which means its worth diving deeper into other factors such as the strength of its balance sheet, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on NagaCorp. You can find everything you need to know about NagaCorp in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in NagaCorp, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. 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. Natalie Portman, 37, and Moby, 53, are having a very public disagreement over whether they dated nearly two decades ago. The musician wrote in his latest book, Then It Fell Apart, out May 7, that they did when she was 20 and he was 36. She publicly shot down his claim calling him an older man being creepy with me and expressing her disgust over him selling a book on this false premise but he insists its true. In his memoir, Moby wrote that they had a brief but romantic fling after meeting backstage at one of his shows."I was a bald binge drinker and [Portman] was a beautiful movie star, he wrote. But here she was in my dressing room, flirting with me. Moby wrote that the romance was short-lived, though, because the Star Wars and Black Swan actress met another man, which he described as a relief, due to his personal struggles. I thought that I was going to have to tell her that my panic was too egregious for me to be in a real relationship, but one night on the phone she informed me that she'd met somebody else. he wrote. I was relieved that I'd never have to tell her how damaged I was." That led to Portman slamming him in an interview with Harpers Bazaar U.K. Now married to French dancer and choreographer Benjamin Millepied, with whom she shares two children, Portman said she was a Moby fan and met him at one of his shows soon after she graduated high school. But she soon felt he was being creepy with her. I was surprised to hear that he characterized the very short time that I knew him as dating because my recollection is a much older man being creepy with me when I just had graduated high school, Portman told the mag He said I was 20; I definitely wasnt. I was a teenager. I had just turned 18. She said after they met backstage, he said, Lets be friends, she recalled. He was on tour and I was working, shooting a film, so we only hung out a handful of times before I realized that this was an older man who was interested in me in a way that felt inappropriate. Story continues She slammed the independent publishing company, Faber & Faber, for not fact-checking the story with her. It almost feels deliberate, she said. That he used this story to sell his book was very disturbing to me. It wasnt the case. There are many factual errors and inventions. Being called creepy clearly didnt sit well with Moby, who then took to Instagram to address the disagreement along with a shirtless photo of him next to her back in the day. He insisted that they did, in fact, date in 1999 meaning Portman would have been 18 to his 34, as she said and remained friends after. (The photo above shows them backstage at one of his concerts in July 2001.) Moby wrote that he cant figure out why she would actively misrepresent the truth about our (albeit brief) involvement, which he said is detailed accurately with corroborating photo evidence. He suggested that she may have regret over the romance, quipping, To be fair, I would probably regret dating me, too. However, he said that doesnt alter the actual facts of our brief romantic history. His social media post has been criticized for a litany of reasons from him being shirtless in the photo alongside Portman as a teen to the fact that he posted it in the first place (This is so cringey, one commenter wrote). mobys clarification instagram post features him... shirtless? beside a teenage natalie portman? Sarah MacDonald (@sarahsmacdonald) May 22, 2019 (Screenshot: Moby via Instagram) (Screenshot: Moby via Instagram) (Screenshot: Moby via Instagram) (Screenshot: Moby via Instagram) (Screenshot: Moby via Instagram) At the 2018 Womens March, Portman talked about being the victim of sexual terrorism at the age of 13. After the release of her first movie, Leon: The Professional, she received her first piece of fan mail and it was a "rape fantasy" written by a man. She said from that moment on, comments made about her body "served to control [her] behavior through an environment of sexual terrorism." She also talked about a countdown on her local radio show to her 18th birthday, euphemistically, the date that I would be legal to sleep with, as well as how "movie reviewers talked about my budding breasts in reviews." And she said all that unwanted attention led her to create a persona of modesty, saying, "I built a reputation for basically being prudish, conservative, nerdy, serious, in an attempt to feel that my body was safe and that my voice would be listened to." A previous excerpt from Mobys book talks about how he once knob-touched Donald Trump at a party. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Want daily pop culture news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Entertainment & Lifestyles newsletter. Brussels (AFP) - The next NATO summit will be held in London on December 3 and 4 as the alliance marks its 70th anniversary, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday. Stoltenberg said he had discussed preparations for the meeting of heads of state and government with British Prime Minister Theresa May during a visit to London last week. The December summit will be a chance to "address current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead," Stoltenberg said in a statement. He added that London was a fitting venue to mark 70 years of transatlantic military cooperation as it was home to the alliance's first headquarters after the United Kingdom become one of NATO's 12 founding members in 1949. Nowadays the there are 29 member states and the headquarters is in Brussels. "London was the home of our first headquarters, so it is a fitting venue for NATO heads of state and government to plan the Allianceas future," said Stoltenberg. - Delicate time for NATO - Last month NATO marked the 70th anniversary of the signing of its founding treaty with a meeting of alliance foreign ministers in Washington. The meeting closed with a joint statement pledging new action to counter Russia's "aggression", with tensions with Moscow at a high not seen since the Cold War. The alliance has approved new surveillance measures and naval exercises in the Black Sea in support of Ukraine and Georgia, aspiring members of NATO facing Russian-backed separatist forces. And US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said NATO had agreed to study strategies to counter non-traditional warfare from Russia, which is accused of meddling in a series of Western elections. But the festive mood of the anniversary year has been clouded by lingering concerns about US President Donald Trump's commitment to the alliance and his willingness to honour its mutual self-defence pact. Story continues Trump has been blunt in his criticism of NATO's European members, accusing them of freeloading on the protection offered by the US military while not spending enough on their own armed forces. Before taking office Trump called NATO "obsolete", though he has also welcomed plans for allies to increase defence spending. NATO summits normally conclude with a formal, binding statement of aims and actions agreed by all allies -- such as the 2014 agreement to try to spend two percent of GDP on defence. It is yet to be confirmed whether a statement will be issued at December's meeting. Britain is due to leave the European Union in October and the December summit will be seen as a signal of solidarity between NATO and the UK -- which is the continent's leading military power, along with France. "Brexit will change the United Kingdom's relationship to the European Union but it will not change the United Kingdom's relationship to NATO," Stoltenberg said in February. On Wednesday, he was back in London for talks with British Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt. On Thursday, he will participate in a conference on cybersecurity in the British capital. (Corrects spelling of judge's name in 10th paragraph.) By Steve Gorman SAN DIEGO, May 22 (Reuters) - A decorated Navy SEAL platoon leader charged with war crimes in Iraq was due back in a San Diego military court on Wednesday for a hearing focused on his lawyers' allegations that prosecutors engaged in illegal snooping on the defense team and news media. The hearing comes less than a week before Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher is scheduled to go on trial in a court-martial charging him with murdering a helpless, wounded Islamic State fighter in his custody and shooting unarmed civilians. But defense assertions that the Navy prosecutor, together with agents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) and presiding judge, have engaged in wrongdoing could lead to a substantial delay in further proceedings against Gallagher. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including premeditated murder, two counts of attempted murder and obstructing justice. U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on the case publicly in March when he ordered Gallagher moved to less restrictive pre-trial confinement "in honor of his past service to our country." The New York Times reported days ago that Trump was reviewing Gallagher's case for a possible pardon, along with several other U.S. military personnel accused or convicted of war crimes. Gallagher's private attorney Timothy Parlatore denied knowing anything about a pardon. "We've not asked for one," he told Reuters on Tuesday. Parlatore's defense was focused for now on what he alleges is prosecutor misconduct. He has accused Navy lawyers of conducting illegal surveillance of defense attorneys and reporters by way of electronic tracking software secretly embedded in emails that were sent to the defense. The software ostensibly was used in an effort to pinpoint the source of confidential information leaked to the press. QUESTION THE JUDGE On Wednesday, the Navy judge, Captain Aaron Rugh, will hear arguments over Parlatore's motion to question the lead prosecutor, NCIS agents and the judge himself under oath. Story continues Navy officials have declined to comment on the allegations, and much of the court record has been sealed. NCIS has previously issued a statement saying it used "an audit capability" in its investigation of leaks but insisted it did not involve "malware" or other technology to infect or compromise a computer system, said Brian O'Rourke, spokesman for U.S. Naval Base San Diego, where the proceedings take place. The stakes could not be higher for Gallagher, 39, a career combat veteran and two-time Bronze Star recipient who began his Navy service as a medic. The case stems from his latest deployment to Iraq in 2017. Gallagher asserts he is wrongly accused and that fellow SEAL team members testifying against him - several under grants of immunity - are disgruntled subordinates who fabricated allegations to force him from command. (Reporting by Steve Gorman; editing by Bill Tarrant and Darren Schuettler) By Gopal Sharma KATHMANDU (Reuters) - Nepal has banned popular Chinese digital payment apps WeChat Pay and AliPay saying payments from the unregistered systems were illegal and resulting in a loss of income to the Himalayan nation, a spokesman for the central bank said on Wednesday. Laxmi Prapanna Niroula, a spokesman for the Nepal Rastra Bank, said the two digital payment platforms were not registered with the regulator in Nepal but were widely used by Chinese tourists for settling their payments with businesses. "Any digital transaction made with unregistered foreign payment system like WeChat Pay and AliPay is illegal," Niroula told Reuters. "Anyone using such platforms can be punished," he said. Under Nepali laws, anyone found guilty of embezzling foreign exchange can be sentenced to up to three years in jail. WeChat Pay, operating on Tencent's messaging service, and e-commerce giant Alibaba's Alipay, are the two dominant platforms in mainland China. They are widely used by Chinese tourists for making payments to Chinese-run hotels, restaurants and other businesses in Nepal as the payment giants seek to expand overseas. Tencent said WeChat Pay's overseas division "strictly complies" with all regulations in the countries it operated in. "As for illegal payment collection overseas, we are constantly using technical means to crackdown and prevent this behavior," it said. "Overseas vendors should work with WeChat Pay's partners to enable WeChat Pay's collection services." Alibaba's affiliate Ant Financial said Alipay's cross-border payment operations in Nepal were operating normally. "Alipay strictly complies with local rules and regulations in all markets where we operate, including overseas," Ant Financial said. "We request that all users abide by the Alipay Collection QR Code Agreement when using our QR code payment services. We have strengthened our measures to effectively prevent future cases where some users had wrongfully collected payments outside of China using domestic QR codes," it said. Nepal, home to Mount Everest and birthplace of Lord Buddha, received 1.1 million tourists in 2018 - of them 153,000 were Chinese visitors, the second largest number after Indian tourists who totaled 200,000. China and India jostle to influence Nepal, a natural buffer between them. Niroula, the central bank spokesman, said these apps were using Nepal's internet connectivity but transactions were made in China and not reflected in the Himalayan nation's national accounts. "The government cannot tax such transactions nor check any crimes related to such unregistered payment systems," Niroula said. The ban came into force from Monday, he said. (Reporting by Gopal Sharma; Additional reporting by Josh Horwitz in SHANGHAI; Editing by Martin Howell and Anshuman Daga) Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel's attorney general on Wednesday extended until October the deadline for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pre-trial hearing on corruption allegations, but rejected a request for a 12-month delay. Netanyahu won a fifth term in office in a general election last month but now faces the prospect of becoming the first sitting Israeli premier to be indicted. Last month, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit set a July 10 deadline for the premier to excercise his right to a formal hearing to defend himself, before corruption charges are filed against him. In February, Mandelblit had announced his intention to indict Netanyahu on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, following up on police recommendations. A letter from Mandelblit's office to Netanyahu attorney Amit Hadad, made public Wednesday by the justice ministry, refers to Hadad's request to put back the hearing until May 14, 2020 so that he can fully examine police evidence passed to him last week. In what is considered the most serious of the cases, Netanyahu is accused of advocating regulatory benefits allegedly granted to telecommunications firm Bezeq in exchange for positive news coverage for himself from a media company owned by the then Bezeq CEO. Another involves Netanyahu allegedly seeking a secret deal with the publisher of Israel's top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot to ensure positive coverage in return for pushing forward a law that would have limited the circulation of a rival paper. The third case involves suspicions the premier and his family received luxury gifts such as cigars and champagne from wealthy individuals, including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, in exchange for financial or personal favours. Rejecting the request for postponement, Wednesday's letter says: "The hearing on these three cases will be held before the attorney general on October 2-3, 2019. If necessary an additional day's hearing -- and no more -- will he arranged for the following week. Story continues Handover of the police evidence had been delayed because of non-collection of the files by Netanyahu's lawyers, in protest over unpaid fees. The prime minister has called the allegations against him a "witch hunt". Even if he is charged, Netanyahu, 69, would not legally be forced to stand down until he had been convicted and had exhausted all avenues for appeal. JERUSALEM (AP) Israel's attorney general says he has postponed a scheduled pre-indictment hearing for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by three months. Attorney General Avichai Mandeblit's office said on Wednesday that he'll hold the much-anticipated hearing at the beginning of October, after Netanyahu's lawyers asked for an extension to review the prosecution's material. The Justice Ministry has previously said the hearing would take place by July 10. Mandelblit has recommended pressing criminal charges against Netanyahu in three corruption cases, pending the hearing. The charges include allegations that he accepted gifts from billionaire friends and promoted beneficial regulations for a telecom magnate in exchange for positive coverage on a news site. The recently re-elected Netanyahu has denied any wrongdoing and has called the charges the product of a media-orchestrated witch hunt to depose him. The Electoral College in Nevada could be gone before the next presidential election. AB 186, also known as the "National Popular Vote" bill, just passed the Nevada Senate and heads to the governor's desk. Instead of Nevada giving its 6 electoral votes to the candidate who gets the most votes, it would give the votes to whoever wins the national popular vote. If Governor Sisolak signs the bill, the proposal would only work if a majority of the electoral colleges nationwide agreed to the change. Byron, Wallace, Larson And Bowman Punch Tickets Posted by: newsla on May 22, 2019 - 03:46 AM Byron, Wallace, Larson and Bowman Punch Tickets to the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race The field for Saturday nights Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway grew by four following an exhilarating 50-lap Monster Energy Open. Charlotte, North Carolina, native William Byron edged Bubba Wallace in a thrilling last-lap battle to end Stage 1. Byron making his second appearance in the Open became the third Hendrick Motorsports driver to advance to the big show. Im really excited, Byron said. It feels awesome. Ive been coming to this race since I was about five or six years old. Its really exciting to be a part of it. It was huge, we needed this. We've had some really good qualifying efforts this year; we just needed to finish it off with something positive and this was definitely positive for us. I'm excited for it." Despite losing Stage 1 by a nose, Wallace didnt waste time in joining Byron in the All-Star Race. The Richard Petty Motorsports driver who, like Byron, grew up racing Legend Cars at the speedway, enjoyed a special trip to the winners circle after he edged Daniel Suarez who spun coming to the line to finish Stage 2. I gave up the first stage win and I didnt say anything on the radio, Wallace said. My parents always said and everybody whos always helped me said I drive better when Im pissed off. My mental game is shot right now, but it feels good to win something. Well see what we can get tonight. A last-gasp, 10-lap Stage 3 saw Kyle Larson emerge victorious after he passed Ty Dillon and sped away from Matt DiBenedetto and Alex Bowman to collect the 18th spot in the All-Star Race field. It was stressful, Larson said. I thought I was in a good spot at the end of that first segment, but Bubba did a really good job of side-drafting me and then William did a good job of getting the win. I felt like I did a good job of going through the gears in the final 10 laps. I knew I probably had the best car in that race. We didnt do as good a job as we needed as a team in the early parts of the race. By winning the fan vote, Bowman earned the final position in the field and made it four Hendrick cars in the show for the 35th running of the biggest all-star event in sports. "It was just a really bad restart on me, Bowman said of a frustrating finish to Stage 2 that prevented him from advancing earlier. We'll keep digging. Obviously, our race car is really fast, and we'll have a good shot at it in the All-Star. You want to race your way in, and we did that last year and had a car very capable of doing that this year. Restarts didn't go our way, and it is what it is. Clint Bowyer will start the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race from the pole. PaddockTalk Perspective Washington (AFP) - Nevada and Vermont are poised to enact laws that protect access to abortion, at a time when conservative US states have adopted highly restrictive measures. These contradictory developments could accentuate existing disparities in access to the procedure for women in different parts of the United States. Nevada's state assembly -- unique in the United States in that women hold the majority -- passed a measure Tuesday that decriminalizes the sale without prescription of drugs that induce miscarriages. Currently, self-induced abortions are punishable by up to 10 years in prison. It also would no longer require doctors to explain to patients the physical and emotional implications" of having an abortion. Nor would they be required to determine their age or martial status. The bill still must go to the state's senate, which had previously passed a similar version, for final approval before being signed into law by Governor Steve Sisolak, a Democrat. Lawmakers in Vermont, meanwhile, have passed a law prohibiting "public entities" from interfering with or restricting an individual's right to terminate their pregnancy, recognizing access to abortion as a "fundamental right." Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, said Tuesday he would not use his veto power to kill the bill. These laws run counter to a wave of other laws passed by more than a dozen states that ban or sharply curtail the right to abortion. "All across the country women's rights are being threatened by extremist politicians," Nevada state Democratic lawmaker Shea Backus said during debate there. "These are Draconian laws that have no business in a free society," she added, according to comments cited by the Reno Gazette-Journal. The southern state of Alabama has passed the country's toughest ban, prohibiting abortion in all cases -- even in cases of rape or incest -- making an exception only if the mother's life is at risk. Story continues Earlier this month, the governor of Georgia signed into law a ban on abortion from the moment a fetal heartbeat is detected. Georgia became the sixth US state to outlaw abortion after roughly six weeks of gestation. Missouri's legislature voted Friday to make the procedure illegal after eight weeks of pregnancy, with no exceptions for rape or incest. Ohio, Mississippi, Kentucky, Iowa and North Dakota have enacted restrictive laws, while Florida and Texas are considering doing the same. All of the state bans have either been blocked by a judge or are headed for the courts. They are in opposition to the landmark 1973 US Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion. But their backers are seeking to appeal court rulings all the way to the Supreme Court in hopes its newly reinforced conservative majority will overturn Roe v Wade. In central Kabul last month, two men stabbed a teenager and left him for dead before escaping on a motorcycle -- a brazen attack amid a rising tide of killings and kidnappings as war-scarred residents complain of increasing lawlessness. The brutal mugging happened near the green zone, home to many of the Afghan capital's foreign diplomats, but numerous armed guards posted along the street did not try to help the victim, thanks to arcane local liability laws and restrictions. The attackers fled after snatching the boy's mobile phone and camera. He survived, but it took about an hour for authorities to arrive and take him to hospital. Officials and stressed-out residents say crime is surging in Kabul, where police are already pushed to their limits attempting to prevent insurgent attacks by the Taliban and other groups including Islamic State. Jan Aqa Naweed, spokesman for Afghanistan's chamber of commerce, said crime has grown so bad that business people and entrepreneurs were fleeing the country for fear they could be targeted. "The increase in the crime rate, the killing and kidnapping of businessmen -- this has forced many traders to leave the country," he told AFP. "Some of them take their families and money to countries such as Turkey and Uzbekistan. The crime in the city has negatively affected investment." Authorities have started to take note. On Saturday, the interior ministry sacked Mohammad Salim Almas, the head of Kabul's criminal investigation department, because of what officials called a "dramatic increase" in crime. The rise is hard to quantify. The interior ministry this month said it had recorded 100,000 crimes over a five-year period, but did not provide a breakdown. Abdul Khaliq Zazai Watandost, a member of Kabul's provincial council who helps monitor crime rates, told AFP that criminals have killed 70 people in the capital and its surrounding areas in the past two months, with dozens more locals kidnapped. Story continues "Crime has become a bigger problem than terrorism for Kabul residents," Watandost said. "Terrorism is a big phenomenon -- but at least we should be able to control the crime." Aside from murder and kidnappings, car thefts are common, the narcotics trade is booming and criminal gangs sometimes target foes by slapping "sticky bombs" under their cars. Shamsuddin, a shopkeeper who only wanted to give his first name, said when he goes into central Kabul to buy groceries, he splits his cash in two. "I give some to my son and keep some with myself," he told AFP. "This is because if criminals find out you have a good amount of money on you, they will kill you and take your money." Residents are changing their routes to work, while carrying guns and keeping weapons at home are also common. - 'Nobody cares' - Taxi drivers are wary of driving after dark for fear of being attacked by a passenger or having their car stolen. "I don't care about myself, but I am scared of losing the car because I am working for someone else and it is not my car," taxi driver Mohammad Omar told AFP. "Nowadays every Afghan is so worried." Deputy interior minister General Khoshal Sadat acknowledged the psychological toll crime is taking. "It is threatening the physical and mental security of people in the city," Sadat said, Kabul's crime came to the fore again this month when former journalist Mena Mangal was murdered in broad daylight on a busy street. Her killing appears tied to a domestic dispute, but many observers viewed the brutal and public slaying as a bellwether demonstrating just how cheap life has become -- even in a war-torn city which has already seen so much bloodshed. Kabul resident Nasir Ahmad said someone is killed daily in the capital "for no reason". "Nobody cares about these lives. I am even scared to go to university," Ahmad said. Fellow resident Mohammad Elham wrote on Facebook that the security in the capital "is so bad that criminals kill people in the daylight, in front of a police checkpoint -- and nobody cares". According to interior minister Massoud Andarabi, authorities have created a "roadmap" to identify offenders. "The police will act differently, more forcefully against the criminals," he said. "We know where they are hiding, we are chasing them to their hideouts and will bring them to justice." But Hazargul, a taxi driver who only wanted to give his first name, said police often appear "incapable of doing anything". "We never saw a police officer arresting a thief on the spot and bring him to justice. Even if police see thieves, they don't dare chase them because the thieves are also armed," he told AFP. Managua (AFP) - Nicaragua's opposition on Wednesday called a 24-hour general strike to increase pressure on the government of President Daniel Ortega to release prisoners as agreed in peace talks between the two sides. The opposition National Unity Blue and White (UNAB) coalition, backed by the business owners union, called for "a peaceful and ethical (strike) action to push for the release of the prisoners and so that all Nicaraguans can be free of this dictatorship," economist Juan Sebastian Chamorro, an opposition representative, told AFP. The industrial action is due Thursday and expected to cost the country $15-20 million and impact on tax collection, Chamorro said. The government responded by publishing a "work plan" in which it promised to release "no later than June 18" hundreds of prisoners detained over anti-regime protests that first broke out in April 2018. That includes the 336 people released from prison since talks between the government and opposition began on February 27, only to be held under house arrest since. Earlier on Wednesday, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights called on Nicaraguan authorities to protect the lives of 17 prominent detainees. In March, the government agreed to release all opposition prisoners within 90 days. Detractors however say there is little evidence of the regime sticking to its commitment. Nicaragua's crisis began on April 18, 2018 when a protest, initially against a since scrapped pension reform, ballooned into a wider demonstration against Ortega's government. Over the following four months, at least 325 people were killed in clashes between opposition supporters and security forces, with hundreds of people jailed and more than 60,000 exiled. Talks between the government and opposition alliances have stalled several times, notably due to Ortega's refusal to countenance a key demand that he resign and bring forward elections slated for 2021. The opposition accuses the 73-year-old former left-wing guerrilla leader, who first came to power in 1979 following the fall of the US-backed Somoza family dictatorship, of rights abuses and authoritarian leadership. The government agreed to the latest round of talks as the country faced economic crisis -- it has a $315 million deficit -- and potential international sanctions. The star of Claws on the sudsy thrillers third season, her role in Ava DuVernays new miniseries about the Central Park Five and her first directing gig. TIME: Claws, which is set in a nail salon, has sex, drugs, dance numbers and a mostly female cast decked out in high Florida glam. Is it as much fun to make as it is to watch? Nash: It isfrom interacting with the cast to figuring out costumes. On a show like Breaking Bad or The Sopranos, the things that the women [of Claws] are doing are reserved for men. But we have badass women doing badass things. Most of the time, its for a good reason. You directed an episode of the new season, a first for you. How was that experience? Amazing. First of all, who doesnt love being able to tell people what to do? Second, I felt I was walking in with a gift and a purpose. The thing I loved most was being able to shift the atmosphere on set. I played music between setups: 90s R&B, Stevie Wonder. And because we film in New Orleans, I brought in a second-line band and beignets. When I filmed on a Friday, it was mandatory that everybody wore their pajamas. I learned that I like to direct my actors in private but praise them in public. You also have a role in Ava DuVernays Central Park Five miniseries When They See Us, which comes to Netflix on May 31. Youve cited her as a hero of yours. Why do you find her so inspiring? Ava was able to completely course-correct her life. She was a publicist and got off that train, got on another one and created a whole other life for herself. Anybody who can stand in their truth and bet on themselves, Im going to see as a hero. You can change your life in the blink of an eye. In When They See Us, you play Delores Wise, whose son Korey was one of five teenage boys of color who were wrongfully convicted in the case of a white woman who was raped and left for dead. How do you go about performing this real persons pain? Story continues With care. You have to pay attention to the scope of the life and not the one moment in time. I was happy to be able to speak with her before filming. You have to acknowledge that this is somebodys life, and you have to be [aware of] what bringing up the past may cause them. When youre shooting such somber material, what is the atmosphere like on set? Ive never been on a set like this, that provided crisis counseling to those who needed it. Its hard, being a mother in real life, to watch these children being dragged out of this courtroom and feel helpless. Having the real men who experienced this or their parents on set, too, you feel very responsible. After raising three kids as a working actor, youre finally an empty nester. How has that changed your life? It makes me feel better about jobs out of town. That is one X factor in this industry that you cannot control. If a job shot in Vancouver or Atlanta or New Orleans and I was based in Los Angeles, it was challengingbecause when my children were younger, I felt like I needed to be home. Now, I can go where the work is and feel all right. Youve been in Hollywood for about 25 years. In light of Times Up and the increasing visibility of people of color in front of and behind the camera, do you see the industry changing in the long term? I do think its changing, and it still has a ways to go. It would be unfair of me to say, Im the black lead of a show, guys. Were all good here. It was a childhood dream, getting a star on the Walk of Fame [as Nash did in 2018]. But there are so many other deserving people who exist beyond the realms of black and whitewho are putting in the work and deserve to shine. There are so many stories that still need to be told Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage has been campaigning in Kent. (GETTY) Nigel Farage has been trapped on a bus in Kent because of three young men wearing balaclavas who were holding milkshakes. Mr Farage, who is the leader of The Brexit Party, was visiting Dartford, Gravesend and Rochester in a bid to get more support for the EUs elections. Earlier this week when he was in Newcastle, Mr Farage had a milkshake poured all over him. Nigel Farage after being hit with a milkshake during a campaign walkabout in Newcastel, Monday May 20, 2019. (PA) Paul Crowther admitted throwing the milkshake and said: I didnt know he was in town, I thought this is my only chance. After the three young men were seen with the milkshakes in Rochester, Mr Farage was told not to get off the bus. Driver Michael Botton said to Kent Live: There are a couple of guys standing over there with milkshakes, they were going to throw them over him. But the police are there, weve spotted them and now Nigel isnt getting off the bus. Read More on Yahoo News: Stacey Dooley clarifies comments after branding Nigel Farage 'attractive' on live TV Boris Johnson warned he could face private prosecution over 350m Brexit bus claim Reporter for Kent Live, Will Rider, said: Eventually he did come off but he only stepped about a metre away and chatted to some supporters. "He got back on the bus very quickly. "In all the other places he stopped off and walked down the high street. There was a Brexit stall on this high street but he didn't visit it. "He's gone and everyone has left now." Following the Newcastle incident, Mr Farage said: Sadly some Remainers have become radicalised, to the extent that normal campaigning is becoming impossible. For a civilised democracy to work you need the losers consent, politicians not accepting the referendum result have led us to this. Niki Laudas Lasting Aviation Legacy Running an airline is the most difficult job in the world. Racing was more dangerous for my life, motorsport driver and aviation entrepreneur Niki Lauda, said in a 2009 interview. Lauda, who died on Monday at 70, was a rare example of someone who managed to succeed in two very different industries. Not only was he a three-time Formula One world champion two of these victories occurring after a horrific crash in 1976 he also spent almost four decades in the aviation industry, starting three different airlines, all of which carried his name. He was always eager to found a new airline and to show the big ones that a small company [can do] it much better, said Karsten Benz, who held senior positions at both Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines. Lauda was happiest solving problems, one of which was how to keep prices low while offering something different than the other low-cost carriers in the market. He was always very much focused on qualityespecially in catering, Benz said. Lauda walked this tightrope between cost and quality pretty successfully. When Austrian Airlines bought his first airline Lauda Air, it kept the brand going for another 13 years before retiring it, presumably because people loved flying and working under it. (Lauda later admitted he was an idiot for signing over the name.) He was incredibly direct, extremely sharp, straight to the point. And that combined with a good sense of humour made discussions very fun, said Christoph Debus, CEO of Thomas Cook Airlines. Lauda was also one of a small number of airline owners and CEOs who was also a qualified pilot. He racked up thousands of hours flying his companys aircraft. It made quite a difference that you could really spot him during the flights, being in the cockpit or welcoming the guests onboard the plane, Debus said. Not everyone loved him, however; unions disliked the pay levels and contract structure, and it seemed like the feeling was mutual. Story continues Id rather keep them out, purely and simply, Lauda said. 40-Year Career Lauda founded his first airline, Lauda Air, in 1979, starting operations in 1985. The carrier eventually ended up flying long-haul, mainly from Austria to Asia and Australia. In 1991, Lauda Air Flight 004, crashed shortly after taking off from Bangkok. For Lauda the crash and death of 223 people was the worst moment of his life. Worse than his own crash at the 1976 German Grand Prix that came close to killing him and left him with extensive burns over head. Investigators eventually blamed an engine malfunction on the Boeing 767 jet. What really annoyed me was Boeings reaction once the cause was clear. Boeing did not want to say anything, Lauda said in a 2006 interview. After selling out to Austrian Airlines, Lauda caught the aviation bug again in 2003, starting up Niki. He gave himself some help by partnering with Air Berlin, who took a minority stake before becoming the sole owner in 2011. Air Berlins demise six years later gave Lauda a chance to get his hands on the airline again, using his newly formed Laudamotion carrier to take control. Again Lauda partnered with established airlines, firstly with Thomas Cook-owned Condor and then much more seriously with Ryanair. The Irish carrier bought a 24.9 percent stake gradually upgrading this to 100 percent by the end of 2018. Niki Lauda will remain in our heart and our memory as a visionary leader, a legend of Formula One and an aviation pioneer, said Ryanair CEO Michael OLeary. Lasting Legacy Lauda was an increasingly rare example of an entrepreneur who wanted to take on the established airline industry. Europe, like the United States, has seen a steady stream of airline mergers over the last few decades, with big groups making it much harder for smaller companies to succeed. The airline business has become a question of size. If you start a company your size is small, and the question is how to survive with 10, 15, 20 airplanes the bigger the better and this is something that makes it very difficult to found an airline, Benz said. Laudas tie-ups with bigger, more established players gave him a fighting chance to succeed where others did not. Its a similar approach to Richard Branson and the Virgin Group. Branson always pitched his Virgin Atlantic brand as the young upstart to stuffy British Airways, but it is arguably only still around because of its deals with Singapore Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Air France-KLM. To be a brilliant Formula One driver requires taking calculated risk. Niki Lauda took that spirit into an airline and market previously dominated by a national carrier; challenged convention, created best-in-class products, and left a lasting legacy of aviation success, said John Grant a partner at consultancy Midas Aviation. Risk takers like Lauda dont always succeed, but the industry would be a lot more boring without them. Subscribe to Skift newsletters covering the business of travel, restaurants, and wellness. BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Selling yourself in five minutes can be tough. But that's all Hungary's opposition parties have been given on state media to promote their visions for Sunday's European Parliament election. Undeterred, they've come up with novel and creative ways From short "reality newscasts" mentioning the enrichment of the prime minister's family or a party spokesman clucking away dressed in a chicken costume, the opposition is making every broadcast second count. It's a lean and mean approach that contrasts with what's available to the ruling Fidesz party on state radio and television channels and other media outlets considered to be under its control. One particularly humorous promotion has come from the Two-Tailed Dog Party yes, there really is such a thing. Top of its agenda is banning the Eurovision Song Contest and mandatory siestas, "because a night of sleep isn't enough." It may come as a bit of a surprise to some that the party has yet to win any seats in Hungary's parliament and isn't expected to see any of its lawmakers elected to the European Union legislature, but the party is sure making an impact. Hungarians have certainly chuckled at the memory of one of its campaign stunts, when a party spokesman answered a reporter's questions on state television by clucking away for minutes while dressed in a chicken costume. "They were asking me questions that only have one reasonable answer 'cluck-cluck,'" said Jozsef Tichy-Racs, a former spokesman for the satirical party. That's how the Two-Tailed Dog Party used its five-minute slot. Momentum, another new party which first gained attention for its successful efforts two years ago to end Budapest's bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, took a different approach. The party, which opinion polls suggest could win one of Hungary's 21 seats in the EU parliament, used its five-minute allotment during a simultaneous broadcast on state TV and radio to present a "reality newscast" dealing with issues like Hungary's increasing shortage of doctors, the wasteful use of funds received from the EU and the debut of Orban's 32-year-old son-in-law on the list of richest Hungarians. Story continues Momentum also used its time on state TV to promote a campaign, which has received over 600,000 signatures, to pressure the government into joining the European Public Prosecutor's Office. The new agency will begin fraud and corruption investigations into the use of EU funds starting in 2020. Twenty-two of the 28 EU states have signed up for the agency, but Orban's government says the body would compromise national sovereignty. Opposition parties say Orban wants to escape tighter EU scrutiny. Hungary's opposition parties have to resort to these sorts of media strategies because they face numerous challenges in getting heard. The government has Hungary's media sewn up. That's especially true since nearly 500 internet sites, magazines, newspapers and cable TV channels were merged into a foundation for right-wing media and which is under tight government control. It's easy for Orban's government to get its message and accusations, whether true or false across. Marta Bencsik, a media lawyer at the Mertek Media Monitor watchdog and think tank, said a recent study of the state television newscasts showed they were "unbalanced." "They mostly promote the government's propaganda and themes, presenting the government in a favorable light," Bencsik said. "The opposition appeared only in a negative context." According to data presented by Benedek Javor, the leading EU parliament candidate of the green Dialogue party, state TV news broadcasts in the seven days between April 26 and May 2, included stories about the opposition parties totaling just over five hours, with more than four hours showing them in a negative light. In the same period, stories about the government, Orban and Fidesz totaled more than seven hours. "Naturally, we couldn't find any stories at all critical of the government, even with a magnifying glass," Javor said. Orban's government, which cemented its grip on power with another big election victory last year, does face challenges from time to time. The right-wing Jobbik party, for example, has won over 200 court cases against pro-government media outlets in the past three years over the reporting of false stories about it and its leaders. "Hungarian society believes that what they hear on the newscasts is reality," said Jobbik spokesman Gyorgy Szilagyi. "So Fidesz creates a virtual reality for its voters" Despite the victories, not much appears to change. "We win the lawsuit ... but it doesn't interest the public anymore," Szilagyi said. "In Hungary, unfortunately, it is the government which fills voters and public media with fake news, often originating in Russia," he added without providing any evidence. He recounted a false story about how a luxury trip he was said to have made spread from one pro-Fidesz media outlet to another in a matter of hours. "By nighttime, it was on the leading newscasts on state and pro-government television," Szilagyi said. Fidesz also appears to have a near-monopoly over the billboards that line Hungary's transport networks. Momentum spokesman Balazs Nemes said media headwinds have forced the party to innovate. "The present media situation motivates us, for example, to spend more time on field work or to increase our presence on the street," Nemes said. For his part, "chicken man" Tichy-Racs said he was proud to see the rest of the opposition resorting to similar ingenuity "I'm glad the other parties are also using their five minutes of airtime wisely." ___ For more news from The Associated Press on the European Parliament elections go to https://www.apnews.com/EuropeanParliament By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.S. seizure of a North Korean cargo ship is the biggest stumbling block to improving bilateral relations, a senior North Korean official said on Wednesday, warning Washington against using the "logic of strength" against Pyongyang. The Trump administration must make a "big decision" on lifting sanctions before stalled nuclear negotiations can resume, Han Tae Song, North Korea's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, added in an interview. "It would be the greatest miscalculation if America thought my country is among the countries where American-style logic of strength or pressure might work," Han, who is also North Korea's disarmament ambassador, told Reuters. North Korea, under U.S. and U.N. sanctions for its nuclear and missile programs, has stepped up a campaign for the return of the ship, which Washington says it seized over accusations it was used for coal shipments in violation of the curbs. The country has warned Washington that the impounding of the "Wise Honest" ship had violated its sovereignty and could affect "future developments" between the two countries. "Yes, (it is) the biggest issue," Han said of the vessel, which U.S. officials say is en route to American Samoa. "It is because it is the infringing upon the sovereignty of our country." Han described the seizure as a "wanton violation of international law" and demanded its immediate return. Han said he had no information on its cargo, but on the consequences of a U.S. failure to return the ship, he said: "We don't want, the Americans also don't want and the international community don't want the situation again worsening." At their second summit meeting in February, talks broke down between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, stalling moves toward denuclearization. Han said his country's short-range missile tests carried out earlier in May were a "routine checking of our national defense capabilities", indicating that they would continue. "WE ARE NOT OBSESSED" OVER MORE TALKS The U.N. Security Council has unanimously strengthened sanctions on North Korea since 2006 in a bid to choke funding for Pyongyangs nuclear and ballistic missile programs, banning exports including coal, iron, lead, textiles and seafood, and capping imports of crude oil and refined petroleum products. Asked whether North Korea was ready to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States, Han referred to Kim's speech to the Supreme People's Assembly in April. "If they don't change their minds, if they don't make a big decision, we are not obsessed over another round of talks with the USA, out of (being) thirsty for lifting sanctions," Han said. "That's why our leader said that if they made a big decision, there will be another round of talks with America." Han said that North Korean grain production was lower last year following drought, leading to a "shortage of food". U.N. agencies, including the World Food Programme (WFP), are providing food assistance, from donor contributions, he said. "If there is food aid, it's ok. But if there is no food aid, then we have to manage ourselves." Asked whether the food shortages were manageable, he replied: "It is manageable, but the problem is U.N. sanctions. "We can't transact for importing the food through banking systems, that is the main problem." (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay, Editing by William Maclean) Newman Finishes 13th In Wild All-Star Race Posted by: newsla on May 22, 2019 - 03:49 AM Newman Finishes 13th In Wild All-Star Race Ryan Newman overcame some early troubles in Saturday nights All-Star Race to finish 13th in his Acorns Ford Mustang. The 2003 Driver of the Year got into the main event via his 2002 victory in the All-Star race. With a unique qualifying session that includes three timed laps and a four-tire pit stop at max speed, Newman rolled off the grid sixth following Fridays qualifying session for the four-stage race. Just a few laps in Newman reported he possibly had nose damage on his machine after contact with the No. 12 machine. The team went to work on the nose as well as the handling at lap 26 when the caution flew, trying to loosen up the No. 6 Ford. He went on to finish stage one 14th before pitting for more adjustments at lap 33. Following the stage two restart, the yellow flag waved once again when Newman went spinning through the front stretch grass. Despite the damage, the South Bend, Indiana, native kept it rolling and stayed on the lead lap. Under the same yellow, crew chief Scott Graves brought the No. 6 machine to pit road ensuring the fenders were cleared for the final segments. The costly time on pit road forced Newman to settle with a he quickly maneuvered his Acorns Ford inside the top five within the first five laps of the segment. A caution flag was displayed shortly after setting up a 10-lap shootout. With the restarts going three and four wide, Newman battled before losing positions forcing him to settle with a 13th-place finish in the non-points race. Newman and the No. 6 team return to action next weekend at for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Race coverage begins at 6 p.m. ET next Sunday on FOX. Coverage can also be heard on MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90. PaddockTalk Perspective By Caroline Humer BOSTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Novartis AG's top executive said on Wednesday it expects to price its gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy far lower than the $4 million to $5 million figure the Swiss drugmaker has said it could be worth. U.S. regulators are expected to make a decision this month on whether to approve Zolgensma, a one-time therapy seen as a potential long-term solution for the rare disease that is the leading genetic cause of death in infants. The company has previously said it could price the treatment in a range of $1.5 million to $5 million. We wont be announcing the price until we get the approval. But our overall goal is to be at a fraction of what is the current standard of care, and the current standard of care for treating these patients is $4 million to $5 million over 10 years, Novartis Chief Executive Vas Narasimhan told reporters on Wednesday in Boston. The current treatment for SMA, which can lead to paralysis, breathing difficulty and early death, is Biogen Inc's Spinraza. That drug has a list price of $750,000 for the initial year and $375,000 annually thereafter. Narasimhan said his company's ultra-rare disease therapy would be cost effective in a range of $4.6 million to $5.4 million. We want to be far lower than that, he said. Novartis is expecting the drug initially to be approved for infants and is in discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about whether approval will include other forms of the disease beyond the most serious Type 1, he said. The company is also in late stage discussions with commercial insurers over the price of the treatment. (Reporting by Caroline Humer Editing by Bill Berkrot) Secretary of State Mike Pompeos claim that Iran and Al Qaeda are collaborating is at best an exaggeration that is not supported by any available information, U.S. intelligence officers and officials with the State and Defense Department tell TIME. Pompeo made the claim about the terrorist organization during testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month, at a time when tensions between the U.S. and Iran have risen. There is no doubt there is a connection between the Islamic Republic of Iran and al-Qaeda. Period. Full stop, he said. The factual question with respect to Irans connections to al Qaeda is very real. They have hosted al Qaeda. They have permitted al-Qaeda to transit their country. But U.S. officials say that he dramatically overstated the case. The Secretary has blown the level of collusion between Iran and a few of the remnants of al Qaeda way out of proportion, says a senior U.S. official who follows developments in Iran closely. There have been occasional marriages of convenience, but there is nothing in the intelligence to suggest that any of them has been consummated in any grand anti-American alliance. Two intelligence officials say that while its true that a handful of al Qaeda members, including one of Osama bin Ladens sons, have been in Iran since shortly after the U.S. attacked their safe haven in Afghanistan in 2001, there is no evidence that Shiite Muslim Iran and the Sunni extremist group have carried out any joint operations against the U.S. To the contrary, three officials noted, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, al Qaedas direct descendant in Syria and Iraq, took credit for a 2017 attack on Irans parliament building and the tomb of the Islamic Republics founder, the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which according to Irans state media killed at least 12 people. That attack may have been prompted by the fact that Lebanons Hezbollah and other Shiite militias backed by Irans Quds Force, the overseas arms of Tehrans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have battled al Qaeda and ISIS in Syria and Iraq, said another U.S. official, who like the others requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly. Story continues There have been al Qaeda people in Iran since shortly after 9/11, occasionally under house arrest, says Daniel Benjamin, who was the State Departments top counterterrorism official during the Obama Administration and now director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. However, Benjamin tells TIME, Iran has not had an operational alliance with al Qaeda. The Iranians want to know what AQ is up to and they keep close tabs on them, but Irans current approach and one its maintained for many years has been to avoid anything that would provoke an American strike, he says. The most recent State Department Country Report on Irans support for terrorism, published last September, doesnt pull any punches, saying: Iran continued to provide weapons, training, and funding to Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups, including Palestine Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine-General Command. These Palestinian terrorist groups have been behind a number of deadly attacks originating in Gaza and the West Bank, including attacks against Israeli civilians and Egyptian security forces in the Sinai Peninsula. But on connections between Tehran and al Qaeda, the report says only that: Iran remained unwilling to bring to justice senior al-Qaida (AQ) members residing in Iran and has refused to publicly identify the members in its custody. In addition, the clerical regime in Tehran has allowed the group to move money and fighters through Iran from Pakistan to South Asia and Syria since at least 2009. However, the U.S. officials tell TIME, last summer or fall, after Pompeo became Secretary of State, language suddenly appeared referring to the few al Qaeda members as AQ in Iran, suggesting there was an operational cell, which the officials say was at least an exaggeration, if not an outright falsehood. That assertion predictably has evoked memories of the George W. Bush Administrations false claims that al Qaeda had links to Iraq, and even that bin Laden and Saddam Hussein both Sunnis might have cooperated in planning the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. In that case, Bush Administration officials and Iraqi exiles distorted intelligence about a supposed Iraqi terrorist training facility and an Iraqi offer to bin Laden of safe haven in Iraq, which officials neglected to mention that bin Laden had rejected, saying Iraqs objectives were not al Qaedas. There is, the U.S. officials said, slightly more substance to Pompeos assertion than there was to the Bush Administrations claims about al Qaeda and Iraq, despite the centuries-old hostility between Shiite Iran and its Sunni neighbors. The small number of senior members of bin Ladens now scattered group who remain in Iran are there with the governments permission, although some of them have been under virtual house arrest, says one of the officials. The arrangement, say two of the officials, is a pragmatic one: It prevents al Qaeda or any group under its wing from attacking Iran and it provides Tehran some potential leverage in any new negotiations with the U.S., although Iranian President Hassan Rouhani this week said hes not ready to talk. I can envision a moment when, as part of some negotiation, Iran might offer to hand over the al Qaeda types its been harboring in exchange for some concession on sanctions, one U.S. diplomat tells TIME. If you think about it, thats kind of the opposite of what the Secretary has said. Now, these officials worry that the situation could spin out of control, especially after Iran this week announced that it is quadrupling it production of low-enriched uranium, which cannot be used for nuclear weapons, and on Sunday someone fired a Katyusha rocket that landed about a mile from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Even before Iran announced the increase in uranium enrichment, Trump reversed his comment that he hoped there would not be a war with Iran and echoed National Security Advisor John Boltons vague threats of military action against Iran, tweeting: If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Saudi Arabia, too, has been escalating its verbal attacks on its Shiite enemy, particularly in connection with the Islamic Republics support for Houthi rebels in Yemen, and the Kingdom is preparing to host a meeting of Sunni allies against Iran on May 30 in Mecca. Pompeo and Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan sought on Tuesday to reassure lawmakers that the Administration is not trying to start a war with Iran. But reactions to their classified briefings remained divided along party lines, with Democrats saying they are unsure of the Administrations intentions and Republicans saying its efforts to deter Iranian aggression are succeeding. I dont think anyone wants another war in the Middle East, one of the U.S officials said on Tuesday, but then again, nobody wanted World War I either. Photo: Bistro 38/Yelp Looking to satisfy your appetite for Southeast Asian fare? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best affordable Southeast Asian restaurants around Oklahoma City, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots to fill the bill. 1. Four J's Diner Photo: mary margaret m./Yelp Topping the list is Four J's Diner. Located at 2920 S. Agnew Ave., the Laotian and Thai spot is the highest rated budget-friendly Southeast Asian restaurant in Oklahoma City, boasting five stars out of 160 reviews on Yelp. Oklahoma Gazette described this spot as "chock-a-block full of fresh, spicy dishes for your newly educated tongue." Look for a wide selection of noodles, curry dishes, beef and seafood. Look for the Laotian sausage with boiled cabbage, green beans and broccoli in a hot chili sauce. 2. Bistro 38 Photo: bistro 38/Yelp Next up is Bistro 38, situated at 2903 N.W. 36th, Suite 113. With 4.5 stars out of 134 reviews on Yelp, the Thai spot has proven to be a local favorite for those looking for an inexpensive option. Owner Tom Pakin aims to bring a healthy flair to Thai dishes by adding more vegetables, according to the Oklahoma Gazette. Expect a menu centered on noodles, fried rice, curry and more. Look for the fried tofu with bell peppers, yellow onions, sweet basil leaves drizzled with a Thai chili sauce. 3. Pho Lien Hoa Photo: george p./Yelp Pho Lien Hoa, a Vietnamese spot in Asia District, is another inexpensive go-to, with four stars out of 351 Yelp reviews. Head over to 901 N.W. 23rd St. to see for yourself. In March, this spot was named by The Oklahoman as a local Asian dining choice worth a tour. On the menu, expect to find build-your-own rice soups, vermicelli noodle bowls and more. There's also specialty ice teas and fruit-infused smoothies. 4. GiaGia Vietnamese Restaurant Over in Asia District, check out GiaGia Vietnamese Restaurant, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 68 reviews on Yelp. Dig in at the Vietnamese spot by heading over to 2624 N. Classen Blvd., Suite 3. This spot ranked as one of the seven best Vietnamese restaurants in Oklahoma City. On the menu, expect vegetarian rice and noodle dishes, banh mi sandwiches, and beef and pork noodle soups. Look for the sugarcane shrimp vermicelli bowl. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Two barges broke loose and floated swiftly down the swollen Arkansas River in eastern Oklahoma on Wednesday, spreading alarm downstream as they threatened to hit a dam. The emergency was the latest consequence of storms and torrential rains that have ravaged the Midwest, from Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. Authorities urged residents of several small towns in Oklahoma and Kansas to leave their homes as rivers and streams rose. The Arkansas River town of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, was one such town. Town officials ordered a mandatory evacuation Wednesday afternoon because of the river's rising level. But Wednesday evening, a posting on the town's official Facebook page sounded the alarm about the runaway barges for its 600 residents: "Evacuate Webbers Falls immediately. The barges are loose and has the potential to hit the lock and dam 16. If the dam breaks, it will be catastrophic!! Leave now!!" There was no word by midnight Wednesday where the barges were on the river, but local television stations showing live video of the river and the lock and dam said they had not yet arrived. For the third consecutive day, dangerous storms prompted numerous tornado warnings and reports of twisters touching down, most in Missouri and Oklahoma. The National Weather Service said it had received 22 reports of tornadoes by late Wednesday evening, although some of those could be duplicate reporting of the same twister. One tornado skirted just a few miles north of Joplin, Missouri, on the eighth anniversary of a catastrophic tornado that killed 161 people in the city. The tornado caused some damage in the town of Carl Junction, about 4 miles (6.44 kilometers) north of the Joplin airport. A 'violent tornado' touched down in Jefferson City, Missouri, causing possible fatalities, heavy damage at 11:43 p.m. on Wednesday. The mayor of the capital city had earlier issued a mandatory evacuation for an area involving a handful of homes. The city's airport also has been evacuated. Story continues The Arkansas River was approaching historic highs, while the already high Missouri and Mississippi Rivers were again rising after a multi-day stretch of storms that produced dozens of tornadoes. Forecasters predicted parts of Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas could see more severe weather Wednesday night into Thursday. "The biggest concern is more rain," Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a news conference following an aerial tour with Tulsa Mayor G.W. Bynum and other officials Wednesday morning. The deluge inundated roadways, closing highways in 22 Oklahoma counties and 17 Kansas counties, along with more than 330 Missouri roads. Amtrak suspended train service Wednesday and Thursday along a route between St. Louis and Kansas City because of congestion and flood-related delays. The Arkansas River, which was just above 37 feet (11 meters), or 9 feet (2.74 meters) above flood stage, at Muskogee, Oklahoma, was expected to eventually reach 43.5 feet (13.26 meters). Officials encouraged residents in several communities along the river to leave their homes. But Bynum, Tulsa's mayor, said his city of more than 400,000 people was safe so far. "The levee system is working the way it's supposed to right now," he said. Near Crescent, about 34 miles (55 kilometers) north of Oklahoma City, erosion left several homes hanging over the swollen Cimarron River. One unoccupied home rolled into the river Tuesday, and authorities say others could collapse. More than 9 inches (23 centimeters) of rain has fallen since Sunday in parts of Oklahoma after an already rainy spring. "Any rainfall we get just continues to saturate the soils that are already saturated. Especially rivers and streams," said Oklahoma State Climatologist Gary McManus. "There is simply nowhere for this water to go" as it flows downstream from Kansas, according to McManus. In Kansas, residents in parts of the city of Iola, along the Neosho River, were being urged to evacuate and officials had set up on emergency shelter at a community college, said Corey Schinstock, assistant city administrator. If the river reaches its predicted crest of 27.8 feet (8.47 meters) Thursday, it would be the second-worst flood ever for the town of about 5,400 residents. Elsewhere, the Mississippi River was at or approaching major flood stage from Iowa through southern Missouri and Illinois. At St. Louis, the Mississippi was expected to crest Monday at nearly 12 feet (3.7 meters) above flood stage. If that holds, the Coast Guard will likely close the river to navigation for the second time this month. Along the Missouri River, about 50 levees in Missouri could be overtopped by Saturday as high water levels move downstream, according to the Army Corps of Engineers. The river was expected to crest Thursday at 36.1 feet (11 meters) near the town of Glasgow, Missouri, overtopping agricultural levees and inundating some homes, highways and parkland. Deaths from this week's storms include a 74-year-old woman found early Wednesday morning in Iowa. Officials there say she was killed by a possible tornado that damaged a farmstead in Adair County. Missouri authorities said heavy rain was a contributing factor in the deaths of two people in a traffic accident Tuesday near Springfield. A fourth weather-related death may have occurred in Oklahoma, where the Highway Patrol said a woman apparently drowned after driving around a barricade Tuesday near Perkins, about 45 miles (72 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City. The unidentified woman's body was sent to the state medical examiner's office to confirm the cause of death. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said she isn't yet listed as what would be the state's first storm-related death. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Bleed in Little Rock, Arkansas; Tim Talley in Oklahoma City; Jim Salter in St. Louis; Terry Wallace in Dallas, Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, and John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, contributed to this report. Paris (AFP) - Scientists have unearthed fossilised fungi dating back up to one billion years, in a discovery that could reshape our understanding of how life on land evolved, research showed Wednesday. For decades, the earliest known fungi -- organisms such as mushrooms, mould and yeast -- was thought to have appeared on earth around half a billion years ago. But recent fossil specimens unearthed in Canada and analysed using the latest dating technology appear to push back fungi's arrival to the earliest reaches of life on land. Corentin Loron, a PhD student from the University of Liege, Belgium, and colleagues examined the microfossils to determine the chemical composition of their cells. They found the presence of chitin -- a fibrous substance that forms on fungal cell walls -- and examined the age of the rock the fossils were found in by its ratio of radioactive elements. They concluded the microfossils were between 900 million and one billion years old. Loron said the finding was significant because in the "tree of life", fungi are part of the same umbrella group of organisms -- known as Eukaryotes -- as plants and animals. "This means that if fungi are already present around 900-1000 million years ago, so should animals have been," he told AFP. "This is reshaping our vision of the world because those groups are still present today. Therefore, this distant past, although very different from today, may have been much more 'modern' than we thought." Fungi remain one of the most abundant organisms on the planet and are the third largest contributor to global biomass after plants and bacteria. It is six times heavier than the mass of all animals combined -- including humans. The study was published in the journal Nature. CTD arrested facilitator of Data Darba in Lahore Marking major success against Data Darbar terror attack, Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), on Tuesday, arrested a facilitator in Lahore. As per sources, the alleged facilitator, Mohsin Khan, was arrested in a raid carried out in Bhati Gate locality of Lahore. The team also recovered explosive material from the facilitator. Mohsin Khan was identified as a native of Shabqadar in Charsadda district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. CTD sources also claimed that the suicide bomber in Lahore shrine attack was identified as Sadiqullah Mohmand, an Afghan citizen. According to sources, Sadiqullah had entered Pakistan on an Afghan passport across Torkham border on May 6. A facilitator, Tayyabullah, had guided the suicide bomber to Lahore, where both had stayed with Mohsin and Noorzeb in Lahore on May 7. Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday dismissed as "fake" exit polls predicting a clear election victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a day before the scheduled release of results. A slew of exit polls released after the world's largest election ended on Sunday projected that Modi and his allies would return to power with between 282 and 313 seats out of 543 in parliament. "My dear Congress party workers. The next 24 hours are important. Stay alert and vigilant. Don't be afraid. You are fighting for the truth," Gandhi, head of the Congress party, said on Twitter. "Don't get disappointed by the propaganda of fake exit polls. Keep faith in yourself and the Congress party. Your hard work won't go to waste. Jai Hind (Bow to the motherland)," he wrote. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed the predictions and Indian stock markets rose strongly on Monday, but exit polls in India are notoriously unreliable. In 2004 they predicted that Prime Minister Atal Vajpayee's BJP-led government would be re-elected but results showed the opposite, bringing a Congress-led alliance to power under Manmohan Singh. In the last election in 2014, the BJP won 282 seats, the first time a party had won a majority on its own in 30 years. It then cobbled together an alliance with a commanding 334 seats. Counting of the roughly 600 million votes cast was due to begin at 8:00 am (0230 GMT) on Thursday. If there is a clear trend this should be evident by around midday. - Voting machine doubts - Party volunteers on Wednesday joined armed police to guard strongrooms containing the four million electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in the election before counting begins. On Tuesday more than 20 opposition parties had called on the election watchdog to ensure the machines were not manipulated after video clips emerged on social media purporting to show irregularities. The Election Commission moved swiftly to refute the reports, saying voting machines were "absolutely safe in strongrooms", and those shown in video clips were reserves. Story continues Amit Shah, president of the BJP, said Wednesday that the opposition was rattled by their likely defeat and were "tarnishing" India by raising questions about the electoral process. Vijay Singh, an election agent for the Samajwadi Party in Lucknow -- capital of the key state of Uttar Pradesh -- was one of those keeping an eye on the strongroom, a common practice during elections, despite the baking heat. "We sit there in shifts of eight hours. The administration has provided a tent where we camp round the clock," Singh told AFP. "We are the foot soldiers of the party and are always ready to serve our party under any circumstances. And we are there around the strongroom to ensure there is no security breach." Indian government issued an advisory to the regional governments to be vigilant when the votes are counted Thursday. The home ministry "alerted" the state governments and police chiefs "regarding possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country in connection with the counting of votes tomorrow". "(The ministry) has asked the states and union territories to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility," the government statement said. "This is in the wake of calls and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes," it added. By Pavel Polityuk and Natalia Zinets KIEV, May 22 (Reuters) - Lawmakers dealt an early blow to Ukraine's new president Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Wednesday by rejecting proposed changes to the electoral system ahead of a snap parliamentary election due in July. A comedian with no prior political experience, Zelenskiy won last month's presidential election by a landslide on promises to fight corruption and end politics as usual. But his party currently has no representation in parliament, and Wednesday's vote offered a glimpse of lawmakers' ability to frustrate his reform agenda at least until the general election, which Zelenskiy's new grouping is expected to win. In a sign that more trouble could be in store, the speaker accused Zelenskiy of causing a constitutional crisis by dissolving parliament and calling the snap election, and said lawmakers would challenge the decision in court. Zelenskiy needs parliament to vote for reforms he promised to voters on the campaign trail, including a move to strip lawmakers of their immunity from prosecution. Parliament also needs to vote on laws needed to keep foreign aid flowing. On the campaign trail, Zelenskiy had promised to scrap Ukraine's mixed voting system, which he believes would narrow the scope for corruption and vote buying. At present, 50 percent of seats are determined by proportional voting through election party lists and 50 percent by electing lawmakers in local constituencies. The law change would scrap the constituencies, which Zelenskiy argues are vulnerable to powerful local interests. It would also help Zelenskiy, whose party does not have a strong regional presence in the same way as established parties do, analysts say. But lawmakers criticized the changes to the election law, saying they would fuel corruption rather than prevent it. "The changes not only do not improve the legislation and do not strengthen democratic standards, but rather they make them worse," said Artur Gerasimov, the head of the faction of former President Petro Poroshenko, whom Zelenskiy defeated in April. Story continues Lawmakers also turned their fire on Zelenskiy's appointments to key positions, which included some of his business partners and Andriy Bogdan, a lawyer with links to one of Ukraine's richest men. "What is the current president Zelenskiy doing? He is appointing all of his business partners to government posts," said Oleh Lyashko, an opposition party leader. "How is it different from Poroshenko?" Parliament also did not vote on whether to accept the resignation of Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, who had announced his departure on Monday in response to Zelenskiy's decision to dissolve parliament. The political upheaval coincided with the arrival of an International Monetary Fund mission this week to Ukraine to discuss disbursements under a $3.9 billion aid-for-reforms bailout program. (Writing by Matthias Williams; Editing by Catherine Evans) Following a Wednesday morning meeting in which House Democrats shared their thoughts on how to address President Trumps stonewalling of congressional oversight efforts, Speaker Nancy Pelosi stopped short of endorsing impeachment but publicly accused the president of engaging in a cover up. We do believe that its important to follow the facts. We believe that no one is above the law, including the president of the United States. And we believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover up, and that was the nature of the meeting, Pelosi told reporters on Capitol Hill. Pelosi held the meeting Wednesday morning to corral a caucus that is increasingly scattered on the question of impeachment. In the wake of former White House counsel Don McGahns refusal to appear Monday before the House Judiciary Committee, a number of prominent Democrats, including some members of Pelosis leadership team, joined their younger, more progressive colleagues in calling for Trumps impeachment. They are joined by just one Republican, Representative Justin Amash of Michigan, who cemented his gadfly reputation over the weekend by breaking ranks with his party. In addition to the unwillingness of Attorney General William Barr and McGahn to comply with House subpoenas, the administration has refused to comply with Democrats subpoena-backed demands for documents, including Trumps tax returns and other information related to their investigation of whether the president sought to obstruct Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation. Influential Democrats such as Oversight and Reform Committee chairman Elijah Cummings (D., Md.) and Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff have begun to inch closer toward calling for impeachment in response to the administrations intransigence. I think what the president has done has put us in a position where we cannot get any information to do the oversight that we need to do. And that basically ties our hands and makes us, with regard to oversight, powerless, Cummings said Tuesday on CNN. Story continues The question now becomes: Do we allow this to continue? And where do we end up if we do that? That is the question, he added. And Im still mulling it over and talking to my colleagues when I get on the floor in a few minutes. But Im getting there. During the meeting, Pelosi reportedly planned to respond to those calls by urging her colleagues to exercise caution and remain committed to their present strategy of compelling the administration to submit to oversight through the courts. More from National Review Pembina Pipeline (NYSE: PBA) has been quietly having a good year. Shares of the Canadian midstream company are already up more than 20%, thanks in large part to a rebound in the energy market. While that rally is great news for existing investors, it has pushed down the yield on the company's dividend to about 4.7%. Because of that, Pembina Pipeline isn't as compelling an investment opportunity as it was earlier this year. However, that doesn't mean shares aren't still worth buying. Here's why some investors might want to consider adding the Canadian pipeline company to their portfolio. Two people analyzing financial data. Image source: Getty Images. The bull case for Pembina Pipeline The main draw with Pembina Pipeline is its dividend. The company not only offers a relatively high yield, but it pays investors each month as opposed to quarterly. Further, that payout should be sustainable over the long term. Three factors drive that view. First, Pembina currently gets 86% of its earnings from stable fee-based contracts, which is above its 80% target. Second, it only pays out about 57% of its total cash flow, which is a conservative level for a pipeline company. Finally, the company has a strong investment-grade credit rating backed by leverage metrics that are currently below its target range. Pembina Pipeline adds to the attractiveness of its dividend by aiming to increase it each year. The company has done so for eight straight years, growing the payout at a 4.1% compound annual rate over that time frame. That trend should continue over the next several years because the company has 4.8 billion Canadian dollars ($3.9 billion) in growth projects under construction. As they come online, those expansions should supply the company with the incremental cash flow needed to continue growing the dividend each year. The third factor in Pembina's favor is its valuation. The Canadian pipeline company expects to generate about CA$4.50 ($3.36) per share in adjusted cash flow in 2019. With its stock currently selling for about CA$49 ($36.50) apiece, shares trade at about 11 times cash flow. That's a very reasonable level for a pipeline company, especially considering that leading Canadian rival Enbridge currently trades at slightly more than 11 times cash flow. Story continues The bear case for Pembina Pipeline It's hard to find a knock against Pembina Pipeline. That's because the company's management team has set up strict financial guardrails to ensure it maintains a strong balance sheet so that it can weather storms in the energy market. Meanwhile, it has done an excellent job securing expansion projects that position it to continue growing cash flow for the next several years, including adding CA$3.5 billion ($2.6 billion) of projects to its backlog in the past year. However, if there is one concern with the company, it's the Jordan Cove LNG project. Pembina inherited the proposed natural gas export terminal along Oregon's coast when it acquired Veresen. While the project makes lots of economic and strategic sense, it's highly controversial, since both landowners and environmentalists opposed its construction. The company has already faced several setbacks, including a recent permit denial, which have pushed its proposed in-service date to 2025. Continued issues with this project could weigh on the company, which increases its risk. Verdict: Pembina Pipeline is a buy, especially for those seeking monthly income Pembina Pipeline should have no problem continuing to grow its high-yielding dividend at a mid-single-digit rate for the next several years. Thanks to that, the company's stock should be able to produce total annual returns in the low double digits, especially since it has a reasonable valuation. That makes it a solid stock to buy, especially for investors who would like a monthly income stream. On top of that, it has a wild card in Jordan Cove. The project shouldn't hurt the company too much if it sees further delays, while it adds significant upside potential if it eventually moves ahead. More From The Motley Fool Matthew DiLallo owns shares of Enbridge. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Enbridge. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Defense is considering a U.S. military request to send about 5,000 additional troops to the Middle East amid increasing tensions with Iran, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Wednesday. Tehran and Washington have this month been escalating rhetoric against each other, following U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to try to cut Iran's oil exports to zero and beef up the U.S. military presence in the Gulf in response to what he said were Iranian threats. The officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the request had been made by U.S. Central Command, but added that it was not clear whether the Pentagon would approve the request. The Pentagon regularly receives - and declines - requests for additional resources from U.S. combatant commands throughout the world. One of the officials said the requested troops would be defensive in nature. It is unclear if any specific request will ultimately be presented to the White House. The request for 5,000 additional troops was first reported by Reuters. This appeared to be the latest request for additional resources in the face of what U.S. officials have said are credible threats from Iran against U.S. forces and American interests in the Middle East. The United States has not publicly shown any evidence of what the specific intelligence on the Iranian threat is. The Pentagon declined to comment. "As a matter of longstanding policy, we are not going to discuss or speculate on potential future plans and requests for forces," Commander Rebecca Rebarich, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said on Wednesday. Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Tuesday that while threats from Iran in the Middle East remained high, deterrence measures taken by the Pentagon had "put on hold" the potential for attacks on Americans. The U.S. military accelerated the deployment of a carrier strike group to the Middle East, and sent bombers and Patriot missiles to the region earlier this month in response to what Washington said were troubling indications of possible preparations for an attack by Iran. Story continues U.S. government sources told Reuters last week they believe Iran encouraged Houthi militants or Iraq-based Shi'ite militias to carry out attacks on tanker ships off the United Arab Emirates. Trump has warned that Iran would be met with "great force" if it attacked U.S. interests in the Middle East. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that Iran's youth will witness the demise of Israel and American civilization. (Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; editing by Rosalba O'Brien and G Crosse) Iranian Foreign Minister to visit Islamabad ISLAMABAD: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is expected to visit Islamabad later this week for consultations with the Pakistani leadership, a senior diplomatic source said on Tuesday. The visit will take place amidst Irans escalating tensions with the United States. The source said FM Zarif would meet civilian and military leaders during his daylong stay in Islamabad. He said Mr Zarif would discuss the regional situation during his meetings in Islamabad in addition to bilateral matters, especially border security. The trip will come days before the Organisation of Islamic Cooperations two-day summit in Makkah from May 30 to 31. Saudi Arabia has, meanwhile, also scheduled an emergency summit of the Arab League. Saudi official newswire SPA said that King Salman had invited Arab League members to the meeting scheduled for May 30 to discuss the recent aggression and their consequences. Saudi Arabia, it is anticipated, would push for anti-Iran resolutions at both summits. Mr Zarif would reportedly explain Iranian perspective on the developments in the region to Pakistani leaders. In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, the Iranian foreign minister said the US was playing a very, very dangerous game by boosting its military presence in the region. Having all these military assets in a small area is in of itself prone to accidents, Mr Zarif said in a reference to the deployment of US aircraft carrier and bomber task force in the Middle East. Extreme prudence is required and the United States is playing a very, very dangerous game, he further said. Mr Zarif last week travelled to Beijing as part of his outreach to regional countries, where his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi assured him that China firmly opposes unilateral sanctions and the so-called long-arm jurisdiction imposed by the United States on Iran. Although Pakistan has not taken a definitive position on the crisis and has been hinting at neutrality, Foreign Office spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal in his last weekly media briefing criticised the US for ratcheting up the tension. Texas is full of great designers and makers, and new things are happening every day in the Lone Star State. To help you keep up with all the design news and goings-on in the area, AD PRO is here with what you need to know this week. Perkins+Will Wins Three Awards at the 2019 TxA Awards Perkins+Will took home three awards at the Texas Society of Architects 2019 Design Awards. The awards highlight architectural and urban design projects that promote public interest in design. Perkins + Wills three honors came in the Built category for the firms work on the LEED Goldcertified Fire Station 27, the most advanced fire station design in Dallas, the Richards Groups new corporate headquarters in Dallas, and Emancipation Park in Houston, a ten-acre park designed to remember the parks significance within the African-American community. Jonathan Browning Studios Features His New Collection in Dallas and Houston Lighting designer Jonathan Brownings newest light collection is now available for purchase in the Bright Group showroom in Dallas and the Ligne Lighting Studio in Houston. The offering takes a modern view of the Hollywood dressing room vanity light. The Glacon lamp is a cube-shaped light that emulates fire and ice, while the Rameau Circular chandelier is a classic candelabra turned upside down to resemble a modern claw. Meanwhile, the Platiere Circular chandelier was inspired by the shape of a razor clam. Multimedia Gallery ALG Collective Opens in Dallas On May 18, the Dallas Design District welcomed a new gallery, ALG Collective, during a grand opening celebration. Glass artist Anna Lou Curnes opened the space as a multimedia arts gallery that will feature her own work as well as the creations of three other women: Annie Griffeth, Melissa Ellis, and Christi Meril. Griffeth is known for her narrative-driven Pop art, Ellis for her abstract and contemporary nature oil paintings, and Meril for her abstract mixed-media work. Story continues Houston Endowment Launches International Architecture Contest The nonprofit Houston Endowment is hosting an international competition in search of a team of architects to design the charitys new headquarters on a site overlooking Spotts Park and Buffalo Bayou. The international contest will be in two stages with a $20 million base. Houston Endowment is looking for an architect who can design the headquarters with the business and community it serves in mind. Architecture Professor Sheba Akhtar Presents Modern Architecture Talk Prairie View A&M University architecture professor Sheba Akhtar will host a program called Modern Architecture on May 25 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Sugar Land Branch Library outside Houston. The free event will focus on the evolution of modern architecture and how seminal figures like Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Sullivan influenced the field as we know it today. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest BALTIMORE (AP) While swimming to Olympic glory, Michael Phelps found comfort in the pool and quite a bit of angst out of it. His bout with depression reached its nadir in 2014 after a second DUI arrest. That's when the most decorated Olympian of all time checked himself into a rehabilitative center in a desperate effort to make sense of it all. "When I was in my room and not wanting to talk to anybody for a number of days and not wanting to be alive, I wanted to see what other roads I could take to see if there was help," Phelps recalled. The treatment he received and continues to receive charted his post-Olympic course. "I know it's something that changed my life and saved my life and allowed me to be able to be where I am today, enjoying the platform of talking about something that's so important," Phelps told The Associated Press in an interview Tuesday. Because he is willing to share his story of depression and raise awareness of mental health issues, Phelps was given the fifth annual Morton E. Ruderman Award in Inclusion on Tuesday night in Boston. After participating in four Olympic Games and collecting 28 medals, including 23 gold, Phelps has dedicated his time and energy to promoting the importance of water safety and advocating for the de-stigmatization of mental health problems through the Michael Phelps Foundation. "When I first really opened up about the struggles that I had in '15, obviously I dreamed of being able to get more publicity to this and to really share my journey and have other people share their journeys with me as well," Phelps said. "Honestly, I never thought it would be as big as this, but it's been a true dream to be able to watch the growth that mental health has taken, almost being at center stage." To say this endeavor has been fulfilling is an understatement. "Through this, if I can save one life, two lives, five lives, a thousand, a million, to me that's so much more important than winning a gold medal," he said. Story continues The 33-year-old Phelps believes his bout with depression is a story that many can share, including CEOs and other retired athletes. After accomplishing every goal he set for himself, what was left to do? "Probably my first real depression spell was after 2004, then the next big one was after 2008," he said. "When you set out to be an Olympian, your whole life is put on hold. All the eggs are in one basket. I would say 2004, 2008, 2012, partly after '16 (all Olympic years) I've dealt with pretty severe depression spells. I was kind of lost at that point." The Baltimore native is in a far better frame of mind now. "To have my wife (Nicole Johnson), who's always by my side, two amazing little boys at home and a third one on the way, I'm extremely thankful of the support I've had to get me through these times," Phelps said. The Ruderman Award is given to individuals who are passionate about providing opportunities for others. Phelps certainly fits that description. "Michael Phelps is a unique leader who has used his fame and status as the greatest swimmer of all time to challenge our society to remove stigma surrounding mental health," said Jay Ruderman, president of the Ruderman Family Foundation. "For me, this award means everything because this is where my passion is and the next chapter of my life is really heading," Phelps said. "We're kind of scratching the surface of what can be done, and I'm looking forward to continuing this journey and accomplishing some of the goals that I have de-stigmatizing mental health and just getting the point across that it's OK to not be OK." ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-Sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports MANILA, May 22 (Reuters) - President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered his government to hire a private shipping company to send 69 containers of garbage back to Canada and leave them within its territorial waters if it refuses to accept the trash, his spokesman said on Wednesday. "The Philippines as an independent sovereign nation must not be treated as trash by other foreign nation," Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo told a media briefing. Canada says the waste, exported to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014, was a commercial transaction not backed by the Canadian government. Canada has since offered to take the rubbish back and the two countries are in the process of arranging the transfer. But Canada missed a May 15 deadline set by Manila to take back the shipment, prompting the Philippines to withdraw top diplomats from Canada last week. "Obviously, Canada is not taking this issue nor our country seriously. The Filipino people are gravely insulted about Canada treating this country as a dump site," Panelo said. The Canadian embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Philippines has made several diplomatic protests to Canada since a 2016 court ruling that the garbage be returned. The consignments were labeled as containing plastics to be recycled in the Philippines but were filled with a variety of rubbish including diapers, newspapers and water bottles. The issue is not the only one to strain ties between the two countries. Last year, Duterte ordered the military to cancel a $233 million deal to buy 16 helicopters from Canada, after Ottawa expressed concern they could be used to fight rebels. (Reporting by Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales Editing by Robert Birsel) Phillip Schofield has hit out at an anti-LGBTQ+ education protestor, who has been accused of poisoning childrens minds. Shakeel Afsar appeared on This Morning today to explained why he is leading the protests against Anderson Park Primary School in Birmingham. Pupils have been kept away from the school, however, after the protests turned violent. During the debate, Schofield and co-host Holly Willoughby also spoke to Melissa Thompson, who is against the protests and has described them as homophobic. Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby debate LGBTQ+ eduction with guest on This Morning (ITV) Schofield soon took aim at Afsar for discriminating against the LGBTQ+ community, claiming he was encouraging children to be less tolerant. Read more: SAS: Who Dares Wins drill captain defends teaching his 10-year-old son not to cry You are discriminating, because what youre doing is encouraging children to be less tolerant, he said. Thankfully, children are much more inclusive nowadays. That generation will probably, potentially, possibly reject your views and you will widen the gap between generations. Shakeel Afsar is leading the protests against LGBTQ+ education at a primary school in Birmingham (ITV) To which Afsar replied: With all due respect to what youve said, thats exactly how [some of the] parents are feeling. Theyre feeling that the LGBT community has become intolerable towards them and their religious beliefs. Read more: Holly Willoughby sends condolences to 'Jeremy Kyle Show' crew A furious Thompson interjected: I find it really rich that you use words such as intolerance. It's hugely damaging to the LGBT community. She then added that he was poisoning children with his comments. Guest Melissa Thompson described the protests as homophobic (ITV) Earlier this week, Birmingham MP Jess Phillips took to Twitter to condemn the protests, writing: Our equalities laws protect us all. I will not be called aggressive for wanting to protect all of the community, Muslims too. This is doing deep damage to the Muslim community and these protestors do not represent Birmingham. Djerba (Tunisia) (AFP) - Worshippers prayed, lit candles and wrote wishes on eggs as an annual Jewish pilgrimage to Africa's oldest synagogue got under way in Tunisia on Wednesday. Hundreds of pilgrims converged on the Ghriba synagogue on the Mediterranean island of Djerba where one of the last Jewish communities in the Arab world lives. They were joined by ministers and other dignitaries to celebrate the two-day Lag BaOmer festival. The event, which starts 33 days after the start of the Jewish Passover festival, coincides with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan this year for the first time since 1987. A fast-breaking meal is due to be shared by Muslims and Jews on Wednesday evening in Djerba. "It's not easy to organise all this while people are fasting here. They are tired, but we are as welcome as usual," said Laura Tuil-Journo from France. This year's pilgrimage is the first since Rene Trabelsi, who has been co-organising the festival for years, was appointed as Tunisia's first Jewish minister in decades, in charge of tourism. "This year it is packed. People now come with full confidence, especially as Mr. Trabelsi became a minister," Tuil-Journo said. Several hundred police officers and soldiers, backed by tanks and helicopters, have been deployed to protect pilgrims. The community is still recovering from a suicide bombing claimed by Al-Qaeda at the synagogue in 2002 that killed 21 people. Before that, some 8,000 pilgrims used to travel to Djerba for the annual celebration. The number plunged afterwards but has since recovered somewhat. Tunisia's tourism industry was also left reeling by attacks on a museum and a tourist resort in 2015 that left dozens dead, including 59 foreigners. This year organisers expect more than 5,000 pilgrims, including Israelis, to visit the synagogue, believed to have been founded in 586 BC by Jews fleeing the destruction of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem. The number of Jews in Tunisia has fallen significantly, from around 100,000 before independence from France in 1956 to an estimated 1,500 today, most of whom live in Djerba. New York (AFP) - The stars were aligned for Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio to put their dashing good looks to use on big-budget films, but both Hollywood golden boys have instead taken on more idiosyncratic career paths -- especially in working with Quentin Tarantino. And now for the first time, the actors are starring side by side in Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood", which the American director screened on Tuesday to rapturous reviews at the Cannes film festival. Both men have already starred in past Tarantino films -- the 55-year-old Pitt in "Inglourious Basterds" and DiCaprio, 44, in "Django Unchained". The consummate urbanite DiCaprio was born and raised in Los Angeles, the son of New Yorkers. As a pre-teen, he began pushing to do what he loved: act. Pitt on the other hand grew up in rural Missouri in a family of devout Baptists. To his community's shock, he took off alone one day and drove to Los Angeles, two weeks before receiving an undergraduate degree in journalism. Despite the age gap between them, they both began making splashes in Hollywood in the early 1990s. Pitt set tongues wagging in 1991 with "Thelma and Louise" and DiCaprio hit the big time in 1993 with "This Boy's Life" and "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," the latter earning him an Oscar nomination. - Dashing leading men - The two men belong to timeworn class of dapper A-listers including Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Steve McQueen, who have enchanted audiences with their features and charisma. "People at (the University of) Missouri were really surprised when they found out what Brad was doing," Pitt's friend Chris Schudy told Rolling Stone magazine in 1994. "But he's always been so charming that it made some sense. The first time my mom met him, she called him a little Roman god." Pitt says that his reputation as a pretty face was something he "used to wrestle with a lot", telling television personality Charlie Rose in 2004 that today, "I accept it pretty much for what it is." Story continues Soon after their big breaks, both Pitt and DiCaprio quickly climbed through the ranks thanks to their acting chops and movie star looks -- but like Johnny Depp before them, they weren't afraid of subverting their mega-watt stardom. - Far from blockbusters - Even before the theatrical release of "This Boy's Life", Disney had offered DiCaprio a major role. "I don't know where I got those little balls at 16 years old to say: 'No, I'm going to wait it out because I want to audition for this other film,'" he said in 2014 as part of a SAG-AFTRA event. "If there's one thing that I'm really proud of in my entire career, it's that moment." The role in that "other film" was the mentally disabled adolescent in "What's Eating Gilbert Grape", a role director Lasse Hallstrom initially thought DiCaprio was too cute for before taking the actor on. The film didn't make more than $10 million but scored the 19-year-old his first Academy Award nomination, for best supporting actor. Pitt said it was with 1993's gritty "Kalifornia" -- several months after "Thelma and Louise" -- that marked "the first time I tried to do something away from where I was headed, take a right turn." For both actors, it was the beginning of a meandering trajectory far from blockbusters, even if DiCaprio became a global star thanks to "Titanic", a role that continues to define his career. - Going rogue - The pair have never shied away from danger or playing the bad guys, with Pitt doing so in "Kalifornia" and DiCaprio going rogue in "Django Unchained". Pitt has worked with boundary-pushers like the Coen brothers, Terrence Malick, Terry Gilliam, Steven Soderbergh and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu -- who heads the Cannes jury this year. DiCaprio has also worked with the Mexican director as well as the likes of Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg and Clint Eastwood. It took decades for both men to get their Oscar due, after always falling short despite multiple nominations. DiCaprio finally won best actor in 2016 for Inarritu's "The Revenant" while Pitt took home the statuette in 2014 as a co-producer of best picture "12 Years a Slave". After more than three decades in the limelight, the pair finally teamed up in front of the camera for Tarantino, who won the coveted Palme d'Or at Cannes in 1994 for "Pulp Fiction". "I'm looking for someone with an interesting point of view and a strong voice," Pitt said after working on "Inglourious Basterds". "And that certainly would sum up" Tarantino, the actor said. * But both sides still differ on who'll pay, and duration * Polish leader to visit Washington in June * US to either revamp or build new facilities on existing bases * Deterrence of Russia seen more pressing since Crimea By Idrees Ali and Joanna Plucinska WASHINGTON/WARSAW, May 22 (Reuters) - Poland and the United States are close to a deal on an increased U.S. military presence in the central European state, including more personnel and infrastructure, ahead of a visit by President Andrzej Duda to Washington in June, officials told Reuters. Disagreement remains, however, on who will pay for any new construction, as well as how long the American commitment will last. Polish and U.S. officials hope the deal, which was first proposed by Warsaw in September, will be approved by Duda and U.S. President Donald Trump during the trip. The agreement would strengthen transatlantic efforts to deter Russia, a priority the West believes has become more pressing since Moscow annexed Crimea from Poland's eastern neighbor Ukraine in 2014. After months of lower levels talks, officials say the agreement won't resemble Duda's initial request for a permanent base he dubbed "Fort Trump." "There is no Fort Trump," a U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters. Instead, two U.S. officials said Washington and Warsaw are closing in on a deal that would increase the number of non-permanent American troops in the country by between 1,000 and 1,500. There are on average about 4,500 U.S. troops in Poland on rotation as part of NATO force. Instead of a new American base, the United States will either upgrade or build new facilities on existing Polish bases, U.S. and Polish officials said. "It doesn't matter if it's one base, or many bases ... sometimes it's even better from the perspective of deterrence and logistics for there to be many localisations," a Polish official close to the discussions said. Story continues The U.S. officials said there are discussions about building an air strip for American unarmed drones as well. The Polish official confirmed an air strip wasn't being ruled out. STILL TO AGREE A four-page working document described to Reuters by one of the American officials initially contained language that said the United States would keep a presence in the country for "a few decades." After American resistance, the two sides are likely to stick with "enduring" American presence in the document, the official said. "We don't want to be boxed in," the U.S. official said. The U.S. and Polish officials are also debating who will pay for the cost of construction and sustaining the troops, with Polish officials reluctant to shoulder the majority of the personnel support costs for U.S. troops. Duda in September offered to contribute over $2 billion. Poland's deputy defense minister was at the Pentagon earlier this month to work on the document, including the final size of the increased American presence and who would be paying for it. "We have guarantees from the American side that the talks will lead to a reinforcement," Poland's ministry of defense said in a statement to Reuters. Seeking U.S. support, even in the context of bilateral relations outside of the scope of NATO, is a key part of Poland's strategy to deter Russia. Poland's armed forces, which the government has long vowed to modernize, have suffered from decades of under-investment and some two-thirds of their equipment dates from the Soviet era. (Reporting by Joanna Plucinska in WARSAW and Idrees Ali in WASHINGTON, Editing by William Maclean) By Idrees Ali and Joanna Plucinska WASHINGTON/WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland and the United States are close to a deal on an increased U.S. military presence in the central European state, including more personnel and infrastructure, ahead of a visit by President Andrzej Duda to Washington in June, officials told Reuters. Disagreement remains, however, on who will pay for any new construction, as well as how long the American commitment will last. Polish and U.S. officials hope the deal, which was first proposed by Warsaw in September, will be approved by Duda and U.S. President Donald Trump during the trip. The agreement would strengthen transatlantic efforts to deter Russia, a priority the West believes has become more pressing since Moscow annexed Crimea from Poland's eastern neighbour Ukraine in 2014. After months of lower levels talks, officials say the agreement won't resemble Duda's initial request for a permanent base he dubbed "Fort Trump." "There is no Fort Trump," a U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters. Instead, two U.S. officials said Washington and Warsaw are closing in on a deal that would increase the number of non-permanent American troops in the country by between 1,000 and 1,500. There are on average about 4,500 U.S. troops in Poland on rotation as part of NATO force. Instead of a new American base, the United States will either upgrade or build new facilities on existing Polish bases, U.S. and Polish officials said. "It doesn't matter if it's one base, or many bases ... sometimes it's even better from the perspective of deterrence and logistics for there to be many localisations," a Polish official close to the discussions said. The U.S. officials said there are discussions about building an air strip for American unarmed drones as well. The Polish official confirmed an air strip wasn't being ruled out. STILL TO AGREE A four-page working document described to Reuters by one of the American officials initially contained language that said the United States would keep a presence in the country for "a few decades". Story continues After American resistance, the two sides are likely to stick with "enduring" American presence in the document, the official said. "We don't want to be boxed in," the U.S. official said. The U.S. and Polish officials are also debating who will pay for the cost of construction and sustaining the troops, with Polish officials reluctant to shoulder the majority of the personnel support costs for U.S. troops. Duda in September offered to contribute over $2 billion. Poland's deputy defence minister was at the Pentagon earlier this month to work on the document, including the final size of the increased American presence and who would be paying for it. "We have guarantees from the American side that the talks will lead to a reinforcement," Poland's ministry of defence said in a statement to Reuters. Seeking U.S. support, even in the context of bilateral relations outside of the scope of NATO, is a key part of Poland's strategy to deter Russia. Poland's armed forces, which the government has long vowed to modernize, have suffered from decades of under-investment and some two-thirds of their equipment dates from the Soviet era. (Reporting by Joanna Plucinska in WARSAW and Idrees Ali in WASHINGTON, Editing by William Maclean) Nawaz Sharif want bail on medical ground An Islamabad High Court (IHC) bench on Tuesday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and others on a fresh petition by former prime minister Nawaz Sharif seeking release from Kot Lakhpat prison on medical grounds in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills case. Justice Amir Farooqi and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani conducted the hearing, during which Nawazs lawyer Khawaja Haris gave arguments. This is the second plea for Nawaz Sharifs bail on medical grounds, Haris told the court. On this, Justice Kiyani asked if a new medical report of Nawaz had been presented. Nawazs medical report after March 26 was later presented in the IHC. When Justice Kiyani asked Haris whether Nawaz was being treated, he admitted, Yes, he is undergoing thorough treatment, but his condition is not stable. The IHC later adjourned the hearing for two weeks before sending notices in the case. Nawaz moved the court on Monday, seeking suspension of his seven-year sentence and grant of post arrest bail on medical grounds. Opinions of specialist doctors from Switzerland, the US and the UK have been included in his petition. It was said in the reports that tension and stress could prove to be threatening to Nawazs life. Even Nawazs blood and sugar levels had not normalised, the petition added. Nawazs lawyer also rejected the impression that the petition was aimed at allowing Sharif a chance to get treatment abroad and secure any deal. The pensioner suffered serious injuries following the 'nonsensical' attack (Met Police) Police are trying to trace a man who left a pensioner with serious injuries in what they describe as a "nonsensical" attack on a street in south-east London. The 80-year-old man was walking with his wife along Parish Lane in Penge when he was assaulted and left with multiple injuries including a broken wrist, nose and cheekbone. Scotland Yard said the elderly couple were almost hit by a silver car as they crossed the road at about 7.50pm on April 21 and that the driver then became involved in a verbal altercation with the victim. The pensioner walked away, police said, but the suspect pulled over, got out of the vehicle and chased the man before shoving him in the back. Police are searching for the driver of a silver car following the attack in Penge (Met Police) The victim hit a brick wall as he fell and was found unconscious by paramedics. Detective Constable Luke Thomson, the investigating officer, said it was a "brutal attack", adding: "The victim has suffered horrific injuries as a result of a nonsensical attack, which could have cost him his life. "There is no place in society for unlawful and aggressive acts such as this. Read more from Yahoo News UK: Furious Tories to try and oust Theresa May Sharks are eating British songbirds, scientists find Bond actor killed by chemsex drug in Grindr fraud scam Police are appealing for help in tracing the suspect, who is wanted on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm. He is described as a white man, aged around 40, about 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall and of large build with a bald or shaved head. He was wearing a light blue T-shirt and dark blue shorts. There was also a female passenger in the car. Anyone with information should contact police on 101 and quote CAD 6355/21APR, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- Mexico City (AFP) - Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said he would meet US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday for talks on migration and Mexico's proposal for a massive economic development plan to slow it. "Our thesis is that unless you invest in Central America on a major scale, especially in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, the flow of migrants isn't going to change," Ebrard told journalists in Mexico City on Wednesday, announcing his trip to Washington. "We're going to insist on that every chance we get, because that's the solution and that's the reality." Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is pushing the United States to help fund an ambitious development plan for Mexico and Central America, which he insists is the key to slowing the flow of undocumented migrants who have infuriated his American counterpart, Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Lopez Obrador and the United Nations's Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean presented a decade-long, $10-billion-a-year infrastructure and investment package that some have dubbed a "Marshall Plan" for Mexico and Central America. The plan aims to address the poverty and violence driving tens of thousands of Central Americans to leave the region in search of a better life in the United States. The number of migrant families detained on the US southern border hit a record of more than 58,000 last month, driven by the Central American exodus. Lopez Obrador, a left-wing populist who took office in December, has sought to maintain cordial relations with Trump, answering his fiery anti-migrant rhetoric with restrained calls for development funding. However, Trump renewed his attacks on Mexico on Tuesday, tweeting: "I am very disappointed that Mexico is doing virtually nothing to stop illegal immigrants from coming to our Southern Border.... I will soon be giving a response!" Lopez Obrador reiterated that he wants a relationship of "peace and love" with Mexico's largest trading partner. "We're not going to fight," he said. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis paid tribute on Wednesday to Chinese Catholics for holding on to their faith despite "hardships and trials", an apparent reference to Beijing's restrictions on religion. His comments to tens of thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square for his weekly general audience came as the Vatican and China are still in the implementation phase of a landmark deal, signed last September, on the appointment of bishops. The deal has split Catholics in China and around the world, with some critics of the pope saying he has caved in to the Communist government. The deal's most outspoken critic has been Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former archbishop of Hong Kong. Francis noted that this Friday would mark a feast day particularly celebrated by Catholics at the shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan, near Shanghai. "This happy occasion allows me to express special closeness and affection to all the Catholics in China, who, among daily hardships and trials, continue to believe, to hope and to love," he said. Francis also urged Catholics in China to "always remain united in communion with the universal Church". RESTRICTIONS China's constitution guarantees religious freedom, but since President Xi Jinping took office six years ago, the government has tightened restrictions on religions seen as a challenge to the authority of the ruling Communist Party. The government has cracked down on underground churches, both Protestant and Catholic, even as it seeks to improve relations with the Vatican. China has been following a policy it calls the "Sinicisation" of religion, trying to root out foreign influences and enforce obedience to the Communist Party. Restrictions on religion in China have attracted particular concern in the United States. In March, during a visit to Hong Kong, the U.S. ambassador for religious freedom called on Beijing to end religious persecution. Story continues Also in March, a senior Chinese official accused Western forces of trying to use Christianity to influence China's society and even "subvert" the government, warning that Chinese Christians needed to follow a Chinese model of the religion.. The pope has defended the Vatican deal with China on the appointment of bishops, saying he, and not the Beijing government, will have the final say on who is named. Chinas approximately 12 million Catholics have been split between an underground church swearing loyalty to the Vatican and the state-supervised Catholic Patriotic Association. The Vatican has said the absence of a deal could have led to a schism between Chinese Catholics that would have been difficult to heal. (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing; Editing by Gareth Jones) Milan (AFP) - Luxury fashion house Prada said Wednesday it will remove animal fur from its collections, joining a lengthening list of designers to make that choice. Prada's decision, to take effect with its women's Spring-Summer 2020 collection, was welcomed by several animal protection associations, a statement said. The Italian fashion house said its decision stemmed from "a positive dialogue" with the Fur Free Alliance (FFA) of more than 50 associations in about 40 countries, notably the Italian group LAV and The Humane Society of the United States. Other major names to have renounced the use of animal fur include Armani, Burberry, DKNY, Donna Karan, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Gucci, Michael Kors and Versace. Prada "is committed to innovation and social responsibility, and our fur-free policy ... is an extension of that engagement," artistic director Miuccia Prada was quoted as saying in the statement. "Focusing on innovative materials will allow the company to explore new boundaries of creative design while meeting the demand for ethical products," she added. The Prada statement included reactions from several animal protection groups, with FFA program manager Brigit Oele saying: "This global movement is gaining momentum fast, and its very unlikely that fur will ever return as an acceptable trend. This is a great day for animals!" The fur industry has scorned the trend towards fur-free fashion, and Mark Oaten of The International Fur Federation said in a statement: "I am surprised that a brand who care about sustainability are banning a natural product like fur. "Now Prada customers will only have plastic fur as an option, which is bad for the planet. I urge Prada to think again and trust its own consumers to decide if they want to buy real or fake fur." Fur represents a fraction of most fashion groups' sales in fact, and while figures for Prada were not available, at rival Gucci which stopped using fur in 2018, it accounted for just 0.16 percent of the total. Story continues - Appealing to younger clients - Prada and the others might attract younger customers with the decision meanwhile, as they are more likely to take ethical considerations into account according to sector specialists. Fashion analyst Nina Marston at Euromonitor International noted that "industry players face increasing pressure to take a stance on ethical issues such as animal cruelty." Her group found that 28 percent of Millennial consumers worldwide said that "buying eco-friendly or ethically conscious products make them feel good." Prada will thus "further its appeal to the growing number of Millennial and Gen Z consumers, who are vital to the future of the luxury industry," Marston concluded. By Michael Martina and David Lawder BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China must prepare for difficult times as the international situation is increasingly complex, President Xi Jinping said in comments carried by state media on Wednesday, as the U.S.-China trade war took a mounting toll on tech giant Huawei. The world's two largest economies have escalated tariff increases on each other's imports after talks broke down to resolve their dispute, and the acrimony has intensified since Washington last week blacklisted Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. The listing, which curbs Huawei's access to U.S.-made components, is a potentially devastating blow for the company that has rattled technology supply chains and investors, and saw several mobile carriers on Wednesday delay the launch of new Huawei smartphone handsets. During a three-day trip this week to the southern province of Jiangxi, a cradle of China's Communist revolution, Xi urged people to learn the lessons of the hardships of the past. "Today, on the new Long March, we must overcome various major risks and challenges from home and abroad," state news agency Xinhua paraphrased Xi as saying, referring to the 1934-36 trek of Communist Party members fleeing a civil war to a remote rural base, from where they re-grouped and eventually took power in 1949. "Our country is still in a period of important strategic opportunities for development, but the international situation is increasingly complicated," he said. "We must be conscious of the long-term and complex nature of various unfavorable factors at home and abroad, and appropriately prepare for various difficult situations." The report did not elaborate on those difficulties, and did not directly mention the trade war or of the United States. No further trade talks between top Chinese and U.S. negotiators have been scheduled since the last round ended on May 10, the same day President Donald Trump increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and took steps to levy duties on all remaining Chinese imports. Story continues Negotiations between the United States and China have stalled since early May, when Chinese officials sought major changes to the text of a proposed deal that the Trump administration says had been largely agreed. However, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai, speaking to the Fox News Channel, said on Tuesday that Beijing was still open for talks. Repercussions of the blacklisting mounted for Huawei, with some mobile operators, including the Ymobile unit of Japan's Softbank Corp and rival KDDI Corp putting launch plans for Huawei's new P30 Lite smartphone on hold. Another big Chinese tech firm, video surveillance equipment maker Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd, could also face limits on its ability to buy U.S. technology, the New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter, sending the firm's Shenzhen-listed shares down 5.54 percent. RETALIATION While China has not said whether or how it may retaliate to the measures against Huawei, state media have taken an increasingly strident and nationalistic tone. U.S. firms said in a survey released on Wednesday they were facing retaliation in China over the trade war. The American Chamber of Commerce of China and its sister body in Shanghai, said members reported that they faced increased obstacles such as government inspections, slower customs clearances and slower approval for licensing and other applications. It also said that 40.7% of respondents were considering or had relocated manufacturing facilities outside China. Of the almost 250 respondents to the survey, which was conducted after China and the United States both raised tariffs on each other's imports this month, almost three-quarters said the impact of tariffs was hurting their competitiveness. To cope, about one third said they were increasingly focusing their China operations on producing for Chinese customers and not for export, while one third said they were delaying and cancelling investment decisions. Long considered a solid cornerstone in a relationship fraught with geopolitical frictions, the U.S. business community has in recent years advocated a harder line on what it sees as discriminatory Chinese trade policies. The United States is seeking sweeping changes to trade and economic policies, including an end to forced technology transfers and theft of U.S. trade secrets. Washington also wants curbs on subsidies for Chinese state-owned enterprises and increased access for U.S. firms in Chinese markets. China for years has blocked major U.S. tech firms, including Google and Facebook, from fully operating in its market. Those and other restrictions have fueled calls from within the U.S. business community for Washington to pursue more reciprocal policies. Cui told Fox News Channel that U.S. restrictions on Huawei "are without any foundation and evidence" and could undermine the normal functioning of markets. "Everybody knows Huawei is a privately owned company. It is just a normal Chinese private company," Cui said. "So all the action taken against Huawei are politically motivated." (Reporting by David Lawder and Stella Qiu; Additional reporting by Makini Brice and Eric Beech in Washington and Michael Martina and Ben Blanchard; writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Robert Birsel) Polish Armed Forces commander acknowledged Pakistan Army professionalism Lieutenant General Jaroslaw Mika, commander of the Polish Armed Forces, on Tuesday acknowledged and appreciated Pakistan Armys professionalism, efforts in fight against terrorism and contributions towards regional peace and stability. He said this while visiting the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where he called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). Issues of mutual interest, including defence, training and security cooperation between the two armies, were discussed, it added. Later on, the visiting dignitary called on Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan. Various matters pertaining to regional security and areas of mutual cooperation came under discussion during the meeting. The Polish commander lauded the sound professionalism of the Pakistan Air Force. The air chief appreciated the enviable relations between both the air forces and also acknowledged the key role played by pioneering Polish officers in the development and modernisation of PAF in its early years. Both the dignitaries agreed to further enhance and expand mutual cooperation and defence ties between two countries. Earlier, upon his arrival at the GHQ, the Polish army commander laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada. A contingent of the Pakistan Army presented the guard of honour to the visiting dignitary. NEW YORK A federal judge on Wednesday denied President Donald Trump's effort to block subpoenas from Democratically-controlled House committees that seek records from two financial companies for investigations of him, his family, his businesses and others. In a decision that dealt Trump a second defeat on similar congressional efforts this week, U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos ruled that the subpoenas passed constitutional muster, had a legitimate legislative purpose, and were in the public interest. Ramos also ruled that Trump lawyers had made sufficient arguments that allowing the committees to obtain at least a decade of Trump financial dealings transacted through Deutsche Bank and Capital One Financial Corp. could cause irreparable harm to the president and his companies. However, the judge said that impact was outweighed by the constitutionally enshrined investigative authority of the federal governments legislative branch. Separately, Ramos denied the request by the Committee on Financial Services and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence to consolidate his ruling by applying it to the underlying merits of the lawsuit. Citing a lengthy list of U.S. Supreme Court rulings and other legal precedents, the judge said he felt it was unlikely that Trump would ultimately prevail in the legal fight. Accordingly, the court will not enjoin the committees efforts to enforce the subpoenas, said Ramos as he concluded a nearly hour-long reading of his decision in a packed lower Manhattan courtroom. Ramos denied Trump lawyer Patrick Strawbridges request for an immediate stay of the ruling. Rep. Maxine Waters, chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, and Rep. Adam Schiff, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, praised Ramos' decision, calling it a victory for Congress. Congress authority to conduct relevant oversight has been repeatedly challenged by this Administration," the two Democratic lawmakers said in a statement. "The decision made in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York today is a victory for the role of Congress as a co-equal branch of government and for the important work our Committees are doing in protecting and serving the interests of the American public. Story continues Strawbridge told the judge its probably a safe bet that the Trump legal team would immediately ask the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit to review the ruling and issue a stay that would delay or block any immediate release of the records to the congressional panels. Trump, his three eldest children, The Trump Organization and other businesses had argued that Deutsche Bank and Capital One Financial should not be required to turn over the information because subpoenas issued by the House panels "have no legitimate or lawful purpose." "The subpoenas were issued to harass President Donald J. Trump, to rummage through every aspect of his personal finances, his businesses, and the private information of the President and his family, and to ferret about for any material that might be used to cause him political damage," Trump lawyers argued in the Southern District of New York federal court complaint they filed on April 29. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., rejected a similar argument on Monday, ruling that Trump cannot block his longtime accounting firm, Mazars USA, from providing his financial records to the House Oversight and Reform Committee. The panel subpoenaed the records to compare them with testimony from Trumps former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and with government disclosure forms. Trump's lawyers filed a notice of appeal of that ruling on Tuesday with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Ramos and Mehta were nominated for their federal court appointments by President Barack Obama. During legal arguments in New York on Wednesday, Strawbridge and Douglas Letter, an attorney for the House committees, largely echoed legal arguments in their previous court filings. The House panels argued in a May 10 court response that the Trump records are needed for "wide-ranging investigations of issues bearing upon the integrity of the U.S. financial system and national security, including bank fraud, money laundering, foreign influence in the U.S. political process, and the counterintelligence risks posed by foreign powers' use of financial leverage." Donald Trump, together with his family, from left, However, Letter told Ramos on Wednesday that the committees also have issued similar subpoenas to nine or ten others unrelated to Trump. The case represents a legal end-run around a Republican president and businessman who, breaking with decades of federal government tradition, has refused to make public his tax returns. As a result, the House committees subpoenaed records from the two major financial institutions frequently used by Trump and his companies. Trump's legal team, in turn, filed the lawsuit against Deutsche Bank and Capital One. The financial companies have not taken any position of their own in the dispute, and have signaled they would comply with any court orders. Attorneys for the companies declined to comment specifically on Wednesday's ruling. Trump's attorneys argued the congressional committees' subpoenas had failed to identify "any legislative purpose let alone a potential piece of legislation that their requests are designed to advance." They also contended that the subpoenas violate the federal Right to Financial Privacy Act and would cause Trump and other plaintiffs "irreparable harm" if the confidential records in question are released. The House panels argued that the Trump plaintiffs haven't established a likelihood of irreparable injury, and contended that the Right to Financial Privacy Act doesn't apply to Congress. Contending that congressional committees have constitutional rights to investigate, lawyers for the House panels cited a 1975 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that said the scope of Congress's power of inquiry "is as penetrating and far-reaching as the potential power to enact and appropriate under the Constitution." The Deutsche Bank financial records are of particular interest to both Trump and congressional investigators. Deutsche Bank loaned more than $2 billion to Trump and his businesses during a long relationship in which the German financial institution financed Trump skyscrapers and other ventures and in return used Trump projects to build its investment banking business, The New York Times reported in March. Regardless of the outcome, Deutsche Bank has started providing some Trump financial records to the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James, CNN reported in late April. James subpoenaed the records after former Trump attorney Michael Cohen claimed that Trump had inflated the value of his assets. Follow USA TODAY reporter Kevin McCoy on Twitter: @kmccoynyc This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Second judge rules President Trump can't block Congress's subpoenas of his banking records Britain's prime minister Theresa May outside Downing Street as uncertainty over her future continues. Photo: Reuters/Toby Melville Swirling rumours of a mutiny against UK prime minister Theresa May spooked the markets on Wednesday, sending the pound and Brexit-sensitive stocks downwards. Shares in areas of the economy particularly sensitive to Brexit including UK housebuilders, retailers, and airlines tumbled during the day on fears her resignation could spark a more damaging rupture with Europe. The FTSE made marginal gains as sterling slid towards a four-month low on Wednesday, before the pound pared back some of the losses. It appears investors began to bet Mays departure could help break the Brexit deadlock. May faces intense pressure to quit from within her own party as the backlash grows over her plans for compromise with the opposition to push through a Brexit deal. Ministers Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, David Mundell, and Penny Mordaunt are all reported to have warned May on Wednesday that they cannot support her "new" Brexit agreement, which was seen by some as a veiled push for her to resign. But the prime minister is reported to have turned down requests to meet cabinet ministers on Wednesday night, casting doubt on rumours of any imminent resignation. Several journalists at leading media outlets reported that she may make a statement outside Downing Street on Wednesday evening, but government sources then said there were no such plans ahead of European elections on Thursday. Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative chair of the foreign affairs committee, said Wednesday afternoon the PM had to go without delay, because her attempts to resolve the Brexit crisis had comprehensively failed. The anger within cabinet in particular was reportedly down to her stated willingness to legislate for a second referendum if parliament backs one. Many of Mays critics were also conspicuously absent from the House of Commons when the Conservative leader addressed MPs on Wednesday. READ MORE: Bookmaker tips Brexit Party to win big at EU elections The prime minister had begun a last-ditch bid to win over opposition MPs this week with a bold, new offer on the Brexit deal she needs their backing for. Story continues She offered a vote on a second referendum and closer trading arrangements with the EU in the hope of securing support for her fourth attempt to get a Brexit agreement through parliament. But the moves not only fuelled anger on her own side, but were also rebuffed by most opposition parties. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the government was "too weak, too divided to get this country out of the mess that they have created." May herself openly referred to her time-limited premiership at prime ministers questions in parliament earlier on Wednesday afternoon, telling MPs, "In time another prime minister will be standing at this despatch box. For the market [Mays possible departure] opens up the prospect of more uncertainty, the potential of a Brexiter PM, a general election, and perhaps a second referendum, Neil Wilson, chief markets analyst at Markets.com, said. READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Labours nationalisation plans as general election chances grow Fiona Cincotta of City Index warned the pound could dip towards $1.20 if a pro-Brexit leader replaced May. Meanwhile traders interest in government bonds, typically less lucrative but crucially seen as less risky, crept upwards on Wednesday. UK 10-year government bond yields were on track for their largest one day fall since 21 March, down more than six basis points on the day to 1.02% just after 4pm on Wednesday. Britains path towards Brexit, scheduled for 31 October if not earlier, continues to looks as uncertain as it has for much of the three years since the EU referendum. NORFOLK, Va. (AP) The mystery of whether Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam was in the racist yearbook photo that nearly destroyed his career remains unsolved. A monthslong investigation ordered up by Eastern Virginia Medical School failed to determine whether Northam is in the picture published in 1984 of a man in blackface next to someone in a Ku Klux Klan hood and robe. Investigators with a law firm hired by the school said Wednesday they couldn't conclusively establish the identities of either person in the 35-year-old photo that was on Northam's yearbook page alongside pictures of him. They also said they couldn't determine how the photo ended up on Northam's page but found no evidence it was put there by mistake or as a prank. When the picture came to light in February, the Democrat initially acknowledged he was in it and apologized without saying which costume he was in, then reversed course the next day, saying he was not in the photo. But he acknowledged he once wore blackface decades ago to look like Michael Jackson for a dance contest. "No individual that we interviewed has told us from personal knowledge that the governor is in the photograph, and no individual with knowledge has come forward to us to report that the governor is in the photograph," the law firm, McGuireWoods, said. In a statement Wednesday, Northam, a 59-year-old pediatric neurologist who went into politics late in life, repeated that he is not in the photo and apologized again to the people of Virginia, admitting his handling of the episode "deepened pain and confusion." The findings are unlikely to have a major effect on Virginia politics or Northam, who managed to fend off demands for his resignation and survive the uproar. Many of the Democrats who had called on him to step down have signaled a willingness to work with him. Northam has also been striving to make amends with black leaders, winning their praise such moves as ending the suspension of driver's licenses for unpaid fines and ordering a review of how schools teach the nation's racial history. Story continues Del. Lamont Bagby, chairman of the Virginia Legislature's black caucus, said the inconclusive report "doesn't change a thing as it relates to the challenges that we have to do," adding: "We've got 400 years of stuff to clean up." Virginia politics was turned upside down in a matter of hours last winter after a conservative website posted the picture. Black lawmakers and other key Democratic groups and top allies immediately called on the governor to step down. The picture started a wave of scandals that quickly enveloped Northam's two potential successors, both Democrats. Two women publicly accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault, which he denied. And just days after calling on Northam to resign, Attorney General Mark Herring announced he, too, had worn blackface in the 1980s when he was in college. Both Fairfax and Herring also rejected calls to resign. And other politicians around the South soon had their own explaining to do over yearbook images taken long ago. The three interlocking scandals briefly raised the possibility that Virginia's top three Democrats would lose their jobs and the Republican House speaker would become governor. Investigators said Northam did not believe he was in the photo when he first saw it but did not want to issue an immediate denial in case someone contradicted him. "The best we can conclude is that he erred on the side of caution initially and immediately regretted not having denied," said attorney Richard Cullen, who led the investigation. Northam's chief of staff, Clark Mercer, told investigators the governor was "in a state of shock" when the photo surfaced. The governor was all but invisible when the scandal first broke but has gradually resumed his regular public schedule for the most part. His political opponents still use the incident against him. GOP House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert panned the investigation, saying the report didn't prove Northam isn't in the picture. He also noted that according to the report, the medical school's leaders knew about the picture before it became public and said nothing. "It certainly appears that there was an effort to avoid public disclosure of such a racist photograph on the yearbook page of the most prominent alumni in school history," Gilbert said. ___ Suderman reported from Richmond, Virginia. By Sebastien Malo JACKSON, Wyoming May 21 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A U.S. oil producer is teaming up with a company working to grab planet-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) straight from the air in a bid to extract more oil from the ground in a greener way, the companies said on Tuesday. Occidental Petroleum is partnering with Canada-based Carbon Engineering to build a new multi-million-dollar direct air capture (DAC) plant in the Permian Basin, the largest U.S. shale oil field, located in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico. The CO2 sucked from the air will be used to push out hard-to-reach oil from aging fields, Steve Oldham, Carbon Engineering's chief executive, said on the sidelines of the CO2NNECT 2019 meeting in Wyoming. Oldham said the plan will mean as much CO2 will likely be captured as will be released in both the drilling of the oil and its subsequent use to heat homes or power vehicles. It is possible the plant will do even better than breaking even and grab more CO2 than is produced, he said. Construction is expected to begin in 2021 and take two years, Carbon Engineering said. "It's not so much that the fossil is the enemy here, it's the carbon contained in it," Oldham said. "You can offset that the way we're doing (it)." Oldham said the plant would be 100 times larger than any other direct air capture plant in the world and will be powered by a mix of natural gas and renewable energy. Carbon Engineering, which has been removing CO2 from the atmosphere since 2015 at a pilot plant, has been leading the market, alongside Swiss firm Climeworks and U.S.-based Global Thermostat. The International Energy Agency says capturing carbon will be needed to limit a global rise in average temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6F) above pre-industrial times by 2060. CO2 captured as part of the partnership would provide Occidental with "CO2 at a lower cost than our organic CO2 that we use today," said Vicki Hollub, the company's chief executive officer. Story continues Occidental Petroleum is an investor in Carbon Engineering. Kurt Waltzer, who is managing director of environmental advocacy group Clean Air Task Force, welcomed the announcement as one that "couldn't happen too soon." But he warned that scaling the technology worldwide as climate change marches on would prove challenging. "I like to step back a bit. The $25 trillion global energy infrastructure that we have to eliminate all the emissions from in 30 years, that's unbelievably hard," he said. (Reporting by Sebastien Malo @sebastienmalo, Editing by Jason Fields. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers climate change, humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking and property rights. Visit http://news.trust.org/climate) Washington (AFP) - Smartphone chip giant Qualcomm suffered a fresh blow in its antitrust battle as a US federal judge ruled that it "strangled competition" for years at the expense of consumers and device makers. Qualcomm shares sank some 10.8 percent Wednesday to close at a one-month low after the ruling that the company violated antitrust law, in a case with major implications for the smartphone market. US District Judge Lucy Koh ordered Qualcomm to change its pricing and sales practices, after finding it "engaged in anticompetitive conduct" toward customers like device makers Huawei of China, South Korea's Samsung and Japan's Sony. "Qualcomm's licensing practices have strangled competition" in the chip market "and harmed rivals," she said in Tuesday's 233-page ruling in the lawsuit brought by the US Federal Trade Commission. The judge issued an injunction requiring California-based Qualcomm to comply with her order, and to submit to monitoring by the FTC for seven years. FTC competition director Bruce Hoffman called the ruling "an important win for competition in a key segment of the economy" and said the agency "will remain vigilant in pursuing unilateral conduct by technology firms that harms the competitive process." - Qualcomm to appeal - The company said it will seek an expedited appeal of the ruling. "We strongly disagree with the judge's conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law," Qualcomm general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. Koh said Qualcomm's actions suggested it could use the same tactics to suppress competition for fifth-generation or 5G chips. "There is a sufficient likelihood that Qualcomm will hold monopoly power in the 5G modem chip market such that exclusive dealing agreements for the supply of modem chips could foreclose competition in that emerging market," she wrote. Story continues The judge ruled that Qualcomm must negotiate for its patents on fair and reasonable terms without using threats or discriminatory tactics. John Bergmayer of the consumer group Public Knowledge hailed the decision. "Judge Koh's ruling shows that the FTC has the ability to bring, and win, important cases that protect American consumers," he said. Ed Black of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, a trade group that includes Google, Facebook and Microsoft and which sided with FTC, also welcomed the decision. "Qualcomm improperly benefits from its use of standard essential patents that other companies use to build compatible products," Black said. "This ruling is a win for wireless technology and American competitiveness in 5G." But Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy called the decision "a travesty." "To be found guilty, harm must be proved, and there was no evidence shown of harm to consumers, chipmakers or handset makers. Qualcomm will appeal and will likely win." Daniel Newman of Futurum Research said the ruling could hurt US efforts to get a lead in the 5G market. "Knowing that there is an innovation war around 5G, and that Qualcomm is the United States' most capable 5G intellectual provider, the idea of weakening the company at this time is at best ironic, and at worst, a downright risk for the entire innovation ecosystem of the US," Newman said. The ruling marked the latest setback for Qualcomm, which has faced antitrust litigation in China, Europe and South Korea. Qualcomm's woes appeared to ease earlier this year when it agreed with Apple to settle all worldwide litigation in what had been a sprawling battle over royalty payments. - Impact unclear - Koh said Qualcomm's actions harmed rivals in the smartphone modem business, including Taiwan-based MediaTek and US-based Intel, which last month pulled out of the market for 5G modems at the same time Apple settled its case with Qualcomm. But the immediate impact is unclear in a smartphone market in turmoil over a US decision to blacklist China's Huawei, the number two handset maker, from any American technology. The ruling could open the door for Qualcomm rivals and partners to seek damages, but "Qualcomm has already settled with Apple, which was one of the key instigators of the case in the first place," noted Avi Greengart of the consultancy Techsponential. Still, the findings "could open up opportunities for MediaTek at the low end of the smartphone market, and in some markets for MediaTek's 5G solutions," Greengart noted. However, Qualcomm is likely to remain the dominant producer for the smartphone market in the short-term, the analyst noted. "For the most part, Qualcomm has won based on its merits, not on its licensing terms," he said. War always bring destruction,it could not be considered an option: Shah Mehmood Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Tuesday called upon India to hold talks with Pakistan for the sake of regional peace after the Indian general election. Talking to the state-run TV, he said war always brought destruction and it could not be considered an option, especially when both the countries were nuclear powers. Kashmir is burning as India is trying to suppress the voice of Kashmiris through military presence and its black laws. The voice of Kashmiris cannot be suppressed in this modern era of electronic media and internet, he said. The minister noted that the European Commission and the United Nations had categorically stated that Kashmiris were fighting for their right of self-determination. He said that Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav had confessed that he was involved in subversive activities in Pakistan. India wanted his release but he would be tried according to Pakistans laws. Later, Qureshi departed for Kyrgyzstan to represent Islamabad at the Shanghai Cooperation Operation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting. The two-day conference will be attended by Foreign Ministry officials of SCO member states to approve resolutions to be adopted by the council of heads of states at the SCO meeting scheduled to be held in June. Qureshi will also present comments at the plenary session. He will also hold bilateral talks with participating foreign ministers and the secretary general of the SCO. Pakistan, along with India, became a full SCO member in June 2017. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Rep. Rashida Tlaib told Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin that, as an attorney, she "would be remiss" if she did not counsel him to seek "personal legal advice" for his role in a Trump administration "cover-up." The Michigan Democrat advised the Cabinet member to lawyer up during a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Wednesday. Several other Democrats had asked Mnuchin about his refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena for six years worth of President Donald Trump's tax returns and about an IRS memo that appeared to contradict Mnuchin's reason for ignoring the subpoena. Munchin said the Justice Department advised him that he was "not violating the law" and, "quite the contrary," turning over the tax returns would itself be "unlawful." "The cover-up by this administration, it goes beyond just providing the taxes," Tlaib told Mnuchin at the end of her questioning. "You can consult the Department of Justice but you, personally, making decisions not on the best part of the American people, but to cover up the occupant of the White House I think you need to be very, very clear about what your role is and what your responsibility is to the American people." Tlaib said it was a matter of transparency and the principle that "no one is above the law." "So, Secretary, please seek out legal advice, personally, of what your obligations are because the Department of Justice is not protecting you, it's protecting the president." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., also accused the White House of a cover-up on Wednesday because of its refusal to comply with congressional requests. "We do believe its important to follow the facts, we believe that no one is above the law, including the President of the United States, and we believe that the President of the United States is engaged in a cover-up," Pelosi said after a meeting with House Democrats. Story continues Pelosi who has tried to rein in congressional Democrats like Tlaib who have clamored for impeachment said during an appearance at the Center for American Progress Ideas Conference later on Wednesday that "in plain sight" Trump "is obstructing justice and he is engaged in a cover-up and that could be an impeachable offense." A planned meeting between Trump, Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was canceled Wednesday after the president said he would not work with Democrats on infrastructure if they continued to investigate him. During a White House news conference Trump denounced the "phony investigations" and addressed Pelosi accusation. "I don't do cover-ups," he said. Contributing: Eliza Collins This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rashida Tlaib advises Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to lawyer up for role in 'cover up' Relaxo Footwears Limited (NSE:RELAXO) shareholders might be concerned after seeing the share price drop 10% in the last month. But over five years returns have been remarkably great. In that time, the share price has soared some 350% higher! So we don't think the recent decline in the share price means its story is a sad one. But the real question is whether the business fundamentals can improve over the long term. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! View our latest analysis for Relaxo Footwears To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During five years of share price growth, Relaxo Footwears achieved compound earnings per share (EPS) growth of 21% per year. This EPS growth is slower than the share price growth of 35% per year, over the same period. This suggests that market participants hold the company in higher regard, these days. That's not necessarily surprising considering the five-year track record of earnings growth. This favorable sentiment is reflected in its (fairly optimistic) P/E ratio of 57.51. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). NSEI:RELAXO Past and Future Earnings, May 21st 2019 We like that insiders have been buying shares in the last twelve months. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here.. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. In the case of Relaxo Footwears, it has a TSR of 353% for the last 5 years. That exceeds its share price return that we previously mentioned. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective It's good to see that Relaxo Footwears has rewarded shareholders with a total shareholder return of 16% in the last twelve months. And that does include the dividend. Having said that, the five-year TSR of 35% a year, is even better. Potential buyers might understandably feel they've missed the opportunity, but it's always possible business is still firing on all cylinders. If you want to research this stock further, the data on insider buying is an obvious place to start. You can click here to see who has been buying shares - and the price they paid. Relaxo Footwears is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on IN 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. 120 Norway St. | Photos: Zumper Curious just how far your dollar goes in Boston? We've rounded up the latest rental offerings via rental site Zumper to get a sense of what to expect when it comes to locating a place in Boston if you've got a budget of $2,700/month. Read on for the listings. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Massachusetts Avenue (South End) Listed at $2,700/month, this 700-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at Massachusetts Avenue. Building amenities include on-site laundry, assigned parking, a fitness center and a swimming pool. Attention, cat owners: your kitty is permitted here. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. Per Walk Score ratings, this location has excellent walkability, is easy to get around on a bicycle and boasts excellent transit options. (Check out the complete listing here.) 91 S. Huntington Ave. (Jamaica Plain) Here's a studio apartment at 91 S. Huntington Ave. that's also going for $2,700/month. In the unit, you'll get hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances and in-unit laundry. Amenities offered in the building include a fitness center, a residents' lounge and concierge service. Animals are not welcome. This rental does not require a leasing fee. According to Walk Score, the surrounding area is quite walkable, is great for biking and has excellent transit. (Take a look at the full listing here.) 120 Norway St., #5 (Fenway) Located at 120 Norway St., #5, here's a 780-square-foot one-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom condo that's listed for $2,700/month. In the unit, you can anticipate in-unit laundry, a fireplace and air conditioning. The building offers garage parking and an elevator. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: this spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. Walk Score indicates that the surrounding area has excellent walkability, is a "biker's paradise" and is a haven for transit riders. Story continues (Check out the complete listing here.) 174 Newbury St., #6 (Back Bay) Listed at $2,700/month, this 600-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located at 174 Newbury St., #6. In the apartment, you can expect hardwood floors, a dishwasher, in-unit laundry, a fireplace and ample closet space. The building offers secured entry. Cats and dogs are not permitted. The listing specifies a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. Per Walk Score ratings, the surrounding area is a "walker's paradise," is very bikeable and is a haven for transit riders. (Take a look at the complete listing here.) 40 Boylston St., #301 (Chinatown) Finally, there's this one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment over at 40 Boylston St., #301. It's listed for $2,700/month. The building has on-site laundry. In the unit, expect a dishwasher, air conditioning and stainless steel appliances. Animals are not welcome. Expect a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. (Take a gander at the complete listing here.) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. 1201 E. Mulberry Ave. | Photos: Zumper According to rental site Zumper, median rents for a one-bedroom in San Antonio are hovering around $875. But how does the low-end pricing on a San Antonio rental look these daysand what might you get for your money? We took a look at local listings for studios and one-bedroom apartments to find out what price-conscious apartment seekers can expect to find. Read on for the cheapest listings available right now. (Note: prices and availability are subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. 6130 Ingram Road Here's a studio at 6130 Ingram Road in Thunderbird Hills, which, at 401 square feet, is going for $500/month. Amenities offered in the building include on-site laundry, outdoor space and swimming pool. Per Walk Score ratings, the area around this address is car-dependent, is fairly bikeable and has some transit options. (See the full listing here.) 1201 E. Mulberry Ave. This studio , situated at 1201 E. Mulberry Ave. in Mahncke Park, is listed for $560/month for its 572 square feet of space. In the unit, look for a dishwasher and a walk-in closet. Pet owners, inquire elsewhere: this spot doesn't allow cats or dogs. When it comes to building amenities, expect on-site laundry. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. Walk Score indicates that the area around this address is somewhat walkable, is fairly bikeable and has a few nearby public transportation options. (See the listing here.) 7520 Potranco Road Over at 7520 Potranco Road, there's this 474-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom , going for $570/month. In the unit, look for in-unit laundry, dishwasher and air conditioning. Good news for animal lovers: both dogs and cats are permitted here. Amenities offered in the building include assigned parking. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. Per Walk Score ratings, this location is car-dependent, is relatively bikeable and has some transit options. Story continues (View the listing here.) 6600 Fairdale Drive Listed at $570/month, this 422-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom is located at 6600 Fairdale Drive. Amenities offered in the building include a business center, on-site laundry . In the unit, anticipate hardwood flooring. Pets are not welcome. According to Walk Score's assessment, the area around this address is moderately walkable, has some bike infrastructure and has some transit options. (Check out the complete listing here.) This story was created automatically using local real estate data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. The law firm handling an investigation into Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's medical school yearbook page that included a blackface photo said Wednesday that it was unable to determine whether the governor appeared in the picture. The law firm of McGuireWoods conducted the probe on behalf of Eastern Virginia Medical School, reaching out to 1984 yearbook staffers and alums of the school and releasing a 32-page report. "We could not conclusively determine the identity of either individual depicted in that photograph," said Richard Cullen, who led the investigation for McGuireWoods. The report said no one interviewed could say whether the photo appeared on the page in error and that no one could say definitely whether Northam was in the picture. "The governor himself has made inconsistent statements in this regard," Cullen said. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam at the Governors Mansion in Richmond on Feb. 2, 2019. Northam issued a statement after the report was released reaffirming that he is not the "racist" in the photo and apologizing again for the hurt it caused. A muddled defense that included moonwalking and a Michael Jackson costume has thus far been sufficient for Northam to keep his job despite widespread calls for his resignation in the days following the discovery of the page four months ago. Northam, a Democrat, at first apologized for being in the 1984 photo, which depicted one person in blackface standing next to someone wearing a Ku Klux Klan robe. But he soon reversed direction, saying he didn't believe he was in the photo and calling it "disgusting, offensive, racist." Blackface, KKK hoods: USA TODAY review of 900 yearbooks finds blatant racism Richard Homan, president and provost of the school, said the investigation indicated Northam initially did not think he was in the photo but was not certain. That indecision, he said, left Northam's staff with a dilemma. "They said, 'You can either deny it or apologize for it, those are your only two choices,'" Homan said. "He decided initially to go with apology as opposed to outright denial." Story continues Northam said he felt compelled to take responsibility for the photo's presence on his page. "But rather than providing clarity, I instead deepened pain and confusion," Northam said in his statement Wednesday. In the weeks after the photo surfaced, a USA TODAY review of 900 yearbooks from the 1970s and 1980s at 120 schools found more than 200 examples of offensive or racist material. Homan said bias and racism remain a part of society. Unless we face this fact head on, this bias and racism will not abate, he said. Uncomfortable silence only perpetuates these problems." Northam said he has engaged in frank dialogue on how to best use the power of the governors office to provide meaningful progress on issues of equality. "I know and understand the events of early February and my response to them have caused hurt for many Virginians," his statement said. "For that I am sorry." Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, said the report probably won't hurt Northam. Tobias told USA TODAY that the governor has kept a low profile since the photo emerged but has "enjoyed considerable success" in the legislative session. Tobias also noted that Cullen has strong ties to the state's Republican Party, making it unlikely investigators faced pressure to favor the governor. "What happens next is unclear," Tobias said. "I think that he will survive." Northam has admitted to blackening his face with shoe polish for a Michael Jackson costume at a dance contest in the 1980s, although no photo from that incident has emerged. At that news conference in February, Northam appeared to consider displaying his moonwalking skills until his wife shut that down. Virginias Constitution says elected officials who commit malfeasance in office, corruption, neglect of duty or other high crime or misdemeanor may be removed from office. There is no indication that Northam did anything "that satisfies those terms," Tobias said. Northam is not the only top official under fire in the state, though none has resigned or been removed from office. Days after the blackface photo emerged, Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax was accused of sexual assault, which he adamantly denies, stemming from a 2004 encounter. That drew calls for his ouster. Then, Attorney General Mark Herring admitted he, too, donned blackface in the 1980s. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Was that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam in blackface photo? Investigation inconclusive Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman Alex Redmond will be suspended four games for violating the NFL's Performance-Enhancing Drug Policy, per reports from ESPN on Wednesday. "Played last season with a torn labrum and hamstring injury, and made bad decision to try to help it," ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted. Redmond, 24, started 15 games at right guard last season for the Bengals. He was an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2016, signing with the Bengals that year before being cut at the end of training camp. Cincinnati brought him back in January 2017, and he played in five games that season. He re-signed with the Bengals in April on a one-year exclusive rights free agent contract worth a reported $645,000. --Field Level Media By Lauren Tara LaCapra (Reuters) - The U.S. census should include questions about criminal records to help policymakers get former convicts back into the workforce, a Republican lawmaker said on Wednesday. Senator Mike Lee of Utah suggested the idea at a hearing about the economic impact of the Census. It may add a new layer to a political battle over what questions the U.S. Census Bureau should include on its decennial survey of U.S. residents. "How many people are out of the labour force because of their criminal records?" Lee asked at a hearing in Washington by the Joint Economic Committee, which he chairs. Finding the answer might help policymakers "identify what impact our laws might be having on them that ... we didn't intend," he added. Lee's suggestion was supported by testimony from American Enterprise Institute (AEI) economist Nicholas Eberstadt, who argued that U.S. economic statistics have a gaping hole when it comes to people with criminal records. Eberstadt, who wrote a book about male underemployment, noted that men with arrest records are more likely to be unemployed than those who have had no trouble with the law. Although it is too late to include a question on this issue on the 2020 Census, doing so on future surveys could help the federal government formulate policies to get ex-convicts back into the labour force, Eberstadt said. "It is an enormous blind spot and, given the realities of life in our country today, a critical and inexplicable statistical oversight," he said. The Trump administration wants to ask respondents to next year's survey whether they are citizens. Most Republicans support the proposal, while Democrats, immigrant advocates and demographers oppose it, saying it will discourage participation which could result in undercounts that in turn could deprive some communities of funds and political representation. The Census determines how the federal government distributes some $900 billion in aid, as well as seats in Congress. Story continues Harvard researchers predict the citizenship question would lead to an undercount of more than 4 million Hispanic residents. The citizenship question has been tied up in litigation since U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross first announced plans to include it in March 2018. The Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision soon. Adding a new question to the Census usually requires extensive testing and consultation with lawmakers because the Census Bureau tries to balance a desire to obtain as much useful information as possible with the reality that fewer questions lead to better response rates. Adding controversial questions means people are less likely to participate. Eberstadt also suggested asking about secular or religious affiliation, saying this could affect how lonely or happy or connected people feel toward their communities. A 1976 law governing the Census prevents compelling people to disclose information about their religious beliefs or membership. Democrats dismissed the idea. U.S. Representative Carolyn Maloney, a Democrat from New York who is vice chair of the committee and active on census issues, said it is a nonstarter. "Proposing the citizenship question has taken us down a troubling path," she said in a statement provided to Reuters. "The idea of adding questions to the census on criminal history would take us further and further away from our goal which is 100 percent participation in the census." Eberstadt was one of four panelists speaking at Wednesday's hearing. Others include Andrew Reamer, a professor at George Washington University; Howard Fienberg, a lobbyist with the Insights Association; and Mallory Bateman, coordinator of the State Data Center at The University of Utah. Other panelists emphasized the importance of Census data for businesses and the economy. Some highlighted the risk of a significant undercount in 2020. "The Census Bureau's own research has shown there's a climate of fear," said Reamer, noting that some participants in test surveys had "run out of the room" when asked about citizenship. (Reporting by Lauren Tara LaCapra; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall, David Gregorio and Richard Chang) Port-au-Prince (AFP) - With no oxygen in intensive care or gloves in the emergency room, residents at Haiti's largest hospital have gone on strike to protest the filthy environment and demand six months of back pay. "We have almost nothing when we talk about emergency services," said Emmanuel Desrosiers, 24, one of the doctors-in-training at the State University of Haiti Hospital (HUEH) that began the work stoppage Monday. "When a patient arrives, when we should immediately take charge, we start by listing the things they or their family need to go buy." The HUEH, known as the "general hospital," is where the most disadvantaged families in this impoverished Caribbean country crowd. Buying the medical supplies themselves is a financial headache, but private clinics are far too expensive. In crumbling buildings in the center of Port-au-Prince, male and female patients are crowded together in tiny rooms, while trash cans overflow. "We feel ridiculous when we give hygienic advice to patients," one resident said of the situation. The residents' selflessness as they work in an unsanitary environment is compounded by the fact that they have not been paid since the start of their residency, nearly six months ago. After five years of medical studies, the state is required to pay them 9,000 Haitian gourdes (HTG) per month -- only about $100, due to the devaluation of the national currency. Nothing is being done about the hospital's disrepair, with those in charge waiting for a new building to be completed, according to resident Yveline Michel. The new HUEH will have two floors and more than 530 beds once it's finished -- but it's unclear when that will be. The project began after the January 2010 earthquake, which destroyed more than half the hospital. The United States, France and Haiti invested $83 million in a new hospital, which should have been completed by 2016. Instead, there is little visible activity on the construction site, which can be seen through the windows of the current building. Story continues Due to the heat, the windows are always open, letting in noise and dust from the street. There are only a few fans in the hospital rooms, which do little to combat the humidity or the flies. "At any moment we could lose patients, but the state isn't doing anything to save their lives," said Michel, 25. "We're striking for the population, since it should make these demands." But some locals question the residents' position because the strike prevents the already struggling hospital from functioning. Since the strike began, the poorest families in the area no longer know where to go for medical emergencies, as the residents are in charge of admitting patients. "Due to the lack of resources and the unsanitary environment, there are always people dying in the hospital, so it's not the strike causing that," said Michel in response. Following is a summary of current odd news briefs. Polish sextuplets surprise parents and doctors expecting five Poland's first sextuplets on record, two boys and four girls, were born in the southern city of Krakow on Monday to the surprise of parents and doctors who had expected five babies. "Imagine this: we were prepared from early in the morning to help deliver five tiny citizens. So we are in the operating room, there are five teams of doctors ready to take care of five children," Ryszard Lauterbach, head of Clinical Neonatology at the University Hospital in Krakow said. Belgian monks resurrect brewery after two century break Belgian monks at the Grimbergen abbey are on the verge of brewing beer again after a break of more than 200 years. The abbey, whose emblem is a phoenix with the Latin motto "Ardet nec consumitur," meaning "Burned but not destroyed," was ransacked and had its brewery smashed in 1795 by French troops. Eiffel Tower climber in custody after daring ascent Rescuers successfully talked down a man who scaled the upper heights of the Eiffel Tower on Monday, forcing the monument's evacuation, and handed him over to police. Television channels ran live shots as rescuers perched on the 324-meter (1,063-foot) tower's wrought-iron struts, just below the highest viewing platform, tried to persuade the unknown man to give himself up. Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs. McDonald's faces 25 new sexual harassment complaints from workers McDonald's Corp was accused on Tuesday in 25 new lawsuits and regulatory charges of condoning sexual harassment in the workplace and retaliating against employees who speak up. The cases announced by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the labor group Fight for $15, and the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund cover alleged misconduct at McDonald's locations in 20 U.S. cities, including groping, indecent exposure, propositions for sex, and lewd comments. U.S. senators urge Volkswagen to end delay in Tennessee union vote Three Democratic U.S. senators on Tuesday questioned a decision by Volkswagen AG's U.S. unit to delay a union election for workers at its Tennessee assembly plant. Earlier this month, the largest German automaker won its bid to put off a union vote for 1,700 workers at the Chattanooga plant until its challenge to a smaller United Auto Workers bargaining unit at the factory is settled. Trump expected to tap ex-Virginia attorney general for immigration post: official U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to pick former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli for an immigration policy position at the Department of Homeland Security, a White House official said on Tuesday. Cuccinelli met with Trump on Monday, and the announcement of his appointment could come as early as this week, the official said. The New York Times first reported the expected pick on Tuesday. U.S. garlic growers profit from trade war as most farmers struggle Unlike millions of other U.S. farmers, garlic growers are profiting from the trade war with China and have cheered President Donald Trump's latest economic attack accordingly. Sales of California-grown garlic are now increasing after decades of losing ground to cheaper Chinese imports. Sales are poised to get even better as Chinese garlic faces even higher tariffs, with no end to the trade war in sight. Story continues Half of American adults expect war with Iran 'within next few years': Reuters/Ipsos poll Half of all Americans believe that the United States will go to war with Iran "within the next few years," according to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll released on Tuesday amid increased tensions between the two countries. While Americans are more concerned about Iran as a security threat to the United States now than they were last year, few would be in favor of a pre-emptive attack on the Iranian military. But if Iran attacked U.S. military forces first, four out of five believed the United States should respond militarily in a full or limited way, the May 17-20 poll showed. U.S. abortion-rights activists rally at Supreme Court to protest new state bans U.S. abortion-rights campaigners, including several Democrats running for president in 2020, are set to rally in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday to protest new restrictions on abortion passed by legislatures in eight states. Many of the restrictions are intended to draw legal challenges, which religious conservatives hope will lead the nation's top court to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a woman's right to terminate her pregnancy. Trump appeals ruling allowing Congress to see his financial records U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday appealed a federal judge's ruling against his attempt to block a House of Representatives committee from seeking his financial records, according to a court filing. Lawyers for Trump and his company filed the appeal in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. His lawyers argue the House Oversight Committee's demand for financial records from his accounting firm exceeded Congress's constitutional limits. California sues Trump administration over withholding high-speed rail funds California on Tuesday sued the Trump administration in U.S. District Court after the U.S. Transportation Department confirmed it would withhold $929 million in high-speed rail funding awarded to the state in 2010. The state later on Tuesday plans to seek a temporary restraining order request asking a judge to prevent the U.S. Transportation Department from repurposing the money for other transit projects, the governor's office said. Oklahoma reels, Missouri declares state of emergency from storm, floods Dozens of people were rescued from rising floodwaters and felled trees that smashed homes and blocked roadways in Oklahoma, as severe storms unleashing tornadoes and heavy rain roared through the central United States on Tuesday. Rescue crews using boats pulled at least 50 people from rising water as heavy downpours inundated roads and homes, Oklahoma Emergency Management Agency spokeswoman Keli Cain said, although there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries. U.S. states, cities sue to block Trump 'conscience' rule for healthcare workers Two dozen U.S. states and municipalities sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to stop it from enforcing a rule that would make it easier for doctors and nurses to avoid performing abortions on religious or moral grounds. A lawsuit led by New York Attorney General Letitia James said the expanded "conscience" protections could undermine the ability of states and cities to provide effective healthcare without jeopardizing billions of dollars a year in federal aid. Following is a summary of current world news briefs. U.S. officials seek to tamp down Trump rhetoric on Iran U.S. officials who briefed Congress about Iran on Tuesday sought to convince lawmakers that President Donald Trump's administration wants to deter Tehran's aggression, not attack the Islamic republic, members of Congress said. "I hope they're tamping down (the rhetoric). They tried to give that impression," Representative Eliot Engel, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told reporters after the classified briefing for the full House of Representatives. Britain's May tries to break Brexit deadlock with offer of 'new deal' Prime Minister Theresa May set out a "new deal" on Tuesday for Britain's departure from the European Union, offering sweeteners to parliament including the chance to vote on whether to hold a second referendum to try to break the impasse over Brexit. Three years after Britain voted to leave the EU and almost two months after the planned departure date, May is mounting a last effort to try to get the deeply divided parliament's backing for a divorce deal and leave office with some kind of legacy. Half of American adults expect war with Iran 'within next few years': Reuters/Ipsos poll Half of all Americans believe that the United States will go to war with Iran "within the next few years," according to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll released on Tuesday amid increased tensions between the two countries. While Americans are more concerned about Iran as a security threat to the United States now than they were last year, few would be in favor of a pre-emptive attack on the Iranian military. But if Iran attacked U.S. military forces first, four out of five believed the United States should respond militarily in a full or limited way, the May 17-20 poll showed. Mexico to auction Lamborghini, other seized assets to help poor Mexico's government will auction a Lamborghini, homes and other assets seized from gangsters and at least one former politician, officials said on Tuesday, part of a "Robin Hood" program to use millions of dollars in ill-gotten gains to aid the poor. The first auction, set for Sunday, will seek bids for 77 vehicles with a total starting price of around $1.5 million, Ricardo Rodriguez, head of the newly created Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People, said at a news conference. Story continues North Korea warns U.S. over seized ship at rare U.N. news conference North Korea stepped up its campaign on Tuesday for the United States to return a seized cargo ship belonging to Pyongyang, warning Washington that it had violated its sovereignty in a move that could affect "future developments" between the countries. North Korea's U.N. Ambassador Kim Song held a rare news conference at the United Nations in New York to demand the immediate return of the ship, which the United States said earlier this month it had seized over accusations it was used for coal shipments in violation of U.S. and U.N. sanctions. Tension flares between Roma, extremists in Hungary Several hundred radical nationalists, including hard-line extremists, protested in a small town in eastern Hungary on Tuesday against what they call Roma crime. In the town of Torokszentmiklos, east of Budapest, a few hundred Roma, mostly men, held a counter-protest commemorating the killing of innocent Roma in a series of shootings a decade ago that traumatized the country and helped give rise to the political far right. Thousands of Czechs protest for fourth week against justice minister Thousands of Czechs protested for a fourth week in a row on Tuesday against a justice minister they fear could influence a criminal case against Prime Minister Andrej Babis. Protesters say Justice Minister Marie Benesova's past comments and actions were supportive of Babis, a billionaire-turned-politician who has been charged with illegally tapping 2 million euros in European Union funds a decade ago when he was in business. He denies the charges. U.S. readies sanctions, charges over Venezuela food program: sources The United States is preparing sanctions and criminal charges against Venezuelan officials and others suspected of using a military-run food aid program to launder money for President Nicolas Maduro's government, according to people familiar with the matter. These actions are expected to be taken within the next three months as part of the Trump administration's push to curtail the cash flow to Maduro and his loyalists, two sources said on Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. Risk of nuclear war now highest since WW2, U.N. arms research chief says The risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War Two, a senior U.N. security expert said on Tuesday, calling it an "urgent" issue that the world should take more seriously. Renata Dwan, director of the U.N. Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), said all states with nuclear weapons have nuclear modernization programs underway and the arms control landscape is changing, partly due to strategic competition between China and the United States. Airbus seeks resolution to German arms export row: CEO Airbus is in discussions to try to find solutions to a row with the German government over a ban on arms exports to Saudi Arabia that threatens a border security contract, Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said on Tuesday. The planemaker has warned of legal action against Germany after taking financial charges over the long-delayed border contract between Airbus's defense unit and the Gulf kingdom. The Colorado Rockies placed closer Wade Davis on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain. The injury was not considered severe, according to a report from the Denver Post. Davis (1-1, 2.45 ERA) has seven saves in as many chances this season, striking out 18 and walking 10 in 14 2/3 innings. Davis, 33, led the National League with 43 saves and 69 appearances last season, his first in Colorado. Colorado called up right-handed reliever Jairo Diaz from Triple-A Albuquerque, adding him to the 40-man roster by moving left-handed starter Tyler Anderson to the 60-day injured list. Diaz was 1-0 with a 0.45 ERA in 20 innings in Albuquerque. Diaz, who turns 28 on Monday, has appeared in 30 major league games, the last coming in 2017 with the Rockies. --Field Level Media Bovanenkovo (Russie) (AFP) - Deep in the Russian Arctic anticipation runs high ahead of the launch of a natural gas pipeline that has emerged as a source of tensions pitting Moscow and Berlin against Washington. Gas sourced from the giant Bovanenkovo field on the remote Yamal Peninsula far above the Arctic Circle will feed the Nord Stream 2, a multi-billion-euro energy link between Russia and Germany. Critics of the Gazprom-led project -- in particular Washington and Kiev -- say the pipeline aims to increase Europe's reliance on Russian gas and isolate Ukraine, which it bypasses. US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said in the Ukrainian capital Kiev this week that Washington was moving towards imposing restrictions on the companies involved in the project. The Nord Stream 2 consortium and supporters of the project say the 1,230-kilometre (765-mile) pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea will help secure Europe's rising gas needs at lower prices. "We have all these political discussions saying it's a political project," Henning Kothe, chief project officer at Nord Stream 2, told reporters during a tour of the field on Tuesday. But, he added, the shortest way for gas to reach Europe was "via Nord Stream 2, which is 2,000 kilometres shorter than the existing route through Ukraine. "That is for me a fact and not politics," he said. Half of the 9.5-billion-euro ($10.6-billion) project is financed by Gazprom, with the rest covered by its European partners: Germany's Wintershall and Uniper, Anglo-Dutch Shell, France's Engie and Austria's OMV. The consortium insists that Ukraine will retain its role as a transit country. The project had been due to be launched in late 2019, but Gazprom said Sunday it could go online in 2020. Denmark has still not issued a permit for the pipeline to cross its waters. - 'Unfair competition' - US President Donald Trump charged in angry tweets last year that the project made Germany a "captive" of President Vladimir Putin's Russia. Story continues Speaking after talks with Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen last week, Putin accused Washington of "unfair competition" and using political pressure to sideline a competitor. "Our partners know that their product is more expensive and its quality is by no means better," Putin said, referring to the United States. The Austrian president said for his part that his country had no intention to quit the project. "US liquified gas is considerably more expensive than our current sources," he told reporters. "So there's no economic reason whatsoever to change our position." The field's gas reserves are estimated at 4.9 trillion cubic metres, and plans are under way to increase its capacity to 140 billion cubic metres (bcm) a year from 115 bcm now. More than a thousand kilometres of pipes have already been laid in the Baltic Sea. Pipelay vessels are working to install eight kilometres of pipelines a day. The twin pipeline system consists of two 1,230-kilometres-long pipelines. - 'Nightmare scenario' - Pushing back the launch date could create considerable difficulties. Most of Russia's gas destined for Europe passes through Ukraine. But the transit agreement between Kiev and Moscow expires at the end of the year. With the two countries at loggerheads over Crimea, Ukraine's territory annexed by Russia, and a separatist conflict, Moscow and Kiev have struggled to agree on the deal's extension. Dmitry Khandoga, deputy head of Gazprom's external economic affairs department, said ending the year without completing Nord Stream 2 and without a transit deal with Ukraine would be a "nightmare scenario". The threat of US sanctions also looms large. US Secretary of Energy Perry said the planned bill would have "very, very onerous restrictions on companies that continue to do business with Nord Stream 2". Kothe downplayed the risks, saying that none of the partners had left the project. Some experts say the possible sanctions would hardly affect the project but will put the European Union on a direct collision course with the United States. Elina Ribakova, deputy chief economist at the Washington-based Institute of International Finance, said it was too late to stop the construction so US Congress felt it can only call for sanctions. "It is a highly controversial issue for Germany and therefore particularly risky for US-German relations," she said on Twitter. Terror groups are increasingly relying on bitcoin, according to the chief of Russia's federal security service. | Source: Shutterstock By CCN: Terrorist organizations getting support in the form of cryptocurrency are becoming the norm, according to Russias FSB director Alexander Bortnikov. As per local news portal RBC, citing media agency Tass, the chief of Russias Federal Security Service (the FSBs successor) reported on the latest updates in the international terrorist networks at a meeting of the heads of security agencies of Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) member states. Electronic payment systems and cryptocurrencies are increasingly being used by terrorists to move money received from some states and organizations that support the global terrorist network, Bortnikov noted. He said that terrorist financing relies on direct proceeds from the illegal sale of oil, the slave trade, and other criminal activities. The FSB chief also claimed that the primary source for supplying militants is the informal value transfer system referred to as hawala. The latter enables involved parties to conduct transfers through brokerage netting without using financial documents. Last year, Bortnikov told Russian media that international terrorist organizations were improving the systems related to cryptocurrencies, electronic banking, and encrypted communication to defend against special services. The FSB chief stated that there were about 5,000 terrorist group members close to the borders of the CIS countries in the north region of Afghanistan. Earlier this month, CCN reported that ISIS used Bitcoin to finance the suicide bombing in Sri Lanka, which resulted in 253 civilian deaths, as per blockchain intelligence firm Whitestream. Read the full story on CCN.com. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East For the first time, scientists have evidence that a layer deep beneath Earth's surface can create volcanoes. The layer, known as the transition zone, lurks in Earth's mantle between 250 and 400 miles (400 to 640 kilometers) under the crust. This zone is rich in water, crystals and melted rock. The study found that these superhot materials can percolate to the surface to form volcanoes. [10 Most Hazardous Countries for Volcanoes (Photos)] Scientists have long known that volcanoes pop up when tectonic plates on top of Earth's mantle converge or when mantle plumes form hotspots on Earth's crust, much like pimples erupting on a person's face. But until now, scientists didn't know that the transition zone a region sandwiched between the upper and lower mantle was involved, the researchers said. "We found a new way to make volcanoes," study senior researcher Esteban Gazel, an associate professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Cornell University, said in a statement. "This is the first time we found a clear indication from the transition zone deep in the Earth's mantle that volcanoes can form this way." The scientists made the discovery by studying a 2,600-foot-long (790 meters) core sample that was drilled in Bermuda in 1972 . This core is now housed at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, where it was examined by study co-author Sarah Mazza, a researcher of planetology at the University of Munster in Germany. She expected the core to show that the volcano that made Bermuda arose from a mantle plume, which is how Hawaii formed. But in analyzing the core's signature isotopes, or versions of elements; water content; and other compounds, she found something else entirely. It appears that this particular spot in the transition zone located deep below the Atlantic Ocean was created, in part, by subduction events during the formation of the supercontinent Pangea. About 30 million years ago, a disturbance in the transition zone, likely related to mantle flow, led magma from the zone to surge toward Earth's surface, Mazza and her colleagues discovered. This surging magma, in turn, formed the now-dormant volcano under the Atlantic Ocean that made Bermuda. Story continues "I first suspected that Bermuda's volcanic past was special as I sampled the core and noticed the diverse textures and mineralogy preserved in the different lava flows," Mazza said in the statement. "We quickly confirmed extreme enrichments in trace-element compositions. It was exciting going over our first results the mysteries of Bermuda started to unfold." This magnified image of the core sample shows a blue-yellow crystal known as titanium-augite, which is surrounded by minerals such as feldspars, phlogopite, spinel, perovskite and apatite. This bouquet indicates that this chunk of lava came from a mantle source rich in water. Gazel Lab/Provided Core enigma When studying the core, Mazza and her colleagues found geochemical signatures that matched those from the transition zone. These clues included higher amounts of crystal-encased water as compared to subduction zones, or regions where one tectonic plate is diving beneath another, she said. There is so much water in the transition zone, it could form at least three oceans, Gazel said. But rather than sustain sea life like water above the crust does, the water in the transition zone helps rocks melt. Now that researchers know that disturbances in the transition zone can lead to the creation of volcanoes, they'll likely find more instances of this geological phenomena on Earth, the scientists said. "With this work, we can demonstrate that the Earth's transition zone is an extreme chemical reservoir," Gazel said. "We are now just now beginning to recognize its importance in terms of global geodynamics and even volcanism." The study was published online May 15 in the journal Nature. Originally published on Live Science. By Sankalp Phartiyal MUMBAI (Reuters) - Indian online retailer Snapdeal is conducting due diligence on ShopClues, in a move likely to result in a potential acquisition of its rival in an all-stock deal, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Snapdeal, backed by SoftBank, has been focusing on the mass market for unbranded goods in India's smaller towns and villages after a deal to combine it with homegrown Flipkart fell through in 2017. A deal is expected to value ShopClues between $200 million to $250 million, one of the sources said. ShopClues, which shares Nexus Venture Partners as a common investor with Snapdeal, had an estimated value of $1.1 billion in 2017. The sources declined to be identified as they were not authorised to speak to the media. Snapdeal declined comment, while ShopClues said it will continue to "pursue partnerships and commercial relationships with rivals". The Economic Times newspaper was the first to report that Snapdeal was moving closer to buying out ShopClues. ShopClues CEO Sanjay Sethi and co-founder Radhika Aggarwal are expected to sell their stakes and exit if Snapdeal acquires the firm, the second source said. (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Additional reporting by Derek Francis in BENGALURU; Editing by Anshuman Daga) By Sam Nussey TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese telco SoftBank Corp's low-cost mobile brand Ymobile said on Wednesday it would delay the launch of Huawei P30 Lite smartphone, following the imposition of trade restrictions on the Chinese manufacturer by Washington. The smartphone from Huawei Technologies was due to go on sale on Friday but a SoftBank spokesman said the telco wanted to be confident it could sell the product in light of the U.S. restrictions. The U.S. Commerce Department blocked Huawei from buying U.S. goods last week, a major escalation in the trade war between the world's two top economies, saying the firm was involved in activities contrary to national security. Another Japanese telco, KDDI Corp, said on Wednesday it was putting the launch of the Huawei P30 Lite Premium handset on hold. Japan's largest telco, NTT Docomo, said it was considering putting on hold reservations for the Huawei P30 Pro smartphone. The United States temporarily eased the restrictions on Huawei on Monday, to minimize disruption for customers. The move is likely to allow companies such as Google to continue providing support such as software updates to Huawei smartphones sold on or before May 16. Alphabet Inc's Google suspended some business with Huawei, Reuters reported on Sunday. The firm's smartphones run on Google's Android operating system. (Reporting by Sam Nussey; Editing by Stephen Coates) Pitt and DiCaprio in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Credit: Sony) Quentin Tarantino's new movie Once Upon A Time In Hollywood has been called his best work since Pulp Fiction after its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. It also received a six-minute (or seven-minute, according to some reports) standing ovation from the notoriously clap-happy festival audience. The movie appears 25 years after Tarantino's Pulp Fiction debuted at Cannes, cementing the director's career in Hollywood. Read more: Tarantino poster criticised for air brushing Margot Robbie With an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Dakota Fanning, Kurt Russell and Al Pacino, it finds the director dissecting the world of the movie business at the end of the 1960s. It also features a number of real-life figures, including Robbie as Sharon Tate, the actress wife of Roman Polanski who was murdered by the Manson Family, Damian Lewis as Steve McQueen, and Fanning as Lynette Fromme, one of the Manson clan. Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate (Credit: Sony) Tarantino has pleaded with audiences not to reveal the film's ending as has the festival director Thierry Fremaux with the action centring on DiCaprio as a washed up TV western actor, and Pitt as his friend, confidant and body double. Notices for the movie have been glowing. Read more: First poster for Tarantinos Once Upon A Time In Hollywood The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw gave it a full five stars, writing: Quite simply, I just defy anyone with red blood in their veins not to respond to the crazy bravura of Tarantinos film-making, not to be bounced around the auditorium at the moment-by-moment enjoyment that this movie delivers and conversely, of course, to shudder at the horror and cruelty and its hallucinatory aftermath. The Evening Standard calls it 'if not a career best, its an extraordinary career summation'. The Daily Telegraph, in another five-star review, adds that the film is 'is pure movie-world intoxication, laced with in-jokes and nibble-ably sweet period detail. (This film must have the most plausible, immersive depiction of late-Sixties LA since they shot films in LA in the late Sixties.)' Story continues DiCaprio as Rick Dalton (Credit: Sony) Giving it four stars, Time Out reckons it's 'a massively fun shaggy-dog story that blends fact and fiction by inserting made-up characters at the heart of real, horrible events and then daring history to do its worst. Its also a glorious love letter to Los Angeles and the movies'. But it's not all unconditional plaudits. The Hollywood Reporter writes: Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood is uneven, unwieldy in its structure and not without its flat patches. But it's also a disarming and characteristically subversive love letter to its inspiration. Total Film calls it 'Tarantino at his most indulgent and unfocused', and per Vanity Fair: This curious fairy tale may not be the truth, and it may prattle on too long. But when its stars align, and they let loose with their unmistakable shine, Hollywood movies do seem truly special again. Whether it's Tarantino's best work yet or not, we won't find out until it lands in the UK on August 14. MOGADISHU, May 22 (Reuters) - Somalia has criticized neighboring Kenya for deporting two Somali lawmakers and a minister after authorities in Nairobi blocked them from entering the country. Senators Ilyas Ali and Zamzam Dahir and minister Osman Liban arrived at Kenya's Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday and were forced to spend hours there before being returned to Somalia on Tuesday. In a letter seen by Reuters on Wednesday, Somalia's ministry of foreign affairs protested their detention and deportation. "Somalia is concerned that several members of the Somali government ... were detained by immigration officials, their passports confiscated, forcing them to return to Mogadishu," the letter said. It added that the actions risked hurting relations between the two and asked Kenya "to consider the potentially destabilizing impact of these actions and to uphold ... diplomatic norms in the spirit of reciprocity and mutual respect." Kenyan presidential spokesperson Kanze Dena did not immediately return a call from Reuters seeking comment. Relations between the two nations have been tested in the past by security measures taken by Kenyan authorities to try to stop attacks by Islamist group al Shabaab that Somalis often complain are sweeping and amount to collective punishment. Kenya hosts a large refugee and non-refugee Somali population. It is also a contributor of troops to the African Union (AU)-backed peacekeeping force AMISOM that helps defend Somalia's central government from al Shabaab. The Kenyan deployment in Somalia has in turn frequently been the target of retaliatory attacks by the militant group. Gripped by insecurity and lawlessness since the 1990s, Somalia is eager to keep warm relations with neighbors, which the government sees as essential to its efforts to stabilize the country. But Kenya and other neighbors also keep a wary eye on the Horn of Africa nation, eager to stop any potential spillovers of Islamist violence. Somalia and Kenya have also had maritime territorial disputes in the past. (Reporting by Abdi Sheikh; writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Catherine Evans) Crypto startup Circle's revised fundraising goal is 40% lower than the $250 million it was reportedly set to raise in March, according to sources familiar with the matter. The confirmation of the new lower goal follows news of lay-offs at the company. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire announced today on Twitter that the company has laid off 30 employees. Allaire said the layoffs are an attempt to cut costs, while the company itself remains strong and healthy. Sources, which include a former employee at the company and someone who reviewed its investment pitch desk, said the firm is seeking to raise $150 million, considerably less than the previous target of $250 million, as reported by The Information in March. On Twitter, Allaire wrote that the 30 positions were eliminated, which could suggest there is no plan to refill them anytime soon. "We made these changes in response to new market conditions, most importantly, an increasingly restrictive regulatory climate in the United States," said Allaire. "Circle remains strong and healthy, and we will continue to drive new product innovation and growth globally, working with jurisdictions that offer forward-looking policies regulating digital asset businesses, while we press for more balanced crypto policy in the U.S." According to Crunchbase data, the Boston-based company has raised a total disclosed amount of $246 million so far from Pantera Capital, Digital Currency Group and Bitmain, among others. The firm also owns trading platform Poloniex, which announced on Monday that it has "geofenced" some crypto assets from U.S. customers due to regulatory uncertainty. Still, at the heart of Circle's business is its over-the-counter trading operation. OTC crypto trading, once a star of the market for digital coins, has suffered headwinds as margins compress and new participants such as multi-dealer platforms enter the market for crypto trading. "It's crazy to me how gung-ho the industry was on OTC," one industry insider noted. "If you look at any other asset class they all move to exchanges or dark pools." Story continues However, the layoffs aren't necessarily connected to OTC headwinds. "No one from the trade desk got cut," one former employee said. Circle declined to comment on the fundraising round, noting that its Circle Trade business is profitable and that Poloniex is set to add more clients in Q2 versus Q1. "Circle Trade is profitable, has seen $2 billion in notional volume year-to-date, and continues to sign on counterparties, which now number more than 200. High seven figure PNL," the firm said. "Poloniex has continued to add innovative assets (more than a dozen in the last year), new features (such as margin trading for non-US customers), and customers; Poloniex is on track to add 50% more customers in Q2 than in Q1," it added. CoinDesk reported the lay-offs this afternoon. Madrid (AFP) - Over 300 police officers swooped Wednesday against hashish smuggling in southern Spain, the main gateway into Europe for the drug, the latest in a string of police stings in the region. Over 20 people were arrested during the raids carried out in several provinces in Andalusia, a spokesman for Spain's Guardia Civil police force said. Several boats suspected of being used to ship hashish to Spain from Morocco were seized, mainly in the region bordering the Guadalquivir river, which is navigable from the Gulf of Cadiz to Seville, he added. In a separate operation carried out on Tuesday, Spanish National Police arrested 15 people suspected of belonging to a group based in the southern city of La Linea de Concepcion that provided fuel and food to smugglers who use speedboats to move hashish from Morocco to Spain's southern coast. La Linea, an underprivileged city with high unemployment at the edge of the Strait of Gibraltar which separates Andalusia from Africa by just 15 kilometres (nine miles), is the epicentre of the hashish trade. It is part of the province of Cadiz, which accounted for over half of the 335 tonnes of hashish seized in Spain in 2017, according to the last available figures. - Increased raids - Police have increased their raids against suspected drug traffickers in the area recently because they "are collecting the fruits of investigations" they launched in some cases several years ago when gangs began operating in an increasingly brazen manner, said Ricardo Magaz, a criminologist at Spain's UNED university. Traffickers bring consignments of drugs onto the beach in the area, often in broad daylight, and police and other authorities have been physically attacked, such as in February 2018 when members of a drug smuggling gang attacked a hospital in La Linea to free one of their members who was injured in a police chase. Authorities also became alarmed by signs that local gangs were establishing links with foreign mafias and Madrid responded by sending police reinforcements to the region. Story continues Earlier this month, the interior ministry announced it had ended an investigation it opened in 2016 by smashing a drug smuggling gang which included members of the Italy's 'Ndrangheta organised crime group. - Luxury cars, music videos - Two members of "Los Castanas", thought to be the largest hashish smuggling ring in the Strait, were part of this gang. The operation follows the arrest last year of two brothers who led "Los Castanas". These police operations have weakened the drug smuggling gangs and prompt some of them to betray each other, said Magaz. The crackdown has been aided by carelessness on the part of the local traffickers, who often show off their new-found wealth by driving luxury cars or appearing in music videos. But Mugaz warned that the authorities can't declare victory because as soon as a drug baron is arrested "there is a replacement, or a neighbouring clan or rival takes over his activities". Traffickers are now spread out throughout Andalusia rather then being concentrated in Cadiz province, a Civil Guard source said. The pressure which police have put on traffickers in the La Linea and the surrounding area known as the Campo de Gibraltar "has caused criminal groups to try to leave the Campo de Gibraltar and associate themselves with organisations in other places," the source added. Sri Lanka's president extended on Wednesday by a further month the state of emergency imposed immediately after the Easter Sunday Islamist bombings that killed 258 people. Maithripala Sirisena issued a proclamation saying that the emergency, which gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects for long periods of time, would continue for another 30 days, citing "public security". Sri Lanka initially imposed the emergency to crack down on local jihadists blamed for the April 21 bombings that targeted three churches and three luxury hotels. Three weeks after the suicide bombings, anti-Muslim riots broke out in a province north of the capital in a backlash against the attacks. At least one Muslim man was killed and hundreds of Muslim-owned shops and homes were destroyed. Several mosques were also vandalised. The police and the military say they have arrested scores of suspects, both in connection with the bombings and over what appeared to be organised violence against the Muslim minority. The authorities say they have neutralised the jihadist threat after arresting almost all those involved in the Easter attacks, but troops and police remain on alert across the island. Christians make up 7.6 percent and Muslims 10 percent of mainly Buddhist Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's president granted an amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk on Wednesday, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said. President Maithripala Sirisena pardoned Galagodaatte Gnanasara days after releasing 762 other convicts to mark Vesak which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. "The President has pardoned the monk and he should walk out of prison by tomorrow or the day after," an official source said. Gnanasara's Bodu Bala Sena, BBS or the Buddhist Force, urged their supporters to assembly outside the main Welikada prison on Thursday afternoon to receive him. On Saturday, Sirisena reportedly had lengthy talks with Gnanasara who is serving a six-year jail term for contempt of court. Many had expected Gnanasara to be released on Saturday along with the 762 other convicts, but he was not among those freed. Gnanasara has been serving concurrent jail sentences extending up to six years over his disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant in 2016. He has long been accused of instigating hate crimes against minority Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country. The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead. His BBS was not linked to anti-Muslim riots that left at least one dead after April 21 suicide bombings blamed on Islamic extremists and which killed 258 people. Gnanasara had maintained close ties with Wirathu, an extremist monk based in Myanmar, whose hate speech has stoked religious tensions in that country. Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka's coastal town of Aluthgama, and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists. Former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams. (Photo: Kevin Wolf/AP Images for the Roosevelt Institute) WASHINGTON We won, Stacey Abrams told progressives gathered in Washington for the annual Center for American Progress Ideas Conference, which functions as a casting call for potential national candidates. Abrams quickly acknowledged that she had not, in fact, won her bid to become Georgias governor last November, losing a fiercely contested race to Brian Kemp, the Republican candidate. Abrams charged that Kemp, who was Georgias secretary of state, worked to suppress voter participation in communities of color. Since her loss, she has become a vociferous proponent of voting rights. And although she has not made her intentions known, Abrams remains an intriguing potential 2020 candidate for progressives. She recently declined to run for the U.S. Senate, raising the prospects that she may yet seek the Democratic nomination for the presidency. A recent survey of African-American voters by the Washington Post found that her name came up repeatedly in interviews with voters and activists who described her as a bona fide champion for African-Americans far beyond her home state. Her eagerness was apparent on Wednesday morning, with Abrams coming out on the stage before Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress, had finished with her introduction. I do recognize that I am not the governor of Georgia, Abrams said, a reference to her conviction that the gubernatorial mansion would have been hers were it not for Kemps machinations. Nevertheless, she argued, progressives had won the day in Georgia, noting that she had tripled Latino turnout while also greatly increasing electoral participation among Asian-Americans, African-Americans and younger voters. Stacey Abrams speaking at the Center for American Progress event. (Image: Twitter) She described this as a transformation of the electorate, hinting at a potent coalition not unlike the one Barack Obama mustered in his successful bid for the White House in 2008. Abrams added that even in losing, she had accomplished something no one has accomplished since Bill Clinton: I increased the white share of Democratic votes in the state of Georgia. That, too, proved a successful formula for Democrats, even if the demography of the United States is not what it was when Clinton emerged as an unknown Arkansas governor to defeat George H. W. Bush for the presidency. Story continues Abrams seemed to make the kind of ecumenical pitch Clinton might have made: that Georgians of all races and creeds wanted economic opportunity and expanded health coverage. But this pitch came with a twist in Abramss case. None of that would be possible, she argued, if Republican governors, secretaries of state and legislatures are able enact measures that disenfranchised communities of color where support for Democrats remain strong. Abrams called efforts to make voting more difficult, which are in contravention of the Voting Rights Act, the single most threatening aspect of our election system and the worst part of whats happening in our democracy. And she noted that many other states, from Tennessee to Michigan, had moved to enact measures that could make it more difficult for people to vote. Abrams described these as a systemic attempt to push against the demographic changes in our country for the last 20 years. There was another twist to the kinds of appeals both Clinton and Obama made to voters. Instead of invoking the vision of a colorblind America, Abrams openly embraced the notion of identity politics. Identity politics is exactly who we are, Abrams said, evidently speaking of her gubernatorial campaign, and its exactly how we won. Abrams argued that when we refuse to engage in the conversation of identity politics, when we refuse to acknowledge that we see you, and we understand you, and we understand the barriers that you face, then what we are met with is a lack of trust. She added that no reason to engage and no reason to show up. She criticized Democratic candidates for decrying the identities of their voters, though she did not say whom she was talking about or what exactly those candidates had said. Near the conclusion of her remarks, Abrams said that the way forward was not having everyone in America run for president, a reference to the field of two dozen candidates vying for the Democratic nomination. The line earned loud cheers. But that is also not an announcement, Abrams quickly added, leaving her own political future an open question. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: PARIS (Reuters) - The current status quo regarding the alliance between French carmaker Renault and its Japanese partner Nissan cannot continue and must be changed as it is currently weakening Renault, said French finance minister Bruno Le Maire. "The status quo is not possible, the status quo is weakening the overall group, we have to push forward, make progress and consolidate this alliance," Le Maire told reporters at a meeting held at the OECD. Le Maire had earlier discussed the matter with Japanese industry minister Hiroshige Seko. Nissan said earlier this month that Hiroto Saikawa would stay on as chief executive, backing the protege of former boss Carlos Ghosn even as top shareholder Renault had earlier pushed for a change in the Japanese automaker's leadership. The make-up of Nissan's board has vast implications for the Nissan-Renault alliance. The unequal relationship between them - smaller Renault has the bigger stake in Nissan - has long been a source of friction. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) CAIRO, May 23 (Reuters) - The Syrian army shot down a drone loaded with bombs near Hama's airport, Syrian state TV said late on Wednesday. The drone was launched by Nusra Front militants, the state television added. No further details were immediately available. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; Writing by Mohamed El-Sherif; Editing by Chris Reese) * Site near Turkish border offers some respite from strikes * Syrian government says strikes target Islamist militants * Some 180,000 Syrians displaced by the recent attacks By Khalil Ashawi ATMEH, Syria, May 22 (Reuters) - Camped on the Turkish border to escape bombardment by Russian and Syrian government forces, many displaced Syrians are angry and frustrated that Turkey has not done more to protect them from the bombs or let them cross the frontier to safety. The border wall a few hundred meters (yards) away offers a degree of cover for thousands of people, since air strikes are rare so close to Turkey. But it also blocks any chance they have of fleeing the conflict and joining millions of refugees abroad. "Turkey is our only option today," said Abu Abdallah, 51, who left his village at the start of the war in 2011 to seek sanctuary near the town of Qalaat al-Madiq, until it was captured by Syrian government forces in early May. "We can no longer put up with living under bombardment or in the open under the trees," said Abu Abdullah, one of thousands of Syrians living in white tents dotted around the rock-strewn olive groves, some of them only 50 meters (yards) from the border. Some 180,000 people were displaced by the recent attacks in northwest Syria, the last major rebel stronghold. The increase in shelling killed dozens of people and marked the most intense period of violence for months between President Bashar al-Assad and the rebels, who launched a counter-attack last week. The Syrian government says it is responding to attacks by al Qaeda-linked militants. The dominant insurgent faction in the region is the jihadist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), although the army offensive has not focused on the central Idlib area where it is most concentrated, an HTS-aligned opposition figure said. Much of the bombardment has hit a buffer zone around Idlib province and surrounding territories which was set up by Russia and Turkey in September under a deal which put off a full-blown assault against the region and its 3 million residents. Story continues Shells from Syrian government territory also hit a Turkish military observation post, one of 12 set up near the Idlib borders by Ankara, which backs the rebels. At the border, many of the displaced were angry at the lack of Turkish action in response to the recent offensive, and called on Turkey to open its border to allow people to escape. "We didn't ask to go into Turkey before," said 32-year-old Khsara Ahmed al-Hussein. "But when you set up a de-escalation zone and ... you guarantee that I won't get struck, but then even the Turkish observation point is struck by the regime, then what's the point of protection if you can't even protect yourself?" "LIKE WORLD WAR THREE" When bombardment of Hussein's village intensified, his family dug holes in the earth outside their house and slept in them. When the situation became unbearable, they headed to the border, where he has been living under trees for two weeks. "There were eight planes in the air, bombing intensively, as if it were World War Three," he said. Air strikes have hit 18 health facilities and dozens of schools, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). At least 38 children have been killed since the start of last month, Save the Children said. Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan said last week that attacks on schools and hospitals did not constitute fighting terrorism. His defense minister spoke with his Russian counterpart on Monday about reducing tension in Idlib, Turkey's defense ministry said. Near the border village of Atmeh, dozens of people sat under trees with a few blankets and pillows arranged on the hard earth. A blue plastic tarp was draped over the trees to protect them from the burning sun. Um Bassan wants to join her children who have been in Turkey for over a year, after she and their father spent everything they had to smuggle them out of Syria. "I want this torture to end and to see my children," she said. "No one prefers another country over their own, but I want release from the bombardment and to see my children there." (Writing and additional reporting by Sarah Dadouch Editing by Dominic Evans and Edmund Blair) By Diane Bartz and Sheila Dang WASHINGTON/NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) - Concessions by T-Mobile US Inc to win U.S. government approval to buy Sprint Corp will likely lead to higher prices for the poorest Americans, many of whom use prepaid wireless plans, analysts and activists said. The more expensive prepaid plans, used by people who lack the good credit to qualify for a cheaper postpaid plan means low-income users will have less access to the internet for job hunts and job applications, and for children to do homework, activists say. With postpaid, people pay with credit cards or monthly bank withdrawals. Cost matters. Pew Research Center found in 2015 that 48% of the people they polled had to cancel or shut off their cell phone service for at least a short time because they could not afford it. T-Mobile and Sprint said on Monday they would sell Sprint's Boost Mobile business, which sells prepaid plans, and ensure that the divested company has access to a wireless network for six years. The offer was enough for Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to agree to support the proposed transaction, he said on Monday. The two other Republican commissioners indicated they would also back the deal, giving it the needed three votes out of five. The U.S. Justice Department's antitrust division staff has recommended the agency block the deal, leaving the decision up to political appointees. Free Press, an advocacy group, urged the Justice Department to block the acquisition, saying it will exacerbate an existing "affordability crisis" that makes it hard for poorer people to get online, said its general counsel, Matt Wood. "People who rely on prepaid services won't see any benefits from the conditions the FCC is touting." Sprint and T-Mobile customers were likely to see weighted average prices rise a minimum of 4.2% for prepaid services and 4.8% for postpaid, satellite television provider Dish Network Corp, a critic of the deal, said in an FCC filing last year. Currently Boost offers four lines with unlimited data, talk and text for $100 per month. Story continues Prepaid service is often favored by poorer people because there is no need to pass a credit check. Selling Boost Mobile, one of three brands that Sprint uses to provide prepaid wireless service, will do little to bring down market concentration in that market, said Craig Moffett, an analyst with MoffettNathanson LLC. Moffett put T-Mobile's prepaid market share at 41% and Sprint at 17%, giving them 58% if they were to merge without divestitures. It is not known how much of Sprint's market share comes from Boost. Boost would rely on the combined company to provide spectrum and network access for at least six years. Boost operates using Sprints spectrum and network. Under the companies' proposal, only the brand will be sold and it will remain dependent on Sprint for spectrum and network access. If the spectrum to support Boost is divested, "that would then qualify (Boost) as a real competitor and not be dependent on somebody else's network," said Roger Entner, a telecommunications analyst with Recon Analytics. Entner argued that Boost has seen better days. "Boost recently lost their distribution at Target, and Best Buy is redoing the way it sells wireless. A huge part of Boost's distribution is either falling away or changing the way they do business, none of which are good signs for Boost," he added. Sprint would retain its Sprint brand prepaid business and Virgin Mobile, another prepaid brand. T-Mobile would keep Metro, its prepaid business. Sprint's prepaid subscriber base had been shrinking but has turned around and has been growing for more than two years, with Boost expanding and Virgin Mobile losing subscribers, according to Sprint filings with the government. Despite the Boost sale, the activist group Public Knowledge said the poor would pay more, especially after T-Mobile's 6-year commitment to Boost expires. "The low-income and prepaid consumers who have turned to lower cost (providers) will likely be forced to pay higher prices post-merger as a combined T-Mobile/Sprint exercise their market power to raise wholesale prices," the group said in a statement. Sprint shares fell nearly 9% to $6.58, while T-Mobile fell 1.2% to $76.21. (Reporting by Diane Bartz in Washington and Sheila Dang in New York; Editing by Chris Sanders and Jeffrey Benkoe) The Justice Department has cleared the proposed $26 billion merger between T-Mobile and Sprint, paving the way for the nation's third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers to come together. Although the regulatory blessing brings T-Mobile and Sprint closer to corporate marriage, uncertainties remain about the potential impact on consumers. Opponents insist the effect won't be good, resulting in reduced competition, higher prices for cellular coverage and a loss of as many as 30,000 jobs. T-Mobile and Sprint have long claimed otherwise and previously committed to not raise prices for three years. Sprint has also suggested in regulatory filings that, absent merger approval, Sprints very long-term viability is in question. T-Mobile/Sprint merger: Deal gets OK from Justice Department, Dish gets Boost Mobile To win approval and placate critics, the would-be merger partners agreed to concessions, including accelerating deployment of 5G broadband in rural America to help close the digital divide. Industry analyst Roger Entner of Recon Analytics isn't concerned about wireless prices, which he says have always gone down," a trend he expects will continue. What isnt quite clear, though, is whether the perks that come with some current plans free streaming on Netflix and Hulu, for example will last into the future. T-Mobile and Sprint have also argued that the deal will help them compete against their much bigger rivals Verizon and AT&T, especially as all the carriers roll out speedy next-generation 5G wireless networks. Critics arent buying it. "The T-Mobile-Sprint merger is still anti-competitive and anti-consumer. The companies have made a handful of promises on 5G, rural build-out and in-home broadband that are speculative, not specific to the merger and completely unenforceable," Gigi Sohn of the Georgetown Law Institute for Technology Law & Policy said in a statement. Matt Wood, the vice president of policy and general counsel at the Free Press advocacy put out his own statement. The digital divide isnt just about rural build-out though as others opposing the deal have shown, the merged companies spectrum wouldnt allow for decent rural coverage at 5G speeds. ... Both T-Mobile and Sprint are already building 5G networks without the deal. Story continues Wood instead says the FCC should focus on the affordability crisis and an adoption gap that makes it hard for poorer people to get online, and it keeps people of color disconnected more often than other demographic groups. T-Mobile and Sprint also agreed to part with Boost Mobile, a Sprint-owned prepaid carrier that competes against Metro by T-Mobile. The service, which you pay for in advance, is typically where youll find the cheapest prices, with Boost and Metro accounting for nearly half the market. Boost Mobile founder Peter Adderton, who had been a vocal opponent of the merger, now describes himself as absolutely ecstatic that the FCC made the right decision enforcing them to divest Boost. But he remains cautious with how the FCC concessions play out: The devil is going to be in the details, he says, with questions around what, where, why and who is the referee (to) oversee it yet to be answered. (Adderton, who runs Boost in Australia from his base on Los Angeles, is interested in buying a newly independent Boost.) For his part, analyst Entner doesnt think surrendering Boost is that big a deal: The new T-Mobile would have had three prepaid offers (Metro, Boost, and Sprint's Virgin), which is two more than they need. You saw the inefficiencies at Sprint with two prepaid brands. Giving up Boost was sacrificing a pawn that was a dead man walking anyway. Wood is skeptical for other purposes: Divesting Boost wont do a thing. If and when that brand is actually cleaved off from T-Mobile and Sprint, itll no longer have access to those companies networks. It would, like other wireless resellers, need to lease capacity from the new T-Mobile, and that means that this divestiture would do nothing to address the vast market power T-Mobile is accumulating. Not everyone on the FCC thinks the outcome will benefit the public either. Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel tweeted, We've seen this kind of consolidation in airlines and with drug companies. It hasn't worked out well for consumers. But now the @FCC wants to bless the same kind of consolidation for wireless carriers. I have serious doubts. We've seen this kind of consolidation in airlines and with drug companies. It hasn't worked out well for consumers. But now the @FCC wants to bless the same kind of consolidation for wireless carriers. I have serious doubts. https://t.co/Yh4DC0C134 Jessica Rosenworcel (@JRosenworcel) May 20, 2019 Follow @edbaig on Twitter This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: T-Mobile-Sprint deal: Will you pay more for your cellular plan? * Film about Hollywood set against notorious 1969 killing spree * Roman Polanski's wife Sharon Tate was killed by Manson acolytes * Star DiCaprio said he connected with struggling actor role * Tarantino challenged over lack of lines for Tate character By Sarah White and Hanna Rantala CANNES, France, May 22 (Reuters) - Quentin Tarantino said on Wednesday he didn't tell Roman Polanski in advance about his latest movie, set in the run-up to the notorious 1969 Manson murders which claimed the life of Polanski's wife at the time, actress Sharon Tate. Tarantino's "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood," an ode to a bygone Hollywood era, stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton, an actor coming to terms with his faltering career and living next door to Polanski and Tate, who is played by Margot Robbie. It was screened for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday evening, drawing often rapturous response from critics who praised its darkly comic moments, outrageous plot twists and evocative period atmosphere. Asked at a news conference on Wednesday whether he had discussed his interpretation of events with Polanski at any point, Tarantino said: "No, I didn't." He earlier said that he had met the Franco-Polish director "a couple of times" over the years, and was a fan of his work, including the 1968 psychological horror film "Rosemary's Baby." Tate, aged 26 and eight months pregnant, was killed along with four friends at her Los Angeles home in August 1969 by members of a cult led by Charles Manson. Polanski was away on business in Europe at the time. Manson, who was convicted of ordering the deaths of nine people in total, died in prison at age 83 in November 2017. The murders carried out by Manson's mainly young, female devotees shocked the world and badly damaged the peace-and-love, hippie ethos of the late 1960s - something which resonated with the cast of "Once Upon A Time." Story continues "In the time building up to that (point), there was a free love movement," Brad Pitt, who plays Dalton's stunt double and long time friend Cliff Booth, told the news conference. "It was a sobering dark look at the dark side of human nature, and that pivotal moment was a real loss of innocence." "I REJECT YOUR HYPOTHESIS" While the movie lingers on an encounter between Cliff and the creepy, young hippie drifters who made up the "Manson Family" on an abandoned desert ranch they had taken over outside Los Angeles, and Tate comes and goes, it's more than anything a love letter to the film industry. Tarantino - who issued a plea before the premiere asking for viewers to refrain from spoiler alerts - celebrates the industry's kitsch moments, pays homage to spaghetti westerns and martial arts stars, and delves into the pains of being on a film set as well as the uplifting power of a performance. DiCaprio said he was able to identify with Dalton's feeling of being a Hollywood outsider, even in his position as one of the industry's highest-grossing stars. "I have a lot of friends in the industry and I know how lucky I am to be in this opportunity," DiCaprio said, adding he'd "immediately connected" with the character. "This guy is seen not only struggling with his own pathos, his own ability to gain confidence and persevere and get that next job." Tarantino submitted "Once Upon a Time In Hollywood" just in time to compete for the Cannes festival's top Palme d'Or prize, 25 years after pop culture classic "Pulp Fiction" won it. Tarantino includes nods to his own movies in his ninth feature, which has been described by some critics as self-indulgent and overly long at times, even if nearly all found enough to like in its show-stealing scenes. "It wasn't meant to be ridiculously self-conscious, but there is a thing about summing up certain things, which I wasn't necessarily trying to do, but they started appearing," he said. Tarantino said that one of his long-time collaborators and first people to see the new script had joked upon reading it: "Damn! Number nine is like all eight of them put together." "I hadn't thought about it like that," said Tarantino, whose other notable films include "True Romance," "Jackie Brown" and "Inglourious Basterds." Tarantino bluntly shut down a journalist who said he had given Robbie very few lines in the film, even though she has screen time. "I reject your hypothesis," he said. (Reporting by Sarah White and Hanna Rantala Editing by Mark Heinrich) Wendy Skelton (right) and daughter Rebecca Chisholm the day before the accident. (Facebook) A primary school teacher who was bucked off a horse and left fighting for her life in a coma in Dubai needs more than 60,000 to bring her home. Rebecca Chisholm, 24, had been working in the country as a primary school teacher since August 2018, and went to the desert with her mum Wendy Skelton to go horse riding the day before her birthday on Friday 10 May. Ms Skelon saw the moment tragedy struck, when her daughter's horse reared and bolted, leaving her "clinging onto it for dear life. She found her daughter, who was 23 at the time, further down the track lying in a heap in the sand saying she was "dying". Ms Skelton, an accounts technician, told NottinghamshireLive: "She was saying to me, 'goodbye mum', because she was dying. Ms Chisholm was then airlifted to Rashid Hospital where scans revealed multiple skull fractures at the base of her skull and a brain haemorrhage. Rebecca studied at Manchester Metropolitan University to become a teacher. (Facebook) She was in a coma in intensive care for three days and underwent emergency surgery twice to stem the bleed on her brain and relieve the pressure. "The first three days were touch and go as she was in a coma. She recovered but has reverted back to a three-year-old and keeps saying 'horsey, horsey', said Ms Skelton. "Her ears were bleeding and she's had to have a needle inserted into her brain to drain the fluid. I keep thinking the horse must have kicked her in the head. "When she was rushed into intensive care and I honestly thought she was gone. I never thought she was going to make it, it was the longest night of my life." Ms Skelton says her daughter's medical bills have hit 60,000, and claims the insurance provided by the school in which her daughter was doing a two-year placement at will not cover horse riding as it is an "extreme sport". St Clare's RC Primary School in Manchester, where Rebecca used to work before she went to Dubai, show their support. (GoFundMe) She claims they cannot leave Dubai until these bills are paid for, and says an emergency evacuation back to the UK could end up costing another 30,000. "I just want to let other people know and warn them about it," she added. Story continues "The hospital says she may have to stay in her for at least another week and I'm having to buy all these taxis to get here as I'm staying with her friend who is on the placement too." A fundraiser has been set up on GoFundMe, started by friend Liudmila Davey, which has already raised over 43,000. On the page it says the British Embassy has provided no support for these two British nationals now stranded in a desperate state, thousands of miles from home. Ms Chisholm regained consciousness on 12 May but faces a lengthy recovery and an uncertain future once back in the UK. A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "Our consular staff are offering advice and support to the family of British woman who has been hospitalised in Dubai. ---Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK--- TOROKSZENTMIKLOS, Hungary (Reuters) - Several hundred radical nationalists, including hard-line extremists, protested in a small town in eastern Hungary on Tuesday against what they call Roma crime. In the town of Torokszentmiklos, east of Budapest, a few hundred Roma, mostly men, held a counter-protest commemorating the killing of innocent Roma in a series of shootings a decade ago that traumatized the country and helped give rise to the political far right. Although no violence ensued on Tuesday, the groups faced off in a way that has been largely unseen in recent years after a turbulent and sometimes violent period shook Roma-Hungarian ties about a decade ago. A new political group named Our Homeland Movement, an offshoot of the former far-right party Jobbik, called for the radicals' protest, which unnerved the town's large and mostly impoverished Roma community. The root cause was a fight last month between a Roma man and non-Roma locals in a bar that was captured on video by someone and spread via social media by Our Homeland Chairman Laszlo Toroczkai. It had more than 200,000 followers on Facebook. Facebook shut down Toroczkais page in response to his call for the protest, saying it had violated a protected minority. The extremist movement was founded last year by former members of Jobbik, a party that rose to prominence a decade ago on a hard-line anti-Roma message. "The allegedly fearful Roma threaten all of us," Toroczkai told the protesters, including hundreds of shaven, tattooed men in uniform black clothes. What I see are thousands of Hungarian compatriots living in fear of these criminals. After Jobbik failed to weaken the ruling Fidesz party's lock on power in elections last year, Toroczkai quit and formed Our Homeland, which allies itself with openly Nazi and ultra-radical fringe groups and calls on the government to step up against Gypsy crime - a term once coined by Jobbik. Roma residents in Torokszentmiklos rejected the wholesale criminalisation of all because of the transgressions of a few. Story continues They said they suspected politicking behind Toroczkais presence, as Our Homeland is one of nine parties running for representation in the European Parliament in elections on Sunday. The ruling Fidesz party is expected to score a major win in the vote. "For Toroczkai to enlarge personal crimes is just a political move," said Roma activist Lajos Balogh. "There are no collective crimes. But Toroczkai wants to attract former Jobbik voters." (Reporting by Marton Dunai; Editing by Dan Grebler) Tesla, once a darling of Wall Street, has pushed the envelope and not in a good way. Too many problems and issues have finally pushed some long-time supporters to shake their heads and step back. Wedbush Securities finally decided to [throw] in the white towel last month lowering guidance from outperform to neutral, after Aprils first quarter earnings release. A report from the firm called it one of [the] top debacles we have ever seen in 20 years of covering tech stocks. Then, on Sunday, Wedbush dropped its target price to $230 from $275 a share, saying in another report that Tesla faced a quagmire in hitting profitability by years end trying to manage insurance, robo-taxis, and other sci-fi projects on top of its main concerns. Wedbush is just the latest case of discouraged bull. Evercore ISI in April dropped Tesla from the equivalent of hold to sell. That made 13 analyst firms tracked by Bloomberg that have an outright sell rating on the company. Ten analysts still show a buy, while another ten have a hold rating on the stock. The differences between the outlooks come down to three things: the type of company Tesla is supposed to be, belief in its technology, and the chance that it can keep afloat long enough to fulfill its promise. What the bears see As much as Tesla is involved in deep tech development and innovation, it makes its money selling cars. Unless that continues to improve, the company will need to bring in more money, as it currently burns $1 billion a quarter. Unfortunately for Tesla, its stock set a 52-week low of $195.25 on Monday and closed Tuesday at $205.08, far from a high of $387.46. What theyve achieved is phenomenal, said Jeremy Aceveco, manager of industry analysis at auto publisher Edmunds. Its been completely newreally unprecedented. However, his question, and that of many others, is whether the company has passed a high point and will be headed downhill. Story continues The big take away [from the last earnings report] for us is that the demand in the United States really seems to be depleted, Aceveco said. Sales for Q1 in the US for model 3 deliveries dropped to 23,000 vehicles. That compared to close to three times as much in the previous quarter, and that was with full production and a customer waiting list. That kind of lightning in a bottle for them seems to have run out. Although Tesla may be innovating major aspects of electric vehicles and are trying to match production lines to meet the challengebecause typical approaches in the auto industry may not be able toit has repeatedly missed promised deadlines. Would-be customers may be getting tired of waiting. Then there is the confidence of the markets, which are the sources of funding cash Tesla needs until it can increase production and ultimate sales to manage its cash flow. Even though the company recently raised $2.7 billion in a combination of stock and convertible notes, CEO Elon Musk told employees in an email last Thursday that there is only enough cash for ten more months, according to Reuters. He promised that every single expense will be reviewed, which means a major distraction for executives who need to solve bigger problems, like getting new factories and production lines working smoothly. The efforts to reach the sales guidance Tesla has set will be Herculean, according to Wedbush. And current management may not be up for it. If Tesla executes perfectly, theyre still going to face the toughest days theyve ever faced, said Erik Gordon, clinical assistant professor at the University of Michigans Ross School of Business. The company has squandered a long lead, Gordon adds. Musk and his fan squad thought Tesla was so far ahead of everyone else that theyd be worth more than GM and all the others, he said. That was never true and isnt true today. What the bulls see And yet. What pushed so many to believe the companys success dream has been technology that, in their eyes, far outstripped any competitors. The categorization of Tesla as more a tech than auto company comes down to three major areas: batteries, artificial intelligence that runs the autonomous driving feature, and powertrain optimization. According to the bulls, and many others, the company has pushed far ahead of its competitors. Tesla is at least three years ahead of any other auto manufacturer and ahead of Google and Cruise Automation, which is part of GM, said Catherine Wood, CEO of investment fund ARK, which holds a substantial portion of its flagship portfolio in Tesla. ARKs analysis says Teslas batteries get 100 miles more driving range than similar sized batteries from other companies. The company has also logged massive amounts of data from customers use of the autodrive feature, and that information is critical to improving self-driving. Colin Rusch, a managing director at Oppenheimer who is also bullish on Tesla, says the combination of powertrain optimization and battery power and life makes the company clear technology leaders. He also notes that Tesla continues to sell a lot of cars, raising the question of whether they can hit the 500,000 mark with their current product sets and an additional 500,000 with the new model Y. If manufacturing margins hold up, thats a lot of cash flow, Rusch said. Maybe the future for Tesla will be an acquisition by some company that wants the technology. But for now, while the technological promise is far out, the business realities are starting to be felt right now. More must-read stories from Fortune: The winners and losers in a $1 trillion buyback year Too many companies are paying too much for stock buybacks This years tech IPOs are raising $2.2 billion on average How to invest during a trade war Listen to our new audio briefing, Fortune 500 Daily Dont miss the daily Term Sheet, Fortunes newsletter on deals and dealmakers. Supporters call it the Save Chick-fil-A bill and say its meant to protect religious freedom in Texas. But the states LGBTQ advocates fiercely opposed it, saying it could be used to promote hated. Its now headed to Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled House passed the bill in response to the San Antonio City Councils vote earlier this year to ban Chick-fil-A from the citys airport due to the fast food chains history of supporting anti-LGBTQ organizations. The Texas House has taken on the issue twice in reaction to San Antonios ban. Lawmakers first tried to pass House Bill 3172, which aimed to block government entities from taking any adverse action against individuals or businesses based on their membership in, affiliation with or support of religious groups. While that effort was quashed by the Houses LGBTQ Caucus through a procedural move, the Texas legislature revived the issue when the state Senate passed Senate Bill 1978, a new version of the Save Chick-fil-A bill, on Thursday. The House pushed through the Senate version of the bill on Monday, where it received a 79-62 vote along party lines. On Tuesday, the House officially passed the bill and sent it to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to sign, the Dallas Morning News reports. In a tweet, Abbott was not subtle about his intentions to sign the bill. So. What are the odds Ill sign the Chick-fil-A bill? Ill let you know after dinner. @ChickfilA #txlege pic.twitter.com/xKS3vDV4gS Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 21, 2019 Chick-fil-A said in a statement that it was not involved with the bill in any way. We are a restaurant company focused on food and hospitality for all, and we have no social or political stance. Story continues We are grateful for all our customers and are glad to serve them at any time. We welcome and embrace all people, regardless of religion, race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender identity. Critics of the chain say the Chick-fil-A Foundation still supports Christian organizations that have had negative views of the LGBTQ community, including the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Salvation Army. The Save Chick-fil-A bills opponents argue that the legislation comes from a place of hatred. Ultimately, the bill was born out of intolerance, Texas House Rep. Jessica Gonzalez, a Democrat, tells TIME. It gives people the license to discriminate. As the passage of the bill became more certain, the state House LGBTQ Caucus put its efforts into watering down the bills language to protect LGBTQ rights as much as possible Gonzalez, who identifies as gay, says. Among provisions the caucus was able to successfully remove from the bill was language that would have given the Texass attorney general the power to prosecute government entities accused of religious discrimination, Gonzalez says. That was broadening enforcement powers that can be dangerous. [State Attorney General Ken Paxton] would have been able to come after San Antonio as a city for denying Chick-fil-A the opportunity to have a store in the airport, she said. Theres a fear that people are going to use this as a break glass in case of emergency situation and bring claims of religious freedom for whatever reason. By the time the bill passed on Tuesday, it was mostly stripped of language that could have reduced LGBTQ rights, Gonzalez says. The new version of the bill essentially restates already-existing legal protections for freedom of religion and freedom of association. Its unlikely that the bill would force a city like San Antonio to accept a Chick-fil-A in its airport. Jeffrey Abramson, a professor of law and government at the University of Texas, tells TIME that the city was well within its rights to refuse to associate the public with Chick-fil-As discriminatory behavior and rhetoric against the LGBT community. Chick-fil-A can express whatever it wants, but they dont have the right to have the government participate in a way that leases them space, he says. Even though Chick-fil-A has a First Amendment right in public spaces, there isnt a First Amendment right to have the government associate itself with expressed views that go against the governments own policies. According to Abramson, Chick-fil-A would have to prove that it is willing to hire without regard to sexual orientation, offer the same benefits to same-sex couples as other couples and stay away from hateful rhetoric that could harm its own employees to establish a case that it cannot be punished for making contributions to religious groups that oppose same-sex marriage. The bills backers say it is necessary to reaffirm Texass commitment to First Amendment principles. Rep. Matt Krause, a Republican who sponsored the state House bill, tells TIME hes been trying to pass legislation to support religious freedom since 2017, citing as his inspiration the case of a former fire chief in Atlanta who was fired after he wrote a book with anti-gay passages for a mens bible study and passed it out at work. I thought the government shouldnt penalize someone for that, Krause says. San Antonio banning Chick-fil-A from the citys airport served as another example where, in Krauses view, the government was overstepping. This kind of crystalized and clarified why a bill like this was needed. Krause says the bill is a strengthening of the First Amendment, and he does not see it as discriminatory. If you read the bill, theres no discriminatory language or discriminatory intent because its focused on what the government cant do to an individual, he tells TIME. It doesnt matter who you are, its good for everybody across the ideological spectrum. He argues that the San Antonio city government infringed on the First Amendment rights of Chick-fil-A. The bill, he says, provides other businesses or individuals who find themselves in a similar situation as Chick-fil-A with sounder legal footing if they take their case to court. Abramson says Texas lawmakers are pretending that religious liberty is under threat when that is not the case. It sets up a false tension between religious liberty, on the one hand, and protection of people against discrimination in general, and pretends that somehow, religious groups are being singled out unfairly, he says. But to those who oppose the bill, Texass efforts to defend the First Amendment come off as intentionally hateful because the legislation doesnt actually say anything new, Gonzalez says. Were spending our time here trying to get legislation out that deals with real policy issues, but were instead getting a reiteration of what the Constitution says so a point can be proven that the LGBTQ community is different from everyone else, she says. BANGKOK (AP) An appeals court in Thailand on Wednesday upheld a 10 million baht ($313,000) judgment against a British activist who was sued by a fruit canning company whose workers complained of alleged labor abuses. The case was one of several highlighting the ability of corporations to harass labor activists and human rights workers through expensive legal actions. Bangkok's Prakanong Court rejected the appeal of Andy Hall of his March 2018 civil defamation conviction ordering him to pay damages to Natural Fruit Co. Ltd., a Thai pineapple company. It was was one of several lawsuits stemming from a 2013 report Hall researched for Finnish consumer organization Finnwatch that included allegations by migrant workers from Myanmar at Natural Fruit's canning operation that the company abused them and broke labor regulations. Another appeals court last year dismissed a criminal defamation suit against Hall for the same affair, accepting that the allegations should be made public. "I will liaise with my legal defense team to appeal the ruling to Thailand's Supreme Court. Whilst I respect today's ruling, I am disappointed by the verdict," Hall said in an emailed statement. "My activism for over a decade in Thailand intended only to promote and uphold the fundamental rights of millions of migrant workers in the country." He added that he remains "open to reconciliation to put an end once and for all to this continued and irrational cycle of litigation." Hall's lawyer, Nakhon Chomphuchat, described the suit as "a normal action for capitalists who do not care for human rights. They only think that if the law doesn't clearly say that they had violated rights, then they shouldn't be branded or accused of doing that." He cautioned that fees to file an appeal with the Supreme Court might be prohibitively high. Phone calls to Natural Fruit for comment went unanswered. Hall has been embroiled in a similar long-running battle with a Thai poultry farm, Thammakaset Co., which has filed 15 lawsuits against the British activist, other workers' advocates, a journalist and several former workers. Much of that litigation is ongoing, though the workers' side has won some important cases favoring whistle-blowers. The company said it had suffered losses due to allegations made by the workers in a 2016 complaint filed with Thailand's National Human Rights Commission. Story continues Hall fled Thailand in 2016, because he believed he could not effectively defend against harassment through the courts. He is now based in Nepal where he continues to focus on migrant worker issues. Finnwatch said it was "shocked" by Wednesday's ruling because last year's appeal court decision had determined that the findings in the report Hall did were well founded. Wednesday's case involved an interview Hall gave to the Al Jazeera news network. Surya Deva, chair of the U.N. Working Group on Business and Human Rights, told The Associated Press that "All business enterprises have a responsibility to respect all human rights under the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights." "These continuous legal proceedings pursued by Natural Fruit are not in line with the Guiding Principles, as they are having a chilling effect on the legitimate role of civil society organizations in holding businesses accountability for human rights abuses," Deva, an associate professor at City University of Hong Kong, said in an email interview. He said "the Thai government also has an obligation to ensure that its legal framework is not misused by companies to harass civil society and human rights defenders, who have a critical role in promoting human rights." BANGKOK (AP) Thirteen Thai political activists appeared at a Bangkok police station Wednesday to answer a summons on sedition charges that critics say are part of a plan to remove a rising progressive politician from the political scene. The action came on the fifth anniversary of a military coup that ousted the last elected government and almost two months after a general election that was touted as the next step toward restoring civilian rule. The activists are among a small but dedicated group that has consistently challenged military rule, and several have been arrested multiple times. The charges stem from a peaceful protest four years ago against the ruling junta. "The government likes to use laws as a tool to apply pressure," said Jatupat Boonpattararaksa, a prominent activist who is also known as Pai Dao Din and was only recently released from prison. "It's not very just. They just do it to us." Politician Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit was charged last month with sedition in connection with the same protest. Thanathorn's Future Forward Party finished third in the March 24 poll and his supporters claim the move is aimed at reducing his party's presence in the next parliament. If convicted, Thanathorn could face disqualification from politics. He already faces several other legal challenges that could eliminate him and possibly his party. The Election Commission has asked the Constitutional Court to rule on whether he should not take his seat because he allegedly breached electoral rules on have shareholdings in media companies. Future Forward won 80 seats, shocking the establishment and giving it a powerful voice in the 500-seat House of Representatives. Its agenda includes curbing the military's prominent position in Thai society. Cutting Future Forward's share of seats would boost the chances of the military's favored candidate, Prayuth Chan-ocha, heading the next government. Prayuth has been serving as prime minister as well as junta chief since leading the 2014 coup. Story continues Also charged Wednesday was Rangsiman Rome, who won a seat for Future Forward in the election. "This case doesn't make any sense and there are things that do not add up," Rangsiman said. "But we can just guess that they are charging me, Pai Dao Din, and many of our friends as a way to get to Thanathorn." After the 2014 coup, the junta enacted strict laws banning dissent and severely limiting public gatherings and political activities. ___ Associated Press writer Kaweewit Kaewjinda contributed to this report. Photo: Rob Laughter/Unsplash If you're a theater fan, mark your calendars: there's plenty to do when it comes to stage performances in Los Angeles this week, from an '80s pop culture musical to a play. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. For the Record: 'The Brat Pack' From the event description: For The Record, in collaboration with nightlife impresarios The Houston Brothers, bring an MTV teenage dream to life inside the ultimate 1980s speakeasy, Break Room 86. "The Brat Pack" tells the story of a decade's most famous fictional school using the best teen films ever made and their unforgettable soundtracks. "The Breakfast Club," "Say Anything," "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" and more, come to life through songs like "Don't You Forget About Me," "True," and "If You Leave," turning the hilarious and heartbreaking world of high school in the '80s into an immersive, rock 'n' roll fantasy. When: Thursday, May 23, 7:30-9 p.m. Where: Break Room 86 in the LINE Hotel, 3515 Wilshire Blvd. Price: $46 - $86 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets 'Working 2020' From the event description: Created by Academy Award-winning writer Bobby Moresco ("Crash"), "Working 2020" explores what work means to different people in different circumstances in the U.S. during the 1970s, whether they're poor, rich, white, brown, black, the maid, the valet or the executive. It's a deep dive that aims to satisfy an answer to what connects us all in a rapidly changing world. Moresco brings us into the present day of working life in America, adding new characters, and this time focusing on the sadly relevant slide from middle to working class. This incredible story takes you on a journey to discover what it means to be part of the American working class, and has captivated audiences and critics throughout previous successful runs both in Los Angeles and NYC. Story continues When: Friday, May 24, 8 p.m. Where: Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd. Price: $12.50 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets 'Daniel's Husband' From the event description: Michael McKeevers witty, passionate and deeply moving play takes an unflinching look at how we choose to tie the knot or not. Daniel and Mitchell are the perfect couple. Perfect house, perfect friends, even a mother who wants them married. Theyd have the perfect wedding, too, except that Mitchell doesnt believe in gay marriage. A turn of events puts their perfect life in jeopardy, and Mitchell is thrust into a future in which even his love may not be enough. When: Saturday, May 25, 2 p.m. Where: Fountain Theatre, 5060 Fountain Ave. Price: $20 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets 'The Christians' From the event description: When the pastor of a megachurch decides to enlighten his congregation with his own personal revelation, he's faced with doubt and deep dissension among his flock. Lucas Hnaths Obie Award-winning drama examines the schism in todays church and the role of faith in America. Called "that rare play about religion that both believers and non-believers can embrace" by the Los Angeles Times, this Actors Co-op production of "The Christians" is staged at Crossley Theatre, aptly located on the campus of the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood. When: Friday, May 24, 8 p.m. Where: Actors Co-op Theatres, 1760 N. Gower St. Price: $10 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. What happened? Furious Tories are demanding the resignation of Theresa May after her last-gasp effort to win support for her Brexit deal backfired spectacularly. The PM announced her 'New Brexit Deal' yesterday, which included giving MPs the chance to vote for a second referendum and customs union. Brexiteers were enraged by the concession and Labour MPs - who the offer was meant to appease - have also said they will not support it. Time to go? The extraordinary hostility to Mrs May has led to demands for the Tory party to change its rules so MPs can vote to bring her down. As it stands, a leadership challenge cannot be brought until December because the PM survived a no-confidence vote at the end of last year. The 1922 Committee - an influential group of Conservative backbenchers - is known to be considering changing the rules. Failing that, Mrs May could forced by her Cabinet to jump before she is pushed. Ministers have demanded meetings with the PM this afternoon to express their fury at her second referendum offer. Ministers say Mrs May offered more than they agreed to and are pushing for her to stand aside immediately. If things weren't bad enough, the Tories are careering towards a decimation in the European Elections tomorrow. The harshest polls predict a vote share of just 7%. A loss that severe will only encourage calls for Mrs May to step down. Read more: Cabinet ministers meet to plot May's resignation (Evening Standard) May faces meeting as support for Brexit deal fades (The Guardian) May is done for but shell get some joy watching Boris (The Independent) People who get less than seven hours sleep a night are at a higher risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack, a new study has shown. The findings published in Experimental Physiology could shed light on the link between shift workers and a host of serious illnesses. The UK is one of the most sleep-deprived nations in the world with approximately four out of 10 people saying they dont get enough kip. Roughly how many hours of sleep do you get a night? Read the full story and have your say below: Read the full story (Yahoo Style UK) and have your say below: Story continues 25,000 jobs at risk as British Steel collapses British Steel has gone into liquidation after talks with the Government failed to secure its future, dealing a huge blow to the industry and threatening thousands of job. Workers at the companys plants now face weeks of uncertainty as efforts are made to rescue the business. The grim news was given to employees after a week of speculation, putting up to 25,000 jobs directly and indirectly at risk. Read the full story here (Sky News) Notorious road rage killer to be released from jail Road-rage killer Kenneth Noye is to be released from prison after the Parole Board concluded he is suitable to return to the community. The 71-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years in 2000 after stabbing 21-year-old Stephen Cameron to death on an M25 slip road in Kent in 1996. Mr Camerons father Ken said he was gutted and cant cope with it. Noye went on the run after the killing and was arrested in Spain in 1998. Read the full story here (The Guardian) A shocking new video shows a seal stranded in a rock pool and struggling to swim - because it is surrounded by plastic. The Cornish Seal Sanctuary, who released the video, say they have treated five pups which were tangled in plastic so far this year, and rehabilitated a total of 79 baby seals. 5% Just five in every 100 Brits can name an MEP standing in their area, new research has found. According to YouGov, 92% of Brits say they can not name a single one of the MEPs for their region and of the 8% who said they could, four in ten gave the wrong answer. The poll also showed that only 32% of Brits think the European elections will have a great deal or a fair amount of impact on their lives. Read the full story here (Yahoo News UK) Kano (Nigeria) (AFP) - At least three Nigerian soldiers were killed when IS-supported jihadists attacked a military base in northeast Nigerian Borno state, military and militia sources told AFP Wednesday. Jihadists from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) faction of Boko Haram late on Monday attacked the base in the town of Gubio, 80 kilometres (50 miles) from the state capital Maiduguri, firing heavy guns and dislodging troops. "The terrorists attacked troops around 7:00 pm (1800 GMT) and forced them to withdraw after gunfight in which three soldiers were killed and six injured," a military officer said. "We have six soldiers who are still missing," said the officer who asked not to be identified as he was not authorised to speak to media. An armoured personnel vehicle and a truck as well as weapons were looted by the jihadists, he said. At least five jihadist fighters were killed in a fightback with the support of troops from nearby locations, the officer said. His account was supported by a militiaman fighting the jihadists alongside troops in the town. "The terrorists dislodged troops manning a checkpoint" leading to the camp, the militiaman said. However ISWAP claimed its fighters killed 20 soldiers and wounded "others" in the Gubio attack, according to SITE Intelligence which monitors jihadist activities. In a short statement released Wednesday ISWAP said it seized vehicles, weapons and "an array of ammunition as spoils". Since July last year Boko Haram has intensified attacks on military targets, overrunning bases and killing dozens of soldiers. ISWAP was blamed for, or claimed, most of the attacks. On Wednesday, ISWAP released a 21-minute video showing the execution of nine soldiers while reaffirming their allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. It was not clear when and where the executions were carried out. Tim Ryan, the Ohio congressman and Democratic presidential candidate, said Wednesday on MSNBC that he supports scrapping the so-called Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or threat to the mothers life. Weve got to start winning elections, Ryan said. I mean, were losing elections in these states. Of course weve got to fund Planned Parenthood. Weve got to get rid of the Hyde Amendment. Weve got to make sure we invest into womens health care. But the reality is weve got to win elections. We now have the federal courts peppered with conservative pro-life justices. The Supreme Court is a conservative pro-life court, he added. Weve got to start moving in the right direction here politically and getting elected so that we appoint the judges and we win elections in these states. Other Democratic presidential candidates, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and former vice president Joe Biden, have also promised to work to repeal the Hyde Amendment. The abortion debate has taken center stage in recent months as several states have passed stringent abortion bans, forcing Democratic candidates to outline exactly how far they will go to protect abortion rights. Alabama, Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Ohio have all passed strict abortion bans, many of which are currently tied up in the courts. The measures, especially the Alabama law, were crafted to spark legal challenges that would ultimately leave the issue in the hands of the new, conservative Supreme Court majority. More from National Review LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - Theresa May took over as prime minister when David Cameron bowed out, defeated in the Brexit referendum of June 2016. Since then May's time in Downing Street has been defined by her attempts - frustrated time and again - to get Britain out of the EU. Here are highlights of her tumultuous time in office: July 13, 2016 - In her first speech as prime minister, May appears in Downing Street, pledging to fight the "burning injustices" that hold people back. She promises "a country that works for everyone" but will in fact find herself spending much of her time dealing with Brexit. Jan 18, 2017 - A triumphant May is portrayed on the front page of the Daily Mail next to the headline "Steel of the New Iron Lady." She has just given a defiant speech, telling Brussels: "No deal for Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain." May 22, 2017 - May is forced to backtrack on an election pledge to force the elderly to pay more for care after her opinion poll lead halved. "Nothing has changed," she says to general incredulity. June 4, 2017 - Responding to Britain's third militant attack in three months - the killing of seven people on and near London Bridge - May declared "enough is enough" and added: "Defeating this ideology is one of the great challenges of our time." June 8, 2017 - Despite an apparently impregnable opinion poll lead, May loses her parliamentary majority in a general election called early. Despite repeated promises of a "strong and stable" government, her authority is left in tatters. Oct 3, 2017 - May's keynote speech to the Conservative Party conference was interrupted by repeated coughing fits, a prankster, and even letters of her slogan falling off the stage scenery. As a bid to reassert her dwindling authority, it had limited success. Oct 3, 2018 - May startles the audience at the Conservative Party's annual conference when she appears on stage for a speech dancing to Abba's "Dancing Queen." It was apparently a self-deprecating reference to her dancing during a recent visit to Africa, but she was nonetheless widely mocked. Story continues Dec 14, 2018 - A furious May is embroiled in a public row with Jean-Claude Juncker at a Brussels summit after the EU chief publicly called Britain's Brexit demands "nebulous" and "vague." Juncker joked that they had later kissed and made up, but the incident showed that relations were far from optimal. Dec 17, 2018 - At an EU summit in Salzburg, an unforgiving photo shows a red-jacketed May cold-shouldered by a phalanx of male leaders in dark suits. Jan 19, 2019 - Lawmakers defeat May's Brexit divorce deal by the crushing margin of 432 to 202, the worst such defeat in modern British history. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn calls a vote of no confidence, which May however survives. May 21, 2019 - In a last roll of the dice, May promises a "new deal" on Brexit. It is immediately rejected by large numbers of Conservative lawmakers and the opposition Labour Party. (Writing by Giles Elgood; editing by Stephen Addison) NEW DELHI (AP) Vote counting began Thursday morning in India's massive general elections, which have been forecast to keep Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist party in power. The count was expected to conclude by the evening, with strong trends visible by midday. In the world's largest democratic exercise, some 900 million people were registered to cast ballots for 542 seats in India's lower house of Parliament in seven phases of voting staggered over six weeks. The election has been seen as a referendum on Modi, whose economic reforms haven't broadly succeeded but whose popularity as a social underdog in India's highly stratified society has endured. WASHINGTON (AP) With negotiations on hold and tariffs piling up, the United States and China appear to be bracing for a prolonged standoff over trade. Beijing is airing Korean War movies (antagonist: America) to arouse patriotic feelings in the Chinese public and offering tax cuts to software and chip companies as U.S. export controls threaten Chinese tech companies. In Washington, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is talking to Walmart and other companies about finding ways to ease the pain if President Donald Trump goes ahead with plans to extend import taxes to the $300 billion in Chinese products that haven't already been hit with tariffs. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Taiwan's defense ministry says two U.S. warships have sailed through the Taiwan Strait in the latest apparent move by Washington to challenge China's claims in the region. A ministry statement says the ships passed through from south to north on Wednesday without incident. China, which claims Taiwan as its territory, complained last month about a French ship entering Chinese territorial waters as it passed through the strait. China maintains a more ambiguous boundary than defined by international treaty and has asserted a claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which is contiguous with the Taiwan Strait. Story continues JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian President Joko Widodo said authorities have the volatile situation in the country's capital under control after six people died Wednesday in riots by supporters of his losing rival in last month's presidential election. The clashes began Tuesday night when supporters of former Gen. Prabowo Subianto tried to force their way into the downtown offices of the election supervisory agency and continued unabated until ebbing on Wednesday evening. More than two dozen vehicles were burned as rioters took over neighborhoods in central Jakarta, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. MANILA, Philippines (AP) The Philippine president's allies won a majority of the 12 Senate seats at stake in midterm elections, official results showed Wednesday, while the opposition's shutout heralds a stronger grip on power by a leader accused of massive human rights violations. Election officials proclaimed the winners after finishing the official count of the May 13 elections overnight. The tally had been delayed by glitches in automated counting machines. President Rodrigo Duterte backed eight winning aspirants to half of the seats in the 24-member Senate, including his former national police chief, Ronald dela Rosa, who enforced Duterte's crackdown on illegal drugs in a campaign that left thousands of suspects dead and drew international condemnation. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea has labeled Joe Biden a "fool of low IQ" and an "imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being" after the U.S. presidential hopeful called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a tyrant during a recent speech. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday said the former American vice president had insulted the country's supreme leadership and committed an "intolerable and serious politically-motivated provocation" against the North. Biden during a campaign launch in Philadelphia on Saturday accused President Donald Trump of cozying up to "dictators and tyrants" like Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. NEW DELHI (AP) India's Election Commission rejected opposition fears of possible tampering of electronic voting machines ahead of the counting of votes Thursday that will determine the outcome of the country's mammoth national elections. Authorities on Wednesday tightened security at counting centers where the electronic voting machines have been kept in strong rooms across the country. The winners of most of the 542 seats up for grabs in India's lower house of Parliament are expected to be known by Thursday evening. The Congress and other opposition parties were stunned by mainstream TV channels' exit poll projections on Sunday of a decisive victory for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies. TORONTO (AP) Canada said Wednesday that by the end of June it will remove truckloads of garbage which Filipino officials say were illegally shipped to the Philippines years ago. Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said the government has awarded a contract to French shipping giant Bollore Logistics Canada that calls for the return of 69 containers filled with household waste and electronic garbage. "The company will begin preparation for shipping in the coming days. The removal will be complete by the end of June, as the waste must be safely treated to meet Canadian safety and health requirements," McKenna's department said in a statement. TOKYO (AP) A smartphone app developed by Japanese police is being widely downloaded by women trying to protect themselves from gropers on packed rush-hour trains. The "Digi Police" app was originally issued by Tokyo police three years ago, but a function to scare off molesters was only added a few months ago. Since then, the app has reportedly been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times unusual for a government-developed mobile application. Women in crowded trains and other public places in Japan often face sexual harassment, but are typically too afraid to call out for help due to a sense of embarrassment. LA JOLLA, California (AP) At first glance, it looks like a branch of kelp, but then an eye moves among its leafy appendages, and ridges of tiny, translucent fins start to flutter, sending the creature gliding through the water like something from a fairy tale. A Southern California aquarium has built what is believed to be one of the world's largest habitats for the surreal sea dragons, whose native populations off Australia are threatened by pollution, warming oceans and the illegal pet and alternative medicine trades. The Birch Aquarium at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego hopes the exhibit, which opened this month, will lead to the leafy sea dragon, the lesser-known cousin of the seahorse, being bred for the first time in captivity. Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Denver. Denver sees at least four inches of summer snow in surprise late fall Denver got a cold shock Tuesday as the area found itself covered in snow just days before Memorial Day. Read the full story on New York Daily News. Giellis, Hancock spar over Denver development, homelessness in 9NEWS mayoral debate Incumbent Michael Hancock and challenger Jamie Giellis will compete in the Denver runoff election on June 4. Read the full story on 9NEWS. Denver mother arrested after infant dies at hospital Denver police arrested a 31-year-old mother after her 7-month-old son died at Rose Medical Center early Tuesday morning. Read the full story on CBS Denver. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Paris (AFP) - A senior reporter at France's Le Monde daily who broke the story of an explosive scandal concerning a security aide to President Emmanuel Macron has been summoned for questioning by the domestic intelligence service, the newspaper said Wednesday. Ariane Chemin was told by the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI) to appear on May 29, Le Monde's editorial director Luc Bronner wrote in the paper. The summons comes as concern grows in France over pressure on journalists by the DGSI after three other reporters were questioned by the organisation earlier this month. Chemin has written a series of articles over the former presidential bodyguard Alexandre Benalla, who was fired last year after he was filmed roughing up a protester in one of the biggest scandals to shake Macron to date. It was a July 18 article by Chemin that first reported that Benalla had beaten the May Day demonstrator while wearing a police helmet. The Elysee has been accused of covering up the affair by failing to report Benalla to the authorities. "We stand by our information and express our concern about this summons," Bronner said. "It is in the public interest to be able to investigate aides inside the Elysee and the Matignon and their outside links and associates," he said, referring to the French presidency and the office of the prime minister. He said the summons stemmed in particular from articles about former air force officer Chokri Wakrim, the partner of Marie-Elodie Poitout, the ex-head of security at the prime minister's office. Poitout resigned her post after media revelations that she and Wakrim had welcomed Benalla to their home in July but insisted it had only been a social affair. The secret service has already questioned three reporters who published details over how French arms sold to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were being used in Yemen's civil war, sparking an outcry by press freedom activists. Story continues The new summons "is all the more worrying as it follows a similar procedure used very recently against other journalists," Bronner said. They had worked on a story published on the investigative website Disclose based on a leaked military intelligence dossier showing how French tanks, artillery and ships sold to Saudi Arabia and the UAE were being used in Yemen. A fourth journalist working for Disclose has also been summoned to appear before the DGSI as a witness in an "inquiry over compromising the national defence secrecy", the website said Wednesday. Senior journalists from 37 French media outlets, including Agence France-Presse, Le Figaro daily, France 2 TV and Mediapart, signed a statement supporting the three journalists who were questioned, saying they were "just doing their jobs". Prison torture victim to receive $800 compensation - Russian court RIA Novosti, Andrey Stenin 14:10 22/05/2019 MOSCOW, May 22 (RAPSI) - The Supreme Court of Russias Republic of Kalmykia has upheld a lower courts ruling ordering the Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) to pay 50,000 rubles (nearly $800) in compensation to ex-inmate Akhmed Saliyev, a victim of the colony officers tortures, Saliyevs attorney Victoria Sheveleva has told RAPSI. The ruling has taken effect. The plaintiff has initially demanded a 2-million-ruble compensation (over $30,000), but the first-instance court has reduced the compensation amount sum fortyfold. According to the attorney, Saliyev will file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). According to case papers, on November 16, 2016, a junior supervision penal colony officer Alexey Mutulov without cause began strangling Saliyev and then hit him in the face and thoracic region. In 2018, Mutulov was found guilty with abuse of power, received 3 years in penal colony and was prohibited to hold posts in law enforcement bodies for 2 years. Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Nashville. Nashville-area church shooter wanted to kill 10 white congregants to avenge Charleston church victims The man charged with the fatal shooting hoped for more victims. Read the full story on New York Daily News. Nashville man arrested for stealing ambulance from outside hospital A Nashville man turned himself into police after he stole an ambulance from outside a local hospital. Read the full story on New York Daily News. NEW: Tennessee House Speaker to resign after vote of no confidence by his Republican caucus amid text message scandal NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee's embattled House Speaker Glen Casada announced Tuesday he plans to resign following a vote of no confidence by his Republican caucus amid a scandal over explicit text messages. Read the full story on Yahoo News. Should electric scooters be banned? Family of Nashville man killed in accident thinks so A man in Nashville, TN, died after he was hit by a car while riding an electric scooter. His family and girlfriend want the scooters, which have become popular across the country, banned. Read the full story on The Herald-Sun. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Photo: Martin Lopatka/Flickr Missed the the most recent top news in Orlando? Read on for everything you need to know. Pilot flying to Orlando has eyes burned by laser A pilot flying a West Jet aircraft from Canada to the Orlando International Airport had his eyes burned by green laser light, according to an incident report from the Volusia County Sheriff's Office. Read the full story on News 6 WKMG. This family of 16 ducks lives at a car dealership in Orlando An employee at Sutherlin Nissan in Orlando has posted multiple videos of the ducks since they hatched in April. Read the full story on WTSP. Pro-choice protest at Lake Eola Park in downtown Orlando planned for Sunday In response to pieces of anti-abortion legislation passed in states like Alabama and Georgia, a pro-choice protest will take in downtown Orlando on Sunday. Read the full story on Orlando Weekly. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Photo: Val Vesa/Unsplash Missed the the most recent top news in San Diego? Read on for everything you need to know. Not an earthquake: San Diegans report shaking San Diego County residents reported notable shaking Tuesday evening, but a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist said it was not due to an earthquake. Read the full story on 10News ABC San Diego KGTV. Man arrested following Rancho Penasquitos kidnapping report A suspect was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of rape and torture after a woman reported being kidnapped in Rancho Penasquitos Monday morning. Read the full story on 10News ABC San Diego KGTV. Feds add 4 counts to indictment of Poway Synagogue shooting suspect - Times of San Diego A man accused of opening fire inside a Poway synagogue, killing a woman and injuring three other people, was indicted by a federal grand jury Tuesday on 113 federal counts related to the shooting, as well as the alleged arson of an Escondido mosque. Read the full story on Times of San Diego. Train for active shooters, County grand jury urges 11 local school districts - Times of San Diego The San Diego County grand jury recommended Tuesday that the regions school districts increase funding for training and resources to prepare for and prevent school shootings. Read the full story on Times of San Diego. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Antananarivo (AFP) - A court in Madagascar upheld Wednesday six-year sentences against three people convicted of dealing in 10,000 extremely rare tortoises, the WWF wildlife conservation group said. An appeals court in Tulear, southwest Madagascar, also fined the defendants 100 million ariary (23,800 euros, $26,500) and ordered them to pay 100 million ariary to the environment ministry. Judges ordered the three -- two men and a woman -- to remain in detention, the WWF said. They were arrested in April 2018 in a house in possession of 10,072 so-called radiated tortoises, which the WWF said represented a "record" seizure. From lemurs to rosewood, Madagascar's natural resources are often targeted by poachers who are rarely punished by authorities on the impoverished Indian Ocean island. Two bitcoin over-the-counter (OTC) market makers in China have been accused of illegally collecting bitcoin now worth $56 million from more than 100 OTC traders as part of a loan scheme. According to a report from state-owned newspaper BJNews on Wednesday, a group of 20 OTC traders in China filed a complaint to police in the city of Hangzhou in mid April, alleging that the two individuals, Yi Zhou and Xiang Li, had lured traders with the promise of interest on their bitcoin deposits. Based on the report, Li and Zhou operated chat groups on messaging app WeChat used by OTC traders to post bid and ask prices for various cryptocurrencies including bitcoin, which is usually referred as pancake to avoid censorship and monitoring by government agencies. Coincheck Launches OTC Trading Service for Bitcoin OTC trading remains the primary fiat currency gateway for crypto traders in China after the countrys central bank issued a ban on initial coin offerings and fiat-to-crypto spot trading exchanges in September 2017. The two reportedly built up their credibility after operating an OTC chat group over the last two years, leading to other OTC traders believing the two would be able to pay interest on their deposits of bitcoin. However, since early April, investors said they started noticing delays in their interest payouts (made in Chinese yuan) while Li and Zhou made excuses, claiming unexpected situations had led to the hold ups. Some investors even went as far as accusing the two of fraud since they continued raising deposits from investors even when they knew they wouldnt be able to pay back interest, the report added. Huobi US Affiliate Launches Institutional Group for OTC Crypto Trading The Hangzhou police told BJNews it has established a criminal case against Li and Zhou, who are now being held in custody. Legal implication The case highlights the somewhat gray area of OTC trading and financial loans based on cryptocurrencies. For instance, Sa Xiao, a partner at multinational law firm Dentons Beijing office, thinks a line should be drawn between individual traders and those that fulfill orders to make profits on a spread (the difference between the bid and ask prices). Story continues Xiao told the newspaper that occasional transactions between individuals should be legal, since they are exchanging ownership of personal property. However, she said it could be a criminal offence if anyone uses bitcoin as a financial product to operate a business that makes profits from a spread, but causes consequential losses for customers. Specifically, it could be violating the Article 225 of the Criminal Law, she said, which protects against illegal acts in business operation and thus disrupts market order. Kai Xu, a legal practitioner at the Chinese law firm Deheng, also weighed in on the definition of illegally collecting funds from the public. He said in the report that the OTC traders intention is an important detail when defining the nature of the act of collecting the claimed crypto loans. If Li and Zhou solicited the bitcoin loans from non-eligible investors, but did not raise the fund to make off with the money, then it is an illegal collection of public funds, he explained. But if they started with the purpose to possess investors funds, then it falls under the nature of fraud, he said. Crypto loans have been drawing attention in the past a few months as major crypto firms in China are capitalizing on investors who do not wish to liquidate their assets in a bearish market. CoinDesk reported in April that several firms had originated a combined $60 million worth of loans over the prior five months. However, for such loans, collateral is required at a rate of at least 60 percent in order to protect investors in case of default. Chinese yuan image via Shutterstock Related Stories By Anna Irrera (Reuters) - Money transfer startup TransferWise has closed a $292 million secondary funding round which doubles its valuation to $3.5 billion, the company said on Wednesday. The round was led by growth capital investors Lead Edge Capital, Lone Pine Capital and Vitruvian Partners, TransferWise said. Existing investors including Baillie Gifford and Andreessen Horowitz expanded their holdings in the company and some of the investment came from funds managed by BlackRock Inc, the London-based company said. TransferWise, one of Europe's most well-known fintech startups, has gained popularity by offering a simpler and cheaper alternative to banks for international money transfers. Launched in 2011, the company serves 5 million customers worldwide and processes 4 billion pounds ($5.08 billion) each month. The company posted 6.2 million pounds ($7.88 million) in net profit after tax and revenue of 117 million pounds ($148.61 million) in the fiscal year ending in March 2018. Kristo Kaarmann, TransferWise's chief executive and co-founder, said in an interview the round allowed the company to add shareholders more in line with its stage of growth. "It's an opportunity to bring on new investors, to bring on the right people for the next phase of growth and get validation that we are building something of increasing value," Kaarmann said. The company currently employs 1,600 people across a dozen global offices and plans to hire 750 people over the next year, it said. The latest round brings the total raised so far by TransferWise in both primary and secondary funding to $689 million from investors including Sir Richard Branson, Valar Ventures and PayPal co-founder Max Levchin. ($1 = 0.7873 pounds) (Reporting by Anna Irrera; Editing by Chris Reese) The Trump administration is considering blacklisting another major Chinese technology company in a move that would broaden a US campaign to sever Chinas access to American know-how and inflame a deepening trade conflict, according to an individual familiar with the debate. Although no final decision has yet been reached, the administration is preparing to move against Hikvision, the worlds largest maker of video surveillance technology, the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The deliberations were first reported by The New York Times. The disclosure comes less than a week after the administration barred US companies from supplying Huawei, perhaps Chinas most prominent manufacturer, without first obtaining a US government license. The administration earlier this week relaxed the ban, saying it would grant temporary 90-day waivers for US companies to help Huawei maintain its existing networks. US officials are said to be eyeing the same penalty for Hikvision, using a Commerce Department mechanism known as the entity list. Citing national security considerations, the US congress last year banned federal agencies from purchasing equipment made by Hikvision and four other Chinese technology companies: Huawei, ZTE, Hytera and Dahua. The measure was triggered by classified information the committee reviewed in the course of our regular oversight activities, according to Claude Chafin, a spokesman for the House Armed Services Committee. Hikvision supplies surveillance cameras that the Chinese government has deployed throughout the Muslim-majority Xinjiang region to combat what it describes as separatist terrorism. Randall Shriver, US assistant secretary of defence for Asia, said earlier this month that the Chinese government is detaining 3 million Uighur Muslims in re-education camps. The authorities in Beijing describe the facilities as vocational training centres. In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Cui Tiankai, Chinas ambassador to the United States, denied reports of human rights abuses. Story continues They are real training centres, he said. They are not camps. They have open gates. Theres no armed guards. People could go home over weekend. Hikvision last month reported earning about $1.65bn (1.3bn) on revenue of roughly $7.2bn (5.7bn) in 2018. In its annual shareholder letter, the company said it had faced numerous challenges last year but remained upbeat about growth in the domestic and overseas markets in the years ahead. The administrations intensifying campaign to limit Chinas access to advanced US technologies comes as a year-long trade conflict defies hopes of an early settlement. Despite the presidents continued pursuit of a trade deal, the administration has been cracking down on China in other realms. The Justice Department in December indicted two hackers who allegedly worked with the Chinese Ministry of State Security, targeting companies holding advanced technologies with military applications. The Commerce Department is drawing up new regulations to restrict US exports of 14 advanced technologies including robotics and quantum computing, in a move motivated by concern over Chinas access to American innovations. Some Trump administration officials want to disconnect American investors and companies from Chinese companies that help beef up the Chinese military, Big Brother surveillance networks or those that benefit from Chinas alleged theft of US trade secrets. Last year, the Commerce Department banned state-backed ZTE from doing business with American suppliers after the company violated the terms of an earlier enforcement action. But the president reversed the ban, which would have crippled ZTE, after a personal plea from Chinese President Xi Jinping. The episode illustrates that any move to sever Chinese companies links to the United States might cause collateral damage to the US economy. ZTE spends about $2.6bn (2.05bn) annually buying products from US companies such as Qualcomm and Intel. Huawei also relies heavily on American suppliers. Administration officials recognise that the greater the number and significance of Chinese companies sanctioned, the greater the pain for US companies and their workers. The Washington Post Washington (AFP) - Plans to unveil a new $20 bill featuring anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman have been postponed for almost a decade, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Wednesday. Tubman, who escaped slavery and helped others to freedom on the Underground Railroad, was due to appear on the bill starting next year, replacing slave-owning former President Andrew Jackson, whom President Donald Trump admires. "The primary reason we've looked at redesigning the $20 bill is for counterfeiting issues," Mnuchin said in congressional testimony. "Based upon this, the new $20 bill will now not come out until 2028." The move delays the proposed redesign announced in 2016 under former President Barack Obama. However, Mnuchin said Treasury will go ahead with the release of new $10 and $50 bills. On the campaign trail, Trump denounced plans to use Tubman's portrait on the $20 bill calling it "pure political correctness," suggesting she instead be featured on $2 bills, which are no longer printed. Mnuchin shied away from explaining why the change had been delayed, saying he was focused only on "security features." "The ultimate issue of the redesign will most likely be another secretary's down the road," he said. Tubman was selected be the first woman to appear on US currency through a survey conducted by the Obama Treasury Department. Another survey by "Women on 20s," a group calling for a woman to appear on the $20 banknote, collected more than a half-million responses in an online poll in which Tubman was first out of four finalists, including civil rights icon Rosa Parks and stateswoman and first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Jackson, who served as president from 1829 to 1837, has been featured on the bill since 1928. As president he oversaw the start of forcible expulsions of Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to areas west of the Mississippi River, resulting in thousands of deaths from starvation, exposure and disease. As a military officer, Jackson also led an invasion of Spanish Florida to destroy the "Negro Fort," where former slaves had settled. Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday attacked continuing probes of his presidency by Democratic lawmakers amid an intensifying debate within the opposition party over impeachment. In a pair of early morning Tweets, Trump denounced the congressional investigations by House Democrats as "PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!" and complained they were hurting his poll numbers. "Without the ILLEGAL Witch Hunt, my poll numbers, especially because of our historically 'great' economy, would be at 65%. Too bad! The greatest Hoax in American History." Trump has flatly rejected Democratic attempts to subpoena his tax records, and hear testimony from a former White House counsel who testified extensively to the special counsel who investigated Russia's interference in the 2016 US elections. Faced with White House stonewalling, Democrats appear increasingly divided over whether to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has argued in favor of keeping the focus on educating the public through congressional probes, rather than moving to impeach Trump when it would almost certainly fail in the Republican-controlled Senate. But other members of her caucus are reported to have pressed for formal impeachment proceedings on grounds that Congress needs to assert its historical oversight powers as a check against the executive. (Corrects to some parts of subpoenas are in court filings instead of the contents have not been made public, paragraph 4) By Brendan Pierson NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) - Lawyers for U.S. President Donald Trump, three of his children and the Trump Organization will demand in court on Wednesday that a judge stop Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial Corp from providing financial records to Democratic lawmakers investigating Trump's businesses. Republican Trump, who is seeking re-election next year, has aggressively sought to defy congressional oversight of his administration since Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives in January. Trump said last month that the administration was "fighting all the subpoenas" issued by the House, hardening his position after the release of a redacted report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller on how Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election to help Trump and the president's attempts to impede the investigation. Some parts of the subpoenas have been included in court filings. Wednesday's hearing in federal court in Manhattan is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (1630 GMT). Deutsche Bank has long been a principal lender for Trump's real estate business and a 2017 disclosure form showed that Trump had at least $130 million of liabilities to the bank. In March, before issuing a subpoena, Democratic lawmakers asked Capital One for documents concerning potential conflicts of interest tied to Trump's Washington hotel and other business interests since he became president in January 2017. Deutsche Bank and Capital One said in court filings on May 10 they are not taking a position on whether the subpoenas should be blocked. Trump, his adult children, Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, and the Trump Organization are seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent Deutsche Bank complying with subpoenas from the House Financial Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, and Capital One from complying with a subpoena from the Financial Services Committee. Story continues In a lawsuit filed on April 29, lawyers for Trump, his children and the Trump Organization argued that the subpoenas were too broad, and that Democrats are hoping they will "stumble upon something" that could be used for political attacks on the president. "The subpoenas were issued to harass President Donald J. Trump, to rummage through every aspect of his personal finances, his businesses, and the private information of the President and his family," the complaint said. The banks are the only defendants in the case, but the House committees have intervened to oppose Trump's effort to block the subpoenas. "We remain committed to providing appropriate information to all authorized investigations and will abide by a court order regarding such investigations," Deutsche Bank said in a statement ahead of the hearing. Capital One declined comment. Representative Maxine Waters, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, told reporters after the lawsuit was filed that Trump had "cast a gauntlet." "We will fight him," she said. Michael Stern, who served as senior House counsel from 1996 to 2004, said in an interview on Tuesday that Trump and the other plaintiffs faced an uphill battle. He said the judge was unlikely to look into the committee's motives in issuing a subpoena "as long as it might produce some information that's relevant to legislation." On Monday, a federal judge in Washington ruled against the president in a similar case, finding that Trump's accounting firm, Mazars LLP, must comply with a congressional subpoena for Trump's financial records. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta found that Congress was "not engaged in a fishing expedition for the President's financial records when it subpoenaed Mazars and said that documents obtained might assist Congress in passing laws and performing other core functions. Trump called Mehta's decision "crazy" and "totally the wrong decision by obviously an Obama-appointed judge," referring to Trump's Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, who was also appointed by Obama, is overseeing the New York case. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Grant McCool) WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's upcoming trip to Japan is not expected to focus greatly on trade, a senior administration official said on Wednesday. The United States and Japan are negotiating a trade agreement, and there was some speculation that a pact could be sealed during Trump's visit. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Steve Holland Editing by Susan Thomas) By Orhan Coskun ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey will not evacuate its military observation post in northern Syria's Idlib, the last rebel stronghold in the region, after a suspected Syrian government attack this month, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said. Turkey's state-run Anadolu news agency has said that Syrian government forces have carried out at least three attacks near a Turkish observation post in the Idlib de-escalation zone, one of 12 posts set up under an agreement between Turkey, Russia and Iran last May. "Evacuating the observation post in Idlib after the regime's attack is definitely not happening, it won't happen anywhere," Akar told reporters late on Tuesday. "The Turkish Armed Forces will not retreat from where it is located." More than 3 million people live in Idlib and surrounding areas, including many who fled government advances in other parts of Syria in recent years. At least 180,000 people have fled an upsurge in violence in northwest Syria, and government bombings have killed dozens in the past three weeks. Since last year, the region has been partly shielded in a ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey, but much of the recent fighting has hit that buffer zone. The possibility of an Idlib offensive has drawn warnings of yet another humanitarian catastrophe, with the United Nations warning that up to 2.5 million people could flee toward the Turkish border in such a scenario. "The regime is doing its best to disrupt the status quo, using barrel bombs, land offensives and air bombings," Akar said, adding that 300,000 people had been displaced due to the conflict in the past month. Akar said the beginning of a "new tragedy" had been prevented and he had discussed preventing a new wave of migrants into Turkey with Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Sarah Dadouch; Editing by Tuvan Gumrukcu) [May 22, 2019] iCONN Systems Launches Interactive Catalog of Online CAD Downloads Powered by CADENAS PARTsolutions CINCINNATI, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- iCONN Systems, design engineering firm and connector manufacturer, has transformed their customers' online experience by streamlining the path to purchase for standard iCONN products. Built by CADENAS PARTsolutions, iCONN's new product configurator offers instant digital CAD downloads for more than 500 standard connector SKUs, accelerating customers' design process without compromising quality. iCONN focuses on superior engineered product solutions, customer service and continuous improvement. True to their customer-focused approach, the connector manufacturer leveraged a CAD catalog with instant digital CAD models to save their customers time and ensure product accuracy. "We want to offer the shortest time from design to purchase as we can. The configurator lets customers get what they need right away and move on to the next thing," said Rick Regole, Director of Sales and Marketing at iCONN Systems. "When a customer's first interaction with iCONN is seamless and quick, that helps differentiate us from other connector manufacturers." Many connector companies sell their products online through distributors, wherein distributor margin is passed along to the customer. With the standard products available for purchase direcly from their website, iCONN customers avoid the distributor margin and get the exact component, directly from the source. The iCONN configurator also enables customers to download native CAD models into their design, offering 150+ CAD formats and versions, including 3D PDF datasheets, product images and 2D drawings. "We get a lot of requests for 3D models of our parts so that they can put it directly into the end product they're designing. Giving either the salesperson the ability to download and send that CAD file to the customer or to direct them to a custom link within the configurator so that they can do it themselves saves a ton of time," said Regole. About iCONN Systems We a company founded by engineers who love sharing their expertise to help you develop, prototype and manufacture your custom engineered connectors and overmolded cable assemblies. If you're just looking for industry standard connectors, we have those too check out our product pages to learn more. We have assembled a core team that has worked with connectors and cable assemblies their entire careers. Over the years we have grown to a team of connector experts focused on our customer's success. About CADENAS PARTsolutions CADENAS PARTsolutions is a leading provider of next generation 3D part catalog management and sales configuration solutions. For large manufacturers, CADENAS PARTsolutions provides centralized 3D parts libraries making it easy for global design teams to find, reuse, and control standard and proprietary parts. For component manufacturers, CADENAS PARTsolutions provides 3D product catalogs with digital CAD download technology, helping businesses increase sales lead generation and to ensure that components get "designed in" to OEM products. For more information visit PARTsolutions.com Media Inquiries CADENAS PARTsolutions Adam Beck Marketing Manager 400 Techne Center Dr., Ste. 301 Milford, OH 45150 USA Phone: (513) 453-0453 Fax: (513) 453-0460 adam.beck@partsolutions.com partsolutions.com @partsolutions View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iconn-systems-launches-interactive-catalog-of-online-cad-downloads-powered-by-cadenas-partsolutions-300852219.html SOURCE CADENAS PARTsolutions [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] ANKARA, May 22 (Reuters) - Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said he sees an improvement in talks with the United States over the purchase of Russian S-400 defense systems and U.S. F-35 fighter jets, but added that Ankara was also preparing for potential U.S. sanctions. Turkey and the United States are at odds over Ankara's decision to buy the S-400s, which cannot be integrated into NATO systems. Washington says the move would jeopardize Ankara's role in building Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter jets, which it says would be compromised by the S-400s. Speaking to reporters late on Tuesday, Akar said that Turkey was fulfilling its reponsibilities in the F-35 project and that Ankara expected the program to continue as planned. He said talks with U.S. officials were still underway. He also said Turkey was evaluating a U.S. offer to purchase the Raytheon Co. Patriot systems, adding that Ankara and Washington were working on price, technology transfer, joint production issues on the latest offer from U.S. officials. (Reporting by Orhan Coskun; Writing by Tuvan Gumrukcu Editing by Dominic Evans) By Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Turkey stopped purchasing Iranian oil as of May as U.S. waivers granted last November to eight buyers expired, and will continue to abide by Washington's demand that it halt all imports of crude oil from the Islamic Republic, a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday. "We are not getting any oil from Iran now," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "We were one of the eight countries getting an exception from those sanctions, and now we are ready to abide by them," he said. Reuters on Monday reported that no tankers loaded in Iran have arrived at Turkish ports so far in this month, according to Refinitiv tracking data. Analysts said it was replacing Iranian oil with supplies from Iraq, Russia and Kazakhstan. The United States reimposed sanctions on Iran in November after pulling out of a 2015 nuclear accord between Tehran and six world powers. Aiming to cut Iran's sales to zero, Washington this month ended sanctions waivers for importers of Iranian oil, ending a six-month reprieve for Turkey and seven other big importers including China and India. Iranian crude oil exports have fallen in May to 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) or lower, tanker data showed and industry sources said last week. The bulk of the crude was heading for Asia but it was unclear who was buying and whether the oil was heading to end-users or storage. Turkey's largest oil refiner Tupras had pressed Washington for an extension of the import waiver before the May 1 expiration, according to a person familiar with the talks, adding that when it was not granted, the company made clear it would halt all imports from Iran. But the senior Turkish official added that Ankara did not agree with U.S. sanctions policy on Iran. "We don't believe in sanctions, but as a strategic ally we respect the U.S. decision ..." We don't believe isolation of Iran will be helpful," he said. Tensions have spiked between Iran and the United States after Washington sent more military forces to the Middle East, including an aircraft carrier, B-52 bombers and Patriot missiles, in a show of force against what U.S. officials say are Iranian threats to its troops and interests in the region. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; editing by Jonathan Oatis, James Dalgleish and Sonya Hepinstall) WASHINGTON/BEIRUT, May 22 (Reuters) - The United States called on Wednesday for a new ceasefire in Syria as rival forces clashed in the country's northwest, where the government is waging an offensive on the last big stretch of rebel-held territory. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched his assault late last month saying rebels had breached an existing ceasefire, triggering a civilian exodus by bombarding Idlib and adjacent areas. Washington has said it sees signs that Assad has used poison gas in the latest offensive. He has denied such allegations throughout the war. "What we really need in Idlib and throughout the country is a ceasefire," said James Jeffrey, the U.S. special representative for Syria. "We are very much engaged in trying to get this stopped," he added in a House of Representatives committee hearing. However, fighting raged on Wednesday as rebels sought to roll back army advances in the face of a heavy bombardment, state media, insurgents and a war monitor said. Weeks of airstrikes, shelling and fighting have driven at least 180,000 people from their homes, raising fears of a new humanitarian disaster. Many displaced people, camping on the Turkish border, voiced anger and frustration that Ankara had not done more to help them. "We can no longer put up with living under bombardment or in the open under the trees," said Abu Abdullah, one of thousands of Syrians in white tents dotted around the rock-strewn olive groves close to the frontier. FIGHTING Turkey-backed rebels had sent reinforcements on Saturday to the front lines of the insurgent enclave, which is dominated by the jihadist Tahrir al-Sham group, the latest incarnation of the former al Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front. The war monitor, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 100 air strikes hit rebel-held northwest Syria on Wednesday. Syrian state media reported that the army had stopped a large attack by rebel groups in several places, killing many insurgents. Story continues Rebels said they had recaptured the small town of Kafr Nabuda, which the government said it had taken early this month. "There are a large number ...killed from Assad's forces... there are many bodies still on the ground in the town," said Naji Mustafa, a spokesman for the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front. Assad has been backed during the eight-year war by Tehran and Moscow, and the Russian defense ministry said the Syrian army had repelled three big attacks on Wednesday by 500 fighters with seven tanks and about 30 trucks mounted with machine guns. A truce was agreed in the northwest last year under a Russian-Turkish deal to avert a major government assault. However, Russia has voiced increasing frustration with what it calls violations of the agreement. Turkish army posts were established along the front line last year to monitor compliance with the agreement. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday they would remain, despite reports in Turkish state media that the Syrian army had carried out attacks near one of them. The U.S. State Department on Tuesday said it saw signs that the Syrian government may be using chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack on Sunday. The French foreign ministry said the new allegations must be looked into. Mustafa said the army had used chlorine gas when shelling Kubayna, in the mountainous frontline area in the northwest of the rebel enclave, causing choking symptoms among some fighters who were treated at a field hospital. However, he said that because of the intense bombardment, they had not properly documented the cases. Italy said on Wednesday that an Italian man held for three years in Syria had been freed. (Reporting By Humeyra Pamuk in Washington, Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall in Beirut and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow; editing by John Stonestreet) By Humeyra Pamuk and Ellen Francis WASHINGTON/BEIRUT (Reuters) - The United States on Wednesday called for a new ceasefire in Syria as rival forces clashed in the country's northwest, where the government is waging an offensive on the last big stretch of rebel-held territory. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad launched his assault late last month, saying rebels had breached an existing ceasefire, triggering a civilian exodus by bombarding Idlib and adjacent areas. The latest clashes mark the biggest escalation since last summer between Assad and his rebel enemies in Idlib province and a belt of territory around it. Washington late on Tuesday said it had seen signs that Assad may be using chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack, in the latest offensive and warned that it would respond "quickly and appropriately" if this were proven. Assad has denied such allegations throughout the war. "What we really need in Idlib and throughout the country is a ceasefire," James Jeffrey, U.S. special representative for Syria engagement and special envoy to the global coalition to defeat the ISIS militant group, said at a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee hearing. "These conflicts, back and forth exchanges .... just put tremendous pressure on civilians, they raise the specter of nation-to-nation clash," he said. "So we're very much engaged in trying to get this stopped and get it back to the ceasefire we had basically since September." However, fighting raged on Wednesday as rebels sought to roll back army advances in the face of a heavy bombardment, state media, insurgents and a war monitor said. Weeks of air strikes, shelling and clashes have driven some 180,000 people from their homes, raising fears of a new humanitarian disaster. The Syrian government says it is responding to attacks by al Qaeda-linked militants. When asked about the use of chemical weapons, Jeffrey said the United States remained vigilant on any potential such attack but said it did not have confirmation. "We do not at this point have any confirmation that chlorine, which was the substance that was suggested or alleged, has been used. ... We haven't finished our review," he said. France's foreign ministry said it noted the allegations "with a degree of alarm" and that they needed to be investigated. The Trump administration has twice bombed Syria over Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons, in April 2017 and April 2018. In September, a senior U.S. official said there was evidence showing chemical weapons were being prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib. Jeffrey also said the U.S. was engaging with Russia to help de-escalate the conflict in Idlib. "Despite the recent tragic offensive there, Moscow has reconfirmed, at least on paper, their commitment to the ceasefire deal with the Turks," he said. "LIVING UNDER BOMBARDMENT" The region, home to an estimated 3 million people, including many who fled other parts of Syria as government forces advanced in recent years, has been partly shielded by a truce agreement since last year, brokered by Russia and Turkey. However, Russia has voiced increasing frustration with what it calls violations of the agreement. Turkish army posts were established along the front line last year to monitor compliance with the agreement. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar said on Tuesday they would remain, despite reports in Turkish state media that the Syrian army had carried out attacks near one of them. Many displaced people, camping on the Turkish border, voiced anger and frustration that Ankara had not done more to help them. "We can no longer put up with living under bombardment or in the open under the trees," said Abu Abdullah, one of thousands of Syrians in white tents dotted around the rock-strewn olive groves close to the frontier. Turkey-backed rebels had sent reinforcements on Saturday to the front lines of the insurgent enclave, which is dominated by the jihadist Tahrir al-Sham group, the latest incarnation of the former al Qaeda affiliate Nusra Front. The war monitor, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least 100 air strikes hit rebel-held northwest Syria on Wednesday. Syrian state media reported that the army had stopped a large attack by rebel groups in several places, killing many insurgents. Rebels said they had recaptured the small town of Kafr Nabuda, which the government said it had taken early this month. "There are a large number ... killed from Assad's forces ... there are many bodies still on the ground in the town," said Naji Mustafa, a spokesman for the Turkey-backed National Liberation Front. Mustafa said the army had used chlorine gas when shelling Kubayna, in the mountainous frontline area in the northwest of the rebel enclave, causing choking symptoms among some fighters who were treated at a field hospital. However, he said that because of the intense bombardment, they had not properly documented the cases. Italy said on Wednesday that an Italian man held for three years in Syria had been freed. (Reporting By Humeyra Pamuk and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Ellen Francis and Angus McDowall in Beirut and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow; editing by Mary Milliken and Jonathan Oatis) WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - U.S. fighter jets intercepted several Russian bombers in international airspace off the coast of Alaska on Tuesday, in the fourth and fifth such incursions this year, U.S. military officials said on Wednesday. "The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and at no time entered U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace," the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said in a statement posted on Twitter. "This is the 4th and 5th intercepts this year and the 2nd day in a row that Russia has flown into the Alaskan ADIZ," NORAD said, referring to the Air Defense Identification Zone airspace surrounding the United States and Canada and defined for national security reasons. Russian bombers had also entered the North American defense zone a day earlier, it added. Earlier, on May 10, two U.S. fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers near Alaska, according to media reports. (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Bernadette Baum) By Tina Bellon (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Wednesday appointed prominent attorney Kenneth Feinberg as mediator for court-mandated settlement talks in the federal litigation over allegations that Bayer AG's glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer caused cancer. Feinberg has been instructed to meet with lawyers for Bayer and plaintiffs within the next 14 days, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco said during a court hearing on Wednesday. Chhabria, who oversees some 900 federal Roundup lawsuits, on April 11 ordered the parties to start confidential mediation. He appointed Feinberg after the parties failed to agree on a mediator. Feinberg is well known for having facilitated dispute resolutions in high-stakes litigations in the past. He led mediation talks over the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster, Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal and General Motors ignition switch litigation. Chhabria on Wednesday also scheduled the next federal Roundup trial for February 2020. The case would mark the second bellwether, or test trial, to help determine the range of damages and define settlement options for federal cases. The judge also wants to prepare some 20 cases currently pending before him for trial and send them to other courts across the country. More than 13,400 plaintiffs nationwide allege Roundup caused non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and that the company failed to warn about that risk. The majority of lawsuits are pending in state courts across the country. Bayer, which acquired Roundup maker Monsanto in a $63 billion deal last year, denies the allegations, saying studies and regulators have deemed glyphosate and Roundup safe for human use. The company in the past said it would comply with Chhabria's mediation order in good faith, while believing strongly in the "extensive body of reliable science supporting the safety of Roundup." Bayer has also said it would defend itself in all cases and await the appeals process underway for the three cases that have gone to trial and resulted in jury verdicts against it. Story continues A California jury on May 13 awarded $2 billion to a couple alleging Roundup caused their cancer. In March, a federal jury in San Francisco awarded $80 million to a California man after finding Roundup caused his cancer. That decision came after another California jury in August 2018 awarded $289 million to a groundskeeper in the first U.S. Roundup trial. That award was later reduced to $78 million. (Reporting by Tina Bellon in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot) By Jim Christie SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - PG&E Corp may set up a $105 million housing fund for victims of 2017 and 2018 wildfires in California, which set records for devastation and were blamed on the utility's equipment, the judge overseeing the bankruptcy of the investor-owned power producer ruled on Wednesday. Creditors, which include wildfire victims, are fighting for funds as PG&E navigates bankruptcy stemming from the blazes and as the state plans for increasingly long and dangerous fire seasons its officials attribute to climate change. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Dennis Montali at a hearing approved a motion by PG&E seeking permission to establish the fund for people who lost homes in the fires and were uninsured or have used up or will exhaust their insurance. San Francisco-headquartered PG&E sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January in the face of liabilities it estimated at over $30 billion in the aftermath of November's Camp Fire, California's deadliest and most destructive wildfire in modern times. The Camp Fire killed more than 85 people and destroyed more than 14,600 houses, mobile homes and other housing units, according to California's Department of Finance. More than 11,000 of those housing units were lost in the town Paradise, which the Camp Fire leveled. State fire investigators earlier this month formally determined PG&E's power lines caused the Camp Fire, the world's most expensive natural disaster of 2018 with overall losses of $16.5 billion, according to reinsurance company Munich Re. Montali said at Wednesday's hearing he wants to see PG&E's proposed fund up and running as quickly as possible and urged the company and committees for its unsecured creditors and wildfire victims to try to agree on a fund administrator in five days. "I'll make sure the process moves forward quickly," Montali said, adding he would appoint an administrator if PG&E and the committees could not agree on one. The administrator will develop eligibility requirements and make payments to wildfire victims, PG&E has said in court papers. According to PG&E, the $105 million for its fund will come from its available cash. The company's shares were up 3.6% at $19.12 late on Wednesday afternoon. Lawyers for the wildfire victims had urged a fund of at least $250 million, but Montali said he could only approve or deny PG&E's motion for its proposed fund. Montali also approved extensions to PG&E's so-called exclusive periods in which it is the sole party in its bankruptcy entitled to file a reorganization plan and to seek support for it from stakeholders. Montali approved four-month extensions urged by PG&E's unsecured creditors committee instead of the six months the company wanted. PG&E now has until Sept. 29 to file a plan and until Nov. 29 to round up support for it. California Governor Gavin Newsom's office had argued extensions should be capped at 75 days to push PG&E to quickly settle wildfire claims and craft a reorganization plan seeking sacrifices from its investors instead of ratepayers. The committee for wildfire victims had objected to any extensions, arguing PG&E has been stalling for time. PG&E said the stability of its business would be undermined without more time, adding it needed extensions to determine liabilities it faces from wildfires. The company also said it needed more time to see if it obtains regulatory and legislative relief from state officials. They are considering changes to California's strict liability standard for utilities, which are held accountable for damages caused by their equipment even if negligence was not involved. (Reporting by Jim Christie in San Francisco; Editing by Peter Henderson and Matthew Lewis) By Sayanti Chakraborty and Jan Wolfe (Reuters) - Qualcomm Inc illegally suppressed competition in the market for smartphone chips by threatening to cut off supplies and extracting excessive licensing fees, a U.S. judge ruled, a decision that could force the company to overhaul its business practices. The decision issued late Tuesday night by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, caused Qualcomm shares to plunge 11 percent on Wednesday. "Qualcomm's licensing practices have strangled competition" in parts of the chip market for years, harming rivals, smartphone makers, and consumers, Koh wrote in a 233-page decision. She ordered the San Diego-based company to renegotiate licensing agreements at reasonable prices, without threatening to cut off supplies, and ordered that it be monitored for seven years to ensure its compliance. Qualcomm said it will immediately ask Koh to put her decision on hold, and also seek a quick appeal to the federal appeals court in California. "We strongly disagree with the judge's conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law," general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. Koh's decision followed a 10-day non-jury trial in January, and is a victory for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which has accused Qualcomm in 2017 of violating antitrust law. The decision followed Qualcomm's April 16 settlement of a long-running legal battle with Apple Inc, where Apple agreed once again to use Qualcomm chips in its iPhones, displacing Intel Corp. It is unclear whether the sanctions will be challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice, which has taken a different view of the case than the FTC and emerged as an ally to Qualcomm. On May 2, the Justice Department argued Koh should hold a hearing before placing sanctions on Qualcomm. Placing stringent conditions on the company would "reduce competition and innovation in markets for 5G technology," the agency said. Story continues The courts are not required to defer to the Justice Department's recommendations. But "the possibility certainly exists for Qualcomm to prevail upon appeal," given the government's "somewhat schizophrenic" approach to the case, Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote. The Justice Department was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday. Qualcomm shares have risen about 51% since the company's settlement with Apple last month. The fall on Wednesday left them still comfortably above their level before the Apple deal. UNDERMINING RIVALS Koh said Qualcomm engaged in "extensive" anticompetitive conduct targeting more than one dozen original equipment manufacturers including Apple, BlackBerry, Huawei, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, Samsung, and Sony, often by cutting off or threatening to cut off chip supplies or withholding technical support. She also said Qualcomm's monopoly power in modem chips enabled the company to sustain "unreasonably high" royalty rates not justified by its contributions to the marketplace. "With practices that result in exclusivity and eliminate opportunities to compete for OEM business, Qualcomm undermines rivals in every facet," she wrote. She also found Qualcomm knew its licensing practices harmed competition "yet continued anyway" despite government investigations in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the European Union and the United States. "This evidence of Qualcomm's intent confirms the court's conclusion that Qualcomm's practices cause anticompetitive harm because no monopolist monopolizes unconscious of what he is doing," she wrote. Koh also said testimony from some Qualcomm witnesses "lacked credibility," faulting Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf and others for giving "long, fast, and practiced narratives" and saying company emails and notes contradicted his testimony. Koh said Qualcomm cannot bundle patent licensing deals with its hardware, a practice regulators called "no license, no chips." That ruling could give chip customers more leverage in negotiations over patent terms and result in lower royalty rates for Qualcomm. Koh also said Qualcomm must license its patents to rival chipmakers like MediaTek Inc. Qualcomm argued during the trial that it achieved market dominance through technological leadership. The company began its licensing business in the 1980s and 1990s, decades before it began selling chips, and has charged broadly similar patent rates since then. Qualcomm also argued that the FTC failed to show harm to competition, arguing that the chip industry is thriving and prices are declining. Qualcomm's next move will likely be to request Koh's ruling is put on hold while the company seeks expedited review by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Gaston Kroub, a patent lawyer in New York not involved in the case, said Koh's decision was unlikely to be reversed on appeal because she made detailed factual findings and witness credibility determinations. Appeals courts are reluctant to second-guess such findings by trial judges, he said. Qualcomm makes cellphone processors and modem chips,but generates most profits by licensing its technology tomobile phone makers. "Qualcomm's customers and competitors will finally be able to negotiate licenses without the threat of having Qualcomm cut off their chip supply," FTC Commissioner Rohit Chopra said in statement. Rasgon, the Bernstein analyst, said Koh had indicated at trial she was leaning against Qualcomm, but some investors had hoped her views would be "softened" by the Apple settlement. "Apparently not," Rasgon wrote. (Reporting by Sayanti Chakraborty in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Jan Wolfe in Washington, D.C., Stephen Nellis in San Francisco, and Vibhuti Sharma in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur, Bernard Orr and Nick Zieminski) Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's Regular Press Conference on May 22, 2019 2019/05/22 At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President Mahamadou Issoufou of the Republic of Niger will pay a state visit to China from May 26 to 30. During the visit, President Xi will host a welcome ceremony and banquet for President Issoufou. The two heads of state will have talks and attend a signing ceremony for cooperation documents. Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman Li Zhanshu will meet with President Issoufou respectively. Apart from Beijing, President Issoufou's itinerary also includes Zhejiang and Jiangxi provinces. Niger is an important Western African country with distinctive influence. China and Niger are good friends and good partners with mutual assistance for mutual benefit. Recent years have seen our two countries deepening political mutual trust, fruitful cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, health, energy and resources, as well as sound communication and coordination in regional and international affairs. We believe President Issoufou's visit will inject new impetus into bilateral relations, take our cooperation to a new height and bring more benefits to our peoples. Q: According to media reports, the United States is considering possibly blocking sales to some other Chinese companies, including surveillance companies like HIKvision. I wonder if you have any comment on those reports? A: Recently we have on many occasions expressed our firm opposition to the US behaviors of abusing state power, smearing and cracking down on specific foreign businesses. Our position is consistent and clear-cut. We ask Chinese enterprises to abide by local laws and follow market principles and international rules while doing business overseas. In the meantime, we hope other countries will treat Chinese enterprises in a fair and non-discriminatory manner. I would like to reiterate that trade and investment between countries must be based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. Q: The Kremlin said on May 21 that Russian President Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron during a phone conversation stressed the importance of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and reaffirmed their commitment to further mutually beneficial cooperation with Iran in trade and economy. What's your comment? A: I noted relevant reports. For some time parties to the JCPOA have stayed in close communication and consultation. In response to the tensions arising from the US maximum pressuring campaign and unilateral sanctions, all other parties have stressed that they would stay committed to upholding and implementing the deal and fulfill their respective responsibilities and obligations. The complete and effective implementation of the Iranian nuclear deal is both the requirement of the Security Council resolutions and the only viable way to ease tensions and resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, which serves the shared interests of the international community. China will continue to work with relevant parties to this end and firmly safeguard its own lawful rights and interests. Q: Yesterday China and Pakistan celebrated the 68th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Do you have any comment on that? A: Just as you said, this year marks the 68th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan. On May 21 the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan held a reception in celebration of this anniversary. Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing and Pakistani Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood attended and addressed the event. I believe you may have seen the readout released by the Chinese side and both China and Pakistan are satisfied with the development momentum in China-Pakistan relations, agree to step up across-the-board communication and cooperation, move forward the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and forge a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future. Q: Adidas, Nike and PUMA joined forces with more than 170 other American shoe manufacturers and retailers in a letter to President Trump that says additional tariffs on Chinese footwear would be catastrophic for US consumers, companies and the American economy as a whole. There is no twisting the fact that it is the US consumers that pay for the tariffs, and companies cannot simply move their factories from China to other places. Do you have any comment? A: I have noted relevant reports. In fact, this is not the first time the US business sector publicly voiced opposition to additional tariffs. It is easy to relate to the business community's dissatisfaction with the government's willful interpretation of the consequences of a trade war. We have repeatedly stated that there is no winner in a trade war. As the US wantonly wields the big stick of tariffs, innocent American consumers and companies will get a blow at the end of the day. We advise the US to heed the rational call at home. Q: According to media reports, US Congressman Brad Sherman is pushing for a China Debt Trap Act to help rid third countries of "debt traps" created by China. Some US officials and congressmen frequently accuse China of expanding regional influence with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), trapping countries in Africa and elsewhere in debt crises and endangering their sovereignty and sustainable development. Do you have a response? A: It seems that for a long while, some US politicians have been talking about nothing but so-called "China's debt traps". I advise them to heed the call of the countries they are "concerned about". Here I take some African countries for example. President Geingob of Namibia recently said in an interview that Chinese loans, most of which are interest free, only account for 2.6% of Namibian government's debt. The loan agreements were reached through equal consultations with no political strings attached. Chinese investment is not limited to mega projects such as airports and roads, but also covers important livelihood projects in education, health and agriculture. The Namibian people know crystal clear who colonized and oppressed them and who are their friends and treat them as equals. President Nyusi of Mozambique also said that it is those who keep lecturing on the debt issue, not China, that caused the debt problem in Africa. President Guelleh of Djibouti said that those criticizing the BRI have neither plans nor actions. Our confidence in the BRI and trust in China and Africa-China cooperation will not waiver because of the groundless accusations. We would like to advise some individuals in the US to offer some concrete help if they truly care for developing countries. If that is a tall order for them, they should at least keep a healthy attitude towards other countries' efforts to help Africa's development. Q: Yesterday, China Eastern Airlines claimed losses from Boeing over the grounding of 737 MAX aircraft. Today, Air China and China Southern Airlines followed suit. On the other hand, as we noticed, China and the EU recently signed civil aviation agreements. Has China stepped up cooperation with the EU in civil aviation because of the safety concerns over Boeing aircraft? A: On the signing of civil aviation agreements between China and the EU, Ambassador Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese Diplomatic Mission to the EU, already released detailed information in a press interview. This is the first time the two sides sign civil aviation agreements, which is spoken highly of by both sides. The agreements are a concrete step to implement the joint statement of the 21st China-EU Summit. The two sides had long shared strong readiness to cooperate in civil aviation safety. The signing of the agreements will enrich the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. It shows the two sides' determination to deepen mutually-beneficial cooperation and expand common interests under current circumstances. As to the first half of your question, we are not in the position to comment on commercial actions between companies. But it is beyond reproach for stakeholders who have safety concerns over the relevant Boeing aircraft to defend their lawful rights. Q: The American Chamber of Commerce in China and the AmCham Shanghai came out with a result from a survey today that said slightly under 50 percent of their member companies were experiencing sort of non-tariff barrier retaliation to the trade war. Is China using non-tariff barriers such as customs delays to retaliate against US companies? A: I have yet to see this survey you mentioned and I will need to check on that. As a principle, here's what I can tell you. First, despite US threats of additional tariffs on Chinese goods, the enthusiasm for foreign investors in China continues to rise rather than fade. We have already shared with you some specific examples, including the increasing investments in China by well-known multinationals over the past year or so, which testifies to the fact that foreign businesses are fully confident in China's economic prospects and that they will gain profits from their investment in China. Second, if you are concerned that China will resort to retaliation against US companies amid trade disputes, I would like to draw your attention to the briefing of the Information Office of the State Council this morning, during which officials from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology responded to similar questions. We have never wanted any retaliation against foreign businesses at all. We as always believe that the trade and investment relations between countries should be based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and China's door to the outside world is wide open all along. We always welcome foreign businesses to invest in China for mutually beneficial cooperation. In the meantime, we remain committed to providing a fair, reasonable, transparent and non-discriminatory market environment for foreign investors. Q: Regarding the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization being held, do you have any information about it, especially the meeting between the foreign ministers of India and China? A: We have briefed you on State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to the five Central Asian countries and attendance at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the SCO. As to the latest information on this meeting and meetings between State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang and other foreign ministers, including Indian foreign minister Swaraj, we will keep you updated. This meeting aims to make thorough preparations for the SCO Bishkek Summit to be held in June and facilitate exchange of ideas on cooperation under the SCO framework as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. We believe that all sides will take the event as an opportunity to implement the outcomes achieved at last year's Qingdao Summit, reach greater consensus and come up with more measures on cooperation to ensure a successful Bishkek Summit. Q: There are also reports about plans by India and Japan to invest in the Colombo port terminal. Do you have any comment on that? A: I have noticed relevant report and have no information on the specifics. If countries concerned could release official information, that will help regional countries better understand relevant policies and measures. The BRI proposed by China upholds openness, inclusiveness and the principle of consultation and cooperation for shared benefits. We stand ready to work with relevant countries to contribute to the development of regional countries including Sri Lanka through win-win cooperation. May 22 (Reuters) - Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth on Wednesday asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General to investigate why the agency vastly expanded its use of waivers to exempt small refineries from the nation's biofuel law. The request, made in a letter from Duckworth's office to Acting Inspector Charles Sheehan, follows a May 16 Reuters report that the EPA decided to expand the waiver program months before a 2017 court decision it has often cited to justify the move to the corn lobby. Oil refiners say the Small Refinery Exemption (SRE) program is crucial to help limit regulatory compliance costs, but the corn industry has said it suspects President Donald Trump's EPA is using the program as a political tool to help allies in the energy industry at the expense of farmers. "Recent document disclosures reveal that the EPA misled Members of Congress, industry and the public in regard to the agency's motivations and justifications for its SRE policy," the letter stated. "This deception by EPA political appointees may indicate improper motives and conflicts of interest and it warrants a thorough review by the EPA OIG." The U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard requires refineries to blend billions of gallons of biofuels like corn-based ethanol into their fuel each year, but small facilities that can prove compliance would cause financial hardship can seek waivers. The Trump administration's EPA granted 35 such waivers for 2017, up sharply from seven in the final year of the Obama administration - saving the refining industry hundreds of millions of dollars but infuriating the corn lobby, which argues the waivers have threatened demand for ethanol. Some of the waivers granted by Trump's EPA have gone to small refineries owned by oil giants like Exxon Mobil and Chevron Corp as well a facility owned by billionaire investor Carl Icahn, who had briefly advised Trump on environmental regulation. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by Tom Brown) By David Shepardson and Brenda Goh WASHINGTON/SHANGHAI, May 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. administration is considering Huawei-like sanctions on Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision over the country's treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority, a person briefed on the matter said, the latest effort by the Trump administration to crack down on Chinese companies as trade friction between the world's top two economies escalates. Hikvision was named in a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump's top advisers last month, signed by more than 40 lawmakers, which called for tighter U.S. export controls over China's treatment of its Uighurs in Xinjiang in western China. The restrictions, which according to the source are among several options being considered by the Trump administration, would severely limit Hikvision's ability to buy U.S. technology from American companies. The Department of Commerce declined to comment. The United States placed Huawei Technologies on a trade blacklist last week, making it extremely difficult for U.S. firms to do business with the world's largest telecom network gear maker, in a major escalation in the trade war. China and the U.S. have escalated tariff increases on each other's products after trade talks to resolve their dispute broke down, and the acrimony has intensified since Washington last week blacklisted Huawei. In last year's defense policy bill, signed by Trump in August, recipients of federal funding were banned from using telecommunications equipment, video recording services and networking components made by Huawei or ZTE. Also in the bill are Chinese audio-video equipment providers Hikvision, Hytera , Dahua Technology and their affiliates. Hikvision said overnight it can ensure a steady components supply chain without U.S. help. "Even if the U.S. stops selling them to us, we can remedy this through other suppliers," a Hikvision executive said on condition of anonymity, adding that "most of the suppliers are actually in China." Story continues The New York Times was first to report the possible blacklisting of Hikvision. Bloomberg, citing sources, reported the U.S. government was deliberating whether to add Hikvision, security equipment maker Zhejiang Dahua Technology and several other unidentified firms to a blacklist. A Dahua investment department employee declined to comment. Hikvision, with a market value of more than $37 billion, calls itself the world's largest video surveillance gear maker. The company's products, including closed-circuit TV products, traffic and thermal cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles, are used in public places across China. China has faced growing global condemnation for setting up facilities in Xinjiang that U.N. experts describe as mass detention centers holding more than 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Additional Reporting by Rama Venkat and Philip George in Bengaluru, Michael Martina in Beijing and the Shanghai Newsroom; Writing by Chris Sanders) By M.B. Pell and Joshua Schneyer NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) - U.S. military families are expressing far deeper dissatisfaction with their housing conditions than their private landlords claim, according to a granular survey of tenants at more than 100 bases across the country that was recently presented to Congress. The survey, conducted by the nonprofit Military Family Advisory Network, was initially publicized in February. Three months later, the group has released a more detailed analysis of the results, providing a base-by-base look at the survey findings and a window into the problems most frequently cited. For more than a year, Reuters has exposed slum-like conditions dogging the Department of Defense housing privatization program, describing how private landlords reap billions in payments even as tenants clamor for repairs. The armed forces began privatizing base housing for military families two decades ago. The Department of Defense said it couldnt discuss the survey, but is confident that privatizing housing was the right thing to do, a spokeswoman said. However, we also recognize there has been a lapse in overseeing implementation of DoD's housing privatization program. The survey results, built from responses by 15,000 families living in 46 states and 158 bases, echo the Reuters reports of widespread concern about housing conditions among military tenants. In all, 55% of families who responded gave a negative view of their base housing. Just 16% gave positive marks, with the rest neutral. The survey results stand in stark contrast to those reported by private military housing operators, who annually poll a subset of their residents and release results that often list satisfaction rates above 90%. Those annual survey results can help companies earn Defense Department bonuses that, cumulatively, total in the millions of dollars a year. In all, more than 100 bases had an overall negative satisfaction score, with 6,629 reports of housing-related health problems, 3,342 of mold, 1,564 of pest infestations and 46 of carbon monoxide leaks. Story continues The study turned up deep pockets of discontent: - At Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State, landlord Lincoln Military Housing reported 70% to 90% of residents were satisfied with housing in 2016. The nonprofits survey, by contrast, found 10% of respondents had a positive view, and 58% a negative one. Tenants cited 204 reports of poor maintenance, 92 of excessive filth at move-in, and 78 of structural concerns. Lincoln Military Housing did not respond to an interview request. - At Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, a survey commissioned by Hunt Military Housing said 90% to 94% of residents were satisfied with housing in 2016. The new survey found just 15% held a positive view, and 59% a negative one. Kirtland families cited 43 reports of mold, 24 of vermin infestations and 3 carbon monoxide leaks. A Hunt spokesperson said a survey conducted earlier this year by base command found 88% of residents were satisfied with their housing at Kirtland. Still, the company said it is working with the Air Force to address concerns and has further improved our processes and procedures, including adding a Hunt Promise Helpline allowing residents direct contact with corporate management. - At Fort Hood in Texas, 71% to 79% of residents liked their housing in 2016, according to a survey commissioned by the installations Australian-based landlord LendLease Group and the Army. The new survey found only 15% of base families had a positive view, and 54% a negative one. Driving these results: 121 reports of poor maintenance, 82 of mold and 67 of dilapidated housing. In a statement to Reuters, LendLease said it has confidence in the results of the surveys it obtained from a third-party research firm. The company said it couldnt comment on the new report without a better understanding of its methodology. The three companies are among more than a dozen private real estate developers and property managers operating military housing on bases across the country under a flagship government privatization program that has been expanding since the early 2000s. MILITARY HOUSING ACTION PLAN The Air Force acknowledged airmen dont believe privatized housing is meeting their needs, spokesman Mark Kinkade said in a statement to Reuters. We heard that message loud and clear, he said. Following Senate hearings in February, leadership at Air Force bases visited 11,534 homes and found 5,102 health and safety concerns, he said. The Air Force and private landlords have addressed 3,855 and are tracking the remaining 1,247. Army and Navy officials say they have yet to see the expanded results of the Military Family Advisory Networks survey. The Navy said the new figures may not reflect recent efforts to improve housing. Last week, Army Secretary Mark Esper, Navy Secretary Richard Spencer and Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson met with senior executives from nine private companies that manage military housing to discuss a proposed tenant bill of rights, modifications to incentive fees paid to the companies and other means of improving living conditions. "We are taking immediate steps to resolve both individual and systemic issues to provide the quality housing and proactive management we envision," Wilson said in a statement. A Reuters reporting team visited 16 federal bases last year and spoke with hundreds of families, finding swaths of housing plagued by hazards that can pose serious health risks to tenants. Residents on military bases often lacked basic rights renters can rely on in civilian communities, such as the ability to withhold rent from derelict landlords. Prompted by the Reuters reports, the military branches pledged to hire hundreds of new housing staff and have moved to renegotiate the 50-year contracts held by the private real estate firms. Congress has held multiple hearings to question private landlords and military brass, and has examined the survey results as part of its inquiries. Military Family Advisory Network is an Alexandria, Virginia, non-profit whose stated mission is to represent the interests of U.S. military families. Its study is subjective, based on opinions provided by participants, rather than on independent inspections. Its survey, conducted online, collected responses from a portion of the approximately 200,000 families living in U.S. military privatized housing. It gathered the responses over a one-week period ending February 6. Since then, the military has put some significant reforms in place. Earlier this month, the group provided the more detailed results to the Senate Armed Services Committee, where members have sponsored legislation to create a tenant bill of rights, penalize landlords who do not quickly fix hazards and mandate regular and unannounced spot inspections of base homes. Some who took part in the survey say they have little power in dealing with landlords. We cant afford to move off base, said Megan Konzen, a tenant of Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, where the vast majority of respondents gave a negative rating. We are stuck. (Editing by Ronnie Greene) By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly demanded on Wednesday that Britain give up control over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean within six months, dealing a diplomatic blow to Britain and the United States. Britain, which has overseen the region since 1814, detached the Chagos islands in 1965 from Mauritius - a colony that gained independence three years later - to create the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). It is home to a joint British and U.S. airbase. The U.N. resolution adopted on Wednesday backs a non-binding advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in February, which found Britain had acted unlawfully in the decolonisation process and should relinquish control. The resolution won the support of 116 countries, while 56 abstained and only Australia, Hungary, Israel and the Maldives joined Britain and the United States in voting against it. Fifteen countries did not vote. The U.N. General Assembly had requested the court's opinion in a resolution adopted in June 2017 with 94 votes in favor, 15 against and 65 abstentions. The Hague-based institution is the top United Nations court for inter-state disputes. U.N. General Assembly resolutions are non-binding but can carry political weight. Britain and the United States had written to all U.N. members to ask them to vote against the resolution. Britain leased the Chagos archipelago's biggest island, Diego Garcia, to the United States in 1966, paving the way for construction of an airbase that required the forced removal of some 2,000 people. "Its status as a UK territory is essential to the value of the joint U.S.-UK based on the BIOT and our shared security interests," wrote acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Jonathan Cohen. "The joint base is critical to our mutual security as well as broader efforts to ensure global security." Diego Garcia became an important U.S. base during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, acting as a launch pad for long-range bombers. The U.S. lease lasts until 2036. British U.N. Ambassador Karen Pierce said that under Britain's agreement with the United States, the islands had to remain a British territory until at least then. Story continues Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Juqnauth said his country was prepared to enter into an agreement with United States or Britain or both, to be allowed unhindered operation of the base. "It is therefore difficult to understand the UK's position, unless it is one whereby Mauritius is not considered to be a trusted partner - a position which is deeply offensive to Mauritius, and to every member of the African continent," he told the General Assembly. As part of Britain's 1965 separation agreement with Mauritius, it pledged to cede the islands when they were no longer needed for defense purposes. Richard Gowan, International Crisis Group U.N. director, said Britain would never win Wednesday's vote as many U.N. member states were "very proud of the General Assembly's history of fighting colonialism during the Cold War, and see this as an extension of that legacy." However, he added: "This vote is a symbolic blow for the UK, which sees the U.N. as an important vehicle for its influence after Brexit." (Reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Bernadette Baum) (Corrects in second paragraph design would be unveiled in 2020, not the bill would be released) By Makini Brice WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - The U.S. Treasury will not introduce a redesigned $20 bill picturing escaped slave and abolitionist Harriet Tubman next year as planned, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday. In 2016, the Treasury Department said, by 2020, it would unveil a new design of the $20 bill that would replace former President Andrew Jackson's image on the front of the bill with that of Tubman, along with redesigns of the $5 and $10 bill. President Donald Trump has called the inclusion of Tubman on the $20 bill an example of "pure political correctness." As a presidential candidate, Trump suggested Tubman would be better-suited for the $2 bill, a note that is not widely circulated. Mnuchin said during a hearing with the House Financial Services committee he was focused on redesigning the bills to address counterfeiting issues, not making any changes to their imagery. "We will meet the security feature redesign (goal) in 2020. The imagery feature will not be an issue that comes up until most likely 2026," Mnuchin told lawmakers. "It is not a decision that is likely to come until way past my term, even if I serve a second term for the president, so I am not focused on that at the moment," Mnuchin added. He declined to tell lawmakers in the hearing if he supported putting Tubman on the bill. Tubman was born into slavery and grew up on a Maryland plantation, escaping in her late 20s. She returned to the South to help hundreds of slaves to freedom and later worked as a Union spy during the Civil War. She died in 1913. The decision to put Tubman on the $20 bill followed months of outreach from the Treasury Department on which woman should be featured on the note. There have been no women depicted on U.S. bills since former first lady Martha Washington, who was featured on the $1 silver certificate from 1891 to 1896, and Native American woman Pocahontas, who was included in a group image on the $20 bill from 1865 to 1869. Other women, including Native American interpreter Sacagawea, suffragist Susan B. Anthony and author and activist Helen Keller have been featured on coins. Jackson, the seventh president of the United States, has been criticized for his ownership of slaves and treatment of American Indians. In the redesign announced in 2016, he would have remained on the back of the $20 bill. (Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) By Jason Lange WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday said he had not discussed releasing President Donald Trump's tax returns with the White House, and disagreed with an IRS memo that reportedly concluded he should release them to Congress. Mnuchin told U.S. lawmakers he did not know who in the Internal Revenue Service had written the draft memo, which concluded that tax returns must be given to lawmakers unless the president takes the rare step of asserting executive privilege. He said he had seen a copy of the memo, first reported by the Washington Post, only on Wednesday and had not reviewed it. But he said he did not believe it contradicted his reasoning for denying a request from the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee for six years of Trump's tax returns. Mnuchin last week rejected a demand for the tax records, saying the panel lacks "a legitimate legislative purpose" for obtaining the documents that Democrats view as critical to their efforts to investigate Trump and his presidency. The newly disclosed draft memo was looking at a different issue, Mnuchin told a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee. "That memo, as I understand, is addressing a different issue and is not addressing the issue that we and the Department of Justice looked at," he said. Mnuchin said he had been advised it would be unlawful to release the returns, and underscored that the memo that reportedly contradicted that advice had only been in draft form. "We're trying to find out who wrote the memo, where it came from, when it was and why it wasn't distributed," he said. "We confirmed that I and the (IRS) commissioner were not aware of that letter and had not seen it." The Treasury secretary also insisted he had not discussed the issue of releasing the tax returns with Trump or anyone else at the White House. "I have had no conversations ever with the president or with anyone in the White House about delivering the president's tax returns to Congress," he said. (Reporting by Jason Lange, Andrea Shalal and David Lawder; Editing by Andrea Ricci) LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - Britain has granted an indemnity to the official receiver handling the collapse of British Steel, the country's second largest steel producer, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday. "(Finance minister Philip Hammond) has also agreed an indemnity for the official receiver to enable British Steel to continue to operate in the immediate future," May told parliament. The company collapsed after failing to secure emergency government funding, jeopardizing some 25,000 jobs. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and William James, Editing by Kylie MacLellan) LONDON (Reuters) - The British government will reflect on how people react to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, environment minister Michael Gove said on Wednesday when asked whether there will definitely be a vote in the week of June 3 on the bill. "We will reflect over the course of the next few days on how people look at the proposition thats been put forward," he told BBC radio. "There has to be a vote on a withdrawal agreement implementation bill," he said. (Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Guy Faulconbridge) PARIS, May 22 (Reuters) - Britain must not "export its political crisis" over to Europe, said French politician Nathalie Loiseau, who is spearheading President Emmanuel Macron's European election campaign. "We respect the British. We ask them to allow us to go forward on our own path, and in the meantime we ask Britain not to export its political crisis over to the European Union," Loiseau told RTL radio. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Theresa May set out a "new deal" for Britain's departure from the European Union, offering sweeteners to parliament including the chance to vote on whether to hold a second referendum to try to break the impasse over Brexit. Loiseau reiterated that it was up to Britain to decide on whether or not it wanted to proceed with Brexit or choose a second referendum. (Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Dominique Vidalon) LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - Britain will work to secure the future of British Steel's operations over the next weeks and it would have been unlawful to provide a loan to the firm, business minister Greg Clark said on Wednesday after the company was forced into liquidation. "I have been advised that it would be unlawful to provide a guarantee or loan on the terms of any proposals that the company or any other party has made," said Clark. "In the days and weeks ahead, I will be working ... to pursue remorselessly every possible step to secure the future of the valuable operations in sites at Scunthorpe, Skinningrove and on Teesside," he said. (Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison) Its just May 2019 and the 2020 presidential election campaign is already in full swing. Recent surveys show that even voters who care about politics are feeling apprehensive about the 18 months ahead. Island City Stage is offering a nostalgic look at the machinations in our nations capital with the South Florida premiere of Rich Orloffs Veronicas Position, opening May 31 at Wilton Theater Factory in Wilton Manors. The sophisticated comedy about a fading stage star, her errant ex-husband, her fiance who is a right-wing senator and her gay assistant who all become embroiled in love, politics and an ill-conceived production of Hedda Gabler is set in 1990 while Washington is buzzing about the controversial photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. At the time I wrote it, [the plot] seemed very edgy, recalled Orloff. Its interesting how much worse American politics have gottenbetter for gay rights, but worse in so many other ways. Theres an innocence to the play that I never intended when I wrote it. If the storyline seems oddly familiar, it is. The idea for the play was suggested by a friend of Orloffs who was working on a production of Noel Cowards Private Lives starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. (Now theres a comedy, said Orloff.) One of Taylors other ex-husbands, John Warner, happened to be former Virginia Republican Sen. John Warner. And Orloffs friendwho was gayhad lots of stories to share about the off-stage antics of the on-again, off-again lovers. I write comedies. It was important that the play be engaging and fun and not a lecture. Audiences have been quite pleased, so far, Orloff reported. Island City is presenting the eleventh production of the play. Audiences in the Northeast, Los Angeles, Memphis and even Vienna, Austria quickly embraced Orloffs comedy. The show was also optioned for a Broadway production that was never realized. Orloff, who will only admit to be old enough to know better, got a late state to playwrighting. I wrote my first play when I was 11, he said. For the first 10 years of my life, I was a total goof off. Actually, the theater bug bit me at an early age. Im not even sure I had seen a play at 11, but when I walk into a theater, I still get goosebumps. Over the course of his career, hes written for newspapers and magazines and scripted education videos. (You name it, Ive written it, he chuckled.) But, his inner voice kept telling him he was a playwright, a destiny he finally embraced in his twenties. Most recently, hes found himself on stage, performing Its a Beautiful Wound, a one-man show he penned. Its quite humbling after 30 years of writing plays to get on the damn stage. Ive always appreciated actors, but my awareness is definitely heightened, he said, and Im definitely improving my (acting] skills. As for the actors who will be bringing his characters to life on stage in Wilton Manors, Orloff has complete trust in Island City Stages associate artistic director Michael Leeds. The two met in New York City when Leeds was the Tony-nominated director of Swinging on a Star. I know he will get the humor, but also the world that Ive created, Orloff said, a world without tweets and political assassination. Island City Stage presents Rich Orloffs Veronicas Position, May 31 June 30 at Wilton Theater Factory, 2304 N. Dixie Hwy. in Wilton Manors. Tickets start at $38 at IslandCityStage.org. Maxym Marusenko/Getty Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraines comedian turned politician, was sworn in as president on Monday in front of a parliament that was mostly hostile to his agenda. So Zelenskiy simply announced he would dissolve the parliament, calling snap elections. Glory to Ukraine! he said. In his inaugural speech, President Zelenskiy said that his main responsibility is to end the war against pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. After five years of fighting and thousands of lives lost, that certainly is his biggest challenge. But the solutions he offers are neither dramatic nor even very clear. When it comes to fighting corruption, however, an issue on which the vast majority of Ukrainians agree, Zelenskiy announced some bold strokes. Ukraines Funny New First Lady Is Dead Serious, Just Like Her Husband He wants to take away legal immunity from future parliament members. He wants to punish bureaucrats for corruption and fire the top military and law enforcement officials, including Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko, and Vasily Gritsak, the head of the Ukrainian Security Service. Each name to be purged got an ovation. The President delivered a brilliant speech. Brave. Powerful. I want to believe what he said, Galina Odnorog, leader of a volunteer movement in eastern Ukraine, wrote in a Facebook post. I had tears in my eyes when I listened to him. But is Zelenskiy vowing reform, or revenge? Already there are signs that Ukraine's elites will use the change of leadership for a wide-ranging and destabilizing settling of scores. The national police have moved to stop some 180 top officials from the outgoing government of President Petro Poroshenko from leaving the country. The list includes Poroshenko, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy. Prosecutions are expected. Millions of Ukrainians welcome Zelenskiys revolutionary style, hoping he will stick to his word and become a radical corruption fighter during the five years of his presidential term. (Zelenskiy has promised not to run for a second term.) Story continues According to a poll by the Democratic Initiatives foundation, 91 percent of Ukrainians consider corruption the key issue, and will welcome arrests. Zelenskiy blamed his predecessor for impoverishing Ukraine and many people agree. Poroshenkos slogan in the last elections was to live in a new way, Zelenskiy said at a recent news conference, noting that for average Ukrainians it should have been to survive. Zelenskiys electorate more than agrees. I want to see Poroshenko in prison for making us dirt poor, Svitlana Maslova, a teacher in Cherkasy region told The Daily Beast. I am a single mother, a teacher at an elementary school, I am surviving on $100 a month, let Poroshenko try to live on that salary with his children. The risk of vendetta seems to be rising. The change of power opened the door for the return of powerful figures who were in exile under Poroshenko, including one of the senior officials who fled after street protests in 2014 that ousted President Victor Yanukovych. On Sunday, Yanukovychs administrator Andrei Portnov returned to Ukraine, saying he intends now to sue Poroshenko and a number of other prominent Ukrainian politicians. Jailing political opponents, or targeting them in the judicial system, hardly counts as fighting corruption. Mustafa Nayyem, a member of Ukraines parliament, is blaming the current prosecutor general for the increased politicization of law enforcement: Portnovs return is a symbolic result of Petro Poroshenkos presidency, a legacy of his final days, Nayyem wrote on his Facebook page on Sunday. Zelenskiys long time business partner, Ihor Kolomoisky, who has lived in self-imposed exile since 2017, also returned days before the change of leadership . Ukrainians know Kolomoisky, former governor of the Dnipro region in eastern Ukraine, as a defender of the east from pro-Russian forces. His business dealings are less straightforward. The FBI is investigating him for money laundering. Kolomoisky denied his crimes, insisting that the FBI probe will result in nothing, and blaming political vendettas for his legal problems. As foreign delegations arrived in Kiev over the weekend, much attention fell on somebody who will not be present: President Donald Trumps personal lawyer, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has tried to mine Ukraine's turmoil for advantage in U.S. politics. Giuliani has been promoting the idea that Ukrainian officials assisted the Democratic Party in the 2016 election in the United States, trying to suggest a counterbalance to what the Mueller report called sweeping and systematic Russian interference helping to elect Trump. Giuliani had planned to visit Kiev this month but cancelled his trip at the last minute. He has continued to press for investigations on the Ukrainian collusion idea, and suggested that if they are not pursued it is only because "enemies of President Trump" are advising Zelenskiy. Whatever plans President Trump and his allies had for vendetta in Ukraine, it will be difficult to fulfil them now, since their ally Prosecutor General Lutsenko has been fired. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian political elite is on the move. In the past few days, several top government officials quit one after another, including the deputy head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Pavel Demchin. Other senior officials were detained on corruption charges. Billionaire Ukrainian Oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky Under Investigation by FBI On Friday, military prosecutors arrested Valery Yaroshenko, the head of the State Employment Service for receiving alleged kickbacks of up to $800,000. Ukraines new First Lady, Olena Zelenska, told The Daily Beast last month that her husbands priorities were reforms and the fight against corruption and that continues to be his strongest theme. Our priority is a victory over corruption; de-monopolization, de-oligarchization in the media, Zelenskiy told E.U. Commissioner Johannes Hahn at a recent meeting. But Ukrainian oligarchs,are still powerful. They still control influential political parties and television channelsincluding Kolomoiskys 1+1 television channel, which made Zelenskiy a star. If Zelenskiy manages to change all that, not just shuffle the deck, will he fulfill his promise and actually break the corrupt system in Ukraine. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Kiev (AFP) - Ukraine's new president Volodymyr Zelensky came under fire Wednesday, just days after taking office, for appointing a chief of staff with links to a controversial oligarch. Zelensky -- a former comedian with no previous political experience -- won a landslide victory last month on promises of rebooting the political system and purging the influence of powerful oligarchs. But late Tuesday he issued a decree choosing as his top aide Andriy Bogdan, until now a personal lawyer of tycoon Igor Kolomoisky. During the presidential campaign Zelensky shrugged off accusations that he was running as a front for the interests of Kolomoisky, who owns the television channel that broadcasts the performer's shows. Authorities accused Kolomoisky of syphoning $5.5 billion (4.92 billion euros) from the country's largest bank, PrivatBank, before it was nationalised in 2016. According to reports, the oligarch returned to Ukraine last week after almost two years of self-imposed exile in Switzerland and Israel. Critics said Bogdan's appointment was not just politically suspect but also illegal, as he had held government posts under the ousted pro-Russian former president Viktor Yanukovych. Those who served under Yanukovych are now banned by law from taking certain top positions. "Zelensky violated the law," MP Yegor Sobolev, one of the authors of the legislation, wrote on Facebook. The president "puts himself above the law and shows the whole country his true attitude to the rule of law," said Tetyana Kozachenko, who was also behind the legislation. US special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker "strongly recommended not to appoint Bogdan" in telephone talks with Zelensky, local media reported. Bogdan however told Ukrainian television that claims he was breaking the law were "unfair" and that he had the right to serve in the new administration. - Childhood friend - Zelensky, 41, became Ukraine's youngest post-Soviet president after beating incumbent Petro Poroshenko in an April vote. Story continues On Tuesday, he decided to dissolve the current parliament and called early elections for July 21, in a controversial move aimed at cementing his power. According to the latest opinion polls, Zelensky's newly formed Servant of the People party, named after a sitcom in which he played the role of president, is leading with 44 percent support. In another controversial staffing decision Wednesday, Zelensky appointed Ivan Bakanov, leader of Servant of the People, to a key role in the security service. Bakanov has no security experience but is a childhood friend of the president. Bakanov also worked as a lawyer for Zelensky's production company "Kvartal 95" and was his campaign manager during the race. Kiev (AFP) - Ukraine's new president Volodymyr Zelensky came under fire Wednesday, just days after taking office, over key hiring decisions including appointing a chief of staff with links to a controversial oligarch. Zelensky -- a 41-year-old comedian with no previous political experience -- won a landslide victory last month on promises of rebooting the political system and purging the influence of powerful oligarchs. He was sworn in as president on Monday and the next day called early elections for July 21 in a move aimed at cementing his power. In his inaugural address which won wide praise, Ukraine's youngest post-Soviet president vowed to halt the war with Russian-backed separatists and do everything to stop Ukrainians, as he put it, crying. But some of Zelensky's first staffing decisions raised eyebrows, sparking fear that the president might after all be beholden to tycoon Igor Kolomoisky despite repeated denials. Late Tuesday, Zelensky issued a decree choosing as his top aide Andriy Bogdan, until now Kolomoisky's personal lawyer. Zelensky has shrugged off accusations that he is a front for the interests of Kolomoisky, who owns the television channel that broadcasts the new president's shows. - Controversial hire - Kolomoisky, 56, and the Ukrainian government have been locked in a high-profile legal battle over ownership of the country's largest lender, PrivatBank. Authorities have accused the tycoon of syphoning $5.5 billion (4.9 billion euros) from PrivatBank before it was nationalised in 2016. The oligarch reportedly returned to Ukraine last week after almost two years of self-imposed exile in Switzerland and Israel. Critics said Bogdan's appointment was not just politically suspect but also illegal, as he had held government posts under the Kremlin-backed president Viktor Yanukovych ousted during an uprising in 2014. Those who served under Yanukovych are now banned by law from taking certain top positions. Story continues "Zelensky violated the law," said MP Yegor Sobolev, one of the authors of the legislation. The president "puts himself above the law and shows the whole country his true attitude to the rule of law," said Tetyana Kozachenko, who was also behind the legislation. US special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker "strongly recommended not to appoint Bogdan" in telephone talks with Zelensky, local media reported. But Bogdan said on television that claims he was breaking the law were "unfair" and that he had the right to serve in the new administration. - 'Counterweight to Bogdan' - In another controversial staffing decision Wednesday, Zelensky appointed Ivan Bakanov, leader of his virtual party, as first deputy chief of the SBU security service. Bakanov has no security experience but is a childhood friend of the president. Bakanov also worked as a lawyer for Zelensky's production company "Kvartal 95" and was his campaign manager. Some foreign investors took issue with Bogdan's appointment. "It is difficult to imagine how a person from Kolomoisky's orbit... will change the direction of his activity 180 degrees and will act not for the good of the oligarchs, but for the good of the country," Tomas Fiala, chief executive officer at the Kiev-based investment company Dragon Capital, told reporters. In other staffing decisions, the respected former finance minister Oleksandr Danyliuk has reportedly been tapped to serve as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. An official appointment decree has not yet been published. Timothy Ash, head of emerging market research at London-based Blue Bay Asset Management, praised the move. "The makes him a key player in Ukrainian power politics in the run-up to elections -- and a counterweight to Bogdan," he wrote. He suggested this could be his "holding position until parliamentary elections when Danyliuk would expect a role either as PM or deputy PM." Zelensky's Servant of the People virtual party, named after the sitcom in which he played the role of president, is leading in opinion polls, with more than 40 percent of respondents saying they would vote for it. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - The UN envoy for Western Sahara, Horst Koehler, has resigned from his post due to health reasons, nearly two years after he took up the peacemaking mission, the United Nations said Wednesday. Koehler, a former German president, was appointed in August 2017 to lead UN efforts to end the decades-old conflict between Morocco and the Algerian-backed Polisario Front. The 76-year-old envoy relayed the news to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a phone call on Wednesday, a UN statement said. Guterres "deeply regretted the resignation but said he fully understood the decision and extended his best wishes to the personal envoy," it added. In a statement, Morocco's foreign ministry said "the kingdom of Morocco notes with regret" Koehler's resignation, while crediting him "for the efforts he has made since his nomination." The Polisario meanwhile said it was "deeply saddened" by the news, and thanked the outgoing envoy for "his dynamic efforts to revive the UN peace process." His departure leaves the UN negotiations in limbo following two rounds of talks that marked the first time in six years that the parties have come to the negotiating table. Guterres thanked Koehler for his "steadfast and intensive efforts which laid the foundation for the new momentum in the political process on the question of Western Sahara." The Polisario fought a war with Morocco from 1975 to 1991, when a ceasefire deal was agreed and a UN peace mission was deployed to monitor the truce. The Polisario is demanding a referendum on independence for the territory, which Morocco has flatly rejected. Morocco, which annexed the territory after Spain withdrew in 1975, considers Western Sahara to be an integral part of the kingdom and has instead offered autonomy. Koehler served as German president from 2004 to 2010 and was managing director of the International Monetary Fund from 2000 to 2004. Some have more dollars than sense, they say, so even companies that have no revenue, no profit, and a record of falling short, can easily find investors. But as Warren Buffett has mused, 'If you've been playing poker for half an hour and you still don't know who the patsy is, you're the patsy.' When they buy such story stocks, investors are all too often the patsy. So if you're like me, you might be more interested in profitable, growing companies, like UniVision Engineering (LON:UVEL). While profit is not necessarily a social good, it's easy to admire a business than can consistently produce it. In comparison, loss making companies act like a sponge for capital - but unlike such a sponge they do not always produce something when squeezed. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! View our latest analysis for UniVision Engineering How Fast Is UniVision Engineering Growing Its Earnings Per Share? Over the last three years, UniVision Engineering has grown earnings per share (EPS) like young bamboo after rain; fast, and from a low base. So I don't think the percent growth rate is particularly meaningful. As a result, I'll zoom in on growth over the last year, instead. Like the last firework on New Year's Eve accelerating into the sky, UniVision Engineering's EPS shot from UK0.0015 to UK0.004, over the last year. Year on year growth of 174% is certainly a sight to behold. I like to see top-line growth as an indication that growth is sustainable, and I look for a high earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) margin to point to a competitive moat (though some companies with low margins also have moats). The good news is that UniVision Engineering is growing revenues, and EBIT margins improved by 5.3 percentage points to 16%, over the last year. That's great to see, on both counts. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. To see the actual numbers, click on the chart. Story continues AIM:UVEL Income Statement, May 22nd 2019 UniVision Engineering isn't a huge company, given its market capitalization of UK7.3m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength. Are UniVision Engineering Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Personally, I like to see high insider ownership of a company, since it suggests that it will be managed in the interests of shareholders. So as you can imagine, the fact that UniVision Engineering insiders own a significant number of shares certainly appeals to me. In fact, they own 73% of the company, so they will share in the same delights and challenges experienced by the ordinary shareholders. This makes me think they will be incentivised to plan for the long term - something I like to see. Valued at only UK7.3m UniVision Engineering is really small for a listed company. That means insiders only have UK5.3m worth of shares, despite the large proportional holding. That might not be a huge sum but it should be enough to keep insiders motivated! It means a lot to see insiders invested in the business, but I find myself wondering if remuneration policies are shareholder friendly. A brief analysis of the CEO compensation suggests they are. For companies with market capitalizations under UK157m, like UniVision Engineering, the median CEO pay is around UK247k. The UniVision Engineering CEO received total compensation of just UK81k in the year to March 2018. That's clearly well below average, so at a glance, that arrangement seems generous to shareholders, and points to a modest remuneration culture. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. I'd also argue reasonable pay levels attest to good decision making more generally. Should You Add UniVision Engineering To Your Watchlist? UniVision Engineering's earnings per share growth has been so hot recently that thinking about it is making me blush. The cherry on top is that insiders own a bucket-load of shares, and the CEO pay seems really quite reasonable. The strong EPS improvement suggests the businesses is humming along. Big growth can make big winners, so I do think UniVision Engineering is worth considering carefully. Of course, profit growth is one thing but it's even better if UniVision Engineering is receiving high returns on equity, since that should imply it can keep growing without much need for capital. Click on this link to see how it is faring against the average in its industry. You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. Thank you for reading. New York (AFP) - When the American billionaire Robert Smith announced to students graduating from historically black Morehouse College that he would pay off their student loans, he put himself at the center of one of the 2020 US election's key issues. While the cost of Smith's surprise gift announced on Saturday to Morehouse's 396-strong class of 2019 is not yet known, the body's student debt is thought to reach $40 million. Smith, a Texas businessman who is the wealthiest African-American, has been applauded for his generosity, but his gift also generated jealousy among the many Americans struggling with huge student debts. "Can a billionaire pledge to pay off my student loan debt? I'm glad for the graduating class, but also envious," one Twitter user wrote, reflecting a sentiment common on social media. Already, several Democratic challengers to President Donald Trump in next year's elections have proposed ways to reduce the nearly $1.5 trillion American student loan burden, and even politicians who aren't running have weighed in. "People shouldn't be in a situation where they depend on a stranger's enormous act of charity for this kind of liberation to begin with," tweeted Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising Democratic House representative who was elected last year in part on the promise of free university education. - Mobilized billionaires - More than two-thirds of American graduates were in debt in 2016, the Institute for College Access and Success said in April, with their burden averaging $29,650. Paying off the debt often weighs heavily on young Americans' lives through their 20s and 30s, delaying the starting of families and the purchase of cars and homes. All of that affects the US economy, and Smith isn't the first billionaire to take notice. Last November, former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg pledged $1.8 billion to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, from which he graduated in 1964. Story continues The donation aims to make education at the elite school more affordable to low- and middle-income students, who would otherwise have to face fees and living costs totaling about $72,000 per-year. Another billionaire, Kenneth Langone, gave $100 million to the New York University School of Medicine last year to make tuition free for its current and future students. - Tax the rich - Student loan debt levels soared in the US between 1996 and 2012, and Senator Bernie Sanders put the rising costs at the heart of his unsuccessful 2016 presidential campaign. The following year, the independent politician from Vermont put a measure called the "College For All Act" before the Senate, which would have abolished tuition fees at public universities for most families. The cost of the measure, which the Republicans leading the Senate have shown no interest in, has been estimated at $600 billion, to be financed by a tax on financial transactions. Sanders is now among the 23 candidates for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, and together with Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has once again made student loan debt a plank of his campaign. Warren last month unveiled a detailed proposal to abolish student fees in public universities and cancel student loan debt according to income. The plan, estimated to cost $1.25 billion over a decade, would be financed by a tax on the very wealthy. - State measures - Though few other detailed plans have emerged, almost all Democratic candidates in 2020 argue for making universities more affordable. With the election still more than a year off, some states are taking their own steps to reduce the cost of higher education. New York state started offering scholarships last year equalling public university fees to students of modest means, with the caveat that graduates remain in the state for a few years after finishing. Washington state governor Jay Inslee -- another Democratic candidate in the 2020 race -- on Tuesday signed into a law a bill raising a key business tax and using the revenue to make attending a public university free starting next year for students from families below the median income level. The bill was supported by two of the state's largest taxpayers: Microsoft and Amazon. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday acknowledged that consumers may pay higher prices as a result of the steep tariffs imposed on Chinese goods. Mnuchin's remarks were at odds with the message hammered by President Donald Trump, who claims China pays for the tariffs, creating a windfall for the US government. "There may in some cases be an impact passed on to our consumers," Mnuchin said in testimony before the House Financial Services Committee. He also said he had spoken to senior executives at Walmart and other mega retailers about which consumer products were most likely see prices spike due to the trade battle with Beijing. "I just spoke to many of these CEOs... there may be a small number of items where the tariffs may be passed on." However, Mnuchin stressed that the administration has not yet decided whether to hit an additional $300 billion in imports with tariffs, extending punitive US duties to virtually everything the United States buys from China. And price increases can be softened by exempting some categories of goods, Mnuchin said. He also acknowledged that depreciation of the Chinese currency can counteract the price hikes. "We've made no decision on the subject... If we issue an exemption there will be no price increase," he said. "I don't expect that there will be significant costs for American families." - Suspicious activity reports - The US Trade Representative's office is due to hold public hearings next month on the $300 billion tariff round, to hear from the public and companies affected, but many already have expressed stiff opposition to the new tariffs, including apparel and shoe manufacturers and retailers. The warned the new tariffs would be "catastrophic" and would raise consumer prices considerably. Retail chain Target said Wednesday during an earnings call with analysts that the new tariffs would hit consumers. But the company is working with suppliers and its supply chain to mitigate price increases. Story continues Trump this month decided to more than double tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese imports, claiming Beijing had suddenly backtracked in this year's trade negotiations, which drew further retaliation from Beijing. Both sides have said they expect to resume talks but have not set a date. Mnuchin reiterated Wednesday that Trump was likely to meet his Chinese counterpart late next month during the Group of 20 summit in Japan. Lawmakers asked Mnuchin about a recent New York Times report that cited multiple sources who claimed Deutsche Bank officials had suppressed internal warnings of suspicious financial activities involving organizations tied to Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. He said he would review the matter with the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network to make sure the bank completes and submits suspicious activity reports. "I am not aware of whether this is true or not true but we will have FinCEN follow up." WASHINGTON (AP) The hacking of U.S. election systems, including by foreign adversaries, is inevitable, and the real challenge is ensuring the country is resilient enough to withstand catastrophic problems from cyber breaches, government officials said Wednesday. The comments by representatives from the departments of Justice and Homeland Security underscored the challenges for federal and state governments in trying to ward off interference from Russia and other countries in the 2020 election. Special counsel Robert Mueller has documented a sweeping effort by Moscow to meddle in the 2016 election in Donald Trump's favor by hacking Democrats and spreading disinformation online, and FBI Director Chris Wray said in April that the government regarded last November's midterm election was "as just kind of a dress rehearsal for the big show in 2020." Adam Hickey, a deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Department's national security division, told a House Oversight and Reform subcommittee that hacking was "inevitable." "Systems that are connected to the Internet, if they're targeted by a determined adversary with enough time and resources, they will be breached," Hickey said. "So, we need to be focusing on resilience." "We need to take a breath. We need to let the states evaluate it. We need to let investigators respond, and we need to have confidence in our elected representatives and our state officials that they've got this, because they deal with contingencies ... all the time," he added. "If we undermine ourselves, the confidence in our system, we will be doing our adversaries' work for them." Chris Krebs, head of DHS' cyber efforts, echoed the message, saying, "100 percent security is not the objective. It's resilience of the system. So even if you do have a bad day, it's not a catastrophic day." Officials also said they were confident that Russian hacking that targeted voter databases of two Florida counties before the 2016 election had no impact on the vote total there. An intrusion detection system is already configured in 66 of 67 counties in the state, "and the 67th is in the process of doing so right now," Krebs said. Still, some lawmakers, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said they were disappointed that the FBI had not publicly identified the two counties that were hit. Story continues "The lack of transparency from top to bottom in this administration is stunning, and it diminishes voters' confidence in our election system," she said. Representatives from major technology companies, including Facebook, Google and Twitter, also testified at the hearing. "Facebook cares deeply about protecting the integrity of the democratic process," said Nathan Gleicher, the company's head of cybersecurity policy. "We don't want anyone using our tools to undermine our elections or democracy." He said Facebook has more than 30,000 people working on safety and security across the company, three times as many as it had in 2017. ___ Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP Entering a conservative media realm South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg revealed more of his campaign for President. On Sunday Buttigieg appeared on Fox News. The town hall program was hosted by Chris Wallace. Theres a reason why anybody has to swallow hard and think twice before participating in this media ecosystem, Buttigieg said. Other Democrats have declined to participate with Fox News. I wont do a town hall with Fox News because I wont invite millions of Democratic primary voters to tune in, inflate ratings, and help sell ads for an outlet that profits from racism and hate, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts tweeted May 14. Founded in 1996 by Australian media mogul Rupert Murdoch, Fox News has been a bastion of conservative political programming and controversial opinion hosts. Buttigieg specifically called out hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham for their sensational coverage of immigration. Carlson has called immigrants dirty while Ingraham has compared detention centers where children have been put in cages to summer camps. Meanwhile, candidates continue to throw their hat into the ring to challenge sitting President Donald Trump. New announcements on the Democratic side include Montana Governor Steve Bullock and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. A check of the FECwebsite shows Rocky De La Fuente as the nearest challenger to Trump in his own party. De La Fuente, a Republican from San Diego, California, ranks No. 16 among all contenders with $1.4 million raised. By Charlotte Greenfield WELLINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Vanuatu will seek more Chinese financial support for infrastructure development through the Belt and Road initiative during an upcoming visit to Beijing, Prime Minister Charlot Salwai said on Wednesday. The Pacific premier will meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang during his first official visit to the Asian giant starting on May 26, according to China's foreign ministry. China's footprint in the Pacific region has been growing in the past decade. Pacific governments now owe about $1.3 billion in concessional debt to China, raising fears in the West that the region was becoming more susceptible to Beijing's diplomatic pressure and unsustainable debt burdens. Salwai told reporters during a visit to New Zealand's capital Wellington that he would discuss with Xi how China could support Vanuatu's infrastructure development as part of Belt and Road. "We are an independent country, and we can't wait for grants to come," he said, citing the need for projects in hard infrastructure like roads and ports, and also telecommunications, utilities, health and education. "Whether through grants or through loans we have to have money to build our infrastructure, we want to invest this money into economic sectors," he said, adding that funneling money into productive projects would also help it pay back its existing debt and develop the economy. The small Pacific nation signed up for Xi's hallmark Belt and Road infrastructure initiative in November alongside the seven other Pacific nations that recognize China diplomatically. Vanuatu owes around $130 million to China, which accounts for roughly half its external debt and represents just over 13 percent of its annual GDP. China has said that it is not creating unsustainable debt burden in the Pacific and providing development assistance at the request of governments. The issue ignited last year over media reports China wanted to establish a military base in Vanuatu after funding a wharf big enough to handle warships. Both China and Vanuatu denied the reports. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Michael Perry) By Stephanie Nebehay GENEVA, May 22 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government is increasingly turning to allies Cuba, China and Russia to offset a health crisis caused by U.S. sanctions, a minister said on Wednesday. Venezuelans have been suffering dire shortages of medicines and health equipment for several years as it has spiraled into economic chaos and political conflict. The opposition blames that on economic incompetence and corruption by the leftist movement in power for two decades, but Maduro says U.S. economic sanctions are the cause. In Geneva for a World Health Organization (WHO) assembly, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said Western sanctions had led to the freezing of 5 billion euros ($5.6 billion)in assets, including gold in the Bank of England and funds in major institutions like Citibank. That would cover Venezuela's medical needs for six years, he told a news briefing. "Today we can certainly say that the main health problem is the criminal blockade that we are victims of by the United States," Alvarado said. "What are we doing in Venezuela to overcome this situation? We do not stay with our hands crossed. We are strengthening our alliances with countries such as Cuba, China, Russia, Turkey, Palestine, and Iran." Sanctions were hurting the whole population due to insufficient foreign currency for medicine imports, and some diseases including measles had re-emerged, the minister said. "The greatest threat that we have is the threat of war that the U.S. government imposes on the Venezuelan people," he said. President Donald Trump's administration has not ruled out military action to remove what it and dozens of other nations consider an illegitimate government that rigged a 2018 election. The United States, and many European and Latin American countries, have recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido, who invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency in January, as Venezuela's rightful leader. Story continues But Maduro retains control of state functions and the support of the military's top brass. The crisis has driven 3.7 million Venezuelans abroad, most since 2015, the United Nations says. All 300 Venezuelan hospitals were functioning, but some lack medicines or spares for equipment, Alvarado said. Aid agencies including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are bringing help, he added, and Russia provided 26,000 tonnes of aid including medication in March. "We are strengthening our bond with Russia regarding the purchase of medication, they even want to invest in Venezuela for further production of medication," he said, declining to give details. ($1 = 0.8963 euros) (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Viasat, Inc. VSAT recently announced that it has secured a five-year Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract from the U.S. General Services Administration. With a ceiling of $450 million, the deal is aimed at supporting Rapid Migration of Command, Control, Communications and Computers/Cyber Capability Best Practices for U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) and U.S. General Purpose Forces (GPF). Notably, the agreement is expected to meet the requirements of the Department of Defense in mobile networking, cybersecurity and broadband satellite communications technology space. It will allow SOF and GPF to deploy new operational capabilities, products and services which will likely boost mission effectiveness and safety of warfighters. The satellite & wireless networking technology provider intends to provide a portfolio of avant-garde technologies to improve communications, intelligence, security and operational capabilities of SOF and GPF warfighters in the battlefield. Buoyed by such contract wins, particularly from federal customers, the companys top line witnessed a CAGR of 10.9% from fiscal 2009 to fiscal 2018. The momentum is expected to continue in the coming days. Encouragingly, Viasats blue-chip customer base, which comprises the U.S. Department of Defense, satellite network integrators and communication service providers, adds to its strength. Presently, the companys Government Systems unit is acting as a major profit churner. Viasats Satellite Services business is progressing well with key metrics including steady growth of average revenue per user and revenues showing impressive growth. Further, growing adoption of in-flight Wi-Fi services in commercial aircrafts are proving conducive to the growth. Viasat has long-term EPS growth expectation of 15.3%. Driven by diligent execution of operational objectives, the stock has rallied 50.6% on average compared with the industrys rise of 20.7% in the year-to-date period. Story continues Currently, Viasat carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Other top-ranked stocks in the industry include Harris Corp. HRS, Motorola Solutions, Inc. MSI and Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. UBNT, each carrying a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Harris has long-term earnings growth expectation of 8%. Motorola has long-term earnings growth expectation of 7.7%. Ubiquiti has long-term earnings growth expectation of 19.8%. 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 Ubiquiti Networks, Inc. (UBNT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Harris Corporation (HRS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Motorola Solutions, Inc. (MSI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Viasat Inc. (VSAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research 757 Poke'. | Photo: Kristine D./Yelp Craving Hawaiian food? Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top Hawaiian spots around Virginia Beach, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of where to fill the bill. 1. 757 Poke' Photo: kristine d./Yelp Topping the list is 757 Poke'. Located at 4554 Virginia Beach Blvd., Suite #740, in the Pembroke Mall, the sushi bar, Hawaiian and live/raw food spot is the highest rated Hawaiian restaurant in Virginia Beach, boasting 4.5 stars out of 234 reviews on Yelp. 2. Aloha Snacks Photo: j david h./Yelp Next up is Aloha Snacks, situated at 501 Laskin Road. With 4.5 stars out of 179 reviews on Yelp, the Hawaiian spot, which offers poke and burgers, has proven to be a local favorite. 3. Auntie's Tiki Bar & Restaurant Photo: jordan b./Yelp Auntie's Tiki Bar & Restaurant, located at 4312 Holland Road, Suite #107, is another top choice, with Yelpers giving the cocktail bar, Filipino and Hawaiian spot four stars out of 197 reviews. This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. London (AFP) - A computer generated Vladimir Putin is to host a comedy chat-show on the BBC, with British political spin doctor Alastair Campbell among those pitting his wits against the Russian leader, the broadcaster announced Wednesday. Two short pilot episodes of the semi-scripted show "Tonight with Vladimir Putin" are set to be aired on the BBC Two channel next month, each featuring two guests. But the star of the show will be a 3D digital cartoon of Putin, created using performance capture technology, enabling him to walk around and sit behind the desk, "interviewing real human guests in front of a studio audience, all in real-time". "Everybody's favourite bear-wrestling global strongman Vladimir Putin has finally achieved his ultimate goal - a chat-show on the BBC," the British broadcaster said in its announcement. "Forget global politics, landing two pilot episodes on BBC Two of his soon to be world-famous chat show marks the ultimate victory for Vlad, leader of the free world." In one of the shows, the fictional Vlad is shown trying to get his head around feminism -- in another he thanks Campbell "for his part in making such a mess of things," the BBC said. Britain and Russia are at loggerheads following the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the town of Salisbury last year. Washington governor and 2020 presidential candidate Jay Inslee on Tuesday signed the nations first human composting bill into law. The newly signed law,Concerning Human Remains, will allow licensed facilities to perform human composting, otherwise known as liquid cremation, in addition to burial and cremation. The law, which takes effect May 1, 2020, will allow Recompose, the states first organic reduction funeral home, to open its doors. There, bodies will be placed in a container with straw and wood chips for four weeks, after which they will emerge as clean soil that meets all environmental regulations. The soil is then given to loved ones so that it can be spread at a place of their choosing. Proponents of the option argue it is an environmentally responsible alternative to the traditional burial process in which bodies are filled with toxic chemicals and placed in a coffin that occupies ground for decades before it decomposes. Thats a serious weight on the earth and the environment as your final farewell, Senator Jamie Pedersen, the Seattle Democrat who sponsored the measure, told NBC News. Critics of the legislation who have contacted Pedersen have objected to the indignity they associate with human composition. The image they have is that youre going to toss Uncle Henry out in the backyard and cover him with food scraps, Pedersen said. More from National Review Jennifer Garner, actress and graduate of Denison University's Class of 1994, recently delivered the Ohio college's 2019 commencement address, and boy was it a good one. After explaining how she regretted agreeing to the speech, because writing it made her examine her life choices, "gain five pounds," and "loathe her friend and Denison alum Steve Carell" who graduated before her and should have had to address the college first, Garner gave the grads some invaluable life advice. Her speech begins a few minutes after the one hour mark, and she quickly shares words of wisdom, such as never walk down the Grand Canyon to see what it looks like from the bottom, don't smoke and don't vape because it's "not cute," and always use sunscreen. "When it comes to Halloween costumes, go funny over sexy. Why would you dress like a flirty nurse when you could be a mailbox? It's an opportunity," she went on. Garner also touched on the concept of mixed signals, bedside table must-haves, and the importance of managing social media consumption. Then, she addressed the women in the audience. "If you're a woman... the stage has been set, the world is yours to grab. Go out and get it, girl," she said. Garner also shared a compilation of her best advice on Instagram, with the lighthearted hashtag #sorryyoudidntgettheMorehouseguy. Iconic. Khartoum (AFP) - The United States, Britain and Norway called for a swift agreement between Sudanese protesters and generals on installing civilian rule, saying it would be harder for them to work with any other new authority. Talks between protest leaders and army generals who seized power after ousting longtime leader Omar al-Bashir last month have stopped since late Monday following disagreement about who should lead a new ruling body -- a civilian or a soldier. The Western troika, which has previously been involved in mediation in Sudanese conflicts, said the country "urgently needs an agreement" to end the period of uncertainty, according to a joint statement released late Tuesday. "Any outcome that does not result in the formation of a government that is civilian-led, placing primary authority for governing with civilians, will not respond to the clearly expressed will of the Sudanese people for a transition to civilian rule," it said. "This will complicate international engagement, and make it harder for our countries to work with the new authorities and support Sudan's economic development," added the statement, which was posted on the Facebook page of the US embassy in Khartoum. Washington has consistently called for civilian rule in Sudan since Bashir was ousted by the army on April 11 after months of nationwide protests against his iron-fisted regime of 30 years. It has also suspended talks with Khartoum for removing Sudan from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism, a key factor which for decades has made foreign businesses wary of investing in the northeast African country. Sudanese protest leaders are now preparing plans to call for a general strike to build pressure on the generals to cede power. The ruling military council has been pushing for its chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to head the new sovereign body but protest leaders want a civilian. The new ruling body when finalised is expected to install a transitional civilian government for three years after which the first post-Bashir election would be held. Want to participate in a short research study? Help shape the future of investing tools and you could win a $250 gift card! As an investor, I look for investments which does not compromise one fundamental factor for another. By this I mean, I look at stocks holistically, from their financial health to their future outlook. In the case of China Financial Services Holdings Limited (HKG:605), it is a company that has been able to sustain great financial health, trading at an attractive share price. Below is a brief commentary on these key aspects. For those interested in digger a bit deeper into my commentary, take a look at the report on China Financial Services Holdings here. Good value with adequate balance sheet 605's strong financial health means that all of its upcoming liability payments are able to be met by its current cash and short-term investment holdings. This suggests prudent control over cash and cost by management, which is a key determinant of the companys health. 605's has produced operating cash levels of 0.32x total debt over the past year, which implies that 605's management has put its borrowings into good use by generating enough cash to cover a sufficient portion of borrowings. 605's share price is trading at below its true value, meaning that the market sentiment for the stock is currently bearish. Investors have the opportunity to buy into the stock to reap capital gains, if 605's projected earnings trajectory does follow analyst consensus growth, which determines my intrinsic value of the company. Compared to the rest of the market, 605 is also trading below other listed companies on the HK stock exchange, relative to earnings generated. This supports the theory that 605 is potentially underpriced. SEHK:605 Intrinsic value, May 22nd 2019 Next Steps: For China Financial Services Holdings, I've compiled three key factors you should further research: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for 605s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for 605s outlook. Historical Performance: What has 605's returns been like over the past? Go into more detail in the past track record analysis and take a look at the free visual representations of our analysis for more clarity. Other Attractive Alternatives : Are there other well-rounded stocks you could be holding instead of 605? 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. Impeachment talk was limited mostly to a vocal minority during President Donald Trumps first two years in office. It grew louder in 2019 when opposition Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives, where the formal charges known as articles of impeachment originate. Now impeachment is having yet another moment, as Democrats look for a way to enforce what they consider their constitutional duty to investigate the Trump White House. 1. Why is impeachment getting renewed interest? The Trump White House, resisting demands from House committees for documents and testimony from current and former administration officials, argues that Democratic lawmakers lack any proper legislative purpose for pursuing their inquiries. (Trump and Attorney General William Barr have said the administrations legal strategy is aimed at protecting the power of the presidency, not protecting Trump from hard questions.) An impeachment inquiry could be seen by the courts, where these battles are being waged, as justifying the requests for information from House Democrats. 2. How exactly would impeachment begin? A simple majority vote by the House, where Democrats hold 235 of the 435 seats, is all it would take to trigger an impeachment inquiry by the House Judiciary Committee, where Democrats outnumber Republicans 24 to 17. With or without hearings, the committee can draw up one or more articles of impeachment formal written charges and vote to send it to the full House, where another majority vote would send the matter for a trial in the Senate. 3. What are impeachable offenses? Congress decides. The U.S. Constitution says the president shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. As Congress has defined it through the years, the phrase high crimes and misdemeanors includes exceeding or abusing the powers of the presidency, or misusing the office for improper purpose or gain. Story continues 4. What impeachable offenses could Trump be accused of? At the moment there are two proposed impeachment resolutions sitting in the Houses in-box. One doesnt specify a cause, while the other alleges Trump prevented, obstructed and impeded the administration of justice during the special counsels investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. In the 2017-2018 Congress, resolutions proposed impeaching Trump for accepting whats known as emoluments, sowing racial discord and undermining the federal judiciary. But introducing such resolutions is easy; getting a majority to support them is the challenge. (When the one blaming Trump for racial discord reached the House floor in January 2018, it was defeated 355 to 66.) 5. So will Democrats move forward on impeachment? Until now, party leaders have mostly steered way from impeachment talk, reasoning that many voters arent eager to see a repeat of the warfare that raged two decades ago when Republicans sought to remove President Bill Clinton. The leader of House Democrats, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has said she opposes pushing for impeachment because its clear that the Republican-majority Senate would never vote to oust Trump. (The bar in the Senate is extra high it would take a supermajority vote of two-thirds of the senators present to convict and remove a president.) But more recently Pelosi has said that defying congressional subpoenas, as Trump is doing, could be part of an impeachable offense. 6. What would happen in the Senate? In one of the more unusual spectacles in American politics, the 100 members of the Senate become the jury in a trial, with some members of the House functioning as prosecutors and the chief justice of the United States presiding (if the accused is the president). Witnesses are called, and evidence submitted, with House impeachment managers and counsel for the accused giving opening and closing statements. If two-thirds of the senators present vote to convict a high bar the official is ordered removed from office. 7. How often has this happened? The House has initiated impeachment proceedings more than 60 times, according to its historians office, and voted to impeach 15 federal judges, one senator, one cabinet secretary and two presidents Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998. Eight judges were convicted and removed from office. 8. How many presidents have been removed by impeachment? Technically speaking, none. Johnson, impeached by the House for firing the secretary of war, survived because the Senate fell just one vote short of a two-thirds majority to remove him. Fifty senators voted to remove Clinton for obstruction of justice, and 45 voted to remove him for perjury, also shy of the two-thirds majority. Richard Nixon resigned the presidency in 1974 when it became clear he would be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate. The House Judiciary Committee had approved three articles of impeachment accusing him of obstruction of justice, abuse of power and contempt of Congress, for his role in covering up the politically motivated break-in of Democratic National Committee headquarters at Washingtons Watergate office building. New York (AFP) - Headlines have given little love to guitar heros in recent years, as streaming tastes favor rap and instruments of the greats are celebrated less onstage and more in museums. But more than a decade after soaring to global fame Rodrigo y Gabriela -- the Mexican classical guitar duo that draws inspiration as much from prog and thrash metal as flamenco and folk -- is still going strong, recently releasing their first studio album in five years, "Mettavolution," to rave reviews and embarking on a global tour. Disenchanted by the rock scene in their native Mexico, Rodrigo y Gabriela moved to Europe in the late 1990s, settling in Dublin where they began busking and playing local pubs with their fusion of metal with Latin sounds. It wasn't long before the pair -- which uses only nylon-stringed acoustic guitars to create their unique, frenetic style heavy on power chords and percussive elements -- began winning legions of fans stateside as well as Europe and Latin America. After the whirlwind success of their eponymous album in 2006 they quickly ascended to a global stage, playing everywhere from top festivals to Barack Obama's White House. Their latest work is a more melodic album than past recordings, a sound they achieved by first writing songs complete with lyrics before stripping away the words in a bid to help their fans meditate exclusively to the guitars. "When we were kids we didn't know what anxiety was," said Rodrigo Sanchez backstage before the pair played an intimate show at Manhattan's McKittrick Hotel, days after rocking New York's larger Beacon Theatre. "It wasn't until literally a few years ago that we started to understand more . . . about the effects of meditation, things that could actually help to deal with these emotions," the acoustic rocker with hair dyed electric blue told AFP. Sanchez said the album evokes the pair's recent "shift in consciousness" -- both in their mid-forties, the metalheads are now vegan and have turned their interests to Buddhism and spiritual evolution -- that helped them realize "playing music is not something we just do because we like it." Story continues "I think it's a service for people," Sanchez said. "It's when we get in touch, really, with our deepest side of ourselves." - 'Language of emotion' - For Gabriela Quintero, "Mettavolution" -- a word the duo coined to fuse elements of meditation and evolution, with "metta" being Sanskrit for compassion -- is also about processing social anxieties of the contemporary moment, citing climate change, artificial intelligence and nuclear disarmament. "They're big concerns, and for us it's important to speak out," she said. "Musically, even though we don't have lyrics, we have the opportunity to express this... because music is the language of emotion." "You can express all of that through music, if you're putting tension on the notes." On their latest album the dexterous artists who reinvent the heart-pounding sounds of hard rock for intricate acoustic instrumentals do just that with Pink Floyd's epic "Echoes" from the psychedelic band's 1971 album "Meddle." Rodrigo y Gabriela are true to the daunting, nearly 20-minute masterpiece while adapting its surreal turns and atmospheric riffs to imbue their own textured sounds, complete with Quintero's signature percussive knocks on the guitar. "'Echoes' has this meaning of true connection with your own humanity, in order to be able to connect the rest of the world with the rest of their lives," Quintero told the their Manhattan audience prior to the show. "So nowadays it's more relevant than ever, because we're in that time of this great technology that keeps us so connected -- but not so deep inside." The "Mettavolution" tour will take the duo -- former romantic partners who maintain a friendship -- everywhere from Los Angeles to London, along with nine dates in France. Following their global trek the pair say they'll keep working on new music but also consider new ways of touring and potentially work on musicals or films. With streaming, Sanchez says "there's no rules" anymore in the music industry: "It's different, we can just work and release material every day we want to." "Hopefully we'll find just two or three things that we can focus on, and build up from there and keep playing." * Xi declares new 'Long March' to overcome challenges * Mobile carriers delay launch of Huawei handset * China's Hikvision could also face U.S. blacklist - NYT * Door to talks still open, Chinese ambassador to U.S. says By Michael Martina and David Lawder BEIJING/WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - China must prepare for difficult times as the international situation is increasingly complex, President Xi Jinping said in comments carried by state media on Wednesday, as the U.S.-China trade war took a mounting toll on tech giant Huawei. The world's two largest economies have escalated tariff increases on each other's imports after talks broke down to resolve their dispute, and the acrimony has intensified since Washington last week blacklisted Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. The listing, which curbs Huawei's access to U.S.-made components, is a potentially devastating blow for the company that has rattled technology supply chains and investors, and saw several mobile carriers on Wednesday delay the launch of new Huawei smartphone handsets. During a three-day trip this week to the southern province of Jiangxi, a cradle of China's Communist revolution, Xi urged people to learn the lessons of the hardships of the past. "Today, on the new Long March, we must overcome various major risks and challenges from home and abroad," state news agency Xinhua paraphrased Xi as saying, referring to the 1934-36 trek of Communist Party members fleeing a civil war to a remote rural base, from where they re-grouped and eventually took power in 1949. "Our country is still in a period of important strategic opportunities for development, but the international situation is increasingly complicated," he said. "We must be conscious of the long-term and complex nature of various unfavorable factors at home and abroad, and appropriately prepare for various difficult situations." Story continues The report did not elaborate on those difficulties, and did not directly mention the trade war or of the United States. No further trade talks between top Chinese and U.S. negotiators have been scheduled since the last round ended on May 10, the same day President Donald Trump increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and took steps to levy duties on all remaining Chinese imports. Negotiations between the United States and China have stalled since early May, when Chinese officials sought major changes to the text of a proposed deal that the Trump administration says had been largely agreed. However, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai, speaking to the Fox News Channel, said on Tuesday that Beijing was still open for talks. Repercussions of the blacklisting mounted for Huawei, with some mobile operators, including the Ymobile unit of Japan's Softbank Corp and rival KDDI Corp putting launch plans for Huawei's new P30 Lite smartphone on hold. Another big Chinese tech firm, video surveillance equipment maker Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd, could also face limits on its ability to buy U.S. technology, the New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter, sending the firm's Shenzhen-listed shares down 5.54 percent. RETALIATION While China has not said whether or how it may retaliate to the measures against Huawei, state media have taken an increasingly strident and nationalistic tone. U.S. firms said in a survey released on Wednesday they were facing retaliation in China over the trade war. The American Chamber of Commerce of China and its sister body in Shanghai, said members reported that they faced increased obstacles such as government inspections, slower customs clearances and slower approval for licensing and other applications. It also said that 40.7% of respondents were considering or had relocated manufacturing facilities outside China. Of the almost 250 respondents to the survey, which was conducted after China and the United States both raised tariffs on each other's imports this month, almost three-quarters said the impact of tariffs was hurting their competitiveness. To cope, about one third said they were increasingly focusing their China operations on producing for Chinese customers and not for export, while one third said they were delaying and canceling investment decisions. Long considered a solid cornerstone in a relationship fraught with geopolitical frictions, the U.S. business community has in recent years advocated a harder line on what it sees as discriminatory Chinese trade policies. The United States is seeking sweeping changes to trade and economic policies, including an end to forced technology transfers and theft of U.S. trade secrets. Washington also wants curbs on subsidies for Chinese state-owned enterprises and increased access for U.S. firms in Chinese markets. China for years has blocked major U.S. tech firms, including Google and Facebook, from fully operating in its market. Those and other restrictions have fueled calls from within the U.S. business community for Washington to pursue more reciprocal policies. Cui told Fox News Channel that U.S. restrictions on Huawei "are without any foundation and evidence" and could undermine the normal functioning of markets. "Everybody knows Huawei is a privately owned company. It is just a normal Chinese private company," Cui said. "So all the action taken against Huawei are politically motivated." (Reporting by David Lawder and Stella Qiu; Additional reporting by Makini Brice and Eric Beech in Washington and Michael Martina and Ben Blanchard; writing by Tony Munroe Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Robert Birsel) Photo: Alberto Bigoni/Unsplash If you love live music, there's no time like the present when it comes to getting out and about in New York City. From a techno performance to a jazz cruise around Manhattan, here are the local shows worth checking out this week. Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in this article may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Boss Tenors From the event description: The Boss Tenors series brings top tenor saxophone players to Zinc Bar in New York City for jazzy performances in an intimate setting. When: Wednesday, May 22, 7:30 p.m. Where: Zinc Bar, 82 W. 3rd St. Price: Free-$12.50 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Sasha Marie and Sahar Habibi of Soulection From the event description: Check out Sasha Marie and Sahar Habibi of Soulection. Sasha Marie builds soundscapes to introduce moods and curate feelings. And at only 24, Sahar Habibi has become one of the most prominent up-and-coming DJs on the Chicago scene. When: Friday, May 24, 10 p.m. Where: Lot 45 Bushwick, 411 Troutman St. Price: Free Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Sebastian Mullaert From the event description: Sebastian Mullaert is coming to National Sawdust to debut a special all-night-long live performance for the first time in the United States. Experience a journey from deep ambient to exploding techno, all performed and improvised right before your very ears. When: Friday, May 24, 11:30 p.m. Where: National Sawdust, 80 N. 6th St. Price: $20 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets DCINY Presents 'Vocal Colors' From the event description: DCINY presents "Vocal Colors" as a celebration of choral arts. Conducted by Matthew Melendez, the Great Bend Chorale performs the world premiere of the group's commissioned work by composer John Muehleisen. When: Friday, May 24, 7 p.m. Where: Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, 881 Seventh Ave. Price: Free-$50 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets Story continues Jazz Cruise From the event description: Take in New York City's famous harbor aboard the 1920s-style yacht Manhattan while listening to live jazz. There will be beer, wine or champagne included as part of your ticket during this two-hour cruise. When: Friday, May 24, 7:30 p.m. Where: Yacht Manhattan, Pier 62, 62 Chelsea Piers Price: $50.40 Click here for more details, and to get your tickets This story was created automatically using local event data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. New York (AFP) - President Donald Trump has steadfastly refused to make public his tax returns, but lawmakers in New York state on Wednesday passed a bill that may allow for them to be published against his wishes. The text -- which Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to sign -- would clear a path for tax officials in his home state to offer some of the documents to Congress. After a first vote in the state Senate earlier this month, the state Assembly, a Democratic stronghold, adopted the measure, according to a spokeswoman. The bill would allow the tax returns of Trump and other local and federal officials to be handed over to congressional committees, as long as there is a "specified and legitimate legislative purpose." Cuomo is a virulent Trump critic, so he is certain to sign the measure. US taxpayers generally submit two income tax returns: one to federal tax authorities and the other to state officials. They also file with local officials to handle property and other municipal taxes. Any documents handed over to Congress by New York tax officials about Trump's taxes would offer a first glimpse into the financial situation of the billionaire real estate mogul-turned-president. Democrats have long criticized Trump for refusing to release his tax returns, as past presidents have done for the last four decades. Since before the 2016 election, he has claimed that his personal and corporate annual income statements have been under audit by the Internal Revenue Service and cannot be released. His Democratic opponents suspect him of using accounting and other loopholes to avoid paying taxes. The New York Times reported that based on an analysis of IRS records, Trump reported losses of nearly $1.2 billion between 1985 and 1994, and may have been able to carry over those losses for years afterwards to minimize his tax bills. This month, the US Treasury refused to hand over the documents to lawmakers, defying a congressional subpoena. Story continues Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told Democrat Richard Neal, the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, that the committee "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose" to demand Trump's tax returns -- the same standard adopted in New York. The text passed in New York state confirms that lawmakers want to help congressional Democrats in their battle with Trump. On Tuesday, New York state lawmakers adopted another anti-Trump text, this one aimed at allowing state prosecutors to go after recipients of presidential pardons -- including those in Trump's inner circle. NEW YORK, May 22 (Reuters) - New York state's legislature on Wednesday passed a bill that would make it easier for U.S. congressional committees investigating President Donald Trump to get access to his state tax returns. The Democratic-controlled state Assembly and Senate voted along party lines on the measure, which would circumvent his refusal to hand over his federal tax returns to Congress. New York Republicans who opposed the bill called it an abuse of power that fed into the political designs of Democrats in Washington, the Albany Times-Union reported. It now goes to Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo for final approval. Trump has refused to release any of his tax returns, breaking a decades-long tradition of U.S. presidents making their personal finances public to demonstrate that they have no conflicts of interest. Although the bill does not name Trump, it allows the state Department of Taxation and Finance to share state tax return information with a congressional committee that requests it. Much of the information submitted in New York state tax returns is similar to that on federal forms. Trump and Democrats who control the U.S. House of Representatives are locked in a battle over their ability to investigate him. The president is stonewalling multiple congressional investigations by ignoring subpoenas, refusing to allow current and former advisers to testify, and not handing over documents. For example the U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee requested Trump's federal tax returns by subpoena but the request was denied by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Trump's personal home and the headquarters for his business are in New York, requiring him to file state tax returns in addition to his federal returns. "New York has a unique role to help head off the constitutional crisis brewing between Congress and the White House over refusal to comply with the request for Donald Trump's tax returns," said the bill's sponsor, Senator Brad Hoylman, according to the Times-Union. "We are affirming Congress' role as a co-equal branch of government and the sacred constitutional principle that nobody is above the law, not even the highest elected official in the land." Story continues In comments to reporters on Wednesday, Trump criticized Democrats for continuing their wide-ranging follow-up to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. "I don't do cover-ups," Trump said, responding to a charge made by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just moments ago. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the New York legislation. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta; editing by Jonathan Oatis) NEWS PROVIDED BY Catholic League May 22, 2019 NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /Standard Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a Catholic church vandalized in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania: On Sunday, pro-abortion activists vandalized Notre Dame de Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania. On the three glass front doors of the church, the vandals spray-painted a pro-abortion message, "You do not have the right to decide what people can do, #ProChoice." The same inscription was painted on the side of the church. This is the kind of hate speech we have come to expect in an environment where the abortion-happy Hollywood elite are promoting retaliation against pro-life Christians. Swarthmore enjoys a liberal-left reputation, one that is a safe haven for pro-abortion activists. It's a sure bet the vandals didn't take a bus from Philly to desecrate the church. A flamingo was euthanized Monday at an Indiana zoo after an elementary school student threw a rock at it. The student was visiting the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington, Ind. when the child struck the bird, breaking its leg. In an email to The Pantagraph, a Bloomington news outlet, zoo superintendent Jay Tetzloff explained that, Unfortunately, staff determined the best course of action given the animals injuries was to euthanize the bird. The Pantagraph also reported that the zoo was working with the juveniles family to move forward, but that they will not be changing the layout of the flamingo enclosure. The zoo declined to comment further when contacted by TIME. Flamingos, known for their bright pink plumage, live in groups that are aptly named flamboyances. In spite of their delicate appearance, the birds are hearty and thrive in harsh climates. However, flamingo expert Dr. Felicity Aregno tells TIME it would be very easy to injure a flamingos leg. Their legs are extremely thin and they are not covered by muscle, she says. Miller Parks flamingos are from the Greater Flamingo subspecies, the most widespread variety of the bird; Greater Flamingos are not considered endangered or threatened in the wild, and in captivity they can live up to 60 years. Aregno says that unlike some other animals, flamingos typically do well in zoos. They are able to reproduce and become self-sustaining while in captivity. She added that it is worthwhile to keep flamingos in captivity because zoos have great educational purpose, and as most people would otherwise never get a chance to see them up-close. This is the latest incident in a string of bad behavior from zoo-goers in the United States. In March, a woman in Arizona was attacked by a jaguar while reaching over a barrier to take a selfie. The woman later apologized to the zoo and admitted it was her fault. Last July, a teenager stole a lemur from the Santa Ana Zoo and then left it outside a local hotel with a note asking for someone to return it. He pleaded guilty last week to one misdemeanor count of unlawfully taking an endangered species. Story continues In some cases, these encounters have also had tragic consequences for the animals involved. Perhaps most famously, in 2016 a lowland gorilla named Harambe was shot and killed at the Cincinnati Zoo after a child climbed into his enclosure. The event provoked national outrage and became a viral meme. Correction, May 22 The original version of this story misstated the flamingo experts last name. It is Aregno, not Argento. The Netherlands' Duncan Laurence has made an impassioned plea for tolerance following his win at the Eurovision Song Contest. The show is taking place at Tel Aviv's Expo Center, starting at 10 p.m. Saturday (1900 GMT.) Some 200 million people around the world are expected to be watching. The 26 contestants in the Grand Final of the 64th Eurovision Song Contest have finished their acts. In response, Madonna released a statement to Reuters stating she would continue to perform, but hoped for peace in the future. Italy won runner up, with Russian Federation third. Scandinavian neighbors Norway won the televote with 291 points, the Netherlands were second with 261 points with Italy in third place with 253, Russian Federation 4th with 244 and Switzerland 5th with 212. Last September, more than 100 artists co-signed an open letter asking the Contest to move the competition from Israel, citing an incident in May where the Israeli army killed 62 Palestinian protesters and injured hundreds more in Gaza. "I hope and pray that we will soon break free from this bad cycle of destruction and create a new path towards peace". Iceland's entry, Hatari, displayed scarfs with Palestinian flags as the results were being announced, forcing Israeli TV to cut away quickly. The EBU said the political display "directly contradicts the contest rules". Fans had to pass through metal detectors and multiple security checks as armed patrols looked on from elevated positions. In the south of the city, a beachside area was sealed off for a "Eurovision Village" spectators pavilion, where fans from different countries danced and watched the event on big screens. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement claimed that Israel was "shamelessly using Eurovision as part of its official Brand Israel strategy" to "whitewash and distract attention from its war crimes against Palestinians". "Know that an entire people is supporting you", a statement from the premier's office said. Most countries went through preliminary competition to qualify for the final, while five core European countries - Britain, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain - as well as host nation Israel received automatic berths. In his tweet, Waters referred to Eurovision as "bulls**t" in what he described as "apartheid" Tel Aviv, of which he said he disapproved. He said: "The main thing I wanted to do was come and sing my heart out and make my country proud". The One Job in Banking That Needs More Men (Bloomberg) -- Finance is a male-dominated realm. But theres one corner where women are everywhere: the virtual world of digital assistants. Bank of America Corp. customers can ask for Erica. In Paris, millennials with their savings at Hello bank! reach out to HelloiZ (pronounced Eloise). HSBC Holdings Plc has Amy standing by with advice. In Sweden, SEBs Aida is waiting to help. Meanwhile, on the trading floor of AllianceBernstein Holding LP, it's Abbie who assists the bond traders with their deals. For an industry where men outnumber women at least three to one in the upper echelons, the propensity to give virtual assistants female names, personas and in some cases, voices, is coming under greater scrutiny for perpetuating sexist stereotypes. Many executives interviewed by Bloomberg defended their use of female-gendered bots by citing research that shows both men and women prefer female voices to male ones. But this doesnt exempt companies from the responsibility to proactively combat prevailing norms, according to Heather Andrew, chief executive officer at Neuro-Insight U.K., a London-based firm that conducts research into how men and women respond to different voices. There is an opportunity for those that are forward-thinking to do something about the stereotypes, Andrew said. Brands and companies should be thinking about the tone of voice much more than they are. Neuro-Insight research shows that while people do tend to prefer the feminine voice, they also recall more information when its delivered by a male voice. According to Andrew, both findings correspond to oversimplified stereotypes of women as comforters and men as authorities. Using bots with feminine personas is hardly isolated to banks. Just look at Siri, Cortana and Alexa, the digital assistants for Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Amazon.com Inc., respectively. Googles digital assistant doesn't have a defined gender, although its default voice is feminine. These companies have cited the same research showing people prefer female voices; more recently theyve introduced the ability for users to switch to a male voice. So far, most banks arent doing that. Story continues There are exceptions, like Commonwealth Bank of Australias payments tablet Albert. But by and large, as banks rolled out bots in the past few years, theyve opted for feminine ones. Done poorly, we repeat the sins or the biasesthe risks of the past Thats not necessarily surprising for an industry where gender imbalance has long been entrenched. Aside from the management bias toward men, there are two women for every man in support staff roles at banks, according to consulting firm Mercer. Banking officials interviewed said they didn't really consider the gender politics of their bots explicitly and chose female personas for branding reasons or because, during market research, customers responded better to female names and voices. The idea for the name and persona of Abbie, Alliance Bernsteins bond-trading digital assistant, came through an informal discussion over the internal group messaging app, according to Gavin Romm, a money manager for high-yield debt. There were two main requirements for the name: it had to be easily identifiable for natural language-processing algorithms, a machine-learning software that can understand text; and it had to reflect AllianceBernsteins brand. We all refer to AllianceBerstein as AB, Romm said by email. This led our chat conversation down the path of names that start with the letters AbAbigail, AbernathyAbby. We needed something less common, and Abbie was born. Bank of America also chose Erica because its team liked the play on America, according to Christian Kitchell, an executive in charge of AI Solutions. They also did focus-group testing of the persona and voice of the assistant. Everything we do tends to be data-driven, Kitchell said. We got very, very clear signals from our customers that the voice we have gone with was their favorite. Speaking at a tech conference in New York last week, his colleague Cathy Bessant, Bank of Americas chief operations and technology officer, said digital assistants probably tend to be women because were super smart. But algorithms are only as sensitive as the humans that program them, she added in an interview with Bloomberg Television. A firm could, for instance, use AI to quickly hire a large number of candidates using past policiesbut if it wanted to create a more diverse workforce, the algorithms would need to be retooled. Done well, they should leverage the best of what human behavior and human judgment is. Done poorly, we repeat the sins or the biasesthe risks of the past, she said, adding the lender was studying the responsible use of AI with Harvard University. Just because customers participating in focus groups might be conditioned to react a certain way to a certain voice doesn't mean companies necessarily need to play into those prejudices, according to Andrew at Neuro-Insight. Done poorly, we repeat the sins or the biasesthe risks of the past Vive la difference seems to be the attitude at French bank BNP Paribas toward the gender politics of its digital assistants. It opted for two different personas: the male persona Telmi for its BNP banking clients who are older and more traditional; and the female persona called HelloiZ for Hello bank!, its digital-banking sibling that appeals more to younger clients. We are maybe naive, but for us it was not a debate, Ariel Steinmann, head of digital marketing for BNP and Hello bank!, referring to gender politics. What is important for us is the customer experience. This generational divide suggests stereotypes are changing. A closer look at the Neuro-Insight research revealed that it was primarily older men who took in far more information if it was coming from male voices. Younger people in the study, by contrast, seemed to have more equal recall between genders. I think we will eventually see an end to the default that a virtual assistant should have a female name, said Jeremy Pounder, the director of marketing firm Mindshare, which did the research with Neuro-Insight. We might see a trend toward gender-neutral names and personas. To contact the authors of this story: Jeremy Kahn in London at jkahn21@bloomberg.netLananh Nguyen in New York at lnguyen35@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Hertling at jhertling@bloomberg.net, Daliah Merzaban For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2019 Bloomberg L.P. South African lawmakers were set to re-elect Cyril Ramaphosa as the nation's president on Wednesday, two weeks after the ANC returned to power in legislative elections. MPs from the African National Congress, which won 230 out of 400 seats on May 8, will choose the head of state in the parliament's first post-election sitting. The ANC won the ballot with 57.5 percent of the vote, its thinnest majority since the end of apartheid. Lawmakers were sworn in before the maiden session starting at 2.00 p.m. (1200 GMT). The next president will be sworn in on Saturday and name a deputy president and cabinet at the weekend. Under South Africa's 1996 constitution, electors vote for a party, and the party selects individuals who go to the National Assembly, which then chooses the head of state. Ramaphosa, 66, is a trade unionist who played a prominent part in the struggle against white minority rule before becoming a successful business after the end of apartheid. He will be serving his first full five-year term since taking over last year from Jacob Zuma who was forced out over a series of corruption scandals. Ramaphosa's first test as he starts his new term will be his choice of a cabinet -- a task beset by rival factions within the ANC. - Shadow of scandals - Prospects of a major reshuffle were heightened hours before Ramaphosa's expected return to office, when Deputy President David Mabuza announced he would defer taking his oath as a lawmaker. In a report, the ANC's integrity commission alleged Mabuza -- the party's No. 2 -- "prejudiced the integrity of the ANC and brought the organisation into disrepute". His name has repeatedly come up in media reports for corruption and political killings, when he was premier of the eastern Mpumalanga province before becoming vice president last year. He became the ANC's vice president in December 2017 when Ramaphosa was elected party leader. "We have accepted and agreed to a request by the deputy president... to postpone his swearing-in," party spokesman Zizi Kodwa said on local TV news channel ENCA. Kodwa said it was not a given that Mabuza, as the party's vice president, would become the nation's deputy president. "The fact that he is deputy president of the ANC is not a guarantee or guarantor of a position of the deputy president of the republic," said Kodwa. Another senior ANC official, outgoing environment minister Nomvula Mokonyane, who has been named in the ongoing judicial inquiry into state corruption, has also pulled out and will not be an MP. The main opposition Democratic Alliance's chief whip in parliament, John Steenhuisen said the last-minute withdrawal by two senior ANC members is "very clearly a sign that something is afoot in the ANC". "It is completely bizarre ...and telling the divisions that exist within the governing party are continuing to exist and we are seeing manifestations of the various factions now playing out," said Steenhuisen. Oath of office: Mandla Mandela, centre, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, was sworn in alongside other newly-elected MPs Ramaphosa, pictured as he arrived to cast his vote in Soweto on May 8, faces a struggle between factions within the ANC Composition of the South African parliament A French-Spanish nun has been brutally murdered in a village in the Central African Republic where she taught sewing to young girls, the Vatican said Wednesday. The 77-year old was found beheaded early Monday in the southwestern town of Nola according to the Vatican News website, while a bishop in CAR said her throat had been slit. Pope Francis paid tribute to the nun on Wednesday, describing the murder of a woman "who gave her life for Jesus in the service of the poor" as "barbaric". He called for those gathered in Saint Peter's Square for his weekly general audience to pray in silence for her. "Her attackers broke into her room on the night between Sunday and Monday and took her to the centre she was running for the young girls, where they beheaded her," Vatican News said. "According to a local member of parliament, the murder could be linked to trafficking in human organs," the site adds. A spokesman for the diocese of Burgos in Spain told AFP a bishop in the Central African Republic had described the state of the nun's body. "They cut her neck to the point of killing her, but they didn't cut off her head completely," he said. The bishop said the motives for her murder were not known and "no terrorist organisation" has claimed responsibility for it, the spokesman added. The bishop of the diocese of Berberati led the funeral for Ines Nieves Sancho on Tuesday, he said. - 'Not take anything' - The vice general of the diocese of Berberati, Isaie Koffia, told AFP that the nun was murdered on Sunday afternoon. "Strangers entered the back gate and dragged her into the bush behind the house to slaughter her. They did not take anything at all, they just came to kill her," he added. The nun belonged to the small congregation of the "Filles de Jesus", or "Daughters of Jesus", which is based in Massac-Seran in southwestern France. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took to Twitter to express his "condolences and affection for Ines' family" as well as for a Spanish missionary, Fernando Hernandez, who was killed on Saturday in Burkina Faso. Hernandez, a 60-year-old member of the Salesian congregation in Bobo-Dioulasso, "was attacked by knives by a former employee who was fired two months ago," according to the website of the Salesian congregation, salesianos.info. He is the second Salesian to have been murdered in Burkina Faso this year. In February Antonio Cesar Fernandez, 72, was the victim of a "jihadist attack", according to the website. CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly-Muslim Seleka rebels. Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 percent of the CAR, often fighting over access to the country's mineral wealth. Thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December last year. Map of Central African Republic locating Nola, where a 77-year-old nun was murdered, the Vatican said That's so young, honestly... One of my coworkers died in his sleep last Tuesday, he was only in his late 40s. It's so terrifying to think that you can be young and decently fit but just not wake up one day :/ Reply Thread Link That's so sad. I'm not familiar with him, but that description reminds me of a Matt Pinfield/Dave Holmes type music personality, which are my favorites. Reply Thread Link Bookie was always on the radio as I was growing up. I didn't know much about him but I knew his name/voice. He'd host the "Sunday Morning Rock Show" of rock songs they don't usually play on the radio. Just a few weeks back I was listening to it. Sigh. Reply Parent Thread Link 102 is such a great radio station. I discovered so many good bands listening to it Reply Thread Link We pretty much only listen to either 102 or Boom 97 when we're driving now Reply Parent Thread Link Goddamn that's sad. I've been listening to Bookie for years and have been a long time fan. My heart goes out to his friends and family. Reply Thread Link So many people lately have had brain aneurysms, it is scary. Reply Thread Link https://theconcourse.deadspin.com/the-night-the-lights-went-out-1834298070?sud2elhp9 One of the Deadspin writers had one in December and survived, but it was rough for him. He wrote a column about it last week. Reply Parent Thread Link damn that was a read. how horrifying. Reply Parent Thread Link RIP, I loved him on Indie 88 Reply Thread Link Such a bummer. I saw it first thing this morning and my partner said shed heard that he was hospitalized Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link He was one those radio personalities everyone liked and its a damn shame to see him gone so soon. (Also its wild to see Toronto Mike mentioned in ONTD) Reply Thread Link came here to say this exact thing about seeing Toronto Mike on here!!! Reply Parent Thread Link RIP Bookie :( Reply Thread Link Such a champion of local, new and unknown artists...he will be missed. Reply Thread Link For anyone here who loves Bookie - the recap between Toronto Mike and Marc of 1236 will be an amazing show. You will not want to miss it. Reply Thread Link Oh man thats so sad. :( Reply Thread Link So sad but all the heartfelt tributes are incredibly beautiful. Really shows you what kind of man he was. Reply Thread Link rip Reply Thread Link More than 100 giant stone jars, thought to have been used in burial rituals thousands of years ago, have been rediscovered at ancient sites in forests, on hillsides and along mountain ridges in remote central Laos. Local legends include a story that the enormous stone jars were made by giants, who used the vessels to brew rice beer to celebrate a victory in war. More mysterious giant jars of the dead unearthed in Laos. Picture by ANU The carved stone jars dubbed jars of the dead by scientists are scattered across miles of the rugged, tiger-haunted Xiangkhouang province. But nothing is known about the people who originally made the jars. Several human burials, thought to be around 2,500 years old, have been found at some of these sites in Laos, but nothing is known about the people who originally made the jars. An expedition of archaeologists from Laos and Australia visited the Xiangkhouang region in February and March this year to document known jar sites and to search for new jars-of-the-dead sites and stone quarries. The new finds show that the mysterious culture that made the stone jars was geographically more widespread than previously thought, said Louise Shewan, an archaeologist at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and one of the expedition leaders. The largest and best-known jar site is the famous Plain of Jars, located in relatively open country near the town of Phonsavan. That site contains around 400 carved stone jars, some as tall as 10 feet (3 m) and weighing more than 10 tons (9,000 kilograms), and the first archaeological investigation of it was made in the 1930s. But Shewan said that the majority of the jar sites usually contained fewer than 60 carved stone jars, and were found in forested and mountainous terrain surrounding the Plain of Jars, spread over thousands of square miles. Archaeologists from The Australian National University (ANU) have discovered 15 new sites in Laos containing more than one hundred 1000-year-old massive and mysterious giant stone jars possibly used for the dead. Picture by ANU Ancient stone jars The search for new jar sites took the expedition into extremely rugged, forested terrain, as the researchers looked for ancient relics reported by local people. Relying on local knowledge meant the archaeologists could avoid the ever-present danger of unexploded Vietnam War-era bombs, she said. U.S. warplanes dropped an estimated 270 million cluster bombs on Laos during the war. The Laos government agency that oversees clearance efforts reports that more than 80 million unexploded bombs are scattered around the country. The latest expedition, in addition to accurately mapping many of the reported sites in the Xiangkhouang region, found 15 new jar sites, containing a total of 137 ancient stone jars. Shewan said that the newly discovered jars were similar to those found on the Plain of Jars, but some varied in the types of stone that they were made from, their shapes and the way the rims of the jars were formed. Burial rituals Local legends include a story that the enormous stone jars were made by giants, who used the vessels to brew rice beer to celebrate a victory in war. But archaeologists think that at least some of the carved stone jars were used to hold dead bodies for a time, before their bones would be cleaned and buried. Although the remains of elaborate human burials have been found at some of the jar sites, archaeologists arent sure if the jars were made for the purpose of the burials or if the burials were performed later. Excavations in 2016 revealed that some of the stone jars were surrounded by pits filled with human bones and by graves covered by large carved disks of stone. These appear to have been used to mark the grave locations. The latest expedition also found buried disks and other artifacts. Those included several beautifully carved stone disks, decorated on one side with concentric circles, human figures and animals. Curiously, the stone discs were always buried with the carved side face down. Decorative carving is relatively rare at the jar sites, and we dont know why some disks have animal imagery and others have geometric designs, expedition co-leader Dougald OReilly, an archaeologist at Australian National University in Canberra, said in a statement. The excavations around some of the stone jars also revealed decorative ceramics, glass beads, iron tools, decorative disks that were worn in the ears and spindle whorls for cloth making. Researchers also discovered several miniature clay jars that looked just like the giant stone jars and that were buried with the dead. Giants once roamed the Earth Thats for sure! And if you want more information about Ancient Giants, you should watch: True Legends Episode 3: Holocaust of Giants by Steve Quayle or read Steve Quayles book Genesis 6 Giants Volume 2. Follow us: Facebook and Twitter. By the way you can also support us on Paypal. Please and thank you! [anu.prezly, Journal.washington.edu, LiveScience] The heightened tension in the Middle East and security risks in the key waterways around the Arabian Peninsula have prompted the worlds most influential marine insurers organizations to expand their high-risk areas in and around the Persian Gulfa region which now represents the highest risk to oil tanker traffic in nearly a decade and a half. The higher perceived risks for oil shipping around many of the worlds most important chokepoints could lead to higher insurance costs for the dozens of millions of barrels of oil per day that pass through the key oil shipping lanes in the region, and could sift through in higher crude oil prices, industry executives tell The Wall Street Journal. Following last weeks incidents near the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a drone attack on a key onshore oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia, the Joint War Committee of Lloyds Market Associationwhich includes underwriting representatives from both the Lloyds and the International Underwriting Association (IUA) of Londonraised the security-risk status of several areas in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waterways. The committee added Oman, the UAE, the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters including the Gulf of Oman west of Longitude 58E, to its so-called Listed Areasareas of perceived enhanced risk. Last week Saudi Arabia said that two of its oil tankers were attacked by saboteurs near the UAE, while the UAE said that a total four vessels were attacked off its coast at the port of Fujairah, which is the worlds second-largest bunkering port, according to the EIA. A day later, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported that two pumping stations along Aramcos East-West oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia were attacked by explosive-laden drones, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said, describing the attack as one of terrorism and sabotage. The enmity between Iran and Saudi Arabia continues to create tensions as the Saudis believe Iran is trying to control strategic waterways. The recent tightening of Iranian sanctions by the US administration will raise tension in Iran and cause difficulties for Asian buyers, Lloyds Market Associations Joint War Committee said upon announcing its expanded list of higher-risk areas in the Middle East. Very little information is to hand about the explosions at Fujairah anchorage on 12th May and the circumstances and methods employed remain unclear. There is no doubt that considerable damage was done and there will be significant claims, the committee added. This expanded list of areas of perceived enhanced risk is the highest security risk in the region since the Iraq war in 2005, according to Bloomberg. In the Middle East, the committees Listed Areas now include Iran, Iraq including all Iraqi offshore oil terminals, Israel, Lebanon, Oman, the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters including the Gulf of Oman, the Gulf coast of Saudi Arabia, the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia excluding transits, Syria, the UAE, and Yemen. That does not automatically mean that every ship will be charged an additional premium that is a decision for the individual underwriter having assessed the specifics of the voyage in negotiation with the broker, Neil Roberts, Head of Marine Underwriting at Lloyds Market Association, told the Financial Times. Related: War With Iran Could Send Oil To $250 The Strait of Hormuz is the worlds most important chokepoint, which Iran has repeatedly threatened to close if its denied exporting its oil. (Click to enlarge) Source: EIA As many as 18.5 million bpd passed through the Strait of Hormuz in 2016, the EIA estimates. Some 80 percent of the crude oil shipped through the Strait of Hormuz goes to Asian markets, the EIA has estimated using data from Lloyds List Intelligence tanker tracking service. Apart from the Strait of Hormuz, there are two other chokepoints around the Arabian Peninsula the Suez Canal and SUMED Pipeline in Egypt, and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait offshore Yemen. Although the Lloyds Market Association areas of perceived enhanced risk is a non-binding assessment of shipping security risks, insurers generally follow heightened risk status by the London marine insurers. If the marine insurance industry starts considering the area as being at higher risk, the cost of insuring oil tankers passing through the chokepoints around the Arabian Peninsula could rise. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Arabia, the worlds largest oil exporter, and de facto OPEC leader, is trying to calm global oil market jitters, and at least for now, its working. Saudi Arabia's council of ministers said on Wednesday that the kingdom "will do everything in its power to prevent any war and its hand is always extended to peace," adding the government was committed "to achieving balance in the (oil) market and working towards its stability on a sustainable basis." The statement also came less than a day after the American Petroleum Institute (API) said that U.S. crude stockpiles rose by 2.4 million barrels (bpd) last week, to 480.2 million barrels, compared with analysts expectations for a decrease of 599,000 barrels. Both developments put downward pressure on global oil prices in early Wednesday trading. These developments also come as the OPEC+ group of producers, which includes production heavyweights Saudi Arabia and Russia, stick to their plan of removing 1.2 million bpd of oil from global markets. Due to the OPEC+ supply cut as well as geopolitical factors in Iran, Venezuela, and Libya, both global oil benchmarks are up around a third since the start of last year. Hollow pledge? Saudi Arabias pledge to do everything in its power to prevent war has to be examined more closely. The kingdom would be expected to make such a statement, even as tensions between it and regional foe Iran heighten due to attacks on two oil tankers last week carrying Saudi oil as well as attacks on key oil pumping infrastructure in Saudi Arabia that Riyadh blames on Iranian influence. Related: Permian Pipeline Protesters May Face Decade Behind Bars Tehran has denied it was behind the attacks which also come as Washington and the Islamic republic spar over sanctions and the U.S. military presence in the region, raising concerns about a potential U.S.-Iran conflict. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have also reached perhaps their worst level since the 1979 Iranian Revolution that saw the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, a key U.S. ally, the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran and the capture and detainment of 52 U.S. citizens and diplomats for 444 days from Nov. 4, 1979 to Jan. 20, 1981. Moreover, Saudi Arabia's assertion to avert war is not lining up with its actions, nor even its earlier rhetoric. At the end of last week, Riyadh also said it wanted to avert war in the region but stood ready to respond with "all strength and determination" after the attacks on Saudi oil assets, a senior official said, adding that the ball was now in Iran's court. Two case scenarios At the end of the day, it remains to be seen how current tensions play out. Knowing that it cant match the one-two knockout punch of U.S.-Saudi military alliance, its likely that Iran will continue to pick at the edges, using its proxies in the region, including Iraq and Yemen, to attack Saudi and U.S. interests. Its a calculated risk on Tehrans part which appears to not have an end game in mind. If Tehran continues to provoke both Washington and Riyadh, it is doing so against its own best interests which is to have crippling U.S. sanctions against its oil and other sectors removed. In other words, the best way to influence the hawkish Trump Administration is not by escalating tensions in the region. The best-case scenario is that Iran will tone down both its rhetoric and its militarism in the region. Doing so would both calm global oil markets and help avoid a possible military confrontation. The worst-case scenario would see Iran continue its provocation of U.S. and Saudi interests, even initiating attacks on oil shipping in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This would prompt a major military repose from Washington. Under the worst-case scenario, the strait of Hormuz, which sees around one third of all seaborne global oil supply pass, would be shut down, even if temporarily, sending cataclysmic shock waves through global oil markets. The impact on the price of oil would be anybodys guess, but a prolonged hike in oil prices would send prices high enough to create demand destruction, the point at which consumers turn to alternative energy sources to avoid the high price of oil, as well as unsettling oil markets in ways not seen in decades. By Tim Daiss for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The breakeven cost of producing oil from U.S. shale is roughly the same as non-shale, despite the tidal wave of investment into the sector. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the breakeven prices for producing oil in the Delaware Basin is $49 per barrel and $48 per barrel in the Midland Basin, both of which are in the Permian. Meanwhile, what the Dallas Fed classifies as other U.S. nonshale has a breakeven of $49 per barrel. So, despite all the hype, shale is not more competitive on a cost basis than conventional and offshore production. Notably, the breakeven price for the Permian outside of the Midland and Delaware basins is $54 per barrel on average. The Eagle Ford sits at $51, and the SCOOP/STACK in Oklahoma at $53. To be sure, the Dallas Fed notes that these are high-level numbers and dont account for the enormous amount of variation. The best acreage in the Permian has breakeven prices that are routinely lower on average than other locations. Bloomberg New Energy Finance says that breakeven prices in the Permian range from $46 per barrel in Loving County but shoot up to as high as $87 per barrel in Reagan County. Also, there breakeven prices vary quite a bit between companies, even within the same basic location. [W]ithin the Permian Basin, for example, individual responses to the most recent survey ranged from $23 to $70, the Dallas Fed noted. While shale may have roughly a similar breakeven price as other conventional sources of oil in the U.S., the massive wave of shale output has succeeded in lowering oil prices more broadly. More importantly, because the breakeven price of shale tends to hover between $40 and $60, a much larger volume of oil can come online when prices rise to the upper end of that range. It used to be the case that it would take triple-digit oil prices in order to induce more supply. Related: Saudi Arabia Scrambles To Calm Oil Markets (Click to enlarge) Another implication is that long-dated oil futures prices are likely to be correlated with these breakeven thresholds. In theory, though not in practice, long-term oil prices should be anchored to the marginal cost of supply. Because shale increasingly accounts for that marginal barrel more supply comes online when prices rise to the roughly $50-$60 range U.S. shale could keep a lid on prices for years to come, the Dallas Fed argues. Similarly, the fast-depleting nature of shale ensures that prices cant fall too low. As soon as crude prices fall below the breakevens price for shale operators, drilling stops and existing wells quickly deplete, knocking supply offline. That firms up the price. This is a version of the shale band theory popularized a few years ago following the 2014 oil market collapse. While oil has temporarily traded outside of the $40-$60 range prices crashed below $30 in 2016 and spiked above $70 for WTI last year they tend to revert back to that range. Rystad Energy says that U.S. shale will add another 1.1 to 1.2 million barrels per day (mb/d) this year, despite the slow start to the year. Over the medium-term, the IEA says the U.S. will make up the lions share of production growth. This does not rule out the possibility of major oil price movements, but it does point to a strong tendency that oil prices will be range bound in the near future, the Dallas Fed concluded. Related: Bearish EIA Data Sends Oil Lower One large caveat to this thesis is that breakeven prices often dont fully explain profitability, or the lack thereof. In fact, oil prices used to trade above $100 per barrel, but the shale industry burned through hundreds of billions of dollars. To date, despite lower breakeven prices, the industry is still largely cash flow negative. Even last year, which the IEA expected to be the first year that U.S. shale would become profitable, drillers still burned through capital. Reuters surveyed 29 of the top independent shale companies and all but seven of them were cash flow negative. The group spent $6.69 billion more than they generated. Marathon Oils CEO Lee Tillman said that positive cash flow was aspirational, according to Reuters. A separate Wall Street Journal survey from last year of the 30 largest shale producers found a combined $1.7 billion in profits in 2017, after the group burned through $50 billion in losses over the previous five years and over $100 billion in losses over the last 10 years. In reality there is a bifurcated market of companies in distress and other companies doing better. As Bloomberg noted, this years best-performing stock in the oil sector is Hess Corp., which doesnt have any operations in the Permian. The drilling boom has been made possible by rock-bottom interest rates and a wave of finance from Wall Street. But with years of capital going up in smoke, its not clear how long Wall Street will stomach the losses. The industry is inching closer to positive cash flow, and may in fact reach that goal this year. But, for investors, there are heftier returns in other businesses, such as new energy tech. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: - Some 15 distressed Aframax cargoes were stuck in the Baltic Sea after traditional Urals buyers refused to allow cargoes from Ust-Luga Chinese appetite for risk has cleared more than half of contaminated volumes. - At least two VLCCs are currently en route to China, MT New Comfort and MT Amyntas, having loaded contaminated Urals from Aframaxes in the region via STS transfer. - The Russian organic chloride contamination saga is edging to its end as Chinese refineries bought most of the crude that was sitting idle in the Baltic Sea for days. As of Wednesday afternoon, global benchmark Brent traded at 70.5-71 USD per barrel, whilst WTI was assessed at 61.2-61.4 USD per barrel. As the US-China trade war seems to be spiraling out of control, not even the renewed conflict potential in the Middle East and ever-tight physical crude supply were enough to produce a more substantial crude price jump. For much of the past seven days, crude prices remained in a limbo when an array of various factors seemed to counteract each other first global economic growth forecasts for 2019 were cut, then Middle Eastern safety concerns sprung up, then tight supply came into prominence again, only to be eventually overpowered by another buildup of US commercial crude inventories. As the US-China trade war seems to be spiraling out of control, not even the renewed conflict potential in the Middle East and ever-tight physical crude supply were enough to produce a more substantial crude price jump. For much of the past seven days, crude prices remained in a limbo when an array of various factors seemed to counteract each other first global economic growth forecasts for 2019 were cut, then Middle Eastern safety concerns sprung up, then tight supply came into prominence again, only to be eventually overpowered by another buildup of US commercial crude inventories. As of Wednesday afternoon, global benchmark Brent traded at 70.5-71 USD per barrel, whilst WTI was assessed at 61.2-61.4 USD per barrel. 1. Traders Sell Contaminated Russian Crude to Asia - The Russian organic chloride contamination saga is edging to its end as Chinese refineries bought most of the crude that was sitting idle in the Baltic Sea for days. - At least two VLCCs are currently en route to China, MT New Comfort and MT Amyntas, having loaded contaminated Urals from Aframaxes in the region via STS transfer. - Some 15 distressed Aframax cargoes were stuck in the Baltic Sea after traditional Urals buyers refused to allow cargoes from Ust-Luga Chinese appetite for risk has cleared more than half of contaminated volumes. - As per market reports, global trading house Vitol sold a VLCC to Chinese teapot refiner Bora Group, with Unipec sending the other VLCC to the Eastern Chinese port of Ningbo. - Affected traders like Vitol or Trafigura were reluctant to offer double-digit discounts to European customers and pinner their hopes instead on Saudi Arabias oil-burning power plants. - In the end, however, it was China which seems to be eager to take in the contaminated crude as the corroding qualities of organic chlorides make it dangerous for the Saudis to power burn. 2. Alaskan North Slope Rising to Highest Ever Premium - The Alaskan North Slope (ANS) has hit a record-high premium to ICE Brent this week, with July delivery cargoes trading at as much as a 1.35 USD per barrel premium over September ICE Brent. - West Coast refiners have grown a very strong liking for ANS, on the back of arbitration being largely out of question right now due to a relatively extensive WTI-Brent spread. - Adding to the appreciation of ANS is the gradual decline of Alaskan production having peaked at 2mbpd in 1988, Alaska now produces less than 0.5mbpd. - ANS is a 32 API and 0.95 percent Sulphur content medium grade a perfect fit for California refineries which are generally configured to process heavy crude. - Even if the West Coasts (currently quite limited) access to US shale crude were to be improved, Californias refiners would still probably prefer running imported Canadian crude. 3. Nigerias OSPs Bounce Back from May Drop - The Nigerian oil company NNPC has raised the official selling prices for June-loading cargoes by 20-40 cents per barrel, bouncing back from the May price drop. - The OSP hike was largely anticipated as European refining margins for gasoline the indicator of European demand for WAF crudes - overcame the early spring slackness and surged, especially the FOB Rotterdam. - Qua Iboe, Forcados and Escravos have risen to their highest in years, at hefty premiums to Dated Brent (+1.71 / +1.96 / +1.68 respectively). - Despite both Bonny Light and Amenam declared force majeure for most of May 2019 after one of the pipelines caught fire, local sources indicate that the loading schedule has so far been kept. - June crude loadings are expected to surpass 2mbpd for the first time this year, in a quite evident breach of the January-June OPEC+ Agreement which caps Nigerian exports at 1.69mbpd. - The emergence of new streams, such as the 150kbpd Total-operated Egina field, make it increasingly difficult for the cash-strapped federal government to comply with global commitments. 4. Iran Puts Brave Face on Sorry Business - The Iranian national oil company NIOC raised all its June-loading official selling prices, in line with other Middle Eastern producers. - NIOC hiked the prices of Asia Pacific-bound cargoes by 0.35 and 0.65 USD per barrel for Iranian Heavy and Iranian Light cargoes, respectively, still a bit lower than the 0.4-1.2 USD per barrel increase by Saudi Aramco. - The Iranian Light-Arab Light and Iranian Heavy-Arab Medium differentials remain thus the widest in more than 20 years. - Following through with a peculiar tradition since the last Iranian cargo sailed for NW Europe in July 2018 (a VLCC to the French port of Le Havre), NIOC hiked NW Europe-destined June cargoes by 65-75 cents per barrel. - June cargoes destined for the Mediterranean were increased by 40-80 cents per barrel, which is pertinent only for Turkey which is still yet to purchase its first post-sanctions cargo. - Iran exports in April 2019 have averaged around 1mbpd, whilst May has only seen so far two post-waivers loadings. - MT Hasna loaded on May 06 and is heading to the Chinese hub of Dalian in Liaoning Province, whilst MT Pacific Bravo, loaded May 16, seems to be on its way to Indonesia. 5. Kuwait Releases Unsurprising June-loading OSPs - The Kuwaiti national oil company KPC has lifted the June-loading official selling prices for its flagship KEC and KSLC crudes, mimicking Saudi Aramcos move early May. - June-loading KEB cargoes bound for Asian markets were set at a +1.15 USD per barrel premium over the Oman/Dubai average, hewing off 5 cents from last months 0.35 USD per barrel KEB-AXL differential. - KPC rolled over its US-bound June-loading KEC cargoes, whilst hiking European prices by 0.5-0.6 USD per barrel to reflect Urals still trading at substantial premiums against Dated Brent. - By increasing the premium of KSLC, Kuwaits super light grade, by 0.8 USD per barrel month-on-month, June marks the first time ever that the KSLC-AXL differential turned negative. - Kuwaiti exports in May 2019 have been so far below the 2019 average, with only 1.58mbpd sold as of today, compared to 2.16mbpd in April and 1.86mbpd in March. 6. The US Imports More and More Russian Crude - The increasingly tighter sour crude market is compelling American refiners to look elsewhere so as to replace lost Venezuelan and Iranian volumes, breathing new life into imports of Russian crude. - Both in March and April 2019, the US imported 5.3 million barrels of Russian crude (incl. CPC volumes which might be Kazakhstani in origin but exported from the Russian port of Yuzhnaya Ozereevka). - This year so far the United States has imported 132kbpd of Russian crude, up by almost a third from last years 101kbpd. - In 2015-2017 Russian exports to the US averaged a mere 24kbpd, primarily ESPO Blend destined for US West Coast refiners. - Even though it is predominantly heavy sour Venezuelan cargoes that became absent from the US refining landscape, heretofore US refiners were buying light sweet CPC Blend and medium Urals from Russia. 7. Saudi Aramco Commits to Port Arthur LNG - Saudi Aramco signed a 20-year agreement with US LNG producer Sempra Energy, committing to buy 5 million tons of LNG per year from its Port Arthur LNG project. - With this, Saudi Aramco would account for almost half of Port Arthur LNGs presumed 11mtpa nominal production capacity (the Polish PGNiG having committed further 2mtpa in December 2018). - Concurrently, Saudi Aramco agreed to buy 25 percent in Phase I of Port Arthur LNG, raising questions it would carry on with a similar investment into the NOVATEK-led Arctic LNG-2. - Throughout 2019, there has been a flurry of speculation that Saudi Aramco might be taking a stake of up to 30 percent in $20 billion Arctic LNG-2. - At present, it seems somewhat unlikely that Saudi Aramco would take home American LNG, most probably it sees Port Arthur LNG volumes as a suitable platform to boost its LNG trading books. The competition for a stake in the European gas market is heating up in 2019, which promises to be an important year. The outcome of this contest will have a long-lasting effect. Two interconnected but separate developments are having a substantial impact on Europes energy imports. On the one hand, the shale revolution in the U.S. is producing massive amounts of natural gas, which is supercooled as LNG and shipped overseas. On the other hand, Europe's long-time supplier, Gazprom is working on additional pipeline infrastructure such as Nord Stream 2 and Turk Stream to secure its market share in the wake of increased competition. The American natural gas industry developed itself into a significant exporter and has increased the stakes for Russias state-owned energy giant Gazprom. Russian officials, for a long period, were in denial of the negative consequences as a result of American LNG exports. However, Sergei Komlev, the head of contract structuring & price formation for Gazprom Export, recently acknowledged the new situation in Gazproms magazine: it is obvious that LNG will be the main rival in the battle for the European consumer. Therefore, the construction of both pipelines is of paramount importance for the Russian energy giant. The missing gas problem Despite increased competition, Gazprom is still doing good business in Europe. The energy giant managed to export 202 bcm in 2018 and doubled its profit despite efforts to reduce dependency on Russia. Analysts expect Europes dependence on imported natural gas to increase even further due to the depletion of domestic gas fields. Until 2025 a gap of approximately 100 bcm will arise which needs to be imported from abroad. There are two options to fulfil the extra demand based on existing or under construction infrastructure: LNG or additional supplies from Russia. (Click to enlarge) According to most analysts, Gazproms motivation to construct Nord Stream 2 and Turk Stream is more political than economic due to Moscows desire to circumvent Ukraine and punish her for its pro-European stance. However, the fact remains that Gazprom is still mostly dependent on Ukraines infrastructure for the majority of its gas sales to European customers. It is in Kievs interest to maintain its status as a transit country which provides her significant strategic value and generates $3 billion in annual transit fees for the states coffers. Related: New Middle East Proxy War Could Jolt Oil Prices Source: S&P Global Platts Moscows European gas strategy Gazprom has a gas transit contract with Ukraines Naftogaz until January 1st 2020. To put maximum pressure on Kiev, Moscow intends to complete both Nord Stream 2 and Turk Stream before the end of 2019. Depriving Ukraine of its strategic value and income from transit fees would seriously erode its bargaining position vis-a-vis Gazprom for the import of Russian gas and most likely plunge the country into a recession. However, Denmark delayed the approval to use its EEZ for Nord Stream 2, which is a setback that could postpone the pipelines completion. Interfax news agency quoted Nord Stream AG, the company responsible for construction activities, that the project is suffering delays and will go into production in 2020 instead of the end of 2019. Gazprom could be preparing for what some analysts call the nuclear option which will seriously damage Russias position as Europes most important energy supplier. The intention, however, is to put maximum pressure on Ukraine and remove it permanently from the gas delivery business. To achieve its goal, Gazprom has been filling storages across Europe, including the leasing of additional locations. This way, the energy giant would be able to meet its minimum contractual deliveries to European customers while bypassing Ukraines pipeline system. A difficult decision ahead The cancellation of deliveries through Naftogaz infrastructure would dramatically increase gas prices on the continent due to scarcity and most likely push Ukraine into a recession. In such a situation Kiev would also be unable to buy gas from its European neighbours through reverse flows leading to a disastrous first year in office for Ukraines new president Zelensky. Moscow would be betting on the besieged Zelensky to cave in and adhere to the Kremlins demands. Despite the possibility, it remains highly unlikely for Russia to choose this option because it would also significantly damage its reputation as a reliable supplier. By Vanand Meliksetian for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Aramco struck a deal with U.S. Sempra Energy to buy 5 million tons of liquefied natural gas annually from Sempras Port Arthur LNG plant, Reuters reports, citing the two companies, which confirmed an earlier report in the Wall Street Journal. The Port Arthur facility has yet to be built and Aramco has also negotiated a 25-percent stake purchase in its first phase of development. The project includes the construction of two liquefaction trains along with up to three storage tanks and the relevant infrastructure. Sempra has five LNG projects under development right now, in Louisiana, Texas, and Mexico, that together will have the capacity to produce 45 million tons of LNG, The companys CEO told Reuters in March. Thats more than what Cheniere Energy, the current leader in this space, plans to have in terms of capacity at its two LNG plants in Sabine Pass and Corpus Christi. Yet now, according to the joint statement, the Port Arthur facilitys capacity alone could be expanded to 45 million tons annually. According to the statement, Port Arthur LNG could be one of the largest LNG export projects in North America, with potential expansion capabilities up to eight liquefaction trains or approximately 45 Mtpa of capacity. Port Arthur LNG could be one of the largest LNG export projects in North America, with potential expansion capabilities of up to eight liquefaction trains or approximately 45 mtpa of capacity, Aramco and Sempra said in a joint statement. Related: OPEC+ Top Priority: Dont Crash Oil Prices Natural gas in general and LNG specifically are part of Aramcos diversification plans for the future, with the Saudi state company planning to expand quickly into them and away from crude oil, reflecting changing global demand patterns. U.S. LNG is an obvious choice for the company, especially after the European Union pledged to boost its imports of U.S. LNG twofold within five years. However, Aramco is also eyeing a stake in Russian LNG. There have been media reports for several months now that the Saudi company may join French Total and Chinese CNPC and CNOOC in Novateks Arctic LNG 2 project, which will have an annual capacity of 19.8 million tons. Total and the two Chinese companies have already agreed to buy 10 percent each in the project, which leaves another 10 percent for Aramco, since Novatek wants to retain a 60-percent interest in the project. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iraq will raise the oil production from its giant West Qurna 1 field by as much as 50,000 bpd in the next few days, a senior industry official told Reuters on Wednesday, days after the oil field developer ExxonMobil evacuated all its foreign staff from the field amid security concerns. Currently, the West Qurna 1 oil field pumps around 440,000 bpd, while Iraqs intention is to increase that production to 490,000 bpd within days, Basra Oil Company chief Ihsan Abdul Jabbar told Reuters. Last week, ExxonMobil began evacuating its engineers working at West Qurna 1 as security concerns mounted with the heightened tension in the Middle East amid the U.S.-Iran and Saudi-Iran standoffs. Other international oil majors, including BP and Chevron, are said to be monitoring the situation in Iraq very closely. The exodus from Iraq comes after the United States ordered last week the evacuation of all non-essential government employees from Iraq citing security concerns, adding that the US embassy in Iraq would suspend visa services and would have a limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Iraq. The security issues came to light mid-week last week after the United States ordered all non-essential personnel evacuated from the country citing possible threats from Iran, presumably via the Iraqi Shiite militia. Related: New Middle East Proxy War Could Jolt Oil Prices Iraq was not happy with Exxons hasty evacuation of all foreign personnel from West Qurna 1, with its oil minister Thamer Ghadhban saying the exit was unacceptable and unjustified. According to the Iraqi minister, Exxons staff evacuation has nothing to do with security threats, instead arguing that it was politically motivated. Earlier this month, Iraq was close to signing a mega US$53-billion deal with Exxon and PetroChina to develop oil fields in the south. The deal was very close but has been slowed by Exxons departure from Iraq, Ghadhban said this weekend. Any security-risk-related disruption of oil production in IraqOPECs second-largest producer after Saudi Arabiawould not go unnoticed on the oil market, which has already started to consider a perceived higher risk of supply outages in the Middle East. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Cannabis could come to the beach cities. This is how Following an ex parte order stopping the ongoing investigation of the Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas, the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court Justice Abdul Kafarati. The anti-graft agency has asked the NJC and Justice Kafarati to review the conduct of the trial judge, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo of the Federal High Court on alleged obstruction of investigation of some high profile cases. Justice Taiwo had granted a similar order staying action on the investigation of the Senate President Bukola Saraki. Also, Sarakis counsel, Sunday Onubi, before Justice Taiwo has coincidentally appeared for Okorocha to secure a similar ex-parte order. It was also learnt that a former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Ayo Fayose, obtained an order which delayed his trial. But the EFCC will today engage in legal battle with Okorocha to vacate the ex parte order when the case comes up. Okorocha is under investigation for alleged N15 billion fraud, including N8billion London-Paris Club refund; alleged N1.15billion contract scam; alleged diversion of N2billion bailout fund for vote buying during the last general elections; and laundering of about N1.050 billion. No fewer than six top officials of the state, including the Accountant-General of Imo State, Mr. Uzoho Casmir had been interrogated by the EFCC. Casmir was before his appointment, a Director of Finance in Okorochas administration. Okorocha rushed to the Federal High Court, seeking a restraining order against the Attorney- General of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the State Security Services (SSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau. But on May 8, 2019, the judge asked the EFCC to stay action on Okorochas probe, pending the hearing of his motion on notice. The order reads in part: Upon this motion Ex-parte dated and filed on the 30th day of April, 2019 praying for the following reliefs: An order directing the respondents by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or officers to stay all action in connection with the subject matter of this suit pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on notice. And for such further or other orders as this honourable court may deem fit to make in the circumstances. Upon reading the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte deposed to by Owelle Rochas Okorocha, male, Nigeria citizen of Imo State Liaison Office Abuja and filed at the court registry. And after hearing Sunday Onubi Esq., for the Applicant move in terms of motion paper. It is hereby ordered as follows: That an order is hereby made directing the respondents by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or officers to stay action in connection with the subject matter of this suit pending the hearing and determination of the Originating Motion on notice. That the respondents shall be served and they shall respond to the originating motion on notice if they so wish within five days of the service on them of the originating processes and the order of this court in compliance with the rules. The EFCC, however, picked holes in the decision of the judge to grant an ex-parte order to Okorocha, Saraki and Fayose. A source said: The EFCC has decided to protest to the NJC and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to review the conduct of the judge, especially alleged abuse of ex-parte order. The EFCC is kicking against the conduct of Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo granting ex parte orders restraining the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from performing its statutory functions. We believe the order of Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo was seeking to abort a process that had started. It is really unfortunate that Okorocha, who is enjoying constitutional immunity, will still go to the Federal High Court to halt his investigation. We believe it is a well-established legal principle that no court has the power to stop the investigative powers of the EFCC or any agency established under the laws to investigate crimes. This principle has received judicial pronouncements in a host of cases which include: ORJI UZOR KALU v Federal Republic of Nigeria (2016) LPELR-40108 (SC) 1 at pp. 15-16 paras. D-B; Attorney General of Anambra STATE v UBA 2005 15 NWLR (PT.947) 44 at 67, and OBIWUSI v EFCC (2018) LPELR-44536 (CA). The EFCC is also of the opinion that the conduct of His Lordship, Hon. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo is contrary to Rule 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that a Judicial Officer must avoid the power of issuing interim injunctions, ex parte. The source said the EFCC was worried that Saraki and Fayose had enjoyed the same ex-parte comfort from the judge. The source added: The EFCC is conducting investigation on allegations of corrupt practices by the Senate President, Olubukola Saraki whilst serving as the Executive Governor of Kwara State and also as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In the course of the investigation, Senator Olubukola Saraki instituted two suits, essentially seeking to restrain the EFCC from performing its statutory duties and the matters were assigned to Hon. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo made two separate ex parte orders in the said cases on 14th May, 2019 restraining the EFCC from performing its statutory functions of carrying out criminal investigation pending the determination of the motions on notice. We want the NJC and the CJ of the Federal High Court to look into judicial impropriety of Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo in matters concerning the EFCC. In one of such instances, on the 24th day of June, 2016, the EFCC applied and secured an interim freezing order from the Federal High Court, Lagos Judicial Division wherein his Lordship, Hon. Justice M.B ldris (as he then was) ordered the Manager of Zenith Bank Plc to freeze bank accounts numbers 1003126654 and 9013074033, among others, operated by Mr. Ayodele Fayose pending the investigation and possible prosecution of the criminal case involving the accounts. Ayodele Fayose subsequently instituted another suit in su1t no. FHC/AD/15/2016 at the Federal High Court, Ado-Ekiti Judicial Division, praying the court for an order directing the EFCC and Zenith Bank Plc to unfreeze and make the said accounts operational. Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo, despite being aware of the pendency of the matter before Honourable Justice M .B Idris and the order of His Learned brother freezing the account, ordered the EFCC and Zenith Bank Plc to unfreeze, unblock and make operational the said accounts thereby constituting himself as an appellate court over the decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction. It was however not surprising that the Court of Appeal, on appeal, held that Honourable Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo ought not to have done what he did. Furthermore, when the EFCC was conducting investigation on acts of corruption allegedly perpetrated by some officials of the Ekiti State Government, the Attorney-General of the State filed suit No. FHC/AD/CS/32/2016 against it and other persons. His Lordship, Honourable Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo on the 30th of January, 2018, in his judgment in the case, strangely granted wholesale, all the eight reliefs sought by the plaintiff in the suit which included perpetual injunctions retraining Ekiti State officials, Ekiti State House of Assembly and Banks in which the accounts of the Ekiti State Government were maintained from disclosing or making available to the EFCC any document, financial statement or information relating to the public funds and accounts of Ekiti State. This undoubtedly frustrated our investigation. In the letter to Judtice Kafarati, Magu demanded the reassignment of all anti-graft cases before Justice Taiwo. He also urged the CJ to withdraw cases involving the Dr. Saraki and Okorocha from the judge. The commission, Magu said, has no confidence in Justice Taiwo to dispense justice impartially. The petition signed yesterday by Magu, accused the judge of recurring bias. The petition said in part: The commission respectively requests Your Lordship to reassign the the above stated cases ( four cases involving Saraki and Okorocha) and all other cases pending before Honourable Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo in which it is involved to other judges of your Lordships court. This application has become very necessary because of the commission slack of confidence in His Lordships impartiality to dispense justice in any matter concerning it. The commission is conducting investigation on allegations of corrupt practices by the Senate President, Olubukola Abubakar Saraki while he was the Executive Governor of Kwara State and also as the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is also investigating Owelle Rochas Okorocha, the outgoing Executive Governor of Imo State for the same allegations of corrupt practices as the governor of the state. Despite the established legal principle which has received judicial pronouncements in a host of cases, particularly the cases of Orji Uzor Kalu v. Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of Anambra State v. UBA, Justice Taiwo in all the four suits by Saraki and Okorocha restrained the commission( among others) from performing its statutory functions of investigating them pending the determination of the Originating Summons on Notice. Particularly more worrisome is that the said orders were made ex-parte contrary to the acclaimed judicial deprecation of abuse of ex- parte orders by the courts and Rule 3.5 of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which states that: A judicial officer must avoid the power of issuing interim injunctions, ex parte. Serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox Group Leo Stan Ekeh has declared that the only way the Nigerian economy can realize the desired impetus to survive is for the Federal and State Governments to support disruptive entrepreneurs who are now the corporate miracles of every progressive economy. He cited America as an example which has produced the known whizkids of the century and raised global giants such as the Googles, Facebooks, Amazons and Microsofts, etc. of this world. He said this while delivering an incisive talk at the Access Bank-sponsored 2019 African Fintech Disrupt Conference held at the Landmark Centre. Ekeh also noted that Nigeria has a huge stock of smart kids who can change and sustain the developmental story of this country, adding that all they require is an enabling environment which is not too expensive for the government to provide. While advising entrepreneurs not to see hope as a strategy in business, he reminded them of a critical configuration required for a self-audit before deciding if they really want to be entrepreneurs. According to Ekeh, who also doubles as a global advisor to Microsoft, success as an entrepreneur in Africa requires 40% common sense, 20% spirituality and 40% knowledge of the business. In his opinion, the 21st century has defined two types of entrepreneurs disruptors and regular entrepreneurs. ALSO READ: 9mobile introduces WhatsApp customer care While advising startups and other budding business owners, he noted that their passion must pay their bills, else there is no justification for the business they are launching. He reminded startups of the essential few ingredients of success, humility, ability to see the end from the start, an eye for the bigger picture, creative mindset, knowledge and energy to occupy the sector as well as the capacity to manage cash and excitement. He, however, cautioned that they must be prepared to take reasonable pains before pleasure as they must postpone luxurious life until when they have built enough reserves to sustain such a lifestyle. Counseling female entrepreneurs, the self-professed disruptive entrepreneur assured them that they will lead in the second quarter of this century as informed women are known to operate efficiently in structured environments with auditable systems. He affirmed that no government has a choice to deny the youths of progressive infrastructure, except they want to face the wrath of this dominant segment of the populace. With a round of applause punctuating his speech, Ekeh ended by advising those leaving the country for supposedly greener pastures not to waste their time as the population and lifestyle of Nigeria holds unquantifiable demand structure which is wealth on its own. Fujifilm India announces Celebrity and Ace Fashion Photographer, Dabboo Ratnani as their Brand Ambassador for promoting its Medium Format GFX range of mirrorless cameras. As part of this strategic partnership, Fujifilm India will be rolling out various brand building initiatives with Dabboo Ratnani for its GFX range. Fujifilms medium format GFX range continues to be a popular choice among the photo enthusiasts and professional photographers across the world. The top-notch performance and easy functionality of these cameras have helped the brand successfully create a respectable name in the professional photography industry. The GFX series cater to its audience and professional photographers by helping them to experience the complete range of cameras, lenses and related accessories as per their requirement. With this state-of-the-art range of digital cameras, the company hopes to strengthen its foothold in the Mirrorless Segment and plans to achieve a 30% share in the Indian mirrorless market in the next 3-4 years. Dabboo Ratnani, one of Indias most coveted fashion and celebrity photographers, commands a strong foothold in the photography industry. His success and personality in the industry makes him align perfectly with Fujifilm. This new relationship will not only help Fujifilm further enhance its positioning in the camera industry, but also amplify the awareness and excitement around the X and GFX range of mirrorless cameras. Commenting on the occasion Mr. Haruto Iwata, Managing Director, Fujifilm India Pvt. Ltd. said, Mr. Dabboo Ratnani, Indias most renowned professional photographer in the industry connects strongly with todays generation of camera professionals and enthusiasts. The reputation that the photography king of Bollywood holds is completely in-line with our brand values. At Fujifilm, we constantly innovate and create products that resonate with the needs of our customers. We are really excited to have him as the face of Fujifilm GFX Series range and are looking forward to a wonderful journey together. Throwing light on the association, Mr. Dabboo Ratnani added, Being a celebrity and fashion photographer for over two decades, I am constantly looking to capture real moments that I can develop cinematically with DSLR and SLRs. I am thrilled to be associated with Fujifilm, as I have always admired their mirrorless cameras that pack suave features such as great image quality, impeccable colours and a body that is so easy to handle. I am looking forward to capture the diverse aspects of life with the help of their cutting-edge technology. This association will be a perfect opportunity for me to engage with camera enthusiasts and professionals around the globe while revelling the power of photography through Fujifilms range of mirrorless cameras. The body of the victim hit by stray bullet during the attack being taken away for burial. Police operatives on Tuesday arrested Alhaji Musa Imam, the man who raised an alarm at the Kawo flyover in Kaduna that resulted in the death of three persons on Monday. Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna state, DSP Yakubu Sabo, who confirmed the new development in a statement said Alhaji Imam was arrested at about 5:00pm on Tuesday. DSP Sabo said that one of the three persons shot in the bid to disperse the mob from lynching the three men had died, bringing to three the number of casualties as a result of the false alarm. Recall that the Imam was trailed by three of his friends who stood as surety for him in Lagos after he jumped bail and on getting to the Kawo Bridge in Kaduna raised alarm that the men were about to kidnap him. His scream attracted a mob who lynched the driver of the vehicle conveying the three men while the two others ran to a nearby fuel station until they were rescued by policemen. In the process of trying to get the men out from the scene, security agents shot two other persons. After attracting the mob which went after the men and killed the driver, Alhaji Imam was said to have escaped. According to DSP Sabo, police in Lagos had called the three men who stood surety for him who trailed him to Kaduna to invite him to the station but on seeing them, he raised the alarm that they are kidnapers and the mob attacked the men that stood surety for him. Dassault Systemes showcased its portfolio of industry solution experiences (ISEs) for smart cities at the 5th Smart Cities India 2019 Expo in New Delhi. Supporting tasks from planning for a new urban district to managing the ongoing operations of existing infrastructure, the industry solution experiences based on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform for the Construction, Cities & Territories industry brings together a wide range of territorial data with industry-leading analytical, modeling, simulation and lifecycle management capabilities. The company also showcased how 3DEXPERIENCE platform is enabling centralized project management for both the states and the cities in India. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform supports the work of policymakers, citizens, businesses, and the research community to collaborate in building a smart, sustainable, resilient city of the future. It features urban planning and simulation in virtual 3D city context a project management system that enhances the urban development process through interconnected data in a single platform which helps numerous departments across to work with a centralized repository of all project data allowing time and cost efficiency along with ease of access. With the collaborative approach to urban transformation, complexity and diversity can be better understood, constructed, managed and developed. The company has strengthened its offerings for architects, facade engineers, large engineering and construction firms through the two ISEs Design for Fabrication and Optimized Construction. Design for Fabrication allows planners to connect their design data from concept to fabrication on building and construction projects while Optimized Construction helps in simulating construction processes and establish a single 3D version of the truth. Samson Khaou, Managing Director, India, Dassault Systemes said, By 2030, Indias urban population will increase to more than 800 million and over the next decade cities will account for more than 70% of the country GDP. Therefore, we have witnessed across the country a push from the state governments to modernize infrastructure and build smart cities that involves building and renovating facilities as well as construction of roads and highways. This will require significant collaboration and efficient monitoring. In addition, urban planners, architects and engineering & construction firms will leverage our 3DEXPERIENCE platform to deliver more by using less in order to create a sustainable city that improves the life of the citizens. 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... " " Soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment place U.S. flags at headstones at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia in preparation for Memorial Day. The regiment has been doing this for Memorial Day for more than 70 years. Arlington National Cemetery For most Americans, it signals the start of summer, the perfect excuse for a three-day getaway, and the first chance of the year to bust out those barbecuing skills. But how many Americans really understand the significance of Memorial Day? Before lighting up the grill and diving into the pool, get to know why this holiday holds a special place in so many American's hearts. The name pretty much says it all, but Memorial Day is much more than a symbolic day of commemoration. It was originally called Decoration Day, and the tradition dates back to the 1860s when men and women decorated the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers with wreaths, flowers, flags and other items. The inspiration for the day came from local observances that had been popping up throughout the country in the three years following the war. General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic, a fraternal organization for veterans of the Union Army, was responsible for declaring the nationwide day of remembrance on May 5, 1868. In his proclamation, Logan wrote: The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. Advertisement Why May 30? May 30 was somewhat of a neutral date since it wasn't the anniversary of any one specific Civil War battle. The first national commemoration on May 30, 1868 was a major event at Arlington National Cemetery, with a speech from former Union General and sitting Ohio Congressman James Garfield. Following Garfield's words to attendees, 5,000 participants joined in to decorate the graves of more than 20,000 soldiers both Union and Confederate who were buried at Arlington. That tradition still lives on at Arlington to this day, usually involving the current U.S. president or vice president laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the ceremonial placement of American flags on each grave. This isn't the only account of the holiday's history, though. According to a 2018 New York Times article, Yale historian David W. Blight traces Memorial Day back to a series of commemorations in 1865 held by freed black Americans after Union soldiers, including members of the 21st United States Colored Infantry, liberated the port city of Charleston, South Carolina. "The war was over, and Memorial Day had been founded by African-Americans in a ritual of remembrance and consecration," Blight wrote in the 2011 New York Times essay. "The war, they had boldly announced, had been about the triumph of their emancipation over a slaveholders' republic. They were themselves the true patriots." While Blight's origin theory isn't universally accepted, the facts behind the story are worth keeping in mind when celebrating this Memorial Day. " " Every year over Memorial Day weekend, more than 135,000 people visit Arlington National Cemetery to honor those who have died while in the armed forces. Arlington National Cemetery Advertisement From Decoration Day to Memorial Day While most people agree that the commemoration was originally intended to pay homage to Civil War soldiers, as the United States entered World War I in 1917, the holiday evolved to honor the lives of any U.S. military personnel lost in any war. And while Logan proclaimed May 30 as the official calendar date, a full century later in 1968, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in an effort to create three-day weekends for federal employees. The change went into effect in 1971, and since that switch, Decoration Day became Memorial Day and the holiday has been observed on the last Monday of May each year. Several Southern states also observe a separate day to specifically commemorate fallen Confederate soldiers: January 19 in Texas; the third Monday in January in Arkansas; fourth Monday in April in Alabama and Mississippi; April 26 in Florida and Georgia; May 10 in North and South Carolina; the last Monday in May in Virginia; and June 3 in Louisiana and Tennessee. Advertisement Memorial Day by the Numbers As far as holidays go, Memorial Day does some heavy lifting in terms of the sheer number of people it pays tribute to. A few stats to keep in mind: More than 45 million soldiers have served the United States during war time. More than 1.35 million Americans have died in armed conflicts around the world. There are 260,000 graves at Arlington National Cemetery, and each one is decorated with an American flag on Memorial Day. But of course, over the decades since its official inception, Memorial Day has taken on somewhat of a hybrid vibe as many Americans consider the extra day off as a way to usher in summer. Here are some of the more lighthearted facts to know: About 41.5 million Americans traveled over Memorial Day weekend 2018. 60 percent of Americans fire up the barbecue to celebrate the holiday. More than 180 running races are held each Memorial Day. Now That's Interesting Traditionally, the American flag is raised to the top the morning of Memorial Day, then slowly lowered to half-mast until noon, and then flown at full mast the rest of the day. Advertisement Originally Published: May 22, 2019 Days ago the british foreign and commonwealth office issued a travel advisory for all commonwealth nationals traveling to Iran This came days after british foreign secretary jeremy hunt met with pompeo in regards to Iran, and you can see my response to him on the outcome of that meeting below The house of hannover-saxe-coburg-gotha-battenberg has been trying to add Iran to it's dominions since the reign of queen victoria, and this is just the latest attempt at conquest by the british. Around the same time the ministry of foreign affairs of bahrain issued a travel advisory to its citizens regarding Iran and Iraq Hours after that was sent they issued a memo welcoming the call by king salman of saudi arabia for an emergency summit of the gulf cooperation council, which no other member of that organization has reciprocated As this comes around the same time america is making threatening moves against Iran, this must be taken the same way as the american bullshit is, namely a menace to Iran. THE Philippines Babylove Barbon and Gen Eslapor will begin their campaign in the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Boracay Open starting Thursday, May 23 at the White House Beach Station 1 in Boracay. The young standouts from the University of Santo Tomas beach volleyball program hope to make it to Fridays main draw when the qualification matches start at 7:30 a.m. The host country has four womens teams in the main draw, as Sisi Rondina will be reunited with Bernadeth Pons in the four-day tournament. Other Filipina pairs competing are Dij Rodriguez and Bea Tan, Jackie Estoquia and DM Demontano, and Fiola Ceballos and Patty Orendain. Barbon, who paired with Rondina in the Tigresses remarkable three-peat conquest in the UAAP last September, are among the seven womens pairs vying for slots in tomorrows main draw. Before competing in the Beach World Tour, Barbon and Eslapon emerged victorious in the BVR on Tour Dumaguete Open last month. The goal of the BVR national tour is to give our local players an opportunity to increase their competition level to the international level, said BVR co-founder and tournament director Charo Soriano. Air Forces Ranran Abdilla and Jesse Lopez will spearhead the countrys mens campaign, which also includes collegiate standouts James Buytrago and Krung Arbasto, and Cebus Mike Abria and Jade Becaldo. Teams have been training for this and weve been helping them through the BVR tours weve been holding, said Soriano. The double-gender $10,000 Boracay Open, a one-star event is the 24th mens and 23rd womens event for the 2018-19 FIVB World Tour. The Beach World Tour returns to the Philippines for the second time following a double-gender one-star event in Manila last year. (PR) Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz appointed new cabinet ministers on Wednesday to replace those from the far right who have left their posts in the wake of the so-called "Ibiza-gate" affair. The centre-right chancellor -- who has called for snap elections in September following the collapse of his coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) -- named four of his allies to the interior, defence, transport and social affairs ministries. Kurz also appointed his finance minister, Hartwig Loeger, as his new vice-chancellor. The new ministers were immediately sworn in by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. "The goal of the president and of course also my goal as chancellor is to do everything in this phase to ensure stability in Austria," Kurz told reporters before his first meeting with the new cabinet. The ruling coalition between the FPOe and Kurz's People's Party (OeVP) started to collapse on Saturday when vice-chancellor and FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache resigned over a hidden-camera sting. In the recordings, filmed in a villa on the holiday island of Ibiza, show him appearing to offer contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer. In the fall-out from the scandal, Kurz also fired the interior minister, another prominent FPOe member, leading to the resignation of three other FPOe ministers. But the chancellor could still be forced out himself by a no-confidence motion expected in a special parliament sitting next Monday. It is not yet clear whether the FPOe and the main opposition Social Democrats (SPOe) will back the motion, even though the SPOe has accused Kurz of causing the current turmoil by entering an alliance with the far-right in the first place. Meanwhile, the head of Austria's Jewish Community (IKG) organisation, Oskar Deutsch, called on other parties not to allow the FPOe back into government. "I said this at the last election, and we have now been proved right," said Deutsch, pointing to what he said were 70 anti-Semitic incidents linked to FPOe members during its time in government. Kurz, 32, took office in late 2017, heading the coalition of the OeVP and the FPOe after both parties won votes on an anti-immigration platform. Strache, who has admitted that his behaviour was "stupid" and "irresponsible", has also vowed to prove his innocence and "unmask those behind this illegally made video". Senator Christopher Lawrence Bong Go | Courtesy : PVI-PRESS by Rodel Lumiares MANILA, Philippines Former presidential special assistant Christopher Lawrence Bong Go on Wednesday vowed independence from Malacanang when he formally assumes his post as one of the countrys newly-elected senators. Go, who ranked third in the senatorial race, was not accompanied by his family when he attended the proclamation of 2019 Midterm election winners held by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on Wednesday morning. READ: Winning Senators of 2019 polls thank voters, bare legislation plans Go arrived at the PICC with some of his staff members and Malacanang officials. When asked why he was not accompanied by his family at his proclamation, Go said they were not able to make it because the event was on short notice. Although Go often spends time with President Rodrigo Duterte, his wife and children are rarely seen in public. Prior to running for senator, Go had served as Dutertes closest aide for more than 20 years since he was mayor of Davao City. The President even went with Go when the latter filed his candidacy in October 2018. Despite his close association with Duterte, the newly-elected senator vowed independence and will not just be a rubber stamp of the Chief Executive. However, he was quick to add that he will remain supportive of Dutertes legislative agenda. Of course, magiging independent po ako, he said. Subalit susuportahan ko po ang mga legislative agenda ni Pangulong Duterte dahil alam ko po ginagawa niya lang po ang tama, he added. When he formally assumes his role in the upcoming 18th Congress, Go said, he will support the proposed reimposition of the death penalty on heinous crimes and high-level drug trafficking. If given an opportunity, Go said he would like to head the Senate committee on education and health. He will also work on the passage of the proposed shift to federalism, and expressed willingness to be a conduit to promote stronger ties between the Senate and the Executive branch. Story continues Kung papaano po natin mapapaganda at maisasaayos ang koordinasyon between the Senate and the Malacanang ay handa po akong maging tulay, he said. Go has been medias go-to man about President Dutertes whereabouts when he is not attending public engagements. But even if he is now a duly elected senator of the republic, Go said his personal relationship with the president will remain unchanged. Bilang taga-Davao, bilang ako po ay kaibigan ni Pangulong Duterte, for the past 21 years nagtatrabaho po ako sa kaniya, pangako ko po yun kay Pangulong Duterte habang buhay ko po siyang sasamahan, he said. (with details from Rosalie Coz) The post Bong Go vows independence as senator, but appeared first on UNTV News. Himalaya, a US- and UK- based custom vehicle shop that focuses exclusively on rebuilding Land Rovers, recently unveiled its latest offering: a doppelganger for the Defender built especially for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre and its faster, stronger, and more beastly than anything that ever rolled out from the Land Rover production line. Though it may look like a normal Defender from the outside, almost all of the components on the Himalaya Spectre did not come from the Land Rover factory. In fact, each body panel was crafted in the Himalaya factory using original Land Rover tooling. The frames, chassis, and engine arent stock units either. drivehimalaya.com The frame, built by British company Richards Chassis, arrives fully-welded and galvanized for corrosion resistance. According to Himalaya, its stronger and lighter than what youll find in todays Land Rovers. Under the hood is a 6.3-liter LS3 Corvette engine that pushes out 525 hp and 670 Nm. The vehicle itself has got a four-inch lift reinforced with Fox Performance Shocks and Extreme Currie Hi-Flex Suspension supported by 18-inch gloss black Sawtooth Alloy Wheels and 37-inc Toyo Open Country tires. Inside, driver and passengers get to enjoy the comfort of custom Ruskin Leather Recaro seats and matching Puma dash. A Momo leather steering wheel and custom audio with Alpine HALO touchscreen further adds to the cars luxury feel. According to Himalayas official website: The Defender 110 has a humble origin, a truck designed to serve as a go-anywhere vehicle to meet the demands of farmers and explorers alike. While the Defenders classic design and ability has withstood the test of time, todays drivers expect more. Himalayas Spectre 110 Crew Cab is the truck for those who want to be seen, and heard while driving. Who wouldve thought that the already impressive Land Rover Defender could be made a whole lot better? Well, the guys at Himalaya sure did. Unfortunately, all these improvements add up to a whopping USD200,000 (around PHP10.487 million) price tag, which is basically double the amount of an original Land Rover. The post Custom Shop Builds Own Land Rover Defender Thats Better Than the Real Thing appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. MANILA, Philippines Major telecommunication companies in the Philippines should exercise caution amid the ban imposed by the United States (US) on Chinese tech giant Huawei, a cybersecurity expert said. The US last week barred American firms from dealing with Huawei without a government license, in a latest blow against China amid escalating trade war. The US accused Huawei of posing an international security threat, saying the telecom company is being used by China for surveillance and to spy on Americans. Huawei, the worlds biggest supplier of telecommunications equipment, gets critical technology and components from a number of US firms for its devices. On Sunday, news emerged that Google will comply with a US government order and suspended business with Huawei that requires the transfer of hardware, software and technical services except those publicly available via open source licensing. Reports said the move will render Google services inaccessible on Huawei smartphones that run on Android. Future versions of Huawei mobile devices will also lose access to popular services, such as Google Play Store, Gmail and YouTube apps. In a statement, Android clarified that existing Huawei devices can still have access to Google services. READ: Existing Huawei devices safe from Google app restrictionsAndroid Local telecommunication companies, in a separate statement, also assured its subscribers that existing Huawei handsets and devices will continue to function normally on their network. READ: Purchased Huawei products will function properly on our network PLDT But cyber security expert Roselle Reig said the ongoing crackdown and increasing number of countries banning Huawei should alarm local telcos. They need to be cautious because it seems there a lot of countries that are against Huawei. Our Telcos should listen and be aware of what is happening outside the country and to safeguard our Huawei users, she said. Reig also stressed that an intensive study should be conducted to determine the implications of the issue to the national security should spying allegations against Huawei are proven to be true. Story continues The US State Department earlier accused the Tech Giant of sharing some vital information to their clients in the Chinese government. Should there be backdoor access that could spy the device or Huawei devices can be used to spy the government or communication (system) in the country, its a big threat to the security of every Filipino and Internet user, she said. Reig also expressed fear that the processes of systems in terms of transportation, electricity and banking, among others may be put in danger due to cyber hacking. On the part of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), acting secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said the US blacklist on Huawei would not affect its policy of allowing private telcos choose their equipment supplier. Telcos are also required by the government to provide assurance that their networks will not pose any threat to national security. If it does, if an incident happens, then they can lose their business, if their network has been the cause of breach that endangers our national security, said DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. Despite the ban, Huawei assured to keep sending software updates to its devices for the next three months after receiving a temporary license until August 19, 2019. READ: U.S. temporarily eases trade restrictions vs Huawei The US government also temporarily eased restrictions on Huawei for 90 days to minimize disruption for customers and to allow telcos relying on the Chinese firm to make other arrangements. (with details from April Cenedoza) The post Cyber security expert cautions PH telcos amid Huawei crackdown appeared first on UNTV News. MAYBANK is giving its clients the opportunity to go on a trip anywhere abroad for free or spend as much as P300,000 worth of items in a shopping spree in its iSave.iShop.iFly. Promo. All they have to do MAYBANK is giving its clients the opportunity to go on a trip anywhere abroad for free or spend as much as P300,000 worth of items in a shopping spree in its iSave.iShop.iFly. Promo. All they have to do is open an iSave account via the Maybank2U PH app and maintain at least P10,000. Maybank Philippines head of marketing Donna Michelle Barroga said that the bank had the promos first preliminary draw last April 15, 2019 which was broadcast via Facebook Live. This initiative not only encourages a culture of saving but also empowers new and existing clients by helping unlock the full potential of their deposits made with their iSave accounts. Opening a Maybank iSave account will earn a depositor one raffle entry for every P10,000 month-to-date average daily balance maintained in his account up to July 31, 2019. The promo started last Feb. 1, 2019. Not only can they experience convenience when doing their banking transactions online or via the Maybank2U PH app, they can also be delighted with customized shopping sprees if they win in the preliminary draws and a travel package in the grand draw, she added. Maybank iSave depositors are automatically registered for all the draws and will be informed of their earned raffle entries via SMS. All qualified iSave accounts will continue to earn raffle entries until the end of the promo. The winners of the preliminary draws will receive P300,000, P200,000 and P100,000 worth of shopping spree to any store of their choice within the Philippines, while the grand draw winner is set to enjoy a trip to the U.S.A. or any preferred destination and travel package worth P1 million, tax-free. All qualified iSave entries can join in all the raffle draws, but can only win once per draw. iSave Savings account is the first purely online account in the Philippines, with no initial deposit and no maintaining balance required. Clients earn interest at a minimum balance of P20,000 and can withdraw from any Bancnet ATM in the Philippines for free. The account is also accessible using Maybank ATMs in Malaysia, Singapore and Cambodia with no charge and client can enjoy better conversion rates. It also comes with an EMV-enabled card, thus very secure. Conveniently do banking transactions via the Maybank2U PH app, providing clients an alternative way to bank. So get going, get banking with iSave and the Maybank2U PH app. SPONSORED CONTENT A foreign company is introducing to Dumagete City a public transportation booking service using a mobile application patterned after the Grab taxi service. The proposed PediGrab was formally presented to local officials, headed by Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo, incoming vice mayor and incumbent Councilor Alan Gel Cordova, who heads the committee on transportation, and other stakeholders at the city session hall here Monday, May 20. The proposal is a partnership between Piaggo Ape and Grab. The latter is a company that engages in the popular taxi booking service in urban areas, such as Metro Manila and Cebu. Also on hand to listen to the presentation were barangay officials, officers, and members of associations of tricycle drivers and operations in Dumaguete. Under the concept, new tricycle units will be complemented with smartphones that would provide the riding public easy access to book specific rides, City Information Officer Dems Rey Demecillo said. The companys requirement is to have at least 100 units operating in the city. Remollo told reporters that he and other city officials will discuss the possibility of allowing the company 100 franchises after an inventory of all the pedicab or tricycles for hire in Dumaguete. The mayor said he believes that the total number of pedicabs plying the city streets is less than 2,500 as other franchises may have already been retired. Previously, the city government stopped giving franchises to motorcabs-for-hire or pedicabs due to the more than 2,000 units still in operation. Miguelito L. Jose, senior vice president and group general manager of Autoitalia Philippines Enterprises, Inc., the distributor of Piaggio Ape and Piaggio Porter, made the presentation on the proposed tricycle booking service, Demecillo said. Meanwhile, Edward Du, former president of the Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce and Industry and director of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry 7 (Central Visayas), welcomed the proposal as they had proposed the concept about two years ago. Story continues He said he had initially asked the Foundation University to develop a mobile application for it but since it was delayed for unknown reasons, he decided to have the name PediGrab patented in his name. The patent was granted last year to Du, who said he is willing to share it with the city and to whoever wants to use it for the benefit of Dumaguete at no cost. The post PediGrab Eyed in Dumaguete City appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. Senator, Ronald Bato dela Rosa MANILA, Philippines Newly proclaimed senator, Ronald Bato dela Rosa said he still couldnt believe how his career progressed from being an ordinary policeman to being a lawmaker. Hindi pa rin. Hindi ko pa rin maisip na senador na pala ako, the candid former chief of police said during an interview in the program Get It Straight with Daniel Razon on Wednesday (May 22). Dela Rosa believes his performance in the Philippine National Police (PNP) has contributed a lot to his candidacy plus the fact, he said, that people now prefer politicians who are naturally transparent. Now that he is officially a lawmaker, Senator Bato said he will prioritize crafting legislation that would seek the reinstatement of death penalty for heinous crimes including erring policemen who plant evidence against drug suspects. He said he will focus more on peace and order which is essential in the protection of Filipinos, especially the poor, and to the countrys economy. He argued that no matter how good the plans of the governments economic manager are, they will never prosper without peace and order. Kung may magandang peace and order tayo, mayroong investment, he said. (Having an excellent peace and order will yield investments.) Kung mayroon investment mayroon employment. Pag mayroong employment, mayroong income. Pag may income, may perang pambili ang ating mga kababyan so napaka-importante ng peace and order, the senator-elect said. (More investments mean more employment [opportunities]. More employment means more income. More income means more money which we could use for our people so peace and order is very important.) In line with this, Dela Rosa is also considering pushing for the mandatory military service in lieu of the Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC). Like other countries na pagdating mo ng 18 years old, obligado ka na mag-serve sa military for two years. Walang pakialam ang gobyerno kung anak ka ng mayaman, o ng mahirap, kung sikat ka o artista ka, maganda din iyon, he said. Story continues (Like other countries that require all 18-year-olds to obligatory military service for two years. The government will not exempt whether you are a son of a wealthy family, or poor family, whether you are famous or a celebrity, thats good.) Gusto ko malakas ang ating territorial defense when it comes to foreign aggression, foreign invasion so kailangang i-prepare natin ang ating kabataan na mayroon tayong enough reserves, human resource reserves, he added. (I want our territorial defense to be strong when it comes to foreign aggression, foreign invasion, so we need to prepare our youth so we may have enough reserves, human resource reserves.) Dela Rosa noted, however, that the government may possibly shoulder the uniform and all the expenses of those who will enter the compulsory military service as they will render service like commissioned military personnel. As for the ROTC, he said the parents may support since they are now paying for the expenses of their children under the existing National Service Training Program (NSTP). Dela Rosa, the architect of the Duterte governments war on drugs, placed fifth in the 2019 midterm senatorial elections garnering a total of 19,004,225 votes. Marje Pelayo (with details from Rey Pelayo) The post Senator Bato dela Rosa to prioritize death penalty, mandatory military service bills appeared first on UNTV News. MANILA, Philippines The proclamation of winning senators in the 2019 midterm elections has finally pushed through on Wednesday (May 22), several days after the conduct of the May 13 polls. The proclamation ceremony for senators was held at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) around 10 a.m. The Commission on Elections (Comelec), sitting as the National Board of Canvassers (NBOC), originally scheduled the proclamation on Tuesday but had to defer it to wait for the arrival and canvassing of delayed election returns from Washington, D.C. in the United States, which represent around 200,000 voters. READ: Comelec on proclamation of winning senators, party-list groups: Not today The NBOC ended late Tuesday the canvassing of a total of 167 certificates of canvass from local and overseas clustered precincts. Promptly at 10 a.m., the ceremony started with the singing of the Philippine National Anthem and then followed by the announcement of the 12 winning senators. Reelectionist Senator Cynthia Villar led the list of newly-elected senators after she garnered 25,283,727 votes. In a speech during the proclamation rites, Villar thanked her family, friends and those who believed in and voted for her in the recently-concluded elections. She also vowed to continue implementing her livelihood and farming advocacies, called HanepBuhay, to help alleviate the lives of poor Filipinos. In a separate statement, she also expressed gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for endorsing her candidacy during the campaign period. Finishing at number two spot was reelectionist Senator Grace Poe who received 22,029,788 votes. Poe, who ran as an independent candidate, also expressed her gratitude for getting another term at the Senate. She also vowed to support the administrations policies but will not hesitate to speak up about issues when necessary. Landing at third spot was former presidential special assistant Bong Go who got a total of 20,657,702 votes. Story continues Returning to the Senate after finishing at fourth spot was Pia Cayetano with 19,789,019 votes. Former Philippine National Police chief Ronald Bato dela Rosa landed at fifth spot with 19,004,225 votes. In a brief interview with the media prior to his proclamation, dela Rosa expressed happiness for his victory but declined to provide any details when asked about his priority bills when he enters the upper chamber of Congress. Reelectionist senator Sonny Angara finished the race at sixth place with 18,161,862 votes. He dedicated his win to his late father, former senator Edgardo Angara. He also vowed to push for measures seeking to provide additional pension for the elderly, wages for teachers and address the needs of persons with disabilities (PWD), among others. Manuel Lito Lapid was at seventh spot with 16,965,464 votes, followed by Maria Imelda Josefa Imee Marcos who received a total of 15,882,628 votes. In a brief media interview, Marcos expressed gratitude for those voted for her. She was also relieved that the proclamation finally pushed through on Wednesday, revealing that she has yet to get a good night sleep as they were closely monitoring the canvassing of votes. Meanwhile, Francis Tolentino placed ninth in the senate race with 15,510,026 votes. In an interview on the sidelines of the proclamation event, he revealed that he has begun interviewing individuals who will be part of his legislative staff in the senate. Tolentino, who is among the five Senate neophytes in the 18th Congress, said he would prioritize amendments to the local government code, and push for measures that would improve the countrys disaster management and water systems. Reelectionist senator Aquilino Koko Pimentel landed at tenth spot with 14,668,665 votes, followed by Ramong Bong Revilla Jr., who garnered 14,624,445 votes. Revilla declined to grant media interview before the proclamation ceremony started earlier. Completing the top 12 newly-elected senators was Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay with 14,504,936. The proclamation of winning senators ended past 11 a.m. The Comelec said the proclamation of the 61 party-list representatives will be held at the PICC later at 7 p.m. (with details from Rosalie Coz) The post Winning senators of 2019 polls thank voters, bare legislation plans appeared first on UNTV News. Bangkok, 22 May 2019 If city living, with its daily traffic woes and long work weeks,has you exhausted with no energy left for creativity, ONYX Hospitality Group invites you to refresh your mind with the latest inspiring art exhibitions in Bangkok, including From Monet to Kandinsky, a multimedia Western art showcase at River City Bangkok, and private art museum MOCA, both easily accessed from Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok and Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok respectively. Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok is an ideal hub for urban travellers, offering stylishly furnished apartments with well-equipped kitchens and full facilities to make you feel at home. Visit Western art exhibitions at River City Bangkok from Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok If you are a fan of classic Western art, look no further than River City Bangkok where From Monet to Kandinsky, a renowned multimedia art exhibition is now on show. The exhibition immerses you in a world of colourful masterpieces by the great masters of Europe, including Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and Wassily Kandinsky, displayed through digital projections with animated graphics and musical accompaniment. If you are into Italian Renaissance-era art, visit the Italian Renaissance exhibition to appreciate the timeless works of Italian masters like Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. From Monet to Kandinsky is being shown at River City Bangkok until 29 July 2019 and Italian Renaissance will be held at the same venue from 6 August 31 October 2019. Located between the BTS Ploenchit and Nana stations, Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok is an ideal hub offering guests the feel of a home away from home, with full in-room facilities and easy access to the city attractions. Guests can embark on their journey from the serviced apartment, taking the BTS skytrain to Saphan Taksin station and hopping on a complimentary shuttle boat to River City. After the visit, guests can head to Charoen Krung Road, home to locally renowned food stalls and restaurants, or pick up some fresh ingredients from local markets to cook their own meals in their apartments. Shopaholics can also enjoy a shopping spree at Iconsiam, located across the river bank from River City Bangkok. Nightly rates at Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok start at 2,720 THB++. Guests staying at ONYX properties enjoy exclusive deals on entrance tickets; just enter promotional code ONYXGUEST while purchasing via https://www.zipeventapp.com/e/FROM-MONET-TO-KANDINSKY Multimedia-Exhibition. Dont forget to show your hotel keycard along with the tickets to the staff at the entrance. For more information and reservations, please contact Shama Sukhumvit Bangkok Tel. +66 2105 6000 or visit https://www.shama.com/sukhumvit/ The Cockpit Lounge at Amari Don Muang Airport provides a relaxing space for guests to sit back with a refreshing drink and pastries or to meet up with friends and family before a flight. Explore Thainess at MOCA from Amari Don Muang Airport For those who are more into contemporary local art and culture, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) exhibits modern art collections by well-known Thai national artists. Founded with love and passion for the arts, the private museum is aesthetically designed with an exterior carved from a single piece of granite and indented with a jasmine motif on its facade. The museum displays a large collection of sophisticated paintings and sculptures inspired by the local way of life, cultures and traditions, by renowned national artists including Chalermchai Kositpipat and Thawan Duchanee. Beyond the art exhibits, the building also houses a complete collection of Thai banknotes dating back to the reign of King Rama IV and black-and-white photo collections by Thai national artists. Guests can refuel with a wide range of delectable breakfast items at Zeppelin, the all-day restaurant at Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok, and then head to the museum which is just a few minutes taxi ride away. Back at the hotel, guests can relax by the outdoor pool with refreshing drinks on hand or keep in shape at the Fitness Centre. Those in the mood for a local shopping spree will fall in love with the nearby Chatuchak Market, the biggest open-air weekend market in Asia. The Market is easily accessible with the complimentary shuttle van service offered by the hotel on weekends. Alternatively, guests planning to depart from Don Muang can, cast their anxiety of traffic congestions away as the airport terminal is just across the road from the hotel, accessible via an air-conditioned pedestrian bridge. Nightly rates at Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok start at THB 1,800++. For more information and reservations, please contact Amari Don Muang Airport Bangkok +66 2566 1020 or visit https://www.amari.com/donmuang/ UD doctoral candidate Mahmoud Sherif takes groundwater samples from an aquifer in Egypt. Credit: Mahmoud Sherif Most of the water used by people in Egypt comes from the Nile River, which originates from precipitation over mountainous areas in the Ethiopian highlands. In areas far from the Nile River Valley, however, where water is scarce and the population is growing, groundwater is the only available freshwater resource. Knowing how much water is available in the groundwater aquifers and how fast it is being replenished is vital for providing the population with water for drinking and irrigation. Determining the age of water sources helps in those calculations. A new study from the University of Delaware looked at chlorine isotopes as chemical tracers to determine the age and origin of groundwaters from the Eastern Desert of Egypt. The research was led by doctoral candidate Mahmoud Sherif and Neil Sturchio from UD and Mohamed Sultan from Western Michigan University. The work resulted in a paper recently published in the Earth and Planetary Science Letters journal. While groundwater provides only seven percent of the water demand in Egypt, Egyptian water authorities have recently given renewed attention to increasing its exploitation, especially in eastern Egypt, to mitigate the growing water stress and to accommodate agriculture projects. To measure the age and origin of the groundwater, 29 samples were collected from different wells during several field expeditions in Egypt. The researchers used the long-lived radioactive isotope chlorine-36 to estimate the age of the groundwaters; this isotope forms in the atmosphere and travels to the earth and has a half-life of 300,000 years. Neil Sturchio, professor and chair of the Department of Geological Sciences in UDs College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, said that the Egypts Eastern Desert is interesting because while it is still dry and arid, it gets more rain than the Western Desert. Credit: Mahmoud Sherif Sturchio, professor and chair of the Department of Geological Sciences in UD's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, said that the Eastern Desert is interesting because while it is still dry and arid, it gets more rain than the Western Desert of Egypt. Because of this rain, the researchers were curious to see if the groundwater in the Eastern Desert might be generally younger than the water found in the Western Desert, but were surprised by their findings. "In the shallow aquifers you would expect young water, perhaps 50-100 years old, because it's coming down as rain and flowing out towards the Nile Valley," said Sturchio. "But in some of these aquifers, Mahmoud found water that's apparently 200,000 years old." Sturchio said that while the water is probably not actually 200,000 years old, the fact that it appears that way shows that older water from the Nubian Aquifer comes up along faults in the rocks and mixes in with the shallow water, carrying some of the older chlorine with it. The water coming up from the deeper aquifer likely ended up there when the climate was much wetteras far back as a million years agowith abundant rainfall that caused a lot of water to seep into the ground and collect in the very thick, porous sandstone. The Nile River provides most of the water used by Egyptians, but national authorities are looking for ways increase the use of groundwater. Credit: Mahmoud Sherif Sherif said that finding this natural discharge from the deep aquifers through these faults to the shallower aquifers is important for the developmental plan for the area. "When we quantify the amount of water in the shallow aquifer, we have to consider the water coming up from the deeper aquifer," said Sherif. "It's an additional source and instead of drilling very deep wells, which is very expensive, the [Egyptian government] won't have to. They can reduce the cost." Sturchio said that while Egypt is lucky that it has a lot of water from the Nile, there is only so much water that can be taken out of the river according to an international agreement. That is why it is critical in areas like the Eastern Desert to identify and use these groundwater resources. "The young groundwater that comes down as rain and takes about 50 to 100 years to flow to the Nile is being used for irrigation in some places. But some of the water they're pumping out comes from the much older groundwater in aquifer underneath," said Sturchio. "You really want to know how much of that water you can pump out before you're over-pumping it and using it up too fast. You don't want to pump it out faster than it can replenish itself, ideally. Knowing the groundwater age is part of the basis for developing a good strategy for using it." Explore further Paper details technique to date groundwater More information: Mahmoud I. Sherif et al. Chlorine isotopes as tracers of solute origin and age of groundwaters from the Eastern Desert of Egypt, Earth and Planetary Science Letters (2019). Journal information: Earth and Planetary Science Letters Mahmoud I. Sherif et al. Chlorine isotopes as tracers of solute origin and age of groundwaters from the Eastern Desert of Egypt,(2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.12.035 The 3D-Fuge utilizes 3D-printed disks designed to hold small vials of liquid. Simple yarn is used to spin the disks. Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech A 5,000-year-old toy still enjoyed by kids today has inspired an inexpensive, hand-powered scientific tool that could not only impact how field biologists conduct their research but also allow high-school students and others with limited resources to realize their own state-of-the-art experiments. The device, a portable centrifuge for preparing scientific samples including DNA, is reported May 21 in the journal PLOS Biology. The co-first author of the paper is Gaurav Byagathvalli, a senior at Lambert High School in Georgia. His colleagues are M. Saad Bhamla, an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Soham Sinha, a Georgia Tech undergraduate; Janet Standeven, Byagathvalli's biology teacher at Lambert; and Aaron F. Pomerantz, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. "I am exceptionally proud of this paper and will remember it 10, 20, 30 years from now because of the uniquely diverse team we put together," said Bhamla, who is an assistant professor in Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. From a Rainforest to a High School Together the team demonstrated the device, dubbed the 3-D-Fuge because it is created through 3-D printing, in two separate applications. In a rainforest in Peru the 3-D-Fuge was an integral part of a "lab in a backpack" used to identify four previously-unknown plants and insects by sequencing their DNA. Back in the United States, a slightly different design enabled a new approach to creating living bacterial sensors for the potential detection of disease. That work was conducted at Lambert High School for a synthetic biology competition. Thanks to social media and a preprint of the PLOS Biology paper on BioRxiv, the 3-D-Fuge has already generated interest from around the world, including emails from high-school teachers in Zambia and Kenya. "It's awesome to see research not just remain isolated to one location but see it spread," said Byagathvalli. "Through this, we've realized how much of an impact simple yet effective tools can have, and hope this technology motivates others to continue along the same path and innovate new solutions to global issues." A sample vial is placed into the disk of a 3D-Fuge for separation. Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech To better share the work, the team has posted the 3-D-Fuge designs, videos, and photos online available to anyone. Frugal Science One focus of Bhamla's lab at Georgia Tech is the development of tools for frugal science, or real research that just about anyone can afford. The tools behind state-of-the-art science often cost thousands of dollars that make them inaccessible to those without serious resources. Centrifuges are a good example. A small benchtop unit costs between $3,000 and $5,000; larger units cost many times that. Yet the devices are necessary to produce concentrated amounts of, say, genomic materials like DNA. By rapidly spinning samples, they separate materials of interest from biological debris. The Bhamla team found that the 3-D-Fuge works as well as its more expensive cousins, but costs less than $1. Gaurav Byagathvalli, a senior at Lambert High School in Forsyth County, Georgia, demonstrates an inexpensive centrifuge created with a 3D printing process. M. Saad Bhamla, a Georgia Tech assistant professor, observes the device, which can be part of a "lab in a backpack." Credit: Rob Felt, Georgia Tech An Ancient Toy The 3-D-Fuge is based on earlier work by Bhamla and colleagues at Stanford University on a simple centrifuge made of paper. The "paperfuge," in turn, was inspired by a toy composed of string and a button that Bhamla played with as a child. He later discovered that these toys, known as whirligigs, have existed for some 5,000 years. They consist of a disklike a buttonwith two holes, through which is threaded a length of flexible cord whose ends are knotted to create a single loop with the disk in the middle. That simple contraption is then swung with two hands until the button is spinning and whirring at very fast speeds. The earlier paperfuge uses a disk of paper. To that disk Bhamla glued small plastic tubes filled with a sample. He and colleagues reported that the device did indeed create high-quality samples. In late 2017 Bhamla was separately approached by the Lambert High team and Pomerantz to see if the paperfuge could be adapted for the larger samples they needed (the paperfuge is limited to small samples of ~1 microliteror one drop of blood). Together they came up with the 3-D-Fuge, which includes cavities for tubes that can hold some 100 times more of a sample than the paperfuge. The team developed two equally effective designs: one for field biology (led by Pomerantz) and the other for the high-school's synthetic biology project (led by Byagathvalli). Bhamla notes that the 3-D-Fuge has some limitations. For example, it can only process a few samples at a time (some applications require thousands of samples). Further, because it's 10 times heavier than the paperfuge, it can't reach the same speeds or produce the same forces of that device. That said, it still weighs only 20 grams, slightly less than a AA battery. "But it works," said Bhamla. "All you need is an [appropriate] application and some creativity." Explore further World's fastest creature may also be one of the smallest More information: Gaurav Byagathvalli et al. A 3D-printed hand-powered centrifuge for molecular biology, PLOS Biology (2019). Journal information: PLoS Biology Gaurav Byagathvalli et al. A 3D-printed hand-powered centrifuge for molecular biology,(2019). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000251 The Sundarbans is one of the world's last remaining wild habitats for the big cats The number of wild tigers in Bangladesh's Sundarbans area has increased for the first time in 15 years after a major crackdown against poachers in the world's largest mangrove forest, officials said Wednesday. A tiger census report released by the forestry department showed that the number of the famed big cats in the Bangladeshi parts of the mangroves has increased to 114 from 106 four years ago. Alarm bells were raised in 2015 when a census found that only 106 tigers were living in the forest, less than a quarter of the 440-strong population in 2004. "It marks an eight-percent increase in tiger population. It is a great success," the minister for forestry Shahab Uddin said as he revealed the census report. "The (tiger) population trend is positive, which indicates our current conservation strategies and programmes are effectively working," chief forest conservation official Shafiul Alam told reporters. The authorities conducted the census on 1,656 square kilometres (640 square miles) of forest last year and used camera traps to count the tiger numbers. The Sundarbans, which also straddle parts of eastern India, is home to some rare animals including Irrawaddy dolphins and Bengal tigers, both declared endangered because of poaching and loss of habitat. Since the 2015 findings, authorities have undertaken a series of measures to boost the number of Bengal tigers in the forestone of the world's last remaining wild habitats for the big cats. As part of the measures, the size of the wildlife sanctuary in the forest was more than doubled while an elite security force launched a major crackdown against pirates-turned-poachers active in the forest's network of rivers and canals. Previously the wildlife sanctuary was limited to 23 percent of the forest cover, and villagers and tourists had unrestricted access to the rest of the mangrove forest. A gun buyback scheme saw nearly 200 pirates surrender their weapons and ammunition to police in exchange for cash, legal aid and mobile phones. Dozens of other pirates were shot dead as part of the crackdown. In one of the worst gunfights, police killed six poachers in August 2015 at a forest canal and found the skins of three adult Bengal tigers. Police have claimed the surrender scheme has virtually eradicated the lawlessness once rife in the mangroves. "Poaching is one of the key reasons for the decline of tiger population," Alam said, adding the authorities have already launched a "smart" patrolling project in the forest to reduce the number of tiger poaching cases to zero. Explore further Bangladesh doubles wildlife sanctuary to save its tigers 2019 AFP Of the 550 gigatonnes of biomass on Earth, fungi make up 12 Gtmore than six times all animals combined Scientists have unearthed fossilised fungi dating back up to one billion years, in a discovery that could reshape our understanding of how life on land evolved, research showed Wednesday. For decades, the earliest known fungiorganisms such as mushrooms, mould and yeastwas thought to have appeared on earth around half a billion years ago. But recent fossil specimens unearthed in Canada and analysed using the latest dating technology appear to push back fungi's arrival to the earliest reaches of life on land. Corentin Loron, a PhD student from the University of Liege, Belgium, and colleagues examined the microfossils to determine the chemical composition of their cells. They found the presence of chitina fibrous substance that forms on fungal cell wallsand examined the age of the rock the fossils were found in by its ratio of radioactive elements. They concluded the microfossils were between 900 million and one billion years old. Loron said the finding was significant because in the "tree of life", fungi are part of the same umbrella group of organismsknown as Eukaryotesas plants and animals. "This means that if fungi are already present around 900-1000 million years ago, so should animals have been," he told AFP. "This is reshaping our vision of the world because those groups are still present today. Therefore, this distant past, although very different from today, may have been much more 'modern' than we thought." Fungi are among the most abundant organisms on the planet and are the third largest contributor to global biomass after plants and bacteria. They are six times heavier than the mass of all animals combinedincluding humans. The study was published in the journal Nature. Explore further Fossils may be earliest known multicellular life: study More information: Corentin C. Loron et al. Early fungi from the Proterozoic era in Arctic Canada, Nature (2019). Journal information: Nature Corentin C. Loron et al. Early fungi from the Proterozoic era in Arctic Canada,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1217-0 2019 AFP Botswana says lifting the ban will not threaten the elephant population Many conservationists on Thursday reacted with anger over Botswana's decision to lift its blanket ban on hunting, describing it as a "horrifying" move, though others backed the idea. Botswana fended off criticism of its decision to end the five-year ban, saying the move would not threaten the elephant population. A government statement said the cabinet had been influenced by the "high levels of human-elephant conflict" and its "impact on livelihoods". "Predators appear to have increased and were causing a lot of damage as they killed livestock in large numbers," it said. "The general consensus from those consulted was that the hunting ban should be lifted." A blanket hunting ban was introduced in 2014 by then-president Ian Khama, a keen environmentalist, to reverse a decline in the population of wild animals. But lawmakers from the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) have been lobbying for the policy change, saying wild animal numbers have become unmanageable in some areas. Environment minister Kitso Mokaila said the government had found itself in the firing line over the decision. "We are trying to come up with solutions and yet we seem to be the guys that are targeted for abuse," he said, adding that many lives had been lost. The London-based Humane Society International said "the horrifying decision... will send shock waves throughout the conservation world" "Conservation is in our DNA," he told reporters in Gaborone. Much of the controversy has focused on elephant hunting, as landlocked Botswana has the largest elephant population in Africa, with more than 135,000 roaming freely in its unfenced parks and wide open spaces. The London-based Humane Society International said "the horrifying decision... will send shock waves throughout the conservation world." "Resuming... hunting is not only morally questionable and flies in the face of all international efforts to protect these giants, but it will also likely damage Botswana's hugely valuable tourism industry." But the minister said "we have never been reckless and we will never be reckless. Our responsibility to conservation has not changed." A deputy director in the ministry, Cyril Taolo, said the resumption of hunting was not "intended to reduce our elephant population" and that there was an annual quota to hunt 400 animals a year. "We will ensure hunting is done ethically," he said. Botswana is renowned as a luxury safari destination 'A political move' President Mokgweetsi Masisi took over from Khama last year and a public review began five months later, with reports suggesting growing political friction between Masisi and his predecessor. "This is a political move and not in the best interests of conservation in Botswana," Jason Bell of the US-based International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said. "Elephants are being used as political scapegoats, but at a huge cost. "Hunting will do nothing to alleviate human-elephant conflict." But Botswanan groups said hunting would help local communities as trophy hunters pay large sums to shoot an animal. "We are very happy that hunting will be back," Amos Mabuku, chairman of the Chobe Enclave Conservation Trust, told AFP. Some experts say the number of elephants in Botswana has almost tripled over the last 30 years "The people were the ones who had been bearing the brunt of co-existing with these animalswe have lost brothers, we have lost our crops, we have lost our cattle due to this. "Livelihoods are dependent on the revenue from trophy hunting... controllable hunting, not poaching." The WWF said that its policy was that "scientific evidence has shown that trophy hunting can be an effective conservation tool as part of a broad mix of strategies." Rising numbers Some experts say the number of elephants in Botswana, renowned as a luxury safari destination, has almost tripled over the last 30 years, and that the population could now be over 160,000around a third of the entire African population. Tom Milliken, a consultant with TRAFFIC, an international charity on trade in wild animals, said trophy hunting could support rural areas. "Sport hunting does get revenues going back to local communities and if we hope to maintain large landscapes for species like elephants we need to have the goodwill of local communities." Villagers at the scene of an elephant trampling in which a man died Many of Botswana's elephants roam across borders into Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. All four countries have called for a global ban on elephant ivory trade to be relaxed due to the growing number of the animals in some regions. Explore further Southern African leaders seek ways to manage elephant populations 2019 AFP Moyamba chimp with mangoes-Camera trap images. Credit: Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (TCS)/DICE, University of Kent Research carried out into the impact of changes to chimpanzee habitats found they have adapted to human developments in a number of waysincluding learning how to cross roads safely and the best times to visit human habitatsbut their survival is still threatened. A team of anthropologists from the University of Kent and universities in Spain, in collaboration with the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone, made their discoveries from hidden cameras during an eight-month study in the African country. Although chimpanzees living in fragmented habitats cross roads to move from one area to another of their home range and may approach human settlements, any further road widening, tarmacking or expansion and urbanisation could significantly affect their distribution and abundance. Consequently, the research team suggests care with infrastructure development, as well as developing agreements with farmers to allow strategic fallow areas to regenerate into community-managed forest refuges providing corridors for wildlife and vital natural resources and ecosystem services for both humans and wildlife. The research found that chimpanzees do not avoid areas frequented by people, possibly due to human tolerance and low levels of hunting in the study areabut they did not visit areas humans use at midday when human activity was more prevalent. Around settlements, farmers grow fruits that attract chimpanzees despite the risks of encounter with people. The cameras captured images of chimpanzees eating domesticated fruits like mangos and pineapples that were cultivated close to human settlements. The research team used 24 infra-red digital camera traps deployed between 2015 and 2016 for a total of 8 months across 27 1.25x1.25 km grids in the Moyamba district in south-western Sierra Leone. University of Kent expert in primate behaviour and one of the research team Dr. Tatyana Humle said: 'If we want to secure their long-term survival, it is crucial that successful protection measures should benefit people and chimpanzees alike. Conservation actions should focus on education and helping farmers to implement alternative agricultural methods to slash and burn farming and environmentally-friendly revenue generating activities to ensure coexistence between the two species.' In a landscape heavily impacted by subsistence agriculture, with many swamps and minimal forest, the researchers found that chimpanzees can survive if habitat loss is gradual, key wild resources such as the native oil palm are abundant and if people are tolerant of their presence. However, chimpanzees in such landscapes tend to avoid roads, including untarmacked secondary roads, and prefer to range in close proximity to the swamps. Approximately 60% of all world's non-human primates are threatened with extinction and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) face serious threats in West Africa, including death from disease, habitat loss, poaching, and retaliation as a result of competition with people for resources. West Africa has one of the most fragmented tropical forest landscapes in the world due to high levels of deforestation. Chimpanzees in the region are critically endangered with the majority living outside protected areas. Factors influencing wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) relative abundance in an agriculture-swamp matrix outside protected areas by Rosa Garriga, Ignasi Marco and Encarna Casas-Diaz, Facultat de Veterinaria, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Pelayo Acevedo, Instituto de Investigacion en Recursos Cinegeticos, Ciudad Real, Spain; Bala Amarasekaran Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Luna Cuadrado and Tatyana Humle, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, is published in Plos One. Explore further Chimpanzees adapt their foraging behavior to avoid human contact More information: Rosa M. Garriga et al, Factors influencing wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) relative abundance in an agriculture-swamp matrix outside protected areas, PLOS ONE (2019). Journal information: PLoS ONE Rosa M. Garriga et al, Factors influencing wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) relative abundance in an agriculture-swamp matrix outside protected areas,(2019). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215545 Two deadly crashes within months of each other forced a worldwide grounding of Boeing's 737 MAX airliners China's three biggest airlines have filed claims seeking compensation from Boeing over the grounding and delayed delivery of 737 MAX 8 aircraft following two deadly crashes, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday. The reports in various state-run media that China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Air China would seek payouts from the American aerospace giant come against the backdrop of an escalating US-China trade war. China Southern is Asia's largest carrier by fleet size, China Eastern is the country's number two, while Air China is the state flag carrier. A spokesman for China Eastern confirmed to AFP that a dispatch by state-run Xinhua news agency saying the airline had presented Boeing with a compensation claim was correct. Neither the spokesman nor the report gave any financial or other details. Spokespersons for China Southern and Air China could not immediately be reached for comment. On March 11, China became the first country to order its airlines to ground the 737 MAX as a result of the two tragedies. The day before, an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board, including eight from China. That followed the October crash of a Lion Air 737 MAX, which went down shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. Xinhua had reported that "grounding Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes had resulted in great losses for the company (China Eastern), and the losses are still expanding". Shanghai-based China Eastern has grounded its 14 MAX planes while the US aviation giant addresses the safety risks, Xinhua reported. It was not immediately clear how many planes the other two airlines had grounded. But Chinese media have previously reported that a combined 96 MAX aircraft were in service among all of China's carriers. There was no immediate indication that the move was related to the increasingly bitter trade conflict. Trump launched the trade war last year to extract profound economic reforms from Beijing, accusing China of seeking to forge global industrial dominance through massive state intervention in markets and the theft of US technology. The two sides have exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade. The conflict has widened recently with the United States taking unprecedented steps to bar US technology sales to Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Washington suspects Huawei has deep links with China's military which could allow Beijing to potentially use Huawei-enabled networks for espionage or cyber-sabotage. Boeing acknowledged Saturday it had to correct flaws in its 737 MAX flight simulator software used to train pilots. The firm's statement about the simulator marked a first acknowledgement of a shortcoming since the two accidents led to the worldwide grounding of the top-selling airliner. The anti-stall system on the MAX models has been blamed in large part for the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy. Explore further Boeing acknowledges flaw in 737 MAX simulator software 2019 AFP The simple idea underlying the design of the circuit is linking together some ring oscillators having lengths equal to the smallest odd prime numbers, such as 3, 5 and 7 (top). Even a simple sum between sine waves having such periods yields a complicated-looking signal (bottom), but the interactions between real oscillators lead to a much richer scenario. Credit: Ludovico Minati Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have found a simple, yet highly versatile way to generate "chaotic signals" with various features. The technique consists of interconnecting three ring oscillators, effectively making them compete against each other, while controlling their respective strengths and their linkages. The resulting device is rather small and efficient, thus suitable for emerging applications such as realizing wireless networks of sensors. The ability to recreate the signals found in natural systems, such as those in brains, swarms, and the weather, is useful to understand the underlying principles. These signals can be very complex, as in the extreme case of the so-called chaotic signals. "Chaos" does not mean randomness; it represents a very complicated type of order. Minute changes in the parameters of a chaotic system can result in greatly different behaviors. Chaotic signals are difficult to predict, but they are present in many scenarios. Unfortunately, the generation of chaotic signals with desired features is a difficult task. Creating them digitally is in some cases too power-intensive, and approaches based on analog circuits are required. Now, researchers in Japan, Italy and Poland propose a new approach for creating integrated circuits that can generate chaotic signals. This research was the result of a collaboration between scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), in part funded by the World Research Hub Initiative, the Universities of Catania and Trento, Italy, and the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, Poland. Diagram of the proposed chaotic oscillator circuit, wherein the strengths of the ring oscillators and their linkages are controlled independently, and its prototype layout (top). Examples of three generated signals having rather different qualities: cycle amplitude fluctuations, spike trains, and noise (bottom). Credit: Ludovico Minati The research team started from the idea that cycles that have periods set by prime numbers cannot develop a fixed phase relationship. Surprisingly, this principle seems to have emerged in the evolution of several species of cicadas, whose life cycles follow prime numbers of years to avoid synchronizing with each other and with predators. For example, attempts to tie together oscillators with periods set to the first three prime numbers (3, 5 and 7) results in signals that are very complicated, and chaos can be readily generated (Fig. 1). The design started from the most traditional oscillator found in integrated circuits, the ring oscillator, which is small and does not require reactive components (capacitors and inductors). Such a circuit was modified so that the strengths of ring oscillators having three, five and seven stages could be controlled independently, along with the tightness of their linkages. The device could generate chaotic signals over a wide frequency spectrum, from audible frequencies to the radio band (1 kHz to 10 MHz). "Moreover, it could do so at a rather low power consumption, below one-millionth of a watt," explains Dr. Hiroyuki Ito, head of the laboratory where the prototype was designed. Even more remarkable was the discovery that totally different types of signals could be generated depending on the slightly different characteristics the individual prototypes (Fig. 2). For example, the researchers recorded trains of spikes quite similar to those found in biological neurons. They also found situations in which the rings "fought each other" to the point of almost completely suppressing their activity: This phenomenon is called "oscillation death." The integrated circuit was designed as a tiny "cell" about 200-100 m large (left), and its first prototype was accommodated on a test board providing all necessary support functions (right). Credit: Hiroyuki Ito and Ludovico Minati "This circuit draws its beauty from a really essential shape and principle, and simplicity is key to realizing large systems operating collectively in a harmonious manner, especially when it enriched by small differences and imperfections, such as those found in the realized circuits," says Dr. Ludovico Minati, lead author of the study. The finding has many possible applications. The researchers will work on integrating this circuit with sensors to measure chemical properties in the soil, for example. Additionally, they will create networks of these oscillators on single computer chips interconnected to resemble biological neural circuits. They hope to realize certain operations while consuming many times less power than a traditional computer. Explore further Mathematical monotsukuri: Summing a constant may help to detect synchronized brain activity More information: IEEE Access, DOI: 10.1109/ACCESS.2019.291290 White oak leaves and marble-sized galls. Galls are growths on plants caused by invasions of parasites, viruses, fungi and bacteria -- making galls centers of activity for both attacks on a plant's system and a plant's defense of those attacks. Credit: Stephen Nowland, Emory University During the height of the Civil War, the Confederate Surgeon General commissioned a guide to traditional plant remedies of the South, as battlefield physicians faced high rates of infections among the wounded and shortages of conventional medicines. A new study of three of the plants from this guidethe white oak, the tulip poplar and the devil's walking stickfinds that they have antiseptic properties. Scientific Reports is publishing the results of the study led by scientists at Emory University. The results show that extracts from the plants have antimicrobial activity against one or more of a trio of dangerous species of multi-drug-resistant bacteria associated with wound infections: Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae. "Our findings suggest that the use of these topical therapies may have saved some limbs, and maybe even lives, during the Civil War," says Cassandra Quave, senior author of the paper and assistant professor at Emory's Center for the Study of Human Health and the School of Medicine's Department of Dermatology. Quave is an ethnobotanist, studying how people use plants in traditional healing practices, to uncover promising candidates for new drugs. "Ethnobotany is essentially the science of survivalhow people get by when limited to what's available in their immediate environment," she says. "The Civil War guide to plant remedies is a great example of that." "Our research might one day benefit modern wound care, if we can identify which compounds are responsible for the antimicrobial activity," adds Micah Dettweiler, the first author of the paper. If the active ingredients are identified, "it is my hope that we can then [further] test these molecules in our world-renowned models of bacterial infection," says co-author Daniel Zurawski, chief of pathogenesis and virulence for the Wound Infections Department at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research. "I've always been a Civil War buff," Zurawski adds. "I am also a firm believer in learning everything we can garner from the past so we can benefit now from the knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors." Additional co-authors on the paper include Ryan Reddinger, from the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; James Lyles, from the Quave lab; and Kate Nelson, from Emory School of Medicine's Department of Dermatology. An 1863 copy of "Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests," by Francis Porcher, from the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives and Rare Book Library at Emory University. Credit: Stephen Nowland, Emory University Dettweiler was still an Emory undergraduate when he heard about the Civil War plant guide and decided to research it for his honors thesis. He has since graduated with a degree in biology and now works as a research specialist in the Quave lab. "I was surprised to learn that far more Civil War soldiers died from disease than in battle," he says. "I was also surprised at how common amputation was as a medical treatment for an infected wound." About one in 13 surviving Civil War soldiers went home with one or more missing limbs, according to the American Battlefield Trust. At the time of the Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, germ theory was in its developmental stages and only gradually beginning to gain acceptance. Formal medical training for physicians was also in its infancy. An antiseptic was simply defined as a tonic used to prevent "mortification of the flesh." Iodine and bromine were sometimes used to treat infections, according to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, although the reason for their effectiveness was unknown. Other conventional medicines available at the time included quinine, for treating malaria, and morphine and chloroform, to block pain. Military field hospitals within the Confederacy, however, did not have reliable access to these medicines due to a blockadethe Union Navy closely monitored the major ports of the South to prevent the Confederacy from trading. Seeking alternatives, the Confederacy commissioned Francis Porcher, a botanist and surgeon from South Carolina, to compile a book of medicinal plants of the Southern states, including plant remedies used by Native Americans and enslaved Africans. "Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests," published in 1863, was a major compendium of uses for different plants, including a description of 37 species for treating gangrene and other infections. Samuel Moore, the Confederate Surgeon General, drew from Porcher's work to produce a document called "Standard supply table of the indigenous remedies for field service and the sick in general hospitals." For the current study, the researchers focused on three plant species Porcher cited for antiseptic use that grow in Lullwater Preserve on the Emory campus. They included two common hardwood treesthe white oak (Quercus alba) and the tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera)as well as a thorny, woody shrub commonly known as the devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa). "Our research might one day benefit modern wound care, if we can identify which compounds are responsible for the antimicrobial activity," says Emory researcher Micah Dettweiler, shown with a stalk of the shrub known as the devil's walking stick (Aralia spinosa). Credit: Stephen Nowland, Emory University Samples of these three plants were gathered from campus specimens, based on Porcher's specifications. Extracts were taken from white oak bark and galls; tulip poplar leaves, root inner bark and branch bark; and the devil's walking stick leaves. The extracts were then tested on three species of multi-drug-resistant bacteria commonly found in wound infections. Aceinetobacter baumanniibetter known as "Iraqibacter" due to its association with wounded combat troops returning from the Iraq Warexhibits extensive resistance to most first-line antibiotics. "It's emerging as a major threat for soldiers recovering from battle wounds and for hospitals in general," Quave says. Staphylococcus aureus is considered the most dangerous of many common staph bacteria and can spread from skin infections or medical devices through the bloodstream and infect distant organs. Klebsiella pneumoniae is another leading cause of hospital infection and can result in life-threatening cases of pneumonia and septic shock. Laboratory tests showed that extracts from the white oak and tulip poplar inhibited the growth of S. aureus, while the white oak extracts also inhibited the growth of A. baumannii and K. pneumoniae. Extracts from both of these plants also inhibited S. aureus from forming biofilms, which can act like a shield against antibiotics. Extracts from the devil's walking stick inhibited both biofilm formation and quorum sensing in S. aureus. Quorum sensing is a signaling system that staph bacteria use to manufacture toxins and ramp up virulence. Blocking this system essentially "disarms" the bacteria. Traditional plant remedies are often dismissed if they don't actively attack and kill pathogens, Quave notes, adding: "There are many more ways to help cure infections, and we need to focus on them in the era of drug-resistant bacteria." "Plants have a great wealth of chemical diversity, which is one more reason to protect natural environments," Dettweiler says. He plans to go to graduate school with a focus on researching plants for either medical or agricultural purposes. "I'm interested in plants because, even though they don't move from place to place, they are extremely powerful and important." Explore further Ginkgo seed extracts show antibacterial activity on skin pathogens Credit: Robert Davies, Shutterstock Thanks to the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, efforts to promote the deployment of low-carbon alternative fuels (AFs) in transport have intensified in recent years. However, these technologies haven't yet become mainstream, particularly in the heavy-duty road vehicles sector that predominantly relies on diesel engines. Supported by the EU COLHD project, a recent report sheds light on the obstacles impeding the wide adoption of AF solutions in Europe. "Our research shows there is no common European support strategy towards AFs, and a clear lack of political and financial support, together with the discontinuity of policies and low economic appeal of Alternative fuel solutions." It also points to the limited number of refilling stations along the European road networks, mainly due to the insufficient availability of brands and models of alternative-fueled vehicles (AFVs) in the market. "On the other hand, existing AFV or AFs stations are hindered by a lack of standards or standardization inconsistencies in manufacturing and deployment, fuel quality requirements, interfaces between AFV and filling stations and EU training guidelines for Alternative Fuel drivers." Stronger regulatory framework The report highlights the difficulties involved with costs and investments in AF infrastructure, as well as the limited economic viability of biofuel use in transportation. To address these issues, the authors of the report emphasize the need for developing a common European approach to the AF market and call on the European Commission to support a detailed assessment of policymaking. They also recommend strengthening the regulatory framework by identifying clear long-term objectives as well as offering financial incentives. Other strategies and suggestions include: improvements in truck and powertrain design; technology neutrality for the combination of various fuel alternatives; and the progressive use of AF technologiesstarting with more mature ones. The authors propose "switching from Diesel to Compressed Natural Gas and Liquified Natural Gas (for heavier trucks and longer routes) and progressively to Advanced biofuels, Bio-Methane, Synthetic gas and, ultimately, Hydrogen" where electric-based solutions are unfeasible. Increased efficiency The ongoing COLHD (Commercial vehicles using Optimised Liquid biofuels and HVO Drivetrains) project was launched to develop an AF engine that's more efficient than the standard diesel alternative. COLHD covers technology, infrastructure and removal of additional barriers. It focuses on the development of three powertrain technologies that use biogas (liquefied biomethane or liquid biopropane) and second-generation biofuels (hydrogenated vegetable oil). The project website states: "The engines will be designed to run on optimized blends of both fossil fuels, mainly Autogas (LPG) and LNG (Liquid Natural Gas), and non-fossil renewable biofuels, with the objective of progressively increasing the share of biofuels throughout the evolution of the market." In addition to conducting research on removing barriers and reducing costs across the whole value chain, project partners have made significant progress in fuel selection. Explore further Behavior-influencing policies are critical for mass market success of low carbon vehicles More information: COLHD project website COLHD project website colhdproject.eu/ Credit: CC0 Public Domain From monitoring inmates on suicide watch to detecting cryptic messages in phone calls, artificial intelligence is reshaping the way prisons are run, a Council of Europe director said Wednesday. "Artificial intelligence and digital technology are not only here to stay, but can also help in offender management," said Jan Kleijssen, director of the council's department dealing with crime and information society. At the close of an annual conference of prison and probation directors from across the 47-member state alliance, he rolled off a series of pilots underway in countries such as Belgium, Britain and the Netherlands. One such project involves "analysing speech by telephone and trying to detect patterns which are unusual, to determine whether cryptic messages are being sent to the outside," he told AFP in Cyprus. Allaying concerns about prisoner rights, Kleijssen said the schemes being introduced are in areas where inmates are already being monitored by staff. They could also save prisoners' lives, he said, such as one pilot measuring heartbeats which can set off an alarm if a potential problem is detected. In one instance "artificial intelligence would alert prison staff if suicide were attempted," Kleijssen said, adding an extra layer of support for at-risk prisoners who are under close staff supervision. The Council of Europe, which aims to issue legal guidance on using AI in prisons, also views teaching inmates about technological advancements key to their futures beyond prison walls. He pointed to a voluntary project underway in Finland, where prisoners are involved in the development of AI through a partnership with a private company, to make them more employable on release. "Digital existence is as important as real existenceand the work market has changedif you have no digital skills and don't keep them up-to-date you will be at serious disadvantage," said Kleijssen. Explore further Britain to ban smoking in prisons (Update) 2019 AFP Swedish birch forests acted as a material inventory for these prehistoric Scandinavians. Credit: JanBussan/Shutterstock Chewing gum may seem like a modern habit but that's apparently not quite the case. Scientists have recovered DNA that is nearly 10,000 years old from gum that was chewed by people in Scandinavia during the Mesolithicor Stone Ageperiod. This gum was used as glue to make toolsthe chewing is believed to have helped make it more pliable and sticky. They may not have chewed it for pleasure, but recreational chewing of resin and gum has been known of since ancient times. The gum itself was found at Huseby Klev, a Mesolithic site in western Sweden. It's difficult to find DNA from ancient specimens because it is so often degraded. Most samples of ancient DNA are obtained from bones or teeth. Such remains are rare and precious, so grinding them into powder to extract DNA is rarely encouraged. Material that is meant to be chewed but not swallowed has been found in many sites, but is often disregarded during excavations. The knowledge that human DNA can be obtained from bits of old chewing gum is a breakthrough that offers fascinating possibilities for future work. Through this seemingly inconsequential scrap of ancient detritus come several fascinating insights into life 9,800 years ago. Diverse and resourceful The researchers sequenced the entire genomes of three individuals who had chewed gum and made tools on the site and compared them with contemporary genomes from 10 other sites, spread across Europe from Samara in Russia to La Brana in Spain. Their stone tools largely consisted of small flakes of flint, called microliths, carefully shaped and glued into wooden or bone hafts. Harpoon points made of bone with small barbs of flint glued in have also been found and arrowheads made of flint that have been carefully shaped by the technique of pressure flaking. Rock carvings from Mesolithic-era Sweden. Note the hunter with bow top left. Credit: Olof Ekstrom/Wikipedia, CC BY-SA Scientists had assumed these Scandinavian hunter gatherers had mostly arrived in western Sweden from Eastern Europe, as the tools almost entirely originated from there. However, the genetic evidence suggests they were more diverse. These prehistoric people were genetically Scandinavian but more closely related to people from further west and south than to eastern populations, even though they favoured a style of tool-making prevalent in the East. This shows it's not always safe to make assumptions about where ancient people come from based on their culture. Fluid gender roles Two of the three individuals whose genomes were successfully sequenced were female. There has been a perception among some archaeologists that females in prehistory were relegated to a purely domestic role and had little to do with "masculine" tasks such as making tools. These findings suggest that gender roles were rather more fluid, clearly supporting the idea that females were involved in the prehistoric tool industry. The fact that some of the eight samples of mastic that were found had impressions of milk teeth in them also suggests that some of those chewing the mastic were between five and 18 years of age. It would be unthinkable in modern times to allow a child of five loose with these sharp and dangerous hunting tools. In perspective though, life expectancy was around 30 years, so a teenager would not only be considered fully adult but probably have a family of their own. An ancient Swedish flake axe made from flint microliths. Credit: Nordisk familjebok/Wikipedia Familiar environment The gum that was chewed by the tool makers at Husebey Kelv was birch pitch, a dark, sticky substance, similar to tar, that is distilled from birch bark by heating it to around 420 without letting air get to it. Because it's very viscous (it is solid and rubbery at ambient temperature) it can be used to waterproof objects and as a glue. It also tells us something about the environment in which the people livedbirch woods rather than pine forest. This suggests the people lived in an environment similar to parts of Scotland today, where birch woodland is prevalent. Agriculture had started elsewhere, but there's nothing to say that these people were practising it. The presence of bones and tools place them as hunter gatherers. The harpoons suggest that life at Huleseby Klev revolved around hunting marine mammals and fish. One can imagine that the birch pitch would be good for waterproofing boats made from animal hide, or even birch bark canoes. This research gives us a greater insight into the lives and origins of our recent ancestors. Like all good research, this opens up a whole raft of new questions. If females were making tools, were they also using them to hunt? What was the life of a Mesolithic child in Scandinavia like? Did Mesolithic people chew gum for recreational, hygienic and medicinal reasons, as other cultures did? Why did Scandinavian populations continue to use the Eastern European technologies rather than a mixture of Eastern and Western? Some of these questions will never have answers, but every new finding sheds a tiny beam of light onto the distant past. Explore further Oldest Scandinavian human DNA found in ancient chewing gum Image shows the first page of the letter by Clement of Alexandria to Theodor. Credit: Charles W. Hedrick. In his doctoral dissertation, Timo Paananen examines the letter by the early Christian philosopher Clement of Alexandria (ca. 150-215 CE) to Theodore. The identity of Theodore, recipient of the letter, remains a mystery. Clement instructs him, among other things, by quoting passages from the text known as The Secret Gospel of Mark. Morton Smith (1915-1991), professor of ancient history at Columbia University, claimed to have discovered the letter in the Mar Saba monastery in 1958. Several biblical scholars have doubted the authenticity of the letter. Paananen studied the debate over the forgery accusations related to The Secret Gospel of Mark and analysed the handwriting in Clement's letter. "The first passage from The Secret Gospel of Mark is a brief story about Jesus raising a rich young man from the dead. The youth is told to have started to 'love' Jesus and invited him to his home. After six days the young man came to Jesus wearing a linen cloth, and during the night Jesus taught him the mystery of the kingdom of God," Paananen recounts the story. Several esteemed scholars of early Christianity, Larry Hurtado, Birger Pearson, Bart Ehrman and Craig Evans among them, have argued powerfully in support of the forgery hypothesis. However, according to Paananen their argumentation falls short in significant ways. "Suspicions of forgery have been fed by the way the manuscript disappeared into the library of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem as well as by Smith's sensationalist theories of the historical Jesus, which contained both magical rites and homoeroticism. "In Smith's interpretation, Jesus was a magician who exploited hallucinations induced by hypnotic suggestion, when he took his disciples on the ascent into the heavens and presented them with the mystery of the Kingdom of God. To crown it all, Smith suggested that the 'spiritual union' described in The Secret Gospel of Mark may have been supplemented by a 'physical union'," Paananen continues. However, according to his dissertation research, the text passages in Clement of Alexandria's letter reveal that digital image processing has caused unintended corruption of the details in the handwriting. Additionally, a comparative study of handwriting shows that the handwriting in Clement's letter does not contain what is known as "forger's tremor" or other common indicators of forgery. "Ignorance of standards of handwriting analysis used in forensic studies have misled also other researchers to take the handwriting of Clement's letter as being forged by Smith," the doctoral candidate surmises. "The letter is a genuine text from antiquity, although it is difficult to ascertain if it was written by Clement himself, or perhaps by his student, Origen of Alexandria. In any case, The Secret Gospel of Mark that is quoted in the letter provides one example of the instability of texts in the canon of the New Testament Gospels. This instability has been created by changes in wordings and grammar, and even by cases of adding or removing entire episodes," Paananen sums up. Studying historical forgeries takes multidisciplinary skills According to Paananen, no generally accepted method for detecting forgeries has been established. Researchers may, among other things, justify their arguments for forgery by creating fictional stories to explain the details in the forgeries. "Earlier, researchers may have given in to the temptation of developing wild theories of forgery based on imagined clues and codes. In addition, historians have had to assess forgeries on a case-by-case basis, and skilful counterfeits have led to long and heated debates," Paananen says. The dissertation proposes developing a robust scientific framework for detecting forgeries. Explore further Professors discover copy of Jesus' secret revelations to his brother More information: A Study in Authenticity: Admissible Concealed Indicators of Authority and Other Features of ForgeriesA Case Study on Clement of Alexandria, Letter to Theodore, and the Longer Gospel of Mark: A Study in Authenticity: Admissible Concealed Indicators of Authority and Other Features of ForgeriesA Case Study on Clement of Alexandria, Letter to Theodore, and the Longer Gospel of Mark: urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-94-1853-4 Stephanie Pierce explores the collections of tetrapod fossils inside the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Credit: Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer About 400 million years ago, vertebrates first began to crawl from the primordial seas onto land. Last week, thanks to a cutting-edge mathematical-analysis technique, a global research team uncovered how a crucial stage in evolution made that advance possible. Published May 8 in Science Advances, the paper deciphers crucial information about how those sea-dwelling creatures' fins became the specialized limbs that made life on dry land feasible. "All animals that have limbs with hands and feet and fingers and toes [that is, tetrapods] arose from animals that were fish with fins that lived in the water," explained Stephanie E. Pierce, associate professor of organismic and evolutionary biology and curator of vertebrate paleontology at Harvard's Museum of Comparative Zoology (MCZ). "One of the big puzzles is, how did that happen?" In collaboration with lead authors Borja Esteve-Altava and John Hutchinson at London's Royal Veterinary College, Pierce and her colleagues present new research that may explain how. Although paleontologists have accumulated plentiful fossil evidence of this particular evolutionary change, it was only when the team examined it via an innovative technique called anatomical network analysis (AnNA) that clear patterns emerged. AnNA, created in 2015 for biological and biomedical research, deals with structures of pairwise relations between objects. Based on graph theory, which essentially compares connections and relations between objectsin this case, the fossilized remains of fins and limb bonesa pattern emerged. As tetrapods evolved, limb structures became simpler and more modular. In other words, where fin bones tend to be widely interconnected in many directions, the bones in limbs tend to be linked end to end, or "in a string," as Pierce put it. "So one bone is connected to the bone before it and the bone after it. Fingers show this perfectly." However, Pierce added, "though we have this decrease in complexity in bone contacts, that doesn't mean that the limbs themselves were not doing interesting things." In particular, as would-be limbs became simpler, they also became more modular, with each limb developing what, in a human, would be an upper arm, a forearm, a hand, and fingers. This modularization may have allowed for increasing specialization. In humans, for example, it would explain the development of the opposable thumb, whereas a different specialization of the same modular unitthe fingersin a bat evolved into the long, light bones of a wing. For creatures emerging from the relatively gravity-free environment of the water to a more varied and complex open-air landscape, such anatomical flexibility would be vital. "How the structure is put together probably allowed tetrapods, once they came out of the water and onto land, to adapt to all the new and unexplored terrestrial niches afforded to them," said Pierce. The next step (pun intended) is to understand how those changes allowed land-based tetrapods to walk, a question Pierce is currently working on in collaboration with others. "We're building computer-simulation models across the fish/tetrapod transition to understand how the skeleton and muscles might have changed and what the impact was on locomotion," said Pierce. The muscles of fish, she explained, are much less varied than those of land animals. As tetrapods emerged from water, "the skeleton became simplified, but the musculature became much more complex to deal with the forces of gravity." For Pierce, who is the MCZ's first female curator of vertebrate paleontology, the makeup of the research team is almost as groundbreaking as its finds. The research was primarily funded by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program via a Marie Skodowska-Curie fellowship for Esteve-Altava. Esteve-Altava (now at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona, Spain)came to Harvard to code specimens in the MCZ collection, while the rest of the teamwhich included Julia Molnar from New York Institute of Technology, Rui Diogo from Howard University, and Peter Johnston from the University of Auckland brought expertise and experience from around the world. "Science is becoming much more collaborative and much more diverse," said Pierce. Explore further The evolution of fins to limbs in the land invasion race More information: Borja Esteve-Altava et al. Evolutionary parallelisms of pectoral and pelvic network-anatomy from fins to limbs, Science Advances (2019). Journal information: Science Advances Borja Esteve-Altava et al. Evolutionary parallelisms of pectoral and pelvic network-anatomy from fins to limbs,(2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau7459 This story is published courtesy of the Harvard Gazette, Harvard University's official newspaper. For additional university news, visit Harvard.edu. Richwood, TX (77531) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 71F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 71F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Artists impression of the exocomets in the planetary system around Beta Pictoris. Credit: Michaela Pink Just about a year after the launch of the NASA mission TESS, the first three comets orbiting the nearby star Beta Pictoris outside our solar system were discovered with data from the space telescope. The main goal of TESS is to search for exoplanetsplanets orbiting other stars. The recognition of signals from much smaller exocomets compared to planets requires the analysis of a precise light curve, which can now be obtained using the technical sophistication of the new space telescope. Sebastian Zieba, master's student in the team of Konstanze Zwintz at the Institute of Astro- and Particle Physics at the University of Innsbruck, discovered the signal of the exocomets when he investigated the TESS light curve of Beta Pictoris in March this year. "The data showed a significant decrease in the intensity of the light of the observed star. These variations due to darkening by an object in the star's orbit can clearly be related to a comet," Sebastian Zieba and Konstanze Zwintz explain of the sensational discovery. In collaboration with Matthew Kenworthy from Leiden University (Netherlands) and Grant Kennedy from the University of Warwick (UK), they analysed and interpreted the signals of the exocomets. The results will now be published in the international journal Astronomy and Astrophysics. Three similar exocomet systems have recently been found around three other stars during data analysis by NASA's Kepler mission. The researchers suggest that exocomets are more likely to be found around young stars. "The space telescope Kepler concentrated on older stars similar to the Sun in a relatively small area in the sky. TESS, on the other hand, observes stars all over the sky, including young stars. We therefore expect further discoveries of this kind in the future," says Konstanze Zwintz. Zwintz's research focuses on young stars and she is regarded as an internationally renowned expert in the field of asteroseismology. Dr. Grant Kennedy, from the University of Warwick Department of Physics, assisted with the modeling and interpretation of the data. He said: "This discovery is really important for the science of extrasolar comets for several reasons. Beta Pictoris had been thought to host exocomets for three decades from a different technique, and the TESS data provide long overdue and independent evidence for their existence. Our next aim is to find similar signatures around other stars, and this discovery shows that TESS is up to the task." Parts of the TESS light curve of Beta Pictoris showing the three dimming events caused by the exocomets. Credit: Sebastian Zieba / Konstanze Zwintz Famous star The young and very bright star Beta Pictoris is a "celebrity" among astronomers for many reasons: "Already in the 1980s, investigations of Beta Pictoris provided convincing evidence for planetary systems around stars other than our Suna decade before exoplanets were even discovered for the first time. In addition, there was already indirect evidence for comets at that time based on the characteristic signature of evaporating gas coming off them," adds Konstanze Zwintz. At about 23 million years old, Beta Pictoris is a relatively young star, "a young adult star compared to human age," says the astronomer. The discovery of exocomets around Beta Pictoris was predicted in 1999 in a paper by the astrophysicists Alain Lecavelier des Etangs, Alfred Vidal-Madjar and Roger Ferlet. "Together with our colleagues from Leiden and Warwick, we are pleased to have finally confirmed this theory," say Zieba and Zwintz. The scientists expect to discover many more comets and asteroids in this area, as it is a young star. "In the future, we want to find answers to the question of how often exocomets occur and whether their number really decreases with the age of a star. Information about this is important because by analysing the comets around a young star we can also draw conclusions about the history of our own solar system. Because we know that our solar system showed considerably more comets in early years," explains Konstanze Zwintz. In the future, the researchers want to investigate the composition of exocomets, for example regarding their water content. The comets themselves are smaller than exoplanets, but have very large tails, which can be up to many millions of kilometres long. "What we are seeing is not the comet nucleus itself, but the material blown off the comet and trailing behind it. So the TESS data do not tell us how big the comets were, since the extent of the dust tail could be very big and not very dense, or less big and more dense. Both situations would give the same light curve," explains Zwintz. Explore further Two families of comets found around nearby star Beta Pictoris More information: A transiting exocomet detected in broadband light by TESS in the Pictoris system. Journal information: Astronomy and Astrophysics A transiting exocomet detected in broadband light by TESS in the Pictoris system. arxiv.org/abs/1903.11071v1 The global fleet of Boeing 737 MAX planes has been grounded after two deadly crashes, including this group of Southwest Airlines planes photographed in California in March Getting Boeing's top-selling 737 MAX back in the skies faces a critical test this week as the company and US regulators each seek to restore their reputations after two deadly crashes. The US Federal Aviation Administration will convene a summit of global aviation regulators on Thursday to walk through the steps taken to address concerns with the MAX following criticism the agency dragged its feet on the decision to ground the jets. Most agencies around the world have said little since the 737 MAX was grounded following the March 10 Ethiopian Airlines crash, which together with a Lion Air crash in October, claimed 346 lives. So the gathering in Fort Worth, Texas is expected to provide clues as to whether the aviation safety authorities will be willing to set aside any skepticism about the FAA, which has not yet given the green light for the 737 MAX to fly again. Regulators "are going to want a lot of explanation," said Richard Aboulafia of the Teal Group. "We're going to learn a lot." The FAA would prefer to have other agencies quickly follow its leadwhich previously would have been likelybut several aviation experts think that is improbable. Officials from the European Union and Canada said Wednesday they will not clear the 737 MAX for takeoff until their questions are answered. "There are conditions for us to have (the 737 MAX) return to fly and that is we do our independent review," said Jagello Fayl, communications chief for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency. "We will assure that adequate training is agreed upon and put in place, that any changes by Boeing to the design is validated by us." Daniel Elwell, acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration, hopes to coordinate global regulators on the resumption of flights of the Boeing 737 MAX Transport Canada "has provided US Federal Aviation Administration and Boeing a list of questions and action items to address as part of the validation process and evaluation," Transport Canada spokeswoman Frederica Dupuis said in an email. "Our expectation is that all data required to address these inquiries will be provided." Dupuis said she "cannot speculate on the timelines" for approval of the 737 MAX by the FAA or Canadian officials. "The Government of Canada will not lift the current flight restriction of the Boeing 737-8 MAX until it is fully satisfied that all concerns have been addressed by the manufacturer and the US Federal Aviation Administration, and adequate flight crew procedures and training are in place." Still the 'gold standard'? The FAA said 57 agencies from 33 countries will attend the summit, including China, France, Germany, Britain, India, Indonesia and Ethiopia, as well as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the UN International Civil Aviation Organization. The meeting comes after Boeing announced on May 16 that it had completed a software update to address a problem with the flight handling program known as the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System. In both of the MAX crashes, the MCAS pointed the plane sharply downward based on a faulty sensor reading, hindering the pilots' effort to control the aircraft after takeoff, according to preliminary crash investigations. China's three largest airlines have sought compensation from Boeing over the grounding and delayed delivery of the jets, state media reported Wednesday. Mourners carry portraits of victims of the crashed accident of Ethiopian Airlines during a mass funeral at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in March A Boeing spokesman said the company does not comment on conversations with customers. Lag after US? Boeing said it is providing additional information to the FAA in anticipation of a certification test flight, a key step in winning regulatory approval. Long considered a "gold standard" internationally, the FAA's reputation has suffered, amid scrutiny of the oversight process and reports it allowed Boeing to effectively self-certify some features of the MAX. US lawmakers last week once again castigated acting FAA Administrator Daniel Elwell for lagging behind virtually all other regulators in grounding the planes, acting only after seeing data linking the two crashes. Elwell told the panel the agency would permit the 737 MAX to resume flights "only when the FAA's analysis of the facts and technical data indicate that it is safe to do so." Aviation experts expect the US agency to clear the way for the 737 MAX in time for major American airlines to resume flights in mid-to-late summer, as they have publicly announced. But Ajay Singh, chairman and managing director of the budget Indian carrier SpiceJet, which reportedly operates 13 MAX jets and has nearly 200 more on order, told The Financial Times he expected the aircraft to be back in the air by July. "We are confident that it's a great plane. It's a completely safe aircraft," he said in an interview published Wednesday. "So we are waiting for the regulators to take that view." Elwell said he hoped other regulators "make their un-grounding as close to ours as possible." Explore further Boeing acknowledges flaw in 737 MAX simulator software 2019 AFP Corn in a Waksman Institute of Microbiology field in Piscataway, N.J. Credit: Hugo Dooner/Waksman Institute of Microbiology Researchers may be able to improve corn yields and nutritional value after discovering genetic regulators that synthesize starch and protein in the widely eaten grain, according to a Rutgers-led study. The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could benefit millions of people who rely on corn for nutrition in South America, Africa and elsewhere. The world's corn supply depends on improving its yield and quality, which relies on the accumulation of starch and proteins in the grain's endosperm, the study says. Endosperm, an important source of human nutrition that contains starch, oils and proteins, is the seed tissue that surrounds embryos. "We found a novel approach to discover new regulators in the synthesis of starch and protein, which determine grain yield and quality," said study lead author Zhiyong Zhang, a post-doctoral fellow at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. The scientists discovered how corn starch and protein are simultaneously synthesized in the endosperm, which could allow them to find a good balance between nutrient quality and yield, Zhang said. Corn domestication and modern breeding have gradually increased starch content but decreased protein accumulation in endosperms. The researchers looked at key proteins in corn kernels known as zeins, which are devoid of lysine, an essential amino acid (a building block of proteins), resulting in poor nutrient quality. During corn breeding over decades, people increased lysine content by cultivating corn with lower levels of zeins. Still, today's lysine levels are too low to meet the needs of the world's rapidly growing population. So, molecular geneticists and corn breeders are trying to dramatically reduce zein levels to improve corn nutrient quality by focusing on blocking them and so-called transcription factors. Transcription is when the information in a gene's DNA is transferred to RNA, resulting in proteins that play key roles in the body's tissues, organs, structure and functions. The research team found that two transcription factors play key roles in regulating the synthesis of starch and protein, paving the way for further research to fully understand the balance between nutrient quality and yield at a molecular level. Rutgers co-authors include post-doctoral fellow Jiaqiang Dong and senior author Joachim Messing, director of the Waksman Institute. Scientists at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences contributed to the study. Explore further Pollen genes mutate naturally in only some strains of corn More information: Zhiyong Zhang et al, NAC-type transcription factors regulate accumulation of starch and protein in maize seeds, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2019). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Zhiyong Zhang et al, NAC-type transcription factors regulate accumulation of starch and protein in maize seeds,(2019). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1904995116 Schematic of hydrogen sensing using palladium nanoparticles. Without hydrogen present, the metallic palladium nanoparticles (orange dots) act as isolated islands, and electric current cannot flow easily across the device. In contrast, when the device is exposed to even a small amount of hydrogen, the hydrogen atoms can bridge the gaps between islands, creating a connected network that allows a large current to pass though (red lines). Credit: Osaka University A team at Osaka University has invented a new process for creating high-precision sensing devices that respond to the presence of hydrogen gas. By carefully controlling the deposition of metallic nanoparticles on a silicon surface, the researchers were able to create a sensor that can detect low levels of hydrogen on the basis of changes in electrical current. This research may have important benefits as part of a switch to hydrogen-based fuels, which could power the zero-emission cars of the future and help fight anthropogenic climate change. To fabricate a hydrogen sensor, the researchers deposited metallic palladium on a silicon substrate. The deposited palladium forms nanoparticles on the substrate, and they act like tiny islands that are excellent conductors of electricitybut because they do not form a connected network, the current across the device is very small. However, when hydrogen atoms are present, they are absorbed into the palladium nanoparticles, increasing the volume of the nanoparticles, and then bridging the gaps between the islands. Eventually, a completely connected path is formed, and electrons can flow with much less resistance. In this way, even a tiny change in hydrogen concentration can lead to a massive increase in current, so the devices can be made very sensitive. A significant challenge the Osaka researchers had to overcome was precisely controlling the gaps between islands to deposit in the first place. If the deposition time was too short, gaps between the nanoparticles are too wide and they would not be bridged even when hydrogen was present. Conversely, if the deposition time was too long, the nanoparticles would form a connected network on their own, even before hydrogen was applied. To optimize the response of the sensor, the research team developed a novel method for monitoring and controlling the deposition of palladium called piezoelectric resonance. Illustration of how piezoelectric resonance can be used to evaluate the separation between the palladium particles during device fabrication. As palladium nanoparticles (yellow) are being added to the sample, the vibrating piezoelectric material (green rectangular parallelepiped) generates an alternating electric field (blue arrows) near the substrate (gray) surface, creating a current flow in deposited palladium (orange particles). This causes some of the vibrational energy of the piezoelectric material to be lost. The value of the energy loss is greatest when the palladium particles contact each other, so deposition can be stopped at the optimal nanoparticle concentration. Credit: Osaka University "Piezoelectric materials, such as a quartz crystal in a wristwatch, can vibrate at a very specific frequency in response to an applied voltage," senior author Dr. Hirotsugu Ogi explains. Here, a piece of piezoelectric lithium niobate was set to vibrate underneath the sample during the metallic nanoparticle deposition. The oscillating piezoelectric created an electric field around the sample, which in turn induced a current in the device that depended on the connectivity of the palladium network. Then, the attenuation of the oscillation changes depending on the connectivity. Therefore, by listening to the sound (measuring the attenuation) of the piezoelectric material, the connectivity can be monitored. "By optimizing the deposition time using the piezoelectric resonance method, the resulting hydrogen sensors were 12 times more sensitive than before," first author Dr. Nobutomo Nakamura says. "These devices may represent a step towards a cleaner energy future involving hydrogen." The work is published in Applied Physics Letters as "Precise control of hydrogen response of semicontinuous palladium film using piezoelectric resonance method.". Explore further Palladium Nanoparticle Electrodeposition on Nanotubes Results in New Flexible Hydrogen Sensors More information: N. Nakamura et al, Precise control of hydrogen response of semicontinuous palladium film using piezoelectric resonance method, Applied Physics Letters (2019). Journal information: Applied Physics Letters N. Nakamura et al, Precise control of hydrogen response of semicontinuous palladium film using piezoelectric resonance method,(2019). DOI: 10.1063/1.5094917 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Gray whales are dying at twice the usual rate as a brutal migration unfolds, with whales washing up on Washington state beaches, apparently starved to death. As if gray whales didn't already have enough troubles, with transient killer whales preying on their calves as the mighty grays swim north in their annual migration from their birthing lagoons in Baja. But now, gray whale mothers in particular, depleted by the demands of lactation, are starving, too. So far 18 gray whales have washed ashore in Washington and a total of 57 have stranded on the West Coast since gray whales began their spring migration north to Alaskan waters from their calving lagoons in Mexico. Experts are exploring reasons for the spike in strandings, the most in nearly 20 years, and whether warming oceans in an era of climate change could be contributing to the deaths. "It is almost too soon to tell, are we in a new world where we are going to see more mortalities in top predators like sea lions and gray whales, is this the harbinger of things to come?" said research ecologist Elliott Hazen, of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). "If we start seeing this year in and year out, that is when we should be alarmed." Last year the total death toll on the West Coast was 45 whales, including 10 in Washington, a little above average. But that was for the entire migration season, which begins as the whales leave their calving grounds in spring and lasts into June. The strandings already seen so far this year are the most of any year since 2000, when 131 grays perished. Gray whales undertake one of the longest migrations of any mammal, clocking more than 10,000 miles in some instances. The gray whale population overall is healthy. The population has fluctuated since the late 1990s from about 20,000 to nearly 30,000 animals, about what it was before commercial whaling drove gray whales nearly to extinction. Under protection by an international commercial whaling ban and the Endangered Species Act, gray whale populations in the northeastern Pacific have steadily rebuilt. This year, the northeastern Pacific gray whale population is about 27,000 strong. In a similar so-called unusual mortality event in 1999-2000, most of the grey whales that strandedbut not allwere found to be malnourished. The cause of that event was never entirely determined. However, the deaths were most probably density related, meaning that as the whales' numbers grow, the population reaches so-called carrying capacity. There are more whales than the amount of food in their environment can support. A similar scenario appears to be at work this year as well, scientists believe. But there is a new possible culprit: climate change. The whales probably did not get enough food last summer before beginning their epic journey south. That could be both because there are so many whales, and because their food resource was less abundant, because of lingering effects of The Blob, a mass of warm water that began forming in the Northeastern Pacific in late 2013 that massively disrupted ocean food webs. In addition, as sea ice retreats because of our warming climate, the whales are being forced to forage farther north for the abundant food produced when plankton blooms at the edge of the ice. Traveling farther north to eat means an even longer migration southwith less fat on board to stoke the journey. (The whales don't eat once they begin their southbound migration.) Frances Gulland, a member of the Marine Mammal Commission and lead author on the analysis of the last die-off, said that while there is no worry as to the survival of such a robust population, scientists are still concerned about the increase in strandings, and the public should be, too. "Is this yet another symptom of climate change?" Gulland said. "We do know that they are suffering from malnutrition, and we do know it is because of larger sea ice changes. The public needs to wake up that everywhere you look, there are impacts of climate change." Next year will be telling, Gulland said. If The Blob is primarily to blame, next year's migration should not be as marked by strandings. However, if shrinking sea ice is the primary driver, next year could be just as bad, even worse. Hazen, the research ecologist with NOAA, also wondered if what is being witnessed this year is not just a repeat of the die-off in 1999-2000, but a reset of the ecology of the Arctic in a warming world. Hazen studies migration as an indicator of environmental change. "It's hard to say, is this the same as we saw in the past? The way I like to describe it is we don't know if we are still experiencing a recovery in the ecosystem from The Blob or are we facing a new normal," Hazen said. John Calambokidis, of the Cascadia Research Collective in Olympia, cautioned it is still early to understand just what is behind the die-off. He expects the record set in the last unusual mortality event could be reached and broken this season. "We are getting close to those numbers and we are only halfway through the migration season, and there certainly will be more." Once relentlessly pursued nearly to extinction by commercial whalers, grays have been protected from commercial hunting by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) since 1949. The grays were taken off the federal endangered species list in 1994. They are still protected from hunting under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and IWC. Exemptions are granted for aboriginal subsistence hunts, including by the Makah Tribe in Washington. Growing nearly 50 feet in length, the slow but steady grays have a way of endearing themselves to people. They are not flashy like orcas, with their stately dorsal fins and dramatic breaches and fierce, toothy visage. Grays are the homebody whale, often visible during their near-shore spring migration all along Washington's coast, and choosing to give birth together in Baja lagoons, where they will even show off their young to adoring tourists. Local feeding aggregations of gray whales return year after year to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the north Puget Sound. They are a staple of the whale-watch industry, and their return is awaited and expected by Washingtonians as eagerly as the first swallow in spring. What's happening to the gray whales matters both because of what it can teach us about environmental change, and for the sake of the whales themselves, Calambokidis said. "Whales represent what we can see, and something people care about," he said. "All of those are important reasons to think through the bigger environmental issues underlying this." Explore further Gray whales starving to death in the Pacific, and scientists want to know why 2019 The Seattle Times Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. President Donald Trump has effectively banned US companies from supplying Huawei and affiliates with critical components Four major Japanese and British mobile carriers said Wednesday they will delay releasing new 5G handsets made by Huawei amid a US-led crackdown on the Chinese tech firm over security concerns. Meanwhile, the British firm ARM, which designs processors used in most mobile devices, was also said to be set to suspend ties with Huawei. Telecoms giant EE, owned by BT, was due to bring Huawei's first 5G phone, the Huawei Mate 20X, to Britain, but the Chinese giant's involvement in the country's telecoms sector has become politically controversial. EE chief executive Marc Allera said that the company had "paused" the launch of Huawei's 5G phones "until we get the information and confidence and the long-term security that our customers... are going to be supported". The group also said it would phase out the use of Huawei equipment in the most sensitive "core" elements of its network infrastructure. Vodafone soon followed suit, announcing it was suspending pre-orders of Huawei 5G handsets. "We are pausing pre-orders for the Huawei Mate 20X in the UK. This is a temporary measure while uncertainty exists regarding new Huawei 5G devices," said a spokesperson. According to the BBC, ARM is also set to cut ties with Huawei as its processors contain "US-origin technology" that would be affected by the ban. Staff at the firm were told to suspend "all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements" with Huawei, according to internal documents seen by the BBC. Huawei said in response that it recognised "the pressure" placed on its suppliers, and that it was "confident this regrettable situation can be resolved." KDDI and SoftBank Corp, Japan's number two and number three carriers respectively, said their decision to delay the release of Huawei handsets was taken to give them time to assess the impact of a US ban on American companies selling technology to Huawei. The country's biggest carrier, NTT Docomo, also announced it was suspending pre-orders for a new Huawei handset, but stopped short of halting the release itself. Citing national security, US President Donald Trump has effectively banned US companies from supplying Huawei and affiliates with the critical components that have helped it grow into the world's largest supplier of telecom networking equipment and second-biggest smartphone maker. US officials this week, however, issued a 90-day reprieve on the ban on dealing with Huawei, saying breathing space is needed to avoid huge disruption. Dire threat SoftBank had been due to release a Huawei-made smartphone on Friday, but halted the release "because we are currently trying to confirm if our customers will be able to use the equipment with a sense of safety", company spokesman Hiroyuki Mizukami told AFP. "We still don't know when we will be able to start selling," he said, adding the Japanese carrier is concerned about "everything" linked to the US ban. Japanese carrier KDDI said its release of the Huawei P30 lite Premium planned in May will also be postponed, with spokeswoman Reiko Nakamura saying: "We're checking the facts on how (the US decision) was made and its impact." NTT Docomo announced shortly afterwards that it was halting pre-orders of a Huawei handset due to be released this summer, without giving a reason for the decision. Last week Trump declared a "national emergency" empowering him to blacklist companies seen as "an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States"a move analysts said was clearly aimed at Huawei. The US Commerce Department also announced an effective ban on US companies selling or transferring US technology to Huawei. Washington has long suspected deep links between Huawei and the Chinese military, and its moves against the company come amid the churning trade dispute between the world's top two economies. The issue has also been the source of heated controversy in Britain ever since a leak from the country's National Security Council (NSC) last month suggested the government was planning a limited role for Huawei in its 5G network. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Britain during a visit to London that it risked undermining the historic allies' intelligence sharing. Following the announcement of the US ban, the risks for Huawei came into focus when Google, whose Android operating system powers most of the world's smartphones, said it would cut ties with Huawei as a result of the ban. That poses a dire threat to Huawei as loss of full access to Google's services could make its phones a hard sell to consumers. Explore further Two Japanese carriers postpone release of Huawei phones 2019 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain Space missions demand we make the best use of our resourcesand that's something we could learn from at home. If you were packing for a week-long space holiday, you could bring enough freeze-dried food to last the trip. But if humans are going to colonise Mars, we'll need to find a way to produce enough food for yearsalong with everything else the crew members need. It's a problem NASA space architect Larry Toups is facing, whose job it is to fit everything required to keep people safe, productive and happy for years within the confines of a spacecraft. The space architect Larry is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston and says his job is about taking the notion of what a traditional architect might do and applying it to a new environment. "It focuses a lot of times on the human as being at the center of the design," he says. Larry says space exploration is still in its infancy, with less than 100 years of space travel. "As we evolve, the missions will involve more sustainability for the habitats that the crew members will live in, because you're going to be leaving Earth," he says. "We have right now the International Space Stationover time, we'll extend that reach out." Sustainable habitats at home Two people keen to demonstrate how we can live better on Earth are Curtin University Ph.D. students Timothy O"Grady and Roberto Minunno. The pair teamed up to create the Legacy Living Lab, a modular building where university researchers, startups and industry can work together on projects to make our homes smarter and more sustainable. Tim, a former plumber and project manager, believes we need to change the way we build in Australia. "Especially in Perth, because it's predominately double brick buildings over here, nothing's transportable," he says. "The average life expectancy of a building in WA is 24 years." Around and around again Roberto, a structural engineer, says the Legacy Living Lab is based on the concept of a circular economy. "It's about the reduction of materials, the expansion of life cycles and reusability," he says. In a circular economy, resources are kept in use for as long as possible, then recovered and regenerated at the end of their life. It's an alternative to a traditional linear economy in which we make, use and then dispose of goods. And it's very much in tune with the need to be self-sufficient in space. Larry says the International Space Station, which has been in orbit for more than 20 years, is NASA's living laboratory. "As you remove yourself from Earth, you become what we refer to sometimes as Earth-independent," Larry says. "The life support systems have to be almost totally closed because you're on a spaceship." Tim and Roberto's Legacy Living Lab is due to go on display in Fremantle later this year. Explore further Image: The frozen wild Dnieper River This article first appeared on Particle, a science news website based at Scitech, Perth, Australia. Read the original article. A vertically exaggerated view of Mars' north polar cap. Researchers with The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arizona estimate that if melted, the massive ice deposits discovered in this region would cover the planet in 1.5 meters (5 feet) of water. Credit: SA/DLR/FU Berlin; NASA MGS MOLA Science Team Newly discovered layers of ice buried a mile beneath Mars' north pole are the remnants of ancient polar ice sheets and could be one of the largest water reservoirs on the planet, according to scientists at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Arizona. The team made the discovery using measurements gathered by the Shallow Radar (SHARAD) on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). SHARAD emits radar waves that can penetrate up to a mile and a half beneath the surface of Mars. The findings, published May 22 in Geophysical Research Letters, are important because the layers of ice are a record of past climate on Mars in much the same way that tree rings are a record of past climate on Earth. Studying the geometry and composition of these layers could tell scientists whether climate conditions were previously favorable for life, researchers said. The team found layers of sand and ice that were as much as 90% water in some places. If melted, the newly discovered polar ice would be equivalent to a global layer of water around Mars at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) deep. "We didn't expect to find this much water ice here," said lead author Stefano Nerozzi, a graduate research assistant at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics (UTIG) who is completing his Ph.D. at the Jackson School of Geosciences. "That likely makes it the third largest water reservoir on Mars after the polar ice caps." A view of Mars showing the planet's northern polar ice cap. A new study led by The University of Texas at Austin has found remnants of ancient ice caps buried in the north polar region. Credit: ISRO/ISSDC/Emily Lakdawalla The findings were corroborated by an independent study using gravity data instead of radar, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University. Nerozzi was a co-author. The papers have been published simultaneously in Geophysical Research Letters. The authors think that the layers formed when ice accumulated at the poles during past ice ages on Mars. Each time the planet warmed, a remnant of the ice caps became covered by sand, which protected the ice from solar radiation and prevented it from dissipating into the atmosphere. Scientists have long known about glacial events on Mars, which are driven by variations in the planet's orbit and tilt. Over periods of about 50,000 years, Mars leans toward the sun before gradually returning to an upright position, like a wobbling spinning top. When the planet spins upright, the equator faces the sun, allowing the polar ice caps to grow. As the planet tilts, the ice caps retreat, perhaps vanishing entirely. Until now, scientists thought that the ancient ice caps were lost. The paper shows that in fact significant ice sheet remnants have survived under the planet's surface, trapped in alternating bands of ice and sand, like layers on a cake. Co-author Jack Holt, a professor at the Lunar & Planetary Laboratory of the University of Arizona, said that the study provides new, important insights into the exchange of water ice between the poles and the midlatitudes, where his research group previously confirmed the presence of widespread glaciers, also using the SHARAD instrument. A composite image showing alternating layers of ice and sand in an area where they are exposed on the surface of Mars. The photograph, taken with the HiRISE camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, was adjusted to show water ice as light-colored layers and sand as darker layers of blue. The tiny bright white flecks are thin patches of frost. Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona "Surprisingly, the total volume of water locked up in these buried polar deposits is roughly the same as all the water ice known to exist in glaciers and buried ice layers at lower latitudes on Mars, and they are approximately the same age," he said. Holt, who was a UTIG scientist and research professor for 19 years before joining the University of Arizona in 2018, has been a co-investigator with SHARAD since the spacecraft arrived at Mars in 2006. Nerozzi said that studying this record of past polar glaciation could help determine whether Mars was ever habitable. "Understanding how much water was available globally versus what's trapped in the poles is important if you're going to have liquid water on Mars," Nerozzi said. "You can have all the right conditions for life, but if most of the water is locked up at the poles, then it becomes difficult to have sufficient amounts of liquid water near the equator." Explore further Image: Radar footprints over buried Mars lake More information: S. Nerozzi et al. Buried ice and sand caps at the north pole of Mars: revealing a record of climate change in the cavi unit with SHARAD, Geophysical Research Letters (2019). Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters S. Nerozzi et al. Buried ice and sand caps at the north pole of Mars: revealing a record of climate change in the cavi unit with SHARAD,(2019). DOI: 10.1029/2019GL082114 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Researchers in the UK have developed a new method for evaluating plutonium workers' historical internal radiation exposure in a study funded by the National Institute for Health Research. They focussed their efforts on workers employed at the start of plutonium operations at the Sellafield (formerly Windscale) nuclear reprocessing facility in the UK. In a paper published today in the Journal of Radiological Protection, the researchers describe how they developed this method and the need for this research. Tony Riddell from the Centre for Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (CRCE), Public Health England, and the lead author explained: "With little specific information being available, potential risks from plutonium exposure have largely been controlled through knowledge of radiation exposure risks in general, much of which comes from external radiation exposures. "To obtain more direct estimates of potential internal exposure risks, epidemiological studies of plutonium workers need to be conducted. These studies require individual plutonium exposure estimates that are as accurate and unbiased as possible. "The UK Windscale/Sellafield workforce includes one of the world's largest cohorts of plutonium workers and, through the support of the workforce, has been the subject of previous epidemiological analyses. "However, accurate and unbiased exposure assessments for more than 600 workers employed there at the start of plutonium operations, from 1952 to 1963, cannot be produced using the urinalysis monitoring results available for them: while these results were suitable for operational protection purposes at the time, they tend to substantially overestimate exposure and this would lead to underestimation of any risks if they were to be used in an epidemiological analysis. "This means these early workers are excluded from epidemiological studies of exposure risks, which significantly reduces the power of these studies. Early workers are important for assessing potential exposure risks because they usually received some of the highest plutonium exposures and, due to the passage of time, health outcomes for these workers will now be largely known." In the paper, the researchers show how they aimed to solve this problem with an approach called a Job-Exposure Matrix (JEM). Dr. Frank De Vocht, from the University of Bristol, and the principal investigator of the study explained: "The JEM approach is a standard exposure assessment methodology for epidemiological studies of chemical and physical occupational exposures but has seen little use for the assessment of internal radiation exposures. "It involves the estimation of the average exposure level a typical worker in a homogenous exposure group would have received in a given period, assuming the exposures of individual workers in the same group (often described by the job/occupation,) come from the same distribution. "To overcome the problem of missing or deficient exposure data, we used more reliable data from other relevant workers ('exposure analogues') along with statistical, mathematical and empirical analyses to estimate the average exposures for a 'typical worker' at Windscale/Sellafield for all combinations of specific occupation and year required to build the JEM. "The 'exposure analogues' approach developed in this study provides a generic methodological advance that is potentially transferable to other internally exposed workers, and which may permit other epidemiological cohorts to now include significant groups of workers who otherwise might have been excluded due to the lack of reliable exposure information." Substituting missing data with these JEM estimates allowed the researchers to build a more reliable picture of the early workers' radiation exposure. Dr. De Vocht added: "It's likely that replacing the missing or unreliable exposure data with JEM-derived values in future epidemiological studies could have considerable impact on the risk estimates which can be produced." Explore further Radiation leaks at Japan plutonium lab, no workers exposed More information: Building a job-exposure matrix for early plutonium workers at the Sellafield nuclear site, United Kingdom, Journal of Radiological Protection, DOI: 10.1088/1361-6498/ab1168 Building a job-exposure matrix for early plutonium workers at the Sellafield nuclear site, United Kingdom, Expedition across the Pacific Ocean. Credit: Die Aktivisten, Leipzig Millions of tonnes of plastic waste are transported by rivers, by wind and in waste water into the sea, where the plastic remains. "To date, there are no detailed data on where plastic accumulates and how much," says UFZ environmental chemist, Dr. Annika Jahnke. Previous estimates rely on computer modelling, individual data and observations from the air. "We want to provide substantiation for these estimates and to find out what happens to the plastic in the ocean and which effects microplastic has on the environment," Jahnke explains. At the UFZ, the environmental chemist heads the MICRO-FATE project funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), which will run until 2021 and also includes researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS), the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research, Warnemunde (IOW) and Stockholm University (SU) in Sweden. On 30 May, a team comprising 18 MICRO-FATE researchers are setting off from Vancouver (Canada) on an expedition across the Pacific Ocean. The team on board the research vessel Sonne, scheduled to arrive in Singapore on 5July, will consist mainly of biologists, ecotoxicologists and environmental chemists. They will take samples at several stations along the passage not only in the North Pacific Garbage Patch, one of the largest accumulation areas of floating waste in the Pacific Ocean, but also at less polluted locations. One of the researchers' primary objectives is to collect samples from the surface water, the water column and from the seabed. "To date, the water column has been insufficiently studied," explains Annika Jahnke. Hence, the researchers hope to find out more about the vertical distribution of the plastic particles and to identify potential gradients with regard to concentration, composition, age and coverage with biofilms. An analysis of the samples from the seabed is also expected to provide information on plastic material in the sediments and on where microplastic end up in the sea. There are researchers who speculate that most of the material is deposited on the seabed. "The measurements will allow us to estimate whether it is true that only around one hundredth of the total amount of plastic can be found at the water surface," the environmental chemist says. The sediment samples and the water will also be examined for organic pollutants to find out if plastic is a source or sink of pollutants into the marine environment. Research Vessel Sonne. Credit: M Hartig / Meyer Werft Another objective of the researchers is to examine how the polymer structure of the plastic particles changes as a consequence of weathering. "So far, we have only little knowledge on how marine plastic weathers," Jahnke says. "There are first results but no robust data." To date, weathering has been mostly simulated in the laboratory. For this reason, there are steel tanks filled with seawater on board the research vessel to expose plastic material. The researchers want to use these to examine the influence of solar radiation, the salt content and the temperature on the plastic weathering process. "The idea is to supplement the results of our previous laboratory experiments with these field experiments," the researcher explains. The consequence of weathering is that plastic items gradually decay and ultimately fine polymer particles are formed. These tend to be covered with biofilms and to form heteroaggregates. The researchers hypothesise that these biofilms play a decisive role for the fate, transport and weathering of marine plastic. For this reason, they will analyse the biofilms and examine their function and the role they play in biogeochemical cycles in the marine environment. Studies suggest that biofilms growing on plastic differ from other marine microbiological communities and that plastic is consequently a new habitat for microbes in marine systemswith implications as yet unknown. "Our aim is to reconcile field data with existing models," the UFZ researcher explains. "And the evaluation of the new data will put us into a better position to estimate how much plastic occurs in the oceans and which impacts microplastic have on the marine environment. We will learn more about the occurrence and fate of plastic and about whether the seabed is such a big sink for plastic as studies suggest." Explore further Mangrove forests trap floating litter More information: Current information from the journey on the Helmholtz expedition blog: Current information from the journey on the Helmholtz expedition blog: blogs.helmholtz.de/on-tour/en/ The superposition of N channels allows information carriers to travel through multiple channels simultaneously. Credit: Chiribella and Kristjansson. 2019 The Royal Society Information theory, which was developed by Claude Shannon starting in the late 1940s, deals with questions such as how quickly information can be sent over a noisy communications channel. Both the information carriers (e.g., photons) and the channel (e.g., optical fiber cable) are assumed to be classical systems, with well-defined, perfectly distinguishable states. In the past two decades, physicists have been developing a quantum version of information theory in which the internal state of each information carrier has quantum properties, such as superpositionthe ability to occupy two or more classical states at once. But the transmission lines are generally still assumed to be classical, so that the path taken by messages in space is always well-defined. Now in a new paper, physicists Giulio Chiribella and Hler Kristjansson at the University of Oxford and the University of Hong Kong have proposed a second level of quantization, in which both the information carriers and the channels can be in quantum superposition. In this new paradigm of communication, the information carriers can travel through multiple channels simultaneously. "This work provides the foundation for a new theory of communication where the propagation of information in space and time is treated quantum mechanically," Chiribella told Phys.org. "It opens up new avenues for quantum communication networks and for a future quantum internet, where data could be sent from a sender to a receiver through multiple quantum servers. Exploiting the interference of different communication paths, it will be possible to communicate more efficiently and more securely. At the fundamental level, the transmission of messages along multiple trajectories could give rise to fundamental tests of the quantum nature of spacetime." This channel superposition phenomenon can be observed in the famous double-slit experiment, in which a single photon seems to pass through two slits at once. Even though just a single photon is used, the photon creates an interference pattern on the detector. The best explanation for the interference pattern is that the photon interfered with itself, like a wave, after simultaneously traveling through both slits along two different paths. When an information carrier is allowed to travel through two communications channels simultaneously, it can offer advantages such as reduced noise (due to the interference of noise on different paths) and a higher channel capacity. These advantages have been demonstrated in recent experiments with photons. In the new paper, the physicists had to confront some of the challenges involved in incorporating the superposition of channels into a quantum theory of information. One of the challenges is to describe the superposition of channels in a compositional way, so that the behavior of a channel can be predicted when it is used in combination with other channels. A second challenge is that the superposition of internal states of the information carriers must be clearly separated from the superposition of paths. Otherwise, the path itself becomes part of the message, and the system can be described using the conventional quantum framework. By addressing these challenges, the physicists formulated a quantum communications model that can be used to compute the amount of information that can be reliably transmitted when using a given number of channels in a quantum superposition. Counterintuitively, the physicists showed that, for certain types of noise, the superposition of channels, along with the ability to switch a channel with itself, could be used to completely remove all noise. This opens up the possibility of obtaining perfect quantum communication in a noisy channel. "Our work defined a communication model and provided a few proof-of-principle examples," Chiribella said. "However, this has only scratched the surface of what can be accomplished with the superposition of quantum communication channels. We are now exploring the power of correlations among them. If two trajectories visit the same region, the process experienced by the information carrier in the first trajectory can be correlated with the process experienced in the second trajectory. By taking advantage of these correlations in a clever way, it is possible to enhance the communication performance beyond what can be done with the superposition of independent channels. Getting ahold of these correlations will give us new insights into the peculiar ways in which quantum information propagates in space and time." Explore further For identical quantum channels, order matters More information: Giulio Chiribella and Hler Kristjansson. "Quantum Shannon theory with superpositions of trajectories." Proceedings of the Royal Society A. DOI: Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society A Giulio Chiribella and Hler Kristjansson. "Quantum Shannon theory with superpositions of trajectories.". DOI: 10.1098/rspa.2018.0903 2019 Science X Network Credit: CC0 Public Domain Through research by a political scientist at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), there is potential to see diplomacy between nations improve through the use of Twitter. UTSA researcher, Matthias Hofferberth, is exploring how the United Nations (UN) uses Twitter as a diplomacy tool, an approach that has been discussed as Twiplomacy. "I contend that this ensuing Twiplomacy, if committed to the dissemination and exchange of reason and arguments, holds the potential to improve global public deliberation and contribute to a more legitimate form of global governance by the United Nations," said Hofferberth. The UN was founded in 1945 and is currently made up of 193 Member States. The international organization provides a forum for governments to find areas of agreement on common issues such as security, climate change, human rights, sustainable development, terrorism and health emergencies to solve problems together. The associate professor, with undergraduate and graduate research assistance from Julia Juarez, Javier Roman, Ben Shirani, Sarah-Madeleine Torres and Veronica Vazquez, embarked on this research project to understand how the UN uses social media. The organization joined Twitter in March of 2008 and currently has 11 million followers. Hofferberth presented his paper, "Tweeting to Save Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War? The UN, Twitter & Communicative Action," at the International Organizations and Digital Diplomacy Workshop at Dalhousie University this Spring. The paper describes how Hofferberth determined key agencies and individuals within the UN Twittersphere (who is tweeting) and collected tweets during the opening weeks of the 73rd UN Session last year that began on September 18 and ended on October 5, 2018. The UN main account, UN institutional handles, and those of UN state and non-state actors were analyzed. He also looked at the purpose of the tweets, content of the tweets, who the tweets were directed to, and how the UN was represented in the tweets. The tweets were collected through an application programming interface (API). The API allowed Hofferberth to collect and look at tweets in real-time, even if they were deleted by the respective user at a later point in time. When Hofferberth looked at the purpose of the tweets, he found that tweets from individuals and institutions tied to the UN were strongly self-referential: They introduced the UN, its structure and proceedings instead of engaging the global audience in substantial debate on peace and security, climate change, underdevelopment, disease control, or any other issues the UN is involved in. He then coded the tweets to decipher whether their implicit focus was on security, economy, human rights, or environment and health. More specific themes were also coded such as war, terrorism, security, world trade, education, and culture and they were coded based on whether the content represented a call for action, a discussion statement, or information dissemination. Overall, the quality of engagement through Twiplomacy, he concludes, remains limited. "The UN's potential on social media and particularly, Twitter, is not fully explored as information remains generic and communication streamlined. Instead of engaging the audience, the UN is talking down at the audience. Given the unique nature and accountability of this organization, this is at least counterproductive if not dangerous," said Hofferberth. Hofferberth said he hopes his paper will help the UN's communication strategy. "I've met the social media team leader of the UN as well as a few different representatives from UN member states. Both were excited to learn about such research and we hope there is potential to follow up to improve practices of communication based on rigorous research," Hofferberth explained. Hofferberth has studied the UN for years and believes it is a fascinating organization because nation states come together to discuss global issues and uphold the vision of global union. "In a basic sense of global democracy, international organizations owe it to their stakeholders to explain what they are doing," he said. "I hope the paper contributes to an empowering of the audience to listen more carefully and challenge the UN's social media message." Hofferberth's research expertise is in global governance and world politics. This year, he received the President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Advancing Globalization and serves as faculty advisor for the Model United Nations Society at UTSA and for Sigma Iota Rho. More information: Tweeting to Save Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War? The UN, Twitter and Communicative Action: Tweeting to Save Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War? The UN, Twitter and Communicative Action: colfa.utsa.edu/polisci-geograp r_Workshop_Paper.pdf Qualcomm, the dominant maker of smartphone processors, abused its market position at the expense of consumers and device makers, according to a US antitrust ruling Smartphone chip giant Qualcomm suffered a fresh blow in its antitrust battle as a US federal judge ruled that it "strangled competition" for years at the expense of consumers and device makers. Qualcomm shares sank some 10.8 percent Wednesday to close at a one-month low after the ruling that the company violated antitrust law, in a case with major implications for the smartphone market. US District Judge Lucy Koh ordered Qualcomm to change its pricing and sales practices, after finding it "engaged in anticompetitive conduct" toward customers like device makers Huawei of China, South Korea's Samsung and Japan's Sony. "Qualcomm's licensing practices have strangled competition" in the chip market "and harmed rivals," she said in Tuesday's 233-page ruling in the lawsuit brought by the US Federal Trade Commission. The judge issued an injunction requiring California-based Qualcomm to comply with her order, and to submit to monitoring by the FTC for seven years. FTC competition director Bruce Hoffman called the ruling "an important win for competition in a key segment of the economy" and said the agency "will remain vigilant in pursuing unilateral conduct by technology firms that harms the competitive process." Qualcomm to appeal The company said it will seek an expedited appeal of the ruling. "We strongly disagree with the judge's conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law," Qualcomm general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. Koh said Qualcomm's actions suggested it could use the same tactics to suppress competition for fifth-generation or 5G chips. Qualcomm's mobile processors are used in most premium smartphones "There is a sufficient likelihood that Qualcomm will hold monopoly power in the 5G modem chip market such that exclusive dealing agreements for the supply of modem chips could foreclose competition in that emerging market," she wrote. The judge ruled that Qualcomm must negotiate for its patents on fair and reasonable terms without using threats or discriminatory tactics. John Bergmayer of the consumer group Public Knowledge hailed the decision. "Judge Koh's ruling shows that the FTC has the ability to bring, and win, important cases that protect American consumers," he said. Ed Black of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, a trade group that includes Google, Facebook and Microsoft and which sided with FTC, also welcomed the decision. "Qualcomm improperly benefits from its use of standard essential patents that other companies use to build compatible products," Black said. "This ruling is a win for wireless technology and American competitiveness in 5G." But Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy called the decision "a travesty." "To be found guilty, harm must be proved, and there was no evidence shown of harm to consumers, chipmakers or handset makers. Qualcomm will appeal and will likely win." Daniel Newman of Futurum Research said the ruling could hurt US efforts to get a lead in the 5G market. "Knowing that there is an innovation war around 5G, and that Qualcomm is the United States' most capable 5G intellectual provider, the idea of weakening the company at this time is at best ironic, and at worst, a downright risk for the entire innovation ecosystem of the US," Newman said. Qualcomm settled its patent dispute with Apple earlier this year, likely giving the chipmaker billions of dollars from the iPhone maker The ruling marked the latest setback for Qualcomm, which has faced antitrust litigation in China, Europe and South Korea. Qualcomm's woes appeared to ease earlier this year when it agreed with Apple to settle all worldwide litigation in what had been a sprawling battle over royalty payments. Impact unclear Koh said Qualcomm's actions harmed rivals in the smartphone modem business, including Taiwan-based MediaTek and US-based Intel, which last month pulled out of the market for 5G modems at the same time Apple settled its case with Qualcomm. But the immediate impact is unclear in a smartphone market in turmoil over a US decision to blacklist China's Huawei, the number two handset maker, from any American technology. The ruling could open the door for Qualcomm rivals and partners to seek damages, but "Qualcomm has already settled with Apple, which was one of the key instigators of the case in the first place," noted Avi Greengart of the consultancy Techsponential. Still, the findings "could open up opportunities for MediaTek at the low end of the smartphone market, and in some markets for MediaTek's 5G solutions," Greengart noted. However, Qualcomm is likely to remain the dominant producer for the smartphone market in the short-term, the analyst noted. "For the most part, Qualcomm has won based on its merits, not on its licensing terms," he said. Explore further Judge rules Qualcomm violated antitrust law in chip market 2019 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain A trio of researchers with the University of Vermont, Middlebury College and the University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China, has found evidence that suggests cannabis originated in the Tibetan Plateau. In their paper published in the journal Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, John McPartland, William Hegman and Tengwen Long describe their analysis of prior studies of the plant and how they narrowed down the likely place where it first developed. Cannabis is likely one of the most well-known plants on Earth because it produces cannabinoidschemicals that have a pronounced impact on the human brain. Prior studies have suggested the plant likely originated somewhere in central Asia approximately 28 million years agothe point where it diverged from an ancestor, the common hop. In this new effort, the researchers sought to more precisely pin down the most likely place where the plant got its start. The approach used by the researchers was to pore through prior studies, whether archaeological or geological, looking for mention of the famed plantmost notations referenced pollen because it is the part of the plant that can survive the longest. The researchers point out that identifying cannabis pollen at dig sites was not a trivial task, because in most tests, it appears identical to hop pollen. To get around that problem, they took note of other types of pollen that were found with the cannabis candidates. If the other pollen came from woodland plants, the researchers assumed they were hops, whereas if they came from steppes, the pollen was assumed to be from a cannabis plantmodern cannabis plants prefer the type of climate found in steppes. When the researchers zeroed in on the studies that mentioned cannabis (found with other steppe pollen) the earliest, they found references to parts of southern Russia and northern China. Further analysis led them to believe that the most likely place of origin was the Tibetan Plateau, perhaps near Qinghai Lake, which, the trio notes, is approximately 3200 meters above sea level. Interestingly, the researchers also note that the site is also near the place where evidence of Denisovans has been foundalong with cannabis pollen. Explore further Switzerland mulls studies on legal sale of cannabis More information: John M. McPartland et al. Cannabis in Asia: its center of origin and early cultivation, based on a synthesis of subfossil pollen and archaeobotanical studies, Vegetation History and Archaeobotany (2019). John M. McPartland et al. Cannabis in Asia: its center of origin and early cultivation, based on a synthesis of subfossil pollen and archaeobotanical studies,(2019). DOI: 10.1007/s00334-019-00731-8 2019 Science X Network Electrochemically produced ammonia. Credit: Jakob Kibsgaard Ammonia (NH 3 ) is one of the most widely produced chemicals, with a global output of 170 megatons per year. It is the key ingredient in the production of fertilizers, and thus plays a critical role in sustaining the world's population. However, more than 1 percent of global energy is consumed by the production of ammonia, which involves the reaction of dinitrogen (N 2 ) from air and dihydrogen (H 2 ), via the Haber-Bosch process. Although industry has seen some breakthroughs in terms of efficiency, the hydrogen atoms in ammonia are derived from the fossil fuel methane (CH 4 ), and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is produced as a byproduct. In other words, the Haber Bosch process is unsustainable. Moreover, it requires high temperatures and pressures, meaning that it can only be produced in large centralised reactors, far from the point-of-consumption. Consequently, the logistical and safety challenges of transporting ammonia, which is both toxic and corrosive, prevent many potential users from being able to use it, particularly in developing countries. For many years, scientists have therefore been working hard to find an alternative, electrochemical method of synthesising ammonia, which could be powered by renewable energy and produced on a localised basis, at the point of use. There are major challenges to be solvedscientific as well as technicalbefore the process can become scalable and profitable. Experimental studiesthus farhave been unable to match the efficiency of the dominant Haber-Bosch process. Moreover, many of these studies fail to rule out contamination due to the ammonia or other nitrogen-containing compounds already present in air, human breath, ion-conducting membranes or even the catalyst itself. A new study in Nature by an international team of scientists from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Stanford University and Imperial College London highlights this issue. "Synthesis of ammonia through electrochemical processes is gathering enormous interest, not only from academic researchers but also from industry and government. This interest is driven by the need to make the production of ammonia less dependent on fossil fuels. However, many academic groups fail to prove that the ammonia is indeed derived from the N 2 molecule. This is in part because of the very small amounts of ammonia produced which makes even small contaminations yield a false positive," says Associate Professor Jakob Kibsgaard at DTU. The protocol put forth by the scientists uses nitrogen-15 (15N 2 ), an isotope that allows them to detect and quantify the electroreduction of N 2 to ammonia. Through this method, they are able to separate the effects of spurious contamination from true N 2 reduction. "If electrochemical processes become more efficient, isotope labelling will become less of an issue, as we will be producing larger amounts of ammonia. Even so, we have studies coming out at the moment that fail to adhere to even the most basic protocols to ensure that the results are valid," says Senior Lecturer Ifan E. L. Stephens at Imperial College London. Using their protocol, the scientists have proven that a method reported in 1993 by another team of scientists (from Tokyo Institute of Technology), unequivocally yields ammonia derived from N 2 . While many studies need to be re-evaluated, the current result is significant, as it shows that the electrochemical production of ammonia is indeed feasible. "We hope this paper will remind the research community to use the proper control experiments and protocols to correctly evaluate their research. We are all part of an emerging field that could have a very positive impact on ammonia production and global CO 2 emissions. Consequently, we need to be sure that we make good use of our time in the laband this research could help us to do so." says Professor Ib Chorkendorff at DTU. Explore further Researchers dramatically clean up ammonia production and cut costs Hurricane Michael moves over Florida on Oct. 10, 2018. Credit: NASA EarthOobservatory When Hurricane Michael roared onto northwest Florida's Gulf Coast in October 2018, its 160 mile-per-hour winds made it the strongest storm ever to hit the region. It was only the fourth Category 5 storm on record to make landfall in the United States. Thousands of residents, from the coast to 100 miles inland, were left without housing, power, food or water. Schools, stores, businesses and many government buildings shut down for weeks. Hospitals had to temporarily stop services. Months later, many locals were still trying to survive in battered, tarp-covered homes or living in tents, relying on local food banks for survival. Lacking customers, some business owners shuttered their doors and left town. In Michael's aftermath, it gradually became apparent that Florida's Panhandle experienced more severe damage than many urban areas around the state that are relatively better prepared for behemoth storms. I have seen firsthand how this was due to lack of preparedness and infrastructure that was aging, limited and substandard. I have studied hurricane resilience for the past 13 years and know that better preparation can help make communities more resilient in the face of major disasters. As the high-risk months approach, I and other Florida State University scholars from many different fields are working with local communities to help them get ready and improve their response plans. Lost homes and livelihoods After Hurricane Michael passed through, I drove to Panama Cityone of the hardest-hit areaswith fellow FAMU-FSU College of Engineering professors Juyeong Choi and Tarek Abichou. We made the trip to observe infrastructure and community damage and meet with local emergency management officials as part of a project supported by the federally funded Natural Hazards Center, which works to reduce harm from natural disasters. Hurricane Michael caused widespread damage to trees and crops in Florida, Georgia and Alabama. To get there from Tallahassee, we drove west on State Road 20, an inland route that took us through ravaged rural areas. We returned along U.S. Highway 98, a scenic road that hugs the Gulf of Mexico, stopping at Mexico Beacha small coastal tourist town that was nearly wiped away by Hurricane Michael's winds and storm surge. The damage we saw was beyond anything we had imagined. There were hundreds of thousands of downed trees and hundreds of blocked roadways. Numerous houses and farms were completely destroyed, along with extensive timber plantationsthe region's big money-producing crop. FSU planner-in-residence Dennis Smith, who has worked for decades in emergency management in the public and private sectors, was just as stunned. "The damage, both the magnitude and the geographic extent and intensity, was some of the worst I had ever seen," he told me. "There are extensive housing losses (far inland) and the damage to woodlands is like nothing I've ever seen." The social impacts were equally daunting. "We were especially not prepared for the numbers of homeless," said Ellen Piekalkiewicz, who directs a center focusing on the needs of communities, families and children at FSU's College of Social Work. In the schools, she said, "there have been a number of kids having psychological problems." Planning for the next big storm It is extremely challenging to prepare for very fast Category 5 hurricanes like Hurricane Michael. Storms of this size generate extreme winds and storm surge that knock out communicationsincluding cellphone towersand transportation routes. But proactive planning and community-level decision making can ensure that no one is left without assistance. One essential step is identifying critical escape and emergency response routes, which are at high risk of disruption during these disasters. Pinpointing these routes in advance provides time to improve roadway infrastructure and develop alternative public evacuation plans in case primary routes are blocked. National Guard members distribute food and water in Miller County, Georgia, Oct. 12, 2018, during Hurricane Michael relief efforts. Credit: U.S. Air National Guard/Tech. Sgt. Amber Williams, CC BY It also is important to assess which demographic and socioeconomic groups will be most affected by damage to power lines and roadwaysfor example, aging populations. Studying power outages and roadway closures during hurricanes, together with a region's physical features, reveals vulnerable locations that will be at high risk in future events. My engineering colleagues and I also are studying how uncertainty about storm tracks affects evacuation planning and how wind damage to buildings varies with different types of terrain. These are crucial questions for storm preparedness. Another high priority is identifying and supporting at-risk populations. Especially in rural areas like Florida's Panhandle, planners need good information on population size, location and composition. The most effective way to collect it is by working with nonprofit agencies, volunteer groups, faith-based organizations, community-based centers, neighborhood-level groups, hospitals and governmental organizations. "Involving these entities in hurricane training exercises is also important to build trust," FSU public administration professor Richard Feiock told me. "That makes communities stronger and more durable when a hurricane hits." One promising strategy we have identified through focusing on the needs of vulnerable groups is repurposing existing hurricane shelters to serve evacuees with pets or other special needs. Experience has shown that some people will remain in harm's way instead of evacuating if they think leaving means abandoning their pets. Getting the word out Communities also need to develop systems for alerting residents about hurricane risks and getting accurate information to them as quickly as possible when a storm threatens. Such networks can include radio, TV, phone and even door-to-door notification. In rural areas it is especially important to design strong community training programs, and to foster strong social networks that draw on neighbor-to-neighbor ties and other personal connections. Hurricane warning information should include locations and types of shelters, along with dates, times and locations for pickups if transportation is available, and should explain what people can bring with them. Our research indicates that with these improvements, Panhandle communities and others like them can develop better emergency plans that reduce the stress of evacuations, provide safe shelter and ultimately save lives. Explore further Hurricane Michael gets an upgrade to rare Category 5 status This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. A woman uses a smartphone outside a Huawei store in Beijing Monday, May 20, 2019. Google is assuring users of Huawei smartphones the American company's services still will work on them following U.S. government restrictions on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Trump administration sanctions against Huawei have begun to bite even though their dimensions remain unclear. U.S. companies that supply the Chinese tech powerhouse with computer chips face a drop in sales, and Huawei's smartphone sales could get decimated with the anticipated loss of Google's popular software and services. The U.S. move escalates trade-war tensions with Beijing, but also risks making China more self-sufficient over time. Here's a look at what's behind the dispute and what it means. ___ WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department placed Huawei on its so-called Entity List , effectively barring U.S. firms from selling it technology without government approval. Google said it would continue to support existing Huawei smartphones but future devices won't have its flagship apps and services, including maps, Gmail and search. Only basic services would be available, making Huawei phones less desirable. Separately, Huawei is the world's leading provider of networking equipment, but it relies on U.S. components including computer chips. About a third of Huawei's suppliers are American. ___ WHY PUNISH HUAWEI? The U.S. defense and intelligence communities have long accused Huawei of being an untrustworthy agent of Beijing's repressive rulersthough without providing evidence. The U.S. government's sanctions are widely seen as a means of pressuring reluctant allies in Europe to exclude Huawei equipment from their next-generation wireless networks. Washington says it's a question of national security and punishment of Huawei for skirting sanctions against Iran, but the backdrop is a struggle for economic and technological dominance. A Huawei Mate20P smartphone model showing its own Kirin chip processor is displayed at an electronic store in Beijing, Monday, May 20, 2019. Google assured users of Huawei smartphones on Monday the American company's basic services will work on them following U.S. government cubs on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. The announcement highlighted the potential impact on global consumers and technology industries of the Trump administration's decision to tighten controls on Huawei Technologies Ltd., which Washington says is a security threat. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) The politics of President Donald Trump's escalating tit-for-tat trade war have co-opted a longstanding policy goal of stemming state-backed Chinese cyber theft of trade and military secrets. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said last week that the sanctions on Huawei have nothing to do with the trade war and could be revoked if Huawei's behavior were to change. ___ THE SANCTIONS' BITE Analysts predict consumers will abandon Huawei for other smartphone makers if Huawei can only use a stripped-down version of Android. Huawei, now the No. 2 smartphone supplier, could fall behind Apple to third place. Google could seek exemptions, but would not comment on whether it planned to do so. ___ WHO USES HUAWEI ANYWAY? While most consumers in the U.S. don't even know how to pronounce Huawei (it's "HWA-way"), its brand is well known in most of the rest of the world, where people have been buying its smartphones in droves. Huawei stealthily became an industry star by plowing into new markets, developing a lineup of phones that offer affordable options for low-income households and luxury models that are siphoning upper-crust sales from Apple and Samsung in China and Europe. About 13% of its phones are now sold in Europe, Gartner analyst Annette Zimmermann estimates. That formula helped Huawei establish itself as the world's second-largest seller of smartphones during the first three months of this year, according to the research firm IDC. Huawei shipped 59 million smartphones in the January-March period, nearly 23 million more than Apple. ___ A man uses two smartphones at once outside a Huawei store in Beijing Monday, May 20, 2019. Google is assuring users of Huawei smartphones the American company's services still will work on them following U.S. government restrictions on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) RIPPLE EFFECTS The U.S. sanctions could have unwelcome ripple effects in the U.S., given how much technology Huawei buys from U.S. companies, especially from makers of the microprocessors that go into smartphones, computers, internet networking gear and other gadgetry. The list of chip companies expected to be hit hardest includes Micron Technologies, Qualcomm, Qorvo and Skyworks Solutions, which all have listed Huawei as a major customer. Others likely to suffer are Xilinx, Broadcom and Texas Instruments, according to industry analysts. Being cut off from Huawei will also compound the pain the chip sector is already experiencing from the Trump administration's rising China tariffs. As expected, the Commerce Department on Monday announced a grace period of 90 days that applies to existing Huawei smartphones and networking equipment. The grace period allows U.S. providers to alert Huawei to security vulnerabilities and engage the Chinese company in research on standards for next-generation 5G wireless networks. It also gives operators of U.S. rural broadband networks that use Huawei routers time to switch them out. The Commerce Department could extend the temporary license to continue to ease the blow on smartphone owners and network operators with installed Huawei gear. Whether that happens could depend on whether countries including France, Germany, the U.K. and the Netherlands continue to refuse to completely exclude Huawei equipment from their wireless networks. Still in place are requirements that government licenses be obtained for any U.S. sales to Huawei unrelated to existing equipment. ___ COULD THIS BACKFIRE? Huawei is already the biggest global supplier of networking equipment and is now likely to move toward making all components domestically. China already has a policy seeking technological independence by 2025. A man checks smartphones near a section promoting Huawei new P30 smartphone at an electronic store in Beijing, Monday, May 20, 2019. Google assured users of Huawei smartphones on Monday the American company's basic services will work on them following U.S. government cubs on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. The announcement highlighted the potential impact on global consumers and technology industries of the Trump administration's decision to tighten controls on Huawei Technologies Ltd., which Washington says is a security threat. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) U.S. tech companies, facing a drop in sales, could respond with layoffs. More than 52,000 technology jobs in the U.S. are directly tied to China exports, according to the Computing Technology Industry Association, a trade group also known as CompTIA. ___ WHAT ABOUT HARM TO GOOGLE? Google may lose some licensing fees and opportunities to show ads on Huawei phones, but it still will probably be a financial hiccup for Google and its corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., which is expected to generate $160 billion in revenue this year. ___ THE APPLE EFFECT In theory, Huawei's losses could translate into gains for both Samsung and Apple at a time both of those companies are trying to reverse a sharp decline in smartphone sales. But Apple also stands to be hurt if China decides to target it in retaliation. Apple is particularly vulnerable because most iPhones are assembled in China. The Chinese government, for example could block crucial shipments to the factories assembling iPhones or take other measures that disrupt the supply chain. Any retaliatory move from China could come on top of a looming increase on tariffs by the U.S. that would hit the iPhone, forcing Apple to raise prices or reduce profits. What's more, the escalating trade war may trigger a backlash among Chinese consumers against U.S. products, including the iPhone. "Beijing could stoke nationalist sentiment over the treatment of Huawei, which could result in protests against major U.S. technology brands," CompTIA warned. Explore further US delays Huawei ban for 90 days 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. https://images.theconversation.com/files/275559/original/file-20190521-23823-1ket9ng.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=200&fit=crop&dpr=1 When we think of mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes, we don't immediately think of shark habitats. But the first global review of links between large marine animals (megafauna) and coastal wetlands is challenging this viewand how we might respond to the biodiversity crisis. Mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and saltmarshes support rich biodiversity, underpin the livelihoods of more than a billion people worldwide, store carbon, and protect us from extreme weather events. We know marine megafauna also use these habitats to live, feed and breed. Green turtles and manatees, for instance, are known to eat seagrass, and dolphins hunt in mangroves. But new associations are also being discovered. The bonnethead sharka close relative of hammerheadswas recently found to eat and digest seagrass. The problem is that we're losing these important places. And until now, we've underestimated how important they are for large, charismatic and ecologically important marine animals. Counting wetland megafauna Today our review of the connections between marine megafauna and vegetated coastal wetlands was published in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution. As it turns out, far more megafauna species use coastal wetlands than we thought. Before our review, the number of marine megafauna species known to use these habitats was 110, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, which assesses species' conservation status. Credit: The Conversation We identified another 64 species from 340 published studies, bringing the total number to 174 species. This means 13% of all marine megafauna use vegetated coastal wetlands. We predominantly documented these habitat associations by electronic tracking, direct observation or from analysing stomach contents or chemical tracers in animal tissues. Less commonly, acoustic recordings and animal-borne video studiesstrapping a camera on the back of turtle, for instancewere used. Deepening our understanding of how species use their habitats In recent weeks, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) released a damming assessment of humanity's stewardship of the natural world. Up to 1 million species were reported to be facing extinction within decades. We need to dramatically change how we relate to and engage with species and their habitats, if we are to fix this problem. But the question is, how can we make global change real, relevant and feasible at local and regional scales? And, as the international community rises to this challenge, what information is needed to support such efforts? Our study suggests a critical first step to addressing the global biodiversity crisis is to deepen our understanding of links between species and their habitats. We also need to elevate how the evidence is used to both assess extinction risk and prioritise, plan and deliver conservation actions. More than half of all coastal wetlands have been lost globally and the rest are at risk from a range of serious threats, including deforestation. There is an urgent need to limit and reverse the loss of coastal wetlands to stop biodiversity loss, protect communities and tackle climate change. Targeting places where high rates of mangrove loss intersect with threatened megafauna could lead to more efficient and effective conservation outcomes. Southeast Asia, Mexico and northern Brazil are such places. In Southeast Asia, for example, the world's largest mangrove forest is losing trees at a rate far exceeding global averages, largely due to aquaculture and agriculture. This is threatening the critically endangered green sawfish, which relies on these mangrove habitats. A juvenile lemon shark swimming in mangroves. More than half of the worlds coastal wetlands have been lost. Credit: Shutterstock Habitats should always be considered in assessments The IUCN Red List assesses the extinction risk for almost 100,000 species. It provides comprehensive information on global conservation statuses, combining information on population sizes, trends and threats. The wealth of data collected during species' assessments, including habitat associations of threatened species, is one of the Red List's most valuable features. But our study shows many known associations are yet to be included. And for more than half of the assessments for marine megafauna, habitat change is yet to be listed as a threat. This is concerning because assessments that overlook habitat associations or lack sufficient detail, may not allow conservation resources be directed at the most effective recovery measures. But it's also important to note habitat associations have varying strengths and degrees of supporting evidence. For example, a population of animals shown to consume substantial amounts of seagrass is clearly a stronger ecological link than an individual simply being observed above seagrass. Proportion species refers to all species within key taxonomic groups that are associated with coastal wetlands. Author supplied In our paper, we propose a simple framework to address these issues, by clarifying habitat associations in conservation assessments. Ideally, these assessments would include the following: list all habitat types the species is known to associate with indicate the type of association (occurrence, grazing, foraging or breeding) cite the source of supporting evidence provide an estimate of the level of habitat dependence. Data for decision making Habitat loss is accelerating a global extinction crisis, but the importance of coastal habitats to marine megafauna has been significantly undervalued in assessments of extinction risk. We need to strive to protect remaining coastal wetland habitats, not only for their ecological role, but also for their economic, social and cultural values to humans. We can do this by strengthening how we use existing scientific data on habitat associations in species assessments and conservation planning. Explore further For seagrass, biodiversity is both a goal and a means for restoration This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The results of a Russian-Japanese experiment explain the mechanism of electron photoemission by metallic nanostructures under ultrafast laser excitation. Metallic nanoparticle ensembles are capable of emitting short bunches of electrons when irradiated by powerful laser pulses of femtosecond (1 fs = 10-15 s) duration. Scientists at Lobachevsky University have long studied the plasmon effectthe excitation by light of collective electron oscillations in nanoparticles and the amplification of the light field associated with these oscillations in the vicinity of the nanoparticle, which plays the main role in this process. It is the plasmon amplification of the field that provides effective photoemission of electrons from a metal. The prospects for practical application of plasmon nanostructures are associated with their use as ultrafast photocathodes to create pulsed sources of high-brightness coherent X-ray radiation and to produce microscopes with high temporal resolution. The photoemission of electrons from metallic nanoparticles is accompanied by the emission of terahertz radiation (its range in the scale of electromagnetic waves is between light and microwaves), which makes it possible to use this radiation as a tool for studying photoemission. "The intensity of terahertz radiation depends non-linearly on the intensity of the laser pulse and demonstrates a high nonlinearity order (from 3 to 6 in various experiments). Although the mechanism of terahertz radiation generation by photoelectrons is not fully understood, it is believed that the high order of nonlinearity is explained by the multi-photon nature of electron emission, that is, by the need to transfer energy from several laser photons to the electron for performing the work to release the electron from the metal," explains Michael Bakunov, Head of the General Physics Department at Lobachevsky University. To test the hypothesis of a multi-photon photoemission mechanism, scientists from Lobachevsky University together with their Japanese colleagues from Shinshu University, Osaka University and Tokyo Institute of Technology conducted an experiment in which the same metallic nanostructure, an array of gold nanorods ("golden nanoforest") was irradiated with powerful ultrashort light pulses of various wavelengthsfrom 600 nm to 1500 nm. The result was surprising. Despite the fact that the energy of quanta differed more than twofold, the order of nonlinearity was approximately the same (4.5-4.8) for wavelengths from 720 to 1500 nm and even greater (6.6) for a wavelength of 600 nm (with the highest quantum energy). "These results disprove the hypothesis of multi-photon emission of electrons. At the same time, the experimental dependences are in good agreement with the tunnel emission mechanism, whereby electrons are made to escape from the metal by a plasmon enhanced light field," concludes Michael Bakunov. The results of Russian and Japanese scientists' research were published in one of the leading scientific journals, Scientific Reports Explore further Amplifier for terahertz lattice vibrations in a semiconductor crystal More information: Keisuke Takano et al, Terahertz emission from gold nanorods irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses of different wavelengths, Scientific Reports (2019). Journal information: Scientific Reports Keisuke Takano et al, Terahertz emission from gold nanorods irradiated by ultrashort laser pulses of different wavelengths,(2019). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39604-5 February 13, 1927 May 17, 2019 COLORADO Patricia Newman Buckley Foster teacher, mother, wife, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend passed peacefully to be with her Lord on May 17, 2019 at the age of 92. She died as the result of late-onset Parkinsons Disease. Pat was born on Feb. 13, 1927 in Queens to Evelyn Winkler Newman and Harry Gerald Newman, a real estate executive. Her childhood nickname was Patsy. She is survived by sisters, Marilyn Korade Wilson of Santa Monica, California and Diana Newman of Plymouth, Massachusetts; children, Patricia (and Terry) Gordon of Queensbury, John Buckley of Ashland, Oregon, Roderick Buckley of Littleton, Colorado, Vincent Buckley of Englewood, Colorado, Bernard (and Terre) Buckley of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and Peter Buckley of San Diego, California; grandchildren, Todd (and Tricia) Gordon, Bethany Gordon, Benjamin (and Stephanie) Buckley, Kyle Buckley and Carlin (and Matthew) West; and great-grandchildren, Jake, Brody and Eden Gordon, Cameron Gentry, Griffin, Brady and Hallie West and Lucas Buckley. She will be missed by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends across the country. She was predeceased by her first husband of 25 years, Francis (Frank) J. Buckley; her second husband of 23 years, Parker V. Foster; and her two brothers, Harry (Bud) Newman and Theodore (Ted) Newman. The first child in the Newman family, she attended St. Anastasia Elementary School in Douglaston. Even as a small child, she was known for her independence, charm and determination. One of her siblings favorite stories, retold many times, was when a sizable amount of snow fell in Queens. Seizing control of the situation, she ordered Ted, the youngest in the family at the time, to go out and pick up the scraplings! After her early days in Queens, the family moved to a cozy home on Concord Avenue in Little Neck, the site of many softball and other raucous games with other neighborhood children. Gasoline was rationed during World War II, so the family sold the family car and Harry G. purchased an apartment building in Bayside. Pat attended Bayside High School, writing for the school paper. Her interest in journalism began. She graduated in 1944 at the age of 17, with the war nearly over. Pat was not able to go away to college, so she earned admission to Fordham University. Women were not permitted to attend school at the main campus in the Bronx, so she commuted to Broadway in Lower Manhattan, just two blocks from City Hall, the downtown campus that also included Fordhams Business School. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Fordham University, graduating in 1948 at the age of 21. She was one of only two women of about 50 in the graduating class that year. After graduation she dabbled in journalism, once working for a year as a copy writer for Womens Wear Daily in New York. After two years in an uninspiring entry-level insurance position in New York she traveled, including stops in Durango, Colorado and a visit to her family ranch in Tucson, Arizona. Her love for travel and the West were kindled. Returning to the East Coast, she accepted a position as a public assistance case worker and social welfare case worker in Putnam County. It was there that Frank and Pat crossed paths. After a brief courtship, they married in 1952 in Carmel. In their first four years of marriage, before Pats 30th birthday, there were four new Buckleys in their small home. In 1958, they relocated to the North Country, lured by opportunities available in Glens Falls, the charming river town just a short drive from the amazing Adirondacks. The family bought a small home on Wilmot Street, where they found a small community of other families. Kick the can, kickball and other group games were a nightly event during the warm months, and many lifetime friendships were formed. After acquiring her teaching certification, Pat pursued her lifelong calling in 1959, teaching fourth graders at Sanford Street School. In 1963, with a full-time teaching position and now five children, she earned her Master of Science degree from the College of St. Rose. In 1964, she was offered an English teaching position at Glens Falls Junior High School. In 1967, she moved up to Glens Falls Senior High, where she taught English at all levels, from remedial to advanced, until her retirement in 1982. In her various teaching roles, she impacted many lives by teaching compassion, kindness, good manners and proper English. For 14 years, she served as the faculty advisor for the Red and Black, the schools yearbook. During this time, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association awarded the Red and Black six first-place ratings and five second-place ratings. Learning was always a part of her life, truly one of her hobbies and passions. With bachelors and masters degrees earned, she continued to attend courses through New York University, SUNY Albany, SUNY Plattsburgh and Siena College. She also taught a number of adult education courses, once teaching speed reading to a classroom of dentists. In Glens Falls, Pat and Frank and their (now) six children built countless friendships, many of which remain strong after many years. Their social circle was wide, and the legendary parties in their home on Coolidge Avenue (remarkably still standing) are the source of countless, hilarious tales at gatherings and reunions to this day. Through the Glens Falls years, Pat was the eternal flame in the Buckley family, always insisting on decency, loyalty and diligence, but always with a dose of playfulness. She lived her life as an example, one that will persist through her lineage. During her time in Glens Falls, in the late 60s and early 70s, Pat explored ways to make a difference in her community, especially promoting the voice of women during turbulent times. She was a member of the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women and the Catholic Daughters of America. She devoted her skills and energy to the Lower Adirondack Regional Arts Council, for which she served on the Board of Directors and as vice president. In addition, she served as the public relations representative for the New York State Teachers Association for three years. She was also an occasional freelance staff writer for the Glens Falls Post-Star. Following the passing of Frank Buckley in 1978, Pat retired in 1982, exactly at the age of 55. She decided to start anew in 1983 by moving to San Diego, California. As was her habit, she became involved in local civic and cultural organizations, with an emphasis on learning, growing and appreciating her surroundings. It was through those explorations that she again fell in love. Parker Foster was a retired educator with the San Diego school system and they met through their shared connection with the Torrey Pines Docent Society. Parker and Pat Foster were married in Green Valley, Utah in 1987. They lived very happily in San Diego for 18 years, where they were involved in many civic and charity events, while charting new travel adventures. During these years they visited Greece, Ireland, Italy, England, Mexico City, Hawaii, Spain and many of these United States. In 2005, they boldly relocated to Ashland, Oregon, a small university town just a few miles north of the California border, renowned for its annual Shakespeare Festival. During their years together, Parker and Pat owned vacation residences in West Dover, Vermont and Portland, Maine. Pat insisted on maintaining a presence on the East Coast, and they loved their travels there, and to Colorado, to visit children, grandchildren, other family and their many friends. They resided in Ashland until Parkers passing in 2010. Pat was an avid reader for nearly her entire life. She tended to support libraries and would routinely bring home an armload of books, usually returning them on time and fully read. Even in her later years, she was an avid reader of the New York Times. Her Sunday morning routine included a flawless completion of the Times Sunday Crossword Puzzle, generally considered to be the most difficult in the English language, in ink. She was always an expert bridge player, even entering a tournament in Centennial, Colorado at the age of 89. Of 31 other players entering the tournament, she took the top prize. When the family asked why she didnt continue entering tournaments, she explained that the local competition was nothing special. During her retirement years, she also developed a fondness, and considerable skill, in painting in oil. Monet was a prominent influence in her work, and she also experimented in abstract creations. In her final years, Pat returned to the state that held some of her earliest, fondest memories. She spent her last five years living with or near family in Centennial and Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Patsy was amazingly resourceful and courageous. Forever undaunted, she launched into whatever next adventure that seemed right at the time. Quirky, funny, loving and lovable, she was a truly unique soul. The Buckley family will be forever grateful to Hospice Care of the Rockies and Rocky Mountain Assisted Living for their relentless compassion and care during the final months, weeks, days and hours of Pats life. Visitation will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, at the Baker Funeral Home, 11 Lafayette St., Queensbury. A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 30, at the Baker Funeral Home, with Father Busch officiating. Internment will follow at Pine View Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to an open house Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at West Mountain Restaurant. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations to the Patricia Buckley Foster Scholarship Fund, Glens Falls High School, 15 Quade St., Glens Falls, NY 12801. Condolences may be sent directly to Baker Funeral Home, or through www.bakerfuneralhome.com. HAMPTON A Vermont man was arrested Monday on a weapons charge following a traffic stop, police said. Thomas J. Covino, 20, of Pawlet, Vermont, was stopped by police for a traffic infraction at about 5:30 p.m. on Route 22A. When the trooper spoke with Covino, he could smell an odor of marijuana in the vehicle, State Police said. A search of the vehicle found that Covino possessed a loaded handgun with a high-capacity magazine and a metal grinder containing marijuana, according to police. Covino was charged with a felony count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and a violation of unlawful possession of marijuana. QUEENSBURY Theres valuable sand decades worth of digging waiting just behind the houses on Ridge Road. But the town doesnt allow mining within 1,000 feet of a residence. Fort Miller wants to mine as close as 200 feet from residences. Theres so much more material in that hill behind the houses, said geologist Rich Hisert. He estimated the sand just in that area the 800 linear feet that would be lost if the company had to stick to the 1,000-foot buffer would provide 30 to 40 years of mining. He asked the board for a waiver of the 1,000-foot buffer, in exchange for a 200-foot buffer. Planning Board members were not persuaded. Youre not asking for it because you need it to mine, said board Chairman Stephen Traver. Youre asking for it to mine as completely as possible. Hisert tried to get the board to understand how much sand and gravel would be unattainable without the change, using a chart and marking with his hand the 1,000-foot point. Youre removing all that hill, he said. Board members told Fort Miller to revise its buffer to be more than 200 feet from peoples homes, and tabled the application until the revised plan is filed. Hisert emphasized that municipalities need good sand and gravel for essential public infrastructure projects. Mining sites are very difficult to find, he said. Its my job to optimize the life of this operation. If the company is allowed to expand its mining toward Ridge Road, the mine could last another 25 to 75 years, depending on the quality of the sand, he said. Some residents on nearby Dream Lake Road have reluctantly supported the plan because it would involve building an access road to Ridge Road. Then, trucks would stop using the narrow Dream Lake Road. Hisert acknowledged that the road was important, but emphasized the goal of following the underground sand deposits. The purpose of this application is to get traffic off Dream Lake Road and also for Fort Miller to continue to mine, he said. Many residents spoke, including residents on Ridge Road who have not spoken during the years of previous meetings on this topic. Im not happy about any of this mining, said Ridge Road resident Jean Grant. The land is being destroyed. But fellow Ridge Road resident Mike Lemery said he was comfortable with the plan, which would allow mining up to 230 feet from his house. I never hear anything from the pit, he said. Traver interrupted him to point out that Fort Miller is not mining near him yet. Im just clarifying. What you are experiencing now might not be, in 20 or 30 years, Traver said. Lemery shrugged. It wont be in my lifetime, he said. Two residents on Dream Lake Road are being represented by a lawyer, Claudia Braymer, who tried to broker a deal at the meeting. First, she argued that the Planning Board could not provide a waiver to the 1,000-foot buffer, because it is a town requirement. When Traver said the board had accepted the zoning administrators decision, that the board has authority in this matter, she tried a different tack. She noted that the mine is now 100 feet from several residences on Dream Lake Road. They keep creeping this way, she said. Youre in charge now. If you were to approve this, at least condition them to come no farther toward these houses. One of her clients, Janice Holding, also complained to the board about the chart that Hisert used to demonstrate how much sand was available near the Ridge Road houses. The chart showed two hills near each other, with the first about 25 feet taller than the second. Fort Miller wants to mine the first hill, leaving the second one as a buffer. Holding said the chart was deceptive because the change on the horizontal axis was only 10 feet while the vertical change was 250 feet. It makes it look like its a very tall mountain, she said. It makes it look more protected than it would actually be. You can reach Kathleen Moore at 742-3247 or kmoore@poststar.com. Follow her on Twitter @ByKathleenMoore or at her blog on www.poststar.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. May 22, 2019 in Multimedia (E) [prMac.com] Naarden, Netherlands - Today, AirBeamTV presents the new screen mirroring app for Mac computers exclusively developed for Hisense TV. High end TVs for low budget prices: TV shoppers looking for a bargain in the past few years have increasingly encountered the newer TV brand Hisense. This very large Chinese TV manufacturer has been on the rise globally for several years now. According to IHS Markit, a financial analysis firm, they are now among the world's top 10 LCD TV brands. Screen mirroring app for Mac AirBeamTV, global market leader in screen mirroring apps for Apple products, announced they have launched this new mirroring app for Mac users to answer the growing demand from Hisense TV owners. According to the company's CEO, Jan Van Ottele, "AirBeamTV is adapting to the changing landscape of Smart TVs in the US market. We have received a lot of requests from Mac users to provide a high-quality screen mirroring app for these newer TV brands. With our app, Mac owners can share videos, photos and apps from any Mac device to any Hisense TV model from 2014 and onward. Important to notice is that the app also supports Hisense TVs running on the Android TV or Roku TV operating systems." Device Requirements * Mac, Macbook, iMac & Mac Mini * Requires MacOS 10.10 (Yosemite) or newer Pricing and Availability: Mirror for Hisense TV is free to download on AirBeamTV's website (trial version). Users can test the app free before upgrading to the paid version ($9.99 directly from AirBeamTV). The premium version has no time limits for mirroring and supports lifetime updates. For both the trial and the paid version, everyone can count on fast and free customer service. Since 2014, AirBeamTV is the market leader in easy and smart "screen mirroring" solutions for Apple's iOS and MacOS devices such as iPhones and MacBooks. The company sells screen mirroring applications for most major TV brands, including Samsung, LG, Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Roku and many more. From the picturesque village of Naarden, The Netherlands, a diverse and motivated team of programmers works daily on developing and improving innovative apps. All Material and Software (C) Copyright 2014-2019 AirBeamTV. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, macOS, iPhone, iPad, iPod and Macintosh 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 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded $3 million to Purdue University to extend the work of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Processing and Post-Harvest Handling (FPL), which the university leads, for another three years. The faculty-led, multi-disciplinary FPL works to reduce food losses and enhance the value of foods in Africa. The projects objective is to develop sustainable, market-driven value chains that reduce food losses, improve food and nutrition security, and contribute to economic growth for smallholder farmers and food processing entrepreneurs in Kenya and Senegal. Six Purdue faculty researchers and seven from other universities and national agricultural research organizations in Africa will work to support and strengthen crop value chains, the process by which crops go from farm to market to fork. The project will build on Purdues strong record of working with collaborators to reduce post-harvest losses, enhance agricultural value chains, and improve nutrition. In 2014, USAID first awarded the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Processing and Post-Harvest Handling to Purdue, with a grant of $5 million over five years. In the three-year extension, Purdue will focus on driving the value chain through food processing to increase commercialization and improve nutrition. The secondary focus will be on scaling up cost-effective drying and storage technologies for crops after harvest and providing training to farmers on these technologies. Experts say food production will need to double by 2050, when the worlds population is expected to increase to almost 10 billion people, from the 7.7 billion today. Increasing production is only one means to meet the growing demand. An estimated one-third of food produced in developing countries is lost due to poor post-harvest handling techniques and limited market opportunities. Our Feed the Future Innovation Lab focuses on reducing food losses along the value chain, producing nutritious and acceptable foods, and improving livelihoods, said Jacob Ricker-Gilbert, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue and the project director. In the first phase of the project, we developed and identified a number of innovative practices and technologies to help African farmers, traders, and food processors. In the second phase, we will emphasize commercializing and scaling-up these innovations to maximize our impact. This award enables Purdue to continue to find innovative solutions to reduce food losses after harvest. Our efforts will help smallholder farmers and food processing entrepreneurs expand availability of healthy and nutritious food in a region of the world where food security remains a challenge, said Jerry Shively, associate dean and director of international programs in Purdues College of Agriculture. "Innovation and research are cornerstones of the Feed the Future model for reducing global hunger and are both good for America and our partners abroad," said Jennifer Long, director of the Office of Agricultural Research and Policy in USAID's Bureau for Food Security. "We are excited to continue partnering with Purdue University to bring technological advancements in post-harvest loss to tackle global food security." About Feed the Future Feed the Future is the U.S. Governments global hunger and food security initiative. It focuses on transforming lives and on the root causes of poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. To achieve this, Feed the Future works hand-in-hand with partner countries to develop their agriculture sectors and break the vicious cycle of poverty and hunger. It helps people feed themselves and creates important opportunities for a new generation of young people, while building a more stable world. More information: https://www.feedthefuture.gov/ Media relations contact: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu Source: Jacob Ricker-Gilbert, jrickerg@purdue.edu Agricultural Communications: 765-494-8415; Maureen Manier, Department Head, mmanier@purdue.edu Agriculture News Page State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said part of the dilemma is that if the company is operating at a profit, are the state and the taxpayer obligated to add to that profit. "We want companies to be profitable, and we want to create and retain jobs," Rep. Moffitt said. "Obviously, we don't want to lose jobs. We want to do everything possible to keep jobs, but at what cost to consumers will it be? "I will certainly be objective and listen. That doesn't mean I would end up supporting it." Erie School District superintendent Bradley Cox said the district receives $4.4 million a year in property tax revenue from the plant, about a third of the district's revenue. "Obviously, in a worse case scenario, if the plant were to close, that $4.4 million will not all go away," Mr. Cox said, adding that, "It would be completely speculatory to figure out what that number would be. "Obviously, it's a very serious cause for concern, not only for our school district, but all the school districts around here. Look at the hundreds of workers, families and children that will all be impacted." Ortiz said the employees have been notifying county officials about the problems with Langley for nine months. "It has fallen on deaf ears, and that's why I am here," Ortiz said. Tannishia Garcia, a program assistant, said she has worked for the health department for 19 years. "For the first time in my career there has been racism," Garcia said. "The administration has been made aware of the racist comments and behavior that have been (lodged) against myself and others. The first solution from management was to call the police if I feel threatened. The second was not to be alone with (Langley). The third was to make sure you are meeting in a room where there is furniture so you are separated." Garcia said she reported the conduct to the Rock Island County board of health in April, where she said board members expressed surprise "these things were still going on" because administrators had advised them the situation had gotten better. "After acquiring a copy of the minutes from that meeting, there's not even a record of me addressing the board," Garcia said. In 2006, he was stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas. His first deployment was to Iraq in 2007, for 18 months, and he had a second deployment in late 2009. He was a tank mechanic. "He did see some things he refused to talk about," Ms. Ritter said. "From his second deployment, he was diagnosed with PTSD. He had a service dog." He came home early from his second deployment in Iraq (in early 2010), after being found sleepwalking, part of his post-traumatic stress disorder. He was back at Fort Hood when he died in May 2012, at age 24, after a motorcycle accident off-base in Killeen. He didn't get proper treatment, his mother said. "He chose to live a positive, impactful life," Ms. Ritter said. "I wanted to carry that legacy on and teach people how to be positive." "We're all gonna die someday, and what we leave behind is our legacy," she said. "I just think it's important we take care of our fellow Americans that we're kind to them and always reach out. I've always chosen to choose kindness." She thinks the government still doesn't do enough to care for veterans, which is a main goal of the American Legion Auxiliary. The Democratic state attorney general asked Cook County Circuit Court for guidance on what the state could pay without a budget providing for it, heating up a simmering debate with the Republican governor over whether state employees can be paid. Meanwhile, some service providers began notifying staff members of layoffs, while others hoped to hobble through the month. Here's a look at the issues at hand: BUDGET BATTLE Gov. Bruce Rauner has been steadfast in demanding changes to what he calls the state's broken business and political climates before he'll talk to legislative Democrats about what they say is a $4 billion shortfall to pay for vital services. Democrats sent Rauner a $36 billion spending plan in June, but he vetoed most of it last week, calling it unconstitutionally out of balance. Lawmakers attempted to approve a one-month, $2.3 billion budget this week, but the effort failed in the House. Wednesday was the start of the new fiscal year. WHO'S HURTING From suicide hotlines to food pantries, social service agencies that rely on state funding will be hardest hit by the lack of a budget. Mujeres Latinas en Accion in Chicago provides services such as counseling for victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Executive director Maria Pesqueira had to lay off five full-time employees this week and said the remaining 32 must take two furlough days a week a "dire" picture. "The governor and the Legislature are using us as political pawns," Pesqueira said. Chicago-based Family Focus laid off 14 employees this week, including eight working on a program that helped families get needed services to stay intact after Department of Children and Family Services intervention, according to Director Mariana Osoria. But, ironically, many agencies won't feel an immediate pinch because of overdue state payments. The state has a $5 billion backlog, so vendors will get checks in July for work done last spring. Lutheran Social Services in Des Plaines, a wide-ranging provider for foster parents and the developmentally disabled, can function through July because of the backlog and required program funding, spokeswoman Barb Kraeger Hailey said. PAYING THE BILLS Attorney General Lisa Madigan asked a judge Thursday to declare what bills the state can pay without appropriation authority. Not all money is appropriated and there are cases where federal power trumps state law. GOP Comptroller Leslie Munger is working with Madigan to get clarity "to ensure that legally supported expenditures can continue to be made," a statement by Madigan said. Allowable disbursements likely include debt payments; salaries for judges, legislators and operations of the General Assembly; payments required as a condition of participating in federal programs; and orders enforced by consent decrees. "This is not a game," Munger said at a Chicago news conference. "This budget impasse has serious consequences for families, organizations and businesses across our state." A Tuesday court hearing has been scheduled. MAKING PAYROLL There's enough money to pay state workers through July 15. Rauner began telling government workers this week that he'll do all he can to ensure they keep getting paid even without a budget. Although Rauner appointee Munger asked Madigan to push for full pay, the attorney general is not seeking that in court. Based on an appellate court decree in 1991, Madigan says if there's no budget, no one gets paid. "The administration disagrees with the attorney general's efforts to block employees from getting their full pay," Rauner deputy chief of staff Mike Schrimpf said. "State employees deserve their full paychecks." Rauner points to a 2007 lawsuit in which a circuit court ruled that workers in jobs covered by federal labor law should continue to get at least the federal minimum wage. But the court in that case allowed full payroll disbursement under very limited circumstances. The governor believes a similar situation exists today and, if a court and statewide officials agree, full paychecks could be signed. Madigan scoffed at the governor's criticism that she is blocking employee pay. "The only way to ensure state employees and service providers are fully and legally paid," Madigan said, "is with an enacted budget." Late Thursday, unions representing Illinois state employees filed a lawsuit demanding that they be paid in full and on time. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 and the Service Employees International Union were among 11 other unions that filed the lawsuit against the state in St. Clair County Circuit Court. The unions argue the state's failure to pay employees their full wages under their respective collective bargaining agreements would violate their contracts. No court date has been set. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. With Miller and the city nowhere near an amicable resolution, he went before the City Council on Tuesday to put his objections on public record and request the city cease and desist "making my problem worse." "In my opinion, you are violating Iowa drainage law and the Clean Water Act," Miller said. "I've filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Natural Resource Conservation Service, but it seems to be falling on deaf ears. Your city staff is under the impression that it's city property back there even though it's private property." Miller presented three pictures Tuesday, one before the installation of the recreation trail in 2013, another depicting water being diverted onto Miller's field in 2015 and the third showing some of the measures he has had to take to combat erosion, but none of the pictures were new to the council. "You have many responses from the city legal department explaining to you why your assumptions are mistaken," Gallagher said. Stone told Miller that the proper venue to make his objections heard was Scott County District Court, but from the city's standpoint, it is within its rights to proceed with the drainage pipe installation. Several county board members said they were unaware of the settlement offer. "This should have gone to the full board, and we should at least have been apprised of this offer," Drue Mielke said. "I would like to know why not. Otherwise, you have a group of people making a decision for the full board. If any county board members knew about this, they would have said something. "It should have gone through the litigation committee first," Mielke said. According to the county board schedule, the last time the litigation committee met was Feb. 11. Don Johnston, who sits on the litigation committee, said the settlement offer never was brought up, and a committee meeting never was scheduled to discuss it. "It was never sent to me, and the board chairman (Richard Brunk) never said anything," Johnston said. "It's convenient to say it's under the PBC, and yet the PBC says it belongs to the county. The courthouse building belongs to the county. "We have a chief judge (Walter Braud) who has way overstepped his authority," Johnston said. "He is not on the county board, and he is not on the PBC, and both entities seem to listen to him." The Gordon Municipal Airport will carry out taxiway, apron and runway improvements over the next 18 months after being awarded federal grant dollars for the project. Gordon was one of three airports in Nebraska to be receive supplemental discretionary grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Gordons grant of $1.5 million will allow the city to complete work on its taxiway, apron and main runway 4/22. Also on the award list are Red Cloud and Thomas County airports, which will receive grants of $3.21 million and $4.365 million. Gordon City Manager Glen Spaugh said the grant is especially welcome because it will not require any local matching dollars. We were hoping to get a part of this, he said. The airports main runway will receive a layer of seal coating to protect the work done on it about five years ago, while the bulk of the work will occur on the taxiway and apron. It has been 10-15 years since those facilities were upgraded, Spaugh said. There are a lot of cracks, from weeds and seasonal heating and cooling, he added. They really do need resurfaced. The exact specifications of the work on the taxiway and apron are yet to be determined. Spaugh said some of the cracks are large enough that simply resurfacing may not be an option. Its possible that at least in some areas the facilities will need to be rehabbed, in which they are torn up and rebuilt. The selection of those three projects for Gordon Airport when they applied for the grant were based off of FAA recommendations, Spaugh said. The city maintains a five-year, prioritized list and these items were at the top. Nebraskas rural airports keep our families, communities and businesses connected, said Sen. Deb Fischer in announcing the grant last week. Im happy to see the Department of Transportation invest in runway improvements at our airports in Gordon, Red Cloud and Thomas County. These additional resources will provide increased safety for travelers and better facilitate the flow of commerce. Spaugh had hoped word of the grant would arrive earlier in the year, given that the grant requires most of the work to be completed by the end of 2020. The shortened time frame means the city will get to work on the project as soon as possible. While there no dates have been scheduled yet, he expects representatives from the states Department of Transportation and the citys engineering firm, KLJ out of Rapid City, S.D., to be onsite in the near future to begin designing specifications in order for bids to be accepted. The relationship with the engineering firm is a new one, as the city just selected KLJ as its engineer last fall. In fact, this is going to be their first project in Nebraska, Spaugh said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Gov. Kristi Noem said Wednesday that she does not plan to stop the execution of a death row inmate who claims jurors were biased against him because he's gay. The American Civil Liberties Union is urging Noem to grant clemency to Charles Rhines. He was convicted of stabbing 22-year-old doughnut shop employee Donnivan Schaeffer to death during a 1992 burglary at the business in Rapid City. A Pennington County jury decided in 1993 that Rhines was guilty of premeditated first-degree murder for stabbing Donnivan Schaeffer, a 22-year-old Black Hawk man, in the stomach, back and skull. Rhines attacked Schaeffer, his former co-worker, at the Rapid City doughnut shop he was recently fired from. The jury then decided that Rhines should be given the death penalty rather than life in prison. In a statement to The Associated Press, Noem said the state Board of Pardons and Paroles reviewed Rhines' application for clemency in December and denied it. "I agree with the Board of Pardons and Paroles' decision," said the Republican governor, who was elected in November. In a letter to Noem dated Monday, the ACLU contends that anti-gay bias against Rhines "factored into the jury's decision to sentence him to death." The organization asks Noem to "exercise compassion and commute Mr. Rhines's sentence to life imprisonment without parole in this case." "Our position is that Charles Rhines's execution would violate a basic premise of our criminal justice system: Our law punishes people for what they do, not who they are," Ria Tabacco Mar, senior staff attorney for the ACLU, told the AP in an email Wednesday. Rhines has asked the courts to halt his lethal injection, which according to the ACLU is scheduled for early November. A spokesman for the South Dakota attorney general's office said the office is looking at a November execution date. A hearing to help determine the execution date is planned for June 25. Rhines' appeal followed a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2017 that evidence of racial bias in the jury room allows a judge to consider setting aside a verdict. Rhines, now 62, claims one juror said Rhines should not be sentenced to life in prison because he is gay and would be housed with other men. Rhines' execution would be South Dakota's first since Rodney Berget's lethal injection in October. Berget was sentenced to death for killing corrections officer Ronald "R.J." Johnson during a 2011 prison escape attempt. His execution was the state's fourth since it reinstituted the death penalty in 1979. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX FALLS | A federal judge in South Dakota has dismissed part of a lawsuit filed by a couple who had to tear down their Sioux Falls house after a long-running dispute with their neighbors. Judge Roberto Lange recently granted Liberty Mutual Insurance's motion to dismiss the allegations that the company acted in bad faith by hindering Joseph and Sarah Sapienza's legal defense, the Argus Leader reported. The Sapienzas accused the insurance company of failing to pay for certain legal strategies, such as hiring an expert witness. Lange gave the couple two weeks to show why he shouldn't dismiss their claim that Liberty Mutual provided an inadequate defense and breached its duty to defend them. The Sapienzas tore down their Sioux Falls house last June after being sued by their neighbors in 2015. The neighbors argued the home was too tall and close to their property. A state judge later ruled that the couple's home, which they had built in 2014, violated building standards for national historic districts. The judge ordered the Sapienzas to make their home conform to the neighborhood's historical standards, and the South Dakota Supreme Court upheld the ruling last year. Several questions regarding the couple's claims against Liberty Mutual will return to the high court. Lange noted that questions remain about whether the costs that the Sapienzas incurred by demolishing their home are considered damages under their policy with Liberty Mutual. South Dakota law doesn't specify whether demolition costs would be considered damages since the Sapienzas were under a court-order injunction when they tore down their house. Angela Brandt, the couple's lawyer, said the Sapienzas are considering all their options to enforce the Liberty Mutual agreement. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ST. PAUL, Minn. | A major package of protections for Minnesota's elderly has cleared the Legislature and awaits Gov. Tim Walz's signature. The House and Senate passed the final version of the bill late Sunday night. The most important component is a framework for licensing assisted living facilities that contains expanded enforcement powers. Minnesota is the last remaining state that doesn't require licensing them. The bill also has other safeguards to protect older and vulnerable adults, including the right for assisted-living residents and their families to install hidden monitoring cameras for two weeks before being required to notify the facilities, a provision dubbed "granny cams." It also includes a bill of rights for assisted-living residents and other stronger consumer protections, such as protections against retaliation for residents of care facilities. "This is a bipartisan bill that gives elderly and vulnerable Minnesotans the consumer protections they deserve and brings Minnesota in line with the rest of the nation," said Sen. Karin Housley, a Republican from St. Mary's Point and one of the chief authors, who worked closely with Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm and Democratic Rep. Jen Schultz of Duluth. The legislation, which was more than two years in the making, had its roots in a 2017 Minneapolis Star Tribune series on the problem of elder abuse and a blistering report that followed by the state's legislative auditor. But it didn't fully come together until about a week ago when state regulators and senior advocacy and elder care industry groups overcame their differences and agreed on a consensus package that both chambers could pass. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 HELENA, Mont. | Montana Attorney General Tim Fox has his timeline for implementing legislation to improve communication and collaboration among law enforcement agencies as they investigate missing persons cases. Fox said Tuesday the Department of Justice has posted the job description for a missing persons specialist in his office. That person will coordinate with local, state, federal and tribal law enforcement agencies to improve reporting and searching for missing people. He hopes to have that person on board by July 1. The salary range is between $49,600 and $59,550 a year. Fox has also asked the state's eight tribes for nominations by Friday for a new Missing Indigenous Persons Task Force, which is set to hold its first meeting on June 11. The group will identify communication shortfalls and offer suggestions to improve collaboration as well as administer a grant program for a tribal college to develop a database of missing tribal members. The Department of Justice worked with the State Tribal Relations Interim Legislative Committee to propose legislation, including a bill that requires the first law enforcement agency that's contacted to accept a missing persons report and enter it into a database, rather than directing the person to another jurisdiction, such as the one where the missing person was last seen. The legislation was prompted by criticism that when women and children go missing on Montana's reservations, the reports may not be taken seriously or adequately shared with other agencies. "As often is the case, problems in our society ... rise to a crescendo where they finally get attention," Fox said. "I think as we've talked about the barriers, a lot of it has been misunderstandings about who's responsible and how things work." The Department of Justice, the U.S. attorney's office in Montana and others are holding a daylong training on June 12 in Helena for law enforcement and members of the public focusing on missing Native Americans, human trafficking and using missing persons alerts and advisories. Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock is holding a ceremonial signing Thursday for the missing persons bills along with other legislation impacting Montana's Indian tribes. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MONTPELIER, Vt. | With a federal promise to take highly radioactive spent fuel from nuclear plants still unfulfilled, closed reactors are dipping into funds set aside for their eventual dismantling to build waste storage on-site, raising questions about whether there will be enough money when the time comes. It violates Nuclear Regulatory Commission rules for the plants to take money from their decommissioning trust funds to pay for building the concrete pads and rows of concrete and steel casks where waste is stored after it is cooled in special storage pools. But the NRC is granting exemptions from those rules every time it is asked. "All of the plants that have permanently shut down in recent years have sought, and been approved for, the use of decommissioning funds for spent fuel storage costs," NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan wrote in an email in response to questions from The Associated Press this past week. These include the Kewaunee plant in Wisconsin, San Onofre 1 and 2 in California, Crystal River 3 in Florida, and Vermont Yankee in Vernon, in Vermont's southeast corner, which closed at the end of last year. The Zion 1 and 2 reactors in Illinois, which shut down in the late 1990s, had gotten a similar OK to use decommissioning money for spent fuel storage, Sheehan said. Ratepayers chipped in during nuclear plants' lives to set aside the money it would take eventually to tear down reactors, remove their radioactive components and restore the sites. It was not envisioned they also would have to pay for indefinite storage of spent fuel on the roughly 100 nuclear plant sites around the country. And long-term, on-site storage of nuclear waste is a bad idea, said Arnold Gundersen, a former nuclear industry executive turned consultant who frequently criticizes the industry. "You build power plants near water because you have to cool them, and you build nuclear waste storage sites away from water" because of the threat of radioactive materials reaching it, Gundersen said. "It would be much better to get the stuff underground where terrorists couldn't fly a plane into it," he said. Nuclear industry spokespeople, government officials and industry critics agree the retirement fund raids have been triggered by the failure to date of the U.S. Department of Energy to open a permanent disposal site for spent nuclear fuel. For years, the government had been planning a disposal site at Nevada's Yucca Mountain, but that plan has been scuttled by a lack of funding from Congress. That has left reactors redesigning the racks in their spent fuel pools to accommodate more of the waste and expanding into "dry cask" storage, both of which Vermont Yankee did in the years before its owner, Entergy Corp., closed the plant at the end of last year because it was becoming less competitive against electricity generated with cheap natural gas. The spent fuel bottleneck leaves closed and soon-to-close nuclear plants with the prospect that for the indefinite future, they will look like the site of the former Maine Yankee plant. That plant was permanently shut down in 1997, nearly two decades ago. Today, the reactor is gone, but the site in the coastal town of Wiscasset still features 60 steel canisters encased in concrete that contain the 550 metric tons of spent fuel the plant generated in its 25-year life. The site is guarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Vermont Yankee's decommissioning fund already is short enough it contains about half the estimated $1.24 billion cost of dismantling the reactor, removing the waste and restoring the site that the plant plans to follow an NRC-allowed procedure called "SAFSTOR," in which the closed reactor is mothballed for up to 60 years in hopes the fund will grow enough to cover the cost. Vermont Yankee spokesman Martin Cohn said Entergy had taken out a $145 million line of credit to cover capital costs of building its on-site waste storage. But he said the company is planning for $225 million in security and other operating expenses after the spent fuel is in storage. Gundersen said Vermont is alone among states in that it is trying to limit raids on the decommissioning fund. This month, Vermont won a ruling from an NRC board that Entergy would have to keep it informed of withdrawals from the fund for specific expenses. Cohn argued that anyone concerned about the costs of on-site waste storage and how they're being paid should not focus their ire on the industry, NRC or even the Department of Energy. Rather, it is the Congress that has failed to fulfill its decades-old promise that the federal government will take highly radioactive spent fuel off the hands of nuclear plant operators. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SALEM, Ore. | Native American women have gone missing or been killed at alarming rates, federal and private studies show, and there is growing concern that confusion by law enforcement over who has jurisdiction can lead to lax pursuit of cases and insufficient data. Oregon, home to nine federally recognized tribes or confederations of tribes, has now joined a movement to account for and solve more of the crimes. Patricia Whitefoot, whose sister disappeared in 1987 in an unsolved case, watched as Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill Thursday that directs the state police to study how to increase and improve criminal justice resources on these cases. "As families, we simply seek justice and healing of the heart," Whitefoot told lawmakers in written testimony last month. After Brown signed the bill, Whitefoot told a reporter her sister, Daisy Mae Heath Tallman, was 29 when she went missing. She was Whitefoot's youngest sister and lived with her in Washington state. She would be gone for long periods, fishing for salmon in traditional spots along the Columbia River that divides Washington from Oregon and visiting relatives on the Warm Springs reservation in Oregon. Then, in the autumn of 1987, she never returned to her home in White Swan, Washington. "She was just a very self-reliant, self-sufficient individual who could take care of her business and what needed to be done, fiercely independent," said Whitefoot, who wore a red dress representing missing and murdered indigenous women otter furs, shell jewelry and moccasins to the bill signing ceremony. Travis Hampton, superintendent of the Oregon State Police, told attendees, many of them Native American women, that he was emotionally invested in bringing results. He said he had been concerned about a lack of state police jurisdiction in Indian country but that it would be compensated for with collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement. "I will treat these women and girls; these sisters, these mothers, these daughters, as if they were my own," he said to applause. Montana, Washington state, Arizona and New Mexico have passed similar legislation. A bill re-introduced in the House of Representatives last week would expand tribes' access to some federal crime databases, establish protocols for handling cases of missing and slain Native Americans, and require annual reports. The bill is named Savanna's Act, after Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was killed while pregnant in 2017 in North Dakota. Her baby was cut from her womb but survived. The new Oregon law, which takes effect immediately, directs the state police to study how to increase and improve state criminal justice protective, responsive and investigative resources. It also calls for better systems for reporting, identification, investigation and rapid response to future and past cases. The state police must report its findings by September 2020. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An emu on the run for more than 60 days has prompted lockdowns at two elementary schools in Delaware. The runaway emu was spotted Monday near Spring Meadow Elementary School and Old State Elementary School, leading to a "soft lockdown" at both schools. Officials sent a letter alerting parents and saying students remained inside while normal activity continued. Delaware Department of Agriculture spokesman Daniel Shortridge says no one is sure who owns the bird. Over the last week, authorities have received a growing number of calls from people who have spotted the bird or come close to hitting it. The agency has asked police to shoot the emu if public safety is at risk. Shortridge says killing the bird isn't the preferred solution. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Tax changes are normal. The office of Tompkins & Peters CPAs, P.C., in Hamilton has a framed copy of the first 1040 tax form, dated 1913. It is only four pages, complete with instructions. Beau Johnson, Certified Public Accountant and Certified Valuation Analyst, is the accounting and auditing department manager of the Hamilton branch of Tompkins & Peters CPAs, P.C. Johnson said the biggest tax changes for the 2017 tax season for the year ending December 2016 are deadlines. There are two big ones for this year that will affect people with businesses, he said. For partner return of form 1065 they had an April 15 deadline but that is now March 15, so a whole month earlier. Extensions are allowed. Johnson said the second big change is for C corporations that had a March 15 deadline. They now have a deadline of April 15. S corporation deadlines and individual due dates stayed the same. For individuals holding over $10,000 in foreign assets, investments and cash accounts in other countries, the due date changed from June 30 to April 15 but individuals can apply for an extension until Oct. 15. There are minor changes for trusts, non-profit organizations and employee benefit plans. Refunds from Montana are coming slower in an attempt eliminate identity theft. The state is taking additional steps like lengthening the time to make sure there are no claims and bank account verification for direct deposit. There are new rules. They are trying to make sure there is no identity theft, he said. For us, we really get to know our clientele. This may affect businesses that dont know their customers well. Johnson said the near future of taxation is a mystery. The House GOP has their blueprint for tax reform that they published last year, he said. They have potential tax reform but no one knows where this will all end up. It is a little bit of conjecture. Trump has been tweeting that there are big regulation tax cuts coming down the pipeline. Johnson said the tax changes would come after the Affordable Health Care Act is repealed. He said you cant do the tax changes until they get Affordable Health Care figured out, Johnson said. They are saying March and April are going to be very busy and we dont know if that will be for the 2017 year or the 2018 year at this point. Johnson said regardless of using the GOP blueprint or Trumps plan there will be big changes. It will completely change how we look at everything, he said. In the GOP blueprint they are going down from seven tax rates to three tax rates for individuals and there will potentially be one flat rate for corporations. At this point were just not sure what is going to happen. With the constant change of complicated tax laws Tompkins & Peters CPAs helps businesses with tax planning. Every year there is something that is changing and for 2017 or 2108 it will be even more so, Johnson said. Everybody should be getting ready for that and definitely touching base with their accountants. March to April is what they are currently saying. That is subject to change. People can look at our website and well keep them updated. Johnson said Tompkins & Peters CPAs has a secure client portal that allows clients from all over the United States to upload their information directly. It has the same level of security as any bank, Johnson said. They can upload; I can work on it and publish it back to them. Technology is amazing in how it has helped us. We never email anything because of security but through our portal we know it is all safe. Tompkins & Peters CPAs was started by Dana Tompkins in 1987. Tompkins grew up in Conner, attended the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, started the business then moved the corporate office to Hamilton. There are six employees in Hamilton and branch offices in Helena, Missoula and Las Vegas. Everybody wants to come back here, Johnson said. Its nice because we get to see many different types of businesses and we all do travel. Tompkins & Peters is a full service CPA firm that does audits, reviews, compilations, bookkeeping, business valuations and taxes. The firm works with business owners, executives and independent professionals and values professionalism, responsiveness and quality. The local firm is invested in the community. Im in Rotary, Dana is in Lyons Club, and Elaine Serwacki is in Soroptimists, Johnson said. It is important to us to be part of the community and understand what is going on. It helps us when we do taxes. Weve been around for a while, enjoy being here and definitely enjoy being in Montana. Johnson said his job is exciting with so much change that CPAs are required to take 120 hours of professional education every three years. What you knew last year isnt going to be appropriate for the current year, he said. That is one of the big things - the tax laws are always so complex. I would recommend you touch base with your accountant in the middle of the year to find out what is going on. If it is retroactive for 2017 currently what youre doing could be subject to changes. The Hamilton office of Tompkins & Peters CPAs, P.C., is located at 1659 North First Street, Suite 2. Contact them by phone at 406-363-0097 or online at www.tpcpas.com, Facebook and Twitter. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The so-called centennial light has been burning nearly continuously since it was installed in 1901. Now located at 4550 East Avenue, Livermore, California, the bulb has been in at least four different locations over the years. In 1976, the fire department housing the bulb moved to Fire Station #6. Out of fear that unscrewing the bulb would permanently damage it, its power cord was severed. Lying in a specially designed box, the bulb was transferred to its new location with a full firetruck escort where it was reconnected. The bulbs 100th anniversary was celebrated in 2001 with a community barbecue and live music. The light bulb passed 1,000,000 hours in service in 2015 and has been recognized by Guinness as the longest lasting light bulb in the world. Originally a 60-watt bulb, it is now very dim, emitting the equivalent light of a 4-watt blub. So, you might ask, why dont bulbs manufactured today last as long as the centennial bulb? You can thank the Phoebus group which was a cartel formed in 1924 by the worlds largest manufacturers of light bulbs. Through advances in lighting technology, light bulbs were lasting longer and longer, many up to 2500 hours. This lead to a general reduction in overall sales as consumers had no need to frequently replace light bulbs. Alarmed by this trend, the major light bulb producers formed the worlds first global cartel with its primary aim to depress lamp life to a 1,000-hour standard. It actually took lighting engineers some time to come up with a design such that a bulb would burn out at around 1000 hours of service. The cartels members tried to persuade consumers that even though the new bulbs didnt last as long as previous ones, they were higher quality, more efficient, and produced a more pleasing light. To insure that light bulbs met the cartels standards, every factory bound by the Phoebus group had to regularly send their bulbs to a central testing lab in Switzerland. If any factory had bulbs lasting longer (or shorter) that the specified life span, it had to pay a fine. Some of the companies tried to do an end-run around the restrictions by producing bulbs that lasted longer at higher voltages. Reacting to such enhancements, Anton Philips of Philips Electric complained, This, is a very dangerous practice and is having a most detrimental influence on the total turnover of the Phoebus Parties. After the very strenuous efforts we made to emerge from a period of long life lamps, it is of the greatest importance that we do not sink back into the same mire by paying no attention to voltages and supplying lamps that will have a very prolonged life. Similar restrictions pertained to flashlights as well. For instance, a GE flashlight bulb in the pre-cartel days was designed to last longer than three change outs of batteries. This life span was subsequently cut to two battery changes, and in 1932 GE engineers proposed a bulb that lasted no longer than one battery. They also suggested increasing amperage that would boost brightness but at the expense of shortening the life of both the bulb and the battery. The Phoebus Cartel is now considered one of the earliest examples of planned obsolescence. However, with increased competition, the original agreement signed in 1924 was nullified in 1940. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stevensville High School will have three representatives attend The Presidential Academy for American History and Civics and companion experience The Congressional Academy for American History and Civics in Maryland, July 7-20. Juniors Anya Murphy and Alexsandra Morawic along with civics educator Wes Wells and have been selected to attend the two week program at Goucher College Campus in Baltimore, Maryland, where teachers and students will work together to learn about civics, history, the constitution and produce activities for their schools. It is a collaborative model for teachers and students to work together, deepening their knowledge and their understanding of our historical and civic processes for the purposes of bringing that information back to the school, Wells said. Participants will fly to Baltimore, stay on the college campus, attend daily sessions and learn from a variety of scholars. They will also tour a number of sites between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. including four national parks, Mount Vernon and Gettysburg. Murphy said she is excited for the upcoming adventure. I dont think we were expecting to go, she said. Only 102 students nation-wide were selected. It hasnt hit that were actually going yet. Morawic said, Weve been given the most incredible opportunity. The program is funded through the Department of Educations Center for Civic Education that sponsors the "We the People" constitutional competition that SHS has participated in for three years. Wells said it will help his seniors as they compete in the competition next year and gain a deeper understanding of civics and a greater appreciation of our nations history Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 With flags and signs, Stevensville residents welcomed home one of their own Wednesday afternoon. The motorcade that escorted Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Wade Palmer was met by the entire Florence-Carlton student body before turning east into his home town of Stevensville. Palmer was critically injured in a March shooting near Evaro, and on Wednesday returned to Montana from the Salt Lake City hospital where he's been recovering. A pair of large flags greeted the procession at the west end of the Stevensville Wye Road and a couple of hundred well-wishers stood on the sidewalk to offer support for the wounded trooper. We just want to let him know that were thinking of him, said Stacy Kempka, while she waited with her husband, Ben, and 1-year-old daughter McKenna. It might make a big difference for him to see all these people here. With all the things that the police have to go through these days, I think that its important that we be here for them, Ben Kempka said. I never a met a cop who wasnt there to take care of others and so now were here for him. Longtime Stevensville residents Frank and Linda Lewis had found a nice soft spot on the grass to wait for the motorcade to arrive. Were here to support him because hes supported and protected us as a Montana Highway Patrol trooper, Linda Lewis said. The couple who can trace their family roots in the Stevensville area back to 1883 said theyve know Palmers wife for years. They were two of hundreds who turned out at a community barbecue that raised money to help the Palmer family. We just feel that its important to support them, Frank Lewis said. They are one of our own. Prior to returning home to Stevenville, Palmer's plane landed in Missoula where scores of officers from every layer of law enforcement lined the exit from the Neptune Aviation tarmac waiting to join the motorcade carrying the injured trooper. Two months ago, they had been on a nearby runway to send Palmer off on a plane to Utah, with the possibility that Palmer might have succumbed to his wounds seeming as plausible as his homecoming. I havent seen this type of thing in my whole career, Missoula County Sheriff's Capt. Anthony Rio said. Its a miracle, a true miracle. Trooper Billy Munoz, who took a few ride-alongs with Palmer before he had joined the patrol unit, said he had mixed emotions about the day; the circumstances are tragic, but Palmer pulled through. To have a member of law enforcement come back the way hes come back, its outstanding, he said. The rollout from Neptune Aviation was swift and orderly. Law enforcement officers and first responders who stood at attention at the tarmac filed in behind the motorcade as it headed into Missoula, passing hundreds of people waving signs and enough American flags to rival a Fourth of July parade. Its really nice we can group together for Wednesdays motorcade, said University of Montana Police Sgt. Ward Dewitt. We all ultimately have the same job. Palmer did not regain consciousness until two weeks after the shooting, and began interacting with hand gestures another two weeks later. Earlier Wednesday, Palmer's wife Lindsey said the two months since her husband was wounded in one of two midnight shootings outside Missoula have "been a marathon." Lindsey Palmer, who was first to take the mic at a Wednesday morning news conference in Utah that served as a prelude to the trooper's return to Montana, thanked those whose medical care has gotten Palmer over the initial hurdles and ready for the road ahead. "You gave us the fighting chance we needed to get through this," she said. "The future is brighter today than when we first landed in Utah." Palmer's wounds included a penetrating traumatic brain injury to the left side of the brain, said Dr. Ramesh Grandhi, University of Utah Health neurosurgeon, one member of the team of medical staff attending Palmer in recent weeks. "For right-handed people, your speech comes from the left side of your brain," Grandhi said during the press conference. "By the time he came to Utah, he had suffered a brain injury. Our job was to ensure that he was treated in a timely fashion to prevent further brain injury." Palmer is not currently able to speak, but Grandhi said he appears to be able to understand what he is told, and recognize people in the room around him. Later on Wednesday, Montana Attorney General Tim Fox described at a second press conference the non-verbal communication from Palmer that morning. "When we walked in that hospital room today, Wade was smiling ear to ear," Fox said, holding down tears during a long pause. "He knew he was going to be reunited with his girls, that he was going to be home, that he was going to see his trooper colleagues and his friends." In the Wednesday-morning news conference in Utah, Dr. John Speed said after weeks of intensive care, Palmer will now be able to continue his rehabilitation at home. "Trooper Palmer has made remarkable progress," he said. "I'm just very happy to see this day come and look forward to seeing the progress he continues to make with support at home. Palmer's trip home garnered a statement from Montana Gov. Steve Bullock. "Trooper Wade Palmer is an inspiration," Bullock said in a written statement Wednesday. "His courage and that of his family, community and fellow troopers is why we welcome him home today. All Montanans, from every corner of this state, have Trooper Palmer and his family's back on the continued road to recovery and will forever be grateful for their service to our state." Utah law enforcement, who have stood guard over Palmer's room and provided support to the Palmer family since their stay in Utah began, received a healthy helping of praise from Lindsey Palmer and Montana brass, Attorney General Fox and MHP Col. Tom Butler. Butler later said the weeks following the shooting were devastating to Palmers partners, and troopers from surrounding districts were brought in to replenish the manpower needed in the Missoula district. We had other districts come in and fill the spots, just to get the local guys back in the right frame of mind, Butler said. When this happened it was devastating not only to the community but to his partners and for them to function at a level we expect. The human cost of the March 15 shootings has been easier to tally than the financial cost of propping up the Palmer family and the Missoula district. Fox said Wednesday the cost of that support system has not been measured, but added that number was not a priority. Frankly, through it all we dont worry about that, and I suspect the taxpayers dont either, said Fox. They want us to take care of our people, particularly when its someone like Wade who puts his life on the line for our benefit. We dont budget for tragedy, but we plan for it. Fox said that support system was also extended to Casey Blanchard, who was shot eight times in the spree and also transported to the Utah hospital. Palmer had located the suspect's vehicle on Highway 93 North shortly after midnight on March 15 when gunfire opened on his patrol vehicle. An hour earlier, three people had been shot one man, 28-year-old Shelley Hays, was killed, and Blanchard and his mother Julie wounded on Expressway west of Missoula, sending law enforcement scrambling into the county in search of the shooter. Johnathan Bertsch, the 28-year-old Arlee man charged with the shootings, faces one count of deliberate homicide and three counts of attempted deliberate homicide. Court filings state he had two AR-15-style rifles and a handgun in his vehicle when he was apprehended by the Missoula County Sheriffs Office near Evaro. He remains in Missoula County Detention Facility on $2 million bail. Enormous flags could be seen waving in the wind from atop maxed-out crane rigs along West Broadway Street Wednesday as Palmers motorcade escorted him to Providence St. Patrick Hospital. From there, Palmer was whisked down to the Bitterroot Valley, where another couple hundred faithful supporters were waiting (see accompanying story) to usher him home, two months after such a homecoming appeared to be against great odds. Today is a great day, as far as Im concerned, Butler said. A little over nine weeks ago I was standing out on the tarmac at Missoula airport and it was a sad day. I really had doubts about what the outcome of that was going to be at that time. I cant tell you how heartwarming it is to me to see him get off that plane. Its been a hole in our agency since hes been gone. Perry Backus contributed to this story. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Trend The Azerbaijani Compulsory Insurance Bureau lifted restrictions on the AzerInsurance State Insurance Commercial Companys access to its information system on May 21, 2019, Trend reports referring to the bureau. According to the decision of the Financial Market Supervisory Authority of Azerbaijan (FIMSA), AzerInsurance has been allowed to enter the information system of the Compulsory Insurance Bureau. The Compulsory Insurance Bureau of Azerbaijan on May 17, 2019 restricted access of AzerInsurance State Insurance Commercial Company to its information system. The bureau noted that the restriction of AzerInsurance's access to the information system is related to the restriction of the license for rendering the services on compulsory third party liability insurance of vehicles by FIMSA due to AzerInsurance's violation of the laws "On Insurance Activities" and "On Compulsory Insurance" while concluding the contracts. AzerInsurance has been operating in Azerbaijan since 1991. In January-March 2019, the company's fees amounted to 31.7 million manats, payments - 2.95 million manats. (1.7 AZN = 1 USD on May 21) MISSOULA An analysis of the fatal collision last summer between a grizzly bear and a mountain biker near Coram recommends more safety evaluation before new biking trails are built in grizzly habitat. Current safety messaging at trailheads and in the media is usually aimed at hikers, the interagency board of review report stated. However mountain biking is in many ways more likely to result in injury or death from bear attacks to people who participate in this activity. "In addition, there are increasing numbers of mountain bikers using bear habitat and pressure to increase mountain bike access to areas where black bear and grizzly bear encounters are very likely. The report on the June 29, 2016, death of Brad Treat after he collided with a grizzly bear was completed on March 3. Lead author Chris Servheen said the analysis had advice for both trail managers and the people who recreate on them. Servheen recently retired as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. He led a panel that included members from Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, U.S. Forest Service and Glacier National Park. While it was an independent review, it arrives just as mountain biking in grizzly habitat has become a hot topic in Washington. Last week, Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana, proposed the Blackfoot Clearwater Stewardship Act, which would allow mountain-biking recreation areas next to some of the most heavily used grizzly country in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. On Monday, the national Sustainable Trails Coalition hailed the introduction of a House bill that would allow the use of bikes and other wheeled equipment in federal wilderness areas. With something like mountain biking, the high speed and quiet nature of riding increases the probability of encounters with bears when youre coming around blind curves, Servheen said on Monday. In the case of Treat's collision, he said, "Heres a bear thats 20 years old, whos lived in a high-density human area his entire life. Hes pretty skilled at staying away from trouble. We think he was just as surprised as Mr. Treat was. The two of them probably had only one or two seconds before they encountered one another. Treat was a Flathead National Forest law enforcement officer who regularly jogged and biked on the Green Gate Trail network between Coram and West Glacier. According to the report, he was riding ahead of a friend at about 1:30 p.m. when he rounded a corner in thick forest. Immediately after Mr. Treat disappeared, his companion heard the sound of Mr. Treat and his bike colliding with the bear and the bear vocalizing and making a sound like it was hurt, the report stated. He described what he heard as a thud and an argh. As his companion rode around the curve and stopped his bike, he saw the bear standing over Mr. Treat who was laying in the trail. FWP Wildlife Human Attack Response Team lead investigator Brian Sommers explained the details of the encounter. Sommers reported that Treats biking shoes were clipped to the pedals and both he and his bike flipped over the bears back. Sommers estimated Treat was traveling between 20 and 25 mph, and left no skid marks before impact. Treat broke both wrists and a shoulder blade on landing, and had a large bruise on his torso from hitting the handle bars. Sommers reported his bike helmet was beside his body and it was in pieces after being bitten by the bear. While the report concluded the grizzly killed Treat, the bear did not act in any predatory way. It neither consumed any part of Treats body nor acted to cache him as it would a deer or other prey. Trail cameras and helicopter searches over the next two days failed to find any sign of the suspect bear, although several people in the vicinity reported seeing both brown- and black-colored probable grizzlies in the area. DNA analysis of the suspect bear hair collected at the scene showed it was a male grizzly that had been trapped in Glacier National Park in 2006. The bear had no history of conflicts with people. When it was caught that year near Camas Creek, it weighed 370 pounds and appeared to be 8 to 10 years old. It was not collared, and was never recaptured. The report includes a five-page set of recommendations and lessons to take from the incident. The unfortunate death of Mr. Brad Treat from a grizzly bear attack that was precipitated by a high-speed mountain bike collision between Mr. Treat and a bear necessitates increased attention to the dangers associated with mountain biking in black bear and grizzly bear habitat, the recommendations began. There is a long record of human-bear conflicts associated with mountain biking in bear habitat including the serious injuries and deaths suffered by bike riders. The Board of Review expanded upon established hiker advice to be vigilant, carry bear spray, make noise, dont run from encounters and dont hike alone. For mountain bikers, it produced an eight-suggestion list that focused on the different ways bikes and bears interact. Those included calls to ride slowly because bears encountered at high speed are more likely to react defensively and injure bikers. The make noise suggestion was amplified by the observation that mountain biking is a quiet and fast activity that may cause you to get much too close to a bear before either you or the bear knows it, resulting in a surprise encounter and a defensive attack by a surprised bear. The list warned against riding at dusk or dawn because of the reduced ability to be aware of surroundings at times when bears are most active; and to avoid thinking, It wont happen to me. That kind of attitude is what can get you in serious trouble whether you are mountain-biking or doing any other potentially dangerous activity, the list stated. Be prepared and be safe. That way you can enjoy your activity and you and the bears will be safe. The list concluded with the reminder that humans only visit the places bears consider home: Taking these precautions will help keep you safer and reduce the stress and disturbance to bears that live in these places where you choose to occasionally recreate. A second part of the recommendations addressed new trails in bear country. Before new trails are opened to mountain biking in bear habitat, particularly grizzly habitat, there should be careful evaluation of the safety and reasonableness of enhancing mountain bike access in these areas where bear density is high, the recommendations stated. That included consideration of sight distances in thick vegetation, the risk of routing trails in feeding areas like huckleberry fields or avalanche chutes and consideration of seasonal closures to biking during feeding times. Its an issue that needs further consideration, particularly as mountain biking becomes more of an activity, Servheen said. People wanting to go into places where they havent been before. Its something thats fairly new. Testers bill would create a 3,800-acre Spread Mountain Recreation Area north of Ovando at the request of mountain-biking organizations that hope to ride there. The designation grew out of negotiations between the biking groups, snowmobile clubs and horse-riding organizations seeking a compromise that would increase support for the Senate bill. Mountain Bike Missoula executive director Ben Horan acknowledged the concern bikers need to show when traveling in bear country, including following the reports suggestions. Access to backcountry recreation is part of what makes Montana such a great place to live, Horan wrote in an email. Mountain bikers, hunters, and trail runners need to appreciate that we are visitors in wildlife habitat and that our activities expose us to increased risk It's important to remember that these encounters, while tragic, are incredibly rare. The Sustainable Trails Coalition supports a nationwide change allowing local wilderness managers to set their own rules on bike access. The House bill puts mountain bikers on the same footing as campers, hikers, hunters and equestrians by restoring federal agency authority to set conditions on cyclists use of trails in wilderness, according to the groups press release. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Meet Jeff Koons, the American who now enjoys the title of most expensive living artist in the world. Now, meet the rabbit that got him there A recent auction at Christie's saw Koons Rabbit 1986 sell for $91.07 million with fees. Thats $1.4 million more than another blockbuster sold by Christies in November--a painting by David Hockney, Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972). Christie's record auction night opened with bidding at $40 million. After just ten minutes of bidding, Rabbit sold for a hammer price of $80 million to art dealer Robert Mnuchin, the father of Steven Mnuchin, U.S. Treasury Secretary. The rabbit, I would say, is one of the most famous works of Jeff Koons career, and in fact, one of the most famous artworks of the last 40 or 50 years, Scott Rothkopf, the curator, said. Long before the auction, many had questioned the Rabbits significance in modern artwork. In his review of Rabbit , Alex Rotter, the chairman of the post-war and contemporary art department at Christies drew a parallel to Michelangelos David (15011504) suggesting that the Rabbit is a revolutionary piece of art. For me, Rabbit is the anti-David, which signaled the death of traditional sculpturedisrupting the medium in the same way that Jackson Pollocks Number 31 (1950) permanently redefined the notion of painting. From my first day in the auction worldthis is the work that has represented the pinnacle of both contemporary art and art collecting to me, said Rotter. Related: Italys Central Bank Embraces Sustainable Investing Of course, not everyone shares Rotters enthusiasm for the nearly-billion-dollar inflatable bunny, even if Energizer is likely tempted to latch on. He has the slimy assurance, the gross patter about transcendence through art, of a blow-dried Baptist selling swamp acres in Florida, wrote late critic Robert Hughes. In their headline of the Koons retrospective, The Guardian writes: Great, good, bad and terrible art. Some in the art community have criticized Koons for designing work that's too self-promotional and earning the title of King of Kitsch. Any way you slice it, Koons is undeniably a celebrity with an important role in modern art--whether he is the King of Kitsch or the Next Michelangelo, or perhaps the next Pollack or Andy Warhol. Of course, the critics also like to point out that he better fits the King of Kitsch throne but pointing to his first wife, Ilona Staller, a former Italian lawmaker known in the porn world as Cicciolina and was said to have offered to have sex with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to avert the 1990 Gulf War. But if the measure of art is how much it comes from within and is not born out of desire for money and fame, perhaps Koons is a true artist. "Some people certainly think that my work is kitsch, but I never see it that way. What Im saying to people, actually, is that they shouldnt erase their past, that they should blend together everything they are and move forward... My work simply tells people not to reject any part of what they are, to take their history on board, said Koons. At the end of the day, art is whatever everyone wants it to be, and in this case, they think an inflatable rabbit is worth $90 million. It doesnt really matter what the critics say at this point. By Michael Scott for Safehaven.com More Top Reads From Safehaven.com Intro Greetings! I am a political scientist , specializing in International Relations , my research and teaching focus on ethnic conflict and civil-military relations . I watch way too much TV, and I like movies as well so I tend to write about both and find IR stuff in pop culture. I rant alot about American politics and sometimes about Canadian politics. I like to take ideas I once learned a long time ago and apply them to whatever strikes my fancy. To expand access to bike repair tools and knowledge, the Santa Maria Public Library and Bici Centro have partnered up to launch two pop-up bik 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. Twenty-seven U.S. veterans who served in almost all branches of the military, in war and peace, were honored by their neighbors at a ceremony Saturday to dedicate a Veterans Memorial Garden. By Trend Paris will host meetings of the Bureau and the Standing Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) May 23-24, Trend reports. Samad Seyidov, head of the Azerbaijani parliamentary committee on international relations and interparliamentary ties, head of the permanent delegation of Azerbaijan to PACE, will take part in these meetings. The meetings participants will discuss issues related to the creation of a new political group in PACE, the election of a new secretary general in the Council of Europe, the results of presidential elections held in Ukraine and Northern Macedonia, the upcoming presidential election in Kazakhstan, and discussions will be held to observe the parliamentary elections that will be held in Ukraine. Seyidov will deliver speech at the meetings. " " Cosmologist Stephen Hawking photographed in 2013. Andrew Cowie/AFP/Getty Images In 2010, astrophysicist Stephen Hawking told interviewer Larry King that humanity's greed and stupidity might be our own undoing. Six years later, "we have certainly not become less greedy or less stupid," Hawking tells the veteran interviewer. King and the rarely interviewed Hawking chatted on the web series "Larry King Now," which appears on Ora TV, RT and Hulu. Hawking spoke with King from the the Starmus III science festival in the Canary Islands, where he's discussing an initiative to use radiation patterns to map the entire known universe, the dangers of weaponizing artificial intelligence, and more. Advertisement And though Hawking discusses the potential positive uses for artificial intelligence with King predicting the stock market, for instance, or diagnosing cancer earlier than is currently possible he warns that things could easily get out of hand. "Governments seem to be engaged in an AI arms race, designing planes and weapons with intelligent technologies," Hawking says in the interview. "The funding for projects directly beneficial to the human race, such as improved medical screening, seems a somewhat lower priority. I don't think that advances in artificial technology will necessarily be benign. Once machines reach the critical stage of being able to evolve themselves, we cannot predict whether their goals will be the same as ours." Hawking also brings up the increase in world pollution and carbon dioxide levels as another risk to humanity. "At this rate, [the world's population] will be 11 billion by 2100," Hawking says. "Air pollution has increased by 8 percent over the past five years. More than 80 percent of inhabitants of urban areas are exposed to unsafe levels of air pollution." Watch the full interview below, and stick around for a chat with astrophysicist Garik Israelian, who created the Starmus Festival and dedicated this year's installment to Hawking: Now That's Interesting When asked what recent scientific discovery has most surprised him, Hawking told King it was the 1998 discovery that the universe's rate of expansion was accelerating, and the concurrent implication that the Einstein-predicted dark energy actually existed. " " A sign welcomes motorists to Taos, New Mexico, home of the Taos Hum. Robert Alexander/Getty Image It starts every night around 10 p.m., just when you're about to fall asleep. The sound is hard to describe, a persistent low rumble like an 18-wheeler idling outside your window. But when you pull the curtain, there's nothing there. Your wife thinks you're crazy she and the neighbors don't hear a thing and the doctor has ruled out tinnitus. But here you are, night after sleepless night, stuffing wads of tissue in your ears to block out the maddening sound. The more you try to ignore it, the louder it seems to get. Maybe you really are going crazy. Or maybe that's just what "they" want you to think! Advertisement All around the world in locations as far-flung as an Australian beach town, an English country village and a desert outpost in New Mexico thousands of people are being terrorized by a mysterious incessant noise known as the Hum. Hum sufferers describe a low-frequency buzz accompanied by a rumbling vibration. It's worst at night, making it almost impossible to sleep. Other symptoms include debilitating headaches, nausea, nosebleeds and diarrhea. In one tragic case in England, the Hum drove a person to suicide [source: Alexander]. The Hum has baffled researchers since the 1970s, when the first widespread reports of the unexplained acoustic phenomenon cropped up in rural England. Armed with highly sensitive instruments, teams of scientists have attempted to hunt down the source of the unrelenting noise. The results? Inconclusive. Theories abound to explain the origins of the Hum, from the plausible power lines, cell phone towers and industrial fans to the more, uh, imaginative. Conspiracy theorists have exposed the Hum as the work of the CIA, the military, and of course, aliens. So what exactly is this mystifying noise, unheard by most, but an absolute torture to some? Does the Hum have an environmental origin or is it, in fact, all in their heads? We'll start our investigation by exploring some Hum hotspots around the globe and figuring out what the strange phenomena have in common. Security experts discovered tens of critical vulnerabilities were found in 10 South Korean ActiveX controls as part of a short research project. Security researchers at Risk Based Security have discovered tens of critical vulnerabilities in 10 South Korean ActiveX controls as part of a research project. The experts discovered that many South Korean websites still use ActiveX controls, including many government sites, despite the risks associated with the use of this technology. The websites still use the technology because of a 20-year old law that mandated the use of Internet Explorer and asked users to allow ActiveX controls to run. Microsoft no longer supports ActiveX in Microsoft Edge, which is the default recommended default browser over Internet Explorer. According to research conducted by experts at IssueMakersLab, since 2007 and up to 2018, North Korea linked attacks exploited a large number of zero-day flaws in commonly used ActiveX. In 2014, the South Korean government decided to lift the mandatory use of ActiveX controls, unfortunately many websites still continue using them. South Korea aims at eliminating the technology from all government websites by 2020. At the beginning of 2019, we did some research into South Korean ActiveX controls previously exploited in 0-day attacks, resulting in the discovery of, among other things, an incomplete fix for one of them. reads the analysis published Risk Based Security firm. During this process, we also obtained a repository of about 100 South Korean ActiveX controls. Security researchers searched for vulnerabilities in ActiveX controls since January 2019 and found 40 vulnerabilities across the 10 most popular controls. Experts spotted the flaws by approaching combined fuzzing of the controls with in-depth reverse engineering of the most popular ones The discovered vulnerabilities were all very basic: various types of buffer overflows and unsafe exposed functionality that allowed executing code on users systems. There was no need to make a greater effort to find more complex ones, the researchers explained. The experts found several types of flaws including buffer overflows and unsafe exposed functionality that could be exploited to execute code on users systems. The flawed ActiveX controls were available from websites for different organisations including a bank, a major financial company, a major technology company, some universities, and a government entity. The security reported the issue to the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA) in early February. The Agency reported the issues to the impacted vendors and helped them address the vulnerabilities and remove the vulnerable ActiveX. It seems 2020 cant come fast enough for the South Koreans. Its evident that theyre not only relying on antiquated technology, but their ActiveX controls are just as unsafe as the ones used elsewhere many years ago, Risk Based Security concludes. If you appreciate my effort in spreading cybersecurity awareness, please vote for Security Affairs in the section Your Vote for the Best EU Security Tweeter Thank you Pierluigi Paganini ( SecurityAffairs ActiveX, hacking) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On Spotlighting racial divides in perceptions of crime and punishment | Main | Making the case, now a quarter century after the 1994 Crime Bill, for the Reverse Mass Incarceration Act May 22, 2019 "The Second Step Act should give white-collar criminals a chance after release" The title of this post is the headline of this notable recent Washington Examiner commentary authored by Cassie Monaco. Here are excerpts: I will also never forget the day I found out that my husband had been charged with a nonviolent criminal offense. The emotions that I felt and the pain that I had at that very moment are indescribable, not to mention the feelings of utter shock, knowing that your life will never be the same again. Today, my husband is serving six and a half years at a federal prison in Colorado. As the wife of an incarcerated individual, I had two choices: Do I indulge in self-pity, or do I channel my energy and emotions into something more productive? I chose the latter. And so I got involved with national advocacy efforts on criminal justice reform, and I created an organization called A Day Closer, with the sole mission of reducing recidivism by keeping families intact while a loved one is incarcerated. The First Step Act is providing much needed relief and assistance to many of those incarcerated and their families. It is also restoring dignity back into our very broken criminal justice system. However, the act still leaves behind a group that oftentimes gets over looked: individuals convicted of white-collar crimes. I can understand the lack of sympathy out there for many white-collar criminals, but not all of them are bad people. In addition to admitting their crimes and apologizing to the victims, they are left financially destroyed, with their professional and personal lives ruined forever.... The First Step Act understandably focuses on relief for drug offenders. But oftentimes, those offenders do not have the burden of restitution once they are out. The white-collar group, although they are less likely to fall victim to recidivism, will however be saddled with a life sentence in the form of extraordinary restitution. They will never be completely free, even after time served. This needs to change. As the national conversation shifts to the Second Step, lawmakers should sponsor and support legislation that provides some relief with regards to restitution amounts. Meanwhile, by executive order, Trump should return the Office of the Pardon Attorney to its former place under the Executive Office of the President. Finally, Trump should create an independent commission that advises the president on matters related to Executive Clemency. The goal is simple: give those that have committed white-collar crimes, admitted to their mistakes, and served their time a real chance to start over and rebuild their lives, without being saddled with the burden that excessive restitution creates. May 22, 2019 at 11:05 AM | Permalink Comments How self-serving. If person C, through a criminal act, hurts innocent person V financially, then C has a responsibility to make V whole. The author obviously doesn't think so. And that means the person has not fully accepted responsibility for their crimes. Posted by: William Jockusch | May 22, 2019 8:28:58 PM Because the employment opportunities for felons are so limited, most restitution never gets paid anyway. The numbers I have seen for former felons show that their unemployment rate is between 27% and 45%. And those who do find jobs rarely earn more than $25,000 per year, with most earning far less. Many former felons only get by by living with family members or close friends. It is a stigma that never stops, and haunts former felons for the rest of their lives. And it means that most can never pay whatever restitution, if any, that they may owe. Posted by: James Gormley | May 23, 2019 8:22:30 AM For heavens sake, Doug, I cant believe you would even bother to publish this BS. Posted by: TarlsQtr | May 23, 2019 1:49:40 PM Looks like he stole $1.6 million, including from a non-profit, and was asked to repay it. "She said he committed his crimes to help support the lifestyle of his family after he and his first wife divorced." 80 months + 3 years supervised release. https://www.dailyinterlake.com/local_news/20180708/whitefish_woman_takes_up_fight_for_prison_reform https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/former-chief-financial-officer-sentenced-80-months-prison-stealing-16-million-three Why isn't she at least candid about what he did before saying it was too much? Posted by: Paul | May 23, 2019 8:52:21 PM Tarls, not a big fan of the right-leaning Washington Examiner? I think it quite interesting to see what some folks want as the next focus for federal reform AND who is publishing this kind of commentary. And, notably, this piece engendered more comments than lots of others. Posted by: Doug B | May 24, 2019 10:53:50 AM Shame on them too for publishing it. Its not a right/left issue, but of clearly being an attempt to be as opaque as possible to write a completely self-serving op-ed. As Paul mentioned, she couldnt even be bothered to tell us that he stole $1.6 million, some of it from a non-profit that provides HIV preventative measures to women in developing countries. As Bill Otis often points out, she then goes on to describe her husbands crime as non-violent as if it means that no one was hurt by it. One can look at it from a legal, moral, and public opinion viewpoint. None of those could possibly fall in her favor. If polled, I suspect that 95%+ would say of course someone who stole $1.6 million should pay it back. Even the phrase excessive restitution should be an insult to to any person not a WCC. The only thing that could be worse than the First Step legislation is taking this Second Step. Posted by: TarlsQtr | May 24, 2019 12:45:25 PM Curious to hear what you think is so terrible about the First Step Act, Tarls. Posted by: Doug B. | May 24, 2019 9:28:44 PM See Tom Cotton Also, any law that could result in the American Taliban, John Walker Lindh, get out of prison earlier is horrible legislation. Thats just a start. Let me know if you need more specifics. Posted by: TarlsQtr | May 28, 2019 1:39:00 PM Tarls, Lindh got the standard good time credit that all federal prisoners have been eligible to receive since the elimination of parole in the Sentencing Reform Act 1984. The timing of Lindh's release has zero to do with the First Step Act. Here is a Powerline piece that seeks to link these stories but which rightly notes "First Step did not cause or contribute to Lindhs early release." https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2019/05/john-walker-lindh-and-the-first-step-act.php Given that your first comment is so wrong, I suppose I do "need more specifics" to see if other misinformation is driving your disaffinity for a law that received overwhelming bipartisan support from both houses of a Republican-controlled Congress and was pushed hard by Prez Trump. Posted by: Doug B | May 29, 2019 8:08:12 AM Doug, I did not say that Lindh was released because of First Step. I said he could be, in other words, he would qualify for it. Its not that he did not qualify for the criteria. Its just that the date of his release did not coincide with the timeline. Posted by: TarlsQtr | May 29, 2019 12:06:42 PM FYI, your last sentence is nothing but an appeal to popularity. Even unanimous support would not make the legislation any better or worse, only its merits do that (or lack of them). Posted by: TarlsQtr | May 29, 2019 12:11:14 PM OK. Here are some details, one I almost never see discussed regarding my disfavor. I know FA is federal legislation, but lets use some state statistics as a stand in. Low level drug offender is mostly a myth. They make up roughly 15% of state offenders and I suspect less in the Federal system. In reality, its much lower. Most convictions come via the plea process, which already lessens the sentencing in the front end. Good credits are also already a back end reduction. Thats two bites at the reduction pie. However, there is a third bite they are getting. The plea bargain also results in many violent offenses getting plead to non-violent convictions, making them eligible for such programs as the FSA. This brings down the truly low level non-violent offenders in prison to 5%. One of two things are occurring with FSA supporters. 1. They are dishonestly proposing ineffectual legislation in order to later claim that it didnt raise crime rates so we might as well go for deeper cuts; or 2. you know damn well that violent offenders are being released and the end justifies the means. No less dishonest. Ill let you choose which is true. Posted by: TarlsQtr | May 29, 2019 12:47:44 PM Sorry to misunderstand what you were saying, Tarls, and thanks for a little more accounting of what troubles you. Unfortunately, I think you are making up statistics, do not understand the federal docket, and do not recognize what the FSA primarily does. To begin, where do you get the notion, in the federal system, that "plea bargain[ing] results in many violent offenses getting plead to non-violent convictions ... which brings down the truly low level non-violent offenders in prison to 5%"? Here is a link the the offenses of conviction in the federal system in 2018: https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/annual-reports-and-sourcebooks/2018/Figure02.pdf The chart shows over 75% of federal offenders are sentenced for immigration, drugs or white-collar offenses. Are you asserting the vast majority of these folks are really guilty of some other violent crimes but federal prosecutors are too lazy or disinterested in securing convictions for their real offenses? Guidance from Main Justice says prosecutors must pursue and seek conviction for the most serious readily provable offense, and my experience suggests that is what federal prosecutors generally do. Second, the FSA does not just add a few days to good time credits, but also provides for prisoners to do productive programming to earn time off based on an assessment of whether they are at a low risk of re-offending. There is such broad support for the FSA because many realize we have not provided federal prisoners with effective incentives to improve while in prison so that they will be lower risk upon release. Unless and until you are prepared/willing to warehouse all prisoners with LWOP sentences, it makes a lot of sense to provide means and incentives for prisoners to earn release a bit earlier through productive programming. That is what the FSA aspires to do (whether it does so effectively depends a lot on how DOJ and BOP implements it). Finally, I do no think any FSA supporters want the FSA to be ineffectual, and the honest ones should say that the FSA is going to allow some (lower-risk) violent offenders to be released earlier if they complete programming. But the hope is that these violent offenders can and will get useful programming while in prison and that DOJ/BOP will do a sound job screening who can be more safely released earlier. Any honest proponent of any reforms to reduce prison time/size should admit there is always a risk that some number of released persons will go back to a life of crime. But the hope is that effective prison reform can and will increase liberty, reduce recidivism and reduce taxpayer costs. These goals have seemingly been achieved in Texas and a number of other red states, and the supporters of the FSA hope we can do the same at the federal level. Generally speaking, responsible advocates have been honest making these points, but I am sure there are some folks inclined (as always) to overstate a point/claim. Posted by: Doug B. | May 29, 2019 3:13:05 PM I'm the Mother of a white collar inmate as well. At 39 years old, first time offender, non violent, he was given 45 years. He had 7 counts against him and we got a lawyer who got 3 of them dropped. When he went back for re-sentencing, the judge still gave him 45 years. He has already spent 8 years incarcerated.There is nothing in the First Step Act that will give him a chance to get out early. I would think it better to allow him to get a job and at least make payments to the people who lost money. Rotting in jail accomplishes nothing and the taxpayers are supporting him. Posted by: Diana D | Oct 23, 2019 6:46:25 PM Post a comment This well-established Blog is worth visiting on a regular basis for a wealth of information of interest to Armenian nationals and to the Armenian Diaspora world-wide. Although it has a particular role in promoting international recognition of the Genocide, the Blog encompasses much more and includes many articles of general appeal to all those concerned with Armenian affairs. Much of the content is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere and the long list of links provided gives easy access to a plethora of material on social, political, religious, educational and cultural matters, and many news items from around the world. By Trend The State Migration Service of Azerbaijan has detained 143 illegal foreign migrants, Trend reports referring to the Service. According to the report, 5 of them were identified during the course of measures taken jointly with the State Security Service of Azerbaijan. It was revealed that 8 of the detainees were engaged in activities that did not meet the stated goal, 6 were involved in illegal labor activities, 1 did not live at the specified place of registration, and the remaining 128 stayed in the country illegally. Administrative decisions were taken against 129 people who violated the legislation on migration, and appropriate measures are being taken against other foreigners to expel them from the country. BestMixer The Dutch Financial Intelligence and Investigation Service (FIOD) has shut down cryptomixing site Bestmixer.io. According to local media, Dutch authorities moved to shut down the site on May 22, 2019, as part of a joint operation with police agencies from several European nations, including France, Latvia and Luxembourg. Following concerns originally raised by the online security company McAfee in 2018, the FIOD has claimed that the service was used for money laundering. As Dutch media reported, no arrests have yet been made in the Bestmixer case, as Europol officials attempt to determine the extent to which criminal money laundering was used on the site. McAfee also released its own report on the FIODs action against Bestmixer, describing the sites possible connections to cybercrime and usage as an easy way to launder money. The bitcoin laundering technique described by McAfee was used to the same effect as the CoinJoin protocol, which allows multiple users to pool transactions into a single group, scrambling funds and obscuring links between sending and receiving addresses. The key difference between the two is that Bestmixer was a centralized, custodial service and explicitly advertised as a way to launder coins for illegal purposes, while CoinJoin's mixing is user-operated and solely presented as a privacy-enhancing mechanism. CoinJoin has, over the last year, come to occupy a substantial percentage of all crypto transactions in the space. As such, it may be cause for concern that this legal action against Bestmixer could come to affect other, similar crypto services, even if they operate as completely legal entities. Todays Bestmixer seizure shows an increase in law enforcement activities on pure crypto-to-crypto services, Dave Jevans, CEO of blockchain forensics company CipherTrace, told Bitcoin Magazine. This is the first public seizure of a bitcoin mixing service and shows that not only are dark marketplaces subject to criminal enforcement, but other services are as well. Story continues But Bestmixer may have been particularly egregious in leveraging its coin mixing services to help bad actors skirt financial regulations. Bestmixer has blatantly advertised money laundering services and falsely claimed to be domiciled in Curacao, where it claimed it was a legal service, Jevans added. The reality is that they were operating in Europe and serviced customers from many countries around the world. Bestmixer is also known for its crypto dusting activities, where it sends small amounts of bitcoin to tens of thousands of addresses in an attempt to defeat cryptocurrency anti-money laundering tools. While its still unclear how the FIOD will proceed, authorities have seemingly replaced Bestmixers site header with a notice that the domain has been seized. This article was updated to clarify the differences between Bestmixer and CoinJoin. This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. SINGAPORE (May 22): In 2015, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) announced the Smart Financial Centre plan as part of the Smart Nation vision for Singapore, designating the financial sector to lead innovation and the implementation of new technology. Since then we have witnessed many developments including progress towards a conducive regulatory environment, which has resulted in Singapores flourishing fintech ecosystem. For the plan to be effective, the MAS devised several initiatives, including: Continuous regulatory reforms new sandbox licenses, reclassification of investment products to be more accessible to clients, rationalisation of licensing requirements, etc. Grants dedicating $27 million in support of R&D in the financial sector, with the amount set to increase in the future. Formation of the FinTech and Innovation Group (FTIG) Open dialogues with financial institutions and start-ups. Annual Fintech Festivals since 2016 the last one which took place in November 2018 attracted over 40,000 participants. With this came the emergence of a multitude of start-ups designing solutions to digitise wealth management, targeting both the business to consumer space and the business to business space. Poised to capitalise on the regions US$22 trillion wealth market, what all these providers continue to have in common is that they are all looking for the best way to access global equities, ETFs, bonds and mutual funds. While these companies showed promising technological innovation, they were missing the financial expertise and access to global financial markets that needed to be provided at competitive prices existing advantages enjoyed by established incumbents such as banks. On the other hand, banks could not ignore the threat posed by these challengers. A notable concern being the attractive qualities of start-ups for millennials, who as a generation favour greater transparency delivered through user-friendly platforms and lower prices. Story continues Initially strategising to progress with a defensive stance, banks soon realised the viable way forward was to take on an adoptive approach towards technology and capitalise on their advantages of scale and more resources, which start-ups did not offer. Where the opportunities lie Suitable partnerships and outsourcing then became and continue to be the solutions to help large and small banks, robo-advisers and digital wealth managers deliver relevant products to their customers in an efficient and flexible way. A digital wealth manager, for example, needs to focus its effort on its core competencies, while entering into partnerships supporting the technology underpinning the rest of the value chain. For new digital investment solutions and robo-advisers, a suitable partner who can facilitate access to global capital markets at competitive prices is instrumental. There remains a clear demand from digital wealth managers for partner solutions equipped with broad access to global markets and risk-management solutions that they can easily integrate into their own offering. The successful partner is therefore the business that can meet these needs with open technology architecture, API connectivity and the widest range of tradable instruments. In addition, its essential these capabilities are combined with a familiarity with the regulatory environment, best practices in market access and connectivity to exchanges and market structure, in order to help advise founders and CEOs of these start-ups looking to digitise wealth management. For regional banks and brokers, partnerships are key to enabling them to digitise their investment services on a white label basis, exhibiting their innovation and thus, creating or retaining multi-channel banking for their clients. Digital innovation for investors and robo-advisors is an on-going journey, requiring existing partners to continue actively engaging with new digital investment start-ups as well as broaden existing partnerships by bringing new innovations to existing partners. Examples include the recent launch of SaxoInvestor, which offers investors, including everyday retail investors, greater access to multi-asset investments. Apart from regional banks and digital wealth managers, technology platforms are impacting other industries and becoming the go-to partner for the insurance industry as well as the asset management industry more broadly. It has been a very interesting journey for Singapore in the move towards a Smart Financial Centre, as start-ups, platforms and banks alike in the Fintech ecosystem continue to contribute to the digitisation of Singapore. The long-term plan will undoubtedly make Singapore the digital innovation hub of finance in Asia. The real opportunities have only just begun, as we start to see a few of the original robo-advisory clients mature and accumulate significant AUM and established financial institutions become more relevant to their clients through technology. Adam Reynolds is CEO Asia Pacific, Saxo Capital Markets In a stinging defeat for Britain, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly demanded Wednesday that London cede to Mauritius the British-ruled Chagos Islands, home to an important military base. The Indian Ocean archipelago has been at the center of a decades-long dispute over Britain's decision to separate it from Mauritius in 1965 and set up a joint military base with the US on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands. A total of 116 countries voted in favor of a non-binding resolution presented by African countries that urged Britain to "withdraw its colonial administration" from the Chagos Islands within six months. Only six countries, including Britain and the United States, voted against the measure in the 193-nation assembly while 56 others abstained, including Canada, France and Germany. In February, the International Court of Justice handed Mauritius a victory when it said in a legal opinion that Britain had illegally split the islands and should give up control of the Chagos. After Britain rejected that ruling, Mauritius turned to the United Nations. The resolution decides that the United Nations and its agencies shall recognize Mauritius's sovereignty over the Chagos Islands and calls on all governments "not to recognize, support or abet the unlawful colonial administration" in the Chagos. Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly are not legally binding, but they do carry political weight. - Keeping the world safe - Taking the UN podium, Britain argued that the dispute was a bilateral matter and stressed that it had opposed the move to seek the ICJ legal opinion. British Ambassador Karen Pierce said the Diego Garcia military base "plays a vital role in keeping allies and friends -- including Mauritius -- in the region and beyond safe and secure." The United States has sent fighter jets from Diego Garcia to bomb Afghanistan and Iraq. The facility was used as a CIA interrogation center after the September 11, 2001 attacks. In 2016, Britain renewed a lease agreement with the United States for the use of Diego Garcia until 2036. Richard Gowan, UN director for the International Crisis Group, described the vote as "an embarrassing moment for the UK" as Britain seeks to show that it remains an influential global player post-Brexit. African countries sought to frame the dispute over the Chagos as an issue of decolonization. Addressing the assembly ahead of the vote, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said UN member-states must send "a clear signal to the world that colonialism can no longer be tolerated." It was the second time in two years that Britain has had to defend its rule of the Chagos Islands at the United Nations. In 2017, only 15 countries including Britain and the US voted to oppose a request for the ICJ ruling. MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has signed a measure institutionalizing the governments strategy in reducing national poverty. Duterte signed the Republic Act 11310 or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act last April 17. A copy of the signed law was released by Malacanang on May 22. The law aims to provide financial assistance to poor Filipino families that meet certain qualifications, to uplift marginalized sectors from poverty and to improve the quality of life for all. Among those qualified for the program are farmers, fisherfolks, homeless families, indigenous peoples and those in the informal settler sector, and geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas including those without electricity. Under the law, qualified poor household beneficiaries will be provided with conditional cash transfers for a maximum period of seven years to improve the health, nutrition and education aspect of their lives. The National Advisory Council may recommend a longer period under exceptional circumstances. Qualified household beneficiaries on a nationwide basis shall be selected by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) using a standardized targeting system. Standardized Targeting System, under the law, refers to a system identifying who and where the poor households are through the generation of a socio-economic database of poor households that is adopted by national government agencies and implemented by the DSWD. The DSWD is tasked under the law to conduct a regular revalidation of beneficiary targeting every three years. QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELIGIBLE BENEFICIARIES To be eligible for the cash grants, household or families must meet the following criteria: Classified as poor and near-poor based on the Standardized Targeting System and the poverty threshold issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority at the time of selection; Have members who are newborns up to 18 years old as well as those who are pregnant at the time of registration; Willing to comply with the conditions specified by this Act The following schemes shall be observed in the implementation of conditional cash transfer: Story continues Financial aid of not lower than P300 per child enrolled in daycare and elementary programs for a maximum of ten months per year; Financial aid of not lower than P500 per child enrolled in junior high school for a maximum of 10 months per year; Financial aid of not lower than P700 per child enrolled in senior high school each month for a maximum of 10 months per year; Health and nutrition grant shall not be lower than P750 per month for a maximum of 12 months per year. The law states that all qualified beneficiaries of 4Ps shall automatically be covered in the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP). The necessary funding for their coverage shall be sourced from revenue generated pursuant to Republic Act No. 10351, otherwise known as the Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012, the law stated. For continued program eligibility, the law obliges all qualified household-beneficiaries to comply with the following conditions: pregnant women must avail of pre-natal services, give birth in a health facility and receive post-partum care and post-natal care for her newborn; children from newborn to five years old must receive regular preventive health and nutrition services, including check-ups and vaccinations; children aged one to 14 must avail of deworming pills at least twice a year; Children five to 18 years old must attend elementary or secondary classes at least 85 percent of their time; at least one responsible person must attend family development sessions with DSWD, at least once a month. Failure to comply with set conditions will subject the household-beneficiary to case management process which may lead to the termination of cash grants. Any person who will be found falsifying their data or information in the registry to avail of the conditional cash transfer program may be imprisoned for a month up to a year or be fined with not less than P10,000 but not more than P100,000. The 4Ps started during the time of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. It became the flagship anti-poverty program during the time of former President Benigno Noynoy Aquino and was continued by President Duterte. (with details from Rosalie Coz) The post Duterte signs law institutionalizing 4Ps appeared first on UNTV News. Mong Kok riot fugitives offered asylum in Germany a damaging blow to Hong Kongs reputation and likely to anger Beijing, analysts say Two fugitives who skipped bail on rioting charges in Hong Kong have reportedly been granted refugee protection in Germany, a move analysts said would anger Beijing and be a damaging blow to the citys reputation. Ray Wong Toi-yeung and Alan Li Tung-sing, who both advocate Hong Kongs independence from mainland China, are wanted by police and face charges in relation to the Mong Kok riot in 2016, which left more than 100 people injured. Several international media companies reported on Wednesday that Wong, 25, and Li, 27, members of the localist group Hong Kong Indigenous, fled the city to seek asylum in Germany in 2017 which authorities approved last May. While Wong declined interview requests by Hong Kong media, he told The Wall Street Journal his decision to reveal his asylum status was prompted by the governments move to push ahead a controversial bill which could allow fugitives to be extradited to mainland China. We now need to fight for Hong Kong on the outside, Wong, who was learning German at the University of Gottingen, said. The pair planned to speak at a seminar in the German parliament to mark the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown. In Hong Kong, security minister John Lee Ka-chiu dodged questions on whether the government would ask Germany to send Wong and Li back, saying he would not comment on a particular case. But a government source said the administration was unlikely to take any action, including reaching out to Germany. All but three suspects charged for their roles in the Mong Kok riot have faced legal consequences. Localist Lee Sin-yi, 20, is also on the run and was reported to have fled to Taiwan in 2017 ahead of a trial. Edward Leung Tin-kei, the poster boy of Hong Kong Indigenous, was jailed for six years for rioting. According to Germanys policy, a person granted asylum status would first be allowed to stay for three years and could be granted a settlement permit equivalent to citizenship based on the result of a subsequent review. Story continues Wilson Chan Wai-shun, a lecturer at Chinese Universitys Global Studies Programme, said the German government would have to consider whether the pair would still face persecution based on their political opinion or a disproportionate or discriminatory judicial proceeding in the review. He said Germanys decision had put the city and China in an embarrassing situation as it was very rare for European countries to grant political asylum to Hongkongers. This shows the international community is having greater doubts over whether Hong Kong can handle political dissidents in a fair and just manner, Chan said. Criminal law professor Simon Young Ngai-man, of the University of Hong Kong, said there was virtually no possibility the pair could be returned if their asylum status was confirmed. In general, an asylum status trumps any extradition requests, Young said. Former security minister Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said the citys government should clarify with the German authorities as there was a lack of trust on the part of the German government that the pair would not be able to face a fair trial in Hong Kong. Lau Siu-kai, vice-chairman of The Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macau Studies, a semi-official think tank, said Berlins decision would provoke Beijing and could be escalated to a diplomatic row. Political asylum is usually granted to prominent dissidents who faced persecution for their political views, such as Liu Xiaobo, he said, referring to the late Nobel Prize laureate in China. Not someone charged with criminal offences for violent and illegal acts. The pro-democracy camp said the case showed Hong Kongs reputation, in particular its judicial system, was on the line. Piya Muqit, executive director of the NGO Justice Centre Hong Kong, said: If Hong Kong truly lived up to its claims of being an oasis for rule of law in Asia and showcased its access to justice as a hallmark of Asias world city, why are residents fleeing to Germany instead of feeling safe at home? She hoped the case would prompt Hongkongers to show more empathy towards the 14,000 asylum seekers in Hong Kong. Lioba Hebauer, spokeswoman of the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, said that since 2017 three applications were made from asylum seekers from Hong Kong, with two applicants granted refugee protection that year. She declined to comment on individual cases for privacy and data protection reasons. Hebauer also noted that each asylum procedure was checked individually. Therefore, the asylum seeker gets the chance to explain his or her personal reasons for flight, she said. Hong Kong bookseller Lam Wing-kee, who claimed he was kidnapped by Chinese agents, told the Post he was happy for the separatist pair. Lam fled to Taiwan, fearing he may be sent to mainland China should a controversial extradition bill proposed by the Hong Kong government be passed. Citing the pairs protection by Germany, he noted this meant Lee, on the run in Taiwan, also stood a chance of escaping the citys authorities. Additional reporting by Su Xinqi, Sum Lok-kei and Phila Siu This article Mong Kok riot fugitives offered asylum in Germany a damaging blow to Hong Kongs reputation and likely to anger Beijing, analysts say first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019. Ronnie Oh Yin Yan, 58, pleaded guilty to marrying again within the lifetime of his wife. SINGAPORE He was already married for over three decades when the Singaporean decided to get hitched again, this time in the USA. For registering his marriage to his mistress in Las Vegas, Nevada, last year, Ronnie Oh Yin Yan was jailed for one month in the State Courts on Wednesday (22 May). The 58-year-old pleaded guilty to one charge of bigamy. Besides being a crime under the Penal Code, a second marriage is considered void. Met mistress online Oh married his first wife, who is now 56, in Singapore in October 1987. In April 2016, he got to know a woman via a social media website. They got into a romantic relationship in August that year. Oh paid his lover, who is now 26, a monthly sum to work in his company and for companionship, Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) Tan Ben Mathias told the court. Later, Oh told his mistress that he would give her an increased monthly allowance if she married him. He suggested registering their marriage in the USA and she agreed. On 28 March last year, the duo got a State of Nevada Marriage Certificate. Tumultuous first marriage DPP Tan asked for a one month jail term in line with several previous bigamy cases. For instance, in 2016, a 60-year-old taxi driver who wedded his first wife in Singapore in 1982 received the jail term for marrying another woman in Malaysia in 1990. Oh asked for a lighter sentence, saying he had high blood pressure and difficulty walking, and that he had contributed to grassroots organisations. He told the court via a Mandarin interpreter, All along I have been quarrelling with my first wife. I quarrel every day. On my way here (to court) I also quarrelled with her. His first wife, who sat in the public gallery, declined to speak to reporters outside court. It is not known how Ohs case came to the attention of the authorities. The maximum punishment for bigamy is up to seven years jail, along with a fine. More Singapore stories: Construction foreman jailed 9 weeks over accident that left worker paralysed Lee Hsien Yang funds activist Jolovan Wham's $20,000 deposit for appeal case: report Man who lured boy into mosque toilet for sex acts jailed Former Philippine Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport after she was barred from entering Hong Kong on May 21, 2019. MANILA, Philippines Former Philippine Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales has called her temporary detention at the Hong Kong International Airport a form of bullying, after immigration officials barred her from entering the country for a few hours on Tuesday afternoon. Yes, that was bullying. How do you call it if thats not bullying? I think someone came up with the theory that shocked and awe daw. Hindi naman ako nasho-shock; hindi naman ako naa-awe. Nabubwisit lang, Morales told reporters upon her arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at past 10 p.m. Tuesday. Morales, along with her family, arrived in Hong Kong airport at 12:20 p.m. for a vacation. Her husband, son, daughter-in-law and her grandchildren were allowed entry but Morales was stopped by immigration officials. Philippine Deputy Consul General Germinia Aguilar-Usudan said the Hong Kong Immigration office did not provide the exact reason why Morales was barred entry. For the reason why she was not allowed immediate entry to Hong Kong, we were not given any reason by the immigration office, she told UNTV News and Rescue in an interview. READ: Ex-Ombudsman Morales temporarily held at HK airport According to Morales, Hong Kong authorities told her she was being detained for immigration reasons, but refused to explain the grounds. They did not tell me anything about it. I was insisting they give me the ground. They said nothing, she said. Morales said that during her brief detention, she was asked by Hong Kong Immigration officials to sign a document but she refused to do so because parts of it were blanks. I read it and then it said detention, and of course, the detention I was thinking of was behind bars, she added. With the help of Philippine Consulate officials, the former Ombudsman was eventually allowed entry at around 3 p.m. but she decided to just take the flight back to the Philippines. I was disappointed not because I was not allowed entry but because I was deprived of the opportunity to see my grandchildren enjoy their vacation in Hong Kong, she said. Story continues In March, Morales along with former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, filed a complaint of crimes against humanity against Chinese President Xi Jinping at the International Criminal Court (ICC) for purportedly damaging the resources at the disputed territory in West Philippine Sea through Chinas ongoing reclamation activities in the area. Morales said the incident at Hong Kong airport on Tuesday afternoon has further strengthened her resolve to proceed with the complaint she filed before the ICC. Although she has yet to determine her next steps, Morales has vowed to remain resolute at speaking against Chinese policies despite the friendlier stance that the current administration has taken towards China. (with details from Asher Cadapan Jr.) The post Morales on getting held at Hong Kong airport: It was bullying appeared first on UNTV News. Israel's attorney general on Wednesday extended until October the deadline for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's pre-trial hearing on corruption allegations, but rejected a request for a 12-month delay. Netanyahu won a fifth term in office in a general election last month but now faces the prospect of becoming the first sitting Israeli premier to be indicted. Last month, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit set a July 10 deadline for the premier to excercise his right to a formal hearing to defend himself, before corruption charges are filed against him. In February, Mandelblit had announced his intention to indict Netanyahu on charges of fraud, breach of trust and bribery, following up on police recommendations. A letter from Mandelblit's office to Netanyahu attorney Amit Hadad, made public Wednesday by the justice ministry, refers to Hadad's request to put back the hearing until May 14, 2020 so that he can fully examine police evidence passed to him last week. In what is considered the most serious of the cases, Netanyahu is accused of advocating regulatory benefits allegedly granted to telecommunications firm Bezeq in exchange for positive news coverage for himself from a media company owned by the then Bezeq CEO. Another involves Netanyahu allegedly seeking a secret deal with the publisher of Israel's top-selling newspaper Yediot Aharonot to ensure positive coverage in return for pushing forward a law that would have limited the circulation of a rival paper. The third case involves suspicions the premier and his family received luxury gifts such as cigars and champagne from wealthy individuals, including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, in exchange for financial or personal favours. Rejecting the request for postponement, Wednesday's letter says: "The hearing on these three cases will be held before the attorney general on October 2-3, 2019. If necessary an additional day's hearing -- and no more -- will he arranged for the following week. Handover of the police evidence had been delayed because of non-collection of the files by Netanyahu's lawyers, in protest over unpaid fees. The prime minister has called the allegations against him a "witch hunt". Even if he is charged, Netanyahu, 69, would not legally be forced to stand down until he had been convicted and had exhausted all avenues for appeal. Executive director of Amnesty International Malaysia, Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu, speaks during a press conference in Petaling Jaya May 8, 2019. Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 Amnesty International Malaysia urged Putrajaya to intervene in a Malaysians scheduled execution for drug possession in Singapore this Friday. The human rights group pointed out that during Pannir Selvam Pranthamans trial, he had maintained his innocence by denying knowledge that he was carrying prohibited drugs and the Singapore High Court had found that he was a drug mule. According to Pannirs lawyer, he had assisted Singapore authorities by providing information about a fellow Malaysian who alleged duped him into carrying the drugs to the city-state. Under Singapores Misuse of Drugs Act, the court has the discretion not to impose the death penalty if the convicted offender is a courier and has been issued a certificate by the public prosecutor stating that he had cooperated with authorities, the statement added. Singapore authorities must immediately halt plans to kill Pannir Selvam Pranthaman and put a stop to this continuous wave of callous executions. The Malaysian government should do all in its power to urge the Singapore government to stop the execution of another of its nationals, Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni Kaliemuthu said in a statement. Pointing out that the number of executions last year in Singapore had risen to double digits for the first time since 2003, Shamini had called for Singapore to emulate Malaysias initiative in abolishing the mandatory death penalty. The death penalty is a degrading and inhuman punishment. We denounce its use in all circumstances. It is time for Singapore to follow the government of Malaysias example, who have suspended all executions and announced plans to abolish the mandatory death penalty, as a first step towards abolition, she said. The group also noted that Singapore had carried out 13 executions in 2018 and eight in 2017 for drug-related offences, with the hanging of another Malaysian, Michael Anak Garing, carried out on March 29 this year. Story continues In a Bernama report yesterday, Foreign Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah was quoted as saying that Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong was trying to convince the Singaporean government to save Pannir from the death penalty. Pannir was convicted of possession of diamorphine in 2017 in Singapore. Related Articles Foreign minister: Putrajaya making efforts to help Malaysian scheduled for execution in Singapore Drug mule's family make final appeal to Singapore president, urge Putrajaya to intervene Pakatan needs roadmap for human rights reforms, says Amnesty International Reports have emerged of a 36-year-old man who worked as a tour guide on Pulau Pangkor being paralyzed in his left leg after a sea caterpillar sting while working on the island. Mohd Fadzil Mohd Yunus, originally from Kampung Durian Hijau in Kelantan, was on the Perak island in December 2017 when the incident occurred. Waiting for a group of tourists along one of the islands beaches, he felt a sting on his left foot. When I looked down at my foot, I saw a small, white-colored caterpillar. Another sting case via Facebook The insect that bit him was the Chloeia Flava, commonly referred to as the golden fireworm, which has been spotted along Malaysias west coast waters before. It measures between 7 and 10 cm (2.83.9 in) long, and 1.8 to 2.5 cm (0.71.0 in) wide, excluding its bristles. At first, Mohd Fadzil complained that his legs were painful and itchy, but he didnt think that the symptoms would result in such a severe prognosis. However, after two months his left leg had grown to twice of its original size. Initially suspecting gout, he went to a local hospital that referred him to a larger medical center, where he received in-patient treatment for month. Doctors eventually contacted the Armed Forces Hospital in Lumut, on the mainland for examination. He never recovered, with the condition progressing badly. Eventually, he asked to leave the hospital and receive follow-up treatment at a hospital on the mainland. Having had several operations since the initial accident, he remains paralyzed with little hope for recovery. The ninth of 12 children, his 70-year-old mother survives on an RM200 (US$50) from social assistance. The insects body is covered laterally with calcareous spines or setae, giving it a bristled aspect appearance. Theyre whitish, fine, sharp and venomous bristles are filled with toxins are capable of penetrating human skin easily. When threatened, these bristles will break off, sting and release toxins into the skin theyve just punctured. Symptoms include a burning sensation, severe irritation, inflammation, and numbness that can last for days to several weeks, that can lead to serious complications. This article, Pangkor Island tour guide paralyzed in left leg after being stung by sea insect, originally appeared on Coconuts, Asia's leading alternative media company. Want more Coconuts? Sign up for our newsletters! By Trend The Georgian media is exaggerating the issue revolving around the Keshikchidag historical monument located on the border with Azerbaijan, Rizvan Huseynov, Chairman of the Center of Caucasian History, told journalists, Trendreports. He noted that, despite the issue having been resolved at the state level, the Georgian press is overemphasizing it yet again. "The issue has been resolved in the best possible way. According to the protocol, it is necessary to obtain an official permit in order to enter the territory of Azerbaijan," Huseynov said, adding that these monuments are gradually being destroyed due to natural processes. Huseynov noted that the Georgian media and some foreign media have exaggerated the matter. "Creating such conflicts is in the interests of neither Georgia nor Azerbaijan. Only a third party is interested in this," he commemted. The chairman of the Center of Caucasian History expressed hope that the Georgian side will put an end to the campaign of certain individuals against Azerbaijan in their press. As Leyla Abdullayeva, head of the press service of the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry, reported earlier, the Keshikchidag (David Gareji) monastery complex includes many historical, architectural and religious sites scattered in an area encompassing about 25 kilometers along the slopes of the ridge, which divides it into two parts and along which the Azerbaijani-Georgian state border runs. "The matter of the delimitation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Georgia is being resolved within the framework of existing bilateral formats based on internationally existing procedures for reconciling such issues. Azerbaijan has always been a supporter of the earliest delimitation of the Azerbaijani-Georgian border. Azerbaijan is ready to complete this process as soon as possible," said the head of the press service of the Foreign Ministry. Philippines demands Hong Kong explain grilling of former official who accused President Xi Jinping of crimes against humanity at International Criminal Court The Philippines wants a full explanation why a former Supreme Court associate justice, a staunch critic of President Xi Jinping, was detained at Hong Kongs airport for three hours on Tuesday. Germina Aguilar-Usudan, deputy consul general in Hong Kong, said on Wednesday she understood every government had the discretion to grant or deny visitors entry to its soil, but she needed answers as to why Conchita Carpio-Morales was held for questioning before she was let in. The immigration department of every government has the discretion to allow visitors to enter or not, she said. Our government [in the Philippines] has the discretion to do so as well. We will be sending formal inquiries to the Hong Kong government on this. Morales, 78, was also a former ombudsman in the Southeast Asian country. She arrived at the citys airport at around noon on Tuesday with her husband, son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren for a holiday. Upon arrival, she said immigration officers took her to a detention room where she was interrogated about the purpose of her visit. Morales lawyer, Anne Marie Corominas, said the former ombudsman was told she was considered a security threat. The immigration officers later asked Morales to sign papers in Tagalog but she wanted an English version. She refused to sign them because the papers were full of blanks and missing a lot of detail. She also refused food and water offered to her. Immigration officers later told her there had been a mistake and that she could proceed to enter Hong Kong. But she decided to return home, calling the incident bullying. She believed her detention was related to her complaint earlier this year to the International Criminal Court (ICC) over Beijings actions in the South China Sea. According to Aguilar-Usudan, it was already around 3.18pm when Morales was allowed to enter Hong Kong. Story continues But even though the Philippines wanted answers, the diplomat said the saga would not harm her countrys relationship with Hong Kong and mainland China. A person with knowledge of the matter said that after Morales was allowed entry, she cleared customs and left the airport, but then took a 6pm flight back to the Philippines. Whether three hours is long is relative to [different individuals], Aguilar-Usudan said. It can be long when you are under pressure. She said a Filipino journalist had recently been briefly questioned at Hong Kong airport as well before she was let in. That happened because the journalists passport showed her married name, while she used her maiden name to enter the city previously. Erin Tanada, vice-president of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, told CNN Philippines on Wednesday: I think the question that has to be asked is what made her be in the watch list of the Hong Kong government? Obviously the only reason is that she was one of the two complainants to the [ICC]. Morales and Albert Del Rosario, the former foreign affairs secretary, filed a complaint with the ICC in March against Xi for alleged crimes against humanity. They accused Xi and other Chinese officials of turning seven disputed reefs in the South China Sea into islands in a massive feat of engineering that caused extensive environmental damage. Last year, 54,195 tourists were barred from entering Hong Kong, compared to 49,033 in 2017. An Immigration Department spokesman declined to comment on individual cases. He would only say that, according to the citys laws, persons who do not have the right of abode or the right to land in Hong Kong are subject to immigration examination upon their arrival. The spokesman added: The [department] will handle each case in accordance with law, prevailing policies and procedures, and individual circumstances of each case. Pan-democrat lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung called the departments handling barbaric and unreasonable. It looks like political reasons rather than security reasons were considered, he said. This incident harms Hong Kongs declining international reputation. I urge the government to explain this case openly. Additional reporting by Christy Leung This article Philippines demands Hong Kong explain grilling of former official who accused President Xi Jinping of crimes against humanity at International Criminal Court first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2019. Police shot and killed a suspect near Interstate 44 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after he shot and injured two people inside a business, pointed a gun at drivers, and attempted to car-jack at least two vehicles, the Tulsa Police Department said. Newly released body-worn camera footage shows an officer responding to reports of a shooting. The video captures the officer driving to the scene, patrol rifle in hand, and running through an alley and into a restaurant. The officer gives chase to the suspect after they ran across Interstate 44, where police said he pointed a revolver at vehicles. In the footage, the responding officer can be seen firing two shots, including one which police said killed the suspect. Police identified the suspect as Derrec Shaw and said he shot two victims during attempted carjackings, according to local media. Police said the two victims were expected to survive. Credit: Tulsa Police Department via Storyful The Woodlands Causeway. (FILE PHOTO: Reuters/Edgar Su) SINGAPORE Singapore and Malaysia have signed an agreement on Tuesday (21 May) to suspend the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System Link (RTS) project for six months. Malaysia had made the request to suspend the project due to concerns about the cost. The agreement means that the RTS projects expected completion date in 2024 will most likely be delayed. With Malaysia not ruling out the possibility of terminating the project, the issue of easing the traffic jams at the current two Causeways will be under some degree of uncertainty until further updates on the viability of the project. Is the Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link a must? Have your say in our poll and leave us a comment below. Related story: Johor Bahru-Singapore RTS Link project suspended till 30 September Chinas three largest airlines have sent compensation claims to Boeing for the months their 737 aircraft have been grounded. More than 40 countries, including China and the U.S., grounded 737 aircraft in the aftermath of the Ethiopian Airways crash in March that killed 157 people. This week, China Eastern Airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines all sent a compensation request to the manufacturer. China has grounded 96 aircraft, which is about 4 percent of its airplanes, Li Xioajin, a China aviation expert, told Reuters. The grounding causes huge losses for Chinese airlines. None of the airlines disclosed how much they were requesting in compensation, but losses are estimated to be almost $14,500 per aircraft per day of grounding, according to Reuters. China was the first country to ground the Boeing 737, doing so less than a day after the Ethiopian Airways crash. It has already been more than two months that the planes have stayed on the ground. All three of the airlines issuing compensation requests are controlled by the Chinese state. But China isnt the only country asking Boeing for compensation. Norwegian Air, Flydubai, Ryanair and Turkish Air have also asked for money from the manufacturer, according to CNN. The 737 Max had been Boeings best-selling plane. But the future of the aircraft is uncertain after it was involved in two fatal crashes within five months. The Ethiopian Airways crash had many similarities to a Lion Air crash in October 2018. Both aircraft were new to the fleet and both crashed within minutes of takeoff. According to Boeings data, the manufacturer only sold 10 of the aircraft in the first quarter of 2019, compared with 112 in the same period last year. Antigua Has 365 Beaches. At the New Hodges Bay Resort, You Can Have One All to Yourself Google Antigua, and the first page of search results reveals story after story about its 365 beaches. The island claims to have a years worth of sandy strips all open to the public and ripe for exploration. And now visitors, can stay right on the pristine sands of one of the best, as the long-awaited Hodges Bay Resort & Spa debuts on the north coast. Largely untouched by 2017s Hurricane Irma (which barreled through its sister island of Barbuda, 38 miles away), Antigua is having a bit of a moment in terms of hotel development. Both Rosewood and Waldorf Astoria have announced projects in the twin-island nation, which lies 400 miles southeast of Puerto Rico and is as famous for its centuries-old yachting tradition as it is for its beaches. But the $100 million Hodges Bay, the ninth in Elegant Hotels Caribbean collection (joining those in Barbados and St. Lucia), is one of only a handful of luxury hotels on this 108-square-mile island, and the first new build to combine the convenience of hotel amenities with the privacy of villa living. Five miles from the capital of St. Johns, and just a stones throw from kite-surfing favorite Jabberwock Beach, its 79 rooms, suites, and villas face the perpetually breezy sea. Hodges Bay is a notable opening on the island for many reasons. Its design a welcome departure from the hackneyed British Colonial vernacular still so common at island resorts (even newer ones). The aesthetic spearheaded by Miami-based architects Kobi Karp is clean-lined and contemporary. Building exteriors are neutral, encouraging the eye to focus exactly where it should: on the vivid color and pattern of the surrounding landscape. Cutouts in the white, vine-covered patio walls frame bougainvillea ablaze with hot pink blossoms, leaning sea grape trees, and foam-fringed waves. The landscape is lush, with mature tropical plantings that have thrived here since 2006 when the first of what would be a string of owners began development of the site. Story continues One of the most striking spaces is the soaring lobby, a three-story, marble-clad atrium on the inland side of the property. It is sleek but not sterile; generous use of natural materials injects warmth (and offers Instagram opportunities galore). A striking chandelier, made from a gargantuan piece of driftwood, is suspended above the staircase. Orchids hang between copper-shaded pendant lights fitted with glowing Edison bulbs. Rattan chaises and glass-topped tables, their bases made of gnarled tree trunks, lend an earthy elegance. Courtesy of Hodges Bay Resort & Spa While it doesn't come cheap rooms start at around $700 a night the resort is unpretentious, with none of the formality youd expect at this price point. The property is bisected by a quiet residential street, the two halves seamlessly connected by a mosaic-tiled tunnel. Its the kind of hotel where, in the daytime, shoes are optional and, after sunset, youll need nothing more than a sundress (slacks for the guys). This attitude is definitely a boon for families: no one freaks out if a toddler spills Cheerios on the Cuban tiles of the restaurant, everyone from bartenders to pool attendants fawns over the little ones. For a hotel with so few keys, there is surprising variety in the type of accommodation: cozy rooms, one-bedroom suites, multi-bedroom apartments, penthouses, and beautiful self-contained villas, some with their own lap pools and outdoor hot tubs. The common thread is the uncluttered, understated decor, which never takes itself too seriously. Sandy feet and damp swimsuits welcome. Those who are seeking true luxury, though, will find it here, too. The upper-level accommodations (14 apartments, eight four-bedroom villas, and a pair of penthouses) include the service of butlers who, like other resort staff, somehow expertly achieve that delicate balance between being attentive but never obsequious. They can arrange everything you need to make your stay smoother, from fast track service through Antigua's international airport (just a 10-minute drive away) to car rental, grocery shopping, and spa appointments. My own personal Jeeves, the superb Romane Patterson, even went so far as to organize a surprise birthday celebration for guests lunching at a restaurant across the island. Courtesy of Hodges Bay Resort & Spa Hodges isnt all-inclusive, though Antigua has several all-incs, if thats your speed. But rates do include breakfast taken either en suite (theres 24-hour room service) or at White Sands, the beachfront restaurant thats also open for dinner. Im still reminiscing over my mornings on its patio, leisurely sipping an oversized cup of cappuccino as the famous offshore islet, Prickly Pear island, glowed on the horizon. Lunch is a casual affair (think burgers, pizza, and salads), served straight to your chaise at either of two pools or on the beach. (Apart from outdoor showers, chaise dining has to be one of my favorite resort luxuries). Evenings begin at Black Sails, the open-air ocean-view lounge directly above White Sands. Come for the small plates and stick around for Prickly Punch (rum, tamarind syrup, lime juice, and a dash of Angostura bitters), enjoyed on low-slung chairs and sofas while the sun disappears and beachfront palm fronds wave goodbye. Its a relaxing prelude to dinner at NaCl (the chemical formula for sodium chloride, also known as table salt), the dinner-only restaurant helmed by chef Edward Lee, James Beard Award nominee and author of last years "Buttermilk Graffiti." Butter-baked bread, NaCls signature appetizer, was a temptation Im glad I didnt resist. Arriving in a piping-hot cast-iron skillet and dusted with crystals of pink Himalayan salt that glistened in the glow of candlelight, the pull-apart loaf signaled the start of a superb (and waist-widening) feast, which also included pan-seared red snapper, crab fried rice with coconut-lime curry, and a bowl of deliciously decadent creamed corn with bacon. The restaurant's setting is a bit incongruous, set in a dimly lit, sparsely decorated third-floor breezeway, but the meal lives up to Lee's well-earned reputation. Courtesy of Hodges Bay Resort & Spa During the day, Hodges guests mostly British families and empty-nester couples during my visit do just what you think: swim and lounge at the pool (there are two, of which one is adults-only) or on the golden crescent of beach at the property's front door. Feeling adventurous? Wander along the oceanfront to the propertys edge and find the rock pool, rumored to have been carved into the ironshore by Mick Jagger, who reportedly stayed in the neighboring villa many years ago. Cant be bothered? Just kick back with a cold Wadadli (the local brew) and call it a day. Beyond the resort, make time to explore as many of those 365 beaches as possible. Handily, Hodges Bays most popular excursion takes them to another of Antiguas finest. A three-hour tour to Prickly Pear a 165-foot long islet just three minutes boat ride away does feel like an episode of "Gilligans Island" (minus the mishaps). Time your visit for a day when there arent any cruise ships in port, and youll be the star of the show. Your supporting cast: clear turquoise water and sand as fine as confectioners sugar. With a supply of unlimited rum punch on hand, it definitely won't be an uphill climb. Hodges Bay Resort & Spa provided support for the reporting of this story. Photo credit: Robyn Lea From ELLE Decor Spend any time at all with fashion designer Lisa Perry and it quickly becomes clear that, in addition to her love of fashion, she has a serious passion for interior design. So when she was ready to showcase her work in a book, Perry-along with publisher Martine Assouline-decided to feature, yes, her dresses, but mostly her homes, including a vacation retreat in the south of France. Assouline, a well-known tastemaker, was impressed from the moment she visited Perry at her Manhattan penthouse. So many homes have no personality, Assouline says. This was different. Lisas world is so aesthetically-how do you say?-consistent. The new coffee-table book is called Lisa Perry: Fashion, Homes, Design. It gives readers a glimpse into Perrys colorful world through chapters on her homes in Manhattan, the Hamptons, Palm Beach, and the south of France. I think it will be a surprise to people who dont know me that my true joy is finding a home and transforming it into a space that I love, Perry says. Its what I put TLC into. Its fun. Anyone who is familiar with her fashion line, which is inspired by her collection of 1960s looks by designers such as Andre Courreges and Pierre Cardin, will notice that Perrys residences have a similar Pop Art feel. With bright white as the backdrop, she adds jolts of color and blue-chip contemporary art. Im a girl who loves a theme, she says. Photo credit: Robyn Lea How she and her financier husband, Richard, came to own a home on the Cote dAzur is a complicated affair. During the last presidential election, Perry-a lifelong Democrat and longtime supporter and friend of Hillary Clinton-vowed to leave the country if her candidate did not prevail. When Clinton lost, Perry kept her promise. We got on a plane on January 19, 2017, she says. Thats how deeply it affected me. A self-described Francophile, Perry has a love affair with all things French that began in her teens, when she spent a summer during high school in Evian-les-Bains. So she and Richard headed to France and searched for homes along the Cote dAzur. They discovered a nearly completed, fully furnished modernist villa in Villefranche-sur-Mer with breathtaking views of the Bay of Villefranche. The house sits up on a hill, and when you gaze out at the bay, it looks like youre enveloped by a heart, Perry says. I thought, Wow, this is so beautiful. This is where I need to be right now. Story continues Photo credit: Robyn Lea They bought the home and surrounding property, which included a true Provencal-style guesthouse and-much to their delight-a circa-1910 Vietnamese pagoda that she turned into her design studio. But the real showstopper is the homage she assembled in the main residence to the late, legendary French furniture designer Pierre Paulin. Perrys love of 1960s fashion, art, and furniture led her to Paulin, who, in her opinion, was the premier and most interesting furniture designer of that period. Her knowledge of Paulin is vast: He is famous for furnishing the private apartment of President Georges Pompidou in the Elysee Palace in 1971, creating an environment so futuristic, modern, and revolutionary that it caught a lot of people off guard, she says. Though it was soon accepted and loved. Photo credit: Robyn Lea She reached out to the designers son, Benjamin, who oversees his fathers archive, for help in fashioning a complete Paulin environment for her living and dining rooms. We spent a lot of time discussing pieces, Benjamin says. It was all about doing something beautiful and useful. And rare: Some of the Paulin pieces Perry now owns-she acquired about 20-had never before gone into production until she asked to have them made, decades after they were first conceived. Perrys love of interior design runs in the family. She grew up in a modernist home in suburban Chicago, her mother ran an art gallery selling works by Joan Miro, and her parents collected midcentury furniture by Arne Jacobsen and Charles and Ray Eames. Art and design are in her blood-so much so that she has just launched a new business called Lisa Perry Homes. My first project is in Palm Beach, she reveals. Im renovating and branding a house, and choosing all the furniture and art. If you like my style, you just move in and hang your clothes up. Photo credit: Robyn Lea These days she is back stateside, although she still spends as much time as she can at her French getaway. As for Hillary Clinton, she is a frequent houseguest at the Perrys and wrote the foreword to Lisas book. I have come to feel almost as relaxed in the vibrant, art-filled homes of Lisa Perry as I do in my own home, Clinton writes. [And] I can always count on her to serve a delicious Chicago-style hot dog. This story originally appears in the June 2019 issue of ELLE Decor. SUBSCRIBE ('You Might Also Like',) Running into wildlife can be quite a grizzly experience. Especially when the wildlife is bent on taking over your car. Chad Morris, a barbershop owner from Kentucky, had an interesting encounter with a black (luckily not grizzly) bear cub in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, last Thursday when he found the animal climbing into one of his car windows, ABC 6 WATE reported. %image1 As Morris looked on in shock, two more cubs approached the vehicle, and one climbed right into the drivers side window, as momma bear watched them nearby. Courtesy of Chad Morris Morris posted about his encounter, with pictures, on Facebook saying, Is this real life...tell me we are being punked...3 bear cubs in my car and the momma just lurking! Morris had told his friends he wanted to see a bear while they were in Gatlinburg. Clearly, he got more than he bargained for. Morris had the common sense to keep his distance, since getting too close to the bears can be very dangerous. The bears eventually went on their way, according to NBC 14 News. Morris said that one of the bears managed to take a chunk out of the seat, though. There were no injuries. Courtesy of Chad Morris The bears in Gatlinburg, by Great Smoky Mountains National Park, arent exactly shy. For instance, there was a bear that took a dip in someones hot tub. And a bear that was stealing pizza off tables in a restaurant. And a bear that snuck into a Margaritaville Resort. Bear sightings are very common in the Great Smoky Mountains, especially in the spring and summer. If you're visiting the park (or anywhere else with bears), remember to always keep a safe distance (intentionally approaching a bear within 50 yards is illegal in the park), and to familiarize yourself with what to do if you accidentally get too close. This won't happen again, Morris told ABC 6 WATE. It's like I want to be reminded every time I get in this car that a bear was in here trying to drive my car. The Honor 20 Pro. (PHOTO: Honor) LONDON Honor has unveiled its 20 series smartphones, which are photographic powerhouses with a quad rear camera set-up aimed squarely at competing with the camera features of Samsung and Apples flagship phones. The Huawei offshoot mobile brand went ahead with its launch event in London on Tuesday (21 May) despite the unfortunate news just a day earlier that Google would be stopping the brands access to the Android operating system as well as Play Store updates. Googles move was mandated by the US government and prohibits American tech companies from trading with the Chinese firm. Existing users can still use Android and Google apps on their Huawei and Honor devices for now, but they may not be able to receive future updates. Washington had acted over concerns that Huawei, which supplies 5G equipment, would be hijacked by the Chinese government to spy on foreign governments through the infrastructure it builds. Huawei called itself the victim of US "bullying" and said it was working with Google to respond to the trade restrictions imposed by the Trump administration. Despite an uncertain future for Huawei and Honor products, the Honor 20 series offers some serious premium features at attractive prices. The punch-hole selfie camera in the Honor 20 Pro. (PHOTO: Teng Yong Ping/Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore) The main products being announced were the Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro. The Honor 20 Lite had already been announced a few weeks earlier. The Honor 20 is priced at 499 (S$770) in Europe, while the Honor 20 Pro costs 599. This is roughly half the price of other premium flagship smartphones from the likes of Samsung and Apple as well as Honors parent brand, Huawei. Honor is serious about the look of its phones, having designed a holographic glass casing for the Honor 20 phones which makes them shimmer in an iridescent pattern. Both the Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro have 6.26-inch LCD displays and use the brands current flagship processor, the Huawei Kirin 980 chipset. This is the same processor used in the Huawei P30 Pro. The Honor 20 has 6 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the Honor 20 Pro has 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Both phones run on Huaweis modified version of Android 9 Pie called Magic UI. Story continues A super wide angle photo of Singapore's Marina Bay skyline taken on an Honor 20 smartphone. (PHOTO: Honor) But the brand is banking on the sheer photographic power of the new phones to draw users. During Honor president George Zhaos unveiling presentation at the launch, he repeatedly compared the 20 series specs directly with those of Apples iPhone XS Max and Samsungs Galaxy S10 Plus. The Honor Lite has a 24-megapixel (MP) triple rear camera set-up, a 32MP selfie camera and 128GB storage. It uses the Kirin 710 chipset. Besides the Honor Lite, which has a teardrop notch for its front-facing camera, the higher-end versions have a punch-hole 32MP selfie camera. The fingerprint sensor is mounted on the right side of the phone casing, which is convenient for right-handers as the phone will unlock as soon as you pick it up. But the fact that the fingerprint sensor is mounted on the right side will pose a problem for left-handers. There is no 3.5mm headphone jack on the Honor 20, and the only port is a USB-C port on the bottom of the phone. The Honor 20 comes in Sapphire Blue (pictured) as well as Icelandic White and Midnight Black. (PHOTO: Honor) The Honor 20 has four cameras at the back, including a traditional 48MP main camera, a 16MP super-wide-angle camera and a 2MP depth camera, which helps produce a bokeh effect (blurring of background). The fourth camera, a 2MP macro camera, allows for super close-up shots. The Honor 20 Pro has the same 48MP camera, 16MP super-wide-angle camera, and 2MP macro camera, but the bokeh camera is 8MP instead of two, and comes with a 3X optical zoom. All the Honor 20 phones are designed to work well in low-light conditions, which is what Huawei phone cameras are known for. The Honor 20 Pro has an astounding light sensitivity of ISO 204,800, while the Honor 20 has an ISO range of up to 102,400, which is still very impressive. The Honor 20 Pros camera set-up has a DxOMark score of 111, which makes it second only to the Huawei P30 with a score of 112. Meanwhile, the Honor 20's battery has a capacity of 3,750mAh, while the Honor 20 Pro has a capacity of 4000mAh. The Honor 20 Pro is available in Phantom Blue and Phantom Black. The Honor 20 is available in Sapphire Blue, Icelandic White and Midnight Black. There is no release date so far for the new phones, though the Honor 20 is now available for pre-order in the UK and Europe. Honor said it would announce availability for the 20 Pro soon. Watch this space for updates as to Singapore pricing and release dates. This article was the result of a trip paid for by Honor. Follow Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore on Facebook. PHOTO: Clover Films SINGAPORE The old adage, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, is often used to justify co-operation between rivals on screen. After all, the very premise itself holds the inherent promise of uneasy alliances and simmering tension, and we cant wait to see how each party reins in their innate disdain for each other. Thats exactly what happens in The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, with a cop and a gangster ganging up to take down a devil. PHOTO: Clover Films Of course, its not a literal devil that theyre after but an insane serial killer. In The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil, a detective is forced to work together with a mob boss to track down a psychotic murderer who kills indiscriminately. Gangster and policeman are forced into a temporary ceasefire as they pool their resources to find the elusive killer, but find themselves straining to maintain peace with each other. PHOTO: Clover Films In case youre wondering yes, thats a lot of people who are looking for one serial killer. Of course, The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil provides some exposition as to why the police force doesnt just increase the number of police officers that they have on the job, but its just a perfunctory explanation. The whole situation does feel a little ludicrous at times, since people on both sides of the law are looking for the same person (who doesnt seem to exhibit particularly notable skills at evading detection). Nevertheless, the action and tension between cops and gangsters does serve to distract you from this odd point. PHOTO: Clover Films Ma Dong-seok, who shot to fame after Train To Busan, pulls in a masterful performance as mob boss Jang Dong-su in the film. His intense dedication to his criminal empire, garnished by a dash of cruelty (which quashes any hope of him channeling his determination into a possible career with the police) is what makes him the protagonist to root for. Its not that he means well or that he has any morality to speak of. But his sheer commitment to the path that he has chosen in life makes him quite a treat to watch while giving us reason to empathise with him. Story continues PHOTO: Clover Films His foil is rough-around-the-edges cop Jung Tae-seok, played by Kim Moo-yeol. While Kim does deliver a fairly intriguing cop who is smarmy but competent, his performance pales beside that of Ma Dong-seok. On screen, its clear who commands greater presence and so youre never really all that interested in what Detective Jung is up to. Hes not bad, just overshadowed. PHOTO: Clover Films As for serial killer Kang Kyung-ho (Kim Seong-gyu) he starts off as a fascinating character, a mysterious Joker-esque villain who slowly but surely devolves into some sort of caricature. The character who seemed to have the most potential in the film becomes a one-dimensional plot device by the end, especially since theres no impactful reveal of his identity. His name, his visage, and even his background seems to be written for the sake of it, which means that all this extraneous information could have been left on the cutting room floor in favour of more Jang-Jung scenes. PHOTO: Clover Films However, The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil does give satisfying resolutions to both the legal and illegal protagonists, rather than going the traditional route and only giving the cop what he wants. In that sense, its a rather unique tale that gives equal weight to both sides of the law. Its a clever bit of manoeuvring that manages to achieve proper closure for all parties, subverting the usual expectations. PHOTO: Clover Films The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil runs a little long, but otherwise offers a unique premise with an unexpected conclusion. Its not the traditional crime drama for sure, but more of a twisted buddy movie vibe. What will win you over is the gangster within Ma Dong-seok's Jang Dong-su. PHOTO: Clover Films Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Yes. Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you like crime dramas. Score: 3.9/5 PHOTO: Clover Films Secret ending? No. Running time: 109 minutes (~1.75 hours) PHOTO: Clover Films The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil is a Korean crime thriller. The film revolves around a manhunt for a serial killer that unites both law enforcement officers and the criminal underworld. However, both sides want to see very different outcomes for the rampaging murderer and struggle to remain allies. If one wins, the other loses and neither party is willing to give in. The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil is directed and written by Lee Won-tae. It stars Ma Dong-seok (Jang Dong-soo),Kim Moo-yeol (Jung Tae-suk), Kim Seong-gyu (Kang Kyung-ho), and Heo Dong-won (Choi Moon-sik). PHOTO: Clover Films The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil opens in cinemas - 23 May, 2019 (Singapore) READ MORE: PHOTO: Clover Films Marcus Goh is a television scriptwriter, having written for popular shows like Lion Mums, Crimewatch, Code of Law, Incredible Tales, and Police & Thief. Hes also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find him on socialmedia as Optimarcus and on his site. The views expressed are his own. PHOTO: Clover Films Follow Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore on Facebook. All images by Zachary Tang. Some quotations have been lightly edited for clarity. Its rainingthe sort of end-of-days rain that is accompanied by crashing cymbals and flooding of Biblical proportions. Its the perfect backdrop to discussing death with Harmony Tee, the 25-year-old funeral director of Harmony Funeral Care. But this perception of death is exactly what Harmony wishes to change. She wants to revolutionise the industry by making funerals a time to remember our loved ones and celebrate a life well lived. She recounts a wake she organised in which lit cigarette butts took the place of joss sticks, and Heineken beer was the libation of choice at the altar table. The family felt that he would have wanted that, she explains. At his sea burial, the deceased, a pilot of no religious affiliation, was laid to rest with his twin great affections: cigarettes and beer. When the funerals are pre-planned by the deceased themselvesusually in cases in which they are suffering a terminal diseasethe events can get even more riotous. At a particular wake, 300 people turned up, Harmony shares. There was a lot of food: pizza, a buffet for 100 pax Instead of being so sad, mulling over the fact that hes gone, [the people] were sharing positive memories of him. There was even a TV screen [with a projector] to showcase his life. He said he wanted his wake to be a celebration. A celebration forand ofhim was exactly what Harmony orchestrated. Prior to joining the family business, Harmony studied accountancy at the National University of Singapore. Upon graduation, she worked as an auditor in Ernst and Young, so she is the literal embodiment of the inescapable aspects of life: taxes and death. Ineluctable as it is, death is a taboo topic not just in Singapore but across the worldmany people still see it as pantang, as Harmony puts itso her drastic change of careers was not warmly received by some of her friends. In fact, one of her long-time friends ceased all communications with her after learning about her decision to join the funeral industry. The exact words [from him] were, Youre making money out of the dead. It was harsh The way he put it, it made my job seem unethical. Story continues When asked why she decided to switch lines even after such backlash from her friends, and despite knowing the stigma that death carries, Harmony reveals that she was primarily motivated by two people: her father and her pastor. My father would always tell me stories of my grandfather: how hard he worked, how this whole coffin shop was established, and how everything would go down the drain if no one in the third generation takes over the shop, Harmony says. After a short pause she adds, And at that point of time [my father] was not in the best of health, so I was thinking about what is the best for everyone. Her pastors advice came from a more spiritual and fatalistic angle: My pastor told me things dont happen by coincidence I believe that the reason why Im part of this family there must be a greater reason behind it. Ultimately, its a way of helping othersnot just those who have departed, but the surviving family members who get closure. Naturally, her father was proud that she wanted to join him in his work. Her mother, on the other hand, was not supportive. It was not so much death that her mother feared. She was afraid that Harmony would not survive in such a male-dominated industry. These worries were not unfounded. In Harmonys first few months, she was sometimes the recipient of unsavoury comments from her workers: . (You are so pretty that I am salivating.) , . (Come, lets have a hug.) In the past, new to the company and uncertain of her role not only in its corporate but also social structure, Harmony tried to entertain these comments by joking. But she has since realised that it only encourages them to go further, so she just ignores it now. I dont think they have any ill intention, she reasons. They just want to find a topic to talk or something they just want to joke theyre just more straightforward. You choose who you work with, so if you know someones like that, you stay away. What is left unspoken: the only people you cant choose are your family members, and in such a small, tight-knit group of people, your colleagues are as good as your family. Besides, she adds, In any industry, as long as its male-dominated, I think you will face it. When I speak to her colleagues, however, all of them have nothing but glowing praise for her. This is not surprising. Its like the Observer Effect in physics: when you scrutinise something, you will inevitably change its outcome. Or it might simply be the Boss Effect at work: when your boss is beside you, everything you say about her will inevitably be fulsome flattery. But I do not doubt them; in the three years since she joined the business, Harmony has evidently won their trust and established a rapport with them. In addition to her role as his boss, she serves as a mentor to 16-year-old Wei Hao, who has been at her company for a month; she encourages him to complete his N-levels and has offered to tutor him. She also proudly shows me videos of her goofing around with 72-year-old Ong Choon Nam, who has been at the company or over thirty years, and whose approval, I sense, serves as a barometer for how the other workers relate to her. In the clip, she is heard exclaiming to him, ! [you are so suave!] when he is combing his hair. Death, for the workers at Harmony Funeral Care, is their job. But for most of us, it is still the abject other: the part of existence that we say is not me even though it is a fundamental aspect of our selves. For most of us, we reject the idea that we will, some day, die. Harmony wants people to confront this. I want people to talk about it because in general people fear death, Harmony says emphatically. If we change our mindset and learn to embracenot just accept it, but embrace it, well be able to live life more fully there is no darkness without light. Her sentiments, though undeniably true, veer a little too close to motivational poster jargon, endlessly quoted in various permutations. Live each day as if it was your last, says Steve Jobs. Carpe diem, Horace intoned. Plan your own death if you want an A in this module, commands the Nanyang Technological University. And when something is so relentlessly repeated, your eyes sort of glaze over and the words lose all meaninga phenomenon known as semantic satiation. Or, like a pubertal teenager, you start to entertain the counter-narrative, and question why it is even bad to fear death. After all, its a survival instinct ingrained in our biology that has kept our species alive. At the same time, we must differentiate between a fear of death and a stigma of death. When Harmony says that we should learn to embrace death, I believe she means that it is beneficial for death to enter our everyday vocabulary and thought processes. Thinking and talking about death clarifies what we want out of life. Seeing how death can be so suddenlike the accidents or even miscarriagesseeing death up close has made me realise, whats the point of climbing up the corporate ladder when, one day, all of this could be so easily taken from you? Death helped Harmony recognise that climbing up the corporate ladder at Ernst and Young was not how she wanted to spend her life. Similarly, talking and thinking about death might help nudge us out of whatever unhappy situations we think we are stuck in. Whatever you want to doyou should [do them] while you still can, Harmony says. This is why we must talk about death. And it is perfectly compatible to talk about death while fearing it at the same time: we fear things like spiders and the climate crisis, but we dont shy away from discussing them in conversation. In other words, Harmony is not saying we should not fear death, or spiders, or climate change. She is saying we should not pretend they do not exist so its less painfulnot just for us, but also for the people around uswhen these things inevitably show up. Recall the cigarettes-and-beer funeral and the pizza-party funeral. Conscious of their mortality, the deceased in these funerals managed to make their passing the final, joyous occasion of their lives, rather than the event that ends their lives. Harmony is such a persuasive and powerful advocate for embracing death that I think of her as Sylvia Plaths Lady Lazarus: Dying Is an art, like everything else. I do it exceptionally well. Today its not just people who are dying. The funeral industry is as well, and this metaphorical death is just as distressing. In fact, the situation is so dire that Harmonys new hires often leave within three months because of objections from family, erratic hours (You cant plan someones day of death, Harmony tells me wryly), laborious physical work, and so on. She even asks me if I know of anyone interested in the line. So, I worry that, in the distant future, Singaporeans will no longer have a bereavement buddy (her term, not mine) who knows the exact number of steps you have to take around a makeshift bridge before your deceased loved one can cross it. It might not be pleasant coffee shop conversation or the next PR cachet that the Singapore Tourism Board wants, but death is as much a part of our cultural heritage as is hawker culture or auntie culture. Death needs someone to keep it alive, or death, thou, indeed, shalt die. Even though Harmony is Christian, she organises funerals of most religious denominations, with the exception of Muslim and Hindu ones. And she is intimately familiar with the intricate and idiosyncratic rites unique not only to each major religious group, but also to each sub-group; for instance, she vividly describes how, and more impressively, why, the symbol of a bridge plays such a big role in Teochew funerary rites. How, then, does Harmony reconcile the commandments of a monotheistic religion with the demands of a necessarily multi-religious job? Some companies might prefer to do only Christian or Catholic [wakes], but for me its like Harmony pauses to gather her thoughts. In the Bible, it stated that Jesus didnt just reach out to the Jews but he went on to reach out to the Gentiles also So when you help someone, in terms of final rites, nobody should be excluded. We are all still sharing a common humanity. In essence, Harmony views what she is doing as a ministry. Im a first-generation Christian, Harmony explains simply. Her pastor is supportive of her work, displaying the combination of pragmatism and religious tolerance characteristic of Singapore: He understands that even though its a ministry, there are still mouths to feed, so he understands that we cant just exclude ourselves to one religion when the majority of the population in Singapore is Buddhist. (As of 2015, 43.2% of Singaporeans are Buddhists or Taoists while 18.8% are Christians.) A first-generation Christian, a third-generation funeral director, a woman in a male-dominated trade. Whatever identity Harmony dons, death constantly reminds Harmony that we are just ashes in the end. This fact is not lost on her. She has, naturally, already planned her own funeral: I want a really simple one. I dont think theres a need for the frills. I dont want to get embalmed and I want to get cremated on the same day, with a sea burial. Dying to drop us a note? This is our resting place: community@ricemedia.co. The post Why This 25-Year-Old Woman Left Accounting for the Male-Dominated Funeral Industry appeared first on RICE. By Trend The reports on the work conducted by the participants of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline project and its financing were delivered at the international gas congress in Turkmenistans Avaza, the national tourist zone at the Caspian Sea, Trend reports referring to the event organizer - Turkmenistans Turkmengas state concern. This project is being implemented on the basis of intergovernmental agreements concluded among Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. First, a session entitled "TAPI - pipeline of peace and stability" was held. Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of TAPI Pipeline Company Limited Mukhammetmyrat Amanov, Chairman of the Board of the State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs of Turkmenistan Rahimberdy Jepbarov delivered reports. Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan, Senior Adviser to the president of Afghanistan Ajmal Ahmadi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Petroleum Nadeem Babar, as well as representatives of the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC), Allen & Overy LLP, Credit Suisse, Bilfinger Tebodin Middle East Ltd. also delivered speeches. The construction of the Turkmen segment of TAPI, with an annual capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas, was launched on December 13, 2015. The leader of TAPI Pipeline Company Ltd is Turkmengas, which has a controlling stake and acts as the main financier and project manager. The consortium also includes the Afghan Gas Corporation, Pakistans Inter State Gas Systems (Private) Limited and Indias GAIL Limited. Zion National Park, located in Utah, is the third most-visited national park in the U.S. And really, with its gorgeous views, world-class hiking, and one-of-a-kind narrow slot canyons, its no surprise that people love visiting Zion year after year. Heres how you can plan an epic vacation to one of Americas most treasured national parks, too. Getting to Zion National Park: Closest Airports and Driving Directions To get to Zion National Park, visitors can fly into the Las Vegas, Nevada airport, which is located 170 miles from the park, or into Salt Lake City, Utah, some 300 miles away. Or, if you can find a connecting flight, you could always fly into Saint George regional airport, which is 49 miles away and has flights from Salt Lake City and Denver, Colorado. If you drive to Zion National Park from Las Vegas, all you need to do is hop on Interstate 15 North, take exit 16 for State Route 9 East, stay right to stay on State Route 9 East in La Verkin, Utah, and again stay on State Route 9 East into Zion National Park. The Zion Canyon Visitor Center is ahead on the right, according to the directions provided by the National Parks Service. Story continues Zion National Park Camping and Hotels There are two options for travelers looking to stay at Zion: Camping and hotels. At the park, Zion has three campgrounds available. Only Watchman Campground takes reservations from March through late November, the others are first-come, first-serve, but be warned, they often fill up by mid-morning each day. If you're into camping vibes but want to be pampered, Under Canvas Zion has luxury glamping tents with king beds and full bathrooms on 196 acres bordering the park. Guests also get access to activities within the park, including helicopter and Jeep tours, fly fishing, rock climbing, and more. If camping and glamping aren't for you, you can always book a stay at the Zion Lodge, the only in-park lodge at Zion. There, visitors can book not only a plush room to sleep in after a long day of hiking, but they can also enjoy a meal at the lodges restaurant or book a horseback riding excursion through the park. If the lodge is booked you could always try the SpringHill Suites, a Marriott hotel, which sits just outside Zion National Park. There, guests will also enjoy luxury rooms, on-site dining options, and even an outdoor swimming pool that provides unparalleled views. Zion National Park Hikes There are miles and miles of hiking trails around Zion National Park, ranging from easy loops to strenuous 14-mile hikes through Kolob Arch. So really, its up to you just how hard you want to go for your vacation in Zion. Heres a map of all the trails provided by the National Parks Service to help you decide. But, if it helps, All Trails members have voted Angels Landing Trail, the Narrows, and East Rim Trail as their three favorites. Zion National Park Weather The weather in Zion National Park can vary greatly throughout the year. In the summer, the National Parks Service explained, temperatures can often exceed 100 degrees. In the winter, temperatures typically hover in the 50-60 degree range, and the park can even see snow. So, it may be best to plan your trip in the spring or fall, when temperatures are more moderate and rarely surpass 90 degrees. Looking for something a little different for your Memorial Day camping experience? Or maybe you want to make plans for a long Fourth of July weekend in the northwoods? Hipcamp.com may be for you. Think of it as the Airbnb or Trivago of camping, but with an offbeat attitude. Hipcamp encourages and recruits private landowners to open up space - in their backyard, along their lake, river, farm or ranch - for campers to rent. It then lists and promotes those sites, along with most public campgrounds, to prospective campers. Alyssa Ravasio founded the site in 2013 but said the company grew slowly at first focusing mostly on public campgrounds - state parks, national parks and forests, etc. But campers continually reported that the public sites were already booked. (For example, most popular Minnesota state park campgrounds are full for Memorial Day weekend; many are already full for the Fourth of July.) That gave Hipcamp organizers the inspiration to recruit and encourage private landowners to open their property for campers. "Our campers told us they need more places to go. The lack of access was an impediment to getting outdoors for a lot of people," she said. The lack of camping equipment - tents, stoves, sleeping bags - also is an impediment, Ravasio noted, which is why the company encourages landowners to offer glamping options with more amenities provided. "A lot of people don't have all the gear to go camping," she said. "We're trying to make it easier, both for the landowner and the camper." You can download the Hipcamp app or use its website to search for camping and cabin rentals for a big summer trip to Yellowstone and Yosemite or a weekend much closer to home. The company makes its money by charging campers a service fee for the convenience of online shopping and bookings. (On a $45 three-night campsite bill, for example, the Hipcamp service fee is $6.75, much like the fees you'd pay to book a public campground online.) Search for Duluth on hipcamp.com and a potpourri of options pop up on an easy-to-use, interactive map - from simple campsites in someone's backyard to remote tent sites, state parks, national forest campgrounds, municipal parks and off-the-grid yurts and tipis. Several locations offer full glamping amenities, like beds with mattresses. There are also both tiny house-sized cabins and traditional cabins listed. Here's a smattering of what we found on hipcamp.com in the Northland: For $59 a night you can rent a clear plastic bubble to camp in. Bring your own sleeping pads and bags. The stargazing bubble is just a mile from Interstate State Park on the St. Croix River near Taylors Falls, Minn. It's received a rating of 100% from four reviewers. (The same location, Stone Creek Farms, also has a yurt for rent for $40 per night.) Camping With the Critters near Cook offers campsites on a rescued animal farm, like a petting zoo with tenting. "Yoga with goats meets camping with alpacas! We offer camping in the small animal pasture. ... We also offer campsites away from the critters," the Hipcamp entry notes. Bring your own tent; $15 per night, says owner Lisa P. "I have a menagerie of animals, many rescued or adopted, that love all the attention. My friends' kids love camping in the pasture with the animals and when I saw an ad for Hipcamp, I thought maybe others would want the experience, too!" Camp Floodwood is owned by the city of Floodwood. It's described the "best kept secret" in the region. For $15 per night it offers campsites nestled under a forest canopy that are "large enough for RV's but quaint enough for tents." Enjoy fishing on the banks of the St. Louis River or throw your kayak in the water to play. Walk into town four blocks away for a burger, ice cream cone or stock up on supplies. Flush toilets, potable water, shower house and electricity on site. Sanctuary at Little Sand in the woods near Bayfield offers both a 12-foot by 14-foot safari tent and a 16-foot tipi, $87 per night. "Our eco-glamping tents are set up for simple and fresh comfort with real mattresses, cotton linens and minimal furniture," their Hipcamp entry notes. "However, at the end of the day, this is still the Northwoods. This may not be for everyone, as there are coyotes that howl at night, owls that hoot, a couple of pileated woodpeckers that stay busy, deer, our resident porcupine that likes to roam around the property, millions of stars and no major modern facilities." Run Wild is a 14-acre site along the Whiteface River just east of Cotton. Owner Patrick H. offers it for campers for $40 per night. Bring your own everything, but the site is reachable by car. Looking for a spot to camp in Duluth proper? Tonya B. will rent you a campsite for $15 per night in her yard along Kingsbury Creek in western Duluth. Tents only. She calls it Kingsbury Creek Paradise. It, too, has a 100-percent rating from Hipcamp "community" members who are verified to have stayed at the place. Up near Crosby Manitou State Park there's a small cabin - the owners call it a tiny house - for $40 per night. Long Haul Homestead also offers an even smaller cabin for $25 per night and canvas yurts and tents for as little as $15 per night. You can either hike in 45 minutes to the homestead or ride an ATV. The owner says a 4x4 truck might make if it has at least 10 inches of ground clearance to miss the rocks. The place is off the grid but offers wood heat and a wood-fired outdoor clawfoot bathtub. Outdoor-access composting toilet. Bring your own water and food. Just off the Gunflint Trail, Tall Pines Wilderness Yurt offers comfortable, upscale glamping on a lake with a canoe included. Wood heat, heated sauna and an outhouse. The yurt with padded bunks (bring your own sleeping bag) is $118 per night with a two-night minimum. All state park and most national forest campgrounds are listed on Hipcamp, although you have to click and go to the state or federal reservation systems to check availability and book a site. Hipcamp also lists owner-rented, full-service, full-amenities cabins. San Francisco-based Hipcamp calls itself the largest online camping booking service in the nation. It now offers online access to 370,000 campsites. Some 4.2 million people visited the site in 2018. So far, people have booked more than 150,000 nights through Hipcamp. Other sites, like glamping.com and glampinghub.com, offer a higher-end list of glamping destinations across the globe (that includes a place in Belize on glamping.com that lists for $1,679 per night U.S. dollars.) Ravasio founded Hipcamp with campers in mind. But it's also become a great place for landowners to get their feet wet renting campsites or cabins. Individuals with separate websites or Facebook pages often get lost in the crowd when people are shopping for vacation destinations. Hipcamp takes care of all the work to list new sites, even sending a photographer out to the campsite, all free to the landowner. Hipcamp's only fee comes when the camper pays for the campsite. "We don't get paid until the landowner gets paid," Ravasio said. In addition to advertising and booking services, Hipcamp also provides free liability insurance for all their listed properties. Hipcamp monitors each listing to make sure they meet company standards in addition to keeping track of camper reviews of each site. If a campsite hasn't had many reviews, the website clearly states that. ___ What is glamping? Glamping is a joining of glamorous and camping. One dictionary defines it as "a form of camping involving accommodation and facilities more luxurious than those associated with traditional camping." One description in Urban Dictionary describes glamping as "like regular camping but with nicer things than usual, being warmer and more comfortable. Glamping isn't done by usual outdoor types who climb mountains." The term glamping is traced back to about 2005, originating in the United Kingdom, and it's been in the Oxford dictionary since 2016. But the idea of fancy camping goes back much longer. Historians say perhaps the most extravagant example of glamping occurred in 1520 when King Henry VIII of England and King Francis I of France met in a field in northern France for a major summit. Some 2,800 tents were erected and fountains ran with red wine. Visit the Duluth News Tribune (Duluth, Minn.) at www.duluthnewstribune.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 OMAHA -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will increase water releases at Gavins Point Dam Thursday because of heavy rainfall over Nebraska and South Dakota in the past week. Releases will be increased to 60,000 cubic feet per second, up from 50,000 cfs. "There is no estimate on how long releases will remain at 60,000 from Gavins Point," John Remus, chief of the corps' Missouri River Basin Water Management Division, said in a news release. "We will continue to monitor conditions and make adjustments as necessary." Because of the rain, which totaled 2-5 inches in some areas, inflows into Gavins Point, as well as reservoirs upriver at Oahe, Big Bend and Fort Randall, have increased, taking up more space in the reservoirs' flood control pools. Releases from Gavins Point, near Yankton, South Dakota, will allow more water to pass through the Missouri River reservoir system and slow the rise in the other reservoirs. Mountain snowpack continues to melt and enter the system in Montana and North Dakota, Remus said, and the corps must ensure that reservoirs have enough room to hold that runoff. Copyright 2019 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man has been arrested and charged with cashing fake checks totaling more than $1,000 at Sioux City businesses. Cody Hayden, 34, faces three counts of forgery and three counts of fourth-degree theft. Sioux City police received complaints on May 9 from two business owners who said they had been informed by their banks that checks they had deposited were fraudulent. According to complaints filed in Woodbury County District Court, Hayden cashed two checks made out to himself from Bomgaars and Famous Dave's on May 3 and May 6 at L and K Laundromat, 1906 Court St. Both were written out for $365.23. The owner of Abarrotes el Arcoiris Inc., 2022 Court St., reported that Hayden had cashed a check made out to himself for $365.23 from Bomgaars at his business on May 4. Bomgaars and Famous Dave's verified for police that Hayden was not an employee and that the account numbers on the checks did not match theirs. After his arrest on Monday, Hayden told police someone else made the checks and he had cashed them at several businesses in Sioux City and South Sioux City, court documents said. Copyright 2019 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. By Trend The Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan hosted a meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Laj?ak, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry on May 22. The parties discussed issues of security and stability in the region. Miroslav Laj?ak noted significant efforts of Turkmenistan in the process of resolving the situation in Afghanistan and establishing civil peace in this country, which is very important for the entire world community, the report says. It was noted that, in accordance with the realities of the modern world, it is necessary to solve issues exclusively through peaceful dialogue, mainly within the authoritative international organizations, the report reads. The meeting participants noted initiatives and projects of Turkmenistan in the areas of development of transport, energy security, conservation of water resources and environmental protection. Turkmenistan has a long border with Afghanistan and has repeatedly offered to hold talks in Ashgabat under the auspices of the UN to restore peace in the neighboring state. Ashgabat is in favor of providing more ambitious and targeted international economic assistance to Afghanistan, primarily through the involvement of Afghanistan in the implementation of large infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors. They include the projects of laying power transmission lines and fiber-optic communications along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) route, and the construction of railway lines from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan. A large-scale project to lay gas pipeline to India and Pakistan for the supply of Turkmen gas is also connected to the territory of Afghanistan, where unstable situation has remained for a long time. Observers believe that the implementation of this project may contribute to the restoration of Afghanistan, as it will allow creating jobs and provide the country with guaranteed income from transit. SHELDON, Iowa -- The man who had been appointed as mayor of Sheldon earlier this year won a Tuesday special election that affirms him in the position for the next 2 1/2 years. Greg Geels had been appointed as mayor, following the resignation of Katricia Meendering in February. Meendering stepped down to take a leadership position at the Sheldon events center. Voters petitioned for the special election to fill the unexpired term. Geels' resignation from the city council opened up another vacancy, which was also filled in Tuesday's election. Wayne Barahona won the council seat with 458 votes, besting the 212 votes for Kerwin Sterler, 192 for Rick Nordahl and 43 for Wayne Burnette. Geels won the mayoral contest, with 608 votes, while Fred Grein received 278 votes, according to results from the O'Brien County Auditor's Office. Meendering had been elected to a four-year mayor term in November 2017. Geels will hold the post through December 2021, and Barahona will hold the city council position through December 2019. Regular mayoral and council elections in Iowa will be held in November. Copyright 2019 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX CITY -- Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand on Wednesday has scheduled a stop in Northwest Iowa. Another candidate, Kamala Harris, is cancelling her events in Sioux City and other Iowa towns in order to cast a vote in the U.S. Senate. Harris had planned to speak Thursday afternoon at Morningside College in Sioux City about teacher pay and other issues. However, the Harris campaign said that event, plus others in Iowa on Friday, will not be held, so she can vote on a disaster relief measure Thursday night. "Unfortunately, Senator Kamala Harris is postponing her trip to Iowa this week due to expected votes in the Senate on federal disaster relief funding. The measure would provide disaster relief funds that likely will include Iowa, California, and Puerto Rico. Much of Western Iowa, where Senator Harris was set to visit, has been inundated with record flooding this year," a campaign release said Wednesday said. A Harris event in Sioux City with the Truman Club members of the Woodbury County Democratic Party is also cancelled Thursday. Meanwhile, Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand, a senator from New York, announced several stops in a three-day Iowa swing from Friday through Sunday. Gillibrand is a U.S. senator from New York, and is expected to air her Family Bill of Rights platform in the Iowa events, according to a campaign release. Gillibrand will speak at 4:15 p.m. Friday at Better Day Cafe, 518 Lake Ave. North, in Storm Lake. She has campaigned in Siouxland in January and April. Also earlier on Wednesday, Democratic candidate John Delaney held an event in Sioux City. Delaney is a former Maryland congressman who has campaigned extensively in Siouxland since 2017. Copyright 2019 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 HORNICK, Iowa -- U.S. Rep. Steve King said Wednesday he will honor Hornick residents who displayed heroism in response of heavy flooding in March that forced the evacuation of the small Woodbury County town. The recognition ceremony for "acts of valor," will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hornick's city hall, 419 Main St. "King will be specifically recognizing individual town residents and town officials for heroic actions they took to protect Hornick during this years flooding," said a news release from his congressional office. A mandatory evacuation was ordered in Hornick on March 14, after snow melt and a breached levee on the West Fork of the Little Sioux River caused extensive flooding of city streets. The 225 Hornick residents were allowed to return home March 18 after the floodwaters receded. A number of homes and other buildings returned to find water in their basements and other damage. After the recognition ceremony, King will hold a town hall meeting at the Hornick City Hall, beginning at 3:15 p.m. King also will hold a hall at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge. The Iowa Republican pledged at the start of this year to hold one-hour town hall meetings in each of the 39 counties of the 4th district. The Woodbury County townhall will be his 16th this year. Copyright 2019 The Sioux City Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Leading construction and energy law firm Fenwick Elliott has announced it is making significant investment in 2019 to strengthen its global ties, including relaunching the Dubai office located at Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) as its international hub. The Dubai base, located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, currently serves UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman territories with growing opportunities across the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. It was first opened in 2015 in conjunction with Ibrahim Law Firm, headed by partners Patrick Stone and Ahmed Ibrahim. While Fenwick Elliott employs 50 lawyers as a specialised construction and energy law firm, Dubai hosts a growing team of partners and associates, and with the move to make the city its main overseas base, there are imminent plans to expand further into new, larger premises, said its top official. Already amassing extensive experience in the Middle East having acted for contractors in relation to projects like Palm Jumeirah, Doha Expressway and Dubai World Central, the firm plans to capitalise on increasing demand for its services in the UAE and Saudi in particular in the next 12 to 18 months. Stone said: "Its an exciting time to be at the forefront of our Dubai operation as we look to cement our presence in the UAE and explore new opportunities further afield. We are continually investing in our business here and to make way for new faces and improved facilities, we hope to relocate into a larger space in the coming months." The announcement coincides with a recent seminar held in London, which addressed the emergence of technology in construction and its potential impact; the first in a series of thought leadership events Fenwick Elliott will be involved in this year. The Legal 500 top tier firm warned against new legislative and contractual risk issues associated with digitalisation and developing technology in the industry, such as the use of BIM, drones and 3D robotics. Chaired by senior partner Simon Tolson, the event saw a panel of experts present talks including partners Jeremy Glover and Jonathan More, senior associate Dr Stacy Sinclair, as well as Erland Rendall, founder of Atorus Consult Ltd and Wavelength chief scientific officer Dr Ben Gardner. Delegates representing a large number of the UKs major construction, engineering and property services companies, decision makers and local government influencers attended Strands ME London hotel to hear from the panel. Simon, alongside the speakers, called for the industry to modernise by embracing what is now possible in design to move from mass production of standardised components to mass customisation, while remaining vigilant to the legal issues surrounding modern methods of construction and DfMA (Design for Manufacture and Assembly) for off the peg approaches. Simon said: "Technology is a key component of engineering, construction and energy law projects we specialise in as lawyers. In the law and data management machine learning has arrived and using AI to dig deep into unstructured data is something we care a lot about conquering to help our clients get to solutions fast." "The phrase modernise or die has never been truer. We can now conduct feasibility studies and manufacture via 3D robotics for instance. Joining the dots between this big data and learning what can be achieved with the new toolkit available from analytics is the key," he stated. "In the same vein, the massive explosion in data has created data manageability challenges for companies around the world and their harnessing of cloud-based storage. Legal issues will continue to evolve with developing technology but the more we embrace it and find solutions, the more we will be able to lever from the digitally-driven world," remarked Simon. Our vision is that through establishing standardised approaches, we can improve the whole-life performance of built assets and create higher quality, cost-effective buildings that are more comfortable to live and work in, resulting in fewer disputes, he added. Ibrahim said the legal implications of technology in construction are more prevalent than ever and this applies globally. "The smarter we design and procure buildings, the more competitive we become in driving costs down and improving productivity. Were looking forward to guiding our international clients on these matters through the changing landscape ahead," he added. Fenwick Elliott has a rich history of over 30 years, consistently named in The Legal 500 and is renowned for outstanding practice and specialist expertise in the construction sector.-TradeArabia News Service Introducing a new citizens initiative for carbon pricing in Europe Posted on 22 May 2019 by BaerbelW A new European Citizens Initiative (ECI) called The fast, fair and effective solution to climate change was launched on May 6. The proposal asks that the European Commission introduce a carbon-pricing policy known as Carbon Fee and Dividend at the European Union level. The European Commission registered the proposal earlier this month. Organizers behind the initiative now have one year until May 6, 2020 to gather the 1 million signatures needed for the European Commission to consider the proposal. Scientists and economists agree: Putting an increasing price on pollution and giving the returns to households works. A steadily increasing price on fossil fuels will reduce pollution by leading companies and consumers to choose cleaner, cheaper options. All money collected would be returned fairly and for example every month to citizens as a dividend. Most low- and middle-income families will be better off by this policy. The European Citizens' Initiative is a democratic instrument that enables every European citizen to shape policy by submitting a legislative proposal. If at least one million signatures are collected for a citizens' initiative, the Commission has to examine the proposal and indicate the steps it will take. "We're at a turning point in history," says Brigitte Van Gerven, spokesperson for the Initiative. "After years of apathy for the climate problem, people have awakened, thanks to the actions of Greta Thunberg and the climate strikers. The challenge now is to convert this energy into a strong and ambitious climate policy." As a policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Carbon Fee and Dividend was implemented earlier this year in Canada, where citizens have already received their Climate Action Incentive checks. In the United States, carbon-fee-and-dividend legislation has been introduced by members of both parties as the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. The policy is a concrete, realistic and financially feasible policy that is budget neutral for the government. Moreover, it is socially just, since it is not a tax increase, but a green tax shift - a redistribution from those who pollute a lot to those who pollute less. Carbon Fee This policy puts a fee on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It starts low, and grows steadily over time. This will drive down carbon pollution because companies, industries, the public sector and consumers will move toward cleaner, cheaper options. The carbon fee is based on the economic principle that if you want less of something you increase the price. Learn more about the Carbon Fee here. Carbon Dividend The money collected from the carbon fee is returned every month to citizens to spend as they see fit. Program administrative costs are paid from the fees collected. Governments do not keep any of the money from the carbon fee. The dividend is designed to keep the economy in balance, protect the vulnerable and secure the long term public support needed to address climate change. Learn more about the Carbon Dividend here. Border Carbon Adjustments Border Carbon Adjustments protect EU manufacturers and jobs from unfair international competition that lacks a carbon price. Imported goods will pay a border carbon adjustment, and goods exported from the EU will receive a refund under this policy. The Border Carbon Adjustment (BCA) is designed to address two key challenges: protecting EU industry from unfair competition and promoting wider adoption of effective carbon pricing. Learn more about Border Carbon Adjustments here. For more information and references, please check out the details provided in this PDF. So, if you are a citizen of a European Union member state and if you'd like to get carbon fee and dividend implemented across Europe, please consider signing the ECI here. And then tell others about it! About the initiative's organisers The ECI for a fast, fair and effective solution to climate change is being organised by a committee of Citizens's Climate Lobby (CCL) members in Europe. The author of this blog post is active in the German chapter of CCL where it's known as Burgerlobby Klimaschutz. She also fulfills the role of volunteer regional coordinator for Europe. To learn more about CCL, please check out the earlier post "Pushing for a price on carbon globally" This recipe originally appeared on Food52. Rewind back to the early 90s and youll find me in an Emack & Bolios, swinging on a swing with my dad, eating banana ice cream with whipped cream and extra hot fudgenever, ever caramel sauce. Even as a child, I found this sundae-favorite too sweet and, in the decades since, not much has changed. Of course, this isnt caramel sauces fault. Its main ingredient is sugar (or, depending on the recipe, corn syrup) and its costar is heavy cream, which is sweet-ish in its own right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the new millennium ushered in a new wave for caramel. In 2008, Kim Severson called salted caramel the flavor of the year in The New York Times, noting how it went from a pastry chefs secret weapon to a mass-market phenomenon, thanks to companies like Starbucks, Wal-Mart, and Haagen-Dazs. Advertisement Advertisement The still-going appeal is all about contrast. If caramel is sweet and richonly to be poured on also sweet and rich ice creamsalt adds some much-needed complexity. When I make caramel, I like to salt the caramel itself, then sprinkle some flaky salt atop the finished dessert for good measure. And yet, even with all the salt in the world, theres still something else I crave: bitterness. In my mind, this is where hot fudge has salted caramel sauce beatwith those dark, sultry, moody flavors of cacao. How could I introduce that depth to caramel? One ingredient: espresso. Youve probably tried this combination beforein a caramel macchiato or latte. In that case, the primary flavor is espresso, fluffed up with steamed milk, and sweetened with a squirt of caramel sauce. Advertisement In this case, were flipping the ratio. The primary flavor will be caramel, taken as close to burnt as possible for bittersweet bonus points. Then, instead of pouring in cream, were going to pour in espresso cream. But I dont have an espresso machine! you say. But you dont need one! I say. All you had to do is dissolve a spoonful of instant espresso in hot cream. Advertisement Not only does this turn the caramel a milk-chocolatey hue, but it takes something that was once one-note and cloying, and turns it into something I could eat by the spoonful. Or pour on ice cream and eat on a swing. That would be pretty great, too. Makes about 1 cup. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1 cup granulated sugar 1/4 cup cold water 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar (or lemon juice) 2/3 cup heavy cream, warmed 2 teaspoons instant espresso powder, plus more to taste 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste See the full recipe on Food52. More from Food52: How My Mothers Caramel Recipe Taught Me to Be Braver in the Kitchen The Professional Baker-Approved Ingredient to Upgrade Any Brownie Salted Caramel Cream Puffs Are a Holiday KnockoutBut One You Can Handle Miso Caramel Apple Cake Bourbon-Sea Salt and Chocolate Caramel Tart Caramel Rice Pudding with Brown Butter and Creme Fraiche Senator and presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has officially changed her allegiances. In a minute-long clip uploaded to Twitter, Warren, along with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discuss the divisive Game of Thrones series finaleand its fair to say they werent pleased. Im really disappointed about it, Ocasio-Cortez said. Warren, the preeminent Game of Thrones blogger, agreed: I was just reallymeh. Its been over 24 hours. No more spoiler alerts. Heres why @AOC and I are officially on #TeamSansa now. pic.twitter.com/WKKHDbFz1M Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) May 21, 2019 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the heart of their discontent was the much-discussed heel turn of one Daenerys Targaryen. Ocasio-Cortez complained that she felt as if we were all so close to the show ending with just women running the world, only for the last two episodes to cast Daenerys off as too emotional. Warren, who in April wrote that Dany had been her favorite from the first moment she walked through fire, even said that by the end she was ready for a heel turn of her own, this time to Team Sansa. But even the relatively decent end of Sansas story arc wasnt enough to satisfy Warren, who wanted the Queen of the North to aim higher. Sansa, who already is Queen of the North, thank you very much, she walks away saying, And Ill still be Queen of the North. Come on Sansa, go for the big one! Advertisement Advertisement Technically Sansa, before her official crowning in the final minutes of the show, was warden of the North, but Warrens point remains of the same: Sansa should have leaned in. But isnt leaning in to the power-hungry trap of striving for the Iron Throne what ultimately precipitated the death of CerseiWarrens cautionary taleand then Dany? Sure, the show couldve used some more feminist analysis, as Ocasio-Cortez suggests. It certainly couldve used more women in the writing room. But really, in their disappointment at how Danys storyline ended, Warren and Ocasio-Cortez both glossed over what is easily the most empowering moment of the entire finale. Its not the Norths secession. The moment we should all aspire to came when Edmure Tully started his speech about being king and my good sis did what every woman everywhere wants to do all the time: told a full-of-himself man to sit down and shut up. Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Email careandfeeding@slate.com or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. Dear Care and Feeding, I am the mother of 8-month-old twins. First of all, I just want to acknowledge that my twins are very laid-back, happy babies, as well as good sleepers. I know how lucky I am! My husband is as involved as he can be, but he also travels for work three to five nights a week while I am left to care for the kids. Advertisement When he is home, I know he is trying to help, but sometimes I really question his parenting techniques. I know he loves our babies, but sometimes when hes playing with them, I feel hes a little rougher than he should bethey are only 8 months, after all. I feel like he also doesnt know how to soothe or calm the babies, or maybe doesnt care to. When theyre upset, hell often just put them in their crib and walk awaywhich I realize is necessary from time to time for your own sanity. I know hes trying the best he can and loves our babies. I try to stop myself from criticizing, but sometimes I just cant help it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trying to Hold Back Dear TtHB, You get to correct some things, but you dont get to correct everything. Partially thats because no one can be right about everything, and partially its because a co-parenting relationship in which one parent is consistently correcting the other one quickly becomes very uncomfortable for everyone. You get to correct some things, but you dont get to correct everything. Im going to go out on a limb here and hypothesize that a little rougher than he should be is probably fine, even if its not what you would want. I dont think youre seeing the babies in actual danger of harm, because I think you would have said so. Nonetheless, its stressing you out. So you can say to him once or twice, Oh, that stresses me out when you hold them like that, which is much different from You hold them wrong. Similarly, I might suggest that putting the kids in the crib so they can self-soothe is one of those things that certainly parents can disagree on, but both approaches are valid, and neither is especially damaging. Advertisement Advertisement An underlying issue here is that youre doing the bulk of the parenting labor, and you feel a certain kind of earned ownership over the handling of your kids. And while that feeling is perfectly reasonable, and entirely justified, the problem is that its not particularly helpful to your situation. Your husband wants to parent his children. It doesnt sound as though hes doing it badly, just differently. So if I were you, I would pick and choose very carefully my spots of correction. And when you do choose a spot, strive to think of it not as you teaching him how to do things the right way, but rather you sharing with him something that youve had a chance to figure out because youve been home. But try not to press or push. It sounds like you have a great family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, if you havent yet seen it, I might recommend the 2010 documentary Babies, which follows the first year of life for four different kids from four parts of the world. Its a good way of seeing just how many different ways of soothing, holding, playing with, and handling kids can be perfectly fine. Good luck. Want to meet Carvell and other parents in New York? Come to the Mom and Dad Are Fighting Live Play Date, part of Slate Day! Saturday, June 8, Slate is taking over two locations in Chelsea with live podcasts, trivia, a dance party, and more. Join Carvell Wallace, Gabriel Roth, and Slates Mom and Dad Are Fighting for a kid-friendly play date on the High Line. Get your tickets now! Advertisement Dear Care and Feeding, I am in a serious relationship with a wonderful man, and I very much love his extended family, including teenage cousins. Ive only spent a little time with them, and they both seem like sweet kids. However, the kids father has expressed vague concerns to us about the 13-year-old daughter. According to him, she has always been a socially anxious, withdrawn, and mysterious kid. Advertisement Advertisement As she enters puberty, these traits have intensified, and she doesnt speak with anyone about her feelings or the changes her body is going through. Pretty normal teenage stuff. Recently, though, he shared that she only wants to wear sweatshirts even in hot weather, shes self-conscious, she has low self-esteem, and he discovered a significant amount of old food in her backpack yesterday. We had dinner together, and I surreptitiously watched her eat. She served herself a small portion and literally just nibbled around the edges of the food. Advertisement I have a Ph.D. in a child psychology area, but its not a clinical degree, so I am 100 percent unqualified to make any diagnoses, but I am very concerned about this girl. Im also afraid of overstepping in sharing those concerns. The totality of what her father has told me and what I have observed leads me to think that, at the very least, she needs caring and professional intervention that her parents are not equipped to provide alone. They both genuinely seem at their wits end and have grown what seems to me to be resentful of her attitude. I dont want to insult anyone by insinuating theyre bad or unobservant parents (they clearly arent), and I dont want to raise an alarm if there isnt actual cause for concern, but I would feel awful if later on it becomes clear that we all missed an opportunity for an earlier intervention for this girl. What can I do? What should I do? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Little Therapy Cant Hurt Dear ALTCH, Youre right that a little therapy cant hurt, and neither can kindly and humbly sharing your observations and concerns. As parents, we often need outside perspective on our kids that we dont have. Of course, not every parent wants to admit that they need thatparents are people too, and oftentimes people are insecure, which makes them act like assholesbut every parent does need it. You would do well, I think, to prioritize here. I think your chief aim is to help the girl, not to please the parents. And if you have to take the risk of displeasing the parents in order to help the girl, then I think thats a risk worth taking. Dad is already aware that something is amiss, so theres even more of a chance that hes open to input. None of this is a guarantee that your preferred outcome will be achieved, but thats OK. You need to be willing to take some flak here. Advertisement Dont diagnose anyone, but instead go to the parents and tell them basically what youve told me. That you have been noticing some patterns that to you look like they could be pointing toward bigger problems like disordered eating, and that you feel like youd be remiss as a family member if you didnt say something to them. Remind them that youre coming from a place of trying to help, not judge. And then let it go. Advertisement Advertisement In the meantime, it could be a nice thing for this girl that there is a new member of the family who is paying attention to her. No matter what her parents decide, I hope you dont lose sight of the simple value of that. Good luck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you missed Mondays Care and Feeding column, read it here. Discuss this column in the Slate Parenting Facebook group! Dear Care and Feeding, My 2-year-old has started cuddling with a particular stuffed animal during naps and at night. The stuffed animal stays in the crib all the time, and my son doesnt seem to care about it while he is awake. I dont want to encourage an all-encompassing emotional dependence on this one stuffed animal, but I also want him to have what comforts him and for him to have secure attachments. Would it be wrong to switch it out every few weeks for similar bears in different colors (which we already have) so he isnt so dependent on this particular one? Should I just take it away altogether before he gets too attached? Should I let him form whatever amount of attachment to this one stuffed animal that he so chooses? My little brother had a blankie that he carried everywhere until he was about 8. It was a big hassle if it was dirty or misplaced or forgotten at home. Id like to avoid that. Advertisement Advertisement Cultivating Nonattachment Dear CN, I honestly dont think your ability to control and manage your kids attachment habits has anywhere near the level of granularity that you think it does. If he doesnt obsess over the toy in the day, and his attachment to said toy doesnt disrupt your familys daily routine, then you dont have a problemand if I were you, I wouldnt make one. Try switching out the toy, not so that you can successfully engineer the correct future proportions of attachment and freedom for your son, but so, as you note, youre not creating hassles when it needs to be washed or gets lost. But if you try to swap it out and he freaks out, I wouldnt turn it into a standoff. Just give him his favorite toy and be done with it. Plenty of perfectly happy and successful and healthy adults had absurd attachments when they were kids. It can be a temporary logistical problem for the parents, but you dont have to treat it like a permanent psychological problem for the child. Carvell Ask a Teacher My son is 15 years old and in eighth grade. Since about fourth grade, I have struggled to get him to do schoolwork and take it seriously. Ive tried punishing him for doing poorly in schoolloss of electronics, no friends over, etc. None of this is working, and I am at a loss. I always did great in school and collegeit was important to me. It is so frustrating to see him do this. I cant make him care. I asked @SecretaryCarson about REOs - a basic term related to foreclosure - at a hearing today. He thought I was referring to a chocolate sandwich cookie. No, really. pic.twitter.com/cYekJAkRag Rep. Katie Porter (@RepKatiePorter) May 21, 2019 Advertisement Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson appeared before the House Financial Services Committee Tuesday for an oversight hearing, during which he confused the housing term REO, or real estate owned property, with the baked goods term Oreo. During questioning by Rep. Katie Porter, D-C.A., about foreclosure rates, Porter asked about REOs, a term used to describe foreclosed properties owned by a bank or lender, which had Carson, the head of housing of the nation, stumped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Porter: Do you know what an REO is? Carson: An Oreo? Porter: No, not an Oreo. An R-E-O. REO. Carson: Real estate Porter: Whats the O stand for? Carson: Real estate e-organization. E-organization? Come on, man. Lets not just blindly guess. Youre in the Cabinet. Advertisement Advertisement Carson seemed to sense that maybe answering Oreo during a congressional hearing might not play well and tried to get out in front of looking dumb by making an even dumber joke. OH, REO! Thanks, @RepKatiePorter. Enjoying a few post-hearing snacks. Sending some your way! pic.twitter.com/q4MMTBWVUI Ben Carson (@SecretaryCarson) May 21, 2019 At least Oreo, the brand, didnt try to use the moment of national viral dumbness to inject itself into the conversation by saying something clever. Or right, yes, it did do that with its stands for eally xcellent REO (cookie). Everyone knows that tweet before deleting it shortly after. Joe Biden has been officially running for president for about a month now, and on Saturday, he held a rally in Philadelphia at which he articulated his vision for the country and his campaign. The most revealing lines in his speech might have been these: Folks, I know some of the really smart folks say Democrats dont want to hear about unity. They say Democrats are so angry, that the angrier a candidate can be, the better chance he or she has to win the Democratic nomination. Well, I dont believe it. Advertisement Bidens words were a shot at Democrats who think the party needs to more explicitly sell itself as a vehicle for aggressively confronting a range of people, institutions, and problems on behalf of marginalized and mistreated middle- and working-class Americans. His speech instead emphasized concepts like reconciliation and cooperation, portraying a country that would essentially be happily united in its ideals and goals across lines of both party and class were it not for the singular figure of Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bidens campaign isnt just pitching itself as an alternative to the Democratic Partys left-leaning, aggression-demanding internal critics on a rhetorical level; the campaign also rejects those critics beliefs about strategy and their reading of recent history. Bidens candidacy is, in one sense, a proposition that everything thats been said by an unhappy progressive Democrat over the course of the past decade or so should be ignored. Consider: The critics say theres no point in trying to work with Republicans in Congress anymore. While consensus government was possible on some issues in the not-so-distant past, this critique goes, circumstances have changed: The Tea Party backlash against Barack Obama and the Fox NewsBreitbart media ecosystem have created an extremist base that puts Republican incumbents in perpetual fear of being primaried from the right at the same time that general-election voters have proved unwilling or unable to punish the party for Mitch McConnells Senate blockade strategy. This dynamic means almost no remaining GOP legislators will cross the aisle, which will be an obstacle to any future Democratic presidency. Biden rivals like Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren have said the party needs to be prepared to work around the problem by expanding voting rights, reforming the Supreme Court, preparing plans for using the administrative powers of the executive branch, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Biden, meanwhile, asserts that he is going to advance his agenda by working with Republicans in Congress. They will, he predicts, have an epiphany about bipartisanship when Trump leaves office. I know how to make government work, he said on Saturday. Not because Ive talked or tweeted about it, but because Ive done it. Ive worked across the aisle to reach consensus, to help make government work in the past. I can do that again with your help. The critics say that appealing to white working-class swing voters is not as essential as it once was because of demographics and geographyand may be self-defeating because it turns off other voters. The Democratic coalition used to be heavily dependent on the Rust Belt. In 2018 House elections, though, the party expanded its dominance of coastal suburbs and flipped Republican seats in increasingly diverse states like Arizona, Texas, and Georgiabut didnt win any flips in, for example, Ohio.* Left-leaning analysts like Data for Progress Sean McElwee argue, meanwhile, that a fixation on winning back white working-class Obama-to-Trump voters in the Midwestwho tend to be conservative on issues relating to race and genderignores the potential value of appealing to young people and people of color who otherwise might not vote and who, as a group, tend to be more liberal on cultural issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to race and gender, Biden is old-fashioned. He co-sponsored the 1994 federal crime bill thats considered a symbol of mass incarceration by contemporary activists, worked to roll back school-integrating busing plans in the 1970s, and has been scrutinized for his habit of touching women in public in ways that many people perceive as inappropriately intimate. Nevada politician Lucy Flores, for example, wrote in a piece published this spring that Biden made her uncomfortable by smelling her hair and kissing her head at a campaign event. And hes not apologizing for any of itmaking a case at a recent New Hampshire appearance, for example, that the crime bill did not generate mass incarceration and responding to Flores piece by saying hes not sorry for any of [his] intentions regarding his alleged over-affectionateness. Advertisement Advertisement Hes also made his intention to target white working-class voters quite clear by, for example, holding his first campaign event at a union hall in Pittsburgh, and he is expected to mention that hes from Scranton, Pennsylvania, at least 10 million times before primary voting begins. The critics say that the Democratic party is too heavily influenced by big donors and corporations, and that this influence holds Democrats back from pursuing popular economic policies. The idea that the Democratic establishment is too influenced by the policy views of wealthy donor class campaign contributors and big-money lobbyists was a point made often by the establishments most prominent critic, Bernie Sanders, during his 2016 campaign. Sanders attacked Hillary Clinton for giving paid speeches to Goldman Sachs, raised his own money almost entirely from small donors, complained about the influence that Wall Street, the drug companies, the fossil fuel industry and other powerful special interests have over the party, and promised to fund paradigm-shiftingly large social programs by taxing the rich. Clinton won the primarybut then lost the general election to a Republican candidate who deployed disingenuous but effective rhetoric about taking on big corporations and special interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, a number of Democrats running for Congress across the country made a point of refusing to take corporate money. I watched the Hillary Clinton campaign, and recognized that it was so predicated on spending time with wealthy donors and not spending time in middle-class neighborhoods and rural areas, one such candidate, Dean Phillips, told the New York Times. Phillips went on to win his race, in suburban Minneapolis. Joe Biden doesnt give a rats crap about any of that stuff! He launched his campaign with a fundraiser at the home of a union-busting Comcast executive and is being advised by a former lobbyist for Shell, British Petroleum, Raytheon, and the security company formerly known as Blackwater. Sorry, Bernie! Critics say that trying to vote for the primary candidate who will be more electable in the general election is a fools game that results in nominating boring losers. The New York Times Michelle Goldberg just published a column, set at Bidens Saturday rally, which made this very point. Goldberg spoke to a number of rally attendees who said their main reason for supporting the former VP is that he is the Dem best suited to defeat Donald Trump next Novemberthen cited similar comments about mass appeal that were made in past years by supporters of candidates like John Kerry and Mitt Romney. Kerry and Romney seemed in theory like the kinds of people who get elected president in the United States but turned out, in practice, to be wet paper bags. Romney, moreover, lost to Barack Obama, a candidate who definitely didnt fit the silver-haired-white-man presidential archetype and who ran in his own primary in 2008 as a grassroots, antiwar alternative to the center-left establishment candidacy of Hillary Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The theme of Bidens Saturday speech, meanwhile, was that you should vote for him because he will defeat Donald Trump. Literally: The single most important thing we have to accomplish is defeat Donald Trump, he said. Later, he added that If you want to know what the first and most important plank in my climate proposal is, [its] beat Trump. In sum, Joe Bidens campaign is about as perfect of a test case as possible for the left. Hes doing everything that they say the Democratic Party should avoid. And right now hes leading the race by 20 points! On Monday, the New York Times reported on former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobachs list of demands to accept a proposed role as President Donald Trumps immigration czar. On Tuesday, the Times reported that the job was expected to go to former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. As things were being finalized, though, a new dark horse contendersomeone calling himself Chris Cobachentered the race. Slate has acquired his application letter and has published it below. Really! (Not really.) Advertisement I am an applicant for this job that you are creating. I want this job, and I am clearly the most qualified person to do it. In fact, while any reasonable person with a conscience would not want this job, I have been training my whole professional life for it. Am I lawyer? Why, yes! Was I forced recently by a federal judge to take continuing legal education classes? Maybe, whats your point? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyhow. My record speaks for itself. It speaks so clearly that there should not be any question that placing me in this job will help you accomplish exactly what you want to accomplish, despite what others might say, and despite the fact that every task I have undertaken for this same enterprise has ended in dismal and spectacular public failure, at correspondingly spectacular public expense. Advertisement Advertisement Having established that you want menay, need mefor this job, lets now negotiate what it will take to secure me. I am, after all, amazing in every way. And so, before I accept this job that you are creating that you have not yet offered me, I have some conditions. I should state, for the record, that these are very reasonable conditions, as I am very, very qualified for this job. (See paragraph 1, supra.) First off, while its not clear what it is I would be doing, it is clear that so doing will require me to have a jet to do it in. I am not unlike Wonder Woman in that way. Further, I would like to be called Czar. And I would like to refer to myself in the third person, as Czar. As in Czar will have ham and eggs for breakfast. Or Czar really enjoys Czars private jet. Or Czar needs bigger cages for the children Czar intends to separate. Um. What Czar meant to say was Czar needs bigger camplike facilities for the children Czar intends to liberate. Advertisement Advertisement You may be wondering, so lets be very clear: Czar doesnt much care whether you pronounce it Tsar, or Kzar, or Zar. Czar leaves that to you. Its also important that Czar have the presidents ear, because how else will Czar know that Czars decrees are being heard. As such, Czar demands his own desk inside the Oval Office. It doesnt need to be bigger than the Resolute DeskCzar isnt crazy. It should be roughly 92 percent as big, though, and situated along one of the nicer curves. Perhaps a curve with a window? Again, Czar isnt picky and will let the appropriate parties figure out the details. Advertisement Advertisement Also, I will outrank every other person in my rank. Thats key. Czar will outrank the secretary of homeland security. And the defense secretary. And the attorney general. And the secretary of agriculture. And the secretary of labor. And the secretary of commerce. And Mayor McCheese. (That last one is really important.) So even though we are all equals, I will be better. Advertisement Advertisement I will also need a specialized security detail led by Dwayne The Rock Johnson, a staff of 30-some-odd advisers to the czar, a presidential (or czar-idential) salary, and a new mansion in Kansas. Czar will also have full and unquestioned authority to dictate all media outreach, with attendant guest appearances on Sunday morning political shows, interviews during Fox News story hours, and PAW Patrol cameos. Also, did I mention Czar needs a jet? Wait now. Whats this? Czar will not become Czar? Someone else will be Czar? I may be willing to give up the staff of 30 and The Rock. Still no? Hm, I could maybe share the jet. No? Are you sure? How about I be acting Czar? Is secretary of the interior still open? Does it come with a jet? There is perhaps no better encapsulation of the difference between the two modern American political parties than this one: Republicans start from the presumption that treason and spying will be prosecuted without actual evidence, while Democrats start from the presumption that only once they have seen all the evidence of everything ever, they might conclude that some further investigation is warranted. Donald Trump leads deranged stadium rallies in chanting lock them up without ever specifying who committed what alleged crime. Democrats, faced with a case of what would be felony obstruction of justice but for a legal guidance against prosecuting a sitting president, insist that they cannot initiate impeachment proceedings because they need to gather more information. Republicans standing two inches away from a Seurat painting see a still life in crimes committed, while Democrats standing six feet back are certain that just one more blue dot would help them see the whole picture. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a new problem. Those of us who feared that the Mueller report would never be the smoking gun Democrats were dreaming of warned that limiting the reach of the aperture to criminal obstruction and illegal collusion by necessity blocked out a massive range of criminal and impeachable conduct by the president and his confederates. Last week Walter Dellinger made the same observation about the Democrats strange myopia around the new holy grailan unredacted Mueller report. As the former solicitor general put it: Muellers extraordinary 2,800-subpoena, 500-search-warrant, two-year investigation fully established not merely crimes but also the betrayal of the presidents office: a failure to defend the countrys electoral system from foreign attack and acts of interference with justice that shred the rule of law. Congress doesnt need to read more to announce what is obvious from what it should have read already. Advertisement Advertisement For House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, though, individual political calculus continues to take precedence over the rule of law. That position is becoming more and more untenable, as cracks appear in the Democratic front and even a Republican member of Congress is able to point out what is right in front of us all. Muellers report reveals that President Trump engaged in specific actions and a pattern of behavior that meet the threshold for impeachment, GOP Rep. Justin Amash said over the weekend. Amash understands what is obvious to anyone who read the Mueller report in good faith: We have more than enough data to name and investigate the crime. Amash has been joined by a fistful of renegade Democrats who are finally content to say we know enough. If not enough to impeach, then at least enough to initiate an inquiry. Advertisement Democrats in leadership pretend at conviction and lack courage. The problem with Democratic pointillism is that if congressional Democrats truly refuse to see the big picture, after the staggering proof put forth in the Mueller report, the daily reports of gross financial misconduct and corruption, and the administrations growing refusal to accede to any form of congressional oversight, one has to wonder which hypothetical red dot or yellow smear might persuade them that, um, crimes. Perhaps some belief in Trumps infamous boast that he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot a man without losing support has spooked Democrats to the point of paralysis. The reality is that Democrats on the Hill know what criminal obstruction looks likethey are just too terrified to say so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other problem with Democratic pointillism is that House Democrats want to look like measured and rational adults in the face of the biggest toddler tantrum ever witnessed in presidential history, one in which the Constitution is being repurposed as a diaper. But as any parent or even uncertified Red Cross babysitter will tell you, every time you decline to impose consequences, you move the line for acceptable behavior a little further. Mueller is himself trying to look measured and rational by demurring from testifying. Looking adult and rational in the face of abject insanity is not always synonymous with bravery, especially when the other side is shouting TREASON and LOCK THEM UP and INVESTIGATE THE INVESTIGATORS. Advertisement Advertisement Democrats who say they want to focus on the economy, or the 2020 elections, or other kitchen table issues, give up more and more authority to the reckless, power-snatching president by the day. By attaching no real consequence, they are essentially telling the country that Steven Mnuchin should keep defying a House subpoena of the presidents tax records and Donald McGahn should keep refusing to testify on obstruction of justice. In ceding that power to a president who believes himself all-powerful, they are simply making it so. Advertisement But wait! Democratic leadership might say, taking yet another step closer to the painting. Youre missing the point. Whats the downside of these drawn-out court fights brought on by what is itself impeachable conduct? (See: Article III of the Nixon impeachment articles.) The downside is the appearance that there is virtually nothing this president could do to trigger an impeachment proceeding, something Trump sees, relishes, and will bank on in whatever he does next. Democrats in leadership pretend at conviction and lack courage. The president is lawless and corrupt and surrounding himself with the machinery of lawlessness and corruption. These same Democrats are waiting for the full picture staring them right in the face to emerge. Every step they take closer allows them to miss the big picture, distort the narrative, and chase an ever more elusive final dot. If the public isnt with them yet, its because the public doesnt have all day to spend in a museum and needs to have the picture presented to them where they live. Congressional Democrats have to repaint the picture that is already directly before them. This shouldnt be complicated. Its proving beyond their competence. NGN Training Institute has announced the start of the practical training phase of its Virtual Reality Technology programme, which will provide Bahrainis with specialised employment opportunities in the new technologies field. NGN Training Center, an affiliate of IT systems integrator NGN International, has announced the launch of this unique programme in Bahrain with the support of Tamkeen. NGN had launched the four-month Virtual Reality Content Development programme earlier and now the practical phase of the programme begins. The start of the practical application phase follows the completion of two months of theoretical training under the supervision of the specialised international trainers at NGNs headquarters, which is located at the World Trade Center. The training would further enable Bahrainis to create an impact on the VR and AR industries while securing them jobs in the design industry, said a statement. Yaqoob Al-Awadhi, chief executive officer of NGN, stated that the participants have now started the practical application phase in cooperation with several partners, which includes an engineering office and an industrial company. The practical phase of the programme includes the application of 2D and 3D designs, image animation, and interaction of designs through programming learning in virtual reality projects, explained Al-Awadhi. Following the completion of the theoretical training, the trainees have been divided into groups within three different projects provided by private partners companies, he said. He expressed optimism over the results of this programme, being implemented for the first time in Bahrain. The trainees have been selected from 70 potential candidates, following NGNs strict acceptance criteria. The trainees have so far displayed a high level of discipline and desire for learning, and a clear drive for innovation, he said. Al-Awadhi said: The programme is in line with the latest technology trends around the world and supports the national market trends. TradeArabia News Service President Trump is expected to tap former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli to help implement his immigration policy on the border. The administration reportedly considered bringing Cuccinelli into the White House, but appears set on having the immigration hardliner operate out of the Department of Homeland Security where he will report to acting DHS secretary Kevin McAleenan. Cuccinelli, who has been hawkish on immigration policy during television appearances that also praise Trump, appears to fulfill the presidents desire to have a forceful personality and a loyalist at the highest levels of DHS, the Washington Post notes. The White House offered the job to Cuccinelli after it was turned down by Tom Homan, the former acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to two officials. Advertisement Trump has been pondering bringing in a czar-like figure to the administration to help stem the recent record-breaking influx of immigrants that has confounded the president. Trump had discussed the role with former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, but appears to have cooled on the idea of reprising the head of his voter fraud commission as the immigration point man of the administration. [Cuccinelli] is the second person to be given a prominent role in the Trump administration this month after publicly backing aggressive immigration policies on cable news, which Mr. Trump consumes with gusto. Mr. Trump named Mark Morgan, who was forced out as Border Patrol chief two days after Mr. Trump took office, to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the New York Times reports. Mr. Cuccinelli served as attorney general in Virginia from 2010 to 2014, running unsuccessfully for governor there in 2013. A prominent conservative, he supported Senator Ted Cruz of Texas for president in 2016, leading an effort to win over delegates to the partys convention, including those supporting Mr. Trump. That kind of history has kept other officials from jobs they had hoped to get in the Trump administration. The timeline of Cuccinellis official appointment have not yet been determined, but an announcement could come as early as the end of this week. Greetings, Future Tensers, Last week, President Donald Trumps administration fired its latest salvos in its market-rattling trade war with China. First, it announced heavy trade restrictions that will hobble the Chinese telecom giant Huaweis ability to do business with U.S. suppliers like Google, potentially cutting Huaweis booming smartphone business off from the Android operating system its devices run on. Then, the president issued an executive order that gives officials broad authority to restrict U.S. tech purchases deemed risky to national security and linked to a foreign adversary. The moves represent a major effort to take Beijing to task for the various ways the U.S. says China creates unfair tech playing field. But, as Samm Sacks and Graham Webster explain, the plan may have some serious unintended consequencesand risk repeating some of Chinas most costly protectionist mistakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In between watching the markets, Future Tense has also been exploring other issues in cybersecurity. Jane C. Hu investigates the mysterious disappearance of many popular Facebook groupsand the alleged Indonesian plot behind their mass removal. Josephine Wolff reports on how the FBI cracked the GozNym malware case when they found the cybercriminals were advertising their services online. And Stephen Harrison explains why China recently started blocking Wikipedia in all languages (hint: a certain anniversary is coming up). Other things we read between brushing up on the effectiveness of Plan B: Palate cleansing: Would you try 3D-printed virtual reality sushi? Sophie Haigney brings us into the weird race between scientists and entrepreneurs trying to disrupt the dining experience by hacking our senses. Advertisement Chasing waterfalls: In 1969, engineers shut off the water on Niagara Falls. Really. And the little-remembered episode helps show how the natural wonders naturalness has slowly diminished. Extra credit: The College Board is rolling out an algorithm to calculate an adversity score to add to its larger suite of test results. Jane C. Hu explains how the move to even the playing field is another algorithmic black box. Breaking up: April Glaser explains how an antitrust-style breakup of Facebook could actually be done. Advertisement Peer review: Shannon Palus explains why researchers decided to retract a paper concluding that Jon Stewarts departure from The Daily Show helped Trump get elected. Events: TONIGHT: The original Jurassic Park did something few other movies have managed to do: It delivered the entertaining drama of dinosaurs wreaking havoc while giving viewers new ways to think about ethics in science. Join Future Tense tonight in Washington, D.C., for a screening of the 1993 sci-fi classic and a brief discussion on the ways it helped informand misinformthe public imagination. Well be joined by the president of the National Academy of Sciences, Marcia McNutt, and Daniel Sarewitz, co-director of the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes. RSVP here. To hologram Whitney Houston, who will always love you, Anthony Nguyen For Future Tense Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Listen to If Then by clicking the arrow on the audio player below, or get the show via Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or Google Play. View Transcript Get More If Then Slate Plus members get extended, ad-free versions of our podcastsand much more. Sign up today. Join Slate Plus Subscribe to If Then Copy this link and add it in your podcast app. copy link copied! For detailed instructions, see our Slate Plus podcasts page. In this episode April Glaser is joined by co-host Kim-Mai Cutler, a partner at Initialized Capital, an early stage venture firm. Shes also a former full-time journalist at TechCrunch. First, April and Kim-Mai discuss the lack of affordable housing in California and the political battles that are hindering progress. Then they talk about the upcoming wildfire season with Faith Kearns, from the University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Lizzie Johnson from the San Francisco Chronicle. Podcast production by Cameron Drews. You can follow April @Aprilaser and Kim-Mai @Kimmaicutler. If you have a question or comment, you can email us at ifthen@slate.com If Then is presented by Slate and Future Tense, a collaboration among Arizona State University, New America, and Slate. Future Tense explores the ways emerging technologies affect society, policy, and culture. To read more, follow us on Twitter and sign up for our weekly newsletter. 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... The parliament elected the Authority's deputy head Roman Konecny to take office. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The National Security Authority (NBU) will have a new head. The parliament elected its current deputy director, Roman Konecny, to the post. It is a very professional nomination, which has nothing to do with any political party or political nominations, said PM Peter Pellegrini (Smer), who recommended Konecny for the post, as quoted by the TASR newswire. Konecny will replace current NBU head, Jozef Magala, who is leaving the post after seven years. Support among the political spectrum The parliament approved Konecny in a secret ballot. Since he obtained 125 votes, it is clear that he won the support of opposition MPs as well. The caucus of the opposition Ordinary People Independent Personalities (OLaNO) movement welcomed the professionalism of Pellegrini's candidate prior to the May 21 vote, SITA reported. What are the NBU's powers? NBU was established in 2001 as an administration body without any executive powers, which are performed by other security state bodies, including the police and the Slovak Information Service (SIS). Its main tasks include the protection of classified information and the cryptographic protection of information, as well as electronic signatures and cyber security matters. Culture Minister Lubica Lassakova is incapable of representing culture, protesters claimed. The platform We Stand by Culture organised a protest on May 22 to call on Culture Minister Lubica Lassakova to step down. (Source: SITA) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Following the recent decisions of Culture Minister Lubica Lassakova (Smer) not to support the projects submitted by LGBTI organisations and to cut the budget for some cultural institutions, a protest was organised, calling on her to step down. The gathering, held in front of the Culture Ministry on May 22, was organised by the We Stand by Culture platform, which unites cultural organisations and individuals, the SITA newswire reported. She has definitely lost the trust of the members of the cultural scene, organisers of the protest claimed, as quoted by SITA. It is not the first time Lassakova has faced the criticism of artists and cultural organisations. There was also a petition calling for her dismissal, the Dennik N daily reported. Lassakova broke her promise The protest gathering took place in response to Lassakova's decision to reduce grants for several cultural organisations, including the Slovak National Museum (SNM), Slovak National Gallery (SNG) and Kunsthalle Bratislava (KHB). In addition, she did not want to approve money for LGBTI projects, even though six of them had been recommended by experts sitting in the ministry's commission. By taking such steps, she ignores the needs of professionals and polarises Slovak society, the protesters said, as quoted by SITA. Read also: Read also: Culture Ministry stops money for LGBTI community projects Read more In the case of creative centre Kunsthalle Bratislava, whose budget was drastically reduced, Lassakova essentially denied her publicly declared promise to make KHB independent, including its funding, protesters said. The minister refutes the criticism The Culture Ministry has already refuted the claims regarding cuts in the budgets of cultural organisations, which fall under the ministry. The budget of the Slovak National Gallery, of which Kunsthalle Bratislava is a part, increased by 200,000 compared to last year, said Lassakova, as quoted by SITA. The ministry is continuing discussions about the separation of KHB from SNG, she added. However, the demand of 710,000 for an annual budget of KHB is beyond today's financial possibilities of the ministry, Lassakova claimed. If they take money for our activities away from us, they not only take our presence away from us, said Lucia Gregorova Stach of SNG, as quoted by the Sme daily, but also steal the future of this culture. The minister to oversee LGBTI projects Regarding the LGBTI organisations, the Culture Ministry has invited them to the round table to hold a debate on their projects. In the meantime, the second call for submitting projects within the Culture of Disadvantaged Groups programme was opened on May 2. LGBTI organisations can ask for grants again. Read also: Read also: The culture minister cut money for some cultural institutions Read more The culture minister herself will oversee the second call so that no disadvantaged group asking for the grant feels discriminated against, said the ministry's spokesperson, Barbora Palovicova, as quoted by SITA. Yet, the ministry had changed the conditions of the programme without any prior consultations, We Stand by Culture protesters said. Hence, Lassakova is killing the development of the minority culture and international cooperation, the protesters added, as reported by SITA. Slovakia deserves a culture minister who does not try to silence the diversity of their own country as it is the source of the richness of our culture, said Roman Samotny, representing LGBTI organisations, at the gathering, as quoted by the Sme daily. Apart from the protest, a petition calling on the minister to step down due to her incompetence and intervention in the decisions of experts was launched on May 16. To date, roughly 7,500 people have signed it. Last fall, I finally got the chance to visit Giesen Coffee Roasters. Almost two years of intermittent emails, calls, texts, and mild-mannered coffee festival doorstepping had transpired between my first interview request and the morning I found myself journeying from home in Amsterdam to Giesen headquarters in Ulft. A bike, three trains, and a bus got me to the town, located in the province of Gelderland and, more precisely, within what is known as the Achterhoek, the countrys back corner; Germany is just a half-hour walk east. That Monday was so chilling that most horses in fields along the way were draped with blankets and the still-erect sunflowers were suddenly shriveled. But as I would learn while sitting comfortably in the Giesen showroom that overlooks their production line, the visits timing was favorable. Many of their buyers want new roasters before Christmas or year-end, so I was seeing the factory in full flourish. Whats more, there was news for the new year. In early 2019, Giesen unveiled its largest industrial-scale roaster: the W140A, which has been in development since 2017 and is named for its 140-kilo batch capacity and its automatic controls. Also due to debut is Giesens new roast profile software, promising to be more advanced, user-friendly, and remotely monitorable than its original version. Giesen is officially 12 years old, though it emerged from another entity that, in more ways than one, was its parent company. De Eik, as it was called, was a metalware factory that made parts and products for businesses in the area. One notable customer was Probat, the century-and-a-half old roaster manufacturer in Emmerich am Rhein, Germany, for whom De Eik made complete machines. De Eik was founded in 1988 by the father of Karin Bussink, who married Wilfred Giesen. When Bussinks father died at age 50, about 25 years ago, Karin and Wilfred took over. They carried on with the metalsmithing, but in 2006, Wilfred decided to make his own fully realized roaster. We thought we could make a better roaster because we had the knowledge of how to build it, and we saw potential for a lot of improvements, says Davey Giesen, Karin and Wilfreds eldest child. That was the point that my father designed the first roaster, the W6, and also put it on the market. He was just about a year old back then, but now, at age 26, is Giesens COO. Davey has been with the company for six years and has clearly been keeping notes. I think I was number 18, he specifies, referring to where in the sequence of staff hires he falls. So I saw the company grow. Studying IT and, on nights and weekends, pursuing a bachelors degree in management have helped prepare him for daily company duties, though his coffee education began much earlier. He got hands-on training working full-time for a year at the micro-roastery and shop that his parents ran in the nearby town of Doetinchem. They opened Koffiebranderij Venetie in 2008 because they wanted to show how it should be done in the field, says Davey. Besides providing a setting to test out Wilfreds earliest products, the venue gave Giesen customers real-life, real-time lessons in running a roastery. But after some time, Davey explains, we didnt have any time to run a roastery because of course we were getting better and better at building roasters. And we want to put the energy more into the factory than the roastery. Though they sold the shop about eight years ago, it still exists, and the current owners continue using the original W6A that Wilfred installed there. A souvenir from that chapter in the familys entrepreneurial history appears in the form of the Koffiebranderij Venetie-logoed cup in which I am served coffee shortly after arriving at Giesen headquarters. Ebullient sales representative Miguel de Boer has prepared the drinks, and I talk with him before heading into the factory itself. We started 10 years ago with 10 people, and up until two years ago, in 2016, we had 50. In the last two years, we really expanded a lot, he says. Like the majority of Giesens staff, De Boer is a relatively recent hire. He appreciates the sales culture at Giesen after spending years as an account manager for PepsiCo, overseeing the Benelux sales of Tropicana, Gatorade, among other Big Bev and snack brands. In the fast-moving consumer goods, its hurry, hurry, hurry and small margins, De Boer says. Here, its: take it easy, big margins, no discussion about one- or two-dollar discounts. No. People might want to have a discount, but its not the most important thing when they want to buy quality. On that note, I follow De Boer on a tour. He begins in the electrical department. We make everything wire by wire, he says. Here each order gets assigned a serial number and each machine-in-the-making is placed on a cart. As parts are amassed, they get checked off on a list. A photo documents the list and gets archived; this process is repeated elsewhere along the production line to ensure completeness and to keep record of what has been done when. To expedite repairs, the warehouse shelves stay neatly stacked with piles of spare parts. In a fluorescent-lit office, a 24-hour service support staff sits, ready to field calls, emails, or Skypes from six continents. Visitors to the Giesen stand at World of Coffee 2018 may have noticed on hand some VR goggles and screens; a sales tool, they encourage prospective buyers to cozy up, virtually, to the various machines and envision how they might fit in their own workspaces. The next department through which we wend is welding. Bodies of the roastersas well as Giesens destoners, green bean conveyors, cyclones, filters, afterburners, presentation tables, and coffee binsare made of steel. I see huge sheet metal rectangles resting on sawhorse tables, as casually available seeming as reams of paper might be in photocopy shop. Most materials are sourced from within Europe, and some come from very nearby. Ulft is situated in a region known as the Oude IJsselstreek, where the soil contains high amounts of iron, leading to a locally quite prolific industry; the earliest blast furnace is recorded as first appearing in 1689. After assemblage, attention turns to surfaces. In the degreasing and painting department, a chemical scent hangs in the air, fittingly. Roasters come in standard black or customers can request a special paint job in up to three tones with a glossy or a matte finish. Lately, there has been demand for the unpainted raw look, which results in a griege coat that shows all the welding marks. Roofs come in stainless steel or hammered gold, and handles are made of olive, bubinga, or zebrano wood. Logos are not the only way to customize. De Boer is not being hyperbolic when he tells me anything is possible. You can have sparkles on it; you can even have Swarovski diamonds, he says. At the end of the production line, it is time for testing. This final step is usually executed by Wilfred, Davey, or Marc Weber, Giesens global sales manager. After three successful roasting sessions, a roaster is deemed ready to leave the factory. A wall-mounted map in the front office is marked up with red and green radii showing the varying costs of delivery according to distance. The machines have all been assembled by hand in the Netherlands, and a bucolic Dutch touch travels with outgoing W1, W6, and W15 roasters. They reach their destinations by horse trailer, pulled by cars driven by the very mechanics who handle the installation. Larger machines go by truck while their mechanics catch a flight. Roasters bound for destinations that fall off the map are flown or sent by sea container. The company relies on 35 trained agents around the world who assist with sales, installation, and repairs. Where there are none regionally (for example, in Argentina and Maldives), Giesen headquarters deploys its own mechanics. These days, their market is wider than ever. Im told that South Korea, China, and Germany are among the top purchasing countries. Roasters are still being shipped to Iran and Syria. And as of March 2018, Giesen appointed Pennsylvania-based agent David Sutfin for the US and plans to expand the Stateside team with three more agents. The W6A remains the most popular model. Next is the W15A sold with an external cyclone (which permits less interrupted roasting because it does not require a user to stop mid-session to remove bean chaffs from inside the machine). The smallest-capacity model is the WP1, intended for sample roasting. What must be the very smallest Giesen ever made, however, stands on a table in the showroom where I begin and end my visit. Built in honor of Wilfreds 50th birthday, in 2016, the delightful little dummy is, literally, fit for a Barbie Dreamhouse. Human-size Giesen equipment is also exhibited in the showroom, as is a vintage sample roaster. Between that set-up and the espresso bar, featuring a two-group Synesso MVP, the back wall displays a collection of T-shirts lately being promoted by the new marketing department employees. A recent addition is a black fitted V-neck with the company name in swash-heavy font scripted over the fuchsia outline of a W6. It makes me think of the hot pink one- and six-kilo Giesen roasters once famously purchased by Kaffismija Islands coffee roasters in Reykjavik. It also reflects how this once mom-and-pop heavy-metal factory is changing with the times and appealing to a broader-hued spectrum of clients. They sell like crazypeople just want a T-shirt with Giesen on it, says De Boer. Even when we are at events, when we close down for the day, we have to take away these items, he shares as he points to roaster handles, the likes of which expo attendees have apparently pilfered in the past. Still, De Boer sounds more flattered than flummoxed. On a daily basis, Karin and Wilfred handle general management. Daveys younger brother, Dani Giesen, oversees facilities and building management. The youngest Giesen sibling is still in secondary school, so it is premature to say if her future is at the factory. Regardless, the family is well positioned to communicate with a major rising segment of the coffee industry: younger people and their globally, millennially minded counterparts. I ask Davey what he has observed of his peers, particularly in comparison to his parents coffee industry cohorts. They do a lot of things differently, he replies. The older generation still want to have manual controls and want to see everything analog, and the generation after that is more about automatization, running a better business. They really use the profile system to control the roaster and all that kind of thing, so its more about the digital world. When I inquire about gender balance among clients, Davey acknowledges that the market is more men than women. He adds, But we find it really good that more women are building roasteries. We also see a lot of couples doing this together, husbands and wives. The life-partners-as-corporate-partners format has certainly yielded much for the Giesens. In giving a new, more narrowly defined purpose to an old factory, Wilfred and Karin have enriched the specialty coffee industry with their products and their progeny. Both contributions are relatively young, but their potential to keep upping the quality of roasting and its accessibility for everyone is profound. Karina Hof is a Sprudge staff writer based in Amsterdam. Read more Karina Hof on Sprudge. Twenty-two-year-old Standardbred racehorse owner/groom Jordan Hicken went overboard while fishing off of Prince Edward Island on Tuesday, May 21. Intensive searches of the waters and shore have taken place since the incident, but have yet to locate him. According to multiple reports, Hicken, a resident of Lower Montague who has fished for six or seven years, went overboard early Tuesday morning near Naufrage. Halifaxs Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre received a transfer call via 911 P.E.I. at roughly 5:26 a.m. which stated that a man had gone overboard in the area of Naufrage. Hicken was the subject of an intensive search and rescue operation that took place all day on Tuesday and was later called off as nightfall fell. It has been estimated that roughly 60 vessels including those of fishermen, firefighters, police and the Canadian Coast Guard had been searching for Hicken on Tuesday. After the Tuesday search, Halifax's Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre declared Hicken a missing person and handed the case over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The CBC has reported that Jordan was fishing with his father, Standardbred horseman Trevor Hicken, at the time he went overboard. Multiple media outlets have received confirmation that several of Jordans personal items that had blown overboard were found in the water during the Tuesday search. A follow-up story by the CBC explains that waters were too rough to search on Wednesday (May 22), although shoreline searches did take place. Local fishermen, including Hicken's father and other family members, were back on the water searching Thursday and are expected to continue the search either on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Trot Insider will update this story with more information when it is known. Please join Standardbred Canada in keeping Jordan Hickens family and friends in your thoughts at this time. An image of Jordan Hicken, which is displayed on his Facebook page. An image of Jordan Hicken, which is displayed on his Facebook page. (With files from The Guardian, The Canadian Press and the CBC) Although E R Quinn will have to overcome the outside post position if he wants to capture Thursdays (May 23) featured dash at Red Shores Charlottetown Driving Park, it appears as though adversity has not been affecting him as of late. The CDPs eight-dash Thursday program will get underway at 6:30 p.m. and the $2,400 featured contest has been carded as Race 7. E R Quinn is scheduled to start from the outside Post 6 for trainer Jeff Holmes and owner Orwell Bay Stable of Orwell. In his last race, the son of Total Truth recovered from an early break before eventually hitting the wire first. Corey MacPherson is listed to drive E R Quinn Thursday. Jetster, who is fresh off of a win and will be making a jump in class for the race, will start from Post 1 for trainer-driver Marc Campbell. Winter Blast (to be driven by Jason Hughes) will get a second crack at opposition below the preferred ranks. Red Shores race analyst Les MacIsaac sees the way to the winner's circle running through E R Quinn. "E R Quinn made an early break last week then was the victim of interference and still won," MacIsaac said. "How do you go against him after a performance like that? You don't." Also scheduled to be in the field is Harbourlite Jerry (Steven Shepherd), Tempo Seelster (Ken Murphy) and Confident Fella (Dale Spence). A group of seven three-year-old trotters are set to meet in Race 2, which will offer a purse of $1,650. Getti Messi, who is the races morning line favourite, is heading in to the tilt off of an impressive qualifier for driver Mike McGuigan, trainer Len McGuigan and owner Jamie Whalen of Avondale. Other top entries include Dustylane Thunder (Adam Merner) and Hard Case (Mark Bradley). For live video, race programs, promotional information and more, head to redshores.ca. To view the harness racing entries for Thursday at the CDP, click the following link: Thursday Entries Charlottetown Driving Park. (With files from Red Shores) Trot Insider has learned that longtime Standardbred trainer Mike Weller, who had recently been battling cancer for the second time, has passed away at the age of 60. It was announced in early April that Weller, who had previously battled and defeated stomach cancer in 2016, had been re-diagnosed with the disease, this time in his esophagus. After the April announcement, Weller and his wife, Sue Woodyatt, took a leave of absence from their positions in the industry to explore treatment options outside of Canada. Mike Weller, pictured with his wife, Susan Woodyatt.. Mike Weller, pictured with his wife, Susan Woodyatt.. Weller was no stranger to the win column during his extensive career in the harness racing industry, as the successful horsemans starters won 1,315 races and banked $6.7 million in purse earnings. He campaigned a solid stable south of the border for many years before relocating his stable to Ontario roughly nine years ago. Weller, a resident of Milton, Ont., was a much-loved and respected horseman throughout the industry, and will be missed by his peers and those closest to him. Arrangements and an official obituary for Weller have yet to be announced, but Trot Insider will update this story with the information when it is made available. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Mike Weller. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) launched a new Neurology and Stroke Unit at Rashid Hospital in Dubai yesterday (May 20). Humaid Al Qutami, director general of the DHA, inaugurated the Ward 25 along with a number of DHA officials. The new Neurology and Stroke Unit has an 18-bed capacity and focuses on offering specialised neurology services to the average 20,000 annual visitors (both outpatients and inpatient) the neurology department receives. Al Qutami said: The expansion si in line with the authoritys goals of providing specialised medical care to the community. The DHA strives to continuously develop all medical departments across DHA facilities and ensure that they are equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technologies and qualified staff. Al Qutami commended businessman Yousef Mohammad Hadi Badri for sponsoring the new unit and contributing to the developmental drive of the health sector in Dubai. Dr Abu Baker Al Madani, the head of the Neurology Department in Rashid Hospital, said the department is one of the largest neurology service centres in the UAE, catering to more than 20,000 patients every year (reaching 22,700 in 2018). Al Madani said:The departments scope of services include: emergency service (24/7), outpatient clinics (general and specialised), inpatients including critical care patients, inpatient consultations in Dubai hospital and Latifa hospital, electrophysiological studies, specialised procedures including Botox injections, baclofen pump and DBS programming to name a few. In addition, he added that the department serves as a primary training centre for neurology residents and for periodic training for residents from sister specialities. The neurology team provides in-hospital consultation for patients requiring neurology evaluation within Rashid Hospital, Dubai Hospital and Latifa Hospital. They provide around 600 to 800 consultations per month. -TradeArabia News Service The United States has apparently changed its policy on allowing Palestinian leaders to freely enter the U.S. for whatever reason. Many Palestinian officials travel to America to denounce Israel and campaign for political and financial support. The current U.S. government has officially noted that the decades of Palestinian propaganda (mostly in Arabic, rarely in English) calling for the destruction of Israel and expulsion of all Jews from the Middle East is partly financed by fundraising in the United States. Since 2017 the Americans have convinced the UN and most Western nations to agree about designating Palestinian terror groups as international terrorists and subject to official and unofficial sanctions. These bans included other Arab Islamic terror groups that had long been allowed to operate openly in Western nations under the fiction that they were purely political organizations or charities. Earlier in 2019 Britain, after years of American and Israeli pressure, agreed to recognize Lebanon-based Hezbollah as an international Islamic terrorist group. The amount of evidence against Hezbollah is vast but because Hezbollah was backed (and created) by Iran there was an additional incentive to go along with the fiction. Hezbollah personnel have been discovered in Gaza assisting Islamic terrorist groups, especially those backed by Iran. Iran is acting more belligerent than usual and talking about war with the Americans. The Gulf Arabs would like that, as would the more zealous supporters of the Iranian religious dictatorship. But Israel has quietly told the Americans that a war with Iran would not be good for Israel because Iran considers Israel a greater foe than the Gulf Arabs. Iran would, if there were war, try and launch as many of their ballistic missiles as possible at Israel. Some would have chemical warheads. If enough missiles were fired in a short enough period, the Israeli missile defenses would be overwhelmed and some of the Iranian ballistic missiles would get through. Iran would also order its bought and paid for allies in Lebanon (Hezbollah) and Gaza (Islamic Jihad and maybe even sometimes ally Hamas) to attack with shorter range weapons. Best case is that all this mayhem would mean at least several hundred Israeli dead and worst case would be several thousand. Plus there would be prolonged combat on the Lebanese and Gaza borders. The Americans, at least the senior leaders, agree with Israel. The current American president does not want a prolonged shooting war with Iran or even an undeclared campaign of violence against Americans in the region. After all, Iran is coming apart from the inside. The additional sanctions increase the popular Iranian anger against their own government. The American would quickly recognize any new, truly democratic, Iranian government and seek a return to the American relationship with Iran before the 1979 revolt led by the Shia clergy. Before that, the Americans and Iranians had been close allies for decades. Israel was also an ally, but a less publicized one (because of the Palestinian issue). Egypt And The Truth Egypt continues to avoid accurately reporting casualties in Sinai. For over a year all the government reports are so many Islamic terrorists and government forces were killed recently and deliberately avoiding specifying precise time periods. This only applies to operations in Sinai, because that area, unlike most of Egypt, is thinly populated and has been effectively isolated from the rest of Egypt and the outside world in general. While this helps prevent the Sinai based ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and other Islamic terrorists from getting into the rest of Egypt, it also prevents journalists from getting in. There is still the Internet and travelers from Sinai. Thus it is known that the battle against Islamic terrorism continues and ISIL has been unable to launch more large-scale attacks. The security forces continue to carry out raids and Islamic terrorists are arrested and killed. But the exact extent of this activity is now unknown. This loss of accuracy in reporting was gradual and is now standard. The Egyptian campaign against ISIL in Sinai began in February 2018 and was, at the end of 2018, proclaimed a success but details were often unavailable, unclear or not credible. Egypt had always restricted media access to Sinai and tried to control what independent versions of Sinai events that did get out. During all of 2018 Egypt claims to have killed 464 ISIL personnel and arrested over 7,000 people suspected of some involvement with ISIL (members, support or doing business with ISIL). There was a lot of collective punishment, notably destroying the homes of families with one or more members in ISIL or closely associated with ISIL. The military established tight travel controls with numerous checkpoints. Despite all that ISIL continued to operate, although at a lower intensity. During 2018 ISIL carried out dozens of assassination operations in Sinai, most of them succeeding. Even the failures (usually against senior commanders or officials with better security) were unnerving because they usually implied that ISIL had intel capabilities which could obtain secret movement plans for senior officials. The army did locate and raid dozens of ISIL camps and safe houses, uncovering documents verifying ISIL was still very much in business. At the start of 2018 ISIL in Sinai was thought to have 1,300 active members. There appear to be fewer of them now, but still at least a few hundred to nearly a thousand. All these army operations led to more than a thousand roadside bombs, landmines and other explosives being disabled or destroyed before they could be used (to kill, on average, more civilians than anyone else). Hundreds of ISIL motorbikes and other vehicles have been seized along with hundreds of rifles and machine-guns and large quantities of ammo and other military equipment. Until early 2018 Egypt would, at least once a month, release a summary of recent operations and the list always contained details of many hideouts and much equipment (and weapons) seized as well as many (often fifty or more) mines and roadside bombs disabled. Yet as 2018 went on these press releases became less precise and even vague (as in not specifying in which time period the events took place). By the end of 2018, the press releases were no longer mentioning the 2018 campaign against ISIL indicating that this massive operation was unofficially over. The intense military activity in Sinai made it difficult for the local economy to operate and that led to hundreds of thousands of civilians becoming destitute and dependent on food aid provided, irregularly, by the military. All this cost the army a lot of popular support (for operations against ISIL) it had had in early 2018. This has apparently become a major issue for military commanders in Sinai and now the anti-ISIL operations are being scaled back and more attention is being paid to cultivating the support of local civilians. These counter-terror operations were also doing a lot of damage to Sinai based smuggling operations. The government told the smugglers (usually Bedouins) that if they wanted to avoid these counter-terrorism raids, dont work with the Islamic terrorists, especially ISIL. That has had some impact although by now most of the Sinai tribes have turned against ISIL, which is still the primary Islamic terror group operating in Sinai. The reduced Islamic terrorist activity is also made possible because Egypt has greatly reduced access between Gaza and Egypt. Gaza is still a sanctuary for several Islamic terror groups but because of continued Hamas violence against Israel Gaza is difficult to get in or out of. That leaves a much diminished ISIL as the major terrorist threat in Sinai. ISIL can still attract some recruits and other support but, as happened in Iraq, Syria and elsewhere ISIL made too many enemies and is declining. ISIL has tried moving to other parts of Egypt but has not found any part of the country as hospitable as Sinai. May 21, 2019: Israel has noted that a lot of people in Gaza were ordering small items from mail-order firms. These items came into Gaza via the Israeli postal service and when the postal inspectors began checking these small items earlier this month it was found that many of these small items were dual use or primarily military. The Israeli informant and media monitoring networks confirmed this. So now these small mail order items (like rifle sights, military boots and scientific tools used to build bombs and missiles) are checked and most of them are now being blocked. For the second time in a week, inspectors found many parcels containing military equipment. Today 200 parcels were seized while on the 14th 172 were seized. This mail order smuggling is apparently organized and now the scrutiny at the Gaza border is as well. May 20, 2019: With Egyptian assistance, Hamas and Israel have worked out and agreed to a six-month ceasefire. By the terms of the deal, there will be more economic concessions the longer the ceasefire lasts. Rarely do these ceasefire deals last long as Hamas is unwilling to prevent smaller Islamic terror groups in Gaza from violating the terms of these deals. Hamas later pointed out that this was officially a temporary ceasefire and subject to immediate cancellation if either side believed the other was not keeping their part of the deal. May 19, 2019: In Egypt, near Giza and the pyramids, Islamic terrorists used a crude roadside bomb against a tourist bus. Eight foreigners and four nearby Egyptians were wounded. In late 2018 a similar attack here killed three foreign (from Vietnam) tourists and an Egyptian guide. That was the first such attack on tourists since 2017. These attacks cause foreign tourists to cancel visits to Egypt, or at least to the pyramids, for a few months or longer. The police response to the most recent attack was swift and the next day police raided hideouts for the Islamic terror group Hasm and killed twelve suspects in gun battles. Hasm was among the usual suspects and those killed were armed and in possession of bomb-making materials and plans to use them. Tourism accounts for 11 percent of the Egyptian GDP and provides jobs (directly or indirectly) for 12 percent of the workforce. Currently, unemployment (about 8 percent) is falling and the government wants to keep it that way. Islamic terrorists want more unemployment as it makes it easier to recruit and gather public support. At least in theory. In practice, Islamic terrorist attacks on the economy make most Egyptians mad at the Islamic terrorists and the government (for not preventing them). Average unemployment for all of 2081 was 9.9 percent and has been going down for several years now. May 18, 2019: In southern Syria (Quneitra province), an Israeli airstrike apparently destroyed at least two targets that were probably Iranian. May 17, 2019: Syrian air defenses near the Israeli border reported strange objects coming from Israel. The next day the Syrians fired anti-aircraft missiles at more of the strange objects but did not report anything shot down. Foreigners in Damascus report hearing two explosions outside the city, indicating another successful Israeli air strike. Israel rarely comments on its airstrikes at the time they occur. These days Syria always reports that its air defense systems have shot something down after each Israeli airstrike, but do not present any evidence (like the wreckage of what was shot down). So far Israel has regularly demonstrated it can shut down (permanently with bombs or temporarily with countermeasures) Syrian air defense systems. The Israelis dont destroy all the Syrian air defense systems because that would be expensive and Israel only needs to shut down systems that attempt to interfere with Israeli airstrikes or surveillance missions. This approach also intimidates the Syrians and Russians (and anyone else using Russian air defense systems). This Israeli policy avoiding damaging Russian air defense systems as long as Russia does not try to interfere with Israeli air operations. One reason Russia is exasperated with Iran is that the Iranians fail to appreciate the technical and military superiority the Israelis have when it comes to air defenses and how to defeat them. The Russians are being practical while the Iranians are believing their own press releases. May 16, 2019: In the south (Gaza), Hamas released 30 fire balloons towards Israel. Three landed in wooded areas and started small fires that were quickly put out. The others apparently landed in the desert. But two days later one of the fire balloons was found in a military base. The payload had not gone off and started a fire and the device was safely removed. May 15, 2019: Thousands of Palestinian civilians gathered at border crossings in Gaza and the West Bank and tried to move into Israel. In Gaza, there were several riots along the border fence. All this was to commemorate the 71st anniversary of The Nakba (Day of Catastrophe, the victory of Israel in the 1948 war that led to 600,000 Arabs fleeing what is now Israel, and an equal number of Jews fleeing Arab countries.) At least 47 Palestinians were wounded. These protests did not accomplish much, as usual. Partly because of that Hamas canceled the usual Friday border protests scheduled for the 17th. May 14, 2019: The United States released aerial photos of an IRGC (Quds force) training camp in Lebanon, near the Syrian border. The camp was apparently set up just over the border in the hope that it would not be bombed by the Israelis. May 13, 2019: A government official from Qatar was once more allowed to enter Gaza with $10 million in cash. Most of it is being distributed as hundred dollars bills, one to each family in Gaza. This is still acceptable to Egypt and Israel because it ensures that most of the money goes to needy Palestinians and not Hamas, which would use it for military purposes. Qatar, an Iranian ally has provided Hamas with over $1.1 billion in aid since 2012 but told Hamas in January that it was halting its $10 million monthly payment to keep the Gaza electrical supply system operating because Hamas was diverting aid money to military uses. During 2018 Qatar cut most cash aid to Hamas. Partly this is because it is so difficult to get the cash into Gaza but the main reason is that Qatar wants the cash to go towards improving the economy and living standards for Gaza residents. Iran backs Hamas in preferring to use most aid, especially cash to improve military forces and the ability to carry out terror operations in Israel and Egypt. Qatar continues to provide cash for Gaza, but only if Qatari officials can supervise use of that money. This restricts the ability of Hamas to divert the aid to military projects. Since January that cash directly to the people policy has been accepted as a compromise. Qatar says it will halt these payments if it finds that Hamas is trying to get the cash from Gaza families. May 10, 2019: In the south (Gaza), Hamas said it had fired two rockets into Israel. In response, Israeli officials said there was no evidence of these rocket launches. Apparently, Hamas made the announcement to try and demonstrate it was doing something to respond to the growing Israeli airstrikes (which are standard after every attack on Israel). May 9, 2019: One of the most pro-Iran groups in Iraq is the Hezbollah Nujaba. Currently, it consists of under 10,000 militiamen, most of them involved with neighborhood defense and not much else. But the group wants to become an Iraqi version of the Lebanese Hezbollah and that is encouraged by Iran and the original Hezbollah. This is of great concern for Israel because groups like Hezbollah Nujaba could control remote and thinly populated areas of western Iraq. From these desert areas, they could launch short-range Iranian ballistic missiles at Israel. This is similar to what the Iranian backed Shia rebels have been doing in Yemen against Saudi Arabia. Israel believes Iran has already installed ballistic missiles in southern Iraq, where they can reach Israel. Iraq is investigating the claim and willing to shut this down because it might involve Iraq in a war with Israel and that is not seen as a good thing. May 8, 2019: Egypt is pressuring Hamas to prove that it is willing to cooperate with Egypt. That means curbing smaller rival Islamic Jihad which is backed by Iran and now said to have a larger stockpile of Iranian rockets than Hamas. Egypt controls one of the two main crossings out of Gaza (Israel controls the other) and Egypt can open or close its crossing at will. In the last two years, the crossing has mostly been closed. Egypt also keeps the smuggling tunnels out of Gaza shut down. If Hamas wants access to the outside world their best option is cooperation with Egypt. That has not been working because Hamas assurances cannot be trusted and blaming problems (with maintaining ceasefires) on Islamic Jihad does not work. May 6, 2019: Israel is holding Iran responsible for the recent escalation of violence in Gaza. Iran backs the smaller, but more extreme Gaza Islamic terror group Islamic Jihad and even Hamas leaders admit that Islamic Jihad has become a troublesome rival, even if Islamic Jihad is much smaller than Hamas and has far fewer supporters in Gaza. May 5, 2019: Israel used a UAV missile attack in Gaza to kill Hamed Ahmed Khudari, the man responsible to smuggling Iranian cash to Islamic Jihad in Gaza. The next day Israel posted a video showing the missile strike. Khudari ran a money transfer business in Gaza and was long known as the main reason that banned cash contributions were still getting into Gaza. In 2018 Israel revealed details of the Khudari operation and put him on their known terrorist list. May 4, 2019: In the south, an Israeli airstrike in Gaza destroyed a building identified as the headquarters of the Hamas Cyber War operations. Some of these hackers had been noticed trying to disrupt Israeli networks or steal information and they were tracked back to this building. No Hamas casualties were revealed but the building (actually the wing of a larger structure) was a pile of rubble after the airstrike. This probably means that the surviving (and newly recruited) Hamas hackers will be working from home in the future. This was apparently the first time hostile hackers were counterattacked with an airstrike. May 3, 2019: In the south, a Hamas or Islamic Jihad sniper in Gaza wounded two Israeli soldiers on the other side of the border fence. This triggered a weekend of escalating violence that led to Islamic Jihad and Hamas firing nearly 700 rockets and mortar shells into Israel on the 4th and 5th. These attacks killed four Israeli civilians and wounded 135. Israel retaliated with massive airstrikes and artillery fire that hit 280 targets. On the 6th Hamas agreed to another ceasefire, which at least halted this round of violence. At least 25 Gazans were killed and over a hundred wounded by the weekend of violence. Of the Palestinians killed in Gaza, 23 were identified and 74 percent were known Islamic terrorists. Of the 17 terrorists dead eight were from the Iranian backed Islamic Jihad, five belonged to Fatah, two from Hamas and one from Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The weekend of violence was largely attributed to Islamic Jihad with Hamas making no meaningful effort to stop it. The previous month (April) was the first in over a year in which no Israelis were killed by a terrorist attack. The knife terrorism attacks promoted by Fatah in the West Bank are rare now. These attacks began in 2015 but were largely unsuccessful and have been rare since 2018. Fatah also promoted the use of vehicles for terror attacks but these were equally unsuccessful and, as with the knife attacks, got more attackers killed than Israeli victims. In April there were 126 terror attacks, compared to 302 in March. May 2, 2019: In the south, two rockets were fired from Gaza into Israel. There was no damage. Earlier in the day, there were several Israeli airstrikes in Gaza against Hamas targets. May 1, 2019: In the south, fire balloons from Gaza caused two brush fires in southern Israel. In the West Bank, Israeli police conducted raids that led to the arrest of 17 terrorism suspects. In Sudan, the AU (African Union) agreed that the military control had to go and changed their demand for the military to give up power within three months to two months. Last month leaders and representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, Chad, Djibouti, Somalia, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, South Sudan and Uganda urged the AU to make the appeal to Sudans military leaders who had recently helped remove dictator who had been in power for decades. Egypt and Ethiopia are Sudans most powerful neighbors and they are concerned about Sudans long term stability. The two-year transition Sudans military has proposed has failed to satisfy Sudanese pro-democracy groups and opposition political parties. Sudan has long been a sanctuary for Islamic terrorists and was once close to al Qaeda then Iran. The recently deposed Sudan dictator, after suffering pressure from the U.S., Egypt and Israel, backed away from its Islamic terrorism support. Israel encouraged this with some long-range airstrikes against smugglers transporting Iranian weapons to Gaza via Sudan and Egypt. The Sudan government still supports a lot of clandestine nastiness and the military is involved with a lot of that. In order to continue enjoying our site, we ask that you confirm your identity as a human. Thank you very much for your cooperation. Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis said that this plan was to ensure an organized reconstruction and to secure the return of people to their homes reports Zaman Al Wasl. Syrias Prime Minister, Imad Khamis, gave his cabinet and mayors two months to remove violating and damaged buildings in Damascuss suburbs. Such a decision reflects the regimes thirst for more property control, secured in what appears to be a legal act, local activists said. Al-Watan, a pro-regime newspaper, reported that Khamis called for intensifying the efforts and steps of the ministries and concerned institutions and the development of an executive work program starting with Ayn al-Fijah, Ayn al-Khadra, Bassemeh, Yarmouk, Jobar, Qaboun and Barzeh. The newspaper pointed out that during the meeting, Khamis stressed the removal of all violations in the areas populated without a license, pointing to the existence of associations and buildings that have been built despite being guilty of infringements, so they will be, re-settled by the governing laws, and within the conceptualization of regional planning. Khamis also called for the removal of all infractions in the areas, claiming that his system seeks to return the displaced to their cities and towns, revealing that, there is an organized plan and that acquisitions during the spring are a red line. Khamis gave two months for invalid buildings to be removed so areas are not renovated in a random manner. Khamis commissioned the General Housing Establishment to study a proposed residential neighborhood to compensate the owners of real estate acquired in the immediate compound of the al-Faija spring. The General Company for Technical Consultations and Studies was commissioned to complete a new organizational plan for the areas of Ayn al-Faija, Bassemeh and Ayn al-Khadra. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Voters on Tuesday turned out two Port of Columbia County commissioners in favor of two candidates who oppose the agencys industrial development plans at Port Westward. In a photo finish, challenger Nancy Ward defeated incumbent Patrick Trapp for commissioner position 1 by only 89 votes. Ward took about 40 percent of the vote to Trapps 38 percent, and Stephen Hanson took 21 percent of the vote. The difference between the two would have had to be within a 0.2 percent margin to automatically trigger a recount under Oregon law. The margin between the two was 1.28 percent as of Wednesday. As of Wednesday afternoon about 9,500 ballots had been counted. Columbia County Elections Clerk Don Clack said a small number of ballots remain to be counted, giving a wild guess that 100 or so are untallied. In the race for port commissioner 2, challenger Chip Bubl won 51 percent of the vote over incumbent Mike Avent of Rainier, who took second place with 31 percent. Amie Jo Kopecy earned 17 percent. Larry Ericksen, running unopposed, will retain his seat on position 3. Both Bubl and Ward have raised concerns with the ports six-year old effort to rezone 837 acres of port-owned farmland in the Port Westward for development. The outcome of the election leaves two of the port commissions five members potentially opposed to the idea. How that plays out while the appeal process continues is uncertain. It isnt that were opposed to the rezone, Ward said Wednesday. Were opposed to a blanket process. I dont think any of us deny the fact that we need jobs in this county. ... (but) I have great concerns with, one, not following the rules as they were laid out by the Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals, and, two, what is the industry? This matters a lot. Im very nervous of industry that uses fossil fuels, especially if shipped outside of our country. One of the Ports potential projects for its Port Westward property is to lease space to Northwest Innovation Works to build a methanol refinery at Port Westward, just like the one it is trying to get permitted at the Port of Kalama. Next Energy has expressed interest in building a renewable diesel facility in the area. And port officials say theyve had interest in the area from manufacturers of soda ash and solar panels. In other election results, measure 5-273 to renew funding of the Columbia 911 communications district was passed by a landslide 74 percent vote. But measure 5-274, which would have placed a five-year tax to fund the Rainier Cemetery Maintenance District, fell by 41 votes, or a 2 percent difference. At the Rainier School District, Elaine Placido retained her seat with 54 percent of the vote. Ralph Brown and Allen Cash took 27 and 19 percent, respectively. Bruce Holsey took the only contested race for 911 Communications District director, winning 55 percent of the vote. He won by a margin of 98 votes against challenger Barbara Odoms. Tiffani Penson took Portland Community College District Zone 2 Director with 66 percent of the vote. Voter turnout sits at about 25 percent for the election, which Clack said is almost exactly where he expected it to fall. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 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. Editors note: Todays editorial originally appeared in The Yakima Herald-Republic. Editorial content from other publications and authors is provided to give readers a sampling of regional and national opinion and does not necessarily reflect positions endorsed by the Editorial Board of The Daily News. As origin stories go, the idea for implementing specialized courts for veterans who have run afoul of the law and who need treatment, not incarceration, is as compelling as it is forward-thinking. It was 2006. A judge in Buffalo, N.Y., Robert Russell, was presiding in his mental health court when he noticed a slovenly, slouching veteran waiting to be presented before him. Russell told two court workers, veterans both, to take the defendant aside to talk to him. Emerging back in the courtroom from this impromptu peer counseling, the veteran stood more erect; his posture was different, Russell recalled to the American Psychological Association journal. He indicated he was going to try harder to work on his problems. From that encounter spawned the first veterans treatment court in 2008 in Buffalo. Based on the same principles as specialized drug and mental-health courts that counseling, treatment and closely monitored probation are more effective than imprisonment veterans treatment courts are being used throughout the country, 460 in all, including seven counties in Washington state. Soon it will be eight, as Benton County will usher in the court next month. It may be time for Yakima County to follow suit. According to federal figures, Yakima County ranks 10th in the state with 12,859 veterans among its residents, just behind neighboring Benton County. Every other county in the state with a similar population of veterans has instituted a separate legal adjudicative process for those who commit nonviolent crimes, and Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Brusic has said hes interested. Understandably, before committing, Brusic wants to do his homework and determine approximately how many veterans pass through the countys legal system and figure out how to pay for the program within budget constraints. What hell likely find is what prosecuting attorneys in other jurisdictions have: that implementing a veterans treatment court not only reduces overcrowded jails and prisons and reduces recidivism rates, it also, in the big picture, saves money. Washington state spends $37,841 per inmate per year, a huge strain on state and local government resources. With more veterans getting help for addictions and afflictions many resulting from post-traumatic stress disorder that they developed while in the military, fewer incarcerations will lead to less-crowded prisons. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that 8 percent of all individuals incarcerated in the U.S. are veterans. Moreover, one national study of 7,500 health records of veterans who have appeared in court showed that nearly 80 percent had mental health or drug-abuse histories. Despite what critics might say, offering this alternative to veterans facing criminal charges hardly amounts to a get-out-of-jail-free pass. Veterans follow the same protocol as those who have had their cases heard in drug and mental health courts, which have been shown to save money, reduce crime and rehabilitate offenders. Most veteran treatment court programs feature prosecutors and public defenders working collaboratively with social service intervention programs to encourage veterans to address the underlying causes for their mental health or drug use issues that led to felony of gross misdemeanor offenses. Veterans in many cases go through a 1 1/2to 2-year program supported by mentors who are veterans themselves, as well as probation officers, counselors and health care providers, and legal aids. It is standard for veterans who opt for probation in lieu of incarceration to be drug and alcohol tested twice weekly and to be subject to periodic home visits. Does it work? A study reported in the American Psychological Association journal in 2016 found that veterans who participated in veterans treatment court are more likely to have jobs after a year than those veterans who appeared in conventional courts. Another small study of 83 participants reported that none had run into legal troubles after a year. But encouraging treatment courts is more than just good for the bottom line. Its the right thing to do for veterans. After all, these women and men sacrificed to serve the country, and many have returned home with distinct physical and emotional issues as a result of their tenure in the military. Those problems often manifest themselves in addiction, homelessness, poverty and, in some cases, lawlessness. The Bureau of Justice Statistics found that roughly half the 181,5000 veterans behind bars have been diagnosed with PTSD or other combat-related mental disorders. Their experiences are unique from the general population, so it makes sense that veterans would have the option of a specialized branch of the criminal justice system that takes into account their special circumstances. Simply thanking vets for their service is not enough anymore. They need ongoing help in many aspects of post-military life. The federal government should help local jurisdictions promote more treatment courts by offering more grants. Yakima County, too, should find a way to fund this service that keeps veterans out of jail and guides them toward a more promising future. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 UK-based AB Sugar, a leading sugar business, in partnership with WaterAid and the Centre for Industrial Sustainability at the University of Cambridge has announced a worldwide initiative to generate new ideas to reduce water losses from irrigation in sugar, and beyond. AB Sugar is committed to reducing its environmental footprint; water and energy are the most vital resources for all its businesses and each are increasingly under risk in a world facing climate change, population rises and increasing constraints and depletion of natural resources, said a statement. People from across the globe will come together to share their ideas on how to solve the challenge of water loss in agriculture as part of the Innovate Irrigation Challenge initiative, it said. All entries are to be submitted in a 48-hour period during June 19 and 20, online at www.absugar.com/innovateirrigation. "This is the first-time we are aware that any sugar business has launched such an initiative, after AB Sugar became the first sugar business to launch its 2030 Group-wide commitments in April 2018," the statement said. An expert panel of judges will select a winner, who will have the opportunity to potentially work with AB Sugar and its partners to test the viability of their idea in the field. With the increasing threat posed by the depletion of water resources, the organisations involved in developing this pilot initiative trust the challenge will help stimulate new ideas. Katharine Teague, head of advocacy from AB Sugar, said: We are all witnessing the ever-increasing pressure on water resources. We see this day in and day out in our businesses across the world which is why we have already signalled our global commitment to reduce our end-to-end supply chain water and CO2 footprints by 30 per cent by 2030, she said. Teague continued: Making sugar is water intensive and we are continually taking steps to conserve it by improving our water efficiency per tonne of sugar produced and driving water stewardship by using less drop per crop. However, there is always more we can do to further improve this at our plants located in challenging environments and climates. Our ambition with this challenge is to encourage idea generation that could help solve one of the trickiest issues not only in sugar, but also in global agriculture as a whole, she added. Virginia Newton-Lewis, senior policy analyst at WaterAid, said: A staggering 844 million people in the world dont have access to clean water close to home and there is the real risk that climate change could threaten scarce water resources, so its vital that we explore ways to boost the amount of water available for people who need it most. One way of doing this is by finding new techniques to reduce water use and reuse wastewater in agriculture, she said. WaterAid is excited to support AB Sugars The Innovate Irrigation Challenge. Together, we can work towards a world where everyone everywhere has access to clean water for their basic needs, she added. Professor Steve Evans, director of the Centre for Industrial Sustainability at the University of Cambridges Institute for Manufacturing, said: Reducing water loss from irrigation in agriculture is no mean feat and the existing tools that farmers have at their disposal are unlikely to be sufficient. That means we need new ideas from bright and passionate people to help us solve this problem. We are delighted to be part of this initiative and are looking forward to seeing the innovations put forward, he added. TradeArabia News Service Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business group was recently reported to have mentioned that Huawei's homegrown Plan B operating system will be coming to phones, computers, TVs, cars and wearables by Fall 2019. He went on to say that it is based on Android or is similar to Android, so we assume that it still works with the latest Android apps. No exact Malaysia release dates on when, but if we consider Fall to begin in July then it still falls within the earlier 3-month temporary license period we reported on earlier. According to the folks at Huawei Central, Huawei's Plan B operating system for its devices could be named or codenamed Hongmeng. Supposedly in development since 2012 and tested on Huawei devices, it's not the first time Huawei have opted out of Google's nominated OS (remember the Huawei watch GT with 2 weeks battery life that didn't use Android Wear or was that actually Hongmeng?). They go on to mention that Huawei and Honor devices will not receive anymore Huawei EMUI updates after Google stops supporting them to be replaced with the Hongmeng OS. Doing a direct word translation of or Hongmeng could result in Profound Mist or Primal Chaos in English (like the beginning of the Universe, lol), but it reveals nothing about what the upcoming Plan B operating system may look like. Our own assumptions of HongMeng assume that it will likely look a lot like EMUI 9.1, thus retaining the same look and feel as the current Android based operating system (probably an AOSP fork of some sort). However, as always with such rumours, do take it with a good pinch of salt. What else would you want to see in Huawei's Hongmeng? We want Maps, GDrive and Google Docs suite alternatives. Let us know and stay tuned to TechNave.com [image source] Emirates Steel, the only integrated steel plant in the UAE and a subsidiary of the General Holding Corporation (Senaat), has launched its fourth annual CSR initiative on the occasion of the Holy Month of Ramadan, titled We Give You Smile. As part of the companys commitment to families and communities in the UAE, 60 volunteers from across Emirates Steel distributed over 500 Ramadan supply parcels, containing basic food items, to around three hundred families in need in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain. First launched in 2016, the initiative under the companys ongoing corporate social responsibility programme, following the example of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and underlining Emirates Steels commitment to strengthening local communities through meaningful approaches to social challenges. Engineer Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, chief executive officer of Emirates Steel, said: Ramadan is a blessed time of year, and we are keen to ensure such blessings are shared with the whole community, reflecting the values of the society of the UAE. In such a spirit, we have run We Give You Smile for the past four years during the Holy Month to share our success with those who need it, he said. As part of our Ramadan celebrations, we have set up a tent for workers to enjoy Iftar, provided for by the company. We host one hundred people every day, and we will serve three thousand Iftar meals during the Holy Month, he added. Al Remeithi continued: Our employees are always keen to be involved in our humanitarian initiatives, displaying our company ethos that emphasizes the importance of carrying for our communities and environment. It is humbling to be able to provide such support across the UAE, alongside other companies, who recognise the value of providing humanitarian and social assistance to those in need. My thanks to the relevant authorities for their collaboration on this project, and I wish all the recipients of the campaign a blessed and joyous Ramadan, he concluded. TradeArabia News Service The Undead Archives I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world. 9 hours ago US steps up probe into Hyundai-Kia engine failures and fires DETROIT (AP) U.S. auto safety regulators have stepped up a series of investigations into engine fires that have plagued Hyundai and Kia vehicles for more than six years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a new engineering analysis investigation covers more than 3 million vehicles from the 2011 through 2016 model years. Read Article British Steel, the countrys second largest steel producer, is set to be placed into an insolvency process, putting 5,000 jobs in the UK at risk and endangering 20,000 in the supply chain, reported BBC. British Steel employs around 5,000 people, mostly in Scunthorpe, in the north of England, while 20,000 more depend on its supply chain. The compay is on the brink of collapse unless the government agrees to provide an emergency 30 million ($38 million) loan, reported Reuters citing two sources. British Steel said negotiations had not concluded and it continues to work with all parties to secure the future of the business. It also reassured employees that their salaries will be paid in full for May. The government's official receiver will take control of the company as part of the insolvency process, stated the BBC report. Accountancy firm EY will take on the role of Special Manager and attempt to find a buyer for the business. The move follows a breakdown in rescue talks between the government and the company's owner, investment firm Greybull Capital. British Steel had asked the government for a 75 million pound loan but has since reduced its demand to 30 million pounds after Greybull agreed to put up more money, according one of the sources, who is close to the negotiations. Some bankers took exception to my calling them some of them morally bankrupt and socially useless. Im not surprised, as I used those phrases intentionally to be provocative. Equally, I wasnt saying that all bankers are corrupt and useless, just some. Some big names, but not all. Equally, I have said that some banks are doing good, and we are focusing on good banking in our forthcoming meetings with Triodos Bank, Alandsbanken, Danske Bank, DNB, Nordea, SEB and S-Bank. There are some banks doing good things and some banks not. The way of the world. However, a fellow speaker in my Banking for Humanity stream was Esther Stegman, who heads up Business and Product Development for de Volksbank, a Dutch bank formed in 2013 and nationalised by the Government. Heres their story and a transcript of her speech: Banking with a human touch as a way to contribute to a sustainable world and a financially healthy society Thank you for giving me this opportunity to share my thoughts on how we, at de Volksbank, contribute to a sustainable world and a financially healthy society through banking with a human touch. Serving 3.2 million clients, de Volksbank is a family of four Dutch banking brands: ASN Bank, BLG Wonen, RegioBank and SNS. ASN Bank focuses primarily on a sustainable world for the future and climate-inclusive banking; BLG Wonen aims at renewing the housing market and making it accessible to people who are often excluded; RegioBank aims at liveability in the neighborhood and SNS concentrates in particular on a healthy housekeeping book for financially resilient customers. Together we focus on both individual customers and the entire society. And jointly we contribute to banking with a human touch. During the credit crunch, the state had to intervene. In 2013 we were nationalized and heres what happened. Despite the drama, a sense of urgency and optimism took over. Our management went back to our roots and defined what we stood for in order to offer a bright perspective regardless of the situation. To make clear what the Netherlands as a society and the Dutch banking sector stood to lose if the state would allow this bank to collapse. They went as far back as 1817, when a few wise men set up the bank in between a harbour, a church and a pub. With a single deep purpose: so that people could save for a rainy day. What does it have to do with todays theme: banking for humanity? Everything! In 2013 we realized that, if we are to have a future, we need to put people back where they belong. If anything, the financial crisis had made painfully clear that the financial sector is not isolated. That we play a fundamental role in the economy and in the (financial) life of people. Society and clients, especially when it comes to financial services to private individuals and small business companies, expect banks to be aware of this. They expect us also to take our responsibility; to act consistently and account for it. The nationalization put us face to face with the facts. And at the same time, it gave us the opportunity to critically review our role in society. What is our purpose, what should we contribute to our customers, society, our employees and our shareholders? Everywhere around us we see organizations asking this question: what is the real goal? Putting people where they belong is, putting them at the heart of what we do. We are an impact-driven organization. Our financial services meet the needs of the client. In addition, we use our knowledge, our capital, our influence for a climate-neutral balance and contribute to a sustainable society through our concrete policies. In this way we are committed to increasing the financial knowledge of our clients. So that they can become financially healthy. Fast forward again to the present time. And we strongly believe that banking is so much more than products, transactions and money matters. Banking is at its core a human affair whereby money is only a means, but the ultimate goals are: financially resilient customers and a sustainable society, now and always. That is why we dont hit at short-term financial gain. We aim at the long term, and more specifically: at a long-term average return. When you look closely, youll find our approach rather austere. We want to be a safe bank. And we want to avoid ever getting into financial problems again. Our risk profile and behaviour play a crucial role in this. We strive for both financial and non-financial, social returns. We impose clear limitations on merely making money with money. We take our responsibility in restoring and subsequently increasing confidence. De Volksbank, in short, chooses to be a healthy bank that offers financial services to consumers and small businesses. The human dimension is central to this. Clients choose us because of our human touch. This is expressed in our customer relationships. We approach clients from the heart; regard them as equals; with whom we stand side by side; and on whose behalf we act based on mutual trust. Through this human-centred client relationship, we pay sincere attention to each other in good and in bad times; transparently, honestly and proactively. Society increasingly demands that the financial sector optimizes more multidimensionally, and not just money. In fact we are the only bank out of the big 4 in the Netherlands, where the CEO Maurice Oostendorp openly declares: if you want to be the wolf of Wall Street, then we are not the bank for you! So what does banking with a human touch actually look like on a day-to-day basis? It starts with our internal decision-making model, which is based on the principle of shared value. We have four stakeholders: the client, employee, society and the shareholder. We determine specific value propositions for each stakeholder. What we offer to clients, must have economic value (measured in terms of growth in the number of customers and customer satisfaction, among other things). The co-workers must be able to confidently contribute to the goal of the company, they must be able to develop. Another objective is that they experience sincere attention from managers and other colleagues and also offer it in return. For society, we strive for financial resilience and a climate-neutral balance as a contribution to sustainability. Finally, the shareholder, receives a healthy return from an efficient company, which no longer offers bonuses and also contributes to the diversity of the Dutch banking landscape. Our shared value ambition is translated into concrete, objectively measurable goals that we are accountable for. Based on the impact that we experience on all our stakeholders, we derive the responsibility to look for an optimization of the total shared value. In other words, none of the stakeholders aims to maximize its value alone. It is our conviction that this would happen at the expense of another stakeholder and more importantly at the expense of the total. Naturally, our shared value ambition is not without consequences. And we subsequently bear those. Is a decision consistent with our purpose, but does it cost money? Then we cover the costs elsewhere so that we can implement the decision. Concretely, it looks like this: we give Internet and mobile banking workshops to elderly clients. And offer a special program The Client Wants to Live in Peace (Klant wil rustig blijven wonen, in Dutch) for clients with an interest-only mortgage. We are also famous for being the first bank in the Netherlands to stop transferring files to debt collection agencies when clients find themselves in financial difficulties. Why? Because we want to stand next to our client, in good and bad times. How does this resonate with current developments and trends within the banking sector in particular and society at large? Lets take a closer look at our approach towards data and privacy. A couple of years ago, we formulated our stance on data in what we call our data vision. In short, it boils down to this. The clients are and remain in charge of their data. Yes, we understand and appreciate the value of data and how data can boost business. The figures speak for themselves. When correctly used, data can lead to sales increase, efficiency in business and so on. Yet we use data otherwise. Primarily to the benefit of our clients and not as another means to just make money. Consequently we wouldnt develop business models with third parties based on our clients data. As for privacy, we adopt a similar approach. We dont believe in so-called free services, for which the clients eventually end up paying with their privacy. As big techs steadily enter the banking scene, we stand firmly behind our clients privacy. In fact, well before PSD2 came into effect, we had started working with the Privacy First foundation on a PSD2 code of conduct. We go even a step further. Because our clients must first opt for a main switch before they start sharing payment data with a third party in payments. Also, together with Schluss, a startup, weve been working on a digital safe for personal data for clients. So you see, we take consistent and consequent responsibility for our ambition. If a possible decision is not in line with our purpose, but it does yield a profit, then the logical conclusion is that we do not implement that decision. This approach is what sets us apart from others; and what allows us to keep a consistent eye on the long-term interests of our stakeholders in particular, and society at large. Does this all sound like some fantasy non-governmental organization? Bankers without borders, or something like that? I think not! We are and remain a solid business in the first place. What does our shared value ambition demand from us and from our environment? A number of things. To begin with: boldness, trust and a long breath. It is therefore important that all stakeholders invest in de Volksbank in one way or another. The client invests his or her trust by giving insight into the financial household, by sharing privacy. Lets call this emotional capital. Our employees, intrinsically motivated for banking with a human touch, invest, among other things, their energy and commitment. Their human capital, so to speak. Society invests social capital and entrusts us with economic functions (such as money creation, risk transformation) and certain tasks (such as monitoring money laundering and transactions that finance terrorism). Fourthly, the shareholder invests financial capital in the company. So, when all stakeholders each in their own way invest in a bank, that stands for the human touch, we draw two conclusions from that. First of all, the dialogue between the various stakeholders must be facilitated. And secondly, all stakeholders must have a say in the relevant decisions. It is our desire to consistently translate the internal decision-making process based on shared value into our governance model. Day-to-day operations are the responsibility of the management, under the supervision of the supervisory board, which now consists of three women and two men. The subjects on which traditionally only the shareholder decides such as strategy, mergers and acquisitions, appointments, remuneration, articles of association are placed in a model where there is shared control. In this way we propose an alternative to a call from various sections of society and politics. Namely, to bring a different balance to the way in which organizations take the interests of different stakeholders into account when managing their business. In conclusion, our inspiration for a suitable governance model stems from our vision of banking with a human touch. From the shared value ambition. And from our 200 year-history and our vision of the future. Also, for the remainder of this event, I sincerely hope that our inspiration opens doors to a genuine dialogue on banking for humanity. Or as we at de Volksbank like to put it: banking with a human touch. Posted on: May 22, 2019 HARRISBURG Further delays continue to push back Brian Burns murder trial. Burns was arrested in 2016 in the killing of his estranged wife, Carla Burns, and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of concealing her death, which he allegedly did by burning her body and spreading the ashes. A motion hearing Tuesday was scheduled both to discuss a medical report detailing Burns mental fitness to stand trial, as well as to discuss whether a special prosecutor would be needed to try the case. Brian Burns murder trial delayed again as doctor has yet to evaluate his mental fitness HARRISBURG The court will have to wait to hear if Brian Burns will be fit to stand trial for murder. However, it never got that far. Burns' murder trial was initially pushed back when he was also charged with attempting to have then-States Attorney Mike Henshaw kidnapped. Burns was found guilty of that crime in 2017. Defense attorney Duane Verity told the court Tuesday that he had neither received the motion to appoint a special prosecutor nor the doctors report. The motion said the new assistant states attorneys had been approached by Burns to represent him previous to their employment with the county, presenting a conflict of interest. In an interview with The Southern after the brief Tuesday hearing, Verity said he was not prepared to argue the motion because had not had time to review it and was not sure of the nature of the contact Burns had with the attorneys in question. Judge's ruling says no cameras, recorders will be allowed in Saline County Court for Brian Burns trial HARRISBURG Judge Walden Morris for a second time has denied extended media coverage of the trial of Brian Burns, the former Harrisburg physi Ive had the motion less time than Ive had my lunch, Verity said. Saline County States Attorney Molly Wilson Kasiar said she could not comment on why the motion did not get to Verity on time because she did not personally hand the document to the clerk. However, according to court records website Judici, the motion was filed May 6 and a notice to appear to Tuesdays hearing was sent the following day. When asked why, if he knew the motion was filed earlier this month, Verity did not pick up a copy when he was at the courthouse for business, he fired back: You mean aside from the fact its not my job? As for the report from Dr. Fred Klug of Nashville, Verity said Burns was evaluated in April; the order to have Burns fitness tested was made in January. Verity had expressed concern for his clients ability to assist in his own defense. He said Burns has a hard time following a single line of conversation and conflates his two legal cases. The court ordered the parties to return to court at 1 p.m. June 11 to discuss both issues. If Burns is found to be mentally fit to stand trial there, is a jury setting scheduled to begin Sept. 18. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 A Franklin County pastor and former school administrator has been arrested on a grooming charge. According to a news release from Franklin County Sheriff Dave Bartonis office, John J. Robinson, 55, of West Frankfort, was arrested on one count of grooming after a search warrant for his house and an arrest warrant for him were issued. According to Illinois law, grooming, a Class 4 felony, is defined as a person knowingly trying to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, or attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice, a child, a child's guardian, or another person believed by the person to be a child or a child's guardian, to commit any sex offense. Robinson was the principal at Thompsonville High School. Thompsonville Superintendent Brock Harris said he received Robinson's letter of resignation on Monday. With about four days left in the school year, Harris said he and the dean of students would be performing Robinson's duties until school lets out. As for a search for a new principal, it was unclear how that process will work or who will lead the school through the rest of the year. Robinson is listed as the pastor at Thompsonville First Baptist Church on the churchs website. Robinson is being held in the Franklin County Jail on $20,000 bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. June 25, according to court record website Judici. Love 0 Funny 4 Wow 1 Sad 6 Angry 7 A Mount Vernon man was sentenced Monday to serve three years in state prison after he pleaded guilty to a Class 3 felony charge of burglary. According to a news release from Williamson County State's Attorney Brandon Zanotti, Adam J. Wasik, 36, will also serve one year of mandatory supervised release after he completes his prison term. The release states that in October 2016, Marion police officers responded to a reported burglary on Holmes Street. Surveillance video from a nearby business led investigators to Wasik, who had been working on a construction project at the Holmes Street address. The release states Wasik has a criminal history, including offenses in Franklin County and in Missouri. The Southern Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Leading engineering major thyssenkrupp has appointed Volker Hellberg as the new country chief executive officer of its industrial solutions unit in Saudi Arabia replacing Thomas Dreiling who moves to Germany as head of the operating unit cement plants. Hellberg has a long track record in the Middle East and has been with thyssenkrupp since 2015, said a statement from the company. He has a long-standing connection to Saudi Arabia and will continue to drive the growth of thyssenkrupps plant engineering and construction business in the country with a special focus on the industrial service portfolio. Previously, he served as the vice-president Service and Business Development Cement & Mining at thyssenkrupp Saudi Arabia. In the past, Hellberg had worked at various multinational companies including Humboldt Wedag GmbH and Claudius Peters Technologies GmbH, and has vast experience in industrial services. Lauding Dreiling's efforts, the German group said he had made immense contribution to thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions in Saudi Arabia over the last four years. He was responsible for combining various thyssenkrupp businesses such as cement, mining, chemicals and services into a single entity - thyssenkrupp Saudi Arabia Contracting, it stated. He also played a major role in growing a strong network of clients, government entities and stakeholders such as for the Yamama project, the statement added.-TradeArabia News Service CARBONDALE The woman who police found dead at Carbondale Towers early Friday morning has been identified as 37-year-old Kristin Duncan, of Murphysboro, the Carbondale Police Department said Monday afternoon. Officers responded to a call around 2 a.m. that morning regarding a subject trapped in a mechanical device" at the property, according to a Carbondale Police Department news release. Duncan was deceased when officers located her body, police said. Few additional details have been released in the ongoing death investigation. Deputy Chief Stan Reno declined to elaborate on the type of mechanical device in which Duncan was found or the nature of her injuries, out of respect to her family. The device is located inside the building, he said. Reno declined to say whether foul play is suspected, and police have not classified the nature of the death investigation. The results of an autopsy conducted over the weekend are pending, he added. According to her obituary by Pettett Funeral Home in Murphysboro, Duncan leaves behind four children, and was greatly loved by her children and her family. A memorial service will be held at a future date, according to her obituary. Carbondale Towers, at 810 W. Mill St., is an affordable housing community for older adults and people with disabilities. It is owned by The Millennia Companies, a large national provider of federally subsidized housing headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The property, which consists of two high rises, known as buildings A and B, and eight townhouses, is located just north of the Southern Illinois University Carbondale campus. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development subsidizes a portion of the rent paid by Carbondale Towers 231 low-income tenants via a contract with Millennia. Reno said that police do not believe that Duncan was a Carbondale Towers tenant, and its unclear why she was in the building on Friday. On Monday, several residents said that the incident involved the trash chute in Building A. In the eight-story eastern tower, the doors that provide access to the trash chute on each floor are locked, and flyers have been placed on them informing residents that the trash chutes will be closed until further notice and that residents should take their garbage directly to the dumpster. They are signed Thank you. Management. Several residents said the lack of security at the property has been an ongoing concern. There are security cameras on some floors, but not all of them, residents said. The Southern Illinoisan spoke with six tenants. All but one resident asked that their names be withheld because they were concerned about their safety, as well as potential retaliation for speaking to a reporter about their security concerns at the property. One woman, who lives in the tower where the body was found, said she was terrified by the incident. It is unbelievable, she said. She has an assistance dog that provides emotional support, and sometimes the dog wakes her owner up in the middle of the night to be let outside. Somebody was saying it happened around 1 a.m. in the morning. And Im like, sometimes she wakes up around 1 a.m. and we go out. It made me nervous. None of the residents that The Southern spoke to on Monday knew Duncan, or had any information about why she was in the building on Friday. Still, several residents said that it would be unlikely that someone could accidentally fall in to a trash chute at the building based on its location on the wall, size and design. While accidental deaths involving trash chutes at high rises are rare, there are documented cases, according to media reports. Police have not said that her death was caused by the mechanical device in which her body was found. Resident David Boyd said the property employed a security officer years ago, but has not for a long time. Its definitely unsettling," he said of Friday's incident. Boyd said there are security cameras located in the hallways of the first, second and third floors, but not any others. Boyd said he worries about some of the residents who are the most vulnerable because of their age and disabilities. The incident has left many of them shaken, he said. Because the owner has entered into a contract with HUD for project-based rental subsidies, the federal agency inspects the building at least once every three years. HUD last inspected the building in 2016, and it received a near-perfect 99 out of 100 possible points, records show. The city also inspects rental properties, though the results were not immediately available. The newspapers attempts to reach a spokesperson for Millennia were unsuccessful Monday. A senior leader with the company told The Southern late last year that Millennia has plans for Carbondale Towers to undergo a multimillion-dollar renovation within the next few years. But he said that a variety of factors have delayed renovation plans at several of the company's affordable apartment complexes across the United States, including the ones in Carbondale. In recent years, Millennia has been expanding its portfolio of HUD-assisted housing complexes, including with the purchase of Carbondale Towers and Mill Street Apartments in Carbondale. According to the Carbondale Police Department, the investigation into Duncans death is active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Carbondale Police Department at 618-457-3200. People with information to share may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at 618-549-2677 or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at 618-687-2677. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. One person is dead following a Wednesday morning crash on Interstate 57 near Mount Vernon. According to a news release from Illinois State Police, a pickup truck struck two other vehicles after the driver lost control on I-57 northbound near mile marker 96. The crash happened at 9:19 a.m. After the pickup driver lost control, the vehicle crossed the median into the southbound lanes, into path of a semitrailer hauling a tanker. The pickup continued north in the southbound lanes, hitting an SUV, then came to rest in the grass median to the eat of the southbound lanes. The SUV also ended up in the median. The pickup driver died in the crash. ISP has not yet identify the person, pending notification of family. ISP did not say the condition of either driver of the other two vehicles that were involved. After the crash, I-57 south was closed at Dix and Interstate 64 east was closed at Woodlawn for several hours. The Southern Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 CARBONDALE The governing board of Southern Illinois University could soon become one of the most student-dominated in the country, as a long-debated issue nears resolution. Legislation introduced by state Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville, to give votes to both student members on the SIU Board of Trustees one from the Carbondale campus, one from SIU Edwardsville is on Gov. J.B. Pritzkers desk after clearing the House and Senate, Stuart announced Monday. Under current law, the Illinois governor chooses one student representative to be the voting member each year, weighing in on many of the highest-level decisions at the university, from multimillion-dollar purchases and contracts to tuition hikes. The other student holds an advisory seat on the board. Typically, the vote alternates between the two campuses each year, but the governor may use his or her authority to deny voting power to both student trustees, or to keep the vote at the same campus for consecutive years. Giving both students a say, Stuart said in a news release, will ensure equal representation for both campuses and eliminate the the governors ability to meddle in student voting privileges to influence the board. If approved, the measure will also make the student voice more than twice as influential at SIU as at most major Midwestern university systems, with students holding two out of nine board votes. At University of Illinois, by comparison, there is one voting student out of 11 trustees, though two other students hold advisory seats on the board. At the University of Missouri, there is one voting student out of 10 on its board of curators. At Indiana University, there is one voting student out of nine. At the University of Tennessee, one out of 11. At the University of Kentucky, one out of 16. This legislation is important for establishing equity between the SIU institutions, Stuart said, Both the Edwardsville campus and the Carbondale campus deserve the opportunity for their student interests to be equally represented each year. From 2018 to 2019, the vote rested with SIUC student trustee Brione Lockett, who will relinquish it this summer. I love this, Lockett said of the legislation. Id be remiss if I didnt say its cool to have another year of a vote, but I think this makes nothing but sense. Right now youre asking students to read all these documents and show up to meetings and not get a vote. The vote is the reward for that hard work. J. Phil Gilbert, chairman of the SIU board, has also endorsed the bill, HB 2239, as has SIU Interim President J. Kevin Dorsey. Were looking forward to the governor signing this bill, Dorsey said. This gives both student trustees an equal place on the board and provides them with the full ability to represent their peers at their respective campuses. However, former Gov. Bruce Rauner saw things differently. In August of 2015, he vetoed a nearly identical piece of legislation, saying increasing students voting power would dilute the insight gained from the other trustees years of professional experience. Having two student voting members is not necessary or advisable, read a statement explaining his decision. The Board of Trustees must consider difficult budgetary issues, academic requirements, and student conduct and disciplinary issues. The long-term views of professionals must be given appropriate weight. Rauner did not award a vote to either student representative during the 2014-2015 school year, board records show. For his part, Lockett said student trustees are often as prepared as their fellow trustees, and are capable of taking a system approach without bias toward their home campuses. Each month, Lockett estimated, he spends between one and two weeks of his working hours on board matters: reviewing documents, doing research and holding meetings. At times has it affected my schoolwork? Oh definitely, he said. But thats how much I cared about it. Since he took office last July, Lockett has hosted a series of Campus Conversations, providing a rare opportunity for students to speak directly with high-level university administrators. Recently, Lockett and SIUE student trustee Molly Smith hosted one of Locketts signature conversations at Edwardsville, taking questions on controversial university issues like the ongoing fair funding allocation study. That was, Lets show were really about the system by the students getting together and sharing our perspective, Lockett said. Lockett also acknowledged the change would place added responsibility on students to elect dedicated peer leaders. Often, these elections can be a popularity contest, Lockett said. Will there be someone who comes after me that feels as strongly as I do and is as open as I am? Probably. Well have to see. The Pritzker administration declined to take a public position on HB 2239, when asked Thursday. The administration is currently reviewing the bill, confirmed Pritzker spokesperson Jordan Abudayyeh. Love 2 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. This editorial appeared in the May 19, 2019, edition of the (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald: The unrelenting wave across the country to legalize the recreational use of marijuana began in 2012 when Colorado and Washington by way of referendum became the first states in the union to grant that liberty. Two years later, Alaska and Oregon followed suit; two years after that, California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada joined in. All six by referendum. Two years ago, Vermont became the first state to approve legalization through action by the state legislature without a referendum. Last year, Michigan became the latest state to legalize recreational use of marijuana when voters agreed to it through a referendum. All told, that's 10 states that have embraced that freedom in this decade. A movement toward pot clearly is afoot. Frankly, we don't know if that's a good or a bad thing. And that, it strikes us, is the problem as the General Assembly rushes toward a May 31 deadline to decide whether Illinois should become the 11th state on the list. What's the rush? It seems clear that recreational marijuana hasn't destroyed Colorado or Washington in the seven years since it was legalized. But likewise, it's also clear that we're all still sifting through the implications in the states where the freedom has been granted, and there are plenty of analyses that suggest or conclude the measures are big business initiatives that have produced problems of one sort or another. As State Rep. Marty Moylan, an opponent from Des Plaines, aptly points out, the associated commercialization of marijuana will focus on expanding its market by glamorizing marijuana use, not discouraging it. As law enforcement critics point out, few practical techniques to test for marijuana use have been developed to assist in efforts to discourage driving under the influence. Proponents of legalization concede that marijuana use can be harmful. Their primary argument is that the status quo is not working, however, and we grant that is true. They say that under legalization, marijuana production, sales and use can be regulated in ways that they can't be now. It's a strong argument, and we're open to it. But again, we ask, what's the rush? Instead, let's take advantage of the fact that we're not first. Instead, take a year, let both sides agree to design an independent study, perhaps with one of our universities, to examine the experience in the early-adopting states. It would be important for the sides to agree on the methodology so we can get away from competing studies that have both sides saying the other is making false claims. Questions to be addressed would include: auto crash rates, effect on psychosis, labor productivity, other health concerns, effect on underage rates of use, and more. Take a year. If we're going to consider recreational marijuana, let's consider it right. Assign an independent body to develop a report. Publicize the findings. Then take it to the voters for their advice. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Driving along Colorado's scenic byways, one might be distracted these days by a series of billboards promoting safe abortions or, depending upon one's route, alternatives to abortion, as well as assorted child-rearing recommendations. They make one wistful for the old crazy preacher shouting the Gospel from an overturned fruit crate. If abortion was once a relatively quiet matter involving women and their doctors, it is no more. Thanks to extreme anti-abortion legislation in several states, notably Alabama, as well as laws elsewhere relaxing standards for late-term terminations, the American landscape may soon resemble a political campaign of dueling candidates. Family vacations, meanwhile, may impose uncomfortable conversations with the kids. "Mom, what's an abortion?" I remember once trying to answer this question for a young child. He burst into tears before I could find better words to make this thing not a nightmare. Children have a way of informing adults, don't they? Fun times ahead, summer campers! One billboard causing controversy near the Utah border reads: "Welcome to Colorado, where you can get a safe, legal abortion." I guess if you're a woman who is conflicted over her pregnancy and you drive past the sign, you might find some relief in the message. But for most other people that is, me it would surely be an unwelcome intrusion upon their meditations. Nothing like a gargantuan abortion reminder to ruin a Rocky Mountain high. Not to make light of a serious issue that we've been debating for 40 years, but our interstate highway system risks becoming a sticky-note space ride through someone else's business, as 50 states adopt 50 different abortion policies. Already, the Guttmacher Institute calls the nation a "lattice work of abortion law." Earlier this month, Alabama passed legislation banning abortion in all cases, unless a woman's life is threatened (with no exceptions for rape or incest). Several other states recently have passed so-called "heartbeat" bills prohibiting abortion after six weeks, when something like a heartbeat is detected. Even six weeks is repugnant to those who want to protect human life from conception. While these apparently unconstitutional laws are challenged in courts, possibly all the way to the Supreme Court, states will be exercising their rights by signaling to the rest of the nation their various definitions of "life." The group behind the Colorado billboard Keep Abortion Safe is unabashed in its purposes. Co-founder Fawn Bolak says the group hopes that the sign will bring women from neighboring states to Colorado for their reproductive needs. The goal: "to be a bold message to our neighbors coming in. That they are now entering a state that respects and allows them to make their own reproductive health care decisions," Bolak told Denver's CBS affiliate. "We also have instances of folks traveling from all over the country to come to Colorado for the access we have." Even recognizing pro-choice advocates' desire to amplify their message of safe and available abortions, the billboard smacks of commercialism where none should exist. Advertising abortion as a commodity further dehumanizes the unborn and diminishes the moral impact of what is proposed. Will discounts next be offered in exchange for referrals? Billboards in states where "heartbeat" legislation has passed or is percolating surely would have a distinctly different look. Georgia has more than 9,800 billboards (second most behind Florida), while Louisiana boasts 7,000. Clearly, there's plenty of room for everybody to express themselves, though one reflects longingly on Lady Bird Johnson's mission of beautifying America by eliminating billboards. Pro-life billboards often feature babies with a message about gestational benchmarks. In one, produced by the group Prolife Across America, a baby exclaims: "What? I could feel pain before I was born?" Whatever transpires in courtrooms, the stage has been set for states to define themselves according to legislators' interpretations and perhaps build marketing strategies around them. If many people (my hand is raised) have been offended by huge posters displaying partially aborted fetuses, a common occurrence at political conventions and statehouse rallies, just imagine what could be down the line. States regulate the content of billboards, so perhaps we're in luck, but free speech challenges wouldn't be surprising as the two sides escalate their war of words and images. Meanwhile, road travelers are involuntary witnesses to a debate that many would prefer not to have. To a nation defined by individual autonomy, the only thing worse than the personal tragedy of abortion is the audacity of the self-ordained to govern when and under what circumstances women have children. Billboard that. Kathleen Parker writes for the Washington Post Writers Group. Her columns include her own opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinion or editorial position of The Southern. Her email address is kathleenparker@washpost.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The history of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Orangeburg dates back more than 100 years, with the church continuing to serve as a beacon of light for its diverse group of parishioners and the surrounding community. Bishop Henry P. Northrop dedicated the first Catholic Church in Orangeburg in 1893. Holy Trinity was elevated to full parish status in 1917, when Father James Quinn came to Orangeburg as the first resident pastor. Holy Trinity will be celebrating its centennial beginning with a joint bilingual mass at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 4, at the church on 2202 Riverbank Drive in Orangeburg. A community picnic on the church grounds will follow the mass. The church will hold an activity marking its 100th year every month until October. A prayerful event will be held during the last week of June, when the parish and community will be brought together to thank God for a century of existence. A youth activity is planned for the last week of July, with a musical concert to be held in August. A banquet is scheduled for September, with the celebration to conclude with a centennial mass on Oct. 15 featuring Bishop Robert Guglielmone, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Charleston, and former priests of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Father Wilbroad Mwape of Holy Trinity Catholic Church said the church has a rich history, noting that he is proud that the church serves as a spiritual resource for Catholics in and around Orangeburg. This is the only Catholic Church in Orangeburg. I think it becomes so central for Catholic families. Its the center of their lives, and we protect it. We are proud to be here in Orangeburg, and the Catholic Church has provided so much to the community in terms of education, Mwape said. So, I think it has reached out in the community not just for Catholics. We are a life-giving church, and we are proud of that, he said. A history of the church states that after it gained full parish status in 1917, a rectory was built in 1922. In the 1930s, the Redemptorist Fathers took charge of Holy Trinity and replaced the small wooden church on Amelia Street with a brick structure. A mission for African-Americans began in 1939, and a church-school-convent combination was erected on Treadwell Street in 1940. It was burned down four days before it was to be dedicated, but was rebuilt and dedicated as Christ the King by Bishop Emmett Walsh in 1942. A year later, the Oblate Sisters of Providence came to develop and staff the first and only Catholic school in the county. A catechetical center and social hall were erected on Riverbank Drive in 1966. Bishop Ernest Unterkoefler merged Christ the King and Holy Trinity, with the first mass for the combined parishes celebrated in 1967. Christ the King church was closed, and the school relocated in the new catechetical center and was renamed Holy Trinity Catholic School (which closed in 1998). Mass for the entire parish was held in the cafeteria of the catechetical center. A capital campaign to raise funds for a new church began in 1984. Bishop David Thompson dedicated the new church in 1992 and in that same year, the Orangeburg Mission returned to the Diocese of Charleston after more than 50 years of Redemptorist care. In 2012, St. Andrew Parish in Barnwell, St. Theresa Parish in Springfield and St. Mary Mission in Allendale were merged with Holy Trinity Parish in Orangeburg, with Holy Trinity serving as the administrative hub for the group. The church currently serves approximately 375 families. Ron Huber, a 50-year member of the church, said he has observed Holy Trinity's progress through the turbulent 1960s and beyond. After a few years, it just sort of smoothed out, and to this day weve got an excellent relationship from one person to another. Over the years, the real active people have been giving a lot of time and effort into maintenance as well as serving the various ministries that the parish had, said Huber, a member of the church's finance council. I believe that involvement is one of the things that helped us come together. As far as myself, Ive been quite active all of these years in serving the pastors as best I can, he said. Huber added, Over the years, its just so wonderful in our parish to have seen the interactions between white and black, young and old. Back in the 60s, there were some hard feelings. Church member Malone Zimmerman said the merger of Christ the King and Holy Trinity in 1967 was a major change, particularly for the black community. I wasnt here, but in talking to some folks and just that type of merger in general, you worry about it being an equal merger. You know, Christ the King church and school had been a very integral part of the African-American community for a long number of years, Zimmerman said. He added, When youre going into a situation like that, there were not a lot of road maps and things to look at and say, OK, this is how you do it. Huber noted, There was some black leadership in individuals like Louie Roache and Jim Sulton. They met a great deal to assist in making this thing work. I was with Louie and Jim on a lot of projects. I think that leadership that came with the integration of the two churches really was a big plus. Zimmerman said the church has undergone what he considers little, marginal improvements over the years. The biggest change, at least in this country, was the end of Latin being the primary language of the mass. When I was young, mass was said in Latin. The decision to allow the mass to be said in the language of the country that the parish was located in made the church more attractive to some people, he said. Zimmerman added, I think the concept of inclusiveness was helped when they turned the altar around. Those are the kind of little changes that take place that help keep the church relevant in a given time. If youre gonna last 100, 200 or 300 years, you have to stay relevant. You have to mean something not only to the parishioners, but to the community. Matthew Guah, director of the centennial celebration planning committee and an adult education leader at the church, said, There are other little things that we probably could try to do better at. We need to be relevant, and to our young people, relevance means electronics. The Catholic Church is not necessarily good at that, at being the first to change. You dont see people in the church looking at their cell phone reading the Bible while the preachers preaching. You dont see a whole band with 20 people, he said. Guah said the basic principles of love and inclusiveness, however, never change and make the church more like a family. The Catholic Church is obviously inclusive, and if you look down in history, you find out that families have come and gone and the church is still there," he said. "Whether youre born in Africa, South America or Europe, its the same church. Its easier to just merge into a family because youre doing the same thing." Barbara Wyatt, a member at Holy Trinity for approximately 12 years, said the churchs familial atmosphere is one of its biggest draws. I think its more like a family instead of a church. No matter what happens in this church, you have somebody. If you have a hardship, people join in like a family would. I think thats held us together, Wyatt said. No matter who you are black, white, Hispanic, whatever were all the same, and its wonderful. Weve had wonderful pastors, too, Huber added. Wyatt said, To me, it just seems like there is a shining star over this church and everybody is affected by it. Contact the writer: dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5534. Follow "Good News with Gleaton" on Twitter @DionneTandD. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Makedda Bowman of Orangeburg has wanted a home of her own since her 3-year-old son, Tra'Zohn Jenkins, was born. Bowmans journey to home ownership was filled with struggles. In the midst of being denied initially for a home, the father of her son was murdered, leaving her to raise Tra'Zohn on her own. I'm a single parent and I never gave up, Bowman said of the difficulties she faced. Seventy volunteers, 40 of them women, spent Saturday, May 6, building a home for Bowman -- the latest Edisto Habitat for Humanity house in Orangeburg. Bowman said receiving her first home through Edisto HFH represented a brighter moment in her life, enabling her to provide a home for her child despite being his only parent. Construction of the new house began with a commemoration of Habitat for Humanitys National Women Build Week. The observance encourages more women volunteers to be part of the non-profit Christian organizations work to eliminate poverty housing. HFH volunteers and builders throughout the nation wear blue to celebrate Women Build Week. Bowmans house marks the 77th home that Edisto HFH has built in the Orangeburg County area since its founding in 1991. Edisto was one of the nearly 1,500 Habitat for Humanity affiliates selected to receive the $5,000 donation from Lowes that helped make the day possible. Partnerships like Lowe's and other corporate sponsors' bring to our organization a sense of stability not just for our organization, but also for the families we serve, said Jamie Wood, executive director of Edisto Habitat for Humanity. Our families benefit by working alongside employees from companies like Lowe's right here in Orangeburg. They learn skills from them (and) they get emotional support from them," Wood said. "It helps them to build a foundation of not just building a house, but building a home. Along with that, it gives them confidence that they're not alone in this process." Kristin Torres, the assistant store manager of Lowe's Orangeburg, said, We want to be involved in our own community, our employees' communities and our customers' communities. We want to help people love where they live." Being a mother, I can relate to being proud of having my own home, and being a part of the building process makes me emotionally connected even more to the homeowner, Torres added. Bowman waited a year and completed well over the required 350 volunteer hours before receiving her Edisto HFH home. Her extra volunteer hours were used to help construct Edisto HFH homes for at least five other families. Bowman encourages those who are pursuing home ownership to never give up and keep trying. In addition to Lowes, donations from other community members, organizations, businesses, churches and volunteers helped make Bowmans $70,000 home a reality. Chick-Fil-A provided lunch for the volunteers at Saturday's event and St. Matthews First Baptist Church helped with the houses vinyl siding. Edisto HFH encourages Orangeburg County residents to visit its store at 260 John C. Calhoun Drive, where those like Bowman work hard to complete the volunteer hours necessary to become a Habitat homeowner. In order to receive a Habitat for Humanity home, applicants are required to give 350 hours of volunteer time to the program, have a need for housing and be able to make monthly payments on a 25-year, zero-interest mortgage. Wood notes that Edisto Habitat for Humanity is in need of additional volunteers and donations. For more information on how to donate, volunteer, or participate, call Jamie Wood at 803-536-2300. Contact the writer: jordone.branch@yahoo.com. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 COLUMBIA -- House Speaker Jay Lucas has warned two veteran South Carolina legislators not to let another disagreement turn physical. Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter told The AP on Wednesday she's offended by Lucas' suggestion she and Rep. Jerry Govan were equally at fault. Lucas advised both in a letter Tuesday to keep their future disagreements civil, saying he was unable to determine what happened May 11 because their accounts varied widely and no one saw how it started. Cobb-Hunter says she held out her hand to keep Govan at bay, and he grabbed and twisted her wrist and pushed her. She says she had to keep ice on her swollen wrist for two days, and it's still not healed completely. Govan insisted to The AP he didn't initiate the physical contact. But he would not give specifics. The two Orangeburg Democrats were arguing May 11 in a hallway leading to the chamber over legislation consolidating Orangeburg County school districts. The bill was approved Tuesday. Lucas calls Govan the "initial aggressor," since he approached Cobb-Hunter as she was walking away from him. The speaker says Govan should have avoided the confrontation entirely. Love 2 Funny 5 Wow 2 Sad 4 Angry 6 Denmark Technical College will stay open, at least for another year. The S.C. General Assembly on Tuesday approved the budget conference committees recommendations, including keeping the college open next year. We are very happy that the budget conferees have taken the position of keeping Denmark Technical College open. I want to thank the House and Senate conferees for understanding the importance of Denmark Tech, said Rep. Jerry Govan, D-Orangeburg, who serves as chair of the S.C. Legislative Black Caucus. A budget proviso co-written by state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg, would have moved the college toward a role as an area trade school. The proviso was approved by the House but not the Senate. The conference committee removed the proviso. The House and the Senate gave the state budget final approval on Tuesday, and Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to sign it. Govan said that keeping Denmark Tech in the state technical college system was a top priority for the caucus. We believe in supporting South Carolinas institutions of higher education, including historically black colleges like Denmark Tech. It was important to us that the people of South Carolina, especially the people of Allendale, Bamberg and Barnwell counties, continue to be served by the South Carolina Technical College System, Govan said. This proviso was introduced by a single individual and, of course, it was adopted by the House, he said. But I think the proviso was somewhat short-sighted in that it didnt take into account what Denmark Tech not only means to the community but to this particular region as well. Denmark Tech has a $32 million economic impact on the region, which impacts not only surrounding counties but the entire T&D Region, Govan said. The college faces dwindling enrollment, but so do most of the states other tech colleges, he said, and the school is doing well academically. The college is fully accredited and approved by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its outstanding faculty provide a high-quality education to every student willing to work hard to achieve their goals, Govan said. This spring, 127 students earned certificates, diplomas and degrees -- these individuals are ready to begin their careers as accountants, barbers, computer programmers, engineers, entrepreneurs, nurses, plumbers, teachers, welders and so on. When asked if the college will have to meet certain goals to avoid the same possibility next year, Govan said thats the wrong way to frame it because it puts all the blame on Denmark Tech when the school has been neglected and underfunded for years. Its critical that you have a technical institution down in that area of the state to service that area of the states needs, he said. And Denmark Tech can effectively play that role if provided with the tools and resources it needs to thrive and survive. Cobb-Hunter could not be reached for comment at press time. Contact the writer: chuff@timesanddemocrat.com or 803-533-5543. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 UAE-based Enoc Group signed an agreement with Moro, the Dubai government owned digital data hub, focused on providing digital transformation and operational innovation, to lead the digitalization journey of Enocs operations. The digital transformation will be driven through an organisation-wide SAP system implementation and infrastructure hosting services by Moro and powered by Virtustream Cloud Technology over the next five years. The programme will be delivered by a dedicated team of professionals from Enoc, Moro and specialised partners. The partnership agreement was signed between Saif Al Falasi, Group CEO of Enoc, and Marwan Bin Haidar, vice chairman of Moro, at Enocs headquarters in Dubai, in the presence of senior officials from both organisations. The agreement builds on Enocs vision to generate new value, unlock new opportunities, drive growth and deliver enhanced efficiencies across the Groups portfolio. This in turn will strengthen corporate governance standards and build autonomous systems that are completely integrated with the business ecosystem. Al Falasi said: Digital technologies are fast-transforming the business landscape, and it is imperative that we reinvent our business models and operations to be future-ready. This enables us to create exceptional value for our customers and stakeholders. Our digital transformation strategy draws on the vision of our leadership to enhance service excellence and create organisations of the future. With this partnership, we are underlining our commitment to the pillars of the Dubai Plan 2021, the Dubai 10X initiative and the UAE National Agenda. Bin Haidar said: With the fast-paced shifts driven by digital technologies in the world and especially the energy sector, it is important to look at organisational transformation with a digital core that connects all businesses and processes. Moro, one of the Dubai 10X enablers, is committed to partnering with UAE based and regional entities to empower them to be future-ready and digital-first. Enoc, as the energy partner of Dubai, is embarking on an ambitious digitalization journey and in Moro, we are proud to actively support this mission and confident that it will add extraordinary value for its stakeholders. The SAP transformation at Enoc will improve business integration and efficiency helping meet the Groups goals of building world-class competencies, delivering operational excellence and profitable growth, while enhancing the happiness of employees, customers and partners. TradeArabia News Service The Orangeburg Rotary Club will host its annual duck race at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 27, at the YMCA water park. The event involves hundreds of numbered rubber ducks being simultaneously dumped into the lazy river at the water park. The ducks race to the finish line for cash prizes. The cash prizes for the top ten finishers are: first, $1,500; second, $1,000; third, $500; fourth, $100; fifth, $100; and sixth through tenth, $20. Orangeburg Rotary Club President Andy Cox said, The duck race is one of our biggest fundraising events and we use the proceeds to support service projects throughout the greater Orangeburg community, including providing college scholarships to local students. To have a chance at winning one of the cash prizes, individuals can adopt a duck for $10 by purchasing an entry ticket from any member of the Orangeburg Rotary Club, Cox said. The Orangeburg Rotary Club was chartered on May 19, 1921. Individuals who are interested in joining the Rotary Club may contact Andy Cox or visit one of the clubs weekly meetings. The Orangeburg Rotary Club meets at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday afternoons at Cornerstone Community Church, located at 1481 Chestnut Street in Orangeburg. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A common mistake is mixing Memorial Day with the honors and remembrance appropriate to either Veterans Day or Armed Forces Day. Veterans Day is set aside for the honoring of all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. Armed Forces Day is meant for honoring those still serving in uniform. They are are not veterans until leaving the service. Memorial Day is set aside for the honoring all who died while serving in uniform. Another mistake with Memorial Day is in forgetting to honor a group seldom mentioned on Memorial Day yet deserving of our nation's thanks and honor: Those who died on active duty while training for combat. That group has made the same sacrifice as those giving all in combat and has shown the same level of courage. Let me explain. First, it's important to know the dangers involved in maintaining the military readiness necessary to deter the nation's enemies and win wars if deterrence fails. All who raise their right hand, particularly those who join combat arms and special operations branches, know they face the chance of death or serious injury in training. From personal experience, my father and his brother (my uncle) were both in the service during Vietnam. My father served in Vietnam and was wounded during his first tour. His brother died while training for Vietnam. During my own service in the Infantry over 29 years of both peacetime and combat deployment, I have personally known more friends who have died in training than combat. As a young Infantry lieutenant in the early 1990s on my second rotation at the National Training Center, I encountered my first experience of losing a good friend. Lt. Bill Burke had been a fellow platoon leader in my first company. He died when a Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled over on him while moving at night at the NTC. I also knew his platoon sergeant who died during the same accident with another vehicle rollover. I was not far from where they died and went through the same shock I would later experience in combat. The first decade units rotated through the National Training Center, roughly one person would die in training each rotation. The realistic training was credited with saving many lives during Operation Desert Storm and other combat operations. In my Citadel class of 1990, the first death in our class was when our classmate Capt. Milton Palmer died in Ranger School. He had been the first black battalion commander at The Citadel and a friend to all. This death was during an unfortunate incident that included three other fatalities. Though many of us in the class of 1990 served in combat, particularly the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Milton was the only military death our class suffered. Ranger School was tough and dangerous but helped create leaders who saved many lives in combat. The training had to be realistic, and we all knew the dangers involved. I was involved in a near-fatal parachute accident the first time I attended Ranger School (spent much time in the hospital and in recuperation for a spinal disc compression but went back through the course and graduated two years later). The benefits of the training in defeating enemies and saving lives were beyond question, but that came with casualties. I have written previously of those who were killed in combat operations with which I was associated, and I know those men and their families are remembered. In particular, men like Staff Sgt. Bullard and Sgt. Philpot, who were heroes in every way and the first men to die on South Carolina's Task Force Phoenix mission in 2007 and 2008. On this Memorial Day, let's ensure we don't forget men like Lt. Bill Burke, Capt. Milton Palmer, my uncle Jimmy and so many others who gave their lives doing a dangerous job on our behalf. For most, it took the same courage to volunteer to be in a unit that trained and remained ready to deploy to combat. Death or serious injury could come during training, and in the act of serving in uniform, particularly in a combat unit, combat was always an immediate reality. The unit in which Bill Burke and I served had spent many periods of time on division-ready force. This meant that we could be called back to the unit within hours and "wheels up" in 18 hours as a heavy arm of the 18th Airborne Corps. Bill Burke never saw actual combat but is the kind of hero we honor on Memorial Day. On this upcoming Memorial Day, let us focus on honoring "all" those who died while serving on active duty. We should spend time remembering the heroes who gave all in combat in foreign lands. We should also spend time remembering those who made the same commitment to service and made the same sacrifice for our nation. Those who braved the training necessary to defend this nation and paid a price for our freedom. As the Lord Jesus said: "No greater love hath man than this, that he lays down his life for his friends." Those who died in uniform, in combat or training, have laid down their lives for their friends and showed the greatest love. They deserve our thanks and honoring. Bill Connor, an Army Infantry colonel, author and Orangeburg attorney, has deployed multiple times to the Middle East. Connor was the senior U.S. military adviser to Afghan forces in Helmand Province, where he received the Bronze Star. A Citadel graduate with a JD from USC, he is also a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Army War College, earning his master of strategic studies. He is the author of the book "Articles from War. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Peterborough, NH On Friday and Saturday, June 14-5, 2019, the New Hampshire Institute for Civics Education (NHICE) will screen To Kill a Mockingbird as part of a multi-year statewide program designed to foster conversations with the public on law, justice, and civics. The screening will take place Friday, June 14 at 7 pm and the Antrim Town Hall. Then on Saturday, June 15 there will be a discussion open the film at 10 am at the Peterborough Town Library. A light snack will be provided. The program was made possible with support from New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. New Hampshire Humanities awarded a Community Project Grant to NHICE for film screenings in all ten New Hampshire counties to start multigenerational conversations through film about law, justice, and civics. NHICE selected To Kill a Mockingbird to kick off the Lights, Camera, Civics! Program because of the civics, social, and justice issues it raises, and its broad appeal to a range of ages and demographics. A local team, consisting of an attorney, a teacher, and a high school student will lead the community discussions that accompany all film showings. The discussion team consists of Amanda Quinlan, who was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar in December of 2018 after graduating from Vermont Law School in May 2018. Amanda is a litigation associate at McLane Middleton in Manchester, New Hampshire. In addition to working as a summer associate at McLane Middleton in 2017, Amanda also clerked at the Vermont Defender General Appellate Division while in law school. Eric Bowman has been teaching social studies at ConVal High School for over 20 years. He is also the adviser to the Student Council. Eric enjoys spending time with family, being active outside, and running an ethics seminar, the Revolution Ethics Project. Reagan Riffle is a sophomore at ConVal High School who loves math and meeting new people. She runs track, helps out in her student government, sings in the ConVal choirs, and is adamant about staying busy. Rosie Crooker is a sophomore at Conval High School who loves to learn from and work with those in her community. She is also very interested in world history, humanity and social justice. She is Vice President of her class, a member of Student Council and a student representative in various counseling department committees. The organizers of Lights, Camera, Civics! hope that the panel discussions accompanying its film showings will encourage civil conversation on sensitive topics and promote understanding among people with diverse viewpoints. In discussing To Kill a Mockingbird, for example, panelists and audience members will likely discuss racism, intolerance, and segregation--the movies central themes--as well as how personal opinion affects legal decision-making, and whether and what procedures are in place in the criminal justice system to protect against personal opinion taking hold of a criminal case. Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. Help India! By Mirza Mosarraf Hossain, TwoCircles.net This year Anjum Shaheen will be observing Eid without her family. Shaheen who is from Dhanbad in Jharkhand is a second-year student of Botany Department from Lady Brabourne College in Kolkata. Support TwoCircles I dont have any option except staying at the hostel there in Kolkata. It will be very difficult for me to celebrate Eid at home and sit for the exam the next day. So this year I have planned to celebrate Eid with the hostel mates. Shaheen along with hundreds of Muslim students from the peripheral districts of West Bengal or neighbouring states who are pursuing their studies in Kolkata-based colleges and universities are going through a tough time deciding to appear for their exams to celebrating Eid with families. This is because their exams are scheduled on 4th, 6th, or 7th i.e. either one day before Eid, on the day or one day after the Eid, the holy festival of the Muslims that likely to be celebrated either on 5th or 6th of June this year in the Indian subcontinent. Whereas some of them are planning to celebrate Eid with friends at their hostels; others are taking the festive day just as any other days in their lives. While Jadavpur University has scheduled its Even Semester exams on 7th of June, Calcutta University also did so on the same date in some of its UG 2nd Year Honors courses. The same thing happens with the West Bengal University of Teachers Training, Planning and Administration which has scheduled its I, II, and III Semester M.Ed exam on 4th, 6th, and on the 7th of June. Kalyani University, a State-run university, had scheduled its M.Sc second Semester exam in Zoology on the 6th of June and many other subjects on the same date. But now they have changed it when a Muslim staff brought the date of Eid into the notice of the concerned university authority. Another State-run university, namely West Bengal State University, which also scheduled various exams on 6th, 7th for some of the UG courses, has assured the change of the date when few Bengali News Portal and two newspapers, Kalom and Dindarpan, highlighted the issue. However, this is not for the first time when this issue comes out, in the previous years, it also occurred even by reputed universities like Calcutta University when in the last year it set its exam routine on just one day before Eid and one day just after the Eid. The insensitivity of the concerned authorities has raised deep anguish among the students, staff as well as many people of the Muslim community. Afroza Khatun, associate Professor of Calcutta University affiliated Surendranath College for Women at the Department of Bengali vented her anger over the mismanagement of the university administration in dealing with these issues. She said, The reason is because of the lack of Muslim representation at the administration level. Also, its not that the authority does not know what or when Eid is, it is their utter indifference towards the culture, the belief system of the Muslim community. When TwoCircles.Net contacted Dr. Chiranjib Bhattacharya, the Dean of the Engineering and Technology Department, who also holds an additional charge of Controller of the Examinations of the University, said, This is a genuine issue. I shall look into the matter. I was out of the station, just returned today. There will be no conflict with Eid. We will be cautious. When Vice Chancellor of Calcutta University failed to respond to several calls and messages, TwoCircles.Net contacted the Acting Controller of Examinations, Dr. Jayeeta Dutta Gupta took no responsibility, It is not possible for me to say anything over this matter. You have to talk to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor regarding this matter. But as the calendar shows the celebration of Eid on 5th of June, the concerned authorities of the Universities seem to be indifferent while making exam timetable. As Nurjahan Khatun, a student of Surendranath College for Women from Sujapur of Malda district, 338 km away from Kolkata said, and Why University Authority doesnt keep these matters in mind while making exam routines? We get only one festival after fasting for one month and we are unable to celebrate that. She added, Every year Muslim students of Calcutta University affiliated colleges, especially UG second-year students, face the same problem. We cant think about going home on the eve of Eid because in our first year we gave satisfactory exams but got average marks. And now if we go home for at least two days for celebrating Eid, what will happen with our marks? Another student from Murshidabads Dhuliyan, 300 km away from his university, West Bengal University of Teachers Training, Planning and Administration, Golam Mortuza, M.Ed Second Semester spoke regarding this problem at his university and he said, We approached the Controller of Examinations to request him to change the date. But he said it cant be done as the dates till 27th of June is packed up and warned of shifting dates on the dates of National Eligibility Test that will also take place during that time. So we left it and resolved to stay at the hostel. The Registrar of the West Bengal University of Teachers Training & Education Panning Administration, Tapas Basu could not be contacted as his phone rang unanswered and WhatsApp messages unanswered for his comments on the issue as raised by students. The Muslim community comprises 30% of the total population in the State. But the way they are treated under the disguise of mistakes either in time of scheduling exam timetable or offering only one day as a holiday on the day of Eid, it attests reluctance, willful indifference and lack of respect by the concerned authorities towards the culture, custom, religious festivities of the particular community. Importantly, the Chief Minister of the State, Mamata Banerjee, is often accused of appeasing Muslims as vote banks. But this kind of institutionalized mistakes reminds us of the ground reality over the condition of the community attesting that the Muslim appeasement is nothing but a bluff. One reason are the high wages offered to Luxembourg's civil servants. Roughly 12,000 people are employed by EU agencies in Luxembourg. Christoph Schroder from the liaison office of the European Parliament in Luxembourg has now said that it is becoming increasingly challenging to recruit new employees. One of the reasons contributing to this are the high wages in the civil service, as the EU institutions are struggling to compete with the civil service when it comes to hiring Luxembourgish employees. The building which housed the European Parliament in the 1960s has since changed its look and its purpose. Nowadays, it is still home to the EU's General Administration. By 2023, a new building is supposed to regroup all of the employees of the General Administration and will contain a visitor centre to make the EU more attractive to the general public, as well as visiting tourists. Video in Luxembourgish The southern African country was ravaged by two cyclones (Idai and Kenneth) in the past few months, with cyclone Idai being one of the worst tropical storms to affect Africa on record. The Directorate for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs has announced it will donate a second contribution of 250,000 in financial aid to Mozambique. The sum will be allocated to Unicef to contribute towards the organisation's efforts in sanitising water in Mozambique and in constructing temporary centres destined towards shelter and educating some 38,000 children. The directorate, which falls under the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, allocated 250,000 towards the international Red Cross previously. Two of the five emergency.lu mobile communication platforms set up in Mozambique remain operational. A crash on 1 July 2018 in Zweibrucken caused the death of a 13-year-old boy. As a witness claimed the vehicle responsible for the crash could originate from Luxembourg, the German police have asked their Luxembourgish colleagues for help in the investigation. The crash involved a car and a motorbike on the A8 and caused the death of the 13-year-old boy sitting on the back of the motorbike. The 37-year-old motorcyclist sustained serious injuries, his life remaining in the balance for some time. Whilst the man did not succumb to his injuries, the teenager died on the spot. Following the collision, the motorist responsible for the crash drove off. Ten months later, the German authorities have not been able to find the person responsible for the hit and run. A witness statement claimed that the motorist may have had Luxembourgish number plates. The German police have asked their Luxembourgish counterparts for help in the investigation, but the vehicle has not yet been found in Luxembourg. The car in question is a light or white Mercedes. A 2018 EU regulation stipulates that all member states must have a National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) in place by the end of 2019. On Tuesday, ministers and concerned actors in the sector met at the Neumunster Abbey to begin drafting plans. Participants took part in workshops to focus on forging tangible measures, which are all the more important as the government has set itself more ambitious objectives than those set out by the European Commission. The Luxembourgish authorities are also hoping to focus specifically on the finance sector. Minister of Finance Pierre Gramegna, usually seen wearing a blue tie to reflect his party colours, was sporting a green tie on Tuesday in a symbolic move. Speaking to his ministerial colleagues from the Green Party (Minister for Energy Claude Turmes and Minister for the Environment Carole Dieschbourg), Gramegna promised to make the finance sector more environmentally friendly. He highlighted that this would be an opportunity for banks and businesses in the sector, stressing Luxembourg's position as one of the top three finance sectors in the EU. He explained that financial sector businesses must also act if they want to make an environmental difference, stating that the government investing billions is insufficient. Instead, funding must reach the trillions, which Gramegna stressed was only possible with the help of the private sector, namely the banking and funds industry. The issue in this seismic shift is introducing credible products. The minister cited green savings accounts as a positive example. In this scenario, banks would only be able to invest savings into environmental projects. However, Gramegna outlined that not enough of these types of products exist. In order to see change, the industry must combine efforts with the state. The government's main NECP objective is to slash carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. This paradigm shift could possibly have financial implications for the sector. One of the four workshops on Tuesday was dedicated to finding solutions. As the director of myenergy, Gilbert Theato, explained, the main idea brought up the workshop was a de-risking instrument involving the set up of a fund. The workshop mainly discussed hypothetical ideas, but the idea of a fund in which the state and investors could allocate funds for potential risks seemed to gain traction. Rene Pfeiffer / RTL Tele Letzebuerg Rene Pfeiffer / RTL Tele Letzebuerg Rene Pfeiffer / RTL Tele Letzebuerg Rene Pfeiffer / RTL Tele Letzebuerg Rene Pfeiffer / RTL Tele Letzebuerg The photos published on this site are subject to copyright and may not be copied, modified, or sold without the prior permission of the owner of the site in question. On several occasions, Turmes highlighted the country and the sector's obligation to be more environmentally conscious. His speeches were full of phrases such as "Luxembourg must do more," and "we have to be more efficient". Turmes referred to everything ranging from building new homes to purchasing new cars in changing habits and moving away from non-sustainable forms of energy. Whilst Gramegna cited the need for trillions in funding, Dieschbourg stressed that there is no choice in deciding the matter, claiming "Luxembourg cannot afford to not have climate protection". She noted that the effects of climate change affect everyone in society and require change on behalf of a number of sectors, especially the investment sector. The government will publish its findings from the workshops in a report in June. As befitting the first mineral discovered in Luxembourg, it makes sense that the country would be the namesake. The National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) announced the "most spectacular discovery" in Luxembourgish mineralogy. The geology/mineralogy section of the museum proudly announced the new discovery of the mineral now named Luxembourgite. The mineral was discovered on 9 April, making it the first new mineral found in Luxembourg. The International Mineralogical Association validated the discovery and the international research team, including the MNHN's Simon Philippo, gave the mineral its symbolic name. The mineral now joins around 5,400 mineral specimens recognised officially. Unlike the number of animal or botanical species, the number of mineral specimens remains comparatively small. MNHN An accidental discovery Luxembourgite was found by accident in the surrounding area of the Stolzembourg former copper mine in the north of the country. The Societe Electrique de lOur (SEO) had been working on the area and noticed the mineral. The museum's scientific collaborator, Jean-Baptiste Burnet, brought samples to the museum to examine it in greater detail. The mineral is a microscopic one with an atypical composition. It has a length of 200 (0,2 mm) and thickness of 5 . In other words, it is ten times thinner than a strand of hair and closer to the size of a red blood cell. The MNHN team claimed its chemical makeup is "exceptional for the region", having traces of silver, copper, lead, bismuth, and selenium. The research team, made up of Philippo, Frederic Hatert (professor at the University of Liege), and Pietro Vignola (researcher at the University of Milan) are currently working on the scientific article describing the new mineral. The holotype of Luxembourgite can now be found in the museum's collections, making a rather exceptional present to celebrate the museum's 165th anniversary. Get access to everything we publish when you sign up for Outside+. Living in Flagstaff, Arizona, and training with some of the best trail runners in the nation, Stephen Kersh hit the trail-running scene hard in 2018. Kersh runs with his buddies, the Coconino Cowboys: Jim Walmsley, Jared Hazen, Tim Freriks, Cody Reed and Eric Senseman, among others. Last year, Kersh won the Flagstaff Extreme Big Pine 54K, Under Armour Copper Mountain 50K, Tamalpa Headlands 50K and landed a second-place podium stand at the Pass Mountain 50K in Mesa, Arizona. In April, Kersh made his 50-mile debut at the Lake Sonoma 50 and earned a spot in this years Western States 100. Finishing fourth in the race, Kersh snagged his ticket because two of the three podium finishers wont use theirs (finishing top two at the Lake Sonoma 50 grants you an entry into the WS100). We asked Kersh about his favorite speed workouts and he named this as one he did before Lake Sonoma. Weve included a modified version below for those runners who arent training at the elite level (i.e. everyone). Please use discretion and adjust mileage and pace according to your personal fitness level. Prep: Do a quick body scan. Take note of places in your body that ache, are locked up or are storing stress. Do your 3-minute mountain legs while listening to this song. KERSHS WORKOUT Warm up for 15 minutes Run 4 miles at threshold pace 2 min jog 6 x 1:00 hills then 4 more miles at threshold pace MODIFIED Warm up for 15 minutes Run 2 miles at 5k pace (the level where youre not able to say more than a few words at once) 1 mile cool down 3 x 30-second hill repeats 2 miles at 5k pace 15 minute cool down Check in with the places in your body that you noticed before. Can you release them while youre running? OTHER KERSH FAVES IF YOURE NOT INTO THE ABOVE 20 x 60-seconds on, 60-seconds off. Aim for 10k pace (you can only say a couple more words) for the on section. Help India! By Inder Bisht, TwoCircles.net I dont even bring mutton home now, for fear of it being mistaken for beef, says Moeen Khan, 35 years, grandson of former Member of Parliament from Faridabad constituency Rahim Khan who belongs to the Meo community and lives in Haryanas Palwal city bordering the Nuh district of the state. Support TwoCircles Meos are a community of Muslims who reside in the Mewat region comprising Haryanas Nuh district ; some parts of Faridabad; Rajasthans Alwar and Bharatpur districts, and one administrative division of Uttar Pradeshs Mathura district. Meos are concentrated in Nuh and around 80% of the districts one million people belong to the community. The region came to public attention in 2017 when a dairy farmer of Nuhs Jaisinghpur village, Pehlu Khan, 55, was lynched by a mob of cow-vigilantes in neighboring Rajasthans Behror city. Following the incident, two more men from the region lost their lives in separate incidents of mob violence while many more received injuries. Meos have traditionally been cattle-breeders and some villagers profess to having more than 50 cows with them a few years ago. The topography of the area with hillocks and grazing land in the foothills, allow villagers to keep cattle in large numbers, says Ramzan Chaudhary, president of the All India Mewati Samaj, an organization of Meos around the country. Meos trace their history to seventh century and claim themselves to be the descendant of Hindu Rajput rulers of the region. Despite being Muslim, lots of our cultural mores are similar to those of Hindus like the belief in gotras, castes, etc. Until few decades ago we used to celebrate all the major Hindu festivals also, says Saleem Khan, a social activist from Mudhee village of the district. Claiming to have a special and emotional relationship with cows, some Meos say that they would not kill it for food however acknowledge at the same time that some members of the community do it. Ever since the matter has taken a communal tone, village panchayats and religious leaders (maulvis) have declared a ban on eating beef. We have even warned the panchayat heads that they would be punished if a resident of their village was found selling or eating beef, says Chaudhary. Plagued with poor infrastructure, lack of water and high rate of illiteracy, Nuh came in at the bottom of a list of 101 most backward districts of the country released by the Indian governments policy think tank, Niti Ayog last year. The attacks have increased the problems of the region by creating a fear psychosis among the people resulting in their reluctance to buy cows. This has hit the dairy-business of the region hard. People are scared to bring cows now. Since buffaloes are very expensive, very few could afford them which have adversely affected the profit margin, says Mohammad Qayyum, a dairy-owner in Jaisinghpur village. Reselling of old and unproductive cows have also become difficult as the stringent implementation of Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, which prohibits cow slaughter, consumption, sale and storage of beef, has made cows pariah among villagers. Pehlu Khans eldest son Irshad,28 years, who is also one of the victims of the assault, says that he had to search for another source of income after the incident as keeping cows became unfeasible for Muslims. A father of three, Irshad co-drives a truck now, and remains out of town for months. Because of the continuing case in an Alwar court however he has to cancel his trip frequently causing him monetary losses. Nuh is surrounded by Hindu-majority regions of Haryana and Rajasthan. With the arrival of BJP in Centre, the residents of the district say that a concerted effort has been made to isolate and attack the practices and way of life of the Meos. If a Meo Muslim has to bring a cow for milk, he has to come through the neighboring districts where the right-wing groups spot them and launch attacks, says Saleem Khan. Azad Khan, a farmer leader of the region says that Muslim farmers are scared to even take their cows for mating with bulls (a practice in villages) few kilometers from their houses for fear of being seen as moving them for slaughter. Cows rope in the hands of a Muslim is enough for some people to accuse him of cow-smuggling, says Khan. Moeen Khan acknowledges that despite the increased scrutiny around cows some cattle-thieves might still be operative in the area who would pick stray cattle, mostly. He however further adds that members of Hindu communities are also involved in this act as they are the ones who inform the criminals about the location of the cattle in lieu of money. A minuscule number of people, belonging to both the communities, are involved in this act. They are criminals and should be treated just like that only. Identifying them with their religion would be wrong, says Khan. He adds that the role of police is crucial in the illegal business of cow-smuggling. Without the involvement and approval of police personnel its next to impossible to transport cows illegally, Khan claims. Chaudhary, who is also a lawyer, says in a district with poverty and rampant unemployment, some members of the community are indeed involved in the illegal beef-business. A cows hide sells for Rs. 5,000-6,000 while its meat would fetch around Rs 15,000-20,000 depending upon the animals weight. An underground network of cow-sellers, transporters, and butchers is still operative in the area although in small pockets, Chaudhary says. He further alleges that the business is so lucrative that police, particularly the personnel of Crime Investigation Agency (CIA), are hands in gloves with the members of the butcher community. Police personnel and the Quereshis (a community mostly of butchers) enjoy personal relationships. I have heard of a wedding of a Hindu police officers daughter in the area where the Quereshis had gifted two lakh rupees to the bride, says Chaudhary. The BJP at the centre and the state, Moeen Khan asserts, has exploited the fault lines among the two communities (Hindu and Muslim) by letting these self-made groups of so-called go-rakshaks act on their prejudices by targeting Muslims in the name of religion. I would say if BJP has not sanctioned such attacks then certainly they have also not condemned and prevented them. The ground-level workers of these loosely-controlled vigilantes groups feel the urge to impress upon their higher leadership by doing some acts in the name of honoring their religion. They think attacking a Muslim galvanizes the community, says Khan. The inability and unwillingness of the government to prevent and punish these attackers is where its guilt lies, he adds. Damage to Biryani business The fallout of the attacks is being felt in other businesses also. Chaudhary recalls a survey he had helped coordinate for Aman Biradari, a social justice initiative, in 2017 where around 10,000 biryani-stall owners were interviewed. There were thousands of road-side eateries along the Sohna-Alwar road which used to sell buffalo -meat biryani. After the Pehlu Khan Incident, police raids on the shops started to take place regularly forcing most of them to shut their business, says Chaudhary. Police would confiscate meat items and send them for examination on suspicion of beef. Chaudhary says that the real reason of the raids was to harass the Muslim population as no beef sample had ever been found in those raids. The repercussions of the overzealousness of the police were borne by the poor eatery-owners and consumers who largely belonged to the truck-drivers community, Chaudhary adds. Thousands of eateries were closed as the result of daily harassment by the police. Buffalo meat is cheaper than chicken and much cheaper than mutton. A poor truck driver or laborer could easily afford a plate of biryani. The damage to the business has hit both the poor sellers and consumers, Chaudhary says. Emerging out of the turbulent last five years, voters of Nuh yearn for a change from the previous times and for a future when religion is not the primary identifying factors for them. I realized that I am a Muslim only in 2014. Before that I was a proud Mewati. I would again like to go back to our old times when religions didnt matter much, says Haroon Khan of Mewat Vikas Sabha. The U.S. Senate considered striking down the Bureau of Land Managements new rule-making protocol, BLM 2.0, on Monday night, in a continued attempt to purge Obama-era regulations. The dry federal process has become the topic of heated debate as conservative leaders try to cut back on federal oversight and advocates for the environment and recreation cry foul. Congressional leaders from Wyoming introduced the rule for the chopping block in January under the Congressional Review Act, which can strip 11th-hour regulations of an outgoing presidential agenda with a simple majority vote in each house and the signature of the president. The resolution of dissent on BLM 2.0 passed in the House days after being introduced by Rep. Liz Cheney and is now awaiting consideration in the Senate. The Senate was scheduled to vote on whether to proceed with the rules consideration Monday night. The final decision was not available by press time. *** BLM 2.0 is a reform of the federal agencys 1983 protocol on public involvement in the regulation process. It was passed in December, during the last leg of the Obama administration. If 2.0 is eliminated, the federal agency may revert to the 34-year-old method for the foreseeable future, as the CRA prohibits rehashing a rule thats been struck down. It could also revert to an early 2000s version that amended the 1983 rule. Those in favor of cutting the rule see it as part of the state-versus-federal debate on land management. Under the previous president, a burdensome bureaucracy grew exponentially, they say. Planning 2.0 represents a federal power grab that ignores expert knowledge and undermines the ability of state and local governments to effectively manage resources and land use inside their own districts, said Cheney in a January statement before proposing an end to the rule. The congresswomans stance on the rule has not changed in the weeks since. BLM 2.0 was a misguided and damaging attempt by the Obama administration to undermine the rights of state and local governments to manage resources and land use inside their own districts, she said in a statement. I was honored to introduce the bill repealing 2.0 in the House, and very pleased that it passed. Im hopeful the Senate will pass this important bill so we can begin to restore the rights and authority of Wyoming communities, citizens, and industry. Sen. Mike Enzi told the Star-Tribune in a recent interview that he believed there was a reasonable role for federal agencies like the BLM and the Environmental Protection Agency to play in Wyoming but that states were best placed to regulate their various industries or protect environmental interests on the ground. Enzi was the first lawmaker to use the CRA to repeal an outgoing presidents action, after Bill Clintons presidency in 2001. It hadnt been used since. The planning rule is one of a handful that are now being considered for repeal using the CRA. A law mandating stricter environmental protections for streams near coal production was struck down by the CRA in February. *** Those in favor of BLM 2.0 are flummoxed by its inclusion in the debate over federal strong-arming. The rule went through a two-year vetting process, was considered in two congressional sessions and was the subject of multiple public comment periods. Those in favor say the political argument against the rule, that it undermines public control of federal regulations, is far from the truth. The rule is mistakenly enmeshed in politics, as current leaders push back against the work of previous Democratic leaders, said Chamois Andersen, executive director of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation. BLM 2.0 shouldnt qualify as political maneuvering, she said. Under these new guidelines, the public is involved in crafting a rule on federal lands from the outset, she said. Before 2.0, only the BLM and cooperating agencies could see a proposed rule until a public draft was published, sometimes years later, she added. As a result, public individuals from industry, wildlife organizations or recreationists on public land were unaware of the direction of a rule until its parameters were all but established. That system introduced the possibility for lawsuits, lengthy critiques and reworking of a rule, she said. Some of the confusion over 2.0 may be attributed to the changes in public land management over the years, Andersen explained. There has been a move toward ecosystem-based management on federal lands instead of species- or region-based management. That has led to the misconception that regulations are more restrictive, when the opposite is correct, she said. BLM 2.0 allows officials to be more flexible, identifying the richest areas for oil and development, while securing areas where conservation is needed for wildlife or streams protected for anglers, Andersen argued. If more congressional leaders were familiar with how the rule works and what it accomplishes, many with concerns now would likely come to support it, she said. Follow energy reporter Heather Richards on Twitter @hroxaner Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. With Wyomings economy reeling from a drop in the energy sector, state leaders like Gov. Matt Mead have emphasized the need to attract other industries that offer good jobs for blue-collar workers and young professionals. Mead is proud of the arrival of the Magpul Industries firearms accessory plant outside Cheyenne in 2015, viewing it as part of a burgeoning small manufacturing sector. The data centers clustered in southeast Wyoming fall into the same category, providing opportunities for computer engineers and skilled heating and air conditioning specialists. Yet many economists question whether a state like Wyoming will ever be able to re-create tens of thousands of energy-related jobs with small factories and similar businesses. And even if lost energy jobs could be replaced on a large scale, a troubling issue remains: State government currently receives about 70 percent of its revenue from the energy industry, mostly through severance taxes and mineral royalties fees that are only charged to companies taking natural resources out of the ground. In other words, the state sees a direct tax benefit only from mining companies. Economic diversification without a change in the tax code isnt going to work, Rep. David Miller, R-Riverton, said at a news conference in January. In fact, its a recipe for disaster. Miller, the Legislatures House Majority Floor Leader, was highlighting the fact that any move away from extractive industries in Wyoming will mean less money for public services. Mead, too, has noted that while companies like Magpul provide local jobs, attracting them through low taxes means less revenue for Wyoming. If were going to bring in new industries to diversify us, whether its manufacturing or whatever it may be, we have to make sure there is a tax benefit to that, Mead said in a fall interview with the Star-Tribune. That puts the conservative politicians who control the Legislature the only body that could raise, or change, taxes in Wyoming in a tricky spot. Im not in favor of corporate or personal income tax, Senate President Eli Bebout, R-Riverton, said. But before he had finished his brief comments at the same news conference where Miller spoke, Bebout said that, actually, the economy needed to diversify, and the tax system needed to change, too. We need to look at that diversification of the tax base, Bebout said. But experts say that even if the Legislature seeks new sources of revenue to cover the budget shortfall, it is improbable that Wyoming will move to implement the one levy that would most obviously spread around the tax burden: a personal or corporate income tax. Theres absolutely going to be a really big status quo bias in tax policy, said University of Memphis professor Michael Sances, who has studied how states respond to economic downturns. Its a lot easier to tell people were just going to raise that existing tax a little bit. The Legislatures actions in this years session have mirrored Sances analysis, with a host of proposals to raise taxes or allow local governments to raise taxes all within the existing framework. There was a bill to eliminate sales tax exemptions, allow cities and counties to raise the lodging tax and one that would have taxed alcohol at a higher rate and sent that money to fund schools. Other bills sought to lower various taxes. But none have proposed any radical alterations to the tax code, and no bills to begin taxing personal incomes or non-energy companies profits were brought forward. The closest the Legislature has come to looking at truly new forms of taxation was a Senate bill called Tax reform 2020, which would have convened a panel of legislators. The mission of the commission, based on a panel that was convened in the late 1990s following 10 years of low energy prices, would have been to develop comprehensive legislation for a fair, viable and economically competitive state and local tax structure... for a diversified economy. But the measure, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Chris Rothfuss, D-Laramie, with bipartisan co-sponsors including Harshman, failed to make it out of a committee. Instead, the Senate has taken up a more modest bill, Senate File 131 sponsored by Bebout and also backed by Rothfuss and Harshman that would create a commission with a mandate to conduct a review of projected state revenues and... potential additional revenue options. Bebout, who would sit on the commission if Senate File 131 passes, said he opposes any increase in property taxes, in addition to his opposition to income tax, and called raising sales tax the most reasonable one to consider. Like the rest of the Legislatures Republican leadership, Bebout hammered on the point of reducing government spending before looking at raising revenue. But he also noted the political impossibility of simply slashing spending to fix the deficit. The challenge is to provide that happy medium between revenue and taxes and satisfying all the special interests, Bebout said. History of opposition The Cowboy State is one of just seven states without any form of income tax. The history of taxation in Wyoming is one of a Legislature loath to raise taxes and repeatedly sheltered from doing so by fluctuations in the economy. Wyoming debated whether to move beyond a property tax during the depression of the 1930s, as one in five state residents received welfare and government agencies were stretched thin. Many states were going through the same deliberation during an era that marked the start of new forms of taxation. What existed before that was a pretty narrow amount of revenue and property taxes were pretty huge, said William Fox, director of the Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Tennessee. But in Wyoming, the Legislature had to be dragged kicking and screaming to move beyond the property tax. An income tax was proposed and supported by farmers and ranchers who felt the state was balancing its budget on the high property taxes they paid but opponents successfully linked it to organized labor and Wyomings minuscule Communist party, according to a history written by University of Wyoming professor Phil Roberts. By tying the income tax to Communists, opponents of the tax won the day, Roberts wrote. In 1935 the Legislature finally passed a temporary sales tax with dozens of exemptions, including all services, and settled on a permanent measure two years later. Roberts notes that by the end of the 1930s, lawmakers had determined the sales tax would be sufficient and, with the economy improving, they decided not to follow the lead of other states in raising an income tax. A severance tax, which had been debated since Wyomings founding, would not come to pass until several decades later. During the 1966 general election, the entire Democratic party slate in Wyoming led by gubernatorial candidate Ernest Wilkerson pushed for a tax on minerals mined in the state under the slogan, Lets make Wyoming minerals make Wyoming payrolls. Wilkerson and the Democrats were defeated across the board, and while Republican governor Stanley Hathaway got behind the idea of severance tax, he struggled to even find a legislator to propose a bill calling for one. Finally Rep. Cliff Davis, R-Gillette, agreed to introduce the legislation. Im going to introduce your bill for you, Governor, because I feel sorry for you, Davis reportedly told Hathaway. The 1 percent severance tax would eventually pass by an overwhelming margin of 67-20, buoyed by strong support from the public and the media, according to the Wyoming Historical Society. The implementation of that tax came just a few years before the energy boom of the 1980s that saw oil prices soar, and then crash, but also witnessed the rise of both coal and natural gas as important parts of the states energy sector. As the state started receiving the bulk of its revenue through severance and property taxes paid by mining companies, a political climate developed where residents paid little in taxes while still expecting strong government services; in real terms, the Wyoming Taxpayers Association estimates the average Wyomingite receives $30,000 in government services per year while paying just $3,000. The income tax popped up again as a potential source of revenue for Wyoming in the 1990s, following a decade of sluggish performance by the states energy industry. The Legislature created the Tax Reform 2000 Committee in 1997, tasking it with developing a new tax system to meet expected needs of the 21st Century. The panel delivered its report the next year and outlined a host of problems with Wyomings tax system, including: Wyoming residents benefit from generous public services funded by out-of-state tax revenue; Wyomings existing tax structure may contribute to the lack of economic growth in the state; not enough of the mineral taxes are being diverted to trust funds; individuals with higher incomes pay a smaller percentage of their income in sales tax than those are lower incomes; the property tax unfairly burdens middle-class families; future revenue may not cover the cost of state government. The committee members recommended the Legislature look into a personal and corporate income tax, along with other ways to broaden the tax base. But the year after the report was released, coal bed methane was discovered in the Powder River Basin, leading to a natural gas boom and appearing to eliminate the need for the Legislature to make any unpopular decisions related to taxes. I dont even know where Tax 2000 is on our shelf, Mead said. Still, the governor has been a strong advocate of at least looking into changing Wyomings tax code and said the recommendations of the 2000 report should be taken seriously. Weve got to dust off Tax 2000, which is dusty, he said. University of North Texas professor Ronald Hy, who studies state income taxes, said Wyomings current system makes any changes politically difficult. He said state government has effectively been funded by out-of-state residents who pay higher energy prices because companies paying severance taxes in Wyoming pass those costs along to the eventual customers. The people who pay the taxes export the cost to other states, Hy said. That means that state residents just arent used to paying taxes that cover the cost of the government services they receive and that makes it all the more difficult for politicians to find support for new taxes. Hows that going to sell when people arent used to paying taxes? Taxing consumption Bebout, who assumed the Senate presidency this year just as the Legislature addresses major budget shortfalls, has been forced to navigate the tension of governing in a state where residents have embraced low taxes alongside a big state government. I always think you ought to have a look at reduction in government, Bebout said. But you need to provide the level of services at what people want. He hasnt proposed a clear answer for how to do that, though the Legislature saw a bill introduced last week that would cut another $30 million from the state budget, on top of $250 million in cuts made by Mead over the summer. Lawmakers are also grappling with a $400 million education funding shortfall. The Legislature may be eager to turn first to spending cuts because studies show that, politically, Republican legislators suffer more from any move to raise taxes and are relatively unharmed by cutting government programs. In conservative states, voters are more likely to punish representatives who raise taxes to solve a budget deficit, said Western Washington University professor Todd Donovan. Theyre more vulnerable to not getting reelected because their constituents are just, by default, less sympathetic, said Donovan, who studies voter reactions to tax increases. But Sances, who examined how states coped with deficits during the Great Recession, said that spending cuts can go only so far. Not only are state governments already generally operating with small budgets relative to the services they provide, but much state spending is on federally mandated programs, like Medicaid. I dont think theres any state that exclusively relied on spending cuts, Sances said. You need more revenue. In that case, conservative political ideology favors sales taxes, which charge people for the goods they consume, rather than income taxes. Russell Sobel, an economist at the Citadel, said this is because income taxes effectively tax money that would otherwise be invested in the private sector. In general, people can do two things with money they earn: spend it or save it. With a sales tax, savings that are placed in a bank account arent taxed, and banks can lend that money to businesses. Taxing income provides more money for government services, but conservatives tend to believe the market should have as much power as possible, Sobel said. The real question is which way is the spending more beneficial? he said. There is also the political benefit of raising sales taxes rather than income or property. Donovan said voters respond most aggressively to property and income taxes, which are paid in a single lump sum each year. Any increase in property taxes tends to be the most politically noticeable, he said. Sales tax may be the least. Moving forward Many lawmakers have noted that budget cuts alone wont solve Wyomings fiscal woes. Theyve also acknowledged that the states tax code needs to be changed to make economic diversification work. Still, most of the tax-related bills at the Legislature this year have been soundly defeated. While a cigarette tax is progressing, alcohol and lodging taxes were both defeated. So was one that would have eliminated some sales tax exemptions. The hostility toward any increase in revenue was on display in September, when the Legislatures revenue committee met in Buffalo. The committee declined to eliminate exemptions on items as varied as outdoor guides paying certain lodging taxes, companies repairing railroad cars and businesses that rent and sell pagers. Wyoming also exempts food and most services from sales tax. Fox, from the University of Tennessee, said tax exemptions are easy to pass, but they devastate a states ability to raise revenue. If Wyoming isnt able to universally apply a sales tax, Fox was skeptical about the Legislatures ability to craft sensible tax policy regardless of whether it continues to rely on consumption taxes or moves toward an income tax. In the end, its easy to give away the tax base, Fox said. Star-Tribune reporter Laura Hancock contributed to this article from Cheyenne. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Four professors at the University of Wyoming expected their research on solar panels and solar car batteries to increase energy efficiency by about 4 percent. They were a little off. Adding magnesium atoms to solar cells boosted energy conversion by an average of 300 percent, according to their research, recently published in Applied Physics Letters. At best, the magnesium addition increased efficiency by 700 percent. While some states, like Colorado, have large solar fields supplying industry-scale electricity to homes and businesses, energy from the sun in Wyoming is largely relegated to individual homes and ranches far out on the prairie. That may change, as solar technology research moves away from institutions like UW and becomes more readily available for commercial use. The Rock Springs Airport, long due for a makeover, received a grant from Rocky Mountain Power recently to install solar panels that could reduce the cost of electricity by between $150,000 and $200,000 in the next fifteen years. From electric cars to off-the-grid living, increased solar efficiency could have far-reaching results, making discoveries like that of Jinke Tag, Yuri Dahnovsky, TeYu Chien and Wenyong Wang of UW a way to move the ball forward. The influx of renewables on the electricity grid is already changing the grids landscape, the way power moves and which sources win or lose in the future of electricity generation. Their study could be revolutionary, they say, but its advantages are also mundane. A farmer may need a water pump in a remote area to water his livestock, explained Dahnovsky, one of the studys authors and a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. If theres no electricity, he may use solar cells to power the water pump. Better solar technology has obvious ramifications in the electricity market, where building renewable generation, like wind farms, has fallen in cost. Solar is not yet a cheap resource for wide scale development, though as researchers find better ways of harnessing the suns power, its costs are also expected to drop. Support for solar energy can be complicated in states like Wyoming, generally loyal to traditional fuel sources like coal and natural gas because the state produces large quantities of those resources and depends on their revenue. But in a bid for diversification and to take advantage of growing renewable industries, support for solar and wind power has grown in the state. If solar development becomes cheap enough, it too may find a place on the Wyoming landscape, experts say. For now, solar serves homes and communities in Wyomings rural areas, cut off from reliable electricity access. The professors research was funded by the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Basic Energy Sciences, via UWs EPSCoR program, which encourages nationally competitive research and diversity in STEM fields. Follow energy reporter Heather Richards on Twitter @hroxaner Love 6 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 3 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. One adult and two high school students appeared in court Tuesday afternoon in connection to what a prosecutor called a drive by shooting over the weekend. Court documents that detail the specifics of the case were not available after the proceedings ended. On Monday, police indicated theyd taken four juveniles into custody after officers responded to a shots-fired call on Sunday night. Bullet casings were found in the street and bullet holes were seen in the side of a home. Casper police spokeswoman Rebekah Ladd confirmed that the juveniles making their initial court appearances Tuesday are believed to be connected to the Sunday night incident, and that the adult, Mathew Nietert, is allegedly involved, as well. Ladd said police believe the incident was a drive-by shooting but arent sure if the house struck by gunfire was specifically targeted. She said she didnt know how Nietert was allegedly involved in the situation. Nietert, 25, is charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault; conspiracy to commit property destruction; the wrongful taking or disposing of property; and possession of a deadly weapon. He was held on a $100,000 bond. The two juveniles, who prosecutor Michael Schafer said were linked to the crime, faced similar charges. One, a 17-year-old, faces five felonies. In addition to the conspiracy and the deadly weapon charges that Nietert faces, the teen is also charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver. The teenager, who goes to a Casper high school, appeared with his grandmother and winced when Schafer recommended a $50,000 bond. The teen was ultimately held on $100,000 bond, despite his grandmothers request that he be released to her. Circuit Court Judge Michael Patchen told the woman that he wasnt concerned that the teen would flee but that he would sell drugs. That statement drew a snort and a really? from a woman in the audience. A Natrona County sheriffs deputy would later warn her to be quiet, and after another outburst, the deputy eventually escorted another adolescent in the audience out of the courtroom. After setting bond at $100,000, Patchen told the teen that it couldve been a lot worse. It couldve been a murder charge. The second juvenile who appeared Tuesday was also 17 and also appeared with his grandmother. He was charged with the two conspiracy charges and with possession a deadly weapon. His bond was set at $50,000. A third juvenile was set to appear in court related to the incident, but Patchen declined to move forward because the boy, 16, did not have a parent or guardian present. A fourth juvenile apparently connected to the incident did not appear in circuit court Tuesday. The Star-Tribune typically refrains from publishing the names of juveniles unless they are charged in adult court. Ladd, the police spokeswoman, said law enforcement had not yet released the affidavit detailing the case because of the involvement of juveniles. Follow education reporter Seth Klamann on Twitter @SethKlamann Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Its time to don walking shoes and stretch to prepare for a season of trekking through venues filled with art, music, food and activities for all ages. Art Start, from 5 to 8 p.m. April 6, is a warm-up for the Casper Art Walk, which is held the first Thursday of each month starting in May. Art Start spotlights new exhibitions at ART 321, the Nicolaysen Art Museum and Scarlows Gallery. The family-friendly, free event is a thank-you to the community for supporting the arts, organizers said. Art Start also is a chance for people to take their time with several significant exhibits and meet some of the artists. It honors the historic art organizations in Casper, said Amy Elmore, a volunteer and part of design company Fort Atelier, which is partnering with the Art Walks. And its exciting to see the community embrace and support the arts. The three locations will host free receptions with artist talks, food and cash bars. Other highlights include live music, book signings and artist quick draws, prizes and wine tastings. The event also starts a new tradition of monthly Art Walk passports. Collect all the stamps at featured stops for a chance to win a prize from a downtown business, Scarlows owner Claire Marlow said. Also new is an interactive digital map of the Art Start and Art Walk. Heres a look at the exhibitions: Art 321 Neltje: Neltje is a Wyoming abstract expressionist painter who has exhibited throughout the U.S., according to her biography. Her latest artistic pursuit is evoking her emotional response to the natural world on 30-foot canvasses. She also is a philanthropist whose support for artists and writers includes the Jentel Artist Residency Program on her Banner ranch. Suzette McIntyre: McIntyre has been recognized internationally for her signature style of photography and mixed-media paintings. She combines her background in sculpture and painting with her profession as a fine art photographer. Her latest show, Wide Open Spaces, focuses on Wyoming and the sense of spirit, strength and survival she sees in the people and vistas of her home state. Keep Casper Beautiful Public Art Project: Public voting is open for more than 50 submissions by local artists. Four winning works will appear on traffic signal boxes downtown. Nicolaysen Art Musuem Robert Russin: Russin is known for his public sculptures throughout the United States, including the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Monument on I-80 in Wyoming. He also created Fountainhead at Casper City Hall and the Prometheus sculpture at the Natrona County Public Library. The show includes of sculptures as well as many drawings and paintings never publicly exhibited before. Martin Garhart: Garharts works reside in over 40 institutions including the British Museum, Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institute, as well as in numerous private collections, according to his biography. He is a professor of art emeritus from Kenyon College, in Ohio. He grew up in the Black Hills of South Dakota and returned to the West, splitting his time between his cabin/studio in the Black Hills and his home/studio in Powell. Scarlows Gallery Daniel Marshall: Marshall is a tattoo artist in Denver with a studio gallery and private tattoo space, Atelier 71. Dan also is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society and is on this years faculty at the Plein Air Magazines convention as a featured demonstrator, lecturer and field painter. URBANxRURAL/Americana at Scarlows is his first solo exhibition and feature watercolor paintings of city and country scenes. The paintings depict his frequented spots in New York City, Denver and Casper, along with few of his popular motorcycle and hot-rod based figurative themes. Follow reporter Elysia Conner on Twitter @erconner Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Nia Garner remembers the moment she played her first note on a tuba in sixth grade at Centennial Junior High School in Casper. She asked to try the largest instrument in the band room, and the teacher set it her lap. It looked like a larger version of the baritone shed spent her fifth-grade year playing. But the mouthpiece was much bigger, and it required a lot more air, she said. I could barely get a sound out on it, Garner said, laughing. Fifth graders dont start off on the tuba because theyre too little, and she was still on the small side, she said. But she didnt want to set it down and play the smaller horn she was used to. From there, I just loved it, she said. And I never wanted to go back. Now Garner leads the Kelly Walsh High School bands tuba section and has performed in several state and regional honor ensembles. KW band director Brent Rose said she has the necessary skill and dedication as she plans to study music and follow it as her professional career. One thing she didnt have was her own tuba. Then in March, she won the Wyoming Symphony Orchestras annual instrument giveaway contest, which awards a Wyoming high school student with a professional instrument in partnership with Hill Music Company. The instrument is one that Garner can take with her into her future, which she said will always include playing tuba. Thats partly because music has helped Garner endure her father and grandfathers deaths and her mothers health problems something she mentions in her essay for the contest. It was one of the only constants, and practicing just makes me feel like happy, Garner said. And it gives some enjoyment, and it just kept me on track to keep achieving things. The jolly old man of instruments Garners mother told her she was a finalist for a new instrument when they arrived at the Wyoming Symphony Orchestras March 30 concert where the winner would be announced. Garner didnt see any reserved spots other than for her family. But I didnt believe anything until they called my name and then I went out on stage, she said, and then when they brought the tuba I mean, it still hasnt sunk in that its mine and its not going anywhere. Her mother knew shed won, but it surprised even her that Garner received the tuba that night. Usually, the winners choose their instrument later. But Rose whos tutored and advised Garner since she started tuba and talked with her previously about what her ideal instrument would be arranged the order. It was crazy and a surreal feeling, Garner said. I dont think with where my family is at we could really afford something like this right now, Garner said. So the fact that I was able to get this was awesome. The first tuba shes played was an old instrument beaten up by years of young players. And it wasnt even playing correctly, she said. The valves were all messed up and it sounded terrible, but I still loved it. A newer tuba she played later first showed her how beautiful the instrument can sound, she said. She cried and even thought of stealing it when she had to leave it behind, she said. Garner started high school on another clunker with rotary valves that just clanked with every note, she said. Her new nickel Eastman tuba is the nicest instrument shes played, she said. Its a demo of a model not yet released in the U.S., Rose said, so as far as they know shes the only person who owns one in North America. Its also a C tuba as opposed to the B-flat tubas students typically play though high school, Rose said. The different key means Garner also has had to learn new fingerings to play the same notes as she did on the school tuba she rented. And so shes really having to almost learn the instrument all over again to play this, he said. But its widely considered that a C tuba is the professional model. It works better in symphony orchestras. Rose told her he spent the better part of two months in a practice room when he made the switch in college. And shes adapted to it really quickly because shes a smart kid, and shes figured it out well, he said. Garner said its worth the adjustment. Her new tuba sounds even better than the one shes played at school the past two years. I like this one much better just because I feel like its more open and the tone is even richer, she said. Overall I just love this model. Many dont realize how beautiful the tuba can be, and it gets a reputation as being just a polka instrument, she said. But they can play symphonic and solo work, and they can play pretty fast. Tuba soloist Patrick Sheridan can play Flight of the Bumblebee, she said. I think the tuba is just a happy instrument, she said, Its like the jolly old man of instruments. Love and dedication Garners love for music began in elementary school when she watched her sister, whos five years older, play trombone in school band concerts. Music just kind of stuck with me, Garner said. When she reached fifth grade, it was time for her to choose an instrument. She debated between the French horn and baritone. Ive always liked lower-register instruments because their sound is so full and dark and rich, she said. So she chose the baritone, which she played for a year and half before switching to tuba. Shes made All-State Band since her freshman year and has traveled to Portland, Oregon, for All-Northwest among the top 150 band students in the region, Rose said. She traveled to Philadelphia last fall in the Wyoming All-State Marching Band and this summer heads to Europe with the Wyoming Ambassadors of Music, he said. She picked up trombone in junior high for jazz band and now plays it in the top KW jazz band as well as the sousaphone in marching bands, Rose said. Long before Garner knew about honor groups, she practiced to sound better and because it was fun, she said. In seventh grade she stayed after school almost every day to practice for an hour. I do it every single day, and I never really got too bored of it, she said. Music meant more to her through the years and helped her through tough times in her life, she said. Her mother had a stroke when Nia was in fourth grade and spent months in the hospital before a long recovery, she wrote in her essay. Her father was diagnosed with Lou Gehrigs disease, or ALS, when she was in seventh grade and died during her sophomore year. She also had to cope with her grandfathers death and her sister leaving for college. It felt like music and the school tuba I played on were challenging me in a way to say, This isnt it. Your fight doesnt end here. Keep going, Garner wrote in her essay. Without that feeling and that longing that my instrument gave me to keep going, I honestly dont know where Id be. The top honor roll student plans to earn a music performance degree from University of Wyoming and pursue a career as a performer, she said. Id love to be in New York someday just playing in the symphony, she said. Garner has returned to Centennial Junior High School, where she first fell in love with the tuba, to play along with and give pointers to the band students there. Shes always shown great dedication and the same willingness to help and encourage others, her former teacher Sarah Hanson said in her recommendation letter for the giveaway contest. She was the teacher who first watched Garner learn to play tuba in her band class. In the realm of dedication and practice, she said in the letter, I have only had one other student who was willing to challenge themselves without being prompted. Shes a great leader and on top of being successful, shes also quite humble, Rose said. Its a stereotype that girls dont play tuba, and three-quarters of the tuba section at Kelly Walsh proves that untrue, Rose said. I would say ironically that her personality is quite opposite of the tuba, Rose said. Shes kind of quiet and reserved, doesnt make a big fuss, is very studious. Its scary to think of having to make a decision about the rest of her life, Garner said. She doesnt like hasty decisions. But I think I was shown time and time again how music has just always been there for me, she said, and its the only thing thats really a constant. Her future plans are following a love of music thats only grown since she first picked up her instrument. I dont think I could ever give this up or music up in general, she said, because its been such a big part of my life. Follow reporter Elysia Conner on Twitter @erconner Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The new CEO of Mountain View Regional Hospital says she wants to grow the facilitys outreach and partner with local providers to expand services in Casper and beyond. Renee Schroyer was promoted from the chief financial officer to lead the hospital last month. She joined Mountain View last May after spending several years as CFO and then CEO of a similar facility in California. She worked in various roles in that states health care industry for more than 25 years after graduating from Texas A&M with an accounting degree. While shes worked on the insurance and business side of health care, she said she prefers the patient side of the industry. I like the provider side, Schroyer said, because I like patients and like to take care of them, versus insurance and just paying bills. Schroyer viewed the chance to be Mountain Views CFO as an opportunity and a challenge: The hospital hadnt had a consistent chief financial officer for a while, she said, so she would need to organize the administrative side of the hospital. The support departments smooth operation was of critical importance to the rest of the facility. It was also a challenge because of the hospitals size. The hospital she oversaw in California had about 110 employees, while Mountain View has around 300. Mountain View also has a clinic in addition to its hospital. Schroyer said she likes facilities like Mountain View because of their ability to have a closer relationship with patients. ... we can provide specialty care to people and be more attentive to their needs (with) the smaller group of people, she said. Its harder to touch the patients at larger hospitals. As CEO, her five-year goals for Mountain View include continuing to grow its outreach program. Currently the hospital serves a dozen towns in Wyoming, as well as in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, said spokeswoman Lisa Hulshizer. The hospital doesnt necessarily plan to expand to more places, Hulshizer and Schroyer said. It wants to continue to evaluate the needs of those places and adjust the services offered as needed by the community. The hospital will take a fresh look at each area, Schroyer said. Are we doing what we need to be doing in those places? Mountain View is also evaluating adding more specialists. It added an ear, nose and throat surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon in recent months, she said, and might expand further. Its just a question of looking in the community and finding what (people) need, she said. Do we have high quality for women? Do we have high quality health care for children? ... What do we need to support the community? In that same vein of responding to the community, Schroyer said she also wants to coordinate and partner with other providers, from other hospitals down to individual doctors, to better serve Caspers needs. The more we partner and the higher quality health care there is, its better for the community, Schroyer said, adding that partnering could mean anything from just conversations to exploring joint ventures. Those are her short-term, five-year plans. Asked about long-term goals, she talked about the health care industry as a whole. She wants to see affordable, accessible care available for people, both here and nationwide. That conversation invariably turned into a discussion about the future of the Affordable Care Act. Like many health care professionals, Schroyer said that if the ACA is repealed, she wants a replacement in place before the health care law is fully dismantled. A lot of people did benefit from the ACA, despite all the negative things, she said. Id like to see them replace it or adjust it. She doesnt think repeal without replace will cause chaos, but she said the vacuum would result in people being denied access to care that they need. More than 22,000 people in Wyoming have health care through the exchanges, and 240,000 have pre-existing conditions, which might make it harder for them to obtain health care. But she noted that it was too early to tell what exactly would happen with the ACA. For some of Mountain Views employees, the hospital is a home, and the facility and the patients within it matter to them, she said. It starts to just flow, she said, and it just becomes an amazing place for people to go. Follow education reporter Seth Klamann on Twitter @SethKlamann Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Casper doctor facing federal drug conspiracy charges was set up by over-zealous prosecutors and co-defendants desperate to reduce their risk of imprisonment, the doctors Chicago defense attorney said during the closing of a nearly monthlong trial. Beau Brindley, who is defending Dr. Shakeel Kahn against 21 felonies in the case, said prosecutors and law enforcement introduced a series of witnesses who lied under oath. Brindley said the witnesses who include the doctors wife, Lyn Kahn were brought by the governments lawyers because they could not prove an essential element of their case: the doctors intent. The doctor could face a sentence ranging from 20 years to life in prison if he is convicted of either of the two most serious counts prosecutors have brought against him: one that accuses him of responsibility in the 2015 overdose death of an Arizona woman and another that alleges he made millions of dollars by heading up a drug ring. On Friday and Monday, Kahn spent hours on the witness stand, telling jurors he followed the law while attempting to help his patients treat chronic pain and that the treatment methods he used were medically appropriate. Attorneys concluded their presentation of evidence Monday, and on Tuesday they met to prepare instructions for Judge Alan Johnson to read to 15 people sitting in a jury box in Caspers federal courthouse. The same afternoon, Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Sprecher began her closing arguments. Over the course of an hour and a half, she told jurors that Kahn and his brother Nabeel who faces two felonies in the case were part of a drug conspiracy that eventually led to the 2015 death of Jessica Burch, of Arizona. Systematically working her way through the elements of the 23 crimes she charged in the case, Sprecher told jurors that the brothers knew the doctors patients were re-selling their painkiller, muscle relaxer and anti-anxiety drugs. Dr. Kahn continued to write the prescriptions, she said, because of the lucrative nature of the enterprise. When Sprecher concluded her statement, about an hour remained on the clock, time she will be allowed to use Wednesday to rebut defense arguments. After a short recess, Brindley then took to the lectern and, after presenting a definition of reasonable doubt, which is the standard of proof prosecutors must overcome to obtain convictions, said five witnesses testimony had changed from initial statements made to investigators. He said they had all changed in the same way: to show the doctor intended to distribute pills improperly. He then, as he has throughout the trial, said the witnesses lied to jurors. As he hollered and waved his hands, his wristwatch splashing light around the courtroom, he said prosecutors were implicated in the deception and had induced jurors to lie. (The witnesses told) lies that are bought and paid for by plea agreements, Brindley said. Johnson concluded the hearing by 6:10 p.m. On Wednesday, Nabeel Kahns attorneys will have opportunity to present a closing argument before Sprecher speaks again and the case is handed over to jurors. Follow crime reporter Shane Sanderson on Twitter @shanersanderson Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A man died overnight Monday from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a police pursuit that ended on a Casper highway, officials with the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation said Tuesday. Special Agent Ryan Cox said when police arrived at the stopped vehicle, the man appeared to have been shot. DCI Commander Matt Waldock said Tuesday afternoon that the gunshot appeared to be self-inflicted. Waldock said DCI does not believe law enforcement fired their weapons. Cox said DCI has not yet determined whether the man fired at police. Investigators recovered a handgun at the scene, he said. DCI is a statewide law enforcement agency that among other duties typically investigates shootings involving police officers. The pursuit began Monday night, Cox said, following a citizens call reporting a stolen Dodge pickup. Police spotted the vehicle and took chase, following the truck north on Interstate 25. When the chase ended between the Center and Poplar Street exits, the man was found to be suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, Cox said. Law enforcement officers used spike strips, Waldock said, though he did not know how the pickup wrecked. DCI has confirmed the pickup was stolen, he said. Waldock believed the man was also wanted out of Gillette. The Natrona County Coroners Office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of the mans death. Waldock deferred to the coroner to identify the man. The Wyoming Highway Patrol, Natrona County Sheriffs Office and Casper Police Department were also involved in the pursuit, Cox said. Although parts of the highway were closed Monday night, by 8 a.m. Tuesday, the scene had been cleared. Follow crime reporter Shane Sanderson on Twitter @shanersanderson Love 4 Funny 2 Wow 3 Sad 1 Angry 3 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In a sign of the changing times, the Natrona County school board voted last week to place $12 million in a special fund to pay for future replacement and repair of major capital, specifically facilities. Ive been in this district long enough to remember when buildings were not being maintained well, trustee Dana Howie said in support of creating the new fund. I think this fund shows a lot of foresight, primarily by our superintendent (Steve Hopkins), said board member Dave Applegate. The $12 million comes from the boards priority fund, the leftovers of which have been set aside for this purpose, according to the boards rationale published online. The district recently completed a wave of construction which included building Journey Elementary and fully renovating its two big high schools that board members have said cost more than $500 million in all. The state has a system to dole out money for both construction and major maintenance of buildings, though that system is somewhat in flux. Thanks to the recent downturn, the old way of paying for construction and repairs coal lease bonuses has essentially run dry. While state legislators have spent the past three years discussing how to fund school construction and repair, and have made incremental steps, there remains no clear path forward. State leaders have indicated for two years that districts shouldnt expect new construction anytime soon and that schools needed to be maintained. Essentially, officials have said, the state is moving from a climate of construction to preservation. Enter the districts $12 million fund, which has been in the planning process for the past two years, when board members identified the need to establish a funding source to maintain the significant capital investment and meet future capital needs in the years ahead, according to the district. The board voted unanimously to approve the creation of the fund. Its the latest effort to shore up current buildings. In late April, the board approved nearly $5 million in renovations and expansions at Park Elementary, which board members say will ensure the central Casper school remains standing for decades. At the same meeting, the board approved a list of maintenance projects that will total more than $1.3 million. The projects range from major installing security cameras at elementary schools for $300,000 to minor repair the drain in the boys locker room at Dean Morgan for $5,000. The board approved an $8.4 million repair budget in April. Follow education reporter Seth Klamann on Twitter @SethKlamann Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. Help India! TCN News For the first time in the United States a Congressional Briefing on Caste Discrimination is going to be hosted on 22nd May at Washington DC. Support TwoCircles The briefing will be an opportunity to highlight the issue of Caste discrimination in the United States a growing problem within several American spaces and institutions. We will be sharing both quantitative data and anecdotal experiences of South Asian Americans who have been impacted by this problem. Through this briefing the organizers aim to help Congressional staff understand the problem of Caste as well as offer solutions to help Congressional members to support Caste-oppressed Americans, businesses, and institutions in their districts. The event is being hosted by Equality Labs, in partnership with South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) and API Chaya, are hosting a historic. Thenmozhi Soundararajan, Director of Equality Labs and co-author of the Caste in the United States report says This is a historic briefing because it is the first time Caste discrimination in the United States is being acknowledged and being openly discussed by Congressional staffers. We will have representatives from all of the major progressive South Asian organizations. The briefing will also be hosted by Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. We look forward to welcoming Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortezs Chief of Staff and many more folks. We have community leaders from over fifteen states around the country who will be visiting their own constituency representatives after this briefing to share the findings. The road to this journey begins with Dr. Ambedkar and Mangu Ram Muggowalia. It is also powerful that this briefing was spearheaded by a Dalit feminist organization, Equality Labs, in an interfaith and inter caste partnership with SAALT (South Asian Americans leading together) and API Chaya from Congresswoman Pramila Jayapals home district. The briefing faces opposition from upper Caste organizations who have already tried to get the briefing cancelled. But Caste-oppressed people are a critical part of American progressive movements and our allies stood strong with us to make history. On the tail end of Dalit History Month and in Asian-American history, we have one glimmer of possibility.. About Equality Labs Equality Labs works at the intersection of education, art, community research, and technology to support South Asian religious, ethnic, and cultural minority movements dealing with intractable systems of oppression. Equality Labs is the first South Asian American human rights and technology start-up whose leadership is cantered around women, gender non-conforming, trans, and queer people. Find out more at https://www.equalitylabs.org/ For details on the congressional briefing contact: Thenmozhi Soundararajan | 347-927-0174 | [email protected] The Wyoming Department of Education has released a draft plan that, among other things, proposes 15-year school achievement goals, including an 89 percent high school graduation rate. The 72-page document is Wyomings plan to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act, or ESSA, which was passed by Congress in 2015 and effectively replaces No Child Left Behind. Generally, ESSA puts more control of education in the hands of state educators, officials have said, and moves away from punishing schools that dont meet certain expectations. From standards to accountability to best use of federal funds, ESSA places the responsibility to provide a well-rounded education to every student squarely on our shoulders, state schools superintendent Jillian Balow said in a department news release. Balow highlighted the plans addition of post-high-school readiness as one of five academic indicators for high school students. The indicator evaluates schools not simply on a students ACT score or performance in advanced classes but also on career readiness. Career readiness will be measured by the career and technical (CTE) students who complete a career pathway ... and pass a CTE exam or obtain an industry-recognized certification, the plan states. The plan also adds an indicator that evaluates schools on English proficiency for students who are learning the language. The indicator will now be present in all schools K-12. Department spokeswoman Kari Eakins said in an interview Monday that Wyomingites probably dont realize the number of students who are learning English. She pointed to Jacksons success with its dual-language immersion schools. In addition to the 89 percent graduation rate, the plan also calls for: 59 percent of third- through eighth-graders to be proficient or better in math 65 percent of third- through eighth-graders to be proficient or better in reading; 46 percent of high school students to be proficient or better in math; 39 percent of high school students to be proficient or better in reading. Those are school-by-school goals, not statewide averages, Eakins said. Even if Wyoming averages an 89 percent graduation rate, that might not mean every school is meeting the goal of 89 percent. Schools will have 15 years to achieve those levels, and the state has established interim goals that schools must meet to stay on track during that period. For instance, Wyoming schools in the 15th percentile last year will have to improve by 1.5 percent per year to achieve the math proficiency standards for younger students. System of support Eakins stressed that schools that continued to lag will not be punished or forced to check boxes to get funding. Instead, the state would provide a system of support to lower-performing schools. Its very much working with the schools, looking at their data and figuring out what are the ways we can improve, she said. Because that support would be issued on a school-by-school basis, she added, its difficult to predict what exact measures the state might employ to help a school improve. Issues in Jackson may not be identical to problems in Cheyenne, and new research might arise that points statewide educators in novel directions in the next 15 years. The plan also sets a benchmark to improve the performance of student subgroups. Those subcategories of students refer to black, Asian, Hispanic or white students, as well as students who receive free and reduced lunch. Under the plan, each subgroup in Wyoming schools would perform as well or better than a school in the 80th percentile in the 2015-16 school year. The goals have to be ambitious and attainable, Eakins said. For instance, the majority of Wyomings school districts are far below the 89 percent four-year graduation rate. Natrona County graduated 76 percent of its students last year, according to department data released in January. The statewide average last year was less than 80 percent, though Eakins again stressed that the ESSA plan is school by school and not Wyoming-wide. Still, a jump to nearly 89 percent is indeed ambitious. As are the reading and math proficiency levels: Department data shows that statewide, Wyomings third- through eighth-graders did not hit 59 percent proficiency for math, the plans benchmark, in at least the past three years. 15-year goals For goals to be attainable, the department set a long timeline of 15 years, Eakins said. Wyoming isnt alone in proposing ambition with a wide window: The District of Columbias plan gives D.C. 20 years to hit its benchmarks, and Illinois sets 2032 as its deadline for 90 percent proficiency in English and math, according to data from Education Week. Eakins said she expects the 15-year timeline to be discussed during the public comment period, which is now open for 45 days. Comments on the plan can be submitted to the department through June 8, via an online survey or by mail. The department will hold an online public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on May 4. Public meetings are also tentatively planned for May 11 in Powell, May 18 in Riverton and June 7 in Laramie, according to a department news release. While members of the public are looking over the plan, the department will convene an advisory committee of educators who originally reported to a legislative committee and whose report in December helped form the backbone of this draft. The State Board of Education will also convene its Professional Judgment Panel, another group of educators who establish what qualifies as proficient. Both groups will also further examine the plan. The state board last week voted on the achievement goals, and its determinations were taken into account as the department drafted the plan, Eakins said. Gov. Matt Mead will also have 30 days to review the plan. Eakins said she doesnt believe this version of the plan will be the same one submitted to the federal Department of Education in August or September. Follow education reporter Seth Klamann on Twitter @SethKlamann Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. The official tapped with running the state departments of Health and Family Services will look into merging the two, he said in an interview Monday afternoon. Tom Forslund has been director of the Wyoming Department of Health since March 2011, shortly after Gov. Matt Mead was sworn in. On June 1, he said, he will also be director of the Department of Family Services, as current director Steve Corsi is resigning to take a job outside of Wyoming. Forslund, who served as Casper city manager before moving to the Health Department, said he will be overseeing both departments through the end of Meads second and final term. What he has asked for us to do is take a look at the structure of the two departments and see if they should be looked at, merged partially or totally, Forslund said. And in light of the fiscal problems the state is dealing with, can we gain some efficiencies through consolidation? That is not a decision that certainly has been made in this point in time, he said. I would have to visit with the governor, and the governor would have to visit with the Legislature and such. Meads chief of staff, Kari Gray, said a merger of the departments is not Meads idea but Forslunds. Mead simply wanted to Forslund to lead both. There is no preconceived notion of what is going to come out of that, she said. Meads final term as governor will end in early 2019 a relatively short time for someone to run the Department of Family Services. The key to this is to have effective leadership, Gray said. And at this point in time, it seems that we had a proven leader and it might be difficult to find someone who might be willing to take on a job for such a short period of time. Mead, in a statement sent Monday morning, praised Forslund. Tom Forslund is an extraordinary administrator, the governor said. He has proven his capability at the Department of Health and is well able to manage both agencies. Nebraska, Idaho and Montana have one agency that runs both health and family services, usually called human services, Forslund said. And the federal government has the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It may make sense for Wyoming to have one agency, too. Forslund said that there is some overlap between the two. For instance, when DFS takes children into custody, the Wyoming Department of Health provides the money for their health care coverage, he said. Large agencies The Health Department is the giant of the states agencies, with a roughly $1 billion annual budget of state and federal funds, Forslund said. Medicaid accounts for a large portion of the agencys budget. The federal government matches approximately half of the states spending on the health care program. DFS is also a large agency in terms of state spending, though minuscule compared to the Health Department. Foslund said DFS has an annual budget of about $142 million in state and federal money. Four divisions compose the Health Department, and Forslund said there is a senior administrator in charge of each. He plans to set up a similar structure in DFS, he said. I will appoint an acting senior administrator, because its temporary at this point in time, until the final decision is made about what theyre going to do about structure, he said. Career Forslund is from Iowa but has worked in Wyoming for the majority of his professional career. He was Caspers city manager for 23 years. For two years before that, he was assistant city manager, he said. Forslund said he never spoke to Mead about a pay raise. He said he earns $203,000 a year. Gray said Forslund will not get a pay raise for taking on additional responsibilities. State revenue is down due to lower prices and production in oil, natural gas and coal. In the budget bill adopted by the Legislature in March, Mead must eliminate 90 positions, or find an equivalent in savings of about $6 million by July 1, 2018, Gray said. Follow political reporter Laura Hancock on Twitter @laurahancock Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Laramie attorney Phil Nicholas calls Jan. 31 his new birthday. It is the date he received a liver transplant and a second chance at life after suffering from liver disease since 1984. Nicholas considers himself lucky, he said, as 173 Wyomingites have organs that are failing. They are on waiting lists, hoping to get transplants before they die. Nicholas served in the Wyoming Legislature for 19 years, the last two as the president of the Senate. But recently, the Republican was on the other side of the dais, asking lawmakers for help. He wants organ and tissue donation laws that make it easier for Wyomingites to give the gift of life. He also asked lawmakers to eliminate hurdles to transplants. The question is, what can we do to help? he told the Legislatures Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee last week in Casper. And Im surprised by the number of transplant recipients Im meeting. Theyre in every community in the state. *** Wyomingites can elect to donate organs by checking a box when they complete a form to obtain their drivers license, said Sue Dunn, president and CEO of Donor Alliance, a federally designated Denver nonprofit that serves most of Wyoming. Wyoming is one just six states in which people are not verbally asked whether they want to donate when theyre obtaining their licenses, Dunn said. Some states also offer tutorials on the value of donating organs in drivers education courses. Those has been successful in increasing the number of donors, she said. Dunn suggested the state may consider asking people who get hunting and fishing licenses whether theyd like to register as donors. Gillette Republican Rep. Scott Clem asked Dunn what the medical community would do if there is inconsistent donor registry information on drivers and hunting and fishing licenses. She replied that they look at the most recent license and determine that to be the dying persons current wish. Fifty-seven percent of Wyomingites are donors on their drivers licenses, Dunn said. Its a relatively high rate compared with other states, but it hasnt increased much in recent years. Go to Alaska, Nicholas said. Its 80 percent. We can do better. *** Peoples organs can also be donated as theyre dying, if their families consent, Dunn said. Testifying alongside Nicholas was Natrona County District Attorney Michael Blonigen, who received a heart transplant in 2015. Both men want better education for county coroners. Nicholas cited a recent criminal investigation in which a child had a significant head injury. The county coroner refused to allow the childs organs to be donated, he said. There was absolutely no reason for that childs heart, lungs, pancreas, liver, kidneys not to be procured, which could have potentially saved eight young lives, he said. Sen. Charlie Scott, the legislative committees chairman, told Nicholas he was interested in changing the law to increase transplants and donors in Wyoming. You and Mike are here as evidence of the importance and that this works, the Casper Republican said. *** Nicholas lived for decades with a progressive liver disease. In the 2013 legislative session, he left Cheyenne for Anschutz Health and Wellness Center in Denver for a number of days of treatment. On Thursday, he joked to lawmakers that they may have remembered days when his skin was so jaundiced he looked orange. Early on, his medical team told him hed eventually need a transplant, he said. Living donors can give part of their livers. Doctors looked for donors within Nicholas family, and his younger brother, Cheyenne Rep. Bob Nicholas, was a match. But as the years wore on, my donor got too old for me, Phil Nicholas said. Then hospitals turn their attention to your children. Nicholas children were evaluated. But by the time he had end-stage liver disease, they were young adults with children of their own. Organ transplants are risky procedures, including for donors. Nicholas and his wife discussed the situation, and concluded they could not ask any of their children to donate part of their livers, he said. He was put on transplant list and traveled for evaluations across the country from Denver to Rochester, Minnesota, he said. When you do that, you are at the mercy of a system thats not in the state, he said. You have to travel. Wyoming hospitals are good about notifying transplant organizations when they have a dying patient whose organs could be good for a transplant. But there is no hospital in Wyoming with the capabilities for sophisticated organ transplant procedures, Nicholas said. Many are going to die on those lists because they dont have access, he said. One of those things they dont have access to is simply the resources to travel. When people are added to transplant lists, they are continuously medically evaluated and assigned a number, which determines where on the list they fall for the next available organ. Nicholas said he and his wife wondered whether his number would ever be high enough to get a transplant. Then his liver tanked around January. But he remained low on the list until he became sicker and shot to No. 1. Many people dont receive transplants until theyre near death, he said. Ultimately, Nicholas had his transplant in Kansas, receiving a liver from someone who lived in Topeka, he said. Its a stroke of luck things worked out for us, he said. Follow political reporter Laura Hancock on Twitter @laurahancock Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Wyoming Department of Health has started to dip into the states $1.7 billion rainy day fund to pay for involuntary commitments of people who are a harm to themselves or others, the agencys director told lawmakers Thursday morning. The Legislature provided the Health Department with $4.4 million for the two-year budget cycle to pay to commit people. As of Tuesday, the Health Department has spent $4.6 million, and the first year of the budget cycle isnt yet complete, Health Department Director Tom Forslund told members of the Joint Labor Health and Social Services Committee at a meeting in Casper. During the 2017 legislative session, lawmakers authorized the Health Department to use up to $10 million to pay for peoples treatment. Costs have continuously run over the amount lawmakers have budgeted in recent years for Title 25, the term that lawmakers use to refer to the state statute requiring people be treated. Lawmakers have studied the issue for years and have passed legislation that appears to be making a dent in the problem, Forslund said. Forslund told lawmakers he has little control over the budget. Its how many people are put into the system by the courts, he said. The process for involuntarily committing someone usually begins with a doctor or police officer, who signs a form saying a person is suffering from a mental health issue and must be detained, usually at a hospital. Then the person is medically evaluated and must have a hearing within 72 business hours. A judge subsequently decides whether the person stays in the hospital for another 10 days. By the end of the 10 days, there is a hearing where a judge determines whether the person should be involuntarily committed at the Wyoming State Hospital or a hospital on contract with the Health Department. There are signs that involuntary commitments are declining in the counties where they are most common, Forslund said. Eleven people had been committed in Fremont County as of the end of March. The Health Department projects a total of 15 for the year. Last year, 41 were committed. Natrona County has committed 49 people this year. Forslund said 65 total are expected to be committed. Last year, the county committed 114 people. Thirty-two people in Sweetwater County were committed and 43 are projected for the entire year. Last year, 81 people were committed. However, involuntary commitments are up in other parts of the state, he said. Laramie County had 21 last year. Thus far this year, it has performed 33. The states largest county is projected to commit 44 people by the end of the year twice as many as last year, Forslund said. The Health Department has worked with judges, county commissions and local mental health centers to get the numbers down, Forsland said. But there is no one solution, he said. Part of the problem may be that judges are concerned about people and as a result are sending them to a higher and more expensive level of treatment than necessary. Officials at Caspers Central Wyoming Counseling Center are working with Wyoming Medical Center about identifying patients mental health issues before they reach a crisis level, its CEO Brandon Wardell told lawmakers. Sen. Ray Peterson, a Cowley Republican, said he is concerned that people are receiving initial treatment from hospitals that are equipped to house them during involuntary commitment. Its counselors are convincing judges that that the patients need to be committed, which is more lucrative for the hospitals. We need to get away from that, he said. Lawmakers killed a proposal in the 2017 legislative session to raise cigarette taxes. The new revenue would have in part paid for Title 25. Follow political reporter Laura Hancock on Twitter @laurahancock Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 2 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs agreed Monday to mediation in the lawsuit over whether the BIA illegally awarded federal contracts for services on the Wind River Reservation in central Wyoming. If the mediation is successful, the settlement could end a legal battle that disrupted government services on the reservation and exposed a rift between the Northern Arapaho Tribes business council and that of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe. The two tribes share the reservation. The dispute began in 2014, when the Northern Arapaho left the Joint Business Council, through which the two tribes entered contracts with the federal government. The Eastern Shoshone disputed the move. [Check out a timeline of the dispute from 2014 to the present] The Eastern Shoshone argued that the Northern Arapaho did not have the authority to unilaterally dissolve the council, and the BIA continued to enter contracts with the joint council despite the Northern Arapaho no longer participating. The Northern Arapaho sued, claiming that the BIA was violating its sovereignty by effectively awarding contracts to the Eastern Shoshone that were intended to provide services to both tribes. The BIA has made several arguments in its defense, including that the lawsuit was unnecessary because it agreed last spring to start negotiating with each tribe separately once it became clear that the Northern Arapaho were unlikely to rejoin the joint council. The challenged contract renewals were the result of exceptional circumstances, U.S. Justice Department attorneys Mark Freeman and Weili Shaw wrote in an appeal. The BIA will not enter into contracts for shared programs in the future without the consent of both tribes. But U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris has appeared to favor the Northern Arapaho. In October, Morris issued a preliminary injunction barring the BIA from entering into contracts for shared services without consulting both tribes.(tncms-asset)d4319fec-94a0-11e6-bd5a-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) Morris stated at the time that the injunction simply gave legal force to the agencys previous pledge outlined in a letter from the BIAs Wind River superintendent to begin negotiating with both tribes. The BIA has committed to no legally binding policy that would prevent such approval from happening in the future, Morris wrote. But in an appeal currently being heard by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California, the BIA argued that the letter was not written as a legal document and that by converting it to an injunction Morris had made it difficult for the agency to carry out its duties on the reservation.(tncms-asset)8a34c4c2-0035-11e7-8258-00163ec2aa77(/tncms-asset) BIA attorneys argued that even services intended to benefit only one tribe might impact both due to the nature of a shared reservation, intermarriage among members of each tribe and other factors. For that reason, the lawyers argued, a requirement to consult both tribes for any multi-tribal services could stop the agency from issuing contracts for even simple services without lengthy negotiations. The risk of further complicating the daily operations of the Wind River BIA office may have compelled Morris to offer the two parties mediation rather than issue a ruling that could have further involved the court in the intricacies of service delivery on the reservation. Parties are in favor of mediation, Morris wrote in a minute entry following oral arguments on Monday. The Northern Arapaho and federal government must report back to the court in 30 days. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 In 2016, at least 60 rapes were reported in Yellowstone County, Montana. Law enforcement sent 18 of the cases they investigated to the County Attorneys office to be reviewed for charges and prosecution. Not a single case was charged. Rape cases are tough. Both police and prosecutors struggle getting the cases to trial. Once the case is filed, the public becomes the last hurdle, and jurors bring their own biases into the courtroom. During the last five years, Yellowstone County has prosecuted about 15 percent of the adult rape cases investigated and forwarded for possible charges. In about half the rape cases referred to Yellowstone County Attorney Scott Twito, he declined to press charges because he didnt think they were strong enough to take to trial. This reluctance to charge rape cases became an issue for officials in Missoula County, Montana. In 2014, the U.S. Department of Justice rebuked the Missoula County Attorneys office for prosecuting just 17 percent of the rape cases referred to the office by police investigators between January 2008 and May 2012. Between 2012 and 2016, Missoula County, with a population of about 111,000, charged 32 cases of rape with adult victims. During that same period, Yellowstone County, with its larger population of about 154,000, charged 17 cases. When Yellowstone County officials are asked why so few cases go to court, they say the problem lies with the hesitation of some victims to go forward and the reluctance of juries to convict people of a rape charge. Rape cases Rape victims are often hesitant to proceed with investigations and trials. They may be scared they wont be believed. They may feel re-traumatized by the rape kit exam, in which evidence gathered may include photos of their genitals. They may also be scared of telling a room full of strangers about the intimacy of the assault. Victims are also often frightened of sitting in a courtroom within a few feet of the rape suspect. The majority of suspects are known to the victim, often friends, ex-partners or an acquaintance. Missoula police After the DOJ forced changes in the way Missoula County handled rape allegations, Missoula Police Detective Capt. Michael Colyer played a large role in bringing his department into compliance with the DOJs policies on investigating sexual assault cases. Police there began training in a trauma-informed approach to victims, Colyer said. Before that, investigators had treated adult victims of sexual crimes like any other crime victim. That hurt the victims and stymied the investigations, he said. We didnt know what we didnt know, Colyer said. An important part of the training was understanding what happens to a victims memory when they experience a traumatic event, Colyer said. Colyer offered an analogy from Dr. Rebecca Campbell, who helped train some of the Missoula police: Imagine the way a person stores memories during the day is by using sticky notes. All day long, the person is writing down a memory and then sticking the note to a wall. A traumatic event can cause those notes to blow away, leaving them scattered on the floor. As investigators ask questions, the victim is trying, sometimes under pressure, to sort through that pile. Officers relying on traditional indicators of deception may see the victim struggling to recall details as fishy, Colyer said. Police had to shift from viewing reports of sexual assault with suspicion toward understanding the signs of a traumatized mind. All Missoula police are now trained in a trauma-informed and victim-centered approach to investigations, Colyer said. To help make sure the sex assault cases are a priority, Missoula police established a Special Victims Unit in its detectives division. Detectives get more training and work with advocate Erin Shreder, who was hired to help victims through the process. She has her own office in the police department and sits in on police interviews with the victims. Victim interviews are no longer done in the sterile investigation rooms used to question suspects, Colyer said. Instead theyre brought into a soft room, a room with a couch and maybe a plant. A big success of the DOJ-enforced policies has been data collection. Because the Missoula police are tracking these reports, Colyer was able to determine that the number of false reports was much lower than suspected. A previous Missoula police chief had cited two studies suggesting as many as 45 percent of rape cases were based on false accusations, according to an article in the Missoulian. The actual number of false reports, at least in Missoula, is between 3 and 6 percent, Colyer said. Thats close to the rate other national studies have suggested, at 2 to 8 percent. The only way to determine what happened in a case is through a thorough and objective investigation, he said. Tom Tremblay is the former Burlington, Vermont, police chief who monitored Missoulas DOJ compliance. Police have some control over the number of victims who stay connected with the process, Tremblay said. Missoula police have seen a reduction in the number of victims not following through with cases since the department implemented new policies. Victims can sense when someone doesnt believe them, Tremblay said. When that happens, they might either recant or walk out of the process, he said. The training the Missoula Police Department had is something police are only now learning about and wasnt available 10 years ago, Tremblay said. The changes didnt come easily for anyone after the DOJ investigation, Colyer said. When the Missoula Police Department entered into an agreement with the DOJ, the report included harsh language. Phrases like biased police and anti-women were thrown around. It made it sound like we set out on purpose to devastate these victims lives, Colyer said. What Colyer saw was a lack of education, not a malicious police force bent on discrediting rape victims. Billings police The Billings Police Department doesnt have a soft room. They dont have advocates in the office, and even if they did, they wouldnt have a place to put them. As it is, detectives are working out of storage closets. There arent enough detectives in the department to have a dedicated unit to investigate adult sex crimes, said Billings police Capt. Jeremy House. The Billings Police lost two grant-funded detective positions in the past five years, House said. In 2014, Billings voters rejected a public safety levy that would have given the department additional funding to add staff. I could easily keep another five full-time detectives busy up here, House said. Compared with other cities in Montana, Billings has the fewest officers per 1,000 residents, according to the departments 2016 budget presentation. In addition, the citys population swells during the day with commuters and visitors, said Billings police Chief Rich St. John. St. John said he hasnt heard complaints about how his department handles rape cases. Investigators at the BPD are trained and compassionate, St. John said. Officers encourage victims to be brave and to stick with the cases. Patrol officers are all trained in investigative skills, which is critical to the initial rape investigation, the chief said. Billings police had 46 adults report being raped during 2016, according to initial reports filed by the office. The department does not have policies on how to handle these cases, though the International Association of Chiefs of Police recommends all departments have procedures in place. The Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office had 14 initial reports of adult rape in 2016. In total, at least 60 adult rapes were reported to the Billings Police Department and Yellowstone County Sheriffs Office in 2016. None of these agencies tracks the cases statistically to monitor victim retention and completion of investigations. You see a lot of departments not analyzing data, said Tremblay, the DOJ monitor. Police departments need to know their numbers, he said. It is about making these cases a priority, Tremblay said. In 2015, law enforcement agencies in Yellowstone County referred about 22 rape cases to prosecutors for charges, with the majority coming from BPD. That is more than double the number of cases referred by Missoula police to prosecutors that year. Yellowstone County The Yellowstone County Attorneys Office has talked to the state Attorney Generals office about procedures. All of the offices policies are the best practices known to prosecutors, Twito said except that it takes about 45 days from receiving a complete investigation for prosecutors in Yellowstone County to make a charging decision. Victim-witness coordinators in the office will now make contact with the victim within at least five days of receiving the file. In response to the DOJ investigation, Missoula tries to make a charging decision within a week. In a five-year period from 2012 through 2016, Yellowstone County charged 15 fewer cases than Missoula. But when Yellowstone County gets a conviction, the sentences appear to be longer. In the six adult victim rape cases, Yellowstone County prosecutors obtained a conviction on during that period, the average sentence was close to 24 years. Missoulas average sentence is five years, due mostly to pretrial plea agreements. Yellowstone County takes the strongest cases it can to trial, said Twito, making it more probable there will be a conviction and later, a harsh sentence. In total, law enforcement agencies in Yellowstone County referred 112 cases involving the alleged rape of an adult to Twitos office between 2012 and the end of 2016. Twitos office has charged 17 of those cases. In as many as 43 cases, victims either did not cooperate or attorneys could not contact them. There are 10 cases waiting for a charging decision, one dating back to 2013. In about 42 cases, the prosecutors chose not to prosecute because they either didnt believe they would be successful at trial or didnt have probable cause to make an arrest. Lack of evidence can be a factor in choosing not to charge. Victim credibility can also be a factor in these cases, Twito said. Twito doesnt have an explanation for why no cases were charged in 2016, saying his offices practices havent changed from the year before. In 2015 the office charged four cases involving the rape of an adult. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The federal government will conduct a review, during which it will fully analyze the threats to the gray wolf population in the Northern Rocky Mountains and Western U.S., and will then determine whether to pursue relisting the species. Glenn McMorrow had an idea: Rent stand-up paddle boards and kayaks out of a mobile stand in Curt Gowdy State Park. Overhead would be limited. Two people could work the stand, and he could make a little cash while offering sun worshippers and outdoor recreationists something new. So he contacted Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites and Trails to ask if he could have a conditional use permit to set up. After some negotiating, they agreed. His first summer with Mountain SUP was a success, and now he hopes to expand. Its so nice because people who have never done anything like this before, people who work in an office and cant get out, they can get out and just go across the water, he said. Its so easy, and theyre beaming. The business is exactly what the State Parks department is looking for across the state, said director Domenic Bravo. I think the state park industry is one of the best models of the private-public partnership, Bravo said. There are things the state can provide as a service and other ways the public enterprise can provide a service that is beneficial to the consumers and visitors that isnt a government function. Some possibilities, like Mountain SUP, require minimal infrastructure. Mobile convenience stores at some of the state park reservoirs are also a popular option. The truck would take food, bait, drinks and other summer necessities around to various campgrounds and beaches. Zip lining, on the other hand, would require a bit more investment. We will, for the first time, also put out a [request for information]: Are there businesses in Wyoming that want to start up something like this or have ideas? Bravo said. It will be the private industry giving us information on something like zip lines. When the department sends out requests for information, officials are basically looking for ideas. They want to know what people would like to see, and what they think they could offer as a private business. It doesnt have to be a full plan. But Bravo is also looking for more ideas like ones already submitted. Those requests for proposals ask budding entrepreneurs for business plans related to a certain service more ideas for kayak or paddleboard rentals, for example, or Tarzan boats that operate as floating playgrounds. Other state parks across the country have some similar ideas. Marinas are a popular private business nestled in a state park, Bravo said. Other parks are also diving into the adventure model scene with things like zip lines. But Wyomings approach is likely unique. I dont want to say its a new concept, but were doing some new things other state park systems havent done and are exploring new ways to get businesses, he said. For McMorrow, the Mountain SUP owner, the state parks interest in branching out has been a success. Hes thinking of expanding to other Wyoming reservoirs such as Guernsey or Glendo. We get a lot of positives with the park and people like it, McMorrow said. Its a win-win. As far as from my perspective its not a money maker, yet, but its a fun thing. It makes enough to pay the employees and I make a little, too. And we just started this year. Follow managing editor Christine Peterson on Twitter @PetersonOutside Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DINNER THEATER Mystery and Magic Dinner Theater Skyline Country Club, 5200 E. St. Andrews Drive. Watch an audience volunteer actually be sawn-in-half. Solve the crime, and possibly win the prize. 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Through Sept. 28. $75. 861-4800. Till Death Do Us Part: A Big Fat Murder Mystery The Gaslight Music Hall, 13005 N. Oracle Road, Oro Valley. Join the Romano Family and the Manchego Family as they celebrate the bride and groom in a night full of singing, dancing and murder. 6-8 p.m. June 3. Through June 10. $38.95 includes a three-course meal and a show. 529-1000. THEATER Appropriate Live Theatre Workshop, 5317 E. Speedway. Every estranged member of the Lafayette clan has descended upon the crumbling Arkansas homestead to settle the accounts of the newly-deceased patriarch. 7:30-9:30 p.m. May 30, 31, June 1, 6 and 7; 3-5 p.m. June 2. Through June 15. $20. 327-4242. Job: A Story The Screening Room, 127 E. Congress St. Connor Moody's post-modern modern retelling of the Biblical story of Job. When God and the Adversary bet on a woman's faith, who exactly wins. 7-8:30 p.m. June 3. $15. 977-5218. Space Trek: The Gaslight Theatre's Summer Melodrama Show The Gaslight Theatre, 7010 E Broadway. Hurtle through the galaxy with Captain James P. Trek and the crew of the Starship Entrepreneur as they battle evil forces for possession of a secret new weapon capable of destroying the Universe. Contact for times and dates. $22.95. 886-9428. PHOENIX It looks like residents of Patagonia, Sonoita and Elgin are going to remain in Santa Cruz County, at least for the foreseeable future. On a 16-13 vote, the Senate on Tuesday killed a plan that would have created a committee to study realigning the boundary between Santa Cruz and Cochise counties. The vote is a setback for Rep. Gail Griffin, R-Sierra Vista, who has pushed HB 2486 following what she said were complaints from area residents that their taxes are too high and the level of service they are getting is too low. Griffin managed to shepherd the legislation through the House on the premise that it didnt actually do anything. Instead, she said, it would simply look at the issues between those residents and the county government based in Nogales, as well as explore what it would take to move the county line. But on Tuesday, Sen. Andrea Dalessandro, D-Green Valley, who represents the area in question, told colleagues the whole premise is a bad idea especially for those residents who would remain in what was left of Santa Cruz County. The fixed costs of the county will remain the same, she said. A suspended Tucson podiatrist is headed to prison for two years and must repay nearly $1 million to the federal government for submitting bogus claims to Medicare over an eight-year period. Loren Scott Wessel, 55, was sentenced in federal court in Tucson last week after pleading guilty in a plea deal to health-care fraud, his second felony conviction in two years. In the latest case, Wessel hatched a scheme to defraud Medicare out of hundreds of thousands of dollars, between 2008 and 2016, said a news release Tuesday from the U.S. Attorneys Office for Arizona. As part of his practice, Wessel regularly provided routine podiatry care for patients at assisted living facilities in and around Tucson, but fraudulently billed Medicare for more complex and significantly more expensive services that he had not performed, the news release said. Wessel practiced under a business named Ajo Podiatry, which he has since closed, according to federal court documents. To hide his crimes, Wessel falsified patients medical records with entries about alleged ailments they did not have, the news release said. Local journalism is important and producing it costs time and money. To continue viewing content on tucson.com, please sign in with your existing account or subscribe. Wednesday should be windy but mostly in Cochise and Santa Cruz counties where wind speeds could reach 35 miles per hour. It's hot! Do you ever open your fridge during the summer and think, "I wish I could just hang out in here"? Well Tucson has you covered. If yo A gloomy future when Google would cut ties with Huawei has left both owners of the Chinese companys smartphones and retailers in Vietnam on edge, with the customers fearing their devices will soon be bricked and mobile stores fretting over possible unsold stocks. Vietnamese customers have taken to mobile retailers' websites or physically visited their stores to seek consulting about the fate of their Huawei devices, despite a dramatic twist in the U.S.-Huawei fight that made global headlines earlier this week. Google said on Sunday it would suspend business with Huawei in order to comply with Washingtons decision to blacklist the Chinese company over spying concerns. However, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced shortly thereafter that it had granted a 90-day grace period, during which mobile phone companies and Internet broadband providers are allowed to work with Huawei to keep existing networks online and protect users from security risks. The exemption also allows Google to send software updates to Huawei phones which use its Android operating system through to August 19, business news channel CNBC reports. Despite this new development of the story and an official statement from Huawei reassuring users that their devices will continue to receive updates, disgruntled users have taken to both social media and physical mobile stores, asking to receive support or be allowed to return their devices in the belief that the retailers have a legal obligation to take back the phones and pay them back. Hoang Nguyen, who lives in Ho Chi Minh Citys BinhThanh District, bought a Huawei smartphone a few months back and now feels the amount of money he spent on the gadget will soon become nothing but a loss. Nguyen and other users demand that mobile retailers give them some kinds of support, or had better take the handsets back and refund them, he told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. But this is understandably something beyond the authority of Huawei distributors and retailers in Vietnam. A Huawei P30 smartphone is on display at a smartphone store in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Bong Mai / Tuoi Tre In fact, retailers and distributors of Huawei products in Vietnam are also like a cat on hot bricks, as they have yet to receive any guidance from Huawei regarding policies for unsold stocks and return demands by customers. Dang Thanh Phong, PR and marketing manager of Vietnamese mobile retailer The Gioi Di Dong, told Tuoi Tre that the company understands customers concerns and is trying their best to ensure their rights and interests. Nguyen Viet Anh, deputy general director of another local mobile retailer, FPT Shop, said the firms return policy applicable to products purchased within 30 days remains in effect for all devices, including those made by Huawei. As sales of Huawei smartphones have slowed down in Vietnam following news of the Google ban, local mobile retailer CellphoneS has launched a campaign to persuade customers not to turn their back on the Chinese company. Buyers of Huawei products bought at CellphoneS between May 21 and 31 are allowed to return their products within 30 days free of charge. In the meantime, other consumers are waiting for a chance to buy Huawei premium smartphones at attractive prices, as many existing users have started to bargain away their handsets, while hoping that retailers will launch promotional campaigns with huge discounts to clear their Huawei stock. But Huynh Thanh Phi, director of Leo Brothers, a media and communication company having experience in working with mobile phone brands, said such discount campaigns are beyond the bounds of possibility. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has plans to trial a tour around the downtown area on open-top double-decker buses, a tourist activity that has been carried out in Hanoi since mid-2018. The proposal came from the Vietnamtourism-Hanoi JSC, which said it would be in charge of implementing the pilot program if approved, according to the municipal transport department. Tourists will be able to hop on and off the open-top double-decker buses at multiple stops across the city center, namely the Nha Rong (Dragon) Wharf on Nguyen Tat Thanh Street, Ho Chi Minh Campaign Museum on Le Duan Street, War Remnants Museum on Vo Van Tan Street, and along such streets as Ton Duc Thang, Pham Ngu Lao, Truong Dinh, and Cong Xa Paris. The Vietnamtourism-Hanoi JSC previously suggested that the first and final destinations of the bus tour be situated on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street. The transport department, however, wanted the two terminals to be placed at the Municipal Theater, not too far from Nguyen Hue, which is a busy street. The tour is expected to be available between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm daily. The plan must also take into consideration the safety of people on the upper deck as electric and telecom wires along local streets have yet to be completely put underground, the transport department said. While showing support for the plan proposed by Vietnamtourism-Hanoi JSC, the transport department fell short of elaborating on when the pilot program would be initiated. Under a central government-backed plan, Ho Chi Minh City is among seven Vietnamese localities where an open-top double-decker bus tour is allowed to be piloted, aside from Hanoi, Da Nang City, Quang Nam Province, Thua Thien-Hue Province, Lam Dong Province, and Kien Giang Province. Such a tour was officially launched in Hanoi in late May 2018, following a successful test run since July 2017. The three buses run between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm every day on famous streets in the Vietnamese capital, passing 30 local places of interest like Hoan Kiem Lake, the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, and the Hanoi Opera House. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The African swine fever (ASF) epidemic has spread to Binh Duong Province, about 35 kilometers north of Ho Chi Minh City, prompting competent authorities to take more assertive measures to protect the southern metropolis. Two husbandry facilities in Vinh Hoa Commune, Phu Giao District on Sunday discovered that their pigs had many red dots across their skin, while tens of others had died. Local authorities later examined the animals and concluded that they had been infected with ASF. On Tuesday, the provincial department of livestock, veterinary medicine, and fishing disposed of more than 1,000 pigs at the two venues. The residents were given support worth VND38,000 (US$1.6) per kilogram of the infected pigs. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development convened a meeting on the same day to discuss measures to control the epidemic. Authorities have to be more alert as Phu Giao District is situated next to Dong Phu District in Binh Phuoc Province. Binh Duong Province is the second out of six neighbors next to Ho Chi Minh City to have been affected by ASF. Pigs are destroyed at a husbandry facility in Phu Giao District, Binh Duong Province. Photo: Ba Son / Tuoi Tre Dong Nai Province, about 35 kilometers northeast of the southern metropolis, announced the discovery of the epidemic in early May, after pigs in four communes were found infected. Many swine herds in Dong Nai have been disposed of as a result. Local authorities have established numerous specialized units to closely monitor the transport of pigs and pork within the province. The other four provinces bordering Ho Chi Minh City are Long An, Tay Ninh, Tien Giang and Ba Ria - Vung Tau. The ASF epidemic was first uncovered in the northern provinces of Hung Yen and Thai Binh in mid-February and has so far affected more than 30 provinces and cities across Vietnam, including Hanoi. More than 1.5 million farmed pigs infected with the disease have been culled, accounting for five percent of the countrys swine herd. The Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said in early April that epidemic had been put under control, with multiple localities reporting no new outbreaks in a period of 30 days. However, competent authorities have recently warned that the disease could spread to such localities again, given the complicated development of the epidemic. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news today, May 22! Politics -- A state reception was held for Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Moscow on Tuesday as he headed a high-ranking delegation on an official visit to Russia at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev. -- Seventeen Lao nationals living in Dak Glei District of the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum were granted Vietnamese citizenship in a ceremony on Tuesday. They are among 38 Lao individuals approved for receiving Vietnamese citizenship in line with an April decision signed by State President Nguyen Phu Trong. Society -- The drafts for two revised laws on education and architecture were discussed by Vietnamese lawmakers on Tuesday as part of the ongoing seventh session of the 14th National Assembly that kicked off in Hanoi on Monday. -- Vietnam has set up a National Steering Committee on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Prevention and Control, expected to help the government step up IUU fishing fights to follow international practices and implement agreements of which Vietnam is a signatory. -- The Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has requested that water samples taken from the La Nga River in Dong Nai Province, located in southern Vietnam, be tested for pollutants as more than 1,000 metric tons of fish raised in local aquamarine farms have been found dead as of Wednesday. Business -- The Vietnamese monetary markets liquidity has remained stable while foreign currency supply and demand are relatively balanced amidst the uptrend of USD/VND exchange rates over the last few days, the director of the State Bank of Vietnams Monetary Policy Department said on Tuesday. -- Despite huge reductions in the price of automobiles, car dealerships in Vietnam said sales have been unexpectedly slow in recent weeks as price-cutting deals have failed to attract the expected number of buyers. Sports -- Nearly 1,000 athletes from 47 countries and territories will take part in the Vietnam Jungle Marathon 2019 at the Pu Luong Nature Reserve in the north-central Vietnamese province of Thanh Hoa on May 25. It is the third race in the Vietnam Trail Series held by Topas Travel, aiming to encourage local sporting spirit and promote tourism. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Some Vietnamese men are offering their sperms to multiple recipients for free or a fee despite regulations dictating that a sperm donor can only donate once in his lifetime to avoid risks of inbreeding. On a Facebook page with more than 2,000 followers, sperm donation ads are posted regularly by both donors and seekers. Under one of the posts, T.V.C., who claimed to be a 30-year-old male from the southern province of Binh Phuoc, left a comment saying he was willing to give his sperm up for free as an act of kindness." Semen analysis has shown that my sperm is qualified for hospital donation, so if youre serious about this feel free to contact me, C. said. The man added that he could only offer direct donation," which means performing sexual intercourse with his recipient, as he has already donated sperm at a hospital once. Vietnamese law bars sperm donors from making multiple donations to prevent inbreeding. On this page, donors regularly advertise themselves as well-educated men working white-collar jobs and only doing this to help infertile couples without any personal gain. For others, sperm donation is a part-time job to help them get by. To tell the truth, Im doing this because Im jobless and have VND200 million [US$8,500] in bank debts to be paid, said T., a donor from Dak Lak Province of the Central Highlands region. T. said he was willing to show photos of his wedding and three-year-old child to those interested as proof of his sperm quality." Another Facebook page with nearly 1,500 followers claims to have access to high-quality sperm of engineers and celebrities that are guaranteed to become smart angels for receiving couples who are willing to pay a price. Photos of babies said to be born from such donated sperm are posted by the page for advertising. Prices are never public, as sperm sellers always ask to have arrangements discussed in detail through private messages. A landlady in Ho Chi Minh City claims to have connections that can help infertile couples get access to donated sperms quickly. Photo: Hoang Loc / Tuoi Tre Around the Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, a top facility for infertility treatment in southern Vietnam, unofficial sperm donation services are popular. N., a landlady who runs a boarding house near Tu Du, said she had connections inside the hospital that could shorten the waiting period, typically lasting three to four months, for sperm recipients. I can show you the way and connect you with those that will have things done the fastest, N. told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters who were going undercover as an infertile couple seeking help in May. Around 1,000 cases of egg recipients and 700 cases of sperm recipients are registered in Vietnam every year, according to statistics from 23 authorized fertility support centers. The current rate of official donations can only meet 60-80 percent of the demand. This has led to a rise in illegal sperm trade, posing risks of inbreeding as a single donor may father many children who grow up unaware of their mutual paternal side. According to the World Health Organization, inbreeding increases the chances of decreasing the fitness of the offspring due to loss of genetic variation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ive always said David Tench Tonight was ahead of its time. The BBC is to launch a chat show Tonight With Vladimir Putin hosted by an animated Vladimir Putin. The show is described as a semi-scripted comedy chat-show and in a television first, ground-breaking live VFX, created using performance capture technology, developed by creative studio Framestore, enables a 3D digital cartoon of Putin to walk around and sit behind the desk, interviewing real human guests in front of a studio audience, all in real-time. David Tench Tonight was produced by Andrew Denton and screened on 10 for just 16 episodes from 2006 07. Drew Forsythe improvised as the animated Tench (so named after Channel Ten), with frazzled guests including Toni Collette, Jimmy Barnes, Shannon Noll, Amanda Keller, Meatloaf and Julia Gillard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sh9x_prGe4 Theres much to admire about a UK miniseries inspired by events that took place in Chinas Tiananmen Square in 1989, that sometimes it is easy to forget it is also a work of fiction. Chimerica is a 4 part drama based on a play of the same name by Lucy Kirkwood. At its heart is the dramatic real-life photograph of a young Chinese man blocking the path of military tanks as they proceed to Tiananmen Square when the Communist government crushed an uprising (June marks the 30th anniversary). In reality there were several photos taken of the scene (with ABC correspondents Max Uechtritz & Peter Cave reporting from their hotel balcony) but the series centres on the fictional Lee Berger (Alessandro Nivola) who saved his roll of film from a raid by Chinese soldiers. Fast forward to 2016 and Berger is a photographer for the New York Courier. Whilst he is in a Syrian war zone snapping photos, Donald Trump is approaching election in the US. So keen is he to put important news events onto the front page, Berger photoshops two confronting images together of Syrian war victims. But a VICE Media journo exposes his fraud and Berger is fired by his editor (F. Murray Abraham). Its a major fall from grace for this once-venerated photographer who, in an attempt to salvage his reputation, turns his attention to tracking down the mysterious tank man with a close correspondent (Cherry Jones). Who was he? Is he alive? What happened? He becomes the storys MacGuffin. Also in the mix is Sophie Okonedo as a British marketing executive working in China, plus Beijing resident Zhang Lin (Terry Chen) who lost his wife in the massacre. The original Chimerica play was staged in the UK in 2013, well before events of Donald Trump and fake news, and it feels like the urge to remain current has been rather shoe-horned into something which would stand up just fine as a look at modern history without it. Alessandro Nivola makes a fetching, forthright hero, gallantly championing traditional media and occasionally squeezed into contrived scenes that attempt to comment on a new world order. Character actors F. Murray Abraham and Cherry Jones are always dependable in conspiracy dramas. Scenes based in China (Im not sure where they were filmed) contain nice period references with Zhang Lins character having met his wife at a rare Wham concert in China. Now his daughter helps him bypass Chinese web blocks to find concert footage on YouTube (when she isnt looking at YouTube cats). I cant help but feel Sino-American politics could be sufficiently explored against the backdrop of Tiananmen Square without the need to Trump things up (George Bush was president at the time). But as someone who once stood on the rooftop where the US chopper had previously evacuated Americans during the fall of Saigon, this hypothetical tale around military history has fascinating potential. I look forward to seeing where it goes. Chimerica airs as double episodes 8:30pm Thursday 23 & 30 May on SBS. Foxtel has announced a new chief communications officer, Paul Edwards. Edwards joins Foxtel from the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where he was a senior advisor in group corporate affairs since 2018. Prior to that, he was a senior executive at ANZ Banking Group where he lead corporate communications, He also worked at BHP in public relations consultancy. Edwards will report to CEO Patrick Delany and also join the broader News Corp Australia communications team led by Group Executive, Corporate Affairs, Policy and Government Relations, Campbell Reid. The appointment comes at a time when Game of Thrones has broken Pay TV records but the Pay TV giant is under pressure to reduce its $1.6 billion in programming costs and battles declining revenue and earnings. Patrick Delany said, Pauls extensive business and communications experience adds an important skill set to our management team at a time when engagement with external stakeholders and our own people about our strategy has never been more important. We are already seeing positive momentum in strengthening Foxtel for the future and we look forward to Pauls contribution as part of our strengthened communications team. Source: Mediaweek Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has responded to fan reactions over the finale of the HBO series. On his blog Martin was positive about the series, and at pains to point out the vast constraints in delivering a television work to a literary one. How will it all end? I hear people asking. The same ending as the show? Different? Well yes. And no. And yes. And no. And yes. And no. And yes. I am working in a very different medium than David and Dan, never forget. They had six hours for this final season. I expect these last two books of mine will fill 3000 manuscript pages between them before Im done and if more pages and chapters and scenes are needed, Ill add them. And of course the butterfly effect will be at work as well; those of you who follow this Not A Blog will know that Ive been talking about that since season one. There are characters who never made it onto the screen at all, and others who died in the show but still live in the books so if nothing else, the readers will learn what happened to Jeyne Poole, Lady Stoneheart, Penny and her pig, Skahaz Shavepate, Arianne Martell, Darkstar, Victarion Greyjoy, Ser Garlan the Gallant, Aegon VI, and a myriad of other characters both great and small that viewers of the show never had the chance to meet. And yes, there will be unicorns of a sort Book or show, which will be the real ending? Its a silly question. How many children did Scarlett OHara have? How about this? Ill write it. You read it. Then everyone can make up their own mind, and argue about it on the internet. You can read more on that here. Meanwhile HBO programming president Casey Bloys has also answered some questions for the Hollywood Reporter, also backing his showrunners and looking ahead to the prequel and no sequels. Much of the criticism is that the final season moved too quickly and many of the big moments did not feel earned. Can you talk us through the decision to do a grand total of 15 more episodes over the past two seasons? Was there a conversation to do more? What do you think of those criticisms? Why end it with an abbreviated run? No, I cannot talk you through that decision. The guys have known what theyve wanted to do for a long, long time. Theyve had a plan in their mind. Ive been on the record saying Id take five more seasons. But theyve had a plan that they wanted to do and this made sense to them. They made this decision a long time ago and theyre doing it exactly how they planned to do it. Was there a conversation then that this might feel a little compressed? They made that decision a long time ago. But no, Im not aware of any conversations that anybody thought it was crammed or anything like that. Was there a way that Game of Thrones could have continued on without Benioff and Weiss in its current form? No. I dont think any of the actors would have done it. Shows have to come to an end. This was eight seasons, its a great epic and shows have to come to a close. Its part of the TV lifecycle. Youve got the pilot and two other scripts in the works. What plans do you have at the moment to put other projects into development? Or are you waiting to see what happens with the other two scripts? There are no plans currently to put anything more in development. Were not actively looking or going beyond what weve got in the current pilot. EXCLUSIVE | One last drama for the late TV icon Reg Grundy as his family fight for his fortune. @danielsutton10 pic.twitter.com/x6tEsV6zw8 10 News First Sydney (@10NewsFirstSyd) May 22, 2019 The legal battle over the $800m estate of pioneering producer Reg Grundy headed back to court yesterday. Simon Russell, who recently emerged claiming to be the son of the late TV mogul, attended Sydneys Supreme Court along with Grundys Bermuda-based widow, Joy Chambers-Grundy and his only known child, Viola La Valette. Russells barrister, Nicholas Kirby, revealed the long-awaited results of a DNA comparison. Sadly, the fortuitously found biological sample once tested, yielded insufficient DNA to construct a competed profile, he said. So those results came back inconclusive. Estranged dayghter Viola La Valette is challenging the a $250,000 to be paid to her annually. 10 News First reports Chambers-Grundy initially claimed all of the couples assets with the exception of their Bermuda mansion were in a trust, meaning her husband died with nothing to his name. The counting of votes will start across India from 8 AM onwards. Polling for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections began on 11 April 2019 and is being held in 7 phases. About 900 million Indian citizens were eligible to vote in one of the seven phases depending on the region. All 543 elected MPs will be elected from single-member constituencies using first-past-the-post voting. Stay tuned for the Live updates: In Madhya Pradesh, there are 29 seats at stake, and the primary tussle is between INC and the NDA. The BSP and the Samajwadi party have an electoral understanding and are fighting the elections together. BJP had held sway in the Hindi heartland for more than 15 years before its ruling Chief Minister Shivraj Chauhan was unseated from power in the 2018 state elections. Aaj-Tak live news updates: The polling in MP was held in four parts, and the first polling began on 29 April in the fourth phase of the election. The second part of the election was held on 6th May 2019, third part on 12th May 2019 and the final stage on 19th May 2019. The state witnessed robust election turnout of above 60 percent in all the phases of the elections. A day before counting day and apprehension is in the air. Who is going to be the PM and lead India for the next five years? NIJ's @priyankadeo asked the people and here's what they had to say! #Namo_Again pic.twitter.com/qiHIZsZaEf New India Junction (@nijunction) May 22, 2019 Many Stalwarts in the fray There are many stalwarts from both the parties who are in the fray in the state elections, and this includes, Mr Digvijay Singh, who is contesting from the prestigious Bhopal constituency. She is opposed by firebrand Sadhvi Pragya who is one of the accused in the Malegaon blast case and is presently out on bail. CNN-IBN live updates: A Hung Parliament said pre-poll exit polls Different News agencies such as NDTV live, AAJ Tak live, CNN IBN live, have given differing accounts of exit polls which predict a hung parliament To the NDA winning by a slim margin. However, the post-poll exit polls have revealed that the saffron brigade would once again sweep all the seats in the Hindi heartland. The ramification of the exit polls is already visible and the Kamal Nath led Congress is facing a test of strength in the coming assembly Session. The BJP has already informed the Governor that the Kamal Nath government is in minority The FTSE 100 closed the day up 18.04 points at 7,328.92 points. The London markets rose as investor sentiment was buoyed as trade tensions between the US and China appeared to ease. The FTSE 100 closed the day up 18.04 points at 7,328.92 points. Stocks across Europe rallied on the back of news that the US has granted Huawei a 90-day extension before its ban will be implemented. David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: This is seen as a sign the US administration dont want to turn up the heat on China just yet, but the ball is in Beijings court. The trade standoff is still very much alive, but this appears to be a slight reduction in hostilities, and some traders are taking the opportunity to snap up equities. Optimism spread across the continent, as European stocks took the move as a positive signal regarding the future of the long-running trade dispute. The German Dax jumped by 0.85% and the French CAC rose by 0.5%. The pound jumped higher on the back of Theresa Mays announcement that MPs will be offered a vote on a second referendum. Sterling had slumped to its lowest since January earlier on Tuesday, but recovered after the Prime Minister offered the possible Brexit reprieve. The pound rose 0.08% to 1.273 versus the US dollar and increased 0.12% to 1.141 versus the euro. In stocks, high street stalwart WH Smith rose marginally after its boss Stephen Clarke revealed plans to step down at the end of October after six years at the helm of the retailer. He will be replaced as group chief executive on November 1 by Carl Cowling, who is currently managing director of the groups high street arm. Shares in the retailer rose by 4p to 2,032p. Halfords remained flat after it reported lower annual profits, as the retailer warned that a transformation plan would take longer than expected amid current levels of consumer uncertainty. Profit before tax dropped 24% to 51 million at the business, with lower motoring sales, high investment and weak sentiment in the run-up to Christmas all contributing to the decline. Story continues Halfords shares closed at 239p after holding firm. Builder Galliford Try surged in value after it revealed plans to axe up to 350 jobs amid an overhaul of its under-pressure construction business. Shares in Galliford Try jumped by 82.5p to 619p. Majestic shares rose on its confirmation that a number of potential buyers are circling its retail business, after it kicked off a sale process last month. Shares in the wine retailer rose 14p to 280p. The price of oil remained fairly subdued, falling marginally as political tensions between the US and Iran continue to heat up. The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil fell by 0.3% to 71.8 US dollars. The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Sainsburys, up 9.3p at 207.1p, Coca-Cola HBC, up 97p at 2,769p, Persimmon, up 62p at 2,108p and Taylor Wimpey, up 4.35p at 175.8p. The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Rolls Royce, down 23.2p at 918p, Pearson, down 15.4p at 785.2p, IAG, down 9.2p at 493.2p, and Paddy Power Betfair, down 58p at 5,756p. FILE PHOTO: Extinction Rebellion protest in London FILE PHOTO: Climate change activists attend the Extinction Rebellion protest at Waterloo Bridge in London, Britain April 21, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo By Nina Chestney LONDON (Reuters) - A third of British lawmakers called on Wednesday for their 700 million pound parliamentary pension fund to divest its holdings in fossil fuel companies to address the climate change "emergency". Pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, religious groups and universities have sold oil, gas and coal stocks in recent years because of their impact on climate change. Britain's parliament declared a symbolic climate change "emergency" this month. Although it has no direct consequences for policy, it was seen as a nod to increasingly vocal activist movements demanding change. Globally, more than 1,000 funds with assets in excess of $8.7 trillion have made divestment commitments, including Norways $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest. "The climate emergency demands that all pension funds divest from fossil fuels and invest in positive solutions to the climate crisis," British Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said. A third of the 650 serving members of parliament (MP) from different parties and 29 former MPs have been calling on Britain's Parliamentary Pension Fund since 2014 to disclose its investments in carbon-intensive industries and commit to phasing out fossil fuel investments. The fund holds around 11.7 million pounds of shares in oil major BP and nearly 11 million pounds in Royal Dutch Shell. Activists on Tuesday disrupted BP's annual shareholder meeting, a day after protesters blockaded the entrance to its London headquarters, demanding it end all new oil and gas exploration. Speaking at a debate in parliament on Wednesday, former energy secretary Ed Davey said opposition Labour Party plans to nationalise energy infrastructure would not aid a low-carbon transition. "It would be the wrong approach, delay action and not enable us to (use) the power of capitalism through its market mechanisms and innovation. We need to make capitalism our servant not our master," the Liberal Democrat MP told fellow lawmakers. Labour has laid out plans this month to re-nationalise utilities, who have hit back saying it would lead to higher costs for taxpayers and a slower move to clean energy. (Reporting by Nina Chestney; Editing by Alexander Smith and Andrew Cawthorne) A decorated veteran from the British Army has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison after admitting to arranging for children in the Philippines to be sexually abused on webcam while he watched. Andrew Whiddett, 70, paid thousands of pounds to watch the acts, and had also planned to travel to the Philippines himself to carry out the abuse. He had specifically conversed with a woman in 2016, in which he made his intentions clear to "sexually abuse a child when he visited the Philippines that October," according to the National Crime Agency. Prosecutor Amanda Hamilton told Croydon Crown Court on Wednesday that Whiddett had directed the abuse, which was livestreamed via Skype, with "known Filipino child sex abuse facilitators". A former lieutenant-colonel who was awarded an MBE for his service in Northern Ireland, Whiddett had over the course of several years received 40 files of which almost half contained indecent photos of children. Upon delivering the sentence on Wednesday, Judge Nicholas Ainley said "there's no getting around" the crime, regardless of the former officer's celebrated past. He said: "This is a 70-year-old who has been a dedicated and courageous servant to his country and also somebody who has abused two young children. "I am well aware of the service dedicated to this country but children, wherever they are in the world, need to be protected from this type of activity." Whiddett has also pleaded guilty to attempting to cause or incite girls under the ages of 13 and 16 to engage in sexual acts in 2016. Defence lawyer Siobhan Grey QC said her client had showed "remorse and shame" for the crimes committed, and maintained that it was unlikely that he would reoffend. She explained that Whiddett had become "sucked in" to the online dating world after his wife of 40 years died in 2014 to cancer. "He is ashamed and embarrassed and took some time to confront his behaviour," she added. However, a spokesperson from NSPCC pointed out that Whiddett's behaviour is likely to have caused "untold pain and suffering" that was "likely to last a lifetime". "Today's sentence sends a clear message that no matter where or how the abuse takes place, perpetrators can and will be brought to justice," the spokesperson said. Prince Charles was treated to a showcase of nitrate-free pork during a tour of a factory in rural Northern Ireland. Following a morning in Belfast city centre, the prince travelled to Co Down to Finnebrogue Artisans base. Charles was officially welcomed to Downpatrick by Lord Lieutenant of Co Down David Lindsay and Finnebrogue chairman Denis Lynn. During a visit to @finnebrogue, HRH Prince of Wales viewed artisan food produce including nitrite-free bacon and sausages, as well as meeting with management and staff during a short tour of the Downpatrick business @ClarenceHouse @RoyalFamily #RoyalVisitNI pic.twitter.com/fypjSRFdXc Northern Ireland Office (@NIOgov) May 22, 2019 During a boardroom meeting the prince heard how Finnebrogue launched the first nitrate-free bacon in 2017 before he got sight and smell of freshly cooked sausages and bacon from the companys range. The last time we met was 11 years ago in Belfast, Mr Lynn told the prince. We were a small artisan business, our turnover was about 3 million. Eleven years and two days later we are still a small artisan business doing exactly the same thing, but we have just got a bit bigger. Esme Dixon, two, was more interested in afternoon tea than meeting Charles (Owen Humphreys/PA) Thank you so much for coming, I have really appreciated it, I have really had a great time talking to you about your understanding of the environment. I think we are really together on this. As the visit drew to a close, Mr Lynn presented the Charles with a hamper full of Finnebrogue products, joking it wasbetter than the princes own Duchy range, to which Charles chuckled, telling the other guests present: hes longing to say that. More Democrats are calling and more loudly for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump after his latest defiance of Congress by blocking his former White House lawyer from testifying on Tuesday. A growing number of rank-and-file House Democrats, incensed by former counsel Don McGahn's empty chair in the Judiciary Committee hearing room, are confronting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and pushing her and other leaders to act.Their impatience is running up against the speaker's preference for a more methodical approach , including already-unfolding court battles.Pelosi summoned some of them still a small fraction of the House Democratic caucus to a meeting of investigators Wednesday to assess strategy.Some other Democratic leaders, while backing Pelosi, signaled that a march to impeachment may at some point become inevitable."We are confronting what might be the largest, broadest cover-up in American history," Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. If a House inquiry "leads to other avenues including impeachment," the Maryland Democrat said, "so be it."Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas and Diana DeGette of Colorado added their voices to the impeachment inquiry chorus."There is political risk in doing so, but there's a greater risk to our country in doing nothing," Castro said on Twitter. "This is a fight for our democracy."Tweeted DeGette: "The facts laid out in the Mueller report, coupled with this administration's ongoing attempts to stonewall Congress, leave us no other choice."One Republican congressman, Justin Amash of Michigan, has called for impeachment proceedings. He said Tuesday he thinks other GOP lawmakers should join him but only after reading special counsel Robert Mueller's report carefully.Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy dismissed Amash as out of step with House Republicans and "out of step with America." And Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said wryly of Amash's position, "I don't think it's going to be a trend-setting move."As Democrats weigh their options, Trump is almost taunting them by testing the bounds of executive power in ways few other administrations have. The White House contends that even former employees like McGahn do not have to abide by subpoenas from Congress.A short time later House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler issued subpoenas for more Trump administration officials former White House communications director Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson, a former aide in the White House counsel's office for documents and testimony.Trump's former White House counsel is the most-cited witness in Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation report, recounting the president's attempts to interfere with the probe. And that makes his silence all the more infuriating for Democrats.Nadler gaveled open Tuesday's hearing with a stern warning that McGahn will be held in contempt for failing to appear."Our subpoenas are not optional," Nadler said. "We will not allow the president to stop this investigation."However, Rep. Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, spoke scornfully of Nadler's position, calling the session a "circus" and saying the chairman preferred a public "fight over fact-finding."Democrats are "trying desperately to make something out of nothing," Collins said, in the aftermath of Mueller's report.A lawyer for McGahn had said he would follow the president's directive and skip Tuesday's hearing, leaving the Democrats without yet another witness and a growing debate within the party about how to respond.Nadler said the committee would vote to hold McGahn in contempt, though that's not expected until June, after lawmakers return from the Memorial Day recess.Democrats are encouraged by an early success in the legal battles , a Monday ruling by a federal judge against Trump on in a financial records dispute with Congress. Trump's team filed notice of appeal on Tuesday.But Pelosi's strategy hasn't been swift enough for some lawmakers. In particular, several members of the Judiciary panel feel they must take the lead in at least launching impeachment proceedings.They say a formal impeachment inquiry could give Democrats more standing in court, even if they stop short of a vote to remove the president."I think that's something a lot of members of the committee and more and more members of the caucus think is necessary," said Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee. "I think an inquiry, as the Senate Watergate hearings were, would lead the public to see the misdeeds of this administration."Others, though, including some from more conservative districts, said they prefer the step-by-step approach."We want to make sure that we're following all the legal processes, everything we've been given, to truly make the best decisions," said Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, a freshman on the Judiciary panel.Pelosi scheduled Wednesday's meeting with lawmakers from the Judiciary and Oversight committees after some members confronted her during a meeting among top Democrats Monday evening.At that time, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland led others in arguing that an impeachment inquiry would consolidate the Trump investigations and allow Democrats to keep more focus on their other legislative work, according to people familiar with the private conversation who requested anonymity to discuss it.Pelosi pushed back, saying that several committees are doing investigations already and noting that Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the chairman of the Oversight Committee, already had won the early court battle over Trump's financial documents.With a 235-197 Democratic majority, Pelosi would likely find support for starting impeachment proceedings, but it could be a tighter vote than that margin suggests. Some lawmakers say voters back home are more interested in health care and the economy. Many come from more conservative districts where they need to run for re-election in communities where Trump also has support.For Pelosi, it's a push-pull exercise as she tries to raise awareness about Trump's behavior without moving toward impeachment unless she knows the public is with Congress."We've been in this thing for almost five months and now we're getting some results," Pelosi told lawmakers Monday night. "We've always said one thing will lead to another as we get information."But other Democrats in the meeting, several of whom have spoken publicly about a need to be more aggressive with Trump, are increasingly impatient. They include Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Ted Lieu of California and freshman Joe Neguse of Colorado."We're in a very grave moment," said Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, and "probably right now are left, with nothing but that we must open an inquiry."Tweeted Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas: Congress has made "accommodation after accommodation. I don't think we should wait any longer.(AP) More Democrats are calling and more loudly for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump after his latest defiance of Congress by blocking his former White House lawyer from testifying on Tuesday. A growing number of rank-and-file House Democrats, incensed by former counsel Don McGahn's empty chair in the Judiciary Committee hearing room, are confronting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and pushing her and other leaders to act. Their impatience is running up against the speaker's preference for a more methodical approach , including already-unfolding court battles. Pelosi summoned some of them still a small fraction of the House Democratic caucus to a meeting of investigators Wednesday to assess strategy. Some other Democratic leaders, while backing Pelosi, signaled that a march to impeachment may at some point become inevitable. "We are confronting what might be the largest, broadest cover-up in American history," Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. If a House inquiry "leads to other avenues including impeachment," the Maryland Democrat said, "so be it." Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas and Diana DeGette of Colorado added their voices to the impeachment inquiry chorus. "There is political risk in doing so, but there's a greater risk to our country in doing nothing," Castro said on Twitter. "This is a fight for our democracy." Tweeted DeGette: "The facts laid out in the Mueller report, coupled with this administration's ongoing attempts to stonewall Congress, leave us no other choice." One Republican congressman, Justin Amash of Michigan, has called for impeachment proceedings. He said Tuesday he thinks other GOP lawmakers should join him but only after reading special counsel Robert Mueller's report carefully. Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy dismissed Amash as out of step with House Republicans and "out of step with America." And Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said wryly of Amash's position, "I don't think it's going to be a trend-setting move." Story continues As Democrats weigh their options, Trump is almost taunting them by testing the bounds of executive power in ways few other administrations have. The White House contends that even former employees like McGahn do not have to abide by subpoenas from Congress. A short time later House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler issued subpoenas for more Trump administration officials former White House communications director Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson, a former aide in the White House counsel's office for documents and testimony. Trump's former White House counsel is the most-cited witness in Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation report, recounting the president's attempts to interfere with the probe. And that makes his silence all the more infuriating for Democrats. Nadler gaveled open Tuesday's hearing with a stern warning that McGahn will be held in contempt for failing to appear. "Our subpoenas are not optional," Nadler said. "We will not allow the president to stop this investigation." However, Rep. Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, spoke scornfully of Nadler's position, calling the session a "circus" and saying the chairman preferred a public "fight over fact-finding." Democrats are "trying desperately to make something out of nothing," Collins said, in the aftermath of Mueller's report. A lawyer for McGahn had said he would follow the president's directive and skip Tuesday's hearing, leaving the Democrats without yet another witness and a growing debate within the party about how to respond. Nadler said the committee would vote to hold McGahn in contempt, though that's not expected until June, after lawmakers return from the Memorial Day recess. Democrats are encouraged by an early success in the legal battles , a Monday ruling by a federal judge against Trump on in a financial records dispute with Congress. Trump's team filed notice of appeal on Tuesday. But Pelosi's strategy hasn't been swift enough for some lawmakers. In particular, several members of the Judiciary panel feel they must take the lead in at least launching impeachment proceedings. They say a formal impeachment inquiry could give Democrats more standing in court, even if they stop short of a vote to remove the president. "I think that's something a lot of members of the committee and more and more members of the caucus think is necessary," said Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee. "I think an inquiry, as the Senate Watergate hearings were, would lead the public to see the misdeeds of this administration." Others, though, including some from more conservative districts, said they prefer the step-by-step approach. "We want to make sure that we're following all the legal processes, everything we've been given, to truly make the best decisions," said Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, a freshman on the Judiciary panel. Pelosi scheduled Wednesday's meeting with lawmakers from the Judiciary and Oversight committees after some members confronted her during a meeting among top Democrats Monday evening. At that time, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland led others in arguing that an impeachment inquiry would consolidate the Trump investigations and allow Democrats to keep more focus on their other legislative work, according to people familiar with the private conversation who requested anonymity to discuss it. Pelosi pushed back, saying that several committees are doing investigations already and noting that Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the chairman of the Oversight Committee, already had won the early court battle over Trump's financial documents. With a 235-197 Democratic majority, Pelosi would likely find support for starting impeachment proceedings, but it could be a tighter vote than that margin suggests. Some lawmakers say voters back home are more interested in health care and the economy. Many come from more conservative districts where they need to run for re-election in communities where Trump also has support. For Pelosi, it's a push-pull exercise as she tries to raise awareness about Trump's behavior without moving toward impeachment unless she knows the public is with Congress. "We've been in this thing for almost five months and now we're getting some results," Pelosi told lawmakers Monday night. "We've always said one thing will lead to another as we get information." But other Democrats in the meeting, several of whom have spoken publicly about a need to be more aggressive with Trump, are increasingly impatient. They include Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Ted Lieu of California and freshman Joe Neguse of Colorado. "We're in a very grave moment," said Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, and "probably right now are left, with nothing but that we must open an inquiry." Tweeted Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas: Congress has made "accommodation after accommodation. I don't think we should wait any longer. (AP) Reuters MELBOURNE (Reuters) -Australia moved within tantalising reach of retaining the Ashes in Melbourne on Monday but the fate of the series may be decided in a laboratory rather than on the field after the England camp was hit by a rash of COVID-19 cases. Two England support staff and two of their family members were in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, throwing a scare through the team as they prepared to head to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for day two of the third test. The players were all cleared after rapid antigen tests and play proceeded without disruption barring a half-hour delay. This years Man Booker International prize has gone to Omani author Jokha Alharthi for Celestial Bodies, the first book written in Arabic to win the award.Alharthi shared the nearly 57,000 euros prize with her translator, American academic Marilyn Booth.Celestial Bodies is the first book by a female Omani novelist to be translated into English.It tells the tale of three sistesr: Mayya, Asma and Khawla.The book is set in the Omani village of al-Awfi, and each sisters tale centres on a personal disappointment.Mayya marries into a rich family after a heartbreak. Asma marries out of duty. And Khwala waits for a man who has emigrated to Canada.Celestial Bodies was chosen from a nearly entirely female and independently published shortlist, including Frances Annie Ernaux, former winner Olga Tokarczuk and Columbias Juan Gabriel Vasquez.Speaking in an interview with the Man Booker organisation after being shortlisted, Alharthi described her book as a glimpse into the colourful life of an Arab Omani family, particularly three sisters growing up at a pivotal time in Omani history.She adds that she hopes readers from around the world will discover that Oman has an active and talented writing community who live and work for their art.In the same interview, translator Booth said she took much pleasure in translating Alharthis book because she weaves stressful and beautiful relationships to life within the complex political and social history of Oman.She adds that what makes this book special is the the use of language, or languages: the distinct idioms or sociolects of differently placed characters, the vivid use of local expressions and usages, in particular the conversations amongst women.In an interview with the BBC, Alharthi recounts how her first year in Edinburgh for her PhD, proved to be the impetus to write this book.I had the plan for a very long time to write a book about a life in Oman and I couldnt write about it when I was actually in Oman. But I went to Edinburgh, the first year was difficult for me.so I felt the need to go back to home and feel something from home. So actually writing saved me. This years Man Booker International prize has gone to Omani author Jokha Alharthi for Celestial Bodies, the first book written in Arabic to win the award. Alharthi shared the nearly 57,000 euros prize with her translator, American academic Marilyn Booth. Celestial Bodies is the first book by a female Omani novelist to be translated into English. It tells the tale of three sistesr: Mayya, Asma and Khawla. The book is set in the Omani village of al-Awfi, and each sisters tale centres on a personal disappointment. Mayya marries into a rich family after a heartbreak. Asma marries out of duty. And Khwala waits for a man who has emigrated to Canada. Celestial Bodies was chosen from a nearly entirely female and independently published shortlist, including Frances Annie Ernaux, former winner Olga Tokarczuk and Columbias Juan Gabriel Vasquez. Speaking in an interview with the Man Booker organisation after being shortlisted, Alharthi described her book as a glimpse into the colourful life of an Arab Omani family, particularly three sisters growing up at a pivotal time in Omani history. She adds that she hopes readers from around the world will discover that Oman has an active and talented writing community who live and work for their art. In the same interview, translator Booth said she took much pleasure in translating Alharthis book because she weaves stressful and beautiful relationships to life within the complex political and social history of Oman. She adds that what makes this book special is the the use of language, or languages: the distinct idioms or sociolects of differently placed characters, the vivid use of local expressions and usages, in particular the conversations amongst women. In an interview with the BBC, Alharthi recounts how her first year in Edinburgh for her PhD, proved to be the impetus to write this book. I had the plan for a very long time to write a book about a life in Oman and I couldnt write about it when I was actually in Oman. But I went to Edinburgh, the first year was difficult for me.so I felt the need to go back to home and feel something from home. So actually writing saved me. Supporters of an unsuccessful presidential candidate have clashed with security forces in the Indonesian capital, burning vehicles and throwing rocks at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. The protesters tried to force their way into the central offices of the election supervisory agency late on Tuesday and clashes have continued since then. Riot police launch tear gas (AP) National Police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said the majority of protesters had come from outside Jakarta and nearly 60 people had been arrested. Police said based on reports from hospitals that six people have died. Police chief Tito Karnavian told a news conference that authorities are still investigating the causes of death and are not ruling out the involvement of third parties acting as provocateurs. He said the information police obtained showed victims were hit by gunshots or blunt devices. Protesters run during a clash with police (Achmad Ibrahim/AP) White-robed men blocked streets in one central Jakarta neighbourhood and in another, rioters fought running battles with police, throwing rocks and setting fires. During the night, vehicles and a paramilitary police dormitory were set on fire as police using tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons battled protesters who threw petrol bombs and burning projectiles. The Election Commission on Tuesday said President Joko Widodo had won a second term with 55.5% of the vote in the April 17 election. Joko Widodo meets supporters (Dita Alangkara/AP) Losing candidate Prabowo Subianto, an ultra-nationalist former special forces general, has refused to accept the result and declared himself the winner. His campaign plans to challenge the election in the Constitutional Court. They allege massive fraud in the worlds third-largest democracy but have provided no credible evidence. The government had deployed 50,000 police and soldiers in Jakarta in anticipation of protests, said police spokesman Argo Yuwono. Many residents have left the city and parts of the centre are closed to traffic with the election supervisory agency and Election Commission barricaded with razor wire. Story continues Riot police outside the Election Supervision Board in Jakarta (Dita Alangkara/AP) Indonesias top security minister said authorities will block access to social media in certain areas amid the protests. Wiranto, who uses a single name, did not specify which areas would be subject to the restrictions. Police have said the rioting was planned rather than a spontaneous outburst. In the past week, authorities have arrested three pro-Subianto activists on suspicion of treason, said national police spokesman Dedi Prasety. They included Sunarko, a retired general and former commander of Indonesias special forces who uses a single name. Police allege there was a plot to seize crucial government buildings in Jakarta. Mr Subianto and members of his campaign team had said they would mobilise people power during days of street protests. The former general called on supporters to refrain from violence. Mr Subianto, who also lost to Widodo in 2014, ran a fear-based campaign, emphasising what he sees as Indonesias weakness and the risk of exploitation by foreign powers or disintegration. He aligned himself with hardline Muslim groups and won massive majorities in conservative provinces such as Aceh, which follows Shariah law, but was defeated by Mr Widodo in the presidents populous East Java and Central Java strongholds. Mr Widodos campaign highlighted his progress in poverty reduction and improving Indonesias inadequate infrastructure with new ports, toll roads, airports and mass rapid transit. Kenneth Noye has been ruled suitable to return to the community (PA) The Parole Board has concluded that M25 killer Kenneth Noye should be released from prison as he is now suitable to return to the community. The 71-year-old was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years in 2000 after he stabbed 21-year-old Stephen Cameron to death on an M25 slip road in Kent in 1996. Noye went on the run after the killing and was arrested in Spain in 1998. Noye was jailed for life for stabbing 21-year-old Stephen Cameron to death in 2000 (PA) He first became eligible to be considered for release in April 2015. In 2017, the Parole Board recommended Noye be transferred to "open conditions. The body has now directed his release, following an oral hearing earlier this month. Read more from Yahoo News UK: Labour would not work with Donald Trump Food for school children at risk of running out after Brexit Furious Tories to try and oust Theresa May today A Parole Board spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Kenneth Noye following an oral hearing. "Parole Board decisions are solely focused on whether someone would represent a significant risk to the public after release. Noye killed Mr Cameron on a slip road on the M25 in Kent (Geograph/stock photo) "The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change. "We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority." The outcome of this weeks European Parliament elections will likely not be determined by migration, despite the best efforts of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini to capitalize on it. Brookings reports in its article Has the far right already won the European Parliament elections? that polling suggests that issues like corruption, unemployment, and inequality are at least equally important to many Europeans as migration. Nevertheless, between the last European Parliament elections in 2014 and now, persistent anti-immigrant populism has brought about a remarkable transformation in the outlook of European political parties towards absorbing and integrating migrants and refugees. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who once responded to the 2015-16 migration crisis confidently with Wir schaffen das (Well manage it), has been weakened politically and is set to end her long career in the near to medium term. Now, French President Emmanuel Macron, the European Unions most fervent supporter, champions a Europe qui protege les Europeens (A Europe that protects Europeans), a phrase that betrays a sense of insecurity behind its muscular vision for the future of Europe. Macrons Europe that protectsa sentiment that is sure to be a top priority of the next European Commissionis meant to rebuild confidence in Europe and to reinforce the European Unions ability to act in key strategic areas such as external security, economic growth, and digitalization. Yet the concept of protectionand the focus on external securityimplies a vulnerable we that presumably must be protected from a hostile them. Europes message is no longer that there is a place for all that may seek out its shores, either in times of desperation or to contribute to its diversity and prosperity. Instead, the vision of a strong Europe turns inward and focuses on strengthening external borders by closing doors to migrants and refugees, Europes traditional cultural outsiders. Indeed, Europewhich is peaceful, stable, and prosperous compared to its neighbors and has open internal bordersis a construction that deserves to be protected. But one must ask whether in an effort to protect Europe, one might not be betraying the European Unions once vaunted motto: United in diversity. This motto, protected by liberal democracy, made the EU an envy of the world. An insistence on protecting a fragile Europe by walling off the external world would betray this motto. A series of crises, the most significant being the one triggered by the 2008 global financial meltdown which threatened the undoing of the European common currency, exacerbated the perception of European fragility. Yet where efforts to reform the European fiscal and monetary architecturewhose widely acknowledged flaws led to the euro crisis, which also fueled the rise of European populismhave largely stalled, the drive to close Europes external borders to migrants has found ample support. By hardening Europes borders while not pursuing structural economic reform, the European mainstream has tried to co-opt the populists key issuesecuritywhile avoiding the difficult political compromises required to stave off the next economic crisis. In so doing, they may have inadvertently aided the populists in accomplishing their goal of limiting immigration and pushing back on diversity. The larger success of the far right is demonstrated by the rhetoric adopted by center-right parties. For example, and in a marked shift from the traditional French concept of laicite, the French Les Republicains manifesto not only calls for protecting both the European and French borders to stop mass migration, but also for enshrining Europes Judeo-Christian roots in the treaties that bind the European Union. That this success occurs in important European countries like Germany, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom suggests that the case for diversity has not yet been successfully made beyond the continents capitals. Europeans appear focused on a range of issues beyond migrationlike corruption, unemployment, and inequality. Far-right populists, who have few practical responses to these issues and thus seek to focus on immigration, may face an uphill battle in this new environment. The 2019 European Parliament elections might not hinge on the far rights favorite issue, but this will matter little, since much of the far rights migration agenda has already been accomplished for them. FILE PHOTO: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan gets off a vintage tram at Taksim Square in central Istanbul, Turkey, May 12, 2019. REUTERS/Murad Sezer/File Photo ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The AK Party of President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday there was nothing wrong with Turkey's intelligence agency meeting Syrian counterparts to prevent conflict - even though Ankara has backed rebels fighting President Bashar al-Assad. The AKP was responding to a Turkish media report of high-level contact between senior Turkish and Syrian representatives. AKP spokesman Omer Celik did not confirm that any meeting took place, but added that it would be natural despite years of antagonism between Erdogan and Assad. Turkey's Aydinlik newspaper quoted journalists who met Assad as saying that a Syrian committee had met Hakan Fidan, the head of Turkey's National Intelligence Agency (MIT). Erdogan has called Assad a terrorist and said several times during Syrias eight-year conflict that he must go. But with support from Russia and Iran, Assad has recaptured large parts of Syria, driving rebels from most of their former strongholds. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in December Turkey and other countries would consider working with Assad if he won a democratic election. In February, Erdogan said Turkey has maintained low level contact with the Damascus government. "Our intelligence agencies and our elements in the field can hold any meeting they like at any time they like to prevent some humanitarian tragedies or in line with some needs," Celik said on Wednesday. Turkey has carried out two operations in Syria to drive the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia, which it considers a terrorist organisation, from its borders and push back Islamic State militants. Ankara has also recently cooperated with Russia, a major ally of Assad, to contain the fighting in northwestern Syria, an effort that has come under strain from the recent surge of fighting in Idlib, the last major insurgent stronghold. (Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Dominic Evans and Mark Heinrich) Take a walk through Bangkok's last remaining slum - which is being earmarked for gentrification. The Klong Toey slum in the heart of Thai capital is home to more than 100,000 poverty-stricken Thais. Situated alongside a canal, the disease-ridden area is known for its high levels of crime. But despite that, it has become a ''photographer's dream'' and many foreign visitors to the country enjoy walking through the filthy streets to capture the deprived underclass of natives going about their everyday lives. Footage taken on May 15 shows shocking levels of plastic pollution, loose chickens, children playing on disused railway tracks and a young girl dumping her rubbish in an open street. The slum has been opened since 1989 but has become a contentious political issue, with the area being plagued by crime and regular fires among the areas wooden homes. The Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) has now announced plans to build a sprawling shopping mall and real-estate project on 355 acres of land in the area. PAT director-general Kamolsak Promprayoon said: ''It will be something like the new Iconsiam mall. The format will basically be a large business city with the goal of becoming a new landmark and tourism centre in the capital that offers convenient.'' Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who paid a visit to Klong Toey last week, stressed the importance of speeding up a 7.5-billion-baht "Smart Community" project. This will see about 12,500 families who are illegally occupying the densely populated area near the port evicted, Mr Kamolsak said. The developments, which will start in the coming months, will see a rapid development of Bangkok's last remaining slum and an end to the area much visited by travel photographers looking for gritty real-life shots. The Duchess of Cornwallis enjoying the royal tour of the republic of Ireland and has had a busy few days exploring the country. The wife of Prince Charles headed to the Avoca Mill in Co. Wicklow on Tuesday, where she saw how the establishment operated and even received a gift of a blanket for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son Archie! We loved her pastel-toned look, which consisted of a paisley print dress, a grey coat and pearl earrings. But did you spot her shoes? The royal wore a pair of nude, two-tone heels by Chanel which are worth around 600. Super classic and loved by bloggers and film stars, the conic shoes go with everything and stand the test of time - you can bet the royal will be wearing them in years to come. camilla-parker-bowles-chanel-shoes Camilla wore her Chanel pumps at the Avoca Mill in Co. Wicklow Camilla has worn the style regularly since 2005. Yes, the classic shoes are versatile and comfortable, but it has been suggested that there could be a more sentimental reason behind her preference; Chanel's logo takes the form of two interlocking C's which, of course, also stands for Charles and Camilla. How cute! camilla-parker-bowles-nude-shoes The Duchess also wears shoes by Sole Bliss As well as Chanel, the mother-of-two often wears formal shoes by Sole Bliss a brand that constructs shoes for women that suffer from bunions and other foot problems. Duchess Camilla is a fan of the 'Ingrid' heels in caramel leather which cost 149. The shoes have a round-toe heel for wide feet and provide expert comfort with a fashionable twist. And it's not just classic designs the brand sells - we've spotted a wide range of finishes - including pops of bold colour and striking animal print as well as velvet brocade detailing and glitter block heels! MORE: The Duchess of Cornwall wows in white at first garden party of the year As well as the 71-year-old, Helen Mirren has been seen rocking the brand too. Movie star and royalty? What a great client list, right? READ: The Duchess of Cornwall heads to a farm and surprises in pearls AND high heels Yesterday, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the Commerce Department issued a Temporary General License (TGL), changing the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) in regards to Huawei Technologies and its 68 affiliates. Regulations now allow Huawei to have limited engagement in transactions when it comes to exporting, re-exporting and the transfer of items. This license will become effective on May 20, 2019 and lasts 90 days. The license was set up to allow concerned entities presently working with Huawei to continue certain activities while making other arrangements for their mobile users and rural broadband networks. It will also give the Department of Commerce time to determine suitable long term measures for American and foreign telecommunications providers that currently rely on Huawei equipment. Authorize certain activities The license also authorizes businesses working with Huawei to continue cybersecurity research critical to maintaining the soundness of existing and fully operational networks and equipment. Last week the Department of Commerce placed Huawei and its affiliates on its export blacklist after it was concluded that the company is engaging in activities that are contrary to US national security or foreign policy interests. The Temporary General License shows that the government is willing to lend a hand in resolving issues that Huawei may encounter with the ban. Exporters are still required to maintain their certifications and be able to show them, upon request, any exports, re-exports, or in-country transfers of items will continue to require a special license granted, under a presumption of denial, after a review by BIS. Two-decade battle Huawei, for over two decades, has been called out by the US as a security risk and Democratic and Republican governments alike were previously less than willing to allow Huawei to do large-scale business in the country. Discuss this news on Eunomia Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei stated that he was not surprised by the ban and knew conflict would come sooner or later. And why should it be a surprise when other countries have also cut ties with Huawei recently due to fears of it being a security threat. Security first Last week President Trump also issued an executive order declaring threats posed by foreign adversaries to the nation's information and communications technology and services was a national emergency. He left it to the Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross to issue regulations within 150 days to establish procedures for reviewing such transactions. Protecting U.S. national security is high on the list in the Trump administration. Dylan Dreyer is a vivacious, shining star among the co-hosts of the Today third-hour. She also gets complete respect from NBC weather veteran, Al Roker, who always includes that she has the degree, I'm just a weather person, when referring to Dylan Dreyers credentials. Like most professional anchors, Dylan Dreyer is a pro about putting on her smile and putting her best professional front on every aspect of her daily turn in front of the camera. Last month, however, the bubbly meteorologist and mother took off her TV personality mask to speak as simply a struggling mother. She and her husband, studio technician, Brian Fichera, bravely confided to America about their personal struggle with secondary infertility, which affects women after having a successful first pregnancy. Dylan openly expressed her fears of backlash after being so open about her personal struggle, especially amidst the happy baby news for Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb. When she discovered was the reverse. She heard from hundreds, then thousands of mothers and parents in similar situations, and many others just lending a supportive word. She understands now that she has no reason for apprehension or shame, and she and her husband are most certainly not alone. Dylan Dreyer was included among a Refinery29 panel of women from every profession, ethnicity, family, and life situation last week, and the busy mom and morning host also made time for a visit back home to New Jersey. She gave lots of hugs to her dad, and gave customers lots of smiles at her old ice cream shop, where she worked her way through school, as reported May 20 on Today. Mum is not the word As Dylan Dreyer has learned through her journey with secondary infertility, which affects about 10% of child-bearing and otherwise healthy couples, is that Me telling my story doesn't take away from someone elses, and it doesn't mean that she cannot celebrate conception for another couple. Discuss this news on Eunomia Dylan also concurred that it can take 10 dates with a doctor to settle on the one who feels right for each mom. Jenna Bush Hager kept her current third pregnancy a secret from everyone at Today for nearly 6 months. She didn't want to be perceived as stepping on Hoda Kotbs joy as a second-time adoptive mom with baby, Hope Catherine. She also didn't want to hinder any honors for the departing Kathie Lee Gifford after 11 years of hosting with Hoda. Dylan Dreyer revealed her struggle on the same day that Jenna announced her pregnancy with a son. Almost the first words out of Dylan Dreyer's mouth when she introduces her dad on her return to Manalapan, NJ were I love you! She followed up with a very heartfelt bunch of hugs and kisses from the grounds of her family home, the house that her father built for the expanding family. The name Dreyer is prominent at the local park, too, where her grandparents once farmed. Dylan was overjoyed that she even hugged a tree. Tasty and true moments The present owners were gracious enough to allow Dylan Dreyer and her dad to tour the home and travel through their memories of past years. The closets even smelled the same to Dreyer, and a billiard table was still there, too. Dylan remembered sitting on a bathroom toilet with her feet off the ground, and there were pictures to prove it. Her dad often wanted her company, being the only girl, so he would bring her onto the roof while he worked, never worried about her safety under his loving eyes. Dreyer remembered treasured times with her brothers on the stair steps and a classic move of catching an overhead eve and swinging herself down. She probably won't be trying that kind of thing once another baby comes along for the 37-year-old. Everything was as fresh for Dylan Dreyer as the day she started at Jakes Cree-mee Freeze, where she worked through high school and college. Dreyer was even featured in an episode of Sex and the City with Sarah Jessica Parker. Dylan is behind the glass. Whether it was shakes, sundaes, or special order, Dylan demonstrated that she still knew her technique for putting a perfect curl at the top of her cones. She took quite a few tastes for quality control, too. The day ended with pizza, and its sure that Dylan Dreyer will pass down the loving history of her own upbringing to her son, Calvin, and his future siblings. The pizza place remains a regular family stop, too. Season 6 of When Calls the Heart has kept its focus on the future and created storylines to include the full community of Hope Valley. This week's May 19 seventh episode, Hope Is with the Heart is rich with scenes and gems of dialogue that any When Calls the Heart fan will want to keep and treasure forever. This digital viewing era is far from the technology available to Hope Valley, but thank goodness downloads can last forever. Chris McNally had the distinction of having his Hallmark Channel feature movie, Sailing into Love, opposite Leah Renee, to give fans a romantic ocean getaway on both Saturday and Sunday before the When Calls the Heart." Portraying Lucas Bouchard, the newcomer in town makes a benevolent gesture to Elizabeth (Erin Krakow), and to the community, that completely leaves her speechless. There are still matters of law and order to attend to, and Bill Avery (Jack Wagner), clearly, lets the townspeople know that he plans to run a no-nonsense court with swift justice as a new sitting judge. Jesse (Aren Buchholz) tries to take Henry Gowen (Martin Cummins) to legal task over the underselling of his property with the oil boom, and a legendary villain is finally apprehended to face justice. Lee and Rosemary (Kavan Smith and Pascale Hutton) finally have their heartfelt talk and stay shining as Hope Valleys most devoted couple. Elizabeth bestows the honor of parenthood on them in her own way, and Faith and Carson (Andrea Brooks and Paul Greene) face separation in their blossoming love. For the common good and facing legality Lucas escorts Elizabeth with him for a surprise. He presents her with the key to one of his buildings, free and clear as the site for the new Hope Valley library. She is speechless from the gesture. She replies, I don't know what to say, as he offers her the key. He is ready to have workers jump right in to start installing shelves. Discuss this news on Eunomia She wants her students to feel ownership so they will be the workforce on this community cause. The touching transfer of the key is one of those keepers for When Calls the Heart faithful. Robert (Jaiven Natt) takes it upon himself to start reading The Fall of the House of Usher. The dark tale quickly enthralls everyone, including little Opal (Ava Grace Cooper) who feels that she is no longer little at all. Talk of ghosts becomes the kids top conversation, and Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller) pipes in that she knows just where a real haunted house is. She is supposed to lead just the two older boys there, but of course, Opal follows. When they are all frightened by Allies playful mischief, like a rocking chair rocking without a person in it, Robert runs ahead and realizes that the other two are not behind him. He tells Elizabeth, and she and Constable Grant (Kevin McGarry) go on a search to find them. They are found, none the worse, apart from fear and Opals sprained arm. A serious talk ensues about how simple fun can quickly turn wrong, and Allie owns up to her part. For someone who takes being a Mountie so seriously, it surprising that Nathan Grant has such a hard time keeping up with Allie. Still, his love and sense of family are commendable. These two have traveled a rough road. The next morning, Allie tells Elizabeth that she knows about her grandfather being in jail, and Elizabeth confronts Nathan, who now thinks it's appropriate for himself and the teacher to be on a first-name basis. Elizabeth recommends that Nathan talk to his niece and be completely honest. He tells Allis that his father is in jail because he thought it was alright to fool people, and he admits that he became a Mountie to be different than him. Nathan observes Lucas asking Elizabeth to dinner at his saloon after working all day at the library. She declines, and he does not push when she declares that she has to get home to baby Jack. Lucas gives a nod to the Constable, noting that he was very aware of his presence. Nathan plants doubt in Elizabeth's mind about Lucass generous motives, insisting that he is a lover beyond caring about the books. When Elizabeth finds Lucas still at the library late one night, she questions his intent. He answers honestly that he naturally noticed her beauty, but that he was more fascinated by your goodness. No woman could keep from falling to the floor hearing that, and Elizabeth trusts his contribution to Hope Valley. Jesse tries to make his case against Henry in court for a claim of fraud in his land sale but with only the partnership between him and Lucas. Without any documented proof, Bill cannot rule against Gowen. Clara (Eva Bourne) still stands by her fiance. The Bill Avery court moves faster than anything on The People's Court so Henry Gowen still should be careful about throwing cash around. Lucas warns him in that regard. Nathan warns Elizabeth that bad things come with Lucas Bouchard. She contends that his work makes him see only the bad in people. Possibilities in parenthood Rosemary is a wonder in babysitting for baby Jack, exposing him to literature, art, and music in ways no other person in Hope Valley could. Lee is equally infatuated with Elizabeth and Jack's little living legacy. Elizabeth knows how fortunate she is in having both her son and so much sheltering love around them both. Lee finally lets Rosemary know that he is ready to listen and that they can talk about the worry bearing on his wife. She tells him how sorry she is that she cannot bear children with the husband who would be the most wonderful father in the world. Lee assures her that she is the dearest blessing to his life. You are a gift to me every day, he insists, also promising that whatever comes, they will face the future together. This tender exchange is another treasure in the episode. Rosemary also confides to Elizabeth. After the search for the children is over, Elizabeth asks Rosemary and Lee to be Jack's guardians. With joyful acceptance, they agree. Elizabeth confirms to Rosemary that she absolutely can be a good mother to the precious baby. In another utterly precious scene, baby Jack (Lincoln and Gunnar Taylor) giggles joyfully on Pascale Hutton's lap as she plays his parent, proving that great acting starts young, and giving delight to millions of fans. When a call comes in that a legendary criminal named Boone, portrayed by Bruce Boxleitner, is spotted near Hope Valley, Bill Avery insists that he has to go with Nathan Grant to apprehend this familiar foe. The two work in concert to snare their suspect. Boone gets something of a hero's welcome while coming into town, but Avery tells him that while that reception may be brief, his prison term will not be. Allie and her uncle have another talk about what constitutes being a legend, and she decides that the Constable deserves the title. Fiona (Kayla Wallace) and urges Rosemary to design a trendsetting new line of fashion, using all-new fabrics, and the telephone operator becomes its namesake. Sales instantly start to boom. Near the close of the episode, Faith learns that her father has suffered a heart attack, and she must travel to be with him. She calls Carson as a surprise and shares that she will be staying longer than she thought. This will be a test to the beginning relationship, but one they can withstand. Trials make love grow strong on When Calls the Heart. The previews show that before the future can proceed, some past problems have to be handled, but that all has to wait for next week. Tencent is a Chinese multi-national investment conglomerate founded in 1998. Its subsidiaries specialize in inter-related services and products including AI technology both in China and globally. On Tuesday, Tencent's CEO Poni Ma who usually leads a low-life came forward with rare comments about on-going China-US tensions. Why does Poni Ma think the trade war is turning into a tech war? As reported by TechCrunch, Poni Ma said at an event, in China's Yunnan Province, on Tuesday that China has come to the forefront and leading the AI and tech development globally. Now, there is less room for taking the technologies from outside and to improve them. He further said after the recent Huawei and Google clash, Tencent is watching the whole scenario very closely that whether the trade war is going to turn into a tech war. Ma's concerns are not as unexpected as Trump's administration banned American suppliers last week from selling equipment to Huawei without permission. Furthermore, Huawei will not get intel and Qualcomm chips for its devices. Without chips, Huawei laptops are pretty much useless. The US Government labeled this decision as to safeguard national security. What Poni Ma has to say about China's digital economy? Regarding China's digital economy, Ma said if we don't continue to work hard on AI's key knowledge and basic research and transform from old forms of drivers to high-quality development, our digital economy will not become sustainable. He said, "It will be like a high rise built on sand." Will Huawei manage to become technologically independent after the ban? The ban on Huawei by the US has forced the tech giant to accelerate the efforts to become technologically independent. This includes creating its own operating system and building its own chips for the devices and to come up with an alternate of Google services. Discuss this news on Eunomia Though stakeholders and other observers, including Huawei's founder Rhen Zhengfei doubt the viability of the project in short-run. While giving an interview to state media on Tuesday, Rhen said that they would give it a try. He told it isn't challenging to build an operating system. The main challenge is the ecosystem. About the ecosystem, he said, "It's a big project and will take time." Regarding chips, Rhen seems convinced that Huawei is capable of making American-quality semi-conductors for its devices. He further elaborated that doesn't mean Huawei won't buy them from others. However, Reuters interviewed chip experts, and they all doubt Huawei's ability to design high-quality chips that could compete with the leaders of the market, namely Intel and Qualcomm in such a short period. Steel imports from China surged by 7.3 per cent to nearly 2 million tons during the first four months of this year, totaling US$1.22 million in value. China is the leading source of steel and iron imports for Vietnam during the four-month period, with a total volume of 1.95 million tons, worth US$1.22 million. (Illustrative photo: vneconomy.vn) Vietnam Economic Times cited newly-released data from the General Department of Vietnam Customs as showing that steel imports escalated to 4.67 million tons during the four-month period, with a total value of US$3.13 billion. These figures indicate annual surges of 9 per cent in volume and 3.4 per cent in value. In April, steel imports fell by more than 3 per cent in both volume and turnover against March. Howver, they still increased respectively by 11.6 per cent and 2.9 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year. The price of imported iron and steel in April slumped by 7.8 per cent on year to US$668.6 per ton, thus pulling the four-month average down 5.2 per cent to US$670.3 per ton. China was the leading source of steel and iron imports for Vietnam during the four-month period, with a total volume of 1.95 million tons, worth US$1.22 million. This figure represents nearly 42 per cent of the Southeast Asian countrys total import volume and some 40 per cent of the total turnover. The Republic of Korea (RoK) emerged as Vietnams second largest steel provider with a supply of 545,745 tons and a total turnover of US$451.78 million. These numbers dropped by 8.2 per cent in volume and 4.6 per cent in turnover, respectively. China and the RoK were followed by Japan that exported 614,594 tons of steel to Vietnam, with the total value of US$424.94 million, plummeting by 13 per cent on year in both volume and turnover. Elsewhere, iron and steel imports from Saudi Arabia suffered a sharp plunge of 99.7 per cent in volume and 97.9 per cent in value. Taiwan (China), Belgium, Indonesia, France, and Malaysia were the other major sources of steel imports for Vietnam. VOV Turkey opposes foreign interventions including coup attempt in Venezuela, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Monday. Anadolu Agency reports in its article Turkey opposes foreign intervention in Venezuela that speaking on Turkeys position on the Venezuelan crisis in a panel, Cavusoglu said: "We are against foreign intervention, resorting to undemocratic means, including coup attempts, imposing unilateral sanctions to replace legitimate governments." The panel was held in Mexico City by COMEXI think tank where the top Turkish diplomat met with his Mexican counterpart Marcelo Ebrard and Senate President Marti Batres Guadarrama. Highlighting the importance of sovereignty and non-intervention in internal affairs, he said: "We are concerned over attempts to undermine the constitutional order and sovereignty of Venezuela. "These attempts not only threaten stability, peace and security of Venezuela but also create a dangerous precedent and put the whole region in danger," he added. A disaster in Venezuela would have "extremely grave" consequences for the whole region, he noted. Venezuela has been rocked by protests since January, when President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition. Tensions escalated when Juan Guaido declared himself acting president days later, a move supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries. Russia, Turkey, China, Iran, Bolivia and Mexico have thrown their weight behind Maduro. Terrorism as a global threat Describing terrorism as a global threat and an enemy of humanity, he said: "Turkey has always underlined that we can defeat terrorism only by international cooperation and with a sincere and comprehensive approach." Terrorism is still a crime against humanity regardless of being committed by whomever and for whatever reason, he noted. "Therefore, there can be no distinction between good versus bad terrorists," he said, adding the presence of Daesh, PKK/PYD/YPG, FETO and all others is a serious risk for peace and stability everywhere. He went on to say: "Turkey has been the only country in the counter-Daesh Coalition which put its troops in harms way through direct confrontation with Daesh terrorists." In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK -- listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU -- has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children. The YPG is the military wing of PYD, which is the Syrian affiliate of the terrorist PKK organization. FETO and its U.S.-based leader Fetullah Gulen orchestrated the defeated coup of July 15, 2016, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured. Ankara also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary. Turkey's role in humanitarian diplomacy Speaking on Turkey's role in humanitarian diplomacy, he stressed that according to the ratio of official humanitarian assistance to national income, Turkey is the most generous donor. "Turkey is the largest host country with 4.2 million people taking refuge," he said. Underlining the importance of developing ties with all regions in the world, he said: "Turkish diplomatic outreach, which is the fifth largest diplomatic network in the world, has grown immensely, currently totaling 242 missions." Meeting between Turkish and Mexican foreign ministers Cavusoglu met Ebrard in a working meeting later Monday where they confirmed the political dialogue between the two countries is at an "excellent level," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Bilateral relations between Turkey and Mexico exceed 90 years, the ministers stressed, reiterating the nations are part of a strategic cooperation and partnership framework. With the signing of the Strategic Cooperation and Partnership Framework for the 21st Century on Dec. 17, 2013, Turkey and Mexico inaugurated a new era in its bilateral relations by upgrading the relationship to the level of a strategic partnership. The top diplomats also emphasized the importance of maintaining a constructive, close and active dialogue to strengthen and develop their agenda. The ministers agreed to encourage competent government agencies and business sectors to intensify efforts to increase and diversify trade and investment flows for strengthening economic relations between the countries. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has expressed concern over a decline in Vietnams seafood exports to China due to the sharp depreciation of the yuan. Workers process tra fish at a local firm. VASEP has expressed concern over seafood exports to China amid the yuan devaluation China is one of the four largest buyers of Vietnamese seafood, with average annual revenue of over US$1 billion. However, seafood exports to China fell 5% year-on-year last year to US$1.2 billion and another 5% in the first quarter of this year to US$239 million. Of this, shrimp and tra fish declined 15% and 2%, respectively. By the middle of this month, Chinas yuan had fallen to its lowest since December last year. According to VASEP, even though the Vietnamese dong has been depreciating against the U.S. dollar, the yuan has been falling even harder against the greenback, resulting in higher prices for Vietnamese exports to China, including seafood. Vietnams largest rival in the Chinese market is India, as this country exports shrimp to China at a lower price than Vietnam. At present, more than 150 Vietnamese businesses ship seafood to China, including 45 tra and basa fish suppliers and some 50 shrimp exporters. SGT The Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption has urged the relevant agencies to step up investigations into and hold first-instance hearings for eight serious corruption cases, VNA reported. Tran Quoc Vuong (standing), deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption, speaks at the meeting. The committee has urged the acceleration of investigations into corruption cases These cases occurred at the Vietnam Social Security; Hai Thanh Company under the Ministry of National Defense; MobiFone Telecommunications Corporation; PetroVietnam Bio-ethanol Company in the northern province of Phu Tho; Southern Bank; and Saigon Beer-Alcohol-Beverage Corporation. In addition, probes into a case involving land lots at 8-12 Le Duan Street in HCMCs District 1 and another involving violations of land use and management regulations in the central coast city of Danang should be sped up. At a meeting of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-Corruption held in Hanoi today, May 21, Tran Quoc Vuong, deputy head of the committee, hailed the competent agencies efforts in the fight against corruption. As a result, legal proceedings have begun on four cases, while investigations into the other four cases have been resumed and probes into two more cases have just been completed. The committee set a target to complete investigations of 28 cases, issue indictments in 24 cases and hold first-instance hearings for 29 cases and appeal hearings for seven others this year. SGT Chinese technology firm Huawei Vietnam has said it will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem to provide the best experience for all users globally. A woman uses the Google Chrome app on her Huawei smartphone. Google intends to suspend its business with Chinas top mobile phone maker, threatening future access to Gmail, YouTube and Chrome Huaweis response followed a May 20 report from Reuters, which said that U.S. tech giant Google has suspended business with Huawei that requires the transfer of hardware, software and technical services, except those publicly available through open-source licensing, in a blow to Chinas top mobile phone maker, which the U.S. government has sought to blacklist around the world. Holders of current Huawei smartphones with Google apps will still be able to use and download app updates from Google. However, Huawei will only be able to use the public version of Android and will not be able to access proprietary apps and services from Google. The suspension could hobble Huaweis smartphone business outside China as the tech powerhouse will immediately lose access to updates of Googles Android operating system. Future versions of Huawei smartphones that run on Android will also lose access to popular services, including the Google Play Store and Gmail and YouTube. The U.S. government recently added Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd, to a trade blacklist, immediately enacting restrictions that will make it extremely difficult for the company to do business with its U.S. counterparts. A representative of Google Vietnam told the Saigon Times that the firm is complying with the order and reviewing the implications. For local users of its services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices. Huawei Vietnam said in a statement on May 20 that Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of the Android system around the world. As one of Androids key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefitted both users and the industry, said the tech giant. The firm assured the current owners of Huawei phones and its subsidiary brand Honor phones that they will continue to receive security updates and after-sale service. This covers phones that have already been sold or are still in stock globally. Huaweis phone business continues as usual A number of local phone users and retailers are concerned about the potential decline in purchases of this phone brand. However, some retailers told the Saigon Times that they are still selling Huawei products as usual. A representative of the retail chain FPT Shop said that its stores are still offering Huawei products for sale. Further, products sold so far can be used normally, so customers can have peace of mind when using them. Products purchased at FPT Shop will still be entitled to the chains current 30-day return policy. If there are any manufacturing defects in the phone, it will be exchanged for free. FPT Shops Deputy General Director Nguyen Viet Anh pointed out that Googles Android suspension will not have any effect on the retailer since FPT Shop serves consumers, so the import and sale of goods are aimed at satisfying customers needs. As a longtime partner of many phone makers, we always have promotional programs running in cooperation with these phone makers to promote sales and bring products to users, he said. Some other retailers echoed this view, noting that no changes are being made as Huawei phones are still operating normally on the Android platform and their users still have access to popular Google services, such as Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps. Therefore, they are still selling Huawei phones as usual and are continuing to get information updates from the Huawei phone maker. Huawei established itself as the worlds second-largest seller of smartphones during the first three months of this year, according to U.S. research firm IDC. Huawei shipped 59 million smartphones during the period, nearly 23 million more than Apple. SGT Van Ly-Chi Thinh Big-headed turtles, or Platysternon megacephalum, is one of the most unusual turtle species in the world which needs conservation. However, due to legal loopholes, the turtles are being traded in the open air at licensed farms. Big-headed turtles are in serious decline because of the disappearance of primitive forests and excessive hunting for trafficking with other countries. The turtle is found on the IUCN 2017 list of endangered species that need protection, according to ENV (Education of Nature Vietnam). This endangered rare and precious wildlife species is also listed in Appendix I of CITES which comprises species in danger of extinction. In Vietnam, big-headed turtles are found in the northern provinces of Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lao Cai, and central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. The turtle has a very long tail (equal to the length of the whole body), and the head (covered with very hard keratin pieces) cannot be inserted into the shell the the upper jaw forms a hook. Big-headed turtles live in streams in the forests, where the water is clear. During the day, they hide under rocks or lie sunbathing on streams. They search for prey at night. Their food is invertebrates, molluscs or small crustaceans. In adulthood, their shells can have the size of over 20 centimeters. Their food is invertebrates, molluscs or small crustaceans. In adulthood, their shells can have the size of over 20 centimeters. The turtles are being traded in the market, but appropriate agencies cannot punish the trading activities because of legal loopholes. In many cases, traders can present documents to prove the legal origin of turtles from farms which are licensed to raise these turtles for multiplication. Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung, deputy director of ENV, said appropriate agencies still have not released the list of the species prohibited from raising. As a result, some forest rangers units have granted licenses to farms to raise the turtles. However, ENV has found that all big-headed turtles thought to be from turtle farms, in fact, have illegal sources and are from the wild. Scientists have proven that this species of turtles find it difficult to exist in farmed captivity. ENV has every reason to doubt that the farms in Vietnam can raise the turtles. Most of the farms make corrupt use of licenses to trade the endangered turtles, rather than raise the turtles. Dung pointed out that the cost required to raise the turtles is very high, while it takes much time and effort to raise the turtles until they get big enough to sell in the market. RELATED NEWS Con Dao Island pioneers sea turtle protection Rare sea turtle sent back to ocean Chi Nam Vietnamese Z-generation students are often leaving Vietnam at the age of secondary education. They are more self-confident than previous generations and willing to express their personal views. Going to the UK to study at the age of 34, Nguyen Thanh Tung could clearly see the differences among different generations of Vietnamese overseas students. Those students born in early 1980s like me, who received primary and secondary education in Vietnam, were used to the principle that teacher is always right, Tung said. Therefore, Tungs biggest obstacle when studying in the UK was that he had to familiarize himself with education which highly appreciates personal viewpoints On the first days in the UK, when asked to write an essay, Tung felt embarrassed because the lecturer did not give any suggestions, but told students to express their viewpoints. Vietnamese Z-generation students are often leaving Vietnam at the age of secondary education. They are more self-confident than previous generations and willing to express their personal views. The request about the essay was so short and it made me so worried that I was afraid I would have to give the scholarship back because I would not pass the first essay, he recalled. After four days of thinking, Tung decided to send an email to the lecturer to describe the problem he met when writing the essay. The lecturer said I was not the first student with this problem, he said. Most of the students from Asia, meet difficulties, more or less. Luckily, he finally could lift his concern and received results beyond his expectations for his essay. Meanwhile, Z-gen students can better adapt to new schooling environments in western countries because they can access information and knowledge in Vietnam before going out in the world. They are more self-confident in showing their opinions. However, Tung noted that in Z-gen students eyes, life is rosy, which turns out to be a problem for the students. They think that after finishing study in developed countries, they will be welcomed when returning to Vietnam, and that those with bachelors degrees granted by foreign schools will easily find good jobs with salaries of thousands of dollars in Vietnam. Dao Trong Thang, an alumni who has returned from Europe, also commented that Z-gen students have a great advantage that they can access modern technology which allows them to better approach information. However, this could also be a disadvantage because they have a lot of information to consider before making decisions on their overseas study. Florent Menard from Campus France Vietnam also noted big changes in Vietnamese students viewpoints, attitudes, lifestyles and ways of accessing information. They seem to better prepare for the future and dont raise general questions, like what they need to study in France, he said. RELATED NEWS The psychological effects of studying overseas Whats behind the Vietnamese desire to study overseas? Mai Lan One of 40 swans at a river in the northern city of Haiphong has taken to Hanoi for the treatment after it fainted. The swan was found fainted under Tam Bac Bridge Early this month, 40 swans were released on the Tam Bac River in Hong Bang District after the lake was dredged. Since then, many people have flocked to see the animals. However, last week, a swan among those was found to have fainted under Tam Bac Bridge. The incident was reported to the swan supplier Dan Chim Viet Company in Hanoi which quickly sent a car to bring the animal to the capital for treatment. According to the firm, over recent days, the northern region experienced scorching heat. Meanwhile, many people came to Tam Bac River and feed the swans too much, including sweets and snacks, causing them indigestion. It was the main reason for the swans health problems. The swan has now recovered and is expected to return Haiphong today, May 22. The supplier said the most suitable feed for swans is bran and human food can harm them. Hong Bang District has set up a task force to take care of the swans. The locality is also seeking measures to better the living environment for them. The swans on Tam Bac River The swans were imported from Europe and worth around VND8 million (USD347.82) each. Last year, 12 swans imported from Belgium were released to Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi. However, just a day later, they were moved to the citys Thien Quang Lake following concerns that raising swans as not suitable given the previous association of Hoan Kiem Lake with turtles. The swans have adapted to Hanois environment. Lao Dong/Dtinews The Japanese Government will present Japans Orders to two Vietnamese citizens. Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association, To Huy Rua receives the Order of the Rising Sun in 2016. (Illustrative image) On May 21, the Japanese Government announced a list of medals to be awarded to foreign people in the spring of 2019. Accordingly, translator Pham Duc Loi, who is Director of the Japanese Language and Culture Centre in Nam Dinh province, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun - Gold Rays with Rosette, for his contributions in promoting Japanese literature and teaching Japanese language in Vietnam. Meanwhile, Pham Kim Hang, who is a former employee of the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, will be presented with the Order of the Sacred Treasure - the Silver Rays, for her long-term dedication at the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam. Bui Sy Loi, vice chairman of National Assemblys Committee for Social Affairs talks to Hai Quan (Customs) newspaper about a proposal to increase retirement age in the draft amended Labour Law. Retirement age may go up due to trade deals Retirement age discussion set for tomorrow Vice chairman of National Assemblys Committee for Social Affairs Bui Sy Loi. Photo news.zing.vn The draft revised Labour Code has proposed increasing retirement age to 62 for men and 60 for women from 2021. What are the foundations of this proposal? According to the 2012 Labour Code and Law on Social Insurance, the retirement age for men is 55 and for women is 50. The age is reduced by five to 10 years for jobs prone to high risks and toxic elements. In fact, the average retirement age for both men and women is only 54 because the retirement age set in the law is not always followed. The number of people in the workforce is on the decline. In the context of an aging population, we will be in shortage of workers for the national socio-economic development. A survey conducted by research agencies showed 42 per cent of retired people who are paid pensions still work in the national economy. It means the retired people still make contribution to society and economy. If these people continue to work and pay social insurance, they will have higher pension afterwards. We can see that we are wasting an important and high-skilled workforce. Increasing retirement age will shorten the gap between income and pension. In sectors like textile, footwear, fishery product processing, electronic component assembly, there is a high number of female labourers. Working ability and health are big obstacles for increasing retirement age. Employers often find ways to stop employing them when they reach a certain age. This has prevented female labourers from accessing to stable jobs. Is it true to say that the purpose of increasing retirement age is to mobilise high-quality workforce? It is. Resolution No28/NQ-TW on social security policy reform aims to mobilise the retired workforce to continue to make contributions to the countrys socio-economic development. A good doctor can work at a private hospital or run his own clinic after retirement. So why dont we make use of the retired workforce in other professions. From a labourers point of view, they think receiving pension and continuing to work will give them more benefits. What do you think about that? It is a reasonable thought because labourers receive two sources of income. It sounds beneficial to labourers but from State point of view, we are unable to make assessment on the underground economy. From my point of view, if we can mobilise labourers to work in the public sector, not private, our management will be better and State budget and tax collection will increase as well. Whatever we do, we should harmonise benefits of labourers, enterprises and the State. If we pay attention to benefits of labourers and businesses only and ignore the State, where will collection for infrastructure, traffic, irrigation investment come from? If we want to mobilise retired workforce to continue to work, we must have more incentives. Some say Vietnams proposed retirement age is low compared to neighbouring countries, even lower than Laos and Cambodia. What is your opinion? Our retirement age is low compared to the region but not low for our conditions. Our average life expectancy is 76.6. It is 71.2 for man and 82.3 for women. But we have to take into account quality of population. The Resolution No21-NQ/TW aims to improve the quality of the population. Only when our population quality is improved, will we think about higher retirement age. Vietnams population aging is predicted to be on the slow side. Vietnam will not reach current aging rate of Japan until 2049. We have a long way ahead to adjust the retirement age depending on aging speed. Laws should be implemented in a flexible way to ensure public benefits and meet people's expectations. VNS VietNamNet Global - Phu Quoc, Vietnams largest island, had been a rather sleepy, low-key destination for many years. But the island has recently become one of Asias most talked about destinations, especially for luxury tourism. Remote destination At the turn of the 21 century, Phu Quoc - blessed with stunning beaches and an attractive year-round climate - was an undeveloped tropical island with minimal tourism. But even then many tourism observers believed it had the potential to one day compete with the likes of Bali and Phuket. The island would develop rather slowly for the next 10 years and remained associated with simple beachside pleasures such as eating fresh seafood, snorkeling or just flopping around on an otherwise empty beach. Most visitors stayed for just two days before flying back to Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi - the island had no direct flights from overseas. Roads in and out of Duong Dong, the capital of Phu Quoc, were mostly made of red clay and full of pot holes - the first clue for visitors that tourism in Phu Quoc tourism had yet to fulfill its potential. All around the island, there were very few high-end beach resorts and 5-star hotels, and in general, tourist infrastructure and services in Phu Quoc were not of a high-enough level to attract domestic and international visitors. In 2010, the island welcomed only 239,000 visitors. Opening in 2012, a new Phu Quoc International Airport would help to boost arrivals. In 2015, 850,000 tourists came to the Pearl Island, a significant jump on 2010, but still far below expectations. Over the past three years, however, the island has started to see explosive, exponential growth. Nowadays, more visitors come in one month than the whole of 2010. For example, nearly 340,000 visitors came to Phu Quoc in June 2018 and over 407,000 visitors in July 2018. According to the Master Plan for Phu Quoc Island of Kien Giang Province, by 2030, the island is forecasted to welcome approximately two to three million tourists annually by 2020. But by late 2017, Phu Quoc had surpassed the milestone figure of three million visitors in one calendar year. A strategic vision takes hold Much of this success can be attributed to the fact that Phu Quoc had started to attract more strategic investors who were directing major investment into tourism infrastructure and services on the island. In fact, thanks to one 5-star resort in particular, the island has already become a leading destination for luxury holiday for billionaires and A-list celebrities across Asia. Named the World's Leading Luxury Island Resort & Villas 2018 after opening in 2016, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, designed by the King of exotic luxury resorts Bill Bensley, is on a par with what luxury tourists would encounter in the worlds most exclusive destinations. Located on the southern cape of Phu Quoc, the utterly unique JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bayhas been lauded for its fantastical design, superlative services and heavenly setting. After it opened, the whole island was once again being tipped to become one of Southeast Asias leading beach destinations. The island has also received a huge profile boost thanks to the on-the water villas at Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort which is situated right at the tip of Ong Doi Cape and launched in April 2018. The state-of-the-art amusement complex, Sun World Hon Thom Nature Park has also helped to put Phu Quoc on the map, especially because of how you get there - by taking a breathtaking ride on the worlds longest over-the-sea cable car, which officially opened on February 2018. In the future, many more ambitious projects such as Sun Premier Village Kem Beach Resort, Sun Premier Village The Eden Bay, Sun Premier Village Primavera will soon be put into operation, paving the way for Vietnams largest island to finally establish itself as one of the worlds leading destinations for luxury travel, and compete with the likes of Phuket or Bali, perhaps even the Maldives. A successful formula for tourism growth According to Kien Giangs Tourism Department, in 2018, Phu Quoc welcomed more than 4 million tourist arrivals, a growth of 36% compared to the same period in 2017. By the end of 2019, the island is expected to have posted recorded numbers again. Investors are certainly banking on the island to continue this exponential growth. By the end of 2018, a total of 248 tourism projects have been granted investment licenses on the island with total capital of VND 335,448 billion (approximately $14 billion). The major resort projects have contributed to developing Phu Quoc into a large and modern centre of tourism, achieving a year-on-year growth of some 36 percent. The opening of JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay coincided with a surge in international tourist arrivals to the island. It is expected that when a series of billion-dollar projects are completed, Phu Quoc will soon meet the target of receiving 5 million tourists per year, said Mr. Le Cong Nang, Head of Marketing and Communication Department of Vietrantour Tourism Company. Mr. Nguyen Van Tuan, Former Director General of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism is in full agreement with this analysis and projection. The most prominent factor behind these accomplishments has been the large-scale projects and high-quality, attractive tourism products that have drawn investment from strategic investors and top tourism businesses such as Sun Group and Vingroup, says Mr. Tuan. Consequently, these investment projects have contributed to improve infrastructure and accommodation units, and create luxury tourism products that can gradually contribute to shaping the image and brand of Vietnam tourism as well as increasing the attractiveness of tourist destinations, he said. With this successful formula working its magic and more major high-end developments in the pipeline, Phu Quoc finally looks set to fulfill its destiny as one of the worlds most attractive destinations. PV TRIPOLI Violent clashes raged on Tuesday south of Tripoli, marking an uptick in fighting as the UN envoy for Libya warned of a "long and bloody war". Heavy artillery fire could be heard from the city centre as the most intense fighting took place since May 6, when the holy Muslim month of Ramadan started. More than six weeks since commander Khalifa Haftar launched an assault on the capital, fighters backing the UN-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) made advances in the southern Salaheddin neighbourhood. AFP journalists on the front lines estimated pro-GNA forces progressed by 2 or 3km in the residential district. Moustafa al-Mejii, a GNA spokesman, said fighter planes supported ground forces in their advance, carrying out strikes against tanks and heavy weapons in a barracks. Haftar, who is backed by Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, launched a lightning assault on Tripoli with his self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) on April 4. But forces backing the GNA have put up a fierce resistance and the LNA has been held back in Tripoli's southern suburbs. Weeks of fighting have killed 510 people and wounded 2,467, according to the latest toll from the World Health Organisation. More than 75,000 people have fled their homes, according to the United Nations, while 100,000 are trapped by the conflict. 'Long and bloody war' On Tuesday the UN's envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame, warned greater efforts were needed to stem the flow of arms to the North African country. "The violence on the outskirts of Tripoli is just the start of a long and bloody war on the southern shores of the Mediterranean, imperilling the security of Libya's immediate neighbours and the wider Mediterranean region," he told the UN Security Council. Without immediate action by the international community, he said, "Libya will descend into civil war which could potentially lead to a Hobbesian all-against-all state of chaos or partition of the country." His appeal came after the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord posted photographs at the weekend of dozens of Turkish-made armoured vehicles that it said on its Facebook page were fresh deliveries for its fighters. Pro-Haftar websites also posted photos and video footage of Jordanian-built armoured cars they said were supplied to the LNA. Haftar advanced from his stronghold of eastern Libya with an offensive on the south of the country earlier this year, before turning his forces towards the capital. His forces control Libya's most important oil fields, but the Tripoli-based National Oil Corporation manages production and revenues are chanelled through the central bank in the capital. Libya has been mired in chaos since NATO-backed forces deposed and killed former dictator Moamer Kadhafi in 2011, with militias and tribes vying for control of the country's resources. AFP Reliable and harmonized data is needed to tackle some of Central Asias key migration challenges and should be included in the future regional agenda on migration, according to government officials attending a regional consultative forum. ReliefWeb reports in its article Using Data to Inform Migration Management in Central Asia that around 50 officials from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, as well as UN experts, came together in the Tajik capital of Dushanbe from 14-15 May, for the second technical experts meeting of the Almaty Process on Refugee Protection and International Migration, a regional consultative process founded in 2013. Key regional challenges discussed at the forum include providing healthcare services to migrants and refugees, brain drain due to emigration of youth and high-qualified workers, and border management. Representing IOMs Global Migration Data Analysis Centre, Carla Rojas Paz presented IOMs Migration Data Portal and how it can be used in the field of migration management. The Portal features a dedicated section with more than 200 guidance materials and resources to support the production, quality and reliability of migration data. Cristina Tranca, Chief of Mission of IOM Tajikistan said, The Almaty Process brings together migration professionals towards coordinated action for safer and orderly migration. At this meeting, IOM presented its Global Migration Data Portal and Migration Governance Indicators and informed on a new research initiative on youth migration from Central Asia. Launched in 2017, IOMs Global Migration Data Portal is designed to help policy makers, national statistics officers, journalists and the general public understand migration data. By making the evidence about migration issues accessible in one place and easy to understand, it contributes to a more informed public debate. The Almaty Process promotes sustained dialogue and exchange of information on migration issues and on refugee protection challenges in Central Asia and the wider region. Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan are members of the Almaty Process, with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan holding observer status. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) provide organizational, logistical and expert support. The Expert Group Meeting of the Almaty Process is organized in the framework of the IOM project Asia Regional Migration Programme. Founded in 1903, the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (SEBM) is one of the nations oldest scientific societies. Now, after more than a century of achievement, the society has named its inaugural class of fellows notably including Michael Friedlander, founding executive director of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and vice president of health sciences and technology at Virginia Tech. This esteemed designation recognizes Friedlanders outstanding contributions to the scientific community and society. I am humbled and honored to join the inaugural class of fellow scientists in this venerable society, said Friedlander, who is also the senior dean for research at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. "The SEBM embodies the very spirit of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, Virginia Tech's translational biology, medicine and health graduate program, and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine by embracing science at the intersection of biology and medicine." This isnt the first time that the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine has recognized Friedlanders influential career. In 2016, he was a recipient of the societys Distinguished Scientist Award, which recognizes scientific leaders who have achieved seminal accomplishments in biomedical research. Friedlander also served as the societys president for two years, from 2011 to 2013. Friedlander joined the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in 2010 as the institutes inaugural executive director. In this capacity, he leads 26 biomedical research teams working to solve major health challenges. The institutes faculty members hold more than $125 million in ongoing research grants and contracts, primarily funded through the National Institutes of Health. Friedlander, who is also a professor at Virginia Techs College of Science, College of Engineering, and the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, studies how synaptic plasticity is impacted during brain development and in response to brain injury. Using electrophysiology and imaging, Friedlanders lab at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute examines how changes in structure and calcium signaling in brain cell synapses impact functionality in mammalian brains. Prior to joining Virginia Tech, Friedlander served as the Wilhelmina Robertson Professor of Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience chair, and director of neuroscience initiatives at Baylor College of Medicine at the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Before moving to Houston, Friedlander worked for the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine for 25 years. During that time, Friedlander was a professor and founding chair of the Department of Neurobiology, founding director of the Neurobiology Research Center, director of the Civitan International Research Center for Intellectual Disabilities, and the first Evelyn McKnight Professor of Learning and Memory in Aging. The Society of Experimental Biology and Medicine encourages collaboration between scientific disciplines in biomedical research and fosters career development opportunities for students, physician-scientists, and new investigators. The society also publishes a peer-reviewed scientific journal, Experimental Biology and Medicine. WATERLOO Dolly Fortier will speak at the Cedar Valley Historical Society meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Grout Museum of History and Science, 503 South St. A local broadcasting legend, Fortier began her career in 1970 as a copywriter and sales coordinator for KWWL. Her first experiences behind the microphone began in 1996, and she works for KCFI today. In 2016, she received the Iowa Broadcaster of the Year award. Guests are asked to park in the upper parking lot off of South Street. All programs are open to the public. Program admission fees are $3 for adults and $2 for children. Anyone interested in becoming a member should contact Craig Bravender at 296-3019. Genealogy group to host speaker DENVER Ellie Hilbert with the Waverly Chapter of the Revolutionary Dames will speak at the Denver Genealogy and History Club meeting at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Denver Public Library. The talk is free and open to the public. The Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage based organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the U.S. Revolutionary War. The Waverly chapter was organized in 1908. Registration to attend is encouraged so enough seating and handouts are provided. To sign up, call the Denver library at 984-5140 or email kplatte@denver.lib.ia.us. Hearst unveiling New exhibition arrives CEDAR FALLS The Hearst Center is announcing an upcoming exhibition, J. Murray: Color Poem Collages, on view in Dresser-Robinson gallery through July 7. An artist reception will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. June 20, including a gallery talk with J. Murray at 6 p.m. An artist, traveler and teacher, Murray made art and studied poetry with James Hearst. Also on view in the galleries: Collaborations: First Fifty 2019 will open to the public Tuesday through July 14. A public reception will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. There will be unique food and wine pairings and live music by the Bob Washut Trio at the reception. This event is free and open to the public. Blood drive set in New Hampton NEW HAMPTON The New Hampton Community Center, 112 E. Spring St., will host a blood drive from noon to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. For an appointment, go to lifeservebloodcenter.org or call (800) 287-4903. Medicare event set at MercyOne WATERLOO Welcome to Medicare, a free monthly seminar hosted by MercyOne and offered by the Senior Health Insurance Information Program, will meet at 5 p.m. June 5 at MercyOne Waterloo Medical Center, Classroom 2, 3421 W. Ninth St. It will cover Medicare Parts A and B benefits, Prescription Drug Benefits (Part D), Medicare Advantage Plans and Medicare Supplement Insurance. Register by May 29 by calling 272-2552. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 INDEPENDENCE A judge has turned down an Independence womans request for a new court-appointed attorney to defend her against charges she killed her ex-husband in 2017. Hillary Lee Hunziker, 33, said during a brief hearing in Buchanan County District Court on Tuesday that her current attorney is hard to get a hold of and she rarely sees her. Defense attorney Laura Gavigan told the court that they have since worked out plans to address communication. I think we should be able to make it work so when shes trying to contact me, I will make sure its at a time I will be available, Gavigan said. Judge Andrea Dryer told Hunziker that Gavigan had been working on the case and said her complaint fell short of a reason to appoint a new attorney. Hunzikers trial is currently scheduled for December. She is charged with first-degree murder. Authorities allege she fatally stabbed 39-year-old Jason Hunziker at his rural Independence home in November 2017 following an extended child custody dispute where she allegedly made up unfounded abuse claims. After the stabbing, she took their then 9-year-old son and had planned to flee Iowa, according to prosecutors. The case was delayed in 2018 while Hillary Hunziker underwent a psychiatric evaluation to determine competency. Love 3 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 2 WATERLOO Students in Columbus High Schools Advanced Placement European history class testify year after year to the power of actually seeing the battlefields, cemeteries and war memorials from the conflicts theyve studied. For the past 15 years, Gary Schnieders has led his classes to those sites across France and Belgium. That has included 242 students and dozens of chaperones. This year, the class traveled from March 25 to April 5. The 14 members all seniors who recently graduated talked about their experience earlier this month. The trip, focusing on World Wars I and II, was described as memorable and emotional by many of them. We had spent months preparing for this trip, said Maryann Schmadeke, through study and classroom discussion. It hits you differently when you see names on graves. It just really put it into perspective. We also visited a lot of battlefields and bunkers, added Madeleine Kapler. That really made the war real in my eyes. Being ready to absorb what they saw made the students reading and the class discussions preceding the trip essential. Were not so much here to learn the statistics on how many people died, where the battles were, said Eli Olmstead. Rather, their focus is the lessons that can be drawn from war with the idea of not continuing to make the mistakes that led to the conflicts. The lessons we learned here are once in a lifetime. Schnieders approach to teaching was important to what students learned, added Olmstead. Mr. Schnieders is really good at letting us lead the class. There are certain things that we wouldnt think about without Mr. Schnieders guiding us, said Kapler. Hes the most passionate teacher I have ever met in my life, said Jennifer Haag, noting he had helped her open up to other viewpoints. Ill state an opinion or an idea and Schnieders will ask me why. It made me realize how much we dont know. Kapler had a similar experience. Id say before this class I was pretty set in my opinions, she noted. But, thanks to the questions he has presented in class, I have hopped the fence numerous times. Each and every day we walk into this class and are challenged. Without Mr. Schnieders we would not have the same knowledge and background, said Trey Mudd. Through his class, students learned to think for ourselves. Dont go with the flow of what everyone else is saying, have your own thoughts. Parents who served as chaperones on this years trip also offered high praise for Schnieders, who has been teaching social studies at Columbus for more than 40 years since 1977. Chris Olmstead suggested that his classes help students develop critical thinking skills. They gain an understanding that decisions matter in little things as well as grand things, he said. Everything they do affects other people. Several parents said discipline is important in this and other classes Schnieders teaches. Its hard for students, but the parents noted their children benefited greatly from the experience. They respect him, said Jim Benda. He added that more kids should be exposed to the AP European history class. Mr. Schnieders teaches these kids study habits, which is priceless, said Jim Mudd Jr., recalling how difficult the first few weeks of freshman world history class was for his daughter, Olivia. Eventually, though, she was ready to meet his expectations earning Schnieders admiration from her father. This guy is amazing, said Jim Mudd. This guy is the best teacher Ive met in my life. Love 12 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly 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. WATERLOO Black Hawk has joined a growing list of counties and environmental groups calling for a moratorium on new factory livestock farms. The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a resolution asking for the governor and Iowa legislators to halt any new concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, from being built until the states water quality improves. Supervisors in 25 more of the states 99 counties have passed similar resolutions, which also call on the state to revise regulations governing CAFOs and give county governments more control over their location. I think its really a crisis situation, said Supervisor Chris Schwartz. If were going to get ahead of it we need to put the brakes on now until weve got better things in place. Schwartz said the master matrix program adopted by the state in 2002 to score whether CAFOs can be built is a joke that led to 97 percent of all applications being approved despite concerns raised by neighbors and county leaders. Its not the family farms that we all know and love, he said. Its these big, kind of corporate operations putting thousands and thousands of animals in small spaces. The resolution calls for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to adopt the moratorium on new CAFO construction permits until the states number of impaired waterways have dropped from about 750 to fewer than 100. Supervisor Dan Trelka said he fully supported the resolution. I knew nothing about this issue until Chris brought it forward, Trelka said. I researched it and I was disturbed by what I discovered. I think its an issue that basically snuck up on the state. Groups like the Sierra Club and Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement have been pushing for the state to address issues with CAFOs. They believe the facilities are detrimental to human health, while failed manure management plans harm the states lakes, rivers and streams. Iowas water quality gets worse every year, said resident Margaret Whiting. Its bad enough that were polluting our own rivers, but Iowan should also be ashamed that were the second-largest contributor of nitrates in the Gulf of Mexico. Whiting was one of 75 people who petitioned the Black Hawk County supervisors to pass this weeks resolution. State Sen. Eric Giddens, who works as program manager for the University of Northern Iowas Center for Energy and Environmental Education, also spoke in support of the moratorium and changes to the master matrix process. Giddens read from a January 2018 Iowa Policy Project report that noted Iowa has four times more CAFOs than it had in 2001. While water quality is a stated priority of Iowa lawmakers, livestock production is an important contributor to water degradation and goes unchecked, the report said. Manure leaks and spills are associated with fish kills, nitrate and ammonia pollution, antibiotics, hormones, bacterial contamination, algae blooms, water quality impairments, closed beaches and are a major contributor to the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Other Northeast Iowa counties passing resolutions against CAFO expansions include Mitchell, Howard, Winneshiek, Allamakee, Fayette, Floyd, Butler, Buchanan and Hardin. Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 BUCKINGHAM Despite a hard rain, Gov. Kim Reynolds came to Buckingham on Tuesday to sign two pieces of legislation to encourage young Iowans to become farmers. The bills offer farmers, ideally young farmers, incentives to stay in Iowa. One gives landowners tax credits for leasing ground to beginning farmers. The other provides a capital gains tax credit for sale of property used for farming. Cordt Holub, 26, pushed for the law and went to Des Moines during the legislative session to lobby legislators. Were in a trying time in agriculture where the hopes a little dim, Holub said. Reynolds signed the bills in a show room on Holubs family farm, surrounded by antique farm equipment and a large crowd that included farmers and legislators. We want to make sure that were doing all that we can to encourage our young people to support agriculture in the state of Iowa, Reynolds said. Weve been working on this for a couple years. Reynolds said she was excited to be surrounded by young farmers when she signed the bill. She gave out the pens she used to farmers who witnessed the signing. She has traveled around Iowa since the end of the legislative session to sign bills in front of groups they will impact. Earlier Tuesday she was in Decorah at Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. to sign a law that allows breweries to branch out into wine and distilling. Right now business and industry is growing and expanding, which is great for our economy, Reynolds said. There was a great turnout here. Holub hopes the bill persuades young people to stay in Iowa and maybe rent a neighbors ground, helping to give young farmers a good start. Holub has worked on his familys farm since he graduated high school and went to Hawkeye Community College. He worked in a Pfister Seeds program aimed at keeping young people on farms. That gave me a nice jump start to get back, Holub said. I have a lot of neighbors that have used this incentive and worked with their neighbors, and its helped many, both men and women. State Sen. Dan Zumbach attended the signing along with several other legislators. Zumbach noted the bill passed with bipartisan support. Its one of these what I call high-value bills, where its going to have a positive impact of getting the next generation in production agriculture, Zumbach said. People realize theres an exodus out of rural Iowa, and we need to find tools to keep folks in and bring them back to rural Iowa. Holub placed a quilt on the table where the bill was signed, provided by his aunt, Norma Neubauer. She brought two, one for the table and another in case any one at the event got cold. I look forward to continuing to work for young farmers and all the farmers in the area, Holub said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov held a meeting with newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia Luis Antonio Dimate Cardenas. The sides hailed the current state of relations between the two countries and stressed the importance of the student-teacher exchange in order to increase the people-to-people contacts. The Colombian diplomat noted that Bogota is keen to develop cooperation with Baku in all fields. He stressed that he would spare no efforts to expand the bilateral relations during his diplomatic mission. Luis Antonio Dimate Cardenas also presented a copy of his credentials to Elmar Mammadyarov, AzerTAc reported. WATERLOO The city is rolling out a proposal to put new restrictions on bicycles and their use on streets and trails. Waterloo Traffic Operations staff this week presented plans for a new bicycle ordinance to update and replace the regulations, which have been in place for an estimated 50 years. Its more for safety of bicyclists, because its been getting so popular on the trails and on the streets, said Traffic Operations Superintendent Sandie Greco. We feel that we need some laws and ordinances so people are safer. Much of the proposal mirrors state laws related to bike riding regulations and equipment. But the ordinance, which is expected to be brought to the City Council for a vote Tuesday, includes several more restrictive elements. If you look at the safety record for Waterloo for traffic, we probably have some of the safest intersections and streets in the state, said Traffic Engineer Mohammad Elahi. We decided lets do what we think is best (for Waterloo). A committee studying the bicycle ordinance has been meeting for many months and reviewing ordinances from other communities and model ordinances from state user groups. Some of the new rules include: Requiring a red safety flag at least 60 inches from the ground level to be attached to low-profile bicycles and trailers, such as child caddies, being towed by a bicycle. Adding definitions for electric assisted bicycles and establishing a 15-year minimum age limit for their operation. Requiring a front headlamp and a rear red light on bicycles operated between sunset and sunrise or when weather conditions make visibility poor. A rider can use a red body light to replace the need for a red light on the rear of the bike. Requiring bicycles passing a car to pass on the left. Requiring motorists passing bicyclists to be at least three feet away when speeds are less than 30 mph and at least five feet away when speeds are faster. The ordinance notes that violations may be punishable by a fine, which has yet to be set by the City Council. Parents or guardians of those under age 18 can be cited for knowingly allowing them to violate the ordinance. A full copy of the proposed ordinance is posed on The Courier website at www.wcfcourier.com. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ADAIR (AP) An early morning EF2 tornado Wednesday struck a farmstead in rural west-central Iowa, damaging several buildings and killing a 74-year-old woman, authorities said. According to KCCI-TV in Des Moines, the tornado hit around 1:30 a.m. with peak wind speeds of 120-130 mph. It traveled for almost 5 miles and destroyed a rural homestead just a couple of miles south of Interstate 80 near Adair. A damage survey team also found lesser damage to homes and buildings south of the hardest-hit area. The Adair County Sheriffs Office said Linda Lee Brownlee was killed during the storm. Her husband, 78-year-old Harold Brownlee, was flown to MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, where he remained in critical but stable condition Wednesday afternoon. Family members said in a statement: We greatly appreciate the thoughts and prayers from our friends and the community at this difficult time. At this time we request privacy, as we focus our energy on our fathers recovery and the remembrance of our stepmother. No other injuries were immediately reported. The National Weather Service said debris from the homestead landed on Interstate 80 and a tractor-trailer ended up in a ditch. Bob Kempf, emergency management coordinator for Adair and Guthrie counties, said there was a severe thunderstorm warning issued for the area overnight, but no tornado watch or warning was issued. National Weather Service officials said the tornado touched down during atypical weather conditions temperatures were in the mid-50s and an unusual time of day. Most severe storms develop in the afternoon. Less than 5% of tornadoes occur from midnight until 6 a.m., weather officials said. They also said tornadoes can strike without warning. Another tornado was spotted southeast of Anita and occurred about 25 minutes before the Adair tornado, the National Weather Service said. It demolished an old barn, tossing debris about 1/3 of a mile downstream. The remainder of the path was across a rural cropland with a total path length of just over a mile. The last time a tornado in Iowa caused a fatality was April 27, 2014, when an intermittent tornado tracked along a 46-mile stretch from Wapello to Johnson counties, killing two people. The tornado in Adair County was the first in that county since June 1953. Authorities said its a good practice to have an NOAA weather radio at all times in order to receive a warning. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 0 The For the People Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives (HR1) and was introduced in the Senate in March. The League of Women Voters of Iowa strongly believes that this act is needed to protect voting rights in Iowa. The For the People Act will improve and modernize our elections and put power back into the hands of the American people. The For the People Act is a bold, transformative set of reforms that will strengthen our democracy. It will restore voting rights to felons, limit gerrymandering and help with campaign finance reform. In Iowa we have 52,000 citizens who are unable to participate in elections because of felony convictions. Iowa and Kentucky are presently the only two states with such restrictions since Floridas citizens recently voted to restore voting rights for felons. Once an ex-felon has served their sentence, there is no good reason why that right should not be restored. Indeed, restoration of voting rights is credited with reducing recidivism and promoting public safety. Currently, in many states gerrymandering is used to create districts with an unfair advantage for one political party. The state of Iowas method of redistricting, in which the lines are drawn by the Legislative Services Agency and approved by the state Legislature, is considered a model for how to create congressional and state legislative districts. The For the People Act would make sure that such a type of fair process is used in all states. Campaign finance reform is a concern for Iowans as well as all political parties. Not only would the For the People Act introduce voluntary public financing for all campaigns, matching small donations at a 6:1 ratio, it would set stricter limits on foreign lobbying and require dark money organizations to disclose donations. It would also restructure the Federal Election Commission to reduce the current partisan gridlock. The power to advance this legislation lies in the hands of the Senate Finance Committee chairman, Iowas U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley. Grassley has made no secret of the fact that he does not support portions of the bill, but that should not prevent him from bringing it before his committee for a full and honest discussion of the problems and concerns it addresses. In the name of good governance, we urge every Iowan to contact Sen. Grassley and demand that he provide a hearing of the For the People Act. Mary Rae Bragg is currently president for League of Women Voters of Iowa. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 You know were in trouble when President Donald Trump looks like the adult in the White House. Starting on May 5, Trumps hawkish national security adviser, John Bolton, dramatically escalated pressure on Iran dispatching an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers, ordering up contingency plans to send 120,000 troops, warning against allegedly threatening behavior. Trump finally intervened, saying hes not interested in launching a new war in the Middle East. He sent Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo to reassure allies that he wants negotiations, not airstrikes. That shouldnt be a surprise. Trump campaigned for the presidency on a promise to end Americas long, costly wars. He enjoys thumping his chest remember when he warned North Korea of fire and fury like the world has never seen but the bluster is intended to jump-start negotiations, a pursuit at which Trump believes he has no peer. So it has been with Iran. After all the tough talk and menacing warships, Trumps basic demand of the ayatollahs was almost plaintive: Can we talk? What they should be doing is calling me up, the president said on May 9. We can make a deal, a fair deal. The mini-crisis with Iran wasnt the first time Boltons efforts to put the U.S. on a war footing has conflicted with Trumps preference for deal-making. That difference has produced a remarkable string of public disagreements between the president and his chief national security advisor. On North Korea, Bolton has argued that the United States will never convince Kim Jong Un to give up nuclear weapons, and that Trump should consider military strikes instead. Trump disagrees, and even removed Bolton briefly from his negotiating team. In Syria, after Islamic State lost its self-declared caliphate, Bolton said U.S. troops would stay in the country until the last Iranian went home. Trump overruled him and ordered the troops out. (He later relented, but still insists the troop commitment will be brief.) In Venezuela, Bolton was the administrations leading champion of a U.S.-backed coup attempt against the autocratic regime of Nicolas Maduro. When the coup collapsed, Trump was furious, reportedly raging that Bolton had misled him about the chances of success. In Iran, Bolton has long promoted regime change as his goal. Earlier this year, on the 40th anniversary of Irans revolution, he posted a taunting video message to the countrys leader: I dont think youll have many more anniversaries to enjoy. Thats not Trumps message. Were not looking to hurt Iran, the president told reporters. I want them to be strong and great. All those collisions raise a question: Why does Bolton still have his job? After last weeks war scare, Washingtons gossip mill went into overdrive. Insiders traded stories of Trumps annoyance with his national security advisor, especially over the perception that Bolton, not the president, was making key decisions. Officials insist that Boltons job is not in serious danger. In past similar instances, when Trump has decided to fire an aide, he has aired his frustration on Twitter and floated the names of possible replacements. That hasnt happened to Bolton yet. Instead, Trump has joked about his advisors hawkishness, making it sound as if he enjoys playing the good cop to Boltons bad cop. I actually temper John, which is pretty amazing, isnt it? he told reporters. I have John Bolton and I have other people that are a little more dovish than him. And ultimately I make the decision. In any case, Bolton isnt the root of the problem between the United States and Iran. The two countries have clashed since Islamic revolutionaries overthrew the U.S.-backed shah in 1979, stormed the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held 52 Americans hostage for more than a year. In the current round, the Trump administration accuses Iran of supporting militants in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. Iran accuses the White House of trying to destroy its economy and topple its leadership. Both sides are essentially correct. Trump raised tensions a year ago when he pulled out of the 2015 nuclear agreement and imposed stiff new economic sanctions, including a move to choke off Irans oil exports. But on May 2, when the White House threatened to punish China, India and six other countries unless they cut their Iranian oil imports to zero, that got Tehrans attention and raised fears that Iran might seek to retaliate through terrorist attacks or Iranian-backed militant groups. A week later, U.S. officials were alarmed by intelligence indicating that Iranian security forces had loaded short-range missiles onto vessels heading into the Persian Gulf. It was unclear whether Iran was preparing to strike an outside target or reacting defensively to what they saw as a growing U.S. threat. The two countries were falling into a dangerous spiral: reading each others actions as aggressive, but seeing their own responses as defensive. Thats a situation that makes accidental or inadvertent escalation more likely. For Trump, the solution is simple: direct negotiations with Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, much like the two summits he has held with North Koreas Kim. Im sure that Iran will want to talk soon, the president tweeted Thursday. So far, Irans supreme leader has refused to reopen the nuclear deal, the main issue Trump wants to discuss. His foreign minister, Mohammed Javad Zarif, says he has offered to engage in talks on other issues at a lower level, but the Americans havent replied. So there are no direct channels of communication between Washington and Tehran, another factor that makes it easy for each side to misinterpret the others moves. Trump likes to start crises as a way to force adversaries to talk. With Boltons help, hes succeeded at the first step. Now can he find a way to take step No. 2? Doyle McManus is a columnist for the Los Angeles Times. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 OLD AGE AND TREACHERY WILL OVERCOME YOUTH AND SKILL. And on the eighth day God said, "Okay, Murphy, you're in charge!" 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Foster Foundation will present the second edition of its annual On Cities Workshop with public debates in which practitioners working in different fields interrelated with the City will participate, including Luis Bettencourt, Celine DCruz, Ian Goldin, Rajeev Kathpalia, Francis Kere, Janice Perlman and Kenneth Rogoff. The second edition of the Norman Foster Foundation On Cities Workshop will take place on 27-31 May 2019, with the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies at the Fundacion Francisco Giner de los Rios, Madrid, Spain. The 2019 On Cities Workshop will focus on new opportunities that integrate emerging technologies with local information and processes of architecture and design. A distinguished group of specialists will engage with ten selected students from ten universities around the world who share a common interest in the subject. This years workshop mentor is Luis Bettencourt, Pritzker Director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States. "The world is urbanising fast. Most of this transformation, in terms of speed and scale, is occurring in Asia and Africa, where cities are struggling to accommodate and service hundreds of millions of people," stated workshop mentor Luis Bettencourt. "National and international sustainable development plans call for an unprecedented fast transformation, which must be understood in the context of cities and their neighbourhoods and promoted by new ways of thinking and acting." "This workshop will focus on new opportunities that integrate emerging technologies with local information and processes of architecture and design. A special challenge is to imagine scalable models of architecture and design that work along with vernacular forces in the built environment and can lead to fast and sustainable development in millions of neighbourhoods over the next decade." The Academic Body spans a wide range of practitioners working in different fields interrelated with the City, including Alfredo Brillembourg, Founder of Urban-Think Tank, Caracas, Venezuela / ETH Zurich, Switzerland; Celine DCruz, Founder member of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers and Slum Dwellers International, Mumbai, India; Ian Goldin, Founding Director of the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom; Rajeev Kathpalia, Co-founder of Vastu Shilpa Consultants, Ahmedabad, India; Francis Kere, Founder of Kere Architecture and Kere Foundation, Berlin, Germany; Janice Perlman, Founder and President of The Mega-Cities Project, New York, NY, United States; Kenneth Rogoff, Professor of Economics and Thomas D. Cabot Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States and Theresa Williamson, Founder and Director of Catalytic Communities, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After reviewing applications submitted by hundreds of candidates from around the world, the selection committee awarded ten scholarships to students from the following universities and institutions: Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa; Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya; Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh, India; Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States; National Institute of Territorial and Urban Planning, Rabat, Morocco; National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore; Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy; University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and University of the Republic, Montevideo, Uruguay. The On Cities Workshop will include seminars, lectures, one-to-one tutoring and architectural tours to learn more about the context of Madrid culminating in a five day workshop led by the Workshop mentor, Luis Bettencourt, Pritzker Director of the Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation, University of Chicago,Chicago, IL, United States. Public Debate Date and time: 28th May 2019 12:30 p.m.- 2.20 p.m. Venue: Fundacion Francisco Giner de los Rios Paseo del General Martinez Campos 14, 28010, Madrid, Spain With the participation of Luis Bettencourt, Celine DCruz, Ian Goldin, Rajeev Kathpalia, Francis Kere, Janice Perlman and Kenneth Rogof The Norman Foster Foundation promotes interdisciplinary thinking and research to help new generations anticipate the future. The Foundation has arranged a number of workshops and public debates until now. The Public Debates are free and open to the public, with a limited capacity, after registering via Eventbrite. All images courtesy of The Norman Foster Foundation > via Norman Foster Foundation The issue of journalist Fuad Abbasovs detention by officers of the Police Department of the Russian Interior Ministry of the Russian city of Khimki is under control of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia, the embassy said. On the instructions of Azerbaijani Ambassador Polad Bulbul oglu on May 20, the consular officers met with Abbasov in the temporary detention center for foreigners in the city of Korolev of the Moscow region. "The embassy is taking all necessary measures regarding this case, which has caused great public concern," the embassy said in a statement. Helen Santoro in Science: Plastic makes up nearly 70% of all ocean litter, putting countless aquatic species at risk. But there is a tiny bit of hopea teeny, tiny one to be precise: Scientists have discovered that microscopic marine microbes are eating away at the plastic, causing trash to slowly break down. To conduct the study, researchers collected weathered plastic from two different beaches in Chania, Greece. The litter had already been exposed to the sun and undergone chemical changes that caused it to become more brittle, all of which needs to happen before the microbes start to munch on the plastic. The pieces were either polyethylene, the most popular plastic and the one found in products such as grocery bags and shampoo bottles, or polystyrene, a hard plastic found in food packaging and electronics. The team immersed both in saltwater with either naturally occurring ocean microbes or engineered microbes that were enhanced with carbon-eating microbe strains and could survive solely off of the carbon in plastic. Scientists then analyzed changes in the materials over a period of 5 months. Both types of plastic lost a significant amount of weight after being exposed to the natural and engineered microbes, scientists reported in April in the Journal of Hazardous Materials . The microbes further changed the chemical makeup of the material, causing the polyethylenes weight to go down by 7% and the polystyrenes weight to go down by 11%. These findings may offer a new strategy to help combat ocean pollution: Deploy marine microbes to eat up the trash. However, researchers still need to measure how effective these microbes would be on a global scale. More here. U.S. Democratic politicians expressed skepticism and alarm after receiving closed-door briefings from key Trump administration officials about escalating tensions with Iran. The briefings were given by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, Chairman of Joint Chiefs General Joseph Dunford and an official from the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. Some House Democrats accused the administration officials of twisting intelligence to make the case for what they see as an aggressive response to any Iranian actions. "In my opinion, there was not any information there that pointed to any reason why we should be engaging in talk of war with Iran," a Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee, Representative Ruben Gallego said. Democrats also faulted Trumps administration for, as they put it, lacking a long-term plan to deal with Iran now that Washington has withdrawn from the nuclear agreement, Reuters reported. After speaking to lawmakers, Shanahan said the administration does not want the situation to escalate and that its actions to date had deterred attacks by Iran on U.S. forces. "This is about deterrence, not about war. Were not about going to war," he told reporters. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has appointed the lawyer of businessman Igor Kolomoyskiy, Andrey Bogdan, the head of presidential administration, the Presidents press service reported. "To appoint Andrey Bogdan the head of the administration of the Ukrainian President," the decree reads. Previously, Bogdan served as Zelenskys aide on legal issues, TASS reported. Bogdan was an adviser to Kolomoisky when he was a regional governor in 2014. He served as one of Kolomoiskys lawyers in the tycoons running legal battle with the government over PrivatBank, which Kolomoisky owned until 2016. For Subscribers Top prep performers: Roncalli's May boosts Cavaliers to two wins Maddox May, of Roncalli, recorded a double-double in a win against Northwestern, with 15 points and 16 rebounds. See who else stood out over the week. AUSTIN, Texas Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has signaled he will sign legislation that Republicans say is a defense of Chick-fil-A and religious freedom, but gay lawmakers sometimes tearfully railed against it on the House floor as a license to discriminate. The bill, given final approval Tuesday in the Texas House, was fast-tracked in the GOP-controlled Legislature in response to the San Antonio City Council stopping Chick-fil-A from opening a location in the airport of the nations seventh-largest city. Some council members said they were taking a stand over the fast-food companys values: Chick-fil-As owners have donated to anti-LGBT causes, and councilmember Roberto Trevino said in March that the city does not have room in our public facilities for a business with a legacy of anti-LGBTQ behavior. But 80 miles north in the Texas Capitol, Republicans swiftly responded with a bill that would prohibit cities from taking adverse action against an individual based on contributions to religious organizations. Opponents slammed the measure, which is likely to reach Abbotts desk before the legislative session ends Monday, as duplicating existing religious freedom protection and said it would only stoke discrimination against the LGBT community. The bill reignited battles over divisive social issues that Texas Republicans have largely sought to avoid after an unusually rough election year for them in 2018. Two years ago, the Legislature was upended by a bathroom bill targeting transgender people, and LGBT lawmakers said during emotional floor speeches Monday that theyve had enough. Im tired of this, Democratic state Rep. Celia Israel, who spoke at length about the impact of such measures on LGBT youth. Its been cloaked in religious freedom but the genesis and the nexus of this bill is in hatred. Republicans pushed back, saying the bill contained no discriminatory language. Abbott teased in a tweet that he would sign the legislation. Should any city council be able to refuse me as a vendor in their city simply because I make donations to my church, which holds a biblical view of marriage? Republican state Rep. Matt Schaefer said. When another lawmaker said the First Amendment would already protect him, Schaefer shot back: Thats not what happened to Chick-fil-A. In March, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he would investigate the San Antonios decision to deny Chick-fil-A a location. But in a late change, the bill now advancing to Abbott stripped a provision that would have allowed the attorney general to file lawsuits enforcing the law. ___ Follow Paul J. Weber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/pauljweber WASHINGTON President Donald Trump nominated an aerospace executive and former ambassador to Finland to be the next secretary of the Air Force on Tuesday. Trump said in a tweet that he has chosen Barbara Barrett, former chairman of The Aerospace Corporation, to replace Heather Wilson when she steps down at the end of this month after two years on the job. Barrett, 68, of Arizona, served as ambassador to Finland in 2008 during President George W. Bushs administration. She also previously served as deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration and was vice chairman of the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board. This is the second time shes been picked for the Air Force job. In 2003, Bush announced he intended to nominate Barrett to replace John Roche, who was to become Army secretary. But when Roches nomination was blocked in the Senate, he went back to his Air Force post, so Barrett was never confirmed for the position. If confirmed by the Senate, Barrett would step into the center of the debate over the launch of a new U.S. Space Force, a Trump proposal that has hit widespread resistance on Capitol Hill. A trained civilian pilot who also was certified for space travel, Barrett was mentioned last year as a possible replacement for Sen. Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican, who resigned his Senate seat. The appointment, however, went to Martha McSally, a U.S. House member who had run unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 2018. McSally, a former fighter pilot, tweeted her congratulations to Barrett, thanking Trump for taking my recommendation on this important role and selecting an incredibly talented leader as next AF Secretary! Barrett holds the distinction of being the first Republican woman to run for governor in Arizona. In 1994, she challenged the incumbent Republican, Fife Symington, in the primary and spent more than $1 million of her own money, but was soundly defeated. Barrett, an attorney, serves on a number of boards, including for RAND Corporation, the Smithsonian Institution and the California Institute of Technology, and shes held a number of senior executive positions for Fortune 500 companies. She and her husband, former CEO of Intel Corp., own Triple Creek Ranch, a luxury resort in Montanas Bitterroot Valley. Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webbers adviser on education a volunteer position on Tuesday announced her intention to run for school board in District 1. Carmen Gonzales, a product of Santa Fe Public Schools who spent more than 40 years as an educator, said in a news release that she wants to give back to the community and has time to do so now that shes retired. I have spent my entire career in education, and I understand the needs of Santa Fes families. For Santa Fes School Board, I will help create equal opportunities for all of Santa Fes children, she said. Gonzales said her goals include promoting and expanding early childhood education and pre-K programs, helping prepare students for the global job market, and making sure that all students have an the opportunity to succeed regardless of race, language, gender and orientation. She also said she would demonstrate integrity, transparency and positivity and be fiscally responsible with tax dollars. Gonzales will be running for the seat currently occupied by Steven Carrillo, who has represented the east-side and downtown district since 2012. Carrillo said Tuesday that he would put off a decision about running for reelection for another few weeks after the school board was finished with the budget and addressed Superintendent Veronica Garcias evaluation and contract. Schools located in District 1 are Acequia Madre, Atalaya, Chaparral, E.J. Martinez and Wood Gormley elementary schools and Santa Fe High School. Gonzales was named to the volunteer position of advisor on education by Mayor Webber in December. He said then that her responsibilities would involve identifying opportunities where the city and school district can work more closely and collaboratively. We need the City and the School District to work together on behalf of our kids and families, the mayor said at the time. Having Carmen serve as the education advisor to the Mayor will improve that working relationship and deliver better results for Santa Fe. A SFHS graduate, Gonzales got a doctorate degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of New Mexico, according to the news release. During her professional career, she was a K-8 teacher and a university faculty member and administrator, including vice president for student success from New Mexico State University. She held that same title at Santa Fe Community college when she retired in October 2017. Authorities have arrested a suspect who they say escaped a State Police officer last week days after allegedly shooting a man in Northwest Albuquerque. Daniel Franco, 40, was taken into custody Tuesday evening after a standoff with New Mexico State Police at a home in the 1300 block of Los Tomases NW, near Mountain and Sixth. Authorities had been searching for Franco since last Thursday, when State Police say he was shot at by one of their officers during a short pursuit but escaped after the officer collided with a bystanders vehicle. Two days before the shooting, police say Franco shot at a man several times striking him in the leg as another suspect sicced a dog on him in front of a home in the 1300 block of Los Tomases NW. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Albuquerque police responded to a fight at the home around 6 p.m. and found a man who had been shot in the leg and attacked by a dog. Police say the man was walking his dog in the neighborhood when a truck pulled up and a man in the bed of the truck later identified as Daniel Franco threatened the man with two guns. The man told police that a little later, he got into a quarrel with another man later identified as Nicholas Franco who was restraining a dog in front of the home. Police say Nicholas Franco let the dog go, and it attacked the man, before he pulled the dog back as an unidentified woman called someone and said, Hes here. The man told police Daniel Franco then rode up on a bicycle and shot at him several times, hitting him in the leg, as he tried to hide around parked cars. Police say that during the gunfire, Nicholas Franco allegedly yelled to Daniel: Finish him! Now is your chance! Well drag his body into the yard! The man told police that officers were beginning to arrive and Daniel Franco fled as Nicholas Franco let the dog attack him again. He said that he didnt know the mens names but that they had shot at him in the past and the neighbors all feared them because they were known for violence and drug trafficking. Police say the man identified Nicholas Franco in a photo array and immediately recognized Daniel Francos photo on the news after the State Police shooting. Both Daniel Franco and Nicholas Franco are charged with assault with intent to commit a violent felony, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily harm and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The Kremlin considers the U.S. demands that Turkey give up the purchase of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems as unacceptable and views the deal as a fait accompli, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He thus commented on the reports of CNBC TV Channel that Washington had given Ankara two weeks to give up the S-400 deal. "In general, we perceive ultimatums extremely negatively and consider such ultimatums as unacceptable," TASS cited the spokesman as saying. Peskov noted that the Kremlin proceeds from the fact that the Turkish leadership, including Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has stated on many occasions that this deal is a fait accompli. "We proceed from this and this deal is being implemented," the Kremlin spokesman concluded. Around 9:45 a.m. Feb. 14, a 21-year-old woman who had been in the country since 2000 went to Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court to provide proof she had completed classes related to a recent speeding ticket. Instead, she was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and put into the agencys custody in Sierra Blanca, Texas. This story is one of 33 vignettes provided by attorneys in letters asking the New Mexico Supreme Court to change the rules permitting such arrests. Hundreds of lawyers, law firms, advocacy organizations and five retired members of the state Supreme Court signed a petition in August asking the court to require federal immigration agents to have a judicial warrant based on probable cause before they arrest undocumented immigrants in or around New Mexican courthouses. The petition also asked for a procedure to be put in place for attorneys to ask for a writ of protection for their clients so they wont be arrested by ICE. Last month, the Supreme Court denied their request, saying, After reviewing the current circumstances in courts around the state, it was determined that public access to New Mexico courts is being provided as required by law and there will not be an adoption of new statewide rules to address writs of protection and civil arrests in courthouses. On Tuesday, advocates with New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice and Enlace Comunitario, as well as attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union and the Law Office of the Public Defender, gathered for a news conference in front of Metropolitan Court to respond to the courts decision. Were not just talking about criminal defendants, and were not just talking about criminal cases, said Ben Baur, the chief public defender. You might have somebody who is a witness; you might have someone who is an alleged victim, and they are less likely to come to court if there is a possibility they are going to be picked up and taken away. A spokeswoman for ICE did not respond to emailed questions, but the agency has provided a memo in the past saying that federal, state and local law enforcement throughout the country arrest people inside courthouses because doing so can reduce the threat to public safety, because those people have already been screened by security. However, the memo discouraged agents from confronting suspected undocumented immigrants in places like family court or small-claims court. In September, in a move that drew praise from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Metropolitan Court implemented a policy that said law enforcement officers cant arrest anyone in the courthouse unless they have a court order or judicial arrest warrant or if its necessary for immediate public safety. Despite this order, attorneys for the ACLU documented the cases of at least five people who had been arrested in or around the court in the ensuing months, according to letters they sent to the New Mexico Supreme Court. The most recent occurred on March 21 and April 1. In response to emailed questions, Robert Padilla, court executive officer for Metropolitan Court, said the court is unaware of any arrests by ICE agents in the past two months. Metro Courts Courthouse Access Policy has been widely shared with law enforcement, and the Court is committed that courts of law should remain open and accessible to the public, Padilla wrote in an email. As the busiest courthouse in the state, we continue to work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that we have an open and safe environment for the nearly 7,000 people who visit the court each week. WASHINGTON Republican James G. Blaine (1830-93) was a House speaker, senator and two-time secretary of state, but he is remembered, if at all, for this doggerel: Blaine, Blaine, James G. Blaine/the continental liar from the state of Maine. His lasting legacy, however, is even more disreputable than his involvement in unsavory business deals while in elective office: the Blaine Amendments that have been in 37 state constitutions. Soon, the Supreme Court will decide whether to hear an appeal from Montanas high court. Accepting the Montana case will enable the Supreme Court to end the conflict among federal circuit courts of appeal and state courts of last resort. In the 19th centurys second half, fear and loathing of Catholic immigrants were ubiquitous and forthright. In 1854, Massachusetts governor and all but three members of the Legislature were members of the anti-Catholic Know Nothing party, and the Legislatures Nunnery Committee searched for underground dungeons in convents. Protestantism was effectively a semi-established religion, widely taught in public schools with hymn singing and readings from the King James Version of the Bible. And many states enacted constitutional provisions such as Montanas, adopted in 1889 and readopted in the 1972 constitution: There shall be no direct or indirect appropriation or payment of public monies for any sectarian purpose or to aid any institution controlled in whole or in part by any church, sect, or denomination. In 2015, in order to provide parental and student choice in education from grades K-12, Montanas Legislature enacted legislation providing a small tax credit of up to $150 for individuals or businesses donating to private, nonprofit scholarship organizations that award scholarships for children to attend private schools, a program similar to those in 18 states. However, Montanas Department of Revenue quickly issued a rule forbidding recipients from using their scholarships at religious schools. The department said this was required by the Blaine Amendment quoted above. Montanas Supreme Court has upheld this rule, which cripples an organization called Big Sky Scholarships. This organization formed to receive and distribute funding targeted exclusively to low-income families and children with disabilities. One of the petitioners seeking a U.S. Supreme Court hearing is Kendra Espinoza, an office assistant and single mother who took a second job, as a janitor, to help pay her two daughters tuition at a nondenominational not a Catholic school. Without a Big Sky scholarship, her daughters will likely have to leave their school. As might the adopted daughter, from China, of another petitioner, Jeri Anderson. The petitioners argued in Montanas Supreme Court that the Blaine Amendment is not applicable to Big Sky scholarships because it applies only to public funds, not private donations, which are not transformed into public funds merely because they like most charitable contributions are incentivized by a provision of the tax code. Furthermore, the money comes to religious schools not as aid from a state institution, but from parents choosing those schools from a number of options. They also argued that making religious schools ineligible for funds such as Big Skys would implicate both the U.S. Constitutions guarantee of the free exercise of religion and the equal protection of the laws. For 24 years, lower courts, federal and state, have differed concerning in the language of the Institute for Justices brief on the petitioners behalf whether the government may bar religious options from otherwise neutral and generally available student-aid programs. Perhaps the court should not take cognizance of this fact, but the rest of us should: Aggressive secularists, and persons bent on defending public education from competition, favor Blaine Amendments. In a 2000 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court noted that in Blaine Amendments such as Montanas, it was an open secret that sectarian was code for Catholic. So, beyond the deceptively bland text of Montanas Blaine Amendment, the Supreme Court should again recognize the context of its origin the 19th centurys pervasive the courts 2000 language anti-Catholic animus that continues inflicting harm in the 21st century. Blaine came within 1,047 votes of becoming president when, in 1884, hoping his anti-Catholicism would propel him to victory, he lost New York by that margin to Grover Cleveland. A large multiple of that number of New Yorks Irish and other Catholic immigrants had become incensed when a prominent Protestant minister, speaking at a rally in New York City with Blaine present, said the Democratic Partys antecedents were rum, Romanism and rebellion. Blaine paid a steep price for his bigotry. More than 13 decades later, schoolchildren in Montana and elsewhere should not have to pay for it. Email georgewill@washpost.com. 2019, Washington Post Writers Group. It wont cure the patient. Not even close. But an additional $60 million directed to health care providers in New Mexicos Medicaid program is definitely a long overdue shot in the arm. Using $13 million approved by the Legislature and matched by nearly $47 million in federal funds, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration plans to increase Medicaid reimbursement rates to health providers for the first time in more than a decade. While the states Medicaid program is incredibly generous to the 43% of the states population thats on it recipients have virtually unlimited services, no co-pays and name-brand drugs medical providers have been taking it on the chin. Their reimbursement rates for services are far below those of private health insurance and even Medicare. Lujan Grisham and Health Secretary Dr. David Scrase hope that boosting Medicaid reimbursement from 70% to 90% of what Medicare pays is one important step toward addressing New Mexicos chronic physician shortage. One national recruiting firm has ranked the state 48th in the nation for physician access, and to compound the problem the states physician workforce is among the oldest in the nation with many doctors headed toward retirement. The governor says the increased Medicaid reimbursement rates strengthen our partnership with key health care providers, adding these efforts will help us recruit and retain essential medical professionals. Following on Journal investigative reporter Colleen Heilds series that detailed a health care system struggling to meet patient needs, the Lujan Grisham administration pitched the Legislature on additional resources. It found a receptive audience. Pretty much every legislator I talked to on Senate and House finance committees and every other place I went had a story to tell about a provider in their district who was having trouble making ends meet, particularly those providers who had a high percentage of Medicaid patients, Scrase said. It doesnt hurt that the state is flush with cash generated by oil and gas. Of course an additional $60 million wont bring providers up to even. Medicaid is a $5 billion-plus federal-state endeavor in New Mexico. That a massive program, where government dictates both benefits and what it will pay, is a financial disaster and needs propping up should be no surprise to anyone. The systemic issues are huge. Providers also lose money on Medicare, and that, coupled with the Medicaid red ink, means people with private and employer-provided health insurance have to subsidize the system. So the insurance benefits at your job cost more in premiums and likely have higher deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums every year. In the end, the best answer is more people working at good-paying jobs who can participate in the health care market rather than rely on Medicaid. But thats a long-term goal, and one that will be wound into the upcoming health care debate in the next election cycle. For now, the Lujan Grisham administration has taken a meaningful step, one long overdue for health care providers. 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. Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE A recent study casts serious doubts on the potential success of any of the options considered by the U.S. Department of Energy for meeting mandates on the manufacture of plutonium cores for nuclear weapons most of them involving Los Alamos National Laboratory. The congressionally funded study also says that it would be very high risk to try to meet the nations ambitious goals for making bomb pits by installing more equipment and adding an extra work shift for a production surge at LANLs existing plutonium facility, an idea that has been discussed. Some of the risks cited in the report include whether there is the ability to stage, store and ship waste, and the transport/transfer complexity of radioactive material. The study goes further and questions the overall plan to ramp up U.S. pit production, which is estimated to cost $14 billion to $28 billion, saying that eventual success of the strategy to reconstitute plutonium pit production is far from certain. DOEs National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), which oversees the nations nuclear weapons labs, is under a mandate from Congress and the Department of Defense to make 80 pits a year by 2030 as part of a massive plan to modernize the nations nuclear weapons arsenal. The U.S. made many pits during the Cold War, with thousands still in storage, but only a handful have been produced in recent decades, all of them at Los Alamos. Considering the scale and complexity of the project, there is no historical precedent within NNSA to support the idea that even initial operations can be started by 2030, much less full rate production, says the study by the nonprofit Institute for Defense Analysis. It notes that similar projects such as plans to add a big box facility at Los Alamos for plutonium work whose estimated cost ballooned from $800 million to about $6 billion were eventually dropped and that those that were completed all experienced substantial cost growth and schedule slippage. NNSA and members of Congress have been at odds over the agencys plan to divide pit production between LANL which is tasked with ramping up to 30 pits a year and the Savannah River Site in South Carolina, where a huge facility built for another purpose would be converted to making the rest of the cores. U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich, both New Mexico Democrats who want all pit-making to remain at Los Alamos, got legislation passed that funded a review of NNSAs two-site plan. In April, NNSA issued a news release but not the study itself that said the Institute for Defense Analysis report showed that all options considered had cost and schedule risks but concluded that NNSAs two-site plan is potentially achievable. An executive summary of the report that leaked over the past week is more directly negative. The summary, provided to the Journal last week by the Albuquerque-based Los Alamos Study Group, says no option under consideration can be expected to meet the 2030 deadline for 80 pits a year. The Department of Defense should evaluate how to best respond to this requirement shortfall, the summary says. Greg Mello of the Study Group said the report is bad news for the Trump administrations plans for new nuclear warheads. Long-time congressional analysts remind us: nuclear operations cannot be rushed and must be pursued deliberately at every stage, or setbacks and accidents will derail projects, Mello said in an e-mail. Asked for comment, an NNSA spokesman referred to the April news release about the study. In it, NNSA administrator Lisa E. Gordon-Hagerty said, Were fully committed to meeting military requirements and our two-pronged approach at Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Savannah River Site represents the best way to manage the cost, schedule and risk of producing no fewer than 80 pits a year. Jay Coghlan of Nuclear Watch New Mexico said the report makes clear that DOE is blowing smoke when it says that it will produce 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030 for new unneeded nuclear weapons. They need to slow down, do it right and for sure do it safely. Above all the feds must concretely demonstrate a real need for expanded pit production before they fleece the American taxpayer of tens of billions of dollars. New Mexicos senators continue to push for LANL to get the pit work. I will be looking closely at this issue given we now know the lifecycle cost will exceed the cost of other options considered by at least $14 billion, which is double the estimate for Los Alamos, Heinrich said in recent comments at a congressional committee meeting provided by his staff. Udall said, Its clear that splitting pit production is a plan with a political rationale that raises serious financial, safety and national security questions, and that is the exact opposite way that DOE should be making nuclear security decisions. An NNSA spokesman said that a two-site plan, despite possible higher costs, represents a cost-benefit consideration for NNSA to ensure resiliency in the capabilities needed for pit production. Resiliency ensures that an interruption in production at a single site does not derail pit production with cascading consequences in terms of costs, schedule, and ultimately NNSAs ability to meet DoD requirements. She wants you to know that he wasnt like that. That he wasnt cruel or crazy or criminal. That the man she knew was a good man, a good father, a good husband. Funny. Smart. Kind. That even the way he chose to kill himself showed that he remained methodical and mindful of the safety of others. That he was loved, but, yes, that love was not enough to save him. Crystal Shewmake had been distressed by the way her husband, Gregory Shewmake, was portrayed in news accounts after he killed himself Feb. 4 by detonating an explosive behind a trash bin near Central and Coors NW. They made him sound like a criminal on the streets, she said. I was very angry reading that. She wasnt ready to talk about that when my Journal colleague tried to interview her shortly after his death. It was too soon, the shock too new. It still is. Im still going through the process, she said. It still doesnt feel real. But its important, she said, for people not to see him the way she suspects they do. So she talks. She met him 8 years ago when he was a tall, blue-eyed Air Force staff sergeant stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base and she was a single mother of a toddler. He was funny, charming. He asked her to dance. He called her several times for a date. Several times she declined, certain that when she told him she had a child hed run off. But he already knew. He had seen the little girls photo on Crystals phone. And he hadnt run off. Six months after she finally agreed to go out, they were married. That was May 2011. By then, Greg had served in the Air Force for five years, including two deployments to the Middle East. After a sixth and final year in 2012, he left the military and moved his new family to Chicago near his hometown of Kenosha, Wis. We were going to start our lives out there, Crystal said. He wanted to pursue engineering or mechanics. He could build anything. He was all-around smart. He was my Google. Custody issues involving Crystals daughter forced her to return to Albuquerque without Greg. For three years they lived apart, visiting each other when they could. Being without her and without the structure the Air Force had provided took a toll on Greg. It unmoored him, tossed him back into the battle with depression and anxiety and the substance abuse he had fought since high school. Again and again, he was able to beat back the demons of heroin. He went into rehab, fought his way back in time to be with Crystal in Albuquerque for the birth of their son. Back in Albuquerque, he sought help through the Veterans Health Administration, while Crystal started attending Nar-Anon, a 12-step group for friends and family members dealing with a loved ones addiction. I would be mixed with anger, but I didnt lash out at him, she said. I was willing to go through life with him, to help him. For much of their marriage, that life was good, she said. He began a successful mechanic business and later opened a locksmith business instead. And though court records indicate Greg was arrested a couple of times in 2016 and 2017 on drug possession and property crime charges, Crystal insisted that at least one of those charges was bogus and based partly on a detective misrepresenting something she had said. Even at his worst, he was still someone she could depend on, she said. He did so much for me and the kids, she said. He took care of us. Their last year together was a good one, she said. They were closer than they had ever been happier than they had ever been, she said. Perhaps that was the problem. On the morning of Feb. 4, he told Crystal he wasnt feeling well, so she took the family car to drop the kids at school and go to work. Hours later, he walked six minutes from their home to a trash bin surrounded on three sides by walls and located a safe distance away from the back end of a Fallas Paredes Discount Store at Coors and Central NW. It was a safe place, she said, to blow himself up. He knew what he was doing, she said. The explosion shook businesses and homes up to two miles away, blackened and dented the trash bin and tore apart the walls that surrounded it. It almost surely killed Greg instantly. He was 32. He left behind two letters one for Crystal, the other for whoever would find what remained of him. The latter was to make clear that he had intended to take his life, she said. The letter to her, she said, thanked her for giving him a wonderful life so wonderful that he could not bear for it to be diminished again by his addiction. He couldnt put her through that again. She was better off without him. The kids were young enough to get over him. He was wrong about all of that, she said. I still believe he would have overcome his addiction in time, she said. I still believe he was a good man and that we needed him. She hopes that you might believe that now, too. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. Copyright 2019 Albuquerque Journal Public Service Company of New Mexico is trying again to get its case on a new transmission line reheard by state regulators, who want to charge Facebook nearly half the cost of the $85 million project. The company filed a motion late Tuesday afternoon asking the Public Regulation Commission to use its authority to reopen the case record for PNM to enter new evidence showing the line would serve all utility customers, not just Facebook and wholesale customers. The PRC said in mid-April that the utility could not charge general ratepayers anything for building the transmission line, based on testimony of one PNM executive during hearings in February. That executive had said the line would serve only Facebook by carrying electricity from a new wind farm near Encino to the tech giants data center in Los Lunas, as well as wholesale customers who sell to markets outside the state. But PNM later revised that statement, calling the transmission line a network upgrade that benefits all customers. It asked the commission to reconsider its decision to bill Facebook $39 million for the project and wholesale operators for the rest and instead allow costs to be shared equally among all customers. Last week, however, the PRC unanimously rejected PNMs request because it did not explicitly ask to reopen the case record for new evidence to be considered. That meant the PRC had to still rely on the single PNM executives February testimony that the line would only serve Facebook, according to commissioners. PNMs new filing explicitly asks the PRC to reopen the case record to consider new evidence regarding a proposed 140-megawatt wind farm that the utility is negotiating with Avangrid Renewables, which would rely on the transmission line now under dispute to deliver electricity to customers. PNM says it needs that new wind farm to meet renewable energy mandates under the states new Energy Transition Act, which requires public utilities to get all electricity from renewable and carbon-free resources by 2045. The new wind farm will benefit all customers, said PNM spokesman Ray Sandoval. We have asked the commission to consider this new evidence on an expedited time frame to lock in time-sensitive pricing (of the project), Sandoval said in an email to the Journal. If PNM can complete negotiations with Avangrid subsidiary La Joya Wind LLC, in the next few weeks, the proposed wind farm, called La Joya II, would become the lowest-cost renewable energy resource on PNMs system, according Thomas Fallgren, the utilitys vice president for generation. The utility did not reveal the wind farms price, but it said the regulatory dispute over the new transmission line, known as the BB2 project, has impeded a final agreement between PNM and Avangrid. Time is of the essence on this matter as the very favorable PPA (power purchase agreement) pricing is conditioned on La Joya Wind being able to order the necessary equipment for the La Joya II facility in the coming days, Fallgren said in an affidavit to the PRC submitted along with PNMs motion on Tuesday to reopen the case. La Joya II would be built 18 miles east of Estancia, near where Avangrid is now constructing the 166-megawatt wind farm called La Joya I. That wind farm is being built primarily to supply Facebooks data center in Los Lunas, with the electricity transported partly through the planned BB2 line. If PNM can conclude negotiations with Avangrid, it will file for La Joya II approval with the PRC in June for the wind farm to begin operating by the end of 2020. If the BB2 dispute is not resolved, it could jeopardize La Joya II and other future renewable-energy projects, because new transmission capacity is critical to build more wind farms on New Mexicos gusty eastern plains, Fallgren said. The BB2 project is an extremely important addition to PNMs overall transmission system because it will allow PNM to add additional wind generating resources to its resource portfolio, Fallgren said in his affidavit. The uncertainties created by the direct allocation of the BB2 project costs to (Facebook) place the development of additional renewable resources in New Mexico at risk. PNM is asking the commission to schedule an expedited hearing on or before June 6 and then modify its April decision immediately afterward based on the new evidence presented. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump abruptly stalked out of a White House meeting with congressional leaders Wednesday, flatly declaring he would no longer work with Democrats unless they drop all investigations in the aftermath of the special counsels Trump-Russia report. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it all very, very, very strange and said she was praying for Trump and the nation. Trump tweeted his thanks for her prayers but said he would not proceed down two tracks investigation and legislation. Democrats said his ultimatum seemed scripted, with signs declaring his innocence already prepared for his outdoor remarks that followed. Yet Trumps unease with congressional oversight and talk of what he called the i-word impeachment now threatens to deprive him of legislative accomplishments for the remainder of his term. The scene playing out live on television was reminiscent of earlier ones at the White House, including during the federal government shutdown, when Trump walked out on Democrats. While this standoff could benefit him politically in the short term, with his tough talk stirring up supporters, it leaves his trade deals, a new budget and other goals in jeopardy as he heads into a re-election campaign. Democrats called it another Trump temper tantrum. I want to do infrastructure, Trump said he told Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, noting the scheduled topic of the meeting. But you know what? We cant do it under these circumstances, he said he told them. So get these phony investigations over. Without ever shaking anyones hand, or even taking a seat, Trump turned and left the three-minute meeting. He strode to the Rose Garden where reporters and TV cameras had been assembled and proceeded to assail the Democrats, particularly Pelosi for her comment earlier in the morning on Capitol Hill that she believed the president was engaged in a cover-up of the Russia probe. I dont do cover-ups, Trump fumed. On Twitter late Wednesday, Trump denied Pelosis claim that he had a temper tantrum for us all to see. I was purposely very polite and calm, much as I was minutes later with the press in the Rose Garden, he tweeted. Can be easily proven. It is all such a lie! On Capitol Hill, Pelosi said Trump just took a pass on working on national infrastructure problems. Flanked by Schumer and other House and Senate leaders, Pelosi said the Democrats had gone to the White House to give this president the opportunity to have a signature infrastructure initiative. The meeting had been set weeks ago, after Trump and the Democratic leaders agreed to talk further about a possible $2 trillion infrastructure proposal. Democrats have been working with the presidents daughter Ivanka, and Trump was due to provide his ideas on how to pay for it. But he told them he couldnt engage on infrastructure because Pelosi said something terrible, according to an administration official and another person familiar with what happened in the room. Democrats said they doubted he actually was ever going to put forward a plan. Schumer who brought his own 35-page proposal to the meeting said that when Trump was forced to say how he would pay for it he had to run away. What started as a challenging day for Pelosi as she tries to tamp down growing calls for an impeachment inquiry swiftly turned, with the attention going back on the president. Even some Republicans noted the shift. In the end weve got work to do, said Sen. John Cornyn, who called the meeting dramatic. And I think the best thing we could do for the people we work for is to try to make progress where we can. Earlier Wednesday, House Democrats had convened for a closed-door meeting amid Trumps stonewalling of their investigators, as a growing number of the partys lawmakers say they want to open an impeachment inquiry. They say its not necessarily aimed at removing the president from office but to bolster their position in court against his blocking their probes with broad claims of immunity. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York spoke up at the meeting, and some two dozen Democrats have signed on to the idea. With her leadership team, Pelosi, who has resisted pressure to impeach, suggested patience. She pointed rank-and-file Democrats toward the legal battles that she said have already found success i n forcing Trump to comply with investigations. We do believe its important to follow the facts, Pelosi told reporters afterward. We believe that no one is above the law, including the president of the United States, and we believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up. A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the White House cannot block subpoenas for Trumps financial records from Deutsche Bank, which has lent his real estate company millions of dollars. On Monday a federal judge also ruled against Trump in a separate financial records dispute with Congress, though his team filed a notice of appeal that is expected to keep the court battles running for months. Pelosi said the court victories were no surprise. The Democrats leaving that Capitol meeting appeared to be taking hers words into consideration, even as many say the march to impeach becomes more inevitable. Tennessee Rep. Steve Cohen, who called for the impeachment inquiry on Tuesday, said he could see both sides. Of leaders reluctance, Cohen said its a political concern rather than an actual constitutional one. Rep. Katie Hill, a freshman from a California swing district, said she is undecided on starting an impeachment inquiry but wants to let the court action play out. The more Trump defies us, the more that its becoming an inevitability, she said. But she doesnt think the Democratic caucus is there yet. Pelosi faces her own political calculations amid the push-pull of impeachment. While Democrats have a majority in the House, and would likely find support for starting impeachment proceedings, it could be a tighter vote than the 235-197 margin suggests. Many lawmakers come from relatively conservative districts where Trump also has support. Democrats have long said they can work on two tracks conducting oversight and legislating on their agenda of lower health care costs and infrastructure investment. But Trump says they cant do both. They can continue the Witch Hunt or get back to work, Trump tweeted. Pelosi showed no signs of backing down. The fact is, in plain sight, in the public domain, this president is obstructing justice and hes engaged in a cover-up, and that could be impeachable, Pelosi said during an event later at the liberal Center for American Progress. As they say, the cover-up is frequently worse than the crime, she said. She reminded that the third article of impeachment against President Richard Nixon was his obstruction of Congress. ___ Associated Press writers Laurie Kellman, Alan Fram, Matthew Daly, Michael Balsamo, Jonathan Lemire, Eric Tucker and Mark Sherman contributed to this report. ALEXANDRIA, Va. John Walker Lindh, the young Californian who became known as the American Taliban after he was captured by U.S. forces in the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, is set to go free after nearly two decades in prison. But conditions imposed recently on Lindhs release, slated for Thursday, make clear that authorities remain concerned about the threat he could pose once free. Lindh, now 38, converted to Islam as a teenager after seeing the film Malcolm X and went overseas to study Arabic and the Quran. In November 2000, he went to Pakistan and from there made his way to Afghanistan. He joined the Taliban and was with them on Sept. 11, 2001, when al-Qaida terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The U.S. attacked Afghanistan after the country failed to turn over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Lindh was captured in a battle with Northern Alliance fighters in late 2001. He was present when a group of Taliban prisoners launched an attack that killed Johnny Micheal Mike Spann, a CIA officer who had been interrogating Lindh and other Taliban prisoners. Television footage of a bearded, wounded Lindh captured among Taliban fighters created an international sensation, and he was brought to the U.S. to face charges of conspiring to kill Spann and providing support to terrorists. Eventually, he struck a plea bargain in which he admitted illegally providing support to the Taliban but denied a role in Spanns death. Lindh received a 20-year prison sentence. He served roughly 17 years and five months, including two months when he was in military detention. Federal inmates who exhibit good behavior typically serve 85 percent of their sentence. His probation officer asked the court to impose additional restrictions on Lindh while he remains on supervised release for the next three years. Lindh initially opposed but eventually acquiesced to the restrictions, which include monitoring software on his internet devices; requiring that his online communications be conducted in English and that he undergo mental health counseling; and forbidding him from possessing or viewing extremist material, holding a passport of any kind or leaving the U.S. Authorities never specified their rationale for seeking such restrictions. A hearing on the issue was canceled after Lindh agreed to them. The Bureau of Prisons said Lindh rejected an interview request submitted by The Associated Press, and his lawyer declined to comment. But there have been reports that Lindhs behavior in prison has created cause for concern. Foreign Policy magazine reported in 2017 that an investigation by the National Counterterrorism Center found that Lindh continued to advocate for global jihad and to write and translate violent extremist texts. A former inmate who knew Lindh from the time they spent at the same federal prison said he never heard Lindh espouse support for al-Qaida or indicate a risk for violence, but he found Lindh to be anti-social and awkward around others, with an unyielding, black-and-white view of religion. The inmate spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wanted to avoid further stigmatization from his time in Lindhs prison unit. Michael Jensen, a terrorism researcher at the University of Marylands National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, said its clear the government has concerns about Lindhs mindset. For three years hes going to be watched like a hawk, Jensen said. He said Lindh represents an interesting test case, as he is on the leading edge of dozens of inmates who were convicted on terror-related offenses in the aftermath of Sept. 11 and are eligible for release in the next five years. He said theres little research to indicate the efficacy of de-radicalizing inmates with connections to radical Islam, but he said the research shows that recidivism rates for those connected to white supremacy and other forms of extremism are high. Lindh has been housed in Terre Haute, Indiana, with other Muslim inmates convicted on terror-related charges. The rationale was to keep those inmates from radicalizing others in the general prison population, Jensen said. Those inside the unit were supposed to be limited in their ability to communicate with each other. But the reality is these guys still talk to each other, he said. Lindh, for his part, admitted his role and his wrongdoing in supporting the Taliban, but he and his family have bristled at any notion that he should be considered a terrorist. When he was sentenced, Lindh said he never would have joined the Taliban if he fully understood what they were about. He also issued a short essay condemning acts of violence in the name of Islam that kill or harm innocent civilians. Lindhs time in prison has provided only a few clues about his current outlook. He filed multiple lawsuits, which were largely successful, challenging prison rules he found discriminatory against Muslims. In the more recent lawsuits, he used the name Yahya Lindh. One lawsuit won the right to pray in groups at the prison in Terre Haute. A second lawsuit reversed a policy requiring strip searches for inmates receiving visitors, and a third won the right to wear prison pants above the ankle, which Lindh said is in accordance with Islamic principles. In the strip-search lawsuit, Lindh offered a discussion of Islamic rules prohibiting exposure of the body. If hes compelled to reveal himself, he said, hes also compelled under his religion to fight the rules requiring him to sin. Some have criticized Lindhs pending release. In March, the legislature in Alabama, where Spann grew up, adopted a resolution calling it an insult to Spanns heroic legacy and his remaining family members. In addition, Republican Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby and Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan wrote a letter last week to the Bureau of Prisons expressing concern. We must consider the security and safety implications for our citizens and communities who will receive individuals like John Walker Lindh who continue to openly call for extremist violence, they wrote. On Monday, Spanns father, Johnny Spann, wrote a letter requesting that Lindh be investigated before hes released, citing the National Counterterrorism Centers investigation as his rationale for concern. ALBANY, N.Y. New York lawmakers gave final passage to legislation Wednesday that would allow President Donald Trumps state tax returns to be released to congressional committees that have, so far, been barred from getting the presidents federal filings. The Democrat-led Senate and Assembly both approved the measures Wednesday, sending them to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat. A spokesman has said the governor supports the principle behind the legislation but will review the bill carefully before deciding whether to sign it. The legislation doesnt target Trump by name, but it would allow the leaders of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee or the Joint Committee on Taxation to get access to any New York state tax returns filed by elected officials and top appointed officials. The legislation would apply to personal income tax returns, as well as business taxes paid in New York. An earlier version of the proposal passed the state Senate two weeks ago that would have allowed congressional committees to get any New Yorkers returns, regardless of whether they held public office. Lawmakers later narrowed the legislation to address concerns that it went too far, prompting the Senate to hold a second vote on the new language Wednesday. New York Republicans have railed against the bill. John Flanagan, who leads the Senate GOP, called the legislation troubling and bad public policy. Fellow GOP lawmakers said the new proposals narrower focus shows Democrats went too far with their first proposal, which would have required state tax officials to hand over any New Yorkers state tax returns. This bill is nothing more than political showmanship, and we all know it, said Assembly Andrew Goodell, who represents a mostly rural western New York district. Republicans also blasted Democrats for going after the president instead of focusing on challenges closer to home. The fact that were talking about taxes in this house is ironic because were not talking about the taxes that New Yorkers pay, which are the highest in the nation, said Rob Ortt, a senator from the Buffalo area. But the proposals Democratic sponsors Sen. Hoylman, of Manhattan, and Assemblyman David Buchwald, of Westchester County said the legislation promotes government transparency at a time when Americans need to know whether their elected leaders are putting the publics interest first. We are affirming Congress role as a co-equal branch of government and the sacred constitutional principle that nobody is above the law, not even the highest elected official in the land, Hoylman said. The proposed changes to state law were made amid a battle going on in Washington over Trumps federal returns. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said he wouldnt comply with a congressional subpoena seeking six years of Trumps tax returns, in part because the request lacks a legitimate legislative purpose. U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, has threatened to go to court to get the administration to comply. Democrats are seeking six years of Trumps personal and business tax returns to aid a committee investigation into whether the IRS is doing its job properly to audit a sitting president and whether the law governing such audits needs to be strengthened. With New York being Trumps home state and headquarters of many of his business enterprises, the legislation could give Democrats access to the presidents state tax returns at a time when the White House and Democrats who control the House continue to wrangle over the presidents federal tax returns. Much of the information on Trumps state returns would mirror the information included on a federal return, giving the Democrats a potential end run around the IRS if they wished to take it. If Congress does request and obtain Trumps state tax returns, that doesnt mean the public gets to see them. Under federal law, the confidential information in the returns is supposed to be for the committees eyes only. The New York bills have no time limitation on the tax filings that could be shared with Congress. They require that the returns be requested for a specified and legitimate legislative purpose, wording that could ostensibly give state officials the ability to refuse some requests they felt were primarily political in nature. The New York bills would become law immediately upon being signed by Cuomo, though it could be delayed by a court challenge. ALICE, Texas An Alabama inmate serving a life sentence for robbery has been indicted in the 1974 fatal shooting of a Texas police officer. Prosecutors joined police in Alice, Texas, on Tuesday to announce the May 10 indictment of Roberto Lopez on a capital murder count. Officer Matthew Murphy was shot during a traffic stop in Alice, 120 miles (193.11 kilometers) south of San Antonio. Alabama Department of Corrections records show Lopez in 1981 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for robbery. Alice police in 2017 identified Lopez as a suspect. An affidavit says the inmate bragged about killing a narc named Murphy. The victim previously was an undercover narcotics officer. Alabama corrections officials didnt immediately return messages Wednesday. No information could immediately be located for an attorney representing Lopez. A ceremony has been held today to release Caucasus bisons into a special area of Ismayilli branch of the Shahdag National Park. The bisons were brought to Azerbaijan under "reintroduction of bisons in Azerbaijan" project jointly implemented by IDEA Public Union, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Azerbaijan office. The ceremony was attended by Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Founder and Head of IDEA Public Union Leyla Aliyeva and Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mukhtar Babayev. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. The United Auto Workers union filed a new petition Wednesday seeking to hold a vote on its representation of workers at a Tennessee Volkswagen plant, the same day the National Labor Relations Board dismissed a previous petition on a technicality. Volkswagen has said it is neutral on the issue of unionization, but it has steadfastly refused to bargain with UAW since the union won representation of maintenance workers at the Chattanooga plant in 2015. VW has argued the bargaining unit needed to include all hourly workers. After years of back and forth, the union in April asked the NLRB to allow a vote for a new bargaining unit, this time including all hourly workers, about 1,700 people. On Wednesday, the board dismissed the petition based on a technicality: UAW was still representing the smaller unit when it sought to represent the new, larger unit. The union has since ceased representing the smaller unit. In an emailed statement, UAW International spokesman Brian Rothenberg accused VW of using legal games to aggressively deny its workers the right to vote. Chattanooga workers deserve to know from VW, how much money have you spent on these lawyers to try to stop us from having a voice? Rothenberg wrote. In a statement Wednesday afternoon, Volkswagen Group of America said, We have received the UAWs new petition and will work with the NLRB to schedule the election. The statement also said, We respect our colleagues right to decide on representation. But it said the legal issues surrounding the smaller bargaining unit should have been resolved before the union filed the earlier petition for the larger unit. National Labor Relations Board chairman John F. Ring wrote the boards decision, arguing it is in the best interest of all parties. Rather than tee up a likely court challenge to an election that would unnecessarily tie up this representation matter in a court battle for years to come, we believe it is the wiser course to remove that ground for challenge now, Ring wrote. In a harshly worded dissent, board member Lauren McFerran wrote that the majoritys decision is inconsistent with Board precedent, undermines the policies of the National Labor Relations Act, and defies common sense. MOSBY, Mo. The residents of this small riverside town have become accustomed to watching floods swamp their streets, transform their homes into islands and ruin their floors and furniture. Elmer Sullivan has replaced his couch, bed and television. Hes torn up water-buckled floorboards. And he put a picket fence against the front of his house to cover up a gap left when waters washed out part of the stone foundation. I just dont want to mess with it anymore. Im 83 years old and Im tired of it, and I just want to get out of it, Sullivan said. Finally fed up, Sullivan and nearly half of the homeowners in Mosby signed up in 2016 for a program in which the government would buy and then demolish their properties rather than paying to rebuild them over and over. Theyre still waiting for offers, joining thousands of others across the country in a slow-moving line to escape from flood-prone homes. Patience is wearing thin in Mosby, a town of fewer than 200 people with a core of lifelong residents and some younger newcomers drawn by the cheap prices of its modest wood-frame homes. Residents watched nervously this past week as high waters again threatened the town. It really is frustrating, because here we are, were coming through a wet season. Theres a chance that we could possibly flood, and were still waiting, said Jason Stooksbury, an alderman who oversees the towns efforts to curb flooding. Its not a good situation, but what are you going to do its the government process. Over the past three decades, federal and local governments have poured more than $5 billion into buying tens of thousands of vulnerable properties across the country, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The AP analysis shows those buyouts have been getting more expensive, with many of the costliest coming in the last decade after strong storms pounded heavily populated coastal states such as Texas, New York and New Jersey. This years record flooding in the Midwest could add even more buyouts to the queue. The purchases are happening as the climate changes. Along rivers and sea coasts, some homes that were once considered at little risk are now endangered due to water that is climbing higher and surging farther inland than historic patterns predicted. Regardless of the risks, the buyouts are voluntary. Homeowners can renew taxpayer-subsidized flood insurance policies indefinitely. With more extreme weather events, flooding is going to become more and more of an issue, and there will be more and more properties that are at risk of total loss or near total loss, said Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA. Then the question is: Are we just going to keep selling them insurance and building in the same place? DeFazio wants to expand and revamp a buyout process that he describes as inefficient and irrational. Hes backing a proposed pilot project that would give homeowners a break on their flood insurance premiums, as long as they agree in advance to a buyout that would turn their property into green space if their homes are substantially damaged by a flood. Buyout programs rely on federal money distributed through the states, but they generally are carried out by cities and counties that end up owning the properties. Most buyouts are initiated after disasters, but Congress has become more proactive. Appropriations for FEMAs Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program which funds buyouts and other precautions, such as elevating homes before disasters strike have risen from $25 million in 2015 to $250 million this year. A recent study for the National Institute of Building Sciences found that society as a whole saves $7 in avoided costs for every $1 spent through federally funded grants to acquire or demolish flood-prone buildings. Yet its harder to gauge the benefits for the individuals who move. After Superstorm Sandy pummeled New Jersey and New York in 2012, Duke University graduate school student Devon McGhee researched what happened to hundreds of Staten Island homeowners who took buyouts. She found that all but two of the 323 homeowners she tracked relocated to areas with higher poverty levels. Three-quarters remained on Staten Island, and about one-fifth moved to homes that still were exposed to coastal flooding hazards. When people take the buyouts, sometimes the money they are given on their home is not enough to buy a comparable home in a lower-risk area, said McGhee, who now works as a coastal management specialist for an engineering and consulting firm. The prolonged buyout process also can take an emotional toll on people who are uprooted. Maybe they find a home, and its a good home, but its not their home where their kids grew up and had birthday parties and that sort of thing. There are these losses that occur in that transition process that can have implications for years, said Sherri Brokopp Binder, an Allentown, Pennsylvania-based consultant who researches disaster buyouts. Multiple layers of government bureaucracy can slow the buyout process. So can the typical hiccups that come with property sales. In Kingfisher, Oklahoma, officials are still working to complete a buyout prompted by Tropical Storm Erin in 2007, even as the city has found itself inundated by flood waters again this week. The city initiated a buyout in 2010, then received additional money to buy more homes about five years later. Its purchased more than 80 so far, with about 10 more to go, said Annie Vest, a former Oklahoma state hazard mitigation officer who now works for an engineering firm administering Kingfishers grant. The process is just getting started in some Texas communities swamped by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Officials in Liberty County, northeast of Houston, held a meeting with residents last month to discuss a $6.7 million HUD grant to buy out homes near the Trinity River. The county still must get appraisals of the homes, conduct asbestos inspections and take bids for a demolition contractor. Local officials hope to start taking buyout applications by the end of the year, said David Douglas, the Liberty County engineering administrator and flood plain manager. Formal discussions of a federally funded buyout likely are a long way off in Hamburg, Iowa, which was inundated in March by a breach of a Missouri River levee. But local officials arent waiting around. Mayor Cathy Crain said they are looking into the potential for a private developer to relocate some houses and to acquire higher land where new homes and businesses could be built. Relocating to higher ground isnt likely in Mosby, unless residents are willing to go elsewhere. The entire core of the town is in a floodway, which means that new development is limited. Located just northeast of Kansas City, Mosby began as a railroad town in 1887 and expanded with coal mines in the early 20th century. At one time, it had a school, bank, grocery store and lumber yard. Those are gone now, and the trains merely pass by. In 2015, financial strains led the town to eliminate its small police force. Mosby experienced some of its worst flooding that same year, with three floods in less than six weeks. The next year, city officials began pursuing the buyouts, and more than 40 homeowners signed up. Theyve been in limbo ever since. Local officials sought nearly $3 million in funding, submitted a revised application, obtained property appraisals and conducted environmental reviews. Some residents have been scouting for new housing. Others are waiting to see the bids, which are expected this summer. Sullivan hopes to get $28,000 for his home. He would move near his sister in southeastern Missouri, but hes getting impatient. Im just about ready to tell them, Take it and shove it,' he said. Sitting on the concrete porch of the white wooden house where shes lived for the past 36 years, Tammy Kilgore explains that everybodys just really on edge and ready to leave. The floods, Im tired of dealing with them, I really am, she said. I think they should have bought out this town a long time ago. ___ Follow David A. Lieb at: http://twitter.com/DavidALieb . Crossing the street here can be challenging any time, and you might be even less likely to notice that honking cab or zooming bicyclist if you're looking at your phone. Now, it could become illegal to do so. A bill in the New York State Senate seeks to ban pedestrians from using portable electronic devices while crossing the road. Fines would range from $25 to $250. The statewide ban would include texting, checking emails, and browsing the internet, with exceptions for emergencies. 'It's OK to wait the 5 seconds' The bill was introduced in the State Assembly last year by Assembly Member Felix W. Ortiz. State Senator John Liu introduced a version in the Senate last week, hoping to push the issue forward. "It's hard not to notice the number of people texting while walking, and downright alarming to see people continuing their texting while crossing the street," Liu told CNN. "We want New Yorkers to know it's OK to wait the 5 seconds." The bill must be approved by the transportation committees in both the Assembly and the Senate before it can come to a full vote. And the chair of the Senate Transport Committee, Sen. Tim Kennedy, has expressed doubts. "I don't support the concept in its current form," Kennedy said in a statement to CNN. "As someone who has rallied for significant pedestrian safety reforms for years, I prioritize the protection and security of all New Yorkers, but it appears to me as though this is an overreach of government." Pedestrian deaths are the highest in decades Honolulu passed a similar law in 2017 that appeared to be the first of its kind and was known as the "distracted pedestrian" law. A 2019 report by the Governors Highway Safety Association estimated that 6,227 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in 2018, the most in almost three decades. The report cited "the large growth in smartphone use" as a possible reason. About 75 percent of fatalities occur after dark, with alcohol contributing to an estimated 32 percent of fatalities. "Sometimes even proposing legislation reminds people of common sense things to do and common-sense things not to do," Liu said. "If nothing else, the mere introduction of this bill has got people talking and thinking." Russian President Vladimir Putin has held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday evening. "The situation was discussed around the crisis in Ukraine given the bankrupt policies of the administration of Pyotr Poroshenko and the change of the state leadership in Ukraine," the Kremlin press service said. "The parties agreed that "there is no alternative to the 2015 Minsk Package of Measures as a basis for the peace settlement," the press service added. In addition, Putin reiterated the priority of carrying into effect the law on a special status for the certain areas of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, giving it a permanent nature, holding amnesty, disengaging forces and means on the earlier coordinated sections along the contact line, as well as moves to establish a direct dialogue between Kiev, Donetsk and Lugansk. The Russian leader also drew attention of the interlocutors to the discriminatory law On the functioning of the Ukrainian language as the state language passed by the Verkhovna Rada. "He expressed bewilderment about the refusal of some countries to discuss in the UN Security Council this document that goes against the Ukrainian Constitution, the Minsk agreements and Kievs international obligations to protect national and language minorities," TASS cited the statement as saying. The sides also discussed the situation in Syria in the context of multiple ceasefire violations in Idlib. Chrome News Track, an exclusive from Chrome Data Analytics and Media, has released the data for the Most Aired, Most Watched and Most Discussed News in Week 20 of 2019. The survey conducted is an outcome of the data collected from 34,000 Chrome DM panel homes across India. It analyses the effectiveness of the News aired on television every week and categorises it through three broad segments, namely Most Aired, Most Watched and Most Discussed. Most Aired News in Week 20 According to the Chrome News Track data for the Week 20 - 2019, 2019 Lok Sabha Elections is the most Aired News this week, followed by News About Violence in West Bengal. The News about PM Narendra Modi Interview & Activities stood at the 3rd spot, the Sadhvi Pragya Thakur Controversy is next in the list and News about Mani Shankar Aiyar Controversial Statement managed to take the fifth and the last spot. Most Watched News in Week 20 The survey also reveals that 2019 Lok Sabha Elections is the most watched news for the week grabbing maximum eyeballs, followed by Violence in West Bengal. The news about PM Narendra Modi Interview & Activities, Mani Shankar Aiyar Controversial Statement and Sadhvi Pragya Thakur Controversy also generated interests amongst viewers and are placed at 3rd, 4th and 5th positions, respectively, in the list. Most Discussed News in Week 20 On the other hand, taking a closer view of the Most Discussed News category of the survey, the news about 2019 Lok Sabha Elections has been the talk of the nation, making it the most discussed news, whereas the News about Violence in West Bengal happens to be the 2nd most discussed news as per the survey. Mani Shankar Aiyar Controversial Statement became the 3rd most discussed news among the masses. Sadhvi Pragya Thakur Controversy and PM Narendra Modi Interview & Activities are placed at 4th and 5th positions, respectively, in the list. Read more: Who's Winning the Count? NewsX brings you exclusive coverage of the results Madison Media and Hiveminds, the digital specialist agency of Madison World have won the digital media mandate for Dominos in a multi-agency pitch. The scope of work includes all formsof Digital marketing, including Digital Strategy, Programmatic buying, Digital Media buying, Performance andSEO marketing campaigns. Anand Thakur, Chief Digital Officer, Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd, commented, We believe that HiveMinds innovative digital approach in the online marketing space will help Dominos to address its current and long-term business goals. Their insightful understanding of present-day Indias digital landscape and efforts on delivering the best to clients are a great fit as we collectively aim to achieve scale and growth. Commenting on the win, Vikram Sakhuja, Partner & Group CEO, Madison Media & OOH, remarked, Our relationship with Dominos goes back 15 years and we are delighted that Dominos has now entrusted us their Digital mandate. Digital will play a key role in their business growth and HiveMinds team will work along with Madison Media team to provide a holistic solution to Dominos. Read more:Lodestar UM retains traditional media mandate for Samsung India Jyothirmayee JT, Founder & CEO, HiveMinds, added here, HiveMinds is arguably one of the strongest performance marketing agencies out of India. We are confident that we will be able to add a lot of value to Dominos and contribute to their growth. HiveMinds recently won the Google Premier Award for best work in the core category of Search innovation for its work on Curefit. This unit of Madison World specialises in providing end-to-end digital marketing solutions like SEO, Performance & Paid Campaigns, Analytics, Social Media, Digital Branding and Creative & Content services, for leading brands and startups in India, US and the Middle East. HiveMinds handles key clients like bigbasket, Teabox, Sonata Watches, Portea, Zoomcar and Cloudnine Hospitals, to name a few. Maxxis India, a sub-company of Maxxis Group, the largest two-wheeler tyre manufacturer and one of the worlds fastest growing tyre companies, launched an innovative digital campaign titled #PaanchSaalBemisaal. The campaign highlights Maxxis Tyres unmatched 5-year unconditional warranty with 1styear free replacement. Conceptualized byGrapes Digital, #PaanchSaalBemisaal is adigital campaign around the idea, Waade Pe Gaadi Nahi Chalti, Warranty Pe Chalti Hai. The campaign uses humor through a crisp story to establish the brand property connect with election theme at the forefront. The month-long campaign started with teaser posts on April 22nd,followed by the hero video release on May 8th. Commenting on the brand positioning through this campaign, Mr. Bing Lin Wu, Marketing Head, Maxxis Tyres said As Indias growing two-wheeler tyre company, we wanted our customers to know more about our industry-first 5-year unconditional warranty with 1styear free replacement. General elections gave us just the right opportunity to talk about warranty, in a contextually interesting way. We are confident that this campaign will appeal to a wide range of customers and acquaint them with Maxxis warranty, change the industry dynamics and help redefine warranty standards. The core theme of the campaign is weaved around the idea that most political parties make promises without any warranty, while Maxxis2-wheeler tyres come with industry-best industry-best 5-year unconditional warranty with 1st year free replacement that offers customers a seamless and easy replacement service. This warranty is valid for five years from the date of manufacture.Another aspect that is unique to the policy is that it provides free of cost tyre replacement covering both manufacturing and non-manufacturing defects, valid for the first year of purchase.Hence the tagline, Pehlasaal, no sawaal, Paanchsaalbemisaal. Commenting on the campaign, Himanshu Arya CEO Grapes Digital said, To choose warranty over waada (promise) was a powerful consumer-facing insight that we came across. #PaanchSaalBemisaal was the perfect hack to tap into the conversations around the general elections. It was action-oriented, well rooted in the product proposition and highly topical as well. With all the right boxes ticked we had just one question to answer- if not now, then when? And addressing that concern the campaign was launched with a minute-long digital video. A quick repartee between the protagonist and a politician, the video ends on a message that says Waade par gaadinahinchalti, warranty par chaltihai (Vehicles dont run on promises, but only on warranty). Now, who can contest that? The campaign also included a slogan writing contest,Slogan Do, Warranty Lo that received a phenomenal response, with users sharing their own taglines, using the hashtag, #PaanchSaalBemisaal. Within just few days of its release, the video has already got over 3 million views across social media platforms. Kavita Lakhani, one of India's most respected PR professionals has been promoted to Executive Director by MullenLowe Lintas Group for the groups PR firm, GolinOpinion. The firm manages the mandates for leading global and Indian brands including TATA Starbucks, Etihad Airways, Marriott International Inc, Porsche, VIP Industries, Too Yumm!, DP World, Seiko, Principal Group, Sony Pictures Networks India, among others. Kavita continues to report to Ameer Ismail, President, GolinOpinion. Commenting on Kavitas new role, Ameer Ismail, said, Kavita has been an integral part of driving GolinOpinions successful growth over the years. Her elevation is a reflection of her valued contribution in helping the agency achieve its commitments and contributing to our overall positive perception in the marketplace. Kavita is a strong business leader and I am delighted to have her take on the new role for GolinOpinion. Kavita will be responsible for GolinOpinions national businesses, leading new business initiatives, building a management team and enhancing our corporate marketing efforts, including brand awareness and engagement. Kavitas deep analytical ability to dig into research and uncover key audience motivators and barriers, gives her insight into framing effective campaign strategies. Her expertise in branding, message development, public education and issue/crisis management using social/traditional media, make her a sought-after senior counselor by clients. Speaking of the promotion, Kavita Lakhani, said, My passion for communications has only increased over the years. I am proud to be part of a great institution like the MullenLowe Lintas Group. GolinOpinion is a market-leading PR consultancy that delivers powerful creative campaigns to clients, coupled with high-quality execution. I look forward to enhancing GolinOpinions blue chip client portfolio and developing new competencies. A seasoned communications professional with nearly two and half decades of experience in the field of Public Relations, Kavita is ranked among the top 16 Women in Indian PR Consulting and is part of the leadership team at MullenLowe Lintas Group. She was Co-Chair, India, Interpublic Group Womens Leadership Network, core team member of Lintas Indias Sexual Harassment Committee and is currently part of the Group's Crisis Response Team. After months of preparation and a long 7-phased voting process, the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections will culminate tomorrow (May 23) with the counting of votes and delivery of Indians mandate for the next government. Its been a busy time for news channels, who have been following the entire process since almost three months before the voting began with a plethora of special programming, debates & discussions, analyses, interviews and on-the-ground reporting. All that will culminate into the extensive coverage for the Counting Day and the nations eyes will be glued to their TV sets as the process unfolds. And the action will begin early on May 23, as early as 6 am. Adgully spoke to some of the leading news broadcasters to find out their Counting Day coverage strategy and what the viewers can expect from them. Innovations & technological upgradations All news channels have upped their game for this Counting Day, when the viewership is set to peak to almost maximum levels. Ritu Dhawan, CEO & MD, India TV, said, We, as leaders in this space, are also unveiling a completely new set loaded with state-of-the-art modern features, including Video Walls, large interactive displays, Augmented Reality and so on. To lift the exuberance and excitement of the dynamic movement of the election results, ABP Network is organising an innovative 360-degree live setup to help viewers understand the ground zero of elections across India. Being leaders in innovation, we will also replicate it on YouTube to reach out to maximum viewers, who will be able to witness all the excitement on their mobile phones. Additionally, our AI based tool will create live stories to engage and update our viewers on a real time basis and an active data LED wall will be installed in our studio with colour codes and alignments to help understand the dynamic movement on the results, Avinash Pandey, CEO, ABP Network, informed. General Elections require great preparedness not just from the content point of view, but also from what goes on behind the screens. Technology and innovations have become the backbone of delivering impactful news viewing experience. To enable a superior news viewing experience on the counting day, CNN News18 has planned and invested in technology by deploying a Magic Wall, an analytical tool that uses Artificial Intelligence for election programming and result presentation. It has been developed in association with CNN America. Elaborating on the Magic Wall and other programming initiatives, Basant Dhawan, CEO, English & Business Cluster, Network18, said, Once the numbers start pouring in from counting centers, the data will be fed to the Magic Wall. Powered by research done at the constituency level by the extensive News18 Network, this innovative tool will produce accurate data, do a quick comparative analysis of the trends vis-a-vis the previous poll results, winning and losing candidates, their margins, emerging giant-killers and percentages. This will enable us to present the results in the fastest possible manner with impeccable clarity and accuracy. To help elevate the consumers experience on Counting Day, the results will be showcased through interesting infographics rather than just trails and leads. It will also help the viewer understand how each constituency has voted, by gender, caste and demographics to understand the larger pattern. News18 Networks unique offering is with respect to election results as we are deploying systems for end-to-end data collection, processing and dissemination that no other television news channel or media house does. We have an extensive network of 1,200 reporters spread across the counting centres in the country leading to fastest yet authentic and precise results, Dhawan added. With Mandate 2019, Times Now is aiming to present the most realistic virtual reportage of election results live on May 23, 2019. Augmenting the elections news viewing experience on Indian television, Times Now is deploying state-of-the-art technology using Unreal Engine to deliver fastest graphics rendered in a virtual space with authentic and reliable data. Through the Unreal Engine, Times Now will recreate the Lok Sabha as the anchor explains the formation of the Parliament and what permutations and combinations will enable the formation of the government at the Centre. Unreal Engine comes from the gaming pedigree known for its unparalleled rendering of scenes, real-life entities and movements. This live segment has been created in association with Pixotope, a virtual production system developed in Norway by The Future Group. Additionally, Times Now has put up 600+ screens across Mumbai and Delhi at key locations such as metros, railways, airports, etc., which will air live broadcast and share updates on Counting Day. With an army of 150 reporters, 100 live connections, 35 panellists and 9 studios, Republic TV is all set for the Counting Day with Arnab Goswami. Read more: Arnab Goswami to acquire Asianets stake in Republic; to assume complete control Harnessing Digital With the Counting Day being a working day, news channels are also turning to digital in a major way to keep their viewers updated on the latest news and maximise reach throughtout the day. Speaking about News Nation Networks strategy, its President Sales & Marketing, Abhay Ojha, said, We have planned an integrated coverage strategy, which will cater to all our viewers on various social media platforms. From app alerts to superfast Twitter updates, we will also have a unique YouTube plan for those who want TV-like coverage. The interactive, updated news nuggets via live blogs will cater to those who want to follow a trend of a particular state. With Counting Day bringing forth the results of the largest democratic exercise in the world, CNN-News18 India will strive to be the ultimate news destination for election coverage with a dedicated team giving regular and comprehensive updates regarding the elections across the nation. To make the news reach its viewers in the fastest and most accurate manner, CNN-News18 has an engaging line-up of shows and reportage from every corner of the nation. Basant Dhawan informed, Our technology platform has cohesive and coherent back-end catering to the entire content value chain from information collection to processing and presentation and further to distribution to all our news channels, websites and Mobile Applications. Integrated Broadcast and Digital newsroom operations will aim to generate a high level of synergy underneath, driving high energy output for our shows. We are reaching out to a wide variety of audiences across the country through our digital platform News18.com which provides news in 11 languages. CNN-News18 has also deployed ELEXA, a technological platform that captures all the relevant data pertaining to voting by the electorate, analyses it and applies algorithms to render a virtual display of a map with factual results. On the backend, ELEXA has a unique database that interacts with the state-of-the-art technology for studio camera tracking and live dynamic on-screen graphics. This result is an interactive and engaging on-screen TV viewing experience. Ritu Dhawan added here that India TVs digital division is all geared up to update the viewers minute by minute with data, graphs, interviews, expert opinions and Live TV for those on the move through its Websites, Apps and Social media handles, including, but not limited to, Twitter, Facebook, Google, etc. Today, digital is one of the most preferred platforms for viewers to stay connected and updated with the important developments across the country on the go. Addressing the changing consumer behaviour and demand, ABP Network has tried to make its Counting Day programming more innovative, interactive and engaging for its viewers. Avinash Pandey informed, We are doing third party associations with Samsung, Hotstar and Jio TV to ensure presence across platforms to gauge maximum viewership. Viewers can browse real time data on our digital platform to keep themselves ahead they can do leader wise, state wise and constituency wise search for their clarity. Advertiser interest With all eyes on news channels for the momentous day, its but natural that advertiser interest will be at the maximum. The Counting Day has seen a huge surge in demand for inventory, given that it is expected to attract more viewers than even IPL. This is reflected in the fact that the inventory is selling at very high premiums. As News Nations Abhay Ojha said, There has been a tremendous response from the advertisers. It is the most important event of the year, and everyone is interested in the biggest elections on this planet. Echoing similar views, Ritu Dhawan said, Advertisers interest is the highest for Counting Day as everyone expects the reach of news channels to surpass GEC channels, backed by higher time spent. The advertisement rates are expected to be in line with the expected high viewership numbers. Also, the number of advertisement breaks is also expected to be significantly low than on regular days in order to promote stickiness and ensuring highest deliveries to the advertisers. ABP, too, has seen huge traction from advertisers across all markets. As shared by Avinash Pandey, At ABP, advertisers place a lot of trust in our ability to provide the most innovative, extensive, and reliable coverage for the Elections. More advertiser interest translates to better revenues. We are already in line to deliver high revenues across our businesses. Counting Day brings up the curtains on the festival of democracy. With our robust programming, coupled with innovation, we are sure that the advertiser will benefit from the eyeballs that we will deliver with our unique and programming for the Counting Day. General Elections is an ideal time for advertisers to be present on the genre as the news channels draw huge viewership, which reaches its peak in the exit polls and on the Counting Day. Basant Dhawan noted that brands across categories have already signed up to leverage this high reach that they will derive on these days. Due to the limited inventory and high time spent by the audiences on the counting day, the advertisers get a disproportionate value, he added. Mayank Jain, CEO, Hindi News Cluster, Network18, added here, Advertisers have shown tremendous interest in the 2019 Elections. There has been a lot of demand from large FMCG advertisers, besides traditional news advertisers. On the back of this, News18 India is expected to see a 3X growth in ad revenues. We have also successfully been able to create innovative solutions for our advertisers, bring new customers on board, and maximise revenues from our inventory. On the heels of its reimagined global design strategy, Renaissance Hotels, part of Marriott International, today announced its continued brand evolution with a new Discover This Way marketing campaign that reinforces the brands promise of delivering the unexpected. To commemorate this, Renaissance Hotels will help guests uncover the soul of their neighborhoods around the world with exclusive experiences and perks from the brands This Way partners on its 8th annual Global Day of Discovery on Thursday, May 16. The brand will also begin to introduce a new visual identity for the first time in nearly eight years which will reflect what they offer today; a sense of clever theatricality and an open invitation to experience something a little unexpected during guests travels. This years annual Global Day of Discovery celebration, which takes place at 160 hotels in more than 35 countries, will spotlight the Renaissance Hotel Navigator, who - counter to a typical concierge - knows to show guests how to discover destinations like a local by handpicking discoveries that cannot be found in a guidebook. The navigator acts as a replacement for guidebooks where you can contact your navigator to find locations around the city.From live performing artists to savoring delightful Indian cuisines, Renaissance Hotels embarks on a journey to create unexpected moments for guests in line with the New Marketing Campaign The brands new Discover This Way campaign is inspired by the idea that every trip can be a tale. From the brands surprising approach to design, to its original take on beverages and its team of local Navigators, Renaissance Hotels will help its global travelers make memorable experiences. Navigators Uncover Local Haunts for Guests from the iconic Tipu Sultan Summer Palace in Bengaluru to Hidden Artworks, Neighborhoods Come Alive on Global Day of Discovery The Renaissance hotels in India including, Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel, Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, Renaissance Lucknow Hotel and Renaissance Ahmedabad Hotel, set the mood for the spontaneous to happen, inviting guests to learn and experience something they werent planning. The celebration creates moments where travelers come together to discover cultural elements in unexpected ways. To punctuate the new campaign and 8th annual Global Day of Discovery, and India being a melting pot of cultures, Renaissance Hotels is set to offer guests the gift of remarkable experiences rich of varied cultures, heritage, sights, sounds, tastes and art that makes each city unique. The worldwide celebration open to global guests and local residents, is created to encourage travelers to discover the hidden gems that give neighborhoods their soul - from culture tours to exotic local cuisines. These unique experiences coupled with entertaining performances and Evening Bar Rituals, are sure to inspire stories worth sharing among travelers and locals alike. On the heels of Renaissance Hotels continued global design evolution, the brand is furthering its ongoing renaissance by introducing a fresh new visual identity for the first time in nearly eight years. Inspired by the new Discover This Way campaign and on-property experiences, the new visual identity - which will include a refreshed color palette, photography and font type - will begin to roll out in-room and through all of the brands digital channels, starting in June. We have been on a mission to continue to evolve what Renaissance Hotels offers today, and this years Global Day of Discovery and new Discover This Way campaign officially marks a new era for the brand, said George Fleck, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing & Management, Renaissance Hotels. Todays travelers want to feel like theyve experienced the DNA of the neighborhood in the destination they are visiting and make the most of their trip. With help from our This Way neighborhood partners, we are committed to giving travelers something a little bit unexpected every step along their journey. Renaissance Hotels India offerings: Guests visiting Renaissance Bengaluru Race Course Hotel will discover the indigenous city through the distinct Namma Bengaluru experience. Their expedition begins with a hearty local Bengaluru breakfast, followed by a visit to the captivating Tipu Sultan Summer Palace and a walk down heritage lane by exploring local artisans and handicrafts. Their expedition culminates into The Discovery Gala night with an incredible line up of artists coupled with creative artisans like Rangoli designers, Channapatna Toy carvers, fabric artists, along with delectable food, luxury indulgences and signature R Bar rituals. Renaissance Lucknow Hotel is offering an excursion synonymous to its culture. Guests will pay a visit to Malihabad, the mango capital of India to meet Padma Shri Saleem Ullah Khan, the Mango Man of India, known to have grown over 300 varieties of the king of the fruits on a single tree, using grafting techniques. Following this, guests will sip on beverages specially curated by expert mixologists and indulge in an elaborate Dastarkhwan, with authentic dishes infused with robust Indian flavours. At Renaissance Ahmedabad Hotel, travelers will explore the Amul manufacturing plant, the biggest producer of milk and dairy products in the world, along with the brands chocolate manufacturing unit. As guests arrive back to the property, unexpected moments await as they uncover the heart of Ahmedabad through a soulful evening along with locally inspired mocktails. From the Hallways of Renaissance Paris Vendome to the Streets of Bangkok, Renaissance Hotels will offer experiences That Go Beyond the Convention of Travel Beginning on Global Day of Discovery and continuing regularly thereafter, Renaissance Hotels across the globe will collaborate with a diverse group of local businesses and notable personalities who embody the soul of the neighborhood to serve as This Way partners. Each This Way partner will help give travelers a glimpse into Renaissance Hotels' storied neighborhoods, highlighting the style, eats and beats of the destinations. Upon check-in, guests will be given a Navigator map leading travelers to hidden gems, along with a token for travelers to present to these local establishments in order to access exclusive perks. Guests from all six Renaissance hotels in Paris will follow footsteps that lead to a secret room within a neighborhood cafe, revealing an interactive local art gallery where nothing is as it seems. Travelers will sip champagne punch as they are surprised with unexpected moments that ignite all the senses throughout the evening. One of Thailands most notable archeologists will help guests of Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel to explore street art in Chalerm La Park, Lakshmi Shrine at Gaysorn Village, neon night markets and other local discoveries. Upon returning to the hotel, guests will be welcomed by a Thai Night Festival featuring the destinations arts and culture scene, complete with an exclusive performance by Thai celebrity actor, model Push Puttichai. Travelers visiting Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai will cross the canal to the citys budding arts district in the industrial area of Al Quoz. As guests arrive at Alserkal Avenue, they will follow footsteps imprinted on mounds of spices that lead to a variety of cultural experiences showcasing the districts distinct blend of global cultures. Renaissance Sao Paulo Hotel guests will venture out to uncover the colors, soul and intriguing stories of Conjunto Nacional, a symbolic building located on Paulista Avenue. Unexpected art, dance and musical experiences will pop up during stops at Livraria Cultura, a beautifully designed bookstore by architect Fernando Brandao in 1969, and CINEARTE, the locales indie movie theatre that showcases hard-to-find Brazilian and Latin productions, to name a few. Global Renaissance Continues with a New Visual Identity That Spotlights Moments of Discovery Around Every Neighborhood Street Corner Renaissance Hotels marketing and design teams developed the neighborhood-inspired color palette of muted and rich colors, from grayish pavement to deepest midnight to downtown cargo. The palette captures the brands signature mix of high and low, raw and polished elements - all of which make up a modern neighborhood. Following a multi-agency pitch, Nova Eyewear Solutions has awarded its advertising and branding mandate to Wunderman Thompson, Kolkata. The flagship brand from Vision RX Lab - a joint venture between GKB and Essilor Nova Eyewear is headquartered in Kolkata and is available in 25 countries across the world. Effectively addressing the need for vision correction and vision protection without compromising on aesthetics, the brand provides complete eyewear solutions with advanced digital lenses, fashionable frames, and prescription sunglasses. Speaking on the development, Pammi Jamalpuria, VP, Corporate Marketing, Vision Rx Lab said, We are glad to partner with an agency of repute like Wunderman Thompson for taking our flagship brand, Nova Eyewear, ahead of the competition through robust branding and communication initiatives. Vijay Jacob Parakkal, Sr. VP and Managing Partner, Wunderman Thompson, Kolkata said, Nova is one of the fastest growing eyewear brands in the world. We at Wunderman Thompson, Kolkata, are delighted to have been given the opportunity to use creativity, data and technology to further propel Novas growth around the world. Arjun Mukherjee, VP & Executive Creative Director, Wunderman Thompson, Kolkata said, The eyewear category is going through an interesting phase and the opportunity to grow is immense. And Nova Eyewear is driving the change from the forefront. It was a challenging brief and we brought some fresh new innovative thinking in such a stylish yet functional category which resonated with the client. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia is interested in having good relations with the United States. "Russia is interested in having positive relations with America and will make every effort to that end," TASS cited the diplomat as saying. He stressed that Russia made its approach clear during U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeos visit to Sochi on May 14. For the first time in nearly a year and a half, former S.C. lawmaker and Georgia attorney Chris Aaron Corley made a public appearance in an Aiken County courtroom Wednesday morning. Alongside Corley were his attorney, Cezar McKnight, and wife, Heather, who was the victim in a domestic violence incident at their home in December 2016, which ended with Corley being sentenced in 2017 to five years of probation. Corley was almost unrecognizable Wednesday under a long, thick beard. His current look differed greatly from the typical clean-shaven, youthful appearance he kept up for years, especially during his time in the South Carolina Statehouse. He and McKnight appeared before the judge Wednesday to ask the judge to dismiss his remaining probationary sentence; Corley has been on probation for only about a year and a half, court records show. McKnight argued why the dismissal request was necessary, stating Corley's probationary sentence caused him to lose his law license and be disbarred in Georgia. "He lost his ability to practice law, which means he lost his ability to earn a living for his family," McKnight said. Corley reported finishing all the other requirements attached to his sentence, which included more than 100 hours of community service and anger management. "He's done everything else required of him," McKnight stated. "We feel the court should be satisfied with all he has completed." The request for a probation dismissal for Corley has been "taken under advisement" by the judge who will give his decision on the matter after going over all the aspects of the case and sentencing. If Corley is granted a probationary dismissal, he can begin taking the necessary steps to get his law license back. Heather Corley, his wife and victim in the domestic case, explained to the judge Wednesday how hard it has been for the Corley family following the incident and his probation. "I go to work in the morning, while Chris stays home to make the kids' breakfast, help them get dressed and gets them to school," Heather said, starting to tear up. "We've managed to make it through all this, but it's been hard. (Corley's) lack of income meant we had to make tough decisions to cut back on our spending. This ended up meaning we could no longer let our daughter go to a dance class she likes, because it was too expensive." On Aug. 7, 2017, Corley pleaded guilty to the felony charge of first-degree domestic violence. His original charge was domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, but in accordance with his guilty plea, he was allowed to plead to the lesser charge, solicitors said. He was indicted by the South Carolina Attorney General's Office following a reported "violent incident" at his family's Sugar Hill Drive home in Graniteville on Dec. 26, 2016. Arrest warrants state Corley punched his wife with a closed fist until she bled, bit her nose and pointed a loaded handgun at her while their three young child were also present. Due to backlash over the incident, Corley resigned from his Statehouse lawmaker position in January 2017. Second Judicial Circuit Judge Doyet A. Early presided over Corley's hearing in 2017 and sentenced him to six years in prison, suspended to five years of probation. Several stipulations were added to Corley's probationary sentence, including hundreds of hours of community service and anger management. "This caused me to almost lose my family, and I did lose my standing in society," Corley told the judge Wednesday. "I'm just so sorry for everything that happened." On Wednesday, state solicitors did not support the dismissal of Corley's probation because he was "given a break" during his sentencing in 2017, by receiving probation instead of time in prison. The judge said he needs proof Corley actually finished all the requirements asked of him by the court in accordance with his probation sentence. The judge also said he needs a medical report about Corley's current mental state. https://www.aish.com/jw/me/Exploiting-a-Tragedy-to-Accuse-Israel.html Social media posts are distorting a girls death to accuse Israel of heartless cruelty. The headlines and social media posts sound terrible. A tiny helpless five year old from Gaza supposedly died friendless and alone, crying out for some pity, for company, for anyone to be with her as she lay moments from death in a Jerusalem hospital bed, ignored by heartless Israelis who cruelly prevented her parents from being with her in her final hours. Aisha Lulu is a 5 year-old beautiful princess from Gaza and she was taking chemical medication for her cancer in Jerusalem. Israel prevent everyone from her family to accompany her one human rights organization posted on their Facebook page on May 17, 2019, below a picture of a tragic looking girl swaddled in bandages in a hospital bed. Palestinian news outlets supplied the outlines of this seemingly horrible story, albeit with key details varying from source to source. Gaza-based, Hamas-linked Al Quds News Network was the first to write about Aishas story, claiming inaccurately that she died in a hospital in occupied Jerusalem in great distress: crying, unable to speak and alone (because) Israel refused to grant permission for any of Aishas family members to accompany her. Official Palestinian Authority news outlet WAFA reported the story differently, though no less heart-rending. According to the site, Palestinian Authority Health Minister Mai Alkaila asked how can a little child travel alone through Israeli checkpoints without being escorted by her mother, father or brother to provide her with affection and psychological support during treatment? Aisha had to fight her disease alone, in a blatant disregard to international agreements, covenants and treaties on human rights Israeli MK Ahmad Tibi added his own gruesome twist to the story, posting After postponements and delays, she was rushed late for an operation in East Jerusalem. Alone. Her family was not allowed to accompany her, neither her mother nor her father. Except these terrible details are lurid inventions. Aisha Lulu was indeed a cancer patient from Gaza. She did travel to Israel for medical treatment, and sadly she did pass away in early May 2019. But there the similarities between her real life experiences and the lurid details about her that are being circulated on the internet ends. Suffering from a rare form of brain cancer, Aisha and her family were granted permission to travel to Israel for treatment. As is required in such cases, Israeli authorities mandated that family members travel with Aisha. We emphasize that CLA (Coordination and Liaison Administration) Gaza policy requires parents to escort their minor children for medical treatments, based on the understanding that children need their parents in moments such as these Israels Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) explained. Aishas parents declined to go, signing declarations that they would not accompany their daughter and designating a family friend to accompany the little girl instead. However in this case, Aishas parents did not wish to accompany her and therefore, in accordance with the DCL policy, they were requested to sign a declaration that they choose not to escort their daughter during the course of her treatment, due to their own choice, and request that another party on their behalf escort her COGAT clarified. Aisha received cancer surgery in Massaked Hospital in the eastern part of Jerusalem; unfortunately the operation was not a success. She and her caregiver returned to Gaza where Aisha died in early May 2019. As these details came to light, some of the organizations and individuals whod spread harrowing posts accusing Israel of preventing Aishas parents from accompanying her quietly took them down - while others doubled down on the lies about her fate Jewish Voice for Peace is one group that has stood by the story, even after Israeli authorities released details about Aishas fate. On May 19, the group repeated the by now clearly disproven claims that Aisha died alone in a hospital in the West Bank after...Israeli authorities prevented any of her family to accompany her. Those who were around her said she died crying, unable to speak, and alone. Despite getting the date and location of Aishas death wrong, as well as misrepresenting key details about her parents, the group insisted on Facebook the story was true. Thousands liked, commented on and shared the post. The victims of haulocust (sic) become themselves haulocust (sic) authors one typical post claimed. The story, with all its obvious inaccuracies and conflicting accounts, continues to reverberate on social media and will do so for years to come, poisoning the internet and providing false information for anyone reading about Israel online. At least one print newspaper has picked up the discredited story. Whats to explain the insistence of some activists, journalists and politicians to repeat an obviously false story such as this one? One answer is that often we choose what to believe based on our pre-existing biases and beliefs. If a story sounds true, thats often enough for it to be embraced, even by outlets that claim to value truth and the pursuit of knowledge. In one large-scale study, MIT researchers found that people share false and fabricated social media stories much more than real information. We prefer sharing stories that seem to confirm what we already think we know. The prurient stories that have been made up about Aisha Lulus death feeds into widespread narratives of Israel and Israelis as unbelievably cruel - beliefs that tap into ancient Jewish stereotypes of Jews as uniquely evil and barbaric. These anti-Semitic lies foster hatred against Israelis and Jews. Jonathan Swift once observed, Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it. In these days when lies can be spread throughout the internet with a simple post, thats never been more true. We all have a duty to stand up and point out when false information is posted online and elsewhere the false, sensationalist reports about Aisha Lulus death demand our action. Saudi Aramco has entered into a 20-year agreement with U.S.-based Sempra Energy to purchase liquefied natural gas (LNG) from its subsidiary Sempra LNG, the two companies said. The two companies are also finalizing a 25% equity investment in the phase 1 of Port Arthur LNG, they said in a joint statement. The sale-and-purchase agreement is for 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG from phase 1 of the Port Arthur LNG export project under development, the firms said. The proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project is expected to include two liquefaction trains, up to three LNG storage tanks and associated facilities which should enable the export of about 11 mtpa on a long-term basis, Reuters reported. "Port Arthur LNG could be one of the largest LNG export projects in North America, with potential expansion capabilities of up to eight liquefaction trains or approximately 45 mtpa of capacity," the statement said. CAIRO Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Cairo May 15 and met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The two heads of state discussed the May 12 attacks on four cargo vessels off the United Arab Emirates coast and the terrorist attack on two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia May 14. Investigations are underway to uncover the culprits of the May 12 sabotage attacks in the UAE. Meanwhile, two days after those attacks, the Saudi Press Agency announced that drones had targeted two pumping stations of a major oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. A spokesman for the Houthis, Mohammed Abdul Salam, affirmed in a tweet that the Houthis claim responsibility for the incident. The Egyptian president expressed Egypt's solidarity with the UAE and Saudi Arabia to counter all attempts to undermine the security and stability of the two countries in a May 15 statement. He further stressed that the security of the Arab Gulf region is an integral part of Egypt's national security. Bin Zayed asserted the importance of continued coordination and exchange of views between Egypt and the UAE to address challenges and crises and to counter any interference aimed at destabilizing regional security. Bin Zayed emphasized Egypts pivotal role as a cornerstone of security and stability in the region. Political analysts told Al-Monitor that the crown prince's visit comes in the context of the exploration of the Egyptian position on the tense situation in the Gulf, in particular increased tensions between the United States, Saudi Arabia and the UAE on the one hand, and Iran on the other. Gulf tensions escalated after Saudi Arabia accused Iran of ordering the Houthis to launch the drone attacks on its oil facilities. Iran denies being behind the attacks. The Gulf is also witnessing psychological warfare as described by media reports between Iran and the United States, ever since Washington tightened sanctions on Tehran in early May. Ahmed Youssef Ahmed, a professor of political science at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor in a telephone conversation, The timing of the crown princes visit to Cairo is an important sign of consultation and exchange of views on the tense situation in the Gulf region and Iran. It is aimed to boost joint security and strategic coordination, given Egypts regional and international weight. The main Egyptian stance on the current events in the Gulf is that Egypt is committed to defending the security of the Gulf as an integral part of the Egyptian security, he added. Egypt, however, is not drawn to any unjustified military action, but if the Gulf is attacked, Egypt is committed to protecting its security. Certainly there are contacts and consultations on the current tension in the Gulf. Egypt has strong relations with both Saudi Arabia and the UAE relations that were further entrenched when Sisi took power in 2014. The three nations have a unified position regarding Qatar, as they all severed diplomatic and consular ties with the country in June 2017. Tarek Fahmy, a professor of political science at the American University in Cairo, told Al-Monitor, Sisi and Bin Zayeds meeting sends clear messages to the regional parties about the Egyptian position in support of the Gulf countries. Cairo will not hesitate if Gulf security is endangered. On another note, the visit of the king of Bahrain to Cairo two days before the crown princes visit confirms these positions. Sisi discussed the consolidation of joint Arab action with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on May 12. They further discussed ways to address attempts to interfere in the internal affairs of Arab countries, according to a statement by the Egyptian presidential spokesman. Egypt's Assistant Foreign Minister Mohammed Hijazi told Al-Monitor that Sisi and Bin Zayed's meeting aimed to contain the situation by avoiding irresponsible actions or bad intentions by some regional or international entities, which he did not name, who wish to push the region into a military confrontation. Such a confrontation, he said, would undermine the regions development achievements. The escalation in the Gulf threatens the entire Arab national security," he said. "Regional or international initiatives must be launched to restore calm without pushing the region into a military confrontation. Egypt is qualified to play this role in light of the regional credibility it enjoys. The UAEs Ministry of Foreign Affairs called in a May 19 statement for a united Gulf and Arab stance in light of the imminent challenges and dangers. The ministry praised Saudi King Salman bin Abdul Aziz's invitation to hold two emergency summits in Mecca between Gulf and Arab leaders to discuss the situation in the Gulf. Egypt received an invitation to attend an Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in Mecca at the end of this month. The Saudi ambassador in Cairo, Osama bin Ahmed Nugali, handed the invitation to Sisi May 18. Cairo will continue to support its brothers in the UAE and Saudi Arabia at the political and diplomatic level, Fahmy said. But it is too early to say if Cairo will send troops or participate in any military efforts at this time. For now, dialogue with the Trump administration is not on Irans agenda. The Islamic Republic is instead implementing a policy of resistance by focusing on improving its economy and mobilizing public support. In parallel, it is engaged in active diplomacy to boost trade and circumvent US sanctions. As part of the diplomatic frenzy, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif recently visited Russia, Turkmenistan, Japan, India and China. The last two are leading oil costumers of Iran that have proven that they will ultimately comply with US sanctions to avert punitive measures. Even as China has demonstrated relatively steadfast opposition against US pressure, it does not yet seem to be reliable enough for Iran to fully count on. Russia thus remains the last option for Tehran to pin its hopes on. Indeed, Moscow was the first destination in Zarif's recent diplomatic tour, which came as Iran announced that it would cease upholding some of its voluntary commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in response to Europes failure to provide the promised economic dividends of the accord. While in Moscow, Zarif said Iran and Russia have never been this close in the past few decades, and in further admiration of his hosts, said Iran differentiated between the JCPOA signatories and would never forget Russia's support. This stance indicates a slight change of heart among Iran's Reformists toward Russia. Traditionally, the country's conservative politicians and top military brass have always championed close relations with Moscow as a strategic policy. Among the most notable among the latter are Ali Akbar Velayati, who advises the supreme leader on international affairs, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani and former defense minister Hossein Dehghan. In contrast, the Reformist camp, represented by some figures within the Rouhani administration, has exhibited reluctance toward deeper ties with Russia. For instance, after Russia openly expressed a willingness to increase its crude output to make up for a slide in Iranian exports due to US sanctions, Oil Minister Bijan Zangeneh said wryly, "Iran has no permanent friend and foe." Zarif's remarks, therefore, seem to suggest that US pressure has created more consensus across the Iranian political spectrum about outreach to Russia. But the extent to which Iran does and could rely on Russia remains subject to heated debate. Zangeneh's argument that Russia cannot be regarded as a "permanent friend could be backed up by recent history. When Dmitry Medvedev was president, the Russian Federation voted for multiple anti-Iran UN Security Council resolutions. It also protracted delivery of the long-awaited S-300 missile defense system and repeatedly delayed the construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. However, the recent political cooperation between the two countries manifested in the Astana talks over the Syrian crisis the expansion of bilateral trade, the delivery of the S-300 system and joint military activities in Syria as well as the completion of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant are indications that there is significant ground for collaboration between Tehran and Moscow. At a time when it is being squeezed by US economic pressure, Iran indeed feels the urge to push for expanded ties with Russia and draw more Russian backing, which is probably why Zarif called for "concrete measures" from Moscow and Beijing to salvage the JCPOA. But whether Russia harbors any will to aid Iran and how it may do so depends largely on a realistic review of Iran's demands as well as Russia's capacities. It also depends on the direction of Russian foreign policy. Iran's most pressing current demand pertains to bypassing US sanctions on its oil exports and having access to oil revenues. As a major oil producer, Russia will not be offering much in this regard. Clear proof of this can be seen in the failure to implement the oil-for-goods agreement between Iran and Russia. Although Russia is offering technical support to Iran's peaceful nuclear program and related infrastructure, bilateral trade remains insignificant and is not likely to considerably expand in the short term. Bilateral trade in 2018 stood at a mere $1.7 billion, 75% of which was constituted of Russian exports to Iran. What Tehran desperately needs is a boost in exports rather than imports. Moreover, the exodus of Russian firms from Iran including Lukoil signifies how US pressure is impacting Russian enterprises. On the military front, Russia is by no means willing to enter a possible conflict between Iran and the United States. While Moscow has expressed readiness to expand military ties and sell weapons to Tehran, it has simultaneously stressed compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which reviews arms-related transfers to the Islamic Republic and which will only lift the UN arms embargo on Iran in the autumn of 2020. Nevertheless, when it comes to political support, there is much that Iran may expect from Russia. In the event of a possible US-sponsored anti-Iran resolution at the UN Security Council, Iran can hope for Russian opposition. Tehran's overall anti-US approach coupled with its shared geopolitical and security interests with Moscow could push Russia to support Iran. Additionally, Russia cannot ignore Iran's key role as a major player in the Middle East and central Eurasia. Any instability or fundamental political change in Iran in favor of the United States could harm Russian interests in both these regions. With this in mind, the Russians insist that regime change is the ultimate goal behind the US "maximum pressure" policy against Iran and thus vehemently oppose it. However, as Zarif has asserted, supportive statements alone wont save the JCPOA. Indeed, Russias capacity to alter the course of events is likely quite limited, as seen in President Vladimir Putins recent remarks that Moscow has already played its constructive role on the Iranian nuclear file and cannot serve as "a firefighting team to rescue everything." Putins comments also underlined Moscow's reluctance to become engulfed by the Washington-Tehran tensions. Putin's advice for Iran to stay in the nuclear deal "no matter what" did not seem to be much help to the Iranians either. Of note, Zarif has made Iran's position clear that the JCPOA is a multilateral agreement and that all signatories need to work toward protecting it. The leadership in Tehran understands that Russia's power is limited and that Moscow is unwilling to enter a US-Iran conflict and rather seeks to reboot its strained ties with Washington. Placing all eggs in the Russian basket would therefore not appear to be the most logical choice for Iran. The Iranians are indeed conscious that Moscow might favor a controlled level of tensions between Tehran and Washington, as it would redirect the US focus from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States toward Iran and the Middle East. US pressure also serves Russian interests as it pushes Iran further toward Russia, giving Moscow the status of an increasingly important partner of Tehran and thus the position of being a power which Washington may rely on to effectively pressure Iran. Russia could further gain advantage from a hike in oil prices as a result of the US-Iran tension and Tehran's shrinking presence in the European energy market. Mindful of these factors, Zarif's interpretation of his trip to Russia that Moscow will throw its full weight behind Tehran to protect the JCPOA and balance the "wrong policies" of the Trump administration does not appear compatible with the harsh realities on the ground. Controversy has arisen in Israel over a campaign by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's associates for an immunity law and to override the authority of the Supreme Court. In other words, Israel is now speeding headfirst toward a constitutional crisis as was previously reported by Al-Monitor. This, in turn, could drag the country into a social-political collision between the two opposing factions. According to all the signs, this collision could take the form of a widespread protest movement or even a popular revolt. Such a movement would make the 2011 social justice protests which involved a million Israelis, the largest demonstration in the history of the state look like a walk in the park. "We will set the streets on fire," say the Blue and White party leaders, who have been organizing a massive demonstration in Tel Aviv to take place on the night of May 25. The opposition partys highest echelons swear they will not allow Netanyahu to become Israels almost omnipotent Erdogan without a fight. "Well fight for our values, for our political viewpoints, for democracy," they say. Senior members of the party, led by former Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi, were already photographed holding a poster that read Waive my immunity a reference to the tremendous efforts made by the prime minister to secure immunity vis-a-vis the indictments piling up against him. Opposition Chairman and head of Blue and White Benny Gantz declared in his maiden speech in the Knesset that Netanyahu holds himself above everything (i.e., above the law), and we shall fight in the squares, in the neighborhoods, in the schools, in the media and in the legal arena. Gantzs words and images were reminiscent of the United Kingdoms Winston Churchill We shall fight them on the beaches speech at the beginning of World War II a reference that was no coincidence. Obviously, no one in Israel would even think to accuse a rival political party in Israel of any linkage to Nazism. Still, the Churchill reference illustrates what is already clear to both sides that Israel is facing a decisive social battle. It also makes it clear that the outcome of this struggle will decide the character of the Jewish state: whether the rule of law will prevail as well as the supremacy of the courts and the liberal values as expressed by the states founders. The alternative is conservatism, extremism, erosion of democracy, and that the supremacy of the regime and of religion will continue to gain power. One side is led by Netanyahu followed by fanatical rabbis, ultra-Orthodox Hassidic leaders and the radical right; the other side is led by Blue and White followed by liberal Israelis, people of the center-left and democracy. Both sides view the approaching collision as the decisive, conclusive battle for hegemony. In such an atmosphere, nothing good can happen. The protest against Netanyahus new legislative initiatives has been growing and widening in numerous sectors. Four Likud Knesset members Gideon Saar, Michal Shir and two additional Knesset members whose identities have not been made public have already announced they will not support the immunity law. By doing so, they join former high-placed Likud officials such as Limor Livnat and Benny Begin, who expressed similar opinions. Netanyahu tries not to leave fingerprints on the initiatives themselves and instead uses proxies to support the immunity initiative. For example, Likud Knesset member Miki Zohar and United Right Knesset member Bezalel Smotrich both swear poor Netanyahu has no connection to the initiative. There are even people who believe them. Following the political protests, senior Israeli attorneys woke up and quickly organized a conference the first of its type. Dozens of attorneys, some of who are Israels finest and most experienced, convened in one of Tel Avivs largest offices and said they would use all their power to fight any efforts by Netanyahu to crush the High Court of Justice and legal system. The slogan of the struggle is You will have to get past us on the way to crush the principles of the rule of law. Among the protesting attorneys is, for example, Pinchas Rubin, who was appointed to run Netanyahus defense team. It was published on May 22 that more than a hundred law lecturers from various faculties created a coalition for the rule of law, including professors Yoav Dotan of Hebrew University and Yedidia Stern of Bar-Ilan University. Simultaneously, a group of Israeli businessmen and entrepreneurs announced they will consider cutting back on their contributions to the Israeli community and social-justice activities should Netanyahus legislative plan be implemented. The most salient member of this group is Izzy Sheratzky, businessman and president of Ituran, who has invested hundreds of millions of shekels over many long years into the northern frontier town of Kiryat Shmona. If this stuff continues, Sheratzky said, I will halt my donations. Similar words were also heard from Yehuda Zisapel, the founder and president of the RAD-Bynet Group who is viewed as one of the fathers of Israeli high-tech; and Yossi Maiman, one of the former backers of Channel 10 and an active figure in the Israeli economy. The coming days will probably see many more movers and shakers add themselves to the list. Currently, people are placing much hope on the demonstration due to be held in Tel Aviv over the weekend. The Blue and White party hopes to draw hundreds of thousands of participants who will make it clear to Netanyahu that he has crossed all red lines and violated all rules. Defensive Shield for Democracy is the slogan of the demonstration, which is also drawing additional parties such as Labor and Meretz, the Israel Democracy Institute and additional public social justice organizations. Blue and White is investing efforts to include at the demonstration a prominent Israeli-Arab figure to address the crowd. The party learned its lesson from the recent April 9 elections. We cannot win elections here without the Arab sector, a senior Blue and White member told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The time has come to internalize that. There are hundreds of thousands of Arabs in Israel who are loyal to the state and its values and who want to have influence, and they are not connected to the exaggerated involvement of Arab politicians in the Palestinian issue. We have to focus on them and invest in them, he said. Despite everything described here, Netanyahus train continues to race toward immunity. In recent days, people surrounding the prime minister have hinted that he may agree to forfeit an amendment to the immunity law on the condition that he receive immunity in the framework of the current law. This is altogether possible on the condition that Netanyahu commands a Knesset majority on that issue. The problem is not the immunity law, a senior Likud source told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. The problem is Netanyahus far-reaching proposal against the High Court: the Override Clause," the source said. This legislative revision would enable the Knesset and the government to bypass the High Courts rulings in some cases. In fact, it will prevent the court from invalidating Knesset laws and interfering in administrative decisions of the Knesset. The intent here is to prevent the High Court from invalidating the immunity the Knesset intends to bestow on Netanyahu. This is a radical, deplorable change, the same Likud source says, adding, It is a process that basically nullifies the judicial review powers of the High Court over the government. Why, then, arent the Likud Knesset members objecting to this political game that is designed to satisfy Netanyahus personal needs? The Likud interviewee refused to answer. The answer to the question above is simple: Netanyahu just canceled the cap on the number of ministers in his new government assuming he will be the one to assemble it. This means he can appoint as many ministers as he wants. Everyone wants to be a minister; everyone wants a rise in status. Meanwhile, to our great misfortune, all the Knesset members are willing to sell out their countrys values in exchange for the privilege of becoming a minister. The Palestinian government will work on gradually disengaging from Israel, Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh asserted May 20 in response to the US announcement of an economic conference to be held in Bahrain as part of President Donald Trumps deal of the century. Palestinian businessmen were among those invited to attend the conference. Shtayyeh also said that the Palestinian Authority (PA) had decided, as its first step toward disengagement, to freeze issuing referrals to Palestinians seeking medical care in Israel. The second step will be the launch of a program to encourage local production in manufacturing and agriculture to halt reliance on importing products through and from Israel. A source in Israels Civil Administration who spoke with Al-Monitor on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the Palestinian Health Ministry has almost completely ceased issuing vouchers to Palestinian patients to cover life-saving medical treatment in Israeli hospitals. This is a game of false pride and honor, the source said. They are endangering the lives of the patients, mainly children and babies. Their main point is to prove to Israel and the Americans that the PA doesn't need them anymore. The PA does not have many alternatives to the treatments provided by Israel for cancer patients or people suffering from genetic diseases, a relatively prevalent condition among local Palestinians due to marriage among close relatives. Palestinian patients who cannot be treated in the Makassed Islamic Charitable Society Hospital in East Jerusalem are sent to hospitals in Jordan, while patients in Gaza are referred to hospitals in Cairo. For cancer patients, one big problem is that the treatments provided by these hospitals are inferior to those provided by Israeli hospitals specializing in oncological diseases. In addition, there are also logistical difficulties in finding donors for bone marrow transplants for patients suffering from genetic diseases or cancer. Until recently, patients who needed such transplants, mainly children, were treated in Israeli hospitals with lots of experience in treating their illnesses. Due to the need to pinpoint potential bone marrow donors, the PA and Israeli hospitals established protocols for obtaining blood samples from close relatives of patients in Gaza and the West Bank. Hundreds, if not thousands, of Palestinian lives have been saved thanks to these treatments, after which the recovered patients returned home. The PA, trying to prove that it can manage without Israeli help, has come to the probably unwise decision to sever this connection. The second stage of the Palestinian disengagement process is to create alternatives to the Israeli products that the PA imports. According to Israeli sources, the Palestinians are, indeed, taking real steps toward economic independence, but with faulty considerations. Also, according to sources, the PA is disregarding the difficulties and complex geo-political reality facing it, or to be more precise, the reality in which it is confined. The following are the main reasons the Palestinian fantasy of disengagement is likely to lead to failure for the endeavor while wreaking harm on the Palestinian population. Most of the raw materials the PA imports arrive via Israeli seaports or airports. Economic disengagement cannot be realized so long as they rely on imports transiting Israel. The PA is not a state and as such does not have its own currency. Rather, the Israeli shekel is the official legal tender in the West Bank as well as in Gaza. The Palestinian market is small and limited. Although the Palestinians could theoretically create industrial alternatives, the cost of production would be high as would the price of finished products. Palestinian consumers are familiar with Israeli products, and lower-quality, higher-priced alternatives will simply not survive market forces. Under such circumstances, a black market for Israeli products would likely develop. Thus, factories and plants built by the PA are likely to crash relatively quickly. The disengagement dream will lead to a deep economic crisis. The idea of Palestinian disengagement was not born when the Americans announced the economic workshop in Bahrain, but dates back to February 2018, after Trump made known his intention to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and transfer the US Embassy there. At that time, President Mahmoud Abbas issued a directive to the PLOs Executive Committee to prepare a plan to disengage from Israel. Since then, and with the expectation of the Trump administration releasing a peace plan, PA senior officials have been doing everything they can to deepen the crisis with Israel and the Americans. Thus, the Palestinian businessmen invited to the economic conference in Bahrain were warned by the PA not to attend. If they dare to participate, they were told, they may well be accused after the fact of colluding with hostile forces. The Palestinian American millionaire Bashar al-Masri, co-founder of the city of Rawabi, near Ramallah, confirmed that he had been invited to the conference, but had declined the invitation. (Masris uncle is Munib al-Masri, who is also a millionaire.) Masri explained diplomatically that the upcoming Bahrain conference is outside the Palestinian consensus. On the other hand, it has been reported that the Palestinian businessman Ashraf Jabari had accepted his invitation. Earlier this month, Qatar offered Abbas a grant of $300 million. The Trump administration has recruited Qatar, Bahrain and other wealthy Gulf states to provide financial backing for the peace plan it will unfurl next month, at the end of Ramadan. The commitment of the Gulf states to the United States at this point in time is significant for a variety of interests and considerations. Given this, Abbas may well discover that his categorical refusal to participate in the conference and the threats that have caused powerful Palestinian businessmen to back out of it represents a huge mistake. Abbas has almost no economic alternatives beyond Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and they are acting in their own interest to maintain good relations with the United States. In other words: The Saudis and the Gulf states will not lift a finger to save Abbas from the dangerous corner that he and other Palestinian officials have painted themselves into. According to an Israeli security source, PA officials lack an organized plan with clear goals. Committees and more committees are busy preparing position papers and action plans based on PA governmental assistance to businessmen on the West Bank and investment by Palestinian businessmen from Europe and the United States. All these plans, the source said, ignore one important fact: The territory in which the PA is operating is a confined enclave between Israel and Jordan, exactly like Gaza is an enclave between Egypt and Israel. Theres one more thing: Palestinian businessmen, like businessmen everywhere, are not rushing to endanger their fortunes. Lebanon is at a significant economic precipice with its debt sitting at 150% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, its growth was limited to only 1% that year according to the World Bank. To avoid debt restructuring and the economic collapse that would likely accompany it, prospects for growth hinge on restoring confidence in the economy, unlocking a host of pledged foreign investments and tackling the countrys budget deficit. Lebanons deficit amounted to 11% of GDP last year, and since April, the countrys Cabinet has been working to prepare what Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said would be the most austere budget in Lebanons history but it has had little success so far. After missing several deadlines to prepare a draft budget, Lebanese leaders are reportedly now preparing to publicly announce on May 22 decisions on cuts to public wages, salaries and pensions, which represent the lion's share of expenditures that are available for reductions. The issue of public pay and benefits has animated a widespread debate in Lebanon since April. Protests and strikes against such cuts have taken place across the public sector over the course of the past few weeks, fueled by long-running anger with the political class and deep economic inequality in the country. Demonstrators and public figures alike have urged politicians to avoid placing the burden of austerity onto public workers, and to improve tax collection and fight tax evasion and corruption instead. Although some leaders have made promises to public employees that their interests would be safeguarded, as the Cabinet approaches the tail end of the negotiations, it remains unclear whether these promises will be kept and whether adequate cuts will be made. Following weeks of negotiations, not much has been made public yet regarding expenditures, and member of parliament Ibrahim Kanaan, head of the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, told Al-Monitor that many ideas were still being shared among the ministers. But so far it seems likely that the armys share of the budget will be cut down and public pensions will be capped at 75% of corresponding wages. Since April 15, unions, retired eachers, military veterans and others have voiced their opposition to public sector wage and salary cuts, and demonstrations and strikes have taken place across the country. On May 3, employees of Lebanons Central Bank, Banque du Liban (BDL), began a rare strike in opposition to a proposed budget article that bank workers fear would limit their yearly pay. We have our salaries and we have arranged our lives accordingly, Abbas Awadeh, head of the employees syndicate at BDL, told Al-Monitor. Any salary cuts will definitely affect my family and my life, thats what we are defending. Awadeh and BDL employees suspended their strike indefinitely on May 7 in order to give the Cabinet more time to negotiate a draft budget. Awadeh said that BDL Gov. Riad Salameh, who had spoken with politicians, had reassured the syndicate that their salaries would not be impacted by the budget. Retired security personnel and military veterans received similar guarantees during weekslong protests against a potential cut to their pensions and another relevant reduction, and veterans groups suspended their protests May 13. But as with many of the budget proposals, conflicting statements have emerged on this issue. Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab stated to Annahar May 15 that salary reductions for active or former military personnel were not up for discussion, and Kanaan who is not privy to Cabinet discussions but has been involved in budget talks in parliament told Al-Monitor he does not believe public beneficiaries are being targeted. Yet other politicians like Labor Minister Camille Abousleiman hinted that cuts affecting the public may still be on the table. I have to protect the lower class and the middle classes, and it has to be proportional, Abousleiman told Al-Monitor, referring to the austerity measures. But I do believe there is runaway expenditure that needs to be addressed. Citing the ongoing discussions, he urged demonstrators to wait until after a budget is passed to make their opinions heard. Abousleiman is not alone in this view. Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil voiced his own dissatisfaction with protests in April, and Hariri went even further calling for legal penalties to be imposed on public employees who impede the functioning of state bodies. According to Mona Fawaz, professor of urban studies and planning at the American University of Beirut, public anger at the status quo, and the politicians who enable it, is only growing. Dissatisfaction [with the economy ] has been boiling for years, she told Al-Monitor. People see income inequality growing, they see their lifestyles eroded. Wage cuts especially for the lower classes will just do the same. Bassil and religious leaders, like Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai, suggested alternate solutions that would target the wealthy instead of public workers, including tamping down on tax and customs evasion. Kanaan echoed such ideas to Al-Monitor as the budget discussions were underway, but above all, urged the Cabinet to undertake structural reforms to state finances and to eliminate waste in the public sector. In addition to cuts, ministers are looking to raise revenue the Cabinet has already decided to raise taxes on bank deposit interest for three years. Although Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil stated May 19 that the budget will reduce the deficit to 8.3% of GDP, Sami Nader, director of the Levant Institute for Strategic Affairs, claimed this will likely not be the case. In times of recession this does not work, Nader told Al-Monitor, saying that new taxes would only squeeze the economy further. I dont believe given these facts that theyre going to decrease the budget deficit, because what they are doing is keeping the same amount of expenditures without saying it. Nader said that in his view, significantly cutting wages and salaries cannot be done because it would unleash even more social unrest, as recent demonstrations have shown. Nevertheless, the possibility remains that Lebanons Cabinet may be forced to take at least some unpopular austerity measures for the sake of salvaging the long-term health of the Lebanese economy. If they fail to do so, an even more dire economic situation is likely to follow. Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), was granted access to his lawyers today in the first such meeting since May 2 and the second in eight years, amid signs that Ankara is easing his isolation. Lawyers Nevroz Uysal and Rezan Sarica returned from the island prison of Imrali, where Ocalan has been held since 1999, following his treason conviction. But Ibrahim Bilmez, a member of Ocalans vast legal team, said what had been discussed is still under wraps. It may take one or two days for us to share this information, Bilmez told Al-Monitor. The governments decision to end Ocalans communications embargo has sparked widespread debate about its possible motives. One is that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is seeking to woo back Kurds who voted in favor of the opposition in the March 31 local elections, helping it grab many of Turkeys largest cities, including Istanbul. A do-over election for Istanbul is to be held on June 23, after the countrys top electoral commission upheld the AKP's claims of irregularities. Around two million of Istanbuls 15 million-strong population are believed to be Kurds. The controversial decision was announced on May 6. The same day, his lawyers shared a message Ocalan composed during the May 2 meeting. He made no mention of the elections. Instead, Ocalan appealed to more than 3,000 hunger strikers protesting his internment conditions to not endanger their lives. But the strikes continue and the situation is getting critical, said Bilmez. My personal opinion is that the government is above all concerned with getting our client to use his influence to help end the strikes. Should they result in death, Bilmez warned, it would fuel nationwide unrest and add to instability as the country grapples with its worst financial crisis in recent years. Leyla Guven, a lawmaker for the pro-Kurdish People's Democratic Party who spearheaded the hunger strikes, is on her 196th day of refusing solid food. Some 30 Ocalan supporters are refusing all forms of nutrition and medical intervention until their conditions are met. Over time, such actions can trigger Wernicke Korsakoff syndrome, a brain disorder that is caused by a vitamin B1 deficiency and leads to a painful death. The PKK has signaled that the hunger strikes will continue until Ocalans isolation is terminated and he is granted free and unfettered access to his family and lawyers. It could be seen as a display of loyalty in which the organization persists in advocating sacrifice despite his appeals. But it could also be the PKKs way of messaging Ankara that it wont cooperate unless it shows real signs of wanting to resume peace talks to end the 35-year-old Kurdish conflict. Ocalans message also addressed Syria, where the PKKs sister organization the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) dominates around a third of the war-wracked country with military protection from the United States. Ocalan did not refer to the YPG specifically but instead called on the YPG-led Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of Kurdish and Arab fighters, to take Turkeys sensitivities into account and to steer clear from a culture of conflict. His words were interpreted by some as a signal to the YPG to be more yielding as the United States pursues efforts to secure agreement between Turkey and the Kurdish militants on a proposed safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border. Turkey has not backed down from demands that its forces monitor the zone that would stretch east of the Euphrates River on the Syrian side all the way to the Iraqi border. The United States' special envoy to Syria, Jim Jeffrey, is said to be continuing to pile pressure on the YPG to make further concessions to stop the process from stalling, a source familiar with the substance of the talks told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Whether further exhortations from Ocalan will soften the YPGs opposition to a Turkish presence remains to be seen. Typically, the government vets any statements made by the 71-year-old guerrilla boss before they are made public, and at least one government official from the national intelligence agency or the armed forces is present when Ocalan meets with visitors. TUNIS, Tunisia Noureddine Taboubi, secretary-general of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) Tunisias largest trade union organization to defend workers, with about 700,000 employees met May 9 with the head of the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), Nabil Bafoun, and agreed to set up a joint media plan to move forward with the registration process for the upcoming legislative and presidential elections scheduled for October and November. The same day, the UGTT issued a statement on its Facebook page noting that its central, regional and local headquarters will be placed at the IHECs service. According to the statement, Taboubi stressed the UGTTs keenness to ensure successful democratic and transparent elections, with a great voter turnout. Addressing a May 1 Labor Day gathering at Mohamed Ali el-Hammi Square in Tunis, Taboubi made the official announcement that the UGTT will participate in the upcoming legislative and presidential elections. He added that the UGTT has started preparing a socio-economic program with its own vision for the future of Tunisia, which voters can use as a reference to choose the candidate to represent them. Meanwhile, UGTT official spokesman Sami al-Tahiri told Tunis Afrique Presse May 4 that the union decided to nominate members to head the polling stations and appoint about 2,000 observers, in preparation for the upcoming elections. Tahiri noted that the UGTTs national administrative body will later look into the possibility of the UGTTs direct participation in the elections by nominating candidates, running in the elections or supporting parties. The UGTTs participation in the electoral process has surprised many, since the union prides itself on union and social-related work and is committed to defend workers and marginalized classes, away from politics. The UGTT has in the past refused to take part in the elections, although Tunisian law does not prevent unions from participating in the race. IHEC member Adel al-Barini told Al-Monitor that the UGTTs announcement was a positive step and a good contribution to the success of the electoral process, since the UGTT is urging people to register and exercise their right to vote. He said that the IHEC has counted about 800,000 new registrants for the elections. Barini explained that the IHECs partnership with the UGTT is limited to encouraging voters registration, noting that the UGTT is still neutral and should it support one political party at the expense of another during the electoral campaign that kicks off in September, the IHEC would stop dealing with it. On May 12, former IHEC member Sami Ben Salama wrote on his Facebook page that the UGTTs participation in monitoring the electoral process and nominating trade unionists to head the polling stations would create an important balance during the elections, especially after the ruling parties had controlled sub-polling stations during the 2011 and 2014 elections. Munia Ibrahim, member of parliament for the Ennahda movement, one of the ruling parties, told Al-Monitor that the UGTTs participation in monitoring the elections would add more transparency to the democratic process in Tunisia. She noted that its participation in the parliamentary elections would help support the next parliament, since there will be parliamentarians defending the rights of workers as the UGTT is an essential political and social component. The UGTT issued a statement April 30 describing the parliaments performance as weak, in which personal interest prevail over the public interest, adding that Tunisia has been wrecked by a deep political crisis over the past eight years. In the same statement, the UGTT further held the ruling parties responsible for being too preoccupied to provide solutions to the problems plaguing the country, in light of the major political tension against the backdrop of the upcoming legislative and presidential elections. Khalid Obeid, historian and author specializing in contemporary political history, told Al-Monitor that he expects the UGTT to have a strong presence in all stages of the electoral process, noting that the UGTT decided to take part in the elections this year since it believes its neutrality in the past caused it to remain on the sidelines of decision-making in Tunisia. The UGTT, along with three other Tunisian organizations the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, the Tunisian Human Rights League and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers won in October 2015 the Nobel Peace Prize for their role in the democratic transition in Tunisia in 2013. Obeid added that the UGTTs decision comes in response to the governments failure to meet the demands of voters, whose situation has been deteriorating as their purchasing power, along with the countrys economic and social situation, has declined. In a May 12 statement, the Karama coalition, made up of independent figures, warned against the UGTTs participation in monitoring the electoral process affecting the IHECs credibility, criticizing the UGTTs tendency to support one party over another, which makes it a presumptive, non-neutral, competitor in this process. In the same statement, the coalition called on parties, civil society organizations and political actors to reject one entity taking over the IHEC and exploiting it in a way that does not serve democracy. Mohamed Jalal Ghadira, member of parliament for the National Coalition bloc loyal to Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, told Al-Monitor that no national organization has ever taken part in elections monitoring before and the UGGT along with all civil organizations must adhere to staying neutral and keeping all parties at an arms length. He explained that the UGGT includes unionists from different political currents, pointing out that the elections in Tunisia are public and all Tunisians have a right to participate. Tunisia has been the subject of controversy over demands to postpone the elections, which are rejected by several political parties. Namely, Walid Jallad, leader of the pro-Chahed Tahya Tounes, and Ennahda leader Noureddine Beheiri both stressed the need to postpone the elections until further notice. During Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdis recent visit to Ankara, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan raised the prospect of a security and military cooperation accord between the two neighbors, generating some rather splashy headlines in the media. Though Turkey and Iraq have put nothing on paper yet, the mere declaration of intent to resolve problems that have kept them at loggerheads in recent years has created an air of a new beginning. Security cooperation, however, is not a new topic for them. Turkey and Iraq signed a security deal in 2008, but it has had little effect on the ground. And the stumbling blocks in bilateral ties remain tough, calling for more tempered expectations. Speaking after his May 15 meeting with Abdul Mahdi, Erdogan stressed the importance of cooperation against the Islamic State (IS) and other groups, including the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which takes refuge in the mountains of northern Iraq and is considered a terrorist organization by Ankara. Weve decided that an agreement on military cooperation and trust between Turkey and Iraq will be an appropriate step, Erdogan said at the joint press conference. He added that Turkeys foreign and defense ministers and the intelligence chief would hold a meeting soon with their Iraqi counterparts to discuss details of the deal. Abdul Mahdi also called for joint efforts to combat terrorism. There are many agreements between Turkey and Iraq, including a security agreement in 2008, but we cannot say it has been utilized very effectively, he said, stressing that Bagdad will never accept security threats to Turkey originating from Iraqi territory. Beyond security cooperation, Turkeys vision of ties with Iraq in the coming period could be summarized as follows, based on Erdogans remarks at the presser: In commercial ties, the target is to more than double the trade volume to $20 billion. Ankara wants to reopen its consulates in Mosul and Basra, closed since 2014, and inaugurate new ones. It is interested in reconstruction projects in Iraq, including in the electricity and infrastructure fields. It expects the oil pipeline from Kirkuk to the Turkish port of Ceyhan vandalized by IS in 2014 to become operational as soon as possible. Regarding water-sharing disputes, Ankara hopes that an action plan, drawn up by a working group led by a former Turkish minister, will be put into practice to tackle Iraqs water problem. The plan involves the construction of new dams and water treatment facilities. Erdogan plans to go to Iraq toward the end of the year for the next meeting of the bilateral High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Despite the optimistic outlook that those points suggest, Turkish-Iraqi ties are fraught with long-standing problems that could eclipse myriad signatures on paper. On the commercial front, Iraq is the No. 1 buyer of Turkish goods in the Middle East. Turkeys exports to Iraq were worth $8.3 billion last year and $9 billion in 2017. The bilateral trade volume, meanwhile, stood at $9.7 billion last year and $10.5 billion in 2017. Erdogan had set the target of $20 billion back in 2009, when the bilateral trade volume was $5.2 billion. A decade later, commercial exchanges remain well behind target, while Turkey faces increasing competition from Iran on the Iraqi market. When it comes to diplomatic missions, Turkeys consulates in Erbil and Sulaimaniyah are currently operational, while its plans to reopen those in Mosul and Basra are not actually new. The reopening of the Basra consulate was postponed last year as violent protests broke out in the city. Turkeys consulate in Mosul, which IS seized in June 2014 along with 49 hostages, was destroyed during operations to liberate the city. Of note, in the days of the IS' rise, many Iraqis saw Turkey as backing the jihadis as it sought to defend Sunni groups rebelling against Baghdad. Also, Turkeys diplomatic efforts to reopen the Mosul and Basra consulates have led some to question whether Tehran could be playing a hampering role, given its regional rivalry with Ankara. Still, Ankara has requested Baghdads consent to launch new consulates in Najaf and Kirkuk. While the Iraqi attitude on Najaf has been positive, the notion of granting Turkey a diplomatic channel in Kirkuk an oil-rich region plagued by ethnic disputes, where Ankara backs its Turkmen kin has raised eyebrows. Recently, Ankara has been pressing Baghdad to engage with the Iraqi Turkmen Front, the main Turkmen political party, and ensure its representation in the government, wary that Turkmens are gravitating to Shiite and Sunni parties instead of seeking unity. Ankara is particularly irked that the Iranian axis has been increasingly resonating with the Turkmens since the beginning of the fight against IS in 2014 and Baghdads Iranian-backed seizure of Kirkuk from the Kurds in 2017. Iraq has regained importance for Turkey as it looks for alternative oil supplies after Washingtons decision to end sanction waivers for buyers of Iranian oil, as evidenced by Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglus visits to Baghdad and Erbil in late April. In 2017, Iraq invited bids for a new export pipeline for Kirkuks oil to replace an existing one, which is old and damaged, but no progress has been reported since then. The new pipeline 350 kilometers (217 miles) long and with a capacity to carry 1 million barrels per day is planned to start in Salahuddin province and pass through Kirkuk and Mosul before crossing into Turkey at Fish Khabur. In remarks May 16, Iraqi Oil Minister Samir Ghadban confirmed the plan remained in place, adding that Turkey had said it could buy more oil from Iraq. Kirkuks oil is currently being transported through another pipeline in the Kurdistan region. The flow was halted amid tensions over the Kurdish independence referendum in September 2017. Exports resumed in November 2018, ranging between 60,000 and 100,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, Turkey has sought to open a second border crossing with Iraq as an alternative to the existing one, which is at the border with the Kurdistan region. The planned new crossing at Ovakoy, where the borders of Turkey, Iraq and Syria meet is designed to serve multiple aims: increase bilateral trade, bypass the Kurdistan region and end the monopoly of the existing crossing at Habur, create a safe zone along the Syrian border and all the way to Mosul and thus cut off the PKKs connection to Sinjar in Iraq and Rojava in Syria. Despite its pledges of cooperation, Baghdad has dragged its feet on the project, which would shift the balance on a route that is outside its control. Baghdad is likely refraining from angering the Kurds at a time when it is trying to normalize ties with them. Remarkably, Ovakoy was not even mentioned at the Erdogan-Abdul Mahdi presser. Other tensions in bilateral ties stem from Turkeys cross-border operations against the PKK and from Turkey's military bases in northern Iraq, including the one at Bashiqa near Mosul. Although the two sides share sensibilities on territorial integrity and security in rhetoric, their perspectives remain widely apart. Ankara is pressuring Baghdad with the argument that Sinjar is becoming a second Qandil, while the dominant political forces in Iraq insist on Turkeys withdrawal from Bashiqa. Civilian casualties in recent Turkish operations have rekindled indignation against Turkeys military presence. When it comes to PKK camps on the territory of the Kurdistan region, the central government in Baghdad has neither the means nor the capacity to intervene on the ground. Efforts by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to win over Iraq are posing additional hardship for Turkey, on top of the influence of Iran. To keep up in the race, Ankara needs to rapidly overcome contentious issues and regain the momentum of 2008, at least. In sum, the shared pushback against the Kurdish independence referendum in 2017 has allowed Ankara to move back closer to the central government after its Iraqi policy was torn between Erbil and Baghdad from 2009 onward. While gradually breaking the ice with Baghdad, it has begun to seek normalization with Erbil as well, pressed by the need for oil supplies, among other factors. Yet the experience from the near past shows that positive steps like the creation of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in 2008, the signing of 48 memorandums of understanding and a series of high-level meetings in 2009 have failed to end the volatility of the relationship. The current warming of ties is the result not of efforts to solve long-standing problems but rather to postpone or push them to the back burner. The past decade offers some serious lessons on how hard it is to overcome this vicious circle. The new momentum is certainly encouraging, but can be hardly taken for granted, given the numerous obstacles that persist. The unannounced visit to Turkey of the chief of the Russian National Guard an internal security establishment also known as Vladimir Putins personal army will undoubtedly be given hard scrutiny by Western capitals amid increasing criticism of Turkeys drift away from its NATO allies. Viktor Zolotov, the head of the Russian National Guard, Rosgvardiya, a security unit that oversees anti-riot police and SWAT teams, paid a surprise visit to the capital, Ankara, from May 13-18 with a heavily loaded agenda, Turkish security sources told Al-Monitor. Although his Russian delegation's carefully crafted schedule didn't include any direct contact with the Turkish army, NATO's second largest, the visit heralds further military cooperation between Russia and Turkey. The delegation of 11 officials led by Zolotov held talks with several Turkish security officials, the sources told Al-Monitor. Zolotov, whose special force of 200,000 provides policing and military capabilities, is an influential name when it comes to Russias security policies. As a close friend of Putin, Zolotov recently made headlines in Russia by ridiculing the countrys opposition leader Alexei Navalny by challenging him to a duel. Zolotovs visit wasnt announced prior to his arrival and was low profile for the most part. The Turkish news media said the goal of the visit was information sharing between the Russian National Guard and Turkish gendarmerie forces. Accordingly, Russians wanted to learned the general structure of the Turkish Gendarmerie Command and its operations and to work toward beneficial sharing of information between two states that have close historical and cultural ties. As Al-Monitor reported in 2017, the Turkish Gendarmerie Command has been increasingly interested in Asia. Turkeys pro-Russian newspaper Aydinlik reported that Zolotovs visit wasnt limited to information sharing and that concrete steps were taken during the visit for institutional cooperation between Russian and Turkish interior security units. Zolotov was accompanied by Turkeys Gendarmerie Commander Arif Cetin throughout his visit. The two also signed a memorandum of understanding that covers cooperation in public order, public security, protection of state facilities, combating extremism and sharing intelligence about cross-border organized crime. The cooperation framework also foresees organizing joint exercises, trainings for the military and civilian personnel of Rosgvardia and the Turkish gendarmerie forces. The two organizations have many common functions. In Russia, Rosgvardiya is responsible for protecting power plants, bridges, dams, ports, tunnels and other critical infrastructure. It is also tasked with protecting lives and properties of key officials. International news media frequently report that Rostgvardiya has very close relations with some private paramilitary companies and even owns some of them. Given that Rosgvardiya, with its extreme influence over private security companies, is tasked with special missions such as restraining societal unrest, suppressing the opposition against the Putin administration, protecting critical facilities and persons, it is important for it to engage in cooperative activities in Turkey. For example, it could offer security services for the Akkuyu nuclear power plant, which is being constructed by Russia's State Atomic Energy Corp., and the Turkstream natural gas pipeline; Rosgvardiya also could engage in training and exercises with its Turkish partner to ensure public order. Rosgvardiyas military and personnel could come to Turkey for medical care, training, exercise and even vacations without any restrictions. It could be the trainer, coordinator and even partner of private security firms in Turkey. Of course this extent of cooperation would include sharing intelligence on terror organizations and organized crime. Zolotovs contacts were limited to the Interior Ministrys Gendarmerie Command and the coast guard. This means that Zolotov didnt hold any direct contact with the Turkish army, which is a NATO element. However, it is worth remembering that the gendarmerie and the coast guard work in an integrated way with the Turkish military in combating terror in southeast Turkey and in patrolling the seas. Thus, in a way, Rosgvardiya will be in touch with the Turkish military and even cooperate with it. Its as yet unclear whether the Turkish military will join this honeymoon period between the Turkish Gendarmerie Command and Rosgvardiya. Another important question is whether Russian security private firms affiliated with Rosgvardiya will be given access to the Turkish private security sector. Above all, what will be the effects of the cooperation with Rosgvardiya on the institutional identity of the Turkish security sectors established pro-Western strategic culture? No doubt, experts in Western capitals and at NATO have already begun discussing the answer to these questions by scrutinizing Zolotovs visit. Tunisian authorities released Moncef Kartas, a top UN expert on illegal arms transfers to Libya, from prison yesterday. Kartas, a dual Tunisian German national, had been held on espionage charges for nearly two months. But Tunisia has not dropped charges against Kartas, according to Sofiene Sliti, a spokesman for the chief prosecutor's office. He will not be permitted to leave the country as the investigation continues into the unofficial collection of information related to terrorism, which constitutes a dangerous crime, Sliti said. Kartas has not issued a statement since being freed from Tunis Mornaguia prison, where he had been kept since April 11. Kartas' lawyer, Sarah Zaafrani, said her client was relieved to have been released from prison, but that the battle has only just begun. Zaafrani told Al-Monitor that Kartas is completely innocent. The case against him needs to be dropped immediately. Diplomatic pressure from the UN and Germany, she said, played a big part in the authorities' decision to free him. Such pressure needs to be applied even more vigorously, she said. The UN and the German government insist on Kartas innocence, even as prosecutors shared evidence they say proves he was engaged in illicit activities targeting Tunisias national security. The UN said that Kartas' UN travel document, which he presented upon entering the country, grants him immunity from prosecution under a 1946 UN convention. The case remains shrouded in secrecy. The only purported evidence against him, as cited in press reports, is a tracking gadget that was found on Kartas. Available online for around $20, the device is used to track airplanes and to monitor which planes have their flight radars deactivated. Planes carrying illegal cargo to Libya deactivate their radars. The diplomatic furor is unlikely to subside until Kartas is cleared and allowed to leave the country. In the meantime, pundits are wondering why Tunisia, which prides itself on being the sole democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring, would provoke international ire by jailing Kartas without credible proof? Under Tunisias anti-terror laws, such crimes are punishable by death. The death penalty was last carried out in 1991. Sources familiar with Kartas describe him as a pleasant man, a talented professional with unimpeachable integrity. The notion that he might be engaged in any kind of monkey business is utterly laughable, they say. Wolfram Lacher, a Libya researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, collaborated with Kartas at the Geneva-based Small Arms Survey. Lacher told Al-Monitor that Kartas was doing extremely important work in establishing and collecting evidence of violations of the UN arms embargo. The reasons behind the arrest "have to be purely political," Lacher added. One theory making the rounds is that the United Arab Emirates, which backs Libyan warlord Khalifa Hifter, pressured Tunisias government, led by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, to jail Kartas. This would ostensibly prevent Kartas from reporting the UAEs alleged funneling of arms and cash to Hifter, in breach of UN sanctions. The timing of Kartas arrest makes this theory plausible, as it occurred mere days before Hifter launched his offensive on Tripoli, where Libya's internationally recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) sits. But Kartas was also likely investigating allegations that Turkey and Qatar continue to ferry weapons to the Muslim Brotherhood-friendly GNA. Ennahda, a Muslim Brotherhood-oriented party and a partner in Tunisias governing coalition, has close ties to Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But these allegations are not new. Amid all the geopolitical calculations, one critical aspect of the case has eluded media scrutiny: the public prosecutors formal reasoning for its investigation into Kartas under a revamped 2015 counterterrorism and anti-money laundering law. A document issued by the public prosecutor's office April 11 named a second individual, Aisar Ben Farouq Ben Osmane Ben Aissa, as a fellow subject of the espionage probe. Sources interviewed by Al-Monitor said Ben Aissa was a driver and fixer who translated and helped arrange interviews for visiting journalists and academics. Kartas, who did not have full command of Arabic, had employed him as well. It proved to be his undoing. Ben Aissa is the reason that Kartas is in this mess, Zaafrani said. She confirmed today that Ben Aissa, who appeared before prosecutors April 12, is still in prison. Al-Monitor was unable to reach Ben Aissas lawyers or relatives for comment. The bulk of the prosecutions case is said to rest on incriminating testimony from Ben Aissa. Zaafrani insisted this is pure lies. Ben Aissa identifies himself as Ayssar Ben Aissa on social media accounts. He claims to live in Lausanne, Switzerland. His LinkedIn profile says he has served as a development officer for the New York-based Clinton Foundation since July 2011. The Clinton Foundation did not respond to Al-Monitors request for comment. Kartas met Ben Aissa sometime in 2017, and in June 2018 they had a big fight, Zaafrani said. It erupted when Kartas realized that Ben Aissa had been secretly approaching his contacts under false pretenses. He first caught wind of the fixers alleged charlatanism when a Libyan general texted Kartas, saying he could not make it to their rendezvous in Tunis the next day, Zaafrani said. Kartas was in Berlin at the time and had no plans to meet the man. Ben Aissa had likely set up the appointment for himself. When Kartas confronted Ben Aissa over his duplicity, the fixer launched a smear campaign against him, spinning a web of lies about Kartas to the Tunisian authorities, according to several sources with knowledge of the affair. William Lawrence, a former US diplomat who teaches North African history at George Washington University, was among a group of informal mediators working to secure Kartas freedom. Lawrence told Al-Monitor he knows both Kartas and Ben Aissa personally. Lawrence described Ben Aissa as a fixer on steroids, a sociable and ambitious guy who made false claims about himself and who sought to enrich himself in this way. I know for a fact that he was telling lies about Kartas to the Tunisian authorities. A copy of a letter shared by Lawrence with Al-Monitor may be linked to Ben Aissas rendezvous with the Libyan general. The Arabic letter, dated Sept. 13, 2018, is from a Libyan official named Mohammad Ali Bashr and addressed to the Strategic Capacity Group, a McLean, VA-based security firm. The letter is on official Libyan government letterhead and bears the stamps of the GNA Ministry of Interiors anti-human trafficking agency. The Strategic Capacity Group is active in Tunisia and has partnered with the US government to help foreign governments bolster border security. Bashr writes that he has met with Ben Aissa and refers to plans for securing the eastern and western borders of Libya in cooperation with the US Department of State. Tunisia and Libya are the main routes for undocumented migrants and jihadis making their way from Africa to Europe. He invites the representative of the Strategic Capacity Group to meet with him in Libya, to benefit from your practical and technical experience, which will, without a doubt, contribute to helping us perform our task better. Al-Monitor was unable to reach Bashr to verify the authenticity of the letter. But sources familiar with the matter said that the Strategic Capacity Group had been in contact with Ben Aissa. Strategic Capacity Group did not respond to Al-Monitors request for comment. Lawrence said Ben Aissa passed himself off as a contractor for the US Embassy in Tunis for all matters related to Libya. A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Tunis told Al-Monitor, Ben Aissa has never been an employee of the US Embassy, but offered no further information. Meanwhile, another theory being advanced is that the Tunisian government was using Ben Aissa to frame Kartas to score points domestically, a tactic commonly used by autocratic regimes in the region. Dual nationals like Kartas make convenient scapegoats. Parliamentary elections are due to be held Oct. 6. Prime Minister Chahed is at war with President Beji Caid Essebsi and his son, Hafedh. A former Essebsi protege, Chahed split from their party, Nidaa Tounes, last year, vowing to stamp out corruption. But Chaheds attempts to ram through IMF-inspired austerity measures have been met with stiff popular resistance. Opponents label Chahed, who has formed his own party, as a Western stooge. They describe his stint as a local hire at the US Embassy in Tunis as proof. Branding Kartas a spy and putting him behind bars might help burnish Chaheds patriotic credentials. Perhaps tellingly, a pro-Chahed private TV channel, Atessia, aired a debate in which participants enthusiastically endorsed the accusations against Kartas. But if the government orchestrated the case against Kartas, then why did it also lock up Ben Aissa? Lawrence offered a possible explanation: I dont think Ben Aissa was working for the government. He probably got into trouble with the government, I dont know exactly for what, but he may have believed that making wild accusations about Kartas would get him off the hook. Terrorists fired 17 rockets from the Idlib area at Russias Hmeymim airbase in Syria, with eight of them falling short and the other nine destroyed by the alert air defense force, Russias Defense Ministry reported. "On May 22, terrorists made 17 launches from multiple rocket systems from the Idlib de-escalation zone at Russias Hmeymim airbase. Eight rockets fired by the terrorists fell short of the airbase. The terrorists remaining nine rockets were destroyed by the Russian airbases alert air defense force," TASS cited the statement as saying. Since the evening of May 21, militants of the Jabhat al-Nusra (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham terrorist grouping outlawed in Russia) have been launching massive attacks in the southern portion of the Idlib de-escalation zone on the government troops positions, using the armor, multiple launch rocket systems and suicide bombers vehicles. On May 18, Syrian government forces unilaterally ceased fire in the area but militants continue to attack their positions. The Senate has struggled to pass a long-stalled Syria sanctions bill since 2016, even as the House has unanimously passed the largely noncontroversial legislation several times. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee finally advanced the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act by a 20-2 vote today. But first, lawmakers had to vote down an amendment barring the Donald Trump administration from attacking Iran. The committee voted 13-9 against an amendment from Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., that would have barred funding for kinetic military operations in or against Iran except pursuant to an act or joint resolution of Congress specifically authorizing such use. We want to prevent a war that Congress does not authorize, Udall said ahead of the vote. The vote followed the Trump administrations congressional briefing on Iran on Tuesday, which left Democrats fretting over the risk of a military confrontation as tensions mount between Washington and Tehran. They said were doing all these activities to prevent a war, but not once did they say if were going to war, were going to come to you and ask for permission, Udall said. Democrats fear that the Trump administration could use the 2001 authorization for military action against al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups as legal cover to attack Iran. Pressed by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo refused to state that the 2001 authorization does not apply to Iran and instead accused Tehran of supporting al-Qaeda. But the Daily Beast reported Tuesday that senior administration officials told lawmakers during this weeks Iran briefing that they have no evidence that Iran meaningfully cooperates with the militant group. The Udall amendment doesnt preclude US forces from defending themselves in the event of an attack. But several Republicans on the committee argued that Iran could construe it that way, raising the risk of miscalculation leading to military conflict. Not only would it undercut the efforts to send a very strong signal on Syria, which is what we want to do, I think it would send the wrong signal to our adversaries of a country intent on killing Americans, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Paul was the only Republican to vote for the Udall amendment. Foreign Relations Chairman James Risch, R-Idaho, managed to forestall a similar defection from Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., by promising that the committee would hold a hearing to examine existing military authorizations. In addition to the 2001 authorization, the 2002 authorization for the use of military force against Iraq and the 1991 authorization for the Gulf War also remain on the books. Hoping to force a debate on the issue, the House Appropriations Committee voted 30-22 along party lines Tuesday to add language to its annual defense spending bill that would repeal the 2001 authorization within eight months. Nonetheless, the committees top Democrat, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., bucked the rest of their caucus to side with Republicans against the Udall amendment. Menendez argued that passing the Udall language would sink the entire bill due to a lack of Republican support. He added that he had included language noting that the Syria sanctions legislation was not an authorization to use military force against Iran. I agree with your concerns, Menendez told Udall ahead of the vote. This is a serious bill that has been introduced in the past three congresses to address the abuses of the Syrian government against the people of Syria. Those abuses continue today and we actually have an opportunity to get this to the presidents desk so that he can sign it. The Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act would sanction supporters of the Bashar al-Assad government while requiring the Treasury Department to determine whether it should sanction Syrias central bank. Paul, who joined Udall in voting against the final bill, had held up the legislation previous years. This prompted his fellow Republicans to include it in a broader Middle East legislative package earlier this year. That package passed the Senate 77-23, but House Democrats have refused to put it on the floor over a provision cracking down on the pro-Palestinians boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, which they say raises free speech concerns. Todays committee vote paves the way for a final Senate floor vote and comes after a senior administration official told Al-Monitor last week that the United States is intent on intensifying the political and economic pressure on Assad. Ambassador James Jeffrey, the State Department's Syria coordinator, called on Congress to pass the bill during his testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee today. He also reiterated the State Departments allegation that the Assad government may have again used chemical weapons in its offensive against the last rebel enclave in northwest Syria. While Jeffrey stressed that the United States has not reached a final conclusion, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said today that theres no evidence of a new chemical weapons attack. Congress has also taken the case for more pressure on Assad directly to Trump, with nearly 400 lawmakers signing onto a letter this week asking the president to increase pressure on Iran and Russia in Syria in order to bolster Israels security. The letter, which the American Israel Public Affairs Committee lobbied for during its annual policy conference in March, also asks the Trump administration to increase sanctions on the Lebanese paramilitary group Hezbollah and its supporters. Five Arabs pour out their suffering in their letters in Lebanese author Hoda Barakats poignant The Night Post, reflecting the plight of people displaced by war, political strife and economic conditions in the Middle East. The novel, which has won the 2019 International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF), known as the "Arab Booker," is atypical. Merely 126 pages, it uses familiar, everyday language to tell compelling stories two of the letters are between lovers; a young man writes to his mother; a sister to her brother; and a gay man to his father. The sixth letter the final one is written by the mailman who has delivered them all. Then the mailman dies and the letters stop a thinly veiled reference to the silence of the world to the suffering of the displaced. The letters document the difficult situation the displaced find themselves in. They recount the stories of migrants in [transition], striving to reach a safe haven. All these letters are handed to the mailman," Barakat told Al-Monitor. Born in Beirut in 1952, Hoda Barakat moved to Paris in the midst of the Lebanese civil war (1975-1990). She said that the move shaped her literary path. "Each of us has a starting point but at a different time and space. Everything we experience affects us, she said. Her first novel, The Stone of Laughter, published in 1990, narrated the life and dilemmas of a gay man during the civil war. It received the Al-Nagid Award. To get an award for a first novel is unusual. This achieves fame. It could have benefited my next works, or probably harmed them. I don't know, she said. Barakat won the Naguib Mahfouz Medal for Literature for her novel The Tiller of Waters in 2000, which was also translated into English. She noted that The Night Post was a challenge because she wrote, for the first time, about events outside Lebanon. Charafdine Majdouline, the chair of the jury, said in his speech at the award ceremony in Abu Dhabi, The novel represents an experience with very specific details, enriching linguistics, narrative construction and ability to portray the human depth. The great challenge is that the novelist used popular fiction and succeeded in convincing the reader. Barakat herself has brushed aside claims that the novel was too short compared to usual Arabic literary works. The number of pages does not matter. What matters is the style, meaning, aesthetics and the potential, she said. The author will receive $50,000, and IPAF will finance the English translation of the book from the Arabic-language original. The book already exists in French. "We are always amazed when we get rewarded for something in which others see things we dont see, Barakat said when she was asked about the prize. At the award ceremony, the Lebanese author admitted that the award was unexpected. When Dar-al Adab [the publishing house that published the book in Arabic] proposed to nominate my book, I said 'No, I am angry at [IPAF].' This was because the author had been disappointed that her book The Kingdom of This Earth had been nominated for the award in 2013, but had not made it onto the shortlist. I thank the jury because it encouraged us to run. This time we had hopes that this novel will make its way, she said in her acceptance speech. Her speech fed into the controversy that surfaced in the award ceremony, because hours before the announcement the news of Barakat's victory was leaked. This angered the other shortlisted candidates including Inaam Kachachi, who boycotted the ceremony. On her Facebook page, she wrote, I found it appropriate to refrain from attending the ceremony because of leaks that preceded it and prejudiced this award. But the board of trustees of the prize was quick to respond to the controversy, expressing regret after the disclosure of the name of the winning novel in an inappropriate way, pledging to investigate the situation. Barakat said, IPAF reserves the right to take legal action whether by complaint or lawsuit to preserve its credibility and to deter those who violate the rules and regulations. Al-Monitor spoke to Sayed Mahmoud, a former jury member of the prize, who said, The early disclosure of the name of the winner has stirred great controversy this year, although Barakat deserves the award for her literary production. But her speech at the award ceremony made things worse. She put the jury and the board of trustees in a very embarrassing situation. He said the fact that Barakat mentioned that the jury had encouraged her to enter the competition was strange, particularly as she had won the award. This raised questions about the credibility of the competition, he said. Despite the controversy, Barakat said she was happy that she won the prize after all. Prizes are for truly creative artists. People sometimes criticize these awards or find them awkward, but they are eventually a way to recognize creativity and show appreciation for the [author]," she concluded. Two people were shot Tuesday night at a Center Point apartment complex, with one victim suffering life-threatening injuries, authorities said. The Jefferson County Sheriffs Office and the Birmingham Police Department were investigating the shooting following a call of shots fired around 9 p.m. at the Valley Brook Apartments at 2921 Gallant Drive in Center Point. A suspect was not in custody as of 9:20 p.m. Tuesday, Birmingham police Sgt. Johnny Williams said. One of the victims had life-threatening injuries while the other sustained non-life-threatening wounds, according to Williams. An Alabama inmate serving life in prison for a robbery conviction has been indicted in the 1974 fatal shooting of a Texas police officer. Prosecutors joined police in Alice on Tuesday to announce the May 10 indictment of Roberto Lopez on a capital murder count. Officer Matthew Murphy was shot during a traffic stop in Alice, 120 miles south of San Antonio. Alabama Department of Corrections records show Lopez in 1981 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for robbery. Alice police in 2017 identified Lopez as a suspect. An affidavit says the inmate bragged about killing a "narc" named Murphy. The victim previously was an undercover narcotics officer. Alabama corrections officials didnt immediately return messages Wednesday. No information could immediately be located for an attorney representing Lopez. When Auburn police officers went to a mobile home Sunday night to investigate a report of domestic violence, Grady Wayne Wilkes opened the door wearing body armor and brandishing a rifle, according to newly-released court records. Wilkes immediately opened fire, hitting the three officers, those records state. Killed in the shooting was veteran Auburn police officer William Buechner. Wounded were officers Webb Sistrunk and Evan Elliott. Visitation for fallen officer Buechner will be held at the Auburn University Arena Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The funeral service will follow starting at 2 p.m. at the same location. Graveside will take place at Town Creek Cemetery in Auburn immediately after the service. According to his obituary, Buechner graduated from Auburn University in 2005. He was a full patch member of the Gunners Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club for more than five years. He is survived by his wife of three years, Sara, as well as a son and stepdaughter. A GoFundMe for Buechners family has raised more than $25,000. Wilkes, 29, is charged with capital murder, three counts of attempted murder, and one count of second-degree domestic abuse. Auburn police responded about 10:40 p.m. to a domestic disturbance call at a mobile home park in the 3000 block of Wire Road. According to the charging documents, the officers met with the female victim who told them that Wilkes, who is her live-in boyfriend and the father of her child, physically assaulted her and threatened to kill her. The woman told police Wilkes had grabbed her by the wrist and choked her. Full coverage of the case The victim fled the apartment and met officers at a different location within the trailer park. Court records do no indicate where the child was when everything took place. After meeting with victim, multiple officers including Buechner, Sistrunk and Elliott went back to the home to make contact with Wilkes. The officers knocked, and Wilkes opened the door A fourth officer was fired upon but was not struck. Buechner was transported to East Alabama Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Sistrunk and Elliott were transported to another hospital for treatment of their wounds. On Tuesday, AL.com reported that Wilkes was an active member of the Alabama Army National Guard as a corporal and infantry fire team leader who joined the guard in 2010. Guard officials said they have no record of Wilkes being deployed. He is also a 2011 graduate of Daleville High School, according to the Daleville Sun-Courier newspaper. Wilkes was arrested at 7:12 a.m., Monday, a little more than nine hours after the initial call was made. He made his first court appearance Tuesday in a heavily-guarded courtroom. A judge appointed attorney William Whatley to represent Wilkes. Whatley said he has no comment about the case at this time. The redesign of the $20 bill featuring abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who escaped slavery and led hundreds of other people to freedom, will no longer be unveiled in 2020, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday. Tubman was slated to replace slave owner Andrew Jackson - President Trump's favorite commander in chief - as part of the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, which gave women the right to vote. But Mnuchin said that the design process has been delayed until 2028. "The primary reason we have looked at redesigning the currency is for counterfeiting issues," Mnuchin said during a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee. "Based upon this, the $20 bill will now not come out until 2028. The $10 bill and the $50 bill will come out with new features beforehand." Tubman never waited for a man to affirm her. Tubman reveled in defying men, defying governments, defying slavery, defying Confederate armies and slave catchers who put a $40,000 bounty on her head. This black woman who stood 5 feet tall was utterly and completely fearless. "I had reasoned this out in my mind," Tubman once said, "there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other." Tubman was born Araminta Ross sometime between 1819 and 1823 on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where officials recently dedicated landscapes and waterways asthe Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Historic National Park. Tubman's maternal grandmother had arrived in this country via the Middle Passage on a slave ship. Tubman was enslaved by a man named Edward Broadess. When she was about 13, she refused to help a slave overseer capture a runaway. The overseer threw a two-pound lead weight at the runaway. The weight mistakenly hit Tubman in the head, splitting her skull, according to the Harriet Tubman Museum & Education Center in Cambridge, Md. Tubman was unconscious two or three days and would continue to suffer chronic seizures the rest of her life. The injury caused sleeping spells or narcolepsy, which would cause her to drop into a deep sleep anywhere and at any time of day. Broadess tried to sell her as damaged property but failed. He tried again when Tubman was 26. She prayed that God would kill him. A week later, he was dead. In 1844, she married John Tubman, a free black man. She changed her first name to Harriet - which was her mother's name - and took her husband's last name, Tubman. In 1849, worried that she and others would be sold to another plantation, Tubman decided to escape. She could not convince her husband to leave with her. So she escaped with two of her brothers - Ben and Henry - from Poplar Neck Plantation. But soon, Ben and Henry became frightened and turned back, according to the Tubman museum. Harriet continued her journey, traveling by foot 90 miles, crossing Delaware and arriving in Pennsylvania. "I had crossed the line," she would say later. "I was free; but there was no one to welcome me to the land of freedom. I was a stranger in a strange land." In Philadelphia, she worked as a household servant and saved up enough money to return to the South to help others escape. In 1850, Tubman returned to Maryland for her niece and niece's husband. A year later, in 1851, she returned for her husband, but he had taken another wife. Despite danger and laws carrying severe penalties for helping enslaved people escape, Tubman kept returning. According to an 1849 Maryland law, assisting or encouraging an enslaved person to escape carried penalties of imprisonment, threats to be sold further South and a punishment of "39 stripes with a whip." Slave owners issued huge rewards for Tubman's capture. By 1856, rewards for her added up to $40,000 - about $1 million in today's currency, according to the Tubman museum. Still, she kept coming back. She made at least 19 trips, freeing more than 300 enslaved people, guided by the North Star along the underground railroad. In 1854, she came back for her brothers. Three years later, in 1857, she returned for her mother and father and journeyed with them all the way into Canada. On her return trips, she would often sing, "Come down, Moses," a warning notice to those who wanted to escape, that she was ready to guide them. People called her the "Moses of her people." "I freed a thousand slaves," she once said. "I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves." She carried a pistol. "If anyone ever wanted to change his or her mind during the journey to freedom and return, Tubman pulled out a gun and said, 'You'll be free or die a slave!'" according to a Library of Congress account of her life. "Tubman knew that if anyone turned back, it would put her and other escaping slaves in danger of discovery, capture or even death." Historians still marvel at Tubman's brilliance in avoiding capture and her stealth. She often dressed like a man. Bounty hunters did not realize it was a woman helping people escape. Tubman once told a story about how on one of her return trips to Maryland, she passed one of her old owners walking down the same side of the street. He did not recognize her, and she did not flinch. During the Civil War, Tubman worked as a nurse, a cook and a spy for the Union. According to the book, "Harriet Tubman: Secret Agent," by Thomas Allen, Tubman worked as a spy for the Union and was connected to the abolitionist John Brown, who led the raid against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry, Virginia, which is now in West Virginia. When Brown was arrested, he was carrying papers that connected him to Tubman, whom he called "General Tubman." Brown referred to Tubman as "he" and "him." Allen wrote that Tubman was the only woman who led men into battle during the Civil War. Tubman persuaded formerly enslaved men to track Confederate camps and report on their movements. After the war, in 1866, Tubman was traveling with a "half-fare ticket" from Philadelphia to New York, when the conductor ordered her to move to the smoking car, according to the book, "Bound for the Promised Land: Harriet Tubman, Portrait of an American Hero," by Kate Clifford Larson. Tubman refused to budge. "She explained that she was working for the government and was entitled to ride wherever she liked." The conductor yelled, "We don't carry niggers for half-fare," the book recounts. Then the conductor tried to pull her off the train. "But Tubman's legendary strength apparently outmatched him," Larson wrote. The conductor called for help and two other men pried her fingers loose from the car, broke her arm and threw her into the smoking car, "possibly breaking several of her ribs." "In 1863, she went with Colonel James Montgomery and about 150 black soldiers on a gunboat raid in South Carolina," according to the Library of Congress. "Because she had inside information from her scouts, the Union gunboats were able to surprise the Confederate rebels." They raided plantations in South Carolina and set fire to buildings, destroying bridges and freeing more slaves."At first when the Union Army came through and burned plantations, slaves hid in the woods," according to the Library of Congress. "But when they realized that the gunboats could take them behind Union lines to freedom, they came running from all directions, bringing as many of their belongings as they could carry. Tubman later said, 'I never saw such a sight.' " She called the conductor "a copperhead scoundrel, for which he choked her," Larson wrote. "She told him she didn't thank anybody to call her a colored person." She preferred to be called black or Negro. "She said she was as proud of being a black woman as he was of being white." On March 10, 1913, Tubman, died of pneumonia in Auburn, New York. She often said she never failed to deliver her passengers to freedom. On my Underground Railroad, she said, I [never] run my train off [the] track. I never lost a passenger. Alabama voters wont have their say on a lottery at the polls in March, according to the House sponsor of the legislation to make that happen. Rep. Steve Clouse, R-Ozark, who said Tuesday night he was still trying to round up votes after the bill stalled, said this afternoon the votes just arent there. The lottery is dead for this session, said Clouse, chairman of the House General Fund budget committee. "Just cant get an agreement to get to 63 votes." It would take 63 votes, three-fifths of the House membership, to pass the proposed constitutional amendment. Clouse said he believes the bill was at least six or seven votes short of that. He said opposition came from lawmakers opposed to any type of gambling and those who wanted a lottery to include electronic gaming machines in Greene and Macon counties as part of the plan. Clouse said its disappointing that voters wont have a chance to vote on a lottery during the presidential primary in March. I think the vast majority of the people in Alabama want to be able to vote on a paper lottery like is taking place in Tennessee and Georgia and Florida right now and soon to be Mississippi, Clouse said. Utah, Alaska, Hawaii and Nevada are the only other states without a lottery. Alabama voters rejected a lottery plan led by Gov. Don Siegelman in 1999. Gov. Robert Bentley proposed a lottery in 2016 but it did not pass the Legislature. This year, the lottery passed the Senate with the minimum 21 votes needed. Tuesday night, it fell one vote shy on a procedural vote needed to bring it up for debate in the House. House Speaker Mac McCutcheon, R-Monrovia, said this afternoon the lottery bill is probably dead because there are not enough votes for it. We need 63 votes. We had about 47 Republicans that were voting for it. Therefore I needed a bipartisan effort and there just wasnt enough votes out there to get the bill passed in a position to be a constitutional amendment. So, thats the bottom line, McCutcheon said. Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Range, the sponsor of the lottery bill, said its demise in the House was extremely frustrating. Albritton is chairman of the Senates General Fund committee. He said a lottery was not a remedy for all the state funding needs but that it could be a component that people would support. The lottery is not the panacea, Albritton said. Its not the answer to all the problems of the state. Its simply a tool and a method that appears to be what folks want to be able to participate in and should be relatively easy to pass. That has proven more difficult. The Senate passed the bill last month by a vote of 21-12, with 21 being the minimum needed. It would have split the net lottery revenue between the General Fund, the Alabama Trust Fund and a reserve account for the General Fund. When we put this bill together and we wanted to find a path where we got the easiest, simplest piece of legislation and we got enough votes to send it out and down to the House in as short a time as we did, I thought we did a very good job with it," Albritton said. And then as soon as they get it, its changed, dramatically. This bill not only had the lottery, it had substantive change in the way we do General Fund budgeting. And all of that was rejected by the House. The House changed the bill to direct 75 percent of net revenue to the General Fund and 25 percent to the Education Trust Fund. Clouse said it would be harder to win approval of a lottery bill that did not send any money to education. Only three House Democrats voted on a procedural measure to bring the lottery up for a vote on Tuesday. At a news conference today, House Minority Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville, said Democrats wanted more specifics about how the money would be spent. Daniels said the caucus wanted more lottery funding to go to education based on what they heard from constituents. Daniels said Democrats wanted lottery funds to go to need-based scholarship programs, prekindergarten, and Medicaid expansion, a longtime Democratic goal that the Republican majority does not support. Daniels said the caucus viewed the lottery in terms of an opportunity to deliver services to constituents. The truth of the matter is that we wanted more accountability and wanted enabling legislation to make certain that the deliverables were where they need to be as a caucus. A Georgia man has been sentenced to 438 years in prison in connection to a decades old sexual abuse case that occurred in Alabama. Michael William Lesher, 53, of Carollton, Georgia, was convicted in March for raping, sodomizing and sexually abusing two children about 12 years ago when they lived in Morgan County. The children were family members, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors praised the sentence, which came after what they described as the most disturbing child sexual assaults they had seen. Lesher was convicted of two counts of first-degree rape, two counts of first-degree sodomy, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of incest. Lisa Lesher, Michael Leshers wife, also faces charges in connection to the case. She remains in custody while awaiting trial. Lisa Lesher, 40, is being held on counts of first-degree sodomy by forcible compulsion, one count of second-degree sodomy, one count of sexual torture, and one count of first-degree sexual abuse. Mississippi lawmakers called for state Rep. Douglas McLeods resignation amid allegations of domestic violence. According to an investigative report reviewed by the Sun Herald, members of the George County Sheriff's Department arrived at the McLeod home around 9 p.m. Saturday after receiving a call about an assault. Deputies were met by McLeod who, the Herald said, was stumbling, speaking with slurred speech and holding an alcoholic beverage. Inside, McLeod's wife was shaking and upset, and claimed that her husband "just snapped." The investigation led local law enforcement to believe that the 58-year-old Republican politician punched his wife, causing her nose to bleed, the Sun Herald reported the document said. Deputies also observed blood in the couple's bedroom. McLeod, who did not return a request for comment, was taken into police custody Saturday evening and charged with a domestic violence-related misdemeanor. In response to his arrest, Mississippi officials - Democrats and Republicans alike - asked the state representative to step down. Sen. David Blount, D-Miss., tweeted Tuesday, "Rep. McLeod should resign." Mississippi House Speaker Philip Gunn, R, made a similar statement Tuesday, requesting that McLeod vacate the position "if in fact, these allegations are true," the Herald reported. "These actions are unacceptable for anyone," Gunn said. The state's Republican Party chairman, Lucien Smith, called for McLeod to "resign immediately," if the allegations are true, the Clarion Ledger reported. Violence in any relationship is unacceptable, and I condemn this conduct in the strongest possible terms, she said in a statement Tuesday night. Turkey has a little more than two weeks to decide whether to complete a complex arms deal with the U.S. or risk severe penalties by going through with an agreement to buy Russia's S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. By the end of the first week of June, Turkey must cancel a multibillion-dollar deal with Russia and instead buy U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system or face removal from Lockheed Martins F-35 program, forfeiture of 100 promised F-35 jets, imposition of U.S. sanctions and potential blowback from NATO. As it stands now, the U.S. State Departments current offer is the final one, multiple sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told CNBC, when asked whether the deadline had room for more extensions. "NATO countries need to procure military equipment that is interoperable with NATO systems. A Russian system would not meet that standard," said a U.S. State Department official who requested anonymity given the sensitivity of the matter. "We underscore that Turkey will face very real and negative consequences if it completes its S-400 delivery," the official added. On May 17, at the meeting with speaker of Russias Federation Council upper parliament house Valentina Matviyenko in Istanbul, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has pledged that the contract for Russian S-400 missile systems will be implemented. At the same time, Ankara has sent military servicemen to Russia to undergo a training course on the use of the S-400 missile systems, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said. "We have sent our specialists to Russia to undergo a training course on the use of the S-400 systems, the course will start today and last several months," the Milliyet newspaper cited him mas saying. "The number of the personnel keeps changing, all of them have their own goals," Akar added. The head of the political research of the Center for Modern Turkish Studies, Yuri Mavashev, speaking with the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that there will be tough response from Ankara. "The international dignity is more important for Ankara, so it will not make decisions under pressure, especially since Erdogan said many times that there is nothing to discuss here. The United States, putting forward an ultimatum, clearly understands that Turkey will not fulfill it, provoking it to harsh statements," he said in the first place. "There was a definite agreement between Turkey and Sudan, according to which Turkey may count on having its bases near Saudi Arabia. The United States confronts the Turks with the Arabs, now the Americans are waiting for Turkey to take an anti-Katar union into the military ring (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt), expecting any drastic step to say that "Ankara behaves inadequately, we will build relations with the Arabs and protect them." That is why the S-400 ultimatum was issued," the expert drew attention. "I think that an ultimatum is also a signal to opposition political forces in Turkey led by ex-PM Ahmet Davutoglu and ex-vice-premier, ex-foreign minister Ali Babacan. It's beneficial for Washington to stimulate this opposition, which will seek to topple Erdogan. All opponents of Erdogan understand that he will not be able to abandon the S-400 purchase. Therefore, he will have to get tough with the U.S.," Yuri Mavashev explained. "One should expect revitalization of the Turkish army, work on the African direction will be intensified, perhaps Ankara will announce that, in connection with the ultimatum, it is forced to reconsider all security issues. If the U.S. wants to wreak havoc, push the peoples against each other (Turks against Arabs, Arabs against Iran and so on), then the ultimatum works precisely on it. For Russia, this is bad, because the Middle East is very close to our borders, and Russia is interested in counteracting this chaos by all possible means," the head of the political research of the Center for Modern Turkish Studies concluded. Police have located a Bessemer man who was last seen yesterday. William Tubbs, 81, was reported missing late Tuesday. According to a missing senior alert from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Tubbs walked away from his Bessemer home. He was last seen wearing plaid lounge pants, a white shirt, and cap, Bessemer police said. Bessemer police said Tubbs suffers from dementia. Tubbs is a black male with brown hair and brown eyes, ALEA reported. He weighs approximately 131 pounds and is 5 feet and 9 inches tall. ALEA reported Wednesday morning Tubbs was found safe. Gov. Kay Ivey announced Wednesday the largest supplier yet to complement the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA plant in Huntsville. YKTA will provide an array of parts for the cars to be built at the MTMUS plant at a $220 million plant that will be built on the giant automotive plants campus in Limestone County. The supplier plant will create 650 new jobs. Its a significant addition to the growing cluster of suppliers around the Mazda Toyota assembly plant here in Huntsville, Ivey said. Alabama business is on a roll and we dont plan on stopping any time soon. The groundbreaking for YKTA, held on the edge of the MTMUS campus, included executives from Mazda and Toyota. The YKTA facility will be built on the north side of the MTMUS plant and the two will be connected via a breezeway, underscoring their close working relationship. "This is our third supplier to MTMUS. Over 1,400 committed jobs to the area," Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said. The supplier jobs are in addition to the 4,000 jobs at the $1.6 billion MTMUS plant itself. YKTA, a new joint venture formed between a trio of Mazda and Toyota suppliers, will produce structural body stampings and assemblies, as well as functional and chassis parts, for MTMUS. The three companies that came together to former YKTA -- Y-tec, Keylex and Toyotetsu are existing Japanese automotive suppliers with operations in North America. Y-tech and Keylex have historically been suppliers for Mazda while Toyotetsu provided parts for Toyota. Were going to have common suppliers, said Mark Brazeal, vice president of administration for MTMUS. Theyre going to be making parts for the Toyota vehicle and the Mazda vehicle. Brazeal said the proximity of the YKTA facility will translate into an ample inventory of parts for the automakers. YKTA also presented a $10,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama at the groundbreaking ceremony. YKTA is already accepting job applications at its website at YKTAL.com. The wave of suppliers have been expected to roll into north Alabama, providing thousands of indirect jobs. Its the cycle that comes off of MTMUS, Battle said. As they come and start producing automobiles, were going to see more and more jobs and more and more economy coming off this. The future holds more of these kinds of announcements. It's the third major supplier announcement in recent weeks. Last month, Ivey made the announcement at an event in Athens that Toyota Boshoku will be building a $50 manufacturing facility that will produce seat systems for vehicles built at the MTMUS plant. The Athens facility will provide more than 400 jobs. And earlier this month, Ivey announced that DaikyoNishikawa US will create 380 new jobs in a facility to be built on the Mazda Toyota campus in Huntsville. The supplier will produce large resin parts such as bumpers and instrument panels. Updated today, May 22, 2019, at 3:22 p.m. with new information throughout. Alabama Circuit Court Judge Marvin Wiggins has been suspended with pay from the bench for the third time in his career - after the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission filed charges against him that he had multiple cell phone conversations with parents involved in a heated custody battle without knowledge of their attorneys. The charges were brought to the Alabama Court of Judiciary, which could reprimand, suspend or remove Wiggins from the bench. The charges were only recently made public. Efforts to reach Wiggins for comment werent immediately successful. Wiggins has served as a judge for the Fourth Judicial Circuit, serving Bibb, Dallas, Hale, Perry and Wilcox counties, since 1999. This is the third time Wiggins has been suspended by the Commission. Most notably, Wiggins was suspended three years ago after he was accused of threatening to throw defendants in jail who had no money to pay their fines unless they donated blood. In that case he was publicly censured and taxed for costs in the proceeding. In 2009, the Commission accused him of not stepping aside in a Hale county voter fraud investigation involving three of his relatives. The violations involved quashing an Attorney General subpoena and search warrant. Although the subpoena did not directly involve his relatives, he knew that his relatives were being investigated, according to the court of the judiciary documents. He was publicly censured and reprimanded in that case and received a 90-day suspension without pay. The new case against Wiggins deals with a series of ex-parte communications with attorneys and the parents in a child custody case. Ex-parte is an action or communication by a judge without requiring all of the parties to the controversy be present. He faces multiple ethics charges including ex-parte communications, abuse of judicial authority, making misrepresentations to the Commission and an attorney, and interference with attorney-client relationship. According to the commission charges: In October 2017, Wiggins presided over a hearing in the case and encouraged the parents to work out an agreement regarding custody and visitation. The father, who lived in Florida, was seeking primary custody of the child with reasonable visitation for the mother in what had been on ongoing custody dispute. The judge stated he would enter an order specifying the terms of custody and visitation, but never did, the Commission noted. On Nov. 21, 2017, multiple calls were exchanged between the judge and/or his office, as well as both parents and their attorneys. It began with numerous calls from the mother claiming an emergency, and she was put through to Wiggins. He told her, I dont know whats going on. Let me call the lawyers. The Commission noted that, according to telephone records, the judge did not attempt to contact the lawyers. Instead, about two hours later, the judge called the mother back and she gave him the fathers telephone number. The judge then called the father and his significant other and had a phone call with them that lasted more than seven minutes. The child was apparently with the father at the time, who claimed the mother had failed to pick up the child the previous day at a designated exchange location. Wiggins told the fathers significant other, He needs to bring the child home today. The Commission notes multiple other conversations between the parties, including one with the fathers attorney during which the judge said if the mother came to pick up the child in Florida, the father was to hand over the child. A week later, the father filed a motion requesting Wiggins recusal in the case. A hearing on that motion was held Jan. 23, 2018. The fathers lawyer argued that the judges conversations with the mother affected the fathers exercise of his right to visitation. I dont know the nature, of course, of your communication or conversation with the mother. But I can tell, Your Honor, that whatever was said between you and her, she has utilized that, and my client has not seen the child since November, the attorney said. She is basing her refusal on the entire premise of what your conversation was with her. Wiggins granted the fathers motion to recuse on Feb. 2, 2018 and the case was reassigned to another judge. The Commission noted that in October 2018, Wiggins had begun working with a mentor on judicial ethics and attended a four-day National Judicial Colleges course on Ethics, Fairness, and Security in Your Courtroom and Community. The Commission, however, later learned that Wiggins although he had recused from the custody case had not recused in the parents divorce case. According to the filings, more ex parte telephone calls then took place again regarding the divorce case before he finally recused. The Commission claims that the judge made significant misrepresentations to the Commission regarding his ex parte calls. He also told the Commission he tried to contact the parents attorneys prior to any conversations with the mother and father, but telephone records show that did not happen. Wiggins told the Commission that in his calls with the mother, she was irate and screaming about being en route to the fathers location, about what she was going to do and how upset she was because the father had not given the child to her and that she would do whatever she had to do to get the child. The judge admitted I thought she was threatening to do some bodily harm to (the father) if she had to. Yet, the Commission noted, the judge did not alert law enforcement, the lawyers or the father of a potentially-dangerous situation. Wiggins, in an April 25, 2019, voluntary response to the Commission through his own attorney, stated that he considered the situation as to the parties a desperate one, and he very much feared a violent encounter between the parties. He also stated he was facing an emergency, potentially-violent situation. The United States is at least a month away from enacting its proposed tariffs on $300bn worth of Chinese imports as it studies the impact on consumers, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday. US President Donald Trump, who has embraced protectionism as part of an America First agenda aimed at rebalancing global trade, has threatened to slap tariffs of up to 25 percent on that additional list of goods. There wont be any decision probably for another 30 to 45 days, Mnuchin said in a hearing before the US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services. A 30-day window would represent an accelerated schedule compared to previous rounds of US tariffs. And it would mean that the next batch of levies would be ready when Trump meets Chinese President Xi Jinping, as expected, at a G20 leaders summit in Japan on June 28 and 29. Earlier this month, Washington hiked existing tariffs on $200bn in Chinese goods, raising them to 25 percent from 10 percent. The move prompted Beijing to retaliate with its own levies on US imports, as talks to end a 10-month trade war between the worlds two largest economies stalled. Im still hopeful we can get back to the table. The two presidents will likely see each other at the end of June, Mnuchin said, adding that the impact of tariffs on US consumers was a key consideration in US trade strategy. Mnuchin said the Trump administration is open to holding new talks with China if the two sides can proceed on the basis of previous negotiations. Open door? No talks between top Chinese and US negotiators have been scheduled since the end of two days of discussions in Washington on May 10, the same day Trump imposed the higher levies on Chinese goods. The seeds of the current stalemate were sowed earlier this month when Chinese officials sought major changes to the text of a proposed deal that the Trump administration says had been largely accepted by both nations. The Chinese governments top diplomat, Wang Yi, said on Wednesday that Chinas door would always be open to further trade talks with the US. But he added that Beijing would not accept any unequal agreements. The acrimony between the two countries has intensified since last week, when Washington put Chinese telecommunications equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd on a blacklist that curbs Huaweis access to US-made components. Another big Chinese firm video surveillance equipment maker Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd also may face limits on its ability to buy US technology, The New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The news sent the firms Shenzhen-listed shares down 5.54 percent. The restrictions, which according to the source are among several options being considered by the Trump administration, would severely limit Hikvisions ability to buy US technology from American companies. Treat our companies fairly While China has not said whether or how it may retaliate against the measures targeting Huawei, state media have taken an increasingly strident and nationalistic tone and vowed Beijing will not bend to US pressure. However, US firms said in a survey released on Wednesday they were facing retaliation in China over the trade war. The American Chamber of Commerce in China and its sister body in Shanghai said members reported increased obstacles, such as government inspections, slower customs clearances and longer waits for approval for licensing and other applications. 190522114136694 It also said two-fifths of respondents were considering relocating or had already relocated manufacturing facilities outside of China. Of the almost 250 respondents to the survey, which was conducted after the latest round of US and Chinese tariffs, nearly three-quarters said the levies were hurting their competitiveness. Long considered a solid cornerstone in a relationship fraught with geopolitical frictions, the US business community has in recent years advocated a harder line on what it sees as discriminatory Chinese trade policies. The US is seeking sweeping changes, including an end to forced technology transfers and theft of US trade secrets. Washington also wants curbs on subsidies for Chinese state-owned enterprises and increased access for US firms in Chinese markets. For years, China has blocked major US tech firms, including Google and Facebook, from fully operating in its market. These and other restrictions have fueled calls from within the US business community for Washington to pursue more reciprocal policies. The idea is not to have tariffs, the idea is for them [China] to treat our companies fairly, Mnuchin told US lawmakers. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky intends to initiate a referendum on the issue of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, head of the presidential administration Andrey Bogdan said. "The issue of achieving peace agreements with Russia - we consider putting it to a popular referendum so that not only the deputies vote, so that not only the president, but the people of Ukraine decide," he told 112 Ukraine television. Earlier, Zelensky urged the U.S. to strengthen anti-Russia sanctions. The US spent more than $12,000 per student on public education in 2017, report says. Teacher pay, however, lags behind. Melissa Gustray, 28, has worked as a public school teacher for six years. She has a masters degree in educational technology and has earned three teaching certificates. But to afford to live near the school where she teaches in northern New Jersey, she has to have at least one roommate and two other jobs. I work two part-time jobs, in addition to teaching full time [and] working 14-hour days multiple times a week and also on the weekends, Gustray told Al Jazeera. Im not the only one. All of my coworkers have at least another part-time job. I have friends who tutor six hours a day after school to keep a competitive income. It still doesnt add up to my friends working in other industries with less education. New Jersey spent $18,920 per pupil for public elementary and secondary education in 2017, the fourth-highest expenditure in the United States, according to new data published this week by the US Census Bureau. Meanwhile, public school spending per pupil rose by 3.7 percent nationwide. The 2017 spending bump was partly due to an overall increase in public education revenue across all 50 states and Washington, DC, the data shows. Education revenue from all sources increased by 3.4 percent to a total of $694.1bn. But the US is still in catch-up mode when it comes to spending on education after the 2008 financial crisis, and teachers wages still lag far behind those of other college graduates, said Linda Darling-Hammond, the president and CEO of the nonpartisan Learning Policy Institute and a professor emeritus of education at Stanford University. There was a decrease in per-pupil spending after the recession, Darling-Hammond told Al Jazeera, adding that some states only recently got back to 2007 spending levels. We havent caught up yet: were in that process, and some states are in better shape than others. But there is still quite a ways to go. Despite the increase in spending per pupil nationwide, teachers wages have remained flat while those of other college-educated workers have continued to rise, an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute found. That report noted that teachers were being paid an average of $582 less per week than other college graduates in 2018. And some school districts, like the one where Gustray works, dont pay teachers during summer break, leaving many of them feeling the pinch. Im working three jobs over the summer just to try and stay afloat with my bills, Gustray said. Forget summer vacations. I am on a budget all year, but once summer hits and I realize I wont get another salary cheque until September 15, I put myself on a really strict budget. No more eating out, or picking up coffee from the coffee shop. No throwing away leftovers or buying new clothes. The disparity between what teachers and other college-educated professionals earn is one reason why the US has been rocked by teacher protests in recent years. Its why educators have gone on strike to demand better pay, more benefits and smaller class sizes in Los Angeles, Denver and Oakland, as well as in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, North Carolina and Kentucky, among other places. Money matters when it comes to the quality of education students receive and how they do after graduation, a Learning Policy Institute brief found. The brief notes that state and local wealth and income combine with state and local fiscal efforts to generate revenue for schools, which then use that revenue to balance staffing quantities (class sizes and student-to-teacher ratios) with staffing quality (offering teachers a competitive wage). And while resources like smaller class sizes, additional instructional supports, early childhood programs, and more competitive teacher compensation cost more, they are also positively associated with student outcomes. That link between more funding and better outcomes is especially strong for children from low-income families, reported a 2015 study by researchers at Northwestern Universitys Institute for Policy Research. Although we find small effects for children from affluent families, for low-income children, a 10 percent increase in per pupil spending each year for all 12 years of public school is associated with 0.46 additional years of completed education, 9.6 percent higher earnings, and a 6.1 percentage point reduction in the annual incidence of adult poverty, researchers found. But how much money public schools have varies state by state and district by district. The US constitution stipulates that funding public schools from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade falls to the states. But the federal government sometimes supplements that funding, according to the US Department of Education. New Mexico, Mississippi, Alaska, Arizona and South Dakota received the highest percentage of their school revenues from the federal government in 2017, according to the Census Bureau report, while New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Minnesota and New York received the lowest percentages. Regional disparities mean the largest school districts with the highest amounts spent per pupil in 2017 were all concentrated along the East Coast in or near major cities, according to Census Bureau data. New York City spent $25,199 per pupil; Boston spent $22,292, Baltimore $16,184, and the Howard County School District in Maryland spent $15,921. But those are also some of the most expensive parts of the country for teachers to live in. The median household income in Bergen County, where Gustray teaches, is $91,572, according to Census Bureau figures. But Gustray said she earns less than $55,000 as a health and physical education teacher. She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey, where the median gross rent is $1,419 per month, according to Census data. Living in Hoboken with my current three jobs is only feasible with roommates. Ive lived here for a few years now, and could never afford a place on my own, she said. When I first moved to Hoboken, I had three other roommates and lived in a very small room. Now, a few years later, I have finally been able to downsize to only one other roommate. Its still not ideal, but it was my only option. So why isnt more of what public schools spend going to pay teachers? There are a number of factors, but part of it has to do with the fact that the US does not have a national healthcare system or other social safety net benefits, leaving public schools picking up the tab, Darling-Hammond said. Were paying a lot of money in the US to take care of kids who live in poverty, she said, citing high levels of family homelessness, high levels of children without access to healthcare and high levels of food insecurity as some of the factors with which schools must deal. Our schools take on the cost of that. They provide meals, [and] they provide a lot of services for kids who are experiencing these types of things. Gustray agrees, explaining that she is not only tasked with teaching her students the content of the curriculum, but is also challenged with students wellbeing. And that can be difficult when her own wellbeing depends on working multiple jobs and living on such a tight budget. Teaching is a high-stress job. Sure, there are benefits like most jobs, but when it comes down to it, dealing with children is different every single day, Gustray said. The state expects so much of teachers, but isnt willing to pay us. Its hard for me to look at my salary guide and know what Ill be making in 10 years and wonder how Im ever going to be able to support a future family. Ill be working multiple jobs for the rest of my time. The UKs anti-slavery legislation may not be keeping pace with evolving crime. MPs are trying to sharpen the law. British members of parliament (MPs) have outlined key areas to improve the United Kingdoms anti-slavery legislation, including punishing businesses that fail to tackle modern slavery. Providing better support for child victims and holding the government to account were also high on the agenda in a report published on Wednesday. The landmark Modern Slavery Act was passed in 2015. Under the law, traffickers can be jailed for life while vulnerable people are given better protections and large companies are forced to outline their actions to avoid using forced labour. Last July, the government tasked MPs with reviewing the law amid concerns that the country was struggling to keep up with evolving crime. A lack of convictions, insufficient awareness, limited training of professionals and problems around data collection have blunted the UKs anti-slavery response, the report said. 180720132650620 Without these changes, the Acts impact will be limited, MP Frank Field, MP Maria Miller and Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss said in their review, an independent report that was commissioned by the UK government. Field called modern slavery one of humanitys greatest evils and said it exploits the most vulnerable people in our society, adding that the problem pervades every country in the world and every community of the United Kingdom. Some 7,000 suspected victims of modern slavery were uncovered in the UK last year, up a third from 2017, according to the countrys National Crime Agency. Nearly half of the victims were children, raising concerns from police about the growing county lines drug trade, in which gangs are reportedly using teenagers as mules. Victoria Atkins, the minister for crime, said that the government would fully respond to the reviews recommendations, without providing a timeline. Through the Modern Slavery Act, the government is committed to ensuring victims get the support they need and perpetrators are brought to justice, Atkins said in a statement. Contradictory approaches The three politicians made more than 80 recommendations but focused on four main areas of the law, from the problem of slavery in supply chains to the role of the independent anti-slavery chief. The law should be sharpened to punish big businesses and public bodies that fail to disclose their anti-slavery actions, while the anti-slavery chief must be free to scrutinise and criticise the governments actions, according to the review. Other proposals included improving financial compensation for victims and ensuring individual support for child victims. I support the need to ensure that businesses and government are doing all they can to exclude slavery from supply chains, the importance of providing improved support for all child victims of slavery and upholding my independence, the UKs new anti-slavery commissioner, Sara Thornton, said. 161231111517043 The former police chief took up the post this month, about a year after Kevin Hyland, the inaugural anti-slavery chief, resigned, expressing frustration about government interference in his role. Caroline Robinson, director of the charity Focus on Labour Exploitation, said the review should spur the UK to swiftly improve the law. But she added that the lawmakers had failed to address contradictory approaches from the government. Whilst these recommendations could enhance the Modern Slavery Act and response, it overlooks the ways in which current immigration law and policy is contributing to abuse, she told Reuters news agency. The UK is home to at least 136,000 modern slaves, according to the Global Survey Index published by the human rights group Walk Free Foundation. That figure is 10 times higher than the one cited in a government estimate in 2013. Wednesdays report comes as research from business consultancies Sancroft and Tussell, published on Monday, showed that about 29 of the UKs 100 biggest companies did not meet the legal requirement to outline the steps they had taken to combat the risk of forced labour within their supply chains. Economists say women are dropping out of the workforce because of slow job creation and a male dominated culture. New Delhi Rakshita Dwivedi loves her work. She gave up a 10-year career as a human resources specialist to set up Recipe Dabba, a website that shows people how to make tasty, no-fuss, nutritious meals at home. But like a growing number of Indian female professionals, her move was partially driven by necessity. After taking time off to start a family, she found her original career path had been derailed. After my maternity break, I worked for five years but it was clear that the job held no scope for career progression. So, I decided to instead seek happiness chasing my passion. Women are pushed to turn to their passions, Dwivedi, who calls herself her companys Chief Eating Officer, told Al Jazeera. Indian women have been dropping out of the formal workforce for years, despite rapid economic growth. But economists are only just beginning to fully understand the reasons for the trend. A culture that stigmatises women who work, slowing growth in the number of new skilled jobs and agricultural automation are among the main factors. Indian women like Rakshita Dwivedi find it hard to re-enter the job market after maternity leave [Puja Mehra/Al Jazeera] According to the World Bank, almost 20 million women a number roughly equivalent to the population of Sri Lanka dropped out of the workforce between 2005 and 2012. Only 27 percent of adult Indian women had a job, or were actively looking for one, something economists call the labour force participation rate. That compared to 79 percent of men. And the gap is growing: The percentage of women working in India had dropped to 24 percent of the workforce by 2015-16, according to government figures. Untapped potential The International Monetary Fund believes the pay-off for Indias economy if more women enter the workforce could be enormous. Its managing director, Christine Lagarde, said last year that increasing the proportion of women in Indias labour force to that of men could boost gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of an economy, by as much as 27 percent. Corporate jobs havent grown and those that remain are not going to women, especially at senior levels, says Sairee Chahal, founder of SHEROES, an online platform that aims to support womens careers. Figures from the Statistics Ministry show the number of new subscribers to Indias Employees Provident Fund (EPF) fell in the second half of 2018. The figures are used by the government as a proxy measure for formal employment due to the lack of official payroll data. The pace of job creation has not kept up with the broader economy. GDP grew by 6.6 percent in the three months to the end of December year-on-year, the slowest pace in six quarters. But a closer look at the EPF figures shows men taking up around four times more new jobs than women. The absence of a level playing field at the workplace between the genders is ensuring that even experienced women wanting to return to the jobs market after, say maternity breaks, and qualified women are getting pushed into non-formal, non-corporate sector employment options, Chahal told Al Jazeera. Patriarchal attitudes have impeded the progress of women in India, analysts say [Puja Mehra/Al Jazeera] The persistence of patriarchal attitudes has also been a factor impeding womens progress in their careers. Ironically, as men secure higher paying jobs, their female partners encounter societal pressure to abandon their careers, according to the governments 2017-2018 annual Economic Survey published along with its budget. A lack of institutional child support as family sizes shrink is also keeping women at home, the survey says. With many more job seekers than jobs available, employers are able to drive a hard bargain with all workers. But analysts say many women come off worse, because employers frequently penalise them for their need to take maternity leave or extra security during their commute. Women lose out to equally qualified male candidates on parameters such as greater willingness to clock in late evening hours or the likelihood of seeking maternity leave. Employers attitude tends to be as if it is womens fault that their gender requires maternity leave, says former human resource specialist Dwivedi. A recent survey by the WageIndicator Foundation, a Dutch research organisation, found that men in India earned 19 percent more than women in 2018, four percentage points more than in 2017, The International Labour Organization says India has one of the worlds worst gender pay gaps. The employment picture for women also varies by location. Political will The proportion of women in the Indian workforce is lower in cities than it is in rural areas, according to government figures. A lot of the low-skilled, menial work in agriculture has traditionally been done by women. As a result, when many of these jobs were eliminated by mechanisation starting around 2004, women suffered disproportionately more than men, according to the World Bank. That collapse in rural employment drove millions of people to the cities. And many of them have ended up in Indias large informal economy, where theyre employed as casual labourers or in mom-and-pop shops. But analysts say conservative attitudes have kept many of the female internal migrants from seeking work. In a traditional society, where womens work is acceptable only if it takes place in environments perceived as safe, female labour force participation can be expected to depend on the availability of farming jobs, said Rinku Murgai, lead economist at the World Banks New Delhi office. In recent years, suitable job opportunities for women have declined precipitously in large villages and small towns, Murgai told Al Jazeera. A lack of political will is also hampering women from progressing at work, analysts say [Al Jazeera] Analysts say a lack of political will to improve opportunities for women has left them at a disadvantage. Some hopes for progress were raised ahead of this years parliamentary elections when regional political parties in states such as West Bengal and Odisha decided to allow a larger than usual number of female candidates to run. The main opposition party, the Congress, pledged to reserve 33 percent of government jobs for women if it was voted into office. But, as Vidya Subrahmaniam, Senior Fellow at The Hindu Centre for Public Policy and Politics says, no party made female employment issues central to their campaigns. The election has got vitiated by other issues, especially abusive communal politics that has overtaken livelihood issues. Farm distress, crop price and sugar cane payment have figured marginally but not female workforce participation, Subrahmaniam told Al Jazeera, Once we have more women in Parliament, it stands to reason that issues specifically concerning them will get better attention. The government and international organisations like the World Bank have been trying to reverse the drop in female employment. One of the main planks of those efforts has been to boost education levels among women. The World Bank says it has committed more than $2bn to education in India and has been working with the central and state governments on a programme that is changing attitudes towards educating girls. As it noted in a paper in 2015, many optimists believe that more childcare facilities and an increase in the number of women who attain secondary and tertiary education will reverse the fall. But it also said average schooling has been increasing at about one year per decade. At that rate, it says, it could take half a century before the proportion of women in the workforce increases again. As European vote nears, left-wing groups criticise the blocs economic policies and seek sovereignty, but fail to unite. Rome, Italy Nationalist and far-right populist parties have emerged as the main challengers to the status quo in the European Parliament elections, some of which have coalesced around Matteo Salvini, Italys interior minister and co-deputy prime minister. Parties that previously stood for an exit from the bloc, following Britains footsteps, now support a new pan-European nationalist alliance to change the EU from within. Leaders and MPs of 11 far-right parties took part in Salvinis final election rally on Saturday in Milan, among them Frances Marine Le Pen and the Netherlands Geert Wilders. Hungarys Viktor Orban didnt show, but hes recently praised Salvini for manning the front line in the central Mediterranean a reference to Italys crackdown on refugees. Since the last European elections in 2014, those parties have made gains at the national level. They are now in power in Italy, Austria, Poland and Hungary, and are no longer fringe outfits in countries such as France. While divided on a number of issues including Russia and the EUs budget, right-wing populists have put forward similar messages around protecting national sovereignty and culture, as well as borders, against the threat of migration. Left-wing Eurosceptics have also made considerable gains at the national level in recent years, from the UKs Jeremy Corbyn to Podemos, the party that emerged from the Indignados movement in Spain, and Jean Luc Melenchons La France Insoumise (Unbowed France). Anti-European populism on both the right and the left is seen equally as a threat to the European project of deeper integration but especially to the dominance of the centre-right European Peoples Party, the largest political group in the European Parliament, which holds all three top jobs in the EU. I believe that the foundations of European collaboration, crystallised in the treaties of the European Union, are the enemies of labour, of the people's demands. Samuele Mazzolini, lecturer at the University of Bath But despite mainstream rhetoric about populists trying to wreck the EU, some analysts have warned against labelling anything that dissents from the current state of affairs as anti-European. The problem is what sort of Europeanism has been embraced, Carlo Ruzza, a professor of political sociology at Italys University of Trento, told Al Jazeera. A sort of Europeanism that welcomes globalisation with open arms. One, in theory, could be pro-European without completely endorsing austerity and market deregulation. Something that the [mainstream] left has not done, Ruzza added. While this is one of the reasons why the left has lost much of its traditional electorate, more radical alternatives are fragmented, according to Ruzza. Corbyn is very different from Melenchon and the Italian left, Ruzza explained. Melenchons is a sort of anti-Europeanism which, in some ways, was perceived as concerning by a number of working or lower-middle classes because the party embraced, for instance, some yellow vest groups and was seen by some as too exposed to the possibility of violence and connections with the far-right, Ruzza added. Melenchons La France Insoumise is currently polling at an average of nine percent, far behind President Emmanuel Macrons En Marche! and Le Pens Rassemblement National, both polling at over 20 percent. Corbyns anti-Europeanism is old-fashioned Trotskyism, continued Ruzza, based on a belief that socialism can be better realised within [the borders of] the nation-state than in this capitalist club which is the European Union. 190501210532866 There are eight pan-European political groups that MEPs can choose to join. Most parties labelled as left-wing populists are part of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left (GUE/NGL) group in the European Parliament, which currently counts 52 out 751 seats. According to projections, this group will retain roughly the same number of seats. Besides Podemos and La France Insoumise, it includes parties like the German Die Linke (The Left) and the Greek Syriza (The Coalition of the Radical Left). By comparison, Salvinis new alliance alone which does not include Orbans Fidesz or the Polish Law and Justice is projected to gain 73 seats. The UKs Labour Party is part of the centre-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group. Its ambivalent stance on Brexit and on a second referendum, partly due to Corbyns own Euroscepticism, has led it to currently lag 10 points behind Nigel Farages right-wing Brexit Party, which is projected to bag the most votes in Britain, polling at more than 30 percent. Can the EU be reformed? Like the right-wingers, larger parties and a galaxy of smaller groups on the left, especially in Western Europe, have also spoken of a need to reclaim sovereignty from the Brussels establishment. But they start from a fundamentally different perspective. An exclusivist message, of retreat into the nation-state, is easier to articulate for the right than it is for the left, Ruzza argued. The left has always been inspired by Marxist values of international solidarity. In fact, it was never the case that those values were fully embraced by the working classes. For Melenchon and others, reclaiming popular sovereignty means leaving European treaties, which he says have frozen economic policy in the absurd dogma of ordoliberalism Germanys variant of social liberalism so dear to the Merkel government. Cooperation should exist away from those treaties which have cemented Franco-German dominance within the EU at the expense of other countries, particularly in Southern Europe, they say. In the summer of 2015, Greeces then-Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis lashed out at the countrys creditors. What theyre doing with Greece has a name: terrorism, he said, when the Syriza government was forced to impose austerity on its citizens in the thick of the countrys economic crisis. What Brussels and the troika want today is for the yes [vote] to win so they could humiliate the Greeks. Why did they force us to close the banks? To instil fear in people. And spreading fear is called terrorism, he said, in a column for The Guardian. 190516110038493 Varoufakis, who resigned over Greeces bailout terms in 2015, founded a transnational leftist movement which aims at democratising the EU, DiEM25 and will take part in the elections for the first time. However, polls show that support for it so far is negligible. Others believe that reforming the EU is impossible. In order to modify the treaties you need the unanimity of all member states, Samuele Mazzolini, a lecturer in international studies at the University of Bath and cofounder of Common Sense, an association that aims at promoting democratic populism, told Al Jazeera. There are countries that benefit from the treaties the way they are. I dont feel anti-European. I believe that the foundations of European collaboration, crystallised in the treaties of the European Union, are the enemies of labour, of the peoples demands, of the possibility of a politics based on growth and employment, geared at the well-being of European citizens, especially in Southern Europe. During a recent debate among candidates for the the presidency of the European Commission, the nominee for the socialist group, Frans Timmermans, the first vice president of the European Commission, hinted the centre-left bloc which is projected to lose seats but remain the second-largest in the European Parliament will seek an alliance from Macron to [Greek Prime Minister Alexis] Tsipras to challenge the dominance of the centre-right European Peoples Party. However, this would imply cooperation between Macron and Melenchon. We should stop obsessing about the populist vote, Ruzza argued. When we have a problem with the populist vote, that is 15 or 20 percent. The real issue is with the other 80 percent that has not been able to find a credible and persuasive recipe. Former PM Najib Razak has become a poster boy for corruption in Malaysia but he is only the tip of the iceberg. For those of us who have spent years on the front lines of the fight against corruption in Malaysia, last month marked an historic first. Former Prime Minister Najib Razak finally faced trial in one of the dozens of cases against him. Najib has been accused of syphoning off hundreds of millions of dollars of public funds from the 1MDB sovereign wealth fund into his own personal accounts. Once Malaysias most powerful man, Najib was arrested in June last year after his Barisan Nasional coalition suffered a shock election defeat, ending its 61-year grip on power. Police raids on his family homes seized more than $273m in cash and goods, including luxury handbags that alone were worth more than $10m. Few but Najibs most ardent supporters believe his claims that these were gifts. The trial that started in April relates to a relatively minor 1MDB subsidiary, while hearings in the main case are set to start in August. The scandal has made Najib the poster boy for corruption in Malaysia. While this is well-deserved, it is also important to understand that the rot goes far deeper than one man. Graft is deep-rooted in our society. This year, Malaysia ranked 61st out of 180 countries on Transparency Internationals annual corruption index. While this is slightly better than the Southeast Asian average, it is far below regional neighbours like Singapore and Hong Kong with similar levels of development and quasi-democratic systems. For years, many Malaysians have grown used to paying bribes to get things done. Accessing basic services like schools, hospitals and even courts often requires a sweetener. But large-scale graft has always been a permanent feature of the political sphere. A 2014 survey conducted by Transparency International indicated that people saw political parties as the most corrupt bodies in Malaysia, closely followed by the police and the civil servants. The 1MDB scandal might have made international headlines, but for Malaysians the list of similar scandals runs long: MARA, FELDA, Tabung Haji, to name just a few. These are all government-linked bodies that have been accused of corrupt practices and, for Malaysians, their acronyms symbolise the excesses of the state and the abuse of public trust and funds. During Najibs final years in power, he was increasingly busy trying to fend off any form of accountability. He removed the attorney general, manipulated the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and spouted conspiracy theories about foreign interference. With a weakened and ineffective police and judiciary, it was up to was civil society to investigate and keep up the pressure. In 2012, when I was the executive director of Malaysias largest human rights organisation SUARAM, my colleagues and I filed a legal complaint in France into an alleged kickback scheme to the tune of $130m. To our surprise, French authorities launched an investigation, revealing a plot that reached the highest levels of the Malaysian government. To continue this work, we founded the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) in 2014, which documents and advocates against corruption and protects whistleblowers. For us and many other civil society activists, this work came at a high personal cost. I myself was harassed for my role in uncovering government graft. I faced bogus criminal charges in 2013, while state-run TV aired mine and my colleagues images every night, accusing us of outrageous plots against the government. Other journalists and activists have faced similar mistreatment. No wonder, then, that us activists had high hopes for the new Pakatan Harapan (PH, the Alliance of Hope) government that took office last year. The PH campaigned on promises to clean up Malaysia with the ambitious goal of making the county graft-free by 2023. So far, it is fair to say that the governments track record is mixed at best. There have been some notable accomplishments, including the very public pursuit of the charges against Najib. The government has also launched a National Anti-Corruption Plan and established committees to investigate other state officials. But overall progress has been slow, as the first year of PHs rule has been marked by delays in implementing its reform agenda, U-turns on the need to withdraw repressive legislation, and inaction on tackling the root causes of corruption. Promises have not been translated into reality and too often the government has shirked away from confrontation when challenged by the old political elites. Upending decades of authoritarian rule will not happen overnight, let alone in a year. But if the PH government does not want to go down in history as having failed its voters, there are immediate steps it must take. It should strengthen the MACC so that it is genuinely independent and has the power not just to investigate but also to prosecute corrupt officials. It must ensure that the new National Anti-Corruption Plan launched in 2019 is thoroughly implemented and not just left as a paper promise. Crucially, the government must also repeal draconian laws such as the Official Secrets Act of 1972 which have been used to shield officials from scrutiny and punish activists. Decisive action to lay a solid foundation for the fight against corruption is critical. There are persistent rumours that Najibs legal team is stalling the cases against him to buy time until a new (and supposedly friendlier) government takes office. The former prime minister has launched a charm offensive in recent months even releasing a cringe-worthy music video to portray himself as a victim and a man of the people. Corruption runs deep in Malaysia, but heroic efforts by civil society groups have managed to expose those in charge, all the way up to the former prime minister. The Pakatan Harapan government now has an opportunity to cement the progress made one it must not miss. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. In March of this year, King Abdullah of Jordan met the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in Washington. By all accounts, the closed-door meeting with the Jordanian monarch, a staunch ally of the United States, was somewhat of a bumpy ride. King Abdullah is said to have expressed his deep frustration about being kept almost completely in the dark about the ultimate deal that is supposed to secure peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump and the deals chief architect, has kept his cards close to his chest with only a handful of people, some say as few as six knowing what the plan actually includes. On the rare occasions when he has spoken publicly about the deal, as he did in early May, he has emphasised its economic benefits and praised it as a very good business plan. He has also sought not to address the question of Palestinian statehood since [it] means one thing to Israelis, [and another] thing to the Palestinians, so we said, lets just not say it. King Abdullah, whose country is home to nearly two million Palestinian refugees, has, it seems, been given no opportunity to contribute to or influence the Kushner deal. As a Jordanian official told the Axios news website: during the meeting, His Majesty was asked about the plan and said he did not yet see it and therefore cannot comment. He also believes that an economic plan without a political one is not sufficient. Behind that succinct and acerbic statement lies a great deal of anxiety. Jordan is being pushed towards accepting a disastrous deal that will give the Israelis virtually everything they want in exchange for a chunk of the economic aid that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries are supposed to provide. The Palestinians and their regional supporters will be bought off with the promise of a bright economic future and, in the process, the issue of Palestinian statehood will be buried. Like the Palestinians who will be presented with an ultimatum of take it or the bad gets worse for you King Abdullah is being left with very little wriggle room. The Jordanian economy is close to a breaking point. The public debt stands at 28.3 billion dinars ($39.9bn), nearly equal to the countrys economic output, while unemployment is running at close to 20 percent. Last summer, as a series of protests roiled Jordan over plans to increase income tax, the Saudis led a bailout effort worth $2.5bn. With their backing, King Abdullah was able to reverse the planned increase and stabilise the situation temporarily. Of course, it is very much in the Saudis interest not to see Jordan destabilised by protesters taking to the streets. The last thing they want to see is a hereditary monarch deposed. But the message is not lost on King Abdullah that Saudi Arabia has the whip hand. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is very close to Kushner, has already demonstrated that he can turn the aid tap off as quickly as he turned it on. In 2017, the Saudis, annoyed with King Abdullahs continued support for a Palestinian homeland and his failure to ban the Muslim Brotherhood and sever diplomatic ties with Qatar, abruptly decided not to renew a Gulf aid package. It was only when Abdullah went cap in hand to Riyadh last year that the tap was turned back on again. Another pressure point is Jordans acute water crisis one of the worst in the world. Ten of the countrys 12 aquifers are massively depleted and the Jordan River and the Dead Sea are drying up. The refugee influx from Syria has increased consumption and exacerbated the situation. Most of the one million Syrian refugees have been settled in camps and in poor rural areas in the north of the country where water scarcity is the severest. In the desperate search for potable water, deep illegal wells are being drilled which further depletes the aquifers. With global warming and the continuous rise in temperatures, water shortages are expected to get that much worse. One solution the Red Sea to Dead Sea project envisions seawater from the Red Sea desalinated at the Jordanian port of Aqaba to create fresh water with the brine being pumped into the Dead Sea to slow its shrinkage. But the project comes with a hefty price tag of $1bn. The Israelis have offered to pay for it. Like the Saudis, they see the benefit of a stable Jordan. The offer, though, can always be withdrawn and although Kushner is being coy about details of his plan, it is hard not to see the desalination project as part of the economic package offered to Jordan. The US presidents son-in-law must believe he has caught King Abdullah in an economic pincer with the Israelis on one side and the Saudis on the other. He knows he needs to gain the kings backing and he seems to reckon that with that sort of pressure he will have it. However, even those experts and diplomats who favour the Israeli side argue that the plan is bound to fail and could well lead to a huge uptick in violence. For King Abdullah, this is an impossible choice. The Palestinians in Jordan, both refugees and those who have citizenship, will expect and demand he take a robust stand against the deal. But denouncing it cuts him off from the financial lifeline the Saudis and the Israelis are offering to help manage the severe economic crisis. At the same time, the king is facing pressure to surrender the custodianship of Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islams third holiest site, to Saudi Arabia. Such a move would destroy the remaining legitimacy that King Abdullah and the Hashemite dynasty he represents still have. Small wonder the king is really worried. The throne he sits on rests on shaky ground. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. I would not be a writer today if it wasnt for Binyavanga Wainaina. When I was 21, in my third year of university, I was on what was called an attachment a kind of internship required by the Kenyan university system, where undergraduate students would work at institutions in their field and gain work experience, that would then count towards their final grade at graduation. I was pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science and Technology, a course that I was excelling in at least on paper but which was actually just moderately enthusiastic about. The reason for this is that I felt it was asking the wrong questions of me: it required a lot of memorisation and recall, which I could do reasonably well, but a part of me kept asking is this all there is? Is this all that I can do? Every morning, I would head out to the malaria research lab that I was working in, and meticulously examine and record the details of samples of the plasmodium parasite under a microscope. And every evening after getting home, I would go straight to bed, under the spell of strange lethargy that I could not shake off no matter how hard I tried to. The drudgery of lab work was killing me. By that time, a few well-worn copies of the Kwani? literary magazine, which Binyavanga had cofounded a couple of years before, had been circulating among a group of my university friends. We would read the stories voraciously, laughing aloud and re-telling them to each other, and really being astonished that such a thing existed in our world at all. Kwani? was a journal of experimental writing, bold and unapologetic, a strident declaration announcing the presence of a new generation of young Kenyan writers. We had grown up knowing that a whole cadre of Kenyan writers had fled abroad during the dark days of political repression in the 1980s, and remained in exile. Writing was something that seemed unwise, if not dangerous, regardless of your talent or interest in it. And yet here was Kwani?, and Binyavanga Wainaina, Parselelo Kantai, Andia Kisia, Billy Kahora, Jackie Lebo and David Kaiza, announcing new possibilities, giving us the words to articulate our reality as young Africans in the early to mid-2000s, shining a hard light on the dark corners we preferred to look away from. They took on seasoned university professors who dismissed them as impulsive and indisciplined. They were derided as literary gangsters, and then one of them, Tony Mochama, actually wrote a collection of poems he titled, What If I Am Literary Gangster? During my attachment, I stumbled upon a poster on a very nascent Facebook that Kwani? would be hosting a literary festival. I spent a day turning it over in my mind, and the next day asked for a week off from the lab. I didnt explain I was attending a literary festival; somehow, my supervisors didnt ask or seem to care. And the rest, as they say, is history. It was that week in August, after breathing the same air with these literary giants that I told myself This is what I want to do with my life. Binyavanga Wainaina died yesterday at the age of 48, and I am not worthy to carry his coffin here. All I can say that so many young Kenyan writers today credit Kwani? as being the space where dreams were made possible. Kwani? opened our eyes and untied our tongues. And Binyavanga himself was a writers writer, whose unique stream-of-consciousness prose and choppy sentence style we all unashamedly tried to copy. Without a doubt, his 2005 essay, How To Write About Africa, published in Granta magazine was his most read and most influential, a mere 1,373 words of the most biting satire you will ever read. When I received news of his death, I was at a conference in the Mara, the exact setting that the essay mercilessly pillories, at least the Mara as it exists in the popular white imagination. We had literally just spoken about the essay the day before, as an example of the kind of work that really, truly, speaks truth to power. Binyavanga is gone, but he lives on in the lives, work and imagination of a whole generation of writers and journalists in Kenya today and beyond. He lived his truth in a place that is very frequently hostile to people that dare step outside the box. The space he created, and the freedom that he made a possibility, was the reason I could face my disappointed mother after graduation and tell her that I wasnt going to be a malaria researcher and would try my hand at writing. He publicly came out as gay in 2014, in a country where homosexuality is criminalised, becoming the only openly gay public figure that I know of in this country. The trajectory he set for us, by his life, his courage, and his inspiration, cannot be understated, and it is our responsibility to stay on course. One day, I will write about this place. But for now, Rest in Peace, Kenneth Binyavanga Wainaina. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Born and brought up in Bangladesh, why are children of Rohingya refugees being denied a formal education? Almost one million Rohingya refugees are living in camps in Bangladesh. For years, government-run schools have quietly welcomed Rohingya refugee children. But recently, scores of children have been expelled. Al Jazeeras Tanvir Chowdhury reports from Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh. Indian Ocean archipelago was at the centre of decades-long dispute over the UKs decision to separate it from Mauritius. The 193 United Nations member states on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to demand the UK hand over control of the Chagos islands to Mauritius as soon as possible. A total of 116 countries voted in favour of a non-binding resolution presented by African countries that urged Britain to withdraw its colonial administration from the Chagos Islands within six months. Only six countries, including Britain and the United States, voted against the measure while 56 others abstained, including Canada, France and Germany. The Indian Ocean archipelago has been at the centre of a decades-long dispute over Britains decision to separate it from Mauritius in 1965 and set up a joint military base with the US on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands. Britain evicted about 2,000 people from the archipelago in the 1960s and 70s to make way for a huge US military base on Diego Garcia, which played a key strategic role in the Cold War before being used as a staging ground for US bombing campaigns against Afghanistan and Iraq in the 2000s. The facility was used as a CIA interrogation centre after the September 11, 2001 attacks. In February, the International Court of Justice handed Mauritius a victory when it said in a legal opinion that Britain had illegally split the islands and should give up control of the Chagos. 190225082624527 After Britain rejected that ruling, Mauritius turned to the UN General Assembly to press for action. Mauritius argues the Chagos archipelago was part of its territory since at least the 18th century and was taken unlawfully by the UK in 1965, three years before the island nation gained independence. However, Britain insists it has sovereignty over the archipelago, which it calls the British Indian Ocean Territory. Wednesdays vote was the second time in two years that Britain had to defend its ownership of the Chagos islands at the United Nations. In 2017, only 15 countries including Britain and the US voted to oppose a request for the ICJ ruling. 201905140000 Non-binding measure Before the vote, Britain and the US wrote to all UN missions, urging them to oppose the draft resolution, arguing the fate of the Chagos is a bilateral issue. This is not a matter of decolonisation for the General Assembly, wrote British Ambassador Karen Pierce. It is a bilateral sovereignty dispute between the United Kingdom and Mauritius. US acting Ambassador Jonathan Cohen argued the court opinion was non-binding and was in no way a legal ruling that decided on the dispute. In 2016, Britain renewed a lease agreement with the US for the use of Diego Garcia until 2036. The steelmaker employs nearly 5,000 workers in Lincolnshire, and a further 20,000 jobs depend on its supply chain. British Steel has been ordered into compulsory liquidation after talks with the government failed to secure a bailout, threatening the jobs of about 5,000 employees, with another 20,000 jobs in the supply chain. The steelmaker had requested an emergency $38m bailout loan from the British government following dwindling European sales amid Brexit uncertainty, and an ill-fated decision to sell off excess carbon credits earlier this year. Just three weeks ago, the government had given a $150m loan to the company. The government can only act within the law, which requires any financial support to a steel company to be on a commercial basis, Business Secretary Greg Clark said in a statement emailed to Al Jazeera. I have been advised that it would be unlawful to provide a guarantee or loan on the terms of any proposals that the company or any other party has made. The companys 5,000 workers are mostly at a giant plant in the northern town of Scunthorpe, and a further 20,000 jobs are dependent upon its supply chain. This is devastating, awful news for steelworkers and their families, and for everybody related to the community and the area, Nic Dakin, MP for Scunthorpe, told the BBC. Whats really important is that steps are taken to retain steelmaking in Scunthorpe and the other areas affected because this is crucial to our future as an independent, modern economy, modern nation. If its necessary for the government to take a public stake in the future of this industry, thats what the government should do. Lets take one step at a time, he said. Unions had urged the government to hammer out a deal after the beleaguered manufacturer asked the government for a $95m loan last week. The loan was refused, and the steelmakers owners, Greybull Capital, agreed to put up some of the money themselves, reducing the loan request to $38m. This will be a deeply worrying time for the thousands of dedicated British Steel workers, those in the supply chain and local communities, said Clark. In the days and weeks ahead, I will be working with the Official Receiver and a British Steel support group of management, trade unions, companies in the supply chain and local communities, to pursue remorselessly every possible step to secure the future of the valuable operations in sites at Scunthorpe, Skinningrove and on Teesside. New British warships should be built from British-sourced steel to provide a lifeline for the embattled industry, an MP urged. The Royal Navy is due to build a new fleet of support vessels, but the Ministry of Defence has so far refused to confirm if it will buy UK-produced steel for the ships, Labour MP Nick Smith told the House of Commons on Wednesday. About 70 percent of British Steels products are exported to either the EU or Turkey and North Africa [Scott Heppell/Reuters] Brexit blamed British Steel, whose assets now face compulsory liquidation, has blamed Brexit uncertainty for a thinning order book. Three weeks ago, the government agreed to provide a $150m loan so that the company could make its payments to a European Union environmental scheme and avoid a $630m fine from European regulators. Under the scheme, companies are awarded a certain number of carbon credits based on their target emissions outputs. If they perform well and emit less carbon, as British Steel did from 2013 to 2018, they can sell their remaining credits to those companies emitting more carbon into the atmosphere. British Steel sold off its remaining credits when Britain was expecting to leave the EU at the end of March. Then Brexit was delayed by six months and the manufacturer faced a huge shortfall in its credits, facing a huge fine. On Tuesday, pro-Brexit politicians in the House of Commons urged their colleagues to pass Theresa Mays EU Withdrawal Agreement when it returns to parliament in order to give some certainty to businesses. The steelmaker told The Guardian last week that its EU orders had dried up. In the event of a no-deal Brexit, WTO tariffs on steel would be 20 percent a significant disincentive for European buyers. About 70 percent of British Steels products are exported to either the EU or Turkey and North Africa, according to the Financial Times. But British Steels problems go back further still. Formerly part of Tata Steels European operations, a deal to sell off the division fell apart in 2015, with would-be buyers citing Chinas dumping of steel onto global markets causing unpredictable price fluctuations as a major reason for abandoning the purchase. In 2016, Greybull Capital, a private investment firm, bought Tatas steel division for a token amount of 1 ($1.27 at the current rate) and renamed it British Steel, saving thousands of jobs. Now, Greybull itself is facing additional scrutiny. In the two years following the acquisition, Greybull charged British Steel more than $20m a year in interest on loans it had itself provided, the Financial Times reported. The newly owned British Steel also made a $50m investment in a French steelmaker. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has signed the decree to officially dismiss Verkhovna Rada. The document was published on the Presidents official website. "To schedule the snap elections to Verkhovna Rada on July 21, 2019," the document reads. The decision was made in accordance with Article 90 part 2 provision 1 of the Ukrainian constitution, which stipulates that if Rada fails to establish a ruling coalition for more than 30 days running, the Parliament can be dissolved. The document also mentions Article 77 part 2 of the constitution which states that "snap elections to Verkhovna Rada are announced by the President and held within 60 days since the decree dismissing the Parliament is published." The decree will take effect in the day of its publishing in the Uryadovy Kuryer government newspaper and/or the Voice of Ukraine parliamentary newspaper. Following the signing of the decree, Zelensky called on Parliament Speaker Andrey Parubiy to convene a special meeting of Rada on Wednesday to "introduce changes to the MP election legislation," TASS reported. The American Chamber of Commerce says many US firms in China are considering relocating to other countries. A major business lobby group in the United States has said increased tariffs between Washington and Beijing are hurting the competitiveness of US firms operating in China, adding that many are moving or planning to relocate their factories elsewhere in the world. The American Chamber of Commerce in the Peoples Republic of China (AmCham China) said in a report on Wednesday that US companies were facing increased government inspections, slower customs clearance and slower licence approvals. Nearly 75 percent of the 250 companies that responded to the groups survey said the recent tariff hikes by the US and China are having a negative effect on their businesses. The survey was conducted after China and the US raised tariffs on each others imports earlier this month. More than 40 percent were considering moving their manufacturing facilities out of China or had already done so, AmCham China said. Their preferred destinations were Southeast Asia and Mexico. Less than six percent of the respondents said they were considering moving to the US. An earlier survey conducted between August and September 2018 showed that nearly 65 percent of respondents wanted to stay in China. One in five US companies said they had faced increased inspections by Chinese authorities, while another 20 percent said their goods entering the country had been delayed by customs. No breakthrough in sight Economic relations between the worlds two biggest economies have become steadily worse since last May, when Chinese officials wanted major changes to the text of a proposed deal that the administration of US President Donald Trump said had been largely agreed. China has, in turn, accused the US of bullying it. A subsequent round of talks ended with no breakthrough as Trump increased tariffs to 25 percent from 10 percent on $200bn worth of Chinese imports and threatened to impose duties on all remaining Chinese goods sold in the US. China imposed a retaliatory tariff increase and the Trump administration followed up last week by adding telecom equipment giant Huawei to a trade blacklist that restricts its ability to buy US components and software and do business with other US companies. Washington has temporarily eased some trade restrictions on the company in an attempt to minimise the effect on customers. No new trade talks have been scheduled, even though both Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to attend the G20 Summit in Japans Osaka on June 28-29. The US eased some restrictions on Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei earlier this week [File: Fred Dufour/AFP] Al Jazeeras Adrian Brown, reporting from Beijing, said the tone of Chinese media recently has been one of strident nationalism. Weve been seeing lots of old films glorifying Chinas role in the war against the United States during the Korean War. Weve been seeing a lot of songs appearing on social media, particularly on WeChat, songs that really attack the US and its role in the current trade friction with China. One of the songs has the catchy line that if the perpetrators want a fight, well beat their wits out of them, Brown said. And its not just the media that have been defiant. Ren Zhengfei, Huaweis founder, told state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday: The current practice of US politicians underestimates our strength. Hikvision has been accused of supplying public surveillance equipment to the Chinese government to monitor minorities. The Chinese video-surveillance company thats reportedly the next target of United States President Donald Trumps attempt at curbing Beijings technological ambitions says it takes accusations of participating in human rights violations seriously. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that the Trump administration is considering limits to Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technologys ability to buy US technology. The newspaper quoted unnamed people familiar with the matter. The Times said the Trump administration is considering the move against Hikvision for its role in the surveillance and mass detention of Uighurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority in Chinas far western Xinjiang region. Hikvision takes these concerns very seriously and has engaged with the US government regarding all of this since last October, a Hikvision spokesperson told Al Jazeera via email. In light of them, it has already retained human rights expert and former US Ambassador Pierre-Richard Prosper to advise the company regarding human rights compliance. Blacklisting Hikvision Such a move by the US would effectively place Hikvision on a blacklist. US companies would have to obtain government approval before supplying components to the firm. A recent letter from the chairman of the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo mentioned Hikvision. Of particular concern are reports of U.S. companies that may be contributing to Beijings persecution of Uyghurs through their support or commercial ties to Hikvision and Dahua two Chinese tech giants that have profited from the surge of security spending in Xinjiang, committee chair Eliot Engel and three cosigners said in the letter. The Trump administration has already placed Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei on such a list, claiming security risks. On Monday it temporarily eased some of those restrictions to allow Huaewei to maintain existing networks. Hikvision says it is the worlds leading provider of innovative security products and solutions. Its main product lines are security cameras and their related network infrastructure. Human Rights Watch, a nongovernmental organisation, has said companies like Hikvision and others supply equipment to Chinese government programmes that monitor the activities of people in Xinjiang. Hikvision also said: Separately, Hikvision takes cybersecurity very seriously as a company and follows all applicable laws and regulations in the markets we operate. The company has its products regularly tested for vulnerabilities and has received certifications for their cybersecurity standards, including the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology FIPS 140-2. But analysts say the US is using rights issues and concerns over technology theft as cover to pressure China to open its markets to more US goods. Technology issues lie at the heart of much of the existing bilateral economic friction, and so we expect this type of pressure to continue, Nick Marro, an analyst at The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) told Al Jazeera. Trade talks between the US and China are at a standstill for now. The EIU still thinks that its likely that both sides will step back from further escalation, but this is a very finely judged call, said Marro. Meanwhile, another Chinese telecommunications giant thats also facing US restrictions, China Mobile Communications, says it is assessing the impact of the moves. We are keeping an eye on the situation in the States. We will wait and see what the next step should be, said Yang Jie, China Mobile Communications chairman and executive director, during the companys annual general meeting in Hong Kong Wednesday. In early May, the US Federal Communications Commission voted 5-0 against China Mobile USAs bid to offer telecommunications services between the US and other countries. Yang says the company will continue with overseas expansions and investments. Opposition Istanbul mayoral candidate starts new campaign after his victory on March 31 was annulled by election board. Istanbul, Turkey The main opposition Istanbul mayoral candidate, Ekrem Imamoglu, has kicked off his campaign for the June 23 rerun elections in the city, pledging to win again after the first vote was ruled invalid. Addressing a packed out conference room in the Hilton hotel on Wednesday, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP) candidate called for his supporters to join in the struggle for democracy. With hope and love we will win again in the elections, Imamoglu told a cheering crowd of supporters. Istanbul, Turkeys largest city and commercial hub, is preparing for a rerun of the mayoral vote first held on March 31. While Imamoglu won the contest by a slim margin, President Recep Tayyip Erdogans Justice and Development (AK) Party demanded a recount, alleging irregularities. Turkeys High Election Board (YSK) annulled the vote in early May, scheduling a new election for June 23. The AK Party also lost mayoral votes in the capital Ankara and Izmir, the countrys third-largest city. CHPs Imamoglu touched his supporters by quoting Istanbuls budget deficit increasing 20 times over in the last five years of AKP rule. Its such a shame all this money is wasted, this money comes from the 16 million residents of Istanbul, he declared [Tessa Fox/Al Jazeera] Focus on economy At the CHP election campaign launch, Imamoglu gave an emotional speech, touching on the theme of democracy. We will put our signature on the history of democracy in Turkey, Imamoglu declared. 190508184755332 On June 23 the system of extravagance will come to an end, everything will be very good again, he said, using his campaign slogan. The launch focused on the economy, high poverty rates and government transparency. The party has vowed to fight urban poverty and issue discounts on water prices and transport fees for students. Imamoglu pointed to the current economic situation in Turkey, which has slipped into a recession for the first time in a decade, saying it stems from the extravagance of elites. All the resources of Istanbul are shared by a small minority, those people always want more and it is seen in their properties and real estate worth millions of Turkish lira, he said. I want an urban economy which is managed fairly and which looks after families, he said. Green spaces, fair distribution Imamoglu will face the same AK Party candidate who he narrowly defeated in the March 31 vote, former Prime Minister Binali Yildirim of the ruling AK Party. Tugay Tasci, a 23-year-old theology student, told Al Jazeera that he voted for Yildirim first time and remained impressed by the former prime minister. [He] has been running several jobs in the country, most of the grand projects, such as railways opened in the south of Turkey, airports and metros. All the transportation for the last four years were built by Yildirim, he told Al Jazeera by telephone. Hes genuine and promising in terms of what he says He said he would open green corridors, so you can breathe more I want to see a more green city I think he can manage to do that. Ferhan Yalcin, 35, will vote in the June 23 Istanbul mayor election after seeing the ruling AK Party rejecting CHPs original winning vote.[Tessa Fox/Al Jazeera] For Ferhan Yalcin, a 35-year-old dentist living in the Sisli neighbourhood, equality is one of the most important issues in the upcoming election rerun. Our money in the city government, I want it to be given equally for everyone, Yalcin said while sitting outside a local cafe. Yalcn did not vote in the March 31 election, though plans to vote for CHP next month. This time, I believe I have to, because I believe Imamoglu won and they took it away from him. Hundreds also wounded as protests erupt for a second day across Jakarta after incumbent Jokowi was confirmed president. Jakarta, Indonesia At least six people were killed as protests continued on Wednesday after the official results of last months election confirmed incumbent Joko Jokowi Widodo as president with 55 percent of the vote. The demonstrators were largely supporters of presidential candidate and former military general Prabowo Subianto who claimed widespread fraud took place before, during and after the election. Major roads and public transport routes were shut in the centre of the capital Jakarta, with more than 20,000 police deployed to protect key buildings and stop protests spreading on their second day. Thousands of protesters thronged the area near the Elections Oversight Body on Jakartas main thoroughfare, Jalan Thamrin, in the morning and early afternoon with crowds growing by the hour. Police shut off access to the office with rolls of barbed wire and heavy cement barricades. We are here because we want a president who is honest and fair, said Lely Simanjuntak, a Prabowo supporter from east Jakarta. Lely arrived at the protest with friends from Surabaya, about 800km from the capital. We dont care who the president is, she told Al Jazeera. But as Indonesians, we must care about our elections and make sure they are just and valid. Social media ban Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan told TVOne six people had been killed and 200 wounded. At 1:30pm local time (05:30 GMT), the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Wiranto, announced that social media apps would be blocked in certain areas of Jakarta to stop the spread of fake news. Opposition supporters claimed the men were shot by riot police who denied the allegations. Showing their weapons to Al Jazeera, police officers said their guns were filled with blanks and not live ammunition. A few kilometres away where other protests were occurring, Sumardi, 19, hobbled towards a private ambulance, clutching his neck. I was shot by riot police, please help! he said to Imam, 25, a nurse on the scene. Imam told Al Jazeera the wound was from a rubber bullet. Sumardi, who is not from Jakarta, joined the protests after seeing invitations on social media and decided to attend because he believed he saw fraudulent behaviour at his polling station. They said we voted for Jokowi, but we didnt, he said indignantly. I cant accept the official results. President Jokowi said late on Wednesday that the situation was now under control. I will not tolerate anyone disrupting the security or unity of the country, or those who disrupt the democratic process, he told reporters at the palace. Marked ballots? A group of women from Manado, who flew in to attend the rally, said they were angry at the announcement that the incumbent Jokowi was named the winner of Aprils presidential election. They claimed fraud was rampant during the election. The ballot boxes were already marked for certain candidates before they arrived at the polling stations, one of the women explained as they waited outside the Sarinah shopping centre for the crowd to grow. She refused to be named for fear of repercussions from her workplace. Valid ballot papers were burned and not counted, many fake voter names were added to electoral lists, and the total number of votes was more than 110 percent, she added. The fraud was massive. The Elections Oversight Body and the General Elections Commission have denied that major fraud took place. Independent monitorss have also said the polls were free and fair. In Petamburan, a part of the city where three protesters died overnight, police were working to secure the area. The protesters threw rocks and set car tyres on fire and the police responded with water cannon. Despite the governments attempts to restrict the spread of hoaxes on social media, Al Jazeera saw multiple pieces of fake news being shared. Some alleged members of the riot police were from China, an attempt to delegitimise Jokowis government, while other graphics showed photos of men bleeding on the ground, claiming they had been shot. Sackings of Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou and Guy Bertrand Mapangou come amid scandal over timber smuggling. Gabons leader Ali Bongo has dismissed both his vice president and the minister of forests, a move that comes amid a scandal over the smuggling of precious timber. Bongo made the announcement in a statement released on Tuesday without giving a reason for the sackings of Vice President Pierre Claver Maganga Moussavou and Forestry and Environment Minister Guy Bertrand Mapangou. No new minister was appointed to the forest and environment portfolio, which was placed under the direct authority of the prime minister. Calls have intensified for Mapangou to resign in recent days in the press and from civil society groups following the theft of hundreds of seized containers of kevazingo, a rare wood considered sacred. Nearly 5,000 cubic metres of kevazingo worth some 7m euros ($7.8m) was found in two depots belonging to Chinese companies in the Libreville port of Owendo in February and March. Several suspects were arrested, but 353 of the containers which had been confiscated mysteriously disappeared. The wood had allegedly been loaded into containers bearing water and forestry ministry labels, falsely describing it as okoume a type of timber cleared for export. Local media have called the scandal kevazingogate. Earlier in May, the government said several top Gabonese officials had been suspended over suspected involvement in smuggling the timber. Kevazingo is a rare central African wood that is prized in Asia, notably for sculpting into temple doorways, tea tables and meeting tables. Gabon, three-quarters of which is forested, last year banned the exploitation of kevazingo after illegal felling reached alarming proportions. The industry is crucial to the economy of the country, on the west coast of Central Africa, supporting some 17,000 jobs, and is second only to the petroleum sector in terms of foreign earnings. It also accounts for 60 percent of Gabons non-oil related GDP. Israeli permit system prevents some parents from accompanying their sick children to hospitals outside of Gaza Strip. Gaza City Last month, five-year-old Aisha came home from nursery vomiting and saying she had a headache. Her condition deteriorated, so her family took her to hospital, where, after undergoing medical checks, they had every parents worst fear confirmed. Aisha was diagnosed with brain cancer. The news hit me like a thunderbolt, Mona Lulu, Aishas mother, told Al Jazeera from her home in the al-Bureij refugee camp. Aisha underwent urgent surgery in al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City but she needed a medical transfer to go to the Augusta Victoria Hospital in occupied East Jerusalem for further treatment. But when it came time to decide which of her parents would go with her, the family found the decision was out of their hands. Her mother and I applied and we both were rejected, Aishas father Wesam said. 190506003458263 None of the family members had been approved by the Israeli authorities for a permit to allow them to accompany Aisha. Even applications by extended family members were rejected, the only response was that the applications were pending a security check, which can take months. Security checks and children alone Mohammed Abu Selmiya, director of al-Rantisi paediatric hospital in Gaza, told Al Jazeera that some children suffering advanced cancer cannot be treated in Gaza hospitals due to the lack of necessary equipment. They can sometimes be issued a transfer to facilities in the occupied West Bank, Jerusalem or cities in Israel. After the medical referral is issued, in many cases the Israeli authorities prevent the mother or father from accompanying the child, Abu Selmiya said. Sometimes, the Israeli side says that the names are under security check, which takes more than two weeks. This leads to the deterioration of the child patients condition. Abu Selmiya called on child rights organisations, such as UNICEF, to intervene to resolve the crisis for young cancer patients in Gaza who are forced to travel for treatment without their parents. Race against time The Lulu family were in a race against time as Aishas condition deteriorated day after day. An elderly friend of Aishas aunt volunteered to accompany Aisha. Her application was approved by the Israeli authorities. They allowed a stranger, an old woman who is suffering from health problems herself, to accompany my daughter but we, her own parents, were not permitted, Wesam said. What kind of law allows this to happen? he added bitterly. 190506003458263 Israels COGAT agency, which issues permits for Palestinians to go from the Gaza Strip into Israel, said Aishas parents did not want to accompany their daughter. Her parents signed a waiver, according to which they do not wish to leave the Gaza Strip with her, and instead requested that she exit Gaza accompanied by a friend of the family, who entered Israel with her and stayed with her during the course of treatment, COGAT said in a emailed statement to Al Jazeera. Wesam told Al Jazeera that he and his wife did not refuse to accompany their daughter for treatment and did not sign a waiver. He said that after they became desperate waiting for permits, they signed a document allowing a woman to accompany Aisha out of Gaza. How do I refuse to accompany my daughter to treat her, and then appeal to human rights bodies to intervene and issue permits? Ive even appealed Israeli institutions to help me to no avail. When are you coming? Mona said she will never forget the moment on April 17 when she had to say goodbye to Aisha as she left for East Jerusalem. I felt like my soul had been taken out of my chest, she told Al Jazeera. I felt she wouldnt return. At the Augusta Victoria Hospital, Aisha had the surgery to remove part of the tumour from her brain. We were all at the edge of our nerves, Wesam said. We kept calling the woman accompanying Aisha for updates. When Aisha woke up, her family were on the phone, eagerly waiting to talk to her. The little girl only had one question: When are you coming? she repeated, over and over. She just cried over the phone, Mona said, openly weeping. If I was by her side, I would have comforted her, held her to my chest, taken care of her. By her daughters side Mona was only able to be by her daughters side days later when Aisha was sent back to Gaza. She had stopped eating and talking, and her doctors had recommended she return to Gaza to be with her family. They knew she was living her last days, so they said, Let her spend them with her family in Gaza,' Wesam said. Aisha arrived in Gaza almost motionless, only blinking her eyes, and was immediately admitted to al-Rantisi Hospital. I had to give in to bitter reality. My daughter was dying, Mona said. On the evening of May 15, Aisha took her last breath. I was watching her in her final moments, filled with helplessness. I could only cry and kiss her hands, her mother said. My daughter succumbed to cancer as a result of her deteriorating mental state. Abu Selmiya agreed that the psychological factor was vital during the recovery period. When a child undergoes surgery in our hospital, the first word they utter when they wake up is: Where is mama? I want my mother,' he said. Hajars story Ironically, Aisha was not the only Lulu child travelling alone but not technically alone for treatment that day in April. Her baby cousin, Hajar, had a congenital heart defect and a referral was issued for her to transfer to the Augusta Victoria Hospital at the same time. But the one-and-a-half-year-old had to travel without her parents because their permits were rejected. My mother, my wife, my three sisters and my wifes sisters applied for the permit and they were all rejected, Ibrahim Lulu, Wesams brother and Hajars father, told Al Jazeera. In an uncanny echo of the heart-wrenching choice made by Aishas parents, Hajars parents had to ask a relative of Hajars grandmother to apply for a permit to accompany the child; it was eventually approved by the Israeli authorities. It came just in the nick of time, as Hajars health was deteriorating rapidly; she was losing weight, unable to eat because of her condition and relying solely on being breastfed. At the Augusta Victoria, the doctors had a hard time figuring out how to feed Hajar as she waited for the surgery to fix the defect in her heart. The surgery was successful and, three weeks after arriving, Hajar was sent home, on the same day as her older cousin, Aisha. It was torture My daughter is a baby. She doesnt talk yet and cant express herself, Nihaya Lulu said, holding Hajar to her chest. It was a terrible period for all of us. Phone calls, live chats online, calls with doctors to check up on her. The Israeli ban caused psychological suffering for all the family. It was torture. Hajars condition has improved slightly, but she still needs further surgery. 170109083257405 Well go back to the same circle Reissue medical transfers, refuse permits and search for someone to volunteer to accompany her, Ibrahim, a father of six, said. Imagine, a sick baby girl travelling alone for treatment without her parents by her side. Is this all in order to maintain Israeli security? Last week, the Palestinian health ministry called on a number of international humanitarian and child rights bodies to promptly intervene and exert pressure on the Israeli authorities to allow the smooth access of patients with their companions to the health facilities wherever the service is available, especially those referred from Gaza Strip to West Bank, including East Jerusalem or other places that require the Israeli permits. Aisha had to fight her disease alone, in blatant disregard to international agreements, covenants and treaties on human rights, childrens rights, the right to health and access to health services in a safe manner, said Mai al-Kaila, the minister of health. Washington, DC A committee of the US House of Representatives has advanced a resolution condemning Saudi Arabias imprisonment of 11 womens rights activists facing trial for political activism. The House Foreign Affairs Committee voted to approve and send to the House floor for consideration House Resolution 129 condemning Saudi imprisonment and abuse of female activists. We must continue to call on the Saudi government to release these women immediately, said Representative Eliot Engel, Democrat chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The resolution is sponsored in the House by Representatives Lois Frankel, a Democrat, and Ann Wagner, a Republican. It was approved by voice vote. The bill condemns the Saudi governments imprisonment of womens rights activists, calls for their release and calls on the Trump administration to impose financial and travel sanctions of Saudi officials under the Global Magnitsky Act, a US human rights law. I wanted to give Saudi leadership the benefit of the doubt when we were told there would be great social reform, said Representative Susan Wild, a Democrat who spoke in support of the measure. It has become clear that the Saudi leadership largely seeks to maintain the status quo. That is unacceptable, Wild said. We cannot just hold our adversaries accountable for humanitarian abuses. We must also demand accountability of our strategic partners. Sexual abuse, torture Riyadh has faced pressure from Western governments to release the activists, most of whom were detained in May 2018, caught in a wide-ranging crackdown against activists just before the landmark lifting of a decades-long ban on female motorists. 190502193727318 The activists, some of whom have accused interrogators of sexual abuse and torture during nearly a year in custody, face charges that include contact with foreign media, diplomats and human rights groups. Three of them activist Aziza al-Yousef, blogger Eman al-Nafjan and preacher Rokaya al-Mohareb were granted temporary release in late March. Earlier this month, four more detained female activists Hatoon al-Fassi, Amal al-Harbi, Maysaa al-Manea, and Abeer Namankani were temporarily released pending trial, according to ALQST, a Saudi rights group based in London. These activists have been held as prisoners, and have reportedly faced torture and abuse, including sexual violence, beatings and electric shocks, Frankel said in a March 12 statement when the resolution was introduced. Saudi Arabia must release these advocates and end the discriminatory male guardianship system that restricts womens decisions about their livelihood, Frankel added. Saudi Arabias human rights abuses have come under international scrutiny following the October 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. US intelligence agencies concluded Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered Khashoggis killing. 190521165816192 Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said after a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed in January that he had raised the case of the imprisoned activists with the Saudi leader. Since then political arrests and executions in Saudi Arabia continue. Saudi Arabia executed 37 nationals on April 23 for what it said were terrorism related crimes, publicly pinning at least one of the bodies to a pole as a warning to others and bringing the number of persons executed this year to 100, according to the Saudi Press Agency. As many as 13 activists, writers and bloggers who had been placed under a travel ban for their support of women activists, including two dual US-Saudi citizens, were arrested on April 4 and 5, according to ALQST. Pelosi also urges patience as more Democrats call on House leadership to start impeachment proceedings against Trump. Democrats in the United Statess House of Representatives believe President Donald Trump is engaged in a cover up, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Wednesday. Pelosi spoke to reporters following a meeting of House Democrats as politicians contend with how to handle multiple investigations into Trump, a Republican, and his administration, including whether to launch an impeachment inquiry. No one is above the law, including the president of the United States. And we believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up, Pelosi said. Trump responded, saying he doesnt do cover-ups. Democrats, who control the House of Representatives, and Trump are engaged in a high-stakes power struggle over their ability to investigate him, with the president stonewalling multiple investigations of him by congressional committees. The probes range from whether Trump obstructed justice during Special Counsel Robert Muellers inquiry into Russian election meddling to his personal finances and businesses. Pelosi and other senior House leaders have been trying for months to contain demands from more junior Democratic politicians to kick off impeachment proceedings. Those demands mounted on Wednesday after former White House Counsel Don McGahn ignored a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to appear before it and testify. Trump has broadly stonewalled most all of their investigations, saying he will fight all the subpoenas. Pelosi has previously urged patience and said she believes Trump is goading Democrats into impeachment. Trump appeared to relish the Democratic division in a Wednesday tweet. The Democrats are getting ZERO work done in Congress, he said. Some Democratic leaders, who have been hesitant, signalled that a march to impeachment may become inevitable. We are confronting what might be the largest, broadest cover-up in American history, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. If a House inquiry leads to other avenues, including impeachment the Maryland Democrat said, so be it. Democrats Joaquin Castro of Texas and Diana DeGette of Colorado added their voices to the impeachment inquiry chorus. 190510153644885 There is political risk in doing so, but theres a greater risk to our country in doing nothing, Castro said on Twitter. This is a fight for our democracy. DeGette tweeted, The facts laid out in the Mueller report, coupled with this administrations ongoing attempts to stonewall Congress, leave us no other choice. But Representative Jim Clyburn, the No 3 Democrat in the House, counselled caution. A majority of Democrats would support impeachment, Clyburn said, just not now. He told CNN the House should follow a methodical process to get to the facts about Trumps actions. Rare detente Amid the impeachment talk and despite Trumps broad pledge to stonewall, there was one rare detente between House Democrats and the administration House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff postponed a meeting to enforce a subpoena against the Department of Justice after the department agreed to turn over a cache of documents related to Muellers report. The House Judiciary Committee recently voted to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress after negotiations broke down with the department over similar materials. 190522132035824 Schiff said the department will begin turning over to the Committee 12 categories of counterintelligence and foreign intelligence materials as part of an initial rolling production. Still, Democrats are continuing to escalate their requests for information. On Tuesday, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler issued subpoenas for more Trump administration officials former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson, a former aide in the White House counsels office for documents and testimony. The committee is expected to vote on contempt against McGahn in June. Trumps former White House counsel is the most-cited witness in Muellers Trump-Russia investigation report, recounting the presidents attempts to interfere with the probe. And that makes his silence all the more infuriating for Democrats. Our subpoenas are not optional, Nadler said. We will not allow the president to stop this investigation. Step-by-step approach Democrats are also encouraged by an early success in the legal battles, a federal judge ruled against Trump on Monday in a financial records dispute with Congress. Trumps team filed a notice of appeal on Tuesday. 190521140914965 But Pelosis strategy hasnt been swift enough for some politicians. In particular, several members of the Judiciary panel feel they must take the lead in at least launching impeachment proceedings. They say a formal impeachment inquiry could give Democrats more standing in court. I think thats something a lot of members of the committee and more and more members of the caucus think is necessary, said Democrat Steve Cohen. Others, though, including some from more conservative districts, said they prefer the step-by-step approach. We want to make sure that were following all the legal processes, everything weve been given, to truly make the best decisions, said Democrat Lucy McBath, a freshman on the Judiciary panel. Pelosi scheduled Wednesdays meeting with politicians after some members confronted her during a gathering among top Democrats Monday evening. 190517152527304 At that time, Democrat Jamie Raskin led others in arguing that an impeachment inquiry would consolidate the Trump investigations and allow Democrats to keep more focus on their other legislative work, according to people familiar with the private conversation who requested anonymity to discuss it. Pelosi pushed back, saying that several committees were doing investigations already and noting that Democrat Elijah Cummings, the chairman of the Oversight Committee, already had won the early court battle over Trumps financial documents. With a 235-197 Democratic majority, Pelosi would likely find support for starting impeachment proceedings, but it could be a tighter vote than that margin suggests. Some politicians say voters back home are more interested in healthcare and the economy. Many come from more conservative districts where they need to run for re-election in communities where Trump also has support. A year after deadly environmental protest, Thoothukudi residents say they are still being intimidated by local police. A year after police killed 13 people protesting against pollution from a copper smelter in the port city of Thoothukudi in Indias Tamil Nadu state, tensions between the residents and the police are still running high. No officer has been arrested or charged in connection with the shootings, and a judicial commission set up to investigate has provided no updates on its progress. The incident was one of the deadliest environmental protests in India in a decade. A United Nations working group of human rights experts last May condemned the apparent excessive and disproportionate use of lethal force by police. Indias National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) dropped its inquiry, citing adequate compensation paid to victims and attempts by the state to restore law and order, according to a document reviewed by Reuters news agency. At the same time, people surrounding the Vedanta Ltd smelter, since shuttered by the state authorities for allegedly poisoning groundwater, say they are still being intimidated by local police. The company has consistently denied the pollution allegations. 190507141853621 Some residents allege they were detained and beaten by the police and that they have been refused the right to protest. Activist S Mugilan, who released a video critical of the police shootings, has been missing since February 15 the day he held a news conference in state capital Chennai. People have been intimidated and forced into silence by the police, said 79-year-old AWD Thilak, head of the Thoothukudi Bar Association. This is not real peace, there has been no compromise, he said. No action so far Local police say all their actions since the shootings have been aimed at keeping the lid on any potential trouble, even if that means curbing some rights to freedom of speech or protest. However, they denied allegations of abuse by officers. Police shot at the protesters without warning on May 22, 2018, according to interviews with multiple witnesses at the time. On that day and on May 23, 12 people were killed with shots to the head and chest, half of them from behind, according to a Reuters analysis of post-mortem reports in December. Another protester died after being allegedly beaten by the police, according to family members. Police said at the time that they were overwhelmed and had opened fire because they feared the protesters were about to attack people in government offices and apartments housing Vedanta workers. The Madras High Court in August asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file charges within four months. Nine months later, no action has been taken. A senior CBI official declined to comment on why no charges have been filed. A CBI spokesperson did not respond to a request seeking comment. The Judicial Commission also declined to comment, while the NHRC did not respond to a request seeking comment. Police stand guard outside a copper smelter controlled by London-listed Vedanta Resources in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu [File: Sudarshan Varadhan/Reuters] Meanwhile, Vedanta executives have been pushing to restart the smelter, which was run by its Sterlite subsidiary, with social media postings under hashtags such as #knowthetruth and #reopenSterlite. The smelter was shuttered following a Tamil Nadu government order soon after the killings. The company, controlled by billionaire Anil Agarwal, has said it regretted the shootings and has consistently denied the plant polluted its surroundings. Vedanta did not respond to specific queries on its executives campaigning for the reopening of its smelter, but said in a statement it had a strong track record of corporate social responsibility interventions. The statement listed community schemes it was currently funding, including a plan to plant a million trees and a drinking water project. Local residents say the police are clamping down on any attempts to discuss the shootings or the plant shutdown. When villagers hoisted black flags on their terraces in a protest, police seized the flags, the residents said. If anybody wants to provoke or instigate, the police will not allow it, Murali Ramba, the superintendent of police in the Thoothukudi district, said. The Madras High Court ruled last week that a gathering of up to 500 people would be allowed to mark the anniversary of the shootings on Wednesday. That was despite opposition by the city administration and the police, who said it could disrupt law and order. The families of the 13 people killed received two million rupees ($28,430) each in compensation, according to Sandeep Nanduri, the districts top administrative official. Indonesian police say situation turned ugly when some protesters refused to leave and began throwing Molotov cocktails. Police in Indonesia fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators in central Jakarta after supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto began setting fire to buildings and vehicles and pelted officers with rocks and burning objects. Indonesian National Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said protests against the final results of last months presidential election, which showed Prabowo losing to incumbent President Joko Widodo, turned violent late on Tuesday and continued into the early hours of Wednesday. Police are investigating reports that at least one person was killed in the disturbances, but Dedi denied live rounds had been used. We are still checking, but I need to reiterate that police officers were not equipped with live bullets, he told reporters, according to the AFP news agency. Local media on Wednesday reported six people had been killed, citing Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan who visited city hospitals in the morning. He said 200 people had been injured. The governors office did not answer calls seeking comment from Al Jazeera, nor did the police spokesman. Earlier, he said that dozens of people had been detained. Kompas TV, an Indonesian news channel, showed protesters throwing rocks, facing off against hundreds of riot police in a neighbourhood in the centre of the capital. Prabowo, a retired general who has been accused of human rights abuses, has claimed widespread cheating in the April 17 election but has provided no credible evidence to back up his allegations. The legal director of his campaign team said on Tuesday that Prabowo would lodge a formal challenge to the result with the Constitutional Court. Later on Wednesday, Indonesias chief security minister said social media would be partially blocked to prevent the spread of hoaxes following the violence in Jakarta. To avoid provocations, the spread of fake news through the community, we will limit access to certain features on social media, said Wiranto, who uses one name. Protesters clash with police in Jakarta, [Sigid Kurniawan/Antara Foto via Reuters] Rising tension Several thousand people on Tuesday took to the streets around the office of the General Elections Commission after the agency confirmed Widodo had won a second presidential term with 55.5 percent of the vote, compared with 44.5 percent for Prabowo. Those protests ended peacefully, but the situation turned ugly when some demonstrators refused to leave the area. 190521053354338 Jakarta police responded when protesters threw rocks, Molotov cocktails and burning objects, spokesman Argo Yuwono said. Earlier, some people had set some stalls on fire. Al Jazeeras Florence Looi, reporting from Jakarta, said the clashes went on for several hours, but the streets of the capital were largely calm on Wednesday morning. Protesters were expected to return in the afternoon. Prabowo has until Friday to lodge his appeal with the Constitutional Court. It then has 14 days from the time it receives all the evidence to make a decision. Its worth remembering that international observers have said the elections were largely free and fair, even though Prabowo alleges widespread cheating, Looi said. Some analysts have even said that because Widodo won by an 11 percentage point difference which translates some 17 million votes this undermines Prabowo and the oppositions argument that the elections were rigged. More than 30,000 troops have been deployed across the capital amid reports of protests after the publication of the official election results. Tensions have also increased since police said last week that they had arrested dozens of suspects linked to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL or ISIS) who had planned to cause chaos by bombing post-election demonstrations. Additional reporting by Febriana Firdaus in Jakarta The blast, claimed by al-Shabab, took place near a checkpoint in the Somali capital. At least nine people have been killed and 13 others wounded after a car exploded near a checkpoint in the Somali capital, Mogadishu. Former foreign minister Hussein Elabe Fahiye, who was an advisor to the current president, was among those killed in the blast. Captain Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press another 13 people were wounded and most of the casualties were soldiers. A car bomb blast struck at a checkpoint near Daljirka, there are some casualties including members of the security forces, security official Abdukadir Ahmed said after the attack in the south of the city on Wednesday. Witness Mohamed Saney he saw the bodies of three people, among them a military woman. Several vehicles were destroyed in the blast and ambulances rushed to the scene to collect wounded people. The bombing was claimed by the armed group al-Shabab, which said in a statement it had attacked a convoy escorting officials and legislators heading to the presidential palace. Al-Shabab has been fighting for more than a decade to topple the government. The armed group gave up positions it once held in Mogadishu in 2011 and has since lost many of its strongholds. But it retains control of large rural swaths of the country and continues to wage an armed rebellion against the West-backed government. Mahjabeen Sheran, a legislator in Balochistan assembly, was asked to leave the chamber for bringing her unwell child. Mahjabeen Sheran, a member of the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan in Pakistan, who was asked to leave for bringing her unwell infant to the house, has vowed to campaign for establishing daycare centres in assemblies and government departments. On April 29, Sheran was criticised by staff and fellow members of the assembly for bringing her seven-month-old son, who was sick and could not be left at home, to the chamber for a session. She was asked to leave the session. I was torn between attending the session and staying home taking care of my son, Sheran told Al Jazeera. So, I decided to bring my son because I didnt want to miss the session. Sheran is from Balochistans Kech district and became a member of the assembly in 2018 on a reserved seat for women. She said it was the worst situation for her when she had to decide between taking care of her son and attending work. I felt embarrassed because some men in the session were making jokes and smirking about me bringing my son. At that point, I looked for someone to stand up for me and support me, but no one did, she said. Several times in the past, Sheran had requested the assemblys secretary for a spare room to turn it into a daycare facility. Her request was denied repeatedly. The legislator is now seeking support from political leaders and activists to establish daycare facilities in government offices and assemblies. She said she will also propose a bill to allow mothers to bring babies to the assemblies and to share the experiences of working mothers with men. Respect women A daycare centre was inaugurated in Parliament House in Pakistans capital city Islamabad two years ago. How can a country succeed when the most important part of the society [women] are treated this way? Such incidents discourage women of this country from succeeding and being independent, Mumtaz Mughal, the regional director of Aurat Foundation, a non-profit organisation that works on womens rights and gender equality, told Al Jazeera. The fact that Mahjabeen Sheran was asked to leave for merely bringing her son to the session tells us that the patriarchal mindset exists heavily in our society and we have a lot of work to do in order to change that. Sheran said she has seen women lawyers, activists and politicians taking their children to work if they have to. She said she was disappointed to know that bringing children to the assembly in Pakistan was against the law. In a similar case as Sherans, a Japanese politician, Yuka Ogata a member of the Kumamoto City Assembly, was criticised by fellow members for trying to bring her baby to a council session. She said in her statement that she wanted to show the difficulties when women juggle with careers and raising children. How Mumtaz are treated this way?] Mette Abildgaard, a Danish MP, was asked to leave parliament after she brought her baby to the chamber in March this year. In 2018, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made history by attending the United Nations General Assembly accompanied by her newly-born baby. Australian Senator Larissa Water became the first politician to breastfeed her two-month-old daughter during a vote in the countrys parliament in 2017. An Argentinian politician, Victoria Donda Perez, was praised for breastfeeding her infant daughter during a parliamentary session in 2015. Back in Pakistan, Sherans case went viral on social media, receiving support from people from across the country. People from all over the country were contacting me expressing their support for me and my campaign, she said. We must respect those women who work and also take care of their household. It is not easy and we face challenges on daily basis. Opposition shut out as presidents allies win majority of 12 Senate seats in midterm elections, official count shows. Allies of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte have won a majority of the 12 Senate seats at stake in the midterm elections, according to official results. According to the results of the May 13 elections released on Wednesday, the opposition was shut out, heralding a stronger grip on power in the Philippines by a leader accused of massive human rights violations. Election officials proclaimed the winners after finishing the official count overnight following a delay by glitches in automated counting machines. With nine Duterte backers and three nominally unaligned politicians in the 24-member Senate, only four oppositions members will remain, results from the elections authority showed. Also elected is the presidents former national police chief, Ronald dela Rosa, who enforced Dutertes crackdown on illegal drugs in a campaign that left thousands of suspects dead and drew international condemnation. Last weeks vote was seen as a gauge of public support for Duterte, who is midway through the single six-year term Philippine presidents are allowed under the constitution. His anti-drug crackdown, unorthodox leadership style, combative and sexist joke-laden outbursts, and contentious embrace of China have been the hallmarks of his presidency. Do I look like a rubber stamp, retorted Senator-elect Bong Go, a longtime Duterte aide, when reporters asked him about concerns that the new Senate would be beholden to Duterte. But he stressed he would back the presidents war against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs and would support a bill to reimpose the death penalty for heinous crimes and drug trafficking. Go said Duterte has not given any illegal orders to him or anyone he supervised. Presidents children Dutertes three children also won races for mayor, vice mayor and a congressional seat representing their southern home region of Davao city. Voters also decided congressional, gubernatorial, mayoral and city and township races. Nearly 75 percent of more than 63 million registered Filipinos cast their votes in a strong turnout. Analysts say many Filipinos seem more open to authoritarianism due to failures of past liberal leaders. Such a mindset has helped the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos make a political comeback. The latest example is his daughter, Imee Marcos, one of the winning Senate candidates who was endorsed by Duterte. The president has aimed for stronger leverage in the traditionally more independent Senate to bolster his legislative agenda. That includes the return of the death penalty, lowering the age for criminal liability below the current 15, and revising the 1987 constitution primarily to allow a shift to a federal form of government, a proposal some critics fear may be a cover to remove term limits. Opposition shutout The handful of opposition senators whose seats were not up for election and the independents who won office last week could potentially offset the strong majority Dutertes allies hold in the new upper chamber. At least seven senators are needed to block amendments to the constitution, which was passed with safeguards against dictatorship in 1987, a year after Marcos was overthrown by an army-backed people power revolt. Opposition aspirants, who were set back by a lack of funding and other campaign issues, considered the Senate the last bastion of checks and balances in the Philippine national government given the solid dominance of Dutertes loyalists in the lower House of Representatives. Police in Texas investigating whether the murders of two black transgender women are connected. The shooting deaths of two transgender women and the stabbing of a third in the United States are being investigated to determine whether they are connected, police in Dallas, Texas, said on Tuesday. No arrests have been made. The most recent killing occurred over the weekend. These cases, although not directly related at this time, do have some similarities the public needs to be aware of, Major Vincent Weddington said during a news conference. He added that Dallas police will work with federal law enforcement officers to determine if any of the attacks should be considered hate crimes. Muhlaysia Booker, 23, was found shot dead Saturday in northeastern Dallas. Her death came a month after a mobile phone video showed her being brutally beaten in a separate incident. The other killing occurred last October. A transgender woman was found shot dead in a vehicle parked near an elementary school in far southeastern Dallas, police said without mentioning her name. In the stabbing, a transgender woman survived after being cut repeatedly in April. 190520162547442 Weddington, in pointing out the similarities, said two of the victims had gotten into a vehicle with someone prior to their deaths, while the third had allowed someone inside her car to pick up a passenger. He declined to specify which victims did what, citing the ongoing investigation. He added that two of the victims had been near a similar intersection, southeast of downtown Dallas, before their deaths. Weddington appealed to the public for tips. A town hall meeting has been scheduled for Thursday between police and members of the LGBT community. https://twitter.com/GoRogueGoHome/status/1130295499771109376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Police also are trying to solve the case of a transgender woman whose remains were found in a field in July 2017, Weddington said. The cause of her death has not been determined. Weddington has said that no evidence was found to link Bookers death to her April 12 beating following a minor traffic accident. According to a police affidavit, the other driver involved in the accident had a gun and refused to let Booker leave until she paid for the damage to his vehicle. A crowd gathered and someone offered a man $200 to beat the woman. Other men also struck her, while one stomped on her head. Booker suffered a concussion, fractured wrist and other injuries, police said. 190422205844980 Video of the attack, which was shared on social media, showed Booker being beaten as the crowd hollered and watched. Edward Thomas, 29, was arrested and jailed on an aggravated assault charge. Thomass attorneys have issued a statement saying Thomas wasnt involved in Bookers death and sending condolences to her family. Five transgender women killed in 2019 According to the Human Rights Campaign, Booker was the fourth black transgender woman to be killed in the US since the beginning of 2019. A fifth black transgender woman Michelle Tamika Washington was killed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Sunday. The others killed this year include, Dana Martin, who was shot dead in Alabama in January, Ashanti Carmon, who was fatally shot in Maryland in March and Claire Legato, who was shot in Ohio last month and died from her injuries last week. At least 26 transgender individuals the majority of whom were black transgender women were killed in the US last year, the Human Rights Campaign said. The rights group also noted that some of these cases (involved) clear anti-transgender bias while others, the victims transgender status may have put them at risk in other ways, such as forcing them into unemployment, poverty, homelessness and/or survival sex work. Chinas FM makes statement as Huaweis international partners move to distance themselves from the telecom giant. US pressure on Chinese firms such as tech giant Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is economic bullying and a move to try to prevent the countrys development process, the Chinese governments top diplomat said on Wednesday. The use of US power to suppress Chinas private enterprises, such as Huawei, is typical economic bullying, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in a statement. Wang, who is also Chinas state councillor, also said in another statement that Beijings door would always be open to the United States for trade negotiations, but it would not accept any unequal agreements. The worlds two largest economies have escalated tariff increases on each others imports after talks broke down to resolve their dispute, and the acrimony has intensified since Washington last week blacklisted Chinese telecom equipment and handsets company Huawei. Meanwhile, British-based chip designer ARM said on Wednesday it was complying with a move by the US to block Chinas Huawei from accessing US technology. Huawei, in common with Apple and chipmakers such as Qualcomm, uses ARM blueprints to design the processors that power its smartphones. It also licenses graphics technology from the Cambridge-based company. ARM is complying with all of the latest regulations set forth by the US government, an ARM spokesman said in a statement. No further comment at this time. Google fallout The US blocked Huawei from buying US goods last week, jeopardising ties with Google, which provides the Android operating system and services such as Gmail and Google Maps, as well as hardware partners such as ARM. Huaweis international partners are moving to distance themselves from the Chinese company until there is clarity over its relationship with US technology partners that provide the apps and services that are crucial for consumers. Mobile phone retailers in some Asian countries, meanwhile, are refusing to accept Huawei devices for trade-ins, as more consumers look to offload them on worries Google suspending business with the Chinese firm will disrupt services. New Huawei phones will lose access to popular apps such as YouTube and Chrome. Against this backdrop, some customers in Singapore and the Philippines have rushed to sell their Huawei phones, according to retailers and online marketplace data. But there are few takers. If we buy something that is useless how are we going to sell it? said Dylan On, a salesman at Wanying Pte Ltd, a Singapore retail and repair shop. Its not that Huawei is a bad product. Its a very good product. Its just that nobody wants to buy it now because of US policy, he said. Huawei did not respond to a request for comment. Current users unaffected The company has said it is developing its own phone software and it can still use an open source version of Android that lacks access to Google apps. Carousell, Singapores most popular online marketplace, said the number of Huawei phone sales more than doubled the day the US order was announced. Mobile phone retailers in the Philippines are also staying away from Huawei products. We are no longer accepting Huawei phones. It will not be bought by our clients any more, Hamida Norhamida, a saleswoman of new and used phones in Manilas Greenhills shopping centre told Reuters News Agency, adding she felt relieved to have sold off her stock of Huawei P30 Pro before Googles Monday announcement. But some see this as an opportunity to get a quality phone on the cheap. My immediate reaction was worry that my current Huawei could be worthless, Xin Yi, a 24-year-old student from Singapore. But Google said current Huawei users will not be affected After that, I was relieved. The Norths ambassador to the UN says confiscation of Wise Honest could affect future developments between countries. The ambassador of North Korea to the United Nations has warned the United States that its outrageous seizure of a cargo ship could have consequences on the future of US-North Korean relations, as he reiterated a demand for the immediate return of the vessel. The Wise Honest, North Koreas second-largest cargo ship, was first detained in April 2018 by Indonesia while transporting a large amount of coal. The US announced on May 9 that it had confiscated the vessel because it was carrying coal in violation of UN sanctions, a first-of-its kind enforcement action that came amid a delicate moment in relations with North Korea. In a rare press conference on Tuesday, Ambassador Kim Song said that Pyongyang was closely monitoring Washingtons every move following the seizure, which he said was aimed at bringing maximum pressure on his country to make it kneel down. The United States should deliberate and think over the consequences its outrageous acts might have on the future development, Kim said. The ambassador urged the US to immediately return the ship, describing the seizure as an outright denial of the underlying spirit of a joint statement by President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit in Singapore last year which committed to establishing new bilateral relations. At the summit, Trump promised security guarantees to Pyongyang and Kim recommitted to the complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. A second summit between the two leaders in late February 2019 in Vietnam collapsed over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament. The US has called on its allies to maintain economic pressure on North Korea until it takes material steps towards relinquishing its nuclear weapons. The North Korean leader has since aired his displeasure with short-range missile tests apparently aimed at pressuring Washington and Seoul, and declared that the Trump administration had until the end of the year to come up with mutually acceptable terms for a deal to salvage the negotiations. Kim, the ambassador, told reporters that the seizure of the ship was the product of an extreme hostile policy of the United States against the DPRK, the initials of the countrys official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. He accused the US of violating international law and the 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property. Kim reiterated that he had asked UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take urgent measures to contribute to stability on the Korean Peninsula, but refused to answer a question on what the measures were. The ambassador listened to about a dozen other questions, including the effect of the seizure of the ship on prospects for a third Kim-Trump summit and on relations between North Korea and South Korea, whether the ship was carrying contraband, the effect of US and UN sanctions, and whether the North would apologise for the death of US student Otto Warmbier Kim said he would only answer questions related to the seizure of the Wise Honest but then only repeated some points from his statement. He ended the news conference saying: Well sharply watch the reaction of the United States. No reason given for the pardon, which comes a week after Buddhist hardliners attacked Muslim-owned properties. Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena has pardoned a hardline Buddhist monk who is accused of inciting violence against ethnic minority Muslims and convicted of contempt of court, officials said on Wednesday. The presidents office did not give any reason for the pardon, which was condemned by a security think-tank as a blow to Sri Lankas battered rule of law. The pardoning of Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, head of the hardline Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or Buddhist Power Force, comes a week after Buddhist groups attacked Muslim-owned homes, mosques and shops in apparent reprisal for the Easter bombings by a Muslim armed group that killed more than 250 people. One person was killed in the anti-Muslim riots. 190521064727363 Government ministers and Muslim leaders openly accused Gnanasara of stirring up violence against Muslims and Christians before his imprisonment, allegations he has denied. Dilantha Vithanage, the chief executive of the BBS, said he had been informed that the president had pardoned Gnanasara. He will not be released today as the paperwork has not finished yet, Vithanage told Reuters News Agency. A Justice Ministry official told Reuters: The presidents office has sent the relevant documents to pardon Gnanasara monk to the ministry. A prison spokesman was not immediately available for comment. The Buddhist clergy has been pushing for Gnanasaras release. They have a strong influence in Sri Lankan politics. A big blow to Sri Lankas already battered rule of law, sending precisely the wrong message after Easter attacks, Alan Keenan, Sri Lanka project director at the International Crisis Group, said on Twitter. A peaceful [Sri] Lanka requires all communities to feel safe & equal. Pardoning Gnanasara says impunity rules & Muslims, Evangelical Christians & Tamils are fair game. He was sentenced to six years in prison in August over a 2016 incident when he interrupted a court hearing about the abduction of a journalist in which military intelligence officials were accused. 190515161553706 Gnanasara was also sentenced in a separate case in June for having threatened the journalists wife. Since 2014, the monk has faced accusations in cases regarding anti-Muslim violence, hate speech and defaming the Quran. That year Gnanasara signed a pact with Myanmars Ashin Wirathu, who once described himself as the Burmese bin Laden, in what the duo called a bid to counter regional conversion efforts by Muslims. Ayatollah Khameneis comments come after Iran announced it quadrupled its production capacity of low-enriched uranium. Irans supreme leader publicly chastised the countrys president and foreign minister on Wednesday, saying he disagreed with the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal they negotiated with world powers. The extraordinary comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the first time hes criticised both politicians by name, came amid tensions with the United States a year after Washingtons withdrawal from the accord. Khamenei has the final say on all matters of state, and his blaming the deals unravelling limits the influence of President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif relative moderates within Irans theocracy who had struck the deal. It also shows the growing power of Irans hardliners. To some extent, I did not believe in the way that the nuclear deal was implemented, Khamenei said, according to his official website. Many times I reminded both the president and the foreign minister. Khamenei had given his implicit stamp of approval on the deal, which when signed sparked spontaneous celebration across Iran. The accord saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. But the agreement has unravelled after US President Donald Trumps withdrawal and the reimposition of old sanctions and even stricter new ones. Khamenei has previously warned the West, especially the US, was not trustworthy. But he hasnt named the countrys top elected politician and his top diplomat before Wednesday night. Hes previously said Rouhani and Zarif had done the best they could. Iran-US tensions The White House earlier this month sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region over a still-unexplained threat it perceived from Iran. Since that development, Iran has announced it will back away from the atomic accord. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged off its coast, and Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen have launched drone attacks into Saudi Arabia. Both Washington and Tehran have said they want to ease heightened tensions in the region in recent days. But many fear a miscalculation between the two countries, who have a 40-year history of mistrust, could escalate the situation. Khameneis comments come after Iran on Monday announced it had quadrupled its production capacity of low-enriched uranium. Iranian officials made a point to stress the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67 percent limit set under the nuclear deal, making it usable for a power plant but far below what is needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the nuclear accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Middle East already on edge. British PM faces backlash over her new Brexit plan, as colleagues and rivals urge her to resign. British Prime Minister Theresa May has come under renewed pressure from both her own Conservative party and opposition MPs to scrap her much-derided new Brexit plan and resign. Several Conservative rivals and former allies pushed to remove her from office on Wednesday and a senior cabinet minister quit the government, attacking Mays failure to take Britain out of the European Union. In her resignation letter sent late Wednesday, Andrea Leadsom, Leader of the House of Commons, said there had been a complete breakdown of collective responsibility in government, adding Mays latest Brexit plan would not deliver on the referendum result that saw voters in 2016 opt to leave the EU. A Downing Street spokesman praised Leadsom and expressed disappointment at her decision, but added: The prime minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for. Several senior ministers reportedly sought meetings with the embattled prime minister to discuss her Brexit plan, but Mays spokesman said he was not aware of any discussions. Legislator Tom Tugendhat, a leading Conservative moderate, said the only chance of delivering an orderly Brexit was for May to go and without delay. She must announce her resignation after Thursdays European elections. And the Conservative Party must fast track the leadership process to replace her, he wrote in the Financial Times. Conservative politician Andrew Bridgen told Reuters news agency: Its now clear that the overwhelming majority of the parliamentary party, the voluntary party and the electorate now agree. She has to go. Lawmaker Ian Lavery, chair of the main opposition Labour party, said Leadsoms resignation underlined that the prime ministers authority is shot and her time is up. For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election, he said. New Brexit plan backlash Earlier on Wednesday, May outlined her new Brexit plan, which includes a vote on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum, to parliament and urged legislators to back it amid a growing backlash. She said her new plan will guarantee workers rights legislation and establish a new government department for environmental protection. She said the deal would protect British jobs by ending freedom of movement for British and EU citizens, continue to apply European agricultural and environmental regulations and give parliament a greater role in deciding the future relationship with the EU. May said if her deal were agreed by parliament before the summer recess, Britain could leave the EU by the end of July. 190521155735095 By any definition, that is delivering Brexit, she told parliament on Wednesday. The prime minister has said she will set out a timetable for her departure in early June. She had already promised to leave office if her deal was approved by parliament. In time, another prime minister will be standing at this despatch box. But while I am here, I have a duty to be clear with the House about the facts, she said during a boisterous Commons debate. Senior members of her own party have called for her to abandon the vote on her plan and resign immediately, while former and current cabinet ministers are already jostling for position in the race to replace her. She is desperate, she is deluded and she is doomed, David Davis, a former Brexit minister, told The Daily Telegraph. Jacob Rees-Mogg, ringleader of the most hardline Brexiteers on the Conservative backbenches, blamed Mays decision to tack to the left. Under constitutional conventions, a prime minister should recognise that she does not have a majority in the House and take the more dignified approach by tendering her resignation to the queen, the Financial Times quoted him as saying. Federal judge refuses to block congressional subpoenas seeking documents from two banks that did business with Trump. US President Donald Trump, three of his children and the Trump Organization on Wednesday lost their bid to block Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial Corp from providing financial records to Democratic politicians investigating Trumps businesses. US District Judge Edgardo Ramos ruled at a court hearing in New York that Congress has the legal authority to demand the records, clearing the way for the banks to comply with subpoenas issued to them by two US House of Representatives committees last month. It was the second time this week that a judge had ruled against the Republican president in his fight with Democrats. Trumps lawyers were expected to appeal both decisions. President Trump, who is seeking re-election next year, has aggressively sought to defy congressional oversight of his administration since Democrats took control of the US House of Representatives in January. Trump said last month that the administration was fighting all the subpoenas issued by the House, hardening his position after the release of a redacted report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller on how Russia interfered in the 2016 US election to help Trump and the presidents attempts to impede the investigation. Some parts of the subpoenas have been included in court filings. The subpoena on Deutsche Bank seeks extensive records of accounts, transactions and investments linked to Trump, his three oldest children, their immediate family members and several Trump Organization entities, as well as records of ties they might have to foreign entities. 190521145648209 Deutsche Bank has long been a principal lender for Trumps real estate business and a 2017 disclosure form showed that Trump had at least $130 million of liabilities to the bank. The Capital One subpoena seeks records related to multiple entities tied to the Trump Organizations hotel business. In March, before issuing their subpoena, Democratic politicians asked Capital One for documents concerning potential conflicts of interest tied to Trumps Washington hotel and other business interests since he became president in January 2017. Trump, his adult children, Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka, and the Trump Organization had sought a preliminary injunction to prevent Deutsche Bank complying with subpoenas from the House Financial Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, and Capital One from complying with a subpoena from the Financial Services Committee. Lawsuit In a lawsuit filed on April 29, lawyers for Trump, his children and the Trump Organization argued that the subpoenas were too broad, and that Democrats are hoping they will stumble upon something that could be used for political attacks on the president. The subpoenas were issued to harass President Donald J Trump, to rummage through every aspect of his personal finances, his businesses, and the private information of the president and his family, the complaint said. 190522172337796 The judge said on Wednesday that the committees had the power to issue the subpoenas under Congresss broad power to conduct investigations to further legislation. He also rejected Trumps argument that they were barred by a federal financial privacy laws, the Right to Financial Privacy Act, saying the law does not apply to congressional investigations. The banks are the only defendants in the case, but the House committees intervened to oppose Trumps effort to block the subpoenas. We remain committed to providing appropriate information to all authorized investigations and will abide by a court order regarding such investigations, Deutsche Bank said in a statement before the hearing. Capital One declined comment before the hearing. Representative Maxine Waters, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, told reporters after the lawsuit was filed that Trump had cast a gauntlet. We will fight him, she said. 190522140410084 On Monday, a federal judge in Washington ruled against the president in a similar case, finding that Trumps accounting firm, Mazars LLP, must comply with a congressional subpoena for Trumps financial records. US District Judge Amit Mehta found that Congress was not engaged in a fishing expedition for the presidents financial records when it subpoenaed Mazars and said that documents obtained might assist Congress in passing laws and performing other core functions. Trump called Mehtas decision crazy and totally the wrong decision by obviously an Obama-appointed judge, referring to Trumps Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama. US District Judge Edgardo Ramos, who was also appointed by Obama, is overseeing the New York case. Rival armed groups ally with each other in northern Syria against President Assads forces in a battle for survival. Turkey-backed rebels poured fighters onto the front line in northeastern Syria, joining forces with a rival armed group to beat back government troops from a town they had recaptured earlier this month. Hayet Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) seized the town of Kfar Nabuda in Idlib province on Tuesday with the help of the National Liberation Front (NLF), a conglomeration of rebel groups supported by Ankara. The town had been retaken by the Syrian government in its recent assault. More than 80 combatants were killed in the battle for the town, according to the UK-based war monitor Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Mostafa Maarati spokesman of the Al-Ezzah Army, which took part in the Kfar Nabuda operation and is part of the NLF said it assisted HTS to protect rebel-held territory from President Bashar al-Assads forces, a common enemy. The liberation operation had been planned in a mutual operation room that includes all the groups on the ground, Maarati told Al Jazeera. They coordinated the use of anti-armour missiles and other weapons. NLF has clashed with HTS, formerly the al-Qaeda wing in Syria, over ideological differences and also over territorial control. HTS took over numerous NLF-run towns and villages, but united with its adversary to oppose Assads army. Our goal is not only Kfar Nabuda, we will keep moving until we topple the tyrant Bashar Assad and liberate all our land, said Maarati. Battle for survival A senior commander with a moderate rebel group in the NLF, who spoke to Al Jazeera on the condition of anonymity, said despite their differences rebel groups are coordinating in a battle for survival. We cannot say they merged, but the people of the liberated north were attacked, their homes were destroyed, and their towns were occupied, so all of them had to defend their land together, he said. Adnan, a resident of Kfar Nabuda whose real name was not used for security reasons, has been hiding in a nearby town since the government began shelling and ground operations in late April. He gave an account of the plight of people as the attack unfolded and power changed hands. 190520110441160 At 11pm on Monday, April 29, the army of the regime started to bomb unarmed civilians who were sleeping, he said. Kfar Nabudas people fled without carrying any of their belongings. They were just trying to escape death. On Tuesday evening, a large-scale military action of all factions of the Syrian revolution began. They managed to liberate Kfar Nabuda completely. He said the rebels captured or destroyed a number of military vehicles and seized ammunition depots and medium and heavy weapons. About 200,000 civilians have fled their homes since the Syrian government forces, backed by Russian air power, began its latest offensive. Desperate measures Haitham Afisi, a senior NLF commander, said desperate times called for desperate measures. HTS abducted and tortured his son and held him captive for two years in 2013. Even so, he agreed to the two sides cooperation. 190520190440556 The vile regime and its attempts to snatch new territories and displace thousands of our people in the north have pushed everybody to stand side by side, Afisi said. As Nusra (HTSs former name) is the dominating power, we have had to temporarily coordinate with it. In September, Russia, Turkey, and Iran agreed to extend a ceasefire across northwest Syria and institute a 30km buffer zone between the forces. Turkey, afraid of a humanitarian catastrophe that would send three million residents running for the border, was in return expected to rein in HTS. Ankara has tried to merge HTS into NLF but without success. Now, as the groups it backs work hand-in-hand with the HTS, Istanbuls relationship with Moscow might take a hit. Turkey-Russia chess match Nicholas Heras, a fellow at the Centre for a New American Security, said Turkey was allowing Syrian rebel groups to fight alongside HTS to reinforce the rebel ranks in Idlib to prevent a collapse of the region. Turkey is also sending a signal to Russia that there is an escalation ladder that the Turks can climb to intervene in Idlib and that Turkey is still on one of the lower rungs of that ladder, he said. 190519182039997 Arun Lund, a fellow with The Century Foundation, said despite their supposed coordination, Russia had given the green light to the offensive while Turkey was aiding the rebels defences. He said underlying this was their mutual struggle to determine the wider outcome in Syria. Russia and Turkey want to keep control over events in northwestern Syria, and they wrestle with each other and with Iran and with the Syrian sides over how the ceasefire regime in Idlib should be organised, he said. Its also part of a broader relationship in Syria that includes political talks over the UNs constitutional committee, the Kurdish forces in the northeast, and other things. Turkeys relationship with Russia depends on more than Idlib and its oversight of cooperation between HTS and other rebels, analysts say, and both want to contain the situation in the region. Turkey and Russia have to manage their clients, and it appears as if Ankara and Moscow have managed to keep this flare-up relatively small, said Aaron Stein, director of the Middle East Programme at the Foreign Policy Research Institute. This approach allows the regime to slice and dice territory, but not in a way that creates levels of displacement that will force a migration crisis for Turkey. Venezuelans look for miracles to help them through desperate times. Overcrowded hospitals and widespread medicine shortages in Venezuela have left those in need desperate for help. With no end in sight for the crisis, some are turning to spiritual healers. Al Jazeeras Lucia Newman reports from Petare, Venezuela. Evidence suggests the new variant may be more transmissible than Delta, but there are still many unknowns at play. The New York Times published an article on Monday about Kris Kobach, former Kansas secretary of state, failed candidate for governor of Kansas, and adviser to Donald Trump on immigration and voter fraud. The article purports to list the conditions Kobach has demanded be met if he is to assume the proposed position of "immigration czar" for the Trump administration. The creation of that position is considered an end run around the Senate confirmation process that would follow Trump's nomination of Kobach to the Cabinet post of secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. As Kobach is seen as a "hard-liner" on border security and immigration policy in general, he would probably face the kind of orchestrated challenges that were brought against Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, but the as yet to be created "immigration czar" position would not require such confirmation. The Times article presents Kobach's alleged list of demands (below) as evidence of his presumptuousness and imperious attitude. Much is being made of his alleged demands numbers 6 and 7, for what amounts to "private jet" access for weekly trips from Washington, D.C. to the Southern border, with weekend excursions on the return trip to spend time with his family, which would remain in Kansas. The article does not specify how the NYT obtained this list. Mr. Kobach submitted the following list of demands during discussions for an administration post. 1. Office in the West Wing. 2. Walk-in privileges with the president. 3. Assistant to the President rank - at highest pay level for WH senior staff. 4. Staff of 7 people (2 attorneys, 2 research analysts, 1 scheduler, 1 media person, 1 assistant). 5. POTUS sits down individually with Czar and the secretaries of Homeland Security, Defense, Justice, Ag, Interior, and Commerce, and tells each of the Secretaries to follow the directives of the Czar without delay, subject to appeal to the President in cases of disagreement. 6. 24/7 access to either a DHS or DOD jet. Czar must be on the border every week. 7. Ability to spend weekends in KS with family on way from border back to DC, unless POTUS needs Czar elsewhere. 8. Security detail if deemed necessary after security review. 9. Serve as the face of Trump immigration policy - the principal spokesman on television and in the media. 10. Promise that by November 1, 2019, the president will nominate Kris Kobach to be DHS Secretary, unless Kobach wishes to continue in Czar position. I happen to have mixed feelings about Kris Kobach, which turn on issues of personal disappointment. But I still voted for him, I would do so again, and my support for him is undiminished, because I can't think of a tougher, more steadfast, or more educated proponent and defender of border integrity, election integrity, state sovereignty, and the Second Amendment. Similarly, I have disappointment issues with Donald Trump (whom, unlike Kris Kobach, I have never met), but they don't stand in the way of my being extremely pleased with his presidency. Leftists always let us know whom they fear by whom they hate. It's fear of Donald Trump and the damage he's done and can do to their agenda that's the basis of "Trump Derangement Syndrome," and they harbor a similar collective fear of Kris Kobach, who I think has what it takes to be on the short list of those who might be able to pick up Trump's mantle in 2024. One real aspect of that fear is the Left's dread of Kobach's continued pursuit and exposure of election fraud. So while I hope Kris's alleged demand for a staff of seven will at least get him some better people than those who have handled his scheduling or who ran his failed gubernatorial campaign, the Times article strikes me as a deliberate, manufactured hit piece, and I have to question the authenticity of this purported "list of demands." Given the NYT's long record of selectively managing what news it deems "fit to print," and the way its reputation as "The Newspaper of Record" has given way in the last several decades to it now being a major facilitator of the creation and distribution of leftist propaganda, my gut tells me to view this piece on Kobach with a jaundiced eye. Until presented with incontrovertible evidence otherwise, I'm going to consider the list fake news. I think the creative minds who put together this list perhaps didn't go quite far enough in inventing demands and trying to paint Kris Kobach as a diva wallowing in hubris. They should have included the backstage groaning board of premium-brand foods and spirits famously demanded at every venue by the Rolling Stones, or the rose petals in the dressing room toilet bowl demanded by Barbra Streisand. Stu Tarlowe, a septuagenarian, is a native of NYC who has, for many years now, made his home in Kansas. He has contributed over 150 pieces to American Thinker. His personal pantheon of heroes and role models includes Barry Farber, Jean Shepherd, Long John Nebel, Bob Grant, Aristide Bruant, Col. Jeff Cooper, Rabbi Meir Kahane, G. Gordon Liddy, Hunter S. Thompson, Emmett Grogan, Theo Kojak, Paladin, and Rin Tin Tin. Image: Fox Business via YouTube screen shot. Video footage of SpaceXs Crew Dragon space capsule exploding on the ground during an April 20 test at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida was leaked online by the next day. Yet SpaceX and NASA are unacceptably dragging their feet in explaining this taxpayer-financed fiasco in the American space program and thus continued SpaceXs worrisome undue influence on government. SpaceXs April 20 press release with its anomaly euphemism was immediately contradicted by images provided by a photographer from a local Florida publication covering a surfing festival on a beach near Cape Canaveral. In the telling photos, toxic reddish smoke clouds billow upwards from the space center. The accident is a poor omen for the Crew Dragon, in which NASA wants to transport astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS). Such visual evidence helped prompt an April 24 editorial from the Orlando Sentinel, a Florida newspaper that often covers the space program in the region. Anomaly is a vague industry buzzword that tells the public zilch about what happened to a program that the federal government is spending billions on, the editorial criticized. Theres been no press conference. No opportunity to ask questions of company executives. No detailed news releases. No photos or video of the damage. The next day NASA repeated the anomaly description in a lackluster public panel that simply rehashed already public information. Rather than answer various lingering questions surrounding the incident, NASA since then has been uncharacteristically quiet, a silence SpaceX mirrored for 13 days until May 2. Only then did an anticlimactic announcement finally publicly confirm the Crew Dragons explosion during a test of the SuperDraco rocket abort system, but rejected any suggestion of rocket malfunction and/or SpaceX fault. Therefore, the explosion remains largely shrouded in mystery, devoid of crucial information, a status understandable from the perspective of a private firm like Elon Musks SpaceX, but more troubling for the American people. As the Orlando Sentinel noted, the secretive aspects of Elon Musks ventures is fine when hes spending his own money but not in nonmilitary, nonconfidential government programs like SpaceXs NASA mission. The Atlantic concurred that a lack of transparency, a frequent hallmark of private technology companies, wont work here. The Atlantic contrasted that SpaceX should expect to be more transparent about its work for NASA, as the astronaut capsule is a taxpayer-funded effort and the Sentinel concluded that NASA shouldnt enable such secrecy. Yet leaks have been the origin of almost all information about the Crew Dragon blowup, as confirmed by a leaked internal NASA memorandum, and NASA has only acted to quell such information flows in the future. NASA not so subtly informed Cape Canaveral employees that they risked termination for violating a supposedly longstanding policy against unauthorized dissemination of images from operations. NASA appears to be acting more like Musks public-relations department, not a taxpayer-funded government agency, and not for the first time. In 2015, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded shortly after launch, obliterating more than two tons of provisions heading for the ISS. The normally fast-acting NASA reacted with unexpected lethargy, raising suspicions by individuals like Representative Lamar Smith of favoritism towards SpaceX. Only in 2018, three years after the incident and long after public outcry had faded, did NASA quietly release the summary of a report that found SpaceX responsible for the malfunction. SpaceX also has cultivated defenders on Capitol Hill like House Armed Service Committee Chairman Adam Smith, who received $20,400 in SpaceX campaign contributions in 2018 alone. Following a United States Air Force decision to exclude SpaceX from the first phase of its Launch Service Agreement (LSA), Adam Smith wrote on March 28 to the Secretary of the Air Force. Along with Senator Dianne Feinstein, he urged investigations into the LSA procurement process that have jeopardized the programs progress with delays. Not coincidentally, Feinstein, a member of the Select Committee on Intelligence that oversees various military agencies, is the only legislator in 2018 to receive more SpaceX contributions ($26,600) than Adam Smith. SpaceX exhibited similar petulance at the expense of Americas taxpayer-supported space program earlier this year when SpaceX failed to win a contract for launching a satellite to explore asteroids around Jupiter. SpaceX initiated a government review process of the procurement decision that has halted work on this time-sensitive mission with limited launch windows. Correspondingly the Foundation for Economic Education has concluded that Musk has an ongoing attempt to be the biggest recipient of corporate cronyism in American history. More transparency over the Crew Dragon snafu and future SpaceX government contracts should signal an end such cronyism. No one expects a full-blown explanation a week after the fact. But the public deserves some more openness, the Atlantic observed. The American people have a right to know whether the Crew Dragon suffered a simple mishap or has more serious design flaws and to what extent SpaceX will have to go back to the drawing board. Andrew E. Harrod is a freelance writer who holds a PhD from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a JD from George Washington University Law School. He is a fellow with the Lawfare Project, an organization combating the misuse of human rights law against Western societies, and has authored over 450 articles in print and online at outlets like the Algemeiner, American Spectator, American Thinker, Breitbart, the Investigative Project on Terrorism, Jihad Watch, and the Washington Times. The recent FOX News Business town hall debate proved once again that no lessons of history will dampen the magic of the socialists divine providence. Its magnetic appeal to a man of limited abilities to fulfill his unlimited needs at the expense of the exploiters of working people is irresistible. Without offering a clear definition and ideological purpose of socialism by either side, the discussion had centered on warts and blemishes of a capitalist system. Fixated on the single idea that capitalism is inherently flawed, the socialists advocated its replacement with a government controlled social organization that would presumably ensure universal justice and equality with a plethora of lavish social programs. Although the socialists could not explain how the fulfillment of the egalitarian dreams would be implemented and at what cost, the socialist dreams showed no bounds. In their quest from reality, the emphasis was not on economics, but on ideological conquest. Therefore any argument, no matter how absurd, ridiculous or simply false, could be thrown forward in support of illusory virtues of socialism. Marxist economist Richard Wolff at the climactic moment threw down the glove to the host Charles Payne with a bizarre statement that China is an example of successful socialism. [China] used a very powerful socialist economic model to do one thing, to grow quickly, to stop being poor and to become wealthy, he said. Yes, it is powerful. The ancient empires had been built on this economic model, which is called slavery. China's communist regime has been using slave labor, in many instances literally, to convert China into the manufacturing facility of the United States. The reliance on the American market is existential for China. After President Trump closes the trade loopholes, Chinas economic model will prove a socialist chimera. And, there was, of course, the Scandinavian model. The socialist desperate to find success of socialism anywhere pointed out to Scandinavia. Whether the Scandinavian economic model is socialism or capitalism is not even the point. This model is totally foreign to America that has been built on different social and economic principles. The Scandinavian countries given their size -- Denmark has a population of the city of Houston - and severe climate, have embraced collectivism as the imperative for survival. The principles of collectivism could easily be confused by some with the ideas of socialism. Throughout the centuries Scandinavians retained their distinct sense of identity and unique concept of social order. However, what was the imperative then, in modern times is an impediment to innovation and economic progress. The important distinction is that at the apex of American society stands a heritage of individualism. The United States being a country founded by immigrants looking for freedom from the oppressive political regimes of Europe is a nation with a strong commitment to the values of individual responsibility, personal freedom, and belief in limited government. The acceptance of collectivism would require a massive cultural transformation and a major adjustment in the American DNA -- the moral lapse from self-reliance to government dependence that cannot be implemented on a voluntary basis. The whole point of creating the United States was not to be like Europe. Therefore, the notion that something similar to the Scandinavian social organization could be implemented in this country flouts strategic and historical realities. Someone even questioned Americas greatness when people lack basic human rights such as housing, health care, and food. Despite the host of economic and political challenges no informed and an intelligent observer can deny Americas extraordinary accomplishments in the areas of quality of life, economy, politics and social development. I used to tell my students that if they cannot express themselves in numbers, they do not know what they are talking about. Here are some numbers that signify Americas greatness. Just over 100 years ago, in 1900, in the United States: The average life expectancy for men was 47 years. Only 14 percent of homes had a bathtub. Only 8 percent of homes had a telephone. Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school. There were only 8,000 cars and 144 miles of paved roads. A three-minute call from Denver to New York City cost 11 dollars, while the average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents per hour. The two leading causes of death were tuberculosis and diarrhea Innovation and prosperity are the defining characteristics of capitalism. Socialism, on the other hand, isnt known for innovation, has never created prosperity and ideologically wealth creation isnt its purpose. The purpose of socialism is economic equality. Ironically, very few people, including economist Richard Wolff, realize that wealth and economic equality are mutually exclusive. Economic equality can only be in poverty. Socialism has proven it every time it has been tried and no amounts of falsehood can change its record. Alexander G. Markovsky is a senior fellow at the London Center for Policy Research, a conservative think tank that examines national security, energy, risk-analysis and other public policy issues. He is the author of "Anatomy of a Bolshevik" and "Liberal Bolshevism: America Did Not Defeat Communism, She Adopted It. He is the owner and CEO of Litwin Management Services, LLC. Mr. Markovsky can be reached at info@litwinms.com Facebook is being exposed as a naked propaganda organ that ought to be treated by law as a "publisher" legally responsible for the content it hosts, and not as a "forum" the status it currently enjoys, exempting it from libel laws and other downsides to the content it spreads out to the world. A must-read article in the Epoch Times by Petr Svab documents to shocking effort undertaken by Mark Zuckerberg's propaganda operation. Facebook has encouraged some of its employees to probe the background of conservative commentator Candace Owens for anything that could give the social media giant grounds to kick her off its platforms, an internal Facebook document described and partially leaked to Breitbart indicates. The document is a spreadsheet on "Policy Review" of what the company calls "hate agents." It was created in early April and was related to prominent figures recently banned from the platform, a Facebook spokesperson said. Owens was listed on the document under the note, "Extra Credit (We should look into these after we're done with the above designation analysis)." The spokesperson believed Owens hadn't yet been investigated. Owens already has been subjected to suspension on what appears to be ideological grounds: Dear @realDonaldTrump, My @facebook page has been suspended for 7 days for posting that white supremacy is not a threat to black America, as much as father absence and & liberal policies that incentivize it, are. I am censored for posting the poverty rates in fatherless homes. pic.twitter.com/Yh9DSW6DPk Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) May 17, 2019 A Facebook spokesperson said the account was suspended by mistake and restored later that day. The suspension was unrelated to the internal document, the spokesperson said. The document indicated that Facebook employees were to look into what Owens is "known for," including her "ideology, actions, major news, etc." They were also supposed to list "Affiliated Hate Entities" of Owens. The spokesperson didn't respond to questions on what Facebook considers a "Hate Entity," what constitutes an affiliation, and how can users avoid such affiliations. (snip) Facebook maintains that it doesn't look at people's political views when deciding whom to ban, but its Community Standards are, to a degree, a partisan manifesto. The standards heavily focus on suppressing "hate speech," even though Americans are divided sharply along political lines on what does and doesn't constitute "hateful" speech, a 2017 Cato survey (pdf) showed. Senator Josh Hawley is leading the charge to get to the bottom of the ideological thumb on the scale at Facebook. Robby Soave at Reason wrote last March: In his brief remarks Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Sen. Josh Hawley (RMo.) accused "big tech" companies of discriminating against conservative voices and called for the government to do something about it. Hawley was interviewed on the CPAC main stage by The Wall Street Journal's Kimberly Strassel. He made clear that he believed purportedly anti-conservative big tech companies needed to be regulated. "Google and Facebook should not be a law unto themselves," he said. "They should not be able to discriminate against conservatives. They should not be able to tell conservatives to sit down and shut up." Hawley's proposed solution to this problem which is not, in fact, a solution at all is to meddle with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which shields internet platforms from certain sorts of lawsuits. Section 230 treats companies like Facebook and Twitter as neutral platforms rather than publishers; if someone posts a libelous comment on Facebook, that person can be sued, but Facebook cannot. It is no overstatement to say that Section 230 is what allows the internet to exist in its current form. If content providers were to lose this protection, they would invariably default toward censoring all kinds of speech. Thus, it is not at all obvious that an internet without Section 230 would be friendlier to conservative viewpoints, since this would actually give platforms even more cause to police speech. Strassel raised this issue with Hawley, saying "there are libertarians and some conservatives who say if you change Section 230, if you impose liability on them for anything anybody says there, they are going to go after even more conservative voices." I disagree with Robby on the usefulness of this move. I think it would push Facebook and other social media to take a hands-off approach and let any content at all post acting as a true forum. If there are worries about terrorists and other criminals, let law enforcement handle those issues. The solution to bad speech is not censorship, but rather more speech. That would also be a sound business decision, lowering the cost of operation of Facebook, which could fire its legions of censors. The Left in America hates, loathes, and despises President Trump. Why? Because he is not one of them, and he won. He was not supposed to win. How could he have prevailed? The leftists had it wrapped up. All the polls said so, just as they said climate change Labor candidate Shorten was a shoe-in in Australia. Oops. Trump's victory in the 2016 election was a cataclysmic shock to the establishment whose members believed, with every fiber of their being, that they ran things, all things governmental. The denizens of D.C. do not pay much attention to party affiliation. They all abided by the Beltway rules: never rock the boat. Get elected, do the bidding of your donors, and get rich. That's it for the bulk of them, but thankfully not all of them. Those who challenge the status quo will be dispensed with in short order, one way or another. And if they manage to stay, like Bush the younger, they will be pilloried day in and day out. Bush played by the rules; he did not fight back. He took their slings and arrows like a man, so they said. He let them eviscerate him, let them claim he was an illegitimate president. He was a good man, but he played by their rules. It never occurred to him to do otherwise. Bush's subservience gave way to Obama, the very worst president in modern U.S. history. He came to office as a man who hated this nation. He won by promising to "fundamentally transform America." That promise should have been a wake-up call to all Americans, but instead, it lulled his fans into a sort of trance, like teenage girls who fell for Elvis Presley in the 1950s. Neither reason nor intelligence had anything to do with Obama's elections. He easily manipulated the ignorant and just as easily wooed the elites with their own desperation to matter, to be celebrated as smart, savvy and not racist. But they are, and have always been, the racists, which is why they were such willing dupes, desperate not to be exposed. The Democratic Party is not only racist; it is increasingly openly anti-Semitic. Enter Donald Trump. The man does not have a racist bone in his body. Any simple search of his background in N.Y. will prove he is not a race-conscious man. He pays no attention to skin color. He loves and supports Israel; his daughter converted to Judaism. He adores his grandchildren. But the Left's mission is to paint him as a racist and anti-Semite. Projection is the Left's most obvious knee-jerk response to everything leftists hate and fear. What to do? Investigate Trump to the ends of the earth. There must be something of which they can find him guilty. He is wealthy and enormously successful. He has employed hundreds of thousands of people over the years. Surely, they can find him guilty of some crime. Aren't all rich people guilty of crimes? How else did they become rich? Trump, they think, is a criminal because his has been successful in several realms. He must have cheated. That is how the Left thinks. The Left is all about envy, never respect for achievement. So leftists invented, out of whole cloth, a crime: he "colluded' with Russia to defeat Hillary Clinton, the most corrupt candidate ever to seek the presidency. Unable to accept her and their own defeat, they devised a grand plot, a narrative they were certain would bring this good man down. They hired spies, all from Western allies, and inserted them into the lives of people they thought they could exploit. The Clintons commissioned and paid for the ridiculous dossier that every professional intel person knew upon first glance was phony. It is the arrogance of the Left that brings it down every time. Leftists truly believe that everyone outside their bubble is a deplorable idiot when in fact it is they who are the morons. Trump had their number from day one. Now, after two and a half years of investigation of all things Trump, including his family, which was just an attempt to cover up the Left's own crimes, the pseudo-investigation is over. Even Mueller and his band of Trump-hating Beltway lawyers could not find anything criminal with which to charge the man. This makes him the most investigated, cleared, and thus the most honest and above board president in U.S. history. The Democrats cannot accept this fact and have descended into a sewer of their own making. They are floundering about, issuing nonsensical subpoenas to persons peripheral to the president, all because they can't accept the results of the Mueller report. They are grasping at volume 2 of the report, as though it were useful for their ends. It's not. Trump can't be charged with obstructing an investigation that began with no crime and ended with no crime. He was rightfully angry by the entire setup, which he knew from day one was fallacious, but he never impeded Mueller. Now all Americans know, whether or not the Democrats among them can accept it, that Trump never colluded with Russia to win the election. Hillary did, the DNC did, the Obama administration did, all with malice aforethought. The entire enterprise has been the most treasonous action ever taken by an opposition party. It is the worst political scandal in U.S. history. And how has it ended? The insanity of the democrats like Nadler and Schiff is palpable. They are desperate, and their desperation is showing. But the bottom line is that Trump has weathered the most intense, malicious investigation in American history and come up clean. We are a fortunate nation to have elected this man to lead us. He is the best president since Reagan, and most of us are grateful, even those who cannot utter their gratitude aloud. Polls be damned. They are a tool of the Left, rarely a legitimate reflection of the aspirations of the people. It is shocking that someone as well read as Washington Post editorial writer Richard Cohen still propagates the harmful canard that Israel's creation in 1948 "caused" the Palestinian displacement. The actual Declaration of Independence by Israel did nothing to the Palestinians but created a homeland for the Jewish people. Cohen, and the Washington Post staff, must know full well that the neighboring Arab countries and the local Arabs (now known as Palestinians) launched a genocidal attack on Israel right after the Independence announcement. The outcome was a stunning loss for the Arabs that caused the displacement. Further, the Palestinians lost the West Bank and Gaza to their land-grabbing brethren Jordan and Egypt, respectively, not Israel. Had the Jews lost, displacement would have been the most optimistic end result for them, with genocide being the likely outcome. Why is the Post hanging on to this lie, that the sudden Declaration of Independence by Israel caused displacement of another people? It indoctrinates those new to the conflict by reversing what happened: the Arabs caused the displacement of local Arabs by their aggression not Israel! Cohen has written that his mother was ashamed of him for calling Israel an "honest mistake." It seems Cohen was the honest mistake! How he continues to implicate Israel's rebirth as the genesis of the conflict is pure make-believe. It's not too late for the Post to correct its ways. How about an editorial correcting this libel? If there was a reason President Donald Trump chose the small Pennsylvania town of Montoursville to hold a campaign rally, no one in the media is saying what it is. In the absence of any answers, let me suggest one, admittedly more speculative than proven but a possibility nonetheless. In 1996, during the midst of Bill Clinton's desperate drive to become president, 16 French club members from the Montoursville high school and five of their chaperones died in the crash of TWA Flight 800 off the coast of Long Island. Although the phrase has been much abused, there is none better than "cover-up" to describe what followed. Like many initiatives the Clinton White House choreographed, this one was highly improvisational. Before it was through, with the CIA calling the shots and the FBI following its lead, the TWA 800 investigation would make several sharp course corrections. To be sure, the great majority of those working the investigation had little or no idea it was being misdirected. Some who did harbor suspicions bravely resisted the misdirection, but they had almost nowhere to turn with their protests. Had there been a vigilant media to hear these individuals, or even a mature internet to share their objections, the truth would have surfaced, but it has not. At least not yet. What better place to start the unraveling than Montoursville? Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr. Ethiopia is almost completely depleted of its forest cover. In the early 1900s, nearly forty-five percent of the country was covered by forests. But the demand for agricultural land to feed the countrys growing population saw this forest being gradually sacrificed for farmlands, until more than ninety percent of this vast tropical forest had disappeared. The remaining forest is not contiguous but scattered in tens of thousands of small groves, mostly in the northern part of the country. At the center of these bright-green pockets of biodiversity is almost always an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church. Left: The Debre Mihret Arbiatu Ensesa church, which looks from above like a bright pinwheel, is surrounded by trees. Right: The Entos Eyesus church and its forest fill an entire tiny island in the middle of Lake Tana, near Bahir Dar. Photo credit: Kieran Dodds Churches in Ethiopia have always been covered by small forests. Locals believe that the forest protects the sacredness of the church. The tree canopy, they say, prevent prayers from being lost to the sky. The forests are as old as the churches themselves, planted by the local communities at the same time the churches were being built. This makes some of these fertile oases over 1,500 years old. The forests are protected by the religious stewards and the communities around them, making these priests, monks, nuns, and the disciples the unlikely guardians of their countrys last remaining forests. The exact number of church forests is not known. According to some estimates, there are as many as 35,000 sacred groves in the vicinity of Lake Tana and the northern highlands, and some 1,400 in the South Gondar Zone alone. They range in size from five acres to well over one thousand. The priest is generally responsible for maintaining the church at its center, while the locals use the forest ecosystems for firewood, honey, freshwater and cattle grazing. Ethiopians revere the forests, but unknown to them, their actions have been damaging the fragile ecosystem. They lead cattle into the forests to graze, which trample and eat seedlings. Lacking alternatives, sometimes the priests themselves use the wood to repair their church, to make charcoal for church activities, and to carve sacred utensils. Plants from the forest are eaten or used to make dyes. Fallen branches and brush are sold for cash. The Mekame Selam Kolala Meskel church, in the South Gonder region of northern Ethiopia, surrounded by a forest and protected by a wall. Photo credit: Kieran Dodds Since the early 2000s, forest ecologists and local, Dr. Alemayehu Wassie, and his American associate, Dr. Margaret Lowman, have been encouraging the locals to love and protect these forests, and even enlarge them if possible. Wassie and Lowman suggested building low stone walls around the forests to keep wandering animals off. The simple solution proved to be so efficient that within a few years the forests have notably thrived. In forests that are intact, the water quality is better than in the surrounding fields, tree seedlings survive more often, and the forests themselves are teeming with life, most importantly, the pollinators which are important for both the growth of the the forests as well as for the agriculture around them. Impressed by the results, many priests started expanding the outer walls in order to coax the forests to grow farther. But Wassies dreams are bigger. His next plan is to somehow connect some of these distant flecks of forests and rebuild the vast tropical forest that once covered the province. Its an ambitious project, but Wassie is optimistic. All the pieces are there, Wassie told National Geographic. Hope, I got from working with the priests. Though churches are under pressure, they are working to protect what we have. We can bring back even more. Left: The Tebebari Michael church in Anbesame, Amhara. Right: The Betre Mariam church in Zege, at the edges of Lake Tana. Photo credit: Kieran Dodds A man reads holy scripture within the churchyard of the Robit Bahita church, near Bahir Dar. Photo credit: Kieran Dodds The Gebita Giyorgis Church. Photo credit: Kieran Dodds Two women walk through the church forest at the Betre Mariam church near Zege. Photo credit: Kieran Dodds A woman on her way to worship walks through a hole created in the wall by a fallen tree. Photo credit: Kieran Dodds Chipmaker ARM instructed all of its employees to immediately stop working with Huawei as it started the process of cutting off the Chinese conglomerate from its supply lines, according to an internal memo leaked to the British media earlier today. The moved is described as a response to the ban issued by the United States administration last week, with President Donald Trump signing an executive order and a subsequent blacklisting of the worlds largest telecom equipment maker that rendered it unable to continue using American technologies, both in terms of hardware and software. ARM told employees its forced to comply with the order as well because its chip designs include a number of patented solutions originating from the U.S., without elaborating on the matter. The Cambridge-based semiconductor juggernaut opted to cut ties with Huawei in spite of the fact that even the U.S. administration agreed to grant a reprieve to the Chinese company several days back, just as its American suppliers were starting to comply with the order. The decision is arguably as impactful as the fact the ban will eventually see Huawei left without a license to pre-load Google apps and frameworks such as the Play Store and Play Services onto its Android handsets and tablets sold in the West. Advertisement Namely, while the ban, once resumed, will also lead to Qualcomm cutting Huawei off of its tech supply pipeline, that particular effect initially wasnt expected to be too consequential seeing how the Chinese electronics giant has already been transitioning to in-house chips for several years now. The problem is, its semiconductor subisidiary HiSilicon never reinvented the wheel, i.e. the vast majority of its technologies, primarily chipsets for contemporary smartphones, are based on designs it licenses from ARM; designs that the British company said include some American tech and hence must be pulled from Huawei. Without access to in-house mobile chips, Huawei will see its smartphone operations crippled in a matter of weeks once the ban is resumed, many industry watchers believe. The Chinese company still appears to be largely unconcerned with recent developments, at least relative to the implications of Washingtons latest blow against the company. Its very founder, Ren Zhengfei, downplayed the impact of the ban earlier this week, though he only did so after the firm managed to win a temporary business license from the U.S. government, hence resuming the most crucial of its stateside relations the one with Google. Despite the setback, the industry veteran remains convinced Huawei will continue growing its mobile business in the long term, in addition to winning the race toward the global deployment of the fifth generation of mobile networks, maintaining the firms technologies are too advanced for rivals to catch up with it in the next several years. Advertisement As for what this debacle means for existing owners of Huawei smartphones not much. Security patches will keep coming, after-sales services wont stop operating, and the only near-term effect of the newest developments they may experience will be a lack of an Android Q update for their handsets. OnePlus had introduced its OnePlus 7 series smartphones quite recently, and those of you who want to know more about either of the two devices are in luck, as the company rounded up questions from the community, and answered quite a few of them. If you click here, you will be able to access all of those questions and answer, while both the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro user manuals are linked there as well. There are quite a few questions and answer included on the page, and they may help you decide whether youd like to purchase either of the two phones or not. These questions and answer are split into four categories, hardware, software, miscellaneous, and Bullets Wireless 2. We will try to go over some of the more interesting / important answers in this article, but you will need to navigate to the companys official website in order to access the full list. Advertisement The company has confirmed that both OnePlus 7 devices support DisplayPort video output, through a compatible third-party cable. The company also stated that the OnePlus 7 does not feature liquid cooling like the OnePlus 7 Pro, that much is stated on the website but many users were not aware of the difference. OnePlus also said that the 30W Warp Charge adapter can be used to charge older OnePlus devices, but that their charging speed will be limited. In other words, only the OnePlus 6T McLaren Edition and the OnePlus 7 Pro can take advantage of 30W Warp Charge charging speeds. Same goes for the opposite case, as older chargers will work with the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro, but charging speeds will be adjusted. The company also said that both the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro come with a Bluetooth equalizer built in, while OnePlus did confirm that the OnePlus 7 and OnePlus 7 Pro software features will be coming to the OnePlus 5, 5T, 6, and 6T all features that are not hardware-dependent. Advertisement The company has also explained why the OnePlus 7 is not on offer in the US, to cut the long story short, the company did not feel that the OnePlus 7 is the right fit for the US market, thus it ended up offering only the OnePlus 7 Pro. Regarding its brand new wireless earphones, the Bullets Wireless 2, OnePlus confirmed that they are compatible with Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, and other devices that support Bluetooth earphones. OnePlus also cleared up that you do not need a Warp Charger in order to charge Bullets Wireless 2, as they come with a charging cable and can be charged with any USB-compatible charger. The OnePlus 7 Pro is already available for purchase via the companys official website, while the OnePlus 7 will go on sale in early June, but it will not be available in all the same markets as the OnePlus 7 Pro. The two phones are similar in many ways, but they are also quite a bit different, depending on how you look at it. OnePlus sure did opt for a different approach when it comes to design here, so if youd like to know more about their differences, click here. According to new information that surfaced in China, the Samsung Galaxy S11 will not feature the rumored under-display camera or anything of the sort. The source claims that the companys next Galaxy S11 smartphone(s) will retain the display camera hole, but that hole will be considerably smaller than it is now. This is not exactly surprising as Samsung tends to keep a rather similar design for at least two years, at least as far as its flagship smartphones are concerned. We will see some changes in the design department, though, of course, as we do every year. A true full-screen design may debut with either the Galaxy Note11, or the Galaxy S12, at least if rumors are to be believed. Samsung is tipped to release its most creative smartphone in the second half of this year, according to a recent tip, so well see what will that phone have to offer. Advertisement In any case, the source also claims that the Galaxy S11 will ship with a 5nm processor, which is to be expected, as the Snapdragon 855 is made using a 7nm process, while the Exynos 9820 is being manufactured using an 8nm process. Next-gen flagship processors are expected to go down to that 5nm level. The Galaxy S11 is still a long time away from being announced, the Galaxy S10 series arrived only a couple of months ago, after all. The Galaxy Note10 is the next big step for the company, and the aforementioned, mysterious handset that is allegedly coming in the second half of the year. Well see if those two phones will bring any significant changes in the design department. The Galaxy S11 will probably arrive in February next year, prior to the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, unless Samsung opts to announce its next-gen flagships during MWC next year, which is a possibility. Advertisement The company will almost certainly stick to the glass + metal build next year, while we will probably see several Galaxy S11 models being announced. It remains to be seen if Samsung will opt to announce the Galaxy S11e, S11, S11+, and S11 5G, modeled after the Galaxy S10 series, or will the company opt for a completely different direction. Android Q, whatever Google ends up calling it, will come pre-installed on the Galaxy S11 series, with Samsungs One UI skin, if that UI doesnt get replaced by something else entirely in the meantime. The Galaxy S11 series will include in-display fingerprint scanners, almost certainly, while you can also expect to get minimal bezels on those devices. Samsung is facing quite a bit of competition all over the globe at the moment, and even though the US and Google may mess up Huaweis plans in the long term, there are still plenty other companies that are eating away Samsungs market share. Truth be said, Huawei is the main threat, and if not for recent setbacks, Huawei was expected to overthrow Samsung and become the worlds number one smartphone manufacturer next year at least that were the companys plans. All in all, Samsung will need to step up, and do its best to stand its ground, and scare away the competition. Google has now removed the Huawei Mate 20 Pro from its list of Android Q beta devices. The phone was added to the Android 10 Q beta program a couple of weeks ago and now that Huaweis Android license has been canceled by Google, it is hardly surprising to see the Mate 20 Pros removal from the list. Although Huawei has been cut off from Googles apps and services, the companys license was recently extended until mid-August. However, Android Q will most likely not be available until late 2019, and this is presumably why the Mate 20 Pro has been dropped off from the list. It goes without saying that other Huawei and Honor devices will most likely not be getting Android Q either, including the P30 series phones and the Honor V20. Unlike the upcoming Huawei smartphones, which will not come pre-installed with Googles services and apps such as YouTube, Gmail, and Google Assistant, existing users can continue to enjoy these. Moreover, they will also continue to get monthly security updates. However, the fact that the companys high-end devices will not get Android Q will probably not bode well for customers. Advertisement Even though Google has removed the Mate 20 Pro from the Android Q Beta page, Huaweis dedicated page for the update, titled Global Developer Recruitment for Android Q on the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, is still live, but the company will most likely remove it soon. To recap, the U.S. government recently blacklisted Huawei, and following the decision, Google revoked the companys Android license. With the 90 days extension, there is a glimmer of hope that the U.S. government might reconsider its decision. After all, the same thing has happened with ZTE. This means that there is still a scant chance that existing Huawei devices might get Android Q. However, given the U.S. governments hard-line stance on Huawei, the reverse is actually more likely which means existing Huawei devices will most likely not be eligible for the next major version of Android. Meanwhile, Huawei is said to be making its own operating system, which will reportedly either be called Kirin OS or HongMeng OS. Advertisement Richard Yu, Huaweis mobile boss, has allegedly said that the new platform will be ready by Spring 2020 at the latest. Huawei has apparently been developing its own OS for three years and the recent blockade has forced the Chinese tech giant to speed up its efforts. Moreover, a new report also alleges that the companys Android alternative is far from ready. Apparently, Huawei was originally preparing the new OS for the Chinese market. After testing it out in the local market, it would presumably have been easier for the company to roll out the software to more regions, but given the recent falling out with the U.S. government Huawei has no choice but to accelerate its development efforts. Even if the company manages to roll out its OS anytime soon, it will still have the uphill task of coaxing developers to tweak their apps to make them compatible with the new system. Otherwise, without popular apps on board, the company might face difficulty selling its new devices. According to Ice Universe, a rather well-known tipster, Samsung is working on something quite unexpected. The tipster claims that Samsung will introduce its most creative smartphone in the second half of this year, and no, it doesnt seem to be the Galaxy Note10 or the Galaxy Fold. This is a rather mysterious, and yet exciting information, as it seems to suggest that Samsung is working on yet another high-end smartphone that we may not be aware of. Some reports did suggest that the company is working on two additional foldable smartphones, so perhaps thats what the source is teasing here, though were only guessing, of course. The company did announce its 5x zoom camera module quite recently, a 5x periscope zoom camera module. That camera module is ready to go into mass production, and it may be included in the device that the source is hinting at. Advertisement So, the upcoming phone will either be a new foldable device from the company, or a brand new high-end smartphone from Samsung that will compete with its high-end offerings. That would be a rather odd move by the company considering that it already has two high-end lineups out there, the Galaxy S and Galaxy Note series smartphones, but well see. Aside from a 5x periscope camera, the phone will almost certainly include UFS 3.0 flash storage. The Galaxy Fold was supposed to be the first to include such storage, but the phone got postponed for display issues, so the Galaxy S10 5G and the OnePlus 7 series took that mantle. The device will ship with Android 9 Pie with Samsungs One UI skin on top of it, no matter what form factor were looking at, and it will almost certainly be fueled by either the Exynos 9820 or Snapdragon 855 though the company may opt to offer both variants, depending on the market, as it did with the Galaxy Note9 and Galaxy S10 series. Advertisement The Galaxy Note10 series is expected to arrive in August, a year after the Galaxy Note9. Samsung is planning to introduce two smartphones as part of the Galaxy Note10 series this time around, the Galaxy Note10 and Note10 Pro, at least if rumors are to be believed. Both of those phones will be available in 4G and 5G variants, though. So, if we take into consideration that the Galaxy Note10 series is coming in August, this mysterious Samsung-branded handset will probably arrive later on. Its not likely Samsung will introduce it in June or July, having the Galaxy Note10 launch timeframe in mind, so it may arrive in Q4 at some point, in the gap between the Galaxy Note10 and Galaxy S11 launches, presuming that the two will arrive in August 2019, and February 2020, of course. Samsung is still the largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, but the company has been losing some of its market share to Huawei and other up-and-coming Chinese smartphone manufacturers, so it will probably use this brand new phone to try and turn things around. The company definitely has the ability to surprise us all with its upcoming products, lets just hope it will be as good as the source claims it will. Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk. Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen. If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned. I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country. It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously. Vote View Results Together with the London company Stac Architecture Ltd., Kriskadecor has decorated one of the restaurants of the original international chain of South Africa. Among warm colours, exposed original brickwork walls as well as introducing terracotta blockwork and hot-rolled mild steel sheet cladding, highlights the adaptability of the small anodized aluminium links. The three design solutions provided by the company create a unique atmosphere. Space dividers made up of wavy semicircles with custom curved rails, as well as the innovative roof curtain and cylindrical chandeliers that cover the different points of light, provide the desired colour, texture and movement. If we add to all this, contemporary African art dotted throughout the restaurant, the result is a reference in customized design that combines history, culture and innovation. And deepest doesnt mean Tashkent, Samarkand, or the other Silk Road cities visited by tourists; this is in far-off Nukus, near the now-dead Aral Sea. Yet this distance from Soviet power centers is the reason an ex-electrician could amass the trove of once-forbidden art at the Savitsky Museum. The Guardian In addition to the flagship store on Lexington Ave., the company opened its first store in Philadelphias Rittenhouse Square last October. A second New York City store, which opened the following month, marked Shakespeare & Co.s return to the Upper West Side after a 20-year hiatus. A fourth store, which originally was to have opened in Greenwich Village late last year, is expected to open soon. Publishers Weekly This could be the one of the first decisions to be taken by the new government after election results are announced on May 23. PNB could start the process of taking control of the banks in the next three months, according to the sources, who declined to be named, as they are not authorised to speak to the media. (File pic) New Delhi: Punjab National Bank is looking to merge with two or three government-owned banks that could include Oriental Bank Of Commerce, Andhra Bank and Allahabad Bank, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters, as New Delhi tries to cut the number of state-owned lenders. This could be the one of the first decisions to be taken by the new government after election results are announced on May 23. Exit polls showed that the alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi could win with a big majority. Banking sector reform is unfinished business from the last five-year term of Modis government as banks struggle under a huge debt pile than of more than Rs 9 lakh crore ($130 billion), or nearly 5 per cent of the gross domestic output. The proposal to merge PNB with two-three other banks would be put before the cabinet for its nod, according to a government source. Currently, there are 20 state-run banks following mergers of small banks with State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda. and takeover of IDBI Bank by state-owned Life Insurance Corporation. PNB could start the process of taking control of the banks in the next three months, according to the sources, who declined to be named, as they are not authorised to speak to the media. PNB shares fell as much as 4 per cent after Reuters reported the news. Its shares ended down 2.55 per cent at Rs 86.10 on National Stock Exchange on Tuesday. Allahabad Bank fell 2.6 per cent to close at Rs 45.15 a share, while Oriental Bank of Commerce ended down nearly 1 per cent at Rs 95.20 per share. PNB declined to comment, while the other banks did not immediately reply to an email from Reuters seeking further information. The Finance Ministry also declined to comment on the story. To revive the banking sector the government of India has injected about $36 billion of tax payers money in the last five years and also initiated an asset quality review of banks by the central bank. According to another official, the government is considering injecting another $7 billion into state-run banks to help them offer cheaper loans to their customers. The Modi government introduced new bankruptcy resolution rules in 2016 to help with faster resolution of bad loans, but litigation has tied down some big restructuring deals. Only about 5 per cent of the stressed assets of banks have so far been dealt with through the bankruptcy process. Bhat is under flak for inaction in complaints against writer-comedian Utsav Chakraborty, Khamba directly accused of sexual misconduct. In a statement shared on its official Twitter account, the company also said the AIB YouTube channel is dead for the foreseeable future. (Screengrab | Twitter | AIB) Mumbai: Comedy group AIB on Wednesday announced Gursimran Khamba will no longer be involved with the company and Tanmay Bhat will step down from the post of CEO. Last year, Khamba and Bhat, the co-founders of the comedy quartet, distanced themselves from the comedy group, which is battling allegations of sexual harassment against its members. While Bhat is under attack for his inaction in the complaints against writer-comedian Utsav Chakraborty, Khamba has been directly accused of sexual misconduct. In a statement shared on its official Twitter account, the company also said the AIB YouTube channel is "dead for the foreseeable future". AIB said there has been an Internal Committee and anti-harassment system in place from the start. But the culture at work may not have been perfect which needs to be improved, the statement added. An update pic.twitter.com/Jtq3nSGnwi All India Bakchod (@AllIndiaBakchod) May 22, 2019 "To that end, we maintain that Tanmay Bhat's lapse of judgement regarding Utsav Chakraborty was egregious. As a result, even though, Tanmay Bhat's suspension has been lifted, he will no longer hold the position of CEO." In Khamba's case, the company said they appointed a two-member External Committee (EC) -- comprising a senior partner at a law firm and a diversity consultant -- to look into the allegations. But the comic had stepped away from the investigation process during its course, citing "issues with procedure", AIB said in the statement. "The EC was unable to conclude the investigation on account of this withdrawal. Given these circumstances, Gursimran Khamba will no longer be involved in operations at AIB, and will be working independent of us," the company added. As per the statement, the company will continue to be managed by remaining two members Rohan Joshi and Ashish Shakya, who will also pursue solo interests in the coming future. AIB said as a "hundred per cent independent, creator-owned company", post the allegations going public, their business went to "zero". The lack of revenue inflows made it impossible for us, as owners, to sustain outgoing costs... But with no revenue and operational costs piling up, we had to make some hard, and unfortunately permanent decisions. We had to let our office space and entire team go overnight." The statement added all the employees who were let go managed to find another job. "The AIB YouTube channel is for all intents and purposes, dead for the foreseeable future - there will be no new sketches anytime soon... If and when we decide to release other content on the channel (for eg stand-up clips), you will be the first to know," it added. The statement was the first activity on the group's Twitter page since October 2018, after company HR head Vidhi Jotwani announced Bhat and Khamba were distancing themselves from AIB amid allegations in the wake of the #MeToo wave. The Full Commission comprises Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora and fellow Commissioners Mr Lavasa and Mr Sushil Chandra. New Delhi: Rejecting the demand of election commissioner Ashok Lavasa, the Full Commission of Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday ruled that dissents and minority views in EC orders with regard to Model Code of Conduct (MCC) violations will not be made public and only majority view will be announced in the final order. However, the ECI stressed that proceedings of the Commission meetings will be noted down including the views of all the commission members and will remain part of the official record. In the meeting of the Election Commission held today, i.e., 21.5.2019 regarding the issue of MCC, it was interalia decided that proceedings of the Commission meeting would be drawn including the views of all the Commission Members. Thereafter, formal instructions to this effect would be issued in consonance with extant laws/rules, etc, the ECI said in a statement following the meeting. The Full Commission comprises Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora and fellow Commissioners Mr Lavasa and Mr Sushil Chandra. As per existing EC rules, while efforts should be made to have an unanimous decision, but in case of a dissent the majority (2:1) view will prevail. Officials in the ECI clarified that the views of the ECI members were always recorded during the meetings irrespective of the fact whether they agreed on a particular issue or disagreed. However, when the final decision of the EC is conveyed only the majority view that forms the decision is announced. The status quo will be maintained. Dissent will not be made public but would form part of EC records as has been the practice, an official told Asian Age. The meeting on Tuesday was called by the CEC Sunil Arora after Mr Lavasa wrote a letter to him recusing himself from MCC meetings arguing that since minority views were not made public there was no point attending these sittings. Mr Lavasa is upset with the back to back clean chits given to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah. Luo Zhaohui, Chinese Ambassador to India will return to Beijing after he was promoted to level of vice-minister. (Photo: ANI) 'Despite their busy schedules, the two leaders spent their time together and it really touched me,' Zhaohui said. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Chinese Ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui, who will soon return to Beijing, said that his president Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share good chemistry and that he was very touched by their informal meeting in Wuhan last year. "Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President met seventeen times in the last five years. PM Modi paid official trips to China and the Chinese President paid visits to India. Prime Minister Modi went to Chinese President's home town Xian and in Wuhan last April. Despite their busy schedules, the two leaders spent their time together and it really touched me," Luo told ANI in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. Luo Zhaohui, who is said to have played a significant role in dousing of tensions during the Doklam standoff and subsequently, will be returning to Beijing after he was promoted to the level of a vice-minister. "Leaders take their time from a busy schedule to pay attention to this important bilateral relationship. As a diplomat and as an Ambassador, we handled the matter directly so we should implement it. That is our responsibility to implement on the consensus reached by the leaders," he added. Luo said that he was quite sure that friendly engagement between India and China will continue after the Lok Sabha elections. "Next month there is an SCO meeting and after that, there will be the G-20 summit. Leaders will meet in the conferences and so this has become the tradition," he said. Modi and Xi had met during the informal meeting in Wuhan in April last year. The meeting was held without a fixed agenda. The informal summit took place in the backdrop of Doklam standoff which had strained ties between New Delhi and Beijing. The Chinese President had also visited Gujarat, Modi's home state after his BJP government came to power in 2014. "The chemistry between leaders is important and people-to-people chemistry is even more important," Luo further said. 'Their failure and embarrassment on providing evidence against EVMs during the discussion was like 'Khoda Pahad Nikli Chuhiya',' he said. The Minority Affairs Minister said the 'glamour of victory and grace in defeat' should be two sides of the same coin for those who believe in democracy. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Attacking the Congress and other opposition parties for raising concerns about EVMs, senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday said they want to discredit democracy as they are unable to digest defeat of the dynasty. The Minority Affairs Minister said the glamour of victory and grace in defeat should be two sides of the same coin for those who believe in democracy. The way the Congress and its allies are putting on a horror show over their defeat, makes it clear that these political parties want to make the country's democratic and constitutional system a means of convenience, Naqvi told reporters. Those political parties that are continuously trying to create an atmosphere of mistrust on EVMs, had discussed the issue of credibility of EVMs and the election process for several hours in Parliament, he said, adding that they failed to present any logic or fact against the EVMs. Their failure and embarrassment on providing evidence against EVMs during the discussion was like 'Khoda Pahad Nikli Chuhiya' (much ado over nothing), he said. Naqvi alleged that after their failure in the country on the issue of EVMs, one of the Congress leaders started a campaign against EVMs abroad also. But they failed there too. Then they approached the Supreme Court but they did not succeed even in the Supreme Court, he said. The EVM vilaap mandli wants to make EVMs their hamper of defeat by raising questions about Indian democracy and the election process, Naqvi said. Unable to digest defeat of the dynasty, they want to discredit democracy, he alleged. The BJP has been slamming the opposition, particularly the Congress, for indulging in dynastic politics. It made several barbs at the Congress and the Gandhi family over dynastic politics during the election campaign. Naqvi claimed that opposition parties, after becoming alienated from the masses, are now involved in a conspiracy to defame the main pillar of Indian democracy by raising questions on the credible and transparent election process of the country. But, the people of the country will not allow any such conspiracy to succeed, he added. Opposition parties Tuesday raised concerns over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs and asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. Exit polls on Sunday projected that the NDA will retain power at the Centre. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. On the intervening night of May 18 and 19, a gang of thieves barged into the station premises and stole valuable items. Till now, police have arrested two women in connection to the burglary. (Photo: Representational) Ghaziabad: After one-and-a-half day, the Sahibabad police station got to know that they have been robbed. On the intervening night of May 18 and 19, a gang of thieves barged into the station premises and stole valuable items from malkhana (storehouse for case properties), reported Hindustan Times. Thieves looted 90 big and small sized batteries, two gas cylinders, seized mobile phones, four high definition CCTVS, one vehicle and accessories from Hyundai Accent and Honda City cars parked at the complex of the Sahibabad police station. Till now, police have arrested two women in connection to the burglary. Two women were arrested in connection of thefts and some of the items were also recovered. We will make more inquiries and probably more people could be behind the incident. They may have stolen the items over a period of time. Some digging work was going on at the main entrance of the police station and a side entry was opened. It is possible that the items were taken away from the side entry. We have a depleted workforce as many personnel are away on election duties, police official said. On Monday, the store in-charge came to know about the incident. In the morning, he saw broken locks of the storeroom and informed a constable. Later, police officers lodged a formal complaint at Sahibabad police station at 2:55pm on Monday and an FIR was registered under sections of 380 (theft in dwelling house, etc) and 457 (lurking house trespass or housebreaking by night in order to commit offence) of the Indian Penal Code. Srisailam was speaking on irregularities going on in gurukuls and social welfare residential schools in Telangana. Alexander, a PhD student from Osmania University, and his associates attacked National SC Reservation Parirakshana Samiti president Karne Srisailam during a press conference. (Photo: Twitter I ANI) Hyderabad: National SC Reservation Parirakshana Samiti president Karne Srisailam was attacked while addressing a press conference at the Press Club in Hyderabad. #WATCH: National SC Reservation Parirakshana Samithi president, Karne Srisailam, attacked during a press conference at Press Club in Hyderabad yesterday. He was speaking on irregularities in Gurukul Pathshala (residential schools for SC/ST in Telangana) pic.twitter.com/e0brXDe1Tt ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 The incident took place on Tuesday. According to Panjagutta police, Srisailam was speaking on the irregularities going on in gurukuls and social welfare residential schools in Telangana when he was allegedly thrashed by one Alexander, a PhD student from Osmania University, and his associates. Police said that Alexander and his associates alleged that they were attacked by Srisailam's followers. A case has been filed in the matter. The investigation is underway. The Doklam standoff between India and China in June 2017 resulted in tensions between the two countries. Speaking on unresolved border issues, Luo said that it is important to maintain peace and tranquillity and 'border disputes are left over by history.' (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui has said that disputes between the two neighbouring countries are as natural as issues between two brothers of a family staying under one roof. He said that India and China have reached a consensus to make bilateral ties stable and break the cycle of highs and lows in the relations between the two countries. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of a seminar hosted by Chinese Embassy, Luo said: India-China ties are important for both the countries. We already reached a consensus under the leadership of both sides. We now maintain that China-India relationship will continue to move in a healthy and stable direction." "Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations. One major feature is that such types of important bilateral relations always see ups and downs. So we have a consensus reached with the Indian government on how to make this relation stable and break the up and down circle," he added. The Doklam standoff between India and China in June 2017 resulted in tensions between the two countries. Luo had played a significant role in dousing the tensions. Asked how he viewed and handled the situation, the Chinese envoy said: Something going wrong between two great neighbouring countries is natural. It is as natural as two brothers of a family living under one roof having issues, it is very natural. Of course, we did not ignore that matter. We worked together and resolved the problem, which ensured that bilateral relations were back on normal track. That is my job and the two leaders of both countries did a great job and provided strategic guidelines. We are happy to see that. Speaking on unresolved border issues, Luo said that it is important to maintain peace and tranquillity and "border disputes are left over by history." Border issues are a left over by history and it takes a long time to resolve. Before we can resolve the matters, we must maintain peace and tranquillity along the border area. We should also focus on economic cooperation, strengthen our friendship and narrow down the disputes," he said. Emphasising on the importance of border trade, Luo further said: I am just back from Gangtok to check India-China border trade at Nathula. Border trading matters and I really think that place has great potential to do more. In Nathula pass, the border trade is totally in favour of Indian side and it also makes the lives of the people along the border area better and we should pay more attention towards it." Speaking on the growing trade deficit between India and China, the Chinese envoy said: "We have made a lot of progress so that is why I am always optimistic on the economic side. The two-way trade last year is over USD 95 billion and of course, it is in favour of China. On economic and trade matters and on regional and global issues we share a lot of similarities." "So this is the whole picture. I am also talking about trade deficit where it is not on direction and we would like to see. I am sure with the progress of the economic development from both sides, this matter will be resolved," Luo added. Luo will be returning to Beijing on the evening of May 27 after he was promoted to the level of a vice-minister. He will be looking after Asian Affairs. On his tenure in India, Luo said: "I really wish I could stay here for longer. This is my second tenure here. Thirty years have passed and India has made tremendous progress in the economic area." "I really admire and appreciate the progress made by India and also at the same time China has made progress. India-China relations have also made a lot of progress so this is one thing I see is quite optimistic. The future is also optimistic and I have done my job," the Chinese envoy said. Swaraj said the wounds of Pulwama were still raw as the sad news came in of the Sri Lanka terror attacks. New Delhi/Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan): Speaking in the presence of Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, next to whom she was seated, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday referred to the Pulwama terror attack on February 14 this year by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed as a raw wound in her speech at the meeting of foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation at Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Saying India was determined to fight firmly and resolutely against the menace of terror, Ms Swaraj said the wounds of Pulwama were still raw as the sad news came in of the Sri Lanka terror attacks. In what is seen as a veiled message to both Pakistan and China on connectivity, Ms Swaraj said India welcomes reg-ional connectivity initiatives, that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ms Swaraj, incidentally, had a separate bilateral meet on the sidelines with Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi, when issues of bilateral interest, including on the understanding reached at the Wuhan summit, were discussed. This was the first top-level Sino-Indian meeting after China earlier this month lifted its objections to the listing by the UN of JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, much to Indias relief. Media reports from Bishkek said there was no separate bilateral meeting between Ms Swaraj and Mr Qureshi. Photographs appeared in the Pakistani media showing the two leaders seated next to each other at the SCO meet. There were also reports that the two leaders had exchanged pleasantries. Indian government sources late on Wednesday night said Ms Swaraj and Mr Qureshi were not seated next to each other at the SCO meeting and that there was only exchange of pleasantries between the two leaders and no separate bilateral meeting. Sources also said that photos being circulated in the media showing Ms Swaraj and Mr Qureshi seated next to each other were of the group of SCO foreign ministers who were to call on the Kyrgyz President and not a photo of the actual CFM conference. Sources also said a picture of Ms. Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart sitting on a sofa next to each other and conversing was of the leaders waiting in the holding room before the start of the conference. Government sources reiterated that only pleasantries were exchanged. India and Pakistan had come to the brink of war in late February this year after the Pulwama attack, when India launched airstrikes against a JeM camp, following which Pakistan retaliated resulting in a dogfight between the two Air Forces. In her address at the SCO session, Ms Swaraj, speaking on connectivity, highlighted the projects supported by India, including the Chabahar port project in Iran, which has led to a sea-land link from India to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan. It may be recalled that India had earlier refused to join the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) due to concerns over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) that passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, which India regards as Indian territory illegally occupied by Pakistan. Wednesdays SCO conference was the last major foreign policy engagement of the Narendra Modi government in its current tenure ahead of Indias election results that will be announced on Thursday. On terrorism, Ms Swaraj said: Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and the news from the neighbourhood made us more determined to fight firmly, resolutely against this menace. On efforts to ensure peace in war-torn Afghanistan, Ms Swaraj said: India stands committed to any process that can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights. I wish to once again underscore the importance India attaches to the SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcome an early conclusion of the draft roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group. Mor went out to visit his friend at around 5 pm on Tuesday and was gunned down at a photocopy shop located in his vicinity. New Delhi: TikTok Start Mohit Mor was shot dead near Delhis Najafgarh on Tuesday for not returning Rs 30 lakh and then seeking protection from gangsters, police said on Friday after one of the three suspects was arrested. The 24-year-old gym trainer and social media star was shot dead by three unidentified gunmen. The deceased was identified as Mohit Mor of Haryana's Bahadurgarh who had over 5.17 lakh followers on social media app TikTok. The fitness enthusiast used to frequently upload fitness videos on his TikTok and Instagram profiles and was popular in virtual world. Mor went out to visit his friend at around 5 pm on Tuesday and was gunned down at a photocopy shop located in his vicinity. Three unidentified men came on a bike and pushed down five bullets into him when Mor was sitting on a sofa at the shop. According to a senior police officer 13 bullets were fired at him, IANS reported. The incident was captured in CCTV camera and while one attacker is clearly visible in the footage, the faces of the other two were covered with helmets. "When Mohit Mor was busy talking with his friend inside the shop, three armed persons barged inside the shop and indiscriminately fired 13 bullets on him. Mohit Mor fell on a sofa kept inside the shop. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead," a senior police said. Police relate the murder to a gang war near Dwarka Mod metro station on Sunday in which two alleged criminals were gunned down. "We are checking his Tik Tok and Instagram accounts comments and Call Details Record (CDR) to establish his enmity with anyone on social media that may help us to crack the case," the senior police officer said. "Prima facie, it appears a case of personal enmity and a money dispute," the officer added. A case under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code was registered and a probe is underway. Having said that no case of disproportionate assets was made out against three Yadava leaders. New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that there was no evidence to support the allegation that the former Uttar Pradesh chief ministers Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and his brother Prateek Yadav possessed disproportionate assets beyond their known sources of income. Referring to the top court direction of December 12, 2012, the CBI has told the top court that an inquiry was conducted ... and it was found that the allegations against Mulayam Singh, Akhilesh and Prateek Yadav for allegedly having acquired disproportionate assets to their known sources of income could not be substantiated. Having said that no case of disproportionate assets was made out against three Yadava leaders, the CBI said that the preliminary enquiry into the matter was closed and a report was submitted to the CVC on October 8, 2013. The CBI has further told the court that since no prima face evidence of commission of cognizable offence against the suspect was found during enquiry, hence, the PE in the present case was not converted into a criminal case/FIR under the provision of section 154 of the CrPC and as such no enquiry was conducted in the matter after August 7, 2013. The affidavit filed before the top court says that the CBI ... after conducting further enquiry in a fair, impartial and professional manner in the matter, had independently taken a decision to close the enquiry on August 7, 2013. The investigating agency said this to the top court in response to March 25 order on the steps taken by it in pursuance to its preliminary inquiry into alleged disproportionate assets (DA) of Samajvadi party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav, former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and Prateek Yadav. The bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, and Justice Deepak Gupta had sought investigating agencys response to the plea by the applicant Vishwanath Chaturvedi who had urged the court to call for the report on investigation t carried out in pursuance to its (top court) March 1, 2007 and December 13, 2012 order. The top court had on March 1, 2007, directed the CBI to carry out a preliminary inquiry against the SP chief, his sons Akhilesh Yadav and Prateek Yadav, and Dimple Yadav into the allegations of possessing disproportionate assets. The investigating agency had registered the PE on March 5, 2007. The issue to change the protocol for counting was discussed by the CEC Sunil Arora at his meeting with the other two election commissioners. New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (EC) has rejected the demands of the opposition regarding Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) on Wednesday. The issue to change the protocol for counting was discussed by the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora at his meeting with election commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra. A delegation of 22 opposition parties had met the EC on Tuesday to register their complaint on the functioning of EVMs and convey their demands to the EC. The Opposition had demanded that tallying of the VVPAT slips in five polling stations in each Assembly segment with the EVMs be done prior to counting votes cast in EVMs. Also, the Opposition wanted 100 per cent counting of paper slips of VVPATs of all polling stations of an assembly segment, in case of any discrepancy is found in VVPAT verification. Opposition leaders had hinted that they werent very positive that the poll panel would fix the discrepancies hours before the counting process is to begin, as the EC ignored the suggestions for months. We raised these same issues in last one and half months. Why did they not respond? asked Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi who called the suggestion to first verify the VVPAT paper slips a no-brainer. Hindustan Times reported election official to have cited existing orders to point out that in case there is any mismatch between electronic candidate-wise result of the Control Unit and the candidate-wise VVPAT slips manual count, recounting of the VVPAT slips of that particular VVPAT shall be conducted till the recount is tallied with the EVM count or one of the previous VVPAT slips count more details awaited. In cases, where mock-poll data was not erased from EVMs by election officials, those units will be kept aside and only VVPAT slips will be referred to during the counting. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. 'I don't think there is much difficulty in choosing PM from the opposition,' senior Congress leader said. 'On the "contentious" issue of choosing Prime Ministerial candidate in the event of opposition mustering the numbers to form Government,' Veerappa Moily said. (Photo: File/PTI) Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily Wednesday alleged exit polls that predicted return of the NDA government at the Centre were aimed at boosting investor sentiment on the stock market and "disrupting" opposition unity. The former Union Minister said he strongly felt that those exit polls do not reflect the reality on the ground, and claimed that some agencies who have conducted them have now "backed out" saying "there are full of errors". "It (exit polls predicting second term for the Modi government) must have been done with some ulterior motive. Number one is to project the stock market...people have gained between Rs 4.5 lakh crore to Rs five lakh crore"", he said. He was referring to investor wealth soaring by more than Rs 5.33 lakh crore as the benchmark BSE Sensex sprinted more than 1,422 points Monday after exit polls predicted a return of the NDA government led by the BJP. "And another (reason for such exit polls) is to disrupt the opposition unity. That they have not succeeded. Tomorrow (counting day), it will not be a surprise if opposition unity springs out with a majority", Moily told PTI. Asked if unity efforts of "disparate" non-BJP, non-NDA parties would work, the former Karnataka Chief Minister said: "Sometimes it works because the common enemy is Modi and BJP. Because during elections all of them have suffered because of BJP's excesses. So, I don't think they can go with BJP". On the "contentious" issue of choosing Prime Ministerial candidate in the event of opposition mustering the numbers to form Government, he said, "I don't think there is much difficulty in choosing PM from the opposition". "We would like to react only tomorrow (after the results are declared)", Moily said when asked if the Congress would not insist on the post of Prime Minister. 'BJP will keep an open mind if other parties want to join their coalition seeing the national mood,' says Panda New Delhi: BJP will keep an open mind if other parties want to join their coalition seeing the national mood, which the exit polls show is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's favour, said party vice president Baijayant Jay Panda who recently left BJD to join BJP. "My party president Amit Shah has said that we are confident of getting more than 300 seats. We will form the government with NDA allies. If other parties seeing the national mood want to also join in, I think, BJP will keep an open mind," BJP's Baijayant Jay Panda told ANI on being asked if BJD will support NDA. "All exit polls are showing that BJP has dramatically grown in Odisha. BJP will form the government in Odisha and get a majority in Lok Sabha. In Odisha, people have seen the Modi government has been taking strong political decisions, which were not easy, whether on the economic or security front. Naveen Patnaik has been chief minister for 19 years, but last five years witnessed a dramatic departure of his party's image and reputation due to rising crimes and corruption in the state," he added. Replying to a question on who will be the chief minister if BJP gets a majority in Odisha, Panda said, "I joined BJP after soul searching. I am happy to carry out whatever responsibility the party gives me. Whether it is my friend Devendra Pradhan, K V Singh Deo or Pratap Sarangi, the good thing is BJP has a lot of talent, whosoever takes whichever responsibility, we are going to cooperate with each other." He further cornered Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying that he had attacked him personally in several interviews. "The BJD has long considered that Kendrapara is its seat, I represented the seat as a BJD member. People have seen how I was eliminated and moved away from BJD. For whatsoever reason, it is little unusual that Patnaik seemed to focus extra on Kendrapara and attacked me personally in many interviews. But then, I had to give a strong response to allegations levelled against me. He spent two days in Kendrapara but he neglected other seats where campaigning was underway," he remarked. Speaking about the meeting of 21 opposition leaders with Election Commission in the national capital, Panda said: "It has become a tradition that losing parties claim that EVMs are being tampered with and there is some manipulation. Sometimes, they go to court and hold a press conference. It is very sad this kind of cynical approach is being followed." "When BJP lost assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders humbly accepted people's mandate. At that time, they had no issues with EVMs but suddenly they are criticising EC," he added. On Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu along with 21 opposition parties leaders urged the EC to count votes through VVPATs instead of EVMs during counting for the Lok Sabha polls. On Congress accusing BJP of destabilising their governments in states of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, the BJP vice-president said his party does not need to destabilise any government. Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath have asserted that Congress has a majority in Madhya Pradesh Assembly and accused the opposition BJP of "unnecessarily" creating problems since it feared its scams will be exposed if Kamal Nath government stays in power. Elections for 542 Lok Sabha seats were held between April 11 and May 19 with counting of votes scheduled for May 23. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. The RSS leader was shot dead by bike-borne assailants at Chuna Bhatti in Dewas district in MP on December 29, 2007. Bhopal: In a significant development, Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday declared to reopen an old case relating to murder of RSS leader Sunil Joshi in which BJPs candidate for Bhopal Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur was acquitted along with seven others due to lack of evidence a couple of years ago. State law minister P.C. Sharma told reporters here that his government was seeking legal opinion to reopen the case and go for a fresh probe into it. The announcement comes a day after exit polls predicted return of NDA at the Centre. The case was not properly dealt by the previous government in the state leading to acquittal of the accused. Hence, we have decided to reopen the case, he said. The RSS leader was shot dead by bike-borne assailants at Chuna Bhatti in Dewas district in MP on December 29, 2007. Ms Pragya and seven others were acquitted by a local court in 2017 due to lack of evidence. According to Mr Sharma, the then district collector of Dewas had arbitrarily shut the case without seeking opinion of law department. The state government has now sought a report on the case from the Dewas district collector which would be scrutinized by the state law department before moving a higher court seeking to reopen the case, he added. BJP spokesman here however described the move by the state government as witch-hunting. The ruling Congress is seeking revenge against Pragya since she contested against Digvijay Singh, he alleged. Most exit polls have predicted that the NDA is likely to retaining power. Verdict of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls will be declared on May 23. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is garlanded by BJP president Amit Shah along with Cabinet ministers at a function to thank members of the Cabinet in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo: PRITAM BANDYOPADHYAY) New Delhi: Confident of retaining power at the Centre, the BJP-led NDA on Tuesday showcased its unity over dinner ahead of the counting of votes on May 23 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi terming his governments tenure as a successful experiment and hailing the ruling alliance as an organic entity and a strong pillar of Indian democracy. Addressing leaders of 36 parties, Mr Modi termed the 2019 Lok Sabha polls as a decisive moment in Indias democracy and stressed on the need to change the narrative from caste lines and orient it for the poor The NDA unanimously passed a resolution describing itself as an alliance of dreams and aspirations of the country and hailed the vision of the Prime Minister. The resolution also pledged to make India strong, developed, prosperous and inclusive by 2022 when it completes 75 years of its independence, party leader and Union minister Rajnath Singh told reporters. Most exit polls have predicted that the NDA is likely to retaining power. Verdict of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls will be declared on May 23. On a day when the Opposition camp showed its strength on the EVM issue, BJP president Amit Shah hosted dinner for NDA allies that was attended by Mr Modi and representatives of 36 parties, including JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar, Shiv Seans Uddhav Thackeray, SADs Parkash Singh Badal, LJP s Ram Vilas Paswan among others. Expressing displeasure over the Oppositions stand on the EVM issue, Mr Modi said that when there should be efforts for global branding of the Indias electoral process, the Opposition is trying to project an adverse picture of it. Mr Modi also told NDA allies that neither votes nor forming a government was the ruling alliances aim but a New India. The NDA expressed confidence that the people will give the Modi-led government another chance based on its track record and vision and asserted that Mr Modi deserves another term. The NDA also condemned the vote bank politics of the Opposition and its old school thinking which is not acceptable to young voters of the 21st century. Earlier, Mr Modi had also attended a Swagat aur Abhaar Milan hosted by BJP president Mr Shah at the party headquarters for the Union ministers. Mr Modi termed his election campaign as a pilgrimage and turned the completion of his governments tenure as a successful experiment. He also said the alliance should be further strengthened and congratulated his Council of Ministers. The meeting lasted for nearly two hours. At the NDA dinner, allies congratulated Mr Modi and his team for the development-oriented decisions to benefit the comman man and keeping in mind the regional aspirations. The resolution, proposed by Mr Paswan, mentioned how the Modi-led NDA played a key role in taking up issues like terrorism and money laundering at the global platform and showed its firmness on the national security issue. Mr Singh said India showed the world that it is no more a soft state when it comes to diplomacy and security. The resolution mentioned Indias efforts for UNs declaration of Masood Azhar a global terrorist and the global support the Modi government received for the anti-missile test. The resolution also condemned the political violence in states like West Bengal and Kerala, with Mr Modi expressing concern over it. He also expressed concern over how institutions like the EC, the CAG and the security forces, among others, have come under attack from the Opposition. The NDA leaders vowed to carry forward the development work initiated by the Modi-led government and to achieve inclusive, prosperous and developed India, which was the dream of freedom fighters by 2022 when the country will celebrate 75th anniversary of Independence. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. In an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena said that they (Rahul and Priyanka) worked hard. Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday praised Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for their hard work, saying their party will get enough seats to bag the Leader of Oppositions post in the new Lok Sabha. In an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana, the Shiv Sena said, They worked hard. The Congress will be successful as a strong Opposition party. The editorial further stated that Mr Gandhi could not win (enough) seats to get the post in 2014. This time, the Congress will have a Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This will surely be Rahul Gandhis success, the Sena said sarcastically. In 2014, the BJP bagged 282 seats while the Congress managed to win only 44 seats. In order to get the Leader of Oppositions post, the party concerned must have at least 10 per cent of the total strength of the House. The Sena also expressed confidence that a government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be re-elected for a second term as the exit polls show a clear trend in the BJP-led NDAs favour. Elections to 542 seats of 543-member Lok Sabha ended on Sunday and counting of votes is scheduled for Thursday. Most exit polls have forecast another term for Mr Modi, with some of them projecting that the BJP-led NDA would get over 300 seats to comfortably cross the majority mark. The editorial read, There was no need for political pundits to say the Modi government will be re-elected. The situation on the ground was such that people were leading the poll campaign and had made up their mind to vote Modi back to power. Taking cognisance exit polls showing a clear trend in favour of the Modi-led government, the Sena said there are also predictions of the BJP having a clear lead in the Congress-ruled Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, and also in West Bengal, where the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC is in power. It also claimed that the Sena-BJP alliance would register a historic win in Maharashtra too. Modi will be the Prime Minister again and the Congress and other opposition parties will fail to make a mark. But, it is better to wait till May 23 for the actual results, said the Sena, which is an ally of the BJP at the Centre. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. The SC vacation bench said that admissions to UG law courses at GGSIPU would be done on the basis of CLAT and not the CET. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that the admission to LLB courses in Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) for the academic year 2019-2020 would be done on the basis of CLAT (common law admission test) score. The vacation bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice M.R. Shah said that admissions to undergraduate law courses in GGSIPU would be done on the basis of CLAT and not the CET (common entrance test) as directed by the Delhi high court. They (University) took permission from the government and it was permitted to admit students on the basis of CLAT, said Justice Mishra. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the GGSIPU, told the vacation bench that the University, which conducts its own examination, had taken permission from the government this year to admit students who had appeared for CLAT. Senior counsel PS Patwalia, appearing for some of the students aggrieved by the Universitys decision to take the CLAT route to admit students in undergraduate law courses, said that the decision would affect thousands of students who had not appeared for CLAT. Mr Patwalia said, What the court is doing is extremely harsh on the students. The court took umbrage to some of the juniors assisting Mr Patwalia for speaking when the latter was arguing. The court said, It is contempt, they should know when to speak and when to stop. Vice presidents except Rajiv Babbar and Abhay Verma, who were in-charge of one Lok Sabha constituency each, were also not active on the ground. New Delhi: Acting tough on the inputs received from central leadership that several leaders had worked against the party, the Delhi BJP is all set for a major reshuffle after declaration of the Lok Sabha polls on May 23. It is reliably learnt that the BJP central leadership has prepared a report which has pointed out that several leaders and office-bearers were found working against the party during the Lok Sabha polls in the national capital. Confirming this, a top source in the Delhi BJP told this newspaper that stringent action will be taken against the errant leaders after the announcement of the elections results. A senior leader said that the BJP had deployed several independent individuals to help party candidates, access ground condition and sent their daily reports to the central leadership. The leader said: It was found that several key office-bearers including general secretaries Kuljeet Singh Chahal, Ravinder Gupta and Rajesh Bhatia were missing in action on the ground. Vice presidents except Rajiv Babbar and Abhay Verma, who were in-charge of one Lok Sabha constituency each, were also not active on the ground. Similarly, several secretaries were also not seen working actively on the ground except a handful of office-bearers, he said, adding that none of them were seen during the campaigning or with their respective candidates. Taking a dig on senior office-bearers, a party functionary said that no candidate even asked these office-bearers to help them in the poll process. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari told this newspaper that the party has placed an order for 350 kg ladoos to celebrate re-election of Mr Modi as PM. Even before the results of the 17th Lok Sabha elections are out, BJP is preparing for its grand victory celebration. The party, particularly its Delhi unit, is preparing about 350 kilogram of laddoos and special 10 laddoo-cakes. New Delhi: Even before the results of the 17th Lok Sabha elections are out, BJP is preparing for its grand victory celebration. The party, particularly its Delhi unit, is preparing about 350 kilogram of laddoos and special 10 laddoo-cakes. The 350 kg laddoos will represent the partys Mission 350, a target set by the party to win 350 seats on its own in the polls. The party has also asked the neighbouring state units to send their workers for a victory procession at the BJPs national headquarters on Thursday evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be delivering his victory speech at the BJP headquarters at about 7 pm. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari told this newspaper that the party has placed an order for 350 kg ladoos to celebrate re-election of Mr Modi as PM. The city BJP unit has also asked its workers to reach partys national headquarters to listen Mr Modis victory speech. About 50,000 BJP workers from across the country will start reaching the party office from 4 pm to join the celebrations, Mr Tiwari added. The partys local unit also ordered 10 laddoo-cakes, while one cake will be about seven kilogram and remaining will be of about five kilogram. Special seven kilogram ladoo-cake for Delhi BJP ordered at Bengali Pastry shop. Another nine similar laddoo-cakes of five kilogram each have been specially made which will be cut at partys national headquarters in the evening, said Delhi BJP media relation head Neelkant Bakshi. Apart from the preparations made by the Delhi BJP, leaders in their individual capacity will distribute specially designed sweets. Delhi BJP spokesperson Pravin Shankar Kapoor has ordered 50 kilogram special Kamal Barfi, barfi in shape of BJPs election symbol Kamal (Lotus) to be made by a leading outlet in the Chandni Chowk. I have ordered special Kamal Barfi in my personal capacity for distribution among people who reposed their faith in the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Mr Kapoor said. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. The court passed the order noting that the courts in West Bengal were paralysed in the wake of the indefinite strike by the lawyers since April 25. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted seven days protection from arrest to BJP candidate from Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency Arjun Singh so that he could attend the counting of votes tomorrow. Granting protection from arrest to Arjun Singh starting from today and ending on May 28, the vacation bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice M.R. Shah said that after May 28 when protection would cease to operate the state government would be free to take action in accordance with the law. Before crossing over to the BJP, Arjun Singh was Trinamul Congress lawmaker in West Bengal Assembly. Restraining the state police from taking any coercive action against Arjun Singh in the cases filed in May 2019 or earlier, the court today said that he could move the competent court for bail. Injuncting the West Bengal government from taking any coercive action, the court in its order said, No arrest is made for five days from today to May 28. Thereafter the protection would cease to operate and the state can act in accordance with the law. The court passed the order noting that the courts in West Bengal were paralysed in the wake of the indefinite strike by the lawyers since April 25. Having granted the protection to the BJP leader, Justice Mishra in a scathing observation said that violence is very common there. For nothing, they will fight. He further observed that those who indulge in violence have no political affiliations and They belong to no party and join the party in power. Whosoever comes to power, they join them The court also recalled the face-off between the West Bengal police and the CBI which is investigating Saradha scam on the directions of the top court. Describing the action of West Bengal government as vindictive, senior counsel Ranjit Kumar told the court that after Arjun Singh switched sides, the ruling party foisted a number of cases. In eight cases, he has been granted bail but in other cases filed from May 5, 2019, till May 20, he could not get bail because of the strike. Appearing for West Bengal, Astha Sharma told the court that there were several cases against Arjun Singh, including one under arms Act. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. The party has also asked its people to start relief-related work in drought-affected districts in order to provide respite to distressed farmers. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and other BJP leaders at the meeting held at the partys office in Dadat on Tuesday. Asian Age Mumbai: With the results of the Lok Sabha election yet to be announced, the Bhar-atiya Janata Party (BJP) took stock of all 48 parliamentary constituencies at its city office Vasant Smruti in Dadar on Tuesday. All party men including chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, sitting MPs, Lok Sabha candidates and office-bearers participated in the meeting where BJP leaders also discussed the drought situation of the state. A senior BJP minister, who was also present, said that as per the review of the meeting, the BJP-Shiv Sena allia-nce is going to get at least 38 to 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The party has asked all its office-bearers and legislators to start working for the Assembly election, whi-ch is scheduled for three months later, as soon as the general election results are out. Senior BJP leader and finance minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the suggestions of all the Lok Sabha candidates had been considered at the meeting. He said that all the public representatives of the BJP would be visiting fodder camps at drought-affected areas in the state. All the district units of the party would render their services for drought-mitigation measures, he said. Mr Mungantiwar said that the local MLAs fund would be used for drought relief measures. The government will issue a GR regarding the MLAs fund, which can be used for the mitigation measures, he said. The party has also asked its people to start relief-related work in drought-affected districts in order to provide respite to distressed farmers. The MLAs funds will be used for fodder camps and water tankers. The party has also directed legislators review the implementation of the mitigation measures undertaken by the government. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. Sharma was a former Australian ambassador to Israel and had claimed the seat of former Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull. Melbourne: Dave Sharma, the Liberal candidate and former Australian ambassador to Israel, has scripted history by becoming the first Indian-origin lawmaker in the country's Parliament after winning a seat in Sydney suburb in the federal election. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is close to securing a majority government as the election's final results are being counted. His conservative coalition has defied polls and is leading with 77 seats, the Australian Electoral Commission says. Only 76 seats are needed for a majority. Sharma, 43, defeated independent candidate Kerryn Phelps for the eastern suburb seat of Wentworthin district. Sharma, who had lost to Phelps in a by-election six months ago, claimed the seat of Wentworth with 51.16 per cent of the vote. "Very humbled by the trust placed in me by the people of Wentworth. Look forward to being a voice for them in Parliament and the party room," Sharma said in a tweet. He said the three main issues he wanted to focus on were national security, female workforce participation and making sure Australia remains at the high end of the value chain. "It's been a long continuous campaign for seven months for me," he told reporters in Sydney. I was helped by the tailwind of a strong national campaign," he told reporters on Monday. Sharma, who was Australia's ambassador to Israel from 2013 to 2017, also brushed aside questions as to whether he will be given a position in Prime Minister Morrison's new Cabinet. "I'll be concentrating my time over the next weeks, months and years to being a good local representative," he was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald. "I'll be helping to protect open spaces and parklands, fight for better local infrastructure and transport, helping preserve the wonderful quality of life we have here in Wentworth," he said. Sharma also paid tribute to former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, whom he described as a "good friend". Turnbull was criticised by colleagues for not helping Sharma campaign in the by-election. Born to a father of Indian heritage and an Australian mother, Dave's family settled in Sydney in the 1970s. Over 10 Indian-origin candidates contested this year's federal elections in Australia where the Indian diaspora continues to grow and has touched more than 700,000. Other Liberal candidates who contested but lost were Vivek Singha and Sachin Joshi from New South Wales and Hemant Dave from South Australia. Labor Party's candidates included Aruna Chandrala and Parwinder Sarwara. Raj Samson Rajwin, Prakul Chhabra, Jatinder Singh, Sahil Chawla represented United Australia Party (UAP). A former international student Nikhil Reddy contested elections from Pauline Hanson-led One Nation party and the Greens' Harkirat Singh. "It is a matter of time before we have an increased representation of Indians in the state and federal parliament," Kaushliya Vaghela, the first India-born Member of Parliament in Victoria said. She said though the task of cracking into Australian politics was a difficult one for the first generation migrants , there was a need for Australian Parliament, at both state and federal levels, to be reflective of the diversity. Stating that the scenario was slowly changing, Vaghela who arrived in Australia as international student over two decades ago, said, "I am the classic example of that. I'm the first generation migrant to become an MP last year". "As Indian population increases in Australia we will have more people participating in politics, leading them to Parliament," she said. Despite the losses, the Indian diaspora has been actively involved in election campaigning for their respective parties and raising funds. This year, the two major political parties, Labor and Liberal, also wooed the Indian-Australian voters with several new promises. Vasan Srinivasan, a member of the Multicultural Australia Council and a former Liberal party candidate, said the Indian community was a significant and growing community in Australia and Liberal party had promised a USD 2.5 million specifically for Indians in Victoria and Perth. Srinivasan said the party promised a USD 100,000 each for Khalsa Punjabi School and Vedanta Society ahead of the elections. Similarly, the Labor party also wooed Indian-Australian voters by making new promises to the South Asian communities. It said that if re-elected it would offer cheaper long stay parent visa scheme, USD 4.5 million for the Building Multicultural Communities programme and millions of funds for language school and arts and festival programmes. Labor Senator from Tasmania Lisa Singh with Indian-Fijian ancestry was the first to enter Australian Parliament. The campaign has been as intense, acrimonious and polarising as the kind we have seen in India. Exit polls have a patchy record in India. But if you believe in them, Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP is likely to lead a coalition government again. Zillions of words have already been used to analyse the themes that dominated the intensely polarising discourse this time. One theme that leapt out was of strong India. In the personality-driven campaign we have seen over the multi-phased polls, Mr Modis positioning of himself as a larger-than-life persona, as a strongman who can be trusted with national security, undoubtedly captivated millions. To what extent the strongman appeal truly worked will be known only when all the votes have been counted. But one thing is sure. In India, as elsewhere worldwide, strongman politics is on the rise. Strongmen are not all alike, nor are the reasons for their rise identical. But what they have in common is an astute sense of how to play the politics of grievance. A strongman lives in the White House. In Turkey, there is Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte cherishes his image as a killer-saviour and has publicly boasted of having personally killed criminal suspects when he was mayor of Davao City. The strongman is also staging a comeback in the heart of Europe. In Hungary, there is Viktor Orban, who pushed the immigration hot button and has just won another term as Prime Minister while embracing illiberal democracy a political system with free elections but scant regard for civil liberties. This week, as India gets ready for Verdict 2019, citizens in the 28 nations that make up the European Union will cast their ballots for 753 members of the European Parliament, the blocs only directly-elected body. The campaign has been as intense, acrimonious and polarising as the kind we have seen in India. The European election debates have taken place in an atmosphere of uncertainty, with Brexit perpetually looming in the horizon and a nationalist, Eurosceptic movement that denounces the loss of national sovereignty to the alleged bureaucratic abuses of Brussels. If opinion polls can be trusted, this scepticism is drawing significant voter support. India, with a dominantly young population, cant be compared to ageing Europe. But the debates in Europe about social cohesion, identity, outsiders and insiders hold lessons for us. There is still a high level of support for EU membership across the European continent, but Europes far-right strongmen politicians are banding together. It is worth paying attention to what many Europe-watchers are pointing out. In a recent article in Londons Guardian, political columnist Natalie Nougayrede made some very important points. These European elections, the first since the refugee crisis, since Brexit and since Trump, will in many ways define what we can or cant be the story we want to tell ourselves and the rest of the world Is there still time, before we shrink further into our silos of domestic grievance, to remind ourselves of the cards we do hold? Europes democratic and welfare state model may be flawed, but to this day it delivers the lowest levels of inequality in the world (only Canada does as well). The EU is no military superpower, but it is the only entity in the world able to do something about digital sovereignty The EU can regulate while preserving essential freedoms. It has the tools and a scale that others lack. On climate breakdown, member states arent flawless, but the EU as a bloc is the only vehicle through which we stand a chance of weighing in on a global, vital issue. Which brings me back to India and some fundamental questions as we wait for a new government to take over. What is the story we want to tell ourselves and the rest of the world? What is a strong India? Is strong India a nation where everyone, irrespective of religion, caste, gender, ethnicity or resources, feels safe and secure, or is it an India where the majority, the already-strong, feel stronger, while the minorities feel more scared? Whoever forms the next government needs to realise that is why political leadership is critical. It is because ultimately what makes countries rich, powerful and strong are their institutions and human capital. Does India wish to remain a liberal, democratic country which is proud of its secular and pluralistic ethos? Or does it wish the India story to be one of a muscularly majoritarian country that stigmatises anyone who views the world with a different lens? An equally important element of the India story can a country of Indias size and diversity afford to not be pluralistic? What is the story that aspirational India will tell the world if entire groups and communities are made to feel unwanted unless they adapt to majority mores? What is the story that India will tell itself if this trend becomes deeper and social cohesion collapses? It cant be anybodys case that no positive developments have taken place in the last five years. In my recent travels in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, I met people who gained from the various welfare schemes rolled out. But these were partial gains. The reality on the ground did not match the hype of the slogans. Still, those who had gained something tangible such as a cooking gas cylinder were willing to give Mr Modi a second chance to consolidate those gains. At the same time, there were very real and grave concerns and anxiety about rising unemployment, the craving for security through a government job, no matter how lowly, agrarian distress, the drought and perceived degradation of key institutions. I met voters from minority communities who had not been affected directly but were scared by the rhetoric of ruling party politicians. One asked plaintively what had happened to the promise of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, and why it had given way to increasingly more divisive words. You have to be living under a rock to not recognise that lynchings, in the name of cow protection, and dog-whistle politics targeting minority communities have spread fear and a sense of being second-class citizens. We shall know very soon if the gains or the anxieties affected the preference of most voters. But whatever the result, the problems are real and are not going away. Whoever comes to power needs to remember that only a healing touch and a genuinely pluralistic ethos where everyone feels they belong and are safe will make the India story truly inspiring. In anticipation of all this, a little analysis and basic information will be good for better understanding of actions. Every few months the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, or AFSPA, rises like a phoenix from the ashes, to be bandied around, beaten and pummelled, placed on a pedestal or cast into the bin and finally gets stored for recovery another day. The public understanding about it remains poor, the political community never goes to the depth to determine why it is such a contentious issue each time and even the Army, for whom it exists, does not really care to educate its ranks sufficiently about it. The ill-informed perception with which it is discussed and the lack of documented military experience about its application over 30 years does nothing to enhance the degree of understanding. That leaves it open to perception problems too. A classic example is the ignorance with which the government in J&K once felt it was within its purview to remove it without reference to any other authority. The truth is that AFSPA is a Central law. Its application comes into effect once there is a notification of disturbed area status, either in the entire state or in some affected districts. The Centre can delegate its powers to the state to recommend removal of the disturbed status which will then entail automatic annulment of AFSPA in that district or tehsil. The issue of AFSPA, under international human rights scrutiny, is likely to go back to its contentious status once the new government comes to power at the Centre later this month, for a couple of reasons. First, the law is proposed to be withdrawn from the entire state of Assam, where it was imposed on November 27, 1990 in the wake of the Ulfa insurgency. This is likely sometime after July 31, 2019, the last date for the process of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) to be completed. Second, the AFSPA remains in force in three and a half other states Nagaland, Manipur, three districts of Arunachal Pradesh and J&K. Sooner than later, issues around the justification of this will get thrown up. The Congress Party has placed two issues related to AFSPA in its manifesto; one that AFSPA be removed from some districts of J&K, but only in consultation with the Army, and two, that the law be comprehensively reviewed; but it does not give details on what the review should involve. In anticipation of all this, a little analysis and basic information will be good for better understanding of actions. Just remember that AFSPA is a legal provision to overcome the weakness of the law when the Army comes out on requisition for aid to civil authority. In that status, it functions in supervised mode under the civil authority and can use firearms on its own only in self-defence. That is no good for situations involving organised anti-national activity. AFSPA empowers the Army to work without any reference to civil authority and provides protection from prosecution to those soldiers who may inadvertently make mistakes in the course of duty. The protection is not a blanket one, as many allege, but is conditional inasmuch that only the Central government can sanction prosecution. Removing AFSPA from Assam can be justified especially since intelligence agencies probably certify that the networks which support anti-national activities have been neutralised. In addition, the much-improved relationship with Bangladesh now prevents safe havens for the separatist and terrorist leaderships. However, if any post-NRC actions are likely with the potential breakdown of order, then the government will have to cater for Army support only through the clause aid to civil authority. With reference to AFSPA in the other Northeastern states, there is only a single insurgent group, the NSCN (IM), with whom a ceasefire is in place and an unreliable seizure of operations with a few others in Manipur. The border with Myanmar poses a challenge due to the terrain offering much advantage to the plethora of insurgent groups. The golden rule is that where networks exist or have potential for resurgence, the terrain and border-related issues are against the security forces and deep-set alienation exists, the necessity of AFSPA will be felt. The two Northeastern states remain on the cusp and could swing either way to normality or chaos, necessitating its continuation. The same is true of Jammu and Kashmir, where in addition to the conditions outlined above there is the existence of a proxy war by Pakistan. None of the terror training camps, launchpads and other infiltration infrastructure has been wound down and the separatist leaders continue to remain adamant with alienation of the local population at a high. Removing AFSPA means disempowering the Army and returning it to the Line of Control, a measure that the Congress party also wishes to pursue as part of its manifesto. When it consults the Army, as it has promised to do, it will be clearly told that nothing having changed on the other side of the LoC and the intent of Pakistan remaining intact, the potential of resurgence to levels which threaten the integrity of J&K remains alive. The presence of the Army on the grid is necessary because J&K is vulnerable even to potential conventional conflict and the Armys lines of communications cannot have compromised security at any time. The aspect of removal of disturbed status from two districts of Kashmir and two of Jammu, as a political sop, is not acceptable in security terms because the presence of the Army is necessary to secure the airports, lines of communications and large garrisons which fall within. Most of AFSPAs problems revolve around perception. Its original draft catered for the security environment of the time (1990 in J&K, 1958 for others), but contingencies have overtaken it. No one could perceive that the harsh language of empowerment of the 1990s would assist the detractors to label the law as draconian. The truth that the Army and the government have never been able to project is that the maximum powers AFSPA places with soldiers have seldom been employed and the principle of minimal force continues to dictate. It is also not realised that manipulated accusations against the Army are being executed through a focused system of psychological and information warfare. The Congress Partys proposal to review AFSPA should not be taken as a political ploy; it should be used as a national need by whosoever is in power. In fact it should be a more comprehensive review of the J&K strategy, which must also include the strengthening of information and influence strategy. AFSPAs content need not have any extraneous details except the issues of empowerment and protection because more the detail the greater the accusations. No one seems to remember that the Supreme Court in 1997 had restricted the Army through its directions called Dos and Donts. The Armys standard operating procedures make it even more restrictive and the military civic action that the Army follows religiously, under the label of Sadbhavna, bring greater humanisation to its operations. All this needs to be placed as explanatory notes in the reviewed AFSPA draft to tell the world and people within India how the Indian Army follows the principles of respect for human rights all under AFSPA. The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance created in 2001 in Shanghai. India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights, Foreign Minister Sushma Swarag at the event. (Photo: ANI) Bishkek: Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Affairs, reiterated India's commitment in securing peace and security in war-ravaged Afghanistan as she addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting here on Wednesday. "India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights. I wish to once again underscore the importance India attaches to SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcome an early conclusion of the Draft Roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group," Swaraj said in a statement. The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance created in 2001 in Shanghai, by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined the forum in 2017. The Wednesday's meeting, attended by foreign ministers of the SCO member states, including Pakistan, focused on the effective use of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which serves to promote cooperation, among the member states, against terrorism for a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The discussion on seeking effective ways to fight regional terrorism came in the backdrop of the deadly serial bombings on Easter day in Sri Lanka that targeted churches and hotels across the country killing more than 250 people. Swaraj cited the Pulwama attack that targeted a convoy of Indian soldiers in south Kashmir and killed 50 CRPF jawans in February. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility of the deadly terror strike. "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and news from neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly resolutely against this menace," the minister said. Speaking on global climate change, Swaraj said, "India is committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change. We welcome the agreement reached at Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP 24) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)." The External Affairs Minister further said that India has adopted regional connectivity initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent, and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity with other SCO member nations. "India's commitment to regional connectivity is evident from our involvement in International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway," Swaraj said, adding that India operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017 In the meeting, the minister stated New Delhi firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Earlier, on the sidelines of the meeting, Swaraj called on Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and discussed bilateral cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan and committed to exploring the untapped potential. The minister also held delegation level meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi after the SCO event was over. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi too attended the event. The two-day meeting, beginning May 21, witnessed all sides exchanging views on issues of international and regional importance, along with reviewing the preparation for the forthcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13 to 14. (ANI)Bishkek [Kyrgyzstan], May 22 (ANI): Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Affairs, reiterated India's commitment in securing peace and security in war-ravaged Afghanistan as she addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting here on Wednesday. "India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights. I wish to once again underscore the importance India attaches to SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcome an early conclusion of the Draft Roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group," Swaraj said in a statement. The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance created in 2001 in Shanghai, by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined the forum in 2017. The Wednesday's meeting, attended by foreign ministers of the SCO member states, including Pakistan, focused on the effective use of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which serves to promote cooperation, among the member states, against terrorism for a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The discussion on seeking effective ways to fight regional terrorism came in the backdrop of the deadly serial bombings on Easter day in Sri Lanka that targeted churches and hotels across the country killing more than 250 people. Swaraj cited the Pulwama attack that targeted a convoy of Indian soldiers in south Kashmir and killed 50 CRPF jawans in February. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility of the deadly terror strike. "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and news from neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly resolutely against this menace," the minister said. Speaking on global climate change, Swaraj said, "India is committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change. We welcome the agreement reached at Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP 24) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)." The External Affairs Minister further said that India has adopted regional connectivity initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent, and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity with other SCO member nations. "India's commitment to regional connectivity is evident from our involvement in International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway," Swaraj said, adding that India operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017 In the meeting, the minister stated New Delhi firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Earlier, on the sidelines of the meeting, Swaraj called on Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov and discussed bilateral cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan and committed to explore the untapped potential. The two-day meeting, beginning May 21, witnessed all sides exchanging views on issues of international and regional importance, along with reviewing the preparation for the forthcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13 to 14. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is also slated to attend the impending SCO meeting. The inquiry's report said the unnamed man 'appeared to be part of a multi-year pattern of predatory behaviour'. Mallard described the situation as 'intolerable' but said he could not go to police as all submissions to the inquiry were made on the basis that they would be kept strictly confidential. (Photo: Twitter I Trevor Mallard) Wellington: The lawmaker in charge of New Zealand's parliament said Wednesday he fears a rapist is stalking the building's corridors after an inquiry exposed the toxic work culture that staffers endure. Speaker Trevor Mallard said he was disturbed by the findings of the independent inquiry, which said bullying, harassment, and other abusive conduct was rife in the parliamentary precincts. The most serious accusations concerned three sexual assault allegations against an unnamed man, which the inquiry's report said "appeared to be part of a multi-year pattern of predatory behaviour". Mallard, who is responsible for administering the parliament, said such behaviour amounted to rape. "We're talking about serious sexual assault. Well, for me, that's rape," he told Radio New Zealand, saying he did not know the identity of the alleged perpetrator or victims. "Reading the report carefully, I get the sense that the man is still on the premises," he added. Mallard described the situation as "intolerable" but said he could not go to the police as all submissions to the inquiry were made on the basis that they would be kept strictly confidential. He said he hoped the women involved would contact the police directly and would receive support from rape counselling services. There are 120 MPs in the New Zealand parliament, known as The Beehive, but the number of people working in the complex swells to the thousands when advisers, bureaucrats, media and security are taken into account. The five-month inquiry by workplace consultant Debbie Francis was called after allegations against lawmakers from both sides of politics, including that a minister physically attacked a press secretary who she blamed for missing an appointment. Francis found parliament was a high-pressure, insular environment where unacceptable conduct was too often tolerated. In a 120-page report released Tuesday, she said there was a reluctance to hold MPs accountable over bullying behaviour, even though some were regarded by staffers as serial offenders. "The fundamental problem is the power imbalance. It's a master-servant relationship and they're treated like gods," an anonymous respondent told the inquiry. Others described "creepy" behaviour towards young women and those who made complaints often said they received little support. Mallard said he was examining Francis' recommendations and was committed to improving parliament's culture. The East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) in Mesa, Arizona, came up with an interesting approach to school absenteeism, by rewarding students who have perfect attendance. Well, they actually rewarded just one, but hundreds of them qualified for the contest.The big prize was a Chrysler PT Cruiser , Chad Wilson, Interim Superintendent at EVIT, tells Fox 10 News We ran our perfect attendance list from all of our campuses, and we had several hundred that qualified for it, and then, we went through the process to of kind of whittling it down to the six, Wilson explains.Of the six, the school had to choose one who would get the car. Because this wasnt an easy choice, it was done randomly: all 6 received a box with a key inside, but only one key could start the car. Whoever was lucky enough to get it would drive the PT Cruiser home.That lucky one was Saguaro High School junior Michael Duarte, who says he didnt actually believe hed win anything. Still, throughout the year, he kept his eye on the prize: each morning, he made sure he made it to class on time because he wanted to be an eligible candidate.Now hes a new-car driver as well.In addition to the possibility of winning a car, with this contest, students also got the chance to learn important values that will later serve them in the work force, Wilson believes. Good grades are never enough to make a competent worker.Some of the soft skills, like punctuality and attendance, matter in the work field just as much as the academics do, Wilson explains. Instead, I'm talking about the 1930s Bugatti Type 57 Atlantic La Voiture Noire, which served as an inspiration for the modern-day, Chiron-based one-off.The original, which was created and owner by Ettore Bugatti's son Jean, dissapeared while Nazis were seizing Bugatti factory assets back in 1940s. And that car has remained a ghost to this day.Then again, there's no need to worry about the Lime Green appearance of this Molsheim machine - this is neither paint, nor a wrap, as we're talking about a rendering here.And while your usual rendering comes in the form of an image, the clip at the bottom of the page is pretty convincing and it could probably trick an untrained eye pretty easily. Then again, I couldn't resist featuring this in the #picoftheday category...Everything about the Bugatti LVN is covered in mystery. For instance, we all know that the machine set a new record for the most expensive new car (it came with a price of $18.7 million). But the name of its owner remains unknown.So bat.not.bad, the digital art label behind this effort, decided it was easier to throw some vivid pixels on top of the monster instead of trying to solve the puzzle. And I have to agree with that.The said label had previously come up with another La Voiture Noire rendering, one that allowed us to get a taste of the machine's quad-turbo W16 powerplant (you'll find this at the bottom of the page) - keep in mind that the Geneva car was a mockup, getting around with the help of electric power. HP SUV It's called the Hector, and everybody is comparing it to something called a Mahindra XUV500. All we know is that it looks very cool. When we first laid eyes on this vehicle, we thought it was just a concept, as most of India's cars look way cheaper.Hector's front end features a bold, Mazda-like main grille that connects to narrow LED daytime running lights. No, those aren't the headlights, which reside in a square cluster lower on the bumper.The body is relatively narrow and uneventful, with a hint of Lincoln SUV , ending with a large hatchback that swallows up the taillights like on an Audi Q7.Engine-wise, this rival for the Jeep Compass features two choices. The first is a 1.5-liter gasoline turbo unit with 48 mild-hybrid assistance that produces 143 horsepower plus 250 Nm of torque. A diesel is also available in the form of the 2.0-liter making 170, which we understand to be a Fiat unit. Both will come with a 6-speed manual as standard while the 1.5L will also have a twin-clutch option.While we don't have any performance numbers, we can at least tell you that the MG Hectorwill be the largest in this class with a body measuring 4,655 mm long, 1,835 mm wide and a height of 1760 mm. When it goes on sale in July, it will supposedly have many segment firsts for India, including power adjustable seats, cruise control, electronic parking brake, and a 360-degree camera.The highlight of the interior is the vertically-mounted 10.4-inch iSmart infotainment system. The AI is even supposed to understand Indian accents and use voice commands for a variety of functions. Next year, a 3-row version is scheduled to be launched. SUV On Monday, someone went through several cars in the residential neighborhood of Otay Ranch in San Diego, California, but he wasnt exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Not only was he captured on surveillance cameras but he also left 2 different samples of his DNA behind.The dude first broke into Tammy Ledonnes Honda NBC San Diego reports. He stole from there electronics worth an estimated $2,000, including a laptop and a Cannon camera. He then went across the street and tried other cars, before being able to get into Cate HelmsBoth cars were parked right outside their owners home, but the report doesnt say whether they were locked at the time of the incident.Once in the SUV, the thief didnt steal anything, but he did leave a nasty piece of memorabilia behind: he pooped on Helms daughters sweater. The report also says that he is believed to have urinated in another car, so that means that he left cops 2 different samples they can use to track him down.And track him down they will. In the meantime, Ledonne is playing detective: she found the laptop and the camera on the sales site OfferUp, but the Cannon has already been sold. Shes passed the information to the detectives and is also offering a $200 reward for whoever brings back her camera, as it contains precious photos of her recently-deceased grandma.While playing detective does give her some peace of mind, shes still not over what happened. It just kind of shatters your world a little bit to know someone is doing this, Ledonne says for the media outlet.We imagine that poor girl who found human poop on her sweater can relate. Just as it did when it launched the InSight last year, NASA plans to send the names of millions of humans to the Red Planet on the upcoming mission, as a means for all to be a part of this historic trip."As we get ready to launch this historic Mars mission, we want everyone to share in this journey of exploration," said in a statement Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate."It's an exciting time for NASA, as we embark on this voyage to answer profound questions about our neighboring planet, and even the origins of life itself."So, how does it work? The first thing youll have to do is follow this link and fill in the required data. NASA reviews what you provided and if all is good it will etch your name by means of an electron beam on a silicon chip, which it will then send to Mars along with all the other names.They wont use large fonts for the task, and your entire name will measure no more than the width of the human hair, but that should be enough to ensure your names immortality.Each person taking part will also receive a souvenir boarding pass and frequent flyer points, as well as a digital mission patche.At the time of this writing, there were already over 350,000 names submitted, and it's likely that by the time the submission period ends in September, the number will grow into the millions. Enough, perhaps, the surpass the 2 million names sent to Mars with InSight.The Mars 2020 mission is scheduled to depart in July 2020 and will reach its destination in February 2021. The machine will land in the Jezero Crater on the western edge of Isidis Planitia. Once there, it will begin humanity's first ever terraforming efforts, searching for signs of life at the same time. Ashraf Al-Jabari, a businessman from Hebron who maintains ties to the Trump administration, is the only Palestinian so far who will attend the U.S.-led economic conference in Bahrain, the first phase of the launch of the White House's Middle East peace plan. Why it matters: The fact that Al-Jabari is the only Palestinian willing to attend the event is a testament to the problems the Trump administration is having with promoting its peace plan. That's been exacerbated by fractured relations with Palestinian leadership since 2017, which occurred after the White House's decision to move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Details: Al-Jabari, who maintains a relationship with U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, doesn't represent the mainstream of the Palestinian business community. He has close ties to the settler lobby in Israel and to settler leadership in the occupied West Bank. He is part of a settler organization called "The Judea and Samaria Chamber of Commerce" and publicly supported Israeli annexation of the West Bank and a one-state solution. He even formed a new political party that presents itself as opposition to the Palestinian Authority. The big picture: Influential Palestinian businessmen who were invited to the conference have already publicly rejected the invitation. They include: Bashar Al-Masri, the Palestinian real estate tycoon who was behind Rawabi, a new Palestinian city in the West Bank. the Palestinian real estate tycoon who was behind Rawabi, a new Palestinian city in the West Bank. Zahi Khouri, the Palestinian-American entrepreneur who holds the franchise for Coca-Cola in the West Bank and Gaza. the Palestinian-American entrepreneur who holds the franchise for Coca-Cola in the West Bank and Gaza. Abed Alkarim Ashour, a Palestinian businessman from Gaza, who posted on his Facebook page the conference invitation he got from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and wrote: "The Bahrain conference aims at selling Palestine for a fistful of dollars - you in invited the wrong person." Go deeper: Palestinians say they won't take part in White House's peace plan launch RTHK: Duterte gains more muscle as allies capture Senate Allies of President Rodrigo Duterte stormed to a landslide victory in midterm polls, final results showed on Wednesday, dissolving a last check on his controversial rule. Loyalists won both houses of the legislature, shutting out all opposition candidates in the Senate, which had served as a buffer against Duterte's most contentious plans. "It's a clear signal that the people will be behind him as he pushes bills and processes that went nowhere previously," said political analyst Ramon Casiple. With nine Duterte backers and three nominally unaligned politicians taking the 12 seats at stake in the 24-member Senate, only four oppositions members will remain, results from the elections authority showed. Duterte allies kept control of the lower House of Representatives, which has approved legislation to bring back capital punishment and re-write the constitution since Duterte's 2016 election. Among the new senators is former national police chief Ronald dela Rosa, the first enforcer of Duterte's narcotics crackdown that has killed over 5,300. "Number one on my agenda is the reimposition of the death penalty for drug trafficking," dela Rosa told reporters. "I will focus on that." (AFP) Senate seats also went to Christopher "Bong" Go, Duterte's long-time adviser, and Imee Marcos, the daughter of deceased dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in a 1986 popular uprising. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- GAC Motor, a PV manufacturing subsidiary wholly owned by GAC Group, unveiled GAC Motor International Co.,Ltd in Hong Kong on May 21, according to a press release from the automaker. Registered in March 2019, GAC Motor International Co.,Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GAC Motor, which will serve as the parent companys platform for capital, talent pool and investment in a bid to enhance the receipt and payment efficiency and provide international dealers with inventory ownership services. Meanwhile, it aims to recruit more outstanding global talents by virtue of Hong Kongs regional advantage, so as to perfect GAC Motors executive structure. GAC Motor International Co.,Ltd will make full use of Hong Kongs unique merits as a global free port and international financial center, aiming to facilitate the business transaction between GAC Motor and overseas dealers, optimize the business policy implementation and payment progress, and provide the long-expected inventory financing for dealers and credit services for consumers in cooperation with financial institutes, said Yu Jun, President of GAC Motor. GAC Trumpchi, the sole car brand owned by GAC Motor, has stepped into 16 countries and regions in the Middle East, the Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and America. Last year, the company saw its sales in overseas markets soar 69% year on year. In 2019, GAC Motor will further explore markets along the Belt and Road and other significant regions worldwide, and complete its overseas platform following the establishment of GAC Motor International Co.,Ltd and Russian sub-company. Scientists have solved an international environmental mystery by pinpointing the source of a troubling uptick in a dangerous, ozone-destroying chemical: factories in northeastern China. Why it matters: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer is viewed as the most successful environmental treaty ever enacted. However, its success depends on rigorous monitoring and enforcement, particularly regarding the ban on the production and use of ozone-depleting substances from developing countries since 2010. According to the new study, published Wednesday in Nature, many factories in northeastern China have flouted the ban when it comes to a compound known as trichlorofluoromethane (CFC-11), which is an efficient destroyer of Earth's protective ozone layer and a far more powerful albeit less abundant global warming pollutant than carbon dioxide. CFC-11 is used to produce foam insulation for refrigerators, air conditioners and buildings, among other uses. Context: Using data from Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii, a 2018 study found that the global concentrations of CFC-11 were not declining at the predicted rate. It also found an uptick in emissions of the synthetic compound and suggested that East Asia was a possible source region. Subsequent research by the New York Times and the Environmental Investigations Agency (EIA) blamed illicit CFC-11 production and use on the growing Chinese polyurethane market. However, observational data was too sparse to conclusively show where in East Asia the source was. What they did: For the new study, researchers utilized high-frequency environmental observations from South Korea, Japan and other areas to investigate CFC-11 emissions patterns. They also used multiple computer models to trace weather patterns that corresponded to spikes in CFC-11 levels at particular stations, which showed that air blowing from two provinces in northeastern China Shandong and Hebei were tied to spikes in CFC-11 concentrations. What they found: Emissions of CFC-11 from eastern mainland China were about 7 million kilograms per year higher from 2014 to 2017 when compared to 2008 to 2012, the study finds. This amounts to at least 40%60% of the global increase in CFC-11 emissions observed from previous research, but this may be an underestimate, the study says. The study shows the emissions are most likely coming from new production, rather than slow emissions from prior stockpiles. The big picture: New production and emissions of CFC-11 could delay the healing of the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects us from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, by at least a decade. Stratospheric ozone loss can lead to increased skin cancer rates and harm wildlife, particularly in high latitudes. The threat: Each molecule of CFC-11 stays in the atmosphere for 52 years, according to the study. "With no emissions, it still lingers on and on and on," says co-author Ron Prinn of MIT. What they're saying: Avipsa Mahapatra of the EIA tells Axios the new study is "critical because it provides precise scientific measurements that a large magnitude of the global emissions of CFC-11 that were detected before are indeed coming from China and even pinpoints specific provinces in China." Mahapatra was not involved in the new study. But, but, but: The lack of observing stations to sift through the air for evidence of banned CFCs in China, parts of Africa and elsewhere blinds scientists to possible emissions sources that could also harm the ozone layer. What's next: It's now up to China to crack down on producers and users of this banned substance, experts tell Axios. "It's up to the Chinese government to fulfill their requirements under the Montreal Protocol," Prinn says. A top European official is cautioning against the United States imposing sanctions on a natural-gas pipeline being built now between Russia and Germany. Why it matters: President Trump and Europe have shared interests in exporting American natural gas across the Atlantic, but interests diverge over this pipeline. U.S. officials say the pipeline unnecessarily allows Russia to continue its dominance over European natural gas. Some European leaders have been more supportive of it. ...even though we say that pipeline is a controversial one, we still think that partners like the U.S. the [European Union], we shouldnt impose sanctions on individual cases in this case European companies because I believe we can always find ways to look for the common solution. European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic The context: Sefcovic made his comments during an interview with Axios last week in Washington. Driving the news: Energy Secretary Rick Perry told reporters in Kiev on Tuesday that the U.S. is preparing to sanction companies working on Russia's long-proposed Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, Reuters reports. Perry said both chambers would pass a sanctions bill and Trump would sign it. One level deeper: It wasnt clear what bill Perry was referring to, but Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), introduced a bill last week imposing sanctions on vessels used to construct the deep-sea pipelines. The other side: A spokesman for the pipeline project, Jens Mueller told S&P Global: "Our shareholder [Russia's Gazprom] and the five European financial investors are fully committed to the project, as are Nord Stream 2's suppliers. The European investors are France's Engie, Austria's OMV, Germany's Wintershall and Uniper, and Shell, per S&P. Go deeper: Nord Stream 2 explained, via CNBC A federal judge has ruled that Qualcomm engaged in anticompetitive behavior and ordered the chipmaker to renegotiate its licensing deals with device makers. Qualcomm vowed to appeal the ruling. The big picture: Qualcomm defends its "no license, no chips" business model under which it only sells processors to companies that also take a license to its patents. But critics say the policy is unfair and that the company doesn't offer its standards-essential technology on a fair and reasonable basis. Qualcomm's practices have "strangled competition," Judge Lucy Koh wrote in a 233-page ruling that was posted late Tuesday. Why it matters: Qualcomm gets a large chunk of its revenue and an even greater share of its profits from licensing its broad patent portfolio of wireless technology. Forcing it to renegotiate deals could put a significant dent in that business. Shares of Qualcomm fell more than 10% in the wake of the decision. The timing of the ruling is interesting, coming after Apple settled a similar suit with Qualcomm and agreed to a new license and chip supply deal. That deal took place after the FTC case was heard. What's next: Qualcomm said it will seek a stay of the order from Judge Lucy Koh as well as an expedited appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. We strongly disagree with the judges conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law, general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. Indonesia's security minister said Wednesday authorities would block social media in some areas amid deadly riots over the official election result in Jakarta, AP reports. Why it matters: Jakarta's governor told a press conference earlier riots in Indonesia's capital left at least 6 people dead and 200 wounded, per Channel News Asia. The big picture: Demonstrators took to the streets of Jakarta after sitting Indonesian President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo was declared the winner of April's election by a double-digit margin. Police said they had arrested at least 20 people, according to Reuters. Iran's supreme leader has publicly criticized the country's president and foreign minister for the first time over their roles in negotiating and implementing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, reports AP. Why it matters: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks come as Tehran weighs whether to abandon the nuclear deal and decides how to respond to threats coming from Washington. His criticism undercuts the influence of President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who are considered moderates by the standards of the Iranian regime. Go deeper: Why war with Iran is suddenly on the table Michigan's influential and wealthy DeVos family will cease its support for Rep. Justin Amash, turning on the fifth-term Republican lawmaker after he tweeted that President Trump has engaged in "impeachable conduct," the Detroit News reported on Wednesday. Why it matters: The backlash Amash has faced since his Saturday tweets, including condemnation from his own House Freedom Caucus, serves as evidence of the perils of criticizing Trump as a member of the Republican party. Within days of Amash's Twitter attack, the Michigan lawmaker earned himself a new primary challenger state Rep. Jim Lower, a loyal pro-Trump conservative, per the Detroit News. Context: To date, the DeVos family hailing from Amash's west-central Michigan district has contributed $65,000 to Amash's primary and general campaigns, The Daily Beast reports. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was required to conclude her own political giving when she took her position in the Trump administration, but other DeVos family members continued their considerable fundraising efforts. Amash who the New York Times recently described as "a libertarian with a contrarian streak that earned him the nickname 'Mr. No'" opposed Trump's nomination in 2016. The lawmaker sides with the president on roughly 62% of issues and votes, the lowest among any Republican in Congress, per ABC News. What's next: Amash has floated the idea of running as a third-party candidate to challenge Trump in 2020, according to the Daily Beast. Go deeper: Trump attacks Republican Justin Amash for endorsing impeachment Investigators could not determine whether the man posing in blackface on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook page was actually him, according to a 36-page report released Wednesday. Why it matters: Northam, who still denies that he is the man in blackface next to a man dressed in Ku Klux Klan garb, was called on to resign by nearly every major Virginia and national Democratic official in the country earlier this year. Yet despite the massive pressure, Northam consistently said he plans on seeing his term through to the end. The big picture: "With respect to the photograph on Governor Northam's personal page, we could not conclusively determine the identity of either individual depicted in the photograph," investigators wrote in the report. "The governor himself has made inconsistent public statements in this regard. The four-month long investigation by lawyers hired by EVMS interviewed several students and members of the yearbook staff at the time. Investigators said they were not able to determine if the photograph was placed by mistake or without Northam's knowledge. The lack of answers was blamed on how long ago the yearbook was made and the investigators' inability to contact some people who may have had more information. When asked if he would take steps to provide Virginians with more answers, Northam told reporters that he suspects "this has been a thorough investigation. I've actually participated in the investigation, been present for the questioning the day they asked me of." Representatives from two wealthy Gulf states, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, announced on Tuesday that they will attend the economic gathering next month to roll out President Trump's Middle East peace plan. Driving the news: The UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said in a statement that the UAE would send a delegation to Bahrain at the end of June to participate in what the Trump administration is calling an "economic workshop." Saudi Arabia announced that its Minister of Economy and Planning will attend as well. Key quotes from the statements: "The UAE supports all international efforts aimed at supporting economic progress and increasing opportunities in the region, and alleviating the suffering of people in the region, particularly our brothers in Palestine." "His Excellency's participation is in continuation of Saudi Arabia's firm and supportive positions for the brotherly Palestinian people, and for achieving stability, growth and decent living, and achieving its hopes and aspirations..." Why it matters: Trump and his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner who has led the administration's Israeli-Palestinian peace team revealed on Sunday that the U.S. would organize an "economic workshop" to develop ideas and proposals to invest in Palestinians and other Arabs. Palestinian leaders immediately dismissed the announcement, saying the Americans hadn't told them about it in advance and that Kushner's team, with whom they haven't had formal discussions in more than a year, was trying to buy them off. Palestinian leadership has already declared Kushner's plan dead on arrival and said the Trump administration doesn't care about the Palestinians' political aspirations to have their own state, independent of Israeli interference, with a capital in East Jerusalem. Since taking office, Trump has made a number of moves that have alienated the Palestinians. He relocated the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. He slashed all U.S. aid to the Palestinians including to hospitals in East Jerusalem. And he shut down the Palestinian diplomatic office in Washington. What's next: Trump's Middle East peace team is presenting the economic plan in late June as the first in a two-part rollout. They say the political plan which will deal with the division of land and how it will be governed will come later. They haven't said when they will release the political plan. In his public appearances, Kushner hinted that when the Palestinians see his final proposal they will be pleasantly surprised. There have been no reliable leaks of what's in the plan, so Palestinian leadership has drawn its assessment based on the moves the Trump administration has already made. They say the Trump team is made up of dishonest brokers and their plan has no hope of succeeding. Between the lines: The Trump negotiating team has built strong relationships with the Gulf states, which have appreciated the president's tougher stance against Iran. The Gulf states' attendance at the economic summit gives the administration hope that if they present a plan that the wider region considers reasonable then Palestinian leadership will ultimately come back and negotiate. But the UAE statement made clear that while they welcome a conversation about economic investment, they consider the political solution crucially important. "The UAE reiterates its support for the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,'' the Ministry reportedly said in its statement. Go deeper: White House launching Israeli-Palestinian peace plan next month in Bahrain The march toward a tech Cold War between the U.S. and China is continuing, but both sides are ignoring the reality of just how much they need each other. The 2 nations certainly would like to be independent, but today neither one's vast tech economy can function without the other. Why it matters: A continued trade impasse will likely mean lots of pain on both sides of the Pacific. The U.S. relies to a vast degree on China to manufacture many key products. China, on the other hand, depends on software and chips from the U.S. for its devices and data centers. Between the lines: People think of China's internet as mostly separate from ours, not only because of the language/alphabet differences but also because of different laws, different culture and a separate set of dominant internet firms (like Baidu and Tencent). Yes, but: That separation masks just how interconnected the 2 countries' technology industries are, particularly at the hardware level. By the numbers: According to CompTIA, the U.S. exported $19.3 billion in tech products and services to China last year, accounting directly for more than 52,000 jobs. And while China exports far more technology to the U.S. an estimated $187.7 billion worth those products include gear that is designed in the U.S., including Apple iPhones, Amazon Echos and Google Nest thermostats. The latest: The Trump administration's ban on business with Huawei has highlighted those ties, with the global telecom industry facing a significant quandary. The goal is to keep Huawei from being a part of 5G networks, but 5G is built on top of existing 4G gear. And lots of networks outside the U.S. and even some rural networks here already include Huawei equipment. Ripping out that gear would cost a fortune and significantly delay the rollout of 5G. At the same time, the trade war has sent U.S. companies scrambling to find other countries to produce their gear, hurting one of China's largest tech industries. Already earlier this year, companies including Cisco, Nokia and GoPro, were looking to diversify their manufacturing to avoid being a casualty in the trade war. The shift is already taking a toll on Chinese tech manufacturers, I'm told. Meanwhile, tensions continue to escalate. The New York Times reported late Tuesday that the administration is considering whether to ban Hikvision, a giant Chinese manufacturer of video surveillance equipment, from buying U.S. components. Several other Chinese firms could also face a ban, per Bloomberg. U.K.-based ARM is cutting Huawei off as well, according to the BBC. ARM's designs underlie most modern mobile chips, and without access to them, Huawei's plans to replace U.S.-made chips with its own could falter. What they're saying: While U.S. tech giants are staying largely quiet on the latest escalation, leading trade groups representing those companies told Axios they are urging both sides to come to the negotiating table. Semiconductor Industry Association CEO John Neuffer : Were uneasy about rising tensions and the setback in negotiations, but its clearly in the interest of both sides to get back to the negotiating table, right the ship, and strike a productive deal." : Were uneasy about rising tensions and the setback in negotiations, but its clearly in the interest of both sides to get back to the negotiating table, right the ship, and strike a productive deal." CompTIA VP Stefanie Holland: "Were certainly urging the administration to reach an agreement." Holland said that increased tariffs have been counterproductive, with member companies largely finding themselves unable to pass along the cost to consumers. Go deeper: U.S.-Chinese tariff increases are hurting American business in China, 74.9% of almost 250 respondents told a survey, published Wednesday by American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in China and Shanghai. Why it matters: It's another sign that the trade war is starting to bite. Bank of America-Merrill Lynch has said the standoff risks "a global recession." Now, American businesses are concerned about the effects of President Trump's action against Chinese tech giant Huawei, AmCham China chairman Tim Stratford told BBC. The big picture: The survey, held May 16-20, found the biggest impact was a drop in product demand, with 35% of respondents saying they're restructuring their Chinese operations and about a third delaying or canceling investment decisions in China because of the trade war. Go deeper: Tariffs on China could hit U.S. hard, too Five days after Trump moved to cut off American components to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, President Xi Jinping responded with a subtle threat to strangle Americas supplies of rare earths the natural elements used in everything from computers to satellites. The big picture: Xis threat demonstrates how the rivalry between a rising China and a ruling U.S. spreads from trade to technology to supply chains, touching every aspect of bilateral relations. The conflict risks massive spillover costs to the global economy. Details: Rare earths are the 17 elements that separate the 21st century from the 20th, and China supplies 80% of them. Although the U.S. government has called them "essential" to the military, America has only 1 rare earths mine, which is partially Chinese-owned and sends its output to China for processing. Between the lines: Trump may have hoped his Huawei order would force Beijings hand, but Xi cant tolerate a hit to such a prominent firm. On Monday, Xi toured a Chinese company specializing in rare earths. Notably by his side: Liu He, Beijings chief trade negotiator. If China throttles supplies to America (or its manufacturing chains), production could halt for gadgets from iPhones to F-35s. Flashback: After Japan detained a Chinese captain who sailed into disputed territory in 2010, Beijing hit Tokyo with conventional diplomatic and economic sticks. Japan refused to release him, but then China squeezed its exports of rare earths and Tokyo folded just two days later. What to watch: If Trump completes his attack on Huawei, Xi could retaliate against U.S. tech titans that rely on rare earths, such as Tesla and Apple. Graham Allison is the former director of Harvard Kennedy Schools Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Armenian prosecutors have decided to appeal against a judges controversial decision to suspend former President Robert Kocharians trial and request an important clarification from the Constitutional Court. In his decision publicized on Tuesday, the district court judge presiding over the trial, Davit Grigorian, cited a suspicion of discrepancy between the Armenian constitution and coup charges brought against Kocharian. He also suggested that the constitution gives the ex-president immunity from prosecution in connection with the 2008 post-election violence in Yerevan. The decision was condemned by lawyers representing relatives of protesters killed in the March 2008 clashes with security forces. One of them said the Constitutional Court must not take up the case because he is legally unable to appeal against the judges decision. The Office of the Prosecutor-General clarified later on Tuesday, however, that Armenias Code of Procedural Justice allows it to file such an appeal. A spokesman for the office said it will therefore ask the Court of Appeals to annul the trials suspension. One of Kocharians lawyers, Aram Orbelian, insisted on Wednesday that while the prosecutors can challenge the judges decision, the Court of Appeals is not in a position to overturn it. Under the existing legislation, the Court of Appeals has no right to look into the justifications for the [judges] appeal to the Constitutional Court, Orbelian told RFE/RLs Armenian service. He predicted that the Court of Appeals will therefore rebuff the prosecutors. It cannot say in place of the Constitutional Court whether a particular law conforms to the constitution, he said. Armenian law gives the Constitutional has one month to decide whether to hold hearings and rule on the appeal. Orbelian confirmed reports that the court chairman, Hrayr Tovmasian, is his godfather. He said this fact does not represent a conflict of interest. I am simply one of the lawyers in this case, added Orbelian. I am not the defendant or prosecutor. The case does not apply to me. The prosecutors are also planning to appeal against Judge Grigorians separate decision on Saturday to release Kocharian from custody pending the outcome of the trial. The decision angered many political allies and supporters of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, who hold Kocharian responsible for the 2008 bloodshed. At Pashinians urging, they blocked the entrances to court buildings across the country on Monday.The premier also called for a mandatory vetting of all judges and said many of them should quit even before the start of such a process. A national association representing Armenias judges on Wednesday urged state officials, public figures and media to avoid insulting them and obstructing their work, while expressing readiness to discuss judicial reforms. In recent days some members of the public have been blatantly violating the principle of judicial independence, making public statements offending the honor and dignity of judges, read a statement released by the Union of Judges. The Union of Judges is calling on government bodies and officials of the Republic of Armenia, social and political organizations, mass media as well as citizens to refrain from public statements tarnishing the reputation of judges, insulting judges and casting doubt on their impartiality, it said. The union urged them to also refrain from any actions hampering the normal work of courts and disrupting public order near court buildings. The statement came two days after supporters of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian blocked the entrances to court buildings across Armenia. Pashinian called for such protests following a Yerevan courts controversial decision on May 18 to release the indicted former President Robert Kocharian from custody. Speaking during the protests on Monday, Pashinian said Armenian courts are widely regarded as a remnant of the former corrupt system and lack sufficient legitimacy to act. He called for a far-reaching reform of the judicial system that would involve a mandatory vetting of all judges. All those judges who know deep down that they cannot be impartial and objective must resign and thereby provide an important service to the Republic of Armenia and its people, added the premier. A parliamentary leader of Pashinians My Step alliance said on Tuesday that lawmakers have already begun drafting a bill on such vetting. The Union of Judges acknowledged that the judicial branch too needs reforms and said it is ready to engage in constructive discussions will relevant stakeholders for that purpose. Still, it cautioned that the reforms must conform to the Armenian constitution and not disrupt the normal work of the system. The union already complained in December about what it called growing insults and threats publicly voiced against some of its members. By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 22 times, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said on May 22, Trend reports. 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 Leman Mammadova Ministry of Finance of Azerbaijan has talked on the implementation of commitments to solve the issue of problem loans. The Minister Samir Sharifov has told journalists that Azerbaijan has fully developed a mechanism to solve the issue of problem loans. He noted that the work envisaged in a presidential decree by President Ilham Aliyev is currently underway, stressing that it is expected that by the end of this month, the Finance Ministry will fully ensure the fulfillment of obligations and tasks on problem loans. This is mainly about foreign currency loans. We have already made a tranche, and, respectively, a certain amount of funds has already entered bank accounts. All works will be completed by May 28, Sharifov added. He stressed that the ministry primarily receives an order for payments from Financial Market Supervisory Authority of Azerbaijan (FIMSA), and then the funds are sent to bank accounts. In his words, FIMSA also works with banks. The value and the number of loans is being clarified, on the basis of which the relevant work will start and the payments will be made, no problems are expected, the minister said. It should be noted that Azerbaijan will cooperate with South Korea in solving the issue of problem loans. Recently, the conference Solving Problem Loans: Experience of Azerbaijan and Republic of Korea was held in Baku. South Korea will share its experience with Azerbaijan in this direction. Earlier, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on additional measures in connection with solving the issue of the individuals problem loans. The decree envisages the payment of compensation to citizens whose loan burden increased as a result of the devaluation of the manat in February and December 2015. The decree aimed at improving the welfare of the population is an important element of the social policy. Thats because the solution of the problem of credit loans of the population wont only ease the financial burden, but will also restore confidence in the banking sector and free some debtors from legal proceedings. The decree applies both to loans taken from banks and non-bank credit organizations. Credit unions are an exception. According to the decree, opportunities are created for restructuring on concessional terms of both US dollar loans and manat loans with a delay of more than 360 days. If the amount of compensation exceeds 500 manats, these funds will be transferred to the account of the individual; if less, the payment will be made via money transfer. In addition, banks will receive preferential loans under a state guarantee in the amount of up to 682 million manats as part of the decree. In order to prevent deterioration of the currency position of banks, they will also be provided with securities worth up to 215 million manats ($126.5 million) with an annual interest rate of 0.5 percent for the allocated loan. The decree also covers loans in rubles and euros. Loans in euros and rubles will be converted into US dollars at the rate of the Central Bank for February 21 and December 21, 2015. Compensation will be issued in manats, regardless of the currency which the loan was taken in. As of mid-May, Azerbaijans Finance Ministry allocated 430.6 million manats ($253 million) to pay compensation on problem loans to individuals. It is expected that 602,347 people will receive compensation. All payments are due to be completed in May 2019. The payment of compensations for problem loans to individuals in Azerbaijan began on April 22. The payments are made through branches of banks and Azerpost postal operator. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Azerbaijani government allocated 670,000 manats to pay compensations on problem loans to individuals in Pasha Bank, chief financial administrator, as well as member of the board of the bank Bahruz Naghiyev said. Naghiyev made the remarks in Baku at the conference dedicated to the results of the banks activity in 2018, Trend reports on May 21. The amount of compensations is not so high because being a corporate bank, Pasha Bank more focuses on rendering services to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) compared to other banks, he added. The bank has not issued many loans to the individuals. Commenting on such a low volume of problem loans, Naghiyev said that this was stipulated by the successful work of the banks loan management department as the banks strategy is aimed at issuing loans in foreign currency to those whose income is registered in the same currency. The process of paying compensation on problem loans to individuals started in Azerbaijan on April 22, 2019. The payments are made through branches of banks and Azerpost postal operator. As expected, 602,347 people will receive compensation. The compensation is planned to be fully paid till late May 2019. Earlier, President Aliyev signed a decree on additional measures in connection with solving the issue of the individuals problem loans. The decree envisages the payment of compensation to citizens whose loan burden increased as a result of the devaluation of the manat in February and December 2015. According to the decree, opportunities are created for restructuring both US dollar loans and manat loans with a delay of more than 360 days on concessional terms. If the amount of compensation exceeds 500 manats, these funds are transferred to the account of the individual; otherwise, the payment is made via money transfer. The corresponding plastic cards to be received by individuals are issued free of charge for a period of one year. Banks and postal operator are not entitled to charge fees for issuing or conducting operations with these cards or for making money transfers. (1.7 AZN = 1 USD on May 21) --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Leman Mammadova Implementing large infrastructure projects and application of effective policies in medical industry serve to the improvement of the healthcare system in the country. In the framework of the European Union (EU) Days on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership program, EU representatives visited the Central Hospital of Mingachevir city. They got acquainted with the work of the medical institution, where, as a pilot project, the compulsory health insurance system has been introduced, as well as with the Support to implementation of compulsory health insurance in Azerbaijan twinning project funded by the EU. The event was attended by the EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas, representative of the Compulsory Health Insurance State Agency Agency Nurlan Mammadov, Director of the Hospital Konul Alakbarov, participants of the twinning project and international experts. Jankauskas stressed that healthcare is an important industry in terms of human capital development. A pilot project is being implemented in Azerbaijan in this area, and the EU provides support through specialists from France, Lithuania and Estonia, he said, noting that as part of the twinning project, various models of compulsory health insurance are being tested for Azerbaijan to choose the most suitable one. In his words, the twinning project results show that all citizens of Azerbaijan should be covered by compulsory health insurance. In turn, Compulsory Health Insurance State Agency representative Nurlan Mammadov stressed that such elements as helping develop a model for designing and financing the introduction of compulsory health insurance in Azerbaijan, improving the basic package, signing contracts with medical providers, recommendations and proposals for the development of information technologies played a big role in the implementation of the pilot project in Azerbaijan. Central Hospital Director Konul Alakbarov said that after the introduction of compulsory health insurance in the hospital, the material and technical base has been improved and the personnel potential has been strengthened. The "Expertise France" representative Andrei Tretyak, in turn, spoke about the role of compulsory health insurance in protecting public health. In his words, its implementation will lead to economic growth in Azerbaijan. In turn, Resident Twinning Adviser Gediminas Chernyauskas stated that the positive results were obtained in the pilot areas of compulsory health insurance in 2017-2018 as well as salaries of health workers increased, the financial burden on surgical operations of citizens was significantly reduced. It should be noted that the EU-funded twinning project "Support to implementation of compulsory health insurance in Azerbaijan" aims to strengthen the institutional capacity at the State Compulsory Health Insurance Agency to plan, execute and monitor healthcare spending in three elements: collection, accumulation of funds and purchasing of healthcare services. The pilot project on compulsory health insurance has been implemented in Azerbaijan since late 2016. It currently covers the city of Mingachevir and the Yevlakh and Aghdash regions. The project is executed by the State Compulsory Health Insurance Agency, the mission for Europe and international affairs of the Ministry of Social Affairs of France and Lithuanian social protection bodies. During the first year of implementation of the pilot project, a lot of attention was paid to the number of services and their accessibility for the population, and in the second year, the attention was paid more to quality. At the same time, organizers prepared a plan for a full transition of the entire country to compulsory medical insurance. The introduction of compulsory health insurance throughout Azerbaijan will begin in 2020. Implementing large infrastructure projects and application of effective policies in medical industry serve to the improvement of the healthcare system in the country. --- Leman Mammadova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @leman_888 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova The "From Nature to History" First International Ceramics Symposium kicked off in the city of Shaki on May 20. The opening ceremony was held at ABAD Ceramics and Applied Art Center, gathering talented ceramists from Azerbaijan, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Iraq, Norway, Brazil, Tunisia, Bangladesh, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, etc. The ceremony was attended by Shaki city officials, representatives of ABAD pavilion, ceramic masters and artists. The main goal of the symposium is to exchange experience to increase the level of professionalism among the attendees and local ceramic artists. The project aims at strengthening and promotion of the cultural traditions as well as at familiarizing the participants and visitors of the symposium with contemporary trends in ceramics art. At the opening ceremony, it was stressed that the international symposium will glorify Shaki in the world and will trigger a new stage in the development of art and crafts. It was emphasized that great attention is paid to the preservation of cultural heritage and propagation of nation's rich culture. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady of Azerbaijan, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Mehriban Aliyeva's work in this area is worthy of special mentioning. The orders issued by the head of state on the protection of the historical part of Shaki have given a powerful impetus to the beginning of a new stage in the development of tourism. Also, work is underway to include Shaki historical center, including the Khan Palace, into the list of UNESCO World Heritage Committee. It was noted at the opening ceremony that Shaki was chosen as the Art Capital in 2010. The city was also declared the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2016. It was also included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in 2017. Moreover, Shaki is a member of the League of Historical Cities. In 1967, the Yukhari Bash State Historical-Architectural Reserve was established to preserve the cultural heritage located in the historical part of the city. The reserve of 283 hectares includes many monuments of world and national importance. There are 84 historic and architectural monuments in Shaki. The Church of Kish founded in the 1st century and the Shaki Khan's palace of the 18thcentury are included in the list of world-famous monuments. Shaki is also one of the areas where art and crafts are developed. At present, more than 200 artists are engaged in 18 types of folk applied art in Shaki. Rufat Elchiyev, director of ABAD (ASAN Support to Family Business), stressed at the symposium that Azerbaijan was known throughout the history as the land of craftsmen and it gave many examples of art to the world. He emphasized that these types of art reflected the entire spirit, mood, spirituality, life, culture of Azerbaijani people with their diversity. "The masters have inspired the beautiful nature, history and culture of Azerbaijan, creating beautiful works and art examples. Our ancient art forms such as alchemy, pottery, woodworking, blacksmithing, carpet weaving, sericulture, hat-making and shebeke art still florish as the carrier of the spirit of our people," he said. Elchiyev further stressed that one of the priorities of ABAD is support to the families working on decorative-applied folk art. He noted that there are currently 10 ABAD ethno-boutiques operating for the sale of souvenirs illustrating art samples belonging to the country's regions. ABAD director noted that various handmade artworks, souvenirs presented at ABAD ethno-boutiques highlight the country's ancient history and culture. Thanks to these points of sale, the great variety of Azerbaijani arts is spread all over the world. The head of ABAD stressed that since the ancient times, Azerbaijani people have been a creative nation. During archeological excavations, ceramic products and ancient stoves were found throughout the country, mainly in this region. For this reason, the opening of the first Ceramics Center and holding of the "From Nature to History" First International Ceramics Symposium in Shaki is not accidental. Speaking at the event, the co-coordinator of the ABAD Ceramics and Applied Art Center in Shaki Mir Teymur Mammadov said that ceramics plays a special role in the history of every nation. "Ceramics is the oldest and most reliable carrier of history, chemistry, physics, and magnetism. Ceramics has a strong position in the modern science, industry, medicine and other areas of human life," he said. Zinaida Blizniuk, Ukrainian participant of the international symposium, thanked the event organizers for the invitation and the conditions created for participants. Then, participants of the First International Ceramics Symposium were introduced to artists. The symposium participants also got acquainted with the conditions created in the ABAD Ceramics and Applied Art Center. The opening ceremony ended with a colorful show. The symposium will last until June 2. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova A new film festival will now be held in Azerbaijan. Golden Step National Film Festival has been created by the Azerbaijan Union of Cinematographers, Trend Life reported. The main goal of the festival is to contribute to the development of national cinema, to increase the professional level and to stimulate the activity of cinematographers. Golden Step Film Festival will be held every two years in November. Feature films and documentaries will take part in the competition program, and winners in various categories will be determined. Detailed information regarding participation terms can be found on www.Arki.az. It is noteworthy that the main activity of the Azerbaijan Union of Cinematographers is presenting national films in the international arena, their shooting, organization of international symposia and conferences, and formation of cinema's infrastructure. Azerbaijan has a rich cinema history and has significantly contributed to the international film industry. Today, the Azerbaijani cinema has come to be an internationally recognized modern art enjoying a huge popularity and recognition at international film festivals, which frequently award the national films. Over the past years, more than 300 films and 1,200 documentaries, as well as hundreds of cartoons were filmed. Shortly after the Lumiere brothers from France invented cinematograph, an apparatus for making motion pictures, in 1895, Russian photographer and cameraman Alexandre Michon began shooting motion pictures that depicted everyday life in Baku. The first short, silent film of Azerbaijani cinematography "You are caught" was shown in Baku on August 2, 1898. The audience witnessed a historical event - the birth of Azerbaijani cinematography. To honor this historical day, the national leader Heydar Aliyev signed an order on December 18, 2000, to declare August 2 as professional holiday of cinema workers Day of Azerbaijani Cinema. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva and Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva visited Kurdakhani settlement of Sabunchu district of Baku on May 21. First, Mehriban Aliyeva and Leyla Aliyeva viewed the secondary school No. 113 named after Huseynbala Aghaverdiyev. They were informed that 6,000 people live in Kurdakhani settlement and there is only one school here. As part of their visit, Mehriban Aliyeva and Leyla Aliyeva also viewed classrooms and met with the teaching staff and pupils. The first block of the two-block school was built in 1971. Repair work was carried out here in 2006. First Vice-President of Azerbaijan was informed that the second block of the school was built in 2008. The school enrolls 2,320 pupils who are taught by 100 teachers. Mehriban Aliyeva instructed to carry out repair and reconstruction work at the school. Afterwards, Mehriban Aliyeva and Leyla Aliyeva visited resident of Kurdakhani settlement Telman Aliyev`s family. Telman Aliyev and his family met with First Vice-President when they were at a sanctuary in Mardakan. The family members invited Mehriban Aliyeva to a tea table at their home. At the meeting, First Vice-President stressed that the socio-economic development of Kurdakhani settlement and the work on job creation will continue in the future. Family members expressed their gratitude to Mehriban Aliyeva for her attention to the development of settlement. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov has received Luis Antonio Dimate Cardenas, the newly appointed Ambassador of Colombia to Azerbaijan, Trend reports with reference to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry. At the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the current status of relations and stressed the importance of the student-teacher exchange in order to increase the people-to-people contacts. Ambassador Luis Antonio Dimate Cardenas noted that Colombia is keen on development of cooperation with Azerbaijan in all fields and mentioned that he would spare no efforts on further enhancement of bilateral relations during his diplomatic mission. Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov wished to Ambassador Luis Antonio Dimate Cardenas every success in his diplomatic activities. During the meeting Ambassador Luis Antonio Dimate Cardenas presented a copy of his credentials to Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Laman Ismayilova Adil Gafarli, the winner of the Azerbaijan Public Speaking Competition 2019, has captivated the listeners with his powerful and expressive speech at the ESU International Public Speaking Competition Final held in London. He successfully represented the country at the international competition. Representatives from 54 countries participated in the final, Trend Life reported. Adil Gafarli delivered a speech "Lies that tell the truth" and was awarded the "Best Impromptu Prepared Speech" diploma. It is noteworthy that Adil Gafarli was chosen as the representative of Azerbaijan from 108 representatives of youth from one state school, one private school and 11 universities. The International Public Speaking Competition, organized by The English-Speaking Union (ESU), has been held since 1980. Azerbaijan Public Speaking Competition (APSC) is the platform that, using international experience, fosters future leaders, speakers in Azerbaijan. APSC is a renowned partner of ESU of Great Britain with over 100 years of experience. Within the framework of cooperation, local winners annually go to London to participate in the international competition. At the same time, APSC collaborates with the U.S. PSA Public Speakers Association. The International Speakers Conference, which is held every year in different countries, brings together corporate employees, company executives, speakers and business leaders around the world. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz A statesmans leadership qualities can be measured in myriad ways. There is no unified formula applicable to every case. But it is generally believed that it is at a time of crisis, or when there is an urgent need for the ultimate concentration of a nations resources, that a leader's true greatness is revealed. By Trend Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov received heads of diplomatic missions of Mexico, Colombia, Peru and Chile on May 21, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. At the meeting, the minister appreciated the observer status granted to Azerbaijan at the Ministerial Council meeting of the Pacific Alliance (PA) in Mexico City on May 10. He noted that PA, which unites four above-mentioned member countries, four associate members including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore, as well as 57 observer countries, is a vital platform for the development of regional trade relations. The minister emphasized that Azerbaijan in its foreign policy attaches special importance to cooperation with Latin American countries and actively collaborates with the existing organizations and economic bodies in the region. In this context, taking into account PA's partner ties with various economic cooperation formats and particular countries, it was noted that Azerbaijan, which plays an important role in the connection of the Pacific Ocean with the European space can provide additional opportunities for PA countries as well. Peru's Ambassador Maria Milagros Castanon Seoane presented the document that officially affirms Azerbaijan as an observer to PA. Then, Heads of the PA countries diplomatic missions talked about the dynamic development of relations with Azerbaijan over the recent period and mentioned the outstanding role of the Embassies in promoting this process. They highly appreciated the active foreign policy of the country serving the global and regional progress and expressed confidence that their states' cooperation with Azerbaijan would further develop in both bilateral and multilateral formats. The sides, along with economic cooperation, exchanged views on existing perspectives in the humanitarian and other spheres. An active involvement of the private sector in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and the holding of the Business Forums were considered as favorable formats. The sides also exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The issue of journalist Fuad Abbasovs detention by officers of the Police Department of the Russian Interior Ministry of the city of Khimki is under control of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia, Trend reports with reference to the embassy. On the instructions of Azerbaijani Ambassador Polad Bulbuloglu on May 20, the consular officers met with Abbasov in the temporary detention center for foreigners in the city of Korolev of the Moscow region. The embassy is taking all necessary measures regarding this case, which has caused great public concern, the embassy states. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Councils of State and Ministers of the Republic of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez has congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. I am very pleased to express to you our cordial congratulations on the occasion of celebrating the national day of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Diaz-Canel Bermudez said. Please receive assurances of my highest consideration and esteem. King of the Belgians Philippe also congratulated President Aliyev. I extend my congratulations and best wishes for the well-being and prosperity to Your Excellency and the people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of the Republic Day, he said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Executive Officers of the project company ICGB gave start of the construction activities for the gas interconnector Greece Bulgaria, Trend reports citing the project company. During the groundbreaking ceremony near the border with Greece Teodora Georgieva and Konstantinos Karayannakos made the first groundbreaking in the presence of officials from Bulgaria, Greece and Azerbaijan. The key event was attended by the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borissov and the Prime Minister of Greece Alexis Tsipras, the energy ministers of both countries, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and high-level officials from the European Commission (EC) and the European Investment Bank (EIB). During the ceremony it was announced that earlier today the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria has approved the text of Intergovernmental Agreement on the Gas Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria as the basis for the conclusion of the negotiations and has authorized the Minister of Energy of the Republic of Bulgaria to conclude the final agreement. The Intergovernmental Agreement regulates the project's support at government level and stabilizes its tax treatment for a period of 25 years. The continuous corporate efforts of ICGB and its shareholders, the political will of the governments of Bulgaria and Greece and the unquestionable support from the EC helped us to successfully overcome the challenges before IGB, announced the Executive Officer from Bulgarian side Teodora Georgieva. According to her, the gas project already has secured funding, the contractors for all key activities have been selected, the contracts for owners engineer and construction supervision have been signed and the reserved capacity will ensure the successful operation of the interconnector. The synergy of IGB with other key energy projects part of the Southern Gas Corridor like TAP and TANAP, makes the need of the interconnector undeniable and inseparable part of the comprehensive energy strategy and the priorities of Europe, underlined the Executive Officer of ICGB from Greek side Konstantinos Karayannakos. He noted that the project ensures real diversification of gas supplies, which will improve Greece and Bulgarias positions on the energy market and will contribute to the integration of the entire region. The Vice President of the EC Maros Sefcovic sent his regards and congratulated the project via video message. In his address he noted that IGBs realization will improve the security of the gas supplies for the region and will contribute to Europes energy connectivity. The first Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Mr. Yagub Eyyubov attended the groundbreaking ceremony personally to express support for the completion of the project. He called for successful and continuous cooperation between Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Greece not only in the energy sector. IGB also received support by the Azerbaijani company SOCAR, which supplies the main capacity for Bulgargaz, the shipper representing the backbone of the project. The groundbreaking ceremony, which was held near Kirkovo, Kardzhali district, was attended by over 150 guests and high-level officials from different countries. After giving the start of the construction activities, the Executive Officers together with the Prime Ministers of both countries signed one of the 12-meter line pipes that will be used for the construction of the interconnector. IGB is developed by the project company ICGB AD, where shareholders with equal rights are the Bulgarian Energy Holding and IGI Poseidon SA. The Public Gas Corporation of Greece (DEPA S.A.) and EDISON S.p.A are co-shareholders in IGI Poseidon SA. The key gas interconnector will have the length of 182 km and a technical capacity of up to 3 bcm per year with an option for increasing the transmission capacity to up to 5 bcm per year by construction of a compressor station. The route of the project will connect the Greek town of Komotini with the Bulgarian town of Stara Zagora. The IGB gas pipeline will connect the transmission systems of DESFA and TAP in the town of Komotini with the transmission system of the Bulgarian Bulgartransgaz. After a successfully completed Market test, the project already has capacity of 1.57 bcm booked. IGBs completion will bring four new shippers to the Bulgarian market which will improve the countrys capabilities in the energy field. The financing of the project is secured through a shareholder investment, a European Investment Bank loan secured with a sovereign guarantee of EUR 110 million and a EUR 39 million grant from the European Structural and Investment Funds for Bulgaria through the Bulgarian Operational Program OPIC. The regulatory status of IGB is regulated by an exemption decision from third party regulated access. All key public procurement procedures have been completed successfully, with selected contractors as follows: Design, procurement and construction J&P AVAX (Greece) Line pipe supply - Corinth Pipeworks S.A Pipe Industry S.A (Greece) Owners engineer - Consortium TIBEI with participants in the consortium TRACTEBEL ENGINEERING S.A (Belgium), TRACTEBEL ENGINEERING S.R.L. (Italy), INTBER GMBH, YPSILON CONSULT EOOD (Bulgaria) and Bulgaria Engineering EAD (Bulgaria), Construction supervision - Eco Bul Control with participants in the consortium Ecoengineering EOOD, Bul Stroy Control Engineering AD and Control Engineering AD Archaeological studies of archaeological sites found along the route of gas interconnector Greece-Bulgaria National Archeological Institute with Museum The construction of the gas interconnector Greece-Bulgaria aims to ensure diversification not only of the routes but also of the natural gas sources for Bulgaria and the region. As part of the development of the Southern Gas Corridor, through IGB Bulgaria and its neighboring countries will have access to alternative supplies from the Caspian region as well as from existing or prospective LNG terminals. IGBs implementation also provides opportunities for transit transmission through the gas pipeline Greece-Bulgaria and the gas transportation system of Bulgartransgaz EAD to the other gas interconnectors with Romania and Serbia. The significance of IGB lies beyond the national boarders of Bulgaria and Greece as it also provides opportunities for connectivity with other future important projects in the region like the LNG terminal at Alexandroupolis, Greece; East Med for direct connection of resources from the Eastern Mediterranean and with Greece through Cyprus and Crete as well as liquefied gas from Israel, Egypt. The deadline for completions of the construction of the interconnector is 18 months after initiation construction activities. IGB is expected to enter into operation in 2020. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Bulgarian Council of Ministers has approved the draft intergovernmental agreement with Greece on the interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB), which envisages transportation of Azerbaijani gas to Bulgaria,Trend reports. This intergovernmental agreement will establish a tax framework for the project, Bulgarian media reports citing the Council of Ministers. The intergovernmental agreement stabilizes corporate tax rates in Bulgaria and Greece for 25 years. The document provides for the avoidance of double taxation. The proposed draft intergovernmental agreement will introduce a fixed corporate tax regime that will be applied for 25 years from the beginning of the commercial operation of the interconnector. A fixed tax regime implies a predictable amount of expenses for investors, the report reads. The conclusion of the intergovernmental agreement is subject to ratification by the parliaments of Greece and Bulgaria. IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets. The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov Results of April 2016 battles, which were deplorable for Yerevan, have come to table of active discussions recently in Armenia. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan ordered to investigate all the circumstances of the April "four-day war". To this end, he stated the need to create an investigative parliamentary commission. There are specific forces that are trying to divide the two Armenian peoples, he believes. The premier stressed that people living in Nagorno-Karabakh suffered more from the corrupt system than the people of Armenia. It is noteworthy that the far-fetched concept of "two Armenian states" is not new. However, Pashinyan now has managed to invent another nonsense as "two Armenian peoples". Apparently, under the enemies of the "Armenian peoples", Pashinyan meant representatives from the Karabakh clan, who launched vigorous activities against him. Attempts to plant ex-President Robert Kocharian behind bars caused dangerous processes for the "revolutionary" premier, demonstrating that the Karabakh clan was alive and was not going to leave the political arena. As for corruption in the occupied Karabakh, Pashinyan actually admitted that after Karabakh was occupied, it turned into not an "independent free state", but a grey zone with corruption seems flourishing there. The Armenian PM said he sees a conspiracy to unleash a new war and even surrender some territories, shifting responsibility to the government of the country, adding that this activity is similar to treason. It seems that Pashinyan is ready to recognize the huge losses that Armenia suffered as a result of the four-day battles it provoked. When Serzh Sargsyan was in power, Armenian propaganda invariably spoke of "the failure of the Azerbaijani armed forces offensive". However, military logic says that if the Azerbaijani army failed the offensive, then why would the Armenians not reward those who successfully repel the offensive? Why is an investigation being ordered? Pashinyan knows the answers to these questions very well. The commission work, which he is going to create in the Parliament on this issue, will bring to light all the facts about the horrible real losses of the Armenian side. Saying that the April 2016 losses were due to the previous authorities fault, he can get a break. Mainly for this purpose, he stated the need to create an investigative parliamentary commission. Three years ago, Armenia undertook the largest provocation during the years of occupation of Azerbaijani territories. On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire of large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers by Armenian army. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population. Azerbaijans counter-attack led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. Military operations on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies were stopped on April 5 at 12:00 with mutual consent of the sides. However, Armenian side still continues violating the ceasefire. As a result of the April defeat of the Armenian occupying forces by the Azerbaijani army, the important Leletepe height, the heights around Talish village, was taken under control. In general, more than 2,000 hectares of land in the territories of the Fizuli, Jabrayil and Agdere regions were liberated from the Armenian invaders. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Abdul Kerimkhanov The judicial system of Armenia fails to enjoy even the minimal confidence of the Armenian society. The international organizations have already noticed the deplorable state of the courts of this country. Politically interested parties should refrain from actions and statements that may be perceived as putting pressure on the judicial system, Yulia Lovochkina (Ukraine) and Andrei Shirtsel (Slovenia), the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on monitoring Armenia, said after the statement of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Earlier, Pashinyan called on citizens to block the entrances and exits of the courts on May 19. This appeal followed the judge decision to release the former President Robert Kocharian from custody. PACE stressed that the independence of the judiciary is a prerequisite for the rule of law, and therefore the rule of law is best ensured by the absence of any interference from political actors. "There are clear legal procedures, such as an appeal to a higher court, to challenge a court decision that seems questionable. Compliance with the rule of law requires adherence to procedures that exist to protect all citizens, no matter who they are," said the message. The co-rapporteurs mentioned that the public reaction to this court decision emphasizes the still low level of public confidence in the Armenian judicial system. Meanwhile, the story of the blocking of ships in Armenia is over. Pashinyan announced the need for "surgical intervention" in the judicial system. Some Armenian experts consider this a signal for mass cleansing in the system. The reason was the decision to release the ex-president Robert Kocharyan from the arrest on May 18. Alexander Azaryan, judge of the Armenian Court of Appeal, said he will resign only after resignation of Armenian premier or when he turns 65. It is remarkable that Azaryan's name appears in Pashinyans blacklist. Under the chairmanship of this judge, the Court of Appeal freed Robert Kocharyan from arrest in August 2018, motivating it with the ex-presidents inviolability. Problems will also arise with Kocharyans lawyers. The action, designed to demonstrate peoples support for Pashinyan, only increased the already considerable number of questions to him, both domestically and from abroad. Karen Bekaryan, Chairman of the public organization "European Integration", pointed out that Pashinyan leads the country to total dictatorship, declaring war on the judicial system, adding that all the abstract and at first sight pleasing to the ear wording is just a screen, a tool for packaging. For now it is rather difficult to talk about the national support of Pashinyan. Only about 1,100 people responded to the call of the Armenian PM, which is a drop in the ocean against the background of Yerevan with a population of over a million people. --- Abdul Kerimkhanov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AbdulKerim94 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Foreign Ministry of Turkmenistan hosted a meeting with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Miroslav Lajcak, Trend reports with reference to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry on May 22. The parties discussed issues of security and stability in the region. Miroslav Lajcak noted significant efforts of Turkmenistan in the process of resolving the situation in Afghanistan and establishing civil peace in this country, which is very important for the entire world community, the report says. It was noted that, in accordance with the realities of the modern world, it is necessary to solve issues exclusively through peaceful dialogue, mainly within the authoritative international organizations, the report reads. The meeting participants noted initiatives and projects of Turkmenistan in the areas of development of transport, energy security, conservation of water resources and environmental protection. Turkmenistan has a long border with Afghanistan and has repeatedly offered to hold talks in Ashgabat under the auspices of the UN to restore peace in the neighboring state. Ashgabat is in favor of providing more ambitious and targeted international economic assistance to Afghanistan, primarily through the involvement of Afghanistan in the implementation of large infrastructure projects in the energy and transport sectors. They include the projects of laying power transmission lines and fiber-optic communications along the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan (TAP) route, and the construction of railway lines from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan. A large-scale project to lay gas pipeline to India and Pakistan for the supply of Turkmen gas is also connected to the territory of Afghanistan, where unstable situation has remained for a long time. Observers believe that the implementation of this project may contribute to the restoration of Afghanistan, as it will allow creating jobs and provide the country with guaranteed income from transit. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria (IGB) is a priority project for Greece and for the European Unions (EU) energy strategy, Greek Ambassador to Azerbaijan Nicolaos D. Kanellos told Trend ahead of the groundbreaking ceremony of the interconnector to be held May 22. "Greece supports the policy for the diversification of energy sources and routes. In this context, I believe that no country should depend entirely on one, single supplier, through an exclusive route of energy sources. This aplies also to the common policy that we have as the members of European Union. The Vertical Gas Corridor (Greece Bulgaria-Romania-Hungary, possibly Ukraine, Serbia and Republic of Moldova) represents an excellent choice for enhancing the diversification of the energy sources in the region. The IGB (Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector), as an essential part of the Vertical Corridor, constitutes a priority project for Greece, but also for the European Union's energy strategy. The Interconnector Greece-Bulgaria is a strategic project for the diversification of sources and routes for the supply of natural gas to the Southeast European region," he said. Kanellos noted that its construction will provide Europe with natural gas from additional sources, from the Caspian region through the Trans-Adriatic gas pipeline, as well as liquefied natural gas from Greece. "The Greece-Bulgaria Interconnector is among the seven priority projects for the EC and is part of the CESEC Initiative for Gas Connectivity in Central and Southeastern Europe. The mplementation of the pipeline will contribute to connecting the energy markets, increasing competition and ensuring security of gas supplies in Southeast Europe," noted the envoy. "In a moment of many big changes and unstable policies the IGB will further enhance our role as an "energy security provider" for Europe. "Greece is becoming a natural gas hub for SE Europe. Important elements to this are: the delivery of natural gas from the Caspian through the Southern Gas Corridor and the TAP pipeline and the access to liquefied natural gas in the Aegean, through the existing terminal at Revythoussa which is upgrading significantly, and the planned liquefied natural gas Alexandroupolis. We understand the Vertical Corridor as an energy chain linking infrastructure in our broader neighborhood, promoting regional cooperation and gasification and making markets more competitive," added the ambassador. IGB is a gas pipeline, which will allow Bulgaria to receive Azerbaijani gas, in particular, the gas produced from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz 2 gas and condensate field. IGB is expected to be connected to TAP via which gas from the Shah Deniz field will be delivered to the European markets. The initial capacity of IGB will be 3 billion cubic meters of gas. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Contributing columnist Jose Gaspar is a news anchor/reporter for Telemundo Bakersfield and KGET. Email him at elcompa29@gmail.com. His work appears here every third Monday; the views expressed are his own. HOW TO COMMENT Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the draft environmental review by June 10. Online comments can be sent to https://go.usa.gov/xE3Nw. They can also be mailed to: Bakersfield Field Office, Attn: Bakersfield RMP Hydraulic Fracturing Analysis, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308. Another priest has disappeared from my Catholic radar. For the third time, a priest whose homilies have regularly touched my heart has vanishe Just a quick 25-minute drive outside of Houston will land you in one of the happiest small towns in America. Sugar Land is the No. 4 "Happiest Small Town in America," according to a report from Top Counseling Schools, (TCS) a counseling information and resource website. After more than a month of searching, Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas may have found its new home. The Beaumont City Council on Tuesday gave city staff direction to move forward in drafting a contract with the organization. Talk of Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas moving from Port Arthur, where its been for nearly three decades, drew controversy in early April when organizers proposed relocating to Port Neches. About 100 residents attended a city council meeting on the issue, with more than a dozen opposing the idea. Residents expressed concerns about parking, a possible parade route and how alcohol would be handled, eventually leading to the council voting against pursuing a relationship. But the tone at the Beaumont council meeting was clearly different, with several council members vocally excited about the event and only one speaker against it. I think this (opportunity) fits us to a T and I think it would be a fun thing to embark on, said council member Virginia Jordan. Attendance at and revenue from Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas, which is used as a fundraiser for 14 area nonprofits, has dropped by about 25 percent in the past decade, organizers previously told The Enterprise. This prompted the board to authorize them to look for a new location. Beaumont says it has experience with festivals even bigger than Mardi Gras, and some council members believe hosting the event is the next logical step in improving quality of life for residents. Mardi Gras did 11,000 last year over four days, we did 12,000 to 15,000 people over one day during large events hosted in Beaumont, said city Event Facilities Director Lenny Caballero. Caballero, the city manager, the mayor and other members of city staff have had two meetings with Mardi Gras organizers to chart out possibilities of how the parade, security and other operational issues will be handled. Few details are set, but they will become more clear as the city draws up a contract with Mardi Gras organizers. The document would have to go before the council for approval before it is signed. And while a few council members had questions, none of them seemed to balk at the idea. Across the Sabine River in Lake Charles, they have a parade thats like two miles long that leaves the Civic Center and everybody shows up for, said council member W.L. Pate. Weve got two miles of road. Matter of fact, weve got 753 miles. In a letter submitted to the council, Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas requested use of the Great Lawn, Downtown Event Centre, Event Centre parking lots, Beaumont Civic Center and its parking lot, various city streets that would need to be closed for parade routes, the Jefferson Theatre and the Julie Rogers Theatre. Council member Robin Mouton expressed concerns about the majority of Mardi Gras benefiting nonprofits being located in Port Arthur, as well as the potential for increased crime. Mardi Gras of Southeast Texas President Laura Childress said theyre open to including more local nonprofits, and noted work the organization does in the Beaumont area. She also said the event is geared to be family-friendly and, as a result, it hasnt been very eventful when it comes to crime. Safety is our priority. We want people to have a safe, good time and do things in moderation, she said. We have people that get out of hand a little bit, but officers are there to take care of them if we need it. Council member Mike Getz asked Childress how Port Arthur feels about the event moving, and to address talk hed heard in the community regarding outstanding bills left unresolved between the event and the city. Childress said she feels Port Arthur has a lot on its plate as far as new expansions are concerned. She also said the city recently gave Mardi Gras a bill for an amount they have come up with that they feel like is a back bill, but assured council members Mardi Gras would pay any legitimate invoices. Interim Port Arthur City Manager Becky Underhill previously said that the outstanding amount hadnt become a problem between the city and the organization. The next Mardi Gras is planned for Feb. 20-23, 2020. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain AUSTIN Texas lawmakers are gearing up to pass new measures aimed at increasing campus security, adding more armed personnel and boosting student mental health resources a year after a mass shooting at a high school near Houston killed eight students and two substitute teachers. The move marks the first major action by state lawmakers since the May 2018 shooting at Santa Fe High School . The Texas House on Tuesday gave tentative approval to a Senate measure that calls for schools to undertake several new safety protocols, including allocating funds for enhanced security, developing campus emergency plans to be filed with the state, and engaging in active shooter and emergency response trainings. The changes being proposed feature measures proposed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott shortly after the shooting. The legislation doesnt include restricting gun sales or access to weapons , as GOP leaders have long pledged to protect gun rights. Abbott had also proposed tighter gun storage laws following the shooting before going silent on the idea amid swift rebuke from gun-rights advocates. The bill that passed the House with bipartisan support on a 128-14 vote also looks to get more mental health counselors in schools and create threat assessment teams that would help identify potentially dangerous students before they act. Republican Rep. Greg Bonnen said the legislation was inspired by the students, faculty and staff at Santa Fe. The chamber took up the measure before the Senate considered another bill that would expand the school marshal program, which trains teachers and other school personnel to carry weapons and let them keep their weapons on them at all times, instead of locking them in a safe away from students. That effort has faced more opposition and tentatively passed the Senate on a 20-11 vote. Teachers groups and gun control activists worry that more guns in classrooms, even concealed weapons, will lead to potentially lethal accidents. If we put an unlimited number of guns in our schools, were only creating an unlimited number of potential mistakes that could harm our children, said Hilary Whitfield, a volunteer leader of the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, in a statement. The bill would eliminate a provision that limit marshals to one per 200 students or one per building. GOP Sen. Brandon Creighton said the measure would allow school districts to decide themselves what works best for them in order to keep their students safe. About two months ago, Valero's Port Arthur refinery released more than 100 tons of sulfur dioxide, among other emissions, in a 36-hour period. That violation, reported by the refinery about a two months ago, is among more than 600 violations of emissions standards prompting a group of Southeast Texas residents and climate activists to sue Valero Energy Corporation and the Premcor Refining Group, Inc. The group alleges that, on hundreds of occasions, the plant released unauthorized amounts of sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter and other emissions. There also are concerns about dozens of violations related to improper operation of the refinery's industrial flares, information obtained through Valero's own reporting required by law. The events totaled more than 1.8 million pounds of unauthorized pollution. > > Related: Report: SETX plants among state's worst polluters "We need to be watchful," John Beard, president of Port Arthur Community Action Network, said at a Wednesday news conference in the shadow of Valero's smokestacks. "We need to be watching these refineries ... to make sure they follow the law and protect us in the communities we live." Valero's spokeswoman could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The group comprised of Environment Texas, Sierra Club and the Port Arthur Community Action Network filed its required "intent to sue" on May 16. Unless Valero expresses interest in negotiating with the group, members said, an official lawsuit will be filed in federal court in mid-July. If the suit is filed, it would be the fifth since 2008 from Environment Texas and Sierra Club to fight what the groups characterize as "illegal air emissions" from oil refineries in the area. According to the group, Valero has released more than 850,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide alone over the past five years. Exposure to the chemical can cause respiratory illness and worsen the effects of asthma and cardiovascular disease. Despite permits from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality that set limits on the amount of each pollutant that can be released in the air, this lawsuit is necessary because the agency is "missing in action" and failing to enforce these permits, said Neil Carman, a former TCEQ investigator who is now the director of the Clean Air Program for the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter. "The bottom line is Valero is breaking the law on a routine basis and the agency is not holding their feet to the fire," he said. TCEQ spokesman Andrew Keese said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. The Texas Department of State Health Services reports the risk of of cancer is "significantly higher" in Port Arthur. While not pinned specifically on Valero, several residents attended Wednesday's meeting to discuss the impact they think area refineries have had on their health. "We appreciate the opportunity to work (at the refineries)" said resident and cancer survivor Etta Hebert. "But if we can't live, the work does us no good." According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 36,000 people live in a three-mile radius of the refinery, which includes five schools, two community centers, four public parks and more than 20 churches. "Valero's continued emissions have directly affected the quality of life, health, and safety of residents in Port Arthur and its West Side community. Children as well as adults suffer respiratory illnesses, severe allergies, and related health issues that limit their activity and ability to enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle," John Beard, President of Port Arthur Community Action Network, said in the news release. "Air is Life, and everyone has a right to breathe clean air. Our livesand our children's livesshouldn't be burdened by Valero's illegal pollution." The group hopes either negotiations or a formal lawsuit will cause Valero to increase emissions controls, which could include increased training, upgraded equipment or a more aggressive equipment maintenance schedule, and a promise to decrease emissions. "When companies are forced to do it," they'll find a way to follow the law," said Environment Texas Executive Director Luke Metzger. The Clean Air Act allows for private citizens affected by emissions violations to bring an enforcement suit in federal court after providing 60 days notice to the violator and state and federal environmental agencies. kaitlin.bain@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/KaitlinBain More than 400 students representing three schools the College of Liberal Arts, Atkinson Graduate School of Management and the College of Law graduated from Willamette on Sunday. The new alumni greeted their families for hugs and selfies on the Quad, bid farewell to their classmates and marked an official end to their years on campus as the next chapter of their life begins. Per tradition, each college ceremony included student speakers, an invocation led by the chaplains and the recognition of emeriti faculty. AGSM honored Douglas E. Goe, a partner in the Orrick Law Firm, with the Glenn L. Jackson Leadership Award in recognition of Goes public and private leadership. Commencement speakers offered graduates advice and told stories of their career growth with humor and humility. CEO of Deloitte Global Punit Renjen MM86, who delivered the AGSM speech and received an Honorary Doctor of Business, said he was in awe of the lights along I-5 when he moved to Oregon. In his native Rohtak, India, the city could not afford lights for his neighborhood. Now, hes the CEO of a $45-billion organization. Jonathan Mayes JD87, senior vice president of external affairs and chief diversity officer for grocery company Albertsons, told Willamette Law graduates about a woman who gave him a place to stay in Oakland, California, after he was rejected by another landlord for his race. The woman, who now lives in Portland, was in attendance and Mayes thanked her to loud applause. He encouraged graduates to give back. During her CLA speech, Dame Susan Jocelyn Bell Burnell, an astrophysicist from Northern Ireland, described the moment she co-discovered the first radio pulsars in 1967 a moment thats been described as one of the most significant scientific achievements of the 20th century. She also received an Honorary Doctor of Science. Bell Burnell spoke of the challenges she overcame to become a top astrophysicist in a male-dominated field with some appalling social conventions. If a woman worked, her children were considered delinquents by society, she said. So graduating class, how many of your mothers worked? she asked. Loud cheers erupted from the crowd. By the numbers College of Liberal Arts 371 BAs. 3 Bachelor of Music degrees. College of Law 86 JDs. 5 Master of Laws. 1 Master of Legal Studies. Atkinson Graduate School of Management 58 MBAs for Business, Government and Not-For-Profit Management, 23 of which were BA/MBA and eight were JD/MBA. 48 MBA degrees were awarded in August 2018 and January 2019 to students in the MBA for Professionals program. Willamette Academy 28 students, 16 of which will attend Willamette. This past year, university students volunteered for more than 575 hours and university student staff worked more than 3,000 hours in support of program students. Emeriti Faculty Professor of Law Michael B. Wise, 38 years of service. Professor of Rhetoric Catherine Collins, 37 years of service. Professor of Biology Susan Kephart, 37 years of service. Professor of Philosophy Sally Markowitz, 35 years of service. Associate Professor of Computer Science Jim Levenick, 33 years of service. Professor of Music Dan Rouslin, 32 years of service. Professor of Economics Jerry Gray, 28 years of service. Professor of Music John Peel, 28 years of service. Professor of Anthropology Pam Moro, 22 years of service. Find the full listing of graduates and more information about the commencement honorees and speakers on the website. KPG Capital & Co initiates Research Coverage Research Report Melbourne, May 22, 2019 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Nova Minerals Limited ( ASX:NVA ) ("Nova Minerals" or "the Company") is pleased to advise that New York based KPG Capital & Co has initiated research coverage on the Company.To view a copy of the report, entitled "Nova Minerals Limited - A Lithium, Gold, and Mineral Exploration Company" - please visit our website at www.novaminerals.com.auKPG Capital & Co currently has an arrangement with Nova Minerals whereby they are paid for corporate advisory services. This is a commissioned research report.To view the report, please visit:About Nova Minerals Limited Nova Minerals Limited (ASX:NVA) (FRA:QM3) (OTCMKTS:NVAAF) is a dynamic explorer and developer of its flagship Estelle Gold district in the Tintina gold belt. Nova's strategy is to substantially increase the current 4.7Moz resource on the Korbel prospect. Subsequently to continue to lock in value through moving Korbel towards production whilst increasing the resource base across the pipeline of targets within the Estelle gold district. Nova Minerals also holds strategic investments in Snow Lake Resources Ltd (Thompson Brothers Lithium Project), Torian Resources Ltd (ASX:TNR) and RotorX Aircraft Manufacturing Co. An ophthalmology office employee in New Jersey pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $75,000 from the practice, according to local news station 9.27 WOBM. Three quick details: 1. Sheryl Ward pleaded guilty May 20 to stealing from her employer over a 17-month period. 2. An employee in the contact lens department, Ms. Ward admitted to creating fraudulent credit card returns for over $75,000 in merchandise and depositing the funds directly into her personal bank account. 3. State prosecutors agreed to recommend a five-year prison sentence in exchange for Ms. Ward's guilty plea. Her sentencing is scheduled for July 26. SurgCenter Development is developing a spine ASC in Neenah, Wis., through a joint venture with physicians, according to the Post Crescent, part of the USA Today network. SurgCenter Development is headquartered in Towson, Md. Three quick facts: 1. The joint venture, Advanced Spine Center of Wisconsin, is expected to occupy the building in June. 2. Three surgeons from Appleton, Wis.-based NeuroSpine, one surgeon from Neenah-based Neuroscience Group and four pain physicians plan to begin practicing at the ASC in July. 3. Angie Laux, BSN, RN, will serve as administrator of the independent surgery center, which is replacing a former ThedaCare clinic. Police in Tomball, Texas, are investigating a security incident that left thousands of patient medical records in a dumpster behind a strip mall, according to local news station KPRC. The more than 20 boxes of medical records from Today's Vision, an optometrist group, date from 1997 to 2013. Patient information that may have been exposed includes names, phone numbers, addresses, bank and insurance statements, and Social Security numbers. The Today's Vision location involved in the data breach (Willowbrook, Texas) is located several miles away from the dumpster where the medical records were found. A manager at the Willowbrook location said medical records are typically shredded, KPRC reports. More articles on cybersecurity: Oregon State Hospital alerts patients of phishing attack Memorial Hermann employee 'improperly' used patients' credit card info First cybercrime hotline unveiled in Rhode Island Horton (Kan.) Community Hospital is taking steps to reopen after financial troubles forced it to shut down in March. The 25-bed critical access hospital shut down after months of financial troubles. The hospital, owned by an affiliate of Kansas City, Mo.-based EmpowerHMS, was nearly 30 days behind on payroll when it closed. The hospital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy two days after it closed, and a trustee was appointed to oversee the hospital's operations. After the hospital filed for bankruptcy, a small team of employees began working on reopening the hospital. "Since then they've been selecting management teams and finding the finances and doing some allocations of funds to get things up and running," Horton Hospital Chief of Staff Richard Brown, MD, told TV station KSNT. The hospital is tentatively set to reopen in August. Dr. Brown told KSNT that EmpowerHMS is not involved in the reopening process. More articles on healthcare finance: Patients sue HCA over emergency room 'cover charge' California hospitals paid 209% of Medicare by private insurers, study finds Fortune 500: 41 healthcare companies make the 2019 list Jamestown (Tenn.) Regional Medical Center is no longer admitting patients and is on the verge of closing, according to the Independent Herald. The 85-bed hospital was reportedly preparing to close May 16, but ultimately remained opened on a day-to-day basis. However, the hospital is still facing challenges and could close "any day now," Jamestown Mayor Lyndon Baines told local TV station WBIR on Tuesday. Jamestown Regional began diverting ambulances to other hospitals on Tuesday and is no longer admitting new patients, according to the Independent Herald. The hospital reportedly lacks enough supplies to treat patients. WBIR reports that the hospital, owned by West Palm Beach, Fla.-based Rennova Health, has struggled to meet payroll and pay vendors. The IRS recently placed a tax lien on the hospital for more than $475,000 in unpaid taxes, but the hospital said it is now up to date on the payments, according to the Independent Herald. In addition to the financial challenges, the hospital is also out of compliance with Medicare rules. Hospital leaders are working to address the issues to avoid contract termination. "CMS and the Tennessee State Survey Agency are working together to ensure the safety of all patients in this facility," CMS said in a statement to the Independent Herald. "We continue to work with the hospital's leadership to address its noncompliance with Medicare Certificate of Participation." Most hospitals take necessary steps to correct deficiencies prior to termination. More articles on healthcare finance: Kansas hospital plans to reopen after abruptly closing in March SSM Health's operating income jumps 72% in Q1 Risked-based revenue rising among healthcare organizations, survey finds Comcast is pushing further into the health space with an in-home device designed to monitor users' health, people familiar with the project confirmed to CNBC. Sumit Nagpal, senior vice president and general manager of health innovation at Comcast, has been working on the device for more than a year. The in-home health device is expected to begin pilot testing by the end of 2019 and potentially be commercially released in 2020. Comcast's in-home device will monitor people's basic health metrics through ambient sensors. It will focus on if a person is making routine trips to the bathroom or spending too much time in bed. Additionally, Comcast is developing a tool to detect when a person falls. Comcast plans to offer the device to at-risk people, including seniors and people with disabilities, however, the pricing and exact launch schedule is still unknown, CNBC reports. The device will not be a communication or assistant tool and wont' allow users to surf the web or turn lights on and off. However, people familiar with the project said it will be similar to Amazon's Alexa. The device will also be able to make emergency phone calls if health-related events occur. Comcast has also been in talks with various large hospitals, including Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center, reports CNBC. The meetings are focused on using Comcast's device to lower patient readmissions. More articles about health IT: Intermountain Healthcare develops EHR-based tool to assess patients' COPD risk Meet the 12-person team leading Orlando Health's Epic implementation National Kidney Foundation to launch online patient registry for chronic kidney disease Most S&P 500 companies have CEOs who are at least 50 years old, according to The Wall Street Journal. Four things to know: 1. The median age of a CEO in the S&P 500 is 58, according to The Wall Street Journal's analysis of proxy data from MyLogIQ. 2. Of the 493 S&P 500 companies that filed proxy statements by May 1, only 28 had a CEO under age 50. 3. It takes time to gain managerial experience, and older CEOs have put in the hours, Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, told The Wall Street Journal. There's more risk involved with hiring a younger CEO, he said. 4. Although it's rare for the CEO of an S&P 500 company to be under 50, some companies are appointing younger CEOs. In 2018, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Wynn Resorts were among S&P 500 companies that appointed CEOs in their 40s, according to the report. More articles on leadership and management: Leadership quotes from 12 healthcare execs PwC: 39% of CEOs ousted in 2018 were involved in scandals CEOs rank the 10 best, worst states for business Becker's Hospital Review reported the following hospital-union events after May 10. 1. Nurses at Twin Cities hospitals in Minnesota will hold informational pickets May 22, 23 and 29 amid contract negotiations. 2. Healthcare workers will rally through June 12 at 33 California hospitals owned by Kaiser Permanente in support of issues they care about. 3. University of California workers went on strike May 16 at the school's 10 campuses and five medical centers to protest job outsourcing. 4. A California labor board said a unit of the Service Employees International Union may represent fellows and residents at Sacramento, Calif.-based UC Davis Health in bargaining. 5. Nurses at Barton Memorial Hospital in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., scheduled a one-day strike for May 24 amid contract negotiations. A man was found dead in a car at Miami-based Baptist Hospital's parking garage May 20, The Miami Herald reported. Police are looking into the case as an "unclassified death investigation." It is unclear if foul play was involved, police said. The man's identity has not been released. The scene was cleared at about 3 a.m. May 21. Gold Coast Health Plan, which administers Medicaid benefits in California, is looking into providing more board meeting information in Spanish and English after facing allegations of discrimination, according to the Ventura County Star. Roughly 36 percent of Gold Coast's members identify as Spanish-speaking. During a meeting held by the Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission in April, a Latino rights advocate requested that Gold Coast's agenda materials be provided in Spanish. Afterward, he filed a discrimination complaint with Gold Coast, citing a lack of information published in Spanish. Gold Coast CEO Dale Villani said the health insurer follows California Department of Health Care Services regulations, and he refuted the discriminatory claims. Mr. Villani said Gold Coast provides information like member rights and required forms in Spanish within communities that speak mostly Spanish. In addition, he said an interpreter attends commission meetings and agenda meeting items are provided in Spanish when requested, according to the report. More articles on payers: Judge steps down from UnitedHealth case over 'immoral' denial of cancer treatment House Democrats unveil Medicare expansion plan: 8 things to know Humana posts $566M profit in Q1 A contract between Kettering Health Network and Cigna is set to expire in June as negotiations between the parties stall, according to the Dayton Business Journal. If an agreement can't be reached before June 14, the Dayton, Ohio-based health system and its Kettering Physician Network will go out of network with Cigna June 15. As a result, Cigna members would face higher, out-of-network prices when accessing Kettering Health hospitals and physicians. In a statement to the Dayton Business Journal, Cigna spokesperson Jim Angstadt said Kettering is seeking high payment increases. "Kettering Health Network wants our customers to pay more and have demanded rate increases that our analysis shows would further increase costs for our customers," he said. In a statement to Becker's Hospital Review, a Kettering spokesperson said, "Kettering Health Network is in negotiations with Cigna and hopes to reach a resolution before the contract expires on June 14, 2019." More articles on payers: Judge steps down from UnitedHealth case over 'immoral' denial of cancer treatment House Democrats unveil Medicare expansion plan: 8 things to know Humana posts $566M profit in Q1 Baltimore officials sued a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, accusing the drugmaker of using "sham" patent litigation to delay the launch of lower-cost generics and forcing the city to needlessly spend millions of dollars on the medication, according to a STAT news report. The lawsuit claims the J&J subsidiary, Jassen Biotech, and its partner BTG , deceived the U.S. Patent and Trademark office when seeking a patent for its prostate cancer drug Zytiga. Prosecutors allege the drugmaker failed to disclose certain information to the trademark office and ultimately allowed the drugmaker to delay generic rivals' entrance to the market. "When big pharma engages in anti-competitive tactics to maintain its profits and harms the city, we will enforce the law to both recover damages and deter future fraudulent conduct. The city needs every dollar for essential services," Baltimore City Solicitor Andre Davis told STAT. Last month, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana filed a similar suit against Janssen, accusing it of filing "sham" patent litigation to keep generic forms of a different prostate cancer drug, Zytiga, off the shelves to maintain a monopoly. Read more here. Ireland-based drug company Mallinckrodt sued HHS and CMS May 21 over a regulatory move that would change Medicaid rebates for its Acthar Gel, a best-selling injection for multiple sclerosis, lupus and other ailments, according to The Wall Street Journal. The regulatory move, the drugmaker argues, could cost it $600 million and negatively affect its research and development, according to the Journal. The lawsuit centers on the average manufacturer price used to set rebates that drugmakers are required to pay the government. Mallinckrodt claims CMS "unlawfully demanded that the drugmaker revert to an older and higher average manufacturer price. The drugmaker claims CMS told Questor Pharmaceuticals, which owned the medicine before Mallinckrodt acquired it, that the Acthar Gel met the threshold as a single-source drug for a particular average manufacturer price. But when Mallinckrodt acquired the drug in 2016, the agency changed its mind and told the drugmaker it didn't meet that threshold, according to STAT news. CMS reportedly told the drugmaker that if it didn't switch to the older, higher manufacturer price by May 24, Acthar Gel would be suspended from the Medicaid rebate program. When the shift takes place, Mallenkrodt claims it will have to pay hundreds of millions in retroactive rebates that would "substantially eliminate" the 10 percent of Acthar Gel sales that come from Medicaid, according to Bloomberg. Mallinckrodt shares plummeted 24 percent on news of the lawsuit, which seeks to reverse the decision on the average manufacturer price of Acthar Gel. Read the full report here. Illinois health officials are investigating Advocate Christ Medical Center's handling of an infant who was brought to the hospital after allegedly being cut out of his mother's womb, reports the Chicago Sun-Times. The Illinois Department of Public Health confirmed its investigation of the Oak Lawn, Ill.-based hospital May 21. The investigation is connected to the April 23 murder of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, who was nine months pregnant at the time of her death. Prosecutors say Ms. Ochoa-Lopez was lured into the home of two women 46-year-old Clarisa Figueroa and her 24-year-old daughter Desiree who allegedly strangled her and cut the infant out of her womb. Clarisa Figueroa called 911 shortly after the murder and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, where she claimed the baby was hers, prosecutors said. She exhibited no signs of having given birth, and several weeks later a DNA test revealed the baby was Ms. Ochoa-Lopez's, according to prosecutors. The hospital did not notify the Department of Children and Family Services about the newborn until May 9, an agency spokesperson told the Chicago Sun-Times. The Cook County (Ill.) Sheriff's Office is calling on state health officials to investigate whether the hospital violated the Abuse and Neglected Children Reporting Act by not immediately notifying authorities of the situation. The infant is on life support in Advocate Christ Medical Center's neonatal intensive care unit, according to CBS 2 Chicago. Clarisa and Desiree Figueroa are being held at Cook County Jail on first-degree murder charges. Here are five key notes on spine and orthopedic device companies: A state court unanimously ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson and DePuy Synthes in a product liability suit over the company's Synthes Matrix Screw Rod System. Read more. Medacta plans to move its U.S. headquarters from Chicago to Tennessee. Camber Spine grew its sales 22 percent in the first quarter of 2019, according to recently released unaudited sales figures. Ossio celebrated the launch and first commercial use of its OSSIOfiber Bone Pin portfolio. Xtant Medical reported 2019 revenue was down slightly during the first quarter, but it did reduce year-over-year net loss and generated positive cash flow from operations. A business leader has made a fresh plea to politicians to resolve the Brexit "gridlock" to avoid further damage to the UK economy. (Victoria Jones/PA) A business leader has made a fresh plea to politicians to resolve the Brexit "gridlock" to avoid further damage to the UK economy. CBI president John Allan said the continued uncertainty was causing an "ever-growing cost", with 800bn of financial capital already moved out of the UK. The economy had suffered four successive quarters of falling investment, firms were stockpiling at record levels and production lines were closing, he said. Read More He is expected to tell the CBI's annual dinner in London: "I have a plea, from the heart of business, to the heart of politics - resolve this gridlock. Do whatever it takes and do it fast. "The Prime Minister's decision to bring back the Withdrawal Bill in early June is one more opportunity for Parliament to resolve this mess," concluded the CBI president. Revenue at Newry-based software and consulting group First Derivatives has topped 200m for the first time, according to its latest results. Full year figures for the plc showed a 38% surge in pre-tax profits to 16.7m, on the back of a 17% rise in revenue to 217.4m for the year to February 28, 2019. The results come just days after the firm, which is listed on the AIM, announced that its founder Brian Conlon is undergoing treatment for cancer. Read More The chief executive has said he will remain in his position with support from group chairman Seamus Keating. Speaking yesterday, First Derivatives chief operating officer Adrian Toner said: "Brian is having a tough time, like anyone who is dealing with cancer. But anybody who knows Brian realises that he is mentally very strong and determined and he continues to be actively engaged, leading the executive management team and driving the company forward. "We see no reason why that can't continue during the period of his treatment." The latest set of results for the Newry firm show it continues to expand rapidly in virtually all sectors. The company's software, which it built to help financial institutions to quickly process and understand large amounts of data, has been increasingly adopted in other sectors, with revenue from 'other markets' up by 85% to 9.3m over the year. "For some time we have been trying to grow outside of capital markets and the banking world," the chief operating officer said. Formula One racing team Aston Martin Red Bull was one of the high profile examples of how First Derivatives software has been deployed. Mr Toner said the consistent double-digit growth recorded by the company is a testament to the quality and breadth of the services it offers. He explained the company's chief goal is to establish itself as the leading capital markets practice in the world. "We are ruthlessly committed to delivering upon our strategy," he said. But he added that the diversified markets would help it grow in future years. "There is more and more data being created every day and the ability to store that data and run complex analytics and convert it into information that allows better decisions to be made, and to do that faster than any other competing technology in the world, that's the competitive advantage for FD," Mr Toner said. Now based across 15 global offices, First Derivatives employs around 2,400 people. Last year the company announced plans add another 1,000 staff. Mr Toner said the group recruited 500 people over the reporting period, including 350 graduates. But he said the attrition of staff within the industry, ie people moving between firms, put the actual net annual increase in the workforce at 200. And he pointed out it remains First Derivatives' policy to bring every international recruit to Newry for between one and three months. The strategy sees the firm's headcount in the city fluctuate from between 400 and 600, but the strategy has provided a boon for the Newry economy. The company's new offices on Belfast's Ormeau Avenue houses a fixed workforce of 300. Mr Toner said, while Brexit remains a "frustration", the group's global nature and its presence in the Republic means it won't derail its business. However, people movement is a concern. He added: "We have quite a number of people who are EU nationals and non-EU nationals working for us. That mobility of labour will present a challenge to us." Economist John Simpson has said any new devolved government will need to have improving the economy at its heart. Speaking at the launch of the Belfast Telegraph Top 100 Companies in association with Arthur Cox, Mr Simpson said that he hoped any new administration would be "better than the one which collapsed two years ago". He said he did not believe any Assembly or Executive since the restoration of Stormont had placed the economy at its centre. Read More Yesterday's launch of the list of Northern Ireland's most profitable companies was attended by leaders of many of the Top 100. This year the list was headed by SSE Renewable Onshore, which had pre-tax profits of 107m. Mr Simpson, who compiles and analyses the list, addressed the breakfast along with Kieran McGarrigle, the head of banking and finance at Arthur Cox, which was supporting the publication for the fifth year in a row. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Justin Patty, Arthur Cox, and Jackie Reid and Richard Packenham, Belfast Telegraph. Johanna Cunningham, Erin Carruthers, and Katie Millar, Arthur Cox. Colm McElroy, Arthur Cox and Paul Stanfield, Firmus Energy Chris Milligan, Mark Jameson, and Stuart Mansfield, Arthur Cox Linda McKillen and Kellie-Ann Hoey, SHS Group Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph and Lynsey Mallon, Arthur Cox Rajesh Rana, Andras House, Michael Graham, GRAHAM, and Mark Walker, Hilton Paul Stanfield, Firmus Energy, Andrew Greer, SSE, and David Black, Arthur Cox Colm McElroy, Arthur Cox, and Michael Scott, Firmus Energy John Healy, Allstate NI, Mark Ennis, SSE, Margaret Canning, Belfast Telegraph, Kevin Kingston, Danske Bank, and John Simpson, economist Cahal Carvill, Arthur Cox, Liam McDonald, Whitemountain, William Curry, Arthur Cox, and Damian Heron, Heron Bros Simon Campbell, Portview and Alan Taylor, Arthur Cox Ian Wright, NIIB Group, Claudine Herron, W&R Barnett, and William Thompson, Bank of Ireland Paul McBride, Arthur Cox and Kevin Lagan, Lagan Specialist Contracting Group / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Justin Patty, Arthur Cox, and Jackie Reid and Richard Packenham, Belfast Telegraph. Arthur Cox managing partner Catriona Gibson said: "Congratulations once again to all those businesses from across Northern Ireland included in this year's Top 100, many of which we were delighted to join with at the launch of the guide. "At Arthur Cox, we are the trusted legal advisers to many of those organisations included on the list, and have a keen appreciation of the efforts made by local business leaders to ensure their firms continue to thrive, contributing to wider economic growth and prosperity." Mr Simpson said that he hoped that as well as providing an insight into company performance, the list could be used to inform policy, although the growth of companies in the most recent year had not been as strong as the year before. "That's not to say we've passed the peak, but that the upward graph has begun to level off a bit," he added. "Given that, we will now need to contribute to what we would like a devolved government to be doing or what we would like the business community to be doing in circumstances for the incoming year." Mr Simpson said the business community deserved to be commended for its outspoken stance in favour of the withdrawal agreement and against a no-deal Brexit. "That was an important change over the years. I would have been one, and I think there are others, who would have said in previous years that the business community is far too quiet on the essence of policy and they should be laying their views down in more detail in a way in which politicians understand what's being said, whether or not they accept it," he said. He said that Stormont would soon be restored. But he warned that he expected Brexit to remain a thorn in the side of business. "The agreement or absence of an agreement on how the UK relates to Europe will be a major factor for many of your businesses," he said. "And if there is a no-deal, with no transition or agreed arrangements, I fear that means that the Irish border will become a presence again. "I find it very difficult to see with the best will in the world how the Irish Government will avoid it, because they have to keep within the European framework." Families and supporters of those killed in shootings involving the parachuted regiment in Ballymurphy West Belfast 1971, protest at the visit of Prince of Wales, the regiment's commander-in-chief, to Belfast. Photo credit: Liam McBurney/PA Wire The timing of the Prince of Wales's visit to Belfast has been criticised as "insensitive" by families whose loved ones were killed in a notorious spate of shootings involving the Parachute Regiment during Northern Ireland's Troubles. The relatives of 10 people shot over three days in 1971 called on Charles to apologise for the actions of his men due to his role as Colonel-in-Chief of the Paras. An inquest being held into the shootings - known as the Ballymurphy Massacre - is expected to hear evidence from former members of the regiment on Wednesday. Read More The families staged a protest near Laganside Courts in Belfast, where the inquest is being held, against the royal visit and held placards including one which read "Colonel in Chief of Paras Shame On You". John Teggart, a spokesman for the families, read a statement on their behalf during the demonstration. He said: "Prince Charles is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Parachute Regiment and he must take full responsibility for the actions of his troops. "We think that the timing of this visit is very insensitive given the evidence of mass murder and sheer brutality being described in court by witnesses over the past months. "Charles should know the hurt families like ourselves are going though at this present time. This hurt is not restricted to us; we know that other families suffer as we do." A Belfast woman who kicked officers and spat in their faces as part of nine separate assaults on police had no control over her actions, a court has heard. Kirsty McKernan's lawyer claimed her drug and alcohol-fuelled outbursts of violence and disorderly behaviour stemmed from a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. The 29-year-old, of Garmoyle Street, pleaded guilty to a series of offences committed over four separate incidents. As well as the assaults on police, she admitted disorderly behaviour on a city street and in a hospital, along with possessing cannabis and Xanax drugs. Belfast Magistrates' Court heard she was found screaming and offering to fight officers called to University Street on October 11 last year. Prosecutors said she responded to being arrested by spitting in the face of one policeman and kicking two others on their legs. On February 1 this year she was detained again after attending the Mater Hospital with apparently self-inflicted wounds and verbally abusing staff. Despite warnings about her behaviour she again kicked out at and spat on PSNI officers. Later that month she again lashed out at police called to a hotel in the city. McKernan struck one constable in the chest, another on the leg, and spat in the face of a third officer, the court was told. In the most recent incident, on April 19, she was found to have quantities of drugs on her. A defence lawyer attributed all of the offences to her client's addiction issues and poor mental health. McKernan's paranoid schizophrenia has led to episodes of aggression and volatility, it was contended. "It's offending beyond her control, especially when under the influence of alcohol and drugs," the lawyer said. "However, she has shown remorse over her actions." Identifying the complex issues involved, District Judge Fiona Bagnall said she wanted McKernan assessed to see if she is suitable for the substance misuse court set up to provide a treatment programme for eligible offenders. Adjourning the case to next month, Mrs Bagnall said: "This is a lady who needs support and help, as opposed to custody, if we can stop the offending." In the past few years, businesses have privatized almost every aspect of the public prison system and the downsides of this trend can no longer be overlooked. Tim Requarth, a freelance journalist, writing for The Nation, interviews David Angel, a correctional facility kitchen officer who had worked at prisons all over Michigan. In the course of the interview, Angel complains that he got more than he bargained for, working in state prison. It was a constant daily struggle, Angel recalled. At first, it was the little things: Food was spilled but never cleaned up. Meals were served late, or the kitchen would run out of food and the staff would have to swap ingredients. Angel said he saw peanut butter being substituted for a hamburger patty more times than he could count. And many times, the prisoners were fed rotten food, unless he was quick enough to throw it out. He said Aramark was the corporation in charge of providing food to the prisoners and they did a very poor job of it. I threw out 700 pounds of rotten potatoes once. Nevertheless, the spoiled food made its way into the kitchen or fresh food would become spoiled because of Aramarks poor storage practices, Angel said. Thats when I saw maggots under the big commercial mixer. Angel emphasized that the health of prisoners is constantly jeopardized so that corporations can make millions of dollars in profit. Aramark is not alone in this. Many companies cooking for prisoners would serve less nutritious food in lower quantities and also try to take advantage of economies of scale by buying in bulk even when it meant the food would spoil before it got to be eaten by the prisoners. This same issue has cropped up in several other prisons across the state where private corporations are kept in charge of incarcerated men and women. According to the report, at one facility, 30 people fell ill with foodborne illness after fly larvae were found crawling around the food-service line. At another prison, an Aramark employee was caught serving meatballs fished out of a trash can. The company was fined $200,000 for unsanitary food preparation, substituting nutritionally inferior ingredients, and routinely shorting prisoners on calories. This [situation] has created an environment of theft, extortion, and robberyall in the name of survival, said Ramone Wilson, a prisoner quoted in the article. If youre on an empty stomach, then youre desperate. This problem is not only in the area of privatized kitchen services, but there have also been reports on problems with privatized healthcare and privatized transportation services in prison. Angel has likened privatization of prison services to slavery and he is of the opinion that there should be no economic benefits attached to it. Slavery had a lot of economic benefits, he said A lot of people owned slaves and produced goods, and a lot of ordinary people benefited from those goods, and so on. But nobody today would say, Well, we should have just reformed slavery, improved slavery, reduced it to an acceptable level. There is no acceptable level. And thats my position on profiting off incarceration: There is no acceptable level. Its inherently morally and ethically wrong. The latest Glass of Thrones window which has been unveiled Clockwise from main: Gerard McAfee, auctioneer, McAfee Auctions and Jo Keating community fundraising manager with Save the Children Game of Thrones fans can get their hands on a complete script signed by the cast of the hit show at a charity auction next month. As the eighth and final series of the fantasy drama came to an end, producers donated a branded water bottle and a jacket specially commissioned as a 'wrap' gift for cast and crew. The items will be auctioned off at Save the Children NI's Centenary Ball on June 1 at Titanic Belfast. Meanwhile the last in a series of six giant stained glass windows was unveiled in Belfast yesterday to mark the show's final episode. The installation depicts the show's iconic Iron Throne complete with built-in seat in front of the window and designed for selfies. GoT fans can take part in the auction by emailing bids to gfmcafee@me.com or text/call 07860 474956. The Prince of Wales during his visit to Brownlow House, Lurgan (Owen Humphreys/PA) Prince Charles completed his final public engagement in Northern Ireland, watching children from across the divide singing and dancing together. Arriving at Brownlow House in Co Armagh, Charles was greeted by the sound of bagpipes before meeting one of his very youngest namesakes, two-week-old Charlie. The baby is the son of DUP MLA Carla Lockhart who was rushed to hospital during a local council election count to give birth. Expand Close The Prince of Wales meeting DUP MLA Carla Lockhart and her two-week-old son Charlie (Owen Humphries/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Prince of Wales meeting DUP MLA Carla Lockhart and her two-week-old son Charlie (Owen Humphries/PA) Ms Lockhart said: Little Charlie arrived quite hastily just over two weeks ago at the election count, he was born weighing six pounds, three ounces. The prince today was inquiring after him and what weight he was. It was just such an honour to meet Prince Charles and little Charlie enjoyed it as well. We were able to tell him that he was just two days older than his latest little grandchild Archie. Expand Close The Prince of Wales meeting members of the Lurgan District Loyal Orange Lodge No. 6 (Owen Humphries/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Prince of Wales meeting members of the Lurgan District Loyal Orange Lodge No. 6 (Owen Humphries/PA) Moving through the historic Lurgan property, Charles met members of the Orange Order and Royal Black Preceptory. Lambeg drummer Colin McCusker was among those who enjoyed a quick chat with the special visitor. Former Ulster Unionist councillor Mr McCusker said Charles had heard the powerful Lambeg drum in action during a visit to Co Armagh two years ago. Expand Close The Prince of Wales meeting Ulster Scots and Irish dancers during his visit to Brownlow House (Owen Humphries/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Prince of Wales meeting Ulster Scots and Irish dancers during his visit to Brownlow House (Owen Humphries/PA) He was told about my father being MP for the area for 16 years and asked had I ever thought about following in his footsteps. I said Id just left in the last week or two which he seemed to find quite funny, he said. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com The Prince of Wales speaking with the new Lord Mayor of Belfast John Finucane during a visit to The Bank Buildings in Belfast, where a fire broke out in a Primark store in August 2018, nearly caused the iconic structure to collapse. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - Photo by William Cherry/Presseye The Prince of Wales is pictured at the Palace Demesne, Armagh during his 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. The rugby and GAA players present HRH with two shirts as he left the Palace. William Cherry/Presseye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - Photo by William Cherry/Presseye The Prince of Wales is pictured at the Palace Demesne, Armagh during his 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. He met Ulster and Ireland Rugby star Rory Best and Manager of Armagh County GAA, Kieran McGeeney during a 'game of two halves' which brings together young rugby and GAA players William Cherry/Presseye The Prince of Wales is given a guard of honour by pupils from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, after an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales blowing a whistle during an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales signing the visitors book at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh with Armagh Lord Mayor Mealla Campbell, sitting infront of portraits of his ancestors King George III, and Queen Charlotte, painted by Scottish portrait-painter Alan Ramsey. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA RETRANSMITTED WITH CORRECT CAPTION The Prince of Wales meeting members of the Lugan District Loyal Orange No.6, during his visit to Brownlow House, Lugan, on the second day of his tour of Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA RETRANSMITTED WITH CORRECT CAPTION The Prince of Wales during his visit to Brownlow House, Lugan, on the second day of his tour of Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales looks at the Ulster rugby and Armagh GAA county jersey he was presented by pupils from The Royal School, Armagh, and St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh, following an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales is given a guard of honour by pupils from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, after an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales is given a guard of honour by pupils from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, after an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales meeting the choir during his visit to Brownlow House, Lugan, on the second day of his tour of Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales with pupils from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, during an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales at the Finnebrogue Artisan event in Downpatrick, Co Down, on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales meets 9-month-old Margot Dixon, Esme Dixon, 2, and Denis Lynn at the Finnebrogue Artisan event in Downpatrick, Co Down, on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA HRH The Prince of Wales meets members of the Hebrew Community at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken HRH The Prince of Wales meets members of the Hebrew Community at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken HRH The Prince of Wales meets guests at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken The Prince of Wales during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales unveils a plaque during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA HRH The Prince of Wales unveiled a plaque at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation today to mark the installation of two new stain glass windows in the Synagogue. Photo by Aaron McCracken HRH The Prince of Wales pictured with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as he visits at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken HRH The Prince of Wales meets Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as he arrives at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken The Prince of Wales speaking with the new Lord Mayor of Belfast John Finucane during a visit to The Bank Buildings in Belfast, where a fire broke out in a Primark store in August 2018, nearly caused the iconic structure to collapse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. The Prince of Wales with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland.Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall visit the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall arrives for her visit to the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall arrives for her visit to the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall arrives for her visit to the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall arrives for her visit to the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales attends a reception at the Grand Central Hotel hosted by The Spirit of Belfast to celebrate those involved in delivering the success of the tourism and artisan food sectors in Belfast. Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. I had been asked to bring one of my Lambeg drums with me, he had experienced those when he visited Loughgall two years ago, they played for him outside, so he had remembered how loud they were, so maybe thats why he didnt ask me to play for them they are not really an inside instrument. The visit to Brownlow House finished with music and dance as school children from across the divide performed for the prince. A joint choir of pupils from St Ronans College and Lurgan Junior High sang for Charles before young Ulster Scots and Irish dancers came together to put on a joint performance for him. The Mayor of Lisburn has condemned those behind an overnight gun attack in the city in which a couple and their teenage daughter escaped injury. A shot was fired through the living room window of a house in the Hillhall Park area in the early hours of yesterday morning. The couple and their 15 year-old daughter were in the house at the time but were not injured. Lisburn and Castlereagh Mayor Uel Mackin knows the family in question and says they have lived in the area for many years. The DUP representative for Downshire East said: "They are very private and quiet people who work hard within the community and are highly respected. "I cannot think of any reason why they would be targeted in this way. The Hillhall estate has had its difficulties in the past but it's a very settled community where people get on well with each other. "The local community are talking about this incident with a sense of disbelief that something of this nature could happen and they do not want this type of activity. "It's just so sad and tragic that people cannot be left alone to get on with their lives," he added. Ulster Unionist councillor Jenny Palmer added: "It's a huge shock to hear of such an attack on a family home within a close-knit community. "Thankfully this family escaped uninjured but it could have been so much worse. "No-one wants to see attacks of this nature and we had hoped that these types of incidents were in the past." Police have described the incident as "a totally reckless act" and are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed it or who may have information or dashcam footage of the area to contact detectives in Lisburn on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference 57 of May 21. The incident came just a day after a number of shots were fired into a house in Lurgan in what police described as a "reckless attack". The PSNI said no-one was injured after the incident in the Ballynamoney Road area of Lurgan at around 12.50am on Monday. The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall have visited Belfast's iconic Bank Buildings, nine months on from the devastating Primark fire. The pair are in Northern Ireland as part of a three-day royal visit. In August 2018, the Bank Buildings came close to collapse when the roof of the building caught fire. Prince Charles and Camilla met with council staff and Primark staff and were told of the ongoing work to restore the building and reopen the store. Read More They also met with restoration experts and first responders who dealt with the aftermath of the blaze. Earlier on Wednesday, the Prince of Wales met a woman rescued from Czechoslovakia on the eve of the Second World War as he visited a synagogue in north Belfast. Ruth Kohner, 82, was part of the Kindertransport in 1939 which brought Jewish children to the UK and safety from the Nazis. She was aged two. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com The Prince of Wales speaking with the new Lord Mayor of Belfast John Finucane during a visit to The Bank Buildings in Belfast, where a fire broke out in a Primark store in August 2018, nearly caused the iconic structure to collapse. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND - MAY 22: Prince Charles, Prince Of Wales during a visit to Belfast on May 22, 2019 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Prince of Wales and Duchess Of Cornwall attended a walkabout and visited the Primark store following the blaze which destroyed the iconic building last August. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Getty Images The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. Matt Mackey / Presseye.com Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - Photo by William Cherry/Presseye The Prince of Wales is pictured at the Palace Demesne, Armagh during his 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. The rugby and GAA players present HRH with two shirts as he left the Palace. William Cherry/Presseye Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - Photo by William Cherry/Presseye The Prince of Wales is pictured at the Palace Demesne, Armagh during his 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. He met Ulster and Ireland Rugby star Rory Best and Manager of Armagh County GAA, Kieran McGeeney during a 'game of two halves' which brings together young rugby and GAA players William Cherry/Presseye The Prince of Wales is given a guard of honour by pupils from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, after an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales blowing a whistle during an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales signing the visitors book at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh with Armagh Lord Mayor Mealla Campbell, sitting infront of portraits of his ancestors King George III, and Queen Charlotte, painted by Scottish portrait-painter Alan Ramsey. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA RETRANSMITTED WITH CORRECT CAPTION The Prince of Wales meeting members of the Lugan District Loyal Orange No.6, during his visit to Brownlow House, Lugan, on the second day of his tour of Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA RETRANSMITTED WITH CORRECT CAPTION The Prince of Wales during his visit to Brownlow House, Lugan, on the second day of his tour of Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales looks at the Ulster rugby and Armagh GAA county jersey he was presented by pupils from The Royal School, Armagh, and St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh, following an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales is given a guard of honour by pupils from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, after an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales is given a guard of honour by pupils from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, after an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales meeting the choir during his visit to Brownlow House, Lugan, on the second day of his tour of Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales with pupils from St Patrick's Grammar School, Armagh and The Royal School, Armagh, during an engagement at Palace Demense in Co. Armagh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales at the Finnebrogue Artisan event in Downpatrick, Co Down, on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales meets 9-month-old Margot Dixon, Esme Dixon, 2, and Denis Lynn at the Finnebrogue Artisan event in Downpatrick, Co Down, on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA HRH The Prince of Wales meets members of the Hebrew Community at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken HRH The Prince of Wales meets members of the Hebrew Community at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken HRH The Prince of Wales meets guests at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken The Prince of Wales during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales unveils a plaque during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA HRH The Prince of Wales unveiled a plaque at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation today to mark the installation of two new stain glass windows in the Synagogue. Photo by Aaron McCracken HRH The Prince of Wales pictured with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as he visits at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken HRH The Prince of Wales meets Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis as he arrives at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. Photo by Aaron McCracken The Prince of Wales speaking with the new Lord Mayor of Belfast John Finucane during a visit to The Bank Buildings in Belfast, where a fire broke out in a Primark store in August 2018, nearly caused the iconic structure to collapse. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. Press Eye - Belfast - Northern Ireland - 22nd May 2019 - The Duchess of Cornwall is pictured meeting people at the Belfast Welcome Organisation in west Belfast during her 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Belfast Welcome Organisation has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1977. Photo by Jonathan Porter / Press Eye. The Prince of Wales with Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland.Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales during a visit to Belfast Synagogue on the second day of the Royal couple's visit to Northern Ireland. Joe Giddens/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall visit the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall arrives for her visit to the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall arrives for her visit to the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall visits the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall arrives for her visit to the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Duchess of Cornwall arrives for her visit to the Belfast Welcome Organisation which has been providing potentially life-saving services and support to people affected by homelessness in Belfast since 1997. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Wednesday May 22, 2019. See PA story ROYAL Tour. Photo credit should read: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire PA The Prince of Wales attends a reception at the Grand Central Hotel hosted by The Spirit of Belfast to celebrate those involved in delivering the success of the tourism and artisan food sectors in Belfast. Liam McBurney/PA Wire PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall are pictured meeting people in Belfast City Centre as part of their 2 day visit to Northern Ireland. Picture Matt Mackey / Press Eye. She said: "It saved our lives, it must have been very difficult for my parents, who had travelled 10 days by train, to bring me and my sister to escape, but they saved our lives." Her father lost many relatives in the concentration camps, left his mother behind and knew he would never see her again. She spent the war at a farm in Millisle, near Belfast, along with other rescued youngsters and went on to run a family clothing business for many years. She said Charles asked her several questions when he met her at the Jewish community's place of worship in north Belfast. The Duchess of Cornwall also visited a homeless charity complex beside a section of the city's longest peace wall. The Belfast Welcome Organisation is based on Townsend Street, just yards from heavy metal gates which form part of the peace wall which divides the mainly Unionist/Loyalist lower Shankill Road from the mainly Nationalist/Republican Falls Road. It has been providing services and support for people affected by homelessness in the city since 1997. Read More The organisation started off as a community-based drop-in centre and has grown to now offer a street outreach service, crisis accommodation for women, a floating support service and growing furniture project Welcome Home. Camilla was guided around the charity's shop by chief executive Sandra Moore and met a number of its staff, volunteers and clients before seeing the workshop where items of furniture are upcycled for sale. She also spoke with a number of homeless women who come to the centre every day to use its services and learn to upcycle furniture for sale in the shop. "That's so important to restore your confidence," she told one woman, who had described to her how much the charity's services mean to her life. "It gets you on the path, and once you are on the path you're going. You are all very brave to talk." Praising the produce sold in the shop, she added: "The shop is just incredible, real talent." The duchess was then invited to try her hand at some craftwork before being presented with a "Belfast Newsie" cap crafted from traditional Irish tweed. She also met Lee-Maria Hughes, whose sister Catherine died at the age of 32 on the streets of Belfast. A DUP MLA has said he has reported a Twitter user to the police for offering anyone 150 to throw acid at him. The comments were made about Christopher Stalford on Tuesday. They came after Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage pressed charges against a man who threw a milkshake at him while campaigning in Newcastle. Read More Northumbria Police subsequently charged 32-year-old Paul Crowther with common assault and criminal damage. In response to the incident, Mr Stalford posted a message reading: "Milkshake today. Acid tomorrow", to which one user wrote: "COMPETITION TIME. First person to milkshake Christopher Stalford will receive 100 from me." Expand Close The message was posted on Twitter on Tuesday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The message was posted on Twitter on Tuesday Underneath the comment, however, a sinister message was posted, stating: "I'll go 150 for acid". Mr Stalford said he has reported the user in question to the police. John Finucane has vowed not to be deterred by a loyalist threat, as he met the Prince of Wales on his first day as Belfasts new mayor. The Sinn Fein councillor, whose solicitor father Pat was murdered by paramilitaries 30 years ago, said police have warned him that loyalists were planning to attack his family home. Read More He said officers came to his house to inform of the threat on Tuesday night, just hours after he was formally elected mayor at City Hall. Mr Finucane, a 39-year-old father of four, proceeded with his first day in post as planned, welcoming Charles to the city on Wednesday morning. Last night the PSNI came to my home to tell me of a threat by loyalists to attack me in my family home, he said. Expand Close Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane (PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane (PA) I am committed to serving and representing all the people of this city and I will not be deterred from that by threats from anyone. This is not just a threat against me but it is also a threat against democracy. Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said: This reprehensible threat against John Finucane has to be condemned. The reference to his family home was clearly deliberate, given this is where his father was murdered by loyalists. It is a cowardly attempt to intimidate the newly-elected first citizen of Belfast. The paramilitary colour party at the wake of former INLA prisoner Martin McElkerney A community worker has said it is "grossly depressing" that guns were brought onto Belfast streets again after a volley of shots were fired at the wake of former INLA prisoner Martin McElkerney on Monday night. Police confirmed they are investigating social media footage of the paramilitary display outside his home at Ross Street in west Belfast. Rob McAdam, who works in communities across Belfast and was driving through the area when the shots were fired, said it was obvious a colour party had been planned in honour of the republican. He died after being discovered critically injured by a gunshot in Milltown Cemetery last Thursday. "It's grossly depressing that in 2019 we still have this action," he said. "There's nothing respectful about firing a volley of shots in a built-up residential area, close to schools, close to a health care facility. It's deplorable and mindless. "What goes up must come down. Where did the bullets go? Where did the shell casings go?" Social media footage showed a masked man in a white shirt and black tie discharging several rounds skywards, surrounded by others similarly dressed and wearing balaclavas as onlookers cheer and applaud. Ulster Unionist justice spokesman Doug Beattie MLA said it was time the Secretary of State found out whether terrorist ceasefires were genuine. "I'm increasingly concerned about the brazen nature in which guns are being brought onto our streets to intimidate, assert control and more recently to fire shots in support of dead terrorists," he said. "It is time that Karen Bradley asked the Chief Constable for an updated assessment of the capabilities of these terrorist organisations. "Are they genuinely on ceasefire or are they in the process of rearming? Where are these weapons coming from and what structures are being used to transport them around the country?" DUP Policing Board member Keith Buchanan also condemned the incident. "Paramilitaries should have left the stage long ago," he said. "Those who cling to the trappings of terrorism should feel the full weight of the law." Sinn Fein said there was no place for guns on the streets. "All armed groups should disband immediately," it added. Alliance justice spokesman Stewart Dickson described the scene "shocking and utterly unacceptable". "This was a disturbing reminder that some still want to take us to the dark days of the past. Guns can only destroy and as long as those holding them are at large, lives are at risk." And SDLP councillor Brian Heading said the community is "sick and tired" of such displays. "The practice of firing shots in a built-up area has no place in our society, not now, not ever," he said. PSNI Superintendent Melanie Jones said police were aware of the video. "Bringing any weapons onto the streets, whether imitation or real, is a reckless act and one that serves no other purpose than to cause fear and intimidation," she said. "It was not a sign of respect. It was a criminal act carried out by those who would seek to exploit and control the community through the fear of violence. "We carried out a search of an area in Ross Street on Tuesday morning. Detectives are aware of commentary online and in the media, and are keeping an open mind about who was involved. "I would again appeal to anyone with information to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111." McElkerney (57) was jailed in 1987 for his part in a 1982 booby-trap bomb which killed two schoolboys, Kevin Valliday (11) and his friend Stephen Bennet (14), as well as 20-year-old Lance Bombardier Kevin Waller. He was released under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. His funeral will take place at 11am in St Peter's Cathedral, Belfast tomorrow. Teachers in Northern Ireland cannot fight food poverty on their own, the president of the Ulster Teachers' Union has warned. Susan Thompson, vice principal of Hart Memorial Primary School in Portadown, was speaking after a leading charity claimed food poverty was a breach of human rights. Her comments also come after the Children's Future Food Inquiry into food poverty across the UK said young schoolchildren in Northern Ireland should receive a free portion of fruit or vegetables every day. Another key recommendation contained in the report is that children receive a free meal every day in the first three years of school regardless of income. Ms Thompson pointed out that the "findings hit right at the heart of our community" because "two young people from this area sat on that inquiry committee along with stakeholders from across the children and young people's sectors". She said: "Those recommendations also follow on the heels of figures from the End Child Poverty campaign which revealed that almost a quarter of children in this constituency area are living in poverty. "None of this is any surprise to teachers as sadly we daily see the evidence in front of us when we hear children are coming to school hungry, with holes in their shoes, unable to afford to go on school trips, all the things everyone else takes for granted. "As a teacher it's hard to watch and we have always tried to help these families whenever we can but with so many other financial issues pressing on schools, it's becoming increasingly difficult and so it is these children who are suffering most." Ms Thompson said families "who are managing" might find it hard to believe that pupils in their children's class are coming to school hungry in this day and age but, she stressed, "it is a fact". "It is often much more complicated than that family simply not having enough money to feed the children," she said. "There may be other issues at work too - mental health issues, a parent with a disability, alcohol or domestic abuse. "The result is that it's the children who often bear the brunt. "They're not receiving the nourishment they need to thrive and learn and so the vicious circle threatens to repeat itself." She added: "Teachers can only do so much. We can't fight food poverty alone and we would ask for the funders to ensure this most vulnerable section of our school communities receives the support they deserve." Last week, the Strategic Principals' Forum sent a letter from 540 principals to the head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service saying that children are "suffering" and teachers are "on their knees" due to the ongoing lack of a government. They asked David Sterling to raise the "extreme urgency of need" facing education with politicians. The principal of Maghaberry Primary School, Graham Gault, who wrote the letter, told the Belfast Telegraph that schools were "past breaking point". "Surely, in a properly functioning society this wouldn't be a question for discussion?" he said. "The fact that so many of our children are starting out in life with such deficit is a sign of failed politics and sadly indicative of how much we, as a society, are willing to accept our most vulnerable to suffer. "Without a functioning Executive we are at the mercy of the winds and I appeal again, most strongly, that our public representatives put our children at the forefront of negotiations." A Belfast father whose two daughters died within weeks of each other due to drugs has said the lack of help available has left him in fear of losing a third as she battles her own heroin addiction. In recent weeks, Edward McKay has had to bury two daughters, Bridget (28) and Geraldine (30). Now he fears for the life of a third, Catherine McKay (32), a mother of eight from west Belfast. The family has already spoken out about how the deaths had left them feeling "destroyed" and have called for greater access to addiction and mental health services. Read More "I don't want my daddy to go through that again," Catherine said. She said her addictions started around the age of 16 when she began taking painkillers. "Today it's heroin, cocaine, tablets, everything. I've been speaking to people from a drugs outreach programme but they told me the average wait was six weeks to get any treatment." The Belfast Trust has said in recent years there has been "significant" growth in demand for Opioid Substitution Therapy and accepted the average waiting time of six weeks for assessment was greater than they wished. It's understood Ms McKay will now be seen within two weeks, but she said the easy availability of drugs in Belfast scared her. Expand Expand Previous Next Close Catherine's sister Geraldine Freddie Parkinson Catherine's sister Bridget Freddie Parkinson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine's sister Geraldine "If I see somebody when I'm out for a walk, it's a simple case of them saying, 'Do you want this' and I'll say yes. "I'm going to end up dead. I don't even know how to explain it." Their father Edward said he felt angered by the delays many addicts are facing. "I've already lost two daughters, I don't want another one dead," he said. "I just think it's disgusting when someone asks for help and they normally have to wait six weeks. "Are they serious? It's a long time to be sitting waiting with nothing when she's actually volunteered to go in and stay for help. Expand Close Catherine with her sister Sinead Freddie Parkinson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Catherine with her sister Sinead "I just want people to wake up, when a kid asks for help they should get it. Not just sent away, it's senseless. "They're all getting paid to do their job and they're not doing it. The way I look at it is if you break your leg you go to hospital for help, they don't tell you to come back in six weeks. "Why don't we take addiction as seriously?" In 2017, there were 136 drug-related deaths in Northern Ireland, with 80% due to drug misuse, compared to 80 deaths in 2007. Government figures show the majority of deaths were males, which increased by 98% over the same 10-year period. With females, this remained largely unchanged at 35 drug-related deaths. In March, a Government report also showed alcohol and drug-related deaths were four times higher in deprived areas of Northern Ireland. Catherine McKay's youngest sister Sinead (18) had previously told the Belfast Telegraph of the devastation the loss of Geraldine and Bridget - who had five and four children respectively - had caused. "They were very caring and kind, over-protective of all of us," she said. "It can change a family and it destroys a family. You don't see the same person anymore." Mr McKay's partner Clare Rea added: "Once they start, their family can see them deteriorating in front of their eyes. "And no matter what the family try to do, once the drugs get a hold of them it's just too hard. Don't take them - you have to fight and say no. "We wouldn't wish this on anybody." The connection between poetry and medicine has long been seen throughout history. In Greek mythology, the god Apollos powers included the arts of healing and poetry. In the 19th century, famous physician-poet John Keats was an English doctor who went on to write many works of poetry. Among the most famous of all American physician-poets was William Carlos Williams, a doctor that won a Pulitzer Prize for one of his poetry books and published twenty one poetry collections while practicing medicine. More recently, there has been a renaissance of sorts with an increasing number of doctors using their skills as poets, as well as their medical training, to aid patients. The modern day physician can connect with their ill patients on a different level with the use of poetry, providing increased empathy and emotional support to these individuals. This reemerging trend in medicine is in keeping with the desire of doctors to treat patients as whole individuals. In addition, by using their poetic skills, doctors are able to better deal with the inherent high stress levels and emotional demands involved in their caretaker roles. In keeping with this philosophy of merging poetry with medicine, the Yale School of Medicine each year sponsors a poetry contest for its medical students to encourage them to develop not only their medical expertise but also their poetic prowess. Dr. Michael Lee is s a physician-poet that has also embraced the physician poetry connection by writing his funny, entertaining book of poetry titled NOT GONNA WRITE POEMS, while working at the same time as a full-time, urgent care doctor in Long Island, NY. Dr. Lees talent as a writer of verses has served him well in his medical career, as he has been able to incorporate his unique wit and humour in his practice to help his patients deal with their illnesses. Medicine has always had an inherent duality to it since the practice of medicine is both an art and science, Dr. Lee admits. With my poetry and medical skills, I can treat my patients in their entiretytheir bodies, minds and spirits. Dr. Lees humorous poetry book helps him bring levity and joy into the lives of his patients. Laughter is the best medicine, Lee says, since it helps us all cope with sadness, loss, pain and suffering. If my poetry can bring a few moments of fun into a patients life and make them smile and laugh, then Ive accomplished my goal as a physician healer and poet. NOT GONNA WRITE POEMS is Dr. Michael Lees debut poetry book and while it is geared especially for children, it is a book meant to be shared with the entire family. Dr. Lee wrote the 78 verses in the anthology, while both he and his 10 year old daughter drew the accompanying amusing illustrations for the book. My book was a family affair, Dr. Lee adds, since I initially wrote the book to entertain my wife and daughter and then I enlisted my daughters drawing talents to help me with the many illustrations in the book. Now Dr. Lees self-published book of poetry is doing more than just providing a few laughs in the Lee household; it is a collection of humorous verses and sketches that will entertain children and adults in the USA and around the world. Although the medical field continues to face many challenges ahead, from rising costs of healthcare to doctor shortages, we can all take some comfort in knowing that caring doctors like Dr. Michael Lee, who are as skilled in creating funny poetic verses as they are in providing compassionate medical care, will continue to nurture the bonds between physician and patients. You can read more about Dr. Lees book and story on his website page: Mikeleethepoet.com Dr. Lee will also be signing and discussing his book of poetry at the upcoming Book Expo America and Book Con in NYCs Jacob Javits Center from May 29-June 2nd, 2019. He will be one of the featured authors at the Agora Publishing booth at the Book Expo. DUP MLA Mervyn Storey at the Junction of Bregagh Road and Gracehill Road in north Antrim where another accident occurred yesterday Young children escaped serious injury in the latest car crash near the Dark Hedges in north Antrim, a location made famous after it appeared in Game of Thrones. Speaking after the fifth collision within a year at the accident blackspot, DUP MLA Mervyn Storey said he had "passed the point of frustration" trying to find a solution to the problem. The crash involved a family from Toronto who were on their way to the filming location near Armoy. It happened at the crossroads at Clintyfinnan at the junction of the Gracehill Road and the Bregagh Road, and involved both the tourists from Canada and a local family. The impact left both cars badly damaged but there were no serious injuries to either party, both of whom had small children on board. Residents of a nearby housing estate are also furious, alleging a total lack of concern and inaction by the authorities responsible. They also say that there have been a number of near misses and if nothing is done soon the junction, which has already claimed one life, could result in a further fatality. Last September, Michael Munroe, a 31-year-old man from Connecticut in the US, sustained fatal injuries in a collision near the Dark Hedges. He was there on his honeymoon, and his wife, in her 30s, and also from the US, was injured in the crash. There were reports late last year that suggested in-car satellite navigation systems could be misleading drivers by giving the impression they could drive through a junction at a crossroads. Mr Storey and local Ulster Unionist councillor Joan Baird said it was clear that further measures were needed to halt the spate of accidents. Ms Baird said she plans to organise a public meeting. "This latest accident is absolutely terrible news. How much more will it take for Roads Service to resolve the issue?" she said. Mr Storey added: "It is simply beyond a joke. Roads Service has introduced some measures but clearly they don't go far enough. "I plan to take this matter to the Permanent Secretary to see what can be done." Mr Storey has previously called for signs with the internationally recognisable word 'Stop' at dangerous junctions, suggesting that tourists may not be familiar with what 'Give Way' means. He said he had "passed the point of frustration in seeking to get a resolution to prevent these accidents". "Following the last accident at this junction just a few weeks ago, I met with the Divisional Roads Manager and the family involved in that incident," he said. "We still are coming up against resistance from Roads Service for the erection of 'Stop' signs at this location. "There now needs to be urgent action taken to prevent other families going through the trauma of accidents such as this. "It must never be forgotten that we have had a fatality at this location in the past, thankfully today we have not experienced the same outcome. "I have already again today contacted the Divisional Roads Manager, however meetings will not resolve this extremely serious situation, it requires action." A Department for Infrastructure spokesperson said the standard UK wide policy for signage at a road junction in a rural location is one Give Way warning sign with associated road markings. "At the Bregagh Road and Gracehill Road junction the standard layout was enhanced in late 2008 when additional warning signs and advanced warning signs were erected as well as 'SLOW' road markings," they said. "Additional advanced warning signs were installed on the approaches to the Fivey Road and Gracehill Road junction in the summer of 2009." They said that last August the Department and PSNI reviewed these junctions following a number of road traffic collisions. "It was identified that even with the enhanced signage some motorists were not aware of the presence of these junctions. It was therefore decided to erect yellow backed warning signs which were installed in early November 2018," they said. "The road markings were refreshed in December 2018 and as part of this work we also took the opportunity to place wider lines to try to highlight these junctions even further. "It is not correct to say that the Department has been inactive in managing the risk at this junction and, following the recent collisions, a further review is being undertaken to assess whether and what further measures might be needed. "The Department will update local elected representatives on the findings of the review following its completion." Sinn Fein's new Lord Mayor of Belfast John Finucane has said that police have informed him loyalists were planning to attack him in his family home. Mr Finucane's father, Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane, was killed at his home by loyalist paramilitaries in February 1986. The recently elected Belfast councillor said that police visited him at his home on Tuesday night to warn him of the threat. I am committed to serving and representing all the people of this city and I will not be deterred from that by threats from anyone," Mr Finucane said. This is not just a threat against me but it is also a threat against democracy. Read More Sinn Fein North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly said that the threat was "reprehensible" and must be condemned. The reference to his family home was clearly deliberate, given this is where his father was murdered by loyalists," he said. It is a cowardly attempt to intimidate the newly-elected first citizen of Belfast. And while this must be a very traumatic experience for John and his family, I know that he will not be deterred from representing everyone as Ard Mheara. Expand Close Pat Finucane / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pat Finucane A PSNI spokesperson said that while they do not discuss the security of individuals, if they receive information that a person's life may be at risk, they will inform them. "We never ignore anything which may put an individual at risk," the spokesperson said. Mr Finucane also works as a solicitor in Belfast and entered politics in 2017, running as a candidate for the House of Commons in North Belfast. The murder of his father was one of the most notorious of the Troubles. He was killed while eating Sunday dinner with his family. Mr Finucane had come to public attention while representing a number of high-profile clients, including IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands. Following his murder the UDA accepted responsibility for the killing. After being installed as Lord Mayor on Tuesday John Finucane said that he wanted to represent everyone during his time in office. He highlighted family links to the British military and Orange Order and urged unionists to judge him "with an open mind". "I am a republican, I have family members who are unionist, I have family members who are neither of the two, and I think that diversity can only make our city stronger, because certainly I have felt the benefit of that particular upbringing," he said. William Johnson is accused of giving his teenage girlfriend two black eyes. A man accused of giving his teenage girlfriend two black eyes allegedly threatened to put a police sergeant "in a box", the High Court has heard. Prosecutors also claimed William Johnson spat on officers and called one a "P**i b******" while being arrested last week. Johnson, of Glentaisie Park in Portrush, Co Antrim, faces charges of common assault, criminal damage, threats to kill, assault on police, disorderly behaviour and possessing cannabis. During a bail application it was alleged that he attacked his 19-year-old girlfriend at a location in Portstewart on May 17 after accusing her of stealing from him. She claimed he struck her on the face and smashed her mobile phone case, the court was told. Crown lawyer Iryna Kennedy contended that Johnson became aggressive and verbally abusive when officers went to arrest him. "He spat at police on two occasions, with saliva landing on the officers," Mrs Kennedy said. "Limb restraints were applied, but during the incident the applicant was shouting at police officer 'I will put you in a box'. "He was also heard to call him a P**i b******." A small quantity of cannabis was allegedly located on him in custody. Opposing bail, Mrs Kennedy claimed Johnson's girlfriend had been left with two black eyes, and was vulnerable due to drug problems. Counsel further alleged that the accused made a phone call while detained, asking for someone to get her to drop the charges. A defence lawyer insisted Johnson denies attacking the woman or damaging her phone cover. Setting out his client's case that the injuries were inflicted by someone three days earlier, he told the court: "When officers arrived at the scene her eyes were already black." Johnson was granted bail on conditions including a curfew, electronic tagging and a ban on contacting the alleged victim. Mr Justice McAlinden also barred him from entering her hometown of Coleraine. A man has told of how a flight from Belfast to Majorca descended into chaos due to drunken and unruly passengers. Ollie Forsyth told BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show that last Thursday's Easyjet flight EJU6711 from Belfast International Airport had to be met by Spanish police due to disorder on board. He said he was a regular passenger on the route and accepted it was normally "quite lively", but that as soon as he and his wife got on the plane they knew that there was going to be a problem. Mr Forsyth said that passengers were obviously drunk and some were unable to walk properly. Read More He told the Nolan Show that he and his wife wanted to leave the plane but decided to remain after being told by the steward that passengers would be limited to one alcoholic drink each during the flight. He said that the drinks trolley remained trapped at the back of the plane as passengers approached and treated it like "a bar". Mr Forsyth described passengers shouting abusive language and that a lady with down syndrome was "absolutely petrified" and put her hands over her head she was "so scared". He said that among the passengers were hen parties wearing t-shirts with vulgar slogans that he described as "absolutely revolting". "It was not nice, people just seemed to have lost the thing of being decent and respectful to other people around them," Mr Forsyth said. "It was like being in a noisy bar, Spanish police were waiting for us when we arrived in Palma, people were that drunk they didn't care. "We were held on the plane for 30-45 minutes after we landed. My understanding is there were people detained, a number of people were kept on the plane. It was unreal." Mr Forsyth said that if the plane had encountered any difficulties there would have been safety issues as some of the passengers were so drunk. "There were kids, there were elderly people, I felt so sorry for the lady with down syndrome. "When we did land instead of going to an airbridge we were taken off the plane and put on to buses which was as bad again with the roaring and shouting." In a statement Easyjet said that the plane was met by police on arrival in Spain. A spokesperson said that Easyjet have strict guidelines on the consumption of alcohol on board. "There was evidence of passengers drinking their own alcohol on board during the flight," the spokesperson said. "For the safety of all on board it is prohibited for passengers to drink alcohol purchased in the airport during a flight. "The crew is trained to assess situations and act appropriately to ensure the safety of the flight and other passengers safety was not compromised at any time. " One customer told the Nolan Show that he had received a refund from Easyjet and a 75 payment. The DUP has indicated that it will vote against Theresa May's new Brexit deal, which it says offers no improvement on her previous proposals. Writing in today's Belfast Telegraph, DUP leader Arlene Foster said: "The Prime Minister tried to repackage the withdrawal agreement by tying a bow on the top and wrapping it in shiny paper but no one was fooled. "Nothing has changed. The fatal flaws still remain. The backstop is still there meaning Northern Ireland could be cut off from its main market in Great Britain by a new regulatory border. "Unless there are treaty level changes, Brussels would always have the whip hand." Mrs May yesterday set out a 10-point compromise package in her final attempt to secure approval for her deal, which has already been rejected in Parliament three times. She is to offer MPs a vote on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum in a last-ditch effort to secure support in the House of Commons. Her new Brexit deal, which was agreed by Cabinet only after a stormy two-hour session, will be brought to Parliament in the first week of next month. As well as a vote on a second referendum, MPs will be offered a choice over the UK's future customs arrangements with the European Union. TUV leader Jim Allister rounded on the Prime Minister for opening the door to a second referendum. He said Mrs May's deal was nothing new but "rather another attempt to force her failed, rejected plan through Westminster". He added: "What it does contain is another massive climbdown; this time on a second referendum. What an unprincipled individual, that she'd offer anything to try and get her disastrous deal through." He said it was "empty rhetoric" to pledge that the Government would seek to have alternative arrangements to the backstop by 2020. "Once the principle of detachment of Northern Ireland is accepted, it will become a template for going forward in the long term arrangement. "That is totally unacceptable constitutionally and economically. Effectively, it leaves us in the waiting room for Irish unity," he added. Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill said: "The majority of people of the North did not consent to Brexit and rejected it at the polls. "The 'new offer' announced by Theresa May contains little new thinking. Westminster is in chaos and what we heard today from Theresa May will do little to convince the business community or anyone else here that is likely to change." Ulster Unionist EU election candidate Danny Kennedy said: "The very fact that the Prime Minister has made this speech less than 48 hours before polls open in an election to the European Parliament is symptomatic of the chaotic state of her Government at this time. The fact remains there should never have been a backstop in the first place and it was poor negotiations that resulted in its inclusion." Alliance leader Naomi Long said: "Those saying the case for another vote was delusional have been proven wrong. We have not left the EU yet - the decision can be reversed and Brexit stopped." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would consider the Prime Minister's plan, but warned: "We won't back a repackaged version of the same old deal, and it's clear that this weak and disintegrating Government is unable deliver on its own commitments." Mrs May's proposals were immediately rejected by Tory Brexiteers. Boris Johnson tweeted: "We are being asked to vote for a customs union and a second referendum. The Bill is directly against our manifesto - and I will not vote for it. We can and must do better - and deliver what the people voted for." A Northern Ireland man has been jailed for eight months after more than 16,000 illicit cigarettes were seized from his home. William Riley, 58, of Kilaney Avenue in Lisburn, was arrested in March last year by officers from the Paramilitary Crime Taskforce (PCTF) conducting a search at his home. Police also found 16kg of tobacco. Illicit tobacco products worth 11,720.04 in lost duty and taxes were seized. Riley pleaded guilty to the charges at Lisburn Magistrates Court on 16 April 2019 and was sentenced to eight months in jail before the same court on Tuesday May 21. Detective Superintendent Rachel Shields said: Whilst some people may think that selling and buying counterfeit cigarettes isnt a big problem, the reality is that profits made from the sale of these type of items are often used to fund other criminality which inflicts misery on local communities. "There is no such thing as a victimless crime communities end up paying the price whilst paramilitaries profit. Two Romanian men have been remanded into custody after being accused of attempting to abduct two teenage girls Two Romanian men have been remanded into custody after being accused of attempting to abduct two teenage girls. Standing alongside an interpreter at Antrim Magistrates Court yesterday, 39-year-old Liviu Caprean and Florin Boras (45) confirmed they understood the two charges against them. Caprean, from Kinhilt Street and Boras, from Queen Street, both in Ballymena, face two counts of attempting to abduct two girls on May 19 this year. None of the facts were discussed in court but a detective constable gave evidence that he believed he could connect both men to the charges. It is understood, however, the charges follow an approach to two teenage girls in the Harryville area of Ballymena last Sunday. Under cross examination from defence counsel Neil Moore, the officer agreed "there would be some hostility in the Ballymena community to these men." District Judge Nigel Broderick heard that both defendants had been advised that there would be "concerns for their own safety if they were to be released to the Ballymena area". Mr Moore said a potentially suitable bail address "is the first hurdle" for any application for their release but that he was not applying for bail at this stage. Suggesting the pair be remanded to appear again later this month, the lawyer said that in the meantime efforts would be made in order to obtain "addresses that may well be suitable to police". Mr Moore added that he conceded there may be other objections to bail. Caprean and Boras were subsequently remanded into custody. Judge Broderick ordered them to appear via video link at Ballymena Court on May 30. Emergency Services at the scene of a serious RTC on the A2 Bangor to Belfast road close to Station Road on May 21st 2019 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) Three people have been taken to hospital after a serious four vehicle crash on the A2 Bangor to Belfast Road. Police closed the road after the serious accident at the Devil's Elbow at Seahill. The road was reopened at around 10.30pm. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a call about a four vehicle road traffic collision at 6.36pm. Two rapid response paramedics and three emergency crews were sent to the scene. Following treatment and assessment at the scene, three patients were taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital. North Down DUP MLA Gordon Dunne said: "This is a very busy section of road and it reinforces the need for more road safety improvements to reduce the risk for all road users. Unfortunately we have seen a number of fatalities along the A2 Dual Carriageway over the last few years and I believe more needs to be done by DfI Roads to address ongoing concerns. "I understand from speaking with local people and the PSNI that there were a number of people involved and some have unfortunately suffered injuries. I certainly trust they will all make a full recovery "There was in fact another road accident yesterday (Tuesday) along the A2 at the Kinnegar junction at a Holywood which again highlights how busy and dangerous a road this is. There was significant diversions in place over the Craigantlet Hills on Tuesday following both of these accidents." Alliance councillor Andrew Muir told the Belfast Telegraph: "That is an extremely dangerous stretch of road and there has been a number of fatalities there in the past. "It is the most dangerous part of the A2, that stretch of road, and I think we need to have a road safety review in that area. There has been deaths on this stretch before and I just hope that is not the case in this incident." My thoughts with all those affected by this horrific crash on one of Northern Ireland's busiest roads where a review of safety along A2 Bangor to Belfast Rd seems wise following yet another dreadful accident https://t.co/cxdfYwZTsm Andrew Muir MLA (@AndrewMuirNI) May 21, 2019 DUP councillor Stephen Dunne said: "It is a very dangerous junction. It is a busy four lane carriageway and it has 45,000 vehicle movements every day according to the last traffic report." The brother of a teenager murdered by the IRA and buried in secret during the Troubles has described a $20,000 (15.7k) reward for information leading to the recovery of the body as a "marvellous and unbelievable gesture". Oliver McVeigh issued his heartfelt appeal as an anonymous donor offered a total of $60,000 (47k) for information resulting in the recovery of the remains of the three outstanding 'Disappeared' cases. As well as Columba McVeigh, they are Belfast man Joe Lynskey and undercover soldier Robert Nairac. Mr McVeigh (19), from Donaghmore in Co Tyrone, was abducted, shot and secretly buried in November 1975. Republicans with knowledge of the crime have told the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR) in confidence that he was buried in Bragan bog near Emyvale in Co Monaghan. But five previous searches have not uncovered his remains. The most recent search was suspended last November after six weeks because of bad weather. Mr McVeigh's brother Oliver confirmed last night that the search is due to recommence within a few weeks. He urged those who know what happened to him "to do the right thing and take it off their conscience", and said the cash reward could help to finally bring closure to the three families. "Anything that can advance the possibility of recovering Columba's body has to be welcomed," he said. "As a family all we have ever wanted is to be able to bury him alongside his mother and father in a Christian grave. "You never know now perhaps someone who is in financial difficulty and has some information will come forward." Expand Close Joe Lynskey PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joe Lynskey The independent charity Crimestoppers says the reward is for new information which results in locating one or more of the three bodies. The unknown donor has offered $20,000 for the recovery of each body, which can only be claimed for information that goes directly to Crimestoppers. This information will only be used for the recovery of the bodies and is strictly not for investigation by police or any other law enforcement. It will be passed only to the ICLVR and no one else. Fiona McCormack, Director of Operations at Crimestoppers, said: "People giving information can be safe in the knowledge that no one will ever know who they are - not even us. "The Commission is doing an excellent job and to date the remains of 13 of the 16 Disappeared have been recovered. Expand Close Robert Nairac / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Robert Nairac "Our reward is not about finding out what happened to these people. "The families of those who have yet to be found deserve to be able to hold a long-overdue funeral for their relatives," she added. Geoff Knupfer, the ICLVR's lead investigator, said that if the offer of a reward results in the recovery of the remains of any or all of the three, it will have helped close a chapter of a terrible story in the lives of families who have suffered decades of torment not knowing where their loved ones were buried. "Neither Crimestoppers nor the ICLVR know the identity of the donor," he added. "A reward of $20,000 in each of the three outstanding cases is substantial and whether or not it helps bring forward information that we haven't had to date and which results in the location and recovery of the remains, we'll have to wait to see. "If it does it will be a hugely significant breakthrough. "We should never lose sight of the fact that the whole issue of the Disappeared is fundamentally a humanitarian one. "There are three families who have suffered so much and are still waiting for their loved ones to be brought home for Christian burial. That is the sole remit of the ICLVR". Crimestoppers is urging those with new information on the locations of Joe Lynskey, Columba McVeigh or Robert Nairac to use its anonymous reporting service, either by telephone on the 0800 555 111 number or via the untraceable anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org A man has been accused of breaching a Violent Offences Prevention Order (VOPO) by sending a Valentine's card. (stock photo) A man has been accused of breaching a Violent Offences Prevention Order (VOPO) by sending a Valentine's card. Patrick Joseph Johnston (23), whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates Court via video link from the jail. The charge accuses the defendant of doing an act he was prohibited from doing under the terms of the VOPO. It was alleged he sent the card to a named female. The charge says the offence was detected between March 1 and March 8 this year at Magilligan Prison. The defendant faces a second charge of breaching a Restraining Order by sending the Valentine's card. Johnston has yet to enter either guilty or not guilty pleas to the charges. He was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to early June. Young people sitting on the edge of the former Maxwell quarry in Coleraine Parents are being urged to warn their children about the dangers of playing at the former Maxwell quarry in Coleraine. It comes after youngsters were pictured sitting on the edge of the quarry at a height. The DUP's Philip Anderson said he had noticed an increase in the number of youths at the site and raised concerns over the potential for injury. He said he had contacted the PSNI over the issue. He said: "Over the last number of days I have noticed an increase in the number of youths entering the former quarry site from the back of Harpurs Hill. "It is a very dangerous environment. "The youths are putting their lives at risk playing there. "I am very concerned that these youths are exposing themselves to risk of serious injury. "I am asking parents to sit down and talk to their children to make them aware of the dangers and also to take the time to make sure you know where your children are and that, ultimately, they are safe. "I have been in contact with police and the owners of the site regarding security." A Zimbabwean man who fled the country following the alleged politically-motivated killing of his father has won a High Court case in his fight to remain in Northern Ireland. The 35-year-old, who cannot be identified, says he fears persecution if returned because of his family's links to the country's opposition party, the Movement for Demoratic Change (MDC). He was granted a judicial review over claims the Home Office unlawfully refused to re-examine his failed asylum application after submitting further information about him and his three children. Quashing the decision, Mr Justice McCloskey said: "This will trigger a public law obligation to make a fresh decision." The man, referred to as JM4, stated that arrived in Belfast with his family in December 2013 after travelling from South Africa to Dublin on a false passport. He sought asylum on the basis of connections to the MDC. JM4 claimed his father was shot dead by state agents because of his membership of the party, and that he was told his own life was also at risk immediately before he fled Zimbabwe. During interviews with a Home Office official the man claimed his father had been beaten by police because he worked in the gold mines. He also referred to a further alleged attack on his father for giving a loudspeaker to an MDC supporter on electioneering duties. In 2014 his asylum claim was turned down. Officials decided it was tenuous to claim any anti-regime political opinion from his father's actions could also be attributed to him. Further documents were submitted in a bid to have the application reconsidered due to JM4's fears of persecution on return to Zimbabwe. These were: an MDC letter, an MDC membership card, a police report and a copy death certificate. But in October 2018 the authorities expressed scepticism about their authenticity. Finding no exceptional circumstances to warrant leave to remain in the UK, it was also decided that JM4's three children were young enough to adapt back to life in Zimbabwe. He launched a judicial review challenge, claiming a failure to apply the correct legal test and breaches of his human rights. Identifying a breach of the Home Office's duties, Mr Justice McCloskey also held: "The evidence previously considered and the best interests assessment previously made were both of considerable vintage, over four years old, at the time of the impugned decision. "Four years is a long period in the life of every child." He confirmed: "The most suitable remedy is an order quashing the impugned decision of the Secretary of State." Martina Anderson to took part in the BBC European election debate on Tuesday night. Credit: BBC Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson has claimed she is the "only voice" for unionist's who voted for remain in the Brexit referendum. She made the comments on BBC NI's Spotlight European election debate on Tuesday night, involving six candidates from the Ulster Unionist Party, Sinn Fein, Alliance, DUP, SDLP and TUV. On the question of whether a second referendum is the only way to break the Brexit deadlock, Ms Anderson said: "At this point in time, I am the only voice the unionist people have who voted to remain. Read More "Unfortunately it is true, I am the only one. Those people who voted to remain, from the unionist community - this is not an orange and green issue." The comments were met with widespread laughter and jeering from the studio audience. In response, TUV leader Jim Allister said: "An IRA bomber will never represent the unionist people." During the Troubles, Martina Anderson served more than 13 years behind bars for IRA terrorist offences. She was first elected to the European Parliament in 2012 and was re-elected in 2014, topping the poll with 159,813 first preference votes. The leader of the Ulster Unionists Robin Swann has reiterated that his party does not want the support of paramilitaries after the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC) urged voters to come out for unionist candidates in the upcoming European election. The News Letter reported the LCC, an umbrella group for illegal loyalist paramilitary groups, called on voters not to even transfer votes to parties such as Alliance, claiming that would be "counted as a vote against the Union". The LCC formed two and a half years ago with the aim of moving loyalist paramilitaries away from criminality. Former Ulster Unionist chairman David Campbell, who is the LCC's chairman, urged all loyalist and unionist voters to "overcome their apathy and vote for all the unionist candidates" in Thursday's European election. Following the story UUP leader Robin Swann MLA issued a statement on Monday. I repeat what I said in 2017," he said. "We have not asked for the support of paramilitary organisations nor do we want the backing of organisations still engaged in paramilitary or criminal activity. Our position hasn't changed and remains unequivocal. There is no excuse for the continuing existence of paramilitary organisations in the year 2019 which inflict pain and suffering on families and communities. "The quicker that they disband the better. Mr Swann's comments come after UUP councillor Jim Rodgers received criticism and had the party whip withdrawn after his campaign literature attempted to link the Alliance Party with the "IRA's political wing". Mr Swann apologised to Alliance Party leader Naomi Long over the leaflet. Mr Campbell, who has no paramilitary history, said in a statement: The apathy and low turn-out that we experienced in the recent local government elections clearly helped the enemies of unionism. This should serve as a wake-up call to all unionist voters. Irrespective of each individuals view on Brexit the pan-nationalist front will be counting every non-unionist vote as a vote for a united Ireland. This must not be allowed to succeed. Every loyalist and unionist is advised to vote for the first preference candidate of their choice, and then to transfer their other preferences to the other unionist candidates. This will ensure that Northern Ireland continues to send two unionist MEPs to Europe for as long as the UK retains its membership of the EU. A vote or even a lower preference vote for any non-unionist will be counted as a vote against the Union by our collective enemies. A boy accused of murdering a schoolgirl in the Republic told garda interviewers that he thought of Ana Kriegel as a "weirdo" and she wasn't liked because she was "different", a Dublin trial has heard A boy accused of murdering a schoolgirl in the Republic told garda interviewers that he thought of Ana Kriegel as a "weirdo" and she wasn't liked because she was "different", a Dublin trial has heard. Boy B also said that Boy A was "weird, not a rational thinker". Asked by gardai if Boy A was a goth, Boy B said: "No, he's more strange." The teen further told gardai that Boy A was "not really my friend since what happened". Boy B said he had called for Ana because he was asked to do so by Boy A. He initially refused but Boy A started "whinging" and saying "please, please" and he had agreed to do so. Questioned by gardai if he had asked Boy A why he wanted him to call to Ana's house, Boy B said Boy A told him "relationship problems". He said Ana had a crush on Boy A and he didn't want to be in a relationship with her. The two youths, aged 13 at the time, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ana Kriegel (14) in Lucan on May 14 last year. Boy A has also denied aggravated sexual assault. Yesterday, the jury watched video footage of gardai interviews with Boy B at Finglas Garda Station on May 24, 2018. During the interviews, Boy B told gardai he called to Ana's house and when she came to the door she asked him what he wanted. "I replied '[Boy A] wants to see you'," he said. Boy B said that Ana's face "lightened up" when he told her. He told gardai that as he and Ana walked through the park gates she showed him a photo on her mobile phone of herself strapped to a chair with duct tape. "It was a really scary photo," he said. Boy B further said that Boy A "seemed surprised to see me" when he met him in the park. Boy B said he and Ana were walking towards the spot where he had arranged to meet Boy A when he saw somebody all in black walking in front of them. The person turned and it was Boy A. Boy B said he was with them for a couple of minutes until he started dropping back to give them space. Boy B said he then told them "I'm gone, see yous" and Boy A turned around and said "I'll see you". Asked by gardai why Boy A didn't go to Ana's house, Boy B said his guess was that he (Boy A) was "too shy" or he "didn't want to be seen with her in public". Boy B said that some people who had been asked out by Ana got "negative backlash". During the second interview, gardai asked Boy B to describe Ana Kriegel. Boy B said Ana was not liked and she was "outcasted" because she was "different" and "weird". He said she was taller and more mature than other girls, and her breasts, posture and hips had developed more than other girls. She was a "lonely and sad person" and had been through depression quite a bit, he said. Boy B said Ana was a goth and dressed all in black, usually in "slutty clothes", like tight trousers, short shorts and T-shirts. She was also anti-social, had dyed her hair and wore "so much make-up". "If you asked her to hang out she'd probably say no," Boy B said. Asked what he thought of her, Boy B said he "thought of her as a weirdo. Someone I shouldn't be around". The trial continues. A Government-backed scheme to build co-living apartments has been slammed as a glamorised form of tenement living. A proposed development to build 208 studio dwellings outside Dublin has been criticised by Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald who claimed the living spaces were the size of a parking space. The TD also claimed that 42 people would be forced to share a kitchen on one of the floors of the proposed five-storey building in Dun Laoghaire. It comes after widespread criticism of comments made by Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, who said that young people and workers should be excited about the co-living plans. Speaking during leaders questions, Ms McDonald said: One example of this exciting plan is being developed in Dun Laoghaire by Bartra Capital Property Group and this involves 208 studio dwellings that are around the same size as a parking space. Co-living isn't an answer to the rental crisis. It is an insult to those seeking a safe and secure roof over their headsMary Lou McDonald On one floor its proposed that 42 people would share one kitchen and for this exciting proposal, as the minister would put it, rent would be in excess of 1,300 euro per month. I dont find that proposal exciting in the slightest. Given the public reaction to this project people in the real world dont find it exciting either. Minister Murphy is so out of touch that he cant seem to grasp this co-living isnt an answer to the rental crisis. It is an insult to those seeking a safe and secure roof over their heads. Housing charity Threshold previously described them as 21st-century bedsits with a glossy makeover. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that while his Government is continuing to build new homes, he admitted they are not building enough. The Government expects up to 25,000 new homes will be built in Ireland this year. Of those 25,000 new homes perhaps 1%, maybe four or five developments, will be co-living, he told the Dail. Its another option for people, particularly single people who dont want a house share. They generally consist of studio apartments that are en suite with a kitchenette, and common areas such as a gym, laundry and maybe a movie room. He added that the development in Dun Laoghaire does not have planning permission and claims that 42 people will share one kitchen were not in line with the Governments co-living guidelines. I would anticipate that An Bord Pleanala, when it makes a decision on a planning application, would either refuse or significantly modify any planning permission that is not in line with any government guidelines, he added. Ms McDonald described co-living as a glamorised form of tenement living. She added: You can be in doubt there is no support for this proposition. You can be in doubt there is a widespread consensus that your plans for housing have failed. This cock and bull story around co-living simply amplifies the scale of your failure. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has backed calls for an independent investigation into claims Sinn Fein and the IRA sought to cover up sex abuse with a 'kangaroo court'. Louth man Paudie McGahon and a second victim were raped as children by alleged Belfast IRA member Seamus Marley who has been jailed for seven years. Mr McGahon (44) waived his right to anonymity to speak out about what he believes was an attempt to protect his attacker by people associated with Sinn Fein and the IRA. He claims an IRA kangaroo court was convened in 2002 after the victims sought help from Louth Sinn Fein councillor Pearse McGeough. Mr McGeough denies being involved in a kangaroo court and remains a candidate in Friday's local elections in the Republic. Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty has suggested a commission of inquiry is needed to look into Mr McGahon's claims. This has now been backed by the Fianna Fail leader who said Mr McGahon had been "put through hell by the Provisional movement". "He has sought and achieved justice through the courts, and now wants an investigation into claims that Sinn Fein sought to block a Garda investigation. Who would deny him?" Mr Martin said. Mr McGahon has also alleged that former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams knew about his accusations against Marley in 2002. In a statement, Mr Adams said it is clear that Mr McGahon suffered "dreadful abuse". "Sinn Fein did not try to prevent the abuse being reported to An Garda Siochana. On the contrary, Mr McGahon has acknowledged publicly that [former SF TD] Arthur Morgan advised him 'to go to the Garda and if I wanted, he or Pearse could go with me'," he said. "This is not the first time Paudie McGahon has made allegations about me. I have previously denied these and stand over that." Members on An Garda at the scene in the Marigold Road area of Darndale as a second man has been shot in Dublin in less than 24 hours. Brian Lawless/PA Wire Two young men shot dead in the space of 17 hours in north Dublin were well-known to one another. Detectives have launched separate murder investigations following the escalation in gun violence in the capital. Last night Sean Little (22) was shot dead and his body discovered at Rowans Little. Balbriggan. Shortly before 4pm this afternoon- less than 17 hours after that murder- another young man was shot dead outside a primary school in Darndale. The murder is a young man in his 20s from the area, and was shot dead in a targeted attack shortly before 4pm. Both this victim and Sean Little were well-known to each other, and detectives are now investigating if the two killings are directly linked. Several garda units are at the scene and senior investigators have also attended the scene along with a helicopter. The victim's body was still at the scene this evening. Plain clothed officers have also been inspecting an area beside the school yard. Gardai say they are appealing for witnesses in relation to the shooting at a laneway adjacent to Our Lady Immaculate National School, Darndale. "An incident room has been established at Coolock Garda Station. We are appealing for anyone who was in the area shortly before 4pm to contact Gardai in Coolock Garda Station on 01 666 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station," a spokesman said. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has appealed for anyone with information on the recent shootings to come forward. "I utterly condemn any violent loss of life and I am extremely concerned about the three shooting incidents that took place in Balbriggan, Mulhuddart and Darndale in the past 24 hours," Mr Flanagan said. "An Garda Siochana are now conducting full enquiries into the circumstances surrounding these incidents and I would appeal to anyone who has information which could help to please come forward to them as soon as possible," he added. Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan said the spate of shootings highlight how brazen the perpetrators have become. The prevalence of gun related violence has continued to intensify, and it is essential that all possible resources are provided to protect the public," he said. "This afternoons shooting took place near a national school and both staff and pupils are likely to have only made their way home in the hour or so before hand. That is a terrifying precedent. To witness a shooting or hear about one occurring is not normal. We can never accept gun crime as an aspect of everyday life. No child or young person growing up in any community should be led to believe that firing a gun is reasonable," he added. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom has resigned from the Government with a heavy heart, saying she no longer believes its Brexit approach will deliver on the referendum result. Mrs Leadsom said she was proud to have served in Theresa Mays Government since 2016, and had stayed in the Cabinet to shape and fight for Brexit despite some uncomfortable compromises along the way. It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the Government. pic.twitter.com/f2SOXkaqmH Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) May 22, 2019 But she said: I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result. Mrs Leadsom said she did not believe that the UK will be truly sovereign through the deal proposed, and said a second referendum would be dangerously divisive. She also said there had been such a breakdown of government processes that recent Brexit-related legislative proposals have not been properly scrutinised or approved by Cabinet members. And Mrs Leadsom added: The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Governments position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility. A Downing Street spokesman said: Andrea Leadsom has served with distinction and great ability as a member of the Government, and the Prime Minister is grateful for all of her work. We are disappointed that she has chosen to resign, and the Prime Minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for. Mrs Leadsom, a leading Brexiteer in the Cabinet, said she resigned ahead of Thursdays Business Statement to the Commons because she felt she could not announce a Bill with new elements that I fundamentally oppose. No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our partyAndrea Leadsom I fully respect the integrity, resolution and determination that you have shown during your time as Prime Minister, she wrote. No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our party. Mrs Leadsom was one of a number of Brexit-supporting colleagues in the so-called Pizza Club who were absent for the start of Prime Ministers Questions on Wednesday. Her resignation came as Mrs May faces growing pressure to quit amid a backlash over her last-ditch effort to get a Brexit deal through. The Prime Minister will meet Sir Graham Brady, the representative of Tory backbench MPs, on Friday for a meeting which could seal her fate. She has previously agreed to set out the timetable for the contest to replace her after a crunch vote on her Brexit deal, widely expected on June 7. That deadline appears to have been brought forward with the announcement she will meet Sir Graham, chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, the day after polling day for the European elections, which are expected to be disastrous for the Conservatives. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Sir Graham told reporters: I will be meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday following her campaigning in the European elections tomorrow and following that meeting I will be consulting with the 1922 executive. He said the executive discussed all sorts of things in the meeting. The 1922 Committees executive had been expected to consider a rule change to allow another attempt to force Mrs May out. Following the failed bid to oust her in 2018, under the existing rules Mrs May would be safe from another confidence motion until December. One Tory MP described the outcome of the 1922 Committee meeting as the can kicked down (the road) until Friday. Expand Close Theresa May is facing growing pressure to quit (UK Parliament/Mark Duffy) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Theresa May is facing growing pressure to quit (UK Parliament/Mark Duffy) In a sign of unrest at the highest levels of the Tory party, a series of Cabinet ministers asked for meetings with Mrs May to raise their concerns about the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) which would put the Prime Ministers Brexit plan into law. Downing Street sources said it was possible that the PM could meet Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Thursday, but there was no confirmation that an audience would be granted for other ministers with reservations about the plan. Home Secretary Sajid Javid has asked for a meeting to discuss his concerns about the prospect of a second referendum, after Mrs May revealed she would grant MPs a vote on whether the Brexit deal should be put to the public. Scottish Secretary David Mundell also has particular concerns because he fears the prospect of another referendum could be exploited by the SNP to call for a fresh independence vote. The announcement that British Steel has gone into liquidation is the latest blow to an industry which once dominated manufacturing in the UK, and to a works in Scunthorpe with a 150-year history. Steel-making in Scunthorpe began in the late 19th century and by the early 20th century, had consolidated into three large companies spread over a series of massive sites to the east of the Lincolnshire town. The industry, including the Scunthorpe operations, was briefly nationalised by the post-war Labour government but this was reversed by Winston Churchills Tories in 1953. Expand Close Worker numbers in the steel industry plunged in the late 70s (Danny Lawson/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Worker numbers in the steel industry plunged in the late 70s (Danny Lawson/PA) In 1967, 90% of the steel industry was nationalised by Harold Wilsons Labour government and British Steel was created out of 14 separate companies. The newly nationalised operation had around 270,000 employees. The 1971 employment census showed 323,000 people were steel workers 1.5% of all those employed. This had halved by 1981 to 167,000 (0.8%). The biggest drop was between 1978 and 1981, with numbers falling from 271,000 to 167,000. In 1973, the government came up with a 10-year development strategy which would bring in billions of pounds of investment, but it meant the industry would be concentrated in five main areas: South Wales, Sheffield, Scunthorpe, Teesside and Scotland. The Scunthorpe works was rocked by disaster in November 1975 when 11 people died following an explosion in the Queen Victoria blast furnace. Expand Close The industry was shut down by a pay strike in 1980 (PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The industry was shut down by a pay strike in 1980 (PA) Falling demand and productivity issues dogged the industry through the late 1970s. The governments strategy of subsidising loss-making plants and prioritising employment levels came to an end with the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979. The total nationalised workforce at this time was about 142,000. A 13-week national pay strike shut the industry down in 1980. The early 1980s saw dramatic cuts to production in Scunthorpe. But around 9,000 people were employed in the industry in the town in 1982. The Tory government privatised British Steel in 1988. The national workforce had shrunk to 52,000 by this time. By 1990, around 7,300 people were employed in the industry in Scunthorpe. In 1992, British Steel announced further cuts to the industry with the closure of the Ravenscraig plant in North Lanarkshire, dominating the headlines as it signalled the end of steel-making in Scotland. Expand Close The Ravenscraig steelworks closed in 1992 (archive/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Ravenscraig steelworks closed in 1992 (archive/PA) In 1999 British Steel and the Dutch steel-maker Koninklijke Hoogovens merged, creating the Corus Group. The new firm became the biggest steel-maker in Europe. But Corus soon faced severe problems and announced plans to cut the national workforce, which dropped to around 30,000. In 2007 Corus, including the Scunthorpe operation, was bought by the Indian firm Tata Steel in a 6.8 billion takeover. In 2014, around 34,500 people were employed in the steel industry. A further crisis in the industry in 2015 saw closures including the end of the Redcar works, which was bought from Tata by SSI in 2012. Further contraction took place at plants across the country as controversy swirled around energy costs and fears of cheap Chinese steel destabilising the world market. In 2016, Greybull Capital bought Tatas Long Products Division for 1. It resurrected the name British Steel. On May 22, 2019, British Steel went into liquidation. Floral tributes left in St Anns Square in Manchester city centre to mark the second anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack (Kim Pilling/PA) Tears were shed at an emotional civic memorial service to mark the second anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack. An invitation-only commemoration was attended by family members of those killed in the atrocity, along with some of the hundreds injured and first responders to the scene. St Anns Church and the surrounding square became a focal point of public mourning in the aftermath two years ago as the square was filled with flowers, cards, toys, balloons and candles. Expand Close Floral tributes left in St Anns Square to mark the second anniversary of the attack (Kim Pilling/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Floral tributes left in St Anns Square to mark the second anniversary of the attack (Kim Pilling/PA) Officiating the service, Canon Nigel Ashworth, rector of St Anns, told the congregation: Like the thousands of people who came into St Anns Church in the days after the Manchester Arena attack, you are welcome. It is important to us to keep an open church, one in which the doors are open and we are open to you. To offer welcome and help everyone feel included is also the spirit of our city. This was shown to all of us in an unforgettable way after that dark event. In the face of violence and hatred, we offer solidarity and compassion. None of us ever want to see anything like the arena attack ever again, but neither do we want to forget those who died and those who were injured. In fact we give thanks for everything their lives meant and continue to mean, especially to those close to them. Expand Close Many left messages in tribute (Kim Pilling/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Many left messages in tribute (Kim Pilling/PA) A large candle standing in the centre of the church was lit for the 22 victims and those injured before members of Chethams School of Music played composer John Barrys Somewhere In Time, as photographs of the 22 were displayed on screens. Chethams Choir also sang Fleetwood Macs Songbird and Elaine Inglesby, chief nurse at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, read Siegfried Sassoons poem Idyll. A minutes silence was held halfway through the service which was also observed by several hundred people in the square. Representatives of the Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and Methodist faiths led prayers of intercession, the Very Rev Rogers Govender, Dean of Manchester, held a civic prayer and the blessing was given by the Rt Rev Dr David Walker, Bishop of Manchester. Rabbi Reuven Silverman read from the Hebrew Scriptures and readings from the New Testament were given by Chorlton High School pupil Ameenah Ahmed and Parrs Wood Sixth Form College student James Plant. Outside in the square, crowds gathered as more tributes were left at the war memorial. Expand Close Floral tributes and messages in St Anns Square (Kim Pilling/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Floral tributes and messages in St Anns Square (Kim Pilling/PA) Among messages left in chalk on the pavement were: 22 Always In Our Heart, Fly High 22 Angels and Love Over Hate. Dont Look Back In Anger. Manchester 22.05.17. Like last year, at 10.31pm when Salman Abedi detonated his device in the foyer at the end of Ariana Grandes concert bells will ring out from buildings across the city centre, including Manchester Town Hall, Manchester Cathedral and St Anns Church. Marking the anniversary, Grande simply posted a bee emoji the worker bee being a symbol of Manchester to her Instagram story. The hashtags #OneLoveManchester, #ManchesterRemembers and #WeStandTogether were all trending on Twitter across the United Kingdom as many people posted messages remembering the attack. Nicola Sturgeon sent on her best wishes to Graeme Campbell and his family (John Linton/PA) Nicola Sturgeon has condemned an attack on a councillor whose car was set on fire outside his family home. The First Minister was asked about Graeme Campbell, who was woken up to find his BMW had been firebombed while he and his family slept. Firefighters reportedly told Mr Campbell the cars window had been smashed and flammable liquid poured in. His car had been firebombed, flames were spreading to his house and could easily have killed him and his family or spread to nearby homesLiam Kerr MSP At FMQs, Conservative MSP Liam Kerr called for Ms Sturgeon to condemn the attack on the South Lanarkshire councillor. Mr Kerr said: On Monday, councillor Graeme Campbell was woken up in the middle of the night. His car had been firebombed, flames were spreading to his house and could easily have killed him and his family or spread to nearby homes. Will she condemn the attack and does she agree that any threat or direct action towards politicians who are just carrying out their duties at any level and of any party is an attack on our very democracy and must be met with robust and decisive action? In response, Ms Sturgeon said: I condemn that incident strongly, very strongly and unreservedly, and I would take the opportunity to send my best wishes to councillor Campbell and to his family, Im sure they were deeply shocked at what occurred. I cannot and will not comment on the specific incident because is it a matter for police investigation but I do think that attacks on politicians of any nature are to be condemned. We live in a society where we should encourage and embrace robust debate but we should try to conduct those robust debates in a civilised and respectful way. None of us in this chamber live up to than on all occasions but all of us should try harder to do so because our democracy and the people we serve deserve no less. No arrests have been made but Police Scotland said they are treating the incident as suspicious and explained that their investigations are continuing. Sir Philip Greens Arcadia Group has announced plans to shut 23 stores in the UK and Ireland, putting 520 jobs at risk, as part of a rescue plan. Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Topshop and Topman stores have been earmarked for closure as part of a company voluntary arrangement (CVA). The retail groups proposals will also see rent cut at another 194 outlets. All of the retailers 11 Topman and Topshop stores in the US are also set to close. As part of the plan, Lady Green, wife of Sir Philip and ultimate owner of Arcadia, has offered landlords a 20% stake of any proceeds if the group is eventually sold. Lady Green will also inject 50 million of equity into the business, on top of 50 million she had already loaned the company. Arcadia directors will meet creditors at meetings on June 5 to seek approval for the proposals. Seventy five per cent of creditors will have to approve the plans. Arcadia chief executive Ian Grabiner said: Against a backdrop of challenging retail headwinds, changing consumer habits and ever-increasing online competition, we have seriously considered all possible strategic options to return the group to a stable financial platform. This has been a tough but necessary decision for the business. We will ensure all potentially affected colleagues are kept fully informed as we seek approval from our creditors on todays CVA proposals. Daniel Butters, partner at Deloitte, said: Arcadia and its portfolio of iconic fashion brands have faced unprecedented market conditions in recent years, which have significantly impacted the groups financial performance. These CVAs will provide a stable platform for Arcadias experienced and committed leadership team to implement its turnaround plan and ensure the long-term sustainability of the group. Speculation began early this year that Sir Philip would look to either sell off the company or close stores. In March, Arcadia confirmed it was exploring options to improve efficiency in the business. Later that month it hired property advisers to assess its estate while drawing up restructuring plans. Last month US investor Leonard Green & Partners sold its 25% stake in Topshop and Topman back to the parent company, in a move which Arcadia said simplified its structure and would allow the board to focus on restructuring. The news comes just weeks after Sir Philip failed to appear on the Sunday Times Rich List for the first time in 17 years. His reputation has been left damaged by the 2016 collapse of BHS, which resulted in the loss of 11,000 jobs. UK-based chip designer ARM has reportedly informed employees not to work with Chinese tech giant Huawei. Internal documents obtained by the BBC reportedly tell staff to suspend all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements with the firm following an executive order issued by American president Donald Trump last week, prohibiting the technology of foreign adversaries using US tech without government approval. The Cambridge-based firm, which was acquired by Japanese telecom company Softbank in September 2016, licenses processor designs found in many smartphones globally. ARM is complying with all of the latest regulations set forth by the US governmentARM spokeswoman It is claimed ARM is concerned it is affected by Mr Trumps order because its designs use US origin technology. A spokeswoman for the firm did not comment on the leaked memo directly but said: ARM is complying with all of the latest regulations set forth by the US government. A Huawei spokesman said: We value our close relationships with our partners, but recognise the pressure some of them are under as a result of politically motivated decisions. We are confident this regrettable situation can be resolved and our priority remains to continue to deliver world-class technology and products to our customers around the world. The move comes after Google confirmed it was restricting Huaweis access to the Android operating system which its mobile devices rely on. Expand Close (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (Yui Mok/PA) As a result, new and yet-to-be released Huawei phones are unlikely to be able to access Google apps as part of Android, although a temporary licence and grace period sanctioned by the US government will initially allow support for existing devices until August. Earlier, EE chief executive Marc Allera said it had chosen to pause the sale of Huawei 5G phones for its 5G launch, amid tensions between the US and the Chinese company. Huawei has pledged to sign no-spy agreements with countries including the UK to ease concerns about its technology. The UK Government is yet to announce a decision on the companys presence in 5G networks. A Conservative Brexiteer has been accused of being a liar and a traitor by a Brexit-supporting member of the public as he gave a television interview. MP for Monmouth David Davies was speaking to BBC Wales about a rise in abuse against MPs when he was confronted by the woman. In the footage, the woman calls him a traitor when he tells her he is pro-Brexit but voted for Theresa Mays deal. Well done to @DavidTCDavies on dealing with this. But we also need a conversation about how we can disagree with each other, have a serious debate and rebuild our politics. In Wales and the UK. https://t.co/JYbek4HsM1 Alun Davies AS / MS (@AlunDaviesMS) May 21, 2019 You are a liar. You did not vote to leave, she says. Shame on you. Youre a traitor, she adds. You should feel uncomfortable. Youve betrayed 17.4 million people. Speaking to the camera, Mr Davies, who has started wearing a body camera to and from Parliament in response to intimidation, says: And thats what you put up with when youre out here all the time. Welsh Assembly member Alun Davies re-tweeted the video clip and praised the politician for how he handled the incident. But we also need a conversation about how we can disagree with each other, have a serious debate and rebuild our politics. In Wales and the UK, he added. The Monmouth MP replied saying he 100% agreed. Philip Alston (left), the Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, in North Belfast during an official visit to the UK in November 2018 (UN/PA) The UK Government must recognise the damage caused by austerity and change course on policies that are causing poverty and inequality to rise, the Scottish Government has said. It follows the publication of a report by the UNs special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, on poverty in the UK. In his report, Mr Alston said the UK had violated its human rights obligations through sustained and widespread cuts to social support. Expand Close Prof Alston hearing from children in Scotland during an official visit to the UK in November 2018 (UN/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Prof Alston hearing from children in Scotland during an official visit to the UK in November 2018 (UN/PA) He said austerity policies introduced in 2010 continue largely unabated, despite the tragic social consequences. Prof Alston, who visited cities and towns across the UK in November last year, also warned mitigation of austerity by the devolved administrations is not sustainable. Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said the Scottish Government agreed with his recommendations. Todays report from the United Nations is a devastating analysis of the UK Governments austerity programme, Ms Campbell said. The Scottish Government agrees with the special rapporteurs assessment that the UK Government must reverse the many policies it has pursued that are increasing poverty and inequality and imposing regressive measures like the benefits freeze and two-child cap. In Scotland alone, UK Government welfare cuts are expected to lead to a reduction in social security spending of 3.7 billion in 2020-21. Ms Campbell added the Scottish Government welcomed Prof Alstons focus on the problems caused by Universal Credit, as well as highlighting an in-work poverty rise. My final report on poverty in the #UK is now available online. I found that the Government is doubling down on anti-poor policies that have led to the systematic immiseration of millions across Great Britain: https://t.co/Uznr6M3EP4 #UKPoverty pic.twitter.com/MoIFDWPYOq Philip Alston (@PhilipGAlston) May 22, 2019 Scottish Greens Parliamentary co-leader Alison Johnstone called for the UKs reforms of welfare to end after the damning report. Polly Tolley, of Citizens Advice Scotland, agreed with the reports call for an end to the five-week wait for Universal Credit. She said people are able to seek help at their local Citizens Advice Bureau. Ms Tolley said: This is a timely and important report which reflects the reality of what we are seeing through our services across Scotland. The Citizens Advice network in Scotland helps hundreds of thousands of people each year and we have seen first-hand the impact of rising poverty in our communities, driven by a combination of changes to social security policy, low paid and insecure work as well as a rising cost of living. There is no single government policy that can solve poverty, we need to see a coordinated approach backed up by the right levels of investment. The UNs own data shows the UK is one of the happiest places in the world to liveDWP The Department for Work and Pensions branded the report a barely believable documentation of Britain and said it painted a completely inaccurate picture of its approach to tackling poverty. It said it was spending 95 billion a year on welfare and maintains a state pension system that supports people into retirement. A DWP spokeswoman said: The UNs own data shows the UK is one of the happiest places in the world to live and other countries have come here to find out more about how we support people to improve their lives. Therefore this is a barely believable documentation of Britain, based on a tiny period of time spent here. It paints a completely inaccurate picture of our approach to tackling poverty. All the evidence shows that full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our welfare reforms are focused on supporting people into employment and we introduced the National Living Wage, so people earn more in work. Iraqi Christian Assyrian Leaders Plead With US, Iran to Sort Things Out Patriarch Gewargis and Patriarch Sako are seen at the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ainkawa, Iraq, October 25, 2016. Patriarch Sako told Fides, the news agency of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples at the Vatican, that giving priority to Christian refugees for resettlement programs would be "a trap" that discriminates and fuels religious tensions in the Middle East. ( CNS/Amel Pain) ROME -- Leaders of Iraq's Christian community have appealed to both Iran and the United States to sort out their problems in ways that don't further harm minorities in the region, already devastated by the fallout of a 2003 American invasion and its aftermath. "As tension is increasing in the region, due to our national and ecclesiastical responsibility, we are pleading for the decision-makers of the Islamic Republic of Iran (our neighboring country) and the United States of America to adopt wisdom and appeasement in containing the current conflict," Sako said in a May 20 statement, sent to both U.S. and Iranian embassies in Baghdad. Iraq and surrounding areas, ravaged by years of conflict, most recently at the hands of ISIS, "cannot tolerate another catastrophic war in which everyone is the 'loser,' especially the innocent and poor," Sako said, insisting that dialogue is the most effective way to promote "the actual needs of the region," including peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and good relations among different communities. Focusing on those aims, Sako said, will not only help the region to achieve stability, but pursuing dialogue rather than conflict will "lead to the peace that the region urgently needs to avoid shedding more blood, but rather to establish security and stability; and to persuade a cultural and economic prosperity for the benefit of people and the development of the country." "We in Iraq have to be strengthened exclusively by our shared history and unity that urges us to stand firm with the Iraqi Government, as the only legal and official entity in the country," he said. The appeal to the authority of Iraq's central government is notable, given that many Christian leaders have insisted that aid organizations or foreign governments wanting to help fund reconstruction efforts in northern Iraq bypass the central government due to corruption and political instability. Sako's message came after U.S. President Donald Trump on May 15 ordered the evacuation of all non-emergency U.S. employees from the U.S. embassy in Baghdad due to an alleged threat from Iran, although no details about the threat have been released. Last year Trump withdrew the U.S. from a nuclear deal with Iran and five other world powers on grounds that Iran had allegedly violated terms of the agreement, reinstating previous sanctions. Tensions began to boil over again earlier this month when the U.S. terminated exemptions from sanctions for countries still in business with Iran. On Sunday, Trump took to Twitter to say, "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran." On Tuesday, Archbishop Bashar Warda, Chaldean archbishop of Erbil, issued a warning about a U.S. withdrawal. "Any pullout of international forces, who are helping the Iraqi army in training and consultations, will create a vacuum," he said. "God forbid, it will be filled by groups detrimental to the survival of minorities in Iraq." "We Christians and Yazidis are the most vulnerable when stability is compromised," Warda said. "Any further instability will see more Christians leave." Erbil is where tens of thousands of Christians and Yazidis fled when ISIS overtook their villages in the summer of 2014. After the defeat of ISIS in 2017, these people have slowly begun to make their way back to their villages, many of which have been burned and entire neighborhoods destroyed, and the reconstruction is far from over. Despite previous assurances from the Trump administration of its commitment to persecuted minorities in Iraq, Warda said Iraqis, and Christians in particular, "urgently await clarification from the U.S. government concerning its commitments to the endangered minorities of Iraq." "We are gravely concerned regarding the recent drawdown of the U.S. presence in Iraq," he said, saying that after facing the threat of genocide when ISIS swept across the Nineveh Plains in 2014, "our shattered communities have drawn immense hope from the promise of the American commitment to Iraqi minority communities spearheaded by the Vice President." U.S. Vice President Mike Pence pledged both in January and June 2018 that the United States would direct significant humanitarian relief to Christians and other persecuted communities in Iraq. Speaking at Ave Maria University in March, Pence said that, "At President Trump's direction, for the first time ever, the United States of America is providing direct support to Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East to rebuild their communities." "As I stand before you today, we've already committed more than $340 million in aid," he said. However, Christians in Iraq have reported that so far, little of that aid is reaching their communities. Philip Alston (left), UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, in New Lodge, North Belfast, during an official visit to the UK in November 2018 Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) The UK has violated its human rights obligations through sustained and widespread cuts to social support, a UN poverty expert has claimed. UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston said policies of austerity introduced in 2010 continue largely unabated, despite the tragic social consequences. Expand Close Philip Alston meets people affected by poverty in Newcastle during an official visit to the UK in November 2018 (Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Philip Alston meets people affected by poverty in Newcastle during an official visit to the UK in November 2018 (Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) But the Department for Work and Pensions branded the report a barely believable documentation of Britain and said it painted a completely inaccurate picture of its approach to tackling poverty. Mr Alston, an Australian international law scholar, visited the UK in November last year and his final report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 27. Considering the significant resources available in the country and the sustained and widespread cuts to social support, which have resulted in significantly worse outcomes, the policies pursued since 2010 amount to retrogressive measures in clear violation of the country's human rights obligationsPhilip Alston In the summary of his report, he said that, although the UK is the worlds fifth largest economy, one-fifth of its population (14 million people) live in poverty, and 1.5 million experienced destitution in 2017. Mr Alston said the Governments policies had led to the systematic immiseration (sic) of millions across Great Britain. Expand Close UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston hears from children in Scotland (Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights Philip Alston hears from children in Scotland (Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) He added: The social safety net has been badly damaged by drastic cuts to local authorities budgets, which have eliminated many social services, reduced policing services, closed libraries in record numbers, shrunk community and youth centres, and sold off public spaces and buildings. The bottom line is that much of the glue that has held British society together since the Second World War has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos. A booming economy, high employment and a budget surplus have not reversed austerity, a policy pursued more as an ideological than an economic agenda. Expand Close Philip Alston (right) talks to a pastor in Clacton, Essex (Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Philip Alston (right) talks to a pastor in Clacton, Essex (Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) The report calls on the Government to reverse particularly regressive measures such as the benefit freeze, the two-child limit, the benefit cap, and reduction in housing benefit. It also recommends restoring local government funding to provide social protection and tackle poverty. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Mr Alston said the policies pursued since 2010 amounted to a clear violation of the UKs human rights obligations. He added: Considering the significant resources available in the country and the sustained and widespread cuts to social support, which have resulted in significantly worse outcomes, the policies pursued since 2010 amount to retrogressive measures in clear violation of the countrys human rights obligations. Expand Close UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston (seated at table, centre) in a meeting at a town hall in Newham, east London (Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp UN Special Rapporteur Philip Alston (seated at table, centre) in a meeting at a town hall in Newham, east London (Bassam Khawaja/United Nations/PA) The report said that if Brexit proceeds it is likely to have a major adverse impact on the most vulnerable but that it also presents an opportunity. It added: Brexit presents an opportunity to re-imagine what the United Kingdom stands for. Legislative recognition of social rights should be a central part of that re-imagining. And social inclusion, rather than increasing marginalisation of the working poor and those unable to work, should be the guiding principle of social policy. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) But the DWP said it was spending 95 billion a year on welfare and maintains a state pension system that supports people into retirement. A spokeswoman added: The UNs own data shows the UK is one of the happiest places in the world to live, and other countries have come here to find out more about how we support people to improve their lives. This is a barely believable documentation of Britain, based on a tiny period of time spent hereDepartment for Work and Pensions Therefore this is a barely believable documentation of Britain, based on a tiny period of time spent here. It paints a completely inaccurate picture of our approach to tackling poverty. All the evidence shows that full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our welfare reforms are focused on supporting people into employment and we introduced the National Living Wage, so people earn more in work. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) But shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood said the evidence in the report should be a source of shame to the Government. She added: This report is a shocking indictment of the brutal cuts to social security introduced by Conservative-led governments since 2010 and the deeply flawed, punitive system that they have created. The Government attacked the initial report in November as being political and brushed it aside. It must now end this state of denial, listen to the evidence and take urgent action to tackle the profound injustices in our society. Theresa Mays bold Brexit offer has not gone down well (Jonathan Brady/PA) In a last-chance throw of the political dice, Theresa May has insisted she has compromised on Brexit and it is now time for others to do the same. But the Prime Ministers self-styled bold offer has drawn widespread attack. Expand Close Theresa May during Prime Ministers Questions (House of Commons/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Theresa May during Prime Ministers Questions (House of Commons/PA) What has the Prime Minister promised? After a torrid Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Mrs May said the Government would move on a number of key issues when the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) is published on Friday. Areas where the Prime Minister says she has made concessions include Northern Irish backstop proposals, workers rights, Parliamentary scrutiny of future EU negotiations, and giving MPs the chance to vote for a second referendum. How has it been received? Badly. The move has drawn derision and anger from across the political spectrum with Remain backers insisting she has not gone far enough and Brexiteers saying she has offered too much ground. Key concessions from the PM: Giving MPs a say on having a second referendum The referendum stance has cut little ice with pro-Remain opposition MPs who could table an amendment calling for such a vote without the PMs approval anyway. Brexiteers are incensed she has given any traction to the idea of a new nationwide poll on EU withdrawal, with former foreign secretary Boris Johnson saying he will not vote for Mrs Mays withdrawal deal as it goes against the last Conservative manifesto. Mrs May hoped allowing the Commons to set broad terms for future negotiations with the EU, and seeking parliamentary approval for deals with Brussels would reassure MPs that they would have a say over any treaty drawn-up by her successor as PM. But this was widely expected to be part of the Brexit settlement on offer, so has not had much impact. Customs union MPs will be given the chance to vote for a full, but temporary, customs union with the EU. Opposition MPs and some Tory pro-Europeans have dismissed the idea of a temporary arrangement as not going far enough. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the transition period and Northern Ireland backstop proposals would keep the UK in an effective customs union anyway. Expand Close Jeremy Corbyn said the UK would be kept in an effective customs union (David Mirzoeff/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jeremy Corbyn said the UK would be kept in an effective customs union (David Mirzoeff/PA) A new Workers Rights Bill The PM said it would ensure that employment rights remain at least level with those in the EU. Labour MPs and trade unions have greeted the move with scepticism. Manuel Cortes, general secretary of the TSSA transport union, said there were no real guarantees on jobs, workers rights or future customs arrangements. Environmental protection Mrs May has said that environmental protection standards will not deteriorate when the UK leaves the EU. But plans for a watchdog Office of Environmental Protection have already been criticised by MPs from across the Commons who say the body does not have enough powers or independence. Northern Ireland The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and hardcore Tory Brexiteers have not been won over by Mrs Mays talk of giving a legal commitment to avoid the need for a border backstop. Expand Close The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in Co Cavan (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in Co Cavan (Brian Lawless/PA) At present, the highly contentious backstop would see the UK obey many EU customs obligations if no wider trade deal is struck by the end of the transition phase in December 2020. The PM says the Government will find an alternative, but it would need the EU to agree for a change to happen. DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds said: The fundamental flaws of the draft Withdrawal Agreement treaty itself remain unchanged. Mrs May has also offered to give Stormont a veto on any new EU regulations that would apply in Northern Ireland but not Britain, but the powersharing assembly in Belfast has been suspended for more than two years with little sign of change. British Steel has gone into liquidation, threatening thousands of job losses, amid revelations that it would have run out of cash by the end of the week. The company, owned by Greybull Capital, will continue to trade while the Governments Official Receiver searches for a buyer to rescue plants, including the giant steelworks at Scunthorpe. At a High Court hearing in London, Mr Justice Snowden said cash-flow forecasts produced by the company and its advisers indicate that the company will run out of cash by the end of the week, with a shortage of 14.8 million, increasing thereafter to nearly 95 million by early August 2019. Greybull had been seeking financial support from the Government, saying it faced a number of Brexit-related issues, but talks failed to reach an agreement. A winding-up order was sought in relation to the company on the grounds that it is unable to pay its debts. The judge said that on the basis of the evidence he had seen, he was entirely satisfied that the company is, or will in the immediate future be, unable to pay its debts as they fall due. He said: The evidence is that the debts of the company as at 31 March 2019 total 880 million, which includes 151 million due to the asset-based lenders and 206 million due to the companys parent companies. Business Secretary Greg Clark said the Government had worked tirelessly to explore all potential options, and was willing to consider making a loan, but there was no reasonable prospect that it would have been repaid. He said: This will be a deeply worrying time for the thousands of dedicated British Steel workers, those in the supply chain and local communities. In the days and weeks ahead, I will be working with the Official Receiver and a British Steel support group of management, trade unions, companies in the supply chain and local communities, to pursue remorselessly every possible step to secure the future of the valuable operations in sites at Scunthorpe, Skinningrove and on Teesside. A statement by the Official Receiver said staff have been paid and will continue to be employed, adding: The immediate priority following my appointment as liquidator of British Steel is to continue safe operation of the site. I appreciate that this a difficult time for the companys employees and I want to thank them for their ongoing co-operation. The company in liquidation is continuing to trade and supply its customers while I consider options for the business. Roy Rickhuss, general secretary of the Community trade union, said: This news will heap more worries on workers and everyone connected with British Steel, but it will also end the uncertainty under Greybulls ownership and must be seized as an opportunity to look for an alternative future. Save British Steel https://t.co/cEa0K3ZpMO GMB Union (@GMB_union) May 22, 2019 Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: I have received personal assurances that the Government will underwrite the receivership process, which means that peoples wages and suppliers will continue to be paid and that the business can continue to operate as normal. While it does not represent the move into public ownership that Unite was seeking, it does place British Steel on a secure footing until a buyer for this world class business can be found. The Government must act quickly to save this strategically important industry and the livelihoods and communities of those who work in it, by bringing British Steel into public ownership. Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) May 22, 2019 Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey said: This is absolutely devastating news for the thousands of workers, their families and the communities in Scunthorpe and Teesside and those throughout the supply chain. The Tories legacy will once again be industrial decline whilst they endlessly squabble over the European Union. Hannah Essex, of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: Many Chamber businesses will be concerned about the potential impact of British Steel entering insolvency, particularly those in their supply chain who will be directly and deeply affected. The workforce, the trade unions and the management team have worked closely together in their determination to strengthen the business; however, the additional blows dealt by Brexit-related issues have proven insurmountableGreybull Capital A spokesman for Greybull Capital said: Having rescued the business from closure over three years ago, we have worked hard to bring this important company back on its feet. The turnaround of British Steel was always going to be a challenge, and yet the business overcame many difficulties, and until recently looked set for renewed prosperity. The workforce, the trade unions and the management team have worked closely together in their determination to strengthen the business; however, the additional blows dealt by Brexit-related issues have proven insurmountable. For the town of Scunthorpe, the impact of losing the plant would be immeasurable, according to one former steelworker. Charlotte Childs, who is now a regional official for the GMB union, said the news was absolutely devastating. She said: I dont think it can be understated, the impact that this is going to have on the town and community, if we dont find a solution to this imminently. A three-year-old tweet came back to haunt Nigel Farage, as opponents reminded him of his prediction that a Remain referendum win would kill off Britains steel industry. In the April 2016 tweet, the Brexit Party leader wrote: If we vote to Remain on June 23rd it is the end of the steel industry in this country. Simple as that. We must Leave EU. Patrick Shanahan and Mike Pompeo after the classified briefing for members of US Congress on Iran (Patrick Semansky/AP) Top Trump administration officials have told Congress that recent actions by the US in response to the situation in Iran have deterred attacks on American forces. After a day of closed-door briefings on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said their objective over recent days has been to deter Iran and now they want to prevent further escalation. Were not about going to war, Mr Shanahan told reporters. Our biggest focus at this point is to prevent Iranian miscalculation, said Mr Shanahan, flanked by Mr Pompeo, after back-to-back briefings for the House and Senate. We do not want the situation to escalate. Expand Close ActingUS defence secretary Patrick Shanahan (Patrick Semansky/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp ActingUS defence secretary Patrick Shanahan (Patrick Semansky/AP) The officials arrived on Capitol Hill as questions mounted over President Donald Trumps tough talk on Iran and sudden policy shifts in the region. Sceptical Democrats sought out a second opinion, holding their own briefing with former Obama administration officials, former CIA director John Brennan and Wendy Sherman, an architect of the Iran nuclear deal. The competing closed-door sessions on Tuesday came after weeks of escalating tensions that raised alarms over a possible military confrontation with Iran. Mr Trump, veering between bombast and conciliation in his quest to contain Iran, threatened on Monday to meet provocations by Iran with great force, but he also said he was willing to negotiate. The results of the meetings on Tuesday were mixed, with views settling largely along partisan lines. Senator Mitt Romney said the action taken by the Trump administration is totally appropriate and sends a message that if you attack our people, there will be a response. Mr Romney characterised it as defensive in nature and meant to deter Iran from malign actions. Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego, a veteran of the Iraq War, left the classified House briefing, saying: What I heard in there makes it clear that this administration feels that they do not have to come back and talk to Congress in regards to any action they do in Iran. Expand Close Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Capitol Hill in Washington (Patrick Semansky/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Capitol Hill in Washington (Patrick Semansky/AP) Democrats are particularly concerned the Trump administration may try to rely on nearly 20-year-old war authorisations rather than seek fresh approval from Congress for any action. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he told Mr Pompeo and the others their consultation with Congress has been inadequate. Mr Shananan said he and the others heard that message and vowed to better communicate with lawmakers and the public. In recent weeks, the US sent an aircraft carrier strike group, four bomber aircraft and other assets to the region, and is moving a Patriot missile battery to an undisclosed country in the area. The Trump administration has evacuated non-essential personnel from Iraq, amid unspecified threats the administration says are linked to Iran. Mr Shanahan said the recent US actions in the region were based on credible threats to US forces and interests in the Middle East. We have deterred attacks based on our repositioning of assets, deterred attacks against American forces, he said. Top Democrats say Mr Trump escalated problems by abruptly withdrawing the US from the Iran nuclear deal, a complex accord negotiated during the Obama administration to prevent Iran from nuclear weapons production. I have yet to see any exhibited strategy, said Democratic Representative Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer. Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, said, What Im interested in more right now is what the administrations strategy is if they have one to keep us out of war. Republicans and Mr Trumps allies in Congress said the threats from Iran are real. Going to the Hill shortly to have a serious discussion with lawmakers about 40 years of unprovoked aggression from the Iranian regime and to explain the prudent steps were taking to deter violence, protect American interests, and support the brave Iranian people. Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 21, 2019 The US military appears to have concluded that Iran was behind the reported attack on May 12 on four commercial vessels off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. A US official said on Monday a probe into the attack was finished and evidence still pointed at Iran, although the official did not provide details. On Sunday, a rocket landed near the US Embassy in the Green Zone of Iraqs capital of Baghdad, days after non-essential US staff were ordered to evacuate from diplomatic posts in the country. No one was reported injured. Defence officials said no additional Iranian threats or incidents had emerged in the days since the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier battle group arrived in the Arabian Sea late last week. Iran, meanwhile, announced that it has quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity. Officials said it remains set to the limits of a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it usable for a power plant but far below what is needed for an atomic weapon. Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nuclear weapons, although the West fears its programme could allow it to build them. The Facebook logo and the wanted poster (Dominic Lipinski/PA and City of Torrington Police/Facebook/PA) A police department in the US has reached a deal with a fugitive that would have him surrender if enough people like a wanted poster on Facebook. Jose Simms, 29, who is believed to be somewhere in New York, has seven arrest warrants and is being sought as a fugitive after failing to appear in court on a range of charges. Brett Johnson of Torrington police in Connecticut posted on the departments Facebook page Wednesday that Simms had contacted him through the site and agreed to turn himself in if the post containing his wanted poster gets 15,000 likes. Johnson said he negotiated Simms down from 20,000 likes. It will be difficult but is doable, Johnson wrote. Regardless of the number of "Likes" this post receives, we will continue to utilize the resources we have available to... Posted by City of Torrington Police Department on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 He also suggested that if anyone knows where Simms is hiding they could let police know and save the department some work. But Maki Haberfeld, an expert in police ethics and procedure at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said Simms was using social media to manipulate both the news media and police. She said police have no business negotiating a deal with a suspect, never mind one that involves likes on Facebook. It turns this into a joke, she said. People will start looking at these various violations of law as a game. Simms, contacted by The Associated Press through Facebook, said he is serious about the offer. I wanted to give them a little incentive for all the hard work they put in to catch me, he wrote. Simms said the charges stemmed from domestic problems and he was tired of running from authorities. Looking over your shoulder every five seconds can cause a lot of stress, he wrote. Simms said he is prepared to live up to his end of the agreement, insisting he is a man of my word. Indonesias President Joko Widodo has said authorities have the situation in Jakarta under control after six people died in riots by supporters of his rival in last months presidential election. The clashes began on Tuesday night when supporters of former general Prabowo Subianto tried to force their way into the offices of the election supervisory agency and have continued since then. More than two dozen vehicles were burned as rioters took over neighbourhoods in central Jakarta, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets. Expand Close Vehicles were burnt out during the riots (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Vehicles were burnt out during the riots (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) Flanked by the military chief, Mr Widodo said: I will work together with anyone to advance this country, but I will not tolerate anyone who disrupts the security, democratic processes and unity of our beloved nation. Mr Subianto has refused to accept the official results of the April 17 election and instead declared himself the winner. The Election Commission said Mr Widodo, the first Indonesian president from outside the Jakarta elite, had won 55.5% of the vote, securing the moderate technocrat a second term. Expand Close Joko Widodo meets supporters (Dita Alangkara/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joko Widodo meets supporters (Dita Alangkara/AP) Mr Subianto, an elite figure from a wealthy family connected to former dictator Suharto, also lost to Mr Widodo in 2014. He has made four unsuccessful bids for the presidency since Suharto was ousted in 1998. Rudiantara, the communications and information technology minister, said features of social media including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp will be restricted on a temporary basis to prevent the spread of hoaxes and inflammatory content. He said messaging systems will still work for text and voice messages but photos and videos will be blocked or slowed. National police chief Tito Karnavian said the people who died in the rioting were hit by gunshots or blunt devices. Authorities are still investigating the death causes and are not ruling out the involvement of third parties acting as provocateurs. There are attempts to create martyrs, blaming security officials for building public anger, he said. Expand Close Riot police outside the Election Supervision Board in Jakarta (Dita Alangkara/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Riot police outside the Election Supervision Board in Jakarta (Dita Alangkara/AP) Police said the rioting in Jakarta was planned and not spontaneous. Officers found an ambulance filled with stones and some of the dozens of people arrested had envelopes of money, said national police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal. Many of those arrested come from outside Jakarta, he said. North Korea has labelled Joe Biden a fool of low IQ and an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being after the US presidential hopeful called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a tyrant during a recent speech. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency said the former vice president had insulted the countrys supreme leadership and committed an intolerable and serious politically motivated provocation against the North. Mr Biden during a campaign launch in Philadelphia on Saturday accused President Donald Trump of cosying up to dictators and tyrants like Mr Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is self-praising himself as being the most popular presidential candidate. This is enough to make a cat laughKorean Central News Agency What he uttered is just sophism of an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician, KCNA said. The piece said Mr Biden had gone reckless and senseless, seized by ambition for power. It went on to mention apparent Biden gaffes, such as once appearing to fall asleep during a speech by then president Barack Obama. It is by no means accidental that here is non-stop comment over his bid for candidacy that he is not worth pinning hope on, backed by the jeer that he is a fool of low IQ, KCNA said. Yet he is self-praising himself as being the most popular presidential candidate. This is enough to make a cat laugh. Expand Close Kim Jong Un (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kim Jong Un (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP) North Korea has often unleashed crude insults against US and South Korean politicians in past years to criticise what its saw as insults to its leadership or hostile diplomatic and military policies against Pyongyang. The insults have included racist and sexist diatribes, including when the North called former president Barack Obama a monkey and former South Korean president Park Geun-hye, the countrys first female leader, a prostitute. During tensions created by a provocative run in missile tests in 2017, Mr Kim called Mr Trump a mentally deranged US dotard after the latter said the US would totally destroy North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies. The Norths description of Mr Trump dramatically improved after Mr Kim initiated diplomacy with Washington and Seoul in 2018 while attempting to leverage his nuclear arsenal for economic and security benefits. The nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang broke down in February when a summit between the two leaders collapsed over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament. Protesters hold a demonstration to condemn the rape and killing of the girl (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) Authorities in Pakistan have suspended a police chief in Islamabad over the disappearance, rape and killing of a 10-year-old girl. Officer Mohammad Imran says the chief, Mohammad Abbas, was suspended for failing to act promptly in the case. An investigation is under way. The body of the girl, who disappeared after leaving home a week ago, was discovered two days ago in a nearby forest. The killing triggered protests in Islamabad by members of the girls family, originally from the Pashtun minority Mohmand region bordering Afghanistan, and other Pashtuns. Crimes against children are common in Pakistan and often go unpunished. Authorities in October executed a man convicted of killing eight children, including seven-year-old Zainab Ansari. From time to time we need a prophetic voice to challenge us and stir us out of our comfortable ruts. For that we need a voice of exceptional experience and authority to give us wise counsel and direction. In this regard we have just been challenged in a most provocative and creative way by that grand old man of Irish politics, Seamus Mallon. He has just published a book, intriguingly entitled A Shared Home Place, that will give plenty of food for thought to all in politics and, in particular, nationalist politicians who invariably call upon unionists to think innovatively about the future. Seamus Mallon does not hold back and is challenging in his thoughts. There is no doubt as to the outstanding role played by Seamus Mallon, the SDLP's deputy leader for many years. He made a huge impact on Irish politics throughout his 30 years of dedicated public life. Often overshadowed by SDLP leader John Hume, Mallon has not been given the credit that he properly deserves for transforming our politics by successfully negotiating the Good Friday Agreement and not least becoming Deputy First Minister. Mallon is a big man, but his real bigness is in his charisma, his presence and capacity to captivate an audience and to give inspirational leadership. Despite the continuous threat to his own life, Mallon courageously spoke out over two decades against the disastrous violence of the Provisional IRA, who saw his democratic Irish nationalism as a threat to their own ethno-nationalism that blinded them to the interests of their unionist neighbours. They had a bizarre view that you could bomb your neighbours into a united Ireland and then expect them to live in peace with you happily ever after. He was, rightly, wary of engaging with them under the guise of Sinn Fein, but tolerated that process, which eventually succeeded in bringing about an end to their destructive campaign of violence. He recognised that that process could cause damage to the SDLP, but nonetheless tolerated it for the greater good of achieving peace in our society. He was, however, right in predicting that the SDLP would suffer politically, as it did and still does. He was also a fierce and frequent critic of the abuses and serious misconduct of the Army, the RUC and the UDR. He rightly raised their abuse of power, which undermined the rule of law. He was bitterly criticised by unionist and British politicians for daring to do so. Despite that he courageously raised the issue of the mistreatment of prisoners and the sinister "shoot-to-kill" policy on the floor at Westminster. After his sensational by-election win in 1986 to the House of Commons, he was regarded by unionists as a hate figure. Those who think Gerry Adams got a bad press should read the vicious attacks on Mallon at the time. But he doggedly continued and exposed the dirty war being waged by the Army, RUC Special Branch and the intelligence services. He was an outstanding parliamentarian and used the back benches at Westminster to full advantage. It was a lonely and difficult position, with only John Hume, Eddie McGrady and Joe Hendron as colleagues, but he persisted and eventually won the respect of all parties in the House of Commons. Indeed, his skilful use of Parliament is a good example of what can be done by a small number of dedicated MPs and is an object lesson to some current MPs, who waste those opportunities by fruitlessly abstaining from Westminster today. Just as he challenged the British Government in the past, today Seamus Mallon challenges the current state of nationalist thinking and is robust in contending that a simple majority in favour of a united Ireland is an insufficient basis upon which to build a new Irish state. He believes that a bare majority for unity in a border poll will not achieve an agreed and peaceful Ireland. He is concerned that such a vote would lead to more division, instability and probable violence. He calls for a slower, more cautious approach to having a border poll and argues that we could repeat the chaos of the Brexit referendum. A premature border poll may deliver a narrow and completely unworkable majority for unity. Therefore, nationalists need to show generosity to unionists. Firstly, by not pushing for unity until there is a wider and deeper acceptance of it among the unionist community and, secondly, by showing a willingness to put forward some arrangement more congenial to unionists that is some way short of a unitary state, possibly some form of confederation. Therefore, the immediate task for nationalists is to aim for reconciliation within Northern Ireland, working with unionists to build what Seamus has called "our shared home place". The image of masked men in paramilitary-style uniforms firing a volley of shots over the coffin of a terrorist, or at a staged event before or after a funeral, is something we in Northern Ireland thought we had left behind. Yet, here we have today, within the space of two weeks, two republican commemorations where a volley of shots has been fired. Of course, many will wave it away as nothing more than bravado. And, indeed, we even got the ludicrous title of "independent veteran republicans" to mask what are extremely worrying and sinister actions. Read More On Monday in Belfast we saw men dressed in paramilitary uniforms from the INLA firing shots into the air to honour INLA leader - and child-killer - Martin McElkerney. No more than two weeks ago we saw a similar display when Provisional IRA members fired shots before the funeral of veteran republican Peter Rooney, a funeral attended by senior Sinn Fein members including Bobby Storey, Gerry Kelly and Sean Murray. These are not spontaneous events. They are organised, they are advertised and they involve an array of weapons, including an assault rifle, that were well-maintained, with ammunition available. These 'shows of strength' - for that is what they are - require an organisational structure, planning, the movement of men, weapons and ammunition, as well as training. It is clear to me that these two events show that both the Provisional IRA and the INLA have more than just dormant structures. It is perfectly clear they have active structures and can easily lay their hands on weapons and ammunition, which can be delivered to a specific spot at a specific time for these gruesome demonstrations that we all thought were a thing of the past. What is more worrying is that they seem to do this without fear in broad daylight at filmed events with an audience and individuals present without their faces covered, in an act of defiance. This lack of respect for the law, for the safety of those within their own communities, and the disregard for the Belfast Agreement and their pledge to be on ceasefire, creates an escalating narrative that armed republican groups are behind the scenes vying for control and domination of their communities once again. The callous and needless murder of journalist Lyra McKee should have been a turning point in our troubled history since the Belfast Agreement. Yet, we have seen those linked to dissident republicanism elected to the local council in the very city in which Lyra was murdered. Now we see these shows of strength, which are less about honouring a dead terrorist and more about showing the local communities that men with guns are still here to control them should they step out of line - and they, of course, get to decide what and where the line is. There are fundamental questions to be asked of both the Secretary of State Karen Bradley and PSNI Chief Constable George Hamilton. These include an updated assessment of the capabilities of these terrorist organisations. Are they genuinely still on ceasefire, or are they in the process of rearming and restructuring? We also need to know where these weapons are coming from and what structures are being used to transport them around the country and train individuals in their use. If these are new weapons - they are certainly well-maintained - then how did they end up in the hands of terrorist groups supposedly on ceasefire? Are these weapons from the hides where they should have been decommissioned? Have these hides been compromised? Are they new weapons that have been sourced and brought into Northern Ireland illegally after decommissioning was supposed to have been completed? Or are some of these weapons - including the pistols used at Peter Rooney's funeral - actually legally held personal protection weapons? If that is the case, then what mechanisms does the PSNI have in place to check if they are being used illegally? The Paramilitary Crime Task Force must be proactive in investigating these issues as a matter of urgency and it must come forward and make a statement so that the public know that their concerns are being taken seriously. The type of coercive control used by the main terrorist groups is about ensuring they - and not the dissidents - have control over large swathes of Belfast. The PSNI must be swift, proactive and ruthless in breaking this stranglehold and ensuring that it is a culture of law and order that prevails in our capital city, not some passively accepted terrorist subculture. The platitudes from some political parties over the death of Lyra McKee, while remaining silent as men with guns glorify the very type of terrorists responsible for her murder, are absolutely abhorrent. We have become used to the electoral success of political parties who promoted and justified the butchering of men, women and children as a legitimate way to achieve a political aim. But we really cannot stand idly by and watch as these events take centre stage once again in Northern Ireland. There should be an outcry at the sight of masked men firing automatic weapons at funerals, but instead there is near silence. That concerns me greatly, because it tells me that some people are prepared to accept this as the new normal. It also shows just how limited some people's commitment to reconciliation really is and how the shadow of the gunman in Northern Ireland has never truly gone away. Doug Beattie is Ulster Unionist MLA for Upper Bann. He was awarded the Military Cross for his actions in Afghanistan and is the party's justice spokesman Erdogan Describes Assyrian, Greek and Armenian Genocide As 'Reasonable Relocation' At a symposium in Ankara on April 24 -- the 104th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan repeated his distortion and denial of the 1915 mass murder of Christians at the hands of Ottoman Turks. "The relocation of the Armenian gangs and their supporters who massacred the Muslim people, including women and children, in eastern Anatolia, was the most reasonable action that could be taken in such a period," Erdogan said. This quote was then posted on the official "Turkish Presidency" Twitter page. "Erdogan's statement was factually flawed, deceptive and insulting," Vicken Babkenian, an independent researcher for the Australian Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies, told Gatestone in a recent interview. Babkenian, a descendant of genocide survivors on both sides of his family, explained: "The Ottoman Turkish government's wide-scale and systematic destruction of its indigenous Armenian population in 1915-23 is well documented, and was one of the foremost examples of that crime which led the Polish-Jewish jurist Raphael Lemkin to coin the word 'genocide' in 1944. Erdogan's tweet -- on the most solemn day of remembrance of the Armenian Genocide -- was clearly meant to appease the ultra-nationalist element in Turkey at the expense of historic truth. "I don't believe that there is another head of government in the world today who has expressed such unremorseful rhetoric about his nation's well-documented extermination of its indigenous populations. It is genocide denial at its worst. Erdogan's message can be interpreted as follows: Turkey is unremorseful about what happened to the Armenians in 1915. They deserved what they got, and we have no intention of reckoning with our past or pursuing a policy of transitional justice." Vasileios Meichanetsidis, an Athens-based genocide scholar and editor of the 2012 book, The Genocide of the Ottoman Greeks, also criticized Erdogan's false portrayal of the Turks' mass murder of Christians. He told Gatestone: "What Erdogan refers to as 'relocation' was actually the genocidal deportation of civilian populations -- mainly women, children and the elderly -- to the very interior of Asia Minor. These populations were not simply relocated to another place, contrary to what the Turkish state claims. They were sent to concentration and extermination camps or remote places in the interior to be slaughtered or to die from exposure, exhaustion, hunger or epidemics -- either on the way to, or at the place of, their destinations. "These 'relocations' resulted in the partial or total destruction of numerous Greek Orthodox communities that had lived in Anatolia for nearly 3.000 years. "The continuous Turkish state policy of genocide denial shows how susceptible Turkey still is to committing yet another genocide, but also how important and necessary it is for the international community to recognize the genocide as a means of preventing its recurrence by a denialist and aggressive state perpetrator." Anahit Khosroeva, an Assyrian genocide scholar and lecturer at the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences based in Armenia, told Gatestone: "What Erdogan falsely calls the 'relocation' was for us -- the descendants of the survivors of the Armenian and Assyrian genocides -- depatriation. Indigenous Armenians and Assyrians got annihilated in their own ancient homeland. "The assertion [by Erdogan and other genocide deniers] that Turkish archives are open is also far from reality -- particularly from the point of view of access to materials on the Armenian and Assyrian Genocides by impartial scholars. The archives are open, but only for the researchers working for Turkish state interests. "No matter what Turkey says, the Armenian Genocide as a crime against humanity has been recognized and condemned by 27 countries across the world." This has not prevented Erdogan and his supporters from simultaneously denying the genocide and being proud of it. This is the propaganda mechanism that has turned the victims into perpetrators, and has shaped Turkey's official historiography since the establishment of the Republic in 1923. Turkish school books still teach that the "treacherous" Greeks, Armenians and Assyrians forced the Ottoman Turks to act in self-defense. Meanwhile, on the day that Erdogan made the speech in which he held the genocide victims responsible for their own plight, Turkish police prevented the Human Rights Association (IHD) from holding a scheduled commemoration ceremony in Istanbul. The IHD therefore held the ceremony at its office. At the ceremony, IHD co-chair Eren Keskin said: "We are again living under the power of unlawfulness. We are again getting through a period of grave human rights violations. The cursed legacy is continuing in new forms. "Today is April 24th - the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. But the reaction to commemorating the genocide is strong. Even declaring a day of commemoration is not tolerated." Genocide scholar Vasileios Meichanetsidis concluded that for Turkey to be a truly democratic country, it must acknowledge its past crimes. He told Gatestone: "Turkey will not be able to free itself from its murderous past and the stain on its genesis as a state, unless it recognizes the genocide of the native Christian peoples of the Ottoman Empire, thus allowing the descendants of the victims the resilience needed to overcome their generational sufferings, resulting from the indescribable physical and emotional sufferings of their ancestors. "The recognition could also free the Turkish people from guilt and shame, thus marking the beginning of a new process of reconciliation between Turkey and the descendants of the genocide victims, as well as between Turkey and its neighbors, especially Greece, Armenia and Cyprus." Uzay Bulut, a Turkish journalist, is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at Gatestone Institute. Blocked in Bangladesh, the poriborton.com news website can be seen in other countries including the United States, May 22, 2019. A front-page ad that ran in Bangladeshs major newspapers last week and contained controversial statements about how to identify radical Muslims has raised questions about who paid for it and whether coverage of the matter led the government to block a popular online news site. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), for the first time on Wednesday, confirmed that it had blocked the site but did not say why. The poriborton.com website has been blocked since Sunday morning, in the latest move against the press by a government known for restricting free speech and going after journalists who criticize it. The site was blocked is what I know. I cannot specify the causes that led to its blocking, BTRC Chairman Jahurul Haque told BenarNews. Usually we block sites at the instruction of the authorities for state security issues. Abu Sufian, poribortons managing editor, said the site had been dark since 11 a.m. Sunday. It can be viewed in other countries. We went to the BTRC and other agencies, but nobody could clarify why our site is blocked, he told BenarNews. The BTRC blocked poriborton over the publication of a story that reported on the controversial ad published in Bangladeshs biggest newspapers on May 12, according to a Facebook post by Tasneem Khalil, a Bangladeshi journalist who lives in exile in Sweden. The ad spelled out ways to detect suspected radical indicators. These included details such as maintaining a beard or wearing pants that stop above the ankle. Many Muslims, as part of their faith, wear beards and their pants above their ankles and have not been radicalized. In addition, the ad listed Sampriti Bangladesh, a civil society organization, as its sponsor. At a press conference on May 17, Sampriti Bangladesh official Pijush Bandapadyopadhyay said his organization was not responsible for, nor did it pay for the advertisement. We have no link with the publication of such an advertisement. This is an evil attempt of the anti-Liberation forces to mislead the nation through dissemination of false information about our organization, he told BenarNews, referring to Bangladeshs 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. In his Facebook post, Tasneem said poriborton had raised an important question about the source of money for the ad. Who financed the advertisements if Sampriti Bangladesh did not spend the money? I have heard that access to poriborton was blocked for raising this question, Tasneem wrote. Newspaper officials did not release details about who paid for the ads, or what it cost to publish them, and Pijush denied having any role in poribortons shutter. 54 sites blocked Poriborton joins a list of 54 news portals and websites that the government has blocked in recent months, citing security concerns. In March, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas government blocked the Al Jazeera website, after it published an article alleging that a senior Bangladeshi government official was involved in the disappearances of three men. On Wednesday, the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) and Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) called on the government to immediately unblock all of the news sites including poriborton. Top officials from both unions issued a joint statement calling the blocking of poriborton an autocratic and reckless decision by the government. They demanded that the government remove all visible and invisible barriers for free media. The government has used strict laws to shut down free speech and silence Hasinas critics, rights groups have complained over many years. Hundreds of people, including journalists, were arrested or charged for defamation under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act of 2006. The government last year strengthened the nations defamation laws with the Digital Security Act (DST), which Human Rights Watch and other groups slammed for retaining the most problematic provisions of ICT. Last week, poet Henry Sawpon was arrested for allegedly defaming Christians under the Digital Security Act, while human rights activists Abdul Kaium and Imtiaz Mahmood were arrested for online defamation charges under the ICT. The Home Ministrys parliamentary standing committee met on Wednesday to discuss their arrests. I told the meeting that common people are concerned because of the arrests of the three human rights activists including poet Henry Sawpon, Pir Fazlur Rahman, a member of the standing committee, told BenarNews This is not a good sign for freedom of expression and freedom of the press, he said about the meeting attended by the home minister, home secretary, the inspector general of police and other high officials. The police should be cautious when arresting people on charges of online defamation, he said. Shamsul Haque Tuku, a former state minister for home affairs and chairman of the standing committee, told BenarNews that police responded to Rahmans question about the arrests but did not offer any clarification. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal did not speak to reporters after the meeting. Indonesian police officers stand guard in front of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) headquarters in Jakarta, May 22, 2019. Newly re-elected Indonesian President Joko Jokowi Widodo promised firm action against rioters on Wednesday after six people died and 200 were injured in overnight clashes in the nations capital between police and supporters of defeated challenger Prabowo Subianto. Authorities arrested dozens after anti-riot police lobbed tear gas and fired water cannons to disperse demonstrators outside the Election Supervisory Agency in central Jakarta, officials said. Later in the day, the government imposed restrictions on social media to prevent the spread of fake news, security minister Wiranto told reporters. Im open to cooperating with anyone for the sake of our nations progress, but I will not tolerate those who seek to undermine the security, democratic process and unity of our beloved nation, Jokowi told a news conference. Theres no place for rioters who damage our country. The military and police will take firm action in accordance with the law, he said, adding that authorities had placed the volatile situation under control. Prabowo, a retired army general, on Wednesday urged his supporters to protest peacefully, reiterating his message from a day earlier to those demonstrating against the official results of the April 17 election that were announced Tuesday. I call on all parties, citizens who are protesting, the police and the military to refrain from engaging in physical violence and religious leaders and netizens from engaging in verbal provocation, he told reporters. More than two dozen vehicles were burned in several neighborhoods in central Jakarta as protesters, who alleged that widespread fraud occurred in the election, threw incendiary firebombs known as Molotov cocktails at responding police officers. The violence overnight has tarnished our country's reputation and must not happen again, Prabowo said. As of late Wednesday night and early Thursday morning (local time), there were no reports of fresh outbreaks of poll-related violence, according to local media. The countrys election commission on Tuesday said Jokowi had garnered 55.5 percent of ballots cast in the presidential polls, beating his challenger, Prabowo, for the second time in a row. In the 2014 elections, Jokowi received 53.1 percent of the votes and Prabowo took 46.8 percent. The official results of last months balloting, which were announced a day earlier than scheduled amid concerns about mass protests, nearly matched the numbers from quick count exit polls from independent pollsters. Prabowo has refused to concede defeat, telling reporters on Tuesday that he would challenge the results which, he alleged, resulted from massive and systematic fraud. On Wednesday, protesters outside the Election Supervisory Agency threw water bottles and other light objects at anti-riot police, but officers stood their ground, witnesses said. The crowd dispersed peacefully before dusk. Shots were fired Jakarta Gov. Anies Baswedan said six people were killed and another 200 suffered injuries in the clashes around midnight on Tuesday. As of 9 a.m., six people have died, Anies told reporters outside Tarakan Hospital, adding that the bodies were being kept in several hospitals in the city. He did not provide details on cause of death or whether the fatalities were civilians or police. Anies urged Jakartans to go about their normal business on Wednesday, saying the violence had been confined to a few streets in the center of the sprawling city. National police chief Tito Karnavian said the six people died from wounds caused by bullets and blunt weapons. People died and we are trying to find out what happened, he said. In the past week, we have arrested a number of people with weapons intended to create unrest. Tito said the rioters were a different crowd from those who rallied earlier on Tuesday. They deliberately attacked security personnel to provoke rioting, he said, describing the rioters as thugs. We arrested some people and they admitted to being paid, he told a news conference. Rioters also burned several cars in front of a police dormitory, he said. Police arrested at least 257 demonstrators after the clashes, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said. They were arrested because they attacked officers, committed destruction and tried to force their way to Bawaslu (the election supervisory agency)," Argo said. Police seized firecrackers, bladed weapons, arrows and Molotov cocktails from the protesters, he said. Police were not using live rounds to deal with the protest, national police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said. It should be known that police are not equipped with live bullets, Iqbal told a news conference. If anyone used live bullets, they are not police security personnel. Meanwhile, security affairs minister Wiranto said the government was limiting access to social media, including the popular WhatsApp messaging service, to prevent the spread of what he called hoaxes. There's a scenario to create chaos, spread antipathy and hatred against the government, he said. Some Indonesian users of WhatsApp said they could send text messages and make calls but were unable to post photos or videos. Facebook, Instagram and WhatApp are among social media and messaging services affected, said Rudiantara, the communication and information technology minister. At this time, people will share a lot of videos and photos. This is harmful, he said. We prioritize blocking video and photo features because, even without text, videos can incite emotions. Some people will not be able to download videos or photos, he said. Analysts: One of worst riots since 1998 Wednesdays unrest was one of the worst in Jakarta since a crippling economic crisis in May 1998 triggered widespread unrest that forced longtime president Suharto to resign, said Medi Kosandi, a political analyst at the University of Indonesia. In terms of casualties and the magnitude today was far from 1998. The police are well-prepared to deal with such an event and they have enough personnel to prevent the unrest from spreading, he told BenarNews. Authorities deployed 40,000 police and soldiers to provide security in the capital during the announcement of election results on Tuesday. More than 1,000 people died in the riots that occurred 21 years ago throughout Indonesia, mainly in Medan in the province of North Sumatra, in the capital Jakarta and in Central Java province, according to news reports. Economic issues, including food shortages and mass unemployment, spawned mass protests that spiraled into violence, officials said. Tia Asmara in Jakarta contributed to this report. Cars burned by a mob are seen near the Elections Supervisory Agency in Jakarta after protests by supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto turned into a riot, May 22, 2019. Six people were killed and 200 injured in overnight clashes between Indonesian police and supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said Wednesday. Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters who had gathered since Tuesday outside the Election Supervisory Agency in central Jakarta to demand action over allegations by the Prabowo campaign of widespread fraud in last months election. As of 9 a.m., six people have died, Anies told reporters outside Tarakan Hospital, adding that the bodies were being kept in several hospitals in the city. He did not provide details on cause of death or whether the dead were civilians or police. He said 200 people were injured in the clashes, and that the city government would cover the cost of their treatment. Police were checking reports of casualties, national police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal said. It should be known that police are not equipped with live bullets, Iqbal told a news conference. If anyone used live bullets, they are not police security personnel. Incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo garnered 55.5 percent of ballots in the April 17 presidential election, beating Prabowo for the second time in a row, according to the General Elections Commission (KPU), which made the announcement Tuesday, one day earlier than scheduled, amid concerns of mass protests. Prabowo has refused to concede defeat, saying he would challenge the results which, he continued to allege, resulted from massive and systematic fraud. Prabowo also lost to Jokowi in the 2014 presidential election. We will not accept the vote count conducted by the KPU as long as its the result of fraud, Prabowo told reporters on Tuesday. We will make every legal effort afforded by the constitution to defend the sovereignty of the people whose constitutional right has been denied in this election, he said. Police spokesman Iqbal said 20 people had been arrested for inciting the overnight riot. There are indications that some in the crowed were been paid [to incite violence], he said. It was not a spontaneous act. It was by design, he added. Protesters threw rocks and firecrackers at riot police. They later set fire to cars and a police dormitory in central Jakarta, according to police and television footage. Anies urged Jakartans to go about their normal business on Wednesday, saying the violence had been confined to a few streets in the center of the sprawling city. Ten of the 12 newly-proclaimed Philippine senators gesture with a clenched fist, a symbol associated with President Rodrigo Duterte. Grace Poe (center) and Nancy Binay (extreme right) would later gesture their own symbols. From left are Ramon Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, Ronald dela Rosa, Bong Go, Cynthia Villar, Poe, Pia Cayetano, Sonny Angara, Imee Marcos, Koko Pimentel and Binay. The Philippines Commission on Elections on Wednesday certified 12 new senators who are mostly allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, giving him majority control of the Senate as he prepares to enter the second half of a six-year term amid widespread opposition to his drug war. Among those proclaimed were Bong Go, Dutertes longtime aide, and Ronald dela Rosa, the ex-national police chief who spearheaded the first phase of the presidents anti-narcotics campaign. We expect a majority of 20 senators, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto told reporters, referring to the upper house legislators aligned with Duterte. Millions of Filipinos voted for 18,000 posts up for grabs in the May 13 election, but the most closely-watched balloting was the race for the 12 seats in the bicameral legislature. The opposition Liberal Party did not win any of seats in the latest polls, leaving the 24-member senate with 4 opposition members. Cynthia Villar, who garnered the most votes at more than 25 million, spoke on behalf of the winners allied with Duterte and thanked the president and his daughter, Sara Duterte, for supporting their campaign. The new senators also posed for a group photograph where all but two of them raised a clenched fist, a symbol associated with Duterte. Critics said the elections outcome would boost Dutertes agenda and weaken the Senates independence, but Senator-elect Go, who rose to fame on social media with his selfies with world leaders, dismissed such criticisms. Do I look like a rubber stamp? he told reporters. Murder complaints against Duterte It looks like all the bases are covered for either a cover-up or a campaign to frustrate accountability for the drug war killings, Carlos Conde, Asia researcher for the New York-based Human Rights Watch, told BenarNews. This election not only entrenched the Dutertes and their allies, he said, it also made sure that accountability will not happen. Two murder complaints have been filed against the 74-year-old leader before The Hague-based International Criminal Court, but Dutertes spokesmen have rejected those allegations. The first complaint was filed by a former police official and a self-confessed hitman who claimed that they carried out killings on Dutertes order. The other one was filed by relatives of those slain in the drug war, which according to official police statistics have left almost 5,300 suspected addicts and dealers dead in shootouts with law-enforcement officers. Other non-government agencies said the death toll could be up to 30,000, with many of the victims summarily executed and their bodies left with cardboard signs claiming they were drug suspects. After initially saying that the Philippines would honor any investigation, Duterte later pulled out from an international treaty that created the ICC, saying the court did not have jurisdiction to launch a probe in the country. The ICC said it was saddened by the move, but said it would continue its investigation. The Senate has been the last independent bastion against Duterte's wishes. Last year, it had shielded Sen. Antonio Trillanes from arrest on rebellion charges. Trillanes, an ardent critic of Dutertes drug war, led hundreds of soldiers in a mutiny in 2003, when he was a Navy lieutenant. He bows out of the Senate this year. Brutal methods Conde alleged that with dela Rosas election the thousands of victims of the drug war are victimized twice over. Dela Rosa has staunchly defended the drug war and the brutal methods of his policemen. During the bruising senatorial campaign, he justified the massive death toll by saying that if many believe that the number of drug addicts has gone down, then somehow, we are successful. Asked by reporters Wednesday about what he would do in the Senate, dela Rosa was evasive, but said: I am now a senator. I am happy. Meanwhile, another senator against the bloody anti-narcotics campaign, Leila de Lima, is in jail and facing what she has described as trumped-up charges of profiting from drug trafficking. De Lima said she was initially stunned by the poll results, but that eventually turned into a deep and acute sense of disappointment. This loss was hard, painful, she said. But we should not give up because this fight is perhaps the most important fight of our entire history as a nation. We are fighting for our future, our children's future. We are fighting for our soul as a nation. Jason Gutierrez in Manila; Jojo Rinoza in Dagupan and Jeoffrey Maitem and Dennis Jay Santos in Davao City contributed to this report. How Iraq is Hunting for Ancient Relics Looted From Its Museums A statue of Shalmaneser, an Assyrian ruler, stolen in 2003 and returned from the US to Iraq. ( MEE/Tom Westcott) Islamic State fighters damaged and looted some of Iraq's most important historic sites when they seized swathes of the country in 2014. But authorities leading the country's battle to return stolen antiquities say that the damage wreaked is just a fraction of the thefts still going on at unguarded locations IS targeted pre-Islamic heritage, releasing video of militants armed with sledgehammers smashing priceless statues in Mosul Museum. Luma Yass, director general of Iraq's National Museum in Baghdad, dismisses it as largely a publicity stunt, intended to distract from the group's larger plans: profiting from selling artefacts on the black market. "IS propaganda made people think they had destroyed the antiquities," she says, "but actually it was just very short video footage showing them destroying a few pieces, some of which were fakes. "After this public destruction, IS could freely loot, using the proceeds to fund their terrorist activities." Notably, Yass said no fragments of the heads of Lamassu, the Assyrian-era giant winged bulls highly-prized in the antiquities trade, were found in the ruins of Mosul Museum or at the nearby site of the Assyrian city of Nimrud, parts of which date back more than 3,000 years. "Islamic State couldn't move whole Lamassu because they were too heavy. But the heads could be removed and sold on the black market." Devastation at Nimrud and Mosul Nimrud is 20 miles from Mosul, the caliphate's "capital" and one of Iraq's best-preserved Assyrian sites. But Islamic State left it a bulldozed wasteland, save for two cracked relief sculptures, including one depicting a "Winged Genius" - a mythical Assyrian protective being. "Almost nothing's left here, but Islamic State only destroyed the big pieces," said Abdullah, a security guard at Nimrud, shortly after the site was liberated in 2017. "The best stuff was smuggled to Europe and sold. Local residents told us that, after Islamic State came, they were forbidden from entering the site but they watched Islamic State fighters stealing truck-loads of antiquities from here." Residents living near Jonah's Tomb in Mosul also told MEE in 2017 that they had witnessed IS carting away treasures from the site before filling it with explosives and blowing it up. Artefacts stolen by Islamic State continue to circulate on the black market. A people-smuggler based in Greece bought a large hoard of ancient gold coins for a2 million from Islamic State contacts last year, according to confidential sources. In January, an Iraqi who has been working directly with Islamic State for several years to rescue enslaved Yazidi women and children, showed MEE video footage and Whatsapp messages of heaps of gold coins and ancient texts. The group, he said, had offered to sell him the booty for large sums of money. Recovering Iraq's lost treasures The Islamic State thefts are considerable -- but further south at Baghdad Museum, staff say they represent but a fraction of the prodigious looting which has plagued Iraq since the US-led 2003 invasion. The losses include 15,000 artefacts, plundered from the National Museum during a four-day period in April 2003. In his office, Muthanna Abed Dawed, former director of Iraq's Antiquities Recovery Department, leafs through thick paper files. They detail 200 of Iraq's lost treasures that are circulating in global antiquities markets. One of the most valuable, he said, was a 8cm-tall sculpture of a Babylonian-era "Guennol Lioness" - or "Lioness Devil" as it is known in Iraq. It is one of a matching male and female pair that date from around 3,000 BC. "This lioness has disappeared from the market for now after being sold in 2007 at Sotherby's, but we haven't closed the case," Dawed said. "We don't know exactly who bought it but we received information that it was purchased for $59.2 million by a British lord." The buyer was listed as a private English collector. Until 2010, the lioness remained the most expensive antiquity ever sold. Dawed said the mythology attached to this artefact - that whoever holds both the matching lioness and lion sculptures together could secure total world dominance - had ratcheted up its value. "Babylonian kings were very powerful and there is a mystery surrounding the origin of these powers so, because of its mythology, this lioness is extremely valuable," he said. Dawed was recently moved to a different department under the country's new government, standard practice in Iraq, which often sees the loss of valuable expertise. But under his three-year tenure, the department oversaw the recovery of more than 5,000 artefacts. These included eight pieces handed back with the help of the British Museum. The US authorities retrieved a further 3,800 antiquities from a single haul during the Hobby Lobby scandal. The American arts and crafts company, which is owned by evangelical Christians, illegally imported $1.6m worth of artefacts of dubious provenance from 2009, destined for the privately owned Museum of the Bible. In 2017, US courts fined the company $3m and instructed the return of the pieces. A handful of recovered artefacts are on display in Iraq's National Museum. An additional 100 pieces also feature in the Basra Museum, which opened in March in one of Saddam Hussein's former palaces. "This is actually just a small proportion of the artefacts taken out of the country." Dawed says. "We are fighting to return Iraq's stolen heritage. We have 200 active cases underway right now and every day the number increases because we monitor all international auctions." Last year, an Assyrian Nimrud relief, from the reign of King Ashurnasirpal II (883-859 BC), fetched $31 million at Christies. Iraq made an unsuccessful bid to stop the sale, claiming the relief was excavated and illegally taken out of the country during the 1970s. Christies says it had been held in a private US collection since the 19th century. Looting of archaeological sites Even while the Iraqi authorities try to recover items, illegal excavations and thefts continue at remote archaeological sites, largely unchecked. "Illegal digging is now our biggest problem," said Yass. "We have 18,000 archaeological sites across Iraq and illegal digging is happening everywhere but we can't control it. "There are no special police to stop these activities and we have just one officer at each site so of course it's very hard for him to protect the whole site." Well-known and accessible sites are, for the most part, adequately protected. After its liberation from Islamic State, Nimrud was fenced off by Unesco, supported by funds from the government of Japan, and secured by local forces. Yass says that there are French government-funded plans to reconstruct the remains, starting later this year. But some remote desert sites, only reachable by off-road vehicles or helicopter, stand unguarded. Iraqis conducting illegal excavations work directly with foreign smugglers and collectors, Dawed said. Looted antiquities are usually smuggled out of Iraq across land borders or on small fishing boats. Many artefacts are destined for the UAE, he says, which has become a regional hub for illegal antiquities trading. There have also been cases of refugees smuggling artefacts into Europe, Dawed said. Iraq's Antiquities Recovery Department is currently working with Bulgarian police who have confiscated 122 pieces from refugees. "We're not certain yet whether they're all Iraqi pieces or if some are from Syria, but we're working on this." The loot from illegal excavations can be especially hard to recover: unlike stolen museum pieces, it often goes uncatalogued. One of the department's biggest challenges is to prove that treasures circulating in international markets are actually from Iraq. He said recent Unesco resolutions aimed at protecting Iraq's heritage had been helpful, but claimed many countries continued to flout such regulations. "Auction houses ask us to prove artefacts are Iraqi, even though everyone often knows they are Iraqi and often the exact place they're from, but items from illegal digging are undocumented," said Dawed. "We have constant fights with collectors and auction houses. Collectors show receipts and, although sometimes they're fake, the auction houses pretend they're real. "Bureaucracy holds us back and processes are slow, so sales usually go ahead despite our protestations and efforts." WASHINGTON, D.C. Dr. Timothy Davis, an associate professor of biological sciences at Bowling Green State University, received the Gears of Government Presidents Award on Wednesday, May 22, for significantly advancing rapid and remote detection of harmful algal bloom toxins (HABs). The Presidents Awards recognize the best of the best. They are the highest level of distinction within the Gears of Government Awards program, with awardees selected from more than 200 teams and individuals already recognized by their agencies for outstanding mission results, customer service and accountable stewardship. The awards ceremony took place in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Davis and two other scientists, Drs. Gregory Doucette and Stephanie Moore, are being recognized for their work with members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce. The scientists deployed robotic Environmental Sample Processors (ESPs) for the first time, transmitting near-real-time measurements of toxins in Lake Erie and off the coast of Washington state. The work I have done so far at Bowling Green State University is expanding upon that work, getting Ohio citizens involved with measuring toxins in Lake Erie and continuing to develop low-coast technologies that measure toxins in the lake, Davis said. Even though the award is for the work I was doing in the government, that work is continuing here with my position at BGSU. ESPs now are used to ensure delivery of safe drinking water from Lake Erie and access to safe seafood in Washington. Applications elsewhere are now coming online. This cutting-edge technology markedly advances the protection of economic and public health in U.S. coastal communities. NOAA scientists joined forces to proactively develop and deploy two ESPs: one upstream of a drinking water intake in Lake Erie and the other near an open-ocean harmful algal bloom hot spot near Washington. They developed, validated and implemented novel and reliable sensors for the processor that are capable of remotely detecting algal toxins at parts-per-trillion levels. The scientists procured and deployed the robotic platforms and engineered moorings for near-real-time data analysis and transmission from shallow lake and deep ocean sites. Davis, who has worked at BGSU since August 2017, is a key member of the research team for the Great Lakes Center for Fresh Waters and Human Health. The center, which was founded with a $5.2 million federal grant, is energizing and expanding research on HABs that pose a threat to the health of humans and wildlife. In 2014, toxins from an algal bloom contaminated Toledos water supply and highlighted the urgency to study this problem. "Timothy Davis being recognized for his work with NOAA speaks to the importance of protecting our Great Lakes and coastal waters from the threats posed by harmful algal blooms," BGSU President Rodney K. Rogers said. As a public university, we have an obligation to create public good. BGSU continues to lead research efforts that impact communities in our own backyard and across the nation." The deployments were the first ever to report toxin levels at surface and drinking water intake depths in near-real-time, ensuring safe drinking water for millions of customers and preventing the loss of millions of dollars due to water supply shutdowns. The deployments enabled the first near-real-time monitoring of the offshore sources of toxins that contaminate wild and farmed shellfish on the Washington coast. In 2017, these data contributed to an increase in the daily catch of razor clams, injecting more than $5.3 million into the local economy. This award shows that our federal and state leaders know the importance of protecting our coastal and inland waters, the Great Lakes, from these events that are becoming more common and will continue to be as climate change occurs, Davis said. We want to make sure these events dont get overlooked because we dont want another Toledo water crisis to happen again anywhere in the United States. We want to ensure that these events happen less frequently, and while were working toward long-term solutions we want to have the best technology in place to protect human health ant to serve the public to the best of our ability. Thats really important from a public university standpoint. Informed, proactive decision-making will accelerate in the short term with coastal intelligence provided at far greater resolution and immediacy. Two new Lake Erie ESPs will increase yearly deployments from two to six. Pacific Northwest deployments are strategically set to follow the two seasonal bloom scenarios, a spring deployment at Heceta Bank and a fall deployment in the Juan de Fuca Eddy. The success of this effort positions toxin sensors to provide adaptive and intelligent operations within fixed mooring stations and fleets of autonomous underwater vehicles. The long-term impact of expanding and mobilizing these smart sensors accelerates the Department of Commerces strategy to advance sophisticated ocean and coastal intelligence that strengthens resilience of communities. Additionally, this technology supports the Environmental Protection Agencys s mandate to protect clean drinking water, and NOAA and the Department of Agricultures mandates to develop marine aquaculture. Theology is studying God. Christian theology is knowing God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Theology is the queen of the sciences.1 This was not only the opinion of the great Middle Ages scholar, Thomas Aquinas but was held as truth all the way through the 20th century. After the infamous influence of higher criticism, following Darwinism metastasized and infected every school of learning including metaphysics or divinity, theology was relegated to a specialized study. This would have been surprising if not abhorrent to both faculty and students of familiar institutions like Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Cambridge, and even our state universities, like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill the oldest state university in America where the teaching of theology was central to higher education. The reason for theologys decline in higher education and its compartmentalization to Bible schools and seminaries has a lot to do with the cultural degradation and the onset of postmodernism, which deconstructed Western civilization, including the centrality of Christianity to our ideas about self, others, and, especially, God our Creator. As these bad ideas made their way into the vital organs of theological higher education, the cancerous growth of denying Gods Word made its way into the full bloodstream of the Church, in virtually every denomination and tradition. In fact, evangelicalism, is in large part, a response to this philosophical and social pandemic. So, it is rather unusual for some Bible-believing Christians to complain that theology has crept into the Church, as if theology, knowing God, had never been central. Influenced by the airborne spiritual pathologies of a post-Christian culture, such muddle-headed assertions from the mouths of believers unwittingly support the ungodly ideas in the world, which they would otherwise oppose. It is right to ask again: What is theology and is it important? Why was theology important in the early Church (and it most unquestionably was important)? Why was it important in the Middle Ages? In the Reformation? In the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries? The answers to those questions are nothing short of life or death for biblical Christianity. Lets explore the meaning of theology and its effects on the soul, the Church, and the very world in which we live. Theology Is Knowing God The definition of theology is simply the study of God. Two Greek wordsTheos () God and logos()combine to create the word theology. The emminant scholar, Louis Berkhof, asserted with brevity and precision: The New Testament has the Greek equivalents of the Old Testament names. For El, Elohim, and Elyon it has Theos, which is the most common name applied to God. Jeremiah called Israel to recall the priority of theology, that is, of knowing God: Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord (Jer. 9:23-24, emphasis added) The Apostle Paul joined the chorus of voices, divine and human, to emphasize the necessity of theology, that is, of knowing God: Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (Gal. 4:8-9, emphasis added). The Apostle Paul is saying that the Galatian Christians not only knew about God, but they had an intimate knowledge of God in their own lives. Such intimacy not only opened their consciousness to their Creator but also to themselves. This is quite different from someone saying that they know about God. I think of the great J. I. Packer in his book, Knowing God. Dr. Packer wrote of a sadly familiar spiritual pathology, which remains a constant toxic threat for all of us: A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about him. Theology is knowing God. Indeed, this kind of knowing God is filled with love, gratitude, and the communicable attributes of God impressed into our lives. Theology is not incompatible with love. Theology, the thirst for knowledge of God in our lives, is equated with love by the Apostle John: We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God (1 John 4:6-7, ESV). Theology Is the Divine Drama of the Ages Theology is more than merely a definition of a word. Theology that is biblical, Christ-centered, and comprehensive is the very plan of God revealed in His Word. The great twentieth century English professor and essayist, Dorothy Sayers (1893-1957), wrote of theology as the divine drama. In her remearkable book, Letters to a Diminished Church: Passionate Arguments for the Relevance of Christian Doctrine, the Oxford scholar asserted: . . . for the cry today is: Away with the tedious complexities of dogmalet us have the simple spirit of worship; just worship, no matter of what! The only drawback to this demand for a generalized and undirected worship is the practical difficulty of arousing any sort of enthusiasm for the worship of nothing in particular. (P. 14) Surely it is not the business of the Church to adapt Christ to men, but to adapt men to Christ. It is the dogma that is the dramanot beautiful phrases, nor comforting sentiments, nor vague aspirations to loving-kindness and uplift, nor the promise of something nice after deathbut the terrifying assertion that the same God who made the world, lived in the world and passed through the grave and gate of death. (P. 20) The Churchs answer [to the great existential questions of life and death, the meaning of life, and life after death] is categorical and uncompromising, and it is this: That Jesus Bar-Joseph, the carpenter of Nazareth, was in fact and in truth, and in the most exact and literal sense of the words, the God by whom all things were made. (P. 2) I cannot imagine a more credible, concise, and convicting definition of the theology and its importance. For Sayers, the Church in trying to reach the world without theology was impossible. Theology is the drama that attracts. Theology, knowing God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the essence of the Christian religion. It cannot be otherwise. Theology Is the Answer to Our Deepest Needs All theology is pastoral. I mean to to say that after we have studied knowing God in the Old Testament, New Testament, and have catalogued our findings into a systematic theology, as we have observed Gods Word and ways in historical theology, we come to see that theology is knowing God for the purpose of living (and dying, which is, for the believer, a continuation of life). Thus, there is a beauty about theology that transcends, even resists, categorical truths that remains unapplied in the human soul. Dr. Craig Barnes, President of Princeton Theological Seminary put it so memorably in his work, The Pastor as Minor Poet: Texts and Subtexts in the Ministerial Life: The primary symptom of a soul that has become sick is that it becomes blind to the poetry of life. Theology, the pursuit of knowing God in Christ, is the poetry of life. Why Wouldnt Theology Be Important? I believe it is right to reflect the question on the mind of some that says, theology is simply not that important. Now I might ask myself, why would anyone say such a thing? But, in fact, people do say this. Why? I have heard from people that theology is . . . 1. Dull Some believe that theology is dull. I generally dont hold the student responsible for a boring subject but rather the teacher. Ive heard it said that the greatest sin of a history teacher is to make history boring. That is quite right. We should also say, the greatest insult to the doctrine of knowing God that is, theology is to make the subject boring. I guess it is possible for one to make child-rearing a very boring subject. I guess it is possible to talk about the relationships of men and women, courtship and marriage, and to come off as quite dull. However, you and I both know that neither of the subjects are dull whatsoever! We must not judge theology as dull if we are so unfortunate as to have a dull preacher! Is there anything dull about the divine drama of the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ? Let us zoom out from the life of Jesus to see the plan of redemption running from Genesis to the last verse of Revelation! What is dull or boring about the plan of God to redeem fallen humankind by making a covenant that God will provide what God requires? Theology that cannot be preached in theology that cannot be applied to the life of a child is very likely a theology that is brittle, dour, dull, and . . . wrong. But I have heard that theology is . . . 2. Divisive Another criticism about theology is that dogma is divisive. When I say dogma, Im using the word in the same way that Dorothy Sayers did in her essay. Dogma is merely an English word based on the Greek word for teaching. So the teachings that flow from the theological system that is revealed in the Word of God or of prime importance in faith and life. It should not surprise us that human beings who have been infected with original sin and its dark consequences, even after they have been saved and they are putting on Christ, yet battling the old self that still resides within them and must be mortified throughout all of their life of sanctification, would have conflicting opinions about the most important things the things of primary importance. This is a human quality, which is seen in every aspect of life. The Word of God is divine. The Bible is inspired, inerrant, and infallible. Those who read the Bible must be filled with the Holy Spirit so that the Spirit that recorded Gods Word through mortal men and women will recognize the Spirit in the reader and the two shall become one. However, theological dogma such as baptism, communion, how one is sanctified or grows in the Christian life, and a few others not many is so important than human beings form communities of conviction that are based upon their opinions of one or more of these vital matters. Men and women of good will, therefore, may disagree. Their inability to express a perfect unity in every single aspect of Christianity neither invalidates their faith nor the veracity of the Word of God. It merely shows that we are human. The Apostle Paul said that one day we will know even as we are known. For now we see through the dark glass, not always able to discern every single truth with unquestionable precision. Thankfully, God has left us with a kind word, The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deut. 29:29). True theology that is revealed to us from Gods Word can divide: truth from error. Yet, some have said that theology is . . . 3. Esoteric This criticism of theology is that it is merely too esoteric that is, the doctrines of the Bible may have philosophical, metaphysical, or intellectual merit, but they are simply impractical. Someone might even say, stick to the simple things. Actually, I would agree with that. But the thing is, the simple things of the Bible are also deep things revealed from God to humankind. I sometimes hear about pie in the sky by and by. Those who have said this to me wanted to stress that Christianity that is biblical theology offers nothing for the here and now. It is all about heaven. It is all about another world. It is all about another kingdom. I sometimes respond to them as I would like to do in this little article by quoting CS Lewis, who wrote in response to the charge that Christians are just too heavenly minded to be any earthly good: If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this. Aim at Heaven and you will get earth thrown in: aim at earth and you will get neither. (Mere Christianity) Why Theology is Vital to the Christian Faith It Is the Study of God Firstly, remembering that theology is truly knowing God by personally knowing His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, we must assert that theology is absolutely vital to Christianity. The study of God and of His Word leads us to the glorious doctrines that change lives. Even as St. Paul admonished young pastor Timothy to rightly divide the truth of the Word of God and to teach it, withholding nothing, so, also, we must pursue the knowledge of God through His general revelation creation and His special revelation the Bible. Karl Barth wrote in his The Epistle to the Romans an essential theological cornerstone of Christianity and why it must be studied, The Gospel is not a truth among other truths. Rather, it sets a question-mark against all truths. It Is the Story of Ourselves Theology, the pursuit of God, is an extraordinary inquiry into not only the Creator but of necessity the creation. That creation includes every one of us. A theology that is built upon study of Gods revelationin creation and in Scriptureleads us to see that God is God and we are not. But we are His image-bearers. We are without Christ image-bearers with a marred image, a distorted spiritual framework inherited from our first parents that touches everything we do, all that we are, all that we want to be. The unquenchable thirst after knowledge of God will bring us to Jesus Christ, His Son, our Lord. Knowing Him and following Him restores our humanity, removes the birth mark of a sinful nature, and places us on an ever-expanding experience of Gods remodeling of our lives from the inside out. Theology proper is to know God. And to know God is to know what it is be fully human. It Is the Greatest Story Ever Told Theology is a narrative of Gods pursuit of His own joy and communion in the relationship, lost and found, of His People. It is Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. The culminating truth of Christian theology is the Person of Jesus. He lived the life we could never live and died the death that should have been ours. He was crucified for our sins. He rose again on the third day. He appeared to over 500 at once, many of whom lived into the last years of the first century. Witnesses saw Jesus the Christ ascend into heaven with angelic presence and celestial voice that He would also return in like manner. This is the Greatest Story ever told. How did one theologian put it? The Gospel of the Resurrection is thepower of God, His virtus, the disclosing and apprehending of His meaning, His effective pre-eminence over all gods. The Gospel of the Resurrection is the action, the supreme miracle, by which God, the unknown God dwelling in light unapproachable, the Holy One, Creator, and Redeemer, makes Himself known: What therefore ye worship in ignorance, this set I forth unto you (Acts 27:23)." Theology must always lead to doctrine on fire in the pulpit. Theology must always culminate in lives transformed by the power of the Gospel. Theology is intended to awaken, to heal, to encourage, to admonish, to correct, but more than anything to know love. To know the love of God. The eminent Catholic theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote in his classic theology, Love Alone is Credible, these words: But if we view creation with the eyes of love, then we will understand it, despite all the evidence that seems to point to the absence of love in the world. We will understand the ultimate purpose of creation: not only the purpose of its essence, which we seem to make some sense of through the various intelligible relationships among individual natures, but the purpose of its existence in general, for which no philosophy can otherwise find a sufficient reason. For Balthasar, our humanity is realized as we receive the love offered by the divine heart that breaks for us upon the Cross. And this theological message is a powerful conduit to the human heart, for the world, love alone is credible. And God is love. And to know Him is to know pure love. To receive His eternal gift of life in Christ Jesus is to not only know but experience this divine love. Out of the fullness of this love we are able to express His love to another. What Theology Must Never Be For as much as we have talked about what theology is, we must be careful to assert what it is not. Theology is not Speculation We were told throughout the Scriptures that we should not be speculating about the meaning of a mystery not revealed. Indeed, one of the features of a maturing believer is to be able to live in the tension of the ministry. The Apostle Paul warns Timothy about the disastrous consequences of wrangling over words. We must, therefore, be careful and precise in our statements about what the Bible says. Going beyond that is theological speculation. This will surely lead not only to strife within that particular Christian community but will lead to heartache by the one who is espousing it. Theology cannot be Weaponized We have no doubt seen how some people use Scripture as a weapon to hurt other people. Yet even the prophets, like Jeremiah, who warned of judgement, wept exceedingly when their prophecies at length became judgement. There is nothing so heinous as twisting the very Word of Almighty God to become an arsenal to use against another human being made in Gods image. If someone reading these words has born the brutality of a verbal attack on the conscience by misuse of Gods Word or a theological Molotov cocktail thrown to maime the conscience of another, then it is no wonder that one would have a distaste for theology. But theology is about knowing God, not taking His name in vain to hurt another. But there is another thing that theology must never be. Theology must never be Ignored Theology, the knowledge of our Creator, must not be neglected. How do we do that? Well, one way is to allow the misuse of theology by another our excuse to avoid knowing God. The reasons that I have named are real. As a pastor, I have seen the damage that abuse of theology can do to a person. To neglect the true knowledge of your God is to ignore the healing salve of grace that is needed to cure your pain. Others ignore theology because of less complicated reasons: they just dont have time. Can you imagine that? One would say, I am too busy in life to come to know the Giver of my life? It really is quite ludicrous, isnt it? We have seen that theology is not mere philosophical speculation. Theology is not an esoteric inquiry into metaphysical ideas that are disconnected from living (and dying). Theology is always personal, always accessible, always about knowing God. Our Lord Jesus was the Great Theologian who taught us about God and, thus, about ourselves. Our Savior once told some who had trusted in Him that conversion was not the end, but the beginning: So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). And that, dear friend, is the wondrous, unfathomable glory of true biblical theology: God is truth. To know Him, to follow Him, to pursue Him with all of your heart, soul, and mind is to increasingly shed the darkness of a fallen world and walk into the soft golden beams of celestial light; a light that warms, illumines, and guides you into the perfect freedom you have dreamed of for so long. Notes: 1. Leo J. Elders, The Metaphysics of Being of St. Thomas Aquinas in a Historical Perspective(Brill, 1992). Michael A. Milton, PhD (University of Wales; MPA, UNC Chapel Hill; MDiv, Knox Seminary), Dr. Milton is a retired seminary chancellor and currently serves as the James Ragsdale Chair of Missions at Erskine Theological Seminary. He is the President of Faith for Living and the D. James Kennedy Institute a long-time Presbyterian minister, and Chaplain (Colonel) USA-R. Dr. Milton is the author of more than thirty books and a musician with five albums released. Mike and his wife, Mae, reside in North Carolina. Photo credit: GettyImages/freedom007 Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, my take on the first leg of the Trump-O'Reilly History Tour. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices On 7 May in South Africa, on the eve of 2019 general elections, while the rest of the world joined The Duke and Duchess of Sussex in welcoming the royal baby to the world, the low-cost airline, FlySafair, held its annual R5 Sale. Virtual waiting room More tickets added Everything to do with feelings The sale gives consumers the opportunity to buy flight tickets to/from any destination in South Africa (as the airline only runs domestic flights). This means that a trip that could traditionally have cost a person up to R2k (approximate prices of competitor airlines) in one direction, could cost a consumer R10 return!With only an initial 45,000 tickets on offer and over 30 million South African adults who could have been vying for them it was always going to be about trying to beat the odds which realistically, were stacked against the vast majority of consumers.The day started off withand, waiting for the website to go live. People accessed the airlines website fingers boldly typing on their keyboards, confident that they would be first to get the tickets.Thisquickly turned toas some consumers couldn't access the site (as one of the servers had an issue, which the team quickly sorted out). Disbelief was replaced with, as the refresh button was frantically pressed, to reveal the brand's bright pink 'waiting room'.The airline developed a virtual waiting room where all consumers were automatically directed to, and every five minutes, a 'random selection' of consumers were allowed to access the actual website, in order to make their purchases.Relief didn't last long, because many spent the entire day waiting to be randomly selected. The five-minute timer on the landing page quickly turned relief to Frustration, frustration to Anger, anger to Desperation, and desperation propelled consumers to the doorstep of Hope.Ahh, hope! The most powerful (and deceptive) of emotions! Hope has a way of overlooking all fact and reality. Hope can fool you. Hope can have you logging onto the website from multiple devices, her little voice telling you, so sweetly and gently, that you stand a chance. Yet, with each five-minute interval, more and more South Africans crossed that delicate line from excitement to near-madness!Calls were made furiously to friends and family, comparing levels of hope, frustration and anger. Some even vowed to 'log-off' to their friends, but secretly didn't and were online when, at around lunchtime, the airline added more tickets to the initial offer.This, in what can only have been called a sign from the heavens, re-ignited every emotion at greater intensities, and the resolve of everyone who had yet to buy these coveted tickets was renewed!But, as with all good things, this too came to an end, and for millions around the country, hope died. Her time-of-death was called at shortly before 3pm on Tuesday, 7 May 2019, when the last 1% of tickets were sold out. WHAT. A. DAY!There is a part of me that feels very sad that I didnt get any tickets, yet the truth is, it wasnt really about the tickets. This airline has the cheapest flights in any case - so their 30%-off sale that is still running remains a bargain offering.No. This had everything to do with feelings because feelings are at the core of every consumer decision. We feel our way through purchases because we enjoy that endorphin rush after weve bought ourselves something, we know someone else would want. We are, by the way, mere mortals. (This is the story I have chosen to tell myself as a mechanism of comfort).Well done, FlySafair! I loved every moment of that day! This was undoubtedly the most fun (as a consumer) I have had in a while. I think those who managed to get tickets should do some YouTube tutorials for next year's sale. I would definitely subscribe to your channel. You could even show us how to exercise our fingers, and how to be 'strategic' about how we press the 'refresh' button.While I wasnt one of the lucky ones, I am inspired to find more online consumery' things to get involved in.Any suggestions, anyone? Corporate South Africa, represented by Bonang Mohale (CEO: Business Leadership South Africa) and Sandile Zungu (President: Black Business Council), will be sharing a couch with Mondli Makhanya (Editor-In-Chief of City Press) at the 2019 Brand Summit South Africa to discuss the crucial role it plays - and it must play - in shaping perceptions about South Africa, at home and globally. How will they do this? Is South Africas economy ready for rejuvenation? What could possibly go wrong? What will Corporate South Africa do differently to ensure that state capture never happens again in South Africa and that public interest, ethical leadership, and sound corporate governance get placed at the centre of all business activity, alongside the traditional drive to enhance shareholder value? This three-way discussion could not be more timeous; following the much contested 2019 general elections in which the governing African National Congress came out a victor again, albeit with an overall score that fell below the psychological 60% mark for the first time since 1994.Corporate South Africa is, without contest, one of the key drivers of investor sentiments in the local economy. Its vibrancy in the domestic market and the levels of confidence it displays are closely watched by international investors, as many of them also seek local partners in order to establish presence in South Africa and to grow their footprint in the region.As South Africas economy begins the difficult journey to recovery from the heavy weight of almost a decade of state capture and all the negativity that came with it, corporate South Africa has to come up with ways to partner with government, labour, and other socio-economic players not only to drive investments in order to rejuvenate economic activity, but to also pave the way for the integration of more South Africans, especially SMMES, youth, and women-driven businesses into the mainstream of the economy.Immediately following the three-way discussion, Sikonathi Mantshantsha, Deputy Editor of the Financial Mail, will moderate a broader discussion panel involving other small and big business role players, including the fast-growing start-up and tech businesses, on the role that business South Africa should play to enhance the countrys investor appeal in order to sustainably grow the economy.The 2019 Brand Summit South Africa will be hosted on 6-7 June at The Forum, Bryanston. Auditor-General Kimi Makwetu will deliver the keynote address with specific focus on why ethical management of public and investor funds is a crucial ingredient to generating domestic and global goodwill for South Africa and to positioning our country as a trusted investment destination, competing favourably against others.The annual Brand Summit South Africa is a think tank on positioning options and requirements for country brands, with South Africa at the centre of our deliberations. It explores ways in which South Africa can best position itself to compete favourably against its regional and global peers for FDI, (Business) Tourism, lucrative multilaterally funded Research Projects, fee paying foreign tertiary students, consideration to serve as a preferred regional base for global corporations and other organisations that bring foreign exchange, skills, expertise, etc.The Brand Summit offers a non-governmental, politically unaligned and unscripted platform for participants (South African, other Africans, and people from other parts of the world) to analyse the evolving image of South Africa. Our aim is to facilitate open, frank, but constructive discussions about what is working, what is not working, and what has to be done in order to improve the global appeal of South Africa. We believe that the country and the continents domestic and global appeal and, eventually, economic performance, are tightly influenced by image, reputation, economic and political policy stability, as well as performance in areas such as health systems, education systems, sports, other social services, etc.Over the next few years, the Brand Summit South Africa will be merged with the more Pan-Africanthat will be incubated in South Africa before being opened-up to host city bids from around the African continent This job expired on 31 May 2019. Big Opportunities for Art Major 05/22/2019 Elizabeth Luersman 19 took advantage of Bluffton Universitys small-school atmosphere and will start her journey as an art teacher in the fall at Lima Central Catholic High School. Blufftons small-school atmosphere provides big opportunities for art education grad Elizabeth Luersman 19 followed her big sister to Bluffton University and now shes following her into the professional world of teaching, but along the way, Luersman forged her own path and took advantage of all the opportunities available at Bluffton. In the fall, she will start her journey as an art teacher at Lima Central Catholic High School. I feel prepared to be a teacher, said Luersman, an art education major from Ottoville, Ohio. Bluffton is really good at preparing education majors to be in the classroom. Luersman chose Bluffton after visiting her sister Sarah Luersman 16 on campus. My sister gave me an unofficial tour, and I saw Andi [Baumgartner, associate professor of art] in the art building and he showed me around, said Luersman. It was very casual but it felt real. Thats what I was looking for in a college. I liked the smaller class sizes and both the education department and the art department are great here. It just felt right. At Bluffton, Luersman was involved in pep band, concert band and the honors program for four years; performed in the musical and served as a C. Henry Smith Scholar for two years; tutored at Bluffton Elementary and the Allen County Juvenile Detention Center; and joined the Sustainability Club in her senior year. She also worked as an art department assistant for four years. It was crazy intense at times, but being involved in so much was a wonderful experience, said Luersman, who also spent four weeks studying art in Italy during a summer with CIEE, a nonprofit study abroad program. I loved going to the churches and seeing the art. It was just beautiful. You would go in the church and just see history come alive. In the U.S., were like, Wow, this building is 200 years old, but in Italy thats pretty new, especially in Rome. During her senior year, Luersman challenged herself to complete a senior departmental honors project. Titled, The Day I Lost My Colors, Luersman wrote and illustrated a picture book that depicts the effects of depression and anxiety on children. Throughout the book, the colors start to dull and eventually theres almost no color, but at the end she starts her path to healing and theres just a hint of color again. I intentionally didnt end the book with all of her problems solved because it opens up the conversation for readers, explained Luersman. To me, thats the most important thing. Luersman finished the book while completing student teaching at Bath High School. Her coordinating teacher was Sarah (King 03) Hartzler, a fellow Bluffton graduate. The two instantly bonded over their shared experiences. She is a great teacher for me to look up to, and shes taught me so much about teaching art and just art itself, said Luersman. Plus, we had a lot of fun talking about things she remembered about Bluffton. Whether it was with friends, alumni or professors, Luersman will take the connections she made as a Bluffton student wherever life takes her. Thats the benefit of being at a small school. I was able to form personal connections, said Luersman. Now its time for Luersman to do the same in her classroom. Cannes 2019 Diary: Who Looked The Most Distinctive On Day 8? Fashion Trends Devika Tripathi White gowns continued to woo us on the day eighth of the ongoing Cannes Film Festival 2019. However, we mostly witnessed minimal looks and a few old school avatars. While some went with pantsuits, the others gave us embellishment break with prints. From Elle Fanning to Leomi Anderson to Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, here are the divas, who impressed us with their fashion game. Take a look. Elle Fanning Elle Fanning has been creating some stunning red carpet moments at Cannes 2019 with her magical looks. The latest attire of hers from Dior was a strict departure from the fairytale gowns. This time, the actress exuded Parisian vibes and gave us a chic look, which transported us to the 1920s France. It was an old-school look and Elle looked chic. After her ensemble, we have a feeling that a combination of breezy top, flared skirt, and statement hat is going to become a trend. There was a whiff of contemporary classicsm to her look. She wore a Dior Haute Couture ivory silk organza shirt and night blue tulle skirt. The shirt was enhanced by sheer accents and the skirt added to the dreamy effect. Another signature element to her look was that warp and weft black Cannage hat. Elle paired her colour-blocked ensemble with pointed black pumps, which went well with her look. The red lip shade and the blonde tresses further gave her look a vintage effect. So fresh! Winnie Harlow Canadian model and a former America's Next Top Model contestant, Winnie Harlow opted for a Jean Paul Gaultier's flaming red dress. The brand, which is known for its maximalist approach, gave Winnie a theatrical look. The model wore a one-shouldered dress that was accentuated by bold silhouette and was absolutely structure-defying. It was a ruffled and pleated number and was enhanced by layers of tulle. The dress cascaded beautifully and a drape tied to her neat high bun added to the theatrical effect. Winnie looked like a fierce warrior princess and this attire of hers was not quite anybody's cup of tea. She teamed her red-hot ensemble with nude-toned heels, which came from Jimmy Choo and went well with her look. Her stunning earrings and complementing bracelet came from de Grisogono. The makeup was highlighted by a glossy pink lip shade and red-toned eye shadow. Winnie graced the premiere of Quentin Tarantino film, 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood'. Camila Morrone If there was somebody who, looked understated, exuded soothing vibes, and made a strong case for white gowns at Cannes 2019, it was Argentinian model and Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend, Camila Morrone. She wore a gorgeous ensemble by Miu Miu and looked a class apart. The actress brought back the charm of old Hollywood glamour with a brief contemporary touch. She absolutely looked like a modern princess with her strapless ivory gown that was enhanced by soft fabric. The hem of her attire was adorned with feathery accents, which added to the magical touch. We thought her gown had some beautfiul balance of drama and minimalism. She elevated her style quotient with a beautiful diamond neckpiece, which came from Bvlgari's new Cinemagia High Jewelry Collection. The makeup was natural and nude-toned with a matte brown lip shade and well-defined kohl with a subtle pink eye shadow. The middle-parted bun completed her look. Leomi Anderson Victoria's Secret model, Leomi Anderson went for a total dramatic look as she attended the premiere of 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood'. The model looked spectacular in her Rami Kadi gown, which consisted of a structured bodice and a voluminous sweeping drape. Her theatrical black-hued costume was ruffled and strapless and it was hand-embroidered with metallic plexi glass. The mirror-work was intricately done and created a fascinating dimension. This was probably one of the most dramatic numbers of the day. She wore complementing heels and statement jewellery to notch up her look. The makeup was enhanced by a glossy eye shadow and the neat hairdo completed her red carpet avatar. Dakota Fanning Dakota Fanning exuded regal vibes on the 8th day of the Cannes Film Festival 2019. She wore an Armani gown and gave us the most minimal white gown at Cannes this year. She wore a strapless gown that was crisp and tailored to perfection. Her ensemble featured a pointed bodice and a flared hem. It was a structural number, which was contrasted by a yellow bow sash, which we thought was such a brilliant idea. We are pretty sure that she is going to set wedding-wear trends with this number of hers. Her look was humble with delicate earrings, elegant neckpiece, and complementing bracelet. The makeup was dewy-toned with contoured cheekbones and a glossy pink lip shade. The impeccable bun rounded out her look. The elder sister of Elle Fanning also attended the premier of Tarantino's movie. Karolina Kurkova Czech model and actress, Karolina Kurkova's attire was a pure visual treat. She stepped up and looked distinctive in her gown that featured good old prints. She wore an Etro gown for the premiere of 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood'. It was a silk ball gown, which was strapless and featured a column bodice and voluminous skirt. Dipped in a metallic pink hue, it was accentuated by green floral prints, which spruced up her ensemble and gave us spring vibes. The gown was also detailed with pockets, which we feel should become a trend. She accessorised her look with dainty Chopard earrings. The makeup was highlighted by a pink lip shade and the middle-parted bun completed her stylish look. Sonam Kapoor Ahuja Unlike other Indian divas, Sonam Kapoor Ahuja took a road-less-travelled and wore a pantsuit for the premiere of Tarantino's film, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in lead. She exuded power and elegance in her custom Ralph & Russo tuxedo. Sonam's attire consisted of a structured jacket that featured a bold neckline and was cinched at the waist. She teamed it with tapered pants and a voluminous drape was also attached to her suit, which gave a dramatic touch to her attire. Her attire signified a perfect balance of minimalism and maximalist. Her pointed pumps totalled her all-white look and came from Jimmy Choo. She upped her look with an emerald, diamond, and white gold necklace from Chopard. The complementing earrings also came from the same brand. The glossy pink lip shade, winged kohl, and the middle-parted bun completed her look. Virginie Ledoyen Virginie Ledoyen, who surprised us with her peacock motifs-inspired Dior gown last time, notched up her fashion game with a bottle green gown. After Julianne Moore, Leonardo DiCaprio's 'The Beach' co-star also stunned us. She attended her co-actor's movie premiere in her Valentino gown that was noodle-strapped and featured a plunging neckline. Her gown was voluminous with subtle pleats and her ensemble also came with pockets. She accessorised her look with multi-hued Chopard earrings, which elevated her style. The makeup featured a glossy pink lip shade and the ponytail completed her look. Virginie looked effortlessly gorgeous. Michelle Rodriguez Actress Michelle Rodriguez also donned a Rami Kadi gown, which we found pretty impressive. Her ensemble was dramatic but not in an overwhelming sort of a way. Michelle wore an off-shouldered attire that featured light feathery accents on the neckline. The gown from the SS19 couture collection of the designer and it was an absolutely fairytale ballroom number. The attire was brilliantly textured with abstract patterns, which made her gown special. The feathers also adorned the hemline. With this, the actress made a strong case for ivory feathered gowns. She accesssorised her look with a delicate Piaget neckpiece and the makeup was light with a pink lip shade. The messy bob hairdo wrapped up her red carpet avatar. Chiara Ferragni Fashion influencer and businesswoman, Chiara Ferragni gave us a sassy look with her Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini separates. Her attire was about contrasts and it was an absolutely edgy number. Her bespoke attire consisted of a bow-detailed crop top, which was studded with Swarovski crystal. She paired her strappy black and silver blouse with a black silk chiffon skirt with a deep side slit. Her attire exuded boho vibes but with an opulent touch. She paired her ensemble with glittery silver and black sandals, which absolutely went well with her attire. The makeup was highlighted by a glossy pink lip shade, contoured cheekbones, and kohl with glittery eyeshadow. The middle-parted blonde bob tresses completed her look. We thought Camila Morrone, Karolina Kurkova, Elle Fanning, and Sonam Kapoor Ahuja looked the best. Who do you think looked the most impressive? Feel free to share opinions in the comment section. Lancado em 2015, o filme Minions ganhara uma sequencia em 2020 e, segundo o site Deadline, a Universal Pictures ja definiu ate mesmo o nome para o longa: Minions - The Rise of Gru [Minions - A Ascensao de Gru, em traducao livre]. Continua depois da publicidade PUBLICIDADE A producao e um spin-off da franquia de filmes Meu Malvado Favorito, uma das mais lucrativas animacoes do mundo do cinema, lancada inicialmente em 2010. Continua depois da publicidade Continua depois da publicidade Ainda de acordo com o Deadline, cujo texto foi repostado pelo Twitter oficial e verificado na Universal Pictures, a produtora definiu a data de lancamento do longa nos Estados Unidos para 3 de julho de 2020. Universal and Illumination have set on a title for the sequel to their hit 2015 animated film #Minions https://t.co/V1CNYxdG64 Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) 21 de maio de 2019 Access and Visibility for an Important Collection The placement of this collection on loan at the Museum offers a significant opportunity for increased access to and visibility of these objects. The collection as a unit has only been previously exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2005; select individual works have been lent to a few major institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Museum visitors and students will have a chance to preview the collection through an intimate installation of approximately twenty-five works on view May 23June 2, 2019. Bowdoin faculty and the Museums curatorial staff will investigate the collection in a year-long research project led by Stephen Perkinson, professor of art history and associate dean for academic affairs, and Kathryn Gerry, visiting assistant professor of art history. Following this period of focused study, the Museum of Art will present a major exhibition of the material, from August 2020 to February 2021. The Wyvern Collection will remain on loan at Bowdoin through 2022. With a collection dedicated for over two centuries to enhancing the education of Bowdoin students, the Museums holdings now consist of nearly 25,000 objects, ranging in medium, time period, and geographic origin, said Frank Goodyear, co-director of the Bowdoin College Museum of Art. The loan from the Wyvern Collection meaningfully strengthens the Museums offerings in medieval and Renaissance art, while reinforcing its historic and continued commitment to object-centered teaching and learning. A Global Context, a Wellspring of Research Potential The Wyvern Collection not only provides outstanding examples of art from the Medieval and early Renaissance erain addition to select masterworks from antiquity and later periodsbut also puts those works into a global context," Museum Co-director Anne Collins Goodyear said. "Ethiopian devotional paintings, for example, will expand our ability to demonstrate the cultural exchange between Africa and the broader Mediterranean world during this period in the pre- and early modern era. As the only transhistorical and transnational museum in our region and as part of a leading liberal arts college, the Wyvern Collection enables the Museum to share with our public an expanded view of historic global communication and cultural exchange. The Wyvern Collection is considered one of the worlds most important private collections of medieval art, according to Perkinson. The objects it includes cover a truly remarkable range of artistic forms and materials, bearing exceptional witness to the creativity and ingenuity of artists in this period, he said. It is an honor to be able to bring this collection to the US for the first time, presenting its works to our students as critical resources for learning, and sharing them with our broader community and region. The research project will include student courses led by Gerry and other faculty in the departments of art history, history, religion, English, Classics, and Africana studies. The objects in this loan will have a tremendous impact on teaching across the Bowdoin campus, Gerry said. This past spring, my students and I used some of the pieces in the Wyvern Collection to explore issues of gender, sexuality, and race in medieval art, and I am thrilled that students were able to supply new perspectives on some of these works through exhibition labels they wrote for the preview installation this May. I have developed a new course centered on this collection for the fall, and I know the students are as excited as I am by the opportunity to generate new ideas and research working with this impressive group of objects. A man alleged to be behind a string of thefts in the last year was denied bail last week, with a judge determining he would ignore any court-ordered conditions if released. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/5/2019 (954 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us A man alleged to be behind a string of thefts in the last year was denied bail last week, with a judge determining he would ignore any court-ordered conditions if released. "Recent history suggests he is either unwilling or unable to follow court orders. Frankly it appears, as somebody looking at the history of this, hes out of control and not wanting to be bound by court orders," Judge Donovan Dvorak told the Brandon provincial court on Thursday. Riley Yates, 19, is facing multiple charges including break, enter and theft, theft under $5,000, possession of a weapon and assault. None of the charges has been proven in court and Yates is presumed innocent. On April 24, 2018, police were called to a residence on Eighth Street that had been broken into and was missing a number of big-ticket items, Crown attorney Rich Lonstrup said. Two men allegedly entered the home through the back door and stole a refrigerator, a washer and dryer set, a toilet, as well as various tools including a mitre saw and a work light. Yates was arrested after police tracked down the items being sold for $200, Lonstrup said. Defence lawyer Bob Harrison told the court Yates believed the items were his co-accuseds and that he needed help moving them. In December 2018, Yates was stopped by police in the back lane of an address in Brandon, Lonstrup said. He allegedly had a three-wheeled bike in his possession and was burying two backpacks in a snow bank. In one of the backpacks, police found a loaded, black Crosman vigilante revolver-style BB gun with the serial number missing, Lonstrup said, as well as a meat cleaver, a double-edged knife and a purple mask. In March this year, police were called to Rona after a couple entered the store and stole approximately $800 worth of tools and other miscellaneous merchandise, Lonstrup said. Yates was arrested after police allegedly identified him as one of the suspects caught on surveillance video. Also in March, police pulled over a vehicle Yates was allegedly driving on the Trans-Canada Highway after multiple witnesses reported it to be driving erratically, Lonstrup said. When looking into the swerving vehicle, witnesses said they could clearly see the male driver hitting the female passenger. "He was hitting her, according to witnesses, at full strength," Lonstrup said. Police observed Yates to have bloodied and cut hands and the passenger to have a swollen face, Lonstrup said, but the alleged victim told police she had not been assaulted. "(Yates) has steadily accumulated serious charges in the totality of the circumstances, what you have is a pretty clear indication that Mr. Yates cannot follow conditions," Lonstrup said. Yates has explanations for almost all the charges against him, Harrison said, which could raise reasonable doubt in a trial. In presenting a stricter bail plan that would have Yates put up cash, a surety and live outside of Brandon, Harrison also noted Yates does not have a previous criminal record. Ultimately Dvorak determined Yates not a candidate for release and denied his bail. Yates will appear in court again at a later date. edebooy@brandonsun.com Twitter: @erindebooy A Grade 11 students love for physics is taking him to a different province. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Vincent Massey High School Grade 11 student Shashvat Varma is heading to Ontario this summer to take part in the international summer school young physicists program at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) A Grade 11 students love for physics is taking him to a different province. Shashvat Varma, a student at Vincent Massey High School, was recently accepted into the international summer school young physicists program at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Ontario. The program is geared toward students who tend to pursue physics in university, and is designed to enhance students knowledge of physics. When his dad told him he was chosen to go, Varma said he was quite surprised. "I said no way because I didnt think being from such a small town here in Brandon I would be accepted to such a thing," Varma said. "Lots of people out there are doing lots more things that are related to this. I havent done much, but Im just really passionate about it and I think thats why they accepted me." There are 20 students from Canada and another 20 students from across the world who participate in the program each year. Varma excelled in physics class at Vincent Massey, receiving a 100 per cent grade. Michael DeGroot, who taught physics to Varma this year, said he has referred a few people to the program over the years, but Varma is just the second one to be accepted. "Its definitely a rare occurrence, they dont take very many people," DeGroot said. "You have to be quite a qualified young candidate." Often Varma will spend time outside class working to better himself, DeGroot said. "Hes the kind of kid that is always paying attention, is always very involved, loves physics," DeGroot said. "The thing that sets him apart I think compared to other students is the work hes prepared to do outside of class time, so he motivates himself to get ahead in the curriculum." Varma spends time independently working on the internet, or using other resources to push himself. Varma said everything about physics excites him, as he gets to learn how things work. He has already started planning his future, with his plan to attend either the California Institute of Technology, Waterloo University, or Rice University in Texas, with his end goal to become an astrophysicist. Varma said anything he can take away from the two week program from July 14-July 27 would be a help for him in the future. "Im really excited because they do a lot of stuff thats not in the curriculum here, like quantum physics, that Im really interested in," Varma said. "I think it will be a really good opportunity for me." mverge@brandonsun.com Twitter: @Melverge5 OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce Wednesday that the federal government is buying two more Arctic patrol ships on the top of the six it has already ordered from Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/5/2019 (951 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Shipbuilders and Irving employees attend an announcement at Irving Shipbuilding's Halifax shipyard in Halifax on Friday, February 8, 2019. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce Wednesday that the federal government is buying two more Arctic patrol ships on the top of the six it has already ordered from Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce Wednesday that the federal government is buying two more Arctic patrol ships on the top of the six it has already ordered from Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding. However, unlike the first six ships, which are being built for the navy at a total cost of $3.5 billion, a government source said the seventh and eighth will be built for the Canadian Coast Guard. The source, who was not authorized to comment publicly, said the move is intended to address the Canadian Coast Guard's desperate need for new ships. Documents obtained by The Canadian Press earlier this year warned that more than a third of the coast guard's 26 large vessels have exceeded their expected lifespans and many won't survive until replacements arrive. And that advanced age is already affecting the coast guard's ability to do its job, including reduced search-and-rescue coverage, ferry-service disruptions and cancelled resupply runs to Arctic and coastal communities. The second problem is the threat of layoffs, which Irving has long warned will happen unless the government fills a gap between when the last Arctic patrol ship is finished and construction on the navy's new $60-billion warship fleet, the source said. The government sought to address that gap in November when it ordered the sixth Arctic patrol vessel for the navy from Irving and agreed to pay the shipyard to slow production for a total cost of $800 million. Government officials at the time defended the high cost of that move, saying a third-party assessment commissioned by the government, which has never been made public, indicated it would cost even more to allow a gap to persist. "Ultimately what happens is the workforce gets laid off, you rehire people, it's not the same people so you're retraining, and then you have this learning curve," Patrick Finn, the Defence Department's head of procurement, said in January. "From some of the data we've run, doing what we've done, if we don't do it, we're probably going to pay that much money anyways in inefficiencies and get nothing for it. So the analysis shows that this is really a prudent way forward." Even then, federal bureaucrats and Irving both warned more would need to be done as even with those measures, there was still the threat of an 18- to 24-month gap between construction of the two fleets. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction Bill Blair stands during question period in the House of Commons in West Block on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick Four stories in the news for Wednesday, May 22 NATIONAL MONEY LAUNDERING INQUIRY NOT NECESSARY: BLAIR The federal minister in charge of Canada's fight against money laundering says dirty money is being spread across Canada, but a national public inquiry into the problem is not necessary. Organized Crime Reduction Minister Bill Blair says he supports British Columbia's decision to hold a public inquiry into money laundering, but the federal government will focus on implementing other measures to combat illegal money. But the author of a recent C.D. Howe Institute report on money laundering says Canada is behind the times when it comes to fighting the crime. Kevin Comeau's report said Canada's anti-money laundering policies are among the weakest of Western democracies and billions are laundered in Canada annually. FEDS TO BUY TWO MORE ARCTIC SHIPS FROM IRVING Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce today that the federal government is buying two more Arctic patrol ships on the top of the six it has already ordered from Halifax-based Irving Shipbuilding. However, unlike the first six ships, which are being built for the navy at a total cost of $3.5 billion, a government source said the seventh and eighth will be built for the Canadian Coast Guard. The source said the move is intended to address the Canadian Coast Guard's desperate need for new ships. The second problem is the threat of layoffs, which Irving has long warned will happen unless the government fills a gap between when the last Arctic patrol ship is finished and construction on the navy's new $60-billion warship fleet. CASE OF OTTAWA-AREA BARTENDER COULD SET PRECEDENT The rare case of a bar server charged with criminal negligence in the suspected drunk-driving deaths of two teens is up in court today. Two young men, Brandon Hanniman and Alexander Paquette, were killed and two others were injured when police say their car veered off the road and plowed into a rock cut. Police later said the group had been drinking at a local establishment and alcohol contributed to the crash. While bartenders and bars may face lawsuits related to serving drunk drivers, legal experts say they are not aware of a case in Ontario where someone has been found criminally responsible. DOUG FORD AND BLAINE HIGGS TO MEET IN TORONTO Ontario Premier Doug Ford is set to meet with his New Brunswick counterpart today to discuss a number of issues, including their shared opposition to the federal carbon tax. Ford and Blaine Higgs have both been vocal in their opposition to the tax, which the federal government imposed earlier this year on provinces that didn't have their own price on carbon. Ontario's government is waiting for a decision after fighting the tax in court. Saskatchewan's top court ruled in favour of the federal government in a separate legal battle against the carbon price, but that province has said it plans to appeal the decision. Higgs has said New Brunswick will join in that fight. ALSO IN THE NEWS: The Department of National Defence and Statistics Canada will hold a news conference roday to address the findings in the 2018 Statistics Canada Survey on sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland will meet with steel workers and businesses in Regina to discuss the elimination of tariffs on steel and aluminum, and the new NAFTA. Statistics Canada releases the retail trade results for March. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. to release its national mortgage and consumer credit trends report. VANCOUVER - An Indigenous protester opposed to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion interrupted a speech by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Liberal fundraiser on Wednesday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. William George, a member of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, stands to interrupt a speech by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Liberal Party fundraising lunch in Vancouver, on Wednesday May 22, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck VANCOUVER - An Indigenous protester opposed to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion interrupted a speech by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Liberal fundraiser on Wednesday. Will George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver stood up and called Trudeau a liar and a weak leader. "Climate leaders don't build pipelines. So many of our elected leaders in B.C. oppose the pipeline. The mayor of Vancouver got arrested opposing this pipeline," he said, referring to Kennedy Stewart, who was arrested last year while still a New Democrat MP. "I'm from Tsleil-Waututh Nation and we say no," George added. "Are you going to push this pipeline through?" Trudeau greeted George by name and thanked him for being a strong voice for his community. As the protester continued to talk over him, Trudeau calmly asked if he could respond before saying his government is protecting the environment, including by bringing in a $1.5-billion plan to protect Canada's oceans. "There are strong Indigenous voices like yours, speaking up very strongly against this pipeline and against various projects. There are also, however, very strong Indigenous voices speaking up in favour of this project. I know you don't mean to delegitimize their voices as well," Trudeau said. He said there are a broad range of perspectives and his government's approach has always been to listen to diverse views and try to respond the best way it can. "We're never going to get to unanimity," Trudeau said. George asked Trudeau to meet with his people and accused the prime minister of only sitting down with groups that want to "sign off" on the project. "What do you tell your children?" George asked. "I honour my ancestors, my children, by protecting my lands and waters. You threaten our lands and waters. How dare you bring that through our waters? Those are our spiritual highways. You have no right to do that to us." Trudeau said George was welcome to stay if he wanted to listen, but he was eventually ushered out of the Opus Hotel in downtown Vancouver by a manager and an RCMP officer. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the event, singing and chanting anti-pipeline slogans. Activists drove around the block in a truck with a billboard that read "Trudeau: No pipelines in a climate emergency." As George was leaving the event, Trudeau asked him to give his best to those gathered outside, saying their voices are very important to the next election. This isn't the first time George has spoken out during an event with the prime minister. In January, he called Trudeau a liar during a town hall meeting in Kamloops, B.C. He was involved in launching a protest "watch house" near the Trans Mountain terminal in Burnaby, B.C., where he stayed for about a year. He was also arrested while protesting the project on a nearby bridge, he said. Outside the hotel on Wednesday, George said he and another protester paid $250 each to attend the Liberal fundraiser and it was worth it to get inside to voice his concerns. He said Trudeau didn't answer any of his questions. "It is frustrating. There are a lot of emotions when I go into these rooms and address him on such a serious matter," he said. George added that he understands why some First Nations support the Trans Mountain pipeline project. "You're looking at nations that can't hunt or gather any more. They have to take these deals," he said. Trudeau's speech was the first of two Liberal fundraising events in Vancouver after he announced that 18 new ships will be built to renew the Canadian Coast Guard fleet at a cost of $15.7 billion. He told the audience at the lunchtime event that climate change is a real and pressing issue and Conservative politicians don't believe it's important to take action. "There is unfortunately still a debate going on as to whether or not we should be fighting climate change. That sort of blows my mind," he said. The government purchased the Trans Mountain pipeline and expansion project for $4.5 billion. Construction was put on hold last August after the Federal Court of Appeal struck down the federal permit for the project. The project would triple the existing capacity from the Edmonton area to Burnaby, B.C., and increase the number of tankers in Vancouver's Burrard Inlet seven-fold. Trudeau's second fundraiser was held over dinner at Neptune Palace Seafood Restaurant, where tickets went for $1,500 per person, or $750 for adults under 35. The prime minister told attendees that Conservatives believe in "trickle down economics," or the idea that giving tax breaks and advantages to the wealthiest will create growth that will "somehow end up helping hardworking, ordinary Canadians." But he said that idea failed the previous Conservative government, which didn't understand that even though there was growth in the economy, so many average Canadians felt it didn't touch them. "We got elected with a very different idea for our economy and for Canadians," he said. "The idea that if you want to create growth, it has to be for everyone, not just for a few," he said. With a file from Amy Smart. DONKIN, N.S. - A Cape Breton colliery has been issued another stop work order after a methane fire occurred as coal miners worked on the rock face Tuesday afternoon. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. DONKIN, N.S. - A Cape Breton colliery has been issued another stop work order after a methane fire occurred as coal miners worked on the rock face Tuesday afternoon. Harold Carroll, the provincial Labour Department's executive director of occupational health and safety, confirms the ignition of the underground gas at the Donkin mine and says there were no injuries as a result of the flames. Workers repair the road leading to the Donkin coal mine in Donkin, N.S., on Monday Dec. 13, 2004. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan He says inspectors have been sent to the mine, and work on the area where the ignition occurred has been suspended as investigations are carried out. It's the latest incident at the colliery operated by Kameron Coal, a subsidiary of U.S.-based Mining Corp., where a series of massive roof collapses last fall led to the temporary suspension of operations. The flames occurred in an area of 730 metres of rock face that the Labour Department permitted to reopen for coal mining in January after the roof falls in December. An email from Shannon Campbell, vice president of project development at the mine, says the ignition of the methane occurred at 2:30 p.m. while cutting sandstone in the upper part of the mining face, and the resulting flames were extinguished by its employees. In an earlier interview, Carroll had said the fire occurred Tuesday night. Campbell said the crew "used handheld fire extinguishers to put out the fire and managed the face conditions for about 60 minutes." "The presence of sandstone as a conduit of methane in the face area is an understood phenomenon in the Sydney coal field," said the mine executive. The company also noted "the Nova Scotia mining regulations require firefighting equipment in the face area for these specific reasons," and said that "regulation, training and action worked as planned." "Kameron Coal will continue to work closely with the Department of Labour throughout the investigation to determine if any other mitigative measures could be implemented." Mining continues in another 730-metre area of the mine known as the Bleeder Panel that was recently allowed to reopen by the department. The mine, which runs deep under the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Breton's north shore, has received 16 fines for a variety of safety infractions since October 2017. Fines to date have totalled $29,500 and include infractions ranging from unsafe operation of conveyor belts to accumulations of coal dust. Carroll has said in interviews that the numbers of infractions is "unusually" high for a Nova Scotia firm, but should be seen in the context of a new operation in a highly regulated mine. By Michael Tutton in Halifax. Follow (at)mtuttoncporg on Twitter. Note to readers: This is a corrected version of the story. An earlier version quoted a government source who incorrectly stated the fire was late at night. GATINEAU, Que. - Police forces in western Quebec are investigating a series of attacks on public utility installations and private business equipment that occurred over a one-month period earlier this spring. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. GATINEAU, Que. - Police forces in western Quebec are investigating a series of attacks on public utility installations and private business equipment that occurred over a one-month period earlier this spring. Montreal La Presse reported Wednesday as many as 15 sites were hit by bullets from a high-calibre rifle between mid-March and mid-April. Targeted sites included hydro towers, highway inspection installations and telecommunication company equipment. There were no reported injuries. Hydro-Quebec spokesman Louis-Olivier Batty said the damage to one of the corporation's towers cost between $75,000 and $100,000 to repair. "There was no impact for our customers in Quebec but we have assessed there was an impact on our exports to Ontario," Batty said. "We are still pursuing our investigation but we can tell it was potentially limited and did not last very long." Police in Gatineau, the MRC-des-Collines police force and Quebec provincial police all confirmed they have open investigations into attacks on public utilities or on private business equipment. Gatineau police said they are investigating nine cases and are trying to determine whether a person they recently arrested in an unrelated case is linked to any of the utility or equipment attacks. "The installations vary and the equipment and buildings that were targeted were all different," said Gatineau police spokeswoman Andree East. She said the damages to the various locations are believed to be in the tens of thousands of dollars. Provincial police said bullets were fired at installations belonging to Bell and Videotron in Quebec's Outaouais region. Shots were also fired, they said, at highway inspection installations in the same area. Eric Labonte, president the Quebec Brotherhood of Highway Traffic Controllers Constables, said the attacks on the installations are an example why his members should be armed like their counterparts in some other Canadian jurisdictions. "Thankfully there weren't any employees, because there could have been serious injuries," Labonte said. OTTAWA - Statistics Canada has offered a sobering assessment of the Canadian Forces' four-year war on sexual misconduct, suggesting in a new report Wednesday that the military has made only minimal progress on several fronts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Canadian Forces CH-47 Chinooks participate in a flyover of Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Friday, May 9, 2014. A new Statistics Canada survey of military personnel suggests the Canadian Forces has made minimal progress in eradicating sexual misconduct from the ranks despite years of effort. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA - Statistics Canada has offered a sobering assessment of the Canadian Forces' four-year war on sexual misconduct, suggesting in a new report Wednesday that the military has made only minimal progress on several fronts. The report was the result of a survey of about 36,000 service members conducted by Statistics Canada for the military last fall, the second such survey after an inaugural run in 2016. On the surface, the survey yielded several reasons for optimism: fewer military members reported having witnessed or experienced sexualized or discriminatory behaviour over the previous 12 months than in the first survey. Yet military commanders were tempering any congratulatory messages given that the number who reported seeing or being targeted by such behaviour was still high: around 70 per cent in 2018 compared to 80 per cent in 2016. "Experiencing repeated pressure from the same person for dates or sexual relations and offering workplace benefits for sexual activity did not decrease in either the regular force or the primary reserve," the report reads. Even more worrying, the survey found that there had been only a negligible decline in the percentage of military personnel who reported having been the victims of sexual assaults over the previous 12 months. Representatives from the Department of National Defence and Statistics Canada hold a news conference to address the findings in the 2018 Statistics Canada Survey on Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces at National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick According to the results, 1.6 per cent of regular-force members about 900 full-time military personnel reported having been the victims of sexual assaults over the previous 12 months. That compared to 1.7 per cent in 2016. The rate among reservists was even higher, with 2.2 per cent about 600 part-time military personnel reporting they had been the victims of sexual assaults in the previous year, compared to 2.6 per cent in 2016. Sexual assault includes a sexual attack, unwanted sexual touching or sexual activity without consent. During a news conference announcing the results, the military's second-in-command described the number of Forces members who continue to be affected by sexual misconduct as "completely unacceptable." "We've always known that this would be a long and bumpy road, and the survey results released today confirm this," vice-chief of the defence staff Lt.-Gen. Paul Wynnyk said. "Sexual misconduct continues to be a destructive problem within the Canadian Armed Forces, and we have made rather limited progress in eliminating it over the past two-and-a-half years." The Statistics Canada report is the only latest to suggest the military's efforts to eliminate sexual misconduct have fallen short, after similar findings by the federal auditor general and the Forces' own investigations. Despite this, Wynnyk refused to characterize the results as a sign of failure, noting that nine in 10 respondents felt complaints about inappropriate behaviour had been or would be taken seriously. Similar numbers reported feeling inappropriate sexual behaviour was not tolerated in their units and that the military was working hard to create a workplace that prevents such activity. Wynnyk stopped short of announcing any new measures to address the concerns raised by the report, saying the military's top brass needed to first analyze the results before deciding on a new plan of attack. "Many of our efforts since 2015 have aimed to stop offensive behaviours and provide better care and support to those affected," he said. "These efforts continue to be necessary, but they don't get to the heart of the problem." Commanders have grappled with the issue of sexual misconduct in the ranks since media reports in April 2014 that a large number of military sexual assaults were being ignored or played down. An independent investigation by retired Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps in April 2015 found an "underlying sexual culture" in the military that was hostile to women and left victims to fend for themselves. In response, Gen. Jonathan Vance's first action upon taking command of the military in July 2015 was to launch Operation Honour, the name given to the effort to eliminate such behaviour in the Forces. Follow @leeberthiaume on Twitter. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version provided the wrong number of reservists who reported being victims of sexual assault. TORONTO - Canada's top soldier has acknowledged the anger many Canadians felt about the way the Kandahar memorial was unveiled in Ottawa last week in a shroud of secrecy, without the families of the dead soldiers present, and with ongoing limited public access. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/5/2019 (950 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. TORONTO - Canada's top soldier has acknowledged the anger many Canadians felt about the way the Kandahar memorial was unveiled in Ottawa last week in a shroud of secrecy, without the families of the dead soldiers present, and with ongoing limited public access. In an interview from Brussels, Gen. Jonathan Vance promised Wednesday to make it right. The Maple Leaf flies at half-mast over the memorial to fallen soldiers at the Canadian task force headquarters at the Kandahar Airfield on Monday, June 15, 2009. Canada's top soldier acknowledges that last week's unveiling of the Kandahar memorial without the families of dead soldiers present hit a nerve. Gen. Jonathan Vance, chief of the defence staff, tells The Canadian Press no insult or disrespect was intended. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Colin Perkel "We'll turn this around," Vance said. "Where we want to get to is that anybody who wants to visit that memorial can visit." The monument, with shiny black plaques featuring each of Canada's military and civilian war dead, stood for years at Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan. It was moved to Canada after the combat mission ended in 2011. Other than a tour of the country, it had been languishing in a warehouse until now. Last week, the opening of the Afghanistan Memorial Hall occurred without public notice or invitations either to relatives of the dead depicted on the plaques or to wounded veterans. Only days later just ahead of the Victoria Day weekend did the Department of National Defence make the opening public. "To ensure a dignified, dedication service, a quiet, limited service was held in honour of those we have lost," the department said in a statement. "The decision to hold a humble, internal event was made by senior leadership to ensure proper reverence." Jimmy Collins, a former Canadian Forces sergeant who lost several platoon members in a roadside bomb blast in Kandahar province in 2009, called the approach ridiculous and embarrassing. "It upsets me because it seems like the federal government is slowly trying to make everyone forget about the conflict in Afghanistan, the people who served there and their families," Collins said. Sandra Lang, whose daughter Michelle Lang has a plaque on the memorial as the only Canadian journalist killed in Afghanistan, said "very disappointed" barely describes how she and her husband feel. "We can't understand how the bureaucracy came up with this misguided plan," Lang said. "As usual, the civilian casualties are ignored we have had no correspondence or notification of the memorial." Vance, who was on hand for the opening, denied any attempt to hide the war effort. The aim, he said, was to get the memorial up and running as quickly as possible. "It was a beautiful ceremony but it was absent the families and the wounded," Vance said. "It happened. We need to now come up with a way to ensure accessibility." In Vancouver, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he wanted to understand the department's decision-making. "(We want) to ensure that it is a monument that will be there for everyone who wants to remember and celebrate those veterans who stood for Canada," he said. Sean Bruyea, a retired captain and veterans advocate, called the opening a "hypocritical farce." While Vance and other government officials often talk about the importance of family to military members and the military mission, he said, the words ring hollow. "Their actions have consistently contradicted such empty platitudes," Bruyea said. "Preventing a nation, its soldiers and their families to openly mourn only turns the grief inwards upon themselves. Ultimately, some are left feeling so abandoned by our country's government that suicide seems like the only option." Vance said the fragility of the monument was behind the decision to put it indoors at defence headquarters. It would not, he said, have withstood being outdoors. Consideration was given to the War Museum but the memorial is "more than an artifact," he said. The memorial would not be moved, Vance said. "There's a certain elegance to that, because it's a constant reminder for those who work in the headquarters ... of the perils of war and the need to make good decisions around the committal of troops." Vance said he had asked "the team" to go back and look at ensuring wider access. "You'll see very quickly a change that is quite proactive that seeks to get families in but as importantly, the general public people who want to see it," Vance said. "We're probably going to have to do something like what happens at the Pentagon, where there are Pentagon tours." The department wouldn't say when any changes will be implemented. "Planning is currently underway to facilitate access to veterans who would like to pay respects to their fallen comrades," the department said. "We are also considering ways to accommodate special visits by the public on appropriate occasions." Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said what had gone down was an "appalling insult" to the families of those who died for the country. "It seems like Justin Trudeau's government is embarrassed at Canada's role in Afghanistan," Scheer said. "He should immediately apologize and hold a public dedication." Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan said he has asked the military to make sure that the families have access "whenever they would like." He said the government was still planning a public national monument for the Afghanistan mission. Irish Staff and shopping centres in Ireland have been dealt a blow after the group that owns the Dorothy Perkins-Evans-Miss Selfridge stores said it was closing six shops, including in Cork, Dublin, and Galway. The six Irish store closures are part of the 23 closures announced in Britain and Ireland by Arcadia, the retail group owned by Philip Green, which has put 520 jobs at risk. The news came as a shock for its Irish staff and the trade union Mandate, which as recently as last week had agreed to a pay freeze for local employees. Arcadia earlier this year told its Irish staff it was facing financial difficulties and had requested they accept a pay freeze. The stores to close include one in Cork, four in Dublin and one in Galway. The Cork closure involves the Dorothy Perkins-Evans; the Dublin closures involve Evans-Wallis, Topshop-Miss Selfridge, Topshop-Topman, and Wallis; while a Miss Selfridge store is to close in Galway. The union has sought an immediate meeting with Arcadia. The closures are further evidence of the tough trading conditions facing UK-owned retailers. They have often cited high rents in both Britain and Ireland for making matters worse. Meanwhile, Marks and Spencer has highlighted continued difficult trading conditions in Ireland as part of a tough year which saw group profits fall 10%. In its annual results, the retailer said it has continued to find trading conditions in Ireland difficult even after it improved its website specifically for online shoppers in Ireland. Its share price fell more than 9% on the profit fall and as it announced the terms of a discounted 600m (680m) rights issue to partly fund a joint venture with online grocer Ocado announced in February. The company asked to be judged on how it is changing as much as its financial results, even after it reported a third straight drop in annual profits. M&S is closing weaker stores, revamping ranges and investing online, trying to avoid the fate of a string of UK chains that have collapsed amid competition from the internet and rising costs. However, after several failed reboots over the past decade, the jury is out on whether it can rise to the challenges posed by fast-fashion chains such as Zara and H&M in its clothing business, or thrive in a notoriously competitive UK food market. Despite the 10% drop in annual profit, M&S highlighted green shoots of recovery and said it would step-up its reinvention. Any re-nationalisation of Britain's energy providers under a Jeremy Corbyn-led government is unlikely to have any impact on the Irish operations of leading UK player SSE, as its business here trades in a separate energy market under a different regulatory regime. Profits at the Irish division of SSE rose nearly 17% last year. The company - which trades here as SSE Airtricity - posted an Irish operating profit of 38.6m (43.7m) for the 12 months to the end of March, up from 33m the previous year. Likewise, the company's Irish revenues improved - rising to almost 1.1bn from 917.6m. SSE said its group annual earnings fell more than a third as it battled stiff competition and warned of an uncertain outlook due to the Labour partys plans to renationalise Britains energy networks. While a British election is not due until 2022, and opinion polls show the main opposition party falling far short of a majority, Labour laid out plans this month to offer shareholders less than current market value under a future renationalisation. There is a huge degree of uncertainty, including ... what the final form of Labours policy will be... about the final content of any legislation; and uncertainty about how and when any legislation would be implemented, SSE said. The company, one of Britains big six energy suppliers, said adjusted earnings fell by just over a third to 67.1p per share. SSE said the earnings did not include its Energy Services division which is held for disposal following the collapse of a merger with peer Innogys npower last year. Profits at the consumer-focused Energy Services business were hit by a regulator-imposed price cap on the most widely used energy tariffs. SSE said, earlier this year, it has no plans to exit the consumer/retail market in Ireland despite its intention to do just that in the UK. Labour's plans to nationalise the UK's utilities will damage investment and hurt many small shareholders, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) - one of the countrys main business groups - said. "Labours proposals are not just a threat to these industries but to investment in our country at a time when its most needed, and above all to that essential partnership between business and government," CBI president John Allan said. Diageo is to begin offering its male employees 26 weeks of fully paid leave when they become a dad. Women will also be offered a minimum of 26 weeks fully paid maternity leave, with the policy to be offered to employees worldwide. All Diageo employees will be eligible for the programme regardless of how they become parents. We are committed to creating a fully inclusive and diverse workforce and we strongly believe that businesses play a significant role in shaping the future of society," said Mairead Nayager, Chief HR Officer at Diageo. "Global businesses like Diageo must make bold moves on policies and the environments in which their employees work to ensure that the progress people deserve happens. Commented Oliver Loomes, Diageo Ireland Country Director: Our business has always had a strong record of being one of the best employers in Ireland. Todays announcement is a significant step for us and shows our commitment to leading the way with progressive employment policies by supporting gender equality in the workplace. The drinks company will introduce the new paternity scheme from July 1. Companies legally must give new fathers two weeks paternity leave. Consumers are rapidly moving to card payments instead of cash, while there has also been a significant increase in online shopping in the past year, according to Central Bank figures. Card payments saw a 9% increase to 17.2bn in the first three months of 2019 compared to the same period last year. Figures from the regulator showed consumers were preferring to use their own money rather adding to their debts, with debit card transactions more than five times the value of credit card spending from January to March. The number of so-called "point of sale" transactions, such as electronic purchases with a bank card at a shop register, was 244 million in the first quarter, with an average spend of 40.62 per transaction. The number of transactions with credit cards totalled 34 million, with an average spend of 80.12 per transaction, the Central Bank said. The total number of active debit and credit cards was just over six million at the end of March, according to the regulator. Shop purchases accounted for almost half of all new debit card spending, or more than double the expenditure on services, the report found. Debit card point of sale spending rose by 19% year-on-year in March to 3.4bn, with spending in shops increasing 18% to 259m, and spending on services by 20% to 130m. Credit card spending did increase in March but at a slower pace, the figures showed. It increased by 10% in shops and 11% in services. Online shopping saw a marked increase in the past year, gathering pace in March, the Central Bank said. Total e-commerce spending was 1.7bn in March, with 1.2bn and 451m in debit card and credit card transactions respectively. Yearly, e-commerce spend in the first quarter rose by 15%, with March spending 19% higher than the same month in 2018. E-commerce now accounts for 24% of all debit card expenditure and 50% of credit card spending, the regulator said. Spending by Irish tourists abroad also rose year-on-year. Total card spend, including ATM transactions, outside the country averaged 532m over the three months to the end of March, an increase of 7% on the same period in 2018. Debit card spending abroad came to 1.1bn in the first quarter, an increase of 6% from a year ago. Credit card spend abroad rose by 10% year-on-year to 465m. Defence Forces members, their families and retired military personnel are expected to vote en masse against Fine Gael in both the local and European elections. The Irish Examiner has learnt that already many soldiers, sailors and air crews have used their postal votes to vote against Fine Gael candidates. Their families and retired members of the Defence Forces are likely to follow suit on Friday when polling gets underway around the country. A major campaign has been launched on social media against the Government in recent weeks by a number of groups associated with military personnel, including those who organised two protest marches in Dublin and Cork to highlight the near-poverty being endured by military families. They have been angered that the Government hasn't moved to improve pay and conditions for Defence Forces personnel, who are the poorest paid public servants. There were hopes that the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) would recommend substantial increases in allowances for Defence Forces personnel, especially in the run-up to the elections. There were noises from Government circles that an announcement would be made this week, but following leaks about the PSPC recommendations nothing has emerged from the Government. A number of serving Defence Forces members told the Irish Examiner that their colleagues, across the ranks, had been talking openly about how they used their voting right to send a distinct message to Government and that would be repeated if they failed to improve military pay and conditions before the next General Election. "If they (the Government) want to pull a rabbit out of the hat now it's too late. We have voted. If anything, the leaks from the Public Service Pay Commission have galvanised opinion even more," one serving member of the Defence Forces said. "We've all had enough. More and more of my colleagues are saying they want out. We're being treated like shit," said another. The journal Industrial Relation News (IRN) reported that the PSPC was recommending a 10% increase in the Military Service Allowance (MSA). This caused anger among the Defence Forces rank-and-file, as it worked out at an increase of just 96c a day before tax. The family of a man killed while out walking his dogs in a Dublin forest have issued an appeal for information. The body of Michael McCoy (aged 63) was found with blunt force trauma injuries on a track at Blackhill Forest in the Dublin Mountains on the morning of September 30, 2016. His wife Catriona McCoy and their daughters Rachel, Suzanne and Sarah issued an appeal for any information that could help bring the family closure. We all miss him very much, Mrs McCoy said. Speaking after an inquest into his death at Dublin Coroners Court, his daughter Rachel said, This is a heartbreaking day for the whole family, we just really need answers at this stage, so we appeal to the public to come forward. In a statement, the family said they were still holding onto hope that someone might come forward. It has been nearly three years since Michael was taken from us and we are still left with many unanswered questions. "We are still holding onto the hope that somebody will come forward to bring us some closure, they said. Mr McCoy was a builder by trade with an interest in history, local politics and planning issues, his wife said. He had recently obtained a degree in History from Trinity College. He was a fine person, very passionate and caring. He had lots of interests, in history, local issues, planning, the place we had, his animals and his family, Mrs McCoy told the inquest. He was last seen alive at 6.40am in the family home in Ballinascorney Upper, Brittas, Co Dublin on September 29, 2016, by his wife and daughter Suzanne before they went to work. He usually walked his two dogs, Sophie and Fia in the Blackhill Forest, a 10-minute drive away, between 7.30am and 8am, the inquest heard. The family grew concerned after returning from work to find the chickens had not been let out of the coop. They alerted Gardai after conducting their own initial search of the woods. Mountain rescue volunteer Brendan Beirne located the mans body on a forest track at 5.30am. The dog was at the feet of its owner. I could tell the dog was in a distressed state." "The man was lying on his back with his hands on his chest, he said. Death was pronounced at the scene at 7.49am. Closer inspection of the mans injuries, initially thought to have been the result of a fall, prompted a full forensic post-mortem. Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan found he had sustained complex fractures of the skull and facial bones, a fractured skull and numerous irregular cuts and grazes. The injuries were consistent with blunt force trauma to the head during an assault due to blows from a solid object. The cause of death was blunt force trauma to the face and head. Detective Inspector John Walshe said a file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecution but there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. The investigation remains open. The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing by person or persons unknown. Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane sympathised with the family. Its been so very hard for you, he was a highly respected man in the areas he had an interest, the coroner said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Tallaght Garda Station. Fine Gael is deeply divided after it was forced to revise its division of the Ireland South constituency in order to bolster MEP Deirdre Clune's flagging campaign, just 48 hours before polling. Letters issued in parts of the vast constituency by Director of Elections Regina Doherty have called on voters in Limerick and Tipperary to give Ms Clune their number 1 votes in order to ensure Fine Gael keeps its two seats in the European Parliament. Ms Doherty's letter called on voters in the city to vote for Ms Clune ahead of her party colleagues Sean Kelly, who is all but assured of a seat and junior agriculture minister Andrew Doyle, who is seen as a sweeper in Leinster. But Mr Doyle and his camp are furious at the diktat, which they say was issued "without any consultation." Pat Deering, TD for Carlow-Kilkenny, and Mr Doyle's campaign manager told the Irish Examiner that the team is "very disappointed" with the letter issued by Ms Doherty, which was done as part of a protectionist policy to benefit the two sitting MEPs. "If they wanted to protect the two candidates, then why run three. This is very disappointing, we were not consulted and I tell you what, we will be going into Tipperary and Limerick tomorrow," he said. Originally, Ms Clune had been given priority campaigning rights in Cork City and County, while Waterford and South Tipperary were to be shared with Mr Kelly. However, with Mr Kelly looking likely to exceed the quota on the first count, Ms Doherty decided to hand Limerick over to Ms Clune. "Recent polling has shown the party securing 30% of the vote...this puts us in a strong position to retain two seats. However, this is only possible if we can successfully share the vote. In order to achieve this, I have revised the initial division of the constituency and I am now asking Fine Gael members to vote Deirdre Clune number 1," Ms Doherty wrote in her letter, seen by the Irish Examiner. Fine Gael is hoping that Mr Doyle does well enough to remain in the race long enough to transfer a big block of votes to help Ms Clune over the line, as happened in 2014 when now Health Minister Simon Harris played the sweeper role. She was elected off the back of Harris votes in 2014 but will she be helped this time around? It is not clear. Over the past 10 days, there has been a growing sense of concern within the party, that Ms Clune's seat is vulnerable, despite a large spend on posters in the Cork area and an aggressive vote management strategy by party bosses. She has polled poorly in two polls, the latest one in the Sunday Business Post putting her in seventh place in the race for five seats. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail is very hopeful that it can take two of the five seats. Sitting TD for Cork North-Central, Billy Kelleher is at the behest of his party leader concentrating his efforts in Cork City during the final days of the campaign but is expected to take a seat. His running mate, Malcolm Byrne, has impressed during the campaign and is in contention of taking one of the last two seats. Voters will not "punish" Fine Gael over the deepening housing crisis on Friday, the party's European director of elections has claimed. Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty claimed while the public is "critical", it "does not mean there is an anger out there or a want for change". At a Fine Gael campaign event at Dublin City on Wednesday morning, Ms Doherty said while candidates understand the difficulties with the housing crisis they are not being targeted over it by voters. Despite wide-scale public anger over the deepening problems, which now mean more than 10,000 people are homeless in Ireland including almost 4,000 children - she claimed Fine Gael will not be punished over the situation on Friday. "Housing is still an issue, we recognise that. It is one of our largest priorities. If it wasn't coming up on the doors I think there would be something wrong. "Everyone recognises that the solutions are there but they haven't materialised in finding a home for everybody. The plan is working, we are only halfway through a five-year programme. Yes, people are discussing it with us on the doors which is why we are trying to bring each and every option of houses to people to give them choices. "I really don't think that people are going to punish us. People are engaging with us. Yes, they are being critical of some policies but that does not mean that there is an anger out there, or there is a want for change. "We have a five year plan, it is working. We will keep going until everybody who wants a home, has a home," she said. Ms Doherty separately said she does not believe it was bad timing for Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy Read More: Asked by the Irish Examiner if it was the wrong time to raise the plan and if it will back-fire on Fine Gael candidates, Ms Doherty said: "Ah look, that [opposition criticism] is because we're in election week and the opposition would have a row with their own fingernails if they thought it would benefit them. "Our job is to have a solution for each and every citizen in this country to find them a home. You know what, we bring up something and we're told we're electioneering to get votes. We bring up something and we're told it's going to damage us. We're in Government, it's our job to do what we're supposed to do in Government. "I know we're all dying to get out and vote on Friday and hopefully win, and that's great, but at the end of the day we are a very stable, very active Government over the last number of years with a big plan, and that's what we're going to keep doing." Former justice minister Frances Fitzgerald has denied claims the Maurice McCabe saga is undermining her European elections bid, saying the case is not being raised by voters. At a Fine Gael campaign event two days out from Friday's election, Ms Fitzgerald said the case has already been "dealt with very comprehensively" by the Charleton Tribunal and insisted she "acted appropriately". Ms Fitzgerald was forced from office in December 2017 amid public and political uproar over her handling of a series of issues surrounding garda whistle-blower Maurice McCabe. Asked about the situation and whether it is affecting her campaign on Wednesday morning, Ms Fitzgerald paused, before saying: "What I think the view of the public is in relation to that issue is that Judge Charleton dealt with it very comprehensively, after an extremely long time where he heard from everybody and conclusively decided I acted appropriately and that it was in fact in the interests of the country when I resigned. "And that's why I made that decision." Asked if voters are raising the case with her during canvasses, the Fine Gael MEP candidate for Dublin claimed they were not. Not particularly. I find the vast majority of people are saying to me that they're quite unhappy at the way it was handled actually, in terms of really what was in effect the opposition deciding that I had to resign. "But I did it in the interests of the country because I didn't want to see an election at that time. It [a general election] would not have been in the interests of the country in terms of where the Brexit discussions were at. "So I have found that there is huge support for me in terms of the way that people behaved. I think there is a lot of lessons for a lot of people to learn from those events, actually." Retailers in Cork are planning a series of workshops with teenagers to find out how they can improve the retail offering to a vast untapped teenage market. It follows the release of new research by students at St Angelas College, facilitated by the Cork Business Association (CBA) and the city council, which highlights some of the perceived barriers which teenagers say discourage them from shopping in the city centre. It also includes suggestions, they say, would encourage them to shop more in the city, including: Better social media connections with their demographic Better public transport and signage In-store WiFi to help them share their shopping experience A rental locker system to allow them drop-off heavy school bags before shopping Targeted student deals, discounts and offers And more city centre and in-store seating CBA president, Philip Gillivan, said they are now planning to host workshops at the start of the next academic year between students and retailers. The students will be given an opportunity to engage directly with the CBAs retail committee in a dual-learning setting. We are of the firm belief that we can learn just as much from this demographic as they can from us, he said. Students want to have their voice heard - they want to be part of the conversation and they feel they can bring solutions to the problems. They are tomorrows shoppers and consumers - lets keep the conversation going. The CBA linked up with the city council and St Angelas College last year. With teacher Muireann Curtin they devised a year-long business module for the Transition Year students. The CBA engaged Julia Campa, from Sao Paulo, who worked on similar projects in Brazil, to facilitate the project. The students examined the products available in Cork, how the youth market consume these products, how they rate the overall retail experience. They surveyed up to 400 students, ranging in age from 13 to 18. The CBA said while the results are not scientific, they do give a valuable insight into the trends. The survey found that 82% of students spend an average of up to 50 a month online; 64% spend up to 50 over the counter per month, while 27% spend between 100 and 150 over the counter per month. The spend includes food and drink. It found that students generally spend their money with a retailer with whom they have an online relationship, and feel more comfortable entering a store they feel they know. Of the 24 retailers surveyed, only half offered online purchasing, and many offered discounts to third level students only. The survey also showed the students want to support environmentally responsible retailers who will, for example, accept returned packing or who sell coffee in reusable cups. Mr Gillivan said the CBA hopes to expand the academic module to more schools next year. A Dublin man wanted in the United States for alleged hacking theft of more than $2m in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has been granted bail by the High Court. Conor Freeman, aged 20, was arrested at his home address in Glenageary Court, Dun Laoghaire, earlier this month on foot of a warrant issued by US authorities. Mr Freemans surrender is being sought on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, four counts of aiding and abetting wire fraud and four counts of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft. If convicted in the US, Mr Freeman is facing up to 108 years in prison. US authorities allege that members of an online group calling itself The Community conspired to hack numerous targets with the objective of stealing Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, between February 2018 and May 2018. The others are US residents. According to a warrant issued by the US Department of Justice, authorities have identified four attacks in which Mr Freeman allegedly participated that resulted in the theft of cryptocurrency valued at $2,187,977. Det. Sgt Jim Kirwan, of the garda extradition unit, told the High Court that he arrested Mr Freeman at his home address in Dun Laoghaire earlier this month. When asked whether he knew about the allegations, Mr Freeman replied I do, the detective said. Mr Freeman was granted bail by the High Court today in his own bond of 5,000 and an independent surety of 15,000. Counsel for the Attorney General, Siobhan Ni Chulachain BL, said the terms of Mr Freemans proposed bail were acceptable to the State. Mr Freeman is required to not apply for travel documents, not to use technology, including a smartphone, not to go online, not to contact his co-accused and continue cooperating with the authorities. He is required to sign on daily at Dun Laoghaire Garda station. Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded Mr Freeman on bail to July 1 when the case is next listed for mention. She told him that he was wanted for prosecution in the US, and that he enjoyed the presumption of innocence. US authorities asked Irish extradition detectives to arrest Mr Freeman on the same day his co-accused were arrested in America. They did this because they believed Mr Freeman would allegedly destroy evidence and potentially flee once he learned of the arrests of his alleged co-conspirators, according to the extradition warrant. The warrant states that Mr Freeman and five others were indicted by a Grand Jury in the Eastern District of Michigan on charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aiding and abetting wire fraud and aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft on April 18, 2019. Members of the group calling itself The Community allegedly specialised in a technique called SIM Hijacking or SIM Swapping, according to the warrant. This technique involves stealing identities by compromising a targets mobile phone provider or gaining control of the targets mobile phone number, it adds. Once these individuals controlled a targets mobile phone number, they leveraged it to compromise the targets email and other online accounts, with the goal of eventually gaining control - and stealing - the targets cryptocurrency, the warrant states. In May 2018, a member of The Community involved in these attacks was arrested in the Eastern District of Michigan. This individual cooperated with US authorities, who gained access to his computers, including records of online chats between this subject and others. Review of the chats revealed an individual identifying himself as Conor who allegedly played a significant role in numerous attacks by The Community, the warrant states. US authorities have identified four attacks in which Conor participated that resulted in the theft of cryptocurrency valued at $2,187,977, according to the warrant. Further investigations revealed that Conor is Conor Freeman, according to the warrant. It was substantiated by linking IP addresses used by Conor to Irish mobile phone and residential internet service providers, it adds. The first five counts carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison per count while the final four counts carry a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison, consecutive to the underlying felony. Parties are joining forces to mount demonstrations and voice opposition to US President Donald Trump's planned visit to Ireland next month. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is already facing pressure to raise global concerns with the US leader when both are expected to meet in Shannon Airport during the visit. Labour, the Greens and other political groups are expected to meet in the coming days to formulate joint plans to stage protests. The White House has said Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will visit Ireland while they are in Europe for a state visit to the UK and to attend World War II commemorations in France in the first week of June. It is expected that Mr Varadkar will meet Mr Trump before the US president goes to his hotel in Doonbeg, Co Clare. The Taoiseach said he will raise climate change and Brexit with Mr Trump. "I'll once again explain why Ireland is so much in favour of the European Union," he said. "And once again I will try to explain our perspective on Brexit and also our commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change." The Shannon Group said Mr Trump's visit would "create an opportunity to showcase the attractiveness" of the west of Ireland. "Shannon has long since had a special relationship with the US, with every US President having been welcomed at Shannon Airport since John F Kennedy became the first serving President to visit Ireland in 1963," said a spokesperson. Labour senator Aodhan O'Riordan said: Over the next fortnight progressives and democrats across all parties and none in Ireland must work together to ensure we send a clear message. "In the next few days, I intend to work with parties like the Greens and others to see how we can best do that." The chairman of the Land Development Agency (LDA), John Moran, has called for the public to support plebiscites for directly elected mayors in Cork, Limerick and Waterford. Having one person to represent the needs of each city will be of benefit to agencies like the LDA he told Newstalk Breakfast. This is a practical example of how good this would be for cities. It would mean instead of dealing with managers and lots of officials, one person would be able to represent them. They could say what their city needs in terms of housing. Mr Moran also spoke of the major strategic review that will be carried out in core city areas around the country in order to facilitate regeneration and rejuvenation. The review will contribute to the sustainable growth of Irish cities - and identify how best to position the LDA and State-owned land to help achieve this, while limiting urban sprawl. This is about making sure that we know ourselves, what we can do and about the best use of land. He said that the problem is keeping up with population growth and that it is important to plan ahead. A senior urban planning specialist will be appointed to complete the review which was announced at the National Housing Conference on Tuesday which was organised by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) and the Department of Housing. This will involve collaboration with key stakeholders - such as local authorities, Government agencies, educational bodies, businesses and private sector property groups. The review will be used to support planning authorities and State landowners to increase housing supply in the near and medium term. Mr Moran said the LDA is in discussions with the RIAI about collaborating on larger sites, which can yield some 3,000 new homes from next year. The agency is also developing plans with the RIAI to run a design review process, involving architects and stakeholders. The RIAI is trying to change the way people live. They are thinking beyond Project Ireland 2040 and are planning for 2070. Mr Moran said that the agency aims to identify and acquire suitable sites to address the housing crisis. In Limerick a site, which was only 15 minutes cycle from the main train station had been identified which would accommodate 200,000 people where they could live, work and play. This is about creating a real 21st-century city. Areas in Dublin could be used the same way, the same in Waterford and Cork. He added that legislation is going through the Dail and Seanad at present to give the LDA the power to acquire these lands. Thats the most important thing, the development of plans for these areas. A 35-year-old man has been jailed for nine years for a hugely damaging and abusive sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl. Eoin Vickers, described as a manipulative, controlling and violent man was 28 years old when he first began the relationship with the 14-year-old girl. He encouraged her not to use contraception and when she had a contraceptive bar implanted in her arm he removed it with a Stanley knife. Vickers also had sex with the girl's friend, also a young teenager, and gave the girls heroin to smoke. In their victim impact statements, the girls described how Vickers controlled every aspect of their lives. The first girl described how Vickers had isolated her from her family and friends and made her feel as if he was the only person she could trust. She described Vickers as an evil monster who had left her with scars on her body and taken away her dreams for her future. She said Vickers had stolen everything from her for his own perverted happiness and she did not want that to happen to another child Her best friend outlined how she had been innocent, naive and oblivious to the dangers of predatory men when she first encountered Vickers. She described how the abuse had had adverse effects on her life but said: I am not his victim but a survivor. The Central Criminal Court heard the girls wished to retain their anonymity but were happy for Vickers to be named. Vickers, of no fixed abode, who lived at various locations in Co. Mayo during the times of the offences pleaded guilty to five counts of defilement of the first victim on dates between May 2011 and October 2013. He pleaded guilty to assaulting the first victim causing her harm on a date in August 2013. He also admitted defilement of the girl's best friend on a date in July 2013. Vickers was most recently living in the UK from where he was returned to Ireland on foot of a European Arrest Warrant. He has been in custody since December 2017. Mr Justice Michael White said this was a particularly disturbing case and Vickers was a manipulative, controlling and violent man. He said he accepted defence submissions that Vickers had accepted his guilt and apologized to his victims but noted an interview in the probation report outlining that Vickers had very little insight into the damage he was perpetrating on these young girls. These were children, absolutely children, and Mr Vickers was twice their age and that must never be lost sight of, said Mr Justice White. The judge said the relationship the accused man had with the first victim was hugely damaging, and that his behaviour in relation to the two girls was of the most base kind. He said the plea was the only mitigating factor and was important for two reasons. Firstly that it acknowledged the extreme harm done to the victims and it saved them from giving evidence. Mr Justice White imposed a sentence of 11 years imprisonment and suspended the final two years on condition Vickers complete an assessment within the prison for the sex offenders treatment program. He said actual participation in the program had to be voluntary. The court heard that Vickers had sex regularly with the first victim over a two-and-half-year period. He began controlling her and stopping her from seeing her friends. As time progressed he became more angry and paranoid and would hit her. He checked her phone and told her what she could wear. The girl said she was terrified of Vickers and his temper. She said he put a knife to her throat on one occasion and stabbed her with a pen on another. He told her he would put compromising photos of her on the internet and around her home town if she did not do what he said. He told her the relationship had to be a secret as he would be locked up if it got out. He demanded 50 per week from her for petrol money and took money from her bag. Patrick Gageby SC, defending, said Vickers acknowledged the gravity of the matter and wished to make an unequivocal public apology to the two girls. He asked the court to take into account his client's guilty plea. He handed in letters from Vickers' father and Vickers' wife who he married in the UK, which he said painted a very different picture of him. He said Vickers was using his time in custody well and working positively to help people there. A local garda told Vincent Heneghan SC, prosecuting, that the first girl and Vickers got to know each other through mutual acquaintances while she was in secondary school. He asked what year she was in and they began texting to arrange to meet up. Vickers told her he was physically and emotionally attracted to her but she was nervous of him as she was only 14 years old. The girl's parents also told Vickers that she was 14 years old. Vickers began engaging in sexual acts with the girl who was nervous and uncomfortable but wanted to please him. He told her she should keep it a secret. He first had sex with the girl in June 2011. In the time afterwards, Vickers began controlling her and stopping her from seeing her friends. He told her he would only trust her if she had sex with him and she began regularly getting out of her bedroom window to have sex with him in his car or in his flat. She felt it was the only way to keep him happy. He encouraged the girl to stop using contraception. He was having sex with the girl on a daily basis at this stage threatening her he would leave if she did not do what he wanted. He would climb in through her bedroom window to have sex with her. He told her they had to keep it a secret as he would be locked up. He continued trying to isolate her from her family and friends and insisting she text only him. The girl believed Vickers and felt she had to do what he said. She described herself as being sick with worry. Vickers gave the girl heroin a number of times. He told her it would relax her. She said after taking it she felt her worries disappear and she was able to forget everything. She said one time they after smoking heroin she refused to have sex with him and he hit her. He assaulted her another time after she had been out with her friends. She said he began becoming more angry and paranoid and would hit her more often. He was obsessed with checking her phone. He became angry on one occasion when she changed her hair. The girl had a contraceptive implant placed in her arm in 2013 and when Vickers became aware of this he became annoyed. He tried to get her to get it removed by a doctor and when this failed, he cut the bar from her arm with a Stanley Knife after numbing it with mouth ulcer gel and ice. Later that year he used a blade and ink to put a tattoo on the girl, telling her he would trust her more. He disliked the girl wearing nice clothes, made her wear her hair up and took her perfume away. Vickers also began texting the girl's young friend and had sex with her, telling her not to tell her friend. The relationship with the first victim ended in October 2013 and the girl made a statement to gardai. Gardai recovered a number of items from Vickers house including the girl's underwear, bottles of her perfume and the contraceptive bar he had removed from her arm. Gardai also became aware that Vickers had demanded 50 a week from the girl for petrol costs and had taken other sums of money from her bag. They then also became aware of the second victim. There was no winner of tonight's Lotto Jackpot worth 2m. However, two tickets have won just over 48,000 after matching five numbers plus the Bonus. The winning tickets were sold in the East and the South. The winning numbers were 18, 23, 29, 35, 40 and 46, bonus number 27. Plans for a review of mortuary services at University Hospital Waterford are being finalised and the final report will be available in September, Health Minister Simon Harris has announced. The review follows claims made by four consultants that dead bodies were decomposing on trolleys in the corridor of the mortuary. Mr Harris said the terms of reference of the review of mortuary facilities had been signed off today. A new mortuary would be built on the site within two years and approval to go to tender had been received this month. Mr Harris, who gave an update on health issues to the Joint Committee on Health, said interim control measures had been taken at the mortuary and additional refrigeration had been provided. UHW general manager Grace Rothwell told the committee that she had already apologised to the pathologists working at the hospital who felt that the issues they raised were not acknowledged or heard. Ms Rothwell said she took up her current position at the hospital on January 14 last. She received an email from one of the pathologists on January 29 and met him on March 11. It was at that stage that it was flagged to me specifically in the context of a lack of refrigeration capacity and particularly in advance of the summer, she said. Ms Rothwell said she was not aware at the time that there were issues such as bodies decomposing and relatives having to have a closed coffin. "Not to that extent - absolutely not, she told Sinn Fein's Louise O'Reilly. What had been flagged to her by the consultants was in respect of refrigeration capacity and that is what she took action on. Ms Rottwell said she also looked at the mortuary and very quickly learned that it had been there since 1991 and that the facility was no longer fit for carrying out post-mortems. She discussed the situation with the South/South West Hospital Group and approval to go to tender for the new mortuary build was received before the end of March. Ms OReilly said no state cases were being sent to the mortuary for post-mortems because of the serious concern raised about the facilities.Would you be confident and happy that it is a safe place for staff and visitors at the moment given that the state pathologist is not utilising the service, she asked. Ms Rothwell said a senior anatomical pathology technician would take charge of the mortuary next week and ensure that there were proper procedures and protocols in place for the receipt, storage and release of remains at the facility. While a review was necessary to reassure everyone that the facility was safe and fit for purpose pending the new build, she was now happy that the mortuary was an appropriate place for relatives to view the remains of their loved ones and procedures were in place to ensure that it was a safe place. Ms Rothwell said the chief pathologist was concerned about the risk of contamination of evidence. Just this week I have secured air handling units which will be installed over the coming weeks, she said. The president of the High Court has strongly criticised a delay over several months in registering an enduring power of attorney concerning an elderly woman with dementia. Arising from the delay, which means a hospital caring for the woman since late last year remains unpaid, the HSE had applied to have the woman made a ward of court. Mr Justice Peter Kelly said this week the 85-year-old woman, whose estate is likely to have substantial assets of some 950,000, "deserves better" when she goes to the trouble of executing a power of attorney. What happened was "below par" insofar as the attention she should have got, he said. He said he was taking the woman into wardship and appointing the general solicitor for wards of court, Patricia Hickey, as the committee to represent her interests. Noting the woman is currently in a four-bed unit with no bathroom attached, he directed that the matter should be investigated as it appeared this was not "an optimum placement" for her. He also expected there would be "no nonsense" about the holders of the Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) handing over the keys to the woman's house and various financial documents provided to them when the woman went into hospital. If there was any difficulty, the general solicitor can apply to the court as she now has lawful authority to take possession of the ward's assets, he said. The woman executed a power of attorney in April 2016. Under the relevant legislation, once a donor of a power of attorney lacks capacity, the holder of the power "shall" apply as soon as practicable to register an Enduring Power of Attorney. Arsing from concerns the woman had lost capacity last year but an EPA had not been registered, the HSE petitioned in December for wardship and Mr Justice Kelly directed an inquiry concerning capacity. Two doctors later certified the woman lacked capacity. When the holders of the EPA sought to set aside the wardship inquiry, the judge granted liberty to bring a motion to that effect but the motion was not brought within the time specified. This week, the judge expressed "severe dissatisfaction" that the attorneys had failed to comply with the courts directions and said he was taking the woman into wardship because he had "no confidence" the attorneys' duties would be carried out immediately. He queried whether the attorneys and solicitor acting in the matter had "any sense of responsibility" concerning their obligations to act on behalf of the woman. He was told one of the attorneys had been ill for a time, was given time to respond to the HSE's concerns but that time had lapsed and is also willing to discharge the payments sought by the hospital. Counsel for the attorneys said there had been efforts to establish the situation concerning the woman's cognitive abilities before registering the EPA and there was also an issue concerning the Fair Deal scheme and that the woman would not qualify under that. The judge asked how did any of that affect the obligation to register the EPA when the donor of that power lacks capacity. Counsel said there was an attempt to register the EPA last January and reiterated the attorneys' willingness to act under the EPA. The judge said there was a "cock and bull story" about one of the attorneys being in hospital when a medical certificate stated he was suffering from back pain from mid-February and was clear of that by late March. The hospital issue was a "nonsense" excuse, he said. A teenager stabbed to death in Tallaght was on the phone when he was fatally wounded. An inquest into the death of Reece Cullen at 19 Kilclare Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24 heard a number of youths arrived at the address at 2.45pm on January 5 2017. Neighbour John Sutcliffe noticed the group as he worked on a car in his driveway. There were three or four males, all aged between 16 and 19, Mr Sutcliffe said. Reece had been staying at Kilclare Crescent with friends since the tragic death of his mother the previous September. I heard only general chit chat, there was no shouting or anything to make me look over, Mr Sutcliffe said. Minutes later a youth came into his driveway asking for help. He said, my mate has been stabbed, can you ring an ambulance? His hands were covered in blood, Mr Sutcliffe said. He phoned emergency services and ran to the house where Reece lay injured in the hallway. He was lying on the ground a couple of feet inside the front door, Mr Sutcliffe told the court. Dublin Fire Brigade responded to a call received at 3.05pm. Paramedic Noel Keegan found Reece unresponsive. He was not breathing and he appeared to have a stab wound to the chest, Mr Keegan said. The injured youth was transferred to Tallaght Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan conducted an autopsy and found a single stab wound had penetrated his heart. A toxicology report found he had no alcohol or drugs in his system. Gardai launched a substantial investigation, Detective Inspector John Walshe told Dublin Coroners Court. A couple of youths were at the address, one youth had arrived while Reece Cullen was on the phone and he was fatally stabbed, DI Walshe said. Some 110 lines of inquiry were opened, 88 statements were taken and three arrests were made. A file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) but no charges were brought. The file remains open. Det Insp Walshe said there was a single perpetrator responsible for Mr Cullens death. Addressing the jury of four women and four men, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said there was only one verdict open to them in this situation. The evidence though tragic and stark, is very clear in relation to the findings you have to make, Dr Cullinane said. The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing by person unknown. Update 7.38pm: Gardai are appealing for witnesses in relation to the shooting dead of a young father in Dublin this afternoon. He was shot dead while pushing a buggy. Officers have said the man in his 20s was shot a number of times in a laneway next to Our Lady Immaculate National School in Darndale, Dublin 17, at around 4pm. He was later pronounced dead at the scene. Gardai are appealing for anyone who was in the area shortly before 4pm to contact them in Coolock Garda Station on 01 666 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Update 5.01pm: A man in his 20s has died after being shot dead in the grounds of a church in North Dublin. His body is still at the scene, which is also near a primary school, as forensic officers carry out an examination. It is the second fatal shooting to take place in the capital in under 24 hours. This afternoon's gun attack took place in the grounds of the Church of Our Lady Immaculate in Darndale. The Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has released a statement condemning the recent Dublin shootings. He said: "I utterly condemn any violent loss of life and I am extremely concerned about the three shooting incidents that took place in Balbriggan, Mulhuddart and Darndale in the past 24 hours. "An Garda Siochana are now conducting full enquiries into the circumstances surrounding these incidents and I would appeal to anyone who has information which could help to please come forward to them as soon as possible. "Any information, no matter how small, could play a vital part in bringing the perpetrators of these acts to justice. Gardai can be contacted anonymously by using the Garda Confidential Line on Tel: 1800 666 111." Earlier: Gardai at scene of shooting in Dublin Gardai are at the scene of a shooting incident in Dublin. The shooting happened at around 4pm on the Marigold Road area of Darndale. It is reported that a man is in a critical condition following the shooting. A witness has told the trial of a woman charged with murdering her boyfriend that she noticed that the womans neck was blue on one occasion while the accused was in a relationship with the deceased. The accused has said that she acted in self-defence after her boyfriend died of a stab wound caused by a knife she was holding. The womans friend gave evidence to the Central Criminal Court today in the trial of the 48-year-old mother of two. Inga Ozolina, originally from Latvia, but with an address at Old Court Church, Mountrath, Co Laois, has pleaded not guilty to murdering Audrius Pukas at The Malthouse, Roscrea, Co Tipperary, on November 20, 2016. The 40-year-old father of two died at the scene from a stab wound to his chest. Caroline Biggs SC, defending, began calling defence witnesses yesterday. She asked Karina Sulinezee if she had ever noticed anything on Ms Ozolinas body or face while she was in a relationship with Mr Pukas. Inga, long time she didnt tell, she replied. One time, Inga came to my house and she had to go to work and she had a scarf on her neck. She said that she had asked her friend to remove the scarf. When she took it, all her neck was blue, she said, adding that her ear was scratched. She also said that she had witnessed the deceased hit her own partner at Ms Ozolinas birthday party a few months earlier. She said that the deceased had begun calling Ms Ozolina names as she made up a bed for Ms Sulinezees daughter. She said that, when her partner told him not to speak to a woman like that, Mr Pukas had hit him, causing him to bleed. Paul Murray SC, prosecuting, had earlier closed his case. He has begun cross-examining Ms Sulinezee and will continue his cross-examination tomorrow morning before Mr Justice Alexander Owens and a jury of seven men and five women. Update: Mrs May said she was sorry to receive Mrs Leadsoms resignation letter, writing in reply that she was grateful for the support you have given over the last three years in working to deliver Brexit. But the British Prime Minister said she disagreed with the assessment Mrs Leadsom gave about the UK Governments approach now. She said: I do not agree with you that the deal which we have negotiated with the European Union means that the United Kingdom will not become a sovereign country. If the deal is passed, the UK will leave the European Union. We will leave its Common Agricultural Policy and its Common Fisheries Policy. We will end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and make our own laws in Westminster and our devolved parliaments. We will stop sending vast annual sums of taxpayers money to the EU, and spend it on our priorities instead such as our National Health Service and our childrens schools. Mrs May said she agreed that a second referendum would be divisive, but said the Government was not proposing to hold one. She wrote: I continue to believe that the arguments against a second referendum are strong and compelling, and will continue to oppose one. The PM said she also did not recognise what Mrs Leadsom said about decision-making in Government. Indeed, through your own work chairing the Parliamentary Business and Legislation committee of Cabinet, you have been an important part of ensuring that Brexit-related legislative proposals are properly scrutinised, and the whole Cabinet have listened to the assessments you have given at Cabinet meetings, Mrs May said. I have valued the frank and productive discussions we have had over the last three years. As you say, there are important elections tomorrow, and many Conservatives are working in a challenging environment to support our excellent candidates. I am sorry to lose someone of your passion, drive and sincerity from HM Government in this way. Update: The leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom has resigned, saying in a letter to Theresa May I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result. It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the Government. pic.twitter.com/f2SOXkaqmH Andrea Leadsom MP (@andrealeadsom) May 22, 2019 Mrs Leadsom, a former Tory leadership candidate in 2016, outlined four reasons for her decision in her letter. She said: 1. I do not believe that we will be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed; 2. I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the Government willingly facilitating such a concession. It would also risk undermining our Union which is something I passionately want to see strengthened; 3. There has been such a breakdown of government processes that recent Brexit-related legislative proposals have not been properly scrutinised or approved by Cabinet members; 4. The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Governments position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility. Explaining the timing of her decision to resign on the eve of polling day in the European elections, Mrs Leadsom said: I considered carefully the timing of this decision, but I cannot fulfil my duty as Leader of the House tomorrow, to announce a Bill with new elements that I fundamentally oppose. I fully respect the integrity, resolution and determination that you have shown during your time as Prime Minister. No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our party. Update: The chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, will meet the Prime Minister on Friday, sources have told the Press Association. It comes as Graham Brady's group met to discuss the Prime Minister's future amid Mrs May's attempts to force through her Brexit deal. Tory MP Michael Fabricant tweeted: "Executive of 1922 has made no decision. Paralysis. "I wonder if there should be a vote of No Confidence in the 1922 Executive? Colleagues are growing impatient." Executive of 1922 has made no decision. Paralysis. I wonder if there should be a vote of No Confidence in the 1922 Executive? Colleagues are growing impatient. Michael Fabricant (@Mike_Fabricant) May 22, 2019 One Tory MP described the outcome of the 1922 Committee meeting as "the can kicked down until Friday" when Sir Graham Brady will meet Theresa May. Another MP confirmed that Mr Brady would meet Mrs May on Friday, but the chairman did not say what he would tell her. Leaving the 1922 Committee meeting, Tory MP Steve Baker said of the timetable ahead: "The Prime Minister will be campaigning for the European elections and on Friday she will meet Sir Graham. "Obviously they will discuss matters of interest. "It's very much going to depend on the result of the elections and I'm sure (the media) will be able to give us a flavour. "People are rather impatient, but equally most colleagues do appreciate this is a very difficult time for everyone." An opinion poll from YouGov has the Conservatives in fifth place on just 7% ahead of this week's European elections, a full 30 points below the Brexit Party. European Parliament voting intention: BREX: 37% (+3) LDEM: 19% (+2) LAB: 13% (-2) GRN: 12% (+1) CON: 7% (-2) CHUK: 4% (-) UKIP: 3% (-) via @YouGov, 19 - 21 May Chgs. w/ 17 May Britain Elects (@BritainElects) May 21, 2019 Earlier: 'Big news expected tonight': British MPs meet to discuss forcing Theresa May to step down In the UK, Conservative MPs are meeting to consider a rule change, which could allow another confidence vote in Theresa May. There are also rumours of a row in her own top team over the British Prime Minister's new Brexit offer. At least one minister has asked for a meeting with her this evening - some in her Cabinet could be prepared to tell her to go. UK Labour MP Rosie Duffield said she has seen members of the Conservative Party "actually running along corridors" in Parliament, adding there is "big news expected" tonight. She tweeted: "Members of Parliament from a certain Tory faction actually running along corridors. "Lots of rumours flying around. Big news expected tonight... #EndOfDays?" Members of Parliament from a certain Tory faction actually running along corridors. Lots of rumours flying around. Big news expected tonight.... #EndOfDays ? Rosie Duffield MP (@RosieDuffield1) May 22, 2019 Tory MP Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, said he too now believed the Prime Minister must go. Writing in the Financial Times he said that was the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit. "There is one last chance to get it right and leave in an orderly fashion," he wrote. "But it is now time for Prime Minister Theresa May to go - and without delay. "She must announce her resignation after Thursday's European elections. And the Conservative party must fast track the leadership process to replace her." The executive of the 1922 Committee are to meet with the chief whip at 5.30pm, sources said. Tory MPs will then join the meeting at 6pm. Tory MP Mark Francois, leaving the meeting of the 1922 committee said: "If I were a betting man, I'd bet 50 for Help for Heroes that the second reading of the WAB will never ever happen and I invite another colleague, whoever it may be, to take my bet." The chief executive of multibillion-dollar Silicon Valley startup Twilio has his eye on growing the number of Australian businesses using his technology so they can talk to customers no matter which app they use. "We are in the middle of a great communications renaissance... theres certain people you Facetime with, with other people you call. You name it, there are so many ways we communicate with each other now," Jeff Lawson says. Jeff Lawson, chief executive of Twilio. The $US17 billion ($24.71 billion) cloud communications business lets developers build tools for sending SMS, voice messages and emails to company clients. It recorded $US650 million ($944 million) in revenue globally last year and after opening Sydney and Melbourne offices in 2018, the Nasdaq-listed company says Australia is a key growth market. "We saw so many that were building amazing companies here. We see innovative companies, [in] the startup sense and the incumbents." Thousands of children across 400 schools in NSW will have to resit NAPLAN tests next Tuesday after technical glitches plagued the first round of testing. Teachers have slammed the botched process as an "unnecessary disruption", after hundreds of schools across Australia reported ongoing dropouts, lags, difficulties logging in and problems inputting answers during last week's exams. 'It's chaotic, it's another unnecessary disruption,' Maurie Mulheron said of NAPLAN re-sits to be held across 400 NSW schools. Credit:Twitter The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA), which administers NAPLAN, confirmed that a number of tests will be available to be taken again, with most to be done online. "The majority of schools who have opted to resit tests have chosen to do so online," a spokesman for NESA said. The truth is that The Reports on Sarah and Saleem is a film in which the personal and the political are intertwined, but in no straightforward way. Saleem (Adeeb Safadi), a Palestinian delivery driver, is involved in a casual affair with Sarah (Sivane Kretchner), an Israeli cafe owner. Saleem's pregnant wife (Maisa Abd Elhadi) suspects nothing, nor does Sarah's husband (Ishai Golan), who happens to be a colonel in the Israeli army. According to its publicity spiel, the second feature from Palestinian director Muayad Alayan remains staunchly unpolitical in its message. This seems an odd boast to make about a story of a cross-cultural relationship set in the divided city of Jerusalem. And to whatever degree it's true, should it be viewed as an asset or an evasion? Things start to get out of hand after the cash-strapped Saleem unwisely goes to work for his brother-in-law (Mohammad Eid) smuggling goods into the West Bank, and still more unwisely takes Sarah along for the ride. When he's arrested by the Palestinian security authority for a crime he didn't commit, a cover story has to be manufactured to get him off the hook, with further unintended results. This is a film in which the personal and the political are intertwined. The film has drawn understandable comparisons to the work of Iranian director Asghar Farhadi (A Separation), who traffics in a similar brand of sober, complexly plotted and skilfully acted melodrama. As in Farhadi's work, all the characters are caught in the same web whether or not they ever meet, raising the question of how far moral responsibilities should be taken to extend. Saleem is having a casual affair with Israeli cafe owner Sarah. Credit:Hi-Gloss Films Sympathies are carefully balanced, though the women tend to come off better than the macho men. Sarah is the most intriguing character, in part because the script doesn't nail down her motivations too precisely, leaving Kretchner room to hint at the broader frustrations that propelled her into the relationship with Saleem in the first place. Buoyed by Labor's near-win in 2016 and encouraged by resilient opinion polls, Bill Shorten and his team made the fiscally responsible decision. They would fully fund election promises. When Labors costings were released on May 10, the air was not rent with howling arguments over how this opposition was going to pay for its promises. But another face of the Rubiks Cube failed to line up. The fears unleashed over taxing franking credits outweighed any political gain offered by the policies it would fund. Bill Shorten concedes defeat late on Saturday night. Credit:AAP One policy was simply bad: a government subsidy for the wages of childcare workers. The idea that taxpayers should subsidise wages in one sector has no precedent in the programs of state Labor governments, and it shouldnt. The notion is open-ended: it could be pressed for workers in other community services. It was expensive: $10 billion over a decade. It originated in the relevant union losing a wage case. Almost a dozen Labor die-hards have confessed to experiencing bouts of turps-induced amnesia since Saturday's crushing election loss and a succession of commiseration parties. One-time Corangamite MP turned Victorian state MP for South Barwon Darren Cheeseman put in a particularly spirited performance on Saturday night at Libby Cokers post-election bash at the Grovedale Tigers Football Club. The more generous supporters in the room have labelled his demeanour as exuberant or him being in great form. Others offered more visual descriptions including "unsteady on the feet" and "spilling drinks everywhere". Derryn Hinch, who once cheated death when he was given a last-minute liver transplant, retains an outside chance of a new resurrection, this time in his political life. Senator Hinch's prospects of retaining his Justice Party Senate seat for Victoria have been written off by most commentators, but his senior adviser, Glenn Druery, says he is getting a flow of preferences from many minor parties as the Senate vote count continues. "I dont want to sugar-coat it," Mr Druery, who is known widely as the "preference whisperer" because of his ability to stitch together preference deals that can produce unexpected political winners, said. Senator Derryn Hinch's fate is uncertain but his senior adviser says he should not be written off just yet. Credit:Penny Stephens "His pathway forward is tenuous. But it's still possible. As long as there is breath in the patient, there is still hope." Labor frontbencher Penny Wong has swung her support behind Anthony Albanese as the best person to lead Labor after its devastating election loss, praising him as "the most outstanding parliamentarian of our generation". She also took a swipe at Bill Shorten after it was revealed the interim leader had hit the phones to help arrange his own replacement and prevent Mr Albanese, his long-term rival, from ascending to the top job. Labor senator Penny Wong backed Anthony Albanese as "the outstanding parliamentarian of our generation". Credit:AAP Senator Wong, a leading light of Labor's Left faction, said Mr Albanese would communicate effectively to regional and outer-suburban voters who deserted the party at Saturday's poll. "He is the best person to take up the fight to Scott Morrison and the Coalition. He's also the best person to unify our party, which is so important after this loss," she said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is fielding calls to promote at least two women to his new ministry but has told colleagues he is in no rush to decide the appointments while counting continues in key election contests. Mr Morrison is expected to promote a woman to cabinet to replace former employment minister Kelly O'Dwyer, with assistant ministers Sussan Ley and Anne Ruston named as likely contenders. Scott Morrison and Sussan Ley, one of the female MPs he may promote to cabinet. Credit: Mark Jesser The changes are also expected to include the rise of several other women to the wider ministry, with backbenchers Jane Hume and Lucy Wicks seen as being in line for promotion. The Prime Minister could take several more days to decide the appointments while he and others wait for the counting in seats like Corangamite, where assistant minister Sarah Henderson appears likely to lose her seat. "It grew in momentum, so much so that in the last couple of weeks it was the main thing we were talking to people about in communities," Ms McManus said. "Our members on polling day were dealing with having to explain that there is no death tax and that the Labor Party's policy on tax meant working people would get a bigger tax cut." The ACTU secretary said the social media claims were not caught by the usual electoral rules on authorising political statements and should be subject to tighter regulation. You're distorting democracy if you allow only people who have incredible means to be able to get their messages across. Sally McManus "There clearly needs to be more done in this area," she said. "When I looked at it, I thought it was exactly what happened in the United States in the Trump election and in the UK with Brexit." Ms McManus said the money spent on advertising by mining magnate Clive Palmer, estimated at around $60 million including billboards and print and television ads, also cost Labor the election. "That had a lot to do with the money he put in in the last two weeks, when he went from campaigning for his candidate or his party, to a full-on battering-ram anti-Labor anti-Bill Shorten message. That was a factor," she said. While the Nationals and Liberals have warned in the past about the money spent by the ACTU during elections, this campaign has seen a turnaround in that debate because the union budget of $6 million was one tenth of Mr Palmer's expenditure. Loading "He just blew everyone out of the water in the last year and especially the last two weeks," Ms McManus said, adding that controls on political expenditure needed to be seriously considered in the light of the experience. "You've got to balance the fact that people should be able to put their messages out, but you're distorting democracy if you allow only people who have incredible means to be able to get their messages across," she said. "It's a frightening distortion of democracy." Ms McManus declined to express a view on the leadership of the Labor Party, saying this was not her role at the ACTU, and defended Bill Shorten amid criticism of the party's election policies and tactics. "I don't want to put the blame on them because I think that their policies were good policies. They went out and tried to argue those policies," she said. In workplace relations policy, she said, the unions won the argument because the government did not set out any changes to the existing law. "Scott Morrison would not go near it. Wouldn't engage on it. Wouldn't touch it," she said. "For a while, Labor was asking him what were his policies and he wouldn't come out with any. There were none. He kept on the tax issue for the whole time." Policies are popular. "He's got no mandate whatsoever. He had plenty of opportunities, he was asked many times to state his position and he wouldn't, so he's got zero mandate on that issue." Racing NSW boss Peter V'landys is holding a draw to determine the naming rights to the Golden Eagle. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: It takes a certain panache to piss off your major sponsors, pocket their $500,000 anyway and then sell the same sponsorship rights for twice that amount. But if anyone can pull it off it is Racing NSW boss Peter Vlandys. To recap: Vlandys will host the inaugural Golden Eagle race in Rosehill in November which happens to take place on the same day as the opening of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Its a coincidence of course but Racing Victoria are said to have been displeased. But federal Resources Minister Matt Canavan said Ms Palaszczuk was hiding behind the process and still refusing to make a decision. If the Premier says today shes fed up with the lack of progress on Adani, the Premier needs to answer how long has she been fed up with her own government and why hasnt she done something about it before today, Senator Canavan said. The Premier has announced today that the solution to jobs in north and central Queensland is to have a meeting. This is something that is out of the Life of Brian, this is something that is Pythonesque. Its beyond a farce now. Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington agreed, saying Ms Palaszczuk had been dodging the issue of Adani for too long. Annastacia Palaszczuk needs to stop shifting the goalposts and give some job security to the people of Queensland, Ms Frecklington said. Adanis Australian chief executive Lucas Dow said before the Premiers announcement that the state government should take a lesson from the federal election loss. "It was a pretty resounding message, particularly if you look at the booth results... areas that were traditional Labor strongholds had a very strong turnout for the likes of One Nation and the Coalition, Mr Dow said. Adani protesters direct chants to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten during the federal election campaign. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "We have an industry that is Australia's largest export, it is time for politicians to get in behind our industry rather than sitting and lobbing grenades at us." Mr Dow said Adani wanted clear parameters from the government on what needed to be resolved and a timetable. "It is for the Queensland Premier and Deputy Premier to listen to what Queensland is saying. We want the government to stop playing games and get on with it," he said. The Premier appeared to be distancing herself from her federal Labor colleagues on Wednesday, making a pitch to voters in the region that her government was listening. I am really sorry that Labor let you down. I am really sorry that happened, Ms Palaszczuk said. We are up to this challenge. We work every day focusing on jobs. Loading But Queenslands only state Greens MP, Michael Berkman, warned Ms Palaszczuk not to take the wrong lesson from the federal election result. "Queensland Labor intends to fast-track Adani's approvals for the Carmichael coal project - this says to me that they've quite devastatingly misinterpreted the results of the federal election," he said. We need good, solid planning for jobs that account for the eventual phase-out of thermal coal." Mr Berkman said a focus on renewable energy should be the priority for regional Queensland. Mackay Region Chamber of Commerce president Victoria Gracie said they remained sceptical about the Premiers announcement, while Queensland Resources Council chief Ian Macfarlane said the patience of the region would be severely tested if nothing came of Fridays meeting. Loading Ms Palaszczuk personally vetoed a federal government loan to the mine during the 2017 state election campaign, stating initially it was because her then-partner Shaun Drabsch was involved in the loan process in his role at PricewaterhouseCoopers. She later said she had vetoed the loan to ensure a promise she had made that no taxpayer funds would be spent on the mine was kept, with the governments line after that consistently stating the Adani project had to stack up financially. More recently the mine has been held up by two environmental approvals which were waved through by the federal government but sat on by Queenslands Labor government. The team at Brisbane's GOMA Restaurant is teaming with Melbourne's two-hatted Lume to present six courses to diners during Good Food Month. GOMA executive chef Doug Innes-Will said the choice to collaborate with Lume, headed by John Rivera, was easy. Doug Innes-Will, head chef at GOMA in Brisbane. Credit:Fairfax Media We have been huge admirers of Lume and John's food. We were hoping we could put that together and that came off, he said. The evening will feature an exquisite menu, with diners seated in the the long gallery among an exhibition of Ben Quiltys work - and some special surprises for guests. Ms Sandford and Mr Beulah exchanged vows in February in a Presbyterian church before posing for pictures in front of Parliament House in Canberra. "[The] first thing that struck Lisa about Justin was his kind and caring nature," the photographers' blog continued. "For Justin, Lisa is quite literally the most considerate, kind and loving person he has met." The couple's caring natures were not on display on Discord. Using memes and violent language, they degraded other ethnicities in a chat called Vibrant Diversity. Their messages in the invite-only forum were among hundreds of thousands published by US media collective Unicorn Riot this year. "They described it as an elite group," Unicorn Riot's Chris Schiano said. "There is a fair amount of influential people from the alt-right in it." Mr Beulah posted more than 1400 messages as "Brad Small", including a lynching cartoon and propaganda from Australian neo-Nazi group Antipodean Resistance. Justin Beulah posted under a pseudonym the picture on the right, his head cropped out. But his suit, shirt and pocket square matched those seen in another picture on his Facebook. "My phone has numbers of the majority of the Aussie Alt Right," he wrote. Then a 21-year-old commerce student at the University of Canberra, and a member of its Liberal Society executive, he complained he was in a class with "three Jews". He disobeyed directions online to protect his identity, posting a picture of a shirt, suit and pocket square combination that also appeared on his Facebook. An 'ultra-far right Nazi' "Msnatsocialist" was a Catholic and a One Nation member who loved baking and hated feminism. At 25, Ms Sandford was also an "ultra far right Nazi" who worshipped Hitler and wanted a greater role for women in white supremacy politics. Like her then boyfriend, Ms Sandford repeatedly used violent language directed toward minorities over a period of months. "Race mixing is vile," she said. She wished Aboriginal Australians had been wiped out, wore a necklace in the shape of the Black Sun hate symbol and referred to Facebook groups she helped create such as Woman's Nationalist Club Australia. Despite their political affiliations (party spokespeople said they were no longer members of One Nation or the Liberals), Ms Sandord and Mr Beulah last year joined a group of far-right figures attempting to seize control of the NSW Young Nationals. The ABC revealed in October the group pushed at the May 2018 state conference for policy motions such as restricting immigration to "culturally compatible" peoples. Suspicious of a branch stack, the party eventually banned Ms Sandford, Mr Beulah and 20 others. The Nationals' NSW director Ross Cadell said the party had tightened its membership processes after an internal investigation exposed "abhorrent" material about the group. Lisa Sandford, in the white skirt, was elected to the executive of the NSW Young Nationals before being banned from the party. Credit:White Rose Society "We didn't think we could be more shocked, but then the next batch would come in," he said, warning "parasitic" right-wing extremists would keep looking for mainstream political hosts. Andrew Jakubowicz, a UTS sociologist, said online racism was normalised as part of a "competitive practice" to post more shocking content. "It raises the level of incivility," he said. "It raises the likelihood of intergroup violence quite dramatically." The Kline connection Ms Sandford liked to boast of her extremist connections. In 2017 she said she belonged to three Melbourne meet-up groups and bought tickets to the racist conference DingoCon. She spoke of drinking beers with Blair Cottrell, who led the extremist United Patriots Front. Blair Cottrell (left) denies receiving money from US white supremacist Elliott Kline (right), contrary to claims Mr Kline made online. Credit:Eddie Jim/Southern Poverty Law Centre When Mr Cottrell faced court in Melbourne in May 2017, charged with racial vilification over a mock Islamic beheading, she decided to support him in person. "Do you want me to live stream the trial?" Ms Sandford asked on Discord. Seconds later she received a response from one of the most influential figures in the US white supremacist scene at the time. "YES PLEASE," Eli Mosley replied. Mosley was a pseudonym of Elliott Kline, a military veteran who falsely claimed to have served in Iraq, the New York Times reported. Also using the pseudonym Judenjager - German for Jew hunter - he was a key organiser of the Charlottesville rally where an anti-extremist protester was run over and killed. After requesting a live-stream of the Cottrell trial, Mr Kline said "I sent him some monies and I hope it goes well." Later he warned "you dingo faggots better get the f--k over there to help him". The term "dingo" on the forum referred to Australian members. Mr Kline's pledge of support came after another on YouTube. "Blair you have the full support of the American Alt Right," he commented on a video by Mr Cottrell before the trial. "I'll spend the week [sic] bullyciding my dingo friends to show if they aren't planning to do so already, and I'm sending you some donations after work today." But Mr Cottrell said he did not know anyone called Eli Mosley or Elliott Kline. "I've never received any money from anyone in America," he said. Mr Beulah said he had known Mr Kline and did not believe he sent any money to Australia. 'Every day is hate' In a small Canberra unit on an autumn evening, he and his wife said they wanted to talk about how they entered and then left "the movement". Mr Beulah said he was radicalised online around 2014 after spending time on the site 4chan, which he visited to discuss computer games and anime. He went on to record a far-right podcast and moderated a Discord server devoted to white supremacist Richard Spencer. "Every hour of every day is hate," he recalled. Ms Sandford said her radicalisation began in anti-feminist circles. "I used a lot of those comments to fit in," she said of her Discord abuse. "They were the only people that really made me feel welcome. They accepted my views and I didn't feel vilified." The couple say they exaggerated their connections to people like Mr Cottrell. And while they used to believe white people were superior, talk of violence against other races was "a joke". Slowly their world view began to crumble, they said, as they met more people from different ethnic backgrounds and grappled with the violence at Charlottesville. "Charlottesville was a come-to-Jesus moment for me," Ms Sandford says. "I was like, why am I here?" However, she posted derogatory messages about the Charlottesville victim in the days after and boasted about "our guys" prank calling an ABC radio interviewer discussing the rally. Loading Mr Beulah said his deradicalisation was a gradual process also beginning around the time of the rally. The couple claim they went along with the Young Nationals push to meet new people and while Ms Sandford was elected to the executive, they abstained from the immigration vote. They said they were following orders from Sydney man Clifford Jennings, who posted on Discord as ARA1788. Mr Jennings said he no longer operated that account, which had been used by multiple people, and did not recall making racist statements associated with it. "I do not agree with the politics of hate," he said. Today, the couple say they are "absolutely disgusted" with their online actions. Ms Sandford urged isolated young people in white nationalism to join churches or sporting clubs instead. "Please talk to your family," she said. It is unclear whether the couple have in fact fully disavowed their racist beliefs. The judges, from Bochum, in West Germany, flew to Australia to hear evidence in a case against a retired German chemist, Helmut Krizons, who is charged over alleged atrocities at the notorious Lodz ghetto in Poland in 1942. Two survivors of a Jewish ghetto in German occupied Poland in World War II, now living in Melbourne, gave evidence before three West German judges yesterday of events of 41 years ago, at an extraordinary hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court. The evidence was taken before the Deputy Chief Stipendiary Magistrate, Mr John Dugan, under an arrangement between the West German Government and the Australian Attorney-General's Department. Mr Krizons, now 67, was known at the ghetto as "The Boxer", the court was told. He is being prosecuted by the West German Government on charges of having murdered 27 people at the ghetto, and with helping to bring about the deaths of 16,000 people, many of them children. He is on bail in West Germany. More than 200 people, from Germany, Israel, the United States and now Australia, have been called to give evidence at the trial which has been proceeding in Bochum for the past four years. One of the witnesses yesterday was a Melbourne woman, Mrs Sheva Glas-Wiener, who last year released a book about her experiences in the ghetto, entitled 'Children of the Ghetto'. Mrs Glas-Wiener said she was a teacher of some of the 1600 children of an orphanage within the ghetto. She told the court of seeing children she had taught being loaded into trucks to take them to gas chambers. Questioned by the judges, Dr Treptow, Mr Gerke and Mr Niekamper, Mrs Glas-Wiener said that Mr Krizons was one of the authorities responsible for selecting the children who were to go to the death camp. She said that he was known to inmates of the ghetto as "The Boxer", and was known as a person of power. Cafes used to be king in my pre-kid world, a place to chill over a coffee and the paper while watching the world wander on by outside. These days I am a creature of habit, forced to frequent haunts mostly in the hood when the chance (and children) permits. But with work based inner-city, I expand my horizons now and then and find one constant remains the same; everyone in the cafe game has room for improvement. Last week the kids and I ventured to our local in Sorrento (now under threat incidentally) for the Wednesday evening special where the little ones eat for $5 and were stunned when a waitress handed us a bag of pastries, sausage rolls and other treats left over from the day. Cafes are in abundance across Perth but all seem to still get some little things wrong. Credit:Louie Douvis It was a deft touch that left an indelible mark on my opinion of Voyage Kitchen, and got me thinking; if such a small gesture gets me telling everyone about it, how much damage are the little crimes against cafe patrons listed below doing to their business? The re-elected Morrison governments legislative fortunes may hang on a final undecided Senate seat in Queensland. On current counting, the Coalition can rely on having 34 seats in the 76-seat upper house. It might win 35 there is a fair prospect it will get one additional seat in the Sunshine State. Pauline Hanson and Centre Alliance's Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen / Fairfax Media But it will still need 39 seats to get laws passed 39 being the magic number for a majority in the upper house. At most, it will end up with 35 seats and so to have a majority, it will need to rely on the support of four or five crossbenchers, depending on the outcome of that final seat in Queensland. Four or five doesn't sound like much of a difference but the crossbench is smaller in this new parliament and garnering support on each and every issue could be a complicated business. A rising star threatening to derail Anthony Albanese's rise to the Labor leadership following Saturday's disastrous election result has been warned to back down or face a massive backlash by factional forces. Jim Chalmers, the Queensland-based finance spokesman, has also been attacked by one of the country's top union officials as a "blow-in" who should let Mr Albanese into the top job. Labor's finance spokesman Jim Chalmers will decide on Thursday whether to contest the Labor leadership. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Vacating the field 29 hours after announcing his tilt, shadow treasurer Chris Bowen also issued a stern warning on Wednesday that the next Labor leader must confront the party's problem with religious voters who no longer felt the party represented them. His withdrawal paved the way for Mr Albanese to be appointed as leader without a ballot, possibly with Mr Chalmers as his deputy. His time in office has also been marked by the rise of Hindu nationalism threatening the diverse nation's fragile fault lines. The Congress party has long cast itself as embracing India's diverse population, particularly Muslims and other minority groups that Modi's party, known as the BJP, continues to alienate. In its campaign manifesto this year, the party appealed to those who have struggled economically under Modi, promising cash transfers to the poorest 20 per cent and waivers of small loans to farmers. Mohandas Gandhi, the Mahatma, right, who eventually led India to its independence, laughs with the man who was to be the nation's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1946. Credit:AP/File Much of the work of rebuilding the party rests on the shoulders of Rahul Gandhi, 48, the Congress president who is the fourth generation of the Nehru-Gandhi family to lead the party. His great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru, was the first prime minister of independent India and had a large hand in shaping the republic. Rahul's grandmother, Indira Gandhi, and his father, Rajiv Gandhi, served as prime ministers and were assassinated. Rahul Gandhi has been slow in making his own mark on a party that has lost its way, and he took the reins in 2017 at a particularly demoralising time. Modi had handed the party its most humiliating defeat three years earlier by playing up its various corruption scandals. The party leadership came off as weak and lacking direction. United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, centre, and her son and Congress Party president Rahul Gandhi pay homage to former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. Credit:AP But Congress regained some energy in December when it won elections in three states considered bellwethers for this year's parliamentary contests. It was a sign that perhaps Modi's popularity had faded, creating an opportunity that the Congress party could exploit. Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka, has been zigzagging the country trying to do just that. Rahul Gandhi is seen here as a mostly likable figure even if his softer personality can make him come across as a lightweight compared with Modi. So on the campaign trail, Gandhi tried to adjust by relentlessly focusing on Modi's weaknesses, particularly the economy. But he also acknowledged that Congress is not in the same position it was before, though it is trying to present itself as a party that can heal divisions. "Change requires a transition. You can't just suddenly turn around, snap your fingers and expect change. There's a transition underway in the Congress," Gandhi said last week in an interview with Outlook India. Loading "As an organisation, the Congress [party] has a deep connect with India. Yes, we are chaotic, but we listen even to our opponents," he said, adding that the BJP and its allies "don't listen; they think they know the answer." Gandhi is up against a dominating prime minister with a strong cult of personality. Modi is a powerful orator, promoting his narrative as a self-made man who rose to the top from modest beginnings as a tea seller. In contrast, Gandhi, who studied in the United States and Britain, is seen by some as the face of the elitism associated with his party. Modi and the BJP mercilessly fan the perception that Congress leaders are disconnected from the public. "Whenever there is a crisis in the country, Rahul moves to Italy," Yogi Adityanath, a Modi protege who is the chief minister of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, said at a recent campaign rally. (Gandhi's mother, longtime Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, was born Italian.) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Rahul Gandhi from the opposition Congress party. Credit:AP Among potential voters, the perception of the Congress party as a family enterprise lacking vision has stuck. Among the country's Hindu majority, the party has struggled to shed its image of appeasing minority groups, such as Muslims, at their expense which fits right into Modi's narrative as a champion of Hindu nationalism. In response, Gandhi has been seen frequenting more Hindu temples. With exit polls predicting another term for Modi, many have accused the Congress party of focusing on its own recovery rather than working with other parties to defeat him. "It's a blue-eyed party that has never worked at the grassroots level," Sonu Agarwal, 46, a gym owner in the city of Lucknow, said of Congress. "It is self-serving." Even among voters leaning toward Congress this time, many said it was less because of what the party offered and more out of fear of how intolerant Modi's politics has made India. "I don't love them," said Preea Kumar, a communications professional from Mumbai, said of the Congress party. "It's just that they are a better choice today if we wish to remain a secular, democratic country." Complicating the party's hopes of returning to its old strength is that its decline has coincided with the rise of smaller regional parties. In 2014, those parties together won about half the popular vote and 40per cent of the total seats in parliament. Congress won only seven seats more than the top regional party, making it more of a leading small party than a coequal power with the BJP. Much of the decline of the Congress party and the rise to power of the BJP is attributed to mistakes made by Gandhi's grandmother, Indira Gandhi. She alienated senior party members, who saw her as an entitled dynast and left to join the opposition that subsequently became the BJP. The Congress party criticises Modi today as acting increasingly authoritarian, but Indira Gandhi was the only Indian prime minister to declare a state of emergency, dissolve Parliament and jail her opponents. AK Verma, a retired professor at Chatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University in Kanpur, said Rahul Gandhi had made a populist pitch in the recent campaign, highlighting a BJP corruption scandal and promising voters jobs and a minimum income. But he has struggled to connect with the public in a way that could reverse his party's fortunes. "I do not feel very significant trust in Rahul's appeal to the people," Verma said. "The most dangerous thing for the top leadership is when people do not take you seriously." Norfolk, Virginia: Virginia Governor Ralph Northam's former medical school was unable to determine his role in a racist photograph that appeared on his 1984 yearbook page, according to a report released on Wednesday following a three-month inquiry. The photo sparked weeks of political chaos in the state after it was published by a conservative website in February, setting off scandals that embroiled Virginia's three top Democrats. It shows one person in blackface makeup and another in the robes of the white supremacist Ku Klux Klan. Northam initially admitted to having appeared in the photo and apologised. He later changed his story, saying he did not believe he was pictured, but had performed in blackface to impersonate the singer Michael Jackson at about that time. That led his alma mater, the Eastern Virginia Medical School, to hire the law firm McGuireWoods to investigate how the photo appeared on Northam's yearbook page. Latest News MoneyMe to acquire SocietyOne Deal brings together two of the fastest-growing brands in the non-bank space Resimac makes key broker channel hires Two new GMs to bolster broker support Australian Broker attends the Sydney launch of OnDecks Equipment Loan, designed to provide funds when the major banks cant When it comes to the themes that define 2019, commercial diversification has undoubtedly become one of the most prominent. While the royal commission influenced this to an extent, new forms of broker education as well as heightened awareness of consumer demand have also played into the trend, and today more brokers than ever before are writing commercial loans. We would like to think that isnt by accident, because over the years, particularly in the last 10 years, we have been boosting prudential and education standards to make sure all our members are professional, says David Gill, CEO of the Commercial and Asset Finance Brokers Association of Australia (CAFBA). In 2017, CAFBA commissioned global analytics firm East & Partners to investigate the third party channels commercial market penetration. Its report concluded that, on average, 67% of commercial equipment finance was sourced through brokers. However, the challenges of commercial lending range from security to the fact that banks wont even consider financing second-hand equipment. Tackling these head-on for the benefit of businesses across Australia, OnDeck launched a new loan product last month. Following a soft-launch phase at the end of last year, OnDecks new Equipment Loan launched exclusively through the broker network in April, marked by launch events for brokers in Melbourne and Sydney. The loan has several features that OnDeck says are market leading: not only is it unsecured but there are no limitations on asset age, make or model, meaning even second-hand equipment can be financed. Through our research we identified that 30% of our customers were using our Unsecured Loan product to buy equipment, so we are really excited to be able to launch our second product, the Equipment Loan, here in Australia, says OnDeck Australia CEO Cameron Poolman. The new product leverages OnDecks global reach and systems as well as its knowledge of communications; cost of funding; partnerships and learnings to create economies of scale in the Australian market. The lender also has a wealth of information on customer acquisitions and the third party channel, not to mention technology that it can tailor and roll out locally. To explain these benefits to the local market, OnDeck global CEO Noah Breslow flew in from the US to address brokers at the launch event. This is about choice. When we started OnDeck back in 2007, banks were doing a terrible job of serving small businesses in the US, and great businesses every day were having a hard time borrowing to grow, he says. We started the company with the belief that by using tech, analytics and a customer-first approach, and by bringing this product category online, we could serve businesses in a totally different way. Twelve years later, Breslow says the vision has become a reality. Today, 95% of SME customers in the US say they have more choices of where to get financing than they did five years ago, and 98% say thats a positive outcome. OnDeck specialises in taking risks when banks dont know how, and taking those risks in a responsible and intelligent way. We now see an opportunity for equipment finance here in Australia, and we want to bring it into the modern age, Breslow says. Funding frustrations Over the last 12 years, OnDeck has loaned more than $10bn to 100,000 business customers in the US, Canada and Australia. It has also contributed to the development of online SME funding in the markets where it operates, pioneering the SMART Box and heightening transparency of lending contracts. But for mainstream and major bank lenders, equipment finance remains at arms length. OnDeck specialises in taking risks when banks dont know how, and taking those risks in a responsible and intelligent way Noah Breslow, CEO, OnDeck Global Lenders now seem to be overlaying their own consumer credit guidelines onto small business credit. There was no recommendation from the royal commission that said lenders had to do this, but they still seem to be doing it thats part of why we welcome OnDecks new product, says Gill. According to Scottish Pacifics latest SME Index, 53.2% of all SMEs borrow to fund new plant and equipment. However, the number of SMEs planning to turn to their main bank for funding dropped below the 20% mark for the first time in March 2019. When compared to the previous index released six months earlier, this is a drop of more than 3%. In September 2014, the figure stood at 38%. Non-bank lenders were listed as the first-choice funders for almost 18% of SME owners, up from 15% just six months earlier, while the percentage of SMEs who said they would not consider a non-bank lender dropped from 43.5% to less than 33%. Meanwhile, OnDeck calculates that 25% of SMEs plan to seek additional business financing in the next 12 months, with the research revealing that 44% of SME owners would consider borrowing from an online lender. For OnDeck, this is another area in which its overseas experience pays dividends. In this type of business, we need to deliver capital quickly to small businesses so they can do what they want to do. To do that we need to have best-in-breed credit models, says Poolman. The US business is on version six of their credit score, pulling a number of different data sources to best predict the health of the business and their propensity to pay us back. Supporting the network Crucially, 70% of Australian SME owners access capital via brokers or intermediaries. To support brokers, OnDeck has made a series of pledges, including the promise that a borrower wont be contacted without the brokers permission, and commission will not be loaded into the customers price. Further, loans can be provided with only six months bank statements, dedicated BDMs are on hand to triage and prioritise broker deals, and funds can be cleared in as little as three business days. Through our research we identified that 30% of our customers were using our Unsecured Loan product to buy equipment Cameron Poolman, CEO, OnDeck Australia The good thing about a new product like this is that it provides more choice, and every broker you talk to will always welcome having a choice of where to put their business and having a different product, Gill says. In the US there is so much choice for small finance companies, and they are all niche products. We seem to just have four or five choices, and all of them have pretty much the same credit standards. Here the product features I have seen look very good, and I think it will be taken up by brokers and be very welcome. Despite the growth in demand for commercial lending, huge numbers of brokers are yet to diversify from their residential focus, due in part to concerns about education and experience. With the potential abolition of trail commission still lingering on the horizon, that could be about to change, and CAFBA is ready to support those looking to take the leap. CAFBAs diploma, to be released soon, will address how different financial concepts in the commercial space should be applied to customers. And there is more to come. We have been boosting prudential and education standards to make sure all our members are professional, Gill says. We have just formed an alliance with the National Equipment Finance Association in the US, but the brokers in Australia seem to have a much better reputation and are all very professional. As CAFBA, it is our role ... to make sure that continues. Meanwhile, OnDeck is also going from strength to strength. We are very proud of our Equipment Loan and we want to engage, learn and understand more from the brokers who use it, Poolman says. Latest News MoneyMe to acquire SocietyOne Deal brings together two of the fastest-growing brands in the non-bank space Resimac makes key broker channel hires Two new GMs to bolster broker support Jean-Pierre Gortan, founder of Simplicity Finance, says a solidified training framework is needed to prevent poor customer outcomes Let me begin by saying I am 100% for the expansion and development of the mortgage broking industry. However, as with other aspects of our lives, before we decide to embark on a new path we should stop to reflect on our skills and support networks to ensure we have the best chance of a positive outcome. There is a significant amount of press from lenders and industry bodies that are pushing hard for sector diversification in order to expand the brokers product and service range. But before the industry decides to wholeheartedly embrace this strategy it should be highlighted that it does not come without risks for the industry, for the individual broker and, more importantly, its a big risk for the client. The best way to mitigate these risks, while working towards positive growth, is to put appropriate frameworks in place to assist with commercial broker training, which will ensure the upskilling of those who wish to play in the industry, and ultimately that the industry continues to act in the best interests of clients. By way of context, the large majority of well-established commercial brokers have between 15 and 30 years of commercial lending experience, which is in large part the reason why they are successful. Importantly, they also understand the risks and intricacies associated with a particular transaction, based on their experience with other successfully closed facilities over the years. To elevate the industry and ensure we dont disappoint all the clients who place their faith in our sector, we need to solidify a training framework for new commercial brokers, and this should include three key areas of focus. The large majority of well-established commercial brokers have between 15 and 30 years of commercial lending experience, which is in large part the reason why they are successful Firstly, brokers need theoretical and practical training. Lenders and aggregators should insist on mandatory training courses like the Certificate IV in Commercial and Asset Finance launched by the Commercial and Asset Finance Brokers Association of Austalia. This course covers key issues in the industry: deal structuring, credit memorandums, preparation and product knowledge. Secondly, after training, a suitable mentor is perhaps the most important pillar. The notion of a mentor is mandatory for new-to-industry residential brokers, but not in commercial. A similar framework should be implemented for new-to-industry commercial writers. Finally, brokers seeking commercial accreditation should be required to hold substantial industry experience of five or more years, or to have successfully completed their education and found a suitably experienced mentor. A broker without the proper skill set and experience will result in a client not receiving the best advice. These clients will often end up having their transaction placed with an unsuitable lender, structured incorrectly and priced poorly for risk. Undoubtedly the whole process will take much more time than necessary. The worst and quite likely result is that a commercially viable transaction is not placed at all, because of the inability of the consultant to locate a suitable lender that meets the borrowers requirements. Given the proposed changes to remuneration and the general tightening of policies, the royal commission has emphasised the need for residential brokers to expand and diversify their businesses into other areas but we shouldnt be pushing brokers in a new direction before they are adequately skilled and prepared for it. There is a reason why most commercial business is written by a small percentage of the industry. It takes a very different skill set and level of experience to correctly structure, negotiate and place commercial transactions; it is not simply about connecting a lender with a borrower and hoping for the best. Besides the possible risks to the reputation of the industry, there is also probably a legal minefield facing brokers who provide poor advice and whose clients suffer losses. The last thing we should want for our industry is to have hundreds of inexperienced brokers attempting complex transactions without the proper knowledge and tools. Before we push traditional residential brokers into commercial finance, we need to understand the potential ramifications for our industry and, more importantly, for clients who might be on the end of a poor experience. As the saying goes, only fools rush in. Jean-Pierre Gortan Founder of Simplicity Finance Latest News MoneyMe to acquire SocietyOne Deal brings together two of the fastest-growing brands in the non-bank space Resimac makes key broker channel hires Two new GMs to bolster broker support While diversification has been a topic dominating the mortgage broking space recently, one award-winning broker has encouraged his colleagues to do just the opposite. Becoming a specialist in something is one of the best ways to really promote yourself over others and win business, said Andrew Mirams, MD of Intuitive Finance and an MPA Top 100 Broker 2018. In this industry, you try to be a bit of everything to everyone and it often means youre not very good at anything. Instead, try to carve out a niche, find what youre good at, and market yourself off that. According to Mirams, focusing on a specific segment of the market not only sets one apart as an expert, but naturally leads to more business. If a broker is good at what he or she does and is looking for new ways to take care of already-established clients, natural diversification occurs, with the suite of services organically and skillfully expanding from a solid base. Go to your advocates. If youve already done a good job with an existing client, ask them to introduce you to other people, other needs, he added. To Mirams, it is crucial that brokers take advantage of living in the age of communication. He elaborated, Keep your network in the loop with changes and keep them up to date with what you can do for them. Youve got to be back in touch regularly. Youve got to have newsletters. Youve got to have all these little touchpoints that keep you front of mind. Even though maintaining a constant marketing campaign might seem like something that can be neglected when business picks up, Mirams emphasised that it is one of the primary keys to success in the mortgage broking industry. He explained, This business tends to be clumpy, with both highs and lows. Some are controllable, some are uncontrollable. You cant control clients and you cant control banks, but you can control your marketing push and your desire to create and drive more business. Mirams will sit on the how to attract new clients and referrals panel at the upcoming MPA Broker Business Exchange on 5 June. Key Media has waived the registration fee for brokers, and spots are filling quickly. Register today at: https://brokerbusinessexchange.com.au/ Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams Call it a doctored note! The Boys in Blue busted one of their own for allegedly using fake doctors notes at MetroTech Center Downtown on May 20. The police cuffed the 30-year-old employee of the Police Departments communication section for allegedly trying to get paid time off with the fake documents while on duty near Flatbush Avenue Ext. at 6:35 a.m., according to authorities. The departments communications section facilitates communications among responders, for example via radio, according to a spokesman of the police. Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams 88th Precinct Fort GreeneClinton Hill Troublesome trio Three bandits robbed a delivery man on Washington Avenue on May 13. The malcontents walked up to the victim while he was making a delivery between Gates and Greene avenues at 9:30 p.m. and shoved him to the ground, a cutting his finger, while the other two fled with his electric bike, according to the authorities. Car robbers Two rogues held a man up at S. Oxford Street on May 17. The victim told police he was in his car near Hanson Place at 3:15 a.m. when the two neer-do-wells approached him and demanded he hand over his money. He handed over $53, but the brute put his arm around his head, and the victim said he felt what could have been a gun pressed to his head. The other nogoodnik fleeced his pockets and bagged his cellphone and keys, according to police. Quick swipe A delinquent youth mugged a teen at a Fulton Street subway station on May 17. The 16-year-old victim was swiping his MetroCard at the station near S. Portland Avenue at 4:30 p.m. when the scofflaw approached him and and said, let me see your wallet, I have a knife, though he did not display a knife, according to police. The youngster handed over $3 from his wallet and the rapscallion demanded his phone, which he took and then fled on foot out of the station, according to the authorities. Boozy burglar A burglar filched a Fulton Street restaurant on May 13. The lout used a bolt cutter to snap the deadbolt lock on the side door of the eatery near St. James Place at around 3:40 a.m., and then left without going inside, according to police. The lawbreaker then came back about an hour later, lifting the gates to get into the building, where he bagged $300, the lock, and a $20 bottle of booze, cops said. What a tool! A man stole thousands of dollars worth of tools from another mans work truck at Hanson Place on May 14. The man was returned to his truck parked near S. Elliott Place at 8:30 p.m. when he saw the lock on it was broken, and caught a glimpse of the louse making a run for it, according to police. He then opened his truck and saw that several drills and their batteries were stolen, the authorities said. Frightened filcher A man scared off a burglar from his Lefferts Place house on May 19. The guy told cops he was in the living room of his home near Classon Avenue at 1:30 a.m. when the chancer lifted his window screen to open the window. The guy then went out to confront the scoundrel, but he made a run for it, cops said. Whats up, doc? A thief robbed a doctors locker at a DeKalb Avenue hospital sometime overnight on May 13. The victim told cops she left her white coat, stethoscope, and other medical devices in her locker at the medical center near Ashland Place at around 4:50 p.m., and when she returned the next day at 9:40 a.m., she saw that her stuff was missing, without any damage to the locker or the lock. Bad date A scammer robbed a man after a meet up on Vanderbilt Avenue on the night of May 16. The victim told cops he met the scofflaw at a DeKalb Avenue bar and took her back to his home near Lafayette Avenue at 10:30 p.m. He at one point gave her the password to his phone and fell asleep, police said. When he woke up, he noticed the scoundrel made three transactions on Venmo worth almost $2,000, he told cops. Kevin Duggan (ANSA) - Rome, May 22 - The Italian culture ministry has asked the Getty Museum in LA to return another four stolen works besides the famed Lysippus statue, sources told ANSA Wednesday. They are: a canvas by 19th century painter Camillo Miola, The Oracle at Delphi, stolen from the Istituto San Lorenzo in Aversa near Naples between 1943 and '46; two Roman era marble lions that were in Palazzo Spaventa at Preturo near Aquila; and a mosaic of Medusa stolen from the Museo Nazionale Romano. The ministry has asked the Getty to review the provenance of the works, which Italy thinks have either been stolen, or exported without permission. The supreme Court of Cassation said in January that the Getty Museum showed "unjustifiable carelessness" in buying the ancient Greek Statue of a Victorious Youth by famed sculptor Lysippus (or Lysippos) that Italy is determined to recover. The court chided the LA museum for relying on opinions on its purportedly legal provenance from consultants appointed by the seller, despite the "perplexity" shown by the "most authoritative partner" that flanked the Getty in the talks, the Metropolitan Museum of New York. On December 4 the high court said the priceless bronze statue, long a centrepiece of the Malibu museum, belonged to Italy and must be returned. The top court rejected an appeal by the US museum against a Pesaro judge's order to confiscate the fourth-century BC work. "The Lysippos (as it is known in Italy) must return to Italy, it's the last word from Italian justice," Pesaro prosecutor Silvia Cecchi told ANSA after the long legal battle. Culture Minister Alberto Bonisoli told ANSA "now we hope the US authorities will act as soon as possible to favour the restitution of the Lysippos to Italy". He said he was happy that "this judicial process has finally ended and the right to recover an extremely important testimony of our heritage has been recognised. "Let's hope the statue can soon return to be admired in our museums". But the Getty said in a statement that "we will continue to defend our right to the Lysippos. "The law and the facts do not justify the restitution to the Italian government of a sculpture that has been exhibited to the public in Los Angeles for almost half a century". In June the Pesaro prosecutors announced that the order issued to seize the statue for years disputed by Italy and the Getty Museum in Malibu was "immediately executive". "The Lysippos statue must return to Italy," prosecutors told ANSA, accompanied by Tristano Tonnini, the lawyer for the association "Cento Citta'", which has been fighting the legal battle for 11 years. "We expect politicians to play their part," they said. The Italian judge rejected an appeal by the Getty Museum, ruling that the fourth-century BC Greek statue - known as Lysippos or Lysippus after its creator and fished out of the sea off Pesaro in 1964 - must be seized wherever in the world it is. Commonly referred to as the Getty Bronze and formally named Statue of a Victorious Youth, the statue is one of the best-known works in the Los Angeles-based museum. The Lysippos has been contested ever since the Getty bought it for almost four million dollars in 1977 from German art dealer Herman Heinz Herzer, paying nearly 800 times the $5,600 that Italian dealers paid the fishermen for it in 1964. Italy has long claimed the statue was smuggled out of the country and has demanded that the Getty hand it back. Lawyer Tonnini said he was satisfied by the judge's ruling, but said he is also convinced that "the California museum always knew that it was buying a smuggled and illegally exported artifact". Pesaro prosecutor Cristina Tedeschini said she expected a favourable ruling from the Court of Cassation. "But the fact is that three different judges have reaffirmed that the statue belongs to the Italian state and that it must be given back," Tedeschini said. In November 2007, a court in Fano, near Pesaro, cleared the Getty Museum of wrongdoing in the case. But prosecutor Silvia Cecchi said the judge "affirmed that the statue was taken in Italian national waters and therefore belongs to Italy," which has been the sustained argument since 2007 to get the statue back. "It must be very clear that the order is immediately executive and we will apply this principle by notifying the American authorities," Cecchi said. The Getty said it would lodge an appeal at the Cassation Court to "defend our rights". Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams 63rd Precinct Marine ParkMill BasinFlatlandsBergen Beach Car pilferer A raider broke into a car parked on Nostrand Avenue sometime overnight on May 13, and stole almost $3,000 worth of items. The baddie broke into the vehicle, which was left between Clarendon Road and Avenue D, sometime between 9 p.m. and 4:15 a.m. the following day, cops reported. The perp made off with a laptop, headphones, and a wallet, according to police. Identity theft A fraudster used a womans stolen information to make $791 in unauthorized purchases at an Avenue U department store on May 5. The woman received a bill in the mail for charges made at the store between Flatbush Avenue and E. 55th Street at 3:10 p.m., using a credit card that her bank mailed to her home, but she never received, cops said. Jewelry thief A bandit stole several items of jewelry from a Filmore Avenue home on May 14. The victim told police she left the bling in a box in her bedroom of the home between E. 52nd and E. 53rd, and later found the items missing. The victim said that there was a repairman working on the home before the items went missing, cops said. Phone scam A scammer purchased two cellphones using a Brooklyn Avenue mans stolen information on May 3. The victim, who lives between Avenues H and I, received a bill from his wireless company, saying that he had purchased two extra phones using his account, according to the police report. The victim claims he knew nothing about the purchase, cops said. Aidan Graham Sign up for our amNY Sports email newsletter to get insights and game coverage for your favorite teams 78th Precinct Park Slope Bad tip Some lowlife ripped off servers at a Bergen Street coffee shop on May 15, taking $20 out of the tip jar. The owner told police the reprobate stuffed his greasy palms into her employees tip jar at the store between Fifth and Flatbush avenues at 2:45 p.m., before fleeing with his ill-gotten cash on foot. Licensed to steal A thief nabbed both license plates off a mans 2000 Lexus LX470 he parked on Sixth Avenue on May 15. The victim told police he parked his 19-year-old four-door near Park Place at 10:30 a.m., returning shortly to find both plates stolen. Blending in Police cuffed a 48-year-old man accused of looting merchandise at a Flatbush Avenue department store on May 10, taking luggage and a Ninja blender. An employee told police he spotted the suspect attempting to flee past the register at the store near Atlantic Avenue with the stolen goods at 4:02 p.m., and New Yorks Finest were called in to arrest the man on a misdemeanor larceny charge. Final destination Two louts sucker-punched a man on Sixth Avenue on May 4. The victim told police he was exiting a cab near Union Street at 12:30 a.m. when the goons waltzed up and socked him in the face. Bike bandit A thief stole two pricey bikes that were locked up on Ninth Street on May 11. The victim told police he chained his two Trek bikes up between Fifth and Sixth avenues at 1 p.m., and returned about an hour later to find his rides stolen. Colin Mixson Australia's Queensland state premier on Wednesday called for India's Adani Enterprises to sit down with the state regulator to work out a definitive timeline to obtain approvals for a controversial coal mine project in the state. Premier Anna Palaszczuk said the community required certainty on the long-delayed Carmichael mine's outlook, and was tired of waiting for approvals after environmental reviews that have stalled the project. "I think everyone's had a gutful of this, frankly," said Palaszczuk, a member of the Labor Party. The Adani project was at ... (ANSa) - Paris, May 22 - Economy Minister Giovanni Tria told an OECD event in Paris on Wednesday that Italy's growth was "less strong than was hoped for but stronger than expected". He was commenting after the OECD said Italy's growth will be flat this year while national statistics agency ISTAT forecasts GDP rising 0.3%. The government has said it expects growth of 0.2% but it is working to drive that figure up. "From what they say, it seems to me that growth will be a little higher than the forecast in our economy and finance (blueprint) document (DEF)". Banks might agree to acquire up to a 20 per cent stake in Jet Airways as the Hinduja group is not keen to exceed its shareholding beyond 30 per cent in the grounded airline, sources close to the development said a day ahead of a crucial meeting at the Etihad headquarters in Abu Dhabi. According to the plan discussed by the lenders consortium, led by State Bank of India (SBI), banks will hold the stake for up to two years. Subsequently, they can sell it and cash out. The Hindujas are unwilling to invest a bulk amount. In that scenario, banks will propose to hold 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 Video streaming platform Netflix is seeking to create diverse and appealing content based out of India and will have 22 such movies by the end of next year. The over-the-top (OTT) service provider has already released eight, and the rest 14 will be out over the next 18 months, starting with Abhay Deol-starrer Chopstick at the end of this month. This is in addition to a slew of original shows and series lined up from India. Netflix, which has been in India since January 2016, has collected data points that suggest the market has a huge appetite for ... (ANSA) - Rome, May 22 - Alessandro Sandrini, a Brescia native who was taken hostage near the Turkey-Syria border in October 2016, has been released by an anti-government group near Idlib, the militia said Wednesday. The self-styled 'government of salvation' published photos of Sandrini, 32, on social network and said that he had been in the hands of a gang of criminals. There has thus far not been any confirmation from Italian sources. Sandrini's kidnapping was only reported in December 2017, a year after he disappeared after travelling to Turkey in October 2016. Then, after four phone calls to his mother over the course of several months, a dramatic video was posted showing him in an orange jumpsuit and guarded by two men with AK-47s. In the video, Sandrini said they he feared his captors would kill him soon. "They have given me the chance to communicate for the last time," Sandrini said in the video released by The SITE intelligence group that monitors online jihadism. "I ask Italy to help me, to wrap up this situation quickly. "I've been in prison for two years and I can't stand it any more. "They have said that they are fed up, that they will kill me if things are not resolved soon. "I can't see a future. I don't know what to think... today is July 19, 2018". Sandrini left home in Brescia on October 3 2016, when he boarded a flight from the local Orio al Serio airport which took him via Istanbul to Adana, a Turkish town 180 knm from Aleppo. "I'm going on holiday," he told his family. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) stating its not just the liquidity crisis for non-banking financial companies but that of solvency seems the latest blow to the sector, further weighing down stocks of Indiabulls Housing Finance (IHFL) and Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL), the third and fourth housing finance companies (HFCs) in order. Despite Mondays generous support to these stocks as well as that of PNB Housing Finance (fifth in top five), they are still down 30-80 per cent in the last one year. For DHFL, the adverse developments with its deposit book put further pressure on ... While the most serious among cases were reported in the Bhatpara assembly constituency, where by-polls were held recently, numerous incidents of partisan violence are being alleged by nearly all major political parties in several other parts of the state as well. The Congress, with whom the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) is in talks for a possible anti-BJP front at the centre, alleged that its workers ... 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 (ANSA) - Milan, May 22 - The supreme Court of Cassation on Wednesday acquitted Giuseppe Orsi, the former president of defence and aerospace giant Finmeccanica, which has been renamed Leonardo, of charges related to alleged bribes paid in exchange for a 556-million-euro contract to sell 12 helicopters to the Indian government. Bruno Spagnolini, the former CEO of helicopters subsidiary AgustaWestland, was also cleared as Italy's top court of appeal upheld a January 2018 Milan appeals court verdict. In December 2016 the Cassation ordered a repeat of the initial appeals trial. The two had been sentenced to four years six months and four years respectively, for international corruption and fake invoicing in the case. The company failed to get a last-minute rescue deal from the government after running into a cash crunch from Brexit uncertainty, as well as high energy and labor costs. It was put into compulsory liquidation in the UK High Court and Ernst & Young LLP was appointed to manage the process. The company in liquidation is continuing to trade and supply its customers while I consider options for the business," the official ... 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 Prime Minister Theresa May is under pressure from lawmakers in her own party to resign immediately after a backlash to her final Brexit gambit. She has so far only said she will agree to a timetable for her departure after a planned fourth vote on her Brexit deal in early June, but senior members of her Conservative Party are already jostling to replace her. Below are Conservatives who have either said they plan to put themselves forward or are widely expected to run: Planning to run: Boris Johnson, 54 The face of the official campaign to leave the European ... China must prepare for difficult times as the international situation is increasingly complex, President Xi Jinping said in comments carried by state media on Wednesday, as the country faces increased tariffs in a bitter trade war with Washington. The two countries are locked in tit-for-tat tariff increases on each other's imports, after talks broke down to resolve their dispute. Acrimony has intensified since Washington last week blacklisted Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, a potentially devastating blow for the company that has rattled technology ... Qualcomm Inc illegally suppressed competition in the market for smartphone chips by threatening to cut off supplies and extracting excessive licensing fees, a US judge ruled, a decision that could force the company to overhaul its business practices. The decision issued late Tuesday night by US District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, caused Qualcomm shares to plunge 11.4 per cent on Wednesday. "Qualcomm's licensing practices have strangled competition" in parts of the chip market for years, harming rivals, smartphone makers, and consumers, Koh wrote in a ... Shares of Jet Airways (India) continued their three-day gaining streak and rallied up to 9 per cent to Rs 164 apiece on the BSE during early morning trade on Wednesday on the back of heavy volumes being traded on the hopes of the airline's revivial. The share has surged 32 per cent so far in this week. At 10:11 am, the stock was trading 7.5 per cent higher at Rs 162 per share, as compared to a 0.27 per cent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. A combined 15.65 million shares have already changed hands on the NSE and BSE counters till first hour of trade. On an average, an aggregate sub ... Sandrini released in Syria say militia Italian was taken hostage in 2016 at the Turkish-Syrian border (ANSAmed) - Rome, May 22 - Alessandro Sandrini, a Brescia native who was taken hostage near the Turkey-Syria border in October 2016, has been released by an anti-government group near Idlib, the militia said Wednesday. The self-styled 'government of salvation' published photos of Sandrini, 35, on social network and said that he had been in the hands of a gang of criminals. There has thus far not been any confirmation from Italian sources. (ANSAmed). Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Affairs, reiterated India's commitment in securing peace and security in war-ravaged Afghanistan as she addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting here on Wednesday. "India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights. I wish to once again underscore the importance India attaches to SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcome an early conclusion of the Draft Roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group," Swaraj said in a statement. The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance created in 2001 in Shanghai, by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined the forum in 2017. The Wednesday's meeting, attended by foreign ministers of the SCO member states, including Pakistan, focused on the effective use of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which serves to promote cooperation, among the member states, against terrorism for a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The discussion on seeking effective ways to fight regional terrorism came in the backdrop of the deadly serial bombings on Easter day in Sri Lanka that targeted churches and hotels across the country killing more than 250 people. Swaraj cited the Pulwama attack that targeted a convoy of Indian soldiers in south Kashmir and killed 50 CRPF jawans in February. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility of the deadly terror strike. "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and news from neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly resolutely against this menace," the minister said. Speaking on global climate change, Swaraj said, "India is committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change. We welcome the agreement reached at Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP 24) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)." The External Affairs Minister further said that India has adopted regional connectivity initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent, and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity with other SCO member nations. "India's commitment to regional connectivity is evident from our involvement in International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway," Swaraj said, adding that India operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017 In the meeting, the minister stated New Delhi firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Earlier, on the sidelines of the meeting, Swaraj called on Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov and discussed bilateral cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan and committed to explore the untapped potential. The two-day meeting, beginning May 21, witnessed all sides exchanging views on issues of international and regional importance, along with reviewing the preparation for the forthcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13 to 14. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is also slated to attend the impending SCO meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Affairs, reiterated India's commitment in securing peace and security in war-ravaged Afghanistan as she addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting here on Wednesday. "India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights. I wish to once again underscore the importance India attaches to SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcome an early conclusion of the Draft Roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group," Swaraj said in a statement. The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance created in 2001 in Shanghai, by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined the forum in 2017. The Wednesday's meeting, attended by foreign ministers of the SCO member states, including Pakistan, focused on the effective use of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which serves to promote cooperation, among the member states, against terrorism for a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The discussion on seeking effective ways to fight regional terrorism came in the backdrop of the deadly serial bombings on Easter day in Sri Lanka that targeted churches and hotels across the country killing more than 250 people. Swaraj cited the Pulwama attack that targeted a convoy of Indian soldiers in south Kashmir and killed 50 CRPF jawans in February. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility of the deadly terror strike. "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and news from neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly resolutely against this menace," the minister said. Speaking on global climate change, Swaraj said, "India is committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change. We welcome the agreement reached at Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP 24) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)." The External Affairs Minister further said that India has adopted regional connectivity initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent, and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity with other SCO member nations. "India's commitment to regional connectivity is evident from our involvement in International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway," Swaraj said, adding that India operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017 In the meeting, the minister stated New Delhi firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Earlier, on the sidelines of the meeting, Swaraj called on Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and discussed bilateral cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan and committed to exploring the untapped potential. The minister also held delegation level meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi after the SCO event was over. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi too attended the event. The two-day meeting, beginning May 21, witnessed all sides exchanging views on issues of international and regional importance, along with reviewing the preparation for the forthcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13 to 14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Islamic terrorist, who came to be infamously known as the "American Taliban" after his 2001 capture in Afghanistan is set to be released from a US prison on Thursday, three years before he completes his 20-year-sentence, federal officials said. John Walker Lindh, who is currently serving time in Terre Haute, Indiana, for joining and supporting the Taliban, Fox News reported. Lindh's release came in a surprise move by federal authorities, despite lawmakers' concerns about the "security and safety implications" of freeing an unrepentant terrorist who officials say continues to "openly call for extremist violence." The former Islamist fighter, named "Detainee 001 in the war on terror," was arrested in 2001, just months after the September 11 attacks on Twin Towers in New York and the US invasion of Afghanistan in October, along with a group of Taliban fighters who were captured by US forces. Raising concern over the release, Senators Richard C. Shelby and Maggie Hassan, in a letter to the Federal Bureau of Prisons late last week, said, "We must consider the security and safety implications for our citizens and communities who will receive individuals like John Walker Lindh, who continue to openly call for extremist violence." In the letter, cited by The Washington Post, the lawmakers further sought details on how the agency is working to prevent prisoners such as Lindh from committing additional crimes after their release. They also asked which other "terrorist offenders" are next in line to be freed and how the Federal Bureau of Prisons determines whether or not someone is an "ongoing public threat". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Ramchandra Singh Yadav, former MLA and an independent candidate from Buxar Lok Sabha seat, for displaying his licensed weapon at his press meet here. A police team also raided his residence in Kaimur, but he is absconding. Additional Director General of Police (ADG), Headquarters, Kundan Krishan, issued the order for Yadav's arrest and also for the cancellation of the license of his rifle. Talking to media persons here on Wednesday, Yadav claimed that he had taken out his rifle to protect the Constitution and democracy in the country. "The Constitution and democracy are in danger. As a citizen of this country, I am going to protect it with a gun," said Yadav. Yadav further said: "I have believed in the ideals of Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, but the situation has changed in the country now. I have to abide by the ideals of revolutionaries like Subhash Chandra Bose and Mangal Pandey." "People and leaders should now join me in the fight to secure our democracy. You cannot get your rights without fighting," added Yadav, who also fought the last Lok Sabha from Buxar on the ticket of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Yadav also questioned the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the elections, while citing different advanced countries where the ballot papers are used for holding the polls. "Japan, US, Britain and other countries of the world use ballot papers. Then why EVMs are used in India," he asked. Referring to leaders like BSP chief Mayawati, SP president Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Yadav said: "I am a small soldier of 'Bahujan Samaj' and the 'mahagathbandhan." Hitting out at the BJP, Yadav compared the saffron party with a snake and its leaders with mythological characters like Ravana and Duryodhana. "To secure democracy I am ready to make any sacrifice. There are crores of others, like me, who are ready for making sacrifices," said Yadav. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a first, the Assam Rifles (AR) would be training together with the Indian Coast Guard to enhance inter-forces cooperation and interoperability. The charter of affiliation, in this regard, was signed by the Director General (DG) of the Indian Coast Guard, Rajendra Singh and DG, Assam Rifles Lt Gen Sukhdeep Sangwan on Wednesday. "It is a permanent affiliation of Assam Rifles with the Coast Guards. Besides building camaraderie, the training will involve the exchange of information and personnel of the two Forces. They will work together in humanitarian missions and other areas," said a senior Assam Rifles official, adding that the objective of the affiliation is to promote bilateral cooperation between the two Services and contribute in joint capacity for training, sports, adventure and sustainable development. A combat battalion of Assam Rifles will soon be training onboard ICGS Shaurya (16), an offshore patrol vessel in Chennai. In due course of time, arrangements will be made for exchange of personnel - including those with an understanding of Land Border Management (LBM) with Assam Rifles battalions. Over-Seas Deployment (OSD) of AR personnel on board an ICG ship, bilateral meetings between the two forces, and participation of experts from both sides in such meetings. "The two services will greatly benefit by motivating one another, and understanding from each other's working culture - Assam Rifles personnel will be able to understand the peculiarities of Indian Coast Guard and their role in guarding and intercepting anti-Indian forces detrimental to the security of North-eastern region. Personnel of Indian Coast Guard will be able to see and understand the working culture of the Assam Rifles working along the Indo-Myanmar border," said an official source. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 14-day long foot-march by social activists and residents of Bastar demanding revival of river Indravati ended here on Tuesday. The protestors have been demanding the release of water from Katiguda dam in Odisha to the Indravati river as per the water sharing agreement between the two states. The fast-depleting water level of the river, which is considered the lifeline of Bastar, has been a cause of serious concern for the region. The march that began on May 8 from Bhejapadar village situated along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border saw participants raising slogans and holding placards that read 'Indravati Bachao' (Save Indravati). Speaking to ANI, a local said: "It is a 'satyagraha'; we demand that the administration should look into the matter as early as possible." Expressing concern over the future of the water body, one of the protestors said, "The level of water is going down every year. This is due to the indifferent attitude of the Odisha government. Chhattisgarh is not getting the required volume of water to save Indravati, which is almost dry in several stretches." "The depleting water level in the river has created a major water crisis for the villagers. It is getting worse day by day. The forest, villages and in fact the whole ecosystem along river Indravati is in trouble," said a social activist. "The administration must act now. The river Indravati flows in a 250 km long stretch in Bastar and is the lifeline of almost 200 villages which are dependent on its water. People are supporting Indravati Bachao Abhiyan with full vigour," said another protester. It is worth mentioning that Indravati is a stream of the river Godavari. Its starting point is in the 'ghats' of Dandakaranya range, at a hilltop village Mardiguda of Thuamula Rampur block in Kalahandi district of Odisha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Congress and BJP are involved in a spat over allegations of topping the Kamal Nath government in Madhya Pradesh, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that the party has not demanded a floor test in the Assembly. "BJP and Gopal Bhargava (Leader of the Opposition) never demanded a floor test. We have said (in the letter to Governor) that there should be a discussion on the problems," Chouhan told reporters here. The furore over floor test started after Bhargava wrote a letter to Governor Anandiben Patel, urging her to convene the Assembly session soon to discuss pressing issues like drinking water, law and order situation, and non-payment of farmers' dues. However, Kamal Nath had said that his government holds the majority and is ready to face the floor test. Yesterday, he claimed that the BJP was trying to lure 10 Congress MLAs in its bid to topple his government. On Opposition's questions on EVMs, Chouhan said, "Opposition knows they are going to face defeated badly. Now they have to find things blame, so they are blaming EVMs. They are demanding impractical things which cannot be accepted. Tomorrow, they will say they have already said it." "They are preparing for blaming EVMs. They know very well NDA is going to register landslide victory that is why they are involving in these things," he said. Citing electricity problem in the state, the former chief minister demanded that the Election Commission should arrange generators for the counting day. "We are demanding from the Election Commission that there is a dark rule here. The electricity has been cut off for ten times in Bhopal. Counting of votes will take place from tomorrow. So, the poll body should not depend on electricity and should arrange generators," "Digvijay Singh used to go out with banners and generators. We demand the generators should be arranged by the Commission. Otherwise Congress will say that BJP is behind all this," Chouhan said. The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls will take place on May 23. The 231-member Madhya Pradesh assembly has 113 Congress members, one short of half-way mark, and 109 BJP legislators. The ruling coalition is led by the Congress, supported by an MLA of SP, two of MLAs of Bahujan Samaj Party and four independents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rejecting Congress' allegations of horse trading to topple the Kamal Nath Government, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday said that the BJP has not sought a floor test for the government. "We have never said it. The government should do well. I am concerned about what is going on within Congress. They raise allegations against BJP. We have never tried horse trading and will never do. But there are many factions in Congress," he told ANI as Congress and BJP were involved in a spat over alleged attempts to topple the government. "One Congress leader who is contesting elections have inducted BSP candidate in the party which made BSP supremo Mayawati angry. She is now threatening to withdraw their support from the Congress party government. What can we do when there are problems in their own party?" he said. Earlier in the day, Chouhan said that BJP has not demanded a floor test in the Assembly. Chief Minister Kamal Nath had said, "At least 10 MLAs told me that they are getting phone calls and are being lured by money and posts." The former chief minister launched sharpen attack against the Opposition over questions the credibility of the Election Commission and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). "22 Opposition parties are mature. They know that they will face defeat. NDA and Narendra Modi-led BJP will register landslide victory. They are not winning that is why they are involved in such things. They have to blame someone and EVMs are easy targets for them," he said. "We have contested elections four months ago and could not form the government. But we did not blame EVMs. I had accepted that I was the reason behind BJP's defeat. One needs the courage to accept the defeat. They do not have it; that is why they are blaming EVMs for their imminent defeat," Chouhan said. Speaking further, the former chief minister added, "They are demanding impractical things from the Election Commission and if their demands were not fulfilled they will blame EVMs for their defeat. This is an insult to EVMs. The way they are questioning the credibility of the Election Commission is not good for democracy. They are tearing democracy apart, insulting 60 crore voters who have voted in the elections and insulting government officials as well. They should accept that they are losing." Commenting on the exits polls which predicted a second term for the BJP, Chouhan said that BJP alone will cross 300 seats out of 543 parliamentary constituencies. "BJP will win 300 seats and NDA will cross 350 seats. NDA will form the government. In Madhya Pradesh, we are contesting to win all 29 seats. We will break old records," he said. The BJP leader criticised Kamal Nath for stopping schemes started by his government. "People are in anger. They know the difference between our government and Congress government within five months. They have seen me as the Chief Minister and are seeing other CM. They (Congress) have stopped all the government schemes related to women, farmers and students. People are angry because corruption has gone rampant now and law and order situation has become worse," he said. "They have not fulfilled promises of forgiving farmers' debt. That is why 10 per cent polling has increased in Madhya Pradesh comparing to 2014. They have voted against Congress," Chouhan said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP will keep an open mind if other parties want to join their coalition seeing the mood, which the exit polls show is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's favour, said party vice president Baijayant Jay Panda who recently left BJD to join BJP. "My Party president Amit Shah has said that we are confident of getting more than 300 seats. We will form the government with NDA allies. If other parties seeing the mood want to also join in, I think, BJP will keep an open mind," BJP's Baijayant Jay Panda told ANI on being asked if BJD will support NDA. "All exit polls are showing that BJP has dramatically grown in Odisha. BJP will form the government in Odisha and get a majority in Lok Sabha. In Odisha, people have seen the Modi government has been taking strong political decisions, which were not easy, whether on the economic or security front. Naveen Patnaik has been chief minister for 19 years, but last five years witnessed a dramatic departure of his party's image and reputation due to rising crimes and corruption in the state," he added. Replying to a question on who will be the chief minister if BJP gets a majority in Odisha, Panda said, "I joined BJP after soul searching. I am happy to carry out whatever responsibility the party gives me. Whether it is my friend Devendra Pradhan, KV Singh Deo or Pratap Sarangi, the good thing is BJP has a lot of talent, whosoever takes whichever responsibility, we are going to cooperate with each other." He further cornered Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying that he had attacked him personally in several interviews. "The BJD has long considered that Kendrapara is its seat, I represented the seat as a BJD member. People have seen how I was eliminated and moved away from BJD. For whatsoever reason, it little unusual that Patnaik seemed to focus extra on Kendrapara and attacked me personally in many interviews. But then, I had to give a strong response to allegations levelled against me. He spent two days in Kendrapara but he neglected other seats where campaigning was underway," he remarked. Speaking about the meeting of 21 opposition leaders with Election Commission in the capital, Panda said: "It has become a tradition that losing parties claim that EVMs are being tampered with and there is some manipulation. Sometimes, they go to court and hold a press conference. It is very sad this kind of cynical approach is being followed." "When BJP lost assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other party leaders humbly accepted people's mandate. At that time, they had no issues with EVMs but suddenly they are criticising EC," he added. On Tuesday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu along with 21 opposition parties leaders urged the EC to count votes through VVPATs instead of EVMs during counting for the Lok Sabha polls. On Congress accusing BJP of destabilising their governments in states of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, the BJP vice-president said his party does not need to destabilise any government. "We do not need to destabilise anyone. You all know how they all stitched together -- not having a majority, having an alliance post-poll with parties whom they bitterly fought in elections. So these are not very stable governments, to begin with, these are inherently unable structure, they might drag for some time but it is not logical to expect that they will continue to be stable for a long term," he said. Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath have asserted that Congress has a majority in Madhya Pradesh Assembly and accused the opposition BJP of "unnecessarily" creating problems since it feared its scams will be exposed if Kamal Nath government stays in power. Elections for 542 Lok Sabha seats were held between April 11 and May 19 with counting of votes scheduled for May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Border Personnel Meet (BPM) was held between the armies of India and China on May 21. The meeting took place opposite Eastern Ladakh at the DBO - TWT Meeting Point. The Indian delegation was led by Maj Gen Arvind Kapoor from the Fire and Fury Corps while the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Colonel Gan Wei Han. The Border Personnel Meet was marked by saluting the Flags by members of the delegation, followed by the exchange of greetings. Both sides reiterated the mutual desire of maintaining peace and tranquillity and improving relations at the functional level at the border areas. According to a statement, both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. The delegations parted amidst feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along with the border areas. A BPM was also held last month in the same area on the occasion of Baisakhi. BPM is a mechanism where both the armies meet to iron out their differences by resolving disputes. These disputes generally arise out of misunderstandings of each other's position along the LAC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, MAY 22 - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) has denied that the Syrian government had made use of chemical weapons in the past 48 hours in the northwestern part of the country. The organization, based in the UK, makes use of a large number of sources on the ground. The US has in recent hours threatened to retaliate again against the Syrian government if the reports of chemical weapons use were found to be true. According to information received by the US, the Syrian government used chlorine gas against civilian areas in opposition-held areas of the northwestern province of Latakia. The opposition groups include ones linked to al-Qaeda. The armed groups said that chemical weapons had been used in the area but the SOHR said that it had not received proof of these allegations. SOHR added that the mountain areas of Latakia where the chemical weapons were reportedly used are not thought to have any civilians in them. (ANSAmed). British Council has launched India's first chatbot for creative professionals, called DARA. DARA, developed in partnership with Jaaga and Microsoft Research India, is a digital assistant to help emerging Indian creative professionals collaborate with international peers for their ongoing projects. DARA does not only connect people with shared interests in the creative global community but also employs a modified personality test to match people based on their disposition. The digital assistant is currently hosted on its official website - dara.network and through a dedicated Facebook page. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States can so far not confirm the alleged use of chemical weapons by Russia-ally Syrian government in Idlib province, said US Special Envoy for Syria on Wednesday. "We are watching [the situation] very closely, also the reports of chemical weapons use. So far, we cannot confirm it, but we are watching it," Sputnik quoted James Jeffrey as saying. This development comes a day after the US warned the Syrian government over carrying out chemical attacks as a counter-offensive, particularly in its northwestern region, the remaining holdout of the Islamic State. In a statement, the US State Department said, "We continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19, 2019." The alleged attack took place on May 19 on the border of Idlib province. The Syrian government has been accused of attacking civilians in Idlib. United Nations has also warned of a humanitarian catastrophe. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is trying to regain control over the last rebel-held province.The multi-sided armed conflict in Syria has been raging since 2011, with Russia, Turkey and Iran being the guarantors of the ceasefire regime. Assad regime has been here and now accused of using chemical on its own people. International inspectors say that Assad's forces have carried out a series of chemical attacks in the course of the brutal civil war, which has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since 2011. Fighting erupted in northwestern Syria last month breaking a truce brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2018. At least 167 civilians have lost their lives in Idlib since April 25. The province is home to about three million people. More than 370,00O people were killed and millions were displaced in Syria and abroad since the beginning of the Syrian war in March 2011. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 22-year-old man killed his father in a fit of rage here, the police said. The accused after killing his father, chopped off latter's body and disposed it. The incident took place in Farsh Bazaar area of the capital. The police have nabbed the accused, who on interrogation revealed that he took the extreme step as his father used to argue with him and scold him quite often. "A 48-year-old man was killed and his body chopped off for disposal by his 22-year-old son in a fit of rage in Farsh Bazaar. The son said that his father used to scold him often. The accused has been apprehended. Further investigation is underway," said DCP (Shahdara) Meghna Yadav. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Atletico Madrid striker faced a 'high grade sprain' to his left ankle during his club's 2-1 friendly defeat to Beitar Jerusalem on Tuesday. However, the 30-year old got a sense of relief after a test confirmed that there is no bone damage. " suffered a high grade sprain to the left ankle during Tuesday's game against Beitar Jerusalem," clubs official website said in a statement. "The striker underwent radiological tests at a Jerusalem hospital that ruled out bone damage. Once the team returns to Madrid, further tests are to be carried out to assess the ligament damage," it added. The match was Costa's first since April 6. However, his comeback lasted just 28 minutes after which he left the field because of ankle sprain. So far, Costa has struggled a lot in this season, in addition to which he got an eight-match ban for insulting a referee, after which he was forced to miss out final seven La Liga games. Atletico Madrid will now face Guadalajara in the International Champions Cup on July 24. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after Russia attacked the northwestern region in Syria, rebel groups on Tuesday launched counter attacks against pro-government positions which have claimed the lives of at least three dozen fighters of both warring factions. The fighting in a northwestern town of Hama province killed 26 pro-government fighters as well as 18 rebels, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Syria state agency - SANA - also said "terrorist groups" fired missiles on the west of government-held Aleppo city. Yesterday, at least 10 civilians, including five children, were killed in air strikes by Syrian government ally Russia in the Idlib province, the last major rebel-held territory. The province is largely controlled by former al-Qaeda affiliate Hay'et Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group. Fighting erupted in northwestern Syria last month breaking a truce brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2018. At least 167 civilians have lost their lives in Idlib since April 25. The province is home to about three million people. The Syrian war has killed more than 370,00O people and displaced millions inside Syria and abroad since it began in March 2011. The Syrian government has been accused of attacking civilians in Idlib. United Nations has also warned of a humanitarian catastrophe. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is trying to regain control over the last rebel-held province.The multi-sided armed conflict in Syria has been raging since 2011, with Russia, Turkey and Iran being the guarantors of the ceasefire regime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A boat was found under mischievous circumstances hardly 50 kms away from the space centre in Sriharikota before the launch of a satellite from PSLV-C46, police said. "Pannapudi Patooru is a village of fishermen near the sea coast in Vidavallur Mandal, Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh. On May 20, the fishermen were going to the sea. There they found an empty boat in the sea near their village. It was found hardly four-five km away from the shore. The villagers pulled it to the shore and informed the police and marine police," said Vidavallur Police Station Sub Inspector P Nagababu told ANI. "Then marine, fisheries, coast guard departments along with the state police plunged into action. The police found the boat empty. The local people claimed that they first found the boat so it belongs to them only. It took a long time for the police to convince them. Nidavaluru police, at last, seized the boat on May 21," he added. The police official added that the place where the boat was found is "hardly 50 km away from Sriharikota, the place where SHAR is located and a satellite was about to be launched from PSLV-C46 from SHAR at that moment." In the wake of this, the boat created much suspicion. Some rumours were spread that the boat belongs to Sri Lanka. They said that there is a sticker on the boat, which reads as "India Sri Lanka Friendship". As a precautionary measure, the Vidavallur Police gave information to the fisheries departments of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, informed the CISF personnel in SHAR. Coast guard and dog squad have also been deployed. Nagireddy further informed that an FIR has been registered and the case is filed under Section 102 of CrPC (Unclaimed property). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth on Wednesday became the first woman pilot of India to be qualified to undertake combat missions by day on a fighter aircraft, Indian Air Force (IAF) announced. "Flt Lt Bhawana Kanth adds another feather to her cap by completing Day Operational syllabus on MiG-21 Bison aircraft. She is the first women fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions by day on a fighter aircraft," IAF said in a release. "With her dedication, hard work & perseverance she has become the 1st women Officer to achieve this feat," it added. Bhawana who is from the first batch of woman fighter pilots of the IAF joined the fighter squadron in Nov 2017 and flew the first solo on MiG-21 Bison in March 2018. Kanth who hails from Darbhanga, Bihar along with Mohana Singh, and Avani Chaturvedi were the first three women selected into IAF's fighter stream in June 2016. IAF has already selected the next batch of three women officers for the fighter stream. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday criticised the "frustrated" Opposition parties for raising objections against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying that the opposing EVM amounts to disrespect of the people's mandate. "Protesting against EVM is disrespect of the people's mandate. The 22 opposition parties are frustrated with the defeat and tarnishing the image of our democracy by raising questions over it," Shah said in a series of tweets. He termed the Opposition demand of increasing vote tally with VVPAs as "unconstitutional". "Just two days before counting, twenty-two opposition parties' demand for change in the electoral system is unconstitutional. No such decision can be made unless all parties agree for it," he said. He alleged that the Opposition started raising the question on EVM after the completion of six phases of voting which intensified after exit polls predicted NDA getting a clear mandate. "The Opposition started ruckus on EVM after the completion of six phases of polling and it intensified after exit poll results. Exit polls are conducted on voters' opinion, not on the basis of EVM," Shah said. The BJP chief asked as to how the opposition parties can raise questions on the credibility of EVMs based on exit polls results. Shah asserted that the maximum of the dissenting parties has been in power after being elected through the same voting system. "If they do not believe on EVM, why did they take power after getting a mandate in elections?" he asked. He slammed RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha for his "bloodshed" comment and asked him as to who it was challenging with the remark. Alleging suspicious EVM movement, Kushwaha, on Tuesday, had said: "We got the news that a vehicle laden with EVMs was caught. We want to say that people are getting angry. If this continues, then there will be blood on the streets. Karpoori Thakur used to say that to protect the sanctity of votes, the people should be prepared to pick up arms." He said that the Supreme Court took note of more than three PILs on cases related to vote counting and verification. Shah accused the Opposition of questioning order by raising objections on EVM. Earlier in the day, the EC rejected the Opposition's demand that VVPAT slips be matched with EVM data before counting of votes in a constituency on Thursday. The commission had earlier rejected the Opposition's demand of raising the number of polling stations with VVPATs from the existing five randomly selected polling booths in an Assembly constituency, as ordered by the apex court. The seven-phased extensive Lok Sabha poll exercise came to an end on May 19. Counting of votes for 542 Lok Sabha seats will begin on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police have arrested three persons and confiscated a vehicle in which they were transporting ganja worth Rs 25 lakh. Speaking to ANI on Monday, Superintendent of Police Lucky Chauhan said: "On suspicion, a night round officer of Kailashehar police station checked a vehicle near Kamrangabari bridge. He found ganja packets hidden in it. Three persons have been arrested and around 518 kg of ganja has been seized." Out of the three arrested, two are from Kailashehar and one from Bihar. The vehicle was coming from Sidhai Mohanpur in Tripura West district and was supposed to go to Bihar through Assam, said the official. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A crocodile entered into a house in Raval village here on Wednesday triggering panic among the residents before it was rescued by the Wildlife rescue team. The crocodile crawled into the kitchen of a local resident before it was taken away by the forest officials and released at a safe spot. Incidents of crocodile from nearby Vishwamitra river entering residential areas of Vadodara in search of water and food have become common. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Syria:12 civilians killed after air strike hits market, NGO After Iftar meal to break Ramadan fast (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, MAY 22 - At least 12 civilians have been killed in Russian and Syrian government air raids in the north-western Idlib region after a crowded fruit and vegetable market was struck by a bomb, the UK-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday. The NGO said the raid was carried out last night on the city of Maarrat Numan, south-east of Idlib, after Iftar, the meal with which Muslims end their daily fast at sunset during the holy month of Ramadan. (ANSAmed) Bad news for all the 'Game of Thrones' fans! If the series finale, which aired on Monday, left you unsatisfied or you are still in denial that the show has finally ended, don't wait for a sequel or spinoff, because it is not on the cards. HBO programming president Casey Bloys in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter ruled out any possibility of a sequel. The insanely popular TV series, based on the books of George R.R. Martin, which were adapted by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, ended two days back with a shortened season, leaving fans wanting for more. On being asked if there could be a sequel featuring Arya Stark (played by Maisie Williams) as she ventures west of Westeros, Bloys said "Nope, nope, nope. No." "I do want this show, this Game of Thrones, Dan and David's show, to be its own thing. I don't want to take characters from this world that they did beautifully and put them off into another world with someone else creating it. I want to let it be the artistic piece they've got," he added. Ruling out the possibility completely, he said, "That's one of the reasons why I'm not trying to do the same show over." Bloys said that the world that Martin has created is "massive," so HBO wants to keep trying out new things instead of bringing back familiar characters and settings. "George has a massive, massive world; there are so many ways in. That's why we're trying to do things that feel distinct -- and to not try and redo the same show. That's probably one of the reasons why, right now, a sequel or picking up any of the other characters doesn't make sense for us," he said. However, just because a sequel isn't going to happen, doesn't mean there won't be more of 'Game of Thrones' content. Bloys stated that there are three prequel projects in the works currently. Two are in development and the pilot for the third will be shot in June. "I am not clarifying anything other than yes, we shoot the first pilot in June. There are two more in development and beyond that, there's nothing else to report," he said. On being asked if both of those scripts work well and the pilot does, too, will the fans get three more 'GoT' shows, Bloys remained tight-lipped about the upcoming projects. Teasing the idea, Bloys said, "All theoretical and all high-class problems! Who knows?! I'm not ruling it in, and I'm not ruling it out! I'm trying my best not to give you definitive answers to fuel speculation." The show came to an end on Monday. The climax of the show was dramatic enough with Bran Stark (played by Isaac Hempstead Wright) being crowned the king of the six kingdoms (excluding Winterfell). After a remarkable 8-year-long journey, the makers of 'GoT' failed to impress the fans with the finale season. A couple of days back, disappointed 'GoT' fans started a petition on change.org, asking the makers to remake the eight season of the series "with competent writers". The petition has already hit 1.2 million signatures. Sophie Turner, who played Sansa Stark in the show, slammed it as "disrespectful. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SC Reservation Parirakshana Samiti president Karne Srisailam was attacked while addressing a press conference at the Press Club in Hyderabad. The incident took place on Tuesday. According to Panjagutta police, Srisailam was speaking on the irregularities going on in gurukuls and social welfare residential schools in Telangana when he was allegedly thrashed by one Alexander, a PhD student from Osmania University, and his associates. Police said that Alexander and his associates alleged that they were attacked by Srisailam's followers. A case has been filed in the matter. Investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Air Force on Wednesday successfully test-fired the air-launched version of supersonic Brahmos cruise missile from its frontline fighter jet Sukhoi-30 MKI. This makes the IAF the only air force in the world to have such a capability. The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target, an IAF statement said. "BrahMos provides IAF the capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night in any weather condition. Brahmos coupled with the superlative performance of Su-30MKI gives IAF the desired strategic reach," it said. This was the second successful test of the missile from an aircraft. The first test was carried out in November 2017 against a sea-based target in the Bay of Bengal. The missile, weighing 2.5 tonnes, has a range of 290km and speed of Mach 3 making it difficult for the air-defence elements of the enemy to counter it. One Mach is equal to the speed of sound. The Su-30MKI jet had to be modified to enable it to carry and fire the cruise missile. The first such modified aircraft was handed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to Brahmos Aerospace in February 2015. The ship and land-launched versions of Brahmos are already in service with the Indian armed forces. The missile has been developed jointly in collaboration with Russia. Plans are afoot to develop a smaller version of the missile (Brahmos-NG) so that it can be fired from India's home-grown aircraft Tejas. One Tejas aircraft will reportedly be able to carry three Brahmos-NG missiles. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) IIIT-Hyderabad and TalentSprint announced today the All India roll out of their popular executive programs on AI and Machine Learning as well as Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies. Since their launch in 2018 in Hyderabad and Bengaluru, these hybrid executive programs, with their innovative onsite/online format, have attracted industry professionals in large numbers and achieved a high completion rate. With eleven successful cohorts already completed or underway, the programs' pracademic designs (deep academic knowledge combined with industry best practices) have been warmly embraced by working professionals. A collaborative faculty model where renowned professor's work in partnership with industry practitioners, and unique 5-step pedagogy of Master-class Lectures, Hands-on Labs, Guided Mentorship, Immersive Hackathons and Industry Workshops have differentiated these programs. The All India rollout is in response to an explosive demand for deep-tech expertise currently sweeping through knowledge professionals in all major technology hubs of the country. In particular, the demand for competencies such as AI, Machine Learning and Blockchain has been climbing rapidly over the last twelve months, with signs of further acceleration. The leading analyst firm Gartner has forecasted that AI value will reach USD 3.9T by 2022 and Blockchain value will reach USD 3.1T by 2030. "As a major research-led institution, we are gratified to see this kind of interest in our deep-tech executive education programs. Our top-ranked AI research group at the Kohli Centre for Intelligent Systems, and our emerging Blockchain Centre of Excellence, through these programs, have been able to convey the recent research advancements to the industry. In return, our researchers are benefitting from insights into challenging industry problems. By extending these executive programs across the nation, we believe the give and take between our institution and industry will reach a whole new level", said Prof P. J. Narayanan, Director of IIIT-Hyderabad. "2018 was the launch year for the cities Hyderabad and Bengaluru, and we used that opportunity to perfect these deep-tech programs. We successfully combined theory with practice, academic rigour with industry experience, onsite with online. The substantial popularity of these programs has encouraged us to launch this updated nationwide format. The click and mortar model of select campus visits and ongoing online engagement makes it very convenient for busy tech professionals, irrespective of their location", said Dr Santanu Paul, CEO and MD of TalentSprint. The All India Program will be delivered over 18 weeks in a hybrid format. There will be 3 campus visits of 3 days each to IIIT Hyderabad, and live interactive online classes in other weeks. The program is priced at Rs 2 lacs + applicable taxes with special scholarships for women. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. 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.) "There was a break-in into the Indian Air Force Rafale project management team office which is located in a suburb of Paris in France. No hard disk or document has been stolen. More details are being ascertained about the motive," sources in the Indian Air Force told ANI. The Rafale project team is headed by a Group Captain-rank officer who looks after issues related to the 36 Rafale combat aircraft, including the production timelines and training of Indian personnel who have to be trained for maintenance and flying operations of the plane, which India is acquiring. The Rafale team sits in a building complex in Saint Cloud suburb of Paris and the police there is investigating the case. Sources said the main aim of the break-in could have been to steal data as valuables or money are not kept in these administrative offices. The Indian Rafale team office is in the vicinity of French Dassault Aviation office blocks.Government sources said the Indian Air Force has already briefed the Defence Ministry in this regard and French police authorities are probing the case. India in 2016 signed a Rs 59,800 crore agreement with France for acquiring 36 Rafale combat aircraft for meeting the shortfall in Indian Air Force squadron strength. The incident has come after the long election season in India where allegations of corruption in the Rafale procurement were leveller by Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The Rafale has been critical to IAF plans for securing the country against the aerial and other threats from enemy countries. After the February 27 incident involving an aerial battle between India and Pakistan, IAF Chief BS Dhanoa had suggested that the Pakistanis would not have dared to come close to the LoC in a conflict situation if the country had Rafale planes in its inventory. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army has launched a massive search operation in the jungles of Tirap, Longding, and Changlang districts to nab the killers of People's Party (NPP) MLA Tirong Aboh and ten others near Khonsa in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district on Tuesday, sources said here on Wednesday. According to Army sources, all the likely routes of escape have been effectively blocked. Troops have launched intensive checks along Nagaland - Arunachal borders. "The Army has intensified operations with increased area domination teams and mobile check posts being deployed in the adjoining districts of Nagaland," sources said. "Additional forces including troops of Special Forces have also been inducted in the team," they said. The Army has confirmed the deployment of specialist helicopters with night flying ability and night vision equipment to ensure "dynamic, real-time and all-round surveillance of the area during the prevailing bad weather conditions." According to sources, reconnaissance helicopters, quadcopters, and tracker dogs are also extensively being employed in the operations. Sources further said the Army is working closely in synergy with the police, administration and intelligence agencies to identify the insurgents involved in the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The news industry's most innovative initiatives were honoured in New York (USA) by the International News Media Association (INMA) and Dainik Jagran, yet again flagged the Indian flag high. Dainik Jagran earned maximum awards amongst Indian Newspapers for its spectacular initiatives and was adjudged 'Best in South Asia' newspaper brand. Produced by the International News Media Association (INMA), the Global Media Awards were presented today before more than 400 delegates attending the INMA World Congress of News Media at the Edison Ballroom in New York's Times Square. The 2019 Global Media Awards competition garnered 664 entries from 165 news media companies in 34 countries. Participants included newspaper media, magazine media, digital media, television media, and radio media. An international panel of 46 executives from 15 countries selected 194 finalists, and from those, the first place recipients have announced at today's Global Media Awards Dinner. Dainik Jagran won multiple first-place awards and brought home 11 awards including three top - First Place awards in two categories - Best Idea to Encourage Print Readership or Engagement for 'Every Breath You Take' and best use of video for its campaign 'We, The Daughters of India'. 'We, The Daughters of India' was also adjudged as the best in South Asia Global/National brands. Second place awards for Dainik Jagran went for best use of mobile for "An App to Power a Parliament" and best new concept or innovation to create new profit centres for "Game Theory to Generate Ad Revenues". Third place awards for best public relations or community service campaign for "Fields on Fire"; best use of new technology to generate revenue and engage for "An App to Power a Parliament" and best use of an event to build a news brand for "The Culture Project". Dainik Jagran also received honourable mentions at INMA New York for "Dainik Jagran: Amazon at your doorstep" for Best Use of Print Advertising; "The School of Life" for Best Use of Consumer Research and "We The Daughters of India" for Best Use of Social Media. "Presented with 'Best in South Asia' is, by all means, an exceptional achievement that all of us at Dainik Jagran feel proud of. It's an honour for brand Dainik Jagran, and we accept it with all humility and great responsibility. We believe that brands can drive great engagement from media titles that go beyond just numbers, and engage strongly with their audiences," said Basant Rathore, Sr VP - Strategy, Brand and Development, Jagran Prakashan. This story is provided by BusinessWire India. 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.) Two terrorists who were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen were killed on Wednesday in an encounter with the security forces in Gopalpora area of Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said in a release. The killed terrorists have been identified as Irfan Manzoor Bhat, a resident of Poniwah village in Kulgam; the other Zahid Ahmad Mantoo hails from Ferripora Shopian. The police said that they both were affiliated with proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen. They were wanted by law for their complicity in terror crimes including attack on security establishments and civilian atrocities. "As per police records, Zahid was involved in planning and executing series of terror attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities. Several terror crime cases were registered against him. He was involved in a case pertaining to the killing of three policemen at Batgund Shopian last year and also in other case pertaining to terror attacks and civilian atrocities in the area," the release read. "Irfan had joined the proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen recently and was part of terror group involved in the killing of Abdul Majeed Dar of Shalipora Kulgam. Some other criminal cases were also registered against him," it said. The police have recovered incriminating materials including arms and ammunition from the encounter site. A case has been registered to probe their complicity in other terror crimes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One security personnel was killed and seven people injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Mendhar area along the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Further details are awaited. On Saturday, a Border Security Force assistant sub-inspector was injured after the India and Pakistan exchanged fire in the district. Meanwhile, security forces have eliminated two terrorists in a counter-terrorism operation in Gopalpur area of Kulgam district of the state. Weapons and warlike stores have been recovered from their hideout. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A soldier succumbed to his injuries after being wounded during training in Mendhar area along the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Two other soldiers suffered minor injuries and are undergoing treatment at a military hospital here. Their situation is stable, a Defence Ministry spokesperson said. Defence Ministry, in a press release, said, "On May 22 at 0915 hours, during a training activity on a military post in Mendhar Sector, one soldier was critically injured who later succumbed to his injuries." "Two more soldiers who suffered non-grievous injuries have been evacuated to the nearest Military Hospital and are stable," the press note added. Earlier it was reported that a security personnel died and some other people were injured in an IED blast in the area. Defence Ministry Spokesperson Lt Col Devendra Anand, however, later clarified that it was not an IED blast. "It was not an IED blast, but a training-related incident," Lt Col Devendra Anand said. In a separate incident, security forces on Wednesday neutralised two terrorists in Gopalpur area of Kulgam district in Jammu and Kashmir. Weapons and warlike stores have been recovered from the terrorists' hideout. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 2-state solution repeated uselessly, say Catholics 'Empty rhetoric that has gone nowhere' (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, MAY 22 - The Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy Land have said in a statement that the two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinian Territories has gone nowhere and that discussing it repeatedly has become empty rhetoric. It added that a new orientation was needed, different education and a new vision for the holy land and the two populations living therein. It said that only peace based on dignity, mutual respect and equality as human beings ''will save us''. The statement was signed by Catholic representatives of different rites including Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, and Father Francesco Patton, Custos of the Holy Land. It focuses on an analysis of the current situation in which ''every hope of peace'' has disappeared and in which even those who once claimed to be guardians of democracy and peace promoters have become promoters of power and partisan participants of the conflict. The church leaders said that, reflecting on recent decades in which peace and reconciliation were promoted, ''we have received more hatred, oppression, corruption and demagogy'', and that the time has come from the Church and spiritual leaders to find another way and to insist that everyone, ''Israelis and Palestinians, are brothers and sisters in humanity''. The statement urged an exit to ''this permanent situation of war, hatred, and death'' and called on Christians in Palestine and Israel to join with Jews, Muslims, Druze and others sharing a vision of a society based on equality and the common good and to build bridges based on mutual respect and love. The statement added that equality is a necessary foundation for a just and lasting peace. (ANSAmed). Former Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha would be held responsible if any violence breaks out in the state after his statement that there would be bloodshed if EVMs were tampered, said Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Kundan Krishan here on Wednesday. "If any violence takes place in the state because of the statement Upendra Kushwaha made yesterday, then he will be held responsible for it," said Krishan, ADG, Headquarters, in a statement. Rashtriya Loktantrik Samata Party (RLSP) president Kushwaha had told media persons that if there were any tampering in the counting of votes, then the people might take up arms and "we will not be responsible for the consequences." Krishnan also said the statement of Kushwaha and the act of brandishing a rifle during a press meet by the independent candidate from Buxar Ramchandra Singh Yadav today are in the cognisance of the Election Commission of India (ECI) as the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is still in force. It is worth mentioning that the police on Wednesday issued an arrest warrant against Yadav, also a former MLA, for displaying his licensed weapon at his press meet. A police team also raided his residence in Kaimur, but he is absconding. ADG Krishan has issued the order for Yadav's arrest and also for the cancellation of the licence of his rifle if so. "If his weapon is found to be illegal, then a case would also be registered against him under the Arms Act," said Krishnan. Talking to media persons, Yadav claimed that he had taken out his rifle to protect the Constitution and democracy in the country. "The Constitution and democracy are in danger. As a citizen of this country, I am going to protect it with a gun," said Yadav. Yadav further said: "I have believed in the ideals of Babasaheb Dr BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi, but the situation has changed in the country now. I have to abide by the ideals of revolutionaries like Subhash Chandra Bose and Mangal Pandey." "People and leaders should now join me in the fight to secure our democracy. You cannot get your rights without fighting," added Yadav, who also fought the last Lok Sabha from Buxar on the ticket of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Yadav also questioned the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the elections, while citing different advanced countries where the ballot papers are used for holding the polls. "Japan, US, Britain and other countries of the world use ballot papers. Then why EVMs are used in India," he asked. Referring to leaders like BSP chief Mayawati, SP president Akhilesh Yadav, and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Yadav said: "I am a small soldier of 'Bahujan Samaj' and the 'mahagathbandhan." Hitting out at the BJP, Yadav compared the saffron party with a snake and its leaders with mythological characters like Ravana and Duryodhana. "To secure democracy I am ready to make any sacrifice. There are crores of others, like me, who are ready for making sacrifices," said Yadav. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 'Ice on Fire', produced and narrated by Academy Award-winner Leonardo DiCaprio is set to release on 11 June this year. The premiere of the documentary, which is about current environmental issues will be broadcasted on HBO channel at 8 PM. The 'Titanic' actor shared a short glimpse of the film on social media and wrote, " Focusing on never-before-seen solutions to the environmental crisis, #IceOnFire, which I produced and narrated, premieres June 11 at 8PM on HBO." The one minute- 30 seconds video start from land covered with snow, which goes on to quickly flashing of Florida and London's map getting covered under a layer of snow. Emphasising on modern-day climate, the video shows a glimpse of wildfire, rising temperature and increased carbon-di-oxide emission in the atmosphere. The video also roughly features few scientists explaining the current climatic conditions of the earth. Overall, the clip sends an eye-opening message to stop activities which are harming the planet earth. Other than this, Leonardo received appreciation at the release of the official trailer of Quentin Tarantino's 'Once Upon A Time In Hollywood'. The film which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival recently didn't just receive rave reviews from the critics but has also left the fans smitten with its powerful trailer. The film stars some big names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie. The recently released trailer is a treat to watch, thanks to the actors', who nail the portrayal of their characters. 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' hits the theatres on July 26, this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Asserting that Libya is heading towards a "long and bloody war", United Nations on Tuesday urged countries to cut off weapons flow in war-torn Libya. "The violence on the outskirts of Tripoli is just the start of a long and bloody war on the southern shores of the Mediterranean, imperilling the security of Libya's immediate neighbours and the wider Mediterranean region," Al Jazeera quoted UN envoy for Libya, Ghassan Salame, as saying. "Libya will descend into a civil war which could potentially lead to a Hobbesian all-against-all state of chaos or partition of the country," he said. Saleme's appeal comes as UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) posted photographs of dozens of Turkish made armoured vehicles. More than 390 people have lost their lives and over 1,900 have been wounded due to the fighting between UN-backed government forces and Khalifa Haftar's army in Tripoli since April 4, according to the Health Organisation. Libya has been largely divided into two factions ever since the death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The Libyan National Army-backed parliament controls the east of Libya, while GNA governs Libya's western region from Tripoli. Around 50,000 people have also been displaced, ever since Haftar launched his campaign to take over GNA-controlled Tripoli in early April, as per Xinhua. Libyan Prime Minister Fayez Serraj on Thursday said during a cabinet meeting that there will be no cease-fire until Khalifa's forces "return to where they came from". As the situation escalated, countries like India, Nepal and the US called back their peace-keeping forces from the region. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has repeatedly called for all Indians to leave Tripoli immediately. Furthermore, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson has urged all Indians in the country to observe "extreme caution," as the situation continues to deteriorate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 24-hour EVM Control Room has been made functional here at Nirvachan Sadan to monitor complaints relating to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Election Commission said. This comes amidst concerns over alleged tempering and suspected manipulation of EVMs used in 2019 Lok Sabha election being raised by opposition parties. Any complaints on counting day related to EVMs can be put forth at the control room. Their number is 011-23052123. The EC further said, strongrooms have been designed to keep sealed EVMs and Voter-verified paper audit trails (VVPATs) in the presence of candidates and observers of the commission. These rooms are absolutely safe and the entire process of sealing and storage is videotaped by the officials. The strongrooms are opened on the counting day and counting agents are shown seals, address tags and serial number of EVMs to maintain transparency and authenticity of the machines used in the polls. The poll watchdog said all protocols and provisions have been explained to political parties and it has been made clear that in any case of a lapse in handling these machines will be investigated. It also ensured a disciplinary action against the officer held responsible for it. On Tuesday, the EC had rubbished reports of alleged movement of EVMs purportedly to replace polled EVMs in strongrooms, terming them as "absolutely false". "Complaints of alleged movement of EVMs, purportedly to replace polled EVMs in strongrooms, doing rounds in sections of media are absolutely false. Visuals seen viral on media do not pertain to any EVMs used during the polls," the EC said in a statement. The statement from the poll body came after opposition parties citing TV reports complained that EVMs were replaced from the strongrooms in some constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu along with 21 opposition parties leaders urged the EC to count votes through VVPATs instead of EVMs during counting for the Lok Sabha polls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With most exit polls predicting a landslide victory for the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, NCP leader and former cabinet minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar will join Uddhav Thackeray's party on Wednesday. There were whispers in political circles that Kshirsagar may soon join Shiv Sena after he expressed discontent with the NCP leadership for ignoring him and giving importance to his local rival Dhananjay Munday in Beed. Later, he decided to extend his support to BJP-Shiv Sena's Beed candidate Dr Pritam Munde and urged people to cast vote in his favour. In April, a miffed Kshirgar held a secret meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree. However, he denied any talks regarding him joining the party and claimed that it was a "courtesy visit" to wish Thackeray a happy new year. Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray, President of Beed Zila Parishad Bharatbhushan Kshirsagar, party secretary Milind Narvekar were also present in the meeting. Earlier in March, Congress leader Vikhe Patil's son Sujay joined the BJP in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and he was later given a ticket to contest from the Ahmednagar South Lok Sabha seat. Maharashtra has 48 parliamentary constituencies. Polling for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections concluded on May 19. The much-awaited results of the general elections will be announced on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NCP leader and former cabinet minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar, who has been at loggerheads with senior party leaders, has resigned from MLA post and will join Shiv Sena at 5 pm on Wednesday. He will be inducted into Shiv Sena in presence of its chief Uddhav Thackrey at Shivsena Bhavan. There were whispers in political circles that Kshirsagar may soon join Shiv Sena after he expressed discontent with the NCP leadership for ignoring him and giving importance to his local rival Dhananjay Munday in Beed. Later, he decided to extend his support to BJP-Shiv Sena's Beed candidate Dr Pritam Munde and urged people to cast vote in his favour. In April, a miffed Kshirsagar held a secret meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree. However, he denied any talks regarding him joining the party and claimed that it was a "courtesy visit" to wish Thackeray a happy new year. Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray, President of Beed Zila Parishad Bharatbhushan Kshirsagar, party secretary Milind Narvekar were also present in the meeting. Earlier in March, Congress leader Vikhe Patil's son Sujay joined the BJP in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and he was later given a ticket to contest from the Ahmednagar South Lok Sabha seat. Maharashtra has 48 parliamentary constituencies. Polling for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections concluded on May 19. The much-awaited results of the general elections will be announced on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report about the death of a class sixth student in a Himachal Pradesh school due to alleged delay in providing medical care to him on Wednesday. The boy was hit on the head by a fellow student in the premises of Government Senior Secondary School, Charuri in Kangra district on May 15. Reportedly, the police did not take any action in the matter until May 21. The local residents held a protest in front of the school against its authorities and the Gangath Police for taking the incident casually. According to a media report, carried on May 22, the victim's mother has, in a complaint to the Chief Minister, DGP and SP, Kangra, alleged that the Gangath police and the school administration were trying to hush up the case. Reportedly, before prayer, the victim was playing in the school ground, when he was attacked by a fellow student with a stick. The boy fell unconscious and his head, nose and mouth started bleeding. It is stated that the school management failed to provide him timely treatment due to which, he succumbed to his injuries. The victim was initially taken to Tanda Medical College from where he was referred to PGI Chandigarh. Following public outcry, the Deputy Superintendent of Police of the area reportedly rushed to the spot, met family members of the deceased and also assured a fair inquiry into the case. The DIG, Kangra has also given a statement that he has directed the Inquiry Officer to record the statement of the students. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Himachal Pradesh, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. It has observed that the allegations of carelessness on part of the school authorities in providing the timely treatment to the victim boy, if true, amount to gross violation of human rights. The school authorities, who were the lawful custodian of the boy at the time of the incident, seem to be negligent due to which, a precious young human life was lost. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission on Wednesday rejected the demand of opposition parties which sought tallying of VVPAT slips for an entire assembly segment if even one of the five samples does not match with votes polled in EVMs. The current provisions say five randomly-selected EVMs will be verified in each assembly segment with the VVPAT slips The decision comes a day after leaders of 22 opposition parties, led by TDP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, met EC officials and alleged discrepancies in EVM machines. They also demanded that the EVM-VVPAT tally should be done at the beginning of the process of counting. The delegation also included the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who handed over a memorandum to the Commission enlisting their demands. "If any discrepancy is found in the tally, then VVPAT for the whole assembly segment should be counted. We do not know what is the problem of the Election Commission? Former Chief Election Commissioner has also endorsed our demand. Former President (Pranab Mukherjee) also made it very clear that EC should keep transparency and create confidence among Indian voters," Naidu had said after the meeting on Tuesday. In recent past, Naidu had met various leaders including Congress president Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar over the same issue. On May 18, Naidu had urged the Election Commission to count votes through VVPATs instead of EVMs. On May 7, the Supreme Court had turned down a review plea filed by 21 opposition parties seeking a direction to the EC to increase random physical verification of VVPAT slips from five to at least 50 per cent of EVMs. Election to 542 Lok Sabha seats were held from April 11 to May 19 with counting of votes scheduled for May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], May 22 (ANI): Chinese Ambassador to India, Luo Zhaohui, who will soon return to Beijing, said that his president Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi share good chemistry and that he was very touched by their informal meeting in Wuhan last year. "Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President met seventeen times in the last five years. PM Modi paid official trips to China and the Chinese President paid visits to India. Prime Minister Modi went to Chinese President's home town Xian and in Wuhan last April. Despite their busy schedules, the two leaders spent their time together and it really touched me," Luo told ANI in an exclusive interview on Tuesday. Luo Zhaohui, who is said to have played a signficant role in dousing of tensions during the Doklam standoff and subsequently, will be returning to Beijing after he was promoted to the level of a vice-minister. "Leaders take their time from busy schedule to pay attention to this important bilateral relationship. As a diplomat and as an Ambassador, we handled the matter directly so we should implement it. That is our responsibility to implement on the consensus reached by the leaders," he added. Luo said that he was quite sure that friendly engagement between India and China will continue after the Lok Sabha elections. "Next month there is an SCO meeting and after that there will be the G-20 summit. Leaders will meet in the conferences and so this has become the tradition," he said. Modi and Xi had met during the informal meeting in Wuhan in April last year. The meeting was held without a fixed agenda. The informal summit took place in the backdrop of Doklam standoff which had strained ties between New Delhi and Beijing. The Chinese President had also visited Gujarat, Modi's home state, after his BJP government came to power in 2014. "The chemistry between leaders is important and people-to-people chemistry is even more important," Luo further said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Post her debut at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival, Priyanka Chopra is now touring Ethiopia as UNICEF's Goodwill Ambassador. During her visit, the actor also met the President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, the first woman to hold the office. Expressing her gratitude, Priyanka posted a picture with the president on social media and wrote, "I had the honor of meeting Madam President Sahle-Work Zewde, the first female president of Ethiopia. Her fierce commitment to the empowerment and advancement of women is unprecedented. Ethiopia #AChildIsAChild #ForEveryChild." In the picture, she can be seen wearing a beige buttoned front dress and frameless spectacles. The 36-year-old actor also shared a few other videos and pictures from the visit where she can be seen dancing and sharing light moments with local kids. She wrote in one of her posts, "Dance is such an important part of Ethiopian culture. Wherever I have been so far...even though we don't speak each other's languages the joy that has been shared through dance has bonded me with this amazing country forever." Priyanka made her debut on the red carpet of Cannes 2019 in a white gown with a flowing cape. Apart from gracing the red carpet, she also stole some romantic moments with her husband Nick Jonas at the gala. On the work front, Priyanka recently concluded shooting for Shonali Bose's 'The Sky is Pink', and was last seen on screen in Netflix's 'Isn't it Romantic'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A person, who had allegedly kidnapped six-year-old son of his former employer shot himself after police arrived to nab him. The man later succumbed to his injuries. The accused, Sanjay Yadav, had kidnapped the boy from his school's gymnastic hall in Prayagraj's Civil Lines area on Tuesday. He then called the minor's family and demanded Rs 3 crore as ransom, police said. The family registered a complaint with the police, following which a manhunt was initiated. During the operation, the police tracked the suspect in Bhadohi, who shot himself in panic on seeing the cops. The boy escaped unhurt and was rescued by the police. The accused was rushed to a local hospital but succumbed to his injuries later. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday discussed the situation in war-torn Syria with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, said Kremlin. "The sides comprehensively exchanged opinions on the Syrian issue, including in light of multiple ceasefire violations in Idlib by radical armed groups. The Russian president informed his colleagues about joint efforts with Turkey on stabilizing the situation in Syria's north-west, on protecting civilians and neutralizing terrorist threats," the Kremlin said after the three leaders held a telephonic conversation. "Special attention was paid to prospects of forming and launching a constitutional committee, with the consideration of agreements reached in October 2018 at the four-party summit (Russia, Turkey, Germany, France) in Istanbul. The sides agreed to continue coordinating efforts in the framework of political settlement of the Syrian crisis on the basis of UN Security Council Resolution 2254, in accordance with principles of ensuring Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity," TASS quoted Kremlin as reporting. This comes hours after at least 40 combatants were killed in fighting that broke out between the rebel groups and Russia-backed Syrian army in the northwestern town of Hama province. On Monday, at least 10 civilians, including five children, were killed in air strikes by Russia in the Idlib province, the last major rebel-held territory.Fighting erupted in northwestern Syria last month breaking a truce brokered by Russia and Turkey in 2018. At least 167 civilians have lost their lives in Idlib since April 25. The province is home to about three million people. The Syrian war has killed more than 370,00O people and displaced millions inside Syria and abroad since it began in March 2011. The trio also discussed Ukraine. "The situation was discussed around the crisis in Ukraine given the bankrupt policies of the administration of Pyotr Poroshenko and the change of the state leadership in Ukraine," the Kremlin said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Review petitioners Prashant Bhushan and others on Wednesday have filed their written submissions to the Supreme Court in the Rafale case. This comes over a week after the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on petitions seeking review of the December 14 Rafale case judgment which refused to order a court-monitored probe into the deal for procuring 36 fighter jets from France. In the Rafale case, advocate Prashant Bhushan, one of the petitioners, argued that the December 14 judgment did not take note of the plea seeking an investigation in the matter and registration of a First Information Report (FIR). He claimed that there was no precedent of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) redacting pricing details from its report regarding the deal. "Not even in one case in the past, pricing details have been redacted. It was unprecedented that pricing details were redacted," he contended before the bench also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph. Bhushan also questioned as to why the standard anti-corruption clauses relating to the deal were allegedly deleted by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). "Eight standard clauses, including all standard anti-corruption clauses, were dropped from the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) post-August 24, 2016 in the Rafale deal and the same was not informed to the court," he said. "A lot of crucial information was suppressed from this court and the impugned judgment was obtained on the basis of fraud played upon the court by the government," the lawyer said. In his arguments, Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal, representing the government, said, "There is no question of any corruption. The court has already decided that in the Rafale case verdict (on December 14 last year)." The review petitions were filed by Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, Prashant Bhushan and others.In the December 14 judgement, the Supreme Court had said that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Adding fuel to the internecine fighting in the ruling coalition in Karnataka, state JD(S) president H. Vishwanath criticised coalition's coordination committee chief Siddaramaiah stating that he is not doing well at the post. "I am not only talking about Siddaramaiah. My point is as chief, Siddaramaiah should take both parties together and it is very important to implement the common minimum programme. We have not understood till now the policies, rules and regulations of the coalition. Who will write? It should be the president," he told media here. The JD(S) leader went on to add that Congress leader Siddaramiah not performing his job well. "(As) president of JD(S), within my limits I am trying to bring to the notice of the government the things that can be done. Between me and Siddaramaiah, we don't have anything personal, we have nothing. Your feeling that as the chief of the coordination committee Siddaramaiah is not doing well... I say yes," he added. However, Vishwanath has expressed that despite all issues, the "coalition government will stay for the long term." "We have to go for polls once in five years. We can't hold elections every year. Elections cannot be finished within Rs 5 or 10 lakhs. Now for the Assembly elections, we need crores of rupees... HD Kumaraswamy will continue as Chief Minister of Karnataka for a full term," he said. "In UPA 1 and UPA 2, Sonia Gandhi was the president of the coalition committee... She ran 10 years coalition government successfully. She also wrote about common minimum programs... She also implemented it. My question is why it's not happening here," he added. His comments come after Congress leader Roshan Baig had on Tuesday attacked AICC incharge of Karnataka K Venugopal as a buffoon, Siddaramiah as arrogant and state working president of Congress Dinesh Gundu Rao as a flop show. The party has served a showcause notice seeking an explanation from him within a week. To which, the Congress MLA said he will not even bother reading the notice as it has "clearly been sent on the orders of the same people whose incompetencies were highlighted" by him. Baig has accused Congress Legislature Party Leader (CLP) Siddaramaiah for the "collapse" of the Congress-JD(U) alliance in the state. Amidst the friction in the coalition in Karnataka, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy cancelled his visit to New Delhi to meet Election Commission, along with the 21 opposition parties, over the issue of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day ahead of the Lok Sabha election results, Union Minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday launched a veiled attack at the Opposition for supporting alleged anti-nationals who demanded the division of the country. "This election was about the people versus the opposition. The people stood firm against the anarchists who screamed Bharat ke tukde honge. It is to those citizens that I give my grateful thanks for they resolutely and unabashedly believed in Bharat and her future," she tweeted. This statement from Irani comes ahead of counting of votes tomorrow. Irani has contested against Rahul Gandhi in the Amethi Lok Sabha seat, which went to the polls on May 6. Meanwhile, the Union Minister also took to Twitter to post her appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the manner in which he faced "humiliation" and "hateful barbs" hurled at him by the Opposition, ever since he assumed office in 2014. "In the last 5 years not a day went by when Narendra Modi was not subjected to humiliation and hateful barbs by the opposition. However, as karyakartas we take pride that the citizens of the Nation stood by the PM through every endeavour, every initiative," Irani tweeted. On Tuesday, the PM and BJP president Amit Shah met the Union Council of Ministers at theBJP party headquarters here and later Shah also hosted a dinner for NDA allies. Irani was among those who attended the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All is set for counting of votes in 542 Lok Sabha constituencies on Thursday as opposition parties mounted vigil around the counting centres across India where the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being kept in strong rooms. Most exit polls have predicted a comfortable majority for the BJP-led NDA whose campaign was spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition, however, has rejected the exit polls, calling them wrong and erroneous. The counting exercise will begin at 8 am, capping a two-month long election process which witnessed high-octane campaigning and charges of tampering EVMs and violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Trends are expected to be available shortly thereafter. Counting of votes will also take place for four state Assemblies -- Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, which went to polls along with the general elections. Twenty-two opposition parties had on Tuesday knocked the Election Commission's doors to press their demand for counting of five VVPAT samples first and also taking up 100 per cent counting of VVPATs in case of any mismatch with an EVM. The EC on Wednesday rejected the opposition demand. The opposition parties have also alleged that EVMs were replaced from the strongrooms in some constituencies in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh after what they said was suspicious movement of the voting machines on Tuesday. However, the EC had rubbished the reports, terming them as "absolutely false". A 24-hour EVM Control Room has been made functional at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi to monitor complaints relating to EVMs. The poll panel is also keeping a close watch on the counting centres across the country. Ahead of the counting process, a three-tier security system was put in place at the EVM strong rooms and the counting process will be carried out under CCTV surveillance. As per the EC's directives, five polling stations per Assembly segment will be selected on a random basis for verification of VVPAT slips. The verification process of VVPATs may take four to five hours. The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections commenced on April 11 and the last phase of voting was held on May 19. The dates were announced by the EC on March 10, following which the MCC had come into effect. Over 8,000 candidates are in the fray for 542 Lok Sabha seats across the country. Among the keenly watched constituencies will be Varanasi from where Prime Minister Modi is seeking re-election and Amethi represented by Congress president Rahul Gandhi since 2004. Rahul is also contesting from Wayanad in Kerala. His mother Sonia Gandhi is also seeking another term from Raebareli. In the two-month long election process, leaders cutting across party lines were engaged in a high-decibel campaign, making promises and launching attacks on their opponents in a bid to woo the voters. At a dinner hosted by BJP president Amit Shah for NDA allies on Tuesday, the Prime Minister had said that the NDA is an alliance, which would represent the country's expectations and ambitions. "We have become an organic entity. The NDA has played an important role in fulfilling the regional aspirations," Modi said. Rahul, on the other hand, is banking on his party's proposed NYAY scheme, which promises to provide Rs 72,000 to 20 per cent of the country's poorest. He and other Congress leaders have repeatedly attacked BJP for alleged irregularities in Rafale fighter jet deal, demonetisation and GST, besides employment and agrarian issues. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday extended the state of emergency in the nation by one month in the aftermath of the devastating Easter attacks. An extraordinary gazette was issued by Sirisena to extend the emergency period, according to The Daily Mirror. The emergency was declared after multiple locations across Sri Lanka were bombed by terrorists on Easter Sunday. At least 250 people lost their lives while over 500 were injured in the terrorist attacks, which have been widely condemned. Local terror group National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ), which is an ISIS-affiliate, claimed responsibility for the bombings that targeted three luxury hotels and three churches in Sri Lanka on April 21. Police Spokesperson SP Ruwan Gunasekara recently confirmed that DNA tests proved that Mohamed Zahran, NTJ's leader, was one of the bombers killed in the explosions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unfazed by exit polls projecting a clear mandate to BJP-led NDA, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday called the saffron party a "sinking ship" and said that he does not take these poll results seriously. Replying to reporters questions here on BJP's preparations anticipating victory in polls, he said, "They can do whatever preparations they like but it is voters who have the last say in democracy. The voters have expressed their wishes which we will know by tomorrow. Rearranging the deckchairs of a sinking ship is not the most productive activity." "I do not take the exit polls seriously. For the last several elections, they have gone wrong. In 2004, exit polls said NDA and Mr Vajpayee will win the election (which did not happen)," the Congress leader said. Asserting that exit polls cannot be trusted, Tharoor said that the BJP will not get the number of seats predicted by TV channels. He said, "I am 100 per cent sure that whatever the results may be, the BJP is not going to score as high as the exit polls suggest." Tharoor said that all exit polls happen to be biased to the ruling party and cannot be trusted. "The reason behind the fact that all exit polls in India show bias towards the ruling party because when somebody comes and ask you who do you vote, people tend to think that this might be somebody from the government. (They think) if they will give the wrong answer, they might lose a BJP card, gas connection etc. So they name the ruling party even if they voted for someone else," he explained. Tharoor, a sitting MP from Thiruvananthapuram, expressed confidence about his re-election from the constituency. "The (voter) turnout has seen a tremendous enthusiasm to support us. I am expecting that (the huge turnout) will translate into a better victory," he said. The voting for 542 Lok Sabha seats came to an end on May 19. The counting of votes will begin on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The famous Korean band 'BTS' received a huge tribute from the city of New York, as the famous Empire State building turned purple last night to honour the guests. The K-pop band shared an image of the purple lighted building which was accompanied with the caption, " We loved turning the Empire State Building purple tonight for our fans #BTSARMY. We love you!" The post gushed with a slew of fan reactions to the surprise. " We love you too, and we are so proud! Thank you for working so hard for us while you've been in the US. We will miss you until next time," one user tweeted. Another tweeted, " It looks beautiful! Purple is our colour for a reason." As reported by E! News, the building turned purple for every five minutes at an interval of one hour from sunset. The group's visit to New York comes ahead of their appearance on iHeartRadio Live for an interview with the host Elvis Duran. The famous band is currently on their world tour 'Love Yourself: Speak Yourself', which they kick-started at the Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena, California. Ending the US tour, BTS is now headed to Sao Paulo, Brazil and London. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea on Tuesday warned the United States that its "outrageous" seizure of a cargo ship could have consequences on the future of US-North Korean relations. Permanent Representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations, Kim Song, reiterated a demand for the immediate return of the vessel and said that Pyongyang was closely monitoring Washington's "every move" which aims at bringing maximum pressure on the North to make it "kneel down", Al Jazeera reported. "The United States should deliberate and think over the consequences its outrageous acts might have on the future development," Kim was quoted as saying. On May 9, the United States "committed an unlawful and outrageous act" of dispossessing DPRK's cargo ship Wise Honest by forcibly taking it to American Samoa under the pretext of unilateral sanctions and violation of the US domestic law, Song told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. The cargo ship was detained in Indonesian waters in April 2018. Its seizure was announced by the US Justice Department on May 9, 2019, for allegedly violating the US and UN sanctions. In addition, Song described the seizure as "outright denial of the underlying spirit" of a joint statement by President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un after their first summit in Singapore last year "which committed to establishing new bilateral relations". He also noted that the seizure was the "product of an extreme hostile policy of the United States against the DPRK." He accused the US of violating international law and the 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property. The Wise Honest is a state-owned ship and a property of the DPRK, he said. "We regard it as a part of our territory where our sovereignty is fully exercised," Xinhua quoted Song as saying. Last week, Song, in a letter, had urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take "urgent measures" to contribute to stability on the Korean Peninsula. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday alleged "PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT" once again, apparently reacting to the latest subpoenas issued to his close aides by the US congressional committee chairman. Trump's latest accusations come just as he's scheduled to meet with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to discuss a bipartisan USD 2 trillion infrastructure package to invest in roads, bridges and broadband, according to The Washington Post. Reports have emerged that there is a rising sentiment towards impeaching the US President amongst the House Democrats, especially after a redacted version of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigations was made public recently. While Mueller gave a clean chit to Trump with regard to Russian collusion in his 2016 Presidential campaign, the Special Counsel fell short of completely exonerating the President when it came to obstruction of justice charges. Attorney General William Barr, on the other hand, decided not to press charges against Trump, citing a lack of evidence in the Mueller report. The Democrats have severely criticised the Trump-nominated Attorney General for his decision have continued pressing for the public release of the complete Mueller report. "Everything the Democrats are asking me for is based on an illegally started investigation that failed for them, especially when the Mueller Report came back with a NO COLLUSION finding. Now they say Impeach President Trump, even though he did nothing wrong, while they fish!" Trump alleged on Wednesday. "After two years of an expensive and comprehensive Witch Hunt, the Democrats don't like the result and they want a DO OVER. In other words, the Witch Hunt continues!" he added. "The Democrats are getting ZERO work done in Congress. All they are focused on is trying to prove the Mueller Report wrong, the Witch Hunt!" he further tweeted. He rounded off his rant on Twitter and said: "PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!" Even though Trump has welcomed Mueller's clean chit, he is known for being a vocal critic of the Special Counsel's now-concluded investigations into the 2016 Presidential elections which propelled Trump to power. He has labelled the investigations as a "witch hunt" several times previously as well. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leader Udit Raj on Wednesday stoked controversy and questioned the manner the Supreme Court has dealt with complaints of EVM rigging and pleas seeking review of 100 per cent voter-verified paper audit trail slips along with electronic voting machines on the counting of votes. Raj tweeted in Hindi saying, "Why doesn't Supreme Court wants VVPAT slips to be counted, is it involved in the rigging?" When 22 parties went to SC asking for an increase in the number of VVPAT slips being counted, SC rejected it saying it will cause a delay." [{eca7b1ef-16bc-44e9-a454-2024963aca20:intradmin/Udir_Raj1.JPG}] Raj's remark comes a day after 21 opposition parties leaders urged the EC to count votes through VVPATs instead of EVMs during counting for the Lok Sabha polls. A delegation led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu which also included the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had handed over a memorandum of the same to the apex poll body. In order to clear his stand, Raj said he is not levelling allegations against the apex court but only raising concerns on what is wrong in counting VVPATs when it would take just two days more. "Election process continues for 3 months hampering development work, so what is the big deal if it takes 1-2 days more? I'm not levelling allegations on Supreme Court, I'm only raising concerns," he wrote in another tweet. On May 18, Naidu had urged the Election Commission to count votes through VVPATinstead of EVMs during the counting of votes polled in the Lok Sabha elections. The counting of votes will take place on May 23. On May 7, the Supreme Court had turned down a review plea filed by 21 opposition parties seeking a direction to the EC to increase random physical verification of VVPATfrom five to at least 50 per cent of EVMs. Raj, a former BJP MP from North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, joined the Congress party in April after he was denied ticket by the BJP for the general elections. The exit polls have projected the BJP-led Democratic Alliance (NDA) to retain power at the Centre with most of the pollsters giving Prime Minister Narendra Modi a clear majority again in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Polling for seven-phased Lok Sabha elections started on April 11 and concluded on May 19. The much-awaited results for the General Elections will be announced on May 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine's new President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday called for early parliamentary elections for July 21, reported Al Jazeera. This comes a day after Zelensky, during his inaugural speech, announced that he would dissolve Parliament to call for early elections, originally scheduled for October. He has expressed disdain as only four per cent of the lawmakers are Ukrainians. "The main argument for dissolving the Verkhovna Rada is an extremely low trust of Ukrainian citizens in this institution," Zelensky said, during a meeting with parliamentary leaders. On Monday, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said he would resign after Zelensky urged him to do so. He has also promoted Lieutenant General Ruslan Khomchak as chief of the general staff, and lawyer Andriy Bogdan as head of the presidential administration. Zelensky has vowed to end war with Russia-backed separatists that has claimed about 13,000 lives since 2014 when Moscow annexed Crimea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States and its allies "do not dare" to attack Iran because of its "spirit of resistance", Revolutionary Guards said commander on Wednesday. "If criminal America and its Western and regional allies don't dare carry out a face-to-face military attack against our country it is because of the spirit of resistance and sacrifice of the people and youth," Sputnik quoted Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Major General Gholamali Rashid. Rashid's warning comes amid a US military increasing presence in the Middle East in order to deter the Iranian "threat". Washington ordered carrier strike warships and B-52 bombers off the coast of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to counter an alleged and unexplained threat from Iran. Washington deployed more troops in the Persian Gulf, one of the world's most strategic waterways, in what the US officials claimed was a reaction to photographs showing Iran loading missiles onto small traditional boats, The Times of Israel reported. The diplomatic tensions between the US and Iran are at an all-time high, as the former has imposed numerous sanctions on the country. In addition to this, the Pentagon on Friday approved the deployment of a Patriot missile defence battery and a Navy ship to the Middle-East. Last year in November, the Trump Administration re-imposed sanctions on Iranian oil exports following the United States' withdrawal from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States on Tuesday warned the Syrian government over carrying out chemical attacks as a counter-offensive, particularly in its northwestern region, the remaining holdout of the Islamic State. In a statement, the US State Department said, "We continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19, 2019." "We are still gathering information on this incident, but we repeat our warning that if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons, the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately," the statement read. Washington continues to investigate the suspected attack in northwest Syria that is believed to be "part of a violent campaign led by President Bashar al-Assad." The State Department alleged that the attack violates a ceasefire in the greater Idlib area that has protected millions of civilians who were already displaced from violence in other parts of the war-ravaged country. "The United States reiterates its warning, first issued by President Donald Trump in September 2018, that an attack against the Idlib de-escalation zone would be a reckless escalation that threatens to destabilise the region," the department added. Similarly, on November 24, 2018, the Assad regime and Russia attempted to fabricate a chemical weapons attack near Aleppo and blame it on opposition forces, the statement said. The Assad regime itself has conducted almost all verified chemical weapons attacks that have taken place in Syria--a conclusion the United Nations has reached over and over again. The former Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-UN Joint Investigation Mechanism repeatedly verified and reported the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons, it added. The warning came despite a trip to Russia last week by US Secretary of State Micheal R Pompeo, who voiced optimism that the rival powers had found ways to work together on Syria.Some 180 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor. The United Nations says that tens of thousands have fled their homes. International inspectors say that Assad's forces have carried out a series of chemical attacks in the course of the brutal civil war, which has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions since 2011, The News International reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], May 22 (ANI): Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui has said that disputes between the two neighbouring countries are as natural as issues between two brothers of a family staying under one roof. He said that India and China have reached a consensus to make bilateral ties stable and break the cycle of highs and lows in the relations between the two countries. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of a seminar hosted by Chinese Embassy, Luo said: "India-China ties are important for both the countries. We already reached a consensus under the leadership of both sides. We now maintain that China-India relationship will continue to move in a healthy and stable direction." "Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations. One major feature is that such types of important bilateral relations always see ups and downs. So we have a consensus reached with the Indian government on how to make this relation stable and break the up and down circle," he added. The Doklam standoff between India and China in June 2017 resulted in tensions between the two countries. Luo had played a significant role in dousing the tensions. Asked how he viewed and handled the situation, the Chinese envoy said: "Something going wrong between two great neighbouring countries is natural. It is as natural as two brothers of a family living under one roof having issues, it is very natural. Of course, we did not ignore that matter. We worked together and resolved the problem, which ensured that bilateral relations were back on normal track. That is my job and the two leaders of both countries did a great job and provided strategic guidelines. We are happy to see that." Speaking on unresolved border issues, Luo said that it is important to maintain peace and tranquillity and "border disputes are left over by history." "Border issues are a left over by history and it takes a long time to resolve. Before we can resolve the matters, we must maintain peace and tranquillity along the border area. We should also focus on economic cooperation, strengthen our friendship and narrow down the disputes," he said. Emphasising on the importance of border trade, Luo further said: "I am just back from Gangtok to check India-China border trade at Nathula. Border trading matters and I really think that place has great potential to do more. Nathula pass the border trade is totally in favour of Indian side and also make people s life along the border area better and we should pay more attention." Speaking on the growing trade deficit between India and China, the Chinese envoy said: "We have made a lot of progress so that is why I am always optimistic on the economic side. The two-way trade last year is over USD 95 billion and of course, it is in favour of China. On economic and trade matters and on regional and global issues we share a lot of similarities." "So this is the whole picture. I am also talking about trade deficit where it is not on direction and we would like to see. I am sure with the progress of the economic development from both sides, this matter will be resolved," Luo added. Luo will be returning to Beijing on the evening of May 27 after he was promoted to the level of a vice-minister. He will be looking after Asian Affairs. On his tenure in India, Luo said: "I really wish I could stay here for longer. This is my second tenure here. Thirty years have passed and India has made tremendous progress in the economic area." "I really admire and appreciate the progress made by India and also at the same time China has made progress. India-China relations have also made a lot of progress so this is one thing I see is quite optimistic. The future is also optimistic and I have done my job," the Chinese envoy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After accusing BJP of trying to buy 10 Congress legislators to topple his government, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Tuesday took a swipe at Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Gopal Bhargav, stating that he was not aware of welfare scheme implemented in the state. "After coming to power on December 17, 2018, our government started working for the public and several decisions were taken in their interest. Within 73 days, we have completed 85 promises. The most important decision was to waive off farmers' loan. We waived off loans of 21 lakh farmers, despite the fact that your government left empty coffers for us. However, you seem unaware of all this," Kamal Nath said in a letter to Bhargav. This comes after Bhargav's appeal to Governor Anandiben Patel seeking to convene a special assembly session to discuss urgent issues of welfare schemes claiming they had stopped under Congress government. The BJP has also demanded a floor test in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly alleging that the government is in minority. Nath has accused BJP of creating confusion among farmers over gram and wheat procurement and payments. He said his government has been offering bonus on wheat and timely payments under Bhavantar Bhugtan Yojana. "Your government failed to provide payments to farmers last year, but our government completed that work within a week. Sambal and other schemes are continuing without any hindrance. Our government has reduced the electricity bill from Rs 200 to Rs 100 in favour of Sambal beneficiaries. Also, sufficient budget was allocated for the availability of water. The law and order is in control," Nath said. The beneficiaries in Gadhakota (Bhargav's hometown) and Rehali (constituency represented by Bhargav) have also befitted from the schemes, he added. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister said Bhargav is writing to the governor on the basis of estimates and imagination as he was always available for addressing any doubt related to governance. He affirmed that Congress was always ready to debate on issues concerning public interest. Bhargav had earlier said that the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in the state will fall on its own. "You can yourself analyse the current situation. They have the support of one SP MLA, one MLA of BSP and four Independent MLAs. There is bickering within the party," he had told ANI. "This government will fall on its own. I don't believe in horse-trading but I feel the government's time has come. It will have to go soon," he added. He also spoke about the leadership crisis in the Congress. "You can see the Congress has a leadership crisis as well. This is the main reason for the Congress' decline. We are winning in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh just after six months that we lost in the Assembly polls, all because of the Congress' false promises and faulty policies," he said. The 231-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly has 113 Congress members, one short of the half-way mark, while the BJP has 109 legislators. The ruling coalition, led by the Congress party, is supported by one MLA of Samajwadi Party, two of Bahujan Samaj Party and four independents. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cyient signed a partnership agreement with OneStrand Inc. to offer interactive technical publication solutions. This agreement combines Cyient's global reach and long history in authoring, illustrating, designing, and converting technical publications with OneStrand's world leading S1000D software and technical services. Cyient now has the capability to deliver technical data to global customers in the aerospace, defense, and transport industries in a variety of formats based on client needs, whether print or electronic delivery. In addition, clients will be able to leverage the new services across the product lifecycle and better manage engineering technical data from initial creation to archiving. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hong Kong share market closed mixed on Wednesday, 22 May 2019, as risk sentiments subdued amid fears of trade tension escalation between the U. S. and China grow after reports that the Trump administration is considering blacklisting Hikvison - a major Chinese surveillance technology firm. At closing bell, the Hang Seng Index inclined 0.13%, or 35.03 points, to 27,692.27. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index was down 0.28%, or 25.59 points, to 10,605.03. The U. S. administration is considering limits to Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision's ability to buy U. S. technology, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, in a move that deepens worries about trade frictions between the world's two top economies. That came after the U. S. Commerce Department blocked Huawei Technologies Co Ltd from buying U. S. goods last week. Shares in state-owned Hikvision plummeted as much as 10% to their lowest since Jan. 4, 2018 after the report. Beijing is ready to resume trade talks with Washington, China's ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai said, as a top U. S. business lobby in China said nearly half its members are seeing non-tariff barrier retaliation in China due to the trade war. Investors worried that the lack of progress in talks between the United States and China could signal a protracted trade war. President Xi Jinping called for a new Long March in a speech at Jiangxi, where Mao Zedong began his ascent to power during a series of retreats by the Red Army to evade pursuing Nationalist forces, as per reports. Investors took it as a sign that China is preparing for a protracted trade war, with no clear path to a trade deal in the near future. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reliance Industries Ltd is quoting at Rs 1342.9, up 0.23% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The stock is up 47.21% in last one year as compared to a 12.24% jump in NIFTY and a 22.58% jump in the Nifty Energy. Reliance Industries Ltd is up for a fifth straight session today. The stock is quoting at Rs 1342.9, up 0.23% on the day as on 12:44 IST on the NSE. The benchmark NIFTY is down around 0.02% on the day, quoting at 11706.7. The Sensex is at 39010.46, up 0.1%. Reliance Industries Ltd has slipped around 1.54% in last one month. Meanwhile, Nifty Energy index of which Reliance Industries Ltd is a constituent, has slipped around 0.84% in last one month and is currently quoting at 16087.4, up 0.36% on the day. The volume in the stock stood at 49 lakh shares today, compared to the daily average of 103.7 lakh shares in last one month. The benchmark May futures contract for the stock is quoting at Rs 1344.2, up 0.24% on the day. Reliance Industries Ltd is up 47.21% in last one year as compared to a 12.24% jump in NIFTY and a 22.58% jump in the Nifty Energy index. The PE of the stock is 24.15 based on TTM earnings ending March 19. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With a few hours left for counting of votes to begin, the spotlight is on the heavyweight battles in Uttar Pradesh that will decide the future of the country in the next five years. The biggest battle of these elections is actually no battle at all. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting from Varanasi and is being challenged by Ajay Rai of the Congress. Modi is a clear winner and the battle here is mainly about the margin of victory for the Prime Minister. The other similar battle in Uttar Pradesh is in Rae Bareli where UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is contesting. Her main rival Dinesh Pratap Singh of BJP is a lightweight, and Sonia Gandhi's position has been strengthened by the fact that SP and BSP have not fielded any candidate against her. The battle, in the true sense of the term, is being fought in Amethi where Congress President Rahul Gandhi is being challenged by Union Minister Smriti Irani. Exit polls have put a question mark on the victory of Rahul Gandhi and BJP workers are already celebrating in Amethi. This is one of the most keenly contested seats in the country. In Azamgarh, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav is locked in a battle with Bhojpuri actor Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua, who seems over-confident of his victory. Akhilesh has a definite edge in this constituency. In Kannauj though, Samajwadi MP Dimple Yadav is locked in a fierce battle with BJP's Subrat Pathak and though she is said to be closer to the victory stand, pollsters put a question mark on this seat. Union Minister Manoj Sinha is facing a tough battle in Ghazipur where he is being challenged by BSP's Afzal Ansari. With caste arithmetic favouring the BSP in this constituency, Manoj Sinha had worked hard to ensure his return to Lok Sabha. In Sultanpur, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi faces a tough contest form BSP's Sonu Singh. Though a novice compared to Maneka Gandhi, Sonu Singh has made the battle really close. Union Minister Rajnath Singh is comfortably placed in Lucknow though his rival Poonam Sinha, wife of Shatrughan Sinha, who is a Samajwadi candidate, did give him some anxious moments during the campaign. Rashtriya Lok Dal leader Chaudhary Ajit Singh is said to be ready for a comeback in mainstream from Muzaffarnagar where he is pitted against BJP's Sanjiv Baliyan. Ajit Singh had the support of SP and BSP in these elections. His son Jayant Chaudhary is contesting against Union Minister Satyapal Singh from Baghpat and reports suggest that the young leader is ready to wrest back his father's seat from the BJP. In Ghaziabad, Gen V.K. Singh of BJP has faced a tough contest from the Congress candidate Dolly Sharma but exit polls give him an edge. The most hotly contested battle was witnessed in Rampur where sparks flew between Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan and BJP's Jaya Prada throughout the campaign. Azam Khan is supremely confident of his victory. --IANS amita/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Indian Dubai-based businessmen were issued the new 10-year United Arab Emirates (UAE) resident visas which were rolled out in January, the media reported on Wednesday. Vasu Shroff, chairman of the Regal Group of Companies, and Khushi Khatwani, managing director of the Khushi Group of Companies & Al Nisr Cinema Film, are the first two Indians to benefit from the long-term visa scheme, reports Gulf News. The 10-year visa scheme was rolled out in January and some Arab scientists and experts in the medical field were the first ones to receive it. "It is really a very good initiative for the investors who bring up the economy. This will encourage more investors to make investments here," Shroff told the Gulf News on Tuesday evening after receiving the visa. The textile magnate, who was a recipient of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, India's highest award for non-resident Indians, said more Indian business leaders were expected to get the 10 year-residency, which is considered the first steps towards obtaining permanent residency. Khatwani, who is known for his decades-old businesses in the fields of movies and jewellery, said the move gives a sense of more belonging to the country. Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul welcomed the move and said: "It is a great step from the government of UAE. People who had to renew visas every two or three years are getting a longer duration. That will make life easy for prominent Indian businessmen and investors here." --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least six people have died and 200 others injured on Wednesday during protests in the Indonesian capital Jakarta against the re-election of President Joko Widodo. The toll was confirmed by Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan, while police sources told Efe news that at least 60 people had been arrested. In the protests that began on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning, demonstrators who had gathered outside the headquarters of the Elections Supervisory Agency and the Election Commission burned several vehicles after the police tried to disperse them with tear gas. The violence broke out at the end of a peaceful protest held by supporters of the defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, who has said he will challenge the election results in the Constitutional Court, citing electoral fraud. Some 32,000 officers are guarding the headquarters of the two election bodies with barbed wire and riot vehicles ahead of more potential protests later on Wednesday. National Police spokesperson Dedi Prasetyo said that some 1,300 people who had travelled to Jakarta were staying in mosques with the intention of continuing the protests. Authorities have also warned of possible terror attacks and have arrested dozens of radicals who were allegedly planning attacks during the demonstrations. The protests came after the Election Commission on Tuesday confirmed Joko's outright victory in the April 17 general elections, in which he secured 55.5 per cent of the ballots against 44.5 per cent for Prabowo, who has refused to recognize or validate the final result of the polls. On Monday, Indonesia's Election Supervisory Agency rejected claims by Prabowo's camp of "structured, systematic and massive election administration violations", although it did identify certain small-scale irregularities with the management of ballot boxes by election officials. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least six people were killed and 200 others injured during protests in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta against the re-election of President Joko Widodo for a second five-year term, authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The police confirmed the death toll based on reports from hospitals. They said the cause of the deaths was being investigated, the BBC reported. In the protests that began peacefully on Tuesday night after election results showed that the incumbent President had beaten his long-time rival Prabowo Subianto, soon turned violent after demonstrators who had gathered outside the headquarters of the Elections Supervisory Agency and the General Election Commission burned several vehicles after the police tried to disperse them with tear gas. Some 32,000 officers are guarding the headquarters of the two election bodies with barbed wire and riot vehicles ahead of more potential protests on Wednesday. National police chief Tito Karnavian denied that his officers had used live ammunition and called for calm. "Some had gunshot wounds, some had blunt force wounds but we still need to clarify this," he said, referring to the six dead, who are believed to have been killed overnight on Tuesday. Authorities have said the protests were planned and "not spontaneous". They have suggested that a group of provocateurs may have been responsible for the violence. "A majority of the protesters came from outside of Jakarta," said Muhammed Iqbal, a police spokesman. The General Election Commission confirmed earlier on Tuesday that Joko had won the presidency, taking 55.5 per cent of votes that were cast during the April 14 polls. Prabowo has rejected the results, alleging cheating, but the election commission has dismissed his claims, reports the BBC. The former general also lost against Joko at the last election in 2014, and went on to unsuccessfully challenge the results. On Wednesday, Chief Security Minister Wiranto said access to social media would be blocked in some areas of Jakarta. The restrictions, including on photo and video sharing, aimed to control the spread of misinformation, he said. Authorities have also warned of possible terror attacks and have arrested dozens of radicals who were allegedly planning attacks during the demonstrations. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Board of Secondary (CBSE) has requested the Delhi University (DU) to align its admission process with the advanced declaration re-evaluation schedule of the Class 12 examination. The CBSE has urged the DU to set the last date of submission of the application after the end of re-evaluation process. Advancing its process of declaration of results, the CBSE in 2019 announced the Class 12 results within 28 days of examinations getting over. The board usually announces the Class 12 results in the third week of May. The board announced the results early in keeping with the Delhi High Court's 2018 order in which it directed the CBSE to announce results early and speed up the re-evaluation process. The directive came after a student was denied admission to a DU college in 2018 because of delay in the re-evaluation process. A CBSE official said as per the court's directive, it had advanced dates of examination, declaration of results and the process of verification and re-evaluation. The board has now written to the DU Registrar to align the admission process as per the CBSE schedule. The CBSE has also put up a tentative schedule for the verification of marks and re-evaluation on its website. A board official said the DU now has to set the last date of submission of application after the CBSE re-evaluation process was over. Students can apply for re-evaluation of their Class 12 marks between May 24 and May 25. The board, however, has not announced the dates for completing the process. The DU is yet to announce its admission schedule. St Stephen's college, which is not part of the centralised admission process, has announced admission schedule. The registration process for the college will begin on Wednesday. --IANS pgs/mag/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) John Walker Lindh, known as the "American Taliban" who was captured during the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, is scheduled to leave a federal prison on probation after serving 17 years of a 20-year sentence for providing support to the terror group. Lindh, who converted to Islam at the age of 16 and first left California in 1998 to study Arabic in Yemen, is currently lodged at the prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, The New York Times reported. He will walk free on Thursday. Lindh's journey took him to Pakistan in 2000 and later to Afghanistan, where he spent time at an Al Qaeda training camp as a Taliban volunteer. As an American citizen, he was tried at a federal court. At his sentencing in October 2002, he condemned " on every level, unequivocally", and said he made a mistake by joining the Taliban and denounced the group's slain leader Osama bin Laden's terrorist attacks as "completely against Islam". As conditions for Lindh's release, Judge T.S. Ellis III of the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, who handled his 2002 trial and guilty plea, has imposed sweeping restrictions. Lindh will be barred from going online or owning a web-capable device without prior permission of his probation officer. He will also be barred from travelling internationally and getting a passport or any other kind of travel document. In all, 346 people have been charged and convicted of jihadi related crimes since the September 11, 2001, The New York Times quoted official data as saying. About one-fourth of those prisoners, 88, have been released. About half should be released by the end of 2025, with 19 of them, including Lindh, slated for release this year and next. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Apple CEO Tim Cook says a four-year degree is not necessary to be proficient at coding, he means it. Ask young Indian tech innovators and you would immediately find the answer. Apart from empowering developers via its Bengaluru-based App Accelerator, Apple has taken another significant leap: nurturing young talent in coding across schools and colleges in India. "After I got admission in the Macro Vision Academy (Apple Distinguished School) in Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh for Grade 11, I continued my iOS app development. "I am currently working on an e-portfolio app wherein class teachers can fill the students' report about his or her skills and educational topics. The app currently works on my school Wi-Fi," Jay Firke told IANS. Firke, who started coding three years ago and is working on an Augmented Reality (AR) game, aims to make the most at Apple's annual flagship Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) next month in San Jose, California. "I want to learn more about ARKit 2 and other Apple technologies. This is my first time at WWDC and I am excited," Firke added. Apple offers free WWDC scholarships to the next generation of developers and this year, 16 students from India would be part of the event. The young Indian coders are thrilled at the opportunity to see and learn technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (Core ML) and Augmented Reality (AR) to build next generation of apps that would make our life easy. India has one of the most vibrant and exciting iOS developer communities, with tens of thousands of developers who have already created nearly 100,000 apps for the App Store worldwide. Meet Ashwath Prasanna, a 13-year-old who already has five apps in the Apple App Store. Mentored by the App Accelerator in Bengaluru, he runs workshops to get his peers interested in coding, create awareness in the school about e-safety and collaborate with teachers on how new apps can be used in teaching. He is currently developing an app called Swift swiftly -- an interactive media book with video snippets and reading material which would be an easy reference for those trying to learn Swift. "Swift Playgrounds helped me understand how to build apps that solved a problem. It's easy and fun and I basically taught myself," said Prasanna. Developed by Delhi-based Vidit Bhargava who was a student scholar in 2016 and attended WWDC, "VectorPad" app turns your designs into Vector Graphics and 3D extrusions -- be it sketches on paper or drawings made in an illustration app. Using Apple ARKit, "VectorPad" also lets you generate 3D Extrusions from your sketches or image files. "You can also edit the 3D object to change its size and materials that are physically rendered and offer a real and authentic outlook to your 3D Drawing," said Bhargava. VectorPad's advanced augmented reality viewer leverages ARKit 2 to offer realistic renders with real time environment maps, shadows and lighting. Rishav Kumar, 15, from Kolkata developed his first free photo-filtering app using Apple X Code when he was 13. In March, he launched his company called ScribbleEdu which provides tutorials for how to use Apple educational software from basic to advanced in schools. For young coders, Apple offers Swift which is a powerful open language that lets everyone build amazing apps. Xcode is an integrated development environment (IDE) for macOS containing a suite of software development tools. In Cook's words, "every kid in the world should learn to code as coding is the most important second language you can learn". Indian students have understood the call and are right on the path to innovate for the world. (Nishant Arora can be contacted at nishant.a@ians.in) --IANS na/pg A (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Bigg Boss 13" is still some months away, but the buzz around the changes one would get to see in the new season is gathering steam. Superstar Salman Khan will reportedly return as the host of the Colors' show in which contestants survive 100 days under the constant glare of multiple cameras. But the grapevine has it that after the failure of the last season, which had a mix of celebrities and commoners as contestants, the show will have an all-celebrity line-up for the new season. However, a source in the know of developments told IANS that a "mix" may be expected again. Another source said that considering the show comes in September or October, it is too early to comment about any changes that may be incorporated. Amidst a spate of names that are already doing the rounds as likely contestants is Reena Dwiwedi, the PWD officer who became an Internet sensation after her photograph went viral on the social media. She has said she would love to participate in the next season of "Bigg Boss" if she gets an invitation. "'Bigg Boss' would be a great opportunity if I get it," she said. Meanwhile, the location of the "Bigg Boss" house will change from Lonavala to Mumbai this time. It will be shot in Film City, Goregaon. The Marathi version of the popular reality television show is also being shot in Film City. "Bigg Boss", which began in 2006, is an adaptation of an international reality show. In India, it now has Bengali, Kannada, Marathi and Tamil versions too. The Marathi version, hosted by Mahesh Manjrekar, will premiere on May 26. --IANS rb/nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused the Trinamool Congress of planning to foment violence inside vote counting centres if the poll verdict goes against it, as many workers of West Bengal's ruling party huddled in front of several counting centres across constituencies to 'guard' electronic voting machines (EVMs). "Hundreds of Trinamool supporters gathered in front of vote counting centres across the state in the name of guarding EVMs and strong rooms. The Election Commission conducts the polling process and the central forces have been deployed to protect machines. "Their party supremo instructed their goons to protect voting machines. This arrangement indicates that they have plans to create ruckus inside vote counting centres, if the verdict goes against them," said state BJP Vice President Jay Prakash Majumdar after meeting officials at the Chief Electoral Officer's office here. As many as 200 companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed for guarding strongrooms and counting centres. "We have demanded proper deployment of central forces in counting centres and invocation of prohibitory orders Section 144 upto 200 metres from counting centres in order to resist Trinamool miscreants," Majumdar told reporters. Dismissing the exit poll predictions of the Lok Sabha elections as "gossip", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already said it is a "game plan to manipulate and replace thousands of EVMs" and urged opposition leaders to stand united. She has also called upon party workers to guard voting machines in the strongrooms so that the machines "cannot be replaced". Trinamool workers were seen sitting in front of many vote counting centres across districts after the party high command asked them to "guard" voting machines. "We have been here to protect machines as party leaders asked us to do so," said a Trinamool worker sitting in front of Sreerampore College counting centre where EVMs of all seven Assembly segments of Sreerampore Lok Sabha constituency would be counted. Almost all exit polls either gave a majority to the NDA or predicted it would come close to the magic figure. The various exit polls also forecast a massive increase in the BJP's number of seats - from two in 2014 to between 16 and 18 in West Bengal. There are 58 counting centres spread across the state for 42 Lok Sabha constituencies. The votes cast in a total of 78,799 polling stations in 294 Assembly segments will be counted by 25,000 counting personnel. --IANS bdc/ssp/kr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After stoking controversy for altering the syllabus in Rajasthan school textbooks, Minister Govind Singh Dotasara is again in the crosshairs of the opposition BJP for changing the school calendar that will see the new academic session start on July 1 which reportedly will stop students from observing International Day of Yoga on June 21. According to Dotasara, the schools will re-open on July 1 instead of June 19 as per the former government's time-table. Even the schedule for winter holidays has been changed. Now winter holidays will be scheduled from December 25-31 instead of December 25 to January 7 under the former BJP government. Former Minister Vasudev Devnani, tweeted on the development, "Government should make students aware of Yoga benefits, however, the state government has tried to belittle its significance. Yoga Day helps students to get awareness on Yoga's significance in their life and inspires them to bring Yoga in their daily lives." Meanwhile, Dotasara said, "Yoga Day will be celebrated in schools and offices to abide by the order of government. BJP government, to celebrate this one day, had changed the school calendar and ordered schools to reopen from June 19. This is wrong. We changed the school calendar taking views from parents and teachers associations," he added. The school session used to close on April 30, however, now it will close on May 16, he said. --IANS arc/kr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An attempt was allegedly made to break into an office of the Indian Air Force (IAF) officers handling the Rafale fighter project in France, reports reaching here said on Wednesday. The IAF team is based there in connection with the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter planes, first of which is expected to be delivered to India in September this year. The break-in attempt reportedly took place on Sunday night and an assessment was being made to find out whether anything was amiss, officials said here. The French police is investigating the matter and the Indian Embassy in France is in touch with them. India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter planes in fly-away condition. The planes are intended to meet the shortage in the IAF inventory. --IANS akk/arm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of the counting of votes on Thursday, the opposition parties have asked their workers to keep a strict vigil at places where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are stored amid apprehensions that EVMs could be tampered with. The Election Commission (EC) has repeatedly allayed apprehensions on this count, dismissing all reports of EVM manipulation. The poll panel has asserted that all the EVMs along with the Voter-verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines were sealed properly and stored in guarded strong rooms. Nearly four million EVMs were used in the seven-phased general elections this year as the country voted to choose the 17th Lok Sabha. Videos of EVMs purportedly not reaching the strong rooms in time and allegations that machines were being changed in various parts of the country have created panic among the opposition parties. Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday urged the party workers to keep faith in the party and asked them to remain vigilant. "Dear Congress workers, next 24 hours are important. Remain alert and vigilant. You are fighting for truth. Don't get disheartened by the false exit polls. Have faith on yourself and the party, your efforts would not go in vain," he tweeted. The Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and its allies in Bihar have also told their workers to keep a strict watch on the strong rooms across these states. The development comes after some videos went viral on social media, purportedly showing EVMs being transported in open trucks. One video was claimed to be from the Chandauli Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh, which showed EVMs being off-loaded and purportedly placed inside a room. The clip shows some people, apparently supporters of the Samajwadi Party, questioning it. Similar complaints were registered in Ghazipur, Jhansi and Domariaganj in Uttar Pradesh and Saran and Maharajganj in Bihar. Even reports of clashes among political workers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar surfaced. Complaints related to storage issues at strong rooms, security of strong rooms, permissions to candidates to post their agents at the strong rooms, CCTV monitoring and movement of EVMs were made till Wednesday. As the controversy erupted, the Election Commission set up a 24-hour EVM control room to deal with complaints related to EVMs round the clock. The controversy took an ugly turn when Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha, who dumped the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) last year and joined the RJD-Congress Grand Alliance, said that if an attempt was made to "loot" votes, people should pick up arms for protection of votes. "We will do anything for the protection of votes and would not allow any attempt to tamper with the EVMs," he said. Responding to such threats and the possibility of violence after the announcement of election results, Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Tuesday night that "there will be a tit-for-tat". Paswan said the opposition parties were seeking excuses in the face of their imminent defeat and raising doubts over EVMs. "When they see their defeat is imminent, they raise doubts over EVMs, but when they won in three states, they didn't say anything about EVMs," Paswan said, adding, "Why did they not raise doubts after they won in Punjab?" Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed concern on Tuesday over the opposition making "needless controversy" over EVMs. --IANS bns/akk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police on Wednesday informed the Delhi High Court it has considered framing of guidelines for disposal of abandoned bodies, and videography and photography of the last rites of the unattended bodies. The police in an affidavit filed before a Division Bench headed by Justice G.S. Sistani said a meeting was held under the Chief Secretary's chairmanship on March 28. At the meeting, it was decided that the Municipal Corporation would be in-charge of cremation. "The municipal corporation concerned may also be directed to conduct the videography/photography of the cremation," the police said. The cremation would take place in the presence of investigation officer and expenses would be borne by the municipal corporation, the police said. The court was hearing a petition filed by Ramanuj Pursotam whose son was creamated by the Faridabad police and nothing was kept as proof. Pursotam's counsels Shashank Deo Sudhi and Bijender P. Kumar told the court his son was missing since December 4, 2017. After three months, the petitioner came to know through photographs that his son had been cremated. In March 2018, the police called Pursotam for identifying the photograph of the body cremated on December 12, 2017. The police told him his son's body was recovered on December 8, 2017 and an autopsy was conducted at a hospital on December 10, 2017. But Pursotam was not told how his son was cremated. Pursotam pleaded before the court to issue direction to the police to preserve the ashes and physical identity, including clothes and valuable belongings, of the abandoned bodies for a reasonable period of time for handing them over to the deceased's family. He also requested the court to issue direction to publicise or advertise the request for identification of the abandoned bodies, lying unattended, through all modes of communication, including all major newspapers and news channels. Pursotam said currently unidentified bodies were being cremated in a mechanical manner without completing even the mandatory formalities. He also sought a provision to penalise the police if they deny registering FIR in case of such incidents. After Pursotam's son went missing, he went to Jaitpur Police Station in Delhi but the police did not act. Despite repeated requests, the police did not even register a complaint, said the petitioner. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on May 29. --IANS ak/mag/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A security guard of a Delhi University girls' college was arrested by Delhi Police on Wednesday after a student complained of being sexually assaulted by him in the college premises. According to the police, the accused had made friends with the girl back in August last year. However about 12 days ago the accused identified as Raj Kumar alias Raju spiked the victim's cold drink when she was alone in a classroom. Kumar who was hired on a contract basis by the college, then sexually assaulted her in a the classroom. "The incident occurred about 12 days ago when Raj Kumar offered a spiked cold drink to the victim, as they were friends she accepted it without any suspicion," a senior police officer said. The girl who later regained consciousness found her clothes strewn around. Somehow she managed to reach her home, but did not share her ordeal with anyone. However, on Monday she narrated everything to her parents who then accompanied her to IP Estate police station where the case was registered. After the case was filed, the police scanned the CCTV footage of the cameras installed in the college and found the accused taking the victim to the classroom. He was then arrested from the college. "The accused has been arrested, it was clear in the CCTV footage that he was taking the victim to the classroom. We have registered a case of rape against him," the officer added. --IANS sp-rag/kr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the opposition parties for questioning the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and said that their attempts were "tarnishing" the image of India and its democracy. "Opposing EVMs is akin to disrespecting the people's mandate. Fearing defeat in the elections, the 22 opposition parties are putting a question mark over the country's democratic process and tarnishing the image of India and its democracy," Shah tweeted along with a list of six questions aimed at the opposition parties. His remarks came soon after the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday turned down the opposition parties' request to count the VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) slips along with the EVMs at five randomly selected polling booths and tally VVPAT slips for the entire Assembly segment if any discrepancy occurred. Firing salvos at the opposition parties, Shah said, "Those questioning the credibility of EVMs have won elections conducted through these machines in the past. When the Congress formed governments in four states during the recent Assembly polls in five states, we did not question EVMs. They should not have formed governments if they didn't have faith in EVMs." The BJP President further said the Supreme Court after hearing three PILs had said that from every Assembly segment, VVPAT slips of five polling booths can be counted. "Are you questioning the Supreme Court's orders," Shah questioned. Hitting out at the opposition parties, Shah said, "The noise over EVMs gained momentum after the sixth phase of polling, and it increased after the exit polls were announced. I want to tell the opposition leaders that exit polls are based on voters' feedbacks. How can you raise fingers on EVMs based on exit poll outcomes?" Referring to the EVM hackathon organised by the Election Commission, Shah said, "The EC had organised the EVM hackathon, but none of the opposition parties accepted the challenge. The EC also made the electoral process more transparent by linking the voting machines with the VVPAT slips so that the voters could see whom they voted for. When the electoral process have been made so transparent, is it correct to raise questions over the polling process?" Referring to former Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leader Upendra Kushwaha's remark that if an attempt was made to "loot" votes, people should pick up arms to protect them, Shah said, "Some political parties have threatened violence if the results do not match their expectations. These statements are highly objectionable. "I want to tell the Opposition that there is no space for violence. Whom do they think they are challenging by making these undemocratic statements?" Shah further said, "Not ready to accept defeat, the opposition is trying to disrespect the Election Commission and democracy in the country. Whatever be the outcome of the elections, it should be respected because it is the mandate of India's 90 crore electorate. "I want to tell the people of the country that the Opposition is trying to spread falsehood about EVMs. Without getting diverted, we should work together to strengthen the institutions of the country." --IANS aks/bns/arm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered "immediate" return of garbage containers to Canada after Ottawa did not comply with a deadline to remove the waste it had sent six years ago, officials said on Wednesday. The order came after the Philippines recalled its ambassador and consuls in Canada last week in response to the expiry of the May 15 deadline it had given Ottawa. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte was "outraged" by Canada's inaction in collecting tonnes of waste that it illegally shipped to the Philippines between 2013 and 2014. "President Duterte is upset about the inordinate delay by Canada in shipping back its garbage containers. We are extremely disappointed with Canada's neither here nor there pronouncement on the matter," Panelo said. "Canada is not taking this issue nor our country seriously. The Filipino people are gravely insulted about Canada treating this country as a dump site," he said and added, the President had instructed the appropriate office to look for a private shipping company, which would shift the trash to the Canadian jurisdiction. Panelo said, "If Canada didn't accept its trash, then "we will leave the same within its territorial waters or 12 nautical miles out to sea from the baseline of any of their country's shores", Efe news reported. The garbage was initially declared to contain only plastic scraps, but was later found to have non-recyclable plastics, household waste and used adult diapers. Duterte has issued several ultimatum to the Canadian government to remove the containers with some 2,000 tonnes of garbage in a landfill in the city of Tarlac, north of Manila. In April, he even threatened to declare war on Canada over the issue. In response, the Canadian government agreed to take back the garbage and bear the transportation costs, although it's yet to take action in this regard. Over the last few years, the garbage dispute has led to several diplomatic protests in the Philippines. The Canadian government, however, refused to act at the time, alleging the garbage shipment was a private transaction that had not been endorsed by the government. In 2016, Canada amended its regulations to prevent the dispatch of hazardous waste shipments and a Canadian court issued a resolution ordering the importing firm to re-send the garbage back at its own expense. --IANS soni/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Election Commission is gearing up for counting on Thursday in 14 Lok Sabha seats of Jharkhand as all political parties in the state have claimed victory in the polls. "The counting will begin on Thursday morning at 8 a.m. at 14 counting centres of the state for the 14 Lok Sabha seats. Separate counting halls as per Assembly constituencies falling in the respective Lok Sabha seats have been set up at counting centres," L. Khiyante, Jharkhand Chief Election Officer (CEO), told reporters. He said: "The strongrooms will be opened in presence of the observers and candidates' agents and videography will also be done. The results may be delayed by four to five hours as VVPAT counting will be done as per the commission's direction". Voting took place in last four phases in Jharkhand. The election was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported. The BJP had won 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats seats in 2014. The fate of three former Chief Ministers - Shibu Soren, Arjun Munda and Babulal Marandi and two central ministers - Jayant Sinha and Sudarsan Bhagat - will be decided on Thursday. The BJP has claimed victory in all 14 seats. The party has fought on 13 seats and its ally, All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) has fought on one seat. "BJP will win all 14 seats in the state," claimed Chief Minister Raghubar Das. Leader of the Opposition and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha Executive President Hemant Soren has termed the exit polls as "TV serials who have their own shops to run". He claimed the JMM would win all seats on which it fought. The party contested four seats in alliance with the Congress and other parties. The Congress which fought on seven Lok Sabha seats is confident that the opposition Grand Alliance would sweep the Lok Sabha polls. "Exit polls have given our alliance six to eight seats but we will win more than 12 seats," Congress spokesperson Kishore Sahdeo told IANS. --IANS ns/kr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The fall armyworm (FAW), an insect indigenous to the Americas, has caused an estimated loss of Rs 20 crore to maize cultivation in over 130 villages in Mizoram, officials said on Wednesday. The Mizoram government has informed the Centre about the loss, said an official of the Agriculture Department. "FAW was detected last year in several states prompting the Centre to alert state governments of possible insect attack. The state's agriculture department immediately warned all its district offices and special squads were set up in all eight districts even before the constitution of Rapid Response Team last month," Agriculture Department Director Rohmingthanga Colney told the media. The department has distributed pesticides to maize cultivators and also made efforts to educate the farmers on how to use pesticides more effectively. Colney said that the state's Central Integrated Pest Management Centre is also working in consultation with the Central government's Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage. A series of meetings were held between Chief Minister Zoramthanga and the Agriculture Minister C. Lalrinsanga over the outbreak and find ways how to deal with it. "The department has advised maize farmers to avoid large-scale using of chemical pesticides which are not recommended by the agriculture experts and also to carefully follow instructions for mixing and using them," an official release of the Agriculture Department said. Mizoram is one of the top producers of maize in India. In 2017-18, the state produced about 9,470 metric tonnes of maize. According to the Agriculture Department officials, FAW has so far affected 2,424 hectares of the 3,439 hectares of maize cultivation across all eight districts of the state. "As per the initial estimate, the loss of maize due to the FAW attack was around Rs 20 crore, but it is likely to escalate further if the outbreak is not fully brought under control at the earliest," the official added. Mizoram shares borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, where the FAW outbreak was reported early this year. In Arunachal Pradesh, FAW attack to standing crops was reported from some parts of the state. A report from the College of Horticulture and Forestry in East Siang District has said that the highly invasive pest has been found in maize in its campus. "The insect can attack a wide range of crops including rice, sugarcane and vegetables. The occurrence of FAW attack is severe and can multiply in geometric proportions within no time," an agriculture department official of the Arunachal Pradesh government said. --IANS sc/pg/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facing stiff competition from Chinese and South Korean players, Japanese conglomerate Sony Corporation has announced to quit the Indian smartphone market. Sony had less that 0.01 per cent of the total Indian smartphone market share in the first quarter of 2019, according to Counterpoint Research. Sony Mobile, however, said that it would continue to monitor the market situations and business feasibility in the country. "Our focus markets are Japan, Europe, Hong Kong and Taiwan to drive profitability and future prospects in the 5G era," Sony Mobile said in a statement on Wednesday. "We have ceased sales in Central and South America, the Middle East, South Asia, Oceania, etc. in FY 18," it added. The company assured that it would continue its customer support operations including after sales support and software updates for existing customers in India. The India smartphone market is currently dominated by Chinese players like Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo and OnePlus among others, besides South Korean tech giant Samsung. According to Shobhit Srivastava, Research Analyst, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research, the pressure from Chinese brands and Samsung in the major price segment resulted in continuous decline of sales for Sony. "With declining sales in India and other markets, Sony took the right decision to focus on the high ASP (average selling price) markets such as Japan," Srivastava told IANS. Sony India in July last year brought its flagship "Xperia XZ2" smartphone for Rs 72,990 to India that turned out to be its last launch. "In a cut-throat market like India where Chinese smartphone brands rule the roost with industry-leading specs and having over 60 per cent market share, it's tough for other brands to garner a meaningful revenue share. Sony has had a very miniscule market share in India," Prabhu Ram, Head, Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR, told IANS. For Sony, the performance of its mobile business has lacked the sheen, and has been a clear outlier compared to its other divisions. "It makes sense for it to cut its losses and refocus on other verticals," Ram added. --IANS gb/na (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least five members of a family were killed and two others seriously injured when a car in which they were travelling collided head-on with a truck in Odisha's Kalahandi district on Wednesday, police said. The mishap occurred near Jaring on National Highway 26. The family was returning to Khuseiguda village from the railway station in Kesinga. While on the way from Visakhapatnam , the car had a head-on collision with a truck near Jaring. The victims had gone to Visakhapatnam for a health check-up. All five members of the family died on the spot, the police said. While the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital in Bhawanipatna, one of them has been shifted to Visakhapatnam as her condition deteriorated, the police officials added. --IANS cd/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Minister Jaydatta Kshirsagar, MLA from Beed, is likely to join Shiv Sena here on Wednesday, party sources said. Sulking since long, Kshirsagar was reportedly engaged in talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party, but early on Wednesday he finally announced his intentions to quit the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and join the Sena, a ruling ally. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Kshirsagar had openly campaigned for the BJP candidate, Pritam Munde against the NCP's nominee Bajrang Sonavane, mainly on account of intra-party political rivalry. --IANS qn/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government is learnt have cleared the elevation of four new judges to the Supreme Court, paving the way for their swearing-in in "a day or two." After the new judges take charge, the apex court will have its full strength of 31 judges after a gap of five years. Currently, the court is functioning with 27 judges, including Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The four judges whose elevation has been cleared are: Justices Aniruddha Bose, A.S. Bopanna, B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant. The government had earlier objected to two names: Justices Bose and Bopanna. It had informed the Supreme Court Collegium, citing seniority and representation of regions as the key issues. The five-member collegium is headed by the CJI. In Justice Gavai, the top court would have second Chief Justice from Dalit community. Sources said a notification on the elevation of the judges is expected as early as tomorrow after the President endorses their appointment. The Supreme Court Collegium had rejected the Centre's comeback and recommended Justices Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai and Surya Kant for elevation as the top court judges. "The collegium resolves to reiterate the afore-mentioned recommendation dated April 12, 2019, especially since nothing adverse regarding competence, conduct or integrity of Justices (1) Aniruddha Bose, and (2) A.S. Bopanna, has been pointed out," the Supreme Court said in a statement. Justice Bose stands at number 12 in the combined seniority list of all-India high court judges, while Justice Bopanna stands at number 36. On April 12, both judges were recommended by the Collegium for elevation to the Supreme Court after considering factors such as merit, seniority, as well as regional representation on the Supreme Court bench. The collegium, rejecting the Centre's plea, said that it was aware of the parameters while recommending the two judges. Following the procedure of seniority among judges in their respective high courts and then looking into the combined seniority on an all-India basis, it reiterated its proposal to elevate the two judges. Currently, Justice Gavai is a judge of the Bombay High Court and Justice Kant is the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. According to the Collegium recommendation published on the website, the five-member collegium headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi met on Wednesday. --IANS ss/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) France's Upper House of Parliament has endorsed a government proposal to impose tax on Internet giants aimed to garner millions of euros. During a vote late on Tuesday in the Senate, 181 senators approved the tax, while four opposed President Emmanuel Macron's executive team's initiative to tax the world's top digital companies by 3 per cent on much of their digital sales in France related to advertising, websites and the resale of private data. "The approval of digital tax is a very strong message sent by France. It's a signal of fiscal fairness and of our desire to rebuild the international taxation of the 21st century," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told France info radio on Wednesday. Dubbed GAFA, the taxation targets digital companies with global annual sales of more than 750 million euros ($837.66 million) and sales in France of at least 25 million euros. Introduced in France from January 1, 2019, this 3 per cent tax on digital gross sales would help to collect 500 million euros this year and 650 million euros by 2022. This initiative comes at a time when the government has been beset by nationwide protests against the high cost of living and economic policies perceived as favouring big business and the wealthy, but doing nothing to help the needy. Reports say the taxation was also driven by domestic budget concerns and the need to seek new sources to compensate for extra-spending on emergency measures worth 10 billion euros to address the "Yellow Vest" social uprising. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had an "informal dialogue" with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet in the Kyrgyz capital on Wednesday, the Pakistan Foreign Office said. "Today (I) met Sushma Ji. She had a complaint that we sometimes talk in a bitter manner. She brought sweets today so we could also speak sweetly," Qureshi was quoted as saying by the Foreign Office, reported Dawn.com "We made it clear to her that we want all the matters resolved through dialogue, and that Prime Minister Imran Khan had said in his very first speech that if India takes one step forward, we would take two steps forward. "Even today we are ready for a dialogue," he added. The interaction came at the end of a two-day SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting. They were initially scheduled to meet on the sideline of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September, but India had cancelled the meeting, a day after agreeing. --IANS vd/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Complying to US President Donald Trump's executive order to crack down on Chinese tech companies, software giant Microsoft has removed Huawei laptops from the store, while remaining silent on the potential Windows ban. A listing for the MateBook X Pro mysteriously disappeared over the weekend and searching for any Huawei hardware shows no results at the Microsoft Store. The software giant appears to have stopped selling Huawei's MateBook X Pro at the company's online store as well, The Verge reported on Tuesday. Microsoft's potential Windows ban could also affect Huawei's server solutions. Microsoft and Huawei both operate a hybrid cloud solution for Microsoft's Azure stack, using Microsoft-certified Huawei servers. Over the weekend, Google cut off Huawei's Android license but Microsoft stayed silent on whether it will prevent the Chinese company from obtaining Windows licenses. For now, Huawei has been granted a 90-day extension to provide software updates to Android-powered handsets and maintain "continued operation of existing networks and equipment". However, this narrow extension does not seem to apply to Windows licenses for laptops, the report added. US-based chip-makers Intel and Qualcomm would also need to follow the latest US government order. --IANS rp/mag/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Wednesday successfully placed into orbit radar imaging earth observation satellite RISAT-2B, the third in the RISAT series -- after RISAT-2 and RISAT-1. A total of about 5,000 visitors viewed the early morning launch from the viewers gallery here. The new all-weather earth observation satellite with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) will send good clarity images for use in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the country's space agency. The images captured by the satellite will also be used for surveillance purposes, though the ISRO is silent on this aspect. At 5.30 a.m., the PSLV rocket standing around 44.4 metres tall and weighing about 190 ton with a one-way ticket hurtled itself towards the skies ferrying the 615 kg RISAT-2B. With the fierce orange flame at its tail lighting up the morning skies, the rocket slowly gathered speed and went up and up enthralling the people at the rocket port while the rocket's engine noise like a rolling thunder added to the thrill. About 15 minutes into the flight the rocket ejected RISAT-2B into about 555-km orbit. Speaking about the successful satellite launch, K.Sivan, ISRO Chairman said: "I am extremely happy to announce that PSLV-C46 has successfully injected RISAT-2B in precise orbit." He said with this mission, the PSLV rocket has crossed a landmark of lofting of 50 ton since it started flying. According to Sivan, the PSLV rocket has so far put into orbit 354 satellites, including those by India, foreign countries and students. The PSLV rocket is a major foreign exchange earner for Antrix Corporation -- the commercial arm of the ISRO. The PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel. In its normal configuration, the rocket will have six strap-on motors hugging it's first stage. But the 44.4 metre tall PSLV rocket that lifted off with RISAT-2B on Wednesday was the 'core alone' variant -- without the strap-on motors. The Indian space agency has PSLV variants with two and four strap-on motors and larger PSLV-XL. Sivan said: "The rocket had a piggyback payload, the indigenously developed Vikram computer chip that will be used in future rockets." The chip was developed by Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) Chandigarh and worked perfectly, he added. According to the ISRO chairman, RISAT-2B is an advanced Earth Observation satellite with an advanced technology of 3.6 metre radial rib antenna. He said ISRO's next major mission will be Chandrayaan-2 or the second moon mission, which is expected to take place between July 9 and 16 this year, with an expected Moon landing on September 6. Following that will be the launch of a high-resolution cartography satellite and also the flying of ISRO's new rocket called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). Earlier a senior official, preferring anonymity, told IANS: "There is an increased demand for satellites from strategic sectors. About six/seven satellites are planned to be built." The choice of the rocket to be used for a mission depends on the weight of the satellite and the orbit where the satellite has to be orbited. The ISRO will be launching another radar imaging satellite RISAT-2BR1 and two more defence satellites some time in July or August with its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) --IANS vj/rtp (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iranian Foreign Minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has said that his country won't negotiate with US President Donald Trump unless Washington shows Tehran "respect" by honouring its commitments under the disputed nuclear deal. In an exclusive interview with CNN on Tuesday, Zarif warned that the US was "playing a very, very dangerous game" by boosting its military presence in the region. The Minister's remark comes after Trump in a series of tweets on Sunday asked Iran "never to threaten" the US and warned Tehran that if it wants a fight, it would be "the official end" of the Islamic nation. "Iran never negotiates with coercion. You cannot threaten any Iranian and expect them to engage. The way to do it is through respect, not through threats," the Minister said. Zarif said there "will be painful consequences if there is an escalation", but added that Iran was "not interested in escalation". Instead, he called for an immediate end to the "economic warfare" waged by the US on Iran, saying that sanctions were "depriving citizens of their means of livelihood". "All we want to do is sell our oil," Zarif said, adding that the US was "just a bully preventing people from buying our oil". He said the US sanctions, which have hit the Iranian economy hard, "amounts to terrorism" on the country's citizens. Zarif also accused Washington of walking out first on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 deal designed to limit Iran's nuclear capabilities in return for the lifting of sanctions. "We acted in good faith," Zarif told CNN of the deal, which was signed by the US, Iran, Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. "We are not willing to talk to people who have broken their promises." Iran has announced it would be partially withdrawing from the deal on the one-year anniversary of the US's departure from the accord. It gave the remaining signatories until July 7 to ease restrictions on Iran's badly hit banking and oil sectors, or face unspecified retaliation. The Minister also criticized the US for sending the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and a bomber task force to the Persian Gulf. "Having all these military assets in a small area is in of itself prone to accidents," Zarif said. "Extreme prudence is required and the US is playing a very, very dangerous game." --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, May 22 (IANS/AKI) Kidnappers have "recently" released Italian national Alessandro Sandrini, the hardline militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which largely controls the embattled northwest Syrian province of Idlib, said on Wednesday. Sandrini had been held by a gang that demanded ransom, according to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's administrative arm, the so-called 'Salvation government' said in a statement carried by the Sham news agency. For his personal safety, the 'Salvation government' had undertaken "indirect" negotiations with Sandrini's captors and has been in touch with Italian authorities to arrange his handover, the statement quoted the anti-government group's 'Deputy Interior Minister' Ali Kaddah as saying. There was no immediate confirmation by the Italian government of Sandrini's release. Sandrini, 32, who is from the northern Italian city of Folzano, vanished in October 2016 after flying to the southern Turkish city of Adana for a week's holiday. He called his mother a year later to say he had been abducted and did not know where he was or who was holding him. In subsequent, increasingly desperate phone calls, he said his abductors wanted money and begged his family to help him. In a video published by US terrorism tracking organisation SITE last July, Sandrini, clad in an orange jumpsuit and flanked by rifle-toting masked gunmen, asked the Italian government to help secure his release, saying: "They will kill me." --IANS/AKI vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, May 21 (IANS/AKI) Italian authorities have expelled an 18-year-old alleged Tunisian would-be jihadist who wanted to carry out a suicide attack, proselytised on the Internet and networked with other suspected extremists, the Interior Ministry said on Tuesday. Y.M., a resident of the northeast city of Treviso, was deported on Monday "for reasons of state security" as he tried to re-enter Italy after one of his frequent visits to Tunisia, according to the statement. Italian intelligence services began probing Y.M. after they intercepted Facebook posts in which he "expressed ideological support for Jihad and glorified 'mujahadeen' who had died in combat, as well as anti-semitism", said the statement. Y.M. also posted that he wanted to "sacrifice himself in the name of God and the Jerusalem Mosque" and prayed that Allah would allow him to wage jihad, the statement said, citing investigators. The Tunisian was also "close to other Islamic extremist suspects who were under investigation," the statement said. Y.M. was the 39th Islamic terror suspect to be deported this year and the 402nd since 2015, according to the statement. The tally of suspected Islamic extremists expelled from Italy rose from 66 in 2015 and in 2016 to 105 in 2017 and 126 in 2018, the statement noted. --IANS/AKI vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Laddoo-cake and special 'pista badam Kamal barfi' has been ordered to reach the BJP party office on Thursday as part of celebrations with the ruling party expecting a big victory in the results of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. If the BJP is able to get near the majority mark on its own and again form a party-led government, it will be a first the party's history. And its workers in the Delh unit have already started preparations after exit polls predicted its vicotry. Special laddoo-cakes and the 'pista badam Kamal (party's symbol) barfi' has already been ordered and more would be in the offing if results are asper the party's expectations. A party functionary has ordered 10 special laddoo-cakes from a shop in the Bengali market. The largest of these -- a 7-kg laddoo-cake -- will be taken to the party headquarters once the results become clear. "We have ordered a special 7-kg laddoo-cake for celebrating the party's victory tomorrow. The cake will be cut in the evening when the results will become clear," said a party functionary who did not want to be named. He said nine laddoo-cakes weighing 5 kg each have also been ordered. This laddoo-cake costs Rs 1,000 per kg. Besides this, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor in his personal capacity ordered 50 kg of special 'pista badam kamal barfi'. Every kilogram of special 'pista badam kamal barfi' costs Rs 2,000. As part of preparations, the central BJP headquarters has gateways in party colours. Flowers have also been arranged. Party spokespersons will start arriving at the party headquarters from 9 am and media cabins have been set up for interactions. Thousands of party workers are expected to throng the office if the results are favourable. Party chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also expected to visit the headquarters. Arrangements have also been made to receive people at the party's Delhi office. "Besides the party workers arriving at the party office, arrangements have also been made for party workers who will be stationed at the counting stations," a party leader said. A meeting of the office-bearers of the Delhi party unit was held on Wednesday in which tasks were assigned for transportation of party workers, arrangements for their lunch and refreshments at the party office. In Mumbai, the local party unit is making full preparations to celebrate with gigantic cakes and lakhs of laddoos, a party official said. Senior party legislator from Colaba Raj Purohit said that at least 100 kg of laddoos are being prepared for distribution to workers and members of public from each of the assembly segments in the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai. "Besides, we have ordered a massive 125-kg special cake to mark the BJP victory which will be cut by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tomorrow afternoon at the party headquarters," Purohit told IANS. A BJP legislator from the city's Mumbadevi assembly constituency personally supervised the mouthwatering laddoos that are being prepared by experts at a sweetmeat outlet in his area. "We are making a total of one-ton (1,000 kgs) of laddoos or around 100,000 pieces to be distributed among our constituency's activists and well-wishers after the victory of our candidates tomorrow," Shah told IANS. Besides, the party will make a gigantic 6x4 feet (24 sq. feet) huge cake with special ingredients and projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the future leader of not only India but the whole world. The cake will be cut by BJP city chief Ashish Shelar and actress Poonam Dhillon. Similar sweets and goodies have been ordered and are being prepared at various outlets in the city for other BJP candidates like Gopal Shetty (Mumbai North) and Poonam Mahajan (Mumbai North-Central), by activists or party leaders. Similar plans are being implemented in other cities like Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nashik and other places where the BJP expects to sweep the elections. Cashing in on the public enthusiasm over the vote-count tomorrow, a Pune eatery completed a "result-oriented competition" for its patrons with attractive freebies. Fakkad Foods proprietor Ambar Karve said that patrons were offered forms in which they had to write their own predictions on the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. These included the number of seats for BJP+NDA, Congress+allies, Maharashtra BJP+Shiv Sena, and the outcome of a few high-profile constituencies like Baramati, Nagpur Maval, etc. "Those who come close in their predictions, will be entitled to various freebies comprising complimentary meals or some extra dishes, while those who succeed to hit the bull's eye would be presented with attractive gift hampers," Karve told IANS. So far, Karve said over 2,000 enthusiasts have participated in the unique and first-of-its-kind poll prediction competition and Fakkad Foods will announce its results on May 25. --IANS rak-aks-ps/qn/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mired in several privacy scandals, Facebook must hire Microsoft President Brad Smith as its new CEO as it is right time for Mark Zuckerberg to step down, a former Facebook security chief has stressed. Speaking at the Collision Tech Conference in Toronto on Tuesday, Alex Stamos said Zuckerberg needs to give up some of his control of Facebook and hire a new CEO, reports CNN. "There is a legitimate argument that he has too much power. He needs to give up some of that power," Stamos was quoted as saying. "Facebook needs to have an internal revolution on the culture of how products are built. If I was him, I would go hire a new CEO for the company," Stamos said, adding Smith could be a good fit as an "adult who has been through this before". Stamos, who was a key figure in the fight against the spread of fake news and misinformation, quit Facebook in August last year and join Stanford University as a full-time teacher and researcher. In a recent opinion piece in The New York Times, Facebook Co-founder Chris Hughes said the government must hold Mark (Zuckerberg) accountable, adding that it is time to break up the social networking giant. Zuckerberg is also working as Chief Product Officer after the recent departure of Christopher Cox. Both Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg have said that breaking Facebook won't serve any purpose. "You could break us up, you could break other tech companies up, but you actually don't address the underlying issues people are concerned about," Sandberg told CNBC. Several US Senators have also called for breaking up the social network amid repeated data breaches and privacy violations on the platform. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Kamala Harris has stressed that authorities should take a serious look at breaking up Facebook as the social network platform is a "utility that has gone unregulated". --IANS na/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The police in Tokyo said on Wednesday that they have arrested a man in his sixties on suspicion of aiming a laser pointer at a US military transport aircraft flying close to the Yokota Air Base in the outskirts of the Japanese capital. The police said they arrested Yoshinori Shigekawa, 60, for allegedly pointing the green laser beam at a C-130J plane on a training flight at around 6.30 p.m. (local time) on February 11 as it was flying in the vicinity of the base. As a result of the incident, which can cause temporary blindness, the pilot of the plane with four personnel aboard was forced to abort the training mission, Japanese state broadcaster NHK reported. The police said they found five laser pointing devices at Shigekawa's home in Akiruno near the base and the suspect is believed to have been involved in multiple such cases over the past three years. Shigekawa admitted to first using laser pointing devices to target US military planes three years ago, with the police looking into his possible involvement in some 40 similar cases reported around the Yokota facility. --IANS soni/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Manchester United have joined the race to sign highly rated Fluminense striker Pedro, according to media reports in Brazil. The Premier League club's representatives have been in contact with Fluminense in recent days and are considering a formal bid to secure the 21-year-old during the summer transfer window, news agency XInhua quoted Globo Esporte as saying on Tuesday. However, the Red Devils reportedly face competition for Pedro's signature from a host of clubs, including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Bordeaux and Monterrey. Pedro rose to prominence last year by scoring 19 goals in 37 matches for Fluminense before suffering a serious knee injury in August that required reconstruction surgery. He returned to action last month and has since scored twice in four Serie A matches. Pedro's current contract with Fluminense expires in July 2021. --IANS aak/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be questioned by the anti-corruption body for allegedly using 20 of the 34 bulletproof cars purchased from Germany for guests of the 2016 Saarc Summit, for himself and his family, the media reported. An accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday granted permission to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to question Sharif in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore where he is serving a seven-year sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the News International reported. The NAB said 34 bulletproof vehicles were imported from Germany for diplomats attending the Saarc meet without paying custom duty on them. The 19th Saarc summit was originally planned in Islamabad from November 15-19 in 2016. It was called off after India pulled out due to terrorist attack on a army camp in Uri, blaming Pakistan for the attack. Later, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives also withdrew culminating in an indefinite postponement of the summit. The watchdog said the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader added 20 bulletproof cars in his motorcade and his daughter Maryam Nawaz also used these cars. The NAB had already questioned former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former Foreign Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad in this regard, the report said. --IANS soni/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and former minister Jaydutta Kshirsagar on Wednesday joined the Shiv Sena, saying he felt "suffocated" in the NCP. Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and other senior leaders welcomed him into the party fold by tying a red thread symbolizing 'Shiv Bandhan' and handing him a miniature party flag. Speaking on the occasion, Kshirsagar said that he felt "suffocated" in the NCP and criticized party President Sharad Pawar for the circumstances leading to his crossing over to the Shiv Sena. Thackeray said the Sena would be further strengthened in Beed and Marathwada region with the entry of a senior and experienced leader like Kshirsagar. However, the Sena chief refused to reveal details of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) dinner meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. Thackeray also refused to comment on the recent exit poll projections predicting a huge win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and NDA, nor speculated on the probable outcome as the vote count for the seven-phased elections will be taken up on Thursday. Earlier on Wednesday, Kshirsagar tendered his resignation from the NCP and also as a legislator from Beed. During the erstwhile Congress-NCP government he served as a minister handling various portfolios. However, since the past couple of years, he was upset at being 'sidelined' by his nephew Sandip Kshirsagar and Leader of Opposition (Council) Dhananjay Munde in Beed and regional He had fuelled speculation over joining the BJP after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited his home in 2018 along with Minister Pankaja Munde, the cousin of Dhananjay Munde, and had once shared a public platform with the Chief Minister. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Kshirsagar earned the NCP's ire after he openly campaigned for the BJP candidate Pritam Munde against the NCP's nominee Bajrang Sonavane, on account of intra-party political rivalry. Reacting to the development, Dhananjay Munde said that Kshirsagar's plans to quit the NCP were in the air for long, "so what is the reason for the 'muhurat' taking place today", on the eve of the vote count in the parliamentary elections. --IANS qn/mag/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Oil prices settled lower on Wednesday after report showed an unexpected build in the US crude stockpiles. The US crude inventories increased by 4.7 million barrels in the week ending May 17, the US Energy Information Administration reported. At 476.8 million barrels, the US crude oil inventories are about four per cent above the five year average for this time of year, the Xinhua news agency reported. Investors were worried that increasing US stockpiles combined with prolonged tensions between the US and its major trading partners would dampen market sentiment. The West Texas Intermediate for July delivery declined 1.71 US dollars to settle at 61.42 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for July delivery decreased 1.19 dollars to close at 70.99 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. --IANS rs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One militant was killed in a gunfight with the security forces on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district. Police sources said security forces started a cordon and search operation in Gopalpora village of Kulgam district after receiving reports about the presence of militants there. "As the cordon around the hiding militants was tightened, they fired at the security forces triggering an encounter in which one militant has been killed. "The slain militant belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) outfit. His exact identity is being established. "Operation is still going on", a police source said. As a precautionary measure authorities have suspended mobile Internet services in Kulgam district. --IANS sq/rs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police in Goa on Wednesday started a probe into the assault on a Russian woman tourist by an unknown motorcycle-borne person on May 15, even as the victim has claimed that the police refused to take serious note of the incident. Police sources here told IANS on Tuesday that the victim has been contacted and is expected to file a detailed statement soon with the Calangute police station in North Goa . "We have requested the victim to visit the police station and record a detailed statement in this regard," a senior police officer said. The incident occurred on May 15, but came to light after the victim approached a local cable news channel which, on Tuesday, uploaded a video of her assault on social media that later went viral. Speaking to IANS, the victim alleged that the incident occurred on the afternoon of May 15, when she was returning after a visit to an ATM in Arpora village, located about 10 km north of Panaji. "I was offered a lift by a motorcycle-borne person. After I rejected his offer, he stalked me for a distance and then slapped me," said the victim, who is due to leave for Russia this weekend. "I have the whole incident on video. But the police refused to even look at it. They did not take my complaint. I have been following it up for days now, but there is no complaint registered," she said. Police sources said that a non-cognisable report was filed with the Calangute police station on May 16. Safety of tourists, especially women, has been an issue of concern in Goa, one of the leading beach and nightlife tourism destinations in the country. Travel and tourism industry stakeholders in Goa have recently complained to the Tourism Minister about the slack law and order situation and the callousness of the police authorities in tackling crimes against women and tourists in the coastal state. Tourism ministry officials were not available for comment. --IANS maya/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After enthralling fans with her fashion game at the Cannes Film Festival 2019, actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas is currently in Ethiopia spending time with refugee children. Priyanka took to social media to share a series of photographs and videos of herself with the children from her philanthrophic tour as Unicef's Goodwill Ambassador in Addis Ababa. She also met Sahle-Work Zewde, the first female president of the country. The "Quantico" actress is seen interacting, dancing and playing with the children in the videos. She also highlighted the issues of poverty, sexual violence and child marriage through her posts. Sharing the story of a 15-year-old girl, Priyanka spoke about the importance of for girls. She wrote: "This is Hasina (15), she is a 7th grade student who loves to go to school. She used to live with her sister and her husband, and without her knowing, her sisters' husband was arranging her marriage to one of his friends... she was 12 at the time. "One day when the man visited her house to pester her parents to marry her, she escaped to a friend's house and the next day went to one of the community-based child's marriage prevention platforms (alone), which she had heard about at school. She asked herself, 'If she married now, would she ever go back to school again?' Hasina loves learning and wasn't willing to trade her or freedom for anything. "That gave her the courage to stand up for herself. The community, along with the authorities, stepped in and stopped the marriage. The man was charged. It's important to understand that it takes an immense amount of courage to go against these cultural norms that have existed for centuries. Hasina is a very brave girl. It was so heartening to see the elders in the community learning from the examples these young girls are setting, standing up against child marriage and female genital mutilation/cutting. gave these girls that perspective." Priyanka tried the traditional Ethiopian dance and said that she has "bonded" with the country over the joy she shared through dancing. Praising Zewde, Priyanka said: "Her fierce commitment to the empowerment and advancement of women is unprecedented. She also has a global perspective for the development of her country - Ethiopia is the second largest host country of refugees in Africa, they've taken in just under 1 million. "She is pushing for policies that provide people with access to education and other essential needs so they can improve their familial economic situation and hence the economy of Ethiopia." Last year, Priyanka visited Bangladesh to meet Rohingya children. --IANS sim/rb/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day ahead of counting of votes for the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, police on Wednesday stepped up security at the residences of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in the state capital region Amaravati. Police deployed additional personnel at the residences of Naidu, who is also the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President, and Reddy in Tadepally block of Guntur district. With mixed exit poll predictions generating political heat in the state, both parties have expressed apprehensions that the other might resort to violence during counting on Thursday. As a large number of party leaders and workers are expected to reach the offices-cum-residences of Naidu and Reddy, police have beefed up security to prevent any untoward incident. The security personnel were erecting barricades and making plans for traffic diversions. Since the capital region is surrounded by several districts, police anticipate that elected candidates and leaders could descend on the houses of their respective party chiefs. In addition to 50 policemen from Guntur district, two companies of Andhra Pradesh Special Protection Force each were deployed at the two places. Naidu already enjoys 'Z plus' category security and his security detail includes members from the elite National Security Guard (NSG) apart from Andhra Pradesh Police's Intelligence Security Wing. Reddy's security was also beefed up after the knife attack by a youth at Visakhapatnam Airport last year. Elections to the 175-member state Assembly and the state's 25 Lok Sabha seats were held on April 11. The exit polls have made mixed predictions. While some have projected victory for YSRCP, others have predicted that the TDP will retain power. This was the first full-fledged Parliament elections in Andhra Pradesh as the 2014 polls were conducted in the undivided state. Telangana came into being as a new state on June 2, 2014. While Naidu had shifted base from Hyderabad to Amaravati in 2015, Reddy and his party moved to the Andhra Pradesh capital in March this year. Confident of coming to power in the state this time, Reddy, along with his family, moved to his house at Tadepally on Wednesday. YSRCP leaders said he would remain there on the counting day and monitor the results along with top party leaders. --IANS ms/bc (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One soldier was killed and seven others were injured on Wednesday in an accident during a training event near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, a defence spokesman said. "Today in a training event accident in a forward area in Poonch, one soldier was seriously wounded and a few others suffered minor injuries," Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said. The critically injured soldier succumbed to his wounds in a hospital later. Anand however, denied that the blast was caused by an improvised explosive device. --IANS sq/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena on Wednesday extended by a month the state of Emergency that was imposed immediately after the Easter Sunday attacks that killed over 250 people and injured hundreds. Sirisena issued a proclamation saying that the emergency would continue for another 30 days, "in the interest of public security, the preservation of public order and the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community", the Daily Mirror reported. The emergency gives sweeping powers to security forces to arrest and detain suspects for long periods of time. The government initially imposed the Emergency to crack down on Islamist militants blamed for the April 21 carnage at three luxury hotels, three churches and two other locations. The killings were claimed by the Islamic State. In the aftermath, anti-Muslim violence broke out in Sri Lanka in a backlash against the attacks. Muslim-owned homes and shops as well as mosques were targeted in the riots that claimed one life. The police and the military say that a "peaceful situation was now prevailing in the country" after they arrested almost all those involved in the Easter attacks. The troops and police, however, remain on alert across the island. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India on Wednesday spoke about the Pulwama terror attack at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) here and said the subsequent terror strikes in neighbouring Sri Lanka had made it more determined to fight the scourge firmly. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, while attending the SCO Foreign Ministers's conference, said that India's wounds of the February 14 Pulwama attack were "still raw" when the ghastly terror attacks happened in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and the news from the neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly and resolutely against this menace," she said. The Pulwama terror attack was carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, whose suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy, killing 40 personnel. The SCO is an eight-member organisation comprising India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikstan and Pakistan. In her address, Swaraj stressed the need for strengthening cooperation within the SCO framework for comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. "We would be open to ideas on how we can make the work of RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) more effective in this regard," she said. Swaraj also highlighted India's commitment to the development of Afghanistan. "India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation with guaranteed gender and human rights," she said. "We also operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017. We welcome regional connectivity initiatives, which are inclusive, sustainable, transparent and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Indian Minister said. She also pointed out the importance India attached to the SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcomed an early conclusion of the draft roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group. Underlining that India was committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change, Swaraj said that she welcomed the agreement reached at COP 24 of the UNFCCC. She also batted that SCO must support the member countries' candidatures for the non-permanent membership of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the years 2021-2022 and 2027-2028. --IANS rbe/akk/arm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With a majority of exit polls predicting a victory for the Congress in Punjab in the Lok Sabha polls, sweetshop owners in the state are gearing up for celebrations on Thursday by preparing 'laddoos' for their political clients. Prominent sweetmeat outlets in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala, Jalandhar and Bathinda have been placed orders for 'motichoor laddoos' for the anticipated celebrations. "We had received an order for 10,000 'laddoos' from a prominent leader from Punjab. By late this evening we have to send them to Patiala," a prominent sweetmeat seller based here told IANS. The demand for garlands, musical bands and crackers has also shot up. Durgesh Ghai, owner of a flower shop in Chandigarh's Sector 34, said: "The demand for flowers, especially marigold, has gone up alarmingly high. Special orders have been placed both by the Congress and the BJP for bouquets and garlands." Likewise, the 'dholis' or drummers are much in demand at every celebration in Punjab. Most of the 'dholis' have been booked in advance. "We were earlier hired by the candidates during the election campaign. We are not associated with any political party. Whichever wins, we will be invited and we will perform," Ludhiana-based drummer Raja Majid told IANS. The exit polls on news channels projected victory on eight to nine seats by the state's ruling Congress, with the rest out of the total 13 parliamentary seats going to the Akali Dal-BJP combine. --IANS vg/kr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prayer meetings were held amid tight security here on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the Thoothukudi police firing in which 13 people were killed. The protesters were demanding closure of Vedanta's Sterlite copper smelter plant for causing environmental pollution. Near and dear ones remembered the victims of the firing at various events. Anti-nuclear activist S.P. Udayakumar was taken into preventive custody in the Kanyakumari district while trying to go to Thoothukudi to attend a condolence meeting. After the firing, the Tamil Nadu government ordered closure of the plant and also appointed a one-man commission, headed by retired High Court Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, to probe into the violence and the shooting. Hearing public interest litigations in August 2018, the Madras High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the firing. --IANS vj/rtp/pcj (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The stage is set for counting of votes in Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha elections on Thursday amid tight security arrangements. With both Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and YSR Congress Party expressing apprehension that other might resort to violence, elaborate security arrangements were made at the counting centres across the state. Election Commission of India observer (law and order) K. K. Sharma along with Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Gopala Krishna Dwivedi reviewed the security arrangements on Wednesday About 25,000 policemen from state force were deployed as part of the massive security arrangements. Election officials said 35 companies of central paramilitary forces were also deployed while the Centre was sending another 10 companies. The Election Commission has ordered closure of liquor shops and bars across the state in view of the counting. The CEO said the counting process would begin at 8 a.m. with the counting of postal and service votes. The counting of votes stored in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be taken up at 8.30. In case of technical snags in EVMs, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips will be counted. He expects that trends would be available by noon. The results, however, will be declared after random counting of VVPAT slips from five machines in each Assembly segment. The poll officials have arranged 350 counting halls at 36 places across the state. There will be an observer each for Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies. Elections to 175-member state Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats were held in a single phase on April 11. About 80 percent of 3.93 crore voters had cast their votes, deciding the fortunes of 319 candidates for Lok Sabha seats and 2,118 candidates for Assembly seats. Chief Minister and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu, YSRCP leader Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Jana Sena president and actor Pawan Kalyan, Naidu's son Nara Lokesh, brother-in-law and actor N. Balakrishna were among the prominent candidates in Assembly polls. The TDP is confident of retaining power while YSRCP is equally sure of wresting it. Mixed predictions by the exit polls have added to the political heat in the state. --IANS ms/prs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump's administration is considering blacklisting a Chinese video surveillance giants from buying American technology, in a latest attempt to counter Beijings global economic ambitions, a media report said. The move would effectively place the company, Hikvision, on a US blacklist. It would mark the first time the Trump administration punished a Chinese company for its role in the surveillance and mass detention of the Uyghur Muslim ethnic minority, informed sources told The New York Times on Tuesday. The development is also likely to inflame the tensions that have escalated in President Trump's renewed trade war with Chinese leaders. Trump, in the span of two weeks, has raised tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods, threatened to tax all imports and taken steps to cripple the Chinese telecom equipment giant Huawei. China has promised to retaliate against American industries. Hikvision is one of the world's largest manufacturers of video surveillance products and is central to China's ambitions to be the top global exporter of surveillance systems. The company has said that its products enable their clients to track people around the country by their facial features, body characteristics or gait, or to monitor activity considered unusual by officials, such as people suddenly running or crowds gathering. The Commerce Department might require that American companies obtain government approval to supply components to Hikvision, limiting the company's access to technology that helps power its equipment. Administration officials could make a final decision in the coming weeks, the sources said. The potential crackdown stems from the Trump administration's belief that China poses an economic, technological and geopolitical threat that cannot be left unchecked. China has used surveillance technology, including facial recognition systems and closed-circuit television cameras, to target the Turkic-speaking Uyghurs, who have accused the Chinese government of discriminating against their culture and religion, The New York Times reported. The country has exported this technology to nations that seek closer surveillance of their citizens, including Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 53-year-old millionaire trader could get five-year jail term after pleading guilty to engaging in sex acts with a 15-year-old girl, once even putting his private plane in autopilot mode for the purpose. Stephen Bradley Mell, 53, of Bedminster, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to federal charges of engaging in interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct and receiving child pornography in December 2018 and is now due for sentencing on Tuesday. Mell, a father-of-three who had a brokerage firm, was accused of committing sex acts with a 15-year-old girl whose mother had approached him so that he could give her flying lessons, the Daily Mail reported. Ahead of his sentencing, Mell's legal team has argued he is a 'humble man' who was on 'multiple anti-depressants' after falling into 'a spiral of depression' brought on by survivors' guilt over giving up his seat on a fatal helicopter trip with friends in 2012. Mell also faces sentencing in July on a state charge related to sexual activity with the teen, which he pleaded guilty to earlier this month. Mell started his own charity, Air LifeLine, which flew children with medical needs anywhere in the US for treatment. --IANS rs (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 US State Department has issued a warning to the Syrian government, saying Washington was closely looking into allegations that Bashar al-Assad's troops have used chemical weapons in recent days. "Unfortunately we continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19," CNN quoted State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus as saying in a statement on Tuesday. "We are still gathering information on this incident but we repeat our warning that if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons, the US and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately," she added. President Donald Trump's administration had ordered retaliatory strikes against Syrian regime targets in 2017 and 2018 after reports of chemical weapons attacks by Assad's forces. Earlier on Tuesday the Russia Ministry of Defence accused Syrian rebels, including "specialists who have been trained in Raqqa city under the guidance of US intelligence officers", of planning a "false flag" chemical weapons attack to frame the Syrian regime in Idlib. "The terrorists operating in the Idlib de-escalation zone have a significant amount of toxic substances, which the militants equip ammunition for the performances of so called use of chemical weapons against the civilian population by the government troops." the Russian statement said. Responding to the Russian allegations, Ortagus said: "Russia's recent allegations against the White Helmets and others are part of a continuing disinformation campaign by the Assad regime and Russia to create the false narrative that others are to blame for chemical weapons attacks that the Assad regime itself is conducting. "Russia and the Assad regime have made these false allegations as a pretext in advance of the Assad regime's own barbaric chemical weapons attacks. The facts, however, are clear: the Assad regime itself has conducted almost all verified chemical weapons attacks -- a conclusion the UN has reached over and over again." Thousands of anti-government forces remain in Idlib, Syria, where regime troops backed by Russian airstrikes have ramped up attacks in recent days, CNN reported. US officials have acknowledged that many of the remaining rebel groups in the area have links to extremist groups such as the local Al Qaeda affiliate, but officials are also wary of the humanitarian fallout that will result from large-scale regime attacks, given the large presence of civilians. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat's wife Sunita is again at the centre of a raging controversy in Uttarakhand -- this time for purchasing a piece of land at a prime tourist location here. Sunita, a government teacher, had faced flak for remaining posted in Dehradun for more than two decades owing to the alleged political influence of her husband last year. But this time, Congress state chief Pritam Singh and party MLA Karan Mehra have claimed that Sunita allegedly purchased 16 bhigas of land at Suryadhar lake, a new tourist site being developed by the state government in Dehradun district. "On one hand, the government is developing the Suryadhar lake area by spending Rs 70 crore and on the other hand, Sunita, who is wife of the Chief Minister, purchased a piece of land in partnership with wife of a close friend of the Chief Minister at a throw away price," claimed Singh. "Since the government is developing the site, the market price of the land purchased by Sunita also increased many times," he said. In this regard, Singh and Mehra claimed that the Chief Minister was directly involved in this land-purchase scam with his friend Sanjay Gupta, whose wife purchased this land in 2017 jointly with Sunita. "The registry of this land was done on July 31, 2017," they alleged. The two leaders also distributed the copies of the registries of this piece of land to a section of the media. The leaders also demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Minister on the issue and said the government must set up a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in consultation with the High Court. The two leaders also mocked at the Chief Minister's zero tolerance policy against corruption. "There is no zero tolerance when it comes to corruption at home," Singh said. Meanwhile, state BJP spokesman Munna Singh Chauhan has denied all the charges levelled against the Chief Minister and said if these charges are proved right, then he along with Rawat will resign immediately. "I am challenging the Congress leaders to prove these charges. If there is any truth in these charges, we both (Chauhan and CM) will not wait for a second to resign." However, Chauhan admitted that the two women had purchased some land at Chaimasari area which is 25 km away from Suryadhar area. Last year, Uttara Bahuguna, also a government teacher, had raised the issue that she was not transferred to Dehradun even after working in Uttarkashi for more than two decades in front of the Chief Minister Rawat at a 'janata durbar'. But later, she entered into a verbal duel with the Chief Minister and was placed under suspension. Later, an RTI activist told the media that Sunita was posted in Dehradun for over two decades while Bahuguna was not transferred to the state capital even after her repeated requests. --IANS str/pg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister and BJP candidate from Amritsar Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday expressed concerns over the Opposition questioning the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), saying this was for the first time that a government has gone to the people on a positive agenda. "Why blame the EVMs," Puri said in a tweet. "I have all along said that it is for the first time that a government has gone to the people on a positive agenda. It asked for votes for what it has done for the people. This is a resounding pro incumbency vote," he added. Taking a jibe at the Opposition, mainly the Congress, he said: "However, EVMs were first used in an Indian General Election in 2004. We all know who won." --IANS vg/pg/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is preparing for a major cabinet reshuffle -- its first since its formation in March 2017. There are 46 members in the Yogi Adityanath government, which leaves a vacancy of 14 members. If the four UP Ministers, who are contesting the Lok Sabha elections get elected, the vacancies will increase to 18. The Chief Minister, when asked about the possibility of a cabinet reshuffle that was already long due, said, "Let the elections get over first." According to sources, the performance of the BJP in constituencies of Ministers will be a major issue in the reshuffle. "In constituencies where the party has under-performed, the concerned Ministers may be dropped. The Chief Minister has regularly been assessing the performance of Ministers in their respective department and this will be another factor. "A greater representation is expected for those sections of society that have remained neglected till now," said a party functionary. The BJP will soon start gearing up for the 2022 Assembly elections. "We will be working on the premise that the SP-BSP-RLD alliance will continue till 2022 and the Congress will also emerge stronger in the state by then. The BJP will have to double its strength to meet these challenges," the functionary said. Sources said that a better coordination between the government and the party in Uttar Pradesh will also be worked out. Party leaders have often complained of a lack of coordination with the government. The Yogi government will also opt for a major bureaucratic reshuffle, both, in the IAS and IPS cadres. Those officers, against whom there have been complaints of a partisan attitude during elections, will be shunted out. The performance of various departments that had a direct bearing on elections, like the Sugar Industry and Cane Development Department and Food And Civil Supplies Department, will also be under the scanner. In the Police Department, a major reshuffle at the district levels will be undertaken, following complaints of candidates/legislators against certain police officials in their constituencies. An official in the Chief Minister's Secretariat said that Yogi Adityanath wanted to make the entire system more sensitive and responsive. The Chief Minister wants that when incidents like train mishaps or road and boat accidents take place, the initiative for relief and rescue measures should be taken without waiting for directives from the top. "Yogi Adityanath in now fully aware of the problems, he knows the behaviour of officers and their performance. He cannot be misled into doing something that is not right. In the next two years, you will see him as a performer," the official said. --IANS amita/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By the time you start reading this column, the actual final results of the Lok Sabha elections may not yet be fully out. Exit polls are loud and clear (perhaps more loud than clear) in terms of which way people have chosen. All exit poll outcomes (barring two) have returned a sweeping runaway victory for the NDA and a rout for the UPA. The exit poll results have led to extensive airing of firm views on the real deal with Indias politics. Even a seasoned poll pundit like Yogendra Yadav has said the Congress party must die for a change in the political situation. Despite being a ... While Prime Minister Narendra Modi went bragging about the Balakot bombing by the Indian Air Force as a muscular response to the Pulwama massacre, he kept under wrap a very tragic incident of our own surface-to-air missile downing an IAF Mi-17 helicopter on February 27. Such an incident, euphemistically called a friendly fire, killed seven IAF personnel and a civilian and yet there was not a word of remorse from the PM during his campaign. It is obvious that admission of the incident would have embarrassed his government. Both the PM as well as the defence minister ... Eighteen people, including 13 women dancers, were arrested from a bar in Palghar district of Maharashtra for allegedly indulging in obscenity, police said on Wednesday. Acting on a complaint, sleuths of the local crime branch raided the bar located in Vasai area on Tuesday and arrested its manager, two waiters and as many customers, a police spokesman said. Besides, 13 women were also nabbed for allegedly performing obscene acts, he said. Those arrested were booked under various Indian Penal Code sections, including 294 (indulging in obscene acts and songs), and provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons were killed when their motorcycle was hit by an SUV having a Lok Sabha entry pass sticker, in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district on Wednesday morning, police said. The incident occurred on the Delhi-Lucknow highway at Lalpur crossing under Izzatngar police station area and the four-wheeler was part of a convoy heading towards the state capital, they said, Superintendent of Police (SP) Abhinanadan Singh said. According to eyewitnesses, after the incident the driver of the SUV boarded another vehicle in the convoy and left, he said, adding the deceased have been identified as Ratnesh Kumar (22) and Chandrapal Tewari (25), and further probe is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two workers died after apparently inhaling toxic gas when they entered a tank of a flour mill in northwest Delhi, police said on Wednesday. The fire department was alerted about a gas leakage in Keshav Puram area around 9.20 pm on Tuesday and six fire tenders rushed to the spot. Two persons were found unconscious and the rescue operation lasted for almost five hours, officials said. The duo were rushed to a hospital where they were declared dead. The deceased have been identified as Bebal Khan, 35, and Mobin Khan, 30, residents of Jaipur, the police said. The two workers had entered a tank used in the mill to clean it. Doctors attributed the cause of death is asphyxiation, a senior police officer said. The owner of the mill, Paras, and supervisor Anoop have been arrested. A case under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) has been registered, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northwest) Vijayanta Arya. The post-mortem of the bodies have been conducted and the police are trying to ascertain the nature of the gas, the officer added. Earlier this month, two contractual workers died and three others were hospitalised after apparently inhaling toxic gas when they entered a septic tank at a house in Rohini's Bhagya Vihar area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China's three biggest airlines, which grounded 96 Max 737 Boeing aircraft after the Addis Ababa crash in March, formally demanded compensation on Wednesday from the Boeing Company over the long-period grounding of their aircraft. Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines have also sought pay-outs due to delayed delivery of previously ordered new aircraft from the America-based manufacturer of commercial jetliners. China Southern is Asia's largest carrier by fleet size, China Eastern is the country's number two, while Air China is the state flag carrier. According to Boeing estimates, Chinese carriers will buy 7,700 jetliners over the next two decades. The Chinese government ensures placing orders between Boeing and Airbus in order to maintain competition and hold down prices. The grounding of 8 planes has resulted in great losses for the company, and the losses are still expanding, the China Eastern Airlines noted. The Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines said it had suspended commercial flights of 24 737 Max aircraft since March 11 and requested a negotiation with Boeing over the compensation plan as soon as possible. China's carriers own a total of 96 737 Max 8 planes, with 14 belonging to the China Eastern Airlines and 15 to Air China, state-run Xinhua agency said, citing data from the Administration of China (CAAC). Last month, China was invited by the US Federal Aviation Administration to review the safety of the aircraft. "To resume operation of 737 Max 8 jetliners, we have to ensure the absolute safety of the planes," said Xu Chaoqun, an official with the CAAC. China was the first to halt the commercial operations of all 8 airplanes after two fatal crashes. On March 10, a 737 Max jetliner of Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board, including 8 Chinese. It was the second crash of the new aircraft after one operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed in October last year, triggering global scrutiny and bans on operating Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Five RSS workers were sentenced to life imprisonment by a local court Wednesday in a case related to the murder of a CPI(M) activist here in 2006. Additional Sessions Judge R L Byju convicted Shankaran Master (48), his brother Manoharan (42), Vijesh (38), Prakashan (48) and Kavyesh (40) of murder, rioting and other offences under the Indian Penal Code. Awarding rigorous life imprisonment to the five accused, the judge also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on them. The court acquitted 11 other accused, including RSS worker Valsan Thillenkeri. According to the prosecution, a group of men fatally attacked CPIM activist K K Yakub with bombs on June 13, 2006, due to political rivalry. In all, 16 RSS-BJP activists had been arraigned as accused in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 52-year-old man running a charitable institution in Mumbai allegedly raped a Brazilian woman who came here to study as part of a youth exchange programme, police said on Wednesday. The accused, Padmakar Nandekar, has been arrested for the alleged incident that took place last month but came to light on Monday when the 19-year-old woman filed a rape complaint against him, a police official said. The woman came to India a few months back and was staying here with Nandekar, who runs a charitable organisation and is also chairman of a residents' association in Cuffe Parade area of south Mumbai, he said. According to the woman, on April 15, Nandekar invited her for dinner at a hotel, where he allegedly spiked her drink following which she felt dizzy and went to a room there with him, the official said. Next morning, the woman realised she was allegedly raped and then went to stay at her local guardian's place in suburban Bandra without revealing the incident to anyone, he said. She informed her guardian about the incident recently following which both of them went to the Cuffe Parade police station on Monday and lodged the complaint, the official said. Nandekar was subsequently arrested from his residence on Monday night and booked under relevant Indian Penal Code sections for rape, he said. He was on Tuesday produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till May 24, he said, adding a probe was underway in the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Turkish court has handed multiple jail terms for editors and journalists from the now defunct pro-Kurd daily Ozgur Gundem on charges of spreading "terrorist propaganda". Seven people, including the newspaper's editors-in-chief Eren Keskin and Huseyin Aykol, were given sentences ranging from 15 to 45 months in prison, the paper said on its Twitter account. A total of 24 people from the newspaper appeared for Tuesday's hearing, but only seven were convicted of "disseminating terrorist propaganda," according to the P24 press freedom website. The newspaper was accused of running propaganda in favour of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984. It was permanently shut in August 2016 following an attempted coup by opponents of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "I don't believe I have committed a crime. I don't believe expression of a thought is a crime. I request my acquittal," Keskin told the court. At least 146 journalists are currently imprisoned in Turkey, according to P24, most detained under the state of emergency imposed after the attempted coup. Turkey is ranked 157th in the world for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders, which says the government has increasingly seized control of media outlets and is the world's biggest jailer of professional journalists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Air strikes by Damascus or its ally Moscow killed 12 civilians in a market in Syria's Idlib province, a monitor said Wednesday, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwestern region. Another 18 people were wounded when the warplanes hit the jihadist-held town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in the north of neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday against pro-government forces in the town of Kafr Nabuda. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 52 -- 29 troops and militia and 23 jihadists, the Observatory said. It said that the jihadists had retaken most of the town from government forces who recaptured it on May 8. The jihadist-dominated Idlib region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the regime and its Russian ally have escalated their bombardment of it in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. A jihadist alliance led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region which threatened humanitarian disaster for its three million residents. President Bashar al-Assad's government has renewed its bombardment of the region since HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks as Turkey proved unable to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. The Observatory says more than 180 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30, and the United Nations has said tens of thousands have fled their homes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Budget carrier AirAsia India is looking to double its fleet in the next 12-15 months as well as launch international operations by October, a senior official said. The Bengaluru-headquartered airline -- a joint venture between Tatas and Malaysia's AirAsia Berhad -- is eligible to fly overseas. Currently, it has a fleet of 21 A 320 planes. "We are planning to double our capacity (fleet size) in the next 12-15 months, beginning May this year. We are planning to induct some fuel-efficient A320 neo planes as well in our fleet " the official told PTI. AirAsia India, which started operations on June 12 2014, had a market share of 6.2 per cent of the domestic traffic in April. As part of expansion plans, AirAsia India is likely to launch international services by September-October with flights to destinations in South East Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand. "After South East Asia, we plan to expand our operations to destinations such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in the SAARC region and also to Japan, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region," the official said. SAARC is South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. "We are eligible to fly on overseas routes both by the earlier rules as well as the existing ones. We applied to the civil aviation ministry in January for approval, which we expect to receive after the new government is in place," the official said. Under the existing norms, airlines should have at least 20 aircraft to start international routes against the earlier one of having 20 planes and minimum five years of domestic operations. After receiving its 21st plane this week, the airline's chief operating officer Sanjay Kumar said AirAsia India was focusing on strengthening its presence in tier-I and tier-II cities. The official ruled out plans to induct long range A321 neo planes in its fleet. In 2016, AirAsia India's parent company AirAsia Berhad had signed a firm order for 100 A 321 neo planes worth USD 12.6 billion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With opposition parties expressing doubts over the security of EVMs, the Election Commission officials said all arrangements have been made for smooth counting of votes on Thursday for 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Security personnel have been deployed in large numbers across the state for the counting process, which will start at 8 am, with entry of authorised people inside the counting centres being allowed only on valid passes, said election officials. Extra precaution is being taken in about a dozen sensitive districts and prohibitory orders have been imposed, sources said, adding the EC has already banned victory processions and warned that no laxity in compliance of orders would be tolerated. A three-tier security system has been put in place at the counting centres all over the state with deployment of sufficient number of personnel from paramilitary forces and state police to ensure smooth conduct of counting and strict compliance of law and order. Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) L Venkateshwarlu said all arrangements for smooth counting have been completed with proper training to the officials and staff on counting duty. "Orders have also been issued to them to strictly follow the directives for the counting process," the CEO said. Though trends will be available at regular intervals during the counting, results will be declared only after approval from the Election Commission, he said. "The announcement of results this time could take a little longer with five booths in each assembly segment of the Lok Sabha constituency to be cross-examined with VVPAT slips," he said. Polling for the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh were held in seven phases with around 58 per cent of the total 14.76 crore voters exercising their franchise. Other than EVM glitches at certain places, the polling in the state was peaceful. Opposition parties, however, have expressed doubts over the security of EVMs kept in strong rooms in different constituencies and accused the district administration of favouring the ruling party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Union ministers and a former chief minister are among the 223 Lok Sabha poll candidates in Haryana whose fate would be known on Thursday when counting of votes gets underway at 90 centres spread over 30 locations in the state. Polling in the 10 parliamentary constituencies in Haryana was held in the sixth phase on May 12 in which over 70 per cent of the 1.80 crore people cast their votes. Haryana's Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Inder Jeet Wednesday said, "All arrangements, including those pertaining to security, have been put in place. The process of counting of votes will begin at 8 am on May 23." Additional Director General of Police (law and order) Navdeep Singh Virk said a three-layered security cover has been put in place at the counting centres. Security has been tightened at strong rooms housing the EVMs to ensure peaceful counting of votes, he said. With the voter-verifiable paper audit trail (VVPATs) to be counted in five polling booths picked at random from each of the 90 assembly segments of Haryana, the announcement of results for the 10 Lok Sabha seats is likely to be delayed. "VVPAT paper slips of five polling booths of each assembly segment will be counted and we have made arrangements for that," Inder Jeet said. In an official statement, Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Rajeev Ranjan said that counting of VVPAT paper slips will be carried out in presence of an observer and returning officer. Besides, the counting of votes on EVMs, the votes of defence personnel cast through electronically transmitted postal ballot system (ETPBS) are also likely to take some time and the final results for the 10 seats may be known only by late evening or could even stretch to midnight or beyond, a poll official said. The prominent candidates whose fate will be known include Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh, Krishan Pal Gurjar and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Union minister Birender Singh's son Brijendra Singh (BJP) and former chief minister Bhajan Lal's grandson Bhavya Bishnoi (Congress), both political greenhorns, contested from the Hisar Lok Sabha seat, where they faced sitting MP and leader of newly floated JJP Dushyant Chautala, the grandson of former chief minister O P Chautala. Former Union minister Kumari Selja and state Congress chief Ashok Tanwar were in fray from Ambala and Sirsa, respectively. Shruti Choudhary, former MP and grand daughter of ex-chief minister Bansi Lal contested from Bhiwani Mahendergarh seat. During the hustings, the Congress targeted the BJP government at the Centre over "failed" promises and alleged corruption in the Rafale fighter jet deal, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders talked about the alleged land scams when the Congress was in power, the issue of national security and brought up the 1984-anti-Sikh riots issue. The violent quota agitation of 2016 also figured during campaigning. Among the major parties in the contest are the ruling BJP, the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal, all of whom fought the 10 seats independently. The Jannayak Janata Party, formed after split in the INLD six months ago, contested on seven seats while its ally AAP fought in the other three seats. In the 2014 parliamentary polls, the BJP had contested eight seats and won seven. Its then ally, the Haryana Janhit Congress, had fought on two seats, losing both. The INLD won two seats and the Congress could retain only Rohtak seat last time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The American Center here will host a day-long open house session on Saturday to showcase its range of programmes and how it spurs innovation to new and long-time visitors, officials said. The American Center Mela will run from 10 am to 5:30 pm and is free to the public, the US Embassy here said in a statement. The Center is welcoming visitors this Saturday for an open house that will showcase the range of programs and services it offers. The goal of the event is to present for both new and longtime visitors how the Center enlightens, enriches, and spurs innovation, it said. "Many people think of the American Center as primarily a library, but it has really expanded into something much more than that," said Sarah Ziebell, the US Embassy's Regional Public Engagement Specialist. The American Center is located on Kasturba Gandhi Marg near Connaught Place. "The American Center that people fell in love with years ago very much remains, but with an added focus on innovation and technology, among other things, it now offers more resources and programming that benefit an even larger segment of the local community. We're excited to showcase it and think there is something for everyone here," the embassy said. In line with a greater emphasis on promoting innovation, the American Center with its programming partner MakersBox during the open house will feature an exposition on 'makerspaces' -- collaborative work spaces that use both high tech and no-tech tools and items to encourage creativity, team-based problem solving, and critical thinking, the statement said. The Center is also aiming to provide more hands-on learning opportunities, highlighted by this weekend's 'Internet of Things Hackathon', which will challenge 20 young programmers to experiment with the next-generation technologies of smart homes in order to build solutions to common problems. Visitors will also have the chance to see Nexus, a programme emblematic of the American Center's drive towards more practical training. "The two-year old Nexus Start-up Hub is an entrepreneurship incubator that has provided free-of-cost training and development to 72 Indian and South Asian start-ups, which have gone on to raise USD 4.4 million in outside funding and close over 25 deals with prominent US and Indian companies," the statement said. "It is a 10-week programme that covers the basics of what a start-up needs to know in order to be sustainable," said Nexus Director Erik Azulay. "We cover marketing, procuring financing, intellectual property, and everything in between." The American Center's expansion is an addition to its traditional offerings. The library a mainstay since the Center's inception in 1951 continues to offer a wide selection of books, periodicals, and films, as well as access to countless online resources. Cultural programmes from photo exhibits to 'Friday Flicks' movie screenings are a weekly fixture on the calendar of events. The Center's expanded presentation spaces frequently host US diplomats and other experts for talks on a range of topics. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Chinese national was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly pushing a Pakistani worker into a burning furnace in Punjab province for failing to comprehend his instructions, triggering protests by co-workers, a media report said. The incident occurred at a factory in Faisalabad's Sahianwala Industrial Estate, Express reported. The labourer was pushed into the furnace by the Chinese supervisor of the labour force. The foreigner reportedly lost his cool after the worker failed to comprehend his instructions, the report said. The injured employee was shifted to a nearby hospital for medical aid. Police arrested the accused and initiated an investigation. Central Police Officer Azhar Ikram said the case will be dealt with according to law. "The investigation is being conducted by SHO and DSP-level officers," he said. A protest was launched by co-workers shortly after the incident, the report said. The incident comes amid a controversy over alleged trafficking of Pakistani girls to China by some Chinese nationals who forced them into prostitution and illegal organ trade. Nearly a dozen Chinese nationals have been arrested during a crackdown launched across Punjab, including Lahore. According to the Federal Investigation Agency, some Chinese men were involved in the practice of trafficking Pakistani girls in the guise of marriage, forcing them into prostitution later. The Chinese Embassy in Islamabad has said that China's Ministry of Public Security has sent a task force to Pakistan to carry out law enforcement cooperation with the Pakistani side. "If any organization or individual commits a crime in Pakistan under the banner of the cross-border marriage, China supports the Pakistani side to crack down on it according to Pakistani laws," the embassy said in a recent statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 26 people were killed on Tuesday and many were wounded when an armed group attacked two villages in northwestern Central African Republic, the UN's peacekeeping mission said. The massacre took place in the villages of Koundjili and Djoumjoum, Mankeur Ndiaye, head of MINUSCA, said in a tweet on Wednesday. The slaughter was the biggest single loss of life since the government and 14 militias signed a deal in February aimed at restoring peace to one of Africa's most troubled countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP general secretary Ram Madhav Wednesday said Article 370 is the greatest "impediment" in the "emotional integration" of Kashmir with the rest of India. Underlining that the Kashmir issue should not be seen in isolation, he said, "Jammu and Ladakh have been sacrificial lambs in the process of handling the situation in Kashmir." Madhav, who is in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, was speaking at the launch of a book titled 'J&K Invisible Faultlines' written by journalist Sandhya Jain. He said those who have pro-India sentiment in the Valley need to be protected. "In any such region with separatism and anti-nationalism, those who stand for India, there has to be positive bias for them... We cannot treat pro-India and pro-separatists equally. Secular neutrality does not work. One nationalist dying is one pro-India citizen less, we cannot afford it," he said. Referring to his interaction with Jammu and Kashmir's former governor Jagmohan, the BJP leader said, "Jagmohan told me that an average Kashmiri is like you and me; but he needs confidence that he will not be killed if he holds up the Indian flag. "The duty of the state is to ensure that everybody holding Indian flag is protected," he said. Madhav also stressed the need to have some ground rules for handling the Kashmir issue. "Kashmir hamara hai to Kashmiri bhi hamare hain (Kashmir is ours so are Kashmiris)... you do not shout that all Kashmiris are anti-nationals, that is not the realty," he said. Elaborating further, the BJP general secretary said there could be people who are misguided or are terrorists or extremists, but one needs to look at them as 'one of us' who should be brought into the mainstream. He said Kashmir became an integral part of India on the day instrument of accession was signed, and not because of Article 370. "Article 370 is not the reason for Kashmir joining India. This myth that certain leaders in Kashmir want to perpetuate in this country is the biggest fallacy. If anything, Article 370 is the greatest impediment in the greatest emotional integration of Kashmiris with the rest of India," Madhav added. Article 370 of the Indian constitution gives autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Arunachal Pradesh unit of National People's Party (NPP) on Wednesday urged the state and the central governments to apprehend the insurgents behind the killing of MLA Tirong Aboh and 10 others. Suspected NSCN militants on Tuesday gunned down Aboh, also an NPP assembly poll candidate, and 10 others, including his son and two security personnel, in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh. The NPP, which called an emergency state executive meeting, appealed to the investigating teams to trace "political leaders of the district, who are involved with the militant groups responsible for killing Aboh". Aboh, 41, was seeking re-election from the Khonsa West constituency. "This is the first-ever incident in which an insurgent group ambushed and killed a contested candidate in the state," said Gicho Kabak, the party's state unit president. It also urged the state government to provide adequate security to NPP candidates and party leaders. Meanwhile, a massive combing operation was launched by security forces to trace the suspected NSCN militants, an official said on Wednesday. The Army, the Assam Rifles and the state police have launched the operation to nab the perpetrators involved in the crime, Tirap Deputy Commissioner P N Thungon said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Advertising sector watchdog Advertising Standard Council of (ASCI) upheld complaints against 229 misleading advertisements in March this year, including those of NIIT, Amul, Colgate, and The examined complaints against 344 advertisements, of which 74 advertisers ensured prompt corrective action, a statement said. The Consumer Complaints Council (CCC) of the upheld complaints against 229 ads out of 270 evaluated by them. Of the 229 misleading ads, a maximum 123 belonged to the healthcare sector, followed by education sector (83), and beverages sector (7) and personal care (2). While, 14 ads were from the others category. Over 100 ads from the seen in potential violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (DMR) Regulations. Of the total 187 ads under the ASCI's suo-motu surveillance, 70 were informally resolved wherein the advertisers promptly confirmed that the ads were being withdrawn immediately. While complaints against the remaining 117 ads were upheld, of which 79 belonged to the education sector, 30 to the healthcare sector, 4 to the and beverages sector and 4 to the others category. The upheld the NIIT's advertisement claim of '5,000 assured jobs' as it was misleading by exaggeration, ambiguity and implication and since the students were given a provisional offer, an assured job could not be promised to the students. It also noted that the claim, '50,000 students placed' was not substantiated with authentic supporting data such as detailed list of students who have been placed through their institute in the sector, contact details of students for verification, enrolment forms and appointment letters received by the students, nor any independent audit or verification certificate. The regulator pulled up Amul's Guajarati ad of 'only ghee means a promise of purity' and 'only Ghee is 100 per cent pure, is a promise of 36 lakhs farmers', as misleading by implication and stating that only is 100 per cent pure and implying that other ghee brands are not, were not substantiated with comparative data of the advertiser's product and other ghee products. It found Colgate's TV and YouTube advertisements claim misleading and found the visual representation of numerical equivalence of calcium in both milk and the toothpaste and the comparison of action of it with that of milk was considered to be incorrect. The ASCI also pulled up the advertiser contravening the ASCI guidelines for disclaimers in advertising and said the claim was considered to be misleading by omission and implication as it distorts facts, exploits consumers' lack of knowledge and is likely to lead to grave or widespread disappointment. It upheld complaints against dvertisement claim, 'Tata Nexon India's safest car. Going is not safe for your family' as it was not factual and was not substantiated, and there is likelihood of the consumer being misled as a result of comparison. "The reference made to 'Swift' in the caption, 'Going is not safe for your family', when seen in conjunction with the picture of Maruti car, unfairly denigrated another vehicle in the four wheeler category directly. The claim is misleading by exaggeration and implication," it noted. Similarly, it pulled up Maruti Suzuki's ad 'enjoy the month of March with exciting offers from Maruti Suzuki', and 'bigger savings' showing images of various models of with their prices, were not substantiated with any supporting verifiable data. It also observed that the disclaimer stating that the offer was on select car models was not substantiated with a detailed list of the models on which discount was available and evidence of customers who had availed the said offer was not provided and found that the claim offer was misleading by exaggeration and also contravened ASCI guidelines for disclaimers in advertising. The ASCI also found Vodafone's Supernet 4G ad claim, 'adding a tower every hour in crowded places' as misleading by exaggeration as it was not substantiated with any verifiable data of the hourly roll-out of the towers/sites in crowded places, or through an independent third party validation. In a suspected case of espionage, there was an attempted break-in on Sunday at the Indian Air Force's office which is overseeing production of 36 fighter jets for India, military sources said. A group of unidentified persons broke into the office of the IAF's project management team in the suburbs of and local police are probing whether the attempt was to steal classified data relating to the "As per initial assessment, no data or hardware have been stolen. The local police are investigating the incident," said a source. The sources said the IAF has briefed the defence ministry about the incident. The IAF's office of project management is located at the complex of Dassault Aviation, the makers of the Rafale jets. There was no official reaction from either the defence ministry or the IAF about the incident. The IAF project management team is headed by a Group Captain and it comprises two fighter pilots, one logistics officer and a number of weapons experts and engineers. The team is coordinating with Dassault on manufacture of Rafale jets as well as on weapons package onboard of the had signed a inter-governmental deal in September 2016 with for procuring 36 Rafale jets at a cost of Rs 58,000 crore. The first Rafale is scheduled to be delivered in September this year. In a suspected case of espionage, there was an attempted break-in on Sunday at the Indian Air Force's Paris office which is overseeing procurement of 36 Rafale fighter jets for India, military sources said. A group of unidentified persons broke into the office of the IAF's Rafale project management team in the suburbs of Paris and local police are probing whether the attempt was to steal classified data relating to the aircraft, they said. "As per initial assessment, no data or hardware have been stolen. The local police are investigating the incident," said a source. The sources said the IAF has briefed the defence ministry about the incident and that the Indian mission in Paris has been in touch with French authorities. The IAF's office of Rafale project management is located at the complex of Dassault Aviation, the makers of the Rafale jets. There was no official reaction from either the defence ministry or the IAF about the incident. Sources said stealing of any data relating to the weapons package or avionics of the Rafale jets may have serious implications. The IAF project management team is headed by an IAF Group Captain and it comprises two fighter pilots, one logistics officer and a number of weapons experts and engineers. The team is coordinating with Dassault Aviation on manufacture of Rafale jets as well as on weapons package onboard the aircraft. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced the procurement of a batch of 36 Rafale jets after talks with the then French President Francois Hollande on April 10, 2015 in Paris. The final deal, worth Rs 56,000 crore, was sealed on September 23, 2016. The Congress has been alleging massive irregularities in the deal and has been targeting the government over selection of Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Defence as an offset partner for Dassault Aviation. The government has rejected the allegations. The first Rafale aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in September. Weeks after India's Balakot strikes, IAF chief BS Dhanoa said India could have achieved better results if the country had Rafale jets. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The of Australia's Queensland state on Wednesday asked India's energy giant Adani to sit down with the environment regulator to work out a "definitive timeframe" to obtain approvals for its controversial coal mine project in the state. It comes days after Labor suffered a poor voter turnout across the state in the federal election, which has been widely attributed to the party's position on Adani's Carmichael mine project. The move also comes after Queensland Government ministers spent weeks saying the Department of Environment and Science (DES) would not be rushed on making decisions. entered in 2010 with the purchase of the greenfield Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin in central Queensland, and the Abbot Point port near Bowen in the north. The massive coal mine in Queensland state has been a controversial topic, with the project expected to produce 2.3 billion tonnes of low-quality coal. In addition to its impact on climate change, environmentalists have argued the mine could do serious damage to Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. Another major concern about the environmental impacts of the proposed mine has been that it would wipe out the most important habitat of the threatened black-throated finch. Speaking at a press conference, Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk announced she would appoint her Coordinator-General to oversee approvals of the mine. "I think that the community is fed up with the processes, I know I'm fed up with the processes, I know my local members are fed up with the processes.'' "I'm asking for the two parties, Adani and the independent regulator (DES) to sit down with the Coordinator-General and I want them to meet tomorrow actually. I want them to sit down and work out a definitive timeframe on decisions around these reports. We're up for this challenge, we work every day focusing on jobs," she added. "We need some certainty and we need some timeframes enough is enough," she said. Adani is currently waiting on approval of two of its environmental management plans one concerning the black throated finch, the other related to the management of ground water at the site. Last month, the Federal Government granted its final environmental approvals for the project days before the election was called. Adani chief executive Lucas Dow said he was cautiously optimistic about the Queensland Government's change of tone. "I'm encouraged to hear that the Premier's finally said enough is enough, but the reality is what we've now got is simply another process," Dow said. "If these approvals are not provided within the next two weeks, this new process that the has described is simply nothing more than a further political delaying tactic." Dow said the company was ready to begin construction as soon as the project was approved. "We think it's more than reasonable that this gets wrapped up in the next couple of weeks the process has been exhaustive, and the scrutiny has been appropriate," he said. "It's now time to finalise these and allow us to get on with the job." Dow said that the "ball is entirely in the Queensland Government's court". "We've written to them, we've provided responses to their requests on the black-throated finch, that's now sitting with the Queensland Government," Dow said. Voicing support for Adani's Carmichael coal and mine project in central Queensland, Mayor of Rockhampton council in the region has sough a "fair go" for the company. Rockhampton Mayor Margaret Strelow said Adani should "be given the proper treatment and allowed to proceed, for the Galilee Basin to open, for those jobs to flow, so that we as a community can start to build a long-term future". State Greens MP Michael Berkman described Palaszczuk's decision as a "disappointing backflip" that would only hurt regional Queenslanders long-term. "Queensland Labor intends to fast track Adani's approvals for the Carmichael Coal project. This says to me that they've quite devastatingly really misinterpreted the results of the federal election," he said. Australians re-elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison-led conservative coalition government in the federal polls. The coalition benefited from a stronger-than-expected showing in Queensland where is developing large Carmichael coal mine. "This is really unwelcome interference with the Environment Department." "More importantly this fast tracking of approvals for Adani is not going to help the communities she thinks it will. We need good solid planning for jobs that account for the eventual phase out of thermal coal," Berkman said. Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz appointed new cabinet ministers on Wednesday to replace those from the far right who have left their posts in the wake of the so-called "Ibiza-gate" affair. The centre-right chancellor -- who has called for snap elections in September following the collapse of his coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) -- named four of his allies to the interior, defence, transport and social affairs ministries. Kurz also appointed his finance minister, Hartwig Loeger, as his new vice-chancellor. The new ministers were immediately sworn in by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. "The goal of the president and of course also my goal as chancellor is to do everything in this phase to ensure stability in Austria," Kurz told reporters before his first meeting with the new cabinet. The ruling coalition between the FPOe and Kurz's People's Party (OeVP) started to collapse on Saturday when vice-chancellor and FPOe chief Heinz-Christian Strache resigned over a hidden-camera sting. In the recordings, filmed in a villa on the holiday island of Ibiza, show him appearing to offer contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer. In the fall-out from the scandal, Kurz also fired the interior minister, another prominent FPOe member, leading to the resignation of three other FPOe ministers. But the chancellor could still be forced out himself by a no-confidence motion expected in a special parliament sitting next Monday. It is not yet clear whether the FPOe and the main opposition Social Democrats (SPOe) will back the motion, even though the SPOe has accused Kurz of causing the current turmoil by entering an alliance with the far-right in the first place. Meanwhile, the head of Austria's Jewish Community (IKG) organisation, Oskar Deutsch, called on other parties not to allow the FPOe back into government. "I said this at the last election, and we have now been proved right," said Deutsch, pointing to what he said were 70 anti-Semitic incidents linked to FPOe members during its time in government. Kurz, 32, took office in late 2017, heading the coalition of the OeVP and the FPOe after both parties won votes on an anti-immigration platform. Strache, who has admitted that his behaviour was "stupid" and "irresponsible", has also vowed to prove his innocence and "unmask those behind this illegally made video". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The and will "soon" file a charge sheet in the Bandipora case, officials said Wednesday. Tahir Ahmad Mir was arrested for allegedly raping a three-year-old girl in north Kashmir's Bandipora district. " will file the chargesheet in the competent court of law against the accused person soon," a official said. There is no truth in the suggestions that the medical examination of the girl had not established sexual assault, the official said. "The incident of assault on three-year-old child in Sumbal (Bandipora) is very much true and based on facts. "Strict action will be taken against people spreading false and misleading information on this account," the official said. The case is being probed by a Special Investigation Team. Mainstream political parties and separatist groups in the state had condemned incident and demanded exemplary punishment for the accused. (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 Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority Wednesday released Rs 1 lakh as an interim relief to the minor rape victim in north Kashmir's Bandipora district. The amount was released under J&K Victim Compensation Scheme, 2013, an official spokesperson said. "On the recommendations of chairman district legal services authority, Bandipora, Jammu and Kashmir State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) today released an amount of Rs 1 lakh as interim relief to the minor victim of Sumbal incident," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scripting history, Flight Lieutenant on Wednesday became the first woman pilot of the to qualify to undertake combat missions on a fighter jet. IAF officials said Kanth has completed operational syllabus for carrying out combat missions on Mig-21 Bison aircraft during day time. "She is the first woman fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions by day on a fighter aircraft," IAF Spokesperson Group Capt Anupam Banerjee said. At present, Bhawana is posted at the Nal base in Bikaner. Another official said she will be allowed to carry out night operations once she completes training for night missions. Bhawana joined the fighter squadron in November 2017 and flew the first solo on MiG-21 Bison in March last year. "With her dedication, hard work and perseverance she has become the first woman officer of the IAF to achieve this feat," said Group Capt Banerjee. She is from the first batch of women fighter pilots of the IAF. Three women -- Kanth, Avani Chaturvedi and Mohana Singh -- were commissioned as flying officers in July 2016, less than a year after the government decided to open the fighter stream for women on an experimental basis. The IAF has already selected the next batch of three women trainee pilots for the fighter stream. The European Parliament elections that start Thursday have never been so hotly anticipated, with many predicting that this year's ballot will mark a coming-of-age moment for the euroskeptic far-right movement. The elections, which run through Sunday and take place in all of the European Union's 28 nations, have never had stakes that high. Europe's traditional political powerhouses the center-right European People's Party and the center-left Socialists & Democrats are set to lose some clout and face their strongest challenge yet from an array of populist, nationalist and far-right parties that are determined to claw back power from the EU for their own national governments. Here's a look at the vote that starts Thursday in the Netherlands and Britain: This clash of basic values between Europe growing more united or more divided has put the continent at a historic political crossroads. French President Emmanuel Macron, champion of the closer-integration camp, says the challenge at the polls this week is to "not cede to a coalition of destruction and disintegration" that will seek to dismantle the unity the EU has built up over the past six decades. Facing off against Macron and Europe's traditional parties are Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and a host of other populist, right-wing or far-right leaders who have vowed to fundamentally upend Europe's political landscape. Nationalist leaders from 11 EU nations stood together in Milan last weekend a show of unity unthinkable in previous years from a group once considered to be on Europe's political fringe. Salvini then declared "the extremists are in Brussels," the home of EU institutions, for wanting to retain the status quo. "We need to do everything that is right to free this country, this continent, from the illegal occupation organised by Brussels," Salvini said. Europe's far-right and nationalist parties hope to emulate what President Donald Trump did in the 2016 US election and what Brexiteers achieved in the UK referendum to leave the EU. That is to disrupt the powers that be, rail against what they see as an out-of-touch elite and warn against migrants massing at Europe's borders ready to rob the continent of its jobs and culture. Standing with Salvini, Le Pen promised the far-right "will perform a historic feat," saying they could end up as high as the second-biggest political group in the EU parliament. Predictions show that is still extremely ambitious. Projections released by the European Parliament this month show the center-right European People's Party bloc losing 37 of its 217 seats and the center-left S&D group dropping from 186 seats to 149. As for the far-right and nationalists, the Europe of Nations and Freedom group is predicted to win 62 seats, compared to 37 currently. Such statistics though could be irrelevant as soon as Monday if national parties start shifting to other EU-wide political groups in the 751-seat European legislature which meets both in Brussels and France's Strasbourg. Orban's nationalist Fidesz party is now in the EPP's ranks, but has been suspended for its anti-EU stance and virulent anti-migration rhetoric. The Hungarian prime minister might well bolt after the election to a new radical-right group, perhaps to be formed by Salvini, Le Pen and other nationalist leaders. For many among the EU's half billion citizens, the memories of war have vanished and the EU's role in helping to keep the peace for 75 years, a feat for which it won the Nobel Prize, is overlooked. Yet Europe was body-slammed by the financial crisis a decade ago and struggled through a yearslong debt crisis that saw nations like Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus get bailouts and produced recessions that slashed the incomes of millions. Europe's high taxes, stagnant wages and gap between rich and poor are still a sore point, highlighted now by weekly protests by France's yellow vest movement demanding more help for hard-pressed workers. EU nations have also not been able to forge a common approach to migration, fueling inter-bloc tensions, and its impotence in quickly containing a migrant influx in 2015 has propelled a surge of support for far-right and nationalist parties. "We have a crisis of the European Union. This is a matter of fact," Macron acknowledged. "There are a lot of people who fear that things potentially are moving in the wrong direction or already have moved in the wrong direction," said Janis Emmanouilidis at the European Policy Centre think-tank in Brussels. "It is a mix of multiple insecurities which, at the end of the day, is pushing people toward those who are coming up with easy answers." Since the first European Parliament election in 1979, the legislature has slowly changed from a toothless organization where over-the-hill politicians got cushy pre-retirement jobs to a potent force with real decision-making powers. The EU at first primarily regulated farming but now sets international trade policy for all members and even monetary rules for the 19 nations who use the shared euro currency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the debate over EVMs hotted up, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday said it was BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao who has authored a book questioning about electronic voting machines 10 years ago and party veteran L K Advani had written the preface of it. In a tweet in Kannada, Siddaramaiah wrote, "BJP was the first to raise doubts about the EVMs. The spokesperson of that party had even written a book. Supporting the doubt, L K Advani had written the preface of the book. What's the reason behind BJP's change in stand in the last 10 years?" The book 'Democracy at risk due to EVMs' was written by Rao, a psephologist-turned politician, after 2009 elections. A poster Siddaramaiah tweeted says, "Concerns about EVMs are legitimate when raised by BJP!" His tweet came in the backdrop of six posers by BJP national president Amit Shah to theopposition parties led by Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu for raising doubts about the sanctity of EVMs. In his tweets, Shah condemned those questioning the EVMs saying that opposing EVMs is an insult to the voters. By questioning the EVMs the 22 parties shaken with the possible loss were tarnishing the image of the country, he said. Shah also questioned the political parties why did they assume power who were elected through EVMs and were now questioning its authenticity. As many as 21 political parties Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission asking it to first count the five VVPATs and tally with the EVMs before proceeding with the counting process for the Lok Sabha polls. However, the EC turned down their plea. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A doctor in Kerala's Malappuram district performed a hernia surgery on a seven-year-old boy instead of removing a growth in his nasal passage after an apparent a mix-up of the names of two patients. The boy, Mohammed Danish, was operated for hernia on Tuesday at a medical college in Manjeri town, 175 km north of Kochi, sources said. The incident came to light when Danish's parents, who are from Karuvarakundu town in the district, saw their son operated in the stomach, instead of removing his nasal polyps. Hospital sources told PTI that there was another patient, named Dhanush, who was supposed to undergo surgery for hernia, and the mistake occurred due to the similarity in their names. State Health Minister K K Shylaja ordered a probe and suspended the doctor, A Suresh Kumar. "Patients must not suffer due to the negligence of the hospital staff," the minister said, adding that the boy would be given free treatment. The state human rights commission has registered a case in connection with the incident. "There is serious negligence on behalf of the staff including the doctor," rights panel member K Mohan Kumar said in his interim order. Kumar asked the medical college superintendent to submit a report with the statements of all the staff present inside the operation theatre. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shady middle-men are openly advertising on Chinese social media to smuggle blood samples of pregnant women to Hong Kong to skirt the mainland's ban on gender testing, an AFP investigation has found. The business thrives on a well-organised underground network that serves the huge demand for illicit sex-selective abortion in mainland China -- driven by limits on family size and an entrenched cultural preference for sons. Chinese authorities vowed to crack down on the trade in 2015. But dozens of blood smuggling agents are openly advertising services on the Twitter-like platform Weibo and on websites, despite China's proven ability to scrub digital content. Gender testing -- except on medical grounds -- is outlawed in China, where sex-selective abortions have helped create a surplus of about 31.6 million men, with some 115 boys born for every 100 girls last year. A long-standing one-child policy was eased to permit two children in 2016 but gender testing continues, with many parents of daughters trying for a son the second time around. Gender testing is legal in Hong Kong, with some clinics apparently turning a blind eye to the origins of the smuggled samples. Three agents contacted by an AFP reporter posing as a customer offered to arrange in-person appointments with medical testing labs or transport blood samples to Hong Kong for around USD 580, promising results starting from six weeks into pregnancy. Upon payment of a deposit, the agent sends a testing kit to the client through a delivery service. One advised using an app to hire a nurse who could come to the patient's home in mainland China to extract blood. The client sends the blood sample to Shenzhen from where it is smuggled across the border to Hong Kong. The agents did not directly address questions about how the samples would be transported, but assured the reporter they would arrive safely at their destination. "They will be taken to the lab in a designated vehicle, the samples can be safely sent over for testing, nothing will go wrong," one representative said, adding that results would be sent out in one working day. Other agents use human smugglers. In February, a 12-year-old girl headed to Hong Kong was caught at the Shenzhen border carrying 142 vials of blood samples from pregnant women in her backpack. The tests analyse small fragments of foetal DNA in a pregnant woman's blood and can detect the presence of a Y chromosome. They are also used to screen for chromosomal disorders such as Down's syndrome. They can often accurately predict the gender of a foetus weeks before doctors can see the sex organs in an ultrasound. Some mainlanders take the legal option of travelling directly to Hong Kong for gender testing. "I have three daughters already. To be honest I want a son," a 39-year-old man surnamed Wang told AFP outside a lab in Kowloon where his wife was getting her blood tested. Wang, who circumvented the one-child policy as many well-connected or wealthy Chinese families do, said he was under intense parental pressure to produce a male heir and had made the journey from the southern province of Guizhou. "Chinese people still want to have a son to carry on the ancestral line, this is an antiquated way of thinking, but back home there are lots of people who think this way," he explained. He added he and his wife would terminate the pregnancy in China if it turned out be a girl. "Right now she's only about 50 days along, so it can be solved by taking some medicine," he said. The trade raises questions over the willingness of Hong Kong labs to ignore their own rules. According to industry guidelines, laboratory technicians should not test blood without a patient referral from a local doctor, and risk losing their licence if they do. It is illegal to mail or transport blood samples out of China without a permit, but Hong Kong only outlaws importing blood samples if a person has reason to suspect that it contains an infectious agent. The city's Department of Health told AFP the number of cases it investigated every year has tripled since 2016 but none was prosecuted due to insufficient evidence. A lab that one agent claimed to be working with told AFP it does not perform tests on couriered samples and denied working with mainland middle-men. Multiple Chinese government departments did not respond to requests for comment. Hong Kong lawmaker Kwok Ka-ki, who is also a doctor, called on the territory's government to work with mainland authorities to take down the networks. "Ethically this is completely unacceptable because this will only encourage more people to perform gender selection," he told AFP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Breaking a growth streak of over 55 months, domestic air passenger traffic fell by around 4.5 per cent in April this year, according to data released by Indian aviation regulator DGCA on Wednesday. The domestic air traffic in April this year consisted of 10.99 million passengers as compared to 11.51 million passengers in the same month last year, signifying a fall of around 4.5 per cent, as per the data. The monthly domestic air passenger traffic has only seen growth for more than 55 previous months, according the DGCA data available on its website. Suspension of operations by Jet Airways on April 17, 2019, due to lack of funds is one of the primary reasons why domestic air traffic saw a fall in last month. According to the DGCA data, the share of domestic passenger traffic flown by Jet Airways was just 0.8 per cent in April 2019, as compared 14.7 per cent in the same month last year. In February and March this year, the share of Jet Airways in domestic air passenger traffic was 10 per cent and 4.6 per cent, respectively. Low-cost carrier IndiGo solidified its position as the largest airline in India as it has acquired 49.9 per cent share in the domestic air passenger traffic in April this year, as per the DGCA data. In absolute numbers, the airline flew 5.48 million passengers in April this year. In the January to March period of 2019, the monthly share of IndiGo in domestic air passenger market has gradually increased from 42.5 per cent to 43.4 per cent to 46.9 per cent, respectively. SpiceJet and Air India flew 1.52 million and 1.44 million passengers, respectively, in April this year. These two airlines had flown 1.51 million passengers and 1.58 million passengers, respectively, in March this year. "During April 2019, a total of 1,218 passenger-related complaints had been received by the scheduled domestic airlines. The number of complaints per 10,000 passengers carried for the month of April 2019 has been around 1.11," the DGCA said Wednesday. Jet Airways had 52.9 complaints per 10,000 passengers in the month of April while Air India was on number two position with 1.6 complaints per 10,000 passengers, as per the DGCA data. The aviation regulator said that 35.5 per cent of the total complaints received by domestic airlines in April were related to refund issues. According to the DGCA data, passenger load factor in April for SpiceJet, GoAir, IndiGo and Vistara stood at 93.7 per cent, 90.8 per cent, 87.8 per cent and 84.6 per cent, respectively. Passenger load factor for a single flight can be calculated by dividing the number of passengers to the number of available seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Buoyed by exit polls predicting a sweeping victory for the BJP in Delhi, the party's unit here has already ordered delicacies like 'motichoor cakes' and 'kamal barfis', a day before counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls on Thursday. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, asserting the party's victory on all seven Lok sabha seats in the national capital, said 350-kg of fine quality "ladoos" have been ordered for celebrations at the central office on DDU Marg and the Delhi unit's office on Pant Marg. The party has also placed orders for a 7-kg special 'motichoor cake' and nine similar cakes, each weighing between 4-5 kgs, at the Bengali Pastry shop, the Delhi BJP's social media team's co-convener Neelkant Bakshi said. The cakes will be cut at the BJP's central office, Bakshi said. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor has ordered a 50-kg lotus shaped 'kamal barfi'. The price per kg is Rs 2,000. The Congress, which hopes for a "good show" in the polls, maintained a cautious note, with its leaders saying celebrations will be held after declaration of results. Most of the exit polls have predicted that the BJP may win 5-7 seats and have put the Congress in second place. They have predicted victory for the Congress on 1-2 seats, while most of them have forecast that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) here will be in third place on most of the seats. Former Delhi Congress president and the party's candidate from the New Delhi Lok Sabha seat Ajay Maken said he was confident of a victory. "The Congress will put up a good show. We have the support of all sections of society, especially minorities and the government employees. Of course, celebrations will be held with distribution of sweets and bursting of crackers," Maken said. Delhi Congress working president Rajesh Lilothia, who is contesting from the North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, said the party will win on all seven seats. "We will celebrate after the results are declared and it will be a grand one," he said. The parties have also made special arrangements like installing large LED screens for party workers and other visitors to watch progression of counting of votes. The candidates in the fray will visit the counting centres and take updates on trends from their agents and party leaders. The counting of votes will begin at 8 am on Thursday. A total of 164 candidates contested the Lok Sabha elections from the seven seats in Delhi. Over 1.43 crore people were eligible to vote in the polls in Delhi, out of which 60.21 per cent exercised their franchise. The elections for the seven parliamentary seats were largely a triangular contest among the incumbent BJP, a spirited Congress and the AAP. In 2004, the BJP managed a clean sweep winning all seven seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A car bomb exploded near a checkpoint in Somalia capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, killing at least two people and wounding 12 others, officials said. The bombing was claimed by Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab, which said in a statement it had targeted a convoy escorting officials and lawmakers heading to the presidential palace. "A car bomb blast struck at a checkpoint near Daljirka, there are some casualties including members of the security forces," said security official Abdukadir Ahmed after the attack in the south of the city. Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of Aamin ambulance service told AFP two people were killed and twelve others wounded in the blast. Other witnesses said they had seen three killed. "I saw the bodies of three people among them a military woman," said witness Mohamed Saney. "Several vehicles were destroyed in the blast and ambulances rushed to the scene to collect wounded people." Shabaab fighters have been fighting for more than a decade to topple the government. They fled positions they once held in Mogadishu in 2011, and have since lost many of their strongholds. But they retain control of large rural swathes of the country, and continue to wage a guerrilla war against the authorities. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI has announced cash rewards of Rs 10 lakh each in two unsolved cases from Gujarat relating to a woman missing since 2014 and the death of another six years ago, officials said Wednesday. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has announced the reward for providing any "actionable information" related to the 19-year-old missing woman, Jaladhi Trivedi, daughter of Hareshbhai K Trivedi, resident of Navapura, Ahmedabad, a CBI spokesperson said. "The woman is missing since October 4, 2014 and was last seen at the Kalupur Railway Station, Ahmedabad in the morning of October 8, 2014," he said. The same reward has also been announced in a separate case for providing actionable information about the accused of Rashmi Bhave, wife of Vivek Bhave, from Gandhinagar who was killed at her residence on February 22, 2013, he said. Both the cases were taken over by the agency on the orders of the Gujarat High Court, he said. The high court had ordered a CBI probe on the petition of Bhave's brother, Major (retd.) Raghuveer Shidore. Shidore had approached the court in 2016. The CID (crime) and the Special Investigation Team of Gujarat Police failed to produce any result. In the case of Jaladhi Trivedi, her father had sought intervention of the high court. "Information regarding both the cases can be given to the CBI over telephone: 022-27576820, 27576804 or email: hobscmum@cbi.gov.in to SP, CBI, Special Crime Branch, 8th Floor, CGO Complex, CBD Belapur, Navi Mumbai (Maharashtra)-400614. The identity of the informer will be kept secret," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) and have agreed to enhance communication and cooperation for "greater progress" in their all-weather strategic ties as the two countries celebrated 68 years of diplomatic relations. "Both sides are satisfied with our bilateral relations," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing here in response to a question on both the countries celebrating the 68th year of establishment of their diplomatic relations. He said both the countries have "agreed to enhance our communication and cooperation for greater progress in our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership for a close community of shared future for us." Pakistan, a close ally of China, established diplomatic ties with Beijing in 1951, a year after India recognised the Communist nation 1950. (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.) Pakistan has delivered a "message of peace" by opening the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims from India, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Wednesday as he underlined the importance of "conflict resolution" for peace and stability in South Asia. Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting here in the Kyrgyz capital, also attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Qureshi said Pakistan condenmed terrorism in all its forms but stressed the need for addressing the "root causes" of the problem. "Enduring peace and prosperity in South Asia will remain elusive without good-faith diplomacy and result-oriented dialogue," he said in his address. India has told Pakistan that talks and terrorism will not go hand in hand. "Pakistan has given the message of peace by opening the Kartarpur Corridor for the Sikh community," he said. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting a JeM training camp in Balakot in Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. Condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, Qureshi stressed the need for "addressing the root causes of the problem," Geo quoted the foreign minister as saying. He informed other foreign ministers of the SCO that Pakistan was among one of the few countries to have "successfully fought" and "reversed" the tide of terrorism and extremism and was ready to share its experience and expertise with the SCO states through the Regional Anti Terrorist Structure. Pakistan initiated work on the Kartarpur Corridor to facilitate pilgrimage of Sikh pilgrims to visit their holy shrine, he said, adding that "the Shanghai Spirit was being reinforced through the Kartarpur Spirit." Last November, India and Pakistan agreed to set up the border crossing linking Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Pakisan's Kartarpur, the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev, to Dera Baba Nanak shrine in India's Gurdaspur district. Kartarpur Sahib is located in Pakistan's Narowal district across the river Ravi, about four km from the Dera Baba Nanak shrine. The Shrine is visible from the Indian side of the border and everyday a larger number of Sikh devotees gather to perform Darshan or sacred viewings of the site. The two sides have continued talks on the corridor despite their recent military standoff after the Pulwama terror attack. Pakistan is hopeful that the landmark corridor will become functional on the 550th birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak in November this year. Qureshi also said Afghanistan remained central to Pakistan's efforts to forge lasting regional stability and consistently called for an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned process of dialogue and reconciliation as the only viable way forward. The foreign minister mentioned that as the leadership of SCO member states would meet in June, there was a need to discuss the challenges confronting sustainable growth, environment and collective security. Qureshi also presented a seven-point agenda at the SCO meeting focusing on confidence-building measures among member states including control on weapons race, establishment of joint fund and international framework to combat corruption and crime, Pakistan's official APP agency reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress candidate from the Aska assembly seat Manoj Jena was critically injured on Wednesday after four unidentified miscreants opened fire at him in Lanjipalli area, police said. The incident took place under the Biadyanath Pur police station here when Jena along with his associate was riding a motorcycle, they said. Jena was rushed to the MKCG Medical College Hospital here and later shifted to the SCB medical college hospital in Cuttack. He is seriously injured, police said. Police said four unidentified miscreants, who were in two motorcycles, opened fire targeting Jena during which his associate also sustained bullet injury. Additional Superintendent of Police (Berhampur) Pravat Routray said the exact cause of the firing was unknown. "We suspect it to be due to previous enmity," the ASP said. They immediately fled from the spot towards Andhra Pradesh side before anyone could find out what exactly happened, he said. "At least two police teams have been engaged to search the miscreants," the ASP said, adding that the motive behind the crime will be ascertained after investigation. Jena, who contested from the Aska assembly segment as a Congress candidate, was pitted against BJD candidate Manjula Swain, wife of former MP (Aska) Ladu Kishor Swain and BJP's Debaraj Mohanty. Mohanty, who was a sitting MLA of the BJD, had joined the BJP after being denied re-nomination by the party. The incident has spread panic among the people as it happened ahead of counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Congress-JDS government in Karnataka led by H D Kumaraswamy completes one year Thursday, the ruling coalition is on the edge with the Lok Sabha results widely expected to have a bearing on its stability. It was exactly one year ago that Kumaraswamy was sworn in as head of the coalition government after heightenedpolitical drama that saw B S Yeddyurappa, the leader of the single largest party BJP, resigning as Chief Minister of a three-day old government, unable to prove his majority in the assembly. Kumaraswamy's swearing in on May 23, 2018 saw a galaxy of top leaders and regional satraps in a rare public show of unity, perceived as a possible harbinger of a broad-based anti-BJP alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Exactly one year after that historic get together of leaders of non-BJP parties, that later came to be known as "mahagatbandan", results of Lok Sabha polls will be declared that will determine the very fate of those who aspired to defeat the Prime Minister Narendra Modi led saffron party. Equally importantly, it is also expected to impact the longevity of the Kumaraswamy led coalition government here. With pollsters predicting BJP will win big inKarnataka by bagging over 21 of 28 seats,compared to 17 last time,it has cast its shadow on any plans by the coalition to celebrate one year in office, as the allaince stability itself is at stake. It has been a turbulent one year for the governmentthat came into existence as Congress and JD(S), arch rivals in the old Mysuru region, came together to form a coalition as the May 2018 assembly polls threw up a hung verdict. Coalition worries,dissidence in alliancepartner Congress and a strong BJP with 104 MLAs allegedly trying to poach MLAs of the ruling alliance repeatedly aiming to destabilize the government marred the smooth functioning of the government. Reflecting strains in the coalition, Kumaraswamy had even said he was "not happy" in the top post and was swallowing the pain like 'Vishakantha' (Lord Shiva), who drank poison. Though putting up a brave face, coalition leaders decided to jointly fight the LS polls and reached a seat sharing agreement of 21 and seven seats for Congress and JD(S). But it was not something grassroot level workers of both parties were okay with, especially in old Mysuru region, where they are arch rivals. BJP is contesting 27 of 28 seats and supporting independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh in Mandya. According to sources, despite efforts by both partiesto pacify their cadres and ensure transfer of votes to each other, the alliance has not worked in constituencies of old Mysuru region that may have its implications on the poll outcome and in turn the stability of the government. Voices have started emerging in Congress to end the alliance, holding the partnership with JD(S) as the reason for the party's possible poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls, as reflected in exit polls,amid growing disgruntlement within. Rebel MLAs like Ramesh Jarkiholi, who has been hobnobbing with the BJP,threatening to resign along with other MLAs after the Lok Sabha poll results, is causing worry to the coalition. The BJP, on its part, has predicted the collapse of the coalition and increase in its tally in the assembly after the LS poll results,claiming that 20 odd Congress MLAs are unhappy with the government and may take any decision afterMay 23. The Karnataka assembly has 224 members, in which BJPhas 104 MLAs, Congress-77, JD(S)-37, BSP (1),independent (1) (both currently supporting the ruling alliance),KPJP(1) and Speaker. Two seats Kundgol and Chincholi are vacant. Karnataka went for polling in two phases of 14 constituencies each on April 18 and 23. Prominent contestants in the first phase were former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda (Tumkur), his grandsonsPrajwal Revanna and Nikhil Kumaraswamy from Hassan and Mandya, as also Union Minister Sadananda Gowda(BangaloreNorth) and senior Congress leaders Verappa Moily(Chikkaballapura) and Sumalatha Ambareesh (Mandya). In the second phase, among prominent contestants were Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, Union Ministers Ananth Kumar Hegde from Uttara Kannada, Ramesh Jigajinagi from Bijapur, BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa's son B Y Raghavendra and former chief minister S Bangarappa's son MadhuBangarappa of JD(S) from Shimogga, among others. Of 28 constituencies that went to the polls, BJPhad won 17,Congress in 9 and JD(S) in two in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. However, during the by-poll in Novemberlast year BJP had lost the Bellary seat to Congress. While BJP had gained a voteshare of 43.37 per cent in 2014 polls, Congress and JD(S) had secured 41.15 per cent and 11.07 per cent respectively. The results of bypolls for Chincholi,necessitated by the resignation of Umesh Jadhav, who quit Congress and joined BJP to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Gulbarga,and Kundgol,that fell vacant following the death of Minister C S Shivalli, willalso be declared on Thursday. As counting of votes in Lok Sabha polls will be taken up tomorrow, state electoral officials said EVMs in Karnataka are well guarded and kept safely with multi-layer protection. State Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar said the first set of results may start from 3 PM and may be over by 6 PM. However, it can delay further too. Generally, results would start from 12 noon, but because four hours additional time will be required (for VVPAT counting), "maybe from 3 PM onwards, we expect our results between 3 PM to 6 PM,"Kumar had said on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Wednesday slammed the Modi government over what it called "foreign minister-level talks" with Pakistan, alleging with the end of electoral pro-Pakistan policy has begun. The sharp attack came after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi exchanged pleasantries during a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting in Bishkek on Wednesday and sat next to each other during a joint call on Kyrgyz president. Reacting to the development, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted, "Election Over, Votes Garnered, Pulwama Martyrs Forgotten!" "Foreign Minister-level talks with Pakistan begin, business as usual!" he added. Electoral over, pro-Pakistan policy begins, he said, posting a photograph of the two leaders sitting next to each other. Swaraj and Qureshi attended the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of SCO, which was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistani media reported that the two leaders sat next to each other during a multilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the SCO. According to the photos published by the Pakistani media, Swaraj and Qureshi were seen seated next to each other. On being asked about the Swaraj-Qureshi meeting, the MEA sources said the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries. "There was no meeting between them," they said. The picture of the two leaders is from a joint call on on Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, they said. Swaraj arrived in Bishkek in the Kyrgyz capital on Tuesday to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting. India was granted the membership of the SCO along with Pakistan in 2017. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress in Telangana has lodged a complaint with anti-corruption ombudsman Lok Pal,alleging that the ruling TRS indulged in "political corruption" by providing government benefits to opposition MLAs who are ready to switch over to the party. The party's state General Secretary Manavatha Roy said he has submitted the complaint in Lok Pal office in Delhi. He alleged that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and certain MLAs indulged in "political corruption" as the latter were changing from parent parties "for lands". With as many as 11 of the 19 Congress MLAs announcing their decision in the last few monthsto quit the party and join TRS, Congress had earlier alleged that the TRS encouraged defection of opposition MLAs. The party had earlier complained to Governor E S L Narasimhan on the matter. Congress had announced that it would also lodge a complaint with the newly-formed Lok Pal. Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader M Bhatti Vikramarka undertook a 'yatra' in the constituencies of MLAs who announced their decision to leave the party and join the TRS. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a few hours from now, the verdict of the people will be out on whether they voted for a change or status quo in Andhra Pradesh, even as stakes are high for the two main contenders--the ruling TDP and YSRC. The general mood of the voters apart, most pre-poll surveys and exit polls have given a thumping victory for the opposition YSR Congress (YSRC) but ruling Telugu Desam president and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is betting "1000 per cent" on his partys victory. "Exit polls have proved to be incorrect and far from ground reality in many instances. While undoubtedly TDP govt will be formed in AP, we are confident that non-BJP parties will form a non-BJP govt at the center (sic)," Naidu said recently. Counting of votes for the 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 Assembly segments will be held at 36 different centres across the State amid tight security on Thursday, according to officials. This was the first general election in the state after the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and formation of Telangana, in June 2014. Over 79.64 and 79.4 percentage of polling was recorded in the state on April 11 when elections were held simultaneously for the Assembly and Lok Sabha seats respectively. Of the total 3,93,45,717 electors in the state, 3,13,33,163 cast their votes for the 319 Lok Sabha candidates and 3,13,33,631 for 2,118 Assembly contestants. Besides the state Assembly outcome, the Lok Sabha election result is also critical for the TDP as it will determine its standing on the national political scene. For Naidu, who is spearheading an effort to forge an anti-BJP front, winning a sizeable number of Lok Sabha seats is a critical requirement to remain relevant at the national level. "Help TDP win all 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state so that we can dictate terms to New Delhi. I will decide who will become the Prime Minister," Naidu repeatedly said during the poll campaign. For the first time in its 37-year-old history, the Telugu Desam Party fought the general elections on its own, without an ally. The 'Jana Sena factor' (party founded by actor Pawan Kalyan) could be critical for both the TDP and the YSRC as the fledgling party might have cut into the votes of the two in many segments, particularly the Godavari districts that hold the key to power. For the TDP, which comfortably won the last assembly polls in 2014 held in undivided Andhra Pradesh, retaining power is crucial while for the principal opposition YSR Congress its a must-win situation to ensure its political sustainability. Of the 175 Assembly seats, the TDP won 102 in alliance with the BJP, YSRC 67, BJP 4, Navodayam Party 1 and Independent one in 2014. Of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, the TDP bagged 15, YSRC 8 and BJP 2.In the Assembly polls, the TDP polled 44.61 per cent of votes while the YSRC got 44.58 per cent. The BJPs 2.18 per cent vote share made all the difference, enabling the TDP to clinch power in 2014. The TDP, though, severed its ties with the BJP in March 2018 and walked out of the NDA with the Centre not acceding to its demand on special category status for AP. Naidu is seeking election to the Assembly for a record eighth time from Kuppam constituency in his native Chittoor district. His son and state IT Minister Nara Lokesh jumped into the electoral fray for the first time in Mangalagiri Assembly constituency in the state capital region Amaravati. YSRC chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is seeking re-election from his home turf Pulivendula while actor Pawan Kalyan is also making his electoral debut. Kalyan is in the fray from two Assembly seats Gajuwaka and Bhimavaram. Former Union Ministers P Ashok Gajapati Raju, Y Kishore Chandra Deo, Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy and Panabaka Lakshmi (the latter three defected from Congress to TDP) were among the prominent contestants for the Lok Sabha from the state. The Congress and the BJP contested all the Lok Sabha and the Assembly seats on their own but would find the going tough against the TDP and YSRC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Health Department of the AAP government Wednesday told the Delhi High Court that autopsy cannot be done within 48 hours of receiving a body as it is difficult to preserve it thereafter for identification purpose. The stand taken by the department was indicated in minutes of a meeting held on April 10 by representatives of the Delhi Police, Home Department, municipal corporations and the forensic medicine division on orders of the high court to deal with the condition of mortuaries and handling of bodies. The minutes, which were shown to a bench of Justices G S Sistani and Jyoti Singh, indicates the decisions taken by the departments regarding the recommendations made by the court appointed amicus curiae -- advocate Saqib -- on improving mortuary conditions and handling of bodies. Delhi government standing counsel (criminal) Rahul Mehra sought time from the court to file the minutes of the meeting along with an affidavit and the bench listed the matter for further hearing on May 29. The minutes indicate amicus curiae Saqib had recommended that post-mortems be conducted within 48 hours of receipt of a body instead of waiting for its identification and then the corpse can be preserved till it is disposed of. Disagreeing with the recommendation, the Health Department has said autopsy will be performed only after submission of requisition and inquest papers by an investigating officer (IO). It also said bodies cannot be preserved after carrying out autopsy as it leads to speeding up of decomposition, its spreading to other bodies, spillage of biological fluids which increase risk of infection to mortuary staff and affects hygiene and piling up of bodies which would leads to shortage of space. The Health Department was also averse to the amicus' suggestion to provide the post-mortem report to police via electronic media, saying there was "risk to maintenance of chain of custody", possibility of "violation of confidentiality" of the report and chances of it being "hacked or misused". The department also disagreed with the amicus' suggestion to video record autopsy procedures, saying it was not possible in all cases due to time constraints and would lead to delaying post-mortem process. It, however, agreed with the recommendation to install CCTV cameras in mortuary premises to strengthen security, but was averse to installing them inside the autopsy room as it shall be a violation of the constitutional rights of a deceased "as it breaches the privacy of the dead and confidentiality of the post-mortem findings". The department has agreed with the suggestion to post sufficient number of autopsy surgeons in all mortuaries. The Delhi Police, in the meeting, stated it was in the process of strengthening its crime team numbers to enable collection of evidence from crime scenes in all 13 police districts and the five districts coming under railways. The Home Department has said four mobile forensic vans have been procured and deployed to assist crime team and the forensic science laboratory was in the process of procuring 14 more. The amicus had recommended increasing the crime team numbers as well as use of mobile forensic labs to collect evidence and DNA samples from crime scenes. On transporting of bodies to mortuaries, the amicus had recommended doing away with the present practice of police officers carrying out the exercise at their expense. Accepting his recommendation, the Health Department has said it will deploy hearse vans for the transportation of bodies to mortuaries. The high court had appointed advocate Saqib as the amicus curiae to inspect mortuaries in Delhi while hearing a PIL initiated by it after it came to know about an incident in which an eye was gouged out from a murder accused's body kept in the mortuary of a government hospital here. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The DMK on Wednesday wondered if the Election Commission's move to stick to counting VVPAT slips at the end of the counting process was a democratic act, ignoring demands by 22 opposition parties against it. The main opposition party in Tamil Nadu hit out at the poll body, saying its decision has blurred the distinction between an independent institution and the Central government. "Is this democracy...? Will the Election Commission listen only to Prime Minister Narendra Modi..? senior DMK leader Duraimurugan asked. He pointed out that the EC's reported move to count VVPAT slips at the end comes despite as many as 22 Opposition parties urging the slip count in the beginning. "The distinction between the Election Commission and the Central government has gone," he told PTI when contacted for his party's stand on the EC's decision. The top party leader alleged that the incumbent election commissioners have forgotten that the EC is an independent body. The opposition parties had approached the EC on Tuesday demanding VVPATs be counted first -prior to counting EVM votes votes- and in case of problems or mismatch, all VVPAT slips be counted. The Commission on Wednesday is learnt to have decided to follow the established procedure of counting VVPAT slips for the mandatory five polling stations per assembly segment of each parliamentary constituency at the end of the entire counting process. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Drones that fly overhead to give a "bird's eye view", Rs 1 lakh cash prize if you guess the winner right and good old analysis, television channels are moving from the fantastical to the mundane to entice viewers on counting day Thursday. With millions in India and abroad preparing to tune into television channels and log in to networks on their phones and other devices as votes for the Lok Sabha election are counted, media houses are making sure they grab TRPs. Many are using VFX and lurid graphics and others are pitching the fact that they have the best network of on-ground reporters and in-studio analysts. And, as the clock strikes 6 am on Thursday, all are promising poll results from ground zero first and fast. CNN-New18's deputy executive editor Anand Narasimhan will hop on to an "elex-a drone quadcopter" that will hover over a virtual map of India to give the "big picture" of the results using "virtual reality on live TV". "Buckle up for a thrilling ride as India elects its next govt. Get the elevated experience. A bird's eye view of India's biggest results," reads a ticker on a video shared by the channel on micro-blogging site Twitter. Times Now has promised to bring coverage cut-out for the "millenial viewer" with the use of "state of the art technology". "Our collaboration with Pixotope (a virtual production systems) means that for the first time ever in India's electoral history and in the broadcast of elections, you will be seeing software innovation powered by the Unreal Engine (a game engine)," Editor-in-Chief Rahul Shivshankar said on Twitter. The technology is expected to "help in virtual, augmented and mixed reality projections" of the poll results data. Zee has decided to welcome the new government from a new studio that will stream the results "to over 170 countries simultaneously", a feat it claims will be the "first of its kind in India done by an Indian channel". "We will be coming to you on election day from our new studio and would be bringing to you world's biggest election coverage, biggest because we will be beaming to over 170 countries simultaneously," Sudhir Chaudhary, editor-in-chief of the Hindi channel, said in a video. Not all media houses have something "never seen before" to offer. NDTV, for instance, will be bringing home the results the traditional way. In a promo on Twitter, NDTV co-founder Prannoy Roy promised to stream the "fastest election results and analysis" on television as well as online. "We have pulled out all stops to ensure the fastest update is on our apps and site tomorrow. We've put in new tech to ensure quicker pushes of results as they come in - in faster spurts than anyone else. Features-wise we will have new 3D interactive maps, breaking news alerts and many more state of the art graphics," an NDTV employee told PTI. India TV will be using one of the most significant days in Indian politics to host a contest and give the audience an opportunity to win goodies. "As India counts on May 23, your say matters. Speak out on IndiaTV. Tweet your one-minute video using #ResultsWithRajatSharma and stand a chance to be in next #AapKiAadalat show. Also, the best five videos will win a cash prize of Rs 10K," channel chairman and editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma said in a video. Other contests on India TV will include the opportunity of getting featured on the channel if one predicts correctly the winner of their constituency, and a chance to win Rs 1 lakh if they get right the answers to three questions that Sharma will ask on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Allies of President Rodrigo Duterte stormed to a landslide victory in midterm polls, final results showed Wednesday, dissolving a last check on his controversial rule. Loyalists won both houses of the legislature, shutting out all opposition candidates in the Senate, which had served as a buffer against Duterte's most contentious plans. The results open a path for Duterte -- who has remarkably high approval ratings -- to make good on his call to bring back the death penalty and advance his project to re-write the constitution. "It's a clear signal that the people will be behind him as he pushes bills and processes that went nowhere previously," political analyst Ramon Casiple told AFP. With nine Duterte backers and three nominally unaligned politicians taking the 12 seats at stake in the 24-member Senate, only four oppositions members will remain, results from the elections authority showed. Duterte allies kept control of the lower House of Representatives, which has approved legislation to bring back capital punishment and re-write the constitution since Duterte's 2016 election. Among the new senators is former national police chief Ronald dela Rosa, the first enforcer of Duterte's narcotics crackdown that has killed over 5,300. Campaigners say the true toll is at least triple that and may amount to crimes against humanity. "Number one on my agenda is the reimposition of the death penalty for drug trafficking," dela Rosa told reporters. "I will focus on that." Senate seats also went to Christopher "Bong" Go, Duterte's long-time advisor, and Imee Marcos, the daughter of deceased dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in a 1986 popular uprising. The top vote-getter in the Senate race, Cynthia Villar, thanked the president for his backing and asked for a round of applause for him in a speech after the results were announced. "The laws we craft or legislate must consider all interests involved," she added. "A strong and independent Senate has always been our goal." Opponents fear the majority will allow Duterte to push forward his legislative agenda, which includes re-writing the constitution. In addition to opening avenues for him to stay in power beyond his legally mandated single term that ends in 2022, a charter change could reshape the Philippines for decades. Duterte has pitched constitutional reform to turn the Asian country into a decentralised federal republic where regions would have the power to fix local problems. But the various initiatives launched in his first three years in office have also included proposals dropping term limits, allowing him to run for another term and weakening checks on presidential power. "The pessimistic assessment is that what we're looking towards is the complete transformation of the Philippine political system in the years to come, well beyond 2022 when Duterte's term is supposed to end," political analyst Richard Heydarian said. The landslide victory was a crushing defeat for the opposition, leaving it mostly in disarray. "Voters were unable to relate to the issues highlighted by the opposition in the election, which was all about defeating Duterte," Casiple said. The pro-Duterte electoral tsunami was also a win for the Duterte family. Daughter Sara, touted as a possible 2022 presidential candidate, retained her post as mayor of the southern city of Davao, with sibling Sebastian winning as vice-mayor. The eldest son, Paolo, won a seat in the House of Representatives. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : The Telugu Desam Party Wednesday termed as "a dark day for Indian democracy", the Election Commission of India turning down a demand to count VVPAT slips ahead of the EVMs during the counting process on Thursday. Reacting to the ECIs decision, TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh said in a tweet, "A genuine and fair demand for transparency is chucked out the window without a reason. A dark day for Indian democracy!" In another tweet, he said: "By ignoring the genuine demand of the majority of parties in the country to count 5 VVPAT slips first, the Election Commission has shown once again whose side it wants to take." About 22 non-BJP parties, including the TDP, raised a demand for counting VVPAT slips first as soon as the counting process is taken up, and not at the end as per the existing practice. They wanted VVPATs of the entire constituency to be counted if any discrepancy was found in the count of VVPAT slips in five randomly-selected polling booths. The main opposition YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh, however, said TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu was only seeking to create disturbance (in the counting process) by raising the demand on VVPATs. "The YSRC has no issue with the EVMs or VVPATs. It is Chandrababu Naidu who is creating disturbance," YSRC MP V Vijayasai Reddy said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Counting of votes for 29 Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh will be held at 292 centres across 51 district headquarters on Thursday and results are expected by late evening, a senior election official said. Around 1,800 CCTV cameras have been installed at the counting centres where internet and wi-fi services will not be available, state Chief Electoral Officer V L Kantha Rao told reporters here on Tuesday. "The counting of votes for the 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state will be held from 8 am on Thursday in 292 halls across 51 district headquarters. Given the number of candidates and counting rounds, the first result may start coming in by 10 pm," he said. After the end of counting, five randomly selected Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips from each Assembly segment of that particular Lok Sabha seat would be matched with the electronic voting machines (EVMs), he said. The highest 29 rounds of counting will be held in Indore and the lowest 14 in Katni, he said. Around 9,000 personnel, including 17 companies of central forces, have been deployed for the security of strong rooms in which the EVMs have been kept, Rao said. Polling for the 29 seats in the central state was held in four phases on April 29 (six seats), May 6 (seven seats), May 12 (eight seats) and May 19 (eight seats). In the 2014 parliamentary elections, the BJP bagged 27 of these seats while the Congress managed to win only two. Later, the Congress increased its tally to three by winning the Ratlam seat by-election. After wresting power from the BJP in the state after last year's Assembly elections, the Congress is optimistic of a good show in the Lok Sabha polls. The Bhopal Lok Sabha seat saw one of the most keenly watched contest between Congress veteran Digvijay Singh and Hindutva activist and 2008 Malegaon blast case accused Pragya Singh Thakur. The Guna and Chhindwara seats, won by Congress leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kamal Nath, respectively, in 2014 were also in limelight this time. The Congress this time nominated Nakul Nath from Chhindwara after his father and sitting MP Kamal Nath became the state's chief minister. Other prominent faces in this election were BJP state president Rakesh Singh (from Jabalpur), party leader Prahlad Patel (Damoh), Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar (Morena), ex-Union ministers and Congress nominees Kantilal Bhuria (Ratlam-Jhabua), Arun Yadav (Khandwa), and former leader of opposition Ajay Singh (Sidhi). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi addressed more than 140 rallies each in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, the opposition leader scoring a tad better in terms of voter outreach by also holding eight press conferences. Modi addressed 142 rallies and Gandhi 145 in the fiercely contested elections that saw both leaders totting up many thousand miles as they crisscrossed the length and breadth of the country in a bid to reach out to the maximum number of people. Both leaders covered all the states in the elections that began on April 11 and ended on May 19 with Modi flying over 1.5 lakh kilometres, his party said. The votes will be counted on Thursday. Modi, the main campaigner for the BJP, was supported by party chief Amit Shah, while Gandhi was aided by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who also campaigned in many parts of the country. Ending the 2019 poll campaign with a press conference, Shah said Modi braved scorching temperatures of up to 46 degrees Celsius. There was hardly any part of the country the prime minister did not visit, he added. Modi accompanied Shah at the presser, but deflected questions saying he is a "disciplined party soldier" and the party chief is supreme for him. The president said the campaign started on March 28, 2019 from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and the prime minister addressed 142 public rallies, held four roadshows and, according to conservative estimates, directly addressed about 1.5 crore people. Modi ended the campaign with a speech in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, on May 17. "Modi's campaign involved air travel of around 1.5 lakh kilometres," Shah said. "Since Independence, the most hardworking, extensive election campaign was this one and Modi's outreach was unprecedented," he said. Shah said he himself visited 312 Lok Sabha constituencies and addressed 161 public rallies in this election. He claimed he travelled 1.58 lakh kilometres and held 18 roadshows. The Congress said its president addressed 145 poll rallies, eight press briefings and five road shows. He started with a joint public meeting in the Bihar capital Patna on February 3 and ended in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, on May 17. The campaign culminated with a press conference in Delhi. ALSO READ: Political violence continues three days after polling ends in West Bengal "You must have seen that I have improved with press conferences. You've seen that? Now, how do you think I have improved, who made me improve? What do you think? You made me improve. So it is because I come here and I do press conferences in front of you...," Gandhi said, thanking media persons. In 2014, Rahul Gandhi was party vice president and did not lead the campaign. Modi, however, addressed more than double the number of rallies that year. "History will remember the 2014 elections as historic and marking a paradigm shift from conventional electioneering," Modi had said after the 2014 poll campaign. Shah had later stated that BJP's prime ministerial candidate addressed 437 big rallies, participated in 5,827 public interface events and travelled over three lakh kilometres across 25 states in his attempt "to connect himself to the people everywhere". An engineer of the Public Health and Engineering Department and his assistant were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh in Rajasthan's Ajmer district, officials said. The accused, Surendra Kumar, had demanded a bribe from the complainant, Mangalram Jat, through his assistant, Navratan Solanki, for issuing a no objection certificate about a contract work, said Chandra Prakash Sharma, assistant superintendent of police, Anti Corruption Bureau. Kumar and Solanki were arrested while accepting the bribe. A case has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, the officer added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eva Mendes says her daughters are picking up 'Spanglish', a blend of Spanish and English languages. The actor said the couple wants Esmeralda, four, and Amada, three, to be well versed in both English and Spanish to honour both her and husband Ryan Gosling's roots. However, Mendes said the children tend to merge the two languages. "Well the Spanish in my home... I'm Cuban and we're trying to teach the kids Spanish, and it's harder than I thought. I speak Spanglish and that's what they're picking up. So it's adorable but it's technically not a language. It's Spanglish. "So our little girl will be like, 'Mommy, my boca (mouth) hurts because I think something got stuck in my diente (tooth).' It's so cute but that is not really gonna go great out there," the actor said in an appearance on "The Talk". Mendes, 45, previously said kids were the "furthest thing" from her mind till she met Gosling, 38. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu Wednesday emphasised on the need to conserve biodiversity to achieve sustainable development goals and highlighted a UN report that said nature is in trouble because of human actions. Naidu was speaking as a chief guest at the celebration of International Day for Biodiversity in Chennai themed 'Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health'. Referring to the theme of the event, Naidu said the traditional food systems evolved over a period time have proved to be healthier, more balanced and nutritious. Bringing the attention of the audience, a recently released United Nations report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services that nature is in trouble because of human actions, he urged everyone to "contribute to conservation of biodiversity which is critical for achieving many sustainable development goals (SDG) also". The celebrations were organised by the Ministry of Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in coordination with the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) and with the cooperation of the government of Tamil Nadu, an official said. Naidu, during his speech also highlighted that conservation of nature and natural resources is an innate aspect of the Indian psyche and faith, reflected in religious practices, folklore, art and culture permeating every aspect of the daily lives of people. The theme 'Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health' focuses on biodiversity as the foundation for food and health and aims to leverage knowledge and spread awareness of the dependency of our food systems, nutrition and health on biodiversity and healthy ecosystems, a ministry official said. During the event, the vice president also released documents on 'Implementation of India's National Biodiversity Action Plan: An Overview 2019'. A thematic exhibition was also organised at the venue with the participation of over 30 institutions. Interesting exhibits, posters, and other knowledge products highlighting the role of biodiversity for food and health were depicted at the exhibition. The event was attended by Anil Kumar Jain, Additional Secretary MoEFCC and Chairman, NBA; Hans Raj Verma, Additional Chief Secretary, Tamil Nadu and Shambhu Kallolikar, Principal Secretary, government of Tamil Nadu. Senior officials from the MoEFCC, NBA, Tamil Nadu government and Tamil Nadu State Biodiversity Board, representatives from other states, officers and scientists from the central and state government institutions, civil society organizations, academic institutes, students, local communities, women's development committees, and biodiversity enthusiasts also attended the event. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A farmer killed another farmer after being caught picking tomatoes from a farm in Jabalpur district of Madhya Pradesh, police said Wednesday. The incident took place at Mehgawan village Tuesday night. The accused was subsequently arrested. Chakresh Patel (30), a farmer himself, allegedly attacked Rajendra Kachhi (45) with an axe after the latter objected to Patel plucking tomatoes from his farm without permission, said Panagar police station in-charge Ravindra Verma. Kachhi had gone to his fields Tuesday night after dinner to inspect the crops, he said. When he saw Patel plucking tomatoes, he informed his family members about it on mobile phone and asked Patel to go to the house with him. As they were walking, Patel allegedly hit him in the back of his head with an axe, the police officer said. Police arrested Patel and further probe is on, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US has hit China where it hurts by going after its telecom champion Huawei, but Beijing's control of the global supply of rare earths used in smartphones and electric cars gives it a powerful weapon in their escalating tech war. A seemingly routine visit by President Xi Jinping to a Chinese rare earths company this week is being widely read as an obvious threat that Beijing is standing ready for action. "We should firmly grasp the strategic basis of technological innovation, master more key core technologies and seize the commanding heights of industry development," Xi said during the visit, the official Xinhua agency reported Wednesday. "Rare earth is not only an important strategic resource, but also a non-renewable resource," he added, in comments likely to further fuel speculation. However, analysts say China appears apprehensive to target the minerals just yet, possibly fearful of shooting itself in the foot by hastening a global search for alternative supplies of the commodities. Xi's inspection tour "is no accident, this didn't happen by chance," said Li Mingjiang, China programme coordinator at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) in Singapore. "At this moment, clearly the policy circles in China are considering the possibility of using a rare earth exports ban as a policy weapon against the US." The United States last week threatened to cut supplies of US technology needed by Chinese telecom champion Huawei, which Washington suspects is in bed with China's military. The US move has fanned speculation that Xi could impose retaliatory measures and in an indication of the importance of rare earths to the US, Washington did not include them in a tariffs increase on Chinese goods this month. China occupies a commanding position, producing more than 95 per cent of the world's rare earths, and the United States relies on China for upwards of 80 per cent of its imports. Rare earths are 17 elements critical to manufacturing everything from smartphones and televisions to cameras and lightbulbs. That gives Beijing tremendous leverage in what is shaping up largely as a battle between the US and China over who will own the future of high-tech. "China could shut down nearly every automobile, computer, smartphone and aircraft assembly line outside of China if they chose to embargo these materials," James Kennedy, president of ThREE Consulting, wrote Tuesday in National Defense, a US industry publication. China has been accused of using its rare earth leverage for political reasons before. Japanese industry sources said it temporarily cut off exports in 2010 as a territorial row flared between the Asian rivals, charges that Beijing denied. In 2014, the World Trade Organisation ruled the country had violated global trade rules by restricting exports of the minerals. The case was brought by the United States, European Union and Japan, which accused China of curbing exports to give its tech companies an edge over foreign rivals. China has cited environmental damage from mining and the need to conserve supplies as the reason for any past limits on output. While disruptive, any leverage gained from a supply block may be short-lived, experts said. "This would accelerate moves to find alternative supply sources," said Kokichiro Mio, who studies China's economy at NLI Research Institute. China is not the only country with sizeable reserves of rare earths. The United States Geological Survey estimated last year there were 120 million tons of deposits worldwide including 44 million in China, 22 million in Brazil and 18 million in Russia. China is the leading producer partly because the environmental risks deter some countries from harvesting their own deposits. Mining rare earths creates toxic waste and the potential release of harmful radioactive tailings. "There is a possibility that China would go ahead (with export curbs) but chances are what we are seeing now is just a threat," Mio said. "The US would be in trouble over a short period of time. But it is unlikely that they (China) want to pour oil on the flames." During Monday's visit, Xi was accompanied by Vice Premier Liu He, who has led China in fraught trade negotiations with Washington -- a fact not lost on China-watchers. State media coverage of the visit was dry, but a commentary on a social media account run by the Communist Party mouthpiece, the People's Daily, stressed China's dominance in the global supply chain and the relative paucity of US output. Meanwhile, cutting off the United States would mark a sharp escalation that Beijing may not have the stomach for, said Li of the RSIS. "The difference is the US is targeting specific Chinese companies. If China targets the US as a country... that may be regarded by the US and the world as a significant escalation of the trade war," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The first anniversary of the police firing during the anti-Sterlite protests, which left 13 people dead last year, was observed here on Wednesday with scores of locals turning up to remember the victims. Security was beefed up in the district though there were no reports of any untoward incidents so far. The victims were remembered by their near and dear ones and others who lit up candles before their portraits at events held in different parts of the district. On May 22, 2018, an anti-Sterlite protest turned violent with the agitators fighting pitched battles with the police, prompting the latter to open fire. Thirteen people were killed in the firing on May 22-23 last year. The protesters were demanding the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in Tuticorin over pollution concerns. The incident had triggered widespread outrage and criticism against the Tamil Nadu government even as the ruling AIADMK later announced a "permanent" closure of the copper smelter plant here. Leaders of various political parties and Tamil groups have expressed solidarity with the victims and the anti-sterilite movement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five members of a family were killed and two others seriously injured when the car in which they were travelling collided with a truck in Odisha's Kalahandi district early on Wednesday, police said. The mishap took place near Jaring on National Highway No 26 when the family members were returning home at Khuseiguda village from Kesinga railway station and the truck hit their car, killing five on the spot, they said. The victims had been to Visakhapatnam for health check up and were returning home after getting down at Kesinga station. The injured, both women, were rushed to a hospital here and one of them was later shifted to Visakhapatnam as her condition deteriorated, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former International Monetary Fund chief Rodrigo Rato must face a fresh corruption trial, just months after he was jailed over a massive fraud scandal at bailed-out Bankia, the Spanish authorities said Wednesday. The Madrid high court said Rato, along with 12 others, will be tried on charges of corruption. Anti-corruption prosecutors are seeking a sentence of four years' jail plus a fine of 2.5 million euros (USD 2.8 million). Rato was jailed in October for four-and-a-half years for his role in a fraud scandal at failed lender Bankia, which he headed from 2010 to 2012. The authorities also charged Rato in November over his role in listing Bankia on the stockmarket in 2011, accusing him of falsifying Bankia's accounts so as to trick investors. Bankia was listed at the height of the financial crisis when the Spanish economy came close to collapse and it soon found itself in trouble. Bankia's stockmarket listing was pushed as a great deal, drawing in many small and unsuspecting investors. But authorities were soon forced to bail it out in a massive rescue. The Spanish government in 2012 then had to negotiate emergency support of more than 41 billion euros from the EU to prop up the banking sector. The latest charges relate to deals allegedly offered by Bankia's management to public relations firms Publicis and Zenith in exchange for suspected bribes worth two million euros. The Madrid high court said all those charged would have to put up sureties of about 4.5 million euros or face having their assets seized. Rodrigo Rato, who headed the IMF from 2004 to 2007 and was Spanish economy minister, is also waiting judgement in a tax cheating case. Rato was head of Caja Madrid which was merged with six other struggling savings banks to create Bankia in 2010. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four people were booked for allegedly cheating a Maharashtra government official on the pretext of getting him transferred and facilitating clearance of a land, police said on Wednesday. Vidhyasagar Chavan, who worked in the state town planning department, said when he met the main accused in November 2017, the latter claimed to have good contacts in the Prime Minister's Office and bureaucrats in Delhi, a police spokesperson said quoting the complaint. Chavan then asked the accused to get him transferred from the state secretariat in Mumbai to Ambernath in Thane, she said. The accused allegedly sought Rs 28 lakh for it, but later the deal was settled at Rs 18 lakh. Chavan claimed that despite paying the money, he was not transferred, she said. Last year, Chavan approached the accused for securing an NOC of a land near the airport in neighbouring Mumbai for which he allegedly demanded Rs 1 crore, she said. He claimed the accused and his associates took him to a minister's office in Delhi in March 2018 to make him believe that they would get his work done, the spokesperson said. The complainant alleged that he made a part payment by selling his wife's jewellery, but the accused and his aides provided him forged NOC documents, she said. He complained to the police here on Tuesday following which the main accused, Dharmendra Singh, and his associates - Ramcharan Gohar, Mehboob Shaikh and Mohan Jha - were booked under Indian Penal Code Section 420 (cheating), she said. No arrest was made so far, the official said, adding a probe was underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A French-Spanish nun has been brutally murdered in a village in the Central African Republic where she taught sewing to young girls, the Vatican said Wednesday. The 77-year old was found beheaded early Monday in the southwestern town of Nola according to the Vatican website, while a bishop in CAR said her throat had been slit. Pope Francis paid tribute to the nun on Wednesday, describing the murder of a woman "who gave her life for Jesus in the service of the poor" as "barbaric". He called for those gathered in Saint Peter's Square for his weekly general audience to pray in silence for her. "Her attackers broke into her room on the night between Sunday and Monday and took her to the centre she was running for the young girls, where they beheaded her," Vatican said. "According to a local member of parliament, the murder could be linked to trafficking in human organs," the site adds. A spokesman for the diocese of Burgos in Spain told AFP a bishop in the Central African Republic had described the state of the nun's body. "They cut her neck to the point of killing her, but they didn't cut off her head completely," he said. The bishop said the motives for her murder were not known and "no terrorist organisation" has claimed responsibility for it, the spokesman added. The bishop of the diocese of Berberati led the funeral for Ines Nieves Sancho on Tuesday, he said. The vice general of the diocese of Berberati, Isaie Koffia, told AFP that the nun was murdered on Sunday afternoon. "Strangers entered the back gate and dragged her into the bush behind the house to slaughter her. They did not take anything at all, they just came to kill her," he added. The nun belonged to the small congregation of the "Filles de Jesus", or "Daughters of Jesus", which is based in Massac-Seran in southwestern France. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took to Twitter to express his "condolences and affection for Ines' family" as well as for a Spanish missionary, Fernando Hernandez, who was killed on Saturday in Burkina Faso. Hernandez, a 60-year-old member of the Salesian congregation in Bobo-Dioulasso, "was attacked by knives by a former employee who was fired two months ago," according to the website of the Salesian congregation, salesianos.info. He is the second Salesian to have been murdered in Burkina Faso this year. In February Antonio Cesar Fernandez, 72, was the victim of a "jihadist attack", according to the website. CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly-Muslim Seleka rebels. Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 per cent of the CAR, often fighting over access to the country's mineral wealth. Thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man claiming to be a homeopathic doctor was among two people arrested in Greater Noida on Wednesday on charges of lifting vehicles of people after befriending them, according to police. Accused Kapil Verma has been involved in at least three such cases where he has tricked people into lending their cars to him for some time and within days, the vehicles went missing, a senior police officer said. "He would get in touch with people and befriend them. Eventually he would ask for their vehicle for a day or for some time on some or the other pretext. He would then get a duplicate key made for the car and also get a GPS tracker installed in it," Superintendent of Police, Greater Noida, Vineet Jaiswal told reporters. "Verma's accomplice Rahul Sharma provided him with the duplicate keys and tracked the car using the GPS and would lift it at any opportune time after Verma returned the vehicle to its owners," he said. Jaiswal said at least three such cases of have come to light and the matter is being investigated further. "He claims to be a doctor, a visiting doctor at a private hospital in Greater Noida, but we are verifying his claims. His degree and work profile, whether they are true," the SP said. Verma is a native of Baghpat district, while Sharma hails from Ghaziabad and both were arrested around 12.05 am on Wednesday in Greater Noida, he said. Two of the stolen cars, a Maruti Swift and a Maruti Brezza, were seized from them along with a fake number plate on one of them, the police said. A case has been registered against the two at Kasna Police station under Indian Penal Code sections 379 (theft), 420 (fraud), 482 (using false property mark), and related offences, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stressing on the need to enhance the capabilities and professionalism of security forces, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday said these measures were essential as future challenges in the security and defence domain could be "grave". Speaking at the annual investiture ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF), the former chief of the Intelligence Bureau said the agencies working for the country's protection should "reinvent and upgrade" their technology prowess. "You should work to enhance your professionalism, capability and strength as security challenges in the days to come could be more grave," Doval said. He expressed satisfaction that agencies like the BSF and those in the security and intelligence set-up of the country were working with better technology and trying to modernise the gadgets of this trade. The NSA praised the BSF, the largest of the three border-guarding forces in the country, for ensuring the safety and security of India's borders. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are the two other border-guarding forces. The BSF, which has about 2.5 lakh personnel, guards two of the country's most sensitive borders -- with Pakistan and Bangladesh. "Your professionalism is of top level," the NSA said. Earlier at the event, Doval gave away gallantry and service medals to the officials of the force for rendering exceptional service in the line of duty. Those decorated with gallantry medals include Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Baljit Singh Kasana, Deputy Commandant Yudhhvir Yadav, assistant sub-inspectors Surjit Singh Bishnoi and Om Prakash, constables Parasram, Vibhas Batbayal and M K Choudhary. The team bravely foiled an armed intrusion bid, supported by unprovoked firing, from the Pakistani side, along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu, in November, 2016 as part of "Operation Chamliyal", their citation said. Inspector Bhupinder Singh was awarded the police medal for gallantry for effectively retaliating Pakistani firing and killing a terrorist in October, 2016 along the international border in Jammu's Samba. DIG Azad Singh Malik was presented the "Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak" for saving a 12-year-old girl, who had been electrocuted from a electric pole near the CWG village in the national capital on November 14, 2018. The officer, who was returning home after work, rushed the girl to a nearby hospital and ensured treatment to her that saved her life, his citation read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The German government on Wednesday relaxed rules on culling wolves, as the population of the predator has grown since its return to the country two decades ago. After a emotional debate pitting environmental against farming concerns, the government decided that wolves can now be shot if they cause "serious damage" to livestock farmers. In cases of repeated attacks against sheep flocks or cattle herds, individuals can be hunted down even if it is unclear which animal in a pack was responsible. Previously, wolves could only be culled if they were deemed to spell a real threat to human lives. A ban has also been imposed on feeding wolves, so as not to encourage the wild animal from shifting closer to human habitations for food. The ministry estimates that there are currently 400 wolves in Germany, while the German Hunters' Association believes the population is more than 1,000 strong. There have been no confirmed wolf attacks on humans since the animals returned to Germany from Poland in 2000 after a 150-year hiatus. But livestock farmers have complained of attacks especially on sheep. The far-right Alternative for Germany party has seized on the issues, particularly in their eastern stronghold state Saxony, urging wolf culls to control their population numbers. With three major state elections due in the autumn in eastern Germany including in Saxony, Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU party has now also backed the tougher stance against the wolf. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Global in-house (GIC) leasing is expected to drive demand over the next three years with leasing activity in this segment likely to be in the range of 30-35 million sq ft across the top six cities of Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune, says a survey. According to a study conducted by global real estate services firm Colliers International, in the last five years, GIC leasing touched 53 million sq ft, cementing India's leading position as the world's global centre. "With technology investments imperative to future growth, we expect occupiers will continue to invest in GICs, especially to develop centre of excellence, as R&D hubs, and innovation centres. We foresee GIC leasing to be in the range of 30-35 million sq ft, between 2019-2021, across the top six cities," its Senior Executive Director, Occupier Services, Ritesh Sachdev, said. These top six cities will likely to remain the first choice for GICs, occupiers may consider Hyderabad, led by its ease of doing business, talent pool and quality upcoming supply, the report said. It further said India is emerging as the undisputed leader in the GIC market led by a change in strategy among multi-national companies, further aided by competitively affordable rents in certain markets that offer sub-dollar rentals, a strong IT infrastructure, tax breaks and a highly skilled, English-speaking talent pool. As per the research, energy and chemical companies are considering Mumbai, and tech and consumer electronics companies are looking for options in Delhi-NCR for GICs. "We suggest pharmaceutical companies especially consider Hyderabad, where the government is developing a pharma city to create a healthcare ecosystem of companies. Pune is also a top pick for GICs for financial companies led by its proximity to Mumbai, competitive cost and diverse talent pool," he said. Since GICs typically lease large spaces, above 1 lakh sq ft, and must adhere to these standards, the report suggested the GICs should set up and/or expand their operations in the suburban and peripheral areas of major cities, as seen in the table at right. "We also foresee companies building campuses in peripheral locations in major cities, and in tier II cities like Vadodara in Gujarat, Thiruvanathapuram in Kerala, Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. We expect availability of talent at low attrition rates, cost arbitrage, and a conducive policy environment enabled by certain state governments to drive demand by the IT industry in tier II cities," Sachdev added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Greg Kinnear has boarded the cast of the pilot of Amazon comedy "Good People". The potential series is being developed by writers and executive producers Whitney Cummings and Lee Daniels, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Kinnear, who most recently featured in Netflix's "House of Cards", joins "Friends" star Lisa Kudrow in the project. Cummings will also feature in the pilot which follows three generations of women working in the Ombudsman's office of a college. They navigate the current cultural climate, the concept of feminism across different generations, and the struggle to reconcile socially constructed ideas with current ethical views regarding complex issues such as sex, race, class, and gender. Kinnear will portray Dr Paul Keating, a charming, charismatic philosophy professor at Sacramento University. He causes problems for ombudsman Lynn Steele (Kudrow) and Hazel Miller (Cummings) because of his unorthodox teaching methods and refusal to acquiesce to "PC" rules. Daniels will also direct the pilot. The show will be produced by Amazon Studios and Fox 21 Television Studios. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hospitality firm Oyo Wednesday said it has become the second-largest hotel group in China within 18 months of its foray into the country, with presence in 320 cities and nearly 10,000 Oyo-branded hotels with 450,000 rooms. With second-tier cities at its core, Oyo Hotels' chain extends deep into China's tier-2 to tier-6 cities, the company said in a statement. Oyo China COO Sam Shih said: "OYO Jiudian (Hotels) operates like a Chinese company and delivers better living for middle-income people across the country." Everyday, over 200,000 heads are on OYO Jiudian pillows in China due to the great experience at low cost, he added. "Also, we have enabled jobs for over 100,000 young people due to the occupancy rise and, as more people stay in our hotels, more economic opportunities are created," Shih said. Over 97 per cent of franchisee partners have come back and renewed their contracts, a testament to the impact the company has had on their business both at occupancy and revenue levels, the statement said. To ensure asset owners have improved visibility on potential customers from around the world, Oyo Hotels is also exploring ways to collaborate with online travel agents such as Fliggy, Ctrip and others, along with other consumer traffic-building platforms, it added. Oyo Hotels and Homes currently has footprint in more than 800 cities across 24 countries. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madhya Pradesh High Court has commuted the death sentence of a man convicted for the rape and murder of his daughter to life imprisonment. A division bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Anjuli Palo passed the order on Tuesday. A trial court in Bhopal had on December 22, 2018 sentenced the accused Afzal Khan to death for raping and murdering his 6-year-old daughter. When the case came up for confirmation of death sentence, the high court held that it did not fall in the "rarest of rare" category so as to warrant the capital punishment, government lawyer Som Mishra said. The division bench, instead, sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum jail term of 30 years without remission, and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him, Mishra said. The incident had taken place on March 15, 2017. Khan raped his daughter and murdered her by hanging her from ceiling with a 'dupatta' before leaving for his shop. The probe revealed that he was suspicious of his wife's relationship with her former husband and wanted to take revenge, the government counsel said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Biotechnology major Biocon and Mylan NV Wednesday said Canadian health regulator Health Canada has approved Mylan's biosimilar Ogivri co-developed with Biocon, used for the treatment certain breast and stomach cancers. Ogivri is a biosimilar to Hoffmann-La Roche's Herceptin. Mylan plans to launch the product this quarter and anticipates potentially being the first company to offer a trastuzumab biosimilar in Canada, the companies said in a joint statement. Ogivri is the first trastuzumab biosimilar approved in Canada and the second biosimilar from Biocon and Mylan's joint portfolio approved in the market, it added. Biocon Biologics Chief Executive Officer Christiane Hamacher said, "We are pleased to enable access to Ogivri, a high-quality biosimilar trastuzumab co-developed and manufactured by Biocon as an affordable treatment option for HER2- positive breast and gastric cancer patients in Canada." The Health Canada approval granted to Ogivri will pave the way for its commercialisation by Mylan, she added. Ogivri is used for the treatment of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer and metastatic stomach cancer, the statement said. "As a global leader in the development of complex products, including biosimilar medicines, we are pleased to reach this approval milestone for Ogivri and the opportunity to bring this important treatment option to market for Canadian patients with HER2-positive breast and gastric cancers," Mylan Chief Commercial Officer Tony Mauro said. Biocon and Mylan's trastuzumab biosimilar is currently approved in more than 65 countries around the world, including the US, the statement said. Mylan and Biocon are exclusive partners on a broad portfolio of biosimilar and insulin products. Shares of Biocon Ltd closed at Rs 519.60 per scrip on the BSE, up 0.14 per cent from its previous close. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jason Momoa is not happy with "Game of Thrones" season finale that brought along the death of his on-screen wife Daenerys Targaryen at the hands of her love interest and nephew, Jon Snow. The actor, who starred as Khal Drogo in the first season of the HBO series, said he felt "lost" with how things went for his Khaleesi (Emilia Clarke) in the last episode of the final season. Momoa live-streamed himself watching the episode on Instagram. The actor reached the part where Jon (Kit Harington) is banished to the Night's Watch over killing Daenerys and put out an Instagram Story to vent his faux anger. "Let me get this sh*t straight. You're going back to what the f**k you did in the first place and you killed Khaleesi... Oh my God! We're gonna go to the bars and we're gonna get in a fight," he said in the story. "I feel lost. I'm lost. What the f**k? Drogon should've melted his a**. Ugh. And the godda*n bar is closed!" he added. Post "GoT", Momoa went on to star in and as DC superhero "Aquaman", of which a sequel is in the works. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Air Force Wednesday said it has successfully test fired the aerial version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The 2.5 tonne air-to-surface missile has a range of around 300 km, and it will significantly enhance the IAF's combat capability, military officials said. The BrahMos cruise missile travels at a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times that of sound. "The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target," IAF spokesperson Group Capt Anupam Banerjee said. The IAF became the first air force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category on a sea target on November 22, 2017. "Today's was the second such live launch of the weapon. The integration of the weapon on the aircraft was a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications on aircraft," the IAF said. It said the software development of the aircraft was undertaken by the IAF engineers, while the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd carried out mechanical and electrical modifications on it. "The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, Defence Research and Development Organisation, BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd and HAL have proven the capability of the nation to undertake such complex integrations," the IAF said. It said the BrahMos missile provides the Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. "The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach," the IAF said. BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Digital marketing agency ibs, which has re-branded itself as Fulcro, Wednesday said it aims to double its revenue to Rs 100 crore in the next three years. The company, which was founded in 2003, has worked with brands like Hero MotoCorp, ASUS, Airtel, Pepsi, Tata Motors and MakeMyTrip, among others. Fulcro founder and Managing Director Sabyasachi Mitter said there was a "compelling need to reinvent itself and make itself future ready in terms of its business model and services". "By rebranding as Fulcro, we are repositioning ourselves from a digital agency to a strategic partner for brands in the digital-first world," he added. Mitter said Fulcro's current revenue is around Rs 50 crore and the company aims to double this to Rs 100 crore in the next three years. It also plans to expand its current team of 150 people in Mumbai and Gurugram. "Each of our category will be led by specialists...The five specialised focus areas would include digital, communications, technology, media and data," he added. He added that Fulcro has also built a consultative practice to undertake end-to-end digital transformation mandates. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India subscribes to a rule-based, transparent, open and inclusive multilateral trading system and firmly opposes unilateralism and protectionism, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Wednesday as the China-US trade war threatens to crimp global growth. Addressing the meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council (SCO) Foreign Ministers here in the Kyrgyz capital, Swaraj said despite a turbulent global scenario, SCO member states have been steadily expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres, including political, security and development. She said that India is committed to continue working for a favourable environment for the SCO member countries' economic activities and to intensify work on the relevant SCO documents dealing with economic and trade cooperation. "India subscribes to a rule-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive multilateral trading system, centered around the World Trade Organisation, and firmly oppose unilateralism and protectionism," she said. A recent escalation in the US-China trade conflict, including tariff hikes from both sides, has sparked reaction from industries hit by the higher levies. US President Donald Trump increased tariffs on USD 200 billion worth of Chinese imports into the US from 10 per cent to 25 per cent earlier this month, after Washington and Beijing failed to reach a deal on trade. China retaliated by announcing plans to raise levies on USD 60 billion of US imports from June 1. China has signalled some willingness to work with the US to solve their trade dispute. No discussions have been scheduled since the last round of talks ended on May 10. The US and Chinese leaders are also set to meet at the G20 summit in Japan next month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian and Chinese armies held a border personnel meeting in eastern Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesperson said on Wednesday. The Indian delegation was led by Major General Arvind Kapoor from the Fire and Fury Corps, while the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Colonel Gan Wei Han, said Colonel Rajesh Kalia. The border personnel meet was conducted opposite at the Daulat Beg Oldi meeting point on Tuesday, the spokesperson said. "Both sides reiterated the mutual desire of maintaining peace and tranquility and improving relations at the functional level at the border areas," Kalia said. "The meeting was marked by saluting the national flags by members of the delegation, followed by exchange of greetings." ?The delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment, the spokesperson said, adding that they parted amidst a feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the cordial relations and maintaining peace along the border areas. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's supreme leader has publicly chastised the country's moderate president and foreign minister, saying he disagreed with the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal they had negotiated with world powers. The extraordinary comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the first time he's criticised both politicians by name, came on Wednesday amid tensions with the United States a year after Washington's withdrawal from the accord. Khamenei has final say on all matters of state, and his blaming the deal's unraveling limits the influence of President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif relative moderates within Iran's Shiite theocracy who had struck the deal. It also shows the growing power of hard-liners. The White House earlier this month sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region over a still-unexplained threat it perceived from Iran. Since that development, Iran has announced it will back away from the atomic accord. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged off its coast, and Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen have launched drone attacks into Saudi Arabia. Both Washington and Tehran have said they want to ease heightened tensions in the region in recent days. But many fear a miscalculation between the two countries, who have a 40-year history of mistrust, could escalate the situation. Khamenei made the comments before hard-line students gathered for a Ramadan lecture. For years, hard-liners have criticised the accord for giving too much away from the West. Khamenei had given his implicit stamp of approval on the deal, which when signed sparked spontaneous celebrations across Iran. The accord saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. But the deal has unraveled after Trump's withdrawal, with the US re-imposing old sanctions and coming up with even stricter new ones. "To some extent, I did not believe in the way that the nuclear deal was implemented," Khamenei said, according to his official website. "Many times I reminded both the president and the foreign minister." Khamenei has previously warned the West, especially the US, wasn't trustworthy. But he hasn't named the country's top elected politician and his top diplomat before Wednesday night. He's previously said the two had done the best they could. Even before Trump became president and later withdrew from the deal, there were concerns in Washington that the supreme leader might turn on the agreement if the envisioned sanctions relief fell short of what Tehran expected. For that reason, the Obama administration dispatched senior officials to Europe, Asia and elsewhere to explain to foreign governments and countries what was permitted. Former Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew each encouraged foreign investors to do business with Iran so that the benefits of the deal would be apparent to the Iranian people. Since Trump's pullout last year and the re-imposition of US sanctions in November, remaining parties to the deal have been unable to keep up the pace of relief and Iran's economy has been significantly harmed, notably because of the loss of revenue from oil exports and the risk of incurring US penalties that has dissuaded international companies from opening shop in Iran. The role of the supreme leader within Iranian society, while overseeing its elected representatives, is spiritual rather than political. Khamenei acknowledged that in his speech Wednesday night, saying the gravity of the situation called on him to speak. "Our belief is that the leadership should not enter into the executive issues, unless if it affects the entire revolution," Khamenei said. There was no immediate comment from either Rouhani, who is serving his second four-year term as president, or Zarif. On Monday, Iran announced it had quadrupled its production capacity of low-enriched uranium. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67 per cent limit set under the nuclear deal, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the nuclear accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Mideast already on edge. Earlier Wednesday, a prominent reformist lawmaker who chairs parliament's national security and foreign policy commission stressed that neither Iran nor its proxy allies are seeking armed conflict with the US. "Under no circumstance will we enter a war," Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said, according to the semi-official ILNA agency. "No group can announce that it has entered a proxy war from Iran's side." Meanwhile, Iran's army chief Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi alleged without providing evidence that Saudi Arabia and the US were behind the sabotage of the oil tankers off the UAE, as well as a rocket that landed near the US Embassy in Baghdad. The US has blamed Iran for both incidents. The US Air Force also announced Wednesday that a B-52 bomber deployed to America's vast Al-Udeid Air Base over the tensions took part in a formation flight with Qatari fighter jets. That comes as Qatar has grown closer to Iran after facing a nearly two-year boycott by four Arab nations also allied with the US. "This flight was conducted to continue building military-to-military relationships" with Qatar, the Air Force said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Italian held hostage since being kidnapped in 2016 on the Turkey-Syria border has been released, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said. "Our fellow countryman Alessandro Sandrini has been liberated following coordinated action in overseas territory," Conte said in a brief statement Wednesday. Italian press reports cited Sandrini's father as saying he was released in Syria. "My son is free. He is still in Syria but he is in the hands of the Carabineri. I am more than happy, it is the end of a nightmare," Gianfranco Sandrini said in a report on the La Repubblica website. of Allessandro Sandrini's kidnapping only surfaced in the Italian press in August last year, saying he had been seized in October 2016 while on holiday in Turkey. His mother broke the blackout after receiving several phone calls from her son and at least one video showing him in an orange jumpsuit guarded by armed men. "I beg you, help me, I am tired. They are going to kill me if the situation is not resolved quickly," he says in one video. Rome prosecutors have opened an investigation into his kidnapping. Media reports say it is expected that when he returns to his home town of Brescia, in the north, he will be confined to his residence because he is implicated in two criminal cases. He faces one arrest warrant for handling stolen goods and another for a burglary in 2016 before he left for Turkey. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Taking note of the large scale encroachment of forest land in the region, the advisor to the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Wednesday directed the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) to order immediate suspension of seven officials, including the divisional forest officer. As per the order, the advisor to Governor Satya Pal Malik has directed PCCF to place Bhadarwah DFO Khalid Amin Mehta, Range Officer (RO) Chiralla Sunil Sharma, forester of Jaie Block Rattan Kumar and all the forest guards posted in compartments 1 to 12 of Chiralla range under suspension and attach them with the office of PCCF till further order. The PCCF has been asked to hold an enquiry and submit the report to administrative department in a maximum of 10 days time. There were media reports on unabated green felling in Tanta area of Chiralla range and encroachment of forest land. activists and villagers living near forest have flayed the authorities for inaction, accusing them of conniving with the timber smugglers and encroachers. They expressed concern in wake of several pictures and videos doing rounds on social media that show large scale felling of Cedar trees using diesel cutters by smugglers. Activists say illegal deforestation by timber mafia is fast depleting the forest cover on the hills, once home to dense coniferous forests. PCCF Suresh Chug could not be contacted to react on the issue. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir Police has installed CCTV cameras at 10 exit and entry points in the border town of Rajouri, an official said Wednesday. The locations selected for installation of CCTV cameras were finalised by a team of police officials to monitor movement and activities of anti-social elements, he said. The decision to install CCTV cameras was taken during a recent security review meeting of district police. "The police has stepped up the present security setup of Rajouri district. We have covered 10 sensitive as well as entry and exit points of border town under CCTV network," Rajouri SSP Yougal Manhas said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The verbal joust within the ruling Congress-JD(S) coalition continued with JD(S) state chief A H Vishwanath yet again attacking CLP leader Siddaramaiah over the latter's "failure" to bring out a common minimum programme even after a year of the government coming to power. Vishwanath also highlighted his own absence and that of Congress state president Dinesh Gundu Rao in the ruling coordination committee headed by Siddaramaiah. In a pointer that relations between the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) were still rocky with some leaders of both the parties engaging in verbal duels, the JD(S) leader asserted Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has the capability to "tolerate the torture". "What I have been insisting on is that Siddaramaiah being the coordinator of the coalition government should coordinate between the two parties and more importantly, he should draw the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). "We have not yet been able to lay down how the coalition government should function," Vishwanath told reporters in Kolar. He said drawing up the CMP was the job of state chiefs of Congress and JD(S) who were ironically not present in the coordination committee. When asked why he targeted Siddaramaiah time and again, Vishwanath retorted, "Is the coordination committee a personal thing?... the coordination committee has the responsibility to coordinate between the two parties to give good governance through programmes and policies. I am only talking about it." The JD(S) state chief Wednesday backed Congress MLA Roshan Baig, who recently called AICC general secretaryK C Venugopal a "buffoon". Baig had also slammed Siddaramaiah for "dividing" Hindu society by attempting to give a separate religion tag to Lingayat community and "abusing" the Vokkaligas during his tenure in the top post. While admitting that he did support Baig, Vishwanath clarified that he did not always criticise former chief minister Siddaramaiah. "As the JD(S) state president, I am only reminding the government about its duties within my limits. Other than this, I do not have anything personal against Siddaramaiah," he said. With the growing clamour within a section of Congress for Siddaramaiah to become the chief minister once again, Vishwanath had hit out at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, raising questions about the former's performance in the previous government, and had termed the demand as "chamchagiri" (flattery). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fighting Joshna Chinappa kept her hopes alive as the Indian entered the pre-quarterfinal round of the British Open Squash, a PSA World Tour Platinum event being held here. Saurav Ghosal and Ramit Tandon have bowed out of the tournament, though. Seeded 15 and down below in the draw, Joshna had a bye in the first round but did well in the next late on Tuesday when she downed English challenger girl Millie Tomlinson 12-10, 11-3, 11-9. This is an event where some of the world's best players get to play and to progress is a big achievement. Joshna will face the sixth seeded Sarah-Jane Perry of England late on Thursday. However, Ghosal met with an unexpected reverse after a bye in the first round, losing 11-9, 11-4, 7-11, 11-6 to fifth seeded Egyptian Karim Abdel Gawad. Ramit was unlucky to confront the experienced James Willstrop in the very first round and lost 11-8, 11-8, 11-1. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of people in Assam on Wednesday expressed concern over "false" objections raised by persons with "vested interests" to "harass genuine Indian citizens", whose names have appeared in the draft NRC. Complaints have been raised by persons and groups with "vested interests" against "genuine" citizens who have established lineage dating back to early 19th century, claimed journalist and convenor of rights body, Centre for Justice and Peace, Zamsher Ali. Objections have been filed against Ali's seven-year - old daughter and the "entire family, tracing its lineage to the same legacy data, has to be present at the NRC Seva Kendra to prove her citizenship", he said. The complainants do not even appear before the authorities during the time of hearing of their pleas, the journalist alleged. "It is a concerted effort to ensure that names of genuine Indian citizens are deleted from the final NRC, scheduled to be released on July 31," he said. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) aims to separate "genuine" citizens from "illegal immigrants". The complete draft of the register, published in July, 2018, had excluded 40.07 lakh names out of the 3.29 crore applicants. A window ending December 31, 2018, was provided for those who wanted to file claims for re-inclusion. Within this same period, people who suspected that foreigners have made their way to the list were also allowed to file their objections. The final list is slated to be released by July 31. Objections have also been also filed against the inclusion of the name of Hara Kumar Goswami, a social activist of Rampur village in Barpeta district. "There is no history of migration in our village but objections have been filed against five persons, including me, mainly because we highlight the problems being faced by people struggling to establish their citizenship, and also those who have been declared as D-voters", Goswami said. Echoing similar sentiment, researcher and social activist, Syeda Mehjabeen Rahman, said, "Objections are filed randomly and in my case, it has been filed against me and my uncle." She also alleged that authorities of the NRC Seva Kendras were "in league" with the complainants providing them with the Application Receipt Number (ARN) of the applicants. "It is mandatory for a complainant to mention the Application Receipt Number (ARN) of the person, against whom the objection is being filed. "But the ARN is known only to the applicants and the authorities at the Seva Kendras," Rahman said. Student leader and writer Ashraful Hussain, whose five-year-old niece has been served with an objection notice, said, "The entire NRC exercise is being conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court, but the guidelines of the apex court are being flouted at the ground level. "We are not against the NRC but we want an inclusive list, in which the names of all genuine Indian citzens are included." The opposition Congress in the state had claimed in a memorandum, submitted to the District Registrar of Citizen's Registration in Korajhar, that "fictitious" persons with ulterior motive were raising complaints and objections, based on which the authorities were issuing notices to "genuine" citizens. A copy of the memorandum was sent to NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela. Assuring the people of all possible help during the claims and objection verification process, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had said early this week, "The entire NRC process is monitored and supervised by Supreme Court in a very transparent manner and the state government is extending full support to ensure that no genuine Indian citizen is left out of the final NRC. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of Africa's best-known authors and gay rights activists, Binyavanga Wainaina, has died at age 48, a colleague and friend said Wednesday. The Kenyan author died Tuesday night in Nairobi after an illness, Tom Maliti, the chairman of the Kwani Trust which Wainaina founded, told The Associated Press. Wainaina, who won the 2002 Caine Prize for African Writing, was a key figure in the artistic community who promoted local authors. Friends and supporters in an outpouring of tributes on Wednesday shared his work including his biting essay "How to Write About Africa." "Always use the word 'Africa' or 'Darkness' or 'Safari' in your title," it began. "Subtitles may include the words 'Zanzibar', 'Masai', 'Zulu', 'Zambezi', 'Congo', 'Nile', 'Big', 'Sky', 'Shadow', 'Drum', 'Sun' or 'Bygone'," Wainaina advised in the piece. It quickly became one of Granta magazine's best-loved essays, the magazine said Wednesday. "As a student, he sent the magazine a strongly worded letter condemning our 1994 Africa issue," the magazine tweeted on Wednesday. "His ironic critique was so incisive and true that we published it." He became a frequent contributor. Wainaina also helped to create tolerance for the LGBT community by coming out publicly in 2014 as gay in Kenya, a country where laws still criminalise homosexual behaviour. He also revealed he was HIV-positive. He published a painfully honest essay online to mark his 43rd birthday. He said he came out to help preserve his dignity. "All people have dignity. There's nobody who was born without a soul and a spirit," he said, in an interview with The Associated Press in January 2014. "There is nobody who is a beast or an animal, right? Everyone, we, we homosexuals, are people and we need our oxygen to breathe." In the interview, Wainaina, who dyed his hair in rainbow colours, lashed out at laws against homosexuality in Nigeria and Uganda. He also criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, who promoted legislation banning "gay propaganda" aimed at youth. "I can't sleep at night because there are people who I may know or who I don't even know ... who may be dying or being beaten or being tortured right now in a Nigerian cell or three weeks ago in a Ugandan one," he said. After he came out, Time magazine in 2014 named him one of the "100 most influential people." Fellow author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wrote there that Wainaina "demystified and humanized homosexuality," saying he decided to speak openly after the death of a friend: "He felt an obligation to chip away at the shame that made people like his friend die in silence." Wainaina's death comes just days before a long-awaited court ruling in Kenya on Friday on whether to abolish laws that criminalise homosexual behaviour. Kenyan laws, like in many other African countries that outlaw same-sex relations, are vestiges of British colonial rule. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The absence of RJD chief Lalu Prasad during campaigning in Bihar for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls was a "very big challenge", but the party has put up a "good fight" nonetheless, his son Tej Pratap Yadav said. Known for his signature one-liners and trenchant wit, this was for the first time, Prasad was not present in the elections as he is serving sentences in connection with fodder scam cases. The former Bihar chief minister is currently admitted at a hospital in Jharkhand capital Ranchi on account of his poor health. The "lantern (RJD poll symbol) will be lit" at many places in the state on May 23, Tej Pratap said, though he felt that the result would be "surprising". "My father has always been the voice of the poor and the downtrodden and that is the legacy he handed over to me and my brother (Tejashwi Yadav), to fight for them and to bring equality and justice in society," the RJD leader and former Bihar health minister said, ahead of counting of votes on Thursday. "His (Lalu's) physical absence in this election was, indeed a very big challenge for us," Tej Pratap told PTI in an interview. Asked, what is the number of seats the 'mahagathbandhan (grand alliance)' in Bihar is eyeing in the just-concluded polls, Prasad's elder son said that "the numbers could swing as voters' mood is also not quite clear at the moment". "We (the RJD) have done our work and reached out to the people and made them aware of the economic and political situation in Bihar and in the country. If fortune is in our favour, we should get 20-23 seats as per our preparations," Tej Pratap said. The Mahua MLA, however, said he himself was on the "horns of a dilemma" as far as the number of seats the party could win was concerned, adding that it will have a "element of surprise" this time. Tej Pratap also said he was hopeful that his sister Misa Bharti would be able to pull off a win from the Pataliputra constituency and claimed that the people are "unhappy" with sitting BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav. Elections were held in Bihar in all seven phases, from Gaya on April 11 to Patna Sahib on May 19 spanning 40 Lok Sabha seats. As per seat sharing in the 'mahagathbandhan' in the state, the RJD fought on 19 seats, Congress on nine, RLSP on five, VIP and HAM three each. One seat was left by RJD for the CPI (ML). RJD banks hugely on Prasad's legacy as his riveting speeches during poll campaigns are known to energise voters and attract mediapersons in big number. "Laluji would talk to people of all strata and sit and eat with people of all caste. He took all communities along. In fact, he would make us brothers sit and teach the way to reach out to the masses. "He would ask us to fold hands in front of people as 'janta is our malik', tell us to wear kurta-pyjama, mostly khadi, and talk in local parlance as much as possible to better connect with the masses," Tej Pratap said. The RJD leader said he and Tejashwi have to merely keep the field "irrigated" that was "tilled by my father". Notwithstanding exit polls forecasts, Tej Pratap hit out at the BJP, saying it is a "party of businessmen (vyapariyon ki party)" who have "done nothing" for farmers or youths in the five years of its government. "Why did farmers protest at Jantar Mantar, what about the Rs 15 lakh in each account and jobs promised to youths before 2014 polls? BJP has not fulfilled any of its promises," he said. In this exclusive interview, Tej also rebuffed reports of any rift between him and his brother Tejashwi, the leader of opposition in the Bihar Assembly. "There is no rift between me and my brother. I challenge anyone who can prove that. In fact, my blessings are always with him and I will follow whatever my father tells me to... In fact, I have always stood like a shield whenever someone tried to attack my brother," he said. Asked what role he foresaw for himself on the party, Tej Pratap said, "Janta (the people) will decide that and whatever role my father gives me in the party, I will take that one." Responding to media buzz on him taking to spirituality which is overshadowing his political career, he said, "I am political and spiritual". "I am a devotee of Krishna and bhakt of Shiva. I go to Mathura and Vrindavan to get more energy. Some people get that energy sitting under a peepul tree, some get it by stepping into a pond in a village. But, it doesn't mean, I am less involved in politics now because I am more spiritual," Tej Pratap asserted. The RJD MLA went to Vrindavan, a day after casting his vote in Patna, and said, this election has also laid a "very good foundation" for the party's preparations for the Bihar Assembly polls next year. "Bihar elections will be a direct fight between RJD and BJP, as JD(U) will not be in reckoning by then, as it has joined hands with the saffron party to it own undoing," Tej Pratap claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena Wednesday extended by a month the state of emergency imposed in the wake of the deadly Easter Sunday bombings that killed nearly 260 people. The president issued a special gazette notification extending the state of emergency by a month, citing "public security". The emergency law gives police and the military extensive powers to arrest, detain and interrogate suspects without court orders. Sri Lanka initially imposed the emergency on April 23 to crack down on the nine suicide bombers who attacked three churches and as many luxury hotels April 21, killing more than 258 people and injuring 500 others. The ISIS terror group claimed the attacks, but the government blamed the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) for the Ester Sunday bombings. Following the deadly blasts, anti-Muslim riots broke out in the north of the capital as a backlash against the attacks. The riots killed one person and caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and mosques. Sri Lanka faced condemnation for the communal violence which was a fresh backlash from the Easter Sunday attack. Police say they have arrested over 80 suspects in connection with the attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leonardo DiCaprio has revealed that he saw '90s teen idol River Phoenix on the day he died of a drug intoxication outside a Hollywood nightclub. Phoenix, like DiCaprio, started as a child actor and had built up an impressive resume by starring in cult classics such as "Stand By Me", "Running on Empty" and "My Own Private Idaho". He collapsed and died on the sidewalk outside the West Hollywood nightclub The Viper Room at the age of 23. DiCaprio said he wanted to shake hands with Phoenix but was too nervous to muster up the courage only to hear that the actor had died. "I grew up revering River Phoenix as the great actor of my generation, and all I ever wanted was to have just an opportunity to shake his hand," DiCaprio told Esquire magazine. "And one night, at a party in Silver Lake, I saw him walk up a flight of stairs. It was almost like something you would see in Vertigo, because I saw there was something in his face, and I'd never met him always wanted to meet him, always wanted to just have an encounter with him and he was walking toward me and I kind of froze. And then the crowd got in my way, and I looked back and he was gone." DiCaprio said he kept circling the actor for another meeting but that was not to be. "I walked back up the stairs and back down, and I was like, Where did he go?' And he was on his way to The Viper Room. It was almost as if I don't know how to describe it, but it's this existential thing where I felt like... he disappeared in front of my very eyes, and the tragedy that I felt afterward of having lost this great influence for me and all of my friends. "The actor we all talked about. Just to be able to have that, always wanting to justand I remember extending my hand out, and then Two people came in front and then I looked back, and then he wasn't there," DiCaprio said. Actor Joaquin Phoenix is the younger brother of River Phoenix. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day ahead of counting of votes for the Parliamentary elections, the ruling TRS in Telangana is upbeat about winning 16 of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats, while opposition Congress and BJP also sounded hopeful of winnng a good number of seats. "We have full confidence that we will definitely win 16 seats. We have no doubts about it. Majority (winning margins) may vary, but we will win 16," TRS MLC Palla Rajeshwara Reddy told PTI. TRS has been focused on winning 16 out of the total 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana (leaving Hyderabad seat to its ally AIMIM). BJP MLC N Ramchander Rao, who is the candidate from Malkajgiri in the Lok Sabha polls, said his party is going to pull off surprises by winning seats in "unexpected numbers". As per the party's internal surveys, it stands a good chance to win Adilabad and it did well in Nizamabad and Karimnagar, Rao said. It is a keen contest in Mahabubnagar, Secunderabad and Malkajgiri, he said, adding that the party is expected to win at least two or three among the above mentioned six seats. State Congress working president Ponnam Prabhakar, who is the party candidate in Karimnagar, said his party is expected do very well in constituencies, including Chevella, Nalgonda, Khammam, Karimnagar, Malkajgiri, Secunderabad and Bhongir. While some exit polls predicted TRS to win 16 seats, some others gave the ruling party 13-14 seats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Sri Lankan diaspora body has challenged Britain's proscription order, imposed on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since 2001, on the grounds that the outfit is no longer active and that it is inhibiting other non-violent political activities of Sri Lankan Tamils. The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), which describes itself as a "government-in-exile" body, had challenged the proscription in a petition to the UK Home Office but its plea to reverse the ban on the LTTE was turned down earlier this year. It has now filed a legal challenge to the ban via Prof. Conor Gearty of Matrix Chambers and the London School of Economics (LSE), which will be heard before an independent tribunal specially constituted for this purpose under the UK's Terrorism Act 2000 the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission (POAC). "In its petition to the Home Secretary, the TGTE members argued that the ban on the LTTE is misperceived as a ban on advocacy for the establishment of a sovereign state of Tamil Eelam, and as a result it has a chilling effect in the people's participation of the TGTE's political work towards that goal, noted a statement from Matrix Chambers, the barristers' chambers behind the challenge. "In addition, over the past 10 years there have been no violent activities carried out by the LTTE. The act of banning the LTTE means in practice that the political activities of all Tamils are cracked down on, which is a practice encouraged by the Government of Sri Lanka, according to the Prime Minister of the TGTE Mr Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran," the statement notes. The legal team says that in the letter of refusal, the UK Home Office referred only to one alleged incident, noting that it had been "reported that in June 2018 the Sri Lankan police arrested individuals in the course of transporting explosive devices and LTTE paraphernalia including flags and that no other evidence was presented to explain a continued ban on the LTTE. The POAC has the power to direct the Home Office to lift the ban on the LTTE and a hearing date for the case is yet to be fixed, but it is expected to be some time later this year. "The (UK) government is seeking to have much of the evidence heard in secret, a proposal that the TGTE oppose on grounds of transparency and which they desire to challenge, the Matrix Chambers statement adds. LTTE was proscribed in Britain in March 2001, when it was characterised as a "terrorist group fighting for a separate Tamil state in the North and East of Sri Lanka". The proscription of a group makes it a criminal offence to be a member of such an organisation or show support in any form. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Maharashtra minister Jaidutta Kshirsagar Wednesday resigned as NCP MLA and is set to join the Shiv Sena later in the day. Kshirsagar, who hails from Beed district in Marathwada region, told PTI that he had also resigned from primary membership of the party. He had expressed discontent with the NCP leadership for "ignoring" him and giving importance to Dhananjay Munde, Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council. "I was feeling suffocated in the party," he said. He said he would be joining the Uddhav Thackeray-led party later in the day. Munde, nephew of late Gopinath Munde, also hails from Beed district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 26-year-old married woman was allegedly gang raped at an isolated spot in South Delhi's Maidan Garhi area, police said Wednesday. According to the woman, she had gone to Swami Satsang ashram at Fatehpur Beri on May 19. She left the ashram at 8 pm that day. It was while she was waiting for an autorickshaw, a white car stopped and she asked for a lift to go till Chattarpur, they said. "The woman was standing on the main road when a white car stopped and she asked the two occupants of the car to drop her home. However, the men took a wrong route and took her to an isolated spot in Maidan Garhi area where they took turns to rape her," a police officer said. The victim told police that she heard the two men addressing each other as Devender and Jaihinda. A native of Alwar district in Rajasthan, the woman came to Delhi a couple days ago and was staying at a relative's house in Rani Bagh. The victim has an 8-year-old daughter and is living separately from her husband, a senior police officer said. After committing the crime, the accused abandoned the woman and left the area. Later, she called the police who took her to AIIMS where her medical examination confirmed sexual assault, the officer said. The police have registered a case under IPC Section 376 D (gang rape) at the Maidan Garhi police station. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Kiren Rijiju Wednesday said security forces in Arunachal Pradesh have launched a massive operation against the insurgents who killed an MLA and 10 others in the state. He said when members of local community are involved in insurgent activities and maintain links with militants, the security operations can result in collateral damage. "A massive military operation has been launched by the security forces in eastern Arunachal Pradesh," Rijiju said in a Facebook post. Suspected NSCN militants on Tuesday gunned down sitting MLA and National People's Party (NPP) candidate for the state assembly polls, Tirong Aboh and 10 others, including his son, in Tirap district in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, asserted that unless the local people cooperate, military action alone cannot be a permanent solution. "When some members of the local community are involved in insurgent activities and maintain links with them, the security operations would result in collateral damage which becomes an issue of human rights. Some people will only question and blame the security forces but never condemn the acts of insurgents," he said. The Union Minister of State for Home said some people talk against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), "which is only brought for providing better security to the citizens". "Since 1997-98, politicians and other important people are primarily responsible as they fall prey to the pressure and at times take the help of insurgents. It is time to take a tough stand and everyone should come together and say no to violence and insurgent groups. If we all stand unitedly, we shall overcome," he said. Many political parties and civil society groups in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir have been demanding the repeal of the AFSPA, which gives special powers to the armed forces to shoot or arrest any suspect and carry out searches in any premises without warrants. Expressing shock over the brutal killing of the MLA and 10 others, Rijiju said in the last few years, security situation in the entire Arunachal Pradesh has improved, but the two incidents in Tirap district this election have spoilt the atmosphere. Director General of Arunachal Pradesh Police S B K Singh said Tuesday that the Army units had launched massive combing operations in the area to nab the perpetrators. Senior police officers of Tirap and neighbouring Changlang districts have reached Khonsa to supervise and coordinate with various security agencies for the operations, Singh said. The Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh were held along with the Lok Sabha elections on April 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two teenage girls from Jharkhand were allegedly raped by four persons, including two minor boys, for the last six months in Rajasthan's Bhilwara district, police said Wednesday. An FIR was registered in the matter by a child welfare committee (CWC) in Bhopal on May 18 where the girls aged 15-16 years reached earlier this month after giving a slip to the accused. The incident was reported at Raila police station of Bhilwara on Tuesday, DSP Himmat Singh said. He said a case has been registered against a contractor, Montu, who had brought the girls from Daltanganj of Jharkhand and Chandra Kant and two minor boys under IPC Section 376D (gang rape) and relevant sections of POCSO Act. The accused are on the run, police said. Bhilwara child welfare committee chairperson Suman Trivedi said the contractor had paid Rs 4,000 each to the girls' families nearly two years ago, promising them job in Rajasthan. The girls were working at a factory in Bhilwara, the official said. According to the FIR, the girls were made to work for 16 hours a day at the factory and were fed two times. They were later taken to an old factory campus where they were raped. Trivedi said the girls were not allowed to talk to their parents. The victims managed to escape when the accused were partying late night. They reached Chittorgarh from where they took a train to Bhopal and a passenger helped them connect with the CWC, the chairperson added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra government Wednesday said the MLA fund can be used for providing various facilities at cattle camps as part of drought relief measures. Minister of State for Agriculture Sadabhau Khot told reporters that problems being faced by cattle camps came to fore during review of drought situation in Aurangabad district. "If fodder for cattle in the camps is provided in buckets and tubs, the fodder will not be spoilt. Plastic water tanks can be kept ready for judicious use of water in cattle camps. The MLA fund can be utilised for making these facilities available," the minister said. He said Rs 25 lakh is to be distributed to MLAs in the current financial year, and that the government has given its approval for utilising the fund for 13 drought relief works, including drinking water schemes and providing facilities at the cattle camps. Maharashtra has 288 MLAs. The state is reeling under drought in 26 districts. The situation is likely to worsen further with the meteorology department predicting delayed onset of monsoon. 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The offering of Virtual Offices in Dehradun and Vadodara are provided in three forms: GST Registration, Mailing Address & Complete Package which can help in scaling up of business overnight. The other locations with well-equipped MyBranch offices are Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai, Panaji, Pune and Ranchi. With MyBranch now in Dehradun and Vadodara, business owners can look forward to expanding their business in these cities in a hassle-free manner. MyBranch eliminates all obstructions and costs related to property scouting, leasing, compliance, office furnishing, set-up, maintenance and support staffing. MyBranch can help enterprises stand out from the rest through their offering of Virtual Offices and Branch Offices. For more information, please write us at info@mybranch.co.in or visit https://www.mybranch.co.in/ to unleash business growth with MyBranch. About Narayan Bhargava Group Founded in 1979, the Narayan Bhargava Group is headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra and is India's most dependable business support and growth partner. Its pan India network of associates and affiliates comprises global multinationals, large private enterprises and governmental institutions, spread across 350+ locations in the country. The group employs a highly credible workforce of experienced and respected professionals who deliver the best solutions in quick succession and drive remarkable customer experiences. For more details, visit https://www.narayanbhargavagroup.com/ or write to us at info@narayanbhargavagroup. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani court has allowed the country's anti-corruption watchdog to interrogate jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for allegedly using 20 bullet proof vehicles imported for the proposed SAARC summit in 2016 for himself and his family, according to a media report. Accountability Court judge Muhammad Arshad passed the order on an application filed by the anti-graft body, seeking permission to interrogate the 69-year-old Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo at the Kot Lakhpat jail, where he is serving 7-year-sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills graft case. According to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), 34 bulletproof vehicles were imported from Germany for diplomats attending the SAARC without paying custom duty on them, the Express Tribune reported. The 19th Summit, which was to be held in Islamabad, was called off after India pulled out of it following the deadly terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri. Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to attend, bringing the South Asian conference to a deadlock. No SAARC meeting has happened ever since. It further alleged that 20 of these vehicles were added to Sharif's own convoy and were also used by his daughter Maryam Nawaz. The NAB has already interrogated PML-N leader and former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, former principal secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad and former foreign secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, who approved the proposal to import the vehicles, in connection with the case. The NAB had earlier filed three corruption cases against Sharif on the orders of the Supreme Court following the publication of the Panama Papers. Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law retired captain Mohammad Safdar were granted bail in September last year in the Avenfield properties case that involved buying of four luxury flats in London through fraudulent means. He was acquitted in December last year in the Flagship Investments corruption case in the high-profile Panama Papers scandal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- The vIDEA 2019- Video Media Awards and Summit saw NetBiz, a 360-degree digital performance-driven agency, win big for their digital campaigns for a leading real estate company, Radius Developers. The agency was awarded the following titles: Best Video Content in a Digital Campaign for a Real Estate Enterprise (GOLD): Ten BKC Lobby Launch Campaign for Radius Developers Use of Animation/Motion Graphics in a Visual Communication - Special Mention: Ten BKC Lobby Launch - Manifesto for Radius Developers(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891252/Radius_Landmark_Lobby.jpg )Radius aimed to present their flagship project, Ten BKC, by highlighting its biggest feature - a grand, one-of-a-kind lobby, created by the world-renowned designer Aedas. NetBiz took a novel approach by creating a manifesto video for the lobby of Ten BKC. Using motion graphics to embody the grandeur of the lobby, the video created a massive impact upon its target audience, thus earning the brand several accolades for the project. Radius created history by being the only real estate brand that launched a lobby with a video, showcasing its uber luxurious project and creating a buzz across social media platforms. Several mediums such as YouTube, Trueview ads, bumper ads, ET, Money Control and Livemint were used by the team between the teaser and the launch phase, with the inclusion of a search bar on offline hoardings to increase search visibility. The campaign also involved a series of creative posts and videos that were aimed at giving the Ten BKC lobby a grand entrance into the real estate market. Exclusive sneak peeks were provided to a select few VIPs before the official launch, while short clips announcing the arrival of BKC's biggest landmark were created and curated by NetBiz across Radius' social media handles. Customer testimonials played an important role in the launch phase of the campaign, as residents, patrons, and celebrities shared their thoughts about the latest luxury landmark at one of Mumbai's central business districts. Each phase of the campaign reflected the sole and simple communication for the brand which was #UnveilingTheLobby, and NetBiz played an integral role in creating an ideal strategy for Radius Developers that marketed one of the biggest residential lobbies in Mumbai. About NetBiz NetBiz Systems Pvt. Ltd. is a 360-degree data-driven performance marketing agency in Mumbai that provides integrated marketing and content solutions built on robust brand planning and boundless creative ideas. With strategies built on meaningful insights, the agency intensifies user experience by providing hybrid advertising solutions, harmonised with thoughtful concepts. NetBiz devises the perfect blend of varied platforms and technology for brands, coupled with a digital system that works best for them. Combining creativity, dynamism and innovation to create better brand experiences, NetBiz has been transforming brands since 2003 by ensuring that their concepts are designed well, developed immaculately and delivered timely. For more information, please visit : http://netbiz.in/ About Radius Developers Radius aims to reshape the contours of the luxury real estate in Mumbai with inspirational creations and mesmerizing architecture. The company has delivered 7million sq. ft. of prime residential & commercial development and has recently won 'Best Commercial Building Award' for its flagship project 'One BKC' by CNBC Awaaz Real estate awards 2017-18. Source: NetBiz Systems Pvt. Ltd. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scientists have developed a smartphone application which they say can help diagnose early symptoms of a rare genetic disorder. The Neural Impairment Test Suite app created by researchers at the Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) in Lithuania provides its user with a series of tests in order to check the presence of the symptoms. If the probability of symptoms is detected, the user is informed and encouraged to contact medical professionals for further advice. Huntington's disease, caused by an inherited defect in a single gene, is a progressive brain disorder that causes uncontrolled movements, emotional problems, and loss of thinking ability. If a parent has the gene, each son or daughter has a one in two (50/50) chance of inheriting the disease. Adult-onset Huntington's disease, the most common form of this disorder, usually appears in a person's thirties or forties. Individuals with the adult-onset form of Huntington disease usually live about 15 to 20 years after signs and symptoms begin, researchers said. A less common form of Huntington disease known as the juvenile form begins in childhood or adolescence. It also involves movement problems and mental and emotional changes, they said. Early signs and symptoms of the disease can include irritability, depression, small involuntary movements, poor coordination, and trouble learning new information or making decisions. All these are difficult to notice. "Our app is aimed at the early detection -- we are attempting to diagnose the disease when visually there are no symptoms," said Andrius Lauraitis, KTU doctoral student. According to Professor Rytis Maskeliunas of KTU, the app provides additional information and allows automatisation of the process, but is not trying to replace medical diagnosis. The app is one-of-a-kind, as the technological devices in the context of this disease have not been investigated yet. "Due to the hereditary nature of the disease a person might know that he or she is in a risk group, but it is not known when and if the disease will strike," Maskeliunas said. "When the early symptoms are detected, the person is advised to contact a physician. Although there is no known treatment for Huntington's disease, it is estimated that a patient can gain 3-16 years of healthy life if the disease is diagnosed early," said Maskeliunas. The app is a collection of various tests available to smartphone users on Google Play. The tasks on the app are designed to evaluate the user's motor, cognitive skills, to detect voice and energy consumption disorders. The app can also be used for the evaluation of other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or dementia. According to KTU scientists, usually in medical practice similar diagnostic tests are provided on paper, but this is the first attempt to digitalise the instrument. Depending on the degree of risk of developing the disease, the user can take the test once a week or more often; his or her data is being stored in the user's profile. The model developed by KTU scientists is counting the values and predictions according to the indicators of the progress of the disease. "For example, the test of a 3D figure construction (a cube or a cuboid) is digitalised with the application of graph theory. The algorithm is comparing two graphs -- one exemplary and one formed by the patient - in order to evaluate the metrics of similarity," said Lauraitis. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- "Taiwan Seed Varieties" will return to the Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum 2019 and showcase the newly developed seeds and seedlings. With the theme 'innovative, eco-friendly and sustainable,' the displayed products feature heat-, disease-, moisture-, and drought-resistant and tolerant. The trade show is slated at Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 from 31st October to 2nd November. "Taiwan Seed Varieties" showcases seeds and seedlings featuring heat-, disease-, moisture-, and drought- resistant and tolerant. (PRNewsfoto/UBM Asia Ltd., Taiwan Branch) Supported by Agriculture and Food Agency, Council of Agriculture (COA) in the three consecutive editions, Asia Agri-Tech Expo 2019 aims to accelerate the seed business in the Asia-Pacific region that provides sustainable solutions for environment, food crises and food safety. The Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA), a leading seed industry non-profit organisation and World Vegetable Center (WVC), a non-governmental international agricultural research institute with high authoritativeness collectively cooperate with the trade show organiser and will deliver presentations onsite of the show. The WVC will unveil its up-to-date achievement in "Taiwan Seed Varieties," while APSA will share the latest seed trends and Asia-Pacific market information. It is not only a meaningful milestone for the show, but also a beneficial connection to agricultural stakeholders, remarked Sabine Liu, General Manager of the show organiser. The showcasing vegetable and fruit seeds at Agri-Tech Expo 2019 include broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, pumpkin, green bean, watermelon, tomato, melon, papaya, among others. Furthermore, flower seedlings will cover the categories of turf, herb, bedding plants and more. Both online and offline matchmaking programme for seed business will be launched in the show. The Buyer Incentive Programme has been announced on the event website. Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum 2019 is expected to recruit more than 350 exhibitors and attract approximately 22,000 visitors. About Informa Markets Asia Agri-Tech Expo & Forum is organised by Informa Markets, a division of Informa plc. Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Human Rights Commission Wednesday sent a notice to the Himachal Pradesh government and the state's police chief over reports of death of a class 6 student due to alleged delay in providing medical care to him after he was hit on the head by a fellow student on the premises of a government school in Kangra. It has observed that the allegations of carelessness on the part of the school authorities in providing the timely treatment to the victim, if true, amount to gross violation of human rights. "The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report about the death of class 6 student due to alleged delay in providing medical care to him after he was hit on the head by a fellow student in the premises of Government Senior Secondary School, Charuri in Sukhar gram Panchayat in Nurpur, District Kangra, Himachal Pradesh on May 15," the rights panel said in a statement. Reportedly, the police did not take any action in the matter till May 21, when the local residents held a protest in front of the school against its authorities and the Gangath Police for taking the incident "casually", it said. The panel has issued notices to the chief secretary and the director general of police of Himachal Pradesh calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks. "The school authorities, who were the lawful custodian of the boy at the time of the incident, seem to be negligent due to which, a precious young human life was lost," the NHRC statement said. According to media reports carried on May 22, the victim's mother, a widow and resident of Ghatot village, in a complaint to the chief minister, the DGP and SP, Kangra, has alleged that the Gangath Police and the school administration were "trying to hush up the case". Reportedly, before prayer, the victim was playing in the school ground, when he was attacked by a fellow student with a stick. "The boy fell unconscious and started bleeding from his head, nose and mouth. It is stated that the school management failed to provide him timely treatment due to which he succumbed to his injuries. The victim was initially taken to Tanda Medical College from where he was referred to PGI Chandigarh," the statement said. It is also mentioned in the report that when the matter was reported to police, they allegedly tried to hush up the case and an FIR was not registered despite several requests. Later, following a public outcry, the deputy superintendent of police of the area reportedly rushed to the spot, met the family members of the deceased and also assured a fair inquiry into the case. The DIG of Kangra has also given a statement that he has directed the inquiry officer to record the statement of school students. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigation Agency Wednesday filed a charge sheet against four suspected terrorists of the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) for the attack on a police team in Srinagar last year, officials said. Nearly 20-days after the attack at the Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar on November 24 last year, the NIA had taken over the probe into the incident from the state police, they said. During its probe, The Jammu and Kashmir Police had arrested three suspected members of the terror group -- Tahir Ahmad Khan, Haris Mushtaq Khan and Asif Suhail Nadaf -- immediately after the incident. "During their search, two pistols, 14 live rounds and three hand grenades were recovered from their possession along with an ISIS flag. "The case was subsequently taken over by the NIA for investigation on December 13, 2018," an NIA spokesperson said here. The agency had arrested one more accused Asif Majid Khan, who was allegedly involved in "harbouring other co-accused persons", he said. "One illegal 12 bore single-barrel gun without a number and two KF-12 cartridges were recovered on his disclosure," the spokesperson said. The agency alleged that all the arrested persons were members of the ISJK, an affiliate of the West Asia based terror group ISIS. "Investigation unearthed a larger conspiracy of these terrorist elements propagating pan-Islamic ideology of the ISIS by recruiting and radicalising Kashmiri youths towards 'jihad' and targeting security forces," he said. The agency claimed that three other accused in the case Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi, Pervez Ahmad Bhat and Asif Nazir Dar were killed during encounters with security forces in the state. The NIA has charged the arrested persons under Indian Penal Code sections related to criminal conspiracy and provisions of the stringent anti-terror Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bandit gunmen have killed at least 20 people in separate attacks in northwestern Nigeria, police said Wednesday, the latest violence in the restive region of Katsina. Armed bandits on motorcycles stormed into a farming village on Tuesday, spraying the people with gunfire, Katsina state police spokesman Gambo Isah said. "They killed 18," Isah said. That attack happened on at Yargamji village in Batsari district, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the state capital Katsina. A self-defence militia from another village then chased the bandits, ending in a gun battle in the forest. Police said the bodies of two militia members shot dead were brought back and buried from that fight, but residents said more people were killed. "We lost 11 people who went to fight the bandits in the bush," resident Sada Iro said. There had also been attacks in a nearby village called Mara Zamfarawa, in which five residents were killed, Iro said. Katsina state, 350 kilometres (220 miles) north of Nigeria's capital Abuja, has suffered from a string of violent attacks in recent months. The gunmen, who appear to want cash and have no known ideological agenda, have carried out repeated raids on villages, stealing cattle and food, burning homes and kidnapping for ransom. Rural communities have taken up arms to defend themselves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) by Shafique Khokhar Javed Masih, leaves a wife and a disabled child. His employer had him abducted and tortured. The minimum monthly wage set by the government is US$ 109, whilst the murder victim made only US$ 66. Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - A man was killed by his employer because he had decided to change jobs, given the pittance he was paid and the ongoing harassment the employer and his sidekicks inflicted upon him. Javed Masih, a 36-year-old Christian man, leaves a wife, Ghazala, 35, and a disabled son, Junaid, 8. His wife told AsiaNews that her husband had been working as a farmhand for four months for Abbas Olaf, a Muslim. On 16 May, he was abducted, tortured and killed. Javed had to put with religious discrimination at the hands of his boss and his friends. We never had the courage to file a complaint because we are poor and we know that the police would not have listened to us. I ask the people of God to help us. The saddest thing is his son will never see his father again and we will be forced to live without him and his support." The victim and his family lived in Nalka Kohala, near Faisalabad. About four months ago he accepted a job as a farm labourer for only 10,000 rupees a month (US$ 66)], with 6,000 (US$ 40) paid in advance. The minimum wage set by the government is 16,500 rupees (US$ 109). Javed knew that his salary was a pittance, but had no choice given his familys poverty. However, in early May he decided to accept a job offer from another employer, who paid twice (20,000 rupees, US0), with a month paid in advance. The higher salary would have given him and his family a bit of financial breathing space, considering the high medical costs for their disabled child. Upon hearing Javeds intention of leaving, his employer, Abbas, got very angry and told him that if he wanted to leave, he had to pay a penalty, about US$ 40. Javed raised the money requested thanks to a loan from the new boss and went to Abbas's house to pay him. Here he was abducted by the employer, Naveed Abbas (the employers brother-in-law), Naeem (a cousin) and a friend, Jugnu. When her husband failed to come home, Ghazala went out looking for him, and eventually filed a case of missing person. On Saturday, a police patrol found his body in a canal. At present, no one has been arrested in connection with the murder. The funeral was held last Sunday (19 May). On the same day, Ejaz Augustine, Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minority Affairs, visited the family and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice. According to Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, the Christian mans murder "is indicative of a mindset that considers members of minorities as slaves. The Pakistani Constitution bans all forms of slavery and forced labour: Article 37 mentions minimum conditions of employment and Article 38 guarantees the equality of all workers, regardless of sex, caste, creed or race. Yasir Talib, activist and coordinator for the Provincial Ministry of Human Rights and Minority Affairs in Faisalabad, notes "many Muslims also work in the fields, but conditions for Christians are four times worse. Indeed, Javed was murdered because he was poor and belonged to a religious minority. What is worse, is that even if they tried and convicted, culprits know that sooner or later they will be freed, which is what happened to two of the killers of Shama and Shahzad (a Christian couple alive thrown into a brick kiln), who were acquitted by the Lahore High Court." The Delhi government Wednesday told the National Green Tribunal that no encroachment shall be allowed on forest land in Southern Ridge. The Forest Department told a bench comprising Justice Raghuvendra S Rathore and expert member Satyawan Singh Garbyal that fencing work on the land is going on and shall be completed soon. "No encroachment, whatsoever, shall be allowed to be made on the land in question, including the one which has already been allotted," it said. The tribunal has summoned the district magistrate, tehsildar and patwari of the area concerned to appear in person and explain the queries in the matter. The NGT has now posted the matter for hearing on June 26. Earlier, the green panel had rapped the Delhi government over improper depiction of encroachments on forest land in Southern Ridge and sought a proper map giving complete detail. The tribunal said the map, prepared by the Revenue Department, which has been shown to it, has neither been signed by the official of the Revenue Department, nor is the same authentic as there is no seal of the department. It had earlier slammed the department over varying figures on forest land encroachments in Southern Ridge and said it did not want 'tamasha' and sought authentic information on the issue. The NGT had summoned the principal chief conservator of forests and the AAP government's revenue secretary to inform it about the reasons for delay in demarcation of forest land in Southern Ridge here. The green panel had directed the principal chief conservator of forests to file an affidavit stating how much time would be needed to take the possession of demarcated forest land in the Southern Ridge area here. The tribunal was hearing a bunch of pleas filed by South Delhi resident Sonya Ghosh and others against encroachments on forest land in the Southern Ridge area and seeking their removal. It had directed the Delhi government to adhere to the time schedule and expeditiously carry out demarcation of the area falling within their limits. The NGT had said the city government was frustrating the orders of the green panel on one pretext or another and showing "disdainful conduct" in the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korea's UN ambassador has said the Trump administration should consider the possible consequences that the recent US seizure of a North Korean cargo ship could have on relations between the two countries and immediately return the vessel. Kim Song said on Tuesday at a conference the "outrageous act" of seizing the ship was aimed at bringing maximum pressure on North Korea to make it "kneel down". The vessel Wise Honest, North Korea's second largest cargo ship, was first detained in April 2018 by Indonesia while transporting a large amount of coal. The US announced on May 9 that it had seized the ship because it was carrying coal in violation of UN sanctions, a first-of-its kind enforcement action that came amid a tense moment in relations with North Korea. The ambassador said the seizure was an "outright denial of the underlying spirit" of the June 12, 2018, joint statement by President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un after their first summit in Singapore "which committed to establishing new bilateral relations." At the summit, Trump promised "security guarantees" to Pyongyang and Kim recommitted to the "complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula." A second high-stakes summit between the two leaders in February collapsed over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament. The United States has urged allies to maintain economic pressure on North Korea until it takes material steps toward relinquishing its nuclear weapons. The North Korean leader has since aired his displeasure with short-range missile tests apparently aimed at pressuring Washington and Seoul, and declared that the Trump administration has until the end of the year to come up with mutually acceptable terms for a deal to salvage the negotiations. Kim, the ambassador, told reporters that the ship seizure is the "product of an extreme hostile policy of the United States against the DPRK," the initials of the country's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. He accused the US of violating international law and the 2004 UN Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and Their Property. Kim reiterated that he has asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take "urgent measures" to contribute to stability on the Korean peninsula, but refused to answer a question on what measures. The ambassador listened to about a dozen other questions, including the impact of the seizure of the ship on prospects for a third Kim-Trump summit and on relations between North Korea and South Korea, whether the ship was carrying contraband, the impact of US and UN sanctions, and whether the North would apologise for the death of American student Otto Warmbier. Kim said he wouldn't answer questions not related to the seizure of the Wise Honest but then only repeated some points from his statement. He ended the conference saying: "We'll sharply watch the reaction of the United States. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Army man was killed and seven others were injured in a blast during a "training activity" along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district on Wednesday, officials said. "On Wednesday at 0915 hours, during a training activity on a military post in Mendhar sector, one soldier was critically injured and later succumbed to injuries", a Defence public relation officer said. Seven others suffered minor injuries and two of them were taken to the nearest military hospital. Their condition is stable, the officials said. The incident took place at the Dhera Dabsi forward post of the 12 Madras Regiment, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) / -- - New brand imagery showcases the brand's focus on quality, craftsmanship and uniqueness in every detail - Aims to strengthen position in the premium segment with OPPO Reno, a new series engineered for creativity Reiterating its commitment to consumer-centric approach, OPPO, a leading global smartphone brand, has introduced its new brand identity that focuses on quality, craftsmanship and uniqueness in every detail. OPPO, a pioneer in smartphone innovations, has emerged as the fastest growing smartphone brand in the premium segment globally with an unprecedented 863% growth according to the Counterpoint Research report released on April 2019. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891155/OPPO_Reno.jpg ) Encouraged by such growth and response from consumers in the premium segment, OPPO has partnered with celebrated designer, Eddie Opara of Pentagram, New York to craft a new brand identity. OPPO's new brand identity showcases an exciting evolution in the company and its ongoing growth and success. The new brand imagery reveals a much simpler, symmetrical logo. With characteristic OPPO curves, the new logo is distinctive yet elegant and offers a design, which leaves ample room for imagination. The imagery also includes a new color system and visual layout system, as well as marks the debut of a custom typeface, OPPO Sans. This new brand image earmarks the growth and wider reach of OPPO as it continues to expand into more diverse markets and environments worldwide. Continuing its streak of innovation and creativity, OPPO is also introducing a new series in its product portfolio - Reno series. Engineered for creativity, Reno series is targeted at creative young trendsetters with a passion for self-expression and imagining the unimaginable. As the epitome of OPPO's creative vision, Reno will serve as the catalyst for OPPO's smartphone development in India for the next ten years. In line with this vision, OPPO is rolling out the 'I'm Reno' brand campaign, which boasts of a new product concept, design philosophy, and communication model. As a part of the, 'I'm Reno' campaign, OPPO has partnered with renowned artists globally to inspire the power of creativity. As a product series developed by OPPO for the global community, Reno will be available in all markets where OPPO operates. After receiving tremendous appreciation at the recent launches in China and Europe, OPPO Reno is all set to make its way to India. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smartphone brand dedicated to providing products infused with art and innovative technology. Based on the brand elements of young, trend-setting and beauty, OPPO brings consumers superior experience of digital life through Internet-optimized products that offer best-in-class services. The brand started the era of Selfie beautification and has set itself apart by introducing the motorized rotating camera, the Ultra HD feature, 5x Dual Camera Zoom technology. OPPO's Selfie Expert F series launched in 2016 drove a Selfie trend in the smartphone industry. In 2017, OPPO was ranked as the number 4 smartphone brand globally, according to IDC. With more than 200 million consumers, OPPO's business has covered 40 countries and regions with 400,000 stores and has 4 R&D centres worldwide, providing excellent smartphone photography experiences to young people around the world. In 2018, with the launch of Find X, OPPO introduced panoramic arc design with a screen ratio of 93.8%, the largest screen-to-body ratio in the mobile phone market today. In addition to this, OPPO recently introduced SuperVOOC flash charging technology with the launch of R17 PRO and strengthened its commitment to India by setting up an R&D centre in Hyderabad with a focus on enhancing the smartphone ecosystem in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Pakistani court has granted interim bail to former president Asif Ali Zardari in a case related to alleged award of illegal contracts, a media report said Wednesday. The Islamabad High Court (IHC) divisional bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani granted bail till June 13 to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-Chairman against Rs 200,000 surety bonds on Tuesday. Zardari's counsel Farook H Naek told the court the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had summoned Zardari on May 23 in an inquiry related to award of allegedly illegal contracts to a private firm in Sindh, The Express Tribune reported. According to the NAB, the Harish and Company was awarded a contract for water supply by the Sindh government but failed to complete the projects and the public funds were allegedly misused to meet the expense of Naudero House, residence of the PPP leader. The NAB officials claim that Harish and Company was the front company to Park Lane Estate which led to a loss of Rs 60 million to the national exchequer. Naek said it was possible that Zardari would be arrested upon his arrival in the NAB's office and requested the court to grant a pre-arrest bail to him. The bench accepted Zardari's pre-arrest bail plea and served notices to the NAB. The IHC has already granted pre-arrest bail to Zardari in seven other cases related to alleged money laundering through fake accounts. Born in 1955, Zardari served as the 11th President of Pakistan from 2008 to 2013, the first president born after Partition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan and Russia Wednesday voiced concern over the weaponisation of the outer space and vowed to prevent it from becoming an arena for military confrontation, nearly two months after India shot down one of its satellites in space with an anti-satellite missile. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov signed a joint statement on 'No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space' on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The joint statement said that the outer space should be used in compliance with international law for the benefit of all nations, regardless of the level of their economic, scientific or technological development. Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) in statement said that the two countries share a common position on the prevention of arms race in outer space and work collectively in various international fora towards that goal. "The signing of the joint statement on No First Placement of Weapons in Outer Space is a reflection of convergence of views between the two sides," it said. The FO said Pakistan and Russia reiterated their commitment to refrain from the threat or use of force in outer space activities. "We encourage other responsible space-faring nations to follow this example," it added. The joint statement emphasised that the achievement of an international treaty preventing the arms race in outer space as well as banning the placement or use of weapons therein is a priority for the international community. It said the two countries "declare that they will not in any way be the first to place weapons of any kind in Outer Space, that they will make all possible efforts to prevent Outer Space from becoming an arena for military confrontation and to ensure security in Outer Space activities." The FO said the use of force against space based objects, the development and deployment of Anti Ballistic Missile (ABM) systems and their integration into space assets have added worrying dimensions to the issues relating to outer space. Pakistan said there is an urgent need to address gaps in the international legal regime governing the exploration and use of outer space with a view to ensuring that no one threatens peaceful activities and applications of space technologies for socio-economic development. The development comes nearly two months after India announced that it shot down one of its satellites in space on March 27 with an anti-satellite missile, making it only the fourth country after the US, Russia and China to acquire the strategic capability to shoot down enemy satellites. Pakistan at the time said that it was against the militarisation of outer space. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan Government is working on a comprehensive plan to develop a Buddhist trail by exploring religious sites in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces to help the Islamic nation to attract Buddhists from across the globe, a senior official said Wednesday. Zulfikar Bukhari, the new chairman of Pakistan Tourism Development Cooperation (PTDC), said the rich Buddhist heritage sites in Swabi, Swat of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Taxila in Punjab would be introduced to the world under the project to promote religious tourism. "Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa areas have numerous Buddhist sites. Sacred places of other religions, including Sikhism and Hinduism, were also scattered all over the Pakistan and the PTDC was planning to provide facilities there to attract their followers not only from across the country but also from abroad," he told reporters. He said that the Buddhist sites in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be developed first and then gradually move down to Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan where the ancient sites of various religions are located in a large numbers. The PTDC head also hinted at engaging foreign Buddhism followers to attract their investment for preserving their cultural heritage. Stating that tourism was contributing around 10 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) globally, Bukhari said that the situation was quite different in Pakistan where tourism was contributing only 2.9 percent to the national economy. He said the PTDC aimed at making tourism 10 per cent of the GDP which would help the industry to add over Rs 20 billion in the national treasury. Pakistan has been the cradle of Buddhist art and culture since time immemorial. Various areas in Pakistan like Taxila, Takht -i- Bhai, Mardan, Peshawar and Lahore are home to some of the rarest Buddhist relics. The Gandhara civilisation flourished in the North Western region of Pakistan from the 6th century BC to the 5th century AD. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a significant anti-terror operation, the police Wednesday bust a major militant hideout in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered 15 weapons including three AK 47 and one AK 56 rifles from there. Acting on a tip of existence of a militant hideout in Chatyari forest area of Rajouri, the police launched a search operation deploying several police teams, which cordoned off the entire jungle and conducted an extensive physical search across it through the entire day, said Rajauri's Senior superintendent of police Yougal Manhas. Following the search, a militant hideout was spotted, he said, adding the police eventually recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from it. The SSP said recoveries from the hideout include one AK 56 automatic assault rifle, three AK 47 automatic assault rifles, 11 pistols, eight magazines of AK rifles, 21 pistol magazines and two magazines of modified pistols, besides 606 rounds of AK 47 rifles ann 36 of pistols. Manhas further said it appears the militants had stored the arms and ammunition in the underground hideout with an aim to use the same to carry major terror strikes but their plot has been foiled. A case under relevant sections of law has been registered at Rajouri police station and investigation taken up. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Call them motor-mouths or simply contentious, they are the not-to-be-quietened candidates who kept up the controversial chatter through the Lok Sabha elections, sometimes at rallies and other times through social media posts or responses to questions from the media. From east to west and north to south, a battery of candidates across the political spectrum demonstrated a penchant for getting into trouble with their views on a range of issues. Some like Samajwadi Party's Azam Khan and Bharatiya Janata Party's Giriraj Singh are old time 'foot-in-the-mouth' politicians, frequently in the headlines for their outspoken and sometimes outrageous views, others like BJP's Pragya Singh Thakur and Communist Party of India's Kanhaiya Kumar are new to the election game. They stoked controversy during the high-voltage campaign, at times forcing the Election Commission to bar some of them from campaigning or inviting scrutiny from their own party's leadership. Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts case who is contesting elections from Bhopal, last week lauded Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a "patriot", sparking furious debate in the last lap of the seven-phase elections. The Congress alleged that "insulting martyrs is in the DNA" of the BJP, which also condemned her remarks. Thakur later apologised for her remarks. She also had to apologise for her remarks on 26/11 attack martyr, IPS officer Hemant Karkare, that she had "cursed" him for torturing her and falsely implicating her in the blasts case. Thakur was temporarily banned from campaigning for her hate remarks by the Election Commission. Her electoral rival, Congress' Digvijay Singh, is not new to controversies either. In March this year, just as the country was gearing up for elections, he said the Pulwama terror attack was an accident. In Uttar Pradesh, SP's Khan attracted widespread ire for his sexist jibes against his one-time colleague, actor-politician Jaya Prada, who is his rival in the Rampur seat and joined the BJP recently. People of Rampur, people of Uttar Pradesh and people of India, it took you 17 years to understand her reality. But I could recognise in 17 days that she wears khaki underwear," he said without naming her. Khan is facing an FIR for the remark. Jaya Prada, on her part, hit back with a speech in which she referred to Khan's "X-ray eyes". "Considering the comments Azam Khan makes against me, (BSP chief) Mayawati, his X-ray like eyes will also stare at you," she said at a public meeting. Bihar saw a face-off between two ideologically opposed candidates Giriraj Singh and Kanhaiya Kumar in Begusarai. "Those who cannot say Vande Mataram or cannot respect the motherland, the nation will never forgive them, he said in a rally in remarks seen as attacking the Muslim community. In March, the veteran BJP leader was reported as saying those not attending the rally of the prime minister, to be held that month, would be deemed anti-national. He, however, himself remained absence from that very rally. His rival Kanhaiya Kumar, a former student leader from Jawaharlal Nehru University who was charged with sedition for allegedly making anti-India comments, said on Twitter, For BJP people Godse is a patriot. They are expected to call people like us as traitor. Thank god BJP doesn't consider us patriots. In the South, Nalin Kumar Kateel, the BJP's candidate and sitting MP from Dakshina Kannada in Karnataka, dove into the Godse controversy by comparing the assassin with with Rajiv Gandhi. "Godse killed one, Kasab killed 72, Rajiv Gandhi killed 17,000. You judge who is more cruel in this??" Kateel tweeted, equating Godse, 26/11 convict Ajmal Kasab and Rajiv Gandhi. He later retracted his remarks. The BJP reprimanded him as well as Union minister Anantkumar Hegde, its candidate in Uttara Kannada in the state, who also tweeted on Godse but later deleted it. BJP's young leader Tejasvi Surya, contesting from Karnataka's Bangalore South constituency, also made several controversial statements over the last one year, retracting some and deleting some. Oh Hindus! When will you understand that a vote to today's Congress is a vote for yesterday's Muslim League? It's sad that this country treats a patriot like Veer Savarkar, who endured the greatest of pains for the motherland, in this manner. 2019 has so much at stake! he tweeted recently. On a lighter note, Trinamool Congress' Asansol candidate Moonmoon Sen found herself wading in troubled waters when she was asked about the violence in the constituency on voting day. "They gave me my bed tea very late so I woke up very late. What can I say? I really don't know," the actor-politician told the media. BJP's Gurdaspur candidate, Bollywood star Sunny Deol, had a somewhat similar response when he was asked about the Balakot strikes, saying he didn't know much but only wanted to serve the people. The counting of votes on May 23 will decide the fate of these candidates, irrepressible, irreverent and simply controversial. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Reserve Bank of India is not in favour of providing special credit window to the NBFC sector to tide over the liquidity crunch as the cash crunch phenomenon is not systemic, said sources. Industry players and government think-tank NITI Aayog made a case for giving special credit window for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) facing liquidity crunch following default by group of companies of IL&FS since September 2018. Many NBFCs, including DHFL and Indiabulls Finance, came under severe liquidity pressure compelling them to bring down their reliance on commercial papers. Ever since the IL&FS crisis erupted, banks have been averse to lending to the sector, which has put them in a tight spot. There are concerns that NBFCs may run out of money, which will lead to defaults. According to the sources, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is of the view that special window is not required as of now based on their assessment. The central bank feels that cash crunch is not a sector-specific phenomenon but limited to few large NBFCs which have over-leveraged due to aggressive lending. According to estimates, about Rs 1 lakh crore of commercial papers (CPs) raised by NBFCs from investors will come up for redemption in the next three months. CPs are debt instruments issued by companies to raise funds for a time period of up to one year. As the NBFCs are cash-strapped, there is a looming fear that they will default on the CPs. The sources also said the RBI board during the two-day meeting ended on Tuesday took stock of the NBFC sector and cash crunch faced by them. The central bank is keeping a tab on the liquidity position of these firms on a monthly basis and recently asked NBFCs with assets over Rs 5,000 crore to appoint a chief risk officer (CRO). The primary role of the risk officer will be identification, measurement and mitigation of risks and all credit products (retail or wholesale) shall be vetted by the CRO from the angle of inherent and control risks. The CRO's role in deciding credit proposals shall be limited to being an adviser. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court established the release on bail of Gornath Chalanseth. He re-embraced his family after more than 10 years of detention. His first thought went to the other six Christians imprisoned with the false accusation of killing a Hindu guru. Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar: "The firm Christian faith is translated into vocations". New Delhi (AsiaNews) - The Supreme Court of India has freed Gornath Chalanseth, one of the seven Christians imprisoned in 2008 on the charge of murdering the Hindu swami Laxamananda Saraswati. It was this murder, claimed by Maoist guerrillas but attributed by Hindu fundamentalists to Christians, that triggered the sectarian violence known as "Orissa pogrom". Speaking to AsiaNews Msgr. John Barwa, archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneshwar, rejoices: "God be praised. Our joy is immense. We knew that sooner or later it would happen, that one day we would win. This was our faith. " Gornath was released yesterday and was finally able to embrace loved ones. "I have no words to describe my joy," he said in front of those who had gathered in the village to welcome him after so many years in prison. His release on bail was decided by the Supreme Court on May 9, after an appeal presented by the lawyers of ADF India (Alliance Defending Freedom), an association that deals with the defense of persecuted Christians. Gornath remembered the other six prisoners languishing in prison since 2008 with a life sentence imposed in 2013. They are: Bhaskar Sunamajhi, Bijay Sanseth, Buddhadev Nayak, Durjo Sunamajhi, Sanatan Badamajhi and Munda Badamajhi (with mental disabilities). He said: "I am happy to have my freedom again, but there are other innocent people in prison." The Church of Orissa has always claimed the innocence of the condemned and dennounced the sham trials against them. According to AC Michael, a New Delhi activist and director of development at ADF India, Garanath's release is a good thing, "but there is still a long way to go. Six people languish behind bars. We must be able to release them on bail and then get the acquittal for unjust detention. We thank all those who supported us . In August 2008 in Orissa the Hindu radicals carried out the most ferocious persecution against Christians in India. At the end of the pogroms the toll was severe: 120 deaths; almost 56 thousand faithful forced to flee; 8 thousand homes burned or looted in 415 villages; 300 churches demolished; 40 raped women (including Sr. Meena Barwa, niece of the archbishop); 12,000 displaced children and forced to interrupt their studies. Archbishop Barwa points out that the "terrible violence has not affected the faith of the Christian community. In Kandhamal the faithful are joyful: they are proud to be Catholics and Christians. We believe that in the face of difficulties the only thing we can do is trust in God, entrust ourselves to Him. We trust in the fact that God is with us, does not abandon us, and helps us to overcome difficulties". The firm Christian faith, he adds, "translates into religious vocations. Today I am in a village to celebrate the ordination of two priests. You have no idea of the joy of the community gathered here! There are at least 3 thousand people and they all feel blessed by God, they feel the blessing of the Lord on them and pray for the faith to become even stronger . "I am convinced - says the Archbishop - that sooner or later even the six Christians in prison will be released. The truth will be restored . The Indian Church has begun the beatification process for slain Christians, recognizing them as "martyrs of the faith". Director Reed Morano and actor Kristen Wiig have announced that they will not shoot their respective projects in the US state of Georgia where an anti-abortion bill was recently passed. Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia recently approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can occur in about the sixth week of pregnancy. Georgia's neighbouring state Alabama has also passed a bill that seeks to install an outright ban on abortion. Morano, best known for directing Hulu's dystopian drama "The Handmaid's Tale", was set to visit Georgia for scouting locations for her upcoming Amazon series "The Power", but has now decided against it, reported Variety. The 42-year-old director took to Instagram to share a Time magazine article about her decision to not film the show in Georgia. "It feels wrong for a reason. And it felt wrong to us to go ahead and make our show and take money/tax credit from a state that is taking this stance on the abortion issue. We just couldn't do it," Morano wrote in the caption. "The Power" is based on Naomi Alderman's novel of the same and revolves around teen girls the world over who suddenly develop the power to electrocute people at will and leads to a "complete reversal of the power balance of the world". The 10-episode show is produced by produced by Sister Pictures and executive produced by Jane Featherstone, Naomi de Pear, Naomi Alderman and Morano. Wiig, who will feature alongside her "Bridesmaid" writing partner Annie Mumolo in the comedy "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar", has also decided not to shoot the project in Georgia. The duo co-wrote the new comedy which will be produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions and distributed by Lionsgate. The studio, however, has not confirmed the (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The counting of votes for the seven-phase elections to India's lower house of parliament, the world's biggest democratic exercise, will take place on Thursday, bringing the curtains down on a bitterly-fought contest which the country rarely witnessed. Most of the exit polls have predicted that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on course to retain power for a second term, riding on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma like the way he swept to power in 2014. However, the opposition parties have trashed results of the exit polls, claiming that the BJP will suffer severe drubbing due to rising unemployment, farm distress and slowdown in the economy. The voting was staggered between April 11 and May 19 in which around 67 per cent of the nearly 900 million eligible people exercised their franchise to elect 542 members of the Lok Sabha from a total of 8,049 contestants. In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 282 seats while the Congress had suffered a severe drubbing getting an all-time low of 44 seats as against 206 it won in 2009. From 'chowkidar chor hai' and 'bhrashtachari no. 1' to 'khaki underwear', acerbic remarks ruled the roost this election season, making it one of the most bitterly-contested parliamentary polls post Independence. Election Commission officials said the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections will begin at 8.00 am Thursday and results are expected only by late evening. For the first time in Lok Sabha polls, the EC will tally vote count on Electronic Voting Machines with voter verified paper audit trail slips in five polling stations in each assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency. It will effectively mean that out of nearly 10.3 lakh polling stations, the EVM-VVPAT matching will take place in 20,600 such stations. In case of a mismatch, the results based on paper slip count will be considered as final. The entire exercise of EVM-paper trail machine matching will take an additional four to five hours, EC officials said. The opposition parties Tuesday raised concerns over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs and asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. EC officials said the voting percentage of 67.11 this time was the highest ever-voter turnout in Indian parliamentary elections. They said as per procedure, postal ballots would be the first to be counted. The number of service voters stands at 18 lakh and these include personnel of the armed forces, central police force personnel and state police personnel who are posted outside their constituencies. Diplomats and support staff posted in Indian embassies abroad are also counted as service voters. Out of the 18 lakh registered voters, 16.49 lakh have sent their postal ballots to their respective returning officers as on May 17. The exercise of counting postal ballots manually will itself take a couple of hours at least, an EC official said. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the ground of excessive use of money power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several union ministers, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav are among key leaders who contested the polls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police has issued an advisory informing residents of Dwarka that road number 224 in sector 9 will be closed on Thursday from 4 am till the closure of counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls. The residents have been asked to carry their identity cards, society-related documents to gain access and exit from the blocked road. The counting centre for West Delhi is in Dwarka and has open roads which see a huge amount of traffic. "Road no 224 in front of Integrated Institute of Technology, sector 9 will be closed from 4 am till the closure of counting, from sector 8/9 red light to 19/20 red light point," the advisory stated. "All office bearers of municipal corporation or residents welfare association (RWAs) are requested to convey the message on their respective notice board and circulate to WhatsApp groups concerned in Dwarka," it added. Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in and around the counting centres in the seven parliamentary constituencies of the national capital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Taron Egerton, who plays Elton John in the musical biopic "Rocketman", says the film gives a true account of the music legend's life without shying away from uncomfortable chapters of his story. Egerton, who stars in the Dexter Fletcher-directed film alongside Richard Madden, Jamie Bell and Bryce Dallas Howard, said when they were making the film, they knew that John would be happy with what they were trying to show in it. "I always felt, very keenly, that it's no secret that Elton has his ups and downs. And for me, what was most important was that we were true to that because that's who he is - and, frankly, that's why we love him," Egerton said in a statement. "So, I felt very much when we were on set that I wanted to push it, because I knew the one person who wouldn't mind me doing that was Elton, because he's not precious. He knows where his strengths and weaknesses lie and he's very at peace with who he is. And he's been through a hell of a lot. He's been through recovery. He is settled and solid and knows who he is and he's frank and candid about it," he added. Egerton said he wanted to explore the duality of John's personality where he is both generous and destructive at the same time. "I always wanted it to be that duality between this sweet, incredibly caring and generous person who just has this intense artistic sensibility and volatility. I believe that that is hand in hand with his creative genius. To not honour it felt incorrect," the actor said. The film features a much-talked about love scene between the characters of John and John Reid (played by Madden), and Egerton said he is really proud of it. "I'm a straight actor playing a gay icon, so I felt very keenly that if I was going to do this properly, we had an obligation to honour that side of his story. Early in the film, there is a love scene between me and Richard. I'm very proud of it. "It's the first love scene I've ever done and it's two young guys falling in love at a time where it wasn't that socially acceptable. It's a scene I'm really, really proud of. I think it's lovely, actually," the actor said. "Rocketman", a Paramount Pictures movie, will be exclusively distributed in India by Viacom18 Motion Pictures. The film releases on May 31. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Islamic cleric and a businessman were arrested by the Assam police for their alleged involvement in a hawala transaction amounting to Rs 8.45 lakh, which was sent from Kuwait. Nurul Islam, the principal of the Jamia Islamia Salafia Arabic college in Barpeta, was arrested after an amount of Rs 8.45 lakh in cash was recovered from him, Barpeta Superintendent of Police (SP) Robin Kumar said on Wednesday. "During interrogation, Islam confessed that the money had come through a hawala channel from Kuwait," Kumar told PTI over phone. A Guwahati-based businessman, Arun Saraf, was also arrested by the police for allegedly facilitating the hawala transaction. Kumar also said a cash amount of nearly Rs 28 lakh was deposited by Islam in the bank account of the college in three separate transactions since December, 2018. "The accused has not been able to tell us from where this money came and the nature of the expenditure," he added. The SP did not rule out the possibility that the money would have been spent on anti-social activities. "Our investigations are on," he said. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) joined the police probe and questioned both Islam and Saraf about the source of the money. The hawala system works essentially through an underground network, where a handler in one country or place accepts cash from a customer and then a handler in another country or place hands out the equivalent amount (minus commission) to the receiver. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The president of a local forum has claimed he was assaulted by a group of persons during a press conference held here to highlight alleged irregularities in social welfare residential schools in Telangana, police said Wednesday. National Scheduled Castes Reservation Parirakshana Samithi president Karne Srisailam in his police complaint said the group, including Osmania University scholar P Alexander barged into the conference room and attacked him. A video of the incident purportedly showed Srisailam being manhandled in the press conference room and later being chased and hit. Srisailam claimed he was attacked for holding the press conference to highlight the alleged irregularities in social welfare residential schools in the state. However, Alexander, who too lodged a counter complaint with the police, alleged Srisailam and his henchmen attacked him with stone, causing him bleeding injuries, police said. Cases have been registered on both the complaints, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court Wednesday granted protection from arrest till May 28 to Arjun Singh, the BJP candidate from Barrackpore constituency in West Bengal, in criminal cases lodged against him by the state police. A vacation bench comprising Justices Arun Mishra and M R Shah made it clear that Singh will not be arrested by the state police till May 28 in connection with around 20 criminal cases lodged against him. Allowing Singh to participate in the counting of votes on May 23, the bench took note of the statewide indefinite strike of lawyers in West Bengal. It said the protection from arrest granted to Singh will cease after May 28 and the leader can seek bail from an appropriate forum subsequently. In the forenoon, the bench had agreed to hear Singh during the day and had also taken note of the violence during Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal. "Violence is taking place there. You (Singh's counsel) know it very well," the bench had said while agreeing to hear his plea. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Singh, said that around 20 criminal cases have been lodged against him from April 4 to May 20 due to political vendetta and to ensure that he remains away during counting of votes. "If I go back without protection I will be arrested. Tomorrow I have to be present at counting," the senior advocate had said, adding lawyers are on strike in Kolkata. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Emami Cement Ltd's IPO could hit the market in the next six months with SEBI approving the issue, company sources said on Wednesday. The company is looking to raise Rs 1,000 crore through the IPO, which comprises fresh issuance of shares worth Rs 500 crore, and the rest as offer for sale from existing promoters. Emami officials, however, declined to speak about valuations and the timeline of the issue. "We have received Securities and Exchange Board of India approval on May 15, and we will now finalise a roadmap in consultation with the merchant bankers," a source said. Emami Cement currently operates three manufacturing plants at Risda in Madhya Pradesh, Panagarh in West Bengal and Bhabua in Bihar, having a capacity of 5.6 million tonne. It is also in the process of setting up a cement grinding plant at Kalinganagar, Odisha. The company's combined installed capacity will be 9 million tonne with a clinker capacity of 3.2 million tonne. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Although it will be years before the first humans set foot on Mars, NASA is inviting the public to submit their names to fly to the Red Planet aboard the US space agency's Mars 2020 rover. The names -- stenciled on chips -- will be sent on the rover, which represents the initial leg of humanity's first round trip to another planet, NASA said in a statement. The rover is scheduled to launch as early as July 2020, with the spacecraft expected to touch down on Mars in February 2021, it said. The rover, a robotic scientist weighing more than 1,000 kilogramme, will search for signs of past microbial life, characterise the planet's climate and geology, collect samples for future return to Earth, and pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. "As we get ready to launch this historic Mars mission, we want everyone to share in this journey of exploration," said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate (SMD) here. "It's an exciting time for NASA, as we embark on this voyage to answer profound questions about our neighbouring planet, and even the origins of life itself," Zurbuchen said. The opportunity to send your name to Mars comes with a souvenir boarding pass and "frequent flyer" points, NASA said. This is part of a public engagement campaign to highlight missions involved with NASA's journey from the Moon to Mars, it said. Kilometers are awarded for each "flight," with corresponding digital mission patches available for download. More than two million names flew on NASA's InSight mission to Mars, giving each "flyer" about nearly 500 million frequent flyer kilometers. The Microdevices Laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, will use an electron beam to stencil the submitted names onto a silicon chip with lines of text smaller than one-thousandth the width of a human hair. At that size, more than a million names can be written on a single dime-size chip. The chips will ride on the rover under a glass cover. NASA will use Mars 2020 and other missions to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. As another step towards that goal, NASA is returning American astronauts to the Moon in 2024. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Budget carrier SpiceJet Wednesday announced the launch of 20 new domestic flights, with 18 of them connecting the financial capital with a host of metro and non-metro cities. The new services, which include flights to regional destinations such as Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada and Tirupati from Mumbai, will be launched between May 26 and May 30, SpiceJet said in a statement. All new flights being introduced will be operated daily, except the one for Mumbai-Kolkata route which will be not be operational on Wednesday and Sunday, with Boeing 737 NG aircraft, the release said. Starting April 1, SpiceJet has announced 106 new flights, which include 73 connecting Mumbai, 16 connecting Delhi and 8 flights between Mumbai and Delhi, in an effort to partially offset the capacity loss across domestic and international routes in the wake of Jet Airways grounding. With the new flights, passengers from Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, Goa, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Kochi, Kolkata, Kanpur and Patna will be able to travel to a host of other cities, both on SpiceJet's domestic as well as international network via Mumbai, the airline said. Currently, SpiceJet on an average operates 569 daily flights to 62 destinations -- 53 domestic and 9 international -- with a fleet of 95 planes, consisting of 65 Boeing 737 and 30 Bombardier Q-400. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "More than 20 provocateurs" arrested. The opposition denounces fraud and irregularities and does not accept defeat. The supporters of Prabowo Subianto took to the streets immediately after the announcement of the results. Police officers and military personnel were not equipped with lethal bullets. Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Six dead, more than 200 wounded and dozens of arrests: This is the toll of violence that broke out in Jakarta after yesterday's general election commission (Komisi Pemilihan Umum - Kpu) announced the victory of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in the April presidential election. Widodo and his deputy, Ma'ruf Amin, obtained 55.5% of preferences, against 44.5% of rivals Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno. Supported by Islamists and conservative groups, the opposition refuses to concede defeat by denouncing fraud and irregularities in the vote. In the coming days, Subianto will appeal to the Constitutional Court. The Electoral Agency rejected accusations of systematic fraud, citing a lack of evidence. Independent observers and analysts stated that the vote took place correctly and fairly. The protests in the capital started peacefully yesterday, but in the evening they turned violent with the burning of cars and the firing of firecrackers at the police. Deployed in riot gear, the officers responded by firing tear gas. At first, thousands of protesters gathered in front of KPU headquarters in support of Subianto, but later headed for other areas of Jakarta. Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said that "more than 20 provocateurs" were arrested. The official added that police officers and military personnel in the field were not equipped with lethal bullets. A Sri Lankan court Wednesday ordered nine workers of a copper factory owned by a suicide bomber of the Easter terror attack to reappear in the court on May 27 after they were granted bail. The nine employees, arrested from the factory at Wellampitiya in Colombo suburb on April 22 over the attack, were granted bail on May 6 by the Colombo Magistrate's Court due to lack of documents and it was alleged that police may have erred by not filing the case under the anti-terrorism law. While granting bail, the court said the police had failed to mention the offences the suspects were alleged to have committed. Colombo Additional Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage Wednesday ordered the suspects to reappear on May 27. The order came after the Sri Lankan authorities launched a probe into any lapses on the part of the police which led to the bail of the nine workers. The copper factory where the nine suspects were working was owned by Mohamed Ibrahim Insaf Ahmed, the suicide bomber at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel, one of the three luxury hotels attacked on April 21. It was suspected that bombs used in the attack had been packed at the copper factory. Police say they have arrested over 80 suspects in connection with the attacks. Nine suicide bombers carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels on Easter Sunday, killing more than 250 people and injuring 500 others. The ISIS terror group claimed the attacks, but the government blamed the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ) for the Ester Sunday bombings. Sri Lankan Parliament has agreed to set up a select committee to probe the attack. The government has come under wide spread criticism for its alleged failure to act to prevent the attack despite the availability of prior intelligence. President Sirisena had appointed a three-member panel to report on the responsibility of the security establishment. He has already fired the defense ministry secretary and sent the then police chief on compulsory leave. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka's president has granted an amnesty to a firebrand Buddhist monk, four days after holding talks with him at the country's main prison, officials said. President Maithripala Sirisena Wednesday pardoned Galagodaatte Gnanasara, days after releasing 762 other convicts to mark Vesak which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and passing away of the Buddha. "The President has pardoned the monk and he should walk out of prison by tomorrow or the day after," an official source said. Gnanasara's Bodu Bala Sena, BBS or the Buddhist Force, urged their supporters to assembly outside the main Welikada prison on Thursday afternoon to receive him. On Saturday, Sirisena reportedly had lengthy talks with Gnanasara who is serving a six-year jail term for contempt of court. Many had expected Gnanasara to be released on Saturday along with the 762 other convicts, but he was not among those freed. Gnanasara has been serving concurrent jail sentences extending up to six years over his disruptive behaviour in court and intimidating a woman litigant in 2016. He has long been accused of instigating hate crimes against minority Muslims in the Buddhist-majority country. The monk has denied involvement in anti-Muslim riots in 2014 that left four people dead. His BBS was not linked to anti-Muslim riots that left at least one dead after April 21 suicide bombings blamed on Islamic extremists and which killed 258 people. Gnanasara had maintained close ties with Wirathu, an extremist monk based in Myanmar, whose hate speech has stoked religious tensions in that country. Wirathu visited Sri Lanka as a guest of Gnanasara shortly after the 2014 anti-Muslim riots in Sri Lanka's coastal town of Aluthgama, and the duo vowed to fight what they called the threat to Buddhism from Islamic jihadists. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday called on Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov ahead of the SCO Foreign Minister's Meeting here and discussed ways to enhance bilateral ties by exploring the untapped potential. Swaraj arrived here in the Kyrgyz capital on Tuesday to attend a two-day meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers. "An important partner in Central Asia. EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov ahead of #SCO Foreign Minister's Meeting in #Bishkek. Visible enthusiasm to expand bilateral relations across all sectors, as both countries commit to explore the untapped potential," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. In her first engagement in Bishkek, Swaraj on Tuesday theld a "productive discussion" with her Kyrgyz counterpart Chingiz Aidarbekov. India became a full member of the China-dominated grouping in 2017 and New Delhi's entry has increased the bloc's heft in regional geo-politics, besides giving it a pan-Asian hue. India is also keen on deepening its security-related cooperation with the SCO and its Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS), which specifically deals with issues relating to security and defence. Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi will also attend the meeting. Last month, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman attended the SCO Defence Ministers' conclave in Bishkek. India was an observer at the SCO since 2005 and has generally participated in the ministerial-level meetings of the grouping which focus mainly on security and economic cooperation in the Eurasian region. Along with India, Pakistan was also granted the SCO membership in 2017. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Wednesday met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of a multilateral meeting here and discussed issues of bilateral interest, including the implementation of understanding reached during last year's Wuhan Summit. Swaraj arrived here on Tuesday to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Council (SCO) of Foreign Ministers here in the Kyrgyz capital. "Continuing the momentum of high-level exchanges. EAM @SushmaSwaraj met Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi on the sidelines of #SCO Foreign Minister's Meeting in Bishkek. Discussed issues of bilateral interest, including the implementation of understanding reached during Wuhan Summit," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. The April 27-28 Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping was largely credited to have turned around the bilateral relations soured by the 73-day-long Doklam standoff, triggered by Chinese troops attempts to build a road close to Indian border in an area also claimed by Bhutan in 2017. India had objected to it as it came close to a key highway connecting with North Eastern states. The standoff ended after Chinese troops halted plans to build the road. After the Wuhan summit, both the countries stepped up efforts to improve relations on different spheres including the military-to-military ties. Modi and Xi issued strategic guidance to their militaries to strengthen communications to build trust and understanding, a move aimed at avoiding a Doklam-like situation in the future. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi sat next to each other and exchanged pleasantries on Wednesday during a joint call on on Kyrgyz president here, amid strained ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Swaraj and Qureshi attended the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Pakistani media reported that two leaders sat next to each other during a multilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. According to the photos published by the Pakistani media, Swaraj and Qureshi were seen seated next to each other. On being asked about the Swaraj-Qureshi meeting, the MEA sources said the two leaders only exchanged pleasantries. "There was no meeting between them," they said. The picture of the two leaders is from a joint call on on Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, they said. They said the Pakistani media report that the two leaders were seated next to each other at the SCO meeting is "factually incorrect and misleading". "The seating arrangement at SCO follows the Russian alphabet system which does not put India and Pakistan together. This is a standard practise at SCO meetings," they added. Swaraj arrived here in the Kyrgyz capital on Tuesday to attend the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting. India was granted the membership of the SCO along with Pakistan in 2017. Earlier in Islamabad prior to his departure, Qureshi said besides addressing the inaugural session of the regional forum, he would also hold meetings with his counterparts from other countries. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday sat next to each other during a multilateral meeting here of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, amid strained ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Swaraj and Qureshi attended the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India was an observer at the SCO till 2005 and was granted the membership along with Pakistan in 2017. Swaraj arrived here in the Kyrgyz capital on Tuesday to attend the Foreign Ministers meeting. According to the photos published by the Pakistani media, Swaraj and Qureshi were seen seated next to each other along with other foreign ministers. Earlier in Islamabad prior to his departure, Qureshi said besides addressing the inaugural session of the regional forum, he would also hold meetings with his counterparts from other countries. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Wednesday urged members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to support efforts for the comprehensive reforms of the UN Security Council to make it more representative and effective. India has been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council (UNSC) along with Brazil, Germany and Japan for long, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member. The G4 nations support each other's bids for permanent seats on the UNSC. Addressing the meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Foreign Ministers here in the Kyrgyz capital, Swaraj said India firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Swaraj also said India was committed to the goal of combating climate change and welcomes the agreement reached at the Katowice Climate Change Conference in Poland in 2018. "India firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. It is imperative to have comprehensive reforms of the United Nations and its Security Council to make it more representative and effective," Swaraj said. "The SCO must support the member countries' candidatures for the non-permanent membership of the UNSC for the years 2021-2022 and 2027-2028," she said. India is committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change, Swaraj said "We welcome the agreement reached at COP 24 of the UNFCCC. I am pleased that an SCO Action Plan for protection for 2019-2021 has been finalised. We look forward to continue our participation with keen interest in this area," she said. The 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference was the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC, also known as the Katowice Climate Change Conference. It was held between 2 and 15 December 2018 in Katowice, Poland. France, which assumed the rotating presidency of the Council in March, has reiterated its support for India, Germany and Japan as permanent members of an expanded Council, saying enlargement of the powerful UN organ in both permanent and non-permanent categories is the "first crucial part" towards the UNSC reform. India was an observer at the SCO till 2005 and was granted the membership along with Pakistan in 2017. The SCO was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading tractor manufacturer, TAFE has roped in Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar as the brand ambassador for its Massey Ferguson range of tractors. The association between Massey Ferguson tractors and Akshay Kumar resonates well with their brand personalities, the city-based company said in a statement. "One rules every terrain and every task with ease and the other portrays any role and character with absolute confidence and style," it said. On the association with Kumar, company Product Strategy and Corporate Relations, President and COO, TR Kesavan said,"Massey Ferguson tractors with its superior performance and modern engineering is an industry leader in agriculture, haulage, infrastructure.. we believe a dynamic, powerful and accomplished brand ambassador like Akshay will help build a strong connect with customers." TAFE Ltd has presence across 100 countries and a cumulative sale of about 2.5 million tractors to date. Massey Ferguson range comprises of over 125 products and variants, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court Bench here observed on Wednesday that teachers are like Gods but they cannot question every government decision taken in public interest, especially for children belonging to weaker sections of the society. The court dismissed petitions by Tamil Nadu government secondary grade (SG) teachers challenging a recent government order asking them to take classes for LKG and UKG students under the Montessori system in 'Anganwadis' run by the Social Welfare Department. It has become a fashion for government teachers, who are paid a handsome salary, to rush to the court against each and every decision of the government taken in the interest of public, a bench of Justices N Kirubakaran and S S Sundar said. It said teachers were like Gods but they cannot question every decision taken in public interest, especially for children belonging to weaker sections of the society. The decision was taken to ensure that children of poorer sections were also given Montessori-based at KG level in English medium free of cost, thereby avoiding the expenditure in private schools for such education, it said. Counsel for the government said there was a surplus of SG teachers and hence, a decision was taken to utilise them for the Montessori in the Anganwadis. The bench pointed out that all contentions of the teachers such as reduction in their rank from secondary grade to kindergarten and transfer from school to social welfare department had been rejected by the government. The government had submitted the SG teachers would be governed by the education department only, their seniority maintained and service conditions would not be disturbed. Hence, the petitioners' apprehensions were not sustainable and by no stretch of imagination, would they be affected by the government's decision, the bench said. The teachers should spend their knowledge and time only to educate, for which they are being paid by the government from the taxpayers' money, instead of wasting their time in approaching the court, it said. One factor, which neither the government can deny nor the teachers can disown, is the lack of quality education in government schools, the bench said. "This court supposes, but for lack of infrastructure and quality education, economically poor parents will not take the burden of admitting their children in private schools by spending huge amounts," the bench added. The judges said it was open to the government to introduce a bridge course and give proper training to secondary grade teachers for six months and empower them to impart Montessori-based education in kindergarten schools. They directed the government to start with the project at the earliest as the academic year starts from next month. The petitioners had contended SG teachers cannot be directed to take classes for LKG/UKG as they do not have the required qualification as prescribed by the National Council for Teacher Education. The state additional advocate general submitted that the government was compelled to introduce Montessori education in LK and UKG classes in Anganwadi centres following its demand from parents. It was being introduced as a pilot project for three years and it would be continued further based on the outcome of third party evaluation. Financial sanction of Rs 77.33 crore had been accorded annually to provide accessories to children and training of teachers. Over 5,930 Secondary Grade Teachers in aided Primary and Middle Schools and 1,979 Secondary Grade Teachers in state-run schools are under surplus category, causing a huge financial loss to the government, the AAG added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons have been arrested for allegedly stealing over 100 smart phones from a shop in Maharashtra's Palghar district, police said Wednesday. The accused, including two natives of Bihar, allegedly broke into the shop in Vasai area in January and decamped with 107 smart phone handsets worth around Rs 10 lakh, police spokesman Hemant Katkar said. While probing the case, the police got information that some of the stolen phones were operational at Muzaffarpur in Bihar, he said. The Palghar police team went to Bihar and nabbed two persons - Arman Attaur Rehman (20) and Navsad alias Salim Jamshed Shaikh (34) - from Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi districts last week and recovered 25 handsets from them, he said. Based on the information provided by them, the police arrested another accused, Radheshaym alias Ajay Prasad Sahana (31), from Nallasopara area here on Monday, Katkar said. Efforts were on to recover the remaining booty, he said, adding more arrests were likely. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes The Spoon lists the Food Tech Top 25 companies of 2019 Posted by AFN Staff Writers on 22nd May 2019 On May 20 2019, the online publication The Spoon released its 2019 Food Tech 25 list of the top Twenty Five companies that are expected to have the biggest impact on the global food future. These are the Food Tech 25, according to The Spoon: Amazon Apeel Impossible Foods Mccormicks Tracetrust Goodr Dominos Motif Ingredients Tyson Just Calyxt Shiok Meats Solar Foods Bellwether Creator Kiwi Kroger Walmart Yo-Kai Express AWM Smart Shelf Thermomix Dishdivvy Whirlpool Silo Sweetgreen For a more extensive list, visit The Spoons article here. Counting of votes for all 11 Lok Sabha seats in will be held at 27 centres in the state on Thursday amid tight security. The state recorded 71.48 per cent voter turnout in the 11 Lok Sabha seats where voting was held in three phases on April 11, 18 and 23. "The counting of votes will start at 8 am on Thursday at 27 centres - one each at 27 district headquarters of the state. All preparations have been completed for the counting," state Chief Electoral Officer Subrat Sahoo told PTI. Tight security arrangements have been made at the counting centres, particularly those in Naxal-hit areas, he said. The postal ballots will be counted first, followed by the electronic voting machines (EVMs), he said. The fate of 166 contestants, including three sitting Congress MLAs, wife of the incumbent Assembly speaker, and state vice-president, will be decided on Thursday. In the last three Lok Sabha polls since 2004, the won 10 out of 11 seats in the state. State Congress spokesman Shailesh Nitin Trivedi dismissed the exit poll predications which have forecast a victory for the BJP-led NDA, saying they were just based on assumptions. "The way exit poll predictions proved wrong during the state Assembly polls, the Lok Sabha elections this time will also see the same conclusion. The Congress is hoping to win all 11 seats in the state," he said. The Congress has deployed members of its legal cell at all the counting centres to keep a tab on any "mischievous activity", he added. However, state chief Vikram Usendi said he is confident that his party will win more number of seats than predicted by the exit polls. "People have voted for the work done by the government led by Prime Minister In also, we will all 11 seats," he asserted. Of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state, four are reserved for Scheduled Tribes and one for Scheduled Caste candidates. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A tribal man allegedly committed suicide after killing his two wives in Odisha's Mayurbhanj district, police said Wednesday. The incident took place in Tadikisole village under the jurisdiction of Baripada Sadar police station on Tuesday night, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Baripada, Krishna Prasad Pattnaik. Shyama Marandi (55), who was angry over frequent quarrels between his two wives, Phulamani Marandi (52) and Salkhu Marandi (51), allegedly attacked them with a hammer killing both, he said. After killing the two, the Marandi committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree branch near his house, the SDPO said. The police rushed to the spot after being informed by villagers and the bodies were sent to PRM Medical College and Hospital here for autopsy. A case was registered and investigation is on, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The performance of the ruling TRS, along with a beleaguered Congress and the BJP would come under close scrutiny as counting of votes would be taken up in 17 Lok Sabha constituencies of Telangana Thursday. The Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao-led TRS had fought the April 11 elections in alliance with AIMIM. The TRS has repeatedly claimed that it would sweep the polls, along with the party led by Asaduddin Owaisi, who is seeking reelection from Hyderabad. Exit polls have predicted that the TRS would win majority of seats. It is also a major test for the Congress, which had seen 11 of its total 19 MLAs shifting loyalty to the TRS since the beginning of March. And no less for the BJP, which won a mere one seat in the December Assembly polls, in which it forfeited deposit in more than 100 of the 119 segments. TRS had returned to power with 88 seats. Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar Wednesday said counting will begin at 8 AM. Postal ballots including ETPBS (Electronically Transmitted Postal Ballots) would be taken up for counting first, followed by Electronic Voting Machines ( EVM). The polls, which saw 443 candidates in the fray, were held in a single phase in 34,603 polling stations and 18,526 polling locations. "The counting of votes will be held in 126 counting halls located at 35 places across the State. The process of counting will start at 8 AM. At 8.20 AM, EVMs will be brought to the counting tables for counting. Each hall will have 14 tables," Kumar told reporters. He said for Nizamabad segment, where 185 candidates including 178 farmers jumped into the poll fray to support their demand for remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and setting up of a Turmeric Board, will have 36 tables in view of the large number of contestants. Kumar said counting of VVPATs ( Voter Verifiable paper Audit Trail) will be done as per the Supreme Court order which stipulated that five VVPATs should be counted for each Assembly segment. Over 6,500 employees have been deployed for counting of votes, he said. Meanwhile, elaborate security arrangements are in place at counting centres in Telangana with deployment of nearly 10,000 police personnel, a top police official said. Sufficient bandobust arrangements have been made with deployment of forces comprising central forces and State police, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender said Tuesday. "Senior officers are closely monitoring and nearly 10,000 men and officers are being deployed for counting day bandobust duties under direct supervision of Commissioners/Superintendents of Police," he said. This is in addition to forces already allotted for security of strong rooms. The CEO said access to people would be restricted in counting centres and only those authorised by Returning Officer would be permitted inside with a valid pass. No one is permitted to carry mobiles inside counting centres, he said adding prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC would be promulgated within 100 metres of the counting centres on May 23 and violators will be prosecuted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two Indian businessmen have become the first in the community here to be issued a 10-year-visa of the United Arab Emirates under the Gulf nation's long-term residency scheme to woo investors and talented students, according to a media report. Vasu Shroff, chairman of the Regal Group of Companies and Khushi Khatwani, managing director of the Khushi Group of Companies and Al Nisr Cinema Film, received their visas stamped on their passports from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) on Tuesday. The 10-year visa scheme was rolled out in January and some Arab scientists and experts in the medical field were the first ones to receive it. I got a call from the office (GDRFA), inviting me to visit him. I went there at 1pm and within five minutes they issued the 10-year visa for me, Shroff was quoted as saying by the Gulf It is really a very good initiative for the investors who bring up the economy. This will encourage more investors to make investments here," he said. Shroff, a textile magnate and recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, India's highest award for non-resident Indians (NRIs), said people from around the world are waiting for The Expo 2020 and with such initiatives by the government, it will prove to be one of the best countries in the world. He said more Indian businessmen were expected to get the 10-year-residency, considered as a first step towards obtaining permanent residency. Khatwani, who is known for his entrepreneurship in the field of movies and jewellery, said the move gives a sense of belonging to the country. You feel relaxed and it becomes hassle-free. This will offer more convenience and comfort to investors, he said. Consul General of India in Dubai Vipul welcomed the move and congratulated the duo. I am very happy about this. It is a great step from the government of UAE. People who had to renew visas every two or three years are getting a longer duration. That will make life easy for prominent Indian businessmen and investors here," he said. The UAE on Tuesday launched a permanent residency scheme, the "Golden Card", to attract investors and "exceptional talents" such as doctors, engineers, scientists, students and artists. It offers unprecedented benefits to the card holders and their families while creating an attractive environment for business and growth. The new initiative will attract greater foreign investment and stimulate the local economy, making it more efficient and attractive for investors. It will also increase the UAE's competitiveness and reaffirms the country's position as a global incubator. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two of Japan's top mobile phone carriers said Wednesday they will delay releasing new handsets made by Huawei after a US ban on American companies selling technology to the Chinese tech giant. KDDI and SoftBank Corp, the country's number two and number three carriers respectively, said the decision was taken to give them time to assess the impact of the US ban. The country's biggest carrier, NTT Docomo, said it was also considering similar action. SoftBank had been due to release a Huawei-made smartphone on Friday, but halted the release "because we are currently trying to confirm if our customers will be able to use the equipment with a sense of safety", company spokesman Hiroyuki Mizukami told AFP. "We still don't know when we will be able to start selling," he said, adding the Japanese carrier is concerned about "everything" linked to the US ban. Citing national security, US President Donald Trump has effectively banned US companies from supplying Huawei and affiliates with the critical components that have helped it grow into the world's largest supplier of telecom networking equipment and second-biggest smartphone maker. US officials this week, however, issued a 90-day reprieve on the ban on dealing with Huawei, saying breathing space is needed to avoid huge disruption. Japanese carrier KDDI said its release of the HUAWEI P30 litePremium planned in May will also be postponed, with spokeswoman Reiko Nakamura saying: "We're checking the facts on how (the US decision) was made and its impact." NTT Docomo spokesman Takahiro Suzuki told AFP that the firm is "studying possibility of stopping the receiving of sales orders of HUAWEI P30 Pro that we are planning to release this summer". Last week Trump declared a "national emergency" empowering him to blacklist companies seen as "an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States" -- a move analysts said was clearly aimed at Huawei. The US Commerce Department also announced an effective ban on US companies selling or transferring US technology to Huawei. Washington has long suspected deep links between Huawei and the Chinese military, and its moves against the company come amid the churning trade dispute between the world's top two economies. The risks for Huawei came into focus this week when Google, whose Android operating system powers most of the world's smartphones, said it would cut ties with Huawei as a result of the ban. That poses a dire threat to Huawei as loss of full access to Google's services could make its phones a hard sell to consumers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two militants were killed Wednesday in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Acting on a credible input about presence of ultras in Gopalpora area of Kulgam, security forces launcheda cordon and search operation, a police spokesman said. "During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated, leading to an encounter," the spokesman said. He said in the ensuing gun battle, two militants were killed and the bodies retrieved from the site of encounter. "The identities and affiliations of the killed terrorists are being ascertained," he added. The spokesman said arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine's new president Volodymyr Zelensky came under fire Wednesday, just days after taking office, for appointing a chief of staff with links to a controversial oligarch. Zelensky -- a former comedian with no previous political experience -- won a landslide victory last month on promises of rebooting the political system and purging the influence of powerful oligarchs. But late Tuesday he issued a decree choosing as his top aide Andriy Bogdan, until now a personal lawyer of tycoon Igor Kolomoisky. During the presidential campaign Zelensky shrugged off accusations that he was running as a front for the interests of Kolomoisky, who owns the television channel that broadcasts the performer's shows. Authorities accused Kolomoisky of syphoning USD 5.5 billion (4.92 billion euros) from the country's largest bank, PrivatBank, before it was nationalised in 2016. According to reports, the oligarch returned to Ukraine last week after almost two years of self-imposed exile in Switzerland and Israel. Critics said Bogdan's appointment was not just politically suspect but also illegal, as he had held government posts under the ousted pro-Russian former president Viktor Yanukovych. Those who served under Yanukovych are now banned by law from taking certain top positions. "Zelensky violated the law," MP Yegor Sobolev, one of the authors of the legislation, wrote on Facebook. The president "puts himself above the law and shows the whole country his true attitude to the rule of law," said Tetyana Kozachenko, who was also behind the legislation. US special envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker "strongly recommended not to appoint Bogdan" in telephone talks with Zelensky, local media reported. Bogdan however told Ukrainian television that claims he was breaking the law were "unfair" and that he had the right to serve in the new administration. Zelensky, 41, became Ukraine's youngest post-Soviet president after beating incumbent Petro Poroshenko in an April vote. On Tuesday, he decided to dissolve the current parliament and called early elections for July 21, in a controversial move aimed at cementing his power. According to the latest opinion polls, Zelensky's newly formed Servant of the People party, named after a sitcom in which he played the role of president, is leading with 44 percent support. In another controversial staffing decision Wednesday, Zelensky appointed Ivan Bakanov, leader of Servant of the People, to a key role in the security service. Bakanov has no security experience but is a childhood friend of the president. Bakanov also worked as a lawyer for Zelensky's production company "Kvartal 95" and was his campaign manager during the race. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US business community expects the new government in India to come out with very strong governance agenda and outline what is its vision for reforms as the country could emerge as a "global bright spot" amidst the US-China trade war, the president of a top business advocacy group has said. Nisha Desai Biswal, the president of US India Business Council, said the new Indian Government has to navigate and manage some of these trade tensions and not let things fester and not let things mushroom out of proportion. "With the vast amount of global capital that is right now looking at many different economies and feeling some fragility and some precariousness, India could look like the global bright spot, if you have a government coming in with a strong mandate and you have a vision of strong reform, then all of the sudden you start to see a lot more investment flowing towards India, the former Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia said in an interview. She said the US corporate sector is interested in seeing what kind of mandate the new government has. "One thing that I am watching on is do we have a new government that has a robust mandate? What is that mandate? Is that a mandate to jump-start the economy, to boost reforms and to really grow significant opportunity for the people of India, for India's economic and standing in the world, as well as India's strategic standing in the world, she said. In an apparent reference to the growing trade tension between the United States and China, Biswal said this moment could present tremendous opportunity for India and also present a significant challenge for the country. A recent escalation in the US-China trade conflict, including tariff hikes from both sides, has sparked reaction from industries hit by the higher levies. US President Donald Trump increased tariffs on USD 200 billion worth of Chinese imports into the US from 10 per cent to 25 per cent earlier this month, after Washington and Beijing failed to reach a deal on trade. China retaliated by announcing plans to raise levies on USD 60 billion of US imports from June 1. Noting that the current US-China standoff is looking "increasingly complex and increasingly protracted", Biswal said there are some fundamental questions that are being asked on the direction that China is moving. She said Bejing's actions were giving not just the United States but many countries and global industry in general, some significant concerns about what it means for long-term security as well as long term economic potential. "While we continue to push for a open trading system that does not impose tariffs in either direction and we continue to push very hard for global trade to flow freely including with China, which is a very important economic partner for India and for the United States, there is some increasing concern that US-China trade tension is pointing to some underlying concerns, she said. "India could be a very significant beneficiary, if India were able to address some of those underlying concerns. One is as you start thinking about an over reliance for manufacturing supply chains on China, what is it India can do to really help broaden and diversify that? "How can India build a supply chain ecosystem that brings in manufacturing, that brings in supply chain logistics and that really benefits from a infusion of global investment into the Indian economy, into Indian infrastructure, Biswal said in response to a question. The challenge is that, India itself is a very complex ecosystem to navigate and it's both managing central and the state framework for regulation, for permitting and licensing, managing a overlay of different elements of the government and or bureaucracy having different perspectives on an issue, and how do you create a streamlined and coherent process, she observed. "I think those are all things that are very manageable and doable for a new government coming in; particularly if it comes in with a strong mandate for government," Biswal said. She said the US business community expects the new government to come out with very strong governance agenda and outline what that vision for reform, what that vision for transformation is. Referring to the results of the exit polls, almost all of whom have given majority seat to the ruling NDA coalition, Biswal said if it is a return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a robust mandate, then he knows exactly how to create the kind of momentum and energy that will bring investor confidence, not just a from within India, but frankly from around the world. "Global capital is looking to see where what the bright spots are and where it can find opportunity. India could be that significant opportunity for the world and a driver of global growth, Biswal said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States called Wednesday for dismantling the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, weeks before unveiling the economic aspects of its long-awaited Middle East peace plan. Addressing the UN Security Council, US adviser Jason Greenblatt said UNRWA was a "bandaid" and that it was time to hand over services assured by the UN agency to countries hosting the Palestinian refugees and NGOs. "The UNRWA model has failed the Palestinian people," Greenblatt told the council. Last year, President Donald Trump's administration cut all funding to UNRWA, arguing that it was flawed as Washington pressed ahead with work on proposals for an Israeli-Palestinian solution. Greenblatt, who along with Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner is drafting the peace proposals, said it was time to "start a conversation about planning the transition of UNRWA services to host governments, or to other international or local non-governmental organizations, as appropriate." Founded in 1949, UNRWA provides education and health services to some five million Palestinians in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The agency has long been a thorn in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's side and he has called for UNRWA to be shut down, arguing that it is anti-Israeli and perpetuates the refugee problem. The United States will hold a conference in Bahrain on June 25-26 focused on the economic aspects of the peace plan that Greenblatt said has the "potential to unlock a prosperous future for the Palestinians." The Palestinians have rejected the US peace plan and cut off contacts with the Trump administration after it recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, ignoring Palestinian aspirations for a future state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Greenblatt pressed the US argument that the peace plan could bring properity to the Palestinians. "It would be a mistake for the Palestinians not to join us. They have nothing to lose and much to gain if they do join us. But it is, of course, their choice," he said. UNRWA chief Pierre Kraehenbuehl told the council by video-conference from Gaza that the agency had managed to plug a USD 446 million deficit last year through budget cuts and new donor contributions. "At a time when Palestine refugees face a near complete absence of a political horizon, I am strongly convinced that preserving UNRWA's services is a crucial contribution in terms of human dignity and regional stability," said Kraehenbuehl. France echoed that stance and warned that a failure to support Palestinian refugees would turn camps into prime recruitment ground for terrorist groups in the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Most US businesses in China are hurting from the tariffs war between the two countries, forcing some companies to relocate abroad or refocus their business, a survey showed Wednesday. The recent poll by the American Chamber of Commerce in China and its sister organisation in Shanghai paints a gloomy picture of the business environment for American companies. Three-quarters of the 250 respondents said increases in US and Chinese tariffs are having a "negative impact" on their business as orders were drying up owing to rising manufacturing costs and prices. Nearly half said they have experienced non-tariff retaliatory measures in China since last year, with one in five reporting increased inspections and a similar amount enduring slower customs clearance. And 14 per cent complained of other complications from increased bureaucratic oversight and regulatory scrutiny. The United States and China have so far exchanged tariffs on more than USD 360 billion in two-way trade. The poll was conducted from May 16 to May 20, days after the United States more than doubled duties on $200 billion in Chinese goods and Beijing retaliated with higher duties on $60 billion in American products. The poll showed that 35 percent of companies would adopt an "in China for China" strategy -- sourcing within China and targeting the domestic market -- as a result of tariffs. But more than 40 percent said they were "considering or have relocated" production facilities outside China, with Mexico and Southeast Asia the prefered alternatives for manufacturing. Fewer than six percent said they have moved or are considering moving their factories to the United States, undercutting President Donald Trump's hopes of seeing American companies move production back home. Trump launched the trade war last year to extract profound economic reforms from Beijing, accusing China of seeking to forge global industrial dominance through massive state intervention in markets and the theft of US technology. Despite the pain, more than half of respondents said they favour protracted trade talks to continue in order to address "structural issues allowing them to operate on a more level playing field". Others wanted a quick deal and a return to the "pre-tariff predictability and stability" that existed before the world's two biggest economies locked horns. After talks ended in Washington this month China's top trade negotiator Liu He said another round would take place in Beijing, but neither side has announced a date. Trump has left open the door for reconciliation, saying he expected a "fruitful" meeting next month with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping at a Group of 20 summit in Japan. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular press briefing that he had not seen the survey. But, Lu added, "even when the US threatens to impose tariffs on China, the enthusiasm for foreign investment in China has not diminished and continues to increase." Lu said China has "no intention" to take retaliatory action against US companies because of the trade war. "We are still committed to providing a fair, reasonable, transparent, non-discriminatory and predictable business environment for enterprises investing in China," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) What do you stand for? What are you passionate about? What are you good at? What are your areas of expertise? What sets you apart from the crowd? What can you offer to clients that other people can't? What kind of clients do you want? What kind of cases do you want? she says. Figure these core things out first and then build your brand around them and be true to them in your practice. Building networks with the right people are crucial. OGrady is part of the morning panel sharing career advancement advice from industry trailblazers at the upcoming Women in Law Summit, which will be held at The Westin Sydney on 7 August. Early Bird registrations are still open for the event. The packed schedule features experts discussing a wide array of topics, including being a champion for change, balancing career and personal life, and applying flexible work practices to drive industry change. OGrady says that events like the Women in Law Summit are important for all legal professionals to participate in. Women make up the majority of lawyers in Australia; however, still face discrimination in our industry and face challenges on a daily basis that our male counterparts don't. It is important that these issues are discussed, addressed and that the profession works together for gender equality and diversity across the legal sector, she says. Events like the Women in Law Summit are vital for the profession as a whole, not just women. For true change, the legal profession as a whole need to work together, but we need to know what works, what doesn't and what we can do to make true changes. After the mega Walmart-Flipkart deal last year, India's booming e-commerce landscape is gearing up for another acquisition. The buzz is that Gurugram-based Snapdeal, reportedly the fourth-largest player in the business, is close to finalising talks to acquire its nearest rival ShopClues and has already started the due diligence process. The all-stock deal, expected to be pegged around $200-250 million, will give an exit to ShopClues' investors, including Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC, Helion Venture Partners, Tiger Global, Nexus Venture Partners and Unilazer Ventures. Sources in the know told The Economic Times that the deal was likely to see the above investors get one Snapdeal share for every nine they hold if the merger went through as planned, and would give them a 10% stake in the combined entity. "The ask from Shopclues is to get at least a 30% stake in Snapdeal as part of the transaction," they added. The management and founders, Radhika Aggarwal and Sanjay Sethi, may also "get a small cash exit". This development comes at a time Snapdeal has charted an impressive turnaround from its existential crisis in 2017, back when it was embroiled in protracted and ultimately unsuccessful merger talks with Flipkart. As the startup's CEO and co-founder Kunal Bahl stated in a LinkedIn post last year, "This was an M&A process that had dragged on for more than half a year without an end in sight, with many discords outstanding, while at the same time, the business was losing money and cash reserves were depleting fast. We were going to fall off a cliff if a call was not taken immediately to continue to build the business." The board's decision to stick it out as an independent company, but with a reshaped business model, christened Snapdeal 2.0, paid off. The company has managed to bring down its consolidated loss by a whopping 87%, from Rs 4,647.1 crore in FY17 to Rs 613 crore in the following fiscal. Snapdeal turned cash flow positive in June 2018. It has also been steadily increasing its order numbers, now in the 2.5 lakh per day range from a low of 30,000-40,000 daily during its crisis phase. However, it still can't hold a candle to the biggies in the business - Amazon and Flipkart typically rack up 6 lakh orders daily. In comparison, players in the ecommerce logistics space reportedly claim that ShopClues is hardly executing any orders presently. Although the company, registered as Clues Network, has managed to narrow its losses, its shrinking business over the past year has relegated it to the fifth rank on the gross merchandise value, or GMV, chart. ShopClues spokesperson told the daily that the company's losses have come down sharply from Rs 210 crore in FY18 to under Rs 45 crore in the year ended March. If things go to plan, the Snapdeal-ShopClues deal will herald a big consolidation move in the long-tail ecommerce market, which caters to small towns and focuses on low-prices products - typically in the Rs 500-1,000 range. "Snapdeal and Shopclues are trying to make a business in the long-tail category by selling items below Rs 900-1,000 with no promise of next-day delivery. This allowed them to tap into first time online buyers in tiers II and beyond cities in the past," Satish Meena, senior forecast analyst at research firm Forrester Research, told the daily. Significantly, market leaders Amazon and Flipkart had hitherto stayed away from these markets, giving Snapdeal and ShopClues, to an extent, an edge. But the first-mover advantage may not last much longer with Amazon's focus now shifting beyond metropolitan areas and tier II cities. So the acquisition will help Snapdeal compete more aggressively with the biggies. With PTI inputs Also read: Flipkart's integration hits Walmart's first quarter earnings Also read: Snapdeal plans to hire 120 engineers this year The Indian Air Force Wednesday said it has successfully test fired the aerial version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft. The 2.5 tonne air-to-surface missile has a range of around 300 km, and it will significantly enhance the IAF's combat capability, military officials said. The BrahMos cruise missile travels at a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times that of sound. "The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target," IAF spokesperson Group Capt Anupam Banerjee said. The IAF became the first air force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category on a sea target on November 22, 2017. ALSO READ: How a Sukhoi-BrahMos strike will make Pakistani airspace look like Swiss cheese "Today's was the second such live launch of the weapon. The integration of the weapon on the aircraft was a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications on aircraft," the IAF said. It said the software development of the aircraft was undertaken by the IAF engineers, while the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd carried out mechanical and electrical modifications on it. "The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, Defence Research and Development Organisation, BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd and HAL have proven the capability of the nation to undertake such complex integrations," the IAF said. ALSO READ: Attempted break-in at IAF office in France that houses crucial Rafale data It said the BrahMos missile provides the Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. "The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach," the IAF said. BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. Unidentified individuals reportedly broke into the Indian Air Force's Rafale project management team office located in the suburbs of Paris on Sunday night. The break-in might be a possible espionage attempt to steal crucial data related to the Rafale jets that are being procured by India. No documents were reported to be stolen. The Indian Air Force (IAF) has already briefed the defence ministry on the break-in and the local police are investigating the matter, news agency ANI reported. ALSO READ: Rafale row: Anil Ambani's Reliance Group withdraws defamation suits against Congress, National Herald "There was a break-in into the Indian Air Force Rafale project management team office which is located in a suburb of Paris in France. No hard disk or document has been stole. More details are being ascertained about the motive," news agency ANI quoted IAF sources as saying. The Indian Rafale team office is located in the Saint Cloud suburb of Paris. It falls in the vicinity of the office blocks of Dassault Aviation, which is supplying the Rafale fighter jets to India. The motive behind break-in could have been to steal crucial data as valuables and money are not kept in these administrative offices, ANI report said while quoting sources. ALSO READ: Air India to add new domestic and international seats to meet summer rush The Rafale project team is headed by a Group Captain-rank official. The team looks after issues related to the procurement of 36 Rafale combat jets, including the production timelines and training of Indian personnel who are meant to fly and maintain the aircraft. The Indian government had signed a deal worth Rs 59,800 crore with France-based Dassault Aviation to procure 36 Rafale aircraft to introduce fifth generation fighter jets into IAF squadrons. The deal has since been in the crosshairs of Opposition parties in India which have alleged wrongdoings on the part of the outgoing Modi government. The matter has since ballooned into a major political issue during the recently concluded 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Ministry of Home Affairs has alerted the state chief secretaries and DGPs (director generals of police) about the possibility of violence in different parts of the country on the counting day on Thursday. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the ministry has asked states and the Union Territories to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility. The authorities have also been asked to take adequate measures for the security of strong rooms and the venues where the counting will be held. The alert has been issued in wake of several reports of calls for inciting violence and disruption on counting day. In total, polling was conducted across 10.3 lakh polling stations in all the seven phases. Total 67.11 per cent of the 90.99 crore electors had cast their vote in the seven-phase elections. This is the highest ever voter turnout in Indian parliamentarian elections. The Election Commission is yet to provide the number of counting centres being set up for Thursday, saying the data is not centrally available. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the grounds of excessive use of money power. The poll panel is yet to announce a fresh date for elections in Vellore. Edited by Manoj Sharma Don't be disappointed with propaganda of fake exit polls, Rahul Gandhi tells Congress workers Lok Sabha election 2019 final results may not be out till 10 pm on 23rd May A day before the final results of the Lok Sabha election 2019 will be announced, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has indirectly hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government by writing a poem. The poem, written in Bengali, has been titled as 'Emergency'. Mamata also took to Twitter to share the poem, which equalises the current situation in the country to the Emergency. Here is an English translation of the poem written by the West Bengal CM in Bengali. Emergency It's all an emergency Here are a few words, That too is an emergency. A midnight decision, Another emergency. Playing this game in the villain's field There too an emergency. Ravaged by justice, Even that's emergency. Democracy in a cave Even that's an emergency. Want to protest? No, my lord - emergency! Then cry in despair Tears of emergency. What did you see this election? Is exile also an emergency? Mamata regularly writes poems on topics close to her heart. She had also written a poem after the demolition of Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar's bust in Vidyasagar College in the state. Apart from writing poems, she also likes to paint. This election saw the West Bengal CM and Modi trading barbs at each on several occasions. The election process in West Bengal was undoubtedly the most violent among all states. From cases of EVM tampering to violence and arson during rallies, the state earned a bad name for itself. Top political leaders too engaged in a bitter war of words to prove their loyalty to voters. Violence was so prominent in West Bengal that the EC had to curtail campaigning for the seventh and final phase after a row over the demolition of the bust of noted reformer Ishwar Chand Vidyasagar. Accusing the EC of being the BJP's brother, Mamata had said it had been sold to the BJP. "Based on the BJP's complaints, the EC has curtailed the poll campaign in Bengal by a day. The EC has become the BJP's brother. Not just me, the entire country is saying that it (EC) has been sold out to the BJP. It can arrest me if it wants. I am not afraid to speak the truth," she said. Refusing to give an upper hand to Didi, PM Modi during his rally said that though she was now abusing the EC and central forces, she appreciated the poll body's role when TMC secured a major victory against the Left in West Bengal. Several rallies by PM Modi and Amit Shah might help the BJP gain significant seats in West Bengal, as suggested by the exit polls. As per India Today-Axis My India exit poll, the BJP could win 19-23 seats in the state, while regional parties' tally may reduce to 19-22. West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has dismissed the exit polls as a "gossip" and a gameplan to "replace" EVMs. Edited by Manoj Sharma Election results 2019: What time will counting start, how are EVM votes counted, will final results be delayed? Election Results 2019: Don't be disappointed with fake exit poll propaganda, Rahul to party workers Only a few hours are left before the final counting of votes begins, and people will know which party will rule the country for the next five years. The fate of over 8,000 candidates in a total of 542 parliamentary constituencies will be revealed after the counting of votes begins sharply at 8 AM on Thursday. Initial trends will start coming in around 11 AM but a clear picture about winners and losers will be clear only by late afternoon. As per experts, the final results may be announced late evening and can be delayed even further due to a strenuous process of VVPAT counting with EVMs. This Lok Sabha election 2019 is the first parliamentary election in which 5 VVPAT (voter verified paper audit trail) machines per Assembly constituency will be matched with EVMs to ensure fair counting process. In the General Elections of 2014, the EC used VVPATs for a pilot run in eight out of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, but no tallying was done. This time it will be done in exclusive and safe counting booths and the returning officer and his/her deputy will directly supervise the tallying of VVPAT slips with EVM count. In total, polling was conducted across 10.3 lakh polling stations in all the seven phases. VVPAT matching with EVMs will be done in 20,600 stations. The entire exercise of EVM-Paper trail machine matching will take an additional four to five hours. Don't be disappointed with propaganda of fake exit polls, Rahul Gandhi tells Congress workers As per procedure, postal ballots will be counted first. Service voters stood at 18 lakh. These include diplomats and support staff posted in Indian embassies abroad, personnel of the armed forces, central police force personnel and state police personnel who are posted outside their constituencies. Out of 18 lakh registered voters, 16.49 lakh have sent their postal ballots to their respective returning officers as on May 17. The exercise of counting postal ballots manually will itself take a couple of hours at least, an EC official said. The paper trail machines slip will be counted in the end. In case of a mismatch, the results based on paper slip count will be considered as final. However, to ensure that there is a single source of authentic data, the EC has emphasised that round-wise data must be entered into its Suvidha application. The EC officials can log into the app and feed in the data. This will be done before the round results are declared at the counting centres. Total 67.11 per cent of the 90.99 crore electors had cast their vote in the seven-phase elections. This is the highest ever voter turnout in Indian parliamentarian elections. The Election Commission is yet to provide the number of counting centres being set up for Thursday, saying the data is not centrally available. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the grounds of excessive use of money power. The poll panel is yet to announce a fresh date for elections in Vellore. With agency inputs Lok Sabha election 2019 final results may not be out till 10 pm on 23rd May Shares of Dewan Housing Finance Corp Ltd (DHFL) plummeted nearly 18 per cent in early deals on Wednesday after the housing finance company said it would not accept new deposits and stop renewals of existing deposits. The company also put on hold premature withdrawals of existing ones, with immediate effect. The development comes after recent revisions of credit rating of the company's fixed deposit programme. On Friday, Brickwork Ratings lowered the company's credit rating to 'BBB-Plus' from the 'AA-negative', and also put it on 'a credit watch with negative implications'. In the recent past, several rating agencies have downgraded the company's rating, citing liquidity constraints. On May 15, CARE Ratings downgraded DHFL's fixed deposit programme worth Rs 20,000 crore to BBB- (triple B minus) from CARE A. Crisil lowered DHFL's commercial papers worth Rs 850 crore due to delays in fund inflows from asset sales and securitisation deals. Weighed down by the development, DHFL share price plunged as much as 17.51 per cent to touch an intra-day low of Rs 107.15 apiece on the Bombay Stock Exchange. The stock opened sharply lowered at Rs 116.95 against previous close of Rs 129.90. There was also surge in volume trade as 44.49 lakh shares changed hand over the counter, compared to two-week average of 22.02 lakh shares. In the National Stock Exchange (NSE), DHFL shares were trading at Rs 118.60, down 8.77 per cent, against previous closing price of Rs 130. The scrip nosedived 17.80 in opening trade to hit an intra-day low of Rs 106.85. Also Read: DHFL in talks with US Company to sell Rs 18,000 crore loans The company has been battling a liquidity crunch as over Rs 8,400 crore worth of loan repayments and securitisation payouts are maturing for payments in the next eight weeks. The non banking financial company (NBFC) major was in talks with US-based Oaktree Capital to offload wholesale real estate loans to the tune of Rs 17,000-18,000 crore and had signed a nonbinding agreement to facilitate this sale, Business Today reported on May 17. DHFL was in news recently for its liquidity issues and allegations of siphoning off bank loans through layers of shell companies. Edited by Chitranjan Kumar Also Read: Share Market LIVE: Sensex climbs 78 points, Nifty at 11,722; Jet Airways, ITC top performers Indian equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty had hit a record high on May 16, 2014 as investors celebrated the Lok Sabha election results which showed that Narendra Modi would become the Prime Minister with a landslide victory. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had achieved an absolute majority with 282 seats out of 543 in 2014 general polls, the biggest government mandate in three decades, which fuelled hopes among investors that the newly appointed Narendra Modi government would fast-track reforms and accelerate economic activity. On the counting date, May 16, 2014, the BSE Sensex surpassed the psychological level of 25,000 for the first time, surging 1,470 points in intra-day, to hit a lifetime high of 25,375.63, after result showed that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was all set to form the next government at the Centre. The 50-share NSE Nifty breached 7,500-mark to hit an all-time intra-day high of 7,563.50. However, the bourses lost momentum later in the day and slipped into negative territory as investors resorted to profit booking, with Sensex touching an intra-day low of 23,873.16. The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) concluded the choppy trade at a new closing high of 24,121.74, up 216.14 points or 0.90 per cent. Modi I vs Manmohan I: How many times did Sensex hit all-time high? In a similar fashion, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed trade at a record high of 7,200, up 75 points or 1.12 per cent higher. The euphoria was also witnessed in forex market with the rupee climbing to 11-month high of 58.62 against the US dollar before closing at 58.93, tracking firm trading across Indian stock markets. Among the index heavyweights, State Bank of India (SBI) emerged as top gainers with 5.93 per cent gain, followed by HDFC Bank (2.11%), ICICI Bank (5.15%) Axis Bank (5.60%), Larsen and Toubro (3.52 %), Reliance Industries (2.59%), ONGC (1.83%) and NTPC (2.01%), were among notable gainers. Over 200 scrips, including the heavyweights like Reliance Industries, ONGC, State Bank of India, HDFC Bank, Indian Oil Corporation and ICICI Bank, hit 52-week high on strong buying support from funds. Many of the stocks surged more than 10 per cent in the intra-day. Around 198 stocks touched their 52-week high on the NSE. On the sectoral front, all the thirteen indices ended in green, while realty and banking index gained the most, rising as much as 5.97 per cent and 4.39 per cent, respectively. The Modi mania seems to have gripped stock market again. In the last five trading sessions, Sensex has rallied 1,576 points amid hopes that Narendra Modi would return to power with absolute majority. The market experts opined that Sensex may cross the psychological level of 40,000 if Modi-led BJP government manages to win 300 seats out of the total 543 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. As per India Today-Axis My India Exit Poll, the NDA will win around 339-365 seats, while the Congress party will be reduced to 77-108 seats. Although seemingly counter-intuitive for a law firm, we believe that this approach offers business benefits for both our clients and ourselves, he said. This has helped us to continue to build relationships with our clients and gain additional market share; while also helping our clients to rapidly reduce their reliance on lawyers. The Australian launch follows the original UK product which has since been adapted for international markets including the US, Bermuda, and Hong Kong. For Australia, KLAiM is based around Queenslands Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (QLD), although it can be readily adapted for other states and jurisdictions. The Australian extension of KLAiM is built to allow rapid development for all Australian jurisdictions and we are already seeing significant interest from local insurer clients, said Sydney partner Matt Andrews. MoFo adds three partners to strengthen China capabilities Three new partners have joined Morrison Foersters offices in China, adding strength to its capital markets, corporate, and private equity teams. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. founder and CEO said Chinese people should not resort to harmful nationalism in view of the companys ongoing spat with the Trump administration, as he shrugged off a 90-day reprieve offered by the U.S. government ahead of its blacklisting. It is wrong to say that purchasing Huaweis products equals being patriotic dont link that with politics, said Ren Zhengfei in a group interview in Shenzhen on Monday with multiple Chinese media, including Caixin. At Huawei, we wont resort to nationalism and populism, because that is harmful to our country, he said. The comments came after the U.S. Commerce Department last week added the Chinese telecom giant and 68 non-U.S. affiliates to a list of companies required to obtain U.S. government approval to purchase critical components and services from American firms. U.S. prosecutors in January indicted Huawei on 10 counts including trade theft, fraud and obstruction of justice. One of the companys executives has been detained in Canada for possible extradition to the U.S. Meng Wanzhou, who is Ren Zhengfeis daughter. Amid an intensifying trade war between Beijing and Washington, the recent targeting of the company stirred some in China to attempt to boycott U.S. firms in support of Huawei. Almost immediately after the U.S. export ban, top American companies including semiconductor giant Qualcomm Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google began cutting off the supply of critical components and services to Huawei, Caixin reported on Monday. Dont point your fingers at U.S. firms. They have to obey the law as required in the Entity List because the U.S. is a country ruled by law, said Ren, adding that U.S. politicians should take the blame. In what was seen as a reprieve for the Chinese company, the U.S. Commerce Department issued a license on Monday allowing Huawei to continue to trade with U.S. firms for the next three months. The temporary license will only apply to products used to maintain existing networks and provide software updates to existing Huawei handsets. The Commerce Department will evaluate whether to grant companies exceptions after the 90-day period. Ren said the measure had little meaning to Huawei, and his company had anticipated future conflict with the U.S. and the company had been working on a backup plan to develop its own chips for many years. He said Huawei had long prepared for clashes with the U.S. We have sacrificed individuals and families only for the goal to stand at the top of the world, Ren said, adding that with such a goal, conflict with the U.S. was inevitable. Despite this, Huawei will continue purchasing chips from U.S. companies and selling Huawei products to U.S. clients, he said, despite mounting restrictions from the U.S. government. Frozen business ties with Google are expected to hit Huawei particularly hard. The worlds second-largest smartphone-maker has embedded Googles Android operating system on phones sold in markets outside China. If Google fully implements the U.S. government order, Huawei will only have access to the public version of the Android operating system, meaning Huawei phones could lose access to proprietary apps and services such as the Google Play app store, Gmail and YouTube. Ren said today that Google has been trying to persuade the U.S. government to solve the problem, and also said his company was working on a rescue solution, but did not elaborate. In an emailed statement, a Google spokesperson did not respond directly to Rens comments but said: "Keeping phones up to date and secure is in everyone's best interests and this temporary license allows us to continue to provide software updates and security patches to existing models for the next 90 days." Right now, Huawei relies heavily on outside suppliers for components that go into everything from its smartphones to its network base stations. The company has said it imports about 30% of its components from U.S. firms, with those components worth about $11 billion annually. Zhao Runhua contributed to the story. Read more about Huaweis troubles with the U.S. government. A previous version of this story misstated the number of Huaweis non-U.S. affiliates that the U.S. Commerce Department last week added to a list of companies required to obtain U.S. government approval to purchase critical components and services from American firms. There were 68. Contact reporter Mo Yelin (yelinmo@caixin.com) Two Big 4 Banks Expected to Open Wealth Management Units in June By Wu Xiaomeng and Denise Jia / May 22, 2019 03:14 AM / Finance Two of Chinas biggest state-owned banks are expected to open wealth management units next month, a move that could shake up the $4.4 trillion ($636 billion) wealth management product (WMP) industry. The WMP units of Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) are expected to become the first two to win approval from the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) to start business, according to people close to the matter. China Construction Bank, Bank of Communications and Agricultural Bank of China are also waiting for approval for WMP units. A total of 31 banks have disclosed plans to set up WMP units as of April, according to Ernst & Young. Bank of China and China Construction Bank were the first two banks to win regulatory clearance in December to set up WMP units. These banks then had six months to create the units and submit operating applications for approval by the CBIRC. The regulator will decide on approval and grant licenses within two months. Bank of China and ICBC selected offices for their WMP units in Beijing, Caixin learned. China Construction Bank and Agricultural Bank of China plan to set up their WMP units in Shenzhen, and Bank of Communications unit will be headquartered in Shanghai. May 22, 2019 Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors The Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum met today to discuss key priorities and meaningful ways to support current and future generations of Canadian seniors. The meeting was co-chaired by the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister of Seniors, and the Honourable Ernie Hudson, Minister of Social Development and Housing for the Government of Prince Edward Island. The Ministers shared measures underway in their respective jurisdictions to help seniors age in their community. The Ministers also discussed two reports commissioned by the Forum that speak to supports that help seniors to age in their homes and communities. Specifically, the first highlighted the importance of better understanding seniors housing needs and ensuring that housing and communities support independent living by seniors. The second report explored the home and community support services currently available for seniors in their communities across Canada. In addition, the Ministers discussed labour force participation of older workers by examining the impact public programs and policies have on seniors decisions to remain in, retire from, or return to the workforce. The Ministers recognized the complexity of these choices and endorsed a report that encourages further examination of the issues that influence these decisions. These reports will be available on the Forums website in the coming months. Recognizing that seniors are the fastest-growing age demographic in Canada, the Forum is keeping abreast of issues important to seniors and discussing ways to continue collaborating on the social and economic well-being of seniors. The Ministers will reconvene in 2020 for the 21st meeting of the FPT Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum. *All governments contribute to the FPT Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum by sharing information, expertise and innovative practices. However, Quebec does not subscribe to pan-Canadian approaches with reference to seniors as it intends to continue to fulfill its responsibilities to seniors in Quebec. *Due to recent elections, the Minister from Newfoundland and Labrador was unable to attend. Charlottetown, PE The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, Veterans and honoured guests will mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy with a special ceremony as part of the commemorative journey across Canada to Halifax. This spring, combat bootssymbolic of the many Canadians who traded in their civilian shoes for combat boots during the Second World Warare travelling across the country, from Vancouver to Halifax. The boots will arrive in Halifax and will be part of the Government of Canada signature ceremony on June 6. Media are encouraged to share the details of the events as follows: On May 23, Veterans, their families, youth and the general public are invited to attend an event to commemorate D-Day and the Battle of Normandy at Charlottetowns Queen Charlotte Armoury at 12:00 ADT. Location: Queen Charlotte Armoury 3 Haviland St Charlottetown Prince Edward Island Date: Thursday, May 23, 2019 Time: 12:00 ADT Join the conversation on social media by using #CanadaRemembers and #DDay75; learn more at veterans.gc.ca. As well as the 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, 2019 marks the 5th anniversary of the end of Canadas Mission in Afghanistan, and the 75th anniversaries of the Battle of the Scheldt and the Italian Campaign during the Second World War. 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. Assicurazioni Generali SpA is in early talks to buy the Central European assets of MetLife Inc. as the Italian insurer seeks to expand through acquisitions in high-growth markets, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The business may be worth more than 2 billion euros ($2.24 billion) and is concentrated in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, the people said, asking not to be identified as the plans arent public. Talks are at a preliminary stage and the transaction may not happen, the people said. A representative for MetLife declined to comment, while a Generali spokesman said that the insurer doesnt comment on rumors and speculations. Generali has said that its willing to consider acquisitions to enter new countries as one of the top-five players in that market and had signaled that it was interested in pursuing opportunities in central and eastern Europe. Expansion in the region is one of the pillars of Chief Executive Officer Philippe Donnet strategy, as mergers and acquisitions reshape the industry. External growth in central and eastern Europe makes perfect sense, as the CEE region is the jewel in Generalis crown, Gian Luca Ferrari, an analyst at Mediobanca SpA, wrote in a note Wednesday. Generali has plenty of internal resources to finance a potential deal of this magnitude. MetLife Shares Up MetLife shares rose as much as 6.1% and closed 1.3% higher at $48.13 in New York on Tuesday. Generali was little changed at 16.32 euros in Milan trading as of 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. The stock has gained 12% this year, giving Italys biggest insurer a market value of 25.6 billion euros. The firm has said it has several billion euros to invest in deals and internal growth by 2021. This year it bought assets in Slovenia, insurance portfolios in Hungary and Slovakia and has signed a bancassurance agreement with UniCredit SpA to strengthen its position in central and Eastern Europe. Generalis central and eastern Europe unit, which includes Austria and Russia, accounted for about 15% of the companys operating income last year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. A deal could be positive news for Generali, although it depends on the price paid, Banca Akros Enrico Esposti said in a note. Poland accounts for one of MetLifes largest operations in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, according to a company filing. In 2012, MetLife agreed to buy life insurance businesses from Aviva in the Czech Republic and Hungary, as well as Avivas life insurance and pension businesses in Romania. MetLife also has a presence in Bulgaria and Slovakia. (Updates with analyst comment in fourth, eighth paragraph.) With assistance from Dinesh Nair and Daniele Lepido. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Barron is right: we should refuse to be mollified by pathetic excuses and baseless claims that everything is fixed. Yes, we need to pray and pursue holiness, to safeguard those parts of the vineyard that are in blossom. But we also need to root out the vermin and destroy their lairs. During my last three years of high school, I drove past the Archbishop of Boston's residence every day. In 2002, I saw the news trucks outside and the words "Bernie the pimp" spray-painted on concrete in honor of Cardinal Law. But I was not a Catholic at the time, and the crisis was not my problem. When I became a Catholic some years later, it still seemed to me that it was not my problem. The Dallas Charter had done its work, and the predators were in jail. Seminaries were being reformed. There might be shady financial dealings in Rome, but a modest amount of corruption would have to be tolerated. The Church was on the right path. It was a sure and certain source of truth, a school for sanctification, a family in which I could take joy. And so, like many Catholics, I alternated between rage and despair as the accusations against Theodore McCarrick brokeand then the Pennsylvania grand jury report, and then the letters of Archbishop Vigano. I drafted a letter from young Catholics that called for a thorough, independent investigation into McCarrick's crimes and exactly who in the hierarchy knew about them, especially since "everybody knew." "This is the least that would be expected of any secular organization," I wrote. "It should not be more than we can expect from the Church." That tension between the Church's human and supernatural characters has come to the fore in many of the responses to the newest installment of the clerical sex-abuse crisis. In no other institution would this be tolerated, some argue, pointing to human means of investigation and organizational reform as the logical path to pursue. But, others reply, the Church is no other organization. Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah: Spiritual Solutions The latter emphasis comes out in the letter from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the abuse crisis and its roots. The letter was a teaching document and diagnosis of how present problems came about, and it proposed no concrete solutions. No doubt that is largely due to the Emeritus in Benedict's title. But even during his pontificate, teaching was always his strength, and his own qualms about his ability to governespecially to root out the corruption he sawhelped lead to his abdication. Thus, the theoretical nature of this letter is not surprising. The crisis is primarily spiritual, Benedict writes, and its solutions must be spiritual. We must avoid the temptation to see the Church "as something almost unacceptable, which we must now take into our own hands and redesign. . . . [A] self-made Church cannot constitute hope." Barron also calls for a formal investigation on both sides of the Atlantic into McCarrick's career, which will prove difficult, given how deep the rot goes. We hear something similar in The Day Is Now Far Spent (whose English translation is forthcoming), by Robert Cardinal Sarah of Guinea, the most vocal proponent of Benedict's vision of the Church. Sarah writes that Catholics are living the mystery of Judas, who betrayed Christ because he wanted to make the Kingdom of God come on earth right away. Those who seek to root out corruption and the betrayal of Christ must be wary of Judas's illusion that they can do so by human means and according to their personal plans. Sarah also believes that we may be on the edge of a great reform of the Church, something akin to the Gregorian reform in the eleventh century or the Council of Trent in the sixteenth. Historians see such events as structural changes, but Sarah argues that saints, like Gregory VII and Charles Borromeo, are the ones who change things and advance history. Structures follow and only perpetuate the action of the saints. His message for the laity is to be, and to pray for, saints. If you think your priests and bishops are not saints, fast, perform penance, and show them what sanctity looks like. This is how we bear one another's burdens. This is true, up to a point. The Church certainly needs men and women of heroic virtue. It is God's project, not ours. We certainly need bishops heroic not only in their teaching but in their governance. But the Church is also human. It is riddled with structural problems and crimes, which require structural solutions and criminal prosecution. These cannot be prayed and fasted away. Grace builds on nature, but nature is ordinarily mended through natural means. Someone with kidney failure or crippling depression should pray for relief, but he should also see a doctor. As the author of James reminds us, we must not just wish the poor well and pray for them; we must also give them the sustenance they require. Catholics are prone to saying that we are "the hands of God" at work in the world when it comes to feeding the hungry and strengthening the suffering. This is also true for the prosecution of criminals, the protection of children, and the reform of the Church's structures. Bishop Robert Barron: Letter to a Suffering Church Bishop Robert Barron's Letter to a Suffering Church understands this. An auxiliary bishop of Los Angeles, Barron is widely and rightly praised as one of the most effective teachers in the American Catholic Church. His new book, released today, provides a necessary mixture of teaching and empathetic rage. Barron understands the gravity of the problem. Priests uniquely embody Christ and God. When they abuse others, they inflict a kind of "metaphysical" suffering that can make a person feel "violated by God." Barron is equally frank about the crimes of Theodore McCarrick, the gravity of his repeated assault of seminarians, and the scandal of his success: "The average Catholic in America could certainly be forgiven for thinking that something like a conspiracy of silence and a deep corruption obtain within the institutional life of the Church." I expect the ambiguity in that phrasing is intentional, but Barron is correct: a conspiracy of silence and deep corruption does exist within the Church's institutional life, now laid bare for all to see. But he explicitly calls on the laity to stay and fight: "Fight by raising your voice in protest; fight by insisting that protocols be followed; fight by reporting offenders; fight by pursuing the guilty until they are punished; fight by refusing to be mollified by pathetic excuses." Barron goes on to recount the Bible's stories of grave sexual sin, such as the men of Sodom, Lot's incestuous daughters, and David and Bathsheba. He also sees echoes of the clerical abuse scandal in the story of Eli, the high priest whose family is destroyed because, "though he knew his sons were blaspheming God [by their sexual immorality], he did not reprove them" (I Sam 3:13). Never has Barron spoken more plainly about God's punishment of the wicked. He then offers an account of similar wickedness in the history of the Church, including famously wicked popes like John XII and Alexander VI, as an immunization against despair. Against them he holds up St. Peter Damian, who condemned "acts of sexual predation by older clergy of young boys and the lax attitudes of those religious superiors who knew about such outrages yet did nothing to stop them"especially those bishops who preyed on young priests and seminarians. These crimes have plagued the Church before, and the Church has survived. The solution is not to abandon ship, but to fight in the spirit of Peter Damian. Barron concludes by noting the real progress that the Church has made in combating sex abuse. He reminds readers that the American bishops are instituting lay-led review boards to receive and investigate accusations against bishops, which he calls "an enormously helpful step in the right direction." How those boards will work with the new mechanisms for reporting abuse released by the Vatican last week remains to be seen. Stephen Bainbridge has praised such boards here at Public Discourse, and he has critiqued the plan the Vatican ultimately adopted. Barron also calls for a formal investigation on both sides of the Atlantic into McCarrick's career, which will prove difficult, given how deep the rot goes. What Does It Mean to Stay and Fight? Like Benedict and Sarah, Barron thinks that holiness is the most important part of reforming the Church. But he explicitly calls on the laity to stay and fight: "Fight by raising your voice in protest; fight by insisting that protocols be followed; fight by reporting offenders; fight by pursuing the guilty until they are punished; fight by refusing to be mollified by pathetic excuses." What does it look like to stay and fight, to help good bishops uncover that conspiracy of silence and corruption? A good example of what Barron has in mind might be found in Matthew O'Brien's investigation into the Papal Foundation. In two articles, O'Brien lays out the case that then-Cardinal McCarrick committed fraud under Pensylvania's laws governing non-profit foundations, and that Cardinal Wuerl provided false and misleading information to the Foundation's board to secure a grant for a scandal-plagued hospital in Rome. Thus far, the Catholic media have not further pursued the story. We should not be surprised if the FBI and state attorneys are a little more interested. Indeed, we should hope that they are. The civil authority's job is to maintain a just society. It must protect children, punish their abusers, and root out financial corruption. In doing its duty, the state may yet work for the reform of the Church. And yet we must be wary. Those mechanisms of the state do not have the Church's good in mind. Peter Steinfels shows this in his recent critique of the Pennsylvania grand jury report, which clarifies where it exaggerates and misleads. Many politicians and prosecutors will be driven by careerism or by hostility to Catholicism. Catholics will need to protest when the state's hostility overreaches, making sure that anti-Catholicism has consequences at the ballot box. As Benedict, Sarah, and Barron remind us, the Catholic Church is like no other institution. But precisely because of that, lay Catholics should refuse to accept corruption and inaction any longer. Structural problems will require structural solutions that accord with canon law and sound corporate governance. Bishop Barron is right: we should refuse to be mollified by pathetic excuses and baseless claims that everything is fixed. The Song of Songs speaks of catching "the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom." The Church fathers took the foxes to signify heretics, but the metaphor works for the corrupt, too. Yes, we need to pray and pursue holiness, to safeguard those parts of the vineyard that are in blossom. But we also need to root out the vermin and destroy their lairs. Semen Indonesia - May 2019 In April 2019 PT Semen Indonesia sold a total of 3,096,519t of cement and clinker. This compares to 3,161,372t in the previous month. Semen Indonesia contributed 2,144,359t to the April total, mainly from domestic sales (1,851,219t) but also exports (293,140t). This was slightly down on the 2,219,685t reported in March this year. A further 204,601t was added by TLCC in April, made up of 117,301t to the domestic market and 87,300t in exports. This was an improvement on the 133,541t seen in the previous month. PT Solusi Bangun Indonesia (SBI), the new name for Holcim Indonesia, which was acquired by Semen Indonesia in January this year, contributed a further 747,559t in sales, split between the domestic market (715,414t) and exports (32,145t). This was down on the 808,146t sold in March. This puts the year-to-date figure for Semen Indonesia, including TLCC and SBI, at 11,848,979t. Bangladesh records a 20% fall in export revenue 22 May 2019 Bangladesh's cement industry has recorded a 20.4 per cent decline in export revenue to US$8.82m during the 10MFY18-19, compared to US$11.08m of the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, according to the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau. The export figure also includes a minor amount of salt, stone and related products. The export value fell 23 per cent below the US$11.45m target set by the government for the period. For the FY18-19 the export target for the cement industry is US$14m, against US$12.59m from FY17-18. The target is based on the government's anticipation of an 11.2 per cent growth in cement exports. Cement is reportedly being exported to India, Myanmar, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Published under Uzbekistan blocks export of Kyrgyz cement ICR Newsroom By 22 May 2019 Uzbekistan blocks export of cement from Kyrgyzstan, MP Azamat Arapbaev said at the meeting of the Kyrgyz parliamentary committee of economic and fiscal policy, according to Central Asia News. Several Kyrgyz cement companies located in the south of the country export some of their output to Uzbekistan. They cant supply cement solely to our market, it is small, enterprises will stand idle then. We need to find out why such restrictions were imposed, the lawmaker said. Talks were reportedly held with the ambassador of Uzbekistan. If unsuccessful, the Kyrgyz government will dispatch a delegation to Uzbekistan, said Minister of the Economy, Oleg Pankratov. Published under Thomas Cecil Webb, 52, and Kevin James Webb, 47, have been charged with aggravated burglary after they were caught breaking into a house on 2003 Rawlings St. Kevin Webb has also been charged with possession of burglary tools. In the incident on Sunday, police said Kevin Webb used a screwdriver in order to pry open the window of the establishment. The building is the property of Mountain View Property Management. Before the robbery, the two men had approached the owner of the property about renting the property. After this, Kevin Webb slinked to the back of the building and broke into the house, police said. Police officers recovered a bolt belonging to a toilet, a light bulb, and a light switch. Thomas Webb also has an outstanding warrant out of Texas. George Lucas, the billionaire movie-maker who gave us Star Wars and Indiana Jones, said it this way, The story being told in 'Star Wars' is a classic one. Every few hundred years, the story is retold because we have a tendency to do the same things over and over again. Power corrupts, and when you're in charge, you start doing things that you think are right, but they're actually not. In the case of the fallen Tennessee legislator Glen Casada, I cant imagine anything closer to the truth. Casada, the Franklin, Tn., lawmaker who, in his ascent to become Tennessees Speaker of the House this January, stepped on enough fingers in his climb to assure he will rise no more. After being exposed for who he is, and just receiving a 45-24 no-confidence bashing for what he is, this pretender has yet to acknowledge that it is -- all over. Casada, still so taken with himself he cannot accept he is no longer king, issued a condescending statement Tuesday that he will relinquish his lofty Speakers role when he returns from a European vacation. When I return to town on June 3rd, I will meet with (the Republican) caucus leadership to determine the best date for me to resign as speaker so that I can facilitate a smooth transition." According to a growing number of doubters, the only thing Casada will facilitate will be the parade of used whiskey boxes carrying his belongings out the door. The great majority of the Republican leadership in Nashville (if leadership isnt too strong a word) and the entire Democratic caucus is expected to remove Casada completely from the Legislature in coming weeks. I think it would be difficult to work with him after you voted (for) no-confidence and it could fractionalize the Republican Caucus." said Mike Carter (R-Ooltewah), while Lt. Gov. Randy McNally told reporters, "I am hopeful Speaker Casada will put the legislature, the party and the state first and heed the call of his colleagues. Casadas arrogance is certain to infuriate other legislators who do not have a state trooper as an assigned driver, access to state-owned aircraft (the guy actually flew from Nashville to Chattanooga), or an office that calls for $7 million more than the past Speaker of the House, Beth Harwell. The Nashville Tennessean reported it strange that Casada had white noise equipment installed around his office to elude eavesdroppers and that some rooms in the State Capitol had hidden bugs so that Casada or members of his staff could keep up with all thats going on. Rep. Carter will be the first to say there is, indeed, a lot going on. "My concern with the (ethics) meeting is that it shows a heart for misrepresentation and political maneuvering to save the requestors office even at a loss of reputation and integrity of the House Ethics Committee," Carter said. "I could argue that the text messages are disqualifying," Carter said. "I could argue that knowing and failing to report felony criminal conduct in his presence is disqualifying. I could argue that spending $7 million to operate his office more than Speaker Beth Harwell is disqualifying, but respectfully I state that attempting to pre-determine an opinion from the Ethics Committee is the final straw for me." To little surprise, Carter asked the legal team in the State Capitol to prepare materials for a special session that would include Casada must vacate his seat in the legislature as well as the Speaker of the House. It is obvious his constituents in Williamson County are not happy with his behavior. "In his current role, Glen Casada still represents both his district and Tennesseans as a whole," Heather Cornett told the Nashville Tennessean. "This sense of entitlement is a symptom of a disease that seems to have infected our national politics. We have traditionally held our elected representatives to a higher standard than the average person. By running for office, you are asking for the privilege of representing the best interests of every citizen in your district," Ms. Cornett said. "Allowing representatives like Glen Canada to remain in office sends a message that women and people of color are not deserving of the respect, protection and representation that they are promised under the Constitution." Cathy Caudhill, another who votes in Casadas district, and wants him to move to another state, said, "I want nothing to do with him. He should resign from his House seat too. He doesnt represent me or many of the people I know in his district. He has never responded to any questions or communications I have sent his office. He needs to just leave Tennessee, Williamson County and Franklin politics." Alicia Marshall, who operates a business in Williamson County, says the sooner the better. As a homeowner running a small business here, I feel strongly about the need for Glen Casada to resign immediately," and she includes the legislature seat as well. "The longer he stays in office, the more damage he does to our local government. We deserve to be represented by someone with integrity and respect for his constituents. Casada has shown neither. Its time for him to go." royexum@aol.com Karen Ovando pledges to think before reacting, make healthy decisions, refrain from bullying and help the victims of bullying, and stay far away from drugs and alcohol. Thats how the fifth grader at Eastside Elementary School ended her Drug Abuse Resistance Education essay, which was judged the best out of the hundreds written by this years DARE graduates from 13 elementary schools in Whitfield County. Ovando and the 12 other essay winners from each school were honored at the 14th annual DARE recognition program held May 13 at the Dalton Convention Center, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Dalton and the Whitfield County Sheriffs Office. As first-place winner, Ovando received a plaque and a $100 cash prize. Lexi Douglas of Varnell Elementary earned a plaque and $50 for second place, while a plaque and $20 went to Edwin Salaices of Cedar Ridge Elementary for third place. I often say, especially in todays world, its not enough to know the answer, you have to be able to communicate that, said Kiwanis Club President Bert Poston, who served as emcee of the program. Thats what I think is so neat about this program and the DARE essay contest is that these kids learn a lot in the program but then those who got to this level have obviously demonstrated an ability to communicate that knowledge. Poston, who also serves as the local district attorney, praised the support of the family and school officials who turned out for the program. In the business were in up here, we see that strong family support is so important for kids, he said, and the kids we have to deal with in a bad way generally are lacking that so we appreciate the family support shown here today. Other school-level winners who were recognized during the program with family, school officials, and Kiwanians looking on included: - New Hope - Jujhar Kapoor - Pleasant Grove - Oscar Santillan - Antioch - Monse Ortiz - Dawnville - Gaby Huijon - Dug Gap - Dareen Mughrabi - Westside - Adelyn Martinez - Beaverdale - Kobe King - Tunnel Hill - Isabela Sanchez Romero - Cohutta - Masy Gladson - Valley Point Jaeden Atchley. Sheriff Scott Chitwood said that since its inception in 1989, the DARE program is knocking on the door of reaching 30,000 youngsters over the past 30 years. Were proud to say some of our first students are now teachers in the Whitfield County School System or Dalton City Schools, so we have made almost a complete cycle, he said. We hope were doing our part to change lives. DARE instructors Sgt. Tammy Silvers, Sgt. Darlene Crider, and Officer Nathan Center introduced this years winners and presented each of them with a medal and certificate. You have set a bar for your classmates, Silvers told the students. They look up to you as leaders, and you being a winner in todays essay contest speaks highly of you because currently Whitfield County has 756 enrolled fifth grade students and 13 - only 13 - made it to this point and you are one of those 13. Itll all come back to making good decisions and thinking about your choices, she said. When you make good decisions, others are watching you. Youre leaders for your peers, and youre gonna be leaders when you get to middle school, high school, and college and even in the workplace when you get out and start your career. Crider said her students have heard this and heard this and heard this, but one more time Do what you think is right even if youre the only one doing it. Stand up for what you think is right even if youre standing alone. So think about it. Use that DARE decision making model, make a good decision, we all make mistakes, but make the best decision that you can, and youll usually come out okay. Last week members of the Greater Chattanooga Realtors joined more than 10,000 realtors from across the nation in Washington D.C. Our purpose was to further our work with Congress to advance policy initiatives that strengthen the ability of Americans to buy, invest, own and sell commercial and residential real estate. This trip is so satisfying because we are able to see firsthand the importance and impact of advocacy on a state and national level. It reminds me personally that our business and the rights of property owners must never be taken for granted. This year, we advocated for several legislative initiatives including equal protection for the LGBT community under the Fair Housing Act, housing finance reform, national flood insurance program reauthorization and housing affordability and accessibility. Lawrence Yun, who was the keynote speaker for our 2018 Economic Update Luncheon co-hosted with the Home Builders of Greater Chattanooga. While in D.C., we even had the attention of the highest office in the land. Every year NAR invites the sitting President of the United States to speak to our group, should their schedule allow. The last president to address our conference was President George W. Bush in 2005. President Trump addressed Realtors saying, Homeownership and what you do as realtors is a part of Americana. You work hard, you love people, you love this country. We heard the latest market forecasts from National Association of Realtors (NAR) Chief Economist Dr.Lawrence Yun, who was the keynote speaker for our 2018 Economic Update Luncheon co-hosted with the Home Builders of Greater Chattanooga. While in D.C., we even had the attention of the highest office in the land. Every year NAR invites the sitting President of the United States to speak to our group, should their schedule allow. The last president to address our conference was President George W. Bush in 2005. President Trump addressed Realtors saying, Homeownership and what you do as realtors is a part of Americana. You work hard, you love people, you love this country. So why do we take the time to make this visit? 2019 National Association of Realtors President John Smaby put it best. "The day-to-day business dealings of realtors are directly impacted by the decisions made by our policymakers and regulators, making it vitally important for leaders on Capitol Hill to hear from our members. As members of America's largest trade association, my fellow realtors and I know the importance of making sure our voices and the voices of homeowners from across the nation are heard. An app doesnt advocate for equal protection under the Fair Housing Act. A website doesnt fight for access to flood insurance. Realtors do. Realtors fight for homeowners because thats who we R. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Wednesday announced that the following 39 entities will receive $8,854,685.42 in grant funding to support school bus replacement projects across Tennessee: Bledsoe County Schools Lynch Bus Lines, LLC (services Knox County Schools) Bradford Special School District Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools Bristol Tennessee City Schools Morgan County Board of Education Campbell County School System Obion County Schools Carroll County Board of Education Oneida Special School District Clarksville-Montgomery County School System Overton County Schools Clay County Schools Perry County Schools Fentress County Board of Education Putnam County Board of Education Greene County Schools Roane County Board of Education Grundy County Department of Education Robertson County Schools Hancock County School System Scott County School District Hardeman County Board of Education SCU Bus Lines (services Knox County Schools) Henderson County Board of Education Sequatchie County Board of Education Hickman County Board of Education Sevier County Schools Humphreys County Board of Education Stewart County Board of Education Jackson County Board of Education Van Buren County Schools JLL Transport, LLC (services Knox County Schools) Warren County Schools Johnson City Transit (services Johnson City Schools) Washington County Department of Education KIPP Nashville Weakley County Schools Lake County Schools The competitive grant program, which is the states first grant program funded by the Volkswagen Diesel Settlement Environmental Mitigation Trust, will provide financial assistance to grantees to replace a minimum of one eligible school bus with any new diesel, alternate-fueled, or all-electric school bus. The purpose of the EMT is to execute environmental mitigation projects that reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides. These grants will help us to better protect our children and our environment, said Governor Bill Lee. Investing in technologically-advanced transportation updates, particularly in our rural counties, is one way we are supporting the health and safety of our students. Projects supported by this program will reduce air pollutants that threaten public health and the environment, said David Salyers, commissioner of TDEC. By lowering school bus emissions, we can enhance quality of life in our state, particularly for our children. After conducting a review of all grant applications, TDEC selected the above-mentioned grantees that will replace a total of 143 engine model year 2009 or older school buses with 68 new diesel, one all-electric, 66 propane, and eight compressed natural gas school buses. These projects are expected to yield NOx emissions reductions of an estimated 117,725.95 pounds, or 58.86 tons, over the lifetime of the new vehicles. Of the school buses funded, 27 will operate 70 percent or more of the time in former nonattainment areas for ozone and/or fine particulates (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standards; 44 will operate in economically distressed counties, defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission as those counties that rank among the 10 percent most economically distressed counties in the nation based on a three-year average unemployment rate, per capita market income, and poverty rate. TDEC is the lead agency for administering the states VW Settlement EMT allocation; announcements on future funding programs under the EMT will be shared by the department. For additional information on the VW Settlement, visit the TDEC website here: http://www.tn.gov/environment/VWSettlement. Interested persons and entities are advised to sign up for the TDEC VW email list at https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1843437/1737620/. In an opinion released Wednesday, the Tennessee Supreme Court affirmed the validity of a search warrant used to gather evidence in a case involving charges of sexual exploitation of a minor. The defendant, Anthony Jerome Miller, was indicted on one count of sexual exploitation of a minor after a detective from the Morristown Police Department executed a search warrant that resulted in the recovery of more than 50 images of a minor engaged in sexual activity from the defendants computer. Mr. Miller moved to suppress the evidence obtained as a result of the search warrant, arguing that the search was void because the warrant was not obtained by the district attorney general, referencing Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-1007. The statute raised by the defendant states that [n]o process, except as otherwise provided, shall be issued for the violation of [section] 39-17-1003 . . . unless it is issued upon the application of the district attorney general of the district. The trial court denied Mr. Millers motion to suppress, determining that a search warrant was not process under the statute. Mr. Miller then pleaded guilty to the charged offense and received a sentence of six years incarceration, suspended after service of 180 days. He reserved a certified question of law at the time of entering his plea as to whether the search warrant obtained in this case was subject to the limitation found in Tennessee Code Annotated section 39-17-1007. On appeal, the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the judgment of the trial court. The Supreme Court granted permission to appeal in this case to determine this issue of first impression before the states highest court. In its decision, the Supreme Court considered the general law pertaining to search warrants, noting that none of the applicable statutes or rules of criminal procedure provided for search warrants to be obtained solely by a district attorney general. The Court also considered that, had the Legislature intended to limit the general law on search warrants through the statute at issue, it would have explicitly provided for such a limitation. Furthermore, the Court rejected the defendants arguments that process, as provided in the statute, includes a search warrant. The Court held that the statute raised by Mr. Miller was not applicable to the search warrant obtained in this case. As a result, the Supreme Court affirmed Mr. Millers conviction. In so doing, the Court overruled two prior Court of Criminal Appeals cases, to the extent that they held otherwise. To read the Supreme Courts opinion in State of Tennessee v. Anthony Jerome Miller, authored by Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, go to the opinions section of TNCourts.gov. The Atlanta Trombone Ensemble will present a concert of varying musical styles ranging from contemporary to traditional standards at Chattanooga State Community College on Sunday, May 26 beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre. "The wide variety of music will be sure to bring something new and unexpected, no matter your musical background and interest. In addition, the concert will feature the inaugural performance by the Chattanooga Trombone Ensemble," officials said. In addition to university performances, the Atlanta Trombone Ensemble performs several jazz and pop concerts in and around the metro-Atlanta area. Each year, they host YuleSlide Atlanta, a holiday event open to trombone players from across the southeast.Gil Estes. ensemble director, is a native of Atlanta, where he studied with Dr. Paul Mann and Bill Hill. He graduated from the Florida State University, where he studied with Dr. William Cramer and Dr. John Drew. Mr. Estes later attended the University of Northern Colorado, where he studied with Mr. Buddy Baker.After college, Mr. Estes taught high school band in South Florida, as well as metro-Atlanta. As a trombonist, he is an active free-lance musician, playing in various venues around metro-Atlanta. In addition to playing, he maintains a trombone studio and is the musical director for the Atlanta Trombone Ensemble.The public is invited to this free musical concert. For more information, call Ken Cardillo at 423-697-2460. Travelers spent $972 million and were responsible for 13,817 jobs last year in Montgomery County, according to a report conducted for the Alabama Tourism Department by Montgomery economist Dr. Keivan Deravi. That figure represents a 15.5 percent increase in traveler spending on hotels, restaurants, shopping and transportation from 2017, the largest ever increase in traveler spending of any major Alabama county. The report also shows that Montgomery County leads major Alabama metros in total employment growth in the hospitality industry, as well as in travel related earnings and expenditures. Year to date, the City of Montgomery reports approximately 24,000 more room nights than from January through April of 2018. This is the first time that I remember any of the largest counties in the state achieving a 15 percent increase in one year. said Alabama Tourism Department Director Lee Sentell. I think this demonstrates an increased interest in Civil Rights landmarks and especially the amazing response to the Equal Justice Initiatives Museum and Memorial. Tourism is a powerful part of the Chambers fully integrated approach to economic development, shares Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman Willie Durham. The thousands of new visitors to Montgomery not only support our economy through their spending while here, but they also return with an enlightened perspective on our city more likely to consider a return trip, recommend it to friends or even consider relocation of their home or business in the future. The Alabama Tourism Department also reported that the states travel industry grew by more than $1 billion in 2018 to a record of $15.5 billion in expenditures, and increased jobs by 11,984 to some 198,890 employees. The industry grew by 8.5% and attracted more than one million additional visitors to top 27 million guests for the first time. The tourism industry likewise generates millions of dollars for state and local government. Responsible for $681 million in state taxes and an additional $273 million in local revenue for a total of $954 million, the hospitality industry contributed to an increase of 8.5 percent over the previous year, according to the study. In addition, around $76 million was generated in state lodgings taxes, of which 75 percent benefits the State General Fund. Dr. Deravi says that those taxes alone saved each household in Alabama from paying $507 in additional taxes to maintain current service levels. For more information about Montgomery, visit www.visitingmontgomery.com. Juvenile Judge Rob Philyaw said an alert police officer helped detect that something was not right involving a man who was arrested for public drunkenness and the teen boy who was with him. It was found that the 14-year-old had been kidnapped in Indiana on May 6. He was the subject of an endangered child alert there. The judge said Officer Jason Clemons became suspicious after arresting Larry Taylor. Judge Philyaw said, An astute and observant police officer asked the right questions and acted prudently when the stories of an adult male and juvenile male using an alias did not match up and something seemed to him to be amiss. The boy's mother soon arrived in Chattanooga for a joyous reunion with her son. Judge Philyaw also credited Juvenile Court intake special Tammy Roberson for her role in discovering the boy's situation. He said Taylor will be returned to Indiana to face charges of child abduction and abuse. This is the full statement from Judge Philyaw: On Monday of this week an astute and observant police officer asked the right questions and acted prudently when the stories of an adult male and juvenile male using an alias did not match up and something seemed to him to be amiss. Because of his initial actions and the following actions of several others, an Indiana endangered, kidnapped child missing since May 6 is reunited with his family and is on his way back to his home state this morning. Gratitude must be shown to Chattanooga Police Officer Jason Clemons and Juvenile Court Intake Specialist Tammy Roberson. Using their experience and training, both sensed something was amiss and took extra steps to investigate. As a result, a young teenager is safe today. I also want to thank Assistant District Attorney General Amanda Morrison and Assistant Public Defender Christian Coder publicly for their extraordinary work in this child's case as well as the local office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Child Advocacy Center for their quick response and work in this child's case. The adult is in the Hamilton County Jail and will be facing charges in Indiana related to the child's abduction and abuse. The mother of the child thanked everyone involved in court this morning and tearfully declared that Chattanooga will always be a special place and hold a special place in her heart for finding and securing her son. It is great to share a success story of this magnitude with such a positive outcome. Rep. Mike Carter, of Harrison, has written a letter to his Tennessee House colleagues asking that he be consider for Speaker of the House. The development comes after Speaker Glen Casada said he will step down in early June after returning from a vacation. His decision followed a no confidence vote by House members. Here is the letter from Rep. Carter: Today I am writing to request your support to serve as your Speaker. I am not asking you to serve me. I am asking for the high honor to serve you and the state of Tennessee. I state this now, no Chairmanship, no Vice-Chairmanship, nor any other title or position currently held shall be removed. To allow that would give our opponents an opportunity to claim that any removal of a title is reflective of some conduct unbecoming of that representative. Considering what we have been through and realizing that conservative leadership is essential to the progress of Tennessee, we must balance every appearance against the effect on the reelection of our members. I will form a PAC for the benefit of the members and work diligently to restore confidence with our contributors. I will assist the Caucus Chairman whenever he feels the office of Speakership is helpful for raising money. We must reestablish the past tradition of the Caucus Chairman being the primary political figure. In my view the Speaker shall promote a culture to restore the trust of the citizens of Tennessee while encouraging great legislation we can be proud of and run on. A Speakers leadership advisory team shall be established consisting of those who do not hold Chairman or Vice-Chairmanship positions of leadership so that the opinions of all shall direct the House. With the atmosphere were facing we must not only live in a glass bubble we must, with the consent of the Caucus, develop new rules and procedures to prove that integrity and trust has returned to the House of Representatives. Tennessee: First in integrity. We must undertake a complete review of all policies, procedures and rules for committees and officers. We will continue to lead as an equal branch of government cooperating with all but cowering to none. The House controls the purse, a duty and responsibility which we will take seriously and devote appropriate assets to lead the budget process. You will be able to walk the halls and talk in your office without fear of eavesdropping. Members will not be intimidated, and under no circumstance shall a member be threatened with a primary opponent because of any vote taken. They should at all times vote their conscience and district. The bylaws of the House of Representatives Republican Caucus state, the speaker shall conduct his or herself with the highest ethical and moral standards representing the citizens of Tennessee and the Republican Caucus. If we are to restore public trust, a clean break is imperative. The people of Tennessee both demand and deserve it. Respectfully submitted, Mike Carter State Representative District 29 Senator Lamar Alexander on Wednesday received a commitment from Interior Secretary David Bernhardt that the Restore our Parks Act legislation that would cut in half the maintenance backlog at our national parks and help restore our 418 national parks so Americans can enjoy them is a priority of the Trump Administration. He said, Secretary Bernhardt told me today that passing the Restore our Parks Act, which I introduced with Senators Portman, Warner, and King, is a priority of the Trump Administration. The Restore Our Parks Act would be the biggest help to the National Park Service in 50 years it would cut in half the maintenance backlog at our national parks and help restore our 418 national parks so Americans can enjoy them. This is especially important to Tennessee, because our state is home to one of Americas greatest treasures the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is the most visited national park in the country and welcomed a record-setting 11.4 million visitors in 2018. The legislation is supported by a bipartisan group of senators and representatives, the Trump Administration and more than 100 conservation groups. When an idea this good fixing our national parks for future generations gets this much bipartisan support, its going to happen sooner or later, and it is my hope we pass the legislation as soon as this year. Senator Alexander introduced the Restore Our Parks Act with U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Angus King (I-ME) on Feb. 14. The legislation would establish the National Park Service Legacy Restoration Fund to reduce the nearly $12 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks by allocating existing revenues the government receives from on and offshore energy development. This funding would come from 50 percent of all revenues that are not otherwise allocated and deposited into the General Treasury not to exceed $1.3 billion each year for the next five years. Senator Alexander discussed the Restore Our Parks Act with Secretary Bernhardt at todays Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies hearing to review the U.S. Department of Interiors fiscal year 2020 budget request. Senator Alexander also asked the secretary about a study to evaluate including the Polk Home in Colombia, Tennessee, into the National Park System. The John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, which became law earlier this year, included legislation directing the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate including the Polk Home in the National Park System. Once the study is completed, the Secretary will report the conclusions and recommendations to Congress, and Congress will then have to pass a new law to add the Polk Home to the National Park System. Senator Alexander said, President James K. Polks home in Columbia, Tn., is a national treasure that should be protected for generations to come. The home is currently protected by a very dedicated group of volunteers, but they are quickly running out of resources. In April 2015, a reconnaissance survey was completed by the National Park Service at my request. I then introduced legislation to authorize that special resource study, and earlier this year, that legislation became law. The reconnaissance survey said the James K. Polk Home is conclusively nationally significant, and I agree. We must preserve sites like President Polks Home for future generations. I was glad to hear Secretary Bernhardt commit to me today that he will complete this study, so we can take the next step in protecting this historic site The U.S. could have had more than 50 states if every attempt at secession had ended up with a new state (and with those added states would come more state slogans to learn). Here are some of the more notable states that almost were a part of our country, including a former state that people just forgot existed (No. 11). 1. Jefferson The fourth region where Jefferson was proposed | Google Maps The proposed state of Jefferson is a popular one and has been proposed by four regions. In fact, its a state idea thats still being talked about today. Mining communities in the Rockies west of Kansas Territory first requested forming the state of Jefferson in 1859. The state was approved and the Kansas government even set its proposed borders east of the state of Jeffersons borders. However, the good people of Jefferson couldnt agree on a constitution and so Jefferson state became Jefferson territory, and eventually Colorado territory. The next two proposals for Jefferson state took place in Texas. Texas was allowed to split into up to four states as part of getting admitted to the U.S. So, in 1870, Jefferson state was proposed in southeast Texas (south of the San Antonio River). Unlike Kansas, this version of Jefferson wasnt really taken seriously. Decades later, in 1915, Western Texas was proposed as housing Jefferson state, but not enough state senators approved the idea. The fourth region where Jefferson was proposed, and where proponents are still advocating for it, is in the northwest, with support from counties from northern California and southern Oregon. In 1941 supporters came out in full force, passing out flyers and marching with guns. But after Pearl Harbor, the group lost momentum. That is, until 2018 when the Jefferson Declaration of Independence was released online. Will attempt number five be the one that sticks? We arent holding our breath. Next: Its three states in one tiny peninsula. 2. Delmarva Delmarva Peninsula | Google Maps Delmarva is a small peninsula just off the east coast of Maryland. Its split between the three states that comprise its name: Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. There have been proposals for Maryland and Virginia to cede their land and let Delaware absorb them under the name Delmarva dating as far back as 1833. The first proposal for secession actually got passed by the Delaware Senate, the Delaware House of Representatives, and the Maryland House of Delegates. It didnt pass through the Maryland Senate and hasnt gotten any real traction in recent history. Next: Its where Utah as we know it came from. 3. Deseret The proposed state of Deseret included land from 9 current states | Google Maps Though it looks like desert, Deseret is actually named after a word from the Book of Mormon that means honeybee. Its a region that the Mormons claimed in whats now Utah, plus parts of several other states. The Mormons wanted their own state where they could govern themselves. Congress denied the request in 1849 but gave the Mormons the Utah territory (which was smaller than their proposed Deseret state). The Mormon elders had drafted laws and regulations for Deseret and ended up enacting them under the territory of Utahs government. The elders continued to meet in secret after the territorys legislative sessions for the next 20 or so years. Hoping to resurrect the great state of Deseret, they would rewrite the laws that had been enacted during the session under the name of Deseret. When the railroads came in and brought new, non-Mormon settlers, the thought of creating a Mormon-based state was abandoned. Next: More strife in Tennessee 4. Nickajack Where Nickajack might have been | Google Maps Can you guess what region of the country Nickajack was considered for statehood? Well, dont think about it too hard because the name wont give it away, at least not in English. The state of Nickajack would have consisted of portions of eastern Tennessee and northern Alabama. The name comes from Cherokee language since the area was originally home to several Cherokee tribes. During the Civil War, the people living in the region that would have occupied Nickajack wanted to secede because they wanted nothing to do with the Civil War. They werent slave owners and were for the most part poor farmers who didnt want to join the Confederate army. They attempted to secede legally instead of just declaring themselves as a new state, a la Scott. Several of the citizens in the region ended up joining the Union army, and the state of Nickajack never materialized. Next: This state would have been named after the person who invented the Cherokee writing language 5. Sequoyah Eastern Oklahoma | Google Maps Native Americans sought statehood out of a desire to have a state that represented their interests. They proposed the state of Sequoyah in 1905, which would be based out of Indian Territory (which is now eastern Oklahoma). This is the same tract of land where the U.S. forcibly relocated Native Americans as part of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. The Sequoyah state would include counties for every major tribe, and it would allow for the Native Americans to maintain their tribal government system to proceed without federal interference. President Theodore Roosevelt decided instead to merge Sequoyah with Oklahoma territory, which was also being proposed for statehood. Oklahoma became a state in 1907. Next: Another famous president almost had a state named for him. 6. Lincoln The second proposed area for Lincoln State | Google Maps Like Jefferson State, the State of Lincoln has gone through several iterations. Lincoln was first proposed in Texas since it was allowed to be split into four states upon entry into the United States. Lincoln would have consisted of the regions south and west of the Colorado River. The idea didnt get much traction, though. Next, the panhandle of what is now Idaho was considered for statehood under the name Lincoln. That quickly failed, and then in the early 20th century, the state of Lincoln was again proposed, this time in parts of eastern Washington state. Next: It could have been the 14th state 7. Westylvania Vandalia included parts of Kentucky and West Virginia | Google Maps This one has a backstory. Vandalia was a proposed colony situated in parts of Kentucky and West Virginia. England never recognized it as a colony, so in 1776 it tried its hand at reforming into a state. The state would also include parts of Pennsylvania. The name they proposed was Westylvania. If passed, it would have been the 14th state. Congress didnt pay attention to the proposal, and Pennsylvania (which housed most of the land that would have been Westylvania) soon passed a law stating that talking about secession and specifically the Westylvania movement would be considered treason and punishable by death. And so Westylvania quickly fizzled out of momentum and out of memory. Next: No, not that Transylvania. 8. Transylvania The region where Transylvania might have been | Google Maps About a century before Bram Stoker would make the name Transylvania synonymous with vampires and darkness, it was the name of an unofficial 14th colony. It was comprised of parts of northern Tennessee and southeast Kentucky. The name comes from the company that bought the lands from the Cherokee Indians, the Transylvania Company. Its owner, Richard Henderson, was hopeful that the land would be recognized by England and that he could rule it autonomously, much as William Penn did with Pennsylvania. Turns out, the Transylvania Company actually bought the lands illegally according to British law. Two other territories had already laid claim to the land North Carolina and Virginia. Virginia reclaimed the lands and the colony never officially existed. Next: It had license plates and beauty pageants but not the approval for statehood. 9. Absaroka The region where Absaroka might have been located | Google Maps Named after the Absaroka mountain range in the Rockies, this state was proposed in 1939. It was a combination of parts of South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming who wanted to secede and form their own state. The proposal didnt get as far as Congress, but they did make their own license plates and even held a beauty pageant. The timing wasnt good, though, and the citizens of the would-be state lost interest with the start of World War II. Next: Oh, yeah we totally knew you existed 10. Scott Scott County, TN | Google Maps This is an odd addition to the list because it actually was a state everyone just forgot about it. During the Civil War, Scott County in Tennessee seceded from its parent state to form the Free and Independent State of Scott because the people of Scott didnt want to join the Confederate States of America. Scott maintained status as a Union state during the Civil War and was actually a state for 125 years. The thing is, Tennessee didnt do anything to stop Scott from seceding and pretty much forgot about the whole ordeal until 1986, when Scott requested to rejoin Tennessee. Tennessee agreed and even threw a celebration to welcome Scott back to their home state, which seems like an awfully nice gesture considering the state of Tennessee hadnt ever officially recognized Scott as a state. Talk about awkward. Next: The air is crisper way up there 11. Superior Michigans Upper Peninsula | Google Maps If youve ever been in Michigans UP (Upper Peninsula or just up north as the locals call it), you know that its an entirely different world up there. And so it seems reasonable that the citizens would have, at one point or another, considered becoming a separate state. The area has been proposed for statehood a few times but hasnt had enough traction to get very far in the process. Next: Now this one really almost was the 14th state. 12. Franklin Franklin was almost the 14th state | Google Maps The state of Franklin was just two votes away from becoming the 14th state. It was an autonomous territory in what is now Tennessee and was given to North Carolina from Congress in 1784 as a way to help the state pay off debts from the Revolutionary War (this was customary at the time). By 1789 North Carolina ceded the area back to the federal government to form the Southwest Territory and the state of Franklin dissolved. Next: Perhaps not the most creative name 13. Southern California Southern California | Google Maps Parts of southern California have been collaborating to attempt to secede from California and form their own state of Southern California. Government leaders did not take the thought very seriously, with the governor calling the movement a supremely ridiculous waste of everyones time. Next: This would have been a powerhouse of a state. 14. Texlahoma Texlahoma would have included parts of Oklahoma and Texas | Google Maps The name makes sense since this state would have been made up of parts of Texas and Oklahoma. In 1935, 46 counties in northern Texas along with 23 counties in Western Oklahoma attempted to secede and form a new state. Their reasoning? Lack of road infrastructure in their states. Needless to say, the state of Texlahoma never came to be, mainly because Texans who lived in what would have been Texlahoma would have had to lose their status as Texans. Next: We can still go to Disney World, at least. 15. South Florida Could South Florida be a new state? | Google Maps Fed up with northern Floridas response to climate change, Miami passed a resolution to separate the state into two, South Florida and North Florida, in 2014. Well have to wait and see if this one will take hold, as statehood is a long and complicated process. Jordan Verroi from Summer House has been dealing with his fair share of questions from his housemates. He made out with Danielle Olivera but then blew her off when things got a little hot and heavy. He also told a pretty tall tale about how he lost his virginity. Additionally, he played it cool with the men, telling them he made out with three women in a single evening. Jordan Verroi |Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images The friends in the house seem confused about Verrois game. They are pretty confident hes not the player he claims to be, but arent sure if perhaps hes hiding something more. Hannah Berner thinks hes having identity issues Berner knew Verroi before joining the Summer House cast and dished with Diana Espir from the You Cant Sit With ME podcast. She wondered if perhaps he was still a virgin and trying to hide it. When you are lying so much you are clearly trying to cover, a truth, Berner told Espir. He never said what he is hiding. Or that he is hiding something. She also gave her thoughts during Bravos The Daily Dish podcast too. Ive always had his back because he really is an amazing person; hes really a kind, kind soul, she said. He would never hurt a fly. I just think hes working on who he is as a person. Jordan Verroi, Hannah Berner, Kyle Cooke, Danielle Olivera, Carl Radke, Lindsay Hubbard, Paige DeSorbo, and Amanda Batula |Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images Im from New York City so I dont know what its like growing up in the South with a military family, super religious, and then living in New York City, so I feel like hes dealing with a lot of identity questions and not going about it the best way but I have hope for him, she added. But then he reveals he has erectile dysfunction He told Kyle Cooke he opened up to the ladies in the house and told them he actually suffers from erectile dysfunction or ED. He says hes been acting differently because of something thats been going on with me, he revealed. These past couple months Ive been having like uh, erectile dysfunction issues, he tells Cooke. Cooke looks stunned saying that he did not expect Verroi to tell him that. Cooke says, The brain is a tricky thing and so is the little brain. Is it happening with a specific girl multiple times? Verroi says no but rather, two girls. At this point, Cooke is skeptical that Verroi has ED. He thinks either Verroi is not aroused by women or is a virgin. Is ED common amongst young men? Verroi may indeed be suffering from ED as it is possible in younger men, according to Healthline. A recent UK study found about half of men in their thirties have ED and more than one-third of men under age thirty deal with the disorder. However, other researchers do not believe these numbers are as accurate as some men reported having an issue occasionally, which may not fit the traditional definition of ED. According to Dr. Irwin Goldstein, director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, the definition is a disorder that is more sustained. ED is the persistent and consistent inability to maintain an erection through satisfactory intercourse. Culprits are linked to cardiovascular disease, but also other stress-inducing factors. This may include excessive drinking, fatigue, and anxiety as a contributing factor. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! After years of studying for her college degrees, being politically active, and landing a regular role on the USA legal drama Suits which she starred in for seven seasons American actress Meghan Markle left that life behind and, as the world knows, she became part of the British royal family. However, a royal expert says that even though Markle married a Prince, her life is no fairytale. Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex | Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage A year punctuated by negatives Prince Harry and Meghan Markle just celebrated their first anniversary, and two weeks ago they celebrated the birth of their first child Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. But, Duncan Larcombe, author of Prince Harry: The Inside Story, says that Meghans life as a royal has not been what she had imagined it would be. Meghan should not be blamed for overshadowing Kate just like some stars shine brighter than others for no fault of their own. They have very different paths. Meghan should not have to dim her light to make Kate shine it's 2019. #MeghanAndHarryPlusOne #MeghanMarkle #KateMiddleton Nelly (@ann2156) May 18, 2019 The whirlwind romance that catapulted Meghan to a level of stardom beyond her wildest dreams must have been as bewildering as it was overwhelming, Larcombe told The Sun Online. But now the reality of what it means to be a royal has begun to sink in, Meghan will have realized that this is no fairy tale. Larcombe added that Markles decision to marry Harry has come at an unimaginable cost. Just weeks after becoming the Duchess of Sussex, Markle attended a solo engagement with Queen Elizabeth, which was an honor that Kate Middleton didnt get until earlier this year eight years after marrying Prince William. While Larcombe says that overall Markles first year as a Royal has been positive, the past year has also been punctuated by negatives, thanks to Meghans estranged father, Thomas, and her half-sister, Samantha; not to mention the rumors of a feud between her and Middleton. Meghan Markles bad reputation Just one week before Harry and Meghan tied the knot, Thomas an award-winning Hollywood lighting director got caught up in a paparazzi photo scandal that led to him backing out of walking his daughter down the aisle. Prince Charles stepped in to take over for Thomas, but Larcombe says the betrayal still haunts Meghan, and there are no signs of it going away anytime soon. Meghans estrangement from the majority of her family has led to plenty of bad press, but insiders at Buckingham Palace have also claimed that the 37-year-old is difficult to work for. There was also the rumor that Meghan Markle left Kate in tears after a dress fitting for Princess Charlotte, which sparked an alleged feud between the two Duchesses. The British tabloids have not taken it easy on Meghan, and neither have online trolls. The abuse is so bad that Kensington Palace made an official statement about the problem. And, as Larcombe says, Whatever the truth behind the falling out between the Sussex and Cambridge clans, it is damaging for Meghan to be singled out as a fly in the Royal chardonnay. Meghan Markle famously walked down the aisle at the royal wedding alone that is, until Prince Charles intercepted her. Now, her friends get emotional thinking about that moment: For me, it was like, Okay. Shes home. https://t.co/YmrbH9NPGV pic.twitter.com/miCH4hpY4g CBS News (@CBSNews) May 16, 2019 The author explained that not challenging the negative stories about Meghan fuelled those whose racist disposition empowered them to troll Meghan with the most vile insults on social media. Despite all of this, Larcombe says that Harry and Meghan should be proud of how things have gone during their first year as husband and wife. However, he warns that popularity is not an entitlement, and they will have to work to maintain their status as the royal familys golden couple. Meghan and Harry are more regal Royal biographer Andrew Morton says that Harry and Meghans decision to keep their sons birth private and control the first photo shoot has made them appear more regal compared to previous photo calls. Morton told Yahoos The Royal Box that Harry and Meghans introduction of baby Archie played out very well because they were able to control the narrative. meghan markle putting her occupation as princess of the united kingdom on her son archies birth certificate is a power move im here for pic.twitter.com/qOribihjSA eleni (@holylarents) May 17, 2019 Compared to Kate Middleton and the late Princess Diana who introduced their newborns to the world just hours after their birth on the steps of the Lindo Wing at St. Marys Hospital in front of countless photographers Meghan Markle opted for a private photo call with a handful of press two days after his birth at Portland Hospital. The couple also announced Archies birth on their Instagram page, and all of these decisions led to a historic and groundbreaking photo of Harry and Meghan introducing their biracial son to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, while Markles mother Doria Ragland looked on. Historian Anne Whitlock says that the photo was a celebration of the new multi-ethnic Royal Family. And, Prince Harry and Meghan Markles choice to use social media was a smart way to blend royal tradition with modern technology. Rihanna is now a Londoner. The pop star, fashion icon, and founder of Fenty Beauty moved across the pond. Learn why she made the move ahead. Why Rihanna moved to London Fenty products are manufactured in Paris and Italy and thats why Rihanna moved to London, so she could be closer to her Fenty team (Fenty is Rihannas last name and the name she chose for her businesses not related to music), Rihanna told The New York Times. Rihanna changed the beauty industry when she launched Fenty Beauty. The brand offered 40 shades of foundation ranging from palest to darkest. Shes recently added even more shades to the line and plans to add more. I dont even think 40 shades is enough! And so I added 10 more recently, and were not gonna stop there, Rihanna said. Its recently been announced that Rihannas created a luxury fashion line, Fenty, with LVMH. The entire line will be available to shop online starting May 29, 2019. Once again, Rihannas changed the luxury fashion industry. Her partnership with LVMH is the first the LVMH has built from the ground up. Aside from work, Rihanna may have had a personal reason for moving to London. Her boyfriend, Hassan Jameel, lives there. 29-year-old Jameel is a Saudia Arabian businessman. Hes got a net worth of $1.5 billion. Hes made his wealth working for the family business his father started named Abdul Latif Jameel. Rihannas boyfriend is the deputy president and vice chairman of the business. Where does Rihanna live in London? We dont have Rihannas London address because thatd cause obvious privacy and safety issues for her but we do know whats in her neighborhood. You know, theres a cute little Jamaican market near where I live right now, she said. Also during her interview with The New York Times, Rihanna said that she enjoyed walking around her neighborhood. She told the publication she enjoyed walking around the block. When the reporter interviewing her expressed their surprise because part of Shoreditch had to be shut down for their interview (they met at a chocolate store) Rihanna replied, No. This is not a regular day in London. Its a bank holiday. Everyones out. Its insane. Dont expect to recognize Rihanna when shes taking a stroll in her neighborhood. When I go walking, I try to keep it a little incognito, she said. Where did Rihanna live before moving to London? Rihanna has owned a number of properties in recent years. She bought and still owns a property in her native home of Barbados. Hollywood Hills used to be Rihannas home until a stalker broke into her residence. In the months following the incident, Rihanna put the home up for sale. Rihanna | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic As of Dec. 2018, Rihanna still maintained a 3,500-square-foot condo in L.A., according to Variety. Purchased in 2014 for $5.45 million, the condo is on a high floor of L.A.s Century City. Now that Rihanna lives in London, heres hoping we see her with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle supporting a cause. She and the Duke of Sussex have known each other since 2016 when they were both tested for HIV/AIDS. Although she doesnt involve herself in politically-charged topics, Queen Elizabeth is the epitome of female empowerment. Since ascending the throne at age 25, Her Majesty has made adjustments to the royal family such as changing the succession rules so that Princess Charlotte can keep her place in line to the throne despite having a younger brother that have helped bring the royal household up to speed with a woman on the throne. One of the best examples of her more feminist moves is the royal familys last name. The royal familys last name Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth. | ALASTAIR GRANT/AFP/Getty Images We might know the royal family as the Mountbatten-Windsors, but it wasnt always that way. In fact, the royal familys last name has quite a history. Up ahead, find out more about how the royal family became Mountbatten-Windsors, plus how it sparked an eight-year feud between Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip. The royal familys last name was established in 1917 Although many members of the royal family dont use a last name those with His or Her Royal Highness status dont require one! the royal family still has one. That said, its fairly new. The royal familys official last name was first established in 1917 by King George V, Queen Elizabeth IIs grandfather. Prior to that, royals differentiated themselves with house names based on the countries where their ancestors had ruled. But, with the house name Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, King George V felt pressured by anti-German sentiments from World War I and decided to do away with the tradition and start one of his own. From 1917 on, all members of royal family would use Windsor as their house name and last name. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth | Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Prince Philips last name When Prince Philip married a then Princess Elizabeth in 1947, he had to ditch his foreign titles (Philip was born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark), become a citizen of Britain, and choose a last name for himself. He chose Mountbatten, as a nod to his maternal grandparents surname. Queen Elizabeth was allowed to change the royal familys last name Upon her ascension, Queen Elizabeth was faced with a difficult decision: To keep the royal familys house name Windsor which was also her last name change it to her husband, Prince Philips last name, Mountbatten (or settle on a combination of the two). On February 6, 1952, the day her father, King George VI died and she became queen, Her Majestys private secretary asked what name she would rule under (aka, her regnal name). Without a fuss, she replied, my own, of course. However, the topic of the royal familys house name (and last name) wasnt so simple. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip | Keystone/Getty Images Given her status, Queen Elizabeth didnt technically have to take her husbands last name. But, when the time came to choose the last name of their descendants and the royal familys house name under her rule Prince Philip advocated that it be changed from Windsor to Mountbatten. Queen Elizabeth originally chose Windsor as the royal familys last name When it came down to it, Queen Elizabeth felt pressured by her mother and the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill to keep the royal familys last name. At the time, it likely had nothing to do with empowering Queen Elizabeth as a woman and more to do with the royal familys roots. Although Prince Philip is technically Queen Elizabeths cousin (yes, they are related!) he wasnt born under the Windsor household. According to reports, Prince Philip was more than just a little upset by her decision. Some reports claim the Duke of Edinburgh complained that he was nothing but a blood amoeba and was the only man in the country not allowed to give his name to his own children. While his frustrations are understandable, he did marry into the royal family and everything is different in the royal family. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth | Jeff Spicer/Getty Images Queen Elizabeths actions sparked an eight-year-long feud Prince Philip was so upset by his wifes decision that he would not let it go. And, the frustrations pent up for nearly eight years before finally, Queen Elizabeth decided on a compromise. According to the royal familys website, the queen did not change the royal familys house name, but she did agree to combine her and Prince Philips last names to distinguish their decendants from the rest of the royal family, as others went by Windsor. Its unclear whether or not Prince Philip still holds a grudge over the fact that the queen didnt change the house name. However, his initial argument had more to do with his children carrying on his name, so wed say he got his way. Prince Charles can change the royal familys house and last name Mountbatten-Windsor is still used today. In fact, because he doesnt have a royal title yet, Prince Harry and Meghan Markles son, Archie uses it (the royal babys full name is Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor). That said, when Prince Charles ascends the throne, things could change. As sovereign, Prince Charles has the opportunity to change his house name as well as the royal familys last name. Although, we dont see any reason why he would. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Jessica Alba and Gabrielle Union are currently starring in L.A.s Finest, a TV series spinoff of the Bad Boys films. You can watch the Sony Pictures TV series on the Spectrum Network. The show follows Syd Burnett (Gabrielle Union), from the Bad Boys franchise, as an LAPD detective whos trying to leave her past behind. Shes partnered with Nancy McKenna (Jessica Alba), a working mom whos maybe a little jealous of Syds fancy-free lifestyle. Jessica Alba and Gabrielle Union | Kevin Winter/Getty Images This will be Jessica Albas return to acting after a bit of a hiatus. Shes been focusing on her business, Honest Company, and raising her kids. Honest Company is a baby and household product company that was founded by Alba and her husbands childhood friend, Brian Lee, and its taken up a lot of the star/entrepreneurs time in the last several years. At a recent screening of L.A.s Finest in Los Angeles, California, Alba spoke out how her husband, Cash Warren, encouraged her to first start Honest Company. Hes constantly pushing me outside of my comfort zone. I wouldnt have been an entrepreneur. He was my number one champion saying Of course you can. Why them? Why her? Why him? Screw that. He went to Yale, hes like You dont need that degree. Who cares if you didnt go to school? All that matters is youre smart. Embrace that. Do what you want. Surround yourself with people who know stuff you dont, and know your worth. And thats why I started the Honest Company really. Because I had him as a champion, she said at the screening. Why Jessica Alba was hesitant to act in L.A.s Finest Alba went on to speak about her initial hesitation in working on the project. She said, at the time, she was still breastfeeding (a classically hard thing to get done on set), and her body wasnt feeling totally back to normal yet, having recently given birthto which Union replied: Thicc Alba is the best Alba. But Union assured her that it would be a totally family-friendly set. Her children would be welcome, and shed have everything shed need to breastfeed. Alba said Union more than delivered. She said its important to her to be able to bring her kids to work. She wants them to see their mother working hard, especially in a BA action role. As for the days shes too busy filming/working to keep an eye on her kids? Feminist Dad comes to the rescue. My husband is a feminist and he believes women have a real place in the world. We co-create our life. The thing that makes him the most sad and angry is when people are like Oh youre playing Mr. Mom today. Hes like No, Im just showing up and being a dad. Hes part of their life. He takes them to school, he drops them off, he goes to the things when I cant be at the things, she said at the screening. SensoLogic's business is creating software for technical applications. With our products for chemometric spectroscopy we strongly focus on the workflows of our customers. We provide clear and easy-to-use software interfaces and make modeling and routine measurement much easier for you. We are also happy to put our broad experience to work in developing individual software solutions for instruments and for laboratory and process automation. BASF plans to build an engineering plastics compounding plant and a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) plant at the companys proposed integrated chemical production (Verbund) site in Zhanjiang, China. These will be the first production plants to come onstream at the site. By 2022, the new engineering plastics compounding plant will supply an additional capacity of 60,000 metric tons per year of BASF engineering plastics compounds in China. This will bring the total BASF capacity of these products in Asia Pacific to 290,000 metric tons per year. As part of the companys plan to implement a comprehensive smart manufacturing concept at the Verbund site based on cutting-edge technologies, the new plants will utilize automated packaging, high-tech control systems, and automated guided vehicles. Less than a year after we signed the first MoU, we are delighted to announce the first plants to be established at our smart Verbund site in Zhanjiang, said Dr. Stephan Kothrade, President Functions Asia Pacific, President and Chairman Greater China, BASF. The project is moving forward swiftly and customers in southern China will soon benefit from these innovative products to meet their immediate needs. General facilities for the Zhanjiang Verbund site will also be built along with the two new plants. BASF Integrated Site (Guangdong) Co. Ltd (BIG), BASFs new wholly-owned subsidiary, has been officially founded. This entity will oversee the operations of the new Verbund site, underlining BASFs commitment to the southern China market. We want to improve our support for customers in the southern China market and around the world. We will do this by establishing the new plants close to growing customer industries, and through improvements in efficiency realized from our smart manufacturing approach. This will increase our speed of innovation and the efficiency of our services, said Raimar Jahn, President of BASFs Performance Materials division. In particular, electric and electronics companies and automotive manufacturers are turning to BASF to help them address trends such as the electrification of cars and miniaturization of electronic devices. The growth of the TPU market, in particular for high-end applications, is driven by several factors including increasing regulatory requirements and growing customer expectations for enhanced sustainability performance in such areas as e-mobility, lightweight and automation. BASF solutions support this growth with safety-enhanced cables and wires for automation and automotive, as well as lightweight materials for consumer goods. With customer needs evolving rapidly across the world, BASF is ramping up its investment in emerging markets to address local requirements while continuing to invest in developed economies. BASF signed the first Memorandum of Understanding for the Verbund site with the Guangdong Provincial Government in Berlin in July 2018, and in January 2019 the company signed a Framework Agreement setting out further details of the plan. The Verbund site in Guangdong would be BASFs largest investment, estimated up to US$10 billion upon completion, and would be operated under the sole responsibility of BASF. The integrated value chain will connect upstream and downstream plants from basic chemicals to more consumer-oriented products and solutions, serving growth sectors like consumer goods or transportation. The site would ultimately be the third-largest BASF site worldwide, following Ludwigshafen, Germany, and Antwerp, Belgium. On Sunday May 12th, between 20 and 30 gunmen entered a Catholic church during Mass in Dablo, Burkina Faso, and started shooting the congregation. Six people, including Father Simeon Yampa, were killed. The attackers then set fire to the church with some worshipers still inside. Probably 95 percent of Americans couldnt find Burkina Faso on a map. But that doesnt make whats happening to Christians there any less serious or any less deserving of our attention. In fact, this was the second such attack on a church in the region in two weeks. The Sunday after Easter, gunmen on motorbikes attacked a Pentecostal church in a neighboring province, killing the pastor, Pierre Ouedraogo and five worshipers. Burkina Faso, which was called Upper Volta until 1984, was not a particularly dangerous place for Christians until just a few years ago. While Christians are only a quarter of the population, the country, unlike other Muslim-majority nations, hasnt been ranked on lists like Open Doors. As the Christian Post put it, Although Burkina Faso is a majority-Muslim country . . . religious groups have largely coexisted peacefully there. These recent attacks owe their origins to neighboring Mali, a nation that is on the Open Doors list. Since 2012, Mali has been locked in a series of conflicts pitting the central government against Islamist and Islamist-backed forces. Even after the initial conflict was put down by the French military, jihadis have continued to operate in Mali, which has been characterized as fragile, with weak state legitimacy leaving citizens vulnerable to a range of shocks. In this case, the violence in Mali has spilled over into Burkina Faso in the form of Islamist attacks on not only Christians but also those deemed insufficiently Muslim. After killing Father Yampa and his parishioners, the attackers destroyed all places serving alcohol, as part of an ongoing campaign to establish a so-called caliphate in the part of Africa between the Sahara and the rain forests of Central Africa. Since 2016, there have been more than 200 attacks, and in the past two months alone more than 70,000 people have been forced from their homes. As order deteriorates and the governments authority diminishes outside the capital, jihadis, mostly from Mali and other countries in the region, are free to operate with something close to impunity. That freedom is expressed by attacking Christians both inside and outside of church. In addition to the attacks I just told you about, jihadis have also targeted missionaries. Three years ago, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb killed six Canadians who were in the country on a mission trip. Given these developments, I suspect Burkina Faso will soon appear on Open Doors World Watch List, given the threat against Christians by those who hate them and the increasing chaos in the country. Scripture commands us to always keep on praying for all the Lords people. This is especially true for our persecuted and suffering brothers and sisters. They are paying a price we can scarcely imagine for bearing the name Christian. The least we owe them is to become acquainted with their situation so that their suffering doesnt go unnoticed. Yampas and Ouedraogos names were known to God. Likewise, they should be known to us. Every day at BreakPoint we are committed to letting you know whats happening in the world from a Christian worldview, including what is happening with our persecuted brothers and sisters overseas. As we approach our fiscal year end, please consider supporting this essential ministry of helping Christians think clearly and act in our culture. To support us, come to BreakPoint.org. Download mp3 audio here. 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: May 22, 2019 Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Milenius A Texas university bucked the anti-Chick-fil-A trend on college campuses this month when its administration refused a student government request to remove the popular restaurant. We do not make vendor decisions based on their political or religious beliefs, wrote Trinity Universitys Tess Coody-Anders, vice president for strategic communications and marketing, in an email to students. Campus Reforms Frances Floresca was the first to report on the email. Coody-Anders added that the school considers utilization, variety of options, vendor performance, and campus-wide feedback. Based on these criteria, Chick-fil-A appears to be a preferred vendor by students and the broader Trinity community, she wrote. Chick-fil-A is on pace to become the third-largest restaurant chain in the U.S. based on sales. The student government association had passed a resolution criticizing the companys donations to the Paul Anderson Youth Home, the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The resolution said the schools values of diversity and inclusion and Chick-fil-as values regarding the LGBT+ community are mutually exclusive. The negative consequences of having Chick-fil-a on campus outweigh the desires of those who are in favor of keeping it on campus, the resolution read. ... the Trinity University Student Government Association recommends that Chick-fil-a is removed. Trinity University is a private liberal arts school located in San Antonio. It has about 2,500 students. Related: Save Chick-fil-A Bill Passes Texas House, Banning Religious Discrimination Chick-fil-A to Become 3rd Largest Restaurant Chain, Despite Being Closed on Sundays Chick-fil-A Banned from Airport for Its 'Legacy of Anti-LGBTQ Behavior' Airports Banning Chick-fil-A Are Anti-Christian, Columnist Says A 2nd U.S. Airport Bans Chick-fil-A for Spreading Hate and Discrimination Michael Foust is a freelance writer. Visit his blog, MichaelFoust.com. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Tom Pennington/Stringer Two 8thgrade teachers at a charter school in North Carolina believed that they had an LGBT bullying problem, so they invited two drag queens to the school to help the students learn how to celebrate LGBT lifestyles. Teachers Taylor Schmidt and Schara Brooks organized the event at Central Park School for Children in Durham, North Carolina. They told CNN that they saw their LGBT students on the receiving end of incidents of targeting, harassment, and bullying and wanted to do something about it. Their solution was to host a drag queen event as part of the schools Pride and Liberation event. Drag Queens Vivica C. Coxx and Stormie Daie sang for the students, showed off multiple outfits, and talked about their experiences as LGBT students. Coxx, the onstage persona of Justin Clapp, the organizer of Durham Pride, performed Big, Blonde, and Beautiful from Hairspray. Then Coxx told the students, You should be proud of Central Park School for Children. You have a famous person standing in front of you who wishes I had this experience when I was your age. Coxx and Daie also performed songs by Beyonce and Nikki Minaj during the program. The duo also took part in a panel with Durham City Council member Vernetta Alston and LGBTQ Center of Durhams executive director Helena Cragg. During the discussion, Alston told the students that, Everyone, no matter their age, deserves respect for being exactly who they are. Daie also led a Drag Queen Story Hour with students in Kindergarten through fourth grade. Students were allowed to opt out of the program if they wanted to. The Drag Queen Story Hour has been a source of controversy at schools and libraries across the country. The Greensboro News and Record reported that students responded positively to the event, saying that learned how to help their LGBT peers. A fifth-grader said, I really, really, loved the Pride and Liberation celebration. I think it really showed and maybe helped others who are LGBTQ+ really see that they are not alone and that they can really express who they are. A seventh grader agreed, saying Durham is one of the most welcoming communities, but we still do always have more room to be more welcoming. Schmidt, who came up with the idea for the event, explained why he wanted to host it. He said, If were going to be a school thats focused on equality and justice, and if were going to be a school that believes in the act of liberation, we need to be more creative in our approach. He added, If schools are nervous about doing the work of Pride and Liberation, we get it, but what to us seems daring, to our LGBTQ+ students could be lifesaving. Public school educators ultimately teach for liberationthats the job. Scott Slayton writes at One Degree to Another. Photo courtesy: Artem Gavrysh/Unsplash Two sets of brothersElias and Saul Juarez and Ruben and Oscar Sanchezsaid they just wanted to minister to gang members and help the men they worked with leave this lifestyle behind. But they blame an anti-gang lawsuit in their home in Elgin, Illinois, for holding up their work for nearly a decade. Last week, an Illinois appellate court rejected the brothers claims that the state had infringed on their religious freedom rights while enforcing the Illinois Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act (STOPA). The case began back in 2010, when the city of Elgin sued more than 80 alleged members of the Latin Kings, trying to undermine the gang with a measure that authorized police officers to detain and search any gathering of two or more gang members. Among the targets of the lawusit were Elias Juarez, Ruben Sanchez, and Oscar Sanchezex-members of the Latin Kingsas well as Saul Juarez, who was never in a gang. According to their attorney, the suit impeded their ... 1 Americas first post-Christian generation is here but should we panic? Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As researchers and experts warn that Americas youth are part of the first truly post-Christian generation, author and apologist Sean McDowell has a powerful and encouraging message for parents who have fears about their kids futures. McDowell, author of So the Next Generation Will Know: Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World, recently told The Pure Flix Podcast that his research for the book was the culmination of two decades of youth pastoring, teaching and speaking. Theres significant challenges within this generation, brought on digitally [and also relational challenges], McDowell said. Were seeing mental health and depression and loneliness just increase precipitously with this generation. Despite radical differences, McDowell said theres hope when it comes to reaching the next generation and he has some advice to help people bridge the divide. Listen to McDowell explain everything you need to know about Generation Z: This is the time to step into their lives, to listen to them, to build relationships, he said. The first thing is, we have to build intimate, close, warm relationships with our kids. With so much information flowing into the hearts and minds of youths, McDowell emphasized the importance of strategically helping kids understand and learn truth something he works diligently to accomplish with his own children. In the end, he stressed the importance of living by example. We can really only pass on to the next generation what we have inculcated into our own life, McDowell said. If you want your kids to think Christianly, youve got to take loving God with your mind seriously. If youre looking for more advice on building your faith, check out some of the spiritual values that can help build up both you and your family. This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free, one-month trial here. Billy Hallowell, author of "The Armageddon Code," has contributed to TheBlaze, the Washington Post, Human Events, the Daily Caller, Mediaite, and the Huffington Post, among other news sites. Through journalism, media, public speaking appearances, and the blogosphere, Hallowell has worked as a journalist and commentator for more than a decade. Churches file lawsuit against Texas city over allegedly excessive water fees Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Three churches have filed a lawsuit against a city in Texas, accusing the local government of charging them water fees that are higher than that for commercial businesses. Magnolia Bible Church, Magnolias First Baptist Church and Believers Fellowship filed the petition against the city of Magnolia last week in the District Court of Montgomery County. According to the suit, Magnolia took unprecedented action to recoup property tax revenue from churches when in March 2018 they adopted an ordinance for tax-exempt entities that increased the fees for water usage by changing their status from commercial to institutional. Mike Berry, chief of staff for First Liberty Institute, which is representing the churches, said in a statement that Texas law clearly exempts religious and non-profit organizations from taxation. Magnolias water fee scheme hinders these churches from providing many vital services to the community because of the governments unquenchable thirst for taxpayer money, stated Berry. These churches offer a multitude of services to their communities, and over-charging their water limits the services they can provide the community. According to the lawsuit, the citys decision came as a way to help close a financial gap between the rising cost for providing water to a growing population and revenues that were not increasing fast enough. This new Institutional Water Rate marked a dramatic shift in the status quo. Under the Citys old water rate, institutional users such as churches paid the same rate as commercial users. But under the new rate, the City now forces them to pay a significantly higher rate than that of their commercial counterparts, the lawsuit states. To be more specific, the institutional users bear water rates up to nearly 75% greater than commercial users. For instance, a church that uses 5,000 gallons of water bears a water rate of $52.50, whereas a similarly situated commercial user would pay only $30 for that same amount of waterless than two-thirds of the cost borne by the church. Texas Pastors Council sent a letter of protest to Magnolia city leaders in June of last year but their letter was ignored, the lawsuit says. Last December, a counsel for the churches sent a letter to city leadership asking them to reconsider the new water fee rate. However, the fee remained. In sum, Magnolia citizens pleaded with the City to change its course. It did not. And because the City appears bent on levying disproportionate, backdoor taxes on tax-exempt religious organizations, the Churches are now left with no choice but to file this lawsuit to force the City to comply with the law, the lawsuit states. Couples Who Live Together Before Marriage at Higher Risk of Divorce: Study Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Couples who live together before they get married are at greater risk of getting a divorce, a recently released study has found, supporting previous data. What is called the "premarital cohabitation effect" continues to be a real phenomenon, according to a study published last month in the Journal of Marriage and Family. This effect, long examined by social scientists, is that those who live together before getting married are more likely to struggle during marriage. The study, "Cohabitation Experience and Cohabitation's Association With Marital Dissolution," from authors Michael Rosenfeld and Katharina Roesler suggests that such struggles involve an increased risk of divorce and that previous research arguing the effect disappeared was biased toward short versus longer-term effects, as noted Wednesday by Scott Stanley and Galena Rhoades at The Institute for Family Studies in Charlottesville, Virginia. Those who say the negative effects of cohabiting disappeared simply did not have outcomes for divorce far enough out for those who had married in the recent cohorts that they examined, they explain. Rosenfeld and Roesler found that living together before marriage is linked with lower odds of divorce in the first year of marriage but the odds of divorce rise in every other year tested, a data point that holds across decades of research. For their research they used a harmonized data set of six waves of the retrospective National Surveys of Family Growth with 216,455 couple-years analyzing them with discrete time-event history methods to predict marital dissolution. The data was a nationally representative sample of women aged 44 years and younger in first marriages in the United States from 1970 to 2015. Recent scholarly papers that have asserted that the premarital cohabitation effect has gone away among people who got married in the past 10 to 15 years relied upon the notion that as living together before marriage became normalized it would cease to be tied to negative outcomes in marriage, perhaps because of less stigma among family and friends, Stanley and Rhoades explained. But Rosenfeld and Roesler's study disputes that theory, which also notes that the risks of living together before marriage were even higher among those who had cohabited with more partners than only their mate before marriage. Although precise causes are debated and difficult to pin down, couples who go straight into marriage without living together have a larger immediate shock to negotiate after marriage and thus have a short-term increased risk greater than those already living together, they argue. The study reaffirming the increased chances of divorce for couples who live together before marriage comes amid other data revealing that in the U.S., approximately 40 percent of births happen outside of marriage, a 10 percent increase from 1970, according to an annual U.N. Population Fund report released Wednesday. The data show such births in the U.S. are predominantly to unmarried couples living together rather than to single mothers, the UNFP report indicates. The data also suggests that societal and religious norms about marriage, childbearing and women in the labor force have changed significantly. Most Americans adults, when surveyed, say living together before marriage is a "good" idea. In a report called Barna Trends 2017, results showed that 65 percent of American adults said cohabitation was a good idea, compared to 35 percent who believed it wasn't a good thing. Fifty-seven percent reported they had either currently or have previously lived with their boyfriend or girlfriend. Meanwhile, research continues to show that children do better on every front when their parents are married. Aggregated data from 100 nations in a February 2017 study, "The Cohabitation Go-Round: Co-habitation and Family Instability Across the Globe," revealed that families are much more unstable when children are born to unmarried parents or to single mothers. More detailed findings from 68 of those countries showed that the rising rates of couples choosing not to marry significantly destabilizes children, particularly in their early years of life. In the U.S., "most children born to single parents are drawn into cohabiting or marital relationships while they are growing up, and relationships formed after the birth of a child are less stable even if the biological parents partner," the research found. Ex-LGBT men, women to share stories of transformation at 2nd Freedom March in Washington, DC Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Men and women who once lived and identified as LGBT are set to proclaim how encountering Jesus transformed their lives for the second time in the nation's capital this weekend. The Freedom March, founded by Jeffrey McCall, is diverse group of Christians who have left the active practice of homosexuality and transgenderism behind and are testifying to the power of the Holy Spirit who set them free from sexual sin and wounds of all kinds. I was transformed through the grace of Jesus and found that others have been as well. These marches are a way to ensure that others who have overcome are not feeling isolated and alone," McCall explained in a statement sent to The Christian Post. "There is an entire community of people that have made this transformation, and we are here to support them. The march will occur Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. at Sylvan Theatre, which is situated near the Washington Monument, where it was held last year The purpose of the march, according to McCall, is to connect those who have left the LGBT life, reach out to the LGBTQ community in each city, and equip local churches that are seeking to know how to minister to LGBT-identified persons. McCall noted that the march functions as a platform a to both bring people together and build community, and allow those who have been changed by Jesus to share their stories. Luis Javier Ruiz, who is a survivor of the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando 2016, spoke at last year's march and will do so again Saturday. He is instrumental in setting up an upcoming Freedom March next year in Orlando and emphasizes the centrality of knowing God. Ive always said its not about gay to straight. Its about lost to saved, Ruiz remarked. Through the Freedom Marches, we want to spread messages of love and acceptance for people who have shed their LGBTQ identity and show others that we do exist. These marches are our platform to educate, encourage others and share in a community. Weve had a great response from people, other community groups and churches. Fellow Pulse survivor Angel Colon will also be speaking at the march Saturday. Vocalist and Freedom March worship leader Edward Byrd noted in a Tuesday email to CP that the greatest misunderstanding about those who have left the LGBT life behind is that they are self-loathing and are suppressing their sexual desires. "They think we are not happy, they think we are unfulfilled when in all actuality we are living our best lives. Not saying its always easy but the real joy, peace and freedom we have is nothing I ever known before," Byrd said. While this is the second such rally to occur in Washington, D.C., another Freedom March was held in Los Angeles in the fall. Similar gatherings are planned for St. Paul, Minnesota, on June 23 and in Orlando on Sept. 14. The march comes amid intensifying debate in both Congress and in state legislatures across the country as they consider outlawing counseling options for those with unwanted same-sex attraction and gender confusion, known as "conversion therapy" bans, as well as adding "gender identity" as a protected category in civil rights law. The whole notion of "conversion therapy" is misleading, Byrd told CP, "because the majority of us has never experienced conversion therapy; our experiences were encounters with the Holy Spirit that changed our lives." "I had never even heard of conversion therapy. Ive seen references of it in the past but didnt come into the knowledge of what it really was until recently," he said. "None of us were ever forced to change or put in a camp; it was a decision that we made to follow after Jesus and His love." Former Transwoman, Gay Male Prostitute Shares New Life in Christ It's Not About Conversion Therapy, It's About Following the Holy Spirit Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An event proclaiming freedom of all kinds of sexual identity issues is set to occur this weekend in Washington, D.C., spearheaded by a man who identified as a gay and transgender for approximately 15 years. Several former LGBTQ speakers from a variety of backgrounds will be sharing their stories of how they encountered the living God. Jeffrey McCall is the main organizer of what is being called The Freedom March, and in an interview with The Christian Post Wednesday, explained that despite constant talk in society about the perils of gay "conversion therapy," the March is centered on how the Holy Spirit has transformed the lives of countless people and their journeys of newness of life in Christ. And, he argued, a great shift in how things are done in the modern Church is currently underway, particularly as it relates to how Christians minister to the LGBTQ community. McCall, 30, is from Franklin Springs, Georgia. He lived and identified as a homosexual man from ages 15 to 27, and as a transgender woman named "Scarlet" from ages 27 to 29. The Freedom March will showcase the stories of people who lived and identified as lesbians, gay men, bisexual, transgender, and queer including two survivors of the June 2016 Pulse nightclub mass shooting in Orlando for many years but now have found a new life in Jesus Christ. McCall first got the idea to do the event last fall and obtained the permit earlier this year, feeling called to do it in the nation's capital. The Freedom March will be held at the National Sylvan Theater near the Washington monument on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. The Christian Post spoke with McCall as he was traveling north from Georgia for this weekend's event, and below is a lightly edited transcript of the interview. CP: You identified and lived for many years in a life you say you now reject. How did this 180 degree turn in coming to follow Jesus happen, particularly this change of ideas about who you are? McCall: Well, it's funny to say but for years I actually listened to Jentezen Franklin (pastor of Free Chapel in Gainesville, Georgia) even when I was living as Scarlet. Just when I would hear this man's words I would just feel a conviction from the Holy Spirit that my life in homosexuality I was very promiscuous, I'd even prostituted my body the Holy Spirit was showing me that there was so much more for me. CP: What drew you to Pastor Jentezen Franklin in particular? McCall: I had gone to his church when I was in Georgia for a time while in undergrad. I was living as a homosexual at that point, wasn't living as Scarlet yet. I was drinking, doing drugs, prescription pills I was addicted. But I felt the Holy Spirit there at his church. I just felt something there. It wasn't so much because it was a church building, it was just the gathering of the church members there, you know. I just felt the presence of God. It just kept drawing me back to Him. I did grow up in church. But when I was living as Scarlet I was not going to go to a church building. I knew a lot about how church people can be sometimes. But Jentezen Franklin was easy to access because he was all over YouTube and TV so I could catch him online and hear him preach. I had one night where I had been out partying, and I came home and started crying on my bed in March of 2016. And that was the night I said "Lord, I know people really live for you. Not just go to church on Sunday, but they really live for you. They have a relationship with you." And I said, through tears: "God, will I ever have a relationship with you?" And all of a sudden my thoughts in my mind and everything was just interrupted. And I heard the Lord say: "Yes, you will live for me." It was a couple of months after that, it took months, but that's when [in June later that year] I threw everything away in my life that was related to being 'Scarlet.' All the hair, makeup, jewelry, clothes, shoes, everything. I just threw my life as I knew it away. It was an encounter with the Lord. CP: Were you attempting to transition with a synthetic hormone regimen or looking to have sex reassignment surgery? McCall: I was not on hormones but I was seeing a psychologist and a psychiatrist. I had a psychiatrist diagnose me with gender dysphoria. He was telling me that you need of couple of professional gender dysphoria diagnoses before you can have surgeries. He was the first one to do so. And the way we were talking I was leaning more toward surgeries on my body. I didn't want to take hormones. CP: What is the Freedom March all about, particularly as it pertains to those who have once lived and identified as LBGTQ such as yourself? McCall: The Freedom March is about the transformation power of the Holy Spirit. This is not about 'conversion therapy.' This is about what the Holy Spirit can do and what God wants to do in this country right now. There is a spiritual shifting and He is wanting to do some things quite differently before they have ever been done. CP: So what do you want to say to those who insist that people who identify and live as gay or trans "can't change," and call "conversion therapy" a fraudulent practice? McCall: It's not about conversion therapy. It's about following the Holy Spirit. And as I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ, I changed. My ideas of who I was changed. The Lord showed me that He created me as Jeffrey McCall and He showed me how much He loved me specifically as Jeffrey. CP: What inspired you to organize the Freedom March and what do you want people in Washington, D.C., including the LGBT community, to know most about yourself and the speakers who have had similar journeys and experiences as you have? McCall: This country does not give a platform to people that have come out of the LGBTQ life. They just always talk about "conversion therapy" and try to make it sound like it's all about hurting people. But what I want people to know is all of these stories that will be told at the Freedom March are so unique. Every single story is different but it's completely wrapped in love. And it's just as the Scripture [Romans 2:4] says: "His kindness leads us to repentance." All these stories are about the Lord speaking out, giving different visions and dreams and supernatural encounters with people. These people at the Freedom March are just wanting to share their freedom. We're not coming against the LGBT community. We are trying to tell them our stories so that they might hear the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. CP: Many who say that they have left a homosexual, bisexual or transgender life recount that this was a gradual, and often difficult and painful process of many months and even years. What has your experience been since your profound experiences two years ago? McCall: It has been a process of relying on Jesus every day. Even when I make mistakes, sometimes lust and temptation comes to my mind but I don't give in ... it's still according to His grace. And there are days when I do make mistakes but that's what the Gospel is about. We're saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and it's His grace that is all around me, growing me. So when I stumble I keep moving on, moving forward. And I want anyone who is reading this article to know that if you're starting the process to just let Him mold you. Be clay in His hands and let Him mold you into the image of Jesus. That is what the Holy Spirit will do. CP: And yet there are people who give similar testimonies as you're sharing right now, but then years later they returned to their LGBT life, saying that their "ex-gay" story was not really true and they did not want to continue "living a lie," that their LGBT identity was indeed their truest expressions of themselves. Could you speak to that? McCall: I want to say to them that there is mercy. The God of Heaven and earth is so, so merciful. He is sitting there waiting for them to turn around and follow Him. He is the God of multiple chances. He's always looking for those who will turn to Him with a broken and contrite heart because He wants to pour out so much mercy. If there is one thing I know about God, and I was just thinking about this earlier today, it is that He is the most merciful Being in the world. He is always willing to show mercy to people. So for those who have gone back into the LGBTQ life: Let Him mold you. Let Him shape you. Let Him bring you back. Just turn back to Him and ask Him what He wants you to do and He will do the rest. He is sitting there waiting to lavish you, just bathe you in mercy. That's what He wants for you. CP: In this cultural moment it sure seems like our society has reached this fever-pitched boiling point on these issues. The anger and hostility over this is palpable and our nation is very polarized about the nature of human sexuality. How might the church and Christians actually help people who are struggling given the current climate? McCall: It is time for the church to reach out to the LGBTQ groups. Things are indeed shifting. People aren't just coming into church anymore. Some do, and begin their life in Christ in church. But it's about getting to them and showing them the love of Christ, that Jesus loves them also so much that He died for them, that anyone can accept and follow Jesus Christ, no matter what they've done. And it is time to stop making [LGBTQ individuals] feel that they are the brink, the worst group, the outside group. They are not the worst people. They are people that have fallen into sin and deception like any other sin and deception. But it is time to let them know that they are redeemable. Jesus Christ can redeem you in a second by putting your faith in Him. Ocasio-Cortez says Muslim, Christian prayers 'go to the same place' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said that both Christian and Muslim prayers go to the same place during the first-ever congressional iftar, the meal that breaks the fast at sundown each day of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. On Monday, three Muslim members of Congress hosted an iftar at the U.S. Capitol, attended by about 100 guests from various religious backgrounds, The Washington Post reports. During the event, Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., a professing Catholic, talked about attending Friday prayers at mosques in her district, which includes a substantial Muslim population in the Bronx and Queens. She said: When [Rep.] Ilhan [Abdullahi Omar, D-Minn.] prays, when I pray, when [Rep.] Rashida [Tlaib, D-Mich.] prays, when Ayanna [Pressley] prays, when Jan Schakowsky prays, I believe those prayers all go to the same place up. House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer, who also attended the event, similarly mixed religion and politics, stating: The Bible doesnt tell me to love my neighbor if theyre Christian, if theyre straight . . . The Bible tells me to love my neighbor. Mondays iftar was organized by the nonprofit Muslim Advocates in coordination with the offices of Omar, Tlaib the first two Muslim women in Congress and Rep. Andre Carson, D-Ind. The gathering to break that days Ramadan fast was the first iftar to be hosted by Congress own Muslim members. With the exception of 2017, the White House has hosted an iftar every year since 1996, when then-First Lady Hillary Clinton oversaw an event. Last week, President Donald Trump hosted his own iftar at the White House, highlighting Ramadan as a time of charity, of giving and service to our fellow citizens, and one in which to become closer as families and communities. We thank God that America is a place founded on the belief that citizens of all faiths can live together in safety and live together in freedom, he said. As we prepare to dine together this evening, let us pray for a future of harmony and peace. Let us ask God to forever shine His goodness and blessings upon us. And let us continue to work together to build a future filled with hope and goodwill for our children and for all of the people of the world. The question of whether Christians and Muslims worship the same God has been the topic of heated debate in recent years, with numerous theologians and biblical scholars weighing in on the issue. In 2016, political science professor Larycia Hawkins parted ways with Wheaton College after she was placed on administrative leave for declaring Christians and Muslims worship the same God. The context was her decision to wear a Hijab during advent to show solidarity with Muslims. School officials later wrote they made an error in judgment in handling her remarks and have named a scholarship after her. A task force subsequently issued a report concluding that they could not decisively say whether or not Hawkins' theological views aligned with the school's doctrinal statement of faith. But recently, Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear said the Christian and Muslim ideas of God are irreconcilably different. Islam is a false way of salvation, he emphasized. Islam presents salvation by works, and it outright denies several key things that Christianity teaches about God, like God being a Trinity and the personal nature of God and more. Still, its possible to work from some shared assumptions about God in missional conversations with Muslims, Greear said. Missionaries on the field, Greear explained, seek to tell people that this God that we believe has created the world, has been speaking through the prophets, and has revealed himself fully in Jesus. He is a Trinity, he said. And Muhammad is not an accurate prophet of him. If somebody explains their statement in this way, I have less problems with them saying Christians and Muslims are attempting to worship the same God, but in two entirely different ways. Nabeel Qureshi, the late author of Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, previously stated that while Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God, we all ought to stop demonizing those who disagree with us given the complexity of the matter. Christians worship a Triune God: a Father who loves unconditionally, an incarnate Son who is willing to die for us so that we may be forgiven, and an immanent Holy Spirit who lives in us, he said. This is not what the Muslim God is; it is not who the Muslim God is; and it is not what the Muslim God does," he added. "Truly, the Trinity is antithetical to Tawhid, fundamentally incompatible and only similar superficially and semantically. Muslims and Christians do not worship the same God. Pulse Survivor Recounts Shooting, Leaving Homosexuality: 'I Gave God My Gayness, Addiction' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A survivor of the Orlando Pulse nightclub mass shooting is recounting the trauma of that night and how God used it to bring about his repentance and why he now says he is no longer gay. In an interview last week with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association on their "GPS: God. People. Stories" broadcast, Luis Javier Ruiz spoke of his journey out of the homosexual life, how the Holy Spirit continues to transform him, and how he is now ministering to people. Now in his 30s, Ruiz explained that although he grew up in the church it was during a time when many congregations did not have the tools with which to engage this issue, and what he learned was how to keep secrets. All the while, he was struggling with his sexuality, having experienced same-sex attraction since his childhood. He finally came out as a homosexual to his family toward the end of his high school years. On his mom's birthday, they were listening to a radio program where someone was railing against homosexuals in an abusive manner complete with charges of "they're going to hell" and 'they're an abomination." "It was bad," Ruiz recalled the experience, "and we got into an argument about it ... and I just ended it with 'Mom, you know what? Your son is gay. How about that?" His parents did not take the news well and his relationship with them soured; they often wondered what they had done wrong as parents and began to question their ministry in the church. After high school, Ruiz joined the armed forces and served for 15 years. He kept his sexuality a secret from the military. "Basically they saw this one guy in the army, and at night I would go out to the gay clubs and go hang out and party and live my life the best way I knew how without God," Ruiz said. When he completed his active duty, he ended up moving to Florida and started leading a double life of sorts. He got involved with a Bible-believing church and even did an internship there. At the same time, he was also a part of the Orlando LGBT community. He went to a friend's house to celebrate his birthday on June 11, 2016, and he and some of his friends went to the Pulse nightclub later that night. Early in the morning on June 12 he was hanging out at bar when he began hearing what he thought were fireworks. But those sounds were really gunshots. "I hear this guy, yelling 'Run for your life! Run for your life, get out of the club!'" he said. Yet Omar Mateen, the shooter, continued rampaging and Ruiz got stuck amid the chaos. A friend grabbed him and pushed him out and he started running toward the door amid the screams and bodies dropping all around him. Mateen murdered a total of 49 people that night and was subsequently killed in a gunfight with police. "While this is all going on, I'm thinking 'I'm about to die, I'm about to go to Hell. Like, why did I even come [to Pulse],'" Ruiz said of that night. He managed to get out of the club but there was a fence too high to climb over. He headed toward a gate and managed to kick it open. A mad rush toward this new exit ensued and Ruiz was trampled underfoot and sustained several injuries. He was in such pain he went to the hospital. From there he watched the media coverage of everything that transpired and saw the names of his friends who were murdered. "I was sick, depressed and hurting for a long time," he recounted. He received even worse news days later upon getting an email telling him that many of the people who died that night were HIV-positive and he was urged to get tested. He did so and found out that he, too, was HIV-positive. Ruiz sank deeper into depression, thought he was going to die, and became furiously angry. But God met him in the midst of it, he said. "It's either you submit and surrender yourself to Me or it's just going to get worse after this," Ruiz recalled the Holy Spirit speaking to him. "We have a real enemy," he said, "who doesn't want us to get free from anything." While in bed one day shortly after this, through tears, he cried out to God, asking Him transform his life with this power that he had heard about in church and read about in the Bible for so many years. He decided to surrender everything, including his sexuality. "I even said: 'I'm gay, God. This is how you're taking me. Take me as I am. I don't know if you're supposed to take this away from me or not. I've tried this many times.' And in the midst of all that, automatically, things started falling off of my life." "I gave Him my gayness. I gave him my pornography addictions, everything," he said. He sensed the Holy Spirit prompt him: "How about you give me you." "It's not a gay to straight thing. Just give [Him] your heart," Ruiz said. Many have asked Ruiz if and how God changed his sexuality but the Pulse survivor maintains that is the wrong mindset to have. "God calls us to purity because homosexuality is a sin," he stressed, emphasizing the importance of knowing Christ intimately and following His heart; such is the key to real transformation, he explained. Today, he is working to bridge the chasm between the church and the LGBT community, equipping churches across the nation to love those who identify as LGBT while simultaneously ministering to those still in that life that they might know that they, also, can be set free from the power of sin. "We're no longer silent," he said of the community he has found of young men and women who have left lesbianism, homosexuality, and transgenderism behind and who are at present putting on Freedom Marches and doing ministry around the country. "We are free. We are free in Jesus. Yes, you can come out of homosexuality. You can be free from porn addiction. From anything." He believes that though he should have been the 50th person killed that night in Orlando, God planned something else for him. "God had something else for me. And I'm thankful because now I'm able to share my story of hope, my story to the world, to let them know that there is God who changes [people] and who transforms." "I tell people: I was 'born that way' too. I was born a jerk, I was born a liar. You know what? We must be born again. The Bible says we must be born again. If there is sin, God is going to walk you through it, in His timing and His process. Earlier this year, Ruiz told CP in an interview soon after he finished speaking at the Freedom March at the Sylvan Theater in Washington, D.C., that he considers the secular media coverage of his story, particularly their repeated warnings against "conversion therapy," deceptive. "Honestly, I don't know what that is," he said of the practice. "I've never been through conversion therapy. I've been through Holy Spirit therapy. That's the only [kind] I know. All they are trying to do is, I think, it's lies. It's fake people and fake news." Seven Couples Marry at Texas Church for Free After Pastor Preaches Against Cohabitation Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Just over a month after preaching against cohabitation, a Texas pastor married seven couples from his church for free last weekend in a bid to get their relationships back on a biblical path while making a strong statement on the culture of cohabitation that has swept American life. "I encouraged couples in our church who were living together to really think through whether that was God's best for them," Senior Pastor Pete Briscoe of Bent Tree Bible Fellowship church in Carrollton, Texas, said after marrying the seven couples on Sunday, according to Charisma News. "At the end of the sermon, we gave them the option that if they felt God was leading them to get married, we would hold a free wedding for them on this one specific day." In early August, Briscoe began a series he called "Awkward" which focused on conversations about relationships and marriage that people would rather not have because it's "awkward." Along with his sermon on cohabitation, the series also focused on submission in marriage, counseling and remarriage. After gushing about his daughter's recent wedding and declaring marriage "as a holy estate instituted by God and commanded in Scripture" Briscoe acknowledged the people in his church who cohabitate. "I know for a fact that some of you here are living together and you're not married so you're feeling a little awkward right now which is OK," he said. In his discussion of the subject, Briscoe cited studies like one done in 2016 by Barna which shows that a majority of Americans now believe in cohabitation due to pressures like shifting gender roles and expectations, the delay of marriage, and a secularizing culture. The study noted that there was strong resistance to the cultural shift in religious communities that adhered to more "traditional values and premarital expectations." Highlighting the message on what marriage is from his daughter's wedding, Briscoe said: "It was ordained for the union, the natural instincts being directed aright. These people might live in purity and honor. It was ordained for the continuance of family life where children might be raised in the nurture and the admonition of the Lord. It was ordained for the welfare of society which can be strong and happy only when the marriage bond is held highly in honor." Briscoe noted that he understood why many couples today would choose cohabitation as a logical step toward a lasting relationship. He insists, however, that the practice is simply a cheap imitation of marriage he likened to a fake Rolex watched purchased on the streets of the Philippines. "Marriage is a Rolex watch. It is sparkly and magnificent and beautiful on the day you get it just like a wedding day and then each passing day it grows in value and depth and beauty. Cohabitation, living together before marriage, is like buying a Rolex watch on the streets of the Philippines. It's a poor imitation and you can do much much better," he said. "I get the thought process. If you think about it logically it makes a little sense. If I'm gonna commit the rest of my life to this person, to live under the same roof, wouldn't it be wise to see if we can get along?" he noted in explaining how he understood people who preferred to "test drive" relationships before making marriage commitments. "I get why people think that. It makes some sense to me." Unmarried couples, especially millennials, noted Briscoe, might also choose to live together because it's less expensive. Some might also avoid remarriage because they, too, want to avoid losing financial benefits. "Benefits around insurance. Retirement benefits, benefits from a deceased spouse, or divorce settlements, alimony, that kind of stuff. You can be getting alimony and then if you get remarried you lose your alimony ... so people say, 'Well let's live together and I can keep the checks coming.' That kinda makes sense to me too. Logically it makes sense," the pastor said. "When you're cohabitating it's like you're single pretending to be married. You're not really experiencing either of those great ways (single or married) to live. And, as a result, you're forfeiting the benefits of both. It's a cheap facsimile of the real thing," Briscoe added. For Christians, he argued that sharing sexual intimacy without being married is a sin and the Bible urges Christians to flee from it. He also encouraged cohabiting couples to break up if they decided marriage wasn't in their future or move out and continue seeing each other if they weren't sure, or get married. Bradford Wilcox, a professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, along with other colleagues wrote in a study called The Cohabitation-Go-Round: Cohabitation and Family Instability Across the Globe that a rise in the proportion of all births to cohabiting couples is associated with a later rise in the proportion of children living apart from at least one of their biological parents across 68 countries. Wilcox also noted in Foreign Affairs that children born to cohabiting parents are approximately twice as likely to see their parents break up by the time they turn 12, compared to children born to married parents. "What's more, even among highly educated American couples with children, cohabitation is about twice as unstable as marriage: 49 percent of college-educated mothers will break up with their partner before their child turns 12, if they were cohabiting at the time of that child's birth, compared to just 18 percent of mothers who were married at that point," Wilcox said. "In the United States, then, marriage comes with a substantial stability premium for children." Conservatives react after Jim Carreys cartoon shows Alabama gov. being aborted Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Some conservatives are now condemning actor Jim Carrey after he published a cartoon on Saturday depicting Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey being aborted as furor over the states controversial abortion ban continues to grow. The ban, described as the strictest in the nation, was signed into law last Wednesday with no exceptions for rape or incest. It makes it a Class A felony for a doctor to perform an abortion and a Class C felony for attempting to perform an abortion in six months. The only exemption under the bill is if there is a serious health risk to the mother. I think If youre going to terminate a pregnancy, it should be done sometime before the fetus becomes Governor of Alabama, Carrey wrote in a tweet on Saturday which contained graphic artwork of Ivey being aborted. Some conservatives reacted in disgust. You were one of my favorite actors. Honestly Im disgusted by your lack of respect for the image is what happens to babies. They are sucked out of the mother. Shame on you Jim, Christian recording artist Kaya Jones tweeted at the actor. Live Action founder and President Lila Rose called out Twitter for what she argued was the extreme double standard in allowing Carrey to publicly promote Iveys death. The extreme double standard of @jack & @Twitter on full, gross display here. @JimCarrey publicly wishes death on someone and posts a gory photo of them being killed. He explicitly promotes a very violence that kills almost 1M people a year in the United States. & zero response, she wrote on Twitter. Outspoken internet preacher and lead pastor of Global Vision Bible Church in Tennessee Greg Locke said Carrey had destroyed his voice. Dear @JimCarrey, youve successfully destroyed your voice and youve shown the true brutality of abortion and the evil hatred of those that stand for it. You used to be funny. Now your just a vicious jerk, he wrote. Other conservatives like Ben Shapiro, founder and editor of the Daily Wire, agreed that Carreys artwork helped demonstrate the horror of abortion. This is a pretty great depiction of an abortion: clinically accurate, and wiping out an individual human life, he wrote in a tweet. Thank you for the truly accurate (and therefore horrifying) portrayal of abortion sucking out the brains of a PERSON because that person is inconvenient to you, added Liz Wheeler, a host on the conservative network OAN. You blessed the pro life movement with this. On Sunday, about 500 activists, organizers and regular citizens marched against Alabamas abortion ban. Ivey acknowledged that the ban will likely be "unenforecable" but said she and the bill's sponsors hope the U.S. Supreme Court will revisit its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion. President Donald Trump, who describes himself as a strong pro-life advocate, appeared to find the almost total ban extreme. As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions - Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother - the same position taken by Ronald Reagan, he wrote in a series of tweets. We have come very far in the last two years with 105 wonderful new Federal Judges (many more to come), two great new Supreme Court Justices, the Mexico City Policy, and a whole new & positive attitude about the Right to Life. The Radical Left, with late term abortion (and worse), is imploding on this issue. We must stick together and Win for Life in 2020. If we are foolish and do not stay UNITED as one, all of our hard fought gains for Life can, and will, rapidly disappear! Bishop, politicians welcome plans to scrap 30k salary requirement for EU migrants The Bishop of Durham has joined politicians in welcoming reports that the Home Secretary is to scrap plans requiring EU migrants to earn 30k. The Sun reports that Sajid Javid has told the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to consider allowing UK firms to pay the "going rate" for employees from the EU following Brexit. In a letter to MAC, he also reportedly told them to take regional wage limits into consideration. In a joint statement, Bishop Paul Butler, former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, Labour MP Kate Green and Conservative MP Steve Double called the threshold "arbitrary" and said it "has always been a strange measure of what it means to be skilled". They expressed particular concern over the impact of the requirement on rural communities in parts of the UK beyond London and the south-east. "The average salary in Cornwall is just under 20,000. In Cumbria, it is just over 20,000. If set at 30,000 per annum, thousands of skilled, motivated migrants, especially if the jobs they wanted were outside London and the south-east, wouldn't meet this seemingly arbitrary threshold," they said. "Workers in agriculture, tourism and hospitality, care homes, creative arts and even nurses simply would not qualify. "Under this proposal, many communities outside of London would experience immigration almost exclusively in the churn of short-term worker visas, risking social cohesion and polarising attitudes towards migration." The MAC's recommended threshold was contained in the Immigration White Paper released last December and backed by Theresa May. An unnamed source told The Sun that Mr Javid was "basically telling the MAC to go away and do their work all over again". "He knows Theresa is off and he's cashing in," the source claimed. Christian asylum seeker facing deportation is released from detention centre A Pakistani Christian who was detained by immigration officials and told he was facing imminent deportation from the UK has been unexpectedly released. An update to a petition started on Change.org calling for him to remain in the UK said Azeem Wazir was told on Wednesday afternoon that he could leave the detention centre without bail. He had been detained without warning at Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre outside London and informed earlier this month that he was to be deported. News of his deportation broke on the same day as it emerged that Pakistani Christian Asia Bibi had left Pakistan for Canada after being freed from death row for blasphemy. While in Pakistan, Mr Wazir had publicly supported Mrs Bibi and criticised the country's strict blasphemy laws. He had also been part of a campaign called 'Stop Killing Christians', before fleeing to the UK in 2015 after a fatwah was issued against him. After a public outcry, his deporation was delayed. The update to Change.org said it was unclear why Mr Wazir had been released and that he was awaiting further information from the Home Office. "He is waiting for a Home Office letter explaining why this has been allowed and an update on his status but it is very good news," the update reads. "Azeem was chuckling with joy on the phone and couldn't quite believe it. Thank you for all your support in helping make this part of the journey possible." It added that "a car is on its way from Bristol to collect him and we are preparing a very large curry". The petition calling on Home Secretary Sajid Javid to stop the deportation has been signed over 16,000 times. It says that Mr Wazir faces incarceration and a blasphemy charge against him, a crime punishable by death in Pakistan, and that he fears being murdered. Colse Leung, a friend, said Wazir was "very excited" to be released from the detention centre. Pro-life group disappointed after judge sides with Scottish Government on abortion pills A pro-life group has lost its legal challenge against the Scottish Government's plans to allow women to take abortion pills at home. The Scottish Government changed the rules last year to allow women in Scotland to take misoprostol at home on the condition that they had first taken the drug mifepristone in a clinic 24 to 48 hours beforehand. The Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC) had argued that allowing women to take the drug at home was "not consistent" with the 1967 Abortion Act requiring the presence of medical, nursing or clinical staff. They also argued that the list of approved places for an abortion in the 1967 Act "was not intended to allow abortions to take place at home". SPUC said it was considering taking the case to the Supreme Court after three judges sided with the Scottish Government on Wednesday. In their verdict, Lord Justice Clerk, Lord Menzies and Lord Brodie said: "We do not accept that the doctor's control or supervision over the treatment differs in any material way between the situation of taking the tablet within the clinic and then leaving; and that of delaying the taking of the tablet to allow the woman to travel home. "Both result in the termination of the pregnancy taking place outside of the clinic. "In each case the RMP can properly be described as taking responsibility for the treatment of the termination of the pregnancy and control in the appropriate sense is maintained." John Deighan, chief executive of SPUC Scotland said he was "greatly saddened" by the decision. "We have been convinced all along that the policy decision by the Chief Medical Officer and Scottish Government was illegal as well as detrimental to the well-being of women in our country," he said. "Women should not be facing the mental anguish that accompanies DIY abortions, nor any abortion for that matter." He added: "For the sake of women's health and the universal right to life we cannot stand idly by whilst such a detrimental measure is implemented in the name of health care." 'Shocking' surge in cases of modern slavery involving children The number of modern slavery cases under police investigation that involve children is "shocking", advocacy group CARE has said. New figures from the Modern Slavery Police Transformation Programme's annual report reveal a nearly tenfold increase in cases involving children as numbers reached a record high. The report showed that in the last month, there were 475 police operations into child slavery in the UK, compared with 53 in April 2017. The vast majority of these children are being exploited by criminal gangs in 'county lines' drug runs for the transportation of drugs across county boundaries. Others are sexually exploited in paedophile rings. The report warned that the use of children in the drug trade was the fastest growing area of child exploitation in the UK. CARE's Senior Policy Officer for Human Trafficking, Louise Gleich, said that the increased police proficiency in identifying victims four years on from the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act was partly behind the dramatic increase. However, she said the figures made it clear that "more still needs to be done" to tackle modern slavery and bring perpetrators to justice. "This surge in the number of modern slavery investigations involving children is truly shocking," she said. "It is surely a reminder that the tragic and awful reality of modern slavery here in the UK is all too real. "The thought of young people being trapped in modern slavery, forced to run county lines transporting drugs for gangs or being sexually exploited is horrendous." Responding to the report, Iryna Pona, Policy Manager at The Children's Society, said it was important that all people learn how to spot the signs that a child is in danger and "accept that these young people are not troublemakers, but vulnerable children who are being groomed and need help". "We hear shocking stories of children being groomed with money and drugs before the life of glamour they have been promised quickly descends into a nightmare in which they are stabbed, raped, beaten up and blackmailed," she said. "They may be too scared to ask for help, however, or may not understand that they are being exploited." She called on the Government to introduce a missing persons database allowing information about missing children to be shared across police borders. She continued: "Too many children exploited through county lines are still not being referred to the National Referral Mechanism - the system used to identify victims of modern slavery and human trafficking and failing to get help from an independent advocate to ensure they are supported as victims. "Without these changes, more vulnerable children will continue to fall prey to this cynical exploitation." New national landmark being built near Birmingham to celebrate the UK's Christian heritage The Wall of Answered Prayer moves into its next phase after Snug Architects were announced as the winners of a global competition to choose the design for the major new landmark being erected near Birmingham. Snug Architects were selected from among over 130 architectural firms following a competition spanning three years and overseen by the Royal Institute of British Architects. The Wall of Answered Prayer is being erected in an effort to celebrate the UK's Christian heritage while also encouraging the nation to pray. It features a million bricks, each representing an answered prayer and will be complemented by state of the art technology allowing visitors to use their phones to read the answered prayer that each brick corresponds to. The winning design is a beautiful interpretation of a Mobius strip - a seemingly continuous surface - and was chosen for its innovative approach of incorporating the visitor centre within the installation. Paul Bulkeley, Design Director at Snug Architects, said he was excited to be working on such a "ground-breaking project". "It is an honour to have been chosen to design and deliver this project of national significance," he said. Land for the structure has been donated by the Edmiston family at Coleshill Manor on the edge of Birmingham, between the M6, M42 and HS2. The team hope to have the structure completed in time for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. CEO of The Wall of Answered Prayer, Richard Gamble, said the project had been an "incredible journey of prayer". "This 15-year-old vision is now becoming reality," he said. "I'm chuffed to bits with the design which handled perfectly the challenge of creating intrigue when being seen from afar, yet provides a truly interactive journey for those who visit. "We want to create an iconic structure the nation will not only be proud of but find inspirational it will be a landmark of hope." The Wall team hope the landmark will be as popular as the Angel of the North and attract anywhere between 150,000 and 200,000 visitors to the landmark each year, generating over 500m in the first 10 years for the local economy. Steve Maxey, Acting Chief Exec, North Warwickshire County Council said: "We are greatly excited by this project I strongly believe it will come to be as loved by people locally and nationally as the Angel of the North, and brilliantly complements our work on improving mental health and wellbeing." Archbishop Bernard Longley, said The Wall of Answered Prayer was an "exciting project". "I hope that all those who visit it will find some space and inspiration to consider the value of prayer in their lives. The local Catholic community looks forward to playing its part in supporting this work so that together we can leave a legacy of faith for generations to come," he said. Paul Manwaring, senior leader of Bethel and Europe Shall be Saved said: "This project to build a wall declaring the testimonies of Jesus, not in Bible times or other countries but here in the UK is one of the most exciting, brave and adventurous building projects of our times. 'If walls could talk.' Well this one will, and it will tell of the wonders of our God." WASHINGTON - Top officials from 75 companies descended on the U.S. Capitol Wednesday to try to convince lawmakers to support the creation of a carbon price mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among them were more than 20 companies from the Fortune 500, including brand names like Levi's, Johnson & Johnson and Pepsi, along with European oil majors BP and Shell, who took meetings with Republicans and Democrats in Congress in a bid to increase momentum for legislation addressing climate change. "If you read the United Nations report, we're down to 11 years to get this right. This is not an academic conversation," said Gary Hirschberg, chairman of the organic dairy giant Stonyfield Farm. "Until we engage the wider market [of U.S. industry], we're not going to be able to move at the kind of speed required." The visit comes as climate change is getting increasing attention among Democrats and Republicans alike, with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., pushing her Green New Deal while Republicans like Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, argue for increasing federal spending on research into reducing greenhouse gas emissions. At a press conference Wednesday, none of the executives gathered gave any chance to a carbon price passing the Republican-led Senate or getting the support of President Donald Trump, who has questioned the severity and causes of climate change. But they argued momentum was on their side, hoping that political leaders would either be convinced or be voted out of office. "You have oil companies taking about a carbon price," said Hugh Welch, president of the nutrition company DSM North America. "We have enough collective mass now to do something." After the press conference ended, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, the former presidential candidate, walked into meet with the CEOs. More Information r See More Collapse Asked about his view on a carbon price, Romney said, "I'm just going to listen to what they have to say." UPS trucks powered by renewable natural gas will soon be zooming around Texas. The multinational shipping giant said Wednesday it is buying 170 million gallon equivalents of renewable natural gas from California-based Clean Energy Fuel Corp. by 2026, the largest commitment of any U.S. company to date to use renewable natural gas, according to UPS. UPS said its fueling stations in San Antonio, El Paso and Fort Worth, and several other stations in 12 states will fuel UPS delivery trucks with renewable natural gas. The alternative fuel is produced by taking methane gas released from buried garbage or biomass and processing it into a purified natural gas that can be used as a replacement for traditional transportation fuels. The deal is part of UPS's strategy to have 40 percent of its ground fleet running on alternative fuels by 2025. The company also has a goal of reducing its greenhouse gas emission from its ground fleet by 12 percent by 2025. EARLIER:UPS to add electric delivery trucks to fleet UPS has used more than 28 million gallons of renewable natural gas in its ground fleet since 2014. The company said that by switching from diesel to renewable natural gas, UPS trucks fueling up at 18 stations will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 1 million metric tons over the next seven years. This is equivalent to planting 17,000,000 trees and removing 228,000 cars off the road, according to UPS. Clean Energy Fuels Corp., which describes itself as the largest natural gas provider in North America, says that its product is the first renewable natural gas commercially available for fleets. The natural gas provider has grown sales of renewable gas from 22 million gasoline equivalent gallons in 2014, the first full year it was available, to an expected 100 million gasoline equivalent gallons s in 2018. The California company has an agreement with BP and others to secure an increased supply of renewable natural gas, a UPS spokeswoman said. Clean Energy builds and operates 530 stations with compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas in Canada and the U.S. RENEWABLE DIESEL: Valero Energy's renewable diesel refinery to see $1.1B in upgrades Renewable natural gas stations are on the rise in North America as trucking companies look to meet government and company mandates on greenhouse gas emissions. There are 98 operational renewable natural gas sites in the U.S. and Canada, plus another 26 under construction, according to RNG Coalition, a Sacramento member-led nonprofit representing the renewable natural gas industry in North America. A joint venture selling gasoline, diesel and jet fuel to customers in Mexico is undergoing a major round of expansion at the Port of Brownsville. Houston pipeline and storage terminal operator Bluewing Midstream and San Antonio fuel marketing company One Cypress Energy are adding more storage tanks to their jointly owned facility at the port. The companies own and operate storage tanks that hold up 800,000 barrels of fuel but under what is being called a Phase II, they are adding tanks that will give them another 300,000 barrels of storage. Construction for the expansion started this week and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Mexico: AMLO releases details about new Pemex refinery As part of Mexico's energy reforms, customers buy the gasoline, diesel and jet fuel stored at the Port of Brownsville facility and use 18-wheelers to haul shipments across the border to Matamoros, Reynosa, Monterrey and other cities. Demand for gasoline, diesel and jet fuel continues to grow south of the border at a time when production of those products by Mexico's state-owned oil company Pemex continues to shrink. Mexico imports most of its transportation fuels from U.S. refineries via tanker but Bluewing Midstream President Todd Reid said the company has found a niche filling the remaining gaps. "We're making a big bet on Brownsville," Reid said. Fuel Fix: Get daily energy news headlines in your inbox Mexico's new president Andres Manuel Lopez-Obrador, or AMLO, has pledged to build a new refinery and end his nations dependence on foreign fuels. One Cypress Energy Senior Vice President of Business Development Chad Smith said it will take more than five years for AMLO to realize his energy policy ambitions. In the meantime, the companies will continue to sell fuel to their Mexican customers from Texas. "Brownsville is really the sweet spot of being able to obtain fuel and deliver it to Mexico," Smith said. After reaching no-kill status last month, Harris County Animal Shelter has run out of space after some 200 animals were taken in within 48 hours. It's a critical situation. "We are out of space," said Dr. Michael White, Director, Harris County Animal Shelter. "Many of our kennels already have up to six dogs in them and we have several nursing cats with kittens and dogs with puppies that are in urgent need of a temporary foster home." Karen Warren/Staff photographer Meet Ernie (Animal ID: A1627838), a 10-year-old, male, brown tabby DSH cat that came to the shelter when his owner became homeless. Ernie or "Ee" loves the indoors and has lived with dogs and other cats but has never lived with kids. He's scared at BARC and prefers sitting in a paper grocery bag in his kennel. "He loves to drink out of the faucet and loves hair ties and likes cat treats on a daily basis," according to his former owner. Music lovers have to go no further than the University of Houston and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this June to see rising stars share their talents at the Immanuel & Helen Olshan Texas Music Festival. The festival is gearing up for its 30th anniversary season of concerts from June 1-29 at the Moores School of Music Moores Opera House (Saturdays, June 8, 15, 22 and 29) and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands (Friday, June 7). The opening weekend concert will feature Texas Music Festival and UH Alum Kenny Broberg, 2017 as guest soloist performing Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and will close with Gustav Mahler: Symphony 6, which is also referred to as Tragic. And there will be a wide variety of pieces in between, all from the Texas Music Festival Orchestral Institute. When the festival began in 1990, as the brainchild of founders Immanuel and Helen Olshan and David Tomatz, the vision was to create a world-class training program for young musicians in Houston that would provide exciting performances for the concertgoers of Houston, said TMF General and Artistic Director Alan Austin, who played the violin in the very first festival in 1990. In three decades we have grown from a very regional program to one that now attracts students from around the world, renowned conductors, and world-class faculty. Austin, a Heights resident, says TMF gives musicians the ability to learn and develop apart from their typical academic and professional work, where they concentrate on music, find inspiration and learn from other talented musicians. Houston area musicians looking to play While the festival actually starts on June 1, the performances will not begin until later that week because the musicians will be learning to play the music together on-site. Several Houston area musicians are looking forward to joining in, learning and having fun. What excites me the most about this years season of the Texas Music Festival is that in addition to performing some of the greatest masterworks in the orchestral repertoire, I will be able to reconnect with some of my talented colleagues in the double bass section that Ive known since my high school years and continue to develop my musical craft alongside them, said Double Bass Player Jonathan Keith, who is from the Spring Branch Memorial area. Keith graduated from Memorial High School and is a rising senior at Baylor University. At 12, he earned the nickname Bass-thoven. Harpist Kelsey Sham joins the festival from Sugar Land and is a Dulles High School graduate. She grew up going to the Houston Ballets production of The Nutcracker with her aunt, whom she credits with instilling an enduring love of music. When I first began playing piano as a child, I was drawn to music because it gave me a means to express the feelings that I felt couldnt be put into words, Sham said. As Ive matured both in life and in my musical studies, Ive grown to appreciate that performing allows me to share a part of myself with others while also educating them on culture and history. Related: Houston seniors dance, toe-tap at YMCA competition A graduate of Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts from the Meyerland area, Trumpeter Bethany Vaughan is a rising junior at Indiana University. She said music has helped her grow both personally and professionally. Being a musician has definitely taught me a lot about self-discipline and time management in learning how to structure my practice time. Practicing has also taught me how to be introspective and how to focus. Playing music requires lots of collaboration, so its helped me learn how to best work with others. The 93 musicians that will perform in the Texas Music Festival Orchestral Institute were handpicked from more than 390 applicants and 22 countries. Austin encourages Houston-area residents and visitors to come out and sample some great music, right here at home. There is nothing like hearing great music performed at a top-notch level by young musicians many of whom are discovering a new work for the first time played with the passion and sense of discovery that you will hear at a TMF Orchestra concert, Austin said. Houstonians no longer have to travel to the great festivals around the country to hear this kind of magic its right here in our own backyard. For more information or tickets, visit http://www.uh.edu/kgmca//music/tmf/. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com Saudi Aramco agreed to a buy a stake in Sempra Energys Texas LNG export terminal, giving the worlds biggest oil exporter a foothold in the fast-growing global gas trade. The proposed deal, which also includes an agreement to buy gas from the plant, would mark Aramcos first entry into production of oil or gas outside Saudi Arabia. Aramco can potentially ship the LNG home to the kingdoms power plants or trade it globally. The state-owned company and Sempra signed a preliminary agreement to acquire a 25% stake in the plant, but didnt disclose the value of the potential deal. A recent transaction could give a guideline for what the deal is worth. Frances Total SA paid about $1.5 billion for the LNG assets of utility Engie SA, which included shares in Sempras Cameron LNG plant in the U.S. RELATED: Sempra Energy buys stake in Sharyland Utilities Saudi Arabia is tapping into the U.S. shale revolution, joining a wave of LNG exporters that will primarily ship the fuel to buyers in Europe and Asia. Sempra itself is working on five projects. Both the U.S. and Australia could overtake Qatar as the worlds biggest LNG supplier in coming years. Aramco sees annual demand for LNG rising about 4% a year and reaching 500 million metric tons a year by 2035. Global demand for LNG, which is gas that is super-chilled until it turns to liquid and can be transported by tankers, was 324 million tons last year according to BloombergNEF. Saudi Arabian Oil Co., as Aramco is officially known, would buy 5 million tons of LNG a year from Sempra over 20 years if the deal is completed, the companies said in a statement. The gas will be produced from Phase 1 of Sempras Port Arthur LNG project. The companies also agreed to negotiate Aramcos purchase of a 25% stake in that phase. ANOTHER DEAL: Saudi Aramco said to consider shale investment with Equinor The agreement is a major step forward in Saudi Aramcos long term strategy to become a leading global LNG player, Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser said in a statement. We will continue to pursue strategic partnerships which enable us to meet rising global demand for LNG. In a region richly endowed with hydrocarbons, Aramco has struggled to build its gas business fast enough to keep pace with surging domestic demand. Past joint ventures with companies like Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Eni SpA and Lukoil PJSC found gas in the kingdoms vast Rub al Khali desert, known as the Empty Quarter, but it was too expensive to develop. That forced Nasser to adapt the companys strategy, exploring for shale at home and seeking acquisitions abroad. Aramco traded its first LNG cargo in March and said its seeking gas resources in the U.S., Russia and Australia, and it began producing gas from shale deposits in the kingdom last year. Pushing into gas adds to the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and its regional foes Iran and Qatar. Iran holds reserves second only to Russias, but sanctions and lack of investment stymied its export plans. Qatar is the worlds biggest LNG exporter and is a partner with Exxon Mobil Corp. in a $10 billion plant in Texas, and has plans to pour a total of $20 billion into U.S. oil and gas fields. --With assistance from Javier Blas and Verity Ratcliffe. 2019 Bloomberg L.P. A trio of environmental and citizen's groups said Wednesday they plan to file a federal lawsuit against Valero Energy and seek penalties against the San Antonio refiner for violations of the federal Clean Air Act at its Port Arthur refinery. The groups, Environment Texas of Austin, Port Arthur Community Action Network and the national advocacy group Sierra Club, said they notified Valero and its subsidiary Premcor Refining Group, of the pending suit, the first step in pursuing an action under the Clean Air Act. The law allows citizens to file suits seeking enforcement of Clean Air provisions, but they must first provide the companies 60-days notice. The groups said the would file the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Beaumont after the 60-day period has lapsed. Valero did not respond to requests for comment. RELATED: Houston ranks second in Texas for most unauthorized pollution, study finds Since 2008, the Sierra Club and Environment Texas have filed four citizen suits over air emission. That includes a successful lawsuit against Exxon Mobil's Baytown refinery that eventually led a federal judge to issue a $20 million penalty against the company in April 2017. Exxon Mobil is appealing that ruling. In a separate enforcement action, Exxon Mobil also reached a settlement with EPA to pay $2.5 million in penalties over air pollution at Texas and Louisiana plants and agreed to invest $300 million in upgrading its Gulf Coast plants. Environment Texas and Sierra Club have also reached settlement agreements in similar lawsuits against Shell's Deer Park refinery and Chevron Phillips Cedar Bayou chemical plant in Baytown. The environmental groups said that compliance records filed by Valero with the state show the Port Arthur facility has released 1.8 million pounds of pollutants from 600 air emissions violations over five years. Luke Metzger, executive director of Environment Texas, said the groups could seek $60 million in penalties or more against Valero. "Valero's Port Arthur Refinery has a poor compliance record even when compared to other Texas oil refineries," Metzger said. Valero has released over 850,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide without authorization over the past five years, according the environmental groups' analysis of state records. Exposure to sulfur dioxide can cause respiratory illness and worsen the effects of asthma and chronic pulmonary disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control. In 2017, a tank fire at the Port Arthur refinery caused the release roughly 287,000 pounds of particulate matter, which is linked by health studies to a range of cardiovascular problems, including heart attacks, strokes and congestive heart failure. The 2017 tank fire also resulted in the release of more than 52,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide and about 25,000 pounds of volatile organic compounds, according to state records, along with other air pollutants. The incident led to investigation by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which referred the case to the Attorney General's office in June 2018. The superintendent of Klein Independent School District, Bret Champion, is resigning. Champion announced May 21 that he accepted a position as superintendent of the Medford School District in Oregon. He assumes the new role July 1, according to his letter to the Klein community posted on the Klein ISD website. Champion has served as superintendent of Klein ISD since 2016. With both our boys recently graduating college and after a personal medical scare (all is well, thank goodness), I began to consider my next chapter as an educator, Champion stated in the letter. In that context, when I learned of the job in Medford, it seemed like an interesting next step. Champion said he is glad to have worked for the district and its staff, and will bring the strength and collaboration he learned with the district to his next position. "This is a district that collectively came together and created a shared vision and now is taking steps to make sure that that shared vision comes to life," he said. "I am proud to have played a small part in that work. That work is the community's vision and I'm confident that with the strong leadership that's in place here, that work will continue." George Reitmeier, president of the Klein ISD school board, released a statement about Champions departure, wishing him and his family success. The district is starting the search for another superintendent and hopes to find one no later than July 1, he said in the statement. RANKED: Houston area's highest-paid superintendents for the 2018-2019 school year Reitmeier said there will be no interim superintendent, but that the next superintendent will be chosen soon. The position will post internally (May 22), per board policy, Reitmeier said in the statement. We hope to name a lone finalist in early June and will call a Board meeting once that decision is made. Texas Law requires a 21-day waiting period before the new Superintendent can be named. The Medford School District released a statement announcing Champion as their new superintendent on May 21. In the statement, MSD said they began their initial search for a superintendent in March. The district will vote to approve his contract on July 1. Dr. Champion is a great fit for Medford, said MSD Board Chair Cynthia Wright in a statement. His skills as a communicator and collaborator, his experience with innovation and pathways, his focus on every child succeeding, and his work with large financial budgets all uniquely qualify him as the candidate of choice. KLEIN ISD: District readies bond sales, submits class size waiver Champion said he will miss the district. Because of the remarkable people in Klein ISD, the district is in great hands, and I am confident that the wonderful work of ensuing every student enters with a promise of exits with a purpose will continue, he stated. We're nearly halfway through 2019, and while the first quarter brought a slew of local restaurants closings, the last few months have been more promising for Houston restaurateurs. With the exception of a few high-profile establishments. After a decade in Montrose, Canopy at 3939 Montrose is closing this Sunday, May 26. Owner Claire Smith said she's shuttering this outpost to focus on her Heights restaurant: "My plate is full with Alice Blue, our catering business and raising a wonderful 15-year-old son," she explained in a prepared statement. "We will miss our community of customers and staff on Montrose, but I am gratified by what we accomplished there and look forward to seeing everyone at Alice Blue." The Mexican influence on Texas barbecue is undeniable as the craft barbecue movement continues to thrive in the Lone Star State. Those Mexican traditions will be celebrated in the first Tex-Mex BBQ Block Party honoring the influence of Tejano and Tex-Mex cooking traditions in Texas barbecue to be held July 14 at Saint Arnold Brewing Co. Property owners near Lake Houston will deal with varying water levels through fall 2020 as the city completes the $10 million Lake Houston Spillway Dam Rehabilitation Project. The water levels were lowered by 6 inches on Monday to allow contractors to start on the rehabilitation project and will be lowered another 6 inches on May 28. It is important that water levels will be lowered to 41.5 feet throughout the entirety of the project, Houston City Councilmember Dave Martin said in a statement. If at any time the waters levels are to rise above 41.5 feet, it will be immediately lowered back, he noted. The project is expected to be completed by fall 2020. The estimated construction cost of $10 million is being funded completely by the Coastal Water Authority's Special Equity funds, which includes monies designated specifically for Houston infrastructure improvements. No funds from Houston's coffers will be used on the project, city officials said. RELATED: Lake Houston water levels lowered for a week for dam maintenance The Coastal Water Authority is a conservation and reclamation district created by the state legislature to manage water resources for the City of Houston, such as Lake Houston. The Lake Houston Spillway Dam Rehabilitation Project will provide increased stability to the dam through the installation of a new reinforced concrete training wall, according to Martins office. This project also includes partial demolition of a splitter wall, which is the device used to break up the flow of water over the spillway. Contractors with Thalle Construction Company will build new concrete anchor blocks at the bottom of the training wall and elevate the Ogee and Stilling pool weirs by 7 feet, thus altering the water flow from the spillway. kaila.contreras@chron.com Ive been working hard to get a new free trade agreement with Canada and Mexico passed in Congress. In Texas, trade with Canada and Mexico supports 948,900 local jobs and totals $127 billion in exports, and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will help our states workers and economy thrive even more. President Trumps recent move to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum is a victory, and with this crucial issue resolved, I hope my colleagues will come together to advance the USMCA. *** President Trump just introduced a new, comprehensive immigration plan that fully secures our border and incentivizes merit-based immigration. This pro-American, pro-immigrant, and pro-worker plan is a smart, multi-faceted solution to the crisis on our southern border. We must work together to shut the backdoor of illegal immigration so that we can keep open the front door of legal immigration. This will protect American wages and strengthen our workforce, and I support President Trumps ongoing efforts. *** Israel has long been a friend and ally of the United States. The Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement wages economic war in a desperate attempt to undermine and isolate Israel, as well as all people of Jewish faith. We cannot let this dangerous movement continue which is why I signed the discharge petition to force a vote on anti-BDS legislation on the House floor. As members of Congress, we have a duty to stand against hate and fight for what is right. The recent anti-Semitic and anti-Israel rhetoric coming from some of my Democratic colleagues is intolerable and inexcusable, and Republicans will not allow it to continue. *** Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on the potential economic and health consequences of a changing climate. We can all agree that we need to ensure clean air and water for future generations, and Republicans are committed to promoting real, lasting solutions. I believe that the key to successfully tackling climate change is American innovation. Instead of making traditional energy more expensive, lets focus on making clean energy more affordable. Our nation has long been a global energy leader, and with new innovation and smart investments, we can be the driving force behind clean energy. If we work together in a bipartisan manner, we can find solutions that support American innovation, lower energy costs, and drive our economy. *** With burdensome Obamacare regulations and rising drug prices, the last thing Americans need are surprise medical bills. Health issues and surgeries are scary enough families dont need the added stress of unforeseen financial costs. Thats why Im working with President Trump to tackle this problem head on. No one should be taken advantage of in the emergency room, and I believe we can find smart, bipartisan solutions to protect patients from surprise billing. *** On Americas most solemn holiday, Memorial Day, Im thankful for our fallen heroes and ask Gods blessings on the loved ones they left behind. We as a nation will never forget those who paid freedoms steepest price. Congressman Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, represents District 8. Eight units were severely damaged during a massive apartment fire at 100 Will Street in Willis Tuesday. Heavy fire and smoke had engulfed most of the complex when between 40 to 50 firefighters first arrived on scene, according to officials with the Montgomery County Emergency Services District (ESD) 1. In addition to the eight units that were severely damaged, officials also reported a partial roof collapse. From a financial crisis with the school district, to chemical fires, to the President of the United States setting foot in Cougar Country, Crosby has had several major events that placed the town squarely on an emotional rollercoaster, residents and officials said. The events forced the community members to band together to do what was best for Crosby, said David Givans, one of the founders of Code Red Community on Facebook. The generosity of this community is remarkable. People in Crosby and Barrett Station really take care of each other and will do just about anything to fill a need - especially when it comes to taking care of our students and teachers, Crosby ISD Superintendent Scott Davis said. The Code Red Community Facebook page, a forum where residents can have general questions answered or the latest updates on major matters, was created in response to a financial crisis that forced Crosby ISD to lay off more than 100 employees, including teachers. There are now more than 3,500 members. Members of the Code Red Community have had a front seat to the changes in Crosby over the last year, Givans said. POTUS lands in Crosby The communitys excitement was palpable when President Donald Trump came to Crosby on April 10 to sign two executive orders that will benefit energy-related projects and production. Shades of red, white and blue were plenty, residents said. Parents like Givans got their kids out of school early to witness the historic event. CROSBY ON THE MAP: Trump's visit brings large crowd to Crosby The entire check-out sheet on every name ahead of mine the reason for leaving said Trump or something to that effect, Givans said. Givans also described the event as a mood-booster after an incident in the area occurred nine days prior, which killed one and injured two the KMCO chemical plant fire. KMCO is one of the largest employers in the area. KMCO explosion rocks Crosby Much like the presidents arrival, what happened at the Ramsey Road facility put the small northeast Houston town in the national eye. One employee, James Earl Bubba Mangum, was killed and two others were critically injured. Givans rushed to pick up his daughter at the Crosby Kindergarten Center. The school is next to the chemical plant. I was in front of the Kindergarten Center within three minutes of that blast, believe it or not, he said. By then they already had the kindergarten locked down and the constable that was there wouldnt let me in. The principal was there, and she called me on my cell and she said, Hey, Im sorry but I cant let her go. I said thats fine, and I went and got my son. CROSBY FIRE: One dead in fire at KMCO chemical plant During the KMCO fire, Crosby ISD placed all of their schools on lockdown until it was deemed safe to let their students out. Kim Harris, president of the Crosby-Huffman Chamber of Commerce, couldnt reach her brother-in-law while the fires were still raging. He is an employee there in fact most community members have a connection to the plant, she said. Since the chamber office was a mile away from KMCO, she got a close view of the rising smoke conjured by a sudden, acute failure in a piping component that caused a release of isobutylene, which ignited minutes later, said Michael Kehs, a spokesperson on behalf of KMCO, in a statement on May 8. Were there for them if they need us, Harris said, referring to all KMCO employees. No one there had reached out to her organization for additional assistance, which is understandable, she said, as the incident is still under investigation. Davis applauded district employees on their quickness and responsiveness in placing the schools on lockdown and communicating with parents and first responders. The district was already preparing for this possibility. The KMCO incident last month was an opportunity for us to put into practice some of the safety processes that we have been reviewing for the past year. In August of 2018, we completed a major update of our Emergency Operations Plan that outlines procedures for a variety of emergency situations. We have had many safety meetings and have made a conscious effort to focus on student safety to prepare for moments such as the KMCO explosion, Davis said. LAWSUIT: KMCO officials aware of valve leak before chemical plant explosion Events at KMCO reminded residents of an explosion at Arkema, a Crosby-based chemical plant that also caught fire on Aug. 31, 2017, not long after Hurricane Harvey. About 300 homes were evacuated and more than 30 people, including members of law enforcement, were hospitalized. Harris County officials said Arkema cared more about their production and profit than the people. It was discovered the companys emergency plan provided little direction for employees on how to handle major floods and was not able to keep its combustible organic peroxides cool. The French company faced a lawsuit of up to $1 million from Harris County for violating a long list of environmental, safety and building regulations and putting first responders at risk. Financial crisis hampers Crosby ISD There was a different sort of situation at Crosby ISD when, in October 2018, news spread that the district declared a financial exigency . Facing a $5.5 million deficit, the district had to make some hard decisions downsizing the general budget and laying off 105 people. At the time, Davis said one of the hardest things he had to do was deciding which employees to let go to save the budget. A majority of them have found new positions, he added. Davis was in his first year as superintendent. Declaring a financial crisis was one of his first major moves as leader of the district. RELATED: Crosby ISD declares financial emergency to allow mid-year layoffs During the six months of financial exigency, local businesses, nonprofits and community members donated either money or time to save their beloved school district. The generosity of this community is remarkable, Davis said. Then, a jaw-dropping event, community members said. In February, Keith Moore , the former Crosby ISD superintendent, came to a financial audit hearing in February 2019 to apologize to the community. He also explained to a packed room how the financial crisis occurred. Some thought Moore coming to the meeting was a courageous move. Others, meanwhile, only had more questions. My first thought was that either (Moore) was extremely courageous or extremely bold or unintelligent; its one of the three, Givans said I was definitely impressed that he was there and he was willing to step up and say (what he said) and take the brunt of the public opinion. Moore said after the meeting he will no longer seek a career in education again. LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Demand high for Crosby Crawfish Shack's well known taste Dan Meaux co-owns the Crawfish Shack restaurant with his wife Jen and serves on the Crosby Education Foundation. He said that local businesses were spared from the crisis. The impact of the financial situation in the district is probably the biggest impact, but, hopefully we dont lose the development thats happening. Hopefully the developers dont back out, the home developers, and I dont think that is happening. I think our district will continue to rebound financially as well as with growth, he said. Crosby ISD ended their financial exigency in March. Continuing the recovery Despite all the major events that occurred, Harris of the Crosby-Huffman Chamber of Commerce thought that they strengthened the bond of the community. Code Red Communitys Givans echoed the thought. Weve since become friends because we live in the same place, and we have common interests, but we never would have met otherwise, he said. Its brought the community together on more than just the school. Its brought the community together on tons of issues. Davis said Crosby ISD is still transitioning into the new normal after that all the changes. Elements that stayed the same, though? Respect, loyalty and kindness. Crosby ISD is still in a period of recovery, he said, but there are great days ahead for Crosby ISD. Reporters Nguyen Le and Elliott Lapin contributed to this article. kaila.contreras@chron.com For 50 years Houston Early Music has brought rare musical experiences to the area. It closes its anniversary season with another unique performance on May 31, at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 2353 Rice Blvd, Houston, 77005, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The distinctive concert presents Dark Horse Consorts Tower Music of The Stadtpfeifer. Taking its name from the Roman bronze horse statues in St. Marks Basilica, Dark Horse pays homage to 17th Century German municipal bands, called Stadtpfeifer. The bands were composed of cornets of the day, period trombones, recorders, harpsichord, and organ. With their musical tools of the early 1600s, Standtpfeifers, also called town pipers, performed music on brass instruments in community towers during major civic events. Not only does this concert feature brilliant and uplifting works for Renaissance and early Baroque brass instruments that include the early cornetti, said Deborah Dunham, executive director of Houston Early Music, but it also showcases the expertise and charm of some of our well-known musical colleagues. Bach Society of Houston is co-presenter of this golden anniversary season finale. Ensemble artists will present a pre-concert talk beginning at 6:45 p.m. Individual tickets for concert general admission cost $45; $35 for the elderly; $15 for students with valid ID student cards. Children under age 15 are not required to pay. For more information, please call 713-325-5377, Ext. 1077. Houston Early Music subsists on grants from Houston Arts Alliance, the Texas Commission on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, public and private donations, and other sources. Sally Copley, executive director of the illustrious Heritage Museum of Montgomery County in Conroe informs that a large number of local parents and grandparents registered their youngsters from ages 8 to 11 years for upcoming Pioneer Days, or Pioneer Camp. On the very first day of registration, May 9, we enrolled 36 children! she said. Although the four-session, two-week day camp does not begin until July 8, Copley and museum volunteers are gratified with the keen interest. Experienced parents know that the total number that can be accommodated for Pioneer Days is 80 so they act quickly. Two five-day gatherings are July 8-12, and July 15-19. Sessions are offered daily from 9 to 12 a.m.; then a new session starts at 1 and continues until 4 p.m. Cost per child is $40, with optional T-shirts sold at $12 each. Class size is limited and highly-respected adult volunteers are present at every meeting. During fascinating experiences led by local professionals, young attendees learn of the hardships, grit, and grueling work that those early pioneers underwent to succeed in their adopted country. Children will hear from a beekeeper, herpetologist, an Indian artifacts expert; experience lessons in a one-room schoolhouse scenario, and more. They grind meal from corn, sing simple ditties that pioneer children sang, and play games created solely by imagination from corn cobs, clothes pins, and such, with nary an intrusive beep. They enjoy nutritious snacks that never occupied a microwave, and so much more. Even though almost half the spaces were claimed on the first day, some openings still exist, so you may avoid a waiting list if you act quickly. Visit muse@consolidated.net, or call 936-539-6873. Registration must be done in person at 1506 Interstate 45 N., in Candy Cane Park off the access road. Operating hours generally are Wednesdays through Saturdays. Area residents who enjoy the Walden Follies every March may be interested to know that some routine changes occurred when some new members to the board of directors were elected by cast members during performance dates. Two, Janie Smith and Carl Seidule, finished three-year terms and retired amid praise and appreciation. Laurie Schmidt came aboard to replace secretary Brenda Cooper whose personal responsibilities require her priority. Current Follies board members are Kym Harris, president; Carole Murray, vice president; Rick Olson, treasurer; Laurie Schmidt, secretary; plus David York, Ginny DAmico, and Claire Harris. Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) in Houston opens its 50th season finale, blockbuster Jerome Robbins Broadway May 28, with shows scheduled through June 9. TUTS Artistic Director Dan Knechtges noted that Robbins changed the history of musical theatre forever. Robbins legacy has been the crown jewel of our 50th anniversary season. Some musicals that Robbins was associated with are production numbers from West Side Story, Gypsy, On the Town, Peter Pan, The King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof. Ticket prices start at $30 each. Visit the box office at 800 Bagby in Houstons heart, go to TUTS.com, or call 713-558-8887. A man was killed Tuesday in a shooting during a drug deal at an apartment in the Houston area, according to the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Deputies said the 20-year-old victim, Mike Anthony Lopez Jr., lived at the City Gate at Champions apartments in the 12800 block of Greenwood Forest Drive in north Harris County. As a child, my parents warned me to stay away from broken bottles and to never play with shards of glass. As a parent, I have shared the same lessons with my children that shattered glass pieces are dangerous and to be avoided. We live in a world where old glass bottles and broken windows are seen as undesirable items be immediately discarded. Artist Tamera Anderson Kriter sees things a different way. "I just love the colors and how it shines," says Kriter, who owns The Shard Yard at 415 S. Gordon St. in Alvin. "And you can see through it!" She creates works of art from reclaimed broken glass and teaches others how to do the same. Kriter hopes to help people see the potential beauty in materials that would otherwise be tossed out. She was introduced to making glass art while vacationing with her sister and mother in Florida. "We went to a workshop where we made things out of broken glass," she says. "From that moment, I knew that I had to do this. "I wanted to do this for my job and teach others." Kriter teaches classes with members ranging from young children to senior adults at her studio. "All of our pieces use reclaimed glass," she says. "I asked people to bring me old empty bottles and they did! "Our favorite bottles are the blue Italian wine bottles, but any colorful or textured glass bottle is useful." The classes also use broken pottery and china. "When I am at a party or event, and something gets broken, I get excited," she says with a giggle. "I yell, 'I'll take that, don't throw it out.'" During a class, students select a frame from a variety of shapes that include animals like frogs, deer, fish, birds and insects. Additional choices include flower shapes and religious symbols such as crosses or simple geometric shapes like squares and circles. Each student is given a quick lesson in how to handle the glass and is given a demonstration of how to use the various tools and safety equipment. The students fill the frames with pieces of colored glass selected from plastic bins arranged by color. Once the frames are filled, the glass pieces are solidified into place with clear resin. The finished pieces are colorful and transparent similar to a stained glass window. More information about The Shard Yard is available at the The Shard Yard web site or on its Facebook page. An American pastor has been accused of distributing a poisonous "miracle drink" to thousands of Ugandans, including infants, according to a report by the Guardian. Robert Baldwin - founder of a Christian nonprofit based in New Jersey - was providing a bogus "miracle cure" to almost 50,000 Ugandans, according to the outlet's original reporting. In conjunction with Sam Little, a supposed British clairvoyant, Baldwin was promoting the substance as a cure for many diseases, including cancer, malaria and HIV/AIDS. The cure? Known as "miracle mineral solution," or MMS, the substance consists of sodium chlorite and citric acid, which combine to create chlorine dioxide, an industrial bleach. The U.S. Embassy in Kampala on Monday condemned the distribution of the substance. In an interview with NJ Advance Media, Baldwin denied distributing the "cure" and said he had to shut down his operations because of the hate coming his way. The pastor, who does not appear to be affiliated with a church, disabled his social media accounts and his website, Global Healing Christian Missions. He could not be reached by The Washington Post. Baldwin, who is not a medical practitioner, trained roughly 1,200 Ugandan clerics to administer the "miracle cure," and they then gave the concoction to members of their congregations, the Guardian wrote. The news organization also contends that the drink was given to infants as young as 14 months old. "America and Europe have much stricter laws so you are not as free to treat people because it is so controlled by the FDA. That's why I work in developing countries," Baldwin said, according to the Guardian. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public warning against MMS in 2010, when the promotion of the purported health benefits of the drink was spreading in the United States. The FDA urged people who had MMS to "stop using it immediately and throw it away." Reports of health injuries after the use of the product included severe nausea, vomiting and life-threatening low blood pressure from dehydration, according to the FDA's warning. MMS has been banned in Canada and Ireland. More for you Arrest made in 1985 murder of renowned Hollywood director Baldwin acknowledged that he did not want to draw attention to his use of MMS, according to the Guardian. "You have to do it low key. That's why I set it up through the church," he said. At least one expert in Christian missions said organizations such as Baldwin's should not be confused with legitimate outreach. "This is not missionary work," said Jonathan Bonk, director of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography. Bonk, who grew up in Ethiopia, is also the executive director of the Overseas Ministries Study Center at Boston University. He said roughly 85% of Ugandans are Christian, many of them devout. Operations like Baldwin's often promote themselves as missionary work because it plays better to American supporters, Bonk said. "America has a long tradition of believing they have a lot to offer the world," he said. "It gives it a kind of legitimacy. They can show pictures of fairly extreme situations to register potential donors." But Bonk warns that most of these organizations, like Baldwin's, are bogus. "These are really, really poor people who are sick and they believe they're going to get better," Bonk said. "Where people are desperate for medical care, they place their faith in miracles." Stephen Barrett, a retired psychologist, has operated a website tracking health-related fraud since 1997. He wrote about the dangerous effects of MMS in 2016. "The world isn't well equipped to handle people who insist on selling worthless products," Barrett said. He said that consumer protections against harmful health products should be prioritized and that the FDA should take proactive action against people who promote them. "It's up to the Ugandan government to stop it now," Barrett said. In a tweet published Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Uganda said it was aware of an American pastor providing MMS to churches in Uganda. "We strongly condemn the distribution of this substance, which is extremely dangerous and is NOT a cure for any disease," the tweet read. Fiona O'Leary, who has been campaigning against illegitimate medicine and MMS for six years, said Baldwin and others show up in Uganda with "the Bible in one hand and bleach in the other." O'Leary, who recorded a phone conversation with Baldwin that was excerpted in the Guardian article, said she wants him prosecuted. "They go to third-world countries because they know they can get away with it," she said. Bonk says wanting to believe in miracle cures is not unique to one country or one group of people. "As humans, we are a gullible species," he said. 5 1 of 5 Godofredo A Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 5 Godofredo A Vasquez, MBO / Associated Press Show More Show Less 3 of 5 4 of 5 Godofredo A Vasquez, MBO / Associated Press Show More Show Less 5 of 5 A 44-year-old woman suffered three gunshot wounds during a fatal confrontation with a Baytown police officer last week, according to a private autopsy commissioned by the womans family. One of those gunshots hit Pamela Turner, who had paranoid schizophrenia, in the face and shattered several bones, attorney Ben Crump said. The second gunshot hit the slain woman in the left chest, and the third struck her in the right abdomen, according to the autopsy report. A former Texas A&M Transportation Services employee is facing a felony charge after he was arrested for allegedly hiding a small camera in the women's restroom on the A&M campus. Peter David Baty, 54, of College Station, was arrested May 16 and charged with invasive video recording. Baty allegedly hid a camera inside a phone charger device underneath the sink of a women's restroom at the Transit Building on Agronomy Road, according to a release from the university. "We will not tolerate invasions of privacy against members of our campus community," TAMU President Michael K. Young said in the release. "Not only is this behavior a criminal act but it is also deeply counter to the values we hold dear at Texas A&M University. We are fully cooperating with authorities." Texas A&M Police Lieutenant Bobby Richardson said a female employee found the camera, which had been recording nonstop for at least a few weeks. Richardson said investigators are still unsure how long the camera had been there and how far back video footage went. 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. Officials said the single-use restroom is not accessible to the public and is mainly used by campus employees. Richardson said 42 victims have been identified so far and police suspect there could be more. Investigators found an external hard drive with even more footage at Baty's home after executing a search warrant. Richardson said authorities have only begun to analyze the footage and suspect there could be countless more videos and possible victims. "We are talking a lot of footage," Richardson said. "We had about a weeks worth [of footage] that we were able to find on the memory card but we expect the hard drive to [have] more [footage] and we are trying to figure out how far back it goes." Baty resigned the day before he was arrested, according to the release. He made his $25,000 bond the next day, according to jail records. PASADENA: H-E-B employee arrested for allegedly filming unsuspecting shopper in bathroom Women who work in the building were informed of the investigation. "We realize that in cases like this family members and friends want to do their own investigations or confront the accused," Richardson said. "We hope all involved allow us to investigate the case so that justice can be served for every victim. It would be unfortunate if someone tried to take matters into their own hands, and then got in trouble themselves." Anyone who thinks they might have been recorded and have not yet been contacted by authorities are asked to email their name and phone number to Det. Rogers at rrogers@tamu.edu. 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 Galveston County officials plan to bolster law enforcement efforts for next year's "Go Topless" Jeep weekend after deputies responded to nonstop calls for service and vehicle collisions at this year's event. The event typically attracts hundreds of Jeep owners to Crystal Beach, but this year's crowd appeared to be the largest in more than a decade, said Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset. ARRESTS: See who was arrested at the 'Go Topless' Jeep event in Crystal Beach He said deputies responded to nearly 600 calls for service over the weekend. More than 100 people were arrested at the event, and he said about 50 sheriff's office employee worked overtime on Saturday alone. Trochesset told Chron.com that he's asking the commissioners for at least four additional four-wheel-drive vehicles, which would help deputies navigate through the tides for the next event. "Part of the issue is the high tide restricts you from being able to maneuver," Trochesset said. "That was a big hindrance." The sheriff's office was fully staffed over the weekend to handle an event like the Fourth of July, but Trochesset said he'll also discuss the possibility of getting more overtime pay for his employees. He also wants to contract with other outside agencies for next year's Jeep weekend, but the commissioners will have the final say. "It's a broader discussion that needs to be worked out," Trochesset said. 'MORE DANGEROUS': Petition calls to end 'Go Topless' Jeep event on Crystal Beach after reports of arrests, injuries Galveston County Commissioner Darrell Apffel's office said the commissioner has already suggested additional funding for law enforcement and limiting the access points to the beach. There is no way to limit the size of the crowds at Crystal Beach Because the Texas Open Beaches Act guarantees free public access to state-owned beaches on the Gulf of Mexico. At this year's event, Trochesset said the main issues included minors in possession of alcohol, public intoxication, drunken driving and vehicle burglary. Several people also suffered severe vehicle-related injuries after falling off or out of cars, he said. Of the 113 people arrested on the Bolivar Peninsula between Wednesday and Sunday, close to 20 people were charged with not wearing a seat belt, a class C misdemeanor. While those charges typically don't result in an arrest, Trochesset said that likely wasn't the deputy's first course of action. "Most of that would be [a situation where] you're on the beach and you have someone on the hood or on the roof of the car," he said. "And how many times do you have to tell them to get back in the vehicle before you take action?" Close to 19,000 have signed a petition calling for the end of the event, but Trochesset said the weekend crowds were similar to those before Hurricane Ike. He said newer residents likely weren't familiar with the event's popularity. "Pre-Ike, there were weekends where we arrested 100 people in one day on the peninsula," he said. 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. UPDATE: Bryan Solis was a 20-year-old Hispanic man who died May 21 from a gunshot wound at 13363 Force St., Houston. ORIGINAL STORY: A Houston man fatally shot a teenager Tuesday night who apparently had targeted his home in east Houston with paintball guns, police said. Police said a group of teens with paintball guns were outside the home in the 13300 block of Force about 11:30 p.m. to target the 17-year-old who lived there. At one point, 10 to 15 people were outside the home, police said. When the family heard a disturbance outside, the father walked out and approached one of the teens, police said. The father fired one round at him and multiple rounds at a nearby vehicle, which the teen was supposed to get into, according to police. The father told police that he believed the group was a threat and feared for his life. The 19-year-old was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Multiple bullet casings and paintball shells were recovered from the scene, but police are still working to piece together what happened. Police said they detained three people with the group, all around 17 years old. They are still looking for more people who could have been on the scene, according to investigators. 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. Houston's own Travis Scott will be donating all of his merchandise profits from an Alabama music festival to Planned Parenthood amid backlash toward the state's lawmakers for outlawing abortions. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the most restrictive abortion regulation into law last week, making all abortions a felony offense and providing no affirmative defenses for victims of rape or incest, according to the Associated Press. Scott, who performed at Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama, over the weekend, is now deciding to donate all of his profits from the merchandise he sold at the festival to Planned Parenthood, according to BuzzFeed. As a South Texas migrant processing center temporarily shutters amid a flu outbreak, photos from West Texas show the life of migrants on the U.S. Mexico border who are trying to make it into the country. The photographs, shot by photojournalist Mario Tama in El Paso and other border towns last week, show families, women, children and men crossing the border, many of whom are seeking asylum in the United States. Their journey comes as U.S. Customs and Border Protection is experiencing overcrowding problems at detention facilities in South Texas, according to the Washington Post. A woman who accused a group of U.S. Navy servicemen of sexual assault last year told San Marcos police the incident occurred in the bed of a pickup at a park, an affidavit said. The assault was initially reported at about 10 p.m. on May 19, 2018, at Rio Vista Park, 555 Cheatham St., according to a San Marcos Police Department incident report. When officers arrived, a woman said that she was sexually assaulted in the bed of a truck by six men. Police said the woman was unwilling to fully cooperate and did not want to pursue criminal charges that night. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The next day, she met with San Marcos police and decided to press charges. On Friday, five suspects were arrested at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland: Anthony Cooney, 21 of Butte, Montana; Kyle Tuschmann, 19 of Colts Neck, New Jersey; Dominick Burns, 20 of Spring, Texas; Mauricio Chaparro, 28 of Mamaroneck, New York; and Kenneth Johnson, 20 of Stockton, California. They were each charged with four counts of aggravated sexual assault, with bail totaling $500,000 each. The suspects were extradited Tuesday to the Hays County Jail, according to court records. The incident report identifies the five men, but the name of a sixth suspect was redacted. Police have not said if they are looking for that suspect. San Marcos Police Chief Chase Stapp said in a statement that the Hays County District Attorneys Office presented the case to a grand jury and the men were indicted, leading to their Friday arrest. RELATED: Mugshots released for 100+ arrested at 'Go Topless' weekend He added that the department is unable to comment on the incident because it is a pending case. Commander James Stockman, Naval Education and Training Command spokesperson, said in a statement that all five sailors were students at Naval Technical Training Center at Lackland. Cooney and Chaparro are Master-at-Arms seamen, while Burns, Johnson, and Tuschmann are Master-at-Arms apprentices, a form of military police. Stockman said the Navy is cooperating with authorities in the investigation. 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 Publications UPDATE: Subsequent to the publication of this CAMERA Snapshot, the hyperlinked Web pages below (and, as well, those same ones found on Google search results for Quigley and ISIS) were removed by Chicago Tribune and Arizona Daily Star (Tucson). The Star replaced the linked page with a different link. The Miami Herald Quigley Web page remains as of May 25, 2019. The column was distributed by the Tribune Content Agency (TCA) syndication company which is owned by Tribune Publishing. TCA was previously known as the Chicago Tribune Syndicate. The Chicago Tribune, carried the column on April 18, 2019 under the title: Con: Talk of looming major attacks is overblown. The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) carried the same column on April 18 under the title Claims of looming major attacks by Islamic State are overblown. The Miami Herald carried the column on April 23 under the title of Despite panicked predictions, ISIS is not a threat to the West. The column was also carried by numerous lesser known newspapers. The U.N. is unreliable regarding Israel Quigley relies on U.N. claims but the organization is clearly biased in matters pertaining to Israel due in small part to the influence and voting power of the dozens of Arab and other Islamic member states. For example, in 2018, the U.N. General Assembly passed 21 resolutions condemning Israel, and a mere 6 for the rest of the world, according to U.N. Watch, a Geneva-based NGO that monitors the international body. Israel, a democracy, was condemned seven times more than the brutal North Korean dictatorship, which still runs gulags, and was the subject of a mere 3 resolutions. Indeed, just on Nov. 15, 2018 the General Assembly adopted nine resolutions against Israelall while ignoring human rights situations in China, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Turkey and Pakistan. Quigleys war crimes characterization is in reference to a U.N. report that is consistent with the pattern of U.N. bias against Israel. Refuting the U.N. report relied on by Quigley Israel's acting foreign minister rejected the findings outright: "The Human Rights Council's Theatre of the Absurd has once again produced a report that is hostile, mendacious and biased against Israel," Israel Katz said. "No-one can deny Israel the right to self-defence and the obligation to protect its citizens and its borders against violent attacks." U.N. Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer's speech at the U.N. Human Rights Council debate (March 11, 2019) included this statement: Mr. President, let me be the first to state for the record that everything we just heard from the worlds worst dictatorships, and their apologists, is unfounded, unreal and untrue. For example, the accusation that Israeli soldiers are war criminals for defending their citizens from massive attacks on the Gaza border, organized by the Hamas terrorist group, is absurd. The claim that these are civilian protests, and peaceful in nature, is deceitful and dishonest. The truth is that 70,000 Israelis live within a few kilometers of these attacks, including three communities which reside right on the border. The truth is that these so-called protests include attempts by terrorists to infiltrate into these Israeli communities, and involve shootings, grenades, firebombs, and improvised explosive devices. The truth is that mines and booby-traps have been placed on the border, to be detonated on IDF patrols. Now, for the UN to call these peaceful protests is nothing but an insult to every genuinely peaceful human rights activist around the world. Now it was said here by the Palestinian representative that anyone who aspires to preserve this Council, should remain in the Council, and work in it; those who do not wish to respect the values, should leave. I ask: Is it his position that Council members such as Saudi Arabia, which is now torturing womens rights activists, as we just heard; and China, which is now holding a reported one million Muslims in re-education camps, are the one upholding human rights? Ignoring context Quigley ignores the unique Jewish connection to Jerusalem when he writes, Jerusalem, a city that few in the Arab world see as belonging to Israel. However, the reality is that Jews have continuously lived in their ancestral home in the Holy Land including Jerusalem. In 1948, the re-establishment of the Jewish nation of Israel, with the capacity of caring for Jewish refugees, was supported by the United Nations. Israel sought to accommodate the Arabs but was immediately rebuffed by Arab Armies that attempted to annihilate the Jewish state. And thereafter Arab forces attacked, or gathered to attack, Israel several times in order to destroy it. Jerusalem, Judaisms holiest city, is mentioned hundreds of times in the Hebrew Bible (but not even once in Islam's bible, the Quran). It was the capital city of ancient Jewish kingdoms and home to Judaisms holiest place, the Temple. Jews from all over the ancient world would make pilgrimages to the Temple three times a year to participate in worship and festivities, as commanded in the Bible. The Jewish wedding ceremony concludes with the chanting of the biblical phrase, If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its cunning, and the breaking of a glass by the groom to commemorate the destruction of the Temples. And Yom Kippur services and the Passover Seder conclude each year with the phrase Next Year in Jerusalem. As to the Golan Heights, Israel had seized it in the defensive Six-Day War of 1967. The Syrian military had repeatedly used it to shell the Galilee area of Israel from the Golan high point putting Israeli population centers in jeopardy. Currently, if Israel were to lose control of the Golan, the area would be undefended against the predations of Iran which is intent on destroying the Jewish nation-state. As legal scholar Alan Dershowitz observed recently, No country in history has ever given back to a sworn enemy, militarily essential territory that has been captured in a defensive war (Alan M. Dershowitz, Trump Is Right about the Golan Heights, Gatestone Institute, March 30, 2019). Furthermore, the historical/biblical reality of the Golan is that the ancestors of todays Jewish Israelis resided in the Golan long before any Arabs arrived in the area. Evidence of this is found in the Bible; references to the Golan are contained in Deuteronomy 4:43, Joshua 20:8, Joshua 21:27 and 1 Chronicles 6:56. The region known today as the Golan Heights was a part of the area of Bashan in the territory assigned to the Israeli tribe of Manasseh thousands of years ago. And there is no reason to believe that these ancestors ever willingly relinquished their rights to the land. Previous Quigley anti-Israel propagandizing In 2018, Quigley was a featured speaker at a conference run by The Middle East Monitor (MEMO) which specializes in anti-Israel propaganda. In 2014, Quigley bashed Israel as a featured speaker at the National Summit to Reassess the U.S.-Israel Special Relationship" which was run by notoriously anti-Israel groups such as Washington Report on Middle East Affairs (WRMEA). In 1997, numerous charges by Quigley condemning Israel were refuted in a lengthy American University Law Review piece by Professor Louis Rene Beres of Purdue University. In 1992, a Quigley report condemning Israel was refuted in a Duke University law paper by Professor Eugene V. Rostow, Dean of Yale Law School. Concluding Publications providing Quigley material that misleads readers should be mindful of journalistic ethics. For example, Quigleys anti-Israel claims generally run afoul of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics. Key editors for Quigley's April article include: Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) (Jill Spitz jspitz@tucson.com), Miami Herald (Rick Hirsch rhirsch@miamiherald.com), Chicago Tribune (John McCormick jmccormick@chicagotribune.com), TCA (Zach Finken zfinken@tronc.com). Capital Factory, an Austin-based startup hub, is looking for Houston companies to join its business accelerator program. It's partnering with west Houston startup hub the Cannon to provide participating companies with six months of office space. Entrepreneurs from both communities will co-mingle, accessing mentors and funding from the two cities. Related: 'Gamified giving' sports tech company prepares move to the Cannon "We're thrilled that this partnership with Capital Factory will connect Houston startups with more resources," Lawson Gow, founder and CEO of the Cannon, said in a news release. "These companies will have a chance to join an incredibly valuable network, and in return, Capital Factory will have the opportunity to invest in Houston's booming startup scene and diverse talent pool." The Cannon, opening a new location just north of Interstate 10 and Beltway 8, will provide a dedicated space and video conference equipment for Capital Factory Accelerator companies. Capital Factory will hire employees to help find mentors and new Houston companies. In addition to its accelerator program, Capital Factory will look for prospective investments for its venture fund. The fund has invested in several Houston-based startups, including Apartment Butler, which uses an app to coordinate housekeeping, pet care and laundry for apartment communities, and machine learning and artificial intelligent company Hypergiant. "The Texas Startup Manifesto is about leveraging the entire Texas startup ecosystem while honoring the unique contributions of each city and region," Gordon Daugherty, co-founder and president of Capital Factory, said in the news release. "We can't deliver on that vision in Houston without the help of local partners like The Cannon and their collaborative attitude really sets them apart." Canadas 2019 federal election: How could it affect immigration and Express Entry? Polls show Conservatives leading Liberals, who have introduced significant changes since 2015 Canadas 2019 federal election: How could it affect immigration and Express Entry? Polls show Conservatives leading Liberals, who have introduced significant changes since 2015 Canadas 2019 federal election: How could it affect immigration and Express Entry? Polls show Conservatives leading Liberals, who have introduced significant changes since 2015 Stephen Smith Noah Turner Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canadians will head to the polls in October to elect a new federal government, which could bring changes to Canadas current immigration policies. Canadas three major political parties the governing Liberals, the Conservative Party of Canada and the New Democratic Party (NDP) are all on the record as being in favour of economic immigration, but there are differences in their approach to the issue that could have an impact on immigration policy. Under the Liberals, Canadas immigration policies have taken a direction that puts them in increasingly stark contrast to the current policies of the United States and many European countries. Chief among their policies was the adoption of increased immigration targets that would see Canada welcome more than one million new permanent residents by the end of 2021 and push the countrys immigration rate to nearly one per cent of its population. True to their name, they have also liberalized immigration policy to reduce the time it takes to get Canadian citizenship while reforming medical inadmissibility rules and emphasizing family reunification, among other updates. In their four years in office, the Liberals have also introduced important changes to the Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for three of Canadas main economic immigration categories Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class. Find out if you are eligible to enter the Express Entry pool Since taking power in late 2015, the Liberals have overseen a dramatic increase in the number of invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence, or ITAs, issued through the Express Entry system from 33,782 in 2016 to 86,023 in 2017 and 89,800 in 2018. The Liberals have also introduced significant changes to Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that determines a candidates position in the Express Entry pool, namely the reduction of additional points awarded for a job offer. While a job offer is not required in order to be eligible under Express Entry, the Conservatives original CRS rewarded candidates with a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-backed job offer with an additional 600 CRS points effectively guaranteeing an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence regardless of their core CRS score. Critics, however, said this approach favoured low-skilled, low-wage labour at the expense of candidates with greater earning potential who would ultimately provide greater economic benefit to Canada. In late 2016, the Liberals acted on these concerns and reduced the points awarded for a job offer to a maximum of 200. This has benefited candidates with higher human capital scores, which include age, proficiency in English and French, education, and skilled work experience. Combined, they provide what is known as a candidates core CRS score, which can reach a maximum of 600 points. The Arranged Employment additional points are now balanced with the core CRS, which means that candidates with a qualifying arranged employment need a sufficiently high core CRS to receive an invitation, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) noted in its Express Entry year-end report for 2017. The report showed that invitations to Federal Skilled Worker Class candidates jumped by nearly 400 per cent in 2017 thanks to the Liberals targeted changes to the CRS. IRCC also reported that lowering the points awarded for a job offer was having a significant impact on the occupation mix of candidates that received an invitation. In 2016, cooks and food service supervisors figured among the top five occupations of candidates invited through Express Entry that year. In 2017, they lost their fourth and fifth place rankings to financial auditors and accountants and administrative assistants and dropped to 28th and 14th, respectively. Conservatives If the Conservatives win in October CBCs Poll Tracker currently gives them a six-point lead over the Liberals changes to Canadas immigration policy are possible. While they have yet to provide a more extensive outline of their immigration platform, the Conservatives say they are for a fair, orderly and compassionate immigration system that would emphasize both an immigrants ability to become self-sufficient and Canadas labour market needs. We would directly link the number and skills of people seeking to enter Canada for economic reasons to the needs of the Canadian economy, Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel told reporters earlier this month. This emphasis on economic immigration was central to Conservative immigration policy when they governed Canada between 2006 and 2015 and resulted in their introduction of the Express Entry system in 2015. The Conservatives have not said whether they would change the Express Entry CRS or the overall immigration targets set by the Liberals. Rempel, however, has been critical of the Liberals approach to setting the targets, which she compared to an auction. Rempel said immigration targets had to be rooted in policy and the product of a process. NDP Canadas third major political party, the NDP, is a left-of-centre party that is best known for spearheading the push for universal health care for all Canadians. While the NDP has never formed the government, they could hold the balance of power in a minority government and thereby contribute to the shaping of immigration policy. The NDP has yet to detail its approach to immigration policy, but the partys views on immigration typically emphasize compassion for immigrants and favourable positions on issues like family reunification. Green Party Though it only holds two seats in Canadas Parliament, recent electoral gains by the Green Party of Canada could make it a surprise contender in October. The partys 16 policy priorities on immigration are predicated on the idea that Canada is a just, fair, and open country and the belief that new Canadians are a source of incredible skills and potential for our country. Among other policies, the Green Party says it would establish realistic criteria for immigrants based on existing job opportunities for immigrants to Canada and take action to eliminate the valuation of foreign credentials for immigration purposes. The Greens would also press professional societies to remove unnecessary barriers to recognizing professional credentials and ensure professionals have licensing requirements for their professions clearly explained before entry. Canada has emerged as a leader on immigration over the last four years, a position that is gaining recognition the world over. From the Express Entry system to its network of provincial nominee programs, Canadas immigration system has broken multiple records and is set to achieve new ones over the next three years. While immigration may factor into the fall election, it is not likely to take on the tone of elections in the United States and other Western countries given all three of Canadas major federal political parties describe themselves as pro-immigration. Mounting labour shortages across the country and broad public support for the economic benefits of immigration mean this position is likely to be maintained. The big question is how? It is refreshing to see all the major parties voicing favourable views on immigration, though weve yet to see some important details as to their policies and positions, said David Cohen, senior partner with the Campbell, Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal. Candidates who are eligible under the current system may want to act quickly in order to maximize their chances of obtaining permanent residence before changes occur. Find out if you are eligible for immigration to Canada 2019 CICNews All Rights Reserved Canadas immigration policies providing tech sector advantage, Trudeau says Access to global talent fuels innovation, 'better solutions,' Canada's prime minister tells gathered tech leaders in Toronto CIC News Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Government efforts to ensure Canadas tech sector has access to the best international and domestic talent are providing a unique advantage in the global economy, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. An interview with Trudeau kicked off the 2019 Collision Conference in Toronto on May 20, marking the first time the five-year-old gathering of global tech leaders has been held outside the United States. Organizers picked Toronto over other North American cities because of its status as a global tech hub that is on track to outpace Silicon Valley in terms of jobs growth. Trudeau told interviewer Shahrzad Rafati, founder and CEO of Broadband TV, that Canada needs to stay open to international talent and pointed to policies like Canadas rising immigration levels and his governments creation of the Global Skills Strategy, which helps employers obtain work visas in as little as two weeks for foreign workers in specific occupations. Were at a time right now where big countries around the world are closing themselves off a little more to immigration at a time where Canada is realizing we need to stay open, we need to make sure were drawing in the best and brightest from all around the world, he said. Making sure Canadian students and workers also have the right opportunities for a career in tech by investing in research, innovation and Canadas education system is another key government priority, Trudeau said. Theres a lot of anxiety that people are feeling all around the world, and its coming out in all different sorts of ways whether its populism or nationalism, he said. The important thing is making sure that there is room for everyone to succeed, for everyone to feel like there is a path for them and their kids in technology. Public opinion supports immigration, Trudeau says Trudeau said Canadians remain in favour of immigration and his government is working to maintain this by ensuring that those welcomed to Canada are able to contribute and grow. Canadians know that we get more resilient communities, we get better solutions, we get better innovation when we bring in people from all around the world, he said. Thats why we are doing well, even in a time of anxiety. Canadas immigration policies are also helping to lure Canadian tech leaders back from traditional innovation hubs like Californias Silicon Valley, which has long been a popular draw for Canadian tech talent. Weve spent a lot of time trying to compete with Silicon Valley, watching Canadian innovators head down to the Bay Area to try and succeed, and what weve seen over the past few years is people are coming back: for the quality of life, the stability, the access to global talent through immigration, the liveable cities, through all of the things weve been doing, he said. The fact Canada has always been a country that embraced diversity and we know that it is a source of strength never a source of weakness has given us a real advantage as we look at that competitive investment environment that more and more people are looking to Canada for. Asked about his elevator pitch for attracting business to Canada, Trudeau cited Canadas network of free trade agreements, its education system and immigration system, and the diversity of its communities, among others. This is a good place to set down roots, this is a good place to build a company, this is a good place to build a future, he said. Weve got socio-economic, fiscal, banking and legal stability that is world class, and were a country that does so in two languages. Find out if you are eligible for immigration to Canada 2019 CICNews All Rights Reserved Crime and corruption are nothing new in Baltimore, as any viewer of The Wire can attest. But even for Marylands largest city, the April 2013 federal indictment charging 25 people with drug dealing, prostitution, and violence was a shocker: all of the alleged crimes occurred inside the citys biggest jail. Worse, 13 of the accused were guards, who conspired with a violent prison gang to smuggle in contraband, ranging from cell phones to prescription pain pills. Female correctional officers took payoffs to have sex with gang members, including the gang leader, Tavon White, who fathered children with four guards. This is my jail, White declared in a January 2013 call, secretly recorded by the FBI. I am dead serious. I make every final call . . . and nothing go past me, everything come to me. The lurid details drew national attention, embarrassing Governor Martin OMalley, a Democrat with presidential ambitions, and causing a shakeup in the state correctional bureaucracy. Yet within Maryland, what really provoked an uproar was the federal authorities assertion that a three-year-old state law known as the Correctional Officers Bill of Rights (COBR) was partly to blame for the scandal. According to the indictment, the laws procedural protections for guards facing administrative discipline tied supervisors hands so tightly that punishment was only a very remote possibility. An accompanying FBI affidavit noted that the internal review process set up by COBR was ineffective as a deterrent to [correctional officers] smuggling contraband or getting sexually involved with . . . gang members. OMalley, lawmakers of both parties, and the correctional officers unionthe American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)had all backed COBR. In the wake of the scandal, all insisted that federal authorities harsh view of the law was unfounded. But the story of the law is, if anything, more damning than the feds could say directly. COBR was a recipe for trouble from the start. It grew out of an AFSCME campaign to defend correctional officers in western Maryland who, prior to the Baltimore scandal, had been punished for gross misconductnot for sleeping with inmates or bringing them illegal drugs but for savagely beating them. The union portrayed that appropriate crackdown as a typical vendetta by state prison officials against hardworking C.O.s. Marylands politicians, eager to please AFSCME in an election yearbut indifferent or oblivious to the factswent along. Far from a triumph for fairness and due process, COBR was a case study in the distortion of state government by public-sector union power. On March 9, 2008, an ambulance arrived at Washington County Hospital in Hagerstown, Maryland, 75 miles west of Baltimore. The patient inside was Kenneth Davis, an inmate at the nearby medium-security state prison, Roxbury Correctional Institution (RCI). Davis looked as though hed tried to go a few rounds with Mike Tyson: his eyes were purple and swollen shut; red welts bulged from his forehead. Doctors diagnosed facial fractures, a broken rib, and multiple cuts and bruises. Davis spent four days in the hospital, during which time a visitor from the prison staff failed to recognize him because his face was so badly disfigured. As subsequent state and federal investigations showed, Davis had been viciously pummeled by guards inside RCI. True, the inmate wasnt blameless; he had punched and pushed a correctional officer on March 8. But the payback that the C.O.s brethren dished out was excessive by any measure. Over the course of 24 hours, Davis endured four separate beatings by officers from three different shifts. At one point, the guards took turns punching and kicking him while he was on the floor of a cell, unable to defend himself. Marylands attorney general, Douglas Gansler, eventually charged nine RCI officers with assaulting Davis. State prosecutors persuaded two of them to plead guilty and testify against the rest. But juries in Hagerstown, drawn from a region heavily populated by C.O.s, their friends, and their families, wouldnt convict. The Justice Departments Civil Rights Division took over the case and eventually convicted 13 RCI officers, most of whom pled guilty in a Baltimore federal court to federal civil rights or obstruction-of-justice charges. But in March 2008, those events lay in the future, as the perpetrators of the attack on Davis hastily wiped blood from the floor of his cell, destroyed surveillance video, and agreed to a cover story. Despite this wall of silence, Gary Maynard, secretary of Marylands Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, investigated the case and compiled what he called very compelling evidence of brutality. Within weeks, acting on the information, Maynard fired 18 RCI officers. We cannot tolerate excessive force, just as we will not tolerate an officer being harmed, declared Maynard, a seasoned correctional administrator who once ran Iowas prisons and whom OMalley had brought in the previous year to help clean up Marylands troubled system. AFSCME, however, rushed to the officers defense. With more than 30,000 members, AFSCME is Marylands largest and most powerful labor organization. It got started in Maryland in the early 1970s, first organizing state university workers and then branching out to other agencies. Its rise paralleled that of the left wing of the state Democratic Party. Once quite conservative, in keeping with the states historical Southern leanings, the party moved in a more liberal direction as power flowed to Baltimores African-Americans and to the upscale professionals, white and black, of the Washington suburbs. AFSCME backed liberal Democrat Parris Glendenings 1994 campaign for governor; once in office, he reciprocated by helping state workers win collective bargaining rights (though the union didnt get a mandatory dues law until 2009, under OMalley). Today, Maryland is nearly a one-party state. Democrats control the governors mansion; they outnumber Republicans by more than two-to-one in the House of Delegates (the states lower chamber) and three-to-one in the state senate. AFSCME, with its dues-fueled get-out-the-vote operation, is a pillar of the Democratic Party organization. And Marylands correctional officers have evolved into a crucial part of AFSCME, accounting for almost one-quarter of its total statewide membership. Yet given their conservative cultural slantmany prisons are located in the states Republican-leaning western and southern sectionsC.O.s arent an entirely comfortable fit for a blue union like AFSCME. Union leaders thus face extra pressure to deliver the goods to this constituencyand because the states fiscal woes had forced employees to accept pay freezes and furloughs, that pressure happened to be especially high at the time of the Kenneth Davis case. With pay increases hard to come by, standing up for accused C.O.s gave AFSCME an alternative way to prove its value, along with the value of its Democratic connections, to the rank and file. Saying that it would appeal Maynards application of discipline in the Davis case, AFSCME blasted the states cavalier conduct, in the words of its spokesman, Joe Lawrence. These mass firings, this conduct by the state, is not justified, Lawrence said. What we have seen so far of the states investigation is riddled with inconsistencies. Western Maryland politicians from both parties flocked to the AFSCME banner. About six weeks after the Davis incident, a Democratic state delegate, Kevin Kelly, promised to introduce a bill of rights, as he put it, for correctional officers in the next General Assembly session, beginning in January 2009. Kelly had met with C.O.s and AFSCME officials, who told him that Maynard had rushed to judgment, according to an Associated Press report. But AFSCME and its supporters still had to wait for the results of the officers state-court assault trials in Hagerstown. After all, convictions on the brutality charges would undermine the unions claims. In October 2009, though, a C.O.-friendly jury produced the last not guilty verdict, and AFSCME was free to push for the bill of rights. The timing favored the union: 2010 was an election year, and two key state politicians were facing reelection battles. The first was a Democrat, OMalley, a longtime union ally needing its full support for his rematch with his Republican predecessor, Robert Ehrlich, Marylands governor from 2003 through 2007. The second was a Republican: state senator Donald Munson of Hagerstown, who faced a GOP primary challenge and was eager to go to bat for the correctional officers in his district. Union lobbyists had no trouble persuading Munson to sponsor COBR, thus giving the bill a bipartisan veneer. Munson, who eventually lost his senate seat and is now on the Hagerstown city council, said that he was little more than a legislative conduit for the union officials, who actually drafted the bill. I looked at it, read it, and thought it was fair, he said. Much of the work was done by lobbyists for the correctional officers. I was on the budget and tax committee . . . and simply didnt have the time to put into it. Matters were more complex between AFSCME and the OMalley administration. The unions ostensible rationale for the bill of rightsthat the state had railroaded C.O.s in the Davis case and in a series of similar incidents involving inmates at a facility in Cumberlandamounted to a rebuke of OMalleys own corrections chief, Maynard, who had meted out the discipline. OMalley could not give the union what it wanted without undercutting Maynard. And Maynard was none too pleased by the COBR proposal, as three sources with knowledge of the bills drafting confirmed. Thats not surprising: any veteran prison administrator would have instantly spotted the bill as an attack on management prerogatives. (Maynard declined to comment.) Prior to COBR, prison administrators had 30 days to investigate alleged disciplinary violations by C.O.s, determine guilt or innocence, and recommend punishment, up to and including firing. Correctional officers could appeal to an administrative law judge, whose ruling would be final. This was the process that enabled Maynards swift action in the Davis case. COBR, though, called for a new appeal board made up of three correctional officers, and they would have unreviewable power to overturn a prison administrators findings of guiltas well as a more limited right to reduce punishment for those whose guilt they upheld. Departing further from prior law, COBR required the state to keep paying accused officers throughout the appeal processa strong incentive for officers to fight charges. The bill gave C.O.s the right to know the names of witnesses against them 20 days before an appeal board hearing, time that a crooked officer could use to organize witness intimidation. Given OMalleys obvious determination to back COBR, however, Maynard acquiesced, managing to negotiate one concession: extending the old laws 30-day investigation period to 90 days, so that prison authorities would have more time to build a case. Ninety days was far less than the yearlong investigative period that state law prescribed for cases of alleged misconduct involving police officers. But it was something. And prison administrators would need all the time they could get, since COBR layered on other new procedures that made investigations more costly and labor-intensive. Officers would get 24 hours notice before an interrogationtime to develop an alibi or coordinate testimony with others. They would not have to face interrogation unless and until a lawyer or union rep was available to accompany them. They would have to face only one interrogator at a time, who would be forbidden from threatening prosecution, transfer, dismissal, or disciplinary action. With OMalley and AFSCME in accord, the General Assembly took up COBR in early 2010, holding cursory committee hearings. Democratic committee chairmen in both houses had been told that the bill was the governors baby. The governors office said, Dont worry, dont make a fuss about it, a Democratic state senator said. On March 23, 2010, the Senate Judicial Proceedings committee heard testimony for all of 30 minutes from an overwhelmingly pro-COBR witness list headed by Munson and AFSCMEs chief lobbyist. Though the lawmakers probably didnt know it (because the witnesses spoke in vague terms), much of what they heard that day was a rehash of the unions bogus complaints about how unfairly the state had treated officers accused of the Kenneth Davis assault and cover-up. Chris Duffy, a C.O. from Hagerstown, testified that officers needed a bill of rights to protect them against a repeat of the incident in Hagerstown approximately 18 months ago, in which many officers had been punished based on limited evidence and nothing but mere hearsay. C.O. Ron Lohr claimed that hed seen a lot of botched investigations and poor decision making by management in the disciplinary process. His own son, also a C.O., had been a victim of that flawed process, he said. Lohrs son Ryan would plead guilty in 2013 to federal obstruction-of-justice charges stemming from his role in the Davis case. In that plea, Ryan Lohr admitted that he had opened the door of Daviss cell to let attackers in, and then helped clean up the crime scene and lied to state investigators. Committee members occasionally lobbed softball questions that succeeded mainly in demonstrating their ignorance of the bills contents. They heard one dissenting voice: Tom Dewberry, the chief judge of Marylands administrative law courts. He warned that letting correctional officers appeal to a panel of their fellow C.O.s rather than to an impartial judge created an apparent conflict of interest, contrary to the purpose of an earlier reform law that had assigned state-employee disciplinary appeals to judges. It was an obvious point, but both parties in the General Assembly basically ignored it. COBR passed the House of Delegates 1400 and the Senate 442. The governor signed the bill on May 4, 2010. A grinning OMalley, surrounded at the signing ceremony by legislators, C.O.s, and union officialsbut not by Gary Maynardgraced the front page of the fall 2010 issue of the AFSCME Corrections United newsletter. Relentless lobbying by AFSCME C.O.s, the open support of the OMalley administration and the hard work of key legislators . . . helped the legislation pass, the newsletter crowed. In September, AFSCME announced its endorsement of OMalley at a rally in Baltimore. A union press release noted: AFSCME members will be engaged in phone banks and vigorous get-out-the-vote efforts on behalf of the OMalley-Brown campaign through Election Day. OMalley won reelection, with 56 percent of the vote. Marylands politicians never debatedor even, seemingly, consideredCOBRs possible impact on investigations of corrupt fraternization with inmates despite the fact that Maryland lockups were already notorious for gang-related corruption, long before the Baltimore scandal broke. The Baltimore City Paper had published 14 articles on the subject, starting almost a year before the General Assembly took up COBR. The lawmakers cluelessness is clear from their acceptance of a COBR provision that defined prison administrators power to impose emergency suspensions in the best interest of the inmates, the public and the correctional facility. That authority could come in handy if a C.O. were, say, caught having sex with an inmate or smuggling in debit cards and cell phones. Yet the provision required that such suspensions come with paya big disincentive to imposing them. According to the bill, officers could be suspended without pay only if they faced felony charges; and in Maryland, smuggling cell phones and other contraband into prison is a misdemeanor. The new appeal process discouraged effective discipline as well. As FBI special agent Sarah Lewis put it in an affidavit, Baltimore jail officials saw no point in pursuing cases, given the risk that the COBR appeal board would later overturn punishments for brother officers. In fact, for two years, the board in Baltimore included 26-year-old Riccole Hall, a correctional officer at the jail whom the feds would later indict for drug dealing, bribery, and money laundering. Instead of trying to suspend or fire corrupt officers, Special Agent Lewis observed, jail administrators would transfer them, often to the nearby Baltimore City Booking and Intake Center. Thats why I got moved over there, a C.O. at the intake center casually told a coconspirator in a phone conversation recorded by the FBI. I got moved over there basically because Im dirty. After the General Assembly vote, City Papers reporter Van Smith (whose streetwise stories offer a trove of information about the scandal) approached Munson, COBRs sponsor, for comment about the risk that COBR could hinder investigations of gang-related corruption. Ive never thought of this measure in that context, the senator replied. If it doesnt work, well fix it in the future. Though COBR may have enabled the smuggling, violence, and sex at Baltimores jail, as the FBI suggested, it did not cause them. Gangs and gang-related corruption are old problems in Baltimore, with origins deep within the citys crime- and poverty-ridden social structure. Even the 150-year-old jails labyrinthine architecture promotes misconduct: its honeycombed with dark corners in which to hatch drug deals, consummate illicit trystsor stab snitches. Nor is the Maryland Correctional Officers Bill of Rights the most restrictive such set of regulations in the United States. That distinction probably belongs to the rules that the California Correctional Peace Officers Association has imposed, via collective bargaining and legislative lobbying, in the Golden State. In California, C.O. witnesses in disciplinary cases have the right to union representation during questioninga right they decline to exercise only at the risk of finding themselves labeled rats by their union brothers, according to sociologist Joshua Pages 2011 book about prisons and the correctional officers union in California, The Toughest Beat. The same union rep may attend interrogations of both witnesses and the accused, an obvious risk to the integrity of an investigation. In essence, though, Marylands COBR and the California rules do the same thing: they give correctional officers unions extra influence over employee discipline, a process in which the unions have a special interest. They do this in deference to union political powerand despite the publics interest in a process that is as impartial as possible. Public institutions function best with clear lines of authority. That goes double for inherently hierarchical ones like prisons and jails. Yet by their very nature, laws like COBR blur lines of authority. Some Maryland officials told me privately that the Baltimore jails supervisors only griped to the FBI about COBR to escape blame for their failure to maintain discipline. No doubt there is some truth to this. But its a strange defense of COBR, which gave the jailers an excuse in the first place. Without it, their accountability would be clearer. The OMalley administration tried to rebut criticism of COBR with statistics, noting that the number of Maryland C.O.s fired or forced to resign for corruption, fraternization, or contraband possession actually went up from 17 in 2011, COBRs first year, to 33 in 2013. The administration, though, provided no data on these dismissals as a percentage of casesor on how many more disciplinary actions might have proved successful if Maryland still operated under pre-COBR rules. Nor do these numbers explain why OMalley was in such a hurry to pass COBR. A former prosecutor and mayor of Baltimore, the governor has a better street-level understanding of law enforcement and corrections than most politicians do. In his first term, he made shaping up Marylands prisons a priority; among his first acts was to close the outmoded, violence-plagued House of Corrections in the town of Jessup. Indeed, OMalley can claim credit for accepting the federal probe that ultimately rolled up the Baltimore jail gang. All the more reason to be mystified that the governor danced so readily to AFSCMEs tune on COBR, implicitly undercutting his own corrections chief in the processunless you consider the unions political clout. After the Baltimore jail scandal broke, OMalley asked for a special commission of the General Assembly to consider reforms. The groups report, issued last December, called for new training and technology to fight smuggling, as well as one adjustment to COBR: allowing prison administrators to suspend C.O.s accused of smuggling contraband without pay, even if that violation is not a felony. For his part, OMalley embraced many of the recommendations; as of this writing, an OMalley-backed bill that would allow the suspension without pay of suspected contraband smugglers is moving through the legislature. Members of the reform commission said that AFSCMEs lobbying initially blocked consideration of a more substantial reform: extending the period during which a C.O. may be suspended pending investigation from 90 days to a year, as in investigations of police officers. The commission was supposed to debate that proposal at its final public meeting in December 2013, but members backed down under AFSCME pressure. The union packed the hearing with correctional officers dressed in bright green T-shirts bearing the union logo. State delegate John Cluster, a Republican, said that he approached another lawmaker after the meeting, asking his colleague why hed abandoned his support for the reform: AFSCME got to me, the legislator replied. In the end, the OMalley administration backed a milder reform bill, which is probably on its way to passage. The 90-day limit on disciplinary investigations would remainbut it would not apply in cases of alleged C.O. criminal conduct, as long as it occurred during the course of an officers duties, took place within a prison or jail, or involved an inmate. This was a clear improvement over the previous status quo under COBR and would have helped confront much of the alleged wrongdoing in Baltimore. But it still gives Maryland prison supervisors less time to investigate C.O. infractions than police supervisors have to investigate those committed by cops. And it does not reach criminal activity by officers off-site or off-duty, which is where and when a lot of the gang-related activities by the Baltimore C.O.s took place. Nevertheless, the bill had one thing going for it: AFSCMEs acquiescence. Embarrassed by the Baltimore disaster, the union had apparently seen the handwriting on the wall, as one state official said, and accepted the need to compromise. (The union declined my request for comment.) Keeping watch over often-violent offenders is a hard job. Most correctional officers perform it honestly. They deserve decent pay and fair treatment. AFSCME has a point when it says that C.O.s face the risk of false accusations from the people they supervisewho are, by definition, criminals. The law should account for that risk, consistent with the rights of inmates and the interests of the general public. But legislating that balance is a delicate business, in which no special interest should exercise privileged influence over the peoples representatives. Undue influence is what AFSCME exercised in the passage of COBRwith the help of union political machinery, funded through dues deducted from tax-funded payrolls. As Marylands elected officials revisit the COBR statute that they so hastily adopted four years ago, much more is at stake than who runs the states prisons. The real issue is who runs Maryland. Top Photo: modeh90/iStock On the chilly, blustery morning of November 13, 1982, thousands of Vietnam War veterans assembled in the nations capital to march down Constitution Avenue. Some had donned army fatigues, camouflage suits, or dress uniforms; others wore business attire, with raincoats or jackets. They came from every state. There were parents and grandparents; there were bikers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and active soldiers. Some carried children on their shoulders. Disabled veterans came in wheelchairs, on crutches, and leaning on canes. Two men led the column of marchers: a Green Beret with the Medal of Honor around his neck; and General William Westmoreland, former commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam. Spectators cheered, waved flags, and held signs thanking the veterans for their service. The long line moved west down the avenue and gathered on the National Mall near the Lincoln Memorial. There, the marchers took part in the unveiling of the most remarkable memorial built in the United States since the 1920s. It was dedicated to their fallen comradesthe 58,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, doctors, and nurses who gave their lives in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Like the war itself, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial seemed destined to be a site of controversy and division. Yet soon after it was unveiled, employees of the U.S. National Park Service, which administers the National Mall, noticed that visitors had begun leaving an extraordinary variety of objects there. These objects revealed the depth of public response to the memorial and to the very private conversations between the dead soldiers whose names are on the memorial and those who remember and love them. The Park Service collects and stores these tributes to the dead in a warehouse and hopes eventually to display them in a museum. They testify to the enduring intensity of feeling about the Vietnam Warand to the remarkable power of the memorial, which marks its 30th anniversary this year. In 1969, Jan Scruggs had gone to Vietnam as an infantryman directly out of high school. During the following decade, he found himself frustrated by the way the deaths of his fellow soldiers13 of them had died in a single explosionwere brushed aside, as if they didnt matter, by Americans anxious to forget the war. Other veterans shared his frustration. Roland Kunkel, who served in the Marine Corps in Vietnam, wrote bitterly: The war was unpopular, friends left at home were on the verge of completing college or beginning careers, the hippie generation was emerging, even the veterans did not want to talk about it. Therefore we buried our burdens. Worse yet, veterans organizations such as the VFW spurned us. Diane Carlson Evans, who served as a nurse, described the grotesque reception that she received upon returning home: The attitude of the public was beyond belief. The protesters, rioters, draft dodgers met us at the airport and spit on us, threw eggs at us. Friends, co-workerseven some familiesdid not want to talk about the war with us. . . . I was bitter, disillusioned and felt like 22 going on 80. Scruggs envisioned a Vietnam War memorial that would focus attention on the lives that were lost, thus transcending divisive debates about why the war was fought. His idea attracted a group of like-minded veterans who realized that creating such a memorial would depend on their own initiative. With help from two of them, Robert Doubek and John Wheeler, Scruggs established the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to raise money. Senators Charles Mathias, Jr., of Maryland and John Warner of Virginia helped secure congressional approval for a three-acre site on the western end of the National Mall. Then the group launched a national design competition. The competition specified four criteria: the memorial had to be reflective and contemplative in character; it had to harmonize with its surroundings; it had to contain the names of all who had died; and it had to avoid political statements. By focusing on remembering those who died and avoiding questions about the origins and prosecution of the war, Scruggs and his fellow organizers separated the memorial from the contentious political issues dividing the nation. They defined their mission in simple but profound terms: it was to remember the dead. After considering 1,300 submissions, a prestigious jury of professionals unanimously selected the design submitted by Maya Ying Lin, a 21-year-old Yale undergraduate with no formal training. Her work stood out for its elegant simplicity and disarming directness. More than any of the other artists who had entered the competition, Lin understood the veterans goals and embodied them in her design. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is a symmetrical, chevron-shaped wall made of separate panels of black Indian granite. Each of its two arms measures 246 feet, 9 inches, and they are set at an angle of just over 125 degrees. This angle is not accidental; it aligns the arms so that they point directly to the Washington Monument on one side and the Lincoln Memorial on the other. A paved pathway, now part of the system of walkways on the north side of the Mall, runs parallel to the wall. The entire composition faces south, onto a gently sloping amphitheater-like space that has been precisely carved out of the terrain but also appears to be a natural part of the Malls topography. The lowest section is at the apex of the V, where a visitor is ten feet, eight inches below grade. The rear of the wall is different: there, the Malls natural contours have not been disturbed. The granite is polished to a mirrorlike reflectivity. Recorded on it are the names of all Americans who lost their lives in Vietnam. At the western end, the wall starts as a narrow, pointed triangle of stone. By the third panel, there is space enough to record a single line of names. As the pathway descends, the four-foot-wide panels increase in height and accordingly accommodate an increasing number of names. Soon, the height of the wall rises above eye level, and we stand in a realm dominated by the black stone. The names of the dead are now an all-enveloping presence. An unusual stillness pervades. The presence of the dead is palpable, and the immediacy of the war is conveyed by our physical proximity to the names. Lin lists those names in order, starting with the first soldier killed and ending with the last. (Philosopher Charles Griswold likens the V form of the memorial to an open book with pages and lines of text.) Death is presented in chronological sequence, one life at a time, just as it occurred in the jungles, rivers, and plains of Vietnam. But the sequence does not start at the walls western end and end at the eastern one; it begins instead at the intersection of the two arms. There, at the top of the first panel of the eastern arm, we see the year 1959 and the inscription: IN HONOR OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES WHO SERVED IN THE VIETNAM WAR. THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES AND OF THOSE WHO REMAIN MISSING ARE INSCRIBED IN THE ORDER THEY WERE TAKEN FROM US. The names proceed down from the top of each panel, day by day, as the chronology moves remorselessly uphill, line by line, granite panel by granite panel, toward the easternmost tip of the wall. It ends with a single name. The sequence resumes at the western tip, nearest the Lincoln Memorial, and then proceeds downhill, toward its ending at the base of the panel that forms the apex, adjacent to the panel where it began. There, the year 1975 is inscribed, along with these words: OUR NATION HONORS THE COURAGE, SACRIFICE, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY AND COUNTRY OF ITS VIETNAM VETERANS. THIS MEMORIAL WAS BUILT WITH PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. NOVEMBER 11, 1982 On her competition drawings, Lin explained that the walk down the ramp to the intersection was a descent to the origin. For her, it was important that the wars beginning and end meet; the war is complete, coming full-circle . . . . As we turn to leave, we see these walls stretching into the distance, directing us to the Washington Monument, to the left, and the Lincoln Memorial, to the right, thus bringing the Vietnam Memorial into an historical context. The memorial committee added the two inscriptions over Lins objections. She felt that the wall of names said all that was necessary. The black stone of the memorial signifies mourning and allows the names to be read without the glare that would mar a lighter stone facing south. The highly polished surface, meanwhile, reflects images of visitors, Mall, and sky, layering an ever-changing montage over the static rows of names. The poignant contrast between names and reflections, between the dead and the living, effectively lifts the viewers thoughts and emotions above the wars divisive legacy. Lins silent black wall harnesses the mute forms of architecture to facilitate the release of feelings that cannot be expressed in words. The use of logosword or ideaas an integral part of classical architecture goes as far back as ancient Rome. Great text panels are part of buildings as different as the Arch of Titus in Rome (AD 85), the Lincoln Memorial (1922), and the U.S. Post Office in Washington, D.C. (1934). The Romans also used image, or imago, as logos. A long, continuous bas-relief of images that scrolls around the 98-foot-tall Trajans Column (AD 106113), from its base to its top, memorializes Trajans military victories in the Dacian wars. Alternately, logos may operate as imago, as in Sir Edwin Lutyenss Mercantile Marine Memorial in London. There, more than 12,000 names of sailors whose bodies were lost at sea are cast onto the surface of the bronze blocks that support the memorial, whose superstructure suggests a ships bridge and steam funnel. At the Vietnam memorial, Lin rejects the convention of listing names within an elaborate architectural framework. But she goes still further and effects a singular transformation: the names themselves, the logos, become the primary architectural feature, the imago, while the stone wallwhose materiality is undermined by its polished surface, which suggests weightlessnessand its reflections become the background. In an ironic reversal of roles, the names of the dead are unchanging, permanent, and appear to assume the materiality of stone, while the living are transformed by their reflections into a weightless, ever-changing panorama, a distinct but illusory world that exists in its own plane somewhere behind the names. Thus the names become the very substance of the wall. This transformation may help explain why so many Vietnam veterans find solace there. In his remarkable book Echoes of Combat, cultural historian Fred Turner cites Terrence Keane, a specialist in the study of trauma and chief of psychology at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Boston, who explains that for combat veterans, going to the Wall becomes a metaphor for confronting the events that caused their deepest pain. Turner concludes that since its inception, the memorial has been a place where the traumatized veterans search for integration, his need to bring past and present together into a coherent and useful story, has overlapped with the national need to incorporate the Vietnam war into the set of legends and myths that give America its identity. The catalyst in this process is the powerful presence of the names on the wall. Soon after Lins winning design was made public, a small, vocal, and well-organized group mobilized in opposition. Its attack began in October 1981 at a routine hearing of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, a federal advisory agency. Led by Tom Carhart, an infantry platoon leader who had won two Purple Hearts in Vietnam, the group characterized Lins proposed memorial as a black scar, in a hole, hidden as if out of shame. The memorial, Carhart said, honored only those who had died, not the millions who served and came home alive. The group proposed replacing Lins design with a memorial built out of white marble and placed at ground level. The commissions members oddly failed to answer the groups challenges at the meeting. They could have explained that honoring veterans who survived the war wasnt part of the memorial committees competition requirements. They could have added, indeed, that most war memorials (as their name suggests) recognize the dead, not the living; one thinks of the 1954 Marine Corps Memorial, usually known as the Iwo Jima Memorial, and the Cenotaph, Britains official memorial for the two world wars. The opponents desire for a memorial built of white stone, moreover, ignored an equally valid tradition of black stone memorialsfor example, the Iwo Jima Memorial and the nearby Seabees Memorial. Eventually, a compromise was brokered. A sculpture created by a member of the critics group, Frederick Hart, was erected on one side of Lins wall in 1984, along with a flagpole bearing the seals of the five armed services and a plaque. The inscription on the plaque reads: THIS FLAG REPRESENTS THE SERVICE RENDERED TO OUR COUNTRY BY THE VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM WAR. THE FLAG AFFIRMS THE PRINCIPLES OF FREEDOM FOR WHICH THEY FOUGHT AND THEIR PRIDE IN HAVING SERVED UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES. The flagpoles design is banal, and its placement and scale seem arbitrary and unrelated either to the wall or to the nearby Lincoln Memorial. Further, it is mistaken to assert that the American flag can represent the service rendered . . . by the veterans of the Vietnam War. Rather, it represents the nation for which those veterans fought, as well as the unity of the states that make up the nation. Harts sculpture, Three Soldiers, is nine feet high, larger than life-size but not overwhelming. The men appear to have just completed a mission or patrol; their weapons are carried casually, but the center figure has neither weapon nor helmet. One mans ammunition belt is upside down. The group includes a white soldier and an African-American one; the third soldiers ethnicity remains ambiguous, though Harts written description informs us that he is Hispanic. Not since Saint-Gaudenss Robert Gould Shaw memorial was unveiled in 1897 has a public sculpture shown Americans of different races collaborating on a joint enterprise; it may be the first that shows them as equals. There is an obvious relation between Harts commitment to realismyou can count the eyelets on the combat bootsand the sculptures lack of psychological depth. Nation art critic Arthur Danto wrote that the figures were intrinsically banal. . . . They look too much like specimens for a military museum, at least when considered alone. But he conceded that they were greatly enhanced by their relationship to the great walls. Similarly, commentator Howard K. Smith felt that the bronze soldiers unite with the granite Wall in one haunting theme. It is as if a disembodied voice has said to the figures, Soldiers, before you is the roll of those who shall not return alive. Read it and know your fate. And Hart explained, I see the wall as a kind of ocean, a sea of sacrifice that is overwhelming . . . . I place these figures upon the shore of that sea, gazing upon it, standing vigil before it, reflecting the human face of it. Standing at the memorial, though, one finds it difficult to discern the interaction that Hart describes. The elemental power of the wall is so deeply affecting that the three soldiers are relegated to the periphery. Like the rest of us, they are observers, overwhelmed by the silent questions that Lins design raises. Had Harts sculpture not been added to Lins memorial, its unlikely that the Vietnam Womens Memorial Project would have formed in 1984. But for many of the women who had served in Vietnam, mostly as nurses, the new monument to men who had survived shunted aside womens considerable contributions to the war effort. Many nurses had spent time in bunkers serving battle sites and dealt with appalling injuries; some had been wounded themselves. Like their male counterparts, they were typically in their twenties and later committed suicide in troubling numbers. Further, many male veterans were slow to accept nurses as fellow survivors. In 1993, a second sculpture was added to the memorial site to recognize the role of women in the war. Glenna Goodacre, the sculptor selected for the project, created a pieta group of four figures. The central figure, called Charity, is a nurse with a wounded soldier lying across her knees. The soldier is very tall, perhaps even slightly overscaled in comparison with the women around him, which renders his helplessness more palpable. Another nurse, Hope, the tallest figure, stands directly behind Charity and watches the sky for the helicopter that will take the soldier to a base hospital. She has one hand on Charitys forearm. Behind the group, a third nurse, Faith, kneels and prays. She is the most enigmatic figureperhaps because in Goodacres initial design, she was holding a Vietnamese baby. Deeming the baby too political, the Vietnam Womens Memorial Project asked Goodacre to remove it. Sandbags form the base of the composition. Goodacres sculpture, unlike Harts, shows only minimal details of uniforms and instruments, so as not to distract from the expressions on the faces, the articulation of the hands, and the interactions among the figures. The sculpture is gentle and compelling, closer to the spirit of Lins memorial. Because it is located some distance from both the wall and Three Soldiers and is partly hidden in a glade of trees, we focus on the interaction of the nurses as they struggle to save the young soldiers life. It is fitting that the group is separated from the aura of death that emanates from the wall. Two significant criticisms have been made of Lins memorial. The first concerns the arrangement of names on the wall. Danto noted an incongruity between narrative and form in which an effort has been made to make the slight angle meaningful by having the narrative begin and end there . . . as though a circle were closed, and after the end is the beginning. But a circle has the wrong moral geometry for a linear conflict. . . . As it stands now, we read from the middle to the end, then return to the other end and read our way to the middle. A simpler arrangement, with the names beginning chronologically at the memorials western end and ending at its eastern, would have let the memorial acquire the direction of time and, perhaps, hope. Dantos criticism is obvious; indeed, Lin wrote that she initially had the names beginning on the left side and ending on the right. But a professor asked what importance that left for the apex, and I, too, thought it was a weak point, so I changed the design. In the final version, the apex is important, but the ends lose their significance. That both versions have strengths and weaknesses suggests an unresolved question of form and meaning in Lins conceptual structure. The second criticism is by Robert Morris, the minimalist sculptor and anti-form artist. Acknowledging that the Vietnam Veterans Memorial is the most successful war memorial of our time, he nevertheless asks: Could there ever be a more ingenious act of substituting private grief for public guilt? Has political criminality ever been more effectively repressed than by this weeping wound to the will of the critical? Has there ever been a more svelte Minimal mask placed over governmental culpability? Perhaps one does have to ask if the memorial is too indirect in its recognition of the wars political and moral questions. As Charles Griswold points out, not only do war memorials by their very nature recall struggles to the death over values; they are also a species of pedagogy that seeks to instruct posterity about the past. Is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial too solicitous of those who prosecuted the war, too wary of the soul-searching debates needed if the nation is ever to come to terms with the wars legacy? Put another way: Are the very qualities that enabled the Vietnam memorial to rise above divisive debates and capture public imagination part of its limitation? Nevertheless, Morris is plainly more interested in assigning blame than in remembering victims. He has defined a problem different from the one that the memorial competition set out to solve. His approach would have resulted in a fractious, and probably unresolvable, national debate and done nothing to help veterans find solace. Such a debate should certainly take place with the benefit of the passage of time, so that scholars and citizens can calmly evaluate the pertinent issuesand Morriss concern is probably aggravated by his awareness that such cool, objective assessments dont always happen. The Second World War, for instance, displaced public debate and scholarly studies of the causes and conduct of the First. The trauma of the Vietnam War remains with us, however, and so do the breaches that the war created, which are evident in the daily press, in debates about school curricula, in congressional disputes, and in our perception of the American role in the world. The legacies of Vietnam may even be more far-reaching than those of the vast Second World War. The antiwar movements of the 1960s and 1970s, and those who opposed them, have solidified into distinct political groups. Today, more than three decades later, their differences in outlook have consumed the nation to such an extent that sometimes we seem to have lost our primary, shared commitment to being Americans. Lin said of her work, All I was saying in the piece is that the cost of the war is these individuals and we have to remember them first. As a student at Yale, she had often passed the universitys memorial in Woolsey Hall, with its list of alumni who had died in Americas wars. She remembered that I had never been able to resist touching the names cut into these marble walls, and no matter how busy or crowded the place is, a sense of quiet, a reverence, always surrounds those names. Throughout my freshman and sophomore years, the stonecutters were carving in by hand the names of those killed in the Vietnam War, and I think it left a lasting impression on me . . . the sense of the power of a name. Top Photo: SeanPavonePhoto/iStock Tenants are suffering across New York state, and inadequate regulation is a big part of the reason why. For decades, rent laws have been weakened by the influence of the real estate industry. Many of our constituents face skyrocketing rents, harassment from their landlords or forced displacement. Nearly half of our states 3.3 million renter households pay more than 30% of their income in rent, and 1 million renters live in counties with no protection from rent increases or eviction without good cause. Approximately 90,000 people are homeless in New York. In New York City, an average of 100 tenants are evicted from their homes each day. Before we served in the Assembly, we were attorneys representing tenants against predatory landlords across New York City. Weve practiced in Housing Court. As people who have worked to defend tenants, we know firsthand how the laws are designed to protect landlords. In case after case, our former clients faced harassment or rent hikes thanks to loopholes in the rent laws. Now, as Assembly members, the principal complaints that our respective offices receive are about landlord harassment and the cost of rent. Too often, we have to tell the folks who voted us into office that their particular rent hike is legal, thanks to preferential rents or major capital improvements; or that because they arent rent-stabilized their landlord can evict them without cause. While we are fighting to provide constituent services to all of the people in our respective districts, even the best constituent services cant protect tenants when the laws are designed to protect landlords. A March Quinnipiac University poll showed that 41% of New York City residents think that they cant afford to live here. The city is facing the potential of a mass exodus of low-income and working-class tenants and it could very soon become too late to stop it. However, this is a watershed year where we in the Assembly finally have the opportunity to reverse decades of policymaking driven by the influence of the real estate industry. New York states rent regulation laws will expire on June 15. Rent regulation has proved to be a cost-effective, scalable solution to the housing crisis that is devastating New York. We need to fix rent regulation so it can do what it is meant to do: stabilize tenants, and therefore communities, in the face of a massive housing crisis. The housing crisis is not confined to New York City. New Yorkers across the state are calling for a comprehensive rent justice platform that addresses the affordable housing crisis from Long Island to Buffalo. Our package of bills will protect renters in rent-stabilized housing, unregulated tenants and those who live in mobile home communities. It would strengthen the rights of tenants in urban centers, rural areas and the suburbs. Recently, the good cause eviction bill (S2892/A5030), which would give every tenant the right to a lease renewal, was removed from the bundle of rent bills before the state Legislature. We believe this bill, which seeks to protect tenants from unreasonable rent increases and lease terminations, was wrongfully removed and should be reinstated as a part of the bundle. By setting standards in law for when evictions are appropriate, renters will be protected from unfair practices that seek to evict them through no fault of their own. Tenants who pay their rent on time and lease responsibly should not be held to drastic rent increases or the refusal of a renewal. Its a new day in Albany, but it will not matter if our constituents cant afford to stay in our communities. Strengthening tenants rights is our top priority for the remainder of the 2019 legislative session it is clear that our constituents cant wait. We will fight in the Assembly to eliminate rent hikes caused by major capital improvements and the preferential rent loophole; to eliminate the vacancy bonus and individual apartment improvement increases, which incentivize harassment as well as evictions; and to expand rent protections to millions of tenants, who currently dont have any rights, by passing good cause eviction requirements and lifting geographic restrictions on rent stabilization. We must act now, before it is too late. This is not the year to sit on the sidelines. 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Targeting Cookies We also use cookies to personalize your experience on our websites, including by determining the most relevant content and advertisements to show you, and to monitor site traffic and performance, so that we may improve our websites and your experience. You may opt out of our use of such cookies (and the associated sale of your Personal Information) by using this toggle switch. You will still see some advertising, regardless of your selection. Because we do not track you across different devices, browsers and GEMG properties, your selection will take effect only on this browser, this device and this website. A.O. PRIMARIA MEA este in cautare de o companie IT sau de un intreprinzator individual pentru crearea si dezvoltarea unei pagini web a organizatiei On May 15, Kay Ivey, the governor of Alabama, signed a bill banning abortion nearly completely, with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. The news sent a jolt through the country, which had just watched similar, but less extreme, bills pass in Kentucky, Ohio, Mississippi, Missouri, and Georgia, where Clarissa Brooks, an Atlanta-based writer and organizer, had been fighting the legislature for months. Reading the reactions to the Alabama bill online, she was frustrated. News publications can make it seem like a doomsday, Brooks, who has covered and organized around sexual violence, police brutality, and other problems, says. Folks have known about these bills up to six months [before they passed] and organizations have been working around it for some time. When did the media pick it up? Most likely when all the final votes were in. That was my frustration. ICYMI: NYT retracted information that was confirmed by the Mueller report National news coverage caused confusion about what was and was not legal. The bills are not yet in effect, and abortion remains legal in every state. So far, Brooks says the panicked coverage has implied that there was little to be done to stop it, and that nobody local had bothered to take up the cause. This is especially true of headlines to stories about abortion bans. In The New York Times, the headline of a story published on May 15 read Near Total Abortion Ban Signed Into Law in Alabama. The story included a timestamped account of the bills movement, but never made clear that it wouldnt take effect until next year. Neither did a story published the same day, by CNN, which ran with the headline: Alabama governor signs most restrictive anti-abortion bill into law. Missing this detail, Brooks says, means that people living in the affected states who need care now may not know they can still get it; the southeast bureau of Planned Parenthood, which covers Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi, was so inundated with calls from people unsure whether the procedure was legal that they had to open an automated hotline to field calls. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other journalists working on the motherhood beat say that abortion gets outsized attention, sometimes at the expense of other, related concerns of womens and reproductive health, including reporting on trans and non-binary people who can become pregnant. In the past several years, a wave of major reporting projects has highlighted the damning maternal and infant mortality records of the same states that have been pushing abortion bansbut the attention these issues have received from the national media is miniscule compared to abortion. Abortion is too hot, its tooI hate to say itpoisonous Abortion is important and foundational but it has absorbed all the attention around reproductive rights and reproductive health, ProPublicas Nina Martin, who worked on an award-winning series about maternal mortality in 2017, says. It was sort of shocking, frankly, to me, that at exactly the same time as the Supreme Court was deciding the Texas abortion case, back in 2016, there was a lot of data being gathered showing that there had been this surge in maternal deaths in Texas and around the country. I was always struck that people writing about the topic were not writing about those two things as if they were related and didnt bear on each other. Martin says that national media could also make more of an effort to follow local advocacy organizationsthe names of several, such as the National Network of Abortion Funds (an umbrella group for numerous local funds), and the Yellowhammer Fund, circulated online last week. The tendency of reporters to look only at the most prominent organizations exacerbates the problem of failing to see what advocacy is taking place in local communities before bills are on the table. On social media, after Alabamas bill passed, readers shared statistics about the states poor maternal health ratings: in 2018, the mortality rate for mothers was 11.9 per 100,000 people5.6 for white women and, even more disturbing, 27.6 for black womenhigher than the national average. Alabama hosts the highest infant mortality rate in the country. Pregnant people living in rural areas lack access to obstetric care; just 29 of Alabamas 67 counties have delivery rooms. There is obviously an appetite for reporting about these problems. At the local level, theres another reason why ongoing coverage of womens health is often disconnected from stories about abortion. Our attitude toward womens reproductive health and rights is that it absolutely goes hand in hand with our treatment of womens health and maternal health, Anna Claire Vollers, who covers maternal health for Alabama Media Group, says. When you lump abortion in with literally anything else, youre automatically closing the ears of a large chunk of our population, Vollers, who has lived in Alabama her entire life, says. Many of her readers share concerns about the grievous state of maternal health in the state, but wont engage with stories that seek to improve it if abortion is mentioned. Vollers will dedicate the next year to reporting on weak workplace protections post-pregnancy, the consequences of Alabamas failure to expand Medicaid for maternal health, and rural hospital deserts. While she wont avoid abortion outright, her stories about related healthcare issues will not necessarily be connected to the ban. You kind of have to wall it off. Abortion is too hot, its tooI hate to say itpoisonous, Vollers says. You have automatically shot yourself in the foot if you are looking for change in any of these other areas, despite them being related. ICYMI: Virtually the entire press corps failed to meet this new test Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Alexandria Neason was CJRs staff writer and Senior Delacorte Fellow. Recently, she became an editor and producer at WNYCs Radiolab. Indias mammoth national elections are nearly over. Over the past six weeks, hundreds of millions of people have participated in rounds of voting, the last of which was on Sunday. Exit polls show the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party with a surprisingly clear lead, meaning Narendra Modi, a divisive Hindu nationalist, is expected to stay on as prime minister. Definitive results are scheduled to follow tomorrow. Myriad issues have been at stake in these electionsamong the most prominent are the state of the economy, geopolitical tensions, and rising sectarianism. Media and tech watchersas well as many Western news outletshowever, have focused on a different, worrying trend: the rampant proliferation of disinformation and hate speech online. Traditional media, still dominant in the country, bears its share of responsibility, but the problem has been badly exacerbated by Facebook and WhatsApp, which Facebook owns: according to The Atlantic, the services have more than 500 million users between them in India; the country is WhatsApps biggest market. Facebook has had a hard time policing those services everywhere; in India, the difficulty is multiplied by a preponderance of languages and aggressive campaigns led by political parties and their supporters. Twitter, YouTube, and Wikipedia have also acted as vectors of junk information. ICYMI: Secretly recorded video underscores months-long threat to Austrian media Last year, WhatsApp came under intense pressure after conspiracy theories spread on the platform were linked to a series of lynchings across India. Earlier this year, rising tensions between India and neighboring Pakistan provoked a cross-platform information war, including in the news media; images purporting to show Indian airstrikes on alleged terrorist targets in Pakistan were found to be old, doctored, or, in at least one case, lifted from a video game. Ahead of the elections, however, viral misinformation and propaganda appears to have reached a new order of magnitude. The Computational Propaganda Project at the University of Oxford found that between mid-February and the eve of the first round of voting, in mid-April, the proportion of polarizing political news and information in circulation over social media in India [was] worse than all of the other country case studies we have analyzed, except the US presidential election in 2016. Again, mainstream political actors have been key drivers of this trend: the researchers found that more than a quarter of content shared by Modis BJP was junk, as was one-fifth of information shared by the opposition Indian National Congress. The BJP has run a particularly sophisticated social-sharing campaign: one party official expected the signal to be boosted by over 1 million volunteers nationwide. NaMoModis own app, which came preinstalled on phones distributed in some stateshas also shared false information. The platforms have attempted to respond to the deluge. Facebookwhich already partners with fact-checking sites in Indiatook down hundreds of pages and accounts it accused of pushing coordinated inauthentic behavior, including some linked to political parties. WhatsApp, for its part, says it bans 400,000 accounts in India each month; the company also spent $10 million on a public education campaign about the dangers of misinformation, according to the Financial Times. (The paper called this years vote Indias WhatsApp election, a phrase first applied to Brazil, last year.) Following last years violence, WhatsApp capped the size of groups and limited its forwarding function. In preparation for the elections, it added a tip line allowing users to report, and verify, potential junk news. Sign up for CJR 's daily email These efforts, unsurprisingly, have not held back the tide. Earlier this month, Pratik Sinha, cofounder of Alt News, an independent fact-checking site, told Quartz that fake news circulation has actually spiked during the election; Sinha estimates an increase of about 40 percent. Worldwide, companies like Facebook do not do nearly enough to combat the mass weaponization of lies and hate within their products. Such misuse, however, is legitimately hard to stop, even in the best of circumstances. A six-week election in a bitterly divided country of more than 1 billion people is not the best of circumstances. Below, more on Indias elections and disinformation: Some news from CJR: Last month, CJR and The Nation announced a new project, working with partners including The Guardian, to improve media coverage of climate change. This morning, we published more details of what the project will entail, outlining how journalists, scientists, advocates, public officials, and private citizens can get involved. You can find out more here. Other notable stories: ICYMI: The story of Ernest Hemingways $187,000 magazine expenses claim Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. At the end of April, CJR and The Nation announced plans for a new initiative to dramatically improve the medias coverage of the most urgent story of our time. Since then, interest in our Covering Climate Now project has been enormous. To answer questions about it, and to outline how news outlets across the country can get involved, heres a primer on the project and on where it goes next. Who are we? We are journalists, talking and working with fellow journalists, to transform our professions coverage of climate change. Whether you work in television or audio, print or online, for a local, regional, national, or international outlet, climate change touches every beat in every newsroom. And at this late hour, we need journalism everywhere to treat this story with the urgency that science demands. CJR and The Nation are leading this effort, along with partners such as The Guardian and others yet to be announced. On behalf of the Schumann Media Center, Bill Moyers pledged $1 million to support the initiative for its first year. Related: Bill Moyers: What if reporters covered the climate crisis like Edward R. Murrow covered the start of World War II? Sign up for CJR 's daily email What are we doing? We see ourselves as convening and informing a conversation that journalists need to have, with each other and the public we serve, about how to do justice to the climate story at this decisive historic moment. To succeed, we need the participation and energy of as many journalists and news outlets as possible. We also need to hear from a wide range of stakeholdersscientists, advocates, government and business officials, and private citizensabout how we can do a better job of making clear what is happening, why, and what can be done about it. We aim to bring journalists together face to faceas we did at a conference at the Columbia Journalism School in April that launched this effort, and in additional gatherings planned across the United States and abroadand online, via a new vertical housed on the websites of CJR and The Nation. In these and other venues, we hope that journalists and others will talk about, report on, analyze, and debate how news outlets should cover the rapidly uncoiling climate crisis and its solutions. We want to highlight the good coverage thats being done (theres lots of it) and find ways to encourage more of it. We want to figure out how to persuade newsroom managers that covering the climate crisis is our journalistic responsibility and also need not lose money. (The data may surprise you.) Given the current economics of journalism, we know the answer cant require tons more newsroom resources. It can, though, involve smarter use of the resources we have, as well as integrating the climate story into everything we do. We want to share ways of telling the climate story that draw in viewers and readers and empower them to take action. Were as much about solutions to the problem as we are about detailing the problem itself. Above all, we want to break the climate silence that still pervades too much of the news media. A focused week of coverage Well work to organize as much of the news media as possiblelarge and small, national and localto commit to one week of focused coverage of climate change this September. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, is convening a summit in New York on September 23, where nations are urged to show how they will limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We propose a week of concentrated climate coverage in the lead-up to the UN summit, beginning September 16. We believe that every news organization in America, and many around the world, can play a part. Sometimes that will mean committing your newsroom to important and high-impact stories. Other times it will mean sharing your content, engaging your community, or adding a few lines of climate information to stories that wouldnt otherwise have them. The answer lies in your creativity and participation. We can only do these things if a critical mass of journalists and news outlets come together to talk about how to make them happen, and if our work is informed by engagement with everyone who cares about this problem. Thats where you come in. How this conversation unfolds and ultimately affects overall media coverage of the climate crisis depends on who gets involved and how well we all rise to the challenge. Ongoing newsroom support We see the week of focused coverage not as an end in itself, but as the beginning of the work to transform how newsrooms conceive of their climate coverage. To help them in that effort, we will provide substantial resource guides for journalists, tutorials, source lists, and web briefings; well gather the best of climate coverage in an online blog, and provide commentary on how other reporters can replicate it; and we will increase our own reporting on how news outlets are covering the climate crisis, highlighting what is working and calling out what isnt. In the most dramatic cases, well deploy Rapid Response Teams to newsrooms tasked with covering extreme weather or disaster in their own backyards. In those cases, well assist newsrooms, either in person or remotely, with additional reporting help as well as whatever scientific or other resources are needed for them to fully tell their story. How can you get involved? Send us an email. Tell us who you are and why you want to be part of this. Well post a running list of the people and organizations that have signed on, along with contact information. If you are a journalist, heres what were looking for: Can you and your news outlet sign as a partners of Covering Climate Now, and build the network by encouraging others to do the same? Can you commit to the week of focused climate coverage in September? Can you share your climate content with other outlets that may lack your resources? Can you help us organize a conference on covering climate change in your region, and encourage your media counterparts to join us? If you are a scientist, will you be a resource journalists can call when reporting a climate story? Will you share your expertise with Covering Climate Now as we prepare our briefing materials for journalists on the climate beat? Will you appear at any of the conferences we will be organizing in media markets around the country and abroad? Will you urge other scientists to join these efforts? If you are an advocate or a government or business official, will you be a resource for journalists reporting a climate story? Will you share your observations for our handbook? Will you appear at any of the conferences we will be organizing, and spread the word about our efforts? If youre a private citizen, will you work with your local news outlet to think through how to improve their climate coverage, and organize other people in your community to do the same? What makes us different? We see ourselves as a gathering place for journalists and others who care about the medias coverage of the climate crisis. There are numerous groups and individuals whove been working for years now to improve media coverage of climate change, and we look forward to collaborating with them. We dont want to reinvent the wheel. There is no substitute, however, for journalists themselves talking and working together to chart a better course. Want more information? Please contact: Mark Hertsgaard, the environment correspondent for The Nation and the author of Earth Odyssey , has covered climate change in the US and around the world since 1989. Hes reachable at [email protected] or 415-923-8983. Kyle Pope, editor and publisher of Columbia Journalism Review . Hes reachable at [email protected] or 212-854-7004. RELATED: The media are complacent while the world burns Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mark Hertsgaard and Kyle Pope are the authors. Hertsgaard is Covering Climate Nows executive director and co-founder, and the environment correspondent of The Nation. Pope is the editor and publisher of Columbia Journalism Review, and a co-founder of Covering Climate Now. Every 36 hours on average, American local news outlets deliver a new report on violence at a McDonalds. A group of employees in Chicago say workers bear the brunt of such incidents enough to constitute a pattern of regular on-the-job violence they want the company to address across the U.S. In a complaint filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday, the workers at one location described being threatened with guns, attacked with hot coffee and having to dodge food thrown by a disturbed customer. Despite the frequent incidence of workplace violence, our employer has done nothing to implement safety measures to protect us, the workers allege in the complaint, which names McDonalds Corp. and franchisee Oscar Perretta. The employees and other Chicago-area workers, who are working with the union-backed Fight for $15 campaign, are also sending a letter asking OSHA to open a systemic investigation into the corporations handling of workplace violence in its thousands of U.S. locations. Their letter cites data from the National Employment Law Project, which counted 721 local media reports of violence at U.S. McDonalds stores over the past three years, most of them involving guns. Training Push When asked about the letter, McDonalds said its rolling out national training programs in its company-owned restaurants this year focused on workplace safety. We believe every person working in McDonalds restaurants deserves to do so in a safe and respectful environment and, along with our franchisees, have invested in programs that promote safe environments for customers and crew members, the company said in a statement. This includes clear policies that strictly prohibit violence, threats of violence and other conduct that jeopardizes or harms the safety of employees and others in the workplace. Perretta didnt respond to messages left at his company, Nornat. Police Records Police data, 911 call records and worker testimonials suggest the actual incidence of violence is much higher than local news reflects, said Deborah Berkowitz, a former chief of staff at OSHA who now runs the the Worker Health and Safety Program at NELP. The report gives as an example St. Louis, where the media reported three violent incidents at McDonalds stores in the past three years, but police records counted 67. Workplace violence is clearly a very common and real hazard at McDonalds throughout the nation, Berkowitz said in an interview. Its stunning that a company of this size, with their resources, has not stepped forward to protect workers. In their Monday complaint to OSHA, the Chicago workers say dozens of 911 calls have been made from their restaurant since November, including three incidents of employees or customers threatened at gunpoint. The workers say the stores management discouraged them from calling attention to the issue, saying it could get the location shut down. Throwing Coffee Another time, they say, a customer made it over the counter and into their kitchen and started throwing things, including hot water and coffee containers, at employees. Afterward, a manager told employees that if it happened again, they should respond by throwing hot oil or coffee at the intruder, according to the complaint. The company doesnt really care, said Martina Ortega, one of the workers who filed the complaint. Speaking through a translator, Ortega said she felt safer in prior factory jobs than she does now at McDonalds. While she used to leave her car keys in her purse when she got to McDonalds, now she keeps them in her apron or on a lanyard around her neck in case she has to flee the building. I get scared basically every time I hear customers yelling, she said. I think about starting to run because I dont want to get punched or shot. Customer Grievances According to the NELP report, many of the violent incidents are instigated by customers angry about small grievances, like long wait times or a missing straw. Some involve workers who are directed by managers to confront people who are loitering or misbehaving. Roughly 40% of the incidents take place between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m., a phenomenon the report pins on the chains 2003 decision to extend store hours. The report urges McDonalds to adopt OSHAs guidelines for curbing violence in late-night retail, such as limiting the amount of cash in registers, increasing staffing and improving visibility. It also calls for McDonalds to enhance security with panic buttons, more secure drive-thru windows and counters, better record keeping and staff training, plus mental-health services and paid time off for workers who experience trauma. This isnt rocket science, Berkowitz said. They could just cut and paste from what the government has put out over the past 20 years. McDonalds franchisees must follow detailed corporate guidelines in areas ranging from bookkeeping to advertising, she said, and additional anti-violence safeguards would be just as easy to require throughout the chain. Many owners of retail establishments dont think about these issues, said David Michaels, a professor at George Washington Universitys public health school and a former head of OSHA. You can train workers to make sure theyre safe in a way thats not detrimental to the experience of customers. Fry Grease John DAmanda, a worker at a McDonalds in Oakland, California, and an activist with the union-backed Fight for $15 initiative, said people have tackled him, beaten him and tried to burn him with fry grease inside his restaurant. I try not to be afraid I mean, I have to go to work, he said. I always have the feeling that somebody is on the edge of attacking me, and theres not anything I can do about it. Workplace safety is the newest front in a yearslong struggle between McDonalds and the Fight for $15, a campaign that seeks to organize fast-food workers and raise labor standards in low-wage industries. On Tuesday, the Fight for $15 and the American Civil Liberties Union announced the filing of 25 new U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints and lawsuits over alleged sexual harassment and retaliation at McDonalds stores. Similar allegations have also spurred an investigation in Brazil, where the labor prosecution service says its investigating 25 allegations of sexual and racial harassment at McDonalds stores there. In an emailed statement, McDonalds Brazilian franchisee Arcos Dorados said it doesnt tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment of any nature. Workers plan to hold one-day walkouts in 13 U.S. cities on Thursday, while McDonalds holds its annual shareholder meeting in Dallas. Democratic presidential candidates Cory Booker, Julian Castro and Jay Inslee are slated to join their picket lines; Bernie Sanders will host a video town hall with McDonalds workers. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. (Note: This updated version includes some comments made by City Council members at their May 13 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting, available in audio on the citys website) CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Any further opposition from City Council to the states heartbeat abortion ban will remain on hold for at least another meeting, drawing ire Monday night (May 20) from both sides of the issue. Resident Mallory McMaster, who works in the abortion rights field, accused council of completely punting it again tonight, saying she never expected so much pushback on the proposed resolution in support of the right to bodily autonomy. McMaster, who has been fighting the state on the issue since 2011, said she moved to Cleveland Heights because she wanted to be safe from abortion stigma and wanted to stop others from feeling silence and shame. She added that she found council's "petty political power struggles infuriating." Politics aside, some of the internal struggle stems from Councilman Kahlil Serens addition of a clause instructing the City Law Department to act in support of legal opposition to the heartbeat abortion ban. That could include an amicus curiae or friends of the court brief. City Law Director Jim Juliano said earlier that the city would have to hire outside legal counsel to prepare such a brief, which has been a sticking point for some members of council who would otherwise support the resolution. "Right now, (the amicus section) is still in there, but I will have to see what my colleagues do with any (further) amendments," Seren said after Monday's meeting. During the meeting, where second reading was given but no final vote taken, Seren did remove the emergency clause from the original legislation he introduced on May 6, in what he called simply a procedural amendment. Such a move would also allow the resolution to be passed with fewer than the five votes required for emergency legislation. The Law Department also prepared a memorandum with Serens original bill, along with two variations, at least one of which strikes the the amicus provision. Councilwoman Mary Dunbar does not feel that local government should be taking a stance on state and national issues. Dunbar added Monday that she was "going to find a way not to vote" on the legislation, citing the fact that "there is not really unanimity" in the community to pursue the matter. That lack of consensus was demonstrated by several residents, including Ann Armen, who said she experienced just as much pushback for being pro-life. Armen attempted to poll the rest of council on their respective positions Monday, although two members, Mike Ungar and Vice Mayor Melissa Yasinow, were not present. We have sent a letter to the governor that expresses the opinion of five council members, Mayor Carol Roe said of the April 24 message to Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine expressing concern and disappointment, calling the bill an intrusion into a persons right to liberty, bodily autonomy, and privacy. Along with Dunbar, Councilman Jason Stein did not sign the letter. He explained about two hours into the May 13 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting that he feels council needs to stay focused on local issues. Stein said he has been voting no lately on general resolutions of support, not because he necessarily disagrees with them, but because we have more than enough on our plates right now. I want to get back to our work. He pointed out that councils discussion of more than 100 recommendations by the Charter Review Commission had to be cut short May 13 to return to the debate over the citys response to the states abortion ban. Stein did second Serens motion to remove the emergency clause on Monday, with Dunbar also voting in favor, saying, Im picking my battles. Councilman Craig Cobb said that while he signed the April 24 letter denouncing the states action, he is uncomfortable with incurring legal expenses through the filing of an amicus brief. The state law is not going into effect until July, and I expect it will wind up in the Court of Appeals and before the U.S. Supreme Court," with or without a brief from Cleveland Heights, Cobb said. Court action has since been filed, spearheaded by the American Civil Liberties Union and joined by Preterm-Cleveland and other individuals and organizations. And while he sympathizes strongly with those opposed to the states action, Ungar said May 13 that he does not think the citys potential intervention in court would have an impact. At that point, Ungar said he favored whatever moves us along in an expedited manner. Seren said on May 13 that he still feels that Cleveland Heights has an important story to tell, and he thinks the city will get legal assistance from the outside parties suing the state. Regarding concerns voiced from both sides that some feel their safety is jeopardized for taking their respective stand on this divisive issue, Dunbar added that if anyone feels threatened, then let our police know about it, Resident Akshai Singh said it was important to know that City Council was moving forward in some regard on the issue. If you want to vote no, I would urge you to do so, Singh said. But you need to get the rest of council to attend, and you need to have a vote. Read more news from the Sun Press. UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Assault, Fairmount Boulevard At 5:15 p.m. May 17, police and fire rescue were called to Bellefaire JCB, where it was reported that a staff member was having a seizure. The staff member was taken to University Hospitals main campus. A few hours later, the hospital informed police that the male victim had been assaulted by a Bellefaire client just prior to the seizure. Police began an investigation. Auto towed, Traymore Road At 5:40 a.m. May 13, an officer on patrol saw a parked car that was included on the UHPD tow list, as its owner had failed to pay $120 worth of parking tickets. The car was towed. Theft, Warrensville Center Road At 4:45 p.m. May 13, police were called to Macys, 2201 Warrensville Center Road, where store security had a shoplifter in custody. The suspect, a Cleveland man, 39, had stolen $135 worth of clothing and was in possession of a criminal tool that was used to remove security sensors from merchandise. Felonious assault, Fairmount Boulevard At 10:30 a.m. May 14, a staff member from Bellefaire JCB, 22001 Fairmount Blvd., went to the police station to report that, on May 8 at the facility, a 16-year-old youth from Redondo Beach, Calif., had assaulted a 14-year-old youth from Madison, Ohio. Case facts are to be turned over to the office of the Cuyahoga County juvenile prosecutor. Theft, Cedar Road At 7:45 p.m. May 14, officers were dispatched to Target, 14070 Cedar Road, on a report that store security had detained a shoplifter who had stolen $320 worth of electronics merchandise. Police arrested the suspect, a Brook Park man, 25, and charged him with theft. Criminal damage, South Belvoir Boulevard At 11:45 a.m. May 15, a resident reported that one tire from his vehicle, and one tire from each of his roommates three vehicles, had been slashed and deflated during the previous night. Police are investigating. Carrying a concealed weapon, Bradford Road At 8:20 a.m. May 17, police stopped a driver for speeding. It was subsequently learned that the driver, a Brook Park woman, 26, could not produce a license and that she possessed a weapon for which she did not have a permit. Returned property, Warrensville Center Road At 11 p.m. May 18, a woman went to the police station, 2224 Warrensville Center Road, and turned over items she had found in the parking lot of McDonalds. The items included three credit cards, miscellaneous property and a folded piece of paper containing a white powder believed to be heroin. Driving under suspension, Warrensville Center Road At 2:15 a.m. May 19, an officer stopped a car for speeding. It was also found that the driver, 38, of University Heights, had a suspended license. The driver was cited and the car impounded. See more Sun Press news here. BROADVIEW HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Drunken driving, Royalton Road On May 5, police observed a white Volkswagen SUV make an illegal turn from Royalton Road westbound into the McDonalds parking lot. While talking to the driver, who apologized for making the illegal turn, the officer smelled booze. The man denied drinking. After failing a field sobriety test, during which he swayed side to side, the man was arrested for drunken driving. During the entire incident, the officer said the driver was uncooperative and argumentative. The man was also cited for driving left of center, not obeying traffic control devices and not wearing his seatbelt. Not stopping for school bus, Covington Court On April 24, a Brecksville-Broadview Heights City School District bus driver contacted police after the driver of a BMW that morning drove around the bus, which had its stop sign displayed and red lights flashing. The driver did get a license plate, which came back to a Broadview Heights address. The officer talked to the suspect, who told a different story, but did admit to driving his car around the same time the incident took place. The man was cited for not stopping for a school bus. Warrant, Interstate 77 On April 25, police observed a white Chevrolet Monte Carlo with heavily tinted windows and no rear license plate illumination traveling north on I-77. The driver did admit the windows were dark, but he didnt know about the light malfunction. It turned out that a passenger had a warrant from the Macedonia Police Department. She was arrested and held for transport. While searching her wallet, police found what was believed to be heroin. Police are investigating the substance. The driver was cited for illegally tinted windows and no rear license plate light. Read more news from the Sun Star Courier. BAY VILLAGE, Ohio -- Drugs, Lake Road On May 17, an officer stopped a car for having fictitious license plates. When officers spoke with the driver, a 28-year-old Sheffield Lake resident, they could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. After investigating, officers found drug paraphernalia in the car and discovered that the driver was also under numerous open suspensions. Drugs, Bradley Road On May 18, officers stopped a car near Carlton Road. While speaking with the driver, the officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside the car. In addition, officers found that the driver, a 27-year-old Cleveland woman, and her passenger, a 31-year-old Cleveland man, both had outstanding warrants. Officers conducted a probable cause search of the car and found drugs and a loaded handgun underneath the drivers seat. The driver was arrested. Read more news from the West Shore Sun. BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- Theft, Chagrin Boulevard At 2:10 p.m. May 19, police arrested an employee of Marcos Pizza, 24335 Chagrin Blvd., for stealing an envelope left unattended that contained $480 of store money. Arrested was a Cleveland woman, 45. Marijuana possession, Chagrin Boulevard At 1:40 a.m. May 15, an officer stopped a car that was not maintaining its marked lanes. During the traffic stop, it was discovered that the driver, a Shaker Heights woman, 20, was in possession of marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia. The woman was cited for the traffic violation and the possession offenses. Theft, Chagrin Boulevard At 11:50 a.m. May 15, police arrested a Cleveland woman, 39, for stealing goods worth $34 from Giant Eagle, 24601 Chagrin Blvd. Theft, Cedar Road At 12:05 p.m. May 15, two female suspects stole merchandise worth more than $1,500 from Sephora at Beachwood Place mall, 26300 Cedar Road. The suspects were not apprehended. Theft, Chagrin Boulevard At 12:40 p.m. May 15, police arrested a Cleveland woman, 72, for stealing food worth $83 from Giant Eagle. Theft, Cedar Road At 7:50 p.m. May 15, an Oakwood woman, 24, was arrested for stealing merchandise worth $45 from Sephora. Theft, Cedar Road At 12:20 p.m. May 17, a Cleveland Heights man, 32, was arrested for shoplifting merchandise worth $264 from Dillards at Beachwood Place. Weapons under disability, Chagrin Boulevard At 11:50 p.m. May 19, an officer stopped a driver for ignoring a traffic control device. It was subsequently found that the driver, a Cleveland man, 38, was driving with a suspended license and that he had a gun in his car. The man was cited for the traffic offense and arrested for having a weapon under disability and driving with a suspended license. Domestic violence, Cedar Road At 7:20 p.m. May 19, a man, 38, and his girlfriend, 31, argued after she changed the lock on their apartment and threw items about the unit at the Hamptons Building 3, 27060 Cedar Road. After investigating, police arrested the man on a domestic violence charge. See more Sun Press news here. LYNDHURST, Ohio -- Warrant arrest, Mayfield Road At 5:05 p.m. May 15, a Cleveland man, 24, went to the police station to pick up keys he had lost. Someone had turned over the keys to police on May 8 after finding them in Lyndhurst Park. While the man was at the police station, it was discovered that he was wanted on Cleveland Metroparks police, Beachwood and Solon police warrants. The man got back his keys, but was arrested and turned over to Solon police. Drug abuse, Irene Road At 5:50 p.m. May 18, an officer stopped a car for driving on the left side of the road. The officer smelled the odor of marijuana inside the car. The driver, a Bedford man, 29, was cited for driving on the left side of the road and for marijuana possession. Warrant arrest, Churchill Road At 11 a.m. May 18, an officer stopped a driver who had committed a stop sign violation. The driver, a Lyndhurst man, 19, was cited for driving with a suspended license and for the traffic violation. The cars passenger, a Mayfield Heights man, 20, was found to be wanted on a police warrant issued in his home city. He was arrested on the warrant. Overdose, Three Village Drive At 4:15 p.m. May 16, it was reported that a healthcare aide tending to a resident at the Three Village Condominiums, 5150 Three Village Drive, had overdosed on drugs. The aide, a Broadview Heights woman, 52, was taken to Hillcrest Hospital. Theft, Cedar Road At 3:55 p.m. May 16, it was reported that two male suspects had stolen a pair of paintball guns, worth a combined value of $320, from Dicks Sporting Goods, 24545 Cedar Road in Legacy Village. The suspects were not apprehended. Disorderly conduct, Cedar Road At 3:35 p.m. May 16, Legacy Village security told police about an argument that had taken place between a man and woman at Capital Grille, 25389 Cedar Road. Police also received a 911 call about the incident from the restaurants manager, who said the couple were now in a car in front of the restaurant and were physically fighting. A rescue squad was called for the man, as the woman had used a Taser on him. Both were cited for disorderly conduct. OVI, Richmond Road At 3:45 a.m. May 15, an officer came across a car that was stopped in a southbound lane of Richmond Road while facing northbound. The officer investigated and determined that the driver, a Gates Mills woman, 21, was intoxicated. The woman was found to have a blood-alcohol count of .205, above the state minimum for drunk driving of .08. The woman was charged with OVI. Domestic violence, Blanchester Road At 9:55 p.m. May 13, a Cleveland man, 68, reported that he had been assaulted by his son, 46, of Lyndhurst. The man alleged that his son threw a plate of food at him, kicked him and stomped on him. Police are still investigating the matter, as the father and son told very different stories about the incident. See more Sun Messenger news here. SOLON, Ohio -- City Council on Monday (May 20) tabled a resolution to seek additional funding for the proposed Solon-to-Chagrin Falls Trail through the Ohio Natureworks grant program. The city has already received $800,000 in other grants from the state, although the actual cost -- anywhere from $1 million to $3 million or more -- has not been projected after a $37,000 engineering and feasibility study was put on hold by council. Prior to Monday's meeting, Councilman Jeremy Zelwin -- whose Third Ward contains many abutting property owners to the city right-of-way-- asked that the new unspecified grant application be tabled. Theres still information that needs to be had, Zelwin said, pointing out that were still not sure what this trail could cost the city. There was no explanation offered in the City Council press packet, other than the actual emergency legislation itself. The proposed resolution would have authorized the grant application to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, seeking financial assistance for public recreation purposes through the Natureworks program. Resident Jon Solonche reminded Zelwin of the neighbors opposition to much of the proposal, telling him to jump off the political fence on the issue. Matthew Seifert, a cross country runner at Solon High School, questioned the need for an additional trail going past his house. Seifert also cited Mayor Ed Kraus' opposition to another proposal that he said at the time "had the potential of altering substantially the character of the neighborhood." That issue comprised a public hearing lasting over an hour Monday on an appeal of the Planning Commission denial in April on a Liberty Road lot that abuts O'Neill Drive, involving a variance for a longer driveway setback. Attorney Ken Fisher, who successfully sued the city for the rezoning of his property at the corner of SOM Center and Miles roads, represents the owners, Christopher and Theresa Vacek, as well as the couple under contract to buy Lot 10, Greg and Anna Greenspan, who were misidentified in the original story. Responding to a question from Greg Greenspan about potential water run-off cited as an objection by neighbors, City Engineer John Busch said that it would be "typical of that in any other subdivision" in town. "And relative to our review, the setback would not be relevant" to any potential for additional water run-off in the neighborhood," Busch added. Additional testimony is expected at council's June 3 meeting, when a vote on the appeal could be taken. Polling place consolidation Council also heard from resident Stan Gordon about the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections plan to consolidate three wards into one polling place -- the Solon Community Center -- for the next election. Its a move the county election board claims the city has already signed off on. I think that clogging all those people together is an infringement on their right to vote, Gordon said, citing the lack of available handicapped parking spaces, as well as city fire code restrictions. Kraus said the citys safety forces and the recreation department staff will be involved in further talks with the election board, where the decision will be thoroughly vetted out. Beautifying the Bull House In other business, council authorized a $47,000 capital fund transfer to cover previously un-budgeted improvements to the Bull House, which may be the oldest home in Solon, dating back to the 1830s. The former home to the citys founding family sits on Bainbridge Road, between City Hall across the street and the Solon Historical Society on the corner of SOM Center Road. It also sits next to the Lynch House, which isnt as old, and city officials say would cost more to repair, leading to the most recent recommendation from councils Safety and Public Properties Commission -- there have been several in recent years -- to tear it down. This would correlate with the citys Master Plan, calling for razing the Lynch House to create more public green space and preserving the Bull House with a new $8,000 roof, a $15,000 paint job, and $20,000 for windows, not including labor. Read more news from the Chagrin Solon Sun. CLEVELAND, Ohio A Macedonia man who defrauded senior citizen investors out of more than $570,000, in part to feed his gambling and prescription pill addictions, was sentenced Wednesday to 6 1/2 years in federal prison. William Callam, 61, made false statements to three investors from Lake County and used their money not for his business, Blackstone Real Estate Group, but for himself and his family. The scheme was the latest for a man who has racked up multiple criminal convictions in recent years for defrauding investors. Callam pleaded guilty in January to a wire fraud charge, as well as four counts of mail fraud, and agreed to serve a sentence of between 63 and 78 months in federal prison. U.S. District Judge James Gwin decided to sentence him on the high end of that range. He also ordered Callam to pay more than $574,000 in restitution to the victims. In addition, the judge had the U.S. Marshals Service take Callam into custody following the sentencing. Callam, through Blackstone, defrauded a married couple from Mentor and a person in Eastlake starting in 2013, doing so by telling investors that Blackstone was in the business of financing loans to buy and rehabilitate commercial property. Callam told investors that loans were secured by mortgages on the property. Callam told them that investments in Blackstone were very liquid, that others had invested and guaranteed a steady 6 percent rate of return. All of those claims, as well as statements that investing in Blackstone was a safe venture, were false, charging documents say. Investors liquidated their annuities, insurance policies and other retirement assets to invest in Callams company. The charging documents state that Callam created false investment statements and mortgage notes and provided them to the couple in Mentor. That couple lost $381,571.47, while the Eastlake investor lost $192,575. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Miller wrote in a sentencing memo that Callam abused the investors trust and stole money they saved for retirement. This was not a situation in which the victims were defrauded at random by an unknown perpetrator, Miller wrote. To the contrary, Callam intentionally targeted the victims because they were elderly and trusted him. She also wrote that he has a significant and concerning history of crimes similar to those in the current case. Callam was convicted of theft in 2007 for defrauding two victims out of more than $68,000 by falsely stating he was part of an organization to aid senior citizens and promising to invest their money in annuities. He was also convicted that year for defrauding four others of $49,000 by using money given to him for annuity payments and using it for himself. Callam was also convicted in 2015 for defrauding a victim of $55,000 by falsely holding himself out as an insurance agent who was certified to sell annuities with a guaranteed 3 percent rate of return, Miller wrote. Matthew Williams, an attorney for Callam, wrote in a sentencing memo that some of the money Callam took was used to feed gambling and prescription painkiller addictions. It said Callam no longer abuses medications. Dean Valore, another lawyer for Callam, said in a brief interview that he was surprised by Gwins decision to have his client taken into custody following the sentencing. While federal judges have discretion to do so and consider a number of factors when deciding whether a defendant should remain free or be in custody, defendants in white collar cases are frequently allowed to self-report to prison. Valore said Callam was successful in following the conditions of his bond after he pleaded guilty. Court records show Gwin held a bond violation hearing for Callam in April. Why Callam was accused of violating his bond was not immediately clear. However, the judge allowed the defendant to remain free that day and told the pretrial services officer to let him knew if Callam does not report for a drug test or if Callam tests positive for drugs, records say. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Wednesdays crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- What if I told you the best moment in the live-action remake of Aladdin isnt the magic carpet ride to A Whole New World, the Genies introduction in Friend Like Me, or even the big show-stopping musical number Prince Ali, which, incidentally, elicited spontaneous applause at the screening I attended. Do you trust me? The fact that its actually Speechless, a new, original song written for Princess Jasmine, speaks to not only how Disney improved upon the animated classic, but also how the movie addresses the problematic aspects of the original to make it more modern and relatable. With lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (La La Land, Dear Evan Hansen) and music by original composer Alan Menken, Speechless comes at the crucial moment when Jafar seizes control of the kingdom. The radio-ready female empowerment pop anthem is performed with conviction and emotion by the mesmerizing Naomi Scott in a star-making turn. The result, beautifully staged by director Guy Ritchie, is more moving and re-watchable than anything in A Star Is Born or The Greatest Showman, two recent great movie musicals. In many ways, this new Aladdin is Jasmines film. Whereas in the original in which she dreams of leaving Agrabah to make her mark in the world and, in the end, asks her father to change the law so she can marry Aladdin, she is much stronger and decidedly more feminist here, taking charge of her own life, standing up for what she believes and, spoiler alert, becoming Sultan. Jasmines arc is at the top of the list why live-action Aladdin is better than animated Aladdin, but it isnt the only reason. Coming in a close second is Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Snatch,) who brings his signature style of constantly moving cameras, frenetic editing and hyper-realistic action and combines it with the look and feel of old fashioned Hollywood and Bollywood musicals to create a spectacle that not only breathes life into the source material but the genre itself. The film also fares better in its portrayal of the Middle East. Jafar, as played by Marwan Kenzari, is no longer a racist caricature. The offensive lyrics of Arabian Nights have been changed. Aladdin (Mena Massoud) and Jasmine (Scott) are played by actors whose ethnicities match their characters. That brings us to the elephant in the room: Will Smiths Genie. To say Smith doesnt come close to matching Robin Williams legendary performance isnt fair. Nobody could ever recreate the high-energy improv and random stream of consciousness the late actor brought to the role. Smith does just fine, reminding us of the guy who got his start in comedies before becoming a serious actor. His singing voice is somewhat suspect, but he has the charisma to pull off Genies rapid-fire jokes and meta references. And if the trailers have you worried about how the larger than life, shape-shifting blue guy looks like IRL on the big screen, dont be. The CGI is no worse than the Hulk in all those Avengers movies and we all bought that. Another thing you dont have to worry about: the film ignores the Broadway version, so there are no superfluous characters or time-filling songs youve never heard before to bother with. Add it all up and, sorry Beauty and the Beast, you get the best Disney remake yet. Aladdin arrives in theaters Friday with sneak previews Thursday. MENTOR, Ohio A Cleveland woman is in custody Tuesday after police say she tried to escape following the armed robbery of a Key Bank branch. Shannita Martin, 28, is charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. According to police, a woman armed with a handgun entered the Key Bank at the corner of Munson Road and Center Street just before 1 p.m. After leaving the bank, a Mentor patrol car spotted the womans vehicle getting onto Ohio 2 westbound, police say. Officers chased the vehicle briefly but called it off because of safety concerns. Police in Wickliffe spotted the car and were able to use stop sticks. The suspects car eventually was stopped on Interstate 90 east near Ohio 91. She was taken into custody without incident, according to police. Money and a handgun were recovered from the vehicle. No injuries were reported. The incident remains under investigation. To comment on this story, visit Tuesdays crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga Countys departing interim fiscal officer was hired by Lorain Public Library, where she will begin working as its fiscal officer June 10, according to the library. Angela Rich, who submitted her resignation to the county on Monday, will receive a $90,000 salary at the library system, $30,000 less than she made as the countys assistant fiscal officer, and $50,000 less than her current $140,000 salary as interim fiscal officer.. The library board approved her hiring at its May board meeting, according to library interim fiscal officer Lisa Crescimano. Her last day with the county will be May 31. Rich has been serving as the interim officer since February, when permanent Fiscal Officer Dennis Kennedy went on medical leave to have emergency surgery. In her resignation later, she said her new position will allow her to have a better work-life balance. Rich will be the second high-ranking county official to accept a pay cut by leaving their county job this month. Internal Auditor Cory Swaisgood accepted a position at the city of Huron, where he will make $12,000 less than his county salary. He had also turned down a $30,000 raise that Cuyahoga County Council offered him in an attempt to persuade him to stay. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Actor Keanu Reeves recently spoke about grief as a motivator. His thoughts on the subject, published in a British newspaper this past Saturday, provided me with a bit of unexpected comfort during an extremely painful week. Reeves and Jennifer Syme, his former girlfriend, gave birth to a stillborn daughter in 1999. Shortly after the birth, the grief-stricken couple separated. Syme was killed two years later in an automobile accident. Reeves, 54, has never married or apparently stopped mourning the losses. Rarely has he publicly spoken about the deaths until last week, when he told The Guardian that the continuing pain from the losses influences his work. I thought it (bereavement) was one of the foundations of the role for John Wick. I love his grief, Reeves told the interviewer when asked about the role that his personal experience with loss and grief provided for his cinematic role as John Wick, an international assassin who is grieving the loss of his deceased wife. Its about the love of the person youre grieving for, and any time you can keep company with that fire, it is warm. I absolutely relate to that, and I dont think you ever work through it. Grief and loss, those are things that dont ever go away. They stay with you, said Reeves. I dont really know why I found strange comfort in Reeves words, but I did. One must find healing solace wherever it is presented. Reeves words helped me realize that I dont know how to effectively process grief. It doesnt help that Ive spent the last 30 years writing about disasters, tragedies, unexpected death, and sudden painful disruptions in the lives of others. The trauma had never happened this close to home. Now, it has. The pain is coming in waves. My friend was only 46. He was as close as a brother to me. Prime years of life still beaconed him. His generosity was legendary. A businessman, he dressed up like Santa Claus over the holidays and gave away full course meals to the homeless and neighborhood folks. He was not only the friend who would give you the shirt off his back, he was the friend who would help move you into a new house the true test of friendship. Plans were still being made in our small circle for future outings. A few of us city boys were talking about a weekend getaway to go horseback riding in the countryside. He was the one who was always trying to put a fishing trip together. Now, hes gone. Suddenly, unexpectedly, and violently. At his own hand. Grieving friends and family are left asking difficult questions and praying for strength for understanding. A close mutual friend has wisely cautioned several within the circle not to start playing the blame game. Its fruitless to engage in rhetorical hypotheticals. Could we have done something? Could we have said something? Could we have intervened? Could we have been a bridge over the turbulent waters that slowly consumed and then suddenly claimed our friend? Here is the part of Keanu Reeves grief quote that Im currently clinging to: Its about the love of the person youre grieving for, and any time you can keep company with that fire, it is warm. My friend was full of warmth. That will always be my cherished memory of him. He was a fire that was extinguished way too soon. I didnt get a chance to tell him goodbye. I rarely took the chance to tell him that I loved him. I think he knew. Men dont often talk that way. Men need to learn how to say I love you. Im going to work on it. For those struggling with thoughts of suicide, depression, or other mental health crisis, 24-hour help is available at the National Suicide Hotline (1-800-273-8255). CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga County Inspector General Mark Griffin on Wednesday confirmed he is investigating operations in the county Treasurers Office. Griffin declined to discuss the nature of the investigation, but the probe comes days after the office temporarily stopped accepting cash payments for tax liens. The office did not accept cash on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week, but resumed accepting cash on Monday, Chief Communications Officer Eliza Wing said. Wing disclosed only that there were inconsistencies in cash-handling at the Treasurers Office and the county needed time to rework procedures. The county did not inform the public about the change in procedures. And the Treasurers Office made exceptions to its own temporary rule prohibiting cash payments over those three days if a taxpayer was not able to obtain a money order or cashiers check, Wing said. No employees have been disciplined or removed from their jobs because the investigation is still ongoing, Wing said. The Human Resources Department will consider discipline once the investigation is complete, Wing said. Griffin said he expects to conclude the probe shortly, at which time more information will be made public. The countys Department of Internal Audit in 2014 uncovered problems related to cash-handling at the Treasurers Office. Follow-up audits in 2017 and 2018 found the office had failed to implement or only partially implemented some of the internal auditors recommendations aimed at securing cash. ALLIANCE, Ohio -- University of Mount Union trustees recently voted to break the schools affiliation with the Methodist Church over its stance against LGBTQ clergy and weddings. Mount Union, in Alliance, is the second Methodist university to entirely cut ties with the church. Baldwin Wallace University trustees approved a split in Berea on April 26. Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware paused their relationship with the church the same month. Mount Union was founded by Methodist lay people in 1846, but was not founded by the church, according to the universitys website. About 40 percent of the student population identifies as Protestant, with about 7 percent identifying as Methodist. Like BW, Mount Union is not financially supported by the Methodist Church and will work to honor scholarships provided through the church. The campuss chapel will continue to operate and offer interfaith services. All the Ohio Methodist universities signed a letter to the church expressing discontent with the Traditional Plan which was approved at a Methodist summit in February. The vote confirmed there would be no LGBTQ clergy in the church and no same-sex weddings. This decision is at odds with the Universitys historical and current commitments to welcome and support all people who wish to participate in our programs, a statement posted on the universitys website reads. Otterbein University and Ohio Northern University presidents also signed the letter against the decision, but no action has been taken yet to decide on any potential separation. Theres a lot of signals (that) the United Methodist Church may look very different a year from now -- it may be two churches, Otterbein President John Comerford told the Columbus Dispatch. Were not leaving the church because we think the church may be in flux. To read more about Mount Unions disaffiliation, click here. A previous photo caption misidentified the photo as Ohio Northern University. The photo was of the University of Mount Union. COLUMBUS, Ohio A bill that would nullify Cuyahoga Countys proposed ban on plastic bags would be the latest effort to block local leaders from enacting regulations they feel are needed in their communities, local government representatives said. We have a charter government, Cuyahoga County Councilwoman Sunny Simon said. Our voters in Cuyahoga County voted for this new charter government. We have explicit home rule (in the Ohio Constitution) that allows us to govern ourselves. Interesting that they cut our funding in many ways but when it comes to us doing something trying to protect our lake, they interfere. House Bill 242 is sponsored by two Republican lawmakers who live on the opposite side of Ohio from Cuyahoga County. However, one of the sponsors, Cincinnati-area Rep. George Lang, said he introduced the bill to reduce regulations, and said he hasnt been keeping track of the governments that want to ban single-use plastic bags. However, Simon, a Democrat and sponsor of the plastic-bag measure, said about HB 242 that she is not surprised by House Republicans. This is how they operate. Add plastic bags to the list of issues the Ohio General Assembly has prohibited local governments from regulating. The legislature has prohibited local governments from enacting gun control measures, establishing $15 an hour minimum wage, regulating oil and gas operators, using red-light traffic cameras and banning trans-fats. Generally speaking, Ohios larger cities lean to the left. The Ohio General Assembly has a Republican supermajority. Many of the Republicans are from rural areas. It can be frustrating when theres a disagreement on policy. The first place the legislature turns to, is to undermine home rule rights of municipalities, said Keary McCarthy, executive director of the Ohio Mayors Alliance. Wed like to see when there is an issue of policy disagreement between state and local leaders the first thing that should happen is a discussion of why this policy is an important overriding state interest. Simon is more skeptical. Its not surprising that they are catering to the plastic and chemical lobby groups in Columbus, (which are) pushing them to intervene, to stop what is a global movement to stop the pollution on land and water, and interfering with local officials ability to protect it," she said. Lang, the bill sponsor, said he received a legal analysis from a Columbus law firm on the same legislation last year, which didnt pass, that said his bill doesnt violate home rule. To read the analysis, scroll to the bottom of this story. Some readers may have to click here to read it. The reason hes sponsoring it? My intention is not going after anybody, he said. My intention is to make Ohio more business friendly. Currently Ohio has over 6,000 taxing jurisdictions. If youre a business looking to relocate in Ohio, thats a big strike against Ohio. All were trying to do is be more business friendly. He said he is concerned about out migration the trend of people leaving Ohio. I want to be that state that businesses come here so that people come here, Lang said. But Simon is also concerned about people leaving the area. Were losing population by droves in the state of Ohio because of the policies they set forth, she said. This would be part of young people not wanting to move here --- with a backward state government that doesnt seem to understand the Great Lakes are the largest fresh water body in the world, a resource that will be more needed with global warming. Not every state constitution has home rule provisions that guarantee self-governance. Usually, lawmakers praise home rule, said Rep. Bride Rose Sweeney, a Cleveland Democrat. Unfortunately when that doesnt fit our particular agenda or narrative, we abandon that principle, she said. COLUMBUS, OhioOhio House Republicans on Wednesday dramatically transformed a controversial clean-energy subsidy bill, turning it into a bailout plan for both nuclear and coal power plants owned by Ohio companies. The changes to House Bill 6, made by the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee, would also end Ohios much-disputed renewable-energy and energy-efficiency mandates for utilities after this year, which cost residential electricity users an average of about $4.60 per month. Instead, residential customers statewide would pay up to $1 per month into an estimated $190 million Ohio Clean Air Program fund, most of which would go to help keep open the Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear plants, owned by FirstEnergy Solutions. Commercial, industrial, and very large power users would pay more than residential customers, though they would also see reduced surcharges under the legislation. The initial version of House Bill 6 sought to create a $300-million-per-year fund about half of which would go to the two nuclear plants, and the rest toward solar, hydroelectric and wind power plants (though with some significant caveats) and fossil-fuel plants that take steps to reduce emissions. Proponents of the bill at the time sharply disputed calling that plan a nuclear bailout, arguing it would benefit a range of energy sources. But state Rep. Nino Vitale, the chair of the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said Republicans decided to shut out renewable energy plants from the subsidy fund because renewable-energy industry officials fought against HB6, saying the existing mandates should remain in place unaltered. We spent a lot of time trying to work with the wind and solar folks, and they didnt really want to play, Vitale said. So if you take that [proposed renewable-energy subsidy] out, it becomes more of a benefit to ratepayers. Under the new version of HB6, the nuclear subsidies would stop at the end of 2026. Vitale said thats so lawmakers at that time can re-evaluate whether to keep them or make changes. A further change made to the bill would enshrine in state law an Ohio Supreme Court ruling that the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation could charge ratepayers to subsidize two OVEC coal-fired power plants -- one in Ohio, the other in Indiana. House Republicans from southern and southeast Ohio have been pushing for years for the Piketon-based company (which is jointly owned by several electrical utilities) to receive such subsidies. House Speaker Larry Householder, a Perry County Republican whos made HB6 a priority, told reporters Wednesday that allowing the subsidies are the right thing to do, as OVEC has carried on costs to take care of the now-closed Piketon uranium enrichment plant. Vitale said the committee may vote as soon as Thursday on sending HB6 to the House floor. But it remains to be seen whether Householder has enough yes votes for it to pass the House. State Rep. Ryan Smith, a southern Ohio Republican who lost the speakership to Householder earlier this year, said Wednesday that he remains opposed to HB6 even with the OVEC subsidy language. "I don't think that moves me a bit," he said. While Vitale said he believes some Democrats support HB6, all five Democrats on Vitales committee voted against Wednesdays changes. Now its just straight-up corporate welfare, said state Rep. Kristin Boggs, a Columbus Democrat who serves on the committee. Boggs said House Democrats not only sought to keep Ohios mandate that utilities must obtain 12.5 percent of their power from renewable sources by 2027 they proposed raising those standards to 50 percent by 2050 (half of which would have to come from renewable energy sources from within Ohio). Since Cleveland voters passed a $200 million, 37-year bond issue in 2014 so the Cleveland schools could keep pushing ahead with a school rebuilding project that had already replaced or significantly upgraded 40 schools, a lot has changed. Those changes -- in demographics and school construction costs -- have necessitated a top-to-bottom review of Cleveland school building plans. Taking a deep data dive into building plans first drafted in 2001 after the 2000 East High gymnasium roof collapse was overdue. But that review is leading to upcoming school board decisions that will significantly curtail the building plans for kindergarten-through-8th-grade schools that voters were promised in 2014. According to emerging recommendations, 16 schools face changes, including major upgrades, relocation -- or closure. And while the data behind these possible upgrades and closures are rich and detailed, community meetings to understand and discuss the school districts thinking are critical. These meetings should not be slapdash or cursory, and they need to involve as many in the community as possible. Thats why its essential these meetings be held in the evening when more school parents and guardians can attend, instead of at 4 p.m. to accommodate the schedule of Cleveland schools CEO Eric Gordon and the many school graduations hes committed to attend. If theres a conflict, reschedule the meetings and push off final decision-making later into June. Its that important that the community be fully informed and feel fully engaged in the process. Preliminary analysis is pointing the school district toward closing four schools; relocating five others, including consolidating four of them into two schools; and rebuilding or significantly renovating seven, with four of those consolidated into two new schools. As The Plain Dealers Patrick ODonnell has reported, that represents six schools that voters were told in 2014 would be renovated or replaced that now arent going to be. There are compelling reasons for these new plans -- but those reasons need to be fully explained to voters and residents, and their feedback remains crucial. The altered demographics of Cleveland school enrollment is one factor driving change, with children overflowing from elementary schools on the West Side while up to 65 percent of some East Side elementary schools sit vacant. Another is the sharply rising local cost of school construction in Cleveland, after the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission under new leadership began taking a harder line in late 2016 on how it would calculate the states 68 percent share for Cleveland projects. That not only added costs, but also delayed projects, driving up price tags. Our editorial board was sharply critical of the OFCC in an editorial last year -- but even if the commission changed its reimbursement practices tomorrow, costs still will have escalated sharply because of the delays. Yet on balance, its a good thing the Cleveland schools have been forced to take a deeper look at elementary school needs (an assessment of high school construction needs has been put off until next school year). Intertwining the data on individual schools academic quality, enrollment trends, school condition, and whether enrollment levels permit needed school enrichment already has led to some sharp delineations. Yet these data points arent the whole story. How current parents, guardians, students and others in the community view their schools is key. Thats why its critical that the district engage as many Cleveland school parents, guardians and community leaders as possible. Two regional Cleveland community meetings have already been held, in the Cleveland districts western and southeastern regions, but four more are scheduled, including two at 4 p.m. today and tomorrow (for the northeastern region at New Tech Collinwood today, and tomorrow at East Technical High School for the eastern region). Scheduling these meetings at 4 p.m. makes them out of reach for many people who work. If its too late to reschedule, additional meetings should be held -- including another meeting for the southeast region, whose meeting May 16 also was held at 4 p.m. -- to make sure the communitys voice is heard as part of the decision-making process. The Cleveland Plan of extensive school reforms and school choice rests on an edifice of community buy-in and community investment. Nothing less than the full engagement of Clevelanders on something as critical as new school building plans is acceptable. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. 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, & look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. An Air China Boeing 747-400 aircraft transporting China's President Xi Jinping taxis for departure from Hong Kong's international airport on July 1, 2017. Air China has formally asked Boeing for compensation over the grounding of its 737 MAX aircraft and delayed deliveries of its orders, the state TV China Central Television reported on Wednesday. On Tuesday, China Eastern Airlines said it has requested compensation from Boeing for the grounding of its 14 737 MAX aircraft. Sidewalk Labs CEO Dan Doctoroff speaks during a press conference where Alphabet announced it will develop an area of Toronto's waterfront on October 17, 2017. The first buildings in Alphabet's first smart city project could open as soon as 2023, the project's lead said Wednesday at the Collision Conference in Toronto. Sidewalk Labs founder and CEO Dan Doctoroff laid out the new time frame for the project aiming to create a more affordable and sustainable urban area on Toronto's waterfront. Sidewalk Labs is a subsidiary of Alphabet, which is also Google's parent company. The project has raised public alarm, not unlike that in New York City following Amazon's decision to move its second headquarters there. Local officials and activists in Toronto have raised concerns about how Sidewalk Labs could collect a massive trove of data and have criticized the amount of public land the company seeks to develop. Doctoroff, a former New York City deputy mayor for economic development, assured the audience Wednesday he shares the public's concern over data collection. He said Sidewalk Labs has proposed an independent, government sanctioned trust control that aspect of the project. But it seems that public opposition and perhaps standard government bureaucracy has delayed the project's original timeline. In an interview published in April 2018, Doctoroff told Reuters that he hoped to break ground on the project in 2020 and move in the first residents as early as 2022. Doctoroff still hopes to break ground toward the end of next year, he said on Wednesday, but now believes the first buildings will open around the end of 2023 or early 2024 in the best-case scenario. Sidewalk Labs plans "to open up a whole set of [buildings] at the same time," he said. The project is subject to approval from multiple levels of government, and Doctoroff anticipates several months of negotiations to approve the project once they submit a proposal next month. "These things take time, but that doesn't mean we can't begin to see the real fruits from a quality of life benefit perspective within a few years after the place opens up," Doctoroff said. Once the project reaches a more mature stage, he said, Sidewalk Labs' sister company Google will move in. "We would significantly expand Google's presence in Toronto and move the head Canadian headquarters down to the waterfront," said Doctoroff. Google's presence would serve "as a catalyst to economic development" as locals begin to utilize the previously underused space, he said. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Watch: Google's smart cities Parker also acknowledged that it will be hard to restore public trust in the Max after it's recertified. The jet's anti-stall system has been linked to crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia that killed a total of 346 people. "There's one that we will all be comfortable with, or the aircraft won't be recertified. And our pilots are gonna agree with that, or the aircraft won't fly," Parker said in an interview with "NBC Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt that is scheduled to air Wednesday night. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker says he is fully committed to Boeing's 737 Max jet once it's recertified by the Federal Aviation Administration and that an "absolute fix" does exist for the jet's anti-stall system, implicated in two deadly crashes. "Accidents like this, tragedies like this, are ... horrific," he said. "Now, in our case, we've always believed that, that airplane with our pilots, with our training was an airworthy aircraft." "But ... it's not for us to decide whether or not the aircraft flies. It needs to be safe for everyone." American has canceled thousands of flights through the summer roughly 115 flights a day as its 24 Max jets stay grounded. Boeing said Thursday that it has finished the development of a software fix and will work with the FAA to schedule a certification flight. American anticipates a hit to pretax earnings of $350 million due to Max groundings and cancellations. Some airlines are demanding that Boeing provide compensation, and others have even announced that they will cancel all 737 Max orders due to safety concerns. Parker said that if American Airlines pilots want more training after the Max is back in the air, "We'll work to do that." "What I know is our pilots and other pilots are heavily involved in the discussions with the FAA about what training should be required," he said. The FAA is meeting with civil aviation authorities on Thursday to discuss the agency's safety analysis and plans for the return of the Max. "It's incredibly important to us that we get to a point where the entire aircraft aviation community feels comfortable that this airplane is ready to get back in the air. And when it is, we'll be flying in it," Parker said. The full interview can be viewed Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. ET on "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt." WATCH: 737 Max recertification flight could happen by end of May A consumer watchdog group in the U.K. said on Wednesday that Apple has agreed to clearly notify consumers if future iOS software updates slow down or change the performance of an iPhone. The U.K. Competition and Markets Authority investigated the issue after Apple said in early 2018 that it had deliberately slowed down processor speeds through a software update on some iPhones to extend battery life. Public pressure stemming from the revelation forced Apple to provide discounted $29 battery replacements that were cited by the company as one reason iPhone sales last holiday quarter were slower than expected. That program has ended. Apple acknowledged the issue after a benchmark software developer posted statistics to Reddit showing significant performance differences between software versions, sparking an avalanche of media coverage. Apple has already set aside money to pay for class-action lawsuits that accuse Apple of intentionally shortening the life of Apple products to drive customer upgrades. "To ensure compliance with consumer law Apple has formally agreed to improve the information it provides to people about the battery health of their phones and the impact performance management software may have on their phones," the U.K. government said on its website. The CMA said that Apple is legally required to tell consumers about the software and battery health, something the company was already doing through software on the iPhone as well as a letter on its website. "Apple believes that its iPhones were not defective, that the performance management feature introduced with iOS updates 10.2.1 and 11.2 was intended to, and did, improve customers' user experience, and that the Company did not make any misleading statements or fail to disclose any material information," Apple said in a February SEC filing. "The Company has accrued its best estimate for the ultimate resolution of these matters." In the U.S., the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission sent questions to Apple over the update, although the outcome of those investigations is unclear. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. WATCH: How to keep your iPhone battery running longer Bay Area tech workers plan to flee San Francisco for the more affordable locale of ... New York City. That's what Wealthfront, an investment management firm that provides robo-advisor services, found when it surveyed nearly 2,700 of its clients who work in the Bay Area at tech companies. The survey is based on a data analysis of clients through the first five months of 2019. Fewer than a quarter of Wealthfront's tech clients in the Bay Area plan to purchase a home in San Francisco proper. Those who choose to remain in California's Silicon Valley think they'll snap up a home in the neighboring cities of Sunnyvale, Mountain View and San Jose. But nearly a quarter of clients think they'll part ways with the Bay Area altogether, opting for other comparatively cheaper cities such as Chicago and Austin, Texas. British Steel has entered the insolvency process, jeopardizing 5,000 U.K. jobs and endangering a further 20,000 in the supply chain. EY has reportedly been appointed as special manager by the British government's Official Receiver, after a breakdown in rescue talks between the government and the company's owner, Greybull Capital. "The company in liquidation is continuing to trade and supply its customers while I consider options for the business. Staff have been paid and will continue to be employed," an official spokesperson said in a statement Wednesday. Greybull, which specializes in trying to turn around distressed businesses, paid former British Steel owners Tata Steel a nominal 1 in 2016 for the U.K.'s second largest steel producer. British Steel had requested a 75 million government loan but has since cut the figure to 30 million after Greybull agreed to inject more money, according to Reuters. The company's troubles have been linked to declining orders from European customers due to uncertainty over the U.K.'s departure from the European Union, along with the weakness of sterling and the escalating U.S.-China trade war. Cheap Chinese steel has long weighed on demand for the company's product. About 3,000 of the firm's employees are based in Scunthorpe, northern England, with its flagship plan supplying 95% of rails to Network Rail, which manages most of Britain's railway network. Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, said this will be a "deeply worrying time for the thousands of dedicated British Steel workers, those in the supply chain and local communities." "In the days and weeks ahead, I will be working with the Official Receiver and a British Steel support group of management, trade unions, companies in the supply chain and local communities, to pursue remorselessly every possible step to secure the future of the valuable operations in sites at Scunthorpe, Skinningrove and on Teesside," he added. Tim Roache, general secretary of steelworkers' union GMB, said the news was "devastating" for the thousands of workers in Scunthorpe and beyond and criticized the government's handling of the crisis. "Ministers should have been ready to make use of all the options including nationalisation in order to save British Steel but they either don't care or wouldn't take off their ideological blinkers to save hard working people and communities," said Roache. He demanded urgent reassurances on what the future holds for British steelworkers and their families. A pedestrian walks past a Huawei product stand at an EE telecommunications shop in central London on April 29, 2019. U.K. cell phone network operators EE and Vodafone are temporarily putting the launch of 5G smartphones from Huawei on hold. The news comes as the U.S. places renewed political pressure on the Chinese telecommunications giant. EE, which is owned by British telco BT, said it would put the launch of Huawei's 5G devices on pause until it receives the "information and confidence" needed to support its customers. "When that information changes, then we'll move forward and hopefully launch them, but for now we've put that on pause," EE CEO Marc Allera said Wednesday. An EE spokesperson subsequently told CNBC the firm was working with Huawei and Google to "make sure we can carry out the right level of testing and quality assurance." Vodafone, meanwhile, subsequently confirmed reports that it would not be accepting pre-orders for Huawei's 5G-enabled Huawei Mate 20 X in the U.K. "This is a temporary measure while uncertainty exists regarding new Huawei 5G devices," a Vodafone spokesperson told CNBC. "We will keep this situation under review." A spokesperson for Huawei said it recognized the pressure its partners are facing amid "politically motivated decisions." "We are confident this regrettable situation can be resolved and our priority remains to continue to deliver world-class technology and products to our customers around the world." Boeing 737 MAX9 takes part in a flying display over the Le Bourget Airport during the 52nd International Paris Air Show on June 22, 2017, in Paris, France. China's three biggest airlines have asked U.S. planemaker Boeing Co to compensate them for losses caused by the grounding and delayed deliveries of 737 MAX jets, just as regulators gather to discuss design changes for the troubled aircraft. Air China Ltd and China Southern Airlines Co Ltd spokesmen on Wednesday told Reuters the pair have added their voices to a request from China Eastern Airlines Corp Ltd announced a day earlier. The latest requests were first reported by Chinese state TV. China was the first country to ground the 737 MAX globally after a crash in Ethiopia killed 157 people in March, in the second such incident for Boeing's newest aircraft. "China has grounded 96 aircraft, which is about 4 percent of its airplanes. The grounding causes huge losses for Chinese airlines," China aviation expert Li Xiaojin told Reuters. Daily losses are likely to be at least 100,000 yuan ($14,469.90) per aircraft for each airline, Li estimated. "The potential costs are huge too. Slower growth in passenger volume across China's major airports for March and April was largely due to the grounding of 737 MAX jets, according to my calculations," Li said. Carriers outside China have also asked Boeing for compensation, including Turkish Airlines, United Airlines, Ryanair and Flydubai. A woman holds a Chinese-language sign saying "withdraw the evil law" at a protest outside the Legislative Council in Hong Kong on Saturday, May 4, 2019, as local lawmakers debated a proposal to allow extraditions to mainland China. A Chinese official in Hong Kong is urging the quick passage of legal measures to allow fugitives to be transferred to the mainland a controversial proposal that is mired in political gridlock and opposed by business groups. The Hong Kong government has asked the city's Legislative Council to approve extraditions to countries and regions with which it has no such agreements, including mainland China. But the plan has sparked unease and protests in the territory of 7.4 million people a former British colony that since July 1, 1997 has been a semi-autonomous region of China with its own legal system. Local business and law groups, the U.S. government and human rights organizations have expressed concern that the plan could erode Hong Kong's local autonomy, make it a less attractive place to do business and ensnare its residents in China's legal system. Demonstrators have taken to the streets. But Song Ruan, deputy commissioner for the Chinese foreign ministry office in Hong Kong, sought Tuesday to offer reassurance that the city has nothing to fear, telling reporters that China "respects the jurisdiction" of the local government. Still, he suggested patience is running out, stressing it is long past time to act as nearly 22 years have passed since Hong Kong's reversion to China and the territory has fugitive transfer facilities with a number of countries and regions. "Nevertheless, it has no such arrangements with the mainland, Macau and Taiwan," Song said. Lawmakers in favor of and opposed to the changes have locked horns in the legislature over how to proceed. Tempers have flared with debate descending into a melee earlier this month. A man walks past a Huawei shop in Beijing, China, March 7, 2019. Thomas Peter | Reuters Chinese consumers are throwing their support behind Huawei, accusing the U.S. of "bullying the company," with some on social media saying they're looking to buy the technology giant's products over Apple. The U.S. has stepped up pressure on Huawei recently, putting it on a blacklist that requires American firms to get a license from the government before selling to the Chinese telecom equipment and smartphone maker. The move threatens to cut of the supply of key components to Huawei. Alphabet's Google also said it would suspend some business with Huawei earlier this week. But the U.S. scaled back some of those restrictions, granting a 90-day period for American firms to continue working with Huawei, including Google. Chinese social media users, many of whom are often very patriotic about home-grown brands, have been rallying behind Huawei. A hashtag on Twitter-like social media site Weibo, which translates as "Huawei's chip doesn't need to rely on U.S. supply chain," had nearly 50 million views. And some users are saying they're now looking to buy Huawei products over those from Apple. "I've also decided to buy a Huawei Phone, and I will change my plan from buying an Apple Watch into a Huawei product, taking action to support Huawei," one Weibo user said in a Mandarin post that was translated by CNBC. "It had been bullied by the U.S. so poorly recently." "Even though my stock investment account is facing a loss continuously, I'm still preparing to switch my other phone into Huawei, to show support with action," another user said. One user said it's a "fantasy" to stop Huawei. "We will stop Apple," the netizen said. It's unclear how widespread the anti-Apple sentiment is in China, but one expert cautioned that online claims shouldn't be taken too seriously. "It is true that nationalistic sentiment is rising in light of recent events, and I won't be surprised if Apple takes a bit of heat as a result. But many users in China still aspire for Apple's prestige and products. We need to be careful not to overgeneralize based upon a sample of vocal users online," said Bryan Ma, vice president of devices research at market research firm International Data Corporation. Apple declined to comment when contacted by CNBC for this report. I think it wouldn't take much for Beijing to flip the switch on national sentiment and really call for an outright ban (of Apple). David Riedel president and founder of the Riedel Research Group Greater China accounts for around 17% of Apple's net sales. In the company's fiscal second quarter, Greater China net sales fell over 21% year-on-year. The company has faced intense competition in China from Huawei and other players like Xiaomi. It has also struggled with its pricing strategy for its latest devices in the country and retailers were forced to slash prices on some of those models earlier this year. But experts said the political tensions between the U.S. and China could end up hurting Apple further. "I think it wouldn't take much for Beijing to flip the switch on national sentiment and really call for an outright ban," David Riedel, president and founder of the Riedel Research Group, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" on Wednesday. "We have seen social media ticking up in terms of an unofficial blacklist of Apple, I think the Chinese believe they have a very good alternative in Huawei and their other homegrown and homemade handsets." Huawei is the world's second-largest smartphone maker in the world by market share behind Samsung. But cutting it off from key U.S. suppliers could hurt its global ambitions, experts said. Chief Executive Officer Martin Zielke told shareholders that the talks with Deutsche "showed where we should possibly sharpen our strategy". Commerzbank may tweak its strategy following the collapse of merger talks with its larger rival Deutsche Bank, the lender's chief said on Wednesday. The Commerzbank AG logo sits on an illuminated sign outside a bank branch as the bank's headquarters stand beyond at dusk in Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday, Feb. 5, 2017. "We will be able to say more about this in the autumn," Zielke said at the bank's annual general meeting. Commerzbank, which is still partially owned by the state after a bailout, has been focused on cutting costs and digitizing its workflow. Profit rose sharply in 2018 from a year earlier but Zielke said profit needs to improve further. Earlier this year, Zielke embarked on talks to tie up with Deutsche Bank. But the talks collapsed after six weeks, with the banks citing risks of doing a deal, restructuring costs and capital demands. With Deutsche out of the picture, both Italy's UniCredit and Dutch ING Groep have expressed interest in Commerzbank, which is Germany's second-largest listed lender, sources have said. Commerzbank's supervisory board will discuss the updated strategy in mid-September, with announcements likely in early October. The future longevity of Italy's fractious coalition government remains uncertain ahead of European parliamentary elections, despite Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini's insistence that success at the polls this week would not prompt renewed efforts to change his Lega party's governing agreement with the Five Star Movement (M5S). "This vote is about Europe, to change Europe, to change banks, agriculture, borders," Salvini told CNBC in Bari, Italy, on Tuesday evening, after he was asked about the potential for a coalition collapse. The unlikely alliance between a right-wing former separatist party and anti-establishment populists finally made it into office early last summer after months of wrangling over their respective manifestos and ministerial appointments. Tensions between the two parties have heightened in recent months as the campaign for seats in the Brussels and Strasbourg-based parliament has crescendoed, and a first-time Lega candidate hinted to CNBC that the polls could indeed herald a shift in the government's dynamic. "I think both the Five Star and Lega are willing to continue working together," said Ilaria Antelmi, who is standing for a Lega seat in the southern region of Italy, ahead of a final campaign stop by Salvini in Bari, a southeastern coastal city. "But after the European elections, we will see what the Italian people really think. We will understand where the balance of power lies." Her party leader Salvini was smilingly adamant in his interview with CNBC that he would seek no such alterations to his party's deal with its coalition partners. "Nothing is going to change within the Italian government," he said. "I just hope that, after the election, our relationship with the Five Star Movement will be less confrontational." "But even if I win, we won't ask for more ministers, we are not going to change anything." Populist groups in Europe among them the anti-immigration Lega party have polled strongly during the electoral campaign and stand to make significant seat gains in the next European legislature. Those changed levels of support were evident in the heart of Bari's commercial district Tuesday night. Residents loudly cheered Salvini's speech from a soundstage then lined up in their hundreds to take selfies with the leader of a party that had until quite recently railed against residents of southern Italian cities like Bari for their perceived ignorance and laziness. There were signs too of Salvini and Lega critics, who have grown increasingly vocal. Alongside a heavy police presence, dozens marched in protest at his appearance in the city, carrying placards that read: "Fascist clown, leave the south" and "Salvini, chattering fool." European markets traded lower Wednesday as investors monitored the increasing involvement of technology giants in the U.S.-China trade war. The pan-European STOXX 600 closed provisionally around 0.15% lower, banks showing a 1.45% drop while technology stocks led gains, rising 1.24%. U.K. stocks traded 0.21% above the flat line, supported by a slide in the Brexit-affected pound. At the time of the closing bell, sterling fell below $1.263 at one stage during the afternoon. Investors will be monitoring trade developments between the world's two largest economies, after a reprieve from the U.S. temporarily backing off its blacklisting of Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei caused European markets to rebound slightly Tuesday. However news has filtered through that similar sanctions could now be placed on a Chinese video surveillance firm, raising concerns that the tech sector will become central to a drawn out trade war. China is also apparently set to rethink its entire economic relationship with the U.S., according to a report from The South China Morning Post. The report said China is considering dropping purchases of natural gas from the U.S. Stateside, investors will also be monitoring domestic and geopolitical developments, as House Democrats subpoenaed two more former White House aides just hours after former White House Counsel Donald McGahn no-showed for testimony at President Trump's request. Back in Europe, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May sought to break the Brexit deadlock with the main opposition Labour Party and pro-European Union lawmakers, outlining to Members of Parliament her latest deal which includes a vote on whether to hold another referendum if they back her EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill. However, Labour's Brexit spokesman suggested the embattled Prime Minister should admit defeat rather than putting the divorce deal back to a fourth vote. Sterling fell broadly as May's last-ditch plan faced opposition from across the benches and within her own party. Meanwhile, the Austrian far right FPO crashed out of the country's coalition government after the president sided with Conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and sacked its interior minister following a sting video. Britain's Conservative Party's leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom is seen outside Downing Street in London, Britain, April 1, 2019. Prominent Brexit supporter Andrea Leadsom resigned from British Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet on Wednesday, saying she could no longer support the government's approach after May's latest gambit to pass her Brexit deal backfired. May resisted growing calls to resign on Wednesday, vowing to press on despite mounting opposition from lawmakers and even some of her own ministers to her latest Brexit gambit. But Leadsom said she could not announce the new Withdrawal Agreement Bill in parliament on Thursday as she did not believe in it. "I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result," Leadsom, who served as Leader of the House of Commons, said in a resignation letter to May. "It is therefore with great regret and with a heavy heart that I resign from the government." May's new Brexit plan includes a vote on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum -- once her legislation passes the first stage -- as well as closer trading arrangements with the EU in future as incentives to lawmakers. But that met a swift backlash, with several lawmakers who have supported her in previous Brexit votes saying they could not back her new plan. "I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the government willingly facilitating such a concession," Leadsom said. May is due to meet the chair of the powerful 1922 committee of Conservative lawmakers on Friday, after campaigning for European Parliament elections on Thursday. Many college students living on a tight budget take on side-jobs just to scrape together and save enough money to help them pay off student loan debts down the road. But self-made millionaire Eric Wu spent his college scholarship money and free time building an impressive real estate portfolio that included roughly 25 properties by the time he graduated in 2005, he tells CNBC Make It. And that paved the way for him to make millions in the real estate and tech industries. Today Wu is the 36-year-old co-founder CEO of $3.8 billion real estate start-up Opendoor, which allows users to buy and sell their homes online. But nearly two decades ago, Wu was still a college student studying economics at the University of Arizona. The real estate shopping spree started when Wu was just 19 years old, when he says he had "this notion that I didn't want to pay rent, so I ended up finding a way to buy a home," he tells CNBC Make It. In fact, Wu discovered that he'd collected enough scholarship money to provide him with the capital to cover the roughly $20,000 down-payment on a modest three-bedroom home near his school's campus in Tucson, Arizona. "I used my scholarship funds to use as a down-payment, and then I lived in the home and rented out some of the rooms. And then I used that [monthly rent income] to pay for my living costs and other things associated with being at school," Wu says of the property. Wu describes the 1,600-square-foot home, which he says cost about $110,000 overall, as a single-family home where the garage and one of the bedrooms had been converted into studio apartments. Wu rented out the two studios and took the rest of the home for himself. The idea to buy a home at a young age came from Wu's mother, a social worker who raised Wu and his two sisters as a single mother (their father passed away when Wu was 4) in Glendale, Arizona, and who Wu describes as "the most frugal woman in the world." Electric scooters are a new and trendy way to get around cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. They're not yet legal in New York City, where I live, but they're all the rage out West, where electric scooter start-ups like Bird and Lime are based. When I visited L.A. in March, I couldn't leave without taking one for a spin and trying to make some money. I met up with Harry Campbell, founder of The Rideshare Guy blog and podcast, who has experimented with a number of side hustles, from driving for Uber and Lyft to delivering food for Postmates and DoorDash. Most recently, he's made extra cash by charging electric scooters. Harry Campbell and the author prepare to go "Bird hunting" Mary Stevens | CNBC The scooter-sharing companies rely on "an army of independent contractors" to locate scooters that need juice, charge them overnight and release them the next morning before 7 a.m., says Campbell, who's been charging scooters since the program launched in 2018. The gig is not that complicated, he adds: "If you can charge your smartphone, you can charge a scooter." He let me tag along for an evening of "Bird hunting" in Santa Monica. Here's what happened. If you can charge your smartphone, you can charge a scooter. Harry Campbell founder of The Rideshare Guy How charging works For starters, you have to apply to be a "Bird charger" or a "Lime juicer." Since I don't live in a city where either company operates, I can't sign up. If you do live in a city with scooters, though, the sign-up process is simple: Using the same app you'd use as a consumer, you provide your personal information and bank account information so you can receive direct deposits. The one caveat, says Campbell, is that "you may not be instantly approved if there are too many chargers in your city." In that case, you'll be added to the wait list. Once you're approved, the company will send you three sets of charging supplies, which include a wall plug and power brick. "At the start, that's your limiting factor," says Campbell. "The more supplies you have, the better." Over time, you can get more supplies if you establish yourself as a consistent and reliable charger. Campbell has six, "which is not a ton," he says, but it suits his situation as a more casual charger: "I'm not looking to do 100 scooters a night." Harry Campbell, founder of The Rideshare Guy Source: Harry Campbell We head out in Campbell's SUV around 9 p.m, which is when Bird releases most of the scooters on the map. We're specifically looking for Birds tonight, but you can collect and charge Lime scooters at the same time. We use the map on the app to locate scooters near us. They're valued between $3 and $5. I look for the closest $5 scooters, direct Campbell towards them and we pull over when the map says we're on top of one. Spotting the black scooters isn't always easy at nighttime, and they aren't always parked in obvious spots. We find one lying on its side behind trash cans in an alley. The gig starts to feel more like a treasure hunt. To add to the fun, there's pressure: We're not the only chargers out there. Just before we arrive where one scooter should be, it disappears from the map. That means there's another Bird hunter close by, Campbell tells me. We change course, locate a different scooter and, as we're loading it into the trunk, another charger pulls up behind us. He's too late. "It can get a little competitive, sort of in a friendly way," says Campbell. "I've been walking up to a scooter before and someone else has run in front of me to get it." Scanning the QR code to "capture" the Bird Mary Stevens | CNBC To capture the scooter, you scan the QR code located on the handle bar. Loading the 30-pound apparatus into your car requires more effort, especially after you've gathered a few. "It's like a game of Tetris trying to fit them all in," says Campbell. How many you can fit "really depends on how much you like your car," he adds. "If you don't mind scooters sticking out the windows and scraping up the upholstery, you can surprisingly fit a good number into even just a regular sedan." He estimates his SUV can hold 12. In about 30 minutes, we pick up five scooters four $5 scooters and one $4 one and head to Campbell's house to charge them. He has an effective set up in his garage and doesn't even have to unload the Birds: The chargers, plugged into his garage wall, extend to the scooters lying in his trunk, so we plug them in and close the car doors over the cords. We load five scooters into Campbell's SUV, but it can fit more Mary Stevens | CNBC When it comes to creating space to charge, "you have to get creative," says Campbell. "There are companies that are popping up to try to provide space for chargers, but I think, definitely, space can be a limiting factor." One Los Angeles-based start-up, Perch, is building charge centers in high-density scooter markets, where you can rent pods and suites that come with power supplies and layer racks. The first location is up and running in the arts district and more are on the way, Perch co-founder Thomas Lord tells CNBC Make It. If you're charging at home like Campbell, keep in mind that you will be paying for the electricity: One Bird typically costs between $0.08 and $0.25 for a full charge, depending on your local electricity rates, the site notes. The gig also requires putting miles on your car and paying for gas to get around. If you don't mind scooters sticking out the windows and scraping up the upholstery, you can surprisingly fit a good number into even just a regular sedan. Harry Campbell founder of The Rideshare Guy The scooters take anywhere from four to six hours to charge so, if you have more scooters than charging supplies, you can switch them out in the middle of the night. If you do that, though, you risk the first batch of scooters losing some battery. Campbell prefers to let them juice up over night. In the morning, he brings them to designated release spots called "nests," which you can claim in the app and reserve for 30 minutes. Bird asks you to release them in sets of three. After you drop them off, you'll be paid the full quoted price for each one. Your payout may be reduced if you release them after 7 a.m. or with less than 95% battery. Birds parked in a "nest" along a street in Los Angeles Smith Collection/Gado | Archive Photos | Getty Images There's incentive to release them early, says Campbell: "In the mornings, what happens is, a lot of the good nests get taken. So if you wake up too late you might have to go further away from your house." Plus, late releases might make it harder to secure more charging materials from Bird: "They only want to give you more power supplies if you're consistently charging and releasing on time." How much money you can make Picking up five scooters earns us $24. Not bad for 30 minutes of work. But you can make much more. "Super chargers," Campbell tells me, have elaborate set ups that allow them to charge 50 to 100 scooters a night and can "really rack up a lot more money." Ryan Feldman, a 32-year-old software engineer who used to charge scooters on the side, could "fit up to 45 scooters in my pickup truck at a time," he tells CNBC Make It. He had 50 chargers, captured both Birds and Limes and earned, on average, $150 a night. His biggest limitation was, he says, "the number of scooters I could safely fit in my truck." Gathering the scooters at night "took anywhere from an hour to four hours," he says. In the morning, "to drop off about 45 scooters would take 90 minutes: That included loading my truck, drop off and [the] return drive home." Here's what Feldman's charging set up looked like: Source: Ryan Feldman And here's another creative set up, from a super charger who asked to remain anonymous: Feldman, who stopped juicing when the payout decreased and it became less worth his time, says he made $210 on his best night. Chargers used to be able to make a lot more, Campbell tells me. The pricing structure has changed: How much you earned used to depend on how much juice you put back into the scooter, "but now it's just a flat fee." And the minimum you take home per scooter has dropped: For Bird, "It used to be a $5 minimum payout to chargers for each scooter and now their minimum is $3." The competition has stiffened, too. "The last two nights I charged, there were multiple occurrences when I would show up to pick up a scooter and three to four other vehicles were there to do the same," says Feldman. While "the pay has come down a little bit over the past few months," says Campbell, "there are opportunities." Like any side hustle, "this job won't be perfect for everyone," he writes on his blog, "but it is surprisingly flexible, and I could imagine many different scenarios where it would make sense for Uber and Lyft drivers to work for Bird or really anyone looking to make some extra cash." We use the Bird app to locate scooters and capture them Mary Stevens | CNBC Pro tips To get the most out of the side hustle, Campbell offers three tips: 1. Work with a team. There are a lot of moving parts when you're hunting for scooters: You're constantly checking the map for the highest-value Birds, navigating to different locations and then trying to spot the scooter, which can be visible or hidden. That's why working with at least one other person can be helpful, says Campbell: "One person can be driving, while the other person is looking at the map." Plus, "especially in L.A., it's hard to find a parking spot," he says. If you're working as a team, though, the driver can double park and wait in the car while someone else grabs the scooter. While you'll have to split your earnings as a team, you'll also be able to find more scooters more efficiently. Pro tip No. 1: bring a buddy Mary Stevens | CNBC Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump attend the Trump International Hotel Washington, D.C Groundbreaking Ceremony at Old Post Office on July 23, 2014 in Washington, DC. Ramos, an appointee of President Barack Obama, said in U.S. District Court in Manhattan that the Trump clan's arguments "are not sufficiently serious as it relates to Supreme Court precedent" dealing with the question of turning over documents to Congress. Judge Edgardo Ramos' ruling came after a hearing at which lawyers for Trump, his three older children, Donald Jr ., Eric and Ivanka , and the Trump Organization argued that the subpoenas to the two banks should be quashed. An appeal of the decision is all but certain. A federal judge in New York City on Wednesday said Deutsche Bank and Capital One can turn over financial documents related to President Donald Trump and his businesses in response to subpoenas from two Democrat-led House committees. The judge also disagreed with the argument by the Trump legal team that the demands for the documents from House Financial Services and Intelligence committees lacks a legitimate legislative purpose. Ramos said there is such a purpose in the request by the panels, which are probing alleged foreign influence in U.S. elections. The subpoenas, Ramos said, are "undeniably broad but are clearly pertinent." The White House and a spokesman for the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump has said he is "fighting all the subpoenas" issued by House Democrats, who are conducting a broad inquiry into his financial affairs. The ruling in the New York court came two days after another federal judge, in Washington, D.C., said Trump's accountants at the firm Mazars had to comply with a subpoena from the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for his financial records. Deutsche Bank for years has been the main lender for Trump, whom other banks have avoided loaning money to because of his repeated bankruptcies. Capital One is in possession of financial records related to the Trump Organization's hotels. Neither bank had opposed the subpoenas. In a statement to CNBC after the ruling, Deutsche Bank spokeswoman Kerrie McHugh said, "We remain committed to providing appropriate information to all authorized investigations and will abide by a court order regarding such investigations." The Trump family's lawyers, in a lawsuit filed against Deutsche Bank and Capital One in late April, challenged the demands for financial documents from the lenders, saying subpoenas from House Democrats "were issued to harass President Donald J. Trump, to rummage through every aspect of his personal finances, his businesses, and the private information of the President and his family." Neither Deutsche Bank nor Capital One objected in court to the subpoenas. But House Democrats intervened in the lawsuit to argue against the Trump family's effort to quash the document demands. Ramos' ruling came hours after the New York state Legislature passed two bills aimed at Trump, which would allow Trump's state tax returns to be turned over to Congress if they are requested. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he supports that idea, but has yet to say whether he will sign the bills. The Treasury Department last week defied a subpoena from the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee for six years of federal tax returns of Trump and his business. But much of the information on those returns would be replicated in state tax returns. During the court hearing Wednesday, Trump's lawyer, Patrick Strawbridge, argued that the subpoenas exceeded Congress' authority by being overbroad. He noted emphasizing that the committees were "literally looking for records about minors" related to Trump, as well as his in-laws. At another point, Strawbridge argued that courts have made it "clear" that Congress "cannot cross the line into law enforcement activity." Douglas Letter, an attorney for the committees seeking the documents, retorted that there is is "absolutely no merit to any of these arguments" made by Strawbridge. "This is being totally misportrayed," Letter said. Letter said that the subpoenas are broad, and asked for documents going back a number of years, because the committee are investigating things such as money laundering and engagement with foreign entities "including Russian oligarchs" over "a long period of time." Ramos then asked why the committee was bothering to ask for "domestic documents" if that was the case. "You have to look at: 'where's it going? ' " Letter responded, referring to money. "It's all tied together." Letter criticized the Trump family's legal effort to thwart the subpoenas, saying that the lawsuit only had been filed "because of a massive and fundamental misunderstanding" of Congress' role "by Mr. Trump." "He sees us as a nuisance," Letter said, referring to the president. Asked by the judge if the financial records could be made public, Letter said that the committees did have that power. But they "wouldn't do it willy-nilly," Letter insisted. "We would of course listen" to the people whose records were subpoenaed, but ultimately "this is for the Congress" to decide, Letter said. Lawyers for Deutsche Bank and Capitol One declined an opportunity to speak in court. The judge said in his ruling that the attempt to block the subpoenas was "unlikely to succeed on the merits." "The court concludes that a preliminary injunction" being proposed by Trump's lawyers "is inappropriate," Ramos said. WATCH: The saga of Trump's taxes Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), listens during a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, not pictured, and workers in the Oval Office of the White House during a 'Cutting the Red Tape, Unleashing Economic Freedom' event in Washington, D.C, U.S., on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018. President Donald Trump's acting chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, and his closest advisors are looking to install an ally atop the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, CNBC has learned. Mulvaney has signaled he'd like to see someone who's worked with him at the Office of Management and Budget to succeed the departing Shahira Knight, according to people familiar with the matter. Mulvaney has continued to be the director of OMB while managing the staff at the White House. For Mulvaney, having someone he trusts as the new head of the legislative team could allow him to be directly involved with negotiating and passing critical pieces of legislation throughout the rest of the president's time in office. Trump announced Tuesday that Knight would be stepping down from her post and heading to the private sector after being the office's director since the start of the administration. Knight was a key player in helping pass the Republican tax reform plan while a member of the National Economic Council. Tweet: One of the people being pushed to Trump and his aides to step in for Knight by Mulvaney's confidants is Jonathan Slemrod, a former associate director for legislative affairs at OMB under Mulvaney, people close to the White House said on condition anonymity. "I know its going to be a Mick person," a source who was in the White House in recent days told CNBC. "Everyone over there keeps saying 'its going to be another Mick person,'" this person added. Politico reported in January that over the course of his first month as acting chief of staff, Mulvaney had brought on at least half a dozen OMB aides to join him at the White House and was looking to add more to his ranks. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declined to comment on the record when asked about Mulvaney's influence and whether Slemrod is under consideration. A spokesman for OMB referred questions about Mulvaney and Slemrod to the White House. Slemrod did not return repeated requests for comment. Slemrod is currently a lobbyist out of Harbinger Strategies in Washington, D.C., with clients ranging from Blackstone, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Facebook and Home Depot, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Harbinger's website shows that while he was at OMB, he "worked with members of Congress and staff, Administration officials, White House components including the Office of Legislative Affairs," and goes on to say he had a role in getting enough votes to secure approval of the tax reform bill that passed through Congress in 2017. The website also has a direct quote from Mulvaney, showering praise on Slemrod's previous efforts at OMB. "Jonny's contributions to both the Office of Management and Budget and the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection can't be overstated," he said. "A close, trusted advisor, his knowledge of both policy and procedure helped President Trump achieve some of his biggest legislative victories." Slemrod was also previously a legislative assistant to Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida. Luckey, who sold his Oculus virtual reality headset company to Facebook for $2 billion in 2014, left there in March 2017 amid controversy surrounding his political contributions and financial support of far-right groups and internet trolls. Since then, he's founded Anduril Industries, a defense technology start-up that's focusing on national security and artificial intelligence. "I gave $10,000 to a pro-Trump group, and I think that's something to do with it," quipped Luckey in an interview with CNBC's Deirdre Bosa from the Collision tech conference in Toronto. Luckey added that California, where Facebook is headquartered, is an at-will state. Luckey said he identifies politically as a libertarian. Much of Silicon Valley would be considered liberal. Palmer Luckey, founder of Oculus and former Facebook employee, admitted Wednesday on CNBC that he was fired from the social networking giant a few years ago, saying it was for "no reason at all." Until now, Luckey had been relatively quiet about the departure, telling CNBC in 2018, "it wasn't my choice to leave" but selling Oculus to Facebook was "the best thing that ever happened to the VR industry even if it wasn't super great for me." Facebook has been struggling to gain back user trust and navigate calls for new online privacy regulations from Washington following a series of missteps in recent years, including the 2018 Cambridge Analytica data scandal and evidence the platform was exploited by Russia-based operatives trying to influence the 2016 presidential election. Luckey said Facebook's problems would not necessarily go away by breaking up the tech giant or with a possible departure of co-founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg. "These companies are so huge, it's easy to pin it all on one person," he added. "When you're on the inside, you realize that replacing one person isn't going to change the way things work." U.S. politicians, including Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have been calling for a dismantling of Facebook. Last week, Facebook's COO, Sheryl Sandberg, told CNBC that breaking up the social media company would just give more power to Chinese companies. Luckey on Wednesday agreed with Sandberg. "China is going to have all the juggernauts," he added. "It all leads back to China." John O'Rourke (right) former CEO of Riot Blockchain after a shareholders meeting in Oklahoma City on May 9, 2018. Federal authorities have launched a criminal investigation into a group that appears to include the former chief executive of Riot Blockchain, the cryptocurrency company that was the subject of a CNBC investigation last year, according to court documents. The investigation is parallel to a Securities and Exchange Commission case that brought claims against John O'Rourke, former CEO of Riot Blockchain, and others in alleged pump and dumps unrelated to Riot. The criminal case is being handled by the U.S. attorney's office out of San Francisco, according to the transcript of a May hearing from the civil SEC case obtained by CNBC. It is unknown what companies or activities are being examined. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. In September, the SEC said it charged a group of 10 individuals and 10 associated entities that included O'Rourke, as well as Barry Honig, who was once the largest shareholder of Riot, in a scheme the agency said generated more than $27 million from alleged unlawful stock sales. According to the SEC's press release, Honig and his associates, based in South Florida, manipulated the stock of three companies in "pump-and-dump" schemes, where they allegedly acquired shares at a discount and artificially boosted prices before selling. Riot Blockchain was not one of the companies. The SEC described the defendants as "microcap fraudsters" in the press release. O'Rourke left Riot in the wake of the charges. The SEC already settled in full or in part with nine defendants, including Miami biotech billionaire Phillip Frost, according to court filings. A separate criminal investigation was confirmed by both a lawyer for the SEC and a lawyer for O'Rourke in the case during the May 15 hearing about a schedule for discovery material. CNBC obtained a transcript of the hearing on Tuesday. This was the first time a criminal investigation was confirmed. Nancy Brown, a lawyer for the SEC, disclosed during that hearing that "there is a parallel criminal investigation. It's not a dual investigation, it's a parallel investigation," according to the transcript. During the hearing O'Rourke's attorney, Gregory Morvillo, said, "So putting our clients at the end [of the deposition schedule], particularly in light of the fact that there's a criminal investigation in San Francisco into the very allegations that has been on ongoing, makes sense and is protective of my clients," according to the transcript. "My understanding is they [the U.S. Attorney's Office] now have a cooperating witness and things have slowed down," Morvillo said. The witness, he said, is "among the defendants in this group, I believe, [who] has started to cooperate, and there may be a criminal case coming down the pike reasonably shortly," according to the transcript. Morvillo and his co-counsel for O'Rourke did not respond to CNBC's request for comment. The SEC and a lawyer for Honig also declined to comment, as did lawyers for the other SEC defendants who have not settled. Shares of Qualcomm plunged 10.9% Wednesday, a day after a judge ruled the company broke the law by suppressing competition in the cellphone chip market. The plunge shaved more than $10 billion from the company's market cap, bringing it to $84.3 billion. U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh sided with the Federal Trade Commission. She granted an injunction that orders Qualcomm to renegotiate license terms with customers "free from the threat of lack of access to or discriminatory provision of modem chip supply or associated technical support or access to software," among other provisions. The company must also report to the FTC annually for seven years to ensure compliance with the injunction, according to the ruling in the Northern District of California. In a statement, Qualcomm said it will seek a stay of Koh's judgment as it pursues an "expedited appeal." "We strongly disagree with the judge's conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law," Don Rosenberg, Qualcomm's executive vice president and general counsel, said in the statement. The ruling is the latest development in a fight over Qualcomm's licensing practices. The FTC's 2017 lawsuit accused the company of anti-competitive behavior aided by its dominant market position. Qualcomm recently settled a separate legal battle with Apple just a day after the companies began court proceedings in San Diego, where each sought billions in damages. Like the FTC, Apple argued Qualcomm abused its dominant market position to impose unfair prices and licensing provisions. Qualcomm had gone after Apple in courts worldwide, accusing the company of violating its patents. This most recent ruling does not come as a surprise to analysts at Bernstein. "Anyone following the manner and tone coming out of the trial in January could see that the judge did not appear hugely disposed toward Qualcomm's point of view, and she granted a partial summary judgement, before the trial even started, stating that Qualcomm had an obligation to grant SEP licenses to chipset competitors," the analysts said in a note Wednesday. "However, we do believe that, post the AAPL settlement (and given the increasing delay around hearing a decision) some investors might have hoped that the judge might have softened her views in the wake of AAPLs recent capitulation. Apparently not." The analysts, who rated Qualcomm's stock at market perform, said the order that Qualcomm must renegotiate licenses would be "onerous" but suggested it may be able to "be contained" among its larger customers who already have good deals. "In practice, we don't know what will happen next," the analysts wrote. Raymond James analysts said Qualcomm's appeals process is likely to create "uncertainty." "If the ruling were to stand, it would have the potential to upend Qualcomm's licensing model, forcing them to renegotiate agreements with existing licensees, ostensibly at lower rates, and potentially license technology as a percentage of the much lower chipset price rather than the handset price," the analysts said in a note Wednesday. They also speculated whether the company's settlement with Apple could be reopened as a result, but said it's likely the companies considered this in signing the agreement. CNBC's Jon Fortt contributed to this report. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Watch: Here's what the antitrust ruling against Qualcomm might mean for chipmakers Mukesh D. Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd., attends the Ajay Mushran Memorial Lecture in New Delhi, India, on Sunday, July 10, 2011. Asia's richest man is about to given Amazon's Jeff Bezos a run for his money. Mukesh Ambani, chairman of Reliance Industries, is close to launching his own e-commerce platform Reliance Retail to compete with Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart in India, according to people familiar with the matter. Reliance is one of India's most powerful companies with a growing retail presence across India, a market dominated by neighborhood bodegas, or kiranas. Ambani's goal is to create an online marketplace similar to Alibaba that will let offline merchants and kirana stores sell their goods online to Indian consumers, said the sources, who asked not to be named because the marketplace is still a work in progress. With 500 million internet users and e-commerce growing 30% a year, Morgan Stanley estimates that online retail in India will become a $200 billion opportunity by 2027. Reliance has also played a key role, through mobile broadband unit Reliance Jio, in getting more Indians online by subsidizing the cost of internet broadband. "Reliance Jio introduced nearly free mobile broadband a couple years ago and that really created an environment where everyone was really beginning to get addicted to using the internet on the go," Dinesh Moorjani of Comcast Ventures told CNBC in April. (Comcast is the parent of Comcast Ventures and CNBC.) India's Economic Times and Bloomberg previously reported on some of the details of Reliance's plans. On the ground in Mumbai, everyone from rikshawalas to corporate executives are using Jio. And analysts say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reelection could create a favorable regulatory backdrop for Reliance. Xem them (Construction) - On December 3, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Construction held a conference to appraise the General Plan for Construction Project of Cao Bang Border Gate Economic Zone to 2040. ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load An S-400 surface-to-air missile system is seen during a Russian military parade on May 9, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. The Kremlin said that the sale of a Russian missile system to Turkey should go ahead despite protest from the United States. According to a CNBC exclusive Tuesday, Turkish officials have until the first week of June to cancel the purchase of Russia's S-400 missile defense system and instead buy Raytheon's U.S.-made Patriot missile. Reuters reported Wednesday that Kremlin officials described the ultimatum from the U.S. government as unacceptable and that Moscow considers the sale of its missile system to Ankara as an irrevocable agreement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "We regard this extremely negatively. We consider such ultimatums to be unacceptable, and we are going on the many statements made by representatives of Turkey's leadership headed by President Erdogan that the S-400 deal is already complete and will be implemented." U.S. officials see Ankara's purchase of the missile system as a pivot toward warmer ties with Moscow. Turkey's integration of the Russian S-400 system is also viewed as a direct threat to the security of Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet program. If Turkey refuses to comply with Washington's demands, then it faces losing their supply chain position within the F-35 program. In April, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed the U.S. jet program would collapse without Turkey's input. According to CNBC's own sources, the U.S. State Department's offer to Ankara is the final one and will not be up for negotiation. The United States has already ratcheted up the pressure on Turkey by halting delivery of equipment related to the F-35 stealth fighter. NATO member Turkey is currently due to receive two of the jets later this year and has more than 100 on order. NOW WATCH: Weapons sale between U.S., Turkey & Russia gets far more complicated The booster of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lands on the company's barge after launching the Spaceflight SSO-A mission. Elon Musk's SpaceX, in a previously secret lawsuit revealed on Wednesday, challenged the Air Force awarding $2.3 billion in rocket development contracts last year to competitors Blue Origin, Northrop Grumman and United Launch Alliance, which is a joint venture of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. SpaceX filed the complaint on Friday but asked that the U.S. Court of Federal Claims keep the motion "under seal," saying that "the proceedings in this matter will involve SpaceX's proprietary proposal information and source selection information that must be protected to safeguard the competitive process." On Wednesday, a redacted version of the full 79-page complaint was posted on the federal court's public system. The full SpaceX complaint alleges that the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center "wrongly awarded" the funds "to a portfolio of three unproven rockets based on unstated metrics." Under the Launch Service Agreement (LSA) program, the Air Force awarded three SpaceX competitors funding to develop new launch systems. The LSA awards granted $500 million to Blue Origin for its New Glenn rocket, $792 million to Northrop Grumman for its OmegA rocket and $967 million to ULA for the Vulcan Centaur rocket. "By any reasonable measure, SpaceX earned a place in the LSA portfolio," the complaint said. SpaceX said it bid its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy rockets, the former of which has flown multiple national security missions. SpaceX also bid its Starship rocket system, which is early in development, but only for "one or two" missions that were scheduled "to launch no earlier than late 2025." However, SpaceX alleges that the Air Force "determined that SpaceX's one development launch vehicle," or Starship, "rendered the entire SpaceX portfolio" as "high risk." Check out the companies making headlines midday Wednesday: Tesla Shares of the electric automaker dropped 4.7% in trading as Citigroup joined Morgan Stanley in releasing a "bear case" scenario for Tesla. The firm sees it as increasingly likely that the stock will plummet as far as $36 a share. Additionally, Consumer Reports said Tesla's autopilot feature raises "serious safety concerns" and, during a test, performed worse than human drivers. Lowe's Shares of retailer Lowe's cratered 11.6% following the release of the company's mixed first-quarter earnings. Lowe's reported earnings per share of $1.22, below Wall Street's expectation of $1.33, according to Refintiv, while revenue that was slightly higher than expected at $17.74 billion. Lowe's slashed its full-year forecast as cost increases hurt the company's profits, even as same-store sales increased 3.5% for the quarter. Nordstrom The retailer's stock tanked 9.7% after the company reported a big first quarter earnings miss of 23 cents a share, below the expected 43 cents a share, according to Refinitiv. Nordstrom also cut its full-year forecast, citing "executional misses" with its customers at the beginning of the year. Nordstrom expects to earn between $3.25 and $3.73 per share for fiscal 2019, down from its previous range of $3.65 to $3.90 a share. Target Shares of Target surged more than 9% after beating on the top and bottom lines for the retailer's fiscal first quarter, and the retailer reaffirmed its full year outlook. Target posted earnings per share of $1.53, compared to the $1.43 forecast by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv. Revenue was $17.63 billion, topping estimates of $17.52 billion. Same-store sales increased 4.8% for the quarter, while analysts were expecting them to rise 4.2%. Urban Outfitters The stock plunged 9% after the retailer announced plans to launch a clothing rental service priced at $88-per-month. Otherwise, Urban Outfitters reported first-quarter earnings and revenue that beat estimates. Comparable sales rose 1%, while analysts polled by FactSet expecting a 1.1% drop. Qualcomm The chipmaker's stock fell 12.1% after a federal judge sided with the Federal Trade Commission and declared Qualcomm must renegotiate its patent licensing terms with customers. The ruling declared Qualcomm broke the law by suppressing competitors within the mobile phone chip market. The company must also report to the FTC annually for seven years to ensure compliance with the injunction, the ruling said. Sprint, T-Mobile Shares of Sprint fell 7.9% and shares of T-Mobile fell 1.1% amid reports that the U.S. Justice Department's antitrust division staff recommended that the agency file a lawsuit to block T-Mobile's acquisition of Sprint. VF Corp. Shares of Vans parent company VF Corp. fell 3.2% after the company's full year forecast came in below expectations. The apparel maker estimates 2020 revenue in the range of $11.7 billion to $11.8 billion, below analysts' estimates of $14.6 billion, according to Refinitiv. Pure Storage Pure Storage stock plunged 24.4% after the data storage company reported first quarter results that missed estimates on the top and bottom lines and cut its revenue guidance for the current fiscal year. According to CEO David Hatfield, large enterprise deals taking longer to close and having more variability resulted in the disappointing results. Ambarella - Shares of the chipmaker plunged 11.8% amid reports the U.S. is considering putting a number of Chinese video surveillance firms, including Hikvision, on a blacklist. The move would limit Hikvision's ability to buy technology from its U.S. suppliers, including Ambarella. Ambarella designs computer vision camera chips for Hikvision's systems and, as of last year, derived roughly 10% of its annual revenues from the company. CNBC's Maggie Fitzgerald, Nadine El-Bawab and J.R. Reed contributed to this report. Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Qualcomm A federal judge has ruled that Qualcomm unlawfully hindered competition in the mobile phone chip market, and used its dominant position to charge excessive licensing feels. Target The retailer earned an adjusted $1.53 per share for the first quarter, 10 cents a share above consensus estimates. Revenue also beat forecasts, and a same-store sales increase of 4.8% beat the 4.2% consensus estimate of analysts polled by Refinitiv. Lowe's The home improvement retailer reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.22 per share, 11 cents a share below estimates. Both revenue and comparable-store sales were above Wall Street forecasts, but Lowe's cut its full-year forecast amid profit margin pressures. VF Corp. The apparel maker earned an adjusted 60 cents per share for its latest quarter, 2 cents a share above estimates. Revenue also beat forecasts on stronger demand for its North Face clothing and Vans shoes. VF also gave an outlook that came in below current Street consensus, although that outlook factors in the divestiture of the company's jeans unit. Advance Auto Parts The auto parts retailer beat estimates by 10 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of $2.46 per share. Revenue also beat forecasts as same-store sales rose 2.7%. Nordstrom Nordstrom reported quarterly profit of 23 cents per share, missing the consensus estimate of 43 cents a share. Revenue came in below forecasts as well, hurt by slower sales of full-priced women's apparel as well as expenses related to a new loyalty program. The retailer also cut its full-year forecast. Urban Outfitters Urban Outfitters beat estimates by 6 cents a share, with quarterly earnings of 31 cents per share. Revenue also topped forecasts. The apparel retailer saw stronger-than-expected sales at both its Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie chains. It also announced plans to launch an $88 per month clothing rental service. Pure Storage Pure Storage lost 11 cents per share for the first quarter, 3 cents a share more than Wall Street had been anticipating. Revenue also missed estimates and the data storage company lowered its revenue outlook for the full year. Toll Brothers Toll Brothers came in 12 cents a share ahead of estimates, with quarterly profit of 87 cents per share. The luxury home builder also scored a revenue beat. The company did say, however, that it expected profit margins to be pressured by slower housing demand and increased incentives. Boeing Boeing received requests from Air China and China Southern Airlines for compensation related to the grounding of the 737 Max jet. That follows a similar request Tuesday from China Eastern Airlines. Sony Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida rejected calls from some investors to sell the company's smartphone business, calling it indispensable to its brand portfolio. Wynn Resorts Wynn ended talks to sell its Encore Boston Harbor casino to MGM Resorts. The $2.6 billion casino is expected to open in June. Avon Products Avon is near a deal to sell itself to Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura Cosmeticos, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke to The Wall Street Journal. The price could not immediately be learned, but Avon has currently has a market cap of about $1.4 billion. Amgen The world's largest biotech company struck a deal to buy Danish company Nuevolution for about $167 million, to boost its position in drug discovery. China is exploring more drastic action as a result of its trade fight with the U.S., according to the South China Morning Post. While China is open to resuming trade talks, "government advisers are now highlighting the risk of sourcing critical supplies from an increasingly hostile US...and are exploring ways for the country to cut its exposure to the US," the paper said, citing Chinese researchers. The article was titled, "Donald Trump's trade war and Huawei ban push China to rethink economic ties with US." And China is considering cutting natural gas purchases from the U.S. as part of this movement, the paper said. "The idea that China should buy large amounts of natural gas from the U.S. must be revisited," Wang Yongzhong, a senior fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, a governmental think tank, told the Hong Kong-based newspaper Monday. The move came after President Donald Trump's latest action to blacklist Huawei, effectively halting its ability to buy American-made parts and components. China is now threatening to stop funding an industry that the two countries have done sizable deals in. In 2017, China agreed to fund a natural gas project in Alaska worth $43 billion, the South China Morning Post said. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a resumption of trade talks with China is not on the calendar yet. Mnuchin told CNBC's Ylan Mui on Wednesday that a trip to Beijing has not been scheduled. Mnuchin made the comments on his way into a hearing before the House Financial Services Committee. China has invited the U.S. delegation to Beijing after the two countries failed to reach a trade agreement in Washington this month. "I'm still hopeful that we can get back to the table. The two presidents will most likely see each other at the end of June," Mnuchin said during the hearing. The two leaders are set to meet at the G-20 summit in Japan next month. President Donald Trump followed through with his threat to increase tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods from 10% to 25%. China immediately responded by upping the tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. goods to as high as 25%. The trade tensions further intensified this week as the U.S. blacklisted Huawei and effectively halted its ability to buy American-made parts and components. China on Wednesday threatened to cut more economic ties with the U.S. in the wake of the new tariffs and Huawei ban. The talks between the U.S. and China appeared to have stalled as it is unclear what the two sides would negotiate, CNBC previously reported. Trump said recently he has not "made that decision yet" on whether to put tariffs on another $325 billion in Chinese goods. Cement is laid on the San Joaquin River viaduct portion of the high-speed rail line being built in Fresno, California, on May 8, 2019, amid ongoing construction of the railway in California's Central and San Joaquin Valleys. Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images LOS ANGELES Even as President Donald Trump insists he's supportive of infrastructure projects, some say his record proves otherwise, especially when looking at high-speed rail. On Tuesday, California sued the U.S. Department of Transportation over its decision last week to terminate a 2010 grant agreement involving nearly $1 billion in funding for the state's high-speed rail project. In its lawsuit, California charges that the U.S. government's action "was precipitated by President Trump's overt hostility to California, its challenge to his border wall initiatives, and what he called the 'green disaster' high-speed rail project." "Trump came in when he was campaigning for president about 'how come America doesn't have rail' and actually was making some good points," said Andy Kunz, CEO of the U.S. High-Speed Rail Association, an advocacy group funded in part by rail manufacturers and some engineering firms. "But, then, when he gets into office, he becomes 'Mr. Anti-Rail' and brings in all these oil people." Kunz said the federal government's stance on the California project "shows how out of touch the Trump administration is with the modern forms of transportation, where America wants to be, what the rest of the world is doing." "The Trump administration has certainly not made progress on an infrastructure agenda," said Aaron Renn, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. "The administration put together an infrastructure plan that had some very good elements in it but didn't go anywhere in Congress." On Wednesday, Trump abruptly ended a meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., at the White House and told reporters he won't do an infrastructure deal while Democrats are still investigating the administration. Besides California, the Trump administration also has pushed back on Northeast Corridor rail funding. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) speak to the media with House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) and Assistant House Speaker Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM) at their sides after returning to the U.S. Capitol from a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2019. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters "When it comes to infrastructure, there is certainly a political element to getting anything done in states like California and New York that want to declare themselves the resistance," said Renn, citing everything from lawsuits to sanctuary state policies. "You have to expect that the Trump administration is going to do the same exact thing." In California, construction is underway on the first leg of the California high-speed rail project, a 119-mile section connecting the Central Valley cities of Merced and Bakersfield. More than $5 billion has already been spent on the project, including $2.5 billion in funds from the federal government, according to the California High-Speed Rail Authority. "The federal government is using transportation funds which California taxpayers paid for, and so we think that getting some of our transportation dollars back here is an appropriate thing," said Democratic Sen. Jim Beall, who represents the Silicon Valley area and is chair of the Senate Committee on Transportation. Beall called the California project the "nation's most advanced high-speed rail project," adding that others around the country are "more of a planning-stage kind of level." He said the Trump administration's move to pull funding for the project shows "a lack of will to fund transportation projects at a national level." The DOT's Federal Railroad Administration said last week that it is continuing to explore "all options" concerning the federal funds already awarded to the state's high-speed rail agency. Surveillance cameras are mounted on a post at Tiananmen Square as snow falls in Beijing, China, on Thursday, Feb. 14, 2019. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report. The U.S. Commerce Department blocked Huawei Technologies from buying U.S. goods last week, effectively banning U.S. companies from doing business with the Chinese firm, a major escalation in the trade war, saying Huawei was involved in activities contrary to national security. The move would effectively place Hikvision on a U.S. blacklist and U.S. companies may have to obtain government approval to supply components to Hikvision, the paper said . The U.S. administration is considering limits to Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision's ability to buy U.S. technology, the New York Times reported on Tuesday, in a move that deepens worries about trade frictions between the world's two top economies. Hikvision shares opened 10% lower but an executive in the company'soffice told Reuters the company had not been informed of the possible U.S. blacklisting. "The chips Hikvision uses are very commercial and most of the suppliers are actually in China although there are some in the United States," said the executive, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. "Even if the U.S. stops selling them to us we can remedy this through other suppliers" she said. Hikvision and Dahua Technology which produce audio-visual equipment that can be used for surveillance were specifically cited in a letter to Trump's top advisers last month, signed by more than 40 lawmakers. The lawmakers said China's actions in its western region of Xinjiang "may constitute crimes against humanity" and urged tighter U.S. export controls to ensure that U.S. companies are not assisting the Chinese government's crackdown there. China has faced growing condemnation from Western capitals and rights groups for setting up facilities that U.N. experts describe as mass detention centers holding more than 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims. Beijing has said its measures in Xinjiang, which are also reported to include widespread surveillance of the population, are aimed at stemming the threat of Islamist militancy. The facilities or camps that have opened are vocational training centers, the government has said. An affected baby receives medical treatment after Assad forces conduct alleged gas attacks on Sakba and Hammuriye districts of Eastern Ghouta, in Damascus, Syria on March 07, 2018. The United States sees signs the Syrian government may be using chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack on Sunday in northwest Syria, the State Department said on Tuesday, warning that Washington and its allies would respond "quickly and appropriately" if this were proven. "Unfortunately, we continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. "We are still gathering information on this incident, but we repeat our warning that if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons, the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately," she said. Ortagus said the alleged attack was part of a violent campaign by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces violating a ceasefire that has protected several million civilians in the greater Idlib area. "The regime's attacks against the communities of northwest Syria must end," the statement said. "The United States reiterates its warning, first issued by President Trump in September 2018, that an attack against the Idlib de-escalation zone would be a reckless escalation that threatens to destabilize the region." U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has twice bombed Syria over Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons, in April 2017 and April 2018. In September, a senior U.S. official said there was evidence showing chemical weapons were being prepared by Syrian government forces in Idlib, the last major rebel stronghold in the country. The State Department statement accused Russia and Assad's forces of "a continuing disinformation campaign ... to create the false narrative that others are to blame for chemical weapons attacks." "The facts, however, are clear," the statement said. The Assad regime itself has conducted almost all verified chemical weapons attacks that have taken place in Syria a conclusion the United Nations has reached over and over again." A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the Syrian government had a history of resorting to chemical weapons when fighting intensified. The official, however, was not aware of any confirmation of what substance was allegedly used, if at all, and said the U.S. government was still gathering information. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government on the U.S. statement. In March, Syrian state media cited a hospital in government-held Hama as saying 21 people suffered choking symptoms from poison gas after rebels shelled a village. In January, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton warned the Syrian government against using chemical weapons again. "There is absolutely no change in the U.S. position against the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime and absolutely no change in our position that any use of chemical weapons would be met by a very strong response, as we've done twice before," Bolton said at the time. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer speaks during a meeting on trade held by U.S. President Donald Trump with governors and members of Congress at the White House on April 12, 2018 in Washington, DC. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will meet with officials from the European Union and Japan in Paris on Thursday regarding joint efforts to address the non market-oriented policies and practices of other countries, his office said. The meeting, which is expected to focus largely on Chinese subsidies, will take place on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting of the 36-member Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris on Wednesday and Thursday. Lighthizer will also hold several bilateral meetings with key trading partners, and attend an informal ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization, his office said in a statement. There is at least one thing in common between the U.S. and Russia their willingness to weaken the European Union, a high-ranking European official told CNBC. As European voters prepare to head to the polls later this week and choose new lawmakers to the European Parliament, there is a lot of debate about the challenges within the 28-member union. However, Jyrki Katainen, vice president of the European Commission told CNBC Tuesday that the external challenges have never been so hard. "Countries like Russia, China but also the United States have challenged us harder than before," Katainen said in Brussels. "We are (for the) first time in the history in a situation where the President of the United States and (the) President of Russia seem to share the same view on Europe: the weaker, the better, because they think that it's better for their own country, which is obviously not right," Katainen, who is also the former prime minister of Finland said. The transatlantic relationship has been particularly challenging for the EU since President Trump came into power in 2016. Their differences have been clear on issues such as climate change and trade. There is no evidence that women underperform men when it comes to running money. Working mothers in the U.S. are three times as likely as fathers to quit their job at some point to care for their family. Research from the Center for American Progress published in 2014 found that the average American woman who took a five-year career break at age 26 lost roughly $467,000 in lifetime earnings, including potential income and retirement savings. To help more women transition back into the workforce, many companies, including Walmart, are now offering paid mid-career internships, known as "returnships," as part of their recruiting strategy. The retail giant recently announced that it would be expanding its partnership with the non-profit organization Path Forward to facilitate its returnship program for a second year in a row. Working mom at home Crience | Twenty20 "Last year around this time I shared the exciting news of a program Walmart was launching in partnership with Path Forward," Bobbie Grafeld, VP of People for Walmart Labs, said in a statement on the company's website. "It was near and dear to my heart because it focused on creating training and career opportunities for a typically untapped talent pool that I was once a part of women and men who have paused their careers to do things like raise children or care for family members, or those who have had to relocate for their spouses' careers." Grafeld said that in 2018, more than 30 women participated in the four-month, paid returnship program working in roles that included engineering, user experience, product management and data science. Participants attended professional development workshops and networking events, all while re-upping their skills as full-time temporary employees. Afterward, they were able to apply to any full-time available role at Walmart ultimately, roughly 75% of participants accepted positions within the company. This year, Grafeld says, Walmart is expanding the program to include up to 100 candidates across multiple locations including San Bruno, Sunnyvale and Carlsbad, California; Reston, Virginia; and Bentonville, Arkansas. She says she's hopeful that they "will have a similar success rate and bring even more amazing, full-time, diverse technical talent to Walmart Labs." Goldman Sachs first introduced the concept of returnships and the term, which it trademarked in 2008, when the bank implemented a 10-week program specifically for professionals with a career gap. Since then, other companies, including Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan and GM, have created similar programs. Path Forward executive director Tami Forman tells CNBC Make It that Walmart is one of more than 50 companies the organization has worked with in the past three years. Oher partners include Netflix, Uber, Intuit and Verizon, which have all announced Spring 2019 returnship programs. pixelfit | E+ | Getty Images It's not just WhatsApp, almost everything connected to the internet is at risk of cyberattacks. That's what experts are emphasizing following news that the messaging platform had been targeted by spyware. The vulnerability in the world's most popular messaging platform, which was first reported by the Financial Times, allegedly allowed an Israel-based company to install malware onto both iPhone and Android phones. The security weakness reportedly could have been used to tap calls made with the app. A spokeswoman said Facebook-owned WhatsApp encouraged users to update the application in order to protect against "potential targeted exploits designed to compromise information stored on mobile devices." But even after the patch, users should keep in mind that there will always be vulnerabilities on mobile applications. "It's definitely possible or even likely that at least some other apps will have similar vulnerabilities," said Tom Uren, a senior analyst in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute's International Cyber Policy Centre. "Pretty much the entire suite of apps that 'talk' over the internet could be vulnerable." That's because the apps are "constantly updated" to introduce new features, said Ori Sasson, founder of cyber-intelligence firm S2T. "While updates can fix known defects and vulnerabilities, they can insert new unknown ones," he said. In software development and testing, engineers can identify weaknesses, but it is "literally impossible" to prove the absence of a vulnerability in a "non-trivial application," he added. Tom Kellermann, chief cybersecurity officer of U.S.-based cybersecurity firm Carbon Black, echoed that sentiment. "The unfortunate reality is that most messaging apps have vulnerabilities that can be exploited by sophisticated cyber spies," he said. "No messaging service is bulletproof." Such platforms usually secure the transmission of messages between users, but that's not a "panacea," Kellermann said. Most security ratings for such platforms relate to encryption, which implies reduced risk of eavesdropping on messages and calls, explained Sasson. He noted that WhatsApp, like BBMe and other apps that are "considered secure," has end-to-end encryption. In the case of the WhatsApp attack, however, it was about "secure application development" rather than how well the app protects privacy and security, said Uren of ASPI, a Canberra-based think tank. 1 / 11 Tech Mahindra: The IT major posted an 8.4 percent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 1,126.6 crore for the quarter ended March 31, due to currency appreciation and prudent provisioning for some of the customers. Its net profit stood at Rs 1,230.8 crore in the corresponding period a year ago. (Image: Reuters) 2 / 11 DLF: The realty major reported a 76 percent jump in its consolidated net profit at Rs 436.56 crore for the quarter ended March on higher sales. Its net profit stood at Rs 247.73 crore in the year-ago period. (stock image) 3 / 11 IDFC First Bank: Icra has downgraded long term rating of IDFC First Bank's bond programme due to weak earnings and on higher provisions due to stressed exposures. The rating agency downgraded Rs 38,670 crore of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) to AA from AA+ with a stable outlook. (Stock Image) 4 / 11 Bharti Infratel: Bharti and Vodafone Group named Bimal Dayal as the CEO of the mega tower company proposed to be formed from the merger of Indus Towers and Bharti Infratel, and said the merger process is in "advanced stage of completion". (Image: Company) 5 / 11 Edelweiss Financial Services: US-based Arthur J Gallagher & Co. will acquire a minority stake in its subsidiary Edelweiss Insurance Brokers. Edelweiss, however, did not provide details about the quantum of stake sale and price. (Image: Company) 6 / 11 Vedanta: It has been declared as the preferred bidder for two copper mines in Maharashtra which went under the hammer earlier this year. The copper blocks, namely Thanewasna and Dubarpeth, are in Chandrapur district of Maharashtra. (Image: Reuters) 7 / 11 DHFL: The NBFC sent letters to distributors informing them of the stoppage of fresh public deposits and renewals of existing deposits. It also halted pre-mature withdrawals of existing deposits to "help reorganise its liability management", reported Mint. (Image: Reuters) 8 / 11 Punjab National Bank: PNB may be centre of the next round of PSU bank merger in September where the Delhi-based lender could take some smaller PSU banks under its ambit, reported IANS, citing sources. (Image: Reuters) 9 / 11 Alkali Metals: The company has received an establishment inspection report (EIR) from USFDA for its Visakhapatnam Unit. The EIR from USFDA indicates closure of the inspection and that the Unit is in an acceptable state of Compliance of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP), it said. (Image: Company) 10 / 11 Sintex Plastic: The board approved a proposal to explore the sale of the auto division of subsidiary Sintex-BAPL Ltd. Only about 50 percent of the 92,000 calls to the hotline last year were answered. This year, its even worse. Only about 39 percent of calls were answered from January to April. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form FOXBORO, Mass. -- While electronic healthcare records (EHRs) vastly improved patient information collection and sharing for some healthcare providers and payers, the technology also robs doctors of something critical: the ability to properly care for patients. EHRs continue to require far too many mouse clicks and pagination to enter data during a visit, diverting attention from patients something that's key to not only creating a relationship but getting a complete picture of their health. "Right now, it feels like physicians are a slave to their EHRs. There's a high amount of burnout emotional burnout, depersonalization and a low sense of professional accomplishment," Dr. Alain Chaoui, former president of the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), said during a presentation last week at the New England HIMSS Annual Spring Conference here. Between 50% and 70% of physicians are experiencing burnout symptoms due to EMR-related workloads, Chaoui said. Chaoui, a practicing family physician who finished a one year stint as head of the MMS this month, said doctors are increasingly leaving healthcare through early retirement or moves to non-healthcare fields due to fatigue; others end up cutting back their patient hours to deal with the mundane administrative functions of healthcare. For example, it can take as long as 45 minutes for a physician to schedule a CT scan for a patient via an EHR records system or over the telephone, with additional time spent cajoling an insurance provider to cover the procedure, Chaoui said. "Today, doctors are on the computer all the time. EHRs were created for billing and not patient care," Chaoui said. "Fixing EHRs at this point in time is urgent." EHRs even those from the same vendor are most often not interoperable between different healthcare facilities. It's not uncommon, Chaoui said, for a patient's radiology and blood work to be repeated each time they visit a different facility, even if it's for the same issue, because the electronic records don't share previous test results. The problem is an old one. Some healthcare experts feel the issue has worsened due to regulatory changes in how facilities receive Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. For example, those that were once reimbursed on the meaningful use of their EHRs must now attest as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) where quality measures are tied not only to patient care and costs, but the depth of data recorded in the records. "That's still an issue. Honestly, I don't think we've gone too far," said Jeff Loughlin, president-elect of New England HIMSS. "In some cases, it's a little bit worse in the sense that you've got the onslaught of ACOs and quality contracts and things that require us to have individual data elements to do clinical quality measures that are now tied to performance." On the other hand, the needle on EHR interoperability has moved mainly through industry initiatives. Loughlin pointed to the CommonWell Health Alliance and Carequality, nonprofit trade associations promoting vendor-neutral interoperability frameworks, including the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard, a set of APIs for exchanging EHR data. The Argonaut Project, another private sector effort to push for open interoperability standards including FHIR has also made significant headway, Loughlin said. "We're already seeing well over half of the EHRs adopting FHIR because they realize having a general consensus on a single platform makes sense for cost effectiveness and other applications," Laughlin said. "We've made leaps forward, but the challenge moving forward ... is that for a long time, every EHR was in their own little isolated world and it's going to take time to break down those walls." Apple, for example, has based its mobile Health Records app on the FHIR specification and hospitals are adopting the technology to enable patients to control access to their own records. Apple The UI for Apple's Health Record app. Judy Faulkner, CEO of Epic, whose EHR platform has the largest adoption rates, said in an interview earlier this year there's no high correlation between physician burnout and satisfaction with EHR. In an interview in Healthcare IT News, Faulkner pointed to a recent study and clinician survey by KLAS Research showing dissatisfaction was more about a lack of training than actual software problems. "If healthcare organizations offered higher-quality educational opportunities for their care providers and if providers were expected to develop greater mastery of EHR functionality many of the current EHR challenges would be ameliorated," the study stated. Falkner was unavailable for an interview on EHR usability and clinician burnout. Dr. Larry Garber, director of clinical informatics for the Reliant Medical Group, said his organization has successfully reduced physician burnout but it wasn't by allowing vendors to dictate functionality. The group practice in Worcester County, Mass. with 488 physicians throughout 43 locations first rolled out a homegrown EHR in 1993; it later used an Epic system deployed to allow more interoperability and smoother workflows. The Reliant Medical Group's ambulatory practice attained the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) analytics stage level 7 rating, which is a metric used to measure a healthcare facility's ability to leverage EHRs and other technology to improve patient care. Any EHR or health information exchange or any IT implementation needs to get three things right. First it needs to ensure that all healthcare stakeholders from a hospital CFO to a physician to an administrative assistant see value in the technology. Second, it must efficiently fit into real-world workflows. Healthcare providers can't be expected to surf multiple websites or click between multiple terminal screens to enter information while conducting a patient evaluation: click-counts matter. Patient data should be accessible on a single screen. Third, trust is paramount. A patient needs to trust their data won't be stolen; doctors and nurses should be confident an EHR is the best available and is implemented in the best way possible; and they need to know that when they identify a problem or have an idea, it will be considered or implemented. "Our focus in terms of interoperability was we wanted to make sure whoever is taking care of our patients [that] they have all the information they need to do a better job taking care of them," Garber said. "So we've done quite a bit of work on interoperability." IDG/Reliant Medical Group Dr. Larry Garber, director of clinical informatics for the Reliant Medical Group, illustrates on a slide the number of interfaces that have been created to share patient EHR data among clinics and improve workflows The Reliant Medical Group has given 50 unassociated, regional physicians who have treated the same patients as Reliant access to its EHR system. They also enabled query access to its systems through Carequality. Through Carequality, the medical group can see not only its own EPIC EHR system but Athena, eClinicalWorks and Cerner EHRs, among others. "We've also set up a lot of point-to-point interfaces. We're connected to 10 hospitals directly, so when my patients are in the hospital..., I get automatically sent to me...every single lab result, every single radiology report, procedure note," Garber said. "All of those are loading directly into my EHR, so I don't have to go look somewhere else to find these things." In addition, about 40% the group's patients are active on its EHR web portal. The EHR electronic "in-basket" is one of the biggest areas of complaints for doctors because others on a care team may not always be allowed to enter data; that leaves the doctor as the lone data entry clerk. The hospital group set up guidelines to enable nurses or other trusted healthcare providers to enter data as they're speaking with a patient in person or over the telephone. Another tweak the physician care group made to the EHR's in-basket was to ensure lab results are properly marked. Typically, up to 50% of lab results can be marked as "abnormal," but that doesn't mean they require a physician's attention. "Sure, they're abnormal technically, but they're not really that abnormal," Garber said. "So, we used decision support within our EHR to flag the things that are truly, significantly abnormal; these are critical..., these are things you have to pay attention to." "That helps reduce time invested looking at the EHR and it helps triage patients," Garber added. "Consult notes, everything came to my in-basket. I don't need to see most of those. So, we set it up where we automatically route important ones to me, and I don't see the others. They're in my EHR, I'll see them the next time I see the patient." Automatic routing of critical lab results and consultation notes has reduced the amount of data in a physician's in-basket by 25%, Garber said. Massachusetts Medical Society's Chaoui noted that while medical school graduates today may have been "born with a smart phone in their hand," they enter the medical field frustrated at being tethered to an EHR desktop while attempting to evaluate patients. "They don't look at the patients anymore. We have created a new generation of fast users, but I don't think this is what we're looking for," said Chaoui, who teaches a health informatics course at Northeastern University where he often hears medical student complaints about EHRs. "Every time you're in an exam room, every word counts and [the patient's] body language counts," Chaoui said. "We are losing this, and I'm begging you to bring this back to us." Microsoft today launched Windows 10 May 2019 Update, aka 1903, after running the feature upgrade through additional testing with Insider volunteers, hardware manufacturers and third-party software developers. "The May 2019 Update is available for customers who would like to install the latest release," John Cable, director of program management in the Windows delivery and servicing team, announced in a post to a company blog. Under normal circumstances, 1903 the four-digit label in Microsoft's yymm format would have gone public six or more weeks ago. But in early April, Microsoft said it would send the feature upgrade the first of two presumably slated for the year into more testing. The decision was an obvious reaction to the debacle of Windows 10 1809, which in October 2018 launched with a known-yet-still-overlooked bug that destroyed user data. Microsoft pulled 1809 and while the upgrade eventually debuted, albeit months late, in March the company gave up on getting the new version to users. Microsoft did not want a repeat performance of 1809, or to be viewed as pooh-poohing testing with 1903. The delayed debut meant that the 18-month support allowance will not expire until Dec. 8, 2020, about two months later than if 1903 had followed the usual schedule. Enterprises: Get ready, get set, don't go! With the full 18 months stretched out in front of it, Windows 10 1903 is ready, argued Cable, for "targeted deployments" by business customers. "IT administrators should begin targeted deployments to validate that the apps, devices and infrastructure used by their organizations work as expected with the new release and features," Cable wrote in a section titled "Semi-Annual Channel release for commercial customers." Cable's use of "targeted" to describe 1903 at its release is pivotal to enterprises, as it designated the upgrade as fit for testing and piloting but not widespread deployment. Later this summer, probably in two to four months, Microsoft will put out the word that Windows 10 1903 is "business ready" or something to that effect (if not in those words). After several name changes of Windows 10's release channels, Microsoft recently trashed "Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted)" (SAC-T) as the label for the opening months of each feature refresh. IT administrators and corporate Windows 10 users, who marked the shift from SAC-T to the shorter "Semi-Annual Channel" (SAC) as Microsoft's stamp that the upgrade had been thoroughly tested, rebelled; they worried SAC-T's demise meant the same for Redmond's guidance. In late March, John Wilcox, a Windows-as-a-Service (WaaS) evangelist, told commercial customers to rest easy. "We will continue to communicate for future releases the transition from targeted to broad deployment status," Wilcox wrote. How Microsoft will communicate the transition is unclear. Most likely? A revamped Windows 10 release informational webpage, which the firm dubbed "Windows release health dashboard." The one-stop site will list all update holds, known issues and the status of ongoing fixes. It will also show each version's current status. Currently, the page for Windows 10 1809 reads, "Windows 10, version 1809 is designated for broad deployment and available for any user who manually selects 'Check for updates' via Windows Update." Microsoft The new 'dashboard' Microsoft unveiled may be the place where the company tells commercial customers that a feature upgrade has been tested enough to trust deploying in large numbers, as here for Windows 10 1809. Microsoft gave that troubled upgrade the green light in late March. Something similar appearing on the page dedicated to Windows 10 1903 may be all Microsoft does to tell enterprises that the upgrade is stable enough for them. Where it's at For commercial customers, Windows 10 1903 can be obtained via Windows Server Update Services (WSUS), Windows Update for Business (WUfB), and the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) using System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM) or another patch management platform. Others, including Windows 10 Home and Windows 10 Pro users, get 1903 by manually checking for updates. To do that, users should type "Settings" in the operating system's search bar, open that app, first choose "Update & Security" and then "Windows Update." Select "Check for updates." Surveillance plane P8I joins SIMBEX 2019 at South China Sea Indian Navy's long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft Poseidon P8I joined its two warships in the ongoing India-Singapore naval exercise SIMBEX 2019 as war games shifts from Singapore harbour to South China Sea. Armed with deadly Harpoon missiles, torpedoes, sensors and radars, the Boeing-manufactured Poseidon P8I is an Indian variant US Navy's P8A and has completed six years of operations since its induction on May 15, 2013 in Naval Air Squadron nicknamed 'Albatross'. Indian Navy's long-range maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft Poseidon P8I taking off from an unspecified naval base. India was the first buyer of this state-of-the-art destroyer eye in the sky. Delivery of P8I customised for India within tight deadline laid by New Delhi was no small feat for the Boeing Poseidon program team. Photo courtesy: Manu Gomez, Twitter "In addition to Indian Navy ships Kolkata and Shakti, long-range maritime patrol aircraft Poseidon-8I (P8I) will also participate in SIMBEX 2019. The Singapore side will be represented by RSN Steadfast [a Formidable-class frigate] and RSN Valiant [a Victory-class corvette], maritime patrol aircraft Fokker-50 (F-50) and Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 fighter aircraft," Indian Ministry of Defence said in a statement here. The sea phase of SIMBEX 2019 is scheduled to be conducted in the South China Sea from May 19 to May 22. It includes various maritime combat exercises such as firing on aerial and surface targets, advanced aerial tracking, coordinated targeting exercises and tactical exercises on surface and air scenarios. HE @JawedAshraf5 High Commissioner of India to Singapore interacts with the aircrew of P 8i participating in #SIMBEX-19. The LRMRASW ac is operating ex-Singapore for the Sea Phase of #SIMBEX pic.twitter.com/xPR2OXtbAd SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 21, 2019 The harbour phase of SIMBEX 2019 has been conducted from May 16 to May 18. It included various planning conferences, simulator-based warfare training, war games, courtesy calls to dignitaries of Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), sporting events and deck reception onboard INS Kolkata. Indian Navy's Kolkata class lead stealth guided-missile destroyer INS Kolkata and Deepak class fleet tanker INS Shakti had stayed back after successful completion of International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia 2019 (IMDEX Asia 2019) in Singapore to participate in the annual Singapore India Maritime Bilateral Exercise SIMBEX 2019 scheduled from May 16 to May 22, 2019. With this, SIMBEX 2019 also concludes the two month long deployment of INS Kolkata and INS Shakti to South China Sea and East China Seas which is "aimed at extending the bridges of friendship through enhanced cultural, economic and maritime interactions" with countries of East and South East Asia. "Their participation in International Fleet Review (IFR) at Qingdao, China as part of PLA (Navy) 70th anniversary celebrations and ADMM-plus MS FTX also reflects the Government of Indias Act East policy and the Indian Navys efforts to 'unite nations through the oceans', Defence Ministry said. "Since its inception in 1993, SIMBEX has grown in tactical and operational complexity. the annual bilateral exercise saw its progression from traditional anti-submarine exercises to more complex maritime exercises such as advanced air defence operations, anti-air and anti-surface practice firings, tactical exercises," the Ministry said. "Over the years SIMBEX has stood the test of time in demonstrating the nations commitment to enhance maritime cooperation between the two navies and bolster bonds of friendship between the two countries. For SIMBEX 2019, the Indian Navy has deployed its finest assets for with an aim to strengthen mutual trust, enhance interoperability, and build greater synergy to address common maritime concerns among both navies," the Ministry added. INS Kolkata and RSS Stadfast are undertaking a close manoeuvre in this picture. Indian Navy and Republic of Singapore Navy conduct annual naval exercise SIMBEX 2019 in South China Sea. Indian Navy Ships Kolkata and Shakti took part in the exercise, along with submarine hunter and surveillance aircraft Poseidon P8I. Photo courtesy: HCI Singapore Last year, the silver jubilee commemoration ceremony of bilateral drill was held at Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andaman Sea, Visakhapatnam, and Bay of Bengal as SIMBEX 2018. That was the largest edition since 1994 in terms of scale and complexity. The initial harbour phase was held at Port Blair, the capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands from 10 to 12 November followed by Sea Phase from November 12 to 16 in the Andaman Sea. The second harbour phase from 16 to 19 November was held at Visakhapatnam. The final sea phase was held in the Bay of Bengal from November 19 to 21. High level delegations from respective Defence Ministries watched the exercises that included advanced weapon firings. The 25th edition witnessed a diverse range of exercises at sea ranging from live weapon drills including multiple missile firings, heavy weight torpedo and medium range gun, anti submarine rocket firings; advanced anti-submarine warfare exercises, submarine rescue demonstrations; integrated surface and anti-air warfare; unmanned aerial vehicle operations and cross deck helicopter flying. Senior Minister of State for Defence Heng Chee How, Indian High Commissioner to Singapore Jawed Ashraf and Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral MS Pawar an the deck of INS Kolkata at Singapore harbour. Photo courtesy: High Commission of India, Singapore. The number of missiles and torpedo firings undertaken were unprecedented and perhaps the largest the Indian Navy had undertaken with any foreign navy till date, indicative of the growing trust and operational comfort between the two navies. The drill also witnessed the highest numbers and variety of platforms fielded by both sides. Over the years the two navies have increased their interoperability to a level unmatched by other navies. Defence cooperation between Singapore and India was first formalised when Singapore Navy ships began training with the Indian Navy in 1994. The modest endeavour grew to exchange of best practices in the field of Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), which in later years evolved into a complex, high stakes exercise with both nations attaching a premium to timing, complex advanced exercises, and type of platforms involved. Tory MPs reject Mays final bid to pass her deal T Prime Minister caves to Labours Brexit wishlist The Sun May has made things worse, BBC correspondent suggests Daily Express Brussels despair at emptiness of offer The Guardian Sterling rallies on back of second vote option FT Chancellor sparks fury with rant about No Deal The Sun heresa May faced calls from her own party to resign immediately on Tuesday night after putting a second referendum on the table in a sellout attempt to save her Brexit deal. The Prime Minister provoked fury after she caved in to Labour demands for a vote on holding a so-called confirmatory ballot, which she hopes will tempt opposition MPs to back the deal. She also announced that Parliament will be given a vote on keeping Britain in a customs union with the EU until the next general election. Tory Eurosceptics described the offer as outrageous and more than 50 Conservative MPs said they would vote against it. Daily Telegraph Analysis: MPs must choose: uncertainty, or chaos Peter Foster, Daily Telegraph Will the ten-point plan get the deal through? Henry Zeffman, The Times Peoples Vote gamble could blow the Party apart Rob Wilson, Daily Telegraph >Yesterday: Ministers reject options at mutinous Cabinet Theresa May was forced to abandon key parts of a Brexit compromise after a testy three-hour cabinet meeting. The prime minister wanted to use forthcoming Brexit legislation to facilitate votes on a range of options, including a full customs union and a second referendum. She was rebuffed, with some fearing a walkout during the meeting. Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, Andrea Leadsom, the Commons leader, and Geoffrey Cox, the attorney-general, forced her to abandon some of the initial options presented to cabinet that might have won Labour support The main Brexit discussion at the meeting concluded with Mrs May saying that the options were her deal, no-deal or revoke, and whatever your preferred Brexit this is the vehicle. The Times Mays offer, neither new nor bold, will be her final failure Tom Kibasi, The Guardian I admire the Prime Minister, but how did it come to this? Stephen Glover, Daily Mail >Today: ToryDiary: If May isnt on her way out by the end of today, dont back her in tomorrows European elections >Yesterday: Audio: LISTEN: The Moggcast. Rees-Mogg suggests that he may switch back and oppose the Withdrawal Agreement Bill Furious Conservatives call on May to resign immediately T Number of parliamentary rebels doubles The Times Prime Minister faces coup today The Sun Johnson leads criticism Daily Mail heresa May faced calls from her own party to resign immediately on Tuesday night after putting a second referendum on the table in a sellout attempt to save her Brexit deal. The Prime Minister provoked fury after she caved in to Labour demands for a vote on holding a so-called confirmatory ballot, which she hopes will tempt opposition MPs to back the deal. She also announced that Parliament will be given a vote on keeping Britain in a customs union with the EU until the next general election. Tory Eurosceptics described the offer as outrageous and more than 60 Conservative MPs said they would vote against it. Daily Telegraph Comment: Our remorseless Remainer Government has hijacked Brexit Iain Duncan Smith MP, Daily Telegraph You could almost hear MPs headbutting the walls in anger Henry Deedes, Daily Mail Talks with Labour were a waste of time Theresa Villiers MP, Daily Telegraph Editorial: Last Rites The Times A gift to Farage The Sun >Yesterday: Another Tory peer backs the Lib Dems David Camerons former director of strategy faces suspension from the Conservative Party whip for declaring today that he will vote for the Liberal Democrats in the European elections. With the last opinion poll before the vote putting the Tories on 7 per cent, Lord Cooper of Windrush said he would do what is best for the country and back the rival party tomorrow because of its support for a second EU referendum. The YouGov poll for The Times puts the Brexit Party in a clear lead with 37 per cent of the vote. The Lib Dems are second on 19 per cent, with Labour on 13 per cent and the Greens on 12 per cent. The Conservatives are fifth on 7 per cent. The Times Northern Irish sister party seeks Brexit breakthrough FT Labour: Adonis tries to win back Labour doubters The Guardian as Lib Dems look set to top them in polls The Sun Comment: Why Ill vote Liberal Democrat for the first time in my life Matthew Parris, The Times Clean Brexit doesnt exist Anand Menon and Catherine Barnard, The Guardian Its my civil duty to lend them my support Gus ODonnell, Times Red Box Leadership: Johnson woos One Nation group in bid to broaden appeal Hes not fit to lead, says James The Guardian Boris Johnson is launching a bid to court One Nation Conservative MPs in the group of centrist liberals run by Amber Rudd, as he tries to pitch himself as a candidate who can appeal beyond rightwing Brexit supporters. The former foreign secretary, who is favourite to be the next Conservative leader, is backed by Brexit hardliner Jacob Rees-Mogg but infuriated many Tory colleagues by backing Theresa Mays deal after months of campaigning against it. Some Conservative MPs have privately threatened to quit the party if Johnson becomes prime minister, with particular anger over his use of populist rhetoric suggesting that Muslim women wearing burqas resemble bank robbers and choose to go around looking like letterboxes. The Guardian Comment: Hunt has what it takes to be great Rob Wilson, Daily Telegraph Leadership race could lead to every Brit having a shot at the good life Damian Green MP, The Sun >Yesterday: ToryDiary: Todays One Nation Conservatives are as dreary as Baldwin, not as exciting as Disraeli as Hammond turns his fire on Raabs tax plans Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has attacked Dominic Raab for proposing to undo a decade of hard work after making an unfunded tax cut promise worth tens of billions of pounds. The leadership contender and former Brexit secretary pledged on Monday night to cut 1p off the basic rate of income tax, with a view to ultimately reducing it to 15 per cent. One former Treasury adviser suggested this would cost 25 billion Mr Raab said on Monday night: I would take 1p off the basic rate of income tax straight away, with a view to reducing it from 20 per cent to 15 per cent over time, to boost the pay packets of low and middle-income workers. The Times Ex-Brexit Secretary wants 100k lifetime cap on social care costs The Sun Comment: The Chancellor is determined to assassinate Brexit Stewart Jackson, Daily Telegraph Javid to reject salary threshold for EU migrants Universities defy Hinds over unconditional offers Sajid Javid is ripping up Theresa Mays post-Brexit plans for a 30,000 minimum salary threshold for EU migrants, The Sun can reveal. The Tory leadership hopeful wants a powerful committee to look into lowering prospective wage bands in a move that will enrage Tory Eurosceptics. In an explosive letter, he instructs the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to consider allowing firms to pay the going rate for foreign recruits after Brexit and to look at regional wage limits. He also wants them to study exemptions for a range of professions, and whether new entrants or inexperienced workers can be paid less. The Sun Two universities have refused to stop making the most controversial type of unconditional offer to prospective students despite being named and shamed by the government. Birmingham and Oxford Brookes have notified Damian Hinds, the education secretary, that they intend to carry on making so-called conditional unconditional offers to applicants despite his request for them to stop. Four others Middlesex, Surrey, Birmingham City and Kingston are yet to respond and Lancaster University has requested discussions. Mr Hinds wrote last month to the universities that make the most so-called conditional unconditional offers, which he described as unethical. The Times MPs say apprenticeships are failing the disadvantaged FT Comment: I will not let standards be eroded Damian Hinds MP, Times Red Box Landlords latest voters to abandon the Conservatives L andlords are turning their backs on their traditional ally, the Conservative Party, to punish it for a series of policy changes that have squeezed property investors like never before. Almost 70pc of National Landlords Association (NLA) members voted Conservative in the 2017 general election. But only 16pc would vote Tory if another election were called today, according to a new poll. The Brexit Party would pick up 22pc of the vote and the Liberal Democrats 15pc. Nearly a third (31pc) of landlords said they were unsure or would not disclose who they would pick. Richard Lambert, of the NLA, said: The Tories attitude seems to be: Well, who else are landlords going to vote for? The response is coming back loud and clear: not you. Daily Telegraph >Today: Gary Porter in Local Government: The local elections werent just about Brexit. Hostility to new housing was a big factor. Labour MP backs anti-LGBT protests A Labour MP has blamed protests at the school gates on a primary school head who is teaching her pupils about same-sex marriage, and said he would object if his young grandson were learning about gay rights. Roger Godsiff, the MP for Birmingham, Hall Green, said that children of four and five were too young to be taught about LGBT equality and he supported the right of parents to protest outside Anderton Park Primary School. The chief constable of West Midlands police said the row was shaming Birmingham and warned that it could be exploited by those who seek division. The Times Farage says Brexit Party will spark revolution EU plans to fast-track investigation into Brexit Party funding Daily Express Farage will face Cable in a debate Daily Telegraph Verhofstadt says populism will destroy the EU The Times Charity boss fired after acid attack tweet Daily Express The Brexit Party pledged last night that victory in the European elections would be only the beginning of a revolution that would shake Westminster. At a rally in London that organisers said attracted 3,000 supporters, Ann Widdecombe, the former Tory minister, had a message for MPs. Either let Britain leave the EU or well make sure you leave Westminster, she said. Thursday is not the end. Its the beginning of bringing true democracy back to this country. With less than 48 hours to go before the elections, which polls suggest the party is on course to win, Nigel Farage, the partys leader, told supporters that they had the establishment terrified. The Times Comment: Clumsy calls to probe Brexit Party funding could backfire Tom Harris, Daily Telegraph We should be stirred by Farages milkshake Robert Shrimsley, FT Hell have the last laugh Leo McKinstry, The Sun Theyll need to pull their socks up to be the voice of Middle England Angela Epstein, Daily Telegraph >Today: Anthony Browne in Comment: Policy Gains from Brexit 3) Restoring Duty Free Daniel Finkelstein: Why Change UK are doomed From all this, it should be obvious that the launch of Change UK has not been the same as the launch of the SDP. Not the same in elan, or enthusiasm, or organisational discipline or quality of leadership. Not the same in depth of thinking or basic competence. An element of surprise is vital in politics but you arent supposed to take yourself by surprise. Change UK look completely startled by their own existence. Even the most basic organisational task seems too hard. Even basic questions receive no answer. At their launch they were sure they were all independents but unclear whether this meant that they were independent of the main parties or independent of each other. The Times Theyre dithering their way to irrelevance Asa Bennett and Mickey Carroll, Daily Telegraph Extreme Remainers are driven by misguided pessimism about the future Robert Tombs, Daily Telegraph SNP vow to tackle inhumane welfare system UNs scathing report on Tory social security policies The Guardian Scotlands new social security system will replace inhumane practices imposed by the UK government and replace them with values of dignity and respect, the Scottish welfare secretary has said. Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Scottish National party governments secretary for social security, told the Financial Times that many people claiming disabled benefits through the Department for Work and Pensions had suffered mental and physical harm from its assessment process. We are determined to have a system that works with dignity, fairness and respect and it will absolutely demonstrate that you can do things very differently, Ms Somerville said in an interview. FT More SNP: Sturgeon defends policy of keeping currency options open The Scotsman Convicted IRA bomber urges unionists to reject paramilitaries endorsement Convicted IRA bomber Martina Anderson has said unionist parties should reject the endorsement of loyalist paramilitary groups. Ms Anderson, who was convicted for conspiring to cause explosions in the 1980s, is a Sinn Fein candidate in the forthcoming European election. She was speaking after the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC), an umbrella group for illegal loyalist paramilitary groups which was formed two and a half years ago with the stated aim of moving such groups away from criminality, urged all loyalist and unionist voters to overcome their apathy and vote for all the unionist candidates. News Letter News in Brief: Lord Porter is the Chairman of the Local Government Association. Over the past eight years, Conservatives in local government have broken one of the golden rules of British politics one that certainly held true for us in the early to mid-nineties and then for Labour from 1997 onwards namely that the party in power nationally will inevitably see its local government base dramatically reduced. Indeed, we went into Mays local elections with 2,500 more councillors and control of 95 more councils than Labour, with the Lib Dems trailing far behind on both measures. However, that run came to a dramatic end with a net loss of 1,330 council seats and 44 councils. Through no fault of their own, hundreds of councillors who were tireless and effective champions for their local communities lost their seats. I would like to express my commiserations to all those who lost their seats, and in particular to those leaders who have been involved with the LGA: Cllr Tim Warren (Bath and North East Somerset Council); Cllr Gillian Brown (Arun District Council); Cllr Janet Walton (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council); and Cllr Harvey Siggs (Mendip District Council). Having had some time to digest the results, I think that there are three key lessons. Firstly, anyone who spent time on the doorstep will have been aware of the anger about the Parliamentary deadlock over Brexit. Whatever your views on Brexit, it is clear that the impasse can only be resolved in Westminster, and that a failure to do so will lead to more voter frustration and electoral pain for the Conservative Party. Secondly, although Brexit was the single biggest source of voter discontent, controversies over planning and development were also a key reason for our losses in a number of areas. This poses a particular challenge, since whilst supporting significant housing developments can alienate some of our core supporters, it is accepted that our poor performance amongst younger middle-aged voters at the last General Election was due to their frustration at not being able to get on the housing ladder. The Government has committed to building 300,000 new homes by the mid-2020s, and Conservative councils are integral to the development of this. But in order to do this with public consent, the Government must make sure that the money is available to provide the infrastructure needed to make this sustainable. Ironically, those who are the loudest at objecting to development in the immediate vicinity of their own homes are often the same people who are concerned that their children and grandchildren are still living in rented accomodation in their forties. Electorally, we cannot afford to alienate either of these groups, but getting local support for large-scale development is increasingly difficult. Thirdly, whilst the results overall were disappointing, and particularly so against the Lib Dems and Independents, we had some notable successes against Labour, including taking control of North East Derbyshire, North East Lincolnshire and Walsall councils, as well as winning seats from them on a number of other councils. Labour have now recorded a net loss of over 400 council seats under Jeremy Corbyns leadership a truly appalling record for the main opposition party. Their net loss of 84 seats in these elections demonstrates that Brexit is also causing them pain, and that Mr Corbyn is no longer the electoral asset that he appeared to be at the last general election. To end on a positive note, the Conservatives remain the largest political group at the LGA (by 0.8 per cent) and therefore, as my four year term as LGA Chairman comes to an end, I am delighted to confirm that my successor will be a Conservative. Anthony Browne is a former director of Policy Exchange and a former Europe correspondent of the Times. Anyone over the age of 38 is likely to remember travellers joyous obsession with Duty Free you could buy tax-free alcohol and tobacco, a shadow of the normal price, at ports and airports when travelling between the UK and the rest of the EU. Airline passengers would make desperate last minute purchases, having to rush not to miss the boarding, while special booze cruises plied the Channel. No Government wanted to risk the wrath of voters by abolishing duty free but, despite Tony Blairs desperate international diplomacy to try and keep it, abolished it was in 1999. The European Commission had won its long campaign against what they insisted was an infraction of the Single Market. But of course, Brexit changes all that. A post-Brexit government will be free to bring back Duty Free for travellers to France, Greece, Spain and other European destinations (unless we end up staying in the Single Market). Some MPs, such as Charlie Elphicke, have been pushing to bring back Duty Free not just to bring joy to passengers, but to help revitalise ports and other seaside towns. However, the government has been quiet on the issue, despite some media speculation. Eurotunnel say ruefully on their website: currently there is no Duty Free shopping on trips between the UK and countries in the EU, and the UK Government has yet to announce whether it plans to reintroduce it after Brexit. Again, it is a popular issue that comes into play again because of Brexit. If the Government made a high profile pledge to bring back Duty Free, then those who wanted to scrap Brexit would have to justify to voters why they wanted to keep it banned. Matt Kilcoyne is Head Of Communications at the Adam Smith Institute. If you believe anything thats written about the leadership battle thats definitely not already happening at Westminster, it is that there is a fight for the soul of Conservative Party underway. Thats why weve seen the relaunch just this week of Blue Collar Conservatism and the One Nation Caucus. Its why Dominic Raab suggested a 5p cut to the basic rate of income tax, at a cost of 25bn, to an audience at the Daily Telegraph last night. Its also why Liz Truss suggested we needed to free up the planning system to build another million homes on our not-so-green-belt; and why Esther McVey called for cuts to foreign aid. Yet its not just in the absolutely-not-hustings and the we assure you this isnt a leadership pitch speeches that this battle is being fought. Its also taking place every day in the policies that the partys MPs are putting forward, and in the debates in our Parliament. Yesterday, when an urgent question was put to the House on the potentially imminent insolvency of British Steel, we saw the current divisions in the Tory Party laid bare. Andrew Stephenson MP was forced to pick up the baton laid down by his ministerial boss, Greg Clark, to let us all know the Government is committed to an industrial strategy that includes protections and subsidies for steel. As he said: the Government will leave no stone unturned in its support for the industry. Yet just under a month ago Michael Gove was telling environmentalist activist Greta Thunberg and those protesting with Extinction Rebellion that they were like the voice of our conscience and that this Government hadnt done nearly enough to address climate change and the broader environmental crisis that we helped to create. And last October the Prime Minister extolled to the faithful at conference that virtues of Britain as the home of the free market where enterprise creates wealth to fund great public services. I dont recall Theresa May suggesting that wealth be diverted from public services to fund private enterprise. But then my memory can be as leaky as her Cabinet has been. The real problem for the Tories is that all three of these positions are actually quite antithetical to one another. You cannot have a free market and believe that government should prop up unprofitable companies. You cannot say that youll support industries that are heavy energy users and polluters, and also say we should move to being carbon neutral. You should not push for taxes on a European level designed to put steel workers on the dole, while also wailing and gnashing your teeth at the consequences youve helped to create. You should not say that you want British companies to compete under the law, and also suggest youll force an America-first style procurement system for British steel. Mercantilism is bad enough when youre the biggest trading country in the world and able to bully everyone else. Its downright foolish when we start protecting one industry with no regard to the consequences of services firms, banks, lawyers, insurers and consultancies that rely on contracts with overseas firms and governments across the world. We cannot honestly believe that wed end up being the last one to prioritise our home market. This one act of mercantile mercy in Scunthorpe would mean thousands more jobs losses across the rest of the country. Very little cuts through beyond the bubble. Real world impacts of the abstract positions we take do. We all see the money that the taxman takes from our pay cheque every single month. Jobs lost at a factory will be seen. Theyll also notice if government takes 150m of their money and hands it not to workers that are about to be made redundant, but to a private equity firm based in Knightsbridge. Theyll also notice if every message sent is muddled. We know this from the Brexit debacle. No one knows what our position is anymore, and because everything so far has been undeliverable (and against what they voted for) they hate it. The Labour Party cant decide and you can see their poll ratings collapse too. It takes steely resolve to say no when someone is demanding you do something, anything to help. This has to be the case with British Steel. We elect leaders for a reason. Right now that reasons has to be to turn around and expose the message as one of corporate welfare that benefits no-one but the firm that owns the company. I cannot believe for a second that the civil service didnt see this. We must know what their advice to ministers on the business case was. We should know if they thought a 120m loan was a good idea, and if it was used to try and drive private lenders and insurers to extend their lines too. Otherwise were again in the dark as we try to work out whether to throw good money after bad and whether were to support the free market, the business on the brink, or the environment. The muddle need not be. We know from Australia this week, and America too, that where there is a clear message then there is a clear positive response from voters. It should be simple. Cut taxes, get the government out of your life, ensure the security services can protect you from violence, and embed in every department a commitment to let you decide whats best for you and your family. If we dont, the other side have a simple message: Let us run everything. After all we cant do as badly as the current lot. If May isnt on her way out by the end of today, dont back her in tomorrows European elections First time round, ConservativeHome advised Tory MPs to vote against the Withdrawal Agreement, so that concessions could be gained on the backstop. For the second meaningful vote, we pointed out that Theresa May was seeking to bounce MPs into supporting the Agreement before they had time to study four new documents from the EU and that they should therefore continue to oppose it. Third time round, later in the same month, we concluded that those documents were meaningful, that they offered concessions which were real, and that trust in the Prime Minister was already so damaged that it no longer mattered, from the point of public confidence in our political system, whether or not MPs voted for the deal or against it. Which brings us to the Prime Ministers fourth go at getting the Agreement passed this time through the fully-fledged medium of a Bill. Not a word of the Agreement has been changed since it was voted down for the third time in March. But, since then, Mays position has deteriorated further. And the 1922 Committees Executive has effectively told her that she must go soon whether the Agreement passes or not. Her response to this erosion of her personal position, as demonstrated in her speech yesterday evening, is to double down on her approach to Jeremy Corbyn, and throw herself on the mercy of the Labour Party. In a nutshell, she has proposed a bargain to the Commons: add anything you like to the Bill as long as youre prepared to pass it. This includes for the first time a specific commitment to seek to hold a second referendum on EU membership if the Commons votes for one. It follows that May is so desperate to pass the Agreement thereby leaving a legacy other than of total defeat that she is willing to propose within it the means of its own destruction. Put aside for the moment the rights and wrongs of her doing so. Very simply, there is no sign that her gambit will work, regardless of any merits that her plan may or may not have. The referendum offer isnt enough for Keir Starmer and the confirmatory vote fanatics of the Labour Party. But it is too much for Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab, Iain Duncan Smith, David Davis and 23 other Conservative MPs who have now switched from supporting the Agreement last time round to opposing it. So if put to the Commons, it will go down to a bigger defeat than in late March reversing what progress the Prime Minister has made in whittling down opposition to it during the course of the year. It is therefore now doubtful whether or not a Bill proposing it is put to the House after the Whitsun recess, and maybe at all. Whether it is or isnt, Mays departure from Downing Street will now be accelerated. Putting the Bill to the Commons would mean defeat, which she could not survive. But withholding it would mean statis. That would send Graham Brady and company to ask her to go, and change the leadership challenge rules were she to refuse. At the heart of the Prime Ministers failure is the collapse of trust. She pledged over a hundred times that Britain would leave the EU on March 29. She then said that she was not prepared to delay Brexit later than the end of June. And she added that holding European elections would be unacceptable. These broken commitments have led directly to the collapse of the Conservative poll rating. In a nutshell, the former UKIP voters lured to the blue column in the wake of the referendum result have gone to the Brexit Party. There is no sign of them coming back any time soon. Indeed, the longer May continues in Downing Street, the greater the damage to the Tory brand. The failure to leave the EU on time may join the Iraq War and the expenses scandal as a symbol of a corrupted political class. She is scorching the earth that her successor will inherit. Which brings us to that European election tomorrow. The Pope is a Catholic, bears do what everyone knows they do in the woods, and ConservativeHome advises its readers to vote Tory. The best one for doing so continues to apply: namely, that it is better to be represented by Conservatives than not, especially if they include those of the calibre of, say, Syed Kamall, our columnist Daniel Hannan and Emma McClarkin. However, there is a flaw in this usual logic namely, that these elections should not be taking place. That they are happening concedes the possibility that we will not leave the EU in October, or perhaps afterwards. It is this raising of two fingers to the referendum result that has collapsed the Conservative position. The Tory leadership knows this as well as you or I do, and is so embarrassed by it that it has scarcely campaigned. The Partys website front page bears no reference to tomorrows poll. Its Twitter feed is so embarrassed that it has put up plugs for the cause only over the last 24 hours. At least one campaigning leaflet doesnt mention Brexit at all. A single photo sums the situation up of a despondent May leaving the stage, at a campaign launch with no audience present and a single journalist reporting, while Ashley Fox winces in the background and three cheerless other candidates fail to raise a single smile between them. It is the photographic equivalent of clinical depression. Furthermore, the rushed selection timetable leaves many Tory voters in a bind. Rightly or wrongly, members have had no input. Which means some unpalatable choices. If you are a pro-Brexit voter in the North-West, you have no alternative, if willing to vote Conservative, than to plump for pro-Remain devotee Sajid Karim, who tops the list. If you are an anti-Brexit one in the South-East, you must do the same for Hannan. For some, this will not be incentive to vote in either case. No wonder most Tory MPs have scarcely campaigned, if they have done so at all. Add up the number of Conservative councillors who will either vote for another party or abstain, and you have well over two in five. Among Party members, according to our survey, it will be more than three in five. The 1922 Committee Executive meets today. It has already pointed the Prime Minister towards the exit door. It should now take her gently by the arm, and steer her through it as soon as possible. A new leader should be in place by the end of this Parliamentary session. As for tomorrow, we cannot but ask how we can have confidence in the Conservative campaign, when the Party itself clearly doesnt? Ann Widdecombe is standing for the Brexit Party. Michael Heseltine is voting for the Liberal Democrats. Both these gestures strike us as a step too far. But as matters stand, those Tories who have not already voted should take a leaf out of the book of the late Frank Maguire, once the independent (and usually absent) republican MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone. In the crucial no confidence vote that brought down the Callaghan Government, he flew to Westminster to abstain in person. Robert Halfon is MP for Harlow, a former Conservative Party Deputy Chairman, Chair of the Education Select Committee and President of Conservative Workers and Trade Unionists. From the moment that a survivor of sexual assault or rape makes that vital call to the police (arguably, even earlier than this), so often, we are failing them. We fail them if they are met by male police officers to give their statement. And then, as they are made to wait in distress and discomfort, unable to wash, for as long as three days (assuming the Best Practice target is met) before they can be forensically probed, examined and questioned at a sexual assault referral centre (SARC). We let them down again as they wait for months for just a few sessions of counselling. Then again, as they are unrelentlessly trolled on social media or by their friends or family, accused of lying. Should they not have already decided to drop the charges because they cannot bear to continue, at trial, we offer no real legal protection no lawyer on their side. Instead, judges sometimes fail to intervene when the defence barristers cross-examination becomes intrusive; drags up irrelevant, personal material; or rests on rape myths to convince the jury of the victims lies. But even after this, we prolong their suffering well beyond the assault. Should there be that rare piece of gold dust the sufficient evidence to find a guilty verdict we fail them at the stage of sentencing. At the moment these survivors are supposed to finally secure justice for themselves, their family and their community their attackers are given a light sentence: a few years behind bars, perhaps. I write all this because it represents the accounts of thousands of sexual assault survivors in this country. Recently, I had the privilege of meeting met a Harlow constituent at one of my surgeries. She confided in me that after a night out spent with friends, a man violently attempted to rape her on her way home. Had it not been for her sheer physical strength or the intervention of a security guard after he overheard her screams for help, the perpetrators attempts may have been undeterred. Despite having the intention to commit the full offence, her attacker received just six years (now, reduced to three). Whilst he was given a few years in prison (only thanks to clear CCTV evidence) a short sentence my Harlow constituent described her life as having been served a lifetime sentence of psychological and emotional torment. Is it any wonder, then, that statistics around reporting of sexual assault, rape and attempted rape are so devastatingly low? Victim Support have estimated that only 15 per cent of sexual assault ever come to the attention of the police. It is true, some progress has been made. In the wake of the #MeToo movement and high-profile sexual offence cases, including Operation Yewtree and Jimmy Saville, we are starting to see an increased willingness of survivors to come forward and report these crimes to the police (ONS). At the end of 2018, the number of reported rapes rose by 16 per cent and sexual offences by 14 per cent. Since 2010, the volume of recorded sexual offences has risen threefold, from 53,006 to 158,162. But, just as we are starting to see a cultural change in attitudes, the Government and Crown Prosecution Service are not doing enough to support these extraordinarily brave survivors. In the year 2017-18, the number of rape referrals from the police to the CPS fell by nine per cent. The number of suspects charged for rape declined by eight per cent and the number of rape prosecutions fell by 13 per cent. The volume of sexual offence prosecutions, excluding rape, also decreased by 11 per cent. The Guardians 2018 whistleblower expose uncovered attempts by the CPS to improve prosecution figures by sifting weak cases out of the system. But, other than vague targets to review policies and provide regular oversight of the CPS response, set out in the Governments Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy and Refresh, where is the real, substantive action taken by the Government? Not only this, but significant underfunding of SARCs and support services is making the process of seeking justice unbearable for survivors. I understand that the Governments VAWG Strategy puts more funding into support services, with a promise of 80 million, and I welcome this commitment. But the starting point for this funding was already detrimentally low, and this additional investment does not match the threefold increase we are seeing in reporting. Moreover, though 80 million is a lot of money, it is largely being spent on domestic abuse prevention and support. Indeed, the VAWG Strategy sets aside 40 million to be directly channelled into domestic abuse services, whilst rape support funding is continued at current levels in 2016-17. Although it is essential that domestic abuse services are properly funded, sexual violence and rape services all too often take a backseat in Government priorities: it should not be a simple case of one or the other. As a result, support services cannot cope under the strain, and we are risking evidence being lost. My constituent waited in the SARC for over eight hours for nurses, officers and detectives to tend to her, due to a lack of readily available, qualified staff. I recognise that resources are limited, and this is a particularly sensitive area of law, but we cannot sit by and ignore the problems. Not when my Harlow constituent suffered because of the lenient justice system, suffered in the reporting of the attempted rape, suffered in the context of the aftermath. This is just wrong. My constituent has suffered enough. Every rape and sexual assault survivor has suffered enough. 81% Website ukpsc.gov.in uses latest and advanced technologies like: Boostrap. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 110263 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of 45683 bytes (44.61 kb uncompressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-10-29, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The food logistics companies Nagel-Group and Bischof will be working more closely together. The companies have significantly intensified their existing cooperation in chilled and frozen transports. As a result of the agreement reached on 1 February 2019, the Nagel-Group has streamlined its network of cooperation partners for the Alpine republic. "To date we have fulfilled the transport wishes of our customers in Switzerland with the help of several service providers. The cooperation with an experienced, fixed partner offers benefits to both parties," says Carsten Taucke, CEO of the Nagel-Group. For instance, this long-term cooperation will result in synergies achieved through reduction in empty runs or simplified processes through faster exchange using IT interfaces. "We are delighted and are looking forward to working closely with the Nagel-Group. The Multi-Temperature-Centre we set up in Sennwald in 2012 and our headquarters in nearby Feldkirch in Switzerland offer ideal conditions for bundling the flows of goods for both companies to Switzerland and guarantee reliable delivery," says Astrid Bischof, Managing Director of Bischof. Both partners benefit through the same philosophy while carrying out chilled and frozen transports. "Bischof and Nagel are not only connected by their passion for food logistics but both companies also demand the highest quality standards of their services. It is therefore all the more gratifying that we have now succeeded in taking our shared ideas to a new level," says Carsten Taucke. Nurses and carers and the crisis in aged care Overworked nurses and carers are being spat at in the street, abused in shopping centres and physically and emotionally harassed and vilified, being made the scapegoats for the crisis in aged care, according to a new national survey of thousands of residential aged care workers. Conducted by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) The National Aged Care Survey (the Survey), reveals how nursing home workers are unfairly being harassed and bullied with a new intensity as a result of shocking evidence exposed in the Royal Commission and on Four Corners, whilst aged care providers and governments werent being held accountable for the systemic failures in aged care. Over 2,700 aged care workers participated in the Survey, between March 26-April 12 this year, with participants asked to outline their main concerns about the current dire situation in residential aged care: 90 percent said inadequate staffing to provide basic care of residents; 61 percent said lack of experience/qualifications of staff; 51 percent said current Commonwealth funding; 38 percent said greater transparency/accountability for Commonwealth funding; 36 percent said quality/amount of food for residents. In heart-breaking detail, nurses and carers recounted the suffering of elderly residents, who werent given basic care as a result of chronic understaffing and how staff were the ones being unfairly blamed by their employers for the providers own inadequacies, with government offering little, or no support: Violence and aggression toward staff, especially towards carers by residents with dementia and mental illness. Bullying, intimidation and scapegoating from management, which reduces everyones confidence, which in turn can also affect how we work for our residents ... Ongoing excessive workloads for nurses and carers ... Staff are being intimidated by management/ACFI co-ordinator ... Often I am requested to lie when I do clinical paperwork so we get more funding. 3 carers and just 1 RN for more than 140 residents overnight. Residents missing out being fed, toileted ... residents being parked in front of TV in dementia wings. Residents sit in wet pads for hours because there arent enough staff on the floor. We are understaffed, underpaid and overworked. Commenting on the findings of the Survey, which included responses from nurses and carers in every State and Territory, ANMF federal secretary Annie Butler says it presents a bleak picture of aged care in Australia and points to a clear abrogation of duty by governments and aged care providers. Since our last staff survey in 2016, nurses and carers describe the situation in aged care as one approaching despair; with the feelings of desperation most acutely affecting aged care workers themselves. They identified inadequate staffing levels, staff qualifications and experience and the subsequent inability to meet both basic and higher clinical care standards as their key concerns in aged care there are simply not enough staff with the right mix of skills to care for the number and type of residents in aged care facilities. Deteriorating staffing levels and overwhelming workloads are having terrible consequences on their physical and emotional health and professional safety. Despite their best efforts and intentions, staff simply cannot manage the workload demanded of them. Aged care workers also identified feeling the increasing pressure of being held responsible for the failings of the aged care system rather than the system itself and the authorities who are meant to be responsible for ensuring its safety and quality being held accountable. Nurses and carers have become the scapegoats for the abuse and neglect, which has existed for some time, but is being exposed now through the Royal Commission and the ABC Four Corners program. Staff report being spat on in the street, abused in shopping centres, vilified in national and local media and blamed, harassed and bullied with a new intensity by their management and employers. They believe many aged care employers, managers and executives lack the necessary skills to run aged care facilities effectively, so quickly resort to blaming staff for their own inadequacies. Staff also level this criticism at the government, which they describe not only as unskilled but worse, uncaring and without empathy. And the pervasive lack of transparency in the sector permits all this to continue. They describe the lack of value they feel they have to their employers and to society and a sense of futility in trying to cope with the ever-increasing demands of a very unsupportive environment. Right now, aged care workers are the only thing holding this broken system together and they want to be able to take pride in the work that they do, they want to give our elderly the best standard of care possible, and they want to be able to deliver that care in environments that are safe and supportive for themselves, said Annie Butler. But were not letting them do that. Years of inaction from consecutive Coalition governments have perpetuated the chronic failures of Australias aged care system, leaving good workers defeated and broken and our most vulnerable elderly abandoned, neglected and suffering. The ANMF is calling on all political parties to make an election commitment to mandate minimum staffing levels for aged care right now and to stop ignoring the pleas from nurses and carers on the frontline who have provided first-hand accounts of the devastating effects of chronic understaffing. All political parties must acknowledge that we cannot wait another 18 months until the conclusion of the Royal Commission the pain and the suffering of the elderly in our care must be an election priority and a commitment to mandate minimum staffing levels is where they must start. To view the Survey Report, go to bit.ly/ANMFAgedCareSurvey19Report Past struggles Their significance today Part 1 Throughout the centuries, there have been waves of discontent as the oppressed attempted to throw off their shackles in whatever way they could: rising up and, in many instances, seeing their protests brutally extinguished. Protests begin like the gentle ripple of waves which re-arrange the atoms of sand on the beach, but those waves, when whipped up into tumultuous seas, crash against the rocks, gradually bringing the whole edifice down. Perhaps this is not a good analogy as headlands do not oppress; nature does not oppress, only man does that, and the oppressed like the rising tide keep sweeping in to change the topography of an unjust society. The Chartists The Chartists, were just one of many movements down the years, attempting to change injustices. Before their demands in 1838, the English nobility had, in 1815, introduced the Corn Laws ostensibly to create an economic blockade to Napoleonic France by stopping the import of French corn. This had caused the unrest that occurred in Manchester in 1819, brought on by the high food prices that resulted from these Corn Laws: 60,000 people, including women and children, had peacefully assembled to hear Henry Hunt speak. However, the privileged classes, petrified of an imminent Jacobin revolution in England (following on from the French Revolution) ordered the Manchester yeomanry to arrest the speakers, which action escalated with a charge made by the 15th Hussars and the Cheshire Volunteers, who proceeded to cut down and injure over 500 people and kill 11. This event, known as Peterloo because it was held on St Peters Fields a few years after the Battle of Waterloo, has gone down in history as a symbol of Tory callousness and tyranny. So, by 1838 landowners had no interest in repealing the Corn Laws still having a vested interest as they were growing rich. The right to vote was not universal, only landed gentry could become members of Parliament and were lining their pockets even though this was still creating hardship for the urban working class. Their meagre earnings could only just keep them alive and therefore manufactures suffered, then workers were laid off causing an economic downward spiral. (Similar to economic conditions in 2019 where large corporations whilst making large profits, attempt to pay workers less and less while expecting their goods to be bought). One hundred and ninety years ago, in 1838, a Peoples Charter was drawn up for the London Working Mens Association (LWMA) by William Lovett and Francis Place, two self-educated radicals, in consultation with other members of LWMA. The Charter had six demands: All men (21+) to have the vote (universal manhood suffrage) Voting should take place by secret ballot; Parliamentary elections every year, not once every five years to check the bribery and intimidation involved in buying constituencies; Constituencies should be of equal size to allow same amount of representation; Members of Parliament should be paid allowing persons of modest means to attend Parliament; The property qualification for becoming a Member of Parliament should be abolished to allow constituencies to return the man of their choice. This became known as the Chartist Movement, a working-class movement seeking political reform in Britain. It existed from 18381857 and its strongholds for support were mainly the industrial north of England, the Staffordshire Potteries, the Black Country and the coal mines of South Wales. In 1839, 1842 and 1848 petitions, signed by millions of working people were presented to the House of Commons, and were ignored. The Chartists were, in the main, relying on constitutional methods though insurrections did take place in areas of acute hardship, such as South Wales. Because many of the spinners were women, this movement saw the foundation of women entering the debate in a very male dominated society and saw them forming unions such as the very active Ashton Female Political Union in Lancashire. The six demands of The Charter were powerful demands made at a time when the English aristocracy maintained only they were fit to rule: and, of course, still thinks this. Karl Marx commented that these politically active members of the British working class were, through these demands, simply demanding universal suffrage. He stated that: Universal suffrage is the equivalent of political power for the working class of England, where the proletariat form the large majority of the population, where, in a long, though underground civil war, it has gained a clear consciousness of its position as a class, and where even the rural districts know no longer any peasants, but landlords, industrial capitalists (farmers) and hired labourers. The carrying of universal suffrage in England would, therefore, be a far more socialistic measure than anything which has been honoured with that name on the Continent. Its inevitable result here, is the political supremacy of the working class. Eureka Stockade Although the Chartists demands were not met in Britain until years later, their ideas played a major role in the development of democracy on the Australian Goldfields specifically the outcome of the Eureka Stockade at Ballarat. Due to the gold rush, in the years between 1851 and 1860, Victorias population increased seven-fold from 76,000 to 540,000, which caused consternation for the government. There were limited finances to provide services and the colonial budget was already in deficit, so the Governor of NSW, Charles Fitzroy and Lt-Governor of Victoria, Charles La Trobe, decided that an outrageous imposition of a 30-shilling a month licence fee on miners would both raise funds and deter the flood of people decamping to the diggings. The miners, many of whom had participated in the Chartist movement for political reform in Britain and others who had been involved in the anti-authoritarian revolutions in Europe, voiced their concerns on this exorbitant imposition but were ignored. Adding to the discontent was the action of the police on the goldfields accused of extorting money, accepting bribes and imprisoning people without due cause and process. This ill-feeling was brought to a head in October 1854 when a Scottish miner, James Scobie was killed in an altercation with the proprietor of the Eureka Hotel who was then found innocent. This was seen as a miscarriage of justice and the hotel was burnt to the ground. With growing hostility on both sides it inevitably led to the ignominious result of the Eureka Stockade where, in response to the miners and supporters gathering to have their demands dealt with, the Commissioner of the Ballarat goldfields, Robert Rede brought in the police and the army. On Sunday, December 3, 1854, 300 mounted and foot troopers, and police attacked, killing 22 protesters with six soldiers also killed. 113 miners were arrested and 13 taken to Melbourne where Governor Hotham called for a Goldfields Commission of Enquiry. However, because there was solid opposition from Victorians over the governments handling of the protest the 13 leaders of the rebellion were tried by jury and released. By March 1855, the Commission recommended removal of the licence fee to be replaced by an export duty and a nominal 1 per annum miners right. The gold commissioners who had been responsible for handing out licences (and were mostly corrupt) were replaced by one warden and half of the goldfields police were sacked. Twelve new members were added to the Victorian Legislative Council four appointed by the Queen and eight elected by diggers holding miners rights, and Peter Lalor, one of the leaders of the Eureka protest, became a Member of Parliament. It was a victory for the miners and proved a key step to the introduction of male suffrage in Victoria in 1857, followed by female suffrage in 1908. Eight-hour Day Eureka had been influenced by the skilled tradesmen, (many active in the Chartist Movement), who had arrived in Victoria. These men subsequently became prominent in campaigns for better working conditions throughout Australia, with workers also beginning to campaign and win an eight-hour day around this time. The Stonemasons Society in Sydney issued an ultimatum to employers on August 18, 1855 saying that after six months masons would work only an eight-hour day. Due to the rapid increase in population caused by the gold rushes, many buildings were being constructed, so skilled labour was scarce. Stonemasons working on the Holy Trinity Church and the Mariners Church (an evangelical mission to seafarers), decided not to wait and pre-emptively went on strike, thus winning the eight-hour day by early March 1856, but with a reduction in wages to match. Agitation was also occurring in Melbourne where the craft unions were more militant. Stonemasons working on Melbourne University downed tools on April 21, 1856 and marched to Parliament House with other members of the building trade. The movement in Melbourne was led by veteran chartists and mason James Stephens, TW Vine and James Galloway. The government agreed that workers employed on public works should enjoy an eight-hour day with no loss of pay and Stonemasons celebrated with a holiday and procession on May 12, 1856 when about 700 people marched representing 19 trades. By 1858 the eight-hour day was firmly established in the building industry and by 1860 the eight-hour day was fairly widely worked in Victoria. From 1879 the eight-hour day was a public holiday in Victoria. The initial success in Melbourne led to the decision to organise a movement, to actively spread the eight-hour idea, and secure the condition generally. In 1903, at the unveiling of the Eight Hour Day monument funded by public subscription, veteran socialist Tom Mann spoke to a crowd of a thousand people. The campaign to extend the reduction in hours for all workers in Australia was still being fought by trade unions right up until 1916 when the Victoria Eight Hours Act was passed for all workers in the state. However, it took until the 1920s for this to be achieved nationally. It took almost 70 years to achieve an eight-hour day for all workers and one hundred years later it is gradually being dismantled. The Great Strike of 1917 Again, in Australia, another significant strike at the Eveleigh Railway Workshops in Sydney almost brought the country to its knees, involving 100,000 nationwide. These workshops were of great importance in Australias industrial, military and social history, holding a most complete set of late 19th and early 20th century light and medium engineering technologies. The Eveleigh site was also used to manufacture munitions in World War I, and is significant in the history of Australian unionism in 1892 unions had successfully negotiated to establish a six-day working week, and the 3,000 workers there were responsible for a strike, in 1917, which eventually spread across Australia. The trigger for the strike was the introduction of a new labour costing system brought in by the New South Wales Department of Railways and Tramways. This was a time and motion study using cards to record the tasks each worker was assigned and the time it took them to complete those tasks. The concern of the workers was the right to view or modify their card, and the potential use of the card system to identify (and presumably dismiss) slow or inefficient workers. The strike began at the Randwick Workshops and Eveleigh Carriage Shops with workers walking off the job in protest. Their cause was taken up throughout the New South Wales railway system, and eventually spread to other industries and states. However, it is necessary to look outside the railways to explain the extraordinary spread of the dispute. Class tensions had been building during the war, and the Piddington Royal Commission in 1920 reported that real wages in Australia fell by approximately 30 percent between 1914 and 1919. The combination of anger at the attempt to introduce conscription and the disaffection of Irish-Australians (a considerable portion of the Australian population, concentrated mostly in the working class), provided the atmosphere of class tension in which the strike exploded. The time and motion study was the match that lit the tinder. Strike spreads The strikes all began with rank and file walkouts and were only afterwards made official. Even on the railways, significant sections had walked out before August 6, 1917. The strike then spread to the coal mines in NSW, the waterfront and the seamen. Groups of workers would continue to join the strike right up until September on the principle of refusing to work with a delivery of coal or of goods from the waterfront. When the Melbourne waterfront joined the strike on August 11, a similar spread occurred throughout Melbourne. Other significant additions to the ranks of strikers were the Broken Hill mines, the Wonthaggi coal mine in Victoria, sugar refineries, timber workers, meat workers and gas workers in Sydney. When waterside workers in Port Pirie refused to unload a delivery of NSW coal, threatening the operation of the refinery which provided the majority of the lead used for munitions on the Western Front, the Prime Minister, WM Hughes, declared Port Pirie a military zone to ensure its continued operation. The strike was accompanied by scenes of mass protest. There were daily demonstrations in Sydney and Melbourne. At one point Adela Pankhurst led a crowd of 20,000 to confront the police outside federal parliament in Melbourne. In Sydney, the daily rallies peaked every Sunday with crowds of up to 150,000. The government at both state and federal level responded by organising strike-breaking on a mass scale. A feature of this was a large number of middle class men who were described as volunteers, particularly from rural areas. University students and the upper forms and masters of private schools in Sydney and Melbourne were also prominent. The strike-breakers were housed at the SCG and at Taronga Zoo in Sydney. Strike-breakers Strike-breakers from rural Victoria were sent to the Maitland coal field in the Hunter Valley of NSW where they were set to work in two large pits. In addition to the volunteers around a third of the railway service in NSW continued working, enabling a skeleton service to operate. The railways in NSW had significant reserves of coal, but the Victorian railways nearly ran out. On September 9, 1917 the Defence Committee, (an ad hoc committee of trade union officials based in the NSW Trades and Labour Council), declared the strike over on terms which amounted to a complete capitulation. The decision was denounced as a sell-out in a series of furious mass meetings and, when it was clear that hundreds would be victimised, many groups of railway workers resumed strike action. Let down by the unions, the strikers drifted back to work and, after two weeks, the railway strike had ended. The miners and waterside workers, the two groups most affected by strike-breakers remained on strike till November, in a vain attempt to remove the scabs (volunteers). In the case of the Melbourne waterfront, the strike continued until December. The defeat was a heavy blow for the labour movement and was a major factor in encouraging Billy Hughes, the Prime Minister, to attempt a second conscription referendum in December 1917. The referendum was defeated, however, and the unions had recovered their strength by 1919, driving out the strike-breakers in the coal mines and the Melbourne waterfront. A massive strike-wave that year was spearheaded by some of the groups of workers that had shared in the defeat of 1917, particularly the Broken Hill miners and the seamen. 1949 Miners Strike In 1949, 23,000 coal miners withdraw their labour (between June 27 and August 15). The dispute dominated Australian politics at the time and saw elements of revolution and counter-revolution rarely seen on Australian soil, marking a turning point between two distinct periods in working class struggle. After the Second World War internationally, social democratic parties were winning landslide election victories. Workers were strengthened by the Soviet Red Armys crushing of the Nazis, and Communist parties everywhere increased membership. There was also a feeling that people were not prepared to return to the Upstairs, Downstairs class system especially in the UK they wanted a fair go. Australia had lost 40,000 men and women from its small population of 5 million and those who survived wanted better wages and living conditions. The mass of ordinary people all over the world demanded a share of the fruits of this victory after six long years of world war. In Australia, the Australian Labor Party (ALP) won the 1946 federal election with a massive 49.7 percent of the first preference vote in the House of Representatives and 52 percent in the Senate. The Communist Party of Australia (CPA), had a strong industrial position with just over half of all Australian trade unions led by CPA members or supporters. The party also had 23,000 members at its 1943 peak! There was also a CPA MP Fred Patterson, in the Queensland parliament and the CPA had control of some local councils. The coal miners had genuine industrial concerns. Their union, led by CPA members, had relatively moderate demands such as a 35-hour week, long service leave, and a 30 shilling a week pay rise. They also had serious safety concerns with about 25 miners being killed at work every year. These claims were rejected by the coal owners and the negotiations between miners broke down. The Mining Unions leadership decided to call mass meetings for a national strike, and the vote for strike action was overwhelming carried. Miners organise The miners wives organised kitchens and prepared meals for strikers and their families. Crews from the men in groups fished, hunted rabbits and solicited donations; proceeds went into supporting the strike. Coal supplies were in short supply. The Chifley Labour government called a state of emergency and froze the unions funds. However, the miners had been forewarned of this action and withdrew their funds which were then secreted within the community. Attempts by police to recover them failed and they remained hidden. After the strike ended the funds were redeposited back into the Bank. The names of those that had held the money were never revealed. Some lessons might be learnt from this in todays unions. The key Australian Railway Union (ARU) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU) were under right-wing ALP leaderships in 1949, with neither of these two important unions supporting the strike, and this lack of solidarity from other unions led to its defeat: something that was repeated during the 1986 Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) deregistration defeat, caused when craft unions united with the bosses, the police and Labor governments by agreeing to scab on BLF members who were barred from sites until they joined another union. It is important not to forget history. The miners strike was having a serious effect on the national economy: coal stocks were becoming depleted; thousands of workers were losing their jobs due to power shortages. The ACTU (the umbrella body of the unions) condemned the strike, and a mass of opposition was growing against the miners. Naturally, the government claimed the strike was a conspiracy by the Communists for a takeover of Australia, but support for Communism among the miners wasnt strong. However, the Red Bogey campaign spread by the government was working. Leaders of the strike were jailed. But the strike continued. This led to the Labor government for the first time in Australias history using the armed forces to work the open cut mines, and it was rumoured they would use arms on the strikers if necessary. It just goes to show the lengths a Labor government was prepared to go. The strike was doomed to fail with troops carrying out their work (2,500 troops worked the open cut mines at Newcastle, Muswellbrook and Ben Bullen and 7 other mines later) and right-wing unions scabbing instead of supporting them. The combination of forces was too much. What the 1949 Miners Strike did achieve was long service leave, which is now enjoyed throughout Australia. Eileen Whitehead is a member of the Perth Branch, CPA. (Past struggles Their significance today Anti-union Labor-Liberal Part 2) Iranian Communists rally Iranian Communists have called for unity among the countrys progressives striving for peace in response to US sabre-rattling intent on provoking war with Tehran. The Tudeh Party noted a very worrying rise of tensions between the racist, pseudo-fascist, and reactionary Trump administration and the regime of the Islamic Republic of Iran in recent days. It warned that imperialist intervention would lead to bloodshed and must be resisted and confronted with full power. US National Security Adviser John Bolton recently mobilised the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to the Arabian Sea under the control of CentCom (US Central Command in the Middle East). Last week B-52 strategic bombers arrived at the US air base al-Udeid, southwest of Doha, Qatar. He claimed the move was in response to Irans worrying behaviours with the aim of sending a clear message to the Iranian regime that any attack on the interests of the United States or its allies will be met with unrelenting power. The US has dispatched the biggest military mobilisation to the Persian Gulf in the past 30 years. This includes the USS Arlington, an amphibious transport dock ship designed to land troops and vehicles onto a beachhead, and Patriot anti-missile systems, as the threat of war looms. Bolton has already drawn up plans to deploy a force of 120,000 troops should Iran attack American forces or accelerate work on nuclear weapons. Washington has ratcheted-up tensions with Iran since it pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action nuclear deal last year, despite Tehran abiding by its side of the agreement. Iran has announced that it will stop honouring some parts of the deal as hostilities escalate. The punitive sanctions regime is causing hardship for Iranians as the economy continues to plummet due to falling oil sales, with millions living below the poverty line. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned that its impact could be more severe than the eight-year Iran-Iraq war. An anonymous official admitted to the Times newspaper that the ultimate goal of the year-long economic sanctions campaign ... was to draw Iran into an armed conflict with the US. The refusal to extend the exemption from sanctions related to oil sales to several countries was met with an angry response from Tehran. Iran warned that if it is blocked from using the Strait of Hormuz, it will not hesitate even a moment to protect and defend the Iranian waterway. The Tudeh Party called for all progressive forces in the region to unite to prevent a dangerous and catastrophic military conflict that would have terrible consequences. Morning Star The Zionist idea has never been more terrifying than it is today On this 71st annual commemoration of Palestines Jewish-state Nakba, lets resolve not to continue to oversimplify things. Whether you believe the American rabbi and historian Arthur Hertzbergs assessment of the Zionist idea as unprecedented ... an essential dialogue between the Jew and the nations of the earth, rather than a matter between Jews and God, or you believe the assessment of Assad Razzouk, researcher and contributor to the PLO Research Centres 1970 Arabic translation of Hertzbergs book, that Zionism, at its heart, emerged naturally from Jewish religious sources and is thoroughly influenced and motivated by traditional Jewish religious ideas, both conscious and unconscious, the fact remains that there exists a complex picture of the relationship between Judaism and Zionism. To Palestinians, the intersection between Judaism and Zionism has always been considered the most dangerous aspect of Israels existence as a Jewish state in Palestine today. The focus today among the international activist community advocating for Palestine is on Zionisms modern European political and ideological roots, a focus that represents Zionism as no different from any other form of European colonialism, as a settler-colonial movement foreign to the Middle East. This narrative, if you will, has made great inroads in concentrating international attention, especially through the human rights formulations of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. But I believe, by itself, such a theoretical framework for the Palestinian decades-long struggle for justice and liberation is insufficient to effect change, not only because of the ongoing complicity of Western powers in the Nakba, but also because, by itself, this narrative cannot sufficiently move the hearts and minds of Israelis and Jews worldwide. Only a resurgence of the progressive and developed principles of Reform Judaism, as expressed in a series of rabbinical conferences in German lands in the 1840s and in the US in the second half of the 19th century, will have the necessary ideological power to defeat Zionism. Upon the partitioning of Palestine and the establishment of Israel as a Jewish state, Herzls expectation that rabbis would devote their energies in the service of Zionism came to fruition; Zionism has long gained the great masses of religious Jews around the world and redirected their love of Zion from its spiritual and longing sense and its traditional supplicatory character to political Zionism, as Assad Razzouk expressed it in his book al-Dawla wa-l-Din (Religion and the State). The Reform Judaism movement, a modern historical development of Judaism, arose early in the 19th century, in reaction to changing conditions in Europe that overthrew oppressive medieval laws against Jews. The movement, among whose requirements was the repudiation or disavowal of Jewish nationalist aspirations, aimed to accommodate the beliefs and religious practices of Judaism to the new liberal and enlightened age in Europe and in the US. Reform Judaism addresses both the Zionist idea of the historical inevitability of a Jewish state resulting from anti-Semitism and other external factors, as well as the messianic idea resulting from religion and religious texts the book of Exodus and the belief in the advent of the messiah. Reform Judaism disrupts the conception, so useful to Israel, that Zionism is heir to a long uninterrupted Jewish history. It also opens up the door for the universal application of the supposed values of modern (i.e. political) Zionism namely, individual liberty, national freedom, economic and social justice, i.e. the door for the Palestinian people that Zionism slammed shut against them in their own homeland. Many Jews (as well as Evangelical Christians) understand Israels 1967 occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a wonderful, almost miraculous restoration of Jewish sovereignty over ancient religious sites. To Reform Jews worldwide who had been shaken out of their optimistic, universalist stance after the Holocaust, the war of 1967 also brought Israel close to home to Canadian, American (and other) Jews around the world, through ethnic pride. The Naksa, as Palestinians call the war, fed the Jewish identity side of Reform Judaism, destabilising the balance this reform movement was trying to uphold, at its inception, in the interplay between universalism and particularism, an interplay that, to Palestinians, means having ones cake and eating it too. Reform Judaism has now reached its 200th anniversary. Can the Reform movement, not Zionism, finally satisfy Jewish religious and identity needs in a way that swings the interplay between the universal and particular in Palestinians favour? In History of Reform Judaism and a Look Ahead: In Search of Belonging, Rabbi Lawrence A. Englander (Canadian) writes: Two hundred years ago, ones personal identity was essentially defined through one or two primary groups to which one belonged usually country and religion. Today, identity is more fractionalised and complex, determined by such factors as country, language, gender, profession, socioeconomic status and religion. Each of these components make up our identity like pieces of a pie. The PLO charter declares Judaism as a religion and not nationalism, and describes Jews as citizens of the states to which they belong ... not a single people with a separate identity. These definitions of Judaism and Jews play an important role in the rhetorical battle against Zionism. In the 1964 and 1968 PLO National Charters, the words Muslim or Islam dont appear. Palestinian nationalism is universalist in nature, encompassing both Muslims and Christians as well as indigenised Jews pre-1948. And even though the multiplicity of religions within a single national movement does not abolish concerns or religious communal interests from the national agenda, such concerns can be addressed rationally within the context of one secular and democratic state. The Palestinian will for national liberation is not disconnected from religious impulses. Hamas and Islamic Jihad are explicitly religious and function as a response to the judaisation of Jerusalem, in particular. The Palestinian understanding of Zionism as a movement at the heart of which lies religious, messianic interests and myths (as documented and argued prolifically by the PLO Research Centre in Beirut) has long been silenced or attacked in scholarly debate and blurred by contemporary politics as going against the secularist claims of Zionist leaders, but it provides us with an important insight. Ignoring it or refusing to engage in it dismisses a vital context of the Palestinian struggle and forms an insurmountable obstacle to the formation of a secular democratic state in all of Palestine, the only remaining viable solution to Israels aggression on the Palestinian people. Christians who now embrace Zionism (some as a result of funds and gifts received from Zionists) abdicate true Christian values, as do Jews who call for Jewish nationalism on a secular (political) or religious basis and embrace a mythical birthright in Palestine. globalresearch.ca Thursday evenings in our home find a group of women huddled around the coffee table, sitting on the floor with open Bibles and plates of food. Each week, our meal transports us to a different part of the world: Morocco, Germany, Jamaica. The list is ever growing. We read bulk passages of Scripture out loud, taking turns around the room until every voice is heard. There might be a little one nestled in the corner, sleeping while mama studies. We ask the intimidating questions that crop up in our minds when we go over difficult verses and stories. We share praises and burdens and lift one another up before the Lord. This gathering is cherished timea refuge burrowed into a busy weeks schedule. Community in action is a beautiful thing. We are made to crave it, to need it like food. It provisions us to do life and do it well. It keeps us tethered to what is true and good when we are distracted or unsure. It holds up our hands when our arms tire under the weight of our tasks. It reaches around us, enveloping us in a present comfort when the storm pounds against our homes. And yet, community can also seem elusive. Why might this be? We may be well intentioned, but under-equipped. We, at times, have unreasonable expectations, believing community to be an organic, naturally occurring phenomenon. We are prone to think it is the culmination of like personalities and close proximity. We tend to believe we should be accepted as we are and, as a result, we lean into our default temperaments. The truth is, the formation of community requires great effort, knowledge, and skill. Consider these guiding principles as tools for the job at hand. 1. Grow in the Lord and in humility. We can be quick to desire application steps without first ruminating on their source. As Christ-followers, we are not just called to obedience; we are called to come and behold the Lords goodness and glory. As a result of this beholding, we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit within us (2 Corinthians 3:18). Without the savoring of God, transformation is relegated to mere fleshly overtures that cannot produce eternal gain. If we attempt to love others without growing in our love for the Lord, all of our efforts will be frustrated because we have set out to produce community with insufficient fuel. We love others because we know God first loved us (1 John 4:19). We must routinely stop to mediate on that truth. Let humility be the gauge by which we measure our growth in the Lord. Our sin nature produces raging pride that is only quelled when it is confronted by gospel truth. The extent to which we experience growth in humility will be determined by our growth in love for the Lord and all he has done and is doing in our lives. Our best efforts at community will be supremely thwarted if humility is not continually present in our interactions. Pride divides. Humility binds together. 2. Know your own tendencies and those of the people around you. Are you an introvert or extrovert? Do you like small talk or do you fear it like the plague? Do you like group settings or do they unsettle you? Our personalities so often set the pace for our conversations and relationships. We can easily take our natural dispositions and treat them like they are the controlled variable in nearly every social interactionthe constant that does not change. While our personalities are important, they are a double-edged sword. They carry both strengths and weaknesses. Embracing our personalities can, at times, mean taking pride or comfort in our strengths while leaning into our weaknesses as unchangeable staples. This dangerous tendency is offset when we seek to be aware of our weaknesses and, rather than embrace them, forsake them. We strive in the power of the Holy Spirit to put off our old self and put on the new, embodying Christ (Ephesians 4:20-24; Colossians 3:1-17). We are taught to treat others as we would want to be treated from a very young age (Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31). This command provides phenomenal direction, but must be handled with care. We are naturally inclined to give love and kindness as we would best receive it. Yet, we do not all receive care in the same way. Loving others well requires great effort. We must be ready to do the leg work of seeking to understand anothers disposition and give them personal care in the way they best recognize and internalize it. As we will all do this imperfectly, our relationships need to have reserves of humility and grace as a ready groundcover when assumption and misinterpretation spring up like weeds. 3. Build your conversation skills. Conversation is the bedrock in nearly every relationship. Some of us will be better at it than others, but we can all improve. How often do we see our ability to generate conversation as a skill to be developed? Conversation is a discipline that should be intentionally honed. Learn to ask good questions, listen well, and share with discernment. Pursue equitable conversation time that gives everyone a voice and a place to add value. Consider conversation an opportunity to love and serve, rather than boast or outdo. Contribute with vulnerability while seeking the same in others. Be diligent in evaluating past conversations to learn how to improve them in the future. 4. Guard against unhelpful comparison, while seeking good examples. Human beings are naturally prone to comparison. We all do it on a regular basis. We compare jobs, homes, talents, giftings, roles, families, opportunities, and personalities. The problem is what comparison so often generates within us: insecurity, pride, coveting, or boasting. These biproducts inhibit community, they dont enhance it. In guarding against comparison, we must remember that every resource in our universe was created by and belongs to our Creator. We are stewards. We are given different roles, different spheres of influence, and different means. We must not disdain or boast in our specific endowment, but rather handle the entirety of our lives with tremendous humility and care. While we have great tendency to mishandle comparison, it can also inspire us and push us to become more like Christ. Jesus tells us to live in his example (John 8:31). Paul, in turn, encourages the church to follow in the example he personally set as a minister of the gospel (1 Corinthians 11:1). Look at the examples of Christ-followers in your life or in decades past. What did they do well? What can we learn from them? In what ways do they teach us to become more like Christ? We have much to learn from one another. 5. Live simply. Give freely. Acts 2:42-47 gives us insight into the early church as they saw and savored the gospel message. In this passage, new believers came together in unity, distributed their possessions for the good of the whole, and fellowshipped over meals in their homes. They maintained gratitude for what they had been given, even as they were giving it away. In all things, they gave thanks to the Lord as their provider, their life source. As they did this, others saw the goodness of the Lord in them and came to know the Lord by their example. We are an eternal people so easily distracted by what is temporal. Our resources, our means of comfort and stability, so often take center stage in our lives. We tend to hold onto them fiercely, prioritizing our own personal gain. The gospel calls us to a different way of life. As we behold the Lord for who he is, our gaze shifts from what is immediately in front of us to what is of eternal value. In this shift, our resources become the tools they were intended to be all along. We keep our eyes open, ready to see anothers needs. We get close enough to meet that need. We do so sacrificially, not just skimming from the top. We learn to distinguish between what we need and what we want. We seek to live simply, boasting in the gospel alone (2 Corinthians 1:12). We tenaciously give of our time and energy, allowing our schedules to be interrupted as needs arise. Ultimately, we trust that the Lord will continue providing for us and, in this trust, we freely give to others. Community built on this kind of generosity is startlingly powerful to all who take part and all who watch. Community building takes workmore work than we may realize. We need to remember that there is a place for every one of us within the body of Christ. When differences seem too big, we rely on a God who reached out across an insurmountable divide to get to us on the other side. He is our example and he is our strength. Related: How Community Is More Than Showing Up How to Guard against Impressions That Endanger Community 4 Ways to Be Part of a Community That Is Both Diverse and Unified With a heart for teaching, Madison Hetzler is passionate about edifying fellow believers to be strong, confident, and knowledgeable in the Word of God. Madison graduated from Liberty University's School of Divinity and now instructs Bible courses for Grace Christian University. She cherishes any opportunity to build community around cups of coffee and platters of homemade food. Photo Credit: GettyImages/ViewApart Got a question or tip? Contact us at bizmojoidaho@gmail.com. The Canaveral Port Authority and Disney Cruise Line have reached a new 20-year agreement to expand operations and make Port Canaveral home for two of Disney Cruise Lines three new ships, according to a statement. The new operating agreement will begin June 1, 2019, and replaces an existing Marine Terminal Agreement set to expire on December 31, 2027. It provides a 20-year primary term with two additional five-year renewals. Initially, the call guarantee remains at 150 calls, but increases to 180 calls in 2023 and up to 216 calls in 2024 through the remainder of the 20-year term. For decades we have worked with Disney Cruise Line building a partnership based on our mutual commitment to excellence. We are tremendously proud of our joint success and looking ahead at growing an even more exciting future with Disney Cruise Line and Port Canaveral as the homeport for its newest class of vessels, said Canaveral Port Authority Port Director and CEO Capt. John Murray. The terms of the new agreement continue Disneys exclusive operation from Cruise Terminal 8, in addition to providing preferential use of the Ports Cruise Terminal 10 for a third homeport vessel. The planned waterside and landside improvements to Cruise Terminal 8 and Cruise Terminal 10 will accommodate the growth of Disneys fleet of cruise ships. The new ships are expected to be delivered in 2021, 2022 and 2023, with two of them homeporting in Port Canaveral for at least their first five years of operation. Port Canaveral was the inaugural homeport for our first ship and has served as a gateway for magical cruise vacations ever since, said Jeff Vahle, president of Disney Cruise Line. We value our longstanding relationship with Port Canaveral and look forward to expanding our presence there as we introduce new ships and new family cruise experiences. The agreement between Disney Cruise Line and Port Canaveral continues a relationship that began with negotiations in 1994 to build the first Disney cruise terminal at Port Canaveral. All four of Disneys cruise ships in its existing fleet made Port Canaveral their home port when they debuted. The cruise lines two biggest ships, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, are currently homeported at Port Canaveral year-round, while the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder rotate home ports. Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to accept the terms of the new agreement at the regularly scheduled Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. "Strength forged through sacrifice. Never forget." That's the motto of the USS New York, one of three U.S. Navy assault ships dedicated to victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. But the words are more than a tribute -- they're also a history of the ship itself, built with close to eight tons of steel salvaged from World Trade Center wreckage. That strength and sacrifice likely inspired the more than 1,000 shipyard workers who opted to keep working on the USS New York even after the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. "No matter how many times you attack us, we always come back," Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said at the USS New York's commissioning in 2009. "America always comes back. That's what this ship represents." Almost 10 years later, the vessel has docked in its namesake city for the 31st annual Fleet Week. From May 22 to 28, active military ships deployed overseas will dock in New York, setting off a robust schedule of events -- from outdoor concerts to fun runs -- in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. Starting Thursday, you can line up at Pier 88 to tour the USS New York from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (excluding Sunday, May 26). While aboard, take note of the ship's crest, which denotes the Statue of Liberty's crown, the signature colors of first responders in the area, drops of blood representing victims and, of course, the Twin Towers. Related: Ship Built With World Trade Center Steel Docks in Manhattan for 31st Annual Fleet Week Making Smart Cities Effective, Cleaner and Safer This Week in Weed: Bodegas Want Bud! Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved BRIDGEPORT Community members of various faiths gathered to break the Ramadan daily fast at the Bridgeport Islamic Community Center on Tuesday night. Iftar is the evening meal used to end the Ramadan fast each day at sunset during the 30-day holy month celebrated by those of the Muslim faith. This year, Ramadan started on the night of Sunday, May 5, and will continue through Tuesday, June 4. During Ramadan, practicing Muslims fast from dawn to sunset roughly 16 hours. Before breaking the fast on Tuesday, two local politicians addressed the roughly 100 people packed into the BICC community room. Fairfield First Selectman Mike Tetreau called Tuesdays interfaith Iftar a great example of ways community members can get to know each other and better understand other faiths. Our community doesnt stop at the town line or the city line, Tetreau said. We cant change the world. We can change our community. Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim echoed similar feelings: We need to work together on the things that are important. A panel of five religious leaders also held a brief panel discussion. Rev. Sara Smith, the senior minister of United Congregational Church of Bridgeport, said Tuesdays gathering was a remarkable show of support after too much recent hate, including the recent arson at a mosque in New Haven. Theres a lot of hate, Smith said. We need to do more than pray. We need to live out our prayers ... We must do the work of peace. We cannot throw our hands up in despair. Smith talked about the need for clear-minded people who dont buy into misguided prejudice, adding that peace has to begin with me and you. Other religious leaders on the panel talked about the importance of looking at each other as human beings, rather than people of differing faiths. One attendee asked the panel to talk about the hate that can rise between religions, which the leaders attributed to ignorance and a lack of wanting to learn about each others religious beliefs. Following Muslim tradition, Tuesdays fast was broken with dates and water. After breaking the fast, everyone was invited to pray or observe those partaking in the sunset prayer. After the prayer, the main course was served and community members of various different faiths and traditions talked to each other and, as one religious leader put it, broke down barriers to build bridges and new relationships. GREENWICH Cabot the great white shark who earned many fans and followers in Greenwich and beyond has moved out of Long Island Sound. OCEARCH, a maritime research and educational organization that has been tracking Cabot, said the latest track for the nearly 10-foot shark was off the southern coast of Long Island. That would mean the great white, whose tracking device sent out a ping off the coast of Greenwich on Monday morning, has moved out of the Sound and into the Atlantic Ocean. Great whites can move fast, able to travel 100 to 150 miles per day. Its likely that the shark followed food sources seals or fish into the Sound, marine scientists said. The big fish was tagged with a tracking device off Nova Scotia last year, and it has been previously traced to the waters off Florida and Maryland in recent months. OCEARCH named the shark Cabot, after explorer John Cabot. The Greenwich Police Department weighed in on the brief appearance of the shark off the towns shoreline and issued a statement that it was not a risk to the public. This is a good time for Long Island Sound and the communities that line it. We are fortunate to live and work along its shorelines. Cabot reminds us that nature is all around us and we should take a moment to stop and enjoy what it has to offer, the departmental statement said. Cabot does not pose a significant risk to people on the Sound. Shark attacks on people, while sensational when they happen, are very rare. Like any other wild animal if you see Cabot watch and enjoy this magnificent creature from a distance. The curator of a shark exhibit at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Kate Dzikiewicz, called the appearance of the 533-pound subadult shark an exciting occasion. I thought it was pretty amazing, but in some senses, not that surprising. Weve always suspected that great white sharks occasionally visit Long Island Sound, so this was something of a confirmation, she said Tuesday. While many are afraid sharks, Dzikiewicz noted, people should be aware that Long Island Sound is completely safe to swim in. She agreed that the visit by Cabot was a positive sign that the waters of the Sound are sustaining a wide variety of sea life. Its a great sign for the health of our water, she said. The global population of great white sharks have been in overall decline for decades. Around the United States, they are starting to experience a comeback. But they are vulnerable, it is important we protect these animals, said Dzikiewicz. It may be another few years before we see another great white visiting like Cabot did, she added. More Information How many reported shark attacks have there been in The Sound? Only three, according to a data base of sharkattackdata.com None of the attacks were fatal. All of them occurred in August. Aug. 24, 1960. Clyde Trudeau, 38, was free diving off Seaside Park in Bridgeport at around 1:30 p.m. Trudeau received a superficial laceration of the left arm. Aug. 26, 1933. Helen Clark was swimming in the Mystic River in Mystic when her foot was bitten by a shark. Aug. 9, 1890: Raymond Odell was treading for clams in Bridgeport when he was bitten by a shark. He received a severe lacerations to left arm. How many shark attacks have there been in U.S. waters between 1900 and 2017? 1,513, according to sharkattackdata.com How many people were killed by starts in U.S. Waters between 1900 and 2017? 144. How many people have been bitten -or killed - by sharks in waters of neighboring states? New York: 13 attacks, three deaths. All fatal attacks happened when people were swimming. New Jersey: 20 attacks, five deaths. Four deaths were in the summer of 1916 in Matawan Creek, 10 miles from the sea in Monmouth County. All five happened when people were swimming. Massachusetts: Four attacks, three deaths. Two fatal happened while people were fishing, one while swimming. Rhode Island: Three attacks, two deaths. The two deaths happened when people were swimming. See More Collapse OCEARCH, the research organization that tracks the sharks, places GPS transmitters on their dorsal fins. They only ping a monitoring satellite when they are close to the surface, however, so the sharks typically disappear from the trackers for months at a time. Dave Sigworth, a spokesman for the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk, said its unusual to spot a great white in the Sound. The local waters are home to four native species of sharks: sand tigers, brown sharks (also known as sandbar sharks) and two species of dogfish. But great whites are fairly common in Block Island Sound, Sigworth said. Its all about food theyll eat other types of fish, and seals, he said. Whos to say one wouldnt stick his toe in Long Island Sound once in a while? Only three shark attacks have been reported in the Sound from 1890 to 2016, according to a database of sharkattackdata.com: *Aug. 24, 1960. Clyde Trudeau, 38, was free diving off Seaside Park in Bridgeport when he suffered a superficial laceration of the left arm by a shark bit. *Aug. 26, 1933. Helen Clark was swimming in the Mystic River in Mystic when her foot was bitten by a shark. *Aug. 9, 1890: Raymond Odell was treading for clams in Bridgeport when he was bitten by a shark and received a severe lacerations to his left arm. But Greenwich Harbor Master Ian Macmillan said the public shouldnt be alarmed, though kite-surfers around Tods Point might want to exercise some extra vigilance. Not a problem, Macmillan said. I think its probably well-fed. As an educator with a background in paleontology, Dzikiewicz said it was always inspiring to have sea creatures and the ocean environment get attention and exposure. The most important thing is people are excited by sharks, and not terrified, said the curator of the shark exhibit, running through Sept. 1. rmarchant@greenwichtime.com Cathy Zuraw / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT A man on parole for weapons charges was arrested Tuesday night after police said he broke into a home and raped a woman here. Okino Richards, 29, of Down Street, was charged with home invasion, first-degree sexual assault, second-degree strangulation, third-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment. Hong Kong: Judicial appointments accepted Chief Executive Carrie Lam has accepted the advice of the Judicial Officers Recommendation Commission on the appointments of two judges. Justice of Appeal of the Court of Appeal of the High Court Jeremy Poon will be appointed High Court Chief Judge. While Lord Jonathan Sumption will be appointed as a Court of Final Appeal non-permanent judge from another common law jurisdiction. Subject to the Legislative Councils endorsement, the Chief Executive will make the appointments under Basic Law Article 88. Mrs Lam said she is pleased to accept both recommendations. She noted that Justice Poon is a highly competent judge of high integrity who commands respect within the Judiciary and from the legal profession, adding that he is experienced in civil and criminal appeals as well as administrative matters. Mrs Lam added she is confident that if appointed, Justice Poon will discharge his duties as the High Court Leader with distinction. The Chief Executive also said Lord Sumption was a Justice of the United Kingdom Supreme Court since January 2012 until he retired from the office in December last year. Noting that Lord Sumption is a judge of eminent standing and reputation, Mrs Lam said she is confident that he will be a great asset to the Court of Final Appeal. She also said with Lord Sumption's appointment, the panel of non-permanent judges from other common law jurisdictions will consist of 15 eminent judges from the UK, Australia and Canada. Their presence manifests Hong Kongs judicial independence, Mrs Lam added. This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Evie Blad and Andrew Ujifusa An under-the-radar visit to a California public school by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has highlighted the angry reaction DeVos can still draw from some members of the public, as well as the balancing act school leaders must engage in when a prominent official comes to visit. When DeVos visited the Poway Unified district near San Diego May 16, her staff asked school officials not to publicize the visit beforehand, Superintendent Marian Kim-Phelps wrote in an opinion piece for the San Diego Union Tribune. Kim-Phelps said swarms of protestors could present a safety risk. Her team was very specific on the need for security protocols to be followed. This included no communication to the public about her visit, Kim-Phelps wrote. Parents and members of the public didnt learn of the secretarys two-hour visit to the districts Design 39 Campus until after, when Kim-Phelps shared photos taken by Poway Unified communications staff on her Facebook page. A stream of critical comments followed, many slamming DeVos support of private school choice. Absolutely appalling one commenter wrote. Please explain why you made such a poor decision. That woman will do NOTHING to help the students in our district. Surely, youre aware of the fact that her goal is to weaken public schools, right? another person wrote. Its your right to take a photo with her, but did you expect a warm reception here after posting it publicly when were actually trying to make the future brighter for our children, not worse for them? This isnt the only instance of DeVos aides keeping her visits lower profile, informing the media after theyve occurred or inviting a small pool of reporters to follow her. When DeVos visited Kentucky recently, high school newspaper staffers said they werent given proper notice of the event. A spokesperson for the Education Department did not respond to several requests for comment. The Poway superintendent wrote in her opinion piece that she saw the visit as a chance to show DeVos the promise of strong public schools. Going into this, I was aware of the controversy surrounding the secretary, especially when it comes to her stance and actions regarding public education, Kim-Phelps wrote. As a superintendent of a public school district, I serve as an advocate for public education. Sometimes that means having difficult conversations and interacting or engaging with people that may have differing opinions, to try to influence and bring awareness to the actual work and successes happening in our public schools. Design 39 Campus is a K-8 school that seeks to promote individualized education based on the needs of each student through approaches like inquiry-based learning. DeVos, who has a Rethink School campaign, visited at the recommendation of a former Education Department fellow who teaches at the school. A district spokesperson did not return a call seeking further details about the visit Wednesday. Clickbait and Chaos While some past education secretaries have kept a relatively low profile, DeVos was seen as a lightning rod right out of the gate, starting with a contentious confirmation process in 2017. The first school DeVos visited as secretary was a Washington, D.C., public school , where she got a hostile reception from several protesters and was initially blocked from entering the building (she eventually entered through a side door). DeVos has since traveled with security from U.S. Marshals, a rare step for an education secretary that could cost $20 million by September 2019, NBC News reported. But the potential for chaos at schools has caused some schools to shy away from official visits. In February 2017, the San Diego school board pulled a resolution to invite DeVos to visit after facing strong pushback. The secretary has made it clear that shes conscious of her ability to polarize opinion: In remarks at the Education Writers Association conference earlier this month, DeVos said the media often use her as clickbait and should focus on students instead. Other education secretaries have been viewed as less divisive, but theyve also faced some protestors. In 2015, then-Secretary of Education Arne Duncan encountered protesters in Chicago who were upset about exams aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Duncan avoided speaking to them. School leaders always have to be ready for these sorts of visits, even if it largely involves just giving staff a heads-up. Brian Toth, the superintendent of the St. Marys district in Pennsylvania, said when his district hosted U.S. Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., and state government officials, there werent problems with protests or disruptions. But in those situations, hes made sure to tell his security staff beforehand, just so they can keep an extra eye open for things. Visiting dignitaries to his schools havent had security details, Toth noted, but he said hed be sure to heed whatever security protocols an inbound official wants: We respect whatever the visitor would like to have done. When staffers for then-President Bill Clinton told Fairfax County, Va., schools that the president wanted to visit an elementary school there shortly after news broke of his affair with Monica Lewinsky, Dan Domenech, the districts superintendent at the time, said he wasnt about to say no to the president. (Fairfax County is just outside of Washington, D.C.) However, he did work with the administration to try to ensure that Clintons visit occurred at the time of day that would cause the least possible disruption to the school, among other things. Clinton, he noted, got an overwhelmingly positive reception when he came to the school. The problem arises when it is an individual with some degree of notoriety, and negative notoriety at that, said Domenech, whos now the executive director of AASA, the School Superintendents Association. However, he also echoed a point made by Kim-Phelps, that DeVos position should be respected irrespective of her specific views, and that telling a school community in advance of such a visit can also create complications. As secretary, DeVos has visited dozens of public schools (both traditional public schools and charters) in states ranging from Florida to Oregon. Protesters have also greeted her when shes visited schools in states such as Maryland and Nebraska. Reasons for her trips to these schools vary from highlighting a high schools work to improve academic results for disadvantaged students, to touring facilities after damage caused by natural disasters. However, during a controversial 2018 interview with the 60 Minutes CBS News program, DeVos did catch some heat for admitting she didnt intentionally visit low-performing schools . So how would you react if DeVos visited the school where you teach or send your children? Let us know in the comments section. Follow us on Twitter @PoliticsK12 . And follow the Andrew Ujifusa half of Politics K-12 @AndrewUjifusa . Contributed / Bridgeport Hospital MONROE Nearly 400 employees were honored for service milestones of five to 50 years at Bridgeport Hospitals Employee Recognition Dinner May 14 at The Waterview in Monroe. Paul de Regt of Trumbull, physical therapist, Ahlbin Rehabilitation Centers, was named Employee of the Year and Victoria Monks of Stratford, Cardiovascular Services technologist, received the George B. and Alice P. Longstreth Humanness Award. A dog gave birth to six puppies in the back of Florida couples car shortly after they rescued it from a high-kill shelter in Georgia. Rebecca Lynch, a DeLand resident and president of Poodle and Pooch Rescue said she got a call about a very pregnant dog dumped at a high-kill rural shelter in Georgia while she and her husband were on vacation in Savannah. The following excerpt is from Mark J. Kohlers book The Tax and Legal Playbook. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound | Entrepreneur Books You'd be astounded at the number of clients I meet with who literally know nothing about their partners background, their approach to business, and their vision for the partnership. They rush into the relationship so quickly that they dont even gather this fundamental knowledge about their partner. Here are some issues to consider before you ink any partnership deal: Obviously, only go into business with those you trust. Vet everyone in your business dealings, whether it be a contractor, a tenant, etc. This could mean conducting background checks and calling personal references. This is especially true with your business partner(s) and is by far the most important way to protect yourself when entering a partnership. Address potential issues before they become issues. Talk about worst-case scenarios. If your partner isnt willing to do so, for whatever reason, you have the wrong partner. Read and understand your partnership documents before you sign them. A good attorney can help you identify possible issues and present solutions, but ultimately you and your business partner(s) need to take ownership of the agreement and share a thorough understanding of how it will govern your business. you sign them. A good attorney can help you identify possible issues and present solutions, but ultimately you and your business partner(s) need to take ownership of the agreement and share a thorough understanding of how it will govern your business. Consider getting separate counsel if using the same attorney as your partner(s) is presenting concerns. If you live in a community property state, have every business partners spouse sign the partnership/operating agreement and any amendments. The spouse presumably has an ownership interest in the business, and you want them to agree to the provisions of the partnership/operating agreement. This is especially important regarding the method of valuing the business when buying out a partner in the event of a divorce. Setting Up the Partnership Creating the partnership agreement and setting up the proper entity/structure for the partnership are the two most important steps in the partnership process. Understanding the mechanics of how your business will be managed is the key to designing your partnership agreement and documenting the terms. While the list of items to consider in a solid partnership agreement is indefinableevery partnership is differentIve narrowed it down to my top ten: 1. Partner roles in signing and authorizations. Have a very clear understanding of what the managers or officers of the business are authorized to do on behalf of the company. 2. Duties and responsibilities of each partner. There should be a description of each partners responsibilities and duties so each partner knows what to expect from the other. Furthermore, there should be predetermined consequences for partners not completing their duties. 3. Contributions of capital. What amount of time, money, and assets is each partner contributing to the partnership? This includes the initial contributions as well as additional contributions that may be necessary to continue operating the business in the future. 4. Rights to distributions, profits, compensation, and losses. Any right of the partners to receive discretionary or mandatory distributions, which includes a return of any or all of their contributions, needs to be clearly and specifically set forth in the partnership agreement. 5. Unanimous vote requirements. Which events or decisions will require a unanimous vote of the business partners? Its crucial that you and your business partners decide the procedure together from the outset. 6. Dissolution or exit strategy. The partnership agreement should indicate the events upon which the partnership is to be dissolved and its affairs wound up. Its possible the business concept and model dont lend themselves to answering this question. But, for example, in a real estate deal, its important to have a timeline and possible triggering events that will lead to either selling the property or buying out one of the partners if they dont want to stick around for the long haul. 7. A buy-sell provision or separate buy-sell agreement. This type of agreement addresses major changes in the partnership arrangement. For example, what if one partner voluntarily or involuntarily leaves the partnership? How are they bought out? What happens if you want to sell your ownership interestshould your business partner have a right to buy it before you sell it to a third party? What if your business partner dies? Or gets divorced? Or files for bankruptcy? Or just wants to retire? 8. Expulsion provision. Carefully consider this provision, which is a double-edged sword. The benefit of such a provision is that you can put in writing when a partner can be forced out of the business. For example, you and your partners could agree that if one partner isnt pulling their weight, they can be forced out. But be certain your well-deserved, three-week vacation to Tahiti doesnt trigger the expulsion clause. 9. Noncompete provision. For example, you and your business partner(s) may agree that if one of the partners leaves the business, they cannot open a competing business or work for a competing business within a certain number of miles and for a certain period of time. 10. Miscellaneous provisions. Some examples include a provision for attorneys fees for the non-breaching party if they win a lawsuit, a mediation or binding arbitration clause so you dont have to go to court if you dont want to, or a venue or choice of law provision on which state law would be applied in a contract dispute and where the dispute would be litigated. Make sure you sit down with your partner(s) to discuss the best- and worst-case scenarios. Have a competent and honest attorney represent the company or have each partner hire an attorney to review the partnership documents and address the above issues, as well as the individual and specific needs of your and your partners particular situation. The Best Entity for a Partnership In most cases, the best structure for a partnership is the limited liability company (LLC). I realize there are unique situations where a corporation or a limited partnership might make sense; however, those are the exception and not the rule. In fact, if you need to save taxes, its typical to have each members share of the LLC owned by an S corporation. There are three significant reasons why the LLC is such a perfect entity for partnerships. Here's a brief summary: 1. Its limited liability protection shields you from the acts of your partner (and vice versa). Without it, you have unlimited vicarious liability. 2. The operating agreement and corresponding initial minutes and formation documents are fantastic documents to define all of the partnership terms. 3. The flexibility of the LLC is beneficial for allocating profits, losses, and capital, as well as for allowing individual partners to do their own tax planning after they receive their allocated share of profit. Partnership Management Tips After all the documentation's been completed and you begin operating as a partnership, you should follow several procedures for a successful venture. Here are the top three habits that will help a partnership succeed: 1. Communication and documentation. As the business partnership evolves, record and document anything that's contrary to your initial partnership/operating agreement. A good partnership/operating agreement will allow for revisions due to changing circumstances, but these should always be in writing and signed by each business partner. 2. Be involved in your business. Dont ever think a partnership is a turnkey operation. People who arent in constant communication with their partners will soon find themselves on the outside and in a dispute. Clearly understand your duties and responsibilities, and fulfill the expectations of your partners or readdress what those expectations should be. 3. Bookkeeping and tax deposits. Dont cut corners on bookkeeping and finances. This is the lifeblood of your business and will determine when and how your profits are distributed. Making sure your tax deposits are made on time and in the right amounts is also the backbone of good tax planning in your partnership. Beware of phantom income, which is income from the partnership that exists on paper but has no corresponding distributions. This can wreak havoc on a partners individual tax return without proper bookkeeping and planning. Related: When This Founder Had to Make One Big Decision, She Realized There Are Multiple Paths to Success Entrepreneur Insider Video of the Week: Use the 'SuperBeing Breakthrough' to Get Paid for Who You Are Instead of What You Do Art and Science of Finding the Right Set of Initial Customers Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved A man who fought back against an attempted robbery when the suspect tried to swipe his designer bag said he wasnt about to let his personal property go. The Michigan man was walking down the street when, police say, someone pulled a gun on him demanding he hand over the Louis Vitton bag. Jerad Kluting told police the suspect fired three shots from a handgun. But Kluting still didnt give up the bag. Kluting told WOOD, I was like, Youre not getting my Louis Vuitton.' I worked very hard for this and this bag Ive had forever, and it means a lot to me. I wasnt about ready to relinquish it to some thug that was going to demand it from me. According to Kluting, the bags design isnt made anymore but its the fact that he worked hard for the item that stuck with him when refusing to relinquish it. "I paid $1,700 for it or thereabouts. I love Louis Vuitton and I saw this bag long before I could buy it and I saved up my money to buy it, he said. "It means a lot to me. It represents me. I wasnt about to relinquish my personal property. Despite the fact he might have been seriously injured, Kluting told WOOD he wasnt worried. As my grandmother would say, if youre born to hang, youll never drown, he said. Kluting did say he thought the suspect fired the first two shots as a warning but that he intended to hit him with the third shot and narrowly missed. He still has no regrets about keeping his bag. "I got my bag, Kluting said. "He can pry it out of my cold dead hands." Ottawa County Sheriffs Capt. Mark Bennett said they arrested a 21-year-old suspect. The man had a stolen handgun with him in the car. The name of the suspect was not released at this time. One evening in late March, about 20 activists gathered at a cafe in Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.,to discuss their campaign strategy for an upcoming election, in which thousands of area residents are eligible to cast ballots. How can we best get out the vote? What happens if a new party enters the race? How do we counter the far right? It was shaping up to be one of the more important elections of recent years. What election might that be, you ask? Not the one that will decide who controls the Virginia legislature. That's in November. And despite the growing horde of presidential candidates, the Iowa caucuses are not until February. No, the people gathered at the cafe weren't Bernie Bros and they weren't wearing MAGA hats. The voters they were seeking to influence weren't even American, but French. Ever since a 2008 reform came into effect, French expats have had an intriguing political relationship to their home country. In elections for the French National Assembly, overseas citizens now vote for candidates to represent them where they live. French residents of the United States and Canada, for instance, have a representative in the 577-member assembly - as do French voters in 10 other overseas constituencies. The day of the meeting in the Dupont Circle, a different type of campaign was on the agenda: the election for the European Parliament, set for May 26. French expats do not have specific representatives in the European Parliament; like all French voters, they cast ballots for a party's list, with seats allotted based on how many overall votes the party wins. Still, France's system of representation in the National Assembly gives expats a more relevant stake in their country's politics - and arguably shapes their involvement in all elections. Everyone in attendance at the meeting was a partisan of La Republique En Marche (LREM), France's governing party. They sat around a long oval table filled with croissants, cafe au lait and policy documents. There were college students and economists, policy wonks and retirees, some wearing jeans or spring dresses, others still spiffy in their work clothes. They spoke in French about politics and strategy, occasionally lapsing into English. Beatrice Leydier, a young employee of an international-development NGO, urged the committee to do outreach with families whose children go or went to Rochambeau, the French international school in Bethesda, Maryland. Laughing, she recalled leafleting before the 2017 presidential and parliamentary elections outside a local French bakery on weekends, where she had gone in hopes of finding French people. This year's European elections are important for many reasons, some of the LREM supporters told me. In the wake of Brexit and often virulent anti-European Union sentiment across the continent, the key issue, at least symbolically, is the survival of the 28-nation union. "Many far-right nationalist parties in Europe tap into long-standing fears about globalization and a dilution of national identity, and are hostile to immigration, Islam and the EU itself," said Kaltoum Maroufi-Colle, an art teacher at Montgomery College. "We want to improve the EU, but the nationalists have no vision for Europe and don't believe in the EU," Guillaume Deybach, the chief executive of a local insurance company, said as he sipped a glass of red wine. "We're in a bubble here," cautioned Jeremy Lagelee, a young lawyer who recently moved back to Paris. "President Macron is very popular here." Lagelee recalled finding almost no supporters of the far-right and far-left candidates when he campaigned for LREM in Washington in 2017. Indeed. Although Emmanuel Macron has been beset with "yellow vest" protesters in recent months, he was a big favorite of the 160,000 French nationals in America, and in Washington, D.C., especially. He won more than 92 percent of the D.C.-area vote in the second, decisive round of the 2017 election, when his opponent was Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front. By contrast, in France, Macron won 66.1 percent. Alexandre Kleitman, who co-directs LREM's Washington "committee" with Leydier, said they would try to reach the more than 15,000 French voters in the Washington, D.C., region mostly through social media and existing networks. (The party has 17 committees working for it in the United States. Other French political parties also have committees, although they are fewer and far less active.) But turning out the vote for European Parliament seats can be tough because that election draws less attention than French parliamentary ones. In 2014, during the last campaign for the European Parliament - where France currently has 74 of 751 seats - turnout among French voters in the United States was only about 10 percent. Compare that to the 2017 presidential election, when voter turnout among U.S.-based French nationals was 44 percent, according to France-Amerique, a magazine published by the French Embassy. Laurence Sage, a retired World Bank employee living near Friendship Heights, likes France's post-2008 practice of electing overseas representatives to the National Assembly. "We need a representative who is conscious of matters that concern those of us with a foot in both continents," Sage explained. Nabil Bessaha, a 45-year-old in North Bethesda who has spent most of his working life in D.C., added, "We want to make sure that France doesn't treat us like second-class citizens." "French living abroad have different issues from those living in France," Roland Lescure, the representative for the United States and Canada in the French National Assembly, told me from Paris. "They're concerned about things like what benefits can they qualify for, funding for overseas French schools, and moving in and out of the country." Lescure, 52, was just another French expat when he was elected in 2017. He now represents one of the world's geographically largest political constituencies, stretching from Puerto Rico to Yukon. A financier in Montreal whose parents had been Communists, he had never been a politician, but like many LREM candidates, he was seduced by Macron's potential to alter the French political landscape. "French politics needed a change," he said. "The usual suspects had been around too long, and many of us wanted to break the old left-right divide." Lescure not only represents his U.S. and Canadian constituents but also chairs a parliamentary economic-affairs committee, focusing on making France more competitive and business-friendly. "It's a pretty fast pace," he said of his job. "I make about 15 trips a year" to Washington and elsewhere in North America. Back in Dupont Circle, Deybach slyly reflected on the benefits of being a Frenchman voting in the District of Columbia. Because overseas French are exempt from most French taxes if they spend more than six months of the year outside of France, he said: "Unlike D.C. residents, who have taxation without representation, we have representation without taxation." --- Yarrow is a former New York Times reporter and historian. He is the author of "Man Out: Men on the Sidelines of American Life." A north Mississippi police officer is charged with murder in the death of a woman with whom he was romantically involved. Oxford Police Officer Matthew Kinne has been charged with murder by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, according to a court order signed Tuesday by Lafayette County Circuit Judge Andrew Howorth. Kinne was arrested Monday night after 32-year-old Dominque Clayton was found dead on Sunday. The victims sister, Shyjuan Clayton, tells WHBQ-TV that Clayton and Kinne were in a relationship. Interim Oxford Police Chief Jeff McCutcheon didnt go that far, saying the two were possibly involved. Neighbors told Fox 13 Clayton was a mother of four. Oxford police called in the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to lead the inquiry, a common step in shootings involving officers in Mississippi. WHBQ-TV reported Clayton was found shot in the back of her head by her 8-year-old son after he was dropped at home Sunday by a family member. McCutcheon declined to elaborate on the manner of death or other details, saying he would answer questions at a future time. In Mississippi, before police officers, teachers and certain other people can be arrested for crimes committed while they are on duty, a prosecutor is supposed to present evidence of probable cause to a judge. Howorth set a Wednesday hearing to consider whether that law applies, writing that state officials say Kinne was not in performance of official duties as a law enforcement officer at the time of the alleged murder. Kinne is jailed in neighboring Panola County. Howorth said he would consider whether to set bail on Wednesday and ordered that a lawyer be appointed for Kinne. Shyjuan Clayton told reporters Tuesday that she wanted answers following Kinnes arrest. We dont want anybody to cover it up. We want the truth out. We want justice for my sister, she said. McCutchen told WREG the investigation would ensure the investigation would be independent and unbiased. "We want to assure you that we will not hide behind our badge," McCutchen said. Our hearts go out to the family of Dominique Clayton. To the family, we thank you for your patience and your trust in us to see this through. Kinne has been an Oxford officer for four years. WREG-TV reported that no one answered the door at his home on the outskirts of Oxford. The department named Kinne its mounted patrol officer of the year in January, The Oxford Eagle reported. One of my heroes is a lawyer and judge from Jacksonville, Florida, named Leander Shaw. There was much to admire in Shaw's trailblazing career as an African American working in the courts of the Deep South, but the particular decision that set him apart in my mind came in December 2000. Shaw was well into his lengthy service on the Florida Supreme Court when the case of a lifetime came before the panel. That year's presidential election hinged on some hotly disputed ballots in the Sunshine State. Under great time pressure, Shaw's court voted 4 to 3 to expand what had been a limited recount. Within a few days, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed that order with a 5-to-4 vote, effectively giving the election to Republican George W. Bush over then-Vice President Al Gore. Shaw was one of the three dissenters on the Florida Supreme Court. Which is to say, he voted against Gore's effort to expand the recount. But what I found so admirable and important about that vote - the heroism - was not whom it hurt or helped. It was that Shaw, more than any other judge in Tallahassee or Washington, took a position contrary to his personal political preference. He was a liberal Democrat and an ardent opponent of the death penalty who nevertheless felt duty-bound to side with the Republican nominee who, as governor of Texas, presided over the busiest death chamber in the United States. More than any other case, Bush v. Gore cemented in the public mind a demoralizing belief that judges are mere politicians in black robes. It was a tragedy for the nation that there were no Leander Shaws on the highest court when this most political of cases came before it. The justices split down party lines. That legacy weighs heavily on the current court. In her recent biography of Chief Justice John Roberts, journalist Joan Biskupic suggests that Roberts was trying to avoid the specter of another high-profile party-line vote when he sided with the liberal wing of the court to save the Affordable Care Act in 2012. And the problem was still on the chief justice's mind last year when he delivered an unusual public rebuke to President Donald Trump, who had complained about an "Obama judge." "We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges," Roberts declared. On other occasions, he has put the same idea another way: "We don't work as Democrats or Republicans." But in a time of widespread cynicism and fraying public trust, Roberts can't expect his word alone (or even his display of intellectual gymnastics in the Obamacare case) to carry the day. Salvaging the reputation of the courts demands consistent, concerted effort. All of the justices - not just the chief justice - should be on the lookout for opportunities to demonstrate respect for the rule of law and an independent judiciary. For example, Supreme Court liberals will have a chance if and when the current challenge to Harvard University's affirmative action policy reaches them. A group representing students of Asian heritage has sued the university, alleging that the admissions process favors other minority groups at their expense. At trial, the group presented a strong case. Just as then-Justice Sandra Day O'Connor predicted when she saved affirmative action in 2003, the policy of factoring race into admissions is nearing its end. Affirmative action has become a crutch, rather than a spur, for colleges and universities that ought to be out in their communities helping to prepare minority students compete on an equal footing. Liberals on the court should join with conservatives to demand something better than affirmative action, which has such a spotty track record. Conservatives will face their own test when the new raft of draconian abortion laws reach the high court. The laws clearly violate the court's 1992 holding that women have a constitutional right to choose an abortion before the point a baby can live outside the womb. As several of the conservatives on the court have said during their confirmation proceedings, that's "settled law." To overturn it based on personal preferences or political loyalties would be disastrous for the court's reputation. In recent weeks, the two Trump-appointed justices have shown their willingness to stray from their partisan fold now and then. Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the four liberal members of the court to allow Apple customers to sue the company over rules in the App Store. Justice Neil Gorsuch made the same move in favor of a member of the Crow tribe in Montana who was convicted of killing elk illegally. With the liberals, Gorsuch ruled that an 1868 treaty remains in force, granting tribal members access to certain hunting grounds. But hot-button cases forge public perceptions. Controversies now headed for the Supreme Court will provide the best - and perhaps the last - chances to undo the damage of 2000. KARE 11 Investigates: Construction equipment at polygamist property New photos show construction equipment has already arrived at a remote Minnesota property linked to a religious sect known for its child brides. KARE 11 NBC News, Minnesota/May 21, 2019 By AJ Lagoe and Steve Eckert Grand Marais, Minnesota Aerial photos showing construction equipment including a large excavator are intensifying concerns that a fundamentalist religious sect is planning a new compound on 40 acres of land near Minnesotas North Shore. In January, KARE 11 reported that Seth Jeffs, one of the sects leaders, had relocated to Minnesota and a company listing him as the Managing Member had purchased the remote property on Pike Lake Road west of Grand Marais. Seth Jeffs is a known polygamist, a convicted felon and a member of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (FLDS). He is the brother of convicted pedophile prophet Warren Jeffs, now serving a life sentence in Texas for sexually abusing two child brides. Community concern A large crowd packed a community meeting in Grand Marais over the weekend to discuss fears that the polygamist group is preparing a new complex on the heavily wooded property. We wouldnt be able to tell if anything is going on there, one neighbor worried. The meeting came in the wake of KARE 11s reports that Seth Jeffs had opened a handyman business based in the Twin Cities and was buying land between Lutsen and Grand Marais. The citizens group in Grand Marais heard from Sam Brower, a private investigator who wrote the book Prophets Prey about his multi-year investigation of the FLDS. You cant infringe on other peoples rights then you turn into the bad guy, Brower told the group. But you can be diligent, you can watch, you can look out for the signs. You can look out for child labor or young girls with babies, things like that. Its the old human trafficking mantra, he added. If you see something, say something. Tonia Tewell, the founder of Holding Out HELP a nonprofit group that helps people who try to leave the religious sect also spoke about what shes learned from former members. Usually between the ages of 8 and 12, boys are sent off into the workforce, she told the meeting. Thats one of the things you need to look for young children working on construction sites. Viewing the property Following the meeting, Brower and Tewell went to inspect the remote property for themselves. I think Seth is trying to establish himself here, Brower told KARE 11 as he drove to the location. From the road, theres not much to see beyond the entrance driveway still under construction. The property is clearly marked with a No Trespassing sign. They could be working out there and nobody would ever see them or know, Brower said. But the private investigator brought along an extra set of eyes. KARE 11 watched as Brower launched a small, camera-equipped drone. Now Im going down his road, flying down his road, he said as he navigated the drone over the secluded property. The images from the drone document whats happening beyond the view from the road. They show excavation equipment is already on site: a large backhoe, a smaller bobcat, a dump truck and the construction trailer apparently used to haul them. The photos also show a large camper trailer, a temporary place where Seth Jeffs or others might stay during construction. Brower believes the photos are evidence that Jeffs is serious about following through with his plans to build. Hes planning on doing some work, Brower said. Hes planning on staying. Community opposition At the community meeting, North Shore residents expressed strong opposition to any development by the polygamist religious sect but struggled with what steps they could take to prevent it. What we do is a real question, said Jeremy Hanson, who helped organize the meeting. Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen and others warned everyone not to take the law into their own hands. He assured residents that officials were watching carefully. But he added there is little law enforcement can do unless there is evidence that members of the group are breaking the law. Many residents still hope a civil lawsuit served on Seth Jeffs back in January and a pending judgment against the FLDS might allow victims to seize the property and block construction of a compound. KARE reported in January that the lawsuit named Seth Jeffs as one of the FLDS officials accused of helping arrange religious sexual rituals with underage girls. Jeffs refused to answer the door when KARE 11 reporter A.J. Lagoe tried to ask him about the allegations moments after Utah lawyer Alan Mortensen served him with the lawsuit. However, that legal process could take years. And, for now, it appears Jeffs is digging in. To see more documents/articles regarding this group/organization/subject click here. Five Tech Giants Promise To Stop Terrorist Content Five global technology companies have pledged to limit terrorist material online. Facebook, Amazon, Google, Twitter and Microsoft will develop shared tools to detect and remove terrorist or extremist content among other measures. The pledge was made at a Paris summit, which was called after the March terror attack in Christchurch, New Zealand left 51 people dead when the the attack was live-streamed on social media. French President Emmanuel Macron hosted the event with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who has been calling for technology executives to sign a pledge as the "Christchurch Call". What was pledged? The firms said they would update their terms of use to "expressly prohibit the distribution of terrorist and violent extremist content". They will develop crisis protocols to respond to emerging or active events such as a terror attack. The companies said they would also commit to publishing "transparency reports" on the detection and removal of terror or violent extremist content. Live-stream limits Before the event Facebook announced curbs on its streaming feature. The tech giant said there would be a "one-strike policy" banning those who violate new Facebook Live rules. In a statement, Facebook said that anyone sharing "violating content" like a statement from a terrorist group without context would be blocked from using Facebook Live for a set period, such as 30 days. Ms Ardern called the measures a "good first step". BBC: Image: Nick Youngson You Might Also Read: Terrorists Deploy New Techniques To Counter Digital Forensics: Microsoft In A Fight To Stop Cyber War: Select the Female and Male Athletes of the Week for Dec. 17-23 A cat owner was touched after an elderly neighbour took a photo of her pet and printed it out for her to keep. Artist Karen Miele, who lives in Nottingham, discovered the snap of her moggy, Chips, inside an envelope that had been popped through her letter box last week. The photo came with a short note that read: 'Your lovely cat. I always look for him. Jean.' Sharing the story on Twitter, Karen explained Jean was an elderly woman who had lived nearby and had apparently stopped to take a photo of Chips as she passed. The 'sweet gesture' left Twitter users in tears, with thousands praising Jean's actions. Karen Miele, pictured, shared the 'simple gesture' on Twitter and her tweet has since been liked more than 238,000 times with thousands of people saying the note was 'lovely' Karen found a printed picture of her cat Chips, pictured, posted through her door on Friday with a sweet note from a woman called Jean saying she always looks out for the feline The artist shared Jean's gesture on Twitter and the tweet has been liked more than 238K times One person said: 'Imagine if many more people were like this. The world would be such a better place.' While another wrote: 'How lovely and how thoughtful to go to the trouble of getting the photo printed. He is a fine figure of a cat and is very handsome.' Someone else added: 'Thats lovely! I love this generation with their perfect and identical handwriting (this could be anyones grandma)'. Explaining the story, Karen tweeted: 'An old lady took a photo of my cat Chips, went to the trouble of getting it developed and then put it in our letterbox this morning.' The image, taken through the window, shows Chips reclining on the windowsill inside Karen's home. Jean even took the time to write the year on the back of the developed picture of Chips the cat More than a thousand people commented on the post, with many loving how friendly and 'wholesome' Jean's actions were. After several asked after Jean, Karen shared an update to reveal they had a mutual friend. Karen added: 'A lot of people have asked about Jean and how she might be feeling. Well, it turns out my lovely neighbour @Laurenfreshphoto has showed her all of your comments! 'Im so pleased shes happy. Weve invited Jean to meet Chips whenever she likes.' The adorable post also inspired others to share their own stories of making friends with animals. Karen later tweeted to say that her adorable cat Chips, pictured, loved her thoughtful fan mail The 'sweet gesture' left Twitter users in tears, with thousands praising Jean's actions. Karen later replied to a comment on her post saying the 'simple gesture' made her feel better One person revealed their own neighbour liked to chat with their cat every week. They wrote: 'I used to live underneath an old lady, who every Friday would buy my cat an unbattered fish from the chippy and sit and eat with her. 'It came to light when Wolfie (said cat) was locked in one day and she left it wrapped up on my doorstep (with a note) instead. Lovely lady.' Someone else said: 'I once hugged a weeping elderly neighbour in the middle of Tesco when she heard one of our cats had died. They can really work their way into people's hearts.' Dozens of animal lovers shared their own stories about neighbours making friends with pets This woman said her neighbour would buy her cat a fish each week and sit together for a while Others shared pictures of their cute cats and said they'd made pals with neighbours as well One woman said her neighbour stops to speak to her dog through the window every day Another said: 'My former neighbor who was slightly deaf made great friends with my cat Lion.....broke my heart to tell him he wasnt called Brian.' And one person said their neighbout spends five minutes chatting to their dog each time they walk past. They said: 'My next door neighbor comes over every day and stands in front of my window where my dog likes to hang out and talks to him for at least 5 minutes. 'She tells him hes a good boy and that she loves him! I hide so she doesnt know I can hear her and let them have their moment.' The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send Sol Prendido or HEARST an email! Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter forBorderland Beat?We love to have you in our team, sendoran email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. A Welsh Muslim woman who claims she's been branded a 'suicide bomber' on the street has dedicated her life to fighting racisim - and training as a skydive instructor. Molecular geneticist Sahar Al-Faifi, from Cardiff, has given up her job in the NHS to become a full-time anti-Islamaphobia campaigner. She features in new BBC3 series Young, Welsh and Pretty Religious, in which she reveals her passion for skydiving, which she brands a 'niqab-friendly sport'. Sahar explained that she chooses to wear the traditional Muslim veil as, to her, it's an act of worship and devotion. Welsh Muslim Sahar Al-Faifi claims she's been branded a 'suicide bomber' on the street due to her faith The molecular geneticist, from Cardiff, has given up her job in the NHS to become a full-time anti-Islamaphobia campaigner She said it is very important to her to fight stereotypes and prejudices about her religion in Britain because she is 'suffering from it'. As a result, she has given up her job at an NHS cancer diagnostics lab to take a two-year career break to become a community activist. 'I have been verbally and even physically abused in the street because of constant negative stories about us, about women of colour, women of faith, and it's painful,' Sahar admitted. 'It's excrutiating when someone tells you, "You're an F-word bomber, go back to your country." I'm like no, I'm from Cardiff, Wales is part of me and I'm part of Wales. Sahar is a passionate skydiver and intends to train as an instructor after completing eight levels of solo diving 'I'm a proud Welsh Muslim and you've got to accept me for who I am.' Speaking about skydiving, Sahar said her adreneline-fuelled hobby does 'raise eyebrows'. 'The last thing they expect is for a Muslim veiled woman to do crazy stuff,' she joked. 'Especially as there's so many stereotypes and prejudices against us, like we are uneducated, isolated, we can't go about our daily life unless someone gives us permission, and that we are like slaves in a modern day [society], which is false.' Having completed a number of tandem skydives, Sahar said she wanted a bigger challenge and decided to complete the eight levels of solo skydiving to become a licensed diver and instructor. Sahar has given up her job at an NHS cancer diagnostics lab in a hospital to take a two-year career break to become a community activist As she prepared for her first solo dive, dressing in the suit, helmet and a snood which acts as a face veil, Sahar admitted she was 'frightened'. Afterwards she is elated and exclaimed: 'I did it, I feel like crying, it was phenomenal! 'I thought the angel of death would come to me, but God said,"No, she's got so much work to do." I'm not going to stop now, I'm going to be an instructor.' She added: 'Wearing the niqab is not an easy choice. There are certain energies that have been painted about someone that looks like me. 'At the same time I think I can do my part in explaining and breaking down these stereotypes just by being me. It's totally my personal decision to wear the face veil as an act of worship, an act of devotion.' Sahar, pictured preparing for her first solo skydive, admits wearing the niqab is not an easy choice for her As she gets ready for her first solo dive, dressing in the suit, helmet and a snood which acts as a face veil, Sahar admits she is 'frightened' In the second episode of the series, Sahar goes into more detail about her anti-racism campaigning. She previously appeared on Good Morning Britain, where she accused Boris Johnson of fuelling intolerance of women like her and leaving them open to attack following his comments about women wearing niqabs looking like 'letter boxes' or 'bank robbers'. Sahar argued on the show: 'This is deeply embarrassing for us - you are forgetting there's a human being behind this. 'He is criminalising us in public life. He has a negative impact on us and makes us feel unsafe in the street. I have faced verbal and physical abuse. 'I was speaking to a woman recently and she was physically assaulted - her niqab was pulled off in the shop she worked in she said she felt she had been sexually assaulted. She was left feeling as though she was naked in the street.' Despite her nerves, Sahar managed to complete her first ever solo skydive on Young, Welsh and Pretty Religious Afterwards Sahar says she is elated and exclaims: 'I did it, I feel like crying, it was phenomenal!' On the BBC3 programme, Sahar revealed that after appearing on the ITV daytime show, she was subjected to a barrage of racist remarks online. In response to her comment that 'freedom of speech does not mean freedom of hate and bigotry', one troll tweeted her: 'Yes it does you dumb f*****g c***.' 'Basically [they said] I don't belong here, I need to be deported,' Sahar deduced. 'This is horrendous. People still think that I'm a suicide bomber, not a human being.' Sahar became emotional, adding: 'It's hurtful when someone sees you as a criminal and a suicide bomber who wants to kill other people. Sahar al-Faifi (pictured) also appeared on This Morning to discuss the verbal and physical abuse she has suffered for covering up 'It's really painful, I'm trying to cope with it and I cannot believe that there are people out there who think of me as this, because it's sad. I am really not a suicide bomber.' Shockingly, a man then walked past Sahar and shouted at her to 'take off your mask'. 'He just abused me,' she said. 'That's unbelievable.' Young, Welsh and Pretty Religious airs on BBC One on Tuesday 28 May and is available as a box-set on the BBC iPlayer now. A superhero superfan paid tribute to her favorite comic book queen at her prom this weekend and her date got in on the action, too. Ella, an American high schooler, is positively obsessed with Captain Marvel and the actress who plays her, Brie Larson. So for her big senior year dance, she honored the franchise with some superhero-inspired touches in her jewelry, her manicure, and even her corsage. Superheroes: Ella, an American high schooler, paid homage to Captain Marvel with her prom look while her date dressed as Captain America Super chic: The got a Captain Marvel mani, a pin for her corsage, and themed nail art Super in love: The teen is obsessed with Captain Marvel and Brie Larson Super viral: She showed off their outfits on Twitter this week Ella wore a glamorous red gown for the occasion after having picked Captain Marvel's other color, blue, for her junior prom dress color. But it's her accessories that really paid homage to the superhero. She wore a pair of starburst Baublebar earrings, shaped like the star emblem on Captain Marvel's chest. She added more Captain Marvel rings from Hot Topic, and had a Captain Marvel ribbon and pin fitted in her corsage. And she finished off with excellent nail art that would make Carol Danvers proud. Super star: Brie plays Captain Marvel in the the Marvel Cinematic Universe Super cute: Brie strikes a pose with Chris Evans, who plays Captain America Meanwhile, her date got in on the action too, adding touches to his own look to reference Captain America. Though he wore a traditional suit, a photo shows that underneath his button-down was a Captain America shirt. He also had a shield pin fastened to his boutonniere. Ella shared images of their looks on Twitter, where her tweet has earned 4,300 likes and counting. She also said she wasn't the only prom-goer to take on the theme: Her whole group of friends went as superheros from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Girl power! Paying tribute to Marvel superheros seems to be a theme this prom season Inspo: In April, another teenager named Isabella Abrian went to prom in her own homemade Captain Marvel ensemble Such skill! She accessorized the red Captain Marvel T-shirt and royal blue skirt with hand-panted boots 'For prom I really wanted to dress like the person I admire the most. Its you Captain Marvel / @brielarson,' she tweeted. Calling up Marvel superheros seems to be a theme this prom season, too. In April, another teenager named Isabella Abrian went to prom in her own homemade Captain Marvel ensemble, complete with a red Captain Marvel T-shirt, a royal blue skirt, and hand-panted boots. 'For prom I really wanted to dress like the person I admire the most. Its you Captain Marvel / @brielarson,' she tweeted. 'Fun fact: I painted the shoes myself, and made the shirt with my moms help.' A bride-to-be was surprised with an elaborate Ina Garten-inspired bachelorette party and it was so great that both the Barefoot Contessa star and actress Jennifer Garner wished they had scored an invite. At the end of Nicole Garvey's 'Hampton's Hen' weekend, the 36-year-old's closest friends donned chambray shirts and bobbed wigs while hosting her a dinner celebrating her love of the culinary guru. Her sister Jessica dressed up as Ina's beloved husband Jeffrey, while another guest took on the role of florist Michael Grimm, who frequently appears on Ina's Food Network show. Amazing: Bride-to-be Nicole Garvey (dressed in black) was thrown an Ina Garten-themed dinner on the last night of her 'Hampton's Hen' weekend in New York Inspiration: Guests wore bobbed wigs and chambray shirts to emulate Ina's signature style Ina and Jeffrey celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in December, making them the perfect couple to be taking inspiration from before saying 'I do.' Nicole took to Instagram over the weekend to share a group photo of the dinner that was held in Sag Harbor, New York. 'How easy was that?! Amazing surprise @inagarten dinner party to end my #HamptonsHen complete with Jeffrey and Michael!!' she captioned the snapshot. The picture quickly caught the attention of Ina, who couldn't resist reposting it on her own Instagram page. Funny: Nicole's sister Jessica wore a curly gray wig to imitate Ina's beloved husband Jeffrey Going all out: Nicole was give a copy of Ina's new 'Cook Like a Pro' cookbook, which has her face superimposed over the celebrity chef's Loving it: The picture quickly caught the attention of Ina, who couldn't resist reposting it on her own Instagram page 'Had to share this hilarious bachelorette party in Sag Harbor over the weekend!! Where was my invitation? I would have fit right in!' the 71-year-old wrote. In the image, Nicole is sitting front and center while holding up a copy of Ina's new 'Cook Like a Pro' cookbook, which has her face superimposed over the celebrity chef's. Her sister who is dressed up as Jeffrey is wearing a curly gray wig and holding up a poster, and the man who came as Michael has a flower arrangement and is wearing a sweater wrapped around his shoulders. All the other guests are donning chambray shirts and dark wigs to imitate Ina's signature style. In character: One guest took on the role of florist Michael Grimm, who frequently appears on Ina's Food Network show. Compliment: Michael (pictured) reposted the photo and noted that the guest who dressed as him 'has the sweater right' Michael also felt compelled to repost the photo while pointing out that Nicole's bachelorette party guest nailed his look. 'To funny not to repost! #hehasthesweatherright #whywerentweinvited #therealdeal #flatteryisthebest #xoina [sic],' he captioned the image. The picture even found its way to Jennifer Garner, who commented on one of the bachelorette party posts. 'The best thing I've ever seen. How was I not invited?!!' she asked, prompting Ina to respond: 'LOL!!! How is it that I wasn't invited too @jennifer.garner??!!!' The 47-year-old actress is a huge fan of Ina's, and the two have become friendly over the years. Jealous: Actress Jennifer Garner said the party photo was 'the best thing' she has ever seen Joking around: When Jennifer asked why she wasn't invited, Ina responded: 'How is it that I wasn't invited too?' More than welcome: Although Ina missed out on the bachelorette bash, Nicole invited her and Jeffrey to her upcoming wedding, which will take place on July 20 It looks they both wish they were invited to Nicole's brilliantly themed dinner, which the guest of honor said was a 'total surprise.' The bride-to-be told People that her friends led her outside blindfolded and started playing the Barefoot Contessa theme music from the show as part of the big reveal. They even had a catering company prepare all of Ina's classic meals for their final celebration of the weekend. 'They came up with the idea because Im such a huge fan,' Nicole said, noting that the party took place near Ina's East Hampton home. Although Ina missed out on the bachelorette bash, Nicole invited her to her upcoming wedding, which will take place on July 20. 'It goes without saying that Ina and Jeffrey are welcome at the wedding in Newport, Rhode Island,' she said. An actress playing the Duchess of Sussex in an upcoming TV movie revealed how mastering the royal's habits helped her get into character. Tiffany Smith, 36, who stars in Lifetime's Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal, explained she focused on Meghan's subtle physical quirks to help with her performance. 'She does this baby hair tuck a lot, where she doesn't actually tuck it behind her ear,' Smith told the Daily Telegraph. 'And she also looks up at people through her lashes, in a way that's very like Diana.' Scroll down for video Tiffany Smith, 36, left, who stars in Lifetime's Harry & Meghan: Becoming Royal, explained she focused on Meghan's subtle physical quirks to help with her performance. Right, the Duchess' signature 'baby hair tuck', where she moves her hair out of her face, was one of the habits Tiffany also noted how Meghan looks up through her lashes at public engagements, as seen above, in a way that is reminiscent of Princess Diana The actress, who is based in Los Angeles, Meghan's hometown, told how she spent time analysing photos and video clips in the hope of gaining insight into the Duchess. She noted how 'genuine' her relationship with the Duke of Sussex appears - and that she comes across as a woman who is ambitious, tender and kind. 'She's someone who knows exactly she wants as well as how she's going to make it happen,' Smith continued. 'I think she always has. And yet there is still this warmth to her that I love.' Tiffany told how she analysed photos and video clips in the hope of gaining insight into the Duchess. Pictured, Tiffany in character as Meghan on the morning of the royal wedding Tiffany as Meghan alongside British Polkdark star Charlie Field, who plays Harry, 34, and actors playing the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. This scene shows Sandringham at Christmas The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Meghan and Prince Harry at Sandringham on Christmas 2017, months before the royal wedding The movie, which will air this month, is a sequel to Harry & Meghan: A Royal Romance, which was broadcast a day before the royal wedding last year. A trailer released earlier this month shows Smith admitting she feels as though she's 'pretending to be a beautiful swan' before defending herself against cruel comments from an insider. 'I feel like I'm pretending to be this beautiful swan', she is seen admitting, as the scene flashes to her posing alongside Harry, played by British actor Charlie Field, and fictitious William and Kate on Christmas Day. Candid: An explosive trailer sees American actress Tiffany Smith, who portrays Meghan, admitting she feels as though she's 'pretending to be a beautiful swan' Hitting back! Meghan is forced to defend herself against cruel comments from an insider, seen left, who brands her a hypocrite The unnamed insider returns, telling her: 'You'll never be able to control everything', before Meghan hits back with: 'I'm still waiting on my curtsy', giving her critic a cheeky smile The scene then cuts to Meghan on her wedding day, as a cruel insider tells her: 'Look at yourself in a mirror and all you see is a hypocrite'. Meghan is then seen standing in her wedding dress as she takes a deep breath, before it cuts to her kissing Harry passionately. The unnamed insider returns, telling her: 'You'll never be able to control everything', before Meghan hits back with: 'I'm still waiting on my curtsy', giving her critic a cheeky smile. Smith stars opposite British Polkdark star Charlie Field, who plays Harry, 34. Nerves! Meghan is seen standing in her wedding dress as she takes a deep breath ahead of the biggest royal wedding of 2018 A royal biographer has claimed Meghan is not popular among many social circles, as they fear the duchess has 'overtaken' their beloved Prince Harry. British writer Angela Levin, who has previously written biographies on Harry, 34, made the claims in CBS royal special 'Meghan and Harry Plus One', which was spearheaded by Gayle King and aired on Friday in the US. Insisting that the circles surrounding the royal family may feel threatened by the former Suits star, 37, who is known for sharing her social and feminist views, Angela argued that some may feel she isn't playing Harry's subordinate. Scroll down for video A royal biographer has claimed Meghan is not popular among many social circles, as they fear the duchess has 'overtaken' their beloved Prince Harry. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex seen with baby Archie this month Speaking on the show, Angela said: 'I think she's not popular in a lot of circles often because they adore Harry and they seem to think that she's running the show.' This comes after Daniel Martin has praised TV presenter Gayle King for giving him the courage to defend the Duchess of Sussex. Daniel, who is Meghan's close friend and former make-up artist, took to Instagram after being interviewed by Gayle, 64, for the CBS special show about the Sussexes. The New York-based beauty guru admitted he was hesitant to speak out in the documentary, after receiving 'negativity, trolling and threats for speaking out and sticking up for her'. However the loyal friend added he was grateful to have been given the chance to change 'the perception' held by some of the former actress, 37, who recently welcomed baby Archie with husband Prince Harry. British writer Angela Levin, who has previously written biographies on Harry, made the claims in CBS royal special 'Meghan and Harry Plus One', which was spearheaded by Gayle King and aired on Friday in the US. Harry is seen with Lady Sophie Windsor at Lady Gabriella's wedding on Saturday Over the weekend Daniel Martin praised TV presenter Gayle King for giving him the courage to defend the Duchess of Sussex in a new CBS documentary special, which aired on Friday evening Posting a picture as he posed alongside Gayle, he wrote: 'If it wasn't for @gayleking I wouldn't have had the courage to speak my truth about our dear friend' Posting a picture as he posed alongside Gayle and switching the comments function off, he wrote: 'If it wasn't for @gayleking I wouldn't have had the courage to speak my truth about our dear friend. 'I was hesitant to share this experience publicly today because I too have received so much negativity, trolling and threats for speaking out and sticking up for her. 'The passion and love the world has for them is immeasurable. But at the same time, let's not forget they're just as human as the rest of us. 'I can't control what's been said and twisted In the press, but I'm grateful she gave me this opportunity to try and change the perception. Thank you Gayle '. In the sweet interview with Gayle, friends revealed that the Duchess of Sussex will be a 'low maintenance and hands-on' mother who will make her own baby food and parent as if she never married into the royal family. Daniel's Instagram post came shortly after a CBS special about the Sussexes, pictured with their son Archie, aired on Friday The friends, including Jessica Alba, defended the former Suits star against what they described as a slew of 'undeserved negative press'. Daniel Martin - Meghan's makeup artist of many years - and actress Janina Gavankar - a long-time friend of the duchess - each shared glowing anecdotes about the new mother, confirming that any reports of 'diva behavior' were untrue. Breaking down in an emotional interview, Daniel said: 'I feel like Meghan and Harry are really going to keep this kid real. 'I'm sure the baby's going to be raised, like, definitely clean and green. You hear these stories and there's no truth to them,' he said, tearing up. 'I know her so well, and I know she doesn't deserve all this negative press.' Daniel was full of similar praise for Prince Harry, and shared a sweet anecdote about the new dad from behind-the-scenes at the royal wedding. 'He's so good with kids. Even when they were doing the family portrait after the wedding with everybody, he was on the floor, just playing with the kids,' the beauty pro recalled. 'And that's when I knew, I was like, he's going to be the coolest dad.' The New York-based beauty guru admitted he was hesitant to speak out in the documentary, after receiving 'negativity, trolling and threats for speaking out and sticking up for her' Having spoken to a handful of Meghan's friends, Gayle also turned to a slew of royal and cultural experts who discussed the Duchess of Sussex's role in the British monarchy Having spoken to a handful of Meghan's friends, Gayle also turned to a slew of royal and cultural experts who discussed the Duchess of Sussex's role in the British monarchy, and how she and Harry are helping to bring modernity and diversity to the royal family. 'The palace system is a bit of a ballbreaker if you like,' a British woman is seen telling Gayle King. 'You've got 400 staff working there, looking down their noses and saying, 'Oh no you don't do it that way.'' 'I think that the racist overtones are still there,' one American woman says of the negative reports about Meghan's diva-esque attitude. 'I think that the sexist and misogynist overtones are still there.' The royal family were not allowed to comment on the documentary, with Buckingham Palace confirming: 'The Duchess has not had any involvement in the CBS special, nor requested or given permission to friends to participate.' First Dates viewers were left reeling last night after one hopeful told his date he loved her and wanted to marry her - only for it to ultimately be revealed they didn't see each other again. Albert, 23, a builder from Essex met 25-year-old office manager Maria from London. Maria said her type is 'a bit of a lad', who is nice to her but still a bit of a d***head', and Albert seemed an ideal match, as he was described by the restaurant's staff as 'definitely a bad boy'. The pair hit it off and Albert even declared his love for Maria before they left the restaurant to continue the night. But when it was revealed that they didn't meet up again, viewers were convinced he'd spun her a line in order to get his wicked way - although there's no proof anything happened between the pair. Albert, 23, a builder from Essex met 25-year-old office manager Maria from London. The pair hit it off, the restaurant's staff said Albert was 'definitely a bad boy' and Maria said she'd go for someone who's 'a bit of a lad' and still nice to her but still a bit of a d***head' Tattooed hunk Albert said he was looking to settle down and start a family, despite 'getting around' in his past, and Maria said she wants 'want three kids, and a house out of London in Essex'. Opening up about how he usually attracts dates, Albert showed the camera the letters R U T H tattooed on the fingers of his left hand. 'Women love my tattoos, except this one, that says Ruth' he explained. 'People ask "who's Ruth", thinking it's my bird. When I'm trying to chat up a girl, she goes "who's Ruth then, tell me about her". I flop out my thumb and it says "truth".' Before Maria arrived, Albert revealed to bartender Merlin that he doesn't usually go on dates, and that usually he just 'has a bit of fun in the bedroom with handcuffs and blindfolds'. Revealing his attraction for Maria on her arrival, calling her 'a sort', the pair instantly bonded, despite him very quickly forgetting her name. Tattooed hunk Albert said he was looking to settle down and get a family, despite 'getting around' in his past, and Maria said she wants 'want three kids, and a house out of London in Essex' Before Maria arrived, Albert revealed to bartender Merlin that he doesn't usually go on dates, and that usually he just 'has a bit of fun in the bedroom with handcuffs and blindfolds'. By the end of the date, he kissed Maria several time 'Women love my tattoos, except this one, that says Ruth' Albert said, showing the camera R U T H on each on the fingers of his left hand (left). 'People ask who's Ruth thinking it's my bird, when i'm trying to chat up a girl she goes "who's Ruth then, tell me about her" I flop out my thumb and it says "truth"' (right). By the time the couple moved to the dinner table he confessed: 'I did get about, but it's time now for me to meet a bird and settle down, get married and have kids'. 'When I'm a dad, I'll be an unbelievable parent to my kids' he added. The pair complimented each other with Maria telling Albert she liked his eyelashes and Albert telling Maria, 'If I didn't fancy ya, I'd have just walked out, snuck out the bathroom toilet'. They also bonded for their joint love of going to the gym and eating pie and mash with liquor. The pair complimented each other with Maria telling Albert she liked his eyelashes and Albert telling Maria 'if I didn't fancy ya, I'd have just walked out, snuck out the bathroom toilet'. The two both shared emotional stories about their childhood, and when they released thy were a Scorpio and a Pisces, two compatible star signs, Albert said 'let's get married'. After deciding they were going to go elsewhere for a drink, Albert told Maria 'love you'. Later, the pair said they planned to go fishing on a second date, with Albert revealing 'I'm a romantic, I definitely want to see her again'. The two both shared emotional stories about their childhood, and when they released thy were a Scorpio and a Pisces, two compatible star signs, Albert said 'let's get married'. After deciding they were going to go elsewhere for a drink, Albert told Maria 'love you'. However, it was revealed at the end of the episode that Albert wasn't ready to 'wade into deeper water' and the pair didn't see each other again, despite a night out in Shoreditch after their dinner. However, it was revealed at the end of the episode that Albert wasn't ready to 'wade into deeper water' and the pair didn't see each other again, despite a night out in Shoreditch after their dinner. Viewers who had high hopes for the couple were left disappointed many calling Albert out for leading Maria on. One said: 'Maria and Albert... I'm predicting it was a smash and dash'. Another wrote: 'So Albert wants to settle down and have a family. I wonder how many times he's spun that line on a date just to get in their knickers'. A third added: 'Knew it, Albert's full of sh**'. Viewers who had high hopes for the couple were left disappointed many calling Albert out for leading Maria on Others were shocked thinking that the pair were meant to be. One said: 'Noo I was convinced Albert and Maria were perfect!' Another added: 'Is it just me who wants Albert & Maria to get married and have babies' A third wrote: 'Albert is quite clearly a player, poor Maria!' A mother of two sons made a final emotional plea in the hours before losing her battle with bowel cancer, asking her family to 'look after my boys'. Tanya Davies, 32, from Newcastle, died on Thursday, just 20 months after first being diagnosed, leaving her sons Ben, 14, and Jack, eight, in the care of extended family. Tanya, who documented her illness on social media, even posting photographs during her final weeks in a hospice, left her family 'crushed' as she made the request while they gathered at her bedside. Scroll down for video Tanya Davies, 32, from Newcastle, lost her battle with bowel cancer on May 16th; the single mother-of-two who was first diagnosed in 2017 was in remission until Christmas 2018, when she was told the disease had returned and spread After posting on Facebook that leaving her two sons, Ben, 14, and Jack, 8, behind 'scared the hell out of me', her family revealed that during her final hours she told them to 'look after my boys' Marking what would have been her 33rd birthday this week, friends and family released balloons and toasted Tanya's life, saying she was the 'loveliest, nicest person ever'. Relative Ian Bennett said Tanya had laughed in the face of her illness, frequently posting photos of herself looking glamorous and enjoying makeovers despite her gruelling treatment. He said: 'Over the last 20 months she's been such a strong, strong person.' He revealed that in the months before her death, she would constantly tell him: "'Uncle Ian, please bring those boys up properly." It was all she wanted,' he said. Final request: Tanya kept asking her uncle Ian Bennett to ensure her boys would be brought up to have 'good manners' Despite her illness, Tanya continued to post photos of herself in the months before her death and vowed to make as many memories as she could with her family After being told she was clear of the disease, she detailed her shock after it returned just before Christmas in 2018, telling her followers: 'leaving them [Ben and Jack] scares the life out of me, I've got to give it all I've got and more... I'm devastated we have to go though all this AGAIN.' Before her death, she'd taken to Facebook to reveal she'd booked a family holiday to Greece with money raised by supporters as a treat to her boys, a trip she'll now never make. She wrote in a final post: 'We can't wait...more memories to be made.' At Christmas, she learned that the disease had spread around her body and vowed to make the most of the time she had left with Ben and Jack. She told her local newspaper ChronicleLive: 'I just want to know they will be OK'. Tanya pictured with youngest son Jack, eight: the family had planned a holiday to Greece after well-wishers raised 20,000 in support of them After being told her cancer had returned, Tanya posted an emotional post saying the thought of leaving her boys behind 'scares the hell out of me' The family spent time enjoying sleepovers, wine and 'made every last second count'. BOWEL CANCER: COMMON SYMPTOMS Symptoms of bowel cancer generally include: Blood in the stool Rectal bleeding Severe abdominal pain Fatigue Weight loss without any explanation A dramatic change in bowel habits lasting three weeks or more Loss of appetite Vomiting and nausea Constipation Advertisement A huge fundraising effort saw 20,000 raised, with two bird watchers, total strangers, raising over 10,000 to send her abroad with her family. Gary Edwards and David Renwick held a pigeon auction to raise the money despite never meeting Tanya. On Facebook, tributes have flooded in for the 'beautiful' mum. 'You truly are the biggest inspiration to us all and every day we will remember just how amazing you were,' wrote one friend. 'Now that your battle is over you are no longer in pain and you can watch your beautiful boys blossom into amazing men.' Her school mate Joseph Wilkinson added that while they shared laughs and happy times together, he insisted her world really was her two sons. 'She was always there for her boys, no matter what,' he said. 'And her last message was to make sure we were there for them.' Tanya Davies' funeral will be held at the West Road Crematorium on Thursday May 30th. A man who was left paralysed by motocross accident popped the question to his girlfriend with a tin can ring from his hospital bed. Craig, from the South West of England, and his girlfriend Laura, won the title of the best proposal in the UK, after an events company started a search for the best one. Laura stayed by his beside as he had surgery and then went into a coma after catching a chest infection and pneumonia. But when he was well enough he used tin can dishes to make a home made ring and popped the question. Events company Red Seven leisure were inundated with stories for their competition. And other finalists included partners that went all out with beach proposals, trips to New York to propose next to the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree and even one Navy seaman who proposed to his pregnant girlfriend after he was at sea for 8 months. Craig (left) who had been in a motor cross accident proposed with a home made ring made from tin dishes from the hospital 'I stayed by his bedside every second of every day. He woke from the coma but had a tracheotomy so I had to become quite the mouth reader,' Laura admits. 'One day Craig takes my hand and mouthed 'I love you', I said 'I love you' too then he mouthed 'will you marry me' and pulled a home made ring made from tin dishes from the hospital. 'We are still early days in our new adventure but we are getting there. Craig is now out of rehab and has been back home. 'Getting the big day booked isn't our priority but we are using our wedding as our goal to get back on track!' The couple say that getting the big day booked isn't our priority but they are using the wedding as their goal to get back on track! FINALISTS Alex and David got engaged on the beach in the Bahamas - picking the perfect spot where the sky was pink Alex and David South East finalists Alex and David were visiting the US for a friend's wedding and decided to extend their trip with 5 days before the wedding in New York and then Miami and the Bahamas afterwards. Alex said of the proposal: 'We went for a pre-dinner beach stroll and saw stingrays in the sea. The sky was pink and the sea was calm and David had picked the most perfect spot. 'He had chosen a ring himself and went down on one knee, recording the whole thing whilst pretending we were taking a photo. It was so perfect and set the tone for a perfect 5 days in paradise!' Alex said that David had chosen a ring himself and went down on one knee, recording the whole thing whilst pretending he was just taking a photo Hazel Staunton and Joshua Bertman got engaged after he came back from 8 months at sea Hazel Staunton and Joshua Bertman Scottish finalists have possibly one of the sweetest stories - at the beginning of last year Joshua left Hazel behind for an 8 month deployment with the Royal Navy. A few days later she found out that she was pregnant - it was great news and the beginning of their own family. 'At 37 weeks pregnant I travelled up to Scotland from Doncaster to meet his ship coming back from deployment. As the ship approached to dock, there was lots of tears and happiness to see my partner and only a matter of minutes until we were reunited,' Hazel said. 'As I waited he was the first one off the ship and as I waddled towards him he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! And my reply was "oh my god are you serious?" I couldn't believe it! 'It was the most romantic thing he has ever done and the best year of our lives.' For her 30th Aaron (left) bought Lucy a bag - inside it said he was taking her to New York - a dream of hers Lucy and Aaron East England finalists Lucy and had both had a tough year, with Lucy admitting: 'Sadly he lost his dad in June and I lost my mum in August. A week before my mum passed away was my 30th birthday and I received a very special handbag from Aaron which had a very special purse inside.' The note said that Aaron was taking her to New York - a dream of hers. 'I cried as I read the note aloud he was taking me to New York, my dream destination, and we were going to see the famous Christmas tree from Home Alone!' 'A few months later and we made it to New York on the 28th November the tree was so beautiful and we stood admiring it and taking photos for a while and then Aaron found a quiet spot at the back of the crowds and tried to persuade me that it was a tradition to make a wish in front of this Christmas tree. 'I wished that we could be together forever and then he pulled out the ring and asked me to marry him! Of course I said yes! It was a complete surprise and a great way to end our year on a happier note.' The couple got engaged in New York when he pulled out a ring and asked her to to marry him! London finalists Daniel and Chasady got engaged at the stunning Blenheim Palace Daniel and Chasady London finalists Daniel and Chasady got engaged at the stunning Blenheim Palace. The couple met five years ago in New York City and have since had a long-distance relationship, lived in Australia for 2.5 years and settled in his hometown of London. 'Picture us, the only people on this two-acre lawn, overlooking the entirety of the palace swimming in sunshine. Dan gave me a gentle kiss and got down on one knee,' Chasady said. 'For a moment I was in complete shock and then I burst into ugly girl tears. The most touching words were said, but the thing that got me most was how nervous he was. 'Daniel is the most confident person I know and he shook like a leaf. That just showed he was wearing his heart on his sleeve and exposing his raw, true feelings for me and that meant so much. After he put on the stunning oval ring with diamond band on my finger, he proceeded to lift me up and swirl me around with the most magical kiss.' The couple are big Transformer fans and just before their two year anniversary, they went to Transformers convention at the Hilton in Birmingham Holly and Alex North West finalists are both big Transformer fans and just before their two year anniversary, they went to Transformers convention at the Hilton in Birmingham. Alex booked an amazing suite for them and we splashed out a bit more than normal. 'On the last day of the convention, he bought a Soundwave figure and we went up to the room. 'He disappeared for a bit but then came back in with the figure and got me to open the cassette tape on it and inside was the ring. 'It was romantic and very 'us' - it meant a lot that it had thought behind it and was true to us as a couple. We got to celebrate with our friends who were at the convention as well.' The Transformer figurien was hiding the ring in the casette tape holder Andy (left) proposed to girlfriend Rachel on Christmas Day last year with roses and pictures Rachel and Andy The North East finalist's engagement happened on Christmas Day 2018. 'My fiance, Andy planned the whole thing so amazingly, unexpected and so romantic,' Rachel said. 'As I walked out of my bedroom, there were rose petals going all the way down the stairs with a different photograph of a memory we have had together on every other step all the way down to the living room door. 'I opened the door and he was down on one knee in the middle of our living room.' Rachel said yes, of course Rachel showing off her ring - she says that the proposal was so amazing, unexpected and romantic Emma Hewitt (pictured) and her fiance Richard Rose enjoyed their special moment at the top of Cima Capi overlooking Lake Garda Emma Hewitt and fiance Richard Rose The Midland finalists is possibly also Britain's highest proposal. Emma Hewitt and her fiance Richard Rose enjoyed their special moment at the top of Cima Capi overlooking Lake Garda. After hours of hiking and a vertical rock climb, he popped the question whilst they admired the beautiful views of the lake. After hours of hiking and a vertical rock climb, he popped the question whilst they admired the beautiful views of the lake. Pictured - Emma shows off her ring Welsh finalists Sarah and Natasha had a lovely day out for the proposal in Cardiff and Newport Sarah and Natasha Welsh finalists Sarah and Natasha had a lovely day out for the proposal. Sarah had planned a surprise day out for Natasha in July last year, taking her on a helicopter ride and then down to Cardiff Bay for a boat trip. 'As we were coming back into dock Sarah pointed lots of storm troopers standing along the dock and as I turned back around Sarah was on bended-knee and asked me to marry her. I burst into tears and of course said yes!' Sarah then told me to look at the Storm troopers again and told me they were all our family and friends, she had been planning this for months and they were all in on it. Sarah planned a surprise boat trip in Cardiff Bay to propose to Natasha last summer 'I shouted to tell them I said yes and there was a lot of cheers. Sarah also pointed out they were holding a banner that read 'I love you Tasha. Will you marry me?' 'Sarah had then booked for us and all our family and friends to go for some food and drinksbut that wasn't all as after that Sarah told me I had one more surprise left. 'It was a night away in the Vale Hotel which included use of the spa and a massage with a delicious breakfast the next day. ' Hannah and her fiance got engaged at the Wine Port Lodge in Athlone, Ireland a year ago Hannah and her fiance Mark Hannah and her fiance got engaged at the Wine Port Lodge in Athlone, Ireland a year ago. He bought Hannah a red Lipsy dress to wear on the night he had planned to propose and it was a very romantic weekend. Hannah said: 'When I was getting ready for dinner, he had nipped out as he said he needed to talk to reception - he had actually used this time as his opportunity to create the perfect proposal setting. I was too busy getting ready to think too much into what he was up to.' 'After a gorgeous meal in the restaurant, my partner and we walked outside for some fresh air. He took me by the hand and walked me over towards a beautiful pavilion that sat out on the lake. He was noticeably nervous at this point, although I still never caught on to what was happening.' Hannah was amazed by all of the romantic details he had put into the setting - personalised balloons, candles and champagne 'As I turned around I noticed a photographer hiding in the corner behind us and that's when it clicked. I turned back to him and continued to follow his lead towards the entrance to the pavilion and that's when he turned to me and dropped to one knee. 'I said yes and immediately heard the cheers and applause of the rest of the guests in the hotel out on their balconies watching the special moment! 'I looked around and was amazed by all of the romantic details he had put into the setting! Personalised balloons, candles, champagne etc.. so beautiful.' The award-winning chef who offered a homeless man he met outside his restaurant a job, says he's had the 'worst day of 2019' after trolls accused him of using the kind-hearted gesture to promote his Manchester eatery. Gary Usher, who trained at Michelin-starred Chez Bruce in London, offered the man, known as Derick, a job as a kitchen porter at Kala on Sunday. After the story went viral on Twitter, the 37-year-old was dubbed a 'life changer' but says he's also received criticism of his decision to pay for the rough sleeper's accommodation in a nearby hotel. In an emotional post on Twitter, Usher said: 'Yesterday was easily the worst day of 2019; I've been made to feel like a disgusting s***bag who's using someone's misfortune for own personal gain.' Scroll down for video Manchester restaurant owner, Gary Usher, who offered a homeless man he met outside his restaurant, Kala, a job, has hit back at critics who told him homeless people 'are humans, not PR tools' One critic, Mark Garner urged Usher's followers to 'ask him to stop using this guy to build his twitter feed'. He urged the chef to put Derick in touch with 'professionals', saying 'This is a human, not a PR tool.' Usher responded defending his decision to hire the man, who starts on Wednesday, saying: 'The only truth. A man asked me for a job. I said yes'. He admitted he'd 'panicked and acted on impulse' when it came to paying for the man to have a week's stay in a nearby hotel, saying, 'with hindsight' he should have waited for the appropriate response from local homeless organisations. Yesterday, Mr Usher had explained how the chance encounter on Sunday led to him offering employment to Derick, writing on Twitter: 'Leaving Kala last night about midnight in my chef jacket and got talking to a homeless guy. 'He asked me for cash and I didn't have any and there wasn't a cash point anywhere. As I walked off he shouted, "Mate got any jobs?". Usher penned a long response to his critics saying the moment had been transformed from the best day of 2019 to the 'worst day' after he was trolled on social media for his offer to Derick 'I walked backed to him and said "f****** right I do". He said he'd do anything. I replied, "mate, you don't need to do anything, I have a kitchen porter position available and you could do some food prep too".' The chef said the pair of them were 'made up' following the exchange and met the day after to discuss the start date. 'I'm buzzing,' he wrote. 'I've been offering jobs to people on the streets for ten years. Derick is the first person in that time to turn up.' Social media users were quick to praise the chef and offered their congratulations to an equally 'buzzing' Derick. Good work! Gary Usher (pictured), who trained at Michelin-starred Chez Bruce, offered a homeless man a job as a kitchen porter at his Manchester bistro, Kala, on Sunday The moment: Taking to Twitter to share his heartwarming tale, the 37-year-old received more than 32,000 likes by Monday morning 'You seem a genuinely helpful person who's aware of the importance of giving people a chance, you might well have changed his life forever! Great stuff,' one said. Another wrote: 'Nice touch Gary. Someone done the exact same to me 18 years ago. I am now very happily married and 17 years clean plus sober. Peace and Love (sic).' 'Great to know that there are still people like you who can make good things happen. I blubbed about six sentences in,' one admitted. One enthusiastic follower said: 'You might have just changed someone's life! That's a pretty cool thing. Respect!' Mr Usher revealed that he had spoken to Derick's daughter Chantelle, from Scotland, who encouraged her father to accept the restaurant role. She tweeted that the chef was 'a legend', to which he responded: 'It's your dad that's the legend. What an absolute f****** star! Can't wait to work with him X.' Reaction: Social media users were quick to praise the chef and offered their congratulations to an equally 'buzzing' Derick 'Seriously I don't think Ill have a better day in 2019,' he added. The Elite Bistros group founder continued his Twitter thread by asking his followers for advice on how to get Derick on his payroll, since he has no home address. 'Can someone help me? What do I do about him having no address? How does it work with him having no details? Whatever it is I'll sort it. I just need to know,' he wrote. Homeless shelters, charities and local support centre representatives replied within minutes to offer their support. The Elite Bistros group founder continued his Twitter thread by asking his followers for advice on how to get Derick on his payroll, since he has no home address Mr Usher thanked people for the 'lovely, lovely words', yet insisted the congratulations should be given to his new employee. 'Lovely, lovely words being sent my way and that's great, thank you, but it wasn't me that asked for the job,' he wrote. 'Can't even imagine how hard it must have been to turn up at the restaurant today. It's genuinely been a lovely, lovely day seeing Derick and speaking to [his daughter].' A Muslim protester who believes primary school children shouldn't be taught LGBT inclusion lessons clashed with a gay rights activist on Twitter this morning. Muslim protester Shakeel Afsar is leading a campaign at Anderton Park Primary School in Sparkbrook, Birmingham against gay equality education - but says he's not homophobic. Melissa Thompson, an activist for gay rights, clashed with Afsar, telling him views were poisoning children. Viewers largely agreed, with some taking to Twitter and calling him 'cold' and 'rude' for appearing not to look at Melissa throughout the segment. Scroll down for video Muslim protester Shakeel Asfar was slammed by This Morning viewers for his arguments against LGBT inclusion lessons, following seven weeks of protests at Anderton Park Primary School in Birmingham. He was joined in debate by gay rights activist Melissa Thompson Asfar was slammed for 'poisoning children' by activist Thompson, who appeared on the programme to discuss whether religion should stop LGBT lessons being taught Viewers were quick to slam Afsar, with one suggesting he was 'cold' and 'rude' for not looking at his fellow guest One wrote: 'If children in schools learn about different religions and faiths as part of the curriculum despite their own beliefs, why should teaching them about the LGBTQ+ community be any different? #ThisMorning.' While another commented: 'How cold and rude is Shakeel Afsar? He did not even look once at the woman debating with him, that behaviour shows exactly who he is #ThisMorning' It comes after seven weeks of protests by Muslim parents who claim LGBT inclusion lessons are a breach of their religious values and are aggressively promoting homosexuality. Earlier this week, Labour MP Jess Phillips was involved in a furious row with Asfar outside a school in Birmingham today amid ongoing protests about LGBT education. And today LGBT activist Melissa Thompson slammed him on This Morning, telling him he was 'poisoning children.' Asfar told Holly and Phil that 'parents feel that at a primary school age, the child is not of an age to understand such complex relationships as LGBT.' The Muslim man, who previously said teaching children about LGBT issues 'planted a seed in them', said: 'Parents feel at primary school age we should be teaching the children about humanity and respecting humanity.' Melissa called his argument 'a bit rich' and told him that his protest was causing great offence to the LGBT community. She said: 'You are being intolerant and discriminatory towards gay people. It's hugely damaging to the LGBT community.' She went on to say that children's literature featuring LGBT characters didn't brainwash them, but in fact: 'It will give children an appreciation of the Britain we live in today.' But Asfar retorted: 'If a group of people feel religious, moral or family beliefs are being infringed on, for example, If they think their children are going to school and being taught something that is contradictory to their religious belief. Now this is their opinion. 'We have a parent who is a Christian catholic, according to his morals homosexuality is not acceptable morally to him. He argued that Islam wasn't the only religion that disagreed with teaching children lessons about LGBT issues, and referred to a Christian parent at the school 'Also according to his religious faith, he mustn't judge them, mustn't discriminate against them. We don't discriminate against them.' Meanwhile Phil pointed out that he was discriminating against them, by teaching the children to be 'less tolerant' about different relationships. While Asfar attempted to defend himself by saying he had never had an issue with LGBT people in the past, Melissa went on to suggest that some of the children in the school could well be gay. As the segment was swiftly brought to a close, the LGBT campaigner passionately told Asfar 'you are poisoning children.' Asfar, who attracted attention earlier this week when a clip of him arguing with Jess Philips MP went viral, argues that he isn't homophobic Viewers were highly critical of the Muslim protestor, and took to Twitter to slam his views. 'We are a same sex married couple with two adopted children who will grow up to be extremely tolerant,' one person wrote.'Surely they would find it confusing same sex relationships arent spoken about in school?' One wrote:'You cant coexist if you dont have any understanding!' Another commented:'Just watched that segment on #ThisMorning, its clear the man is just homophobic. Earlier this week, Labour MP Jess Phillips (right) is pictured in a heated row with Muslim parent spokesman Shakeel Afsar (far left) outside Anderton Park Primary School in Birmingham Many viewers took to Twitter to slam Asfar's arguments, with some suggesting it was 'homophobic' of him Other viewers agreed with Asfar, arguing that teaching children about different sexualities would be confusing Birmingham Yardley MP Jess Phillips gestures towards parent spokesman Asfar, who believes 'Parents feel at primary school age we should be teaching the children about humanity and respecting humanity.' A third suggested:'Children get taught about other peoples religions in school but God forbid they're taught about LGBTQ rights #ThisMorning But some agreed with Asfar, with one writing: 'I think teaching young children about the sexuality continuum would be confusing. I worry that children who are heterosexual may be concerned internally about a false sexuality that isnt actually there. #ThisMorning' The Birmingham parents' anger was originally aimed at another Birmingham school's assistant headteacher Andrew Moffat, who is behind the No Outsiders lessons. He created the scheme to teach children about the Equality Act and British values. Pupils at the school rated outstanding by Ofsted have five of these lessons a year, covering areas outlined in the Act: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. The programme was first piloted at the school in 2014 and is now also taught at dozens of other schools in the country. Royal fans have been sharing photos from Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain's wedding as the couple celebrate their 15th anniversary today. Felipe, then Crown Prince and heir to the throne, married former journalist Letizia Ortiz in a lavish ceremony at Madrid's Almudena Cathedral in May 2004. As the couple mark the occasion privately, supporters have been joining in the festivities by posting photos from the wedding day, saying the royals are getting better with age'. Felipe, then Crown Prince and heir to the throne, married former journalist Letizia Ortiz in a lavish ceremony at Madrid's Almudena Cathedral in May 2004, pictured Today the couple are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary and fans are sharing photos on social media to mark the occasion. Pictured, the couple attend an event last month Supporters have been joining in the festivities by posting photos from the wedding day, saying the royals are getting better with age'. One wrote: 'Now I realise how much Letizia has changed over the years....I mean in a better way! She was a beautiful woman then and she is gorgeous now.' Another posted: 'She looks so different, better now!' A third added: 'Happy anniversary to the most beautiful royal couple ever.' Felipe and Letizia's engagement announcement in November 2003 came as a surprise to many. Fans gushed over the attractive royals, with one calling them her 'favourite king and queen' The couple had met at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend and had been dating secretly for a year before announcing their plans to wed. Letizia, who divorced from her first husband in 1999, was already well-known to the Spanish public thanks to her role as a news anchor on national TV. During her journalism career she reported on international news events including reporting from New York in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The couple had met at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend and had been dating secretly for a year before announcing their plans to wed. Pictured, at their wedding in May 2004 The couple had the eyes of the world on them when they married in Madrid 15 years ago The ceremony marked the first royal wedding in Madrid for almost a century, and sparked much fanfare She also worked for broadcasters including Bloomberg and TVE. Felipe and Letizia welcomed their first daughter, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, in October 2005 and their youngest daughter, Infanta Sofia of Spain, in April 2007. Felipe and Letizia became the King and Queen of Spain in 2014 following the abdication of King Juan Carlos I. The couple, pictured with Felipe's mother Queen Sofia, are now parents to daughters Princess Leonor, left, and Princess Sofia, right Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden proved she wasn't afraid to get her hands dirty, as she took part in a range of adventurous activities during a visit to Sodermanland County on the southeast coast of the country today. The heir apparent to the Swedish throne took part in a spot of horse-riding and canoeing during the visit to the picturesque town, which is the dukedom of her nephew Prince Alexander. The mother-of-two, 41, who is no stranger to multiple outfit changes, dressed very practically for the trip and even found time to change her shirt and shoes. Princess Victoria opted for a blue checked shirt, blue jeans and black boots for her first activity, horse riding at the Skottvangs Mine Crown. Scroll down for video Crown Princess Victoria, 41, pictured, appeared to be having a great time as she pulled funny faces while horse riding at the Skottvangs Mine in Sodermanland County, Sweden, today The heir apparent to the Swedish throne, pictured, also canoed during the visit and changed her shirt and shoes for the activity The royal appeared to be enjoying herself, and pulled a playful face for the camera as well as sticking her legs out to the side during the ride. Victoria, who is the eldest child of King Carl XVI Gustaf, was also seen wearing a loose fitting blue and white striped shirt during the visit. The royal swapped her black shoes to don a pair of white trainers, perfect for exploring the vintage railroad in Sodermanland County. Crown Princess Victoria looked relaxed as she posed for a photo with County Governor Liselott Hagberg today while inside one of the trains. Victoria, right, posed for a photograph with County Governor Liselott Hagberg, left, while visiting a vintage railway in Sodermanland The Crown Princess, pictured, wore a checked blue shirt, jeans and boots while horse riding and help her hair tied back under her hat Although Victoria kept her accessories to a minimum today, she was sure to stay safe during her time on the water by donning a life-jacket. Victoria, who is married to Prince Daniel, 45, looked completely in control as she sat in the front of a white canoe and steered the way. Crown Princess Victoria studied diplomacy and Swedish foreign policy before becoming a full-time working member of the royal family. The mother-of-two, pictured, was full of smiles as she rode a horse during her visit today Victoria, pictured, kept her hair tied back and makeup to a minimum while canoeing today The glamorous Yale graduate, who speaks four languages, was not expected to take to the throne when she was born in 1977 but a change in the law of succession three years later changed that, allowing her to overtake her brother Carl Philip. In 2010, she married her former personal trainer Daniel Westling in front of 1,200 guests at Stockholm Cathedral. They have since settled comfortably into public life with their two children, Princess Estelle, five, and Prince Oscar, who is three. The Swedish royal, pictured, dressed practically for her day of outdoor activities, with only basic accessories of a watch, bracelet and hairband on her wrists The contents of the luxurious gift bags received by attendants of the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards have been unveiled. Guests at the event, which took place on Sunday, May 5 in Pasadena, California, were in luck, as they each received goody bags worth a whopping $14,500. The contents of the lavish gift bags included over 70 different items, including a vacation to Jamaica, pricey beauty products as well as several technological gadgets. Wow! Guests at the 46th annual Daytime Emmy Awards each took home a goody bag filled with over 70 luxurious items (pictured) worth $15,000 Nice! Among the beauty and skincare products in the bag included an essential oils gift box ($284) from Young Living Sweet: Guests were given a skincare set (L) ($266) by Korean brand HARUHARU Wonder and a $35 travel skincare kit from Chemist Confessions (R) Treats: The bag also included a number of products worth $250 by premium hair-care brand Monat (L) and a Jazzy France foundation (R) Relax! Winners were also treated to a $9,999 massage chair, which DailyMailTV host Jesse Palmer is pictured testing out Among the more expensive items included in the bag were a Kahuna LED Mask ($1,999) and a massage chair ($10,000) from the same brand. Having tested out his own chair, DailyMailTV host Jesse Palmer said: 'Best massage chair Ive ever experienced... I didnt want to get up!' The face mask is designed to act as an anti-aging acne reducing skin treatment, that aims to help boost collagen in the skin and scalp to give a more youthful appearance. Fabulous! Guests also received box of beauty products worth $21 from Boxycharm - a company that offers subscribers a monthly gift box Meanwhile, the massage chair aims to relax users by offering a total of 15 different massage programs to accommodate all type of body conditions. Facebook's new Portal ($199) was also included in the bags. The device enables users to display photos and videos shared by friends on Facebook. The Portal is and made for AI-enhanced video calls with Facebook Messenger. The bag also included a NextBase Dash Cam ($250), which records everything in front and in some instances the rear of a driver in order to have clear footage in the event of an accident. Guests at the Daytime Emmy Awards also received a number of beauty and skincare items, including the Foreo Luna Foto facial cleanser ($89) and a number of hair-care products by BounceCurl ($250), and a Jazzy France foundation. They were also given a number of Olivia Quido's O Skin Ultimate Glow collection which features several products worth $919 altogether. They were also gifted a skincare set ($266) by Korean brand HARUHARU Wonder. Travel: Attendants were given a Biaggi suitcase (L) worth $165, and a gold-colored luggage tag (R) from Canadian brand MyTagAlongs ($16) Wow! Each attendant received a ForwardX suitcase ($799), a self-driving suitcase that is designed to follow its owner using facial recognition and sensors Pricey! Guests were also gifted a $685 Vakanza silver ring (L) and a pair of Badgley Mischka stilettos ($325) (R) The bag also included a number of products worth $250 by premium hair-care brand Monat, and a box of beauty products worth $21 from Boxycharm - a company that offers subscribers a monthly gift box. Pretty! Guests were gifted a dress ($150) by Single Dress An essential oils gift box ($284) from Young Living was also gifted to each guest. The luxurious gift bags also included a three-night getaway ($700) to the S Hotel in Jamaica. The new hotel offers 120 rooms, and dozens of different amenities including bars, a 'chic cafe, a high-spirited pool scene, a Sky Deck with Bar and Lounge, an international restaurant, spa, boutique and gym'. To accompany the generous three-night getaway, the bags included a number of travel-related accessories. Each attendant received a ForwardX suitcase ($799), a self-driving suitcase that is designed to follow its owner using facial recognition and sensors. The lucky guests were also gifted a Biaggi suitcase worth $165, and a gold-colored luggage tag from Canadian brand MyTagAlongs ($16). Guests also received travel skincare kit from Chemist Confessions. The kit includes a number of mini travel-sized products worth $35 altogether. High tech: Facebook's new Portal ($199) was also included in the bags Delicious! Each goody bag also contained some sweet treats, including a box of hand-painted Bella Sophia Chocolates ($55) Handy! They were also gifted a set of four Revol small crumple cups ($63) The lavish goody bags also included a number of accessories, including a keepsake pendant ($50) designed exclusively for the 46th Daytime Emmy nominees by the owners and artists of What's My Passion Jewelry. Guests were also gifted a $685 Vakanza silver ring that features 'Signity Star man made stones', which the brand describes as stones that never dull even when exposed to showers, pools, or spa water. Similarly, they were given a pendant ($80) from Los Angeles brand, Timelapse Co. A light spring scarf ($75) by designer Melissa Pellone and a nightdress ($125) from In Bloom Intimates were also included in the lavish goody bag. A Mercedes Brunelli clutch bag ($1,500), designed specifically for the event, was also given to each attendant. They were also each gifted a pair of Badgley Mischka stilettos ($325), a pair of sunglasses ($250) Dynamikos sunglasses, and a dress ($150) by Single Dress. A number of treats were also included in the lavish goody bags, including a six-pack of The Dirty Cookie Shots ($39) and a box of hand-painted Bella Sophia Chocolates ($55). Guests also received a bottle of Carbonadi vodka ($100) and a bottle of Tanduay Asian Rum ($19.99). They were also gifted a set of four Revol small crumple cups ($63). Married at First Sight star Jamie Otis has opened up about having two abortions, stressing that while no one wants to have one, it is a 'necessary option' for women. The 32-year-old nurse joined a number of celebrities in sharing her abortion story after Alabama passed a bill last week imposing a near-total ban on the procedure, including those for victims of rape or incest. 'I just cannot continue to sit in silence while women's fundamental human rights are being taken away. I am speaking up for HER,' the reality star wrote on Instagram. Opening up: Jamie Otis, 32, has joined a number of celebrities in sharing her abortion story after Alabama passed a bill last week imposing a near-total ban on the procedure Decision; When she was 18, Jamie got pregnant by the first guy she had ever had sex with and opted to have an abortion. She had her second abortion when she was in nursing school 'I had an abortion. Twice. Is it something I'm proud of? Heck no! No one *wants* an abortion,' continued. 'It has left the most painful hole in my heart. But do I think women should be stripped of their right to choose? Absolutely not.' Jamie, who has a one-year-old daughter named Henley with her husband Doug Hehner, said she kept quiet about her abortions after receiving backlash when she first wrote about her experience in her book, Wifey 101. In an essay for People, she explained that she grew up in extreme poverty with a drug-addicted mother who couldn't provide for her five children. Jamie said her mom 'dropped out of high school' and had a string of abusive boyfriends. She had no idea who her father was and her mother couldn't afford to take care of her and her siblings. She would wake up without electricity or food half of the time. 'We lived in a trailer that had leaky ceilings with doors that wouldnt shut all the way and windows that were duct-taped,' she recalled. 'But the hardest part was that my mom was gone. She left us for weeks at a time and we were just teenagers and kids fending for ourselves.' Childhood: Jamie (pictured with her sisters Johanna Harvey and Amylynn Lucas) said she grew up in extreme poverty with a drug-addicted mother who couldn't take care of her five children Hard times: The reality star (pictured with her sister Amylynn) said they would often wake up without heat, electricity, and food Caregiver: Jamie took care of her siblings her when her mother left them for weeks at a time. Her sisters Amylynn and Leah King are pictured after she bought them store-bought treats When she was 18, Jamie got pregnant by the first guy she had ever had sex with. She actually found out she was pregnant when she went to a clinic to get birth control. The nurse told her abortion was an option, but she initially brushed it off because in her family 'you don't have abortions under any circumstances.' However, she knew that her boyfriend wouldn't be a good father, and she didn't want to drop out of school and have a baby with an abusive man like her mother and older sister did. She didn't want to be stuck in the same cycle of poverty. 'I chose to have an abortion. I wouldnt have been able to provide this child the kind of life he or she deserved,' she wrote. 'And I wanted to finish college and provide for my siblings and give us a better life. I didnt see how that would be possible while also taking care of a baby.' Jamie said she had a second abortion when she got pregnant in nursing school. Throwback: Jamie worked as a waitress to get herself through school. She was dressed for her waitressing job when she posed with Amylynn after helping her get ready for her first prom Reality: Jamie's mother had so many boyfriends that she didn't know who her real father was until she used a DNA test to find her paternal family this year Family: Jamie and her husband Doug Hehner have a one-year-old daughter named Henley 'I dont even want to admit that it happened twice, but here I am sharing my story so other women can feel that they arent alone,' she explained. 'My abortions were a secret I kept to myself for nearly my whole life. I hated myself for a very long time for it, and I know the stones people will throw at me: Why didnt I use birth control better? Why wasnt I more careful? But the thing is, it happened to me and continues to happen to couples. 'You can throw stones at me if you want, but I just think of a young woman who has no one to turn to. I wish someone had said to me back then that Im not evil. I felt like a terrible, selfish human being and sometimes I still do.' The mother-of-one said she often reminds herself that she wouldn't have her daughter Henley if she had 'two children with two men who were not fit to be fathers.' Choice: The reality star said she didn't want to drop out of school and have a baby with an abusive man like her mother and older sister did Understanding: She recalled having sweaty palms when she told Dough that she had two abortions, but he was nothing but supportive Jamie met her husband Doug for the first time when they said 'I do' as strangers on the first season of the reality series Married at First Sight. She recalled having sweaty palms when she told him that she had two abortions, but he was nothing but supportive, telling her: 'Im so sorry you had to make this decision so young. That was so brave of you.' She said she knows she is going to get backlash for sharing her story, and while her abortions 'still torment' her, she is 'thankful' that she was able to have them. 'Theres not enough constructive discussion about abortion. It sucks. It really sucks. But the truth of the matter is it is a necessary option,' she said. Jamie credited Busy Philipps for giving her the strength to share her experience because the actress was 'brave and bold enough to speak out.' Honest: Jamie said she knows she is going to get backlash for sharing her story, and while her abortions 'still torment' her, she is 'thankful' that she was able to have them Reminder: The mother-of-one said she often reminds herself that she wouldn't have her daughter Henley if she had 'two children with two men who were not fit to be fathers' 'For the woman right now who is struggling and feels that she has no one on her side, know that youre not alone and youre not evil. We women need to band togethermen tooand support each other,' Jamie wrote at the end of her essay. Busy, who wrote about having an abortion at age 15 in her memoir 'This Will Only Hurt a Little,' defended the rights of 'women and their doctors' during an episode of her late night talk show earlier this month. The 39-year-old decried the new controversial law in Georgia that prohibits doctors from performing abortions after they can detect 'fetal cardiac activity,' which occurs at about six weeks into a pregnancy. Over the last few months, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi, Utah, and Arkansas have all passed similar 'heartbeat bills.' 'The statistic is that one in four women will have an abortion before age 45,' Busy said. 'That statistic sometimes surprises people, and maybe you're sitting there thinking, "I don't know a woman who would have an abortion." Well, you know me.' Inpiraiton: Jamie credited Busy Philipps for giving her the strength to share her experience because the actress was 'brave and bold enough to speak out' on her show earlier this month Trauma: Busy first wrote about having an abortion at age 15 in her memoir 'This Will Only Hurt a Little' Stronger together: Minka Kelly (left) and Jameela Jamil (right) are among the celebrities who have shared their abortion stories this month Just days later, she tweeted: '1 in 4 women have had an abortion. Many people think they don't know someone who has, but #youknowme. So let's do this: if you are also the 1 in 4, let's share it and start to end the shame. Use #youknowme and share your truth.' Thousands of women have followed in Busy 's footsteps and shared stories about their abortions using the hashtag #YouKnowMe after news broke about the near-ban on the procedure in Alabama. The controversial new bill makes all abortions illegal unless they are required to save the mother's life. It was passed 25-6 on May 14 and all of the votes in favor of it were from Republican men. The lawHB 314is set to come into effect in six months, and doctors who defy the law could face 99 years in prison. Milla Jovovich, Minka Kelly, Amber Tamblyn, Tess Holliday, Jameela Jamil have all shared their abortion stories this month in response to the new legislation in Georgia and Alabama. All my life, Ive been plagued by sensitive skin. And it runs in my family my mum has spent a fortune over the years at Estee Lauder counters trying to calm her ruddy cheeks so I worry it will only get worse over time. Recently, that prediction has seemed to be coming true, as Id started getting red bumps on my forehead, accom-panied by a prickly feeling when trying certain products. To keep things under control, I was using a regime of intense, science-based cosmeceutical skincare products from AHA lotions (alpha hydroxy acids, used to exfoliate) to vitamin C serums (to help fade dark spots), and retinol creams (to smooth out lines and give the skin a glow by boosting cell turnover in your skin). Lucia Ferrari (pictured) has always had sensitive skin and worried it was getting worse But, however many products I added to my routine, my skin just seemed as red as ever, and made me wonder why my skin seemed to react so badly to such intensely rejuvenating treatments. At least Im not alone, as many of my friends complain of sensitivity, redness and blemishes that are getting worse over time. And French research suggests that more than 50 per cent of UK women now say they have sensitive skin, the highest rate in Europe. But we cant all have suddenly developed sensitive skin, can we? I asked experts about my flushing problem, and learned that our misguided use of a raft of ultra-strong, new cosmetic products, may actually be causing the problem leading to an epidemic of sensitive skin. Some experts argue that we should go back to basics, with a beauty routine more like that of our mothers and grandmothers, rather than a list of treatments complex enough to belong in a lab. Cosmetic dermatologist Dr Mervyn Patterson says the key to beating sensitivity is not using certain products its not using too many. Sensitive skin is on the rise, and the majority I see in my clinic is down to patients using too many exfoliating products. Were using more and more products with prescription-strength levels of potent ingredients such as vitamin A (retinol) or vitamin C, which, when not used correctly, can actually make skin more sensitive. Its all about protecting your skin barrier, the delicate outer layer that protects our skin by keeping moisture in and foreign bodies out. Damage it and youre much more likely to develop some form of sensitivity. And one thing that can damage it is using too many products at once. Dr Patterson suggests I pare my skincare routine down to nothing more than a gentle cleanser and moisturiser to try to calm things down. Im not even supposed to wipe my face with a flannel in case I over-exfoliate. To me, it feels pretty basic and the packaging on the products he gives me isnt that exciting either. She used a regime of intense, science-based cosmeceutical skincare products. Yet experts said use of ultra-strong products may actually be causing problem Dermatologist Dr Sam Bunting is also a fan of stripping skincare back to the essentials. The Marie Kondo de-cluttering approach is the best way to deal with sensitive skin, she tells me. We change our skincare usually to please our brains, not our skin and all this layering of high-strength ingredients can cause problems. Even products used to remove make-up can cause problems, if theyre too strong or not right for your skin, it turns out. I have definitely been enticed into the double-cleansing trend of cleansing the face twice in a row, removing all make-up with products and a hot flannel. But while it feels satisfying to have a squeaky clean face, Dr Bunting warns this could be irritating my skin. Im not a fan of double-cleansing, she says. It just isnt necessary. She recommends a total detox. Then you can slowly re-introduce products, such as retinol, but gradually, and one at a time, so you spot which ones cause sensitivity. Its a question of slow and steady wins the race. With this in mind, I give the Epionce range recommended by Dr Patterson a try. Created by dermatologist Dr Carl Thornfeldt, it contains a mixture of calming botanical ingredients and a blend of lipids (fats and oils) to help repair the skin barrier. Im trying to relax and avoid stress, too, as Ive also learned that our relentless modern lives can contribute to skin sensitivity. Clinical aesthetician Pamela Marshall explains, When were under stress, our bodies produce the stress hormone cortisol. This can break down collagen and elastin in the skin, reducing plumpness and affecting the efficacy of the skin barrier. Marshall suggests switching from products with AHAs to PHAs (polyhydroxy acids) as they still exfoliate, but are far gentler on skin. NeoStratas Ultra Moisturising Face Cream, from 30 (neostrata.co.uk) is one of her favourites. Consultant dermatologist Nick Lowe says: To reduce sensitivity, choose non-foaming, fragrance-free cleansers. Micellar water (liquid cleansers you wipe off with cotton pads) can also be good as you dont need to rinse with tap water hard water has a high pH and can be irritating for some sensitive skins. Some experts argue we should go back to basics, with just a cleanser and moisturiser Follow with a moisturiser which has anti-inflammatory ingredients. Try one that contains niacinamide, as its soothing but also aids barrier repair and can help pigmentation and fine lines. Yet another example of how our attempts to protect our skin can end up harming it is SPF apparently, many can cause stinging and allergies due to ingredients such as oxybenzone, which can be irritating to the skin. Dr Lowe recommends the gentler Heliocare, La Roche-Posay or SkinCeuticals ranges, which offer excellent protection. Dr Nigma Talib, a naturopath, says that whats happening on the outside is often a reflection of whats going on inside our bodies. High levels of stress can cause an imbalance of good and bad bacteria in the gut, she explains, which will translate as skin sensitivity. She suggests taking supplements: daily probiotics, the herb ashwagandha and L-theanine (the calming element in green tea), which can soothe inflammation by reducing stress levels. While I cant banish stress entirely, giving my skin a break from all those chemicals certainly works for me. After two weeks using only a gentle cleanser and moisturiser, my skin looks clearer and smoother than it has in ages. SOOTHING PRODUCTS THAT HELP boots.com CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser9 Shop My husband was the one to suggest a therapist. Since he hates to talk, this proposal made me sit up a little. It transpired that my spouse felt unloved, that the kids and my work were all I cared about and hed become just another thing on my to-do list. Now he was wondering if he still loved me. The therapist was a last-ditch effort to fix things before calling it quits on our marriage. These revelations provoked sheer fury. To me, it seemed that every part of my husbands life, including his family, had always had to stand behind his first love architecture. How dare he now claim to be the unloved one? I even had ready without knowing Id amassed it a well-developed list of occasions when the children and I had come second, such as the time I had mastitis and a newborn and he went out. Yet now he was threatening to leave us? Belinda Luscombe who spent two years visiting a therapist with her husband, shared advice on how to transform your marriage based on what she has learned by exploring (file image) Ours was your classic 21st-century marriage in crisis. Two draining jobs, demanding kids, little time for each other and a flagging sex life. Resentment, bitterness, stress, debt and sudden pangs for other people we had the complete package. I didnt want to see a therapist, but, equally, couldnt see a way out of this morass without one, so I agreed to go. Im glad I did. We met fortnightly with Sue for the next two years. Hearing the person who knows me best criticise me in front of a stranger was tough. Sometimes, the disclosures led to worse arguments afterwards, which then had to be picked apart at the next session. Slowly, though, we began to clear a backlog of grievances, get to the source of our recurring fights and understand why we each behaved a certain way. We became we again. Modern life and our 21st-century expectations are hard on marriage. It doesnt help that we buy into this mad idea that we each have a soulmate out there waiting for us. No wonder were left deeply disappointed when achieving happily ever after turns out to be so much tougher than it sounds. A soulmate is not a thing. At least, its not a thing you can find. Its a myth trafficked by people selling cinema tickets and subscriptions to eHarmony. The chance that, on marriage, you have somehow located, attracted, bonded with and then contractually bound yourself to the only person who is the perfect match for you is vanishingly small. Belinda argues that we don't find soulmates but instead become them over time, she recalls her mother saying tolerance is the secret to a long marriage (file image) Put it another way: imagine trying to get people to believe there is only one right car for them. Not one make or model, but one actual car, which, in order to be truly happy, they must find. If they pick the wrong one, theyll be able to get about, but constantly troubled by a nagging feeling they could have done better. How would you get people to believe something thats so insane? Easy just craft lots of beautiful stories about people finding their One True Auto, a car that will never break down or run out of fuel. Should it eventually let the driver down maybe it gets scratched they can always offload it, in return for a big financial hit. Obviously, thats bonkers people would either never buy a car or endlessly trade it in. The thing is, we dont find soulmates like some beautiful shell on the beach. We become them over time. This was once accepted wisdom, but long gone are the days when you found a likely contender, tied the knot and then weathered lifes storms together. Getting married is now seen as a promotion to a better type of life: a ticket to fulfilment, stimulation, security, devotion, status, liberation, connection, transformation . . . and great sex. Belinda who has been married for 25 years, believes marriage is worth fighting for as studies show marriage is good for you (file image) Just before my parents 59th anniversary, I asked my mother her secret to a long marriage. Tolerance, she said, without hesitating. Somehow, that word doesnt appear to have made the modern marital wish list. Over the years, I have explored marriage as a foreign correspondent would a country. Ive read countless studies, spoken to many therapists and interviewed hundreds of people about their own marriages. And, of course, you cant really know a place until youve lived there, so Ive also drawn on my 25-year marriage. If youre reading this and happen to be pondering the question Should I leave my partner?, Im a good person to ask. And heres my quick answer: probably not, or, at least, not yet. Heading for divorce? The divorce rate in the UK is highest among women aged 25 to 29, at 23.6 per 1,000 married people more than twice the average Advertisement Like beautiful cathedrals and ancient forests, many marriages are worth fixing, or, even better, maintaining and no matter how tough the present moment, yours may well be one of them. After all, studies show marriage is good for you: the happily paired tend to live longer, healthier lives. Their children are also more likely to thrive, while married partners, on average, have more sex. Marriage is worth fighting for. My book can help with that. In it, I have summarised in six parts what Ive learned about marriage six challenges that those committed for life will face and ought to master, or, at least, grapple with in order to stay together: familiarity, fighting, finances, family, fooling around and finding help. Today, we will explore each of those areas to understand what can go wrong in a long-term relationship. Then, next week, I will give you insight into how you might overcome these trials on your way to happily, or, at least do-ably, ever after. Belinda says it's important to understand that at some point almost everything about your partner will enrage you (file image) FAMILIARITY BREEDS CONTEMPT . . . Understand this nearly everything about your partner will, at some point, enrage you beyond all reason. The more you get to know them, the more the things that charmed you will become the things that make you want to set your own hair on fire just to get away from them for five minutes. You dont solve this problem by choosing the right person. You solve it by what you do when the novelty has worn off. When I met my husband, his passion for architecture was intoxicating and his enthusiasm infectious. I would join him on trips to out-of-the-way art bookstores, little-known buildings, even lectures. But, eventually, I wearied of the way all leisure, conversational and life-planning roads led to architecture. I wanted to have passionate conversations about something else. Yet you cant have the invigorating parts of a deep passion without the not-this-again parts. Belinda argues love is about a willingness to do whatever it takes to make that person's life better even when you don't feel like it (file image) I, too, am no picnic. I am that person who handles any situation by trying to see the humour in it. That can be a drag as well. But heres the thing its not just that we cannot change our spouses, its that, really, we wouldnt want to. The things we love about them are organically bonded to what drive us mad. Is your spouse incredibly fit? Then youll be driven batty by how much time they spend exercising. Are they gorgeous? Youll find the attention from strangers galling. You get my drift? Love is far more challenging than a fluttery feeling for someone. Its a willingness to do whatever you can to make that persons life better, more fun, less stressful, even when you dont feel like it. We do this with our children. We tolerate my mums word a lot. You may not want to play yet another game about princesses or push those toy cars around. But you do it because theres joy in making someone you love happy. This attitude is about turning familiarity into the thing that motivates you to choose this persons desires over your own even when they drive you crazy. LEARN HOW TO FIGHT FAIR Couples fight. You cant pass off marital quarrels as bumps in the road, to be avoided or endured. Theyre key landscape features, to be surmounted part of how you truly get to know each other. Some therapists believe that what people disagree about sex, money, the kids is far less important than the way they disagree. The fundamental difference between fighting in a marriage and, say, a cage fight, is that you dont necessarily have to win you just want an outcome that ensures the combatants will meet again. Relationship researcher Dr John Gottman, says he can predict if a couple will stay married by observing their interactions (file image) The renowned relationship researcher Dr John Gottman says he can generally predict whether a couple will stay married simply by observing their interactions. When people fight with contempt, criticism, stonewalling and/or defensiveness which he calls The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse he says they are most likely doomed. Thats why its crucial spouses learn to fight fair. MAKING SENSE OF CHANGING FINANCES The traditional marriage model (one breadwinner + one homemaker = one family) is fading. In my parents day, men provided the capital and women provided the labour. But the rising economic power of women has changed how we think about finances. A dual income is now considered to be a necessity, rather than an anomaly, which has a psychological impact on both genders. Studies suggest men who earn less than their wives are more prone to infidelity and more likely to use erectile dysfunction medication. A recent study discovered that wives earning as much as, or more than, their spouse are more likely to suffer with anxiety (file image) Meanwhile, a recent Danish study found that wives earning as much as, or more than, their spouse were more likely to be taking medication for anxiety. Thats because men struggle with the idea that theyre not providers. Traditionally, the males job was to make the money its probably the model todays husbands grew up under. When they dont, or cant, they feel like they are failing. Even today, research shows one of the ways men signal male prowess is to spend money. So any setback in this area can lead to a loss of confidence in the bedroom, hence the Viagra, or a desire to reassert their alphaness, hence the affair. Wives, meanwhile, are walking on eggshells, trying not to provoke their husbands feelings of shame while still needing occasionally to bring up money hence the anxiety medication. DIVIDE TASKS FOR A HAPPY FAMILY Our two children were born in December about four years apart. For Christmas, my husband, instead of giving me some useful mothering item, gave me a ring. Each ring had our childs name and birthday engraved on it reminders that he saw me as someone who was still worthy of impractical adornment. He intuitively knew what research has shown that new mothers are particularly sensitive to their partners behaviour and, if husbands can attend to the relationship while the mother attends to the infant, the transition to parenting can go a little more smoothly. Raising a family is the most draining, exasperating, difficult thing most people will ever attempt. Studies suggest women are usually more unhappy with their marriages than men, when they become parents (file image) Adjusting to a baby is just the run-up to the much more difficult incline ahead. How do you manage all that has to be done? How do you divide the tasks equally? Its an important consideration, especially as studies have shown women report being unhappier with their marriages than men do when they become parents. Partly, thats because dads get to do stuff with the kids, while mums tend to be there for them. More men than ever are doing more work than ever in raising kids research suggest three times as much as their fathers did but women are still the primary nurturers, labourers and organisers. Even in dual-income households, women do almost twice as much housework and childcare as men. My husband did, Im sure, 300 per cent more than either of our fathers did. But it was not nearly enough. Its a conversation we had to have and it may well be an issue you should tackle, too. MAKING TIME FOR FOOLING AROUND The other night, my husband who can normally nod off any time, any place couldnt sleep. I knew he had a big day ahead at work and groggily asked if there was anything I could do. He suggested sex. It was 3am. I wasnt really in the mood. Belinda says it's important to find a way to crave the person who is always there, if you want your marriage to remain sexually fulfilling (file image) But opportunities to do your spouse a favour without even getting out of bed dont come along every day. I noted with some satisfaction that, afterwards, he dozed straight off. This is not a sex scene that romance novelists will look to steal, but it was the kind of affectionate entanglement two people who have loved each other for a long time could enjoy. If you want your marriage to remain sexually fulfilling, then somehow you have to find a way to keep craving the person you may not always like The problem with sex is that it can become a chief source of pain and estrangement in couples. While we understand that not every meal we prepare for our family is going to be an incredible feast, modern marriage somehow expects every sexual episode to be effortlessly transcendent. And if its not, our emotions can go into a tailspin. Tellingly, lack of sex is the most common marital problem people ask the internet about. In 2015, there were 16 times more Google searches about a spouse not wanting sex than about them not wanting to talk. Its hardly surprising: feeling passion for someone you dont always like is far from easy, especially when she hasnt shaved her legs, or he keeps making that annoying clicking noise. But, if you want your marriage to remain sexually fulfilling, you have to find a way to keep craving the person who is always there. Belinda advises couples to be open to speaking to professionals about their relationship, she and her spouse were able to cut through grudges using therapy (file image) FINDING HELP TO MAKE MARRIAGE FUN As I explained earlier, therapy helped my spouse and me cut through various grudges and the recurring fights that were getting in the way of marriage being fun. We discovered therapy is rather like car maintenance, or spring-cleaning. You have to look after this institution that protects your health, wealth and the wellbeing of your children. My book, I hope, can help you work out some ground rules for making your own marriage more fun, but there are some problems for which you need to call in the professionals. Either way, I hope it helps to get you to a point where you feel like you may just have found your soulmate after all. What are five quick ways to learn to love your husband again? With habitual behaviour, the easiest way to change it is to start small. Making tweaks to the way you treat your spouse can have a huge pay-off . . . 1 Notice something good that your spouse has done (look for it, if you have to). Now, thank them for doing it without any caveats. Thanks so much for cooking dinner, but I think you used up all the Parmesan is not acceptable. Eventually, just like your mother said, thanking your partner will become a reflex, so that youre making them feel good without even realising it marital nirvana. 2 Every time youve said something snippy to your spouse, make up for it by saying or doing five nice things. I find early in the morning, straight after you both get home from work and last thing at night are easy times to get three of those out of the way. Did you sleep well?, Im so glad youre home and your chosen version of good night. Two more and then its safe to talk about the unfolded laundry! Belinda advises couples to pray for each other regardless of religious beliefs as a way of learning to love each other again (file image) 3 Celebrate your spouses victories. One interviewee told me when his wifes paper got accepted in a prestigious academic journal, he printed out the email notification poster size and proudly stuck it on the front door. This works because not only are you appreciating your spouse, you are absorbing and enacting your admiration for them which has a positive effect on you both. 4 Ask your spouse to do you a favour. This is most effective when the favour isnt some onerous task anyone could do, but one that acknowledges their strengths. How would you solve this issue Im having with a colleague? would fall into this category. Can you vacuum the car? would not. 5 Say a prayer. Not the please Lord, make it stop kind, but one focusing on your partners wellbeing. Whether or not you have religious beliefs, simply taking a moment to think about your hopes for them can help you to see your partner, or a conflict with them, in a different, more compassionate way. Its possible the meditative effects of prayer are similar to those of mindfulness and breathing techniques. And, of course, theres always a chance its help from upstairs. Advertisement Adapted by RACHEL HALLIWELL from Marriageology: The Art And Science Of Staying Together by Belinda Luscombe, published by Oneworld on June 6 at 11.99. Belinda Luscombe 2019. To order a copy for 9.59 (20 per cent discount), visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 0844 571 0640. Offer valid until May 30, P&P is free on orders over 15. Spend 30 on books and get FREE premium delivery. A BBC newsreader has revealed the reason she has been off air for six months is because she was battling breast cancer. Jane Hill, 49, who lives in London, went back to the newsroom and presented BBC1's lunchtime news for the first time since November today. Taking to Twitter to announce her return, Jane thanked the NHS for treating her and made a joke about her pass not working when she tried to get into the building. The reason for Jane's absence from the screen had not previously been known. Jane Hill, pictured on BBC news today, has revealed that the reason she has not been on air for six months is because she has been treated for breast cancer Jane revealed that she had been treated for breast cancer on Twitter after presenting the news today for the first time in six months Just before 11.30am today she tweeted: 'Big day today. On air for the first time since November. 'Still... 6 months out of the newsroom... that's been plenty of time to sort #Brexit, right...? See you for @bbcnews at One.' The newsreader then quickly followed up with another tweet, and joked: 'Oh, and in true #W1A style, my pass had been cancelled and I couldn't get into the building. #welcomeback' After reading the news for the first time in months, Jane said she was 'overwhelmed' by the support and 'lovely' messages she had received. The newsreader tweeted this morning to reveal that she was coming back to our screens today Jane joked that her pass wouldn't work when she got to the building after six months away Jane was on the news for the first time since November today, pictured, and reported on the British Steel story She said: 'Overwhelmed by so many lovely back-to-work messages. I just want to say that my return wouldn't have been possible without our NHS. 'Sending love & thanks to the numerous #NHSuk staff who spotted my breast cancer, treated it, and continue to look after me. Thank you all.' Dozens of people have replied to Jane's tweet with some saying they had 'no idea' that the newsreader was battling cancer. Author Emma Kennedy said: 'Oh Jane! I had no idea. I'm so sorry. But very glad you're on the mend.' Jane, pictured at the Attitude Magazine Awards in 2015, conducted the first televised interview with Kate and Gerry McCann following the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine in 2007 The newsreader, pictured in 2015, is married to camera operator Sara Shepherd and lives in north London Jane, pictured with Matthew Amroliwala, joined the BBC full time in 1991 and returned to work presenting BBC1's News at One today Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar said: 'Great to have you back Jane and that you're feeling better. You haven't missed much, nothing's changed.' While Chris Cook said: 'And it was a faultless return. Sure footed and excellent as ever. The love is deserved.' Sue Reeve also responded and said: 'So sorry to hear you have had to go through this Jane. Our fab #NHS are lifesavers. 'You are looking really good having had all that on your plate. I'm sure your candour disclosing your cancer diagnosis will provide comfort and confidence to many. You've got this!' A BBC spokesperson said: 'We're all delighted to welcome Jane back to work.' Dozens of people responded to Jane's tweet and sent their well-wishes to the newsreader Many fans of the newsreader took to social media to welcome her back following her illness Jane joined the BBC full-time at the end of 1991 and has been presenting the lunch-time news since 2003. During her career Jane has covered several major events and in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks she reported from Washington DC. She also broadcasted for a eight hours straight on the BBC news in December 2003 on the day the US Special Forces captured Saddam Hussein. Jane also conducted the first televised interview with Kate and Gerry McCann following the disappearance their daughter Madeleine from Praia da Luz in 2007. She is married to camera operator Sara Shepherd and revealed she was gay in the BBC's in-house Ariel magazine in 2009. Australian cheese fanatics have discovered Aldi's much-loved Le Pave has started to appear again on the shelves of the supermarket chain. The cheese hit headlines last year after there was a rush of shoppers keen to purchase the $5.99 product. Since then, the cheese has constantly sold out before it was discontinued for a period. However, a keen shopper recently spotted fresh a supply at their local Aldi, and uploaded a snap to Instagram. Aldi's Le Pave (pictured), priced at $5.99 for 200g, is constantly sold out and can often be a hard to obtain product 'STOP THE PRESS,' they captioned their post. 'Stalk the cheese fridge. Because look what's coming back on the shelves!' The cheese was snapped on sale for $5.99 at Aldi's Cockburn Gateways, Western Australia, store. The post has had more than 500 likes and fans have tagged friends they thought would be as delighted as they were on finding out the cheese is reappearing. 'You know, I have not been able to find it since that time,' wrote one person. Aldi's Le Pave (right) is winning accolades around Australia, with many comparing the $6 creamy cheese to D'Affinois that retails for three times the price in other supermarkets Food fans have compared Le Pave to D'Affinois (pictured) - a cheese that can cost up to three times the price The cheese, described by Aldi as 'a creamy and decadent cheese, perfect with a crusty baguette', has been declared as good as rival cheeses costing three times the price. Many foodies have compared it to D'Affinois, a French cheese that retails for as much as $17 for 200g. Le Pave is not one of Aldi's notoriously quick to sell out 'Special Buys'. However, the 200 gram product flies off the shelves faster than some of their most popular items. Last year, hundreds of customers on Facebook wrote about how good the cheese is, but also how hard it was to get their hands on it. Last year, hundreds of customers on Facebook wrote about how good the cheese is, but also how hard it was to get their hands on it (file image) 'I haven't managed to find it yet,' one person posted. 'I never thought I would say this, but it's actually better than D'Affinois,' another woman said of Le Pave. 'It's soft and creamy with a decent bite,' another said. 'Le Pave is produced in the Pays de la Loire region of France. To ensure its quality, the product is airfreighted to Australia on a weekly basis,' a spokesperson told FEMAIL (stock image) 'We are proud of the award-winning cheese range on offer at Aldi, including our popular Le Pave cheese,' a spokesperson from Aldi told Daily Mail Australia. 'Crafted from the heart of France, we have been stocking Le Pave cheese ($5.99/200g) at Aldi since April 2017. 'Le Pave is produced within the Pays de la Loire region of France at one of the largest remaining dairy cooperatives in the country. To ensure its quality, the product is airfreighted to Australia on a weekly basis.' Thousands of children may have needlessly died from sepsis because a national symptom checklist does not exist, nurses and campaigners claim. The Royal College of Nursing says it has fought for a decade to bring in a standard system to alert medics to children who are becoming gravely ill. But disagreements between NHS chiefs in England means progress has been 'very slow', the 400,000-strong union claims. And campaigners warn thousands of youngsters have died and more have been left with life-changing disabilities because of the delay. NHS data shows there were 26,725 cases of sepsis in children under five in 2015 in England. The UK Sepsis Trust says between 1,000 and 4,000 under-fives die every year in the UK from the condition. NHS data shows there were 26,725 cases of sepsis in children under five in 2015 in England Get on with it, says campaigning mother Melissa Mead's son William died of sepsis in 2014 when he was only 12 months old By Ben Spencer, Medical Correspondent for the Daily Mail The grieving mother whose tragedy kick-started the Daily Mails End The Sepsis Scandal campaign said the postcode lottery must end. Melissa Mead, whose son William died of sepsis in 2014 when he was only 12 months old, said there should be no more delays in introducing a national standard for spotting sepsis in children. Mrs Mead, from Penryn, Cornwall, has campaigned tirelessly since her son died after his sepsis symptoms were missed by doctors and NHS helpline staff. Speaking at the RCN congress, she said: Thousands... have died or suffered disability while health organisations continue to drag their heels and cant make a decision. More children will continue to die. Whose child will it be that pushes them over the edge? Will it be their child or grandchild? Advertisement One in four survivors of sepsis are left with life-altering health problems, according to estimates. Sepsis occurs when the body reacts to an infection by attacking its own organs and tissues. Fiona Smith, professional lead for children and young people at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), blamed a fragmented NHS for the delays. While Dr Ron Daniels, chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, said: 'This is a classic case of "perfection is the enemy of progress".' A symptoms checklist for adults already exists but NHS trusts tend to rely on their own systems for children. Scotland introduced a checklist to spot sepsis in children in 2017, but no such scheme exists in England and Wales. The children's checklist would help medics spot when a youngster is deteriorating through checking temperature, heart rate and respiration rate. It would also look at other signs of the killer condition, such as urination, skin colour and rash. Ms Smith said part of the problem is that children of different ages have different heart and respiratory rates. This means agreement is needed on the threshold for them becoming ill with sepsis, she told the RCN's conference in Liverpool. MAN WHO HAD ALL FOUR LIMBS AMPUTATED BECAUSE OF SEPSIS CALLS FOR MANDATORY TRAINING A man who woke from a coma to discover both his arms and legs had been amputated and part of his face had been removed has called for mandatory training on sepsis. Tom Ray was fit and healthy and living in Rutland in the East Midlands before he contracted sepsis at the age of 38 in 1999. He spent three months in a coma during which time his wife Nic gave birth to their second child Fred, a brother for Grace. Due to his illness, the family lost their business and had to sell their home. Mr Ray's sepsis - caused by a cut to his gum during a trip to the dentist, combined with a chest infection - came on rapidly and led to vomiting and a high temperature. He fell into a coma and when he awoke he could not recognise his wife. Mr Ray will tell the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) conference how there were delays to his diagnosis for sepsis. On his website, he said: 'Every doctor that saw me on admission to hospital missed what were the classic signs of sepsis. 'They didn't know what was wrong with me so I was simply put into a side ward, the curtains were closed around me and I was left to die.' In his speech to the RCN, Mr Ray will call for more support and mandatory training for all members of the nursing and midwifery professions. He said: 'Damage and even death from sepsis will continue until there is a commitment to educate all staff to give every patient the care and attention that is needed to spot and treat sepsis as fast as possible.' Advertisement She also blamed 'fragmented' NHS bodies and competition between them, adding there was a 'this is mine' attitude and progress 'has been very slow'. Mrs Smith added: 'Nurses have been calling for this for a very long time, for over a decade.' Dame Donna Kinnair, who is the acting chief executive of the RCN, said the checklist could save lives. 'Sepsis in a child is so sudden, you see a child go from life to death,' she said. 'You can see a child who comes in looking like they have a common cold. You might send that child home. 'In a matter of an hour you see the child develop the spots and the symptoms of sepsis that are very clearly defined. 'You might think it's flu, you might think it's a cold, but an hour later you have a child with no way of saving. 'By the time they have developed the stark symptoms of sepsis there's no way you can come back from that.' She said it was 'truly devastating' for any health professional to see a child come back with sepsis after being sent home. 'It's really important that we get a way of ensuring that we diagnose this accurately,' she said. 'Scotland has seen it as a priority. It's a question of priorities.' Dr Daniels said: 'The reality is that there's not going to be a solution that every clinical expert is happy with. 'But for the sake of our patients, it's absolutely vital that we work collaboratively to develop a system for children that can be used across the whole NHS. 'In order to drive things forward, we are going to need a degree of assertiveness from NHS England and NHS Improvement just as we have seen for the system for adults.' Campaigner Melissa Mead, from Cornwall, who lost her 12-month-old son William to sepsis in 2014 after doctors failed to spot it, said the current system means care varies according to where patients live. She added: 'Ever since William died, we have been stuck in a situation where lots of different groups and people cannot decide what the standard should be, what should be measured and what it should look like. 'Why can't people at these organisations come together for the good of the public? 'Thousands of children have died or suffered disability while health organisations continue to drag their heels and can't make a decision. 'More children will continue to die. Whose child will it be that pushes them over the edge? Will it be their child or grandchild?' Symptoms of sepsis in children include rapid breathing, convulsions, vomiting, very pale or mottled skin and feeling cold to the touch. Celia Ingham Clark, medical director for professional leadership and clinical effectiveness at NHS England and Improvement, said: 'The NHS has made huge improvements in spotting and treating sepsis quickly with screening rates in emergency departments rising from 78 per cent in 2015 to 91 per cent in 2018. 'The NHS is working with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health to develop a national early-warning system for children which will help NHS staff to rapidly identify acutely unwell children and ensure they are looked after in the most appropriate place.' A girl with eczema so severe it kept her awake all night has seen a dramatic recovery after taking a chemotherapy drug. Honor Stanmore was left so exhausted she couldn't go to school and had to give up dance and swimming classes due to her chronic skin condition. The nine-year-old's dry, raw skin left her with blood-stained sheets and in so much pain she even struggled to eat. But Hope's skin has cleared up after taking part in an NHS research trial at Oxford's Churchill Hospital. She was given methotrexate, a drug commonly used to treat patients battling neck, lung and breast cancer. Honor Stanmore's eczema was so severe it kept her up all night scratching and unable to eat food The girl was so exhausted she stopped going to school and her dry, raw skin left her with blood-stained sheets Her mother Laura Klee, 36, said: 'She was so bad that she couldn't eat because she had eczema all around her mouth, so it was very painful to stretch her mouth open and foods like tomatoes would sting. 'That's when I thought, "Right, this isn't good". It wasn't just hobbies and schooling that was being affected, it was her basic levels of living that she wasn't able to do without any discomfort. 'She itched from the minute she woke up to the minute she went to sleep and became depressed.' Honor, from Witney, Oxfordshire, was diagnosed with eczema at just four weeks old. It was treated with steroid creams until 2016, when her eczema got more severe and started to affect her daily life. Eczema makes the skin itchy, red, dry and cracked, but scratching can make it worse, potentially disrupting sleep and causing bleeding and infections. Honor's skin has now cleared up after she was prescribed methotrexate, a drug used to treat neck, lung and breast cancers (pictured after the treatment) Ms Klee, a home support worker for Age UK, added: 'The lack of sleep had been the biggest killer. 'She had broken nights from when she was a baby right up until she was seven. 'The bedsheets used to be covered in blood in the morning from where she had been scratching all night. 'Some nights she'd be screaming and pleading for me to help her, so I'd end up giving her bath or taking her on a drive at 3am just to distract her from itching. 'She still gets anxiety and stomach aches at night time because she associates it with really long, horrible nights where she was awake for hours itching.' Her mother Laura Klee (pictured together) signed Honor up to take part in a clinical trial at Oxford's Churchill Hospital Honor, from Witney, Oxfordshire, has been battling the chronic skin condition since she was just four weeks old HOW DOES METHOTREXATE TREAT ECZEMA? The immune system is important in fighting infections, but sometimes it becomes over-active and cause long-term inflammation. People with eczema have an impaired skin barrier, which means their skin is drier, so natural moisturising oils leak out and allergens from the environment can enter the skin. This combination triggers the skins immune-fighting cells to become over-active, causing redness, itching and swelling of the skin. Methotrexate dampens down the activity of these immune-system cells to reduce the skin inflammation caused in eczema. As well as being used to treat eczema, methotrexate has been licensed for many years to treat a number of inflammatory conditions, including psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate is thought to work by preventing cells of the immune system from dividing, but it is not entirely clear how it reduces the severity of eczema. It takes several weeks for methotrexate to accumulate inside cells. Methotrexate cannot cure eczema, but it can significantly improve its severity. Source: National Eczema Society Advertisement Ms Klee, desperate to find a cure for her daughter, agreed for Honor to take part in an NHS research trial at Oxford's Churchill Hospital. The Treatment of Severe Atopic Eczema Trial (TREAT) compared two medications - methotrexate and cyclosporine - to see which best treats severe eczema in children. Honor took part in the study in April 2017 and was given methotrexate, which she still uses, despite finishing the trial in January 2018. The treatment is usually used to treat cancer but the NHS is looking at how a lower dose can help sufferers of the skin condition. The study - which closed in February - was led by King's College London and funded by the National Institute for Health Research. Now she is encouraging more people to consider taking part in health research after seeing how it drastically improved her daughter's life. People with eczema have an overactive immune system which makes them more sensitive to irritants, causing inflamed skin. Ms Klee admitted she had fears about giving her daughter an unknown drug. She added: 'We had been offered methotrexate before, however, I'd turned it down as the thought of something suppressing her immune system worried me. 'The fact that it was being offered as part of a trial meant that it was incredibly well monitored, so I felt happy that she was in very good hands.' And after just three months, Honor's eczema started to clear up. Ms Klee added: 'Taking part in the trial has completely transformed our lives. Honor became 'depressed' after being forced to give up her hobbies due to the chronic skin condition (pictured before her treatment) 'Before it was rare that Honor slept through the night, but now we're pretty much guaranteed a good night's sleep. 'Her attendance at school is the best it's ever been and she's going to all of her clubs again. 'You hear about eczema and know its not a particularly nice condition, but I had no idea that it could be life-changing. It can ruin people's lives and affect their family's lives.' Honor added: 'I feel a lot better now and I'm glad that I'm sleeping again. It's sore sometimes if I've been scratching but it's much better and I can live with it now.' Ms Klee has now started a blog on Facebook called 'Living with Eczema - Support Forum and Blog' in order to help fellow parents struggling with the chronic skin condition. A charity has warned celebrity mothers need to stop posting photos of their babies sleeping in positions which could increase the risk of cot death. Famous women may be 'normalising' unsafe childcare by taking pictures of their infants sleeping swaddled in blankets or wearing hats, according to experts. Pillows, bulky or bedding or anything covering their face or head could put babies at risk of suffocating or overheating. Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) charity The Lullaby Trust said high-profile, influential mothers need to be more careful about what they show on social media. Kim Kardashian and British reality star Amy Childs have posted photos of their babies sleeping in cots with blankets. Kim Kardashian (pictured left with her husband Kanye West at the Met Gala), recently welcomed the family's newest addition, Psalm West (pictured right, a post to the reality star's 139million Instagram followers) but The Lullaby Trust warned babies shouldn't sleep among loose bedding or while wearing hats 'In the age of social media, celebrities have more influence than ever over parents and consumers,' said Jenny Ward, acting chief executive of The Lullably Trust. 'When it comes to sharing images of their babies, it is important for them to keep in mind that their photos might be unintentionally promoting unsafe practices or products. 'Around five babies a week die of SIDS in the UK and the latest available figures showed that number went up in 2016. 'It is vitally important that parents are aware of advice on how to sleep their baby safely if all parents had access to this information many lives could be saved. 'However, images depicting celebrities sleeping their babies unsafely give mixed messages to parents and make this task much more difficult.' Amy Childs, a former star of the reality show The Only Way is Essex, gave birth to her son last year. The Lullaby Trust warns babies shouldn't be put to sleep on their side or beneath loose blankets which cover anything above their shoulders SIDS, also known as cot death, is the sudden and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby it usually happens while they are asleep. WHAT IS A SAFE SLEEPING ENVIRONMENT FOR A BABY? Babies should be put to sleep on their back on a flat mattress which is clear of pillows, loose bedding or other objects. Babies should sleep in a separate cot or Moses basket in the same room as their parents for the first six months of their life. Parents should make sure babies' heads and faces are not covered by hats or other materials while they are in bed. Covering a baby's head can cause it to overheat, raising the risk of cot death. The room a baby sleeps in should be warm but not too hot between 16C and 20C, ideally (60F-68F). The child may be covered by a light sleeping bag or bedding, but this shouldn't cover them above the shoulders. Parents shouldn't share a bed with their baby if they've been drinking alcohol, and shouldn't smoke in the same room as the baby. Source: The Lullaby Trust Advertisement Although the exact cause of the tragedy isn't known, making sure a baby is sleeping in a safe position is believed to lower the risk of it happening. The NHS says to sleep safely a baby should be laid on their back on a flat, firm mattress and should not have their head covered by a hat or blanket. And the Lullaby Trust added a baby's bed should be kept clear of pillows or loose or bulky bedding, which a baby could become tangled in or smothered by. Beds which are too soft may also cause babies to overheat, a possible cause of cot death according to the charity, or block their airways if they roll over. Ms Ward added: 'It is known that products featured in celebrity photos tend to become popular with consumers. 'Parents are already faced with an overwhelming number of baby products and working out what to buy for a new baby can be difficult and confusing. 'Many people make the reasonable assumption that if an item is used by a celebrity and sold on the high street it is okay for their baby. However, we know that this is not always the case.' The charity warned against the use of sleep pods or nests for babies, which don't comply with safe sleeping advice recommending the use of a flat bed. Famous people posting photos of their babies sleeping on their front or side, on soft surfaces, wearing hats or with objects in their cots 'undermines' good advice, The Lullaby Trust added. A spokesperson for Amy Childs said her daughter, Polly, is in a cocoon in the picture above so would not have been able to roll over with the blanket. 'The guidelines are very unclear however and do change on a regular basis,' Ms Childs' spokesperson said. 'Amy has two beautiful children and child safety is always at the forefront of her mind.' MailOnline has contacted publicists for Kim Kardashian for comment. A sepsis survivor has told how he woke from a coma to discover both his arms and legs had been amputated and part of his face had been removed. Tom Ray was fit and healthy and living in Rutland in the East Midlands before he contracted sepsis at the age of 38 in 1999. He spent three months in a coma during which time his wife Nic gave birth to their second child Fred, a brother for Grace. Due to his illness, the family lost their business and had to sell their home. Nic is now his carer. Mr Ray's sepsis caused by a cut to his gum during a trip to the dentist, combined with a chest infection came on rapidly and led to vomiting and a high temperature. He fell into a coma and when he awoke he could not recognise his wife. Tom Ray was fit and healthy and living in Rutland in the East Midlands before he contracted sepsis at the age of 38 in 1999. He spent three months in a coma during which time his wife Nic (pictured together) gave birth to their second child Fred, a brother for Grace Mr Ray's sepsis caused by a cut to his gum during a trip to the dentist, combined with a chest infection came on rapidly and led to vomiting and a high temperature (pictured without his prosthetics speaking at a conference) Writing on his own website, Mr Ray said he had only been married for a year when his ordeal began (pictured on his wedding day with Nicola) Due to his illness, the family lost their business and had to sell their home. Nic is now his carer (they are pictured together on This Morning in 2016) Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme, he explained: 'I had visited the dentist a few days before and they nicked my gum with one of those sharp instruments they use to scrap tartar away. 'It coincided with a bout of flu and that's how I believe it was contracted.' Mr Ray visited his local doctor who admitted him straight to A&E. But he was left waiting for 10 hours while medics considered the different possibilities, he said. He added: 'The real problem is the delay in getting blood test results back. That took many, many hours. 'By the time they were returned showing clear sepsis, it was far too late. Sepsis will kill you within a few hours. 'When I surfaced from months in an induced coma I couldn't remember anything about my past life. 'There was a beautiful woman sitting next to me with a newborn baby and she introduced herself to me as my wife. 'Everything had disappeared from my memory and I had to relearn everything about my past.' Mr Ray revealed his daughter Grace didn't recognise her father for weeks after he woke up from the coma. He previously said: 'Grace came in and said, "Thats not my daddy". It was horrible. I tried to tempt her in with stories and presents.' Mrs Ray gave up her job to be her husband's full-time carer once he was discharged from hospital. He was struggling with deep depression coming to terms with his injuries and learning to use his prosthetics. The couple were forced to sell their home and move in with Mrs Ray's mother. Mr Ray visited his local doctor who admitted him straight to A&E. But he was left waiting for 10 hours while medics considered the different possibilities, he said Their heartbreaking story was made into a film called Starfish, starring Downton Abbeys Joanne Froggatt, in 2016. Mr Ray told his tale to delegates at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) conference, explaining how there were delays to his diagnosis for sepsis. On his website, he says: 'Every doctor that saw me on admission to hospital missed what were the classic signs of sepsis. 'They didn't know what was wrong with me so I was simply put into a side ward, the curtains were closed around me and I was left to die.' In his speech to the RCN, Mr Ray called for more support and mandatory training for all members of the nursing and midwifery professions. He said: 'Poor outcomes for patients are equally dramatic for staff, friends and family. 'And they will continue to happen if nursing staff are over-stretched, under-trained and unsupported. Mr Ray told his story to delegates at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) conference, explaining how there were delays to his diagnosis for sepsis (pictured with his wife Nic) 'My own experience has placed huge strain on myself, my family and my carers and it should never have happened. 'Damage and even death from sepsis will continue until there is a commitment to educate all staff to give every patient the care and attention that is needed to spot and treat sepsis as fast as possible.' Sepsis occurs when the body reacts to an infection by attacking its own organs and tissues. Some 44,000 people die from sepsis every year in the UK. Worldwide, someone dies from the condition every 3.5 seconds. Rose Gallagher, professional lead for infection prevention and control at the RCN, said: 'Without the right number of nurses with the right training, we will struggle to identify and manage potential cases of sepsis and we must have better public awareness to help people recognise the potential symptoms of sepsis and seek help quickly. 'Patients who survive sepsis are also left with long-term physical and psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, fatigue, decreased cognitive function, anxiety, depression and insomnia. 'Life can be challenging not only for patients but also for their families.' Mr Ray's clinician, Pippa Bagnall, said: 'Investment in nursing staff education shouldn't be seen as a cost it's an investment that everyone benefits from. 'Two hours of training for each nursing professional could massively reduce the 15 billion cost of sepsis to the NHS.' Heartbreaking footage has captured the moment a brain-dead infant is wheeled into surgery to donate her organs. Coralynn Sobolik, 22 months, was kissed goodbye by her mother, Meagan Sobolik, 29, who said: 'You get to save three people. I love you forever'. In the tear-jerking video, doctors and nurses line the corridors to honour Coralynn while singing Amazing Grace. Coralynn, of New Hampton, Iowa, had been declared brain dead just one day earlier after a five-day battle with a virus. Complications from the illness meant she reportedly suffered three cardiac arrests before being declared brain dead. Three people will be saved by Coralynn, whose life support was turned off on April 22 before she donated her heart, liver and kidneys. Coralynn Sobolik, who was one years old, had her life support turned off on April 29. Pictured with her father, Paul Sobolik, 32, when she was a healthy baby In the tear-jerking video, doctors and nurses line the corridors at Mayo Clinic Hospital, Rochester, to honour Coralynn while singing Amazing Grace (pictured) Mrs Sobolik, who is joined by Coralynn's father, Mr Sobolik, (pictured together) can be heard saying: 'I love you forever, you're the best thing that ever happened to me' Mrs Sobolik, recorded alongside Coralynn's father, Paul Sobolik, 32, can be heard saying: 'I love you forever, you're the best thing that ever happened to me.' Coralynn can be seen wearing a little knitted hat with daisies on and hooked up to dozens of wires. Mrs Sobolik had nothing but praise for staff who flocked around her daughter as she made her last ever journey to save the lives of three others. She said: 'I don't know if there is a word for more than phenomenal but the hospital staff were just that. 'They treated us as though they were our family. 'It was such a moving moment and I'm so touched that Coralynn managed to touch that many lives.' Mrs Sobolik shared the video on Facebook for family members outside of the US to watch. She was shocked to find the clip soon became a viral sensation and viewed over nine million times. Mrs Sobolik said: 'I'm so grateful that Coralynn's memory can live on. 'We are overwhelmed by the support we have received from people all over the world. It's great to know our little girl has inspired so many.' Coralynn became ill and was taken to hospital, but when she arrived was struggling to breathe. Pictured before, unclear what age An obituary for Carolynn said that she was mischievous and loved the 'Baby Shark' song The grieving parents were determined to not let her death be in vain and made sure her heart, liver and kidneys were donated to others in need. The video shows her last moments (pictured) Mrs Sobolik said: 'Coralynn now has a legacy that can live on through these three different people'. Pictured, the nurses and doctors lining the corridors WHAT IS PARAINFLUENZA? Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) commonly cause upper and lower respiratory illnesses in infants, young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems, but anyone can get infected. After you get infected, it takes about two to seven days before you develop symptoms. Symptoms of upper respiratory illness may include a fever, runny nose and cough. Symptoms of severe lower respiratory illness may include croup, bronchitis or pneumonia. Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIVs) usually spread from an infected person to others. There is no specific antiviral treatment for HPIV illness. Most people with HPIV illness will recover on their own. If your symptoms are severe or do not improve, you should seek medical attention. Source: CDC Advertisement Mr and Mrs Sobolik, who have two other children, Maycee and Oliver, whose ages are unknown, were determined to not let Coralynn's death be in vain. They decided to donate her heart, liver and kidneys to others in need. Her heart went to a one-year-old boy while her liver went to a one-year-old girl. Her kidneys were donated to a 41-year-old woman. Mrs Sobolik said: 'I would encourage everyone to think about organ donation. 'Whether it's your mother, brother or little one, you have a choice to let their legacy live on. 'Coralynn now has a legacy that can live on through these three different people.' When Coralynn became ill on April 17, she was taken to hospital two days later where doctors discovered she was struggling to breathe. She had caught parainfluenza, a virus which causes respiratory problems. There are different types of the virus, with most symptoms such a runny nose normally clearing up on their own. But some can cause more severe breathing difficulties that lead to hospitalisation, although the figures are not clear. Just before she was transferred to Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, doctors used a tube to sedate Coralynn, which her parents said she was unable to cope with. Her heart stopped and medical workers performed CPR for 25 minutes. They were able to stabilise her, and therefore take her to Mayo. There, doctors said the results of her echocardiogram - which looks at the heart -were good. But a CAT scan showed the little girl had brain damage. Doctors thought she would wake up but did not know how impaired she would be. On Coralynn's GoFundMe page, Melissa Brevig, sister of Mrs Sobolik, wrote: 'No one care [sic] about if she would be different we all just wanted her to wake up and look at us again.' However in the middle of the night, Coralynn's brain began to swell and an emergency CAT scan showed she was brain dead. This meant that she would never regain consciousness and support her own breathing. Mrs Brevig wrote: 'There was no coming back. Meagan and Paul had to make the hardest decision of their life. 'Cora will be going into surgery and she will be saving three people and gifting someone's baby with a very strong heart.' The GoFundMe account raising money for the little girl's funeral has amassed over 1,700. An obituary for Coralynn, who was born on July 18, 2017, reads: 'Coralynn had a mischievous side, too. She was known to steal her big sisters Barbie dolls and pour out Lucky Charms for the marshmallows. 'She loved being outside blowing bubbles and chasing kitties and puppies. She liked bubble baths, wearing her boots (or anyones shoes she could fit in) and listening to "Baby Shark". 'She was a loving little girl, who liked to give out kisses and had an infectious laugh. She enjoyed watching for the school bus, often asking "Wheres Sissy?"' Junk food should be banned from being sold inside hospitals, experts have warned in the wake of a damning report. Three quarters of the foods most often bought by hospital visitors are unhealthy and high in fat or sugar, an audit of NHS vendors has found. Among the most popular are crisps, sweets, cakes, pastries and muffins, while fizzy drinks are more popular than water or black tea. Health campaigners say shops in hospitals should only be allowed to sell healthy foods because people many of whom may already be unhealthy won't stop themselves buying the junk. Only five of the 20 top-selling snacks in NHS hospitals are considered healthy, according to research by the University of Aberdeen (stock image) Despite targets which saw fizzy drink sales slashed by almost 45 per cent in hospitals by last year, there are still concerns about what is being sold to visitors. An investigation by the University of Aberdeen found only five of the 20 best selling snacks in hospitals were healthy, The Guardian reported. Fatty pork pies, sugar-filled soft drinks and calorific cakes were among the junk options proving popular with people shopping in hospitals. A scientist not involved with the research, Professor Dame Theresa Marteua from the University of Cambridge, said it was 'hard to justify' selling such unhealthy food at a time when childhood obesity is rising and called for radical action. HOSPITALS CRACK DOWN ON SUGARY SNACK SALES The NHS last year announced the majority of hospital trusts had signed up to a voluntary scheme to cut down on sugary drinks sold on their premises. It said the equivalent of 10million teaspoons of sugar had been removed from NHS canteens, shops and vending machines the equivalent of 1.1 million cans of fizzy drink. Chief executive Simon Stevens in 2017 challenged trusts to reduce the sale of sugar-filled drinks to 10 per cent or less of those bought on the premises. The health body said in June that 87 per cent of trusts had acted and the proportion of drinks with added sugar sold on NHS premises has been cut from 15.6 per cent to 8.7 per cent. Hospitals have also stopped selling family-size chocolate bars and big bags of sweets to try and reduce how much sugar people eat. Health bosses warned in 2017 that NHS trusts would not be allowed access to a new pot of extra funding if they didn't stop selling the oversized confectionery. NHS England said 80 per cent of confectionery sold must have less than 250 calories. Advertisement She told The Guardian: 'Those wanting to eat unhealthier snacks would not be banned from doing so but they would need to bring these with them to the hospital.' The researchers who did the study went to all the hospitals in a major UK city, which they haven't named, and looked at what was in canteens, cafes, shops and vending machines. And they examined receipts for more than 68,000 food and drink items sold by six of the companies involved, to see which were most popular. Fruit bags, water and black tea were shunned by customers in favour of more fattening options, they found. The problem may not only affect patients and their families, but employees too more than half of NHS staff are believed to be overweight or obese. Hospitals have already managed to cut out the equivalent of 10million spoonfuls of sugar from drinks in their canteens under new measures. And hospitals can no longer sell family-sized chocolate bars or big bags of sweets unless they want to be denied access to a new pot of funding set up to reward those who cut out sugar from their shops. While the Aberdeen researchers recommended hospitals 'nudge' patients towards choosing healthier options, others called for more dramatic measures. Dr Aseem Malhotra, an NHS cardiologist and vocal anti-sugar campaigner, said junk food should be banned outright. 'We need to ban the sale of junk food completely in hospitals,' he told The Guardian. 'If people want to buy this stuff, thats fine, they can go out and get it, but hospitals should not be selling it. They should be selling decent, healthy food.' Men in Switzerland have one of the lowest sperm counts in Europe, according to researchers. Scientists said Swiss men's sperm quality was in a 'critical state' and it could be an indicator of worse fertility or even testicular cancer risk in the future. Some 60 per cent of men in the study had a problem with their sperm, either having too few of them, poor motility or abnormally formed cells. Sperm counts across the Western world have been falling for years and some experts suggest modern lifestyles are damaging men's fertility. Scientists from the University of Geneva found young men in Switzerland had among the lowest sperm counts in Europe, with only Denmark, Norway and Germany having fewer sperm cells per millilitre of semen Researchers at the University of Geneva tested sperm samples from 2,523 men aged between 18 and 22. The men, who were serving mandatory military service at the time, had to masturbate into a tube at a clinic after avoiding having sex for at least two days beforehand. The researchers found the group's median sperm count the middle of the range in the data was just 47million sperm per ml of semen. The range for European men is 41m to 67m, meaning Switzerland places close to the bottom. In comparisons with other countries Switzerland had higher sperm counts than Denmark, Norway and Germany, the researchers showed. But its sperm count was lower than Finland, Lithuania, Estonia and Spain Spain was the highest with 62million sperm per ml, according to data from 2012. Almost two thirds of Swiss men had an issue with their sperm and, among 40 per cent of them, only four per cent of their sperm were properly developed. Some 17 per cent of the men had sperm concentration below 15m per ml, which could seriously damage their fertility. Scientists said they were particularly concerned about the sub-par sperm counts because lower counts are linked to a higher risk of testicular cancer. 'It's important to understand that the time needed to conceive increases significantly if a man has a sperm concentration below 40 million sperm per ml,' said Professor Serge Nef, who led the study. HOW DO SPERM COUNTS VARY ACROSS EUROPE? The following figures represent median the mid-range of available data sperm counts for European countries which were compared to Switzerland in the research. Denmark 41million sperm per ml (2002) Norway 41m per ml (2002) Germany 44m per ml (2008) Switzerland 47m per ml (2019) Finland 48m per ml (2006) Lithuania 55m per ml (2002) Estonia 57m per ml (2002) Spain 62m per ml (2012) Other countries did not have enough data for researchers to compare them to Switzerland. Advertisement His team explained that a man whose sperm concentration is below 15million per ml are 'subfertile', meaning they're more likely to have fertility issues and struggle to conceive. According to Professor Nef's research, this may apply to nearly one in five men in Switzerland. And only 38 per cent of the men were found to have sperm which matched healthy benchmarks set by the World Health Organization. Dr Alfred Senn, a co-author of the study, added: 'It isn't entirely predictive of a person's fertility. 'But, in overall terms, the results suggest that the sperm quality of young men in Switzerland is in a critical state and that their future fertility will in all likelihood be affected.' Between 2002 and 2010, the number of couples using fertility treatment to increase their chance of getting pregnant doubled from 3,000 per year to more than 6,000. In 2017, scientists said sperm counts from men in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand have dropped by more than half in the past 40 years. Researchers in Israel found the rate of decline in men's sperm counts was not slowing down and may be 'a canary in the mine' for public health. Experts have said in the past that obesity, stress, smoking, and exposure to some chemicals or pesticides may be driving sperm counts down. The Swiss researchers said they were concerned the low sperm counts could increase rates of testicular cancer. Professor Nef added: 'For 35 years, testicular cancer has grown steadily to over 10 cases per 100,000 men, which is very high compared to other European countries. 'Sperm quality is generally lower in countries where the incidence of testicular cancer is high.' In the researchers' international comparisons, dozens of European countries did not have enough reliable data to be compared. The research was published in the journal Andrology. Maine now has measles, becoming the 25th US state struck by an outbreak of the highly infectious virus sweeping the nation. The US is amid the country's worst outbreak of the disease in a quarter century, striking 880 people. Medical officials in Maine reported on Wednesday that a child was infected but is now fully recovered. The afflicted school-aged child from Somerset County, whose measles case was confirmed on Monday, was vaccinated and had no complications while the disease ran its course, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said. Anti-vaccine sentiments across the US have fueled the devastating outbreak, with focal points centered on religious and insular communities with spiritual or philosophical qualms about immunization Measles outbreaks have now struck 25 US states, most recently, Maine, where one vaccinated child contracted the highly contagious disease but has since recovered Health experts say the virus has spread among school-age children whose parents declined to give them the vaccine, which confers immunity to the disease. A vocal fringe of US parents cite concerns the vaccine may cause autism, despite scientific studies that have debunked such claims. Although the virus was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning the disease was no longer a constant presence, outbreaks still happen via travelers coming from countries where measles is still common, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC said last month that 72 percent of the people infected with measles were unvaccinated. Of the others, 10 percent had at least one of the two recommended vaccine doses, while the status of the remaining 18 percent was unclear, the agency said. Measles cases have now been reported in: Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Florida Georgia Illinois Indiana Iowa Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Missouri Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New York Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Texas Tennessee Washington Of the 25 states reporting outbreaks, New York bears the brunt of the burden. There, 523 cases have been confirmed in Brooklyn and Queens since September, and the vast majority of these are among Orthodox Jewish communities. Although the disease outbreak did not originate in Americans - it was either brought to the US by travelers from or Americans returning from countries like Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines - and spread like wildfire among unvaccinated communities, and beyond. 'The best protection against measles is vaccination,' Maine State Epidemiologist Dr. Siiri Bennett said in a statement. He added that even when vaccinated individuals become ill, the severity of the disease is reduced and its spread is less likely. If between 90 and 95 percent of the population is vaccinated, then people who have compromised immune systems or are too ill or young to be vaccinated will still most likely be protected, according to the theory of herd immunity. (Reporting by Peter Szekely in New York; Editing by Scott Malone, Paul Simao and Susan Thomas) Pennsylvania health officials have declared an outbreak of hepatitis A that has swept across the state. Since January 2018, there have been 171 cases reported in 36 counties, the state's Department of Health said on Monday. More than 60 cases alone have been identified since the start of 2019, Nate Wardle, a spokesperson for the Department of Health, told DailyMail.com It comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported earlier this month that there were 300 percent more cases across the US between 2016 and 2018 than the previous three-year period. According to the state's secretary of health, Dr Rachel Levine, declaring an outbreak makes Pennsylvania eligible for federal funds to buy more vaccine doses if necessary. Since January 2018, there have been 171 cases of hepatitis A reported in 36 counties in Pennsylvania, and more than 60 cases alone this year 'It's hard to know for sure why we are experiencing an outbreak of hepatitis A,' Dr Levine said in a press release. 'We do know that the commonwealth has seen an increase of diseases like hepatitis C and HIV because of the opioid epidemic.' According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, there were more than 2,500 deaths in Pennsylvania related to opioids. That's a rate of about 21.2 deaths per 100,000 persons, higher than the national average rate of 14.6 deaths per 100,000 persons. Data from the Pennsylvania Department of Health shows the counties that have been hit the hardest by the outbreak are Allegheny County and Philadelphia. Wardle said that Philadelphia has around 40 confirmed cases, while Allegheny has confirmed about 25 cases. Dr Levine added that more than 2,000 cases of hepatitis A have been reported in the neighboring states of Ohio and West Virginia. They are among nine states - including Arkansas, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee - that have seen hepatitis A cases increase by 500 percent. Hepatitis A is a virus that attacks the body through liver inflammation. It is highly contagious and is typically spread through sexual contact, needle sharing, or by consuming food that has been contaminated by someone infected with the virus. Symptoms - which include fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and dark urine - can take anywhere from two to seven weeks after exposure to appear. Although many who are infected show no symptoms, it can take a few months for the illness to pass. The homeless are more vulnerable to hepatitis A, which easily spreads when people do not have access to good hygiene and do not wash their hands after using the restroom. The disease can also spread through contaminated food and water. Hepatitis A has been a recommended childhood vaccine since the mid-1990s. Wardle says that vaccination will be targeted at high-risk groups including homeless people, illicit drugs users and men who have sex with men. 'We're not calling for a vaccination of all people, but we're making sure people in these target groups are vaccinated,' he said. Along with getting vaccinated, public health officials suggest strategies that include hand-washing with soap and water after going to the bathroom and before eating or preparing food. Other prevention strategies include avoiding sex with anyone who has hepatitis A and not sharing towels, toothbrushes, eating utensils, food, drinks, smokes or drug paraphernalia with other people. Parents should trust health workers' advice about vaccinations instead of believing what they read on social media, Britain's top nurses have warned. And they accused the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, of being too harsh about people who choose not to vaccinate their children. Calling them anti-vaxxers, a Royal College of Nursing spokesperson argued his comments could lead to parents feeling they were being bullied. When in fact, the nurses' union said, people should be educated about how safe vaccines are rather than being forced to have them or getting berated for being sceptical about them. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been accused of sounding like a bully for criticising parents who choose not to vaccinate their children anti-vaxxers when instead parents should be educated, the Royal College of Nursing said The comments came in a discussion about whether vaccinations should be made mandatory for schoolchildren. 'Mandating vaccines is not the answer,' said Linda Bailey, a member of the Emergency Care Association, part of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN). 'We need to win the argument as educated and informed nurses and use the evidence we have. 'We've got all the evidence, we don't need to put compulsion in place. 'We need to be bold about our assertions, we need to practise from a strong evidence base. We need better education to counter fake news and we need better funding.' Debate has been raging in recent months about myths that vaccinations are unsafe spreading on social media. Ideas the measles, mumps and rubella jab could lead to autism or that vaccines contain dangerous chemicals or can make people ill are continuing to spread despite being untrue. CLAIM VACCINES AREN'T SAFE IS 'ABSOLUTELY WRONG' The UK's chief medical officer the top advisor to the Government last year criticised people spreading lies about vaccines being unsafe. Dame Sally Davies, speaking on the 30th anniversary of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) jab, said people spreading the 'myths' were 'absolutely wrong'. She said in November: 'Over 30 years, we have vaccinated millions of children. It is a safe vaccination, we know that, and we've saved millions of lives across the world. 'People who spread these myths, when children die they will not be there to pick up the pieces or the blame.' One myth is based on research done by Andrew Wakefield in the 1990s which claimed MMR led to autism, but his results were later found to be fake, and the work was called 'fatally flawed', 'fraudulent' and 'dishonest' by experts in the field. Others claim the vaccine doesn't work but after the introduction of MMR in 1963, global measles deaths dropped, on average, from 2.6million to around 100,000, according to the WHO. The vaccine was introduced by the NHS in 1988, a year in which there were 86,001 cases of measles in England within 10 years, in 1998, this had dropped to just 3,728 reported. The figure has fluctuated since, believed to be partly due to the Wakefield scare in the mid-90s, but in 2017 there were reports of only 1,693 measles cases in England. (Note: Figures quoted are cases reported to Public Health England and not lab-confirmed numbers) Advertisement In rare circumstances people can have bad reactions to vaccines but otherwise all the jabs used by the NHS are completely safe. If children aren't vaccinated their lives are put at risk and they endanger the health of others who aren't able to be vaccinated because of health reasons, such as cancer patients. Claire Picton, another member of the Emergency Care Assocation, said she was in favour of vaccination but didn't agree with the language Mr Hancock used. She said: 'I took complete exception to Matt Hancock talking about anti-vaxxers. What sort of message is that sending to people? 'We are trying to educate people to vaccinate their children, not to make them feel that they are being bullied into something that they for whatever reason think is not right.' Mr Hancock last month said he wouldn't rule anything out in the fight against people who spread lies about routine vaccines being dangerous. He hinted that it is possible the UK could one day require children to be vaccinated before they started school, as is the law in France and most of the US. Parents railed back against this, suggesting it infringed on human rights and was 'like Nazi Germany'. The RCN's Nykoma Hamilton told her colleagues the World Health Organization predicted vaccines saved at least 10million lives between 2010 and 2015 alone. She said: 'Even in the face of substantial and increasing evidence against this link, there is still vaccine hesitancy. 'How do we debunk these myths? Parents talk to us, trust us, this why we are here. People need to engage fully in this discussion. 'We know as parents that they're scared and often quite confused about what is out in the world of social media. So trust in us, ask us about it, trust your nurse.' Ms Hamilton, a mother of three, said parents had a responsibility to help protect other people's children as well as their own. She added: 'We often hear that it's a parent's right to make decisions about their child. Yes, but I counter that with asking about your social responsibility. 'Vaccines cannot be given to certain groups of people such as those receiving chemotherapy, immunosuppressants - you are putting them at risk as well. 'If your child had a severe nut allergy the school would ask pupils not to bring any peanuts in. So why are we allowing children to bring preventable, communicable diseases into schools?' MailOnline approached Mr Hancock's Department for Health and Social Care for comment. For most people they are harmless but can cause skin complain rosacea We pick up eyelash mites by direct facial contact with other people They are related to the spider family and measure a third of a Your face and nipples are teeming with mites. Demodex, as they are called, are tiny creates that live near hair follicles - including the fine, invisible facial and nipple hair on all of us. They feed off the oils on your skin and mate while you sleep. A microscopic gif gives a visceral idea of how these bugs spend their time on your face: wriggling their eight legs and puckering its 'mouth', through which it ingests oils and skin cells. You will rarely see symptoms of your 'demodex infestation', but they can be a contributing factor to skin issues like acne. We pick up eyelash mites by direct facial contact with other people and they seem to prefer older hosts because they tend to have more oily skin. The face mite species, known as Demodex folliculorum, exist in human ears, eyebrows, and eyelashes as well as hairs that cover nipples and genitals. A typical eyelash mite will live for between two and three weeks. WHAT ARE FACE MITES? Dubbed 'face mites,' D. folliculorum are actually tiny arachnids that inhabit hairs throughout the human body and consume skin cells and oils. Mites exist in human ears, eyebrows, and eyelashes as well as hairs that cover nipples and genitals. For most people, mites are harmless. For some, however, mites can be associated with various skin and eye disorders including rosacea and blepharitis. Demodex have likely been living with us for a long time; as early humans walked out of Africa and found their way around the globe, the researchers say. They found that mites from China are genetically distinct from mites from the Americas. East Asians and European populations diverged over 40,000 years ago and so far it looks like their mites did as well. Advertisement In that time, the female of the species lays about 15 to 20 eggs inside the hair follicle near the sebaceous glands. These eggs develop into larvae, which grow into an eight-legged adult. Depending on their gender, the female stays in one location while the male will leave the hair follicle in search of a mate. But even then, they don't go far. They can only walk about 10mm and tend to more lively at night time. While nothing more than an unpleasant thought for most people, the mites can be associated with various skin and eye disorders including rosacea and blepharitis. When it dies, the creature releases a bacteria, bacillus bacterium, which triggers inflammation in patients who have rosacea, leading to the most severe form of the condition, papulopustular rosacea. Rosacea is a genetic condition suffered by around one in ten people and usually appears after the age of 30. It causes blood vessels in the face to dilate, causing redness and uncontrollable flushing but can also lead to red, painful, pus-filled spots which look like severe acne. Other patients who suffer from an infestation of mites may complain of eyelid and eyebrow itching, particularly when they first wake up. But for most of us, not being able to see the tiny critters will be enough to let us blink away their existence. Demodex folliculorum, exist in human ears, eyebrows, and eyelashes as well as hairs that cover nipples and genitals. A recent study found them in the eyelashes of all those tested Metro Bank's boss said he feels 'humbled and chastened' after an accounting error wiped more than 1billion off the lender's market value. Craig Donaldson, 47, issued an extraordinary apology to shareholders for the problems which have sent Metro stock plummeting 83 per cent from its peak in March last year. He admitted it had made serious mistakes, including the accounting error which saw it underestimate the riskiness of some property loans. That alone knocked more than 1billion off the bank's value when it was revealed in January. Metro boss: Craig Donaldso issued an apology to shareholders for the problems which have sent Metro stock plummeting 83 per cent from its peak in March last year Donaldson gave up his annual bonus and offered to resign in the wake of the fiasco, but was asked to stay by Metro's board. The apology was not enough for some investors, with 10 per cent voting against Donaldson's reappointment to Metro's board at its annual meeting yesterday. Speaking to investors, Donaldson said: 'I would like to apologise to you all and share my deep regret. 'I am really excited about the future, but it has been a humbling and chastening first quarter.' Metro revealed in January that it had underestimated the riskiness of some of its loans, and wasn't holding enough spare cash to cover itself while still funding growth in the event that borrowers were unable to pay them back. This meant it had to rush to investors to raise more money, eventually pulling in 375million by selling shares for 500p each. Just a year ago, Metro's shares were trading for 3422p apiece. The Mail exposed how Metro's error was discovered by regulators at the Bank of England, not its own staff as Metro had initially suggested. This triggered further questions over bosses' credibility. Even though Donaldson turned down a bonus for 2018, a hefty 21 per cent of Metro's investors voted against directors' pay, meaning it will appear on a register maintained by the Investment Association trade body of shamed firms suffering major revolts. The chief executive pocketed 800,944, while finance head David Arden took home 1.1million. In contrast to Donaldson's tone, Metro Bank's US billionaire founder Vernon Hill, 74, claimed his company is still the best choice in the UK. Hill, who received a 12 per cent vote against his reappointment, tried to rally shareholders behind his ambition to become a major lender. He said: 'We are the banking choice in Britain. Our model is working and we continue to disrupt UK banking. We have had some ups and downs but our strategy remains strong.' His words seemed to soothe investor jitters, as the shares ended the day up 7.6 per cent, or 49.5p, at 705.5p. Hill founded Metro Bank in 2010 as the first new High Street bank to open in the UK for more than 100 years. It now has 66 branches and 1.7m customers, whom it calls 'fans'. Many of its shareholders are Hill's close business associates, including Tiffany's chairman Roger Farah and media mogul Michael Bloomberg. Norway's Norges Bank revealed yesterday that it had taken a 3.1 per cent stake in the company, worth 20million at the current share price. Hill's Yorkshire terrier Sir Duffield II, who has become an unofficial mascot for the lender, was absent from the meeting. Metro declined to speak to journalists at the subdued event, and the lack of questions from shareholders elicited a surprised chuckle from Hill. Attention to detail. Oral and written communication. Problem Solving. Resilience. Empathy. Integrity. Skills like these are often known as soft skills"in contrast to things that sound more academically grounded, like computational ability or scientific reasoning. They arent easy to capture on standardized tests, or even in grading. But demand for these skills is rising fast, according to an analysis by Parker Dewey , an organization that connects college students with businesses for so-called micro-internships. (short-term workplace-based learning experiences.) And experts say demand is growing because technology advances are automating computational and other technical tasks typically performed by people. Employers seeking students for those micro-internship opportunities said they were most interested in: Attention to detail Communication (oral and/or written) Dependability/reliability Empathy Flexibility Integrity Organization Problem solving Resilience Whether or not a student is a self-starter. The top three areas in which employers were hoping to hire students for short internships? Marketing (39 percent), sales (16 percent), and operations (11 percent), according to the analysis. The findings, while striking, arent exactly going to come as a huge surprise to the K-12 field, which has been striving to help students master soft skills alongside academic ones for at least a decade. (Check out this 2007 story from my colleague Catherine Gewertz on how high schools were beginning to score students on skills such as oral communication and collaboration alongside course content .) Part of the reason for the emphasis: The needs of the workforce are changing, thanks in large part to advances in technology. For instance, last year, Matthew Lynch, an educational consultant who owns Lynch Consulting, wrote that a whopping 800 million jobs could be lost to automation over the next decade. His solution? Teaching students soft skills that cant be easily performed by a machine. It should be apparent that, while we may be able to automate cars in the next decade or two, we are nowhere close to automating the work of social workers, therapists, educators, and others whose jobs focus around soft-skillsor on the softer aspects of other jobs, such as the need for surgeons to communicate with a patients family, Lynch wrote in this Education Futures blog post But gauging student progress on these soft skills can prove controversial. Measuring social-emotional traits has drawn interest from private companies that have developed software, wearable devices, and other technology to track students emotions and mindsets, my colleague Ben Herold reported last year. That has spurred privacy concerns and pushback from parents who are concerned about how the results will be used. To dig into more future of work issues impacting the K-12 world, see our special report, Schools and the Future of Work. Image: Getty Images Energy giant SSE has vowed to sever ties with its under-pressure energy supply business by mid-2020 after shedding 570,000 customer accounts over the last twelve months. The Big Six supplier has pledged to either sell or list the energy services arm as a separate business by the second half of next year, appointing a separate board for the division, which will be headed by executive chairwoman Katie Bickerstaffe. SSE and rival provider, Npower, called off their merger late last year, blaming tough market conditions and the Government's energy price cap. Loss: SSE has lost hundreds of thousands of customers, blaming tough market conditions The Scottish supplier has also reported that profits have fallen far short of expectations. SSE's energy services business - which is now reported separately to the wider business - saw underlying earnings crash 68 per cent to 89.6million in the year to March. The group also posted underlying pre-tax profits of 725.7million for the year to March, down from 1.2billion in 2017-18 - a fall of 38 per cent. It comes as the firm shed 570,000 customers household gas and electricity customer accounts, dropping to 5.8million. SSE blamed tough market conditions and the Government's energy price cap for the results, admitting that 2019-20 earnings are also expected to be impacted. It said the new financial year will be hit by factors such as output from its renewable electricity generation being hedged at below current market prices. The provider has also set a deadline for its chairman Richard Gillingwater's departure, saying he must depart no later than March 31, 2021. Mr Gillingwater said: 'While our financial results clearly fell well short of what we hoped to achieve at the start of the year, we've made significant progress towards our ambition to be a leading energy company in a low-carbon world. 'The fundamental strengths of our business and the strategic opportunities afforded by the transition to a low-carbon economy will support the delivery of our five-year dividend plan and creation of value for society as a whole.' SSE shares dropped 3 per cent after the results were announced. Switching figures released show April had the highest number of energy switches to date The provider was the last of the Big Six to raise its prices in line with the Ofgem price cap rise earlier this year, hiking bills by 117 for standard variable tariff customers. Energy expert at uSwitch, Rik Smith, said: 'Having raised its prices by 10 per cent back in February, in line with the increase to the price cap, it is hardly surprising that SSE is the latest energy company to report heavy customer losses as bill-payers fight back against the astronomical hike to the cap. 'The record switching levels reported for April show that consumers are motivated by the huge savings available through switching. 'Clearly the drop in profits in its retail arm has strengthened SSE's resolve to - in their own words - deliver a future for it outside the group. The question for consumers is whether this will change the landscape of the UK energy market, especially as SSE remains one of the largest domestic suppliers in the country.' It was revealed earlier this week that a record number of UK customers switched to a new energy supplier last month after average bills soared by 117 when Ofgem raised the price cap. More than 660,000 customers changed their supplier in April, up 34 per cent on April 2018 and the highest number ever recorded, according to data from Energy UK, a trade body. It is not just SSE who have seen their customers desert them in droves, British Gas recently announced it had lost 234,000 gas and electricity customer accounts whilst Scottish Power also lost about 50,000 accounts over the period. Npower also lost 103,000 UK customers in the first three months of the year. The figures reflect the issues large energy suppliers in Britain face with many struggling against competition from smaller rivals who are often able to offer cheaper prices. Peter Earl, head of energy at Compare the Market added: 'It's evident that the Big Six model is failing to attract customers in the same way that it is used to. Customers are increasingly becoming more aware of excessive price rises, and in turn shopping around for a better deal. 'Our own research shows that in the last month alone 28 per cent of switches were away from the Big Six in comparison to the 17 per cent that switched to.' Despite this, SSE said it was seeing 'early indications' of consolidation as a number of of smaller suppliers have fallen foul of wholesale energy increases and 'unsustainable business models'. The Coupon kid: Jordon Cox, 22, has published a book on digging out discounts You don't need to pay full price for anything. Well, that's what deal detective Jordon Cox says, and he is so good at digging out discounts he has published a book on this very subject. The 22-year-old from Essex is nicknamed the Coupon Kid at MoneySavingExpert.com, the popular website founded by Martin Lewis where Jordon works. And while cutting out coupons might seem too much like hard work, Jordon insists that, if you follow his tips, you could save thousands of pounds a year. So far this week in Money Mail's How To Get Rich series, we have shown you how to make a mint from your property, transform your hobbies into a fortune and become a smarter investor. Today is all about cashing in on the many freebies and discounts which are up for grabs. We will explain how to make use of cashback promotions to earn thousands of pounds a year from the everyday spending you would be doing anyway. And you will hear from the so-called 'comping queens' who win exotic holidays and money-can't-buy experiences simply by entering dozens of prize draws in their spare time. But, first, whether it's discount vouchers to use at the supermarket or online codes that reduce the cost of a big ticket item, Jordon Cox shares his top tips for finding the very best deals out there... His biggest wins My bargain-hunting obsession began when I was just 15 after my parents split up and I wanted to help my mum, Debbie, save money on her supermarket shop. Seven years later, and I have turned my love of a cheap deal into a fully-fledged career sharing my wisdom in articles and on TV. My biggest triumphs so far have been blagging a 600 Tesco shop for just 4p using more than 500 different coupons. On another money-saving mission, I took a flight from Leeds/Bradford airport to Stansted via Berlin rather than buying a direct train ticket from Sheffield to Essex for 48. The epic detour only saved me 8, but I had a great day out in the German capital. However, I'm sure you will be relieved to hear that you do not need to go to the same extremes in order to save yourself some substantial sums. By following my sneaky tricks, you could easily save 100 a month or more. That might not sound like all that much but when you add it up, that's 1,200 over the course of a year. No matter what you are buying, be it a holiday or a vacuum cleaner, you can most likely find a discount code online Discount codes No matter what you are buying, be it a holiday or a vacuum cleaner, you can most likely find a discount code online. They are usually a combination of letters and numbers that you can tap in so you can get money off when buying something from a website. When you are paying for an item online, there is normally a question on the payment page which asks whether you have a promotional code. Get the right one and you could save as much as 20 per cent or sometimes even more. So if you found a code for a tumble dryer on sale for 600, you'd save 120. You might see codes like this on TV adverts or in emails from companies you have shopped with in the past. Many of these codes can be found on websites such as Vouchercodes.co.uk and HotUKdeals.com. To save you time, you can install an internet tool called Honey that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at the online checkout. To use it, you must have Google Chrome as the programme with which you search the web. Then go to Joinhoney.com and follow the instructions. It is free to use, but keep in mind you are sharing a lot of information about your internet use and shopping habits with the company. When you are paying for an item online, there is normally a question on the payment page which asks whether you have a promotional code Haggling You might find it embarrassing to ask for money off in a shop, but you would be surprised by how many companies will actually give you a discount. This is especially true of furniture sellers such as DFS. If you watch TV, you might feel like their sale never ends. So why not ask if you can get an extra bit of money off next time you are in a shop? I bargained with a travel agent and got 200 off a holiday to Canada, plus a much nicer hotel room with a view of Niagara Falls. If you can get talking to a real person on the phone or face-to-face, you can ask for extras and bonuses that you wouldn't get if you were just paying online. After all, the worst they can do is say 'no'. But you can also use the online chat features on company websites to ask for money off. If the 'chat bot' is run entirely by a computer, you might not have any luck. But, in many cases, there are real-life customer service advisers working behind the scenes. And don't forget, you'll get further with haggling if you are polite and charming, as retailers don't really have to offer you anything at all. Cut-out coupons Save hundreds of pounds on your supermarket shopping by printing off coupons that are listed on websites such as Supersavvyme.co.uk and Caringeveryday.co.uk. Even if you don't have a computer, you can still find lots of brilliant deals in the pages of in-store magazines from the big supermarkets and chain stores such as Boots. There are often great discount vouchers on the packaging of products themselves for example, boxes of tea bags, washing power and cereal. You might not be very popular at the check-out queue, but most people will see the funny side, and the savings are well worth a few blushes. You could become a millionaire overnight by predicting the winning lottery numbers if you had a crystal ball. Investing in companies poised to make it big might bring similar rewards over time, but if you back the wrong ones, you could lose a fortune. That's why successful fund managers are paid phone number-sized salaries to forecast which companies are going to be a roaring success and avoid those most likely to crash and burn. You could become a millionaire overnight by predicting the winning lottery numbers if you had a crystal ball Understanding how technology will shape our lives is a key part of spotting the best investment opportunities. Years ago, the idea of driverless cars would have seemed bonkers, but now they are a reality, with testing on roads starting this year. And however you feel about robots taking over human jobs, artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. The growing political focus on climate change shows that energy-saving technology is likely to prove ever-more popular with consumers. Ben Yearsley, of adviser Shore Financial Planning, says investing in line with these themes could deliver 'superb returns' over time, but you will need to be patient to reap the rewards. He urges investors to use a variety of funds rather than trying to pick out individual companies' stocks in order to balance the risk of a firm going bust. Here, we reveal what funds investment experts have tipped as most likely to benefit from trends of the future. ROBOTS, AI AND SELF- DRIVING CARS Darius McDermott, managing director of FundCalibre, tips the Smith & Williamson Artificial Intelligence fund, which invests in companies that both use and develop AI. It invests 7 of every 100 of savers' money into Alphabet, the parent company of Google and Waymo, which is developing self-driving cars. It launched in 2017 and has turned 1,000 into 1,145 in the past year. Mr McDermott also likes the Baillie Gifford Japanese fund. Its top holding is SoftBank Group, a mobile phone giant that also owns robotics firm Boston Dynamics. Auto pilot: The Smith & Williamson Artificial Intelligence fund invests in Alphabet, the parent company of Google and Waymo, which is developing self-driving cars The fund invests 8.19 of every 100 in SoftBank and has turned 1,000 into 2,068 in the past five years. He also tips the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust, which invests 6 in every 100 in Tesla. While the firm is the most famous player in the driverless car revolution, its share price has suffered recently due to investor concerns about competition from rivals and other worries. Nonetheless, the Trust has turned 1,000 into 2,668 over five years. Ryan Hughes, head of active portfolios at AJ Bell, likes the Polar Capital Automation & Artificial Intelligence fund. It also invests in Alphabet and Rockwell Automation, which is helping motor firms to make driverless cars. The fund, launched in 2017, has turned 1,000 into 1,052 in the past year, but Mr Hughes hopes it will see stronger long-term growth. ADVANCES IN HEALTHCARE With an ageing global population, improving healthcare is of enormous interest in the investment world. Daniel Pereira, analyst at investment research group Square Mile, tips the Artemis Global Select fund. It invests in automation, healthcare and scientific equipment. One of its largest holdings is U.S. healthcare equipment and services company Boston Scientific. Its innovations include the Dynagen Mini Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD), which is an advanced type of pacemaker that can deliver lifesaving shock therapy for those with irregular heartbeats. The fund has turned 1,000 into 1,953 in the past five years. Alternatively, Mr McDermott tips the Polar Capital Global Healthcare Trust, which turned 1,000 into 1,393 in five years. ELECTRIC CARS AND CLEAN ENERGY Mr McDermott says: 'There are a number of fund managers who are excited about the future prospects for electric vehicles (EVs), but there may be some bumps along the way.' 'Governments are also supportive, as switching over to EVs will cut dependency on fossil fuels and reduce our carbon footprint.' He tips Artemis Global Income, whose top holding is U.S. car manufacturer General Motors, which has pledged to make all its cars electric in the coming years. The fund has turned 1,000 into 1,531 over five years. WEATHER REPORT FROM THE FREEZER The smart home revolution means most new household appliances will soon be controlled by our mobile phones and be able to 'talk' to one another. A Samsung fridge, for example, can already provide a read-out of news, weather and tell you what appointments you've got booked into your email calendar. Mr Hughes tips Polar Capital Global Technology, which invests in Microsoft, Alphabet and Samsung, and has turned 1,000 into 3,300 over the past five years. Investment stalwart Terry Smith has reportedly apologised to investors in his Fundsmith Emerging Equities trust after its disappointing performance saw him step back from the fund's day-to-day management earlier today. The 328million Fundsmith Emerging Equities trust has delivered positive returns over the past five years, but it has nevertheless failed to keep pace with both its benchmark index and the wider emerging markets sector. Following the trust's annual general meeting, which took place earlier today, the board said Michael O'Brien and Sandip Patodia will take over as portfolio manager and assistant manager respectively, with effect from 31 May. Terry Smith founded investment management house Fundsmith in 201, when he also launched his flagship Fundsmith Equity fund The duo joined Fundsmith ahead of the trust's launch back in 2014 and have worked closely with its team ever since. Smith will continue to provide advice and support to them in his capacity as chief investment officer of Fundsmith. Smith founded investment management house Fundsmith in 2010 and shortly thereafter launched the hugely successful 17.5billion Fundsmith Equity fund, which he continues to manage today. The Fundsmith Emerging Equities trust has underperformed both the MSCI Emerging Markets benchmark and AIC global sector average since it launched in 2014 While Fundsmith Equity has made its name as one of the best performing funds in the Investment Association's global sector - delivering 164 per cent over the past five years, compared to an average of just 66 per cent from his peer group according to FE Analytics, the Fundsmith Emerging Equities trust has not fared as well. Over the same period, the trust is up 23 per cent, however it remains behind both its MSCI Emerging Markets benchmark return of 41 per cent and its Association of Investment Companies global emerging markets sector average return of 28 per cent. Martin Bralsford, chairman of the trust, said: 'This is a natural progression of the team and the board look forward to working more closely with Michael and Sandip with the ongoing support of Terry.' Terry Smith said: 'I am delighted that the significant role played by Michael and Sandip in the formation of the fund and its ongoing activities is being recognised. 'The initial success of Fundsmith's other investment trust (the 1.2billion Smithson investment trust which launched in October last year) has made me realise my oversight as CIO, with dedicated fund managers doing the day to day work, has worked extremely well. 'I believe the changes we are announcing today will help deliver the long-term outperformance that we seek.' Smith's investment house runs four funds, with Smith himself the lead manager on Fundsmith Equity and Sustainable Equity. He was never named manager on Smithson investment trust and is now off the Fundsmith Emerging Equities Trust. Ryan Hughes, head of active portfolios at AJ Bell, said the news will 'no doubt make investors' ears prick up' - despite it meaning no change to how the portfolio is run. He said: 'OBrien and Patodia have been involved in the management of the trust since inception and therefore are fully versed with the current holdings. However the trust looks expensive with ongoing costs of 1.27 per cent, particularly with such lacklustre performance over the past five years.' Hughes noted the trust is underweight to China and an overweight to India, and is 70 per cent devoted to consumer staples companies. He added: 'Investors should understand that this trust is highly likely to continue to behave very differently to the benchmark.' Meanwhile Hector McNeil, co-founder of HANetf, said: 'The difficulty of consistently outperforming a benchmark has been well reported and the performance of Fundsmith Emerging Equities trust shows the risks for investors relying solely on "star managers".' Ewan Lovett-Turner, director of investment companies research at Numis Securities, said the change replicates the management structure of the recently launched Smithson investment trust which raised a record 822.5million at IPO last year. He said: 'Fundsmith Emerging Equitiess track record under Terry Smiths management has been less successful since its launch in June 2014 due to a focus on consumer-rated companies in emerging markets. 'However, the fund continues to trade close to NAV, reflecting its differentiated approach and the popularity of the management group among retail investors and wealth managers.' Lawsuit: Hong Kong billionaire Samuel Tak Lee owns 26 per cent of Shaftesbury West End landlord Shaftesbury is preparing to fight off a 10million lawsuit launched by a shareholder. Hong Kong billionaire Samuel Tak Lee, who owns 26 per cent of Shaftesbury, refuses to drop allegations it acted improperly in raising 265million from shareholders. He claims the aim was to dilute his stake and make it harder for him to mount a takeover bid. In its half-year results yesterday, Shaftesbury said it does not consider the claim to have any merit. It is understood it plans to defend itself against any legal action. But Tak Lee wants a statement from directors saying they breached duties to shareholders. He has already sent a 'letter before action', the first step in a process which could lead to the High Court and Shaftesbury has until the end of May to respond. Its property income, drawn from shops and offices in central London, was up 5.2 per cent in the six months to March 31 to 48.6million. Pound slump: Sterling slipped below $1.27 for the first time in almost five months The pound has touched its lowest level since January, as traders fretted over the perils of a No Deal Brexit and Labour seizing power. Sterling slipped further below $1.27 today - its lowest level in almost five months - following growing speculation that Theresa Mays Brexit deal will be junked by her replacement as Tory leader and Prime Minister. The pound by mid-morning was trading at $1.267, 0.3 per cent down on the day. Against the euro sterling was trading at 1.135 after a fall of 0.3 per cent. The pound has been falling against the US dollar since May 2, when it stood at almost $1.32. May is stepping down within weeks, and her most likely successor is seen as Boris Johnson, a leading voice for Leave during the referendum campaign, who has since downplayed the risks of leaving without an agreement with the European Union. Analysts fear a No Deal exit is therefore becoming more likely and this is seen on trading floors as dangerous for the British economy, meaning investors are transferring their cash to other countries. A new Tory leader may also be forced to hold a general election which Labour could win, it is feared. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has threatened to launch a wave of renationalisation which would see investors paid less than their assets are worth on the market. It is thought this and his other policies would be devastating for UK growth and confidence in the country. Sterling climbed 0.1 per cent yesterday against the euro to 1.14. Disgraced beancounter KPMG was last night facing yet another fine from the regulators this time for a record 12.5million. In the latest blow to its reputation, the auditor was accused of 'truly exceptional' misconduct by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) in a hearing about its work for American banking firm BNY Mellon. The bank was found to have not properly separated its customers' money from the rest of its business, meaning they could have been exposed to undue risk. KPMG, which is led in the UK by chairman and senior partner Bill Michae, was accused of 'truly exceptional' misconduct by the Financial Reporting Council It prompted a three-year probe by the FRC into KPMG's role in the scandal, which found the auditor had failed to properly consider the rules around keeping customer money separate. The regulator is now pressing for KPMG to pay a fine of at least 12.5million, saying that its failures risked the possible insolvency of the bank. But KPMG's lawyers have branded that figure 'extravagant' and 'gargantuan', suggesting it should be as little as 1.4million. It comes after the firm and Richard Hinton, the partner who oversaw BNY audits, admitted misconduct in September. KPMG, which is led in the UK by chairman and senior partner Bill Michael, has already paid out more than 15million of fines in the past year for work carried out for the Co-operative Bank, Equity Red Star, Ted Baker and Quindell. The latest proposed penalty would take this total to nearly 28million. But speaking for KPMG, at a tribunal to decide the size of the penalty, lawyer Bankim Thanki said the misconduct had been unintentional and was not criminal. The tribunal is set to continue this week, with a panel chaired by former top lawyer Sir Stanley Burton due to decide on what the final penalty should be. The regulator is now pressing for KPMG to pay a fine of at least 12.5million, saying that its failures risked the possible insolvency of the bank There is no upper limit on the fines that can be imposed. The FRC, which is stuffed with former staff from UK auditors, has been demanding higher sums after it was accused by MPs of being too cosy with big accounting firms. It is now being scrapped and replaced with a new watchdog. A spokesman for the FRC yesterday declined to comment on the proceedings. Last night a KPMG spokesman said the firm accepted that some of its work did not meet guidance issued by the FRC in 2011. But she added: 'Since that time, there has been further fundamental change in the regulatory environment and we have significantly enhanced our procedures and training to reflect this. 'We are committed to co-operating with our regulator to bring these historic cases to conclusion as swiftly as possible. 'However, in this instance we could not agree with the FRC on the level of appropriate sanctions, which will now be determined by an independent tribunal.' The penalties KPMG has received so far over misconduct are a drop in the ocean compared to its annual revenues 2.3billion in the UK last year. Partners took home an average of 601,000 each. The firm is still being investigated by the FRC over its audit of collapsed construction company Carillion. Along with the collapse of BHS, the scandal led to radical reforms being proposed for the audit sector. A deepening trade war could wipe 472billion off the global economy without an urgent rethink, top economists have warned. The increasingly vicious row between China and US president Donald Trump could wipe 0.7 percentage points off growth by 2021-22, claims the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It said a worst-case scenario of tariffs on all US-China trade and a subsequent pause in business investment could leave the Chinese economy 1.1 per cent smaller, while the US would take a 0.8 per cent hit. The increasingly vicious row between China and US president Donald Trump could wipe 0.7 percentage points off growth by 2021-22 It comes after Trump raised tariffs on 157billion of Chinese goods from 10 per cent to 25 per cent this month. China raised tariffs on almost 50billion of US imports. US firms are urging the president to stop his fight.More than 170 US shoe firms such as Adidas and Puma have urged Trump to abandon plans for a further 25 per cent tariff on footwear from China. They said: 'The proposed additional tariff would be catastrophic for our consumers, our companies, and the American economy as a whole.' The signatories said this would cost US consumers an extra 5.5billion a year. Severn Trent provides water to 8m people in England and Wales Renationalising the water industry could raise customer bills and lower investment, Severn Trent claims. Utilities companies are laying the ground for a potential fight with a future Labour government, after leaked documents suggested the party plans to bring them back under state control for less than their current market value. Severn Trent, which provides water to 8m people in England and Wales, said it is in discussions with MPs about the industry's future. It said: 'The renationalisation of the water industry remains a possibility in the event of a change of Government. 'Any associated changes in Government policy may fundamentally impact our ability to deliver the group's strategic objectives, impacting shareholder value.' The company revealed a 6.8 per cent rise in profit to 563million for the year to March 31. Revenue rose more than 4 per cent to 1.8billion and it will hand shareholders a final dividend of 56.02p. Shares rose 1.1 per cent, or 20.5p, to 1940p. Pret a Manger has bought rival food and drink chain EAT to help accelerate the growth of its vegetarian brand, the company has revealed. The sandwich chain confirmed it will take over the 94 EAT stores around the country, converting as many as possible into a 'Veggie Pret'. Clive Schlee, CEO of Pret said: 'The purpose of this deal is to serve a growing demand of vegetarian and vegan customers who want delicious, high-quality food and drink options. Vegetarian: Pret a Manger is hoping to turn the acquired Eat stores into Veggie Pret locations 'We have been developing the Veggie Pret concept for over two years and we now have four hugely successful shops across London and Manchester. 'The acquisition of the EAT estate is a wonderful opportunity to turbo-charge the development of Veggie Pret and put significant resources behind it.' The deal, which has been rumoured since last week, will provide an exit for Eat's private equity owner Horizon Capital. EAT appointed advisers at KMPG last year to investigate the possibility of a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) to close some of its underperforming stores. However, management later decided against the procedure and closed a handful of stores instead. Accounts filed to Companies House show that EAT Limited made a loss before tax of 17.26million on turnover of just under 95million in the year to June 28 2018. EAT has struggled in recent years amid fierce competition in a bloated market for sandwich and coffee shops. Pret a Manger is hoping the acquisition will help accelerate growth of its vegetarian brand Andrew Walker, CEO of EAT, said: 'EAT's passionate and talented team are what make the business; their commitment to providing our customers with great food and excellent service is at the heart of the company's outstanding recent performance. I am delighted that their efforts have been recognised through this transaction.' Pret a Manger is owned by investment giant JAB Holdings, which acquired a major stake the chain last year in a transaction worth 1.5billion. It currently has over 500 shops in nine countries including four Veggie Prets - three in London and one in Manchester. Amazon's Rekognition system has been branded 'perhaps the most dangerous surveillance technology ever developed' Amazon headed off a rare shareholder revolt aimed at forcing it to curb sales of its controversial facial recognition software. Its Rekognition system has been branded 'perhaps the most dangerous surveillance technology ever developed' by civil rights groups, who argue it can be misused. There are suggestions that it wrongly identifies people, and fears it could be used by oppressive regimes. The concerns prompted some shareholders to put forward two non-binding motions at the firm's annual general meeting, urging it to stop selling Rekognition to governments and to commission a review of it. Last night both proposals were defeated, but defiant campaigners from the American Civil Liberties Union said: 'The fact that there needed to be a vote on this is an embarrassment for Amazon's leadership.' The proposals faced an uphill battle, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos controlling 16 per cent of shares . It had also made aggressive bids to try to stop the votes taking place, telling regulators that Rekognition was not a significant part of its business. Fashion chain Prada will stop selling furs, in a major victory for animal rights campaigners. It will ditch them from its 2020 summer collection onwards following talks with the Fur Free Alliance group. It follows similar action by Gucci, Armani, Hugo Boss, Tom Ford, Versace and Net-a-Porter, after an outcry over cruelty at fur farms. Fashion chain Prada will ditch furs from its 2020 summer collection onwards following talks with the Fur Free Alliance group Head designer Miuccia Prada said the firm will maintain its high-fashion look with ethical alternative materials. All the Italian firm's brands will ditch fur, including Miu Miu, Church's, Car Shoe and Prada itself. The Fur Free Alliance is a group of more than 50 organisations from 40 countries. It launched a campaign against Prada last year, and said: 'The decision to go fur-free is consistent with the new concept of ethical luxury, and meets the expectations of new consumers who are more careful in choosing sustainable products that respect the environment and animals.' Activist group Peta welcomed the decision but urged Prada to follow Chanel by also axing its use of exotic skins such as crocodile, lizard and snake. A self-confessed shopaholic has raked in more than $3,000 donating her plasma in order to fund her expensive retail therapy habit. Carisa Barker, 20, has spent the last year visiting a clinic twice a week to donate the protein-rich liquid found in blood in exchange for cash to bankroll her shopping sprees. The student and part-time nanny, from Salt Lake City, Utah, makes $280 a month from donating her plasma, raking in $3,360 in a single year. The Weber State University student exclusively told DailyMail.com: 'I would absolutely recommend it to people who are short of cash and want to go shopping.' Carisa Barker, from Salt Lake City, Utah, makes $280 a month from donating her plasma, making $3,360 in a single year. The 20-year-old Weber State University student uses the cash to fund her shopping addiction, spending $150 a week on clothes, shoes and beauty items Barker admits she hits the mall about three times a week. She estimates that she spends around $600 a month on clothes, shoes and beauty products. She said: 'I'm a shopaholic and I would shop every day if I could. I usually go three or four times a week During the donation process, called plasmapheresis, the blood is removed from Baker's body, the plasma is collected and the remaining blood components are returned to her body She added: 'I donate plasma twice a week. I get $20 the first time and $50 the next time. 'It's just a little bit of extra money that I can spend that I don't feel I worked very hard for.' Plasma is the yellowish fluid in blood which remains after the white and red blood cells and platelets have been removed. The liquid consists of water, salts, proteins and enzymes and is used in medicines that help people suffering from burns, shock, trauma and other medical emergencies. While blood donors are not offered money in exchange for their donations, plasma collection centers across the country offer payment in return for plasma. Barker, who is studying communications, is a self-confessed shopaholic and admits she hits the mall about three times a week. She estimates that she spends around $600 a month on clothes, shoes and beauty products. She said: 'I'm a shopaholic and I would shop every day if I could. I usually go three or four times a week. 'Clothes and shoes are my favorite things to buy and I also love beauty products. 'On each shopping trip I only spend about $50 but that adds up to $150 a week.' The Weber State University student told DailyMail.com: 'I would absolutely recommend it to people who are short of cash and want to go shopping' The college student began donating plasma last summer after a friend suggested it as an easy and fast way to make money. The process takes an hour and a half each time at BioLife Plasma Services in Layton, Utah (pictured) Barker continued: 'If I see something that I like or there's a discount or a good deal, I'll just buy it. 'I feel powerful knowing that I have the money and I can buy stuff.' She began donating plasma last summer after a friend suggested it as an easy and fast way to make money. The process takes an hour and a half each time at BioLife Plasma Services in Layton, Utah. During the donation process, called plasmapheresis, the blood is removed from Baker's body, the plasma is collected and the remaining blood components are returned to her body. She said: 'One of my friends does it and she took me with her one time. I just kept doing it. I do it as often as I can which is usually twice a week. 'It takes about an hour and half each time I go. 'I go in and complete a survey to make sure I am feeling well that day, that I have no tattoos or piercings. 'They screen you and take your blood pressure and temperature. 'It takes them a while to pump the blood out and put it through the machine. Barker added: 'My plasma is used to make medicines for people with rare diseases. 'It makes me feel good to know that I'm helping people. I plan to keep donating' 'The machine separates the red blood cells from the plasma. Then they put the blood back into my body. 'As long as I eat a lot of protein before I go and stay hydrated, I feel fine. There are no health risks that I know of and my parents are fine with me doing it. 'My plasma is used to make medicines for people with rare diseases. 'It makes me feel good to know that I'm helping people. I plan to keep donating.' Although friends have asked Baker to curb her shopping habits, she admitted she can't see a time when she won't indulge in retail therapy. She said: 'My friends have told me to stop shopping but I can't. I live at home and all of my money goes on shopping. 'I would save a lot of money if I stopped but as long as I have money that I can spend, I'm going to keep doing it. 'If I was ever at a point where I didn't have money, I would stop. 'Shopping is my biggest expenditure but I also spend a lot on travel.' A boy in China has cheated death after falling from a balcony 23 storeys up while playing with his friend. The child landed on an outdoor air conditioning unit four levels below and survived the ordeal without serious injuries. The boy was playing at his neighbour's home when he fell into a ventilation shaft Monday night in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. Firefighters put a harness around the boy's body before instructing him to climb up the shaft Some other rescuers wait on the 22nd floor and gently pull up the boy with the help of a rope It is said that the child plummeted after stepping onto a wooden board suspended between the balconies of his home and his neighbour's home. His neighbour's apartment was under renovation, and construction workers had replaced a concrete slab between the two balconies with the plank in order to install an air conditioner, reported Zhejiang Online. The child fell into the shaft after the wooden board collapsed under his weight. He was saved after the air conditioning unit caught him. The Hangzhou Fire Brigade immediately sent rescuers to the residential complex after receiving a report. The boy is rescued by firefighters after a six-minute operation, said Zhejiang Fire Brigade Footage released by the brigade shows firefighters descending the narrow chute to reach the boy. They put a harness around him and consoled him before instructing him to climb up slowly by holding onto the wall. Several other firefighters waited on the 22nd floor and gently pulled the boy up with the help of a rope. The child was rescued after six minutes, said firefighters. He was taken to the hospital. The boy sustained bruises on his back and arm, according to local newspaper Urban Express. A doughnut-loving bear whose life was spared two years ago by New Hampshire's governor has made an incredible journey back to her home turf near Dartmouth College after traveling thousands of miles since her relocation last June. The female black bear, dubbed 'Mink', and three of her young offspring were meant to be euthanized in 2017 after repeated problems with them feeding from trash and bird feeders culminated with two bears entering a home in Hanover. Republican Gov. Chris Sununu ordered the animals be relocated instead following public outcry. The three yearlings were moved that year but one of them was killed by a hunter in Quebec, Canada, within a few weeks. The mother bear left town to mate and wasn't captured until last year after she returned with four new cubs last spring. The female black bear dubbed Mink has made her way back to Hanover, New Hamphire despite being relocated to the far north of the state last year when she was spared being euthanized She was tagged, fitted with a tracking collar and moved about 120 miles north to a sparsely populated location near the Canadian border. But last week, Mink made it back to Hanover after traveling a looping route through New Hampshire and Vermont. Andrew Timmins, the bear project leader with the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, said Monday that he's been in regular contact with the governor's office and a local bear rehabilitator - and all agree there's no need to take further action at this time. 'This bear has shown us where she wants to be, so let's see if we can do a better job coexisting with her by being more vigilant with food attractants,' Timmins said. Some locals in Hanover had been known the give the bear maple-glazed doughnuts. Officials favoring euthanasia had argued the animals were no longer afraid of humans and likely would find new neighborhoods to frequent if moved, or would eventually find their way back to Hanover. The female black bear dubbed Mink was tranquilized and fitted with a tracking collar in April last year before being relocated to far northern New Hampshire. The bear has since traveled thousands of miles to return home to Hanover 'We certainly had seen that in other bears in the past. It actually took her longer than we've experienced in the past,' Timmins said, referring to Mink's journey home. According to her tracking collar data, Mink spent the winter in a den in Pomfret, Vermont. She was back on the move by April, crossing the Connecticut River to get back to New Hampshire less than two weeks ago. Authorities have gotten few calls about the bear in the last year, and none reporting any trouble, Timmins said. As Mink currently has no cubs, it's possible she may spend more time away from downtown Hanover in search of a mate. 'My sense is she'll wander off and find another bear to hang out with,' said Sununu, who stands by his decision to intervene. 'We always knew there was a chance that she was going to come back. Fish and Game has been tracking her, and we just hope the people in those towns understand their responsibility in not feeding the bear or unintentionally attracting the bear,' he said. 'In talking to Fish and Game, it's understood that they're going to treat that situation as they would with any bear, making sure that health and human safety is first.' Mink made it back to Hanover last week after traveling a looping route through New Hampshire and Vermont Sununu isn't the first governor to get involved in wildlife issues. In 2011, then-Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer signed an executive order to temporarily block the impending slaughter of hundreds of Yellowstone National Park bison. The Democrat worried transporting the animals could spread disease to Montana livestock. Two years ago, current Gov. Steve Bullock cited Schweitzer's order when he, too, blocked the slaughter of hundreds of Yellowstone bison during a dispute with the state Department of Livestock over plans to ship 40 bison in a quarantine program to the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. In Wisconsin, the Department of Natural Resources in 2011 planned to euthanize an orphaned fawn from a chronic wasting disease area before Republican Gov. Scott Walker intervened. Two years later, he told the agency to find less controversial ways of handling captive deer following a public outcry when agents seized and euthanized a deer from a Kenosha animal shelter. More recently, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy campaigned on ending the state's bear hunt in 2017. Since taking office, the Democrat has only curtailed hunting on state-owned land, which accounts for about 40% of the area where black bears are hunted. Murphy said he lacks the unilateral authority to end the hunt and would have to work through the regulatory process. Just last week in Oregon, Gov. Kate Brown slapped down the state wildlife department director's stance backing a proposal to take the gray wolf off the endangered species list. Brown, a Democrat, told federal officials she wanted to 'clarify and correct' Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Curtis Melcher and declare the state and its agencies oppose the proposal. Video has emerged of a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy smiling and laughing on a raft as he illegally crossed the Rio Grande hours before he was detained by US Customs and Border Protection [CBP] agents and dying in custody. A human trafficker sent footage to Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez's family back home in Guatemala as proof that the teenager was on his way to the U.S. Hernandez Vasquez was detained by CBP agents in south Texas's Rio Grande Valley on May 13 after 'coyotes', or human traffickers, ferried him across the Rio Grande and into US territory. He was held at the Centralized Processing Center in McAllen and told staff on Sunday that 'he was not feeling well'. He was seen by a nurse, who determined he had the flu and was prescribed Tamiflu. He was then transferred to the Weslaco Border Patrol Station to avoid other detainees getting sick but was not hospitalized. The teen was found unresponsive Monday during a welfare check, an hour after agents had last checked on him. Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez was found dead Monday at a Border Patrol station. His brothers, who live in New Jersey, told Univision that they were informed of his death 36 hours after he had already passed A human trafficker recorded the moment a smiling Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez (second from left) sailed off from Mexico on a raft to the United States hours before he was apprehended by Border Patrol agents in Texas Bartolome Hernandez (left) and Gilberta Vasquez (right) said their son Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez left their home in Guatemala healthy and are seeking answers from United States authorities Vasquez's brothers, who live in New Jersey, told Univision that they were not told of of his death until 36 hours after he had passed. The Centralized Processing Center in McAllen has since been temporarily closed due to a fever outbreak. Medical staff imposed the quarantine at the Centralized Processing Center in McAllen on Tuesday after a 'large number' of detainees were found to have high fevers and symptoms of a flu-related illness. 'To avoid the spread of illness, the Rio Grande Valley Sector has temporarily suspended intake operations at the CPC,' Customs and Border Protection said in a statement late Tuesday, referring to the Central Processing Center. 'Medical staff are currently working to provide all subjects with proper medical treatment.' Hernandez Vasquez became the fifth child from Guatemala to die since December after being apprehended by CBP agents. Jackeline Caal Maquin (left) and Felipe Gomez-Alonzo (right) are two of the five Guatemalan migrants that have died under custody of United States immigration officials since December 2018 Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez had dreams of settling in the United States upon arriving from Guatemala and helping out his poor family back home, including his 18-year-old brother Edgar Rene, who has cognitive disabilities Juan de Leon Gutierrez and Wilmer Josue Ramirez Vazquez were the third and fourth Guatemalan children, respectively, to die in the custody of U.S. immigration officials One of Hernandez Vasquez's brothers that lives in New Jersey told Univision that the family was contacted by immigration officials Saturday to confirm his younger sibling's arrival to US territory. The family then received the unfortunate news of Hernandez Vasquez's death 36 hours later. 'What I wanted was to talk to him to assure myself if he was okay,' said the dead teen's brother, who name was not provided by Univision for safety concerns. 'But they simply gave me a simple report [stating] that he was fine and that he was on his way to a shelter. We did not know (more about him until his death).' Bartolome Hernandez recalled his son as someone who wanted to extend a helping hand to his 18-year-old brother Edgar Rene, who has cognitive disabilities. 'He left happy, seeking the betterment of his life, the father of seven said as his voice trailed off amidst tears. Officials at the Weslaco Station in the U.S. Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley Sector were carrying out a welfare check when they found a 16-year-old boy unresponsive. He was declared dead The migrant teen's mother said her son did not show any signs of sickness when decided to leave the family behind to chase the American Dream. She, like the rest of the family, is seeking answers. 'He left healthy. He was not (sick). If he was sick, he would have not left. What I want is justice,' Gilberta Vasquez said. The Border Patrol agency has come under intense scrutiny in recent months over its treatment of children apprehended at the border. According to federal immigration guidelines, 16-year-old Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez should have been moved a facility for youth run by the Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement 72 hours after his arrest 'The men and women of US Customs and Border Protection are saddened by the tragic loss of this young man and our condolences are with his family,' CBP acting commissioner John Sanders said in a statement. 'CBP is committed to the health, safety and humane treatment of those in our custody.' Last week Wilmer Josue Ramirez Vazquez, a two-year-old boy from Guatemala, died at a hospital in Texas after he and his mother were detained by border patrol. In April, Juan de Leon Gutierrez, a 16-year-old boy from Guatemala, died after staff at an HHS facility noticed he was sick and transferred him to a hospital. After the December 2018 deaths of two other Guatemalan children, Jakfflelin Caal Maquin, aged seven, and Felipe Gomez-Alonzo, aged eight, the Department of Homeland Security ordered medical checks of all children in its custody and expanded medical screenings. Rights groups denounced the latest death and demanded accountability. 'It is appalling that children continue to die on US Border Patrol's watch,' the American Civil Liberties Union said in a statement. 'Keeping children in custody goes against our American values. 'We've demanded that the Trump administration change its inhumane detention practices to prevent tragic deaths from happening.' Amnesty International asked 'how many deaths it will take for the administration to ensure the safety and security of children.' 'It is dangerous and cruel to detain people, particularly children, in crowded and unsanitary conditions for seeking protection,' it added. Border enforcement officials earlier this year said the country's immigration system had reached a 'breaking point' of illegal border crossings that have overwhelmed the system, especially in the Rio Grande Valley. Tennessee's embattled House speaker said Tuesday that he plans to resign from his leadership post following a vote of no confidence by his Republican caucus amid a scandal over explicit text messages. The move is unprecedented in Tennessee's modern political era. The last speaker resignation came in 1931 in the Senate. 'When I return to town on June 3, I will meet with caucus leadership to determine the best date for me to resign as speaker so that I can help facilitate a smooth transition,' Glen Casada said in a statement. Embattled Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin announced he plans to resign from his leadership post following a vote of no confidence by his Republican caucus amid a scandal over explicit text messages Cade Cothren, right, was the former chief of staff to Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, left. It's believed Cothren sent racist and sexually explicit messages to interns Casada (seen above) said he decided to give his aide another chance but Cothren later resigned The speaker announced the decision just a day after previously shrugging off a 45-24 secret ballot vote from his GOP caucus determining they no longer had confidence in his ability to lead the Tennessee House. Casada said he would work to regain his colleagues' trust. Previously, he had spelled out an action plan designed to reassure fellow lawmakers and help him avoid having to step down. But it wasn't enough for an increasing number of Republican leaders, including the House's top officers, who began demanding he step aside. They were joined by Republican Gov. Bill Lee, who warned that he would call a special legislative session if Casada didn't voluntarily resign. Casada is pictured talking with people before a meeting of the House Republican Caucus at a hotel on Monday to discuss the future of Casada, who is ensnarled in a texting scandal House Speaker Glen Casada is pictured speaking with his aide with Cade Cothren, right, his former chief of staff. Cothren resigned amid allegations of racist and sexually explicit texts The demands began earlier this month, when it was revealed that Casada had exchanged text messages containing sexually explicit language about women with his former chief of staff several years ago. The text message exchange from August 2016 was obtained by NewsChannel5 shows House Speaker Casada joking with Cothren about whether a group of young women were above the age of consent. Cade Cothren who was the press secretary for the Tennessee House Republican Caucus at the time sent Casada a video of two young women dancing in his apartment. 'R they 21?' Casada asked. 'It only takes 18,' the Cothren responded with a smile emoji. 'Lol!!! And true!' Casada replied. The previous month, in July 2016, the pair were once again texting one another - this time about a picture of a woman pole dancing that Cothren had sent. Casada responded, 'Can I just touch?' In August Cothren also texted Casada about having had sexual relations with a woman in the bathroom of the Nashville restaurant Party Fowl. 'I knew it,' Casada texted back, adding 'u were only gone for 60 seconds?' Cothren replied, 'Yes, I take after you. Like father like son.' 'Lololol!' Casada wrote in return. 'If I'm happy, then all is good!!!!! And I'm easily pleased.' Casada was pictured waiting for the start of a meeting of the House Republican Caucus. The caucus returned a 45-24 vote of no confidence for Casada 'Speaker Casada has made the right decision, and I look forward to working with the legislature to get back to conducting the people's business and focusing on the issues that matter most to our state,' Lee, who was elected to his first term in November, said in a statement. The resignation announcement marked a quick, turbulent downfall for Casada, who has spent only a few months in the House's top position. The lawmaker from Franklin first stepped into the key role in January, eight years after he lost a bid for the position. In the November election, the then-majority leader received 47 out of 73 votes from Republicans in the 99-member chamber, defeating Reps. Curtis Johnson of Clarksville and David Hawk of Greeneville. Casada built up political capital by spending heavily on Republican candidates in contests during the November election, including contested primaries for open Republican seats. He began to lose that support when his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, was pressured into resigning after the release of years-old racist texts and the sexually explicit messages, and Cothren's admission that he used cocaine in his legislative office years before becoming Casada's top aide. Casada was included in one of the group texts with a racist message, but has said he never saw it. Another scandal that sparked early doubts was the report that Cothren may have tampered with evidence in a young black activist's criminal case, which a special prosecutor is still investigating. It's alleged he made it look as though student activist Justin Jones sent an email to Casada in violation of his bond conditions after his arrest in February during protests at Casada's office. Casada denied the tampering allegation and a variety of others that continued to pile up, ranging from accusations that he spied on legislative members to a GOP colleague's claim that Casada tried to 'rig and predetermine' an ethics review regarding his controversies. Cothren may have tampered with evidence by making it look like student activist Justin Jones (above) sent an email to Casada in violation of his bond conditions after his arrest in February during protests at Casada's office About a week ago, he addressed his fellow GOP House members about the texts and other issues, assuring them there was 'nothing else to come out.' It wasn't long until another text exchange emerged in a WTVF-TV report, in which he and Cothren - then the House Republican caucus press secretary - joked about the ages of two women and asked if they were 21 years old. According to the texts, Cothren responded that 'it only takes 18.' Casada answered 'Lol!!! And true!' It's still unknown when Casada will meet with legislative leaders to determine his last day. Hours after he announced his resignation, Speaker Pro Tempore Bill Dunn told news outlets he was willing to serve as House speaker should the chamber elect him. Separately, GOP Rep. Mike Carter, who originally raised concerns about the ethics investigation, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press he was asking staffers to prepare a petition calling for Casada's full removal from office. Renata Dwan, director of the U.N. Institute for Disarmament Research, said the risk of nuclear war is an 'urgent' issue The risk of nuclear weapons being used is at its highest since World War Two, a senior U.N. security expert said on Tuesday. Renata Dwan, director of the U.N. Institute for Disarmament Research, said the threat of nuclear war is an 'urgent' issue that the world needs to take more seriously. Despite the fact that 122 nations have signed a treaty to ban the weapons, she said, all countries with nuclear arms are currently updating their stockpiles. Meanwhile arms control treaties are also being torn up - such as the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty which was signed at the height of the Cold War but torn up by the Trump White House earlier this year. Increased competition between superpowers such as China and the US is also driving up the risk of nuclear conflict, she said. Ms Dwan points out that all countries with nuclear arms are currently updating their stockpiles while tearing up arms control treaties (file image) Traditional arms control arrangements are also being eroded by the emergence of new types of war. The increasing prevalence of armed groups and private sector forces, and new technologies that blur the line between offence and defence, are contributing to the problem, she told reporters in Geneva. 'I think that its genuinely a call to recognise - and this has been somewhat missing in the media coverage of the issues - that the risks of nuclear war are particularly high now, and the risks of the use of nuclear weapons, for some of the factors I pointed out, are higher now than at any time since World War Two,' she said. The nuclear ban treaty, officially called the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was backed by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. Competition between world superpowers such as the United States and China is also driving up the chance of a nuclear conflict breaking out The treaty has so far gathered 23 of the 50 ratifications that it needs to come into force, including South Africa, Austria, Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico. However, it is strongly opposed by the United States, Russia, and other states with nuclear arms. Dwan said the world should not ignore the danger of nuclear weapons. 'How we think about that, and how we act on that risk and the management of that risk, seems to me a pretty significant and urgent question that isn't reflected fully in the (U.N.) Security Council,' she said. A militant vegan group has published a 'how-to guide' that details the group's bizarre plan to seek 'animal liberation' and abolish meat-eating completely in 40 years. The manifesto encourages members to wage a war on Australian farmers by entering their properties, 'documenting the conditions' and stealing animals. The guide, written by animal liberation group Direct Action Everywhere, tells members they are following in Martin Luther King Jr's footsteps by giving 'animals autonomy over their own bodies'. A militant vegan group has published a 'how-to guide' that details the group's bizarre plan to seek 'animal liberation' and abolish meat-eating completely in 40 years The manifesto encourages members to wage a war on Australian farmers by entering their properties, 'documenting the conditions' and stealing animals (protesting vegans pictured) According to The West Australian, the movement is called 'open rescue' and encourages people to illegally trespass on private property. 'We do not hide our identities because we are proud of what we are doing and know that we are taking morally just action,' the manifesto reads. 'Being a public face to an investigation breaks down the stereotypes of animal activists as criminals, vandals and terrorists.' The group aims to stop enabling the 'killing of non-human animals' and to amplify the animals' 'dignity' and ensure they're 'happy, safe and free'. The group aims to ban the sale of animal flesh in the United States by 2035, grant a 'legal personhood' to animals by 2045 and provide 'species equality' by 2045. They also aim to put forward a 'constitutional bill of animal rights' by 2055 to ensure animals in captivity are moved to 'lifetime sanctuary' and rehabilitate animals who have been harmed by humans. WAFarmers chief executive Trevor Whittington said the vegans' actions were 'un-Australian'. The guide, written by animal liberation group Direct Action Everywhere, tells members they are following in Martin Luther King Jr's footsteps by giving 'animals autonomy over their own bodies' In Australia, vegan extremists have been known to hide anti-dairy stickers on children's snacks, attack diners at restaurants and raid McDonald's outlets 'They're publicly outlining this manifesto and encouraging people to break the law, to follow extreme views, at the cost of people's property and safety,' he said. Mr Whittington suggested people get involved in appropriate animal welfare organisations such as the RSPCA instead. The handbook also outlines ways to disrupt public events or places by making a scene in public and singing or chanting. This 'forces' the public to pay attention to their message, the manifesto says. In Australia, vegan extremists have been known to hide anti-dairy stickers on children's snacks, attack diners at restaurants and raid McDonald's. A mother said she found a sticker reading 'watch Dairy is Scary on YouTube' on a tub of Pauls Milky Max chocolate snacks at a Woolworths in Ryde, Sydney. Activists appeared to have taken the pack out of its packaging, put the sticker on, then put the packaging back so the sticker wouldn't be visible on shelves. In September 2018, members of the group were accused of stealing a dead piglet from a piggery in Western Australia and delivering it to a McDonald's Around 22 animal rights activists (pictured) from the group Direct Action Everywhere took to the streets of Perth and confronted bemused diners with disturbing animal cruelty footage and placards The video the sticker refers to is a graphic attack on dairy farm practices by American vegan campaigner Erin Janus. It details how cows are impregnated to keep them constantly producing milk, which is harvested to make various dairy products. Confronting footage shows how cows are artificially inseminated, which Janus likens to rape and admonishes anyone consuming dairy. Militant vegans also put stickers on meat products at another Woolworths in Melbourne to shame meat-eaters. 'Warning: This packet contains the dead body of someone who wanted to live,' a sticker on a container of sliced chicken read. Around 22 vegan activists from the group took to the streets of Perth earlier this month and confronted diners with disturbing animal cruelty footage and placards. James Warden shared a photo of himself with black tape across his mouth, holding a dead piglet on a white cloth-covered basket at a McDonald's outlet One female activist (pictured) began preaching at restaurant-goers as they tried to continue eating their food in Perth While some of the group stood silently with signs about animal slaughter other activists began preaching at groups of people enjoying dinner. 'Male calves are slaughtered as young as six weeks old simply because they don't produce milk,' one female activist said. 'Chicks are blended alive in a macerator or gassed to death simply because they don't produce eggs. 'Animals don't want better lives, they want freedom. We have a choice the animals don't,' she concluded. The group, who were also armed with televisions, were led by leader James Warden, who said they planned to use the televisions to screen the animal rights documentary Dominion. In September 2018, members of the group were accused of stealing a dead piglet from a piggery in Western Australia and delivering it to a McDonald's. Warden shared a photo of himself with black tape across his mouth, holding the dead piglet on a white cloth-covered basket. The piglet was covered in pink, yellow and baby's-breath flowers and placed on the counter while horrified customers looked on. A mother said she found a sticker reading 'watch Dairy is Scary on YouTube' on a tub of Pauls Milky Max chocolate snacks at a Woolworths in Ryde, Sydney A mother-of-three continues to fight for her life after she severed her spinal cord and smashed her skull in a freak zip line accident. Claire Willmott, 37, was riding the 40-metre-long cable during a family gathering at a home on Morgan Road at Belrose in Sydney's northern beaches on Sunday. The pharmaceutical senior executive was one of more than 20 people who had gathered at the property, with several children taking turns on the ride in the lead-up to the accident, the Daily Telegraph reported. The cable had been strung up between two trees in the backyard and sat about 2.5m above the ground. A brake had been fitted to the ride with a plastic block installed as a failsafe to stop the rider at a safe 8m distance from the tree (stock image) A brake had been fitted to the ride with a plastic block installed as a failsafe to stop the rider at a safe 8m distance from the tree. However, a NSW police spokesperson said that when Ms Willmott took her turn, the failsafe didn't seem to slow her down. 'When the pulley came to an abrupt stop, the motion carried by the woman has caused the seat to swing forwards and upwards to the point that the woman completed a half back-flip as she was ejected from the seat,' the spokesperson said. Ms Willmott was hurled into a tree trunk and the impact severed her spine and smashed her skull. Six ambulances and a helicopter were called to the scene to treat the badly injured woman. Emergency services found her unconscious with blood coming from a gash on the back of her head. She was treated at the scene before she was transported to Royal North Shore Hospital. She has since been placed into the intensive care unit after undergoing surgery. Two men are expected to be charged with murder after a young father was killed when the vehicle he was in crashed into a petrol tanker on Saturday. New South Wales man Daniel Merrett, 27, died at the scene after the Ford Territory he was travelling in struck a petrol tanker on the Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail at about 2am on Saturday morning. The 25-year-old female driver, believed to be Mr Merrett's sister, and two other passengers, a man and a woman also aged 25, were rushed to hospital where they remain in a stable condition. Two men are expected to be charged with murder after young father Daniel Merrett (pictured) was killed when the vehicle he was in crashed into a petrol tanker on Saturday Investigators believe the SUV was being pursued by a silver Toyota Corolla when it smashed into the truck. News Corp Australia has reported shots may have been fired at the SUV. It's alleged Mr Merrett and the three others in the Ford Territory had been involved in a confrontation at a party earlier in the night. New South Wales Police are now searching for three people - Andrew Russell, 34, Darren Butler, 27 and Holly Green, 25 - whom they allege may have been in the Toyota Corolla. Russell and Butler are wanted on warrants for murder in relation to the incident while Green is wanted on lesser charges. Family and friends took to social media on Tuesday to share their grief on what would have been Mr Merrett's birthday. 'This ain't right, you should be home with your family,' brother Jordyn Clulow wrote on Facebook. Police are searching for Andrew Russell, 34, (pictured left) and Darren Butler, 27, (pictured right) in relation to the Albion Park Rail crash which left a young father dead Police are also searching for Holly Green, 25, (pictured) in relation to the fatal traffic crash on Saturday night which left young father Daniel Merrett dead 'You're a Soulja (sic), you're my big brother, always there for me when I needed you, even though we had our differences at times we still was brothers.' Police released images of Russell, Butler and Green on Tuesday and asked the public to help locate the trio. They also called for dashcam footage and witnesses to come forward. A GoFundMe page has been set up by one of Mr Merrett's childhood friends, Joe Louis, to help his young family with funeral arrangements. 'I have taken the initiative to create this GoFundMe explicitly to help Kat and the girls get back on track with some financial assistance,' Mr Louis wrote. 'I always promised Daniel I'd have his back no matter what and when the inevitable were to happen I'd help make sure twins Kaydence and Kyarni would be ok.' A bikini-clad woman who risked death by taking a dip in crocodile infested waters said she ignored numerous warning signs because there were too many of them. Lauren French, 25, was spotted relaxing in the East Alligator River at Cahill's Crossing, Northern Territory, on May 11. The bartender from Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales' north coast, was pictured wearing a white swimsuit with a drink in her hand while in the water. 'Everyone keeps saying ''didn't you see the signs?'' Yes [I did] but everywhere has signs up here,' she told Yahoo News. She also said she had gone fishing and was pictured ankle-deep in the river. Lauren French (pictured), 25, was ankle-deep while fishing in crocodile infested waters The bartender (left with friends) was spotted relaxing in the East Alligator River at Cahill's Crossing, Northern Territory, on May 11 Ms French is was photographed swimming in dangerous river and said she had ignored the warning signs because there were too many Numerous warning signs are posted around the notorious crossing alerting visitors to stay away from the water due to the amount of crocodiles lurking there. 'I'm 25, you'd think I'd have more sense,' Ms French told NT News. She was photographed by nurse Charlotte Nansen with another woman who was also standing ankle-deep in the river. She said she was unaware of the risk she faced because there weren't any dangerous swimming areas in the town she was from. Ms French was three weeks into a visit to the Top End, during a trip around Australia. Three men also joined the pair, one holding a barramundi he had just caught and another fishing in water up to his shins. Ms Nansen said people commonly called emergency services after getting stuck in the river. 'We get calls to go and fish people out of the water there all the time,' she told the publication. She said she was unaware of the risk she faced because there weren't any dangerous swimming areas in the town she was from After Ms French learned of her near-death experience, she admitted she was 'extremely lucky' to still be alive In January 2017, a man's body was found about 2km down the river, near a 3.5 metre crocodile. He died attempting to cross the river with two other women. Reckless drivers sometimes attempt to go over the river crossing but often sink into the dangerous waters. In 2016, rangers counted 120 crocodiles within 6km of Cahill's Crossing. Reptile expert Professor Grahame Webb told the publication that for every crocodile you see, there are '10 you can't'. After Ms French learned of her near-death experience, she admitted she was 'extremely lucky' to still be alive. The 25-year-old said she hoped anybody who has seen the pictures of her, posted online, does not repeat her example. A reporter from A Current Affair reporter has been hit in the face with an umbrella when he tried to conduct a street interview. Nine Network journalist Reid Butler was chasing a man whose daughter Lydia Abdelmalek has been found guilty of impersonating and stalking other women outside a Melbourne court on Tuesday. Butler scurried behind the man in a desperate bid to get some answers about his daughter's crimes. 'Do you realise someone has taken their own life here,' Mr Butler asked the man, who remained silent. At one point the man, who was carrying a black brolly in his right hand, opened the umbrella without realising it had hit Butler in the face. Nine Network journalist Reid Butler was chasing a man (pictured), whose daughter Lydia Abdelmalek has been found guilty of impersonating and stalking other women, outside a Melbourne court on Tuesday. Butler was taken back by the sudden hit. 'Excuse me', Butler responded. But this didn't stop him from chasing the man, who had covered his face with the umbrella. Butler tried to hold the tip of the brolly to uncover the man's face. 'Did you know what your daughter was doing online?' Butler again asked the man. The man responded by asking Butler to stop touching his brolly. Butler scurried behind the man in a desperate bid to get some answers when the man opened his umbrella without realising it had hit Butler in the face Earlier Butler tried to chase and interview his 29-year-old daughter Lydia Abdelmalek, who also didn't respond to any of his questions. 'We just need to know, why did you do this?' Butler asked Ms Abdelmalek as he and his cameraman followed her first into the parking area and then onto a street. 'You harassed people online, your best friends. 'How do you feel about what happened to the victim of yours who took her own life? 'Do you feel any responsibility for that? 'You are a catfish, you are probably Australia's worst catfish.' Earlier Butler tried to chase and interview the man's 29-year-old daughter Lydia Abdelmalek, who also didn't respond to any of his questions Butler continued asking her questions without getting any response. 'You are a god-fearing woman. Why did you assume someone else's identity and all other identities and trick people and traumatise them?' he asked. 'What sort of person stalks and harrasses people like that? A Melbourne court recently found Ms Abdelmalek guilty of stalking six people. She impersonated Home and Away star Lincoln Lewis and allegedly blackmailed young women, including her best friend. Ms Abdelmalek will be sentenced in June. Job-seeking millennials are demanding benefits including flexible hours and time off whenever they request it, according to a study. A YouGov study found that flexibility was important to most workers aged under 40. But despite the popularity of the benefits, many workers say they are finding it hard to find flexibility in their jobs. Half of respondents to a Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey said they did not have the freedom to decide when they worked. Millennials are demanding benefits including flexible hours and time off whenever they request it when looking for full-time work (stock image) Deliveroo spokesman Levi Aron - whose company commissioned the YouGov research - said employers needed to meet the demands of young workers. 'Not only do a majority of Australians value flexibility, but nearly half say that they would be influenced by good benefits when choosing a company,' Mr Aron told news.com.au. Many workers say they are finding it hard to find flexibility in their jobs. Melbourne University academic and director of the HILDA survey Professor Mark Wooden said employee flexibility had remained constant since 2001. 'I would think that the only reason you might think that we have all this flexibility are changes in the occupational structure. There are a lot fewer blue-collar jobs, where going to the toilet had to be well planned,' he said. Mr Wooden said unions had argued that flexibility in the workplace favours the employer, and has led to the rise of casual working conditions. Many workers say they are finding it hard to find flexibility in their jobs (stock image) 'We've seen a big reduction in people working too many hours, but we've seen a big increase in underemployment since the global financial crisis,' he said. However, Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University Bob Gregory said young people have 'never had it better in terms of the availability of flexible jobs'. 'If you want a full-time job - a full-time job you can treat casually - well, that's going away. The labour market is splitting into two types of job,' he said. 'Full-time jobs are getting more full-time - when you want flexibility, then you've got to find it in the part-time labour market.' The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey follows the same group of more than 17,000 Australians over the course of their lives, beginning in 2001. Half of survey respondents said they did not have the freedom to decide when they worked (stock image) A convicted drunk driver has recalled the heartbreaking moment he woke up in hospital to the news he had killed his best mate in a horror high speed crash. Jordan McGrath remains haunted by his decision to get behind the wheel after downing one third of a bottle of whisky to drive to a party in Kumara, on New Zealand's South Island, in January 2014. He had two mates with him in the car, including now deceased Judd Hall, 26. On the way to the party, Mr McGrath was clocked by police doing 100km/hr in a 50km zone in Greymouth. Judd Hall's life was tragically cut short in a high speed crash in New Zealand five years ago With police in pursuit, Mr McGrath, then 28, sped up to 142km/hr before he lost control of the car, which rolled up to six times and crashed into a weatherboard house, killing Hall, 26, who was in the backseat. When he regained consciousness in hospital hours later, friends were at his bedside with cries of 'Judd's dead' and 'do you know what you've f****** done?' 'I killed my mate ... I'm 100 per cent responsible for that it's f terrible,' Mr McGrath told Stuff this week. 'It's not the impact it has on you, it's the impact it has on the people around you. To see people down and out ... I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. It's horrible.' He spent several weeks in hospital while his other friend was also badly injured in the crash. Jordan McGrath lost control and crashed into a weatherboard home in 2014, killing his mate Police said Mr MrGrath's blood-alcohol level was 0.16, double the legal limit in New Zealand at the time, which has since been lowered to 0.05. He described his actions as 'despicable and disgusting' and still can't look at photos of his late friend. 'I haven't always been the strongest person throughout my life, but I knew this was a time to put my head down and take responsibility. I went to court and put my hand up for it. I just swallowed it and dealt with it in the best way I could. I have to be able to sleep at night,' Mr McGrath said. He was drunk behind the wheel clocking speeds of up to 142km/hr when he crashed He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to five years jail with non-parole period of two. The magistrate told him he would have received more jail time it wasn't for the support from Hall's parents, who urged the court to not send their son's killer to jail. 'I've got reasons to be a bitter old woman, but I don't include Jordan in those,' Judd's mother Joe Hall, 62, told Stuff. 'The way he's shown respect with me and he's answered anything I've asked means he was Judd's friend. The parents of Judd Hall (pictured) have no bitterness towards the man who killed their son Now an apprentice builder, Mr McGrath has been working hard towards a fresh start since he was released from jail in late 2016 He hopes to stop others from making the same mistake by sharing his story. While his mate's parents forgave him five years ago, Mr McGrath still feels guilty. 'I don't think I deserve to move on just yet,' he said. Johnny Depp shared what he claims was his final text from Amber Heard before their acrimonious, and ongoing, divorce battle. In court papers filed in Fairfax County, Virginia and obtained by DailyMail.com, Depp also claims to have spoken with a number of Heard's former partners about her alleged history of abuse. He even detailed an incident between Heard and her ex-wife which resulted in the actress having to spend a night behind bars. Scroll down for video Ex-factor: Johnny Depp (left in 2011) detailed one incident involving Heard and her ex-wife Tasya Van Ree (right in 2011) that resulted in the actress spending the night in jail Heard said in her text that she and Depp could: 'Do this or undue [sic] this as we see fit. You and I have the control. And love each other.' She then closed out by stating: 'I thought you filed [for divorce]. You said you were going to and said goodbye. I'm sorry if I've hurt you. I have nothing but love for you.' That sentiment did not last for long however according to Depp. 'When I did not accede to her demand for money, Ms. Heard publicly accused me of domestic violence, seeking and receiving a temporary restraining order against me when appearing in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, May 27, 2016 with a first-ever-seen prominent bruise and cut on her face that she claimed resulted from being hit in the face by a cell phone thrown by me and further facial battering from "some appendage" of mine on the evening of May 21, 2016,' wrote Depp in his declaration. 'Again, this domestic violence allegation was untrue, and Ms. Heards purported injury was staged.' Depp also spoke of an incident that happened a decade ago involving Heard and her then-wife. 'Ms. Heard was arrested in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2009 after police officers observed her committing domestic violence against her then-wife Tasya Van Ree,' wrote Depp. In her final text to Johnny Depp before their contentious divorce, Amber Heard wrote: 'I have nothing but love for you' 'Ms. Heards wife asked police to arrest Ms. Heard. The King County prosecutor declined to charge Ms. Heard only because neither she nor her victim were residents of King County, Washington, but not before Ms. Heard spent a night in jail and appeared before a judge in court.' Depp the alleged: 'Ms. Heard lied about this domestic violence incident under oath, saying "it was a trumped up charge and it was dropped immediately for being such."' In his declaration, Depp also said that his ex falsely claimed thje arrestign officer was 'homophobic,' when in fact she 'was a female, self-described lesbian activist who has publicly disputed Ms. Heards claims about the circumstances of her arrest.' Depp then noted he had spoke to otherswho were involved with Heard. 'Several women who have been in a relationship with Ms. Heard have come forward to share their personal experiences of brutal violence and other abuse at the hands of Ms. Heard,' revealed Depp. 'My advisors have and continue to interview these victims, who remain deeply fearful of Ms. Heard, and to collect evidence from these victims.' The declaration also detailed just why he believes Heard acted this way, blaming pills. 'While mixing prescription amphetamines and non-prescription drugs with alcohol, Ms. Heard committed innumerable acts of domestic violence against me, often in the presence of third party witnesses, which in some instances caused me serious bodily injury,' stated Depp. 'Multiple of these commissions of violence against me she has even admitted to under oath.' A teenage girl has written a heartbreaking letter to court detailing how being sexually abused by the son of two pastors ruined her life. Kairo Peter Nahi, 21, was on Monday jailed for sexually assaulting four teenage girls while he was a member of Vibe Church, a Christian group based in Tweed Heads on the New South Wales far north coast. Nahi pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecently treating a child under 16 and one count of using the internet to procure a child. Kairo Peter Nahi, 21, sexually assaulted four teenage girls while he was a member of Vibe Church, a Christian group based in Tweed Heads on the NSW far north coast, the court heard (pictured, Nahi's parents David and Louise, who work as church pastors. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest the parents were aware of their son's actions at the time) 'Writing this letter is very hard and very emotional for me as I have tried my best to try and live a normal life and forget about what that monster did to me,' one of the man's 16-year-old victims wrote, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. 'He took away my youth innocence, took away my best friends at school. 'This is something I will always carry with me for the rest of my life and has changed the person I once was.' The girl, who was 14 when the attack occurred, said she was quick to anger and scared to hold her boyfriend's hand, among other issues she has faced since the assault. Nahi used his connections at his church - his parents work as church pastors - to meet the girls between 2015 and 2017. Daily Mail Australia does not suggest Nahi's parents, David and Louise, knew of their son's actions. The court heard that at the time of the assaults, Nahi was a teenager and first sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl. The court heard the victim's mother learned of the assault through social media and came forward with the allegation. The court was told Nahi used the connections at his church - his parents work as church pastors - to meet the girls between 2015 and 2017 (pictured, Vibe Church at Tweed Heads along the NSW north coast) She spoke to church pastors and board members provided a character reference for Nahi, but decided to keep quiet for the sake of the church. Only months after the first incident, Nahi began to send sexually explicit images to an 11-year-old girl over Snapchat. He convinced her to send him a photo of her breasts, and arranged to meet with her after she turned 12. The court heard he inappropriately touched her and asked her to give him oral sex. He also inappropriately touched a 14-year-old girl in 2014 before he asked if he could touch her. The teenager refused and Nahi did not continue. Then in 2017, Nahi met with another girl in a garage before he kissed her and forced her to perform oral sex. The victim called her sister's boyfriend, who passed on the message to the girl's parents. They took the matter to police and Nahi was subsequently arrested and later pleaded guilty to 13 counts of indecent treatment of a child and one count of using the internet to procure and meet a child. He was sentenced to three years in prison, to be suspended after he served eight months. Judge Catherine Muir ordered him to serve 18 months probation following his release. A string of senior politicians and business leaders last night voiced strong support for the Daily Mails campaign to protect Britains local post offices. MPs from a range of parties came together to back our call for ministers to give a lifeline to the beleaguered network. The Mail launched the campaign this week amid an unprecedented crisis. Up to 2,500 post offices will close or be downsized in the next 12 months because of financial hardship, according to figures from the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters. Around 1,000 have already shut and more than 3,000 branches in remote areas are only kept running by Government subsidies, which are due to end in April 2021. The impending crisis will make worse the suffering on high streets that has seen 3,500 bank branches close since the financial crisis of 2007-2008. Up to 2,500 post offices will close or be downsized in the next 12 months because of financial hardship, according to figures from the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters. Pictured, sub-postmistress Victoria MacDonald at The Cellar House in Norwich MPs yesterday urged the Government, which owns Post Office Ltd, to intervene to guarantee a sustainable future for local branches, especially those in rural areas. Their demands came as: It emerged that postmasters get just a fraction of the fees paid to Post Office Ltd for providing banking services such as cash deposits and withdrawals; MPs were told the Post Office is looking over the precipice and recent attempts to prevent closures had been an unmitigated disaster; The chief executive of the Post Office apologised for getting it wrong as he was told his companys reputation is in tatters; More sub-postmasters came forward to tell of their agonising decision to shut their doors after serving their communities for decades. The Mails Save Our Local Post Offices campaign calls on ministers to extend subsidies and ensure a full range of services are offered over-the-counter at branches. We are also demanding that banks pay their way for the services post offices provide on their behalf and that sub-postmasters the independent businessmen and women who run local branches are fairly paid. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said last night: The Daily Mail is absolutely right to raise this critical issue. Too many post offices across the country have closed, leading the service to deteriorate. The Government should review the whole programme to ensure it provides the services communities need. Labour MP Rachel Reeves, chairman of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy committee, said: Post offices are a valued part of communities, providing an anchor in many villages and towns across the UK. The Mails campaign gets to the heart of securing a sustainable future for our local post offices. Post offices need a lifeline and we should look at them providing more banking services for a fair return and the case for Government funding to maintain the network going beyond 2021. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: With banks closing their small town and rural branches too, the post office can be a critical necessity to communities in accessing financial services. Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey added: Post offices are a vital lifeline for many people across the country, especially in rural areas, yet the Government hasnt lifted a finger to prevent them from closing. The Government must act with urgency to ensure that the long-term future of local post offices is secured. The Business Retail Consortium said: Post offices play an important role for both businesses and consumers. The access to cash post offices provide can support retailers and local businesses on the high street all contributing to vibrant town centres. A few months ago, Dan Cocks put up a sign for customers hoping to send letters at his general store and post office. He could only send four items per customer per day Yesterday Post Office boss Alisdair Cameron was publicly shamed by MPs at a meeting of the BEIS committee. Labour MP Peter Kyle, whose local post office in Hove, East Sussex, was closed last year, said: Your brand and reputation in the community I represent is absolutely in tatters. Its a complete mess and that is something that has been replicated in community after community. Andy Furey, of the Communication Workers Union, told the committee: The Post Office of today is sleepwalking into a nightmare because of network transformation. I think its the most unstable and vulnerable that its ever been. Were looking over the precipice. The network transformation has been an unmitigated disaster. Mr Cameron apologised for getting it wrong and told MPs: Our first job is to keep the services on the high street. Responding to the criticism last night, Postal Affairs minister Kelly Tolhurst said: We recognise the vital role that post offices play in communities, which is why we require the Post Office maintains at least 11,500 branches nationwide and why we have invested 2billion in modernising the network since 2010. As a result, the network is in its most financially stable position in decades. Q&A By Tom Witherow for The Daily Mail How are post offices run? All post offices are owned by Post Office Limited, a government-backed company. Around 98 per cent of branches are franchises independent businesses that pay a small fee for the right to use the Post Offices name and infrastructure. The remaining branches, known as Crown post offices, are larger and managed directly by the parent company. They are typically found in large towns and cities. Post Office Limited has been profitable since late 2017. It also receives subsidies from the Government to support the 3,200 post offices that are not commercially viable. Why is the post office network in such trouble? The businessmen and women who run post offices say they have been hit by cuts to their fees and falling demand for services driven by the rise of the internet. More than 1,000 branches have already closed. Some are being replaced, others have reopened in a different shop, but many never return. Campaigners are worried that the Post Office will continue to struggle to find people to take over franchises if the closure rate rises. This would mean that post offices close and never reopen, and customers are forced to travel further to access services. Doesnt the Government subsidise rural branches? Between 2010 and 2016 the Government provided 170million per year on average to keep open rural branches that do not make a profit. But, as the Post Office has become profitable, the amount of taxpayer money spent on the business has been drastically cut. Last year it was reduced to 60million a year and just 50million will be provided by 2020 to 2021. No subsidies have been agreed beyond 2021, putting the future of those 3,200 struggling branches in doubt. Why cant small post offices make a profit? Most post office branches are operated out of shops which also sell groceries, stationery and newspapers. Some are off-licences, and in tourist areas they often sell souvenirs, postcards and foreign currency. Sub-postmasters receive a commission from Post Office Ltd for the sale of stamps, processing letters and parcels, and checking passport applications. They make 3p per stamp and 17p each time a customer withdraws cash. For a cash deposit they receive up to 50p. They say their annual earnings are between 12,000 and 25,000. From this they have to pay staff, bills and other expenses. Some make a small profit, others break even and many more operate at a loss. Do they get paid to provide banking services? Post Office Limited has a deal in place with banks to allow customers to deposit cash and cheques and withdraw money, as well as check their balance in post office branches. Sub-postmasters are paid a set commission, but Post Office Ltd takes a cut. They say they are servicing bank customers on the cheap. We work very hard but the pay doesnt match up By Andrew Levy There are times when Victoria MacDonald wonders why she bothers keeping her post office open. The work is so hard and the pay so low she says the job amounts to a bit of a thankless task. Its very labour intensive. For the pay you get the work is very disproportionate, she said. She and husband Grahame set up a post office in their pub The Cellar House four years ago after the last postmaster retired. They run it in addition to another pub and a hotel, while juggling family life with two children aged 19 and 11. Mrs MacDonald, 48, said the couples post office in Eaton, near Norwich, is just breaking even as less money is being paid for the services provided. The closure of Barclays bank in the village also means the couple have taken on more responsibilities without the required training. Weve got people coming in to do what they would usually go to Barclays for, she said. Weve got an increasingly elderly community and people want to pick up their retirement money and pay in a cheque. Thats before you start doing the passports, driving licences and so on. There have been days when I think Why do I bother? The only motivation in doing it is for the goodwill of the community. Advertisement I had to limit letters, or shut A few months ago, Dan Cocks put up a sign for customers hoping to send letters at his general store and post office. It read: We have no alternative but to implement a limit of four items per customer per day. He said: It was either that, or close the post office facility. It means we dont lose so much money, because dealing with sackfuls of mail was very labour intensive. Processing mail is very time consuming, and it is us doing the donkey work for the Post Office. Our branch is open 98 hours a week and we receive just 100 per week from Post Office, which means we get about 1 per hour. We just want a fair days pay for a fair days work. Father-of-four Mr Cocks, 44, who runs the Premier store in Whitstone, near Bude, Cornwall, added: It is a scandal. The bottom line is that if it is not profitable, we will have to stop. Advertisement Our future is looking bleak Mr Bowman said his income has declined over the past decade despite serving as a vital hub for his Somerset village John and Christine Bowman cite the love of their customers as one of the key factors keeping their post office going. But Mr Bowman said his income has declined over the past decade despite serving as a vital hub for his Somerset village. Our future is very bleak, said the 70-year-old, who took over the business in 1983 as a lifestyle change. The branch lies in Charlton Adam, part of a series of villages dating back to the Domesday Book. He said: If you talk to any postmaster they will say it is the customers that they really enjoy. But you have to think of yourself and your wellbeing. We will keep bumbling but if we want to sell, it will not sell as a shop. The income is not there. He said the Post Offices handling of contracts for local branches was a farce. Advertisement We get only a fraction of fees customers pay By Sam Greenhill Chief Reporter for The Daily Mail Postmasters are demanding to know why they get such a tiny cut of the money customers are charged and where the rest goes. Some branches offer services such as checking an identity document. But while customers are charged 10.50, the postmaster keeps only 1. Last night Post Office Ltd chiefs refused to say how much profit it takes from these services. A row also broke out over the small fees postmasters get for offering banking services. While banks can charge customers 7 for a 1,000 deposit, the post office branch typically gets less than 50p. Ash Parmer, of Sutton-in-Ashfield post office, Nottinghamshire, said: With the identity check service, we are the ones doing all the work. Post Office Ltd doesnt do anything at all' Some branches offer services such as document checking, passport check and send and issuing international driving permits. But mystery surrounds what happens to all the money customers are charged. In the case of ID document checks, where a customer pays 10.50 for staff to verify that a copy of a passport or birth certificate is authentic, postmasters suspect the Post Office head office is making more money than they do. Ash Parmer, of Sutton-in-Ashfield post office, Nottinghamshire, said: With the identity check service, we are the ones doing all the work. Post Office Ltd doesnt do anything at all. We get a pittance for the transaction we are doing. Its the same with the passport check service and the international driving permit for the majority of transactions, we are doing the work but getting peanuts. At Dorchester post office in Dorset, the postmaster, who did not wish to be named, said: Why are we the ones at the front-end, who have all the costs and are doing all the work getting the smallest share? Calum Greenhow, of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters, told MPs yesterday that of 20million made by Post Office Ltd from banking services in 2017 to 2018, only 3million actually made its way through to the postmasters in other words Post Office kept 85 per cent and we got 15 per cent. Last night Post Office Ltd said: We are committed to ensuring our postmasters receive a fair remuneration for the vital services they provide. That it should have come to this! In a desperate last throw of the dice, yesterday Theresa May announced several measures which appear to run counter to the Brexit strategy she has developed over the past couple of years. The opportunity to vote for a second referendum, last-minute concessions over workers' rights and environmental protection, and a possible temporary embrace of a customs union all these are proposals that amount to nothing less than a political bombshell. There is little doubt that many Leave voters will be shocked by the scale of the volte-face. My bet is that the happiest person in the kingdom will be Nigel Farage, to whose Brexit Party Mrs May has just delivered another lorry load of votes before tomorrow's European Elections. British prime minister Theresa May delivers a speech setting out a new proposal for her Brexit deal in London, Britain, on 21 May 2019 Flawed But let us, just for a moment, try to see it from Mrs May's point of view. Three times she has been defeated in the Commons by a combination of hard-core Tory Brexiteers and Remainers, Labour, the Scots Nats and the ever-intransigent Democratic Unionist Party. For my money, the Withdrawal Agreement as it was previously presented, though undoubtedly flawed, honoured the outcome of the 2016 referendum and I am sorry that it did not command a majority in the Commons. It was far preferable to this latest compromise. British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday outlined a series of incentives for MPs to support her Brexit deal, saying there was 'one last chance' to end the deadlock One can understand why a Prime Minister with an eye on history, and a heart committed to delivering Brexit, should have struggled to find another solution to the political impasse in which we find ourselves. She deserves our commendation for that. And many would also agree with Mrs May when she said the deadlock over Brexit was having a 'corrosive' impact on British politics, and stopping progress in other areas. Half the country is mad with frustration, the other half with boredom. So Mrs May's 'one last chance' is in principle to be supported. Even now, though I am aghast at some of these concessions, particularly the possibility of a second referendum, I am tempted to doff my cap at this stubborn, spirited woman who never gives up. And yet this latest version of her deal will challenge the loyalty even of sane, pragmatic Leavers without winning the backing of enough Labour Remainers in the Commons. Understandable though this latest gamble may be, I fear it is above all an act of political ineptitude. What she has done is to appeal over the heads of hard-line Brexiteers to Labour, much as Ted Heath did, with ultimate success, when as prime minister in 1972 he piloted the European Communities Bill through Parliament which led to our joining what was then called the Common Market the following year. But whereas 47 years ago there was a sizeable minority of Labour MPs ready to defy their party whip and vote with the Conservative government, it seems unlikely that more than a handful of their modern-day counterparts will do the same. Even Labour MP Lisa Nandy, in whom No. 10 has invested hopes as someone who might switch to its cause, indicated after Mrs May's speech yesterday that she won't support the Government. It's possible she and others will change their minds if Labour receives a drubbing in tomorrow's elections, but Mrs May would be unwise to count on it. Jeremy Corbyn has made abundantly clear that the Labour leadership remains unimpressed by her deal, and we may pretty confidently suppose that his MPs will be whipped into the 'No' lobby in early June. It many ways, of course, this is an example of utter hypocrisy and opportunism on the part of Corbyn since, as Cabinet Minister Rory Stewart recently pointed out, there is only the tiniest degree of difference between what Labour has long demanded and Mrs May's revamped deal. But Corbyn sees the Prime Minister's crumbled if not vanished authority, and will do nothing to help her. His hopes are fixed on a general election. How ironic it will be for Labour if a new Tory prime minister ends up leading this country towards No Deal, which its Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer has termed a catastrophe. As for backbench Tories, it's possible that a sprinkling of hitherto rebarbative Remainer MPs will be drawn to the latest iteration of Mrs May's agreement, but almost certain that opposition will harden among the extreme faction. Cheerleaders Nigel Evans and Steve Baker said as much last night. Opposition They are plainly unimpressed by the Prime Minister's repetition of a legal obligation on the Government's part to find alternative arrangements to maintain an open border in Northern Ireland by the end of 2020 to ensure the controversial backstop plan never comes into force. What happens if Brussels doesn't accept such proposals? Even Andrew Percy, chairman of the moderate Brexit Delivery Group of Tory MPs, and someone who has supported the Prime Minister on three previous occasions, made clear yesterday that he will no longer back her. Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May drinks water during her speech on Brexit in London, Britain May 21, 2019 Meanwhile, the Scots Nats' leader Nicola Sturgeon said her party will continue to oppose Mrs May. So will the Democratic Unionists, evidently unmoved by her restated assurance that Northern Ireland will remain aligned with the rest of the UK in terms of regulation following Brexit. All in all, it is hard, if not impossible, to see how the Prime Minister will garner enough votes to fulfil her dream of going down in history as the woman who took this country out of the EU. The fascinating question is whether she realises how impossibly big the odds against her have become as would-be successors openly compete for her crown. Have she and her advisers insulated themselves against reality, or is she simply determined to be seen heading towards political oblivion doing what she believes is the right thing? Betrayal Maybe both factors are in play. Her facilitation of a second referendum if her Bill should pass though she emphasised yesterday that she remains opposed to one does suggest that in her desperation to deliver Brexit she is throwing political good sense to the wind. Just as she pledged a hundred times that Britain would leave the EU on March 29, so she has declared herself on countless occasions against a rerun of the June 2016 referendum, which she knew would be a betrayal of the largest democratic vote in British history. May called the draft legislation going before MPs next month a 'new Brexit deal' to end the current political impasse which has delayed Brexit She may not want another referendum and it is far from certain there is a majority for one in the Commons but she is taking the risk of enabling such an outcome. Much as I admire her resilience and fortitude, this latest concession sticks in the craw. I can understand why the Prime Minister is determined to roll the dice one more time, but what is the point if the odds against her are so great? Her calculations are surely awry. She may emerge with honour but not, I think, with her reputation for political competence enhanced. Let her have one more throw. She has earned that right. But more than ever, it seems that it's time this brave but, now somewhat misguided, woman stepped aside to allow someone with fresh ideas and new energy to have a go. A trendy wholefoods store has been slammed for the 'extraordinarily heartless' dismissal of a chef who took time off to receive cancer treatment. Chanintorn Siri was fired from Urban Orchard Food in Sydney's Circular Quay after he took three days' sick leave to be treated for severe stomach pains related to his pancreatic cancer. His boss Gabrielle Levette called him two days into his hospital stay to tell him he no longer worked at the store, saying he was an unreliable employee. Ms Levette told the Fair Work Commission that Mr Siri often fraudulently filled out his timesheet, once closed the store too early, took regular sick leave for 'no reason' and was often late for shifts. Chanintorn Siri was fired from Urban Orchard Food (pictured) in Sydney's Circular Quay after he took three days' sick leave to be treated for severe stomach pains related to his pancreatic cancer The commission ruled in favour of Mr Siri, saying he had been unfairly sacked. 'Although the applicant may have exhibited some level of what might be described as less than perfect work performance, conduct and capacity, these were not matters that jeopardised the ongoing employment,' commissioner Ian Cambridge said. 'The employer acted with callous and undue haste when it engaged a replacement employee.' Mr Cambridge said calling Mr Siri to tell him he had been fired was 'plainly unjust, manifestly unreasonable, unnecessarily harsh, and in this case, unconscionably insensitive'. 'This unnecessarily harsh approach was compounded by the extraordinarily heartless disregard for the personal circumstances of another human being who was suffering from pancreatic cancer,' he said. Mr Siri was awarded $18,200 in compensation. A Florida man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 1993 murder of his wife - five years after his now 29-year-old son discovered her skull in the backyard of his childhood home. Michael Haim, 52, was convicted last month of second-degree murder. He will live out the rest of his life in prison for the gruesome slaying of his 23-year-old wife Bonnie Haim, who would have turned 50 years old on Monday. His son, Aaron Fraser, helped implicate him in the murder after he moved back home in 2014 where he and his brother-in-law found the remains of his mother's body. Fraser was three years old when his mother disappeared. After Judge Steven Whittington handed his father his sentence, Fraser said: 'I honestly dont feel that different than I did four years ago before I found her.' 'I always believed he killed her and that justice needed to happen, but even today, when the judge said hes going to have a life sentence, it wasnt this great emotional feeling that I had,' Fraser told First Coast News. Michael Haim (pictured on Tuesday), 52, has been sentenced to life in prison for the 1993 murder of his wife - five years after his son discovered her skull in the backyard of his childhood home Haim (pictured, being escorted out of the court) was convicted last month of second-degree murder Haim will live out the rest of his life in prison for the gruesome slaying of his 23-year-old wife Bonnie Haim (pictured with their son on her lap), who would have turned 50 years old on Monday When he was three, Fraser tried to tell police that his 'daddy hurt mommy', but no one believed him and no physical evidence tied his father to the crime, according to the Florida Times-Union. Even his mother's family members did not believe him. 'The credibility of a child is something that you have to judge in perspective,' Robert Pasciuto, Bonnie's father said in an 2010 episode of the true crime television series Unsolved Mysteries. 'He's said a couple of things that we know were not true. "Mom's car is in the lake." We know her car wasn't there. No one has asked Aaron why did you say mom's car is at the bottom of the lake,' Pasciuto added. After Judge Steven Whittington handed his father (right) his sentence, his son Aaron Fraser (left) said: 'I honestly dont feel that different than I did four years ago before I found her' 'Aaron also stated that "Daddy shot Mommy," "Daddy placed Mommy in timeout,"' and 'My daddy could not wake her up,' a 2015 arrest affidavit said. A spent shell casing found where Bonnie was buried was the same type of caliber as a rifle that Michael owned, the affidavit added. Aaron was adopted to another family and changed his last name to Fraser as Bonnie's disappearance remained unsolved for two decades. Years later, he won the deed to the childhood North Jacksonville home in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against his birth father. On December 14, 2014, Fraser begun working with his brother-in-law to demolish the swimming pool in the home's backyard and they made the grisly discovery. Fraser helped implicate his father in the murder after he moved back home (scene pictured) in 2014 where he and his brother-in-law found the remains of his mother's body Police cordon off the area outside the North Jacksonville home where the remains of Bonnie Haim were found Investigators would find a shell casing along with the bones that matched a rifle that was owned by Haim The excavator they were using cracked a slab of concrete, and Fraser attempted to break it up further with a sledgehammer breaking a water pipe. As Fraser and his brother-in-law looked for the pipe in the dirt, that's when they came across plastic sheeting or a bag. Fraser broke it open with his shovel and reached inside. He told News 4 Jax that he initially thought his mother's skull was a 'coconut'. According to an arrest affidavit, Haim (pictured) was abusive to his wife and she had made plans to move into an apartment with their son while he was away on a trip 'It looked like a coconut shell. I had it in my hand. We looked back in the hole and seen teeth,' Fraser told police. 'At that point in time, you could actually see the top of the eye socket. And it was like this part of the head, the top half of the head. I set it back in the hole,' Fraser said. Bonnie disappeared in January 1993. Her purse was found in a hotel trash bin, and her car was abandoned near the Jacksonville International Airport in Florida. According to the arrest affidavit, Haim was abusive to his wife and she had made plans to move into an apartment with their son while he was away on a trip. She had secretly opened a bank account and when Haim found out about it, he made her close it. She then started giving money to a trusted friend to hold for her. The suspect claimed his wife left their home without their son late one night in January 1993 after they had an argument about their marital problems. He also said he went searching for his wife, although he didn't notify law enforcement about her disappearance. Last week Fraser (pictured) said he 'always knew my mom was buried'. 'I just didn't know where,' he added Bonnie (center, holding their son, Aaron) disappeared in January 1993. Her purse was found in a hotel trash bin, and her car was abandoned near the Jacksonville International Airport in Florida At the time, Haim (left) told police that his wife of five years left the home after an argument about their marriage. He was arrested in 2015 after authorities confirmed that a skull found by their son, Aaron (right, at age three), belonged to Bonnie (right) Law enforcement wasn't told about the disappearance until a maintenance worker found her purse and called police. Haim, who had since moved to North Carolina, was arrested in 2015 after authorities confirmed that the skull belonged to Bonnie. DNA tests confirmed the remains were those of Bonnie and a medical examiner concluded she died from a homicide 'by unspecified means,' according to the affidavit. Haim had initially been called a suspect in the case, but he was never charged. 'Michael Haim was the last known individual to have contact with victim,' the arrest affidavit said. It added: 'The suspect admits that he and the victim were fighting over marital issues and that she was planning to leave and take their child.' At the time of the crime no one believed Fraser (pictured with his mother) and no physical evidence tied his father to the crime Haim (pictured with Fraser) had maintained that he was not involved with his wife's death. During his trial he even testified: 'I love my wife, and I wouldve never hurt my wife' Haim had maintained that he was not involved with his wife's death. During his trial he even testified: 'I love my wife, and I wouldve never hurt my wife.' Following the sentence on Tuesday, Bonnie's sister, Liz Peak, told Action News Jax: 'For 26 years, we wanted justice. And now we have it. We got justice. But we don't have Bonnie.' Last week Fraser told the station that he 'always knew my mom was buried'. 'I just didn't know where,' he added. Sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder in 1993 suggested seven to 22 years in prison. Bonnie's family had asked the judge to consider giving Haim at least 26 years for the time she has been gone while he remained free. Financial regulators have lifted lending restrictions for property buyers, allowing Australians to take out larger home loans. Average households could get $60,000 more on a $1million home loan under the new rules, The Australian reported. Australians will be able to borrow nine per cent more than they could before since banks will be able to lend more money and rates will be lower. First-home buyers are expected to capitalise on the move as they are already enjoying lower house prices and home loan rates. Meanwhile, Meriton magnate Harry Triguboff claims demand has boomed for his Meriton apartments after after the Coalition's surprise election victory. Meriton magnate Harry Triguboff said there is a massive surge in the property market after the Coalition's surprise election victory. He is pictured with his Ronda (right) and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews in the foreground The billionaire, 86, has scrapped the 10 per cent discount on thousands apartments on the east coast of Australia in the wake of the shock result. Mr Tirguboff is a real-estate developer nicknamed 'high-rise Harry' and is one of Australia's richest people. He believes he will be able to sell 30 apartment units per week after only selling five a week in January when the housing market drastically slowed down. Financial regulators lifted lending restrictions for first home buyers on Tuesday and rate cuts are expected in a bid to breathe new life into the property market. Mr Triguboff expects property prices to rise since he has already seen buyers snap up his apartments since the election. 'The buyers didn't know whether to go ahead or not, but once they saw the results of the election they are going ahead,' he said to ABC's The Business. 'The way that Labor ran it they wanted people to lose money, and nobody wants to lose money.' He supported potential rate cuts coming as soon as two weeks after the Reserve hinted at the move. 'I think it (rate cuts) will be very good. It will be a great help to the real estate market, which is very weak,' Mr Triguboff said. 'It will give hope or it will give the reason for people to buy and not to pull out and not to think.' He said buyers from China and Hong Kong recently had purchased apartments in Surfers Paradise after the election result. 'We already feel the difference,' he said. Mr Triguboff expects property prices to rise since he has already seen buyers snap up his apartments since the election. He is pictured shaking hands with former PM John Howard MPs are calling for councils to be given more widespread powers to issue fines for traffic offences leading to fears motorists will be treated like cash cows. Members of the Transport Committee said the stretched police are not enforcing moving traffic offences such as blocking box junctions and driving the wrong direction up one-way streets. But their call for local authorities to take over these traffic powers is likely to prove unpopular with drivers, who fear councils will levy fines simply to raise money. In London, where councils have policed box junctions for more than 15 years, there has been frequent criticism about the way fines of up to 130 for blocking the intersections are dished out. Members of the Transport Committee said the stretched police are not enforcing moving traffic offences such as blocking box junctions and driving the wrong direction up one-way streets Committee chairman Lilian Greenwood said: Transport groups told us passengers want simple and accurate information on ticketing and fares and reliable services that turn up on time' One junction in the south of the capital, sited on the brow of a hill so drivers cannot see if their way out is clear, produced 989 penalty tickets in the 12 months to last June nearly four for every working day. Another box junction in west London raised 2.4million in fines in 18 months. The move to grant councils greater powers to enforce and issue penalty charges came in a report which called for a Government strategy to get more people on public transport. MPs believe councils should have more clout to get buses moving better through busy streets. A 2004 law gave all councils powers over parking, policing bus lanes and punishing moving traffic offences which also include failing to give way to oncoming traffic and driving in cycle lanes. But while parking and bus lane fines have gone into operation, secondary laws which would activate the other powers have yet to be introduced by the Government except in London. The MPs report said: The provisions on moving traffic offences have not yet been commenced. Local authorities want these powers to reduce congestion without needing to rely on the police to enforce moving traffic violations. The police have had budget cuts and their priorities have changed. They do not have the resources to police these offences effectively. The MPs said they recognised taxpayers already contribute 2billion a year subsidising buses outside London 40 per cent of running costs and so more money from the Treasury is unlikely. Committee chairman Lilian Greenwood said: Transport groups told us passengers want simple and accurate information on ticketing and fares and reliable services that turn up on time. We heard a real desire to reduce congestion and to improve air quality. The Government has strategies on rail investment and road development it is now time to bring forward a strategy for bus services outside London. Guidance from the RAC warns motorists to be particularly careful around box junctions in the capital. It adds: Transport for London and Londons councils have come under fire from some motorists who claim they are using box junctions as cash cows. Some councils have been accused of using box junctions to rake in thousands of pounds from drivers who infringe the rules because of poor traffic management. Penny Wong has today ruled herself out of the Labor leadership race, saying: 'I've never wanted that job and I'm supporting Anthony Albanese.' But a former ALP heavyweight said he's begging the South Australian senator, 50, to run as she is the candidate the party actually needs. Sam Dastyari, the former Labor senator and NSW branch general secretary, said: 'Penny is the leader Labor wants and the Labor party needs'. Penny Wong (above with partner Sophie) has ruled herself out of the Labor leadership race, but political heavyweights and social media commentary say she is their best candidate Senator Wong today said she had her eye on the party's leadership in the Senate - not the job of Opposition Leader 'I have been non-stop begging Penny to run,' Mr Dastyari said. 'I think I'm a day away from having her block my number.' Mr Dastyari announced he was campaigning to 'draft Penny' for leader during a national television segment on Sunday, and he doubled down on his lavish praise for Senator Wong in an interview with Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday. Mr Dastyari said Ms Wong would sew up both the Caucus vote and the party membership vote - if she put her hand up. 'I have been non stop begging Penny to run,' said Sam Dastyari The hypothetical scenario would see her as the first Asian-Australian and gay party leader. 'You would not have a sharper contrast with Scott Morrison,' Mr Dastyari said. By convention, the roles of Opposition Leader and Prime Minister are held by members of the House of Representatives. But Mr Dastyari said Labor officials could find her a safe South Australian seat in the House of Representatives to run for election in, if she wanted to. Speaking in Adelaide this morning, Ms Wong said she had her eye on a different position. She wants to once again be selected as Labor's Senate leader, rather than leda the parliamentary party: 'I want to be Labor Senate leader again. 'It's a position I've held for many years now and I think I've demonstrated my willingness to take up the fight on issues that matter to the Australian people as well as to hold the government of the day to account.' PENNY WONG'S SWIPE AT BILL SHORTEN OVER ALBO CALLS Ms Wong said she would surprised if Bill Shorten was actively campaigning against Anthony Albanese Ms Wong today took a veiled swipe at outgoing Labor leader Bill Shorten over reports he was actively campaigning against Anthony Albanese. 'I would be surprised if that were occurring,' Ms Wong said. 'I'd be surprised because it's not consistent with the role he now has and I'd be surprised because it would potentially undermine the very unity he has been part of developing and building in opposition.' She then repeated the criticism: 'It wouldnt be consistent with the role of a former leader or current interim leader and it would undermine the unity that Bill has been such an important part in rebuilding.' Contenders: Anthony Albanese (left) and Chris Bowen (right) are in the running for the Labor leadership An unnamed source close to Mr Shorten told the ABC the story was being 'ridiculously overblown. 'He supports the people that he works most closely with, that's Tanya Plibersek and Chris Bowen. 'But he is not playing an active role and he's determined to ensure that the party remains as unified as possible.' Ms Wong described Mr Albanese as the 'outstanding parliamentarian of his generation'. Advertisement Ms Wong described Mr Albanese as the 'outstanding parliamentarian of his generation' and took a swipe at outgoing leader Bill Shorten over reports he was campaigning against Anthony Albanese as his successor. 'I have been non stop begging Penny to run. I think I'm a day away from having her block my number.' Sam Dastyari on Penny Wong 'I'd be surprised because it's not consistent with the role he now has and I'd be surprised because it would potentially undermine the very unity he has been part of developing and building in opposition,' she said. Ms Wong described Mr Albanese, the party's long-time infrastructure spokesman, as a 'man of authenticity and integrity'. Despite her evident lack of interest, Mr Dastyari's call for Ms Wong to consider the job has been echoed on social media. LABOR LEADERSHIP RULES Labor leadership contenders need to have 20 per cent caucus support to nominate for the top job. Rank-and-file party members get a say in the leadership if there are more than two contenders. There is a 50 per cent weighting between the Labor caucus in federal Parliament and party members. Former prime minister Kevin Rudd introduced the rules in 2013, to avoid a repeat of a sitting PM being knifed for fellow Labor MPs. Advertisement Veteran broadcaster Phillip Adams tweeted that she would be the candidate feared most by the Coalition. 'Simple question. Of all the possible replacements for Shorten which one would the LNP most fear,' he tweeted. 'Simple answer. Penny Wong'. There was a stream of mostly supportive tweets. Some punters said she would be a great contrast to Scott Morrison and an 'inspirational' leader, but others said she was too 'inner city' for the role. Ms Wong was the first Asian-Australian to serve in the ministry. She has been one of the ALP's best known faces since her first stint in government as prime minister Kevin Rudd's finance and climate change spokeswoman. Senator Wong and her colleagues were relegated to the Opposition benches for at least three years on Saturday night after Prime Minister Scott Morrison led the Coalition to a 'miracle' victory. Mr Morrison has now won a majority government, with the Liberal and National parties clinching 76 seats in the House, and are projected to win up to two more. Prince William launched a river safety campaign on the Thames yesterday and said everyone has a role to play in saving lives. William, who has campaigned for better prevention and awareness of male suicide, said he was shocked to learn of the 700 incidents in a year along the river, including 30 deaths. After meeting grieving relatives, he said: Their stories are heart-breaking reminders of how important all your work is to keep the river safe. Every life lost and every life-changing accident is one too many. Prince William, Duke of Cambridge during the launch of a new campaign to help prevent accidents and self-harm incidents on the River Thames Everyday people, going about their commute or on their journey to the pub, have a hugely important role to play. Dont be afraid to stop and intervene if you see someone who might be considering taking their own life. A simple, Hello, how are you? is sometimes all it takes to save a life. William, Duke of Cambridge meets representatives of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade pass during the launch of a new campaign The launch of the drowning prevention strategy saw William take to the Thames in a London Port Authority boat. Safety features, such as chains around bridge plinths for people to cling to, were pointed out to him during the 15-minute journey from the Savoy hotel to Tower Bridge. Andrea Corries son James Clark, 19, drowned in the Thames in July 2005. Medical secretary Mrs Corrie, 63, from Devon, said: No parent should ever have to bury their child. One of the things that is so important is that when groups of kids go out, they need to keep in good contact. Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Russia will destroy the European Union, according to a chief Brexit negotiator in Brussels. Guy Verhofstadt has told The Times the rise of populism and the far-right could bring down the Union by 2024 if they cannot be replaced by a 'new vision of the EU'. The former Belgian Prime Minister, 66, compared Boris Johnson to France's Marine Le Pen, as he emerged as the favourite to replace Theresa May. Mr Verhofstadt slammed his regular European Parliament enemy Nigel Farage, claiming he secretly doesn't want Brexit to happen as it would make him irrelevant. His scathing attack also included accusations that Russia has been manipulating the European elections - 'like they did with the Brexit referendum'. Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage and Russia will destroy the European Union, according to chief Brexit negotiator in Brussels Guy Verhofstadt (pictured at a conference in Italy on May 2) He told the newspaper: 'What the Boris Johnsons, the Farages, the Le Pens and the others represent is huge. It cannot be business as usual. 'If European politicians don't show direction for the future, then we will fall massively back into nationalism, populism, Euroscepticism. 'If there are not Europeans who can transcend with a vision of a new EU, then if it is not in 2019 it will be in 2024 that they take over the EU and destroy it.' A businessman is in a bid to sue Mr Johnson over his claim during the referendum campaign that Britain sends the EU 350million a week. Marcus Ball, 29, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court last week to start the private case against Mr Johnson for allegedly abusing public trust during the EU referendum campaign. The former Belgian Prime Minister, 66, compared Boris Johnson (left) to France's Marine Le Pen, as he emerges as the favourite to replace Theresa May, he also slammed his regular European Parliament enemy Nigel Farage (right), claiming he secretly doesn't want Brexit to happen as it would make him irrelevant He alleges that the former foreign secretary committed misconduct in public office by endorsing and making statements which he knew to be false at a time when he was mayor of London and an MP. Meanwhile Mr Farage will be subject to an EU investigation over claims he broke the rules by failing to declare a 450,000 donation from pro-Brexit businessman Aaron Banks. Mr Verhofstadt claims he wants Brexit to be delayed as long as possible, because Britain actually leaving the European Union would mean the end of his career. He also expressed concerns about populist parties in EU countries that have been rumoured links to Vladimir Putin's regime. France's Le Pen and Italy's deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini have been accused of having financial links to the Kremlin. The former Belgian PM also expressed concerns about populist parties in EU countries that have been rumoured links to Vladimir Putin's regime. He is pictured today in Russia Mr Verhofstadt and his fellow EU leaders, including Donald Tusk and Jean Claude Juncker, have been slammed by Eurosceptic MPs for calling on Britons to 'thwart Brexit' with their European Election vote tomorrow. Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith said: 'They are the most unpopular people in the UK Guy Verhofstadt, Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker all of them. 'Every time they open their mouths it reminds people why they are opposed to the EU.' Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'Mr Tusk has probably done nothing more than become a recruiting sergeant for the Brexit Party.' Theresa May yesterday urged MPs to pass a 'new' version of her Brexit deal on the promise she would allow them a vote on a second referendum if they do. Her Tory rival Boris and Labour have both slammed the plans and have said they will not vote for it. Queen Victoria is not generally known as a lover of the risque. But while she appeared prudish in public, the birthday gifts exchanged between her and husband Prince Albert reveal they enjoyed a passionate private relationship, organisers of a new exhibition say. English Heritage are highlighting the nude sculptures and a painting of bathing maidens which they gave each other in a display at Osborne House, the couples palatial holiday home on the Isle of Wight, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of their births. When Albert commissioned a statue of himself as a Greek warrior for Queen Victorias birthday in 1844, she wrote in her journal that it was very beautiful Yesterday Michael Hunter, curator at Osborne, said: Queen Victoria may be remembered as the mourning widow in black, but these gifts show a different side to her personality. She was open to nudity and the sensuous, more open than Albert who perhaps surprisingly was the more prudish of the pair. For example, Victoria bought artist Franz Xaver Winterhalters Florinda, a painting of semi-nude women preparing to bathe, for one of Alberts birthdays, and it was her wish that it should hang directly opposite their writing desks at Osborne, where it remains today. And when Albert commissioned a statue of himself as a Greek warrior for Queen Victorias birthday in 1844, she wrote in her journal that it was very beautiful. Victoria bought artist Franz Xaver Winterhalters Florinda, a painting of semi-nude women preparing to bathe It was Victoria's wish that the painting should hang directly opposite their writing desks at Osborne, where it remains today But Albert later had a change of heart about it, and it was put in an out of the way corner in the former royal residence in East Cowes. Victoria noted how Albert thought the Greek armour with bare legs and feet looked too undressed to place in a room. A second version of the statue was commissioned - with the addition of sandals and a longer tunic - and currently resides at Buckingham Palace. Other items on display will include The Sleeping Spinner by Julius Troschel, a white marble sculpture of a sleeping nude female figure reclining on a chair, which Albert gave to Victoria in 1849 and had pride of place in the drawing room at Osborne. Another of his birthday gifts to her was The Bather by John Lawlor, a white marble statue depicting a nude female figure seated on a rock in a pensive pose. This was not hidden from view and can still be found in the billiard room. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, captured in 1854 by Roger Fenton, the renowned photgrapher Mr Hunter said: The new display showcases these objects, casting off perceptions of traditional Victorian sensibility and showing a woman most ardently in love with her husband and with art. At Osborne on May 24, 1849, her 30th birthday, Victoria wrote: This day was again welcomed in by the tender love and affection of my dearest Albert. She recorded other birthday mornings in similar fashion until Albert died suddenly in 1861. Victoria then stopped visiting Osborne on their birthdays. Her love of collecting art also dwindled, there being no Albert to share it with. Victoria died in 1901, having reigned for a total of 63 years and seven months, which made her Britains longest reigning monarch until the present Queen surpassed her in 2015. Victoria and Albert were born on May 24 and August 26, 1819 respectively. Many of the gifts they gave each other are still part of the Royal Collection. Travellers have come up with a series of bizarre conspiracy theories related to a mist sprayed inside plane cabins before landing in Australia. The spray is frequently used on aircraft flying in from Asia and its dispersal is sometimes accompanied by an explanatory announcement. Some passengers have expressed their concerns about the spray, saying they don't know what it is or what purpose it serves. 'My concern is... what is the spray and ingredients. I may be a little old fashioned but I would have liked information on this prior to just spraying after an Australian government announcement which never mentioned the spray,' one concerned traveller from Bali to Australia posted online. Travellers have come up with a series of bizarre conspiracy theories related to a mist sprayed inside plane cabins before landing in Australia Some passengers have expressed their concerns about the spray, saying they don't know what it is or what purpose it serves Some people suggested outlandish conspiracy theories as to what the purpose of the spray was. 'It's a cancer-causing insecticide spray and a lot of people I flew with (who still fly) have cancer,' one person suggested in a social media post. 'Accumulation is the issue so if you fly infrequently then just detox well afterwards. Many airline staff are fighting this. Use a mask.' Another traveller suggested the spray was 'vaccinating'. 'You do know that there is an agenda to depopulate this rock called Earth and what better way to depopulate than by chemicals and viruses to make you sick, this way they can make a heap of money off you before you die, it's all about the money honey...' they said. One airline passenger said the mist was poisonous. 'Just another way the new world order government is slowly killing everyone,' they said. Another made a sarcastic suggestion that the spray was a secret government plot. One airline passenger said the mist was poisonous Some people suggested outlandish conspiracy theories as to what the purpose of the spray was 'It's an Indonesian government plot. Eventually through the use of such sprays our minds will be controlled,' he said. 'A time will come when the secret ingredient will be activated and your mind will no longer be your own. You will feel an uncontrollable urge to book another trip back to Bali where you will be equally as unable to prevent yourself from buying Bintang after Bintang... It's a fate worse than death itself.' The spraying of plane cabins is known as 'aircraft disinsection' and is based on World Health Organisation recommendations. The Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website states that 'all aircraft entering Australia must be treated in a manner approved by the Director of Human Biosecurity'. 'Disinsection' is the procedure where insects in baggage, cargo or containers are killed. Four types of disinsection are used in Australia: residual, a spray lasting eight weeks is carried out while no passengers are onboard; pre-embarkation, a spray done up to 40 minutes before passengers board, lasting for a single flight; pre-flight and top of descent, a two-part process where a spray is done before and during a flight; and on-arrival, spraying when the aircraft lands. Another commenter made a sarcastic suggestion that the spray was a secret government plot A real estate company run by Hollywood actress Margot Robbie's aunt has collapsed. Pictured: Margot Robbie in Cannes A real estate company run by Hollywood actress Margot Robbie's aunt has collapsed with massive debts. Robbie Robbie & Associates on the Gold Coast appointed administrators on April 10 and has now gone into liquidation. The company's only director is Lyn Robbie, 58, and her husband Wayne, 61, is also reportedly involved in the business. Wayne is the brother of Margot Robbie's father Doug, 63. He is listed as a creditor owed an unknown amount and his company Wayne Robbie & Associates reportedly provided $11,000 to help fund the liquidation. Margot Robbie is not involved in the business. The company manages retail, hotel, commercial, industrial and residential developments. It is not clear how much it owes - but the Gold Coast Bulletin reported it has 'hundreds of thousands of dollars held in company trust accounts'. The money was held for 32 tenants and landlords including wealthy developers and a company linked to artist Ken Done, according to the newspaper. As well as that money, the company reportedly owes $150,000 to others. The company's only director is Lyn Robbie (left), 58, and her husband Wayne, 61, is also reportedly involved in the business. Wayne is the brother of Margot Robbie's father Doug (right) According to the Bulletin, this includes '$39,249 to the tax office; $7726 to advertising agency Harbour & Small; $2290 to Telstra; $2207 to Print Management Facilities Australia; and $1761 to Shred-X.' It also apparently owes $25,023 PKF Accountants, a firm run by accountant Scott McMurtrie. Other creditors are small businesses such as a juice bar, a sandwich shop and a hair salon. Forensic accounting firm Worrells was appointed as the administrator on 10 April, its website shows. It has appointed accountant Morgan Lane as the liquidator. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Lyn Robbie and Worrells for comment. The creative duo behind 'Bridesmaids' has decided to stop filming their next project in Georgia after the passing of the 'heartbeat bill' aimed at curbing abortion. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, whose 2011 comedy was praised for its treatment of female characters and grossed $170 million worldwide, will no longer be working in the state for their new comedy 'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar.' Reed Morano, who directed The Handmaid's Tale, was planning on filming her new Amazon Studios series 'The Power' in Georgia, but after state governor Brian Kemp signed the bill, she pulled out and will choose another location. Wiig, Mumolo and Morano are among a host of prominent Hollywood figures to have called for a boycott of the thriving Georgia film industry, worth some $9.5 billion, in a bid to put pressure on state lawmakers to reverse the anti-abortion legislation. Scroll down for video The creative duo behind 'Bridesmaids' has decided to stop filming their next project in Georgia after the passing of the 'heartbeat bill' aimed at curbing abortion - the latest in a spate of filmmakers to take exception to the controversial new law. Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig will no longer be working in the state for their new comedy 'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar' Wiig and Mumolo, whose 2011 comedy 'Bridesmaids' (pictured) was praised for its treatment of female characters and grossed $170 million worldwide, will no longer be working in the state for their new comedy 'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar' Despite the influential Hollywood figures boycotting Georgia, Governor Kemp (pictured signing the bill) remained unmoved by the gestures and even went as far as to mock them Despite the influential Hollywood figures boycotting Georgia, Governor Kemp remained unmoved by the gestures and even went as far as to mock them. Kemp described such figures as 'c-list' celebrities, and said: 'I understand that some folks don't like this new law. I'm fine with that.' 'We're elected to do what's right and standing up for precious life is always the right thing to do,' Kemp said at the state Republican convention, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Leaving Georgia: Director Reed Morano (The Handmaid's Tale) was planning on filming her new Amazon Studios series The Power in Georgia 'We are the party of freedom and opportunity. We value and protect innocent life - even though that makes C-list celebrities squawk,' he added. Wiig is the co-writer of 'Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar' and is set to star in the movie alongside the Oscar-nominated Mumolo. It will be directed by Josh Greenbaum. The movie is to be produced by Gloria Sanchez Productions and will be distributed by Lionsgate. Morano's project had already sent location scouts out to Savannah, Georgia, but when the bill was signed on May 7, they immediately pulled out. 'We had no problem stopping the entire process instantly,' Morano told Time. 'There is no way we would ever bring our money to that state by shooting there.' Morano also shared the story on her Instagram, where she said, 'It feels wrong for a reason.' The 10-part series is based on the book of the same name by Naomi Alderman, which won a number of awards when it was published in 2017. Abortion ban: 'I think this is one of the ways where we know we can hit a state where it hurts,' Morano added about pulling her series out of Georgia amid the abortion ban It won the 2017 Bailey Women's Prize for Fiction, was longlisted for the 2017 Orwell Prize, and even landed on President Barack Obama's list of favorite books that year. Georgia has become a major filming location for television shows and movies because of the 30 percent tax break offered by the state. It's resulted in almost $3 billion in Hollywood productions happening there, including Netflix's Stranger Things and Ozark. Georgia's controversial ban - along with new anti-abortion bans in Alabama and Missouri - is seen as part of the Republicans' effort to return the issue to the national stage and potentially force a Supreme Court challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling which enshrines abortion rights across the U.S. These decisions arrive as a growing number of prominent Hollywood figures such as the major producer David Simon, who helped create the acclaimed HBO series 'The Wire', as well as Alyssa Milano, the actor and vocal campaigner, call for a moratorium on producing films in Georgia. Both have advocated for a boycott to try to force the hand of a state that is home to a thriving film industry. That industry employs some 92,000 and generated $9.5 billion in 2018. 'I think this is one of the ways where we know we can hit a state where it hurts,' Morano said. In March, Milano wrote an open letter signed by 50 of her fellow actors, who pledged to do whatever they could to not film in Georgia. Other actors who signed the bill included Amy Schumer, Amber Tamblyn, Alec Baldwin, Don Cheadle, Rosie ODonnell, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman, Essence Atkins, Uzo Aduba, Gabrielle Union, Christina Applegate, Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, David Cross, Mia Farrow, Colin Hanks and Bradley Whitford. Morano added that the more people who will take a stand against these laws could lead to the laws being changed. Alyssa Milano was another who called for a boycott of the Georgia film industry. That industry employs some 92,000 and generated $9.5 billion in 2018. 'I think this is one of the ways where we know we can hit a state where it hurts,' Morano said 'The best thing we can hope for is if everyone has a united stance and pulls the money out,' Morano added. 'Maybe we can have a quick reversal to these laws and then everyone gets what they want.' Director Ron Howard told The Hollywood Reporter last week that he still plans to shoot his new film Hillbilly Elegy in Georgia as planned, but if, 'this law go into effect in January, we will boycott the state as a production center.' Jason Bateman, whose Netflix drama series Ozark films in Georgia, has said that he will no longer work in Georgia if the law goes into effect, though Netflix has not yet commented. Jordan Peele and J.J. Abrams have also committed to donate all of their episodic fees for their upcoming show Lovecraft County to Fair Fight Georgia and the ACLU of Georgia. 'In a few weeks we start shooting our new show, Lovecraft Country and will do so standing shoulder to shoulder with the women of Georgia,' read their statement. Owners of Huawei smartphones should be offered a chance to easily ditch their handsets after Google pulled support for them, consumer groups have said. Up to three million Britons were told their phones may no longer get technical support from Google on Monday because Chinese manufacturer Huawei had been blacklisted by the US amid growing trade tensions between the two nations. But consumer champions warned the move could leave smartphone users without services they signed up for. George Zhao, President of phone brand Honor speaks on stage as he introduces the new Honor 20 series of phones in London, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. The phone is made by the Chinese company Huawei and the top of the range model Honor 20 Pro For example, Google is now expected to freeze Huawei device owners out of its Android software updates including fixes for security problems which could make the devices vulnerable to hackers. Martyn James, of Moneysavingexperts Resolver service, said yesterday: If [consumers] bought their device partly because it had Googles Android system and was marketed as having that link with Google, then it is legitimate to argue that you might not have signed the contract if you had known [this situation] was a possibility. He suggested customers who wanted to change handset should start by complaining to both Huawei and the company they bought their phone from. Justin Modray, of Candid Financial Advice, said: There are certainly grounds for complaint. In some cases, consumers will be able to argue that the product they were sold is materially different to the one they have now as a result of these changes. Mobile firms EE, O2, Vodafone and Three said they are monitoring the situation amid calls for them to offer deals for those who want to switch handset makes. The Carphone Warehouse declined to comment on Huawei issues yesterday. Politicians have broken fast with members of the north London Muslim community to mark two years since the Finsbury Park mosque attack. The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Conservative MP Dominic Grieve promoted a message of unity as they joined the daughter of victim Makram Ali at a community street iftar meal outside Finsbury Park mosque on Tuesday evening. It marks the 17th day of Ramadan and the second anniversary of the attack, according to the lunar calendar observed in Islam. Mr Ali, 70, was killed when Darren Osborne ploughed a hired van into worshippers gathered outside the Muslim Welfare House shortly after evening Ramadan prayers in June 2017. Politicians including Dominic Grieve and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn marked the 17th day of Ramadan and the second anniversary of the attack, according to the lunar calendar observed in Islam He died at the scene while 12 worshippers were injured. Mr Corbyn, who lives nearby, told those gathered over the road from the attack on Tuesday evening that targeting a place of worship was an 'attack on all of us'. The Labour leader added: 'I want our children to grow up in a world of diversity of wonder and of beauty, but if they grow up in a world dominated by discrimination and hate, then their lives will be less exciting, their lives will be less imaginative, and above all the collective problems we face cannot be solved. 'Those that divide our community don't build houses that people need to live in. 'Don't build schools that are children need to learn in. The Labour leader promoted a message of unity as he joined the daughter of victim Makram Ali at a community street iftar meal outside Finsbury Park mosque on Tuesday evening Mr Corbyn, who lives nearby, told those gathered over the road from the attack on Tuesday evening that targeting a place of worship was an 'attack on all of us' 'They don't build hospitals that we all need to be cared in. 'They don't solve any of those problems, and a world riven with division will not be able to deal with the huge issue that we all face of climate change and the damage we are doing to our natural world.' He was also joined by Conservative MP Dominic Grieve and Ruzina Akhtar, Mr Ali's daughter, who addressed the gathering. She said: 'Two years on after the tragic loss of my father, it is still most beautiful to continue to see that the community is able to get together to celebrate events like today. 'Communities are only able to stand united because we don't give into these terrorists and racists who set out to divide us. Makram Ali, 70, was killed when Darren Osborne ploughed a hired van into worshippers gathered outside the Muslim Welfare House shortly after evening Ramadan prayers in June 2017 'We need to continue to show that no matter what the situation we will come out stronger and better than before.' For the evening event, St Thomas's Road was blocked off at both ends by police vans while officers patrolled the feast area close to where the terror attack took place. Ahead of its start, Finsbury Park Station was temporary closed due to a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity, reopening shortly after. By the end of the evening, at least two thousand people are expected to join the meal, organised by Muslim Aid, Finsbury Park mosque and the Muslim Welfare House. He was also joined by Conservative MP Dominic Grieve and Ruzina Akhtar, Mr Ali's daughter, who addressed the gathering Attorney General William Barr is taking on another item from President Donald Trump's agenda, railing against judges who issue rulings blocking nationwide policies. In a speech Tuesday night, Barr took aim at the broad judicial power, arguing that federal judges who have issued the so-called nationwide injunctions are hampering Trump's efforts on immigration, health care and other issues with 'no clear end in sight.' It is the latest example of Barr moving to embrace Trump's political talking points. Scroll down for video Democrats have cast Barr as an attorney general who acts more like Trump's personal lawyer The attorney general is traditionally expected to carry out the president's agenda as a member of the Cabinet while trying to avoid political bias. Democrats have cast Barr as an attorney general who acts more like Trump's personal lawyer instead of the nation's chief law enforcement officer. At a re-election rally earlier this month, Trump railed against 'activist judges who issue nationwide injunctions based on their personal beliefs,' which he said 'undermine democracy and threaten the rule of law.' Administration officials have often complained about the proliferation of nationwide injunctions since Trump became president. Vice President Mike Pence said a few weeks ago that the administration intends to challenge the right of federal district courts to issue such rulings. 'The legal community and the broader public should be more concerned, particularly about this trend of nationwide injunctions,' Barr said. Barr highlighted the legal fights that have happened in federal courts across the country over Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an Obama-era program that shields young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children but don't have legal status to protect them from deportation. The Justice Department, under former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, argued that the Obama administration acted unlawfully when it implemented DACA. Texas and other Republican-led states eventually sued and won a partial victory in a federal court in Texas. Barr said Trump had 'lost much of his leverage' in negotiations with congressional Democrats Civil rights groups, advocates for immigrants and Democratic-led states all have sued to prevent the end of the program. A three-judge panel of the federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled that the administration decision to end DACA was arbitrary and capricious. Barr said Trump 'lost much of his leverage' in negotiations with congressional Democrats, who were pushing for a permanent solution for DACA recipients, after one district court judge issued an order forcing the administration to maintain the program nationwide. 'Unsurprisingly, those negotiations did not lead to a deal,' Barr said. In his speech to the American Law Institute, Barr argued it isn't about partisanship and said the approach taken by judges who issue these nationwide rulings departs not only from the limitations of the Constitution, but also from the 'traditional understanding of the role of courts.' The Justice Department will continue to oppose such rulings, he said. 'Nationwide injunctions not only allow district courts to wield unprecedented power, they also allow district courts to wield it asymmetrically,' Barr said. Advertisement Residents of the expensive California neighborhood where Google has its global headquarters have voted to ban trailers from parking overnight on public streets after a camp of permanent residences has built up due to soaring housing costs. The decision to get rid of the unsightly RVs came in a March city council vote after complaints of sewage spilling from the mobile homes and into the roads around the Googleplex campus. Many in the meeting blamed the Google effect for forcing long-term residents out of their homes and in turn creating the housing crisis that has seen some get in trouble for discharging 'domestic sewage on the public right of way'. But some making a home in the trailers often with power generators attached to the back and blacked out dusty windows - are also contractors for the company who can't afford the high living costs. Residents of the expensive California neighborhood where Google has its global headquarters have voted to ban trailers from parking overnight on public streets A camp of permanent residences has built up in Mountain View due to soaring housing costs but soon they must go Indicators of Google employees living in trailer homes are the campus bikes spotted near the RVs Bloomberg reported an angry Mountain View Police Department Sergeant Wahed Magee warning a young couple he would not tow their home immediately 'but tomorrow if I come out here and it's like this, it's getting towed'. But this month the ban is still not in place. A May 13 picture shows a tire lock, used to prevent towing, on a vehicle parked on Landings Drive in Mountain View. While Mountain View is the epicenter of a Silicon Valley tech boom minting millionaires, it's also fueling a homelessness crisis that the United Nations recently referred to as a human rights violation. With many tech giants calling the Bay Area home, thousands of people live in RVs across Greater San Francisco because they can't afford to rent or buy homes. 'In my neighborhood there are a group of five or six duplexes and a couple that I know lived in one of them for 22 years. When Google moved in next door, their landlord raised the rent by $700 a month,' resident Susan Barkin told Bloomberg. 'Preventing parking and throwing more people out of our community is unconscionable. I do not want to live in a town where the only people who can afford to be here are very, very, rich techies or very, very, old retirees like myself.' A Waymo LLC vehicle drives past recreational vehicles parked on Landings Drive in Mountain View, California on Tuesday, May 14 A contract security employee for Google LLC opens the door to the recreational vehicle she rents for $800 a month in Mountain View As police threatened to tow vehicles spilling sewage into the streets a tire lock, used to prevent towing, is seen on a trailer Google has 3.5million square feet of office space in Mount View according to a 2012 end-of-year report. Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc. are located at the Googleplex on 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway and there's another large campus in Mountain View dubbed 'The Quad' at 399 N Whisman Road about 3 miles away. The average monthly rent in Mountain View is triple the national average according to Trulia and has almost doubled since late 2010 to $4,151 a month. Home value has gone up $750,000 to $1.8 million in the past ten years ago, according to Zillow. 'We have rising rents. We have gentrification. We have people being displaced,' said Jennifer Loving, head of Destination: Home said gentrification and rising rent 'together is creating an untenable situation for thousands and thousands of families and individuals who are trying to live and work' in Santa Clara County. The company has received $1million of $14million from Google to go towards affordable housing projects, which are seen as another unsightly risk according to some residents. Bloomberg reported that Google employees whose salaries are much lower than top executives are living in the trailers in secret but can be spotted where Google's campus bikes are parked nearby the RV. Google has given $14million towards affordable housing projects, which are seen as another unsightly risk according to some residents An anonymous security explained why she opted to pay $800 per month for the RV instead of at least $2,500 for an apartment. 'The money I make here is great, but I would be pretty much spending the majority of that on rent and I just don't want to do that,' she said. By contrast a 41-year-old IT professional working as a Lyft driver has a combined income of $100,000 with his wife who works for a drug company but they opted for the mobile home in order to save for retirement. Some people aware of the RV ban are ignoring the reality of having to move until the time comes. But not all residents were keen for the trailers to go for fear of necessary community workers - such as teachers -leaving for cheaper locations. Even Google CEO Sundar Pichai in February said he plans to inject $13billion into offices outside of the Bay area, referring to the housing issue and cheaper labor. 'To have a regular functioning town you need to have occupational diversity,' Alison Hicks, who voted against the ban in the meeting said. 'You can't have a town that functions if we only have tech workers living in it It won't be a functioning city as I know it. It wouldn't be a city I would want to live in.' Google did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. A Brisbane man has faced court accused of giving video editing software to a relative who was working for the media unit of the Islamic State terrorist organisation. The 27-year-old faced Richlands Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with attempting to provide support to a terrorist organisation, Australian Federal Police say. Police allege the Algester man provided video-editing software to a relative who had travelled to the conflict zone - and was working for the media unit of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). A Brisbane man has faced court accused of giving video editing software to a relative who was working for the media unit of the Islamic State terrorist organisation (stock image) He was arrested after a joint raid by ASIO and federal and state police in Algester on Tuesday. He was charged with attempting to provide support to a terrorist organisation, contrary to two sections of the criminal code, which carry a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment. The 27-year-old faced Richlands Magistrates Court on Wednesday, charged with attempting to provide support to a terrorist organisation, Australian Federal Police say (stock image) AFP Assistant Commissioner Ian McCartney, national manager for counter terrorism, said they allege the support this man provided was tangible and would directly assist a terrorist organisation with its objectives. He said there was no threat to the community in Queensland as a result of this investigation. The head of the CBI last night urged MPs to back Theresa Mays Brexit deal or risk economic failure. John Allan, president of the employers organisation, said Brexit uncertainty was creating an ever-growing cost, with 800 billion of financial capital having already moved out of the UK. Speaking at the CBIs annual dinner in London, he said Parliament should do whatever it takes to resolve this mess. John Allan, president of the employers organisation, said Brexit uncertainty was creating an ever-growing cost, with 800 billion of financial capital having already moved out of the UK. He urge MPs to back Mrs May's deal He said: I have a plea, from the heart of business, to the heart of politics. Resolve this gridlock. Do whatever it takes and do it fast. The Prime Ministers decision to bring back the Withdrawal Bill in early June is one more opportunity for Parliament to resolve this mess. Parliament must seize that opportunity if not, the uncertainty will become far more acute. Its not for business leaders to tell politicians when to trigger democratic events, but be in no doubt political failure today means economic failure tomorrow. We need to find a way through. Mr Allan also issued a blunt warning that Labours plan to nationalise Britains utility companies and electricity grid would damage investment and hurt ordinary savers. He said the controversial proposals would harm the people they are supposed to help including millions of pensioners whose savings are tied up in the National Grids shares. The American girlfriend of Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen's son is being kicked out of the country due to the country's stringent immigration laws. Rasmussen's son, Bergur, will be forced to temporarily split from his Harvard-educated girlfriend, Aran Katarina Kirschenmann. She and Bergur are likely to have met when he was attending Harvard in 2015. Now 29, he is running for a seat in the European parliament. Kirschenman, who is from Medina, Washington, and has 110,000 Instagram followers, is due to graduate this summer with a degree in economics. She works for a Danish public relations firm as a 'student worker' currently. But because she is 22, she is too young to seek residence under Danish immigration laws and must leave the nation by the end of this month. In Denmark, anyone under the age of 24 is not eligible to seek residency following the 2002 passage of a law that was intended to end the automatic right of entry of a spouse. The law raised the minimum age at which immigrants can bring a foreign spouse to live in Denmark from 18 to 24 and was intended to stop people from bringing in child brides but, according to her boyfriend's father, is not flexible enough for cases like hers. Aran Katarina Kirschenmann (right), the American girlfriend of Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen's son, Bergur (left), is being kicked out of the country due to immigration laws Bergur (left with Kirschenmann) will be forced to take a temporary split from his Harvard-educated girlfriend (right) PM Rasmussen placed immigration policy into the spotlight by announcing the news during a debate broadcast on Sunday evening, just weeks before Danes prepare to vote in the country's national election on June 5. 'It's to wonder at, that we live in a country that has no place for her,' Rasmussen said. Kirschenmann did not respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries. Since her boyfriend's father thrust her case into the public eye, she has switched her lucrative Instagram account - where she made money by partnering with brands for sponsored posts - to private. Before attending Harvard, she went to the Bellevue International School on the outskirts of Washington. She and Bergur met when he was in the United States. She opted to study for the Spring semester in Copenhagen this year, likely to be with him, and is campaigning on social media for him to win a seat in the European parliament. Her employers did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's inquiries. Because Kirschenmann is under the age of 24, she's not eligible to remain in Denmark following the 2002 passage of a law that was intended to end the automatic right of entry of a spouse PM Rasmussen (left) thrust immigration policy into the spotlight by announcing the news of his son's girlfriend (right) during a debate broadcast on Sunday evening, just weeks before Danes prepare to vote in the country's national election on June 5 The 22-year-old has a student worker position with a Danish PR firm which is now uncertain Rasmussen's minority government has been relying on support from the right-wing populist Danish People's Party (DF) to pass laws, and has presided over a toughening of laws to curb immigration into the Nordic welfare state as a result. But last week, he voiced readiness to form a governing coalition with the Social Democrats after the June 5 election to help curb the influence of smaller, more extreme parties. 'I fear that Danish politics will be thrown into chaos - a fear I believe is shared by many Danes,' Rasmussen said. 'If I only get the opportunity to continue as premier by making myself politically dependent on the extreme right, then I would much rather explore the possibility of cooperation across the middle,' said Rasmussen, alluding to the Social Democrats. Bergur himself is seeking election to the European Parliament as a candidate for Venstre. An elderly woman accused of torturing and mutilating birds has insisted she wasn't cruel to the animals as she faced court for allegedly crushing a pelican's wing in her car and mutilating a magpie. Brenda Dorothy Marney, 73, faces numerous animal cruelty charges after police raided her home in Tuncurry, on the NSW mid-north coast, earlier this month. Marney appeared in Foster Local Court on Wednesday, claiming she had done nothing and it was all a misunderstanding. She formally pleaded not guilty to a total of 10 charges, including committing acts of aggravated cruelty on a baby pelican and an adult pelican. Brenda Dorothy Marney, 73, faces numerous animal cruelty charges after police raided her home in Tuncurry, on the NSW mid-north coast, earlier this month Brenda Marney is accused of torturing and mutilating birds (pictured, birds at her home) She is accused of inflicting pain on one pelican by crushing its left wing in her car boot; failing to provide vet treatment to an injured magpie; not having a licence to keep wildlife at her Tuncurry home; and possessing protected animals - namely two magpies and one rainbow lorikeet. Outside court before her matter was mentioned, Marney said she had done nothing wrong. Asked what she thought of the charges, she said: 'Shocked. I can't believe it. Everyone in the area knows me. All the vets know me. Things have got out of hand. There was no cruelty.' Marney said she was only trying to help a pelican which had a hook in its wing when police were called. She refused to comment upon leaving court after getting legal advice. Police claim Marney was spotted by members of the public grabbing a pelican after feeding it fish and bundling it into her boot, slamming the lid shut on its wing, on April 27. She let the injured animal go as police approached and a later search of her home allegedly found extensive evidence of animal torture. Marney appeared in Foster Local Court on Wednesday, claiming she had done nothing and the charges against her resulted from a misunderstanding The Tuncurry boat ramp where accused animal abuser Brenda Marney allegedly lured a pelican from before forcing it into her car Officers allegedly found a caged magpie without a beak, and phones containing sickening images and videos of animals mutilated in public places. Police say Marney would take the animals, which she had allegedly mutilated over an extended period, to the vet to be euthanised, claiming to have found them. The retiree claims she merely cares for injured animals she finds in Tuncurry and nearby Forster, where she is known as the 'bird lady' by locals. 'This is a misunderstanding, I love animals and would never hurt them, I just look after them,' she told Daily Mail Australia earlier this month. 'I've been caring for birds for 40 years, when I see one that's hurt or sick I bring it home and feed it and help it.' Marney formally pleaded not guilty to a total of 10 charges, including committing acts of aggravated cruelty on a baby pelican and an adult pelican Marney is accused of gaining the trust of animals by feeding them, before taking them home and torturing them over an extended period of time. Her home on a quiet waterfront street had plastic sheets covering all her windows, with barbed chicken wire in front some of them. The approach to her front door was obscured by plastic sheeting with a makeshift metal fence and barbed wire in front. A large bird coop was visible through a narrow gap in the sheet looking towards the garage. Marney is known in Tuncurry as the 'bird lady' as she frequents waterside areas every day to feed birds. Marney said she had done nothing wrong as she appeared outside court before her matter was mentioned on Wednesday She was also often seen at the local Woolworths buying dog food and bananas to feed her menagerie at home. Another time she dumped a whole bucket of mussels she just bought into the river to 'release them'. Marney was also known to photograph dead and injured animals in public. She was also known to yell a nearby people who she accused of hurting them, and shout at children who chased seagulls. Other locals said she sometimes wore a protective mask in public. Police began investigating Marney last year, but she was only arrested after the pelican incident. She remains on strict bail with magistrate Ross Hudson adjourning the case to July 9. The moment a massive goanna is pulled from underneath a childs bed has been captured on video. In a clip posted to Facebook snake catcher Stuart McKenzie picked up the 1.5 metre monitor lizard with his bare hands. The over-sized lizard made its way into the at a Sunshine Coast home on Tuesday afternoon. A Queensland mother tried to scare the reptile away from her backyard chicken coop but it ran toward her house and through the open sliding door. 'He's got a big fat belly too. From your little chickens, is that right?' Mr Mckenzie asked the mother in the video. 'Tried to get the baby chicks but all our eggs are gone everyday,' the mother replied. Mr McKenzie said it was 'one of the most memorable callouts he has been on' in the caption of the video. 'Goanna's not only can bite but they can also whip you with their tail and scratch you with their massive claws!' he said. 'Always good fun haha.' The goanna in the video was 'decent sized' but they can grow up to 2.5 metres. They prey on insects, smaller lizards, snakes, mammals, birds and eggs. Snake catcher Stuart McKenzie (pictured) caught the goanna and put it in plastic tube with his bare hands at a Sunshine Coast home Goannas are generally scared of humans and instinctively run away when approached and lash out when touched. However some have overcome their fear of humans, especially those that live near picnic and barbecue areas because they get fed. There are 25 species of goanna monitor lizards in Australia and five in Southeast Asia. A store manager has admitted having sex with his family's 10-year-old dog and sending footage of the attack to his girlfriend. Craig David Stern, 26, pleaded guilty to forcing the bull mastiff, called Chilly George, to penetrate him at his home in Brisbane on Christmas Eve in 2016. He filmed himself violating the animal and sent the video to his girlfriend, who forwarded the footage to the police. The couple broke up a year later, the Sunshine Coast Daily reported. Craig David Stern, 26, pleaded guilty to penetrating the bull mastiff, called Chilly George, at his home in Brisbane on Christmas Eve in 2016 Queensland Police then raided Stern's home and found 700 bestiality videos on his computer. Stern, who works at Lincraft and used to work for Kmart, was charged and has since moved house and found a new girlfriend. Judge William Everson decided against jailing Stern and issued a three-year probation order. 'The extent to which you are expressing yourself sexually through an inappropriate fetish in my view warrants a lengthy probation order to address the underlying causes of your offending,' Judge Everson said. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson found himself in a dessert disaster during a congressional hearing on Tuesday when he mistook an 'REO' a Real Estate Owned foreclosure for an Oreo cookie. Carson, a world-renowned pediatric surgeon before he ran for president in 2016 and accepted a Trump administration job, faced questions before the House Financial Services Committee. California Democratic Rep. Katie Porter asked him if he knew what an REO is. 'An Oreo?' he responded. 'No not an Oreo. An R.E.O.,' Porter lectured. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson became confused during a House Financial Services Committee oversight hearing on Tuesday, hearing a question about 'REO' mortgage foreclosures and thinking he heard 'Oreos' instead California Democratic Rep. Katie Porter, a former mortgage banking overseer with the California state government, had to explain to Carson that REOs are foreclosed properties that lenders end up owning because they fail to attract buyers at auction Carson tried to charm his way out of the gaffe by tweeting that he would send Porter some Oreo cookies Carson guessed correctly that the 'R' and 'E' stood for 'real estate.' But he thought the 'O' stook for 'e-organization.' An REO is a property that a bank or other lender owns once a foreclosure proceeding is over, but failed to sell at auction. If the Federal Housing Administration has guaranteed a delinquent loan, the U.S. government ends up holding the title. Porter wanted information about why FHA loans are far more likely to end up as REOs than mortgages issued by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Many private lenders prefer to negotiate mortgage payments or pursue other alternatives to foreclosure, rather than seizing real estate and selling it to recoup costs. Carson tweeted these two photos, including a hand-written note to the congresswoman thanking her for her part in the hearing and offering her a package of 'O-REO(s)' Carson laughed off his inexperience with the basics of mortgage resolution procedures after the hearing with a tweeted photo of a package of Oreos. 'OH, REO! Thanks, @RepKatiePorter,' he tweeted. 'Enjoying a few post-hearing snacks. Sending some your way!' Along with a package of Double Stuf Oreo cookies, the attached photo showed a hand-written note to Porter. 'Thanks for your part in today's hearing,' it read. 'Hope you like the O'REO(s).' As Porter questioned Carson during Tuesday's hearing, he offered to connect her with HUD experts on home foreclosure. 'Respectfully, that was my day job before I came to Congress,' she responded, 'so now it's my job to ask you to work with people. I spent a decade working with the people at HUD on this problem.' She told CNN hours later in an interview that Carson's cookies did arrive at her office. The Federal Housing Administration ends up owning tens of thousands of foreclosed homes every year because no one will offer a pre-set minimum price for them in auctions 'He actually sent a family-size box of Double Stuf Oreos to our office,' Porter said. 'And while I was pleased to receive correspondence from him, what I'm really looking for is answers.' HUD's annual report to Congress from fiscal 2018 shows that nearly 32 per cent of the real estate the agency disposed of consisted of REO properties. That number was even higher, more than 42 per cent, a year earlier. Last year HUD held on to 23,765 REOs. That number was 111,282 in 2013, at the height of the housing crisis. A Mississippi police officer has been arrested over the murder of a woman he 'was having an affair with.' Oxford Police Officer Matthew Kinne has been charged with the murder of Dominic Clayton by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, according to a court order signed Tuesday by Lafayette County Circuit Judge Andrew Howorth. Kinne was arrested Monday night after Clayton, 32, was found dead by her eight-year-old son on Sunday. The victim's sister, Shyjuan Clayton, told WHBQ-TV that Dominic and Kinne were in a relationship and he 'didn't want his wife to find out.' Oxford Police Officer Matthew Kinne has been charged with murder of Dominic Clayton, who police said he had been possibly romantically involved with Clayton said: 'He bought my sister a car, he had it in his name, he was about to get her a house, he basically just didn't want his wife to find out.' Speaking about the impact of Dominic's death she claimed: 'My sister needs justice, OPD shouldn't sweep this under the rug, they shouldn't try to cover it up, they shouldn't try to save his image. 'It broke us because, my sister she was the life of the party, she made everybody laugh 'My sister was so crazy and silly so we didn't expect this, nothing is going to be the same without her.' WHBQ-TV reported Clayton, a mother-of-four, was found shot in the back of her head by her 8-year-old son after he was dropped at home Sunday by a family member. Her son had tried to play a prank on his mother by leaving a toy snake outside the house. However when he went inside, he came back out and told relatives that his mother was dead. Dominic Clayton's sister Shuyjuan said he was having an affair with Kinne and he 'didn't want his wife to find out' Clayton's sister Shyjuan, (pictured), said her death has left their family 'broken' At a press conference on Tuesday, Interim Oxford Police Chief Matt McCutcheon would only say that Kinne, who is with OPD for four years, and Clayton were 'possibly involved' in some kind of relationship but declined to elaborate further. Oxford police called in the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to lead the inquiry, a common step in shootings involving officers in Mississippi. McCutcheon declined to elaborate on the manner of death or other details, saying he would answer questions at a future time. Neither he nor Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Capt. Johnny Poulos responded to messages and phone calls seeking comment. Matthew Kinne is married and is understood to have children. He is being held in jail Kinne is a member of Oxfords Mounted Patrol and was previously named the Mounted Patrol Officer of the Year during the OPDs annual awards banquet McCutcheon said: 'To our community, we know that you're hurting, and we want to assure you that we will not hide behind our badge. 'This badge stands for truth and justice, and today is about justice for Dominique.' Poulos said during the investigation information was gathered leading to the arrest and Matthew Kinne. 'Due to the fact we are early on in this investigation, we will refrain from making any comments or statements that could jeopardize the integrity of the case.' In Mississippi, before police officers, teachers and certain other people can be arrested for crimes committed while they are on duty, a prosecutor is supposed to present evidence of probable cause to a judge. Judge Howorth set a Wednesday hearing to consider whether that law applies, writing that state officials say Kinne 'was not in performance of official duties as a law enforcement officer at the time of the alleged murder.' Kinne is jailed in neighboring Panola County. Howorth said he would consider whether to set bail on Wednesday and ordered that a lawyer be appointed for Kinne. Kinne has been an Oxford officer for four years. WREG-TV reported that no one answered the door at his home on the outskirts of Oxford. Clayton's sister said Kinne had bought his sister a car and was going to buy her a house. She was found dead at her home at 1009 Suncrest Drive in Oxford, (pictured) Interim Oxford Police Chief Matt McCutcheon, (pictured), would only say that Kinne and Clayton were 'possibly involved' in some kind of relationship but declined to elaborate further The department named Kinne its mounted patrol officer of the year in January, The Oxford Eagle reported. Dominic's cousin, Josephine Williams said Clayton's family and community are shocked and saddened over her untimely death. She said: 'She always kept a smile and would speak to you, she would always loved a hug. 'I just feel lost right now without her being here because I'm so used to talking to her on Facebook and laughing, talking and singing, making her happy. I'm going to miss that.' Another friend of Clayton's said her family are hopeful that they will get justice for her. Travis Blake added: 'You have an officer who is sworn into protect and serve and he does the opposite, he takes a mother away form her children.' The former Chicago judge desperate to see State's Attorney Kim Foxx investigated for her handling of the Jussie Smollett case blasted her in three more court filings on Tuesday. Sheila O'Brien has been trying since April to have a special prosecutor appointed to look into how Foxx handled Smollett's sensational case. She successfully removed one judge from the case after it emerged that his son worked in Foxx's office but last week, was shot down by a different judge who sided with the state's attorney and dismissed her petitions. Undeterred, she filed three more on Tuesday in which she claimed Foxx should use her own money instead of tax dollars to fight the allegations. She accused her of 'evading telling the truth' and 'sealing records' which she believes amount to misconduct. Sheila O'Brien has been trying since April to have a special prosecutor appointed to look into how Foxx handled Smollett's sensational case. She is shown, left, in court on Tuesday filing yet more motions against Foxx (right) In March, Foxx's office dropped all of the 16 felony charges against Smollett and let him off without a conviction. Smollett walked free from court in March after Foxx's office dropped 16 felony charges against him He paid $10,000 and did 16 hours of community service. Despite admitting that they thought he was guilty of staging a hoax attack and lying to the police about it afterwards, Foxx said the decision was just. She has since been eviscerated by police, former Mayor Rahm Emanuel and countless others who say she gave the Empire actor special treatment. Her decision is especially precarious given the fact she informally recused herself from the case in the weeks he was let off because she had exchanged friendly text messages with his relative and tried to wrestle the investigation out of the hands of Chicago PD to get the FBI to take over. She has always maintained that her conduct was proper and says an internal investigation is all that is needed - something O'Brien says she cannot be trusted with. Cook County Inspector General Patrick Blanchard is investigating how Smollett's case was handled. Judge Leroy Martin Jr. (left) transferred Kim Foxx's case to a different judge because his son (right) works for her. A different judge took over and quashed O'Brien's requests. Now, she wants a third judge to be appointed In her filing on Tuesday, O'Brien wrote: 'Tax supported attorneys are to do the business of the people not protect the States Attorney in disobeying the law. 'Kim Foxx should use her own funds, not tax funds, to represent her in this proceeding as she continues to fight subpoenas, deny access to the press, seal court files, and evade telling the truth.' O'Brien also filed subpoenas for Joseph Magats, Foxx's deputy, and Tina Tchen, the former Obama aide who helped the Smollett family get in touch with the Chicago State's Attorney's Office in the first place, to be deposed. On Friday, Judge Michael Toomin denied every request put forth by O'Brien including the depositions. He set another court date - May 31 - to hear arguments on whether or not a special prosecutor should be appointed. A larger-than-life mural depicting New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern embracing a Muslim woman has been finished. The touching artwork was finally completed on a silo in Brunswick, northern Melbourne, on Wednesday. The 75-foot-high mural portrays the moment Ms Ardern, who was wearing a hijab, hugged a woman mourning the victims of the Christchurch terror attack in March. More than 50 people lost their lives after a gunman opened fire at Al Noor and Masjid mosques. Ms Ardern was praised globally for her compassion to the victims and her firm determination to change gun laws in the country. A larger-than-life mural depicting New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern embracing a Muslim woman has been finished Local Melbourne artist Loretta Lizzio was chosen to take on the role of painting the mural, after $11,000 was raised through a GoFundMe page to afford the supplies Melbourne artist Loretta Lizzio was chosen to take on the role of painting the mural, after $11,000 was raised through a GoFundMe page to afford the supplies. The mural has previously sparked some controversy, with almost 15,000 people signing a change.org petition ordering its removal, saying it was not relevant to Australia. Organisers of the mural said that Brunswick was an appropriate place to put it due to the suburb's 'diverse history and community'. 'It is a place that had its hearts broken on the day of the Christchurch shootings,' they said. Others believe the money could have been spent better elsewhere with people taking to social media to express their views. '$11,000 can go towards actual people, help the homeless and the hungry... not a mural..' one person commented on a Facebook post. 'All I am seeing is a lot of money being put into the wrong things, it should be helping people, and the earth..' another person commented. Others believed the New Zealand Prime Minister deserved the mural due to her exceptional compassion after the March 15 attack when Australian Brenton Tarrant allegedly killed 51 people. 'This is a real leader with compassion and respect for all and the courage to lead, there is no better role model for world leaders today,' one woman commented on a Twitter post. For artist Loretta Lizzio, there was no better place to paint the mural than at Brunswick. Ms Ardern was praised globally for her compassion to the victims and her firm determination to change gun laws in the country The mural sparked controversy with almost 15,000 people signing a petition for its removal New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, sympathised with those who lost loved ones in the Christchurch massacre (pictured) 'Brunswick was chosen because it is probably one of the most multi-cultural and diverse suburbs in Melbourne,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'Just walking the streets here it is so obvious to see this is the perfect place to paint the mural.' Ms Lizzio said she had received only positive comments during the nine days it took her to finish the massive artwork. 'I've never had a response like this about an artwork ever. People were nearly crying and coming up to me and giving hugs.' She said the artwork served as a reminder that anyone of any culture and religious faith was accepted. 'I would really love for them to feel welcome. I have friends, I know friends of friends, who have all dealt with some form of racism, and its heartbreaking.' The image has been projected on many famous landmarks throughout the world, including an image shown in Dubai, across the world's tallest building. Many believed the money for the mural should have been spent elsewhere Tupac Mosley, 17, was awarded more than 50 scholarships for the staggering amount prior to his May graduation from Raleigh Egypt High School in Memphis A homeless teen in Tennessee who was named his school's valedictorian has been awarded more than $3million in scholarships. Tupac Mosley, 17, was awarded more than 50 scholarships for the staggering amount prior to his May graduation from Raleigh Egypt High School in Memphis. He shared with his fellow students that he was shocked to learn that he was accepted to more than 40 schools. 'When I heard that I got $3 million, I was more than elated and excited and astonished that it was that much,' Mosley explained to FOX 13. Mosley is in the process of moving out of his cabin - provided by For The Kingdom - and he will be headed to a permanent home. 'After my father passed, we fell behind on bills and we ended up getting evicted from our home February 21 of this year,' Mosley shared. 'So, we went to different homes so far and we were blessed to have For the Kingdom. He shared with his fellow students that he was shocked to learn that he was accepted to more than 40 schools Mosley is in the process of moving out of his cabin - provided by For The Kingdom - and he will be headed to a permanent home The camping site is a nonprofit organization that helps lead Memphis' urban youth down the right path. Mosley plans to attend Tennessee State University to student electrical engineering The star student managed to maintain a 4.3GPA while living on the streets and is fortunate to the organization for letting him and his family live there. At Sunday's commencement, Mosley thanked his principals and teachers for believing in him. He said: 'I knew that I had to make them proud. I knew that their investment was worth it that and just show them that yes, everything that you poured into me was worth $3 million and counting.' 'Never let your current situation, whatever circumstances you're going through, be a mountain that you can't climb.' Mosley plans to attend Tennessee State University to student electrical engineering. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing mounting pressure from Democrats, including Beto O'Rourke and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Democrats are calling for Trump's impeachment after his latest defiance of Congress by blocking his former White House lawyer from testifying on Tuesday. A growing number of rank-and-file House Democrats, incensed by former counsel Don McGahn's empty chair in the Judiciary Committee hearing room, are confronting Pelosi and pushing her and other leaders to act. Their impatience is running up against the speaker's preference for a more methodical approach, including already-unfolding court battles. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (left) is facing pressure from Democrats to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump Presidential hopeful Beto O'Rourke and New York Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are two Democrats who believe the president should be impeached Pelosi summoned some of them - still a small fraction of the House Democratic caucus - to a meeting of investigators Wednesday to assess strategy. Some other Democratic leaders, while backing Pelosi, signaled that a march to impeachment may at some point become inevitable. O'Rourke, the former congressman from Texas, said during a town hall in Iowa Tuesday night that impeachment is 'not something that I take lightly'. 'If we do nothing because we are afraid of the polls or the politics, or the repercussions in the next election, we will set a precedent that, in fact, some people, because of the position of power and public trust that they hold, are above the law,' he said. Rep Ocasio-Cortez told CNN that she knows 'being the speaker is hard, but I think we know what we need to do. We have to move forward'. Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters that 'we are confronting what might be the largest, broadest cover-up in American history'. If a House inquiry 'leads to other avenues including impeachment,' the Maryland Democrat said, 'so be it'. Reps Joaquin Castro of Texas and Diana DeGette of Colorado added their voices to the impeachment inquiry chorus. 'There is political risk in doing so, but there's a greater risk to our country in doing nothing,' Castro said on Twitter. 'This is a fight for our democracy.' DeGette tweeted: 'The facts laid out in the Mueller report, coupled with this administration's ongoing attempts to stonewall Congress, leave us no other choice.' A growing number of rank-and-file House Democrats, incensed by former counsel Don McGahn's empty chair (pictured) in the Judiciary Committee hearing room, are confronting Pelosi and pushing her and other leaders to act Democrats are calling for Trump's impeachment after his latest defiance of Congress by blocking McGahn (left) from testifying on Tuesday One Republican congressman, Justin Amash of Michigan, has called for impeachment proceedings. He said Tuesday he thinks other GOP lawmakers should join him - but only after reading special counsel Robert Mueller's report carefully. Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy dismissed Amash as out of step with House Republicans and 'out of step with America.' And Sen Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said wryly of Amash's position: 'I don't think it's going to be a trend-setting move.' As Democrats weigh their options, Trump is almost taunting them by testing the bounds of executive power in ways few other administrations have. The White House contends that even former employees like McGahn do not have to abide by subpoenas from Congress. A short time later House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler issued subpoenas for more Trump administration officials - former White House communications director Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson, a former aide in the White House counsel's office - for documents and testimony. Trump's former White House counsel is the most-cited witness in Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation report, recounting the president's attempts to interfere with the probe. And that makes his silence all the more infuriating for Democrats. Nadler gaveled open Tuesday's hearing with a stern warning that McGahn will be held in contempt for failing to appear. 'Our subpoenas are not optional,' Nadler said. 'We will not allow the president to stop this investigation.' However, Rep Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, spoke scornfully of Nadler's position, calling the session a 'circus' and saying the chairman preferred a public 'fight over fact-finding'. Democrats are 'trying desperately to make something out of nothing,' Collins said, in the aftermath of Mueller's report. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (pictured) issued subpoenas for more Trump administration officials - former White House communications director Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson, a former aide in the White House counsel's office - for documents and testimony However, Rep Doug Collins (pictured), the ranking Republican on the committee, spoke scornfully of Nadler's position, calling the session a 'circus' and saying the chairman preferred a public 'fight over fact-finding' A lawyer for McGahn had said he would follow the president's directive and skip Tuesday's hearing, leaving the Democrats without yet another witness - and a growing debate within the party about how to respond. Nadler said the committee would vote to hold McGahn in contempt, though that's not expected until June, after lawmakers return from the Memorial Day recess. Democrats are encouraged by an early success in the legal battles , a Monday ruling by a federal judge against Trump on in a financial records dispute with Congress. Trump's team filed notice of appeal on Tuesday. But Pelosi's strategy hasn't been swift enough for some lawmakers. In particular, several members of the Judiciary panel feel they must take the lead in at least launching impeachment proceedings. They say a formal impeachment inquiry could give Democrats more standing in court, even if they stop short of a vote to remove the president. 'I think that's something a lot of members of the committee - and more and more members of the caucus - think is necessary,' said Rep Steve Cohen of Tennessee. 'I think an inquiry, as the Senate Watergate hearings were, would lead the public to see the misdeeds of this administration.' Others, though, including some from more conservative districts, said they prefer the step-by-step approach. 'We want to make sure that we're following all the legal processes, everything we've been given, to truly make the best decisions,' said Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, a freshman on the Judiciary panel. Pelosi scheduled Wednesday's meeting with lawmakers from the Judiciary and Oversight committees after some members confronted her during a meeting among top Democrats Monday evening. At that time, Rep Jamie Raskin of Maryland led others in arguing that an impeachment inquiry would consolidate the Trump investigations and allow Democrats to keep more focus on their other legislative work, according to people familiar with the private conversation who requested anonymity to discuss it. Pelosi pushed back, saying that several committees are doing investigations already and noting that Rep Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the chairman of the Oversight Committee, already had won the early court battle over Trump's financial documents. With a 235-197 Democratic majority, Pelosi would likely find support for starting impeachment proceedings, but it could be a tighter vote than that margin suggests. Some lawmakers say voters back home are more interested in health care and the economy. Many come from more conservative districts where they need to run for re-election in communities where Trump also has support. For Pelosi, it's a push-pull exercise as she tries to raise awareness about Trump's behavior without moving toward impeachment unless she knows the public is with Congress. 'We've been in this thing for almost five months and now we're getting some results,' Pelosi told lawmakers Monday night. 'We've always said one thing will lead to another as we get information.' But other Democrats in the meeting, several of whom have spoken publicly about a need to be more aggressive with Trump, are increasingly impatient. They include Reps David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Ted Lieu of California and freshman Joe Neguse of Colorado. 'We're in a very grave moment,' said Rep Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, and 'probably right now are left, with nothing but that we must open an inquiry'. Rep Veronica Escobar of Texas tweeted that Congress has made 'accommodation after accommodation. I don't think we should wait any longer'. A woman driving a stolen RV with two dogs in her lap led police on a wild 60mph chase through the streets of Santa Clarita, near Los Angeles in Southern California on Tuesday evening. The DUI suspect has been identified as Julie Ann Rainbird, 52, of Winnetka, by the California Highway Patrol. Authorities say she stole the Giant RV in Downey, California. She launched the bizarre chase around 7pm when authorities tried to pull the vehicle over. She drove so recklessly through the streets, weaving in and out of traffic and plowing into at least six cars, that one of her two dogs leaped out of the broken front window and tumbled onto the road. Rainbird was arrested at the end of the chase is being held on suspicion of several felony charges, including hit and run and animal cruelty. Investigators say that this may be a DUI case, according to Good Morning America. A woman driving a stolen RV led police on a wild 60mph chase through the streets of Santa Clarita, near Los Angeles in Southern California on Tuesday evening She recklessly drove the RV, smashing into at least six cars and a palm tree that ripped the passenger-side door off of the camper and dented in the hood of the vehicle She drove so dangerously that her petrified dog crawled through the front window of the car and jumped out, tumbling on the road The dog that jumped out pictured walking towards the sidewalk, away from the trailer After her first dog jumped out, she clung on to her second dog (above) who tried to follow the other and jump out of the front window Her hand could be seen holding onto her dog as it tried desperately to leap out The stolen motor home suffered heavy damage to its hood and right side, and was left with its windshield hanging on its hinges and right door ripped off The RV was seen careening at speeds of up to 60mph from Santa Clarita into the San Fernando Valley WATCH: This RV led police on a wild and dangerous pursuit through the streets of Los Angeles. https://t.co/dCuujVag6a@ABonTV reports live from L.A. pic.twitter.com/Z6ZFPF5xf1 Good Morning America (@GMA) May 22, 2019 The owner of that RV - a Granada Hills woman - said that not only was her vehicle stolen, but her identity information was stolen as well and was used to purchase a motorcycle in Simi Valley. The woman reported the identity theft to Simi Valey Police on April 30. Three people, including the driver, were taken to the hospital with minor injuries in the chase, according to NBC. The chase began in Santa Clarita, just north of L.A., when the RV failed to yield for the California Highway Patrol. A TV news helicopter followed the chase for almost half an hour as it sped through residential streets and along a highway. Video showed the RV careening at speeds of up to 60mph from Santa Clarita into the San Fernando Valley. The driver was seen behind the wheel with two dogs in her lap. The RV hit several cars and a palm tree in a shopping mall parking lot that tore off the passenger-side door and wrecked the front end, leaving the windshield dangling on the hood. The RV hit several cars and then a palm tree in a shopping mall parking lot that tore off the passenger-side door and wrecked the front end The woman was seen crashing into trees and driving at high speeds, evading police The wild and reckless driver led authorities on the high-speed chase through the San Fernando Valley that began in the Santa Clarita area just before 7pm A TV news helicopter followed the chase for almost half an hour as it sped through residential streets and along a highway The RV plowed into this black car, leaving debris and shrapnel in its wake. The black car was hit so hard it spun around and its hood was ripped off The RV crashed into numerous vehicles on its journey through the north L.A. suburb. A heavily damaged black car that the suspect plowed into pictured above She was driving through this upscale neighborhood when she lost control of the car, slammed into a sedan, and was finally cornered by police Crash: The RV recklessly crashed into this white sedan then her trailer came to a halt and she left out and ran for it At one point, a large dog in the driver's lap scrambled halfway out of the shattered windshield area and jumped from the moving vehicle, landing in a tumble on the road. The RV stopped for a moment, but the dog got up and appeared unharmed as it ran to the curb. The chase continued and another dog was seen dangling from the window. The driver held on to the back of the petrified dog, as it too tried to escape the camper. The driver eventually lost control of the vehicle, which was falling apart as it was traveling. It rear-ended another car at high speed in the upscale residential Tarzana neighborhood, plowed into some trees and came to a halt at 7.35pm. After crashing into a white sedan the trailer finally stopped while on a sidewalk The driver then ran out of her car with her dog following in tow until highway patrol officers got to her Eventually the female driver lost control of the vehicle and both she and her dog tried to make a run for it but were quickly tackled by authorities The female suspect got out of the RV and took off on foot after the crash. Her second dog, appearing injured, followed her as she attempted to get away from officers After the trailer stopped moving, the suspect jumped out of the camper with her dog hobbling behind her, as they tried to make their getaway on foot. She was soon caught by a pair of police officers who took the female driver into custody. The suspect and one driver she hit were both taken away in ambulances. There was no immediate word on their conditions. According to CBS2 both dogs are safe and in the custody of Animal Control with non life-threatening injuries. In total, the driver reportedly hit at least six cars and three people were hospitalized because of the chase. Home prices in 'undesirable' areas could fall by 85 per cent because they have 'no reason to exist', an expert has claimed. Bronte Capital founder John Hempton told The Jolly Swagman podcast that suburbs in Sydney's north western suburbs like Rouse Hill, which he described as 'grass to the Blue Mountains', could drop by 50 per cent. Mr Hempton, who went undercover in 2016 with investment expert Jonathan Tepper to investigate bank underwriting standards, thought Sydney's property bubble was in the inner part of the city but his research 'completely' changed his mind. He now believes the bubble is in the 'outer part' and affects normal people. Suburbs in Sydney's north western suburbs like Rouse Hill (pictured), which he described as 'grass to the Blue Mountains', could drop by 50 per cent Bronte Capital founder John Hempton (pictured) spoke to The Jolly Swagman podcast 'I don't mean to pick on Rouse Hill, it's just the most extreme place we found and that was only just because it's the furthest north-west, it just happens north-west was bad,' he said. 'The further we went away from the CBD, the more insane the bank branch officers were.' Mr Hempton said a $1.4million house about 40 to 50 kilometres west of the CBD had 'no reason to exist'. 'Sydney is one of the most attractive cities to live in in the world, period,' Mr Hempton explained. 'It is just delicious, it's got really good restaurants, a really good climate, it's got really good beaches and almost none of those apply if you go an hour-and-a-half, an hour and 20 minutes in traffic west.' 'The only thing that applies is the Sydney price. It's not desirable in any sense.' 'I don't mean to pick on Rouse Hill, it's just the most extreme place we found and that was only just because it's the furthest north-west, it just happens north-west was bad,' he said (pictured: Rouse Hill) 'The houses in western Sydney made no sense no matter how we cut it and you could see that in the behaviour of the mortgage brokers who were more crazy.' Mr Hempton explained Sydney's desirable and pricey locations like Point Piper made sense as millionaires were willing to drop the excess cash on the perfect home. 'I understand why a waterfront house in Point Piper is $40 mil, it's $40 million because it's a bunch of billionaires who have nothing better to do with their money,' he said. 'I can understand the quality stuff being expensive.' But in terms of the bubble, Mr Hempton described the median house price in Mt Druitt, which is over $1million, a 'joke' when the median household income is about $55,000. Mr Hempton described the median house price in Mt Druitt (pictured), which is over $1million, a 'joke' when the median household income is about $55,000 'You walk down a street with about seven or eight pawn shops in Blacktown and the houses just around the corner from the junkies and the pawn shops were $900,000,' he said. Mr Hempton said less desirable outer suburban Newcastle, north of Sydney, could drop 85 per cent and suggested the current prices didn't have a reason to exist. He then suggested dropping the prices to a gold coin. 'In America some houses dropped 100 per cent,' Mr Hempton said. 'There's no conceivable reason why some of these less desirable places to live don't go to $1.' Labor was punished in last week's Federal Election after vowing to scrap negative gearing tax breaks for existing properties from January and halve the capital gains tax discount from 50 per cent to 25 per cent. The surprise re-election of a Coalition government means property analysts have been forced to revise their predictions about price falls. Six people have died and 200 injured in civil unrest in Jakarta after supporters of an unsuccessful presidential candidate clashed with security forced. Anies Baswedan, governor of the Indonesian capital, confirmed the deaths on Wednesday during clashes sparked by the official confirmation that President Joko Widodo had won last month's election. 'As per 9 o'clock this morning, there were 200 people hurt being brought to five hospitals,' the governor told broadcaster TVOne. 'The number of people dead was six,' he said, adding that hospitals were conducting post mortems to determine the cause of death. Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto run from smoke of tear gas fired by police officers in Jakarta Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto , during a rally outside the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) building in Jakarta Indonesian police walk near fire from a molotov cocktail during a clash with supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto run during a clash with the police White-robed protesters blocked streets in one central Jakarta neighborhood and in another, rioters fought running battles with police, throwing rocks and setting fires. During the night, vehicles and a paramilitary police dormitory were set ablaze as police using tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon battled protesters who threw molotov cocktails and burning projectiles. Indonesia's Election Commission on Tuesday said President Joko Widodo had won a second term with 55.5% of the vote in the April 17 election. Former special forces general Prabowo Subianto has refused to accept the results and declared himself the winner. His campaign plans to challenge the election in the Constitutional Court. Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto defend during a clash with the police Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto run during a clash with the police They allege massive fraud but have provided no credible evidence. The government had deployed some 50,000 police and soldiers in Jakarta in anticipation of protests, said Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono. Many residents have left the city and parts of the downtown are closed to traffic with the election supervisory agency and election commission barricaded with razor wire. In the past week, authorities have arrested three pro-Subianto activists on suspicion of treason, said Prasetyo, including a retired general and former commander of Indonesia's special forces. Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto carry an injured man during a clash with Indonesian police Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto run during a clash with the police A supporter of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto runs during a clash with the police Indonesian riot police officer fires a tear gas launcher to disperse supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto during a rally in Jakarta Police allege there was a plot to seize crucial government buildings in Jakarta. Subianto and members of his campaign team had said they would mobilize 'people power' for days of street protests. The former general has also called on supporters to refrain from violence. Subianto, who also lost to Widodo in 2014, ran a fear-based campaign, emphasizing what he sees as Indonesia's weakness and the risk of exploitation by foreign powers or disintegration. He aligned himself with hard-line Muslim groups and won massive majorities in conservative provinces such as Aceh, which follows Shariah law, but was defeated by Widodo in the president's populous East Java and Central Java strongholds. Widodo's campaign highlighted his progress in poverty reduction and improving Indonesia's inadequate infrastructure with new ports, toll roads, airports and mass rapid transit. Supporters of Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto take a part in a clash with the police in Jakarta A woman has pleaded guilty to murdering her own granddaughter after the 13-year-old was found dead in her home. Lorraine Smith, 59, was hauled before the High Court at Whanganui, on New Zealand's North Island, on Wednesday. A suppression order on her name was lifted as the teacher's aide cried and pleaded guilty to the death of her granddaughter Kalis Smith. The 13-year-old was discovered at her grandmother's home on the night of March 15, Stuff reported. The guilty plea has shocked some of her neighbours, who have described her as a 'nice old lady'. Lorraine Smith pleaded guilty over the death of her granddaughter Kalis Manaia Smith after her body was found at her Niblett Street home on March 15 (stock image) The guilty plea has shocked some of her neighbours, who have described her as a 'nice old lady' (pictured, Niblett Street at Whanganui on New Zealand's North Island) One neighbour, who wished to remain anonymous, recalled the night the little girl's body was discovered, and said Smith ran out onto the street and began to wail. 'I heard her come out of the house and she was wailing, just wailing... as any kind of mother would,' she said. The woman said she found it difficult to square the guilty plea with Smith's reaction on the night. Another neighbour said Smith condemned violence in front of the kids, and would often intervene in domestic disputes that spilled onto the street. 'She was more of a mediator than anything and threatened to call police when it got violent.' A different neighbour said Smith often walked several children to school and kindergarten to make sure they arrived safe. He described the granddaughter as sociable as she had made friends with the younger children in the nearby houses. The victim also attended Whanganui City College. Smith will be kept in custody until sentencing in July. Chris Bowen has withdrawn from the Labor leadership race, leaving Anthony Albanese the only name on the ballot. The shadow treasurer said it had dawned on him that Mr Albanese was far more popular and he had no chance of winning. Mr Albanese is now the only person in the running - but frontbencher Jim Chalmers has said he is being encouraged to challenge and will consider his options overnight. Member for Grayndler Anthony Albanese at the Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain, Sydney Bowen out: Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen MP addresses the media outside his childhood home in Smithfield, Sydney Jim Chalmers has said he is being encouraged to challenge and will consider his options overnight In a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Bowen claimed he would have won a vote among fellow MPs - but would have lost to Mr Albanese on the votes of rank and file members. He said: 'It's clear to me that I would have majority support in the actual caucus ballot. 'Not a big majority, but majority support with some support from the left faction as well as support from the right faction, and people that aren't in any faction. 'But it's also clear to me, I'm a realist, that Albo would win the rank and file for good reason. He's a popular character. By a good margin. 'Hence I have reached the view that it would be unlikely for me to win the ballot.' He said he wanted a new party leader installed as soon as possible, adding: 'Earlier today I reached the conclusion that, not thinking it's really viable for me to win, it wouldn't be fair to put the party through the cost of the process and the delay for the start of a new leader.' But Mr Bowen then encourage others to run against Mr Albanese, saying: 'I also wanted to make this decision early because nominations have not yet closed, to be clear, and I want to provide anybody else with the opportunity to feels that they have something to add.' Shadow Minister for Finance Jim Chalmers Dr Chalmers, the 41-year-old MP for Rankin in suburban Brisbane, said in a Tweet: 'I feel for Chris and I know it would've been hard for him to pull out. 'I'm being encouraged to nominate for leader and I'll now consider my options overnight. 'Australian Labor needs to rebuild, refresh and renew and I want to play a prominent role in that. What role is to be determined.' Dr Chalmers is the shadow minister for finance and holds a PhD in political science and international relations from the Australian National University. Fellow frontbencher Joel Fitzgibbon said he has ruled out launching a bid and will support Mr Albanese. It was earlier reported that Mr Bowen lacked the support of enough MPs and did not have the backing of the powerful Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union and the Victorian Right faction. Mr Albanese and Mr Bowen were the only declared contenders to replace Mr Shorten, but it's not too late for others to put up their hand. 'I think the party does deserve a contest,' Mr Bowen told reporters on Tuesday outside the house where he grew up in Smithfield in Sydney's west. Mr Bowen was the architect of Labor's plans to change the franking credits regime and crack down on negative gearing. The Coalition branded these 'new taxes' that would hurt retirees and mum-and-dad property investors, and the policies were key factors in Labor losing the May 18 election. Mr Albanese has been campaigning for the leadership since confirming he'd make a second tilt at the top job on Sunday. His last attempt in 2013 ended in a loss to Bill Shorten, who resigned from the leadership after Saturday's election loss. Labour Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development Anthony Albanese speaks to the media to announce his bid for leadership 'We got the votes of one in three of every Australian on Saturday. We need to do much better,' Mr Albanese told reporters in Sydney. It is understood Labor's finance spokesman Jim Chalmers is being encouraged to run, but his thinking has been impacted by factional colleague Mr Bowen's announcement. Mr Bowen received a mix of positive and negative comments on his Facebook page on Tuesday, with many linking him with Labor's loss and calling for 'generational change' in the party. Ms Plibersek, also from the left faction, ruled herself out on Monday, saying it was not her time. The leadership will be decided by a vote of grassroots members and the federal parliamentary caucus, with each group given 50 per cent weight. Caucus will not be told the result of the grassroots vote before MPs make their decision. From being raised by a single mum in a housing commission flat to a marriage split: What you DIDN'T know about Anthony Albanese - as he seeks Labor leadership and the nation's heart By Daniel Piotrowski and Stephen Johnson Anthony Albanese, the man tipped to be the next Labor leader, is a new bachelor who was raised in a housing commission flat and has tasted power as a senior minister. 'Albo', 56, is tonight firming as the frontrunner to become Opposition Leader, following Bill Shorten's shock election thumping on Saturday. Anthony Albanese, the man tipped to be the next Labor leader, split from his wife Carmel Tebutt, the former NSW deputy premier, in January Mr Albanese's rival Tanya Plibersek said 'now is not the time' to run for the party's leadership, citing family responsibilities. She has three children, including an eight-year-old son. The MP for Sydney's inner west seat of Grayndler for more than 20 years, Mr Albanese has long coveted the Labor leadership. Mr Shorten pipped Mr Albanese to the job in 2013. But the ALP's catastrophic defeat on Saturday has given him a second chance at the top. Mr Albanese's leadership tilt, announced at the weekend, is a new chapter in what has already been a tumultuous year for the Labor frontbencher. In January, the former Cabinet minister issued a statement announced he and his wife of 30 years, the ex-NSW deputy premier Carmel Tebutt, had separated. Mr Albanese said he was 'deeply saddened' and the pair would continue to share parenting responsibilities for their adult son, Nathan, 18. 'There were no third parties involved,' the statement said. The relationship breakdown has barely come up since, with Mr Albanese dedicating himself to campaigning for Labor as its transport spokesman. He promoted a high speed rail plan during the election, only to watch the party's dream of a new progressive government die at the weekend. On Sunday Mr Albanese suggested he could revive the party's fortunes, announcing his bid to be Opposition leader at a Balmain pub. 'I know what it's like to do it tough,' he said. Mr Albanese reflected on his compelling backstory, telling how he was raised in public housing in 1960s inner Sydney by a single mother, Maryanne, who was on an invalid pension. 'What you see if what you get with me,' he said. 'I'm a bit rough at the edges, but I think that Australians don't want someone who just utters talking points.' Life of Albo: Raised by a single mother with a father who 'died in a crash' - but was actually alive A young Mr Albanese was raised in Camperdown. The Sydney suburb was a considerably more downtrodden area in the 1960s than its trendy present. As a teenager, he worked as a paperboy and went to school in the city. Even then, he was known as Albo, people who knew him then said. A young Anthony Albanese met Carmel Tebutt in the Labor party His mother always told Mr Albanese she had met his Italian father overseas, but she had returned to Australia and he had died in a car crash. When he was a teenager, she revealed the story was not actually true. 'We sat down just after dinner one night and she it was very traumatic for her, I think, to tell me that in fact that wasn't the case,' Mr Albanese told the ABC in 2009. Maryanne told him 'my father might still be alive, that she'd met him overseas, fallen pregnant with me, had told him and he had said, basically, that he was betrothed to someone from the town in Italy where he was from.' Mr Albanese said he did not follow up on the story until after his mother's died in 2002. He knew his father, Carlo, had worked on a cruise ship and enlisted the help of a maritime historian to track him down. Incredibly, the effort was successful. The pair met, embraced and spoke for an hour-and-a-half, the Labor luminary later told the ABC. 'It's hard to put into words... how I felt. It was just completely overwhelming,' Mr Albanese said. His father died in 2014, and told his long lost son he was happy they had found each other. Life in the Labor Party: Meeting Carmel, becoming a minister and backing Rudd over Gillard Mr Albanese joined the Australian Labor Party at age 16 - and rose to become an influential figure in the party's Left faction. It was through Labor he met Ms Tebutt, who he described in his maiden speech as his 'partner and best friend'. Mr Albanese first became the federal member of Grayndler in 1996 - a seat he has held ever since. He spent more than a decade in Opposition and did not come into government until the election of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2007. 'Hot Albo': A photograph of a young Anthony Albanese went viral during the last Labor government He was appointed transport and infrastructure minister and Leader of the House in the new government. He was known to be a supporter of Mr Rudd during his leadership tussles with Julia Gillard. When Mr Rudd ascended returned to the top job, he rewarded Mr Albanese with the role of deputy prime minister - a job he held for just three months. Mr Albanese made a tilt for the top job in 2013. He won the popular vote of the party membership but lost the Caucus vote. In the six years since there have been occasional reports he was considering challenging Mr Shorten for the leadership. It never eventuated, but there remains some bad blood within the party. A fuming Labor insider - who supported Ms Plibersek - said: 'Albo has just been sitting there hoping Bill gets run over a bus the whole way through. 'All he's ever done is back stab, undermine and s*** stir. Albo can get stuffed.' Mr Albanese declined to comment on the claims, but told reporters separately he had no criticism of Mr Shorten as Labor leader. Meanwhile, Labor is organising a leadership election, which involves a vote from the party membership and the elected Caucus. Mr Albanese, the Labor party and Australia, await what's next. A serial flasher with a history of exposing his genitals to girls at some of Brisbane's busiest shopping centres has escaped jail time once again. Gregory Wayne Chambers, 67, pleaded guilty to indecent treatment of a child under 12 when he appeared in Brisbane District Court for sentencing on Wednesday. The former air-conditioning technician preyed on a seven-year-old girl while she was looking at toys in a department store during a shopping trip with her younger sister and grandfather at Westfield Chermside in April last year. The court heard Chambers watched the little girl for a period of time before he approached the girl and exposed himself when her sister moved to another part of the store, The Sunshine Coast Daily reported. Gregory Wayne Chambers (pictured) walked from court a free man, despite pleading guilty The girl fled to her sister before racing to their grandfather to alert him 'that a man showed me his doodle'. Police were called and Chambers was arrested nearby a short time later. He spent four weeks remanded in custody before he was released on bail. Chambers received a stern warning from Judge Michael Shanahan on Wednesday as he was sentenced to 12 months jail, suspended for three years. 'If you indulge in this behaviour again ... you will be in jail,' Judge Shanahan told Chambers. It's not the first time Chambers has faced court for exposing his genitals to girls in Westfield shopping centres. Chamber exposed himself to a seven-year-old girl while she was looking at toys in a store at Westfield Chermside (pictured) last April The court heard he had previously exposed himself to a teenage girl at a major retailer in Westfield Chermside, which is Australia's second biggest shopping centre. In separate incident, two employees discovered Chambers exposing his genitals in a children's store in Westfield Toombul, which is less than five kilometres away. He was charged for both offences but was not sentenced to jail time in either instance. According to his Linkedin profile, Chambers is an experienced senior product manager for more than 20 years in the automotive industry. His profile also states he hasn't worked since he was sacked from his last job of 20 years after the most recent incident last April. A US genealogy website has announced a new change in their user policy that may hinder police from solving cold cases and getting murderers like the Golden State Killer off the streets. GEDMatch will now allow its users the option to opt out of letting law enforcement officers access their DNA. Investigators view the move as one that will cripple the current work to solve numerous cold cases. 'It's going to make our cases a lot harder to solve,' Michael Fields, a detective with the Orlando Police Department said. US genealogy website, GEDMatch, has revealed a new change in their user policy that may hinder police from solving cold cases and getting murderers like the Golden State Killer off the streets. Joseph James DeAngelo (left) has been accused of being Golden State Killer Fields told ABC News that 'it's a shame it could leave a murderer running on the streets, but I perfectly understand why they'd want to change that'. The recent change comes more than a year after privacy fears arose when police nabbed Joseph James DeAngelo, the alleged Golden State Killer, using GEDMatch. At the time investigators used the little-known genealogical website to identify DeAngelo after crime-scene DNA matched genetic material stored by a distant relative on an ancestry site. From there, they used that relative's family tree to narrow down the list of possible suspects. DeAngelo became a focus of the investigation since he lived in the areas where the crimes happened and was the right age. After he was identified as a possible suspect, cops conducted surveillance on DeAngelo and obtained a discarded DNA sample which they compared to the old crime scene samples. When they got the first results back, they showed 'overwhelming evidence' that he was the serial rapist and murderer who terrorized the state in the 1970s and 80s. At the time, Paul Holes, the lead investigator on the case, told the Mercury News that the investigative team used GEDmatch, a Florida-based website that pools DNA profiles that people upload and share publicly. Holes, a cold case expert and retired Contra Costa County District Attorney inspector, said GEDmatch was his team's biggest tool. GEDmatch is a free site where users who have DNA profiles from commercial companies such as Ancestry.com and 23andMe can upload them to expand their search for relatives. GEDmatch is a free site where users who have DNA profiles (file image) from commercial companies such as Ancestry.com and 23andMe can upload them to expand their search for relatives The site does not offer it's own DNA testing kits. Major companies do not allow law enforcement to access their genetic data unless they get a court order. Holes said officials did not need a court order to access GEDmatch's database of genetic blueprints since all the information on the site is already public. At the time, GEDMatch said in a statement that they were not approached by law enforcement or anyone else about the DNA. 'It has always been GEDmatch's policy to inform users that the database could be used for other uses, as set forth in the Site Policy. 'While the database was created for genealogical research, it is important that GEDmatch participants understand the possible uses of their DNA, including identification of relatives that have committed crimes or were victims of crimes,' the statement read. 'If you are concerned about non-genealogical uses of your DNA, you should not upload your DNA to the database and/or you should remove DNA that has already been uploaded,' the company said in 2018. But the company's new policy states that there are '4 classes of DNA data on this Site: "Private, Research, Public + opt-in and Public + opt-out".' 'You may be asked to select which category you want to be in when you upload your DNA data. "Private" DNA data is not available for comparisons with other people. It may be usable in some utilities that do not depend on comparisons with other DNA,' the policy reads. According to the site, "Public + opt-in" DNA data is available for comparison to any Raw Data in the GEDmatch database using the various tools provided for that purpose.' Meanwhile, "Public + opt-out" DNA data is available for comparison to any Raw Data in the GEDmatch database, except DNA kits identified as being uploaded for Law Enforcement purposes.' Benjamin Holmes (right) was arrested and charged with the 2001 murder of 25-year-old college student Christine Franke (left) 17 years laterand it all because several members of Holmes's family used GEDMatch Last year, Benjamin Holmes was arrested and charged with the 2001 Orlando murder of 25-year-old college student Christine Frankeand all because several members of Holmes's family used GEDMatch. For years, all police had to go on was a composite sketch of a potential suspect, but that never resulted in any new leads. The breakthrough came after Holmes's relatives used GEDMatch, hoping to learn more about their relations through the DNA home testing kit. Their DNA partially matched the crime scene evidence and led investigators to a mother with two sons who lived in Orlando. She voluntarily submitted a genetic sample to the police, which confirmed she was the mother of the killer. The search was then narrowed to her son Benjamin Holmes. He was served with a search warrant for his DNA, which ended up being a match for the sample left behind at the crime scene. Television viewers across the country were left heartbroken last night after it emerged a patient on 24 Hours in A&E had died after filming. Edwin Jukes, 77, was featured on the Channel 4 show after being rushed to hospital with severe bleeding from a tumour in his neck. The pensioner, who had tongue cancer, then spent seven days at St George's Hospital in south London with partner Jeanette and best friend Keith seen waiting by his side and 'hoping for a miracle'. At the end of the episode Jeanette burst into tears as she revealed he had died suddenly and spoke candidly about how much she missed him. The pensioner (left), who had tongue cancer, spent seven days at St George's Hospital in south London with partner Jeanette (right) and best friend Keith seen waiting by his side and 'hoping for a miracle Jeanette burst into tears as she revealed he had died suddenly and spoke candidly about how much she missed Edwin Viewers became emotional on social media throughout the programme It came after she told the documentary crew she has lost her first husband and thought she had a 'second chance at love' with Edwin nine years later. Viewers became emotional on social media throughout the programme, which showed how Mr Jukes was bravely battling for life. Jeanette said: 'He had quite a few bleeds and then they came to talk to us about a hospice or what do we want to do. I said I want you home and he said "I want to come home".' Shortly before his death Jeanette said she realised 'something was different' about him and she feared the worst, calling the nurses. Keith added: 'At that point I was angry with the world. One of the best people in the world was about to be taken from me.' After his death, Jeanette said: 'I miss him terribly. I miss his presence, his laughing, his cross-wording. 'This sounds crazy, creeping up behind me in the kitchen and making me jump. I miss everything about him, everything.' Viewers took to social media to share their anguish after watching the emotional episode Edwin Jukes, 77, was rushed to hospital with severe bleeding from a tumour in his neck Mr Jukes' loved ones held a toast in his honour after he passed away The traumatic episode caused audiences to pay tribute to Edwin and Jeanette's love and pay their respects to him. One Twitter user said: '24 Hours in A&E has tipped me over the edge tonight. Absolutely balling. Heartbreaking.' Another, an aspiring nurse, added: 'Edwin, oh my lord. Absolutely sobbing here, how the hell I'm gonna (sic) be a nurse is beyond me.' Praising Jeanette's strength, another said: 'Jeanette, you broke my heart! Wishing you all the love in the world.' Another Twitter user wrote: '24 hours in a&e is so sad, shows how precious life is.' The Colorado man who threatened to kill 'as many girls as I see' because he was a 27-year-old virgin has received a plea deal with no recommended prison time. In January Christopher Cleary wrote on Facebook that he was going to be the 'next mass shooter' and go on a deadly rampage, just hours before the Women's March kicked off in cities across America. 'All I wanted was a girlfriend,' he wrote in one status. 'All I wanted was to be loved, yet no one cares about me. I'm 27 years old and I've never had a girlfriend and I'm still a virgin.' 'This is why I'm planning on shooting up a public place soon and being the next mass shooter cause I'm ready to die and all the girls who turned me down is going to make it right by killing as many girls as I see (sic).' But Cleary, who has a long history of harassing women online, may not have to face any more prison time after accepting a plea deal this week. Christopher Cleary, 27, has accepted a plea deal with no recommended prison time after threatening to kill 'as many girls as I see' because he was a 27-year-old virgin Cleary, who lives in Denver, has a troubling history of harassing women that he met online In January Cleary wrote on Facebook that he was going to be the the 'next mass shooter' and go on a deadly rampage, just hours before women marched through numerous US cities Cleary, who lives in Denver, is an incel. The term, short for 'involuntary celibate' has been adopted by men online who are angry that they have been unable to find a romantic or sexual partner. Authorities arrested Cleary in Provo, Utah at a McDonald's while he was reviewing food for his YouTube channel. He told officers that he had been upset and wasn't thinking clearly. 'There's nothing more dangerous than a man ready to die,' Cleary posted online shortly before his arrest. Yet Cleary's plea deal with Utah prosecutors appears to fit a pattern of lenient punishments for cyberstalking and online harassment cases. Cleary pleaded guilty in April to a reduced charge of attempted threat of terrorism, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. But prosecutors agreed to recommend probation, sparing him any additional jail time in Utah beyond the months he's served since his January 19 arrest. Cleary pleaded guilty in April to a reduced charge of attempted threat of terrorism, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison. But prosecutors agreed to recommend probation If a judge accepts the recommended sentence during a hearing on Thursday in Provo, it won't be the first time Cleary avoids a prison term. Judges in Colorado gave him similar breaks after a string of women and teenagers accused him of making threats and harassing them. The prosecutor on the Utah case said the plea bargain is designed to secure a felony conviction that could help Colorado authorities get a prison sentence for Cleary's probation violations. Agreeing to recommend probation was the key to securing his guilty plea, said Deputy Utah County Attorney Douglas Finch. Finch said Utah's criminal statutes leave a 'huge gap' between a misdemeanor charge of threatening violence and a felony charge of making a threat of terrorism. He said his office views Cleary as an 'unbelievably dangerous individual' but wasn't certain it could prove that the 'stupid, horrible' message he posted on his Facebook account rose to the level of a terrorism threat. 'The problem is that I feel (Cleary) falls right in the middle of those two areas, but most likely he falls in the lowest level,' Finch said. Cleary was arrested in Provo, Utah at a McDonald's while reviewing food for his YouTube channel. He is pictured here just before his arrest At least eight people since 2012 have contacted authorities to accuse Cleary of stalking or harassing them, according to an Associated Press review of police and court records. Police in Colorado also investigated complaints that Cleary threatened to bomb a grocery store in 2013 after an employee refused to cash his check, threatened to slit the throat of a Denver city employee after his car was towed, and threatened a mass shooting at a mental health facility during a phone call in 2016. At least eight people since 2012 have contacted authorities to accuse Cleary of stalking or harassing them Cleary was on probation for a marijuana conviction when, in 2016, he was charged with stalking two 18-year-old women he met online. He was on probation and in mental health court for the stalking cases when he was charged in 2017 with stalking and harassing a third woman who was Cleary's caseworker. The former caseworker told police Cleary created fake Craigslist ads soliciting sex and rape, using her phone number and an address within a block of her home. Last year, judges in Jefferson County, Colorado, sentenced him to probation in all three stalking cases. Cleary was still on probation in Jefferson County when he was arrested in Utah. Pam Russell, a spokeswoman for the county prosecutor's office, said once the Utah case has concluded, Cleary will be returned to Colorado and prosecutors will seek to revoke his probation and send Cleary to prison. A public defender representing Cleary in Utah declined to comment. An attorney who represented him in Colorado said Cleary had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder. Cleary was still on probation when he was arrested in Utah. Pam Russell, a spokeswoman for the county prosecutor's office, said once the Utah case has concluded, Cleary will be returned to Colorado and prosecutors will seek to revoke his probation and send Cleary to prison Cleary appealed for money from friends at the start of the year, shortly before his arrest, and claimed he was about to be kicked out of his apartment Experts said Cleary appears to be emblematic of how police and courts typically handle cyberstalking and online harassment cases. University of Maryland law professor Danielle Citron, author of the book 'Hate Crimes in Cyberspace,' said state criminal statutes outlawing such behavior typically are misdemeanors with light punishments that don't deter offenders. An attorney who represented Cleary in Colorado said he had been diagnosed with major depressive disorder The criminal justice system tends to view online abuse as 'no big deal,' she said, and perpetrators get empathy while 'we forget and erase the victims.' Jefferson County Judge Dennis Hall said he and a second judge who sentenced Cleary in April 2018 ultimately decided a prison sentence would be counterproductive, according to a transcript. 'It won't do the community any good if I put you in prison and make you worse,' Hall told Cleary. Prosecutors had urged Hall to sentence Cleary to Community Corrections, a residential supervision and treatment program that's an alternative to prison or probation. Victoria Lathrop, one of Cleary's earlier victims, said her ordeal didn't end when a judge in Weld County, Colorado, sentenced Cleary to probation for harassing her in 2015. She says she kept hearing from him for years, from different numbers or online identities. Lathrop called police again, but she says they told her there was no way to be sure it was him. She wonders if authorities should have taken her case more seriously. 'If he's so persistent stalking women and doing this stuff, I don't think that violence is past him,' she told AP. A baby is one of six people to contract measles after coming in contact with an infected overseas traveller in Victoria. The tourist from Vietnam attended family events in Mornington and St Kilda on May 4 and 5 before visiting Moonee Ponds, North Melbourne, Coburg and Mount Waverley. It is the largest linked cluster of measles in Victoria since March last year, when nine people developed the illness, the health department confirmed. The people are believed to know to each other because they attended the same events, acting Chief Health Officer Angie Bone said on Wednesday. "All of these cases have had fairly extensive contact with the community in Victoria in a number of different suburbs," Dr Bone said, urging others to watch for symptoms. Those six people visited Geelong, East Malvern, Chadstone, Noble Park, Hawthorn, Oakleigh, Mount Waverley, Fairfield, South Wharf, Armadale, Abbotsford, East Melbourne, Baxter, Frankston, Karingal and St Kilda Road while infectious. More than 30 babies and toddlers who had contact with the child - who was too young to be vaccinated - at a childcare facility were given antibodies on Wednesday to prevent them developing the disease, Dr Bone added. In a separate case, a person who was diagnosed with measles this week after visiting Bendigo and Echuca is linked to another overseas traveller who visited in April. "It is quite likely, despite our best efforts, that we will have more cases," Dr Bone said. Symptoms of the disease include sore eyes, a runny nose, cough, rash and fever. In the worst instances, measles can lead to death. Twenty-two people have been diagnosed with measles in Victoria this year. Dylan Walker's fiancee has broken her silence after the footy star was cleared of assaulting her while she was holding their baby. Walker and his Miss Universe contestant fiancee Alexandra Ivkovic sat down for a joint interview after his assault charges were dismissed. 'It's tough,' Walker told Nine News in an interview airing on Wednesday night. Dylan Walker's fiancee has broken her silence after the footy star was cleared of assaulting her while she was holding their baby NRL star Dylan Walker and his fiancee Alexandra Ivkovic leave Manly Local Court last Friday after he was acquitted of domestic violence charges. It means he's now free to play in the NRL 'We've worked through a lot of stuff and we have a lot of support for each other,' he said. The Manly Sea Eagles centre was given the green light to resume playing after an NRL integrity unit reviewed the court documents surrounding his acquittal last Friday. Walker is likely to return to the field as early as this Sunday when the injury-crippled Sea Eagles head to the Shire to take on the in-form Cronulla Sharks. The 24-year-old's NRL suspension was lifted after charges of domestic violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault against his fiancee were dismissed. Dylan Walker (pictured with his fiancee) has missed the first nine round of the 2019 NRL season Walker was charged after Ms Ivkovic initially told police he pulled her by the ponytail to the ground while she was cradling a baby on the driveway of their home on Sydney's Northern Beaches last December. But Ms Ivkovic changed her story and stuck to it, saying she'd overreacted and Walker had simply touched her shoulder to turn her around, accidentally grabbing her hair in the process. Magistrate Michelle Goodwin said Ms Ivkovic's unwavering commitment to the new version of events under 'stringent cross-examination' couldn't be ignored. Walker's return to the field can't come soon enough for Manly which suffered yet more injuries in their Magic Round 26-10 loss to Brisbane last Friday night. Already reeling with more than $3 million worth of stars on the sidelines including Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and Jorge Taufua, the Sea Eagles lost centre Moses Suli (finger), Api Koroisau (ankle) and Toafofoa Sipley (knee) in the Suncorp Stadium clash. A New Zealand parliamentary staffer has been stood down over a historical sexual assault allegation, hours after the House's speaker suggested a man accused of attacks may still be working in the building. Speaker Trevor Mallard - who oversees parliament's day-to-day operations and security - this week released a damning report into bullying and harassment among staff and politicians working in 'The Beehive'. The independent investigation, which did not name or identify any of the complainants or those being accused, also included 14 allegations by women of sexual assaults in the precinct in recent years. A staffer at New Zealand's Parliament House (pictured) has been stood down after sexual abuse claims Mr Mallard on Wednesday announced an employee of the country's Parliamentary Service had been stood down and an employment investigation launched after another staffer came forward with a historical complaint. 'The Parliamentary Service has removed a threat to the safety of women working in the parliamentary complex,' Mr Mallard said. He had earlier said the report left him with the impression at least three reported cases amounted to rape, and that he believed the single, male perpetrator could still be working in parliament. 'We're talking about serious sexual assault. Well that, for me, that's rape,' he told Radio New Zealand on Wednesday. 'I get the sense that the man is still on the premises.' 'We're talking about serious sexual assault. Well that, for me, that's rape,' the House's Speaker Trevor Mallard told Radio New Zealand He declined to say if the person stood down was the subject of those claims, while officials said the incident relating to the suspended staffer had been previously investigated, but not as a rape allegation. The accusations raised serious concerns about safety around New Zealand's halls of power on Wednesday, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she had sought assurances staff would be safe. 'We need to first ensure that victims have all the support they need, but that everything actually needs to be decided by them. The choice of reporting to the police is ultimately for them,' Ms Ardern told media. 'The responsibility - regardless of their decision - upon (us) is to ensure this is a safe working environment.' Opposition deputy leader Paula Bennett urged the speaker to call in police immediately, despite privacy concerns. 'I'm not saying they should out the victims. The victims have a complete right to their privacy,' Ms Bennett told reporters. 'But I also have concerns on the behalf of people working here that they feel that there is a known perpetrator of a crime and they feel unsafe.' Police declined to comment. A baby is one of six people to contract measles after coming in contact with an infected overseas traveller in Victoria. The tourist from Vietnam attended family events in Mornington and St Kilda on May 4 and 5 before visiting Moonee Ponds, North Melbourne, Coburg and Mount Waverley. It is the largest linked cluster of measles in Victoria since March last year, when nine people developed the illness, the health department confirmed. A baby is one of six people to contract measles after coming in contact with an infected overseas traveller in Victoria (file picture) The people are believed to know to each other because they attended the same events, acting Chief Health Officer Angie Bone said on Wednesday. 'All of these cases have had fairly extensive contact with the community in Victoria in a number of different suburbs,' Dr Bone said, urging others to watch for symptoms. Those six people visited Geelong, East Malvern, Chadstone, Noble Park, Hawthorn, Oakleigh, Mount Waverley, Fairfield, South Wharf, Armadale, Abbotsford, East Melbourne, Baxter, Frankston, Karingal and St Kilda Road while infectious. More than 30 babies and toddlers who had contact with the child - who was too young to be vaccinated - at a childcare facility were given antibodies on Wednesday to prevent them developing the disease, Dr Bone added. In a separate case, a person who was diagnosed with measles this week after visiting Bendigo and Echuca is linked to another overseas traveller who visited in April. 'It is quite likely, despite our best efforts, that we will have more cases,' Dr Bone said. Symptoms of the disease include sore eyes, a runny nose, cough, rash and fever. In the worst instances, measles can lead to death. Twenty-two people have been diagnosed with measles in Victoria this year. A former Catholic priest has been spared a lengthier sentence for the historical sexual abuse of two young boys after a Sydney judge said he was rehabilitated and unlikely to re-offend. But his victims say the idea the 'Monster of Merewether' will change is 'a load of bulls***'. Vincent Gerard Ryan previously spent 14 years behind bars for the sexual abuse of more than 30 boys after confessing to police in a bid to 'wipe the slate clean'. He was confident he had remembered them all, admitting he used to recite their names while 'self-grooming'. But there were two children he overlooked and in March the notorious pedophile was found guilty of four counts of indecent assault in the NSW Hunter region in the 1970s and 80s. They were aged between 10 and 12 at the time. Scroll down for video Former Catholic priest Vincent Gerard Ryan (pictured) has been spared a lengthier sentence for the historical sexual abuse of two young boys after a Sydney judge said he was rehabilitated and unlikely to reoffend Ryan abused one of those victims at a funeral. His other victim was initially abused while trying out to be an altar boy. In the NSW District Court on Wednesday, Judge Dina Yehia jailed the 81-year-old for three years and three months, with a non-parole period of 14 months. Gerard McDonald was among the dozens of victims who initially came forward and saw Ryan sent to prison in 1996. He was 10 when he was abused twice a week for most of 1975 in Ryan's car, as the priest dropped him home from altar boy practice in St Joseph's in Merewether. Vincent Gerard Ryan previously spent 14 years behind bars for the sexual abuse of more than 30 boys after confessing to police in a bid to 'wipe the slate clean'. (pictured NSW District Court) After seeing Ryan previously jailed for his sexual crimes, he was again in court on Wednesday to watch his abuser sent back to jail. 'Very happy he's got to do more jail. It's not enough. He gets a couple more years, we've got life - we've got this for life,' he told reporters outside court. 'The judge said he was reformed. What a load of bulls***. He is not reformed. He is a serial pedophile. He is a monster.' Judge Yehia labelled Ryan's actions 'brazen and arrogant'. She indicated the offences warranted an accumulated sentence of six years and seven months in prison, but said there were 'special circumstances' in this case. 'I am satisfied that he is rehabilitated and is unlikely to re-offend,' she said. 'I am not of the view that he poses a risk to the community.' Among her considerations was the opinion of a medical expert that Ryan was the most 'remorseful' offender he had encountered and sending him back to jail would be potentially 'catastrophic' for his mental health. The court heard that the nature of Ryan's crimes made his previous time behind bars particularly 'onerous' as he was the target of violence and threats. Nevertheless, Judge Yehia said there was no other punishment that 'adequately' reflected the seriousness of Ryan's crimes, leaving her no option but to send him back to jail. Victims and supporters applauded in the public gallery as Ryan was handcuffed and led away. An internet imagery. NEW DELHI (PTI): Myanmar Navy ships UMS King TabinShweHtee and UMS Inlay have arrived at Port Blair to take part in the 8th Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR), officials said Tuesday. The CORPAT (coordinated patrol) initiative between Indian and Myanmar navies is meant to address issues of terrorism, illegal fishing, drug trafficking, human trafficking, poaching and other illegal activities inimical to the interests of both the countries. "Myanmar Navy Ship UMS King TabinShweHtee (773) and UMS Inlay (OPV-54) have arrived Port Blair on May 20 for the opening ceremony of the 8th Indo-Myanmar Coordinated Patrol (IMCOR), at Andaman and Nicobar Command," the Navy said in a statement. The Myanmar delegation, led by Commodore Htein Win, Commander, Ayeyarwady Naval Command, called on Cmde Ashutosh Ridhorkar, VSM, Naval Component Commander, on Monday, it said. "Started in March 2013, the CORPAT series has enhanced the mutual understanding and fostered improved professional interaction between the two navies for maritime interoperability," the statement said. Myanmar ships UMS King TabinShweHtee and UMS Inlay would undertake a coordinated patrol with Indian Naval Ship Saryu from May 20-28. The patrolling effort will be augmented by Maritime Patrol Aircraft from both the navies, it said. The ships would patrol along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) between the two countries covering a distance of approximately 725 kms over a period of four days. The ships will also undertake joint manoeuvres and drills during the sea phase of coordinated patrol (CORPAT) prior to closing ceremony of the CORPAT onboard Myanmar Naval Ship, the statement said. A western Sydney high school has come under fire for a rainbow mufti day where children who did not wear multi-coloured clothing were expected to pay more. Greystanes High School became ground zero in the culture wars for hosting a casual clothes day for 'International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT)'. One Nation MP Mark Latham lashed the school for inflicting 'political punishment' on its students after a note was sent to parents explaining the donation system. The letter said pupils who wore an item of rainbow clothing were 'expected' to donate $1, while those who wore mufti without rainbow 'will be expected to donate $2.' The NSW Education Department has admitted this Greystanes High School letter to parents was 'poorly worded', and has stressed students were not 'forced' to pay up If these women were students, they would only have to pay $1 as they were wearing rainbow Mufti Mr Latham told 2GB's Alan Jones rainbow colours have 'become a political symbol for the identity politics of the Left'. 'This is sort of an extraction system, a punishment for people who don't participate in what clearly is a left wing movement,' he said. Mr Latham said people could wear rainbow all weekend and children should be expected to wear uniforms at school. But, he said, 'if they're going to have a mufti day, treat everyone equally and don't put a political punishment on those who would feel uncomfortable wearing the left wing colours of rainbow'. Mark Latham said the additional gold coin donation was tantamount to a political punishment Greystanes High School in Sydney's west (stock image) The note to parents caused such a stir that the school deleted a Facebook post about the day. A NSW Education Department spokesman said the school had apologised for the 'poorly worded letter' to parents. The spokesman stressed students were not 'forced' to donate to the collection and 'participation and donations were absolutely voluntary.' The Education Department has counselled the school over the incident. One of Australia's longest running and most popular family cars will be farewelled after 36 years on Australian roads. The Toyota Tarago will be retired by the end of 2019, making way for a new, more luxurious model - the Toyota Granvia. Sales for the Tarago have been steadily declining since 2004, and the brand has decided to cease production in response to the lack of public interest. The first Tarago went on sale in 1983 and was one of the top selling cars throughout the 80s and 90s with more than 100,000 sales. One of Toyota's most popular cars will be farewelled after 36 years on Australian roads The Toyota Tarago will be retired by the end of 2019, making way for a new, more luxurious model; the Toyota Granvia (pictured) The car quickly became one of Toyota's most popular models - particularly for Australian families - in thanks to its large space, futuristic styling and value for money. But Toyota has now taken a new direction away from the Tarago, replacing it with the new luxury focused Granvia. The new model will feature an eight seat design compared to the Tarago - which could only hold seven passengers. The Granvia will be targeted to a more upmarket audience with leather seats and a 12 speaker sound system. The Granvia will be targeted to a more upmarket audience with leather seats and a 12 speaker sound system The new model will feature an eight seat design compared to the Tarago who could only hold seven passengers 'With a stylish European-inspired design, outstanding comfort, refined performance, a high level of safety features, the new Granvia really is the last word in luxury people movers,' Sean Hanley, vice president of sales and marketing for Toyota Australia said. The car will also include sliding doors that open and close electronically, a modernised feature in contrast to the heavy doors of the Tarago. Toyota's latest model is due to be available by the end of the year. No price has been given yet but its speculated to be higher than that of the Tarago which was sold for around $60,000. A little-known island getaway has started seducing Australian travellers looking for a winter escape with its idyllic beaches and unusual tourist attractions. Known as the Hawaii of South Korea, Jeju Island has long been a favourite for Korean locals but Aussies have now started to catch on. The Island of Love is only the size of Sydney's inner west, but boasts some of the most diverse activities for holidaymakers however prudish travellers may want to look elsewhere. Along with its picturesque beaches that feature pale sand and bright blue waters, the island also boasts a theme park celebrating to sex. A little-known island getaway has started seducing Australian travellers looking for a winter escape with its high temperatures and unusual tourist attractions Known as the Hawaii of South Korea, Jeju Island has long been a favourite for Korean locals but Aussies have now started to catch on The Island of Love is only the size of Sydney's inner west, but boasts some of the most diverse activities for holidaymakers however prudish travellers may want to look elsewhere Along with its idyllic beaches that feature pale sand and bright blue waters, the island also boasts a theme park celebrating to sex Love Land - the erotic park that features 140 statues of people in the throes of passion has become a major drawcard for jetsetters. Images of the titillating artworks have flooded social media, luring more keen travellers over to take a peak for themselves. The theme park displays films around sex education too. General manager Lee Songhyn told the BBC the park had been built because of its relevance to history and culture. 'Jeju was such an isolated place known for exiles that its culture developed independent of the mainland. Love Land - the erotic park that features 140 statues of people in the throes of passion has become a major drawcard for jetsetters Images of the titillating artworks have flooded social media, luring more keen travellers over to take a peak for themselves Direct flights to Jeju Island from Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and Jetstar set to launch direct flights from the Gold Coast to South Korea in December, this has been dubbed an emerging gem to watch 'Because most people were involved in the fishing industry on the island, many men died at sea in accidents, causing an increased number of widows. 'This is why the island tended to be more open to sensual love compared to other regions in Korea.' 2019 Wotif Winter Hotspots: 1. Townsville, Queensland 2. Jeju Island, South Korea 3. Bali, Indonesia 4. Bowen, Queensland 5. Agnes Water, Queensland Source: Wotif Advertisement Flights from Sydney to Jeju average around $1000 return. And with direct flights to Jeju Island from Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur and Jetstar set to launch direct flights from the Gold Coast to South Korea in December, the island has been dubbed an emerging gem to watch. With a flight time of just over an hour route from Seoul Gimpo International airport, it has long been a popular destination for the city dwellers in Seoul. The 282-mile trip has named the most congested, with 11million trips, in 2015. Jeju has a 180 per cent boom in bookings from Australians since this time last year, according to travel booking site Wotif. Demand has seen the holiday hotspot surge ahead of longstanding destinations Thailand and Bali. Jeju has a 180 per cent boom in bookings from Australians since this time last year, according to travel booking site Wotif Bob Brown and the Australian Greens believed they had found their new Franklin River - and a way to decide Australia's federal election and demonise coal forever. The successful fight to stop the Franklin River dam in Tasmania in 1982 is widely seen as kick-starting the environment movement in Australia. Almost three decades on, Brown and his greenie pals believed a 2,000km convoy into Queensland's coal heartland would be a similar watershed moment. But the wilderness of Tasmania's south-west is a far different proposition to marching through proud coal mining communities of central Queensland - many suffering from unemployment rates of 15 per cent. When the convoy entered their towns, locals turned out in droves to tell the greenies to go home - and then waited to make their fury felt at the ballot box. The reactions on the locals' faces shows exactly why Labor - which refused to give as straight answer about the Adani coal mine as they courted Green votes in the inner suburbs - was left without a single seat north of Brisbane. Anti-Adani protestors who travelled throughout Queensland in an effort to encourage locals to support Labor or The Greens (pictured) had have actually turned voters towards the Coalition The proposed Adani coal mine in regional Queensland is set to bring thousadns of new jobs to the region. With many small towns in north-east Australia battling unemployment, the prospect of a big new project is Debbie, a voter from central Queensland, told Triple J's Hack program post-election that there was much more to Adani than whether it was good or bad for climate change. 'It was a struggle for us in central Queensland, and I'd actually like to let people know that we do care about the environment, (but) it's not always an easy choice' she said. 'Some policies are so extreme with no real plan or solution for replacing coal as an export. 'We're talking about people with families and mortgages and it (mining) is their livelihood. 'A lot of the hype and the marches about hating coal and how bad coal is, when a lot of even my direct family are involved even indirectly - with the coal industry (mean) it's not an easy choice to vote for extreme change.' Mr Brown's convoy began its tour throughout Queensland's coal country on April 23, with the ex-Greens leader even saying Adani was 'a litmus test of Australia's intelligence'. At the time, he said he expected to receive a warm welcome in communities worried about job losses because the Great Barrier Reef would die in a warming world. He was completely wrong. Greens founder Bob Brown (pictured) led a convoy of left-wing supporters on a tour across Queensland in an effort to convince locals to vote against Adani Despite their best efforts to promote the potential problems the mine may cause to the climate (left), many Queensland locals focused on the positive impact the mine will have on industry and jobs (right) The Adani coal mine will be built at Galilee Basin (pictured), some 500kms west of Mackay Those who followed Brown into rural Queensland were from as far away as Victoria and Tasmania. Some of the towns where anti-Adani preachers told locals the coal mine was bad for everyone did not agree. In some parts of Queensland youth unemployment rates sit as high as 15 per cent. Within just hours of the polls closing on Saturday night, Labor MPs already knew their strong stance on Adani may have cost them the chance to take government. The clearest evidence of this was in the seat of Herbert, where former Australian soldier Phil Thompson ousted the sitting Labor member with a swing of 7.7 per cent. Senator Penny Wong admitted on the ABC's election panel that it may have made the difference overall. 'This particular project became a symbol of pro or anti-climate. The LNP wanted to message it being pro or anti jobs,' Wong said. Debbie, a voter from central Queensland, said locals (pictured) struggled to back policies that were 'so extreme with no real plan or solution for replacing coal as a (major) export' Within hours of the polls closing on Saturday the smiles had been wiped from the face of Labor leader Bill Shorten (left). Labor senator Penny Wong (right) later admitted her party's stance on Adani may have made the biggest difference to the election result 'That's challenging as a Labor Party. As party of government, we have to manage the right policy and manage explaining that in Melbourne just as we do in Brisbane and the outer suburbs, and it's a challenge for us.' Liberal Senator Arthur Sinodinos also recognised the role Adani had played in giving his party the upset victory. 'Adani became about jobs. It became emblematic of "we want jobs" and Bob Brown's caravan went up there to talk about stopping Adani,' Mr Sinodinos said. '(But it) had locals thinking "hang on, you are not going to tell us how to live".' In the wake of Saturday's election result Queensland premier Anastacia Palaszczuk - who had previously delayed building the mine - announced she was now hoping to have a time frame for when construction would start by the end of the week. Advertisement Theresa May is tonight at the centre of a major political crisis as one of her main rivals quit the Government over her latest Brexit deal. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom dramatically resigned from the Cabinet at the end of a day in which the Prime Minister was given 48-hours to save her leadership of the Conservative Party amid open mutiny. The move by Brexiteer Mrs Leadsom, who challenged Mrs May for the leadership after the Brexit referendum in 2016, finally ended months of speculation that she was unable to square her beliefs with Mrs May's handling of the UK's exit from the EU. It leaves Mrs May clinging desperately to power with mutinous Tory MPs baying for her political blood and demanding she quit as Conservative leader. The beleaguered Prime Minister has arranged a showdown with backbench kingmaker Sir Graham Brady on Friday as ministers lined up to demand she drop her promise of a Commons vote on a second Brexit referendum. Her party leadership is hanging by a thread after Cabinet members including Mrs Leadsom, Sajid Javid, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt, Michael Gove and David Mundell laid down a blunt ultimatum. Rumours had swept Westminster that there could even be a dramatic announcement tonight if Mrs May cannot defuse the angry backlash - although No10 dismissed the idea. But Sir Graham tonight told the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs that she had been given two more days with European election - in which the Tories are expected to receive a hiding - taking place tomorrow. Mrs Leadsom was among members of the so-called 'Pizza Club' of Eurosceptic ministers who had met earlier to consider their next move as the Tory infighting escalated. In her letter to the Prime Minister she said a second referendum would be 'dangerously divisive for the country' and she could not support the concession. 'I stayed in Cabinet to shape and fight for Brexit,' she said. 'There have been some uncomfortable compromises along the way, but you have had my determined support and loyalty in your efforts to deliver Brexit as our shared goal. 'I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result.' She also appeared to hit out at Remain-supporting ministers, saying: 'The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Government's position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility.' The South Northamptonshire MP is now expected to be among those vying to replace Mrs May as Tory leader. A bleary-eyed Theresa May was driven away from Parliament after facing a brutal session of Brexit questions in the Commons chamber this afternoon Mrs Leadsom announced her resignation letter posted on Twitter this evening In her letter to the Prime Minister Mrs Leadsom said a second referendum would be 'dangerously divisive for the country' and she could not support the concession Explaining the timing of her decision to resign on the eve of polling day in the European elections, Mrs Leadsom said: 'I considered carefully the timing of this decision, but I cannot fulfil my duty as Leader of the House tomorrow, to announce a Bill with new elements that I fundamentally oppose. 'I fully respect the integrity, resolution and determination that you have shown during your time as Prime Minister. 'No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our party.' A Downing Street spokesman said Mrs Leadsom had 'served with distinction and great ability as a member of the government, and the Prime Minister is grateful for all of her work'. 'We are disappointed that she has chosen to resign, and the Prime Minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for.' Fellow Conservative Party MPs have described Andrea Leadsom's decision to leave the Government due to its Brexit approach as 'absolutely the right thing to do', while a Labour MP wished her well. Andrea Leadsom's full resignation letter Dear Prime Minister I am proud to have served in your Government since 2016, first as your Environment Secretary and for the last two years as Leader of the House of Commons, and pay tribute to the excellent work of my civil servants in both roles. More recently, setting up the new complaints procedure, putting in train the restoration of the Palace of Westminster, introducing Proxy Voting for MPs, proposing a new strategy to support early years, and ensuring the timely delivery of our legislative programme, my role as Leader of the Commons has been highly rewarding, and I am grateful to have had these opportunities. I stayed in Cabinet to shape and fight for Brexit. There have been some uncomfortable compromises along the way, but you have had my determined support and loyalty in your efforts to deliver Brexit as our shared goal. I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result, for the following reasons: 1. I do not believe that we will be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed; 2. I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the Government willingly facilitating such a concession. It would also risk undermining our Union which is something I passionately want to see strengthened; 3. There has been such a breakdown of government processes that recent Brexit-related legislative proposals have not been properly scrutinised or approved by Cabinet members; 4. The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Government's position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility. I know there are important elections tomorrow, and many Conservatives have worked hard to support our excellent candidates. I considered carefully the timing of this decision, but I cannot fulfil my duty as Leader of the House tomorrow, to announce a Bill with new elements that I fundamentally oppose. I fully respect the integrity, resolution and determination that you have shown during your time as Prime Minister. No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our Party. It is therefore with great regret and with a heavy heart that I resign from the Government. Best Andrea Advertisement Scottish Tory Ross Thomson tweeted: 'Sad to see @andrealeadsom leave Government but absolutely the right thing to do. 'This new Agreement breaks the last promise that was possible to break on a second EU referendum.' Another Conservative MP, Chris Heaton-Harris, tweeted: 'A great shame, but completely understandable. 'Tomorrow she would have had to announce a Bill containing elements (2nd referendum and Customs Union) that she simply could not support in good faith.' Meanwhile Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson criticised Mrs Leadsom's decision to step down on the eve of the European elections, calling it a 'slap in the face' for her Tory colleagues. He tweeted: 'I accept that she may want to go but to do it the night before an election looks odd. 'It's also a slap in the face to Tory party members who are working hard to get their candidates elected tomorrow.' Labour MP Jess Phillips said she liked Mrs Leadsom and commended her work in helping to introduce proxy voting for MPs. 'I liked Leadsom she had our back in the complaints process and she was vital in the proxy voting,' tweeted Ms Phillips. 'I think she's wrong about second referendum threatening the union and being divisive but I wish her well.' In a statement posted to his party's website, Labour chairman Ian Lavery said the resignation of Mrs Leadsom shows 'the Prime Minister's authority is shot and her time is up'. 'While the Tories are ripping themselves apart, our country is in crisis. The Government has made a catastrophic mess of the Brexit negotiations, our steel industry is under threat and universal credit is pushing people into poverty. 'For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election.' Conservative MP Craig Tracey appeared to mock the situation as Theresa May lost a key member of her Cabinet. 'Just heard Larry the Downing Street Cat is considering his position,' he tweeted. A Cabinet source had earlier said there was a growing consensus that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill - known as WAB - should not be brought to the Commons. 'The mood music in Cabinet is heading towards stopping it coming back,' they told MailOnline. Mr Javid has demanded a meeting with the PM to tell her the offer for MPs to get a vote on a second referendum must be dropped. He is understood to be convinced that Mrs May went much further than was agreed by Cabinet when she made last night's desperate speech designed to win support from Labour MPs. Mr Hunt and Mr Mundell have also asked to see the premier - although she has yet to agree to meetings. The Scottish Secretary is furious that her referendum promise is a gift to the SNP, which is pushing for another independence ballot north of the border. More junior ministers are also making clear they will not support the legislation if it does come to Parliament. Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith joked that Mrs May had barricaded herself into No10. 'The sofa is up against the door, she's not leaving,' he told reporters. But Mrs May left Downing Street to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace - for their usual weekly meeting. The Tory 1922 committee met this evening to consider changing party rules to allow an immediate confidence vote in her leadership. Government chief whip Julian Smith joined the meeting deep inside Parliament for a few minutes - and emerged looking grim-faced. Conservative MP and leadership hopeful Boris Johnson arrives at his London home amid government turmoil today Another possible leadership contender Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (left) leaves the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, today But it later transpired that the committee's executive, despite heavy pressure from Brexiteers, did not change its rules. One Tory MP described the outcome of the 1922 Committee meeting as 'the can kicked down until Friday'. Another, Michael Fabricant, tweeted that there was 'paralysis', adding: 'I wonder if there should be a vote of No Confidence in the 1922 Executive? Colleagues are growing impatient.' After the meeting Sir Graham told reporters: 'I will be meeting with the Prime Minister on Friday following her campaigning in the European elections tomorrow and following that meeting I will be consulting with the 1922 executive.' He said the executive discussed 'all sorts of things' in the meeting. The premier put on a show of defiance during a marathon appearance in the Commons this afternoon, insisting the text of her Brexit Bill would be published on Friday. In a nod to the huge pressure she is under, Mrs May acknowledged that 'in time another PM will stand at this despatch box'. Mrs Leadsom was the second high-profile minister to leave the Government in recent weeks. Defence secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured today) was sacked at the start of May over a Huawei leak from a top-secret meeting 'But while I am here I have a duty to be clear with the House about the facts. If we are going to deliver Brexit in this Parliament we are going to have to pass a Withdrawal Agreement Bill,' she said. 'Our job in this House is to take decisions, not duck them.' However, key Brexiteers were glaringly absent from the chamber as she spoke. Ms Leadsom, Liz Truss and Liam Fox were nowhere to be seen initially, with the frontbench filled instead by loyalist Remainers. Mrs Leadsom arrived about 40 minutes into the session. Mrs May's position is looking increasingly untenable, with even her closest allies calling on her to pull the proposed Brexit vote in early June and resign. One Cabinet source said they did not believe Mrs May would survive much longer. 'There are a lot of meetings going on. People are considering their options,' the source told MailOnline. 'She might not make it another 24 hours, never mind until Monday.' Meanwhile, the Conservatives have slumped to just seven per cent in a poll on the eve of the European elections - an astonishing 30 points behind Nigel Farage's Brexit Party. Many MPs fear the party will suffer an unprecedented wipeout tomorrow - losing all its MEPs. Key Brexiteers were glaringly absent from PMQs today amid claims 'secret meetings' are taking place to oust Mrs May As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two There were glum faces on the government front bench today as Mrs May vowed to press ahead with a vote on the Brexit Bill Before tonight's meeting the secretary of the 1922 committee, Nigel Evans, said: 'She has U-turned on absolutely everything. We cannot put up with this any longer'. As pressure ratcheted up, senior Tory backbencher Tom Tugendhat joined calls for Mrs May to quit - and said he wanted Mr Gove to take her place. 'The moment has come when I'm afraid we need new leadership. It needs to be somebody who voted for Brexit, there are some excellent candidates out there,' he told Sky News. Another senior backbencher told MailOnline: 'She needs to go and she needs to go soon this week or next.' A No10 source said Mrs May was not attending the 1922 meeting, and denied suggestions that she could make a resignation statement tonight. Asked about gaps on the Tory benches at PMQs and statement, the source said: 'The PM is working very hard with her colleagues on something that is important to people right across the Conservative Party which is delivering Brexit in line with our manifesto.' Asked about resignation calls he said: 'The Prime Minister is focused on the job in hand.' Yesterday Mrs May took the gamble of offering MPs a binding vote on a second referendum - if they backed her withdrawal agreement at the fourth attempt. But her speech was branded a 'f***ing disaster' by one minister with more than 65 Tory MPs set to vote against her deal next month - including u-turns from more than 30 who had voted for it last time - and Labour rebels also refusing to bail her out. Many ministers are incandescent that Mrs May went further in her speech than what had been agreed by Cabinet, by suggesting the government would implement the legislation for a second referendum if MPs vote for one. Today Environment Secretary Michael Gove avoided saying if the PM would be in post after next week and said the Cabinet will 'reflect over next few days' on whether the Brexit bill will definitely be voted on in the first week of June. When asked if he could work with Boris Johnson - whom he fell out with in 2016 - he called the leadership favourite 'a Conservative of flair, elan and intellect' who 'served as foreign secretary with distinction'. With support for her deal collapsing Mrs May has made a final desperate attempt to get Labour support by writing to Jeremy Corbyn begging him to back her - but that also appears to have backfired. The Labour leader's Brexit negotiator Sir Keir Starmer said today: 'The Prime Minister ought to now admit defeat and I think she would do well to just pull the vote and pause because this is going nowhere'. Mrs May faced MPs after her latest Brexit deal offer was lambasted with several Brexiteer ministers deciding to stay away and meet privately instead Michael Gove hinted that the vote on Mrs May's deal could still be shelved and had warm words for leadership favourite Boris Johnson Tim Loughton today tweeted a picture of his letter to Tory 1922 committee chairman Sir Graham Brady calling for Mrs May to be sacked Mr Gove refused to guarantee that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill would come to the Commons in the week beginning June 3, as had previously been promised. 'We will reflect over the course of the next few days on how people look at the proposition that has been put forward,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Tories slump to just 7 PER CENT in poll on the eve of European elections as Brexit Party surges to 37 per cent The Tories have slumped to just 7 per cent on the eve of European elections - as a shock poll shows the Brexit Party surging further ahead. As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two. The YouGov reseach for the Times also paints a grim picture for Labour, which has slipped into third on just 13 per cent support - well behind the Lib Dems on 19 per cent and only just ahead of the Green on 12 per cent. The dire figures underline the catastrophe facing Mrs May and the Tories when the results of the elections are declared on Sunday night and Monday morning. Even loyalist Conservatives are deserting the PM as she comes under pressure to pull the plug on her Brexit deal and resign. Advertisement 'But there has to be a vote on a Withdrawal Agreement implementation bill.' He added: 'I think that, rather than saying anything precipitate, I think everyone should take an opportunity to reflect on what the PM will say later today and look at the Bill.' Mr Gove told Today: 'I think the most important thing we should do is reflect on all the options in front of us. 'I can understand the strong feelings - I have strong feelings - on leaving the European Union that have been aired and articulated over the course of the last 24 hours. 'I think it is also important that there is a period of reflection and a period of analysis as we look at what the Prime Minister has put forward.' Asked about the 1922 Committee's decisions on Mrs May's future and whether she would still be Prime Minister next Tuesday, after the results of the European elections are clear, Mr Gove said: 'I am a supporter of the Prime Minister, I voted for her in the last vote of confidence, I believe that she is working incredibly hard in a difficult situation in order to find a way through for this country, and she has my respect and support. 'I think the Prime Minister will be Prime Minister next Tuesday, yes.' In a letter to Mr Corbyn, Mrs May highlighted the tests he had set at the start of the failed process to reach a cross-party agreement, and insisted that the proposals would hold 'for the remainder of this parliament' - a reference to his concerns that her successor could unpick a deal. She told him: 'I have shown ... that I am willing to compromise to deliver Brexit for the British people. 'The WAB is our last chance to do so. I ask you to compromise too so that we can deliver what both our parties promised in our manifestos and restore faith in our politics.' Theresa May leaves Downing Street ahead of a bruising in the Commons with her future as Tory leader in serious peril Mr Corbyn said: 'We will, of course, look seriously at the details of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill when it is published. 'But we won't back a repackaged version of the same old deal - and it's clear that this weak and disintegrating government is unable to deliver on its own commitments.' Mrs May's Brexit deal is hanging by a thread after furious Tory MPs savaged her decision to open the door to a second referendum. May loyalist tells MailOnline: 'She needs to go NOW' Even loyalist Tory MPs were turning on Mrs May today as her position looks increasingly untenable. One plugged-in backbencher told MailOnline she had shown a political 'tin ear' and needed to accept that it was over. 'We don't need to do the beheading. We can just do the hanging, drawing and quartering, and go,' they said. 'Yesterday proved that while her heart is in the right place she is now incapable of articulating a vision. The way she dealt with the second referendum issue poured petrol on a fire that was slowly going down. It is now raging. 'I think she needs to go and she needs to go soon this week or next.' The MP said that if the WAB was heavily defeated it would just make a 'damaging' No Deal more likely, as the new leader will find it harder to turn the situation around. 'Let's not waste this window with her hanging on,' the MP added. Advertisement She pleaded with Parliament to finally approve her plan so Britain could avoid 'a nightmare future of permanently polarised politics'. Desperate to win over Labour MPs, she also suggested the agreement could be amended to include a temporary customs union. The move followed a fractious three-hour Cabinet meeting, in which at least two ministers are said to have hinted they might resign in protest at the concessions. Boris Johnson, who voted for Mrs May's deal at the third attempt, led the attacks on her latest offer, saying: 'Now we are being asked to vote for a customs union and a second referendum. 'The Bill is directly against our manifesto and I will not vote for it. We can and must do better and deliver what the people voted for.' Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, who is lining up against Mr Johnson to succeed the PM, said he could not support legislation 'that would be the vehicle for a second referendum or customs union'. Mark Francois led hardline Eurosceptic MPs in insisting Mrs May's concessions were 'dead on arrival'. Some Tory MPs even called on the PM to quit immediately Jeremy Corbyn initially said Labour would 'look seriously' at the proposals. But he later warned: 'Theresa May's new Brexit deal is a rehash of her old bad deal and Labour cannot support it.' The Prime Minister appeared to be on course for a crushing three-figure defeat as MPs from almost all sides rejected her proposals, with Brexiteers branding it a 'direct insult' and a 'dog's breakfast', while Labour and key Remainers said it did not go far enough. As the problems for the premier deepened, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the DUP and more moderate Tories publicly declared that they will vote against the Bill - putting it on track for a crushing defeat. Theresa May has urged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in deal to compromise and back her Brexit deal after the proposals received a hostile response from critics on her own side Richmond MP Zac Goldsmith called for the Prime Minister to 'go', saying: 'I supported the PM's rotten deal last time as I felt we could then draw a line and select a new PM to pick up the pieces. 'But I cannot support this convoluted mess.' Theresa May's ten pledges to woo MPs to vote for her deal By Jack Doyle for the Daily Mail Theresa May yesterday set out ten commitments in a last-ditch bid to win votes for her Brexit withdrawal agreement, including allowing a vote on a second referendum: Avoid the backstop Mrs May will enshrine in law a promise to try to find alternative arrangements designed to keep the Northern Ireland border open. This falls far short of the demands of Tory Brexiteers who want the backstop dropped entirely. Keep Northern Ireland's laws tied to Britain's A straight pitch to the Democratic Unionist Party which wants to limit, or stop entirely, divergence between the province and the mainland. A repeat of an earlier promise, it last night failed to satisfy the DUP. MPs to set the agenda Instead of the Government drawing up its plans for the next phase of the talks with the EU the future trading arrangement this 'negotiating mandate' will have to be approved by Parliament. Could help win over a small handful of Labour MPs at best. Follow EU worker rights Mrs May has promised a bill to ensure the UK adopts any employment laws passed by Brussels. This is a key Labour demand but Tory MPs fear extra red tape and pro-trade union laws. Preserve EU green rules Another offer to Labour that there will be no change in environmental protection after Brexit and a new green regulator. Doesn't meet Labour's demand that we follow all EU environment laws automatically and will alienate Tories who want the UK to set its own rules outside Brussels' orbit. Keep trade 'frictionless' Trying to mirror Labour's demands, Mrs May has pledged to keep trade barriers as low as possible while leaving the single market and ending free movement. Hard to see how it wins over significant numbers of MPs. Follow EU goods and agriculture rules Even after Brexit, the UK would follow EU rules to keep trade flowing smoothly. A slightly firmer promise than before. Works for Labour MPs but, again, alienates Tory Brexiteers. Customs plan options MPs will be offered a choice between Mrs May's proposal, which has many elements of a customs union but allows for trade deals, and a full customs union until the next election. Still the thorniest knot of the negotiations, and seemingly impossible to resolve. Second referendum Downing Street had repeatedly ruled out a second vote. Yesterday that position was ditched, with the PM saying the Withdrawal Bill will allow for a vote on a second national poll. Even making the offer enrages Tory MPs. If it passed the Conservative Party would implode. Legally binding changes A commitment to make changes to the political declaration part of the deal with the EU to make this offer a reality. She would then go back to the EU. However MPs would have to pass the Withdrawal Bill and this already looks highly unlikely. Advertisement MP for Dover and Deal, Charlie Elphicke, said: 'I supported the Prime Minister in March as I thought it was our last chance to leave the EU. 'That's no longer the case and I'm afraid that this proposal is worse than before. This is not Brexit and I won't be supporting it.' Dominic Raab, a former Brexit secretary, who said: 'I cannot support legislation that would be the vehicle for a second referendum or customs union. Either option would frustrate rather than deliver Brexit and break our clear manifesto promises.' In a string of social media messages and interviews, around two dozen of the Prime Minister's backbenchers who had previously voted for her deal the last time, said they would no longer back her. Even Tory loyalist Andrew Percy, who had led support for Mrs May's deal on the backbenches, said he was no longer sure he could vote for it because of the promise to hold a vote on having a second referendum. 'I'm frustrated,' he told BBC News. 'I voted for this deal three times, because I think it is the only way we will get out. I really am concerned about the proposed possibility of a second referendum. 'People were told in the referendum, it was the final say on the matter for a generation it would be implemented.' However, several key Cabinet figures last night backed Mrs May's offer. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said: 'The Prime Minister is doing everything she can to ensure we leave the EU in a way that protects jobs, security and the Union. I support her and urge colleagues to back the deal. Once passed, business investment and confidence will surge, building on strong national employment.' Chancellor Philip Hammond said: 'Britain needs a Brexit that feels like a compromise; one that everyone can live with. Theresa May's new Brexit deal is a bold proposal and one I encourage all members of the House of Commons to get behind so we can settle this question once and for all.' And International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said it was 'crunch time.' In the hastily-arranged address, Mrs May warned that this was the last chance to avoid 'a nightmare future of permanently polarised politics'. She said: 'If MPs vote against the second reading of this Bill they are voting to stop Brexit. 'If they do so the consequences could hardly be greater - reject this deal and leaving the EU with a negotiated deal any time soon will be dead in the water and what would we do then?' Mrs May also delivered a stark message to Brexiteers that their hardline demands risked keeping the UK in the EU. 'Some suggest leaving without a deal,' she said. 'But whatever you think of that outcome Parliament has been clear it will do all it can to stop it. 'If not no deal, then it would have to be a General Election or a second referendum that could lead to revocation and no Brexit at all.' But MailOnline understands she was forced to water down her offer after a ferocious Cabinet revolt over the idea of giving MPs a free vote on a referendum - something that would have made it much more likely to pass. Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling apparently threatened to quit during a fraught two-hour session in Downing Street on Tuesday morning. No10 said whipping arrangements for the vote have yet to be decided. But while Mrs May was still talking her own MPs were rejecting her deal. Tory Middlesbrough MP Simon Clarke said: 'I supported the PM at MV3, to try to get us out on 29 March. 'But this speech from the PM means there is no way I will support the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.' Tory Brexiteers MPs could launch bid to oust Theresa May TODAY Tory Brexiteer MPs could launch a bid to oust Theresa May today after her Brexitdeal compromise was blasted as 'dead on arrival.' In a dramatic gamble yesterday, the Prime Minister offered MPs a binding vote on a second EU poll - if they backed her withdrawal deal at the fourth attempt next month. But her new 10-point compromise plan has been savaged by every group she was attempting to woo, including Labour, the DUP and Tory Brexiteers. Tory backbenchers are now expected to try and force a confidence vote in the PM when the 1922 committee meet on Wednesday afternoon. Nigel Evans, a staunch Brexiteer, told The Sun said: 'She has U-turned on absolutely everything. We cannot put up with this any longer. 'I will be asking my colleagues tomorrow to agree to a rule change so we can hold an immediate confidence vote if Theresa is not prepared to stand down now.' Advertisement Labour demands for a second referendum crashed efforts to get a cross-party compromise on Brexit last week. Trying to win over Remainer MPs to her point of view, Mrs May said: 'I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the House on this important issue. 'The Government will therefore include in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at introduction a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum and this must take place before the Withdrawal Agreement can be ratified.' But Mrs May's suggestion was dismissed as a 'con trick' by Labour MPs. The last time a whipped vote was held on a referendum, it was overwhelmingly defeated by 334 to 85 - and supporters do not believe the result would be different. During the fraught Cabinet meeting earlier, MailOnline understands that chief whip Julian Smith warned the PM that she is staring down the barrel of defeat. But she was prevented from making deeper concessions by objections from key Brexiteer ministers. Mrs May told her team: 'The Withdrawal Agreement is the vehicle which gets the UK out the EU and it is vital to find a way to get it over the line.' A Downing Street spokesman said: 'Cabinet discussed the new deal which the Government will put before Parliament in order to seek to secure the UK's exit from the EU. 'The discussion included alternative arrangements, workers rights, environmental protections and further assurances, in particular the integrity of the UK in the unlikely event the backstop is required.' From hard Brexiteers to Remainers, the race for No 10 Boris Johnson 5/2 Age: 54. Former Foreign Secretary. His support for Brexit was vital to Leave's win. Background: Known for being identified by just one name, Boris, for his show-off Classics references and for chaotic private life. EXPERIENCE: Twice voted London mayor. STRENGTH: Starry, charismatic and clever crowd-pleaser. WEAKNESS: Bumbling foreign secretary. May struggle to win MPs' support. A 'Stop Boris' campaign is likely. VERDICT: Party grassroots love him Dominic Raab 5/1 Age: 46. Former Brexit Secretary. Diehard Brexiteer. Background: Son of a Czech-born Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis in 1938 and died of cancer when Raab was 12. EXPERIENCE: Lasted only four months as Brexit Secretary. Voted against May in leadership confidence vote. STRENGTH: Skilled debater who honed his skills as an adversarial lawyer with blue chip legal firm Linklaters. WEAKNESS: Seen as too clever by half and lacking people skills. VERDICT: In second place in ConservativeHome's leadership league table. Matt Hancock 16/1 Age: 40. Health Secretary. Arch Remainer. Background: Father bought their council house. Ran his own computer software business before becoming Chancellor George Osborne's chief of staff. EXPERIENCE: Cabinet minister for only 18 months. Seen as a 'coming man'. STRENGTH: One of life's Tiggers with ambition and enthusiasm to match his brainpower. WEAKNESS: Never knowingly modest, he once foolishly likened himself to Churchill, Pitt and Disraeli. VERDICT: Little known among Conservative Party members. Amber Rudd 33/1 Age: 55. Work and Pensions Secretary. Remain cheerleader. Background: Daughter of a Labour-supporting stockbroker and Tory-leaning JP. EXPERIENCE: Became Home Secretary after just six years as an MP. Resigned over the Windrush scandal after inadvertently misleading MPs. STRENGTH: Tough operator who was restored to Cabinet within six months. WEAKNESS: Holds seat with majority of only 346. Headmisstressy manner but an accomplished performer. VERDICT: Ninth in leadership league table. Esther McVey 50/1 Age: 51. Former Welfare Secretary. An ardent Brexiteer. Background: Spent the first two years of her life in foster care. Was a breakfast TV presenter before becoming a Tory MP on Merseyside. EXPERIENCE: As welfare minister was viciously targeted by Labour. STRENGTH: Tough and telegenic. Won plaudits with members for resigning from Cabinet over Brexit deal. WEAKNESS: Some say she doesn't have the intellectual fire power for top job. VERDICT: Ranked 14th in league table. Penny Mordaunt 20/1 Age: 46. International Development Secretary. Arch Brexiteer. Background: Her mother died when she was a teenager. Cared for younger brother. EXPERIENCE: Was a magician's assistant. Appeared in the reality TV show Splash! STRENGTH: Only female MP to be a Royal Naval Reservist. Attended Lady Thatcher's funeral in uniform. WEAKNESS: Inexperienced, having been in Cabinet for less than two years. Has never run a major Whitehall department. VERDICT: Edged up to 11th in ConservativeHome league table. Andrea Leadsom 16/1 Age: 55. Leader of the Commons. Ardent Brexiteer. Background: A former City trader. Mother of three. EXPERIENCE: Struggled in her first Cabinet post, as Environment Secretary. STRENGTH: Blossomed as Leader of the Commons, winning plaudits for taking on Speaker John Bercow. WEAKNESS: Stood for leader in 2016 but made ill-considered comment comparing her experience as a mother to the childless Mrs May. VERDICT: Has soared to the top of the ConservativeHome table of competent ministers. Michael Gove 10/1 Age: 51. Environment Secretary. High priest of Brexiteers. Background: Adopted son of a Scottish fish merchant. EXPERIENCE: Figurehead for Leave during referendum campaign. Cabinet heavyweight who's served as Education Secretary and Justice Secretary. STRENGTH: Brilliant debater with razor sharp intellect. WEAKNESS: Still suspected of having a disloyal gene after knifing Boris Johnson in last leadership contest. VERDICT: Popular with the Tory members, who, crucially, will vote for the new leader. Liz Truss 50/1 Age: 43 Chief Secretary to Treasury. Brexiteer. Background: Raised by Left-wing parents and as a child was marched through the streets on anti-Thatcher protest shouting: 'Maggie out!' EXPERIENCE: Joint-author in 2012 of a controversial booklet, Britannia Unchained, which alleged 'the British are among the worst idlers in the world'. STRENGTH: A genuine free-marketeer. WEAKNESS: Poor public speaker with a mixed ministerial record. VERDICT: Only 15th in ConservativeHome leaders league table. Sajid Javid 16/1 Age: 49. Home Secretary. Remainer who changed to Brexit after the referendum. Background: Son of a bus driver who came to Britain from Pakistan with 1 in his pocket. Was head of credit trading at Deutsche Bank. EXPERIENCE: Previously Culture and Business secretary, cracked down on union rights. STRENGTH: An extraordinary rags-to-riches back story that we will hear more of during the leadership campaign. WEAKNESS: Widely seen as a wooden and a poor speaker. VERDICT: In 4th place in ConservativeHome league table. Jeremy Hunt 10/1 Age: 52. Foreign Secretary Background: Eldest son of Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt. Married to a Chinese wife and he speaks Mandarin. Before politics, set up an educational publisher which was sold for 30million in 2017. EXPERIENCE: Longest-serving health secretary in history. STRENGTH: Among the most experienced ministers in the field who, unusually, has made few political enemies. WEAKNESS: Some, though, regard him as a 'bit of a drip'. Verdict: Seen by many as man who could best unite party on Brexit. Advertisement Furious Leave supporter shouts 'snowflake' and 'traitor' at Tory Brexiteer during TV interview A Conservative Brexiteer was blasted as a 'snowflake' and a traitor in an astonishing bust-up with a Leave supporter just yards from Parliament. Monmouth MP David TC Davies was trying to do an interview with the BBC when a woman with a microphone and loudspeaker approached the crew and began filming them. In the footage, the woman has no idea who he is and asks if he is a 'remoaner' before calling him a 'traitor' when he tells her he is pro-Brexit but voted for Theresa May's deal. She also accuses him of acting like a 'snowflake' when he criticised her actions while she spoke to BBC Wales about a rise in abuse against MPs. 'You are a liar. You did not vote to leave,' she says. 'Shame on you. You're a traitor,' she adds. 'You should feel uncomfortable. You've betrayed 17.4 million people.' Speaking to the camera, Mr Davies, who has started wearing a body camera to and from Parliament in response to intimidation, says: 'And that's what you put up with when you're out here all the time.' He was doing the interview in College Green, a regular site for television interviews across the road from the Houses of Parliament. In their confrontation the woman accused Mr Davies of 'not acting like a Brexiteer'. He then tore into her, saying: 'I campaigned for Brexit. Where were you? 'Where were you people when I was out campaigning for Brexit? You were nowhere, you were behind your keyboards and now you've come out. You are not a Brexiteer. 'I actually was campaigning for Brexit and have been for years so I don't need to be given lectures by people like you.' Advertisement Boris Johnson scrambles to ease Tory fears about his hard Brexit plans amid claims allies could SUE MPs if they block him from leadership battle Boris Johnson (pictured campaigning in London last week) is scrambling to ease Tory moderate fears about his hard Brexit plans Boris Johnson is scrambling to ease Tory moderate fears about his hard Brexit plans as the battle to succeed Theresa May heats up. The former foreign secretary hailed a set of 'One Nation Conservative' principles drawn up by dozens of moderate MPs, insisting on Twitter: 'Agree with all of this.' The intervention comes as a 'Stop Boris' campaign gathers pace in the Parliamentary party, with many MPs concerned that he would shift the Tories dramatically to the right. Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd - a key Remainer in the Cabinet - fuelled talk of a 'dream ticket' alliance with Mr Johnson by liking his tweet. A source in the One Nation Tory bloc told the BBC's Newsnight: 'We want candidates to work with us to shape policy moving forward. Not just on Brexit but on everything. 'The whole contest will be a big test for Boris to prove he actually can unite the party in the way he says he can.' Boris Johnson hailed a set of 'One Nation Conservative' principles drawn up by dozens of moderate MPs, insisting on Twitter: 'Agree with all of this.' Mr Johnson prospects could also have been boosted by a poll of Labour activists suggesting he is the opponent they most fear at the next election Mr Johnson prospects could also have been boosted by a poll of Labour activists suggesting he is the opponent they most fear at the next election. However, the rising Tory tensions were underlined by claims that allies of Mr Johnson are ready to launch a legal challenge if MPs block him from the final ballot. Under the contest's rules, MPs whittle the candidates down to two, with activists choosing the winner. But an ally of Mr Johnson told the Sun: 'We have legal advice that was drawn up for Boris that proves if members want a chance to vote on him in big numbers, MPs and CCHQ cannot stop that.' Aides to Mr Johnson denied any knowledge of the legal advice, saying it was 'total nonsense'. Around 60 Tory MPs have signed up to the One Nation principles, which were drawn up by Mrs May's former policy chief George Freeman. Advertisement A group of Holocaust survivors who were brought to Britain after escaping the horrors of the Nazis have gathered in Prague to recreate a 74-year-old photograph. In 1945, the group of 300 children posed in the Old Town Square in Prague, in what was then Czechoslovakia, after they were freed from Theresienstadt concentration camp. They were taken to the Lake District to recover and became known as the Windermere Boys. Now in 2019, the last eight survivors have gathered on the same spot in Prague to take the same picture again with hundreds of their relatives. 1945: This picture shows a group of Holocaust survivors known as the Windermere Boys, after the beauty spot in the Lake District where they were taken after escaping the horrors of World War II. They are posing in Prague's Old Town Square in what was then Czechoslovakia, in front of a memorial to 15th-century religious reformer Jan Hus 2019: The last eight survivors return to Prague with 200 relatives from all over the world, 74 years after they were liberated from Nazi camps in Czechoslovakia. Most of them settled elsewhere in the UK but they meet once a year. The group is also planning a memorial event to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2020 Trevor Avery, director of the Lake District Holocaust project, said: 'This photo is iconic. It's the beginning of their time in Windermere. 'They'd come from hell on earth and here they were coming to Wordsworth's paradise. It was extraordinary. 'It was incredibly moving to be stood in front of the monument. The most moving part was when the group started singing in Hebrew and Yiddish. These were the songs their mothers and fathers would have sung. 'They were the most heart-aching, beautiful voices heard across the town square in Prague. It sent shivers down my spine.' Around 200 people - the children and grandchildren of the survivors - flew from across the world including the US, Canada and Israel to take part in the recreation. According to the Lake District Holocaust Project, the children were brought to Cumbria for a 'period of recuperation before setting out on new lives'. Front and centre: The survivors from Terezin concentration camp - known in German as Theresienstadt - stand with their families in front of the Hus memorial in Prague as they recreate the 74-year-old picture. Left to right: Lilian Friedman, Mala Tribich (sister of Sir Ben Helfgott), Sir Ben Helfgott, Leslie Kleinman (in pale raincoat), Sam Freiman on mobility scooter with white hat on, Sam Laskier, Icek Alterman and Arek Hersh They had been liberated from a concentration camp in the town of Theresienstadt, now known as Terezin, in German-occupied Czechoslovakia. Aged between three and 17, they were brought to Britain by Stirling aircraft of 196 Squadron, travelling across Europe in groups of around 30 children at a time. After arriving in Britain they were taken to the Lake District by buses and army trucks and were placed in hostels near Windermere. As time went on the group split up and most of them settled elsewhere in the UK, but those who are left still meet up once a year to share their experiences. The group is also planning a memorial event to mark the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in 2020. Freedom: The children pose in 1945 after they were liberated from the horrors of Nazi concentration camps in German-occupied Czechoslovakia. Aged between three and 17, they were flown to Britain to begin new lives after the war Denise Kienwald, 69, whose Polish mother Minia Jay was one of the group, flew to Prague from her home in London to recreate the picture. Her mother, who worked as a seamstress and housewife, died two years ago at the age of 91, having been taken to a number of camps during the war, including Auschwitz in Poland. Minia went on to marry and had two children, six grandchildren and seven grandchildren. Denise said: 'Mum was in the picture and it was so meaningful that we were standing in the same spot. It proves that Hitler did not win because we are still here. 'I was there with my husband and two daughters. It's important that the story is told so that people can learn tolerance. Three times my mother was going to be gassed but she was lucky and they turned her round and sent her somewhere else. 'She was a very courageous woman a larger than life character and a go-getter. Everybody liked her. When I was younger she would tell me about the ghettos and how she caught TB and had to continue to work. 'She told me about the wooden bridge they would have to cross to work and how people would fall down and be injured. She told me about the soup she would be given to eat which was just water and half a potato.' One of those visiting Prague was Judge Robert Rinder who discovered during the making of BBC show Who Do You Think You Are? that his grandfather was a Holocaust survivor who was also taken to Windermere. Meet-up: Trevor Avery (second left, in blue jacket), director of the Lake District Holocaust Project which aims to tell the story of how the youngsters ended up in Windermere, poses with relatives of survivors in Prague His mother Angela Cohen said: 'Before they left Prague this group of boys and girls went through hell. It was a time of the most unimaginable evil. 'This photo became iconic and I thought it would be amazing to recreate it with their children and grandchildren. 'There was some real bonding. The atmosphere was unbelievable, it was emotional, it was sad and joyful. It's a celebration coupled with sadness for what was lost. We think about what could have been if they were still here the doctors, musicians and great thinkers.' Mr Avery said: 'He said it was incredibly tough what his grandfather went through and Windermere was the light. 'It's such a change in circumstances. You couldn't have anything more extreme than being liberated from a camp to be taken to a plane and flown to England and end up in a place like Windermere. 'They'd been taken from their families and left on their own in these camps. They had to learn to live one day at a time. They couldn't think too much about the past because it was too painful and daren't think about the future. 'Some had spent their entire childhood years in ghettos. It was four years of horror. 'When they came to Windermere it was very bewildering. They still didn't know what had happened to their families. 'A lot of them said they had fond memories of Windermere. They felt like they'd arrived in paradise given where they'd came from.' The Warsaw Ghetto was the largest of its kind in Europe - but the story of its inhabitants has always been told using Nazi footage, until now. Never-before-seen footage shot by amateur Polish filmmaker Alfons Ziolkowski in 1941 shows what life was like for Jews inside the ghetto - from children smuggling food, to a dying man on the sidewalk, to Nazi guards dishing out beatings. The 10-minute film is the only known footage of the ghetto that was not recorded by Nazis, and provides an invaluable historical record of the Jewish experience there. Polish filmmaker Alfons Ziolkowski shot this footage inside the Warsaw Ghetto in 1941, and it is the only known footage not taken by Nazis showing life inside The rare footage, which languished in family archives for decades before being uncovered, shows Nazi guards beating Jewish children A child is beaten for smuggling food in footage that was clandestinely recorded by Ziolkowski, who was a racing driver before deciding to document the ghetto during the war Until this footage was uncovered, the only known film taken inside the ghetto - the largest in Europe - was shot by a Nazi film crew for propaganda purposes The black-and-white footage of the Jewish quarter is included in a new hour-long film 'Warsaw: A City Divided' by Polish-Canadian director Eric Bednarski. Mr Bednarski said: 'The film footage many of us have seen from the Warsaw Ghetto was shot in 1942 by a Nazi German propaganda film crew. 'Their work has been used in literally dozens of documentaries about the Holocaust and the Second World War. 'It was shot from the perspective of occupiers and perpetrators, and was used for anti-Semitic propaganda purposes. 'The footage that appears in my documentary was shot by a Pole, with a completely different perspective. 'This is the first known non-Nazi, non-propaganda footage from the Warsaw Ghetto.' Despite its value the film had languished in Ziolkowski's family archives for decades until Bednarski managed to obtain it. Screened for the first time this month at the documentary festival Millennium Docs Against Gravity in the Polish capital, the film shows everyday life in the ghetto. 'We see crowds of people on the street. We see partially destroyed buildings,' said Bednarski, who began work on the movie 15 years ago after film school. 'We see children smuggling food from the Aryan side, as it was called, to the Jewish side. Desperate children who were starving, who were pushing food through a hole in the wall,' he said. A Jewish child locked inside the ghetto runs to the wall to pass food through a drainage hole Documentary-maker Eric Bednarski was given permission to use the footage in his film Warsaw: A City Divided, marking the first time it has been shown to the public People who appear to be new arrivals at the ghetto clutch suitcases before being marshalled inside. At its height the ghetto contained 400,000 people in an area of just 1.3 square miles People walk down the streets of the ghetto. Sometimes Ziolkowski appears to be filming secretly, while at other points people look at the camera, aware they are being recorded A year after invading Poland in September 1939, the Nazi Germans created a special district in the capital for 480,000 Jews. Many would die from hunger or disease in the ghetto, while 300,000 would be sent to the Treblinka death camp to be gassed. In 1941, Ziolkowski was 30 years old. An amateur filmmaker, motorcycle racer and merchant before the war, he managed to obtain a pass into the ghetto. There, he risked his life by documenting what he saw. This was still before the terrifying scenes of the ghetto in its final phase when the streets were littered with bodies on the eve of its 1943 liquidation. But already the sight of a lifeless body on a sidewalk full of elegantly clad passersby gives a sense of the tragedy to come. Some of the footage was shot covertly from a car. But Bednarski is convinced that other scenes must have been filmed out in the open as people look right into the camera and appear to know they are being filmed. 'I like to think he [Ziolkowski] did what he did to document the horror that was unfolding in the city in which he was living,' said Mr Bednarski. 'He clearly chose locations for their significance. This was not accidental random filming. 'He had shot home movies before the Second World War, so he was able to use an 8mm camera,' said Mr Bednarski. 'But as a Polish motorcycle racing champion of the 1930s, he was clearly someone who liked to take risks.' Little is known about Ziolkowski - such as why he made his film or how, as a non-Jew, he was able to enter the ghetto A tram rattles down the streets of the Jewish quarter which was turned into the largest ghetto in Europe by the Nazis after they seized Warsaw The film has been verified as authentic by survivors who were able to identify locations, and historians familiar with other images of the ghetto Warsaw ghetto survivors who were shown the footage have said they recognise some of the scenes but could not identify any of the people. 'How lucky that the film was preserved, that the Ziolkowski family kept it and it didn't end up in the trash,' said Warsaw teacher Kaja Rupocinska, who attended the film screening. 'Did he want to document the war? Did he go there out of curiosity? Could he tell that an unprecedented tragedy was about to happen?', she asked AFP. 'We don't know and we'll never know. One thing is certain: what he did was invaluable.' Previous footage of the Warsaw Ghetto was published by Jewish filmmaker Yael Hersonski as part of her documentary A Film Unfinished about life in the ghetto. But for her source material, she was forced to draw on footage recorded by a Nazi film crew as part of propaganda before the ghetto was eliminated. While it was never released in Germany during Hitler's rule, the fact that the film was shot at his regime's behest makes it an unreliable historical record. For a glimpse into daily life inside the ghetto, historians largely rely upon the Oyneg Shabes - an archive buried inside time capsules shortly before the ghetto was wiped off the map. The archive comprises some 35,000 pages - including documents, materials from the underground press, photographs, memoirs, belles lettres, labels from ration packs and more. However, it does not contain any footage of the ghetto - which makes Ziolkowski's record all the more valuable. Notorious road rage killer Kenneth Noye is to be released from prison, after a parole board praised his 'improved victim awareness', 'clear life goals' and 'ability to control his emotions'. The former gangster, 71, has served nearly 20 years for the vicious stabbing of Stephen Cameron, 21, on an M25 slip road near Swanley, Kent, in 1996. The cold-blooded murder took place in front of Mr Cameron's 17-year-old fiancee Danielle Cable while Noye was out on licence from a previous prison term. The Parole Board today confirmed his release from an open jail has been approved after it ruled he is no longer a 'significant risk to the public'. Despite his history of violence stretching back decades, the parole panel said they were impressed by the killer's 'decision-making', 'maturity about his situation' and 'insight into his past behaviour'. Kenneth Noye, pictured last year outside an open prison, is to be released from jail Noye stabbed 21-year-old Stephen Cameron (left) to death on a slip road to the M25 in Swanley, Kent, in 1996. Noye then went on the run in Spain The decision means Noye will walk free from Standford Hill open prison in Kent in the next few weeks. The victim's father Ken Cameron, 72, said Noye should die behind bars. Reacting to the decision today, he said: 'I'm totally devastated. I can't believe they have made this decision. Life should mean life. 'I hoped this day would never come. I sort of knew it was coming, though - I was almost resigned to it. But it is still a complete kick in the teeth. 'He is going back on the streets when he should spend the rest of his days behind bars. 'Stephen was denied a life by Noye on May 19, 1996 when he left him lying in the gutter. And we are the ones who have had to live a life sentence. There isn't a day we don't think of Stephen.' Mr Cameron added: 'He can now go and live the rest of his life as a free man while our family still grieve for Stephen every day. 'I'm sure he'll head off to a nice little bolt hole in Spain somewhere and live the good life.' Mr Cameron's parents Ken and Toni outside court in 2000. Mrs Cameron has since sadly died Former career criminal Noye, once acquitted of murdering a policeman after claiming self-defence, has been at Standford Hill open prison in Kent for the past 18 months - just 30 miles from his victim's father. When talking about the parole board decision, Ken said: 'This is a joke. It's nonsense. 'Noye has always been a nasty and violent man all his life and some courses and programmes in prison are not going to change that. 'He says what they want to hear and he does what they want to see. 'He would have made out he is a good boy to them. But he will walk out of that prison and pick up from where he left off. 'He's pulled the wool over their eyes and now he is being released. 'He's never going to change. He's an evil man.' Justifying the decision to release him today, a spokesman for the parole board said: 'We can confirm that a panel of the Parole Board has directed the release of Kenneth Noye following an oral hearing. 'Parole Board decisions are solely focused on whether someone would represent a significant risk to the public after release. 'The panel will have carefully looked at a whole range of evidence, including details of the original evidence and any evidence of behaviour change. We do that with great care and public safety is our number one priority.' In 1985, Noye stabbed to death Detective Constable John Fordham in the grounds of Kent mansion. He was cleared of murder. But the following year he was jailed for 14 years for handling gold bullion stolen in the infamous 1983 Brink's-Mat robbery. Twice refused parole, he was freed in 1994. Noye pictured in custody in the UK after his arrest in Spain over the M25 murder After the 1996 M25 attack, Noye fled, arranged for the Land Rover he was driving to be disposed of, and flew to Spain where he lived under a false name until his arrest in 1998. When he was convicted of murder in 2000, he was handed a life sentence with a minimum of 16 years. Ex-Flying Squad head Barry Phillips said last week: 'If people look at what Noye has done in his life, and the trail of death and human misery he has left behind him, they will perhaps conclude he should stay behind bars for the rest of his natural.' 'He's demonstrated maturity about his situation': The parole board's full decision on why Noye can go free A summary of the parole decision states: 'Evidence was presented at the hearing regarding Mr Noye's successful completion of accredited programmes when detained in closed prison conditions, earlier in his sentence. 'These had addressed decision-making, better ways of thinking and considering consequences, and a tendency to use violence in certain conditions. 'He had also completed a training course focused on improved victim awareness and, shortly before being transferred to open conditions, he had participated in a more advanced programme dealing with strategies to avoid use of violence. Noye, pictured at the time, and, right, in the disguise in which he fled to Spain 'The panel heard how well Mr Noye had demonstrated application of relevant skills and learning while in custody. 'Witnesses described his good conduct and compliance in prison and charted the progress he had made during this sentence. He had worked positively with officials dealing with his case and had demonstrated maturity about his situation, as well as greater insight into his past behaviour. 'He had demonstrated an ability to deal appropriately with potentially violent situations in prison and was clearly well motivated to avoid further offending in the community. 'The professional witnesses were all of the view that Mr Noye had addressed his risk factors appropriately and had reduced his risk to the public to a level at which, with a robust risk management plan in place, it would be manageable safely in the community. 'The panel noted a number of protective factors (i.e. factors likely to reduce risk) including Mr Noye's current proven ability to control his emotions, his clear life goals, his relationships, and his proven ability to work with professionals and accept advice when it is needed. 'The panel carefully examined the release and risk management plan provided by Mr Noye's probation officer and weighed its proposals against assessed risks. 'The plan included a requirement to reside at a designated address and very close monitoring of Mr Noye's situation and behaviour, including strict limitations on his contacts, movements and activities. 'The panel was satisfied that this plan was sufficiently robust to enable Mr Noye's risk to be managed safely in the community. 'The panel said it was satisfied Noye met the tests for release and was suitable for return in the community.' Advertisement Amber Rudd (pictured at Downing Street yesterday) is planning to lodge an official complaint over a UN report which accused Britain of violating human rights obligations Amber Rudd is planning to lodge an official complaint over a UN report which accused Britain of violating its human rights obligations by creating 'Dickensian' conditions for the poor. Philip Alston, the UN's 'Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty', came to the UK last year to draw up a report on government cuts and their impact on the unemployed and low-paid. A summary of his report, released today, claims that Britain now has 'a harsh and uncaring ethos' and is guilty of 'increasing marginalisation of the working poor and those unable to work'. He said the Department of Work and Pensions appears to be 'designing a digital and sanitised version of the 19th Century workhouse, made infamous by Charles Dickens'. Rudd, the work and pensions secretary, is said to be unhappy with the findings of the report, and will argue that it lacked proper research and is politically biased. She is specifically frustrated with Mr Alston for his criticism of cuts to police numbers and legal aid, according to the Guardian. The DWP also hit back at the report, branding it a 'barely believable documentation of Britain' which painted a 'completely inaccurate picture'. The government pointed out that data released by the UN just two months ago ranked the UK as the 15th happiest country to live in. A DWP spokesman added: 'This is a barely believable documentation of Britain, based on a tiny period of time spent here. It paints a completely inaccurate picture of our approach to tackling poverty. Philip Alston (left), the UN's Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, visiting Britain last year 'All the evidence shows that full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our welfare reforms are focused on supporting people into employment and we introduced the National Living Wage, so people earn more in work.' The DWP said it was spending 95 billion a year on welfare and maintains a state pension system that supports people into retirement. Mr Alston, an Australian international law scholar, visited the UK in November last year and his final report will be presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on June 27. Critics have said claimed using the term 'extreme poverty' to describe Britain devalues the term and Mr Alston should be focusing his attention on the developing world. Mr Alston, who has worked at the UN since the 1980s, toured Britain during a whistlestop visit His other recent reports have been on conditions in Laos, Brazil and Zimbabwe, where three quarters of the population live on less than 5 a day and unemployment is said to be as high as 90 per cent. Bizarrely, Mr Alston warns that Britain could be returning to the state of nature famously described by Thomas Hobbes' in 1668 as 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short'. In another dramatic statement, he claims: 'It might seem to some observers that the Department of Work and Pensions has been tasked with designing a digital and sanitized version of the nineteenth century workhouse, made infamous by Charles Dickens.' The Australian lawyer turned UN rapporteur who blasted Britain Philip Alston has been United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights in June 2014. Born and educated in Australia, he has a doctorate from the University of California and has worked at the UN since 1980s. He was the first Rapporteur of the U.N. Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights from 1987 until 1990, and then chaired the Committee for eight years until the end of 1998. Between 2002 and 2007, he served as Special Adviser to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights on the Millennium Development Goals, and between 2004 and 2010, as Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions. He was also Unicefs legal adviser throughout the process of drafting the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Advertisement When asked about the report in Parliament following Mr Alston's visit last year, Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said she was 'disappointed by the extraordinary political nature of his language'. She said the overly political language the report used was 'wholly inappropriate and discredited a lot of what he was saying'. In the summary of his report on the UK, Mr Alston said that, although Britain is the world's fifth largest economy, one-fifth of its population (14 million people) live in poverty, and 1.5 million experienced destitution in 2017. In his report summary, Mr Alston writes: 'The social safety net has been badly damaged by drastic cuts to local authorities' budgets, which have eliminated many social services, reduced policing services, closed libraries in record numbers, shrunk community and youth centres, and sold off public spaces and buildings. 'The bottom line is that much of the glue that has held British society together since the Second World War has been deliberately removed and replaced with a harsh and uncaring ethos. 'A booming economy, high employment and a budget surplus have not reversed austerity, a policy pursued more as an ideological than an economic agenda.' The report calls on the Government to reverse 'particularly regressive' measures such as the benefit freeze, the two-child limit, the benefit cap, and reduction in housing benefit. Philip Alston (right) was pictured making notes while talking to a pastor in Clacton, Essex It also recommends restoring local government funding to provide social protection and tackle poverty. Mr Alston said the policies pursued since 2010 amounted to a clear violation of the UK's human rights obligations. He added: 'Considering the significant resources available in the country and the sustained and widespread cuts to social support, which have resulted in significantly worse outcomes, the policies pursued since 2010 amount to retrogressive measures in clear violation of the country's human rights obligations.' The report said that if Brexit proceeds it is likely to have a 'major adverse impact on the most vulnerable' but that it also presents an opportunity. It added: 'Brexit presents an opportunity to re-imagine what the United Kingdom stands for. 'Legislative recognition of social rights should be a central part of that re-imagining. 'And social inclusion, rather than increasing marginalisation of the working poor and those unable to work, should be the guiding principle of social policy.' A pastor from New Jersey has been accused of giving up to 50,000 Ugandans a 'miracle cure' for malaria and HIV/Aids made from industrial strength bleach. Pastor Robert Baldwin, 52, along with Sam Little - a former clairvoyant from England who is part-funding the project - are touting MMS (Miracle Mineral Solution) to poor Ugandans. People and infants are being treated with chlorine dioxide - a noxious substance the FDA warns can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and symptoms of severe dehydration. Baldwin is reportedly shipping MMS in bulk to the African country where he has trained some 1,200 clerics to treat the faithful after Sunday sermons. A 'Malaria Field Study' uploaded by Sam Little - Robert Baldwin's British backer - is said to show MMS being administered in Uganda Sam Little is pictured here at the village hospital in Kyenjojo district, western Uganda A woman holding a baby is seen in the footage said to be giving the 'miracle cure' to a baby Furthermore, he is offering smartphones to those who are 'committed' to the project, The Guardian reports. His ministry, Global Healing, described its belief in 'using the power of Almighty God to greatly reduce the loss of life,' on its now deleted website. According to Fiona O'Leary, a campaigner who spoke to The Guardian, she had a conversation with Baldwin in which he told her he distributed MMS through the church to 'stay under the radar.' The Guardian reported Baldwin told O'Leary: 'When you draw attention to MMS you run the risk of getting in trouble with the government or drug companies. You have to do it low key. Thats why I set it up through the church.' He reportedly told her he did not even refer to it as MMS because online algorithms could detect it and instead called it 'healing water.' He said that babies were given a half dose and that it caused no harm, just diarrhea. The pastor - who trained as a nurse - is said to have little medical expertise. But he strongly denied the claims made in The Guardian, telling NJ.com he had to shut down his social media accounts and website because 'people are calling me Satan.' 'All I wanted to do is help people using natural healing therapies,' Baldwin said. The video features footage of testing being carried out to check for malaria after MMS has been administered Little is said to be shown preparing a solution at the small Ugandan hospital In addition he denied administering the phony medicine, telling the paper: 'I just educate. I dont treat anybody.' His 25-year-old English backer, Little, told The Guardian he had donated $10,000 to Baldwin's ministry and had also spent $30,000 building a home for Ugandan children. 'Somebody in my family was cured of cancer with MMS,' the paper quote Little as saying. 'I started researching online and saw more and more videos of people being cured. Thats when I decided to test it myself on malaria and traveled to Africa.' In a video posted on YouTube, which has been deleted, Little is said to have documented a trial of MMS at a small hospital in Kyenjojo district, western Uganda. He is said to be seen in the film telling medical staff about MMS and watching them administer it to small children, including a baby of around 14 months. Little, who has no medical background, cites a 2018 study by the University of Dusseldorf in Germany which tested chlorine dioxide on 500 malaria patients in Cameroon. The Guardian contacted the university which stated the study had been reviewed and was found to be 'scientifically worthless, contradictory and in part ethically problematic.' The small village hospital in Uganda where Little reported a successful trip in delivering the purported medicine The video begins with a title screen which says: Malaria Field Study Cured in Two Hours' The FDA have said: 'The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to take Miracle Mineral Solution, an oral liquid also known as "Miracle Mineral Supplement" or "MMS." The product, when used as directed, produces an industrial bleach that can cause serious harm to health. 'The FDA has received several reports of health injuries from consumers using this product, including severe nausea, vomiting, and life-threatening low blood pressure from dehydration. 'Consumers who have MMS should stop using it immediately and throw it away. 'MMS is distributed on Internet sites and online auctions by multiple independent distributors. Although the products share the MMS name, the look of the labeling may vary.' Archaeologist Jo Anne Van Tilburg has worked on Easter Island for decades - studying the famous moai statues and the living descendants of their creators An archaeologist has warned that Easter Island is under threat from selfie-loving tourists who trample over sacred ground and monuments just so they can take photographs of themselves picking the noses of its ancient stone statues. Jo Anne Van Tilburg, from the University of California Los Angeles, attacked the insensitive and disrespectful behaviour of the visitors who flock to visit the moai - famous stone monuments carved between 1100 and 1400 AD. Van Tilburg told Newsweek that the locals are struggling to cope with an influx of tourism, which saw some 150,000 people visit the remote Chilean territory last year. This is compared to around 2,500 yearly visitors in the early 1980s. The island, also known as Rapa Nui, only has around 5,700 permanent residents. 'By Rapa Nui standards, on an island where electricity is provided by a generator, water is precious and depleted, and all the infrastructure is stressed, 150,000 is a mob,' she said. But even more disheartening are the actions of some of the tourists during their visit. Van Tilburg said many visitors to the island seem more interested in taking selfies picking the statues' noses (above) than learning about its history and culture People 'climb on the moai, trample preserved spaces and sit on top of graves,' in service of getting the right selfie, Van Tilburg said 'Tourism of the sort experienced today has a very negative impact on the Rapa Nui sense of community,' Van Tilburg said. People 'climb on the moai, trample preserved spaces and sit on top of graves'. And they do so with just one aim - to line up the perfect angle for a selfie, often showing the travellers picking the noses of the moai, Van Tilburg said. The archaeologist says this is problematic not only because it risks damaging the moai - which are already naturally deteriorating having stood for centuries - but because it also disrespects the sacred sculptures. To the local community, the carved heads represent the ancient Polynesians' ancestors and their relationship with the gods. And under Chilean law, the moai are considered part of the landscape and not just objects. Van Tilburg said local resources, including water, are straining under a recent wave of tourism - as some 150,000 people visited the island last year compared to 2,500 in the 1980s Van Tilburg, who has has been conducting research on the island for 40 years, told Newsweek that she was troubled by a 'lack of genuine interest' in the history of the island its people. 'There is a lack appreciation for the Rapa Nui past,' she said. 'It seems that many wish only to insert themselves into history by taking a selfie with the timeless statues. 'We all need to step up, whether scientist or tourist, and do our fair share to preserve the past. 'Tourists can study and learn before they travel to the island. They can show proper respect for others. They can remove their egosand their selfie sticksfrom the landscape and learn to appreciate the past.' The carved stone heads are sacred to the local community as they embody the spirit of their ancestors and their relationship with the gods Under Chilean law, the moai are considered part of the landscape and not just objects A businessman is suing an estate agent for 100,000 after he broke his back while climbing newly-installed security gates at his flat - having arrived home with a takeaway for dinner. Carlos Reguero Perez, 49, had been returning home to his 1million flat in Hampstead, north London at around 10.30pm on February 4, 2015 when he discovered the newly installed gates. Keen to put his feet up and eat dinner, but without a fob or access code to open the electronically-controlled gates, he tried to clamber over but fell heavily and suffered serious injuries, it is claimed. As well as two spinal fractures, Mr Perez says he suffered a brain injury which has caused his eyes to become hyper-sensitive, so he is now forced to wear shades to cope with bright light. He is demanding six-figure compensation from Savills (UK) Ltd, who acted as managing agents for the landlord of his flat. Carlos Reguero Perez, 49, is suing his former estate agent for 100,000 after he broke his back while climbing newly-installed security gates at his flat in Hampstead, north London But the estate agents say he 'acted in reckless disregard for his own safety by climbing the gate' and they are not to blame. Central London County Court heard that Mr Perez was living in a flat now worth around 1m at the exclusive Prince Arthur Mews complex at the time of his accident. Builders had recently installed new security gates at the entrance, the court heard, and when he returned with his takeaway that night Mr Perez found the electricically-controlled gates had 'gone live' blocking him from getting into his home. Mr Perez claims Savills failed to tell him when the gates would become operational or get the fob or access code to him in time. He tried in vain to contact a neighbour in the apartment block by pressing buttons on the entry keypad, his lawyers claim. 'In the agony of the moment' Mr Perez decided his only option was to scale one of the gates, they say. But he lost his footing in mid-climb, clattering heavily onto the concrete pavement. Mr Perez had been returning home to his 1million flat in Hampstead, north London on February 4, 2015 when he discovered the newly installed gates (pictured) Mr Perez claims the fall left him with devastating multiple injuries - including spinal fractures, a 'moderate traumatic brain injury' and ongoing psychological effects. He also says he suffered blurred vision for a year after the accident and still needs to wear sunglasses in bright light. Savills however deny all fault and dispute they ever agreed to act as 'intermediaries' in delivering keys to Mr Perez, pointing out that they had no role in installing the new gates. On top of that, they deny any duty of care towards him and insist he brought disaster on himself by climbing a gate which had 'spurs' on the top to deter intruders. They also dispute the cause, nature and impact of his injuries and deny his accident was 'foreseeable', Savills' barrister, Joshua Hedgman, said. Mr Perez says he was aware that gates were being installed outside the complex, but that he had no idea when they would be completed and 'go live'. He claims in court papers that the management company had arranged for a fob and access code to be delivered to Savills, and that Savills 'agreed' to arrange for the fob and code to be handed over to him. That claim is disputed by the realtors. He claims Savills failed to tell him when the gates (pictured) would become operational or get the fob or access code to him in time By the time he returned home at 10.30pm Mr Perez had neither received his new fob - nor been warned that the gates would finally be working, he says. But Savills' legal team insist they had no obligation to deliver the fob to Mr Perez, who was not their client. Nor had they themselves been told precisely when the gates were due to start working or been given vital 'access codes' for the fobs, the company's lawyers claim. In their defence to the action Savills' lawyers say that the claim that Mr Perez was forced to act 'in the agony of the moment...is incredible and is denied'. Lawyers for the estate agents say he ought to have 'arranged overnight accommodation' with a friend or at a hotel and contacted them in the morning if he couldn't get in by ringing his neighbours' buzzers. 'The accident was caused by Mr Perez's own negligence,' they claim. The case recently reached court as lawyers on both sides faced off over whether the case against Savills can proceed to trial. Mr Hedgman argued that the businessman has no right to bring a case against the real estate giants and that his claim should be 'struck out'. But after intense debate between lawyers a judge refused to bar his case from going ahead. Mr Perez will now return to court at a later date for a full trial on whether Savills are liable for his injuries. Andrew Whiddett, with his second wife Lani leaving Croydon Crown Court on April 23 A disgraced former senior Army officer was jailed today for asking mothers in the Philippines to sexually abuse their children in front of him on webcam. Andrew Whiddett, 70, of Portsmouth, had served in the forces with distinction for 30 years and 'dedicated his life to the country' before moving into security in the Middle East - including working at the British Embassy in Baghdad. But sentencing Whiddett to three years and two months behind bars, a judge told the former lieutenant colonel that he was going to jail despite 'exceptional testimonials' from former colleagues. Judge Nicholas Ainley said: 'I have borne in mind and I'm well aware of the dedicated service to this country by the defendant. But children, wherever they are in the world, have to be protected from this kind of activity. 'This is a 70-year-old man who has been a dedicated and courageous man to this country, a devoted husband and father left bereft by being widowed a few years ago - and also somebody who has abused two young Filipino children. 'There is no getting around that particular fact. Children who are in danger have to be protected from those who would engage in any sexual activity with them and particular individuals have to be punished by way of imprisonment.' Croydon Crown Court heard that Whiddett was brought to the attention of authorities after sending more than 9,000 to 'known facilitators' in the Philippines between February 2013 and June 2017. Officers from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Britain's equivalent to the FBI, seized his phone, iPad and laptop in October 2017 and unearthed 19 indecent images of children - as well as horrifying Skype chats detailing child abuse. Andrew Whiddett, who was once chief of security at the British embassy in Iraq, leaves Croydon Crown Court in London on April 25 (left) and is pictured in a mugshot (right) In a chat with a user called 'Honest Girl', a woman told Whiddett: 'She's nine years old, her birthday is tomorrow' and Whiddett made a crude comment about the child. He then sent the woman just over 30 after messaging her a series of commands of how to abuse the child on November 21, 2015. Whiddett, who has since married an Indonesian woman he met online, pleaded guilty to six charges before his trial was due to start. The father-of-three was jailed for one count of intent to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity relating to the chat with 'Honest Girl' in 2015. He also admitted causing or inciting a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity in September 2016, arranging or facilitating a sexual offence against a child, and three counts of having indecent images of children. Prosecutor Amanda Hamilton said: 'Between February 15, 2013 and June 29, 2017 Mr Whiddett sent over 9,000 to the Phillipines. 'The Crown don't say what most of that money was for. The Crown know that Mr Whiddett had a relationship with a woman in the Philippines. Three of the women to whom money was sent where known facilitators. 'On October 31, 2017, Mr Whiddett was arrested as he arrived into Heathrow Airport. He was interviewed; he said he was a widower and had been since 2013. 'He had been in the Army for, I believe, 30 years until 1997 and worked for security companies in the Middle East. 'He said he paid for live-streaming of sexual content with adult women in the Philippines who he met on a website called Cherry Blossom.' She added that he said he watched women take off their clothes and perform sex acts, and was not aware of any illegal images on his devices. Ms Hamilton said: 'He said he searched for young Asian girls but he meant girls between 18 and 20, not children.' The court heard during a Skype chat with 'Honest Girl' in November 2015, Whiddett used a fake name of Nick Nicholls and asked a mother to abuse her child. Although video footage was never found, the typed messages where recovered and the woman indicated she was with her nine-year-old daughter. Ms Hamilton said: 'Mr Whiddett's responses indicate he accepted what she told him about the age of the child as he made comments about her body, 'He typed responses such as 'wow' and 'wish could meet in real' and that he wished she lived in Manilla as it's easier to visit. 'He said he was 'hard' and told her to touch the child and asked if he could show the child his genitals.' The charge of inciting or causing a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity and another of arranging or facilitating a sexual offence relates to the daughter of a Philippines woman Whiddett had been in a relationship with, the court heard. It was said that Whiddett sent his girlfriend around 3,350 in 31 separate transactions which he later said 'paid for her to have medical treatment, a hysterectomy and help her to finance a fruit store'. The prosecutor continued: 'On September 26, 2016 half an hour after midday, he started a chat under the name Nick Nicholls. 'He asked if her daughter was 'ready to watch' and said the woman 'had to teach her'.' The court heard Whiddett wanted 'everybody to be naked' in the video chat and said of the woman's daughter: 'let her watch'. In a series of messages after this, Whiddett is said to have asked for the girl to be 'taught' before he arrived in the country, which is the basis of the arranging and facilitating a sexual offence charge. Ms Hamilton said: 'He told her that her daughter needed to be talk more and he would like to see her genitals more. He said she would need lots of teaching before he arrived and she needed to 'open her mind' with 'lots of teaching'. 'The crown say Mr Whiddett's instructions showed a clear instruction the child should be groomed for later abuse.' Whidett is also said to have flown to Manilla for two weeks in October 2016 from London Heathrow, but prosecutors did not have any physical evidence of child abuse taking place. The images related to five category C images made on April 26, 2017, three category C images made on May 3, 2016 and three category B images made on the same date. In mitigation, Whiddett's barrister Siobhan Grey said her client had 'given up his life' for his country and was an 'unusual case'. She told the court Whiddett's wife had died from an aggressive form of cancer in 2013 and he had turned to online dating because he was lonely - but was sucked into child porn. She said: 'There is no doubt that this man is ashamed and embarrassed and it took some time to confront his behaviour. 'Theres a long list and the testimonials that date back to 1988 demonstrate the sacrifice, personal sacrifice, to his own life that this man made for his country. 'This resulted in him being awarded an MBE in 1988, he then went on to be promoted to lieutenant colonel. 'After he left the army in 1997, he later went to work for the Embassy out in Baghdad. This is a man who has always put his life on the line for others. 'Your honour will see the reference in July 2018 from the ambassador in Baghdad and all that is said about the defendant there. 'What is unusual in this case is that this is a man who has led a hugely exceptional life until this offences began in 2015. 'He had lost his wife of 40 years in September 2013 to an aggressive form of cancer. And he was at a loss, adrift. 'And he let it be known that he was fine but he wasn't. And he was lonely. And he started to a great extent online dating and he got sucked into that.' Judge Nicholas Ainley said despite evidence Whiddett had displayed 'dedicated service' to the country - he would still jail him. He said: 'The defendant had shown an interest in dating Asian woman. There is nothing wrong or reprehensible about that but some way or other that perfectly legitimate interest in meeting women changed into a need to have some form of sexual relationship with people who were only children. 'And that occurred with two different children with whom I'm concerned. 'I will not sentence on the basis that the defendant's offending goes beyond what the prosecution have been able to establish.' Whiddett was jailed for 38 months for one count of intent to cause a child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, one count of causing or inciting a child under the age of 16 to engage in sexual activity, one count of arranging or facilitating a sexual offence against a child and three counts of possessing indecent images of children. Dylan Walker's fiancee has revealed why she stood by her footy star fiancee throughout the domestic violence case. The NRL star was accused of assaulting his partner Alexandra Ivkovic while she was holding their baby at their Sydney home last year. The 24-year-old broke down in tears while discussing the backlash he faced in a joint interview with his Miss Universe contestant partner after his assault charges were dismissed. 'There were some dark days with it, we just sort of had to lean on each other,' Walker told Nine News. Dylan Walker's fiancee has broken her silence after the footy star was cleared of assaulting her while she was holding their baby Ms Ivkovic shared that she wanted to stand by her partner. 'There was never an issue, you're going to support your partner,' she said Walker was charged after Ms Ivkovic initially told police he pulled her by the ponytail to the ground while she was cradling a baby on the driveway of their home on Sydney's Northern Beaches last December. Ms Ivkovic later told the court she had overreacted and Walker had simply touched her shoulder to turn her around, accidentally grabbing her hair in the process. The young beauty shared that she wanted to stand by her partner. 'There was never an issue, you're going to support your partner,' she said. 'He's such a good person, that's been the hardest as a partner to watch people, not even in this situation but over the years, paint him as a bad person.' Magistrate Michelle Goodwin told the court Ms Ivkovic's unwavering commitment to the version of events under 'stringent cross-examination' couldn't be ignored. NRL star Dylan Walker and his fiancee Alexandra Ivkovic leave Manly Local Court last Friday after he was acquitted of domestic violence charges. It means he's now free to play in the NRL Walker's charges of domestic violence-related assault occasioning actual bodily harm and common assault against his fiancee were dismissed. The Manly Sea Eagles centre was given the green light to resume playing after an NRL integrity unit reviewed the court documents surrounding his acquittal last Friday. Walker is likely to return to the field as early as this Sunday when the injury-crippled Sea Eagles head to the Shire to take on the in-form Cronulla Sharks. Walker's return to the field can't come soon enough for Manly which suffered yet more injuries in their Magic Round 26-10 loss to Brisbane last Friday night. Already reeling with more than $3 million worth of stars on the sidelines including Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and Jorge Taufua, the Sea Eagles lost centre Moses Suli (finger), Api Koroisau (ankle) and Toafofoa Sipley (knee) in the Suncorp Stadium clash. Happy couple: Dylan Walker and partner Alexandra Ivkovic (pictured) say they have had to support each other following the backlash Dylan Walker (pictured with his fiancee) has missed the first nine round of the 2019 NRL season A cheeky student has been spotted 'flipping the bird' in an official government booklet for parents of children completing year 12. The Queensland Department of Education document, which was released last month, pictures there students huddled over a lit Bunsen burner on the front cover. At first glance, it appears to be an innocuous photo, but on closer inspection, the boy on the right can be seen making an obscene hand gesture. The official document is supposed to be a practical guide for senior schooling, with information on subjects and courses, assessments and end of year exams. A cheeky student has been spotted allegedly 'flipping the bird' in an official government booklet for parents of students completing year 12 While it remains unclear whether the gesture was intended to be a subtle prank or not, the official snap has since gone viral after it was shared on Reddit. 'Oh Lordy! Im a teacher and whenever you use pics for a wide audience you check all that s**t. Kid did good,' one person wrote. 'Someone was doing that to me the other day. It was in a social context. I tend to think there is real subconscious meaning behind it,' another person said. A third person added: 'To be fair to the kid, I have actually caught myself scratching my nose with my middle finger, making it appear that I am flipping everyone off.' The official QCAA document is supposed to be a practical guide for senior schooling, with information on subjects and courses, assessments and end of year exams In a statement provided to 10 daily, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority's Chief Executive Officer, Chris Rider, declined to confirm whether or not the gesture was intentional. 'The QCAA uses images of Queensland schools in a wide range of publications. Were aware that some people have chosen to interpret this image differently to us,' Mr Rider said. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority for comment. ISIS fanatics have released three new posters inciting lone wolf attacks on London and New York. One poster depicts a suicide bomber standing in front of a burning Big Ben and is captioned with the warning: 'London attacks coming soon'. Another shows a masked terrorist wielding a knife above New York city and a rallying call for lone extremists to 'fight them in your country'. ISIS have released three more propaganda posters which promise attacks on the UK and US 'soon' Both posters use 'Just Terror' as a tagline, while the threat to London appears alongside a quotation from the Koran's At-Tawbah 5 - or the 'Sword Verse'. 'And when the sacred months have passed,' it reads, 'then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and beseige them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush'. Conveniently excluded from the quote is the next verse: 'If any of the idolaters seeks of thee protection, grant him protection till he hears the words of God; then do thou convey him to his place of security.' The final poster states: 'Remember O you who have believed, whoever of you should revert from his religion... The poster depicting New York (above) shows a knife-wielding suicide bomber bearing down on the city and incites lone wolf attackers to fight on their own soil 'Allah will bring forth in place of them a people he will love and who will love him... who are humble toward the believers, powerful against the disbelievers... they strive in the cause of Allah and do not fear the blame of a critic. 'That is the favor of Allah, he bestows it upon whom he wills. And Allah is all encompassing and knowing.' The propaganda posters were created by the Ash Shaff Media Foundation - a pro-ISIS outlet and posted to Twitter by the Terror Research and Analysis Consortium (TRAC) - a terrorism watchdog. The sight of Big Ben ablaze is reminiscent of images of last month's fire that destroyed the roof and spire of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, after which ISIS-affiliated groups released posters calling the disaster 'retribution and punishment' and telling western countries to 'Wait for the next'. A third poster, released by the pro ISIS news outlet Ash Shaff Media Foundation, shows a masked terrorist alongside a warning not to forgo Islam ISIS-affiliated groups also released a propaganda poster celebrating the Sri Lanka terror attacks on Easter Sunday, which promised to make the 'enemies of religion' bleed 'rivers of unclean blood'. The image showed the eight jihadi attackers above Donald Trump, Pope Francis and Buddha on fire. It was captioned: 'We will not make you cry of blood, enemies of religion and the first of the clouds shall fall upon the rivers of your unclean blood.' ISIS claimed responsibility for the Sri Lanka attacks, which killed more than 250 people in churches and hotels in the capital Colombo. Theresa May has spent most of the past three years vowing that the European elections would not happen - because we leaving the EU in March. Labour and the Brexit Party were also adamant that the UK should have cut ties with the bloc by now. But as a result of the Article 50 extension, the government has been left with no choice but to go ahead with the polls. Brussels insisted that unless Brexit was complete, allowing the UK to sit out the voting would effectively breach its own legal structures. HOW DO THE ELECTIONS WORK? European elections are taking place on May 23 across the UK. Voters will elect 73 MEPs to represent them in the European Parliament for a five-year term although their roles will cease to exist if the country leaves the EU before then. The UK is split into 12 regions for the ballot, returning different numbers of politicians depending on their population size. Each MEP represents all the people in their region. At the moment the UK's 73 MEPs consist of 19 Labour, 18 Tory, 10 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. WHAT IS THE VOTING SYSTEM? Unlike Westminster elections, a form of proportional representation is used, with seats allocated to parties depending on their share of the vote. The ballot paper lists the parties and their candidates, along with any independent candidates. Voters put a cross next to the party or independent candidate they wish to vote for. Results will not start being announced until late Sunday night, after polls have closed across the EU. They will continue to be announced int Monday. WHO IS GOING TO WIN? The Tories have slumped to just 7 per cent on the eve of European elections - as a shock poll shows the Brexit Party surging further ahead. As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two. The YouGov reseach for the Times also paints a grim picture for Labour, which has slipped into third on just 13 per cent support - well behind the Lib Dems on 19 per cent and only just ahead of the Green on 12 per cent. Mrs May (pictured outside Downing Street yesterday) faces a three-hour bruising in the Commons later during PMQs and then a debate on her Brexit bill HOW MUCH DO THE ELECTIONS COST TO HOLD? Elections to the European Parliament take place every five years. The last election in 2014 cost 108 million to hold and it had been expected it would cost a similar amount to the taxpayer this time around if we take part But the figure is said to have increased to 156million, including staffing costs of 96million and another 50million on polling cards and information, the Daily Telegraph reported. This would be paid out in the case that parties have to be reimbursed for the cost of fielding candidates who never get to take their seats in the European Parliament, it said. A further 4.5m is said to have been set aside for 'contingency costs' in case the election does not go ahead as parties would have their deposits returned if the election is cancelled. The remainder will cover the cost of the elections in Northern Ireland, which includes the cost of security at some polling stations. As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two HOW LONG WILL MEPS SIT FOR? The election takes place on May 23 but any candidates who become Euro MPs will have to wait until the first parliamentary session on July 2 to take their seats. The Government had been gearing its efforts towards leaving on or before June 30 but that looks almost certain not to happen. Leaving then would allow the UK to pull its MEPs out with less fuss than if we stay in longer and they take part in the legislative process. If we end up staying in the EU into July and onwards they will be able to claim their 7,599 monthly salary, but concerns have been raised at them being able to vote on important issues while temporarily remaining. When Britain does finally leave the EU, the European Parliament will reduce from 751 MEPs to 705, with 27 of the UK's 73 seats being distributed among the remaining member states. Store clerks at a car dealership in China were left speechless when a customer came in with 66 bags of coins to pay for her new car. After placing her order for the 190,000 yuan (21,700) Volkswagen Passat, the customer from Cangzhou city, Hebei province hauled the heavy bags of coins to the shop in three separate trips. Footage filmed in the shop on Saturday shows a dozen workers squatting on the floor and meticulously sorting the enormous pile of change by hand, which amounted to around 130,000 yuan (15,000). Footage filmed in the shop in Cangzhou city, Hebei province on Saturday shows a dozen workers squatting on the floor and meticulously sorting the enormous pile of change by hand, which amounted to around 130,000 yuan (15,000) A team of 17 workers spent three days counting the change, which included 1 yuan, 5 jiao and 1 jiao coins, according to the car dealership's manager Mr Jiao A team of 17 workers spent three days counting the change, which included 1 yuan, 5 jiao and 1 jiao coins, according to store manager Mr Jiao. Video shows staff carefully placing rolls of coins into paper wrappers before putting them in large boxes to be transported to the bank. One worker's fingers have been stained black from touching thousands of coins. Another work complained that he had a cramp from all the counting. One worker's fingers have been stained black from touching thousands of coins The woman owns a small eatery and got the coins from her customers. She saved them in bags The woman owns a small eatery and got the coins from her customers, according to Cangzhou Daily. She decided to save up the money as depositing them at the bank would be too much trouble. After collecting the coins in her house for 10 years, she saved up enough money for a new car. In the end, she successfully paid 131,492 yuan (15,033) in coins and the rest by e-transfer, according to the report. Video shows staff carefully placing rolls of coins into paper wrappers before putting them in large boxes to be transported to the bank In the end, the customer paid 131,492 yuan (15,033) in coins and the rest by e-transfer Net users were left amused by the incident, with some suggesting different ways for the staff to count the change faster. 'There are coin counting and sorting machines available. Why didn't the manager use those?' one person commented on microblogging site Weibo. 'I'm sure you can count the change by weight,' another said. 'Those poor workers! Just a waste of time and labour,' one user said. 'Does the customer operate a wishing fountain at home?' another person joked. Nigel Farage denied claims he hid on his Brexit Party bus to avoid being doused in milkshake again yesterday. He was campaigning in Kent when two men and a woman were spotted waiting for him at his next stop in Rochester. One of Mr Farages supporters said they were carrying milkshakes and he was quickly alerted. His bus driver Michael Botton said the Brexit Party leader had to quickly change his plans to avoid an attack though later his spokesman insisted that Mr Farage had not hidden inside the bus. A glum Mr Farage on his bus in Rochester, Kent, on Wednesday on the eve of the European elections Police talking to a separate group of men holding beverages in Rochester today. The men pictured are not the individuals who supposedly stopped Mr Farage getting off the bus. The Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was in Rochester, Kent today on the eve of the European elections Nigel Farage looking pensive in Rochester, Kent. The Brexit Party leader was supposedly trapped on his bus earlier today after a supporter spotted people in balaclavas with milkshakes. Something Mr Farage denies There are a couple of guys standing over there with milkshakes, they were going to throw them over him, Mr Botton told website Kent Live. But the police are there, weve spotted them and now Nigel isnt getting off the bus. The group were accosted by Brexit Party organisers who prevented them from getting too close to Mr Farage. They continued to shout anti-Farage slogans. Police challenged them about the milkshakes which they claimed were for their own consumption. Mr Farage was covered in a 5.25 banana and salted caramel milkshake while campaigning in Newcastle on Monday. Paul Crowther, 32, has been charged with common assault and criminal damage after the incident, Northumbria Police said. Nigel Farage poses for a selfie in Dartford, Kent, today on the last day of campaigning for the European elections Mr Farage gives a party balloon and flag to a little girl as he said the party could 'win big' if the polls are correct Mr Farage says 'militant' remainers are verbally abusing Brexit Party supporters up and down the country But Mr Farage denied reports he was left cowering in Rochester for fear of getting his suit dirty. Instead, he claimed the stop went exactly as intended. A spokesman for Mr Farage said: Nigel did media interviews on top of the campaign open-top bus and then got off to mix with supporters afterwards, taking photographs and signing boards. It was reported locally Mr Farage was stuck on his bus and refused to come off and greet his own fans. When he finally did step on to the street he stayed close to his bus while speaking to a handful of supporters. Suggestions that he hid on board the bus are simply not true, said the spokesman. Earlier in the day he had visited Dartford and Gravesend, where he left the bus and joined a throng of around 30 fans. He told followers he was relaxed about Mondays attack, and that he was less worried about the milkshake saga. At a Brexit Party rally in West London on Monday, party chairman Richard Tice said the milkshake incident in Newcastle was indicative of a grave attack on Nigel and his family. As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two Mr Farage was covered in milkshake in Newcastle this week as tensions over Brexit boiled over. He said: 'I'm less worried about the milkshake saga, but I am concerned about Brexit party supporters around the country, people coming up to them in the street using the f-word, using the c-word, calling them Nazis, we've got a discourse here that's really bad and really wrong. While on a walkabout in Newcastle Monday Mr Farage was struck by a milkshake that left him upset and his expensive suit sodden 'There's a small, but very militant group of remainers because a lot of our leaders haven't accepted the referendum result'. As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two. The YouGov research for the Times also paints a grim picture for Labour, which has slipped into third on just 13 per cent support - well behind the Lib Dems on 19 per cent and only just ahead of the Green on 12 per cent. The dire figures underline the catastrophe facing Mrs May and the Tories when the results of the elections are declared on Sunday night and Monday morning. Even loyalist Conservatives are deserting the PM as she comes under pressure to pull the plug on her Brexit deal and resign. An investigation into Brexit Party funding will hang over them until after the European elections, it was revealed today. The Electoral Commission visited Nigel Farage's party headquarters yesterday following concerns about where donations were coming from. Former prime minister Gordon Brown had demanded an investigation by the watchdog, claiming 'dirty money' could be funnelled to the party from foreign organisations attempting to influence UK politics. Mr Farage accused the Electoral Commission of being 'absolutely full of Remainers' as the watchdog turned up in the week of the European elections. An Electoral Commission spokesman said it did not see evidence of electoral offences on the visit - but today said the review has not been closed and will continue after the European election on Thursday. He said: 'Our review of the systems in operation by the Brexit Party is ongoing. This will inform our regulatory work following the European Parliamentary elections and any recommendations we make to the party. 'We will also make any recommendations on the wider issue of the workings of the political finance rules in our statutory report on the administration of the poll.' Investigators spent the day at the Brexit Party headquarters in London yesterday (pictured) Sir Vince Cable today accused Nigel Farage of being 'too precious' by pressing charges against the remainer who chucked a milkshake over him in a Telegraph debate today The spokesman said raising small donations and using online platforms was 'legitimate' and 'increasingly common in politics'. However, he added: 'Both open up additional risk in relation to compliance with UK political finance law. EU 'to probe if Arron Banks spent 450,000 on lavish lifestyle for Nigel Farage' The EU will investigate claims that millionaire Brexit supporter Arron Banks spent 450,000 on a luxury lifestyle for Nigel Farage following the EU referendum, it was revealed today. Mr Banks is said to have used one of his companies to rent a 4.4 million Chelsea home, a 30,000 car and a chauffeur costing 20,000. He also paid 1,500 a month for an office and more for a personal assistant for Mr Farage, now leader of the Brexit Party, Channel 4 News claimed. The European parliament president, Antonio Tajani is said to have referred Mr Farage to an EU advisory committee, according to the Guardian. The insurance tycoon also spent hundreds of thousands of pounds promoting 'Brand Farage' in the US, it reported. Rock Services Ltd, a company owned by Mr Banks, was said to have leased the three-bedroom home with a garage in Chelsea, west London, for Mr Farage at an estimated cost of 13,000 a month in the summer of 2016. Mr Banks also bought furniture and fittings for the house, Channel 4 News said, and Mr Farage was provided with a Land Rover Discovery and a close protection driver. Mr Banks also allegedly sought to raise a further 130,000 from unnamed supporters to cover Mr Farage's security detail. He is said to have funded a private office space for the Brexit Party leader in Westminster and paid for a personal assistant. Mr Farage continued to serve as a member of the European Parliament on a salary of 87,000 a year plus expenses. Advertisement 'This risk is that it increases the potential for individuals or organisations to evade the permissibility rules, which primarily seek to prevent significant sums entering UK politics from overseas. 'It is the responsibility of any organisation adopting such an approach, and campaigning to influence people's votes at an election, to ensure it has the systems in place to maintain its compliance with the law.' It came as Sir Vince Cable today accused Nigel Farage of being 'too precious' by pressing charges against the remainer who chucked a milkshake over him. The Liberal Democrat leader confronted his Brexit Party counterpart during a fiery live debate ahead of tomorrow's European elections. Mr Farage was soaked by Paul Crowther in Newcastle upon Tyne on Monday after the remainer hurled a 5.25 banana and salted caramel drink at his midriff. Sir Vince asked him today: 'Don't you think you're being a bit precious by pressing charges?' Mr Farage hit back by saying: 'You're the man who put B*****s to Brexit on your manifesto', adding: 'Their [remainers'] behaviour is vile. Because they feel superior to Leavers, they think they can do whatever they like'. The skirmish came during a live Daily Telegraph debate where Sir Vince Cable accused Nigel Farage of being 'scared' of a second referendum. Mr Farage said: 'l'll tell you what my problem is, my problem is you people. Even if we vote again to leave I don't think you'll accept it'. A Labour supporter said yesterday she wished that Nigel Farage had been doused in acid rather than a banana and salted caramel milkshake. Crowther was charged with common assault but charity executive Ruth Townsley praised him and said she wished it had been a corrosive substance. In a now deleted tweet she said: 'Bravo to Paul Crowther, good on you mate. Great that milkshakes have become a thing when it comes to the racists in our midst. I'd prefer acid but milkshakes will do for now I guess.' Ms Townsley, who has previously told Facebook followers she voted Labour, is now being investigated by her employer Happy City. Despite her upsetting tweet, she is programme manager at the charity that promotes happiness and wellbeing. It is not known if she has been suspended from work. On her work website the charity worker says that things that make her happy include 'campaigning and resistance', working on her house or allotment and following Leyton Orient FC. Labour supporter Ruth Townsley said that she had wished it was acid and praised his attacker Ms Townsley joined charity Happy City in 2015 where she is there to promote happiness and wellbeing Today the Brexit Party leader insisted he would 'keep buying new clothes and carry on' after being pelted with the posh milkshake. He also blasted the election watchdog for swooping on the Brexit Party headquarters days before the European Elections. He said: 'I've crossed with the Electoral Commission before they are not a neutral organisation, absolutely full of Remainers, full of establishment figures'. The right-wing eurosceptic told a rally in Bolton he would 'ignore' the incident in Newcastle yesterday in which he was doused with a 5.25 Five Guys banana and salted caramel dairy drink. The Brexit Party, which is miles ahead in the polls ahead of Thursday's vote, saw its London headquarters in Victoria Street in Westminster visited by the Electoral Commission today after starting a review into the systems it has to receive donations. Mr Farage told LBC that the investigators would find nothing wrong and said the watchdog was 'clearly politically-motivated'. 'We went to visit them last week. They said we had all the right procedures in place. We asked them for a letter to confirm that, they failed to give it,' he told the radio station. 'Now, in an act of bad faith, clearly politically-motivated, despite the fact we had invited them to our offices. Last week, they were two busy to see us. This week, 48 hours before a national election, they are coming into our office. 'Not that they'll find anything wrong. I've got a team of four accountants working on his, I'm not stupid. 'Once again it shows the establishment in this country is rotten to the core and we need to change politics for good.' The final Brexit party rally ahead of the European elections was attended by 3,000 supporters People queue outside Kensington Olympia in London ahead of Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage's European Election Rally The watchdog's probe capped off a difficult 24-hours for Mr Farage, who had hitherto ridden a tidal wave of popular support ahead of the elections for his newborn party. While on a walkabout in Newcastle yesterday he was struck by a milkshake that left his expensive suit sodden. The Brexit Party leader was heard to comment 'complete failure' and 'I could have spotted that a mile off' as he was ushered away by security following the incident in Northumberland Street. A 32-year-old man was later charged with common assault and criminal damage. Addressing a later rally in Bolton last night Mr Farage faced up to the incident, saying: 'I won't even acknowledge the low-grade behaviour, that I was subjected to this morning, I won't dignify it, I will ignore it. Perhaps keep buying new clothes and carry on. 'For a civilised democratic nation to function in democracy, the loser has to give their consent. 'The loser has to accept they've lost the election and do their best to win the next election. That is how our system works.' Mr Farage will address another rally at London Olympia this evening. An Electoral Commission spokesman said: 'If there's evidence that the law may have been broken, we will consider that in line with our enforcement policy' Regarding the meeting at the Brexit Party headquarters, an Electoral Commission spokesman said: 'The Brexit Party, like all registered political parties, has to comply with laws that require any donation it accepts of over 500 to be from a permissible source. 'It is also subject to rules for reporting donations, loans, campaign spending and end of year accounts. We have already been talking to the party about these issues. 'As part of our active oversight and regulation of these rules, we are attending the Brexit Party's office tomorrow to conduct a review of the systems it has in place to receive funds, including donations over 500 that have to be from the UK only. 'If there's evidence that the law may have been broken, we will consider that in line with our enforcement policy.' Salman al-Awda, a Muslim scholar who has taken a relatively lenient stance on homosexuality, is among those charged with 'terrorism' by Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia may execute three prominent scholars including an Islamic 'reformist' on charges of supposed 'terrorism' next month, it has been claimed. Salman al-Awda, Awad Al-Qarni and Ali al-Omari were arrested in 2017 during a 'wave of arrests' targeting writers, journalists and human rights activists. Amnesty International said last year that Saudi prosecutors had requested the death penalty for all three men. A report published by Middle East Eye claims that the three men will be put to death shortly after Ramadan ends on June 4. A Saudi source told the publication that 37 executions they carried out last month had received only a muted global backlash, encouraging the kingdom to press ahead. However, Yahya Assiri of Saudi human rights group ALQST said the report was inaccurate. 'Nothing is beyond the authorities who are oppressive, brutal and ignorant, but no one has been convicted or executed,' he said. Awad Al-Qarni (left) and Ali al-Omari (right) may also face death after they were arrested in 2017 during a 'wave of arrests' targeting writers, journalists and human rights activists Salman al-Awda, 62, has been labelled a 'reformist' and is known for voicing relatively tolerant views on homosexuality, previously saying it should not be punished. According to Amnesty, he was kept in solitary confinement for five months with no contact to his family or lawyers. His close family members have also been banned from leaving the country, the human rights group said. Dana Ahmed of Amnesty International said: 'The Saudi Public Prosecution's recurring calls for the death penalty in the case of a number of individuals being held for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression - including Sheikh Salman al-Awda - raises real alarms for the fate of detained activists and religious clerics in the country. 'We're calling on the Saudi Arabian authorities to immediately release those detained solely for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly, and to drop any charges against them.' Amnesty said they had no information on whether the latest reports were accurate. Al-Awda was previously imprisoned between 1994 and 1999 after agitating for political reform. Criticism of the ruling family earned him praise from Osama bin Laden, whom he eventually denounced. Saudi Arabia may execute three prominent scholars including an Islamic 'reformist' on charges of supposed 'terrorism' next month, it has been claimed (file photo) In 2011, he called for elections and separation of powers, and before his arrest posted to 14million Twitter followers. Charges against him in the Specialized Criminal Court include spreading discord and incitement against the ruler, according to London-based Saudi rights group ALQST and other activists. Al-Awda has also been the assistant secretary-general of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, listed in Saudi Arabia as a terrorist organisation. The organisation is based in Doha, the capital of Saudi Arabia's rival Qatar which Riyadh accuses of supporting terrorism. Qatar denies the allegations and says the Saudi-led bloc is attacking its sovereignty over its independent foreign policy. Saudi Arabia faced a huge international backlash over the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi (pictured) at the country's consulate in Istanbul last year Religious cleric Awad Al-Qarni has been described as 'one of the most prominent Islamic preachers in Saudi Arabia'. He had been banned from writing on Twitter earlier in 2017 on charges he spread content on social media that could jeopardize public order and provoke public opinion. The Committee to Protect Journalists describes Ali al-Omari as a chairman of TV channel 4Shbab. Young Saudis 'use the platform to access content ranging from religious to satirical and to discuss social issues not covered in the Kingdom's traditional outlets', according to the CPJ. Suspicion fell on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured) after the Khashoggi killing but he denied any involvement Before his arrest he also wrote on topics ranging from religious issues to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the 2016 failed coup attempt in Turkey. Concerns over Saudi killings have grown since the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the country's consulate in Istanbul last year. After denying Mr Khashoggi was killed in the consulate for several weeks, Saudi Arabia changed tack and indicted 11 people in the killing. Suspicion quickly grew that crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing but he has denied any involvement. Turkey says Saudi Arabia must reveal the identity of a person who is thought to have disposed of the journalist's body and hold all involved accountable. A teenager with epilepsy burst into tears of happiness after her family surprised her with her own therapy dog. Summer Shott, from Raynes Park, south west London, was told the fantastic news in an 'anonymous' note. The note, which was actually from her mother Cherie Johnson, detailed some of the problems she was having at school before asking her to open a secret flap. Inside, it revealed Summer was getting a new best buddy - at which point she exclaimed 'youve given me a dog?' and started sobbing. Summer Shott, from Raynes Park, south west London, burst into tears after her mother surprised her with her own therapy dog. The teenager has anxiety and Cherie Johnson decided to buy the dog as a surprise for her 16th birthday The 15-year-old girl cried even more when she met Buddy the chihuahua pup, pictured together The pure shock and delight on Summer's face was luckily caught on camera by her mother. A later clip shows Summer crying even more as she is presented with a chihuahua puppy called Buddy. Ms Johnson said: 'I knew Summer would be ecstatic but her reaction was absolutely magical. 'I'm so proud of her instant reaction to protect him, she thought her crying would scare him and that was the biggest concern for her, not being in his face and getting excited. 'It was all about making him feel safe. I'm allergic to anything with hair so she has always been under the impression it was never going to happen, which is why we have a tortoise named Eddie. 'Her 16th birthday was coming up so I caved and decided that I would arrange for her to have a dog that could help her.' Summer was born with cerebral palsy and as a result has hemiplegia which physically affects her right side, but she also has epilepsy. Children with hemiplegia really struggle with confidence and anxiety, so she can't do the same things as girls her age without a chaperone, including going to the park or shopping with her friends. Her mother said: 'I'm so proud of her instant reaction to protect him, she thought her crying would scare him and that was the biggest concern for her, not being in his face and getting excited' Ms Johnson bought the pup for Summer shortly after a spell in hospital, pictured, during a long episode of seizures triggered by her anxiety Ms Johnson revealed the surprise in a sweet 'anonymous' note that detailed some of Summer's problems Summer had recently been in hospital after having a long episode of seizures and Cherie was told by a few different medical professionals a dog could help reduce her anxiety. Ms Johnson added: 'The seizures she had this time were triggered by anxiety. Summer had just finished mock exams and has been under a lot of pressure at school doing extra revision lessons. 'She's always felt she doesn't fit it and has to listen to the girls at school talking about what they're getting up to at the weekend and it knocks her self-esteem. 'Summer has also been bullied before because kids look at her and don't understand her disabilities as they are "hidden". 'Having a support dog means she comes home every day to her own little friend. 'Since having him she looks forward to the weekend, she's got someone to look after rather than her always being looked after and it's given her so much confidence. 'Her anxiety levels have dropped dramatically and she hasn't had any of the bigger seizures since she came out of hospital.' A national Optus outage has left thousands of customers across the country unable to watch Netflix or use their gaming consoles. Furious customers reported technical issues about midday on Wednesday, but by 8pm it had yet to be resolved. The company released a statement on social media saying it was working to fix the issue. A technical glitch has been hindering thousands of telco customers ability to enjoy their favourite Netflix shows for hours The company released a statement on social media saying it was working to resolve the issue 'Were aware of an issue currently impacting access to international websites and gaming platforms. Our tech team are currently working on resolving this. 'We aim to provide an update as soon as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience.' Many customers have taken to twitter to vent their frustrations. 'Will you be compensating customers for this outage? It's been hours with no service and no update from Optus about when it will be fixed,' one woman said. 'Thanks for the delayed communication. I was worried my Switch was broken but its just typical Aussie internet,' another person said. 'Seriously guys, step up your game. of course this is an inconvenience. at least update your customers regularly instead of four hours later. maybe that's a start,' one person commented. 'I can't play fortnite battel royal now....' A spokesman for Optus told Daily Mail Australia the company aims to provide an update as soon as possible. The estranged husband of a New York police officer who allegedly hired a hit man to kill him has revealed his disbelief and how he helped the FBI by posing for photos pretending he had been murdered. NYPD officer Valerie Cincinelli, 34, is accused of plotting to kill her estranged husband of four years, Isaiah Carvalho, and the teenage daughter of her new boyfriend. She was snared when her new boyfriend, whose identity has not been released, told police she had given him $7,000 to hire an assassin to kill the pair. Authorities informed Carvalho, 32, last week that Cincinelli, the mother of his five-year-old son and a 12-year veteran of the force, had been plotting to kill him since February, court records state. 'I didn't want to believe it, but apparently it's true,' Carvalho told ABC's Good Morning America in an interview that aired on Wednesday. 'I didn't think she would be capable of it, but now I don't put anything past her.' He was taken to a secret location and asked to pose hunched over in a car with broken glass scattered over him so they could dupe Cincinelli into thinking her hit man had been successful. Isaiah Carvalho said the FBI told him, '"We don't know how to tell you this, but your wife put a hit out on you." And my first response was, "Where's my son?"' Valerie Cincinelli (pictured left in 2017 with ex-husband Isiah Carvalho and her daughter), 34, is accused of asking her current boyfriend to hire an assassin to kill her ex-husband. She received a 'Cop of the month' award in July 2017 (shown above) Carvalho told ABC: 'I don't see why she would attempt to do this to me.' He described the moment officers told him of the plot: 'They told me, "We don't know how to tell you this, but your wife put a hit out on you." And my first response was, "Where's my son?"' The Bronx-based mechanic continued: 'And they're like, "We need your help. We're gonna need you to do something for us in order to further our investigation. 'They ended up taking me to an undisclosed location and had me fake my death and took pictures of it.' He told the broadcaster: 'It was absolutely insane... it was the craziest thing I've ever had to experience.' An undercover detective went to Cincinelli's home in Long Island last Friday to show her the photos and told her she needed to send an additional $3,000 to kill her boyfriend's daughter. Afterwards, she began talking to her boyfriend - who was cooperating with the FBI - about their alibis, court records show. Five months had passed since he filed for divorce from his wife, but he said there was not a heated custody battle for their son and he was stunned by her actions. 'We were about to reach an agreement, so I don't see why she would attempt to do this to me, or to my son for that matter,' Carvalho said in the GMA interview. A week after Cincinelli's alleged assassination plot was uncovered, her husband says he is still struggling to come to terms with it. 'I'm still in shock,' Carvalho said. 'I'm still lost over this whole thing and I'm trying to process everything.' If given a chance to speak to his wife again, Carvalho said he has only one question for her: 'why?' Ex-husband Isiah Carvalho Jr (above) posed as dead in a photo that federal agents sent to Cincinelli's boyfriend, which he used to convince her the hit had been carried out Cincinelli's family have come out strongly for her, with her father Louis describing her unnamed boyfriend as a 'wacko pathological liar' and a 'bum.' 'I don't know what happened, but I do know my daughter and I knew this was not true when I first heard it,' Louis Cincinelli told ABC News. The jailed cop's dad added that her boyfriend had previously accused Cincinelli of pulling a gun on him and threatening to kill him, but later recanted his story in open court and admitted that he made it all up. Louis Cincinelli suggested that his daughter's boyfriend has framed her as payback for throwing him out of her house two weeks earlier. The twisted saga dates back to February, when prosecutors say that mother-of-two Cincinelli approached her new boyfriend, urging him to find an assassin. But instead of going forward with the plot, he rushed to the FBI with the information and became a secret informant, according to charging documents reported by the New York Post. On February 18, prosecutors say that Cincinelli moved forward with the plot by withdrawing $7,000 from a TD Bank branch, giving the money to the boyfriend to buy five ounces of gold coins to be used to pay the purported hit man. Cincinelli, who has her own children with Carvalho, also wanted the supposed hit man to kill her new boyfriend's own teen daughter because she was in the way of their relationship, the court documents say. The cop allegedly told her boyfriend to tell the hit man to 'run her the f**k over' to make the girl's death appear to be a hit-and-run. The boyfriend strung Cincinelli along as the FBI gathered information, telling her that he was in contact with a hit man and the plot was moving forward. Cincinelli joined the New York police department in 2007 and worked out of the Queens 106th Precinct (above) in Ozone Park Last Monday, the boyfriend told Cincinelli that the supposed hit man was stalking Carvalho at his workplace on Long Island, but the NYPD cop protested that the area was too upscale. Instead, Cincinelli said he should be killed in 'the hood' or 'the ghetto' so 'it would not look suspicious,' court papers say. Worried that two deaths close together would raise suspicion, Cincinelli advised her boyfriend 'to have the hit man kill [the teen] over the weekend and then wait a week or a month to kill' her husband, the documents said. The investigation came to a head on Friday, when the Suffolk County detective told her that her husband had been found dead. Cincinelli sobbed during the notification - but hidden devices recorded her response after the detective left her home. She quickly began discussing her 'alibi' with the boyfriend, according to the court papers. Soon after, a task force of FBI agents and NYPD Internal Affairs officers swooped in and arrested Cincinelli. Records show Carvalho filed for divorce against Cincinelli last year and a court date had been set for June. Prosecutors did not offer a motive for why Cincinelli wanted him dead. A child hailed a 'miracle' by doctors died in his father's arms on Friday just weeks after his mother died due to complications during childbirth. Lauren Accurso, 37, died in labor on April 29 in Jacksonville, Florida with her fourth child Matthew Jr. from an 'unpreventable and very rare medical emergency.' Although Matthew Jr. survived, his father Matthew Accurso Sr., said his son suffered 'significant brain injury due to a prolonged period without oxygen during his birth.' Matthew Accurso Sr., said his son suffered 'significant brain injury due to a prolonged period without oxygen during his birth.' Lauren Accurso, 37, died in labor at a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida last month while giving birth to baby Matthew Accurso Sr said baby Matthew was taken off life support on Tuesday last week after 18 days of intensive treatment in the NICU at Wolfson Children's Hospital. 'Today was one of the hardest days of my life,' Accurso said in a Facebook post shared by Matt McCloghry, his family's pastor. 'Matthew is being supported by a breathing machine requiring an airway tube, and also a feeding tube,' the father explained. 'Based on the severity of his condition Matthew will not be able to sustain life without these medical devices in place, what we would typically describe as 'life support.' 'Over the past few weeks doctors have attempted to wean him off the machines, but sadly the results have not been positive.' Matthew was taken off life support on Tuesday last week after 18 days of intensive treatment in the NICU at Wolfson Children's Hospital Matthew Jr pictured at the NICU at Wolfson Children's Hospital attached to a life support machine 'I would be so grateful for your prayers in the coming days as we work with the doctors and medical staff and plan to see Matthew off to his mommy and Heavenly Father,' he ended the post. According to a GoFundMe page started to support the family, Lauren and Matthew Accurso were high school sweethearts who married in 2004. The couple have three other daughters 8-year-old Ali Rose, 5-year-old Naomi Belle and 2-year-old Layne Louise. The donations page has raised over $172,000 of its $200,000 goal so far. A blundering gas network company has been ordered to pay up 44million after leaving customers without gas for up to five months. Cadent is to pay a total of 24million and set up a 20million community fund after three 'serious' customer failures, Ofgem said. Up to 12,000 customers were left without gas for more than 24 hours, with some having to wait months. Many were then not paid the correct compensation. The company also had no records of 775 high-rise blocks of flats in its gas network. Cadent has committed to an improvement plan (Lauren Hurley/PA) Ofgem said Cadent had committed to an improvement plan after the regulator's intervention and would also set up a 20 million fund to support vulnerable consumers. The company will also double the statutory compensation payments, at an estimated cost of 6.7 million, for customers who unexpectedly lose their gas supply for for longer than 24 hours over the next two years. Ofgem said it became aware in 2018 that Cadent was increasingly leaving residents in blocks of flats without gas for longer than necessary, for example during pipe repairs. Earlier this year, Cadent told the watchdog that it failed to pay the required compensation over six years to a possible 12,000 residents left without gas for more than 24 hours, and also reported that it had no records of gas pipes in many high-rise blocks of flats in its London network. Ofgem said Cadent had admitted all three failings, and the regulator's investigation was now closed. Cadent runs four of England's eight regional distribution networks - north London, the West Midlands, the North West of England and eastern England. It did not supply Grenfell but it's failures came to light after investigations in the wake of the fire. Cadent admitted it had failed customers, with up to 12,000 not paid the correct compensation Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan said: 'Cadent has a duty of care and responsibility to millions of people across half of the country who rely on the gas it pipes to their homes for cooking and heating. 'Cadent acknowledges that it failed these customers by leaving many without gas for longer than necessary, failing to properly compensate some of those affected and not having the proper systems in place to keep records of all the high-rise blocks of flats it supplies. 'Ofgem has worked with the company, which is under new ownership and has given commitment to improve its operations to put customers at the heart of the business, to help it address its failings and prevent further harm to customers' interests. 'Cadent has also agreed to make a significant financial contribution to customers as redress in recognition of its past failings. This is a move we welcome.' Cadent chief executive Steve Hurrell apologised, saying the company had 'fallen short of customer expectations and the higher standards we have now set ourselves'. He said: 'While Cadent is a relatively new business, some of its record-keeping processes and practices go back many decades, and a number of the issues we are addressing today are a legacy of that past. 'We are taking the opportunity to reshape the company to set new standards of customer experience and are investing significantly through our community fund to reach those customers in the most vulnerable situations.' A private clinic in China has been stripped of its license after demanding a 19-year-old woman pay 800 extra for her abortion during her procedure. The 19-year-old patient was forced to sign a new agreement in the operating theatre after medics claimed to have found 'more problems' in her womb, sources have claimed. Two surgeons were also suspended from performing operations as a result. The Weinan Modern Gynecology Hospital (pictured) in China has been penalised by authority The incident came to light after a friend of the patient's was shocked by the clinic's behaviour and contacted the local Huashang Daily. According to the report, the patient, known by her surname Wang, went to the Weinan Modern Gynecology Hospital in Weinan city on May 13 to terminate her pregnancy. She was accompanied by her boyfriend and their families were not aware of the situation. The report did not explain why the couple had asked for an abortion. The clinic initially agree to perform the operation for 3,000 yuan (342), but the medical team suddenly demanded more money after the surgery had begun. Surgeons claimed to have discovered illnesses in Wang's uterus which needed treating instantly. They threatened to halt the operation if Wang would not agree to pay for the extra treatment. The clinic eventually charged the patient more than 10,000 yuan (1,142) for the procedure, 10 times the price of an abortion in a state-run hospital in China. The private clinic more than tripled the price on a 19-year-old abortion patient during surgery Desperate Wang told the clinic she only had 8,000 yuan (914), and the clinic agreed to give her a 'discount'. The Sanitation, Food and Drug Administration of Gaoxin District in Weiyang formed a special team to investigate the claims on May 15. In a statement from yesterday, investigators claimed that the clinic had misled the patient and its behaviour was illegal. Surgeons are said to have performed three different operations on the patient that day. Apart from the abortion, they removed cervical cysts and repaired cervical tears for Wang. The authority removed the license of maternal and child health care from the clinic and issued a 33,000 yuan (3,774) fine to it, according to an updated report from Huashang. The clinic was also told to adjust its pricing according to governmental standard. The lead surgeon was suspended from performing operations for one year and a participating surgeon was suspended for six months. The clinic was ordered to return the profit to Wang. A 13-year-old boy in north-west China had to undergo surgery after inserting 29 magnetic beads into his penis. The teen in Xi'an, Shaanxi province only saw a doctor after three months of pain as he was 'too embarrassed' to tell his parents, according to Chinese reports. The young patient told doctors that he had inserted the string of metallic balls into his urethra 'out of curiosity'. A 13-year-old boy in Xi'an city, north-west China had to undergo surgery after inserting 29 magnetic beads into his penis 'out of curiosity' An X-ray image shows the 29 Buckyballs, which were each about five millimetres (0.2 inches) in diameter, all bundled up in a cluster in the boy's bladder Dr Zhou Yanyan at the Xi'an Children's Hospital told reporters that the boy wasn't able to remove the balls after inserting them into his body. 'He was too embarrassed to tell his parents and thought he could pass them out naturally,' Dr Zhou told Shaanxi News. 'The child said he was suffering from constant pain and difficulty while urinating over the past three months,' he added. The child finally sought medical attention on May 11 after his parents noticed him walking with a limb and questioned him about it. Dr Zhou Yanyan at the Xi'an Children's Hospital told reporters that the boy wasn't able to remove the balls after inserting them into his body Doctors decided to operate on the boy's bladder and removed the entire cluster of balls, which was about three centimetres (1.1 inches) in diameter An X-ray image shows the Buckyballs, which were each about five millimetres (0.2 inches) in diameter, all bundled up in a cluster in the boy's bladder. Doctors decided to operate on the boy's bladder and removed the entire cluster of balls, which was about three centimetres (1.1 inches) in diameter. The young patient has been discharged from hospital after the operation and is recovering well, the report added. Dr Zhou advised parents to offer proper guidance and education to their children as they undergo puberty. Dr Zhou advised parents to offer proper guidance and education to their children as they undergo puberty. The teen has been discharged from the Xi'an Children's Hospital (above) There had been a spike in similar cases in China where young teenagers would need surgery to remove clusters of magnetic beads from their bodies. The balls are a common feature in a range of popular toys. In January, a 12-year-old boy in Wuhan, Hubei province underwent surgery to remove 39 magnetic beads after inserting them into his penis. The child, nicknamed Xiaorui, later admitted that he had inserted the beads into his penis out of curiosity. In May last year, a 14-year-old toddler in Qinhuangdao, Hebei province had to undergo surgery to remove 21 magnetic beads after swallowing them from a toy. The balls had formed a ring in his stomach, causing a fever and severe vomiting. An Atlanta police officer has been fired for repeatedly using a stun gun on a woman and punching her in the face in front of her sobbing four-year-old daughter. Atlanta police say they found Sgt. James Hines' use of force was unnecessary. An incident report says Hines was patrolling behind an apartment building when he encountered Maggie Thomas, who was sitting in a car with her daughter. She had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a speeding ticket. Maggie Thomas was violently arrested in front of her 4-year-old daughter in Atlanta on May 1 (left). Sgt James Hines Tasered Thomas multiple times and punched her in the face (right) Hines (pictured pinning down Thomas) said she was being arrest on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a speeding ticket Thomas says she was holding her daughter when she was first shocked. She dialed 911 and alerted neighbors by using her head to honk the horn. Witnesses recorded the violent arrest, and the video has since gone viral on social media. Thomas' daughter can be heard in the recording crying hysterically and screaming at her mother, 'Are you going to jail?' Thomas' disorderly conduct charge was dropped last week. The incident unfolded at around 8pm of May 1 when Sgt Hines pulled up next to Thomas' parked silver Infiniti, in which she and her daughter were sitting outside their apartment complex in northeast Atlanta. According to Thomas, Hines approached her asking if someone had been driving her car, to which she said, 'No.' Hines briefly left, then returned, telling Thomas that her car has no insurance policy on it, to which she replied that it is the reason that no one has been driving it. Hines left again and came back 15 minutes later, announcing to Thomas, 'Today is your lucky day.' Thomas was repeatedly hit with a stun gun after resisting arrest, then thrown to the ground Her daughter is heard in the video crying and screaming, 'Are you going to jail?' Thomas was booked into the city jail on a charge of disorderly conduct, which has since been dismissed (left). Sgt James Hines (right) was fired on May 17 After asking Thomas for her name, the woman said the officer snatched her by her left arm and slapped a handcuff on her wrist as she was on the phone with a friend. Hines ordered Thomas to hand over the phone, but the woman refused and instead dialed 911 after she said the sergeant threatened to Taser her. With an emergency dispatcher on the line, Thomas said Hines hit her with the stun gun while her daughter was still holding onto her. According to Thomas, Hines then put her in a chokehold, threw her to the ground, drove his foot into her back, restrained both her wrists, then used the Taser on her a second time. Hines attempted to lead Thomas to his patrol car, but the woman resisted, saying that she did not feel comfortable going with him. When I say, that he punches me in my left eye, throws me back on the ground and he's on top of me, Thomas said in a video recorded and shared by her attorney on Facebook. According to an arrest report, Hines punched Thomas in the face after she bit him on the hand - a claim she denies. Hines' report acknowledges that he had 'no visible marks from being bitten.' Are you trying to kill me? Thomas can be heard saying in the video as the officer pins her down. By that point, additional officers arrived on the scene as backup and pushed Hines away from the woman. Thomas was eventually bundled into another patrol vehicle and taken to a police station, where a high-ranking officer informed her that it appears she has a warrant out for failure to appear in court for a speeding ticket, but police could not confirm it. Thomas spoke out on May 14 after getting an apology from Atlanta's police chief and having the charge dropped against her Instead of arresting her on the warrant, police cited Thomas for disorderly conduct stemming from her altercation with Sgt Hines. I was really disappointed with APD, the whole entire staff, Thomas said, because it felt like it could have been handled differently. On May 14, Thomas and her attorney, Gerald Griggs, met with Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields, who they said apologized to the woman and her daughter for the incident. That same day, police announced they were recommending that charges be dropped against Thomas. Following an investigation by the Office of Professional Standards, Sgt Hines was dismissed from duty effective May 17 for using force during Thomas' arrest that was 'unnecessary and inconsistent with Atlanta Police Department training,' reported Atlanta Journal Constitution. Hines had been on the force since December 2002 and earned the rank of sergeant in 2012. His professional record shows no disciplinary actions. Protests have broken out in Pakistan after a 10-year-old girl was kidnapped, raped and murdered. The body of Farishta Mohmand, who disappeared after leaving home to meet friends a week ago, was discovered two days ago in a forest nearby. Her father Gul Nabi has also claimed that her body showed signs of torture and that she appeared to have had acid thrown over her. The girl's death has sparked public anger and prompted protests in the capital Islamabad, led by the girl's family. The body of Farishta Mohmand (left) was discovered two days ago in a forest near her home after she was kidnapped, raped and killed. Her father Gul Nabi (right) has claimed that his daughter's body showed signs of torture and that she appeared to have acid thrown over her The Twitter hashtag #JusticeForFarishta has gained prominence in Pakistan following the discovery of the body. Mohammad Abbas, the police chief in Islamabad, has been suspended for failing to act promptly in the case. According to Tribune, the grieving father said he had tried to register a report of kidnapping several times but had been rebuffed. Officers had even suggested that the girl might have eloped with her kidnapper and killer, he said. After an outcry the police finally opened a kidnapping case but the body was found the following day, it is claimed. Fury: Protesters gather in Islamabad yesterday holding placards demanding 'Justice for Farishta' and asking: 'For what crime was she killed?' Demonstration: Protesters hold up pictures of the murdered 10-year-old during protests in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, yesterday Pakistan's interior ministry has reportedly urged local police to take 'strict action' against the killer. The country's prime minister Imran Khan has yet to make any public statement about the killing. An investigation in Islamabad is underway, officer Mohammad Imran said. The victim's family is originally from the Mohmand region, on the country's border with Afghanistan. Crimes against children are common in Pakistan and often go unpunished. Authorities in October executed a man convicted of killing eight children, including 7-year-old Zainab Ansari. This is the shocking moment a white van driver gets his vehicle wedged underneath a supermarket car park - and has to call the fire brigade to rescue him. The bizarre incident took place at around 1pm on Tuesday at a Tesco supermarket in Hockley, north Birmingham leaving shoppers gob-smacked. Staff immediately leapt into action following the collision, placing a cordon of shopping trolleys around the van to make the scene safe. The bizarre incident took place at around 1pm on Wednesday at a Tesco supermarket in Hockley, north Birmingham leaving shoppers gob-smacked (the van is pictured left and right). Staff later placed a cordon of shopping trolleys around the Ford Transit van (left) West Midlands Fire Service arrived soon after, and used winches to free the white Ford Transit van. The driver was uninjured in the crash. A spokesman said: 'Crews from Ladywood Fire Station and our technical rescue unit, attended after a van became wedged in a car park. 'No persons were trapped or injured and the vehicle was removed using winches. A structural engineer confirmed the building was safe.' After the fire service posted details of the incident on social media, web users were quick to mock the dopey motorist. The driver of the van was not injured, and the fire service was able to right the vehicle using winches. It shared images of the bizarre scene on its social media accounts Lynn Foxall wrote on Facebook 'How? Just...how?' while Barbara Flatley put 'Omg that's just nuts. As if he tried?' Another Twitter user asked: 'How is this even possible?' Steve Hartley added: 'Whats the idea of the shopping trollies....in case someone doesn't see the van!' Berni Ryan Wonder said: 'Wonder if he got his Tesco clubpoints, 3 extra for that parking.' Nicola Bottomley tweeted: 'Should've gone to spec savers!' Employers in the United States are increasingly reliant on multilingual employees to advance their goals, but many have lost business opportunities because they dont have staff who can communicate in languages other than English, a new report from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages found . Based on a survey of 1,200 managers and human resources professionals with knowledge of their organizations foreign language needs, the report highlights the critical demand for employees who can communicate in multiple languages. A third of the survey respondents reported that their needs for foreign language skills were not being met by current employees. Overall, Spanish, Mandarin, French, Japanese, and German were the most in-demand languages, the report found. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages commissioned the report and survey as part of its Lead with Languages initiative, a public awareness campaign that aims to make language learning a national priority. The report advocates for an education system that prepares graduates to become proficient in other languages and cultures, and maintains a pipeline of prospective employees that U.S. industry needs to compete in a global economy. Were asking the business community to stand side-by-side with us and advocate for language programs, said Howard Berman, the executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. We see language learning as a core discipline that can be paired with other disciplines, like STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math education), to strengthen students so they can compete. But while the ability to communicate in more than one language remains a highly coveted skill, it does not top the list of things most employers are looking for, said Nicole Smith, a research professor and chief economist at the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. In the United States, one of the most multicultural countries, youre going to be dealing with people of all races, of all ethnicities, of all socioeconomic backgrounds, said Smith, who is not connected to the ACTFL survey. But when employers talk about the 21st century skills, being bilingual is not in the top five, in fact, it probably doesnt even come up until, maybe in the next 20, Smith said. Employers are more likely to place an emphasis on things like global and cultural awareness, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, creativity, and leadership, she said. Recent national studies from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the American Councils for International Education have painted a bleak picture of the state of foreign-language education in the nations K-12 schoolswhich have a labor problem when it comes to multilingualism. Reports released in 2017 by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences and the American Councils for International Education found that public schools and state departments of education are struggling to find qualified world language instructors and are unequipped to track local and national trends on language learning. The American Academy of Arts & Sciences Commission on Language Learning, a group of education, research, business, and government leaders, produced its report in response to a congressional request to determine how language learning influences economic growth and the productivity of future generations. The academy called for more concerted efforts to allow English-learners to continue to study their home languages, promotion of study-abroad opportunities that allow all students to immerse themselves in the cultures and language of other countries, and a commitment from the nations colleges and universities to train more foreign language teachers. The language education community cant sit back and wait, said ACTFLs Berman. We have to show where languages fit in when it comes to preparing students for the future. We have to show our value. Heres a look at the report . Related Reading How Much Foreign Language is Being Taught in U.S. Schools? Americans Are Falling Behind in Foreign Language Learning Policy Changes Could Solve the Nations Bilingual Teacher Shortage 3 members of the King family and 2 dogs were killed by the blaze. The primary border station for south Texas has been temporarily closed due to a fever outbreak, one day after a Guatemalan teenager who was diagnosed with flu at the facility died while in immigration custody. Medical staff imposed the quarantine at the Centralized Processing Center in McAllen on Tuesday after a 'large number' of detainees were found to have high fevers and symptoms of a flu-related illness. 'To avoid the spread of illness, the Rio Grande Valley Sector has temporarily suspended intake operations at the CPC,' Customs and Border Protection said in a statement late Tuesday, referring to the Central Processing Center. 'Medical staff are currently working to provide all subjects with proper medical treatment.' Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, 16, is the fifth child from Guatemala to die in six months after being apprehended by US border patrol agents Hernandez Vasquez had been detained on May 13 at the Centralized Processing Center in McAllen, Texas (pictured in an undated photo) People detained in Rio Grande Valley will be held in other stations until the situation is resolved. The quarantine comes just a day after the death of a 16-year-old boy who fell ill at the facility. Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, had been detained on May 13 after crossing the border and was processed at the McAllen center, where hundreds of parents and children are held in large, fenced-in pens. Hernandez Vasquez had been traveling with his sister, but they were separated because she was a 21-year-old adult, according to CBS News. On Sunday the teen told staff that 'he was not feeling well' and was seen by a nurse, who determined he had the flu and prescribed Tamiflu. He was then transferred to the Weslaco Border Patrol Station to avoid other detainees getting sick. He was not hospitalized. On Sunday the teen told staff that 'he was not feeling well' and was seen by a nurse, who determined he had the flu and prescribed Tamiflu. He died on Monday Medical staff have since imposed the quarantine at the Centralized Processing Center in McAllen (pictured in June) on Tuesday after a 'large number' of detainees were found to have high fevers and symptoms of a flu-related illness Hernandez Vasquez was found unresponsive on Monday during a welfare check, an hour after agents had last checked on him. He is the fifth child from Guatemala to die since December after being apprehended by US border patrol agents. Federal law requires that unaccompanied minors at the border be transferred to the US Department of Health and Human Services within three days. A US Customs and Border Protection official told KBTX that Hernandez Vasquez was supposed to be sent to Southwest Key Casa Padre at the time of his death. The FBI is now investigating the case. 'This is an epidemic of death,' said Texas Rep Joaquin Castro. 'Nobody has died for 10 years. And in the last six months, you've had five deaths.' One of Hernandez Vasquez's brothers, who lives in New Jersey, said he wants to know what happened to his brother. A spokesman said medical staff at the center are 'currently working to provide all subjects with proper medical treatment' 'We never thought this would happen in a place where he's supposed to be in a better place,' they told CBS. Hernandez Vasquez's sister has since been released from custody and will join their brothers in New Jersey. The Border Patrol agency has come under intense scrutiny in recent months over its treatment of children apprehended at the border. A 2-year-old child died last week after he and his mother were detained by the Border Patrol. The agency says it took the child to the hospital the same day the mother reported he was sick, and he was hospitalized for several weeks. On April 30, a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy died after officials at an HHS detention facility noticed that he was sick. He was hospitalized in intensive care for several days before his death. The Border Patrol agency has come under intense scrutiny in recent months over its treatment of children apprehended at the border After the deaths of two children, ages seven and eight in December, the Department of Homeland Security ordered medical checks of all children in its custody and expanded medical screenings. Earlier this year Trump administration officials said the country's immigration system had reached a 'breaking point' of illegal border crossings that have overwhelmed the system, especially in the Rio Grande Valley. Almost half a million people have been stopped at the southern US border since October. Most who cross without authorization surrender to authorities and file for asylum. Overcrowding at emergency shelters has forced authorities to release some migrants from detention as they await a review of their asylum applications. The McAllen center is one of the busiest along the US-Mexican border. Hospital staff have been caught on camera in an undercover investigation abusing vulnerable adults by mocking, taunting, intimidating and restraining them. Workers at Whorlton Hall in County Durham were filmed calling one patient a 'fat c**t' while another used language offensive to disabled people to describe the privately-run hospital. The investigation by BBC Panorama also revealed another patient being told by her care worker at the NHS-funded centre that her family were 'f***ing poison'. Hospital owner Cygnet has now suspended 16 workers and Durham Constabulary has begun a probe following the findings, which will be shown on BBC One tonight. Workers at Whorlton Hall in County Durham were filmed talking about the adults they care for The hospital staff have been caught on camera in an undercover investigation by Panorama The investigation saw reporter Olivia Davies go undercover as a care worker for two months to investigate claims by whistleblowers of mistreatment and poor care. She filmed shocking scenes of staff using offensive language to describe patients, with two male staff members singling out a female patient for particular abuse. Aware she was scared of men, they left her distressed while trying to keep her quiet by claming her room would be inundated with men - or 'pressing the man button'. On other occasions the workers can be heard within her earshot using explicit sexual language, and one threatened to 'deck her' if she tries to run at staff. Glynis Murphy, an expert in clinical psychology and disability at the University of Kent, told the programme that the treatment was like 'psychological torture'. Six care workers claimed to the BBC reporter that they had deliberately hurt patients The professor said: 'She is stuck there, she can't get away. It is a secure unit. And they are deliberately taunting her and deliberately upsetting her.' The investigation also filmed various incidents physical restraint, which should only be used to prevent a patient harming themselves or others. Birmingham City University autism expert Andrew McDonnell, who develops training aimed at limiting restraint, said: 'Restraint should be momentary. It should be short. 'It should be with as few staff as possible, without an audience. If there is no immediate risk of harm you back off. You're talking a threshold of minute of two.' But one restraint saw a patient held down for nearly ten minutes, with a worker holding his head between his knees, while handing out chewing gum to colleagues. The hospital promises therapeutic care for around 12 adults with learning disabilities or autism Hospital owner Cygnet has suspended 16 workers and Durham police have begun a probe The patient's possessions were removed from his room and shown to him while he was still being restrained - something Mr McDonnell described as cruel punishment. In another incident filmed undercover for the programme, a patient was deliberately antagonised by a care worker, who removed a poster from his wall. When the patient reacted, the staff members threatened him by saying: 'Get in there, punch me and see what happens. I'll put you through the floor.' Six care workers claimed to the reporter that they had deliberately hurt patients including one who described banging a patient's head against the floor. The hospital, which promises therapeutic care for around 12 adults with learning disabilities or autism, had been rated good by the Care Quality Commission in 2017. The investigation saw Panorama reporter Olivia Davies (pictured) go undercover as a care worker for two months to investigate claims by whistleblowers of mistreatment and poor care Dr Paul Lelliott, its deputy chief inspector of hospitals, said the abuse was clearly not picked up, adding: 'All I can do is apologise deeply to the people concerned.' A Department for Health and Social Care spokesman told the programme: 'We treat any allegations of abuse with the utmost seriousness. 'Durham Constabulary are now leading a criminal investigation into the allegations. Steps have been taken to ensure the safety of residents at Whorlton Hall.' And a Cygnet spokesman said: 'We have suspended all the members of staff involved (and) simultaneously informed all relevant authorities, including the police.' The company added that it transferred all of the patients to other hospitals, and it has a 'zero tolerance of unprofessional conduct towards them'. The latest investigation comes eight years after Panorama exposed abuse at another specialist hospital for vulnerable adults, Winterbourne View near Bristol. Panorama: Undercover Abuse Scandal will be shown on BBC One at 9pm tonight A Russian mob boss stabbed to death by his three daughters could be charged posthumously with paedophile crimes amid claims he horrifically abused the trio. Krestina, Angelina, and Maria Khachaturyan are currently facing murder charges over the killing of father Mikhail, 57, who was knifed in his apartment block last July. But prosecutors are now expected to seek judicial permission to drop the case against the siblings and charge Mikhail instead after evidence emerged of years of sexual torture and physical abuse. Officials now back the sisters' claims that Mikhail raped Krestina and Angelina and engaged in other sexual violence when they were underage, reported the Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper. Mikhail Khachaturyan (left) was stabbed to death in Moscow by his three daughters (Angelina, pictured right) last year, but prosecutors are now thought to be dropping the murder charges Evidence has emerged that Mikhail raped Angelina and Krestina (right) while they were underage, and slashed Maria (left) with a knife According to new evidence, he told one of his 'terrified' daughters: 'You will take the place of your mother. I will marry you and you will give birth to my baby.' The experts' statement - which will be handed to the case judge - states: 'He ordered them to get undressed in front of him, saying that he wanted to "check" them. 'Then ordered them to masturbate him, saying that he had problems with his prostate and it would be a cure.' He 'abused and humiliated' them 'with various weapons', the statement says. A picture has also emerged of Angelina with blood streaming from her face after an alleged attack. On the day of Mikhail's death, the girls say they took their father's hunting knife from his car as self protection because they feared he would beat them. Pictures have emerged showing injuries the girls sustained. Left is Angelina with blood running down her face, while a bruise on one of the girls' jaws is seen right Angelina (pictured in court) and her siblings don't deny attacking their father, but insist it was in self defence fearing he would kill one of them On the day Mikhail died, the girls say he attacked them with pepper spray - causing Krestina, who suffered from asthma, to collapse Maria had been previously wounded with the knife as had the girls' mother, Aurelia, who had fled the family home. Before the fatal attack the girls say they were attacked with pepper spray, a frequent 'punishment' dished out by Mikhail. Krestina - an asthma sufferer - collapsed and he took her to the bathroom, undressing her and pouring vodka over her, the new report says. Worried that she could die and fearing for their own lives, Angelina and Maria decided to attack him with the knife and a hammer. During the struggle, which spilled out of the apartment and on to the street, Angelina plunged a knife into her father's heart, according to the new evidence. He collapsed and Maria called an ambulance, but he was already dead when paramedics arrived. Mikhail kept an array of weapons stashed in his car which lawyers now believe he used to threaten and humiliate the girls with Weapons and ammunition uncovered in Mikahil's car. He was allegedly a mob boss before he was killed in July last year Last year the sisters - then aged 19, 18 and 17 - were freed from detention pending detailed analysis of their case. Angelina told interrogators: 'I have no regrets. It was no longer possible to tolerate what he did to us. 'Prison is better than living with him. From the age of ten - beatings, from 14 - sexual harassment. When he drove our mother out three years ago, things got really bad.' Lawyer Yaroslav Pakulin, acting for the sisters, said: 'Because of the heavy crimes committed by Khachaturyan against his daughters, when some sexual crimes could have been punished with up to 15 years in jail, the law permits withdrawing all criminal charges against them.' Charging him posthumously with paedophile crimes was important to clear the names of the sisters, he said. Aurelia Dunduk, the girls' mother, was also allegedly slashed with a knife and fled the family home, after which his abuse of the girls became more severe Lawyers will also move to charge Mikhail posthumously with paedophile crimes, which allows the girls to be cleared under Russian law Angelina's lawyer Alexey Parshin said: 'From the very beginning it was clear that the girls lived in a long-term psychologically damaging situation. 'They experienced violence for several years. It has been proven by forensic experts. 'It became clear why they could not ask for help and could not escape from this father. 'Considering that they constantly feared for their lives and that the crimes against them kept repeating, this was necessary self-defence. 'We expect the criminal investigation against them to be stopped. 'The actions of Mikhail Khachaturyan have seriously damaged physical and psychological health of the girls.' Piers Morgan has today put himself forward to replace Theresa May as the next Prime Minister. The Good Morning Britain host lauded himself as a 'brilliant' contender for the top job, citing his 'special relationship' with President Donald Trump and leadership ability among his attributes. Piers then launched a scathing criticism of Mrs May, describing her as 'cringe making, stubborn and embarrassing.' Piers Morgan put himself forward to replace Theresa May as the next Prime Minister Piers argued his case after Susanna Reid put him forward as a candidate - against the backdrop of Jerusalem playing in the background - before calling him 'hopeless'. She said: 'It's time to step up. Someone whose initials are also the same as Prime Minister. Someone people have clamoured for for weeks, months, nae years, since the Referendum result of 2016. 'I'm not talking about Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage, Jeremy Hunt or Dominic Raab, even. 'I'm talking about the PM, the man they... no I'm not talking about you, you'd be a hopeless Prime Minister.' Piers replied: 'I'd be brilliant. I'd have a very special relationship with the President of the United States. We would sort the new world order out and I'd get stuff done. First sign of a cabinet rebellion early on, bang, out all of you.' He said he would have put Chris Grayling 'in a taxi if I didn't think he'd crash it', before branding Mrs May 'terrible'. He added: 'Leaders have to lead. You have to have total loyalty otherwise out, gone. People say she's doing her best. 'Her best is terrible. She's showing stubbornness. What we're seeing is blind selfish stubbornness. She wants to stay for another three weeks so she outlasts Gordon Brown's tenure so she doesn't look like on the chart that she didn't last as long as him. Absolutely embarrassing.' The suggestion sparked a debate on social media, with some fans - and even critics - backing Piers for PM Piers argued his case after Susanna Reid put him forward as a candidate against the backdrop of Jerusalem playing in the background, before calling him 'hopeless' The host launched a scathing criticism of Mrs May, describing her as 'cringe making, stubborn and embarrassing' Viewers soon took to social media to share their views on the leadership bid, with both fans and critics alike arguing he could not do a worse job. Elaine Marriott wrote: 'He cant do any worse job and at least I wouldnt have to listen to him at breakfast time.' Jackie Suzanne added: 'I'd vote for him and I don't like him.' Tim Stubbs tweeted: 'The fact we're having this discussion illustrates just how bad things have got. I'm building a rocket and a bunker.' A gang of watch thieves grabbed one of the worlds rarest watches worth 700,000 in a series of 'targeted' raids, a court heard. Mehdi Didda, 33, and Mohamed Safri, 34, were allegedly part of a gang who pursued victims for their valuable timepieces. Mehdis brother Sofiane Didda, 43, is accused of helping sell the stolen loot from a lock-up premises in Queensway Market, Bayswater, west London. Southwark Crown Court heard one of the timepieces was a Richard Mille RM 69 Erotic Tourbillon, one of only 30 created by the exclusive watchmaker. Heidi Stonecliffe, prosecuting, said the robbers took valuable watches from 'unsuspecting members of the public they targeted'. One of the items they allegedly stole was a 700,000 Richard Mille RM 69 Erotic Tourbillon watch, similar to this one pictured, that is only one of 30 ever made She said: They handled these watches and other high value items knowing that they were stolen. They did this for a single purpose, it is one that everyone will recognise, greed. The watches that were taken in robberies were worth between 20,000 and in one case nearly 700,000. She said those involved made significant amounts of money from selling the goods and spent it on luxuries. Ms Stonecliffe added: They could be sold on for significant amounts of money. They spent some of it on designer clothes for themselves. Ms Stonecliffe said one of the victims, Fawkzyah Al Sharah, had her Louis Vuitton bag swiped from the boot of her chauffeur driven car as it was about to take her to Heathrow. The monogrammed bag contained a Chopard necklace and pendant as well as a Harry Winston watch that were later found in a lockaway used by the two Didda brothers. The prosecutor said the robbers stalked wealthy members of the public, eyeing up their shopping bags and watches, communicating with each other by talking into their earphones. She said: It involved identifying a victim by the type of watch they were wearing, the shopping bag they were carrying, and the area they were in. They would follow them around the shop or keep watch on them. Once the time was right the defendants and their fellow conspirators would act and grab the watch from the victim. She added 10,320 cash, said to be the proceeds of crime, was recovered from the lockaways used by the two Didda brothers. Jurors also heard 1,160 was recovered from Sofiane Diddas house, which the prosecution claim is also the result of criminal activity. Other stolen goods recovered from the lockaways included a drone owned by H Robotics, a Nikon camera belonging to Amit Desai and a Panerai watch belonging to Jonny Ward-Manning. The Didda brothers claim they ran a legitimate business and had no idea that any of the goods were stolen. Mehdi Didda, of Wandsworth, and Safri, of no fixed address, together deny conspiracy to rob. Mehdi Didda and Sofiane Didda, of Bethnal Green, together deny one count of conspiracy to handle stolen goods, seven counts of handling stolen goods, and one of possessing criminal property. Sofiane Didda alone denies two further counts of handling stolen goods and one of possessing criminal property. The trial continues. A teacher downed lager at a college and left empty cans under his desk, a misconduct panel has heard. Barry Phillips is also accused of throwing up in the college toilets 'on a daily basis' and asking students to get him painkillers from the shop as he had a headache. The panel heard Mr Phillips was working as a youth tutor at further education college ITEC Training Solutions in Cwmbran, south Wales. Fellow tutor Allie Scrase said she would see Mr Phillips, who taught pupils ranging from 16 to 19 years old, buy booze on his lunch break and be sick in the loos. The panel heard Barry Phillips was working as a youth tutor at further education college ITEC Training Solutions in Cwmbran, south Wales (pictured) She said: 'He used to phone colleagues at night while drunk and he this did so much we stopped answering our phones. 'He said he would go to the shop to buy cans during lunchtime and would have them in his bag during school. 'I saw him being sick in the afternoons in the school toilet - that would be almost on a daily basis.' Phillips is also accused of keeping medication in an unlocked drawer which could be accessed by vulnerable students. The tablets were found by Mr Phillips' line manager, Ruth Hanson, who discovered them while looking in the drawer for documents. She said: 'This action potentially put vulnerable students at risk. A number of our pupils suffer from drug and alcohol issues.' Another employee, administrator Jordan Leech, claimed she saw pupils who had bought medication for Mr Phillips. She said: 'I saw two male students walking back to the campus. 'When questioned where they had been they said Barry asked them to get some tablets for him because he had a headache.' The Education Workforce Council hearing was told Mr Phillips was suspended after the allegations came to light. He was not present at the hearing. The hearing continues. A French-Spanish nun has been brutally murdered in a village in the Central African Republic where she taught sewing to young girls, the Vatican said today. Sister Ines Nieves Sancho, 77, was found beheaded early on Monday according to the Vatican News website, while a bishop in CAR said her throat had been slit. 'According to a local member of parliament, the murder could be linked to trafficking in human organs,' the site adds. Village MP, Jean Marque Djokou said that the beheading is likely to be for human organ trafficking because it took place in Nola, a village known for murder recurrences and cases of organ trafficking. Sister Ines Nieves Sancho was murdered in the CAR village of Nola in the southwest near the border with Cameroon. The village has a reputation for recurrent murder and trafficking Pope Francis paid tribute to the nun on Wednesday, describing the murder of a woman 'who gave her life for Jesus in the service of the poor' as 'barbaric'. He called for those gathered in Saint Peter's Square for his weekly general audience to pray in silence for her. 'Her attackers broke into her room on the night between Sunday and Monday and took her to the centre she was running for the young girls, where they beheaded her,' Vatican News said. 'According to a local member of parliament, the murder could be linked to trafficking in human organs,' the site adds. A spokesman for the diocese of Burgos in Spain told AFP a bishop in the Central African Republic had described the state of the nun's body. 'They cut her neck to the point of killing her, but they didn't cut off her head completely,' he said. The bishop said the motives for her murder were not known and 'no terrorist organisation' has claimed responsibility for it, the spokesman added. The bishop of the diocese of Berberati led the funeral for Ines Nieves Sancho on Tuesday, he said. The vice general of the diocese of Berberati, Isaie Koffia, told AFP that the nun was murdered on Sunday afternoon. Pope Francis paid tribute to the nun 'who gave her life for Jesus in the service of the poor' and called gatherers in Saint Peter's Square to pray in silence for her 'Strangers entered the back gate and dragged her into the bush behind the house to slaughter her. They did not take anything at all, they just came to kill her,' he added. The nun belonged to the small congregation of the 'Filles de Jesus', or 'Daughters of Jesus', which is based in Massac-Seran in southwestern France. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez took to Twitter to express his 'condolences and affection for Ines' family' as well as for a Spanish missionary, Fernando Hernandez, who was killed on Saturday in Burkina Faso. Hernandez, a 60-year-old member of the Salesian congregation in Bobo-Dioulasso, 'was attacked by knives by a former employee who was fired two months ago,' according to the website of the Salesian congregation, salesianos.info. He is the second Salesian to have been murdered in Burkina Faso this year. In February Antonio Cesar Fernandez, 72, was the victim of a 'jihadist attack', according to the website. CAR has been struggling to recover from the bloodletting that erupted when former president Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown in 2013 by mainly-Muslim Seleka rebels. Armed groups, typically claiming to defend an ethnic or religious group, control about 80 percent of the CAR, often fighting over access to the country's mineral wealth. Thousands have lost their lives, nearly 650,000 have fled their homes and another 575,000 have left the country, according to UN figures as of December last year. A 15-year-old Florida boy has been arrested for threatening to launch a school shooting in a postcard he wrote to Santa this year, but signed under another classmate's name. The ninth grader at Wiregrass Ranch High School was arrested Monday on a felony charge of written threats to kill or do bodily harm, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. The teen, from Wesley Chapel, was taken to a juvenile detention center. He allegedly penned the letter to Santa, claiming he was going to carry out shootings at Wiregrass Ranch High, and signed it under the name of a female student. The postcard was dropped off in a Macy's store Santa letter box on November 4, according to the Tampa Bay Times. On Monday a 15-year-old boy at Wiregrass Ranch High school was arrested for writing a threat to shoot up the school in a letter to Santa, that he signed under a female student's name. File image of a Macy's Santa letter box above Investigators were led to the boy after his fingerprints, which were already on file from a previous misdemeanor arrest, were found on the postcard. The school he attends and threatened to shoot up - Wiregrass Ranch High School - pictured above 'I have been planning this for im (sic), I am shooting up Wiregrass Ranch High School...' part of the letter said as per Patch. Investigators first interviewed the female student whose name was signed on the postcard, but ruled her out as a suspect, Sheriffs Office spokesman Kevin Doll said. Investigators were led to the boy after his fingerprints, which were already on file from a previous misdemeanor arrest, were found on the postcard. When confronted by authorities, the boy said he didn't write that postcard and was never at the Macy's in the Shops at Wiregrass store, where the card was delivered. The Macy's in the Shops at Wiregrass store where the card was delivered pictured above However, the student's grandmother told WFLA that he was joking when he sent the postcard. 'He's a nice boy here,' she said. This is the second arrest in two weeks involving shooting threats at Wiregrass Ranch High. On Monday May 13 a teacher and assistant principal said they hear a 17-year-old student say he was going to shoot up the school and and he 'hated this school and everybody in it', according to the Sheriff's Office. That student later told deputies he did not have access to firearms and wouldn't hurt anyone in the school, according to an arrest report. He faces a charge of a false report use of firearms and was released to his parents following his arrest. Advertisement These are the fascinating photographs of brothels and the women who worked there in the Old American West. The pictures that were taken around the turn of the 19th century in the state of Colorado show 'soiled doves', girls in white dresses who came to boom towns such as Denver to keep the working men company. Other photos in the collection that has reemerged 130 years later feature the infamous bordellos, showing madams, men, women, maids and even babies having a time of it in the Wild West. The collection of photos shows red light districts in the towns of Denver and Cripple Creek - a bustling mining community which sprung up in the 19th century thanks to the discovery of gold in the area. The American Frontier saw economic workers from across America and the globe travelling to the Western states of the Union in search of lucrative work. Pictured: Unidentified Denver prostitutes, Colorado, circa 1890. So-called 'soiled doves', girls wearing white dresses, came to boom towns such as Denver to keep the working men company. Workers from across America came through Denver while traversing the US Left: Famous Old West Madam Jennie Rogers who operated in Denver. Right: Mattie Silks. Mattie operated in Denver and other towns in Colorado. Prostitution contributed heavily to town economies in the way of business licenses, fees and fines. A number of red light districts evolved into the social centres of their communities Boom town: Gold was struck in Cripple Creek in October in 1980 ans parked a rapid expansion of the town Boom town and villages that struck gold became magnets for prospectors who would then flock to a town to work on the mine. One such Coloradan town was Cripple Creek where gold was struck in October, 1890. The town's population increased from a sparse five hundred to a bustling ten thousand in just three years. Treaties with native American nations, military conquest, the building of farms, ranches, and towns, the marking of trails and digging of mines all drew men westwards to the Frontier for work. Almost without exception, pioneer mining camps, boomtowns and whistles-stops became home to at least one or two prostitutes - if not a roaring red light district. Prostitution contributed heavily to town economies in the way of business licenses, fees and fines. A number of red light districts evolved into the social centres of their communities. It was not uncommon for bordellos in Western towns to operate openly, without the stigma of East Coast cities. Ed Chase's Palace Theater in Denver. This establishment was situated outside of the designated brothel district, but it was the first place prospectors and travellers would go to from the train station for feminine diversions and jollification. It hosted racy stage shows, fancy buffets, gambling and booze. The Palace, as it was known, was famous throughout the Old West The Club in the gold rush town of Cripple Creek, Colorado, circa 1892. The picture shows a quintessential Old West sin palace with musicians, the madam (bottom right, striped dress), housemaids and the ladies that wore white brothel gowns hanging out of the upstairs windows. There is also a baby in a pram, bottom left. Gold was struck in Cripple Creek in October, 1890. The town's population increased from a sparse five hundred to a bustling ten thousand in just three years Left: Belle Binard's brothel on the Denver Row, circa 1885. This establishment was one of the finer houses. Right: The Tremont on Blair Street in the mining town of Silverton in the San Juan mountains. It was a combination of a saloon and a brothel, with the booze downstairs and the girls upstairs Two women wearing brothel gown are seen in the facade of 2130 Market Street, Denver, 1905. As a group of three men also walk down the filthy street. The street was the notorious hedonistic area of Denver in the 19th and 20th century, known simply as The Row The interior of Madam Mamie Darling's brothel in Market Street, Denver, date unknown. As was customary across the USA, women of organised prostitution dressed in white smocks called brothel gowns. Darling is the woman in the dark dress, and the man seated on the floor beside her would have been the piano player, security or a pimp Gambling and prostitution were central to life in these western towns, and only later, as the female population increased, reformers moved in, and other civilizing influences arrived - did prostitution become less blatant and less commonplace. Cripple Creek: The town built on gold Gold discoveries in Colorado began around Denver; prospectors traced the placer gold to its source in the mountains west of Denver, then followed the Colorado Mineral Belt in a southwest direction across the state to its terminus in the San Juan Mountains. The first discovery of gold in the Pikes Peak region was made in 1874 when a man named T.H Lowe picked up some rich ore in a meadow near the present site of Cripple Creek. The Cripple Creek district, far from the mineral belt, was one of the last gold districts to be discovered and is still in production. A map of the Cripple Creek gold seams showing the mining companies that owned them The so-called 'Cripple Creek Gold Rush' was a period of gold production in the Cripple Creek area from the late 1800s until the early 1900s. By 1900, 500 mines had been discovered, the towns of Cripple Creek and Victor had been established, and rail service had linked the district to the outside world. The towns of Cripple Creek and Victor were established solely to serve the mines and miners of the district. Like most booming gold camps, Cripple Creek wasted no time establishing dozens of businesses, including a number of saloons and brothels. By 1893, 10,000 miners working the district produced one third of Colorado's gold output. By 1895, half of Colorado's gold production of 660,000 ounces came from the district. Gold production peaked around 1900 with production valued at $18 million. From 1890 to 1910, 22.4 million ounces of gold were produced. The district is noted for several large and famous mines and is said to have produced 30 millionaires. Advertisement One photograph taken in Cripple Creek shows a bordello called The Club. It's a quintessential Old West sin palace with musicians, the madam, housemaids and the ladies that wore white brothel gowns hanging out of the upstairs windows. The white gown was the uniform for a prostitutes in the Old West. Despite their appearance, these girls were tough, many of them would engage in robbing clients by poisoning their beer. Prostitution was a dangerous profession, with many dying from childbirth or from venereal disease. But some women rose to become extremely wealthy, famous and respectable citizens in their own right - by becoming madams of their own brothels. As one of the best-known madams in the west Mattie Silks, of Denver, Colorado said, 'I went into the sporting life for business reasons and for no other. It was a way for a woman in those days to make money, and I made it.' Mattie opened up her first brothel when she was 19-years-old and made $38,000 (equivalent to $1 million today) in just three months running a bordello in Dawston City, Alaska. And madam Belle Brezing from Lexington, Kentucky was so renowned she is said to have been the model for Belle Watling in the classic novel, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Whilst other 'soiled doves' met some of the most famed outlaws of the day through the brothels - and made their own mark on history. Fannie Porter's luxurious brothel in San Antonio, Texas was a popular haunt of Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch - the most successful train-robbing gang in history. Several of her 'girls' like Etta Place and Della Moore went on to marry Harry Longabaugh (better known as the Sundance kid) and Harvey Logan (known as Kid Curry). And prostitute Laura Bullion even became a member of the Wild Bunch gang - supporting them by stealing stolen goods during their train robberies. Meanwhile, Texan prostitute 'Big Nose Kate' married one of the West's deadliest gunslingers Doc Holliday - and even broke him out of jail in 1877 by starting a fire and pulling a gun on the prison guard. Being a Madam required a great deal of skill. As well as monitoring the cleanliness of the brothel and providing training, cosmetics and clothes, large focus for madams was keeping their business transactions discreet and staying on the good side of the law. They did so by contributing money to charitable organizations, schools, and churches. Until the early twentieth century, madams predominately ran the brothels, after which male pimps took over, and the treatment of the women generally declined. A demimondaine in the customary white brothel gown and another girl in a dark hat, far left, greet passersby along Market Street, Denver, 1905. If the man didn't stop he could be taunted, or she might even snatch off his hat, throwing it inside so he must enter the brothel to retrieve it. Demimondaines as they are known, were not above robbery by murder so clients had to be careful Advertisement An amateur photographer has captured an incredible image of a bald eagle staring straight into the camera with a perfectly symmetrical reflection in the water below. Steve Biro, 53, was shooting photos at the at a nature conservation area when an eagle named Bruce was brought out. 'I was so excited when they brought Bruce out as the water was fairly calm and I knew I might get a decent reflection,' says Steve, from Windsor, Canada. 'I loved the symmetry of this one in particular and the way he is staring right through me and looking mean and powerful just blew me away,' said photographer Steve Biro 'I love getting reflections from a low vantage point and hoped to get a couple of decent pics of Bruce. 'He flew across the pond several times,' said Steve. 'He was flying close enough to my head to feel the breeze from his wings but I was determined to keep shooting. Bruce the bald eagle brushes the glassy surface of the pond with his wingtip feathers as it banks slightly at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario 'I have many wonderful images from the visit but I loved the symmetry of this one in particular and the way he is staring right through me and looking mean and powerful just blew me away.' Steve, who took up photography ten years ago, was at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario when he captured the images two weeks ago. Steve shot the photos on his Canon 5D Mark IV and a Canon 100M L macro lens. The symmetrical shot was captured at f/7.1, 1/2000s and ISO 2500. The mighty bald eagle leaves the slightest of ripples as he skims over a pond at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario, where amateur photographer Steve Biro captured these images 'He was flying close enough to my head to feel the breeze from his wings but I was determined to keep shooting,' said photographer Steve Biro The bald eagle banks into a turn over the pond at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy in Ontario, as photographed by amateur snapper Steve Biro The Trump administration has built less than 2 miles of new border barriers using the $1.57 billion Congress allocated to the project for the fiscal year that will end September 30, according to a letter filed Tuesday in federal court. House of Representatives general counsel Douglas Letter made that revelation to Judge Haywood Gillam, citing information the administration provided to Congress about its efforts through the end of April. 'Based on that updated information, it appears that CBP has now constructed 1.7 miles of fencing with its fiscal year 2018 funding,' Letter wrote. President Donald Trump fired back Wednesday on Twitter, defending what he said has been 'a complete demolition and rebuilding of old and worthless barriers with a brand new Wall and footings.' 'Problem is, the Haters say that is not a new Wall, but rather a renovation. Wrong, and we must build where most needed,' he added. President Donald Trump played defense on Wednesday after a lawyer for Congress told a federal judge that his administration has made little progress building a border wall despite getting $1.57 billion in funding for it this year On Tuesday the House of Representatives' general counsel told a judge that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol 'has now constructed 1.7 miles of fencing' with the $1.57 billion it received for the project in the fiscal year that ends September 30 White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders insisted Wednesday on TV that the administrationwill have 500 miles of wall built by year's end and would be twice as far along if Democrats were helping instead of pushing back 'Also, tremendous work is being done on pure renovation fixing existing Walls that are in bad condition and ineffective, and bringing them to a very high standard!' Trump concluded. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman told DailyMail.com in March that it had not erected any walls at all to protect previously unbarricaded sections of America's southern border. 'The first new wall project, where no barrier currently exists, is anticipated to start in April,' CBP spokesman Roger Maier said at the time. He identified Hidalgo County as the construction project's location, a border zone along a meandering 50-mile stretch of the Rio Grande. CBP said last year that it was 'designing and constructing approximately 25 miles of levee wall system' in that county, whose anchor is the the border city of McAllen. Maier did not immediately respond to a question on Wednesday about whether the Hidalgo County project has proceeded. CBP wrote in March, after DailyMail.com reported Maier's comments, that it had 'built 38 miles of new border wall system in CA NM & TXproviding new capability by replacing ineffective infrastructure, like Normandy-style barriers designed only to stop vehicles, not people on foot.' Trump blasted the 'haters' who point to a lack of action at the border, claiming that he should get credit for 'demolition and rebuilding' of ineffective border barriers Trump said Monday night during a rally in Pennsylvania that 'the wall is being built as we speak.' 'We'll have almost 500 miles of wall by the end of next year,' he boasted, inviting an audience member on stage who was wearing a suit made of brick wall-print fabric. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders upper the ante Wednesday morning, saying the administration will hit that landmark by the end of 2019 and that Letter cited 'an incorrect number.' 'I know that there have been there's over 100 miles, I think it's close to 115 miles that have been finished,' she said on 'Fox & Friends.' 'We feel comfortable and confident that we're on track to get right around 500 finished by the end of the year,' Sanders insisted. Letter's letter doesn't address the possibility that the Trump administration has used money for wall-building other than the funds Congress appropriated for this year. The president has rediirected billions of dollars to the project through a national emergency declaration, while claiming at the same time that the project has long been underway. Both houses of Congress voted to rescind that declaration with a resolution that the president vetoed in March. Nearly all of the documented border wall construction the Trump administration has engaged in so far has consisted of replacing some existing barriers and reinforcing others with secondary fencing Customs and Border Protection says it has replaced 'dilapidated' border barriers that consisted of Normandy-style vehicle barriers like these, shown in April 2018 between Santa Teresa, New Mexico and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico The administration has awarded contracts for just 244 miles of barriers so far, and more than half of the money required to pay for those projects is earmarked from emergency-declaration funds that court battles have, at least temporarily, put out of reach. Of those 244 miles' worth of contracted walls, 230 would be replacements to barriers that existed when Trump became president in January 2017. Judge Gillam presides over two separate lawsuits aimed at stopping Trump from using emergency-declaration money to fund construction that Congress has refused to pay for. California and 19 other states brought one suit. Plaintiffs in the other include the Sierra Club and the American Civil Liberties Union. Trump has boasted in the past that '[w]e have already built large new sections' during his time in the White House. But border barriers erected between the U.S. and Mexico since Inauguration Day 2017 have consisted almost exclusively of supplements to existing walls and replacements for outmoded or decreipt barriers. Maier said in March that CBP had 'constructed approximately 38 of 40 miles of wall in place of outdated designs,' using funds Congress appropriated for fiscal 2017. Those replacements are up in San Diego and El Centro, California; Santa Teresa, New Mexico; and El Paso, Texas. 'This barrier replaced dilapidated infrastructure, half of which was Normandy-style vehicle barrier,' he said. President Donald Trump blamed special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation as the reason behind his sinking poll numbers as he railed against fresh impeachment talk from Democrats as 'presidential harassment.' Trump argued Wednesday that without the 'witch hunt' he'd be at 65 per cent approval rating. 'Without the ILLEGAL Witch Hunt, my poll numbers, especially because of our historically 'great' economy, would be at 65%. Too bad! The greatest Hoax in American History,' he tweeted. President Trump is arguing his approval rating would be higher without the Russia probe Trump's job approval hasn't been above the 50 per cent mark since March, when his favorite Rasmussen survey had him at that spot. But currently Rasmussen has the president at 46 per cent approval. A Quinnipiac poll has him at 38 percent. Meanwhile the RealClearPolitics polling average has President Trump's approval rating at 42.7 per cent. The president's tweet about poll numbers also comes as surveys show former Vice President Joe Biden would beat him if the general election were held today. Trump's focus has turned toward 2020 as he gears up to formally launch his re-election bid, which comes as Democrats are turning up the pressure on Speaker Nancy Pelosi to launch an impeachment probe into the president. And Trump, in return, charged Democrats Wednesday with forgoing their legislative work in Congress to investigate him. President Trump also railed against the fresh impeachment talk against him 'The Democrats are getting ZERO work done in Congress. All they are focused on is trying to prove the Mueller Report wrong, the Witch Hunt!,' the president complained on twitter. Pelosi is working to tamp down the renewed talk of impeachment against the president. She is hosting a closed-door meeting with House Democrats on Wednesday at the Capitol to try to rein in lawmakers who want to see impeachment proceedings begin. Trump complained the fresh push for impeachment is paramount to 'presidential harassment.' 'Everything the Democrats are asking me for is based on an illegally started investigation that failed for them, especially when the Mueller Report came back with a NO COLLUSION finding. Now they say Impeach President Trump, even though he did nothin wrong, while they 'fish!',' he tweeted as part of his series of four tweets on the subject Wednesday morning. He added: 'After two years of an expensive and comprehensive Witch Hunt, the Democrats don't like the result and they want a DO OVER. In other words, the Witch Hunt continues!' He concluded: 'PRESIDENTIAL HARASSMENT!' Speaker Nancy Pelosi will meet with House Democrats Wednesday to try and rein in the impeachment talk Pelosi is arguing for Democrats to continue their line of investigation into Trump's businesses, his taxes, and his 2016 campaign without taking it to impeachment levels. She was a leader in the House in the 1990s when Republicans tried to impeach then-President Bill Clinton - only to lose control of the lower chamber in the next election. But the impeachment talk among her party has heated up in the wake of former White House counsel Don McGahn's refusal, at the White House's request, to comply with a subpoena for his testimony on the Russia investigation and his testimony outlined in Mueller's report. His refusal to appear Tuesday set off a wave of fury among Democrats. Freshman Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told CNN that she knows 'being the speaker is hard, but I think we know what we need to do. We have to move forward.' And even some of Pelosi's loyal lieutenants are starting to move toward impeachment. Rep. Elijah Cummings, the power chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee - one of the six panels investigating Trump - said he is 'getting there' on impeachment. 'I think what the president has done has put us in a position where we cannot get any information to do the oversight that we need to do. And that basically ties our hands and makes us, with regard to oversight, powerless,' Cummings said on CNN. 'The question now becomes: Do we allow this to continue? And where do we end up if we do that? That is the question,' Cummings added. 'And I'm still mulling it over and talking to my colleagues when I get on the floor in a few minutes. But I'm getting there.' A flamingo at a zoo in Bloomington, Illinois, had to be euthanized on Monday after an elementary school student hurled a rock at it. Miller Park Zoo said the rock broke the bird's leg and it had to be put down because of its injuries. The zoo said it was an 'unfortunate accident'. Miller Park Zoo had to put down one of its flamingos (file image) after an elementary school student threw a rock at it and broke its leg The zoo in Bloomington, Illinois, said it is working with the family to make sure the student learns from the 'unfortunate accident' 'A juvenile guest accidentally injured a flamingo on Monday by skipping a rock into the habitat,' Jay Tetzloff, Miller Park Zoo's superintendent, told The Pantagraph. He said the zoo is working with the student's family to make sure this is a learning experience. Tetzloff added that the zoo sees no need to change the layout of the exhibit, which is surrounded by a low fence. The enclosure held 25 flamingos before the incident, one of the largest flocks in a US zoo. Located near the entrance, the pink birds unofficially welcome visitors arriving at the zoo. The flamingo exhibit opened in 2016 as the first project in the zoo's $16.7 million redevelopment plan. The zoo said it is not planning to change the layout of the exhibit, which lets visitors get close to the flamingos (file image) The flamingo enclosure is near the zoo's entrance, making the pink birds the unofficial greeters (file image) The greater flamingo is found in parts of Africa, southern Europe, and southern Asia, according to the Miller Park Zoo. Their habitat is mudflats and shallow coastal lagoons in salt water. Their extremely long legs allow them to wade into deeper water. Miller Park Zoo also has indoor and outdoor exhibits of animals including Sumatran tiger, river otters, red pandas, lemurs, Galapagos tortoise, bald eagles, snow leopards, gibbons and red wolves. Police in Sacramento have come under fire after a video of officers restraining a 12-year-old boy on the ground and placing a split hood over his head during his arrest went viral. On Tuesday, two female officers from the Sacramento Police Department say they saw Isaiah Downs, 12, running away from a security guard at a local carnival and decided to lend chase. The boy, just four-foot-eight and weighing less than 80lbs, had allegedly been trespassing and stealing, according to police. A video captured by a horrified bystander shows the two officers and the private security guard wrestling with the boy, who asks multiple times to be let go as he tries to squirm from the officers grip. Youre doing this to a minor his parents should be here, the man videotaping the arrest can be heard calling out. Police in Sacramento are under fire after a video showed two officers arresting a 12-year-old boy, restraining him and placing a split hood over his head A video captured by a horrified bystander shows the two officers and the private security guard wrestling with Isaiah Downs outside of a local carnival. In one scene of struggle a bystander accused a private security guard of putting the boy in a chokehold (seen right) Tensions escalate further as Isaiah is marched towards a squad car and starts kicking out at the officers before allegedly spitting on one of them, saying, Yeah, I spit on you all How do you like that s***. As one of the officers appears to wipe spit away from her cheek, the private security guard can be seen restraining the boys head, which on-lookers interpreted to be a chokehold. You cant be chocking on him like that. Whatre you doing, the man recording calls out. Get your hands off his f****** neck. An officer can be heard saying stop kicking to Isaiah as they try to place him in the back of a patrol car, but the young boy appears to continue resisting. Two officers then jostle him to the ground face-first, restraining his back and legs with their knees, to calls of Police brutality from those watching on. During the arrest, officials from the Sacramento PD say Isaiah spat in an officers face multiple times, and the decision was ultimately made to place a spit mask over his head. Isaiah is marched towards a squad car and starts kicking out at the officers before allegedly spitting on one of them, saying, Yeah, I spit on you allHow do you like that s***' During the arrest, officials from the Sacramento PD say Isaiah spat in an officers face multiple times, and the decision was ultimately made to place a spit mask over his head Despite the outcries that they acted excessively in the way they dealt with the four-foot-eight boy, Sacramento PD say the officers acted according to protocol Latoya Downs, Isaiahs mother, described the moment she heard of her son's arrest to Fox 40, and said it reminded her of several high-profile news stories where black Americans were killed by police during an arrest. I started getting nervous. My hand started trembling. Im like, 'Oh my god, I hope this is not another Tamir Rice, she said. Downs said that when she arrived on the scene in a North Sacramento parking lot she was fearing for her sons life. He was crying, he was scared. He was saying, Mama, mama, they wont let me go. I didnt know it was gonna get this bad. I said Im outraged. I dont know what to do. The familys attorney, Mark T. Harris, agreed saying, we will not tolerate ... our young people being treated in the way this young man was treated. We want to make sure that the greater Sacramento community, the state of California and the world is aware of what happened to this young man, who was doing nothing more than trying to enjoy the benefits of a neighborhood carnival, Harris said in a video with Isaiah and his mother. The kids a good kid, he continued. Hes a little bitty kid. None of this shouldve come down the way it did. Latoya Downs (left), Isaiahs mother, said she feared for her son's life and worried that he may have become the next Tamir Rice of Stephon Clark Despite the outcries on social media that the officers acted excessively in the way they dealt with the four-foot-eight boy, Sacramento Police Sergeant Vance Chandler believes the deputies acted according to protocol. The officers were trying to protect themselves, Chandler said of the spit hood being placed over the boys head. The subject spit on the officer in the face multiple times and they put a spit mask on him. Chandler said the incident is being looked into, and investigators will be reviewing the officers body camera footage which will be released to the public soon. Posted on the Black Lives Matter Sacramento Facebook page, members of the public acted with fury against the chain on events documented in the video, which has now been viewed more than 250,000 times. 'All that man power on a mere child. But, yet I wonder, what wouldve happened if there wasnt someone recording?,' one user asked. 'Trespassing is a simple ticket...all this force is unnecessary,' added another. The only crime Isaiah was cited for was spitting, but his family insist he never shouldve been detained in the first place. The Downs family say theyre exploring their legal options and have asked the Sacramento Police Department for an apology. A manager at a trendy bar and restaurant was caught with wads of cash hidden in a bum bag in his bedroom after pocketing more than $50,000 from the till. Alberto D'Agostino, 33, was sentenced in Manly Local Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to a charge of steal property of master. The Italian citizen had been working at the Daniel San Japanese restaurant and bar in Manly, on Sydney's northern beaches when he began stealing the cash. Alberto D'Agostino, 33, had been working at the Daniel San Japanese restaurant and bar (pictured) in Manly, on Sydney's northern beaches when began stealing the cash The court heard how D'Agostino, who had been working as the venue manager, stole the money with the intention of sending money to his family in Italy. D'Agostino told police his family might need the money as his father was sick, The Daily Telegraph reported. However, it was later revealed in court that none of the money has been sent to Italy. When his boss confronted him about the missing cash in February, he then took his boss to his flat and produced wads of cash that he had hidden in a bum bag. He then handed more than $35,800 cash to his boss and later paid $15,000 electronically. D'Agostino's crime was discovered when management discovered a significant variance in cash and sales on tills D'Agostino had used. When his boss confronted him about the missing cash in February, he then took his boss to his flat and produced wads of cash that he had hidden in a bum bag When customers would pay in cash he wouldn't record the transition but would put the money in the drawer. He would later pocket the money. Solicitor James McLoughlin told the court D'Agostino was acting in the interest of his family. 'There is no evidence it was for self-indulgent spending and living the high life. 'He has no drug or gambling habits.' Magistrate Georgina Darcy sentenced D'Agostino to 10 months behind bars. He must complete 100 hours community service. A federal prison guard in New York City has been indicted on nine charges stemming from his alleged sexual abuse of four female inmates over the course of six years. Colin Akparanta, 42, was arrested on Tuesday over allegations of penetrating the victims' vaginas with his fingers, fondling their breasts, buttocks and genitalia at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Manhattan between 2012 and 2018, while smuggling in food, makeup and hygiene products to encourage the women to keep it quiet. Akparanta, who is commonly called 'AK,' 'Akon' and 'Africa,' is also said to have asked the victims for their contact information in order to reach them after their release, according to a 13-page indictment unsealed on Tuesday. 'As alleged, Colin Akparanta was a predator in uniform, exploiting his position to sexually abuse multiple inmates over a several-year period,' U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said. 'No inmate in a Bureau of Prisons facility should fear sexual abuse at the hands of a correctional officer, and thankfully, Akparanta will have no more victims.' Colin Akparanta, 42, was arrested on Tuesday in New York City over allegations of sexually abusing four female inmates at Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center (pictured) Akparanta, who began working at the MCC in 2004, is accused of sexually abusing four female inmate victims beginning in late 2012 and continuing through April of 2018. During that time, 'in an effort to conceal his unlawful conduct, Akparanta told at least one of the victims not to tell anyone because no one would believe her,' the indictment read. Akparanta is accused of engaging in sexual acts with 'Victim-1' in January of 2018 in an area of the MCC called 'the Bubble,' which was outside of the view of security cameras. He is said to have penetrated Victim-1's vagina with his fingers, causing the woman physical pain, as well as touching her breasts and buttocks, and asking the woman to touch his penis over his clothing, which prosecutors said she did. In September and October of 2017, Akparanta is accused of approaching 'Victim-2' while she was in a cell designed for solitary confinement and penetrating her vagina with his fingers in a painful manner through the cell's slotted door. He is also said to have fondled her breasts and asked this woman to touch his penis over his clothing, which prosecutors said she did. During the same time, Akparanta is accused of approaching 'Victim-3' while she was in a cell designed for solitary confinement and penetrating her vagina with his fingers through the cell's slotted door. 'Victim-4' was allegedly assaulted in 'the Bubble' in late 2012 by Akparanta, who is said to have fondled her breasts and clitoris. Akparanta is also said to have asked the woman to touch his penis over his pants, which prosecutors said she did. The prison guard is also said to have 'smuggled contraband, including, but not limited to, personal hygiene items, makeup, and food into the MCC for some of the victims, and, with respect to at least one of the victims, explicitly conditioned his provision of contraband on the inmates continued performance of sexual acts with him,' Berman said in a statement accompanying the release of the unsealed indictment. 'As alleged, Colin Akparanta was a predator in uniform, exploiting his position to sexually abuse multiple inmates over a several-year period,' U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman (pictured) said. 'No inmate in a Bureau of Prisons facility should fear sexual abuse at the hands of a correctional officer, and thankfully, Akparanta will have no more victims' 'Correctional officers have a duty to protect federal inmates, but Akparanta allegedly abused his power over female inmates,' Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Special Agent-in-Charge Guido Modano said. 'Our office is committed to bringing to justice any Justice Department employee who commits sex crimes in federal correctional institutions.' Akparanta has been indicted on four counts of sexual abuse of a ward, four counts of abusive sexual contact, and one count of deprivation of civil rights. He was arraigned in Manhattan federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Debra Freeman on Tuesday. The charge of sexual abuse of a ward carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, abusive sexual contact carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison, and deprivation of civil rights carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. If found guilty, Akparanta's sentencing will be determined by the judge. Berman encouraged any other victims of Akparanta or of anyone engaging in similar conduct to contact his office at 866-874-8900. Three people were injured after an escaped horse went on a rampage in a busy city centre in east China. Shocking footage yesterday shows the spooked white horse galloping along a pedestrian street lined with shops when it rammed into two women walking in front of it, sending one of them flying. The horse was eventually cornered in a dead-end street and fatally shot by police in She County, Anhui province. Footage yesterday shows the spooked white horse galloping along a pedestrian street lined with shops when it rammed into two women in front of it, sending one of them flying The panicked horse sent the woman flying after knocking into her. She was taken to hospital She County police said in a statement on Weibo that the horse had panicked and knocked over pedestrians on Zhonghe Street at around 2:40pm local time. Terrified onlookers were seen running for safety as the horse sped past them. The three injured pedestrians were being treated in hospital and one of them was in serious condition, police added. A video clip released by BTime shows officers blocking the animal with a police car in a dead-end street. An officer then fired multiple shots at the animal A video clip released by BTime shows officers blocking the horse with a police car in a dead-end street. An officer then fired multiple shots at the animal. The horse was normally used at wedding celebrations, according to the owner, but it is unclear how it had escaped into the shopping district. The owner is currently under police control to assist in investigations, the statement added. The health and epidemic prevention department has been carrying out clean-up efforts at the scene. The horse is seen lying on the ground after being shot dead by police officers Paramedics tending to one of the injured pedestrians after she was knocked over by the horse Net users expressed sympathy to both the injured woman as well as the horse, and questioned why police officers couldn't subdue the animal instead. 'This is such a tragedy to both the horse and the woman,' one person commented on Weibo. 'Why wasn't a tranquilliser gun used? Or they could have shot its leg?' one user said. 'Why couldn't they use a dart gun? Why did they have to kill it? Poor horse,' another said. 'This is why you shouldn't use animals for commercial purposes!' one user added. A vegan firefighter has claimed that his human rights were violated when he wasn't given enough suitable food while fighting a huge wildfire in Canada over a 10-day period. Adam Knauff, of Kenora, Ontario, was one of 1,000 firefighters who worked up to 16 hours a day helping to battle a huge forest fire in northern British Columbia back in July 2017. The 40-year-old, who filed a complaint on Tuesday with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario regarding his treatment, was eventually suspended after he blew up at kitchen staff over the lack of vegan food. Knauff, who had been working as a firefighter with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry since 2008, had been dispatched out of his usual province to help battle the blaze. Adam Knauff, 40, says his human rights were violated when he was battling a huge blaze in British Columbia in Canada in 2017 because he wasn't given adequate vegan food Despite working non-stop for 16 hours a day for a 10 day stretch, Knauff said he was given 'inadequate' options for vegan food and was forced to go hungry. He ate salad and side dishes on one day and plain bagels and coffee on another. For dinner on one day, he claims his only source of protein was a 'single black bean'. 'After working 16-hour days for four days with inadequate nutrition I began to feel physically ill and mentally groggy,' Knauff wrote in the complaint, according to the Canadian Press. 'Until that point I had been trying to push through my hunger and exhaustion, sustaining myself on nuts and fruits.' Knauff said that a week into their firefighting deployment, a barbecue was put on for the crew but the person cooking contaminated the vegan patties with the beef burgers. The keen amateur wildlife photographer said he was given a warning by his supervisor after swearing at the chef. 'No one seemed to take my ethical beliefs seriously,' Knauff said. Despite working non-stop for 16 hours a day for a 10 day stretch, Knauff said he was given 'inadequate' options for vegan food and was forced to go hungry 'I know that I should not have sworn... but I was starving, exhausted, humiliated and defeated,' he wrote. 'I had reached my breaking point.' He was suspended the following day when he poured his lunch out in front of the food staff, saying: 'This isn't vegan'. Knauff, who is a keen wildlife photographer, filed his complaint with the human rights tribunal claiming his employer failed to provide for his 'sincerely held ethical beliefs' Knauff was sent home for three days without pay and was banned from fighting fires outside his usual province until the end of 2018. He said his employer was aware of his longstanding vegan beliefs and that he filled out a standard food information form prior to the trip. Knauff, who started a GoFundMe to help with his claim, filed his complaint with the human rights tribunal claiming his employer failed to provide for his 'sincerely held ethical beliefs' and his 'personal commitment to ethical veganism'. The ministry said Knauff was disciplined for his 'inappropriate, insubordinate, unprofessional and aggressive behavior'. They also claim that the firefighter three non-vegan food at staff. Knauff's employer argued that while his 'vegan status is a sincerely held lifestyle choice', it does not meet the legal definition of creed under Ontario's Human Rights Code. Huawei smartphone owners will be able to use the company's own operating system as early as this autumn, a Huawei executive has revealed amid claims that the company's self-developed system is 'far from ready'. Yu Chengdong, the CEO of Huawei's Consumer Business Group, said the new system would not only work with all Android apps, but also boost their efficiency by 60 per cent, according to Chinese media. The news came after Google said it would stop providing Huawei with its license to use Android, the operating system that powers all smartphones made by the Chinese firm and its sub-brand Honor. It also came after the U.S. issued orders last week to ban Huawei from buying parts and technologies from American suppliers amid a trade war between the world's two largest economies. Beijing branded the U.S. sanctions as 'economic bullying'. A Huawei executive has announced the company will roll out its own operating system as early as this autumn, according to reports. The news came after Google revoked its Android license The Huawei executive, Yu Chengdong, said the new system would work with all Android apps and cover the company's phones, computers, tablets, television sets and smart devices After Washington announced the sanctions, the world's second largest smartphone maker claimed to have worked on a backup plan for years. The plan is said to have been created in case one day Huawei would no longer be able to obtain advanced U.S. chips and technologies. The details of the new operating system was revealed by Mr Yu in a chatting group on Chinese social media platform WeChat yesterday, according to China Business Journal. The system would cover the company's phones, computers, tablets, television sets and smart devices, Mr Yu was quoted saying. He claimed the system would be rolled out as early as this autumn and as late as next spring. However, a source has told technology news site The Information that Huawei's own system is 'far from ready'. And even Huawei finalises the system, it would face 'a much bigger challenge' to build an entire ecosystem of apps on top of it, according to the source who claimed to be familiar with Huawei's backup effort called 'Project Z'. According to one expert, Huawei would face huge challenges to develop its own system. 'Huawei has said it plans to build its own features from the open-source material, but that's a huge mountain to climb,' Eoin Keary, CEO of cyber-security firm Edgescan, told MailOnline. Mr Keary said restrictions from Google could spell 'the beginning of the end' for Huawei. President Donald Trump last week issued orders to block Huawei and its 68 affiliations from buying key parts and components from American companies without special approval Google then said it would stop providing Huawei with its Android license as a result of the ban - a move that analysts say could spell 'the beginning of the end' for the Chinese telecom giant Despite the uncertainty over its future, Huawei is expanding its production lines. The company has partnered with a district government in the Chinese city of Changsha to build a 'super factory' for boosting its manufacturing capabilities. The 32-acre 'smart' plant is expected to have more than 16,000 workers and produce 100 million digital devices every year, according to Changsha's Wangcheng government. The production base is invested by Huawei and two other Fortune 500 companies from China. Its construction was completed in April. Even in the face of the blockade, a Huawei sub-brand unveiled next generation phones on Monday, although neither phone yet has a confirmed release date. The company has chosen bright colours for the holographic designs, paired with a powerful 48MP AI Quad Camera Huawei-owned Honor unveiled its next line-up of handsets, the Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro Huawei and its 68 affiliations worldwide has been blocked from buying key parts and components from American companies without special approval. Washington said this week it would delay implementation of the ban for 90 days to allow Huawei to find suppliers. But pending or not, the U.S. sanctions have sparked a chain reaction among suppliers of digital devices worldwide. Two of Japan's top mobile carriers, KDDI and SoftBank Corp, have announced a delay in releasing new handsets made by Huawei. British telecoms companies EE and Vodafone are also putting on hold plans to sell new 5G mobile phones from the Chinese company. But Huawei's founder and CEO, Ren Zhengfei, said his company was fully prepared to face the challenge. Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei (pictured) said yesterday that his company was fully prepared to face the ban from the U.S., but thanked his American business partners for helping Huawei Yu Chengdong (pictured), the CEO of Huawei's Consumer Business Group, is said to have revealed details of Huawei's operating system in a chatting group on Chinese social media In a press briefing yesterday, 75-year-old Ren assured that the ban would not affect the company's key products, especially its 5G technology. He also said Huawei had its own backup supply of microchips - one of the components affected by the U.S. ban. He said his firm was capable of producing chips similar to those by American suppliers. Huawei-owned smartphone firm Honor unveiled its next line-up of smartphones, the Honor 20 and Honor 20 Pro, on Monday. Washington has previously claimed that Huawei's gear could be used by China to spy on Americans - allegations Huawei has repeatedly denied. In addition, Ren's daughter Meng Wanzhou, the CFO of Huawei, was arrested in Canada in December and is facing criminal charges in the U.S. Meng, widely considered as Ren's heiress, is accused of using a Hong Kong shell company to sell equipment to Iran in violation of U.S. sanctions. Huawei has denied the accusation. Ren's daughter Meng Wanzhou (pictured) is facing criminal charges in the U.S. Meng was arrested in Vancouver by Canadian police in December under the request of Washington Huawei has been under scrutiny in the West after Washington claimed that the firm's gear could be used by China to spy on Americans - allegations Huawei has repeatedly denied The Huawei trade ban is directly linked to an ongoing tariff war between Beijing and Washington. The trade war sprouted when US President Donald Trump criticised China's 'unfair' trading practices and launched an investigation into the Chinese trade policies in 2017. It intensified when Washington more than doubled tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese products earlier this month and Beijing retaliated by imposing higher tariffs on $60 billion of US goods. The move against Huawei from Washington is the latest round of tariffs, sanctions and threats from President Trump and China's Xi Jingping who have failed to reach a trade deal The two countries had attempted to ease the tensions through trade talks, but failed to reach an agreement. Chinese President Xi Jinping said today that China must prepare for difficult times in the climate of a trade war. 'We must be conscious of the long-term and complex nature of various unfavorable factors at home and abroad, and appropriately prepare for various difficult situations,' President Xi was quoted saying by China's state news agency Xinhua. A man who once worked as a janitor at New York University has gone on to graduate from the college in an inspiring tale of success in the face of adversity. Frank Baez, 29, received his degree from the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing last Friday, after completing an accelerated program that allowed him to graduate in just 15 months. The new nurse first became associated with the university back in 2009, when he took a position cleaning bathrooms and mopping hallways at NYU Lagone Tisch Hospital. Frank Baez, 29, received his degree from the NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing last Friday, after completing an accelerated program that allowed him to graduate in just 15 months Man graduates with nursing degree from same university where he started as a janitor Man graduates with nursing degree from NYU - the same university where he started as a janitor when he was just a teenager: "What I did was, I never gave up." https://gma.abc/2M3nRQF Posted by Good Morning America on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 Baez immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic when he was 15 years old, and he told ABC that he applied for the janitorial job in order to support his family. He says he could 'barely speak English' at the time, but he quickly became intrigued by the nursing profession as he worked in the hospital. 'While working with the nurses, I realized I wanted to be one of them,' he stated. 'I learned how much they advocate for their patients and the passion they have for their job.' After a stint studying at Hunter College, Baez returned to NYU to complete his nursing degree. 'I just studied a lot and worked a lot,' the graduate modestly stated. 'I felt that I wanted to do something more for myself, that I deserved better, that I wanted to continue to move forward and grow and go on with my life. What I did was, I never gave up.' Baez immigrated to the United States from the Dominican Republic as a teenager. He is pictured at his high school graduation at left, and from his college graduation at right One college director told ABC that she's been blown away by both Baez's academic abilities and his nursing talents One college director told ABC that she's been blown away by both Baez's academic abilities and his nursing talents. 'Our program is extremely rigorous [and], he didn't just kind of make the program, barely getting through. He flew through it with flying colors,' Natalya Pasklinsky stated. 'The way he interacted with patients, to me showed a lot of compassion. In my mind, he's a star,' she proclaimed. Baez is the first person in his family to graduate from college, and he says he now has plans to become an Intensive Care Unit nurse. Liesl Folks to step down as dean of School of Engineering and Applied Sciences An excellent dean, Liesl has advanced each of UBs teaching, research, and engagement missions, leaving the school well-poised to build on this success for years to come. BUFFALO, N.Y. Liesl Folks is stepping down as dean of the University at Buffalos School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), effective July 26, Provost Charles F. Zukoski announced in a memo to the university community today. Folks is leaving UB to become senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Arizona. Since Folks joined UB in late 2012, SEAS has grown significantly. The school hired an additional 75 faculty members, and its student population grew by 2,700a more than 50% increase. The school also launched two new departments, boosted faculty research expenditures, created numerous programs to promote diversity and inclusiveness, and enhanced relationships with alumni worldwide. An excellent dean, Liesl has advanced each of UBs teaching, research, and engagement missions, leaving the school well-poised to build on this success for years to come, Zukoski said. He added: Liesl led SEAS in creating a strategic plan that aligns the schools vision and goals with UBs institutional priorities, promotes a culture of research excellence and impact, and advances educational excellence and innovation. Externally, Liesl has enhanced alumni relations and improved school communications with all stakeholders. In a note to SEAS community members, Folks said: It has been my privilege and an honor to work with each of you over the past six and a half years. We have accomplished a great deal in a short time, and it would not have been possible without your support and dedication. Thanks to our high-achieving faculty, we have increased our research expenditures by 35% and received a greatly increased number of awards for research impacts, energized by the large number of outstanding new hires we have made across the school. This is a testament to the truly outstanding scholarship taking place across SEAS, she said. She added: Thanks for all of your passion, your support, and your great counsel! I leave our unfinished work in your trusted hands to propel SEAS onwards to ever greater impacts. A national leader and powerful advocate for diversity in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields, Folks led the creation of the schools first diversity plan and the development of a culture of inclusive excellence. To attract and retain more women in STEM fields, in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), Folks created the Women in Science and Engineering program. She also serves as principal investigator of the NAVIGATE Project, supported by the National Science Foundation. Beyond UB, she helped spearhead an initiative through the American Society for Engineering Education in which more than 150 engineering deans committed to increasing diversity and inclusiveness within their schools. She also launched several initiatives to promote K-12 STEM education in Western New York. As a result of these efforts, under Liesls leadership, SEAS has increased the number of women faculty and students and more than doubled the number of underrepresented minority faculty and students, Zukoski said. Under her leadership, the school launched two new departmentsthe unique, interdisciplinary Department of Materials Design and Innovation, which was created in partnership with CAS, and the Department of Engineering Education, which aims to advance teaching and learning in engineering and applied science disciplines. The school also introduced new degree, dual-degree, and certificate programs in data sciences, clean energy, the internet of things, transportation, manufacturing engineering, blockchain technology and more. Additionally, Folks built partnerships with other UB schools, encouraging SEAS faculty to participate in cross-disciplinary and university-wide initiatives to make innovative and impactful research, education and engagement contributions. As a result, SEAS faculty provide leadership for UB RENEW, the UB Artificial Intelligence Institute, the Stephen Still Institute for Sustainable Transportation and Logistics, the Institute for Computational and Data Sciences, the Institute of Bridge Engineering, and two of the Communities of ExcellenceSustainable Manufacturing and Advanced Robotic Technologies and Global Health Equity. A native of Australia, Folks earned a masters in business administration from Cornell University after earning both a doctorate and a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of Western Australia. She is internationally recognized expert in nanotechnology and magnetism. Prior to joining UB, she spent 16 years in research and development in Silicon Valley, working at IBM Almaden Research Center, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies and Western Digital. In the Buffalo Niagara region, she has served on the board of directors for several organizations including CUBRC, the Cheektowaga-based research and development company, the Buffalo Museum of Science and the startup company Buffalo Automation Group. Nationally, she served as president of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Magnetics Society and currently serves as chair of the congressionally mandated panel for the Quadrennial Review of the National Nanotechnology Initiative by the National Academy of Sciences. In 2013, she received the American Vacuum Societys Excellence in Leadership award, a national honor for mentoring science and engineering students. In the coming weeks, Zukoski plans to appoint an interim dean and begin the process of searching for a permanent replacement for Folks. A Virginia jury has found a former Uber driver who once served as a colonel in the Somali Army responsible for torturing a man there more than 30 years ago. Yusuf Abdi Ali was found responsible by the civil jury in the DC suburb of Alexandria, which on Tuesday delivered the $500,000 verdict against him after three days of deliberations. Plaintiff Farhan Mohamoud Tani Warfaa, a member of the Isaaq clan in northern Somalia, came to the U.S. and testified at the trial last week. He said he was 17 years old and herding camels and cattle for his family's farm when he was rounded up in a mass arrest In December 1987 over a missing water-tanker truck. Yusuf Abdi Ali (seen at court earlier this month) was found responsible for torture by a civil jury in Virginia on Tuesday, regarding alleged war crimes while he was a Somali Army colonel Plaintiff Farhan Mohamoud Tani Warfaa (center) celebrates with his legal team after flying from Somalia to the US to sue Ali over his torment in the African nation in 1987 Yusuf Abdi Ali is seen above driving an Uber in the Washington, DC, area recently. He was suspended by the app earlier this month after publicity around the lawsuit Warfaa said he was then regularly beaten and hogtied during weeks of incarceration and interrogations. Finally, he said that Ali, a colonel who was known as 'Tukeh', or 'The Crow,' shot him multiple times and left him for dead when his interrogation was interrupted by an insurgent attack. According to the lawsuit, Ali ordered his underlings to bury Warfaa, but the soldiers quickly realized Warfaa was still alive and instead solicited a bribe from Warfaa's family to let him live. Ali, who now lives in Alexandria, acknowledged he was a Somali colonel, but denied torturing Warfaa. The jury's verdict found Ali responsible for the torture of Warfaa, but it explicitly rejected an allegation that Ali was responsible for the attempted extrajudicial killing of Warfaa, even though Warfaa testified directly that it was Ali who shot him. Ali's lawyer, Joseph Peter Drennan, said the jury's verdict indicates that it did not believe parts of Warfaa's testimony, and held Ali responsible for the torture only under the theory the soldiers who did torture Warfaa were under the command and control of Ali, who led the Army's 5th Brigade. Ali (center) was a Somali Army colonel who was known as 'Tukeh', or 'The Crow' Somalian Farhan Warfaa of the Isaaq clan with his U.S. attorneys from the Center for Justice and Accountability. Warfaa flew from Somalia to the U.S. to testify against Ali The lawsuit was first filed in 2004. It was delayed for 15 years mostly by legal debate over whether a Somali national could bring suit in the U.S. over alleged torture overseas. Parts of the lawsuit were tossed out, but Warfaa was allowed it to proceed to trial under the federal Torture Victims Protection Act. Drennan said the case left Ali in an almost untenable position of trying to defend himself for the actions of his underlings more than 30 years ago. He also noted those actions occurred half way across the world in a country divided by civil war, where the central government was breaking down. 'This idea of universal jurisdiction, and American courts adjudicating issues like this that happened far away, and long ago, is very problematic,' Drennan said. Warfaa, who brought the lawsuit with help from the San Francisco-based Center for Justice and Accountability, said in a statement that the verdict was 'a vindication not only for me, but also for many others in Somaliland who suffered under Col. Tukeh's command.' Drennan alleged that the real motive for the case is clan vengeance, and cited efforts by members of the Isaaq clan to establish an independent Somaliland state in northern Somalia. Ali was listed on Uber as an Uber Pro Diamond driver with a 4.89 rating until he was suspended The judgment comes several years after resolution of a similar lawsuit against Somalia's former prime minister under dictator Siad Barre, Mohamed Ali Samantar, who also took up residence in northern Virginia. In that case, Samantar accepted a default judgment against him on the eve of trial and refused to contest the allegations against him in court, though he said outside court that he committed no wrongdoing. CJA lawyer Kathy Roberts said the evidence in the most recent case 'has confirmed the truth about crimes perpetrated by the Siad Barre regime against members of the Isaaq community during the Somali civil war. Our client Farhan's strength and perseverance is a testament to all those who seek truth, justice and accountability.' It is unclear whether Warfaa will be able to collect any significant judgment. Drennan said his client does not have that kind of money - he had until very recently been working as an Uber and Lyft driver until he lost that job because of publicity over his case. Earlier, this month, a CNN reporter went undercover and filmed Ali working for Uber. 'I do this full time,' said Ali as he was transporting the CNN reporter in suburban Virginia. Ali told CNN he prefers to work on weekends because 'that's where the money is.' Until he was fired due to the bad publicity, Ali was listed on Uber as an Uber Pro Diamond driver with a 4.89 rating. Uber told CNN that it had suspended Ali from its service. Lyft said Ali has not used its service in 18 months, though his name has been removed from its systems. A healthy dog was euthanized and buried with its dead owner after the Virginia woman left specific instructions in her will for her pet Shih Tzu mix Emma to be killed and put in her casket with her. The tragic pup was euthanized following her owner's death after being held at a local animal shelter in Chesterfield County, Virginia, for two weeks. She had arrived there on March 8 but was taken to a local vet and put down after the executor of the dead woman's estate revealed the woman's final wishes. Staff at the shelter are said to have pleaded with officials to try and stop the death but Emma was killed and taken to a pet cremation center in Richmond. The tragic pup, which was said to look like the dog pictured, was euthanized following her owner's death after being held at a local animal shelter in Chesterfield County, Virginia Her ashes were then put in an urn and buried with her dead owner. Carrie Jones, the manager of Chesterfield Animal Services, told WWBT: 'We did suggest they could sign the dog over on numerous occasions, because its a dog we could easily find a home for and re-home. 'Ultimately, they came back in on March 22 and redeemed the dog.' Dogs are personal property under Virginia law. It is not illegal to euthanize a healthy pet but vets may have ethical reasons to not carry out the procedure. And the decision has sparked fury online with one Twitter user writing: 'I hate this. Put in your will that you want the dog to go to family or something not that you insist a healthy animal must be euthanized just so you can "keep" it after death.' Another added: 'Healthy dog is euthanized to be buried with its dead owner. How absolutely IGNORANT AND SHAMEFUL can one SELFISH person be???' And one said: 'I'm not sure what sickens me more, the owner's wishes, the executor of the will, or the vet who euthanized the dog. I'm sure the shelter employees were just heartbroken over this.' Staff at the Chesterfield Animal Shelter, pictured, are said to have pleaded with officials to try and stop the death but Emma's was killed and taken to a pet cremation center in Richmond Virginia Funeral Directors Association President Larry Spiaggi said: 'Its not legal to put a dogs cremated remains, or any animal, in a casket and bury them.' There are some exceptions for private and family owned cemeteries. Dr. Kenny Lucas of the Shady Grove Animal Clinic told WWBT: 'Whenever were faced with a euthanasia situation, its a very emotional situation, and beyond everything we talk about, that we need to do ethically, and weve taken an oath to do and its something we take home, too. It weighs on us as professionals.' Carl Beech, 51, alleged powerful men including MPs and generals sexually abused and killed children in the 1970s The man on trial for falsely claiming high-ranking paedophiles abused him and others in the 1970s told police he was tortured by Jimmy Savile and the heads of MI5 and MI6. Carl Beech, 51, told the Metropolitan Police in 2014 he had sharp objects jabbed into his feet and they were burned with a lighter, had his head held underwater and was given electric shocks. Under the pseudonym 'Nick', he also made heinous accusations of sexual abuse and child murder against prominent men including former PM Ted Heath and former Army chief Lord Brammall. He even claimed that Labour MP Tom Watson was part of a 'little group' of politicians and journalists who was aware of the abuse and was prepared to help him reveal the bogus allegations. In a recorded interview with Detective Sergeant John Townly, Beech said the gang were 'sadistic'. He said: 'They were trying to find new ways to inflict pain, terror, fear. Some of them liked to see me and others in pain.' He said 'Michael and Maurice' - who the jury has previously been told were Michael Hanley, the former head of MI5 and Maurice Oldfield, former MI6 chief, would 'instigate things'. 'They would tell the others what to do, but they wouldn't do it themselves,' he said. 'Jimmy Savile was nasty, but I only met him a couple of times.' An 18-month, 2million Met Police investigation into the men was wound up with no arrests. A separate investigation by Northumbria Police then quickly unravelled Beech's allegations, Newcastle Crown Court heard. The court heard how Beech met Labour MP Tom Watson, a retired social worker who wanted to help the police called Peter McKelvie and freelance journalist Mark Conrad in the months before he came forward with his allegations He said: 'Peter McKelvie and Tom Watson also formed part of a little group that was supporting me and put my information out there to encourage other people to come forward, hence the piece they did on Dolphin Square.' Beech said he met Mr Watson and spoke to him at length in his office. Court sketch of Carl Beech, 51, from Gloucester, known as Nick, at Newcastle Crown Court He said the experience of dealing with Mr Conrad was positive, but also 'incredibly frustrating', as the reporter was aware he could not share certain information with Beech, the court heard. Today the jury was told Beech, 51, named Mr Watson in an email following his first 'informal' meeting with a Met detective. In an email, Beech told a detective: 'Another person knows and I said I would check if they are happy to give over their names and he said they are. It is Peter McElvie, he probably knows the same as Tom Watson.' Detective Sergeant James Townly explained to the jury: 'Peter McElvie was a retired social worker who wanted to help the police, he was aware of the wider investigation involving allegations at Westminster.' He was asked by prosecutor Tony Badenoch, QC, 'Did you know who Tom Watson was?' He answered: 'I understood Tom Watson was the MP for the Labour party.' The court also heard the first meeting between Beech and the police at a police station in Gloucester was also attended by Mark Conrad, a freelance journalist with an investigative website called Exaro. He also said an investigative journalist had shown him a series of 42 pictures of potential paedophiles which helped him 'fill in the blanks' in his memory before he went to the police. Mark Conrad of Exaro showed him the pictures before publishing stories about abuse alleged to have taken plane in the exclusive Dolphin Square apartments near Westminster. After the story came to light Beech went for a lengthy meeting with Watson in his office, the jury heard. Beech told Detective Sergeant James Townly that Watson and retired social worker Peter McElvie were part of the same small group who had helped him. In the interview read out to Newcastle Crown Court, Beech told the officer: 'Peter McElvie and Tom Watson formed part of the little group supporting me and putting my information out there to encourage other people to come forward - hence the piece they did on Dolphin Square.' After the story first broke Carl Beech met with Labour deputy leader Tom Watson MP He went on: 'I went to meet Tom Watson in his office and talked to him at some length when they put that bit out there. 'It was been a positive experience for me on the one hand and on the other it has been incredibly frustrating.' Beech went on to say that Mark Conrad had shown him a selection of 42 pictures in a dossier - some of which were shown to the jury. They included pictures of the high profile military and political figures he accused, as well as others he did not, such as Liberal Democrat MP Cyril Smith. Beech said he was shown the photographs in 2014 after first meeting Mr Conrad. He said he looked through a 'whole bunch' of photographs, adding: 'Some of them I knew the last names of, some I knew the first names of, the other names mark found out. 'I picked them out, I just didn't know their first or surnames in some cases. Some I knew what they did so that made a difference.' Beech said that the list of names and allegations had been 'put together over the last four to five months.' The jury were shown pictures of Carl Beech aged around 10 in his final year of primary school when he claimed the abuse began The officer investigating his initial claims appeared unconcerned that Beech had been working closely with Mr Conrad in the months leading up to the disclosures made to the Met. In the interview, Det Sgt Townly said to Beech, about Mark Conrad: 'It is good he has integrity. 'This is the first step. Journalists have to protect their integrity. Mark is only too aware of the damage journalists can do to cases, it is quite lucky someone like Mark is aware of that.' Theresa May, then Home Secretary, announced a wide-ranging sex abuse enquiry in July 2014 which she said would encompass allegations about Westminster. Beech said that when that was announced he had felt a surge in confidence. He told Det Sgt Townly: 'When she announced that it was like 'wow this is going to be something.' We can feed information about this, that and the other, to have this to give evidence to, possibly with others and not on my own and give names. 'My confidence in that had gone down but my confidence in myself has gone up.' Asked why he wasn't killed like other supposed victims, he said: They liked me. But having said that, later on that was a saving grace. 'I think that stopped some worse things happening, because I was a favourite. 'I don't think I would be here today if I wasn't, certainly one person would have done something, but he was prevented... he was stopped because I was a favourite, otherwise I probably wouldn't be here today.' Field Marshall Lord Brammall, pictured with his wife of 64 years Dorothy, who died before his name was cleared It also emerged that a shadowy memory of a Lieutenant Colonel which Beech described in his first interviews with Wiltshire Police in 2012 had become a recollection of former army chief, D-Day veteran General Lord Bramall when he gave his testimony to the Met in 2014. When he first spoke to Detective Sgt Mark Lewis of Wiltshire Police, Beech told how his step-father Major Raymond Beech had taken him to an unknown army barracks to be abused by a Lieutenant Colonel whose name his did not know. Two years later his disclosure had become more specific. He told Detective Sergeant James Townly of the Met that the assault in which he was stripped and intimately touched took place at Erskine barracks in Wiltshire. He said: 'I was introduced by Ray to General Bramall and that was my first introduction to what I later came to know as 'The Group.' He claimed Lord Bramall, now aged 95, took off his shirt and touched him after removing his shirt and pulling down his trousers and underwear. Beech continued: 'Ray came back into the room, he and Bramall talked. 'I didn't hear what they were talking about but I knew Bramall kept looking at me . He was quite miserable, he was a miserable man but Ray was happy with me, he was smiling. 'I didn't know what a general was, I didn't know what it meant but i knew Ray had to salute him which made him feel important.' Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor was accused of rape and murder by Beech. The court heard he is still 'enraged' by the accusations As prosecutors laid out their claims against Beech when the trial opened, the court was told that: Beech is a convicted paedophile who pleaded guilty after police found indecent images of young boys, including some recorded by Beech, on devices in his home He fled to Sweden once police closed in and lived in a remote cabin in the woods, shown in police footage above, under a series of assumed identities and false names He claimed to have sketched the locations at which abuse took place from memory - but his laptop showed he had googled them before speaking to police He claimed not to have researched the men he accused - but had googled them He claimed his abusers mowed down and killed a boy, 'Scott', whom he tried to befriend - but the boy did not exist. He was shown in police footage telling officers about this fictitious incident He claimed a fellow victim, 'Fred' could corroborate his story - but in fact he made up the friend and posed as 'Fred', fabricating emails to police He claimed he had been regularly taken out of school to be abused by multiple men at 'parties' - but his attendance at his schools was exemplary He claimed he had a lifelong fear of water, abused by the men, who dunked him and threw him off boats - but photos show him snorkelling on honeymoon He produced an 'abuse map' of the places and ways his body was tortured - but his medical records show no evidence of abuse He claimed he was abused on beds in cabins on Ted Heath's yacht - but the vessel was a racing yacht and only had hammocks He claimed Mp Harvey Proctor had threatened to cut his genitals off with a pen-knife Proctor later gifted to Beech. He gave the knife to police asking for forensic tests - but his estranged wife told police he'd kept it in a 'happy memories' box He had googled how victims of Jimmy Savile received compensation He bought a 64,000 convertible Mustang with the compensation payout he received for the alleged abuse He was indebted and living grossly beyond his means, intending to make money on the international speaking circuit, speaking about his 'abuse' The charges relate to claims Beech made that former prime minister Edward Heath (left), ex-home secretary Leon Brittan (right) and others were part of a child abuse ring Timeline of Beech's alleged falsehoods and the investigations they launched 2014/2015: Over more than 20 hours of recorded police interviews, Carl Beech makes lurid allegations of child rape and murder against senior Establishment figures including Ted Heath and Lord Brammall. November 2014: The Met Police launch Operation Midland, which raids the homes of several elderly men looking for evidence to support Beech's claims. A detective calls the accusations 'credible and true'. April 2015: D-Day veteran and former Army chief Lord Brammal interviewed. June 2015: Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor, whom Beech accused of child murder, interviewed under caution. March 2016: Beech notified no further action was to be taken in respect of the allegations he had made. 2016: Northumbria Police conclude Beech's claims are 'totally unfounded, hopelessly compromised, and irredeemably contradicted by other testimony'. November 2, 2016: Police arrive to raid Beech's home in Gloucester. January 23, 2018: Beech got 60,000 as an early pension from the NHS February 6, 2018: He travels to Calais preparing to flee to Sweden, where he buys a cabin in the woods and lives under a series of assumed identities, travelling hundreds of miles from city to city to stay on the run October 1, 2018: He was tracked down by Swedish and British police and arrested in advance of a 20-hour train journey to Gothenburg booked in the name of 'Samuel Karlsson'. 2018: A highly critical review of Operation Midland reports police 'acted like they were searching for bodies' during raids on homes. 2018: Beech pleads guilty to possessing indecent images of children, in a separate trial. December 2018: restriction on reporting of Carl Beech's real identity lifted. May 2019: Beech goes on trial for perverting the course of justice. Advertisement Beech's claims led to raids on the homes of prominent and elderly people including former army chief, D-Day veteran Lord Brammall, whose wife of 64 years died during the investigation, before his named was cleared. Beech's extraordinary unfounded accusations were levelled against a list of prominent men including: Former PM Sir Edward Heath: he said he was sexually abused at Heath's home in London and on his yacht Former head of the army Lord Brammall: he said Brammall repeatedly raped him and was present at the first meeting of 'the group' Former Tory MP Harvey Proctor: he said Proctor demanded oral sex, abused him with a pen knife, and murdered two children, one after tying him to a table, raping, and stabbing him Former head of MI5 Michael Hanley, and former head of MI6 Maurice Oldfield: said to be responsible for abuse and torture including spiders being tipped over him, electric shocks, and having darts thrown at him, culminating in threats 'to make him disappear' His step-father, Major Ray Beech: he said his step-father frequently and repeatedly abused, raped, and beat him, the first time in a public toilet at a wildlife park Former Home Secretary Leon Brittan: He said Brittan murdered a child, describing him as a 'mini-Harvey' who was sadistic and enjoyed putting his head under water In all, Beech accused 12 men: Major Ray Beech, his step-father; Lt General Beach; General Gibbs; Lord Brammall; Jimmy Savile; Peter Hayman; Harvey Proctor; Leon Brittan; Greville Janner; Edward Heath; Michael Hanley; Maurice Oldfield. Prosecutor Tony Badenoch QC said the 12-week trial would show Beech's accusations against the men were 'demonstrably untrue.' The Metropolitan Police's disastrous 2 million Operation Midland investigation into Beech's unsubstantiated and unsupported claims collapsed in 2016 with no arrests, despite a senior detective saying Nick's stories were 'credible and true'. The Met has since paid six-figure sums in compensation to distinguished former Field Marshall Lord Brammall and to Lady Brittan whose late husband Leon was also accused by Beech. The Met Police spent 18 months and 2m on Beech's claims of a Westminster paedophile ring The Met is yet to agree any compensation deal with former Tory MP, Harvey Proctor, 70, who was falsely accused of rape and murder and lost his home and his job as a result. It is thought Mr Proctor, who received a personal apology from the then Met Commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, is seeking more than 500,000 for loss of earnings and damage to his reputation. Leon Brittan and another accused, Greville Janner, both died within a year in 2015, the year following these allegations. Dorothy Brammall, who was married to Edwin Brammall for 64 years, died during the course of the investigation and before Lord Brammall's name was cleared. During the probe, teams of more than 20 officers mounted dawn raids on the homes of some of the suspects, many of them now old and in poor health. Last year a review of the flawed investigation, conducted by retired High Court judge, Sir Richard Henriques, said the police had acted as if they were 'looking for bodies or bodies parts', when carrying out the searches. Former Vice President Joe Biden struck back at President Donald Trump's charge that he 'deserted' Pennsylvania, saying his family left the state when the coal industry died and unemployment spiked. 'He left Scranton!' Biden said a private fundraiser in Florida Tuesday night, quoting Trump. 'I did, I was 10 years old, man. My dad left for a reason [Trump] couldn't possibly understand. He left when coal died and there were no jobs, like thousands of people, he had to leave to do better for his family.' Biden repeatedly refers to his Scranton, Pennsylvania, roots on the campaign trail. He formally launched his campaign with a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday and he's made that city his campaign headquarters. Former Vice President Joe Biden struck back at President Donald Trump's charge that he 'deserted' Pennsylvania President Donald Trump mocked Joe Biden for leaving the state But Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to carry the state in more than 20 years when he won it in 2016 - a victory that helped put him in the Oval Office. And he's determined to win it again in next year's contest. He struck out at Biden at a campaign rally on Monday. 'Biden deserted you,' the president told the crowd at a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa., located about 80 miles west of Scranton. 'I guess he was born here, but he left you, folks. He left you for another state.' Many Republicans fear the former vice president will appeal to the same blue-collar workers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio that helped Trump win. Biden expanded on his Trump attack on Twitter. 'Yesterday, Trump tried to attack me at his campaign rally by saying I abandoned Pennsylvania. Ive never forgotten where I came from. My family did have to leave Pennsylvania when I was 10 we moved to Delaware where my Dad found a job that could provide for our family,' he wrote. And he framed it in a way that would appeal to the blue-collar workers he is trying to win to his side. 'Trump doesnt understand the struggles working folks go through. He doesnt understand what its like to worry you will lose the roof over your head. He doesnt understand what its like to wonder if youll be able to put food on the table,' Biden said. 'And he doesnt understand that the longest walk a parent can make is up a short flight of stairs to their childs bedroom to say, honey, I'm sorry. We have to move. You cant go back to your school. You wont see your friends because Daddy or Mommy lost their job,' he added. 'My dad had to make that walk in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It wasnt until I was older that I realized how hard it must have been for him. But he was not alone. This story isnt unique to the Bidens. Too many people around this country have had to make that walk,' he concluded. The two men have been engaged in a back-and-forth since Biden formally joined the race for the 2020 Democratic nomination. Biden focused his fire on the president from the start of his campaigning - criticizing him for dividing the country. Trump has not held back. He also got in a hit at Biden's Philadelphia rally the week before, claiming to drew a smallish audience only a fraction of the size of his own. 'Look at the thousands and thousands of people we have!' he said. 'Now, they say he had 600 people.' 'No, no. I'd say 150,' Trump said. News reports put Biden's crowd size at 6,000. Trump's hits at Biden comes as polls show the former vice president would win the general election if it were held today. In a Trump vs. Biden match-up, the RealClearPolitics polling average has Biden up by 8 points. Barack Obama won Pennsylvania in 2012 by 5.4 percentage points over Republican Mitt Romney, now a U.S. senator from Utah. But Trump cruised to victory in 57 of the state's 67 counties, winning 20 Electoral College votes by a total of barely 54,000 votes a 0.7 percentage point margin. Yet he is trailing former Vice President Joe Biden by a 53-42 margin in a recent Quinnipiac University poll of Pennsylvania voters, asked to choose between the two men in a hypothetical matchup. Biden repeatedly refers to his Scranton roots on the campaign trail Trump has been repeatedly attacking Biden as polls show the former vice president would beat him if the general election was held today Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders also beat Trump in the poll, but by a smaller 7-point margin. Before his campaign rally, Trump sounded confident he would win the state again next year. 'I think we're doing very well in Pennsylvania,' he said at the White House. 'We won it last time. The polls had us losing Pennsylvania last time and we won.' 'And I expect we'll win it this time because the coal industry, the steel industry, the car industry, they're all doing incredibly well.' Trump's trip also came on the eve of a special election in Pennsylvania's 12th congressional district, with Republican Fred Keller facing off against Democrat Marc Friedenberg. Keller spoke at Trump's rally. He won Tuesday's election. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday that President Donald Trumps son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner prevented him from being able to communicate effectively with the president. Tillerson arrived at Capitol Hill Tuesday relatively quietly without any media advisories or press releases, and spent more than six hours meeting with the members and staffers on the committee, according to the Daily Beast. The session focused a lot on Tillersons tenure with the Trump administration from February 2017 to March 2018, and specifically his efforts to tackle issues related to Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. An aide for the Foreign Affairs Committee said the former chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil reached out to express his willingness to meet, while other in Trumps circle are refusing to comply with congressional oversight efforts. Tillerson accused Kushner of blocking his ability to introduce Trump to State Department proposals on foreign affairs matters, both in the Middle East and beyond. Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (pictured) met with House Democrats for more than six hours Tuesday to discuss President Donald Trump and Russia Tillerson said Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, among others, prevented him from being able to communicate effectively and introduce State Department proposals to the president Kushner has focused a lot of his efforts on a Middle East peace plan, which is set to be released in the coming weeks. The White House announced it would be holding a conference in Bahrain next month. The Trump administration actively avoided confronting the Kremlin about the allegations of their interference in the 2016 elections, Tillerson told the committee in the Tuesday meeting. The former secretary of state and the president did not have a good relationship, and reports said Tillerson called Trump a moron in private. Nevertheless, Tillerson was in the position during many important moments of Trumps presidency, including his 2017 private meeting in Hamburg, Germany with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Tillerson was being interviewed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel and Republican ranking member Michael McCaul, former White House Counsel Don McGahn did not show up for his schedule testimony. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler subpoenaed McGahn to appear before the committee Tuesday, but his lawyers said he would not comply on direction from the White House. Tillerson appeared before the House Foreign Affairs committee and was interviewed by Chairman Eliot Engel (left) and Republican ranking member Michael McCaul (right) His lawyer, William Burck, said in a letter to Nadler that McGahn is 'conscious of the duties he, as an attorney, owes to his former client' and would decline to appear. In the letter, Burck encouraged the committee to negotiate a compromise with the White House, saying that his client 'again finds himself facing contradictory instructions from two co-equal branches of government.' Nadler says that McGahn will face serious consequences for not appearing, and said the committee would vote to hold him in contempt of Congress. The committee has also already voted to move forward in holding Attorney General Bill Barr in contempt of Congress after he refused to adhere to a subpoena for an unredacted version of Special Counsel Robert Muellers report complete with grand jury testimony. The Trump administration is taking steps to block Democratic investigations, and the president has said his administration will fight 'all of the subpoenas.' Tillerson has rarely spoken publicly since leaving his post last year, but at an event in Houston, Texas in December said there was no question Russia interfered in the elections. Tillerson reached out to express his willingness to meet with the committee, while others are declining to comply with congressional subpoenas, including Attorney General Bill Barr (left) and former White House Counsel Don McGahn (right) Trump has said his administration will fight 'all of the subpoenas' Barr released a redacted version of the 448-page Mueller report in April, and the report found no evidence that Trump, his associate, his administration or his campaign had conspired with the Russian government to influence the 2016 elections. The meeting comes a little over a month since the report was handed over to Congress. The report, however, did outline 10 episodes that could potentially be instances where Trump obstructed justice, but the special counsel left that to be decided by the attorney general. Democrats in Congress feel the instances are enough evidence to move forward with impeachment proceedings against the president, and since the release of the report have demanded Barr and Mueller answer questions related to the findings. Mueller is reportedly negotiating to testify, but it seems he is reluctant to testify publicly because it could look like a political move. A sacked Florida teacher arrested for bringing a loaded gun and knives to school has given a cryptic hint that her actions were politically motivated - after accusing the school principal of unfairly sacking her. The Tampa Bay Times reported that when reporters asked Betty Jo Soto, 49, why she had brought the weapons to work at Starkey Elementary School in Seminole on Monday, she replied: 'Ask DeSantis. Your governor.' It also emerged that Soto had emailed the newspaper on the morning of the incident alleging she had been treated unfairly by Starkey school principal Audrey Chaffin. Arrested Florida teacher Betty Jo Soto, 49, sells Burning Spear, the newspaper of the Florida-based African People's Socialist Party, part of the pan-Africanist Uhuru Movement (left) and attends a 'Black Power' event (right) Soto made the remark as she walked out of jail on Monday night after posting $500 bail. It may be a reference to legislation ratified by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis two weeks ago to allow teachers to carry guns as early as this October, to defend themselves and their pupils against the epidemic of school shootings sweeping the US. Chaffin had recently informed Soto that her contract would not be renewed next year, telling her in person beforew sending a formal letter on April 25. Soto's last day at work was due to be May 31, before she was arrested and summarily dismissed on Monday. Florida elementary school teacher Betty Jo Soto, 49 (left and right), has been arrested, charged and fired over allegedly bringing a loaded gun and a six-inch knife into her classroom at Starkey Elementary School in Seminole on Monday Soto alleged her sacking was 'retaliation' for speaking out against principal Dallas Jackson at her previous workplace, John Hopkins Middle School in St Petersburg, in the same Pinellas county as Starkey elementary. Chaffin 'lied on my evaluations and she set me up,' Soto wrote to the newspaper. 'I believe I was set up.' Jackson was removed from his post earlier this year just 17 months into the job, after student discipline reportedly broke down and staff left in droves due to his alleged harrassment. One parent likened his management to a 'juvenile detention facility,' while others said 'students rule the school.' Soto was found to be carrying a loaded a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol and a six-inch Karambit fighting knife (stock photo) at around 11.30am Eastern, authorities said The weapons were discovered after principal Chaffin noticed Soto exhibiting 'suspicious behavior' and called law enforcement, Pinellas school district spokesperson Lisa Wolf-Chason said. Soto, who has a concealed weapons permit, was reported to law enforcement by Principal Audrey Chaffin after she found her carrying a backpack around campus to be unusual, Wolf-Chason said. 'The principal notified law enforcement and in the course of their investigation, discovered what was in her backpack,' she said. Soto was found to be carrying a loaded a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol and a six-inch Karambit fighting knife at around 11.30am Eastern, authorities said. Authorities said the gun, which contained seven bullets, was 'exposed' to students in Soto's classroom. A stock photo of a Glock 9mm semiautomatic pistol is shown Authorities said the gun, which contained seven bullets, was 'exposed' to students in Soto's classroom. Having a concealed weapons permit does not equate to having permission to carry such weapons on a public school campus. Permit holders are also obliged to keep their firearms out of sight while carrying them. The school district had recently decided not to renew Soto's teaching contract for the upcoming academic year, Wolf-Chason said, though she did know when Soto was informed of that decision. Soto was immediately fired from her teaching position and has been charged with two misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed weapon. She has been released on a $500 bond. Soto did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment. A Russian judge has been forced to resign over a topless picture of her, months after showing leniency towards two anti-Putin teenagers in a court case. Irina Devayeva has stood down after her mobile phone was seemingly hacked and the naked image stolen from it. The official line is that she left the court 'at her own request' but there are concerns she may have been targeted by the Kremlin over the earlier case. By releasing the two teenagers from custody last year - after they were accused of plotting to overthrow Vladimir Putin's government - she may have been seen as rebelling against the Kremlin's line, it is feared. Russian judge Irina Devayeva (pictured) has been forced to resign over a topless picture of her, months after a controversy about her leniency towards two teenagers According to Znak, the topless photo was taken well before Devayeva beame a judge in Moscow's Dorogomilovsky court. She had never shared it from her phone or published it on social media, it is reported. The earlier controversy surrounded 18-year-old Anna Pavlikova and 19-year-old Maria Dubovik, who were released from custody last year. The pair faced charges of creating an extremist group aiming to overthrow Vladimir Putin's government. Irina Devayeva (pictured) has reportedly stood down after her mobile phone was seemingly hacked and the naked image stolen from it They and eight other suspects had been arrested in March 2018. Defence lawyers asserted that undercover police agents had written the group's radical programme and encouraged its members to have shooting practice. They spent five months in a preliminary detention where their health declined, according to their lawyer and relatives. But in August last year they were moved from custody to house arrest after a ruling by Devayeva. The judge was at the centre of a row over 18-year-old Anna Pavlikova (left) and 19-year-old Maria Dubovik (right), who were released from custody last year Hundreds of women had carried soft toys across Moscow during an unauthorszed 'Mothers' March' in a bid to have them freed. Russia has frequently used its vaguely worded extremism laws to go after dissenters, opposition activists and religious minorities. In one example, Russia officially banned the Jehovah's Witnesses in 2017 and declared them an extremist organisation. Amnesty International said the extremism laws had been 'further extended and used arbitrarily against protected speech' in its latest report on Russia. Donald Trump Jr. has reached a deal to write a book about political themes, and some of his online critics are lining up to skewer him with suggested titles. Even sister Ivanka Trump got in on the act, blasting out a mock threat: ' When #DonJrBookTitles is trending on Twitter... @EricTrump @LaraLeaTrump @TiffanyATrump @kimguilfoyle and I are having some fun with this one!' she wrote, including an emoji of a face with its tongue out. The president's daughter didn't come out with her own suggested title, but plenty of other Twitter users did. 'I love it': The Complete Idiot's Guide to Collusion,' wrote Twitter user 'NotaRaja.' 'Crime and No Punishment,' suggested Susan Wood. 'Unfortunate Son' suggested political consultant Rick Wilson. 'Lord of the Lies,' wrote Twitter user @swrobles, whose name is identified as 'Sheryl - get trump's taxes!' Donald Trump Jr. has reached a deal to write a political book Twitter user John Pavlovitz offered up: 'Don't Judge A Book By Its Coverup,' also using the hashtag #DonJrBookTitles. 'The Son's Also Racist,' suggested Eric Wolfson, one of many users to play off real fiction titles. 'Who's going to write it? And who's going to read it?' wrote Molly Jong-Fast, who has a substantial Twitter following. News of the book deal emerged after it was reported Trump Jr. harbors an interest in running for mayor of heavily Democratic New York City. The president's eldest son reached an agreement to write a book focusing on politics, current news, and the future of his father's Make America Great Again movement, Politico reported Wednesday. The book is expected to come out in late 2019 as the Democratic presidential primary and his father's reelection campaign kick into high gear. The title of the book, terms of his deal, and any advance, were not immediately available. DYNASTY? Page Six reports he wants to run for mayor in heavily-Democratic New York. His girlfriend, Kimberly Guilfoyle works for a pro-Trump super PAC Ivanka Trump helped keep the tweets going Several users pointed to Trump Jr's appearance in the Mueller report Several users recycled an image of Trump Jr. on a hunting excursion Some opted for short titles Others sought to stoke a family feud The Mueller report cited Trump Tower meeting participants' lack of awareness of foreign lobbying laws Trump Jr. has become a regular at his father's campaign rallies, firing up crowds as a warm-up act. He has also used his own Twitter feed to attack Democrats including former Vice President Joe Biden, as well as perceived enemies of his father. 'Time to investigate the investigators!!!' he wrote Wednesday, retweeting a post about Clinton emails, former attorney general Loretta Lynch, and former FBI director James Comey. Trump Jr has been followed by rumors about his political plans since he became a surrogate for his father's campaign in 2016. The New York Post columnist Cindy Adams reported this week that he is telling friends that he wants to run for mayor in heavily-Democratic New York, his home town. His father took the unusual move of trashing current mayor Bill de Blasio from Air Force One the day de Blasio announced his run for the Democratic presidential nomination. 'Drums are beating that would like to run for mayor. Of where? Where else?' Adams wrote in her column in the New York Post. According to a brief statement from his publisher, Trump Jr plans to devote at least some of the book to settling scores. 'In this book, I look forward to expressing my observations and opinions about this significant time in American history, the great achievements of my father's administration, the great people across this country who support him, and those who oppose him,' Trump Jr said in the statement. His publisher declined to reveal any information about the amount of Trump Jr's advance on the book. Trump Jr finalized his divorce with former wife Vanessa Trump earlier this year. Trump Jr will focus on his literary future making an appearance in another famous tome: the 448-page Mueller report. President-elect Donald Trump, Eric Trump, left, Ivanka Trump, and Donald Trump Jr., listen during a press conference at Trump Tower in New York, NY on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017. Eric and Donald Trump Jr. have been running the Trump Organization during Trump's presidency Investigators deeply investigated his role in the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians, set up after the promise of dirt on Hillary Clinton. 'Trump Jr. appears to have accepted that offer and to have arranged a meeting to receive those materials,' Mueller writes, and his office 'considered whether this evidence would establish a conspiracy to violate the foreign contributions ban.' However, Trump Jr. was not charged with a crime. One reason, prosecutors wrote, is that they 'did not obtain admissible evidence likely to meet the government's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that [Trump Jr and other] individuals acted 'willfully.' He also may have benefitted from his apparent lack of knowledge. The office 'has not developed evidence that the participants in the meeting were familiar with the foreign-contribution ban or the application of federal law to the relevant factual context,' according to the report. Trump Jr has no interest in running for a Wyoming Senate seat coming open, DailyMail.com reported this month. Trump Jr has taken regular hunting trips there. U.S. defense forces have intercepted and escorted Russian war planes spotted near Alaskan air space for the second day in a row. The North American Aerospace Defense Command says its F-22 stealth fighters intercepted groups of Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bombers inside the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on both Monday and Tuesday. The Russian warplanes did not enter U.S. or Canadian sovereign air space and were escorted by NORAD fighters through the ADIZ without incident on both days. A NORAD spokesman told DailyMail.com that he was unaware of Russian sorties inside the ADIZ on consecutive days since Russia resumed long range aviation patrols in 2007. On Tuesday, a NORAD F-22 (below) is seen intercepting and escorting a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber (above) inside the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone Tuesday's intercept (above) was the second such Russian sortie in two consecutive days, a highly irregular occurrence since Russia resumed long-range aviation patrols in 2007 The Alaska ADIZ (seen in crosshatch) extends well beyond US airspace. All civilian craft entering the zone must identify themselves. All military craft are monitored and intercepted NORAD says that Russia typically averages six to seven such missions a year, but that the incidents this week were the fourth and fifth intercepts so far this year. The ADIZ is a buffer extending beyond U.S. airspace within which all civilian aircraft must identify themselves. Russian military aircraft that cross through the ADIZ on a training mission are typically allowed to continue on once identified, as long as they do not attempt to enter U.S. airspace. In Tuesday's incident, two pairs of F-22 fighter jets, each with an E-3 Sentry providing surveillance, intercepted a pair of Tu-95 bombers. NORAD says the bombers entered the Alaskan ADIZ and were intercepted by two F-22s, before exiting and then re-entering the Alaskan ADIZ accompanied by two Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets. NORAD committed an additional two F-22s and E-3 to relieve the initial intercept aircraft. A KC-135 refueling aircraft supported both of NORAD's intercept teams. On Monday, a NORAD F-22 (top) is seen intercepting and escorting a Tupolev Tu-95 strategic bomber (bottom) inside the Alaska ADIZ On Monday, two Tu-95s (top and bottom right) are seen after they were intercepted . Russia said it was conducting an observation flight in accordance with international law Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on Wednesday at the Independent Trade Union Federation congress in Moscow. The air intercepts represented an escalation in tensions In a statement, Russia's Defense Ministry acknowledged that its bombers performed planned flights along the western coast of Alaska and the northern coast of the Aleutian Islands and were shadowed by U.S. F-22 fighters. According to the ministry, the flight lasted about 11 hours. 'Two strategic Tu-95MS missile-carrying bombers of the Aerospace Force performed planned flights in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Chukotsk, Bering and Okhotsk Seas, and also along the western coast of Alaska and the northern coast of the Aleutian Islands,' the ministry said in a statement, according to state-run news agency TASS. Russia's Defense Ministry insisted that it performs its flights in compliance with the international rules of airspace, and without violating the borders of other states. The ministry said that its long-range pilots regularly perform flights over the international waters of the Arctic, the Atlantic, the Black Sea and the Pacific Ocean. E-3 Sentries (like the one seen above in a file photo) provided surveillance for the US intercepts of the Russian strategic bomber groups on Monday and Tuesday On Tuesday, a KC-135 Stratotanker (like the one seen above in a file photo) supported the intercept teams with aerial refueling as they monitored and escorted the Russian war planes Monday's intercept unfolded very similarly, with two pairs of Tu-95 bombers being intercepted and escorted by two pairs of F-22s. Two Su-35 fighters were also spotted with the second pair of Russian bombers. The Russian planes did not enter U.S. airspace during any of the intercepts this week. 'Our ability to deter and defeat threats to our citizens and vital infrastructure starts with detecting, tracking, and positively identifying aircraft our airspace,' said General Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, commander of NORAD, in a statement on Monday's incident. 'We are on alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year,' O'Shaughnessy said. A woman has been ordered to pay her former neighbour $120,000 after falsely calling him a 'busybody' in an email to fellow residents. Gary Raynor, 78, sued Patricia Murray over an email she had sent him and other residents in the Manly residential building after he asked her to lock her letterbox. In the email sent in 2017, Ms Murray called Mr Raynor a 'small minded busy body who wastes the time of fellow residents' petty items'. Gary Raynor, 78, sued Patricia Murray over an email she had sent him and other residents in the Manly residential building after he asked her to lock her letterbox In the email in 2017, Ms Murray called Mr Raynor a 'small minded busy body who wastes the time of fellow resident's petty items' 'To avoid further harassment, I've not replied to your provoking mailbox emails. However, your consistent attempt to shame me publicly is cowardly,' she wrote. 'It is also offensive, harassing and menacing through the use of technology to threaten me. Please stop!' The New South Wales District Court heard how Mr Raynor had sent a number of emails asking her to lock her mailbox following a series of thefts in the area. Mr Raynor feared the thieves might be able to cut a 'master key' by examining the lock on the unlocked mailbox. In emails Ms Murray had claimed Mr Raynor harassed her and sent malicious emails to humiliate her, Sydney Morning Herald reported. 'He wanted his reputation vindicated, he felt very badly hurt, and defamed by what Ms Murray had written,' Mr Raynors lawyer Barrie Goldsmith (pictured) said Lawyers for Mr Raynor claimed these emails defamed their client. 'He wanted his reputation vindicated, he felt very badly hurt, and defamed by what Ms Murray had written,' Mr Raynors lawyer Barrie Goldsmith told 9 News. District Court Judge Judith Gibson found the allegations in the emails about Mr Raynor to be false and that Ms Murray failed to establish a defence, which included truth and honest opinion. 'It would be fair to say that every sentence of the defendant's email in reply struck a blow at the plaintiff, and was intended to ridicule and humiliate him in every way,' she said. The evidence was 'coloured by exaggerated language, groundless suspicions and hostility', she found. Mr Raynor was awarded $120,000 in aggravated damages and legal costs. A former close aide of David Cameron today became the second rebel Remainer lord to be suspended by the Tories after he brazenly admitted he would vote for the Liberal Democrats in tomorrow's European election. Lord Cooper of Windrush echoed former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine in lending his backing to Sir Vince Cable's revitalised outfit in protest at the Government's Brexit policy. The peer, who was David Cameron's director of strategy in Downing Street, was told that 'endorsing the candidates of another party is not compatible with taking the Conservative whip'. Lord Cooper, founder of pollster Populus, suffered the same punishment as Lord Heseltine, who also plans to vote Lib Dem in Thursday's European elections. Lord Cooper said: 'I have come to the same conclusion as Michael Heseltine, for exactly the same reasons.' It came as Labour peer Lord Cashman also said he intended to vote Lib Dem because of Brexit, acknowledging that by doing so he may be ending his membership of the party. Lord Cooper (left), a former director of strategy for David Cameron, joined former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine (right) in being suspended by the Tories for backing the Lib Dems He was informed of his fate by the Lords Chief Whip, Lord Taylor of Holbeach. A Conservative spokesman said: 'Publicly endorsing the candidates of another party is not compatible with taking the Conservative whip in Parliament. 'As a result, the Chief Whip in the House of Lords has informed Lord Cooper of Windrush that he will have the Conservative whip suspended. Labour peer Lord Cashman (pictured with Sarah Brown, the wife of former prime minister Gordon Brown, at Pride London in 2009) also said he intended to vote Lib Dem, acknowledging that by doing so he may be ending his membership of the party As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two 'This will be reviewed if he is willing to support Conservative candidates at future elections.' Former EastEnders actor and life-long gay rights campaigner Lord Cashman lashed out at Jeremy Corbyn as he backed the Lib dems. He said: 'I cant trust Corbyn or the people around him on the defining issue in postwar Britain so on Thursday I will not be voting for the Labour Party. 'As Matthew Paris (sic) said, I am not a Liberal Democrat, but I support their absolute consistency. Voting Libdem in the EU elections.' He added: 'I think I've just resigned from the Labour Party by declaring that I will support the Liberal Democrats in the European elections.' Parents and students have reacted with outrage after a private Catholic school decided to ban skirts because girls insisted on wearing them short, which made male teachers feel 'uncomfortable.' Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego said the controversial decision was taken after teachers issued 'thousands of hours of detention' to girls apparently flouting the dress code by modifying the length. Principal Kevin Calkin sent a letter to parents, saying: 'The main challenge with dress code has been the length of girls skirts. The school has made many attempts to rectify this challenge. Parents and students have with outrage after a Catholic school decided to ban girls from wearing skirts to stop male teachers feeling 'uncomfortable.' They protested on Wednesday Female students were allowed to wear skirts that were not too tight or form fitting and that were no shorter than three inches from the top of the knee while standing, before the ban 'The administration has worked with the Parent Association, has issued thousands of hours of detention, has made school-wide announcements and has worked with students one-on-one.' Until now, female students were allowed to wear skirts that were not too tight or figure hugging. They were required to be no shorter than three inches from the top of the kneecap while standing upright, according to the schools dress code. Calkin claimed male staff now feel uncomfortable addressing female students about the length of their skirts, and female teachers also expressed frustration with reinforcing the rules. Female students will now be allowed to wear pants, capri pants or Bermuda shorts. Male students have the option of wearing pants or shorts, according to the email sent to parents. Before the ban, female students were allowed to wear skirts that were not excessively tight or form fitting and that were no shorter than 3 inches from the top of the kneecap while standing upright, according to the schools dress code. Parents were allowed to purchase any skirt of a similar color, so long as they followed the minimum guidelines. The move has sparked outrage among the school community with an online petition created on change.org which has so far received 2,923 signatures. Mimi Cleary, (pictured), a student at Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, said girls still want the option to wear skirts and it was only the teachers who were opposed Parents claim all students shouldn't be punished because a handful flout the dress code rules Students and parents held a protest at the front of the school on Wednesday, claiming it is unfair to punish all students when just a handful flout the rules. Mimi Cleary, a student at the school, told ABC7: 'Oh my gosh it is so bad right now. Everyone wants to leave Cathedral, and its like not the best. 'No one wants the skirts going, like literally no one wants the skirts gone. I think only the principal and teachers want the skirts gone.' Michelle Adams, who has two daughters in the school, said she found out there were no dress code violations and no detention was given out for girls wearing skirts too short. She told KUSI News: 'I expressed my concern over the fact that parents weren't involved or notified or had any collaboration. I think there are solutions. Michelle Adams, (pictured), who has two daughters in the school, said she found out there were no dress code violations and no detention was given out for girls wearing skirts too short To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Kusi Privacy Policy 'I suggested skirts, girls can wear spandex under their shorts, then what's the issue? 'Then have a policy where you have to wear pants for the rest of the school year. Why do you have to punish the whole when it's just the few that are violating the rule. 'This mentality of collective punishment doesn't seem to be the right answer.' She claimed the girls are being asked to wear the same uniform as boys, adding: 'They are being told that they can't identify with their gender. They need to look and dress like the boys. 'I don't understand why women are constantly being told you need to be more like men, we're not, we're different. How many girls do you see walking around in Bermuda shorts, that's just not something they're comfortable in.' Parents and students made the point that they are different from boys and should be allowed to dress differently as a result A spokesman for the school, (pictured), said that the revised dress code is a gender equalizer Cathedral Catholic High School is a private school located in Carmel Valley serving roughly 1,600 students in grades 9-12. The school charges an annual tuition of $18,500. An anonymous individual began the Change.org petition, which they titled, 'Keep Skirts at CCHS' with close to 3,000 signatures. 'Tell the boys to keep their eyes up and there wont be a dang issue,' a man who signed it wrote. 'Perhaps it is the staff that needs training, and an attitude adjustment,' suggested a supporter. 'The girls are there to learn, just like the boys. Skirt length is a distraction only if you see girls as sexualized objects. Great lesson you are teaching them. Not!.' Another woman who signed the petition said: 'This is absolutely sexist.' A spokesman for the school told Yahoo Lifestyle the revised dress code is a gender equalizer. She said: 'Now, all the boys and girls will wear the same thing, the goal is to concentrate on whats important, not superficialities that distract from learning.' A correctional officer in South Carolina is now in jail herself after it was discovered that shed engaged in a sexual affair with an inmate and later fell pregnant with his child, prosecutors say. Greschia Jene Brown, 29, was arrested on Tuesday on a number of charges relating to the alleged fling with the prisoner inside his cell at the Kirkland Correctional Institution, arrest warrants show. Brown, from Columbia, is believed to have had sex with the unnamed inmate multiple times between June and December last year. Greschia Jene Brown, 29, was arrested on Tuesday on a number of charges relating to the alleged fling with the prisoner inside his cell at the Kirkland Correctional Institution (shown) The South Carolina Department of Corrections Police Services discovered news of Browns pregnancy from cell phone and Facebook messages shared between the pair, investigators revealed. She has now been charged with first-degree sexual misconduct with an inmate and misconduct in office. Brown, from Columbia, is believed to have had sex with the unnamed inmate multiple times between June and December last year, before falling pregnant with his child The correctional officer is currently behind bars at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center. Its unclear whether she has been fired from her job as an officer at the Kirkland Correctional Institution, an all-male level three maximum security facility. Police have arrested 22 suspects in an operation across five countries that dismantled one of Europe's top criminal groups behind drug trafficking and assassinations, the EU's police agency said Wednesday. The operation code-named 'Icebreaker', which took place last week, led to the arrest of the 48-year-old Lithuanian ringleader in Spain and other suspects in Poland, Lithuania, Spain and Britain, Europol said. The 'highly professional and dangerous' gang was 'involved in large-scale drug and cigarette trafficking, assassinations and money laundering' netting an estimated 680 million euros ($760 million) over the past two years, it said. About 450 police officers seized an estimated 7m in cash after raiding 40 properties across Europe and Britain The gang made most of its money by trafficking drugs and cigarettes into Britain and then smuggling the cash to Poland, where it was laundered and invested in property in Spain and other European countries Around 450 police raided 40 properties, seizing 8 million euros in cash, diamonds, gold bars, jewellery and luxury vehicles, as well as hidden compartments used to smuggle drugs, Europol said in a statement. The gang made most of its money by trafficking drugs and cigarettes into Britain and then smuggling the cash to Poland, where it was laundered in currency exchange offices and invested in property in Spain and other countries, said Europol. Europol has said that the gang's alleged ringleader was arrested in Spain, a 48-year-old Lithuanian Jewelry, gold bars and diamonds were also recovered in the police raids The operation, which also involved Estonian police, took place on May 15-16 and was the 'biggest of its kind to date in Europe against such an organised crime group', the agency said. The group used 'specialised encrypted communication devices' and countersurveillance techniques to try to stay a step ahead of police, Europol said. Police seized luxury cars such as this one in their property raids HM Revenue and Customs led the operation in Britain, arresting three men in Coventry. Arturs Nespors, 29, Alexksej Rybnikov, 42, and Marius Stancikas, 40, have been remanded in custody while a fourth man from Lithuania was detained on a European arrest warrant and is facing extradition to Lithuania. The operation took place on 15-16 May and is the biggest of its kind to date in Europe Police raided luxury homes such as this one and found hidden compartments used to smuggle drugs HM Revenue and Customs led the operation in Britain, arresting three men in Coventry who will appear at Birmingham crown court in June HM Revenue and Customs detained a 42-year-old Lithuanian man on a European arrest warrant on suspicion of money laundering and is facing extradition to Lithuania Emmanuel Macron today insisted that Britain should leave the EU on October 31 with or without a deal to prevent them 'polluting' the bloc. The French President, who had fought for the UK to leave the bloc no later than June, says Brussels must not extend Article 50 again even if MPs fail to break the Brexit deadlock. Mr Macron also gave his support to the EU's Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier to replace Jean-Claude Juncker as European Commission president, claiming his negotiations with Britain show he is up to the job. He told Belgiums Le Soir newspaper today: 'In the case of Brexit, you just have to know at some point whether it stops or not. If we have the logic of the weakness of saying that it scares us and that we are prepared not to respect the British vote, we betray both the British and the interest of the EU'. The French leader said the Brexit delay to October 31 agreed by EU leaders in April must be the last. He said that not allowing another Article 50 extension would 'prevent the next mandate being polluted by this subject we've been talking about for three years'. Emmanuel Macron said that the British will 'pollute' the EU for years if it does not leave by October 31 Asked about Juncker's replacement he said: 'Undeniably, Michel Barnier is a man who has great qualities and he has demonstrated it again in the way of managing the negotiations with the British'. Donald Tusk yesterday infuriated voters after he took the extraordinary step of urging people to back Change UK on Thursday if they 'want Britain to stay in the EU'. The EU Council President, who said there is a 'special place in hell' reserved for people who promoted Brexit without a plan, officially backed candidate Jan Rostowski claiming he would make a 'great MEP for London'. His decision has caused fury with British voters telling him to 'mind his own business' and 'stop meddling with democracy' ahead of the May 23 European elections. Polish born Tory MP Daniel Kawczynski tweeted: 'Never a good idea for an overseas politician to interfere in the domestic elections of a sovereign nation. Perhaps we will have to now mobilise the 1 million Poles living in GB to vote against Mr Tusk when he stands to be President of Poland next year'. Tusk's foray into British politics is the latest intervention from EU chiefs after European Parliament Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt turned up in London campaigning for the Liberal Democrats with Sir Vince Cable earlier this month. Donald Tusk today took the extraordinary step of urging people to vote for Change UK on Thursday if they 'want to stay in the EU'. He urged Londoners to back his friend Jan Rostowski, picture on the campaign trail this month Mr Tusk has used an official statement to back Mr Rostowski, his former deputy prime minister in Poland who has now settled in the British capital, where he was born. He said: 'Not only was he the best finance minister in Europe during the financial crisis, he is also a very dear friend who would make a great MEP for London, which I know he loves. 'I urge Londoners who want Britain to stay in the EU to vote for him.' Mr Tusk is staunchly pro-European and admitted his hope is that Britain will never leave the EU when Brussels agreed to extend Article 50 until October 31. His backing for Change UK has caused some disquiet in the UK. Carol Summers said: 'Donald Tusk can mind his own business' while another critic said the EU is 'getting so frightened of no deal they meddle in our democracy'. One critic tweeted: 'The hapless Change UK are a dying group, they're rather pathetic. If Tusk is idiotic enough to back them, all I can do is shrug my shoulders' Another said: 'We are leaving. Then they can say whatever they like after that - nobody will care'. A Dutch junior justice minister has quit after his department came under fire for appearing to minimize statistics about criminality among asylum seekers. Migration minister Mark Harbers resigned on Tuesday in a bad blow to the government just ahead of European elections. His departure adds to the struggle faced by centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte as he tries to counter a surge in anti-immigration populists who look poised to win big in the elections on Thursday. Harbers quit on Tuesday after he was discredited for his report about criminality among asylum seekers, in which he appeared to have classified very serious incidents such as murder and manslaughter, assault and sexual offenses under the category 'other' Harbers was caught out over a report featuring statistics on crimes perpetrated by asylum-seekers in the Netherlands that he presented to parliament. In the report, misdemeanours such as shoplifting had their own separate categories but serious crimes such as sexual assault, murder and manslaughter were lumped together under the category 'other' with no disaggregation. The revelation of that omission by the newspaper De Telegraaf triggered anger among lawmakers, some of whom questioned whether it was a deliberate attempt to skew reception of the report. Anti-immigration lawmaker Geert Wilders accused the ministry of 'sweeping under the carpet' allegations of serious crimes among the thousands of asylum seekers in the Netherlands. Harbers said he assumed 'total responsibility' for not correctly informing the chamber but said it was 'not deliberate' Wilders said the resignation was 'the only correct conclusion.' The accusations of a cover-up led to a swift internal investigation at the justice ministry. Late Tuesday, during a parliamentary debate, Harbers announced he had offered his resignation. He assumed 'total responsibility' for not correctly informing the chamber but said it was 'not deliberate,' Dutch media reported. Rutte responded by saying he 'respected' Harbers's decision to step down, but declared on Twitter that it 'incredibly regrettable that the cabinet must say goodbye to such a talented and committed liberal'. Harbers departure is a major blow to centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte ahead of this week's European parliament election Rutte's governing coalition already suffered a shock two months ago when provincial elections made the Forum for Democracy party - an anti-immigration populist party that backs a Netherlands exit from the European Union - the biggest party in the senate. The Forum for Democracy is course to possibly beat Rutte's Liberals in the European elections on Thursday. The Netherlands will be the first EU country - along with Brexit Britain - to vote in the polls, which will be held in other European countries over the subsequent three days. If Forum of Democracy does do well, it would be a bellwether of a populist tsunami that could shake the European Union. Rapper Ice-T tweeted on Tuesday that he 'almost shot' an independent contractor making an Amazon delivery to his home on Monday because the person wasn't wearing a uniform. Ice, as he is commonly called, said, 'that s**t ain't safe,' referring to someone coming up to his home in unmarked clothing to deliver something he presumably ordered online. Amazon's Senior Vice President of Operations Dave Clark saw the tweet and responded in a casual manner, mirroring Ice's language before saying, 'Lots of innovations coming on this and many that already exist to help you track your package and delivery on a map.' DailyMail.com reached out to Amazon for additional comment but did not immediately receive a reply. Rapper Ice-T (pictured) tweeted on Tuesday that he 'almost shot' an independent contractor making an Amazon delivery to his home on Monday because the person wasn't wearing a uniform The media mogul whose legal name is Tracy Lauren Marrow tweeted on Tuesday: 'Message To Amazon: Now that you have regular people making your home deliveries.. Maybe they should wear a Vest with AMAZON DELIVERY on it..... I almost shot a MF creeping up to my crib last night.... Just sayin.' Someone assuming it was a male delivery person then asked Ice T, 'Was he not wearing a delivery man uniform?' The media mogul whose legal name is Tracy Lauren Marrow tweeted on Tuesday: 'Message To Amazon: Now that you have regular people making your home deliveries.. Maybe they should wear a Vest with AMAZON DELIVERY on it..... I almost shot a MF creeping up to my crib last night.... Just sayin' Someone assuming it was a male delivery person then asked Ice T, 'Was he not wearing a delivery man uniform?' and Ice who lives in New Jersey replied, 'No. They dont wear ANY uniform. Just regular people workin.. I aint mad at them. Just sayin. That s**t aint safe..' Amazon outsources some of its deliveries to independent contracts who use their own vehicles to drop off orders, and make those deliveries wearing their own attire. In contrast, staff employees of Amazon do have a specific uniform and drive a marked vehicle. On social media, some said the people who deliver their Amazon packages typically wear certain hats or vests indicating they're working for the company. But that's not the case everywhere, as Ice who lives in New Jersey replied, 'No. They dont wear ANY uniform. Just regular people workin.. I aint mad at them. Just sayin. That s**t aint safe..' A global view of the area surrounding Ice-T's address in Edgewater, New Jersey is shown Amazon outsources some of its deliveries to independent contracts who use their own vehicles to drop off orders, and make those deliveries wearing their own attire. A file photo of a person making a delivery in plain clothes in shown In contrast, staff employees of Amazon do have a specific uniform and drive a marked vehicle. A file photo of Amazon staff employees is shown A file photo of a marked Amazon delivery van is shown featuring the Amazon Prime logo DailyMail.com reached out to several New Jersey agencies regarding whether the localities or state had any regulations concerning attire worn by independent delivery personnel. None of the representatives we spoke with thought any existed. In many major cities delivery workers don't wear designated delivery attire. In New York City, for example, its common for food delivery workers to arrive in plain clothes with whatever dish has been summoned over the internet. The accepted consensus seems to be that if you've ordered something, you should be expecting it to be delivered, so you shouldn't be surprised when it arrives. When Amazon's Clark saw Ice's comment, he replied, 'Just sayinthanks for the suggestion. We MFing love you and our drivers. Lots of innovations coming on this and many that already exist to help you track your package and delivery on a map. Thanks for being a customer.' When Amazon's Clark saw Ice's comment, he replied, 'Just sayinthanks for the suggestion. We MFing love you and our drivers. Lots of innovations coming on this and many that already exist to help you track your package and delivery on a map. Thanks for being a customer' Amazon does have tracking available for its varied delivery options, ranging from Prime Now, which promises delivery within a two-hour window in certain cities, or regular shipping through Amazon.com. Ice didn't specify what kind of delivery he received that caught him by surprise to the point of making him feel threatened enough to mention gun violence. DailyMail.com reached out to Ice over social media seeking clarification and did not immediately receive a reply. President Trump's youngest daughter enjoyed a taxpayer-funded trip to the Cannes Film Festival over the weekend. Tiffany Trump and her Nigerian beau Michael Boulos were seen cavorting on the Croisette and partying well into the night on the Cote d'Azur, on a trip that cost taxpayers tens-of-thousands of dollars. Government records obtained by DailyMail.com reveal that the hotel rooms for Secret Service agents alone cost $19,213.48 - and that was only for three nights of the trip. This trip comes at the same time that American farmers are being hit hard by the ongoing trade war with China, which by some estimates could cost families $2300 this year. Scroll down for video Retour au noir: Tiffany Trump and her Nigerian boyfriend Michael Boulos (above over the weekend in Cannes) spent the weekend in Cannes during the annual film festival Steep cost: Government records obtained by DailyMail.com reveal that Secret Service agents spent three nights at a hotel at a cost of $19,213.48 9above) The couple's trip to one of the priciest vacation destinations in the world also came at the same time as the annual film festival, that this year attracted the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Selena Gomez and Elle Fanning. Hotel rooms are scarce and pricey this time of year throughout the South of France, but the agents still managed to score a room at the five-star JW Marriott Cannes. That is the same hotel where Tilda Swinton, Chloe Sevigny and Margot Robbie have been spotted this past week. Tiffany was not seen spending any time with the Hollywood stars at the festival, and instead dined and partied with her beau and his family. She and Boulos began dating last year and went public with their relationship around the holidays. He has since made a number of trips to the US to visit the first daughter, who attends Georgetown Law School. The two also traveled to Phuket over the New Year. Government records also show that orders for $107,443.82 and $213,926.17 were also made during the festival at the Hotel Palm Beach in Cannes. It is unclear what these were for, but they are described the purchase orders as critical government functions. DailyMail.com has reached out to the US Secret Service for comment. In July 2017, the State Department splashed out over $100,000 on car rentals during Tiffany's in Italy. Federal records show that three separate payments in the amounts of $54,694.84, $39,188.64 and $23,605.96 were made on July 18 in Rome. That was two days before Tiffany and mom Marla disembarked in Portofino after almost two weeks spent cruising up the coast of Italy. The women then enjoyed a few days in the northern port city before heading to their final destination of Rome on Sunday. Best of all, Marla and Tiffany were able to do all this without breaking the bank. The Roman hotel of President Trump's second wife appeared to be comped or at the very least discounted, while the ladies' two weeks on the Tyrrhenian Sea were spent as guests on the yacht of their friend Chahrazad Rizk. Mother and daughter also got a big assist from American taxpayers too, who footed the $117,489.44 fee for the car rentals that transported the two women and Secret Service agents around the European nation. Labour Brexit rebel Caroline Flint today warned MPs to vote for Theresa May's Brexit divorce or face No Deal. Ms Flint, who represents Don Valley, urged the Commons to 'take stock' after the expected mauling for her party and the Tories in tomorrow's European elections. The former minister under Gordon Brown, who has voted for the PM's deal before, was one of the few MPs to stick up for Mrs May's plan during a Commons debate today. She said: 'Anybody on any side of the House, if they claim to be against No Deal, they should give this proposition due consideration and think about how they would amend it.' Labour's Caroline Flint today backed the Tory PM's Brexit deal as a way to avoid No Deal She added: 'The PM has said several times already that if the second reading of this Bill does not succeed there will not be another opportunity to leave with a Withdrawal Bill. 'The only course and direction will be to leave without any deal at all. Jeremy Corbyn (pictured today) has ruled out any chance of Labour backing the PM's deal Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn earlier declared Mrs May's Government was 'too weak' and 'too divided' to get Britain out of the Brexit 'mess' it had created, describing her latest offer as not a 'genuine compromise'. He said no Labour MP could vote for a deal 'on the promise of a Prime Minister who only has days left in her job'. The Labour leader said the Prime Minister's promised 'bold new deal' is 'little more than a repackaged version' of her three-times rejected deal. He told the Commons: 'The rhetoric may have changed but the deal has not.' Mr Corbyn said Mrs May offered no change on a customs union, single market alignment nor on environmental protections. He went on: 'This Government is too weak, too divided to get this country out of the mess that they have created.' Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mrs May's deal is not a 'genuine compromise' and that Labour MPs cannot vote for it given the Prime Minister only has 'days left in her job'. Speaking in the Commons, Mr Corbyn said: 'It is clear no compromise would survive the upcoming Tory leadership contest.' He added: 'It is clear that the shrunken offer that has emerged satisfied no-one. Not her own backbenches, not the DUP, and not the official opposition either. 'No Labour MP can vote for a deal on the promise of a Prime Minister who only has days left in her job. Even if the Prime Minister could honour her promises, the deal she is putting before us does not represent a genuine compromise.' Mrs May faced MPs after her latest Brexit deal offer was lambasted with several Brexiteer ministers deciding to stay away and meet privately instead As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two Theresa May had pleaded with MPs to let her Brexit deal pass, as she faced intense pressure to quit after Tories rejected her latest proposals. Tories slump to just 7 PER CENT in poll on the eve of European elections as Brexit Party surges to 37 per cent The Tories have slumped to just 7 per cent on the eve of European elections - as a shock poll shows the Brexit Party surging further ahead. As Theresa May's leadership implodes, the Conservatives have dropped another three points over the past week - while Nigel Farage's new outfit have gone up by two. The YouGov reseach for the Times also paints a grim picture for Labour, which has slipped into third on just 13 per cent support - well behind the Lib Dems on 19 per cent and only just ahead of the Green on 12 per cent. The dire figures underline the catastrophe facing Mrs May and the Tories when the results of the elections are declared on Sunday night and Monday morning. Even loyalist Conservatives are deserting the PM as she comes under pressure to pull the plug on her Brexit deal and resign. Advertisement The Prime Minister warned that whoever succeeded her would face the same Brexit pressures as she called on MPs to back the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB). In a Commons statement she appeared to acknowledge that her time in office was limited, having already said she will set out a timetable for her departure after the crunch vote on her Bill. 'In time another prime minister will be standing at this despatch box,' she told MPs. 'But while I am here, I have a duty to be clear with the House about the facts. 'If we are going to deliver Brexit in this Parliament we are going to have to pass a Withdrawal Agreement Bill. 'And we will not do so without holding votes on the issues that have divided us the most - that includes votes on customs arrangements and on a second referendum.' Conservative Eurosceptics have reacted with fury to the Brexit plan's offer of a vote on whether to hold another referendum. Senior Tory MPs will again seek to change party rules to allow a confidence vote in her leadership if she refuses to leave Number 10. Mrs May said the WAB would be published on Friday and backing it would help get the UK out of the EU by the end of July. 'We can bring an end to the months - years - of increasingly bitter argument and division that have both polarised and paralysed our politics,' she said. 'We can move on, move forwards, and get on with the jobs we were sent here to do, what we got into politics to do. 'That is what we can achieve if we support this new deal. 'Reject it, and all we have before us is division and deadlock.' This year the 1,000th Jewish person will also graduate from West Point Advertisement The United States Military Academy West Point will celebrate its most diverse graduating class ever this weekend - with a record-breaking number of African American women. West Point's Class of 2019 is a record-shattering one in terms of race and gender. The class includes 34 African American women - the largest number to graduate in the school's 217-year history. Out of nearly 1,000 cadets graduating Saturday, more than 200 are women. 'That will be the largest class of African-American women to graduate together in the military academy's lengthy history,' West Point spokesman Frank Demaro said. West Point will celebrate its most diverse graduating class in its 217-year history this weekend - with a record number of 34 black female graduates. Pictured together above Making history: This year's African American graduating female cadets at the United States Military Academy West Point pictured above The school says this year 34 black women will graduate, a jump from last year's graduating class of 27, and they expect an even larger number to graduate next year 'Last year's graduating class had 27. And the expectation is next year's class will be even larger than this year's,' Demaro said to CNN. West Point was established in 1802 and its first black cadet Henry O. Flipper graduated in 1877 - more than 70 years later. Gabrielle Alford, 23, is one of those proud black women who will graduate this weekend. 'I was fortunate enough to have 33 other African American women going through the same experiences as me,' she said to CBS. 'Whether it's your sexual orientation, your race, your gender, we're in a place today where you can always find somebody to help you, empathize with you and pull you through.' 'It really helps if you can look up to a leader who looks like you who comes from the same background as you,' she added. This year's class will also have the highest number of female Hispanic graduates with 19 cadets graduating. The 5,000th female cadet will graduate after the first cadet class to include women graduated in 1980. Gabrielle Alford, 23, is one of those proud black women who will graduate this weekend and says, 'I was fortunate enough to have 33 other African American women going through the same experiences as me' In 2016 the black women of the graduating class posed for a picture in uniform with their fists in the air - sparking outrage on social media as critics thought they were trying to make a political statement Marina Camacho is adding to the diversity of the esteemed academy as the first Mexican American in her family to join the military. 'While we're increasing our inclusivity at West Point, we're not lowering the standards. We're not lowering expectations. People are rising to that occasion,' she said. 'We don't want everybody in the Army to look like me,' First Captain David Bindon, who is white, said. 'For me, working with people who don't look like me brings different perspectives to my approach to problems. And that helps me solve problems better.' This year the 1,000th Jewish person will also graduate from West Point. In 2016 the black women of the graduating class posed for a picture in uniform with their fists in the air - sparking controversy on social media as critics thought they were trying to make a political statement. 'I thought the photo was about pride and about unity and the fist is a symbol of strength. I thought it was extremely unfortunate that people decided to take it out of context,' Alford said. 'We don't want everybody in the Army to look like me,' First Captain David Bindon, who is white, said. 'For me, working with people who don't look like me brings different perspectives to my approach to problems. And that helps me solve problems better' Marina Camacho is adding to the diversity of the esteemed academy as the first Mexican American in her family to join the military. She says: 'While we're increasing our inclusivity at West Point, we're not lowering the standards' Vice President Mike Pence will speak at the graduation ceremony on May 25 to celebrate the class of more than 950 cadets. West Point Academy pictured above 'That was the first thing that kind of changed my perception about West Point for the worse,' she added. She explained that photo was a lesson of the importance of diversity for the campus. Since 2014 the school has had a diversity office responsible for recruiting cadets of different backgrounds. About 10 percent of the undergraduate class is black and women make up about 20 percent of cadets, according to the school's statistics. Vice President Mike Pence will speak at the graduation ceremony on May 25 to celebrate the class of more than 950 cadets in West Point, New York. Shocking footage shows a thief pick up a box of beers and stroll out of a store, as the owner says he is being targeted by aggressive shoplifters. CCTV has also captured shoplifting attempts where a customer stuffed items down their pants and into jacket pockets at the Family Choice store in Swansea, Wales. Owner Christopher Gnana, who also claimed a shoplifter threw a bottle at him when he chased them out the store on Llangyfelach street, said he fears for his safety after being threatened and loses 80 a week to thefts. South Wales Police said they are investigating threats made to staff at the store, and giving advice on how to prevent further thefts from the shop. Drug dealing takes place openly on doorsteps in the area, local media claim, and there is constant screaming and shouting at night while prostitutes hang out on street corners. Shocking footage shows a thief steal a box of beers and walk out of a store in Swansea, Wales, before being chased by the owner CCTV clips from the store also shows a customer placing an item into their jacket, while another stuffs items down their trousers A woman is also shown picking up a pile of chocolate bars and walking out before the man she is with gives the person on the till a thumbs up Owner Christopher Gnana said he fears for his safety after being threatened with a fight and once had a bottle thrown at him when he chased away shoplifters A customer is seen stuffing items down their trousers at Family Choice on Llangyfelach street in Wales CCTV footage shows a man wearing black shorts and a grey top pick up a box of beers and stroll out the shop, before the owner runs out after him. In the second clip a woman picks up a pile of chocolate bars and walks out as the man she is with gives Mr Gnana a thumbs up. Almost every day the 38-year-old said he has to confront shoplifters as well as deal with threats. 'It is a nightmare for us. 'I have banned them but they keep coming back in, sometimes they make threats and ask if I want a physical fight and I have to step back and tell them to go, it's intimidating. 'I lose 70-80 a week. 'One time I ran out chasing them and one guy threw a bottle at me, luckily it missed. 'I always report it to the police, I just don't know how to stop them. Mr Gnana said he loses around 80 every week to shoplifters that come to his store South Wales Police said they were investigating threats to staff, and that they had also been to the shop to give Mr Gnana tips on how to stop shoplifters Last week local reports said residents in the same area are living in fear as drug dealing takes place openly on doorsteps and prostitutes hang around on street corners 'Every day when I start work I think to myself what trouble is going to happen today. When I seen them walking towards the shop I have to be alert at all times. I'm on edge. It does worry you.' South Wales Police said it was investigating threats to staff at the shop. 'Officers have spoken to manager of the shop and crime prevention advice will be given on how to prevent thefts from the store. 'The city neighbourhood policing team are regularly carrying out patrols in the area and speaking to residents and businesses to help address any issues they may be experiencing.' Last week local reports claimed residents in the area are living in fear. A report in WalesOnline said that drug dealing was taking place openly while doors were tried at night and there was constant shouting and screaming in the streets. Serial killer Ivan Milat's love child has opened up about her love for her father and how she believes he doesn't have it in him to be a murderer. Speaking candidly from her Gosford home, on the Central Coast in NSW, Lynise Milat, 54, told The Daily Telegraph she loves her father, but doesn't always like him. 'I don't think when I look at him, 'did he, didn't he?'. I think he's an arse and a character but he's brutally honest, that's not to say I always like him,' Ms Milat said. Serial killer Ivan Milat's (pictured) love child has opened up about her love for her father and how she believes he doesn't have it in him to be a murderer 'But I will always love him. I don't want him to die, he doesn't deserve to be dying in pain in hospital, I'd rather not see him.' Milat, who is serving seven life sentences for the Belanglo state forest murders, remains in hospital after he was diagnosed with throat cancer. He is being held in a secure annexe of Prince of Wales Hospital and, despite being given a poor prognosis, may return to Goulburn or Long Bay jail. Ms Milat spoke of her father's ill health but insisted he doesn't have dementia - even though there has been some speculation he does. She claimed Milat was in fact 'worn down' as a result of being in prison and having to continually try to prove his innocence. The 54-year-old, who works as a supermarket employee, also questioned why it took police so long to charge her father during the murder investigation. Milat, who is serving seven life sentences for the Belanglo state forest murders between 1989 and 1993, remains in hospital after he was allegedly diagnosed with osephageal cancer Australia's notorious serial killer Ivan Milat (left) being led from court during his trial in Sydney July 8, 1996 She said police frequently watched her family during the investigation, but didn't arrest her father - even though they claimed to have evidence. Ms Milat said she still loved her father - despite his actions - which have since resulted in family issues with several family members not speaking to her. The 54-year-old was conceived as a result of Milat having an affair with his brother's wife Marilyn. Ms Milat also claimed she was just five years old when her father took her to a police station to complain he was being 'set up'. 'I do not know if the police have got the wrong man. I know he's a smart-arse but I don't know if he is of the calibre of a serial,' she said. Theresa May appears to have potentially just hours left as Conservative leader as her authority and Government crumbles around her amid a mass mutiny. After the Prime Minister was rocked by the departure of Commons' Leader Andrea Leadsom last night she pulled out of a plan to hold a vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in the first week of June. In little more than 24 hours the besieged leader is due to hold a showdown with backbench kingmaker Sir Graham Brady in which she is expected to announce her resignation. The mutiny on the green benches has been growing like a volcano over recent weeks but the Prime Minister has so far resisted all efforts to pry her immediately from the leadership. However after postponing the WAB vote to see off an immediate rebellion by her Cabinet, she appears to be almost out of options. That would pave the way for a summer leadership battle between a wide field of ambitious MPs currently led by Boris Johnson - with the victor having to cobble together Brexit before the October 31 deadline. Pressure is mounting on Theresa May to step down immediately. Her attempt to woo MPs with the WAB has instead poured petrol on the simmering fire burning among her own MPs WHAT WILL HAPPEN TOMORROW? The Prime Minister will hold the latest - and possibly the last - in a series of meeting with Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the 1922 Committee, whose membership is made up of all backbench Tory MPs. If she has not already resigned, she is expected to be presented with a simple choice by the Altrincham and Sale West MP - resign or be removed. Mrs May has clung on thus far but even she seems to finally have become politically hamstrung. The executive of the 1922 Committee held a vote last night on whether to alter party rules to allow a no-confidence vote to be held in her leadership immediately. HOW CAN THEY REMOVE HER? Wednesday night's vote was a bizarre form of blackmail aimed squarely at the Prime Minister besieged in Number 10. She faced a party no-confidence vote in December, winning against the odds by 83 votes. Under current party rules designed to maintain stability she cannot face another such vote until December this year. But such is the scale of the mutiny that MPs including influential 1922 lieutenants like Nigel Evans have pushed for the rules to be relaxed. Otherwise May could remain at the helm of a zombie government for months. The ballot papers have not been counted but instead placed in an envelope. If Theresa May has not resigned by tomorrow - or does not say she is resigning at the meeting with Sir Graham, it will be opened. The implicit threat to Mrs May is: fall on your sword or we shall wield it for you. The 1922 executive has been resisting calls to alter the rules for fear of setting a destabilising precedent but the wave of anger seems likely to mean it is a credible threat. IS THERE ANY OTHER WAY TO REMOVE HER? Even at this late stage there is no other easy way for the mutineers to make her walk the plank at a time not of her own choosing. But they have some options: The Cabinet can walk out en masse: A large-scale resignation by the Prime minister's senior ministers - or the threat of one - would leave her facing being unable to run the Government. While she could in theory attempt to replace them and carry on, if other Tories refuse to step up, she would be left with little choice but to resign. She can voluntarily resign: This is the 'men in grey suits' option. If the Prime Minister runs out of options or is told enough times by enough influential figures in the Tory party that she cannot continue she may choose to quit voluntarily. But she has so far been impervious to those clarion calls coming at her from all sides. HOW WOULD A NO CONFIDENCE VOTE WORK? Calling votes of no confidence is the responsibility of Sir Graham. He Brady is obliged to call a vote if 15 per cent of Tory MPs write to him calling for one - currently 48 MPs. The process is secret and only Sir Graham knows how many letters he has received. Before December's vote he revealed that he did not even tell his own wife how many letters he had received. The amount of time it takes to hit the magic number can be slightly complicated by the fact that MPs are able to withdraw their letters after they send them in, meaning the umber can go down as well as up. But that seems unlikely in the current climate within the party. Once triggered, the ballot can be organised very quickly and is a simple yes or no question of whether she should remain leader. The vote and the result announcement can be held on the same day. Mrs May, pictured leaving Parliament today, is believed to have only days left as leader of the Conservatives The Tories on course for a European elections drubbing at the hands of Nigel Farage (pictured voting in Kent today) and his new Brexit Party IF SHE GOES, WHEN WILL SHE GO? Pressure is mounting on Theresa May to step down immediately. Her attempt to woo MPs with the WAB has instead poured petrol on the simmering fire burning among her own MPs. There is also the small matter of the European Elections today, in which the Conservatives are expected to suffer a cataclysmic defeat, mainly at the hands of Nigel Farage's Brexit Party. The WAB appears to have been kicked into the long grass after the rebellion and in any case, a defeat would be the fourth time her deal with the EU has been rejected by MPs - and Brexit Secretary Steven Barclay has admitted the package would then be 'dead'. Which date she sets - if any - could spark yet another row if her opponents feel it is not swift enough. If the situation was not fraught enough, the PM must also contend with the arrival of Donald Trump for a long-awaited and controversial three-day State Visit at the start of June. He has not been shy of voicing his disapproval for her Brexit deal, and is widely expected to throw some grenades into the debate. He could be placed in the bizarre position of meeting Theresa May while she is Prime Minister but not leader of the Conservatives. Up to now Theresa May and Number 10 have been insisting - publicly at least - that she wanted to get a Brexit deal done before stepping down. That would set her up to leave perhaps in the autumn. But that now seems an almost impossible task as calls for her resignation become deafening. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO BREXIT? Britain still has until October 31 to get Brexit sorted and leave under the current terms of the agreement with the EU. But if Mrs May does step down her successor will face the same problem she does: MPs will not pass the current deal. So they will be faced with a looming deadline and several choices to make: They can try to go back to Brussels to renegotiate - which the EU has so far flatly refused to do. They can try again to get the current deal or similar through Parliament - which appears almost impossible. They can swing the country behind a No Deal Brexit - which MPs would try to block but which is still the default if no plan is voted into law They can revoke Article 50 and stay in the EU - which would probably destroy the Conservative Party They can call a general election and hope that the current hung parliament is replaced with a majority that allows them to achieve one of the above outcomes. HOW IS THE NEW LEADER CHOSEN? If the leader is ousted, they typically remain as Prime Minister until a successor is appointed and ready to be confirmed by the Queen. Any MP - apart from the ousted leader - is eligible to stand in the subsequent contest. Conservative MPs hold a series of ballots to whittle the list of contenders down to two, with the lowest placed candidate dropping out in each round. The final two candidates are then offered to the Tory membership at large for an election. Boris Johnson (pictured leaving home today) is considered the front runner to succeed Mrs May, but historically Tory contests have thrown up surprises Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt is also among the frontrunners to replace Theresa May as party leader WHO IS THE NEW LEADER GOING TO BE? The current frontrunners are Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Jeremy Hunt. Mr Johnson is considered the front runner to take the top job, but historically such contests have thrown up surprises. Other leading contenders include Sajid Javid, Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove, Matt Hancock and Penny Mordaunt. There is also the matter of a 'stop Boris' campaign among MPs to stop him taking over, which means it may be left to someone else to deal with Brexit. HOW LONG WILL THE LEADERSHIP VOTE TAKE? Party chiefs hope that the first stage can be completed within a few weeks. The run-off could then either be rushed through in July, or take place over the summer parliamentary recess. But opinion is divided over how long the leadership battle could take. Lats year Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard suggested it could be done in just two weeks, suggesting that Mrs May's replacement could be in place by July. He suggested it would take 'four days in the Commons and six days with the membership' and 'does not need to be an overly long process'. Ex-Brexit secretary Dominic Raab has set himself up as a right-wing Brexiteer candidate for the leadership Others believe it could take longer. WHAT IS THE RUSH? The Tories wants to have a new leader in place before the party conference at the end of September and the by-then looming October 31 Brexit deadline. The Tory gathering in Manchester this autumn will be the natural time for a new leader to take the stage and try to unite the fractured party. Assuming no way has been found to force a Withdrawal Agreement through Parliament by this point, they will need to spell out how they intend to approach the Brexit process. Victory for a harder-line Brexiteer such as Mr Johnson could see the party vow to leave the EU in a matter of weeks, with or without a deal. They will also need to consider whether such a policy can be pushed through the Commons with the current batch of MPs - or whether a bold move like a general election has become unavoidable. A mother who plunged from a cliff clutching her two-year-old daughter was a 'gentle soul' who would always talk about her beloved girl, a close friend has revealed. The bodies of Tanja Ludwig, 33, and her daughter Tilly were found below the picturesque Robertson Lookout at Mt Keira, near Wollongong, on Tuesday night. The lookout and surrounding forest had become her favourite place to visit after separating from her partner and Tilly's father, Ben Stone. She had started attending group meditation sessions in the forest directly beneath the lookout since early 2019, meeting new people and learning how to relax. 'It was obvious Tanja was a spiritual person,' the founder of the group, Jenae Johnston, told Daily Mail Australia. 'Our last session, she was beaming and talking about her child... she said she'd see me next time.' Tanja Ludwig, 33,(centre) would always talk to friends about her beloved daughter. The pair were found dead at the bottom of a 100m cliff in a suspected murder suicide Ms Ludwig (left) had recently separated from her partner and Tilly's father, Ben Stone (right) During the final meditation session she attended with the group on Mother's Day, Ms Ludwig couldn't wait to get back to spending the day with Tilly. She boasted about how she had introduced Tilly to the clearing where the group meditated and said she was fascinated by the grand fig tree they relaxed under. 'Tanja shared how much her daughter loved the trees and how she ran along the pathway enjoying it so much,' Mrs Johnston said. 'She told me of the new trails they had explored together and the big tree she found.' Mrs Johnson said her face 'simply lit up' when she was speaking about her little girl, who was only 10 days shy of her third birthday. 'She had such a lovely calming energy, spoke so gently and was so passionate about the beauty of the area.' Ms Ludwig was familiar with the lookout and the surrounding forest, and had been attending group meditation sessions since early 2019 During the final meditation session she attended with the group on Mother's Day, Ms Ludwig (lying down, right) couldn't wait to get back to spending the day with Tilly Police suspect Ms Ludwig plunged off the 100m lookout, her 'favourite place', with her two-year-old daughter deliberately in a suspected murder suicide Mrs Johnston said Ms Ludwig never indicated she was suffering, and was instead an 'encouraging, appreciative and open woman' who took great pride in sharing stories of her daughter and loved ones from Germany. She said while outsiders have drawn their own conclusions on Ms Ludwig, she hoped the mother would be remembered for her kindness and humanity. 'Despite the circumstances and whatever led to this, she was a lovely person and that's what she should be remembered for, not what social media is saying about her. 'I've been down a dark path before. We cannot judge, we can only be here to support and care for each other. 'It's important that people realise she's not a monster, she was clearly trying to help herself.' Ms Ludwig had been living in a flat with her daughter in Coniston, a Wollongong suburb, after an amicable split with her partner. In a chilling reminder of the loss of two lives, children's clothing remained hung up on a clothesline in their humble Wollongong flat on Wednesday afternoon. 'It was obvious Tanja was a spiritual person,' the founder of the group, Jenae Johnston, told Daily Mail Australia In a chilling reminder of the loss of two lives, children's clothing remained hung up on a clothesline in their humble Wollongong flat on Wednesday afternoon Mr Stone was seen being consoled by paramedics and gesturing in dismay at the lookout's car park Mr Stone was comforted by paramedics on the scene after he learned the news. The meditation group Ms Ludwig participated in often traveled up the clearing to get the best view of the forest after their sessions. But on Tuesday night her body and that of her two-year-old daughter's were found at the base of the lookout they both loved so much. Ms Ludwig was described as having an 'instant affinity with nature' and often took solace in her surroundings near the cliff face. Ms Ludwig was described as having an 'instant affinity with nature' and often took solace in her surroundings near the cliff face. Her daughter Tilly loved to run along the paths (pictured) Detectives are understood to be treating the deaths as a murder suicide carried out by Ms Ludwig (pictured) 'In our groups we share, we cry and we laugh just as communities have done for thousands of years,' Mrs Johnston said. 'Tanja's participation was no different. Myself and those that met her will always cherish those memories.' A relative of Ms Ludwig's estranged partner told Daily Mail Australia his family was shaken to the core. 'Think about the person closest to you, and you found them at the bottom of a cliff... it's beyond horrible,' he said. 'Two beautiful human lives have been ripped away.' Wollongong Police district commander Superintendent Chris Craner said the recovery mission would be dangerous Two bodies were retrieved at the bottom of a cliff below Robertson Lookout at Mt Keira, near Wollongong, on Tuesday night in a painstaking recovery operation Neighbour Athena Kinnas tearfully said she 'couldn't believe' Ms Ludwig was gone, and fondly remembered the mother and child duo. Mrs Kinnas said Ms Ludwig and Tilly would always stop to say hello. 'She was a friendly lady, very nice person. 'I feel shaken,' she said. 'When I heard the news last night, I said to my husband 'poor thing, who did that to her' and then this morning I found out... 'I'm gonna miss her.' Mrs Kinnas said there were no signs she had been struggling in the days leading up to her death. Detectives are preparing a report for the coroner after the death of Ms Ludwig and her daughter 'She was a nice person,' she said. 'Each time I talk to her, she was happy.' In one of her final social media posts, Ms Ludwig shared a message for people suffering with mental health problems. 'It's OK not to be OK. We all need support sometimes,' Ms Ludwig posted to Facebook, alongside phone numbers offering support and counselling. On Tuesday night, paramedics were winched down the steep cliff from the lookout until they reached the bodies in a slow and long recovery. Wollongong Police district commander Superintendent Chris Craner said the recovery mission would be dangerous. The lookout is about 1.5 hours from Sydney and offers tourists and locals views of Mount Keira. Roberton's Lookout walking track is 7.4 kilometres in distance and its altitude varies between 222 and 476 metres. Lifeline 13 11 14 A Texas father shot and killed a 19-year-old man outside his home on Tuesday night, after possibly mistaking the teenagers paintball gun for a firearm. The fatal shooting happened at 11.30pm in East Houston last night, shortly after some sort of disturbance involving more than a dozen teens gathered outside of a home was reported to authorities. According to police, the father believed a group of teenagers were shooting at his home on Force Street, and, feeling threatened, he fired one shot in return at the alleged perpetrators. A 19-year-old male was struck by the bullet and rushed to hospital where he later died. Scroll down for video A Texas father shot and killed a 19-year-old man outside his home on Tuesday night, after police say he mistook the teenagers paintball gun for a firearm According to police, the father believed a group of teenagers were shooting at his home on Force Street, and, feeling threatened, he fired one shot in return (paint splatter shown on the door) Police say they found paint splatters at the scene and believe the group of teens were firing paintball guns at the familys home, rather than using actual firearms as the father suspected. They believed that they were that their house was being shot at, Houston Police Department Sergeant Joshua Horn told KHOU. The homeowner, the father, came outside to the disturbance, approached a suspect who was standing out here. Believed that he was a threat, fearing for his safety, fired a round at him. The father also allegedly fired additional rounds at the vehicle belonging to the 19-year-old victim, Horn added. Police believe the mans 17-year-old son may have been the groups intended target, and say they wanted to 'fight him'. Both bullet casing and paintball splatter were found at the scene. Police say its unclear whether anyone other than the homeowner was actually in possession of a deadly weapon A 19-year-old male was struck by the homeowner's bullet and rushed to hospital where he later died We later received information that a suspect that may have been involved in the targeting of this house ended up in a nearby hospital where he was pronounced deceased, Horn said. Authorities say its unclear whether anyone other than the homeowner was actually in possession of a firearm. Both bullet casing and paintball splatter were found at the scene. Houston Police are not naming the homeowner or the 19-year-old victim at this time, as an investigation continues. The family is currently being questioned by police along with three other teenagers who accompanied the deceased victim to hospital. So far, no charges have been announced. Streetwear, including top brands such as Supreme, Off-White and Nike, remains white hot among consumers, but a new survey suggests the influence of social media stars is waning when it comes time for consumers to choose what to wear. In North America, a majority (69 percent) of streetwear enthusiasts cite musicians particularly hip-hop and rap artists as their most credible inspiration for streetwear, followed by contemporary artists (55 percent) and industry insiders (51 percent), according to the survey of 40,960 people by PricewaterhouseCoopers and HypeBeast. Just 38 percent said that social media influencers factor into their spending decisions, while nearly 27 percent said they look to celebrities as credible when it comes to streetwear. This graph illustrates who has the most credibility among streetwear aficionados, with social media influences ranking low on the list This graph illustrates the top reasons that streetwear fans say they buy and wear the products 'Streetwear managed to create desirability for the product, something that the bulk of the fashion industry has increasing challenges in doing,' said Axel Nitschke, of PWC, who co-authored the report, in an interview with The New York Times. 'Those brands, sneaker brands, have tremendous credibility within the peer group, and that comes out of the community.' Streetwear has evolved as a term since 2010, when brands worn by rappers, skateboarders and graffiti artists became more prevalent and popular, Angelo Baque, former brand director of Supreme, told The New York Times. 'Prior to that it was (called) urban-wear, which was just a nice way of saying these were clothes that blacks and Puerto Ricans wear,' he told The Times. On the West Coast, streetwear started cropping up in the early 90s as a look mastered by skateboarders and surfers loose, comfortable clothing available from brands like Stussy and Freshjive. On the East Coast, labels such as Triple Five Soul and Supreme came to embody what is now a booming international business. 'Pioneers of the movement include James Jebbia, founder of skate brand Supreme, and Shawn Stussy, founder of surf brand Stussy. Designer Dapper Dan played a pivotal role in elevating streetwear to luxury as early as the 1980's out of Harlem, New York, creating styles for hip-hop artists who were shunned by traditional luxury brands at the time,' according to the report. This graph illustrates the brands that streetwear aficionados say represent the epitome of the style 'In the early '90s, we were all rooted in some sort of subculture,' Erik Brunetti, the designer behind the label FUCT, told The Times. 'For example, skateboarding or graffiti or punk rock. Versus brands today, they're not really rooted in any sort of subculture. They just sort of appeared out of nowhere.' Half of consumers said they would be willing to wait in line for a product release, with coolness, comfort, exclusivity and status cited as the top reasons for their commitment to streetwear. Two-thirds of consumers said streetwear products never go out of style, and the same share said they place a high importance on brand activism when making a decision about what to buy. A full half of consumers said they are likely to quit buying a brand if a brand representative behaves inappropriately. Supreme was the most-cited brand (78 percent) when respondents were asked which lines most exemplify streetwear, followed by Nike (69 percent), Off-White (65 percent), Adidas (45 percent) and BAPE (37 percent). A Long Island man who spent 33 years in prison for the murder and attempted rape of a 14-year-old girl after a house party in 1975 had his conviction overturned by a judge on Wednesday after it was revealed a second suspect could be the real killer. Keith Bush was just 17-years-old when he was convicted of killing Sherese Watson, 14, after a Bellport house party they both attended. Tragic Sherese was found strangled to death by someone who also tried to rape her, officials said. Her body was left not far from the house party. Bush, who had no criminal record, was found guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree attempted sexual abuse in April 1976. But the Suffolk County District Attorneys offices Conviction Integrity Bureau found there was a second suspect, John Jones, who was not disclosed to attorneys. Keith Bush had his conviction for the murder and attempted rape of a 14-year-old girl after a house party in 1975 overturned by a judge on Wednesday Bush spent 33 years in prison for the murder and attempted rape of a 14-year-old girl after a house party but has always maintained his innocence Bush went onto serve 32 years plus one additional year for a minor parole violation in Woodbourne Correctional Facility in Sullivan County before his release in 2008. Today a judge overturned his murder conviction making it the longest-running murder case to be vacated in the history of New York. It followed a joint motion by the district attorneys office and Bushs attorney to clear Bush's name. Bush, now 62, has always maintained his innocence and District Attorney Timothy D. Sinis office announced it supported the motion to have his conviction overturned Bush was just 17-years-old when he was convicted of killing Sherese Watson, 14, after a Bellport house party they both attended Bush, now 62, has always maintained his innocence and District Attorney Timothy D. Sinis office announced it supported the motion to have his conviction overturned. He was supported Wednesday by family and friends including his mother, Lorraine Bush-Bolling and his fiance, Dora Moore and the courtroom erupted in cheers when the decision was announced. He said: '34 years is more than a lifetime of suffering and I know that it cannot be brought back, but there are opportunities to learn, to grow, and believe me I have learned and grown as a result of that.' Sherese Watson, 14, was found strangled to death by someone who also tried to rape her, officials said. Her body was left not far from the house party Registered as a level-three sex offender and a lifetime parolee Bush petitioned to have his case looked at. It emerged that a second suspect, John Jones, admitted to tripping over Shereses body and leaving behind a plastic comb but he was not mentioned at Bush's trial. That led to prosecutors believing that Jones, who has since died, could be the real killer. A report filed by the Suffolk District Attorneys Conviction Integrity Bureau said: 'The alternative suspect (Jones) may well have committed the offenses of which Bush was wrongfully convicted.' It adds Jones was 'perhaps the most viable suspect in Watsons murder'. And on Wednesday a judge agreed saying his conviction was tainted because prosecutors at the time did not disclose details on Jones. A year after Watson's death Jones was charged with third degree rape. He later stabbed a man and was arrested several more times. He died in 2006. A witness who said she had been at the party and saw Watson leave with Bush also admitted in 1980 she was not at that party and had lied. And Bush said he was coerced into his confession with forensic evidence also said to show discrepancies. Keith Bush, 62, gets a hug from a family member inside Arthur M. Cromarty Courthouse, in Riverhead after his conviction for murder was overturned Keith Bush, center, walks with his mother, Lorraine Bush-Bolling, left, and his fiance, Dora Moore, right after he was completely exonerated of all charges in court today Keith Bush is all smiles as a free man, while leaving Riverhead Courthouse, holding attorney Adele Bernhard's hand Bush said police beat and kicked him, adding that he signed the confession without reading it as he 'just wanted my mom'. A DNA test in 2006 is said to have found that tissue under the victims fingernails was from another man. Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini said: 'On behalf of the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and law enforcement community I'm sorry. We believe Keith Bush did not commit this murder.' Police have arrested a man they say grabbed a 74-year-old woman off the street, held her captive for five hours and repeatedly raped her, before leaving her semi-conscious on the sidewalk. Manuel Jesus Amador, 47, is being held in San Francisco County in connection with the May 10 attack, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. The woman was walking along Prague Street near McLaren Park in the city's southeast at around 8am when police say Amador grabbed her and dragged her up a driveway and into his house. A man allegedly snatched a 74-year-old woman off San Francisco's Prague Street, raped her repeatedly and left her semi-conscious on the sidewalk San Francisco police (file image) have arrested 47-year-old Manuel Jesus Amador in connection with the May 10 attack The elderly woman was on her morning walk at 8am on May 10 in the city's southeast (pictured) when she was kidnapped Authorities said his roommate's pitbull bit the woman's hip, ankles and feet several times. The attacker locked the victim in a room for five hours and repeatedly raped her. The woman told investigators that the rapist also strangled her and she reportedly lost consciousness for half an hour. The man then dressed her, dragged her back outside and left her barely conscious on the street, authorities said. A passerby spotted her and called emergency services. The woman was taken to San Francisco General Hospital. Police locked up Amador in county jail on May 17 and charged him with rape by force, violence or threat of bodily injury, and kidnapping to commit another crime. The horrific attack took place near McLaren Park (pictured). Locals told The San Francisco Chronicle that they didn't recognize Amador's name or know of a vicious dog in the area The San Francisco Chronicle reported that prosecutors plan to ask the judge not to set bail for the defendant as his alleged crime is so horrific that he would be a danger to the public if allowed to go free. 'This case is particularly egregious,' District Attorney George Gascon and Assistant District Attorney Margaret Buitrago wrote in their petition to the Superior Court. They said the 'defendants lack of criminal history should not dilute the severity of [his] conduct.' Gascon and Buitrago also pointed out that crimes against elderly victims carry additional penalties under the law. A judge is expected to rule on bail at Amadors arraignment on Thursday. It is unclear whether the defendant has a lawyer. The Chronicle said it is withholding the victims name because of the nature of the crime. The former Vogue staffer accused of stealing $50,000 from editor-at-large Grace Coddington was spared jail time and sentenced to probation this morning. Yvonne Bannigan, 26, appeared in New York Supreme Court with her defense attorney on Wednesday to learn her fate. She was photographed wearing the same knee-length polka-dot dress with a pussy-bow neckline, paired with sensible black flats, that she had donned for an earlier court appearance last September. Scroll down for video Yvonne Bannigan, 26, appeared in New York Supreme Court with her defense attorney on Wednesday and was sentenced to probation on a grand larceny charge Bannigan was arrested in April 2018, accused of spending more than $50,000 on Grace Coddington's credit card Bannigan appeared emotionless while speaking to her lawyer, Michael Cornacchia, in the hallway but at one point flashed a smile Bannigan, who is an Irish national, pleaded guilty in February to a single felony count of grand larceny Bannigan wore the same knee-length polka-dot dress, paired with sensible black flats, that she had donned for an earlier court appearance Bannigan was arrested in April 2018, accused of of spending more than $50,000 on Coddington's credit card and pocketing $9,000 of profits from consigning the former Vogue creative director's designer goods with The Real Real. She previously claimed it was a 'misunderstanding'. With her wavy blond locks hanging loosely around her makeup-free face, Bannigan on Wednesday appeared largely emotionless while speaking to her lawyer, Michael Cornacchia, in the hallway. At one point in the conversation, however, she was seen flashing a smile at the veteran attorney. Bannigan pleaded guilty to a single felony count of grand larceny in February. In return, Assistant District Attorney Travis Wolf agreed to drop the six other grand larceny charged against her. She has been out on her own recognizance for the past three months. DailyMail.com reached out to the Manhattan-based Dunnington Bartholow & Miller LLP where Cornacchia practices white collar defense seeking comment and was awaiting a reply. Bannigan worked as Coddington's assistant between 2016 and 2018 (pictured together, left). Coddington is now Vogue's editor-at-large (pictured at The Met Gala on May 6, right) Bannigan, sporting the same dress and shoes as on Wednesday, appeared in court in September 2018 to plead not guilty to the charges against her Bannigan, who is a native of Dublin, Ireland, worked for Coddington between 2016 and 2018. Coddington, 78, is now the magazine's editor-at-large. The dispute arose in April 2018 when Coddington discovered the unsanctioned credit card transactions and confronted Bannigan. Bannigan told her boss the purchases were legitimate and suggested that she go to the police if she had any concerns. Coddington followed suit and reported her allegations to the police. Bannigan was arrested on April 10 and charged in May with seven counts of grand larceny. Her attorney said at the time that Coddington was meticulous about checking her credit cards and would have known if she was being fleeced. In September 2018, Cornacchia told DailyMail.com he was hopeful his client would be vindicated at trial. DailyMail.com contacted Vogue for comment on Bannigan's sentencing. A female contestant from a popular Mexican television dating show was found strangled inside her apartment on Tuesday. Mexico City police responding to a foul odor report found the lifeless body of Nataly Michel Rodriguez Romero lying on her bedroom floor. The 25-year-old woman appeared on TV Azteca's live broadcast of its reality show, 'Enamorandonos', Spanish for 'Falling in Love'. Authorities said the victim's body showed signs that she was choked to death, according to local media reports. Nataly Michel Rodriguez Romero, who appeared on a reality dating show that airs on Mexican station TV Azteca, was found dead at her apartment in Mexico City on Tuesday The 25-year-old Mexican woman appeared on TV Azteca's live broadcast of reality dating show, 'Enamorandonos', Spanish for 'Falling in Love' The program has has been on the air since October 2016. Contestants on the show are known as 'amorosos' or 'lovers' and they answer questions from their prospective dates before deciding if they will go out with them or not. The show made headlines - albeit on the negative side - when Mexican magazine TVNotas reported that female participants from the reality show and a former producer, the Argentina native Hernan Albarenque, were involved in a prostitution ring. A source close to the production of the program told the publication in April that various people on the outside were hiring female contestants aged as young as '18 and as old as 23' to perform sexual favors. They earned them as much as 11,000 Mexican pesos, approximately $600, for an entire night of pleasure minus the 30 percent tax they had to shell out. Cops found Nataly Michel Rodriguez Romero strangled inside her Mexico City apartment Tuesday after concerned resident alerted the local police department of a foul odor The Mexico City Attorney General's office is currently investigating Rodriguez Romero's death, but no arrests have been made Mexican magazine TVNotas reported that female contestants from the 'Enamorandonos' reality show and its former producer, the Argentina native Hernan Albarenque (pictured), were involved in a prostitution ring. DailyMail reached out to him for comment 'The lowest, according to this, starts at 1,500 pesos [$79] for one hour; 7,000 pesos [$316] for five hours, and they give them 4,000 [$210]; and up to 10,000 pesos [$526] for the whole night, and they receive 7,000 [$368],' the person said, according to TVNotas. The leaders of the prostitution cell allegedly zeroed on victims who they figured were the 'most vulnerable, who had family problems or lived alone and had economic needs ... that were single.' The source also said that the ring leaders not only hired Mexican nationals but also foreigners living in Mexico, especially Venezuelan women 'because they were very attractive for the clients.' Nataly Michel Rodriguez Romero (right) appeared on a live broadcast of TV Azteca's reality dating show The prostitution escapades took place in the resort city of Acapulco but the foreign workers were ferried off to Cancun, Playa del Carmen, la Riviera Maya. The women were forced to work for 24 hours a day and only were allotted an hour of free time so that they could eat. But they had to remain secluded and out of the public eye because their bosses feared the would be easily identified since they had appeared on the reality show. Rodriguez Romero's shocking death comes three weeks after former Miss Uruguay beauty queen, Fatimih Davila, was found hanging in her apartment's bathroom in Mexico City. Her death was ruled a suicide. Officials believe the building where she was found dead in was actually a base for human traffickers who forced women to have sex with its paying clientele. The Mexico City Attorney General's office is currently investigating Rodriguez Romero's death, but no arrests have been made. DailyMail contacted TV Azteca and Albarenque for comment. Derrec Shaw, 25, was shot dead after he fired at two people outside of a Tulsa strip mall on May 10 Shocking video footage shows the moment a cop shoot dead a gunman who opened fire outside an Oklahoma shopping center, wounding two. Derrec Shaw, 25, was shot dead after he fired at two people outside of a Tulsa strip mall on May 10. Both of those victims were treated at a Tulsa hospital and are expected to survive. Shaw's family reported that he was acting erratically and strangely when he left his home. Witnesses then reported seeing him walk through the neighborhood waving a gun. The suspect first arrived to Cici's Pizza at the intersection of South Peoria Avenue and Interstate 44 and opened fire outside, wounding a person walking outside the restaurant. Shocking bodycam footage captures the moment a cop searches for Shaw after he shot and injured two people in a Tulsa strip mall Shaw first arrived to Cici's Pizza at the intersection of South Peoria Avenue and Interstate 44 and opened fire outside, wounding a person who walked outside the restaurant. The cop pictured above arriving to the back alley of Cici's The cop stormed through the pizza restaurant looking for signs of Shaw That victim exited Cici's to make a phone call when Shaw fired at him three times, striking the victim once in the shoulder. Video footage from inside Cici's shows the manager notice Shaw and lock the door, barring him from entering and saving the dozens of patrons inside. The gunman then went next door and began shooting at a restaurant called China Wok, wounding one person there. The gunman stood outside the restaurant toying with his gun when the second victim opened the door and Shaw fired at him, hitting him in the chin. The cop proceeded through the strip mall with his gun at the ready. But Shaw had already run down to another restaurant - China Wok - and injured a patron there After opening fire at the China Wok the gunman entered the Peoria Inn then ran onto the middle of Interstate 44 and started to fire at passing cars. The cop pictured above ready to point his gun at Shaw on the highway The officer shot twice. One bullet hit and killed Shaw at the scene After opening fire, Shaw then ran from the shopping center to the nearby Peoria Inn. At the Inn, he pointed his gun at the hotel clerk and paced the lobby before leaving, according to the Tulsa Police Department. The suspect then left the hotel to stand on the I-44 road pointing his gun at vehicles. Cops approached Shaw and shot him dead. An officer fired twice using a patrol rifle. One bullet hit and killed Shaw at the scene. The armed cop was heard saying, 'Hold traffic! Hold traffic! He's got a gun!' moments before shooting him. 'The suspect is down. Stay on the ground! Let me see your hands!' the officer says. The incident started on the afternoon of May 10 at Cici's Pizza an the intersection of South Peoria Avenue and Interstate 44 After opening fire at Cicis, China Wok, and briefly entering the Peoria Inn (above), Shaw started to shoot at cars on Interstate 44 'Further investigation revealed the suspect had attempted to car jack at least 2 vehicles and pointed his weapon at multiple victims, shooting 2, both expected to survive,' the Tulsa Police Department posted on Facebook on Tuesday. According to prison records Shaw is an ex-convict who served time in prison for larceny from a house. He was later convicted for possession of a firearm after a former felony conviction. In July 2018, charges of robbery with a firearm were dismissed against him after a witness for the prosecution failed to appear at the hearing, as per KJRH. A Police Department public information official said the officer followed proper training in stopping Shaw despite discharging his service weapon on a highway and then running into traffic, as per Tulsa World. The officer who killed Shaw said that if he didn't shoot, more pedestrians would have been placed in danger. As of Tuesday the officer was on administrative leave and will be identified following an investigation by the Tulsa County District Attorney's Office. The American Airlines pilot who was arrested for a triple murder minutes before he was to fly a plane out of Louisville airport pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to a slew of charges that could see him face the death penalty. Christian 'Kit' Martin ambled nonchalantly into court in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, shackled at the waist and ankles. He had been due to appear via video from his temporary home in the jail across the street from the courtroom, but technical problems led to Judge John Atkins calling him in person. Martin, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit and gray Nike sneakers, did not speak during the brief hearing. Martin, a former Army major denies killing three neighbors, Calvin Phillips, 59, his wife Pamela Phillips, 57, and Ed Dansereau, 63 in the small Kentucky town of Pembroke in 2015. Calvin had been having an affair with Martins wife, Joan Harmon, and Martin killed Pam and Dansereau in a twisted plot to cover his tracks, neighbors believe. Family and friends of the victims were at the hearing expecting to see Martin on a screen. Instead he walked just feet from them, looking them straight in the eye. Afterwards, the Phillipses' s son Matt said: 'I don't know what was in his mind this morning. My hope is that the case can go forward in a timely fashion. My grandparents are both 83. They deserve to see justice for their son.' American Airlines pilot Christian Martin, 51, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to the 2015 murders of three people In November 2015, authorities found Calvin Phillips (left), 59, shot to death in the cellar of his home. His wife, Pamela Phillips (right), 58, was found a few miles away in a cornfield inside her burned out car The couple's neighbor, Edward Dansereau (pictured), 63, was also found in the burning vehicle alongside Pamela The couple's son Matt Phillips appeared in court today hand-in-hand with his grandmother Margaret Phillips Prosecutors say Martin shot Calvin Phillips with a .45 caliber pistol on November 18, 2015 and used a different weapon, a .22 caliber gun, to kill Pam Phillips and the couple's neighbor, country musician Ed Dansereau. Christian 'Kit' Martin was arrested as he was about to pilot a flight full of passengers on May 11 He allegedly dragged Cal Phillips's body to the basement of Phillips's house in Pembroke, Kentucky, and tried to burn it down. He drove the bodies of Pam Phillips and Dansereau to a remote road in her car and set it on fire. The damage was so complete that police initially thought only one body was in the car and they couldn't tell whether it was male or female. They couldn't even make out the make or model of the vehicle. Martin, 51, is charged with three counts of murder, two of burglary, two of tampering with evidence, one of arson and one of attempted arson. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty. Kentucky has only executed one person in the last 20 years. Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said he believes the state has 'a very compelling case' against Martin. The twists and turns of Kit Martin's case captivated people in southwestern Kentucky even before he was arrested an hour before he was due to pilot American Airlines Flight 5523 from Louisville's Muhammad Ali Airport to Charlotte early on May 11. The former Army Major thought he was married for a decade to Joan Harmon. It was only later he discovered Harmon was already married when they tied the knot and so the marriage was never legal. Harmon was charged with bigamy in 2014 and given five years pre-trial diversion. Martin's former lawyer said his 'downfall' was meeting his wife Joan (right in her mugshot following being charged with bigamy). He has been accused of murdering three people in 2015 and was arrested in Kentucky This is the home where Christian Martin allegedly murdered Calvin Phillips in Pembroke, Kentucky This affidavit signed by Martin just two months before the murder shows his belief that his wife Joan lied to him and her two ex husbands 'Kit's real downfall was meeting Joan,' his former lawyer Tucker Richardson told DailyMail.com. 'She said she would ruin his life and, boy, has she succeeded. 'This man is an American hero. He retired from the Army and founded a successful business chartering helicopters, Then, after 9/11 he quits and signs up again and does three tours of duty in Iraq.' Martin told conservative blogger Bob McCarty that Harmon told him in 2014: 'If you divorce me, I will ruin your career. I will ruin your life. I know how to do it.' 'Then she started to list all the threats she was going to do. 'I'm going to tell them you are abusive,' Martin continued in the interview 11 weeks before the murders. He told McCarty that Harmon was having an affair with a neighbor around that time. Although he did not identify that neighbor, McCarty confirmed to DailyMail.com that it was Cal Phillips, one of the murdered men. Martin said when his 'wife' threatened him, in early 2014, he insisted on calling the police who told him he had to leave his house in Pembroke, just across the street from Dansereau's house, and get a hotel room. By the time he could get back in, two weeks later, he claims Harmon and Phillips had stolen everything. 'She and her boyfriend stripped it of everything they could carry, all my family heirlooms, documents, things of that nature,' he told McCarty. Soon after, Martin found himself the subject of a court martial, brought on by evidence provided by Harmon and Phillips. The murders occurred just two weeks before the scheduled date for the hearing December, 2015. Calvin Phillips (left with wife Pam and Matt as a child) was to give evidence against Kit Martin at a court martial where he was eventually acquitted of child sex abuse charges but found guilty of mishandling classified information 'I don't know what was in his mind this morning,' the Phillips' son Matt said of Martin after the court hearing. 'My hope is that the case can go forward in a timely fashion' Martin has been indicted on THREE counts of first degree murder, arson, attempted arson, burglary and TWO counts of tampering with evidence Phillips was due to be a witness at the military hearing. But even the role he was to have played is in dispute. Martin's supporters say he had changed his mind and had decided to be a witness for the defense attorney Richardson said he would have been Martin's 'star witness.' But Phillips's friends say he was going to give evidence against the former Army Ranger. 'I don't know where the story about Cal testifying for Martin came from,' Phillips's best friend Steve Durham told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. 'But he clearly told me he was going to testify against him.' Martin was eventually found guilty of mishandling evidence and assault. He was sentenced to 90 days in the brig and dismissed from the service. Harmon, 47, did not respond to detailed questions emailed her. Her current boyfriend, William Stokes, told DailyMail.com she is in hiding. Harmon was still married to her second husband, Guatemalan immigrant Carlos Guerra, when she and Martin walked down the aisle in 2004. Martin says it was only when he filed for divorce in 2014 that he found their marriage had never been legal. Harmon had walked out on her first husband while pregnant with his child and told everyone including their son that the man had been decapitated in a logging accident in Oregon. 'That's a story you don't forget,' Martin told McCarty. But when he hired private detectives they found the man was still alive.' Martin was Fort Campbell Army Major before retiring and becoming a commercial pilot Neighbor Steve Durham told DailyMail.com that he believes Martin is guilty in the murder of his friend Calvin Phillips Murder victim Edward Dansereau lived in this house in Pembroke, Kentucky. His charred body was found in a burning car miles away She then married Guerra, who she had met as they worked together in a chicken processing plant in Iowa. They had two daughters, who are now 18 and 15. But once she met Martin through Yahoo Personals she started to claim her husband had sexually assaulted her and the girls and she persuaded Martin to help her move out of the home she shared with Guerra in Madison, Tennessee, while he was at work. 'She claimed I had climbed through the window with a knife in one hand and I had my other hand on her private parts,' Guerra, 50, told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. 'She took everything out of the apartment, all the furniture everything. It was completely empty,' Guerra added. 'All she left were my clothes.' 'It was five days before my younger girl's first birthday. I called the police but they said they could do nothing because it was a marital dispute.' Guerra didn't see his daughters for 10 years and that was only after Martin's detectives contacted him and he could finally locate his wife and file for divorce. 'She is crazy,' said Guerra. 'Don't believe a single word she tells you. She lies constantly. 'She told the girls I was a trained killer in the Guatemalan military but that is not true, I'm a fork lift driver. She told her son his father had been killed before he was born, how sick is that?' Martin signed an affidavit supporting Guerra's contention that Harmon should not be allowed to relocate with her children outside Kentucky. 'It is my firm belief that my former wife will again flee from this area and conceal her whereabouts from the fathers of her children in an effort to prevent any contact between the children and their fathers,' he wrote. Martin in ceremonial military garb with his current fiancee Laura Spencer. Before his arrest they had been living in Apex, North Carolina Kit Martin and his wife Joan Harmon lived in this house in Pembroke across the street from Dansereau before their marriage was voided in 2014 due to her bigamy But not everyone believes Martin had been wronged. Steve Durham told DailyMail.com he is sure police have finally got the right man in the triple murder. 'I am convinced that Kit Martin killed them. No-one else had any reason to,' Durham, 64, said. 'I believe he shot Cal and then shot Ed and Pam and put them in the car. He tried to burn the house down and if that had happened it would have been a big collapse and they probably would never have found Cal's body in the basement. 'He made it look like Ed and Pam were having an affair and that Cal had killed them, then burned his house down and gone on the run and they would never have found him.' But the fire in the two-story brick house on Pembroke's Main Street, failed to burn because all the windows were shut and there was not enough oxygen for the flames to take. Friends of the Phillips family believe the couple were murdered because Calvin Phillips was going to give evidence against the former Army Ranger Another neighbor, Mark A. Hicks, told DailyMail.com he too believed Martin is the killer. 'There was a lot of heat and madness going on,' he said. 'Kit found that Cal was having an affair with his wife and it got into tit for tat actions one against the other. I have no doubt Kit killed them. Ed even said to me a few days before the killings, 'I have got to get away. Things are getting crazy.' Phillips' son, Matt, agrees that Martin is the man who killed his parents. 'It's just a relief to know he's where he should be,' he said in an interview with Wave3 News. 'After what was done to my parents...They were executed and so, to know that he was still walking around every day is excruciating,' he added. Martin had been linked with the murders since they occurred but prosecutors had never been able to get enough proof to take the case to court. The suspicions didn't stop him getting a job with PSA Airlines, a subsidiary of American, in January 2018. The airline says he is now suspended pending the outcome of the case. Even now Attorney General Beshear is not saying what new evidence allowed him to convince a Grand Jury to indict Martin. McCarty, told DailyMail.com that he believes Beshear announced the charges for political reasons just 10 days before Tuesday's Democratic primary for Governor, which he won. 'I believe Beshear used the filing of multiple murder charges against Martin as a publicity stunt prior to the gubernatorial primary election,' said McCarty. A 55-year-old dance professional in New York City for work suffered a fractured spine and skull after a huge branch fell on her as she sat on a bench in Washington Square Park on Monday. The 35-ft branch from a London plane tree fell on Penny Chang, from Charlottesville, Virginia, as she sat on a bench with her 19-year-old son, Jacob. Chang, who is also an energy healer, was taken to Bellevue Hospital where she was classified as being in stable but critical condition on Tuesday, CBS News reported. Her son, who was sitting beside her was not injured, authorities said. Last year, a woman sued the city for $200million after a tree with rotting roots fell on her and her three children while she was walking through Central Park, DailyMail.com previously reported. Scroll down for video A 35-foot-long tree limb fell and injured Penny Chang, 55 (pictured), a dance professional from Virginia who was sitting on a bench with her 19-year-old son Jacob in New York's Washington Square Park on Monday Officials said the limb (shown where it broke from the tree at right) may have fallen due to being infected with Massaria, a fungal disease Chang, who founded Virginia dance company Deep Water Moves, was in New York working on a film biography about Irmgard Bartenieff. Chang works in the dance-based fields of movement analysis and education and Bartenieff pioneered movement/dance therapy. 'Penny is one of the most generous and committed people Ive ever met in my life. Shes a delightful and caring person and really smart,' friend Catherine Maguire told the New York Daily News. 'Penny shines a golden good light of kindness into the world and we need her to stay with us. I need her to stay.' DailyMail.com reached out to Maguire seeking an update on Chang's condition, but did not immediately receive a reply. Chang (left), who founded Virginia dance company Deep Water Moves, was in New York working on a film biography about Irmgard Bartenieff. The spot where the limb broke from the tree is shown at right The New York City Parks Department released a statement on Tuesday including a possible explanation for the fallen limb. 'This mornings preliminary inspection indicates that the tree shows signs of having Massaria, a fungus, which may have caused the limb to fail,' the agency said. 'We will conduct further inspections of the tree, and surrounding trees, and will address accordingly.' Massaria is a fungal disease that infects trees, especially those which are more than 40 years old according to Woodland Trust, a United Kingdom-based woodland conservation charity. The bough fractured Chang's skull and spine and left a gash in the back of her head as it came crashing down on her at around 7.40pm Eastern on Monday, on the west side of Washington Square Park (main area shown) Her son, who was sitting beside her on the bench (pictured), was not injured, authorities said The disease does not typically affect the overall health of the tree, but does cause limbs to die off and fall. Smaller branches infected with Massaria can die within a year, after showing signs including dead flaking bark with exposed orange sap wood, though branches may decay and fall as quickly as within a few months after becoming infected. It's tougher to spot Massaria in large branches because the bark tends to start dying off on the upper side. The tree that the limb fell from was last inspected by the city in November 2016 and June 2017, each time being listed as in fair condition, the City Parks department said. It had most recently been pruned one month later, in August of 2017. It's not known how old the tree is. Advertisement Have you ever dreamed of staying in a room inspired by a serial killer? What may sound like the stuff of nightmares for some, or a dream come true for true crime lovers and history buffs, is now a reality thanks to one Colorado hotel. The Black Monarch Hotel is generating buzz after it was revealed that it has serial killer-themed rooms. And if that's not enough, legend has it that the former Gold Rush brothel and casino is already haunted. Black Monarch Hotel is nestled in the mining town of Victor, Colorado, nearly 50 miles southwest of Colorado Springs. The Black Monarch Hotel is generating buzz after it was revealed that it has rooms inspired by some of the world's deadliest serial killers New owner Adam Zimmerli decided to create rooms that were inspired by the serial killers Elizabeth Bathory and HH Holmes. Pictured is the Elizabeth Bathory Room Also a former saloon, the hotel was rebuilt following a fire in 1899 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is said that the ghost of a miner who died during a gunfight at the property still haunts the hotel. And some guests have reported being woken in the middle of the night by the sounds of women laughing or men screaming at each other. The building underwent a full remodel this year after it was squired by Adam Zimmerli, who only wanted to enhance its spooky roots. Countess Elizabeth Bathory was a Hungarian noblewoman who tortured and killed more than 600 young servant girls. A picture of her hangs on the wall of the room The room features a bright red well - paying tribute to her Blood Countess nickname - as well as a framed taxidermy bat and the skull of an antelope Zimmerli decided to create rooms that were inspired by the serial killers Elizabeth Bathory and HH Holmes. Countess Elizabeth Bathory was a Hungarian noblewoman who tortured and killed more than 600 young servant girls so that she could bathe in their blood and absorb their youth. Later nicknamed the Blood Countess, she has been labeled the most prolific female killer in history. She was also suspected of cannibalism. There is a room named after her in the Black Monarch Hotel, which includes a king size bed, a makeup vanity, chandelier, and, of course, a mini fridge. But not every room has been inspired by killers. Black Monarch Hotel also features the Nikola Tesla room, in tribute to the American inventor who, legend has it, originally wired the building himself The 'gigantic parlor room' features two queen-sized beds (pictured), a couch, rocker, writing desk, and mini fridge It also features a bright red well - paying tribute to her nickname - as well as a framed taxidermy bat and the skull of an antelope. The room, which can be reserved on Airbnb, costs just $86 a night. One reviewer said she had a 'great rest' in the room, while another called it 'curious, creative, and cosy'. Zimmerli picked out every piece that decorates the hotel, from the creepy art and authentic taxidermy hanging on the walls to the luxurious furniture and eclectic trinkets Another of the rooms was inspired by American serial killer HH Holmes, a hotelier who confessed to killing 27 murders but is said to have killed as many as 200. His victims were predominantly women, including his mistress and her child. Holmes even sold the skeletons of his victims to schools and medical labs. Zimmerli told DailyMail.com that he selected Holmes and Bathory because he believed they were two killers who knew how to enjoy a good hotel room. 'They probably had a pretty high standard of living,' he said. 'It still has to be really comfortable, even if it's a haunted hotel.' So don't expect Zimmerli to make a room dedicated to Ted Bundy anytime soon. 'That doesn't quite fit into the historic character of a building,' he added with a laugh. The entire building has been decorated in green, purple, and black to fit its Victorian Gothic style. It features 15-foot ceilings and has preserved the original bay windows, ornate solid oak doors, tin ceilings, and hardwood floors. Zimmerli picked out every piece that decorates the hotel, from the creepy art and authentic taxidermy hanging on the walls to the luxurious furniture and eclectic trinkets. 'I've been pulling stuff for years, lots of antiques. Some of this stuff I've been collecting before I ever even knew there was going to be a hotel, so I already had a big collection of antiques and weird decorations,' he said. Zimmerli said he spent 'serous time' tracking down authentic items, including a 120-year-old rifle. In keeping with the hotel's theme, the walls are painted black and the windows are covered with green drapes Zimmerli told DailyMail.com that he spent years collecting and tracking down the antiques that decorate each room Black Monarch Hotel can be found nestled in the mining town of Victor, Colorado, 50 miles southwest of Colorado Springs But not every room has been inspired by killers. Black Monarch Hotel also features the Nikola Tesla room in tribute to the American inventor who, according to town lore, originally wired the building himself. The 'gigantic parlor room' features two queen-sized beds, a couch, rocker, writing desk, and mini fridge. In keeping with the hotel's theme, the walls are painted black and the windows are covered with green drapes. Hanging above the beds are Tesla's patents. And the hotel won't just be a place to get a soothing - or spooky - sleep. Zimmerli also plans to host events at the hotel, including burlesque shows, circus performers, and unconventional weddings. 'Above all else, I just really want to do a very unique, memorable vacation experience that's set at a reasonable price, that's really the ultimate goal,' he said. 'I'm just trying to share a little bit of weird Colorado with the rest of the world.' A British woman has died at Majorca's Palma Airport inside a Ryanair plane bound for Edinburgh after reportedly suffering a heart attack. The 58-year-old is thought to have fallen ill after boarding the aircraft, with passengers asked to leave the plane while attempts were made to revive her. Police also attended and the flight, due to leave just after midday today, was delayed by more than three hours before departing around 3.20pm local time. The British woman, 58, was on a Ryanair flight from Majorca that was heading for Edinburgh (file photo) A local court has been tasked with a routine investigation into the incident. A spokesman for Spanish airport operator AENA confirmed a Ryanair flight due to leave Palma for Edinburgh at 12.10pm local time today had been delayed by around three hours because of the death of a passenger. The spokesman said: 'The Civil Guard took charge of the matter.' The flight is believed to have been Ryanair FR6657, due to reach Edinburgh at 2.20pm local time. A Ryanair spokesman said: 'This flight from Palma to Edinburgh (22 May) was delayed ahead of take-off after a customer became ill prior to departure. 'Paramedics boarded the aircraft after medical assistance was requested but the customer sadly passed away. Ryanair extends its deepest sympathies to the bereaved and is providing any assistance required.' In March, British expat Ann Rudkin, 63, died on an EasyJet flight from Gatwick as it landed in Malaga. The grandmother-of-two, from Weymouth, Dorset, had just returned to Europe from a Caribbean cruise. Benjamin Field, 28, from Olney, Buckinghamshire, is accused of conspiring to murder the 83-year-old pensione A 101- year-old woman became the oldest witness in a British murder trial yesterday as she confronted the men accused of plotting to kill her two friends. Former Stowe School secretary Liz Zettl was the third intended target of Ben Field, 28, and 32-year-old Martyn Smith, jurors heard. Field is accused of murdering the prestigious schools former head of English, Peter Farquhar, 69, and conspiring to kill his neighbour Ann Moore-Martin, 83, in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire. Both pensioners were allegedly manipulated into changing their wills in the defendants favour after a concerted campaign of mental torture and poisoning. In a case dubbed the Midsomer Murders trial for its similarities to the settings of the ITV show, prosecutors say Mr Farquhars food was laced with a powerful hallucinogen before he was finally suffocated. Smith, an amateur magician, was lodging with Mrs Zettl at her home in the historic centre of Buckingham when the police probe began, Oxford Crown Court was told. Both Smith and Field, a deputy church warden, are accused of possessing a copy of her will with the intention of carrying out yet another alleged fraud on an elderly victim. Liz Zettl, 101, became the oldest witness at a British murder trial yesterday Anne-Marie Blake said Ann Moore-Martin, 83, (pictured) could not believe she had been so stupid as to fall for the lies of Benjamin Field, 28 Prosecutor Oliver Saxby QC has said they acquired it to see what she was worth. Yesterday, Mrs Zettl, who worked at Stowe School before the Second World War and knew both alleged victims, arrived at court in a wheelchair. Grasping her walking stick, she stood when Mr Justice Sweeney entered the courtroom and when she took her oath. Jurors were played her interviews with police, in which she said Smith had given her absolutely no trouble and paid his 80 monthly rent on time. He studies morning, noon and night and I had absolutely no fault to find with him, and that apart from the rumours I heard is all I know actually, she told officers. She recalled going for curries with her gentle lodger, but later said she was puzzled why a copy of her front door key had been found in Fields possession. She said she had been drafting a new version of her will, but had not sought the pairs help. Asked if she had planned to include Field and Smith in the document, she replied: Good heavens no. Mrs Zettl told Tim Moloney QC, for Smith, she had no memory of being asked to type up changes to her will. Sorry it wasnt very helpful but my memory isnt what is used to be, she added. English student Field (pictured) had declared his love for the retired head teacher in a series of letters and poems even though she was 57 years his senior Field is accused of murdering the prestigious schools former head of English, Peter Farquhar, 69, (pictured) and conspiring to kill his neighbour Ann Moore-Martin, 83, in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire The judge told her: If we are all as bright as you are at your age, we would have great cause to be grateful. Field is said to have started sexual relationships with both Mr Farquhar and Mrs Moore-Martin as part of the plots. Anne-Marie Blake, the niece of Ann Moore-Martin, 83, also appeared in court and said her Auntie could not believe she had been so stupid as to fall for the lies of Benjamin Field, 28. English student Field had declared his love for the retired head teacher in a series of letters and poems even though she was 57 years his senior. He admits fraudulently being in a relationship with Miss Moore-Martin as part of a plot to get her to change her will but he denies conspiring with his friend Martyn Smith, 32, to murder her. Prosecutors allege Field targeted Miss Moore-Martin a few months after allegedly murdering her neighbour Peter Farquhar, 69, in the village of Maids Moreton, Buckinghamshire, and would leave her messages purportedly from God. Oxford Crown Court heard Miss Moore-Martin began to realise she was being duped by Field after she was admitted to hospital in February 2017 having suffered a seizure. Giving evidence from behind a screen, Mrs Blake told the jury: 'She was tortured by it and found it very difficult to get her head around the betrayal. 'She said to me, 'I am such an intelligent woman. How could I let this happen to myself?' Mrs Blake said she first met Field at her aunt's home on the night of her relative's hospital admission and described his manner as 'weird'. A photograph of Benjamin Field in a frame. Field, 28, is on trial with magician Martyn Smith, 32, charged with murdering Peter Farquhar, 69, and planning to kill his elderly neighbour Ann Moore-Martin, 83, following a sustained campaign of 'gaslighting' 'We tried to usher him back through the door and he turned round and looked me in the eye and said, 'Tell me if anything significant happens', which is not what I thought somebody would be saying,' she said. Days later she spoke to Field again when he admitted to the extent of his relationship with her aunt. She went on: 'I think that was the day he asked me, 'Is she dead?' I think he asked me two or three times.' Mrs Blake, a married mother-of-four, said she did not believe Miss Moore-Martin - who the court was told had been introduced to Field by Mr Farquhar - had died from natural causes. Photo of Ann Moore-Martin. Church warden Benjamin Field has admitted defrauding Miss Moore-Martin of 4,000 to buy a car and 27,000 to buy a dialysis machine Mrs Blake said from August 2016 until Miss Moore-Martin was admitted to hospital, she saw her just twice. Describing the decline in her health, Mrs Blake said: 'She was a completely different person. She went from being very sociable and going out and doing things to being bed-bound. She was always in that bedroom.' Church warden Field has admitted defrauding Miss Moore-Martin of 4,000 to buy a car and 27,000 to buy a dialysis machine. Field's younger brother Tom, 24, and Smith deny their roles in the dialysis fraud. Field and Smith, a magician, deny charges of murder, conspiracy to murder and possession of an article for use in fraud. Field, from Olney, Buckinghamshire, also denies an alternative charge of attempted murder. But he has admitted four charges of fraud and two of burglary. In addition, Smith, from Redruth, Cornwall, denies two charges of fraud and one of burglary. Tom Field, from Olney, Buckinghamshire, denies a single charge of fraud. The trial was adjourned until Thursday. Shocking footage shows the moment the car of a Sheriff's deputy is hit by a speeding train while on his way to respond to an emergency. Two deputies in separate vehicles were responding to a call of a baby in distress on Tuesday in Midland County, Texas. The deputies were driving with lights and sirens on and were going through red lights when they were stopped by a slow moving train. Shocking footage shows the moment the car of a Sheriff's deputy is hit by a speeding train while on his way to respond to an emergency As the first train passed, the deputy tried to cross the railroad tracks but he was then hit by a speeding train moving in the opposite direction. He had driven around the lowered crossing gate and was creeping out as the train approached. A female driver who stopped and recorded footage on her phone and can be heard screaming: 'Oh my God' as she looks at the collision. The officer's car can be seen colliding with the train as a train in the opposite direction moved out of the way The officer had driven around the lowered crossing gate and was creeping out as the train approached The force of the impact turned the deputy's car over onto the side of the track. Midland County Sheriff Gary Painter said that he escaped with minor injuries. He was taken later to the hospital with bruising throughout his body and some pains in his neck and head. He told CBS7: 'When I got the call that he had been hit by a train and there was head injuries, everything runs through your head. 'You just, you pray for the best, but you expect for the worst. And thank God hes not hurt that bad.' The force of the impact turned the deputy's car over onto the side of the track. The driver escaped with bruising to his body and pains in his neck and head Painter said other emergency responders were able to reach the infant who was taken to the emergency room. Mike Lopez witnessed the dramatic scenes from across the street. She said the deputy was helped out of the car through a windshield and was able to walk away from the wreckage. He told CBS7: 'I guess he just didnt see the other train and the train just hit him head on. 'A couple more seconds and he would have been gone. Other than that, it was pretty crazy seeing it right here in front of us.' A BBC manager has refused a promotion after discovering that her proposed salary is 12,000 less than her male counterpart who has an identical job. Karen Martin issued a public slap-down to the broadcaster today when she emailed hundreds of her colleagues explaining why she would be turning down the role of deputy editor. The revelation that she is to be paid thousands less than co-deputy editor Roger Sawyer is the latest accusation of unequal pay to hit the embattled state-owned news provider, which is currently under investigation by the equality watchdog. BBC manager Karen Martin has refused a promotion after discovering that her proposed salary is 12,000 less than her male counterpart who has an identical job The BBC (London headquarters pictured) maintain that her new salary had been calculated fairly and reflects Roger Sawyer's many years in the position In an email, Ms Martin said: 'Despite being awarded the same job, on the same day, after the same board, during the same recruitment process, BBC News asked me to accept a considerably lower salary than my male counterpart,' according to the BBC website. 'I've been assured our roles and responsibilities are the same. I've also been told my appointment was "very well deserved". It's just that I'm worth 12,000 less.' But the BBC maintain that her new salary had been calculated fairly and reflected Mr Sawyer's many years in the position. Gavin Allen, the BBC's head of news output, said: 'We took into account the fact that Roger has worked at or above this level for several years, whereas Karen was offered this role as a promotion, with a significant pay increase. In an email, Ms Martin said: 'Despite being awarded the same job, on the same day, after the same board, during the same recruitment process, BBC News asked me to accept a considerably lower salary than my male counterpart 'We think most people would understand that these factors would result in some difference between their individual pay.' The bombshell publication of the broadcaster's top-earner's pay packets in 2017 sparked criticism after it exposed a stark gender pay gap. This also caused the BBC's China editor Carrie Gracie to quit the organisation because she discovered she was being paid less than her North America counterpart, Jon Sopel. The fallout also saw presenters Jeremy Vine and John Humphreys take pay cuts to shrink the gender pay gap. The fallout of a bombshell publication of the broadcaster's top-earner's pay packets also saw Radio 4 presenter John Humphreys take pay cuts to shrink the gender salary gap And the apparent wage disparity between men and women led to the Equality and Human Rights Commission announcing a probe of the BBC. Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, told MailOnline: 'This is extremely depressing. The BBC is under investigation for pay discrimination then compounds the problem by repeating it. 'Nearly fifty years on from the Equal Pay Act women all over the UK are still having to fight for their basic right to be paid equally for doing equal work. 'That this is still happening at our leading broadcaster even after Carrie Gracie's win against them reveals a culture of complacency. This has to change.' Two presidents of the medical school where Virginia Governor Ralph Northam attended were aware of the racist photo on his yearbook page years before it surfaced publicly - but a months-long probe into the picture still can't establish if it is him. Neither the current or previous president of Eastern Virginia Medical School notified Northam or the public of the racist photo on his 1984 yearbook page when they became aware of it during the years that Northam ran for office. The presidents' previous knowledge of the photograph came to light on Wednesday when a law firm, hired by the school, published their report into how the photo ended up on Northam's yearbook page. Addressing their prior knowledge of the photo, current EVMS President Dr. Richard Homan said at a news conference on Wednesday that the school is an apolitical public institution that shouldn't become involved in politics. Lawyers who investigated how a racist photo appeared on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's (above) 1984 medical school yearbook page haven't been able to determine if it's him The image, which shows a person in blackface standing next to a person in Ku Klux Klan clothing, sparked backlash against Northam in February when it emerged. He initially acknowledged he was in the picture and apologized without saying which costume he was in. Northam then reversed course the following day, saying he was convinced he was not in the photo. Investigators with the McGuireWoods law firm, which was hired by the school in the wake of the controversy, said they couldn't conclusively establish the identities of either person in the 35-year-old photo that was on Northam's yearbook page alongside pictures of him. They also said they couldn't determine how the photo ended up on Northam's yearbook page, but found no evidence it was put there by mistake or as a prank. 'No individual that we interviewed has told us from personal knowledge that the governor is in the photograph, and no individual with knowledge has come forward to us to report that the governor is in the photograph,' the report said. The findings are unlikely to have a major effect on state politics or Northam, who managed to survive the furor and has been trying mightily since then to make amends with the black community and its leaders, who have shown a willingness to let it go. The image, which shows a person in blackface standing next to a person in Ku Klux Klan clothing, sparked backlash against Northam in February when it emerged He initially acknowledged he was in the picture and apologized without saying which costume he was in. Northam then reversed course the following day, saying he was convinced he was not in the photo Virginia Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Del. Lamont Bagby said the report 'doesn't change a thing as it relates to the challenges that we have to do,' adding: 'We've got 400 years of stuff to clean up.' Virginia politics was turned upside down in a matter of hours last winter after a conservative website posted the picture. Black lawmaker and other key Democratic groups and top allies immediately called on him to resign. Investigators said Northam did not believe he was in the photo when he first saw it but did not want to issue an immediate denial in case someone contradicted him. 'The best we can conclude is that he erred on the side of caution initially and immediately regretted not having denied,' said attorney Richard Cullen, who led the investigation. Northam's chief of staff, Clark Mercer, told investigators that the governor was 'in a state of shock' when the photo first surfaced. During the uproar, Northam defied calls to resign and said he wanted to focus his remaining three years in office on addressing racial inequities. Current EVMS President Dr. Richard Homan said at a news conference on Wednesday they were made aware of the racist photo when Northam was running for office but didn't say anything because the school is an apolitical public institution The pressure to step down significantly lessened after scandal enveloped his potential successors, both Democrats. Two women publicly accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault, which he denied. And just days after calling on Northam to resign, Attorney General Mark Herring announced he, too, had worn blackface in the 1980s when he was in college. Both Fairfax and Herring also rejected calls to resign. And other politicians around the South soon had their own explaining to do over yearbook images taken long ago. The three interlocking scandals briefly raised the possibility that Virginia's top three Democrats would lose their jobs and the Republican House speaker would become governor. While Northam was all but invisible in February and much of March, he is making routine public appearances again. And he has won praise from black lawmakers and others for such moves as ending the suspension of driver's licenses for motorists with unpaid fines, and a review into how schools teach the nation's racial history. Opponents still use the incident against him. House Majority Leader Todd Gilbert recently accused Northam of choosing to 'repair his own racist legacy' rather than protect victims of domestic abuse after the governor vetoed a bill requiring a mandatory jail term for repeat offenders. A 19-year-old man has been arrested on a capital murder charge in Texas after police say he confessed to stabbing a 75-year-old woman for refusing to help him fix his broken-down truck. Marco Cobos, who is a Mexican national living in Houston, was arrested on Monday night in the death of Etta Nugent after returning to the scene of the crime. Cobos is homeless and had been living in a stolen truck in the area of Nugent's home in the 8100 block of Neff Street for at least two days leading up to the deadly home invasion. Scroll down for video Marco Cobos, 19 (left),has been charged with capital murder in the stabbing death of Etta Nugent, 75 (right), in Houston Sunday night Nugent's son arrived at his mother's home in the 8100 block of Neff Street on Monday afternoon and discovered her lifeless body When questioned by police, Cobos allegedly told them that his vehicle had broken down and he asked Nugent to give him a hand on Sunday. When the homeowner refused, citing her age, police say Nugent forced his way inside her home sometime after 7pm and stabbed her several times. Cobos then allegedly stole $560 from the house, took Nugent's Honda Accord and drove to a store to buy a new car battery and some food, which he returned to the blood-spattered home to eat, KTRK reported. The 19-year-old murder suspect spent several hours inside the residence and allegedly used the victim's credit card to pay his cellphone bill. By the time Nugent's son arrived at the house and found his mothers lifeless body at around 1.30pm on Monday, Cobos had fled in her Honda. Hours later, as police detectives summoned by the son were carrying out an investigation, Cobos returned to the area in the victims stolen car and was apprehended, reported Chron.com. Cobos, who is a Mexican national, appeared in court on Tuesday and was ordered held without bond on a capital murder charge During Cobos initial court appearance on Tuesday, a prosecutor revealed that the defendant told police how he initially stabbed the elderly woman once in the chest, but she did not die right away, so he went into the kitchen to look for more knives. Nugent made a desperate attempt to escape through the front door, but the prosecutors said that Cobos heard noises by the door, seized Nugent and stabbed her again, killing her. A judge ordered the 19-year-old murder suspect held without bond. Nugent was a retired parish secretary at Holy Ghost Catholic Church and had worshiped at St Francis de Sales Catholic Church across the street from her home for the past 50 years. She had spent most of the month of May alone at her home while her husband had been recovering from a medical procedure at a nursing facility. Nugent was supposed to visit him on Monday, but when she failed to turn up, the couples son became alarmed and went over to their house to check on his mother, only to find her dead. The couple's long-time neighbor Sharon Shanahan described Nugent as a 'gentle soul' and a 'good Christian woman. ' The Queensland Labor Premier has demanded action over the Adani coalmine after Labor's federal election defeat. Annastacia Palaszczuk criticised her own government's delays in approving Australia's biggest mine. She said federal Labor's loss of core support in the Sunshine State has given her a 'wake-up call.' Traditional Labor voters deserted their party at the ballot box after Bill Shorten vowed to change the nation and take 'real action' on climate change. Before the federal election, Ms Palaszczuk promised there would be no political interference in the decision to approve the Adani mine. But on Wednesday she stood before cameras in a hard hat in Mackay and demanded a meeting between Adani and her own government ministers. 'The community is fed up with the processes, I know I'm fed up with the processes, I know my local members are fed up with the processes,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'We need some certainty, and we need some timeframes. Enough is enough the federal election was definitely a wake-up call to everyone.' The Adani coal mine will be built at Galilee Basin (pictured), some 500kms west of Mackay Despite their best efforts to promote the potential problems the mine may cause to the climate (left), many Queensland locals (right) focused on the positive impact the mine will have on industry and jobs Ms Palaszczuk said she understood there was frustration in the community about the lack of a decision on the mine. 'I think everyone's had a gutful of this, frankly,' she said. The Adani coalmine will provide 1,500 jobs in regional Queensland but building work is on hold pending approval from the regulator, Queensland's Environment Department. A Queensland government representative will meet with Adani on Thursday to thrash out a timeline for the Carmichael mine approval process in an attempt to resolve delays that caused a voter backlash. Ms Palaszczuk intervened to order her state co-ordinator-general to meet with Adani and the independent regulator to fix a timeline and deadline for a decision by Friday. Greens founder Bob Brown (pictured) led a convoy of left-wing supporters on a tour across Queensland in an effort to convince locals to vote against Adani Two outstanding environmental management plans, involving the site's Black-Throated Finch habitat and complex groundwater sources, have contributed to delays. Adani Australia chief executive Lucas Dow said if approvals were not complete within two weeks then the meeting would prove to be just another government 'delaying tactic'. CFMEU National President Tony Maher welcomed a clear timeline for the project which he said had significant community support on the grounds it would create local jobs. He said he wanted Adani to confirm how many permanent full-time jobs the mine would generate. Mackay Conservation Group coordinator Peter McCallum said Queensland's water and wildlife are not put at risk by the project. A burning hot Samurai blade sliced effortlessly through a jelly tower, sponges, soap and wax crayons. Bizarre footage shows the Japanese weapon being heated to 1832 degrees Fahrenheit before cutting through some household objects. Electronic Engineer Vladimir Stovic cleaved the items at his home lab in Kostolac, Serbia. A burning hot Samurai blade was sliced effortlessly through several household items. When the 1832 degrees Fahrenheit blade cut through sponges (above) they caught fire The experiment was done by Vladimir Stovic in his home lab in Kostolac, Serbia A block of soap was also challenged to withstand the blade. Upon contact it began melting and bubbling up at either side of the blade The unusual footage shows the boiling blade sliding through some sponges, which catch fire, before leaking a black substance onto the work surface. He chops them repeatedly with the katana blade until they are a small burning mass on the table. A block of soap is then challenged to withstand the weapon's blade. It melts as soon as the two make contact, bubbling up in a boiling substance as it is super-heated. A jelly tower is then sliced open, turning to liquid where the blade strikes before collapsing onto the work surface. The burning blade is also sliced through jelly towers which melt at its touch and turn to liquid Household sponges, used for scrubbing dishes after a meal, are also sliced. They smoke as the blade cuts into them Vladimir also cuts crayons with the red hot blade leaving a rainbow coloured melted mess Vladimir then turns the weapon on some washing up sponges normally used to wash dishes after a meal. The sponges are sliced cleanly open by the blade before smoking and starting to catch fire. At one point they also stick to the blade. When crayons are sliced into they melt on contact, producing a rainbow-like liquid pattern across the table. The blade rubs along the crayon tops to melt them into a gooey mess before cutting them into smaller sections. A former Miss Black Texas is suing the city of Commerce and its ex police chief over her 'unlawful' arrest after claiming she was called a 'black b****' in Walmart parking lot altercation. Carmen Ponder filed the federal civil rights lawsuit Monday in Dallas over her May 2017 evading arrest charge that was later dropped. The former beauty pageant winner's lawsuit says Commerce's then-police Chief Kerry Crews, who was off-duty, arrested her without reason during a confrontation over a traffic incident involving another driver, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Ponder, who won the Miss Black Texas competition in 2016, claimed the truck passenger, later identified as Michael Beane, had followed her into a Walmart parking lot amid a driving dispute before allegedly calling her 'black b****'. But the Fort Worth law firm Lynn, Ross and Gannaway said at the time the arrest was not racially motivated and Beane denied making any racist remarks. Crews resigned the following month, took an administrative job with the city and now is a justice of the peace. The lawsuit alleges an unlawful arrest and claims that the city 'failed to properly train, supervise, screen, discipline, transfer, counsel or otherwise control officers.' Carmen Ponder filed the federal civil rights lawsuit Monday in Dallas over her May 2017 evading arrest charge that was later dropped. Ponder's lawsuit says Commerce's then-police Chief Kerry Crews, who was off-duty, arrested her without reason during a confrontation over a traffic incident involving another driver Ponder is seeking at least $150,000 from Crews and $300,000 from the city, The Herald Banner reports. Commerce City Manager Darrek Ferrell and the city's attorney, Jay Garrett, declined comment on Ponder's lawsuit. Crews didn't immediately return a message for comment Wednesday. In her account Ponder said she was driving to Walmart on May 20 when a black pickup truck cut in front of her and began driving erratically. She said the car was braking and accelerating dangerously, and she worried it was a drunk driver. Ponder wrote that she put her blinker on, pulled around to pass the truck and drove into the superstore parking lot. According to Ponder, the black truck followed her into the lot and pulled up next to where she'd parked her car. She said the passenger got out of the truck and started yelling and screaming that he was teaching his 14-year-old daughter how to drive, saying Ponder shouldn't have passed his truck. Ponder wrote that she ignored the man at first, but eventually turned to tell him 'it's illegal' about a 14-year-old driving, before walking into the store. 'That's when he screamed 'oh whatever, you black b****.'' Ponder is seeking at least $150,000 from Crews and $300,000 from the city Ponder was then handcuffed following the incident, pictured, and booked into jail, where she spent 24 hours She said when she walked out she saw Crews there and was quickly charged by several other officers in street clothes. 'One guy showed me his police badge and started screaming at me. He told me this guy was his chief and I better apologize to him now. I told him I was going to do that and was walking to my car,' she explained. Next, one of the men grabbed her by the arm and pulled her roughly back into WalMart, telling her she was being detained, she claimed. When police came, she said: 'I began walking to the policeman when the aggressive guy pulled me by my arm again, told the cop that I was resisting arrest and demanded he arrest me.' Ponder was then handcuffed and booked into jail, where she spent 24 hours. A Vermont truck driver has been found guilty of murdering five teenagers in a horrific wrong-way crash after a jury rejected his insanity defense. Steven Bourgoin killed 16-year-olds Mary Harris, Cyrus Zschau, Liam Hale and Eli Brookens and 15-year-old Janie Cozzi in October 2016. A jury of eight women and four men returned the verdict in the case of on its second day of deliberations following a two-week trial in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington. The jury rejected the claim by Bourgoin that he was insane at the time of the crash on Interstate 89 in Williston. Guilty: Steven Bourgoin, 38, is pictured in Vermont Superior Court on Wednesday, when he was found guilty of second-degree murder in connection to a 2016 crash that killed five Colleen Ovelman, mother of 16-year-old Eli Brookens who was hit and killed along with four other teens in 2016, broke down in tears hearing the verdict Elizabeth Harris, mother of victim Mary Harris, closed her eyes in response to the reading of the guilty verdict against Bourgoin Video courtesy MyChamplainValley.com Bourgoin, 38, had pleaded not guilty to five counts of second-degree murder and other charges stemming from the crash. He faces 20 years to life in prison on each count. Bourgoin's attorneys acknowledged that he caused the crash but said he was insane at the time, namely, psychotic and delusional. Two psychiatrists who testified for the defense, including one originally hired by prosecutors, said that in the days leading up to the crash, Bourgoin thought he was on a secret government mission. He believed he was in danger and thought he was getting inferences from lights, radios and television static about what to do, they said. Psychiatrists said Bourgoin was psychotic and legally insane at the time of the crash. Another psychiatrist diagnosed him as having an adjustment disorder with disturbance of mood behavior but said he was sane at the time of the crash. Family and friends of the deceased teens on Wednesday crowded the courtroom to hear the verdict, some wearing attire decorated with photos of their dead children, among them the family of 16-year-old Mary Harris Elizabeth Harris, the mother of Mary Harris, 16, who perished in the Vermont crash, after the verdict embraced Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George (left) and Deputy State's Attorney Susan Hardin (right) Prosecutors argued that Bourgoin was troubled at the time of the crash, grappling with custody, relationship and financial issues, but his condition did not meet the legal definition of being insane. Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George said that Bourgoin 'knew exactly what he was doing' on the night of October 8, 2016. The jury agreed and rejected Bourgoin's insanity defense after 12 hours of deliberations spread over two days. The defendant's lawyer, Robert Katims, said of Bourgoin: 'He's disappointed, that's for sure.' On October 8, 2016, Bourgoing was driving his truck the wrong way at high speeds on Interstate 89. The truck crashed into a car carrying five teenagers, all of whom were killed Mary Harris (left), 16, of Moretown, and Cyrus Zschau (right), 16, also of Moretown, were killed The other victims were identified as Liam Hale (left), 16; Janie Cozzi (center), 15; and Eli Brookens (right), 16 Family and friends of the deceased teens on Wednesday crowded the courtroom to hear the verdict. Some cried, others embraced each other. Several loved ones sat in the audience wearing shirts decorated with photos of their late children. At the conclusion of the trial, families gave prosecutors hugs and a round of applause, reported the local news site VTDigger.org. Sarah Zschau, the mother of Cyrus, thanked the prosecution and the community at large, and praised the verdict. 'At least hes not going to hurt anyone elses kids now and that makes a difference to me,' she said of Bourgoin. During the trial, prosecutors outlined how Bourgoin left his home that night, got onto I-89 going south and then turned around, approaching 90mph north in the southbound lane. He collided with the car that carried the teenagers in Williston. After the initial crash, Bourgoin allegedly stole a Williston police cruiser and again headed south on the interstate before turning around and crashing again into vehicles at the original crash scene. The crash killed Mary Harris, 16, of Moretown; Cyrus Zschau, 16, of Moretown; Liam Hale, 16, of Fayston; Janie Cozzi, 15, of Fayston; and Eli Brookens, 16, of Waterbury. Four of the teenagers attended Harwood Union High School in Duxbury. Cozzi attended Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. Bourgoin was seriously injured and initially arraigned at the hospital. An eight-month pregnant woman is seeking asylum in a Chicago church after she says she received a deportation order requiring her to leave the U.S. Adilene Marquina, 34, who has a high-risk pregnancy and is afraid to travel back to Mexico, is staying at the Faith, Life and Hope Mission on Chicago's Southwest Side. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has a policy against making arrests in places of worship. She says she received a deportation order demanding she leave the country by Thursday, WBEZ reports. Adilene Marquina, 34, (pictured with her son) is staying at the Faith, Life and Hope Mission on Chicago's Southwest Side after receiving a deportation order Marquina fled to the U.S. in 2015 seeking political asylum to escape paying extortion that drug cartels required to keep her business open. She said she waited four years for an immigration judge to deny her claim to remain in the U.S. 'They don't care about my daughter's life,' she said. 'They couldn't even bother to look at the documents I provided that say I can't travel.' The Rev. Jose Landaverde, a Chicago religious leader and immigration activist, said Marquina has a legitimate claim and will continue to fight her case. Marquina, who fled to the U.S. in 2015 seeking political asylum, says she has a high-risk pregnancy and fears for her unborn daughter's life She is staying at the church with her family, a 16-year-old American son, a 14-year-old son who is also seeking asylum and a 3-year-old son who was born in Chicago Marquina is one of dozens who have sought sanctuary in places of worship nationwide since Elvira Arellano started the movement in Chicago in 2006 by staying in a church with her son. Marquina's case, however, poses challenges. Her baby is due July 23 and she must leave the church to go to the doctor for the next two months. She is staying at the church with her family, a 16-year-old American son, a 14-year-old son who is also seeking asylum and a 3-year-old son who was born in Chicago. 'I don't want to be separated from my children,' Marquina said. 'I don't want anything to happen to my baby girl on my way back.' A passenger of a Ryanair flight launched into an angry tirade at the cabin crew after landing in the wrong Italian city. The man was bound for Cagliari in Sardinia to visit a sick friend on Monday, but he instead arrived in Bari, on the south-east coast of mainland Italy, CNN reported. In a video shared on Twitter by Vito Scotella, a passenger on the Bari flight, the agitated man can be heard yelling to the staff telling them it was their responsibility to stop him while boarding at Pisa airport. The man shouted in Italian: 'I went to the wrong gate? And how did you manage to get me through ticket checks?' Scroll down for video An Italian passenger of a Ryanair flight flying from Pisa launched into an angry tirade at the cabin crew after landing in Bari instead of his destination, Cagliari in Sardinia on Monday (Ryanair plane stock image) He said that he spent 400 euros on the flight and had no money left. Mr Scotella to the publication the passenger only noticed he was in a different place as the plane was in descent before berating the cabin crew for allowing him on board. He told the publication: 'The flight to Cagliari was late so the two boardings were really close to each other. The man got confused.' He added that the flight's staff likely did not check his ticket when he got on the aircraft. Video captured by Vito Scotella, who was on the Bari flight, shows other passengers looking on as the man yelled at Ryanair staff On social media, the video has divided audiences over which party is wrong - the passenger or the staff Ryanair said in a statement to MailOnline: 'We have asked our third party handling agent at Pisa to investigate this matter and ensure it does not recur.' On social media, the video has divided audiences over which party is wrong - the passenger or the staff. Twitter user Leonard said: 'He is a passenger, not a professional, he was certainly wrong, but the whole chain of paid professionals, who allowed his boarding on an incorrect flight is to be censored as a much more serious error.' Another named Frederico wrote: 'The guy's right. Wrong in the ways. But he is perfectly right. I work at the airport and the complete incompetence of the staff connected to Ryanair is unheard of.' A little over two years after she was unceremoniously dumped by NBC, Tamron Hall is opening up about her exit from the show and breaking her silence about the woman who replaced her at the network. 'I have no ill will towards Megyn [Kelly],' Hall told People. She made this statement before she was inevitably asked about the woman who became host of the third hour of Today in a move that only served to tank the ratings Hall had built up with Al Roker 'They made her and offer she shouldn't refuse. And they made me an offer I could refuse.' Scroll down for video Hosts: 'They made her and offer she shouldn't refuse. And they made me an offer I could refuse,' Tamron Hall said of Megyn Kelly and negotiations with NBC Hall, who will launch a syndicated daytime show this September, said she was shocked at the offers that came her way after she left Today. 'I felt that some of the offers that were coming in were insulting after 25 years in the business,' said Hall. She also recalled thinking to herself at one point: 'Wait a minute. I've been doing this a long time, and you're coming to me with these odd little things.' Hall certainly had no lack of qualifications, proving her ability to host any type of broadcast during her time at NBC. 'The last week I was on Today I filled in for Savannah Guthrie, who's gone on maternity leave. I filled in for Lester Holt [on NBC Nightly News] all while I was doing my MSNBC show plus shooting Deadline Crime,' said Hall. 'So I'm putting in all the work and then I'm told, "It doesn't matter that you came in every time we called. We want something else."' Hall then added: 'I wasn't that "something else."' She will finally make her return to morning television Thursday with an appearance on Good Morning America. The new mom excitedly shared the news on social media and is expected to speak about her baby, her new show and possibly share new details about her exit from NBC. Hall and Al Roker were comfortably in first place and delivering solid ratings for Today when the decision was made to move them out and Megyn Kelly in as host of the third hour. That move came just as Hall's contract was up, and she ultimately decided not to resign with NBC News and instead walked out. It was a shocking departure for the woman who had long been one of the hardest working personalities on the network. Roker anchored the third hour with Sheinelle Jones and Dylan Dryer in the wake of Hall's departure, which also proved to be a winning combination. Unlike Hall, however, the meteorologist already had a steady gig on Today when Roker learned the news about Kelly's arrival, appearing on the program's first two hours. The third hour had topped its timeslot for seven straight weeks when the news was delivered to Hall and Roker that Kelly would be taking over for them, and making a whole lot more money. DailyMail.com revealed soon after that Kelly had signed to a three-year contract valued at $69 million, close to 20 times what her predecessor Hall was paid and double the combined salary of Hall and Roker. This sizable investment resulted in a show with record low numbers for the network and a host who eventually got the boot following her defense of black face. Since Hall left the Today show in 2017, she has been in talks with Disney-ABC to produce her own syndicated daytime talk show, which she will host. It was announced in March by Disney that the show will officially debut in September of this year after months of developing. The addition of her son and recent wedding will keep the new mom busy as she prepares to film the first season of her new show. A 'disgusted' Tesco customer has hit out at shop staff after they reportedly vowed not to serve him a milkshake he was buying for a thirsty homeless woman. Daniel Heard, 40, was confronted by a senior manager in the supermarket titan's Lincoln High Street store where he regularly buys food and drink from the reduced price section for the rough sleepers outside. As he went in to the Tesco Express, he agreed to buy a homeless couple, food but the homeless woman changed her mind and ran into the store to ask for a milkshake which prompted an employee to throw her out on suspicions of 'stealing'. Daniel Heard, 40, has hit out at shop staff after they reportedly vowed not to serve him a milkshake he was buying for a thirsty homeless woman 'The chap then turned to me and said don't purchase it for her,' Daniel told Lincolnshire Live. 'I said I'll spend my money on what I want and he said if I did they wouldn't serve me.' Daniel said he was revolted by the manager's refusal to serve him and accused the worker of lacking compassion. He also pointed out that the items from the cut-price section are those which are about to go out of date, and so will be chucked away soon anyway. He said: 'These people are starving and at the end of the day, they're only going to put it in the bin.' A Tesco spokesperson said: 'The individual in question is currently banned from the store due to threatening behaviour towards one of our colleagues. 'However, we appreciate that we should not have refused to serve the customer buying items in this instance and apologise for the error we have made.' Former wrestling legend Ric Flair is recovering at home in Georgia, two days after undergoing heart surgery. The 70-year-old WWE champion was pictured leaving an Atlanta hospital in a wheelchair on Tuesday afternoon following the successful operation. The star, known to fans as 'Nature Boy', appeared to be in high spirits as he was pushed along by a nurse while chatting with his wife, Wendy Barlow. Clearly keeping his sense of humor, the entertainer opted to wear a red wrestling T-shirt emblazoned with an image of his own face. He sported a compression band around his waist, and looked to have his left arm kept in a brace. Ric Flair was pictured leaving an Atlanta hospital on Tuesday afternoon - one day after undergoing heart surgery The 70-year-old was pushed along in a wheelchair, but he appeared to be in high spirits as he headed back to his home Flair is one of the most beloved stars in WWE history, and is known to his fans as 'Nature Boy' On Wednesday, Flair took to Twitter to share an update with fans and to thank medical staff On Wednesday, Flair took to Twitter to share an update on his health, and to thank staff at the hospital for their care. 'The Naitch is home!!! Thank you to all the incredible staff and doctors at Gwinnett Medical Center once again! I am so thankful for all my family, friends, and fans for all the love,' he wrote. 'At this time in my life, I never take it for granted. I will be back up and WOOOOOing in no time!' Flair was rushed to the emergency room early last week after reportedly suffering a 'very serious' medical emergency. The star was spotted chatting with his wife Wendy Barlow, who strolled along by his side Clearly keeping his sense of humor, the entertainer opted to wear a red wrestling t-shirt emblazoned with an image of his own face Flair was rushed to the emergency room last week after suffering a 'serious medical emergency' However, his son-in-law Conrad Thompson told Fightful.com that Flair underwent a planned procedure and his situation 'is not as grave or serious' as reports initially seemed. 'This was not a last-minute surprise surgery,' said Thompson, who is married to Flair's daughter Megan. Flair was reportedly scheduled to undergo heart surgery on Friday, but 'complications' arose, forcing doctors to postpone the surgery until Monday. The star was scheduled to be roasted on May 25 during a four-day wrestling convention in Las Vegas, but TMZ reported that he pulled out of the event. 'He could choose to have it done now or after Vegas and decided to go ahead and have it done now because he thought he'd be feeling good and wanted to get this done beforehand,' said Thompson. Thompson said he was not at liberty to discuss the situation in any more detail. Flair married his fifth wife Wendy Barlow (right) last year, and she has been by his side during his medical emergency It's not the first health issue from which Flair has suffered. In 2017, he was in a coma for 11 days and reportedly near death after his intestine ruptured. He eventually recovered after having an obstructed piece of bowel surgically removed. In his book, 'Ric Flair: To Be the Man,' he admitted to suffering from alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which is a heart problem caused by prolonged alcohol abuse. 'I had one vice,' Flair told Sports Illustrated in 2017. 'I'm not going to point my finger at anybody else. My vice was drinking. I didn't have any pain issues, addiction problems, marijuana, cocaine, nothing like that. It's a fact that I kept myself up all night and always had a good time.' The WWE champ - who began wrestling in the 1970s - married his longtime girlfriend Wendy Barlow last year. She is his fifth wife. The Nevada Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would dedicate the states Electoral College votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the national popular-vote. If passed, the measure, which is being sent to Democratic Governor Steve Sisolaks desk, would make Nevada the 15th state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Nevada has six Electoral College votes, and if it were to join the with the other states in passing the legislation it would bring the total Electoral College votes allocated for the popular vote to 195. California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia already have passed the compact. A measure in Nevada is being sent to Democratic Governor Steve Sisolaks desk after passing in the state Senate that would allocate the state's Electoral College votes to whichever way the popular vote turns out in presidential elections Once signed, Nevada would be the 15th state to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, bringing the votes to 195. The goal of the compact is the reach 270 electoral votes, which is the threshold to earn the presidency There are 538 electors total, and a majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the president. New Mexico was the most recent state to join the compact, bringing the total votes to 198. If Nevadas governor were to sign on, the National Popular Vote organization would only need 75 more votes. Similar legislation is awaiting consideration in Maine from its Democratic Governor Janet Mills, which could contribute its four votes. The National Popular Vote organization oversees efforts to persuade states to join the compact, which gained traction after more progressive states argued former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton should have won in 2016. In the last presidential elections, the former secretary of state won the the popular vote, but Trump became the president because he won the necessary votes in the Electoral College. Trump won 306 Electoral College votes in 2016, and Clinton got 232. The process was established in the Constitution and gives states with smaller populations the ability to have a voice in the national vote for president. The amount of votes each state receives is based on its population. The movement gained traction after the 2016 elections, where Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but Donald Trump won the most Electoral College votes There seems to be more urgency for the efforts as the 2020 presidential elections approach, and more progressive states don't want a repeat of the 2016 outcome Senator Elizabeth Warren, one of the Democrats running in the party's 2020 primary race, said she supported doing away with the Electoral College For example, California, the most populous state, has 55 vote, and states with much smaller populations like Wyoming, Montana and Vermont only have three votes. Washington, D.C. also has three Electoral College votes. In the popular vote, Clinton beat Trump by about 2.9 million votes. Trump earned 62.9 million and Clinton garnered 65.8 million votes. Massachusetts Senator and 2020 presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has brought the issue into the current election cycle when she said during a CNN town hall in March that she supported getting rid of the Electoral College. "My view is that every vote matters, and the way we can make that happen is that we can have national voting, and that means get rid of the Electoral College -- and every vote counts," the Democratic senator said. The state she represents has already signed on to the compact to vote in favor of the national popular vote. Some of the other 24 Democratic candidates running have also voiced support for the initiative, including California Senator Kamala Harris and former Texas Representative Beto ORourke. Kenny Rowles, 27, from Plymouth faces charges including aggravated cruelty to animals involving torture and bodily injury A Pennsylvania man accused of putting fishing hooks into food he fed to stray cats is facing animal cruelty charges. Kenny Rowles, 27, from Plymouth, faces charges including aggravated cruelty to animals involving torture and serious bodily injury. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said a stray cat was found April 8 in a vacant house in Plymouth with a fishhook in its mouth. The cat was treated and survived but has visible scarring around its mouth. Two other cats were spotted with fishing line coming out of their mouths, according to Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue. Authorities said they first started investigating Rowles last month, after they got a call about the case. Cops went to Rowles' home on East Main Street and said he admitted putting meat on fishing line and dangling it from his back porch for cats, Fox43 reported. Rowles was taken to the Luzerne County Prison and is being held on $100,000 bail. Kenny Rowles admitted he used baited triple fishing hooks and string to feed cats. An image shows a cat named Tollie who was rescued from a house near Rowles' property and have to have a hook removed from its mouth The cat, whose name is Tollie, was rescued from the vacant residence by Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue and underwent surgery to remove the triple prong fish hook and string at Wilkes-Barre Animal Hospital. Dawn Mandygral, who runs Happy Hearts and Tails Safe, said in April that the cat was among 15 felines left around an abandoned house when their owners were evicted. She believed that someone living nearby had been feeding baited fish hooks on strings to the strays at the property. Tollie was rescued by Happy Hearts and Tails Safe Haven Animal Rescue and underwent surgery in April. He is now fully recovered An image shows a baited triple fishing hook and string hanging from a bowl where one of the cats was eating at a vacant property near where Rowles lived She told WNEP back in April: 'There was a string with a hook, and then he put food on it, dangling for the cat and the cat ate it. He deliberately - he was fishing for cats. That's what he said.' Humane officers claimed that they only found one cat with a baited triple fishing hook in its mouth despite there being several at the property. Luzerne County Humane Officer Lisa Devlin said other stray cats in a vacant building next to Rowles residence were found unharmed. Rowles apparently told neighbors about his cruel actions and called it 'fishing for cats' Rowles reportedly cried in front of humane officers when he was told there was a cat with an embedded fish hook in its mouth She told the Times Leader on Tuesday: 'The charges are very serious, it was very harmful to the cat. Im thankful that the justice system will step in now and get justice for Tollie. 'The intent was a little bit concerning. Neglect is one thing but the intent to intentionally harm and knowingly, just like the law says, its concerning.' Humane officers received a call from Whiskers World Cat Rescue on April 8 that Rowles was baiting cats with fish hooks and bragging about it to neighbors. A criminal complaint states that Rowles admitted to using scraps of meat on a fish hook tied to a string that he hung from his rear porch to feed and play with cats, the Times Leader reports. He also cried in front of welfare officers when he was told there was a cat with a fish hook caught in its mouth. During an interview with police and animal welfare officers on April 9, Rowles claimed that he used baited triple fishing hooks and string to feed cats, according to complaint. Lindh (pictured in a 2002 police photo) will be freed from prison on Thursday Outrage is mounting on the eve of the release of American Taliban John Walker Lindh, who will walk free from federal prison on Thursday after serving 17 years. 'He shouldn't be on parole at all,' said Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and former Green Beret who served in the War in Afghanistan, in an interview on Wednesday with Fox & Friends. 'He should be in prison for life, he's a traitor,' Waltz said. 'We're calling on the Federal Bureau of Prisons to explain why he is being released early, and then we are calling on law enforcement authorities to be watching him extremely closely,' Waltz said. 'We need to keep a close eye on him.' Waltz is not alone in expressing outrage at the release of 38-year-old Lindh, who became known as 'Detainee 001' in the war on terror after 9/11. Rep. Michael Waltz, a Florida Republican and former Green Beret who served in the War in Afghanistan, blasted the pending release of American Taliban John Walker Lindh The American Taliban soldier John Walker-Lindh is treated at an Army hospital on December 2, 2001 in Sheberghan, Afghanistan. He will be freed from prison on Thursday In a letter this week to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, two senators asked how he would be contained, citing allegations that he continues to 'openly' support extremist violence. 'We must consider the security and safety implications for our citizens and communities who will receive individuals like John Walker Lindh,' they said. Origins of the American Taliban fighter Lindh (seen in an undated family photo) converted to Islam after watching Malcolm X The quiet son of a middle-class couple living north of San Francisco, Lindh converted to Islam at age 16 after seeing the film 'Malcolm X', and traveled to Yemen in 1998 to study Arabic and the Quran. In November 2000, he went to Pakistan and from there made his way to Afghanistan. He joined the Taliban and was with them on September 11, 2001, when al-Qaida terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The U.S. attacked Afghanistan after the country failed to turn over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Lindh was captured in a battle with Northern Alliance fighters in late 2001. He was present when a group of Taliban prisoners launched an attack that killed Johnny Micheal 'Mike' Spann, a CIA officer who had been interrogating Lindh and other Taliban prisoners. Television footage of a bearded, wounded Lindh captured among Taliban fighters created an international sensation, and he was brought to the U.S. to face charges of conspiring to kill Spann and providing support to terrorists. This file image taken Dec. 1, 2001, from television footage in Mazar-i-Sharif, Afghanistan, shows John Walker Lindh, right, after he was captured by U.S. forces Eventually, he struck a plea bargain in which he admitted illegally providing support to the Taliban but denied a role in Spann's death. Incarceration and early release Lindh is being released from the high-security prison in Terre Haute, Indiana three years early for good behavior in a 20 year sentence. He served roughly 17 years and five months, including two months when he was in military detention. Federal inmates who exhibit good behavior typically serve 85 per cent of their sentence. Lindh has been housed in Terre Haute, Indiana, with other Muslim inmates convicted on terror-related charges. The rationale was to keep those inmates from radicalizing others in the general prison population. Those inside the unit were supposed to be limited in their ability to communicate with each other, but experts say the reality is they likely do talk. Lindh is currently being held at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana (pictured) A former inmate who knew Lindh from the time they spent at the same federal prison said he never heard Lindh espouse support for al-Qaida or indicate a risk for violence, but he found Lindh to be anti-social and awkward around others, with an unyielding, black-and-white view of religion. The inmate spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wanted to avoid further stigmatization from his time in Lindh's prison unit. Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens, a researcher at the George Washington University Center for Extremism, says that while in prison Lindh became close Ahmad Musa Jibril, an Arab-American who since his 2012 release continues to preach an extremely conservative version of Islam popular among jihadists. Lindh's time in prison has provided only a few clues about his current outlook. He filed multiple lawsuits, which were largely successful, challenging prison rules he found discriminatory against Muslims. In the more recent lawsuits, he used the name Yahya Lindh. Lindh was among a group of Taliban fighters who were captured by US forces in November 2001, just months after the September 11 attacks and the beginning of the war in Afghanistan. He is pictured here being led to a prison by a Northern Alliance soldier following his capture One lawsuit won the right to pray in groups at the prison in Terre Haute. A second lawsuit reversed a policy requiring strip searches for inmates receiving visitors, and a third won the right to wear prison pants above the ankle, which Lindh said is in accordance with Islamic principles. In the strip-search lawsuit, Lindh offered a discussion of Islamic rules prohibiting exposure of the body. If he's compelled to reveal himself, he said, he's also compelled under his religion to fight the rules requiring him to sin. What comes next for Lindh Lindh, who is also an Irish citizen, cannot obtain a passport or travel abroad while on probation. His probation officer asked the court to impose additional restrictions on Lindh while he remains on supervised release for the next three years. Lindh initially opposed but eventually acquiesced to the restrictions, which include monitoring software on his internet devices; requiring that his online communications be conducted in English and that he undergo mental health counseling; and forbidding him from possessing or viewing extremist material, holding a passport of any kind or leaving the U.S. Authorities never specified their rationale for seeking such restrictions. A hearing on the issue was canceled after Lindh agreed to them. Lindh is seen in this undated file photo obtained from a religious school in Pakistan The Bureau of Prisons said Lindh rejected an interview request submitted by The Associated Press, and his lawyer declined to comment. But there have been reports that Lindh's behavior in prison has created cause for concern. Foreign Policy magazine reported in 2017 that an investigation by the National Counterterrorism Center found that Lindh 'continued to advocate for global jihad and to write and translate violent extremist texts.' Michael Jensen, a terrorism researcher at the University of Maryland's National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, said it's clear the government has concerns about Lindh's mindset. 'For three years he's going to be watched like a hawk,' Jensen said. He said Lindh represents an interesting test case, as he is on the leading edge of dozens of inmates who were convicted on terror-related offenses in the aftermath of Sept. 11 and are eligible for release in the next five years. He said there's little research to indicate the efficacy of de-radicalizing inmates with connections to radical Islam, but he said the research shows that recidivism rates for those connected to white supremacy and other forms of extremism are high. John Walker Lindh, far right, leaves the Alexandria Detention Center in Alexandria, Va., before dawn, on the way to his first appearance in a nearby federal court in 2002 Lindh, for his part, admitted his role and his wrongdoing in supporting the Taliban, but he and his family have bristled at any notion that he should be considered a terrorist. When he was sentenced, Lindh said he never would have joined the Taliban if he fully understood what they were about. He also issued a short essay condemning acts of violence in the name of Islam that kill or harm innocent civilians. Outrage over early release Some have criticized Lindh's pending release. In March, the legislature in Alabama, where Spann grew up, adopted a resolution calling it 'an insult' to Spann's 'heroic legacy and his remaining family members.' In addition, Republican Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby and Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan wrote a letter last week to the Bureau of Prisons expressing concern. 'We must consider the security and safety implications for our citizens and communities who will receive individuals like John Walker Lindh who continue to openly call for extremist violence,' they wrote. On Monday, Spann's father, Johnny Spann, wrote a letter requesting that Lindh be investigated before he's released, citing the National Counterterrorism Center's investigation as his rationale for concern. A former comrade of Prince Harrys in Afghanistan is to be kicked out of the Army for failing a drugs test, the Daily Mail can reveal. Corporal Frankie OLeary, the royals former radio operator who also carried out ceremonial duties at his wedding, tested positive for cocaine, defence sources said. The 32-year-old, of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment based at Hyde Park Barracks in London, was among four soldiers to fail drugs tests in the past few days. They are all in the process of being kicked out and the incidents were not linked, the sources said. Corporal Frankie O'Leary (left), who worked as a radio operator for Prince Harry (centre) in Afghanistan in 2007, will be kicked out of the Army after failing a drug test It is understood that Cpl OLeary was not in the barracks at the time he took the class-A drug. A friend of Cpl OLeary told the Mail: He knows he has made a huge mistake and it has cost him the job he loved. He just feels he has let down his family, friends and the regiment. An Army source said: This has cost him his whole career, its a pretty harsh penalty. There arent many jobs where you would get sacked for recreational drugs use. Corporal of Horse OLeary got to know Prince Harry as his radio operator in Afghanistan in 2007. Corporal O'Leary served in Helmand province Afghanistan in the same regiment as Prince Harry O'Leary (right with Daniel Snoxell at the preparations for the Royal Wedding) was among four soldiers to fail drugs tests in the past few days. They are all in the process of being kicked out and the incidents were not linked, the sources said He also took part in the Household Cavalry escort for the carriage procession at Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle last year. He rode at the front of the carriage carrying the newlyweds around Windsor. Speaking at the time, he recalled how they were stationed in Windsor together when Prince Harry played cupid by going out of his way to help him get together with his now wife. He said in an interview last year: He rather kindly helped me get in well with a young lady. He has seen me walking with the young lady, unbeknownst to me he was driving on his own, no security detail, just going for a spin like you do as an English prince. The 32-year-old (pictured left), of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment based at Hyde Park Barracks in London, was among four soldiers to fail drugs tests in the past few days Cpl OLeary was also part of the carriage procession at Prince Harrys wedding to Meghan Markle (pictured) last year He was among the 24 soldiers and two officers who were part of the Household Cavalry escort through Windsor (pictured) after Prince Harry and Meghan's May 2018 nuptials O'Leary (left) described the Prince (right) as a man of courage, a man of honour, a genuinely honest, kind man, and joked that he had pulled a cracker in the then Miss Markle He wound the window down and said, See you later, Frank. I was like, See you later, sir. I carried on walking. The young lady was a few steps behind me, with her jaw on the floor. Was that...? I just played it off as cool. Of course it was. Does that not happen to you? Asked what happened to the young woman, a Swede called Niina, he said: She became my wife. He described the prince as a man of courage, a man of honour, a genuinely honest, kind man, and joked that he had pulled a cracker in the then Miss Markle. And he also joked about Harry's falling standards too. Hes got a very untidy beard, said Cpl O Leary, who served with the Prince in Afghanistan in 2007. The Regimental Corporal Major would have him for that! Cpl OLeary was one of 24 soldiers and two officers who made up the escort. It is understood that they have not spoken since and were not close friends. O'Leary (far right) at Hyde Park Barracks ahead of Prince Harry's wedding last year A friend of Cpl OLeary told the Mail: He knows he has made a huge mistake and it has cost him the job he loved. He just feels he has let down his family, friends and the regiment (Prince Harry pictured fifth right in Afghanistan, 2008) A source said: The soldier has had no contact with the prince for a considerable period of time. Harry joined The Blues and Royals in April 2006 and served with the Household Cavalry Regiment, based in Combermere Barracks in Windsor, undertaking two tours of Afghanistan and rising to the rank of captain. In November last year the then Defence Secretary announced that the Army would introduce a zero-tolerance drugs policy in an effort to ensure high standards were maintained. Gavin Williamson said the use of drugs was incompatible with military service, as he announced there would be no more readmissions of former users. Harry joined The Blues and Royals in April 2006 and served with the Household Cavalry Regiment, based in Combermere Barracks in Windsor (Prince Harry stepping off a plane after returning from Afghanistan in 2008) Previous rules allowed soldiers sacked for taking illegal drugs to be readmitted if they passed a fresh test. He added that a zero-tolerance approach was the only way to ensure excellence was maintained across our world-class military. The MoD last night confirmed four soldiers serving with the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment failed a compulsory drugs test. An Army spokesman said: The Army has a zero tolerance drugs policy and will not tolerate misuse of drugs in any form or at any time. Any personnel caught taking drugs will be discharged. U.S. President Donald Trump, three of his children and the Trump Organization on Wednesday lost their bid to block Deutsche Bank AG and Capital One Financial Corp from providing financial records to Democratic lawmakers investigating Trump's businesses. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos ruled at a court hearing in New York that Congress has the legal authority to demand the records, clearing the way for the banks to comply with subpoenas issued to them by two U.S. House of Representatives committees last month. It was the second time this week that a judge had ruled against the Republican president in his fight with Democrats. Trump's lawyers were expected to appeal both decisions. Two financial services firms can comply with a congressional request for documents under a federal judge's ruling issued Wednesday. President Trump blasted the Russia probe on Wednesday in a defiant press statement Republican Trump, who is seeking re-election next year, has aggressively sought to defy congressional oversight of his administration since Democrats took control of the U.S. House of Representatives in January. Trump said last month that the administration was 'fighting all the subpoenas' issued by the House, hardening his position after the release of a redacted report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller on how Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. election to help Trump and the president's attempts to impede the investigation. Some parts of the subpoenas have been included in court filings. The subpoena on Deutsche Bank seeks extensive records of accounts, transactions and investments linked to Trump, his three oldest children, their immediate family members and several Trump Organization entities, as well as records of ties they might have to foreign entities. The Trump Organization sued to block the document request Capitol One is able to comply with the document request under the ruling Deutsche Bank has been the Trump Organization's most significant lender for several years Deutsche Bank has long been a principal lender for Trump's real estate business and a 2017 disclosure form showed that Trump had at least $130 million of liabilities to the bank. The subpoena on Capital One seeks records related to multiple entities tied to the Trump Organization's hotel business. In March, before issuing their subpoena, Democratic lawmakers asked Capital One for documents concerning potential conflicts of interest tied to Trump's Washington hotel and other business interests since he became president in January 2017. Trump, his adult children, Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka, and the Trump Organization had sought a preliminary injunction to prevent Deutsche Bank complying with subpoenas from the House Financial Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee, and Capital One from complying with a subpoena from the Financial Services Committee. In a lawsuit filed on April 29, lawyers for Trump, his children and the Trump Organization argued that the subpoenas were too broad, and that Democrats are hoping they will 'stumble upon something' that could be used for political attacks on the president. 'The subpoenas were issued to harass President Donald J. Trump, to rummage through every aspect of his personal finances, his businesses, and the private information of the President and his family,' the complaint said. The judge said on Wednesday that the committees had the power to issue the subpoenas under Congress' 'broad' power to conduct investigations to further legislation. He also rejected Trump's argument that they were barred by a federal financial privacy laws, the Right to Financial Privacy Act, saying the law does not apply to congressional investigations. The banks are the only defendants in the case, but the House committees intervened to oppose Trump's effort to block the subpoenas. 'We remain committed to providing appropriate information to all authorized investigations and will abide by a court order regarding such investigations,' Deutsche Bank said in a statement ahead of the hearing. Capital One declined comment before the hearing. Representative Maxine Waters, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, told reporters after the lawsuit was filed that Trump had 'cast a gauntlet.' 'We will fight him,' she said. On Monday, a federal judge in Washington ruled against the president in a similar case, finding that Trump's accounting firm, Mazars LLP, must comply with a congressional subpoena for Trump's financial records. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta found that Congress was 'not engaged in a fishing expedition for the President's financial records when it subpoenaed Mazars and said that documents obtained might assist Congress in passing laws and performing other core functions. Trump called Mehta's decision 'crazy' and 'totally the wrong decision by obviously an Obama-appointed judge,' referring to Trump's Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama. U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos, who was also appointed by Obama, is overseeing the New York case. A perverted stepfather held his 17-year-old stepdaughter's bottom (stock image; not actual) A perverted stepfather held his 17-year-old stepdaughter's bottom 'for a few seconds' and told her 'no one has an a*** like yours'. The man, 46, sexually assaulted the teenager at their home on the Gold Coast in 2016. He later texted her saying: 'Not all girls have a butt like that sweaty' and 'it's hard not to notice you'. The woman's mother was not at home at the time of the sexual assault. The man pleaded guilty in Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday. His lawyer said was drunk and the grope was a 'momentary lapse,' reported the Gold Coast Bulletin. But magistrate Pamela Dowse slammed his parenting. 'You were drinking at a time you should have been supervising,' she said. 'It was totally inappropriate, stupid beyond belief.' The man was convicted and fined $5,000. The Trump administration has completed just 20 miles of border wall construction after 28 months in office, according to a report from a Homeland Security Department agency. Although Donald Trump's chief spokeswoman says between 100 and 115 miles of the president's long-promised wall are finished and the total will grow to 500 next year, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection 'Border Wall Status' report dated May 20 is less optimistic. The report, obtained by DailyMail.com, suggests 336 miles of border barrier have been funded during Trump's presidency, and about 6 per cent of it is done so far. Overall, just 110 miles of walls reflected in CBP's report consist of 'new' barriers where the U.S.-Mexico border has previously been open to vehicle and foot traffic. The rest are 'updated' wall sections barriers that are being either repaired or replaced. When a 'Fox & Friends' host asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Wednesday how much of the wall is finished, she replied: 'There's over 100 miles. I think it's close to 115 miles.' SCROLL DOWN TO READ THE REPORT Nearly all of the documented border wall construction the Trump administration has engaged in so far has consisted of replacing some existing barriers and reinforcing others with secondary fencing Sanders also claimed the government is 'on track to get close to 500 miles built by the end of the year.' She told DailyMail.com Wednesday afternoon that she misspoke, and should have said 'next year.' That would agree with President Trump's boast during a Pennsylvania rally on Monday. The unsigned CBP report doesn't suggest any way the administration could be planning for 500 miles of wall-building. In all, it says, about $6.1 billion in funding is in place enough to build 'approximately 336 total miles.' According to a chart in the report, they consists of 86 miles of 'new primary wall' and 24 miles of 'new levee wall.' Also included are 68 miles of 'updated primary wall,' 144 miles of 'updated vehicle wall' and 14 miles of 'updated secondary wall.' CBP breaks down the sources of funding that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is using for construction contracts into three buckets. The first two, adding to '255 miles of new and updated border barriers,' are regular congressional appropriations and money shifted over from a Treasury Department fund that's flush with cash from the sale of forfeited assets like cars and real estate. A separate Defense Department program that will build walls to block narcotics traffickers, according to CBP, will contribute another 131 miles of barriers. Adding to the confusion, those numbers total 386 miles, not 336. Regardless, the report opens with a conclusion that 'approximately 255 miles of new and updated border barriers have been funded' since Trump took office 'through the traditional appropriations process and via Treasury Forfeiture Funding.' And of that total, '20 miles have been completed to date.' A U.S. Customs and Border Protection report on the status of border wall construction, dated Monday, lays out how little progress 20 miles has been made on the project that turned Donald Trump into an immigration-hawk hero; despite claims from the president and Sarah Sanders that 500 miles will be built by next year, CSP only has a funding plan for 336 One wrinkle in the report spells out how nearly 40 miles were built with money appropriated by Congress for the fiscal year that ended September 30, 2017; since those miles weren't included in the results from the Trump era, it appears they were built before he was president Later in the report, the agency reports completing 'approximately 39.5' of 40 miles funded for the 2017 fiscal year. The contradiction might be explained by the fact that Trump became president in the middle of that fiscal year, which began October 1, 2016. If it's the case that those 39.5 miles were completed during the Obama presidency, it would mean Trump's predecessor put up more border walls in his final four months as president than he has in the past 28 months. A CBP spokesman did not respond to questions on Wednesday. News reports overnight Tuesday described an even bleaker picture of inefficiency, based on a statement from the House of Representatives' general counsel to a federal judge in California. House General Counsel Douglas Letter wrote to Judge Haywood Gilliam that the Trump administration 'has now constructed 1.7 miles of fencing' with the $1.57 billion Congress allocated for the fiscal year that ended last September 30. That turned out to be only partially accurate: Federal contracting rules, along with the time consumed by construction, can mean a year or more goes by between when agencies receive money and when a project is finished. CBP's status memo describes plans to build 80 miles of wall sections with the congressional money from 2018, including 14 miles in San Diego, 13 in Texas and 41 in sections of California and Arizona where weaker 'pedestrian fencing' is being replaced. Those projects are all in various stages of completion. None is expected to be finished until 'early 2020' at the soonest. White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said in an email late Wednesday that the pace of wall construction 'is on par with other federal construction projects.' 'More construction is going to kick off over the next month,' he said. Most of the wall construction in the Trump era, and most of what's planned, consists of replacement walls not barriers where none existed before Trump took office Customs and Border Protection says it has replaced 'dilapidated' border barriers that consisted of Normandy-style vehicle barriers like these, shown in April 2018 between Santa Teresa, New Mexico and Ciudad Juarez, Mexico And CBP expects to award a contract for another 12 miles of Texas wall by the end of this year still relying on the 2018 money. When Trump fired back Wednesday on Twitter he didn't try to explain how long it takes to deploy federal taxpayer dollars. Instead he defended what he said has been 'a complete demolition and rebuilding of old and worthless barriers with a brand new Wall and footings.' 'Problem is, the Haters say that is not a new Wall, but rather a renovation. Wrong, and we must build where most needed,' he added. The president has redirected billions of dollars to his wall project through a national emergency declaration, repurposing money from the Treasury and Defense Departments and drawing lawsuits like moths to a candle. Both houses of Congress voted to rescind that declaration in March, approving a resolution that the president immediately vetoed. 'Also, tremendous work is being done on pure renovation fixing existing Walls that are in bad condition and ineffective, and bringing them to a very high standard!' Trump concluded. On Tuesday the House of Representatives' general counsel told a judge that CBP 'has now constructed 1.7 miles of fencing' with the $1.57 billion it received for the project in the fiscal year that ended September 30 of last year; that's misleading because contracting rules and construction calendars mean years can pass between when an agency gets money and when a project is finished Trump blasted the 'haters' who point to a lack of action at the border, claiming that he should get credit for 'demolition and rebuilding' of ineffective border barriers A U.S. Customs and Border Protection spokesman told DailyMail.com in March that it had not at that time erected any walls at all to protect previously unbarricaded sections of America's southern border. 'The first new wall project, where no barrier currently exists, is anticipated to start in April,' CBP spokesman Roger Maier said at the time. He identified Hidalgo County as the construction project's location, a border zone along a meandering 50-mile stretch of the Rio Grande. CBP said last year that it was 'designing and constructing approximately 25 miles of levee wall system' in that county, whose anchor is the border city of McAllen. The agency reported in March, after DailyMail.com reported Maier's comments, that it had 'built 38 miles of new border wall system in CA NM & TXproviding new capability by replacing ineffective infrastructure, like Normandy-style barriers designed only to stop vehicles, not people on foot.' A new special set to air later this year will show viewers never-before-seen footage from the wedding of John F Kennedy Jr and Carolyn Bessette. The special was first announced back in 2018 and was recently acquired by Cineflix. It features footage shot by Kennedy's friend during his 1996 wedding to Bessette on Cumberland Island in Georgia. 'On an island off of Georgia we came together on this 18th century plantation. In this dirty, dilapidated, shuttered church next to a pig sty,' says a friend of the couple in the preview. 'No air conditioning, very little power on the island. It was the best place for them to host a secret ceremony.' He later notes: 'Nobody would have expected that three years later we'd be at another church for another reason.' Happy together: New video of John F Kennedy Jr's wedding to Carolyn Bessette will air later this year Chapel of love: Video shows the two cutting their wedding cake, kissing and sharing their first dance at the secret ceremony Gillion is not the first friend of Kennedy to break his silence about the tragic death of the former first son. In a 2017 interview with People, John Jr.'s former assistant RoseMarie Terenzino said that Carolyn kept the world's most eligible bachelor waiting for weeks before finally agreeing to walk down the aisle. 'He went into this thing about how everything's better with a partner, not just fishing but life,' said Terenzino. Carolyn was not so certain however, and found the fame that would come with marrying John Jr. daunting and scary. 'She held off the proposal for about three weeks. I think it made him all the more intent on marrying her,' said Terenzino. The two eventually wed the following year, but it was a brief marriage that was cut short after just three years when they were killed in a plane crash en route to the very same island where John Jr. first popped the question. Carolyn's trepidation about marrying John Jr. may have also had to do with her strained relationship with the only living member of his family, his sister Caroline. 'They had different lifestyles,' said a source. Caroline did however throw a party in the couple's honor shortly after their nuptials, which were held on Cumberland Island off the coast of Georgia. The most difficult part of being a Kennedy for Carolyn was the paparazzi however, and she never grew uncomfortable with the constant photographs. Her husband's response was that she should just act like his late mother Jackie said one source, and give them one smile before going back about her business. 'I hate those bastards,' said Carolyn. The newlyweds were still however very much in love. 'To say their relationship was on the rocks is just inaccurate,' said Carole Radziwill, who was married to John Jr.'s best friend and cousin Anthony. There was however some difficult times, admitted Carole, due in part to Anthony's battle with cancer. 'Anthony's impending death was a strain on the marriage, no doubt,' said Carole. The 'Real Housewives of New York' star and author also noted: 'They loved each other - Carolyn was quite a lovable person. 'She was clever, she was naughty, and she had the balance of being able to be really serious and deep yet funny.' Carole later added: 'I still miss her after all these years.' John had taken off from Essex County Airport in Fairfield, New Jersey, at 8.39pm on July 16, 1999 bound for the airfield in Martha's Vineyard en route to the wedding of his cousin Rory. He never made it to the family gathering. 'No air conditioning, very little power on the island. It was the best place for them to host a secret ceremony,' says a friend of the location in Georgia The air traffic controller at the island airport alerted the regional FAA office in Connecticut just after 10pm when the plane had failed to arrive. In the end, it was the conditions that evening which are believed to have caused the tragedy which took three lives. Three days later, parts of the plane were detected on the ocean floor. On July 21, five days after the plane went missing, the three bodies were found and removed from the underwater wreckage. The ashes of John, 38, his wife Carolyn, 33, and his sister-in-law Lauren, 34, were scattered at sea on July 22 just off of Martha's Vineyard by friends and family, including Radziwill. John Jr. made the decision prior to his death to have his ashes be scattered at sea rather than be buried alongside his father, mother, sister Arabella and brother Patrick at Arlington National Cemetery. One month after the crash, Anthony died of cancer. He passed away just two weeks shy of his five-year anniversary. It was Carole who first realized what had happened to her two friends. She appeared on the HLN docu-series 'How It Really Happened with Hill Harped' in an episode entitled 'JFK Jr.'s Tragic Final Flight' earlier this year to take about that day. In the two-hour retrospective, she detailed her final conversation with Carolyn as well as how she went about trying to locate the couple when she learned their plane had never made it to Martha's Vineyard after taking off from new Jersey. 'I spent 15 years as a journalist and producer at ABC News, and I thought, "OK, I need to figure out this story and solve it somehow. I need to figure out where they are, because they're somewhere,"' explained Radziwill. Anthony was in his final days after a decade-long battle with cancer at the time, and the trip was expected to be one of the last occasions the cousins would be able to see one another. 'Carolyn called me from the plane right before they were taking off. And I think it was probably a little bit after 8 o'clock,' said Radziwill of her conversation with Bessette earlier that evening. 'I don't remember anything really important from that conversation, I didn't certainly think it would be the last time I would speak to my friend.' She then added: 'I remember at the end she said, you know, "I love you." And, I don't know, for some reason I didn't say I love you back and that always stuck with me. And she said 'I'll call you when I land.' And then that was the last I ever heard from her or anyone.' With the festivities set to get underway on Saturday, Radziwill got a call the night before when John and his wife failed to make an appearance on the island. 'The phone rang at midnight, and I got just this sick feeling in my stomach, and it was John's friend Pinky, and he said, you know, "Are they there with you? I'm at the airport and they're not here,"' recalled Radziwill. 'And then, and then I thought, "Oh. Oh s***." And I just bolted out of bed.' In the end, there was nothing she could do to help. 'One call led to another to another to another, and I called the Hyannis Airport many times, because I assumed that they had made a mistake,' said Radziwill. 'And the whole time I'm calling John's friend and screaming into the phone, "Please, you have to find somebody in John's family, to tell, tell them what's going on."' Radziwill's calls were not getting her anywhere however, and she soon started to realize that authorities would have to be notified about the two, who had been flying with Bessette's sister Lauren. 'It was probably between 2 or 3 when I realized I had to call the Coast Guard and report John's plane missing,' revealed Radziwill. 'I said, "My cousin's missing." And, and then he took the name, and I think there was a little bit of a, like, a gasp on the other end of the phone.' In the People interview, she reveals that she also spoke to John Jr.'s uncle Ted. 'He said, "Let's take it step-by-step.' He had the same tone that I had three hours earlier,' said Carole. 'I felt envious of him at that moment, because he was at the beginning, when you could still believe things would end differently.' If Theresa May's 'New Deal' on Brexit wasn't dead on arrival on Tuesday night, by yesterday morning Westminster was already reading it the last rites. The morning's newspaper headlines were bleak, as Tory MPs reacted with undisguised fury to the Prime Minister's offer to Labour of a vote on a second referendum, as well as concessions on a customs union and employment rights. And the count of those declaring their intention to vote against the Withdrawal Bill was ticking up. By 9am it stood at 65 more than double the number who voted against Mrs May's deal last time. And as the hours passed the numbers continued to rise. Theresa May at Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, in London, on Wednesday On the Today programme, Michael Gove refused to say when the Bill would come before the House, instead saying ministers would 'reflect over the next few days' on timing. But privately, Cabinet ministers accepted it was all over. By mid-morning, one Cabinet source had already told the Mail: 'Everyone knows her time is up. She'll try to get through today. 'They need to work out where they are from here, which is nowhere.' Not everyone in No 10 had got the message. Downing Street Chief of Staff Gavin Barwell invited Labour MPs to a meeting in the Commons with the intention of urging them to back the Bill. With the Tory vote collapsing, he needed around 70 Labour votes. Just 12 MPs even bothered to turn up. At Prime Ministers' Questions in the Commons, Mrs May did her best, as Jeremy Corbyn taunted her that she had presented a 'repackaged version of her three times rejected deal'. The only sign she was resigned to her fate was when she acknowledged: 'In time, another prime minister will be standing at this despatch box.' Mrs May is pictured shouting across the dispatch box today while her cabinet colleagues Philip Hammond and David Lidington talk amongst themselves At Prime Ministers' Questions in the Commons, the only sign Mrs May was resigned to her fate was when she acknowledged: 'In time, another prime minister will be standing at this despatch box.' Loyalists cheered her, but there were few of them: the Tory benches were a sea of green leather. One who was present was Mark Francois, arch-critic of Mrs May and vice chairman of the European Research Group of Eurosceptic Tory MPs. At one point he gestured to the press gallery above the Speaker's Chair where journalists sit and, like a pantomime villain, pulled his finger across his throat like a knife. The message was clear. Senior ministers were also conspicuously absent from the chamber, but behind the scenes they were venting their fury triggering a dramatic few hours that would effectively seal the Prime Minister's fate. Attendance at the so-called 'Pizza Club' meeting of Tory Brexiteers, hosted by Andrea Leadsom in her Commons office, was higher than usual and included Michael Gove, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Trade Secretary Liam Fox. Among some ministers, particularly Home Secretary Sajid Javid, there was particular unhappiness about Mrs May's statement on Tuesday. Andrea Leadsom (pictured) quit early in the evening with a vicious swipe at Remainer ministers, writes Jack Doyle Allies claim he believed the vote on a second referendum was going to be taken out of the Bill entirely following a backlash at Cabinet. This was furiously denied by No 10. One source said: 'they knew exactly what they signed up to'. At around 2pm, officials in Mr Javid's private office asked for a meeting with the PM, to ask her expressly to remove the second referendum clauses. No response was received by the end of the day. One ally accused Mrs May of being 'unbelievably tone deaf'. 'If this was designed to bring Labour votes, at what point from when she made the statement is there any indication that those numbers are going to come?' 'We are tearing the party apart for no reason, because there aren't the Labour MPs to vote this through'. Jeremy Hunt, similarly, was requesting a meeting with Mrs May to express his grave reservations about the Bill. His meeting with Mrs May was arranged, and then cancelled. But the most agitated minister of all was softly spoken Scottish Secretary David Mundell, who was described as being 'at the end of his tether'. At 6pm, with Mrs May having said nothing, Sir Graham Brady (pictured) announced that the executive committee the men in grey suits had decided against changing the leadership rules to allow Mrs May's removal. There was uproar, writes Jack Doyle North of the Border, promising a second referendum, or even giving MPs a vote on one, is rocket fuel for the Scottish Nationalists. The WhatsApp group for Leave-supporting ministers was pinging with messages about how they should act. After agreeing there was no point resigning alone, four junior ministers went to see Tory chief Whip Julian Smith to tell him they wouldn't vote for the Bill at second reading. Meanwhile, a steady stream of ministers were going into the Cabinet Office where they could read the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. Many blanched when reaching Article 36 which sets out how the Bill could not be approved unless the House had voted on whether to have a second referendum. Or the section on customs. The feedback from the room was grim. One senior source said: 'They were looking at it written down they were seeing it all in black and white customs union, second referendum. One after another they were refusing to sign it off. It was all over by mid-afternoon.' Mrs Leadsom ordered that a copy of the Bill be brought to her office where she could read it in peace and make her mind up about what to do. Michael Gove (left) hinted that the vote on Mrs May's deal could still be shelved and had warm words for leadership favourite Boris Johnson (right) She quit early in the evening with a vicious swipe at Remainer ministers. Several MPs went public to demand Mrs May should go, including Tom Tughendhat, previously a loyalist. He told the FT: 'There comes a time when everyone can see that the hill is too high for the hiker.' At one point, a news channel was put on standby to go into No10 and record a statement. Clearly, she or her allies were preparing for her to walk yesterday. Wisely this idea was abandoned, as aides instead worked out a plan for a more dignified departure after the European Elections. MPs standing in the baking hot committee corridor of the Palace of Westminster, waiting for the meeting of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers to begin, knew none of this. To them it looked like she was clinging on. When they finally got in to Room 14 just after 5pm, Sir Graham Brady the committee chairman told them the meeting was postponed while he agreed to meet the chief whip, Julian Smith. Key Brexiteers were glaringly absent from PMQs today amid claims 'secret meetings' are taking place to oust Mrs May At 6pm, with Mrs May having said nothing, Sir Graham announced that the executive committee the men in grey suits had decided against changing the leadership rules to allow Mrs May's removal. There was uproar. One MP, Mark Pritchard, marched from the room muttering 'Jellyfish' at the MPs who had been too spineless to move against her. ERG shop steward Steve Baker, who lead the failed coup attempt to remove Mrs May last year, admitted MPs were now 'rather impatient' to see her go. Instead of her head, all they had was a promise from Mrs May to meet Sir Graham on Friday. She wanted, they were told, a chance to campaign in the euros. One MP accused Sir Graham of 'going native' by refusing to move against her. Diehard Brexiteer Andrew Bridgen asked 'what is going to change on Friday'? Sir Graham refused to answer. For several hours last night, MPs believed Mrs May was bunkered down in No10, clinging on and refusing to meet any of her ministers, despite a number apparently demanding to see her. Mrs May did her best, as Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) taunted her that she had presented a 'repackaged version of her three times rejected deal', writes Jack Doyle Former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith claimed 'the sofa is up against the door, she's not leaving'. Last night plotting continued about how to remove her if she refuses to go. But they will not have to wait long. Privately, Mrs May's most senior aides were clear the decision had been made and she would go on Friday. One said: 'We completely understand what has happened over the course of the last 24 hours. 'She wants to be able to say it in her own words, which she will do in short order. You will see that clearly when the elections are done.' Another said: 'There was a significant chance the Bill would be rejected but that was the only chance she had. There were no other moves to make. I don't think anyone could point to any moves we could have made. We tried them all. From hard Brexiteers to Remainers, the race for No 10 Boris Johnson 5/2 Age: 54. Former Foreign Secretary. His support for Brexit was vital to Leave's win. Background: Known for being identified by just one name, Boris, for his show-off Classics references and for chaotic private life. EXPERIENCE: Twice voted London mayor. STRENGTH: Starry, charismatic and clever crowd-pleaser. WEAKNESS: Bumbling foreign secretary. May struggle to win MPs' support. A 'Stop Boris' campaign is likely. VERDICT: Party grassroots love him Dominic Raab 5/1 Age: 46. Former Brexit Secretary. Diehard Brexiteer. Background: Son of a Czech-born Jewish refugee who fled the Nazis in 1938 and died of cancer when Raab was 12. EXPERIENCE: Lasted only four months as Brexit Secretary. Voted against May in leadership confidence vote. STRENGTH: Skilled debater who honed his skills as an adversarial lawyer with blue chip legal firm Linklaters. WEAKNESS: Seen as too clever by half and lacking people skills. VERDICT: In second place in ConservativeHome's leadership league table. Matt Hancock 16/1 Age: 40. Health Secretary. Arch Remainer. Background: Father bought their council house. Ran his own computer software business before becoming Chancellor George Osborne's chief of staff. EXPERIENCE: Cabinet minister for only 18 months. Seen as a 'coming man'. STRENGTH: One of life's Tiggers with ambition and enthusiasm to match his brainpower. WEAKNESS: Never knowingly modest, he once foolishly likened himself to Churchill, Pitt and Disraeli. VERDICT: Little known among Conservative Party members. Amber Rudd 33/1 Age: 55. Work and Pensions Secretary. Remain cheerleader. Background: Daughter of a Labour-supporting stockbroker and Tory-leaning JP. EXPERIENCE: Became Home Secretary after just six years as an MP. Resigned over the Windrush scandal after inadvertently misleading MPs. STRENGTH: Tough operator who was restored to Cabinet within six months. WEAKNESS: Holds seat with majority of only 346. Headmisstressy manner but an accomplished performer. VERDICT: Ninth in leadership league table. Esther McVey 50/1 Age: 51. Former Welfare Secretary. An ardent Brexiteer. Background: Spent the first two years of her life in foster care. Was a breakfast TV presenter before becoming a Tory MP on Merseyside. EXPERIENCE: As welfare minister was viciously targeted by Labour. STRENGTH: Tough and telegenic. Won plaudits with members for resigning from Cabinet over Brexit deal. WEAKNESS: Some say she doesn't have the intellectual fire power for top job. VERDICT: Ranked 14th in league table. Penny Mordaunt 20/1 Age: 46. International Development Secretary. Arch Brexiteer. Background: Her mother died when she was a teenager. Cared for younger brother. EXPERIENCE: Was a magician's assistant. Appeared in the reality TV show Splash! STRENGTH: Only female MP to be a Royal Naval Reservist. Attended Lady Thatcher's funeral in uniform. WEAKNESS: Inexperienced, having been in Cabinet for less than two years. Has never run a major Whitehall department. VERDICT: Edged up to 11th in ConservativeHome league table. Andrea Leadsom 16/1 Age: 55. Leader of the Commons. Ardent Brexiteer. Background: A former City trader. Mother of three. EXPERIENCE: Struggled in her first Cabinet post, as Environment Secretary. STRENGTH: Blossomed as Leader of the Commons, winning plaudits for taking on Speaker John Bercow. WEAKNESS: Stood for leader in 2016 but made ill-considered comment comparing her experience as a mother to the childless Mrs May. VERDICT: Has soared to the top of the ConservativeHome table of competent ministers. Michael Gove 10/1 Age: 51. Environment Secretary. High priest of Brexiteers. Background: Adopted son of a Scottish fish merchant. EXPERIENCE: Figurehead for Leave during referendum campaign. Cabinet heavyweight who's served as Education Secretary and Justice Secretary. STRENGTH: Brilliant debater with razor sharp intellect. WEAKNESS: Still suspected of having a disloyal gene after knifing Boris Johnson in last leadership contest. VERDICT: Popular with the Tory members, who, crucially, will vote for the new leader. Liz Truss 50/1 Age: 43 Chief Secretary to Treasury. Brexiteer. Background: Raised by Left-wing parents and as a child was marched through the streets on anti-Thatcher protest shouting: 'Maggie out!' EXPERIENCE: Joint-author in 2012 of a controversial booklet, Britannia Unchained, which alleged 'the British are among the worst idlers in the world'. STRENGTH: A genuine free-marketeer. WEAKNESS: Poor public speaker with a mixed ministerial record. VERDICT: Only 15th in ConservativeHome leaders league table. Sajid Javid 16/1 Age: 49. Home Secretary. Remainer who changed to Brexit after the referendum. Background: Son of a bus driver who came to Britain from Pakistan with 1 in his pocket. Was head of credit trading at Deutsche Bank. EXPERIENCE: Previously Culture and Business secretary, cracked down on union rights. STRENGTH: An extraordinary rags-to-riches back story that we will hear more of during the leadership campaign. WEAKNESS: Widely seen as a wooden and a poor speaker. VERDICT: In 4th place in ConservativeHome league table. Jeremy Hunt 10/1 Age: 52. Foreign Secretary Background: Eldest son of Admiral Sir Nicholas Hunt. Married to a Chinese wife and he speaks Mandarin. Before politics, set up an educational publisher which was sold for 30million in 2017. EXPERIENCE: Longest-serving health secretary in history. STRENGTH: Among the most experienced ministers in the field who, unusually, has made few political enemies. WEAKNESS: Some, though, regard him as a 'bit of a drip'. Verdict: Seen by many as man who could best unite party on Brexit. Advertisement 'She really wanted to get it over the line. Clearly it didn't work.' A shocking photo shows a woman smiling and posing with a baby she allegedly ripped from the womb of his pregnant mother. Clarisa Figueroa, 46, is seen in the photo leaning over Yavani Yadiel Lopez at the Advocate Christ Medical Center after the baby boy was cut from the womb of his mother Marlen Ochoa. It's unclear when exactly the photo was taken and it is the first known photo of Figueroa in the hospital with Yavani, according to CBS. Last week, Chicago police arrested Figueroa and two other people in connection with the April 23 murder of Ochoa, 19, whose unborn baby was taken from her womb after her death. Scroll down for video Clarisa Figueroa (pictured), 46, is seen in the photo leaning over Yavani Yadiel Lopez, the baby boy she allegedly cut from his mother's womb Police said Ochoa (left and right) was lured to Figueroa's home on April 23 with the promise of free baby supplies, but she was instead strangled, and her baby extracted from her womb On that same day, Figueroa arrived by ambulance at the hospital with the baby boy (pictured as he's being held by his father), according to police. She told doctors she had birthed him but showed no signs of labor Police said Ochoa was lured to Figueroa's home on April 23 with the promise of free baby supplies, but she was instead strangled, and her baby extracted from her womb. Figueroa and her daughter Desiree, 24, have been charged with first degree murder. Piotr Bobak, 40, whom police described as the elder Figueroa's boyfriend, was charged with concealing the murder. At a news conference, Chicago police chief Eddie Johnson called the crime 'disgusting and thoroughly disturbing'. 'I can't even pretend to imagine what that family is going through right now. They should be celebrating the birth of a young baby. Instead, they're mourning the loss of the mother and possibly that young child,' Johnson said. Police allegedly discovered Ochoa's body hidden in a garbage can while serving a search warrant at Figueroa's home last Tuesday night. 'Apparently, Miss Ochoa had bought other baby items from Clarissa, so they knew each other,' deputy chief Brendan Deenihan said. On the day of Ochoa's disappearance, Figueroa allegedly spoke with her through Facebook. Police allegedly discovered Ochoa's body hidden in a garbage can while serving a search warrant at Figueroa's (left and right) home last Tuesday night Figueroa and her daughter Desiree (left), 24, have been charged with first degree murder. Piotr Bobak (right), 40, whom police described as the elder Figueroa's boyfriend, was charged with concealing the murder The nine-months-pregnant teen went to Figueroa's home expecting to gather some baby clothes and other donated items, police said. Authorities allege Figueroa and her daughter Desiree strangled the expectant mother with a coaxial cable and extracted the baby. Within four hours of when Ochoa was last spotted driving on a road by surveillance cameras, the elder Figueroa called emergency services claiming she had delivered a baby that was not breathing. The child was immediately hospitalized at the Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Chicago, and was initially in serious condition. On April 23, Figueroa arrived by ambulance at the hospital with the baby boy, according to police. She told doctors she had birthed him but showed no signs of labor. At the time, Figueroa was covered in blood when she arrived at the emergency room but police say it belonged to Ochoa. For weeks, Figueroa pretended the baby was hers and even set up a GoFundMe page asking for donations to help care for him. This is the home where the young mother's body was found and where the baby was born. Paramedics went to the house on April 23 after Clarisa called 911 saying she had just given birth but they never went inside. Instead, she brought the baby out Authorities are seen collecting evidence in the family's yard. Ochoa's body was found in the back yard On May 7, police who had been looking for Ochoa were given a tip by her friends about her contact with the Figueroa family on Facebook. They went to the house, spoke to Clarisa's daughter Desiree and found Ochoa's car nearby afterwards. They then ordered a DNA test which, a week later, revealed that the boy was Ochoa's baby. Now, Christ Medical Center is facing criticism over how doctors and nurses did not think it was suspicious when Figueroa, who previously had her Fallopian tubes tied, appeared in front of them. The agency that licenses and inspects health care facilities in Illinois has started an investigation into the hospital. Illinois Department of Public Health spokeswoman Melaney Arnold's comments about the investigation mark the first time that a state agency has confirmed it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the treatment of the baby. Arnold would not comment further on the investigation or say when it would be completed other than to say typically the department's investigations take a few days. But last week, she said that if the department determines rules or regulations were violated, a facility would be required to correct the problem. And she said that the ultimate penalty for a facility would be the revocation of its license. Social media posts show that Figueroa and Bobak claimed to be the parents of a premature child born on April 23, which they had named Xander. Bobak posted this ultrasound as his cover photo. The photo was a match to one that is often used to fake ultrasounds These screen grabs from social media show Figueroa began posting about a baby as early as February 5 In March, on her Facebook page, Figueroa posted a photo of the nursery in her home. It showed that a mural of a tree had been painted to surround 'Xander' The hospital's handling the case has raised questions, particularly since the Chicago Police Department and the state's Department of Children and Family Services both said last weekend that staff at the hospital did not alert them after determining that Figueroa had not just given birth to the gravely ill newborn. Ochoa's family has been critical of the hospital and a representative of the family said they met on Monday with hospital staff to ask that they be provided copies of protocols it follows when it receives a baby who was born at home. Cecilia Garcia said on Tuesday that the hospital had not yet provided that information but the family hoped that it would during a second meeting that has yet to be scheduled. The hospital has declined to say whether or when it contacted authorities when it learned that Figueroa was not the baby's mother, citing state and federal regulations. Arnold's comments come a day after the Cook County Sheriff's Department said it would ask the state's Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) if the hospital violated the state's Abuse and Neglected Child Reporting Act. The sheriff's department says if DCFS determines that such a failure would constitute a violation of the act, it would conduct its own investigation. Police say that Figueroa's natural-born adult son, Xavier, died in 2017 of natural causes. Earlier this week, Yavani's grieving father, Yovani, shared heartwarming photos with the DailyMail.com of himself cuddling his son Ochoa will be buried on Wednesday. She and Yovani had been married since 2016 They also have a toddler son, Joshua. Yovani is now raising money to care for both boys on a GoFundMe account. He hopes to raise $25,000 Ochoa had chosen the name Yavani for her unborn son, which her husband honored when he finally got to meet his baby boy Online fundraising appeals show that Figueroa and Bobak claimed to be the parents of a premature child born on April 23, which they had named Xander Xavier Bobak. Social media posts revealed that the suspects had been posting online in recent months about the arrival of a baby boy, decorating a nursery and seeking out expectant mothers on Facebook. Screen grabs from social media have revealed that she began posting about a baby as early as February 5. She shared a photo on her page of a crib up against the wall that was decorated with letters spelling out the name 'Xander'. 'Baby Xander's crib is set up now we're just waiting for your arrival,' she wrote in the caption. Xander is the same name she would use when she created the GoFundMe for the baby in May. Earlier this week, Yavani's grieving father, Yovani, shared heartwarming photos with the DailyMail.com of himself cuddling his son. Yavani is still in the hospital. He has zero brain function but his family says they are praying for a miracle and will not turn off his ventilator. Surrounded by family members and supporters, Yiovani spoke outside the Cook County medical examiner's office after identifying his wife's body last Thursday. 'It's painful to lose your wife, the woman you love the most,' he said. 'It's painful' Arnulfo Ochoa, the father of the slain teen, was surrounded by family members and supporters, as he walked into the Cook County medical examiner's office to identify his daughter's body last week On Sunday, he opened his eyes in his father's arms. 'We're praying for a miracle,' a family friend said as they shared the photographs. Ochoa will be buried on Wednesday. She and Yovani had been married since 2016. They also have a toddler son, Joshua. Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, 19, is shown carrying the baby. Her family said they are now determined to get justice for the teen Yovani is now raising money to care for both boys on a GoFundMe account found here. He hopes to raise $25,000. Lopez, who had lived with Ochoa for the last four years, said he was in a 'lot of pain, a lot of anguish, a lot sadness'. He said she dreamed of going to college and becoming a fashion designer. 'It's painful to lose your wife, the woman you love the most,' he added. 'It's painful.' 'Why did these bad people do this? She did nothing to them. She was a good person.' 'Even though we found her without a life, at least we're grateful that we found her,' added Ochoa-Uriostegui's father Arnulfo Ochoa. Ochoa's family said they are now determined to get justice for the teen. 'We're gonna have justice with those responsible,' Lopez told Fox News 32. 'We're gonna go hard after them. We won't let it go. They don't know the pain they've caused. They don't know.' Figueroa, her daughter and her boyfriend are currently in custody and will return to court on June 3. The Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom (pictured outside the Commons today) resigned in protest after the Prime Minister committed to giving MPs a vote on a possible second Brexit referendum Andrea Leadsom dramatically quit the Cabinet last night, blasting Theresa May's Brexit strategy and effectively launching a campaign to replace her. The Leader of the House of Commons resigned in protest after the Prime Minister committed to giving MPs a vote on a possible second Brexit referendum. In her resignation letter, Mrs Leadsom wrote: 'I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result.' Allies last night said she had warned Mrs May at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that she could not accept her latest Brexit offer. After the PM went ahead regardless, the Commons leader yesterday telephoned Mrs May to tell her she was quitting before posting her resignation letter on social media. She is the 36th ministerial resignation since Mrs May became Prime Minister almost three years ago. Mrs Leadsom ran for the party leadership in 2016 but pulled out of the race, handing Mrs May the keys to Downing Street. A fortnight ago she announced she was 'seriously considering' standing again. In her letter, Mrs Leadsom signalled that she believed it was now time for the PM to go. She wrote: 'No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our party.' Some Tory MPs last night claimed her decision to quit could boost her standing with Brexiteers in the party. But others criticised her timing just hours before voters go to the polls in the European elections. Mrs Leadsom is pictured arriving at her London home this evening after her resignation Andrea Leadsom arrives at her home in London after she resigned. In a letter to Theresa May she said: 'I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result' In her resignation letter to the Prime Minister, Mrs Leadsom wrote that she had decided to leave Government with 'great regret and with a heavy heart'. She described how she had wanted to 'shape and fight for Brexit' despite some 'uncomfortable compromises along the way'. But Mrs Leadsom said she could no longer remain as she did not agree with the latest withdrawal agreement, which included staying in a customs union. She wrote: 'I have always maintained that a second referendum would be dangerously divisive, and I do not support the Government willingly facilitating such a concession.' Mrs Leadsom also took a swipe at Cabinet colleagues Amber Rudd, David Gauke and Greg Clark, who were allowed to keep their jobs despite threatening to defy Mrs May to block a No Deal exit earlier this year. She called it a 'complete breakdown of collective responsibility'. Defending the timing of her decision to quit, she said she could not fulfil her duty as Leader of the House today in announcing a bill she opposed. She is the 36th ministerial resignation since Mrs May became Prime Minister almost three years ago A bleary-eyed Theresa May was driven away from Parliament after facing a brutal session of Brexit questions in the Commons chamber this afternoon Downing Street last night responded to Mrs Leadsom's resignation with a notably warm statement, thought to be in recognition of her willingness to try to publicly sell the Brexit deal in recent months. A No.10 spokesman said she had 'served with distinction and great ability'. Mrs Leadsom, who was a junior minister under David Cameron, rose to prominence in the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign, representing the Leave side in the final television debate. Tory MPs picked her and Mrs May as the two candidates to go on the ballot paper for members to replace Mr Cameron as leader. But Mrs Leadsom withdrew from the race after she was shaken by the scale of the response to a newspaper interview in which she suggested being a mother meant she had a larger stake in society than Mrs May. Mrs Leadsom announced her resignation letter posted on Twitter this evening The new Prime Minister appointed her to the Cabinet initially as Environment Secretary. She became Leader of the Commons in June 2017. Mrs Leadsom has become known for her willingness to take on Commons Speaker John Bercow and has driven forward attempts to modernise Parliament. Tory MP Nigel Evans last night urged other Cabinet ministers with leadership ambitions to follow Mrs Leadsom's example. He tweeted: 'Over to you guys who want to succeed the PM... who is next? Why wait?' Fellow Tory Steve Double added: 'Now is the time for courageous people to stand up and be counted.' Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson said the decision to step down on the eve of the European elections was a 'slap in the face' for her Tory colleagues. Surveillance isn't the only application of China's advanced facial recognition software. Conservationists are now using the technology too, as a tool to help protect wild panda populations. According to a report from Xinhua News, researchers at the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas in Chengu have begun using facial recognition software to identify the often similar-looking faces and markings of wild pandas. Scroll down for video Giant pandas are the latest subject of China's facial recognition software. Conservationists are now using the technology to monitor and track the animals. File photo 'The app and database will help us gather more precise and well-rounded data on the population, distribution, ages, gender ratio, birth and deaths of wild pandas, who live in deep mountains and are hard to track,' researcher Chen Peng told Xinhua News. 'It will definitely help us improve efficiency and effectiveness in conservation and management of the animals.' Like other facial recognition databases, the researchers' panda-identifying app pools from a large bank of photos to help it learn and recognize one animal from another. In all, says the Xinhua News report, the database contains 120,000 images and 10,000 video clips. Of those images, 10,000 have been marked and annotated. The app will also be made available to visitors of the Chengu's research center where many pandas are kept in captivity. Those attendees will be able to use the app to scan a panda and pull up more information. As reported by The Verge, similar technology has been used to track other bears as well as lemurs in an effort to help conserve populations. Giant pandas, long an endangered species, were downgraded to 'vulnerable' in 2016, due to conservation efforts that helped raise the population by 17 percent in one decade. Conservationists are quick to note, however, that panda's status is still imperiled, most notably by the specter of a rapidly changing climate . According to researchers, climate change threatens to wipe out much of the world's bamboo, the animal's primary source of food, which could put the creatures at risk once more. Software used in facial recognition has become most popular in China for its application towards surveillance. The country has a robust system that is uses to monitor citizens. While in this case facial recognition has been deployed to track and monitor panda populations, the technology -- especially in China -- has been used more extensively on humans. The country is currently working to build a system capable of recognizing every single one of its 1.4 billion citizens within three seconds and has already used the technology to closely monitor swaths of China's muslim minority population. In the U.S., fear over the misuse of facial recognition software has lead to legislation on the municipal level with San Francisco passing a ban on its use by law enforcement this month. Ivy-league researchers say secrecy played a role in the 2016 election in at least one definitive way and it doesn't necessarily have to do with the actions of candidates. According to a new study from Columbia University that surveyed 1,000 voters, people who cast their ballots for President Donald Trump in a 2016 race against candidate Hilary Clinton were twice as likely to keep their choice 'secret.' The study, titled 'Motivated Secrecy: Politics, Relationships, and Regrets,' found that of the respondents, 53 percent who kept their ballots hidden from friends and relatives voted for Trump while 27 percent voted for Clinton. A new study from Columbia University found people who cast their ballots for Donald Trump in a 2016 race against candidate Hilary Clinton were twice as likely to keep their choice 'secret' The remaining 19 percent voted for one of the third-party candidates. One of the driving factors behind the secrecy of Trump voters' decision, say authors Michael Slepian, Rachel McDonald, Jessica Salerno, and Katharine Greenaway, was their reputation. 'Because concern with ones reputation is a fundamental social motive, people might worry that revealing undesired behaviors could damage their reputation in their own eyes or the eyes of others,' reads the study. Specifically, as Slepian told Yahoo News: 'Trump voters were more concerned about their reputation than Clinton supporters.' Before and during the campaign, Trump was often noted for his brash and sometimes offensive actions, which included mocking a disabled reporter and bragging about how he was allowed to grab models 'by the p****' in taped audio with television host, Billy Bush. To avoid being associated with those statements and actions among their peers, researchers say some voters chose to keep their political preference hidden. Voters who cast their ballots for Donald Trump in 2016 were far more likely to keep their decision secret according to a new study. The likelihood of whether someone was more likely to secretly vote for Trump also correlated to where they sat on the political spectrum, say researchers. Those voters who identified as more conservative were more likely to be open in their support while 'moderates' tended to hide the decision. 'The more conservative our participants, the less they regretted keeping their vote secret. Perhaps conservative participants were satisfied with their vote, given the outcome of the election,' the authors said. According to the study, reputation wasn't the only motivator behind the disparity in 'secret' votes, however. Another driving factor is what researchers referred to as 'social harmony.' Respondents in the analysis also showed evidence that they had withheld information on which candidate they voted for in an attempt to avoid confrontation with others who may not have shared the same views. 'People might anticipate that being honest about their preferences, feelings, or behavior with a close other could cause tension if it conflicts with the others value system. That is, people might think they are doing the other person a service by not being forthright,' according to the report. Political polarization can explain some of the secret voters as some people may hide their beliefs in order to stay out of confrontation. 'People generally seek to avoid conflict. Secret keepers might be trying to avoid the aggression and unpleasantness that results from discussing topics with people who have different attitudes,' it continued. This seems to mirror a study conducted by Pew Research in 2018 that showed respondents felt it was more 'stressful' to discuss politics with people they disagreed with. That study also shows that the feeling resonated most prominently with Democrats, 57 percent of which characterized discussing politics with people that have disparate views as 'frustrating' and 'stressful.' That figure was up 45 percent compared to two years prior to the study. Among other things, researchers say their most recent analysis could help to explain a disconnect between polls leading up to the election and the actual results. Polling just prior to the election had Clinton's chances of winning at 95 percent. If sentiments are similar to 2016, pollsters say that Trump's support may be similarly underestimated, especially when it comes to how the President is stacking up against Democratic Candidate and former Vice President, Joe Biden, who is outpacing Trump in some early polling. The first UK 5G mobile network will launch at the end of this month, as EE announces it will go live on May 30. It will first come to six of the nation's largest cities before reaching the rest of the UK throughout the rest of the year. This puts them ahead of rivals Vodafone in the race to the top of Britain's 5G mountain who previously announced they were launching their own network on July 3. 5G offers customers extremely fast internet connections and promises a wealth of opportunities for customers and businesses alike. The BT-owned telecoms giant said it will be the first operator in the UK to launch the new, high-speed mobile network. The telecoms firm announced earlier this year it would test its 5G mobile network during Glastonbury as part of its trials of the technology Residents of London, Cardiff, Belfast, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester will be the first to have access to 5G on EE. Users will need to have a 5G-enabled device to make use of it, with only the latest releases compatible. EE said it planned to reach 1,500 sites by the end of 2019. EE also announced its new 5G mobile plans would be available to pre-order from Wednesday, ahead of the launch next week. EE boss Marc Allera said the roll-out would help 'keep the UK at the forefront of digital technology'. Vodafone has also been investing heavily in 5G and announced earlier this month its plan to launch in July. Vodafone will switch on its 5G network for both consumers and business customers in seven cities across the UK on 3 July 2019. It is also offering 5G roaming in Germany, Italy and Spain over the summer. Vodafone may have been the first to announce an official date, but EE has undercut this by more than a month. It will launch initially in seven cities, compared to EE's six, with just London, Cardiff and Manchester hosting both networks. Vodafone will also be in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow and Liverpool. Myriad other smaller cities will then get 5G throughout the year, including: Stoke, Blackpool and Portsmouth. WHAT PHONES ARE 5G COMPATIBLE? LG V50 ThinQ Huawei Mate X Samsung Galaxy S10 5G Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G ZTE Axon 10 Pro Oppo Reno 5G Huawei Mate 20 X Royole FlexPai Advertisement O2 is also working on its 5G capabilities but appears to be lagging behind the other two in terms of established infrastructure and clear plans. It said in February it will launch 5G in the UK at some point this year. It has yet to elaborate on this. It also intends to start in just four places, earmarking the capital cities of the UK nations -Belfast, London, Cardiff and Edinburgh. EE announced earlier this year it would test its 5G mobile network during Glastonbury as part of its trials of the technology. EE has said it will install five temporary masts across the Worthy Farm site, which will enable festival-goers to connect to 2G, 3G, 4G and new 5G networks. Engineering firm RS Components, based in the UK, analysed the potential of 5G. It found that download a movie on the go with 5G speed will allow you to download a HD Movie 50 times faster than 4G (pictured) Pete Jeavons, EE and BT's marketing and communications director, said at the time: 'Smartphones have become a festival must-have as we've seen each year with more and more data being consumed at Glastonbury Festival. 'As the long-standing technology partner to this iconic event, we are committed to building a network powerful enough to cope with this huge demand. 'With the introduction of 5G this year, we are able to trial this new technology at Worthy Farm and make history as the UK's first 5G-connected festival.' Engineering firm RS Components, based in the UK, analysed the potential of 5G. It found that download a movie on the go with 5G speed will allow you to download a HD Movie 50 times faster than 4G. 5G will download this in 13 seconds, whereas 4G it would take 10 minutes 44 seconds. This can be improved to a download time of just three seconds at the maximum 5G download speeds. 4G and 5G can download your favourite song in under a second, yet it would have taken a 4 minutes 11 seconds with 2G and 3G while downloading an album could take around an hour. Space travel could create long-term health problems for astronauts as research finds it damages cartilage and causes arthritis. Even short spells in space affect the body so much that it could lead to early-onset arthritis, as bones and joints interact differently in zero gravity. Previous analysis has shown that living and working in space leads to many changes in the human body, including the immune system, blood pressure and eye shape. But this first-of-a-kind study from the Henry Ford Hospital, Michigan, adds to a growing body of research about the health effects of spaceflight on the skeleton. Scroll down for video Risk: Even short spells in space affect the body so much that it could lead to early-onset arthritis, as bones and joints interact differently in zero gravity than they were intended Scientists put mice on a Russian rocket for 30 days and found early signs of cartilage breakdown when they returned. This is because of the zero gravity conditions in space that means less weight is pulling down on the musculoskeletal system. Funded by a $100,000 (78,921) NASA grant, the new study analysed molecular changes in the cartilage of mice that spent a month in animal research enclosures aboard an unmanned Russian Bion-M1 spacecraft in 2013. The results were compared to mice observed on Earth during the same period. Video footage taken of the mice showed them floating around in their enclosure during the day and struggling to climb over each at night. They also found it difficult to hang onto a grate inside the enclosure. In comparison, the mice on Earth showed 'no discernible cartilage degradation', according to the team. The study found that cartilage changes in the space mice were similar to humans who suffer from osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, that causes joints to become painful and stiff, and while it cannot be cured, symptoms can be alleviated by specialised creams and ointments. Investigation: Scientists from the Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan put mice on a Russian spaceflight for 30 days and looked at their musculoskeletal system upon their return Fact: The International Space Station (ISS) is a $100 billion (80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth Published online in journal Microgravity, the study says more research is needed before humans make a trip to Mars in the future. Lead author Dr Jamie Fitzgerald, head of musculoskeletal genetics at Henry Ford's Department of Orthopedic Surgery, said: 'Overall, we can say that after 30 days of microgravity, the process of cartilage degrading began. 'We saw changes in the gene expressions that were consistent with cartilage breakdown. When there's no gravity pulling down on the cartilage, it's not able to maintain its structure, its integrity. 'The most dramatic example is the atrophy of muscle and de-mineralisation of bones that occurs during spaceflight. On Earth, every time you take a step to walk, you're loading that cartilage. In space, there's very little of that. 'When that loading is removed due to weightlessness and near zero gravity in space, these tissues begin to degrade. 'If this were to happen to humans, given enough time, it would lead to major joint problems.' Dr Fitzgerald added that although muscle and bone loss is reversed when astronauts return to Earth, cartilage is a tissue that 'repairs very poorly'. He said: 'Because cartilage in humans doesn't readily repair, the return to Earth could potentially bring long-term health problems.' Human beings are yet to land on Mars but they'll soon to leave their mark on it after NASA offered the public an opportunity to send their names to the Red Planet. Names will be delivered, stencilled on chips, via NASA's Mars 2020 rover and people will receive their own souvenir boarding pass and 'frequent flyer' points. The rover, a robotic scientist weighing more than 2,300 pounds (1,000 kilograms), is scheduled to launch as early as July 2020 and land on Mars in February 2021. It will search for signs of past microbial life, characterise the planet's climate and geology, collect samples for future return to Earth, and pave the way for human exploration of the Red Planet. Exploration: NASA's Mars 2020 rover will search for signs of past microbial life, characterise the planet's climate/geology and collect samples for future return to Earth The gimmick is part of a public engagement campaign to highlight missions involved with NASA's journey from the Moon to Mars. The Microdevices Laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, will use an electron beam to stencil the submitted names onto a silicon chip with lines of text smaller than one-thousandth the width of a human hair. At that size, more than a million names can be written on a single dime-size chip. The chips will ride on the rover under a glass cover. The opportunity for people to send their name to Mars comes with a souvenir boarding pass and 'frequent flyer' points. Miles are awarded for each 'flight', with corresponding digital mission patches available for download. More than 2 million names flew on NASA's InSight mission to Mars, giving each so-called astronaut about 300 million frequent flyer miles. Send yourself to space? The opportunity for people to send their name to Mars comes with a souvenir boarding pass and 'frequent flyer' points HOW CAN I SEND MY NAME TO MARS? From now until September 30 2019, you can add your name to the list and obtain a souvenir boarding pass to Mars by clicking here Names will be delivered, stencilled on chips, via NASA's Mars 2020 rover. The Microdevices Laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, will use an electron beam to stencil the submitted names onto a silicon chip with lines of text smaller than one-thousandth the width of a human hair. People will receive their own souvenir boarding pass and 'frequent flyer' points. Advertisement 'As we get ready to launch this historic Mars mission, we want everyone to share in this journey of exploration,' said Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. 'It's an exciting time for NASA, as we embark on this voyage to answer profound questions about our neighbouring planet, and even the origins of life itself'. NASA will use Mars 2020 and other missions to prepare for human exploration of the Red Planet. As another step toward that goal, NASA is returning American astronauts to the Moon in 2024. Government, industry and international partners will join NASA in a global effort to build and test the systems needed for human missions to Mars and beyond. The Mars 2020 Project at JPL manages rover development for SMD. NASA's Launch Services Program, based at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, is responsible for launch management. Mars 2020 will launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Leading mobile carriers and technology firms have 'paused' their business with Huawei to comply with the recent US trade clampdown. UK-based chip designer ARM have told their staff to 'halt' business with the Chinese telecoms firm while mobile operators EE and Vodafone have pulled Huawei's phones from their 5G networks. Japan's KDDI and Y! Mobile are also said to be delaying the launch of upcoming Huawei smartphones to protect their operations amid security concerns. An order from President Trump last week effectively banned technology firms from 'foreign adversaries' trading with US companies without approval. Huawei is accused of being a gateway for the Chinese government to spy on Western nations using equipment used to facilitate the upcoming 5G service. Scroll down for video A number of leading mobile carriers and technology firms have started to sever ties with Huawei to comply with the recent US trade clampdown. Chip designer ARM and mobile operators EE and Vodafone have pulled the Chinese firm's phones from their 5G networks Since then, the firm has received a series of blows including Google's announcement that they would be pulling the company's Android license. This means that new and yet-to-be-released Huawei models would not be able to access Google apps as part of Android, like Google Maps or Youtube. Another major drawback to the business came today as British tech company ARM has also suspended dealing with the company. Documents obtained by the BBC have instructed ARM employees to halt 'all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements' with the company. If ARM does sever ties in the long-term it would greatly affect Huawei as it relies on ARM's technology to build its own chips. One analyst told the BBC that the move, if it became long-term would be an 'insurmountable' blow to Huawei's business. An order from President Trump last week banned technology firms from 'foreign adversaries' trading with US companies without approval. Huawei is accused of being a gateway for the Chinese government to spy on Western nations Telecom firms EE and Vodafone has left Huawei out of their line-up of 5G smartphones, which EE is launching next week. EE said it had chosen to 'pause' the sale of Huawei 5G phones amid ongoing tensions between the US and the company. They also confirmed the Huawei equipment it currently uses in its network infrastructure is in the process of being phased out. Vodafone also said it would suspend Huawei's Mate X phone from its 5G line-up because 'Huawei's 5G handset is yet to receive the necessary certifications'. EE chief executive Mark Allera said it will not restart Huawei sales until they are satisfied that the security of its customers is being protected. The BT-owned telecoms giant said it will be the first operator in the UK to launch the high-speed mobile network, which is expected to offer internet speeds several times that of current generation 4G. An order from President Trump last week banned technology firms from 'foreign adversaries' trading with US companies. Huawei knocked Apple off the second place to Samsung in smartphone sales, however experts say not having Google Play will put off potential buyers The company confirmed a number of 5G-ready smartphones would be available on its new network, including devices from Samsung, OnePlus, LG, HTC and Oppo. Fellow mobile operator Vodafone has confirmed it will launch 5G across seven cities in the UK on July 3, with another 12 cities to follow by the end of the year. Mr Allera said the company has 'worked for decades with government' and 'at the moment we have no instructions to change our plans', amid security fears around the use of Huawei in 5G networks. A Huawei spokesperson told the Telegraph: 'We value our close relationships with our partners, but recognise the pressure some of them are under, as a result of politically motivated decisions. 'We are confident this regrettable situation can be resolved and our priority remains to continue to deliver world-class technology and products to our customers around the world.' MailOnline have contacted Huawei for comment. In 2017, Huawei shipped over 153 million phones globally in the first three months of 2019 alone and delivered more than 59 million smartphones, around half of which went to European consumers. The Government is yet to announce its decision on whether the Chinese firm should be allowed as part of telecoms infrastructure following an official review. Chimpanzees are adapting to living outside protected areas. A team of anthropologists, led by the University of Kent, observed their behaviour from hidden cameras during an eight-month study at a sanctuary in Sierra Leone. The research showed they've successfully acclimatized to human developments in a number of ways including how to cross roads safely and the best times to visit human habitats. Yet, despite this, their survival as a species is still threatened. Chimpanzees have adapted to living outside protected areas and have learned how to negotiate human developments, like crossing roads safely. Research shows that they have grasped these skills in a number of ways including how to cross roads safely and the best times to visit human habitats This is because any further urbanisation could significantly affect their distribution and abundance, fragmenting communities. The research team used 24 infra-red digital camera traps deployed between 2015 and 2016 for a total of 8 months across 27 1.25x1.25 km grids in the Moyamba district in south-western Sierra Leone. The cameras captured images of chimpanzees navigating roads and eating domesticated fruits, such as mangos and pineapples that were cultivated close to human settlements. The research team suggests carefully-planned infrastructure development, as well as forging agreements with farmers to allow fallow areas to regenerate, would ensure their on-going survival. This is because they don't cope well with sudden and dramatic change. If we want to secure their long-term survival, it is crucial that successful protection measures should benefit people and chimpanzees alike,' said study co-author Dr Tatyana Humle. Going forward: Researchers suggests carefully-planned infrastructure development, as well as forging agreements with farmers to allow fallow areas to regenerate WHY ARE CHIMPANZEES RISK? Despite our shared lineage, humans are pushing chimpanzees toward extinction. Chimps have already disappeared completely from four countries and are under tremendous pressure everywhere else they live. Poaching is another prominent threat. Bushmeat has always been a primary food source in Central and West Africa, but in recent years poaching has become commercialized to satisfy the appetites of wealthy urban residents. Infant chimpanzees are frequently taken alive and sold in cities as pets. SOURCE: WWF Advertisement 'Conservation actions should focus on education and helping farmers to implement alternative agricultural methods to slash and burn farming and environmentally-friendly revenue generating activities to ensure coexistence between the two species. Currently, approximately 60 per cent of all world's non-human primates are threatened with extinction and chimpanzees face serious threats in West Africa, including death from disease, habitat loss, poaching and retaliation as a result of competition with people for resources. West Africa has one of the most fragmented tropical forest landscapes in the world due to high levels of deforestation. Chimpanzees in the region are critically endangered with the majority living outside protected areas. Details of the study were published in the journal, PlosOne WHICH ARE SMARTER: CHIMPS OR CHILDREN? Most children surpass the intelligence levels of chimpanzees before they reach four years old. A study conducted by Australian researchers in June 2017 tested children for foresight, which is said to distinguish humans from animals. The experiment saw researchers drop a grape through the top of a vertical plastic Y-tube. They then monitored the reactions of a child and chimpanzee in their efforts to grab the grape at the other end, before it hit the floor. Because there were two possible ways the grape could exit the pipe, researchers looked at the strategies the children and chimpanzees used to predict where the grape would go. The apes and the two-year-olds only covered a single hole with their hands when tested. But by four years of age, the children had developed to a level where they knew how to forecast the outcome. They covered the holes with both hands, catching whatever was dropped through every time. Advertisement Google is being probed by Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner, the lead regulator of the search giant in Europe. It opened the first investigation into the US firm today over its handling of personal data for the purpose of advertising. The probe was the result of a number of submissions against the company, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner said. This includes from privacy-focused web browser Brave which complained last year that Google was one of many digital advertising firms playing fast and loose with people's data. Scroll down for video The probe was the result of a number of submissions against the company, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner said. This includes from privacy-focused web browser Brave Brave argued that when a person visits a website, intimate personal data that describes them and what they are doing online is broadcast to tens or hundreds of companies without their knowledge in order to auction and place targeted adverts. 'A statutory inquiry pursuant to section 110 of the Data Protection Act 2018 has been commenced in respect of Google Ireland Limited's processing of personal data in the context of its online Ad Exchange,' the Irish DPC said in a statement. It said the enquiry would establish whether processing of personal data carried out at each stage of an advertising transaction was in compliance with the landmark European GDPR privacy law introduced a year ago. That would include considering the lawful basis for processing, the principles of transparency and data minimisation, as well as Google's retention practices, it added. Many of the large technology firms have their European headquarters in Ireland, putting them under the watch of the Irish DPC. The first investigation into the US internet giant today over its handling of personal data for the purpose of advertising (file photo) The regulator said earlier this month that it had 51 large-scale investigations under way, 17 of which related to large technology firms including Twitter, LinkedIn, Apple and a number into Facebook and its WhatsApp and Instagram subsidiaries. Under the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), regulators have the power to impose fines for violations of up to 4 per cent of a company's global revenue or 20 million euros, whichever is higher. GDPR seeks to ensure that individuals have greater control over the data that companies hold about them, prompting the complaints from Brave, set up by Silicon Valley engineering guru and Mozilla co-founder Brendan Eich, and others last September. Google said at the time that it had already implemented strong privacy protections in consultation with European regulators and is committed to complying with the GDPR. The probe could become a test case into the foundations of the data-driven model the online ad industry depends on. 'The Irish Data Protection Commission's action signals that now - nearly one year after the GDPR was introduced - a change is coming that goes beyond just Google,' Brave's chief policy officer Johnny Ryan said in a statement on Wednesday. Amazon will continue to sell its controversial facial recognition software to law enforcement and other entities after its shareholders shot down a proposal to reel the technology in. The vote effectively kills two initiatives brought before Amazon's board. One proposal would have required board approval to sell the software to governments, with approval only being given if the client meets certain standards of civil liberties. Another proposal called for a study on the technology's implications on rights and privacy. The exact breakdown of the vote is unclear and according to an Amazon representative it will only be made available via SEC filings later this week. Amazon's facial recognition software has been used by some police departments to scan police sketches against a database of criminals. For a shareholder proposal to pass, it's required to receive at least 50 percent approval. However, if a failed vote is agreed to by 3 percent of board members or more, the initiative can be reintroduced. Amazon's vote comes amidst a growing level of scrutiny regarding Amazon's facial recognition software, called 'Rekognition,' which has found its way into the hands of law enforcement agencies and governments across the country. Police departments have deployed Amazon's tool to help track down suspects, using its ability to scan millions of images in just seconds to match images against with criminal databases. While law enforcement has praised the tool for its help with expediting investigations, a recent string of reports have revealed a host of practices that critics and top civil rights organizations claim endanger privacy and put people at risk of being falsely accused. Among the recent revelations are reports of detectives feeding Amazon's software or other programs like it with police sketches, digitally altered photos, and in some cases pictures of celebrity lookalikes, in an attempt to find and arrest suspects. In some instances, facial recognition software has been used by police in an attempt to match suspects faces with celebrity lookalikes. 'The fact that there needed to be a vote on this is an embarrassment for Amazon's leadership team,' said Shankar Narayan, Director of the ACLU's Technology and Liberty Project in a statement to Mail Online. 'It demonstrates shareholders do not have confidence that company executives are properly understanding or addressing the civil and human rights impacts of its role in facilitating pervasive government surveillance. '...This shareholder intervention should serve as a wake-up call for the company to reckon with the real harms of face surveillance and to change course,' he added. Amazon's decision to continue the unregulated sale of its Rekognition software comes as the US House of Representative's House Oversight Committee is hosting a first-of-its-kind hearing on the use and potential abuse of facial recognition technology. In the hearing, lawmakers spoke with a panel of experts on the potential threat and misuse of facial recognition. Amazon sells 'Rekognition' to police departments and governments across the country. Critics say it could increase the risk of false identification. 'Members of Congress need to hit the pause button on law enforcement use of this dangerous surveillance technology,' said Neema Singh Guliani an ACLU senior legislative counsel in a testimony before the committee. 'They also need to use every oversight tool available to fully investigate and make public information on how federal agencies are using this surveillance technology, and how companies are aggressively marketing it to them. The public deserves transparency.' Critics have said minority populations are among those who are at a high risk of being improperly targeted by facial recognition systems. A recent MIT study found that facial recognition systems fail to properly identify faces with darker skin tones, largely as a result of the underlying algorithms being trained on mostly white male faces. In a demonstration from the ACLU last year, the organization used facial recognition software to scan the faces of various members of congress against 25,000 mugshots, resulting in 28 false matches. Many of those mismatches were members of the Congressional Black Caucus, notes the ACLU. Additionally, as backlash against facial recognition tech continues to rise, some officials have taken it upon themselves to begin banning its use by governments and law enforcement. Earlier this month, San Francisco became the first city to ban the technology. Lyft is giving users greater control over their safety while they're headed to their destination. The ride-share service laid out a slew of new features tied to user safety in a blog post on Tuesday. Now, users can call 911 in the app if there's an emergency, while a new design in the app will make the driver's license plate easier to view than before. Scroll down for video Lyft is giving users greater control over their safety while they're headed to their destination. The firm unveiled a slew of new features tied to user safety in a blog post on Tuesday 'Lyft is relentlessly focused on finding new ways to further strengthen safety measures on our platform,' Mary Winfield, Lyft's head of trust and safety, said in a statement. 'Today, we're glad to continue building on our commitment to safety by making it easier to identify your Lyft ride, get help in an unsafe situation and ensure everyone in our community is held to the same standards.' Lyft is following in the footsteps of Uber by introducing the panic button feature in its app. In the coming weeks, users will have the ability to dial 911 in the app. It should make it easier for users to access emergency services, as they'll no longer be required to switch between apps. They'll also be able to keep better track of their location, so as to alert authorities of their whereabouts. Additionally, users will now be required to leave feedback if they give their driver a rating that's fewer than four out of five stars. Lyft says it'll make it easier for the firm to take action against drivers who exhibit bad behavior. 'Feedback for drivers will be anonymously communicated to drivers in a single location found in the driver app - so they are clear on how to improve and provide the best possible experience for riders,' Lyft said. The ride-share service also wants to help users verify their ride more quickly. In the coming months, Lyft will start showing a driver's license plate more prominently in the app. That way, instead of having to hunt around the driver's license plate number and potentially getting into the wrong car, it'll be displayed more clearly under their car make and name when their ride is outside. 'The best way to identify your Lyft ride is to match the license plate shown in the Lyft app with the license plate of the arriving vehicle,' the firm explained. Lyft added that, starting later this year, it'll start making sexual harassment prevention education available to both drivers and passengers. Many of these announcements are a direct response to some of the safety concerns that have arisen for Lyft and Uber in the past few years. Last month, a University of South Carolina student was murdered after she got into her killer's car mistakenly believing it was her ride. The victim, 21-year-old Samantha Josephson, was kidnapped and killed by a man who pretended to be her Uber driver. Additionally, a report by CNN last year found that over 120 Uber and Lyft drivers have sexually assaulted riders. Since then, Uber has launched new safety features in its app, such as a push notification informing users to make sure to check their ride before it arrives. Lyft said on Tuesday that intends to roll out additional safety features later this year and in the future. A U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson reportedly confirmed the Pentagon's interest in UFO's, citing the agency's investigation of 'unidentified aerial phenomena.' According to a report from The New York Post, a representative confirmed that the U.S. government studied and investigated the occurrence of mysterious and unexplained aircraft as a part of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program that was made public in 2017. Media commentator and former British defense official Nick Pope told the Post that the specific choice of words marks a major step in the way that the government talks about unidentified aircraft. Scroll down for video In a major precedent, a U.S. Department of Defense official has admitted that the Pentagon studied 'unidentified aerial phenomena.' 'This new admission makes it clear that they really did study what the public would call UFOs, he told the Post. 'It also shows the British influence, because UAP was the term we used in the Ministry of Defence to get away from the pop culture baggage that came with the term UFO.' The shift in terminology comes just weeks after the U.S. Navy unveiled new guidelines on collecting information about UFO sightings. As reported by Politico, the guidelines are designed to make it easier for sailors to report UFO sightings amid fears that mysterious unidentified flying objects could actually be 'extremely advanced Russian aircraft.' The Navy has reported an uptick in the number of 'highly advanced aircraft' encroaching on its air space. 'There have been a number of reports of unauthorized and/or unidentified aircraft entering various military-controlled ranges and designated air space in recent years,' a spokesperson for the Navy said to Politico in April. The change in terminology comes just weeks after the Navy rewrote guidelines on how it reports UFO's. Throughout the last several years, the U.S. Government has shown an increasing willingness to acknowledge its investigation and interest of UFO's. In 2017, former Pentagon official Luis Elizondo made headlines when he detailed the existence of the UFO-focused Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program - a $22 million government operation that studied UFOs. The secretive program sought to identify UFO sightings through U.S. surveillance and eyewitness reports and then 'ascertain and determine if that information is a potential threat to national security.' Among the sightings were reports from pilots of two U.S. Navy Super Hornet fighters who spotted a UFO on a training mission. The pilots reportedly spotted a mysterious vehicle, around 40ft long, oval-shaped and whitish, hovering erratically above the ground. The craft 'had no plumes, wings or rotors,' but traveled at a mile per second. When pilots approached the object, it easily outran the military jets. Elizondo resigned from his post in 2017 in protest over what he has termed excessive secrecy and internal opposition to the project. Although the Pentagon officially stopped funding the project in 2012, reports from the New York Times suggest the program is still operating. Emily Ratajkowski was spotted enjoying a stroll in New York City this Tuesday with her new little dog Colombo. The 27-year-old model slipped into a leopard-print Harvey Top by Andjela that emphasized her enviably trim torso and bared her cleavage. Letting her luxurious brown hair down, she slipped into a stylishly fade pair of high-waisted jeans and added a splash of color with bright orange sneakers. Hello, gorgeous: Emily Ratajkowski was spotted enjoying a stroll in New York City this Tuesday with her new little dog Colombo The Westminster-born Blurred Lines music video star accessorized with black cat-eye sunglasses and a green leather handbag. Her outing comes the week after she posed nude for Instagram to protest Alabama's abortion ban, which applies even in cases of rape and incest. Emily recently defended her producer husband Sebastian Bear-McClard after he was accused of wriggling out of paying rent on his apartment. His landlord told the New York Post that Sebastian was exploiting a starving artists' loophole to avoid ponying up a total of $120,000 in rent. When you got it: The 27-year-old model slipped into a leopard-print Harvey Top by Andjela that emphasized her enviably trim torso and bared her cleavage Hoofing it: Letting her luxurious brown hair down, she slipped into a stylishly fade pair of high-waisted jeans and added a splash of color with bright orange sneakers Although he was reported to be worth multi-millions, Emily denied as much on her Twitter page a couple of weeks after the New York Post article. 'He's an independent movie producer so people thinking hes rich is real nice but not based in fact. He was raised in the neighborhood he lives in now, both of his parents are artists who were priced out of their homes in downtown New York,' she claimed. Saying she 'moved in w/ him a year ago,' she wrote: 'Im proud hes fighting the good fight against a real estate conglomerate that bought the building he lives in for 40 million and has continued to spread misinformation on its tenants in order to profit.' Emily, who while showing Vogue around her vast LA apartment in 2015 said she was for a platform to 'redistribute wealth in this country,' married last February. Mover and shaker: The Westminster-born Blurred Lines music video star accessorized with black cat-eye sunglasses and a green leather handbag Loyal: Emily recently defended her producer husband Sebastian Bear-McClard after he was accused of wriggling out of paying rent on his apartment She made a splash with her surprise courthouse marriage to Sebastian in New York City, wearing a $200 Zara trouser suit. Though they only became a couple weeks before the wedding, a source told Us Weekly that 'Emily has known Sebastian for years.' The London-born model and actress recalled to Marie Claire last year: 'People came after my marriage, like: "Wow. I give it three weeks." Im like: "What?"' She groused: 'No one can take women seriously on any choices that they make, especially if theyre unique to them and they dont play into the way we think women should get married. It's a constant writing-off.' Sadie, Sadie: Emily, who while showing Vogue around her vast LA apartment in 2015 said she was for a platform to 'redistribute wealth in this country,' married last February Sensation: She made a splash with her surprise courthouse marriage to Sebastian in New York City, wearing a $200 Zara trouser suit Emily, who has a penchant for showing off her figure on red carpets and social media, also told Marie Claire that her breasts are 'a key to my sexuality.' The Gone Girl supporting player told the magazine: 'Boobs are funny. They hurt sometimes, and sometimes theyre the thing that makes me feel the most powerful.' 'I remember there was some article like: "Emily Ratajkowski Is the Mozart of Breasts." What was so bad is someone sent it to my dad, who sent it to me,' she recalled. Longtime pals: Though they only became a couple weeks before the wedding, a source told Us Weekly that 'Emily has known Sebastian for years' Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer film a scene for 'Free Guy' where Ryan plays a bank teller who realises he is living in a video game She was the cool international assassin who captivated millions as she left a trail of bodies in her wake in Killing Eve. Now Jodie Comer, 26, has her sights firmly set on making another killing this time in Hollywood. Miss Comer, who won a best actress Bafta for her role as Villanelle in BBC thriller Killing Eve, was seen wielding a gun again this week as she shot a new film with Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds. The Liverpool-born actress, wearing skin-tight leather trousers, pushed the gun into Reynolds' ribs in a bank robbery sequence for action comedy Free Guy in Boston. The film is about a lonely bank worker 42-year-old Reynolds who discovers he's a player inside a massive video game called Free City. Miss Comer, who plays a 'mousy programmer' and an avatar called Molotov Girl, told Grazia magazine she could not believe that A-lister Reynolds follows her on Instagram. Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer film a scene for 'Free Guy' where Ryan plays a bank teller who realises he is living in a video game Jodie Comer in Killing Eve as Villanelle the assassin. Miss Comer won a best actress Bafta for her role as Villanelle in BBC thriller Killing Eve She said: 'It is a 'pinch me' moment. He's just the funniest, nicest guy and to have him stand up and back me and be happy to work with me is very overwhelming you've got to pinch yourself.' The actress said of Villanelle: 'I have to leave Jodie at the door to play her. She is so free and has no sense of consequence or fear. You get to do all this crazy stuff.' She added: 'I feel extremely lucky. A lot of characters I've played have been complex and challenging.' Killing Eve returns later this year. He's currently filming the action-adventure flick Morbius. And Jared Leto was keen on flaunting his fantastic figure in a shirtless photo shared on Instagram Tuesday afternoon. The 47-year-old actor wore a solemn white towel while peering toward the lens and showing off his washboard abs. He must work out: Jared Leto was keen on flaunting his fantastic figure in a shirtless photo shared on Instagram Tuesday afternoon 'When you thought it was a toga party,' he simply captioned the photo. Leto isn't too shy when it comes to showing off his body and shares his ripped torso to his 10 million fans regularly. In April, Jared gave fans a side glimpse of his muscular form in a video which received three million views. Bold: In April, Jared gave fans a side glimpse of his muscular form in a video which received three million views The 30 Seconds to Mars frontman seemed to be one of the 19million fans who took part in watching the final episode of Game of Thrones. 'Waiting for the final episode to air like... Can someone please bring me my popcorn,' he wrote with a photo of himself sitting on the iron throne. He recently returned to the director's chair for a documentary based on the most patriotic day of the year in America. Team Drogon: The 30 Seconds to Mars frontman seemed to be one of the 19million fans who took part in watching the final episode of Game of Thrones For A Day In the Life of America, Leto sent a whopping 92 camera crews to all 50 states to capture a single day on the 4th of July, shot in solely that 24 hour frame. The film captures all walks of life, including those who were preparing the controversial Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that happened in August 2017. The film is described as, 'a rallying cry for our collective responsibility towards one another and to our great country,' on the Tribeca Film Festival website. Madison Beer was a sight to see while out in Los Angeles this Tuesday, modeling a pair of ripped jeans with tears down front and back. Gathering her hair up into a high bun, the 20-year-old accessorized with hoop earrings, a necklace and a Louis Vuitton handbag. She bundled up against the breeze in a sweater that featured the Looney Tunes' Tasmanian Devil bursting through the Harley Davidson logo. Sun's out: Madison Beer was a sight to see while out in Los Angeles this Tuesday, modeling a pair of bum rip jeans with tears down front Madison was at the Cannes Film Festival last week, hitting the red carpet on Friday for the screening of the new Spanish film Dolor Y Gloria. Helmed by the iconic director Pedro Almodovar, the movie stars Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz amid a cast that does not include Madison. Madison's trip to Cannes comes a month after it emerged she had resumed her romance with her on-and-off boyfriend Zack Bia. The onetime lovebirds, who broke up last July but were back together before the year was out, had split again by this March. Only the best: The 20-year-old accessorized with hoop earrings, a necklace and a Louis Vuitton handbag Branding: She bundled up against the breeze in a sweater that featured the Looney Tunes' Tasmanian Devil bursting through the Harley Davidson logo Casual: She wore her hair tied back in to a messy bun and secured with a black scrunchie Risky: Madison clearly wasn't afraid to bare a lot of skin in the very revealing denims However, Zack was spotted kissing Madison and grabbing her rear in late April as they emerged from the Doheny Room, a nightclub in West Hollywood. Madison shot to fame at the age of 13 when Justin Bieber posted a YouTube link to Twitter of her belting At Last, a 1941 number that was was most famously sung by Etta James on her 1960 debut album At Last!. Justin, who at that point was already a major celebrity, wrote: 'wow. 13 years old! she can sing. great job. #futurestar'. Madison explained to Teen Vogue back in 2017 that Justin has, in the intervening time, 'become a good friend' of hers. In the rear view: Madison was at the Cannes Film Festival last week, hitting the red carpet on Friday for the screening of the new Spanish film Dolor Y Gloria Busy life: Madison's trip to Cannes comes a month after it emerged she had resumed her romance with her on-and-off boyfriend Zack Bia She said: 'I think weve been able to connect because we were both discovered on YouTube and have a common understanding just from that.' It took until last year for Madison to get around to releasing her first EP, As She Pleases, which dropped February 2. Two of the record's seven songs were released as singles the previous year - Dead, which bowed that May, and Say It To My Face, which debuted in November 2017. As She Pleases reached No. 93 on the Billboard 200, and made it to No. 3 on the New Zealand Heatseeker Albums chart. Billie Lourd is not giving away her poker hand when it comes to Star Wars. When asked about the upcoming Episode IX -- The Rise Of Skywalker -- during an appearance on Live With Kelly And Ryan, the actress played coy and and avoided answering the question. But according IMDb, Lourd is in fact listed as part of the cast alongside the likes of stars Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Issac and Lupita Nyong'o. Playing coy: Billie Lourd avoided answering any questions about Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker during an appearance on Live With Kelly And Ryan that aired on Tuesday During her spot on the show that aired Tuesday, co-host Kelly Ripa pried Lourd and asked: 'Episode IX what can you tell us?' 'Nothing,' the 26-year-old shot back immediately. 'It's classic. Star Wars police will pull me away. The stormtroopers will come in not really. I wish, that would be great. That would be really good if I said something bad,' she joked. When asked if she's even in the next installment in the franchise, Lourd gestured like she was about to answer the question with her mouth and open arms and said: 'You know, take that as you may.' Dodging the question: When asked what she can share about the upcoming Episode IX by co-host Kelly Ripa, Lourd replied: 'Nothing' In her heart: Lourd, 26, honored her late mother Carrie Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the Star Wars anthology, earlier this month, which marked Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You Lourd has appeared as Lieutenant Connix in the first two films in the Star Wars sequel trilogy: The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017). Her late mother, Carrie Fisher, played Princess Leia in the Star Wars anthology, which included reprising her role in the last two installments. Earlier this month, Lourd honored her mother on Star Wars Day, May 4, by posting a photo of the mother-and-daughter duo from 2015 along with a caption of emojis that plays on the date and a key line in the original film. It translated to 'May the 4th be with you,' which is a play on 'May the force be with you.' Fisher died In December 2016, at the age of 60, four days after she had a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles. Iconic: Lourd has appeared as Lieutenant Connix in the first two films in the Star Wars sequel trilogy: The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017) Along with Star Wars, Lourd is also known for her role in the Fox horror comedy series Scream Queens (2015-2016) and the FX horror anthology series American Horror Story (2017-present). She's currently out promoting the Olivia Wilde-directed comedy film Booksmart that premieres in the US May 24. Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker hit theaters in the states December 20, 2019. Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker hit theaters in the US December 20, 2019 Booksmart premiere: She's currently out promoting the Olivia Wilde-directed comedy film Booksmart that premieres in the US May 24 Advertisement She made her red carpet debut with boyfriend Leonardo DiCaprio for his latest film Once Upon A Time In Hollywood at the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. And Camila Morrone led the glamour in a red feathered minidress as she headed to the movie's afterparty held at the JW Marriott. Joined by the star-studded cast, the American actress, 21, looked ethereal as she arrived at the event in a stunning pale yellow strapless gown before making a quick change into her party outfit. Partytime! Leonardo DiCaprio's younger girlfriend Camila Marrona led the glamour in a red feathered minidress as she headed to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood's after-party held at the JW Marriott on Tuesday Camila flaunted her tremendous pins in the thigh-skimming minidress, which was adorned with feathers on the hemline and cuffs. The model added a boost to her height with matching satin heels and slicked back her raven tresses into a sleek bun, while accentuating her model looks with a bronze pallet of make-up in nude tones. Camila appeared in high spirits as she posed solo at the party, no doubt jovial about make her red carpet debut with her Hollywood beau Leonardo, 44. Feathers: Camila flaunted her tremendous pins in the thigh-skimming minidress, which was adorned with feathers on the hemline and cuffs DiCaprio and Morrone have been dating since December 2017, but there was talk last year that the Django Unchained star was finally getting ready to settle down. A source told US Weekly last November that the couple was, 'very serious' and, 'everyone is saying that marriage could be soon for them.' 'Theyve talked about getting engaged,' with the source adding that DiCaprio is now even, 'ready to have kids.' Gorgeous: Joined by the star-studded cast, the American actress looked ethereal as she arrived at the event in a stunning pale yellow strapless gown before making a quick change into her party outfit Delighted: Camila appeared in high spirits as she posed solo at the party, no doubt jovial about make her red carpet debut with her Hollywood beau Leonardo, 44 60s inspired look:Margot Robbie meanwhile opted for a quirky glittering pink tunic and bold sequinned black trousers, which she had worn to the screening. The actress, 28, posed with Timothee Chalamet (centre) Comradery: Director Quentin Tarantino shared a laugh with Brad Pitt, who stars in the film, at the bash Stunning: Valentijn (L) and Doutzen Kroes also attended the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood afterparty Vixens: Nina Dobrev and Winnie Harlow (centre) wowed in black gowns. Nina opted for a strapless sweetheart embellished dress with daring thigh-high split, while Winnie cut a dramatic figure in a feathered mindress Strike a pose: The Vampire Diaries star, 30, (L) and the model, 24, (R) posed up a storm for the cameras Fantastic: Dakota Fanning exuded elegance in her pale gold silk gown with extravagant bow as she celebrated the launch of the film, in which she stars in Margot Robbie meanwhile opted for a quirky glittering pink tunic and bold sequinned black trousers, which she had worn to the screening. The Australian beauty completed her throwback look with a pair of slingback heeled ankle boots and a statement black choker. The actress, 28, stars as Hollywood icon Sharon Tate in Quentin Tarantino's hotly-anticipated flick. Here come the girls: Daniella Pick wowed in a her red carpet silk gown before changing while Valerie Pachner (centre) opted for a lime midi dress. Madalina Diana Ghenea (L) looked sensational in her one shouldered frock Risque: Daniella later sent temperatures soaring as she slipped into a racy black cut-out gown as she posed with husband Quentin, who directed the film The premiere of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood was the first time Camila has accompanied her boyfriend Leo to a red carpet. The first official full trailer has been released for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood which coincidences with the premiere at Cannes, and like the earlier teaser it features Brad Pitt, Leonardo, and Margot Robbie. As much of the plot has been kept under wraps, the trailer for Quentin Tarantino's ninth full length feature sheds more light on the relationship between Brad and Leo's characters, Robbie's portrayal of Sharon Tate, and how Charles Manson and 'family' will be featured in the film. Partytime: Zoe Bell (L) and a guest attended the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood After Party Having a blast: Michelle Rodriguez, Adrien Brody, Winnie Harlow, and Mohammed Al Turk (L-R) beamed for a photo The movie is a character comedy/drama set in 1969 in Los Angeles, with multiple story lines paying tribute to what is widely known as Hollywood's 'golden age.' The ninth film from the writer-director Tarantino features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood will hit US theaters on July 26 and is set for a UK release on August 14. The 2019 Cannes Film Festival takes place at the iconic Palais des Festivals from Tuesday until May 25. Handsome: Vincent De Paul looked dapper in his two piece suit and bow tie Actress Elle Fanning, French graphic novelist Enki Bilal and the Oscar-nominated director of The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos, will be among jury members during the annual event. Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu will preside over the panel that decides on prizes, including the top Palme D'Or award. The jury for the festival's 72nd edition will also include Pawel Pawlikowski, the Polish filmmaker and screenwriter named best director at Cannes last year for the impossible love story Cold War. Maimouna N'Diaye, who has directed documentaries and acted in films such as Otar Iosseliani's Chasing Butterflies will also sit on the panel, alongside two other female directors. Kelly Reichardt, whose Wendy and Lucy starring Michelle Williams was a contender for Cannes' Un Certain Regard award in 2008, directed 2016's Certain Women. Italy's Alicia Rohrwacher won best screenplay at Cannes last year for her film Happy as Lazzaro, a satirical fable about a peasant family. French filmmaker Robin Campillo, who took Cannes by storm in 2017 with 120 BPM - Beats Per Minute, winning the Grand Prix for his movie about an AIDs activist, will complete the line-up. Stunning: Sara Sampaio (L) and Madison Headrick (R) cut glamorous figures as they enjoyed the alfresco party She flew back to Australia from Italy this week to surprise her radio co-host Dave 'Hughesy' Hughes live in the studio. And Kate Langbroek was treated to a team lunch on Tuesday, months after moving her entire family abroad. In an Instagram post, Hughesy and Kate posed with their HIT Network crew at the Hotel Esplanade restaurant Melbourne's in St. Kilda. 'Time to celebrate our sneaky Italian visitor': Dave Hughes and Kate Langbroek enjoy a team lunch after her surprise return to Australia this week 'Food and drinks with @hughesyandkate team to celebrate our sneaky Italian visitor the bella @katelangbroek! @hotelesplanadestkilda,' Hughesy captioned. A day prior, Kate surprised Hughesy by walking in live during their radio broadcast. Hughesy, who usually works out of the Melbourne studio solo with Kate reporting from her home in Bologna, was visibly stunned at seeing his co-host in the flesh. Longtime colleagues: Hughesy and Kate have been hosting their popular radio show together since 2001 A shocked Hughesy shared a tender hug with his co-host and the exchange was documented live on air. Kate made the move to Italy four months ago, taking her husband, Peter Lewis, and their four children. While in Italy, Kate still gets up early in the morning to record the live radio show with Hughesy. Surprise! Kate surprised Hughesy by walking in live during their radio broadcast. Hughesy, who usually works out of the Melbourne studio solo with Kate reporting from her home in Bologna, was visibly stunned at seeing his co-host in the flesh Though she's admitted to 'speaking like a toddler' in comparison to Italians, she's had nothing but praise for the move, and says her children are enjoying it. She told Stellar Magazine: 'Peter and I got serious about it around 18 months ago, and the kids have been fantastic.' She came up short on America's Next Top Model in 2014, but has recently conquered the fashion world. And Winnie Harlow proved worthy of the accolades as she stunned at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood After Party in Cannes on Tuesday. The 24-year-old supermodel commanded attention in a black feather cocktail dress and De Grisogono jewelry at the JW Marriott hotel for the Quentin Tarantino film soiree. Stunner: Winnie Harlow, 24, stunned at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood After Party in Cannes on Tuesday Daring to impress, the natural stunner flaunted her fabulous figure as the couture frock boasted a sleeveless design and cut high on her thigh. Winnie, real name Chantelle Brown-Young, was discovered by America's Next Top Model host Tyra Banks on Instagram and competed on cycle 21 of the show in 2014. She went on to finish in sixth place and has since walked on fashion's leading runways. The Canadian star recently defended herself over comments she made about her time as a contestant on the show and perceived criticism of host Tyra, 45. Flawless: The supermodel commanded attention in a black feather cocktail dress and De Grisogono jewelry at the JW Marriott hotel for the Quentin Tarantino film soiree 'After being on the show no one would book me and no agency would sign me because of the reality TV stigma,' she wrote on Instagram. 'It has nothing to do with being ungrateful, and more over nothing to do with "shade" to Tyra. 'She was the first person of higher status to make me feel like I could be a model and not only am I grateful for that, it's something I'll never forget.' Back in May 2018, Harlow was asked about her career, when she said, 'I really started after the show, cause that didn't really do anything for my career.' Famous friends: She posed with Michelle Rodriguez, Adrien Brody and Mohammed Al Turki 'It doesn't do anything for any model's career, realistically,' Harlow added. Harlow went on to say that a 'major photographer' named Nick Knight found her photos online, and the shoot she did with him went viral and started her career. And Tyra responded six months later in December during an appearance on Bravo's Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. 'Did she say that? I discovered her on Instagram,' Banks said with a smile. 'Well, I discovered her on Instagram, and she's on this show, so what do you think that means?' Once Upon A Time In Hollywood sees Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt bring the golden age of Hollywood back to life. Playing Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth, the actors revisit a simpler time in tinsel town as they transport us back to Los Angeles in 1969. They go way back. Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-stars Alfonso Ribeiro and Tatyana Ali were snapped at the Hollywood premiere of his new film Aladdin at the El Capitan Theatre to support the star, in which he plays the genie. Ali, 40, who played Ashley Banks on the NBC comedy, was snapped with her husband Vaughn Rasberry and their son Edward, two. Reunited: Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel-Air co-stars Alfonso Ribeiro, 47, and Tatyana Ali, 50, were snapped at the Hollywood premiere of his new film Aladdin at the El Capitan Theatre Tuesday. Smith posed with Ribeiro and his son A.J., five She wore a shoulder-less cantaloupe gown as she cradled her baby bump during entrances. The actress in April took to Instagram to announce her pregnancy, saying she was 'feeling very blessed.' Ribeiro, 47, who played Carlton Banks on the show, wore a navy blue suit with a checkered light blue button-down top. The America's Funniest Home Videos host posed alongside his longtime friend Smith at the debut. Smith, 50, was dapper in a grey and black patterned suit with a V-neck black shirt at the ceremony, in which he was also supported by wife Jada, 47, daughter Willow, 18, and sons Trey, 26, and Jaden, 20. Smith on Tuesday chat with Reuters about stepping into the genie role famously commandeered by Robin Williams in the 1992 animated movie. Happy times: The entertainers shared a hug as they encountered one another in entrances Happy family: Ali, 40, was snapped with her husband Vaughn Rasberry and their son Edward, two. Lovely: Ali wore a shoulder-less cantaloupe gown as she cradled her baby bump during entrances Catching up: Smith and Ali shared kind words at the glitzy Hollywood premiere 'What Robin Williams did with this character - he just didn't leave a lot of room to add to the genie,' Smith said. 'So I started off fearful but then when I got with the music, it just started waking up that fun, childlike, silly part of me.' Smith said the film, his first for Disney, 'was the most joyful experience of [his] career.' Other celebrities snapped at the premiere included Darren Criss and Christina Milian. It's the latest live action adaptation from Disney, which released Dumbo earlier year, and has Mulan on tap for next year. Aladdin arrives in theaters May 24. Gregarious: The leading man gave the beauty a peck on the cheek Motherhood: Ali in April took to Instagram to announce her pregnancy, saying she was 'feeling very blessed' An Obama-era Education Department policy relating to racial bias in special education was on, then off, and now is back on again. The rule was supposed to have gone into effect for the 2018-19 school year but was delayed for two years by the department until a court blocked that move. The implementation whipsaw is expected to cause problems for states that had relied on the delay of the policy, which relates to disproportional representation of minorities in special education. And these new rules could affect how millions of dollars in federal special education funds are spent at the district level. The National Association of State Directors of Special Education said that it was deeply disappointed in the Education Departments abrupt actions, which were announced in a short notice dated May 20 on the departments website . The announcement offers no timetable or additional resources for states. A new requirement of this magnitude deserves communication directly from the Department of Education with those responsible for implementation. Moreover, conflicting and untimely direction from the Department is not helpful, nor does it create an effective or efficient means to serve the nations students with disabilities, said John Eisenberg, the executive director of the special education administrators group, in a statement. The rules under question create a framework that states must use to determine if their districts have disproportionately high numbers of minority students identified for special education services, segregated in restrictive classroom settings or disciplined at higher rates than their peers. Districts found to have significant disproportionality in one or more of these areas must set aside 15 percent of their federal special education funding to spend on remedies. Just a fraction of the nations school districts have ever been identified as having problems severe enough to require a federal set-aside, but the new policy was expected to affect many more than had been in the past.. The rules themselves envisioned a slow ramp-up to implementation. They were finalized in December 2016 and were expected to go into effect for the 2018-19 school year. That would have given states a year to prepare. But then the Education Department, under the leadership of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, stepped in. In June 2018, it halted implementation of the racial bias policy, saying it needed to be studied more closely. The Council for Parent Advocates and Attorneys sued the department over the delay, and in March, the advocacy organization won. A judge ruled that the policy should not be delayed . But the Education Department offered little further public guidance, other than filing a notice earlier in May with the courts that it planned to appeal . The appeal is still ongoing, said department spokeswoman Elizabeth Hill. Many states decided to move forward as if the 2016 rule was still in effect. But those who instead opted to slow the process, revisit plans or further engage stakeholders are now being penalized, Eisenberg said. The Council for Parent Advocates and Attorneys said the notice finally confirmed what the judges order had made clear. Given whats at stake, the Department should do all they can to assist states to come into compliance with the law, said Selene Almazan, the organizations legal director, in a statement. Channel Seven's midday movies are notorious for their sexually explicit content. And it was business as usual on Wednesday, when the network aired the raunchy U.S. drama Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret. The 2013 film tells the story of the tragic love affair between a handsome Mormon named Travis Alexander and the woman convicted of murdering him: Jodi Arias. Scroll down for video Risque: Channel Seven aired yet another raunchy movie in the 12pm timeslot on Wednesday. Pictured: A scene from 2013 drama Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret The made-for-TV movie is based on a true story and features several provocative scenes, including one in which oral sex is strongly implied. But under the 2010 Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, mature-rated content can be legally broadcast between the hours of 12pm and 3pm on a weekday. That 'classification zone' is in addition to the more widely-known 8.30pm-5am watershed for films above a PG rating. Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret received mixed reviews when it was released in 2013. The film aired on U.S. television in the same year Ms Arias was convicted of murdering Travis in the first-degree. Fatal attraction: The 2013 film tells the story of the tragic love affair between a handsome Mormon named Travis Alexander and the woman convicted of murdering him: Jodi Arias Last year, Ms Arias appealed the conviction on the grounds of a prosecutor's misconduct and a judge's failure to control news coverage during the salacious case. However, she currently remains behind bars in Arizona serving life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Back in March, Channel Seven aired another raunchy move in the same weekday time slot: 2014's The Secret Sex Life Of A Single Mom. Here she comes! The made-for-TV movie is based on a true story and features several provocative scenes, including one in which oral sex is strongly implied (pictured) The film follows mother-of-two Delaine (played by Ashley Jones), who explores her sexual liberation through online dating after divorcing her abusive husband. In November last year, Seven broadcast the 2016 Lifetime film Manson's Lost Girls. Manson's Lost Girls tells the story of Linda, a young woman who is lured into notorious killer Charles Manson's cult during the 1960s. Sex sells! It comes after 2014's The Secret Sex Life Of A Single Mom (pictured) screened on Channel Seven in the same 12pm time slot in March Shortly after arriving at the Spahn Ranch hippie commune in California, Linda meets Tex, another one of Manson's followers. And it's not long before Linda and Tex end up in the bedroom. They enjoy a steamy sex session, before curling up in bed together and discussing their shared enthusiasm for the teachings of Manson. It marked the start of the 72nd Annual Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. The star-studded and exclusive Gentleman's Evening party was held at Chopard's beachside rooftop venue in Cannes, France on Tuesday. Among those commanding attention on the red carpet at the swanky event included Czech model and actress Karolina Kurkova and her husband Archie Drury. Shining star: Karolina Kurkova stunned in a white tailored suit and silk halterneck top for the Gentleman's Evening party, which is a kick-off to the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France Kurkova showed off her statuesque 5ft 11in figure in a white tailored suit that was paired with a silk halterneck top. The pants stylishly flared out from the knees down. She matched the ensemble perfectly with a pair of white heels. And keeping with her sleek style for the evening, she pulled her long blonde tresses back into a tight bun. Her husband of nine-years looked handsome in a fitted black tuxedo and bow-tie. Making a statement: Kurkova attended the swanky event with husband Archie Drury Top model: Kurkova saw her modeling career soar to new heights as a Victoria's secret Angel Gentlemans Journal and Chopard kick-started the celebrations by throwing an exclusive private dinner for some of the high-profile stars at the infamous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. The group were then transferred across by boat to the iconic Hotel Martinez for the Chopard Gentlemans Evening Party held on the roof that overlooks La Croisette. Handsome: Kurkova's husband of nine-years wore a fitted black tuxedo and bow-tie Kurkova saw her modeling career soar to new heights after she hit the catwalk in racy lingerie as a Victoria's secret Angel. She got her start in modeling at a very young age, with her first runway experience in Prague when she was just 15 years old. That same year she appeared in Vogue, and eventually ended up moving to New York City at age 17, when she appeared on the cover of Vogue in February 2001. Kurkova and Drury share sons Tobin, nine, and Noah, three. The 2019 Cannes Film Festival takes place at the iconic Palais des Festivals from Tuesday until May 25. Statuesque: Kurkova's pants stylishly flared out from the knees down On Monday night, they were among the famous faces who attended the America Ballet Theatre's Spring Gala in NYC. And on Tuesday night it was the turn of the 2019 PEN America Literary Gala and Free Expression Awards to get the support of Alec and Hilaria Baldwin. The 30 Rock star, 61, wore a black suit with shirt and tie while his wife, 35, opted for a pretty ensemble of sleeveless black top and white mesh skirt. Celebrity couple: Alec and Hilaria Baldwin stepped out to support the 2019 PEN America Literary Gala and Free Expression Awards held in New York The couple joined honorees Anita Hill, law professor and equal rights advocate, Bob Woodward, associate editor of The Washington Post and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, and Scholastic CEO Richard Robinson at the event which celebrates free expression. As they posed for photos, the Baldwins held up signs as they posed for photos showing the names of three female writers and activists who were also being honored in absentia. Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul and Eman Al-Nafjan have been imprisoned, held in solitary confinement and tortured by the Saudi Arabian government as part of a brutal crackdown on womens rights advocates. A cause: As they posed for photos, the Baldwins held up signs showing the names of three female writers and activists imprisoned in Saudi Arabia who were being honored in absentia Stylish: Hilaria, 35, wore an ensemble of sleeveless black top with full-length metallic knit skirt. Her dyed blonde hair was sleekly styled and she accessorized with diamond earrings Big night: The event's honorees were, from l-r: Scholastic CEO Richard Robinson, Anita Hill, law professor and equal rights advocate, and Bob Woodward, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Anita Hill, 62, looked lovely in a gray patterned ensemble and diamond linear drop earrings. Bob Woodward, 76, wore a tuxedo as did Richard Robinson. Sex And The City author Candace Bushnell was also at the gala and struck a spring style note with a daffodil yellow outfit paired with silver sparkly heels. Classy: Anita Hill, 62, looked lovely in a gray patterned ensemble and diamond linear drop earrings Dapper: Veteran Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, 76, wore a tuxedo Pretty: Sex And The City author Candace Bushnell was also at the gala and struck a spring style note with a daffodil yellow outfit paired with silver sparkly heels Alec posed on the red carpet with veteran journalist and political biographer Robert Caro, 83 She starred in Jordan Peele's 2017 horror hit Get Out. And this month Allison Williams returns to the genre with the release of The Perfection on Netflix. She stars with Logan Browning in the horror movie and the two posed up a storm together as they arrived for a special screening in NYC in contrasting mini dresses. Coordinated style: Allison Williams and Logan Browning wore contrasting mini dresses for a special screening of their Netflix horror movie The Perfection on Tuesday night in New York Williams, 31, chose a white thigh-skimming number with shimmery black collar, waistband and on the ends of the short sleeves. She paired it with pointed toe black heels with embellishments on the toes, as well as some jewelry by Yael Sonia. The actress stars in The Perfection as a troubled musical prodigy who seeks out the new star pupil at her former school with shocking consequences. Browning, 29, who's best known for the 2017 Netflix satirical-drama series Dear White People, plays the pupil. Leggy look: Williams, 31, chose a white thigh-skimming number with shimmery black collar and waistband as well as black cuffs on the short sleeves Red carpet ready: She paired her dress with pointed toe black heels that had embellishments on the toes Stylish: Browning, 29, chose a black mini dress with a round neckline and puffy sheer long sleeves. She stepped out in black heels and accessorized with a headband and tiny earrings Pretty: The actress, who's best known for the 2017 Netflix satirical-drama series Dear White People, added color with purple eye-liner on her lower lid and a matching shade of lipstick Browning chose a black mini dress with a round neckline and puffy sheer long sleeves. She stepped out in black heels and accessorized with a headband and tiny earrings. The actress added color with purple eye-liner on her lower lid and a matching shade of lipstick. Canadian actress Alaina Huffman is also in the horror flick and the 39-year-old walked the red carpet in a sleeveless black jumpsuit with a plunging neckline. On hand, too, was producer Stacey Reiss as well as the writers Eric C. Charmelo, Nicole Snyder and Richard Shepard, who also directed. The Perfection drops on Netflix on May 24. On trend: Canadian actress Alaina Huffman is also in the horror flick and the 39-year-old walked the red carpet in a sleeveless black jumpsuit with a plunging neckline Group shot: The team behind The Perfection posed with the stars - from l-r: Writer Eric C. Charmelo, writer Nicole Snyder, producer Stacey Reiss and writer-director Richard Shepard It's been almost two months since Married At First Sight came to an end. And while the majority of cast members are cashing in with sponsored Instagram posts, Dino Hira has even greater ambitions. The 34-year-old told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday that he has been approached by several Bollywood movie executives. Married At First Sight EXCLUSIVE: Dino Hira is set for Bollywood fame after being approached by several Indian movie executives. Pictured on his MAFS wedding day 'I've been approached with a few different offers but I can't say too much at the minute,' said the Perth-based miner. Dino, who was paired with Melissa Lucarelli on MAFS, also hinted that he will soon be signing a contract to appear in a film. In February, Daily Mail Australia first revealed that Dino was a professional actor, with a long list of television credits to his name. 'I've been approached': Dino, who was paired with Melissa Lucarelli on MAFS, hinted that he will soon be signing a contract to appear in a Bollywood film. Pictured in Sydney in January His first big break came in 2018, when he appeared in Australian movie Eleven Days. In May, just four months before filming his MAFS wedding, Dino boasted of his passion for acting on Instagram. He said: 'When the director says "Action!" I get a thrill in the feeling that it is my chance to forget my past or my future and embrace living in the character I play!' 'When the director says "Action!" I get a thrill': In February, Daily Mail Australia first revealed that Dino was a professional actor, with a long list of television credits to his name Unleashing his inner Tarzan! Dino appeared in a bizarre shaving advert back in 2016 Since leaving the show, Dino has also gone on to release a self-help book. A Miner Who Wins Inner Peace is a semi-autobiographical story of 'self care, inner peace and strength' based around his own experiences as a FIFO worker. The book has been widely praised on social media, and even received a glowing review from 'The World's Hottest Grandma' Gina Stewart. Eva Mendes was snapped Los Angeles on Tuesday with her three year-old daughter, Amada. The Miami-born beauty, 45, was seen running errands with a bodyguard and the tot, who she shares with partner Ryan Gosling along with four-year-old daughter Esmeralda. The stunning actress, who's been seen in the films Lost River and Hitch, had her wavy reddish locks styled to the side while wearing a brown long-sleeved top with blue and white print pants and open-toe sandals. Beauty: Eva Mendes, 45, was snapped in LA on Tuesday with her three year-old daughter, Amada She toted a large pink purse and wore dark cat eye sunglasses with brown frames as she was snapped putting the child inside her vehicle. Mendes appeared on The Talk on CBS Monday, where she said that she didn't initially want to have children, but her relationship with Gosling led her to after the pair first crossed paths filming The Place Beyond the Pines in 2011. 'I was never one of those women who really wanted children, and then I fell in love with Ryan; I was like, "Oh I get it. I don't want children, I want your children. I want your babies,"' she said. The Cuban-American beauty also spoke on raising the two little girls with the A-list actor as they're 'trying to teach the kids Spanish. Stylish: Eva toted a large pink purse and wore dark cat eye sunglasses with brown frames as she was snapped putting the child inside her vehicle A-list pairing: Mendes and partner Ryan Gosling were snapped in 2013 in NYC 'It's harder than I thought,' she said. 'I speak Spanglish and that's what they're picking up. So it's adorable, but it's technically not a language - it's Spanglish.' The Training Day actress gave an example on how Spanish and English are blended by the children. 'Our little girl will be like, "Mommy, my boca (Spanish for mouth) hurts because I think something got stuck in my diente (Spanish for tooth),' adding, "It's so cute but that is not really gonna go great out there."' She became a mother-of-three last month after welcoming her daughter Poet Lake. And on Tuesday, Teresa Palmer looked every inch the glowing mother as she and the newborn left Channel Seven's Sydney studios after appearing on The Morning Show. The actress, 33, cradled her month-old baby girl in her arms and gave a gentle smile as she strolled in a pale green floral frock through the city's CBD. That motherhood glow! Teresa Palmer, 33, looked every inch the glowing mother as she and the newborn daughter Poet Lake left Channel Seven's Sydney studios after appearing on The Morning Show The Hacksaw Ridge star accessorised her bohemian look with a series of necklaces, one which featured a large blue stone pendant and another more delicate silver chain. Keeping her attire comfortable, Teresa wore a pair of flat-heeled shoes in black. Meanwhile, little Poet looked cute as a button in her turban hat and polka-dot onesie. Boho beauty! The actress, 33, cradled her month-old baby girl in her arms and gave a gentle smile as she strolled in a pale green floral frock through the city's CBD Earlier in the day, Teresa appeared on The Morning Show with her business partner Christiane Duigan to promote their new line of nutritional supplements. 'Our children just will not have vegetables so how do we get something that tastes like dessert and gives them an amazing nutritional hit?' Teresa said during the interview, before discussing how her company Lovewell came about.l Also during the interview the actress revealed the mothering trick that helps her send her children to sleep. So cute! Meanwhile, little Poet looked cute as a button in her turban hat and polka-dot onesie Comfortable: Keeping her attire comfortable, Teresa wore a pair of flat-heeled shoes in black New gig: Earlier in the day, Teresa appeared on The Morning Show with her business partner Christiane Duigan to promote their new line of nutritional supplements 'This is my mum hack - it's the leg bounce and I've been doing it for six years with my babies,' Teresa joked as she bobbed her sleeping daughter on her knee. The Adelaide-born star has been eager to showcase her parenting skills since welcoming her third child with her American actor husband Mark Webber. Last week, she took Poet along for a Barre class and performed ballet moves while balancing the baby in her arms. 'This is my mum hack': The actress also revealed the mothering trick that has helped her send her children to sleep And earlier this month, the beauty updated her fans with another adorable snap of her newborn. Taking to Instagram, the Berlin Syndrome actress posted a photo of her snuggling with Poet and kissing her head. Mark and Teresa are also parents to Bodhi Rain, five, and Forest Sage, two and Mark's son from a previous relationship Isaac Love. Iman Bowie was seen enjoying a stroll around her New York neighbourhood on Tuesday. The model, 63, was almost recognisable in her casual outfit as she headed out in Soho. The outing comes a month after the star marked what would have been her 27th wedding anniversary with late husband David Bowie. Rare outing: Iman Bowie, 63, was seen enjoying a stroll around her New York neighbourhood on Tuesday Iman kept casual in a loose black sweater and trousers, teamed with trainers for her outing. Keeping her hood up for the rare appearance, she added shades while carrying a bag of shopping. On April 24 the model paid tribute to musician David on what would have been their anniversary. Casual: The model, 63, was almost recognisable in her casual outfit as she headed out in Soho Taking to her Instagram page, where she regularly shares inspirational quotes and updates about her life, Iman wrote: 'April 24th Forever Love.#BowieForever.' The couple married on April 24, 1992 in a private ceremony in Lausanne, Switzerland. The union was solemnised in Florence, Italy, on June 6 that year. They welcomed their daughter Alexandria, known as Lexi, in 2000. Bowie died in 2016 aged 69 following a battle with cancer. Loss: The outing comes a month after the star marked what would have been her 27th wedding anniversary with late husband David Bowie, who died in 2016 (pictured in 2007) Speaking to NET-A-PORTER's digital magazine PorterEdit last year in a rare interview, Iman opened up on her loss, explaining: 'I get the fans' grief, but it's not the same. They have lost someone they look up to; we have lost a husband and a father.' 'I will never remarry,' she added of the potential for future romance. 'I mentioned my husband the other day with someone, and they said to me: "You mean your late husband?" I said, no, he is always going to be my husband.' 'I do feel very lonely. But do I want a relationship? I can't say never, but no, not now.' After retiring from modelling in 1989, the multi-talented star founded Iman Cosmetics, now a $25 million-a-year business, based on makeup for non-Caucasian women. She was making a statement in Cannes just days before. Yet Helen Mirren was on the move as ever as she made an appearance at the premiere of Disney's Aladdin in Los Angeles on Tuesday night. The 73-year-old actress, who is currently promoting her upcoming movie The Good Liar, looked sensational in a crisp white shirt with a slick black suit. Suited and booted: Helen Mirren was on the move as ever as she made an appearance at the premiere of Disney's Aladdin in Los Angeles on Tuesday night Helen ensured she was dressed to impress for the outing as she looked stunning on the purple carpet while proving her style is timeless. Despite having sported pink tresses just days before, it seems the dye was temporary as she was back to her slick silver locks. She fondly greeted pregnant Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air star Tatyana Ali, 40, who was looking stunning while rocking a clinging yellow gown. Helen also posed alongside star of the show Will Smith, who plays the Genie in the much-anticipated, Guy Richie-fronted film. Stunner: The 73-year-old actress, who is currently promoting her upcoming movie The Good Liar, looked sensational in a crisp white shirt with a slick black suit Happy days: Helen also posed alongside star of the show Will Smith, who plays the Genie in the much-anticipated, Guy Richie-fronted film Mellow yellow: She fondly greeted pregnant Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air star Tatyana Ali, 40, who was looking stunning while rocking a clinging yellow gown Earlier this month, Oscar-winning actress Helen admitted that she often feels like a 'stupid and boring' person, as she made the surprising remark in a podcast by L'Oreal Paris to mark Mental Health Awareness Week. 'Those negative thoughts are always lurking there under the surface', she said. 'Everybody feels this way, you aren't the only one.' Dame Helen said she is often left feeling insecure as she is surrounded by 'extraordinary people' in her working life. 'What always comes up in my head is that 'I'm boring, I'm stupid, I'm not exciting enough',' she explained. Shock: Earlier this month, Oscar-winning actress Helen admitted that she often feels like a 'stupid and boring' person, as she made the surprising remark in a podcast by L'Oreal Paris to mark Mental Health Awareness Week Happy days: 'What always comes up in my head is that 'I'm boring, I'm stupid, I'm not exciting enough',' she explained 'Sometimes I lock myself in the loo to give myself a talking to: "you can do it Helen, don't worry, you can do it!"' said Dame Helen. The actress is set to star in upcoming glossy TV drama Catherine The Great as the 18th-century Russian empress. The My Self Worth podcast, in conjunction with The Prince's Trust, is free to download and listen to online and via streaming sites Spotify and iTunes. As well as sharing personal journeys, the celebrity guests featured, including model Iskra Lawrence, Olympian Tom Daley and activist Katie Piper, also present their own affirmations. Happy days: The actress is set to star in upcoming glossy TV drama Catherine The Great as the 18th-century Russian empress She started her collaboration with Marks and Spencer seven years ago. And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley has now unveiled her latest lingerie collection for the high street favourite, wowing in a series of stunning shots. The British model, 32, looked incredible in the campaign photos, modelling an array of lingerie including a sexy green silk two-piece and revealing white lace suspenders. Gorgeous: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, 32, has unveiled her latest lingerie collection for Marks & Spencer, wowing in a series of stunning shots One shot shows the blonde flaunting her physique in a white plunge bra and matching suspenders teamed with lace-topped hold-ups. Another new design from the multi-talented model is a spring-chic pink satin set with a pretty floral print. Rosie has been working with the British high street giant since 2012 and it's been reported that one in 50 women now owns a bra from Rosie's range. Spring chic: The British model, 32, looked incredible in the campaign photos, modelling an array of lingerie in shades of pink and white Sizzling: Rosie also embraced her feminine beauty in a set of floral silk lingerie as she posed up a storm for the campaign Rosie juggles her work as a model with her life as a mother to son Jack, who turns two this June, who she shares with fiance Jason Statham, who she's been dating since 2010. In October last year, Rosie admitted she has a lot less time to spend on her beauty routines since she became a mother. The model said she can no longer spend 45 minutes in the shower and 20 minutes deciding what to wear now that she has to look after little Jack. She's done it again! The mother-of-one has been working with the British high street giant since 2012 and it's been reported that one in 50 women now owns a bra from Rosie's range Ready for bed: The images, shot in a minimalist bedroom, see the star relaxing in her pretty new collection Rosie has mastered juggling her mummy duties with getting ready by cutting corners as she now will choose between doing her hair and make-up. She told VOGUE: 'I think its changed because I have way less time to spend on myself! 'Like now when Im doing my beauty routine I have a little visitor in my bathroom who also likes to play with all my products and pour them out all over the floor. Your time is compromised. 'Now whatever time you have, you have to make use of it. Often now I have a choice between make-up or hair. And I spend a lot more time in my gym gear!' Date night: On Tuesday Rosie was looking chic in a black silk dress as she enjoyed dinner with fiance Jason Statham at Madeo Restaurant in Beverly Hills Dr Nalova Lyonga Wilson Musa The Minister of Secondary Education, Dr. Nalova Lyonga has issued a communique, banning teachers and schools from exploiting students in examination classes, few weeks to their end of course exams. According to the minister, students are forced by teachers and schools, to pay some amount of money, to facilitate last minute revision classes, ahead of their exams. Some parents have been raising same complain, stating their children were asked to bring FCFA 5000 by school authorities to support teachers who are preparing them for end of course examinations. Some teachers go as far as threatening students who fail to meet up with the required amount asked by the school. Students pay for Easter break classes and that of the last three weeks to the General Certificate of Examinations, amongst others organised in Cameroon. The Minister condemned the act, calling on heads of schools as well as teachers, to adopt responsible attributes towards these students and stop collecting extra money from the authorised school fees already paid for the academic year. She denounced the act, reminding these school authorities that students have the right to receive last minute classes and revision exercises ahead of their examinations at no cost. Collecting money from students have been a lucrative business for teachers. Defaulters, according to Minister Nalova, will face possible sanctions. This is also common for Schools of the Basic Education sector, as it has become a new norm for parents to pay out FCFA 5000, to assist teachers. Some of these teachers dont cover up their work earlier and teach more during this period, so as to make their demands valid. Leonardo DiCaprio and The Beach co-star Virginie Ledoyen reunited at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood premiere, 19 years after the release of the thriller. The French actress, 42, was on hand to support her former onscreen partner at the screening of Quentin Tarantino's ninth film at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. The actor, 44, and Virgine played lovers Richard and Francoise in the 2000 film, which was directed by Danny Boyle and based on the novel of the same name by Alex Garland. Back together: Leonardo DiCaprio reunited with The Beach co-star Virginie Ledoyen at Once Upon A Time In Hollywood's Cannes premiere on Tuesday... 19 YEARS after starring in the film In the drama, which was Leonardo's unexpected follow-up to blockbuster juggernaut Titanic, the actor plays a young American backpacker travelling to Thailand in search of adventure. There, Richard comes across raving lunatic Daffy (played by Robert Carlyle) who tells him about an idyllic island where a community live in a secluded paradise, perfect for the hedonistic lifestyle he's seeking. When Daffy commits suicide and leaves the young man a hand-drawn map to the island, Richard invites his neighbour Francoise and her boyfriend Etienne (Guillaume Canet) to help him find heaven on earth. Drama: The actor and Virgine played lovers Richard and Francoise in the psychedelic thriller, which was directed by Danny Boyle in 2000 and based on the novel by Alex Garland Leading lady: Virgine played Richard's neighbour Francoise (L), who he invites alongside her hapless boyfriend Etienne (Guillaume Canet) to help him find heaven on earth Dreamer: In the film, which was Leonardo's follow-up to blockbuster juggernaut Titanic, the actor plays a young American backpacker travelling to Thailand in search of adventure At first, the beach proves to be the paradise Richard had dreamed of, and it becomes all the more true when he and Francoise become lovers. However things soon take a turn for the worse, as Richard incurs the wrath of the community, led by Sal (Tilda Swinton), for telling outsiders about the beach and is exiled to the jungle. In the film's notoriously insane third act, Richard goes from wide-eyed tourist to menacing jungle creature as the young man's grip on reality starts to slip. Falling in love: At first, the beach proves to be the paradise Richard had dreamed of and it becomes all the more true when he and Francoise become lovers Thriller: Despite their romance things soon take a turn for the worse, as Richard incurs the wrath of the community, led by Sal (Tilda Swinton), for telling outsiders about the paradise Desperate to keep the party atmosphere of the beach fantasy alive, Richard starts to dissociate from the community, and his sanity, as he stalks the island's inhabitants. He begins to imagine the world as a video game, and Richard even transforms into Colonel Kurtz as the film alludes to war epic Apocalypse Now. While the film failed to become a box-office hit following its release, and even earned Leonardo a Razzie Award nomination for worst actor, it has since become viewed as a cult classic. Dark twist: In the film's notoriously insane third act, Richard goes from wide-eyed tourist to menacing jungle creature as the young man's grip on reality, and his sanity, starts to slip Homage: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a character comedy/drama set in 1969 in Los Angeles, with multiple story lines paying tribute to Hollywood's 'golden age' Once Upon A Time In Hollywood is a character comedy/drama set in 1969 in Los Angeles, with multiple story lines paying tribute to what is widely known as Hollywood's 'golden age.' The ninth film from the writer-director Tarantino features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age. It will hit US theaters on July 26 and is set for a UK release on August 14. It is the ninth film from legendary director Quentin Tarantino which chronicles a faded TV actor and his stunt double in the run-up to the Manson Family murders. And Once Upon A Time In Hollywood has been met with rave first reviews following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. Critics branded the epic, 'wildly enjoyable', 'astonishing' a 'moving love letter' and Tarantino's best film since 1994's Pulp Fiction (which won the Palme d'Or). The Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt led flick won a seven-minute standing ovation. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, which is Tarantino's first movie not being released by Harvey Weinstein, sees DiCaprio and Pitt bring the golden age of Hollywood back to life. Playing Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth, the actors revisit a simpler time in tinsel town as they transport us back to Los Angeles in 1969. Wow: Once Upon A Time In Hollywood has been met with rave first reviews following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday (Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in the film) Acclaimed: Critics branded the epic, 'wildly enjoyable', 'astonishing' a 'moving love letter' and Tarantino's best film since 1994's Pulp Fiction (Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate) Margot Robbie takes on the role of Sharon Tate - the pregnant actress murdered by the Manson family in 1969. Praising the 'wildly enjoyable black comedy', Daily Mail's Brian Viner heaped high praise on the 159 minute film. 'For me, his masterpiece will always be 1994's Pulp Fiction, but this isn't far behind, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt both on thumpingly fine form,' he said. 'The film takes us on a journey towards that terrible night, but on the way Tarantino is in incorrigibly playful mood and has enormous fun depicting certain fixtures of 60s Hollywood. 'There is also, this being a Tarantino film, a full repertoire of tricks voiceovers, split-screens, slow-mo, flashbacks. But they all add to the fun. 'Tarantino recreates the era exquisitely and in a way has made the film a love-letter to his own square-eyed childhood.' The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw praised the Tarantino film for honouring the golden age of Hollywood and balancing the enjoyment of the story with the 'horror and cruelty' of the vile murders. Bradshaw labelled the film a 'pulp-fictionally redemptive take on the Manson nightmare in late-60s California'. Golden age: Playing Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth, the actors revisit a simpler time in tinsel town as they transport us back to Los Angeles in 1969 Praise: One critic said: 'For me, his masterpiece will always be 1994's Pulp Fiction, but this isn't far behind, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt both on thumpingly fine form' (with Al Pacino as Marvin Schwarzs) 'I just defy anyone with red blood in their veins not to respond to the crazy bravura of Tarantino's film-making, not to be bounced around the auditorium at the moment-by-moment enjoyment that this movie delivers and conversely, of course, to shudder at the horror and cruelty and its hallucinatory aftermath,' he said. Other critics praised the 56-year-old for writing a 'love letter' towards a bygone era in Hollywood. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: What the critics said 'For me, his masterpiece will always be 1994's Pulp Fiction, but this isn't far behind, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt both on thumpingly fine form' - Daily Mail critic Brian Viner 'I just defy anyone with red blood in their veins not to respond to the crazy bravura of Tarantino's film-making, not to be bounced around the auditorium at the moment-by-moment enjoyment that this movie delivers' - The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw 'What was entirely unexpected was that 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood,'... would be such a moving film, at once a love letter and a dream of the Hollywood that was.' - New York Times critic Manohla Dargis 'Tarantino loves Hollywood which is why this film is the ultimate love letter from him' - Collider critic Gregory Ellwood 'By the end, Tarantino has done something that's quintessentially Tarantino, but that no longer feels even vaguely revolutionary. He has reduced the story he's telling to pulp' - Variety critic Owen Gleiberman 'The shoot scenes drag on for far too long, and even his usually popping dialogue falls oddly flat this time around' - Bloomberg critic Giovanni Marchini Camia Advertisement New York Times critic Manohla Dargis heaped praise on Tarantino for delivering the unexpected, saying: 'Tarantino's love for over-the-top gore, for painting the screen red, seemed a bad fit with the ghastly 1969 murders of several people, including the actress Sharon Tate, then married to Roman Polanski. 'What was entirely unexpected was that 'Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood,'... would be such a moving film, at once a love letter and a dream of the Hollywood that was.' DiCaprio and Pitt's performances as buddies Rick and Cliff were also praised for bringing the movie a lot of 'its light, infectiously pop pleasure.' Collider critic Gregory Ellwood also branded the film the 'ultimate love letter' from Tarantino. Honouring the film for injecting Tarantino's trademark humour and bringing the 'right blend of mockery and pathos' to the main characters, Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri said: 'He and his actors lend the two characters' respective moments one rising, the other falling just the right blend of mockery and pathos. These people are ridiculous, and we love them. 'It's the most fun the director seems to have had in years, but it's also, oddly, his most compassionate picture in more than a decade. The film did hit some roadblocks with certain critics, including the Hollywood Reporter's David Rooney, who said Tarantino had sly fun riffing on his own work in his 'penchant for gleeful revisionist history'. 'A sizeable audience will doubtless share that enjoyment, even if the two ambling hours of detours, recaps and diversions that precede the standard climactic explosion of graphic violence are virtually plotless,' he wrote. 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is uneven, unwieldy in its structure and not without its flat patches. But it's also a disarming and characteristically subversive love letter to its inspiration, in which Tarantino rebuilds the Dream Factory as it existed during the time of his childhood, while rewriting the traumatic episode often identified as the end of that era.' Brad Pitt plays a stunt double in Quentin Tarantino's new movie and is on thumpingly fine form Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a self-pitying TV actor in Tarantino's new movie, which takes viewers back to Hollywood's Golden Era Variety's Owen Gleiberman criticised the director for reducing the story 'to pulp' and moving away from his signature 'show don't tell' style. 'And the way the movie resolves all this feels, frankly, too easy. By the end, Tarantino has done something that's quintessentially Tarantino, but that no longer feels even vaguely revolutionary. He has reduced the story he's telling to pulp,' he said. While Vanity Fair's Richard Lawson said there were stretches of the film where he thought things weren't going anywhere, he noted that he was consistently drawn back in by DiCaprio and Pitt's performances. 'This curious fairy tale may not be the truth, and it may prattle on too long. But when its stars align, and they let loose with their unmistakable shine, Hollywood movies do seem truly special again,' he wrote. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood was also branded 'strikingly bland' by Bloomberg critic Giovanni Marchini Camia, who added the humour and dialogue left a lot to be desired. 'Although there's some enjoyment to be had in watching DiCaprio dress up in silly costumes and pretend he's a second-rate actor, the meta-humor is nowhere near as funny as Tarantino thinks it is,' he said. 'The shoot scenes drag on for far too long, and even his usually popping dialogue falls oddly flat this time around.' The stakes have been high for Sony Pictures, which gave Tarantino a $95 million budget to make. On Wednesday, Sony Pictures chief Tom Rothman sat front row as Tarantino and his cast spoke to reporters. Tarantino was made a free agent in Hollywood after the downfall of his regular producer, Harvey Weinstein. The director has previously acknowledged knowing about some of the accusations against Weinstein for years, saying: 'I knew enough to do more than I did.' Stars: The film will be released in the US on July 26 2019 and the UK on August 15 2019 During a press conference on Wednesday, Tarantino responded curtly to a New York Times reporter when asked why an actress as talented as Robbie had relatively few lines in the film. Robbie's Tate is largely a side narrative in the movie, which focuses on her fictional neighbors (DiCaprio and Pitt). 'I just reject your hypotheses,' Tarantino said. Robbie gave a fuller defense, calling her Tate 'a ray of light.' She said Tarantino referred to her character as 'the heartbeat of the story.' 'The moments that I got gave the opportunity to honor Sharon,' she said. 'I did feel like I got a lot of time to explore the character even without dialogue, specifically.' Other stars in the film include Al Pacino, Emile Hirsch, Damian Lewis, Bruce Dern, Dakota Fanning, Austin Butler, Lena Dunham and Margaret Qualley. In the film, the actors seem to be linked to each other in one way or another. Washed up Western star Dalton lives next door to Sharon Tate, one of Hollywood's greatest stars at the time. Martin Schwarz, played by Al Pacino, who is also Dalton's agent, while Joanna Pettet, played by Rumer Willis, stars as a friend of Sharon Tate. Mike Moh plays Bruce Lee in a fight scene with Rick Dalton. Brad and Leonardo play a double act, and they joked about 'carrying the load' for each other in an interview that opens the first trailer. The movie is a character comedy/drama set in 1969 in Los Angeles, with multiple story lines paying tribute to what is widely known as Hollywood's 'golden age.' The 2019 Cannes Film Festival is taking place at the iconic Palais des Festivals until May 25. Actress Elle Fanning, French graphic novelist Enki Bilal and the Oscar-nominated director of The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos, are among jury members during the annual event. Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu currently presides over the panel that decides on prizes, including the top Palme D'Or award. The film will be released in the U.S. on July 26 and the U.K. on August 15. Sisters Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton Rothschild pulled out all the stops to do a good turn when they headed out on Tuesday night. The ladies dressed to the nines to attend the launch of the Equal Means Equal Campaign for Equal Rights, held at the Times Square Edition Hotel in New York. Equal Means Equal is a groundbreaking exploration of gender inequality in the USA. Girl talk: Paris Hilton wowed in a silver mini as she joined sister Nicky in a Valentino cape at Equal Means Equal campaign launch at the Times Square Edition Hotel in New York on Tuesday Silver siren: Paris looked incredible in her metallic dress worn with court shoes The website states: 'Women in the U.S. dont have equal rights. Well change that. Only one more state is needed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Let's finish the job.' The company running the campaign has also released a DVD and the site writes that it 'offers an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today. 'Examining both real-life stories and precedent-setting legal cases, director Kamala Lopez uncovers how outdated and discriminatory attitudes inform and influence seemingly disparate issues.' Important cause: Equal Means Equal is a groundbreaking exploration of gender inequality in the USA The website states: 'Women in the U.S. dont have equal rights. Well change that. Only one more state is needed to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. Let's finish the job' Flagging it: The company running the campaign has also released a DVD and the site writes that it 'offers an unflinching look at how women are treated in the United States today Double trouble: The girls all partied together throughout the night as they helped to promote the good cause These issues range from workplace harassment to domestic violence, rape and sexual assault to the foster care system, and the healthcare conglomerate to the judicial system. Paris, 38, dressed up for the occasion, wearing a silver chainmail mini dress, while Nicky, 35, opted for a Valentino brown cape. They posed for lots of pictures together at the launch and held up various signs to help the brand get the point across. Doing her bit: Paris posed with various signs in her hand to promote the campaign When Paris isn't helping the equal rights campaign, she's been busy promoting her new single, Best Friend's Ass. Paris recorded the track with brothers Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike. This song comes 13 years after Hilton graced the charts with her debut track Stars Are Blind. Chloe Sevigny showcased her signature bold sense of style when she headed out to party in Cannes on Tuesday night. The 44-year-old attended the Chopard Gentleman's Evening with magazine Gentlemans Journal during the 72nd Annual Film Festival at the The Hotel Martinez. She wore a hot pink one-shouldered mini dress which had a scalloped edge and a giant contrasting black bow made from a satin ribbon. Trend: Chloe Sevigny showcased her signature bold style in a hot pink mini dress with an oversized bow detail at the Chopard party at the Hotel Martinez in Cannes on Tuesday Standing out: Her one-shouldered mini dress which had a scalloped edge and a giant contrasting black bow made from a satin ribbon Wearing her blonde locks in a slicked back ponytail, Chloe was able to show off the diamond Chopard earrings she was wearing on the night. Once inside, Chloe caught up with actor Colin Firth, who had arrived with his wife Livia and the pair were seen sharing a laugh and a joke. She had quite the evening by all accounts, as before she party, she was pictured walking the red carpet at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood premiere. It's Love, Actually: Once inside, Chloe caught up with actor Colin Firth, who had arrived with his wife Livia and the pair were seen sharing a laugh and a joke Close: The firm friends posed with one another at the party Friends in high places: Chloe also caught up with Chopard Co-President Caroline Scheufele The movie was a truly star-studded affair and saw the likes of Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie and Dakota Fanning all in attendance. The story is set in 1969 Los Angeles and tells the story of television star Rick Dalton and his longtime stunt double, who make their way around a changing industry that they hardly recognize anymore. Quentin Tarantino discussed his latest movie offering in an interview with Esquire. Walking tall: The actress had quite the evening by all accounts, as before she party, she was pictured walking the red carpet at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood premiere He said: 'This film is the closest thing I've done to Pulp Fiction[It's] probably my most personal. I think of it like my memory piece. 'Alfonso [Cuaron] had Roma and Mexico City, 1970. I had LA and 1969. This is me. This is the year that formed me. I was six years old then. This is my world. And this is my love letter to L.A.' The eagerly-anticipated flick is scheduled for released July 26 2019. All that glitters: Chloe wore her blonde locks in a slicked back fashion so that she could show off her Chopard jewels She announced she's expecting her first child with husband Jake Wall earlier this month. And now, Jennifer Hawkins has given fans an update on her pregnancy journey, revealing that she can no longer button up her jeans. Taking to Instagram, the 35-year-old shared a snap of herself lounging on the couch, with her baby bump concealed behind the flowing fabric of her peplum blouse. 'Jeans won't button up!' Jennifer Hawkins (pictured) gave fans an update on her pregnancy as she concealed her blossoming bump in a flowy blouse and a pair of jeans 'Today. So happy my all day nausea is finally easing up!' she wrote in the caption alongside the hashtags: 'Jeans won't button up' and 'here we go.' Several Australian celebrities rushed to offer Jennifer some words of wisdom. 'You need to do the hair tie on the top button trick,' model, Megan Gale wrote, clearly referencing her ill-fitting jeans. 'You need to do the hair tie on the top button trick,' model, Megan Gale wrote, clearly referencing her ill-fitting jeans 'Keep your eye on the prize': Meanwhile The Project host, Carrie Bickmore commented: '(Morning sickness) is the actual worst! Just keep your eye on the cute squishy prize at the end' Meanwhile The Project host, Carrie Bickmore commented: '(Morning sickness) is the actual worst! Just keep your eye on the cute squishy prize at the end.' Jennifer was flooded with congratulatory messages after announcing her pregnancy in an Instagram post on Friday May 10. One of the most surprising well wishes she received was from department store Myer, who 'replaced' her with younger model Elyse Knowles as their official ambassador last year. Friends with the ex! Jennifer was congratulated by her former employer Myer earlier this month, after she announced her pregnancy with husband Jake Wall (pictured) Commenting on Jen's pregnancy announcement post, Myer's official Instagram account wrote: 'So exciting! Congrats to you both' Commenting on Jen's pregnancy announcement post, Myer's official Instagram account wrote: 'So exciting! Congrats to you both.' They followed the message with two love heart emojis. Jen and Myer parted ways at the end of last year, ending the 35-year-old's 12-year reign as the store's ambassador. She was replaced by the younger-and cheaper- Elyse Knowles, who shot to fame after winning the thirteenth season of The Block in 2017. Elyse, 26, inked a deal for $300,000 to replace the far costlier supermodel, who is believed to command $1 million a year for the same gig. Parting ways: Jen and Myer parted ways at the end of last year, ending the 35-year-old's 12-year reign as the store's ambassador She has been hitting all the hot parties during Cannes Film Festival. And Kimberley Garner proved there is no rest for the glamorous on Tuesday evening as she attended a dinner and cocktail reception hosted by De Grisogono. The fleeting Made In Chelsea star looked sensational in a sheer, dazzling gown with a plunging neckline, sheer body and a sexy thigh split. Wow! Kimberley Garner proved there is no rest for the glamorous on Tuesday evening as she attended a dinner and cocktail reception hosted by De Grisogono Kimberley looked phenomenal as she stepped out in her sexy look which made sure she stood apart among the A-listers in attendance. Her blonde locks were pinned back into a neat chignon at the nape of her neck to ensure she was pulling all focus to her gown. She boosted her already statuesque height with a pair of sky-high heels with a perspex body which gave a muted feel. Shimmering: Despite being at a party thrown by a jewellers, she shunned any accessories to allow her dazzling outfit to do all the talking Chic: Only recently, the star bought a home in Miami, in a chat with MailOnline, the blonde admitted she flew to Florida after purchasing a dream home in the coastal city Despite being at a party thrown by a jewellers, she shunned any accessories to allow her dazzling outfit to do all the talking. Only recently, the star bought a home in Miami, in a chat with MailOnline, the blonde admitted she flew to Florida after purchasing a dream home in the coastal city. 'I worked very hard last year and had even moved home for a few months to save money,' she explained. Blonde beauty: Her blonde locks were pinned back into a neat chignon at the nape of her neck to ensure she was pulling all focus to her gown 'I really had my head down working to concentrate on goals, but achieved it on New Years Eve, praise God, and flew over here. Completing the sale on the plane over.' Reflecting on her new home, the swimwear designer confessed it is a world away from her former busy life in London. She explained: ''Its right on the beach, and really is a dream come true... 'I am over doing the interior design, going for a beachy chilled vibe for the place. I wont be moving here, as London is one hundred percent home, but really overjoyed and proud to have achieved it.' Last month she landed her 'dream job' of Victoria's Secret Angel. And on Wednesday night Leomie Anderson was stealing the spotlight from the a-listers at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. The 26-year-old British model seemed to be preparing for her new role as a VS Angel as she strutted down the red carpet in a jaw-dropping metallic gown, which flaunted her incredible figure. Stunning: British model Leomie Anderson was stealing the spotlight from the a-listers at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood on Wednesday night Leomie turned heads in her incredible gown, which featured a tiny leotard covered in sparkling metallic shards sewn onto the bodice. The was even more drama though as a huge train was attached to the back of the bodice with the yards of ruffled material shimmering in the evening sunlight. Leomie accessorised with silver strappy heels and a smattering of dazzling jewels. All eyes on her: The 26-year-old seemed to be preparing for her new role as a Victoria's Secret Angel as she strutted down the red carpet in a jaw-dropping metallic gown Looking gorgeous from head to toe she styled her hair into a sleek ponytail and finished the look with flawless makeup. Last month Victoria's Secret announced that Leomie was among a small group of models who were given the coveted title of a Victoria's Secret Angel. In an Instagram post she wrote: 'Mate I am still in shock... this is something I was even scared to dream about because I never thought it would come true but I am insanely excited to announce that I am Victoria's Secret's newest ANGEL!! I can't even believe it..." What a dress! The was even more drama though as a huge train was attached to the back of the bodice with the ruffled piece shimmering in the sunlight Anderson has modelled for the American brand since 2015. Leomie's showbiz pals were quick to congratulate the model, taking to the comments section of the post to offer their well-wishes. Fellow VS model Jourdan Dunn said: 'SCREAMING!!!!!! So proud of you lil sis your time is NOW!!.', before adding a series of 'gbs' below, referencing their nationality. Leggy: The beauty showed off her incredibly long legs in the stunning red carpet gown Clearly appreciative of Jourdan's kind words, Leomie replied to her by saying: '@jourdandunn love you J.' Also keen to pass on her congratulations was Rita Ora, who simply wrote: 'I love you!!!!' Leomie, who is set to join Candice Swanepoel and Behati Prinsloo in the prestigious group of models, began her modelling career in 2010 and her first show was for Marc Jacobs, while she is also the face of Rihanna's Fenty Beauty line. It's 'legends week' on MasterChef Australia. And on Wednesday night, Israeli-English chef Yotam Ottolenghi made a guest appearance on the show, overseeing a team cook-off. Cocktail barman Simon Toohey, 32, was left red-faced on the show, after being captain of the green team and leading them to elimination. Awkward! MasterChef's Simon Toohey (picutred) was left devastated on Wednesday night's show as he led his team to elimination during a cook-off challenge The contestants were put into three different teams and had to cook street food for 360 guests, with the green team forgetting to cook rice for one of their dishes, a curry. Judge Matt Preston told the green team they would be going into elimination on the next episode, with Simon being left devastated at the news. 'It's not something I'm proud of or really wanted for our team,' Simon said to camera. How can you forget that?! The contestants were put into three different teams and had to cook street food for 360 guests, with the green team forgetting to cook rice for one of their dishes, a curry 'As team captain you definitely feel responsible. I definitely am feeling a little low at this point,' he added. Yotam told the green team that they just have to focus in elimination challenge, on executing their ideas properly. 'Tomorrow is another day and some of the problems you had today had to do not with great ideas, but how you executed them,' Yotam said. Words of wisdom: Yotam (L) told the green team that they just have to focus in elimination challenge, on executing their ideas properly He added: 'Think of what you're good at and the solution will be clear.' On the night, the teams had to cook street food for 360 people. The green team cooked Indian food and dishes including chicken tandoori, fish curry, and vegetarian samosas. The yellow team impressed with their Mexican dishes, including pulled lamb tacos, charred corn and Mexican beef lettuce cups. The blue team cooked Malaysian food including satay, coconut prawns and nasi goreng. They are one of the showbiz world's strongest couples who began dating almost a decade ago. And Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham looked smitten as they enjoyed a romantic dinner date at Madeo restaurant in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles on Tuesday. The supermodel, 32, and the action star, 51, enjoyed a rare night off parenting duties to toddler son Jack as they packed on the PDA during their evening out at the Italian eaterie. Happy couple: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jason Statham looked smitten as they enjoyed a romantic dinner date at Madeo restaurant in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles on Tuesday Glow: The supermodel, 32, and the action star, 51, enjoyed a rare night off parenting duties to toddler son Jack during their evening out at the Italian eaterie The long-time couple were the picture of true love as they walked along hand-in-hand before climbing into their car together. Vogue coverstar Rosie cut an impossibly chic figure in a plunging black slip teamed with an oversize satin blazer. The blonde beauty paired this with a flowing black satin skirt paired with black stiletto sandals. Her glossy caramel locks were styled sleek and straight while her beautiful features were enhanced with smoky shadow, highlighter and a slick of nude gloss. PDA: The long-time couple were the picture of true love as they walked along hand-in-hand before climbing into their car together Glow: Rosie looked stunning as she opted for flawless, yet radiant make-up Chic: Jason looked casually cool while Vogue coverstar Rosie cut an impossibly chic figure in a plunging black slip teamed with an oversize satin blazer The Meg star Jason revealed his hunky frame in a black t-shirt paired with baggy jeans and a navy jacket. Jason and Rosie, who started dating in 2010, welcomed little Jack into the world in June nearly two years ago. In October last year, Rosie admitted she has a lot less time to spend on her beauty routines since she became a mother. The model said she can no longer spend 45 minutes in the shower and 20 minutes deciding what to wear now that she has to look after little Jack. Chat; The pair were seen chatting in the car as they prepared to make their way home Couture: Vogue coverstar Rosie cut an impossibly chic figure in a plunging black slip teamed with an oversize satin blazer Strut: The blonde beauty paired this with a flowing black satin skirt paired with black stiletto sandals Couple: Jason and Rosie, who started dating in 2010, welcomed little Jack into the world in June nearly two years ago Relaxed: The couple looked chilled as they headed home after their romantic dinner Rosie has mastered juggling her mummy duties with getting ready by cutting corners as she now will choose between doing her hair and make-up. She told VOGUE: 'I think its changed because I have way less time to spend on myself! 'Like now when Im doing my beauty routine I have a little visitor in my bathroom who also likes to play with all my products and pour them out all over the floor. Your time is compromised. 'Now whatever time you have, you have to make use of it. Often now I have a choice between make-up or hair. And I spend a lot more time in my gym gear!' Look of love: The supermodel stared at her hunky man as they prepared to head home Gorgeous: Rosie looked stunning as she showed off her edgy outfit She was left with bruises on her tongue after her braces were removed. But Lauren Goodger's attention was focused on her pearly white Hollywood smile as she stopped to check out her teeth during her outing, in London on Tuesday. The reality star was incredibly pleased with the results as she admired her picture-perfect teeth after her braces were removed by a dentist at Harley Street where Simon Cowell famously gets his teeth worked on. Picture-perfect! Lauren Goodger admired her flashy gnashers in her phone camera as her braces were removed on Tuesday after they left her tongue BRUISED Coquettishly looking over her shoulder, the Instagram star showed off her bright teeth while she hit the streets of the British capital with a new-found confidence. Lauren was so amazed with her newly-fixed smile she smouldered for a series of snaps in the middle of the street. The former TOWIE bombshell later greeted her female friend with an air kiss and posed for a snap together when they met up for a catch up. She's fabulous: Coquettishly looking over her shoulder, the Instagram star showed off her bright teeth while she hit the streets of the British capital with a new-found confidence One for the gram: Lauren was so amazed with her newly-fixed smile she smouldered for a series of snaps in the middle of the street Lauren had her braces fitted to straighten her teeth and she took to social media to reveal she was delighted to have them removed on Tuesday. Candid on her Instagram stories with her 764,000 followers, the reality star lamented she was left with a huge bruise on her tongue after her braces snapped. Back in September, the Essex girl garnered attention with her noticeably chiseled jawline after she underwent facial fillers. Ouch: Smiling Lauren had her braces fitted to straighten her teeth but she was left with bruises on her tongue However, Lauren got the fillers dissolved five days later as she shared how she felt the fillers made her look like Jim Carrey's square-jawed wacky character The Mask. She wrote in her column: 'I don't have it like everyone else does, I have it done once or twice a year. 'I had the filler in my jaw, at first I thought: "Wow!" but when I got papped - I'm not joking. I looked like The Mask. So close: The former TOWIE bombshell later greeted her female friend with an air kiss and posed for a snap together when they met up for a catch up 'Five days later I got it dissolved, I'd never get filler in my face again.' The reality star said she is trying to wean herself off lip fillers because she is happy with the shape of them at the moment. However, Lauren did not rule out further surgery as she talked about the possibility of getting a breast reduction if she had children and a second nose job. Advertisement She takes one of the titular roles in the ninth film from legendary director Quentin Tarantino, which has earned rave reviews and a seven-minute standing ovation at the premiere. And Margot Robbie looked breathtaking as she joined her leading men Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood photocall at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. Looking in high spirits as she joked and laughed with the two Hollywood icons, the Wolf Of Wall Street actress, 28, looked breathtaking in a boho-inspired white tulle dress paired with 60s-inspired braids. Talented trio: Margot Robbie looked breathtaking as she joined her leading men Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood photocall at Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday Wow: Looking in high spirits as she joked and laughed with the two Hollywood icons, the Wolf Of Wall Street actress, 28, looked breathtaking in a boho-inspired white tulle dress paired with 60s-inspired braids The Australian beauty, who plays tragic pregnant actress and murder victim Sharon Tate in the film, revealed her lithe frame in the sparkling Bardot peasant dress with ruffled tulle adorned the neckline, sleeves and hem. Featuring intricate brocade detail and lace inserts, the dress flowed into an elegant floor-length skirt with layers of tulle and floral embroidery. The star boosted her height with silver stiletto shoes. Banter: Margot was in great spirits as she larked about Leo and Brad, with the trio wrapping their arms around one another for the world's press Story: The Australian beauty, who plays tragic pregnant actress and murder victim Sharon Tate in the film, revealed her lithe frame in the sparkling Bardot peasant dress with ruffled tulle adorned the neckline, sleeves and hem Chic: Featuring intricate brocade detail and lace inserts, the dress flowed into an elegant floor-length skirt with layers of tulle and floral embroidery Chat; Brad, 55, laughed out loud as he joined director Quentin Tarantino, Leo and Margot at the photocall The I, Tonya actress wore her caramel locks in simple braids, while a radiant palette of make-up accentuated her pretty features. Margot was in great spirits as she larked about Leo and Brad, with the trio wrapping their arms around one another for the world's press. Fight Club star Brad, 55, who plays stunt man Cliff Booth in the film, looked casually cool in a black polo shirt, matching trousers, a flat cap and Garrett Leight shades. Line-up: Producers Shannon McIntosh and David Heyman posed up with the cast and director Smile: The trio looked delighted as they posed for the world's press at the photocall Wow: The film has been met with rave first reviews following its premiere on Tuesday evening Hunk: Fight Club star Brad, 55, who plays stunt man Cliff Booth in the film, looked casually cool in a black polo shirt, matching trousers, a flat cap and shades Good spirits: The handsome actors also put on a jovial display as they posed with their arms around one another Leading man Leo, 44, who plays Rick Dalton, was dapper in a crisp white shirt and navy suit, worn with Garrett Leight sunglasses too. The handsome actors also put on a jovial display as they posed with their arms around one another. This comes as the film was met with rave first reviews following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. Joker: Quentin and Margot shared a laugh during the star-studded photocall Loving life: Margot and Brad soaked up the spotlight as the waved at fans Pals: The pair also enjoyed a chatter while taking in the atmosphere of the photocall Hollywood royalty: Brad and Leo were delighted to be promoting their first on-screen collaboration Playful: Quentin and Brad showed off their smouldering poses as they adjusted their sunglasses Edgy: Quentin showed off his quirky personality as he pulled off a smouldering pose on the red carpet Animated; Margot was animated as she showed off her posing prowess on the red carpet Critics branded the epic, 'wildly enjoyable', 'astonishing' a 'moving love letter' and Tarantino's best film since 1994's Pulp Fiction (which won the Palme d'Or)- with the Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt led flick winning a seven minute standing ovation. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood sees DiCaprio and Pitt bring the golden age of Hollywood back to life. Playing Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth, the actors revisit a simpler time in tinsel town as they transport us back to Los Angeles in 1969, Praising the 'wildly enjoyable black comedy' Daily Mail's Brian Viner heaped high praise on the 159 minute film. Banter: Quentin appeared to be directing the photocall as the stars laughed out loud Gorgeous: Margot looked ethereal as she posed up a storm on the red carpet Devastatingly handsome: Brad playfully posed up on the red carpet at the photocall He said: 'For me, his masterpiece will always be 1994's Pulp Fiction, but this isn't far behind, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt both on thumpingly fine form. 'The film takes us on a journey towards that terrible night, but on the way Tarantino is in incorrigibly playful mood and has enormous fun depicting certain fixtures of 60s Hollywood. 'There is also, this being a Tarantino film, a full repertoire of tricks voiceovers, split-screens, slow-mo, flashbacks. But they all add to the fun. 'Tarantino recreates the era exquisitely and in a way has made the film a love-letter to his own square-eyed childhood. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw praised the Tarantino film for honouring the golden age of Hollywood and balancing the enjoyment of the story with the 'horror and cruelty' of the vile murders. Wow: Brad proved he is aging like a fine wine as he showcased his radiant smile Pals: The iconic director and actor were enjoying catching up at the star-studded photocall Labelling the film a 'pulp-fictionally redemptive take on the Manson nightmare in late-60s California' he said: 'I just defy anyone with red blood in their veins not to respond to the crazy bravura of Tarantinos film-making, not to be bounced around the auditorium at the moment-by-moment enjoyment that this movie delivers and conversely, of course, to shudder at the horror and cruelty and its hallucinatory aftermath.' Other critics praised the 56-year-old for writing a 'love letter' towards a bygone era in Hollywood. New York Times critic Manohla Dargis heaped praise on Tarantino for delivering the unexpected, saying: 'Tarantinos love for over-the-top gore, for painting the screen red, seemed a bad fit with the ghastly 1969 murders of several people, including the actress Sharon Tate, then married to Roman Polanski. 'What was entirely unexpected was that Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood,... would be such a moving film, at once a love letter and a dream of the Hollywood that was.' Press conference: Brad, Leo, Quentin and Margot chatted about the new film at a press conference Waxing lyrical: Quentin looked animated as he chatted about his ninth film while Margot looked on Banter: The men laughed as they answered questions about the hotly-anticipated new film Handsome; Brad flashed a winning smile as he answered questions about his new film Hollywood hunks: The iconic actors smouldered for the camera as they promoted the film In demand: Fans clamoured to get a shot of Leo as he took his seat at the press conference Radiant: Margot sported ombre locks as she took her seat at the press conference Banter: Brad and Leo looked in good spirits during the busy press conference Wave: Quentin waved for the cameras as he exited the photocall with glamorous wife Daniella Pick Wow: This comes as the film was met with rave first reviews following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday (Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt in the film) Acclaimed: Critics branded the epic, 'wildly enjoyable', 'astonishing' a 'moving love letter' and Tarantino's best film since 1994's Pulp Fiction (Margot Robbie as Sharon Tate) Golden age: Playing Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth, the actors revisit a simpler time in tinsel town as they transport us back to Los Angeles in 1969 Praise: One critic said: 'For me, his masterpiece will always be 1994's Pulp Fiction, but this isn't far behind, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt both on thumpingly fine form' (with Al Pacino as Marvin Schwarzs) Once Upon A Time In Hollywood: What the critics said 'For me, his masterpiece will always be 1994's Pulp Fiction, but this isn't far behind, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt both on thumpingly fine form' - Daily Mail critic Brian Viner 'I just defy anyone with red blood in their veins not to respond to the crazy bravura of Tarantinos film-making, not to be bounced around the auditorium at the moment-by-moment enjoyment that this movie delivers' - The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw 'What was entirely unexpected was that Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood,... would be such a moving film, at once a love letter and a dream of the Hollywood that was.' - New York Times critic Manohla Dargis 'Tarantino loves Hollywood which is why this film is the ultimate love letter from him' - Collider critic Gregory Ellwood 'By the end, Tarantino has done something thats quintessentially Tarantino, but that no longer feels even vaguely revolutionary. He has reduced the story hes telling to pulp' - Variety critic Owen Gleiberman 'The shoot scenes drag on for far too long, and even his usually popping dialogue falls oddly flat this time around' - Bloomberg critic Giovanni Marchini Camia Advertisement DiCaprio and Pitt's performances as buddies Rick and Cliff were also praised for bringing the movie a lot of 'its light, infectiously pop pleasure.' Collider critic Gregory Ellwood also branded the film the 'ultimate love letter' from Tarantino. Honouring the film for injecting Tarantino's trademark humour and bringing the 'right blend of mockery and pathos' to the main characters, Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri said: 'He and his actors lend the two characters respective moments one rising, the other falling just the right blend of mockery and pathos. These people are ridiculous, and we love them. 'Its the most fun the director seems to have had in years, but its also, oddly, his most compassionate picture in more than a decade. The film did hit some roadblocks with certain critics with Variety's Owen Gleiberman criticising the director for reducing the story 'to pulp' and moving away from his signature 'show don't tell' style. Bygone era: Other critics praised the 56-year-old for writing a 'love letter' towards a bygone era in Hollywood Different vibe: Another critic said: 'Its the most fun the director seems to have had in years, but its also, oddly, his most compassionate picture in more than a decade' He said: 'And the way the movie resolves all this feels, frankly, too easy. By the end, Tarantino has done something thats quintessentially Tarantino, but that no longer feels even vaguely revolutionary. He has reduced the story hes telling to pulp. ' Once Upon A Time In Hollywood was also branded 'strikingly bland' by Bloomberg critic Giovanni Marchini Camia, who added the humour and dialogue left a lot to be desired. He said: 'Although theres some enjoyment to be had in watching DiCaprio dress up in silly costumes and pretend hes a second-rate actor, the meta-humor is nowhere near as funny as Tarantino thinks it is. 'The shoot scenes drag on for far too long, and even his usually popping dialogue falls oddly flat this time around.' Other stars in the film include Al Pacino, Emile Hirsch, Damian Lewis, Bruce Dern, Dakota Fanning, Austin Butler, Lena Dunham and Margaret Qualley. In the film, the actors seem to be linked to each other in one way or another. Mixed: The film did hit some roadblocks with certain critics with Variety's Owen Gleiberman criticising the director for reducing the story 'to pulp' and moving away from his signature 'show don't tell' style Washed up Western star Dalton lives next door to Sharon Tate, one of Hollywood's greatest stars at the time. Martin Schwarz, played by Al Pacino, who is also Daltons agent, while Joanna Pettet, played by Rumer Willis, stars as a friend of Sharon Tate. Mike Moh plays Bruce Lee in a fight scene with Rick Dalton. Brad and Leonardo play a double act, and they joked about 'carrying the load' for each other in an interview that opens the first trailer. The movie is a character comedy/drama set in 1969 in Los Angeles, with multiple story lines paying tribute to what is widely known as Hollywood's 'golden age.' The 2019 Cannes Film Festival is taking place at the iconic Palais des Festivals until May 25. Actress Elle Fanning, French graphic novelist Enki Bilal and the Oscar-nominated director of The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos, are among jury members during the annual event. Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu currently presides over the panel that decides on prizes, including the top Palme D'Or award. The film will be released in the US on July 26 2019 and the UK on August 14 2019 He's become a red-carpet regular at Cannes Film Festival in recent years. And Australian model Jordan Barrett ensured all eyes were on him as he jetted into Nice airport on Tuesday to attend the star-studded event on the French Riviera. The 22-year-old nailed off-duty chic in an all-white ensemble, consisting of a T-shirt, jeans and a pair of sneakers. He's back! Model Jordan Barrett (pictured) nails off-duty chic in all-white ensemble as he jets into Nice Airport for Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday Jordan continued his love affair with the statement hue as as he strutted through the terminal donning a pair of white earbud headphones. The model also added some bling to his monochromatic outfit, donning a gold bracelet and two cocktail rings. The genetically-blessed star also offered onlookers a closer look of his bronzed complexion and flaxen mane during the sighting. Bit of all white! Jordan (pictured) ensured all eyes were on him as he jetted into Nice airport on Tuesday in an all-white ensemble, consisting of a T-shirt, jeans and a pair of sneakers Nice one, bud! Jordan continued his love affair with the statement hue as as he strutted through the terminal donning a pair of white earbud headphones The Byron Bay-born model made headlines at Cannes Film Festival last year after he treated locals to a shirtless view of him while standing on his hotel balcony. The fashion 'bad boy' was also seen taking a dip with US model, Kendall Jenner at the lavish Cap-Eden-Roc Hotel in Cannes last year. Jordan has graced the runway for a slew of high-end fashion labels, including Dolce & Gabbana, Moschino and Versace at Milan Fashion Week. Going for gold: The model added some bling to his monochromatic look by means of a gold bracelet and two cocktail rings Australian hunk: The genetically-blessed star also offered onlookers a closer look of his bronzed complexion and sunkissed mane during the sighting However the model's appeal lies beyond the catwalk, having been linked to the likes of 'it' girls Hailey Baldwin, Sofia Richie, Megan Blake Irwin, Lara Stone and Sahara Ray. He has also been awarded the Model of the Year Award for three consecutive times since his first Tom Ford campaign. The hunk was discovered by a model scout in Byron Bay after he was caught shoplifting. She's been hard at work promoting her new movie, Brightburn. And Elizabeth Banks stepped out in style as she arrived at the Jimmy Kimmel Live studios in Los Angeles on Monday ahead of her appearance on the chat show. The actress, 45, looked radiant as she stepped out in a black and white gingham coat and blue denim cropped jeans. Check her out! Elizabeth Banks stepped out in style as she arrived at the Jimmy Kimmel Live studios in Los Angeles on Monday ahead of her appearance on the chat show Styling her blonde locks in loose waves, the Pitch Perfect star added to her look with a vibrant red lip and accessorised with hoop earrings. Elizabeth completed her ensemble with a plain white T-shirt and a pair of stylish black leather loafers. The mother-of-two appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the studio amid a busy few weeks of promotion for her latest project, Brightburn, which is due for release on May 24. Brightburn puts a unique genre spin on a superhero-like origin story, but instead of a hero coming to Earth, it's a villain. Chic: The actress, 45, looked radiant as she stepped out in a black and white gingham coat and blue denim cropped jeans Pop of colour: Styling her blonde locks in loose waves, the Pitch Perfect star added to her look with a vibrant red lip and accessorised with hoop earrings The story follows a child from another world who crash lands on Earth, but instead of blossoming into a heroic figure, he turns into something far more sinister. The cast also includes Jennifer Holland, Matt Jones, Meredith Hagner and Steve Agee, with David Yarovesky (The Hive) directing from a script by Brian and Mark Gunn (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island). It's a busy few months for Elizabeth, who also stars as one of the Bosley characters in Sony's reboot of Charlie's Angels, featuring Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, Ella Balinska and Noah Centineo. The actress also directed Charlie's Angels, which will hit theaters November 1. Hard at work: The mother-of-two appeared in good spirits as she arrived at the studio amid a busy few weeks of promotion for her latest project, Brightburn Working mom: It's been a busy few weeks for the actress and director with her promoting her latest project across the country In other directorial projects, Elizabeth is helming the pilot episode for potential ABC series The Greater Good, described as 'a comedic version of The X-Files, a relationship and workplace comedy set in the world of conspiracy theories'. The big screen favourite is also set to star in Taylor Hackford's new film Signal Hill, which is currently in pre-production. Elizabeth will appear alongside Jamie Foxx and Anthony Mackie, playing a young Johnnie Cochran, who takes on a police brutality case in 1981 that would put him on the map in the legal world. She is set to star as one of the latest Bond Girls in 007's hotly-anticipated return to screens in Bond 25. And Ana De Armas paid tribute to her home country of Cuba, as she took to Instagram on Wednesday to show fans around Santa Cruz del Norte, which is an hours drive east of the capital, Havana. In a gushing first post, of a picture featuring her and one of her grandparents, the 31-year-old actress wrote: 'This is home! This is Cuba. Where my family is at, my roots, my pride and my heart. My strength, my loved ones, my hood, my blood. Sweet: Bond girl Ana De Armas paid tribute to her home country of Cuba in a gushing post on Wednesday as she gave fans a glimpse at her childhood home, school and family She continued: 'I will always be proud of it,m I will always remember, I will always want the best for my country and my people.' One stunning image saw the actress pose for a selfie with her mother Ana, who she called her number one. While in another image she could be seen with a family member, who she kissed on the shoulder after waking up, as she wrote happily: 'This is where I like to sleep and what I wanna wake up to in the mornings. This is happiness!' Taking her followers on a tour of her hometown, Ana also showed off the colourful yet humble flats that she resided in, including the long walkway between residents. Family life: One stunning image saw the actress pose for a selfie with her mother Ana, while in another she spent time with another family member Gushing: Alongside a picture featuring her and one of her grandparents, the actress wrote: 'This is home! This is Cuba. Where my family is at, my roots, my pride and my heart' Exploring: Taking her followers on a tour of her hometown, Ana also showed off the colourful yet humble flats that she resided in, including the long walkway between residents Her roots: Ana enrolled at the Escuela Nacional de Teatro, the national theatre school, in 2002, when she was 14, and she also took a snap of the building where she trained Paying tribute: In one snap, Ana also posed for a fun picture with her father Ramon Ana enrolled at the Escuela Nacional de Teatro, the national theatre school, in 2002, when she was 14, and she also took a snap of the building where she trained. In another slew of sweet images, the Blade Runner: 2049 star was seen taking care of her family members, including her godson who slept peacefully in her arms. While she also promoted her friends who run clothing brand Clandestina, as she posed with her pals and wrote: 'Amazing talented smart inspiring women with so much to say and ready to eat the world!!! My friends.' Ana also shared a number of images of the stunning landscapes that can be seen on the island, including an idyllic beach and the city of Havana. Doting: In another slew of sweet images, the Blade Runner: 2049 star was seen taking care of her family members, including her godson Cute: In another snap, Ana slept peacefully with her godson in her arms Quality time: Ana showed her love for he hometown, as she shared images playing with her family members Adorable: Ana also posed for sweet selfies with her family Enjoying herself: Ana relaxed on a bed alongside two family members Ana has acknowledged that her success only came because she made the decision to leave her home country. Her departure was only possible as one set of grandparents is Spanish, and in one interview, she described her potential future if she chose to stay in Cuba. I had there, in front of my eyes, former students of the school graduates who were not working or who didnt have any money because they had to perform social service, she recalled. I would turn on the television and see nothing more than old reruns of soap operas or things produced by ICRT [the Cuban broadcaster] that were of poor-quality due to the low budgets. I was fortunate enough to also have Spanish nationality, and with that freedom I could come to Spain. I dont know what I would have done if I hadnt had this advantage. Inspirational: Ana posed with her pals and wrote: 'Amazing talented smart inspiring women with so much to say and ready to eat the world!!! My friends' Stylish ensembles: Ana also promoted her friends' clothing brand Clandestina Loveable: One of Ana's adorable family members looked up at her with large sunglasses Dancing around: Another snap saw Ana spend time around a campfire on the beach with pals Tribute: Ana also shared another image of a friend's engagement nrews The Cuban-Spanish star was confirmed as the brand new Bond Girl last month and will star in the as-yet-untitled Bond 25 film, which will be released on 8 April 2020. Ana first made her Hollywood debut in 2015's Knock Knock alongside Keanu Reeves, and a quick look at her Instagram platform shows her love for uploading bikini and nearly nude snaps from idyllic locations around the world. Born in Santa Cruz del Norte, Ana attended the National Theatre School of Cuba at the age of 12, and made her acting debut in 2006's Spanish film, Una rosa de Francia. Ana made the successful crossover to Hollywood with Knock Knock, and then went on to work with Ryan Gosling and Robin Wright in 2017's Blade Runner 2049. This will mark Ana's breakthrough Hollywood role and interestingly enough, she has already worked with Daniel Craig on the crime drama Knives Out, which is set for release in November of this year. Family life: Ana also took a snap of a young girl who was being taught how to ride a bike Yum! Ana also showed off the delicious food that she has while back at home Wow: Ana shared a number of images of the stunning landscapes that can be seen on the island, including an idyllic beach Stunning: Ana also showed off the gorgeous city of Havana They've been enjoying a romantic few days in Cannes, since the premiere of his new film Pain And Glory at the 72nd annual Film Festival on Friday. And Antonio Banderas, 58, and his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel, 38, looked relaxed as they jumped on a boat to head to their luxury hotel Eden Roc on Wednesday. The couple smiled and waved during their sunshine trip before holding hands for their stroll inside. All at sea: Antonio Banderas, 58, and his girlfriend Nicole Kimpel, 38, looked relaxed as they jumped on a boat to head to their luxury hotel Eden Roc in Cannes on Wednesday Antonio dressed for his trip out to sea in dapper sailor stripes, layering a long-sleeve top under a blue jacket. He added pristine white trousers and shades. Nicole meanwhile was looking as chic as ever in a summery white and green maxi dress, with a side split flashing a look at her long tanned legs. The blonde beauty added a green jacket with floral embroidery. Good looking pair: The couple smiled and waved during their sunshine trip on the Riviera Smitten: The couple, who have been dating for four years, held hands in the picturesque location which is home to the 72nd Cannes Film Festival this month Pins on parade: Nicole's long, lean legs were on full display as she strutted along She accessorised with sky high heels, a tiny white bag and designer shades. Antonio and Nicole packed on the PDA at the Cannes Film Festival premiere of his new movie Pain And Glory on Friday. The duo put on a cosy display, posing for pictures and they later shared a tender smooch in front of onlookers. All aboard: Antonio dressed for his trip out to sea in dapper sailor stripes, layering a long-sleeve top under a blue jacket Gorgeous: Nicole was looking as chic as ever in a summery white and green maxi dress, with a side split flashing a look at her long tanned legs Florals: The blonde beauty added a green jacket with floral embroidery over the top Love: Antonio and Nicole have been dating for four years after he split up with his then-wife of 19 years Melanie Griffiths Nice ride! The couple made their way to their A-list hotel in style, making the most of the sun Antonio and Nicole have been dating for four years after he split up with his then-wife of 19 years Melanie Griffiths. Pain and Glory is a Spanish film that follows a director Salvador Mallo, played by Banderas, in his decline as he reflects and revisits big moments and decisions in his life. He stars opposite Penelope Cruz who plays Salvador's mother in flashback scenes from his childhood in the 1960s. Star-studded: Art dealer Vito Schnabel was also pictured at Eden Roc Hotel during the 72nd annual event Off he goes: Amber Heard's ex, 32, looked effortlessly cool in a dark-wash jumper and white trousers Liev Schreiber split from his partner Naomi Watts, with whom he is raising two children, in September 2016. But the two of them are getting along very well thanks to a 'balance' they have, the Ray Donovan star told the new issue of Hamptons magazine. 'We were a good balance that way,' said the 51-year-old San Francisco native. 'I was very forthcoming and she was good at hauling me in. And we still have that relationship, and I'm very grateful to her for it.' Smart move: Liev Schreiber split from his partner Naomi Watts, with whom he is raising two children, in September 2016. But the two of them are getting along very well thanks to a 'balance' they have, the Ray Donovan star told the new issue of Hamptons magazine They were a power couple: Here the exes are seen in 2016 at the Oscars The star added, 'I think maybe I go too far. I'm sure Naomi [Watts] would probably say I go a little too far. That was the nice thing about Naomi and me.' He has stayed close with Naomi and he even had her brother Ben Watts do his Hamptons photo shoot. Together the handsome star and the pretty blonde - who appeared in the movie The Painted Veil together - have Samuel, aged 10, and Sasha, aged 11. Liev said he is happy to raise his kids outside of the cookie cutter norm. His take: 'We were a good balance that way,' said the 51-year-old San Francisco native. 'I was very forthcoming and she was good at hauling me in. And we still have that relationship, and I'm very grateful to her for it' Family: Together the handsome star and the pretty blonde - who appeared in the movie The Painted Veil together - have Samuel, aged 10, and Sasha, aged 11. Seen in 2015 'My mom raised me in a fairly unconventional way,' said the Salt star. 'I don't think I'm raising my children in a very unconventional way. 'My mother had nothing, really, in terms of material possessions or money. And both Naomi and I are pretty blessed in that department. My mom believed that music, literature and art were sort of the apex of human culture and civilization. 'I don't know that I have her level of knowledge and facility with that. But I hope my kids also get some of that, if not from me, then from her and my brothers.' On the anxiety of fatherhood: 'It's terribly, terribly, terribly difficult. I worry about everything. You worry about this and you worry about that. And the truth is, you don't really need to worry that much. They are very capable. 'I mean, they have everything they need coming into this world to do what they intend to do. And they probably will do it regardless of what you throw their way.' Past: 'My mom raised me in a fairly unconventional way,' said the Salt star. 'I don't think I'm raising my children in a very unconventional way. 'My mother had nothing, really, in terms of material possessions or money. And both Naomi and I are pretty blessed in that department' He finds peace when he is surfing. 'I love the power. I love the learning curve. I love the violence. I love the stillness. I love how it just depletes you when you're done. I love how it calms your mind and your body, resets you and puts you in such a good place. And it separates how you really feel, kind of struggling around for a foothold and finding that spot.' Liev has found one of his best acting jobs with Ray Donovan and morality. He said that the 'anti-hero has come up a lot and not just for men, but I think for women as well struggling with the idea of doing what is right morally, ethically and emotionally.' His big TV role: Liev has found one of his best acting jobs with Ray Donovan and morality. He said that the 'anti-hero has come up a lot and not just for men, but I think for women as well struggling with the idea of doing what is right morally, ethically and emotionally' Schreiber added, 'Having principles and values is a conversation we're having with ourselves more and more in this world. And I think Ray struggles with that in a highly compelling and dynamic way, and that's contrasted with the outbursts and violence sort of rumbling around deeply in our culture right now, and I think Ray Donovan's tapped into that.' And he added that 'ego is also dangerous.' But it can be a 'great engine and a very powerful tool for actors.' A man in a suit throwing off his tie: The Hamptons article was titled Liev & Learn The star explained: 'But at the end of the day, you have to recognize that it's not your story it's not about you. It belongs to the audience. It belongs to the viewers. 'And if you understand that perspective, it can help you be a better actor because there's a detachment that comes with that, that is more compelling to watch, at least for me.' On adapting a Jonathan Safran Foer novel: 'It was totally traumatic because I'm incredibly self-conscious and guilt-ridden. I felt terrible about adapting Jonathan's beautiful book and possibly ruining it, and I felt terrible about writing my family and mourning, and exposing all of them and doing all these things I shouldn't be doing. But I think that's just being neurotic and complicated. In retrospect, I'm very proud of all the work everyone did on it.' Liev's next movie is the Woody Allen film A Rainy Day In New York with Selena Gomez. He has won two Oscars and been nominated for five. But Quentin Tarantino considers his most recent project his 'most personal.' The 56-year-old filmmaker told Esquire magazine that Once Upon A Time In Hollywood - which is his ninth feature film - is the closest to him because it was inspired by his childhood. Passion project: Quentin Tarantino - pictured at a news conference at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday - told Esquire magazine that Once Upon A Time In Hollywood - which is his ninth feature film - is the closest to him because it was inspired by his childhood Dynamic duo: The highly-anticipated movie is set in 1969 Los Angeles and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as television star Rick Dalton, Brad Pitt as his long-time stunt double The highly-anticipated movie is set in 1969 Los Angeles and stars Leonardo DiCaprio as television star Rick Dalton, Brad Pitt as his long-time stunt double and Margot Robbie as movie star Sharon Tate. It was said to be a 'love letter' to the last moments of Hollywood's golden age and he considers the story to be a 'memory piece' about Los Angeles, the city where he grew up and that fueled his passion for cinema. Speaking about his film - which premiered on Tuesday at the Cannes Film Festival to a seven minute standing ovation - to Esquire magazine, he said: '[The film is] probably my most personal. I think of it like my memory piece. 'Alfonso [Cuaron] had 'Roma' and Mexico City, 1970. I had LA and 1969. This is me. This is the year that formed me. I was six years old then. This is my world. And this is my love letter to LA.' Interesting: It was said to be a 'love letter' to the last moments of Hollywood's golden age and the 56-year-old filmmaker - pictured with wife Daniela Pick, 34 - considers story to be 'memory piece' about Los Angeles, the city where he grew up and that fueled his passion for cinema Taking a stand: Tarantino - pictured on the cover of Esquire with Brad and Leo - told the publication: 'I had LA and 1969. This is me. This is the year that formed me. I was six years old then. This is my world. And this is my love letter to LA' DiCaprio, 44, agrees Tarantino that the movie is a 'homage to Hollywood' and feels the movie explores a 'seminal time' in American cinema. He said: 'Well, first off, the chance to work with Mr. Tarantino. And certainly this time period was fascinating. It was this homage to Hollywood. I don't think there's been a Hollywood film like this - and by that I mean a film set in Hollywood and about Hollywood - which gets its nails dirty, getting into the everyday life of an actor and his stunt double. 'That year, 1969, is a seminal time in cinema history as well as in the world. Rick and Cliff, they're part of the old guard in Hollywood, but they're also trying to navigate this new world of the hippie revolution and free love.' The movie depicts the shocking real-life murder of Sharon Tate, the wife of director Roman Polanski (Rafa Zawierucha), at the hands of the Manson Family led by cult leader Charles Manson (Damon Herriman). Loved up: Tarantino and his wife at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood After Party at JW Marriott in Cannes, France on Tuesday The early reviews of the period piece have been wildly positive as Daily Mail's Brian Viner called it a 'wildly enjoyable black comedy.' He said: 'For me, his masterpiece will always be 1994's Pulp Fiction, but this isn't far behind, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt both on thumpingly fine form. 'The film takes us on a journey towards that terrible night, but on the way Tarantino is in incorrigibly playful mood and has enormous fun depicting certain fixtures of 60s Hollywood. 'There is also, this being a Tarantino film, a full repertoire of tricks voiceovers, split-screens, slow-mo, flashbacks. But they all add to the fun. It's a hit: The film received a seven minute standing ovation after it world premiered at Cannes on Tuesday 'Tarantino recreates the era exquisitely and in a way has made the film a love-letter to his own square-eyed childhood. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw praised the Tarantino film for honouring the golden age of Hollywood and balancing the enjoyment of the story with the 'horror and cruelty' of the vile murders. Labeling the film a 'pulp-fictionally redemptive take on the Manson nightmare in late-60s California' he said: 'I just defy anyone with red blood in their veins not to respond to the crazy bravura of Tarantinos film-making, not to be bounced around the auditorium at the moment-by-moment enjoyment that this movie delivers and conversely, of course, to shudder at the horror and cruelty and its hallucinatory aftermath.' The film will be released in the US on July 26 2019 and the UK on August 15 2019. Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker will be released in December, but already the movie has landed two Vanity Fair covers. On Wednesday the issue was rolled out with Daisy Ridley as Rey and Adam Driver as Kylo Ren - aka Ben Solo - on the front with a large photo album inside that included a first look at Keri Russell in character as the masked scoundrel Zorri Bliss. Director JJ Abrams talked about tackling the last Skywalker saga while explaining how he figured out a way to include the late Carrie Fisher, who played General Leia Organa, in the movie. And a source also told the monthly that the film will shed more light on the relationship between Rey and Kylo, adding their connection 'runs even deeper than previously revealed.' Back for more: Star Wars IX: The Rise Of Skywalker will be released in December, but already the movie has landed Vanity Fair covers. Here Daisy Ridley is seen as Rey JJ has already revealed that he is using old footage of Carrie as Leia from The Force Awakens that wasn't used. But in Vanity Fair the director explained how it all came to him. 'It's hard to even talk about it without sounding like I'm being some kind of cosmic spiritual goofball,' Abrams said. 'But it felt like we suddenly had found the impossible answer to the impossible question.' He started to write scenes around the old footage, fitting Leia's dialogue into new contexts, VF stated. And the lighting was tweaked just so to make the footage look right. Lonely boy: Adam Driver, who plays Kylo Ren, talked being abandoned by Han Solo. 'How do you form friendships out of that?' Driver asked. 'How do you understand the weight of that? And if there's no one around you guiding you, or articulating things the right way it can easily go awry' Touting their big get: Vanity Fair shared both covers on Wednesday morning adding that Annie Leibovitz took the images 'It was a bizarre kind of left side/right side of the brain sort of Venn diagram thing, of figuring out how to create the puzzle based on the pieces we had.' JJ also confirmed that Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, will be in the movie again as a Resistance officer named Lieutenant Connix. She was seen in both Force Awakens and Last Jedi. A new behind-the-scenes look: This image taken on set shows Chewbacca, Rey and C-3PO Even though she was still in mourning, she wanted to work on the film. 'And so, there are moments where they're talking; there are moments where they're touching,' Abrams said. 'There are moments in this movie where Carrie is there, and I really do feel there is an element of the uncanny, spiritual, you know, classic Carrie, that it would have happened this way, because somehow it worked. And I never thought it would.' Abrams also touched on how daunting it was to bring the Skywalker story to a close after so much time. Tough jobL Abrams also touched on how daunting it was to bring the Skywalker story to a close after so much time. 'That's the challenge of this movie,' Abrams says. 'It wasn't just to make one film that as a stand-alone experience would be thrilling, and scary, and emotional, and funny, but one that if you were to watch all nine of the films, you'd feel like, Well, of course that!' Seen in 2015 'That's the challenge of this movie,' Abrams says. 'It wasn't just to make one film that as a stand-alone experience would be thrilling, and scary, and emotional, and funny, but one that if you were to watch all nine of the films, you'd feel like, Well, of course that!' And there is so much baggage. 'This trilogy is about this young generation, this new generation, having to deal with all the debt that has come before,' he added. 'And its the sins of the father, and its the wisdom and the accomplishments of those who did great things, but its also those who committed atrocities, and the idea that this group is up against this unspeakable evil and are they prepared? Are they ready? They are both back: He has already revealed that he is using old footage of Carrie as Leia from The Force Awakens that wasn't used. But in Vanity Fair JJ explained how it all came to him. 'It's hard to even talk about it without sounding like I'm being some kind of cosmic spiritual goofball,' Abrams said. Carrie seen with daughter Billie in 2015 'What have they learned from before? Its less about grandeur. Its less about restoring an old age. Its more about preserving a sense of freedom and not being one of the oppressed. 'The idea of the movie is kind of how I felt going into the movie as a filmmaker which is to say that Ive inherited all this stuff, great stuff, and good wisdom, and the good and the bad, and its all coming to this end, and the question is, do we have what it takes to succeed?' He also talked about the look of his films and what inspired him. Abrams wanted more of the feel of the first three Star Wars films: New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi. More Lourd: JJ also confirmed that Fisher's daughter, Billie Lourd, will be in the movie again as as a Resistance officer named Lieutenant Connix 'Famously, the prequels were mostly greenscreen environments,' Abrams says. 'And that was George himself doing that, and it ended up looking exactly how he wanted it to lookand I always preferred the look of the original movies, because I just remember when you're in the snow on Hoth, when you're in the desert on Tatooine, and when you're in the forests of Endorit's amazing. If you put a vaporator here, there, all of a sudden almost any natural location suddenly becomes a location.' The VF writer also was allowed to talk to some of the cast members. Ridley, who plays Rey, had the most to say. And she turned her attention to how Rey felt about Kylo. 'I think there's a part of Rey that's like, dude, you f**king had it all, you had it all,' Ridley says. 'That was always a big question during filming: you had it all and you let it go.' Kylo is the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia, but he ended up going to the dark side and worshiping Darth Vader, his late grandfather. A source told VF that the connection between Rey and Kylo is deeper than anyone could have guessed which begs the question: are they related? Many fans have claimed they are brother and sister. Daisy also noted she loved the Skywalker trailer: 'It's nice having that shot at the beginning of the teaser, because I think it's quite a good visual representation of where she is now: confident, calm, less fearful. It's still sort of overwhelming, but in a different way. It feels more rightless like inevitable and more like there's a focus to the journey.' Driver, who plays Kylo, added more mystery to the Kylo/Rey connection. Here it is: In the Rise Of Skywalker trailer, Rey is seen hugging Leia. Old footage was carefully used with tweaked lighting The way she was: Fisher is seen in 2015's Force Awakens with Harrison Ford 'And then he had been forging this maybe-bond with Rey and it kind of ends with the question in the air: is he going to pursue that relationship, or when the door of her ship goes up, does that also close that camaraderie that they were maybe forming?' he stated. And Adam also talked about how there was too much pressure for Ben Solo which may have led to his demons. It didn't help that Han ditched him to go back to smuggling. 'How do you form friendships out of that?' Driver asked. 'How do you understand the weight of that? And if there's no one around you guiding you, or articulating things the right way it can easily go awry.' Billy Dee Williams, 82, is bringing back his character Lando Calrissian who was the charismatic friend who betrayed then helped Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford. 'He's a survivor. It's expediency for him,' Williams says. 'You know, he was thrown into a situation which he didn't look for and he had to try to figure out how to deal with an entity which is more than just a human.' A first look: Daisy said she liked how the trailer opened as Rey came off as 'strong' John Boyega, who plays Finn, offered an update: 'I think he's just an active member of the Resistance now. Episode Eight, he couldn't decide what team he was fighting for. But since then he's made a clear decision.' Oscar Isaac, who plays Poe Dameron, added some more information about his character: 'There has been a bit of shared history that you haven't seen. Whereas in the other films, Poe is this kind of lone wolf, now he's really part of a group. They're going out and going on missions and have a much more familiar dynamic now.' Anthony Daniels, who plays C-3P0, said he loved the Rise Of Skywalker script. But he grappled with a line. 'My first line would not go in my head!' he says. 'The line that I couldn't say was two words: 'common emblem.' Common emblem, common emblemI would say them thousands of times. My wife would say it back. I just couldn't say them!' On set: Also in the Skywalker trailer, Rey is seen with, from left, Chewbacca, BB-8, C-3PO, Poe and Finn A bit of the past comes back: Poe, Finn and Rey look at part of the blown up Death Star Back for fun: Billy Dee Williams, 82, is bringing back his character Lando Calrissian who was the charismatic friend who betrayed then helped Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford. 'He's a survivor. It's expediency for him,' Williams says Joonas Suotamo, who plays Chewbacca, took over from Peter Nayhew who died in April. 'When I first met [Mayhew] he told me I was a wee bit too skinny,' Suotamo says. 'But we also had a Wookiee boot camp, which lasted for a week. He told me all kinds of things about the moves that Chewbacca does, how they came to be and his reasoning behind them.' He added, 'It's very much like silent-era film, with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. He's a mime character and that's what he does, and I guess in that minimalism comes the beauty of the character.' 'It feels very grounded,' says Naomi Ackie, who's making her debut in Skywalker. She plays Jannah. 'There's the kind of spectacular-ness, and the supernatural move-things-with-your-mind magic stuff, but then there's also this really grounded, rugged nature where everything is distressed and old and kind of worn out and lived-in. And I think playing with those two ideas means that you get this feeling that it could almost be real. Like, in a galaxy far away, it could almost be the case that you could have this.' The way they were: Carrie with Chewbacca, C-3PO and Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back The Rise of Skywalker introduces some new characters: there is a one-wheeled droid called D-O, the alien Klaud, Keri as Zorri Bliss, and Richard E Grant as Allegiant General Pryde. Producer Kathleen Kennedy also talked about the future of Star Wars. Disney plans to make five more movies in five years. 'I think there is a larger expectation that Disney has,' Kennedy says. 'On the other hand, though, I think that Disney is very respectful of what this is, and right from the beginning we talked about the fragility of this form of storytelling. Because it's something that means so much to fans that you can't turn this into some kind of factory approach. You can't even do what Marvel does, necessarily, where you pick characters and build new franchises around those characters. This needs to evolve differently.' Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker will be released in US theaters on December 20, 2019. On Monday's Made In Chelsea, Jamie Laing admitted he had feelings for his best friend Sam Thompson's ex, Sophie Habboo. And it seems this has driven a wedge into their friendship, and that Sam is avoiding speaking to Jamie about the matter. Talking things through on Made In Chelsea's sister podcast 'The MIC Drop', Jamie and Habbs told fellow stars Miles Nazaire and Melissa Tattam how things currently lie. Trouble: Jamie Laing has admitted he has feelings for his best friend Sam Thompson's ex, Sophie Habboo. And it seems this has driven a wedge into their friendship 'A lot of people are upset my ex-girlfriend is upset, Sams obviously upset. Its very delicate and its tricky,' Jamie, 30, said. 'I reached out to Sam, I spoke to him and explained the situation and said I was sorry. 'I havent heard from him since and its obviously tricky to deal with and I havent heard from him. Ive reached out and havent heard back.' Jamie and Habbs addressed the matter of their alleged romance, and Jamie admitted he regretted expressing his feelings for Habbs, as was shown during a trip to Cape Town on the E4 show this week. 'Youve done all you can do,' Melissa insisted, referring to the fact that Jamie had reached out to Sam. Asking Habbs how she felt, the reality starlet said: 'I think it sucks when things like that get said as its not true' Regrets: Jamie and Habbs addressed the matter of their alleged romance, and Jamie admitted he regretted expressing his feelings for Habbs, as was shown during a trip to Cape Town on the E4 show this week [pictured] 'No people keep saying that and that Ive done the good deed. No the good deed would never saying anything in the first place, so Im completely in the wrong without a doubt but its how you deal with the aftermath.' Asking Habbs how she felt, the reality starlet said: 'I think it sucks when things like that get said as its not true.' 'So, whats not true then?' asked Miles. To which Jamie insisted the implication that he and Habbs are dating is false. Are they/aren't they? Jamie insisted the implication that he and Habbs are dating is false No thanks: Habbs claimed she dumped 'great boyfriend' Sam because he 'doted on her too much' 'Its not true and a lot of people are getting upset,' he said. As well as Sam being upset, and Jamie's recently-ex-girlfriend Heloise Agostinelli, Habbs added: 'My friend is upset.' This presumably was a reference to Frankie Gaff, her pal, who Jamie also used to date. Habbs previously claimed she split from Sam because he gave her too much attention. Prior to reports she has moved on with his close pal, the 25-year-old said she had cooled things off with Sam, 26, because he showered her with affection all of the time. Fallen out: Habbs gave the interview to new! magazine before news emerged that she has been supposedly romancing Sam's BFF Jamie She told new! magazine: 'His best was that he doted on my hand and foot, but his worst was maybe that he doted on me too much. Some girls like that, I don't. For me, I don't like someone who's needy. Independence is key for me.' The television personality 'absolutely' ruled out a reunion with her 'faultless' ex as she insisted he wasn't Mr Right. She also detailed that the pair don't talk anymore and she revealed they cut contact because they didn't start out as friends. She added: '[I would] Absolutely not [go back out with him]. He treated me well, he was lovely to me and he was a great boyfriend. I couldn't fault him in any way but he wasn't right for me unfortunately. Betrayal? The Made In Chelsea star, 30, who recently split with his former flame Heloise Agostinelli, is believed to have set his sights on his friend's ex, according to The Sun Hurt: Sam is said to be 'devastated' by Jamie's actions because he believes Jamie knows how heartbroken he was after Habbs dumped him last year 'Me and Sam were never friends before we went out so there was no reason for us to be friends afterwards.' At the time of the interview, Habbs stated she did not have a boyfriend but she revealed she was 'open' to finding a new man. An insider previously told The Sun: 'Sam has been left devastated by Jamie's actions. They've been close friends for years and Jamie knows how heartbroken Sam was when Habbs finished with him. 'Habbs should have been massively off limits but instead he's been hooking up with her behind Sam's back which has really shocked their entire friendship group.' The Made In Chelsea insider also slammed Habbs for 'breaking girl code' by hooking up with one of her friend's exes. Former flame: Up until recently, Jamie had been dating billionaire heiress Heloise, who made her debut on the show last year following his split from Frankie The source said: 'Its also incredibly hurtful on Habbs' part. Shes good friends with Jamies ex Frankie Gaff and has massively broken girl code.' Sam and Habbs endured a tumultuous romance which saw them both stray while dating. They eventually found their way back to each other during their summer trip to Croatia last year. However their happiness was short lived after Habbs dumped Sam at a Christmas party during an emotional chat as she said they just weren't right for one another. Girl code? The new romance will also no doubt cause ructions between Habbs and one of her close friends Frankie Gaff Past love: Frankie, 24, previously dated Jamie on and off for two years Following the rocky romance, Sam decided to quit the show in favour of appearing on reality dating show Celebs Go Dating, where he hoped to mend his heartache. He shocked fans with the news of his departure six years after first appearing on MIC. In an interview with Heart, the reality star admitted he quit the series after struggling to deal with his break-up from Habbs. The TV personality said: 'Getting dumped all the time was chipping away at my confidence.' Detailing the break-up, he elaborated: 'You don't want to be around your ex. Everyone on there is now more her friend and a lot of my friends have upped and left.' She often enjoys sun-soaked trips around the world as she relishes in some downtime years after dominating the beauty and fashion industry. And Victoria Silvstedt displayed her effortless modelling prowess as she relaxed by the pool at the Eden Roc hotel during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on Monday afternoon. The Swedish beauty, 44, put on a sizzling display as she slipped into a velvet powder blue swimwear by luxury beach brand Sama Danesh, which retails at 298. Working it! Victoria Silvstedt displayed her effortless modelling prowess as she relaxed by the pool at the Eden Roc hotel during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on Monday afternoon Flashing a hint at her lean legs and ample cleavage, the catwalk queen's racy one-piece featured a perilously plunging neckline and very daringly-cut sides that sat high on her waist. The model complemented her scantily-clad appearance with a pair of cat-eye frame shades and a chunky gold bangle. With her tresses styled into voluminous loose waves, the former Playboy vixen accentuated her glowing complexion with matte foundation, light strokes of blusher and pink lipstick. As she left the pool, Victoria rocked a heavily-ruffled day gown in a similar hue as her stunning swimsuit, complete with a saucy thigh-high slit and a deeply low-cut neckline. Racy: The blonde bombshell put on a sizzling display as she slipped into a velvet powder blue swimwear by luxury beach brand Sama Danesh, which retails at 298 Sizzling: Flashing a hint at her lean legs and ample cleavage, the catwalk queen's racy one-piece featured a perilously plunging neckline and daringly-cut sides She has enjoyed a lengthy stint in the spotlight after being chosen to represent her country in the Miss World pageant in 1993. After her pageant days, the Scandinavian stunner was spotted by Hugh Hefner and went on to become a Playboy Playmate. Since her career rocketed, Victoria has modelled for some of the world's most prestigious fashion houses, including Chanel, Dior and Valentino. Despite the glamorous veneer to her lifestyle as a young model, she revealed there was a dark side in a recent interview with Female First. All in the details: The model complemented her scantily-clad appearance with a pair of cat-eye frame shades and a chunky gold bangle Looking good: The former Playboy vixen accentuated her glowing complexion with matte foundation, light strokes of blusher and pink lipstick Iconic: Victoria has enjoyed a lengthy stint in the spotlight after being chosen to represent her country in the Miss World pageant in 1993 Chic: As she left the pool, she rocked a heavily-ruffled day gown in a similar hue as her stunning swimsuit, complete with a saucy thigh-high slit and a deeply low-cut neckline Victoria said: 'I started very young to model in Paris when I was 18, I remember like starving myself to fit into the clothes and it was an amazing experience but you know I did shows for Valentino, Chanel, so it was really prestigious. 'But it never felt like it was my thing, I'm not like a runway skinny model, I'm more curvy. It was torture, I put myself through starvation, you know torturing myself.' The 2019 Cannes Film Festival is taking place at the iconic Palais des Festivals until May 25. Focused: She looked pensive as she stood by her balcony Working hard: After her pageant days, the Scandinavian stunner was spotted by Hugh Hefner and went on to become a Playboy Playmate Huawei can take a bit of a breather with the US Department of Commerce granting the company a 90-day reprieve to an import ban against them. The company gets a Temporary General License that allows them to engage with U.S. vendors on a limited basis. This means, Google can continue to provide software updates to Huawei for its Android phones and Huaweis component suppliers can deliver on their previously-made orders. It also helps out telcos needing to find alternative solutions to Huawei products. Last Thursday, the agency put Huawei on its Entity List as a response to alleged sanction breaches the company has done with business conducted in Iran. This meant vendors in the US couldnt work with the company. Suppliers like Google, Intel, and Qualcomm have announced that they would comply with the order. But with the reprieve, Huawei will be able to work with its partners temporarily and itll give the company time to find alternative sources to its US-made components. The company is already reportedly working on shipping its alternative mobile OS soon. The Department of Commerce can opt to extend the license beyond August 19th. Fashion designer Camilla Franks, who is famed for her kaftan brand Camilla, opened two new stores in the United States (Miami and Orange County) this month. And a slew of Australian stars, who attended Camilla's US launch party at Curtis Stone's restaurant, Gwen in Los Angeles on Wednesday shared a sneak peek of her lavish celebration on their respective Instagram accounts. The star-studded event was packed with famous faces, including Extra host, Renee Bargh, 32, model, Ashley Hart, 30, and actor, Hugh Sheridan, 33. Scroll down for video The kaftan queen goes abroad! Fashion designer Camilla Franks' (left) threw a star-studded party to launch her flagship US stores, with the likes of Australian actor Hugh Sheridan (right) making an appearance The LA-based TV host paid homage to the Aussie designer and came dressed in one of her luxurious designs. In a post shared to Renee's Instagram Stories, the blonde stunner oozed opulence as she donned Camilla's 100 per cent silk 'pajama suit' jacket and matching trousers. She was seen posing alongside one of Australia's most successful modelling exports, Ashley, who showed off her svelte figure in a pink-hued number from the popular designer. Blonde ambition: The star-studded event was packed with famous faces, including Extra host, Renee Bargh, 32, (left) model and Ashley Hart, 30, (right) Oh so pretty in pink! One of Australia's most successful modelling exports, Ashley showed off her svelte figure in a pink number from the popular designer Back to nature: Guests were treated to a bohemian-style feast, complete with rustic table decor and vases of red, yellow and green flowers Guests were treated to a bohemian-style feast, complete with rustic table decor and vases of red, yellow and green flowers. During the festivities, Camilla addressed her guests with a speech about her experiences in the cutthroat about the fashion industry. 'I think with fashion sometimes comes ageism and shapeism and that for me didn't fit so well,' she said in a clip shared on Renee's Instagram account. Multi-talented: In a surprise moment, the Packed to the Rafters star showed off his dulcet tones and treated the guests to an impromptu vocal performance 'So to me the Camilla women is everyone. She's the grandmother, who is old enough and wise enough to do as she pleases and she's the new mother, me...with a belly!' the mother-of-one added. In a surprise moment, the Packed to the Rafters star showed off his dulcet tones and treated the guests to an impromptu vocal performance. Hugh was also seen cosying up to Camilla in an image he shared to Instagram on Wednesday. 'So proud of you Camilla,' the multi-talented star captioned the photo. Camilla's triumphant return comes after she spoke of her shock diagnosis back in February. Talking to Marie Claire, Camilla recounted the moment she was told by the doctors that she had breast cancer just three months after giving birth to her daughter, Luna. Staying strong: Camilla's triumphant return comes after she spoke of her shock diagnosis back in February, recounting the moment she was told by the doctors that she had breast cancer just three months after giving birth to her daughter, Luna 'It kept growing. I was told over and over that it was mastitis [a painful infection of the breast tissue], but it wasn't mastitis,' she said. Despite the heartbreaking news, Camilla will never look back at that year with disdain. 'I was pregnant, I gave birth, I danced with the devil that is cancer... it was tough and it was challenging but, in a strange way, it was my greatest year yet,' she explained. Shock announcement: Camilla announced the shock cancer news in May 2018, just three months after giving birth to Luna While not giving any definitive answer on whether she is in remission, Camilla did finish the interview by saying 'there's still a journey ahead of me'. 'Cancer is part of my story now. I'm willing to accept that - and only those who have endured this raw fear and threat will understand what it means to live with it,' she said. She announced the shock cancer news in May 2018 and revealed she would begin treatment under one of the country's leading oncologists 'very shortly'. 'I start on this journey humble but resilient; I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared but I am fearlessly determined to do whatever it takes by focusing on my body, mind and spirit as I take my first trusting steps towards recovery,' she said. Camilla shares daughter Luna Gypsy with her fiance, artist JP Jones. The designer's kaftans have turned into a multi-million dollar business empire, with 20 retail stores Australia-wide, and a 200-strong workforce. One of Made In Chelsea's newest cast members, Rosi Mai, has become embroiled in a war of words with a London restaurant owner after she contacted him about dining at his venue. The 23-year-old reality star - who has been involved romantically on the current 17th season of the show with James Taylor - direct messaged the owner of 104 Restaurant in Notting Hill asking whether he 'would like to invite' her to 'try out' the venue. 'I have just joined the cast of Made In Chelsea and we are filming at the moment,' she wrote in messages forwarded to MailOnline by restaurateur Richard Wilkins. 'I am a huge foodie and would love to come and try out your restaurant and I was wondering if you would like to invite me! Food fight! One of Made In Chelsea's newest cast members, Rosi Mai, has become embroiled in a war of words with a London restaurant owner after she contacted him about dining at his venue 'I will be more than happy to post on Instagram and tag you after my visit!' This was met with an unimpressed reaction from Mr Wilkins who replied: 'If you're such a big foodie then you'll support my restaurant by booking a table and paying for your meal. 'I come from a working class background and would appreciate real support.' Rosi then replied: 'Whilst I don't appreciate the tone of your message, I completely understand your point of view.' Foodie: The 23-year-old reality star direct messaged the owner of 104 Restaurant in Notting Hill asking whether he 'would like to invite' her to 'try out' the venue Chef Richard Wilkins (pictured) complained that the reality star was just trying to secure a free meal in his Notting Hill restaurant She went on to add that she too runs a business and that her proposal was for a cross-marketing opportunity. 'I was not in any way simply asking for a free meal,' she wrote, before elaborating that she was offering social media exposure, much like a food critic would write a review. 'In my personal life I regularly enjoy visiting restaurants (and paying for my meals),' she added. 'I am local to Notting Hill and have lived her all my life and look to support the Notting Hill scene and was not looking to insult or offend. 'I can understand that you are not familiar with contemporary marketing techniques that some businesses choose to employ, however I strongly recommend that you do not use that tone with any potential customers in the future.' She then added that she 'admired' his 'working class background' but that it was 'very unwise to argue this point when you are charging 65 for a set menu'. War of words: Rosi went on to add that she too runs a business and that her proposal was for a cross-marketing opportunity Heated: Rosi then insisted Mr Wilkins 'had no idea' of her background, to which he simply replied - 'Clueless.' Mr Wilkins rounded off the altercation by replying: 'If you worked hard for a living you wouldn't be asking for freebies. You don't see that you're the immature one' Rosi then insisted Mr Wilkins 'had no idea' of her background, to which he simply replied: 'Clueless.' This prompted Rosi to inform him that he lacked manners, which the businessman responded to by writing: 'Says the girl asking for a freebie.' He added that he 'can't afford to live in Notting Hill' and instructed Rosi to 'have a look' at her 'privilege'. Rosi replied, 'If your restaurant lasts longer than 6 months like your last one you can live in Notting Hill too!' before branding him 'incomprehensibly immature and unprofessional' suggesting he 'check his attitude before demeaning people who are likewise working hard for a living'. Mr Wilkins rounded off the altercation by replying: 'If you worked hard for a living you wouldn't be asking for freebies. You don't see that you're the immature one. 'You come asking for a freebie when you have absolutely no following, no one knows who you are and I've never heard of you.' Mr Wilkins told MailOnline: 'She has [at the time of publication] 6,183 followers and follows 3,834. And she thinks posting to her Instagram is a marketing opportunity for me! 'I've worked as a chef for Gordon Ramsay [restaurant] Petrus, the Roux brothers at the Waterside Inn, La Maison Pic for Anne Sophie Pic and others. Newcomer: Rosi has been involved romantically on the current 17th season of the show with James Taylor Mr Wilkins told MailOnline: 'She has 6,183 followers and follows 3,834. And she thinks posting to her Instagram is a marketing opportunity for me' Hitting back: Rosi branded him 'incomprehensibly immature and unprofessional' suggesting he 'check his attitude before demeaning people who are likewise working hard for a living' 'I use the best ingredients available and have created a serene and luxury dining experience for my guests. 'I come from a working class family in Swansea and have worked hard for everything in life and really dont appreciate rich kids trying to glean freebies from my business. 'Im actually fed up of the social media-obsessed millennials who feel they can get something for nothing, even when they used to go to a 8,600 a term private school! She doesnt need a free meal!' MailOnline have approached Rosi's rep at Made In Chelsea for comment. She has worked the red carpet since landing a coveted invite to the 72nd Cannes Film Festival. And Kimberley Garner slipped into another show-stopping gown as she left the Hotel Martinez on Wednesday. The former Made In Chelsea star, 28, showcased her incredible figure in the soft peach floor-length dress, which was embellished with silver beads. Belle of the ball: Kimberley Garner slipped into another show-stopping gown as she left the Hotel Martinez for the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday Kimberley flaunted her tremendous pins in the stunning frock, which had a daring thigh-high slit and modest trail. Feathered straps with silver embellished detailing added extra pizzazz to the garment, while beading at the waist highlighted her gym-honed physique. She wore her blonde locks in an elegant chignon and accentuated her sun-kissed tan with deftly touches of make-up. Turning heads: The former Made In Chelsea star, 28, showcased her incredible figure in the soft peach floor-length dress, which was embellished with silver beads Leggy display: Kimberley flaunted her tremendous pins in the stunning frock, which had a daring thigh-high slit and modest trail Princess: Feathered straps with silver embellished detailing added extra pizzazz to the garment All in the details: Beading at the waist highlighted her gym-honed physique Leggy: Kimberley managed to avoid a wardrobe malfunction in the daring dress The swimwear designer finished off the look with simple perspex heels to ensure all eyes were on her elegant princess-inspired dress. Kimberley has been documenting the inspiration behind her red carpet looks on Instagram after touching down in the south of France last week. She has worn everything from a silver embellished ball gown to a dazzling beaded minidress to a plunging black suit, which made her feel like a 'girl boss'. The 2019 Cannes Film Festival takes place at the iconic Palais des Festivals from Tuesday until May 25 and Kimberley has joined a host of acting greats, A-listers and directors for the festivities. Glowing: She wore her blonde locks in an elegant chignon and accentuated her sun-kissed tan with deftly touches of make-up Stunning: The reality star turned swimwear designer finished off the look with simple perspex heels to ensure all eyes were on her princess dress Actress Elle Fanning, French graphic novelist Enki Bilal and the Oscar-nominated director of The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos, will be among jury members during the annual event. When Kimberley is not strutting her stuff on the red carpet, she is often in Miami modelling and working on her swimwear brand. Although the reality personality is a swimwear designer - but she is now following in her familys footsteps and venturing into high-end property development. Fashionista: Kimberley has been documenting the inspiration behind her red carpet looks on Instagram after touching down in the south of France last week After extensive renovations, the former reality star is said to have increased the value of a house which she bought in 2013 for 1.2 million, by over 1 million. The starlet's choice to go into property seems to be a a result of her London pad doubling in value over a five-year period. Kimberley recently split from her ex-boyfriend, who she kept very much out of the spotlight - something she doesn't plan to do with her next relationship. Taking style risks: She has worn everything from a silver embellished ball gown to a dazzling beaded minidress to a plunging black suit, which made her feel like a 'girl boss' Speaking to MailOnline, she said: 'When I take it to the next step and when I decide to be with someone forever I will be more than happy to have them in the public eye. 'It would be really cool to have my husband and babies in the public eye. It was nice to have a bit of privacy with my ex, but in the future I wouldn't mind.' Speaking of her split with her mystery man ex, Kimberley said: 'We broke up for a year and got back together for a few months and broke up again. He's still lovely and we're really good friends.' Kimberley shot to fame on the third series of Made In Chelsea back in 2012, where she was romantically linked to Richard Dinan and Spencer Matthews.' Chic: Earlier in the day, Kimberley stepped out in a black and white checked minidress Tremendous pins: She flaunted her lithe limbs in the thigh-grazing dress Stylish: She complemented the look with white loafers and a small black bag Bonding time: Kimberley headed out for a drink with her mum Geraldine Demi Moore shared the book cover for her new memoir Inside Out on Wednesday. The acting vet - best known for the films St Elmo's Fire, Ghost, Indecent Proposal and GI Jane - has little makeup on with her hair pulled back and a dark top on. The 56-year-old beauty has already said she will be candid about her drug addiction and her divorces in her first tome. A clean look: Demi Moore shared the book cover for her new memoir Inside Out on Wednesday. The acting vet - best known for the films St Elmo's Fire, Ghost, Indecent Proposal and GI Jane - has little makeup on with her hair pulled back and a dark top on Still stunning: Here she was seen at the Met Gala in NYC earlier this month with Anthony Vaccarello According to Harper Magazine's executive editor, the book - which is due out in September - will be one that both surprises and moves readers. She came from humble beginnings in New Mexico to becoming one of the most famous actresses of our time. Growing up with a step-dad who moved the family around often prior to committing suicide when she was young, and never meeting her real father, the icon's early years were not easy. Co-parents: She was also in a high profile relationship and marriage with Bruce Willis from 1987 to 2000; seen in 1995 Unexpected: The Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle actress later was wed to Ashton Kutcher from 2005 to 2013; seen in 2011 Not to mention her mother had a long record of arrests for crimes such as drunk driving and arson. All of that, plus health issues before she was a teenager, created a tumultuous past before Demi eventually dropped out of high school to pursue show business full time. These trials will be delved into for the book, which will also discuss Demi's career and three marriages. All girls: In the 1980s, the mother of Rumer, 30, Scout, 27 and Tallulah, 25, checked into rehab for a drug and alcohol addiction; seen with Scout and Tallulah in 2016 At 17, the Striptease front runner met musician Freddy Moore, who she co-wrote three songs with and went on to marry in 1980 up until their divorce in 1985. She was also in a high profile relationship and marriage with Bruce Willis from 1987 to 2000, and then later was wed to Ashton Kutcher from 2005 to 2013. With inside information on those relationships coming forth in the Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle beauty's tell all, Harper executive editor, Jennifer Barth, is already praising the authentic book. 'Inside Out is first and foremost a womans story; that the woman in question happens to be one of the most celebrated actresses of our time only makes her journey of vulnerability, strength, and self-acceptance all that more resonant,' she said. Angels: On May 1, she reunited with her Charlie's Angels co-stars Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz A top body: She stole the show in Charlie's Angels with her swimsuit surfer girl scene She continued: 'I think readers are going to be surprisedand movedby this book.' The magazine big wig calls Inside Out a story of 'survival, success, and surrender - as well as resilience.' According to her, Demi's writing is 'wrenchingly honest.' In the 1980s, the mother of Rumer, 30, Scout, 27 and Tallulah, 25, checked into rehab for a drug and alcohol addiction. Then in 2012, she returned to treatment after collapsing in her Los Angeles home, convulsing due to months of partying and intense weight loss. She was seen for addiction and eating disorder struggles the second time around. Demi has since been open about her hardships, admitting in a speech at the Peggy Albrecht Friendly Houses 29th Annual Awards Luncheon, where she was named Woman Of The Year, that for years, she was 'spiraling down a path of real self-destruction.' 'No matter what successes I had, I just never felt good enough,' she bravely said. This path, she went on to say, brought her to a crisis point, where with the help of loved ones, she eventually began to rebuild. Hot stuff in the 90s: One of her top films was 1993's Indecent Proposal with Woody Harrelson 'They gave me a chance to redirect the course of my life before I destroyed everything. Clearly, they saw more of me than I saw of myself. And Im so grateful because without that opportunity, without their belief in me, I wouldnt be standing here today,' the starlet said. Demi recently stole the show in Corporate Animals, alongside Ed Helms. She is on good terms with Willis, who she raised their three girls with, and is mending relations with Ashton's new wife, Mila Kunis. On top of that, the beauty says she's shifted her priorities over the last seven years. While speaking to Gwyneth Paltrow and Arianna Huffington at the 2019 In Goop Health summit, Moore said she's now focused on her health and the people around her, rather than her career. 'My relationships are more important, and what I do comes second,' she explained at the NYC event, reports People. Inside Out will hit the stands on September 24. Advertisement They've been turning heads with their show-stopping displays while stepping out in the French city. And Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart and Josephine Skriver commanded attention once again as they attended the premiere of Oh Mercy! during the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday afternoon. Making her red carpet debut at the 72nd annual event, catwalk queen Adriana, 37, stood out from the crowd as she slipped into a heavily-sequinned cobalt gown, alongside fellow glamorous models Izabel, 34, and Josephine, 26. Wow-factor! Adriana Lima (L), Izabel Goulart (C) and Josephine Skriver (R) commanded attention once again as they attended the premiere of Oh Mercy! during the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday afternoon The former Victoria's Secret Angel amped up the sex appeal as she flashed her lean legs through the sparkly ensemble's daring thigh-high slit, while it's elaborate train draw inspiration from a scaly mermaid tail. Upping the style ante, the Maybelline spokesperson boosted her physique in a pair of black bedazzled heels and accessorised with chandelier earrings to keep in theme with her blue colour scheme. Adriana injected even more pazzazz into her striking look as she complemented her radiant features with a slick of glossy red lipstick, matte foundation and lashings of mascara. Nailing vampy chic, Izabel caught the eye with her off-the-shoulder burgundy tulle gown, which came complete with ruffled sleeves for added drama. Flashing some skin! Making her red carpet debut at the 72nd annual event, catwalk queen Adriana, 37, stood out from the crowd as she slipped into a heavily-sequinned cobalt gown Working it! The former Victoria's Secret Angel amped up the sex appeal as she flashed her lean legs through the sparkly ensemble's daring thigh-high slit, while it's elaborate train draw inspiration from a scaly mermaid tail Standing tall: Upping the style ante, the Maybelline spokesperson boosted her physique in a pair of black bedazzled heels and accessorised with chandelier earrings to keep in theme with her blue colour scheme All in the details: Adriana injected even more pazzazz into her striking look as she complemented her radiant features with a slick of glossy red lipstick, matte foundation and lashings of mascara While her frock featured a floor-length skirt, the Sports Illustrated star still managed to showcase some flesh through the garment's see-through material. The former face of Armani Exchange displayed her wealth as she was dripped in diamond and ruby jewellery, featuring a chunky necklace, dangle earrings and a statement ring. With her tresses styled into a chic updo, the Brazilian bombshell's features were intensified with dark plum lipstick and blush-swept cheeks. Ooh-la-la: Nailing vampy chic, Izabel caught the eye with her off-the-shoulder burgundy tulle gown, which came complete with ruffled sleeves for added drama Peek-a-boo: While her frock featured a floor-length skirt, the Sports Illustrated star still managed to showcase some flesh through the garment's see-through material Working her angles: The former face of Armani Exchange displayed her wealth as she was dripped in diamond and ruby jewellery, featuring a chunky necklace, dangle earrings and a statement ring All is well: The beauty appeared in good spirits as she waved at onlookers Flowing: Izabel's sensational gown effortlessly caught the wind as she posed away Striking: Stepping up the style stakes, Josephine displayed her flair for fashion in a sizzling backless white jumpsuit, including a pair of wide-leg trousers and an incredibly turtle-neck cape Sensational: Adding colour to her bold appearance, the Danish beauty wore an emerald green backlace, teamed with a pair of brooch earrings Posing up a storm: She enhanced her height in a pair of perspex strappy heels Intricate details: Josephine tied her blonde locks into a sleek bun to reveal her out-of-this-world beauty, which was complemented with winged eyeliner and faint pink lipgloss Stepping up the style stakes, Josephine displayed her flair for fashion in a sizzling backless white jumpsuit, including a pair of wide-leg trousers and an incredibly turtle-neck cape. Adding colour to her bold appearance, the Danish beauty wore an emerald green backlace, teamed with a pair of brooch earrings. Josephine tied her blonde locks into a sleek bun to reveal her out-of-this-world beauty, which was complemented with winged eyeliner and faint pink lipgloss. Also in attendance was Leonardo DiCaprio, 44, who looked as suave as ever in a simple black tuxedo and a pair of black sunglasses. Suave: Also in attendance was Leonardo DiCaprio, 44, who looked as dapper as ever in a simple black tuxedo and a pair of black sunglasses In good company: The Titantic star joined filmmaker Leila Conners, who also looked incredibly glamorous in a beautiful black silk ruffled gown with a simple red lip as she appeared with her former collaborator Chic: The French crime drama's leading actress Lea Seydoux mixed androgynous chic with sex appeal as she sported satin blue trousers and a plunging bodysuit, embellished with paisley printing throughout Stunning: The 33-year-old Bond actress curled the ends of her blonde tresses, while opting for orange-tinted lipstick and dewy foundation Hi, there: Lea beamed with delight as she greeted a pal on the red carpet Beaming: Lea appeared in great spirits as she graced the red carpet The Titantic star joined filmmaker Leila Conners, who also looked incredibly glamorous in a beautiful black silk ruffled gown with a simple red lip as she appeared with her former collaborator. Leo and Leila previously worked together on the documentary 11th Hour in 2007, which offered a collection of contributions from scientists, environmental activists and politicians on the issue of global warming. The Wolf of Wall Street acted as a narrator, producer and co-writer for the film, while Leila served as director, producer and co-writer. The Revenant star has openly supported the environment and spoken out against climate change in recent years. The French crime drama's leading actress Lea Seydoux mixed androgynous chic with sex appeal as she sported satin blue trousers and a plunging monochrome bodysuit, embellished with paisley printing throughout. Walk on the wild side: Winnie Harlow was once again turning up the heat as she slipped into a dramatic dress with green and black beaded detailing forming the shape of a crocodile on the front and the back Revealing: The gown left little to the imagination thanks to sheer panels running up each hip Sheer delight: Winnie added some extra height to her frame thanks to a pair of sparkling heels All hands on deck: Her stylist helped readjust her ensemble to avoid a wardrobe malfunction Directed by Arnaud Desplechin, Oh Mercy! follows the story of local police chief Daoud (Roschdy Zem) and his recruit Louis (Antoine Reinartz), who attempt to unravel the violent murder case of an elderly woman. The neighbours of the victim, Claude (Lea) and Marie (Sara Forestier) are arrested in suspicion of the murder. The movie will compete for the coveted Palm d'Or prize at Cannes, as one of seven French films that has premiered in competition for the Festival. Another hot French contender is an adaptation of the 2005 short film Les Miserables. Among the films are also Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, The Dead Don't Die and the Spanish film Pain and Glory. It's all about her: Russian supermodel Natasha Poly, 33, twirled along the red carpet in a bedazzled maxi dress, which displayed her lean legs with its thigh-high slit Dramatic: The ensemble was embellished with a paisley print curtain-style skirt Dazzling: The high-fast runway queen boosted her physique in a pair of nude ankle-strap heels for her night at the event Astonishing: She worked her magic as she posed on the flight of stairs Vibrant: Couture collector Christine Chiu dazzled in a plunging blue pleated gown, complete with over-the-top structured shoulder padding Winning the Palm d'Or has been catalyst for many movies marching to the Oscars, including 2012's Amour and 2002's The Pianist. The 2019 Cannes Film Festival is taking place at the iconic Palais des Festivals until May 25. Actress Elle Fanning, French graphic novelist Enki Bilal and the Oscar-nominated director of The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos, are among jury members during the annual event. Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu currently presides over the panel that decides on prizes, including the top Palme D'Or award. The jury for the festival's 72nd edition also includes Pawel Pawlikowski, the Polish filmmaker and screenwriter named best director at Cannes last year for the impossible love story Cold War. Commanding attention: Miss Universe Iris Mittenaere looked magical in her light pink bedazzled gown, featuring intricate tassel detailing throughout Catching the eye: Brazilian blogger Lala Rudge was a vision in red as she slipped into a square-necked belted number, while narrowly avoiding a wardrobe malfunction with its thigh-high slash Star-studded: Kim Kardashian's BFF Jonathan Cheban was suited and booted in a three-piece suit as he joined blogger Maria Grazhina Chaplin Bold: Victoria's Secret Angel Lorena Rae wowed in an extravagant pink gown, which included a sequinned bodice with a ruffled skirt and sleeve Bright: Next model Fernanda Liz looked radiant in a yellow strapless fairytale gown with a sweetheart neckline Fierce: German beauty Lorena, 24, turned her back to the cameras to show the full extent of her ensemble Looking good: Models Alina Baikova (L) and Nabilla Benattia (C) joined actress Elodie Bouchez (R) on the red carpet Sparkle: Brazilian screen star Marina Ruy Barbosa looked fierce in her strapless slinky sequinned ensemble Maimouna N'Diaye, who has directed documentaries and acted in films such as Otar Iosseliani's Chasing Butterflies also sits on the panel, alongside two other female directors. Kelly Reichardt, whose Wendy and Lucy starring Michelle Williams was a contender for Cannes' Un Certain Regard award in 2008, directed 2016's Certain Women. Italy's Alicia Rohrwacher won best screenplay at Cannes last year for her film Happy as Lazzaro, a satirical fable about a peasant family. French filmmaker Robin Campillo, who took Cannes by storm in 2017 with 120 BPM - Beats Per Minute, winning the Grand Prix for his movie about an AIDs activist, completes the line-up. Leather fantasy: IMG model Noel Berry showed off her athletic figure in a black strapless maxi dress with a ruffled maxi skirt Stylish: Director Angela Ismailos (L) stunned in a floral print gown while Mexican actress Patricia Contreras (R) stood out in a green and blue minidress with a tulle tail Show-stopper: Presenter Hofit Golan opted for full-on glamour in a gold semi-sheer gown, with bedazzled embroidery covering her modesty Beautiful: French actress Sara Forestier looked amazing in an off-shoulder pink gown covered in bunches of feathers Cast: (L-R) The cast of Oh Mercy! Antoine Reinartz, Sara, Arnaud Desplechin, Lea and Roschdy Zem held hands at the event Wow: Adriana showcased her modelling prowess as she left the Martinez hotel earlier that day They walked the Cannes red carpet together for the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood premiere on Tuesday night. And Sara Sampaio and her boyfriend Oliver Ripley arrived hand-in-hand to the Hotel Martinez during the 72nd annual Film Festival on Wednesday. The Victoria's Secret model, 27, cut a stylish figure in a soft green denim shirt adorned with stars, which she tucked into flared frayed white jeans, both of which were from Mother Denim. Lovebirds: Sara Sampaio and her boyfriend Oliver Ripley arrived hand-in-hand to the Hotel Martinez on Wednesday Deciding to ditch the heels in favour of chic white trainers, Sara finished off her casual look with oversized shades and a red Chanel wallet bag. Oliver, 38, meanwhile looked dapper in a pale blue shirt, navy chinos and white trainers. The couple looked in throes of love, beaming as they walked through crowds of fans to arrive at the hotel, where the stars of Cannes mingle. Chic: The Victoria's Secret model, 27, cut a stylish figure in a soft green denim shirt adorned with stars, which she tucked into flared frayed white jeans, both of which were from Mother Besotted: The couple looked in throes of love, beaming as they walked through crowds of fans to arrive at the hotel Sara began dating Oliver in 2015 after he divorced Brazilian model Jeisa Chiminazzo. The model looked delighted to be in Cannes with Oliver after previously admitting she felt 'lonely' when she had to travel for work. In an interview last May with KTLA 5, the Calzedonia ambassador said 'There's a lot of planes, a lot of sleepless nights, and there's a lot of being alone,' she said. 'My boyfriend travels as much as I do. We meet whenever we can.' The fashion model has been an Angel since 2015, and has modeled for the classic brand since 2013. Smitten: Sara began dating Oliver in 2015 after he divorced Brazilian model Jeisa Chiminazzo Stylish display: Deciding to ditch the heels in favour of chic white trainers, Sara finished off her casual look with oversized shades and a red Chanel wallet bag The 2019 Cannes Film Festival is taking place at the iconic Palais des Festivals until May 25. Actress Elle Fanning, French graphic novelist Enki Bilal and the Oscar-nominated director of The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos, are among jury members during the annual event. Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu currently presides over the panel that decides on prizes, including the top Palme D'Or award. Sara is currently working on Dreamland - an upcoming film drama starring upcoming drama starring Evangeline Lilly and Luke Evans. He earned a seven-minute standing ovation for his performance in Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood the previous evening. And Leonardo DiCaprio was still smiling as he attended the premiere for the French film Oh Mercy! at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. The actor, 44, cut a dapper figure as he reunited with director Leila Connors, 52, for the launch, 12 years after the pair joined forces for the documentary film The 11th Hour. Suave: Leonardo DiCaprio, 44, cut a dapper figure as he reunited with his director pal Leila Connors, 52, for the Oh Mercy! premiere at the Cannes Film Festival Leonardo looked as suave as ever in a simple black tuxedo as he posed up a storm with filmmaker Leila. The Oscar winner unusually wore sunglasses with his suit as he headed down the red carpet in the heart of France. Leila also looked incredibly glamorous in a beautiful black silk ruffled gown with a simple red lip as she appeared with her former collaborator. Smart: The actor looked suave in a black tuxedo as he made his way along the red carpet at the film premiere Happy: Leonardo's outing came after he earned rave reviews for his performance in Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood Friendly: The star seemed happy to be reunited with Leila, who looked glamorous in a black silk ruffled gown Former team-up: The pair previously collaborated on the 2007 documentary 11th Hour, which also premiere at Cannes that year Important: Leonardo acted as a narrator for the film (above) which highlighted the issue of Global Warming. Leila acted as a co-director, co-producer and co-writer Happy: Leonardo was in high spirits as he proudly walked the red carpet for the film event Leila and Leonardo previously worked together on the documentary 11th Hour in 2007, which offered a collection of contributions from scientists, environmental activists and politicians on the issue of global warming. Leonardo acted as a narrator, producer and co-writer for the film, while Leila worked as director, producer and co-writer. The Revenant star has openly supported the environment and spoken out against climate change in recent years. Directed by Arnaud Desplechin, Oh Mercy! follows the story of local police chief Daoud (Roschdy Zem) and his recruit Louis (Antoine Reinartz), who attempt to unravel the violent murder case of an elderly woman. The neighbours of the victim, Claude (Lea) and Marie (Sara Forestier) are arrested in suspicion of the murder. Looking good: The Titanic star opted for an unusual choice of sunglasses with his suit as he walked down the red carpet Riding high: Leonardo has earned plenty of acclaim for his work with Quentin Taratino, after the pair previously collaborated on 2012's Django Unchained Amazing: Leila seemed happy to be reunited with Leonardo as they posed up a storm together on the red carpet Leonardo's outing also came after he earned a standing ovation for his performance in Quentin Tarantino's latest film Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood, where he stars alongside Brad Pitt. The early reviews of the period piece have been wildly positive as Daily Mail's Brian Viner called it a 'wildly enjoyable black comedy.' He said: 'For me, his masterpiece will always be 1994's Pulp Fiction, but this isn't far behind, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt both on thumpingly fine form. 'The film takes us on a journey towards that terrible night, but on the way Tarantino is in incorrigibly playful mood and has enormous fun depicting certain fixtures of 60s Hollywood.' The film will be released in the US on July 26 2019 and the UK on August 14 2019. She jetted to Cannes for the premiere of her film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood, which got a seven minute standing ovation when it debuted at the Film Festival. And Margot Robbie appeared in high spirits as she arrived at the Carlton hotel on Wednesday. The actress, 28, exuded elegance in a chic white tweed co-ord with stitch detailing. Stylish display: Margot Robbie stepped out in a chic white tweed co-ord as she arrived at the Carlton hotel in Cannes on Wednesday Margot put on a leggy display in the white miniskirt, which was embellished with two large front pockets. Shrugging the matching jacket over her shoulders, she complemented the look with white mules and a simple black vest. The Australian beauty wore her blonde locks in a sleek centre parting and enhanced her radiant complexion with deftly touches of make-up. Tremendous pins: Margot put on a leggy display in the white miniskirt, which was embellished with two large front pockets Earlier in the day, Margot joined her leading men Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt at the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood photocall. Directed by Quentin Tarantino, the film falls under the shadow of the murder of actress Sharon Tate by The Manson Family. Margot plays actress Sharon, who was brutally murdered when she was eight months pregnant. In an adjacent storyline, Leonardo and Brad bring the golden age of Hollywood back to life. Gorgeous: Shrugging the matching jacket over her shoulders, she complemented the look with white mules and a simple black vest Playing Rick Dalton and his stunt double Cliff Booth, the actors revisit a simpler time in tinsel town as they transport us back to Los Angeles in 1969. Being a Quentin Tarantino film, his ninth to be precise, the teaser promises plenty of Hollywood throwbacks and a behind the scenes glimpse at a Western film. Other stars in the film include Al Pacino, Emile Hirsch, Damian Lewis, Bruce Dern, Dakota Fanning, Austin Butler, Lena Dunham and Margaret Qualley. In the film, the actors seem to be linked to each other in one way or another. Washed up Western star Dalton lives next door to Sharon Tate, one of Hollywood's greatest stars at the time. Martin Schwarz, played by Al Pacino, is also Daltons agent, while Joanna Pettet, played by Rumer Willis, stars as a friend of Sharon Tate. She's currently been promoting her comedic directional debut film, Booksmart, which is currently has a positive rating of 99 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. And continuing the press tour, Olivia Wilde was oozing with style on Wednesday morning, stepping out in New York City for radio interviews at the SiriusXM Studios. The 35-year-old beauty opted for a printed dress for the sunny day, adding a hat to complete her look. Fashionista: Olivia Wilde was oozing with style on Wednesday when she stepped out to promote her new movie Booksmart in New York City Olivia's dress was of a long sleeved maxi design and featured a large printed orange and red symmetrical pattern throughout. Her tiny frame was further accentuated with a belt cinching in her waist. She teamed the look with a pair of black pointed toe boots and kept her accessories to the fedora on her head. Happy days: Olivia couldn't help but flash a smile as she waled around the streets while on her press tour Trim and toned: Olivia's tiny frame was further accentuated with a belt cinching in her waist Mom's working! The mother-of-two appeared to be on a solo run without her kids or fiance Style icon: She teamed the look with a pair of black pointed toe boots and kept her accessories to the fedora on her head Natural beauty: Olivia's blonde shoulder-length locks were styled into loose waves and her glam kept simple with blushed cheeks and a nude lip Olivia's blonde shoulder-length locks were styled into loose waves and her glam kept simple with blushed cheeks and a nude lip. Heading into the studios, the mom-of-two got to chat to both Kevin Hart and Andy Cohen. Kevin appeared very dapper for the appearance, opting for a maroon colored suit and light shirt underneath. Gorgeous: Olivia's dress was of a long sleeved maxi design and featured a large printed orange and red symmetrical pattern throughout Reunion! Olivia was also seen alongside a dapper Kevin Hart on Wednesday Raving reviews: Olivia's directional debut, Booksmart, currently has a 99 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes Andy kept things slightly more casual with a white polo shirt that had a rainbow collar. The beauty's film will be released in cinemas on May 24. And Olivia's work wasn't done following the interview, heading one mile straight down E 49th Street in New York to The Trump World Tower. Friends: She was also spotted with Andy Cohen who kept things slightly more casual with a white polo shirt that had a rainbow collar Say cheese! Olivia's visit saw her bump into others in the office who knew Kevin Hart Known for not being a fan in any way towards the President, she stood outside and stuck up her middle finger. Sharing the moment on Instagram Stories, Olivia played Public Enemy's hit song Fight The Power in the background. Olivia's has never been shy when speaking out about her political views on social media. Not a fan: And Olivia's work wasn't done following the interview, heading one mile straight down E 49th Street in New York to The Trump World Tower to give him the finger Speaking out: Following a 77 minute speech Trump had delivered in August 22 where he attacked two Arizona senators and threatened to shut down the government over funding for a Mexican border wall, the actress shared her thoughts Following a 77 minute speech Trump had delivered in August 22 where he attacked two Arizona senators and threatened to shut down the government over funding for a Mexican border wall, the actress shared her thoughts. 'Hi good morning I despise Donald Trump with all my guts, and his speech last night only confirmed what a pathetic, petulant, dishonest pig he is, and you may now proceed to tell me why I'm an old, ugly, wretched communist and I will give precisely zero f**s,' she captioned a glam photo. And just a few days before her post, she was seen joining Michael Moore and Mark Ruffalo protesting outside Trump Tower. Lip Sync Battle color commentator Chrissy Teigen 'can't wait to meet' her gal pal Kim Kardashian West's son Psalm West, whose birth via surrogate was announced on May 10. 'I think [the name Psalm] is beautiful,' the 33-year-old mother-of-two told People on Monday. 'I know they wanted something biblical and I think they feel so set with their family now, it's so complete. Four has to be such a trip, I can't even imagine - two feels like a million.' Baby boy: Lip Sync Battle color commentator Chrissy Teigen (R) 'can't wait to meet' her gal pal Kim Kardashian West's (L) son Psalm West, whose birth via surrogate was announced on May 10 (pictured in 2018) The 33-year-old mother-of-two told People: 'I think [the name Psalm] is beautiful. I know they wanted something biblical and I think they feel so set with their family now, it's so complete. Four has to be such a trip, I can't even imagine - two feels like a million' (pictured May 10) The 38-year-old Keeping Up with the Kardashians star has said Psalm 'looks like a twin' of her daughter Chicago, 1; and she and husband Kanye West are also parents to daughter North, 5; and son Saint, 3. Chrissy is eager to bring her husband John Legend and their daughter Luna, 3; and son Miles, 1; to the 41-year-old rapper-designer's location-hopping, invite-only Sunday Service. 'I want to go so badly. We're just always busy because I feel like Sunday is our only day where John doesn't have The Voice,' finale-spoiling Tiegen told Cosmopolitan on Monday. 'We want to be able to gather up everybody because I know Luna would love to hear that music so much - it's gospel and it's a way to bring everybody together... So we want to go so, so badly, but we just haven't made it out there.' 'He's here and he's perfect!' The 38-year-old Keeping Up with the Kardashians star has said Psalm 'looks like a twin' of her daughter Chicago, 1; and she and husband Kanye West are also parents to daughter North, 5; and son Saint, 3 (pictured March 30) 'I want to go so badly!' Chrissy is eager to bring her husband John Legend and their daughter Luna, 3; and son Miles, 1; to the 41-year-old rapper-designer's location-hopping, invite-only Sunday Service (pictured April 21) Finale-spoiling Tiegen told Cosmopolitan: 'We're just always busy because I feel like Sunday is our only day where John doesn't have The Voice...I know Luna would love to hear that music so much - it's gospel and it's a way to bring everybody together' (pictured April 20) 'We just haven't made it out there': The 21-time Grammy winner founded his spiritual Christian celebration on January 6, and he's since lured celebs like Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Sia, Tyler the Creator, and DMX (pictured March 3) The 21-time Grammy winner founded his spiritual Christian celebration on January 6, and he's since lured celebs like Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Sia, Tyler the Creator, and DMX. The Utah-born, half-Thai beauty continues her 'colorful commentary' on the 13-episode fifth season of Lip Sync Battle, which resumes May 30 on the Paramount Network. In a new preview for the next episode - pitting Big Bird (Matt Vogel) against Jason Schwartzman - the 40-year-old EGOT champ and daughter Luna cheer for the towering Muppet. John and his Preach video vixen have been married for over five years and they originally met on the 2007 set of his Stereo music video. Resumes May 30! The Utah-born, half-Thai beauty continues her 'colorful commentary' on the 13-episode fifth season of Lip Sync Battle on the Paramount Network Ricky Schroder 'won't be prosecuted' for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend a second time, according to TMZ. The former child star was arrested twice in the last 60 days for 'felony domestic violence' stemming from incidents at his Los Angeles-area home. Legal documents revealed that the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office won't pursue charges against the 49-year-old Silver Spoons vet 'after the victim told cops it was an accident.' Off the hook: Ricky Schroder 'won't be prosecuted' for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend a second time, according to TMZ; seen in 2016 Ricky was reportedly 'under the influence of alcohol and Ambien' when she startled him and he accidentally struck her while waking up. She told authorities that his arms flailed and he accidentally hit her, but the D.A. had a difficult time proving the allegations as she was also under the influence at the time. Following the multiple arrests, TMZ reported that Schroder was dropped by his business team. Bad news: Ricky Schroder was dropped by his entire business team in the wake of two arrests for domestic violence in 30 days, according to TMZ; seen in 2017 According to the report, Ricky's ' agent, manager and PR people have severed ties with him a direct result of the recent felony domestic violence arrests. Schroder found himself in a jail cell twice for two similar incidents on April 2 and May 1 - both times for allegedly hitting his girlfriend. Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office declined to prosecute the first arrest - due to lack of evidence - after his girlfriend 'refused' to cooperate with police. Based on his IMDB page, the former NYPD Blue star has nothing in the works and hasn't been featured in a project since the 2016 TV movie Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love. All alone: As a result of his brushes with the law, Ricky's 'agent, manager and PR people have severed ties with him' Clear schedule: Based on his IMDB page, the former NYPD Blue star has nothing in the works and hasn't been featured in a project since the 2016 TV movie Dolly Parton's Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love Ricky's girlfriend Jessica, who declined to give her last name, released a statement to Extra claiming that the domestic violence incidents were blown out of proportion. Her statement read in part: 'The first incident led to Ricky placing a call to 911 and hanging up and then me placing a call. Again, we both called and asked for help mediating during an argument. 'Law enforcement had no good reason to arrest Ricky. No charges were filed. It's almost like they decided to take him out of an abundance of caution because that's what's expected.' As for the second incident, Jessica describes it as a 'late-night argument. Drama: In a statement to Extra Ricky's girlfriend Jessica said the incidents were blown out of proportion and she 'regrets' calling police 'I was angry and called 911. I completely regret that. We went to bed and were woken up by law enforcement over an hour later. This is totally blown out of proportion,' Jessica's statement read (pictured from NYPD Blue in 1993) 'We were having a late-night argument, Ricky went into the bedroom and laid down with his back to me,' she said. 'I followed and laid down behind him and when I touched him, he quickly reached behind himself trying to push me away and his elbow hit the side of my head hard. 'I was angry and called 911. I completely regret that. We went to bed and were woken up by law enforcement over an hour later. This is totally blown out of proportion.' TMZ reported that during the April 2 incident, Ricky 'hit' his girlfriend and 'grabbed her hair' because of a video on her phone that he found. During the second incident, police were reportedly called to the star's Los Angeles home again after midnight and he was arrested for felony domestic violence. Schroder came to fame on the TV series Silver Spoons in the 1980s and was on NYPD Blue in the late 1990s. He has also appeared on the TV series Scrubs, Strong Medicine and 24. Blanca Blanco left little to the imagination in a revealing nude sequinned gown as she attended a screening for The Gangster, The Cop and The Devil on Wednesday. The actress, 38, turned heads in a see-through dress which revealed her nude leotard, as she walked the red carpet at The Cannes Film Festival. The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil is a South Korean action film which has been screened as part of the Midnight selection at Cannes. Amazing: Blanca Blanco, 38, left little to the imagination in a revealing nude sequinned gown as she attended a screening for The Gangster, The Cop and The Devil on Wednesday Blanca looked amazing as she strutted down the red carpet in a sheer nude gown with a ruffled skirt. The star flaunted her figure as the gown boasted a fitted bodice covered in red sequins but was entirely see-through and thus revealed her nude bodysuit. Blanco pulled her raven tresses into a voluminous half-up half-down style as she delivered yet another winning look at the film screening. Jaw-dropping: The actress turned heads in a see-through dress which revealed her nude leotard underneath as she walked the red carpet at The Cannes Film Festival Sizzling: Blanca flaunted her figure as the gown boasted a fitted bodice covered in red sequins but was entirely see-through and thus revealed her nude bodysuit Eva Lanska opted for a more vintage chic-inspired look as she walked the red carpet in a black and white polka dot gown. The director added some extra colour with a statement red lip as she arrived for a screening of the South Korean crime caper, which tells the tale of a gangster and a policeman who go on the hunt for a serial killer. Earlier this month it was also announced the Sylvester Stallone was planning to remake the film for an American audience. Quirky: Eva Lanska opted for a more vintage chic-inspired look as she walked the red carpet in a black and white polka dot gown Looking great: The director added some extra colour with a statement red lip as she arrived for a screening of the South Korean crime caper The 2019 Cannes Film Festival is taking place at the iconic Palais des Festivals until May 25. Actress Elle Fanning, French graphic novelist Enki Bilal and the Oscar-nominated director of The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos, are be among jury members during the annual event. Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu presides over the panel that decides on prizes, including the top Palme D'Or award. The jury for the festival's 72nd edition also includes Pawel Pawlikowski, the Polish filmmaker and screenwriter named best director at Cannes last year for the impossible love story Cold War. Big stars (L-R) Lee Won-Tae, Ma Dong-Seok, Kim Mu-Yeol, and Kim Sung-Kyu joined other members of the film's cast in attendance for the screening Epic: The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil is a South Korean action film which has been screened as part of the Midnight selection at Cannes Strut! Blanca was spotted earlier in the day out and about wearing a cartoon-print skirt Stylish: Blanca teamed her vibrant skirt with a black crop top Wanderlust: Blanca ambled through the streets of Cannes during her sight-seeing tour She has been ruling the Cannes red carpet with her sensational outfit choices. And Winnie Harlow didn't disappoint as she and fellow model Cindy Bruna were spotted leaving Hotel Martinez during 72nd Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday. The 24-year-old showed off her long, lean legs in a strapless multi-coloured mini-dress with an eye-catching side train. Wow: Winnie Harlow (left) didn't disappoint on the style front as she and fellow model Cindy Bruna (right) were spotted leaving Hotel Martinez during 72nd Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday Winnie looked flawless in the skintight minidress which showed of her slender figure to perfection. The number boasted a funky pattern and features speckles of sequins throughout. Falling at a dangerously short length, Winnie's endless pins were on full display as she strutted along in a pair of towering silver heels. Looking good: The model, 24, showed off her long, lean legs in a strapless multi-coloured mini-dress with an eye-catching side train Incredible: Winnie looked flawless in the skintight minidress which showed of her slender figure to perfection Colourful: The number boasted a funky pattern and features speckles of sequins throughout Pins on parade: Falling at a dangerously short length, Winnie's endless pins were on full display as she strutted along in a pair of towering silver heels Pretty: The former America's Next Top Model contestant made the most of her striking features with a heavy layer of purple eyeshadow while her raven tresses tumbled forth The former America's Next Top Model contestant made the most of her striking features with a heavy layer of purple eyeshadow while her raven tresses tumbled forth. Meanwhile, model Cindy looked incredible as she showed off he envy-inducing abs in a daring cut-out black mini-dress. The number put focus on her toned legs and gym-honed physique as she sauntered along. Paving the way: The Victoria's Secret Model's striking display comes after she told host Jonathan Ross that she hopes to see more models in the industry with her skin condition Role model: During a recent appearance on the presenter's eponymous show, Winnie said: 'I really do hope that there are more [models with vitiligo] in the future' 'Come on now': The stunner said she still finds it frustrating when she reads articles saying she 'suffers' from vitiligo TV star: Winnie stormed onto the modelling scene after her brief stint on ANTM cycle 21 Her raven tresses were styled in a super sleek manner and complemented her gorgeously made up features. Hours earlier, Winnie turning up the heat when she attended the Oh Mercy! film premiere during the Cannes Film Festival. The star slipped into a dramatic dress with green and black beaded detailing forming the shape of a crocodile on the front and the back. Glamorous: Model Cindy looked incredible as she showed off he envy-inducing abs in a daring cut-out black mini-dress Sensational: The number put focus on her toned legs and gym-honed physique as she sauntered along Sleek: Her raven tresses were styled in a super sleek manner Winnie turned heads in the sultry number, which boasted sheer panels on both the bodice and on the train. The daring frock left little to the imagination, offering a glimpse of Winnie's long, lithe limbs underneath the material. The stunning star finished off the outfit with a croc detail black belt, cinching in the garment at the waist. Walk on the wild side: Hours earlier, Winnie turning up the heat when she attended the Oh Mercy! film premiere during the Cannes Film Festival Stunning: The model slipped into a dramatic dress with green and black beaded detailing forming the shape of a crocodile on the front and the back Striking: Winnie enhanced her pretty features with a slick of sparkling purple eye shadow Cinched in: The stunning star finished off the outfit with a croc detail black belt, cinching in the garment at the waist She styled her glossy locks in loose waves and enhanced her features with a slick of sparkling purple eye shadow. Winnie certainly made a statement as she swept along the red carpet, exuding elegance and confidence. Earlier in the day, Winnie looked effortlessly cool as she arrived at the Martinez hotel on Wednesday during another stylish day on the French Riviera. Working it: Winnie ensured all eyes were on her as she posed during the annual film festival Sheer delight: Winnie added some extra height to her frame thanks to a pair of sparkling heels Croc chic: The star's stunning dress was embellished with intricate beading detailing Revealing: The gown left little to the imagination thanks to sheer panels running up each hip The star looked gorgeous in a metallic tracksuit as she greeted fans outside before dashing inside. Winnie flaunted her trim figure in the quirky ensemble, with the sheer jacket layered over a skimpy white vest. The sporty vibe continued with her choice of footwear, as the model ditched heels in favour of Nike trainers. She accessorised with a large gold pendant and statement shades. Chic: Winnie looked effortlessly cool as she arrived at Martinez hotel earlier in the day Fashion forward: The model, 24, looked gorgeous in a metallic tracksuit as she greeted fans outside before dashing inside In a hurry? The Brit beauty looked in a hurry as she dashed inside the luxe hotel in Cannes The Victoria's Secret Model's striking display comes after she told host Jonathan Ross that she hopes to see more models in the industry with her skin condition. Vitiligo is a skin condition in which the pigment cells of the skin are destroyed in certain areas of the body by the immune system. During a recent appearance on the presenter's eponymous show, Winnie said: 'I really do hope that there are more [models with vitiligo] in the future Basically my immune system thinks that my melanin is like a common cold so it fights it off.' The finishing touches: She accessorised with a large gold pendant and statement shades Since storming the modelling scene after her brief stint on ANTM cycle 21, the Canadian-born stunner said she still finds it frustrating when she reads articles saying she 'suffers' from vitiligo. 'Some articles kept writing, they would say, "Winnie Harlow, 24, suffering from vitiligo" I was like, "Do I look like I'm suffering? Come on now." Let's not do that. 'I feel like it's not anyone else's person position to tell me I am "suffering." I don't feel like I am suffering,' she said. 'I am conquering, I am living, I am living my best life in the way that I can and thriving,' she added. Model looks: Winnie flaunted her trim figure in the quirky ensemble, with the sheer jacket layered over a skimpy white vest Wow! Winnie flaunted her model prowess for the cameras Stunning: The two models put on a very leggy display in their thigh-grazing numbers Guests: The guests cosied up together for a group shot Pose! Melita Toscan du Plantier (L) and Diego Luna looked sophisticated in black Life and soul! Diego schmoozed his way around the glitzy bash Carrie Fisher died in December 2017. But director JJ Abrams is bringing her back to the Star Wars franchise with December's The Rise Of Skywalker, thanks to old footage he had from The Force Awakens. And in the new issue of Vanity Fair, the helmer said the special effects are so incredible that Carrie's Leia Organa will be able to touch and interact with a character played by her daughter Billie Lourd. Back together: Carrie Fisher, right, will interact with her daughter Billie Lourd, left, in the next Star Wars movie, The Rise Of Skywalker, due out in December, JJ Abrams told Vanity Fair. Seen in The Force Awakens They are both back: The beauty seen here in 2015 in Hollywood with Billie Billie plays Resistance officer named Lieutenant Connix; She was seen in both Force Awakens and Last Jedi. Billie plays Resistance officer named Lieutenant Connix 'There are moments where they're talking; there are moments where they're touching,' Abrams said. 'There are moments in this movie where Carrie is there, and I really do feel there is an element of the uncanny, spiritual, you know, classic Carrie, that it would have happened this way, because somehow it worked. 'And I never thought it would.' He also explained how he figured out a way to include the Fisher. 'It's hard to even talk about it without sounding like I'm being some kind of cosmic spiritual goofball,' Abrams said. 'But it felt like we suddenly had found the impossible answer to the impossible question.' Here it is: In the Rise Of Skywalker trailer, Rey is seen hugging Leia. Old footage was carefully used with tweaked lighting The way she was: Fisher is seen in 2015's Force Awakens with Harrison Ford He started to write scenes around the old footage, fitting Leia's dialogue into new contexts, VF stated. And the lighting was tweaked just so to make the footage look right. 'It was a bizarre kind of left side/right side of the brain sort of Venn diagram thing, of figuring out how to create the puzzle based on the pieces we had.' Back for more: Star Wars IX: The Rise Of Skywalker already landed Vanity Fair covers. Here Daisy Ridley is seen as Rey Lonely boy: Adam Driver, who plays Kylo Ren, talked being abandoned by Han Solo. 'How do you form friendships out of that?' Driver asked. 'How do you understand the weight of that? And if there's no one around you guiding you, or articulating things the right way it can easily go awry' Touting their big get: Vanity Fair shared both covers on Wednesday morning adding that Annie Leibovitz took the images Abrams also touched on how daunting it was to bring the Skywalker story to a close after so much time. 'That's the challenge of this movie,' Abrams says. 'It wasn't just to make one film that as a stand-alone experience would be thrilling, and scary, and emotional, and funny, but one that if you were to watch all nine of the films, you'd feel like, Well, of course that!' And there is so much baggage. 'This trilogy is about this young generation, this new generation, having to deal with all the debt that has come before,' he added. 'And its the sins of the father, and its the wisdom and the accomplishments of those who did great things, but its also those who committed atrocities, and the idea that this group is up against this unspeakable evil and are they prepared? Are they ready? 'What have they learned from before? Its less about grandeur. Its less about restoring an old age. Its more about preserving a sense of freedom and not being one of the oppressed. 'The idea of the movie is kind of how I felt going into the movie as a filmmaker which is to say that Ive inherited all this stuff, great stuff, and good wisdom, and the good and the bad, and its all coming to this end, and the question is, do we have what it takes to succeed?' A new behind-the-scenes look: This image taken on set shows Chewbacca, Rey and C-3PO He also talked about the look of his films and what inspired him. Abrams wanted more of the feel of the first three Star Wars films: New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi. 'Famously, the prequels were mostly greenscreen environments,' Abrams says. 'And that was George himself doing that, and it ended up looking exactly how he wanted it to lookand I always preferred the look of the original movies, because I just remember when you're in the snow on Hoth, when you're in the desert on Tatooine, and when you're in the forests of Endorit's amazing. If you put a vaporator here, there, all of a sudden almost any natural location suddenly becomes a location.' The VF writer also was allowed to talk to some of the cast members. Ridley, who plays Rey, had the most to say. And she turned her attention to how Rey felt about Kylo. 'I think there's a part of Rey that's like, dude, you f**king had it all, you had it all,' Ridley says. 'That was always a big question during filming: you had it all and you let it go.' Kylo is the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia, but he ended up going to the dark side and worshiping Darth Vader, his late grandfather. A source told VF that the connection between Rey and Kylo is deeper than anyone could have guessed which begs the question: are they related? Many fans have claimed they are brother and sister. Daisy also noted she loved the Skywalker trailer: 'It's nice having that shot at the beginning of the teaser, because I think it's quite a good visual representation of where she is now: confident, calm, less fearful. It's still sort of overwhelming, but in a different way. It feels more rightless like inevitable and more like there's a focus to the journey.' Driver, who plays Kylo, added more mystery to the Kylo/Rey connection. Tough jobL Abrams also touched on how daunting it was to bring the Skywalker story to a close after so much time. 'That's the challenge of this movie,' Abrams says. 'It wasn't just to make one film that as a stand-alone experience would be thrilling, and scary, and emotional, and funny, but one that if you were to watch all nine of the films, you'd feel like, Well, of course that!' Seen in 2015 'And then he had been forging this maybe-bond with Rey and it kind of ends with the question in the air: is he going to pursue that relationship, or when the door of her ship goes up, does that also close that camaraderie that they were maybe forming?' he stated. And Adam also talked about how there was too much pressure for Ben Solo which may have led to his demons. It didn't help that Han ditched him to go back to smuggling. 'How do you form friendships out of that?' Driver asked. 'How do you understand the weight of that? And if there's no one around you guiding you, or articulating things the right way it can easily go awry.' Billy Dee Williams, 82, is bringing back his character Lando Calrissian who was the charismatic friend who betrayed then helped Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford. 'He's a survivor. It's expediency for him,' Williams says. 'You know, he was thrown into a situation which he didn't look for and he had to try to figure out how to deal with an entity which is more than just a human.' A first look: Daisy said she liked how the trailer opened as Rey came off as 'strong' John Boyega, who plays Finn, offered an update: 'I think he's just an active member of the Resistance now. Episode Eight, he couldn't decide what team he was fighting for. But since then he's made a clear decision.' Oscar Isaac, who plays Poe Dameron, added some more information about his character: 'There has been a bit of shared history that you haven't seen. Whereas in the other films, Poe is this kind of lone wolf, now he's really part of a group. They're going out and going on missions and have a much more familiar dynamic now.' Anthony Daniels, who plays C-3P0, said he loved the Rise Of Skywalker script. But he grappled with a line. 'My first line would not go in my head!' he says. 'The line that I couldn't say was two words: 'common emblem.' Common emblem, common emblemI would say them thousands of times. My wife would say it back. I just couldn't say them!' On set: Also in the Skywalker trailer, Rey is seen with, from left, Chewbacca, BB-8, C-3PO, Poe and Finn A bit of the past comes back: Poe, Finn and Rey look at part of the blown up Death Star Back for fun: Billy Dee Williams, 82, is bringing back his character Lando Calrissian who was the charismatic friend who betrayed then helped Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford. 'He's a survivor. It's expediency for him,' Williams says Joonas Suotamo, who plays Chewbacca, took over from Peter Nayhew who died in April. 'When I first met [Mayhew] he told me I was a wee bit too skinny,' Suotamo says. 'But we also had a Wookiee boot camp, which lasted for a week. He told me all kinds of things about the moves that Chewbacca does, how they came to be and his reasoning behind them.' He added, 'It's very much like silent-era film, with Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. He's a mime character and that's what he does, and I guess in that minimalism comes the beauty of the character.' 'It feels very grounded,' says Naomi Ackie, who's making her debut in Skywalker. She plays Jannah. 'There's the kind of spectacular-ness, and the supernatural move-things-with-your-mind magic stuff, but then there's also this really grounded, rugged nature where everything is distressed and old and kind of worn out and lived-in. And I think playing with those two ideas means that you get this feeling that it could almost be real. Like, in a galaxy far away, it could almost be the case that you could have this.' The way they were: Carrie with Chewbacca, C-3PO and Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back The Rise of Skywalker introduces some new characters: there is a one-wheeled droid called D-O, the alien Klaud, Keri as Zorri Bliss, and Richard E Grant as Allegiant General Pryde. Producer Kathleen Kennedy also talked about the future of Star Wars. Disney plans to make five more movies in five years. 'I think there is a larger expectation that Disney has,' Kennedy says. 'On the other hand, though, I think that Disney is very respectful of what this is, and right from the beginning we talked about the fragility of this form of storytelling. Because it's something that means so much to fans that you can't turn this into some kind of factory approach. You can't even do what Marvel does, necessarily, where you pick characters and build new franchises around those characters. This needs to evolve differently.' Star Wars: Rise Of Skywalker will be released in US theaters on December 20, 2019. EastEnders ex-star Patsy Palmer is returning to the soap as the feisty Bianca Jackson for the third time in 25 years. Executive producer Jon Sen confirmed on Wednesday that the actress, 46, will be heading back to Albert Square for a huge storyline, with her first scenes to appear in the autumn. Patsy last appeared in EastEnders in 2014 when Bianca moved to Milton Keynes with boyfriend Terry Spraggan, and has since been living in California with husband of 19 years Richard Merkell and her four children. She's back! EastEnders ex-star Patsy Palmer is returning to the soap as the feisty Bianca Jackson for the third time in 25 years According to The Sun, Jon said: 'I'm thrilled Patsy's agreed to return to reprise her iconic creation in a blistering storyline that will grip fans this autumn.' A source added: 'Bosses are delighted to be getting Patsy back. She's a real Enders icon and fans love seeing old faces return. 'She has yet to get her scripts but she will no doubt be at the centre of drama when she returns in the autumn.' It was also confirmed that Patsy's return will only be a short stint, but many fans are already anticipating her reunion with daughter Tiffany (played by Maisie Smith). New face: Executive producer Jon Sen confirmed the actress will be heading back to Albert Square for a huge storyline, with her first scenes to appear in the autumn (above in 2013) Iconic: Patsy last appeared in EastEnders in 2014 as the loud-mouthed Bianca, when she moved away from Albert Square to start a new life in Milton Keynes Patsy first joined EastEnders in 1993 as the loud-mouthed Bianca who eventually sparked up a romance with Ricky (played by Sid Owen) with the couple's 1997 wedding going down in soap history. The couple went through some difficult times, including the sad loss of their baby daughter Natasha after learning she had Spina bifida just 20 weeks in the pregnancy. Ricky's married to Bianca came to an end when she left Albert Square in 1999, but unbeknownst to Ricky, she was pregnant with his daughter Tiffany. At odds: Patsy first joined EastEnders in 1993 as Bianca, who was repeatedly at odds with her mum Carol Iconic: The character is also synonymous with her relationship with husband Ricky Butcher (above in 2008) Ricckaaaaay! The couple married twice during their times on the soap, with the second in 2010 coinciding with the soap's 25th Anniversary Bianca went through plenty of hard times as she struggled with being a single mum to Tiffany, Liam and Morgan as well as ward Whitney Dean (Shona McGarty), but after returning to EastEnders in 2008, she and Ricky re-married as part of the soap's 25th Anniversary. Between 2011 and 2012 Patsy took several breaks from the soap, as Bianca was sentenced to six months in prison for assaulting mum Carol's lover Connor Stanley. The star's last appearance was in September 2014, when she left Albert Square for Milton Keynes with boyfriend Terry. But it was hinted that all was not well in her new life when Tiffany ditched her family to come back to Albert Square last year, and it remains to be seen whether there will be fireworks when the mother and daughter are reunited. As seen on screen: Patsy isn't the only iconic star to be returning to the soap, as Dean Gaffney will make his return on June 3. The 41-year-old actor plays Robbie Jackson in the BBC soap Patsy isn't the only iconic star to be returning to the soap, as Dean Gaffney will make his return on June 3. The 41-year-old actor played Robbie Jackson in the BBC soap from 1993 to 2003 and returned full-time from 2017. In March, Dean addressed the fact he'd taken another leave of absence from the soap, saying his character has been spending time in India doing some 'soul searching'. However, a short synopsis of the episode, indicates he won't becoming back to Albert Square 'alone'. It reads: 'Kat drops a bombshell leaving Stacey furious. Robbie returns to the Square but he's not alone. Tensions simmer between Phil and Louise.' The soap's official website also hints his half-sister Sonia (Natalie Cassidy) will be confused by his 'odd' behaviour, but gives no other plot details away. Family life: Patsy moved to America with husband Richard Merkell in 2014 alongside her three youngest children Fenton (second right) Emilia (left) and Bertie (centre) Off-screen Patsy has been living the high life after moving to California with Richard in 2014 alongside her three youngest children Fenton, 18, Emilia, 17, and Bertie, 8. The actress' 26-year-old son Charlie Palmer Rothwell - who Patsy had during her relationship with boxer Alfie Rothwell - stayed in the UK to pursue a career in acting. Patsy recently admitted she did not miss her acting career four years after saying goodbye to the character of Bianca, in a recent chat with Lorraine Kelly. 'It was a little bit strange getting used to the idea you're not 'on show' everywhere you walk about, you don't have to be ready to speak to someone about EastEnders,' the star said. 'You can go out and just completely be yourself, it's kind of weird, it is something you probably need therapy for, though I haven't gone down that route since I've been here but everyone does.' Married At First Sight's Rhyce Power has bizarrely claimed his ex-girlfriend Vanessa Sierra is 'following him around' Bali - despite being subject of an intervention order that prohibits him from contacting her. Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the 28-year-old carpenter responded to a follower who asked if Vanessa had 'followed' him overseas, saying: 'Yer wtf why (sic).' Rhyce landed on the Indonesian party island last week and has been spending time there with Instagram model Jess Marie, who bears a striking resemblance to his ex. Meanwhile, Vanessa arrived in Bali for a girls' trip on Sunday, telling Daily Mail Australia she actually booked her holiday 'over a month ago'. He said what?! Married At First Sight's Rhyce Power (pictured) has claimed his ex-girlfriend Vanessa Sierra is 'following him around Bali', after she publicly accused him of assault While it's unclear if there is anything romantic going on between Jess and Rhyce, fans have noticed that she is a doppelganger of Vanessa. The near-identical brunettes are both tattooed, of similar age and have Instagram profiles full of familiar-looking bikini photos. On Wednesday, Vanessa shared a revealing picture of herself sprawled across an infinity pool overlooking Jimbaran Beach. The snap appeared to be a perfect replica of one shared by Jess back in March, in which she flaunted her derriere in the same pose in nearby Uluwatu. A man of few words: Taking to Instagram on Wednesday, the 28-year-old carpenter responded to a follower who asked if Vanessa had 'followed' him overseas, saying: 'Yer wtf why' Lookalikes: Rhyce landed in Bali last week and has been spending time there with Instagram model Jess Marie (left), who bears a striking resemblance to his ex Vanessa (right) Vanessa flew to Bali with a female friend after ending her two-week fling with MAFS groom Daniel Webb, who is the ex-boyfriend of Rhyce's sister Jessika Power Prior to that, Vanessa had been in a relationship with Rhyce for several months. Vanessa alleged following her break-up with Rhyce that he assaulted her during a fitness holiday in Thailand in March. She later filed an intervention order in Australia. Doppelgangers: The near-identical brunettes are both tattooed, of similar age and have Instagram profiles full of familiar-looking bikini photos. Pictured left: Jess, and right: Vanessa Under the Victorian intervention order, which is similar to an apprehended violence order (AVO), the heavily-tattooed tradesman is banned from contacting Vanessa. In a lengthy statement shared to Instagram in April upon his return to Sydney, Rhyce said there was more to the story and appeared to deny Vanessa's claims. 'There's always two sides to every story, and everyone needs to believe that,' he said. That looks familiar! On Wednesday, Vanessa shared this revealing picture of herself sprawled across an infinity pool overlooking Jimbaran Beach Hmm! The photo appeared to be a perfect replica of this one shared by Jess back in March, in which she flaunted her derriere in the same pose in nearby Uluwatu Rhyce's current trip has been anything but a happy holiday so far, after he was involved in a motorcycle accident in Bali on Saturday night. 'Last night I was driving a scooter in Bali [after] a few too many drinks and not wearing a helmet as I thought, "I'm close to home I'll be right,"' he later told his Instagram followers. 'I can't really remember much but I woke up in hospital 12 stitches later, with no memories of the incident, a huge medical bill and pretty bloody sore today. 'I could have been a lot more injured or even worse died.' Real Housewives of New Jersey star Joe Giudice's daughters sent emotional happy birthday wishes as he turned 47-years-old on Wednesday, amid news he'll remain in the U.S. while his deportation situation is hashed out. Joe, who has four children with Teresa Giudice - Gia, 18, Gabriella, 15, Milania, 14, and Audriana, 10 - was hailed by two of his daughters on Instagram as he continued to fight against being sent to Italy as a result of his 2014 fraud conviction. 'Happy birthday to the guy who teaches me everyday to keep going and never stop fighting!' wrote Gia, who's been campaigning to keep her dad in the states with an online petition. A reason to smile: Real Housewives of New Jersey star Joe Giudice's daughters sent emotional happy birthday wishes as the reality star turned 47-years-old on Wednesday, amid news he'll remain in the U.S. while his deportation situation is hashed out; seen in 2015 'You inspire me everyday.. love you so much keep smiling see you soon.' Milania, calling her dad her 'buddy' and 'best friend,' thanked Joe 'for always putting a smile on [her] face and doing everything for [her], adding, 'I don't know what I would do without you! I love you forever and always buddy.' On the legal front, Joe can remain in the states amid the legal process in his case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for The Third Circuit court ruled, according to The Blast. The court decision comes more than a month after the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had denied his appeal in the case. Joe's lawyer told People that the reality star 'looks forward to continuing this fight to the very end,' as 'there is nothing more important to him than returning home to his wife and kids.' Throwback: Both Milania and Gia posted childhood shots of themselves with their father Tough time: Joe and Teresa Giudice were seen at court in their native New Jersey in 2013 The lawyer added, 'We are grateful that the court has granted the stay.' Joe was born in Saronno, Italy and brought to the United States when he was a one-year-old, but never applied to be a U.S. citizen. Following his guilty plea to mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud charges five years ago, he was to be deported under federal law due to 'a crime of moral turpitude' or 'aggravated felony.' (Teresa served 11 months in custody in 2015 in her conviction.) Joe was slated for deportation after he concluded his 41-month prison sentence at Fort Dix, New Jersey's Federal Correctional Institution this past March, and has remained in ICE custody in Pennsylvania amid the appeals process. Insiders told the outlet that Joe's attorneys will move to have him removed from ICE custody for the duration of the case. Gia said in her petition, 'My father is not a danger to society,' adding reasons why the deportation would be detrimental to Joe's future. 'He knows nothing of Italian culture, laws, societal norms,' she said adding, 'he has no immediate family and will not be able to secure work in this foreign land.' They're the attention-loving couple who shamelessly faked their engagement last year for publicity. And Love Island Australia rejects Tayla Damir, 22, and Dom Thomas, 27, have now teased their 'baby plans'. Speaking to WHO magazine on Thursday, aspiring Instagram model Tayla said her boyfriend is 'so clucky' and often wonders what their children will look like. Scroll down for video Another stunt? Love Island rejects Tayla Damir and Dom Thomas have teased their baby plans, months after shamelessly faking their engagement for publicity 'Oh, he is so clucky it's not even funny!' Tayla said. 'We will be walking down the street and he will be like, "I reckon if we had a kid our kid will look like this." I'd have to say, "OK, well, we're not, so let's just wait until the time comes".' Tayla added that while she knows Dom is 'The One', they're not quite ready for marriage yet as she is focused on establishing a TV career. 'There's still quite a few talks in terms of keeping me around on TV screens,' she said. Bizarre: The baby talk comes months after Tayla and Dom, who announced their relationship in October 2018, were criticised by fans for pretending to be engaged Explanation: Tayla later revealed it was all just a publicity stunt for a jewellery company Just a promotion: Fans reacted to the bizarre stunt in the comments section The baby talk comes months after Tayla and Dom, who announced their relationship in October 2018, were criticised by fans for pretending to be engaged. In November, Tayla shared two photos to Instagram that showed her wearing a diamond sparkler on her wedding finger. Her vague caption, 'Oh my God!', fuelled engagement speculation, however she later revealed it was all just publicity for a jewellery company. Going strong: The reality TV rejects announced their relationship in October last year 'No I'm not engaged but I did have fun wearing this beautiful ring today,' Tayla wrote afterwards, while making sure to tag the jeweller. One annoyed fan wrote: 'I actually used to like them'. Another commented, 'Of course...', alongside an eye-roll emoji. Before dating Dom, Tayla was in a brief relationship with fellow Love Island Australia winner, Grant Crapp. She's gearing up for the much anticipated return of Call The Midwife. And Helen George was enjoying a night out on Wednesday when she enjoyed a fun-filled outing at The Lehman Trilogy play Press night at London's Piccadilly Theatre. The actress, 34, was joined by fellow thespians Damian Lewis, 48, and Helen McCrory, 50, at the VIP preview of the new production. Stepping out: Helen George was enjoying a night out on Wednesday when she enjoyed a fun-filled outing at The Lehman Trilogy play Press night at London's Piccadilly Theatre Helen dressed to impress for her night at the theatre, exuding glamour in an all-black, sophisticated look. She layered a silk lined tuxedo jacket over a low-cut black vest, completing the attire with skinny . The blonde gave some extra height to her frame with a pair of matching stilettos, and added a slick of scarlet lipstick for a pop of colour. A-list attendees: The actress, 34, was joined by fellow thespians Damian Lewis, 48, and Helen McCrory, 50, at the VIP preview of the new production Stylish: Helen dressed to impress for her night at the theatre, exuding glamour in an all-black, sophisticated look Out and about: Stephen Mangan and Louise Delamere were putting in an appearance VIP arrivals: Adrian Lester (left) and Penelope Wilton (right) were also enjoying the press night Night out: James Purefoy and Jason Isaacs were also spotted AT THE Piccadilly Theatre It was revealed earlier this year that Call The Midwife has been renewed for at least three more seasons, taking it to 2022. The highly-popular BBC series - which follows nurses working in London's East-End in the 1950s and 1960s - will be back for a minimum of two additional seasons in 2021 and 2022, after the current contract expires in 2020. The announcement was made on Sunday by the BBC - after the series' eighth season came to a close. Renewed: It was revealed earlier this year that Call The Midwife has been renewed for at least three more seasons, taking it to 2022 The new deal means the show will reach it's 10th birthday on the air, having debuted in 2012. Season 8 has raked in excellent audience numbers, and has been the highest-rating returning drama of the year, with an average audience of nine million. Executive producer Dame Pippa Harris has lauded the 'extraordinary creativity' of writer Heidi Thomas, and said: 'We are delighted and humbled by the continued warmth of the audience response.' The drama's current plot-line is set in 1964, and the new seal will take it up to 1967 - poignant due to this being the year the Abortion Act was passed and it was made legal to terminate unwanted pregnancies in England, Scotland and Wales. Long-serving Labor MP Warren Snowdon has claimed victory in the Northern Territory seat of Lingiari. With more than 66 per cent of votes counted by Monday morning, the swing towards Country Liberal Party candidate Jacinta Price was only 1.4 per cent and Mr Snowdon felt secure with a margin of nearly 6.9 per cent. One of Australia's longest-serving MPs, the 69-year-old former Rudd minister was first elected in 1987 and served until 1996. He was elected again in 1998 and has served ever since. Banks and health insurers have driven the Australian share market to a near 12-year high after the government's re-election ended the threat of dividend imputation changes, increased regulatory scrutiny and capped premiums. Shares in the big four banks surged by between 5.7 and 7.6 per cent, and health insurer gains hit double digits, as investors reacted to the defeat of a Labor party that had promised extra intervention. The benchmark ASX200 jumped as much as 1.7 per cent to 6,475.5 points, its highest level since December 2007. The financial sector was still up more than 5.1 per cent at 1310 AEST on Monday, a relief rally even larger than that which followed February's release of the royal commission final report. The ruling LNP, which only called the financial services royal commission reluctantly, is perceived by investors to be friendlier to the banking industry. "Investors won't need to work through the consequences of the Labor Party's proposed changes to negative gearing, franking credits and taxation scales," CommSec chief economist Craig James said. Fully franked bank dividends would have been less valuable to investors if Labor had intervened on dividend imputation - changes the coalition portrayed as a tax - while the opposition was also seen as more likely to raise the federal banking levy. Another worry for the big banks had been the impact on the housing market of any restrictions to negative gearing on investment properties, but they can now look forward to proposed assistance for first-home buyers that may stimulate mortgage demand. "With negative gearing now off the table, the medium-term outlook for housing is a little less negative," JP Morgan strategist Ben K Jarman said. "We wouldn't, however, expect much of an immediate lift." With Labor's threat of a two per cent cap on annual premium increases for the next two years now out of the way, NIB shares jumped 12.1 per cent and those in Medibank Private weren't far behind at 10.8 per cent higher. The Reserve Bank must now factor in the LNP's surprise win and its possible impact on economic growth when it mulls whether to deliver the cut in the cash rate it has implied could be on the way. "The question is whether the Reserve Bank waits for the 'natural' lifting of economic activity post-election or whether it believes that an extra kick along is required," Mr James said. Royal Bank of Canada head of Australian and New Zealand FIC strategy Su-Lin Ong said the near-term implications for the RBA over the next three to six months are limited, with the rate still likely to be cut from 1.5 to 1.0 per cent by the end of the year. "To our mind and given market pricing, the key debate remains whether the cash rate will move sub 1.0 per cent," Ms Ong said. The RBA will give an insight to its pre-election thinking on Tuesday with the release of the minutes from its May board meeting. Property auction numbers tapered off across the country over the weekend as many Australians kept their Saturday focus on voting and sausage sizzles. Data firm CoreLogic said there were 917 home auctions across all capital cities, down from an already low 1,218 in the prior week, and its early tally suggested about 57 per cent sold. The analysis company's preliminary figures for Sydney indicated 60.7 per cent of homes under the hammer in the city sold - although with only 168 of the 270 auctions counted, 38 per cent of results were missing. "Sydney's final clearance rate has come in at the high 50 per cent range for the last two weeks, as final collection comes in this week we will see if this was maintained for another week," CoreLogic commented ahead of the finalised auction results expected on Thursday, adding that the last time Sydney's clearance rate was in the high 50s was in mid-May last year. The number of Sydney auctions - 270 - was a drop from 445 in the week before and 672 in the same week a year ago. Auction numbers in Melbourne dipped to 427 in the seven days to May 19 - from 546 in the prior week - and CoreLogic recorded a 62.9 per cent clearance rate based on the confirmed results of 329. Westpac economist Matthew Hassan urged caution in analysing the clearance rates for the two big cities "due to high mark-downs between preliminary and final estimates in recent weeks". In Brisbane, CoreLogic counted a 38.6 per cent clearance rate based on the confirmed results of 44 auctions out of a total of 75 held across the city. Only 25 per cent of auctions in Perth ended in a sale, according to confirmed data from 16 auctions in the city while the results for another 13 were not recorded. Property values continued to slide across most capital cities during the week, with CoreLogic prices dropping 0.3 per cent in Sydney, 0.2 per cent in Melbourne, 0.1 per cent in both Perth and Adelaide while they remained flat in Brisbane. It has been decades since the nation rode on the sheep's back but the fashion pack are urging Australians to get back on board. From the late 1800s to the 1960s, wool was among the country's main exports and sustained many a country town. While the local wool industry has since shrunk to about a third of its former size, it still produces about 90 per cent of the world's fine wool for apparel purposes. Australian model and David Jones ambassador Victoria Lee grew up in Narrandera in southern NSW among sheep stations and remembers it fondly. "I feel so fortunate to have grown up in such a beautiful town - open space, clean fresh air, surrounded by my family, friends and a close-knit community," she told AAP. "I remember going to family friends' farms as a kid, helping with shearing - well, not actually doing it - but standing close by to observe." "Watching how fast the shearers would work was incredible, there's definitely an art to it." Now based in New York, Lee has returned to Australia to support Wool Week, which kicks off on Monday. The initiative, first championed by Prince Charles, will see industry body Woolmark and David Jones spruik the benefits of wool to consumers. It comes as a perfect time, Lee said, as fashion lovers become more conscious of sustainability. "Not many people know the incredible eco-credentials of wool, it's an incredible natural fibre, 100 per cent renewable and biodegradable, it's trans-seasonal and supports local Australian farmers," Lee said. It also lasts for generations, she added, citing her favourite jumper was once owned by her nanna. "It's an oversized, navy woollen cardigan with flowers embroidered (on it). It has lasted forever." * The Woolmark Company's Wool Week runs from May 20 to 26 Attorney-General Christian Porter will become Leader of the House when federal parliament reconvenes. Mr Porter said Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the decision prior to the federal election, after Christopher Pyne announced his retirement. "That is an important and vital role to the functioning of parliament," he told reporters in Perth on Monday. "I'd like to see that role executed in a way that is as collegiate as possible and makes for a parliament that is cooperative and works as well as it can do in the interests of the Australian people." Mr Porter will stay on as attorney-general. Tasmania shipbuilder Incat has signed a contract to build the world's largest aluminum ship, an order worth about $US130 million ($A188m) that will keep hundreds of workers busy for years. Incat will build the 130-metre ferry for longstanding Latin American customer Buquebus to operate between Argentina and Uruguay. Incat founder and chairman Robert Clifford told AAP the privately held company will spend six months designing the vessel, with delivery expected in three years. The vessel will likely weigh 13,000 tonnes and be 32m wide, carrying 2,100 passengers and 220 cars on two routes from Buenos Aires lasting 75 minutes and three hours. The ship will be the largest aluminium vessel ever made by tonnage, by length and "certainly" by width, he said. The ferry will also feature the world's largest duty-free shop on a ship, with over 3000 square metres of retail floor space, similar to the size of large airport duty-free shop. Aluminium is gaining favour as a ship-building material as aluminium ships are half the weight of steel ships, so use less fuel, Mr Clifford said. "Everyone's getting very environmentally friendly and power conscious," he said. Aluminium ships also retain their strength better as they don't rust, he added. The ferry's four engines will burn eco-friendly LNG, and are forecast to propel the vessel faster than over 40 knots. Between 600 to 700 workers will be employed on the project, Mr Clifford said. With five other ships on order and more large vessel orders expected, Incat is looking to hire about 100 workers a year to handle the production, he said. The ferry will the ninth ship Incat has built for Buquebus. The Crusaders have denied accusations members of their Super Rugby team made homophobic slurs towards a group of gay men in Cape Town. Allegations have arisen on social media that three Crusaders players were involved in a late-night confrontation at a fast food restaurant in the hours after the touring Kiwi team drew 19-19 with the Stormers. The players were accused of making homophobic put-downs and using "physically intimidating" behaviour when confronted. Crusaders management issued a statement on Monday quashing the allegations. "The three players, team management and the South African-based security advisor with them strongly refute the socialised account of what happened," the statement said. "They are devastated by the allegation and the implication of homophobic behaviour." Twitter user @adamlennoxx said his friends were "attacked" at the McDonalds outlet by members of the team. "As we entered, we were met by jeers and sniggers from them," one of the complainants alleged. "They then proceeded to record us as a joke. "When catching them in the act, they told us they did because we looked funny to them." It is alleged some players became aggressive when questioned about their behaviour and responded with "homophobic slurs, limp wrists and high pitched voices which were clearly in gest (sic)." Crusaders chief executive Colin Mansbridge said his organisation is committed to inclusivity, which made the allegations distressing and worthy of investigation. "Given the serious nature of these allegations I will be meeting with the team management and players on their return to Christchurch, however I am confident in the account that we have received from the team and the security advisor who was present," Mansbridge said. The reinstated Morrison government is pushing ahead with its plan to support new baseload power, as questions hover over its approach to climate change. Prime Minister Scott Morrison says there will be "no change" to the coalition's policies in the energy space, which includes a shortlist of a dozen projects in the underwriting new generation power plan. Gas, hydro and a coal station upgrade are among the shortlisted projects. "We set out all our energy policies at the election and that's what I'm going to do," he told 2GB radio on Monday. The plan also features a $10 million feasibility study into ways to meet the energy needs of heavy industry in north and central Queensland, including a coal-fired power plant at Collinsville. Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says the power plant would supply Gladstone, which is a "very big user of power". "If we want the cement factories to close and all those sorts of high-end industrial needs not met then we can go down the path of ignoring the situation," he told Triple M radio Riverina. "But we need to make sure that we have a balance - both renewables and traditional power - because it's the only way forward." Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says more generation in Australia's electricity supply is a "real priority", particularly for industries with high energy use. Much of the election campaign focused on climate change, and it was a central platform for Olympian Zali Steggall in her win over Tony Abbott in Warringah. Following the coalition's win the National Union of Workers also put out a strongly worded statement on the climate emergency, saying it threatens the future of jobs. Despite this, the coalition doesn't appear set to increase its 26 per cent emissions reduction target on 2005 levels by 2030. Mr Frydenberg says the reliability part of the National Energy Guarantee is going ahead, but Labor is still hoping the coalition will revive the policy, which also includes an emissions guarantee. "I think what the people of Australia are looking for are practical solutions - they want to know you're taking it seriously, they also want to see results - that's what our $3.5 billion climate solutions package does." The package includes a continuation of the coalition's abatement auctions, where businesses are paid for projects which will reduce their pollution. NSW Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos says the energy sector is transitioning, with high levels of renewable investment rolling in, meaning more policy will be needed down the track. "It's not just a cost, it's an opportunity to create potential new industry and a new cost base. I think we can embrace that," he told ABC Radio National. Human bones found near a Melbourne creek belong to Victorian woman Tamara Farrell, police say. The 31-year-old disappeared from her Ballarat home on February 17, two days before her partial remains were found at Nambrok in the state's Gippsland region. On May 6, railway workers found bones in the southwest Melbourne suburb of Altona North, which forensic testing subsequently showed also belonged to Ms Farrell, police said on Monday. A 22-year-old Altona man was charged in February with Ms Farrell's murder, and a 19-year-old woman was charged with being an accessory to murder. They have been named by media outlets as Shaye Kotiau and his sister, Kieahn. The pair is expected to face Ballarat Magistrates Court on June 13 for a committal mention. Scott Morrison is getting back to work after his election victory over the weekend. The coalition's leadership group met on Monday morning, and the national security committee of cabinet had a phone hook up in the afternoon with defence and intelligence chiefs. On Tuesday the prime minister will meet with the treasurer and deputy Liberal leader Josh Frydenberg to look over the economic state of the nation. "It is very much a back-to-work day, which enables Australians to get back to work," Mr Morrison told reporters in his Sydney office. "We've got a lot to do." His victory - coming as a surprise to most - gives him the authority to refresh his frontbench in coming days. Several portfolios are up for grabs after ministers retired at the election, including industrial relations, jobs, indigenous affairs, women, human services and defence. Christian Porter is staying on as attorney-general and will also take on the key strategic role of Leader of the House. The prime minister made that decision prior to the federal election, after Christopher Pyne announced his retirement. "I'd like to see that role executed in a way that is as collegiate as possible and makes for a parliament that is co-operative and works as well as it can do in the interests of the Australian people," Mr Porter told reporters in Perth on Monday. Ken Wyatt is being tipped to become indigenous affairs minister, which would make him the first indigenous person to take on the role. It will be an important portfolio as the government looks at options for a Voice to Parliament and works towards holding a referendum on constitutional recognition of indigenous people. There will be much continuity between Mr Morrison's last cabinet and his next, with the leader saying in the final weeks of the campaign that his clutch of national security and economic ministers will stay on. That means Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann will keep their jobs. The prime minister has also said Health Minister Greg Hunt, Education Minister Dan Tehan and Environment Minister Melissa Price would remain on deck. That comes despite Ms Price coming under fire for being nearly invisible in her portfolio and throughout the election, and calls for the government to do more on climate change. Labor frontbencher Andrew Leigh said Mr Morrison's ministers would be no match for the opposition. "He'll be putting together a frontbench which will be meeting an opposition with significantly more experience, deeper values, better understanding of the issues," Dr Leigh told ABC radio. Junior defence minister Linda Reynolds - a former Army brigadier - was promised she would take on the full Defence portfolio after the election. Others who could be elevated include Mr Morrison's confidant throughout the campaign, WA MP Ben Morton, the driving force behind the "retiree tax" attacks Tim Wilson, and former ministers Arthur Sinodinos and Sussan Ley. Mr Morrison will also have a few more women to choose from for the posts, with women making up at least seven of the coalition's newcomers for the 46th parliament. The coalition's election victory in Canberra will affect Victoria's financial outlook, but the state Labor government is yet to reveal the cost. Treasurer Tim Pallas is set to unveil Victoria's budget next Monday, delayed from late April pending the outcome of the federal poll so the state knew what funds it had to work with. "Of course the election result on Saturday will have an implication going forward in our budget, but for next Monday's budget there will be a surplus budget and it will deliver on our election commitments," senior state minister Jacinta Allan told reporters on Monday. During the federal campaign, Labor leader Bill Shorten promised billions of dollars for Victorian transport projects, including $2 billion for the Metro Tunnel. The state government at the time said the extra cash for that project meant $2 billion of its own money could be redirected. Ms Allan said the loss of those proposed funds did not sacrifice other projects. "We will now, with the election result clear from the weekend, look at what is being offered to Victoria," Ms Allan said. "What we were always standing up for was Victoria to get a partnership from Canberra, funding for transport infrastructure projects that Victorians support." Two projects the Morrison government is keen to get underway are Melbourne's East West Link and a Kooyong level crossing removal, for which it promised $4 billion and $260 million respectively. But the state government remains steadfast that both projects do not stack up. The Andrews government got rid of the East West Link at a cost of more than $1 billion to taxpayers, arguing the contract meant it would lose money for every dollar spent building it, adding that the $4 billion promised is not enough to build it now anyway. The state also says the Kooyong Station level crossing plan has not been thought through and would be far more complex and expensive to do as an underground station than the federal government realises. State opposition leader Michael O'Brien questioned why there was a need to delay the budget. "(Premier) Daniel Andrews is responsible for his own budget, he can't blame the federal government for his spending," the Liberal leader said. "We're hearing rumours of significant budget blowouts on infrastructure projects." Mr Andrews said following the election result that Victoria's AAA-rated budget would deliver a surplus and stick to his government's promises. A Queensland Rail worker blamed a blind spot for allegedly running over a young woman with a crane vehicle then fleeing while she lay seriously injured on an inner-Brisbane street, a court has heard. Andre-Shane Moorby has pleaded not guilty on Monday to driving a Pettibone dangerously when it caused grievous bodily harm to Iuliana Stevenson in October 2017. Ms Stevenson was crossing at a light when she was hit at the intersection of Hamilton Place and Campbell Street in Bowen Hills about 12.45am. Prosecutors allege Moorby, 60, from Ipswich, failed to keep a proper lookout for her as he turned his heavy-duty vehicle left onto Hamilton Pl after his red arrow went out. The incident left her with fractures to her spine and upper body, as well as lacerations and abrasions, which required immediate medical attention. Moorby's offending is aggravated by him fleeing the scene despite knowing Ms Stevenson had been hit, the Crown alleges. CCTV footage played to the Brisbane District Court jury shows him stopping his vehicle briefly after he hit her before driving off. In a police interview, 35-year rail worker Moorby denied being inattentive but said a "blind spot" from the driver's seat meant "I don't really see too much." "Really, I can't tell you anything about this," he said. "I'm fairly high up and I didn't see her at all. "I've been driving that machine for a long time and I'm on the lookout all the time. "I don't know where she was or anything. I really don't know where she's come from." He said he was driving the Pettibone, which is used to handle rail tracks, to return it to a depot at Bowen Hills at the end of his shift. Ms Stevenson has no memory of the incident and will not give evidence. The trial continues. After spending months arguing that Labor's proposal to shut down some tax concessions would weaken the economy, Scott Morrison is hoping locking in fresh tax relief will do just the opposite. Legislating planned tax cuts is the prime minister's first priority for the 46th parliament, he revealed in the midst of his election campaign. That means federal parliament is likely to be brought back by late June, to deliver refunds as high as $1080 to Australians earning up to $125,000 in this year's tax assessment. Mr Morrison will meet with Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday, with laws required to lock in the extra spending in the government's latest budget at the front of mind. The government will also need to legislate its scheme to help some Australians buy their first home more easily, which is due to begin in January. Under the program, the government would offer loan guarantees for first home buyers, allowing them to buy properties with deposits of just five per cent instead of the typical 20 per cent. Both the tax cuts and housing scheme have Labor's backing, despite the opposition objecting to later stages of the government's tax plan. The plan will be fully rolled out in mid-2025, when everyone earning between $45,000 and $200,000 will be on the same 30 per cent tax rate. Luckily for the prime minister, any push back he does receive from the opposition is likely to be irrelevant in the lower house, with the coalition looking likely to win 77 seats, allowing them to govern in majority. But it may be required to win over some crossbenchers in the Senate. Mr Morrison has also promised to create 1.25 million new jobs over five years, and needs to find a new jobs and industrial relations minister now that Kelly O'Dwyer is retired. Among the challenges facing the re-elected coalition will be keeping up Australia's 28-year stretch of uninterrupted growth, a feat unheard of for comparable advanced economies. Business lobbyists the Ai Group say keeping the economy strong will require more than just the government's promised tax relief. "It has to deliver on a couple of other key fronts as well, around energy policy, around the productivity agenda," chief executive Innes Willox told ABC Radio on Monday. "There's a couple of key areas around workplace relations, not overturning the system, that we think need to be addressed." None of the four police officers involved in the shooting death of an armed man at Sydney's busiest train station had a Taser at the time, an inquest has been told. Danukul "Dan" Mokmool, 30, was shot in the head and died shortly after he held up a florist with a broken bottle and then ran at police on the Eddy Avenue concourse at Central station. Counsel assisting Adrian Williams told the NSW Coroners Court on Monday the florist managed to escape on the evening of July 26, 2017, leaving Mr Mokmool in the shop alone as four officers formed a semi-circle around the entrance. They drew their guns and directed him to drop his weapon. Mr Williams said after an officer used capsicum spray to no observed effect, Mr Mokmool ran at Senior Constable Frederick Tse shouting: "I'm going to kill you. I'm going to kill you." Sen Const Tse fired his gun three times and his colleague, Sen Const Jakob Harrison, fired once. "The timeframe was very short indeed," Mr Williams said, adding an officer with a Taser arrived at the scene shortly after the shooting. Whether Mr Mokmool was suffering from a mental health illness immediately prior to his death, and whether police had alternatives to lethal force, are among the issues being examined at the inquest. Members of Australia's largest women's organisation will lobby the NSW government to ban vehicles with offensive signage from the state's roads. The Country Women's Association of NSW passed a motion at its state conference earlier this month calling for vehicles with slogans promoting sexism, racism and violence to be outlawed. CWA members are particularly concerned about slogans on Wicked camper vans which have sparked controversy around the country. The vans in the past have had artwork referring to anal sex and virginity, for example. CWA NSW president Stephanie Stanhope said the slogans were "way out of step with community standards". "It's time every state took a stand on these unacceptable slogans and organisations like ours supported the changes necessary to eliminate this kind of disrespect from our communities," Ms Stanhope said in a statement on Monday. "When statements and slogans degrade people and cause an enormous amount of offence, then it's time to act." Queensland and Tasmania have given motor vehicle registries the power to deregister any vehicle that doesn't comply with Ad Standards rulings. The CWA would like to see similar legislation passed in NSW. It would also welcome federal action to introduce a uniform approach. The NSW Greens in 2017 called for legislation to ban offensive language on cars but the state government instead reached an informal agreement with Wicked. A Transport for NSW spokesman said at present there are no Wicked Campers registered in NSW. "If necessary, and in the interests of consistency, the NSW government would consider adopting the approach recently introduced by the Queensland government to regulate these types of vehicles if they are ever registered in NSW," the spokesman said in a statement. Wicked has been able to dodge fines and penalties by changing vehicle registration to another jurisdiction once a complaint has been made - a loophole which a national scheme would close. Wicked Campers has been contacted for comment. Controversial Sydney businessman Salim Mehajer is expected to walk out of a NSW prison where he has been locked up for electoral fraud. The former Auburn deputy mayor, who shot to infamy after his garish wedding, bizarre media appearances and frequent brushes with the law, is scheduled to be released from Cooma Correctional Centre on Tuesday. Mehajer, who once went on national television to declare his desire to become prime minister, was found guilty in April 2018 of being part of a 2012 electoral fraud plot that helped put him on Auburn City Council. He was jailed in June but the conclusion of his 11-month stint in prison on Tuesday won't mark the end of his legal woes. He's fighting allegations he staged a 2017 crash which saw his Mercedes AMG collide with another vehicle just before he was meant to appear in court over a taxi driver assault. The 32-year-old was also charged with fresh fraud offences on Friday. NSW Police allege Mehajer nominated another person as the driver of his vehicles which had received infringement notices. He was charged with four counts of making a false declaration and four counts of "dealing in identification information". Mehajer in early 2018 was convicted for slamming a car door on the arm of Seven Network reporter Laura Banks as he tried to leave a Sydney police station in April 2017. The judge did not hand Mehajer a penalty for his "reckless" actions against Ms Banks. The disgraced property developer is due back before Cooma Local Court in July. Prime Minister Scott Morrison looks likely to win at least 77 seats, possibly 78, allowing him to appoint a Speaker and govern in majority in the lower house. The count in the NSW seat of Macquarie took a turn on Monday afternoon, with the Liberals' Sarah Richards edging ahead of Labor MP Susan Templeman. There were just 50 votes separating the pair on Monday evening, according to the Australian Electoral Commission website, with more than 86 per cent of all ballots counted. The Liberals also appeared on track to win the Labor-held seats of Chisholm in Victoria, and Bass in Tasmania. In Bass, the Liberals' Bridget Archer sits on 50.3 per cent of the two-party vote, ahead of incumbent Labor MP Ross Hart. Liberal candidate for Chisholm Gladys Liu holds 50.4 per cent of the vote, ahead of Labor's Jennifer Yang. If the current count trends continue, this will give the Liberals 78 seats in the 151-seat House of Representatives, with Labor on 67 and six crossbenchers. Independent MP Kerryn Phelps conceded defeat in the NSW seat of Wentworth on Monday, losing to the Liberals' Dave Sharma after only six months in parliament. "I operated in Canberra with conviction, with integrity and a belief that individuals can impact on the political conversation," Dr Phelps told reporters on Monday. The Australian Electoral Commission said counting of postal votes would be underway in all 151 seats on Tuesday, having initially prioritised postal votes in Boothby, Chisholm, Cowan, Macquarie and Wentworth. The AEC said it had to wait 13 days after election day, by law, until the cut-off for any postal votes. However, officials said some final results may begin to be formally declared by the end of this week. In the previous parliament the numbers were: Liberals 58, Nationals 16, Labor 69, Greens 1, Centre Alliance 1, Katter's Australian Party 1, independents 4. An elderly former teacher has been arrested and charged with the sexual abuse of a young student almost five decades ago in Sydney's north. Police launched an investigation after a report, made last year, alleged a teacher had sexually assaulted a male student at a Brookvale High School between 1969 and 1976. The boy was 11-years-old when the alleged abuse began. The now 83-year-old male was arrested at an aged care facility in Kiama and taken to a police station in the Illawarra region. He was charged with two counts of buggery, eight counts of assaulting a male, two counts of indecency with a male and one count of indecency. He was granted strict conditional bail and ordered to appear at Downing Centre Local court on July 30. Police have called for anyone with more information to come forward. Police have charged a young man for accidentally shooting his teenage friend in the arm while they drove around Sydney. The 17-year-old arrived at Campbelltown Hospital with the gunshot wound to his upper arm in the early hours of Sunday morning. Police were initially told the boy was walking with friends after leaving a party in Ambarvale when he was shot. But the story has since changed, sources tell AAP. Detectives now allege the boy was driving with a 20-year-old friend when a pistol was accidentally fired, hitting him in the arm. The 20-year-old was arrested on Monday morning and charged with discharging a firearm likely to injure a person and possession of a prohibited pistol. He was refused bail and ordered to go before Campbelltown Local Court on Tuesday. The teenager has undergone surgery for the non-life threatening injury. Scott Morrison will get to shape his own cabinet after making minimal changes when he took over from Malcolm Turnbull in August. A series of key portfolios will remain in the same hands, but a set of retiring ministers means he has gaps to fill. Ken Wyatt is tipped to take on indigenous affairs, becoming the first indigenous Australian to hold the role. "I'll just take on board whatever the prime minister determines for me," Mr Wyatt told Sky News on Tuesday. "What I want to do is make a contribution to a common sense approach across a number of areas in our country." Labor was planning to appoint "father of reconciliation" Patrick Dodson to the role if the party won the election, but the Liberals now have the chance to make history. Western Australian MP Ben Morton travelled with Mr Morrison for the election campaign and looks set for a promotion, while assistant defence minister David Fawcett could also take a step up. West Australian senator Linda Reynolds has already been promised the Defence portfolio to replace Christopher Pyne. Mr Morrison will have to find new ministers for industrial relations, jobs, women, and human services. Others talked about for promotions include WA MP Steve Irons, and Victorians Tim Wilson and Jane Hume. Environment Minister Melissa Price is facing pressure to keep her role after struggling to answer questions. She has rarely been allowed to do press conferences on her own since taking over the job in August. "Anyone but Melissa Price would do a better job," Greens leader Richard Di Natale told reporters in Melbourne. "You know what would be nice? An environment minister who cared about the environment." Tasmania contributed an extra senator and two extra lower house seats to the coalition win, leading some to expect more key positions in line with previous good results in the Apple Isle in 2004 and 2013. If so, the prime minister will have to choose between veteran Eric Abetz and younger senator Jonathon Duniam, as well as consider whether to promote Richard Colbeck into cabinet. Peter Dutton is expected to keep Home Affairs, while Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Finance Minister Mathias Cormann are also set to stay in the same roles. Attorney-General Christian Porter will be Leader of the House, replacing Mr Pyne in the job of managing the day to day of parliament tactics. Health Minister Greg Hunt, Education Minister Dan Tehan and Foreign Minister Marise Payne are likely to keep their spots. The new ministry is not expected to be announced until at least this weekend, as counting continues following Saturday's election. Australians on low and middle incomes could still get the extra tax relief promised by the coalition this year even if it doesn't clear parliament by tax time. But it remains to be seen if the proposed tax cuts will pass parliament at all, with key crossbench senators still to pledge their support for the plan. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg have made legislating the tax cuts their top priority, but are at the mercy of the Australian Electoral Commission on when they can bring parliament back. Parliament can't sit until the AEC returns the election writ to the governor general, which is due by June 28. In a helpful twist for the government, the Australian Tax Office says it can retrospectively amend tax assessments to provide cuts if the laws pass after June. The agency could also make administrative changes to provide tax cuts, if Labor backs them. "We would be able to update the tax withholding schedules, to allow the tax cuts to be reflected in people's take home pay," the ATO says on its website. Labor has backed the coalition's promised doubling of a tax offset for low and middle income earners. Under the reform, people earning up to $37,000 would pay $255 less in tax, with that saving increased incrementally for people earning between $37,000 and $48,000. People earning between $48,000 and $90,000 would score a maximum refund of $1080, with the offset then gradually dialled back to zero for people earning up to $126,000. But Labor has taken issue with later stages of the coalition's tax plan, set to be fully rolled out by mid-2025, including flattening the marginal tax rate to 30 per cent for everyone earning between $45,000 and $200,000. Mr Frydenberg says the coalition's tax plans are a package deal. "It is important that this is dealt with as a package, because we are talking not just about immediate tax relief, but we're also talking about long-term structural reform," he told reporters in Canberra. Labor's Andrew Leigh says his party will decide where it stands on the package in the aftermath of its election defeat through its "normal consultative channels". "We don't suddenly turn into a rubber stamp for the Liberals just because we lost an election," he told ABC Radio National. Lacking support from Labor would require the government to rally crossbench votes. Greens leader Richard Di Natale says the minor party won't support income tax cuts that aren't targetted at people earning the least. "We're not going to support tax cuts to people on half a million dollars," he told ABC Radio. The party held onto all of its six Senate seats up for re-election, taking the Greens' total to nine. Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Philip Lowe says not rolling out the doubled tax offset this year would mean household income growth would be 0.3 per cent lower than it could be. "That is moving in the wrong direction," he said after a speech in Brisbane on Tuesday. The federal energy minister is putting pressure on Labor to ditch its 45 per cent emissions reduction and instead support the coalition's lower goal. The coalition has a 26 per cent emissions reduction target on 2005 levels by 2030, which it is confident it can achieve despite emissions increasing in recent years. "The business community wants bipartisanship. Now is the opportunity. We've won an election going in with a 26 per cent target. The onus is now on Labor to join with us and create certainty," Angus Taylor told The Australian on Tuesday. But Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama has made his position on climate change clear, making it a key focus of diplomatic relations with Australia. "Let us take the same underdog attitude that inspired your parliamentary victory to the global fight against climate change," he wrote in a congratulatory message to Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Facebook. "By working closely together, we can turn the tides in this battle - the most urgent crisis facing not only the Pacific, but the world." Meanwhile, Labor is licking its wounds after Saturday's shock defeat, with the party now looking at its policies while a new leader is chosen. Although it had been dubbed the climate change election, Labor's stronger approach to the environment failed to get the party over the line. Labor's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon says his party needs to balance its climate plan with support for the coalmining industry. "We didn't have any anti-coal policies but we equivocated on Adani and we were never really prepared to express our support for the coalmining industry," he told Seven's Sunrise program. "We need to be clearer - we support the mining industry and the jobs it creates. If that's our policy why not just say it?" But new Warringah MP Zali Steggall, who won the Sydney seat from former prime minister Tony Abbott on a campaign largely focused on climate change, says the emissions target needs to be more ambitious. "On the current targets of the coalition we have very little, about a 25 per cent chance, of staying under a two degree warming world," she told Sky News. "As a mum that doesn't reassure me, and I think Scott Morrison has such a fantastic opportunity to lead." Disgraced Sydney businessman Salim Mehajer has walked free from a NSW prison after 11 months behind bars for electoral fraud. The former Auburn deputy mayor, who shot to fame after his lavish wedding, bizarre media appearances and frequent brushes with the law, was released from Cooma Correctional Centre on Tuesday morning. Mehajer wore a blue suit and black sunglasses with his hair slicked back when he walked from the prison with lawyer Zali Burrows. He didn't stop to talk to the waiting media pack and left in a black car. Mehajer was found guilty in April 2018 of being part of a 2012 electoral fraud plot that helped put him on Auburn City Council. He was jailed in June but the conclusion of his 11-month stint in prison on Tuesday won't mark the end of his legal woes. He's fighting allegations he staged a 2017 crash which saw his Mercedes AMG collide with another vehicle just before he was meant to appear in court over a taxi driver assault. The 32-year-old was also charged with fresh fraud offences on Friday. NSW Police allege Mehajer nominated another person as the driver of his vehicles which had received infringement notices. He was charged with four counts of making a false declaration and four counts of "dealing in identification information". Those matters are due to be mentioned in Cooma Local Court in July. Mehajer in early 2018 was convicted for slamming a car door on the arm of Seven Network reporter Laura Banks as he tried to leave a Sydney police station in April 2017. The judge didn't hand Mehajer a penalty for his "reckless" actions against Ms Banks. A second envelope addressed to Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has caused alarm at the party's Adelaide office. The delivery prompted evacuation of the Greens' SA headquarters on Tuesday, a day after the first envelope containing powder and a threat was received. The powder was tested and found not to be a dangerous chemical, a police spokesperson told AAP. Staff did not open the second envelope which arrived on Tuesday addressed to Senator Hanson-Young with similar handwriting. Police also cleared it of any danger. The South Australian senator, who was returned at Saturday's election, has not detailed what was in the note in the first envelope but has confirmed it was directed at her. She labelled the person who sent it an "idiot". "It was white powder with a pretty serious threat attached," she told ABC radio on Tuesday. "Everyone is fine. The staff are fine but of course, it's not a nice thing for those staff on the front line who receive the mail to have to deal with. "Whoever did this well, frankly, they're an idiot." Activist group GetUp is celebrating its scalping of Tony Abbott and lamenting the failure to unseat senior Liberal Peter Dutton as it reviews its federal election campaign. The group, which was responsible for attack ads including one portraying Mr Abbott as a disinterested surf lifesaver on a beach, on Tuesday took credit for changing the MP for Warringah. "We certainly took on some very difficult targets," GetUp national director Paul Oosting told ABC radio in Melbourne. "We decided as a movement we wanted to take on the leaders of the hard-right faction, most of whom are in safe seats, not marginal seats. "We wanted to be present across the country where our members are and we chose seats accordingly ... Tony Abbott in Warringah and Peter Dutton in Queensland." Mr Dutton was returned and attracted a slight swing in Saturday's election, but GetUp is looking at the positives. "His seat remains marginal as a result of our efforts and that's something we're proud of. "It's not the result we were after, we've got to now reflect on that and build from the foundations that we've established." GetUp attracted some 9000 volunteers for the campaign, reflecting a three-fold increase on the 2016 federal poll, Mr Oosting said. But he conceded that campaigning on climate change wasn't as fruitful as previously thought. "We have seen reflected in the polls that the majority of Australians want to see the transition to renewables but that's not, in this case, been reflected inside the polling booth. So we need to reflect there," Mr Oosting said. The group also hit stumbling blocks during the campaign, including complaints about overnight robo-calls from an agency GetUp contracted to conduct polling. Voters in Treasurer Josh Frydenberg's Melbourne seat of Kooyong were angered by the nocturnal disruptions by research company Lonergan. "We've certainly lodged a complaint with Lonergan around that error," Mr Oosting said. "We've certainly let them know we're very displeased with that and it's obviously wholly inappropriate and we apologise to anyone who received that call." Mr Oosting expects GetUp to face further scrutiny by its critics. "People are free to get engaged in politics in our democracy and that's something we're very proud of. We will of course defend ourselves. "We hold ourselves to high standards of transparency." There's been a statistical surge in the number of Australians looking at a move to New Zealand following last week's election. Immigration New Zealand says there was a more than tenfold increase in Australians looking at its website on Sunday and expressions of interest increased by more than 25 times on the same time the week before. More than 8500 people went to the New Zealand Now website the day after the election and 512 registered interest - the first step in the visa process - compared to about 20 registrations on May 12, the government department said. However as Australians don't need visas to move to New Zealand, the actual implications of the figures aren't yet clear. "It is important to note these are purely registrations of interest in coming to New Zealand and does not necessarily translate to the number of people actually moving to New Zealand," INZ general manager Greg Forsythe said. The department also noted the statistics included anyone currently in Australia, not just Australian citizens. Since the coalition's upset victory, social media has been abuzz with Aussies claiming they were looking across the ditch, not an unusual phenomenon after elections. However University of Auckland politics professor Jennifer Curtin told Radio NZ the reaction was likely to fade as the realities of a move became more clear. Meanwhile, New Zealand's immigration minister, Iain Lees-Galloway, was grinning when asked about the spike. "New Zealand is a wonderful destination full of possibilities. I'm not at all surprised," he told reporters. "If Australians are looking at us, that's great." Eight men have been arrested after NSW anti-terrorism detectives uncovered an organised crime syndicate which was allegedly importing illegal tobacco, supplying drugs and laundering money. The arrests came after a series of raids in Sydney's southwest on Tuesday morning. The men first came to the attention of detectives who were investigating possible terrorism funding in NSW under Strikeforce DeHaar. A 38-year-old and a 39-year-old were arrested at a Sydney Olympic Park cafe after 8am on Tuesday and taken to local police stations. Later 19 search warrants were executed in Sydney's southwest at homes, businesses and storage units, leading to a further six arrests. Those men were aged between 27 and 42. The eight accused men are expected to be charged with various offences, NSW police said in a statement. Detectives allege the group distributed more than seven tonnes of tobacco products worth more than $1.8 million. The group also facilitated the importation of 475,000 packets of cigarettes - which would have accrued $9 million in excise if imported legally - and laundered more than $1.2 million in the proceeds of crime, police say. Assistant Commissioner Mick Willing assured the public there was no current or impending terror threat from the crime syndicate's activities. "The terrorism funding aspect (of the investigation) is ongoing," he told reporters. "(But) it's quite clear and it's well known around the world (that) the nexus between organised crime and terrorism is strong and alive." Mr Willing said police believe they'd arrested the mastermind of the syndicate as well as those intricately involved mid-level. The men will face a number of charges such as money laundering, directing and participating in a criminal group, dealing with the proceeds of crime and tobacco smuggling. Chris Bowen was a treasurer who never delivered a budget and spent six years working on an economic plan he didn't get to implement. He was acting Labor leader for a month in 2013, while Anthony Albanese and Bill Shorten fought for the role. Now as shadow treasurer he's running against the man they call "Albo", who he concedes is the favourite to win. "The Labor Party went in on Saturday as favourite, too, I'm a bit over favourites. It doesn't always work out so well," he told reporters in Sydney on Tuesday. Mr Bowen was outside the one-storey fibro house in Smithfield, in Sydney's southwest. Sheets were hung over the windows. "This is the house I grew up in," Mr Bowen said. His father was a shift worker with the NRMA, he said, and worked Sundays, most Christmases and every Easter. His mother was a childcare worker, and looked after kids inside the house, including fostering disabled children. "They raised my brother and I here. This is an important part of who I am," Mr Bowen said. Wearing jeans and no tie with his button-down shirt and blazer, he pointed to his deep working class roots. "I can connect with suburban and regional Australia. I come from the suburbs, from here," Mr Bowen said. "My wife and I are raising two wonderful kids down the road from here, in Smithfield, the same suburb I grew up in," he said. Mr Bowen believes he can lead the economic debate, which is crucial to Labor winning government. "I've got some things right and some things wrong over my years, I've been in parliament 15 years, I'm not perfect. But I've learnt as I've gone," he said. "I think I can take the party to a good position on economic growth and creating jobs. We cannot leave jobs and growth to the other side." About two of those 15 years were spent as immigration minister under Julia Gillard, where Mr Bowen saw a stream of asylum-seeker boats and the reopening of offshore detention centres. That experience helped harden Mr Bowen and other Labor MPs to match the coalition's boat turnback policies. Not long afterwards he became treasurer when Kevin Rudd returned, spending three months managing the nation's wallet before the 2013 election. Mr Bowen never got to unveil a full budget, but he spent six years developing the economic strategy Labor took to the 2019 election. Connecting the economic message with the needs and aspirations of voters in cities, outer suburbs and regional towns will be crucial if Mr Bowen is to gain the leadership and take Labor to victory. A minister in line for promotion under Scott Morrison believes there is a community support for constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians and pursuing a voice to parliament. Aged care minister Ken Wyatt, who is tipped to take on the indigenous affairs portfolio, says he speaks with the prime minister often about advancing the two causes. "I think as a nation we are moving that way," he told Sky News on Tuesday. "I remain optimistic and it's something that I don't take out of my consideration." The federal budget set aside $7.3 million to develop a model for the indigenous voice, which the government plans to put to Australian voters in a national referendum. "That's an ongoing discussion that I've had with the prime minister," Mr Wyatt said. "Hence the budget line that he has approved for ongoing dialogue based on the report of (Liberal MP) Julian Leeser and (Labor) senator Pat Dodson." Late last year, Mr Morrison rejected an indigenous voice to parliament, claiming it would be nothing more than a "third chamber" of power. However, a bipartisan committee chaired by Mr Leeser and Senator Dodson later urged the government to kick-start a co-design process with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The prime minister has said the indigenous voice - which was recommended by about 300 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders at Uluru in 2017, but has stalled ever since - is an important issue. But Mr Morrison has consistently argued he is more focused on ending youth suicides in remote indigenous communities. Mr Wyatt, an Aboriginal man from Western Australia, believes the community will back constitutional recognition of First Nations people. "There is an appetite by Australians for recognition of some form within the constitution," he said. "But more importantly, a structure that would provide an avenue to have dialogue with governments at all levels." Victoria Police has been accused of withholding "uncomfortable" information from a royal commission into the use of police informers. But lawyer for the police, Renee Enbom, denied the suggestion on Tuesday that the force was taking an "adversarial approach" to the investigation. The royal commission is investigating police dealings with informers, including Nicola Gobbo - also known as 'Lawyer X' - who was used for information during three periods from 1995 to 2009. The commission was told former homicide detective sergeant Sol Solomon had provided a letter to Victoria Police on January 15 about his relationship with Ms Gobbo when he was investigating the execution-style gangland murders of police informant Terrence Hodson and his wife Christine in 2004. He requested it be forwarded to the commission, but Victoria Police failed to do so. The commission finally received the letter four months later on May 15, but not from police. "When you read Mr Solomon's statement, which we'll get to in good course, it's one that some people might think that Victoria Police didn't want provided to the commission or found it at least uncomfortable for it to be provided to the commission," Commissioner Margaret McMurdo said. Ms Enbom said the letter was controversial but it wasn't being deliberately withheld. "Well you keep telling us that but there are counter-indications," Commissioner McMurdo replied. She also said an audit of submissions should be undertaken. The concerns about police secrecy followed a media challenge about months of suppression orders, restricting publication of parts of the hearings. Media lawyer John-Paul Cashen spoke to the commission on Tuesday while seeking the ability for news outlets to challenge publication gag orders. "In our view, these orders are creating a new regime of secrecy," he argued, adding it was in the public interest for matters of police processes to be discussed in public. But Commissioner McMurdo said each suppression order needed to be evaluated on its own merits, because the public release of certain information could put lives at risk. She described her job, working among numerous suppression orders and public interest immunity claims, like "a boxer fighting a match with one hand tied behind his back and the other bruised and bleeding". "But I am still upright and focused on a positive conclusion," she said. Also on Tuesday, former police detective Stephen Campbell gave evidence from a remote location due to poor health. Mr Campbell had been accused of a $100,000 cannabis trafficking scheme in 1999, and admitted he was in a casual sexual relationship with Ms Gobbo for several years, including during his legal proceedings. He was later acquitted of the charges. The commission is scheduled to continue on Wednesday. The police officers who fired on an armed man during a fatal peak-hour shooting in Sydney's CBD say they had no other choice. Danukul Mokmool was shot dead after arming himself with scissors and running at police on the packed Eddy Avenue concourse outside Central Station on July 26, 2017. Two plain-clothed officers, senior constables Frederick Tse and Jakob Harrison, told an inquest they fired after the 30-year-old charged at Snr Const Tse. "I didn't want to, but he really gave me no choice," Snr Const Tse told the NSW Coroners Court on Tuesday. The court was told four officers, including two in plain clothes, arrived about 20 seconds earlier to see an armed man pacing in a small florist shop and a crowd of commuters watching on. Putting themselves between commuters and the shop, the police formed a semi-circle around the shop entrance, drew their guns and demanded the Heckenberg man drop his weapons, the inquest was told. Snr Const Tse said Mr Mokmool calmly stated "I'm not giving up, shoot me" before a uniformed officer fired capsicum spray at him, to no apparent effect. "A second or so later, he looked at me and yelled 'I'm going to kill you'," the senior constable said. "His demeanour changed and he just charged ... in the running posture but running with his blades." Snr Const Tse said he moved about three paces back but realised Mr Mokmool was quickly closing the seven-metre gap between them. "He got within three metres, I let off three rounds. He fell to the ground," he said. Snr Const Harrison said he recalled a uniformed officer calling for a Taser to be brought to the scene but didn't remember the armed man saying 'I'm going to kill you'. He stated he thought there was more time for dialogue but then Mr Mokmool took up a "sprinter's pose" and ran quickly at his partner. Snr Const Harrison fired his weapon once, deciding there was no other option available to stop Mr Mokmool. "If I hadn't used my firearm, (Snr Const Tse) could have been grievously injured, if not killed," he said. Snr Const Harrison, who had previously had training on how to deal with mentally ill people, said Mr Mokmool didn't appear to want to de-escalate. "There was not enough time to assess his state of mind." Issues being considered at the inquest include whether Mr Mokmool was suffering from a mental health illness, how he was treated for previous mental health conditions and whether alternatives to lethal force were available. Snr Const Tse conceded, under questioning by a lawyer for Mr Mokmool's family, that he "possibly" rushed into a "vulnerable, unsafe position" when he arrived on scene and glanced inside the shop for other people. He accepted that it was "probably not ideal" multiple officers were yelling at Mr Mokmool to drop his weapons. "Did you think to yourself 'this fellow ... sure, he has these bladed items but he's not actually threatening anyone'?" family lawyer Bill de Mars asked. "No," Snr Const Tse replied. The inquest continues. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Driving into a busy intersection 9.9 seconds after a traffic light turned yellow has had tragic consequences for a Queensland mother and the motorcycle rider she hit and severely injured, a court has been told. University of Queensland staffer Inge Ellen Matt, 57, wept in the Brisbane District Court on Tuesday as she was sentenced to 15 months' prison wholly suspended. It came almost three years after she ran through a red light and slammed into a motorcycle rider at the intersection of Moggill Rd and the Western Freeway in Brisbane's inner-west. The man suffered cuts to a number of internal organs as well as a fracture to his lower back. The rider was rushed to hospital, operated on immediately and spent time in intensive care. As a result of the crash the court was told Matt suffered post traumatic stress disorder and her teenage son, who was in the passenger seat at the time of the crash, was also affected. Matt pleaded guilty to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing grievous bodily harm in June 2016. During sentencing on Tuesday, Judge William Everson said the crash had tragic consequences for both the rider, Matt and her son. He said Matt had led a "blameless existence" before the crash. Judge Everson said the period of less than 10 seconds that Matt operated her car dangerously was a "reminder to us all that we too could find ourselves in your situation". A NSW anaesthetist who put his finger in a patient's rectum without consent was giggling continuously with the surgeon, even when photos were taken on a mobile phone, a nurse has told a tribunal. "They were making such a huge mockery of looking after a patient," the female nurse, who can't be identified, said through tears at a NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing in Sydney on Tuesday. Anaesthetist Dr Adam Hill says he was reluctant to examine the 37-year-old man at a hospital in November 2018 after the surgeon, whose name is also suppressed, discovered a large tumour during a colonoscopy and asked him to feel it. "I don't enjoy doing examinations in that vicinity. I've never enjoyed it," Dr Hill said, noting he had initially declined. "(But) he was insistent." Dr Hill denied giggling but conceded he didn't think about the lack of consent at the time of the rectal examination and he had no clinical reason for inspecting the patient's tumour. The anaesthetist is appealing the suspension of his registration by the Medical Council of NSW in March after a complaint was made about the incident. The NCAT in April ruled Dr Hill could return to work "pending the hearing and determination of the appeal" against his suspension. His barrister, Arthur Moses SC, told a NCAT hearing on Tuesday that it was a "one-off transgression" and the medical council had sought to attribute the surgeon's actions to Dr Hill. He said Dr Hill didn't know the surgeon wanted to take photos in the operating theatre and didn't pose for them. "The applicant did not regard the actions of the surgeon to be a joke he was participating in," the barrister said. The evidence of the nurse, who testified about the giggling, had "chopped and changed" including whether the surgeon said to Dr Hill it was a "once in a lifetime opportunity" or "once in a lifetime tumour to feel", Mr Moses said. Dr Hill made a mistake and has expressed deep shame and remorse, he added. Barrister Henry El-Hage, acting for the medical council, said Dr Hill violated the relationship of trust that existed between doctor and patient. "It was inconsistent with the honour and integrity of the profession," Mr El-Hage said. "He shirked what were fundamental responsibilities." Dr Hill had every chance to change his mind but continued with the examination on the unconscious and vulnerable patient, Mr El-Hage said. A second nurse testified she saw the colorectal surgeon take out his mobile phone, point it at Dr Hill during the examination and say: "We finally have evidence of you doing work." She said Dr Hill made "a snigger, a giggle" noise at the "common joke" but, upon spotting the mobile phone, said: "That's not funny. Put that away." The four tribunal members, including Judge Susanne Cole, reserved their decision. A Queensland newspaper has apologised for disappointing readers after a front page image of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in a gunsight's crosshairs sparked outrage. The Sunshine Coast Daily, published by News Corp Australia, ran the picture on Monday with the headline "Anna, you're next" and the subheadline "Labor rout puts Premier in crosshairs". The newspaper says it intended to highlight Labor's poor performance in the federal election in Queensland. But it infuriated members of the public, and the government, with acting police minister Craig Crawford saying it could incite violence and put the premier's life at risk. The state government demanded a public apology and for the image be removed from the paper's website. The paper initially refused in an email to the premier's department and a complaint to the Australian Press Council was lodged. By Tuesday, after being "inundated" by letters and complaints, the publication admitting they'd got their message wrong. Editor Craig Warhurst said in a statement it was poor choice of imagery and the paper did not condone any sort of violence against women or politicians. "For those of you in the community who feel let down and betrayed by the image, I apologise," he wrote. An apology has also been made to Ms Palaszczuk from the "top of the News Corp tree", a government spokesman told AAP. Minister for Child Safety, Youth and Women Di Farmer said politicians were "fair game" for the slings and arrows of political life, but the image they used was inappropriate. "Encouraging violence towards a woman or a man in this way is inappropriate," she told reporters. Attorney General Yvette D'Ath used social media to call for an end to personal attacks. "I'm sick of this level of disrespect at a time when we are trying to educate against bullying and violence." A mother and child have been found dead after falling from a lookout south of Sydney. Emergency services were called to Mount Keira, near Wollongong, on Tuesday following reports multiple people had fallen from the Robertson lookout. The woman and child were found dead in the dense bushland below. The Toll rescue helicopter was seen lowering paramedics into the forest below while NSW Police and NSW Ambulance crews gathered at a nearby road. Wollongong police have launched an investigation and a crime scene has been established. Lifeline 13 11 14 beyondblue 1300 22 4636 Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says repealing the so-called "medevac" laws and closing the Christmas Island detention centre remains a priority. But he insists there is money in the budget to keep the centre running if the Senate blocks the repeal. "We have made allocations in the budget for the maintenance of Christmas Island. But let me just make it very clear, it is our policy to reverse that legislation," Mr Frydenberg told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday. "We can only reverse the legislation if it passes both houses of parliament. So let's work that through when the parliament resumes." Delaying the repeal of the medevac laws - which make it easier for sick refugees to seek medical transfers - could blow a billion-dollar hole in the budget. Scott Morrison reopened Christmas Island at a cost of $1.4 billion in response to the laws, which were passed against the government's wishes. The prime minister argued the centre would be necessary to deal with an influx of hundreds of refugees, although there has only been one confirmed transfer under the new system. Mr Morrison said reopening the centre would also deter people smugglers considering testing Australia's resolve on border security. He later downgraded the Christmas Island spending forecast to $185 million in the federal budget. However, this saving is reliant on revoking the medevac laws and shutting the centre down by the end of June. With counting still underway following the federal election, it's anticipated parliament will not return in time to meet the deadline. Even if the government waits until the new Senate starts work in July, it will not be able to muster enough crossbench votes to unwind the medevac laws, with a pair of upper house independents against the idea. The coalition has set aside $23.7 million in 2019-20 to wind the centre back to a "contingency setting", but there is no funding allocated for the three years after that. Liberal senator Arthur Sinodinos said the timing of the medevac laws was "a matter for the prime minister to sort out". "He's already identified doing issues on foreign fighters and some other matters which have to take priority," the senator told Sky News. "But I assume the bill will still be on his radar as something to be repealed." Senator Sinodinos said the coalition's re-election sent a clear message to people smugglers. "There was talk before the election that people out there - people smugglers - were starting to think about testing the resolve of the new government," he said. "That is now no longer an issue." Iranian asylum seeker Behrouz Boochani, who is detained on Manus Island, claims nine men have tried to take their own lives in recent days. "The situation in Manus is out of control," he tweeted. Senator Sinodinos said the government would continue providing care to detainees on Manus Island and Nauru. Richard Di Natale is staying on as Greens leader after all his MPs were returned and his party saw swings towards it in Saturday's federal election. He said the "climate change election" didn't deliver a change in government in part because Labor was inconsistent on its climate policies and fossil fuel mining. "When you go to Queensland and say one thing to people in Queensland, and come down to Victoria and say another thing to people in Victoria, people know you're not fair dinkum," Senator Di Natale told reporters in Melbourne on Tuesday. "You have to be absolutely up front and honest with people because people can smell a phoney a mile away." The Greens will retain its numbers in parliament - nine senators and one lower house MP. Senator Di Natale said he was looking forward to continuing as leader after the party lifted its vote. "Before this campaign I can't tell you how many people were telling me we were going to lose half of our Senate numbers," he said. "Of course it would have been nice to win an additional lower house seat, but we knew we were coming from a long way back. "We're very disappointed, bitterly disappointed, that we've not been able to see a change of government." Senator Di Natale urged whoever wins the Labor leadership race to replace Bill Shorten to reach out to the Greens to work together to defeat the coalition. Size matters for the world's most threatened seabirds, who are at risk of death from even the smallest pieces of plastic floating in the world's oceans, a new study has found. Researchers measuring the size of plastic rubbish eaten by the petrel family of birds in Australia and New Zealand found 90 per cent of the plastic trash trapped in the bird's gut was just two to 10mm in size. "These sizes are much smaller than we originally thought," University of the Sunshine Coast marine biologist Kathy Townsend told AAP. "Worryingly, fragments of plastic less than 10mm are the most abundant floating litter in the ocean." That's small enough to make it into a petrel's stomach but too large to make it out of the small intestine, which can cause a blockage resulting in death, she said. The joint study by the University of the Sunshine Coast, the CSIRO and the University of Tasmania is one of the first to measure the dimensions of rigid plastic items ingested by various species of petrels, the world's most threatened bird group. "No bodies ever looked at debris of this size because there's a common perception that once it gets to this size it's not such a big problem," Dr Townsend said. "They just eat it and it'll pass through, but even those small bits do make a difference and they are impacting animals." Dr Townsend said the problem had the potential to become greater as larger pieces of plastic slowly broke down in the oceans. "As they become smaller they actually become available to more species," she said. "These small sizes (of plastic) are even more dangerous than the larger pieces." The team measured 1694 pieces of plastic from 348 seabird carcasses of 20 species of petrels, which were collected over a five year period from 2013. The species included: short-tailed shearwaters, fairy prions and white-faced storm petrels. The largest piece of plastic found was over 5 cm long - the size of a USB stick. The study was published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin on Tuesday. The dumped West Australian trade commissioner to Japan who had engaged in serious misconduct for many years, including double dipping with his allowance, has agreed to pay back the state. A Corruption and Crime Commission report released in March revealed Craig Peacock dined with mates at the expense of taxpayers, covered up a drunken crash in a work car that landed him in prison for two days in 2011 and organised a bathhouse trip for two Liberal politicians in 2015. On Tuesday, Premier Mark McGowan said the State Solicitor's Office had reached an out-of-court settlement with Mr Peacock, who had agreed to pay more than $540,000 in reimbursement to the state. "This does not stop the state of Western Australia from pursuing further action against Mr Peacock if investigations uncover any additional allegations of financial wrongdoing," he told a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday. The CCC said Mr Peacock, who was WA's commissioner to Japan from 2002 until he was fired in February, "took advantage of his position to enrich himself". From December 2008 to January 2018, his cost of living allowance was paid from his employing departments into his bank account, but he also arranged payments through the Tokyo office totalling $500,000, which the CCC called double dipping. Further, his rent equalled his allowance for accommodation and utilities, but he still instructed the office manager to reimburse him more than $65,000 for utilities and storage fees. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is being urged to give more regional MPs a seat at the cabinet table after Queenslanders deserted the Labor party at Saturday's election. The fallout of Labor's defeat has continued to unfold in Queensland, with MPs saying the party must learn from the result and listen hard to bush voters if it is to stand a chance of re-election at next year's state poll. They want more regional MPs in cabinet and have flagged the creation of a new portfolio with a particular focus on communities outside of the southeast corner. But Ms Palaszczuk's office says she is not considering a reshuffle. The drawn out process of approving Adani's plans to mine the state's Galilee Basin for thermal coal it would then export frustrated voters in areas that need the jobs it would bring. It was a central issue during the federal campaign and there are serious concerns the uncertainty could hurt the state government next year. In a separate move the Department of Environment and Science has discontinued legal action against Adani-owned company Abbot Point Operations. It was pursuing the firm in court for allegedly releasing eight times the allowed limit of sediment water into the Great Barrier Reef during Cyclone Debbie in 2017. But the government dropped its prosecution on Tuesday after the parties agreed the company would install an automated system at its floodwater release point near the ocean. Members of the international force fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria, some of whose soldiers are pictured with French Defence Minister Florence Parly in February 2019, sees no increased threat from Iran The international coalition in Iraq and Syria said Tuesday its troops were not feeling any intensified threat from Iran in the region, seemingly contrary to Trump administration warnings. "There has been no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria," Major General Chris Ghika, a British spokesman for the force, told reporters via teleconference at the Pentagon. "We've seen no change in the posture or laydown" of the Shia Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an Iraqi paramilitary group with close ties to Tehran, Ghika said. "Of course PMF is a very broad range of groups. Many of the are compliant and we have seen no change in their posture since the recent exchange between the US and Iran." Ghika denied he was contradicting recent alarms raised by top officials in US President Donald Trump's administration that Iran was plotting some sort of attack in the Gulf region, perhaps targeting US forces in Iraq and Syria. To meet the threat the Pentagon has accelerated the deployment of an aircraft carrier task force to the Gulf and accompanied it with several B-52 bombers, a Patriot missile battery and an amphibious assault ship. "I don't think we're out of step with the White House at all," Ghika said. "Am I concerned about the danger? No, not really. We take a range of force protection measures for operating in this part of the world against a range of threats," he said, adding that those measures at this point in time are "completely satisfactory." He said the coalition's mission in Iraq and Syria is focused on the Islamic State group and not Iran. "I have no part of Iran in any of my orders, in any of my directives or in any of my planning documents. Iran is not part of our mission," he said. Republican lawmaker Justin Amash's comments about President Donald Trump's alleged 'impeachable conduct' went even further than those by most Democrats Republican lawmaker Justin Amash said Saturday that he believed Donald Trump has engaged in "impeachable conduct," becoming the first politician of his party to call for removing the president from his party. The Michigan representative also accused Attorney General William Barr of "deliberately" misleading the public over the actual content and tenor of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russian interference aimed at tipping the election to Trump. In a series of tweets, Amash -- a member of the ultra-conservative Freedom Caucus -- said "few members of Congress even read Mueller's report," which identified "multiple examples of conduct satisfying all the elements of obstruction of justice." "Undoubtedly any person who is not the president of the United States would be indicted based on such evidence," he added. "Contrary to Barr's portrayal, Mueller's report reveals that President Trump engaged in specific actions and a pattern of behavior that meet the threshold for impeachment." Amash's comments went even further than those by most Democratic leaders in Congress. Fellow Michigan lawmaker Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat, urged Amash to co-sponsor her impeachment resolution. "@justinamash come find me in 1628 Longworth. I've got an impeachment investigation resolution you're going to want to cosponsor," she wrote in response to Amash's thread. Trump has proclaimed he was fully exonerated by Mueller's report. But some Democrats argue that the document lays out multiple occasions in which the president may have obstructed justice, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, a 2020 presidential candidate who has called for impeachment proceedings. Other senior Democrats including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have cautioned against such a move, stressing it could deeply divide the nation of about 325 million people. They warn it could backfire politically in the run-up to the 2020 election, especially with the Republican-controlled Senate likely to acquit the president in the event of impeachment by the House of Representatives. Beijing continues to be accused of political and religious repression in Tibet, but insists people there enjoy extensive freedoms and economic growth The US ambassador to China is making the first trip to Tibet by an American envoy in four years after obtaining rare access to the restricted region, his embassy said Monday. The visit by Ambassador Terry Branstad comes two months after the US State Department said Beijing had "systematically" impeded access to Tibetan areas for US diplomats, journalists and tourists. Branstad was scheduled to visit Qinghai province and the neighbouring Tibet Autonomous Region from Sunday until this Saturday, an embassy spokesperson said in an email to AFP. "This visit is a chance for the Ambassador to engage with local leaders to raise longstanding concerns about restrictions on religious freedom and the preservation of Tibetan culture and language," the spokesperson said. Chinese authorities have cited special "geographic" and "climatic conditions" as reasons for restricting access to the Himalayan region "The Ambassador welcomes this opportunity to visit the Tibet Autonomous Region, and encourages authorities to provide access to the region to all American citizens." Branstad will have official meetings, visit schools and tour religious and cultural heritage sites. His visit comes amid rising trade war tensions between Beijing and Washington. Branstad's predecessor, Max Baucus, visited Tibet in May 2015. Terry Branstad will be the first US envoy to visit Tibet in four years According to the State Department's March report, five out of nine US requests to visit Tibet were rejected last year, including one by Branstad. China has rejected the US report as "full of prejudice". Chinese authorities have cited special "geographic" and "climatic conditions" as reasons for restricting access to the Himalayan region. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said he was not aware about a previous request by Branstad being rejected. But Lu said that if diplomats want to visit "special places", it is "of course probably necessary to talk things over with the relevant parties before they can embark on the trip." This year marks the 60th anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule that forced the region's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, into permanent exile in India. Lu said Beijing welcomes Branstad's visit so he can witness "the earth-shaking changes in the economy, society and people's production and life over the past 60 years after its peaceful liberation". "I hope Ambassador Branstad's visit to Tibet this time can be carried out without any prejudice and can be based on an objective attitude, and based on the spirit of respecting the facts to make his own conclusions," Lu said at a regular press briefing. This year marks the 60th anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule that forced the region's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, into permanent exile in India Beijing continues to be accused of political and religious repression in the region, but insists Tibetans enjoy extensive freedoms and economic growth. At least 150 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009 to protest Beijing's presence in Tibet, most of whom later died. President Donald Trump effectively barred Huawei from the US market amid an escalating trade war with Beijing US internet giant Google, whose Android mobile operating system powers most of the world's smartphones, said Sunday it was beginning to cut ties with China's Huawei, which Washington considers a national security threat. In the midst of a trade war with Beijing, President Donald Trump has barred US companies from engaging in telecommunications trade with foreign companies said to threaten American national security. The measure targets Huawei, a Chinese telecoms giant in Washington's sights that is listed by the Commerce Department among firms with which American companies can only engage in trade after obtaining the green light from the authorities. The ban includes technology sharing. "We are complying with the order and reviewing the implications," a Google spokesperson told AFP. The move could have dramatic implications since Google, like all tech companies, must collaborate with smartphone makers to ensure its systems are compatible with their devices. Google will have to halt business activities with Huawei that involve transfer of hardware, software and technical services that are not publicly available -- meaning Huawei will only be able to use the open source version of Android, a source close to the matter told AFP. Huawei will no longer have access to Google's proprietary apps and services, such as the Gmail email service. Huawei did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Huawei is a rapidly expanding leader in 5G technology but remains dependent on foreign suppliers. It buys about $67 billion worth of components each year, including about $11 billion from US suppliers, according to The Nikkei business daily. Huawei is the target of an intense campaign by Washington, which has been trying to persuade allies not to allow China a role in building next-generation 5G mobile networks. US government agencies are already banned from buying equipment from Huawei. Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said Saturday that "We have not done anything which violates the law," adding the US measures would have a limited impact. The ongoing trade clash between Beijing and Washington is 'not good for business', a survey of European firms in China has found European firms are "caught in the crossfire" of the US-China trade war and fewer are optimistic about their future in the world's second-largest economy, a business survey showed Monday. The clash between Beijing and Washington does not benefit European companies, contrary to what some might have hoped at the beginning of the dispute last year, according to the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China. "Now the trade tensions are seen as another uncertainty on the business environment, something that won't be sorted out quickly whether there is a deal or not," said chamber vice president Charlotte Roule. "The trade tensions, according to our members, are not good for business". According to the survey, the trade war is one of the top concerns for European firms in China (23 percent), after the Chinese economic slowdown (45 percent), the global economy (27 percent) and rising labour costs in China (23 percent). The study, which received replies from 585 firms, was conducted in January, as trans-Pacific trade tensions eased. They ratcheted up again in early May with the United States and China slapping steep increases in punitive customs tariffs on each other. But early this year, a quarter of European companies in China said they were already suffering from the US increase in tariffs on Chinese products. Many European companies manufacture products in China and export them all over the world. A small number (six percent) have already relocated to circumvent the US penalties, or are planning to do so elsewhere in Asia or Europe. But Europeans say they share many of the grievances raised by the Trump administration in its campaign against Beijing. "The fundamental issues driving the trade war need to be resolved by addressing market access barriers and regulatory challenges while also tackling SOE reform and forced tech transfer," Roule stressed. Some 20 percent of the companies surveyed complained of being forced into technology transfers for the benefit of a Chinese partner, double the figure two years ago. For a quarter (24 percent), such transfers were currently under way. This state of affairs was "not acceptable", Roule said. "The authorities are saying there are no technology transfers any more but this is not what we see in our survey," she said. - 'Ambiguous rules' - More than half of the companies said legal protection of intellectual property was "inadequate", and 45 percent say they suffer "unequal treatment" compared to their Chinese counterparts. State firms and their subsidies are their main bone of contention. The Europeans largely accuse these companies of enjoying preferential treatment, with 62 percent saying they have better access to public contracts. And the outlook is getting gloomier: only 45 percent of the firms surveyed say they are optimistic about growth prospects for their sector over the next two years, compared to 62 percent a year ago. Half do not expect to see a level playing field in the next five years or even beyond. Fifty-three percent say business has become more difficult in the past year, up from 48 percent a year ago, with "ambiguous rules and regulations" topping of the list of obstacles cited by companies. Difficulties with access to the internet, which is closely monitored and censored by the Communist government, is an unfavourable factor for 51 percent of respondents. Despite the problems, China remains one of the top three global destinations for future investment by 62 percent of the surveyed companies, a slight increase from last year, while 56 percent plan to expand their business in the country this year. Hundreds gathered at the Killing Fields site in Phnom Penh to mark the annual Day of Remembrance with prayers and performances Black-clad students reenacted the horrors of the Cambodian genocide at the "Killing Fields" on Monday to commemorate the two million people killed by the Khmer Rouge's murderous, Maoist regime. Hundreds gathered at the notorious site in Phnom Penh to mark the annual Day of Remembrance with prayers and performances, including students wielding wooden rifles, knives and bamboo sticks in mock attacks. "We performed these scenes in order to remember the genocidal Pol Pot regime and the cruelty that Cambodian people suffered," Chhaem Khleuong, a fine art teacher who played a Khmer Rouge cadre, told AFP. Some 15,000 people were confined and sent to their deaths at the Killing Fields between 1975 and 1979 A quarter of Cambodia's population died under Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime, culled in mass killings or of starvation, forced labour or torture. His brutal reign came to an end in 1979, and the Khmer Rouge atrocities are still remembered at museums and sites dedicated to victims of the genocide. The Day of Remembrance, more commonly called the "Day of Anger" in Cambodia, is held at the Choeung Ek "Killing Fields", where some 15,000 people were confined and sent to their deaths between 1975 and 1979. Black-clad students reenacted the horrors of the Cambodian genocide at the ceremony It was an emotional day for many attendees, some who cried as students pretended to slit victims' throats, shoot them dead or subject them to waterboarding. "These views brought my feeling back to the Pol Pot era, the killing was heinous," said 62-year-old Chan Ren, who lost more than 10 relatives under the regime. "Today, people attend the event to pray to the souls of people who were killed by the Khmer Rouge," she added. A quarter of Cambodia's population died under Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime Several of the genocide's chief orchestrators have been tried by a UN-backed court, though critics say prosecutions have been too slow and many of the accused have died before facing trial. In November, Khmer Rouge's former head of state Khieu Samphan and "Brother Number Two" Nuon Chea were found guilty of genocide and sentenced to life in prison. Pol Pot, nicknamed "Brother Number One", died in 1998 before he was brought to trial. Former US vice president Joe Biden, a veteran Democrat who spent 36 year in the US Senate, boasts the thickest resume of any candidate seeking to deny Trump a second term The crowded 2020 presidential race features six women, three African Americans and a dozen youthful contenders. But Denise Haley is going old school, supporting white male frontrunner Joe Biden as the Democrat best positioned to beat Donald Trump. "He could lead the nation and bring us back together," Haley, who is black, told AFP of the 76-year-old former vice president, reflecting what appears to be a solidifying sentiment amid voters whose support has given Biden a commanding poll lead. Haley, a 60-year-old health care professional, was in the crowd Saturday when Biden came to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to address the biggest, most boisterous rally of his four-week-old White House campaign. Many attendees thrilled at Biden essentially sidestepping discussion of the gruelling primary battle ahead and focusing on the general election face-off with Republican Trump, whom he often attacked with explicit condemnation. "Biden is Trump's biggest rival and has the highest chance of kicking Trump out of office," high-schooler Ankita Kalasabail, who is 16 but will be old enough to vote in 2020, said in explaining her support for a man 60 years her senior. Supporters of former US vice president Joe Biden say he is the Democratic White House candidate best positioned to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 "We need to beat Trump" and Biden has a stronger shot than the 22 other Democratic candidates, said Mickey Kirzecky, a consultant. Biden, a veteran Democrat who spent 36 year in the US Senate, boasts the thickest resume of any candidate seeking to deny Trump a second term. But crucially, said Kirzecky, he has a knack for connecting with all-important blue-collar voters. "I hate to use the word electability, but I think that's part of what comes into play," she added, stressing Biden's more moderate politics and his popularity with working-class Americans -- a constituency that helped Trump win the White House in 2016. "I think he might be a healing candidate," she added. The historically diverse race is cluttered with progressives vying for the votes of Democrats witnessing their party's steady leftward shift. But Haley, the health professional, said her candidate criteria are based not on skin-color, age, or gender, but capacity to win and to get the job done. Many attendees at former US vice president Joe Biden's large rally in Philadelphia on May 18, 2019 said they believe he is the candidate best positioned to beat President Donald Trump in the 2020 election "I don't think you have to be a woman or an African-American to do that," she said. "I just think you have to be a strong leader and I think he (Biden) shows those qualities." As for Biden being one of three septuagenarians in the race, along with Trump and Senator Bernie Sanders, Norda Lewis brushed it aside. "I don't think that age matters," said the 36-year-old teacher from the Philadelphia suburbs, describing Biden as "a man for the people" who can appeal to traditional Democrats, independents, and working-class Republicans. - 'We need good again' - John Lester, a graphic designer from Philadelphia, said Biden's age could become a concern, although "he does seem like a healthy guy." What draws him to Biden is the candidate's "broader appeal" and moderate politics, Lester, 61, said. "I support the issues of diversity," but moving too quickly toward a liberal agenda at a time of deep political divisions might backfire, he added. Former US vice president Joe Biden's legislative record and past actions have come under scrutiny "I like that fact that he's steady and I trust him," added Lester's wife Doreen. "I believe that he's a good guy, and I think we need good again." Biden spent eight years in the White House with president Barack Obama, and his close alliance with the nation's first black commander in chief has earned him strong support from the coveted African-American voting bloc. But Biden's legislative record and past actions, such as his treatment of Anita Hill -- the woman at the center of emblematic sex harassment hearings in the Senate almost three decades ago -- or his support for a crime bill that led to mass incarcerations of black men, have come under scrutiny. His tactile campaign style that has led women to accuse him of making them uncomfortable also bolsters the notion of Biden as a politician slightly behind the national current. "I think that his time has passed," Laura Benedetto, who works for an education non-profit, said Friday at a Virginia campaign event featuring liberal candidate Elizabeth Warren. Biden's campaign pushes back against the argument that he is a political relic, or that he might lack the energy to mount an 18-month campaign. "Vice president Biden is up to the challenge. He wouldn't have gotten into this race if he wasn't," senior advisor Symone Sanders told AFP. "We're up right now," she said of the favorable polls, "but we are running this race as if we're the underdog." The ruling Liberal-National coalition claimed a shock victory in Saturday's election, after two years of trailing the opposition Labor Party in every major national poll The failure of opinion polls to tip a conservative win in Australia's elections has raised questions about their credibility just years after similar errors in forecasting Brexit and Donald Trump's victory in the US. Australia's ruling Liberal-National coalition claimed a shock victory in Saturday's election, after two years of trailing the opposition Labor Party in every major national poll. The polls showed a slight tightening between the two main parties with Labor ahead roughly 51-49 just before the election. The tentative result, pending final results from the Australian Electoral Commission, shows the coalition instead ahead 51-49 on Monday. "Why did we have such an amazing sequence of polls in a row that all got the same (results)?" Australian polling analyst Kevin Bonham told AFP of the years of polling that pointed to a Labor victory. Most media routinely rely on polls -- surveys of hundreds, sometimes thousands of voters by phone or online -- to flag political trends and tip the leading candidates. But question marks were raised about their accuracy in 2016 after the failure to forecast Britain's vote to leave the European Union and Donald Trump's triumph in the US presidential election. In Australia, political polling has had a good record, and is so closely followed in Canberra that a string of prime ministers were dumped by their own parties over the past decade over poor showings in surveys. Traditionally, pollsters contacted voters using extensive landline lists, such as the phone book. But with voters ditching landlines, it is become more difficult for pollsters to collect an accurate representative sample of the electorate. Bonham said signs polling was becoming less accurate had emerged at the state level, particularly ahead of regional elections in Victoria state in November which failed to capture a strong swing to the incumbent Labor government. "It's become increasingly harder to actually just find where a telephone number is and therefore design an efficient sample," Martin O'Shannessy, the ex-chief of major Australian pollster Newspoll, told AFP. "This is being faced by the whole research industry and what we are seeing is the tip of the iceberg." Pollsters have also turned to cheaper forms of collecting opinions, such as robocalls and online surveys, which experts say are significantly less accurate. O'Shannessy said the key problems that emerged from the polls of the 2016 US elections were similar. "The good quality polls, which did the best job that they could have sampling... and used human operators, generally got the answer right. However they were only 12 percent of all the polls," he said. "The other 88 percent were online (polls), robopolls... the average error for those polls was five percent and the biggest error was 10 percent." One alternative method of sampling voters has been through social media. In Australia, Griffith University data scientist Bela Stantic said he accurately predicted Trump's win, Brexit and the conservatives' win on Saturday by analysing millions of social media comments. He told news.com.au he was successful as he had used large sample sizes -- some two million "relevant" tweets from around half a million accounts. O'Shannessy said to make news polls more accurate, Australia's market research sector was lobbying for access to the government's Integrated Public Number Database (IPND), which contains all listed and unlisted telephone numbers and is used by emergency services and law enforcement. The prison in Vakhdat, 17 kilometres (11 miles) east of the capital Dushanbe, holds 1,500 inmates A riot at a prison in Tajikistan has left 32 people dead, including 24 members of the Islamic State militant group and three guards, authorities said Monday. Five of the inmates and the three guards were killed by IS prisoners during the riot that erupted on Sunday evening, the justice ministry said in a statement. The prison in Vakhdat, 17 kilometres (11 miles) east of the capital Dushanbe, holds 1,500 inmates. It said the prisoners first stabbed to death three guards, and then five other inmates "in order to intimidate" the others. They then took other prisoners hostage before opening fire on the jail's medical facilities. "Following a reprisal operation, 24 members of this group were killed and 25 others arrested. The hostages were freed" and calm restored to the prison, the statement said. Among the leaders of the riot, the Tajik authorities identified the 20-year-old son of the former head of Tajik special forces who became a member of the IS leadership in Syria, where he was killed in September 2017. In November 2018, another riot claimed by IS left 26 people dead in Khujand, a city of 700,000 people in the northeast of the country. The riot had been initiated by a former IS member seeking to spark a mass escape. Tajikistan, a country of 8.5 million people bordering Afghanistan, has suffered severe conflict since it gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Tens of thousands of people were killed in the country during a five-year civil war in the 1990s when rebel groups including Islamists rose up against the government. Authorities in the majority-Muslim country have said that more than 1,000 Tajiks, including a high-ranking police officer who defected in 2015, joined IS in Syria and Iraq in recent years. Umm Wasel narrowly missed the air strike on her home after relatives invited her over to break her daily fast of the Islamic month of Ramadan with them Air strikes by Syrian regime ally Russia have killed 10 civilians including five children in a northwestern jihadist bastion, a monitor said Monday, hours after Moscow announced a ceasefire there. The Russian army said the air raids overnight on the town of Kafranbel, in Idlib province, came after it pinpointed the area as the launchpad for rocket fire on its key Syria airbase of Hmeimim. Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as parts of neighbouring Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. The jihadist stronghold is supposed to be protected from a government offensive by a September buffer zone deal, but regime and Russian bombardment has increased there since late April. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian air strikes overnight killed five children, four women, and one man in Kafranbel. The raids hit near a hospital in the town, knocking it out of service, the Britain-based monitor said. An AFP correspondent saw five homes on the edges on the town that were destroyed or damaged after the strikes. Survivors picked through the debris to save the belongings they could, the reporter said, while a young man covered in dust from head to toe leant against a wall, shell-shocked after his father was killed. Umm Wasel narrowly missed the air strike on her home after relatives invited her over to break her daily fast of the Islamic month of Ramadan with them. "I came back at night to find my home devastated," said the 72-year-old, dressed in a long red robe and a black scarf covering her hair. People "had thought I was under the rubble", she said. - Children killed at school - The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Russian air strikes overnight killed five children, four women, and one man in Kafranbel The Observatory said six other civilians also died in bombardment by regime forces in other parts of the Idlib region on Sunday. Fighting raged in the north of Hama province between loyalists and jihadists early Monday, the Observatory said, after relative respite in bombardment over the past three days. Russian aeroplanes pounded the south of Idlib province, while government aircraft targeted the north of Hama province with machine guns, missiles, and crude barrel bombs, the monitoring group added. Save the Children said 38 children had been killed in shelling in northwest Syria since April 1, including nine at school, seven at the market and one in hospital. "Schools, hospitals and other vital civilian infrastructure must be protected from attack," the charity's Syria director Sonia Khush said. "Children are particularly vulnerable to the impact of explosive weapons, and warring parties should make a particular effort to protect them," she said. The deadly Russian air strikes come after Moscow on Sunday said Syrian armed forces had "unilaterally ceased fire in the Idlib de-escalation zone" from May 18 at midnight, but that fire of loyalists had continued. Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked a buffer zone deal to protect the Idlib region of some three million people in September, but regime fire has increased there since HTS took control in January. Syria's war has killed more than 370,000 people and displaced millions inside Syria and abroad since starting in March 2011 with a crackdown on anti-government protests. Zuma, who was forced to resign by the ruling ANC party, has been charged with 16 counts of fraud, racketeering and money laundering Former South African president Jacob Zuma arrived in court on Monday as he fights to have corruption charges against him over 1990s arms deal dropped before the case comes to trial. Zuma, who was forced to resign by the ruling ANC party last year, has been charged with 16 counts of fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to the weapons deal dating back to before he took office in 2009. Zuma, 77, is accused of taking bribes from French defence company Thales during his time as a provincial economy minister and later as deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC). He allegedly pocketed around four million rand ($280,000; 250,000 euros) from 783 payments handled by Schabir Shaik, a businessman who acted as his financial adviser. Both Zuma and Thales have denied any wrongdoing and have applied to the court for a permanent stay of prosecution. The company argues that the re-introduction of the charges "holds no validity" because the charges were originally struck down in 2009, shortly before Zuma became president. They were re-instated in 2016. A separate judicial enquiry into alleged state corruption during Zuma's time as president is hearing evidence in Johannesburg. His successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa, who held onto power when the ANC won national elections this month, has vowed to root out corruption in government and the party. An insurgency which erupted in Indian Kashmir in 1989 has left tens of thousands dead, mainly civilians Tens of thousands of people in Indian Kashmir have been subjected to torture in the past three decades, according to a report released Monday by two prominent human rights groups which called for a UN investigation. The report said at least 40 people in 432 case studies researched died "as a result of injuries received during torture." The Indian government declined to make an immediate comment on the claims by the Association of Parents of Disappeared Persons and the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society. Officials said authorities would study the allegations first. Kashmir is marking the 30th anniversary of an uprising which has left tens of thousands dead, mainly civilians. The Muslim majority Himalayan region has been divided between Pakistani and Indian sectors since their independence in 1947 and both claim it in full. Kashmir civilians have been systematically tortured by the Indian state to curb dissent, said the report titled: "Torture: Indian State's Instrument of Control in Indian Administered Jammu and Kashmir." While past scandals involving US prisons at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib in Iraq had received international attention, "torture remains hidden in Jammu and Kashmir, where tens of thousands of civilians have been subjected to it," said a statement issued by the groups. The report said the 432 individuals investigated had been subjected to water-boarding, beatings with iron rods and leather belts and electric shocks to the genitals. It said the latest death was in March when a school principal, Rizwan Pandith, died while being held by a police special counter-insurgency group. Police alleged the 29-year-old died while "he was trying to escape from police custody," the report said. The rights groups called for an international investigation led by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. They urged India to ratify the UN Convention Against Torture. Indian governments have for decades denied access to Kashmir for UN investigators. Juan Mendez, a UN special rapporteur on torture from 2010 to 2016, said he made repeated requests for the Indian UN mission in Geneva to issue an invitation but got no response. The report said torture has been used since Kashmir's division in 1947. The practice "attained an unprecedented magnitude post 1990" after the current insurgency erupted. A top security official in Kashmir told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity, that the government would respond only after examining the document. In 2010, the whistleblower website Wikileaks told how the United States had evidence of torture of civilians in Indian Kashmir following briefings by the International Committee of the Red Cross. In 2018, India rejected the first ever UN report on human rights abuses blamed on government forces in Kashmir, calling it "fallacious, tendentious and motivated". Felix Dorfin was arrested in September carrying a suitcase filled with about three kilograms of drugs, including ecstasy and amphetamines An Indonesian court sentenced Frenchman Felix Dorfin to death for drug smuggling on Monday, in a shock verdict after prosecutors asked for a 20-year jail term. Dorfin, 35, was arrested in September carrying a suitcase filled with about three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of drugs including ecstasy and amphetamines at the airport in Lombok, a holiday island next to Bali where foreigners are routinely arrested on drugs charges. Indonesia has some of the world's strictest drug laws -- including death by firing squad for some drug traffickers and it has executed foreigners in the past. While prosecutors had not asked for the death penalty, Indonesian courts have been known to go beyond their demands. "After finding Felix Dorfin legally and convincingly guilty of importing narcotics ... (he) is sentenced to the death penalty," presiding judge Isnurul Syamsul Arif told the court. He cited Dorfin's involvement in an international drug syndicate and the amount of drugs in his possession as aggravating factors. "The defendant's actions could potentially do damage to the younger generation," Arif added. The Frenchman made headlines in January when he escaped from a police detention centre and spent nearly two weeks on the run before he was captured. A female police officer was arrested for allegedly helping Dorfin escape from jail in exchange for money. It was not clear if the jailbreak played any role in Monday's stiffer-than-expected sentence. Dorfin, who is from Bethune in northern France, sat impassively through much of the hearing in front of three judges, as a translator scribbled notes beside him. He said little as he walked past reporters to a holding cell after the sentencing. "Dorfin was shocked," the Frenchman's lawyer Deny Nur Indra told AFP. "He didn't expect this at all because prosecutors only asked for 20 years." The lawyer said he would appeal against the sentence, describing his client as a "victim" who did not know the exact contents of what he was carrying. "If he had known, he wouldn't have brought it here," Indra added. In 2015, Australians Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran -- the accused ringleaders of the Bali Nine heroin smuggling gang -- were executed by firing squad in Indonesia. The case sparked diplomatic outrage and a call to abolish the death penalty. The Bali Nine gang's only female member was released from jail last year, while some others remain in prison. A number of foreigners in Indonesia are on death row including cocaine-smuggling British grandmother Lindsay Sandiford and Serge Atlaoui, a Frenchman who has been on death row since 2007. Last year, eight Taiwanese drug smugglers were sentenced to death by an Indonesian court after being caught with around a tonne of crystal methamphetamine. The raids came a day after a bomb blast injured 17 people including tourists near Egypt's famed Giza pyramids Twelve suspected jihadists were killed Monday in police raids near Cairo, Egypt's interior ministry said, a day after a bomb blast injured 17 people including tourists near the Giza pyramids. Security forces "carried out a raid against an apartment in the 6th of October district used for making explosive devices... These forces were shot at and responded, which left seven dead among the group," which has ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, the ministry said in a statement. In another such raid in Cairo's Al-Shorouk neighbourhood against the militant Hasm group, an armed affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, the ministry said five suspected jihadists were killed in an exchange of fire. Weapons and ammunition were seized in the two apartments, the interior ministry said. "As part of the ministry's efforts to tackle the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist organisation, information reached national security services" of attacks being prepared by Hasm, the ministry said. The statement did not directly link the raids to Sunday's attack in which a roadside bomb hit a tourist bus near the famed Giza pyramids. There was no claim of responsibility. It came months after three Vietnamese holidaymakers and their Egyptian guide were killed when a roadside bomb hit their bus near the pyramids in December. Egyptian authorities led a crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood members after the military overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. The Hasm group emerged in 2016 and has in the past claimed responsibility for several attacks. The US Navy regularly conducts "freedom of navigation operations" to challenge Beijing's vast claims in the sea China on Monday denounced a US warship sail-by near disputed islands in the South China Sea as a violation of its sovereignty, amid mounting tensions over trade between the two countries. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) organised air and naval forces to warn the USS Preble to leave, said a PLA spokesman, after it entered waters near China-claimed Scarborough Shoal on Monday morning. "The relevant actions from the US side endanger the safety of both Chinese and American ships and personnel, and undermine China's sovereignty and safety," said Li Huamin, spokesman of the PLA's Southern Theatre Command. "We express our resolute opposition," he added. The move comes as both countries adopt toughening stances on a host of economic and diplomatic issues, namely trade and hi-tech rivalry. Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump hiked tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods, with China announcing it would raise tariffs on $60 billion in US merchandise from June 1 in retaliation. Trump has also barred US companies from engaging in telecommunications trade with foreign companies said to threaten American national security. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the sea, including on the Spratly Islands, which Beijing calls Nansha. China claims nearly all of the sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. The US Navy regularly conducts "freedom of navigation operations" to challenge Beijing's vast claims in the sea. Earlier this month, two US warships entered waters adjacent to Gaven and Chigua reefs in the Spratlys, sparking fury from China. "We strongly urge the US side to immediately stop such provocative actions so as to not harm China-US relations and the peace and stability of the region," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a press briefing. Congolese opposition figure Moise Katumbi in Brussels in September 2018 Thousands of people welcomed Moise Katumbi, a prominent foe of former DR Congo president Joseph Kabila, as he landed at Lubumbashi airport on Monday after three years in self-imposed exile. The government in Kinshasa meanwhile told people to expect an important announcement regarding the appointment of a prime minister by Kabila's successor, Felix Tshisekedi. Katumbi, a wealthy businessman and former governor of Katanga province in the southeast of the country, returned three years to the day after he flew to Belgium. He was once an ally of Kabila but the pair fell out. Katumbi was given a three-year jail term in absentia for alleged property fraud -- an accusation he denied -- and was barred from standing in last December's elections. He flew home in a private jet to be greeted by supporters, many of them dressed in white, lining the road between the airport and the centre of Lubumbashi, the capital of mineral-rich Haut-Katanga province. Katumbi has also been an opponent of Tshisekedi, who took power after a disputed presidential poll. Katumbi has yet to make clear what role he plans to play in an opposition where he backed Martin Fayulu, another wealthy businessman who claims that he was the true winner of the December 30 ballot. In a tweet, Fayulu said, "It doesn't matter how long night lasts, daybreak always comes. Welcome home to @MoiseKatumbi." Meanwhile, Tshisekedi's spokesman said an important announcement would be made on national radio and television. Sworn in on January 24, Tshisekedi has struggled to push ahead with his declared programme of reform. His choice of prime minister is expected to be acceptable to Kabila, who amassed extensive political clout after 18 years in power. Kabila's political allies retain the upper hand in parliament, provincial assemblies across the vast and unstable country and the posts of governors. Katumbi's return coincided with a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to Kinshasa, where he was due to have talks with Tshisekedi. The interior minister described himself as a "good Catholic" after sparking an outcry for holding up a rosary during a rally of the European far right in Milan on Saturday Italy's governing populist Five Star Movement appeared to have coalition partner Matteo Salvini on the back foot Monday, as it challenged the strongman over his latest anti-migrant decree. The head of the far-right League is courting votes ahead of the European elections by waging war on refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe by boat, and he wants his bill adopted ahead of the May 26 ballot. But while the bill was slated for debate at a cabinet meeting on Monday, the M5S signalled it was not prepared to pass the law in its present form. The draconian update to Salvini's earlier security decree has drawn fire from his coalition partner M5S, the Catholic Church and even the UN's human rights agency. While the M5S reluctantly passed the initial security law in November, political watchers said it knew it could stand up to Salvini now because he would not risk the government collapsing just before the EU vote. Any large-scale crisis in the government could affect the performance of the League and its plans to head up a nationalist grouping of far-right parties in the Europe parliament. "If (the decree) is just an empty electoral stunt it means they're taking Italians for a ride," said M5S head Luigi Di Maio. "We'll see (at the cabinet meeting). The interior minister hasn't let us read it yet," Di Maio said of the final draft. - 'Cannot last forever' - The League has not appreciated the recent change in the anti-establishment M5S from yes-man to challenger. Rescued migrants aboard the Sea Watch 3 in late January off southeastern Sicily Cabinet secretary and League member Giancarlo Giorgetti described his party's loyalty to the M5S on Monday as "unreasonable", saying it "cannot last forever". He also said Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte -- whose name was put forward by the M5S when the coalition was formed -- could not be a neutral leader. Salvini lashed out at all and sundry on Sunday after discovering live on television that a Sicilian prosecutor had overruled his order to close the ports to migrants rescued by the German charity Sea-Watch. The furious minister said early Monday that the government was not at risk -- "as long as people keep their word". "I wouldn't want, for example, ports to be opened after everything I've done" to close them, he said. "For my part, the government will 100 percent go on... there are two of us though," he said in reference to Di Maio, who insists the draft law is flawed as it fails to properly address the return of migrants to their home countries. UN human rights investigators said Sunday that the decree, which sets fines of up to 5,500 euros ($6,145) for each rescued migrant brought to Italy, violates international law. - 'Good Catholic' - Salvini, whose League has soared in popularity thanks largely to his hardline migration policy, wants the power to prevent any migrants from being brought to Italy by banning ships from entering Italian territorial waters. He insists that those setting sail from Libya to seek safety in Europe should be returned to the crisis-hit country -- an order that is illegal under international law, and which charity-run migrant rescue vessels have repeatedly refused to follow. On Sunday Italian prosecutors impounded the Sea-Watch 3 and opened an investigation into its captain for allegedly aiding illegal immigration after it rescued 65 migrants off the coast of Libya last week and brought them to Italy. The interior minister described himself as a "good Catholic" on Monday following an outcry sparked by his carrying a rosary, which many saw as a gratuitous prop, during a rally of the European far right in Milan on Saturday. He also attributed a decline in the number of deaths at sea to a deal made with the Libyan coastguard. The figures supplied by the ministry however compared the first four months of this year off the Libyan coast with 12 months in previous years across the whole Mediterranean. Critics also said his campaign against rescue vessels posed a high risk of boats sinking and people drowning during the perilous crossing in the Mediterranean with the tragedies going unrecorded. The roadside bomb blast near Egypt's pyramids injured 17 people including foreign tourists Just a month before the African Cup of Nations, Egypt was hit by a bomb blast that undermined efforts to burnish its image as a bulwark of stability after years of turmoil. The attack on Sunday near the famed pyramids of Giza is another setback to the North African country's efforts to revive its key tourism industry after years of turmoil. - What happened? - A roadside bomb explosion hit a tourist bus driving on a road close to a lavish new museum under construction overlooking the Giza plateau. The blast shattered many of the bus's windows, injuring several of its passengers as well as those of a nearby car. At least 17 people were wounded in the explosion including foreigners. South Africa's foreign ministry said three of its nationals were hospitalised. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. - Possible scenarios? - A day later, Egypt announced that its security forces had killed 12 suspected militants in police raids near Cairo. The interior ministry said the militants belonged to the Hasm movement which is believed to be a splinter faction of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group. Hasm has previously claimed responsibility for attacks targeting security personnel and high-profile figures in Egypt including judges. "The pyramids area is known to be a bastion for the Muslim Brotherhood. Groups like Hasm and Lewaa al-Thawra (believed to be affiliates of the Brotherhood) have previously claimed responsibility for attacks in this area," said political science professor Mostafa Kamel al-Sayed. Hassan Nafaa, another political science professor at Cairo University, said the authorities' announcement about the killing of militants was meant to give a semblance of order. "The security establishment wants to prove it's effective and successful... by announcing it killed 12 members of the Hasm movement to give the impression it is behind the attack," he said. The ministry's statement did not directly link the raids to the bus attack. - Precedents? - Egypt's tourism sector has been hit by a string of previous attacks, most recently in December when three Vietnamese nationals and an Egyptian tour guide were killed in an explosion. Back then, a home-made explosive device struck their bus which was also driving near the site of the pyramids. It followed a lull in attacks since the 2017 stabbing of two women on a beach in the seaside resort of Hurghada. The heaviest blow to Egypt's tourism sector was in October 2015 when a bomb attack claimed by the Islamic State group downed a Russian airliner shortly after take off from the resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, killing 224 people on board. - Impact on tourism? - Sunday's attack follows signs of a recovery in the long-suffering tourism industry. Egypt is set to host the African Cup of Nations from June 21 to July 19 which it sees as an opportunity to show that the country is safe and able to handle an influx of tourists. Tourism has been reeling from turmoil since the 2011 overthrow of longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak in a popular uprising. In 2010, Egypt welcomed a record 14.7 million tourists. But by 2016 that figure had plunged by nearly two-thirds, to 5.3 million . The following year witnessed a rebound with arrivals reaching 8.3 million, according to the official statistics agency. Earlier this month, Tourism Minister Rania al-Mashat said the key industry accounts for about a fifth of the country's gross domestic product (GDP). Despite the high stakes, some believe Sunday's attack is unlikely to have a significant impact on tourism. "It is a minor incident and it has become common that similar occurrences take place in other areas around the world," said Sayed. St Anthony's Shrine in Colombo was one of the churches targeted by the suicide bombers Sri Lanka has tightened security ahead of the reopening Tuesday of some Catholic schools for the first time since the Easter bombings that killed 258 people, the army chief said. Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake said security forces would ensure that schools were not targeted by Islamic militants responsible for the April 21 bombings. "Army and sister services are fully and confidently assisting law enforcement authorities to apprehend the culprits," Senanayake said Monday, adding that operations had shown "marked progress" without giving details. Dozens of private Catholic schools are to start reopening Tuesday after Easter holidays were extended because of the suicide bombings on three churches and three hotels. A Roman Catholic spokesman in Colombo said schools would reopen on a staggered basis over the next two weeks and that school authorities had been asked to ensure safety. "In some places children will not attend classes in their uniforms," the spokesman said. "Advanced Level classes will start on Tuesday but primary and middle school will reopen gradually in the weeks to come." More than 10,000 public schools reopened earlier this month, but attendance has been low. On Sunday, President Maithripala Sirisena marked the 10th anniversary of the end of the country's Tamil rebel war by vowing to crush Islamist militants blamed for the Easter bombings that also left 500 injured. "We have been able to arrest all those who were behind the Easter attacks. Some have been killed in confrontations," he said. "This gives me confidence that we can completely eliminate the threat from international terrorism." Muslims account for 10 percent of the population in the mainly Buddhist nation, which has been under a state of emergency since the attacks that were also claimed by the Islamic State group. Thousands of protesters have spent weeks camped outside Khartoum's army headquarters A "dispute" over who should lead Sudan's new governing body was the key sticking point in overnight talks between army rulers and protesters, a protest leader said Monday. The latest negotiations were launched Sunday evening following international pressure to install a civilian-led administration -- a key demand of thousands of demonstrators who have spent weeks camped outside Khartoum's army headquarters. Hours of meetings into the early hours of Monday ended without agreement, but the ruling military council announced the talks would resume Monday evening. A prominent protest leader who was involved in the Sunday night talks said they had revolved around who would lead the new governing body. "The dispute over the presidency of the sovereign council and participation between the civilian and military still exists," said Satea al-Haj, from the umbrella protest movement the Alliance for Freedom and Change. The Alliance, which led the nationwide campaign that toppled longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir last month, has been at loggerheads with the military over the makeup of the new body, set to rule Sudan for a three-year transitional period. "The military council is still insisting that the president of the sovereign council should be from the military," he said. "They are justifying it by saying the country faces security threats." The protest movement insists that the head of the body should be a civilian and that the council should have a majority of civilian members, a demand backed by major world powers, al-Haj said. "The international community and the African Union will not accept to deal with a military government," he added. "The people (of Sudan) also want a civilian government." However, he said Sunday night's talks were "positive" overall, and the ruling military council has said they will resume at 9:00 PM (1900 GMT). Military council spokesman Lieutenant General Shamseddine Kabbashi said the "structure of the sovereign authority" had been discussed during the night and that a "final deal" would be agreed later on Monday. Previous rounds of talks have seen the generals and protest leaders agreed on key issues including a three-year transition period and the creation of a 300-member parliament dominated by lawmakers from the protesters' umbrella group. The new governing council is expected to form a transitional civilian government, which would then prepare for the first post-Bashir election following the three-year transitional period. Thousands of demonstrators have spent weeks camped outside Khartoum's army headquarters calling for a civilian-led administration Sudanese army rulers and protesters failed Tuesday to reach an agreement yet again on the make-up of a new ruling body as negotiations also became deadlocked over who should lead it -- a civilian or soldier. The two sides launched a round of new talks late Sunday over the sovereign council to rule Sudan for a three-year transitional period following last month's ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. The military council that replaced him has faced international pressure to install a civilian-led administration -- a key demand of thousands of demonstrators who have spent weeks camped outside Khartoum's army headquarters. Late on Monday the military council and the protest movement the Alliance for Freedom and Change met again at the presidential palace to finalise the proposed ruling body but they were unable to clinch a deal. Neither side said when talks would resume, but one of the protest leaders Siddiq Yousef told reporters that "the negotiations are suspended between us and the Transitional Military Council until there is a breakthrough". The ruling military council did not say if talks had been suspended. Demonstrators began their sit-in against autocrat Omar al-Bashir on April 6, but refused to move after his ouster by the military, vowing instead to stay until a civilian government was installed "The main point of dispute that remains is concerning the share of representatives of the military and the civilians in the council and who will be the head of the new body," a joint statement issued by the generals and protest alliance said after talks ended around midnight. Satea al-Haj, a prominent leader of the Alliance for Freedom and Change, said Tuesday that the military council has insisted that the president of the sovereign council should be from the military and has "conclusively" rejected a civilian leader. "They are justifying it by saying the country faces security threats," he earlier said. The protest movement insists civilians must form the majority of the body's members, a demand resisted by military leaders but backed by major world powers, Haj added. "The international community and the African Union will not accept to deal with a military government," he said. "The people also want a civilian government." - 'Dirty political game' - Generals and protest leaders have already agreed on some key issues, including a three-year transition period and the creation of a 300-member parliament dominated by lawmakers from the protesters' umbrella group. The new sovereign council is expected to form a transitional civilian government ahead of the first post-Bashir elections. Members of the Sudanese Sufi community arrive for a sit-in outside the military headquarters in Khartoum But observers say the body may turn out to be only symbolic, with real power resting in the office of the prime minister and the cabinet. An agreement on the new council's make-up had been expected last week. But the generals suspended the negotiations for 72 hours, demanding that protesters remove roadblocks they had erected on several Khartoum avenues before any negotiations could proceed. Protesters duly tore down the barricades, but have warned that they will build them again unless the generals transfer power to civilians. The generals have allowed protesters to continue with their sit-in at the army complex. Demonstrators began their sit-in against Bashir on April 6, but refused to move after his ouster by the military, vowing instead to stay until a civilian government was installed. Protesters accuse the generals of clinging to power and ignoring their demands. "A dirty political game is being played by the military council," said Mustafa Sadiq, who spent the night at the army complex. The protesters' umbrella group on Monday urged demonstrators to be patient. "Victory is just a matter of patience and it is getting close," the Alliance for Freedom and Change said. Protester Ahmed Nagdi said the Sudanese people had waited already "for decades". "It is time to achieve our goals." Women walk under a bridge in Tehran a day after US President Donald Trump said if Iran attacks American interests it will be destroyed Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday the "genocidal taunts" of US President Donald Trump will not "end Iran", as tensions spike between the two countries. "Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. Economic terrorism and genocidal taunts won't 'end Iran'," Zarif wrote on Twitter. "Never threaten an Iranian. Try respect -- it works!" he added. In another tweet, Zarif accused Trump of allowing his team to "trash diplomacy" and "abet war crimes -- by milking despotic butchers via massive arms sales". The riposte by Iran's top diplomat followed an ominous warning by Trump, who on Sunday suggested the Islamic republic would be destroyed if it attacked US interests. "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again," Trump tweeted. On Monday evening Trump, who is seen on blowing hot and cold on Iran, appeared to play down the immediate threat posed by Iran while saying he is ready to talk if Tehran takes the first step. Trump's latest comments appeared aimed at dialing back fears that his administration is pushing for war. "We have no indication that anything's happened or will happen," he told reporters at the White House when asked about the Iranian threat to US interests, adding: "We have no indication that they will." A Senator close to Trump, Lindsey Graham, warned Iran of an "overwhelming military response" for any actions against US interests. - 'Rising rhetoric' - Relations between Washington and Tehran plummeted a year ago when Trump pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and imposed tough sanctions. Iranian officials have repeatedly slammed the unilateral US sanctions as "economic terrorism," saying that they have impeded the flow of essential goods. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has played down the prospect of a war in the region Tensions have risen further this month with Washington announcing more economic measures against Tehran, before deploying a carrier group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf over unspecified alleged Iranian "threats". The Trump administration last week ordered non-essential diplomatic staff out of Iraq, citing the danger posed by Iranian-backed Iraqi armed groups. On Sunday a rocket was fired into the Green Zone of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, which houses government offices and embassies including the US mission. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack. While the US claim of Iranian "threats" has been met with widespread scepticism outside the United States, the mounting tensions have sparked growing international concern. "I would say to the Iranians, do not underestimate the resolve on the US side in the situation," British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt told reporters on Monday in Geneva. "They don't want a war with Iran, but if American interests are attacked they will retaliate," he added. The United Nations expressed concern about the "rising rhetoric". "We would ask all parties to lower the rhetoric and lower the threshold of action as well," said UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric. - 'Goaded' into war - US media reports say Trump's hawkish national security adviser John Bolton is pushing for war with Iran, but others in the administration are resisting. US-Iranian relations have plummeted since Trump pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal and imposed tough sanctions Zarif's tweet said Trump is being "goaded by B Team," a term he coined to refer to Bolton as well as Israel's prime minister and the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who are all pushing a hard line on Tehran. Before Trump's Twitter threat, Zarif had downplayed the prospect of a new war in the region, saying Tehran opposed it and nobody was under the "illusion" the Islamic republic could be confronted. Iran is exercising "maximum restraint" in the face of an "unacceptable" escalation by the United States, Zarif said on Thursday. Tehran has threatened to gradually withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal unless partners still in the agreement -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- help it to circumvent US sanctions. A man reads newspaper headlines in the Iranian capital Tehran Saudi Arabia on Saturday called for emergency regional talks to discuss the mounting Gulf tensions. It came days after mysterious sabotage attacks on several tankers in highly sensitive Gulf waters and drone strikes on a Saudi crude pipeline by Yemen rebels, who Riyadh claimed were acting on Iranian orders. Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, said Sunday his country does not want to go to war with Iran -- but would defend itself. Saudi Arabia "does not want a war, is not looking for it and will do everything to prevent it," he said. "But at the same time, if the other side chooses war, the kingdom will respond with strength and determination to defend itself and its interests." The sanctions on Huawei are likely to impact US firms selling billions of dollars of components to the Chinese tech giant The tough sanctions imposed on Huawei by President Donald Trump could deal a blow to the many US firms that make up the Chinese tech giant's supply chain. American firms last year sold an estimated $11 billion worth of components to Huawei, which was put on a blacklist last week by Washington over national security concerns as trade frictions grow between the US and China. Trump's executive order could effectively ban makers of US hardware and software from selling to Huawei by requiring a special license from Washington. The Commerce Department on Monday delayed the sanctions on Huawei for 90 days, saying the additional time was needed to allow for software updates and other contractual obligations. The agency said it was granting Huawei a "temporary general license" through August 19 allowing for transactions "necessary to maintain and support existing and currently fully operational networks and equipment, including software updates and patches, subject to legally binding contracts and agreements" signed before May 16. - Hardware and software - Bloomberg News reported that US-based chipmakers Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom and Xilinx have indicated they would halt shipments to the Chinese firm which is the world's number two smartphone maker and a leader in telecom infrastructure and super-fast 5G networks. Google said it would comply with the US order, leaving Huawei without access to critical services for the Android operating system such as Gmail and Google Maps. Microsoft, which supplies the Windows operating system for many Huawei devices, did not respond to an AFP query on how the order might impact the Redmond, Washington-based firm. Bob O'Donnell of the consultancy Technalysis Research said any ban would almost certainly affect Microsoft. "If it affects Google I don't see why it wouldn't affect Microsoft," O'Donnell said. "Any version of Windows comes from Microsoft, since there is no open-source version." - Moving toward independence - Chipmakers Qualcomm and Intel are among the suppliers to Huawei which could be affected by the US ban on sales to the Chinese firm Roger Kay, founder and analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates, said the ban is likely to accelerate efforts by Huawei and other Chinese firms to develop their own sources of microprocessors and other components. "The short-term effect on both American and Chinese companies are inevitably negative," Kay said. "The longer-term effect is that Huawei and other Chinese companies turn away more sharply from American suppliers." Neither Intel nor Qualcomm responded to queries on how they would respond to the order on Huawei. Avi Greengart, founder of the research firm Techsponential, said a ban on sales to Huawei could hit a wide range of large and small US firms including Corning, which makes the popular Gorilla Glass for smartphones, and Dolby, a producer of video and audio software for handsets. "When you think about all the software and hardware components you get a pretty big list," Greengart said. "The US is a big part of the global supply chain." Few firms offered public comments on their response to the Huawei executive order. But one, California-based Lumentum Holdings, a maker of optical and laser applications, said it would comply with the executive order and that Huawei accounted for 15 percent of its revenue so far in the current fiscal year. - Risks to Apple - Apple could suffer from a backlash in China if the crisis over Huawei persists, according to analysts Greengart said Apple could also suffer from any protracted crisis over Huawei, estimating the iPhone maker gets about 17 percent of its revenues from China. Even though Apple might benefit in the premium smartphone market in Europe, "I think the risks are higher than the rewards for Apple," Greengart said. "If there is a backlash against Apple in China, that could have damaging long-term effects." Greengart said that Google might not see a major impact for the moment. "Ironically (the ban) won't affect Google much because Google doesn't make money selling Android." Patrick Moorhead, of Moor Insights & Strategy, said he sees a limited impact on US firms in the short run. "The impact to the US companies depends on the length of the ban but also how indexed they are in sales to Huawei," Moorhead said. "Neither Intel, Google or Nvidia do more than three percent of their business with Huawei, so short-term, it shouldn't be an issue." O'Donnell said a bigger risk is that Huawei and other Chinese firms step up efforts to develop software and hardware that allows them to break free from Silicon Valley. "The longer-term question is: does this drive Huawei to develop a third mobile platform?" O'Donnell said. "China is already developing its own technology infrastructure, and this plays into the whole notion of a separate internet in China, which would be a big deal." Indonesia's Joko Widodo (C), who has won a second term as president, spoke to reporters with his running mate Ma'ruf Amin (R) in Jakarta three days before the official results were announced Indonesia's Joko Widodo has been re-elected as president of the world's third-biggest democracy, the elections commission said early Tuesday, beating rival Prabowo Subianto, a retired general who has vowed to challenge any victory for the incumbent leader. The commission was expected to announce the official results of the April 17 poll on Wednesday in the Southeast Asian nation of 260 million. But amid fears about unrest and street demonstrations in response to the final count, the final tally was released early with little advance notice. Widodo and his vice-presidential running mate Ma'ruf Amin won the election by a 55.5 percent to 44.5 percent margin over Subianto and Sandiaga Uno, the elections commission said. "This ruling was announced on May 21... and will be effectively immediately," the commission's chair Arief Budiman said in a live streamed announcement that was broadcast on major media. Widodo, 57, had been widely predicted to win according to unofficial results. His challenger Subianto, 67, has vowed to challenge any victory for Widodo, alleging widespread voter fraud, and warned that it could spark street protests across the world's biggest Muslim majority nation. Some 32,000 security personnel were being deployed across the capital Jakarta, including in front of the General Elections Commission's downtown office which has been barricaded with razor wire. Tensions have also been heightened after police said Friday that they have arrested dozens of Islamic-State linked terror suspects, including some who planned to detonate bombs at political demonstrations when election results were to be announced. Last month, Indonesia held its biggest-ever election, a massive one day poll featuring more than 190 million registered voters and a record 245,000 candidates vying for the presidency, parliamentary seats and local legislator positions. This year's campaign was punctuated by bitter mudslinging and a slew of fake news online -- much of it directed at the presidential contenders. Widodo held off declaring victory after the unofficial results last month as Subianto insisted he was the archipelago's next leader. Subianto lost a 2014 presidential bid to Widodo which he unsuccessfully challenged in court. US President Donald Trump repeated earlier threats that Iran would face "great force" if it attacked US interests -- but he also said he would welcome talks President Donald Trump Monday appeared to play down the immediate threat posed by Iran to the United States, while saying he is ready to talk if Tehran takes the first step. Trump's latest comments appeared aimed at dialing back fears that his administration is pushing for war. "We have no indication that anything's happened or will happen," he told reporters at the White House when asked about the Iranian threat to US interests, adding: "We have no indication that they will." Trump repeated earlier threats that Iran would face "great force" if it took aim at the United States. However, he said he would welcome talks. "If they call we will certainly negotiate, but that is going to be up to them," he said. "I only want them to call if they are ready." Trump has blown hot and cold over Iran, leading many in Washington to fear he is rushing to conflict, but then indicating that he has no desire to embroil the United States in another distant war. On Sunday, he upped the temperature with a tweet that warned of "the official end of Iran" should the country attack the United States. Earlier Monday, Trump blasted a media report, which he did not identify, that he said had falsely claimed his government was trying to initiate talks with Tehran. "Iran will call us if and when they are ever ready. In the meantime, their economy continues to collapse - very sad for the Iranian people!" Trump tweeted. The US government has piled the pressure on Iran by ripping up a hard-fought international deal to steer the country away from its nuclear ambitions and attempting to shut off the oil exports crucial to Iran's economy. It has also sent an aircraft carrier and bomber planes to the region, citing Iranian threats to US interests. US President Donald Trump has refused to cooperate in the Democrats' investigations focused on his tax returns, his finances or matters related to Russian efforts to tip the election in his favor A US federal judge on Monday denied President Donald Trump's efforts to quash a subpoena from Democratic lawmakers to release years of financial documents dating from before his time in the White House. The decision marked the first time that US courts have waded into the conflict pitting the president against the Democrats who, riding on their newfound majority in the House of Representatives, have opened a raft of probes into Trump. Trump, who says he is the victim of "harassment," has refused to cooperate in the investigations focused on his tax returns, his finances or matters related to Russian efforts to tip the 2016 election in his favor. US District Judge Amit Mehta refused to block the House Oversight and Reform Committee's subpoena for accounting firm Mazars USA pending litigation. The lawmakers' April 15 request for records dating back to 2011 followed testimony by Trump's one-time lawyer Michael Cohen that his boss would often change the estimated value of his assets and liabilities on financial statements as he felt was needed for various purposes. On April 22, Trump and affiliated organizations and entities filed suit, requesting that the court declare the subpoena "invalid and unenforceable" as it questioned the legislative validity of the Democrats' demands. "So long as Congress investigates on a subject matter on which 'legislation could be had,' Congress acts as contemplated by Article I of the Constitution," which guarantees the body its legislative powers, Mehta said. "Applying those principles here compels the conclusion that President Trump cannot block the subpoena to Mazars." The judge also insisted that the lawmakers had "facially valid legislative purposes." "It is not for the court to question whether the committee's actions are truly motivated by political considerations," he added. Trump's legal team indicated it would appeal the ruling. Huawei's founder has defiantly hit back after a bruising week for the Chinese smartphone giant Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei on Tuesday shrugged off US attempts to block his company's global ambitions, saying the United States underestimates the telecom giant's strength. Ren spoke to Chinese media days after President Donald Trump issued orders aimed at thwarting Huawei's business in the United States, the latest salvo in a months-long effort to stop the company's charge to the top of the leaderboard in next-generation 5G technology. "The current practice of US politicians underestimates our strength," Ren said, according to transcripts from state-run media. "Huawei's 5G will absolutely not be affected. In terms of 5G technologies, others won't be able to catch up with Huawei in two or three years," he said. Last week, Trump declared a "national emergency" empowering him to blacklist companies seen as "an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States" -- a move analysts said was clearly aimed at Huawei. At the same time, the US Commerce Department announced an effective ban on American companies selling or transferring US technology to Huawei. - 'Can't be isolated' - US internet giant Google, whose Android mobile operating system powers most of the world's smartphones, said this week it was beginning to cut ties with Huawei in light of the ban. The move could have dramatic implications for Huawei smartphone users, as the telecoms giant will no longer have access to Google's proprietary services -- which include the Gmail and Google Maps apps -- a source close to the matter told AFP. Huawei under pressure But the Commerce Department on Monday issued a 90-day reprieve on the ban on the transfer of technology by allowing temporary licences. "The US 90-day temporary licence does not have much impact on us, we are ready," Ren said. Huawei has sought to ease customers' concerns over the Google announcement. Ren said Huawei and Google are discussing how to respond to the ban, calling the US firm a "highly responsible company". A company spokesman in Australia said the US actions "will not impact consumers" with a Huawei tablet or smartphone in the country, or those planning to buy a device in the future. As for Huawei's access to key components, Ren said half of chips used in the company's equipment come from the United States and the other half it makes itself. "We cannot be isolated from the world," Ren said. "We can also make the same chips as the US chips, but it doesn't mean we won't buy them," he said. He denied reports that German chipmaker Infineon has halted shipments to Huawei. But analysts say the ban threatens the company's very survival as it heavily relies on US components. "If the ban continues, Huawei will be damaged for sure, particularly in smartphones but also in the datacenter and networking markets," said Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy. - Ask Trump, not me - The Huawei confrontation has been building for years, as the company has raced to a huge advantage over rivals in next-generation 5G mobile technology. US intelligence believes Huawei is backed by the Chinese military and that its equipment could provide Beijing's intelligence services with a backdoor into the communications networks of rival countries. For that reason, Washington has pushed its closest allies to reject Huawei technology, a significant challenge given the few alternatives for 5G. While Australia has also banned Huawei from its 5G plans, the US has struggled to sway some countries, with Britain having reportedly approved a limited role for the Chinese company to help build a 5G network in the country. Canada has been dragged into the battle. Its arrest of Ren's daughter, Huawei chief financial officer Meng Wanzhou, in December on a US extradition bid linked to Iran sanctions violations was followed by the arrest in China of two Canadians, including a former diplomat. "We sacrificed ourselves and families because we have a goal. In order to stand on the world's summit, for this goal, there will be conflicts with the US sooner or later," Ren said. The battle over Huawei has added to tensions in a trade war that has escalated between the world's top two economies, with both sides exchanging steep increases in tariffs as negotiations have faltered. China's envoy to the European Union, Zhang Ming, called the move against Huawei "wrong behaviour", adding "there will be a necessary response". Asked how long Huawei may face difficult times, Ren said: "You may need to ask Trump about this question, not me." The November 2010 blast at Pike River was one of New Zealand's worst-ever industrial accidents A coal mine where dozens died in one of New Zealand's worst-ever industrial accidents was re-opened after nine years Tuesday as experts began the long process of recovering the men's remains. Twenty-nine people were killed at the Pike River mine in November 2010 after a blast triggered by a build-up of flammable methane gas. The South Island mine has been sealed since amid fears of further explosions, angering family members who wanted the entombed remains recovered. While some experts said the mine was too dangerous to enter, relatives of the victims argued it was the only way to find the cause of the blast that killed 24 New Zealanders, two Australians, two Britons and a South African. The controversy was so intense that when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was elected in 2017 she specifically appointed minister Andrew Little to oversee the mine's reopening. Little announced Wednesday that the seal to the Pike River mine access tunnel, or drift, had been opened as families of the dead looked on. The mine has been sealed for nine years amid fears of further explosions, angering family members who wanted the entombed remains recovered "Today we have returned," he said, describing the tragedy as "a consequence of corporate and regulatory failure". "New Zealand is not a country where 29 people can die at work without real accountability... and that is why today we have fulfilled our promise." Most of the bodies are believed to be near the end of the 2.3-kilometre (1.4-mile) long drift, although they may have been destroyed by the powerful explosion. Progress through the mine will be slow as workers attempt to minimise the risk of another methane explosion. "However long that takes, the recovery project will be done professionally," he said. "Most importantly, it will be done safely. Safety is the families' and the government's bottom line." An official inquiry in 2012 criticised unsafe work practices at the mine and said it should never have been operating, although police said there was insufficient evidence to bring manslaughter charges against its managers. Nepali mountaineer Kami Rita Sherpa has reached the summit of Mount Everest 24 times Only last week Nepali mountain guide Kami Rita Sherpa set a new record by climbing Everest a 23rd time. On Tuesday for good measure he did it again, expedition organisers said. "This is historic. He made his record climb this morning, guiding a team of Indian police," Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks told AFP. A guide for more than two decades, Sherpa first summited the 8,848-metre (29,029-foot) peak, the world's highest, in 1994 while working for a commercial expedition. In the 25 years since, the 49-year-old has made 35 summits on five 8,000-metre peaks, including the world's second-highest mountain, K2 in Pakistan. Last year he ascended Everest for the 22nd time, breaking the previous record of 21 summits he shared with two other Sherpa climbers, both of whom have retired. Returning last week to a colourful welcome at base camp after his 23rd climb, Sherpa had already said that he wanted to go up for a second time this season. "I am very happy and proud, I think I might go up the mountain again this season," he had said over a crackly phone line after his descent. The accomplished climber has often said he did not intend to make records, but accumulated his summits in course of his work as a guide. "I did not climb for world records, I was just working. I did not even know you could set records earlier," he said last month before setting off for Everest base camp. With their unique ability to work in a low-oxygen, high-altitude atmosphere, ethnic Sherpa guides are the backbone of Nepal's climbing industry, helping clients and hauling equipment up Himalayan peaks. Mountaineering has become a lucrative business since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay made the first ascent of Everest in 1953. Nepal has issued a record 381 permits costing $11,000 each for this year's spring climbing season, sparking fears of bottlenecks en route to the summit if poor weather cuts down the number of climbing days. Most Everest hopefuls are escorted by a Nepali guide, meaning over 750 climbers will tread the same path to the top in the coming weeks. And at least 140 others are preparing to scale Everest from the northern flank in Tibet, according to expedition operators. This could take the total past last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit. Many Himalayan mountains -- including Everest -- are at peak climbing season, with the window of good weather between late April and the end of May. The death toll is already mounting, however. An Indian climber died on Everest last week while a search continues for an Irish mountaineer who slipped and fell close to the summit. Six other foreign climbers have died on other 8,000-metre Himalayan peaks while two are missing. Abortion is among the most divisive political issues in the US, and the doorsteps of abortion clinics nationwide have become the sight of daily standoffs between pro- and anti-abortion rights activists It's been a particularly tough week for Margaux Hartline, a volunteer who holds a large umbrella over women going into an Alabama abortion clinic so their faces are unidentifiable to religious activists. Last week, the southeastern US state passed the strictest anti-abortion law in the country, and Hartline says there's been a jump in "harassment" from anti-abortion activists who shout from across the street at women going into the clinic. "They're ramping everything up, and we're very worried that more people are going to show up," said Hartline, 25. Wearing a rainbow-colored vest, Hartline works from the porch of the "Power House," the headquarters of a local reproductive rights group that escorts women into Reproductive Health Services, the clinic right next door which is one of only three in the state. Abortion is among the most divisive political issues in the US, and the doorsteps of abortion clinics nationwide have become the sites of daily standoffs between pro- and anti-abortion rights activists. On the one side are activists who stake out clinics and attempt to convince women not to have abortions with tactics that reproductive rights advocates say are aggressive and involve harassment or shaming. "If they find any kind of identifying information, if you have a school sticker on the back of your car or something, they will do whatever they can to identify you and they'll call your school, your church, your family, your job, anything. They're actively trying to ruin these people's lives," Hartline said. On the other side are people like Hartline, who waits for women to park in front of the clinic before approaching them with a big blue umbrella that she holds over their heads, shielding their faces as anti-abortion activists shout "Don't kill your baby!" "It's disgusting. It really is. They want to shame these patients as much as possible," Hartline said. - 'The baby is innocent' - But to 61-year-old Susan Decker-Bunce, among the crowd of activists who shouts at women entering the clinic, what happens inside is murder. "If you see the ultrasound, if you see the heartbeat, you know it's life," she told AFP. "If you see that it looks like a baby, it's not a clump of cells. You can see the head, the arms, the legs, the tiny little toes." The new Alabama law, HB314, virtually outlaws terminations of pregnancy, threatening doctors with between 10 and 99 years in prison for abortions and offering no exceptions for cases of incest and rape. Set to go into effect in November, the law is likely to be blocked in state courts by lawsuits from human rights groups. But for anti-abortion activists, who refer to themselves as "pro-life," it's all part of the plan to trigger a legal battle over the procedure in the US Supreme Court that could overturn the landmark 1973 ruling that made abortion legal in the United States. Decker-Bunce defended the law. "It's not the baby's fault, it was the father that did the raping," she said. "The baby is innocent." The two groups are barely on speaking terms. "They don't want to hear anything because they're so blinded by fake medical facts," said Candace O'Brien, vice-president of healthcare access with Yellowhammer Fund, which provides financial help to women who need an abortion. "They say that there's 10 fingers, 10 toes, right now, like if you're three weeks along," she said. "That's medically inaccurate, because that's not how fetal development even happens." etectives said the back-pack bombs used in the April 21 attacks on three churches and three hotels were manufactured by local jihadists with Islamic State expertise One month after the Sri Lanka suicide attacks that killed more than 250 people, investigators have told AFP the bombers used "Mother of Satan" explosives favoured by the Islamic State group that are a new sign of foreign involvement. Detectives said the back-pack bombs used in the April 21 attacks on three churches and three hotels were manufactured by local jihadists with Islamic State expertise. They named the explosive as triacetone triperoxide, or TATP, an unstable but easily made mixture favoured by Islamic State militants who call it "Mother of Satan". It was also used in the 2015 attacks in Paris, by a suicide bomber who hit the Manchester Arena in England in 2017 and attacks on churches in Indonesia one year ago. Islamic State has claimed the Sri Lankan bombers operated as part of its franchise. But Sri Lankan and international investigators are anxious to know just how much outside help went into the attacks that left 258 dead and 500 injured. "The group had easy access to chemicals and fertiliser to get the raw materials to make TATP," an official involved in the investigation told AFP. Sri Lankan detectives say the National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ), local militants blamed for the attacks, must have had foreign help to assemble the bombs. - Multinational militants - "They would have had a face-to-face meeting to transfer this technology. This is not something you can do by watching a YouTube video," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity. Investigators had initially believed that C4 explosives -- a favoured weapon of Tamil Tiger rebels -- were used, but forensic tests found TATP which causes more burning than C4. Police have also confirmed that 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of explosives found in January in the island's northwest was TATP. They are checking the travel records of the suicide bombers as well as foreign suspects to see when and where bomb-making lessons could have been staged. "It looks like they used a cocktail of TATP and gelignite and some chemicals in the Easter attacks. They were short of the 100 kilos of raw TATP that were seized in January," said the investigator. Sri Lankan security forces have staged a series of raids since the bombings. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said Sunday that 89 suspects are in custody. Army chief Mahesh Senanayake said last week that at least two suspects have been arrested in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, underscoring the international link. On April 26, six militants, three widows of the suicide bombers and six of their children were killed at an NTJ safe house near the eastern coastal town of Kalmunai. Police found large quantities of chemicals and fertilizer there that was probably meant to make bombs, authorities said. The government has admitted that Indian warnings of the looming attacks in early April were ignored. But President Maithripala Sirisena has said eight countries are helping the investigation. A US Federal Bureau of Investigation team is in Sri Lanka and Britain, Australia and India have provided forensic and technical support. China offered a fleet of vehicles to bolster the mobility of the security forces tracking down militants. - 'Contact with Islamists' - The Sri Lankan who led the attacks, Zahran Hashim, was known to have travelled to India in the months before he became one of the suicide bombers. Moderate Muslims had warned authorities about the radical cleric who first set off alarm bells in 2017 when he threatened non-Muslims. He was one of two bombers who killed dozens of victims at Colombo's Shangri-La hotel on April 21. Army chief Senanayake said Hashim had travelled to Tamil Nadu state in southern India and been in contact with Islamists there. Hashim, one of seven bombers who staged the attacks, also appeared in an Islamic State group video that claimed responsibility for the attacks. Another bomber who was meant to have hit a fourth hotel, has been named as Abdul Latheef Jameel who studied aviation engineering in Britain and Australia. Authorities in the two countries are investigating whether he was radicalised whilst abroad. Jameel blew himself up when confronted at a hideout after the attacks. Founder Ren Zhengfei shrugged off supply fears, telling Chinese media that Huawei has a hoard of chips and can manufacture its own The Trump administration's move to block US technology sales to Huawei shoots an arrow deep into the Chinese tech giant's Achilles heel -- its over-reliance on American components -- and threatens the company's very survival, analysts said. Citing national security, President Donald Trump last week effectively banned US companies from supplying Huawei and affiliates with the critical components that have helped it grow into the world's largest supplier of telecom networking equipment and second-biggest smartphone maker. Trump's broadside will cause pain for US companies that count on Huawei as a steady customer, but it poses an existential threat to Huawei. "The worst case would eventually see a total cutoff of access to US technology -- (Huawei) would almost certainly not survive this outcome in its current form," the Eurasia Group consultancy said in a report issued Sunday. The tech ban caps months of US effort to isolate Huawei, which Washington suspects has deep links to China's military, allowing Beijing to potentially use Huawei-enabled networks for espionage or cyber-sabotage. The risks for Huawei came into focus this week when Google, whose Android operating system powers most of the world's smartphones, said it would cut ties with Huawei as a result of the ban. That poses a dire threat to Huawei as loss of full access to Google's services could make its phones a hard sell to consumers. - Major setback - And with the digital ecosystem now a duopoly of Android and Apple's IoS system, Huawei is in a bind. "This is a fairly major setback for Huawei's smartphone division," said Ryan Whalen, a professor with the Law and Technology Centre at the University of Hong Kong. Huawei has said it was working on its own operating system, but Whalen notes that the Android-IoS stranglehold is nearly impossible to break. "Just look to players like Nokia, Blackberry, and Microsoft that have all failed recently in similar endeavours," he said. The tech ban caps months of US effort to isolate Huawei, which Washington suspects has deep links to China's military Huawei's other major business segment comprises carrier networks around the world powered by its equipment and which give it a leg up in the race to dominate fifth-generation (5G) technologies. 5G is the next digital milestone: its ultra-fast network speeds and data capacity making possible widespread use of artificial intelligence and other high-tech advancements that China's government wants its companies to lead. But here as well, Huawei is vulnerable. It buys about $67 billion worth of components annually, including about $11 billion from US suppliers, according to a tally by The Nikkei business daily. Eurasia Group said it had learned that major US suppliers including chipset manufacturers Qualcomm, Qorvo, and Texas Instruments, and software firms Oracle and Microsoft, have suspended shipments to Huawei until the dust settles. This could "completely undermine" Huawei on 5G, it added. Chinese President Xi Jinping has previously sketched out plans for China to gain dominance in key future high technologies by 2025, a strategy that has caused US alarm. But harsh action against Huawei could give the push even more impetus, said Roger Kay, founder and analyst at Endpoint Technologies Associates. "The longer-term effect is that Huawei and other Chinese companies turn away more sharply from American suppliers," he said. - Huawei shrugs it off - Founder Ren Zhengfei shrugged off supply fears, telling Chinese media on Tuesday that Huawei has a hoard of chips and can manufacture its own. But tech analysts view that as mere bravado. Eurasia Group said that regardless of any chip stockpile, Huawei "cannot stockpile software, and there is no conceivable way the firm could survive for an extended period... without access to global supply chains". Huawei's own chip design arm Hisilicon is also targeted by the US ban, cutting it off from critical tools it needs to continue function. Trump could be merely using Huawei for leverage in broader trade talks: US officials have issued a 90-day reprieve on the ban. But Beijing could hit back. Huawei's smartphone rival Apple could be particularly vulnerable to Chinese counter-measures as nearly 20 percent of its sales are in China and it relies heavily on Chinese factories for production. Some sort of compromise remains possible, perhaps with the US approving case-by-case tech sales to placate American suppliers, thereby limiting the damage to Huawei. But Trump has fuelled growing bipartisan congressional animosity against Huawei that could prevent him backing down, analysts note. One wildcard is Europe where Huawei has significant business with carriers, for whom a supplier shift would be costly. The US feels that a Huawei presence in Europe must be prevented for cyber-security reasons, and the main intent of the tech ban is to force Europe and other key markets to abandon Huawei on 5G, Eurasia Group said. Germany, France and the Netherlands have resisted US pressure, but analysts say they cannot do so for long. Further US pressure would make it "very difficult for the EU to continue working with Huawei," said Guntram Wolff, director of Brussels-based think-tank Bruegel. burs-dma/lth/aph Foreign Minister Taro Kono has bemused Japanese social media with his tweet Bemused followers of Japan's foreign minister were left scratching their heads on Tuesday after a bizarre tweet about bacon, sparking tongue-in-cheek speculation he could be tweeting classified information in code. "Ah, bacon is in fact ^%$+*o!%...." Taro Kono tweeted in Japanese from his verified account to his 513,000 followers, prompting confusion and many times the number of retweets and 'likes' he usually gets from more orthodox tweets about diplomatic meetings. On Sunday he tweeted his son had greeted him by "screaming bacon with all his might" when he returned home in the early hours. "What does he want to do?" he tweeted, uploading an image of a sheet of paper on which someone had handwritten the word "bacon" in Japanese. By late Tuesday, his account had reverted to the more mundane, with the minister announcing his attendance at a meeting of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. There was no further comment on the bacon affair and ministry officials were tight-lipped on the issue. "We are not in a position to say as it's his own Twitter account," a foreign ministry spokeswoman told AFP. The mysterious tweet lit up Japanese social media, with a rash of users guessing at a "secret diplomatic meaning". One thought it might be a reference to trade, with US President Donald Trump due to arrive later this week for talks. Others were concerned for the minister's well-being, with one user saying he had "a breakdown because he's overworked" and another wondering whether he had been affected by the weather, as heavy winds and rain lashed the Japanese capital. US President Donald Trump, a prolific Twitter user, baffled his millions of followers just months after taking office when he mysteriously tweeted: "Despite the constant negative press covfefe," sparking speculation as to what "covfefe" meant. He later deleted the tweet, replacing it with: "Who can figure out the true meaning of `covfefe ??? Enjoy!" Despite climate protests against the Liberal Party during the election campaign, the climate-change sceptical coalition secured victory in the weekend's vote -- which could have global implications Brutal droughts, floods and wildfires were expected to make the environment a pivotal issue in Australia's election, instead victory for the climate change-sceptic Liberal party could have global implications. Australia's Liberal-National coalition secured victory late on Saturday night despite polls suggesting an opposition Labor Party win. In coal-rich Queensland, voters swung hard to the government fearing a Labor government would curb mining projects and cost them jobs. Concerns that Labor would block the creation of the massive Indian-backed Adani coal mine helped voters abandon the party in their droves. The northeastern district of Herbert had been the most marginal seat at the last election, with only a 0.02 percent difference between the main parties. This time the Liberals took 58 percent of the vote. That result -- and others like it -- could have ramifications far beyond Australia. - 'Emissions superpower' - In the emissions stakes, Australia is a minnow compared to the bellowing economies of China or the United States. Former PM Tony Abbott failed spectacularly to read the public mood in his home state, losing his bid for re-election But its role as the world's largest coal exporter gives the country outsized influence in the climate stakes. Experts say the coalition government's election victory makes it much more likely that the Adani project will go ahead. Eventually, they say, billions more tonnes of coal will be available to export and burn in places like India. "It is probable that they will push for the final approvals to go through as quickly as possible," Samantha Hepburn, an energy and resources law expert at Deakin University, told AFP. The Labor-led Queensland state government -- which also has a say -- is likely to come under enormous pressure to approve the project despite concerns about the environment. "Adani is the thin edge of the wedge," said Hepburn. The wider area around Adani -- known as the Galilee Basin -- is believed to have enough coal to produce up to 600 million tonnes a year, she said. "Approving Adani will provide a strong precedent for the development of further mines in the area." - Debate continues - However, conservatives weren't successful across the board. While Saturday's election was a win for those who want the jobs and wealth that mining brings, the victory was not decisive. The go-ahead for the Adani mine will see billions more tonnes of coal available to export and burn, experts say Early on election night, former prime minister -- and climate change-denial poster boy -- Tony Abbott stood before supporters and strained to be gracious in defeat. After 25 years representing Sydney's affluent northern beaches, eco-minded voters had decisively booted him from office, electing Zali Steggall -- an Olympic skier who campaigned on climate change -- instead. The polarising 61-year-old failed spectacularly to read the public mood in his backyard, but he may have nailed the broader national trend. "Where climate change is a moral issue, we Liberals do it tough," Abbott said, lamenting his own fate. "Where climate change is an economic issue, as the result tonight shows, we do very, very well." - Issues within coalition - Several climate-friendly candidates secured a place in parliament or gained ground on climate-sceptic ruling Liberals. Not all were in affluent urban areas. In one district nestled amid the Australian Alps and the Murray River, an independent ran and won on an environmentalist platform. Australia's newly elected Prime Minister Scott Morrison will now have to grapple between climate change deniers and environmental moderates in his own party Within his own party, Prime Minister Scott Morrison will now have to navigate between climate deniers emboldened by victory and moderates who are feeling the electoral heat for the government's hardline policies. "These are issues that are difficult internally for the coalition," Marija Taflaga, a political scientist at the Australian National University, wrote in a recent commentary that highlighted additional outside pressures. "He will need to address climate policy because business wants a price signal for carbon emissions." Farmers -- who are worst hit by floods, droughts and fires -- are also starting to demand action to curb the effects of climate change. With influential climate hardliner Abbott out of the way, Morrison may have a little more room for manoeuver. But the former prime minister's exhortation to voters to choose between "jobs or climate" looks set to dominate Australia's politics well into the future. Several thousand Gazans depend on fishing for their livelihoods but often changing Israeli restrictions have led to prolonged layoffs that mean many live below the poverty line Israel announced Tuesday it had eased fishing restrictions off the blockaded Gaza Strip after a ceasefire with Hamas ended a deadly escalation earlier this month. Israel extended the fishing limit to up to 15 nautical miles, said COGAT, the defence ministry unit that oversees such regulations. The move restores the fishing zone to the limits set in April ahead of Israel's general election. Gaza fishing union official, Zakaria Bakr, however told AFP on Tuesday morning that it had yet to be informed of any changes. COGAT did not provide further details, but in April the limit was set at six nautical miles in the north near the Israeli border, 12 off central Gaza and 15 in the south near the Egyptian border, according to the fishing union. Israel banned fishing completely when the two-day flare-up of violence began earlier this month, but lifted the ban with a restriction of up to 12 nautical miles following the truce. The 15-nautical-mile limit is the largest allowed in years by Israel, which has fought three wars with Palestinian militants in the enclave and has blockaded it for more than a decade. But human rights activists note that it still falls short of the 20 nautical miles agreed under the Oslo accords of the 1990s. Israeli authorities did not say the move was linked to the truce reached earlier this month with Hamas, the Islamist movement that rules the Gaza Strip. But Palestinian officials said at the time of the May 6 ceasefire that it included Israel taking steps to ease its blockade. Israel media reported late Monday that the ceasefire, brokered by Egyptian and UN officials, is a six-month deal that includes the expansion of the fishing zone as well as the transfer of medicines and other aid to Gaza. Negotiations are also to take place on issues including Gaza's severe electricity shortage and border crossings, the reports said. In return, Hamas would calm protests along the border and halt maritime demonstrations aimed at breaking the blockade. Hamas denied the reports and Israel did not comment. Separately on Tuesday, human rights groups said Israel had informed the Israeli supreme court it intended to return 65 boats seized from Gaza fishermen accused of violating the blockade. Three human rights groups calling for the immediate return of the boats said the government indicated in a court filing it intended to return them "in accordance with security and political considerations and in line with a security assessment", without providing a date. COGAT did not respond to a request for comment on the statement from the three groups, Gisha, Adalah and Al Mezan. Savimbi's death paved the way for a peace deal that brought an end to one of Africa's longest and bloodiest conflicts The exhumed body of Angolan rebel chief Jonas Savimbi, who was killed in 2002, will be reburied in his hometown next month, authorities said after DNA tests confirmed the identity of the remains. The charismatic warlord, who fought Angola's socialist government in a 27-year civil war, was killed in a battle against the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) forces on February 22, 2002. His death paved the way for a peace deal that brought an end to one of Africa's longest and bloodiest conflicts, which erupted after independence from Portugal in 1975. He was buried the day after he died in Angola's eastern Moxico province. Six weeks after his death, his Unita movement signed a peace treaty with the MPLA government. DNA tests, conducted by laboratories in South Africa, Argentina, Portugal and Angola, confirmed that the body was Savimbi's. "All tests agree," Minister of State Pedro Sebastiao told reporters on Monday. The rebel leader will be re-buried in his hometown Lopitanga on June 1. "It is a relief to know that it is his body, and that we will bring him back where he wanted to be buried," one of his sons, Alleluia Sakaita-Savimbi, told AFP. Unita has campaigned for Savimbi to be given a dignified funeral, and President Joao Lourenco last year set up a commission to exhume and rebury his remains. Lourenco came to power in 2017 as head of the MPLA party, succeeding Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled for 38 years. Quentin Tarantino is today seen as a master of genre films who has inspired generations of directors after him A quarter-century after nabbing the coveted Palme d'Or at Cannes for "Pulp Fiction," Quentin Tarantino is back at the world's top film festival on Tuesday to show his all-star new picture "Once Upon A Time in Hollywood." The mastermind behind hits including "Reservoir Dogs" and the "Kill Bill" series, Tarantino, 56, is in Cannes to premiere his ninth movie, one of the festival's most hotly-anticipated screenings. It's a remarkable trajectory for the self-taught American director born in the southern state of Tennessee and raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a high school dropout who developed an encyclopedic knowledge of movies while working in a video store. "People ask me if I went to film school," he told Rolling Stone magazine in 1994, the year "Pulp Fiction" changed the course of independent film. "And I tell them, 'No, I went to films.'" After his debut as a screenwriter, Tarantino's name exploded onto the scene with his first feature film "Reservoir Dogs," an extraordinarily violent, low-budget gangster movie that quickly became a cult smash. Its popularity helped him forge his own image as a filmmaker, a blend of arrogance and reverence for the greats of the craft including Jean-Luc Godard, John Woo and Sergio Corbucci. An unabashed "cinema nerd", Tarantino is today seen as a master of genre films who has inspired generations of directors after him. - Omnipresent violence - Quentin Tarantino, seen here with his Israeli wife Daniella Pick, was a high school drop-out who developed an encyclopedic knowledge of movies while working at a video store "Reservoir Dogs," a film about the aftermath of a jewelry heist gone wrong, contains all the traits for which Tarantino has become famous: non-linear story structure, snappy dialogue, graphic violence and plentiful pop-culture references. A stomach-churning scene where a sadistic gangster played by Michael Madsen cuts off the ear of a police officer has made its way into Hollywood folklore. "I'm a big fan of violence in cinema," Tarantino told Britain's Daily Telegraph. "I believe Thomas Edison invented the camera to film people beating the shit out of each other. It really affects the audience in a big way, but at the same time you know it's just a movie." It's not something he condones in real life, however: "To say that I get a big kick out of violence in movies and can enjoy violence in movies but find it totally abhorrent in real life -- I can feel totally justified and totally comfortable with that statement," he told Britain's Observer in 1994. Tarantino followed "Reservoir Dogs" with "Pulp Fiction," a mesmerizing ensemble piece that skilfully weaved together multiple Los Angeles underworld characters. The film was nominated for seven Oscars including Best Picture and landed Tarantino a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award while actors John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson all received nominations. - Schlock series - Tarantino returned in 1997 with "Jackie Brown," his well-received adaptation of Elmore Leonard's novel "Rum Punch," before taking a prolonged sabbatical as he worked on his martial arts epics "Kill Bill: Volume 1" and "Kill Bill Volume 2" starring Thurman. In typical Tarantino fashion, the films blurred multiple genres, with influences ranging from spaghetti Westerns to blaxploitation and Asian martial arts movies. Tarantino's next film, 2007's "Death Proof", paid homage to the low-budget, high-bodycount B movies that were a staple of drive-in cinemas and seedy theaters throughout the US in the 1960s and 1970s. Quentin Tarantino won the Palme d'Or at Cannes 25 years ago for "Pulp Fiction" He then took a turn with period films, releasing "Inglourious Basterds" -- the story of a Jewish assassination squad parachuted into Nazi-occupied France with the purpose of sowing terror amongst German troops -- and "Django Unchained," set in the American South during the Civil War. His most recent film "The Hateful Eight" saw him dive into a western, a genre that had already influenced a number of his films. Tarantino has vowed several times he will retire after 10 films, meaning that he'll have only one to go after "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" starring powerhouse duo Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio. His intention is to leave behind a coherent filmography, in the style of his illustrious role models. "At the end of a director's career you don't look at just one movie -- you look at all of them," Tarantino said. Migrants tents lined up alongside the ring road at the Porte d'Aubervilliers in northern Paris on May 16, 2019. Along the ring road northeast of Paris, hundreds of migrants huddle in rows of tents covered in tarps or blankets as a blur of cars race by just a few metres away. AFP photographers have documented their lives. "We go to sleep at around 3:00 am, when traffic starts to go down," Ahmed, a Somali who has been living under an overpass near the Porte d'Aubervilliers for two months, told AFP. Usually only drivers in passing vehicles can see the makeshift shelters, where clothes are draped on concrete railings or hung from metal fences to dry, children ride bikes and infants in strollers nap as women make a meal. The makeshift camps are regularly cleared by French authorities, but migrants quickly return to the medians and overpasses on Paris motorways "It's like we're invisible," Ahmed says. For years migrants had been massing on canal banks or along unused rail lines in the north of the capital, some hoping for asylum, others fleeing at the first sign of police to avoid expulsion. But in recent months authorities have cleared many of the camps as they swelled in size, after residents complained of trash and the acrid smoke of cooking fires. "They don't let us stay in front of the social centre," said Hana, a Sudanese woman watching over her children, aged 2 and 4, outside her tent along an exit ramp off the ring road. Somalis having an evening meal at their camp at the Porte d'Aubervilliers. Local residents have complained about the acrid smoke of migrants' cooking fires. She is supposed to meet a social worker soon, "so maybe we'll be moved into an apartment," she said. Most of the migrants stick together by country of origin. "Here, it's Somalia. Over there is Eritrea and Ethiopia," said Omar, adjusting the plastic sack he uses to sit on the damp grass. Hana, a Sudanese refugee living in Paris with her two children, aged 2 and 4, arranges clothing on a wall overlooking the Paris ring road The authorities have started to clear these new camps as well, last Friday taking in around 200 people at the Porte d'Aubervilliers, mostly Afghans. "We don't need money. In Afghanistan my family had three cars," Marzban told AFP the night before the evacuation. "But we couldn't stay because of the insecurity," he said, adding that he had come to Paris after being expelled from Austria. A few days later, around 50 tents had already reappeared at the site. Mayor Anne Hidalgo last month denounced "chaos" on the outskirts of Paris, accusing the government of being "in denial" about the city's needs for accommodating an estimated 900 to 1,800 people in various camps. A new record of nearly 124,000 asylum requests were filed across France last year, a 23 percent jump from 2017. Of those, the government's Ofpra migrant protection agency granted refugee status to 46,700 people. President Emmanuel Macron's government enacted last August a new immigration law that speeds up the asylum process but also accelerates deportations. Thousands of protesters have been gathered outside army headquarters in Khartoum throughout the talks with Sudan's ruling generals on a political transition Sudanese protest leaders called on their supporters Tuesday to prepare for a general strike after talks with the country's military rulers stalled on who will lead an agreed three-year transition. Protest leaders had reached agreement with the ruling military council on the other main aspects of the transition. But early on Tuesday, the generals who overthrew veteran president Omar al-Bashir last month baulked at protesters' demands for a civilian head and a civilian majority for an agreed new sovereign council to lead the transition. "In order to achieve a full victory, we are calling for a huge participation in a general political strike," said the Sudanese Professionals Association, which took the lead in organising the four months of nationwide protests that led to Bashir's ouster. "The strike is our revolutionary duty and the participation in the sit-in ... is a crucial guarantee to achieve the goals of the revolution." Protest leader Madani Abbas Madani told AFP the preparations for a "general political strike and civil disobedience" were already under way. "Whenever we will decide on applying these plans, we will make an announcement," said Madani, a prominent leader of protest umbrella group the Alliance for Freedom and Change. The two sides launched what had been billed as a final round of talks on the transition late on Sunday. The military council has faced pressure from Western government and the African Union to agree to a civilian-led transition -- the central demand of the thousands of demonstrators who have spent weeks camped outside army headquarters in Khartoum. When talks broke up early on Tuesday, neither side said when they would resume. Protest leader Siddiq Yousef told reporters they had been suspended. "The main point of dispute that remains is concerning the share of representatives of the military and the civilians in the council and who will be the head of the new body," the two sides said in a joint statement. The military council has been pushing for its chairman General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan to head the new sovereign council but protest leaders want a civilian. Salah Ghosh, seen here in 2010, oversaw a deadly crackdown against anti-Bashir protesters Sudanese prosecutors said Tuesday that security agents guarding the house of former spy chief Salah Ghosh had prevented them from arresting him, despite a warrant issued by anti-graft authorities. Ghosh had resigned as chief of the country's feared National Intelligence and Security Service soon after the army ousted longtime leader Omar al-Bashir last month following mass protests. Ghosh had overseen a brutal NISS-led crackdown against protesters taking part in the demonstrations which had rocked Sudan since December. The operation left dozens killed and hundreds wounded, while thousands of protesters, opposition activists and journalists were arrested. On Monday, a team of policemen and prosecutors went to arrest Ghosh and search his house over alleged corruption, prosecutors said in a statement. "The force that was guarding the house of the accused, which is affiliated with NISS, stopped the order from being executed," they said. "It justified this by saying that it had not received any prior order or instruction" to allow Ghosh's arrest, they added. The statement added that prosecutors had seen security agents threatening police officers with guns. "This behaviour... blatantly violates the law and sovereignty of the state," the prosecutors said, threatening to strike over the incident. They called for the current head of the NISS to be sacked and the agency restructured, along with amendments to the Bashir-era national security law. Ghosh is seen as a former regime insider. Rights groups and protesters want him to be arrested and investigated for his role in the crackdown. Bashir had appointed Ghosh for his second stint as NISS chief in February 2018. Ghosh had worked intermittently for NISS ever since the 1989 coup that brought Bashir to power, according to Sudanese media. He was credited with building NISS into one of the most important pillars of Bashir's regime before his dismissal in 2009. He was later jailed on accusations of plotting a coup, but no evidence was found against him and Bashir pardoned him. Over the years, NISS had overseen repeated crackdowns on government opponents and the media. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says it is "quite possible" that Iran was behind recent security incidents in the region US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday it was "quite possible" Iran was responsible for sabotage of Gulf oil interests as he prepared to brief lawmakers on rising tensions. Pompeo cautioned that the United States has not made "a definitive conclusion" that can be presented publicly over mysterious sabotage incidents of oil tankers off the United Arab Emirates or drone strikes on a crude pipeline in Saudi Arabia. "But given all the regional conflicts that we have seen over the past decade and the shape of these attacks, it seems like it's quite possible that Iran was behind these," Pompeo told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. "Most importantly, we will continue to take acts that protect American interests and that work to deter Iran from misbehavior in the region, which has the real risk of escalating the situation such that crude oil prices rise," he said. Yemen's Huthi rebels, who are allied with Iran and are being hit hard by US-backed Saudi airstrikes, claimed responsibility last week for a drone strike on a major east-west pipeline in the kingdom, which was forced to shut down temporarily. President Donald Trump has warned, "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran" -- but also on Monday downplayed the Iranian threat to US interests. Pompeo is due later Tuesday to brief US lawmakers on Iran alongside acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and the top US military officer, General Joseph Dunford. Some Republican allies of Trump have called for the United States to be ready with a major military response, but leading Democrats have accused the White House of hyping the intelligence, saying that Iran's actions were predictable responses to US moves. Tensions have risen sharply in recent months as the Trump administration has vowed to cut off all oil exports from Iran and designated the elite Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group. Zahran Hashim was one of the suicide bombers who attacked the Shangri-La hotel Sri Lanka's police Tuesday said DNA tests confirmed that the ringleader of the Easter attacks, Zahran Hashim, was one of the suicide bombers who blew himself up at the Shangri-La hotel. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekera said the government's main forensic laboratory matched Hashim's daughter's DNA with the remains of one of the bombers at the hotel. "With the latest test results we have re-confirmed the identities of all the seven suicide bombers plus two others who exploded explosives on April 21," Gunasekera said, explaining that police had matched their DNA with that of their relatives. The second attacker at the Shangri-La was identified as Ilham Ibrahim, whose brother Inshaf was the lone suicide bomber at the nearby Cinnamon Grand hotel, according to police. Another Colombo hotel and three Christian churches were also bombed at about the same time killing 258 people and leaving nearly 500 wounded. Forty five of the dead were foreign nationals. Ilham's wife, Fathima Ilham, also blew herself up when police went to her Colombo home a few hours after the coordinated attacks. She killed herself and three children, police said, revising their earlier toll of two children. Three officers also lost their lives in that explosion. The third Colombo hotel to be targeted on April 21, the Kingsbury, was bombed by a man identified as Mohamed Azzam Mubarak Mohamed. St. Anthony's Shrine, a popular church in the capital, was attacked by a man named Ahmed Muaz, while St. Sebastian's Church just north of Colombo was bombed by Mohamed Hasthun, who came from eastern Sri Lanka where Hashim was based. The sixth suicide bomber was Mohamed Nasser Mohamed Asad, who targeted Zion Church in the eastern district of Batticaloa. A seventh man failed to explode a bomb at a luxury hotel, but blasted his explosives at a guest house near the capital. He was identified as aeronautical engineer Abdul Latheef who had studied in Britain and Australia. All the bombers were believed to be members of Hashim's now banned National Thowheeth Jama'ath (NTJ) organisation. The Islamic State group later claimed the attack. Hashim appeared in an IS video, where he is seen leading a group of seven others in a pledge of allegiance to IS chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Hashim was a relative unknown before the attacks, though local Muslim leaders say they had reported him on more than one occasion to the authorities for his extremist views and violent behaviour. The Dalai Lama no longer advocates independence for Tibet but calls for more autonomy instead The Dalai Lama on Tuesday sought to defuse a diplomatic controversy caused by a new book which said the Tibetan spiritual leader and China's President Xi Jinping had agreed to meet in 2014 but India refused to host the event. In "Defining India - Through Their Eyes", author Sonia Singh said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government scuttled a proposed meeting between the Buddhist leader and Xi in New Delhi out of concern for its relations with China. The author said that in a 2014 interview, the Dalai Lama explained that Xi had agreed to a meeting but "the Indian government... was a little cautious". But on Tuesday, the Dalai Lama's office rejected that version of events. "Although we had proposed a meeting between His Holiness and President Xi Jinping during his visit to India in 2014, the Chinese authorities had not given a definite response," said Chhime R. Chhoekyapa, secretary in the office of the Dalai Lama. "Therefore, there was no basis for the government of India being cautious of the initiative," he said in a statement. The 83-year-old Dalai Lama has made India his home since fleeing Tibet in 1959, and has been a thorn in Beijing's side ever since. India, which gave the Dalai Lama asylum in 1959, has supported the Tibetan leader but has recently been more distant, citing diplomatic sensitivities. The Dalai Lama no longer advocates independence for Tibet but calls for more autonomy instead. He has drawn the fury of an increasingly assertive Beijing, which brands him a "wolf in a monk's robe" and accuses him of trying to split China. Former US vice president Joe Biden appears to have angered North Korea with his comments about Kim Jong Un on the campaign trail North Korean state media on Wednesday slammed former US vice president Joe Biden as an "imbecile" and a "fool of low IQ" after he criticised leader Kim Jong Un. Biden, who served two terms as President Barack Obama's deputy, has been on the campaign trail since announcing last month his candidacy for the Democratic Party nomination in the 2020 presidential election. And some of his comments about the North Korean leadership during campaigning appear to have angered Pyongyang, sparking the colourful commentary by its official news agency KCNA. It accused Biden of "slandering the supreme leadership" of North Korea -- a term usually referring to leader Kim -- and said the former senator had become "reckless and senseless, seized by ambition for power". "What he uttered is just sophism of an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician." KCNA did not give any further details, but at a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday, Biden had criticised Donald Trump's approach to the leaders of North Korea and Russia, accusing the president of embracing "tyrants like (Vladimir) Putin and Kim Jong Un". Trump became the first sitting US president to meet with a North Korean leader when two met in Singapore last year, and he has repeatedly mentioned his good personal relationship with Kim. While Biden has a gruelling primary campaign ahead against a packed bench of Democratic hopefuls, he is the current frontrunner and many in his party believe he is their best bet to oust Trump from the White House. - 'Intolerable' provocation - But infuriated by his comments, KCNA put together a laundry list of Biden's past gaffes and humiliations. Joe Biden has criticised US President Donald Trump's approach to 'tyrants' like Kim Jong Un It went as far back as his university days, during which he once got an F for plagiarism, and later accusations that he had copied a speech by then British Labour party leader Neil Kinnock. It also mentioned Biden falling asleep during an Obama speech in 2011, saying that it turned him into a "laughing stock", and criticism of him "for his vulgar acts and words about women and his thoughtless remarks". Multiple women have accused Biden this year of touching them inappropriately in the past, and his tactile style and invasion of personal space have come under increasing scrutiny in the #MeToo era. "He is not worth pinning hope on," KCNA said, adding that he was "a fool of low IQ". Washington's approach to Pyongyang is likely to be a subject of debate in both the Democratic primaries and the main presidential campaign. After a rapid diplomatic rapprochement in 2018, a summit between Kim and Trump collapsed earlier this year and talks over North Korea's nuclear weapons have been deadlocked since. Officials and stressed-out residents say crime is surging in Kabul In central Kabul last month, two men stabbed a teenager and left him for dead before escaping on a motorcycle -- a brazen attack amid a rising tide of killings and kidnappings as war-scarred residents complain of increasing lawlessness. The brutal mugging happened near the green zone, home to many of the Afghan capital's foreign diplomats, but numerous armed guards posted along the street did not try to help the victim, thanks to arcane local liability laws and restrictions. The attackers fled after snatching the boy's mobile phone and camera. He survived, but it took about an hour for authorities to arrive and take him to hospital. Officials and stressed-out residents say crime is surging in Kabul, where police are already pushed to their limits attempting to prevent insurgent attacks by the Taliban and other groups including Islamic State. Jan Aqa Naweed, spokesman for Afghanistan's chamber of commerce, said crime has grown so bad that business people and entrepreneurs were fleeing the country for fear they could be targeted. "The increase in the crime rate, the killing and kidnapping of businessmen -- this has forced many traders to leave the country," he told AFP. "Some of them take their families and money to countries such as Turkey and Uzbekistan. The crime in the city has negatively affected investment." A rising tide of killings and kidnappings has war-scarred residents of Afghanistan's capital complaining of increasing lawlessness Authorities have started to take note. On Saturday, the interior ministry sacked Mohammad Salim Almas, the head of Kabul's criminal investigation department, because of what officials called a "dramatic increase" in crime. The rise is hard to quantify. The interior ministry this month said it had recorded 100,000 crimes over a five-year period, but did not provide a breakdown. Abdul Khaliq Zazai Watandost, a member of Kabul's provincial council who helps monitor crime rates, told AFP that criminals have killed 70 people in the capital and its surrounding areas in the past two months, with dozens more locals kidnapped. "Crime has become a bigger problem than terrorism for Kabul residents," Watandost said. "Terrorism is a big phenomenon -- but at least we should be able to control the crime." Aside from murder and kidnappings, car thefts are common, the narcotics trade is booming and criminal gangs sometimes target foes by slapping "sticky bombs" under their cars. Shamsuddin, a shopkeeper who only wanted to give his first name, said when he goes into central Kabul to buy groceries, he splits his cash in two. "I give some to my son and keep some with myself," he told AFP. "This is because if criminals find out you have a good amount of money on you, they will kill you and take your money." Residents are changing their routes to work, while carrying guns and keeping weapons at home are also common. - 'Nobody cares' - Residents are changing their routes to work, while carrying guns and keeping weapons at home are also common Taxi drivers are wary of driving after dark for fear of being attacked by a passenger or having their car stolen. "I don't care about myself, but I am scared of losing the car because I am working for someone else and it is not my car," taxi driver Mohammad Omar told AFP. "Nowadays every Afghan is so worried." Deputy interior minister General Khoshal Sadat acknowledged the psychological toll crime is taking. "It is threatening the physical and mental security of people in the city," Sadat said, Kabul's crime came to the fore again this month when former journalist Mena Mangal was murdered in broad daylight on a busy street. Her killing appears tied to a domestic dispute, but many observers viewed the brutal and public slaying as a bellwether demonstrating just how cheap life has become -- even in a war-torn city which has already seen so much bloodshed. Kabul taxi driver Hazargul says police often appear "incapable of doing anything" Kabul resident Nasir Ahmad said someone is killed daily in the capital "for no reason". "Nobody cares about these lives. I am even scared to go to university," Ahmad said. Fellow resident Mohammad Elham wrote on Facebook that the security in the capital "is so bad that criminals kill people in the daylight, in front of a police checkpoint -- and nobody cares". According to interior minister Massoud Andarabi, authorities have created a "roadmap" to identify offenders. "The police will act differently, more forcefully against the criminals," he said. "We know where they are hiding, we are chasing them to their hideouts and will bring them to justice." But Hazargul, a taxi driver who only wanted to give his first name, said police often appear "incapable of doing anything". "We never saw a police officer arresting a thief on the spot and bring him to justice. Even if police see thieves, they don't dare chase them because the thieves are also armed," he told AFP. Binyavanga Wainaina, pictured in an AFP interview in January 2014, shortly after he declared that he was gay Internationally-renowned Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina, whose high-profile coming out in a country that criminalises homosexuality made him a revered figure for gay rights in Africa, has died aged 48, his publishing house said Wednesday. The celebrated author came to world prominence with the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2002. He died just days before Kenya's High Court was expected to deliver a long-awaited ruling on whether to abolish colonial-era anti-gay laws. "He passed on some time last night," Tom Maliti, the chairman of the Kwani Trust, a Nairobi-based publishing house founded by Wainaina, told AFP. Wainaina had suffered a stroke in 2015 and was living with HIV. His brother James told Capital News that condolences were pouring in from around the globe. "We lost Ken last night. We are grieving the loss... but Ken was an incredible person, with an incredible wit," he said. "The wound is still fresh, but we have received an outpouring of messages, from the people across the world, we are greatly comforted by them." At times a divisive figure in his native Kenya, where same-sex relationships are outlawed, Wainaina sparked huge debate in 2014 with his bombshell short story entitled "I am a Homosexual, Mum". The market in northwest Syria was crowded with people during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when the air strike happened Syrian government air strikes killed 23 civilians, including a dozen people at a busy market, as fierce fighting raged for the jihadist-held northwest, a war monitor said on Wednesday. Regime forces battled to repel a jihadist counteroffensive around the town of Kafr Nabuda that has left 87 combatants dead since Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, controls a large part of Idlib province as well as adjacent slivers of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia provinces. The jihadist-dominated region is nominally protected by a buffer zone deal, but the government and its ally Russia have escalated their bombardment in recent weeks, seizing several towns on its southern flank. Syria's White Helmets rescue volunteers rushed to the market to help the wounded At least 12 people were killed and another 18 wounded when regime warplanes hit the jihadist-held Idlib province town of Maarat al-Numan around midnight (2100 GMT) on Tuesday, the Observatory said. The market was crowded with people out and about after breaking the daytime fast observed by Muslims during the holy month of Ramadan. The bombardment blew in the facades of surrounding buildings, and ripped through the flimsy frames and canvas of stalls in the market square, an AFP photographer reported. The bodies of market-goers were torn apart. "Residents are still scared," stallholder Khaled Ahmad told AFP. The 11 other civilians were killed in regime air strikes and shelling in various parts of the jihadist bastion, including five in the nearby town of Saraqib, it added. The Britain-based Observatory relies on a network of sources inside Syria and says it determines whose planes carried out strikes according to type, location, flight patterns and munitions. - 'Worst fears'- The strikes came as heavy clashes raged in neighbouring Hama province after the jihadists launched a counterattack on Tuesday. Fresh fighting on Wednesday took the death toll to 87 -- 51 jihadists and 36 regime forces and militia, the Observatory said. It said the jihadists had recaptured most of Kafr Nabuda from government forces, who had taken control of the town on May 8. State news agency SANA on Wednesday however said the army repelled a jihadist attack in the area, killing dozens of insurgents. Jihadist-led fighters have launched a counterattack against Syrian government forces advancing on their stronghold in the Idlib region in the northwest Russia and rebel ally Turkey inked the buffer zone deal in September to avert a government offensive on the region and protect its three million residents. But President Bashar al-Assad's government upped its bombardment of the region after HTS took control in January. Russia too has stepped up its air strikes in recent weeks. The Observatory says nearly 200 civilians have been killed in the flare-up since April 30. The United Nations said Wednesday that Idlib's civilian population once again faced the threat of an all-out offensive. "A full military incursion threatens to trigger a humanitarian catastrophe for over 3 million civilians caught in the crossfire, as well as overwhelm our ability to respond," said David Swanson, a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office. Swanson said more than 200,000 people have been displaced by the upsurge of violence since April 28. A total of 20 health facilities have been hit by the escalation -- 19 of which remain out of service, Swanson said. Collectively they served at least 200,000 people, he added. - 'Break the status quo' - The September deal was never fully implemented as jihadists refused to withdraw from a planned buffer zone around the Idlib region. But it ushered in a relative drop in violence until earlier this year, with Turkish troops deploying to observation points around the region. The Syrian government has accused Turkey of failing to secure implementation of the truce deal by the jihadists. But Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar accused the Syrian regime late Tuesday of threatening the ceasefire deal. "The regime is doing all that it can to break the status quo including using barrel bombs, land and air offensives," Akar told reporters. "Turkish armed forces will not take a step back from wherever they may be", he however added. On Wednesday, the civilian arm of HTS held said it had helped free an Italian who had been held hostage for more than two years. Alessandro Sandrini, 33, from the Italian region of Brescia, disappeared in October 2016 after going on holiday to Turkey, later appearing in a video pleading for help, with masked men. It was not clear who had held Sandrini, whose release was also announced by Italy. The Sundarbans is one of the world's last remaining wild habitats for the big cats The number of wild tigers in Bangladesh's Sundarbans area has increased for the first time in 15 years after a major crackdown against poachers in the world's largest mangrove forest, officials said Wednesday. A tiger census report released by the forestry department showed that the number of the famed big cats in the Bangladeshi parts of the mangroves has increased to 114 from 106 four years ago. Alarm bells were raised in 2015 when a census found that only 106 tigers were living in the forest, less than a quarter of the 440-strong population in 2004. "It marks an eight-percent increase in tiger population. It is a great success," the minister for forestry Shahab Uddin said as he revealed the census report. "The (tiger) population trend is positive, which indicates our current conservation strategies and programmes are effectively working," chief forest conservation official Shafiul Alam told reporters. The authorities conducted the census on 1,656 square kilometres (640 square miles) of forest last year and used camera traps to count the tiger numbers. The Sundarbans, which also straddle parts of eastern India, is home to some rare animals including Irrawaddy dolphins and Bengal tigers, both declared endangered because of poaching and loss of habitat. Since the 2015 findings, authorities have undertaken a series of measures to boost the number of Bengal tigers in the forest -- one of the world's last remaining wild habitats for the big cats. As part of the measures, the size of the wildlife sanctuary in the forest was more than doubled while an elite security force launched a major crackdown against pirates-turned-poachers active in the forest's network of rivers and canals. Previously the wildlife sanctuary was limited to 23 percent of the forest cover, and villagers and tourists had unrestricted access to the rest of the mangrove forest. A gun buyback scheme saw nearly 200 pirates surrender their weapons and ammunition to police in exchange for cash, legal aid and mobile phones. Dozens of other pirates were shot dead as part of the crackdown. In one of the worst gunfights, police killed six poachers in August 2015 at a forest canal and found the skins of three adult Bengal tigers. Police have claimed the surrender scheme has virtually eradicated the lawlessness once rife in the mangroves. "Poaching is one of the key reasons for the decline of tiger population," Alam said, adding the authorities have already launched a "smart" patrolling project in the forest to reduce the number of tiger poaching cases to zero. The Taliban have continued their attacks even during the holy month of Ramadan At least four people were killed and more than a dozen injured when Afghan security forces fired a rocket on a Humvee stolen by the Taliban and packed with explosives, officials said Wednesday. The US-made armoured vehicle was being chased by security forces as it raced for the gates to the eastern city of Ghazni, an interior ministry spokesman said. "After it failed to stop at the signal of security forces, they opened fire, first hitting its tyres, then hitting it with a rocket," the spokesman, Nasrat Rahimi, said. Local officials in Ghazni confirmed the account, saying that two civilians and two members of the Afghan security forces were killed in the explosion. "Ten civilians and five security forces were injured," Ahmad Khan Sirat, a spokesman for provincial police in Ghazni, told AFP. Several previous deadly attacks in Afghanistan have begun with militants blowing up a Humvee or another vehicle outside a target to devastate security forces protecting it, before gunmen rush to assault those inside. Security forces can take hours to clear buildings after such attacks. The Taliban claimed Wednesday's attempted attack in a WhatsApp message, but said the Humvee blew up after its militants detonated their explosives, contradicting the official claim. The interior ministry said as many as four militants were inside the Humvee, and were also killed in the blast. The militant group, who have been waging a bloody insurgency to overthrow the Western-backed Afghan government, have continued their attacks even during the holy month of Ramadan, and despite government calls for a ceasefire. The violence also comes as the group has met with the US for several rounds of talks in Doha, as Washington seeks a way out of its longest war. Both sides have previously cited progress, though the talks appear to have stalled in recent weeks and it is not clear when the next round will begin. On Wednesday, Afghanistan's interior ministry also said Afghan forces had killed at least seven "key members" of the so-called Islamic State group, in an operation in the eastern province of Kunar. IS, which first emerged in Afghanistan in 2015, holds some ground in parts of Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, close to the border with Pakistan. The UN estimates that the extremist group has between 2,500 and 4,000 members in Afghanistan -- about the same number the Pentagon was citing two years ago, even though officials say thousands of jihadists have been killed. BEIJING (AP) - For four decades, Beijing has cajoled or pressured foreign companies to hand over technology. And its trading partners say if that didn't work, China stole what it wanted. Communist leaders deflected demands for change until foreign frustration erupted into a showdown with President Donald Trump. He sent shockwaves through their export industries by slapping punitive tariffs of up to 25% on Chinese goods. Europe, Japan and other trading partners object to Trump's tactics but echo American complaints. They say Beijing's tactics violate its market-opening commitments under the World Trade Organization. American prosecutors go further. They say the Communist Party is the ringleader of a global industrial spying operation. Chinese leaders have promised stronger patent protections and other legal changes. Foreign experts say that will make little difference if the party won't enforce them. The share of companies in a survey by the European Union Chamber of Commerce that said they felt compelled to hand over technology doubled from two years ago to 20 percent. FILE - In this May 18, 2018, file photo, visitors walk past a display showing microchips and circuit boards at the 21st China Beijing International High-tech Expo in Beijing. For four decades, Beijing has cajoled or pressured foreign companies to hand over technology. And its trading partners say if that didn't work, China stole what it wanted. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) "It is unacceptable that this practice continues," a chamber vice president, Charlotte Roule, said Monday. "Ending its persistence needs to be a priority." Here are some tactics Beijing's trading partners complain it uses to improperly obtain foreign technology. ___ JOINT VENTURES: The strongest tool in Beijing's arsenal is the longstanding requirement for companies in most industries to work through state-owned local partners. The goal is for the Chinese partner to learn and eventually displace its foreign competitor. Some balked but thousands of companies cooperated as the price of admission to the most populous global market. Many companies say Chinese partners abide by promises not to abuse their access to technology. But some say partners have copied chemical formulas, industrial processes and other secrets for their own operations, sometimes with local government support. Beijing denies it forces foreign companies to hand over technology, but joint ventures won't work without foreign technology and manufacturing expertise. In the auto industry, China has promised to lift requirements for joint ventures and allow full foreign ownership by 2023. Experts say that suggests they believe Chinese automakers no longer need foreign tutors. ___ LEGAL PRESSURE: Pressure to hand over technology pervades Chinese law and action by regulators. Beijing promised when it joined the WTO in 2001 to treat Chinese and foreign companies equally. But 18 years later, business groups and governments say foreign companies still face special burdens, including sharing technology. The European Union filed a WTO challenge last June to Chinese laws on technology licensing it says discriminate against foreign companies. It said China's own companies are free to negotiate licensing terms, but Beijing dictates terms for foreign companies. A law approved in March bans using "administrative measures" to compel foreign companies to hand over technology. Business groups welcomed that but said Chinese officials can still use other pressure tactics. Business groups say Chinese regulators misuse a 2008 Anti-Monopoly Law to pressure foreign companies in negotiations on technology licensing. The law includes an unusual provision prohibiting "abuse of intellectual property right." Lawyers say that runs counter to the spirit of patents and copyrights, which are meant to encourage technology creation by giving the owner a temporary monopoly and the right to charge others for using it. Lawyers said Chinese regulators sometimes intervene in contract negotiations and push foreign companies to accept lower fees by threatening to launch an anti-monopoly investigation. ___ REGULATORY PRESSURE Authorities also use "window guidance," or verbal orders given in secret, to compel companies to support Chinese technology development in ways the government doesn't publicly acknowledge. A decade ago, for example, global automakers agreed to help Chinese partners create new local brands. That injected foreign expertise into fledgling brands the Communist Party hoped eventually will compete in global markets in a way joint venture vehicles made under foreign brand names cannot. It made life harder for automakers by spreading their resources more thinly and adding to competition in a glutted market. Despite that, global automakers said they had commercial motivations and regulators denied they applied any pressure. The real reason? Industry researchers say regulators told automakers in private they had to cooperate if they wanted permission to expand production of their own brands. ___ MORE REGULATORY PRESSURE Regulators also pressure foreign companies to help potential Chinese rivals develop technology. Global companies in engineering, software, pharmaceuticals and other fields have set up research centers with Chinese partners. Many say they are to take advantage of China's scientific talent pool, but such arrangements benefit potential Chinese competitors and are unusual abroad. This month, Microsoft Corp. opened an artificial intelligence research lab in Shanghai with the state-owned Zhangjiang Group. Other prominent examples include General Motors Co.'s Pan-Asia Technical Automotive Center with state-owned SAIC Motor. SAIC is the main Chinese manufacturing partner for GM and Volkswagen AG but also sells its own auto brands. ___ AND MORE REGULATORY PRESSURE Companies complain regulators use patent, safety and other official examinations to learn about technology, often including employees of Chinese rivals in review panels. Companies are required to provide what they say is an unusually large amount of information about products and industrial processes, including competitive secrets, to obtain patents or approval for operations. The Wall Street Journal in September cited an employee of a foreign automaker as saying there was "clear evidence of collusion" between regulators and Chinese automakers. The employee said regulators asked for blueprints of components the company was trying to prevent its Chinese partner from seeing but ignored other parts of the vehicle. ___ "LOCALIZING TECHNOLOGY" For decades, the ruling party has rewarded businesspeople, academics and others who "localize technology" - a euphemism for unauthorized copying of foreign know-how - with promotions, research grants, money and public praise. Security researchers say the government operates a network of research institutes and business parks to turn stolen technology into commercial products. In 2013, three Chinese scientists at New York University were charged with sending U.S. taxpayer-financed research on magnetic resonance imaging to a Chinese government-run institute. Other Chinese-born researchers in the United States have been charged with stealing chemical, seed, turbine and other technologies. Prosecutors say some had partners waiting in China to turn them into products. ___ OUTRIGHT THEFT American prosecutors say when all else fails, top-level state companies steal foreign secrets. Pangang Group, a steelmaker owned by China's Cabinet, was indicted in 2014 on U.S. charges it paid industrial spies to steal a process from DuPont for making titanium dioxide, a white pigment widely used in toothpaste, Oreo cookies and other products. Defendants including an industry consultant and a retired DuPont employee admitted working for Pangang. But the case stalled because prosecutors had no access to Pangang Group and Chinese authorities took no action. ___ MILITARY SPYING U.S. prosecutors say the Communist Party uses its military wing's cyber warfare skills to steal commercial secrets. The People's Liberation Army is regarded as, along with the U.S. and Russian militaries, a leader in research on breaking into or disabling an enemy's computer networks. Security experts say hackers believed to be Chinese soldiers or military contractors have stolen secrets including product designs, chemical processes and details of commercial negotiations. In 2014, five members of China's military cyber warfare unit were indicted on U.S. industrial spying charges. The following year, President Xi Jinping agreed with President Barack Obama to avoid using military resources to steal commercial secrets. But the U.S. National Security Agency said in November that Beijing appeared to be violating its pledge. In October, an employee of China's main spy agency was charged with trying to steal trade secrets from U.S. aviation and aerospace companies. FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 21, 2016 photo, visitors look at industrial robots displayed beneath the words that read "Chinese Robots" during the World Robot Conference in Beijing. For four decades, Beijing has cajoled or pressured foreign companies to hand over technology. And its trading partners say if that didn't work, China stole what it wanted. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) FILE - In this April 29, 2018, file photo, visitors gather around car models displayed by Chinese and foreign automakers during the China Auto Show in Beijing. For four decades, Beijing has cajoled or pressured foreign companies to hand over technology. And its trading partners say if that didn't work, China stole what it wanted. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) FILE - In this Aug. 15, 2018, file photo, a video screen plays footage of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers on a robot from a Chinese robot maker at the World Robot Conference in Beijing. For four decades, Beijing has cajoled or pressured foreign companies to hand over technology. And its trading partners say if that didn't work, China stole what it wanted. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File) FILE - In this Oct. 21, 2016 photo, a Chinese woman demonstrates the ability of Baxter, an industrial robot from U.S. company Rethink Robotics, to follow her hand movements during the World Robot Conference in Beijing. For four decades, Beijing has cajoled or pressured foreign companies to hand over technology. And its trading partners say if that didn't work, China stole what it wanted. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) FILE - In this Saturday, April 18, 2015 file photo, a worker prepares a display ahead of the Auto Shanghai show, to be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center next week, in Shanghai. For four decades, Beijing has cajoled or pressured foreign companies to hand over technology. And its trading partners say if that didn't work, China stole what it wanted. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File) KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Apa Sherpa has stood on top of the world more times than all but one other person. Now he wants to make sure no one feels compelled to follow in his footsteps. As a boy growing up in Nepal, Sherpa dreamed of becoming a doctor, but poverty and lack of education steered him to a far more dangerous path : Working as a guide on Mount Everest, carrying climbing equipment and helping foreign mountaineers scale the world's tallest peak. Now retired in the U.S., Sherpa returns every year to his roots in the foothills of the Himalayas to provide financial assistance to village schools and try to show children from the Sherpa minority group that they have options in life. "Sherpas take big risks in the mountains to earn a living for their families because they are unable to take up any other jobs," the 59-year-old said. "My main goal is to ensure children in the future don't have to take up climbing like we did." Sherpa tribespeople were mostly yak herders and traders living deep within the Himalayas until Nepal opened its borders to foreigners in the 1950s. As adventurers began arriving to conquer the country's famous peaks, the Sherpas with their mountain experience found themselves in demand as guides and porters. To this day they are an indispensable part of Nepal's climbing industry, which brings in $300 million to the country each year. But advocates say Nepal's estimated 350,000 Sherpa remain marginalized, with many living in remote, impoverished villages connected to the rest of the country only by footpaths and small airstrips. Access to schooling beyond the primary level is rare. In this May 9, 2019, photo, Apa Sherpa, center, hands over a computer to Chakra Karki, representative of a school from Dhuske, Okhaldhunga district in Kathmandu, Nepal. Apa Sherpa has stood on top of the world more times than all but one other person. Now he wants to make sure no one feels compelled to follow in his footsteps. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) The Apa Sherpa Foundation, set up in 2012, has been seeking to change that, paying teacher salaries in several villages to ensure schools remain open and providing hot lunches, computers, books, pens and warm clothes to motivate children to attend classes. "Most people in the area have now realized the value of educating their children and they do their best to send their children to school," Sherpa said. "But many schools face difficulties, so we try and help them whatever way possible." When Sherpa was growing up, the school in his village, Thame, offered education only up to the second grade. He continued his studies in another village for two more years, walking the mountain trails for six hours each day, but had to drop out when his father died and he had to take on the responsibility of feeding his family. By the age of 12 he was working on climbing expeditions. At age 30, he summited Everest for the first time. He repeated the feat almost every year after, going on to become one of Everest's greatest guides and earning the nickname "Super Sherpa." When he retired in 2011, he jointly held the record for having climbed the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak 21 times with fellow Sherpa Phurba Tashi. Another Sherpa, Kami Rita, now holds the record alone, having reached the summit 24 times, two of them this season. "Everyone said 21 was a good number," Sherpa noted of the timing for his retirement, which fulfilled a longstanding promise to his wife. Sherpas are the first to reach Everest each climbing season and the last to leave. They set up the camps, carry the equipment and cook the food for climbing parties. Most importantly, they fix the ropes and ladders over the crevasses and icefalls that enable mountaineers to scale the peak. The work has earned the Sherpas prestige, as well as income far above average wages in Nepal. Experienced guides like Sherpa who take climbers all the way to the top of Everest make $10,000 or more, while porters or cooks at mountaineers' camps average between $3,000 and $5,000 during their three months of work. That's a huge amount compared to Nepal's $1,035 annual per capita income. Sherpa himself was able to move to the U.S. state of Utah in 2006 so that his children could have a better education. But Sherpas also bear the largest brunt of the danger and death that go hand-in-hand with the industry. In 2014, 16 Sherpa guides were buried by an avalanche on Everest as they carried supplies. The following year, another 10 were among those killed when an earthquake triggered an avalanche that tore through Everest base camp. After the 2014 disaster, Sherpas refused to work, prompting the government to introduce new rules for better wages, increasing insurance payouts and improving rescue operations for Sherpas. Sherpa himself had many near misses, having survived blizzards, frostbite, inadequate oxygen supplies and the deaths of fellow mountaineers. Given a choice, he said, many Sherpas would probably never take up the work. In the past few weeks, members of his foundation and trekkers have hiked to six schools to drop off supplies. They also distribute supplies to monasteries. As Buddhists, Sherpas often send their children to live and study at monasteries, a tradition that also relieves parents of the burden of having to feed and educate them at home. In addition to making sure children have access to school, there is also the issue of ensuring teachers are hired. Of the eight teachers the government says are needed at the village school in Thame, it says it can only afford to hire three. Sherpa's foundation helps to pay the salaries of another five teachers who have not been formally hired. "It is really difficult to find qualified teachers to move to remote villages and we don't have enough money to pay all their salaries," said Khagendra Shrestha, the chief education officer for the district in charge of Thame. Sherpa's foundation mostly collects funds from donations, talks, dinners and screenings. Last year, it raised $80,000. It also has sponsorship from the outdoor equipment supplier Thule thanks to Sherpa's fame. "Apa's vision was that he wanted the children to have a choice through education," said foundation board member Valerie Littleton. "He is very passionate about giving back to the country he loves." In this May 9, 2019 photo, Apa Sherpa, center, with members of his foundation walk around Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal. Apa Sherpa has stood on top of the world more times than all but one other person. Now he wants to make sure no one feels compelled to follow in his footsteps. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) BEIJING (AP) - The number of foreign companies that feel compelled to hand over technology in exchange for Chinese market access - an issue that sparked President Donald Trump's tariff fight with Beijing - has doubled since two years ago despite official promises to end such pressure, a business group reported Monday. The European Chamber of Commerce in China's report highlighted enduring complaints about "forced technology transfer" that China's trading partners say violate its market-opening commitments despite denials and promises of change. European leaders have criticized Trump's tactics in confronting Beijing over its technology ambitions but echo U.S. criticisms. One in five companies that responded to a survey in January, before the latest round of U.S. and Chinese tariff hikes, said they felt compelled to hand over technology, up from 10% in a 2017 survey, the European chamber said. "It is not something that is back in history. It is still happening now," a chamber vice president, Charlotte Roule, told reporters ahead of the report's release. She said ending that "should be a priority." The share of companies that said they felt compelled to transfer technology was higher in some fields - 30% in petroleum and chemicals, 28% in medical devices, 27% for pharmaceuticals and 21% in the auto industry. One-quarter of those companies said transfers were happening at the time of the survey. FILE - In this May 22, 2018 file photo, a staff member works in a circuit board manufacturing facility in Hangzhou in eastern China's Zhejiang province. In a report issued Monday, May 20, 2019, a business group says the number of foreign companies in China that feel compelled to hand over technology in exchange for market access has doubled since two years ago. (Chinatopix via AP, File) The report gave no details of why companies felt compelled to hand over technology. But the heavily regulated economy gives Chinese regulators leverage over companies, and business groups say they sometimes give orders in secret. Trump started raising tariffs on Chinese imports last July over complaints Beijing steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over technology. Europe, Japan and other trading partners echo U.S. complaints that such practices violate Chinese commitments to open its markets and treat foreign companies equally in exchange for access to their markets. "China's lagging reform agenda not only holds back economic development but it has also driven global tension," said Roule. Chinese officials deny foreign companies are required to hand over technology. But companies in auto manufacturing, electronics and other industries that want to operate in China are required to be minority partners in ventures with state-owned partners, which forces them to share technology and expertise. A law endorsed in March by China's ceremonial legislature tries to reassure foreign investors by prohibiting use of "administrative measures" to compel technology transfer. Business groups welcomed that but said Chinese officials still have extensive leverage in the heavily regulated economy. Tech transfer was one of a series of complaints the European chamber said prompts pessimism among companies about whether the ruling Communist Party will follow through on promises to open its markets. One-third of companies surveyed said they don't expect ever to see a "meaningful opening" of Chinese markets. ___ European Union Chamber of Commerce in China: www.europeanchamber.com.cn SRINAGAR, India (AP) - A prominent rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir is advocating for the United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate what it calls the endemic use of torture by government forces amid a decades-long anti-India uprising in the disputed region. The Jammu-Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society on Monday released a detailed report saying India is using torture as a "matter of policy" and "instrument of control" in Kashmir, where rebels have been fighting against Indian rule since 1989. "Torture is the most under-reported human rights violation perpetrated by the state," the report noted. "Due to legal, political and moral impunity extended to the armed forces, not a single prosecution has taken place in any case of human rights violations" in the region, the report said. Indian authorities said they would study the report before commenting on it. In the past, officials have acknowledged torture exists in Kashmir but have denied that Indian forces strategically use sexual and other abuses to control the population. The 560-page report, researched for a decade, recommends an investigation be led by the U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. It also urges India to ratify the U.N. Convention against torture and also allow global rights groups "unhindered access" to Kashmir. Last year, the U.N. in its first report on Kashmir called for an independent international investigation into reports of rights violations like rape, torture and extrajudicial killings in the region. The report, which JKCCS helped with field research, particularly criticized Indian troops for firing shotgun pellets against protesters, blinding and maiming hundreds of people, including children. FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2016 file photo, Sameer Ahmed, a Kashmiri man allegedly beaten up by Indian soldiers at Khrew village, recovers at a local hospital in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prominent rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir is advocating United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry to probe endemic use of torture by government forces who have faced decades long anti-India uprising in the disputed region. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File) India rejected that U.N. report as "fallacious." The new report includes 432 case studies involving torture and maps trends and patterns, targets, perpetrators, locations and other details. The cases include 293 civilians and 119 militants, among others, and 27 were minors when they were tortured. The report says 40 people among those later died due to various injuries inflicted due to torture. Juan E. Mendz, former U.N. special rapporteur on torture, said the report would help draw attention to the need to express concern about India's human rights record. "For the worldwide struggle against torture, this report will constitute a landmark," Mendz, who teaches human rights law at American University in Washington, wrote in the prologue of the report. "I am convinced that a report, when it is as rigorous, evidence-based and persuasive as this one is, constitutes a building block towards public awareness of the tragedy of torture." JKCCS has written scathing reports in the past about the brutality by some of the hundreds of thousands of Indian troops stationed in the region and highlighted the widespread of powers granted to them, which has led to culture of impunity and rights abuses. They were first to publicize thousands of unmarked graves in remote parts of Kashmir and demand that they be investigated to determine who the dead were and how they were killed. Monday's report said the institutions of the state like legislature, executive, judiciary and armed forces use torture "in a systematic and institutional manner." India's clampdown has a long history in Kashmir and the conflict has existed since the late 1940s, when India and Pakistan won independence from the British empire and began fighting over rival claims to the Muslim-majority region. The two rivals have fought two of their three subsequent wars over Kashmir, and each administers a portion of it. New Delhi initially grappled with largely peaceful anti-India movements in its portion of Kashmir. However, a series of political blunders, broken promises and a crackdown against dissent escalated the conflict into a full-blown armed rebellion in 1989. The rebels are seeking a united Kashmir, either under Pakistan rule or independent of both. Since then, about 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict. Most Kashmiris resent the Indian troop presence and back rebel demands. India has long seen the Kashmiri struggle for self-determination as Islamabad's proxy war against New Delhi. Rights groups have also criticized the conduct of militant groups, accusing them of carrying out human rights violations against civilians. Kashmir is patrolled by the military, paramilitary and police and remains one of the most militarized regions in the world. Coils of barbed wire and security checkpoints are common, and emergency laws grant government forces sweeping powers to search homes and make arrests without warrants and to shoot suspects on sight without fear of prosecution. In the past, the government has said the allegations of rights violations are mostly separatist propaganda meant to demonize troops. The Indian army previously said it has punished 59 soldiers in 25 proven abuse cases, out of 995 complaints it has received. According to the JKCCS report, the methods of torture after the eruption of armed rebellion include stripping detainees naked, rolling a heavy log on their legs, waterboarding, electrocution including of genitals, burning of the body with hot objects, sleep deprivation, and sexual torture, including rape and sodomy. In one of the case studies, the report highlighted torture of a civilian named Qalandar Khatana by paramilitary soldiers in 1992. "His flesh was cut from buttocks and he was made to eat it. His legs were broken and he was not given any medical assistance," it said. Later Khatana's legs got infected with maggots and were amputated, the report said. Indian troops also tortured his wife leaving her ribs broken, the report said, adding "she died a few years later due to the injuries." For years, international rights groups have accused Indian troops of using systematic abuse and unjustified arrests to intimidate residents opposing India's rule. Human rights workers have accused Indian troops of sometimes even staging gunbattles as pretexts to kill for promotions and rewards. "Despite global attention and condemnation of torture following exposes of indiscriminate torture practiced in Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib prisons, torture remains hidden in Jammu and Kashmir, where tens of thousands of civilians have been subjected to it," the report said. Apart from advocacy, the report serves "as an institutionalized form of memory of trials and tribulations of the people" of the region, said Parvez Imroz, a prominent rights lawyer and JKCCS president. India is not exceptional "in its pervasive and systematic" use of torture those deemed dangerous or threatening to national security, said Saiba Varma, an anthropologist at the University of California, San Diego who has researched psychiatric ailments in Kashmir. "In making these bodies spectacles, the state is further exerting its power, not only on those who have been tortured, but by also sending a message to those who have not been tortured, saying, 'this could be you,'" she said. She said the effects of torture have been "systematic, pervasive, and psychologically, physically and socially devastating" in Kashmir. "Torture is not just a technology on the individual body, but it is a profoundly social, relational, and political technology," she said. ___ Follow Aijaz Hussain on Twitter at https://twitter.com/hussain_aijaz FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2012 file photo, a Kashmiri Muslim prays near an unmarked grave, right foreground, that reads, "unidentified fifteen year old boy shot and killed by Border Security Force soldiers on 5th September 2003," inside a martyrs graveyard in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prominent rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir is advocating United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry to probe endemic use of torture by government forces who have faced decades long anti-India uprising in the disputed region. (AP Photo/ Dar Yasin, File) In this Sept. 17, 2016, file photo, Kashmiri Muslims display the pellet ridden body of Nasir Shafi during his funeral procession on the outskirts of Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prominent rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir is advocating United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry to probe endemic use of torture by government forces who have faced decades long anti-India uprising in the disputed region. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File) FILE- In this June 1, 2018 file photo, a Kashmiri man shouts for help as a paramilitary vehicle runs over him during a protest in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prominent rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir is advocating United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry to probe endemic use of torture by government forces who have faced decades long anti-India uprising in the disputed region. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File) In this Dec. 1, 2016 file photo, Danish Rajab Jhat, 24, who lost an eye to shotgun pellets, poses for a portrait in Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir. A prominent rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir is advocating United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry to probe endemic use of torture by government forces who have faced decades long anti-India uprising in the disputed region. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File) In this Nov. 4, 2015 file photo, a security officer frisks a Kashmiri at a temporary checkpoint in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prominent rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir is advocating United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry to probe endemic use of torture by government forces who have faced decades long anti-India uprising in the disputed region. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File) FILE - In this Aug. 18, 2016 file photo, Indian paramilitary soldiers walk back towards their base camp after a day long curfew in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir. A prominent rights group in Indian-controlled Kashmir is advocating United Nations to establish a commission of inquiry to probe endemic use of torture by government forces who have faced decades long anti-India uprising in the disputed region. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin, File) BEIJING (AP) - A look at recent developments in the South China Sea, where China is pitted against smaller neighbors in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves: ___ EDITOR'S NOTE: This is a weekly look at developments in the South China Sea, the location of several territorial conflicts in the region. ___ WARNING OF FISHERIES COLLAPSE An expert with the U.S. Center for Strategic and International Studies has warned of a looming collapse of crucial South China Sea fisheries due to overfishing and development projects. In this May 14, 2019, photo, photo provided by the Philippine Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, right, and Philippine counterpart BRP Batangas conduct joint search and rescue and capability-building exercises off the South China Sea west of the Philippines. Captain John Driscoll, commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750), told reporters Wednesday, May 15, 2019, two Chinese Coast Guard ships were spotted off the South China Sea while they were conducting the joint exercise with Philippine Coast Guard. (Philippine Coast Guard Via AP) Greg Poling, director of CSIS's Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, said stocks in the sea, which accounts for about 12% of the global fish catch, "now are on the verge of collapse." Southeast Asian communities that rely on fishing in the sea "will be devastated," Poling said in an interview with the PBS NewsHour in the U.S. "You're talking about hundreds of thousands of people that rely on fishing or fishing related industries and millions of more that rely on the fish and other marine life for food security." Poling said the impact will be felt more greatly by Southeast Asian countries than by China, whose moves to assert its claim to virtually the entire crucial waterway have contributed to the damage to fisheries. All six governments that exercise overlapping claims in the area are incentivized to catch as much fish as possible at the expense of their rivals, Poling said. Meanwhile, China's project of building man-made islands topped with military installations has destroyed thousands of acres (hectares) of coral reefs and Chinese fishing practices, especially the gathering of giant clams, have added to the devastation, he said. "Some of these (reefs), the ones that you've probably seen pictures of Chinese air bases going on top of, those are dead forever. A lot of the others could come back but it's going to take decades of being left alone and right now there is very little chance that they're going to be left alone," Poling said. ___ US SAYS ITS JETS PATROL DAILY A top American military commander says U.S. Air Force jets patrol the South China Sea daily to foster freedom of overflight, although they're not as visible as Navy patrols in the disputed waters. "We fly on a daily basis in and around the South China Sea and really all across the region," Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., commander of U.S. Pacific Air Forces, told a news briefing late Thursday in Manila. American pilots have a standard reply when they receive Chinese radio inquiries, Brown said. Routine U.S. Air Force patrols are not provocative but will press on to ensure everybody can fly where international laws allow them to, he said. "It's something that I think all nations should be able to do," Brown said. "I realize that, sometimes, you know, China does not like that fact." China fumes over the American military presence, at sea or on air it what it sees as its own territory. Brown visited the Philippines last week for meetings with top military officials, including the chief of staff, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., with whom he discussed the prospects of increasing multilateral training involving U.S. and Philippine air forces. ___ US NAVY MAINTAINING PRESENCE A top U.S. admiral says the Navy has not increased maritime patrols in the South China Sea but is maintaining a "consistent" presence in the disputed waterway. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson sought to reassure regional partners, some of whom have opposing claims in the waters but benefit from good relations with China on other fronts. Richardson was addressing an international security conference in Singapore on Wednesday. "I've done the analysis so that I can state with confidence that our level of operations, our presence there, has been consistent over the decades," Richardson said. "There's nothing that has spiked recently." The International Maritime Security Conference was attended by representatives from 33 navies, including 16 navy chiefs. A Chinese delegate was also present. The U.S. Navy maneuvers in the South China Sea, so-called freedom of navigation operations, "are by design non-provocative, non-escalatory. They're just challenging excessive maritime claims in a very consistent basis," Richardson told the conference. China has built military installations on seven man-made islands in the waters. The other claimants, most notably the Philippines and Vietnam, have protested China's behavior but they also maintain good relations with Beijing. Richardson said "routine" freedom of navigation operations will proceed with transparency, consistency and predictability. Meanwhile, U.S. and Philippine coast guard ships conducted a joint exercise in the South China Sea. Capt. John Driscoll, commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf, told reporters during a port call in Manila that two Chinese coast guard ships were spotted in the vicinity of the exercise. ___ Associated Press writers Jim Gomez in Manilla, Philippines, and Annabelle Liang in Singapore contributed to this report. Inside a Catholic school in Portland, Oregon, high school sophomores break into groups to discuss some once-taboo topics: abusive relationships and consent. At one desk, a girl with banana-colored fingernails begins jotting down some of the hallmarks of abuse: Physically hurting you, verbally abusive, can be one-sided. She pauses to seek input from her classmates, boys and girls alike, before continuing: "It messes up your mentality and your, like, confidence." For the first time this year, Central Catholic High School, like public schools in the city, is using educators from a domestic violence shelter to teach kids about what it means to consent. The goal is to reduce sexual violence and harassment and help teens understand what behavior is acceptable - and what's not - before reaching adulthood. "We're talking about dating violence, sexual assault, relationships, #MeToo - all of those things. I think you have to be intentional about bringing this program into our classrooms," said David Blue, the school's director of diversity and inclusion. What's happening at this school in liberal Portland points to a larger debate unfolding in blue states and red, as lawmakers, educators and teens themselves re-examine whether sex education needs to evolve in the #MeToo era. Central to the conversation is whether schools should expand curriculums to help kids understand consent - a concept often defined differently from state to state. "#MeToo has brought the issue of consent into the national spotlight, but it's abundantly clear that people still struggle with the culture shift that's happening," said Jennifer Driver, state policy director of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, which favors liberal sex ed policies. High school freshmen listen to Wexford County prosecutor Jason Elmore talk about consent and criminal sexual conduct on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, in Cadillac, Mich. Among other things, he reminded them that the legal age of consent for sexual contact in the state of Michigan is 16. Most of the students in these classes are younger than that. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Since January, dozens of new sex ed bills have been floated in statehouses; five have passed - two requiring specific instruction about consent, according to the Guttmacher Institute, which tracks sexuality and reproductive health issues. In all, 10 states and the District of Columbia require that consent be part of the sex ed curriculum, while 32 states require that abstinence be stressed in schools that teach sex education. Most federal funding for sex ed goes to abstinence programs. Sex ed in the classroom has shifted from the explicit information on sex, contraception and sexually transmitted diseases taught amid the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and 1990s to the abstinence-focused agenda that followed the rise of conservative politics. With the #MeToo movement, things may be changing again, but local school districts often have the final say in shaping the curriculum. A few abstinence-focused states, such as Virginia and South Carolina, have added consent to the curriculum. And Oklahoma lawmakers this year considered a bill that would have forced high schools to teach consent. The Legislature eventually passed a narrower measure requiring that schools with a sex ed curriculum incorporate teaching about consent. It leaves other districts of the hook, but state Sen. Carol Bush, the Republican sponsor, called it "baby steps." In Cadillac, Michigan, a reliably Republican small town, educators teach consent after the school board voted more than a decade ago to change its sex ed curriculum from "abstinence only" to "abstinence based." These days county prosecutor Jason Elmore regularly visits the high school to tell students what it means for sexual contact to be given "freely and honestly" and how alcohol and marijuana undermine that. In the past year alone, he's prosecuted a half-dozen Cadillac students for sex crimes. "In this school?!" one boy exclaimed at a program last month. In Tennessee, where the state mandates an abstinence-based curriculum, some teenagers are leading their own discussions about consent off-campus. "There's this thing in the South that you just don't talk about things - provocative things," said Savanah Thompson, 15, of Memphis. "That's where our school system - and school systems nationwide - have failed us. In middle and elementary school, I didn't know I could say no." Thompson is part of Memphis Against Sexual Harassment and Assault, a youth advocacy group that has lobbied the school district to fill its Title IX director's job, conducted peer training on consent and organized "Survivor Power Coffee Hours." The issue is personal to Thompson. She said she was catcalled, groped, pinned against a locker by another student - and later blamed for it - in eighth grade. "We're being taught all of these things preparing us for college," Thompson said. "But they're not teaching you how to cope with things that can derail your life." Some who oppose teaching consent in favor of abstinence programs - or what's now called "sexual risk aversion" - believe the consent curriculum signals an approval of teen sexual activity. Mary Anne Mosack, who runs the abstinence-focused group Ascend, said some "safe-sex" programs had gone too far, promoting activities such as "naked cuddling." Her critics call it unreasonable to tell students to delay sex until marriage, when half of all Americans have sex before leaving high school and only 3 percent wait until marriage, according to Dr. John Santilli, a Columbia University researcher. "Abstinence until marriage in America in 2019? It's an impossible goal," said Santilli. "On the other hand, I think we ought to tell young people if they're not ready to have sex with people, if they've had too much to drink, if they somehow feel uncomfortable with somebody, they can say no. To me, that's feminism in action." ___ Contributing were AP reporter Gillian Flaccus from Portland, Oregon, and AP National Writer Martha Irvine from Cadillac, Michigan. Dale, who reported from Philadelphia, writes about gender issues and #MeToo for The Associated Press. Follow her at https://twitter.com/Maryclairedale High school health teacher Cathy Booher listens to Wexford County prosecutor Jason Elmore talk to her freshman students about consent and criminal sexual conduct on Wednesday, April 17, 2019, in Cadillac, Mich. Booher says there's been progress in victims of sexual abuse and harassment coming forward, but she says too many students are still too reluctant to "snitch." So she talks to her students about consent and setting limits frequently. "Someone needs to step up and say, 'Go tell and adult. Tell your parents. Tell somebody.'" (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Jason Elmore, the prosecutor in Wexford County, Mich., listens to a student's question during a health class for high school freshmen in which he talked to them about consent for sexual activity in Cadillac, Mich., on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. Elmore has prosecuted a few students from the high school in the last year for criminal sexual conduct with teens victims younger than 16, the legal age of consent in Michigan. He said some of the victims were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Elmore grew up in the town and attended this high school, though he said discussions like these were never part of his sex ed. He said social media has contributed to the problem, but he said more people are speaking up about sexual assault and abuse in the #MeToo era. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Students walk through a hallway at Cadillac High School in Cadillac, Mich., on Wednesday, April 17, 2019. The topic of consent for sexual activity - including the age when a student can legally say "yes" to sexual activity - has been a frequent matter of discussion in freshman health classes here in the #MeToo era. The legal age of consent in the state Michigan is 16. (AP Photo/Martha Irvine) Sophomore Ramaya Wright, 15, second from left, leads a group making a list of the characteristics of an abusive relationship, during a class at Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore., on April 15, 2019. "It, like, opened my eyes," said Wright. "I didn't know those are a lot of the signs of an abusive relationship." (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus) A list of the characteristics of an abusive relationship is made by students in small groups during a lesson by teachers from the nonprofit Raphael House, at Central Catholic High School in Portland, Ore., on April 15, 2019. "#MeToo has brought the issue of consent into the national spotlight, but it's abundantly clear that people still struggle with the culture shift that's happening," said Jennifer Driver, state policy director of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States, which favors liberal sex ed policies. (AP Photo/Gillian Flaccus) CHICAGO (AP) - Lori Lightfoot told aldermen and other city powerbrokers assembled at her inauguration Monday as Chicago's first black woman mayor that she meant what she said on the campaign trail about top-to-bottom reforms in the nation's third largest city. "For years, they've said Chicago ain't ready for reform," said Lightfoot, speaking minutes after her swearing-in at the Wintrust Arena. "Well, get ready, because reform is here." She spoke about curtailing some powers of city council members to lessen temptations for corruption and that structural changes to reduce gun violence would be among her top priorities. Hours later, she signed an executive order limiting aldermanic prerogative, a custom that allows each alderman to direct zoning and period decisions in their ward. Among her toughest challenges - and perhaps the one most scrutinized by those outside the city - will be overhauling the beleaguered Chicago Police Department. Lightfoot isn't the first incoming Chicago mayor to have pledged to overhaul a department accused for decades of abuses. But with a court-monitored plan, or consent decree, recently approved by U.S. District Judge Robert Dow, she has the best chance of actually getting it done. Lightfoot, who made history in April when she defeated a longtime political insider to become the first black woman and openly gay person elected to lead Chicago, signaled days before her inauguration that she's serious about transforming the 13,000-officer force by appointing top staffers with histories as strong police-reform advocates. Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot speaks during her inauguration ceremony Monday, May 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jim Young) Even with court backing, Lightfoot faces obstacles to enacting the meaningful changes that protesters sought after the 2015 release of video of a white officer shooting black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times. "I believe she's a true reformer," said Phil Turner, who like Lightfoot, is a former federal prosecutor in Chicago. "But there's a difference between trying to reform police and reality. She is up against a lot of entrenched forces." The fiercest resistance will come from rank-and-file officers and the union that represents them, which has been openly hostile to key provisions, arguing that many will tie officers' hands and make it impossible for them to do their jobs right. One requirement that the union singles out for criticism - and that Lightfoot has heralded - is that officers document each time they point their weapons at someone, even if they don't shoot. The union says it will cause police to hesitate, potentially putting them at risk. There's also no guarantee officers will fully comply with any new policies. Dow's ability to hold people in contempt if they don't adhere to reforms only goes so far, Turner said. "You can't hold entire entities, like officers on the street, in contempt," he said. "The person nominally in charge and who a judge can charge with contempt is the mayor. But she's a proponent of reforms." The plan that Dow approved in January was a culmination of the scandal surrounding McDonald's death and came after a Justice Department investigation concluded that racial bias and poor training contributed to a pattern of abuse by police. Illinois' attorney general sued the city to force the court's supervision after years of inaction by the City Council, which dealt with systemic police misconduct in recent years by approving millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements. Lightfoot is likely to fill top posts in her administration with people who support the changes. Her chief of staff, named Wednesday, is Maurice Classen, a former prosecutor in Seattle, where he lobbied for "systemic and deep reform" of city police. He later helped develop anti-violence and policing strategies in cities nationwide. He told the Chicago Sun-Times that Lightfoot's administration will be focused from her first days on the job on better management of city costs and ensuring that "compliance with the consent decree is a high priority for the Police Department." Money will be an issue. City officials recently said Chicago's 2020 budget shortfall was around $740 million, worse than previously thought. Some changes, including to police training, will require funds. But the consent decree doesn't spell out how much the city should spend - something Lightfoot has criticized. Lightfoot's campaign platform called for changes that go beyond the consent decree, including the adoption of a policy in place in New York requiring that newly hired officers spend two weeks meeting residents in the neighborhood they will police. Among her other priorities is improving the percentage of homicide cases detectives solve from the current 20%. A specific proposal is for a mobile lab that can cut the time it takes to process ballistics evidence from days to just a few hours. During her Monday speech, Lightfoot repeatedly returned to the issue of violence, saying "there is no higher calling than restoring safety and peace in our neighborhoods." "People cannot and should not live in neighborhoods that resemble a war zone," she said, adding later that "Public safety must not be a commodity that is only available to the wealthy." Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot waves after being sworn in during her inauguration ceremony Monday, May 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jim Young) Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot, right, embraces her spouse Amy Eshleman as outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel looks on during her inauguration ceremony Monday, May 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jim Young) Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, right, kisses her spouse Amy Eshleman as outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel looks on during her inauguration ceremony Monday, May 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jim Young) Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot, right, is joined on stage with her spouse Amy Eshleman, left, and her daughter Vivian during her inauguration ceremony Monday, May 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jim Young) Mayor of Chicago Lori Lightfoot takes her oath during her inauguration ceremony Monday, May 20, 2019, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jim Young) NEW YORK (AP) - It may sound simple: You either consent to sexual activity or you don't. But just what constitutes an expression of consent is a hotly debated topic in the justice system and in society at large. And while there's been a gradual cultural trend, especially on university campuses, toward a standard of "affirmative consent" - otherwise known as "yes means yes" rather than "no means no" - the laws on sexual assault have not similarly evolved. "There's a definite lag between what's happening culturally and what's happening in criminal law," says Deborah Tuerkheimer, a law professor at Northwestern University who has written extensively about the topic. "I haven't seen the #MeToo movement usher in a wave of criminal law reform. Maybe that's to come, but I haven't seen it." There is no uniform legal definition of consent. That's because sexual assault laws, of which consent is often a key component, vary widely state by state. Only a handful of states, among them California, Florida and Wisconsin, have an affirmative consent standard on the books, according to the anti-sexual violence organization RAINN. Far more than that - about half of all states - don't define consent at all in their sex assault laws. Many of these states use force, rather than lack of consent, as a standard for deciding whether an assault occurred. Tuerkheimer sees that as "a huge problem." FILE - In this Friday, Aug. 1, 2014 file photo, new students at San Diego State University watch a video on sexual consent during an orientation meeting in San Diego. Just what constitutes an expression of consent is a hotly debated topic in the justice system and in society at large. And while there's been a gradual cultural trend, especially on university campuses, toward a standard of "affirmative consent" _ otherwise known as "yes means yes" rather than "no means no" _ the laws on sexual assault have not similarly evolved. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) "It certainly doesn't track the widespread consensus around what constitutes sexual assault," she says, noting that not all assault cases involve strong physical force, including assaults by someone the victim knows or assaults resulting from a power imbalance. "Consent has become the dividing line in most of our conversations about this in political discourse, and yet you have many states that are not there yet." To help states arrive at a more consistent definition, an organization called the American Law Institute is working on updating the sexual assault laws in its 1962 Model Penal Code, proposals used as models for measures in state legislatures. A definition of consent took the body of judges, lawyers and academics about five years to work out. An early, simple affirmative consent standard was deemed to be "too far from cultural norms," and a compromise definition was ultimately approved. The proposed sex assault laws are likely to be voted on in May 2020. Consent has become a front-burner issue in the #MeToo era, which since late 2017 has shone a light on sexual assault and harassment in an unprecedented way. But it's been a crucial issue on college campuses - often a laboratory for social change - for decades. In 1990, students at Antioch College in Ohio were subject to nationwide ridicule when they introduced an extensive affirmative consent policy . It hardly seems controversial now, but news anchors traveled to the campus and delivered snarky reports, predicting that kissing itself would be outlawed. "Saturday Night Live" mocked the policy with a skit about a game show called "Is It Date Rape?" with actress Shannon Doherty playing a contestant majoring in "victimization studies" - who hit a buzzer to say "date rape!" of every social scenario presented to her. The New York Times weighed in with an editorial, saying adolescents will always make mistakes "but legislating kisses won't save them from themselves." Negative reaction shut down further movement toward such policies - for a while. But in recent years, campus activists have refocused on consent amid rising concern over sexual assaults at U.S. colleges and universities. President Barack Obama's administration put pressure on universities to update their codes and launched "It's On Us," a campaign to end campus sexual assault. California and New York now legally require colleges and universities to use an affirmative consent standard. Across the country, the standard is present in a number of college campus codes, though precise numbers are hard to come by. Will it become the new norm? "We're definitely moving in that direction," says B. Ever Hanna, campus policy manager at the organization End Rape On Campus. "The question is: How quickly?" Hanna's group has come up with five key requirements for an affirmative consent definition, which include "a voluntary, affirmative, conscious, agreement" that can be revoked any time during an encounter. Also, a previous relationship does not imply consent, force or coercion cannot be used to get consent, and crucially, a person incapacitated by drugs or alcohol is incapable of giving consent. But as important as specific policies are, the issue is far more complex than any code or law can capture, says Peggy Orenstein, who has written frequently about consent and is the author of the book "Girls & Sex: Navigating the Complicated New Landscape." Orenstein says she meets many young people today who may understand the concept of consent, but have trouble applying it to their own behavior. "I feel sometimes that consent can become a catchall, when it shouldn't be," Orenstein says. "Consent only tells you if it was legal. There is so much more that we need to be talking about." BEIJING (AP) - The U.S. ambassador to China is making a rare visit to Tibet to meet local officials and raise concerns about restrictions on Buddhist practices and the preservation of the Himalayan region's unique culture and language. The U.S. Embassy in Beijing said Terry Branstad is visiting the Tibetan Autonomous Region and neighboring Qinghai province from Sunday through Saturday. Qinghai is a traditionally Tibetan region also known as Amdo and the birthplace of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled Buddhist leader. Branstad's visit will include official meetings along with visits to religious and cultural heritage sites, schools, and "other places of interest," the embassy said in a statement. The embassy called the visit "a chance for the ambassador to engage with local leaders to raise longstanding concerns." It said Branstad would also "learn first-hand about the region's unique cultural, religious, and ecological significance." China tightly restricts access to Tibet by foreigners, especially journalists and diplomats. In response to the lack of access, the U.S. Congress last year passed the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, which denies entry to the United States for anyone "substantially involved in the formulation or execution of policies related to access for foreigners to Tibetan areas." China says Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries, but many Tibetans say they were effectively an independent nation for most of that time. Beijing's control was most recently asserted when the Communist Party's military wing, the People's Liberation Army, invaded the region in 1950. FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2017, file photo, U.S. Ambassador Terry Edward Branstad, left, shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The U.S. ambassador to China is making a rare visit to Tibet to meet local officials and raise concerns about restrictions on Buddhist practices and the preservation of the Himalayan region's unique culture and language. (Lintao Zhang/Pool Photo via AP, File) In recent years there has been a significant tightening of control over Tibetan Buddhism, use of the Tibetan language and traditional culture. Following anti-government protests in 2008, Beijing imposed a policy of "grid policing" that significantly reduces travel and social life, methods subsequently imposed in the traditionally Muslim neighboring region of Xinjiang, where hundreds of thousands of residents have been confined to detention centers. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China welcomed Branstad to witness the "earth-shaking changes in the people's production and life since Tibet's peaceful liberation more than 60 years ago." "I hope that this visit to Tibet can help Ambassador Branstad make a conclusion without prejudice in the spirit of respecting the facts ... instead of being confused and disturbed by some long-standing hearsay and defamatory speeches," Lu said. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Hundreds of demonstrators marched to the Alabama Capitol on Sunday to protest the state's newly approved abortion ban, chanting "my body, my choice!" and "vote them out!" The demonstration came days after Gov. Kay Ivey signed the most stringent abortion law in the nation- making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless necessary for the mother's health. The law provides no exception for rape and incest. "Banning abortion does not stop abortion. It stops safe abortion," said Staci Fox, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Southeast, addressing the cheering crowd outside the Alabama Capitol. Alabama is part of a wave of conservative states seeking to mount new legal challenges to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Governors in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. None of the laws has actually taken effect, and all are expected to be blocked by the courts as the legal challenges play out with an ultimate eye on the Supreme Court. Marchers on Sunday said the measures have energized supporters of legalized abortion, and they say they are digging in for a legal and political fight. Along the route they took, the protesters passed by scattered counterdemonstrators raising signs against abortion. Protesters for women's rights hold a rally on the Alabama Capitol steps to protest a law passed last week making abortion a felony in nearly all cases with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, Sunday, May 19, 2019, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Two speakers at the rally on the Capitol steps shared their stories of having an abortion, including a woman who came out of the crowd to describe the abortion she had after being raped at a party at age 18. Carrying an orange sign with a coat hanger and the caption "No Never Again," 69-year-old Deborah Hall of Montgomery said she remembers life before Roe and can't believe the push to return there. "I had friends who had illegal abortions and barely survived," said Hall, who for a time ran a clinic in Montgomery that provided abortion, birth control and other services. "I still cannot believe it. It's really a scary time for everybody," she said of the push to overturn Roe. Similar demonstrations were held in Birmingham and Huntsville on Sunday. Amanda Reyes, who runs Yellowhammer Fund, a nonprofit that provides funding to help low-income women obtain abortions, said donations have begun streaming in since passage of the Alabama bill. Groups this week paid for a small plane carrying a banner "Abortion is Okay!" to circle the Capitol and the Governor's Mansion. The Alabama law would make it a felony, punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison to perform an abortion. There would be no punishment for the woman receiving the abortion. But the protest outside the Capitol Sunday comes in a state where a majority of voters recently agreed to put anti-abortion language in the Alabama Constitution. Fifty-nine % of state voters in November approved the constitutional amendment saying the state recognizes the rights of the "unborn." "To the bill's many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians' deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God," Ivey said in a statement after signing the ban into law. The Alabama law has also come under criticism by some conservatives who have expressed discomfort by the lack of exceptions for rape and incest. President Donald Trump, while not mentioning Alabama's law, wrote in a weekend tweet that he is strongly "pro-life" but favors exceptions. "As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions - Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother - the same position taken by Ronald Reagan," Trump wrote in a series of tweets. Rep. Terri Collins, the sponsor of the Alabama law, said the purpose is to challenge Roe and added that Alabama lawmakers can come back and add exemptions if states regain control of abortion access. Kelly Thompson stands in front of the Alabama Capitol to protest a law passed last week making abortion a felony in nearly all cases with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, Sunday, May 19, 2019, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Protesters for women's rights march to the Alabama Capitol to protest a law passed last week making abortion a felony in nearly all cases with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, Sunday, May 19, 2019, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Protesters for women's rights march past Dexter Avenue Baptist Church to the Alabama Capitol to protest a law passed last week making abortion a felony in nearly all cases with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest, Sunday, May 19, 2019, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) Women hold signs as they gather to march to the Capitol for women's rights, Sunday, May 19, 2019, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - A gang of gunmen reportedly attacked a bar in the capital of Brazil's northern Para state Sunday afternoon, and authorities said 11 people were killed. The state security agency confirmed late Sunday only that six women and five men died in the incident in the Guama neighborhood of the Para state capital, Belem. The G1 news website said police reported that seven gunmen were involved in the attack, which also wounded one person. The news outlet said the attackers arrived at the bar on one motorcycle and in three cars. In late March, the federal government sent National Guard troops to Belem to reinforce security in the city for 90 days. Brazil hit a record high of 64,000 homicides in 2017, 70% of which were due to firearms, according to official statistics. Much of Brazil's violence is gang related. In January, gangs attacked across Fortaleza, bringing that city to a standstill with as commerce, buses and taxis shut down. Rio de Janeiro, the country's second biggest city, experiences daily shootouts between rival gangs and also between police and criminals, battles that often result in the deaths of innocent bystanders. Fogo Cruzado, a group that monitors shootings in the Rio metropolitan area, says there were 2,300 shootings in Rio and its suburbs during the first 100 days of this year. Killings attributed to police gunfire in Rio de Janeiro state have reached a record high, rising 18% in the first three months, in a spike partly attributed to a campaign of a zero tolerance for criminals being pushed by state leaders. One of new President Jair Bolsonaro's main campaign promises was that he would loosen Brazil's strict gun laws, arguing that because criminals are well-armed with illegally obtained guns, "upstanding citizens" should have the right to defend themselves with legally bought guns. Bolsonaro has made good on that campaign promise with two presidential decrees that make buying guns easier, though federal prosecutors are seeking to get the courts to block that move. ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (AP) - A New Mexico mayor has proposed billing some drivers who are involved in car accidents resulting in hazardous material cleanup or victim extractions as a way to pay for more emergency rescue personnel in the state's largest city. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller's budget proposal for fiscal year 2020 includes a new "cost recovery" measure that would allow the city to pass the cost of complicated accident situations directly to those who require them or their insurance companies. The Albuquerque Journal reported Saturday that the proposed update of the fire code ordinance would allow the city to bill the responsible party's insurance company. Those without insurance could be billed directly. Fees would range from $400 for hazard mitigation and cleanup to $1,305 for the use of special tools and equipment to remove victims from vehicles. Officials say the department could also bill $400 per hour for additional time at accident scenes. "The focus will be on billing insurance companies and not the citizens living within the metropolitan area," Keller wrote City Council President Klarissa Pena this month explaining the plan. If approved, city officials estimate the change could net about $1 million, which would cover a dozen additional positions for Albuquerque Fire Rescue. Such emergency response fees have drawn criticism in other communities, with opponents arguing that citizens already pay taxes for such services. Missouri and Arkansas are among the states that have banned charges like the one proposed in Albuquerque. Elsewhere, the practice has become commonplace and private companies have popped up to provide the associated billing services. As proposed, Albuquerque's fire chief would have discretion to waive or reduce the amount of an invoice if the recipient can demonstrate financial hardship or inability to pay. City Councilor Brad Winter had questions about whether the plan could potentially increase residents' insurance rates. "There's going to be a lot of discussion and debate when it does come to council," Winter said. ___ Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Republican Gov. Matt Bevin has lashed out at protesting teachers and ridiculed judges during a tumultuous term steering Kentucky on a conservative course while struggling to fix pension problems. Now the pugnacious governor faces the first test of his reelection campaign in a race that could offer clues about the mood of the electorate heading into a presidential election year. Voters get to speak Tuesday. In a state recently dominated by the GOP, Democrats see an opportunity to win back the governorship due to Bevin's self-inflicted political damage, including a caustic feud with public school teachers. Three prominent Democrats, including the son of Bevin's predecessor, are competing for the chance to challenge Bevin, who shares a style similar to President Donald Trump's. The two Republican businessmen are proudly unconventional conservatives who favor social media and attack critics fiercely. Bevin plays up his ties to Trump, who won Kentucky overwhelmingly in 2016 and remains a political force in the bluegrass state. FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2015, file photo, Kentucky Governor-elect Matt Bevin addresses reporters during a news conference in Frankfort, Ky. Bevin has lashed out at protesting teachers and ridiculed judges during a tumultuous term spent steering Kentucky on a conservative course while struggling to fix pension problems. Now the governor faces the first test of his reelection campaign in a race that could offer clues about the mood of the national electorate heading into a presidential election year. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File) "You could like me or dislike me," Bevin said recently. "You could like or dislike this president. But I'm telling you, you want the governor of your state to have a good, personal friendship with the president of the United States. It doesn't hurt your state." The fight for Kentucky's top political job could be an early test of where both political parties stand with voters heading into the 2020 presidential election contests - something Bevin hopes works to his benefit. "You hear a lot about what's coming in 2020 and it's true," he told the National Rifle Association recently. "But I'm the proxy for what's going to happen in 2020 as they (Democrats) experiment in Kentucky in 2019. So if you happen to want to get engaged in the political process, to stand in the gap in this year in advance of the big year next year, I know a guy. I know a guy in Kentucky who would be grateful for your help." But the primary could signal whether Bevin has fence-mending to do within his own party. Bevin ran a low-key primary campaign touting low unemployment and job growth, but he was the prime target for Democrats seeking his job. His most bitter political nemesis, state Attorney General Andy Beshear, was seen as the Democratic front-runner since the campaign started. Beshear's father is a popular former two-term governor. Beshear faced tough challenges from ex-state auditor Adam Edelen and longtime state Rep. Rocky Adkins in the Democratic primary. Beshear played up his many courtroom fights with Bevin's administration over education and pension issues. He filed the lawsuit that led the Kentucky Supreme Court to strike down a Bevin-backed pension law on procedural grounds last year. The pension issue remains unresolved despite a Republican-dominated legislature. Adkins, a longtime Democratic leader in the state House, said his rural, moderate credentials put him in the best position to win back Democrats who switched to the GOP. Edelen embraced a progressive agenda and vowed to transform Kentucky's economy. He cited his role in developing a massive solar power project on a former Appalachian coal mine. Bevin, who ran as an insurgent outsider before winning the state's chief executive office, now faces an insurgent challenger of his own. State Rep. Robert Goforth is the best known of three Bevin challengers in Tuesday's primary. Goforth shares Bevin's socially conservative beliefs, but the challenger tried to capitalize on the governor's public spats with teachers. Bevin has sharply criticized teachers who used sick days to rally at Kentucky's Capitol, forcing some school districts to close. In 2018, he asserted without evidence that a child who had been left home alone was sexually assaulted on a day of mass school closings as Kentucky teachers rallied. He apologized but then doubled down last month, connecting a young girl's shooting in Louisville with school closings caused by more teacher protests. Kentucky teachers rallied last year to oppose pension changes and to demand more funding for schools. Protests continued this year against some education measures. The demonstrations were part of a nationwide wave of teacher activism. Bevin has happily signed conservative bills sent to him by the state's GOP-dominated legislature. They included a charter schools bill, a right-to-work measure letting workers evade union fees, a bill to let people carry a concealed handgun without a permit or training and a series of restrictions on abortion. Several of the abortion measures are bottled up in court fights. Bevin has aggressively tried to impose new rules for Kentucky's Medicaid program to require "able-bodied" adult recipients to get a job, go to school or volunteer. A federal judge blocked the rules and Bevin's administration appealed. The governor defiantly said he wouldn't let a "rogue" judge dictate Kentucky's workforce development agenda. In another court-related tiff, Bevin went on talk radio and called a state judge an "incompetent hack." But Bevin's biggest fight has been to shore up Kentucky's massively underfunded public pension systems. He called lawmakers back into a special session last year after his loss at the state Supreme Court, but lawmakers left without passing a replacement pension measure. Bevin wants to call a special legislative session soon to take up another pension-relief bill. Legislative leaders told him to make sure he has the votes to pass it. Bevin has yet to set a date as primary voters go to the polls. Huawei could quickly lose its grip on the No. 2 ranking in worldwide cellphone sales after Google announced it would comply with U.S. government restrictions meant to punish the Chinese tech powerhouse. The Trump administration's move, which effectively bars U.S. firms from selling components and software to Huawei, ups the ante in a trade war between Washington and Beijing that partly reflects a struggle for global economic and technological dominance. Google said it would continue to support existing Huawei smartphones but future devices will not have its flagship apps and services, including maps, Gmail and search. Only basic services would be available for future versions of the Android operating system on Huawei's smartphones. Though the U.S. Commerce Department grants exceptions, the ban announced last week on all purchases of U.S. technology is thus apt to badly hurt Huawei, analysts say. Washington claims Huawei poses a national security threat, and its placement on the so-called Entity List by the Trump administration last week is widely seen as intended to persuade resistant U.S. allies in Europe to exclude Huawei equipment from their next-generation wireless networks, known as 5G. "This is major crisis for Huawei. Instead of being the world's largest handset manufacturer this year, it will struggle to stay two, but probably fall behind," analyst Roger Entner said. "How competitive is a smartphone without the most well-known and popular apps?" A man uses two smartphones at once outside a Huawei store in Beijing Monday, May 20, 2019. Google is assuring users of Huawei smartphones the American company's services still will work on them following U.S. government restrictions on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Huawei will likely use its own, stripped-down version of Android, whose basic code is provided free of charge by Google. But the Mountain View, California, company said Huawei would not be authorized to use other Google software and services if the sanctions go forward as announced. Google could seek exemptions, but would not comment on whether it planned to do so. Entner, founder of Recon Analytics, said Google itself won't feel a large direct impact, "as consumers will shift to other Android devices. The biggest concern is not to be caught in the crossfire of two governments." Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen said 48% of Huawei's phone shipments last year were outside of China and the company will need to scramble not to lose market share. Samsung led global smartphone sales in the first quarter of this year with a 23.1% share. Huawei was second with 19%, followed by Apple at 11.7%, according to IDC. Huawei's smartphone sales in the U.S. are tiny - and the Chinese company's footprint in telecommunications networks is limited to smaller wireless and internet providers- so any impact on U.S. consumers of a Google services cutoff would be slight. Hardware suppliers led by Qualcomm, Broadcom and Intel would also be forced to halt shipments to Huawei under the Commerce Department rule, which requires all U.S. technology sales to the company to obtain U.S. government approval unless exceptions are made. The Commerce Department on Monday announced a 90-day grace period this week. In a report, the global risk assessment outfit Eurasia Group said that if the sanction process helps persuade European carriers to shun Huawei equipment, a full ban on purchases of U.S. technology products and services could be avoided. Google, a unit of Alphabet Inc., said in a statement late Sunday that it was complying with and "reviewing the implications" of the requirement for export licenses for technology sales to Huawei, which took effect Thursday. "For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices," it added. The U.S. government says Chinese suppliers including Huawei and its smaller rival, ZTE Corp., pose an espionage threat because they are beholden to China's ruling Communist Party. But American officials have presented no evidence of any Huawei equipment serving as intentional conduits for espionage by Beijing. Huawei, headquartered in the southern city of Shenzhen near Hong Kong, reported earlier that its worldwide sales rose 19.5% last year over 2017 to 721.2 billion ($105.2 billion). Profit rose 25.1% to 59.3 billion yuan ($8.6 billion). Huawei smartphone shipments rose 50% in the first three months of 2019 to 59.1 million, compared with a year earlier, while the global industry's total fell 6.6%, according to IDC. Shipments from Samsung and Apple both declined. Huawei defended itself Monday as "one of Android's key global partners." The company said it helped to develop a system that "benefited both users and the industry." "We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally," the company said. A foreign ministry spokesman, Lu Kang, said China will "monitor the development of the situation" but gave no indication how Beijing might respond. The U.S. order took effect Thursday and requires government approval for all purchases of American microchips, software and other components globally by Huawei and 68 affiliated businesses. Huawei says that amounted to $11 billion in goods last year. That could certainly create some collateral damage for U.S. companies. The California chipmaker Xilinx Inc. tumbled 4% Monday. David Wong, an analyst with Nomura, said Xilinx has benefited from demand in next-generation, 5G technologies and "action against a major maker of communications infrastructure equipment like Huawei likely poses risk for Xilinx." A woman uses a smartphone outside a Huawei store in Beijing Monday, May 20, 2019. Google is assuring users of Huawei smartphones the American company's services still will work on them following U.S. government restrictions on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A Huawei Mate20P smartphone model showing its own Kirin chip processor is displayed at an electronic store in Beijing, Monday, May 20, 2019. Google assured users of Huawei smartphones on Monday the American company's basic services will work on them following U.S. government cubs on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. The announcement highlighted the potential impact on global consumers and technology industries of the Trump administration's decision to tighten controls on Huawei Technologies Ltd., which Washington says is a security threat. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) A man checks smartphones near a section promoting Huawei new P30 smartphone at an electronic store in Beijing, Monday, May 20, 2019. Google assured users of Huawei smartphones on Monday the American company's basic services will work on them following U.S. government cubs on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. The announcement highlighted the potential impact on global consumers and technology industries of the Trump administration's decision to tighten controls on Huawei Technologies Ltd., which Washington says is a security threat. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - South Korea vowed Monday to move quickly on plans to provide $8 million worth of medical and nutritional aid for North Korean children through U.N. agencies while it also considers sending broader food aid to the country, which says it is suffering its worst drought in decades. Lee Sang-min, spokesman for Seoul's Unification Ministry, said the government will discuss its plans with the World Food Program and the United Nations Children's Fund, through which the aid would be provided, so it reaches North Korean children and pregnant women quickly. South Korea is also trying to build public and political support for providing wider food aid to North Korea, either directly or through the WFP. North Korea's state media said last week that the country was suffering its worst drought in more than a century amid reported food shortages. "The government will first discuss with international organizations over the provision of aid and take measures so that the support arrives (in North Korea) quickly," Lee said. "On the matter of direct aid, we will consider the matter while sufficiently garnering the opinions of our citizens." South Korean President Moon Jae-in has expressed hopes that aid will help revive diplomacy and engagement with North Korea, which tapered off after a nuclear summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump in February broke down because of differences over sanctions relief and disarmament steps. Kim has since declared that the Trump administration has until the end of the year to come up with mutually acceptable terms for a deal to salvage the negotiations. While the United States has urged allies to maintain economic pressure on North Korea until it takes material steps toward relinquishing its nuclear weapons, White House spokesman Sarah Sanders recently said Washington has no plan to "intervene" if South Korea moves forward with food aid. In this May 17, 2019, photo, North Korean farmers plant rice seedlings in a field at the Sambong Cooperative Farm, South Pyongan Province, North Korea. North Korean state media said last week that 54.4 millimeters (2.1 inches) of rain fell in the first five months of 2019, which it said represented the lowest level since 1982. U.N. food agencies said earlier this month that about 10 million people were facing "severe food shortages" after one of the North's worst harvests in a decade. (AP Photos/APTN) But Moon's government has yet to decide on concrete plans amid growing public frustration over Kim's government, which recently resumed short-range missile tests that were apparently aimed at pressuring Washington and Seoul. It is also unclear whether any aid package from South Korea would influence the behavior of North Korea, which has been demanding much bigger concessions from the South, such as resuming inter-Korean economic projects currently held back by the U.S.-led sanctions against the North. A North Korean propaganda website last week described the South Korean proposals for humanitarian aid as disrespectful and said Seoul was trying to sidestep fundamental issues with "hollow talk and boastful credit-taking." North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency said last Wednesday that an average of 54.4 millimeters (2.1 inches) of rain fell in North Korea from January to early May, which it said was the lowest level since 1982. Two days later, the state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper said the average precipitation of 56.3 millimeters (2.2 inches) from January to May 15 was the country's lowest since 1917. U.N. food agencies said earlier this month that about 10 million people were facing "severe food shortages" after one of North Korea's worst harvests in a decade. North Korean state media are urging farmers to do their best with what they have, to grow as much as possible this year. The Rodong Sinmun urged North Korean farmers on Saturday to meet state goals in food production in the face of "hostile forces who don't want us to become prosperous and ... are seeking to make our people undergo shortage of food, bring to collapse their faith in socialism." "At our farm, we got an announcement about the dry weather conditions from our party and our state authorities, so we have taken advance measures to save water, like preparing the fields earlier than before, because we have to save water as much as we can," said Kim Chang Jun, vice chairman of a cooperative farm in the village of Sambong, just outside the capital. The last time South Korea provided humanitarian aid to North Korea through an international agency was in 2015, when it gave $800,000 to a U.N. Population Fund project to evaluate North Korean public health conditions. South Korea has not provided direct food aid to North Korea since 2010. Moon's government first proposed providing $8 million to the WFP and UNICEF to help North Korean children and pregnant women in 2017, but the plans were halted amid a series of North Korean weapons tests that year. An abrupt turn toward diplomacy in 2018 saw Kim meet with Trump twice and three times with Moon. FILE - In this June 13, 2017, file photo, a farmer fertilizes rice seedlings in fields located along a highway in Pyongyang, North Korea. South Korea vowed Monday, May 20, 2019, to move quickly on its plans to provide $8 million worth of humanitarian aid to North Korea while it also considers sending food to the country that says it's suffering its worst drought in decades. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) In this May 17, 2019, photo, North Korean farmers plant rice seedlings in a field at the Sambong Cooperative Farm, South Pyongan Province, North Korea. The month of May is usually the crucial rice transplanting season in North Korea, when seedlings are taken out of their beds and put into the main rice fields. UN agencies have recently warned that North Korea faces more hunger, after last year's harvest was down, and a lack of rainfall for this year's farming. (AP Photos/APTN) In this May 17, 2019, photo, North Korean farmers plant rice seedlings in a field at the Sambong Cooperative Farm, South Pyongan Province, North Korea. The month of May is usually the crucial rice transplanting season in North Korea, when seedlings are taken out of their beds and put into the main rice fields. UN agencies have recently warned that North Korea faces more hunger, after last year's harvest was down, and a lack of rainfall for this year's farming. (AP Photos/APTN) TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity amid tensions with the U.S. over Tehran's atomic program, nuclear officials said Monday, just after President Donald Trump and Iran's foreign minister traded threats and taunts on Twitter. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Middle East already on edge. The Trump administration has deployed bombers and an aircraft carrier to the region over still-unspecified threats from Iran. Already this month, officials in the United Arab Emirates alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged; Yemeni rebels allied with Iran launched a drone attack on an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia; and U.S. diplomats relayed a warning that commercial airlines could be misidentified by Iran and attacked, something dismissed by Tehran. A rocket landed Sunday near the U.S. Embassy in the Green Zone of Iraq's capital of Baghdad, days after nonessential U.S. staff were ordered to evacuate from diplomatic posts in the country. No one was reported injured. Iraqi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul told The Associated Press that the rocket was believed to have been fired from eastern Baghdad, an area home to Iran-backed Shiite militias. The Iranian enrichment announcement came after local journalists traveled to Natanz in central Iran, the country's underground enrichment facility. There, an unidentified nuclear scientist gave a statement with a surgical cap and a mask covering most of his face. No one explained his choice of outfit, although Israel is suspected of targeting Iranian nuclear scientists. ADDS LOCATION - In this Sunday, May 19, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Navy, the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic transports cargo to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a replenishment-at-sea in the Arabian Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Sherman/U.S. Navy via AP) The state-run IRNA news agency later quoted Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, as acknowledging that capacity had been quadrupled. He said Iran took this step because the U.S. had ended a program allowing it to exchange enriched uranium to Russia for unprocessed yellowcake uranium, as well as ending the sale of heavy water to Oman. Heavy water helps cool reactors producing plutonium that can be used in nuclear weapons. Kamalvandi said Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the development. The Vienna-based U.N. nuclear watchdog did not respond to a request for comment. Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nuclear weapons, though the West fears its program could allow it to build them. Before Iran's announcement, Trump tweeted: "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!" Trump's remarks reflect what has been a strategy of alternating tough talk with more conciliatory statements he says is aimed at keeping Iran guessing at the administration's intentions. He also has said he hopes Iran calls him and engages in negotiations. He described his approach in a speech Friday, saying, "It's probably a good thing because they're saying, 'Man, I don't know where these people are coming from,' right?" But while Trump's approach of flattery and threats has become a hallmark of his foreign policy, the risks have only grown in dealing with Iran, where mistrust between Tehran and Washington stretch four decades. While both sides say they don't seek war, many worry any miscalculation could spiral out of control. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif soon responded by tweeting that Trump had been "goaded" into "genocidal taunts." Zarif referenced both Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan as two historical leaders that Persia outlasted. "Iranians have stood tall for a millennia while aggressors all gone," he wrote. "Try respect - it works!" Zarif also used the hashtag #NeverThreatenAnIranian, a reference to a comment he made during intense negotiations for the 2015 nuclear accord. Trump campaigned on pulling the U.S. from the deal, which saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Since Trump withdrew America a year ago from the pact, the U.S. has re-imposed previous sanctions and come up with new ones, as well as warning other nations they would be subject to sanctions as well if they import Iranian oil. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt told journalists in Geneva that Iran should not doubt the U.S. resolve, warning that "if American interests are attacked, they will retaliate." "We want the situation to de-escalate because this is a part of the world where things can get triggered accidentally," Hunt said. Meanwhile, Oman's minister of state for foreign affairs made a previously unannounced visit Monday to Tehran, seeing Zarif, the state-run IRNA news agency said. The visit by Yusuf bin Alawi comes after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called Oman's Sultan Qaboos bin Said last week. Oman long has served as a Western backchannel to Tehran and the sultanate hosted the secret talks between the U.S. and Iran that laid the groundwork for the nuclear deal negotiations. In Saudi Arabia, the kingdom's military intercepted two missiles fired by the Iranian-allied Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen. The missiles were intercepted over the city of Taif and the Red Sea port city of Jiddah, the Saudi-owned satellite channel Al-Arabiya reported, citing witnesses. The Saudi Embassy in Washington later confirmed the interceptions. Hundreds of rockets, mortar rounds and ballistic missiles have been fired into the kingdom by the rebels since a Saudi-led coalition declared war on the Houthis in March 2015 to support Yemen's internationally recognized government. The Houthis' Al-Masirah satellite news channel denied the rebels had any involvement with this round of rocket fire. Between the two targeted cities is Mecca, home to the cube-shaped Kaaba toward which Muslims pray. Many pilgrims are in the holy city for Ramadan. Early Tuesday, Saudi Arabia said the Houthis targeted civilian infrastructure in the kingdom's border city of Najran, without elaborating. The Houthis did not immediately acknowledge such an attack. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Qassim Abdul-Zahra and Bassem Mroue in Baghdad, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to in 15th graf to show year of nuclear accord was 2015, not 2016. ADDS LOCATION - In this Sunday, May 19, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Navy, sailors partake in a foreign object and debris walk-down on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Garrett LaBarge/U.S. Navy via AP) ADDS LOCATION - In this Sunday, May 19, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Navy, sailors partake in a foreign object and debris walk-down on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Garrett LaBarge/U.S. Navy via AP) In this Sunday, May 19, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Navy, an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 transports cargo from the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a replenishment-at-sea in the Arabian Sea.(Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Sherman/U.S. Navy via AP) In this Sunday, May 19, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Navy, an MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter from the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 5 transports cargo from the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a replenishment-at-sea in the Arabian Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Sherman/U.S. Navy via AP) COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - Swedish authorities on Monday issued a request for a detention order against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who is now jailed in Britain, a Swedish prosecutor said. Prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson says if the Swedish court decided to detain Assange "on probable cause suspected for rape ... I will issue a European Arrest Warrant." The development sets up a possible future tug-of-war between Sweden and the United States over any extradition of Assange from Britain. Assange was evicted last month from the Ecuadorian Embassy where he had been holed up with political asylum since 2012. He was then immediately arrested by British police on April 11 and is currently serving a 50-week sentence in Britain for jumping bail in 2012. The Australian secret-spiller also faces a U.S. extradition warrant for allegedly conspiring to hack into a Pentagon computer. Persson said Monday that British authorities will decide any conflict between a European arrest warrant and U.S. extradition request for Assange. FILE - In this Wednesday May 1, 2019 file photo, buildings are reflected in the window as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is taken from court, where he appeared on charges of jumping British bail seven years ago, in London. Swedish prosecutors plan to decide whether they will reopen a rape case against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) On May 13, Swedish prosecutors reopened a preliminary investigation against Assange, who visited Sweden in 2010, after two Swedish women said they were the victims of sex crimes committed by Assange. While a case of alleged sexual misconduct against Assange in Sweden was dropped in 2017 when the statute of limitations expired, a rape allegation remains. Swedish authorities have had to shelf it because Assange was living at the embassy at the time and there was no prospect of bringing him to Sweden. The statute of limitations in the rape case expires in August next year. Assange has denied wrongdoing, asserting that the allegations were politically motivated and that the sex was consensual. According to the request for a detention order obtained by The Associated Press, Assange is wanted for "intentionally having carried out an intercourse" with an unnamed woman "by unduly exploiting that she was in a helpless state because of sleep." The request added there was "an aggravating circumstance" because Assange didn't use a condom. The 47-year-old Australian met the two Swedish woman in connection with a lecture in August 2010 in Stockholm. One was involved in organizing an event for Sweden's center-left Social Democratic Party and offered to host Assange at her apartment. The other was in the audience. A police officer who heard the women's accounts decided there was reason to suspect they were victims of sex crimes and handed the case to a prosecutor. Neither of the alleged victims has been named publicly. Assange faces a maximum of four years in prison in Sweden if he is convicted of the rape. Persson said the day and time for the detention hearing regarding Assange at the Uppsala District Court north of Stockholm that will make the decision has not yet been decided. "However, in my view, the Swedish case can proceed concurrently with the proceedings in the U.K.," Persson said in a statement. Meanwhile, Assange's supporters gathered outside Ecuador's Embassy in London to protest what they said was the handover of his belongings to American prosecutors. Demonstrators put banners on the railings with images of Assange, his mouth covered by an American flag, and chanted "Thieves! Thieves! Thieves! Shame on you!" WikiLeaks said in a statement that Assange's possessions, including manuscripts, medical records and electronic equipment, will be handed to U.S. prosecutors seeking his extradition on Monday. MILAN (AP) - Italy's hard-line Interior Minister Matteo Salvini threatened possible legal action Monday after 47 migrants rescued at sea by a humanitarian aid ship landed on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa despite his explicit ban against them. The German aid group Sea-Watch said the 47 migrants were transferred to Lampedusa on Sunday evening with the cooperation of the Coast Guard and financial police. They were among 65 migrants rescued off the coast of Libya last week. Salvini had given permission for 18 migrants - mostly families with young children - to be brought to land on Friday. But he told a campaign rally that the rest would not be allowed into Italy as long as he remained on the job. Salvini reacted angrily to the transfer of the remaining 47, saying on Facebook that if "there was a ploy to disembark the migrants, I will take action, because that is aiding and abetting human trafficking." Salvini pledged that the vessel, the Sea-Watch 3, would be confiscated and threatened the ship's crew with arrest, referring to them as "deputy human traffickers." He also questioned whether the transport minister, who is in charge of the Coast Guard, or the economy minister, with responsibility for the financial police, had given their approval for the move. The transport minister belongs to the populist 5-Star Movement, which is in a government coalition with Salvini's right-wing League party, while Italy's economy minister is not aligned with either ruling party. Italian Deputy Premier and Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, attends an election campaign rally in Sassuolo, Italy, Sunday, May 19, 2019. Salvini, the head of Italy's right-wing League party, has positioned himself at the forefront of a growing movement of nationalist leaders seeking to free the European Union's 28 nations from what he called Brussels' "illegal occupation". (Serena Campanini/ANSA via AP) Sea-Watch said its ship was too big to enter Lampedusa, requiring the transfer from the Italian vessels, and had been ordered to another port on a "probationary confiscation." Salvini said the rescue ship should be taken out of use permanently and sunk. Salvini has taken a hard-line against humanitarian rescue operations, accusing them of aiding migrant traffickers in Libya who pack migrants into unsafe boats and launch them into the dangerous Mediterranean Sea. His position has created numerous standoffs with fellow European Union nations and humanitarian groups as Europe struggled to decide where to bring the desperate migrants. Sea-Watch said it was the fourth migrant disembarkation in Italy from civilian rescue ships this year, proving "once more that the talk of closed ports is just that: Talk." The head of the Sea-Watch 3 mission, Philipp Hahn, called the probationary confiscation of the vessel "outrageous," and said the group broke no laws. "On the contrary, we have once more upheld the law of the sea and the Geneva Refugee Convention," he declared. The migrants were welcomed on shore by Lampedusa residents carrying banners reading "Welcome to Lampedusa," and "Whoever saves one life, saves the entire world," Sea-Watch said. In a May 15 letter to Italy's government released Saturday, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights urged Italy to withdraw its decree closing its ports to migrants, calling it "yet another political attempt to criminalize search and rescue operations." The decree "further intensifies the climate of hostility and xenophobia against migrants," said the letter, which was signed by several U.N. human rights rapporteurs. ATLANTA (AP) - The Westboro Baptist Church protested outside of the country's only all-male historically black college over the school's new admission policy that accepts transgender men. WXIA-TV reports the demonstrators from the Kansas-based church appeared outside Morehouse College in Atlanta on Sunday ahead of the school's graduation ceremonies. The school announced in April that transgender men would be allowed to enroll at the school for the first time in 2020. The station says the group also protested outside Spelman College and Clark Atlanta University. The church says it protested at Spelman because of a student group that supports anyone in the LGBTQ community. The church says it protested at Clark Atlanta because one of the school's graduation speakers lied about "Jesus Christ and His Word." ___ Information from: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, http://www.ajc.com DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Latest on developments in the Persian Gulf region and elsewhere in the Mideast amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran (all times local): 6:20 a.m. Saudi Arabia says Yemen's Houthi rebels have launched a bomb-laden drone targeting civilian infrastructure in a city along the kingdom's border to Yemen. A statement early Tuesday on the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted Saudi-led coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki as saying the Houthis "had tried to target" the site in Najran. The statement did not elaborate, but used a word in Arabic that often refers to hospitals, power plants and schools. The Houthis did not immediately claim an attack there. It was not clear if there were any injuries. Al-Maliki warned there would be a "strong deterrent" to such attacks and described the Houthis as the "terrorist militias of Iran." In this Sunday, May 19, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Navy, Boatswain's Mate Seaman Tabari Harvey, from Bellevue, Neb., stands watch as forward lookout on vulture's row aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Garrett LaBarge/U.S. Navy via AP) Last week, the Houthis launched a coordinated drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. ___ 11:10 p.m. Iran is urging U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to help launch a diplomatic dialogue to ease the current "alarming security situation" in the broader Persian Gulf region. Iran's U.N. Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi said in a letter to the U.N. chief and the Security Council obtained Monday by The Associated Press that the United Nations must not remain indifferent "to addressing the root causes of the current state of affairs." He accused "certain circles from outside of this region" of provocative policies, and escalating tensions in the Middle East. Ravanchi warned that "the eruption of any possible conflict will soon cross over from the regional level and will definitely have serious and extensive implications on international peace and security." The ambassador added that Iran "will never choose war," but that "if war is imposed on us, Iran will vigorously exercise its inherent right to self-defense." ___ 10:30 p.m. The U.N. says Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is asking all parties involved in escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran "to lower the rhetoric and lower the threshold of action as well." U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric reiterated to reporters Monday that "we are concerned about the rising rhetoric." He said the secretary-general is also concerned at the rocket launch that seemed to be aimed toward the U.S. Embassy in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. Dujarrics said: "It is a very volatile region. Any developments, whether they are actions on the ground or whether they are rhetoric, can always be misinterpreted and can only heighten the risk of a volatile region becoming even more volatile." ___ 9:45 p.m. Saudi Arabia is warning that recent drone attacks against its oil pumping stations by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi rebels will jeopardize U.N. peace efforts in the country and lead to further escalation in the region. The Saudi U.N. ambassador, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, said "seven explosive drones" directed by the rebels attacked pumping stations May 14 in the cities of Dawadmi and Afif "on the east-west oil pipeline that transfers Saudi oil to Yanbu port and to the rest of the world." He urged Security Council members in a letter circulated Monday "to disarm this terrorist militia in order to prevent the escalation of these attacks which increase regional tensions and raise the risks of a broader regional confrontation." Saudi Arabia views the Shiite Houthis as Iran's proxies in Yemen's four-year civil war, and has accused Tehran of providing arms to the rebels. ___ 7:45 p.m. Semi-official news agencies in Iran are reporting that Iran has quadrupled its production of low-enriched uranium amid tensions with the U.S. over an unraveling atomic accord. The semi-official Fars and Tasnim news agencies both reported the news Monday. They both say that the production is of uranium enriched only to the 3.67% limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. However, a quadrupling of production would mean that Iran likely will go beyond the stockpile limitations set by the deal. Iran says it has informed the International Atomic Energy Agency, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, of its decision. The IAEA did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump pulled America out of the nuclear deal with Iran a year ago. ___ 4:45 p.m. Iran's foreign minister has met with his visiting counterpart from Oman, a Gulf nation that in the past has served as an intermediary between the United States and the Islamic Republic. The official IRNA news agency reported the meeting Monday between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Oman's foreign minister, Yusuf bin Alawi. It says they discussed regional and international issues, without providing further details. Oman has mediated between Washington and Tehran in the past, including during the early stages of the talks that led to the 2015 nuclear agreement. The talks some amid heightened tensions in the region, with the U.S. sending warships and bombers to counter alleged, unspecified threats from Iran. The crisis is rooted in President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the nuclear accord last year and impose sweeping U.S. sanctions on Iran. ___ 4 p.m. Britain's foreign secretary is warning Iran not to "underestimate the resolve of the U.S." amid heightened tensions across the Persian Gulf. Jeremy Hunt told journalists in Geneva on Monday that U.S. leaders "are not seeking a conflict, they don't want a war with Iran, but if American interests are attacked, they will retaliate. And that is something that the Iranians need to think about very, very carefully." Hunt added that Britain has had a lot of discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over Iran. He said he hopes Iran starts to "pull back from the destabilizing activities" it conducts in the region. The foreign secretary acknowledged the danger the tensions posed for the wider Mideast. Hunt says: "We want the situation to de-escalate because this is a part of the world where things can get triggered accidentally." ___ 2:40 p.m. Iran's foreign minister has criticized President Donald Trump for his overnight tweet threatening to the Islamic Republic with its "official end." Mohammad Javad Zarif posted his own message Monday on Twitter, saying Trump had been "goaded" into "genocidal taunts." Zarif wrote that Trump "hopes to achieve what Alexander (the Great), Genghis (Khan) & other aggressors failed to do." He added: "Iranians have stood tall for a millennia while aggressors all gone." He ended his tweet with #neverthreatenaniranian and: "Try respect - it works!" ___ 12:40 p.m. Two influential Shiite figures in Iraq are warning from pulling their country into a war between the United States and Iran, saying it would turn Iraq into a battlefield and inflict much harm. Their comments came few hours after a rocket was fired into the Iraqi capital's heavily fortified Green Zone, landing less than a mile from the sprawling U.S. Embassy. No injuries were reported. Iraq's populist Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said in a statement on Monday that any political party that would involve Iraq in a U.S.-Iran war "would be the enemy of the Iraqi people." Qais al-Khazali, the leader of an Iranian-backed group, said he is opposed to operations that "give pretexts for war." As U.S.-Iran tensions escalate, there've been concerns that Baghdad could once again get caught in the middle. ___ 12:10 p.m. A Saudi-owned satellite news channel says Yemen's Houthi rebels have fired two missiles into the kingdom that later were intercepted. Al-Arabiya reported on Monday that the two missiles were intercepted over the city of Taif and the Red Sea port city of Jiddah. The channel cited witnesses for the information. The Saudi government has yet to acknowledge the missile fire, which other Saudi media also reported. The Houthis made no official claims to the missile fire. Between the two cities is Mecca, home to the cube-shaped Kaaba that Muslims pray toward five times a day. Many religious pilgrims are now in the city amid the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast from dawn to dusk. ___ 11:00 a.m. President Donald Trump has warned Iran not to threaten the U.S. again or it'll face its "official end," shortly after a rocket landed near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad overnight. The tweet comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, the culmination of Trump's decision a year ago to pull America out of Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers. Trump's tweeted early Monday: "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!" Trump did not elaborate, nor did the White House. However, the tweet came after a rocket landed less than a mile from the sprawling U.S. Embassy in Baghdad in the Iraqi capital's heavily fortified Green Zone Sunday night. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the rocket launch. ADDS LOCATION - In this Sunday, May 19, 2019, photo released by the U.S. Navy, the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic transports cargo to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln during a replenishment-at-sea in the Arabian Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jeff Sherman/U.S. Navy via AP) KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - The latest on Ukrainian politics (all times local): 12:25 a.m. The U.N. Security Council has rejected a Russian attempt to hold a meeting on a new Ukrainian language law, with opponents saying Moscow wanted to upstage the inauguration of Ukraine's new president. Russia got just five of the required nine "yes" votes in the 15-member council to hold the meeting Monday. France, Germany, U.S., U.K., Belgium and Poland voted against. Four countries abstained. Opponents say they asked to postpone the meeting until after Monday's inauguration of Volodymyr Zelenskiy but Russia refused. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia sharply criticized the language law that requires the use of Ukrainian in the government and media. Russian is also widely spoken in Ukraine. Ukrainian President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy greets supporters before his inauguration ceremony in Kiev, Ukraine, Monday, May 20, 2019. Television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as Ukraine's next president after he beat the incumbent at the polls last month. The ceremony was held at Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on Monday morning. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko said "this is not the best way to start contacts between Russia and Ukraine." ___ 6:20 p.m. A party that was part of a ruling coalition in Ukraine has criticized the newly sworn president's decision to disband parliament and call snap elections. Ukrainian television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he would disband the legislature immediately after being sworn in as president Monday, castigating the current lawmakers as people focused on self-enrichment. The People's Front party that was part of the ruling coalition and withdrew from it last week in a maneuver intended to make it more difficult for Zelenskiy to disband parliament, criticized Zelenskiy's move as unlawful but said it was ready for early elections. It charged that Zelenskiy hopes to ride the wave of his electoral success to control parliament. Once Zelenskiy signs a decree disbanding parliament, a snap election will be held within two months. ___ 6 p.m. Ukraine's prime minister says he will resign in a largely symbolic move that comes hours after the newly-sworn President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's decision to disband the parliament and call snap elections. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman said he would resign Wednesday, inviting Zelenskiy to take full responsibility for the country. His resignation needs to be approved by parliament. If it accepts Groysman's resignation, he will still serve as acting prime minister until lawmakers name a new Cabinet after the elections. Zelenskiy, who won 73% of the vote last month, needs a quick vote to replace the old legislature dominated by his predecessor's supporters. His political party has been leading the field by a broad margin. Once Zelenskiy issues a decree formally disbanding the parliament, the snap election will be held within two months. ___ 1:10 p.m. The Kremlin has voiced hope that the newly sworn Ukrainian president will help normalize ties with Russia. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't plan to send congratulations to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy following his official swearing-in earlier. Peskov said Putin would only congratulate Zelenskiy on the "first successes" in settling the conflict in eastern Ukraine and normalizing relations with Russia. Relations between the two countries have been strained ever since Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine. Asked if Russia could meet Zelenskiy's demand to release Ukrainian prisoners, Peskov told reporters that Moscow is willing to continue talks on the issue. ___ 11 a.m. Ukrainian television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been sworn in as president and immediately disbanded the Ukrainian parliament. Disbanding the Supreme Rada was one of his campaign promises, for Zelenskiy had branded the body as a group of people only interested in self-enrichment. Before he made the announcement, Zelenskiy asked the parliament to adopt a bill against illegal enrichment and support his motion to fire the country's defense minister, the head of the Ukrainian Security Service and the Prosecutor General. All of them are allies of former President Petro Poroshenko, who lost the presidential election in a landslide to the comedian who had no previous political experience. In a feisty speech after his inauguration, Zelenskiy told the Rada that his main goal for the presidency is to bring peace to eastern Ukraine, where government troops have been fighting Russia-backed separatists for five years. ___ 10:30 a.m. Ukrainian television star Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday disbanded the parliament after he was sworn in as new president. Disbanding the Supreme Rada was one of the campaign promises of Zelenskiy who branded it as a group of people only interested in self-enrichment. Before he made the announcement, Zelenskiy asked the parliament to adopt a bill against illegal enrichment and support his motion to fire the country's defense minister, the head of the Ukrainian Security Service and the Prosecutor General. All of them are allies of Petro Poroshenko who lost the election to the comedian with no previous political experience. In a feisty speech after his inauguration, Zelenskiy told the Rada that his main goal for the presidency is to bring peace to eastern Ukraine where government troops have been fighting Russia-backed separatists for five years. "I'm ready to do everything so that our heroes don't die there," he said. "I'm ready to lose my popularly and, if necessary, I'm ready to lose my post so that we have peace." Zelenskiy ditched the idea of a traditional motorcade and walked to the parliament through a park packed with people. Flanked by four bodyguards, he was giving high-fives to some of the spectators and even stopped to take a selfie with one of them. 41-year-old Zelenskiy garnered 73 percent of the vote at the presidential election last month in a victory that reflected Ukrainians' exhaustion with politics-as-usual. Rumors about Zelenskiy's potential bid first surfaced when he played the Ukrainian president in a television show several years earlier. Zelenskiy wrapped up his speech at parliament by referring to his career as a comedian. "Throughout all of my life I tried to do everything to make Ukrainians laugh," he said with a smile. "In the next five years I will do everything so that Ukrainians don't cry." __ Vasilyeva reported from Moscow. FILE - In this Friday, April 19, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian presidential candidate and popular comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy listens to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during their final electoral campaign debate at the Olympic stadium in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) FILE - In this Sunday, April 21, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy smiles after the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) FILE - In this Sunday, April 21, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy greets his supporters at his headquarters after the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, File) FILE - In this Sunday, April 21, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy leaves a booth at a polling station during the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) FILE - In this Sunday, April 21, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian comedian and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy gestures at a polling station, during the second round of presidential elections in Kiev, Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, File) FILE - In this Saturday, April 20, 2019 file photo, a Ukrainian serviceman guards a position near the frontline as the conflict continues, in Mariinka, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File) FILE - In this Wednesday, April 17, 2019 file photo, Ukrainian sailors sit in a cage in a courtroom in Moscow, Russia. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com.. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File) KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says gunmen stormed a checkpoint in Kabul, killing at least three police officers. Kabul police spokesman Basir Mujahid says three other policemen were wounded in Sunday night's attack on the outskirt of the city. He added that the attackers first threw hand grenades then opened fire on the police in the city's Doghabad area. Separately, a provincial official in southern Helmand province says at least seven civilians were killed in an airstrike as Afghan forces battled the Taliban late Sunday. Provincial council chief Attahullah Afghan says three civilians were also wounded in the attack in Greshk district. Afghan says a gunbattle was underway with the Taliban at that time and that the incident is under investigation. It's unclear who carried out the strike, U.S. or Afghan forces. CAIRO (AP) - Egypt says security forces killed 12 members of a militant group with suspected links to the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood in shootouts in Cairo, just hours after a roadside bomb struck a tourist bus near the Giza Pyramids, wounding at least 17. The Interior Ministry says seven of the militants were killed in a firefight when police raided their hideout in the Sixth of October suburb. The remaining five were shot and killed after opening fire on police storming their residences in Cairo's Shorouk suburb. The ministry says explosive devices, weapons and ammunition were found in the militants' possession. It says the militants belonged to "Hasm," an armed faction of the Brotherhood. Sunday's roadside bomb wounded at least 17 people including South African tourists. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials jack up a bus that was damaged by a bomb, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, March 19, 2019. Egyptian officials say a roadside bomb has hit a tourist bus near the Giza Pyramids. They said Sunday's blast wounded at least 17 people including tourists. (AP Photo/Mohammed Salah) A bus and a car are parked after being damaged by a bomb, in Cairo, Egypt, Sunday, March 19, 2019. Egyptian officials say a roadside bomb has hit a tourist bus near the Giza Pyramids. They said Sunday's blast wounded at least 17 people including tourists. (AP Photo/Mohammed Salah) ROME (AP) - A Saudi Arabian freighter allegedly carrying weapons that could be used in the war in Yemen has docked at the Italian port of Genoa, despite protests by harbor workers. The Saudi-flagged Bahri Yanbu is scheduled to load further cargo before departing for the Saudi port of Jeddah late Monday, according to the Italian news agency ANSA. Port workers protesting the alleged arms shipment unsuccessfully tried to prevent the ship's arrival, and hoisted a banner reading "Stop the trafficking of arms, war to war." ANSA says union and port officials were in talks on the cargo to be loaded. The 50,000-tonne ship has already called at several European ports, reportedly to pick up weaponry. French officials said a scheduled loading of arms at Le Havre was cancelled following protests by activists. Saudi Arabian freighter Bahri Yambu is docked in Genoa's port, Italy, Monday, May 20, 2019. The freighter allegedly carrying weapons that could be used in the war in Yemen is scheduled to load further cargo before departing for the Saudi port of Jeddah late Monday despite protests by harbor workers, according to the Italian news agencies. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP) An activist holds up a sign with writing reading in Italian "Ports closed to weapons" as she demonstrates after Saudi Arabian freighter Bahri Yambu docked in Genoa's port, Italy, Monday, May 20, 2019. The freighter allegedly carrying weapons that could be used in the war in Yemen is scheduled to load further cargo before departing for the Saudi port of Jeddah late Monday despite protests by harbor workers, according to the Italian news agencies. (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP) WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The two founders of a notorious pyramid scheme in Poland were found guilty of fraud on Monday for cheating thousands of people out of their savings, worth $219 million, in one of the nation's biggest financial scandals. The Provincial Court in Gdansk, northern Poland, also found the two individuals, identified only as Marcin P. and his former wife, Katarzyna P., guilty of misleading clients by advertising as a savings bank, only to them cause them losses. It said they failed to obtain the required permits. The two convicts have pleaded not guilty. The court was reading lengthy details of the conviction and said the final verdict will not be announced Monday, as previously scheduled, but at a later date. The scam, called Amber Gold, cheated some 19,000 investors out of over 850 million zlotys between 2009 until 2012, when it was revealed. Critics say Poland's government at the time, led by Donald Tusk, failed to warn Poles against the scam. Almost 800 witnesses testified in the case, which opened before the court in 2016, and on Monday the court was reading out the names of the victims. MADRID (AP) - The five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament last month picked up their official credentials under police escort on Monday. The Supreme Court allowed the five to get their credentials and to also attend the opening session of the new Parliament on Tuesday. However, it did not permit them to participate in any meetings or speak to the press while at the Parliament in Madrid. Former Catalan regional vice president, Oriol Junqueras, and three other high-profile separatists won seats in the Lower Chamber, while Raul Romeva won a seat in the Senate. Police transported them from prison to the Parliament buildings. They all wore suits and spoke with fellow lawmakers without the visible presence of uniformed police escorts once inside, as seen in televised images. Despite the media ban, Junqueras posted a short video on Twitter in which he said "we are well because we are with friends" and asked for support for his party in Sunday's European and municipal Spanish elections. Catalan politicians Josep Rull, left, Jordi Sanchez and Jordi Turull, right, leave after collecting their credentials at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday, May 20, 2019. The five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament in April 28 elections have been escorted by police to pick up their official credentials. The five, along with other defendants, are being held in pre-trial jail. They face several years in prison if found guilty of rebellion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Junqueras is running for a seat in the European Parliament. He has said he will renounce his seat in the Spanish Parliament if he wins one in Europe. The five, along with four other defendants, are being held in prison during the trial. They face several years in prison and being banned from holding public office if found guilty of rebellion or other crimes. Others, including ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, fled Spain. The Catalan secession bid two years ago plunged Spain into its biggest political crisis in decades. The northeastern region's 7.5 million residents are roughly split down the middle over whether to secede from Spain, according to opinion polls. The leader of the Catalonian ERC party Oriol Junqueras, centre, prepares to sign some documents and collect his credentials alongside the ERC parliamentary spokesperson Gabriel Rufian, right, inside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday May 20, 2019. The five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament in April 28 elections have been escorted by police to pick up their official parliament credentials. The Supreme Court is allowing the five politicians to get their credentials on Monday and attend the opening session of the new Parliament on Tuesday. (J.J. Guillen/Pool Photo via AP) The leader of the Catalonian ERC party Oriol Junqueras, centre, leaves after collecting his credentials at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday, May 20, 2019. Junqueras and three other high-profile separatists won seats in the Lower Chamber, while Raul Romeva won a seat in the Senate. The five, along with other defendants, are being held in pre-trial jail. They face several years in prison if found guilty of rebellion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Jordi Sanchez, president of the Catalan National Assembly, center, prepares to sign some documents and collect his credentials inside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday May 20, 2019. The five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament in April 28 elections have been escorted by police to pick up their official parliament credentials. The Supreme Court is allowing the five politicians to get their credentials on Monday and attend the opening session of the new Parliament on Tuesday. (J.J. Guillen/Pool Photo via AP) The leader of the Catalonian ERC party Oriol Junqueras leaves after collecting his credentials at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday, May 20, 2019. Junqueras and three other high-profile separatists won seats in the Lower Chamber, while Raul Romeva won a seat in the Senate. The five, along with other defendants, are being held in pre-trial jail. They face several years in prison if found guilty of rebellion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) Catalan politician Jordi Sanchez gestures a thumbs up to the media after collecting his credential at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday, May 20, 2019. Five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament in April 28 elections have been escorted by police to pick up their official credentials. The five, along with other defendants, are being held in pre-trial jail. They face several years in prison if found guilty of rebellion. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) The leader of the Catalonian ERC party Oriol Junqueras, center, speaks with the ERC spokesperson for the parliament Gabriel Rufian, right, at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday May 20, 2019. The five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament in April 28 elections have been escorted by police to pick up their official parliament credentials. The Supreme Court is allowing the five politicians to get their credentials on Monday and attend the opening session of the new Parliament on Tuesday. (J.J. Guillen/Pool Photo via AP) The leader of the Catalonian ERC party Oriol Junqueras, center, speaks with the ERC spokesperson for the parliament Gabriel Rufian, right, at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday May 20, 2019. The five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament in April 28 elections have been escorted by police to pick up their official parliament credentials. The Supreme Court is allowing the five politicians to get their credentials on Monday and attend the opening session of the new Parliament on Tuesday. (J.J. Guillen/Pool Photo via AP) Catalan Councillor Jordi Turull, left, signs documents inside the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Monday May 20, 2019. The five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament in April 28 elections have been escorted by police to pick up their official parliament credentials. The Supreme Court is allowing the five politicians to get their credentials on Monday and attend the opening session of the new Parliament on Tuesday.(J.J. Guillen/Pool Photo via AP) ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Authorities in Turkey have issued detention warrants for 249 people as part of an investigation into alleged cheating during exams to recruit staff to the country's foreign ministry between 2010 and 2013. The Ankara Chief Prosecutor's office says 91 of the suspects were detained on Monday. The suspects are believed to have links to the network led by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016. Gulen denies the accusation. Authorities believe Gulen's network, which has been outlawed, has helped followers infiltrate key civil service jobs through cheating and other means. Some 77,000 people have been arrested for links to Gulen since the coup and around 130,000 others have been dismissed from state jobs. BERLIN (AP) - Seven men accused of posing as a self-styled "Sharia police" in Germany have gone on trial for the second time, on charges they violated rules on wearing uniforms. News agency dpa reported that none of the defendants, aged between 27 and 37, addressed the charges against them as their retrial in Wuppertal opened Monday. The group took to the streets of Wuppertal in 2014, dressed in orange vests bearing the words "Sharia police" and handing out leaflets declaring the area a "Sharia-controlled zone" where alcohol, music and pornography were banned. Five were allegedly part of the self-styled patrol and the other two accessories. They were acquitted in 2016 when judges found that the vests couldn't be classified as a uniform and weren't intimidating. A federal court ordered a retrial. BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - Attorneys on Monday completed questioning witnesses in the trial of a Vermont man facing murder charges in the deaths of five teenagers after he drove the wrong way on Interstate 89. Jurors are set to receive instructions from the judge Tuesday morning in the trial of Steven Bourgoin, 38. His attorneys acknowledge he was driving the pickup truck that hit the teenagers' vehicle in October 2016. They said he was psychotic and delusional at the time of the crash and believed he was on a secret mission in the days beforehand. "Steven Bourgoin wasn't suicidal, he wasn't rageful, he was psychotic," said defense attorney Robert Katims, who said Bourgoin didn't know he was driving the wrong way. But the state said the evidence does not support that conclusion. "An accident did not kill these kids. Mr. Bourgoin did," said Chittenden County State's Attorney Sarah George. FILE - In this May 15, 2019 file photo, Steven Bourgoin, left, greets his defense attorney Robert Katims during his murder trial in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington, Vt. Closing arguments are expected Monday, May 20 in the trial of Bourgoin, a Vermont man facing murder charges in the deaths of five teenagers after he drove the wrong way on Interstate 89. (Glenn Russell/VTDigger.org via AP, Pool, File) Prosecutors allege that Bourgoin left his home that night, got onto the interstate going south and then turned around, heading north at speeds approaching 90 miles per hour (145 kph) in the southbound lane and colliding with the car that carried the five teenagers. The crash killed Mary Harris, 16, of Moretown; Cyrus Zschau, 16, of Moretown; Liam Hale, 16, of Fayston; Janie Cozzi, 15, of Fayston; and Eli Brookens, 16, of Waterbury. Four of the teenagers attended Harwood Union High School in Duxbury. Cozzi attended Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. Bourgoin told the judge Monday he would not testify at the trial. He has pleaded not guilty to five counts of second-degree murder and other charges. Mental health experts have different opinions about Bourgoin's mental state. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) - A Syrian asylum seeker in Sweden received Monday a 12-year prison sentence for planning to explode one or more bombs in the Danish capital of Copenhagen and stabbing random people with kitchen knives. The Copenhagen City Court said Moyed Al Zoebi, 32, acted on behalf of the Islamic State group. The court found him guilty last month. Throughout the trial, Al Zoebi denied any wrongdoing. He appealed Monday's ruling. Al Zoebi had an accomplice, Dieab Khadigah, who was sentenced in Germany in July 2017 to a prison term of six-and-a-half years. After an internet chat, they were to gather in Copenhagen on Nov. 16, 2016 for the attack in an unknown place in the Danish capital. However, Khadigah was arrested in Germany as he tried to enter Denmark with a backpack containing 17,000 matches, 17 batteries, fireworks, two kitchen knives and six walkie-talkies that Al Zoebi who lives in southern Sweden, had ordered. Al Zoebi, who Swedish intelligence said sympathized with the Islamic State group, was arrested in December 2017 by Danish police. Earlier that year, Al Zoebi had been acquitted of arson of a Shiite mosque in the southern Swedish city of Malmo. The three judges and the 12-man jury also ruled Al Zoebi should be expelled from Denmark after serving his time. In April, the court said the attack was not carried out because Khadigah had been apprehended but that there "clearly" was an attempt to carry out an act of terror. APPLETON, Wis. (AP) - Residents of a Wisconsin city have paid their final respects to a firefighter who was killed after a shootout occurred between police and a suspect. Hundreds lined a procession route for Mitch Lundgaard, 36, that wound through Appleton on Monday, starting at a funeral home and ending at Appleton Alliance Church, where a visitation was held. Lundgaard will be taken back to the funeral home following an evening service, which is not open to the public. Lundgaard's family released a statement saying the "outpouring of support" from the community in the past week "has been astonishing to us." Sheila Stojak of Grand Chute told the Post Crescent she came to "honor someone that's given his life for all of us, so that we can be safe." Retired firefighter Linda Femal said the death of Lundgaard, a 14-year veteran of the Appleton Fire Department, hits "close to home." "You never think maybe you can die in a fire, but not a shooting. You're just going to a medical call and he ends up losing his life," said Femal, who attended the procession to show her support. The funeral procession for Appleton firefighter Mitchell F. Lundgaard, makes its way down West Wisconsin Avenue toward the Appleton Alliance Church on Monday, May 20, 2019, in Appleton, Wis. The 14-year veteran of the Appleton Fire Department was fatally shot while responding to a medical emergency at the downtown Valley Transit Center on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 in Appleton, Wis. (Danny Damiani/The Post-Crescent via AP) About 90 minutes after the public visitation began, the city reported the church was at capacity and asked the community not to go there because there was not enough time to get everyone through. The husband and father of three was killed Thursday in the crossfire of a gunfight between police and a Wausau man who also died in the exchange of gunfire. Lundgaard was the first Appleton firefighter in 86 years to die in the line of duty. Shawmar, from left, Yolanda and Celaisha Fordham watch the funeral procession for Appleton firefighter Mitchell F. Lundgaard, at the Appleton Alliance Church on Monday, May 20, 2019, in Grand Chute, Wis.The 14-year veteran of the Appleton Fire Department was fatally shot while responding to a medical emergency at the downtown Valley Transit Center on May 15, in Appleton, Wis. (William Glasheen/The Post-Crescent via AP) The casket of Appleton firefighter Mitchell F. Lundgaard appears at the Appleton Alliance Church on Monday, May 20, 2019, in Grand Chute, Wis. The 14-year veteran of the Appleton Fire Department was fatally shot while responding to a medical emergency at the downtown Valley Transit Center on May 15, in Appleton, Wis. (William Glasheen/The Post-Crescent via AP) Firefighters attend the funeral for Appleton firefighter Mitchell F. Lundgaard, at the Appleton Alliance Church on Monday, May 20, 2019, in Grand Chute, Wis. The 14-year veteran of the Appleton Fire Department was fatally shot while responding to a medical emergency at the downtown Valley Transit Center on May 15, in Appleton, Wis. (William Glasheen/The Post-Crescent via AP) Members of the community gather along West Wisconsin Avenue during the funeral procession for Appleton firefighter Mitchell F. Lundgaard, as it makes its way toward the Appleton Alliance Church on Monday, May 20, 2019, in Appleton, Wis. The 14-year veteran of the Appleton Fire Department was fatally shot while responding to a medical emergency at the downtown Valley Transit Center on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 in Appleton, Wis. (Danny Damiani/The Post-Crescent via AP) This undated photo provided by the Appleton, Wis., Police Department shows Appleton firefighter Mitch Lundgaard. Lundgaard was killed in a shooting at a Wisconsin bus station while responding to an emergency call Wednesday, May 15, 2019. A call to assist a man thought to be having a medical emergency on a bus escalated into a shooting that ended with the man and Lundgaard dead and two others hurt. (Appleton Police Department via AP) A sign reading "Our thoughts are with you" stands along the funeral procession route on West Wisconsin Avenue for Appleton firefighter Mitchell F. Lundgaard as the procession heads toward the Appleton Alliance Church on Monday, May 20, 2019, in Appleton, Wis. The 14-year veteran of the Appleton Fire Department was fatally shot while responding to a medical emergency at the downtown Valley Transit Center on Wednesday, May 15, 2019 in Appleton, Wis. (Danny Damiani/The Post-Crescent via AP) MATARAM, Indonesia (AP) - An Indonesian court on Monday sentenced a Frenchman to death for smuggling 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of drugs to the tourist island of Lombok, even though prosecutors had only sought a 20-year sentence. Felix Dorfin, 35, sat silently when a panel of three judges handed down the punishment. He declined to speak to reporters on his way back to prison from Mataram District Court. In their verdict, the judges concluded that Dorfin had weakened the government's drug prevention program and could have a bad influence on young people. "He is legally and convincingly guilty of importing narcotics to Indonesia," said Presiding Judge Isnurul Syamsul Arif. "We found no reason to lighten his sentence." Prosecutors had requested a 20-year prison term for Dorfin, who was arrested last September when customs officers at Lombok's airport discovered methylenedioxy methamphetamine worth $220,600 and 22 ecstasy pills in his suitcase. Dorfin, who is from Bethune, a city in northern France, maintained in court that he had been asked by someone to carry the suitcase and did not know it contained drugs. His lawyer said he would appeal. French national Felix Dorfin, left, is accompanied by an interpreter during his sentencing hearing at a district court in Mataram, Lombok Island, Indonesia, Monday, May 20, 2019. The court on Monday sentenced Dorfin to death for smuggling 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) of drugs to the tourist island of Lombok, even though prosecutors had only sought a 20-year sentence. (AP Photo) Dorfin had managed to escape from a police detention center in January by punching holes in his cell window, allegedly with help from a female police officer who received money from him. He was recaptured near a forested mountain on Lombok island, next to Bali, after spending 10 days on the run. The police officer was arrested. Indonesia has extremely strict drug laws, and convicted smugglers are sometimes executed. More than 150 people are currently on death row, mostly for drug crimes. About one-third of them are foreigners. EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) - A restored World War II naval vessel will move to a more prominent location along the Ohio River in Evansville in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The LST 325 troop landing ship will be docked at the former site of the Tropicana Evansville casino boat June 6-9. Free tours of the ship will be offered. The ship took part in the 1944 D-Day landings in France and was brought back to the U.S. from Greece in 2001 to be restored. The Evansville Courier & Press reports city officials had hoped to have the ship permanently moved there by the D-Day anniversary, but a number of delays have postponed that from happening until the end of the year. The ship has been docked a few miles (kilometers) upriver since 2005. ___ Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com BAMAKO, Mali (AP) - Authorities in Mali say at least seven people are dead after an attack in Koury, near the West African country's troubled border with Burkina Faso. Amadou Sangho, spokesman for the Interior Security Ministry, said the dead include four civilians, two gendarmes and a customs official. The attack took place Sunday night when gunmen on motorcycles opened fire, killing seven people. A similar attack happened in Boura, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) away but no one was killed. There was no immediate claim of responsibility though Islamic extremists are known to be active along the porous border with Burkina Faso. Sunday's violence marked the first time that government buildings in the Sikasso region of southern Mail had been attacked in the last four years. INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (AP) - A judge has refused to delay sentencing for a northern Iowa farmer who appeared on ABC's "The Bachelor" and who was involved in a fatal crash. Thirty-seven-year-old Chris Soules pleaded guilty Nov. 13 to a reduced charge of leaving the scene of a serious injury accident. His lawyers had sought the sentencing delay, citing the prosecution's lack of response to a motion regarding a presentence investigation. The judge denied the request last week and said the sentencing will be held Tuesday as scheduled in a Buchanan County courtroom in Independence. Soules appeared on "The Bachelor" and "Dancing With The Stars" in 2015. He was arrested after he rear-ended a tractor on April 24, 2017, killing 66-year-old Kenny Mosher. Soules called 911, performed CPR on Mosher and waited for first responders but left before officers arrived. ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan's ministry of petroleum says authorities are ending offshore drilling off the Karachi coast in the Arabian Sea after no reservoirs of oil or gas were found. The news was a setback for Pakistan, which had placed high hopes in the project discovering enough oil for its needs. The ministry said in Sunday's statement that the drilling, which began in January, was a joint venture of Exxon Mobil, ENI and two Pakistani companies. It said the oil exploration well will be plugged and abandoned. Energy-starved Pakistan has large reservoirs of natural gas. But large oil fields are yet to be found in Pakistan, which has made several unsuccessful attempts to find oil in the Arabian sea. The country imports most of its oil from the Mideast, including Saudi Arabia. DETROIT (AP) - Ford revealed details of its long-awaited restructuring plan Monday as it prepared for a future of electric and autonomous vehicles by parting ways with 7,000 white-collar workers worldwide, about 10% of its global salaried workforce. The major revamp, which had been under way since last year, will save about $600 million per year by eliminating bureaucracy and increasing the number of workers reporting to each manager. In the U.S. about 2,300 jobs will be cut through buyouts and layoffs, Ford said. About 1,500 have left voluntarily or with buyouts, while another 300 have already been laid off. About 500 workers will be let go starting this week, largely in and around the company's headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, just outside Detroit. All will get severance packages. The layoffs are coming across a broad swath of the company including engineering, product development, marketing, information technology, logistics, finance and other areas. But the company also said it is hiring in some critical areas including those developing software and dealing with self-driving and electric vehicles. In a memo to employees, Monday, CEO Jim Hackett said the fourth and final wave of the restructuring will start on Tuesday, with the majority of U.S. cuts being finished by May 24. "To succeed in our competitive industry, and position Ford to win in a fast-charging future, we must reduce bureaucracy, empower managers, speed decision making and focus on the most valuable work, and cost cuts," Hackett wrote. FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2018, file photo Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett prepares to address the media at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Ford is cutting about 7,000 white-collar jobs, which would make up 10% of its global workforce. The company has said it was undertaking a major restructuring, and on Monday, May 20, 2019, said that it will have trimmed thousands of jobs by August. In a memo to employees, Monday, Hackett said the fourth wave of the restructuring will start on Tuesday, May 21 with the majority of cuts being finished by May 24. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File) It's the second set of layoffs recently for Detroit-area automakers, even though the companies are making healthy profits. Sales in the U.S., where the automakers get most of their revenue, have fallen slightly but still are strong. In November, General Motors announced it would shed up to 14,000 workers as it cut expenses to prepare for a shift to electric and autonomous vehicles. The layoffs included closure of five factories in the U.S. and Canada and cuts of another 8,000 white-collar workers worldwide. About 6,000 blue-collar positions were cut, but most of laid-off factory workers in the U.S. will be placed at other plants mainly that build trucks and SUVs. Both companies have said the cuts are needed because they face huge capital expenditures to update current vehicles and develop them for the future. At GM, the cuts brought withering criticism from President Donald Trump and Congress, especially the closing of a small-car factory in Lordstown, Ohio. Trump campaigned on bringing factory jobs back to the industrial Midwest. GM has since announced a possible deal to sell the Lordstown plant to a startup electric vehicle maker, but it hasn't been finalized. Ford's white-collar employees had been fearful since last July when the company said the restructuring would cost $7 billion in cash and hit pretax earnings by $11 billion over the next three to five years. Many have been upset that it took so long for the company to make decisions. Factory workers have not been affected by the restructuring thus far, as the company has retooled car plants so they can build more popular trucks and SUVs. The layoffs, while large, weren't as bad as many had expected. Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Jonas predicted 25,000 white-collar job cuts late last year, a number that Ford would not deny. Back in March, Hackett had told employees that Ford had added too many workers after the Great Recession, going from 160,000 worldwide in 2009 back to about 200,000 as the economy improved. While Ford was growing, its revenue growth didn't justify adding that many employees, he explained. In Monday's memo, Hackett said that Ford is departing from past practices and letting laid-off employees stay a few days to wrap up their jobs and say good-bye to colleagues. In the past, laid-off workers would have had to pack up and leave immediately. "Ford is a family company and saying goodbye to colleagues is difficult and emotional," Hackett wrote. Hackett told workers that under the restructuring, managers now will have seven people reporting to them on average, up from five before changes were initiated began. That reduces management bureaucracy by one-third from before the "Smart Redesign" began. Before the restructuring, Ford had 14 organizational layers, but that will drop to nine or less by the end of the year, Hackett's memo said. Shares of Ford closed Monday down slightly to $10.28. MEXICO CITY (AP) - A U.N. commission on Monday presented a roadmap to boost economic development in three Central American nations whose poverty and violence now pushes desperate migrants to travel across Mexico to the United States. The plan calls for hefty increases in social spending, tackling corruption and improving security - as well as a hefty dose of financial support and investment, possibly from the United States. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the plan laid out by the United Nations' Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) was the United States' best option for stemming the flow of immigrants. "It goes to the root of the problem," Lopez Obrador said. "People migrate out of necessity, for a lack of job opportunities or because of violence." The U.N.'s regional economic arm developed the plan after Lopez Obrador announced the idea of developing southern Mexico together with Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador upon taking office in December. The diagnosis was that a lack of economic growth, staggering inequality, swollen cities and ignored rural areas, combined with droughts, floods, oppressive violence and the possibility of much higher pay in the U.S., propel hundreds of thousands of people north. FILE - In this April 23, 2019 file photo, Central American migrants ride a freight train on their way to the U.S.-Mexico border, in Ixtepec, Oaxaca state, Mexico. Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Monday, May 20,2019 that U.S. support for economic development in Mexico and Central America is the best option for stemming the flow of immigrants, meanwhile the U.S. and Mexico are discussing an arrangement under which the U.S. government would guarantee some $10 billion in development investments for Mexico and Central America. (AP Photo/Moises Castillo, File) "We're not going to stop it at the end of the day, but we can certainly change the nature," said Alicia Barcena, executive secretary of ECLAC. To do so, Mexico and the Northern Triangle governments need to up their social spending, create an environment for economic development, invest in the energy sector and improve logistics, Barcena said. They need to provide security for their people, better address natural disasters amplified by climate change and integrate their economies. Mexico foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard estimated the plan would require $10 billion in annual investment over a decade. There are many obstacles, and many of the goals echo previous proposals to develop the region. Creating an environment to attract international investment requires tackling corruption. While Lopez Obrador has made that a priority of his young government, Guatemalan officials are expelling a U.N. anti-corruption mission that has successfully helped prosecute some of the country's most powerful figures. El Salvador is waiting for its new president to take office in July and Guatemala has presidential elections scheduled for June. Many Honduran migrants travelling in caravans in recent months cite that country's corruption among their motivations for leaving. Asked where the money would come from, Barcena said governments and international organizations have been waiting for a plan and now that there is one, they can work on getting financial commitments. The U.S. and Mexico have been discussing an arrangement under which the U.S. government would guarantee some $10 billion in development investments for Mexico and Central America. The Mexican president repeated his desire to shift U.S. aid from security to economic development. "This is also an option for them (United States), an alternative, the best," Lopez Obrador said. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the family name of the ECLAC executive secretary is Barcena. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Lawmakers in New York are seeking to sharply narrow a proposal that would grant congressional committees access to state tax returns filed by President Donald Trump to address concerns that it could jeopardize the privacy of anyone who pays taxes in the state. Amendments filed over the weekend would revise the bill, so it applies to elected leaders and top public officials like judges, as well as companies in which they have significant ownership or control. The change, expected to be supported by the Democrat-led Senate and Assembly, could ease the way for passage of the overall bill as early as this week. Under earlier wording, the bill would have applied to any individual or corporation that pays New York taxes. Democrats say the measure is needed to give congressional committees access to Trump's tax information despite the Republican administration's refusal to hand over his federal returns. Trump has long filed taxes in New York as a resident of the state. He is the first president since Watergate to decline to make his returns public, often claiming that he would release them if he were not under audit. Republicans had denounced the bill as an overly broad, partisan attack on the president that could expose all New Yorkers to harassment by Congress. The bill passed the Senate with its original wording earlier this month and was poised for a vote in the Assembly. Assemblyman David Buchwald, D-Westchester County, said he believes that with the amendment, the measure should pass. "We recognize that in order to hold top public officials to account for transparency purposes, we could cast a net that didn't necessarily implicate the privacy concerns of all New Yorkers," he told The Associated Press Monday. The bill is tentatively scheduled for consideration in both the Senate and Assembly on Wednesday. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, supports the principle behind the bill but will carefully review its details before deciding whether to sign it, according to spokesman Jason Conwall. Supporters and tax law experts interviewed by the AP had said the privacy concerns were overblown, since Congress already has the power to inspect a taxpayer's federal returns - unless the Treasury Department refuses their request, as they have done with Trump's. "This power already exists. The issue here is that there's one person on earth - or maybe a handful - who have immunity," said Fordham University Law Professor Jed Shugerman. The request for tax returns, which would have to come in writing, would only be granted if it is deemed to have a "specified and legitimate" purpose. State tax officials would be directed to redact information such as Social Security numbers that they deem to be private. All sides expect legal challenges and requests for injunctions if the bill is signed into law, meaning it could be several months before any state tax returns are handed over. The White House did not return message seeking comment on the New York legislation. "There's no doubt," Buchwald said when asked whether he expects a legal challenge. "The president has always been a litigious person. He often loses those lawsuits. But that doesn't stop the lawsuit." Republicans in New York said their concerns about the earlier bill language went far behind partisan politics. "We're going to let them, political hacks, decide when they want to invade your privacy," Sen. Andrew Lanza, R-Staten Island, said during floor debate on the bill. "Today, it's because you are a Democrat, tomorrow it's because you're a Republican, the next day it's because you want to run for Congress." Lanza said Monday that he will closely review the new version of the bill to ensure New Yorkers are protected. Congress may not even take advantage of the law if it passes. Under the bill, only the chairs of three specific committees may make a written request for New York returns: Senate Finance, House Ways and Means, and the Joint Committee on Taxation. The leader of one of them, Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-Massachusetts, has signaled he's not interested. Neal has issued subpoenas for six years of Trump's tax documents, but Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has so far resisted, saying Congress' request "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose." But another top Democrat in the House, House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, has touted the bill as "a workaround to a White House that continues to obstruct and stonewall the legitimate oversight work of Congress." He noted that the state return would "generally match" the federal return. Democrats are eager to get ahold of the returns, which could reveal details about his business dealings, his debts and how much of his money came from international sources. HOUSTON (AP) - A 16-year-old Guatemala migrant who died Monday in U.S. custody had been held by immigration authorities for six days - twice as long as federal law generally permits - then transferred him to another holding facility even after he was diagnosed with the flu. The teenager, identified by U.S. Customs and Border Protection as Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez, was the fifth minor from Guatemala to die after being apprehended by U.S. border agents since December. Advocates demanded that President Donald Trump's administration act to safeguard the lives of children in detention as border crossings surge and the U.S. Border Patrol detains thousands of families at a time in overcrowded facilities, tents, and outdoor spaces. "We should all be outraged and demand that those responsible for his well-being be held accountable," said Efren Olivares, a lawyer with the Texas Civil Rights Project. "If these were white children that were dying at this rate, people would be up in arms," he said. "We see this callous disregard for brown, Spanish-speaking children." John Sanders, CBP's acting commissioner, said in a statement that his agency was "saddened by the tragic loss of this young man and our condolences are with his family." This May 20, 2019 photo shows the Border Patrol Station in Weslaco, Texas. The U.S. government says a 16-year-old from Guatemala died at the Border Patrol station, becoming the fifth death of a migrant child since December. U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a statement that Border Patrol apprehended the teenager in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley on May 13. The agency says the teenager was found unresponsive Monday morning during a welfare check. (Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP) "CBP is committed to the health, safety and humane treatment of those in our custody," Sanders said. Border Patrol agents said Carlos was apprehended on May 13 in South Texas' Rio Grande Valley after crossing the border illegally. He was taken to the agency's central processing center in McAllen, Texas, a converted warehouse where hundreds of adults and children are held in large, fenced-in pens and sleep on mats. CBP said Carlos was processed as a minor unaccompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Federal law and CBP's guidelines generally require that unaccompanied youth be transferred within three days to a facility operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A CBP official who declined to be named in order to brief reporters said Carlos was awaiting transfer to HHS custody on Thursday, three days after his apprehension. At the time of his death, Carlos was supposed to be sent to Southwest Key Casa Padre, a 1,400-person facility inside an old Walmart in Brownsville, Texas, the official said. Mark Weber, a spokesman for HHS, did not address in a statement why the teenager wasn't transferred sooner, but said a "minority of cases exceeding 72 hours have generally involved exceptional circumstances." CBP said Carlos reported early Sunday morning that he was not feeling well and diagnosed with the flu by a nurse practitioner. He was prescribed the medicine Tamiflu, then transferred later Sunday to the Border Patrol station at Weslaco, Texas, to prevent his flu from spreading to other detainees. He was not hospitalized, according to the agency official who briefed reporters. The official said CBP facilities have medical providers who can monitor detainees, though the official did not know what specific symptoms Carlos had. Carlos had last been checked an hour before he was found unresponsive. Asked about the death, Trump blamed Democrats, saying they are refusing to approve changes that could improve the system. "The Democrats are really making it very, very dangerous for people by not approving simple quick 15 minutes legislation, we could have it all worked out," Trump said. His administration has called for legislation that would allow it to detain migrant families for longer and expedite deportations, which Democrats oppose The FBI is investigating the latest migrant death, as are local police and the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general. Guatemala's foreign ministry said the teenager was from Baja Verapaz, north of Guatemala City, and was seeking to reunite with family in the U.S. already. The U.S. government has faced months of scrutiny over its care of children it apprehends at the border. A 2-year-old child died last week after he and his mother were detained by the Border Patrol. The agency says it took the child to the hospital the same day the mother reported he was sick, and he was hospitalized for several weeks. On April 30, a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy died after officials at an HHS detention facility noticed that he was sick. He was hospitalized in intensive care for several days before his death. After the deaths of two children ages 7 and 8 in December, the DHS ordered medical checks of all children in its custody and expanded medical screenings. Trump administration officials have said they have passed a "breaking point" in the immigration detention system, with the numbers of parents and children crossing the border dramatically exceeding the capacity at facilities. That strain is particularly acute in the Rio Grande Valley, which has more unauthorized border crossings than any other region. The Border Patrol has released photos of adults and children lying in small, military-style tents or on the grass and pavement outside of two of its stations. It also recently opened a 500-person tent near one port of entry and announced plans to open another. Amnesty International said in a statement that Carlos' death "leads us to wonder how many deaths it will take for the administration to ensure the safety and security of children." "It is dangerous and cruel to detain people, particularly children, in crowded and unsanitary conditions for seeking protection," the organization said. CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Monday celebrated the anniversary of his disputed re-election amid a growing humanitarian crisis and political upheaval. Maduro tweeted that the May 20, 2018, election, was a "victory" for Venezuelans, though the opposition and many countries have derided it as unfair. In a speech at a government-organized rally, Maduro said he is prepared to face the opposition in legislative elections, though he has made similar challenges in the past while dismissing allegations that his re-election was fixed. He referred to a recent effort by Norway to mediate between Venezuela's opposing factions and said he favored dialogue, though critics accuse him of using past negotiations to play for time. "Why don't they respond when I make this proposal?" Maduro said of his election offer to the opposition, which is demanding that he step down to make way for a transitional government before elections can be held. Meanwhile, members of a loyalist assembly assigned by Maduro to write a new constitution decided to extend their work until the end of 2020. The assembly rivals the opposition-controlled congress, headed by Juan Guaido, that says Maduro has steered Venezuela toward authoritarian rule and ruined the economy. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures a heart symbol to supporters outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 20, 2109. Maduro is celebrating the anniversary of his disputed re-election amid a growing humanitarian crisis and political upheaval. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) The United States has imposed sanctions on Venezuela in a bid to unseat Maduro, compounding the problems of the country's deteriorating oil industry. Maduro says Guaido is a pawn in a U.S. coup plot. Also Monday, Carlos Vecchio, a government opponent who the U.S. recognizes as Venezuela's ambassador, met with Pentagon officials at the request of Guaido. The U.S. has insisted "all options" are on the table for dealing with Venezuela's crisis and Guaido in recent weeks has publicly speculated about the idea of requesting foreign military assistance to help rid Venezuela of Maduro. Even so, the U.S. says it is focusing on diplomatic and economic pressure on Maduro, and there are no indications of any military buildup. Maduro's re-election to a second six-year term lies at the heart of Venezuela's political standoff, in which Guaido has sought unsuccessfully to get the military command to support him. The opposition leader's failed call for a military uprising on April 30 was followed by deadly clashes between police and protesters. Ahead of Maduro's 2018 re-election, the main opposition coalition refused to field a candidate, saying there was no possibility of a fair vote. The government had previously stacked the electoral council and judiciary with its supporters, and the opposition's most combative leaders were banned from participating, imprisoned or exiled. ___ Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda in Caracas contributed to this report. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks to supporters outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 20, 2109. Maduro is celebrating the anniversary of his disputed re-election amid a growing humanitarian crisis and political upheaval. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) A supporter of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro shouts his support for him outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 20, 2109. Maduro is celebrating the anniversary of his disputed re-election amid a growing humanitarian crisis and political upheaval. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 20, 2109. Maduro is celebrating the anniversary of his disputed re-election amid a growing humanitarian crisis and political upheaval. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Members of the Bolivarian Militia and supporters of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro particiapte in a rally outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 20, 2109. Maduro is celebrating the anniversary of his disputed re-election amid a growing humanitarian crisis and political upheaval. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro flashes a victory sign, as he holds hands with his wife Cilia Flores, outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 20, 2109. Maduro is celebrating the anniversary of his disputed re-election amid a growing humanitarian crisis and political upheaval. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro speaks to supporters outside Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, May 20, 2109. Maduro is celebrating the anniversary of his disputed re-election amid a growing humanitarian crisis and political upheaval. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump directed his former White House Counsel Donald McGahn to defy a congressional subpoena Monday, citing a Justice Department legal opinion that maintains McGahn would have immunity from testifying about his work as a close Trump adviser. A lawyer for McGahn said he would follow the president's wishes and skip a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday. Trump's action, the latest in his efforts to block every congressional probe into him and his administration, is certain to deepen the open conflict between Democrats and the president. Democrats have accused Trump and Attorney General William Barr of trying to stonewall and obstruct Congress' oversight duties. The House Judiciary Committee had issued a subpoena to compel McGahn to testify Tuesday, and the committee's chairman, Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., has threatened to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress if he doesn't. Nadler has also suggested he may try and levy fines against witnesses who do not comply with committee requests. McGahn's lawyer, William Burck, said in a letter to Nadler that McGahn is "conscious of the duties he, as an attorney, owes to his former client" and would decline to appear. Still, Burck encouraged the committee to negotiate a compromise with the White House, saying his client "again finds himself facing contradictory instructions from two co-equal branches of government." McGahn was a key figure in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, describing ways in which the president sought to curtail that federal probe. Democrats hoped to question him as a way to focus attention on Mueller's findings and further investigate whether Trump did obstruct justice. FILE - In this Sept. 4, 2018 file photo, White House counsel Don McGahn, listens as he attends a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) "This move is just the latest act of obstruction from the White House that includes its blanket refusal to cooperate with this committee," Nadler said in a statement. "It is also the latest example of this Administration's disdain for law." As he left the White House for a campaign event in Pennsylvania on Monday, Trump said the maneuver was "for the office of the presidency for future presidents." "I think it's a very important precedent," Trump said. "And the attorneys say that they're not doing that for me, they're doing that for the office of the president. So we're talking about the future." Separately on Monday, a federal judge in Washington ruled against Trump in a financial records dispute, declaring the president cannot block a House subpoena for information from Mazars USA, a firm that has done accounting work for him and the Trump Organization. And a hearing is planned in New York on Wednesday in another case, this one involving an effort by Trump, his business and his family to prevent Deutsche Bank and Capital One from complying with subpoenas from two House committees for banking and financial records. If McGahn were to defy Trump and testify before Congress, it could endanger his own career in Republican politics and put his law firm, Jones Day, in the president's crosshairs. Trump has mused about instructing Republicans to cease dealing with the firm, which is deeply intertwined in Washington with the GOP, according to one White House official and a Republican close to the White House not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations. Administration officials mulled various legal options before settling on providing McGahn with a legal opinion from the Department of Justice to justify defying the subpoena. "The immunity of the President's immediate advisers from compelled congressional testimony on matters related to their official responsibilities has long been recognized and arises from the fundamental workings of the separation of powers," the department's opinion reads. "Accordingly, Mr. McGahn is not legally required to appear and testify about matters related to his official duties as Counsel to the President." The Judiciary Committee still plans on meeting even if McGahn doesn't show up and McGahn "is expected to appear as legally required," Nadler said. Trump has fumed about McGahn for months, after it became clear that much of Mueller's report was based on his testimony. The president has bashed his former White House counsel on Twitter and has insisted to advisers that the attorney not be allowed to humiliate him in front of Congress, much as his former personal legal fixer Michael Cohen did, according to the official and Republican. The Justice Department has long held the opinion that close presidential advisers have "absolute immunity" from being compelled to testify before Congress about their work for the president. A federal judge rejected a similar argument in 2008 in a dispute over a subpoena for Harriet Miers, who was White House counsel to George W. Bush. U.S. District Judge John Bates said it was an unprecedented notion that a White House official would be absolutely immune from being compelled to testify before Congress. Miers had to show up for her testimony, but still had the right to assert executive privilege in response to any specific questions posed by legislators, the judge said. But in 2014, under the Obama administration, the Justice Department issued an opinion arguing that if Congress could force the president's closest advisers to testify about matters that happened during their tenure, it would "threaten executive branch confidentiality, which is necessary (among other things) to ensure that the President can obtain the type of sound and candid advice that is essential to the effective discharge of his constitutional duties." The House Judiciary Committee voted earlier this month to hold Attorney General Barr in contempt after he defied a subpoena for an unredacted version of Mueller's report. ___ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro and Mark Sherman contributed to this report. SEATTLE (AP) - Workers at a $1.7 billion polysilicon plant in central Washington believe President Donald Trump's trade war with China may be their best chance for staying employed. Unable to compete with Chinese factories aided by government subsidies and high tariffs, REC Silicon is shutting down the facility, which makes products used in solar panels. The company, which once numbered 500 workers, is keeping its remaining 200 on the payroll for six weeks in hopes that pressure from Trump will force China to make a trade deal. But the prospects are uncertain. For other industries, the administration's policies have been tough medicine, showing the complicated effects of tariffs in one of the nation's most trade-dependent states. Washington's overseas shipments of apples, dairy, seafood and wheat have plummeted. China has hinted it might order fewer Boeing planes, which make up a huge part of the state's exports. A popular fishing boat company has seen orders canceled, a cooperative of Northwest dairy farmers has had to find alternative foreign markets, and a Seattle-based electric bike company, Rad Power Bikes, has curbed expansion plans. "Certainly there are a couple companies that say, 'Gee, I like that protection,'" said Robert Hamilton, Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee's trade adviser. "But for many others it's not been good. They have to increase cost to their customers or absorb the costs of the tariffs. Many have investment plans, and now all of a sudden their exports are down and the cash flow they were going to use to finance their investment is shaky." Washington exported more than $70 billion in goods last year, which accounted for 5% of American goods exported overall and 14% of U.S. goods exported to China. An analysis by Hamilton roughly estimated that tariffs imposed by countries including China, Mexico and Canada in response to those imposed by Trump had already displaced 1,500 jobs in Washington. In this photo taken Wednesday, May 15, 2019, customer Torre Treece, left, talks with Rad Power Bikes sales associate Becs Richards about the two electric bikes he bought at the shop in Seattle. The bicycle company said that they will absorb 100% of any tariff on their Chinese-made bicycles. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) According to the Washington Council on International Trade, 40% of jobs are linked to international trade. Among them are those at REC Silicon, a Norway-based company that for years has been one of the top-paying employers in Moses Lake, a farming city in central Washington. Earlier this decade, the company, which prides itself on producing solar-grade polysilicon more efficiently than competitors, did about $600 million in annual sales to China. But in 2014, after the U.S. imposed tariffs on Chinese solar panels, China retaliated with extremely high tariffs on U.S. polysilicon. REC was essentially blocked from the Chinese market, said Francine Sullivan, REC's vice president of business development. Last year, Trump levied a 30% tariff on solar panels. The solar industry has blamed the tariffs for delays and cancellations of major projects, but Sullivan calls Trump's efforts "the only hope we have." "He's trying to reopen markets that have been unfairly closed," she said. In the rural northeastern town of Colville, workers at Hewes Marine cut, bend and weld sheets of aluminum into fishing boats admired by anglers throughout the Northwest. There, Trump's approach has been less welcome. Retaliation by Canada for Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs raised prices on the company's boats north of the border. Trump's decision last week to rescind the tariffs - and Canada's reciprocation - will help, but market anxiety over the trade war with China has also cut into sales, said Clint Kirry, Hewes' marketing director. Many Hewes customers are older workers or retirees who have long saved for a boat, but might balk at spending $30,000 to $200,000 for a boat when their retirement accounts seem unstable, he said. "We're in a 6,000-person town, with the one Walmart, and the one McDonald's, and the two small manufacturers here," Kirry said. "We crank out some fantastic products, but we're just getting punched in the mouth because of these tariffs and threats of tariffs." Stan Ryan, chief executive at Darigold, a cooperative of Northwest dairy farmers, said the organization was so hopeful of growing its business in China that last summer it opened an office in Shanghai - about the same time China increased tariffs on dairy from 10% to 25% in response to tariffs imposed by Trump. The coop's $50 million in sales to China dried up; its roughly two dozen customers found other suppliers. Nevertheless, many Washington dairy farmers support the trade war; China has given preferential treatment to Australian and New Zealand dairy products, Ryan said. "It's difficult in the short term, but they understand that and they're supportive of getting to a level playing field," he said. Washington winemakers are in a similar boat. Exports to China represented a small but rapidly growing percentage of their business, but the duties now total 91%, making the cost of the bottle on the shelf prohibitive, said Josh McDonald of the Washington Wine Institute. China doesn't impose tariffs on other key winegrowing nations, he said. As in other industries, tariffs undercut relationships U.S. winemakers have with importers and distributors in China, he said. Even if the tariffs do get erased, it's unclear how long it will take to re-establish those relationships. Tom Dugan, chief executive of DeLille Cellars in Woodinville, said his winery had been hoping to get a big order from China this year, but just canceled a June marketing trip because it now seems unlikely. In the meantime, DeLille is looking toward other Asian markets. "We're hopeful it gets resolved," Dugan said. "There's not an alternative to China. There are maybe several alternatives that don't add up to China." In this photo taken Wednesday, May 15, 2019, a Rad Power Bikes sales associate stands with an electric bicycle he's delivering to a customer at the shop in Seattle, where the bicycle company said that they will absorb 100% of any tariff on their Chinese-made bicycles. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) FILE - In this July 24, 2013, file photo, a red combine harvests golden, ripe wheat while cresting a hilltop near the border of eastern Washington and Oregon just southwest of Walla Walla, Wash. From airplanes made by Boeing to apples, cherries and wheat grown by farmers, no other state is more dependent on international trade than Washington. As the tariff disputes escalate, small factories are closing and manufacturing behemoths like Boeing are increasingly worried about access to crucial Asian markets that have helped propel the state's booming economy. (Jeff Horner/Walla Walla Union-Bulletin via AP) In this photo taken Wednesday, May 15, 2019, electric bicycles are lined-up outside Rad Power Bikes in Seattle, where the bicycle company said that they will absorb 100% of any tariff on their Chinese-made bicycles. From airplanes made by Boeing to apples, cherries and wheat grown by farmers, no other state is more dependent on international trade than Washington. As the tariff disputes escalate, small factories are closing and manufacturing behemoths like Boeing are increasingly worried about access to crucial Asian markets that have helped propel the state's booming economy. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) FILE - In this April 8, 2019, file photo, Boeing 737 Max aircraft are parked at the airport adjacent to a Boeing Co. production facility in Renton, Wash. From airplanes made by Boeing to apples, cherries and wheat grown by farmers, no other state is more dependent on international trade than Washington. As the tariff disputes escalate, small factories are closing and manufacturing behemoths like Boeing are increasingly worried about access to crucial Asian markets that have helped propel the state's booming economy. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) FILE - In this April 10, 2019, file photo, a Boeing 737 Max 8 airplane being built for India-based Jet Airways lands following a test flight at Boeing Field in Seattle. From airplanes made by Boeing to apples, cherries and wheat grown by farmers, no other state is more dependent on international trade than Washington. As the tariff disputes escalate, small factories are closing and manufacturing behemoths like Boeing are increasingly worried about access to crucial Asian markets that have helped propel the state's booming economy. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2018, file photo, a lenticular cloud forms a cap atop Mount Rainier behind cranes that service container ships in Seattle. From airplanes made by Boeing to apples, cherries and wheat grown by farmers, no other state is more dependent on international trade than Washington. As the tariff disputes escalate, small factories are closing and manufacturing behemoths like Boeing are increasingly worried about access to crucial Asian markets that have helped propel the state's booming economy. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File) As long-simmering tensions heat up between the United States and Iran in the Middle East, a look at the various countries or players involved, and what could happen: UNITED STATES The U.S. has tens of thousands of troops scattered across military bases in the Middle East. It recently sent the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and strike group to the region, as well as B-52 bombers. That complements the warships of the 5th Fleet in Bahrain, the soldiers of U.S. Army Central in Kuwait, the drones and fighter jets stationed in the United Arab Emirates and the forward headquarters of the U.S. military's Central Command in Qatar. President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with attack if it first launches an assault on U.S. interests. However, Trump also has sought at times to soften his tone amid his maximum pressure campaign against Tehran, to go with additional sanctions that Washington has imposed after withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear deal that Iran reached with world powers. Analysts fear the chance of a miscalculation by either Iran or the U.S. amid the tensions. The U.S. also has developed cyberwarfare capabilities. ISRAEL Although Israel has been silent amid the recent tensions, it has played a key role in getting the region to this point. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who considers Iran to be his country's greatest enemy, welcomed Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal and encouraged renewed economic sanctions. Israeli officials have portrayed the standoff as a matter between Iran and the U.S. But if fighting breaks out, Israel could be targeted by Iran's regional proxies, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon or Islamic Jihad in Gaza. Israel has the Middle East's most powerful and advanced military, with F-15 and F-16 warplanes, as well as the next-generation F-35 fighter jet. It also has warships, submarines and long-range missiles. Israel has a missile-defense system capable of intercepting anything from long-range missiles to short-range rockets fired from Gaza or Lebanon. Israel is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal, which it neither confirms nor denies. Israel has acknowledged carrying out scores of attacks on Iranian targets in neighboring Syria, sometimes drawing retaliation. Israel, which has conducted pre-emptive bombings of nuclear facilities in Iraq and Syria, has vowed to never allow Iran to obtain an atomic weapon. It also has developed cyberwarfare capabilities. SAUDI ARABIA FILE - In this Nov. 28, 2018, file photo, an armed Saudi soldier holds a walkie-talkie near Mukalla, Yemen, at an airport now serving as a military base for the United Arab Emirates. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File) The Sunni rival to Shiite Iran, Saudi Arabia long has watched Tehran with suspicion since its 1979 Islamic Revolution. Relations have cooled and warmed in the last four decades. The U.S. push for the 2015 nuclear deal drew Saudi anger. Since the rise of King Salman and his assertive, 33-year-old son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom has taken a far-more militant line. It launched the war in Yemen, targeting Iranian-allied Houthi rebels. Prince Mohammed also compared Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Nazi Germany's Adolf Hitler. "We won't wait for the battle to be in Saudi Arabia," the prince told the Saudi-owned broadcasting company MBC in 2017. "Instead, we will work so that the battle is for them in Iran, not in Saudi Arabia." A top Saudi diplomat said the kingdom does not want war but won't hesitate to defend itself against Iran. Saudi Arabia has a fleet of over 250 fighter jets capable of launching a strike on Iran. UNITED ARAB EMIRATES The seven sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates have long historical ties to Iran, but diplomatic relations between Abu Dhabi and Tehran have worsened in recent years. Analysts believe Abu Dhabi's powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, largely runs day-to-day affairs and military strategy. In U.S. State Department cables released by WikiLeaks, Sheikh Mohammed painted a dire picture of Iran in multiple meetings. He told U.S. diplomats in 2009 he believed "'all hell will break loose' if Iran attains the bomb, with Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey developing their own nuclear weapons capability and Iran instigating Sunni-Shia conflict throughout the world." He also described a "near-term conventional war with Iran as clearly preferable to the long term consequences of a nuclear-armed Iran." The UAE under Sheikh Mohammed has rapidly modernized and expanded its military, with its special forces getting experience in Afghanistan. It now fights alongside Saudi Arabia against Yemen's Houthi rebels, has reportedly hired Colombian mercenaries and has over 130 fighter jets. IRAN Iran has both a standing military and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Estimates put its troop strength at over 500,000, with hundreds of thousands more in reserve. Its air force has suffered from Western sanctions, now having a fleet of mostly pre-1979 American fighter jets. However, the Guard maintains an arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of reaching across the wider Middle East, as well as increasingly modern drone fleet. Iran mustered human wave attacks during its 1980s war with neighboring Iraq. It also has additional reach through proxy forces throughout the region and has used that to its advantage over the years. It also has developed cyberwarfare capabilities. HEZBOLLAH Hezbollah, the most powerful and effective among Iranian-backed militias in the region, has kept quiet in recent days as tensions have spiked. Its leader, Hassan Nasrallah, however, has said in the past that Iran would not stand alone in any future confrontation with the U.S. The group, formed to combat Israel following its invasion of Lebanon in 1982, has tens of thousands of rockets and missiles that can reach deep into Israel, as well as thousands of disciplined and battle-hardened fighters. Hezbollah has fought alongside government forces in Syria for more than six years, gaining more experience and expanding its reach. Iran could mobilize Hezbollah to strike at Israel, which would dramatically expand the battlefield but likely draw retaliation that would be devastating for Lebanon. Hezbollah says it is not seeking another war with Israel, and it is not likely to join in any regional confrontation - at least not in the early stages - unless provoked. Hezbollah has lost hundreds of fighters in Syria, exacting a heavy toll on the Shiite community from which it draws most of its support. It is also feeling the crippling U.S. sanctions imposed on the group and its sponsor, Iran. SHIITE MILITIAS IN IRAQ Iran can count on the loyalty of tens of thousands of Shiite fighters in Iraq, militias collectively known as the Popular Mobilization forces, or Hashd al-Shaabi in Arabic. Trained, financed, and equipped by Iran, the militias battled U.S. forces in the years after the 2003 invasion and remobilized to battle the Islamic State group a decade later. The groups include Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Kataeb Hezbollah and the Badr Organization, all three led by men with close ties to Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the leader of Iran's elite Quds Force and the architect of Tehran's regional strategy. The militias were incorporated into Iraq's armed forces in 2016. Together they number more than 140,000 fighters, and while they fall under the authority of Iraq's prime minister, the PMF's top brass align politically with Iran. U.S. forces and the PMF fought side-by-side against IS militants after Iraq's parliament invited the U.S. back into the country in 2014. But now that the war is largely concluded, some militia leaders are calling on U.S. troops to leave again, threatening to expel them by force if necessary. On Sunday, a rocket was fired into Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, landing less than a mile from the U.S. Embassy. No group claimed responsibility, but an Iraqi military spokesman said the rocket was fired from eastern Baghdad, where many Iran-backed groups are based. YEMEN'S HOUTHI REBELS Yemen's Houthi rebels seized the country's capital, Sanaa, in 2014. It later pushed the country's internationally recognized government nearly into the sea in Aden before a Saudi-led coalition launched a war against them in March 2015. Since then, the Houthis have been effective guerrilla fighters with small arms, but also have launched ballistic missiles into neighboring Saudi Arabia. They've flown drones into Patriot missile batteries and exploded bomb-carrying ones over a military parade and a Saudi oil pipeline from a distance. U.N. experts believe their newest drone likely has a range of up to 1,500 kilometers (930 miles). They also have arms seized from Yemeni military barracks, including missiles fired at an Emirati ship, commercial boats and even once against a U.S. warship. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Karam reported from Beirut and Federman reported from Jerusalem. FILE - In this Sept. 17, 2015, file photo, an Emirati gunner watches for enemy fire from the rear gate of a United Arab Emirates Chinook military helicopter flying over Yemen. (AP Photo/Adam Schreck, File) FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2018, file photo, an Israeli soldier looks out from one of their new positions, near the southern border village of Mays al-Jabal, Lebanon. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File) FILE - This July 29, 2017 file photo, Hezbollah fighters stand near a four-wheel vehicle positioned at the site where clashes erupted between Hezbollah and al-Qaida-linked fighters in Wadi al-Kheil on the Lebanon-Syria border. From Lebanon and Syria to Iraq, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip, Iran has significantly expanded its footprint over the past decade, finding and developing powerful allies in conflict-ravaged countries across the Middle East. Iran has used groups like the Lebanese Hezbollah to strike its regional foes, and could mobilize them if the latest tensions with the United States lead to an armed conflict, dramatically expanding the battlefield. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein, File) FILE - This Jan. 3, 2017 file photo, newly recruited Shiite fighters, known as Houthis, march during a gathering aimed at mobilizing more fighters into battlefronts to fight pro-government forces in several Yemeni cities, in Sanaa, Yemen. From Lebanon and Syria to Iraq, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip, Iran has significantly expanded its footprint over the past decade, finding and developing powerful allies in conflict-ravaged countries across the Middle East. Iran supports the Houthis but denies arming them. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed, File) WASHINGTON (AP) - He was known in the Michigan statehouse as "Mr. No" for voting against some Republican legislation. But now in Congress, on the question of whether President Donald Trump should be impeached, Rep. Justin Amash is the lone Republican saying "Yes." In tweeted remarks over the weekend, Amash wrote that he's read special counsel Robert Mueller's report on Trump's conduct during and after the 2016 presidential election. Mueller did not find evidence of conspiracy with Russia, but he revealed startling details about Trump's efforts to shut down the probe and made no recommendation on obstruction. Amash did, becoming the only Republican in Congress to call for the House to formally charge the president. "Mueller's report reveals that President Trump engaged in specific actions and a pattern of behavior that meet the threshold for impeachment," Amash, a longtime Trump critic, tweeted on Saturday after reading the report. Specificially, Amash tweeted, the findings identify "multiple examples of conduct satisfying all the elements of obstruction of justice." The backlash from Republicans was swift and sharp against a congressman from a key state that Trump swiped from Democrats - by less than a percentage point - for the first time since the Reagan administration. In his bid to keep the state in his column next year, Trump launched a weaponized tweet that could serve as a warning to other Republicans considering defying him. None immediately did so. Within hours, Trump had called Amash "a total lightweight" and a "loser." "He's been against Trump from the beginning," Trump told reporters on Monday. "Personally I think he's not much." FILE - This March 28, 2017, file photo shows Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., followed by Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, leaving a closed-door strategy session on Capitol Hill in Washington. Amash isn't taking back his call for President Trump's impeachment. The fourth-term congressman took considerable heat on Monday, May 20, 2019, for tweeting over the weekend that special counsel Robert Mueller's report outlined obstruction by the president.(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy on Fox News questioned whether Amash really belongs among GOP congressmen. But most notably, the fifth-term lawmaker drew a primary challenger for his Grand Rapids-area seat in the 2020 elections. The key disqualification, as they described it across the board Monday, was Amash's insufficient loyalty to the president on matters ranging from Trump's wall to Mueller's "witch hunt." "Amash has consistently voted against President Donald Trump on important issues," said state Rep. Jim Lower, who scrambled to announce his campaign Monday after Amash's tweets. In a telephone interview later in the day, Lower said, "Most Republican Party primary voters support the president and want a congressman that would work with him to get his agenda done." He accused Amash of "standing in the way" and said the congressman has moved away from the party over several years. Amash was elected in 2010 as part of the tea party wave that toppled Democratic control. He was one of the founding members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. He vowed to explain all his votes, and to never miss one. But many of the Freedom Caucus members are no longer in Congress and the group is now dominated by pro-Trump Republicans. Amash acknowledges that he's somewhat isolated in Washington as a result, describing himself in the "Liberal Lions" podcast in March as "not personally lonely, but politically lonely." Back home in Michigan, establishment Republicans in the business community have long been disenchanted with Amash, saying he does not do enough to solve problems in the district. They backed an unsuccessful primary challenger in 2014. But the dynamics have shifted with Trump's election, and GOP operatives say the president's criticism of Amash has hurt the congressman's standing with the base. "He's the most vulnerable in a Republican primary that he's ever been," said Greg McNeilly, a Republican strategist in Grand Rapids. "The 3rd District, while much more of a swing district in a general election for the president, is a solidly Trumpian district in a primary. The delta between the president and congressman is the chief source of Justin Amash's problem." Like all Republicans, Amash is well aware of the potential cost of defying Trump. Unprompted in the same podcast interview, he harked back to Mark Sanford, the former North Carolina governor and congressman critical of Trump who became the focus of the president's twitter fury - and lost the GOP primary ahead of the 2018 elections. A Democrat ultimately won that seat. So it may come as no surprise that Amash isn't ruling out challenging Trump on the Libertarian ticket in 2020, in part because he wants to offer people an alternative to the major parties. For certain, he wasn't backing down on Monday. At midday, Amash answered his critics on legal and constitutional grounds, tweeting, among other things, that there need not be a statutory crime named in the Mueller report for impeachment to be appropriate. In the nearly two dozen tweet stream throughout Saturday and Monday, Amash kept one scolding quote pinned at the top. "'Let me now...warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.' - George Washington." ___ Associated Press writer David Eggert in Lansing, Michigan, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman UNITED NATIONS (AP) - North Korea denounced the United States as "a gangster country" for seizing one of its cargo ships and urged U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take "urgent measures" to contribute to stabilizing the Korean peninsula. North Korea's U.N. ambassador, Kim Song, said in a letter to Guterres obtained Monday by The Associated Press that the Trump administration committed "an unlawful and outrageous act" by taking over the ship Wise Honest and moving it to American Samoa. He called the seizure a violation of international law and the U.N. Charter. Kim called a news conference at U.N. headquarters on Tuesday to further criticize the ship's seizure. The U.S. said on May 9 that it seized the ship because it was carrying coal in violation of U.N. sanctions, a first-of-its kind enforcement action that came amid a tense moment in relations with North Korea. The Wise Honest, North Korea's second largest cargo ship, was first detained in April 2018 by Indonesia while transporting a large amount of coal. U.S. Justice Department lawyers laid out the case for confiscating the ship in a complaint filed in New York, arguing that payments for maintenance and operation of the vessel were channeled through unwitting U.S. financial institutions in violation of American law. North Korea's coal trade itself is also believed to fund the isolated country's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs which the U.S. is seeking to eliminate. A view from the top of a two story building in Fagatogo village overlooking the Port of Pago Pago, as the North Korean cargo ship, Wise Honest, docks at the main docking section of Pago Pago Harbor, Saturday, May 11, 2019, in Pago Pago, American Samoa. The North Korean cargo ship was seized by the U.S. because of suspicion it was used to violate international sanctions. It arrived Saturday at the capital of this American territory. (AP Photo/Fili Sagapolutele) Last week, the North's official Korean Central News Agency carried a statement by an unidentified foreign ministry spokesman who accused the United States of betraying the spirit of a summit agreement last June between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump. Kim and Trump agreed then to a vague statement calling for a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula and improved bilateral ties, but a second meeting between the leaders collapsed in February over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament. The U.S. announcement of the seizure of the Wise Honest came hours after North Korea fired two suspected short-range missiles toward the sea, the second weapons launch in five days and a possible signal that stalled talks over its nuclear weapons program are in trouble. The North Korean ambassador said in the letter to Guterres that "since international concern is growing more than ever over the likely impact to be brought to the situation of the Korean peninsula by the heinous act of the United States" in seizing the ship, the secretary-general should take "urgent measures" to stabilize the Korean peninsula. The letter did not specify what those measures should be. This undated photo released by the U.S. Justice Dept, Thursday, May 9, 2019, shows the North Korean cargo ship Wise Honest. The Trump administration says it has seized a North Korean cargo ship that U.S. officials say was used to transport coal in violation of international sanctions. (Department of Justice via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - A federal judge ruled against President Donald Trump on Monday in a financial records dispute with Congress and said lawmakers should get the documents they have subpoenaed. Trump called it a "crazy" decision that his lawyers would appeal. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta comes amid a widespread effort by the White House and Trump's attorneys to refuse to cooperate with congressional requests for information and records. Earlier Monday, Trump directed former White House counsel Don McGahn to defy a congressional subpoena that had compelled McGahn, a pivotal figure in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. In ruling that Trump cannot block the financial records subpoena, Mehta said the Democratic-led House Oversight and Reform Committee had "valid legislative purposes" for its request and that it was not for him "to question whether the Committee's actions are truly motivated by political considerations." The committee has said the records will help it consider whether to strengthen ethics and disclosure laws, among other things, said Mehta, who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama. Trump pointed to his Democratic predecessor when he told reporters before leaving the White House for a Monday night rally in Pennsylvania that "we think it's totally the wrong decision by, obviously, an Obama-appointed judge." To the committee chairman, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., the judge's decision was a "resounding victory for the rule of law and our constitutional system of checks and balances." Trump's lawyers, in cases from Washington and New York challenging the Democrats' demands, argued that congressional investigations are legitimate only if there is legislation that might result from them. "There is no possible legislation at the end of this tunnel," his legal team said. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before leaving the White House in Washington, Monday, May 20, 2019, to attend a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) The White House made the same argument Friday when Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he would not comply with a congressional subpoena for six years of Trump's tax returns. In the New York case, Trump, his business and family want to prevent Deutsche Bank and Capital One from complying with House subpoenas for banking and financial records. A Wednesday court hearing is planned. In the Washington case, Trump and his business organization are trying to block the subpoena issued in April to Mazars USA, which has provided accounting services to Trump. Even before the ruling, legal scholars had said Trump's argument had little merit and that Congress has broad powers to investigate. Mehta said in his 41-page opinion that there are limits on Congress's authority to investigate, but those limits "do not substantially constrain Congress." He said that as long as "Congress investigates on a subject matter on which 'legislation could be had,'" it is following the Constitution. Mehta said that was true in this case, pointing to the committee's memo outlining four areas of investigation, each of which he said Congress could legislate on. The judge cited the Watergate investigation involving President Richard Nixon and the Whitewater investigation involving President Bill Clinton. He said Congress "plainly views itself as having sweeping authority to investigate illegal conduct of a President, before and after taking office." "This court is not prepared to roll back the tide of history," he said. ___ Associated Press writer Kevin Freking contributed to this report. COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Amber Kyzer dabbed tears from her eyes for most of her testimony Monday and sobbed at the death penalty trial of her ex-husband, charged with killing their five young children. But then a prosecutor asked her to read a letter she wrote the oldest child, trying to comfort her over the divorce and the pain of suddenly being in a broken home. "You kids are my world and Mommy and Daddy were really blessed to have you," Kyzer said, pausing, then burying her head in her hands on the witness stand and breaking into heaving sobs. "Oh god. Oh god. My babies. My babies," Kyzer cried as the judge rushed to get the jury out of the courtroom. Kyzer's ex-husband on trial for his life, Timothy Jones Jr., stood up and looked at her, but showed no emotion in footage of the trial being livestreamed from the Lexington County Courthouse. Kyzer testified in the sixth day of Jones' death penalty trial. CORRECTS TOWN TO COLUMBIA NOT LEXINGTON - Amber Kyzer is helped out of the courtroom after breaking down on the witness stand while being questioned during the trial of her ex-husband, Tim Jones, in Columbia, S.C., Monday, May 20, 2019. Timothy Jones, Jr. is accused of killing their 5 young children in 2014. Jones, who faces the death penalty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (Tracy Glantz/The State via AP, Pool) Jones, 37, is charged with five counts of murder. Jones' lawyers don't dispute that he killed the children. But they are trying to have him found not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors said he killed 6-year-old Nahtahn in a rage after finding the boy, fascinated by electricity, had broken an outlet in their home near Lexington in August 2014. Jones then strangled 8-year-old Mera and 7-year-old Elias with his hands and 2-year-old Gabriel and 1-year-old Abigail with a belt, prosecutors said. After killing the children, authorities said Jones wrapped their bodies in plastic and put them in his SUV, driving aimlessly around the Southeast U.S. for most of nine days before leaving their bodies on a hilltop in Camden, Alabama. Jones was arrested at a Smith County, Mississippi, traffic checkpoint, where an officer testified he recognized a strong odor coming from the car he recognized as "the smell of death." Prosecutors called the pathologist who did autopsies on the children to the stand Monday, but refused to show pictures of the bodies. Defense attorneys wanted them shown because it might aid in Jones' insanity defense to show how badly decomposed the bodies were in the back of the SUV, but Circuit Judge Eugene Griffith refused. Last week, prosecutors played Jones' confession to police. In it, he said he was angry at Nahtahn for breaking an electrical outlet and forced him to exercise for hours since he would not admit what he did and feared the 6-year-old was plotting to kill him. Jones said he found his son dead several hours later, although the pathologist testified it appeared the boy was killed by some kind of violence she could not pinpoint. "The voices started kicking in," Jones recalled thinking after finding the boy dead. "Saying 'you better do something, you are (expletive), Tim." Kyzer's testimony Monday started with tears as she told the prosecutor the full name and dates of birth for all five of her children. Prosecutor Suzanne Mayes asked her why it was her first time in the courtroom during the trial. "I can't handle it," Kyzer answered. She testified she fell in love with Jones because he was smart, accomplished and appeared to have his life together. But she said after they married, he became rigid in his religion and demanding on her. "Women are to be seen and not heard. I was merely to take care of the children. To keep them out of his way," Kyzer said. After they divorced, Kyzer allowed her husband custody of the children because he had a job that paid $80,000 as a computer engineer, and a car. She would get a ride to the Chick-After fil-A in Lexington to see them every Saturday under Jones' watchful gaze. On Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, after no one had heard from her kids for nine days, Kyzer went to the restaurant as police watched. Jones never showed up. The trial took a 30-minute break after Kyzer's sobs, and defense lawyer Boyd Young asked her only a few questions. She said Jones was a good father while they were married, but he seemed to start having mental problems after they divorced. Jones' lawyers said in their opening statement Jones' mother has been in a mental institution for 20 years and he had undiagnosed schizophrenia. Then Jones' thin grasp on reality broken by his ex-wife's infidelity, the difficulty of raising five young children on his own and a feeling he was failing to live up to his religious beliefs. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP . Read his work at https://apnews.com/search/jeffrey%20collins . CORRECTS TOWN TO COLUMBIA NOT LEXINGTON - Tim Jones looks around the courtroom during his trial in Columbia, S.C., Monday, May 20, 2019. Timothy Jones, Jr. is accused of killing his 5 young children in 2014. Jones, who faces the death penalty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (Tracy Glantz/The State via AP) Amber Jones cries from the witness stand while being questioned by 11th Circuit deputy Solicitor Suzanne Mayes during the trial of her ex husband, Tim Jones, Columbia S.C., Monday, May 20, 2019. Timothy Jones, Jr. is accused of killing their 5 young children in 2014. Jones, who faces the death penalty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (Tracy Glantz/The State via AP, Pool) CORRECTS TOWN TO COLUMBIA NOT LEXINGTON - State Judge Eugene Griffith pauses the trial as Tim Jones' ex-wife Amber Kyzer breaks down while testifying in Columbia, S.C., Monday, May 20, 2019. Timothy Jones, Jr. is accused of killing their 5 young children in 2014. Jones, who faces the death penalty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (Tracy Glantz/The State via AP, Pool) CORRECTS TOWN TO COLUMBIA NOT LEXINGTON - Tim Jones' ex-wife Amber Kyzer reacts to a photograph of her son while being questioned by 11th Circuit deputy solicitor, Suzanne Mayes, during the trail of Tim Jones, in Columbia, S.C., Monday, May 20, 2019. Timothy Jones, Jr. is accused of killing their 5 young children in 2014. Jones, who faces the death penalty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (Tracy Glantz/The State via AP, Pool) CORRECTS TOWN TO COLUMBIA NOT LEXINGTON - Tim Jones' ex-wife Amber Kyzer is questioned by 11th Circuit deputy solicitor Suzanne Mayes, during the trial of her ex-husband, Tim Jones, in Columbia, S.C., Monday, May 20, 2019. Timothy Jones, Jr. is accused of killing their 5 young children in 2014. Jones, who faces the death penalty, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. (Tracy Glantz/The State via AP, Pool) MIAMI (AP) - A 21-year-old Florida man has been sentenced to four decades in prison for starting a gunfight that killed a 6-year-old boy. The Miami Herald reports Irwen Pressley was sentenced Monday after pleading guilty to murder. Miami-Dade police say Pressley and two other young men targeted a rival at the Blue Lake Village Apartments in February 2016. Authorities say Pressley fired at the other man, who fled and fired back. Other people also began to shoot. A stray bullet hit King Carter, who had been walking to a nearby store. Protest marches were held following his slaying. Pressley's getaway driver, Leonard Adams, was sentenced to a year of house arrest after he cooperated with prosecutors. Another man, who claimed he didn't fire because his gun jammed, was sentenced to five years. ___ Information from: The Miami Herald, http://www.herald.com Trump administration sanctions against Huawei have begun to bite even though their dimensions remain unclear. U.S. companies that supply the Chinese tech powerhouse with computer chips saw their stock prices slump Monday, and Huawei faces decimated smartphone sales with the anticipated loss of Google's popular software and services. The U.S. move escalates trade-war tensions with Beijing, but also risks making China more self-sufficient over time. Here's a look at what's behind the dispute and what it means. ___ WHAT'S THIS ABOUT? Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department placed Huawei its so-called Entity List , effectively barring U.S. firms from selling it technology without government approval. A woman uses a smartphone outside a Huawei store in Beijing Monday, May 20, 2019. Google is assuring users of Huawei smartphones the American company's services still will work on them following U.S. government restrictions on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Google said it would continue to support existing Huawei smartphones but future devices will not have its flagship apps and services, including maps, Gmail and search. Only basic services would be available, making Huawei phones less desirable. Separately, Huawei is the world's leading provider of networking equipment, but it relies on U.S. components including computer chips. About a third of Huawei's suppliers are American. ___ WHY PUNISH HUAWEI? The U.S. defense and intelligence communities have long accused Huawei of being an untrustworthy agent of Beijing's repressive rulers - though without providing evidence. The U.S. government's sanctions are widely seen as a means of pressuring reluctant allies in Europe to exclude Huawei equipment from their next-generation wireless networks. Washington says it's a question of national security and punishment of Huawei for skirting sanctions against Iran, but the backdrop is a struggle for economic and technological dominance. The politics of President Donald Trump's escalating tit-for-tat trade war have co-opted a longstanding policy goal of stemming state-backed Chinese cyber theft of trade and military secrets. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said last week that the sanctions on Huawei have nothing to do with the trade war and could be revoked if Huawei's behavior were to change. ___ THE SANCTIONS' BITE Analysts predict consumers will abandon Huawei for other smartphone makers if Huawei can only use a stripped-down version of Android. Huawei, now the No. 2 smartphone supplier, could fall behind Apple to third place. Google could seek exemptions, but would not comment on whether it planned to do so. ___ WHO USES HUAWEI ANYWAY? While most consumers in the U.S. don't even know how to pronounce Huawei (it's "HWA-way"), its brand is well known in most of the rest of the world, where people have been buying its smartphones in droves. Huawei stealthily became an industry star by plowing into new markets, developing a lineup of phones that offer affordable options for low-income households and luxury models that are siphoning upper-crust sales from Apple and Samsung in China and Europe. About 13 percent of its phones are now sold in Europe, estimates Gartner analyst Annette Zimmermann. That formula helped Huawei establish itself as the world's second-largest seller of smartphones during the first three months of this year, according to the research firm IDC. Huawei shipped 59 million smartphones in the January-March period, nearly 23 million more than Apple. ___ RIPPLE EFFECTS The U.S. sanctions could have unwelcome ripple effects in the U.S., given how much technology Huawei buys from U.S. companies, especially from makers of the microprocessors that go into smartphones, computers, internet networking gear and other gadgetry. The list of chip companies expected to be hit hardest includes Micron Technologies, Qualcomm, Qorvo and Skyworks Solutions, which all have listed Huawei as a major customer in their annual reports. Others likely to suffer are Xilinx, Broadcom and Texas Instruments, according to industry analysts. Being cut off from Huawei will also compound the pain the chip sector is already experiencing from the Trump administration's rising China tariffs. The Commerce Department on Monday announced an expected grace period of 90 days or more, easing the immediate hit on U.S. suppliers. It can extend that stay, and also has the option of issuing exemptions for especially hard-hit companies. Much could depend on whether countries including France, Germany, the U.K. and the Netherlands continue to refuse to completely exclude Huawei equipment from their wireless networks. The grace period allows U.S. providers to alert Huawei to security vulnerabilities and engage the Chinese company in research on standards for next-generation 5G wireless networks. It also gives operators of U.S. rural broadband networks that use Huawei routers time to switch them out. ___ COULD THIS BACKFIRE? Huawei is already the biggest global supplier of networking equipment, and is now likely to move toward making all components domestically. China already has a policy seeking technological independence by 2025. U.S. tech companies, facing a drop in sales, could respond with layoffs. More than 52,000 technology jobs in the U.S. are directly tied to China exports, according to the Computing Technology Industry Association, a trade group also known as CompTIA. ___ WHAT ABOUT HARM TO GOOGLE? Google may lose some licensing fees and opportunities to show ads on Huawei phones, but it still will probably be a financial hiccup for Google and its corporate parent, Alphabet Inc., which is expected to generate $160 billion in revenue this year. ___ THE APPLE EFFECT In theory, Huawei's losses could translate into gains for both Samsung and Apple at a time both of those companies are trying to reverse a sharp decline in smartphone sales. But Apple also stands to be hurt if China decides to target it in retaliation. Apple is particularly vulnerable because most iPhones are assembled in China. The Chinese government, for example could block crucial shipments to the factories assembling iPhones or take other measures that disrupt the supply chain. Any retaliatory move from China could come on top of a looming increase on tariffs by the U.S. that would hit the iPhone, forcing Apple to raise prices or reduce profits. What's more, the escalating trade war may trigger a backlash among Chinese consumers against U.S. products, including the iPhone. "Beijing could stoke nationalist sentiment over the treatment of Huawei, which could result in protests against major U.S. technology brands," CompTIA warned. A man uses two smartphones at once outside a Huawei store in Beijing Monday, May 20, 2019. Google is assuring users of Huawei smartphones the American company's services still will work on them following U.S. government restrictions on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) A Huawei Mate20P smartphone model showing its own Kirin chip processor is displayed at an electronic store in Beijing, Monday, May 20, 2019. Google assured users of Huawei smartphones on Monday the American company's basic services will work on them following U.S. government cubs on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. The announcement highlighted the potential impact on global consumers and technology industries of the Trump administration's decision to tighten controls on Huawei Technologies Ltd., which Washington says is a security threat. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) A man checks smartphones near a section promoting Huawei new P30 smartphone at an electronic store in Beijing, Monday, May 20, 2019. Google assured users of Huawei smartphones on Monday the American company's basic services will work on them following U.S. government cubs on doing business with the Chinese tech giant. The announcement highlighted the potential impact on global consumers and technology industries of the Trump administration's decision to tighten controls on Huawei Technologies Ltd., which Washington says is a security threat. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - President Donald Trump refers to Gov. Matt Bevin as his "good friend" and urges Kentucky Republicans to support the governor's reelection in a recorded phone message on the eve of the state's primary election. Bevin's campaign says Trump's message went out statewide Monday evening. Trump points to the governor's support of gun rights and the state's job growth and low unemployment under Bevin's stewardship. The president says Bevin is "100% with us." Bevin played up his ties with Trump during a low-key primary campaign. A recent Bevin ad showed him alongside Trump and touted their willingness to shake up the political system. Bevin faces three GOP challengers Tuesday, including state Rep. Robert Goforth, who criticized Bevin's feud with teachers who used sick days to rally against measures the governor supports. DALLAS (AP) - The Latest on a transgender woman found dead in Texas (all times local): 5 p.m. Democratic presidential candidates are mourning a 23-year-old transgender woman in Texas who authorities say was the victim of "homicidal violence." Dallas police Monday didn't elaborate on the death of Muhlaysia Booker. Authorities say she was found face-down early Saturday after officers were called following reports of shots being fired. Her death comes a month after a cellphone video showed Booker being beaten following a minor traffic accident as onlookers hollered and watched. Authorities say her death has no apparent link to that April 12 beating and have not determined a motive. But 2020 contenders called for fighting bigotry. Former Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke tweeted that "trans women of color across America deserve better" and said justice must be served. Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Pete Buttigieg also called for action. Booker's death also resonated in the Texas Capitol, where an LGBT lawmaker called it a reminder of discrimination while opposing a bill that Republicans say would protect religious freedoms. ___ 7:50 a.m. A 23-year-old transgender woman seen on a widely circulated video being beaten in front of a crowd of people has been found dead in a Dallas shooting. Police say the body of Muhlaysia Booker was found in a street Saturday and that no suspect has been identified. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators say there's no apparent link to the April 12 beating Booker suffered after she was involved in a minor traffic accident. A cellphone recording showed her being beaten by a man as a crowd watched and authorities say the man was offered $200 to attack Booker. Video of the incident was shared on social media. A 29-year-old man was arrested and jailed on suspicion of aggravated assault. TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - A Tempe police officer who fatally shot a teenage boy who was holding a replica gun and fleeing from a vehicle burglary has resigned from the department. Tempe police say Officer Joseph Jaen met Monday with Chief Slyvia Moir and she accepted his resignation, effective immediately. Police say Jaen's resignation is separate from a criminal review and administrative review into the Jan. 15 shooting and both still are ongoing. Jaen was responding to a call of a suspicious car when he spotted 14-year-old Antonio Arce allegedly burglarizing a truck. Arce fled while holding a replica gun. Police say Jaen fired his weapon because he thought the teen's gun was real and perceived a threat. Body-worn cameras show Arce didn't appear to turn around or point a weapon at Jaen. MONTOURSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - President Donald Trump voiced confidence Monday in his ability to win a repeat victory in Pennsylvania in 2020 and took a fresh swipe at one of his leading Democratic rivals, telling rallygoers that native son Joe Biden had abandoned them by representing Delaware in the Senate. In fact, Biden moved to neighboring Delaware with his family when he was a boy, and later represented the state in the Senate for more than three decades. He maintained ties to Pennsylvania over the years. Trump's Pennsylvania visit, intended to boost Republican congressional candidate Fred Keller over Democrat Marc Friedenberg in a Tuesday special election for an open House seat, had as much to do with helping his own reelection prospects as it did with pushing Keller over the finish line. "We've got to win tomorrow, Fred," Trump told a cheering rally crowd at a hangar at Williamsport Regional Airport. Trump's visit to the key battleground state came two days after Biden held a campaign rally in Philadelphia, and the former vice president wasn't far from Trump's mind. "He left you for another state, and he didn't take care of you," Trump said. He also referred to the former vice president by the nickname he has coined for him: "Sleepy Joe." President Donald Trump tosses a hat during a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa., Monday, May 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) "Sleepy Joe said that he's running to, quote, 'save the world,'" Trump said. "Well, he was. He was going to save every country but ours." Biden said Monday in Nashville, Tennessee, that he is running on a pledge to restore the soul of America. He has frequently talked on the campaign trail about the president's divisive rhetoric and said another four years of Trump would "fundamentally change the character of this nation." Trump uses his campaign rallies to disparage various Democratic candidates for president, but he has been heavily focused on Biden, suggesting he may be worried about the possibility of facing off next year against the longtime politician. The president, who spoke in the open air with Air Force One behind him, highlighted the economy's performance under his leadership and suggested those numbers make him virtually unbeatable. "Politics is a crazy world, but when you have the best employment numbers in history, when you have the best unemployment numbers in history ... I don't know, how the hell do you lose this election, right?" Trump said. The current unemployment rate of 3.6% is actually the lowest since 1969, when it stood at 3.5%. Unemployment was even lower than that in the early 1950s, and much lower, under 2%, during three years of World War II. Keller himself offered a rousing endorsement of Trump, saying he wants to go to Congress to be a vote for the president. Keller told Trump the people of this region of Pennsylvania "have been behind you since Day One, and, Mr. President, our support for you is as strong today as it ever was." "In 2016, Pennsylvania put Donald Trump over the top. And in 2020, we're going to do it again," Keller said. Biden is making a big play for his native Pennsylvania, opening his presidential bid in Harrisburg and capping a three-week rollout with Saturday's event in Philadelphia, the city where he also established his campaign headquarters. In the fight to deny Trump reelection, no places will matter more than Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, three states the Republican president carried by razor-thin margins in 2016. Trump campaigned in Michigan and Wisconsin earlier this year. ___ Follow Darlene Superville on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dsupervilleap President Donald Trump, right, brings Blake Marnell on stage during a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa., Monday, May 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) President Donald Trump arrives to speak to a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump arrives to speak to a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer as he speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer as he arrives to a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Donald Trump Jr., the son of President Donald Trump, films as he arrives at Williamsport Regional Airport for a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is threatening to meet provocations by Iran with "great force," but says he's also willing to negotiate. Trump spoke to reporters as he left the White House Monday evening en route to a rally in Pennsylvania. He says, "If they do something it will be met great force." But he adds, "We have no indication that they will." Still, he is not mincing his words, calling Iran "hostile" and the "No. 1 provocateur of terror." The administration recently sent an aircraft carrier and other military resources to the Persian Gulf region, and withdrew nonessential personnel from Iraq, raising alarms over the possibility of a confrontation with Iran. President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn as he leaves the White House in Washington, Monday, May 20, 2019, to attend a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Trump had been downplaying the chances of potential conflict in recent days. RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) - A police officer shot his ex-girlfriend to death at her office at the municipal education department in Brazil's capital and then killed himself Monday, authorities said. Debora Tereza Correia, 43, was shot three times and died immediately. The officer's body was found next to hers, Education Secretary Rafael Parente told The Associated Press. He said the shooter had entered the building normally, identified himself and said he was going to the third floor to speak with Correia. "The employees heard the shots and then found the two bodies lying in the hallway," said Parente, who added that he was not in the building when the shooting happened. "Everyone is in shock. Several of them needed medical assistance." In a statement, the Civil Police, where the officer worked, said that it lamented the crime and that "the situation is being investigated." Violence against women is a grave problem in Brazil, where 1,173 women died last year in killings classified as hate crimes by the Brazilian Forum on Public Security. Agents of the criminal police carry a black bag with the body of Debora Tereza Correia, murdered today by her boyfriend at the city education department in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, May 20, 2019. Brazilian officials say a police officer shot his ex-girlfriend to death in her office at the city education department in Brazil's capital and then killed himself. Forty-three-year-old Debora Tereza Correia was shot three times and died immediately. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) On Saturday, a surveillance camera caught images of a man using a car to run over his girlfriend and drag her for 50 meters (yards) in Vargem Grande do Sul in Sao Paulo state. The man was jailed and faces charges of attempted femicide. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders made an appeal Monday to black voters in the Deep South, stopping at a historically African American church and calling health care a "human right" that he equated to the civil rights movement. Speaking before a racially diverse crowd at Mt. Zion Church AME Church in Alabama's capital, Sanders renewed his calls for extending health care coverage to all Americans and reducing student debt. "Just as civil rights is a human right, health care is a human right," Sanders said to loud applause. The crowd for his midday speech was about half white despite the church's deep ties to the civil rights movement. Wrapping up a four-state swing that included stops in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, the Vermont senator is working to strengthen his support among black voters who comprise most of the Democratic primary electorate in many Southern states. Mt. Zion's old location played a key role in the 1950s' Montgomery bus boycott, and Sanders criticized what he called new threats to the right to vote - "the bedrock of American democracy," he said. "What an outrage it is today. I'm not talking about 60 years ago, I'm talking about today, that you have Republican governors all over this country trying to suppress the vote," he said. Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders hugs Pamela Rush after visiting her home in Tyler, Ala., on Monday, May 20, 2019. (Jake Crandall/Montgomery Advertiser via AP) Earlier in the day, Sanders toured nearby civil rights sites and visited an impoverished area of the state where residents struggle with adequate wastewater sanitation. On Sunday, he held a rally in a park in downtown Birmingham. Sanders said full-time workers should not "live in poverty" in the wealthiest nation in the world and noted that Alabama is one of the states with no minimum wage above the federal minimum. He said the minimum wage should be raised to $15. Sanders also touted his recently unveiled K-12 education plan, saying education should become a national priority. "As a people, as Americans, we have got to say loudly and proudly that education is a major priority in this country," Sanders said. In Montgomery, Sanders was greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd that chanted "Bernie!" with several people interrupting his speech to shout, "We love you!" Sanders has previously talked up his days as a civil rights activist while a student at the University of Chicago. He has also visited Selma, Alabama, participating in ceremonies marking the anniversary of Bloody Sunday at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, the site of one of the most galvanizing moments in support of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Jeanise Murry, a 49-year-old African American nurse who heard Sanders speak Monday, said she likes some of the things he mentioned but is still deciding which candidate to support in 2020. "It won't be (President Donald) Trump," Murry said. Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks with Catherine Flowers of EJI at the Lowdnes County Interpretive Center in Hayneville, Ala., on Monday, May 20, 2019. (Jake Crandall/Montgomery Advertiser via AP) Sen. Nina Turner (D-Oh.) and 2020 Presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) tour at the EJI Peace and Justice Memorial in Montgomery, Ala., on Monday, May 20, 2019. (Jake Crandall/Montgomery Advertiser via AP) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee on Monday said he was ready to call lawmakers back to Nashville for a special legislative session following a historic vote of no confidence in Speaker Glen Casada over a series of scandals engulfing him. However, the embattled Republican has thus far rejected mounting pressure to step aside. "I'm disappointed in the results... .," Casada said in a statement after the caucus vote, unprecedented in the modern era of Tennessee politics. "However, I will work the next few months to regain the confidence of my colleagues so we can continue to build on the historic conservative accomplishments of this legislative session." Casada has been dogged by calls to resign since it was revealed he exchanged text messages containing sexually explicit language about women with his former chief of staff several years ago, among other controversies. In brushing aside calls to step down, the embattled official has said he has changed and released an action plan designed to build trust among his peers. After an hours-long meeting that was closed to the public, Republicans cast a 45-24 secret ballot vote approving the no confidence resolution Monday afternoon, according to House GOP Majority Leader William Lamberth. "I can't imagine a stronger stance that they could have taken today than for 45 members of this speaker's own caucus to indicate that, because of the allegations ... that they no longer have confidence in him," Lamberth said. House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, center, waits for the start of a meeting of the House Republican Caucus at a hotel Monday, May 20, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The caucus is met to discuss the future of Casada, who is ensnarled in a texting scandal. The caucus returned a 45-24 vote of no confidence for Casada. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) He said he was officially requesting the governor call a special session so lawmakers could elect a new House speaker. Lee quickly responded to that call by releasing a statement, saying Republican lawmakers "sent a clear message, and I'm prepared to call a special session if the Speaker doesn't resign." Lee has said that if Casada worked for his administration or his company, he would ask Casada to resign. Typically the General Assembly meets during what is called a "regular session," or during the first few months of the year. Yet the governor can call state lawmakers back to the Capitol as long as he issues a proclamation and outlines the issues that must be addressed in an estimated amount of time. While Tennessee has seen multiple sessions throughout its history, it's still considered a rare political move. But it remained unclear whether lawmakers have the ability to remove a speaker. The Tennessee Constitution is silent on that and legal scholars have warned that while the Legislature can expel members, it's unknown if they have the power to elect a new speaker before the end of their two-year terms. "The speaker is elected by the General Assembly and not by the Republican caucus," said Caucus Chairman Cameron Sexton. "So this is a non-binding resolution, anything that the caucus did would be non-binding as far as the speaker remaining speaker." Casada's promises haven't won over critics in the GOP-dominant House ever since the scandal erupted earlier this month, when reports emerged about misogynistic text exchanges with Casada and his former chief of staff Cade Cothren. The scandal also includes reports of possible evidence tampering with a young black activist's criminal case, Cothren admitting to using cocaine in his legislative office years before becoming Casada's top aide and accusations of Casada spying on legislative members, among other matters. Cothren ultimately resigned soon after the release of years-old racist texts and the sexually explicit messages. And last week, Republican Rep. Mike Carter accused Casada of trying to "rig and predetermine" an ethics review regarding his controversies. Aside from Cothren's cocaine use and the text messages, Casada has largely denied the swarm of allegations facing him. After the House GOP caucus vote, state Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden joined the growing calls for Casada to step aside as speaker, saying the no-confidence resolution sends a "clear message." He said "it is time for the Speaker to heed the advice of the majority of his fellow legislators and step down from his position of leadership and allow someone else to begin ... restoring the trust of all Tennesseans." Also Monday, Republican Senate Speaker Randy McNally reiterated his call to remove Casada, adding the House Republican caucus has spoken "clearly and distinctly." "I am hopeful Speaker Casada will put the legislature, the party and the state first," McNally said. Casada took office in January. He received 47 secret ballot votes out of 73 Republicans in the 99-member chamber to become speaker-elect in November. Then the majority leader, he defeated Reps. Curtis Johnson of Clarksville and David Hawk of Greeneville. House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, left, Rep. Susan Lynn, R-Mount Juliet, center, wait for the start of a meeting of the House Republican Caucus at a hotel Monday, May 20, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The caucus met to discuss the future of Casada, who is ensnarled in a texting scandal. The caucus returned a 45-24 vote of no confidence for Casada. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) House Republican Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, left, and Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, right, leave after the House Republican Caucus met to discuss the future of House Speaker Glen Casada, who is ensnarled in a texting scandal, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The caucus returned a 45-24 vote of no confidence for Casada. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) House Republican Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, center right, and Rep. Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, center left, speak after the House Republican Caucus met to discuss the future of House Speaker Glen Casada, who is ensnarled in a texting scandal, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. The caucus returned a 45-24 vote of no confidence for Casada. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Native American women have gone missing or been killed at alarming rates, federal and private studies show, and there is growing concern that confusion by law enforcement over who has jurisdiction can lead to lax pursuit of cases and insufficient data. Oregon, home to nine federally recognized tribes or confederations of tribes, has now joined a movement to account for and solve more of the crimes. Patricia Whitefoot, whose sister disappeared in 1987 in an unsolved case, watched as Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill Thursday that directs the state police to study how to increase and improve criminal justice resources on these cases. "As families, we simply seek justice and healing of the heart," Whitefoot told lawmakers in written testimony last month. After Brown signed the bill, Whitefoot told a reporter her sister, Daisy Mae Heath Tallman, was 29 when she went missing. She was Whitefoot's youngest sister and lived with her in Washington state. She would be gone for long periods, fishing for salmon in traditional spots along the Columbia River that divides Washington from Oregon and visiting relatives on the Warm Springs reservation in Oregon. Then, in the autumn of 1987, she never returned to her home in White Swan, Washington. In this May 16, 2019 photo, Patricia Whitefoot, left, a member of the Yakama tribe from White Swan, Washington, poses for a photo after Gov. Kate Brown signed a bill directing the state police to study how to improve criminal justice resources to solve cases of Native American women who have gone missing or been killed. Whitefoot's sister Daisy disappeared in 1987. The case was never solved. Whitefoot was involved in the effort to pass the bill in Oregon, and a similar one in Washington state earlier. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky) "She was just a very self-reliant, self-sufficient individual who could take care of her business and what needed to be done, fiercely independent," said Whitefoot, who wore a red dress -- representing missing and murdered indigenous women -- otter furs, shell jewelry and moccasins to the bill signing ceremony. Travis Hampton, superintendent of the Oregon State Police, told attendees, many of them Native American women, that he was emotionally invested in bringing results. He said he had been concerned about a lack of state police jurisdiction in Indian country but that it would be compensated for with collaboration among federal, state and local law enforcement. "I will treat these women and girls; these sisters, these mothers, these daughters, as if they were my own," he said to applause. Montana, Washington state, Arizona and New Mexico have passed similar legislation. A bill re-introduced in the House of Representatives last week would expand tribes' access to some federal crime databases, establish protocols for handling cases of missing and slain Native Americans, and require annual reports. The bill is named Savanna's Act, after Savanna LaFontaine-Greywind, who was killed while pregnant in 2017 in North Dakota. Her baby was cut from her womb but survived. In urban areas alone, some 500 Native American women in 71 U.S. cities vanished or were killed, the Urban Indian Health Institute, a division of the Seattle Indian Health Board, reported last year. Most of the cases cited occurred since 2010. On some reservations, federal studies have shown women are killed at more than 10 times the national average. Predators believe they can get away with abducting or killing American Indian women there because of scant law enforcement presence, said Rep. Tawna Sanchez, chief sponsor of the Oregon bill and the only Native American in the state Legislature. Some tribes have no law enforcement, while the FBI might be able to dedicate only one agent to investigate crimes on sprawling reservations, Sanchez said. "All of these jurisdictional issues make it really, really difficult for people to know and understand what they can and cannot do," she said. "Most tribes don't have the ability to deal with anyone around a criminal issue on a reservation." The new Oregon law, which takes effect immediately, directs the state police to study how to increase and improve state criminal justice protective, responsive and investigative resources. It also calls for better systems for reporting, identification, investigation and rapid response to future and past cases. The state police must report its findings by September 2020. ___ Associated Press reporter Mary Hudetz in Albuquerque, New Mexico, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Andrew Selsky on Twitter at https://twitter.com/andrewselsky FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - American Airlines is accusing its mechanics and their unions of conducting an illegal work slowdown to gain leverage in contract talks, and the airline is asking a federal judge to stop the activity. The airline says mechanics have caused about 900 cancellations or long delays since early February by taking an unusually long time to repair planes and by refusing to work overtime. On Monday, American filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Fort Worth against the Transport Workers Union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which together represent American's roughly 10,000 aircraft mechanics. The president of the Transport Workers denied that workers are engaging in a slowdown. "American Airlines is trying to punish us for doing exactly what we are supposed to do, which is ensure that there are safe aircraft in the air," said John Samuelsen. The last bargaining session occurred in late April in front of a federal mediator. Samuelsen said talks were stalled over pay, health care benefits and job security. In this Wednesday, April 24, 2019, photo, American Airlines aircraft are shown parked at their gates at Miami International Airport in Miami. American Airlines is accusing its mechanics and their unions of conducting an illegal work slowdown to gain leverage in contract talks, and the airline is asking a federal judge to stop the activity. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) Samuelsen said American is pushing to perform more maintenance work outside the U.S., which he said could threaten the jobs of 6,000 mechanics. He said workers were willing to strike over the outsourcing plan. By federal law, airline workers can't legally strike until a mediator declares an impasse in negotiations. In its lawsuit, American said that it canceled 644 flights and delayed another 270 flights by at least two hours from Feb. 4 through May 13 because of unavailable planes, upsetting travel plans for 125,000 people. The airline said the slowdown will affect 3,400 passengers a day if it continues into summer. American said that until recently it never had a problem finding employees willing to work overtime. The conflict is similar to one between Southwest Airlines and its mechanics, who are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association. The airline sued union officials over an alleged illegal slowdown in that case too. The two sides made up, however, after agreeing on a contract that gave workers 20% pay raises and bonuses. Negotiations lasted more than six years. MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - A coroner says one of seven people shot at an off-campus party near Ball State University in Indiana has died. Delaware County Coroner Rick Howell says 17-year-old Daymarr Kennedy was pronounced dead at 11:45 a.m. Monday at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. The (Muncie) Star Press reports Kennedy was one of three young men critically wounded in the shootings early Saturday . The two others remained hospitalized Monday. Police have arrested 19-year-old VaShaun Harnett of Muncie and charged him with two counts of attempted murder. Harnett is being held in the Delaware County Jail. The university said in a statement Saturday that Harnett is not a Ball State student. It said one of the shooting victims was a student who had been treated and released from a Muncie hospital. MIAMI (AP) - Officials at a Florida zoo say a young African painted dog was killed when a gate collapsed on her. Zoo Miami posted on Facebook that the juvenile female died Monday. She was one of five puppies born at the zoo in January. Zoo officials say the endangered canines were being moved between enclosures in a routine transfer when a cable that supported a solid metal guillotine door separated, allowing the door to fall on the animal and to kill her instantly. Officials say they're investigating to determine the exact cause of the failure, which includes careful inspections of all similar equipment throughout the zoo. FARGO, N.D. (AP) - Abortion rights supporters are considering a lawsuit over a new North Dakota law that would require the clinic to read women a "junk science" script about reversing a medication abortion, according to the director of the state's only abortion clinic. Anti-abortion lawmakers had remained mostly quiet since 2013 when North Dakota passed what was considered the country's most strict abortion law, only to see it overturned by courts. But the Republican-led Legislature approved two abortion bills this year. One of them, which prohibits doctors using certain instruments in a common second-trimester procedure, is on hold awaiting court rulings. The other is scheduled to go into effect Aug. 1. It would require the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo to tell women undergoing medication abortions they can still have a live birth if after the procedure they change their minds. Clinic director Tammi Kromenaker said she and other opponents are "considering what to do, which could be legal action." She declined to elaborate. North Dakota is among several states to enact new restrictions on abortion as the U.S. Supreme Court makeup has changed to be more favorable to conservatives' cause. Lawmakers who once couched anti-abortion bills as protecting women's health are now open about wanting it banned. State Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, who unsuccessfully defended the 2013 measure that made North Dakota the first state to ban abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, said he will be required to defend the current law as well. "It is my duty to defend enactments of the Legislature so that's what we'll do if a lawsuit ensues," Stenehjem said. Republican Rep. Daniel Johnston, who sponsored the measure, did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment. The new law states that a doctor or doctor's agent must tell the woman that "it may be possible to reverse the effects of an abortion-inducing drug" and adds that "time is of the essence" if she changes her mind. Kromenaker said the bill is based on "junk science" and puts the clinic in a bad position. Abortion-rights supporters have said the procedure is based on a flawed 2018 study by an anti-abortion doctor, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has said claims about the treatment "are not based on science and do not meet clinical standards." "The Red River Women's Clinic believes very deeply in giving the best information that we can based on the most accurate and up-to-date information," Kromenaker said. "This puts us at odds with our mission and our relationship with our patients." The anti-abortion movement slowed in North Dakota after two of the GOP lawmakers who spearheaded the issue in 2013, Fargo's Bette Grande and Bismarck's Margaret Sitte, were defeated in 2014 by abortion-rights candidates. That same year, voters soundly defeated a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have stated that "the inalienable right to life of every human being at any stage of development must be recognized and protected." Kromenaker said the abortion moves by this year's Legislature were driven by the elections of President Donald Trump, Gov. Doug Burgum and a fresh group of Republican legislators who weren't around in 2013. Kromenaker said she was "astonished" to hear Burgum say during a campaign debate he would have supported the 2013 fetal heartbeat bill that cost the state nearly half a million dollars in legal and settlement fees. "The governor has talked about being fiscally responsible, about not taking a salary and about bringing to politics the things he did as a successful businessman," Kromenaker said of the former Microsoft executive. "Instead, he is fitting the current mold of being politically expedient and politically agreeable." Asked about Kromenaker's comments, Burgum spokesman Mike Nowatzki said in a statement that "Gov. Burgum is pro-life and supports a culture of life." The second bill passed this year bans the abortion method of so-called dilation and evacuation. It would make it a crime for a doctor performing a second-trimester abortion to use instruments such as clamps, scissors and forceps to remove the fetus from the womb. Opponents have called it "human dismemberment abortion." Kromenaker said the clinic has received calls from some patients wondering if abortions were still legal in North Dakota, but most have been undeterred by the legislative action - and the elements many of them face when making hours-long drives to the facility. "When it was 35 below this winter, nearly every patient who was scheduled showed up," she said. MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) - The Nicaraguan government released 100 prisoners to a form of house arrest Monday, including three human rights activists. The administration of President Daniel Ortega said all 100 face charges of "offenses against security and the public peace," which have commonly been applied to participants in anti-government protests that started last year. But opposition figures could not immediately confirm that all those released Monday were protesters. However, relatives did confirm the release of three leaders of a non-governmental group known as the Permanent Human Rights Commission. The release apparently did not include leaders of the protest movement. The release came an hour after the opposition had announced it was withdrawing from talks with Ortega's government, to press its demand for the release of hundreds of jailed protesters and dropping charges against them. Jose Pallais, one of the members of the opposition Civic Alliance who participated in the talks, said the releases "are a positive gesture, but not enough" to draw Ortega's opponents back to the talks, which resumed in February. Opposition member Maria Adilia Peralta Cerratos raises her arms in jubilation as she returns home after being in prison, in Masaya, Nicaragua, Monday, May 20, 2019. Peralta Cerratos is one of 100 prisoners the Nicaraguan government released Monday in a form of house arrest, including three human rights activists. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga) "They should free all of them so the talks can resume, and ensure that all are freed without charges," Pallais said. Last week, 17 people who were arrested in the anti-government protests were wounded in a disturbance at a Nicaraguan prison in which a 57-year-old Nicaraguan-American dual national was shot dead. Opposition member Maria Adilia Peralta Cerratos is embraced by a relative as she returns home after being in prison, in Masaya, Nicaragua, Monday, May 20, 2019. Peralta Cerratos is one of 100 prisoners the Nicaraguan government released Monday in a form of house arrest, including three human rights activists. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga) Escorted by a prison official, opposition member Maria Adilia Peralta Cerratos cries when she talks to the press during her return home after being in prison, in Masaya, Nicaragua, Monday, May 20, 2019. Peralta Cerratos is one of 100 prisoners the Nicaraguan government released Monday in a form of house arrest, including three human rights activists. (AP Photo/Alfredo Zuniga) PHOENIX (AP) - A Border Patrol agent in Arizona sent texts calling immigrants "savages" and "subhuman" the month before using his patrol vehicle to knock over a Guatemalan man who was trying to flee, prosecutors say. Court documents filed earlier this month in U.S. District Court in Tucson say Agent Matthew Bowen sent the text messages in November 2017, weeks before he's accused of intentionally striking the man with a truck. The man was hospitalized with abrasions to his right hand and knees. Federal prosecutors say the messages show Bowen's disdain for immigrants and restrictions on what measures he said agents are allowed to take to apprehend border crossers who run away. Criminal charges against Border Patrol agents over assaults on migrants are relatively unusual, with most cases focused on officers' involvement in crimes such as drug smuggling or lying on job applications. Bowen goes on trial Aug. 13 on charges of depriving the Guatemalan migrant of his rights under the color of law and falsifying records after the Dec. 3, 2017, incident in Nogales, Arizona. He has pleaded not guilty. The agent employed "deadly force against a person who was running away from him and posed no threat," prosecutors said in the filing. FILE - In this April 10, 2018, file photo, the International border cuts through Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, rear, as seen from Nogales, Ariz. Federal court records say a Border Patrol agent in Arizona sent texts referring to migrants as "savages" and "subhuman" the month before allegedly knocking over a Guatemalan man with his patrol vehicle. The filings in U.S. District Court in Tucson earlier in May 2019 say Agent Matthew Bowen sent the text messages in November 2017, weeks before allegedly knocking down the migrant. He goes on trial Aug. 13. He has pleaded not guilty to depriving the migrant of his rights and falsifying records. (AP Photo/Matt York, File) The federal court documents show that Bowen fought unsuccessfully to suppress the messages, which were among 1,300 texts the government was legally obligated to provide under a search warrant. One text Bowen sent to a fellow agent reads, "mindless murdering savages. PLEASE let us take the gloves off trump!" Another text about migrants who threw rocks at agents, causing one officer to fall and suffer a gash to his arm, called them "subhuman" and "unworthy of being kindling for a fire." Defense attorney Sean Chapman declined to comment on the charges Monday. Chapman also represented Border Patrol Agent Lonnie Swartz, who was found not guilty of involuntary manslaughter in November in the shooting death of a Mexican teen who was throwing rocks at agents. One of Bowen's texts was to Swartz, referring to striking the Guatemalan man as a "human pit maneuver," a reference to a technique that officers use to stop fleeing vehicles. It calls for using a patrol vehicle to apply lateral pressure to the back of a fleeing vehicle so it spins out and stops. The Border Patrol said the agency was drafting a statement in response to a request for comment. Prosecutors say the texts show Bowen's frame of mind at the time of the assault and that they contradict his later insistence that didn't know he had hit the man and had struck him unintentionally. A sworn affidavit by a special agent with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General said a border camera operator in Nogales first spotted the Guatemalan man after he apparently jumped the fence near the Mariposa port of entry, according to the Arizona Daily Star, a Tucson newspaper that first reported on the texts. The special agent said the man ran toward a gas station. One officer told him to surrender, but he ran toward the border and Bowen "accelerated aggressively," knocked him down and "came to a full stop within inches of running (him) over." Bowen says in a text that to the camera operator, "it looked like I could have run him over from that angle" and "now it ll prob be an investigation for 2 years." Bowen is accused of making false statements both in his initial report and in a subsequent memo to the chief patrol agent of the Tucson Sector, saying "he never intended to strike, scare or otherwise come into contact" with the man. WASHINGTON (AP) - As questions mount over President Donald Trump's tough talk on Iran, top national security officials are heading to Capitol Hill to brief Congress. But skeptical Democrats have asked for a second opinion. The competing closed-door sessions Tuesday, unusual and potentially polarizing, come after weeks of escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf that have raised alarms over a possible military confrontation with Iran. Lawmakers are warning the Trump administration it cannot take the country into war without approval from Congress, and the back-to-back briefings show the wariness among Democrats, and some Republicans, over the White House's sudden policy shifts in the Middle East. Trump, veering between bombast and conciliation in his quest to contain Iran, threatened Monday to meet provocations by Iran with "great force," but also said he's willing to negotiate. "We'll see what happens," Trump told reporters Monday as he left the White House for a campaign rally. He said Iran has been "very hostile." "We have no indication that anything's happened or will happened, but if it does, it will be met, obviously, with great force," Trump said. "We'll have no choice." Trump said while there are no talks with Iran he still wants to hear from them, "if they're ready." President Donald Trump walks on the South Lawn as he leaves the White House in Washington, Monday, May 20, 2019, to attend a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Over the past several weeks the U.S. has sent an aircraft carrier and other resources to the Persian Gulf region, and evacuated non-essential personnel from Iraq, amid unspecified threats the administration says are linked to Iran. The administration is sending Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan and other top brass, including Gen. Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, for closed-door briefings Tuesday with both the House and Senate. But House Democrats, deeply skeptical of the information from the Trump officials - and mindful of the drumbeat of claims during the run-up to the Iraq War - invited former CIA Director John Brennan and former State Department official Wendy Sherman, who negotiated the Iran nuclear deal. Brennan, an outspoken Trump critic, does not have a formal briefing planned but is prepared to answer questions on Iran - and is willing to do the same for Republicans, said a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The intent, the person said, is to provide information and not to be partisan. Top Democrats say Trump escalated problems by abruptly withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, a complex accord negotiated during the Obama administration to prevent the country from nuclear weapons production. Trump's allies in Congress, including GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, say the threats from Iran are real. Graham urged Trump to "stand firm" and said he received his own briefing over the weekend from John Bolton, Trump's national security adviser. "It is clear that over the last several weeks Iran has attacked pipelines and ships of other nations and created threat streams against American interests in Iraq," Graham tweeted. "If the Iranian threats against American personnel and interests are activated we must deliver an overwhelming military response." But Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, an Iraq War veteran, tweeted that after having received "the same" intelligence briefing, that was not his conclusion. "That is not what is being said. This is total information bias to draw the conclusion he wants for himself and the media," Gallego tweeted. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said it's important to more fully understand the situation. "I think Iranians think that our moves are offensive, we think their moves are offensive, that's how you get into wars by mistake," he said. Graham's reference to Iran having attacked ships appeared to be a further indication that the U.S. military has concluded that Iran was behind the reported attack May 12 on four commercial vessels off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. At the outset of an investigation into those apparent attacks, which damaged vessels of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Norway but caused no injuries, U.S. officials had said they appeared to be carried out by Iran. A U.S. official said Monday the probe was finished and evidence still pointed at Iran, although the official did not provide details. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and so spoke on condition of anonymity. On Sunday, a rocket landed near the U.S. Embassy in the Green Zone of Iraq's capital of Baghdad, days after nonessential U.S. staff were ordered to evacuate from diplomatic posts in the country. No one was reported injured. Iraqi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul told The Associated Press that the rocket was believed to have been fired from eastern Baghdad, an area home to Iran-backed Shiite militias. Defense officials said no additional Iranian threats or incidents had emerged in the days since the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier battle group arrived in the Arabian Sea late last week. Iran, meanwhile, announced that it has quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. The state-run IRNA news agency quoted Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, as acknowledging that capacity had been quadrupled. He said Iran took this step because the U.S. had ended a program allowing it to exchange enriched uranium to Russia for unprocessed yellowcake uranium, as well as ending the sale of heavy water to Oman. Heavy water helps cool reactors producing plutonium that can be used in nuclear weapons. Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nuclear weapons, though the West fears its program could allow it to build them. Trump's remarks reflect what has been a strategy of alternating tough talk with more conciliatory statements, which he says is aimed at keeping Iran guessing at the administration's intentions. He described his approach in a speech Friday, saying, "It's probably a good thing because they're saying, 'Man, I don't know where these people are coming from,' right?" President Donald Trump boards Air Force One for a trip to a Montoursville, Pa., for a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Lilian Serrano's mother-in-law had lots of stomach problems, but she always blamed food. Doctors at a San Diego-area clinic suspected Genoveva Angeles might have cancer, but they could not say for sure because they did not have the equipment to test for it and Angeles, who had been in the country illegally for 20 years, could not afford to see a specialist and did not qualify for state assistance because of her immigration status. In September, Angeles finally learned she had gallbladder cancer. Serrano said she was in the hospital room when Angeles, in her late 60s, died about two weeks later. "We don't know if she would have survived treatment, but she was not even able to access it," said Serrano, chairwoman of the San Diego Immigrant Rights Consortium. "She never had a chance to fight cancer." Stories like that have prompted California lawmakers to consider proposals that would make the state the first in the nation to offer government-funded health care to adult immigrants living in the country illegally. But the decision on who to cover may come down to cost. Supporters of proposals to expand California's government-funded health care benefits to undocumented immigrants gathered at the Capitol for the Immigrants Day of Action, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Sacramento, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed offering government-funded health care benefits to immigrant adults ages 19 to 25 who are living in the country illegally. State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, has proposed a bill to expand that further to include seniors age 65 and older. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to spend about $98 million a year to cover low-income immigrants between the ages of 19 and 25 who are living in the country illegally. The state Assembly has a bill that would cover all immigrants in California living in the country illegally over the age of 19. But Newsom has balked at that plan because of its estimated $3.4 billion price. "There's 3.4 billion reasons why it is a challenge," he said. The state Senate wants to cover adults ages 19 to 25, plus seniors 65 and older. That bill's sponsor, Sen. Maria Elana Durazo, scoffed at cost concerns, noting the state has a projected $21.5 billion budget surplus. "When we have, you know, a good budget, then what's the reason for not addressing it?" she said. The Senate and Assembly will finalize their budget proposals this week before beginning negotiations with the governor. State law says a budget has to be passed by June 15 or lawmaker forfeit their pay. At stake, according to legislative staffers, are the 3 million people left in California who don't have health insurance. About 1.8 million of them are immigrants in the country illegally. Of those, about 1.26 million have incomes low enough to qualify them for the Medi-Cal program. "Symbolically, this is quite significant. This would be establishing California as a counter to federal policies, both around health care and immigration," said Larry Levitt, senior vice president for health reform at the Kaiser Family Foundation. If enacted, it could prompt yet another collision with the Trump administration, which has proposed a rule that could hinder immigrants' residency applications if they rely on public assistance programs such as Medicaid. The proposed rule from the Department of Homeland Security says the goal is to make sure "foreign nationals do not become dependent on public benefits for support." California is also considering a measure requiring everyone in the state to purchase health insurance. People who refuse would have to pay a penalty, and the money would go toward helping middle-income residents purchase private health insurance plans. "We're going to penalize the citizens of this state that have followed the rules, but we're going to let somebody who has not followed the rules come in here and get the services for free. I just think that's wrong," Republican state Sen. Jeff Stone said about coverage of people in the U.S. illegally. Many immigrants who are in the country illegally are already enrolled for some government-funded programs, but they only cover emergencies and pregnancies. Serrano was one of hundreds of immigrant activists who came to the Capitol on Monday for "Immigrant Day of Action." She and her husband spent the day meeting with lawmakers, sharing the story of Angeles. "The conversation that I have is about the cost," she said, describing her interactions with lawmakers. "The conversation we want to have is about our families." Oralia Sandoval, center, holds her son Benjamin, 6, as she participates in an Immigrants Day of Action rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Sacramento, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed offering government-funded health care benefits to immigrant adults ages 19 to 25 who are living in the country illegally. State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, has proposed a bill to expand that further to include seniors age 65 and older. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, D-Los Angeles, addresses a gathering at the Immigrants Day of Action rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Sacramento, Calif. Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed offering government-funded health care benefits to immigrant adults ages 19 to 25 who are living in the country illegally. Durazo, has proposed a bill to expand that further to include seniors age 65 and older. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) MONTOURSVILLE, Pa. (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Pennsylvania (all times local): 8:45 p.m. President Donald Trump is claiming that former Vice President Joe Biden "deserted" Pennsylvania. Trump and Biden have made Pennsylvania front and center in the efforts to win the presidency in 2020. Biden kicked off his campaign in Harrisburg and located his campaign headquarters in Philadelphia. He was born in Scranton and served as a U.S. senator from Delaware. Trump repeatedly went after Biden during a campaign rally Monday night in Montoursville. President Donald Trump waves to the crowd as he finishes speaking at a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) "I guess he was born here, but he left you folks," Trump claimed. "He left you for another state. Remember that please. I meant to say that." Biden has said that if the "American people want a president to add to our division, to lead with a clenched fist, closed hand and a hard heart," they can vote for Trump. __ 7:45 p.m. President Donald Trump is telling rallygoers in Pennsylvania that "we have a big race tomorrow" as he campaigns for a Republican candidate seeking to fill an open congressional seat. Trump campaigned Monday in Montoursville (mahn-TOORZ'-vihl) on behalf of Republican Fred Keller, who faces Democrat Marc Friedenberg in a Tuesday special election. Trump describes Keller as a "great gentleman, a very successful businessman." He also stresses that Keller "is not letting anything happen to your Second Amendment." Keller sought to assure Trump about his prospects in Pennsylvania in 2020, saying, "In 2016, Pennsylvania put Donald Trump over the top, and in 2020, we're going to do it again." Republicans are attempting to recapture the House seat left open when Republican Rep. Tom Marino resigned in January. ___ 6:20 p.m. President Donald Trump is heading to Pennsylvania to campaign for a Republican congressional candidate - and himself. Trump's appearance Monday in the key battleground state comes two days after 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden held a campaign rally in Philadelphia. The president is traveling to Montoursville (mahn-TOORZ'-vihl) on behalf of Republican Fred Keller, who faces Democrat Marc Friedenberg in Tuesday's election to fill the U.S. House seat formerly held by Republican Rep. Tom Marino, who resigned in January. Voters in the heavily GOP district overwhelmingly backed Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Trump narrowly defeated Clinton in Pennsylvania in 2016. Biden, the former vice president and Pennsylvania native who leads his Democratic presidential rivals, is mounting a strong push in the state. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump gestures during a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa., Monday, May 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) President Donald Trump accompanied by Rep. Fred Keller, R-Snyder, arrives at a campaign rally in Montoursville, Pa., Monday, May 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) President Donald Trump arrives to speak to a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council rejected a Russian request Monday to hold a meeting on a new language law in Ukraine, with opponents calling it an attempt by Moscow to interfere in the inauguration of Ukraine's new president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Russia needed nine "yes" votes in the 15-member council to hold the meeting but it got support from only four other countries - China, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and the Dominican Republic. Six countries voted against a meeting - France, Germany, U.S., U.K., Belgium and Poland - and with four other nations abstaining, it was canceled. But council members were able to speak before and after the vote. There were heated exchanges and interruptions, reflecting divisions over Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in early 2014 following the ouster of Ukraine's Russia-friendly president by big street protests as well as and Russia's continuing support for separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine that has led to conflict with government forces. France, Germany and Belgium said they asked to postpone the Security Council meeting for several days but Russia refused. French Ambassador Francois Delattre and German Ambassador Christoph Heusgen said in a joint statement after the vote that Russia's objective in choosing Zelenskiy's inauguration day was "to pursue its notorious policy of intimidation against Ukraine again." The acting U.S. ambassador, Jonathan Cohen, called Moscow's request for Monday's meeting "a clear attempt by Russia to distract from the peaceful, democratic transfer of power happening today in Ukraine." FILE - In this Saturday, April 20, 2019 file photo, a Ukrainian serviceman guards a position near the frontline as the conflict continues, in Mariinka, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who takes the presidential oath on Monday May 20, 2019, comes into the post having never held political office; his popularity is rooted in playing the role of president on a television sit-com. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka, File) Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia called the council's refusal to hold the meeting "a blatant demonstration of double standards" by members who approved other meetings. He accused them of "censorship." Nebenzia was sharply critical of the new language law, which requires the use of Ukrainian in the government and media and relegates Russian, which is also widely spoken in the country, to personal communications. He said the law is aimed to push the Russian language out and "sow discord," predicting it will lead "to excessive polarization of the people of Ukraine." He also called the language law a violation of the 2015 Minsk agreements aimed at bringing peace to Ukraine's volatile east. Zelenskiy said after his inauguration that the main goal for his presidency is to bring peace to eastern Ukraine, where government troops have been fighting Russia-backed separatists for five years in a conflict that caused at least 13,000 deaths and displaced 1.5 million people. France's Delattre and Germany's Heusgen called for "full, immediate and unconditional implementation of the Minsk agreements." "The inauguration of the new Ukrainian president, who expressed his determination to restore peace again today, should be an opportunity to give a new impetus to those agreements," they said. Ukraine's ambassador, Volodymyr Yelchenko, said Russia's attempt "to send a very powerful message to the new leader from the Security Council" ended up instead being a message for Russia. "And this is not the best way to start contacts between Russia and Ukraine if they really want to," he told reporters. JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hard-liners and vowed Tuesday to challenge the result in the country's highest court. Official counting was completed just before midnight and the Election Commission announced the formal result early Tuesday. It said Widodo won 55.5% of the vote in the April 17 election to 45.5% for his challenger, ultra-nationalist former Gen. Prabowo Subianto. Tens of thousands of police officers and soldiers were on high alert in Jakarta, the capital, anticipating protests from Subianto's supporters. The Election Commission's headquarters in central Jakarta were barricaded with razor wire and heavily guarded. Declaring victory, Widodo said he and his running mate, conservative cleric Ma'ruf Amin, "will be the president and vice president of all the people in Indonesia." Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation, is an outpost of democracy in a Southeast Asian neighborhood of authoritarian governments and is forecast to be among the world's biggest economies by 2030. A second term for Widodo, the first Indonesian president from outside the Jakarta elite, could further cement the country's two decades of democratization. Widodo's campaign highlighted his progress in poverty reduction and improving Indonesia's inadequate infrastructure with new ports, toll roads, airports and mass rapid transit. Residents take a selfie with incumbent Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, prior to a speech declaring his victory in the country's presidential election, at a slum in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hard-liners and vowed Tuesday to challenge the result in the country's highest court. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Subianto, who also lost to Widodo in 2014 and unsuccessfully contested that result, has alleged massive election fraud but hasn't provided any credible evidence. Votes are counted publicly and the commission posts the tabulation form from each polling station on its website, allowing for independent verification. The formal result was almost the same as the preliminary "quick count" results drawn from a sample of polling stations on election day. Subianto campaign official Sufmi Dasco Ahmad said a legal challenge to the results would be filed in the Constitutional Court within the mandatory three days. Widodo said he "appreciated" his rival is following "a process in accordance with the constitution and the law." Subianto and members of his campaign team had previously said they would mobilize "people power" for days of street protests rather than appeal legally because they didn't believe the court would provide justice. Subianto ran a fear-based campaign, emphasizing what he sees as Indonesia's weakness and the risk of exploitation by foreign powers or disintegration. He aligned himself with hard-line Muslim groups and won massive majorities in conservative provinces such as Aceh, which follows Shariah law, but was defeated by Widodo in the president's populous East Java and Central Java strongholds. Repeating his tactics following the 2014 loss, Subianto declared himself the winner not long after the election. In a video released after results were announced Tuesday he again refused to concede defeat but called on supporters to refrain from violence. Police this month have arrested 31 Islamic militants they say planned to set off bombs during expected street protests against the election result. The Election Commission said Widodo won in 21 of 34 provinces and got 85.6 million votes compared with about 68.5 million for Subianto. Incumbent Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, waves to reporters as he leaves after declaring his victory in the country's presidential election, at a slum in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hard-liners and vowed Tuesday to challenge the result in the country's highest court. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Incumbent Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center left, confers with his running mate Ma'ruf Amin prior to a speech declaring their victory in the country's presidential election, at a slum in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hard-liners and vowed Tuesday to challenge the result in the country's highest court. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center, and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin are congratulated by residents after delivering their victory speech at a slum in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed Tuesday, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hardliners. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Indonesian President Joko Widodo, center left, and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin gesture as they pose for photographers after declaring their victory in the country's presidential election, at a slum in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hard-liners and vowed Tuesday to challenge the result in the country's highest court. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, gestures while his running mate Ma'ruf Amin listens during a speech declaring their victory in the country's presidential election, at a slum in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed Tuesday, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hardliners. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Incumbent Indonesian President Joko Widodo, left, and his running mate Ma'ruf Amin pose for photographers as they declare their victory in the country's presidential election in Jakarta, Indonesia, Monday, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hard-liners and vowed Tuesday to challenge the result in the country's highest court. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara) Indonesian police stand near water canon parked outside Election Commission building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed Tuesday, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hardliners. Thousands of police and soldiers are on high alert in the capital Jakarta, anticipating protests from Widodo's challenger Prabowo Subianto's supporters. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) Indonesian police walk in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed Tuesday, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hardliners. Thousands of police and soldiers are on high alert in the capital Jakarta, anticipating protests from Widodo's challenger Prabowo Subianto's supporters. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) Officials put roadblocks near Election Commission building in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has been elected for a second term, official results showed Tuesday, in a victory over a would-be strongman who aligned himself with Islamic hardliners. Thousands of police and soldiers are on high alert in the capital Jakarta, anticipating protests from Widodo's challenger Prabowo Subianto's supporters. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim) ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - Seniors from a Colorado high school where a student was killed trying to stop a shooting nearly two weeks ago graduated Monday. STEM School Highlands Ranch held its commencement ceremony at a Denver Broncos training facility and honored 18-year-old Kendrick Castillo, who was fatally shot when he and two classmates tackled one of the two gunmen May 7. The shooting came during the last week of classes for Castillo and his fellow seniors. Valedictorian Emma Goodwill said Monday the attack does not define the school, although she will take the events with her through life. "It was an attack on so many things, but it was also an attack on this common ideological foundation that was fundamentally the center of our school: mutual respect for our peers' individuality. A love for each student's personal and particular nature," she said. "However, Kendrick's personal nature was not shaken. He continued to love and to protect just as he had. Kendrick died as he lived." Goodwill asked her classmates to "love so fully and fundamentally like Kendrick," who she described as a "gracious, kind, funny and genuinely joyful kid." "Kendrick's identity does not lie in the fact that he died protecting our school and our classmates, but rather that it was so fundamentally him to love that much," she said. FILE - This undated file photo provided by Rachel Short shows Kendrick Castillo, who was killed during a shooting at the STEM School Highlands Ranch on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, in Highlands Ranch, Colo. Seniors from the school graduated Monday, May 20, 2019 in a ceremony hosted by the Denver Broncos hosted commencement ceremonies at their training facility in suburban Denver. Castillo was fatally shot as he and two classmates tried to stop one of the two gunmen who attacked the school. Valedictorian Emma Goodwill asked her classmates to "love so fully and fundamentally like Kendrick." (Rachel Short via AP, File) Castillo and classmates Brendan Bialy and Joshua Jones were credited with helping minimize the bloodshed by charging at one of the suspects in a classroom. According to Bialy, Castillo sprang into action against the shooter "and immediately was on top of him with complete disregard for his own safety." Jones, 18, said he was shot twice in the leg before Bialy was able to take the attacker's gun. Two students, ages 18 and 16, were arrested at the school and are facing dozens of charges, including murder, attempted murder, arson and theft. Besides Castillo, eight students were shot during the attack. They have since been released from the hospital. CHERRY POINT, N.C. (AP) - Officials say a Marine jet has crashed in a wooded area in North Carolina, but the pilot ejected from the aircraft and was taken to a hospital. A statement posted to Facebook from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point says the AV-8B Harrier crashed Monday night near Havelock. There were no reports of injuries on the ground or property damage. The pilot's condition was not immediately known. The crash site was cordoned off by military officials. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the House intelligence committee's transcripts of interviews with President Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen (all times local): 9:05 p.m. President Donald Trump's former fixer told Congress it was Trump's personal attorney who suggested he tell lawmakers that the negotiations for Trump Tower Moscow ended months before they actually did. The House intelligence committee on Monday released two transcripts of closed-door interviews with Michael Cohen. Its decision to release the hundreds of pages of transcripts came two weeks after Cohen reported to federal prison for a three-year sentence. Cohen provided no direct proof that Jay Sekulow knew the end date of the Trump Tower Moscow negotiations was false, but he claims that Sekulow should've known because he had access to emails and other communications. Sekulow's attorneys say Cohen's testimony isn't credible. ___ 6:35 p.m. The House intelligence committee has released two transcripts of closed-door interviews with President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, along with some exhibits from the testimony. The committee's decision to release the transcripts came two weeks after Michael Cohen reported to federal prison for a three-year sentence. Cohen pleaded guilty last year to campaign finance violations, lying to Congress and other crimes. He is the only person charged with a crime in connection with the hush-money payments made to women who allege affairs with Trump. The president denies their allegations. The transcripts are from interviews the panel conducted with Cohen in February and March. The vote to release them was 12-7. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is vowing to have 500 miles of border wall built by the 2020 election. There's reason to be strongly skeptical about that. Here's a look at a sampling of his rhetoric Monday night at a rally in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, and how it compares with the facts: BORDER TRUMP: "The wall is being built as we speak. We'll have almost 500 miles of wall by the end of next year." THE FACTS: It's unclear how Trump arrives at 500 miles (800 kilometers), but he would have to prevail in legal challenges to his declaration of a national emergency or get Congress to cough up more money to get anywhere close. Those are big assumptions. So far, the administration has awarded contracts for 244 miles (390 kilometers) of wall construction, but more than half comes from Defense Department money available under Trump's Feb. 15 emergency declaration. Two judges - in Washington and in San Francisco - are weighing whether to block the administration for tapping those funds. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally, Monday, May 20, 2019, in Montoursville, Pa. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) And nearly all of what Trump has awarded so far is for replacement barriers and fencing, not new miles of wall. Even if Trump prevails in court, all but 14 miles (22 kilometers) of those awarded contracts replace existing barriers. The White House says it has identified up to $8.1 billion in potential money under the national emergency, mostly from the Defense Department. Customs and Border Protection officials say the administration wants Congress to finance 206 miles (330 kilometers) next year. The chances of the Democratic-controlled House backing that are between slim and none. ___ JOBS TRUMP claims "the best unemployment numbers in history." THE FACTS: The 3.6% unemployment rate in the latest report is not the best in history. It's the lowest since 1969, when it was 3.5%. The U.S. also had lower rates than now in the early 1950s. And during three years of World War II, the annual rate was under 2%. ___ DRUG PRICES TRUMP: "Last year for the first time in 51 years, drug prices went down." THE FACTS: Trump continues to ignore an increase in drug prices. The Labor Department's Consumer Price Index for prescription drug prices shows an increase of 0.3% in April compared with the same month last year. The index tracks a set of medications, both brand names and generics, and Trump has frequently made his boast since the updated numbers showing higher costs came out. Other independent studies point to increasing prices for brand-name drugs as well and more overall spending on medications. An analysis of brand-name drug prices by The Associated Press showed 2,712 price increases in the first half of January, compared with 3,327 increases during the same period last year. However, the size of this year's increases was not as pronounced. Both this year and last, the number of price cuts was minuscule. The information for the analysis was provided by the health data firm Elsevier. An analysis by Altarum, a nonprofit research and consulting firm, found that in 2018, spending on prescription drugs was one of the main factors behind a 4.5% increase in U.S. health spending. Spending on prescription drugs grew much faster than in 2017, according to the study. ___ Spagat reported from San Diego. Associated Press writer Hope Yen contributed to this report. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) - The Latest on the commencement ceremony for a suburban Denver school that was attacked two weeks ago. (all times local): 7:30 p.m. Seniors from a Colorado high school where a student was killed trying to thwart a shooting two weeks ago have graduated. The Denver Broncos hosted commencement ceremonies for STEM School Highlands Ranch on Monday evening at their training facility in suburban Denver. Eighteen-year-old Kendrick Castillo was fatally shot as he and two classmates tried to stop one of the two gunmen who attacked the school on May 7. The shooting came during the last week of classes for Castillo and his fellow seniors. Valedictorian Emma Goodwill said Monday the attack does not define the school and asked her classmates to "love so fully and fundamentally like Kendrick." She said Castillo "continued to love and to protect just as he had. Kendrick died as he lived." ___ 11:30 a.m. Seniors at a Colorado high school where a student was killed in a shooting two weeks ago are graduating. The Denver Broncos will host commencement ceremonies for STEM School Highlands Ranch Monday evening at their training facility in suburban Denver. Eighteen-year-old Kendrick Castillo was fatally shot as he and two other classmates tried to stop one of the two gunmen who attacked the school on May 7. The shooting came during the last week of classes for Castillo and his fellow seniors. The ceremony won't be open to the media because organizers want it to be as close to normal as possible. However, school spokesman Chris Arnold says it will include a tribute to Castillo, who was remembered for his selflessness during a memorial service last week. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Somalia is making progress toward building a functioning state but must still tackle violent extremism, terrorism, armed conflict, political instability and corruption, the U.N. chief said in a new report. Antonio Guterres said in the report to the U.N. Security Council circulated Monday that these challenges "demonstrate the fragility of the gains made so far" and "threaten progress." After three decades of civil war, extremist attacks and famine, Somalia established a functioning transitional government in 2012 and has since been working to rebuild stability. But Guterres said that "the security situation remained volatile" between the mid-December and early May reporting period. The militant group Al-Shabab, an al-Qaida affiliate, continues to be "the main perpetrator of attacks against government facilities, government officials and security forces as well as popular restaurants and hotels," he said. Guterres said March and April witnessed "a significant increase of attacks in Mogadishu, where incidents involving improvised explosive devices occurred almost every day." In March, he said, there were 77 such attacks across the country, the highest single monthly total since 2016. In addition, Guterres said, there was "a notable increase in mortar attacks, which demonstrated Al-Shabab's improved capacity to hit strategic targets with precision and accuracy." And the militant group continued to carry out attacks using suicide vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, he said. At the same time, the secretary-general said, the reporting period saw an increase in security operations "and a large number of air strikes targeting Al-Shabab training bases and assembly points" that were deemed to have degraded its operating capability and freedom of movement. "They have also led, however, to increased Al-Shabab movement into urban centers, in particular Mogadishu, where their forces are less likely to be targeted from the air," he said. In addition to security threats, Guterres said large segments of the Somali population face poverty and a lack of food. He said the World Bank estimates in a forthcoming poverty and vulnerability assessment that 77% of Somalia's population is living below "the international extreme poverty line of $1.90 per day." "Poverty is especially deep and widespread in rural areas and in internally displaced persons settlements," Guterres said. "Almost 90 percent of households lack access to basic services, such as education and water and sanitation." The United Nations launched an appeal Monday for $710 million to help 4.5 million drought-affected Somalis in the most severely affected areas of the country between now and the end of December. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric noted that the 2019 U.N. humanitarian appeal for more than $1 billion for Somalia is only 20 percent funded. "Many areas are experiencing critical water shortages, widespread crop failure, and diminished livestock conditions following two consecutive failing rainy seasons," Dujarric said, stressing the need for additional funding. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Crews in New Zealand on Tuesday reentered an underground coal mine where a methane explosion killed 29 workers more than eight years ago, raising hopes among family members that they might find bodies and new evidence that leads to criminal charges. Anna Osborne, whose husband Milton was killed in the explosion, said the families had been fighting for this ever since the Pike River mine exploded. "We did it. We won," she said. She said it had been a "hugely emotional" day for the families and it was a moving experience to watch people going back into the mine. She said they hope the crews can recover electronic equipment that indicates what went wrong, much like the black box in a plane. "The families are all hoping that the team going in, with their forensic expertise, will find new evidence for future prosecutions against those who allowed the mine to blow up in first place," she said. Nigel Hampton, a lawyer who is acting for the families, said that if they discover what ignited the methane, it could help link acts of negligence with the deaths of the miners and result in charges such as manslaughter. In this image released by the Pike River Recovery Agency, workers react after the first of the two airlock doors was opened in the Pike River Mine, near Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Crews in New Zealand on Tuesday reentered an underground coal mine where a methane explosion killed 29 workers more than eight years ago, raising hopes among family members that they might find bodies and new evidence that leads to criminal charges. (Neil Silverwood/Pike River Recovery Agency via AP) "There's still a long way to go yet, but it's possible," he said. Two workers escaped the mine after the deadly November 2010 explosion. After several more explosions, the mine was sealed shut with a concrete barrier. New Zealand's previous conservative government concluded the mine remained too unsafe to reenter. But the liberal government elected in 2017, led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, reconsidered. "New Zealand is not a country where 29 people can die at work without real accountability," said Andrew Little, the minister responsible for Pike River reentry. "That is not who we are. And that is why today we have fulfilled our promise. Today we have returned." The plan won't allow access into the inner workings of the mine, which are blocked by a massive rockfall. It remains unclear how many miners were on either side of the rockfall at the time of the explosion or how many bodies might be recovered. New Zealand police said they'll be examining any new evidence from the mine, which they could use to file charges. An earlier investigation concluded the Pike River Coal company had exposed miners to unacceptable risks as it strove to meet financial targets. The report found the company ignored 21 warnings that methane gas had accumulated to explosive levels before the disaster. The company, which went bankrupt, didn't contest labor violation charges against it. Labor violation charges against former chief executive Peter Whittall were dismissed after he and the company made a financial settlement, a development which angered many of the grieving families. New Zealand's Supreme Court later ruled the settlement was unlawful. Whittall moved to Australia about five years ago. In this image released by the Pike River Recovery Agency, Dinghy Pattinson, left, stands with, Sonya Rockhouse, as Karl Maddaford embraces Anna Osborne before the re-entry the Pike River Mine, near Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Crews in New Zealand on Tuesday reentered an underground coal mine where a methane explosion killed 29 workers more than eight years ago, raising hopes among family members that they might find bodies and new evidence that leads to criminal charges. (Neil Silverwood/Pike River Recovery Agency via AP) In this image released by the Pike River Recovery Agency, families watch as a loader enters the Pike River Mine, near Greymouth on the West Coast of New Zealand, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Crews in New Zealand on Tuesday reentered an underground coal mine where a methane explosion killed 29 workers more than eight years ago, raising hopes among family members that they might find bodies and new evidence that leads to criminal charges. (Neil Silverwood/Pike River Recovery Agency via AP) KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - A Sherpa mountaineer extended his record for successful climbs of Mount Everest with his 24th ascent of the world's highest peak on Tuesday. Kami Rita reached the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) peak Tuesday, which was his second time on the summit in a week. He climbed to the top on May 15 then returned to base camp before climbing again this week. Nepal Department of Tourism official Mira Acharya said Rita reached the summit on Tuesday along with several other climbers taking advantage of favorable weather. There are 41 teams with a total of 378 climbers permitted to scale Everest during the spring climbing season. An equal number of Nepalese guides are helping them to get to the summit. Several climbers have already, while dozens are expected to make their attempt this week. Only a few windows of good weather each May allow climbers the best chance of summiting Everest. FILE - In this May 20, 2018, file photo, Nepalese veteran Sherpa guide, Kami Rita, 48, waves as he arrives in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Sherpa mountaineer extended his record for successful climbs of Mount Everest with his 24th ascent of the world's highest peak on Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha, File) Tuesday's climb brings Rita, 49, closer to his target of 25 ascents of Everest before he retires from high mountain climbing. Rita's two closest peers have climbed the peak 21 times each, but both of them have retired from mountain climbing. Rita first scaled Everest in 1994 and has been making the trip nearly every year since. His father was among the first Sherpa guides employed to help climbers reach the summit, and Rita followed in his footsteps and then some. In addition to his nearly two dozen summits of Everest, Rita has scaled some of the other highest mountains, K-2, Cho-Oyu, Manaslu and Lhotse. Sherpa tribespeople were mostly yak herders and traders living deep within the Himalayas until Nepal opened its borders in the 1950s. Their stamina and familiarity with the mountains quickly made them sought-after guides and porters. BLANTYRE, Malawi (AP) - More than 6 million Malawians are voting Tuesday for president, parliament and local councils in the country's sixth election since the 1994 end of dictatorship. Of a field of seven presidential candidates, incumbent 78-year-old President Peter Mutharika faces stiff competition from his vice-president, Saulos Chilima, 46, and from Lazarus Chakwera, 64, leader of the main opposition, the Malawi Congress Party. Malawi's winning candidate must get the most votes cast but is not required to receive more than 50% of the votes. Previous president Joyce Banda dropped out of the race and is supporting Chakwera. Of the registered voters, 54% are young people between the ages of 18 and 34. Women make up 56% of the registered voters while all the presidential candidates are male. Malawi's army and police will provide security at the more than 5,000 polling stations across the country and polls will remain open for 12 hours until 6 p.m. local time. Malawi's President Peter Mutharika casts his vote at a polling station near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. More than 6 million Malawians are voting Tuesday for president, parliament and local councils in the country's sixth election since the 1994 end of dictatorship. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) Most voters interviewed said they are pleased to cast their ballots in the hotly contested presidential poll. "We are tired with all these months of bickering and I just want to vote and be done with it," said Martha Liunda, 66, in Blantyre. William Phiri, 32, an inmate at Chichiri prison in Blantyre said he was excited to be able to vote for a candidate of his choice even though he is in jail. "I have two years to serve and I am voting for a future that I will find upon my release," he said. Malawi's voting system is secure and "cannot be penetrated by hackers," said electoral commission chairwoman Jane Ansa, speaking to the press Monday evening. No communications networks will be shut down during the elections, she said. The presidential contest is very close between the top three contenders, said Boniface Dulani, a senior lecturer in political science at Chancellor College, University of Malawi. As in previous elections, he says voting is likely to follow regional lines where Chakwere and the Malawi Congress Party will carry the central region, Chilima the north and Mutharika the south. "The decider will most likely be who comes second in all the regions," he said. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa People queue to cast their votes near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Voting is underway to elect a new president in which 78-year-old President Peter Mutharika is seeking re-election to a second term. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) People prepare to cast their votes near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Voting is underway to elect a new president in which 78-year-old President Peter Mutharika is seeking re-election to a second term. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) People queue to cast their votes near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Voting is underway to elect a new president in which 78-year-old President Peter Mutharika is seeking re-election to a second term. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) People queue to cast their votes near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Voting is underway to elect a new president in which 78-year-old President Peter Mutharika is seeking re-election to a second term. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) People queue to cast their votes near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Voting is underway to elect a new president in which 78-year-old President Peter Mutharika is seeking re-election to a second term. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) Malawi's President Peter Mutharika prepares to cast his vote at a polling station near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. More than 6 million Malawians are voting Tuesday for president, parliament and local councils in the country's sixth election since the 1994 end of dictatorship. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) People queue to cast their votes at a polling station near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. More than 6 million Malawians are voting Tuesday for president, parliament and local councils in the country's sixth election since the 1994 end of dictatorship. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) Malawi's President Peter Mutharika arrives to cast his vote at a polling station near Blantyre, Malawi, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. More than 6 million Malawians are voting Tuesday for president, parliament and local councils in the country's sixth election since the 1994 end of dictatorship. (AP Photo/Thoko Chikondi) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - New Zealand police on Tuesday filed a terrorism charge against the man accused of killing 51 people at two Christchurch mosques. Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, was already facing murder and attempted murder charges from the March 15 shootings. The new charge comes with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment upon conviction and will be a test case for New Zealand's terrorism law, which came onto the books in 2002 following the terrorist attacks in the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001. The New Zealand law defines terrorism as including acts that are carried out to advance an ideological, political, or religious cause with the intention of inducing terror in a civilian population. Just before the attacks, Tarrant emailed New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and others a manifesto outlining his white supremacist beliefs and his detailed plans for the shootings. From the outset, Ardern has described the attacks as terrorism. FILE - In this March 23, 2019 file photo, worshippers prepare to enter the Al Noor mosque following the previous week's mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. New Zealand police on Tuesday, May 21, 2019, filed a terrorism charge against the man accused of killing 51 people at two Christchurch mosques. (AP Photo/Mark Baker, File) Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement they wouldn't be commenting on the new charges as the case was before the courts. A judge last month ordered that Tarrant undergo mental health assessments to determine if he's fit to stand trial. His next court hearing has been scheduled for June 14, and the mental health findings could determine whether he is required to enter a plea at that point. Police also said Tuesday they had charged Tarrant with an additional count of murder, bringing the total number of murder charges against him to 51. That came after a Turkish man who was wounded in the attack died earlier this month in Christchurch Hospital. Police also increased the number of attempted murder charges against Tarrant from 39 to 40. Aside from those who died, at least 47 other people were treated at hospitals for gunshot wounds. Some had minor injuries and were discharged within hours. Police told family members and attack survivors of the new charges at a private meeting attended by more than 200 people. During the attacks, 42 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven were killed at the Linwood mosque and two died later in hospitals. BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) - After years of assassinations, bombings and militia firefights, Libya's eastern city of Benghazi finally feels safe again - but security has come at a heavy cost. Uniformed police are out at major intersections, cafes and restaurants stay open late into the night, and local groups hold art exhibitions and festivals. But the city center lies in ruins, thousands remain displaced, and forces loyal to commander Khalifa Hifter, who now controls eastern Libya, have cracked down on dissent. Benghazi offers a glimpse of what may befall the capital, Tripoli, where Hifter's forces launched an offensive last month against rival militias loosely allied with a weak, U.N.-recognized government. Its fate could also harden the resolve of Hifter's opponents - who view him as an aspiring dictator - and further imperil U.N. efforts to peacefully reunite the country. Hifter's forces have met stiff resistance on the outskirts of Tripoli, and experts say that despite considerable international support, he is unlikely to succeed in defeating his rivals in the west or unifying the country. They point out that even in the east, his forces rely on local militias as well as ultraconservative Islamists known as Salafists. Benghazi was the epicenter of the Arab Spring uprising in 2011 that toppled and killed long-ruling dictator Moammar Gadhafi. But in the years after his ouster, the city and much of the country came to be ruled by a patchwork of armed groups: local and tribal militias, nationalist and mainstream Islamist groups, as well as al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Extremists attacked the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, killing U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans. Hifter served as a senior officer under Gadhafi but defected in the 1980s during the ruinous war with Chad, in which he and hundreds of soldiers were captured in an ambush. He later spent more than two decades in the suburbs of Washington, where he is widely believed to have worked with the CIA, before returning to join the uprising in 2011. He eventually built up forces known as the Libyan National Army. FILE - In this Aug. 14, 2017 file photo, Libyan militia commander General Khalifa Hifter meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow, Russia. After years of assassinations, bombings and militia firefights, Libya's eastern city of Benghazi finally feels safe again -- but security has come at a staggering cost. The city center lies in ruins, thousands of people remain displaced, and forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter, who now controls eastern Libya, have cracked down on dissent. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File) In February 2014, he declared the start of an operation to root out the militias and unify the country. Four months later, when it appeared they would lose influence in a disputed election, Islamist and other factions in Tripoli launched an attack on their rivals, eventually splitting the country into rival authorities in the east and west, each beholden to an array of militias. ___ "BACK TO NORMAL" Hifter's prominence rose as his forces battled extremists and other rival factions across eastern Libya, and the parliament there eventually recognized him as the head of its armed forces, giving him the rank of field marshal. He also gained the support of Egypt and the United Arab Emirates, as well as France and Russia , all of which came to see him as a key ally against extremists and are widely believed to have provided weapons and other support despite a U.N. arms embargo. His opponents in western Libya are believed to have gotten aid from Qatar and Turkey. Today his forces are firmly in control of the country's east, and the near-daily assassinations, abductions and shootings that once terrified Benghazi's residents are a thing of the past. Billboards and posters showing Hifter in full military regalia line the streets - with so many placed along the airport road that many jokingly refer to the display as Hifter's Instagram page. "In 2019 we have recorded no terrorist attacks or assassinations in Benghazi, which was a daily event back before the LNA took control over the city," said Maj. Tarek Alkarraz, spokesman for the Interior Ministry in the east. He added that the city of Derna, which was under IS control, was similar. "Now life is back to normal and it's safe and secure." Streets are cleaner, garbage is being collected and the electricity cuts out far less often than it did at the height of the fighting. Outside the devastated city center, modern shopping malls have sprung up, as well as upscale seafood and Turkish restaurants. Local ride-booking services are modeled on Uber and Careem. "The only thing that matters is safety, which we are enjoying, thank God," said Wanees Amgadah, a retired teacher. "The whole east, and God willing even the west, will be safe with the help of God, thanks to our soldiers." ___ INSPIRED BY EGYPT'S EL-SISSI Hifter has modeled his rule on that of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, his close ally in neighboring Egypt, who led the overthrow of an elected but divisive Islamist president in 2013. Both have declared war on terrorism - applying the term not only to extremist groups but more moderate Islamists. El-Sissi has launched an unprecedented crackdown on dissent, jailing thousands of people and heavily restricting independent media and civil society. "The LNA primarily emphasize stability and deem the Muslim Brotherhood and their allies and associates as a security threat," said Claudia Gazzini, a Libya expert at the International Crisis Group. "This is a very vague term and this brand could be slapped on anyone who opposes the LNA." A human rights activist in Benghazi, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the security forces are more aggressive than at any point since Gadhafi's time, restricting the movement of activists and NGO workers, and regularly bringing them in for interrogation. In a report issued last month, the Tripoli-based Libyan Center for Freedom of the Press documented 29 attacks on reporters by Hifter's forces over the past year and a half, more than any other armed group. Hifter's forces "prohibit all the media and journalists who are not loyal to it, and thus totally curtail all civilian state aspects in eastern Libya," it said. The report said more than 80 journalists have fled the country since 2014. Across Libya, it said, "journalists now face one of three options: to work under threat, or observe silence and not talk about the threats they face, or abandon their profession." Hifter's supporters insist the LNA is not seeking to rule the country, but to rebuild the state and create the conditions for elected government. "Our goal is not to rule or to establish a military government," Abdulhadi Lahweej, the foreign minister in the eastern government, told The Associated Press earlier this month. "We want a civil state based on institutions and human rights. We want a government that the Libyan people choose and we will approve of whatever the people choose." Egypt has also held elections under el-Sissi, but they resulted in a parliament packed with his supporters, which earlier this year approved constitutional changes allowing him to potentially remain in office until 2030. El-Sissi was re-elected last year in a vote in which all potentially serious competitors were either arrested or pressured into withdrawing from the race. After years of unrest, many Libyans may prefer that kind of stability. "Is it possible to achieve democracy in the presence of two and a half million weapons?" asks Ahmed Almahdawi, an independent political analyst based in Benghazi. "I don't think so." Younis Fanoush, a Benghazi lawmaker who recently helped launch an independent political party backing the LNA, said the only hope of establishing a civil state is to first defeat the militias. He says the armed groups "chose to destroy any hope for establishing a democratic state and drafting a constitution. Now the only way is forward, and this war is a must to remove these cancerous entities from the capital." ___ Krauss reported from Cairo. In this May 2, 2019 photo, a police officer waves vehicles through a checkpoint during rush hour in Benghazi, Libya. After years of assassinations, bombings and militia firefights, Libya's eastern city of Benghazi finally feels safe again -- but security has come at a staggering cost. The city center lies in ruins, thousands of people remain displaced, and forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter, who now controls eastern Libya, have cracked down on dissent. (AP Photo/Rami Musa) In this April 30, 2019 photo, men shop at a market in Benghazi, Libya. After years of assassinations, bombings and militia firefights, Libya's eastern city of Benghazi finally feels safe again -- but security has come at a staggering cost. The city center lies in ruins, thousands of people remain displaced, and forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter, who now controls eastern Libya, have cracked down on dissent. But streets are cleaner, garbage is being collected and the electricity cuts out far less often than it did at the height of the fighting. (AP Photo/Rami Musa) In this May 2, 2019 photo, policewomen cadets attend their graduation ceremony in Benghazi, Libya. After years of assassinations, bombings and militia firefights, Libya's eastern city of Benghazi finally feels safe again -- but security has come at a staggering cost. Forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter, who now controls eastern Libya, have cracked down on dissent. In a report issued last month, the Tripoli-based Libyan Center for Freedom of the Press documented 29 attacks on reporters by Hifter's forces over the past year and a half, more than any other armed group. (AP Photo/Rami Musa) FILE - In this May 9, 2019 file photo, provided by Egypt's presidency media office, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, right, walks with Field Marshal Khalifa Hifter, the head of the self-styled Libyan National Army, in Cairo, Egypt. Libya's eastern city of Benghazi finally feels safe again, but the city center lies in ruins, thousands of people remain displaced, and forces loyal to Hifter, who now controls eastern Libya, have cracked down on dissent. Hifter has modeled his rule on that of el-Sissi, his close ally in neighboring Egypt. Both have declared war on terrorism -- applying the term not only to extremist groups but more moderate Islamists. (Egyptian Presidency Media office via AP, File) In this Thursday, May 2, 2019 photo, police attend their graduation ceremony in Benghazi, Libya. After years of assassinations, bombings and militia firefights, Libya's eastern city of Benghazi finally feels safe again -- but security has come at a staggering cost. Forces loyal to Khalifa Hifter, who now controls eastern Libya, have cracked down on dissent. In a report issued last month, the Tripoli-based Libyan Center for Freedom of the Press documented 29 attacks on reporters by Hifter's forces over the past year and a half, more than any other armed group. (AP Photo/Rami Musa) BREMERHAVEN, Germany (AP) - If Joachim Schuster is worried about his job, he's not letting on. A jolly German in his mid-fifties with spiky greying hair and a broad smile, Schuster was elected to the European Parliament five years ago for the center-left Social Democrats. Now he's speaking to students at a vocational college in the northern city of Bremerhaven in an effort to save his seat, defying the downward trend that's beset traditional parties in Europe in recent years. Support for the Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically across Germany in recent years, but nowhere is its fate more closely watched than in the city-state of Bremen, of which Bremerhaven is a part. The Social Democrats have dominated the proud port's political scene since the end of World War II, winning 19 straight elections and governing it for 73 years. That run could end on May 26, when voters in Germany cast ballots for the European Parliament and those in Bremen also hold a state election. A poor result in both elections could hasten the end of the Social Democrats' fractious coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc in Germany's national legislature and further reduce the center-left's overall influence on Europe's political landscape. A new political grouping of nationalist and populist parties is trying to capitalize on voter discontent, vowing to upend the continent's traditional political power structure. Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo, cars for import and export park in the free harbour in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) "Establishment politics in Germany, but also in the EU, often haven't managed to really solve the issues the population believes are pressing," Schuster told The Associated Press. The loss of tens of thousands of jobs in Bremen's shipyards - mirroring similar industrial declines in other parts of Europe - has also sapped the Social Democrats' traditional base, said Schuster. Voters ruefully compared the region's current economic situation to its heyday in the 1970s. "Lousy, really bad and getting worse all the time," retiree Eta Grotheer said, making her way down Bremerhaven's main shopping street. "The only thing we have left is the port, otherwise there's nothing." While Grotheer had little good to say about Merkel and her center-right Christian Democratic Union, it's the 'reds' in Bremen who disappoint her the most. "The Social Democrats used to be a good workers' party," she said. "Now there's nothing." Grotheer predicted that right-wing parties would benefit from voters' frustration. If past elections are any indication, many voters in Germany could also stay away from the polls, harming large establishment parties like the Social Democrats. "We had a terrible voter turnout at the last state elections," said Andreas Klee, a political scientist at the University of Bremen. "That's an incredibly bad sign for the mood in the country as far as democracy and citizens' trust in politics is concerned." According to Klee, the erosion of traditional party affiliations - which once saw entire families or streets vote the same way - means voters today are more inclined to shop around for a party that speaks directly to their concerns. Voters worried about immigration and crime are drawn toward the nationalist Alternative for Germany party or Bremen's right-wing Citizens in Rage. Those concerned about climate change and air pollution head to the Greens, who have seen a remarkable rise in poll support in recent months. The proportional representation in European electoral systems also gives smaller parties a realistic chance of entering parliament, unlike in the United States, where only two parties dominate. Last year's election in Italy offers a glimpse of what can happen if Europe's main centrist parties collapse. Italian voters angry about unemployment, corruption and immigration propelled the right-wing League party and the anti-establishment Five Star movement into a ruling populist coalition in the EU's fourth largest economy. In France, the two dominant parties of the past decades likewise crumbled in 2017's presidential election amid a surge of support for far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Ultimately, it took a relative newcomer, current President Emmanuel Macron, to unite mainstream voters behind a centrist movement. Polls for this week's European Parliament election put Macron's party neck-and-neck with Le Pen's far-right National Rally. Projections released by the European Parliament this month show the center-right European People's Party bloc, which includes Merkel's Union, losing 37 of its 217 seats in the 751-seat assembly. The center-left S&D group, which includes Germany's Social Democrats, is forecast to drop from 186 seats to 149. Schuster believes a more radical approach might help the Social Democrats win back voters. "Everywhere that social justice is moved into greater focus and linked to perspectives for the whole country, we are relatively successful," he said, citing Portugal and Spain, where the center-left remains the dominant political force. The prospect of losing its bastion in Bremen to the Christian Democrats is causing jitters among the party's top brass. Its leading figures are traveling to the city on Friday for a final rally ahead of Sunday's elections. "If Bremen changes its political color, there is a high risk that the Social Democratic Party will withdraw from the federal government," said Carsten Brzeski, chief economist with ING bank in Germany. "An upset in Bremen, combined with a potential loss in the European elections, would embolden those in the party who have argued against joining the government," he said. Speaking after a town hall meeting with workers' representatives, Bremen mayor and governor Carsten Sieling tried to downplay the possibility that the Social Democrats might face a major election upset this week which could send shockwaves across Europe. He pointed to the city's recent drop in unemployment - still high by German standards - and improved public finances. Winning Bremen and getting a decent result in the European election might give the party "the stability we need," he said. ___ Samuel Petrequin in Paris and Barry Hatton in Lisbon contributed to this report. ___ For more news from The Associated Press on the European Parliament elections, go to https://www.apnews.com/EuropeanParliament In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo, a man stands in fron of posters for the European and state elections of Social Democrats, SPD, and Alternative for Germany, AfD, in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo a worker walks beside ship's screws at a dockyard at the harbor in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) The yacht harbor in Bremerhaven, Germany, is pictured on Thursday, May 16, 2019. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo, containers are stored in the free harbor in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo, top candidate for the European Elections Joachim Schuster of the Social Democratic Party, SPD, talks to The Associated Press in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo citizen Eta Grotheer talks to the Associated Press about the forthcoming elections in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - The Latest on developments in the Persian Gulf region and elsewhere in the Mideast amid heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran (all times local): 11:40 p.m. The German government says Chancellor Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have discussed the situation in Iran in a joint telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Merkel's office said in a statement Tuesday that the three leaders "underlined the need to persuade Iran to remain in the nuclear agreement, which they agreed to maintain." U.S. President Donald Trump last year pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran that lifted economic sanctions on Tehran in exchange for curbing of its nuclear program. Iran recently announced that it has stepped up its uranium-enrichment production capacity but insisted the limit would remain far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. ___ In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Hassan Rouhani speaks in a cabinet meeting in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, May 8, 2019. Rouhani said Wednesday that it will begin keeping its excess uranium and heavy water from its nuclear program, setting a 60-day deadline for new terms to its nuclear deal with world powers before it will resume higher uranium enrichment. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP) 7:50 p.m. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says the United States will not defeat Iran with economic pressure. In a live broadcast on state TV, Rouhani says: "The Iranian nation will not be defeated by America, the White House could not defeat the Iranian nation." Rouhani referred to recently imposed sanctions by the U.S., which have made conditions for Iranians difficult, saying: "But at the end of the road, the victory is ours." Rouhani called the U.S. a "bully" for its measures against Iran. Last year, the U.S. withdrew from a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and re-imposed sanctions on Iran targeting the country's oil sector. ___ 11:40 a.m. Former U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says America "needs to engage more in the world and intervene militarily less." Mattis, a retired Marine general, spoke on Monday night at a previously unannounced speech before a Ramadan lecture series in honor of Abu Dhabi's powerful crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. According to a report in the state-linked newspaper The National, Mattis stressed that "Iran's behavior must change." However, he stressed that unilateral action is not the way forward with Iran and that the "military must work to buy time for diplomats to work their magic." Speaking about America in general, Mattis said: "America will frustrate you at times because of its form of government, but the UAE and America will always find their way back to common ground, on that I have no doubt." ___ 11 a.m. Iran's president has told a group of clerics that he is seeking expanded, wartime executive powers to better deal with an "economic war" triggered by the Trump administration's pullout from the nuclear deal and escalating U.S. sanctions. The state IRNA news agency reported late Monday that President Hassan Rouhani cited the 1980s war with Iraq, when a wartime supreme council was able to bypass other branches to make decisions regarding the economy and the war. The report didn't say what the new powers would entail but quoted Rouhani as saying that "today, we need such powers." Rouhani says Iran is facing unprecedented problems in "banking and selling oil" but that the country "is united that we should resist the U.S. and the sanctions." ___ 7 a.m. Yemen's Houthi rebels say they launched a bomb-laden drone targeting an airport in Saudi Arabia that also has a military base inside of it. The Houthi's Al-Masirah satellite news channel said early on Tuesday they targeted the airport in Najran with a Qasef-2K drone, striking an "arms depot" there. A statement earlier Tuesday on the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted Saudi-led coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki as saying the Houthis "had tried to target" a civilian site in Najran. The New York Times last year reported that American intelligence analysts were based in Najran assisting the Saudis. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, the Houthis launched a coordinated drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. In this Monday May 20, 2019 photo, Jim Mattis, former US Secretary of Defense, right, prepares to deliver a lecture "The Value of the UAE - US Strategic Relationship", at Majlis Mohamed bin Zayed, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the U.S. and Mexico sits at left. Mattis told the audience that America "needs to engage more in the world and intervene militarily less." (Eissa Al Hammadi-Ministry of Presidential Affairs/WAM via AP) MILAN (AP) - Carabinieri police arrested a North African on Tuesday in connection with an arson fire at a police station in northern Italy that killed two and injured a dozen more, authorities said. The news agency ANSA reported that the fire overnight killed two people living in apartments above the ground-floor police station in Mirandola, north of Bologna, and injured more than a dozen others, two seriously. The victims, a 74-year-old woman and her live-in caretaker, were killed in an explosion. Italy's hard-line interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who is campaigning in the European elections on a strong anti-immigrant platform, jumped on the arrest with a message on Twitter, saying "eliminating illegal immigration to Italy and Europe is a moral duty: Everyone home." Carabinieri investigating the arson said they were still identifying the suspect and his country of origin. It was not clear if he was a legal resident. ANSA said the suspect broke into the police station and set the fire. A motive was not clear. Salvini has taken a hard line with migrant arrivals, forbidding most rescue ships from bringing migrants to Italian ports. As a result, arrivals are down by nearly 90 percent over last year, at 1,265 so far this year compared with 10,659 in the same period last year, according to Interior Ministry statistics. Tunisians represent the most arrivals, followed by Pakistan, Iraq and Algeria. MADRID (AP) - A fragmented Spanish Parliament convened Tuesday after last month's inconclusive general election, including for the first time Catalan politicians released from pre-trial detention for the occasion, as well as two dozen lawmakers from an upstart far-right party. Socialist leader Pedro Sanchez won the national election but fell short of enough seats to form a government on his own. He has put off negotiations on governing alliances until after the European ballot concludes on Sunday, which in Spain coincides with votes to elect local councils and a dozen regional governments. Escorted by police, four separatists on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt, including former Catalan regional Vice President Oriol Junqueras, appeared in the Congress of Deputies, while former Catalan regional minister for international relations Raul Romeva was ferried to the Senate from a jail some 40 kilometers outside of Madrid. The Supreme Court has allowed them to attend the opening sessions in Madrid but they are likely to be barred from future meetings by the chambers' governing bodies elected on Tuesday. Dressed in suits and exchanging embraces and greetings with other lawmakers, Junqueras and the three others took seats in the Congress of Deputies among political opponents, including two far-right Vox party deputies who are also prosecutors in their ongoing trial for rebellion and other charges that could land them in prison for decades. Vox is the first parliamentary party that openly espouses Spanish nationalism since dictator Gen. Francisco Franco died in 1975. It wants to use its 24 seats among the 350 lower house lawmakers to propose legal reforms on abortion, violence against women and migration. Lawmakers gather for the opening session of Spain's new Parliament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday May 21, 2019. A fragmented Spanish Parliament convened Tuesday after last month's inconclusive general election, including for the first time Catalan politicians released from pre-trial jail for the occasion and two dozen lawmakers from an upstart far-right party. (AP Photo/Javier Lizon, Pool photo via AP) The eruption of Vox in the late April election split the right-wing vote into three groups, which together fell short of the 176 majority. As a result, competition for the leadership of the opposition has intensified between two parties - the once-dominant conservative Popular Party and the center-right Citizens. The Socialists were the leading party in the election with 123 seats. But with Citizens ruling out any pacts to support a Socialist administration, Sanchez's efforts to form a government are centered on the anti-austerity Unidas Podemos, which holds 42 seats, and some other smaller groups. Those votes were key on Tuesday in the election of Socialist lawmakers from Catalonia was speakers of both houses: Meritxell Batet in the Congress of Deputies and Manuel Cruz in the Senate. Sanchez said they had been proposed because both are "loyal to Spain" and because they have shown "an unwavering vocation for dialogue." "They are Catalans at the service of Spain and Spaniards at the service of Catalonia," the prime minister told his Socialist lawmakers. The speakers' first task will be meeting with their governing bodies and deciding whether to suspend the elected separatist lawmakers because they are in jail while awaiting trial. Tuesday's unconventional session provided a number of odd situations to satisfy media camera lenses. Vox's deputies chose to take seats that in past sessions had been occupied by the Socialists, placing the far-right party's leader, Santiago Abascal, right behind Sanchez and other members of the Socialists' caretaker government. Sanchez greeted Abascal with a handshake. The Socialist leader also shook hands with Junqueras, who has become a symbol for pro-independence supporters in the northeastern Catalonia region. Two Socialist lawmakers also made the rounds on social media when they posed near Abascal in T-shirts bearing an emoji with the rainbow flag. The icon has become popular and has been dubbed "Gaysper" after Vox used it during last month's general election to target defenders of gay rights in a viral tweet. __ AP photographer Bernat Armangue contributed to this report. Former Catalan regional Vice President Oriol Junqueras, bottom right, sits next to lawmaker Gabriel Rufian at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Escorted by police, four separatists on trial for Catalonia's 2017 secession attempt, including former Catalan regional Vice President Oriol Junqueras, appeared in the Congress of Deputies. Former Catalan regional minister for international relations, Raul Romeva, was ferried to the Senate's seat from a jail some 40 kilometers outside of Madrid. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, Pool) Leader of far right party Vox Santiago Abascal, stands up behind Spain's caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, bottom, at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, Pool) Spain's caretaker Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, bottom left, arrives at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. A fragmented Spanish Parliament convened Tuesday after last month's inconclusive general election, including for the first time Catalan politicians released from pre-trial jail for the occasion and two dozen lawmakers from an upstart far-right party. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, Pool) In this image taken with a fisheye lens, lawmakers gather for the opening session of Spain's new Parliament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday May 21, 2019. A fragmented Spanish Parliament convened Tuesday after last month's inconclusive general election, including for the first time Catalan politicians released from pre-trial jail for the occasion and two dozen lawmakers from an upstart far-right party. (AP Photo/Javier Lizon, Pool photo via AP) Socialist lawmakers dressed with a t-shirt bearing an emoji with the rainbow flag pose for the media in front far right Vox party leader Santiago Abascal, background, at the Spanish parliament in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. The icon has become popular and has been dubbed as "Gaysper" after Vox used it during last month's general election to target defenders of gay rights in a viral tweet. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, Pool) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) - Hungary needs to urgently address human rights violations such as the detention of asylum-seekers and the intimidation of civic groups, as well as concerns about judicial independence, according to a report released Tuesday by the Council of Europe's human rights commissioner. Commissioner Dunja Mijatovic, who visited Hungary in February, also found Hungary "backsliding in gender equality," with few women in politics and Hungary still unwilling to ratify the Istanbul Convention on combating and preventing violence against women. "Human rights violations in Hungary have a negative effect on the whole protection system and the rule of law," Mijatovic said in the report. "They must be addressed as a matter of urgency." In an extensive reply to the report, the Hungarian government rejected the criticism in every area, saying, for example, that it was "absolutely justified" in maintaining crisis measures related to mass immigration even though hardly any migrants reach Hungary now, because there are still many immigrants in nearby countries including Serbia and North Macedonia. Regarding asylum-seekers, Mijatovic objected to their detention in transit zones at the border and said Hungary should repeal legal amendments which, for example, make it practically impossible for asylum-seekers arriving from Serbia - considered by Hungary as a safe country for refugees despite international concerns - to gain protection in Hungary. "I am also deeply concerned about repeated reports of excessive use of violence by the police during forcible removals of foreign nationals," Mijatovic said. A general view of the transit zone for asylum seekers in Roszke, Hungary, Tuesday, May 7, 2019. Hungary has deported a family of six asylum-seekers to Serbia, making them cross a gate in the border fence in the dark, with no one waiting for them on the Serbian side. A Hungarian human rights group said they had secured an interim measure to stop the deportation of one of two other families awaiting a similar fate. (AP Photo/Pablo Gorondi) On reported police beatings of migrants, the government said that allegations of abuse had been investigated even though those claiming abuse had not filed official complaints. "Camera recordings show that the use of police measures and coercive measures are lawful, professional and justified," the government said. "Nevertheless, they are perceived as being abuse by the police." The report was also critical of the "pivotal role" of the minister of justice in the appointment of judges for a new system of administrative courts which will handle cases involving the government and state authorities, such as taxation and public procurement contracts. "The extensive powers of the minister should be counterbalanced by strengthening judicial self-governance," Mijatovic suggested. She also noted that while the government "seeks to empower women through labor market participation," a new "family protection plan" to boost birthrates in Hungary focuses on "women as child bearers." "This carries the risk of reinforcing gender stereotypes and instrumentalizing women," the report said, while at the same time welcoming a government plan for a new national strategy on gender equality. The report also expressed concerns about legislation restricting the activities of civic groups, such as a tax on funding received from abroad and by criminalizing advocacy and support for asylum-seekers. The recent rules "can thwart the realization of the right to seek asylum," the report said. "Measures of this kind are also likely to incite xenophobia against migrants and mistrust of those committed to helping them." Prime Minister Viktor Orban, elected to a third consecutive term in April 2018, has based his recent campaigns nearly exclusively on anti-immigration policies, which he says are meant to protect Hungary and Europe from the "Muslim invasion." LONDON (AP) - The University of Oxford is launching two new programs aimed at helping disadvantaged students gain a coveted place at the institution. Oxford's vice chancellor, Louise Richardson, says the programs outlined Tuesday represent "a sea change" in admissions and that there is now a commitment "to accelerate the pace at which we are diversifying our student body." The university says the programs will offer places for up to 250 students a year, representing 10 percent of Oxford's U.K. undergraduate intake. It aims to boost the proportion of students coming to Oxford from under-represented backgrounds from 15% to 25%. Chris Millward of the Office for Students, the independent regulator of higher education, says "radical change" is necessary to shrink the access gap, but that the proposals are a step in the right direction. BENGHAZI, Libya (AP) - Authorities say the Libyan capital, which has been under attack by commander Khalifa Hifter's forces since last month, has seen its water supplies resume two days after gunmen shut the pipes down, depriving over 2 million residents of water. The Interior Ministry says the gunmen on Sunday stormed the offices of a water distribution agency that runs a network of underground pipelines providing the capital and the region with water, and shut it at gunpoint. The ministry says the gunmen demanded Tripoli release their leader Khalifa Ahnish's brother, jailed for belonging to an outlawed group. The U.N. humanitarian coordinator, Maria Ribeiro, condemned the attack and said that such actions "may be considered war crimes." The water distribution agency says water supplies to Tripoli resumed on Tuesday, without elaborating. LONDON (AP) - British police have charged a 32-year-old man with assault after pro-Brexit politician Nigel Farage was hit with a milkshake while campaigning in the European Parliament election. Northumbria Police said Tuesday that Paul Crowther had been charged with common assault and criminal damage over the incident in Newcastle, northeast England. Farage was left with milkshake dripping down his suit during a walkabout in the city on Monday. Crowther said he threw the banana-and-salted caramel Five Guys shake to protest the politician's "bile and racism." Farage's Brexit Party is leading opinion polls in the contest for 73 U.K. seats in the 751-seat European Parliament. Milkshakes have become an unlikely political weapon in Britain. Other right-wing candidates including far-right activist Tommy Robinson have also been pelted with milkshakes during the election campaign. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage after being hit with a milkshake during a campaign walkabout for the upcoming European elections in Newcastle, England, Monday May 20, 2019. (Tom Wilkinson/PA via AP) Paul Crowther speaks to police after Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage was hit with a milkshake during a campaign rally in Newcastle, England, Monday May 20, 2019. (Tom Wilkinson/PA via AP) BERLIN (AP) - Women's rights activists in Germany have staged a vigil for a woman slain by her ex-husband last year amid anger that he isn't tried for murder. Members of a Hamburg women's shelter remembered the 42-year-old victim, a mother of four, outside the city's regional court where Marc H. went on trial Tuesday. The defendant, whose surname wasn't released for privacy reasons, is accused of stabbing his ex-wife 50 times with a knife at her apartment last December. Prosecutors have charged him with manslaughter. They say that by law, he can't be charged with murder because the victim was aware of the 50-year-old's violent record. The man had previously attacked her by strangling and using an electric shock device. Activists say cases like this show the law needs changing. BEIRUT (AP) - Thousands of documents purportedly collected from abandoned Syrian government offices during the country's civil war reveal the reach of President Bashar Assad's shadowy, labyrinthine security agencies as they spied on the population at large, sought to eliminate dissidents at all cost and systematically persecuted the Kurdish minority even before the onset of protests. The documents were the basis of a report released Tuesday by Washington-based Syria Justice and Accountability Center, which hopes they can eventually help in the prosecution of perpetrators of war crimes. Titled "Walls Have Ears, An Analysis of Classified Syrian Security Sector Documents," the report is based on a sample of 5,000 documents and present some of the most damning evidence of state involvement - at the highest level - in the bloody crackdown on protesters, dissidents, and even foreign journalists in Syria. The documents show the agencies created a network of informants that ensured the government kept a close watch of the most mundane of Syrians' everyday life. They also offer a rare look into the inner workings of the several security agencies as they sought to eliminate dissidents through detention, intimidation or killings and implemented a state policy that singled out the Kurdish minority for persecution even before the onset the 2011 uprising against Assad. Some of the documents include handwritten notes from top commanders to arrest, detain and "do what is necessary" to quell the unrest - a vague directive that has been found to mean use of lethal force in some incidents. Security agencies and officials even spied on each other. One document is titled: "Records of what thoughts go through my mind concerning other officers" - a Kafkaesque 97-page report of what officers think other officers may be thinking. FILE - In this March 21, 2011 file photo, Syrian policemen stand in front of a court building that was set on fire by Syrian anti-government protesters, in the southern city of Daraa, Syria. The Syria Justice and Accountability Center, a Washington-based Syrian rights group said in a report, released Tuesday, May 21, 2019, that thousands of documents collected from abandoned Syrian government offices reveal the reach of President Bashar Assad's security agencies, offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of his secretive apparatus. The documents include handwritten notes from top commanders to "do what is necessary" to quell anti-Assad protests. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File) One document details how a man informed on his own brother for supporting anti-Assad protests, prompting a security commander to seek permission to lure the brother into a trap. Another document, from the country's top intelligence agency, the National Security Office, identified a French-Lebanese journalist as an "instigator of protests" and barred her from entering the country. Several of the documents identify protesters by name, labeling many as terrorists without any evidence. SJAC has redacted the names to protect the identity of those on the wanted list. "The documents show clearly that orders were very centralized and came from really high-level officials, including from heads of the security agency themselves, and in lots of documents from the National Security Office," said Mohammad Al-Abdallah, the director of the Washington-based group. "This, combined with the nature of the orders - deployment of military units, surveillance, the use of lethal force, persecutions of the Kurds - all are proof a systematic state practice, and can be used as evidence to establish both the Syrian state responsibility and the individual criminal responsibility for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity," he added. When protests erupted in March 2011 in Syria - in part inspired by the wave of uprisings around the region later labeled the Arab Spring - the government responded with a violent crackdown. The crackdown in turn sparked an armed rebellion against government forces, dividing Syria into government and rebel-held areas. Almost nine years later, more than 400,000 people have been killed, half of the pre-war population of 23 million is either displaced internally or refugees in neighboring countries. Most of the towns and cities lie in ruins. Syria's government, which typically does not comment on security issues nor responds to reports accusing it of human rights violations, justifies its crackdown by describing those who rose up against it as terrorists. Assad charges that the uprising was part of a conspiracy supported by the U.S. and regional foes to oust him from power. The documents were collected from the province of Raqqa and the town of Tabqa in eastern Syria in 2013, and from the western province of Idlib in 2015, following the withdrawal of government forces. The SJAC and investigators from another independent group, the Commission for International Justice and Accountability, extracted 483,000 government documents and collectively scanned and digitized them. Both groups have already offered assistance to European prosecutors to pursue criminal cases against Syrian officials. Many documents included wanted lists of those who participated in protests, ordering detentions and even shootings of protesters. One document issued by the National Security branch two months after the protests erupted in March 2011 calls on security agents to stop firing at protesters in light of the continued unrest. Al-Abdallah said issuing the orders proves killings were already taking place. A "document saying stop the killing while the killing continued" doesn't exonerate the government from the violence, he said, adding that there is no evidence that the new orders to stop shooting were implemented. The report found documents that offer details of the state's detention policy - mostly for protesting and in one incident for cursing Assad at a dinner gathering - following tips from informants or appearance in critical news media. The report obtained documents that show the extent of the state persecution of Kurds - including documents as far back as 2010. One document called Kurdish cultural expression a treason to the national identity and another outlined a government plan to criminalize Kurdish "nationalistic" activities. Others warned municipalities against selling or buying land to Kurds and ordered Arab tribes to move to Kurdish-dominated areas to "dilute" their presence there. This image obtained and provided by The Syria Justice and Accountability Center, SJAC, purportedly shows a Syrian government document dated June 23, 2011 and signed by the head of the government's top committee formed to deal with unrest, and orders the arrest of unidentified "instigators" and "financiers," three months after protests erupted against President Bashar Assad's rule. The document, on a ruling Baath party letterhead, says the decision comes after "studying the situation" in anticipation of further developments. SJAC, a Washington-based Syrian rights group, released a report Tuesday, May 21, 2019, based on thousands of documents purportedly collected from abandoned Syrian government offices. The documents reveal the reach of Assad's security agencies, and include handwritten notes from top commanders to "do what is necessary" to quell protests. (The Syria Justice and Accountability Center via AP) This image obtained and provided by The Syria Justice and Accountability Center, SJAC, purportedly shows a Syrian government redacted document dated January 27, 2014, issued by the Interior Ministry's Political Security Branch in the western province of Idlib. The document lists 16 names of activists it labels as terrorists and says it plans to send their names to Interpol. The document describes one named as heading a terrorist group who carjacks on highways and another described as a "terrorist nurse." SJAC, a Washington-based Syrian rights group, released a report Tuesday, May 21, 2019, based on thousands of documents purportedly collected from abandoned Syrian government offices. The documents reveal the reach of Assad's security agencies, and include handwritten notes from top commanders to "do what is necessary" to quell anti-Assad protests. (The Syria Justice and Accountability Center via AP) FILE - In this May 6, 2011, citizen journalism file image made on a mobile phone, Syrian anti-government protesters carry a banner during a rally in the central city of Homs, Syria. The Syria Justice and Accountability Center, a Washington-based Syrian rights group said in a report, released Tuesday, May 21, 2019, that thousands of documents collected from abandoned Syrian government offices reveal the reach of President Bashar Assad's security agencies, offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of his secretive apparatus. The documents include handwritten notes from top commanders to "do what is necessary" to quell anti-Assad protests. (AP Photo, File) FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2011 file photo, anti-Syrian regime protesters flash the victory sign as they wear Syrian revolution flags during a demonstration in the Baba Amr area, in Homs province, Syria. The Syria Justice and Accountability Center, a Washington-based Syrian rights group said in a report, released Tuesday, May 21, 2019, that thousands of documents collected from abandoned Syrian government offices reveal the reach of President Bashar Assad's security agencies, offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of his secretive apparatus. The documents include handwritten notes from top commanders to "do what is necessary" to quell anti-Assad protests. (AP Photo, File) FILE - In this March 23, 2011 file photo, anti-Syrian government protesters flash Victory signs as they protest in the southern city of Daraa, Syria. The Syria Justice and Accountability Center, a Washington-based Syrian rights group said in a report, released Tuesday, May 21, 2019, that thousands of documents collected from abandoned Syrian government offices reveal the reach of President Bashar Assad's security agencies, offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of his secretive apparatus. The documents include handwritten notes from top commanders to "do what is necessary" to quell anti-Assad protests. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File) FILE - This April 18, 2017 file satellite image provided by the State Department and DigitalGlobe, shows what the State Department described as a building in a prison complex in Syria that was modified to support a crematorium. The Syria Justice and Accountability Center, a Washington-based Syrian rights group said in a report, released Tuesday, May 21, 2019, that thousands of documents collected from abandoned Syrian government offices reveal the reach of President Bashar Assad's security agencies, offering a rare glimpse into the inner workings of his secretive apparatus. The documents include handwritten notes from top commanders to "do what is necessary" to quell anti-Assad protests. (State Department/DigitalGlobe via AP, File) ITANAGAR, India (AP) - Police say an Indian lawmaker in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh has been killed in an ambush by suspected rebels. Police officers in the state capital of Itanagar say Legislative Assembly member Tirong Aboh of the National People's Party and 10 relatives and party workers were attacked with automatic weapons as they traveled to Aboh's constituency along a route used by rebels to reach hideouts in neighboring Myanmar. The attack occurred two days before votes are to be tallied in India's mammoth national elections. NPP leader Kumar Waii says Aboh's death was "a political killing." Three political workers in Arunachal Pradesh were also killed in recent weeks by suspected rebels. Northeastern insurgent groups have attacked politicians for decades in a bid for independence from India. NEW YORK (AP) - Susan E. Rice, the former national security adviser and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has a book coming out this fall. "Tough Love" will be published Oct. 8, Simon & Schuster announced Tuesday. She will reflect on challenges and controversies that arose during the Obama administration, including the deadly 2012 raid on a diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya. Conservatives would accuse her of making misleading remarks about the attack, the subject of extensive, Republican-led investigations. Rice said in a statement that becoming "synonymous with Benghazi" made her anxious to tell her story. According to the publisher, she has written an "inspiring account" of her public and private life and will offer advice on how an African-American woman can compete in a field where few share her background. CAIRO (AP) - Egypt says its police forces have killed 16 militants in raids in the restive northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. An Interior Ministry statement Tuesday says security forces exchanged fire with Islamic militants as they stormed insurgent hideouts in the Mediterranean coastal city of el-Arish. No casualties were reported among the police. The ministry says the extremists had intended to carry out militant attacks in the city. It says police found weapons, three explosive devices and an explosives belt. Egypt has battled Islamic militants for years in the Sinai Peninsula in an insurgency that has occasionally spilled over to the mainland. Egypt said Monday that security forces killed 12 suspected militants just hours after a roadside bomb struck a tourist bus near the Giza Pyramids outside Cairo, wounding 17. Tourists ride camels during a visit to the Giza Pyramids, near Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, May 21, 2019, two days after a tour bus struck an improvised explosive device near the site, wounding more than a dozen foreign tourists. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - In Yemen, the high-pitched whine of drones has been a part of life for over 15 years, ever since the first U.S. drone strike here targeting al-Qaida in 2002. But now, Iran-backed Houthi rebels increasingly deploy drones in Yemen's brutal civil war. Neighboring Saudi Arabia, which has been battling the rebels since 2015, said drones attacked an oil pipeline, targeting two pumping stations west of its capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday. The Houthis claimed a coordinated drone attack, underscoring how the Arab world's poorest country has become one of the world's top battlefields for drones. Both the rebels and the Saudi-led coalition fighting them, as well as the U.S., continue to use them for surveillance and attacks. While the U.S. uses American-made drones and the coalition has turned to Chinese suppliers, the manufacturer of the Houthis' drones in both the air and the sea has been a contentious question. Here are some key details about the rebels' drones: THE IRAN LINK FILE - In this Dec. 14, 2017 file photo, the remains of an Iranian Qasef-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, used as a one-way attack to dive on targets and then detonating its warhead, which was fired by Yemen into Saudi Arabia, according to then-U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, is seen during a press briefing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington. Saudi Arabia said drones attacked one of its oil pipelines as other assaults targeted energy infrastructure elsewhere in the kingdom on Tuesday, May, 14, 2019, shortly after Yemen's rebels claimed a coordinated drone attack on the Sunni power. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File) A 2018 report by a United Nations panel of experts on Yemen looked particularly at the Houthis' Qatef-1 drone. The report said that although the rebel media announced the Houthis had manufactured the drone, "in reality they are assembled from components supplied by an outside source and shipped into Yemen." The Qatef, or "Striker," it added, "is virtually identical in design, dimensions and capability to that of the Ababil-T, manufactured by the Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industries." The Ababil-T can deliver up to a 45-kilogram (100-pound) warhead up to 150 kilometers (95 miles) away. A research group called Conflict Armament Research, with the permission of the United Arab Emirates' elite Presidential Guard, also examined seized drones used by the Houthis and their allies to crash into Patriot missile batteries in Saudi Arabia. The research group similarly said those drones share "near-identical design and construction characteristics" of Iranian drones. ___ THE DRONE BOAT Saudi-led coalition forces last year also showed journalists a Houthi "drone boat," filled with explosives that had failed to detonate. The officials also shared black-and-white images they said came from the "drone boat." They said the pictures and associated data from the boat's computer showed Iranians building components for its guidance system in eastern Tehran, with a hat in the background of one picture bearing the symbol of Iran's hard-line paramilitary Revolutionary Guard forces. They said those involved in building the components probably believed it would be destroyed in the blast, so they didn't wipe the computer's hard drive For its part, Iran repeatedly has denied supplying the Houthis with drone or ballistic missile technology. However, Iran would have an interest in seeing Saudi Arabia, its archrival in the region, tied down in a bloody, protracted conflict with no clear end in sight. ___ Follow Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellap . FILE - In this June 19, 2018 file photo, a boat that officials described as being a "drone boat" once loaded with explosives by Shiite rebels in Yemen, is on display at a military installation in the United Arab Emirates. Iran-backed Houthi rebels increasingly deploy drones in Yemen's brutal civil war. Neighboring Saudi Arabia, which has been battling the rebels since 2015, said drones attacked an oil pipeline, targeting two pumping stations west of its capital, Riyadh, on Tuesday, May 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell, File) DETROIT (AP) - Maven, General Motors' car-sharing service, is being shut down in about half of the 17 North American markets it operates. The company wouldn't say Tuesday where Maven will continue to operate, but it confirmed that it's pulling out of New York and Chicago. GM said in a prepared statement that it's not scrapping Maven, but rather concentrating on markets where it has the strongest demand and growth potential. Maven, begun in 2016, allowed people to rent GM vehicles for short periods with an app. GM vehicles were strategically placed in in metro areas including Denver, Los Angeles, Baltimore, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Toronto and others. It expanded to leases for ride-sharing drivers and added an app-based service that let owners share vehicles with others. CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) - A Houston-area man has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for trying to smuggle immigrants in furniture after three people were found in a plastic-wrapped dresser that was nailed shut. Federal prosecutors say 23-year-old Yabar Ayan Portes-Arevalo of Katy was sentenced Monday in Corpus Christi to 21 months. Portes-Arevalo in February was convicted of transporting immigrants living in the country illegally and endangering their lives. He could lose his status as a legal permanent U.S. resident. Investigators say Portes-Arevalo in December was driving a pickup truck and hauling a plastic-wrapped couch and dresser. He stopped at the Border Patrol checkpoint near Sarita (suh-REE'-tuh). Authorities say the driver appeared nervous so the load was examined. Agents removed the plastic and found three people hidden inside the couch and three more inside the dresser. Lloyds Banking Group is to create 500 jobs at a new tech hub in Edinburgh. The bank said the hub would help transform the digital experience for Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Scottish Widows customers. It is creating 500 new software engineering roles in the Scottish capital, with recruitment taking place over the next 18 months. The move is part of a 3 billion investment programme announced last year to boost the banks digital capabilities. Philip Grant, chairman of Lloyds Banking Groups Scottish Executive Committee, said: Were working with the industry to strengthen our tech-based talent pool in Scotland, which will not only benefit customers of Lloyds Banking Group, but support the development of technology, skills and talent in the fastest growing digital economy outside London. Peoples expectations are rising rapidly as they want the same experience theyre used to with established digital brands. Lloyds will create 500 jobs in Edinburgh (Yui Mok/PA) In our tech labs, we are designing what customers will need in the future, making products and services that can adapt to their lives and making it easier for them to connect with their finances. Scotlands Finance Secretary Derek Mackay welcomed the news. He said: I am delighted that Lloyds Banking Group is investing in a new tech hub in Scotlands capital city, creating 500 new jobs. Edinburgh is fast becoming one of the UKs most competitive tech hubs, with growth in agile start-ups, offerings from its world-leading universities and new digital academies providing greater scale and choice for careers in the industry. Lloyds investment will be a major boost towards growing the workforce of the future in Scotland, helping create a more dynamic and innovative side to its thriving financial sector. This commitment sends a strong message that even in these uncertain times, we remain open for business and shows great confidence in Scotland as a centre of excellence for financial services. Hundreds of demonstrators have marched on the Alabama state legislature to protest against a newly-approved abortion ban. The demonstration in Montgomery came days after governor Kay Ivey signed the most stringent abortion law in America. It will make performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless it is necessary for the mothers health. The law provides no exception for rape and incest. The law seeks to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v Wade case (AP) Staci Fox, president of Planned Parenthood Southeast, told the crowd outside the Alabama capitol: Banning abortion does not stop abortion. It stops safe abortion. Alabama is part of a wave of conservative states seeking to mount new legal challenges to Roe v Wade, the 1973 US supreme court decision that legalised abortion nationwide. Governors in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have approved bans on abortion once a foetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. None of the laws have actually taken effect, and all are expected to be blocked by the courts as the legal challenges play out with an ultimate eye on the US supreme court. Marchers said the measures have energised supporters of legalised abortion, and they say they are digging in for a legal and political fight. Along the route they took, the protesters passed by scattered counter-demonstrators raising signs against abortion. Alabama governor Kay Ivey signs a bill that virtually outlaws abortion in the state (AP) Two speakers at the rally on the capitol steps shared their stories, including a woman who described the abortion she had after being raped at a party when she was 18. Carrying an orange sign with a coat hanger and the caption No Never Again, 69-year-old Deborah Hall of Montgomery said she remembers life before Roe and cannot believe the drive to return there. I had friends who had illegal abortions and barely survived, said Ms Hall, who for a time ran a clinic in Montgomery that provided abortion, birth control and other services. I still cannot believe it. Its really a scary time for everybody. Similar demonstrations were held in Birmingham and Huntsville on Sunday. Legal abortion supporters fly a banner reading `Abortion is OK over the Alabama state capitol building (The Montgomery Advertiser/AP) Amanda Reyes, who runs Yellowhammer Fund, a non-profit body that provides funding to help low-income women obtain abortions, said donations have begun streaming in since passage of the Alabama bill. Groups this week paid for a small plane carrying a banner Abortion is Okay! to circle the capitol and the governors mansion. The Alabama law would make it a felony, punishable by up to 99 years or life in prison to perform an abortion. There would be no punishment for the woman receiving the abortion. But the protest outside the capitol comes in a state where a majority of voters recently agreed to put anti-abortion language in the Alabama Constitution. Fifty-nine per cent of state voters in November approved the constitutional amendment saying the state recognises the rights of the unborn. Anti-abortion campaigner Jim Snively, of Huntsville, waves to passing cars in front of the Alabama Womens Wellness Centre (AP) Ms Ivey said in a statement after signing the ban into law: To the bills many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians deeply-held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God. The Alabama law has also been criticised by some conservatives who have expressed discomfort over the lack of exceptions for cases of rape and incest. President Donald Trump, while not mentioning Alabamas law, wrote in a weekend tweet that he is strongly pro-life, but favours exceptions. He wrote: As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother the same position taken by Ronald Reagan. Terri Collins, the sponsor of the Alabama law, said the purpose is to challenge Roe and added that Alabama legislators can add exemptions if states regain control of abortion access. Swedish prosecutors have submitted an application for a detention order against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Deputy director of public prosecution Eva-Marie Persson asked Uppsala District Court to detain Assange in his absence. He is serving a 50-week sentence in Belmarsh Prison in London for bail violations. Assange was dragged out of the Ecuadorian embassy last month after living there for almost seven years. Swedish prosecutors are reopening an investigation into a rape allegation against Assange, which he denies. I request the District Court to detain Assange in his absence, on probable cause suspected for rape. If the court decides to detain him, I will issue a European Arrest Warrant concerning surrender to Sweden, said Ms Persson Assange is also facing extradition proceedings by the United States. Assange supporters outside the Ecuadorian embassy (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Ms Persson added: In the event of a conflict between a European Arrest Warrant and a request for extradition from the US, UK authorities will decide on the order of priority. The outcome of this process is impossible to predict. However, in my view the Swedish case can proceed concurrently with the proceedings in the UK. WikiLeaks said Assanges property from his time living in the embassy, including electronic equipment and legal documents, is being removed on Monday and handed over to the US. WikiLeaks said United Nations officials and Assanges lawyers were not being allowed to be present. Lawyers said it was an illegal seizure of property, which has been requested by the US authorities. The material is said to include two of Assanges manuscripts. US president Donald Trump has warned Iran not to threaten America again, or it will face its official end. Mr Trumps tweet came shortly after a rocket landed near the US embassy in Baghdad. The warning comes amid heightened tensions between the US and Iran, following Mr Trumps decision a year ago to pull America out of Tehrans nuclear deal with world powers. The US leader tweeted on Monday: If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again! Neither Mr Trump nor White House officials elaborated on the tweet. The message came after a rocket landed less than a mile from the sprawling US embassy in Baghdad in the Iraqi capitals heavily fortified Green Zone on Sunday night. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the rocket launch. Mr Trumps tweet came after he seemingly sought to soften his tone on Iran following days of heightened tension sparked by a sudden deployment of bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf over still-unspecified threats. In the time since, officials in the United Arab Emirates alleged four oil tankers have been sabotaged. Yemeni rebels allied with Iran launched a drone attack on an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. US diplomats also relayed a warning that commercial airlines could be misidentified by Iran and attacked, something dismissed by Tehran. Mr Trump called the 2015 nuclear deal a `horrror show (AP) While both Washington and Tehran say they do not seek war, many worry that any miscalculation at this moment could spiral out of control. Iraqi military spokesman Brig Gen Yahya Rasoul said the rocket that landed near the US embassy was believed to have been fired from east Baghdad, an area home to Iranian-backed Shia militias. Mr Trump campaigned on pulling the US from the 2015 nuclear accord, which saw Iran agree to limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions. Since the withdrawal, the US has re-imposed previous sanctions and come up with new ones, as well as warning nations around the world they would also be subject to sanctions if they import Iranian oil. Iran has announced it will begin backing away from the terms of the deal, setting a 60-day deadline for Europe to come up with new terms or it will begin enriching uranium closer to weapons-grade levels. Tehran and Washington have said they do not want war (AP) Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nuclear weapons, though the West fears its programme could allow it to build atomic bombs. In an interview aired on the Fox News Channel, Mr Trump called the nuclear deal a horror show. I just dont want them to have nuclear weapons and they cant be threatening us, Mr Trump said. However, the nuclear deal had kept Iran from being able to acquire enough highly enriched uranium for a bomb. UN inspectors repeatedly certified that Iran was in compliance with the accord. Meanwhile, the US Navys 5th Fleet has announced it will begin enhanced security patrols in international waters with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Already, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, the amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge and others are in the Arabian Sea, close to the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a third of all oil traded at sea passes. Goaded by #B_Team, @realdonaldTrump hopes to achieve what Alexander, Genghis & other aggressors failed to do. Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. #EconomicTerrorism & genocidal taunts won't "end Iran". #NeverThreatenAnIranian. Try respectit works! Javad Zarif (@JZarif) May 20, 2019 Irans foreign minister responded with a tweet of his own in English. Mohammad Javad Zarif posted his own message on Twitter, saying Mr Trump had been goaded into genocidal taunts. Mr Zarif wrote that Mr Trump hopes to achieve what Alexander (the Great), Genghis (Khan) & other aggressors failed to do. He added: Iranians have stood tall for a millennia while aggressors all gone. He ended his tweet with #neverthreatenaniranian and: Try respect it works! Photo: RCMP Fitz A 35-year-old Kelowna man is in custody after a vehicle, stolen nearly a month ago, was involved in an early morning crash. Shortly before 4 a.m. Tuesday, police were called to the 500 block of Glenmeadows Road after a Chevy Cobalt slammed into a parked pickup truck. The driver of the Cobalt was seen running from the scene. The sounds from the crash woke the owner of the Titan who rushed outside his home to investigate, says Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey. Front line officers arrived on scene to find vehicle parts strewn all over the roadway, and the heavily damaged Chevrolet Cobalt idling nearby. Investigators determined that the abandoned sedan had been reported, in late April, to Williams Lake RCMP as stolen. O'Donaghey says a police dog began a search for the suspect while officers set up a containment area. A man matching the description of the suspect was detained by an officer on the perimeter of the search area. Police Service Dog Fitz performed a confirmation track, where his search for a suspect from the crash scene led to where officer had taken their suspect into police custody. Our police dogs are invaluable to us here in Kelowna, from tracking suspects, to searching for missing people, or sniffing out illicit drugs or even explosive materials, they support our front line operations daily. The suspect faces numerous charges. If you witnessed this crash and have not yet spoken to police you are asked to call the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300. Environmental activists have blocked access to BPs headquarters ahead of its annual general meeting demanding it ends all exploration for new oil and gas. Greenpeace volunteers arrived at the oil giants offices in St James Square, central London, at around 3am on Monday where they encased themselves in specially designed containers. The containers, which weigh several tonnes each, are being used to blockade all the main entrances to prevent staff from entering. The boxes feature photos from photographer Gideon Mendels Drowning World project, which looks at the impact of the climate emergency on people across the globe. The specially reinforced containers arrived at 3am ahead BPs shareholder meeting (Greenpeace/PA) The campaigners are demanding that BP immediately ends all exploration for new oil and gas and switches to investing only in renewable energy. If it does not, Greenpeace is calling for it to wind down its operations completely and go out of business. The blockade comes ahead of BPs AGM with shareholders this week, and volunteers have set up a camp to attempt to keep the building closed for the next seven days. Police at the scene of the demo (Aaron Chown) A spokesman for Greenpeace said that by 8am police had attempted to clear the area of pedestrians but had not made any arrests. Paul Morozzo, one of the volunteers in the containers, said: Were shutting down BPs HQ because business as usual is just not an option. BP is fuelling a climate emergency that threatens millions of lives and the future of the living world. The science is clear we must stop searching for new oil and gas if we want a liveable planet. BP must clean up or clear out. Greenpeace activists have set up a camp outside BPs headquarters and intend to remain in place for a week (Greenpeace/PA) Mr Morozzo added: For too long, BP and the oil industry have paid lip service to climate action while lying and lobbying against it behind the scenes and spending billions scouring the world for more oil and gas. The reality is that BPs whole business plan is a heavy bet against our hopes to avoid a climate catastrophe and must change. According to Greenpeaces research, BP is outspending other oil giants on lobbying campaigns against climate action and spent 16 billion US dollars (12.6 billion) adding to its oil and gas reserves in 2018. Greenpeace said only 500 million dollars (392.8) was invested in alternatives to fossil fuels. At 8.14am, police were only allowing employees from other businesses to pass through. An employee from BP told the Press Association: We dont know whats happening. Im thinking to go home because it will take the police a while to get the protesters abseiling off the building. Another employee added: Ive been told to go home. The rest of IT are all going home. Google has confirmed it has blocked Huawei from updating some parts of its Android software used on Huawei phones to comply with a US government order blacklisting the Chinese firm. The tech giant said it was complying with the order and reviewing the implications, but assured Huawei users that their current phones would continue to work. Last week, US president Donald Trump signed an executive order effectively banning the Chinese firm from using US technology without government permission. For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices, a Google spokesman said. The block is likely to prevent future updates to Android reaching Huawei devices. Key Google apps such as the Google Play Store, Gmail and Google Maps may also not appear on future Huawei devices. Instead, the Chinese firm would be reliant on the version of Android available through an open source licence, which is vastly more limited in its features. Huawei has made substantial contributions to the development and growth of Android around the world, the Chinese company said in a statement. As one of Androids key global partners, we have worked closely with their open-source platform to develop an ecosystem that has benefited both users and the industry. Huawei will continue to provide security updates and after sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products covering those which have been sold or are still in stock globally. We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally. Donald Trump signed an executive order effectively banning Huawei from using US technology without government permission (AP) Industry analyst Ben Wood from CCS Insight said the cut-off could have considerable implications for Huaweis gadgets business. We still dont have a clear understanding of what Google has told Huawei and what elements of the Android operating system may be restricted, so it remains unclear what the ramifications will be, he said. However, any disruption in getting updates to the software or the associated applications would have considerable implications for Huaweis consumer device business. People who currently own Huawei smartphones do not need to worry. At present any measures would only affect future devices and future updates. Google has publicly stated that its App Store, Google Play, and security updates from Google Play Protect will continue working on existing Huawei devices. However, until we have a clear understanding of what exact measures Google has decided to take it is impossible to second-guess the impact on future devices. Huawei has previously confirmed it has been working on its own mobile operating system for use in the event of such blocks, something Mr Wood said now appeared likely. Huawei has been working hard on developing its own App Gallery and other software assets in a similar manner to the work it has done on developing its own chipsets for phones, he said. There is little doubt these efforts are part of its desire to control its own destiny. Last year, CCS Insight predicted that tensions between China and the US would present a strong incentive for Chinese companies to create their own operating system for smart devices. Given recent developments that seems more likely than ever. The UK Government has said it is yet to make a decision on whether to allow another part of Huaweis business, its telecoms equipment, to be a part of new 5G networks in the UK. Retired brigadier general Robert Spalding, the former senior director for strategy at the National Security Council, wrote in the Daily Telegraph that the UK must recognise the strength of US feeling on Huawei. He wrote: Other nations must not make the mistake of thinking President Trumps recent executive order banning companies like Huawei from US networks is merely an afterthought of the trade war. The severity of President Trumps declaration underscores just how seriously the US views this issue, and the UK must recognise this strength of feeling. Scotland is facing 50 years of constitutional conflict unless it can break free from the Punch and Judy Show between the SNP and Conservatives, Gordon Brown will warn. In a campaign rally in Glasgow ahead of the European elections, the former prime minister will accuse both parties of taking ever-more hard-line policy stances on Scottish independence and devolution, while neglecting pressing issues such as the economy and the NHS. The former Labour leader will join the head of Scottish Labour, Richard Leonard, and the partys European candidates at the architecture and design centre the Lighthouse to urge voters to back Labour. He is expected to say: I fear for the future of Scotland unless it can break free from this non-stop, never-ending, constitution-obsessed SNP/Conservative Punch and Judy show. Both parties bang on day after day about independence, continuously ratcheting up the decibel levels with their ever-more hard-line policy stances the SNP for all-out independence, nothing less, that now has become even more extreme with their plans to abandon the British pound and exit the UK customs union and single market which would not now count as a soft independence, but a hard independence. Meanwhile, the Conservatives increasingly reveal their hand as hostile to devolution and because in Scotland they cant talk about Europe or about their policy for austerity they talk about nothing else than the constitutional issues. Essentially, we have two parties dug-in for a trench warfare that suits both of them because they have nothing positive to offer on any other issues. Mr Brown said the SNP and Tories were `dug in for trench warfare on constitutional issues (Jonathan Brady/PA) In fact the two parties total neglect of the issues that really do affect people our NHS, our schools, our law and order and our economy can only have disastrous long-term consequences for the Scottish economy and for Scotlands public services. One of the SNPs European candidates, Christian Allard, urged Mr Brown to apologise to Scotland and called for voters to back the SNP, claiming Labour are all over the place on Brexit. He said: People in Scotland remember Gordon Brown as playing a key role in the campaign to ensure that we would continue having to live under Tory governments we didnt vote for and now that Tory Government is trying to drag Scotland out of the EU against our will. So if he wants people to even consider listening to Labour on anything, Mr Brown should start by apologising to Scotland for the mess he has helped create. While Labour are all over the place on Brexit, a vote for the SNP is a vote to stop Brexit. Scottish Conservative MSP Annie Wells said: All Gordon Brown is doing is highlighting how much of an irrelevance Labour have been, and continue to be, in Scotland. Perhaps if they hadnt been so spectacularly out of tune with the people of Scotland for so long, this kind of intervention wouldnt be required. The five separatist leaders on trial for Catalonias 2017 secession attempt who were elected to the Spanish Parliament last month have picked up their official credentials under police escort. The Supreme Court allowed the five to get their credentials on Monday and attend the opening session of the new Parliament on Tuesday. However, it will not allow them to participate in any meetings or speak to the press while at the Parliament in Madrid. Catalan politician Jordi Sanchez gestures a thumbs up to the media (Bernat Armangue/AP) Former Catalan regional vice president Oriol Junqueras and three other high-profile separatists won seats in the Lower Chamber, while Raul Romeva won a seat in the Senate. The five, along with others, are being held in prison pending trial. They face several years in prison if found guilty of rebellion. Police transported them from prison to the Parliament buildings. They all wore suits and spoke with fellow politicians without the visible presence of uniformed police escorts once inside, as seen in televised images. Catalan councillor Jordi Turull, left, signs documents inside the Spanish parliament (JJ Guillen/AP) Despite the media ban, Mr Junqueras posted a short video on Twitter in which he said we are well because we are with friends and asked for support for his party in Sundays European and municipal Spanish elections. Mr Junqueras is running for a seat in the European Parliament. He has said he will renounce his seat in the Spanish Parliament if he wins one in Europe. The five, along with four other defendants, are being held in prison during the trial. They face several years in prison and being banned from holding public office if found guilty of rebellion or other crimes. Others, including ex-Catalan president Carles Puigdemont, fled Spain. The Catalan secession bid two years ago plunged Spain into its biggest political crisis in decades. The northeastern regions 7.5 million residents are roughly split down the middle over whether to secede from Spain, according to opinion polls. Buying a new Huawei phone poses a real risk to people in the wake of Googles restrictions on the Chinese firm using its Android software, industry experts have said. The Chinese phone giant has been blocked by Google from receiving updates for the Android operating system it uses to power its devices, as Google complies with a US executive order restricting access to American technology. The order, from President Donald Trump last week, prevents foreign adversaries from accessing US technology without government approval. Industry expert Tristan Rayner, senior editor with the Android Authority news website, said the block means security updates to Huawei phones from Google will stop, and, as a result, future devices may lack the reliability of other Android phones. Future Huawei devices will be significantly affected. We now know that future devices cannot be loaded with the Google Play Store, or those Google apps like Gmail or Google Maps, he said. Play Services will also not be available, which is a core set of features responsible for many underlying operations on modern Android devices. That makes buying a Huawei phone today a real risk. (Martyn Landi/PA) He warned that current Huawei device owners could also face some issues. Existing Huawei device owners will be significantly impacted, he said. Whether its someone with a brand new Huawei P30 Pro, which was unveiled last month, or the owner of an older Huawei Mate device thats a few years old, its now clear that their Android operating system will no longer receive important security updates. Huawei is currently the second largest smartphone manufacturer in the world, behind Samsung. Kate Bevan, editor of Which? Computing, suggested that some recent purchasers of Huawei devices could consider returning their phones. Its unacceptable for consumers to be left without adequate security on their mobiles and Huawei owners will be seeking urgent reassurance that the safety of their devices will not be compromised, she said. In this situation, your consumer rights are limited as theres currently nothing faulty with these phones. However, if you purchased a phone in recent weeks it may be worth checking the retailers returns policy. On Monday, Google said it was complying with the order and reviewing the implications, but assured Huawei users that their current phones would continue to work. For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices, a Google spokesman said. In response to the restrictions, Huawei said it would continue to provide security updates and after-sales services to all existing Huawei and Honor smartphone and tablet products covering those which have been sold or are still in stock globally. The Chinese company also remains at the centre of a security debate in the UK over its involvement in forthcoming 5G networks. Critics of the company have said using Huawei equipment in key communications infrastructure poses a risk to national security because of alleged links between the firm and the Chinese state. Huawei has always denied the claims. Protesters have gathered outside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London amid claims US officials will seize Julian Assanges belongings. A small crowd chanted in support of the WikiLeaks founder, 47, and one former diplomat described Ecuadors treatment of Assange as shameful. The whistleblower was dramatically dragged from the embassy, in Knightsbridge, in April and sentenced to 50 weeks in Belmarsh Prison for a bail breach. WikiLeaks claims his belongings, including legal papers, medical records and electronic equipment, will be handed to US prosecutors, who are seeking his extradition, on Monday. Press release: Ecuador hands over Assange's entire legal defense, manuscripts, to US prosecutorshttps://t.co/oEoe6g9xV9 pic.twitter.com/Fvdv8iWK0H WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) May 20, 2019 Speaking outside the embassy, former consul Fidel Narvaez said he considered Assange my friend who was very respectful and had a good relationship with embassy staff. I feel ashamed of the way the Ecuadorian government is dealing with Julians case, the way they evicted him, allowing foreign forces to go into the embassy and to drag a political refugee out by force, said Mr Narvaez, who worked in the building between 2010 and 2018. He claimed ongoing co-operation between Ecuador and the US had seen Ecuadorian diplomats interviewed by US prosecutors and the handing over of Assanges possessions would be immoral. Swedish prosecutors have submitted an application for a detention order against the WikiLeaks founder (Victoria Jones/PA) Swedish prosecutors have reopened an investigation into rape allegations against Assange, which he denies, and requested Uppsala District Court detains him in his absence. Deputy director of public prosecution Eva-Marie Persson said if the court decides to detain Assange, she will issue a European Arrest Warrant concerning surrender to Sweden. In the event of a conflict between a European Arrest Warrant and a request for extradition from the US, UK authorities will decide on the order of priority, she said. Assange sought political asylum in the embassy in 2012 after the leaks of hundreds of thousands of classified US diplomatic cables on his whistleblowing website. The drastic move came after he exhausted all legal options in fighting extradition to Sweden over two separate claims one of rape and one of molestation. Some protesters at the embassy on Monday chanted thieves, shame on you and fixed banners with the message Free Assange to railings outside. Carolina Graterol, 52, a Venezuelan journalist, said Assanges case set a very dangerous precedent to a free press and the right we have to know the truth. She claimed any seizure of his belongings was totally illegal and a breach of his privacy. Obviously the US is looking for evidence to incriminate him in a future case, she added. A group of photographers and camera crews from international media organisations also gathered at the embassy. WikiLeaks said United Nations officials and Assanges lawyers were not being allowed to be present for the removal of his belongings, which is said to include two of his manuscripts. Baltasar Garzon, international legal co-ordinator for the defence of Assange and WikiLeaks, said: It is extremely worrying that Ecuador has proceeded with the search and seizure of property, documents, information and other material belonging to the defence of Julian Assange, which Ecuador arbitrarily confiscated, so that these can be handed over to the the agent of political persecution against him, the United States. Former South African president Jacob Zuma has appeared in court facing charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering. Zuma, 77, appeared at the High Court in Pietermaritzburg in eastern KwaZulu-Natal province on charges of receiving bribes when the government purchased arms in 1999. Zuma was South Africas president from 2009 until 2018, when he was forced to resign by his ruling African National Congress party amid persistent allegations of corruption. Jacob Zuma in the High Court (Jackie Clausen/AP) The criminal charges against Zuma were first raised more than 10 years ago but were withdrawn by the National Prosecution Authority in 2008. The charges were reinstated after a court ruled that there are sufficient grounds to bring him to trial. Zumas former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was in 2005 convicted of fraud and corruption. Gordon Brown has called for an investigation to be carried out into the finances of Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party. Mr Brown, speaking in Glasgow on Monday, said that democracy would continue to be undermined if payments to the party were not declared. And the former prime minister challenged the Electoral Commission and the European Parliament to indicate whether they are investigating the party, or say whether questions over dubious payments had been answered, ahead of the European elections on Thursday. Mr Brown said: The Electoral Commission and the European Parliament should now investigate the finances of Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party. Democracy is undermined when we have undeclared, unreported, untraceable payments being made to the Brexit Party. Gordon Brown said that an investigation must be carried out into the finances of Nigel Farage and the Brexit Party (Ben Birchall/PA) We have the potential for underhand and under-the-counter payments being made. You know the history of this Leave.EU, Nigel Farage and Arron Banks campaign is now under criminal investigation. Theres three investigations one by the National Crime Agency, one by the Met Police and one by the Information Commissioner. Arron Banks, the lead funder of Leave.EU and the friend of Nigel Farage has been under investigation he has made contacts with Russia. We dont know where his money comes from. And yet we find out last week that he has given 450,000 in payments to support Nigel Farage, while Nigel Farage was in a public office in the European Parliament, who should have been declaring the payments that he was receiving from anyone to avoid any conflicts of interest. Mr Brown raised concerns over the method of payment used to process donations by supporters of the party. Mr Brown spoke out during a campaign visit to Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA) He said: Now we find the Brexit Party that has been formed is not a party, its actually a private company. It doesnt have members, it has shareholders. The key shareholder, with the controlling interest, is Nigel Farage. And you pay money not to become a member, but to become a supporter, and you pay through PayPal and you cannot discover whether the money is coming from foreign sources or British sources. Indeed, you can pay to this party in Russian roubles, American dollars, Malaysian ringgit and, of course, probably to his disdain, euros as well, to join that Brexit Party. Mr Brown added: If this election is about trust in democracy, the Electoral Commission has the power before Thursday to tell us if theyve had questions answered about where the money is coming from, who is giving the money, whether the money is coming from foreign sources, including America and Russia, and whether rules are being broken. This is a not a party in the ordinary sense, this is a private company. Its run by Nigel Farage, donations go through PayPal, and hes not going to be remembered as he wants, as the man of the people. Hell be remembered as the man of the PayPal, because thats where the moneys coming from. Mr Brown continued by challenging the Electoral Commission to indicate before Thursday whether they are investigating, or if questions on the dubious issues around such transactions had been answered. He said: Democracy is ill-served and trust in democracy will continue to be undermined if we have no answers to where the money is coming from and why these declarations to the European Parliament have never been made. Mr Farage accused the former premier of an absolutely disgusting smear against his party. This from the man who was part of a Labour Party who, through Lord Levy, were making a lot of big donors members of the House of Lords, Mr Farage said on a campaign visit to Exeter. How dare he? Most of our money has been raised by people giving 25 to become registered supporters and nearly 110,000 of them now have done that. Frankly, this smacks of jealousy because the other parties simply cant do this. How open can we be? What you have got here are the conspiracy theorists doing their utmost to try and delegitimise what is the fastest-growing political movement this country has ever seen. A spokesman for the Electoral Commission said: The Brexit Party, like all registered political parties, has to comply with laws that require any donation it accepts of over 500 to be from a permissible source. It is also subject to rules for reporting donations, loans, campaign spending and end-of-year accounts. These rules are in place to ensure fairness and transparency of all political party finance. As part of our active oversight and regulation of these rules, we talk regularly to parties, including the Brexit Party, about ensuring they have robust systems in place so that they comply with the law. If we see evidence to suggest the rules have been broken, we will consider it in line with our enforcement policy. Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) has unveiled a line-up of Scottish productions and stars for this years event, including a retelling of Robert the Bruces story by the actor who played him in Braveheart. The 2019 event will open with the European premiere of Ninian Doffs Boyz in the Wood, while organisers said the schedule will showcase some of the best films and exclusive events from across the country. Scottish talent attending this year will include Shauna Macdonald, Jack Lowden, Peter Mullan and Angus Macfadyen. Macfadyen will reprise the role he played in Braveheart as the warrior king Robert the Bruce in a retelling of the legendary story. EIFF artistic director Mark Adams said: Edinburgh International Film Festival has a long history of supporting and showcasing the very best Scotland has to offer and 2019 will be no exception. I am thrilled to be able to give this years audiences the chance to enjoy a huge range of films, talks, events and talent that highlight the very best of Scottish craftsmanship and skill. Angus Macfadyen will reprise his Braveheart role of Robert the Bruce (Brian Lawless/PA) The announcement comes ahead of the full programme being revealed on Wednesday May 29. Features filmed and set in Scotland will take up part of the programme, including the previously announced Balance, Not Symmetry by Jamie Adams. This cinematic tribute to art, music and Scotland in particular Glasgow was made in conjunction with Scottish band Biffy Clyro, who worked on the storyline and score. The programme also includes Schemers by Dundee-born writer and director David McLean, which was filmed exclusively in his home city. It is a semi-autobiographical look at the directors early years in the music business. Mary Queen of Scots star Lowden will be taking part in Bafta Scotland Career Close-Up: Preparing for Screen Auditions alongside The Descents Macdonald. They will discuss how they prepare for auditions as part of Bafta Scotland at EIFF Youth. Isabel Davis, executive director at Screen Scotland, said: This years EIFF shows that Scotland is brimming with talent, from the high octane cast in Ninian Doffs Boyz in the Wood, to the phenomenal feature documentary Scheme Birds, bringing this TriBeCa award winner home to Scotland. The new wave of Scottish writers and directors through the Scottish Film Talent Networks Scottish Shorts strand promise great things for the future. The 73rd edition of EIFF runs from June 19 to June 30. Foreign agents could be required to register with British authorities under a fresh crackdown on hostile state activity. Home Secretary Sajid Javid said reviews carried out in the wake of the Salisbury nerve agent attack had revealed real gaps in existing laws. He announced that the Government is preparing the way for a new espionage Bill. In a speech at Scotland Yard, Mr Javid said: Since the Salisbury attack, the Home Office has been reviewing the laws we have around hostile state activity. I believe that there are some real gaps in current legislation. We have to ensure that we have the necessary powers to meet the current and evolving threats to the UK, both domestically and overseas. Home Secretary Sajid Javid has made a speech on counter-terrorism and security (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Getting that right, and having those right powers and resources in place for countering hostile states, must be a post-Brexit priority. Today I delivered a speech setting out how international collaboration is key in fighting terror & protecting national security. Read it here https://t.co/6LzI4lLLbH Sajid Javid (@sajidjavid) May 20, 2019 Mr Javid said the proposed espionage Bill will bring together new and modernised powers, giving security services the legal authority they need to tackle this threat. Areas under consideration will include whether to follow other countries in introducing a foreign agent registration requirement. The Home Secretary said: There are other countries the US is probably the best example in this space that have something similar in place. By having laws like that, I think it would make it easier for us to act should we detect hostile state activity in the future. He also disclosed that he has asked officials to consider the case for updating treason laws. Mr Javid said: Our definition of terrorism is probably broad enough to cover those who betray our country by supporting terror abroad. But if updating the old offence of treason would help us to counter hostile state activity, then there is merit to considering that too. Any new measures would build on action already taken by ministers in the wake of the Salisbury attack in March 2018. Legislation passed earlier this year introduced a new power for authorities to stop, question, search and detain an individual at UK ports and borders to determine whether they are, or have been, involved in hostile state activity. Existing immigration powers have also been used in dozens of cases, Mr Javid said. He said: My message is clear: the UK is open to the world, but if you seek to do us harm, you are not welcome. In a wide-ranging speech on counter-terrorism and security, Mr Javid also: Noted that police and security services have foiled 19 major terrorist attacks in the past two years, comprising 14 Islamist plots and five motivated by extreme right-wing ideologies; Confirmed he has asked officials to urgently review whether new powers that make it illegal for UK nationals to enter or remain in designated areas abroad without a valid reason could be applied to Syria, with a particular focus on Idlib and the north-east of the country; Suggested there may be a case in future for considering designating parts of west Africa; Insisted that the Government only acts to strip individuals of their citizenship such as in the case of Shamima Begum following consideration of advice from security services, police and specialist officials. The Cabinet minister discussed ongoing preparations for Britains departure from the EU. He said that, while a comprehensive security partnership remains the Governments preferred option, work is ongoing to prepare for a no-deal scenario. Mr Javid also announced that Jonathan Hall QC has been appointed as the new Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation. Photo: Penticton Speedway Get ready to hear a lot of "Yeehaw!" at the Penticton Speedway this weekend with the return of Bull-A-Rama. For six years running, the Speedway has gathered brave riders from around B.C. and Alberta to take just two shots each at staying on a bucking bull for eight seconds or more. "Every year it gets a little bit bigger, a little bit better, a little bit more polished," said Johnny Aantjes, Penticton Speedway owner. "It definitely seems to be a crowd favourite." Fifteen riders and 30 bulls will be competing all afternoon, starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 26. The competitors include two Okanagan riders, Trent Tupper of Oliver and Lane Goertzen of Kelowna. The contestants are currently on the riding circuit competing at Bull Riders Canada events to gain enough points to earn their place at the 2019 BRC Finals in November in Sylvan Lake, Alta. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for youth and seniors and free for kids 10 and under. Parking is also free and camping is available, but be warned spots tend to fill up fast for this popular event. Aantjes expects about 2,500 people this weekend. There will be a full concession featuring homemade burgers, hand-cut fries, poutine and more. If you miss the action, there's still plenty more to come at the Speedway this summer. "Right after bull riding is over, boom, we're changing things over for our petting zoo to open up July long weekend," Aantjes said. For more info or to purchase tickets, click here. Nicola Sturgeon has called on voters to use Thursdays European election to show Scotland is open for business as she warned of the catastrophic impact leaving the single market could have on the economy. The Scottish First Minister said the benefits of being part of a trading area with 27 other European Union nations risked being plunged into peril by Brexit. While Theresa May has insisted leaving the EU must mean quitting both the single market and customs union, SNP ministers have argued Scotlands population challenges mean the country needs to attract more working-age people. Delighted to launch @theSNP manifesto for the #EUElections with our fantastic team of candidates. On Thursday, lets send a clear message that Scotlands not for Brexit, Scotlands for Europe. #VoteSNP pic.twitter.com/NQuZX9dSOl Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 17, 2019 Scottish Government research has also warned the Prime Ministers Brexit deal could lead to a 9 billion GDP fall north of the border by 2030. Ms Sturgeon said: The free movement of goods and people across Europe is vital for Scotlands economic success. But those benefits that we all enjoy are plunged into peril by Brexit. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon campaigns alongside lead SNP European election candidate Alyn Smith MEP (centre) with Ben Macpherson MSP and Deirdrie Brock MP (Jane Barlow/PA) Speaking ahead of a visit to a fish processing plant in Aberdeen with SNP MEP candidate Christian Allard, the First Minister added: The EU accounts for more than half of Scottish exports worth 15.7 billion to our economy. Blocking Scotland from trading freely with the European Union post-Brexit will be catastrophic to businesses here. She argued: The upcoming election provides an opportunity for Scotlands voice to be heard a vote for the SNP is a vote to stop Brexit. On Thursday, Scotland can send a message that Scotlands for Europe and we remain open for business. French-born Mr Allard, a former SNP MSP, stressed the freedom of movement for goods and people is essential to Scotlands future prosperity. He said: Scotlands future lies in Europe. A vote for the SNP is a vote to make clear Scotland says No to Brexit. Google has restricted Huaweis access to parts of its Android operating system, casting doubt over the future of the Chinese companys smartphones. Here is a closer look at how the decision could affect Huawei phone users. What has Google done? Google is complying with an executive order from the US president (Brian Lawless/PA) The tech giant has confirmed its compliance with an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump last week, which greatly restricted the ability of companies deemed foreign adversaries to access US technology without government approval. As a result, Google has restricted Huaweis access to its Android operating system, the widely used mobile software that powers Huawei phones and tablets, as well those made by Samsung and a host of other firms. How will it affect current Huawei phone users? Existing Huawei smartphones should still function normally (Yui Mok/PA) Both Google and Huawei have said they will continue to support existing Huawei devices as well as those of sub-brand Honor. That means current Huawei smartphones should continue to function normally and users should be able to update their apps and other parts of Googles Play Services. What about the companys future devices? Apps such as YouTube and Google Maps may not be available on future Huawei devices (YouTube/PA) When Google launches the next version of Android later this year, it is unlikely to be available on Huawei devices. New phones from the Chinese manufacturer may also no longer include apps such as YouTube and Google Maps, and will not receive important security updates. Instead, the company could use the basic version of Android available through its open source licence similar to how it works in China, where Google is banned or it could choose to build its own operating system and run its devices on that. Will other Huawei products be affected? The Google decision calls into question Huaweis use of Windows 10, which is made by US company Microsoft (John Stillwell/PA) It is unclear at the moment but Huaweis well-regarded range of laptops run on Microsofts Windows 10 another operating system which originates in the US. There has been no comment from either Huawei or Microsoft on when or if any restrictions will apply. How likely is a Huawei own-brand operating system? Apple already uses its own operating system (Lauren Hurley/PA) Huawei confirmed earlier this year it has been working on such a piece of software for some time in preparation for potential bans or restrictions placed upon it. Some reports suggest the company has been developing it for over five years and could have it ready to roll as a plan B. The company already uses a version of Android in China that does not include Google services and so could base its software on that. Huawei would not be the first company to use its own operating system most notably Apples devices run on the companys own-developed iOS software. Why is Huawei so controversial? Huawei is awaiting approval to use the UKs 5G networks (Steve Parsons/PA) The Chinese company has been accused of having close ties to the Chinese state, with some critics arguing its telecoms equipment could be used to spy on people in the West. Huawei has always strongly denied the claims, insisting it abides by the laws of each country in which it is present. The US, however, has taken a firm stance on the company, with the latest order backing up existing rules that effectively ban the firms phones from the country. The order did not mention Huawei by name but has been widely interpreted to be targeted at Huawei, and also forms part of wider ongoing tensions between the US and China over trade. The US has also urged its allies including the UK not to use its equipment or face being cut off from US intelligence because of the unacceptable risk the company poses. The UK Government is still debating whether or not to allow Huawei telecoms equipment to be used in parts of the UKs new 5G networks. Two friends convicted of preparing for terrorist acts in support of the so-called Islamic State after trying to reach Syria have been jailed. Safwaan Mansur, from Birmingham, and Hanzalah Patel, from Leicester, travelled to Turkey in 2016 and 2017 after checking out an area near the Syrian border on TripAdvisor, a two-week trial was told. Prosecutors alleged that the men had attempted to explain away their travel plans as an innocent camping holiday. The men were each sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday to 14 years in prison, West Midlands Police said. At the mens trial, jurors heard that the pair, who spent nine days in jail in Turkey in 2017 after being arrested at an Istanbul hotel, bought camping equipment, outdoor survival clothing and airline tickets before travelling initially to Germany. Prosecutors alleged that Mansur, 22, of Hampton Road, Aston, and Patel, also 22, of Frederick Road, Leicester, undertook a 24-hour bus journey from Istanbul to near the Syrian border during a previous visit to Turkey in 2016. Safwaan Mansur (left) and Hanzalah Patel have been jailed at Birmingham Crown Court for preparing for terrorist acts in support of the so-called Islamic State after they attempted to travel to Syria (West Midlands Police/PA) The men were arrested at Heathrow Airport in 2017 after being reported missing by family members. Patels father contacted police in June that year after becoming concerned, having learned that his son had lied about leading prayers at a mosque in Germany. During subsequent questioning by police, the mens trial heard that Mansur said he had gone to Turkeys Hatay province described in court as a transit area for Syria in 2016 to have a look like lots of other tourists. Claiming items including water purifiers and solar chargers were found in the mens luggage, Simon Davis, prosecuting, told the court: Mr Patel, when interviewed, throughout maintained a no comment stance, as was his right. Jurors were told that Mansur said items in his luggage were gifts for friends at a mosque in Germany, where he intended to stop off en route to or from Turkey. Outlining Mansurs account, Mr Davis told the jury panel: The people at the mosque liked outdoor pursuits like camping that was the explanation being given. Lawyers acting for both defendants said the men had formed a naive and idiotic plan to cross into Syria, but had no intention of fighting or committing acts of terrorism. However, jurors convicted the pair after trial, on April 1. Following sentencing, acting head of the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit Chief Superintendent Shaun Edwards said: If anyone is concerned that a friend or family member is thinking of travelling to Syria, it is very important that they tell us as soon as possible. Police and other agencies can offer support to help safeguard those who are vulnerable to radicalisers. The sooner we can intervene, the better chance we have of preventing people from becoming embroiled in the conflict and facing potential prosecution. Theresa Mays senior ministers will discuss whether to offer MPs a menu of Brexit options in an effort to break the Commons deadlock over the process of leaving the European Union. Tuesdays Cabinet meeting is expected to consider the possibility of holding indicative votes in order to find something that the Commons can back. The legislation for the Brexit deal the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) is due in the Commons in the week beginning June 3 and faces stiff opposition following the failure of cross-party talks to reach a compromise. Brussels is left looking on at the chaotic political picture in the UK, with little progress having been made since the Brexit deadline was extended to October 31. Its clear that we are in a situation where London talks to London, so there is nothing that we can do at this stage, European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said. The EUs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier again stressed that an orderly withdrawal remains the best basis of trust for the future and Brussels is ready to be more ambitious in the Political Declaration setting out the future UK-EU relationship. #EU27 consultations in #Cyprus today to meet w/ President @AnastasiadesCY, Foreign Min. @Christodulides & House of Representatives. An orderly withdrawal remains the best basis of trust for the future. EU is ready to be more ambitious in the political declaration if UK so wishes. pic.twitter.com/SNXOvvB9Bs Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) May 20, 2019 The Prime Ministers official spokesman was unable to say when the WAB will be published, with work still being carried out on the legislation. We have been working on that piece of legislation for a long time so the vast bulk of the work is completed but there is still work ongoing, the spokesman said. Asked how the WAB would be different to the deal previously voted on, the spokesman added: I think ministers have set out that they had good discussions with the opposition in relation to areas such as workers rights and environmental protections. Mrs May is set to present the WAB as a bold offer with concessions to MPs from across the House in an effort to build as much support for it as possible. The package is expected to include provisions on future trade arrangements with the EU, on environmental protections, and on Northern Ireland, including the use of technology to avoid the need for border controls with the Republic. It will not, however, seek to re-open the Withdrawal Agreement which included the controversial Northern Ireland backstop after the EU repeatedly made clear it could not be re-negotiated. The showdown on the WAB could see Mrs May forced out of Number 10 sooner than expected if she is defeated, as she is due to meet Tory 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady to set out the leadership contest following the vote on the Bill. If the Bill clears its first Commons hurdle, she could seek to remain in power long enough to see it become law, leaving office only once Brexit is secured. The Prime Ministers efforts to find the votes she needs for the WAB come as she faces a mauling at the hands of the public in the European elections. Nigel Farage after he was doused in milkshake (Tom Wilkinson/PA) Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who hopes to scoop up disgruntled Tory and Labour voters on Thursday, was doused with a milkshake by a protester in Newcastle while on a whistlestop tour of the country. The beverage has become the weapon of choice for demonstrators in recent weeks, with Tommy Robinson and Ukip candidate Carl Benjamin targeted. At an earlier campaign stop in Exeter, Mr Farage set out his own partys dead simple policy in comparison to its larger rivals. Whats the Labour Partys policy on Brexit? Jeremy Corbyn couldnt answer that seven times on Sunday, he said. Whats the Tory Party policy? Depends who you ask. Our policy platform for this election is dead simple we want the democratic vote of the British people honoured. We have a new date now of October 31. We must leave on that date. If we win these elections representatives of the Brexit Party should be part of the Government negotiating team to make sure we do leave on that date. (PA Graphics) Mr Farage rubbished claims of a pact with Boris Johnson who has declared he will run in the contest for the Tory leadership questioning whether he could be fully trusted to deliver Brexit because he had voted for the Prime Ministers deal. I worry that Boris puts party loyalty above his own conscience and what is good for the country, Mr Farage said. And even if Boris says, Its OK Nigel, I didnt really mean to vote for it, how can I trust what he says, how can I believe anything any of these two mainstream parties tell us after three years of, frankly, open lies and deceit? Chancellor Philip Hammond will use a speech to the Confederation of British Industry on Tuesday to warn potential Tory leadership contenders that they would have to deliver a compromise Brexit, a source said. He is expected to stress that no solution is sustainable unless it has a parliamentary majority behind it, in a clear message to colleagues considering a no-deal Brexit, something that MPs have already rejected. The economic case for building a road tunnel near Stonehenge relies on uncertain benefits, the public spending watchdog has warned. A report by the National Audit Office (NAO) raised doubts over the estimated 1.15 benefit for every 1 spent. The Department for Transports (DfT) controversial proposed upgrade of the A303 which includes a two-mile long tunnel beneath the Stonehenge World Heritage Site is forecast to cost between 1.5 billion and 2.4 billion, the NAO said. The road, which currently passes the stones, often suffers from severe congestion as it is a popular route for motorists travelling between London and the South West. But the high cost of building a tunnel compared with widening the road means 73% of the financial benefits are heritage-related. These were calculated by asking people what they would be willing to pay to remove the road from the site. These benefits are inherently uncertain because they are based on a hypothetical situation and are difficult to measure, the watchdog warned. NAO head Sir Amyas Morse said: The tunnel at Stonehenge is currently only just value for money by the departments own business case. The monument draws thousands of visitors every year (Steve Parsons/PA) Based on experience, project costs tend to grow rather than fall, at least in the early years. It will take a very special effort by the department to protect public value up to completion. The project, to be carried out by the Government-owned company Highways England, is due to be completed by December 2026. The NAO noted that uncertainty over how the scheme will be funded has led to delays. It was due to be publicly financed until the Treasury instructed the DfT to use private funds in October 2016, which pushed back the start of construction by 21 months to December 2021. In October last year, Chancellor Philip Hammond cancelled future public-private partnerships, including the Stonehenge project. The NAO stated that the Government says it is committed to the A303 scheme but it is unclear how it will be funded. A DfT spokeswoman said: Investing in the South West is an absolute priority for this Government. Upgrading the A303 at Stonehenge will boost the regions economy and improve its connections with the rest of the country. Stonehenge is a site of significant historical value. We have worked closely with heritage groups, including English Heritage and Historic England, to ensure it is protected both during the upgrade of the A303 and in the long-term. Archaeologists responsible for many of the recent discoveries in the Stonehenge landscape have hit out at the road tunnel plan, claiming it would destroy important archaeological remains. Finance leaders from across the world are meeting in Scotland to address monetary risk from climate change. Senior representatives from the United Nations and Scottish and UK Governments are attending the two-day Finance for Nature Global Summit, hosted by Baillie Gifford in Edinburgh. It will also involve multinational firms such as Mars, Unilvever, Nestle and environmental charity WWF, as well as financial institutions including Aberdeen Standard, Bank of Ireland, RBS, Barclays, Scottish Widows and HSBC. The event will attempt to develop innovative financial instruments to mitigate complex risk, particularly from climate change. According to the World Economic Forums 2019 Global Risks Report, half of the top global risks relate to the environment and climate change and have a material impact on a companys operational costs, reputation, risk and profitability. Omar Shaikh, founder of the one of the event organisers, Edinburgh-based Global Ethical Finance Initiative, said: Hosting this event in Scotland is recognition of our growing reputation as a leader in convening the ethical finance debate. Edinburgh is hosting a financial summit on sustainable investment (Tim Ireland/PA) By building finance-related partnerships in support of investments aligned with the UNs sustainable development goals, we hope to demonstrate genuine impact and address the biggest challenge facing the world today. The next leader of the Conservative Party must be somebody who believes in Brexit and has the passion to drive it forwards, an MP in the running to replace Theresa May has said. Former Cabinet minister Esther McVey said it is essential that Britain leaves the EU by the end of October, as she launched a political group aimed at winning over working-class voters to the Tories. Ms McVey, who declared her ambition to be prime minister earlier this month, told the Blue Collar Conservatism event in Parliament that it is not an easy time to be a Tory activist. Our failure to deliver Brexit has left many feeling demoralised, with no obvious light at the end of the tunnel, and most of us know that ahead of us is still a bumpy ride, she said. We must recognise where people and communities need more support. We need to shift resources to the vital public resources that these communities need, particularly for schools and education @EstherMcVey1 #BlueCollarConservatism pic.twitter.com/s3Y0LDniky Blue Collar Conservatism (@bluecollartory_) May 20, 2019 The staunchly Leave-backing MP told the audience of parliamentarians and journalists that the next Tory leader has to be a Brexiteer who believes in Brexit, delivers on our manifesto and even the manifesto of Labour. It is key that weve got to get this delivered so we can get on to the domestic issues that affect so many peoples lives, she said. Asked if that included the likes of Jeremy Hunt, who supported Remain in the referendum but has since adopted an increasingly Eurosceptic position, Ms McVey said: I said it has to be a Brexiteer who believes in Brexit. Whatever they voted they can tell you, but it has to be somebody who believes, who has got the passion to drive it forward. Ms McVey also said there should be no more backsliding regarding the UKs exit, even if it means leaving without a deal on October 31. She called for the amount spent on international aid to be returned to Labour levels in 2010 in a bid to win over working-class voters with money shifted to support police and education. By doing this we will be doing more than just making up for shortfalls here and there we will be providing transformative funds which communities will feel, Ms McVey said. She is the latest MP to set out her stall in the race to succeed Mrs May. Former Cabinet minister Esther McVey (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Earlier, Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused to rule out a bid for the job, saying he had a strong view about the sort of leader we need. He said the leader should put the Tories four-square in the centre ground, a view that will be echoed by big hitters at a meeting of the One Nation group of Tories in Parliament on Monday night. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson has already confirmed he will stand in the race to replace Mrs May, which is due to officially begin within weeks. Another potential contender, Home Secretary Sajid Javid, said there wont be a shortage of candidates for the job but whether I will be one of those, youll just have to wait and see. Home Secretary Sajid Javid said `there wont be a shortage of candidates for Theresa Mays job (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The Prime Minister will set out the timetable for her exit and the leadership contest to succeed her after a crunch vote on the legislation for her Brexit deal in early June. Defeat for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which is due in the Commons in the week beginning June 3, would hasten her exit from Number 10. The One Nation group meeting in Parliament on Monday is expected to see Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd and ex-Cabinet ministers Damian Green and Nicky Morgan set out their vision for a centre-ground Tory Party. The group is also viewed as an attempt to prevent a hard Brexiteer from steering the UK out of the EU without a deal. Ms Rudd said the group stood for the state having an active role in fighting injustices, in environmental standards and a belief in free enterprise. There are no simple answers to complex questions, she said. A pragmatic, compassionate centre-right has never been more vital. The SNP are now pushing for a far more extreme version of independence than we have ever seen, according to Gordon Brown. Speaking at a European election campaign rally in Glasgow on Monday, the former prime minister accused the party of moving away from its policy positions in 2014, such as on currency. At the SNP conference last month, members voted to replace the pound with a separate Scottish currency as soon as practicable although First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has indicated she would only want to do soon when six key tests are met. In 2014, Alex Salmond told us we were only leaving the political union, that was all, we were staying in all the other unions, Mr Brown said. But whats the policy now? Its a far more extreme version of independence. Theyve moved from soft independence to hard independence. Because now they will leave the British pound, theyll leave the UK currency union. That is their decision. Former prime minister Gordon Brown says the SNP have moved from soft to hard independence (Andrew Milligan/PA) First of all, theyre going to adopt the pound for a few years and then theyre going to leave it with a Scottish pound being set up. Its nothing like the policy of 2014 when Alex Salmond said it would be part of the British pound, it would be part of the UK monetary policy committee. Immediately they get independence, if they ever got it, they would leave the UK currency. Mr Brown, who joined Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard at the partys European election candidates at the event, also said independence would mean separating Scotland from UK trade and social welfare policy. He said: They want to stay in the European Union and they want to leave Britain so they have to leave the UK customs union as well. They have to leave the UK single market, theyll leave the UK social welfare union, because pensions and everything else will have to be decided in Scotland and not decided as part of the UK pensions scheme weve all contributed to. So this is a far more extreme policy that the SNP are now putting forward and people have got to recognise if you vote for the SNP on Thursday, youre voting to give recognition and legitimacy and credibility to a more extreme form of independence than ever weve seen. Independence is separation. That means a separate currency, a separate customs union from the rest of the United Kingdom, a separate single market from the rest of the United Kingdom, a separate social welfare union. That is a more extreme version than we have ever seen and people should know this by Thursday. You always know when Labour are in trouble: they wheel out Gordon Brown. #voteSNP #EUelections2019 Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) May 20, 2019 Mr Brown also accused the Scottish Conservatives of delaying the transfer of powers from Europe to Holyrood. He said: Theyre allowing powers that have been transferred from Europe to Westminster not to come to the Scottish Parliament for years a more extreme version of centralisation than ever before. Mr Brown concluded: This is where we are two parties that claim to be the governing and opposition parties in Scotland that cannot talk about their record because it is so bad, that cannot answer questions on their main policy to leave Europe or to leave the United Kingdom, and are now interested only in this Punch and Judy fight on the constitution that allows them to talk incessantly about referenda in Scotland, about constitutional minutiae, while neglecting all the issues that worry the Scottish people. Christian Allard, an SNP European election candidate. said: People in Scotland remember Gordon Brown as playing a key role in the campaign to ensure that we would continue having to live under Tory governments we didnt vote for and now that Tory government is trying to drag Scotland out of the EU against our will. So if he wants people to even consider listening to Labour on anything, Mr Brown should start by apologising to Scotland for the mess he has helped create. Voters in Scotland can send a message to the parties who have ignored Scotlands people and our Parliament by voting SNP on Thursday. While Labour are all over the place on Brexit, a vote for the SNP is a vote to stop Brexit. Police use of facial recognition technology is being challenged in court for the first time in the UK. Human and civil rights campaigners have backed the action after several police forces in England and Wales trialled the technology. Ed Bridges, from Cardiff, will be represented by civil rights group Liberty at the High Court as he challenges use of the technology by South Wales Police. We're taking the police to court on Tuesday to end the unlawful use of #FacialRecognition tech in public. It is inaccurate. It is discriminatory. It violates everyone's rights. It has no place on our streets. pic.twitter.com/h4eyzIpnHp Liberty (@libertyhq) May 19, 2019 Earlier this month, officials in San Francisco voted to ban facial recognition systems as some campaigners branded it Big Brother technology. Heres how facial recognition works and why it is divisive. How does it work? Technology trialled by the Metropolitan Police in London uses special cameras to scan the structure of faces in a crowd of people. The system called NeoFace and created by NEC then creates a digital image and compares the result against a watch list made up of pictures of people who have been taken into police custody. Not everybody on police watch lists are wanted they can include missing people and other persons of interest. If a match is found, officers at the scene where cameras are set up are alerted. (PA Graphics) How long has it been used? The Met has used the technology several times since 2016, according to its website. This includes at Notting Hill Carnival in 2016 and 2017, Remembrance Day in 2017, Port of Hull docks assisting Humberside Police last year, and at Stratford transport hub for two days in June and July. The Metropolitan Police has used the technology at Notting Hill Carnival (PA) South Wales Police first piloted its technology during the 2017 Champions League final week in Cardiff, making it the first UK force to use it at a large sporting event. Liberty claims South Wales Police has used the technology about 50 times. Why is it controversial? Campaigners say facial recognition breaches civil rights. Liberty said scanning and storing biometric data as we go about our lives is a gross violation of privacy. Big Brother Watch, a privacy and civil liberty group, said the notion of live facial recognition turning citizens into walking ID cards is chilling. Some claim the technology will deter people from expressing views in public or going to peaceful protests. It is also claimed facial recognition is least accurate when it attempts to identify black people and women. The ban in San Francisco was part of broader legislation that requires city departments to establish usage policies and obtain board approval for surveillance technologies. City supervisor Aaron Peskin, who championed the legislation, said: This is really about saying, We can have security without being a security state. We can have good policing without being a police state. What do the police say? The Met says its trials aim to discover whether the technology is an effective way to deter and prevent crime and bring to justice wanted criminals. Were concerned that what we do conforms to the law, but also takes into account ethical concerns and respects human rights, the force said. South Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis has said: We are very cognisant of concerns about privacy and we are building in checks and balances into our methodology to reassure the public that the approach we take is justified and proportionate. A federal judge in Washington has ruled against Donald Trump in a financial records dispute with Congress. US District Judge Amit Mehta, who was appointed by Barack Obama, said the president cannot block a House subpoena of financial records. He said the Democratic-led House committee seeking the information has said it believes the documents would help legislators consider strengthening ethics and disclosure laws, among other things. The committees reasons were valid legislative purposes, Judge Mehta said, and it was not for him to question whether the committees actions are truly motivated by political considerations. The decision comes amid a widespread effort by the White House and the presidents lawyers to refuse to co-operate with congressional requests for information and records. In the case before Judge Mehta, Mr Trump and his business organisation sued to block the subpoena issued in April to Mazars USA, an accountant for the president and Trump Organisation. Donald Trump (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Mr Trumps lawyers accused Democrats of harassing the president and said the subpoena has no legitimate legislative purpose. Mr Trumps lawyers, in suing in both Washington and New York in an attempt to beat back congressional subpoenas, said congressional investigations are legitimate only if there is legislation that might result from them. In the New York case, Mr Trump, his business and family have sued Deutsche Bank and Capital One to prevent the financial companies from complying with subpoenas from the House Financial Services Committee and the House Intelligence Committee for banking and financial records. A Wednesday hearing is planned in that case. Even before the ruling, scholars had said Mr Trumps legal argument had little merit and that Congress has broad powers to investigate. Alanna Kelly A woman was woken up to a child crying on Saturday morning and found a two-year-old boy lying on the ground after allegedly falling from a third-floor balcony. The woman, who lives at an apartment building off Gerstmar Road, found a boy beside a fence crying at about 7 a.m. We heard this crying and I was like what is going on, Amanda Beaudry tells Castanet. I made sure he was not bleeding, I thought maybe someone tossed him over the fence or abandoned him She screamed for her partner to call police and tried to find the mother of the child. The toddler's shirt was ripped and he had a goose egg on the back of his head. I kept telling him youre going to be OK. Your mommy loves you. I am just telling him he is going to be OK, said Beaudry. A few minutes later the mother came into her apartment room and Beaudry spoke with paramedics. "My partner told me he fell from the third floor, off the balcony and then I just started crying," she said. Cpl. Jesse ODonaghey says the two-year-old boy sustained serious bodily injuries as a result of the fall. He was rushed to a local hospital by BC Emergency Health Services for a medical assessment and treatment, he said. Medical professionals determined that the child had to be airlifted to a hospital in Vancouver for advanced care. RCMP are continuing their investigation and the Ministry of Child and Family Development has been notified and are also now investigating the incident. Prostate cancer patients can avoid anxious waits to visit their doctor by seeing test results online as soon as they are available under a new model for after-care. Men can take control of their own care, and free up vital NHS time as a result, Prostate Cancer UK said after a report on a trial at a number of health trusts showed promising results. As well as being able to get their results online, people can complete assessments, see their patient information and message their clinical team as part of the digital approach to after-care trialled by researchers from the University of Southampton. Funded by the Movember Foundation and delivered in partnership with Prostate Cancer UK, the trial saw a supported self-management programme used across five health trusts, developing a toolkit with the aim of other healthcare providers following suit. The NHS trusts involved in the trial which ran for three years from 2014 and involved 2,675 men were University Hospital Southampton, Royal United Hospitals Bath, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Dartford and Gravesham and St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals trust. An evaluation of some of those patients involved in the trials, published in the BMC Cancer journal, concluded that outcomes were at least the same as with traditional follow-up care, with similar costs in the first eight months. The new after-care system could ease pressure on clinicians (Lynne Cameron/PA) But overall costs per patient were lower for those involved in the trials because wider use of the health service was lower, a University of Southampton summary of the report said. While there had been initial concerns about patients having access to results before clinicians had assessed them, the project appeared to show that even if the results were abnormal, those involved were not adversely affected, researchers said. The model of care requires a new support worker in order to help men without adding to demands on clinical staff, a workshop to ensure men fully understand the scheme and their treatment, and an IT service allowing them to access their test results remotely. Eric Hounslow, who was part of the trial, said he sometimes had to wait a week or more to get test results. The 72-year-old, from Romsey, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2015, said: Now I can give my blood at 9am and have the results later that day, saving me from all that stress every six months. As someone who has experienced both systems, Id recommend this scheme to anyone. Prostate Cancer UK and the Movember Foundation are now urging all health trusts to use the new approach, saying it will allow for good quality care while cutting costs to the NHS. Lesley Smith, of NHS England, said: This scheme is a great example of innovations that local areas can adopt which allow men to take control of their own follow up care. Prostate Cancer UKs Heather Blake said: This research is a major achievement, proving that this remote, digital and self-managed model can deliver a high quality of care for men, while also giving Clinical Nurse Specialists and consultants more time to focus on newly-diagnosed men. Even better, this model actually lowers per patient costs, making it a win-win for cash-strapped NHS trusts. Thats why we want to see supported self-management schemes like this rolled out across the country. More than 11,500 men die from prostate cancer in the UK each year and the number of men living with and beyond prostate cancer is set to double by 2030, the charity said. Several newspapers lead with the story of a milkshake being thrown at Nigel Farage as he campaigned in Newcastle, with pictures of the aftermath dominating most of the front pages. The Times reports that Chancellor Philip Hammond will warn that the next Conservative prime minister will not have a mandate to carry out Brexit without a deal. The Times 21/5/2019 Nigel Farage had milkshake thrown over him while campaigning in Newcastle as part of a whistle-stop tour of the UK ahead of the European elections on the 23rd May. 20/5/2019. Photo : Andrew McCaren/LNP #thetimes #tomorrowspaperstoday @thetimes pic.twitter.com/0pTTYdMLRd The Times Pictures (@TimesPictures) May 20, 2019 The Daily Telegraph covers a suggestion from Dominic Raab to cut income tax by 5p, which would be partly funded by closing or merging Government departments. The front page of tomorrows Daily Telegraph: Raab: Cut income tax for fairer Britain #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/520SBefFJv The Telegraph (@Telegraph) May 20, 2019 The Guardian leads with data from an opinion poll which reveals a rise in public racism toward ethnic minorities since the 2016 Brexit vote. The Guardian front page, Tuesday 21 May 2019 | Revealed: big rise in public racism since Brexit vote pic.twitter.com/X5oi5lkdLh The Guardian (@guardian) May 20, 2019 The Financial Times reports that Huawei is preparing to launch its own mobile phone operating system as Google said it was restricting its access to Android software. Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Tuesday 21 May https://t.co/jM9AnD9xvR pic.twitter.com/IqWfk4dwxE Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) May 20, 2019 The Metro quotes Nigel Farage as blaming radicalised Remainers after a milkshake was thrown at him while campaigning on Monday. What the papers say - May 21 (PA) The i also leads with Brexit Party coverage, running that the Electoral Commission will visit the partys HQ after starting a review into how it receives donates. The Independent carries a photograph of Mr Farage covered with the milkshake above the headline All shook up. The Daily Mirror covers a report from the Royal College of GPs calling for doctors appointment of at least 15 minutes. Tuesdays Daily Mirror: GPs: Give us more time with patients #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/qcqmCsSxYX Helena Wilkinson (@BBCHelena) May 20, 2019 The Sun runs a story of a labourer who inherited a 50 million estate following a DNA test. Tomorrow's front page: Hard-up labourer Jordan Adlard-Rogers has inherited a 1,536-acre country estate - after DNA tests proved he is the secret son of the dead lord of the manor https://t.co/jA2tvXzrt8 pic.twitter.com/dqTWQD2Zi1 The Sun (@TheSun) May 20, 2019 The Daily Mail looks ahead to US president Donald Trumps state visit to Britain in June when he will be hosted by the Prince of Wales for afternoon tea. The Daily Express says the attack on Mr Farage is an affront to democracy. Union leaders are set for talks with the Government on the future of British Steel after reports that it faces insolvency within days if a deal cannot be struck. Britains second-largest steel producer is on the brink of collapse putting thousands of jobs at risk, Sky News reported on Monday evening. Unite union said it would be speaking to Business Secretary Greg Clark first thing on Tuesday and urged British Steel owner Greybull to find a solution. A spokesman said: We would urge Greybull to reach a deal with the Government. Thousands of jobs depend on the outcome. And we will be speaking with the Government first thing in the morning. British Steel could not be reached for comment. Union leaders will hold talks with the Government on the future of British Steel (Anna Gowthorpe/PA) Last week it announced it had the backing of its key stakeholders and that operations would continue as normal. The company had asked for a package of support to tackle Brexit-related issues and has been holding talks with the Government, raising fears for the future of the company, which employs more than 4,000 workers, mainly in Scunthorpe. It said on Thursday: We are pleased to confirm that we have the required liquidity while we work towards a permanent solution. New Zealand police have filed a terrorism charge against the man accused of killing 51 people at two Christchurch mosques. Officers have charged 28-year-old Australian Brenton Tarrant with engaging in a terrorist act after the March 15 shootings. The charge comes with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and will be a test case for New Zealands terrorism laws, which came into force in 2002. Police have met with victims families and survivors of the March 15 Christchurch attack to inform them of new charges which have been filed, and update them on the ongoing Police investigation plus the court process to come - https://t.co/Q20m7EAgJS pic.twitter.com/490zx2LMQv New Zealand Police (@nzpolice) May 21, 2019 Police have also charged Tarrant with an additional count of murder, bringing the total number of murder charges against him to 51. That came after a Turkish man who was wounded in the attack died earlier this month in Christchurch Hospital. Police told families and survivors of the new charges at a meeting attended by more than 200 people. A sea change in the University of Oxfords admissions is expected with the launch of two schemes aimed at helping disadvantaged students. The free programmes will be for bright but poor pupils who are offered a place to study at Oxford but struggle to meet the final requirements, or need help making the transition. According to the university, by 2023 one in four undergraduates is set to be from the UKs most under-represented backgrounds. The announcement comes as elite universities are under increased pressure to widen access and make sure students from poorer backgrounds are not put off from applying. Opportunity Oxford is aimed at students from more disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. From the next admissions round it will see the introduction of a study programme for up to 200 students who have applied in the normal way and are on course to gain the required grades, but need additional support to transition successfully from school. Oxford has announced two initiatives to boost student numbers from under-represented backgrounds (Andrew Matthews/PA) The scheme will comprise of structured study at home plus two weeks of residential study at Oxford just before the start of the undergraduate term. Foundation Oxford will be a full-year programme open to students who have personally experienced particularly severe disadvantage or educational disruption. The scheme aims to open up places to students with high academic potential who, owing to their circumstances, are not yet in a position to make a competitive Oxford application. Eligible students could include refugees and children in care or with care responsibilities themselves. Once in operation, offers for Foundation Oxford will be made on the basis of lower contextual A-level grades, rather than the Universitys standard offers. The participants will all be based at Oxford colleges and, provided they successfully complete the programme, will move on to the undergraduate degree for which they were admitted. The vice-chancellor of Oxford University, Professor Louise Richardson, said: This is a sea change in Oxford admissions. Colleagues from across the University, its colleges and departments have united behind a commitment to accelerate the pace at which we are diversifying our student body and ensuring that every academically exceptional student in the country knows that they have a fair chance of a place at Oxford. The university says the programmes will offer places for up to 250 state school students a year, representing 10% of Oxfords UK undergraduate intake. This represents a significant step change for the university, boosting the proportion of students coming to Oxford from under-represented backgrounds from 15% of the current UK intake to 25%. Chris Millward, director for fair access and participation at the Office for Students, said: Radical change is needed if gaps in access between the most and least advantaged students are to shrink at the most selective universities. These proposals from Oxford are a positive step in the right direction, although of course there is much more to do. The Office for Students has, and will continue to, put pressure on these universities to close the gaps which mean five times more students from advantaged backgrounds are admitted compared to their disadvantaged peers. An innocent father-of-four was arrested on suspicion of raping a six-year-old girl in South Africa in a case of mistaken identity, his lawyers say. Godfrey Tshuma, 61, who lives in South Ockendon, Essex, was held in prison overnight and told he faced extradition before a judge threw the case out. Mr Tshuma, originally from Zimbabwe, said he has only been to South Africa once for a few hours in transit and could not have committed the rape, an offence which carries a possible life sentence. Godfrey Tshuma, 61, was mistakenly arrested and told he faced extradition to South Africa He shares the same name as the wanted paedophile but has a different date of birth and a police fingerprints check proved he was not the man they were looking for, his lawyers said. Mr Tshuma said: I have been through a living nightmare and I am so relieved I have been cleared. Despite this, I feel like it has ruined my life. People look at me differently as though they think there may have been some truth to the allegations even though it is not true. People think there is no smoke without fire. Mr Tshuma was arrested by officers from Scotland Yards extradition unit on February 5 after a 6am knock on his door as he got ready to take his wife to work. I had the shock of my life when they said I had an extradition warrant out for my arrest, he said. I asked them what it was for and they said I was being arrested for the rape of a six-year-old girl in South Africa. It was bad enough that I had, to all intents and purposes, never been to South Africa, but to be accused of such a horrendous crime was shocking. Mr Tshuma said he felt numb and was in a state of shock, while his wife started screaming and crying in disbelief. It was the worst moment of my life. To be accused of a crime like that against children was devastating and humiliating, he continued. I dont think there is a worse crime to be accused of than that. Mr Tshuma said he and his wife tried to explain to officers they had got the wrong man, even showing his passport to prove he was born the following year. They were really aggressive and just told me to get dressed as they were taking me away. They threatened to taser me if I did not comply with their order, he said. They were treating me like a rapist and I felt violated. Mr Tshuma was told he would be taken to Westminster Magistrates Court to be extradited and was handed details of the crime he was accused of committing as he lay in a cell in Bethnal Green police station. I thought I wouldnt see my wife or children ever again, he said. It is well known that South African prisons are violent places, especially towards people accused of the type of crime that I was supposed to have done. I was terrified that I would end up murdered in an African prison. A judge granted him bail with a curfew and electronic tag but he was first taken to Wandsworth prison, where he spent the night while his family raised a 5,000 security payment. Lawyers at Hodge Jones & Allen said the Crown Prosecution Service was contacted to ask police to check Mr Tshumas fingerprints against the wanted man, which showed he was not the person they were looking for. A judge discharged Mr Tshuma at Westminster Magistrates Court on February 12, ordering his costs to be paid, his security refunded and his bail conditions cancelled, a court official confirmed. Mr Tshuma said he is still concerned about leaving the country while an international arrest warrant is out. Sean Caulfield, a specialist in extradition and a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen, who represents him, said: My clients life has been devastated due to a very disappointing case of mistaken identity. He was accused of one of the worst possible crimes, thought he was going to be extradited to South Africa and face jail for the rest of his life. All for a crime he didnt commit and that the South African police wanted an entirely different man for all along. This is one of the worst cases of mistaken identity I have ever seen and has deeply affected my client and his family. We will continue to fight to clear his good name and get the international arrest warrant against him rescinded. Scotland Yard said: A complaint has been made and the actions taken are being reviewed. The force said in a statement: A man was arrested by Met officers on behalf of South African authorities at an address in Romford on February 5 2019 after a warrant was issued by Westminster Magistrates Court for a sexual offence involving the alleged rape of a minor. The man was taken to an east London station where he was deemed fit for detention. He was remanded by Westminster Magistrates Court on February 5 2019 and was detained at HMP Wandsworth. He was released from prison on February 6 2019. He was later discharged at Westminster Magistrates Court on February 12 2019. The Met continues to liaise with South African law enforcement and will assist where appropriate. A man has been charged with common assault and criminal damage after throwing a milkshake at Nigel Farage. The Brexit Party leader was left doused with the Five Guys banana and salted caramel drink while on a walkabout in Newcastle city centre on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, Northumbria Police said 32-year-old Paul Crowther has been charged with common assault and criminal damage following the incident. We have charged a man with common assault and criminal damage following an incident in #Newcastle city centre yesterday (Monday). A 32-year-old man was detained at the scene and arrested by police. He has now been charged with common assault and criminal damage. Update below. pic.twitter.com/W0Bn4rbWuG Northumbria Police (@northumbriapol) May 21, 2019 The force said the criminal damage charge relates to a microphone that the politician was wearing at the time. Crowther, of Holeyn Road, Throckley, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, will appear before magistrates in North Tyneside on June 18, police said. Speaking at the scene, Crowther said his actions were a right of protest against people like him. The milkshake cup from Five Guys which is believed to have been emptied over Nigel Farage in Newcastle (Tom Wilkinson/PA) Wearing handcuffs, he told reporters: I didnt know he was in town, I thought this is my only chance. The bile and the racism he spouts out in this country is far more damaging than a bit of milkshake to his front. Following the incident, Mr Farage was heard telling a member of his staff that he could have spotted that a mile off. Sadly some remainers have become radicalised, to the extent that normal campaigning is becoming impossible. For a civilised democracy to work you need the losers consent, politicians not accepting the referendum result have led us to this. Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) May 20, 2019 He told a rally in Bolton on Monday evening: I wont even acknowledge the low-grade behaviour that I was subjected to this morning, I wont dignify it, I will ignore it. Perhaps keep buying new clothes and carry on. For a civilised democratic nation to function in democracy, the loser has to give their consent. The loser has to accept theyve lost the election and do their best to win the next election. That is how our system works. The politician also tweeted that normal campaigning is becoming impossible because of such incidents. In the run-up to the European elections, Ukips Carl Benjamin and former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson have been involved in similar disturbances. The founder of Huawei has said US restrictions on sales to the Chinese tech giant will have little impact, and confirmed the company is talking with Google about the possible effect on its smartphone business. Ren Zhengfei told Chinese reporters the firm has supply back-ups if it loses access to American chips and other technology under last weeks order issued by the Trump administration. Washington has said Huawei poses a security threat, and imposed restrictions on technology sales to the company. Ren Zhengfei claimed the move would have limited impact on his company (AP) The US Commerce Department later announced a 90-day grace period for the company. Mr Ren said the US controls will have no impact within this company, but conceded some low-end business might be affected. He said Huawei and Google are discussing possible emergency relief measures for its smartphone business, which might lose access to some of the American companys services. Google said it would comply with the restrictions, which are aimed at punishing the Chinese tech giant. Huawei could quickly lose its grip on the number two worldwide rank in mobile phone sales as a result of the move by the Trump administration. The restrictions effectively bar US firms from selling components and software to Huawei, and up the ante in a trade war between Washington and Beijing that partly reflects a struggle for global economic and technological dominance. The Commerce Department confirmed the grace period on Monday night. Google said it would continue to support existing Huawei smartphones but future devices will not have its flagship apps and services, including maps, Gmail and search. Only basic services would be available for future versions of the Android operating system on Huaweis smartphones. The move ups the ante in the US trade war with China (AP) Washington claims Huawei poses a national security threat, and its placement on the so-called Entity List by the Trump administration last week is widely seen as intended to persuade resistant US allies in Europe to exclude Huawei equipment from their next-generation wireless networks, known as 5G. Huawei will likely use its own, stripped-down version of Android, whose basic code is provided free of charge by Google. But the California company said Huawei would not be authorised to use other Google software and services if the sanctions go forward as announced. Google could seek exemptions, but would not comment on whether it planned to do so. Gartner analyst Tuong Nguyen said 48% of Huaweis phone shipments last year were outside of China and the company will need to scramble not to lose market share. Samsung led global smartphone sales in the first quarter of this year with a 23.1% share. Huawei was second with 19%, followed by Apple at 11.7%, according to IDC. Huaweis smartphone sales in the US are tiny and the Chinese companys footprint in telecommunications networks is limited to smaller wireless and internet providers so any impact on US consumers of a Google services cutoff would be slight. Hardware suppliers led by Qualcomm, Broadcom and Intel would also be forced to halt shipments to Huawei under the Commerce Department rule, which requires all US technology sales to the company to obtain government approval unless exceptions are made. In a report, the global risk assessment outfit Eurasia Group said that if the sanction process helps persuade European carriers to shun Huawei equipment, a full ban on purchases of US technology products and services could be avoided. The new Huawei P30 Pro (Martyn Landi/PA) Google, a unit of Alphabet, said it was complying with and reviewing the implications of the requirement for export licences for technology sales to Huawei. For users of our services, Google Play and the security protections from Google Play Protect will continue to function on existing Huawei devices, it added. The US government says Chinese suppliers including Huawei and its smaller rival, ZTE, pose an espionage threat because they are beholden to Chinas ruling Communist Party. But American officials have presented no evidence of any Huawei equipment serving as intentional conduits for espionage by Beijing. Huawei, headquartered in the southern city of Shenzhen near Hong Kong, reported earlier that its worldwide sales rose 19.5% last year over 2017 to 721.2 billion yuan (81.8 billion). Profit rose 25.1% to 59.3 billion yuan (6.73 billion). Huawei smartphone shipments rose 50% in the first three months of 2019 to 59.1 million, compared with a year earlier, while the global industrys total fell 6.6%, according to IDC. Shipments from Samsung and Apple both declined. Huawei defended itself on Monday as one of Androids key global partners. The company said it helped to develop a system that benefited both users and the industry. It added: We will continue to build a safe and sustainable software ecosystem, in order to provide the best experience for all users globally. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said China will monitor the development of the situation but gave no indication how Beijing might respond. The US order requires government approval for all purchases of American microchips, software and other components globally by Huawei and 68 affiliated businesses. Huawei said that amounted to 11 billion dollars (8.6 billion) in goods last year. That could create some collateral damage for US companies. Up to 350 jobs are being axed at builder Galliford Try amid an overhaul of its under-pressure construction business. The job losses largely relate to the firms decision late last month to close its Scottish infrastructure division as it looks to reduce and refocus the construction business on building, water and highways. The shake-up which follows a review launched by new boss Graham Prothero will see the construction divisions annual sales drop to around 1.3 billion, but will deliver yearly cost savings of up to 15 million. The Linden Homes owner reiterated that the changes will hit profits in the construction arm, leading to a write-down of about 40 million. It comes after Galliford sent shares plummeting by a fifth last month after it warned over profits as a result of the construction turnaround plan. But shares lifted 10% on Tuesday as investors cheered action to turn around its fortunes. Galliford Try is to refocus its construction business on building, water and highways (David Davies/PA) Mr Prothero, who took on the top job in March, said: We have made some difficult decisions in response to the challenges faced by the groups construction business. The associated operational changes are being implemented across the business. We are confident that the decision to refocus our construction activities will deliver a more stable business for the future and support improved margins. Galliford which is headquartered in Uxbridge, West London said the order book for its construction arm stood at 3 billion as at May 17 and added its Linden Homes and Partnerships & Regeneration units were performing well. Linden Homes said its sales rate edged lower to 0.68 since the beginning of the year, down from from 0.71 a year earlier, with stable market conditions. Gallifords profit alert in April saw the group warn of a large one-off cost relating to the Queensferry Crossing joint venture, after an estimate for final costs on the project was increased. Mr Prothero the groups former finance boss took the helm after Crest Nicholson poached Gallifords former chief executive Peter Truscott. Charlie Campbell, an analyst at Liberum, said: Gallifords trading update should be taken well because there are no further incremental contract issues, and because part of the exceptional cost identified in April has a payback through future cost reduction. An independent Scotland would be welcomed with open arms by the EU, Nicola Sturgeon has said. Speaking on ITVs Good Morning Britain, the First Minister said that Scotland would not be dissimilar to other, smaller countries currently in the EU if it was to gain membership as an independent nation. Last week, Ms Sturgeon suggested that there is a real chance for the country to stay within the EU. Delighted to launch @theSNP manifesto for the #EUElections with our fantastic team of candidates. On Thursday, lets send a clear message that Scotlands not for Brexit, Scotlands for Europe. #VoteSNP pic.twitter.com/NQuZX9dSOl Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 17, 2019 While I dont expect the European Union ever to interfere in the decision about independence, I am more confident than Ive ever been and I was pretty confident back in 2014 that Scotland would be welcomed with open arms by the EU, said the First Minister. If you look at the 27 member states of the EU, about a dozen of them are countries similar in size to or smaller than Scotland, so its perfectly normal to be a small, independent country in the EU. At the SNPs manifesto launch in Glasgow last week, Ms Sturgeon also warned that the prospect of a Boris Johnson premiership, supported by Nigel Farage, would be a nightmare for Scotland. On a visit to Edinburgh last week however, Mr Farage indicated that he could not support Mr Johnson as he is unsure about his stance over Brexit. In Newcastle city centre on Monday, a man, who was later charged by police, threw a milkshake over the Brexit Party leader. Mr Farage told a rally in Bolton on Monday evening: I wont even acknowledge the low-grade behaviour that I was subjected to this morning, I wont dignify it, I will ignore it. Perhaps keep buying new clothes and carry on. For a civilised democratic nation to function in democracy, the loser has to give their consent. The loser has to accept theyve lost the election and do their best to win the next election. That is how our system works. Nigel Farage after he was doused in milkshake during a campaign walkabout in Newcastle (Tom Wilkinson/PA) Asked about the treatment received by Mr Farage, Nicola Sturgeon said that politicians of all parties should be able to campaign and debate, regardless of whether you agree with them or not. Ms Sturgeon said: Whatever you think of Nigel Farage and Im, as youve probably gathered, not a great fan of Nigel Farage, I dont think we should be condoning or encouraging people to behave in that way. Not least because it took the attention away from a big story yesterday about where the Brexit party gets its money from. I think the better treatment for people who oppose Nigel Farage is to ignore him, he hates being ignored, and then go out on Thursday and vote against him. But all politicians, of whatever party, should be able to campaign amongst the public and have vigorous and robust debate, but not have to worry about things like that happening. John K. White Faced with a potential $5-million fine and three years in prison, embattled medicinal cannabis retailer Russ Stevenson is closing his store in Vernon tonight at 6 p.m. Stevenson has long been attempting to obtain the required licensing to operate legally under the new legalization framework for Herb's Healing Centre, but he has not been able to obtain provincial approval. He held an informational rally at his store Tuesday afternoon attracting 30 or so supporters. "Tomorrow morning, they've told me that I'm facing up to a $5-million fine and three years in prison and I can't afford to take that chance," Stevenson said to supporters at the Tuesday rally. "It's a big fine. It's kind of a ridiculous fine, and it's for somebody that's trying to help medical patients with prescriptions." Vernon's mayor has previously stated Stevenson knows the rules and knows he should not be selling any marijuana products without a provincial license to do so. Unfortunately, that operation is operating outside of the law. The only one that can sell medical marijuana is the federal government, said Cumming last Friday. According to a release from the city, medical cannabis is available with a physicians prescription by mail order and is regulated by the federal government. You cannot buy prescription cannabis at a retail location. "We look after people, that's what we're here for, and we're not seeing the compassion out of the government," Stevenson said at the rally. "I don't know if we'll ever get our rec license. I really don't want our rec license. As soon as I have a recreational license I have to sell moldy crap from the government and I don't want to be involved in that." Stevenson said he has no interest in selling recreational marijuana, and has remained open so he can continue providing product to his 2,800 clients who rely on him. "We look after people with cancer. We look after people that are in the hospital. Ninety-nine per cent of cancer patients that are serious here get looked after for free," he said. "I see the good we do, and I see the need. If I can't do what I do, with the quality that I do it, I don't even want to have a part of it," Stevenson said. "We are hurting people. Let's get over this and let's make a system that helps. We need medical stores now." Along with medical marijuana, Herb's sells oils, topicals and other products not available at a recreational pot store. The Health Secretary has taken waffles into Cabinet, after he got caught on camera enjoying the sweet treat for breakfast earlier this week. Matt Hancock was carrying a packet of caramel waffles as he arrived in Downing Street for the meeting on Tuesday morning. The MP for West Suffolk was mocked by Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan on Monday, after cameras recorded him eating before the show went live. Relive 'wafflegate' in full here https://t.co/RM4rJEWXAN Good Morning Britain (@GMB) May 20, 2019 Mr Morgan said: Theres 356 calories and 16.2g fat thats your fat content for the day gone. Given were a breakfast show, is this your rallying cry to the nation have a caramel waffle to get you going? However, the Health Secretary defended himself on air, replying: All good things in moderation. Health Secretary Matt Hancock arrives for a Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street (Isabel Infantes/PA) He later joked about the incident on Twitter, saying: Nothing wrong with a bit of waffle in politics from time to time. The SNPs lead candidate for the European election has said he is agnostic on the question of what currency an independent Scotland would use. Speaking in a debate on STVs Scotland Tonight programme on Monday, Alyn Smith said he does not have a preference of whether the country would continue to use the pound, introduce a new Scottish currency or adopt the euro. At the SNP conference last month, delegates voted in favour of setting up a separate Scottish currency as soon as practicable in the event of independence. (Left to right) SNP European election candidates with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon (centre) Alex Kerr, Margaret Ferrier, Aileen McLeod, Alyn Smith, Christian Allard and Heather Anderson at the launch of the SNPs European manifesto (Andrew Milligan/PA) First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the country would keep the pound until six tests were met and the Scottish Parliament approved a change. Mr Smith said any such decision would be taken based on the circumstances of the Scottish economy at the time. Im agnostic on currency stuff, Mr Smith said. Weve had within the SNP a lively debate about what sort of currency options there will be for an independent Scotland and what weve agreed is a way to get to that proper decision. Now, we could keep sterling, we could keep sterling in a formal currency union, we could create an independent Scottish currency or we could join the euro and we can negotiate other options as well depending on what the circumstance is at the time. Asked which currency option he would like to be pursued, Mr Smith indicated he does not have a preference. He said: My preference is whats best for the Scottish economy on the facts as they come. Ive said Im agnostic on the currency question, I think its about what matters best for economic stability of our country, for long-term investment, peoples pensions, peoples homes this is too important to just be a matter of ideology, this is about what works best. The euro is working well across the European continent. Sterling also is our currency, too. So Scotlands a rich country, were going to have lots of options in this discussion. Speaking after the debate, Scottish Labour candidate David Martin said: The public will be alarmed to learn the SNPs top candidate is open to dumping the pound for the euro. That will create a currency barrier between Scotland and the rest of the UK, costing jobs and putting pensions at risk. Unlike the SNP, Labour stands to unite our country and bring it back together. A vote for Labour on Thursday is a vote to end division and for a progressive Europe that works for the many, not the few. A police chief has said lawful or unlawful protests have no place outside primary schools after recent clashes over the teaching of LGBT lessons. Chief Constable Dave Thompson, of West Midlands Police, said a number of criminal offences had taken place outside Anderton Park Primary School in Birmingham since Sunday evening. The force received reports at 9.30pm on Sunday of assault and criminal damage on Dennis Road in Moseley, as well as reports of malicious communications received by the school on Thursday. Police were also present at the school on Monday after protesters claimed around 600 pupils were withdrawn from lessons. The forces chief constable has now stepped in to express his increasing concern over the rhetoric of the protests. Mr Thompson said: In recent months some Birmingham primary schools have been subject to protests by parents concerning the schools curriculum on equality. These protests have resulted in an ongoing protest outside Anderton Park Primary School. These protests have, to date, been lawful. West Midlands Police has been discharging our duty to maintain the public peace and where criminal offences are identified to act. Speaking of the recent clashes between the two sides outside the school, Mr Thompson said: In the last 24 hours, a number of criminal offences have taken place that the force will investigate and seek to bring people to justice. As a citizen of this city, I have observed these protests and the rhetoric around them with increasing concern. West Midlands Police values and celebrates the diversity of this area. We believe the strength of this city is in tolerant and diverse communities. Parents, children and protesters demonstrate against the lessons about gay relationships (PA) Sadly, this is not the image of Birmingham that these events are projecting around the country and the world. Mr Thompson has now urged campaigners to consider the effect their protests are having on the reputation on the city of Birmingham. He said: It is very important all those involved in the dispute at Anderton Park recognise the adverse impact this is having on the reputation of the city, broader cohesion and, most importantly, the children at this school. Views are entrenching with a determination to win this argument. This is creating an environment where those who seek division will have cause to celebrate and to exploit. Frankly, a primary school is no place for the continuance of a large scale protest, however lawful. He added: In this holy period of Ramadan, and as we celebrate Pride in our city, I urge those involved and those who can influence these events to think again and consider how they can come together to discuss these strongly held views and bring this protest to an end. An ongoing protest has been held outside Anderton Park Primary School (PA) West Midlands Police cannot solve this problem but we will support all involved in seeking a dialogue and a solution. Equally, we will act where people see to exploit these matters and break the law. Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson, who supports the work of West Midlands Police, said: Teachers should be free to get on with teaching a full curriculum, that highlights and explains Britains full diversity without fear of protests or threats. All forms of equality are equally important. As a former head teacher, I understand full well that schools need to work with parents and would encourage productive dialogue to continue. I must emphasise though that protests and threats have no place outside of the school gates and where there is evidence of criminality the police will be investigating thoroughly. The Brexit Party in Scotland has been pushed to answer questions over its financial dealings. Jim Ferguson was quizzed on the issue during a debate on STVs Scotland Tonight programme on Monday. Meanwhile, a review was launched by the Electoral Commission into the Brexit Partys financial systems over payments made to Nigel Farage, with a visit to the partys headquarters scheduled for Tuesday. Investigate funding of Nigel Farage and Brexit Party @OfficeGSBrown tells rally in Glasgow. Farage not a man of the people - hes a man of the PayPal. pic.twitter.com/wYsLE7JLad Gordon Brown (@GordonBrown) May 20, 2019 Former prime minister Gordon Brown called for an investigation into the finances of Mr Farage and the Brexit Party, warning democracy would be undermined if payments were not declared. Last week, Arron Banks, the founder of pro-Brexit group Leave.EU, confirmed a payment of 450,000 had been made to Mr Farage in the year after the Brexit referendum. Speaking on Scotland Tonight, Scottish Green candidate Maggie Chapman asked Mr Ferguson about the funding. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage while on the European election campaign trail (Danny Lawson/PA) Ms Chapman said: You come here talking about honesty in politics. We know that Brexit is driven by the desire of the very wealthy to escape new regulations on tax avoidance. Tell us, who is funding you? And can you tell us that youre not being funded by people who want to starve our public services of taxes? Mr Ferguson replied: Well thats just utter nonsense, which I absolutely refute. We are not a party of wealth. The membership of our base, the grass roots, pay 25 for their membership. We are made up of ordinary people. When it was contested that in fact, people pay to support the party, as opposed to becoming members, Mr Ferguson said: Well, support, but the point is that we are grass roots, we are beyond a political party. @AlynSmith: Scotland voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU, but the Tories and Labour want to drag us out of Europe. #VoteSNP this Thursday, May 23, to send a clear message to Westminster, and to Brussels - Scotlands for Europe.#EUelections19 pic.twitter.com/YgD8SspHlo The SNP (@theSNP) May 21, 2019 Asked whether Mr Farage had been funded by Mr Banks, Mr Ferguson claimed the payment had nothing to do with politics. Thats an entirely private matter, he said, when asked about the payment. He doesnt have to declare it (the payment). Its nothing to do with the political arena. Scottish Labour candidate David Martin said: So Nigel gets a bung of 450,000 from Arron Banks. Ratings agencies say Brexit, before we even leave, has cost us 66 billion 1,000 for every person in this country. So Nigels OK, what about the rest of us? Mr Ferguson said: I think youre being deeply unkind to Nigel, I have to say. Since the referendum was declared, GDP has increased substantially, job creation has increased substantially. All that we are saying is that we can be prosperous. SNP candidate Alyn Smith told Mr Ferguson: Your lead candidate in the upcoming election, his name is misspelt on the ballot paper because the party official doesnt know who he is and none of you actually know who each other is. Your party doesnt have a manifesto, your party didnt exist, its a shell company right now, youve got dodgy donations on your website. You talk about honesty, would you like to declare whos actually funding you right now and what you want to do to Scotlands public services? Mr Ferguson said: I find that quite incredible. Louis Stedman-Bryce (the partys lead candidate) we all know each other, we are all candidates. To say we dont know we dont know who we are of course we know each other. An American tourist stabbed in the London Bridge terror attack has thanked police and doctors for saving his life after flatlining twice. Robert Piersant had been to dinner with his son and his wife, Joyce, after a day of sightseeing when he was knifed in the back, head and face. He and his wife were among the 48 people injured when Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, launched a van and knife attack on June 3 2017. Eight people were killed by the attackers. In an emotional tribute to those who came to his aid, Mr Piersant singled out a Metropolitan Police officer and said: I would like to say that Im very grateful for the state of the police departments and their assistance, and especially Pc Sam Philpot, who never left my side. The doctors did great things putting me back together, but if it wasnt for that Pc I would not have got to the hospital. He told the Old Bailey on Tuesday that he first thought he had been barged into by a drunk when he was approached by a terrorist, and pushed him away before seeing a knife. As I pushed him back, Im looking at him. He started looking back towards me. He had an angry look, he said. When he took a step towards me, I took a step back. Thats when I felt something at my left waist and thats when I blacked out. London Bridge terrorists Khuram Butt, Rachid Redouane and Youssef Zaghba (Met Police/PA) Mr Piersant, who had been visiting his daughter and her husband in the capital from Colorado Springs, said three off-duty doctors who had been eating dinner at a nearby restaurant and police officers came to his aid. I heard two bursts of gunshots and as the gunshots went off, the Pc jumped on me, he said. The inquest heard Mr Piersant was eventually taken to hospital in an ambulance, but he did not have a pulse. I remember that very vividly, just like you hear on TV. I didnt have a pulse, I didnt have breaths. I recall flatlining twice, he said. In a witness statement, Mr Piersant said: I have no evil thoughts or bad feelings. The people who did this are crazy and I dont know anything about their background. He told the inquest: Im upset at the state of the politics, but stupid people do stupid things and you have just got to take it in your stride. Victims of the London Bridge terrorist attack (top row left to right) Christine Archibald, James McMullan, Alexandre Pigeard, Sebastien Belanger, (bottom row left to right) Kirsty Boden, Sara Zelenak, Xavier Thomas and Ignacio Echeverria (Met Police/PA) In a statement read in court, Mrs Piersant, who was also stabbed, said: I knew he wanted to kill me. I cant explain why, it was in his eyes. She said she thought her husband might be dead when she saw him in a large pool of blood. The words stabbed by a terrorist are just not in my vocabulary, she said. Im not going to give the attackers any air space. They are non-entities to me. Nigel Farage has said he is concerned about the level of hatred being directed at him after he was doused with a milkshake. The Brexit Party leader had a banana and salted caramel drink thrown at him while on a walkabout in Newcastle city centre on Monday afternoon. He said he did not know what was being thrown at him, and called for a message to be sent that people cant behave like this. Asked if he would change the way he campaigns, Mr Farage told the Press Association: I hope not but I am concerned about the sheer level of hatred coming from those who think theyre better than me. I just think weve reached a point where normal campaigning is becoming very difficult, and that in a democratic society cannot be a good thing. He said what happened to him was part of something bigger thats going on. Nigel Farage after he was doused in milkshake during a campaign walkabout in Newcastle (Tom Wilkinson/PA) Civilised democracy only works if youve got the losers consent you know, you lose the election, you dont like it, but you accept it because thats the system. Ever since 24 June 2016 weve had senior members of the British establishment including two former prime ministers literally refusing to accept the result, saying that those that voted Brexit didnt know what they were voting for theyre thick, theyre stupid, theyre lazy, theyre racist, theyre working class, theyre fat, theyre horrible. And that gives people on the other side of the argument a sense of moral superiority. And if you think youre better than everybody else that then leads, Im afraid, to a breakdown, not just in democracy, but in the civilisation that goes with it. And I think were in a very bad place with this. Asked if he was frightened by what happened, Mr Farage replied: It takes a lot to frighten me. On Tuesday, Northumbria Police said 32-year-old Paul Crowther had been charged with common assault and criminal damage following the incident. A former White House aide is defying a request to testify before the US Congress. Democrats in the House of Representatives are facing another attempt by President Donald Trump to stonewall their investigations after instructing former White House counsel Donald McGahn to defy his subpoena. Donald Trump has said his administration will fight every subpoena (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) A lawyer for Mr McGahn said he would follow the presidents directive and skip the House Judiciary hearing, leaving the Democrats without another witness. House speaker Nancy Pelosi, backed by House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler, is taking a step-by-step approach to the confrontations with Mr Trump. Mr Nadler said the committee would vote to hold Mr McGahn in contempt, and take the issue to court. Mr Nadler warned McGahn in a letter on the eve of the hearing: You face serious consequences if you do not appear. NEW: Chairman @RepJerryNadler response letter to former White House counsel Don McGahn. https://t.co/rw977z0qNw pic.twitter.com/HCL29eahHM House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) May 21, 2019 Democrats are encouraged by an early success on that route as a federal judge ruled against Mr Trump on Monday in a financial records dispute with Congress. But that has not been swift enough for some members of the Judiciary panel who feel that Ms Pelosi should be more aggressive and launch impeachment hearings that would make it easier to get information from the administration. Such hearings would give Democrats more standing in court and could stop short of a vote to remove the president. The issue was raised in a meeting among top Democrats where some members confronted Ms Pelosi about opening up the impeachment hearings. Maryland representative Jamie Raskin made the case that launching an impeachment inquiry would consolidate the Trump investigations as Democrats try to keep focus on their other work. Ms Pelosi replied that several committees are doing investigations already and they had already been successful in one court case. But the members, several of whom have spoken publicly about the need to be more aggressive with Mr Trump, are increasingly impatient with the careful approach. In the hours after the discussion, Ms Pelosi and Mr Nadler met privately. Shortly after emerging from that meeting, Mr Nadler said its possible when asked about impeachment hearings. But he noted that Democrats had won a court victory without having to take that step. The presidents continuing lawless conduct is making it harder and harder to rule out impeachment or any other enforcement action, Mr Nadler said. Mr McGahns refusal to testify is the latest of several moves to block Democratic investigations by Mr Trump, who has said his administration will fight all of the subpoenas. The Judiciary committee voted to hold attorney general William Barr in contempt earlier this month after he declined to provide an unredacted version of special counsel Robert Muellers report. Every American should be alarmed by @realDonaldTrump and his Administrations behavior, as well as Republicans choosing to remain silent or defend these actions. History will judge us for how we handle this challenge. pic.twitter.com/5cvCCqdbuH House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) May 8, 2019 And the House intelligence committee is expected to take a vote on a separate enforcement action against the Justice Department this week after Mr Barr declined a similar request from that panel. Mr McGahn was a key figure in Mr Muellers investigation, describing ways in which the president sought to curtail that federal probe. Democrats have hoped to question him as a way to focus attention on Mr Muellers findings and further investigate whether Mr Trump obstructed justice. A simple Hello, how are you? is sometimes all it takes to save a life, the Duke of Cambridge said as he launched a campaign to reduce deaths on the River Thames. William met bereaved parents and emergency service staff as he said stories of accidental drownings and suicides were heartbreaking reminders of the importance of safety measures on the UKs busiest waterway. Around 700 life-threatening incidents take place along the river every year, including slips, falls, and suicide attempts, with more than 30 deaths annually. Campaigner Beckie Ramsay, whose son Dylan died aged 13 in 2011 while swimming with friends at a quarry in Lancashire, said it was amazing somebody so prestigious is putting their name to water safety, finally. The Duke of Cambridge waves from a boat on the River Thames (Dominic Lipsinski/PA) William travelled by boat on the Thames on Tuesday as he was told about the Tidal Thames Water Safety Forum by staff from the Port of London Authority (PLA) and the Metropolitan Police. The scheme is part of the national Drowning Prevention Strategy, which aims to halve accidental drowning deaths in the UK by 2026 and reduce the risk of people taking their own lives in the water. Mental health advocate Jonny Benjamin, who was saved from attempting suicide off Waterloo Bridge by passer-by Neil Laybourn in 2008, appears in the campaign. He said of his rescuer: He listened in a way I sort of hadnt been listened to before, with real patience and no judgment. I can honestly say I wouldnt be here without that intervention. It saved my life. The Duke of Cambridge told emergency services staff that their work is important in keeping the River Thames safe (Dominic Lipinski/PA) In a speech on board the Silver Sturgeon ship to an audience including emergency services representatives and Suicide Prevention Minister Jackie Doyle-Price, William said: Prevention includes practical measures to save lives. Providing and maintaining life-saving equipment along the river, and reducing opportunities to enter the Thames, is very, very much needed. Prevention also includes the vital work done by so many frontline staff. And of course prevention involves all Londoners. Everyday people, going about their commute or on their journey to the pub, have a hugely important role to play. Dont be afraid to stop and intervene if you see someone who might be considering taking their own life. A simple Hello, how are you? is sometimes all it takes to save a life. I have just been meeting with families who have lost loved ones on the river. Their stories are heartbreaking reminders of how important all your work is to keep the river safe. Every life lost and every life-changing accident is one too many. The Duke of Cambridge meets representatives of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Metropolitan Police and London Fire Brigade (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The safety scheme is a collaboration between Scotland Yard, the PLA, the London Fire Brigade, The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, London Ambulance Service, and HM Coastguard. Suicide accounts for nine in 10 of all deaths on the Thames, while suicide-related incidents account for around half of all search-and-rescue missions on the river, according to the campaign. An amateur photographers remarkable pictures have captured the moment a bolt of lightning struck during a heavy storm in the Philippines. The moment was captured on a mobile phone by university professor Nathan Daniel Sison as he looked out of his apartment in Mandaluyong, near the capital Manila. The lightning bolt strike in Mandaluyong, Philippines (Nathan Daniel Sison/PA) Mr Sison told the Press Association: It was taken unintentionally. I was just snapping the view. A flash after the lightning bolt struck (Nathan Daniel Sison/PA) Only moments before, Mr Sison had captured an image showing the sunset when it suddenly rained. This photo was taken just moments before the lightning strike (Nathan Daniel Sison/PA) The subsequent pictures, taken at 7pm local time on Tuesday, showed the bolt striking a building before creating a dramatic flash. Theresa May will set out details of her new plan to get a Brexit deal through Parliament after another difficult Cabinet meeting. The new deal is an attempt by the Prime Minister to win over critics across the Commons who have rejected her three previous attempts to get an agreement through. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) will go to the Commons in early June, with defeat likely to hasten her departure from Number 10. (left to right) Health Secretary Matt Hancock, Education Secretary Damian Hinds and Works and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd leave the Cabinet meeting (Isabel Infantes/PA) Mrs May told the Cabinet: The Withdrawal Agreement Bill is the vehicle which gets the UK out of the EU and it is vital to find a way to get it over the line. During the two hours spent discussing the Brexit plan, Mrs Mays spokesman acknowledged there were strong opinions around the Cabinet table but also a determination to get a deal through Parliament. The discussions included alternative arrangements, workers rights, environmental protections and further assurances on protecting the integrity of the UK in the unlikely event that the backstop is required, the spokesman said. The talks also covered the whole range of topics related to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, including customs arrangements and calls for a second referendum. The meeting was characterised by a shared determination to find a way of passing the WAB so that the UK can leave the EU with a deal, the spokesman said. But Brexit is a topic which does carry strong opinions and they are very often reflected around the Cabinet table. Downing Street said the package contained significant new aspects after MPs resoundingly defeated previous versions of the deal three times. Ministers also considered the ongoing preparation for a no-deal Brexit if an agreement has not been ratified by October 31. In a sign of the divisions within the party, Chancellor Philip Hammond will use a major speech on Tuesday night to deliver a rebuke to would-be leaders considering a no-deal Brexit. The Chancellor will claim supporters of leaving the bloc without an exit agreement are trying to hijack the result of the referendum. But Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, who has said she could stand in the contest to replace Mrs May, insisted the UK had to be prepared to walk away without a Brexit deal. (PA Graphics) Despite the collapse of cross-party talks with Labour, the WAB contains a series of commitments on workers rights and environmental protections designed to appeal to opposition MPs. It also contains commitments to look at alternative arrangements to prevent the need for the controversial backstop aimed at keeping a soft border with Ireland, an olive branch for Tory Brexiteers and the DUP. Mrs Leadsom, one of the Cabinets leading Brexiteers, said she would support the Bill, but warned that could change if its provisions were watered down. I continue to support the Prime Minister to get her Withdrawal Agreement Bill through, she told BBC Radio 4s Today. It is leaving the European Union and so long as it continues to be leaving the European Union, I continue to support it. What I do think is that for any negotiation to succeed, you have to be prepared to walk away. Justice Secretary David Gauke (Isabel Infantes/PA) But shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry dismissed the idea of Labour supporting it, claiming the Bill was a piece of political theatre for Mrs May to have one last shot at getting her deal through. Its almost like she is setting up her own political version of the last rites, she told Today. She cannot realistically expect to see this get through without fundamental changes and we are not going to see fundamental changes, from everything I hear. Defeat for the WAB will accelerate Mrs Mays departure from Downing Street, with the Prime Minister due to set out the timetable for the contest to replace her after the vote. In a warning to leadership contenders, the Chancellor will use a speech to the CBIs annual dinner in London on Tuesday to highlight the risk of right-wing populism. Boris Johnson (Brian Lawless/PA) He will say that if the Brexit issue is not resolved in the next few weeks, there is a real risk of a new prime minister moving towards a damaging no-deal exit policy for ideological reasons. In what is likely to be seen as a sharp dig at prominent Tory Brexiteers like ex-foreign secretary Boris Johnson, Mr Hammond will say all the preparation in the world will not avoid the consequences of no deal. Many parents know it is not easy finding a space for their child in day care. It is also not cheap. MLA Katrine Conroy, Minister of Children and Family Development, stopped by two prototype child care centres in the North Okanagan Tuesday afternoon as part of a tour of facilities in the Okanagan and Shuswap. Conroy visited the Snc'c'amala?tn Early Childhood Education Centre on the Okanagan Indian Band and Maven Lane in Vernon. These 53 prototype sites is an opportunity for us to look at and see how universal child care is going to work, how affordable child care is going to work, can it work? These centres have proven in the time they have been up and running that they can work, said Conroy. Right now we just have the 53 prototype sites, but we need more spaces right across the province. Conroy said providing affordable daycare like at the prototype sites, is also an economic driver as it allows parents to go back to work. Conroy said parents pay $200 a month of less for day care and that allows them more money for other things like buying a home. Some people are paying more than their mortgage or rent payments for childcare, she said. We need to make childcare affordable. Conroy said all levels of government, including the school district, must work together to address the issue. Municipalities can apply for planning grants to work with organizations. Scotlands police chief has criticised wholly unsatisfactory and unprofessional conduct in the countrys former Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency (SCDEA) and asked an outside force to carry out a review. Police Scotland held a review of the undercover unit after a former officer won a civil court case in January. She had alleged she was not treated fairly after whistle-blowing over the discovery of mismanagement at the unit in 2011. Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has told oversight body the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) he has asked another police force to carry out a further review. He said this would ascertain if there should be further investigations and was being carried out to help restore public confidence in covert police operations. Mr Livingstone highlighted the evidence from the former officer, known as Mrs K, included assertions regarding unprofessional practice, including that documents were destroyed by burning following the April 2011 discovery. Chief Constable Iain Livingstone has ordered a new review of an undercover unit (Police Scotland/PA) In the court judgment, Mrs K is recorded as telling the court she discovered boxes and bags of unopened documents and mail in an office she used with another undercover officer. There were bank cards, mobile phone bills, letters from debt collectors and passports in pseudonyms she did not recognise, along with cash. Mrs K said she knew of no operational reason for the items and was concerned undercover operations were compromised and the safety of officers could be at risk. The covert officer who shared the office was admitted to a psychiatric unit then retired on ill-health grounds. Mrs K said she was questioned for days as part of the investigation, suspended then told she would be temporarily transferred, before finding out her original job had been advertised, all causing her distress and leading to her taking ill-health retirement. . #SPABoard meeting is taking place in Edinburgh this week. You can view the agenda & papers online at the SPA website: https://t.co/AN0SR5HBqE The SPA (@ScotPolAuth) May 20, 2019 In a report to go before the SPA at a board meeting on Wednesday, Mr Livingstone said: It is clear that the events which took place in the legacy SCDEA in 2011, as described in the civil action, were wholly unsatisfactory and unprofessional. I have now considered Police Scotland Review Teams conclusions and recommendations. While I am entirely satisfied that the review was a thorough, robust and appropriate response, I recognise the legitimate interest that exists about what took place in 2011 and the importance of public confidence in the vital area of covert policing. To that end, I have requested that an external force, which has significant knowledge and experience in the area of covert policing, carry out a peer review to provide independent assurance. He added: The purpose of this independent peer review is to ensure all legitimate enquiries have been carried out, and to identify whether there are any further lines of investigation which should be pursued. On completion and receipt of the peer review, I will determine what steps, if any, are required to ensure the integrity of the Police Scotland response and provide further public reassurance over this episode. Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesman Liam McArthur questioned if anyone would be held accountable for the events in the unit, which was disbanded as its role was incorporated into the single force in 2013. He said: These events resembled scenes from Life on Mars. Chaotic filing was followed by officers being sent to buy an incinerator and petrol, taking documents to a wasteland by a river, then setting alight to them in a car park. As I have said previously, in order to restore public confidence we now need to see another force from elsewhere in the UK brought in to consider Police Scotlands findings and look at additional lines of inquiry. There is also the outstanding question of whether anyone will be held accountable for these events. Nicola Sturgeon has been forced to deny the SNP is planning to use the euro despite saying comments by a candidate that it could happen were perfectly sensible. The SNPs lead candidate in the European election, Alyn Smith, said he is agnostic about what currency an independent Scotland would use. He said he had no preference about retaining the pound, introducing a new Scottish currency or adopting the euro. Nicola Sturgeon meeting with EU nationals in Edinburgh during the European election campaign (Tom Eden/PA) When asked about the comments, Ms Sturgeon said: The SNP has no policy of using the euro and weve made that abundantly clear. Speaking at a European election campaign event where she met EU nationals in Edinburgh, the First Minister said: Alans comments on currency are perfectly sensible. The point at the heart of those comments is that Scotland like every other country would have the currency arrangements that are best for the economy of the country. At the SNP conference last month, delegates voted in favour of setting up a separate Scottish currency as soon as practicable in the event of independence, while Ms Sturgeon said the country would keep the pound until six tests were met and the Scottish Parliament approved a change. She added: When we become independent we keep the pound because thats our currency as well as the currency of the rest of the UK and when the time is right we will move to an independent Scottish currency based on the tests that were set out. Thats a common sense, sensible position that has an independent Scotland putting our interest to the forefront instead of having these positions dictated to us and forced upon us regardless of whats in our interests. In a debate on STVs Scotland Tonight programme on Monday, Mr Smith said his party had a lively debate about currency options if Scotland were to become independent. Mr Smith added: We could keep sterling, we could keep sterling in a formal currency union, we could create an independent Scottish currency or we could join the euro and we can negotiate other options as well depending on what the circumstance is at the time. Adam Tomkins, Scottish Conservative shadow constitution secretary, said: Alyn Smith has previously supported the euro for Scotland so to say he is now agnostic is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that a leading SNP candidate is agnostic about the currency of your pension, your mortgage and your job. The fact is that the SNP knows that Scots dont want the euro. This is a dishonest fudge by Mr Smith but this wont fool the voters. Alyn Smith and his SNP pals must come clean and admit that they would welcome the Euro in Scotland. Nicola Sturgeon with EU nationals in Edinburgh during a European election campaign event (Tom Eden/PA) Speaking after Mondays debate, Scottish Labour candidate David Martin said: The public will be alarmed to learn the SNPs top candidate is open to dumping the pound for the euro. That will create a currency barrier between Scotland and the rest of the UK, costing jobs and putting pensions at risk. Unlike the SNP, Labour stands to unite our country and bring it back together. A vote for Labour on Thursday is a vote to end division and for a progressive Europe that works for the many, not the few. Ms Sturgeon hit out at their comments. She said opposition politicians want to put across the message that Scotland, uniquely among all the countries in the world, would be incapable of having a currency policy. Mike Russell has said he is determined to ensure a Scottish citizens assembly is representative of society. The Constitutional Relations Secretary told MSPs he visited Ireland last week to consider the model of assemblies set up there. His trip came after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said a citizens assembly would be set up to consider issues such as what kind of country Scotland should be. It followed her announcement that plans for a second Scottish independence referendum would be pursued within the next two years if the UK quits the European Union. NS: So, I can confirm that the Scottish Government will establish a Citizens Assembly. The SNP (@theSNP) April 24, 2019 The EU exit experience has shown the weakness in the current devolution settlement and the UKs constitutional arrangements more widely, Mr Russell said. We must consider the best way forward for Scotland in light of that experience. In doing so, we want to avoid the division created over EU exit. Thats why the First Minister announced we would establish a Citizens Assembly to consider the best way forward for Scotland. Mr Russell added he hoped parties from across the chamber would take part in discussions over the design of an assembly. He said he would write to party leaders inviting them to do so. Mike Russell speaks in the main chamber at the Scottish Parliament (Jane Barlow/PA) Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone urged Mr Russell to give his backing to ensuring the assemblys diversity. Ms Johnstone said: A citizens assembly of course should represent the demographics of the whole population in a way that, as yet, this Parliament has failed to do. So will the Cabinet Secretary be considering ensuring a diversity of assembly that can properly consider all perspectives and help deliver a real, meaningful outcome? Mr Russell responded: The establishment of a citizens assembly should endeavour to establish a body for a particular purpose, and that purpose mustnt be too wide, but it must be representative of society. And there are a number of ways in which that can be done. It was an issue in both the Constitutional Convention in Ireland and in the Citizens Assembly in Ireland. How do you do so? Its a very hard thing to do because you are trying to balance demography, youre trying to balance geography, youre trying to balance sexual interests and a variety of minorities and majorities. It will require a lot of work by us and I hope it will be a task that all the parties will find themselves involved in to do that. He added: But I am determined that the citizens assembly, which we will establish and I hope will be meeting by the autumn of this year, I am determined that it should represent in that way, and there are a number of ways to do so, and Id be happy to discuss with other parties about how we are trying to do that and to seek the input of other parties in their views about how we should do that. And finally: we need a citizens assembly to ask what kind of country we are seeking to build. We have one. Its the Scottish Parliament. And it should be spending its time on building Scottish education, health, economic growthand not on chasing the SNPs indy unicorns Ends Adam Tomkins (@ProfTomkins) April 24, 2019 Scottish Tory MSP Adam Tomkins asked Mr Russell what the costs would be of establishing a citizens assembly. Mr Russell said: That will depend on the design of the assembly, which I wish to discuss with party representatives and to get their views. We certainly have learned from the Irish experience it should be an open and transparent process. All details, including costs, will be published in full as the process goes forward. Later, Mr Tomkins tweeted that the country already had a citizens assembly in the form of the Scottish Parliament. Royal baby Archie had his grandfather smiling when the Prince of Wales was congratulated by well-wishers on the birth. Charles was happy to chat about his grandson when he stopped to greet a group of tourists during his visit to a centuries-old monastic site in Irelands Wicklow mountains. The Duchess of Cornwall described the Duke and Duchess of Sussexs son as still very little during a visit to the Republics oldest working mill in Avoca Village, Co Wicklow. Camilla is shown a loom at Avoca Mill (Neil Hall/PA) Heir to the throne Charles, making his fifth visit to Ireland in as many years, visited Meghan and Harrys baby son with Camilla soon after they returned from a tour of Germany. Charles stopped to speak to a group of American and Australian tourists who called out to him as he visited the Glendalough Monastic Site. Congratulations on the birth of your new baby grandson, said a woman who was visiting from Australia. Oh, youre very kind, a smiling Charles replied. The Prince of Wales then visited Glendalough Monastic Site. #RoyalVisitIreland Most of the buildings that survive today in this early Christian monastic settlement date from the 10th-12th centuries. pic.twitter.com/gbhk9YXUwg The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) May 21, 2019 Camilla spoke about Harry and Meghans baby when she met wellwisher Jo Wallace, who handed the duchess a bouquet of flowers at the mill. Ms Wallace, who was with her own grandchildren, said: Congratulations on your grandchild, the new one, as the pair shook hands. The duchess replied: Yes, the new one indeed, hes still very little. The Prince of Wales visits the Irelands largest National Park, Wicklow Mountains. At Upper Lake, His Royal Highness hears about the parks conservation and education work. #RoyalVisitIreland pic.twitter.com/QROmz7d0iK The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) May 21, 2019 Charles met a group of local children who were cataloguing moths caught overnight on the shores of the picturesque areas upper lake Aaron Conway, 12, said: He was saying about how he likes the environment and that it was really fascinating all the different moths we were identifying. The prince was also taken with a mountain rescue dog called Rowan, a three-year-old collie cross, who was with his handler Sheelagh OMalley, from Glen of Imaal Wicklow Mountain Rescue. Meeting Rowan Dublin and Wicklow Mountain Rescues newly recruited search and rescue dog. #RoyalVisitIreland pic.twitter.com/7Im58468QA The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) May 21, 2019 She said: He seemed more interested in the dog, hes a real dog person but he is a very cute dog, I have to say. Hes got a massive work ethic, when I put on his mountain rescue jacket he knows its time for work and when and take it off he relaxes. Before leaving the area, Charles went on a brief walkabout and was surrounded by walkers who had gathered nearby when they realised he was visiting. Steps taken by devolved administrations to mitigate the worst impacts of UK austerity come at a price and are not sustainable, according to a report commissioned by the UN. On Wednesday, the UNs special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Professor Philip Alston, published his findings following an investigation into poverty across the UK. Prof Alston visited the UK in November and toured towns and cities across the country before outlining his preliminary findings. My final report on poverty in the #UK is now available online. I found that the Government is doubling down on anti-poor policies that have led to the systematic immiseration of millions across Great Britain: https://t.co/Uznr6M3EP4 #UKPoverty pic.twitter.com/MoIFDWPYOq Philip Alston (@PhilipGAlston) May 22, 2019 He described it at the time as an outrage that devolved administrations were having to spend resources to shield people from UK Government policies. In his final report, Prof Alston concluded that the Scottish Government had reached the limit for what it can afford to mitigate. He wrote: Devolved administrations have tried to mitigate the worst impacts of austerity, despite experiencing significant reductions in block grant funding and constitutional limits on their ability to raise revenue. Scotland and Northern Ireland each report spending some 125 million per year to protect people from the worst impacts of austerity and, unlike the United Kingdom Government, the three devolved administrations all provide welfare funds for emergencies and hardships. But mitigation comes at a price, and is not sustainable. The Scottish Government said it had reached the limit of what it can afford to mitigate, because every pound spent on offsetting cuts means reducing vital services. The mitigation package in Northern Ireland runs out in 2020, leaving vulnerable people facing a cliff edge scenario. For devolved administrations to have to spend resources to shield people from Government policies is a powerful indictment. Special rapporteur on extreme poverty Philip Alston met with children in Scotland during his visit to the UK in November (UN/PA) Prof Alston described Scottish Government schemes for addressing poverty, including the Fairer Scotland Action Plan and the Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan, as ambitious, and called the establishment of a new social security system promising. Noting that the system aims to make benefits equally accessible, he indicated it is too soon to say whether these steps and Scotlands new powers of taxation will make a difference for people in poverty. He added: If the compelling recommendations made by the First Ministers Advisory Group on Human Rights Leadership are adopted, and if the Scottish Government acts swiftly on its commitment to incorporate the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scottish law, these steps will make a huge difference. Prof Alston also indicated that the UK has violated its human rights obligations through sustained and widespread cuts to social support, and said policies of austerity introduced in 2010 continue largely unabated, despite the tragic social consequences. The Department for Work and Pensions branded the report a barely believable documentation of Britain and said it painted a completely inaccurate picture of its approach to tackling poverty. The report calls on the UK Government to reverse particularly regressive measures such as the benefit freeze, the two-child limit, the benefit cap, and reduction in housing benefit. It also recommends restoring local government funding to provide social protection and tackle poverty. Prof Alston said the policies pursued since 2010 amounted to a clear violation of the UKs human rights obligations. He added: Considering the significant resources available in the country and the sustained and widespread cuts to social support, which have resulted in significantly worse outcomes, the policies pursued since 2010 amount to retrogressive measures in clear violation of the countrys human rights obligations. The DWP said it was spending 95 billion a year on welfare and maintains a state pension system that supports people into retirement. A spokeswoman added: The UNs own data shows the UK is one of the happiest places in the world to live, and other countries have come here to find out more about how we support people to improve their lives. Therefore this is a barely believable documentation of Britain, based on a tiny period of time spent here. It paints a completely inaccurate picture of our approach to tackling poverty. All the evidence shows that full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our welfare reforms are focused on supporting people into employment and we introduced the National Living Wage, so people earn more in work. Bruce Adamson, Children and Young Peoples Commissioner for Scotland, said the report was damning. He said: It isnt acceptable that a quarter of children in Scotland are living in poverty. The international community is watching and raising serious questions as to why in such a rich country we have such high levels of poverty. Next month, the United Nations Human Rights Council will be demanding those answers. The Special Rapporteur has highlighted the need for the Scottish Government to move swiftly on its commitment to incorporate the Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scottish law, which will make a huge difference to children experiencing poverty MANILA, May 22 (Reuters) - The Philippines has passed a law exempting gold sales by small-scale miners to the central bank from excise and income taxes to beef up the country's foreign exchange reserves and prevent smuggling, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said on Wednesday. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte signed the law into effect on March 29, the central bank said in a statement. By law, all gold produced by small miners in the Philippines should be sold to the central bank at around world market prices. However, miners have circumvented taxes introduced in 2011 by selling gold on the black market. Gold sold to the central bank fell 99 percent to 10,000 fine troy ounces this year from more than 900,000 fine troy ounces in 2010 because of taxes imposed in 2011, government data showed. An increase in the country's gross international reserves will improve the country's economic standing and lower the government and the private sector's cost of funding, the central bank said as a reason for the exemption. This should more than offset the 35 million pesos ($666,793) the government expects to lose annually in foregone revenues from the tax exemptions. The tax exemption also includes the sale of gold by small-scale miners to accredited traders, which then sell the precious metal to the central bank. Gold accounted for nearly 10% of the country's gross international reserves of $83.96 billion at end April. ($1 = 52.4900 Philippine pesos) (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; editing by Christian Schmollinger) CAPE TOWN, May 22 (Reuters) - South Africa's deputy president, David Mabuza, will not be sworn in as a lawmaker on Wednesday after requesting a postponement to address allegations he brought the ruling African National Congress (ANC) into disrepute, president Cyril Ramaphosa said. Ramaphosa, who is also the leader of the ANC, is due to be elected on Wednesday by the 400 lawmakers in parliament's National Assembly and lower house, where his party holds the majority. He will be inaugurated on Saturday. The ANC easily won South Africa's May 8 general election but its share of the vote fell, reflecting anger at corruption scandals and racial inequalities that remain entrenched a generation after the party took power. Mabuza, the former premier of Mpumalanga, a coal-producing northeastern province, has struggled to shrug off longstanding allegations of corruption there. A report by the ANC's Integrity Commission suggested he had brought the party into disrepute. "The deputy president has indicated he would like to have an opportunity to address... these allegations," said Ramaphosa in an ANC statement. "The deputy president believes that the ANC as a governing party should advance the electoral mandate in an environment of public trust." Mabuza played a key role in ensuring Ramaphosa was elected in a tight contest to take over from scandal-plagued predecessor Jacob Zuma at the ANC's election conference in December 2017. (Reporting by Wendell Roelf Editing by Peter Graff) By Tommy Wilkes LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - Euro zone safe-haven bond yields dipped on Wednesday as trade tensions between China and the United States and renewed political uncertainty around Britain's exit from the European Union kept investors on edge. Washington's temporary relaxation of curbs against China's Huawei Technologies has failed to offset deeper worries about an intensifying trade war between the world's two largest economies. Adding to the nervousness, British Prime Minister Theresa May's last-ditch attempt on Wednesday to deliver a Brexit deal was widely panned by lawmakers, setting Britain on course for another period of uncertainty and worrying investors who do not know when or whether the United Kingdom will leave the EU. "The tone of re-nervousness has come from two sources. The re-escalation of the trade war....and the tensions around the Brexit vote," said Matthew Cairns, a fixed income strategist at Rabobank. However, Cairns described the nervousness as limited on Wednesday, with investors cautious ahead of European parliament elections beginning on Thursday. The 10-year German bund yield, the go-to safe-haven bond when investors are jittery, dropped more than one basis point to -0.07%. The yield has risen from 2-1/2 year lows, of -0.13%, hit earlier this month, but few investors and analysts believe it can rise back into positive territory. "10-year Bund yields are pinned down and we don't see them going anywhere soon," Cairns said, adding that Rabobank had an end-year forecast for the 10-year yield of -0.20%. French and Dutch government bond yields were also marginally lower in early European trade. Portugal hopes to raise 2 billion yuan from a Chinese yuan-denominated Panda bond - the first to be launched by a euro zone country. The country's finance minister said late on Wednesday Portugal expects to price the bond on May. 30. Elsewhere, Italian yields fell, helped by recent opinion polls that suggest deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini's far-right party may not do as well at Thursday's European parliamentary elections as previously thought. Investors are concerned a strong showing for Salvini - as well as other populist parties across Europe - will lead to another showdown between Rome and Brussels over Italy's budget plans. Italian 10-year yields fell 1 basis point to 2.632% , while the 2-year yield dropped 2 bps to 0.585% . Investors had dumped Italian bonds last week, concerned about comments from Salvini that the indebted euro zone member would breach European fiscal rules, but have tiptoed back into the market this week. (Editing by Toby Chopra) By Beh Lih Yi GEORGE TOWN, Malaysia, May 22 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - T he faded white walls and wooden door of Fong Lai Kheng's hair salon in the heart of Malaysia's George Town stand out on a street lined with souvenir shops, cafes and colourful murals. But not for much longer. After a four-fold increase in her rent in just five years, Fong is planning to shut her business when the lease expires this year after five decades - joining an exodus of residents and traditional traders. The Malaysian port city of George Town became a UNESCO world heritage site in 2008, but since then an influx of tourists and rising rents have pushed out residents and the businesses that served them. "What else can we do?" said Fong between washing and drying the hair of one of her regular customers. "There are many others who are eager to rent even if I don't. I just have to pack my bags and retire." Once an important trading hub, George Town in the northern Malaysian state of Penang is a melting pot of Malaysia's rich cultural diversity, where British colonial buildings sit alongside Chinese shophouses, mosques and Hindu shrines. Since winning world heritage status, it has become one of Asia's best-known tourist spots, attracting 3.8 million visitors in 2018 - more than double 2007 levels, official data show. But as with other world heritage sites - from Venice to Vietnam's Hoi An - there are fears the city could become a victim of its own success as the onslaught of tourists and exodus of residents threatens its unique character. 'DISNEYLAND' Eager to find ways of repopulating the city, the council is refurbishing six dilapidated pre-war shophouses, aiming to draw a new generation of residents - students and tech-savvy entrepreneurs - into the heart of the city. The new scheme is inspired by co-living spaces in crowded, expensive cities from London to Hong Kong, with tenants sharing a kitchen and living room. They will follow the traditional design, with shops on the ground floor and living quarters above. George Town's Mayor Yew Tung Seang, who is spearheading the pilot scheme, hopes it will boost affordability and help to attract young tenants who would not otherwise have been able to move to the city. "Everything was converted into hotel, hotel, hotel - it became a tourist town," Yew told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. "Eventually what we are hoping to see is a vibrant city where people stay in the city." The population of George Town has been falling since 2000 when rent control laws were repealed, causing some rents to triple, according to a report by the government-linked Khazanah Research Institute. The number of permanent residents in the city almost halved between 2007 and 2009 to just 10,000 as owners of heritage properties sold or renovated them to fetch higher rents, the report said. The number of hotels in the city meanwhile rose nearly 60 percent between 2009 and 2013. No figure for the current population is available. "Co-living and co-working is not easy to succeed, I know that," said Yew. "Our ultimate idea is that people will move back to George Town and stay here." The scheme to repopulate George Town will also be tested on another row of 10 privately-owned shophouses, where 17 rooms are up for rent as commercial spaces for technology-related events such as coding boot camps. Owner Yeap Leong Huat, a businessman, said he hoped the project would be a "catalyst for change" and inspire other private owners to do the same. "George Town is an old town. We have the romance of the past, but we want to show that there is the power of the future in this old city too," said entrepreneur Howie Chang, who is managing the 10 shophouses. But activists fighting to save George Town's heritage were sceptical that such projects would draw people back into the city. "It's too little too late," said Mark Lay, a New Zealander who has lived in the city since 2012 and co-founded the non-profit George Town Heritage Action Group. He said the city was rapidly losing its intangible heritage - the traditional traders who have been forced out - while lax law enforcement meant heritage buildings were being demolished or renovated without adhering to conservation guidelines. He said the government should prioritise existing residents struggling to live in the city due to high costs, including by improving public services and access to financial aid, as well as capping the number of hotels. "If the government takes care of the locals, everything else will fit in. Tourists can see what the authorities are doing - this is just turning into a fake Disneyland." 'NO SOLUTIONS' The transformation into a tourist town has also left visitors disappointed, according to Joann Khaw, a tour guide of over 25 years and a heritage conservation campaigner. In recent years, Khaw has had to venture further away from the heritage area to cater to demand from tourists who ask to see the more authentic side of local life. "How many residents are there left? These are all trinket shops, cafes, guest houses and bars. The tourists would tell me, 'we have this at home, we don't need to come all the way to see this'," she said. Asked about the concerns, UNESCO said by email that it was "following up on conservation issues" with Malaysian authorities. Even Penang's Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said projects such as the refurbishment of old shophouses were "a drop in the ocean". "Even if (the project) is successful, that shophouse will no longer have the same trade (as) before it was refurbished," said Chow in an interview. The street where the leader himself grew up is now lined with trinket shops and cafes, including one inspired by the "Harry Potter" novels. "It's difficult, it's very challenging - probably no solutions. The city will transform itself - slowly but surely - and lose the universal values that earned us the UNESCO listing. That is a big challenge. "The old George Town will be lost, bit by bit," he said. (Reporting by Beh Lih Yi @behlihyi; Editing by Claire Cozens. Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's and LGBT+ rights, human trafficking, property rights, and climate change. Visit http://news.trust.org) COPENHAGEN, May 22 (Reuters) - Numerous British expatriates say they are being prevented from voting in this week's European election because they didn't receive their ballot papers in time. Europeans go to the polls on May 23-26 to elect members of the European Parliament. Britain will vote on Thursday, and Britons living abroad who registered in advance for a postal vote must have returned their ballot papers by then. "I didn't receive my ballot papers until two days before the election, nowhere near enough time to get my vote back to the UK by normal post," Rosie Sharpe, a Briton working in Copenhagen as a campaigner for environmental organizations, told Reuters on Wednesday. Sharpe and her partner received their ballot papers only on Tuesday even though they were posted via Royal Mail on May 10. Instead she paid 370 Danish crowns ($55) to send the ballot back by courier, she said. Sending a letter from Denmark to the UK by normal mail normally takes at least a week. In France, numerous British expats took to social media too to complain about being denied an opportunity to vote in the election because of delays to receiving their postal ballot. "Not received in France. My postal vote was not issued to Royal Mail until 13th May, so even if it had arrived I'd be pushed to get it back on time," Twitter user @TheGrenobleGirl posted on Wednesday. The BBC reported earlier on Wednesday that British expats living in France had encountered similar problems because some local councils in the UK had used a postal service called Adare, rather than Royal Mail. Adare told BBC that all ballots were posted "in line with the election and council timetables." About 785,000 British citizens live in other EU countries, according to the latest Eurostat data. "A large proportion of them are likely to be 'remain' supporters," Sharpe said, referring people who want the UK to remain part of the EU. "Given that remain and leave parties are currently neck-and-neck in the polls, it is an enormous problem if some of those Brits have been disenfranchised," she said. The UK Electoral Commission said in an emailed response it "has no involvement in the distribution of postal votes at this election (and that) each local council is responsible for maintaining the electoral register in their area." ($1 = 6.6854 Danish crowns) (Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen in Copenhagen and Richard Lough in Paris; Additional reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in London, Editing by William Maclean) Photo: The Canadian Press Daniel Curtin, left, a member of the California- High Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors, talks with Thomas Richards, vice chairman of the board of directors, following a board meeting Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in Sacramento, Calif. California has sued to block the Trump Administration from cancelling nearly $1 billion for the state's high-speed rail project. The lawsuit field Tuesday May 21, 2019 comes after the administration revoked the funding last week. California sued Tuesday to block the Trump administration from cancelling nearly $1 billion for the state's high-speed rail project, escalating the state's feud with the federal government. The Federal Railroad Administration announced last week it would not give California the money awarded by Congress nearly a decade ago, arguing that the state has not made enough progress on the project. The state must complete construction on a segment of track in the Central Valley agricultural heartland by 2022 to keep the money, and the administration has argued the state cannot meet that deadline. That line of track would be the first built on what the state hopes will eventually become a 520-mile (837-kilometre) line between San Francisco and Los Angeles. But Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom says the move is retribution for California's criticism of President Donald Trump's immigration policies. "The decision was precipitated by President Trump's overt hostility to California, its challenge to his border wall initiatives, and what he called the "green disaster" high-speed rail project," the state said in the lawsuit. California was not expected to tap the $929 million the Trump administration has revoked until 2021. If the lawsuit is not resolved before then, the election could put Democrats in the White House and Congress who may be friendlier to the project. The lawsuit faulted the Trump administration for halting co-operation with the state on granting environmental clearances for the project. It said terminating the funding would "wreak significant economic damage on the Central Valley and the state." Newsom told reporters the administration is "after us in every way, shape or form." But he expressed confidence the state will win in court. "Principles and values tend to win out over short-term tweets," Newsom said. The lawsuit highlighted a series of tweets Trump sent about the project, including one that said California's rail project would be far more expensive than Trump's proposed border wall. That tweet came a day after California led 15 states in suing over Trump's plans to fund the border wall, and hours before the administration first threatened to revoke the rail funding. The Federal Railroad Administration did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment about California's lawsuit. California has worked for more than a decade on the project to bring high-speed rail service between Los Angeles and San Francisco, but the project has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. It's now projected to cost around $77 billion and be finished by 2033. The state has already spent $2.5 billion in federal funding, and the Trump administration is exploring whether it can try to get that money back. The lawsuit also asks the court to block the administration from awarding the money to any other project. The lawsuit was filed in the Northern District of California. The dispute over the funding was partly driven by Newsom's remarks in February that the project faced challenges and needed to shift focus. Rail officials had been planning to connect the line under construction in the Central Valley to Silicon Valley, but Newsom has proposed extending the line further north and south into the valley before heading west. By Francesco Canepa and Balazs Koranyi FRANKFURT, May 22 (Reuters) - European bank supervisors think Italy's long-struggling Banca Carige should be closed if it can't find a buyer, contrary to Rome's plan for a state rescue, four sources close to the matter said. Carige's case, the latest in a series of bank crises in an Italian economy still reeling from the last recession, is likely to once again pit Rome's anti-establishment government against the European Central Bank in Frankfurt after skirmishes on the euro. The sources said supervisors had no immediate plan to pull the plug on Carige and still hope the bank, which has been marred by years of maladministration and a stagnant economy in its domestic region of Liguria, can find an investor. But the watchdogs see a liquidation of the bank as the logical next step if no savior materializes, according to the sources. They did not lay out any specific timeframe for how long supervisors were prepared to wait for a buyer to emerge, though one source said they were not prepared to wait months. An ECB spokeswoman said: "This is speculation. ECB Banking Supervision is fully relying on the temporary administrators to pursue their efforts to find a private solution." Italy, which has the second largest public debt in the euro zone after Greece, has spent 20 billion euros to prop up its ailing banks since 2017. While Carige is not big enough to pose a threat to the country's financial stability, its woes highlight the persistence of trouble spots in the banking industry more than a decade on from the global financial crisis. Winding down Carige would allow the government to take on the bank's bad assets while carving out the good ones for a rival to pick up on the cheap - as happened to two banks in the Veneto region in 2017. However this would be an embarrassment for Italy's ruling coalition of the anti-establishment Five-Star Movement and the right-wing League. The parties, who attacked the country's previous administration over its handling of banking crises, have so far resisted the option and instead raised the prospect of a capital injection by the state. But the sources said Carige was likely too small to qualify for such a "precautionary recapitalisation," which requires approval from the ECB and the European Commission. One of sources said Carige was not viable as a standalone business in the long run. Two other sources said a liquidation was the best option for Carige in light of the successful precedent in Veneto and the Genoa-based bank's relatively small size and limited geographic footprint. An Italian Treasury spokeswoman rejected the view that Carige may not be viable and that as such a precautionary recapitalisation would not be possible. Carige declined to comment. CAPITAL HOLE The euro zone's top 117 banks are overseen by the Single Supervisory Mechanism, which includes the ECB and national watchdogs from the area's 19 countries. While the supervisors can't force Carige to close, they can block a state capital injection and deem the bank to be failing, which could start the process of it being wound down. Carige is one of several smaller banks struggling with bad loans and resistant to consolidation in Italy, the euro zone's third-biggest economy. Its biggest investor - the Malacalza family of steel entrepreneurs - voted against a capital increase last year, leading the ECB to place the bank under special administration in January. Since then the Genoa-based bank has failed to fill a 630-million euro capital hole, most recently missing a mid-May deadline set by the ECB after U.S. fund giant BlackRock walked away from a planned rescue bid, deeming it too risky. The bank's ECB-appointed administrators say they're still looking for a private investor while the government has already paved the ground for a precautionary recapitalisation with 1 billion euros of taxpayer money. Bankers say Carige has some attractive assets, including up to 700 million euros of potential tax credits stemming from past losses that a bigger buyer could take advantage of, 12 billion euros worth of customer deposits and a private banking business. But the bank has little subordinated debt outstanding after swapping it for senior notes at steep losses for investors in late 2017. In 2016, Italy's government of the time recapitalised the country's third-largest lender, Monte dei Paschi di Siena but that failed to draw a line under the Tuscan bank's woes. The following year the government paid 5.2 billion euros ($5.8 billion) to Intesa Sanpaolo, Italy's top retail bank, for buying the two Veneto banks, while taking on their bad assets and imposing losses on junior bondholders. (Additional reporting by Andrea Mandala and Silvia Aloisi in Milan, and Giuseppe Fonte and Stefano Bernabei in Rome; Editing by Pravin Char) By Humeyra Pamuk WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan and U.S. President Donald Trump may soon have a face-to-face meeting, either in Turkey or on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan next month, a senior Turkish official said on Wednesday. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said Erdogan had invited Trump to Turkey and that there were "positive signals" the American president would accept the invitation. "We are working on the calendar now," the official said. "We have some positive signals but the time has not been scheduled yet. They may meet on the margins of G20 in Japan as well," he said. "For a bilateral visit, we are waiting for an exact date." The United States and Turkey have been at loggerheads recently, primarily due to Ankara's planned purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, which Washington says are incompatible with the NATO defense network and would pose a threat to U.S. F-35 stealth fighter jets which Turkey also plans to buy. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and several prominent U.S. senators have warned Turkey it will face penalties for buying the S-400s, under legislation which calls for sanctions against countries procuring military equipment from Russia. Turkey says as a NATO member it poses no threat to the United States and the sanctions should not apply. Investors have been keeping an eye out for a potential meeting between the two presidents because Turkey's hopes of avoiding punishing U.S. sanctions have increasingly appeared dependent on a potential intervention from Trump. Turkey's finance minister Berat Albayrak, who is also Erdogan's son-in-law, in April met with Trump and his son-in-law and White House adviser Jared Kushner on the issue. Few details of the meeting have emerged, but Turkish media quoted Albayrak as saying Trump had a "positive understanding ... regarding Turkey's needs for the S-400s." (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien) 10 hours ago US steps up probe into Hyundai-Kia engine failures and fires DETROIT (AP) U.S. auto safety regulators have stepped up a series of investigations into engine fires that have plagued Hyundai and Kia vehicles for more than six years. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says a new engineering analysis investigation covers more than 3 million vehicles from the 2011 through 2016 model years. Read Article JPMorgan Alerian MLP Index ETN's stock was trading at $11.98 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus (COVID-19) reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, AMJ shares have increased by 46.5% and is now trading at $17.55. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Lloyds Banking Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of banking and financial services in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through three segments: Retail; Commercial Banking; and Insurance and Wealth. 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The company offers its products and services under the Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows, MBNA, Schroders Personal Wealth, Black Horse, Lex Autolease, Birmingham Midshires, LDC, IWeb, and Agricultural Mortgage Corporation brands. Lloyds Banking Group plc was founded in 1695 and is headquartered in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Plains GP Holdings LP owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and provides logistics services primarily for crude oil, natural gas liquids and natural gas through its indirect investment in Plains All American Pipeline, L.P. The firm operates through the following segments: Transportation, Facilities and Supply and Logistics. The Transportation segment consists of fee-based activities associated with transporting crude oil and NGL on pipelines, gathering systems, trucks and barges. The Facilities segment consists of fee-based activities associated with providing storage, terminalling and throughput services primarily for crude oil, NGL and natural gas, as well as NGL fractionation and isomerization services and natural gas and condensate processing services. The Supply and Logistics segment consists of storage of inventory during contango market conditions and the seasonal storage of NGL, purchase of NGL from producers, refiners, processors and other marketers, extraction of NGL from gas processed at the facilities. Plains GP Holdings LP was founded in July 2013 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Read More Photo: The Canadian Press Sheriff Mike Milstead talks to the press about an officer-involved shooting outside the Minnehaha County Jail on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Authorities say a man was shot outside of a South Dakota jail after he charged at officers with a knife. Minnehaha County Sheriff Mike Milstead says authorities responded to gunshots just after 3 p.m. Tuesday. Milstead says a deputy fired two shots, and at least one hit the 44-year-old suspect. Jail Warden Jeff Gromer says a man holding a glass bottle approached the jail lobby and was hitting the bottle against the lobby window when security asked for police help. Gromer says the men threw either a rock or the bottle through the jail door, injuring one officer with broken glass. Gromer says the man charged officers with a knife and was shot. The man was taken to a hospital. The Argus Leader reports the courthouse and the jail were put on lockdown. American Cannabis Company, Inc., together with its subsidiary, Hollister & Blacksmith, Inc., doing business as American Cannabis Consulting, provides solutions for businesses operating in the regulated cannabis industry in the United States and Canada. The company offers advisory and consulting services, including commercial cannabis business planning, cannabis business license application, cultivation build-out oversight, cannabis regulatory compliance, compliance audit, cannabis business growth strategy, and cannabis business monitoring services. It also sells products and equipment used in the cultivation, processing, transportation, or retail sale of cannabis, such as The Satchel, a pouch-like case designed as a child-proof exit package solution for the regulated cannabis industry; SoHum Living Soil, a just-add-water soil; High Density Racking System, which ensures that space is used in an efficient manner; The Cultivation Cube, a self-contained and scalable cultivation system; and other products for cultivation operations, medicinal and recreational cannabis dispensary operations, and infused-products. In addition, the company designs industry-specific products; and offers exclusive and non-exclusive customer products. American Cannabis Company, Inc. is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Fluor: 202 Maintenance Services LLC, 3Angle B.V., 3Angle EPCM V.O.F., 684033 N.B. Ltd., AAR 2007 Limited, ADP Marshall Contractors Inc., ADP/FD of Nevada Inc., AG&P Fluor Joint Venture Company Inc., AJS V.O.F., AMECO COLOMBIA S.A.S., AMECO Caribbean Inc., AMECO Holdings Inc., AMECO PANAMA S.A., AMECO Peru S.R. L., AMECO Project Services Inc., AMECO Services Inc., ATCO Fluor Support Solutions Ltd., Acqyre B.V., Agensi Pekerjaan TRS Malaysia SDN. BHD., Ameco Chile S.A., Ameco Equipment Services Inc., Ameco Inc., Ameco Mexico Administracion y Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Ameco Pty. Ltd., Ameco Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Ameco Services S. de R.L. de C.V., American Bridge/Fluor Enterprises Inc. A Joint Venture, American Construction Equipment Company Inc., American Equipment Company Inc., Arbeitsgemeinschaft BAB A S Ausbau Augsburg - Munchen, Asset Management Solutions S.A.S., B.C. Mining Joint Venture, Bellefonte Construction Services LLC, Bouwcombinatie Sluizen 4-5-6 V.O.F., Brady-Fluor LLC, CEJV Ingenieria y Construccion Limitada, CGF Projects Ghana Limited, COOEC-Fluor Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., CSP EG S.L., Canadian National Energy Alliance Ltd., Cascadia Monorail Company LLC, Cavendish Fluor Partnership Limited, Cibolo Creek Infrastructure Joint Venture, Colorado River Constructors JV, Compania Minera San Jose Del Peru S.A., ConOps Construction Ltd., Connect 202 Partners LLC, Consorcio Generation P135 MASA-VEPICA, Consorcio Grupo Stork, Consorcio KGM JV, Consorcio MASARTEC POWER JV, Consorcio Stork Y Masa JV, Consorcio Turnaround Alliance JV, Consorsio MSC JV, Consorsio Stork-TMI, Contingent Mission Sustainment Inc., Cooperheat Franchising B.V., Cooperheat GmbH, Cooperheat Saudi Arabia Company Limited, Corrosion Inspection & Integrity Services Sdn. Bhd., Crown Energy, D/FD Operating Services LLC, DAX Industries Inc., DSC Maintenance V.O.F., Daniel International Corporation, Dean / Fluor LLC, Del-Jen Inc., Denver Transit Constructors LLC, Denver Transit Holdings LLC, Denver Transit Operators LLC, Denver Transit Partners LLC, Denver Transit Systems LLC, Desarrolladora De Etileno S. de R.L. de C.V., Dominican Republic Combined Cycle LLC, Duke Fluor Daniel, Duke/Fluor Daniel, Duke/Fluor Daniel Caribbean S.E., Duke/Fluor Daniel International, Duke/Fluor Daniel International Services, Duke/Fluor Daniel International Services (Trinidad) Limited, Duke/Fluor Daniel LLC, EQIN B.V., EQIN Industrial B.V., EQIN N.V., ESSI LLC, Efdee Connecticut Architects Inc., Efdee Engineering Professional Corporation, Efdee Mississippi Architects A Professional Corporation, Efdee New York Engineers & Architects P.C., Elgin RBG (Pty) Limited, Empresa Constructora Fluor Salfa SGO Limitada, Encee Architecture Services P.C., Energy Resourcing Limited, Etileno XXI Contractors SAPI, Etileno XXI Services B.V., Europea de Ingenieria y Asesoramiento, Evergreen Equipment and Personnel Leasing Inc., FBT Services Inc., FCI/Fluor/Parsons a Joint Venture, FD Architects & Engineers Corporation, FDEE Consulting Inc., FDH JV, FDH JV KNPC AZRP/ZOR, FDHM Inc., FHdB LLC, FIID LLC, FLAG Joint Venture, FLUOR M Ltd., FM Operating Services LLC, FMC Holding Company LLC, FPMM XXK (FPMM LLC), FWPJV Limited, Federal Maintenance Logistics Solutions LLC, Fluor (China) Engineering and Construction Co. Ltd., Fluor (Nigeria) Limited, Fluor A&E Services Inc., Fluor A27/A1 B.V., Fluor AMEC II LLC, Fluor Aker Solutions Indonesia JV, Fluor Alaska Inc., Fluor Americas Inc., Fluor Arabia Limited, Fluor Argentina Inc., Fluor Argentina Inc. Sucursal Argentina, Fluor Australia Pty Ltd., Fluor B.V., Fluor BC Ltd., Fluor BNA GP Inc., Fluor BNA Holdco Inc., Fluor BNA O&M GP Inc., Fluor BNA O&M USA LLC, Fluor Boke Inc., Fluor Brasil Ltda., Fluor Brasil Servicos de Engenharia Ltda, Fluor Canada Ltd., Fluor Caspian Services Limited, Fluor Cebu Inc., Fluor Central Asia LLP, Fluor Chile Inc., Fluor Chile Ingenieria y Construccion S.A., Fluor Colombia Limited, Fluor ConOps Limited, Fluor Construction Services Pty Ltd., Fluor Constructors Canada Ltd., Fluor Constructors International. Inc., Fluor Consultants B.V., Fluor Craft Services Inc., Fluor Daniel (Japan) Inc., Fluor Daniel (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Fluor Daniel Asia Inc., Fluor Daniel Brasil Ltda., Fluor Daniel Caribbean Inc., Fluor Daniel China Inc., Fluor Daniel China Services Inc., Fluor Daniel Coal Services International Inc., Fluor Daniel Construction Company, Fluor Daniel Development Corporation, Fluor Daniel E&C LLC, Fluor Daniel Eastern Inc., Fluor Daniel Engineering Inc., Fluor Daniel Engineers & Constructors Inc., Fluor Daniel Engineers & Constructors Ltd., Fluor Daniel Engineers & Consultants Ltd., Fluor Daniel Engineers SA (PTY) Limited, Fluor Daniel Espana S.A., Fluor Daniel Eurasia Inc., Fluor Daniel Global Limited, Fluor Daniel Global Services Limited, Fluor Daniel Holdings Canada Inc., Fluor Daniel Holdings Inc., Fluor Daniel Illinois Inc., Fluor Daniel Inc. Philippines, Fluor Daniel India Inc., Fluor Daniel India Private Limited, Fluor Daniel International (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Fluor Daniel International Services Inc., Fluor Daniel Latin America Inc., Fluor Daniel Maintenance Services Inc., Fluor Daniel Mexico S.A., Fluor Daniel Mining & Metals Ltd., Fluor Daniel Modesto Inc., Fluor Daniel Nigeria Limited, Fluor Daniel Overseas Inc., Fluor Daniel P.R.C. Ltd., Fluor Daniel Pacific Inc., Fluor Daniel Pulp & Paper Inc., Fluor Daniel Services Corporation, Fluor Daniel South America Limited, Fluor Daniel Technical Services Inc., Fluor Daniel Venture Group Inc., Fluor Daniel a Professional Architectural Corporation, Fluor Daniel-AMEC Philippines Inc., Fluor Daniels Holdings (Botswana) (Pty) Limited, Fluor Driver Inc., Fluor Energy Technology Services LLC, Fluor Engenharia e Projetos S.A., Fluor Engineering Corporation, Fluor Engineering N.V., Fluor Engineering Solutions Ltd., Fluor Enterprises Group Inc., Fluor Enterprises Inc., Fluor Europe B.V.IIIIIX, Fluor Facility & Plant Services Inc., Fluor Federal Global Projects Inc., Fluor Federal Inc., Fluor Federal Petroleum Operations LLC, Fluor Federal Services Inc., Fluor Federal Services LLC, Fluor Federal Services NWS Inc., Fluor Fernald Inc., Fluor Finance International B.V./S.a.r.l., Fluor Finance U.S. Inc., Fluor Flatiron Balfour Beatty Dragados DBJV, Fluor Global Plant Services (Proprietary) Ltd., Fluor Global Services Australia Pty Ltd., Fluor GmbH, Fluor Government Group International Inc., Fluor Government Group Canada Inc., Fluor Guinea Inc., Fluor HDR Global Design Consultants LLC, Fluor Hanford Inc., Fluor Heavy Civil LLC, Fluor Holding Company LLC, Fluor Idaho LLC, Fluor Industrial Construction Corp., Fluor Industrial Services Canada Inc., Fluor Industrial Services Inc., Fluor Industrial Services Limited, Fluor Infrastructure B.V., Fluor Intercontinental Arabian Peninsula LLC, Fluor Intercontinental Germany GmbH, Fluor Intercontinental Inc., Fluor Intercontinental Solutions LLC, Fluor International C.V., Fluor International Holdings B.V., Fluor International Inc., Fluor International Limited, Fluor International Nigeria Limited, Fluor Investments LLC, Fluor Ireland Limited, Fluor Island ehf., Fluor Kazakhstan Inc., Fluor Kazakhstan LLC, Fluor Kuwait KSC, Fluor Limited, Fluor Maintenance Services Inc., Fluor Management Company L.P., Fluor Management and Technical Services Inc., Fluor Marine Propulsion LLC, Fluor Mediterranean Inc., Fluor Middle East LLC, Fluor Mideast Limited, Fluor Mining and Metals France Inc., Fluor Mocambique Limitada, Fluor NE Inc., Fluor Ocean Services Limited, Fluor Pension Trustee Limited, Fluor Plant Engineering S.A., Fluor Power Services Pty Ltd., Fluor Project Services B.V., Fluor Projects Limited, Fluor Rail Services Pty Ltd., Fluor S.A., Fluor S.A. (Pty) Limited, Fluor SPN Inc., Fluor Services B.V., Fluor Services LLC, Fluor South Africa (Pty) Limited, Fluor Spain Holding S.L., Fluor Supply Chain Solutions B.V., Fluor Supply Chain Solutions LLC, Fluor Supply Chain Solutions Singapore Pte. Ltd., Fluor Techint SRL Construccion y Servicios Limitada, Fluor Technologies Corporation, Fluor Texas Inc., Fluor Transworld Services Inc., Fluor US Services Inc., Fluor Uganda Engineering and Construction Limited, Fluor Virginia Inc., Fluor WEP Holdings Inc., Fluor WorleyParsons Arctic Solutions, Fluor environmental Resources Management Services Inc., Fluor-B&W Oak Ridge LLC, Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth LLC, Fluor-Brady LLC, Fluor-CDM Space Services LLC, Fluor-Habboush International Limited, Fluor-Igoda Projects (Proprietary) Limited, Fluor-Lane 95 LLC, Fluor-Lane LLC, Fluor-Lane South Carolina LLC, Fluor-SKM Iron Ore Joint Venture, Fluor/Technip Integrated JV, Fluor/Westinghouse Liquid Waste Services LLC, FluorAMEC LLC, Fru-Con/Fluor Daniel Joint Venture, GLT-Plus V.O.F., GLX Constructors an unincorporated joint venture, Genesys Telecommunications Holdings Limited, Genesys Telecommunications Limited, Giovenco Industrial Services Pty Ltd., Giovenco Industries (AUST) Pty Limited, Giovenco Industries (AUST) Trust, Giovenco/Insulations International JV Pty Ltd., Giovenco/Insulations International JV Unit Trust, Gladstone Pressure Welders Pty Ltd., Global Project Execution Inc., Goar Allison & Associates, Goar Allison & Associates LLCndo-Mauritian Affiliates Limitednfrastructure Civil Equipment LLC, Greenville Technical Services Inc., Grupo Alvica SCS, Grupo Empresarial Alvica S.A., ICA Fluor Daniel S. de R.L. de C.V., ICA Fluor Operaciones S.A. de C.V., ICA Fluor Operaciones S.A. de C.V., ICA Fluor Petroquimica S.A. de C.V., ICA Fluor Servicios Gerenciales S.A. de C.V., ICA Fluor Servicios Gerenciales S.A. de C.V., ICA Fluor Servicios Operativos S.A. de C.V., ICA Stork S. de C.V., ICA Stork S. de R.L. de C.V., IF Proyectos S.A., IFD Servicios de Ingenieria S.A. de C.V., IT Development Centre B.V., IXAS Gaasperdammerweg B.V., IXAS Zuid-Oost B.V., Industrial Del Hierro S.A. de C.V., Industrial Services France SAS, Industrial Services SF Peru S.A.C., Industrial Services SR Peru S.A.C., Infra Combinatie Zuid-West, Infraspeed Holdings B.V., Ingenieria y Construccion Fluor Daniel Chile Limitada, Iraq Construction Ltd., Iraq Water General Contracting Company L.L.C., Istimewa Electrotechniek B.V., J Crowder Corporation, J. Crowder Corp., J.A. Jones International, JGC Fluor BC Joint Venture, JGC Fluor Kitimat LNG Project JV, JGC Fluor Mocambique Lda, JGC/FEI Joint Venture, JGC/Fluor JV, KDPC Limited, KMK-DJI JV, KPJV Limited, Karratha Engineering Services Pty Ltd., Kazakh Projects Joint Venture Limited, KazakhNefteGasServis LLP, Koninklijke Machinefabriek Stork B.V., Lone Star Infrastructure Joint Venture, Lone Star Infrastructure LLC, Louisiana Operations and Maintenance Services LLC, M&W/Marshall a Joint Venture, MGJV Pty Ltd., Maquinaria Ameco Guatemala Limitada, Mecanicos Asociados S.A.S., Mid-America Conversion Services LLC, Middle East Fluor, Mineral Resource Development Corporation, Mongolian National Facility Services (MNFS) LLC, Mourik Istimewa Combinatie V.O.F., NWKC LLC, Najmat Al-Sabah for General Services Limited Liability Company, NuScale Holdings Corp., NuScale Power LLC, Oregon Bridge Delivery Partners Joint Venture, P.T. Fluor Daniel Indonesia, P.T. MITRA BERSAMA ENGINEERING, P.T. Nusantara Power Services, PFD (UK) Limited, PFD International LLC, PRI/DJI A Reconstruction JV, PT Signet Indonesia, PT Singgar Mulia, PT. MITRA BERSAMA ENGINEERING, Pacific Defense Constructors LLC, Palmetto Seed Capital Ltd. Partnership, Parkway Infrastructure Constructors, Pegasus Link Constructors, Pegasus Link Constructors LLC, Phoenix Constructors Joint Venture, Pipeline Maintenance Alliance JV, Plant Engineering Services LLC, Plant Performance Services, Plant Performance Services Caribbean Limited, Plant Performance Services International LLC, Plant Performance Services International Ltd., Poort van Den Bosch B.V., Poort van Den Bosch V.O.F., Prairie Link Constructors JV, Prairie Link Constructors LLC, Pro-V/ConOps JV, Provo River Constructors, Purple Line Transit Constructors LLC, Purple Line Transit Operations LLC, Purple Line Transit Partners LLC, Qatar National Facility Services, RBG Kazakhstan LLP, Rash Inversiones 2007 S.L., Rock Island Integrated Services, S-M V.O.F., SDT Maintenance Management Group Limited, SFS 007.298.633 Pty Limited, SSLP/FCCL JV, Sacyr Fluor Bolivia S.R.L., Sacyr Fluor Colombia S.A.S., Sacyr Fluor Participaciones S.L., Sacyr Fluor S.A., Saddleback Constructors, Sakhalin Neftegas Technology, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions LLC, Servicios Cuyuni E.T.T. C.A., Servicios Mineria Inc., Servicios de Construccion del Pacifico Inc., Servitrade Servicos Investimento y Trading Limitada, Servitrade Servicos Investimentos y Trading Limitada, Signet Engineering Pty Ltd., Signet Holdings Pty Ltd., Soli-Flo Inc., Soli-Flo LLC, Soli-Flo Material Transfer L.P., Soli-Flo Partners L.P., Soli0Flo Partners L.P., Springfield Resource Recovery Inc., Springfield Resource Recovery Limited Partnership, St. Joe Participacoes, St. Joe Participacoes Ltda, Stork Asset Management Consultancy B.V., Stork B.V., Stork Caspian LLC, Stork Colombia S.A.S., Stork Elecon Ltd, Stork Gear & Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Stork Gear & Services B.V., Stork German Holding GmbH, Stork Getriebe & Services GmbH, Stork H&E Turbo Blading Inc., Stork Holding, Stork Holding B.V., Stork Integrated Solutions B.V., Stork Intellectual Property B.V., Stork International B.V., Stork International Limited, Stork Mechanical Works and Maintenance Co. K.S.C.C., Stork Nederland B.V., Stork Oryx Turbo Machinery Services LLC, Stork Peru S.A.C., Stork Peru S.A.S., Stork Plastic Machinery B.V., Stork Power Services & Technology Beijing Limited, Stork Power Services B.V., Stork Power Services OOO, Stork Power Services USA Holding Inc., Stork TS Holdings Limited, Stork TS UK Limited, Stork Technical Services (Holdings) Limited, Stork Technical Services (RBG) Limited, Stork Technical Services (STS) Ltd., Stork Technical Services Australia Pty Ltd., Stork Technical Services Beheer B.V., Stork Technical Services Belgium N.V., Stork Technical Services GmbH, Stork Technical Services Group B.V., Stork Technical Services HOLDCO B.V., Stork Technical Services Holding Australia Pty Ltd., Stork Technical Services Holding B.V., Stork Technical Services International Limited, Stork Technical Services International South Africa, Stork Technical Services Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Stork Technical Services New Zealand Limited, Stork Technical Services Norway AS, Stork Technical Services Sadaf LLC, Stork Technical Services Saudi Arabia Co., Stork Technical Services Trinidad and Tobago Ltd, Stork Technical Services UK Limited, Stork Technical Services USA Inc., Stork Thermeq B.V., Stork Turbo Blading B.V., Stork Turbo Service B.V., Strategic Organizational Systems Enterprises Inc., Strategic Organizational Systems Environmental Engineering Division Inc., Support Services International LLC, Supreme Modular Fabrication Inc., TDF Inc., TRS Consultants JLT, TRS Craft Services Inc., TRS Far East Sdn. Bhd., TRS International Group S. de R.L. de C.V., TRS International Payroll Co., TRS Labour Hire Solutions Pty. Ltd., TRS SA Holdings Company (Pty) Ltd., TRS Search and Selection (Pty) Ltd., TRS Staffing Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd., TRS Staffing Solutions (Canada) Inc., TRS Staffing Solutions (Pty) Ltd., TRS Staffing Solutions B.V., TRS Staffing Solutions Inc., TRS Staffing Solutions India Private Limited, TRS Staffing Solutions Limited, TRS Staffing Solutions Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., TRS Staffing Solutions Mozambique Limitada, TRS Staffing Solutions S. de R.L. de C.V., TRS Staffing Solutions SA (Pty) Ltd., Tappan Zee Constructors LLC, Technical Resource Solutions S.L., Technip-Fluor JV, Thermoprozess Cooperheat GmbH, Trans Florida Express LLCenezco Inc., Trans-Africa Projects (Pty) Ltd., Trans-Africa Projects Ltd., UNEC Engineering, United Rentals Industrial Services LLC, WODECO Nigeria Limited, Walsh-Fluor Design-Build Team, Wescon (B) Sdn. Bhd., Wescon International B.V., Williams Brothers Engineering Company, Williams Brothers Engineering Limited, Williams Brothers Process Services Inc., Wilmore/Fluor Modesto LLC, Windsor Essex Mobility Group GP, WorleyParsons Arabia Limited Fluor Arabia Limited Joint Venture, Wright Engineers (Chile) Limitada, Wright Engineers Limitada Peru, and ZuidPlus V.O.F.. There is not enough analysis data for El Paso Electric. 3.9 Community Rank Outperform Votes El Paso Electric has received 256 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes El Paso Electric has received 192 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment El Paso Electric has received 57.14% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about El Paso Electric and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe EE will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe EE 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 Net Medical Xpress Solutions. 4.5 Community Rank Outperform Votes Net Medical Xpress Solutions has received 61 outperform votes. (Add your outperform vote.) Underperform Votes Net Medical Xpress Solutions has received 28 underperform votes. (Add your underperform vote.) Community Sentiment Net Medical Xpress Solutions has received 68.54% outperform votes from our community. MarketBeat's community ratings are surveys of what our community members think about Net Medical Xpress Solutions and other stocks. Vote Outperform if you believe NMXS will outperform the S&P 500 over the long term. Vote Underperform if you believe NMXS will underperform the S&P 500 over the long term. You may vote once every thirty days. Previous Next Bechtle AG provides information technology services primarily in Europe. The company operates in two segments, IT System House & Managed Services, and IT E-Commerce. The IT System House & Managed Services segment offers IT strategy consulting, hardware and software selling, project planning and implementation, system integration, IT services, and training for IT operation. It provides applications for business intelligence, customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning, product life-cycle management, computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing, product data management, enterprise content management, document management systems, artificial intelligence, and collaboration; and modern workplace solutions. This segment also offers data center, networking, security, consulting, managed, professional, financial, and remarketing services. The IT E-Commerce segment provides hardware and software products, and peripherals with a multi-brand portfolio that comprises approximately 40,000 products through an online shop and telesales. This segment also offers e-procurement services. The company also provides design, development, and implementation of software services. It serves customers in the fields of industry, trade, finance, and the public sector. Bechtle AG was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Neckarsulm, Germany. Read More Brookdale Senior Living, Inc. engages in the operation of senior living communities. The firm manages independent living, assisted living and dementia-care communities and continuing care retirement centers. It operates through the following segments: Independent Living Assisted Living & Memory Care, CCRCs, Health Care Services and Management Services. The Independent Living segment is primarily designed for middle to upper income seniors who desire an upscale residential environment providing the highest quality of service. The Assisted Living & Memory Care segment offer housing and 24-hour assistance with ADLs to mid-acuity frail and elderly residents. The CCRCs segment offers a variety of living arrangements and services to accommodate all levels of physical ability and health. The Healthcare Services segment provides home health, hospice and outpatient therapy services, as well as education and wellness programs, to residents of many communities and to seniors living outside communities. The Management Services segment composes of communities operated by the company pursuant to management agreements. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in Brentwood, TN. Read More Photo: The Canadian Press Veteran Ukraine lawmaker Mustafa Jemilev, seen in Ottawa on Friday, May 17, 2019, is the political head of Crimea's persecuted Tatars. He says the time has come to rally around the country's new president who came to fame as a television comedian. Veteran Ukraine lawmaker Mustafa Jemilev was as worried and surprised as anyone when a comedian who played Ukraine's president on television was actually elected the country's president last month. Jemilev, 75, is a staunch supporter of former president Petro Poroshenko. Jemilev and many others including Canada's leaders credit Poroshenko with saving his country from ruin in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea and fomented a pro-Kremlin insurgency in the country's east that has killed 13,000 people. Jemilev, also the political leader of Crimea's persecuted Tatars, says he was initially worried that the actor-turned-politician Volodymyr Zelenskiy was too soft on Russia. But with Russia's continuing threat and Ukraine now facing political upheaval Zelenskiy was sworn in on Monday and abruptly dissolved parliament on Tuesday Jemilev says the time has come to rally around the new president. "Our position will be constructive," Zelenskiy told The Canadian Press on a visit to Ottawa this past week. "We will try to help him as much as possible because the stability of the country is the most important for us," he said through an interpreter. "We will definitely not play against him when he fails in something because that situation could be used by Russia." Ukraine's uncertain political future has implications for Canada's domestic politics as the federal election approaches: the 1.3 million Canadians of Ukrainian descent comprise one of the country's most influential diaspora communities. Stephen Harper's Conservatives courted Ukrainian support with frequent visits to Kyiv and the dispatching of special teams of Canadian election monitors, as have Justin Trudeau's Liberals. Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland's own Ukrainian heritage has helped keep Ukraine near the top of Canada's foreign-policy agenda. Freeland was one of the first foreign politicians to visit Zelenskiy in Kyiv earlier this month and came away reassured, according to a senior Canadian official who was in the room but was not authorized to speak about the meeting for attribution. The person said that while the new president and his entourage have little political experience, Canada isn't worried he will shift Ukraine away from Canada and its western allies, back towards the Kremlin. Then, there's that other top-of-mind head scratcher: just how worried should the rest of the world be that an actor-comedian won the presidency of the east European country that is on the front line of Russian aggression towards the continent? With 73-per-cent support, no less? Zelenskiy was frequently compared with former U.S. president Ronald Reagan. But as Jemilev noted, Reagan served as governor of California between his Hollywood career and arrival in the Oval Office. "He's more like Rick Mercer getting elected prime minister," said the Canadian official. Like Mercer's frequent political rants, Zelenskiy's long-running political satire was well-researched and demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of politics and corruption. Zelenskiy was "not a clueless person in talking to us," the official said. He grappled with issues and showed himself to be a "quick learner." But he will require help running a government because Ukraine's institutions are not as strong as the West's, so Canada is standing by with offers of training on the machinery of government, said the source. Freeland also connected with Zelenskiy's team by sharing insights from her transition from journalism to politics. She was a reporter in Ukraine during the Soviet Union's dissolution and became journalistic comrades with one of Zelenskiy's top advisers, who also reported on the 1990s upheaval. "She was able to share her journey from outsider/journalist to somebody who's in government, and point out some of the challenges that are involved," said the source. "(There was) no indication from Zelenskiy and his team that there's going to be some radical shift away from the overall Euro-Atlantic direction of Ukraine. Their concept is 'we want to update things, we're all a generation younger so we want to see a more digital Ukraine.' " The change that Zelenskiy initially campaigned on was difficult to swallow for the pro-Poroshenko establishment, especially the Tatars whom Jemilev represents. Divisions showed again this week after he was sworn in, with disputes over the propriety of his order dissolving parliament early and moves to overhaul the leadership of Ukraine's security services. "We were very anxious that during the presidential campaign, (with) Mr. Zelenskiy asserting he would like to have peace with Russia under any condition that we would do anything," said Jemilev. "That sounded to us a little bit unfair because it was not us who started the war, it was no us who annexed someone's territory." Between the two rounds of presidential balloting, Jemilev was able to ask Zelenskiy some important questions about his Russia stance and was reassured that Zelenskiy wouldn't bend towards Russia at the expense of Ukraine. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through four strategic business units: Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; and Capital Markets. The company offers chequing, savings, and business accounts; mortgages; loans, lines of credit, student lines of credit, and business and agriculture loans; investment and insurance services; and credit cards, as well as overdraft protection services. It also provides day-to-day banking, borrowing and credit, investing and wealth, specialty, and international services; correspondent banking and online foreign exchange services; and cash management services. The company serves its customers through its banking centers, as well as direct, mobile, and remote channels. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF's stock was trading at $158.09 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IWF shares have increased by 95.8% and is now trading at $309.52. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in Asia, Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; And Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment provides mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, group retirement and savings products, and institutional asset management services through agents and brokers affiliated with the company, securities brokerage firms, and financial advisors pension plan consultants and banks. The Insurance and Annuity Products segment offers deposit and credit products; individual life, and individual and group long-term care insurance; and guaranteed and partially guaranteed annuity products through insurance agents, brokers, banks, financial planners, and direct marketing. The Corporate and Other segment is involved in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance businesses; and run-off reinsurance operations, including variable annuities, and accident and health. It also manages timberland and agricultural portfolios; and engages in insurance agency, portfolio and mutual fund management, mutual fund dealer, life and financial reinsurance, and fund management businesses. Additionally, the company holds and manages oil and gas properties; holds oil and gas royalties, and foreign bonds and equities; and provides investment management, counseling, advisory, and dealer services. Manulife Financial Corporation was incorporated in 1887 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Photo: Big White Fire Department The Big White Fire Department had their hands full over the long weekend after a hiker spotted a dog stranded on the melting ice on Lake Paul next to the Powder chair. The dog was on its last legs as it had been missing from the Candle Creek Kennels for five days when the hiker spotted the dog, cold, hungry and unable to swim on Monday afternoon. He called 911 and we were paged out, says Big White Fire Chief James Svendsen. Basically, one of our guys swam out and got the dog. We harnessed him all up and he swam out with a rubber tire inner tube, put the dog in it, and brought him back to the shore. The rescue team managed to get the dog to shore and wrapped it in warm blankets and then put him in a heated truck to warm up. Time was of the essence, Svendsen says. He was very stressed. I would say hypothermia was setting in. [The dog] would have died out there for sure. After he started warming up you could see the life coming back into his eyes. The dog was then reunited with its owners, who were beside themselves with joy, they had almost given up hope of finding their lost dog. This story had a happy ending but Chief Svendsen reminds people hiking in the Big White area to keep their dogs on a leash while at the mountain. Its very dangerous up here right now, he says. Theres a lot of water running under the snow and the ice. Dogs off leash, they go running, and theres lots of wildlife, so if they get distracted, they could easily fall through. 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. Ralph Lauren Corp. engages in the design, marketing, and distribution of premium lifestyle products. The firm offers apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and other licensed product. It operates through the following segments: North America, Europe, and Asia. The North America segment consists of sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in the U.S. and Canada, excluding Club Monaco. The Europe segment caters to sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in Europe and the Middle East, excluding Club Monaco. The Asia segment covers the sales of Ralph Lauren branded apparel, accessories, home furnishings, and related products made through the Company's wholesale and retail businesses in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The company was founded by Ralph Lauren in 1967 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Prudential Financial: 210-220 E. 22nd Street SSGA Owner LLC, AIG Edison, AIG Star, AREF Cayman Co Ltd., AREF GP II Pte. Ltd., AREF GP Ltd., ASPF II - Feeder Fund GmbH, ASPF II - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, ASPF II Management GmbH, ASPF III (Scots) L.P., ASSURANCE, AST Investment Services Inc., Adlerwerke CB Investment LLC, Administradora de Fondos de Pensiones Habitat S.A., Administradora de Inversiones Previsionales SpA, Aoba Life Insurance Company, Asia Property Fund III GP S.a.r.l., Assurance IQ LLC, Assurance Intelligence LLC, BSC CP LP, Braeloch Holdings Inc., Braeloch Successor Corporation, Brazilian Capital Fund GP Limited, Broad Street Global Advisors LLC, Broome Street Holdings LLC, CB German Retail LLC, CLIS Co. Ltd., COLICO INC., Campus Drive LLC, Capital Agricultural Property Services Inc., Chadwick Boulevard Investment Holdings Co. LLC, Cibecue LLC, Coconino LLC, Colico II Inc., Columbus Drive Partners L.P., Commerce Street Holdings LLC, Commerce Street Investments LLC, Coolidge LLC, Coral Reef GP, Coral Reef L.P., Coral Reef Unit Trust, Cottage Street Investments LLC, Cottage Street Orbit Acquisition LLC, DHFL PRAMERICA LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY LIMITED, DICKENS AVENUE HOLDINGS VI LLC, DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (Ireland) L.P., DICKENS AVENUE PARTNERS VI (US) L.P., Don Cesar Investor LLC, Dryden Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Dryden Finance II LLC, EVP II GP S.a r.l., EVP II Sweden Resi I GP S.a r.l., Edison Place Senior Note LLC, Essex LLC, EuroCore GP S.a r.l., European Value Partners GP S.a.r.l., Everbright PGIM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Flagstaff LLC, GA 1600 Commons LLC, GA 333 Hennepin Investor LLC, GA BV LLC, GA Bay Area GP LLC, GA Bay Area Investor LLC, GA Belden LLC, GA CLARENDON LLC, GA Cal Crossings LLC, GA Collins LLC, GA E. 22nd Street Apartments Holdings LLC, GA East 86 Street LLC, GA JHCII LLC, GA MENLO PARK INVESTOR LLC, GA Manor at Harbour Island LLC, GA Metro LLC, GA Mission LLC, GA TRITON INVESTOR LLC, GA W Paces LLC, GA/MDI 333 Hennepin Associates LLC, GIBRALTAR BSN HOLDINGS SDN BHD, GIBRALTAR INDIA SOLUTIONS LLP, Gateway Holdings II LLC, Gateway Holdings LLC, German Retail Income CP LP, Gibraltar BSN Life Berhad, Gibraltar International Insurance Services Company Inc., Gibraltar International Service LLC, Gibraltar Reinsurance Company Ltd., Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company, Glenealy International Limited, Global Portfolio Strategies Inc., Gold GP Limited, Gold II L.P., Gold L.P., Graham Resources Inc., Graham Royalty Ltd., Green Tree GP, Green Tree L.P., Greenlee LLC, Halsey Street Investments LLC, Hirakata LLC, IVP Fund GP LLC, Impact Investments Bridges UK S.a.r.l, Inter-Atlantic G Fund L.P., Inversiones Previsionales Chile SpA, Inversiones Previsionales Dos SpA, Ironbound Fund LLC, Jennison Associates LLC, Kyarra S.a r.l., Kyoei Annuity Home Co. Ltd., LINEUP LLC, Lake Street Partners IV L.P., MC GA COLLINS HOLDINGS LLC, MC GA COLLINS REALTY LLC, MC Insurance Agency Services LLC, Manor at Harbour Island LLC, Marble Canyon LLC, Maricopa LLC, Market Street Holdings IV LLC, Morenci LLC, Mulberry Street Holdings LLC, Mulberry Street Investment L.P., Mulberry Street Partners LLC, Mullin TBG Insurance Agency Services LLC, MullinTBG Insurance Agency Services, National Family Assurance Group LLC, New Savanna, Orchard Street Acres Inc., PAI Bay Farm LLC, PAI Bayrock Groves LLC, PAI Belvidere Farms LLC, PAI Big Cypress Farm LLC, PAI Corcoran 640 Ranch LLC, PAI DeKalb Farm LLC, PAI Delano 1500 Ranches LLC, PAI Flicker Orchard LLC, PAI Good Hope Farm LLC, PAI Hawk Creek Ranch LLC, PAI Hills Valley Ranches LLC, PAI Holly Hill Groves LLC, PAI Hunt Farm LLC, PAI Jackson Bayou Farm LLC, PAI Lake Placid Groves LLC, PAI Wallula Gap Vineyard LLC, PCP V Cayman AIV GP L.P., PEREF II Co-Invest 1 GP S.a r.l., PEREF II GP S.a r.l., PEREF II PV S.r.l, PFI EM-Tech Fund I LLC, PG Business Service Co. Ltd, PG Collection Service Co. Ltd., PGA Asian Retail Limited, PGA European Limited, PGI Co. Ltd, PGIM (Australia) Pty Ltd, PGIM (Hong Kong) Ltd., PGIM (Scots) Limited, PGIM (Shanghai) Company Ltd., PGIM (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PGIM AVP IV GP S.a r.l., PGIM Advisory (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PGIM Agricultural Investments GP LLC, PGIM Agricultural Investors LP, PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Fund L.P., PGIM Broad Market High Yield Bond Partners LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management (Feeder) VI LLC, PGIM Capital Partners Management Fund VI L.P., PGIM European Financing Limited, PGIM European Services Limited, PGIM Financial Limited, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund II L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives Fund L.P., PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives GP LLC, PGIM Fixed Income Alternatives II GP LLC, PGIM Foreign Investments Inc., PGIM Holding Company LLC, PGIM INDIA ASSET MANAGEMENT PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM INDIA TRUSTEES PRIVATE LIMITED, PGIM Inc., PGIM International Financing Inc., PGIM Investments LLC, PGIM Japan Co. Ltd., PGIM Korea Inc., PGIM LTIF Berlin GP S.a r.l., PGIM LTIF Berlin MLP S.ar.l., PGIM LTIF GP S.a.r.l., PGIM Limited, PGIM Loan Originator Manager Limited, PGIM M Campus GP S.a r.l., PGIM Management Partner Limited, PGIM MetaProp Investor LP LLC, PGIM Netherlands B.V., PGIM Overseas Investment Fund Management (Shanghai) Company Ltd, PGIM Private Capital (Ireland) Limited, PGIM Private Capital Limited, PGIM Private Placement Investors Inc., PGIM Private Placement Investors L.P., PGIM REF EUROPE SCSp, PGIM REF Europe GP S.a r.l., PGIM REF Europe Member LLC, PGIM REF Intermediary Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate (Japan) Ltd., PGIM Real Estate (UK) Limited, PGIM Real Estate CD S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Capital VII GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest GP S.a r.l., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest L.P., PGIM Real Estate Carry & Co-Invest SCSp, PGIM Real Estate Co-Invest Holdings LLC, PGIM Real Estate Debt GmbH, PGIM Real Estate Finance Holding Company, PGIM Real Estate Finance LLC, PGIM Real Estate France SAS, PGIM Real Estate Germany AG, PGIM Real Estate Global Debt GP LLC, PGIM Real Estate Inmuebles S. de R.L. de C.V, PGIM Real Estate Italy S.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Loan Services Inc., PGIM Real Estate Luxembourg S.A., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Administradora V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles IV S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate MVP Inmuebles V S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate Management Luxembourg S.a.r.l., PGIM Real Estate Mexico S.C., PGIM Real Estate S. de R.L. de C.V., PGIM Real Estate U.S. Debt Fund GP LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management (Feeder) I LLC, PGIM Senior Loan Opportunities Management Fund I L.P., PGIM Strategic Financing LLC, PGIM Strategic Investments Inc., PGIM USPF VI Manager LLC, PGIM Warehouse Inc., PGLH of Delaware Inc., PIFM Holdco LLC, PIIC Limited, PIISC Holdings (UK) Limited, PIM KF Blocker Holdings LLC, PIM KF Blocker V Holdings LLC, PIM USPF V Manager LLC, PLA Administradora Industrial SRL, PLA Administradora LLC, PLA Administradora S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional II S. de R.L. de C.V., PLA Asesoria Profesional S.de R.L. de C.V., PLA Co-Investor LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager I LLC, PLA Mexico Industrial Manager II LLC, PLA Mexico Residential Manager I LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Limited Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund III Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Residential Fund IV Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Blue LP, PLA Retail Fund I LP, PLA Retail Fund I Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund I Red LP, PLA Retail Fund II Aggregating Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LLC, PLA Retail Fund II LP, PLA Retail Fund II Manager LLC, PLA Retail Fund II U.S. Carry/Co-Invest LP, PLA Services Manager Mexico LLC, PLAI Limited, PMCF Holdings LLC, PMCF Properties LLC, PPPF General Partner LLP, PR GA SCP Apartments LLC, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP (SCOTS FEEDER) LLP, PRAMERICA PRECAP VI GP LLP, PRECO ACCOUNT III LLC, PRECO ACCOUNT PARTNERSHIP III LP, PRECO Account IV LLC, PRECO Account Partnership IV LP, PRECO III GP LLP, PREFG Hanwha Manager LLC, PREI Acquisition I Inc., PREI Acquisition II Inc., PREI Acquisition LLC, PREI HYDG LLC, PREI International Inc., PRIAC Property Acquisitions LLC, PRICOA Management Partner Limited, PRISA Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Fund Manager LLC, PRISA II Pooled Manager LLC, PRISA III Fund GP LLC, PRISA III Fund PIM LLC, PRREF II Fund Manager LLC, PRU 3XSquare LLC, PRUCO LLC, PRUDENTIAL CAPITAL ENERGY PARTNERS MANAGEMENT (FEEDER) LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP MEMBER LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP REIT LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE 2 LLC, PRUDENTIAL MORTGAGE SKP VENTURE LLC, PT PFI Mega Life Insurance, Passaic Fund LLC, Pine Tree GP, Pine Tree L.P., Platinum GP Limited, Platinum II L.P., Platinum L.P., Pramerica (Hong Kong) Holdings Limited, Pramerica (Luxembourg) CP GP S.a.r.l., Pramerica (Scots) CP GP LLP, Pramerica Business Consulting (Shanghai) Company Limited, Pramerica EVP CP LP, Pramerica Financial Asia Headquarters Pte. Ltd., Pramerica Financial Asia Limited, Pramerica Fixed Income Funds Management Limited, Pramerica Fosun Life Insurance Co. Ltd., Pramerica General Partner LLP, Pramerica Holdings Ltd, Pramerica Insurance Agency (China) Company Ltd., Pramerica PRECAP I GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP II GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP III GP LLP, Pramerica PRECAP IV GP LLP, Pramerica Pan European Real Estate (Scots) LP, Pramerica Property Partners Fund (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital I GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital II (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital III (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP (Scots Feeder) LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital IV GP Limited, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Netherlands) GP LLP, Pramerica Real Estate Capital V (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica Real Estate Capital VI (Scots) Limited Partnership, Pramerica SGR S.p.A, Pramerica Systems Ireland Limited, Preco III (Scotland) Limited Partnership, Pru 101 Wood LLC, Pru Alpha Partners I LLC, Pru Fixed Income Emerging Markets Partners I LLC, PruVen Capital Partners Fund I L.P., Pruco Assignment Corporation, Pruco Life Insurance Company, Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey, Pruco Securities LLC, Prudential 900 Aviation Boulevard LLC, Prudential Affordable Mortgage Company LLC, Prudential Agricultural Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Annuities Distributors Inc., Prudential Annuities Holding Company Inc., Prudential Annuities Inc., Prudential Annuities Information Services & Technology Corporation, Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Captive Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Term Company, Prudential Arizona Reinsurance Universal Company, Prudential Bank & Trust FSB, Prudential Capital Energy Opportunity Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners L.P., Prudential Capital Energy Partners Management Fund L.P., Prudential Capital Partners Management Fund IV L.P., Prudential Capital and Investment Services LLC, Prudential Chile II SpA, Prudential Chile SpA, Prudential Commercial Property Holding Company LLC, Prudential Customer Solutions LLC, Prudential Equity Group LLC, Prudential Financial Securities Investment Trust Enterprise, Prudential Fixed Income Global Liquidity Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Fixed Income U.S. Relative Value Partners LLC, Prudential Funding LLC, Prudential General Services of Japan Y.K., Prudential Gibraltar Agency Co. Ltd., Prudential Global Funding LLC, Prudential Holdings of Japan Inc., Prudential Huntoon Paige Associates LLC, Prudential IBH Holdco Inc., Prudential Impact Investments Mortgage Loans LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Debt LLC, Prudential Impact Investments Private Equity LLC, Prudential Industrial Properties LLC, Prudential Insurance Agency LLC, Prudential International Insurance Holdings Ltd., Prudential International Insurance Service Company L.L.C., Prudential International Investments Advisers LLC, Prudential International Investments Company LLC, Prudential International Investments LLC, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, Prudential Japan Holdings LLC, Prudential Legacy Insurance Company of New Jersey, Prudential Life Insurance Company of Taiwan Inc., Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 1 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Asset Holdings 2 Japan Investment Business Limited Partnership, Prudential Mortgage Capital Asset Holding Company LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Funding LLC, Prudential Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC, Prudential Multifamily Mortgage LLC, Prudential Mutual Fund Services LLC, Prudential Newark Realty LLC, Prudential QOZ Investment Fund 1 LLC, Prudential Realty Securities Inc., Prudential Retirement Financial Services Holding LLC, Prudential Retirement Holdings LLC, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, Prudential Securities Secured Financing Corporation, Prudential Securities Structured Assets Inc., Prudential Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., Prudential Seguros S.A., Prudential Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Prudential Structured Settlement Company, Prudential Systems Japan Limited, Prudential Term Reinsurance Company, Prudential Trust Co. Ltd., Prudential Trust Company, Prudential Universal Reinsurance Company, Prudential Workplace Solutions Group Services LLC, Prudential do Brasil Seguros de Vida S.A., Prudential do Brasil Vida em Grupo S.A., Prudential/TMW Real Estate Group LLC, Pruservicos Participacoes Ltda., QMA JP EM All Cap Equity Partners LLC, QMA LLC, QMA Wadhwani LLP, Quartzsite LLC, Residential Services Corporation of America LLC, Rio CP LP, Rock European Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock Global Real Estate LLC, Rock Kensington Limited, Rock Marty GP S.a r.l., Rock Oxford S.a r.l., Rock UK Real Estate Holdings S.ar.l., Rock UK Real Estate II S.a.r.l., Rockstone Co. Ltd., Rosado Grande LLC, Ross Avenue Energy Fund Holdings LLC, Ross Avenue Minerals 2012 LLC, SCP Apartments LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERS VI GP LLC, SENIOR HOUSING PARTNERSHIP FUND VI GP LLC, SHP IV Carried Interest LP, SHP V Carried Interest L.P., SMP Holdings Inc., SVIIT Holdings Inc., Sanei Collection Service Co. Ltd. (Kabushiki Kaisha Sanei Shuuno Service), Senior Housing Partners IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partners V LLC, Senior Housing Partnership Fund IV L.L.C., Senior Housing Partnership Fund V LLC, Sterling Private Placement Management LLP, Stetson Street Partners L.P., Strand Investments Limited, TBG Insurance Services Corporation, TENSATOR HOLDINGS LTD, TF Proveedora S.C., TMW ASPF I Verwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, TMW ASPF Management GmbH, TMW Management LLC, TMW Real Estate Group LLC, TMW Realty Advisors LLC, TMW USPF Verwaltungs GmbH, TRGOAG Company Inc., The Gibraltar Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Keynes Dynamic Beta Strategy (US) Fund GP LLC, The Prudential Assigned Settlement Services Corp., The Prudential Brazilian Capital Fund LP, The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Co. Ltd., The Prudential Home Mortgage Company Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, The Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd., The Prudential Real Estate Financial Services of America Inc., The WMF Group, Thurloe Commercial Guernsey Limited, Times Square Center Associates, USPF V - Verwaltungs - GmbH & Co. KG, USPF V Carry LLC, USPF V Co-Invest LLC, USPF V Investment LP, United States Property Fund VI GP S.a r.l., Vailsburg Fund LLC, Vantage Casualty Insurance Company, Wabash Avenue Holdings V LLC, Wabash Avenue Partners V L.P., Wadhwani Capital Limited, Waveland Avenue Holdings I LLC, Waveland Avenue Partners I (Ireland) L.P., Waveland Avenue Partners I (US) L.P., Wellness Services Ecossistema De Bem Estar Ltda., Wellness Services SRL, Yamato Life, and Yavapai LLC. iShares MSCI Denmark ETF's stock was trading at 60.79 on March 11th, 2020 when Coronavirus reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Since then, EDEN shares have increased by 79.2% and is now trading at 108.95. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. Photo: Contributed The founder of KF Aerospace has been inducted into the Canadian Aviation Hall of Fame. In a ceremony at Montreal's Pierre Elliot Trudeau International Airport, Barry Lapointe was recognized for his outstanding achievements in growing Kelowna Flightcraft from a fledgling start-up to an international aviation powerhouse, now known as KF Aerospace. Lapointe, born in 1944, graduated with honours from the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering in 1966. After two years in the aviation industry, he founded Kelowna Flightcraft. He has been responsible for the development over 48 years of an aerospace engineering and flight services organization based in Kelowna. He built Kelowna Flightcraft into one of the largest maintenance, repair and overhaul operations in the world, with adjuncts dedicated to military training, charter operations and commercial delivery. In 1974, he launched KF Air Charter and from 1976 to 2015 KF operated nearly 20 aircraft carrying cargo daily across Canada for Purolator and Canada Post. Today, nearly 80 per cent of the pilots who obtain their air force wings pass through the doors of the KF training facility at Portage La Prairie, Man. Lapointe earned his pilots licence at age 16, and by 21 held a commercial pilots licence. Chairman and CEO of KF Aerospace, Lapointe has 17,000 fixed wing flight hours, and in 2016 he added a helicopter licence to his qualifications. Among his many awards, he received the Order of British Columbia in 2015. Canadas Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alta. For more information on the hall click here The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. is an insurance and financial services company. The company provides life insurance, group and employee benefits, automobile and homeowners insurance and business insurance, as well as investment products, annuities, mutual funds, and college savings plans. It operates through the following segments: Commercial Lines, Personal Lines, Property & Casualty Other Operations, Group Benefits and Hartford Funds. The Commercial Lines segment provides workers compensation, property, automobile, liability and umbrella coverage under several different products, primarily throughout the U.S., within its standard commercial lines, which consists of The Hartford's small commercial and middle market lines of business. The Personal Lines segment includes automobile, homeowners and home-based business coverage to individuals across the U.S. The Property & Casualty Other Operations segment includes certain property and casualty operations, currently managed by the company, that have discontinued writing new business and substantially all of the company's asbestos and environmental exposures. The Group Benefits segment offers group life, accident and disabi Read More iShares Russell 2000 ETF's stock was trading at $125.92 on March 11th, 2020 when COVID-19 reached pandemic status according to the World Health Organization. Since then, IWM stock has increased by 78.0% and is now trading at $224.12. View which stocks have been most impacted by COVID-19. The University of Virginia Health System will work with the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation over the next five years to provide more than $1 million in grants to area nonprofits. In each of those years, the UVa Health System will disburse $250,000 in grant money. Three application opportunities will be available over the next six months. The first, Shaping Futures, focuses on improving community health, particularly through healthy eating, activity, addressing mental health and substance abuse and improving access to health care. Applications for the first round of grants will be accepted through July 1. Turner will start at Buford on July 1 after closing out Albemarles school year. Turner said in a statement that leaving Albemarle is a difficult decision and that the community, staff, parents are second to none in being able to work together, to set high standards and in outperforming expectations. Turner said he is excited to go back home. He lives in Charlottesville and has two children who currently attend the city schools. Its not enough to say I have been concerned over some of the challenges the city has faced these past few years, he said. If I can make a contribution to bringing our entire city together and to moving the quality of education forward, I need to turn feelings into action. Charlottesville schools noted that Turner supported the countys redesign of the high school experience to focuses on engaging students interests. The announcement also noted his support of maker education and non-traditional learning spaces at Monticello, as well as his success in increasing the schools on-time graduation rate. The first issue was when the storage unit building would be built. The developer wants to build the storage building first, to avoid having construction traffic pass residences. County staff was proposing the front building be started within two years of the storage unit being finished, and that the parking area be screened from the road. J. Richard Garlick, with developer Greenscape Development Partners, said he wants to get the project finished because economists are predicting a recession within two to three years I dont want to be one of those developers that has to either survive it or dispose of it, he said of the project during a recession. Id like to get it done. Garlick said they are likely going to build about 75 units, instead of the 112 being proposed. I know it says in the application we can do up to 112, thats not economically feasible or feasible on the site because of parking, he said. Commissioners were concerned that it was possible that the residential building might never be built. Photo: okanaganwines.ca Have you noticed this trend? Seated tastings, vineyard tours, wine-paired long table lunches and dinners, cooking classes, and booking your tastings in advance. Whether its at a winery, brewery, distillery, or cidery, the options for an elevated experience are expanding. While dropping by an establishment with a few friends is, and has been, the norm in B.C. (and other regions in Canada) for years, as the industry changes, so do the options. A sign, in my opinion, of a few things: Tasting rooms are busier than ever, and booking in advance or by appointment ensures that you wont have to jostle your way through a crowd. Wineries, as one example, are keen to educate visitors on where the grapes come from, and how the wine is made. Vice versa, consumers want to learn more. Matching flavours on the plate to whats in the glass, especially highlighting local ingredients, is an excellent way to promote the Okanagan (or B.C.) terroir. Want to take a tour of a distillery, or visit behind the scenes at a brewery? See if they offer an option or two, or call ahead to book, especially if you have a group or guests who have never been here. Itll leave a lasting impression. A few options to consider this season NkMip Cellars in Osoyoos offers several tasting experiences, vineyard and cellar tours, and food and wine pairing tour. In Oliver, Intersection Winery has The Vinstitute, a wine school for everyone. Most classes are two hours or less, with a variety of topics. Township 7 in Penticton and Langley has just started its Elevated Wine Tasting Experience, with exclusive wines. https://www.township7.com/events/ Okanagan Spirits in Kelowna and Vernon doesnt require advance bookings except for groups, but it does now have a whisky experience: Mission Hill in West Kelowna has a wide selection of tours, culinary classes, and an exquisite long table dinner series. And also in West Kelowna, Quails Gate has multiple options, and a new wine-paired five-course lunch: https://www.quailsgate.com/visit/tour-tastings/ Kamloops has Iron Road Brewing. Grab a beer, a bite, and watching the brewing process in action. I havent been, but I have heard more than a few you gotta go comments. UPCOMING EVENTS May 25, Okanagan Falls: Catch the Vineyard Stage Concert series performance with Susie Vinnick at Wild Goose Vineyards. Through till October, Keremeos: The Grist Mill hosts Sunday Night Suppers, each one with a different culinary theme. Through May, Okanagan Falls: Visit Liquidity Winery and Bistro to see the work of artist Tim Okamura. June 1, Oliver: Tinhorn Creek hosts its 25th Anniversary celebration with a five-course dinner. June 1, Penticton: Ruby Blues has a vintage pop-up shop and fashion show. For foreign affairs and security officials, President Trumps administration can be tough because he doesnt like the standard processes of government, Hadley said. Trump doesnt want to be constrained by the standard administrative decision-making processes, policies, or precedents, Hadley said. That push against process is what made Trump attractive to his base, Hadley said, and may offer some solutions in long-term problem spots, such as nuclear disarmament in Iran and North Korea and trade practices with China. Three administrations, the Clinton administration, the Bush administration, the Obama administration, did this bottom up laborious process and got agreements with North Korea, and none of those administrations were able to keep North Korea in those agreements, he said. The [Trump] administration has a different approach, lets give it a shot, but obviously prepare for the worst if that should be the hand that we have to play. Northam told investigators that he felt compelled to address the photograph quickly, and feared saying that he did not appear in the photo out of concern that someone would come forward and say, I was there and remember and it is you. Governors response Northam said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that he had cooperated with Cullen and his team by making myself available for interviews and by turning over the findings of my private inquiry into the matter. I am not in the racist and offensive photo that appears under my name in the 1984 Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook. That being said, I know and understand the events of early February and my response to them have caused hurt for many Virginians and for that, I am sorry. I felt it was important to take accountability for the photos presence on my page, but rather than providing clarity, I instead deepened pain and confusion. On Feb. 1, the day it became public, Northam apologized for being in the photo. He backtracked the next day, saying he is not in the photo and doesnt know how it ended up on his yearbook page. Northam has said he did appear in blackface during a 1984 dance contest in San Antonio. Bouie pointed out that Jeb Bush was the Republican frontrunner at this point in the 2016 presidential race and, in 2007, Hillary Clinton was expected to win the Democratic nomination over Barack Obama and others. For someone to win the nomination over Biden, Bouie said the candidates need to say theyre more electable than Biden rather than stay in their lanes or go after each other. Rove said candidates like Julian Castro, former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper and Montana Gov. Steve Bullock arent viable candidates. He said former Senate candidate Beto ORourke of Texas has also faded from the spotlight. ORourke has dropped from third to sixth in polling averages since February. Bouie compared Bidens candidacy to those of moderate Democrats such as Alabama Sen. Doug Jones and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam in 2017. He said a moderate might have more support nationally than someone who is more liberal. Photo: Contributed A tree commemorating the hard work of local government employees will be planted at the green space beside City Hall as part of celebrations taking place in communities around the province. It's part of Local Government Awareness Week, and the tree will be planted by representatives from both the City of Penticton and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen. Members of the community are welcome to attend the ceremony May 23 at 3 p.m. Funding for the tree and others around B.C. comes in part from the Local Government Management Association of British Columbia, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. Photo: CTV News An Indigenous protester interrupted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a Liberal fundraiser in Vancouver today, accusing him of being a liar and a weak leader. Will George, of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation in North Vancouver, stood up and asked Trudeau whether he planned to push the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion through his nation's traditional territories. Trudeau greeted him by name and asked calmly if he could be allowed to respond, before saying he understands there are strong Indigenous voices opposed but there are also strong Indigenous voices in favour of the expansion. George continued to speak, asking Trudeau what he says to his children about his actions, before staff at the Opus Hotel in Vancouver asked him to leave. Trudeau said the man was welcome to stay if he wanted to listen, but he was eventually ushered out by a manager and a RCMP officer. Dozens of protesters gathered outside the event in downtown Vancouver and activists even brought a truck with a banner that read, "Trudeau: No pipelines in a climate emergency." The Chinese digital payment service providers Alipay and WeChat Pay vowed on Tuesday to further regulate the use of mobile payments overseas a day after a ban on their services was introduced by Nepal's central bank. A customer uses her smartphone to pay using Alipay at a store in Sydney, Australia on April 26, 2018. [Photo: IC] Local media outlet The Himalayan Times reported that on Monday the Nepal Rastra Bank banned the use of Alipay and WeChat Pay inside the country, as "the country was losing foreign income due to illegal use of those payment applications." The ban is being imposed because, according to the report, "payments for services acquired in Nepal are made in China" and "the money technically never enters Nepal's banking channel." In response, on Tuesday both Alipay and WeChat Pay said they have taken measures to prevent the illegal use of their payment services in overseas markets, including the payment QR codes that should only be used inside China, according to The Paper. Alipay has urged its users to comply with local laws, and said its cross-border payments are operating in Nepal as normal. Nepal Rastra Bank said earlier that it was looking for ways to "legalise the use of those digital wallets in Nepal", as China is the country's second-largest source of foreign tourists, who commonly used Alipay and WeChat Pay. Tourist spending is the third-largest source of foreign income for Nepal. Over 150,000 tourists from China visited Nepal in 2018, a nearly 50 percent of increase on the number of visitors in 2017. Late last month, the Globe and Mail published an in-depth feature story on what right-wing extremism looks like in Canada in 2019: anti-immigrant, Islamophobic, anti-Semitic, sexist but also young, radicalized and online. The face of white supremacy today, increasingly, is one thats lit by the glow of a computer screen. Though these views, expressed in online forums like social media websites, video game chat apps and message boards may be disturbing and shocking to some, theyre not at all surprising to Kayla Preston, a masters student in the Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology at Dalhousie. Right wing extremism isnt new its always been happening, says Kayla, originally from Fredericton, NB. But what were seeing now thats different is that the radicalization is being driven online. So Im hoping my research sheds light on how these groups are taking on discourses that are already prominent in Canada and just making them more extreme, and building them in new ways. For her masters thesis, Kayla is doing a critical discourse analysis of three different right-wing extremist groups in Canada ones that are particularly prominent on social media. By examining how they normalize opinions and views that have traditionally lied outside the mainstream in Canada, she hopes her research can help better understand on how racism takes root in a digital-driven culture. A storytelling success Though shes only just beginning her thesis proper, Kaylas skill at communicating her research has made her a finalist in the annual Storytellers competition organized by the Social Sciences and Humaniites Research Council of Canada (SSHRC). Kaylas three-minute video earned her a spot as one of the competitions top 25 entrants, selected from more than 200 entries from across Canada. Having already earned a $3,000 prize as a finalist, she now gets to travel to the 2019 Congress of the Humanities in Vancouver next month to present her research live. The five top presenters there will get to be part of the 2019 SSHRC Impact Awards event this fall. I thought it was a great opportunity, says Kayla, who produced her video with the help of two of her friends. Storytellers is all about honing in on and giving credence to the importance of social sciences and humanities research, and how it answers social questions and benefits society in general. Thats why I thought it would be a good idea to do this: the more people who understand my topic, and that I can get across to, the better. Shining a light For Kayla, who grew up as the sort of kid who questions everything, studying sociology has proven to be a natural fit. I took a sociology course as an elective in my undergrad, and completely fell in love with it, she says. It gave me the tools to answer the questions Id had. Her interest in studying right-wing extremism began with conversation with her honours supervisor at St. Thomas University, both of them noticing how often they were coming across such views online, particularly in the wake of the 2016 U.S. election and other events. It makes people more anonymous, says Kayla of this new wave of digital extremism. It makes peoples messages instant, and messages can be spread locally and globally at the same time. Thats different than in other periods when right-wing extremism was on the rise. Kayla, set to graduate next year, is part of a growing number of researchers in Canada studying right-wing extremism. As she looks ahead to hopefully pursuing a PhD, shes eager to make her own contribution to a topic she sees as incredibly important. Its not always easy to look at these websites, but I do the research because I think its important, she says. I have the tools to do the research, I have extreme privilege to be able to go to school, do my masters, and have the support I have in my academic community. I hope my research feeds into the larger research conversation about this, shedding some light on these specific groups and case studies, because if these groups arent understood then it could become a lot worse. The consumer complaints council (CCC) of Advertising Standards Council of India upheld complaints against 229 ads out of 270 evaluated by them. Mumbai: Advertising sector watchdog ASCI upheld complaints against 229 misleading advertisements in March this year, including those of NIIT, Amul, Colgate, Tata Motors and Maruti Suzuki. The Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) examined complaints against 344 advertisements, of which 74 advertisers ensured prompt corrective action, a statement said. The consumer complaints council (CCC) of the ASCI upheld complaints against 229 ads out of 270 evaluated by them. Of the 229 misleading ads, a maximum 123 belonged to the healthcare sector, followed by education sector (83), food and beverages sector (7) and personal care (2). While, 14 ads were from the others category. Over 100 ads from the healthcare sector seen in potential violation of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (DMR) Regulations. Of the total 187 ads under the ASCI's suo-motu surveillance, 70 were informally resolved wherein the advertisers promptly confirmed that the ads were being withdrawn immediately. While complaints against the remaining 117 ads were upheld, of which 79 belonged to the education sector, 30 to the healthcare sector, 4 to the food and beverages sector and 4 to the others category. The ASCI upheld the NIIT's advertisement claim of '5,000 assured jobs' as it was misleading by exaggeration, ambiguity and implication and since the students were given a provisional offer, an assured job could not be promised to the students. It also noted that the claim, '50,000 students placed' was not substantiated with authentic supporting data such as detailed list of students who have been placed through their institute in the banking sector, contact details of students for verification, enrolment forms and appointment letters received by the students, nor any independent audit or verification certificate. The regulator pulled up Amul's Guajarati ad of 'only Amul ghee means a promise of purity' and 'only Amul Ghee is 100 per cent pure, is a promise of 36 lakhs farmers', as misleading by implication and stating that only Amul is 100 per cent pure and implying that other ghee brands are not, were not substantiated with comparative data of the advertiser's product and other ghee products. It found Colgate's TV and YouTube advertisements claim misleading and found the visual representation of numerical equivalence of calcium in both milk and the toothpaste and the comparison of action of it with that of milk was considered to be incorrect. The ASCI also pulled up the advertiser contravening the ASCI guidelines for disclaimers in advertising and said the claim was considered to be misleading by omission and implication as it distorts facts, exploits consumers' lack of knowledge and is likely to lead to grave or widespread disappointment. It upheld complaints against Tata Motors dvertisement claim, 'Tata Nexon India's safest car. Going swift is not safe for your family' as it was not factual and was not substantiated, and there is likelihood of the consumer being misled as a result of comparison. "The reference made to 'Swift' in the caption, 'Going swift is not safe for your family', when seen in conjunction with the picture of Maruti Swift car, unfairly denigrated another vehicle in the four wheeler category directly. The claim is misleading by exaggeration and implication," it noted. Similarly, it pulled up Maruti Suzuki's ad 'enjoy the month of March with exciting offers from Maruti Suzuki', and 'bigger savings' showing images of various models of Maruti Suzuki with their prices, were not substantiated with any supporting verifiable data. It also observed that the disclaimer stating that the offer was on select car models was not substantiated with a detailed list of the models on which discount was available and evidence of customers who had availed the said offer was not provided and found that the claim offer was misleading by exaggeration and also contravened ASCI guidelines for disclaimers in advertising. The ASCI also found Vodafone's Supernet 4G ad claim, 'adding a tower every hour in crowded places' as misleading by exaggeration as it was not substantiated with any verifiable data of the hourly roll-out of the towers/sites in crowded places, or through an independent third party validation. CCI has powers to impose a penalty of up to 10 per cent of the companys relevant turnover in the past three financial years if it agrees with the reports findings. New Delhi: A probe by the investigations unit of Indias antitrust body has found that Monsanto abused its dominant position as a supplier of genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds in the country, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2016 ordered the unit to carry out the probe after the agriculture ministry and some local seed companies complained that Monsanto was charging unreasonably high royalty fees for its GM technology. The investigation units report will now be reviewed by senior members of the CCI. The watchdog has powers to impose a penalty of up to 10 per cent of the companys relevant turnover in the past three financial years if it agrees with the reports findings. The CCI did not respond to Reuters queries. An Indian spokesperson for Monsanto also did not respond. Monsanto was acquired by German pharmaceutical and chemical maker Bayer AG in a USD 63 billion deal last year. Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India)(MMB), a joint venture with Indias Mahyco, licenses a gene that produces its own pesticide to a number of local seed companies, in lieu of royalties and an upfront payment. MMB commands more than 90 per cent of the cotton market. The CCI investigation units probe found that Monsanto abused its dominant position in the market to hurt rivals, and that the royalty it charged was unfair, the sources said. The companys agreements with seed companies were anti-competitive, said one of the sources aware of the probes results. A second source familiar with the CCIs findings said the watchdog had found MMB had abused its dominant position and set its trait fees, or royalties, to extract maximum profits from captive customers. Monsanto launched the GM cotton variety in India in 2002 despite opposition from critics who questioned the safety of genetically-modified crops. It has been locked in a battle with Indian seed makers, including Nuziveedu Seeds, which is one of the complainants at the CCI. The agriculture ministry has slashed royalties that local seed companies pay to Monsanto. After a spate of unfavourable government orders and a tussle over royalty payments, Monsanto in 2016 withdrew an application seeking approval for its next generation of GM cotton seeds in India. Chtrbox termed the reports of private data being leaked as "inaccurate" and acknowledged that "a particular database for limited influencers was inadvertently exposed for approximately 72 hours". New Delhi: Mumbai-based Chtrbox, which was allegedly responsible for leaking data of millions of Instagram users, has said database for a limited number of influencers was inadvertently exposed but that did not include any sensitive personal data. The company termed the reports of private data being leaked as "inaccurate" and acknowledged that "a particular database for limited influencers was inadvertently exposed for approximately 72 hours". "This database did not include any sensitive personal data and only contained information available from the public domain, or self reported by influencers," it said in a statement late Tuesday night. On Tuesday, Facebook-owned Instagram said it is investigating whether a third-party - Chtrbox - improperly stored its user data in violation of its policies after reports that information of millions of users being available online allegedly in an unsecured database emerged. These reports said the database found online - with over 49 million records - contained information of millions of Instagram influencers, celebrities and brand accounts. The database was allegedly traced back to Chtrbox. The reports had said apart from public data (like bio, profile picture and number of followers), the database also allegedly contained users' private contact information such as email address and phone number. An Instagram spokesperson had said the company is "investigating whether a third party improperly stored Instagram data, in violation of our policies. It's also not clear whether the phone numbers and e-mails in Chtrbox's database came from Instagram". Chtrbox, in its statement, asserted that no personal data has been sourced through unethical means by the company. "Our database is for internal research use only, we have never sold individual data or our database, and we have never purchased hacked-data resulting from social media platform breaches. Our use of our database is limited to help our team connect with the right influencers to support influencers to monetize their online presence, and help brands create great content," it added. Another phone salesperson said she would only buy Huawei phones at a 50 per cent discount. Singapore: Mobile phone retailers in some Asian countries are refusing to accept Huawei devices for trade-ins, as more consumers look to offload their device on worries Google suspending business with the Chinese firm will disrupt services. Google has said it will comply with an order by US President Donald Trump to stop supplying Huawei, meaning current owners of Huawei phones face being cut off from updates of the Android operating system from late August. New phones will lose access to popular apps such as YouTube and Chrome. Against this backdrop, some customers in Singapore and the Philippines have rushed to sell their Huawei phones, according to retailers and online marketplace data. But there are few takers."If we buy something that is useless, how are we going to sell it?," said Dylan On, a salesman at Wanying Pte Ltd, a Singapore retail and repair shop. "It's not that Huawei is a bad product. It's a very good product. It's just that nobody wants to buy it now because of US policy," he said, adding he was looking to sell existing Huawei stock online to overseas buyers in hopes they are less aware of current events. Huawei has said it is developing its own phone software and it can still use an "open source" version of Android that lacks access to Google apps. Huawei also went ahead with a new phone launch in Britain on Tuesday, even as the number of users trading in their devices rose in Asia. Previously, about five people a day were looking to trade in their Huawei phones, but that has jumped to 20 in the last two days, said Zack, a salesman at Mobile Square in Singapore who declined to give his last name. "Normally, you would see people wanting to trade their old phones as they want to replace them with new ones," he said. "Now you're seeing people wanting to trade in the latest one." Huawei smartphones had a 14 per cent share of the Singapore market last year, according to research firm Canalys. Mobile phone retailers in the Philippines are also staying away from Huawei products."We are no longer accepting Huawei phones. It will not be bought by our clients anymore," Hamida Norhamida, a saleswoman of new and used phones in Manila told Reuters. Another phone salesperson said she would only buy Huawei phones at a 50 per cent discount. "Selling it will be a gamble," said the saleswoman, who would give her name only as Thelma. Reuters After a four-year decline that erased 65 per cent from the value of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Shanghvi is preparing to bounce back. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who's lost more during the recent upheaval in the generic drug business than Dilip Shanghvi: He forfeited $17 billion, plus the title of India's richest man. After a four-year decline that erased 65 per cent from the value of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Shanghvi is preparing to bounce back. He's doing it by borrowing a page from Big Pharma's playbook: investing in higher-margin patented medicines rather than relying solely on copying drugs. That won't be easy, especially when the multinationals that dominate the pharmaceutical business have already seen the payoffs from their massive research and development spending become more uncertain. Those giants are increasingly turning to acquisitions to fill out their pipelines, and that's where Shanghvi also sees an opening. Aided by an ability to move quickly because of Sun Pharma's relatively small size-it had only about $4 billion in sales in 2018, compared with Pfizer Inc.'s $53.6 billion-and streamlined decision-making, Shanghvi thinks the company can eventually pick up enough early-stage innovations and key personnel to generate half its revenue from patented medicines. "It does require some additional skills beyond what a typical generic has," Shanghvi says, but those skills aren't impossible to acquire. Shanghvi says he and Sun have a better chance of success at new medicines than many US giants. For one, he's proved adept at dealmaking. Shanghvi recognised the opportunity in generic dermatology products at an early stage, acquiring a controlling stake in distressed Israeli drugmaker Taro Pharmaceutical Industries in 2010 and using price increases on its portfolio to help improve Sun's profitability. Sun today is India's largest drugmaker, thanks in part to the 2015 acquisition of a troubled local competitor, Ranbaxy Laboratories. Shanghvi says the inspiration for his strategy is British drugmaker Shire Plc, which largely eschewed research and development in favor of a "search and development" model: acquiring and licensing products created by others. Shire was bought for $62 bn this year by Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. to bolster its own dwindling product pipeline. Because he controls 55 per cent of Sun's shares, Shanghvi says, the company can pursue opportunities more nimbly than rivals. Bloomberg New Delhi: When the whole nation is waiting for the final verdict of 2019 Lok Sabha elections, actor Vivek Oberoi is awaiting the release of his film - 'PM Narendra Modi' -- which is scheduled for release a day after the results will be announced. Expressing his excitement during an interaction with media persons here on Tuesday, Oberoi said: "First on May 23, Modi will come to power and then on 24th he (PM Narendra Modi) will come in theatres." The Election Commission of India (ECI) on April 10 had stayed the release of the biopic, a day ahead of its original scheduled release date on April 11, which coincided with the first phase polling of the Lok Sabha elections. The poll panel had said the film disturbs the level-playing field. With a bright smile on his face, the actor asserted that they had organised a special screening of the film in Delhi and Mumbai and got a very positive response from the audience. Also Read | Finally! Vivek Oberoi apologises, deletes Aishwarya-Salman meme; read post "The special screenings that took place in Delhi and Mumbai saw an excitement among the audience. People were shouting the slogan of Modi and were very happy," he said. After being surrounded by a string of controversies regarding his upcoming film for months, Vivek once again found himself in a soup after he posted a tasteless joke referring to his ex-girlfriend Aishwarya Rai and her relationships on Monday. The post referred to Salman and Aishwarya's relationship as the 'opinion poll,' Vivek and Aishwarya's affair as the 'exit poll' and her current family with husband Abhishek and daughter Aaradhya as the 'final result.' While the actor might have posted the tweet thinking it is funny, others did not share the same feeling. Many including his fellow actors called him out for posting the bizarre tweet. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has even issued a notice to the actor demanding an explanation over his tweet on the exit polls. However, earlier today, Oberoi apologised for his tweet and later deleted it. "Sometimes what appears to be funny and harmless at first glance to one, may not be so to others. I have spent the last 10 years empowering more than 2,000 underprivileged girls. I can't even think of being disrespectful to any woman ever," Vivek tweeted, before deleting the distasteful tweet. In two days, Anupam Kher will be completing 35 years in the film industry. The actor who began his career with Saaransh is still raring to go and is busy with international projects. At the trailer launch of his forthcoming film, One Day, Anupam went down the memory lane and recollected his initial days in the city. Not many know that the veteran actor had decided to leave the city long ago but returned when he got a call from Mahesh Bhatt. Ever since my debut, I have been continuously working here. But this will be the first time ever, after the release of One Day, that I wont have a Hindi film release any time soon, he says. The Daddy actor is taking a break for a holiday in New York and reveals that he will only think about Hindi films once he returns to the city. I will call upon directors and producers after returning from New York, he adds. Speaking about his Hollywood projects, Anupam feels that its very simple to get work in Hollywood films. I simply try to get the email addresses of those concerned and send them an email, he says. We had reported that actor and filmmaker Sasikumar will be seen as an IT guy in his next with Nikki Galrani teaming up for the first time. Directed by Kathirvelu, a former associate of Sundar C, the family drama which went on floors in Pollachi has got a title now Raja Vamsam. Speaking about the film, the director says, Besides being a family entertainer, the film will impart an important message to the country. It will rekindle a vital issue, which we all have totally forgotten. Sasikumar has a dual dimensional role in it. Sundar C films will have an array of actors and it looks like Kathirvelu also follows his gurus pattern as he has roped in 49 artistes who are busy in the industry including Radha Ravi, Thambi Ramaiah, Yogi Babu , Rekha, Sumithra, Satish, Vijayakumar, Manobala, Ramesh Kanna, Nirosha, to name a few. Bankrolled by TD Raja, the films unit will move on to exotic locales of Bangkok for their next schedule. The United Nations notes women comprise a large share of convicted offenders when it comes to the sex industry as compared with most other crimes. (Photo: Representational/Pexels) Born in rural Thailand, Watcharaporn Nantahkhum gave birth to her first child at the age of 17. Her father killed himself when she was young, to absolve the family of debt. Her mother later ran into debt and arrangements were made for her to travel to Australia, to earn money to support her family. She knew she would be working in the sex industry, however, at 37 years of age, she had been sold. Details of the conditions she put up with in a Sydney brothel were later revealed in a Canberra court. They were severe. She was a virtual prisoner, not allowed to leave unsupervised. Being older than the other sex workers, she could not refuse clients, nor insist they use a condom. We know her story, however, not because she was a victim of human trafficking. In 2012 she became the first person in the Australian Capital Territory to be convicted of possessing a slave. By 2007, just three years after being trafficked, she herself became a trafficker. Ultimately charged with six offences relating to two victims, she was sentenced to eight years, 10 months in prison (later reduced on appeal to six years, 10 months). Her trajectory is far from unique. Since 2004, 20 people have been convicted of human trafficking-related crimes in Australia. Of those, nine have been women, with six of them having a history of some form of sexual victimisation. Does such a history aggravate or mitigate involvement in human trafficking? Research indicates some judges in Australia appear to take the former view that someone who knows what its like to be exploited has no excuse to exploit others. But it is suggested that their history of victimisation is important. Because they were once themselves exploited as the trafficked victim, their offending behaviour needs to be understood within the context of their victimisation. Victims turned victimisers We tend to think human trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation is perpetrated by men against women and girls. But the high proportion of women among those convicted of trafficking in Australia echoes an international trend. The United Nations notes women comprise a large share of convicted offenders compared with most other crimes. In three significant Australian cases, the offenders (all from Thailand) came into the country in remarkably similar ways to their victims. They were lured with promises of making large amounts of money. They incurred a debt for the trafficking arrangements and were effectively held captive. After they paid their debt, they stayed and continued to work in the sex industry. Then they made the transition from victim to offender, by profiting from other women being trafficked and prostituted. The judges who sentenced these three women drew attention to what the offenders experienced as victims of sex trafficking and then helped perpetrate on others. As Justice Richard Refshauge said in sentencing Nantahkhum: This has both positive and negative elements to it as far as sentencing is concerned. She knew what it was like to be constrained in this way [] She should have known that this was not the way to conduct such a business. A question of free choice The issue of victims who become victimisers is a complex one. Certainly many victims do not become offenders, but research points to earlier experiences of victimisation being strongly associated with later offending. This victim-offender overlap has been recognised in other areas, for example, intimate partner violence. To what extent we judge and punish someone for their offences depends on the degree to which society believes it necessary to serve justice, signal abhorrence of certain behaviour and judges the offender responsible for their own actions. In the three cases of trafficked women turning traffickers, the sentencing judgements assume a choice freely exercised. All three had, after all, been released from their previous situations of exploitation. They were free to begin a life, away from away from the exploitation other people. Why didnt they, apart from sheer greed? But how free were these women really? They had limited education, particularly in English, limited opportunities and limited experience except of course, of sex work and the trafficking business. Appearing to defend the offender is contentious. While these women cannot be released of all culpability of their crimes, it is possible had they not been trafficked, they would not have become traffickers themselves. Their victimisation does not excuse their offending, but nor does their offending erase that victimisation. The structure of our criminal courts is not designed to grapple with a person being both a victim and an offender, or both innocent and guilty. Their function can thus obscure or overlook complexities, and contribute to a wider system failure. We need to understand the events that led these women to exploit others to help break the cycle of exploitation. *The article was originally published by The Conversation Global Perspectives. Kathmandu: Apa Sherpa has stood on top of the world more times than all but one other person. Now he wants to make sure no one feels compelled to follow in his footsteps. As a boy growing up in Nepal, Sherpa dreamed of becoming a doctor, but poverty and lack of education steered him to a far more dangerous path, working as a guide on Mount Everest, carrying climbing equipment and helping foreign mountaineers scale the world's tallest peak. Now retired in the US, Sherpa returns every year to his roots in the foothills of the Himalayas to provide financial assistance to village schools and try to show children from the Sherpa minority group that they have options in life. "Sherpas take big risks in the mountains to earn a living for their families because they are unable to take up any other jobs," the 59-year-old said. "My main goal is to ensure children in the future don't have to take up climbing like we did." Sherpa tribespeople were mostly yak herders and traders living deep within the Himalayas until Nepal opened its borders to foreigners in the 1950s. As adventurers began arriving to conquer the country's famous peaks, the Sherpas with their mountain experience found themselves in demand as guides and porters. To this day they are an indispensable part of Nepal's climbing industry, which brings in USD 300 million to the country each year. But advocates say Nepal's estimated 350,000 Sherpa remain marginalised, with many living in remote, impoverished villages connected to the rest of the country only by footpaths and small airstrips. Access to schooling beyond the primary level is rare. The Apa Sherpa Foundation, set up in 2012, has been seeking to change that, paying teacher salaries in several villages to ensure schools remain open and providing hot lunches, computers, books, pens and warm clothes to motivate children to attend classes. "Most people in the area have now realised the value of educating their children and they do their best to send their children to school," Sherpa said. "But many schools face difficulties, so we try and help them whatever way possible." When Sherpa was growing up, the school in his village, Thame, offered education only up to the second grade. He continued his studies in another village for two more years, walking the mountain trails for six hours each day, but had to drop out when his father died and he had to take on the responsibility of feeding his family. By the age of 12 he was working on climbing expeditions. At age 30, he summited Everest for the first time. He repeated the feat almost every year after, going on to become one of Everest's greatest guides and earning the nickname Super Sherpa. Sherpas are the first to reach Everest each climbing season and the last to leave. They set up the camps, carry the equipment and cook the food for climbing parties. Most importantly, they fix the ropes and ladders over the crevasses and icefalls that enable mountaineers to scale the peak. The work has earned the Sherpas prestige, as well as income far above average wages in Nepal. Experienced guides like Sherpa who take climbers all the way to the top of Everest make USD 10,000 or more, while porters or cooks at mountaineers' camps average between USD 3,000 and USD 5,000 during their three months of work. That's a huge amount compared to Nepal's USD 1,035 annual per capita income. Sherpa himself was able to move to the US state of Utah in 2006 so that his children could have a better education. But Sherpas also bear the largest brunt of the danger and death that go hand-in-hand with the industry. In 2014, 16 Sherpa guides were buried by an avalanche on Everest as they carried supplies. The following year, another 10 were among those killed when an earthquake triggered an avalanche that tore through Everest base camp. After the 2014 disaster, Sherpas refused to work, prompting the government to introduce new rules for better wages, increasing insurance payouts and improving rescue operations for Sherpas. Sherpa himself had many near misses, having survived blizzards, frostbite, inadequate oxygen supplies and the deaths of fellow mountaineers. Given a choice, he said, many Sherpas would probably never take up the work. In the past few weeks, members of his foundation and trekkers have hiked to six schools to drop off supplies. They also distribute supplies to monasteries. As Buddhists, Sherpas often send their children to live and study at monasteries, a tradition that also relieves parents of the burden of having to feed and educate them at home. In addition to making sure children have access to school, there is also the issue of ensuring teachers are hired. Of the eight teachers the government says are needed at the village school in Thame, it says it can only afford to hire three. Sherpa's foundation mostly collects funds from donations, talks, dinners and screenings. Last year, it raised USD 80,000. It also has sponsorship from the outdoor equipment supplier Thule thanks to Sherpa's fame. "Apa's vision was that he wanted the children to have a choice through education," said foundation board member Valerie Littleton. "He is very passionate about giving back to the country he loves." The environmental activist group has long advocated for the marshes to be better protected and for authorities to develop a long-term ecotourism plan for the area. (Photo: AFP) Iraq: Thirty years after Saddam Hussein starved them of water, Iraq's southern marshes are blossoming once more thanks to a wave of ecotourists picnicking and paddling down their replenished river bends. A one-room home made of elaborately woven palm reeds floats on the river surface. Near it, a soft plume of smoke curls up from a firepit where carp is being grilled, Iraqi-style. A few canoes drift by, carrying couples and groups of friends singing to the beat of drums. Straddling Iraq's famous Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Mesopotamian marshes are a rare aquatic ecosystem in a country nearly half of which is covered in cracked desert. It all culminated with a particularly dry winter last year that left the "ahwar", as they are known in Arabic, painfully parched. But heavier rains this year have filled more than 80 percent of the marshes' surface area, according to the United Nations, compared to just 27 percent last year. That has resurrected the ancient lifestyle that dominated this area for more than 5,000 years. "The water returned, and with it normal life," said 35-year-old Mehdi al-Mayali, who raises water buffalo and sells their milk, used to make rich cream served at Iraqi breakfasts. Wildlife including the vulnerable smooth-coated otter, Euphrates softshell turtles, and Basra reed warbler have returned to the marshlands along with the pickiest of all species: tourists. "Ecotourism has revived the 'ahwar'. There are Iraqis from different provinces and some foreigners," Mayali said. A day in the marshes typically involves hiring a resident to paddle a large reed raft down the river for around $25 not a cheap fare for Iraq. Then, lunch in a "mudhif" or guesthouse, also run by locals. "Ecotourism is an important source of revenue for those native to the marshes," said Jassim al-Assadi, who heads Nature Iraq. The environmental activist group has long advocated for the marshes to be better protected and for authorities to develop a long-term ecotourism plan for the area. "It's a much more sustainable activity than the hydrocarbon and petroleum industry," said Assadi, referring to the dominant industry that provides Iraq with about 90 per cent of state revenues. The numbers have steadily gone up in recent years, according to Assaad al-Qarghouli, tourism chief in Iraq's southern province of Dhi Qar. Kochi: In one of the biggest drug hauls, a special squad of the excise on Wednesday seized 6.5 kg of charas worth around Rs 13 crore and arrested an Ernakulam native suspected to be an international drug carrier smuggling it from Nepal. Charas is the name given to a hashish form of cannabis which is handmade in the Indian subcontinent and Jamaica. It is made from the resin of a live cannabis plant. The squad members caught Antony Varghese Judeson, 52, a native of Puthuvype, after a run and chase at Moolampilly on Container Terminal Road after he pointed a pistol at them and tried to escape. The sleuths, in return, pointed the service revolver and overpowered him before handcuffing. The arrest followed information collected from around 50 persons including his recent customers and the leads from narcotics secret group under deputy excise commissioner K. Chandrapalan. He was trying to sell the remaining items in a chocolate form in bulk amounts when he caught red-handed. According to Mr Chandrapalan, the contraband seized was smuggled from Nepal and reached Kerala via Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka roads. He had smuggled in 10 kg of charas from in the last deal, and somehow escaped from our officers. During interrogation, we found him having no helpers, and he used to drive through Bengaluru, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to get the item from Nepal all the way. To distribute the item in Kerala, he used rent-a-car business. He also said that drugs and weapons could easily be transferred from Nepal and cross the Indian border without any checks, he said. We have received information about the heavy flow of drugs from Nepal and alerts will be sent to the central authorities. The state government will be informed first, and alerts will be sent to the Union government regarding the route and flow of drugs. According to officials, the accused had planned to form a cartel with criminal activities that help drug business to flourish. Besides, he also planned to flee to Nepal after killing officers who confront him. For this, he always kept a fully-loaded pistol with him. The seized stuff is suspected to be Bilaspur Charas as it is Red Label grade, officials said. The cannabis plant, from which the charas is made, grows wild throughout northern India along the stretch of the Himalayas and is an important cash crop for the local people. After a month-long lookout for the accused, the arrest was made by special squad inspector P. Sreeraj along with preventive officer K. R. Ram Prasad, intelligence preventive officer A. S. Jayan, squad member Roby and civil excise officers P. X. Ruban, M. M. Arun Kumar and Sidhardhan. Chennai: A 29-year-old woman allegedly poisoned her two children and attempted suicide at her residence in Maduravoyal on Tuesday night. Preliminary investigation indicates that the move was triggered by extreme poverty, police said. According to police, Shailaja (29) who lived in an apartment in Alapakkam Ganapathi Nagar in Maduravoyal killed her daughter Sri Lakshmi (4) and son Adhiseshan (2) by poisoning their food. Police said the woman also consumed poison, but was rescued. Police said that Shibi Raj (38), a cinema financer and Shailaja's husband, died of renal failure two months ago. The family had mounting debts and since Shibi Raj was the only breadwinner of the family, Shailaja allegedly mixed poison in the children's food and killed them. The incident came to light after Shibiraj's friend, Junaid from Kerala visited the house on Wednesday morning to see the family. He found the door locked from inside and peeked through the window to find the children and Shailaja lying unconscious. With the help of the neighbours, he broke open the door and rushed the trio to the Kilpauk government hospital where the children were declared dead on arrival. Their bodies were sent for post mortem. However, Shailaja is out of danger and is undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi government hospital. Maduravoyal police registered a case and charged Shailaja with the murder of her two daughters. Further investigations are on. The Rafale team sits in a building complex in Saint Cloud suburb of Paris and the police there is investigating the case. (Photo: Representational | AP) New Delhi: Unidentified persons broke into the Indian Rafale project management team office in France on Sunday night in a possible espionage attempt to steal data related to the aircraft critical to India's national security plans. "There was a break-in into the Indian Air Force Rafale project management team office which is located in a suburb of Paris in France. No hard disk or document has been stolen. More details are being ascertained about the motive," sources in the Indian Air Force told ANI. The Rafale project team is headed by a Group Captain-rank officer who looks after issues related to the 36 Rafale combat aircraft, including the production timelines and training of Indian personnel who have to be trained for maintenance and flying operations of the plane, which India is acquiring. The Rafale team sits in a building complex in Saint Cloud suburb of Paris and the police there is investigating the case. Sources said the main aim of the break-in could have been to steal data as valuables or money are not kept in these administrative offices. The Indian Rafale team office is in the vicinity of French Dassault Aviation office blocks. Government sources said the Indian Air Force has already briefed the Defence Ministry in this regard and French police authorities are probing the case. India in 2016 signed a Rs 59,800 crore agreement with France for acquiring 36 Rafale combat aircraft for meeting the shortfall in Indian Air Force squadron strength. The incident has come after the long election season in India where allegations of corruption in the Rafale procurement were leveller by Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The Rafale has been critical to IAF plans for securing the country against the aerial and other threats from enemy countries. After the February 27 incident involving an aerial battle between India and Pakistan, IAF Chief BS Dhanoa had suggested that the Pakistanis would not have dared to come close to the LoC in a conflict situation if the country had Rafale planes in its inventory. In the December 14 judgement, the Supreme Court had said that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the deal. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Review petitioners Prashant Bhushan and others on Wednesday have filed their written submissions to the Supreme Court in the Rafale case. This comes over a week after the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on petitions seeking review of the December 14 Rafale case judgment which refused to order a court-monitored probe into the deal for procuring 36 fighter jets from France. In the Rafale case, advocate Prashant Bhushan, one of the petitioners, argued that the December 14 judgment did not take note of the plea seeking an investigation in the matter and registration of a First Information Report (FIR). He claimed that there was no precedent of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) redacting pricing details from its report regarding the deal. "Not even in one case in the past, pricing details have been redacted. It was unprecedented that pricing details were redacted," he contended before the bench also comprising Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph. Bhushan also questioned as to why the standard anti-corruption clauses relating to the deal were allegedly deleted by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). "Eight standard clauses, including all standard anti-corruption clauses, were dropped from the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) post-August 24, 2016 in the Rafale deal and the same was not informed to the court," he said. "A lot of crucial information was suppressed from this court and the impugned judgment was obtained on the basis of fraud played upon the court by the government," the lawyer said. In his arguments, Attorney General (AG) KK Venugopal, representing the government, said, "There is no question of any corruption. The court has already decided that in the Rafale case verdict (on December 14 last year)." The review petitions were filed by Yashwant Sinha, Arun Shourie, Prashant Bhushan and others. In the December 14 judgement, the Supreme Court had said that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the deal. Nationalist Congress Partys Sharad Pawar has played a role of matchmaker between various parties for a non-BJP front. (Photo: File) Mumbai: The Oppositions leading players are reaching out to other political leaders who can swing numbers in case the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) falls short of majority. The exit polls, however, predicted otherwise. Nationalist Congress Partys Sharad Pawar has played a role of matchmaker between various parties for a non-BJP front. Pawar has reached out to YSR Congresss Jagan Mohan Reddy, Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader K Chandrasekhar Rao and Odishas Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, reported NDTV. According to Hindustan Times report, the functionary said K Chandrasekhar Rao confirmed to Pawar that his party would be open to supporting the United Progressive Alliance in the event of a hung Parliament. He had reportedly made calls for support in case Opposition gets a chance to form the government. He has been in touch with Chandrababu Naidu who has been touring across nation for discussion with leaders including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BSPs Mayawati, SPs Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. On Tuesday, Chandrababu Naidu met Karnataka Chief Minsiter HD Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda of JD(S), which is in alliance with Congress. Jagan Reddy is yet to return calls from the opposition. Reddy is also being pursued by the NDA. Last year, Naidu broke the alliance with NDA over the delay of granting special status to Andhra Pradesh. Exit polls on Sunday predicted over 300 of Lok Sabha's 543 seats for the NDA, well past the majority mark of 272. The Congress and its allies were given 122 and non-aligned parties, 114. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. Speaking on unresolved border issues, Luo said that it is important to maintain peace and tranquillity and 'border disputes are left over by history.' (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui has said that disputes between the two neighbouring countries are as natural as issues between two brothers of a family staying under one roof. He said that India and China have reached a consensus to make bilateral ties stable and break the cycle of highs and lows in the relations between the two countries. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of a seminar hosted by Chinese Embassy, Luo said: India-China ties are important for both the countries. We already reached a consensus under the leadership of both sides. We now maintain that China-India relationship will continue to move in a healthy and stable direction." "Next year will mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations. One major feature is that such types of important bilateral relations always see ups and downs. So we have a consensus reached with the Indian government on how to make this relation stable and break the up and down circle," he added. The Doklam standoff between India and China in June 2017 resulted in tensions between the two countries. Luo had played a significant role in dousing the tensions. Asked how he viewed and handled the situation, the Chinese envoy said: Something going wrong between two great neighbouring countries is natural. It is as natural as two brothers of a family living under one roof having issues, it is very natural. Of course, we did not ignore that matter. We worked together and resolved the problem, which ensured that bilateral relations were back on normal track. That is my job and the two leaders of both countries did a great job and provided strategic guidelines. We are happy to see that. Speaking on unresolved border issues, Luo said that it is important to maintain peace and tranquillity and "border disputes are left over by history." Border issues are a left over by history and it takes a long time to resolve. Before we can resolve the matters, we must maintain peace and tranquillity along the border area. We should also focus on economic cooperation, strengthen our friendship and narrow down the disputes," he said. Emphasising on the importance of border trade, Luo further said: I am just back from Gangtok to check India-China border trade at Nathula. Border trading matters and I really think that place has great potential to do more. In Nathula pass, the border trade is totally in favour of Indian side and it also makes the lives of the people along the border area better and we should pay more attention towards it." Speaking on the growing trade deficit between India and China, the Chinese envoy said: "We have made a lot of progress so that is why I am always optimistic on the economic side. The two-way trade last year is over USD 95 billion and of course, it is in favour of China. On economic and trade matters and on regional and global issues we share a lot of similarities." "So this is the whole picture. I am also talking about trade deficit where it is not on direction and we would like to see. I am sure with the progress of the economic development from both sides, this matter will be resolved," Luo added. Luo will be returning to Beijing on the evening of May 27 after he was promoted to the level of a vice-minister. He will be looking after Asian Affairs. On his tenure in India, Luo said: "I really wish I could stay here for longer. This is my second tenure here. Thirty years have passed and India has made tremendous progress in the economic area." "I really admire and appreciate the progress made by India and also at the same time China has made progress. India-China relations have also made a lot of progress so this is one thing I see is quite optimistic. The future is also optimistic and I have done my job," the Chinese envoy said. The Criminal Law (Guj-arat Amendment) Bill 2018 will provide a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25,000. New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to a Gujarat legislation under which chain snatchers in the state will face up to 10 years imprisonment instead of three years elsewhere in the country. The Criminal Law (Guj-arat Amendment) Bill 2018 will provide a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25,000 if anyone in Gujarat is convicted for the chain snatching and causing harm in the process. The President has given his assent to the bill recently, a home ministry official said. In rest of the country, chain snatchers are normally charged with the Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code, which is related to the crime of theft and invites a punishment of up to three years in jail or with fine, or with both. Some state legislation requires presidential assent. The Gujarat Assembly in September 2018 had amended Section 379 of the IPC by adding two clauses, IPC 379(A) and 379(B), thus incorporating the stringent punishment, the official said. The government enacted the law as the punishment for theft under Section 379 is considered to be insufficient to deter the criminals as they often get bail, another official said. As per the new law, for an attempt to snatch chain, the accused will get minimum five and maximum seven years of imprisonment. For committing the crime of chain snatching, the accused will be liable to get seven years imprisonment. However, while committing the offence, if the accused injures somebody while trying to escape, he will be liable to get an imprisonment of up to 10 years. Chennai: A woman and her second husband were brutally attacked and stabbed by her 22-year-old son in Mannivakkam on Tuesday night. Police said the son killed her mother as he believes his mother's illicit affair triggered his father to commit suicide a few years ago. According to police, Anbu, a construction worker and a resident of Mannivakkam in Vandoor allegedly committed suicide at his residence a few years ago.. Anbu lived by his wife Bhavani( 40) and three children including the murderer Sampath( 22). Sources said, after Anbu's death, Bhavani developed a relationship with one Raja alias Rajkumar( 35) of Somangalam in Tambaram. When Bhavani told the children's about her relationship they allegedly opposed her relationship with him . However, Two years ago the couple got married and lived at Rajkumar's house in Somangalam, whereas the three children's stayed at Mannivakkam. Police sources said Sampath warned the couple not to see his sister and brother and to get out of their lives. Meanwhile, on Tuesday Night Bhavani and Rajkumar visited a relation house in Mannivakkam and the couple on their way back to Tambaram met Sampath on Mannivakkam Main road. Sampath Angered Sampath had gone to his house, picked up a kitchen knife and allegedly chased the couple on a two-wheeler. Police said on seeing Sampath Rajkumar rode the vehicle at high speed, lost control and hit a speed breaker. The couple fell off the bike when Sampath attacked and brutally stabbed her mother in full public view. .When Rajkumar came to her rescue he was also attacked by him. Passersby caught Sampath and alerted the Vandalur Otteri Police. The police who rushed to the spot sent them to the Chrompet government hospital where Bhavani was declared dead. Rajkumar was referred to the Rajiv Gandhi government hospital where he is undergoing treatment. Meanwhile, Sampath was arrested and he confessed to having committed the crime. During interrogation, he told the police that her mother had in an illicit relationship with Rajkumar even when his father was alive. He alleged that his father committed suicide because of Bhavani's affair. Further investigations are on. Secretary-general of Lok Sabha Snehlata Shrivastava reviews the preparations for the 17th Lok Sabha at Parliament in New Delhi on Wednesday. (Photo: AP) Bhopal: Cracks surfaced in the BJP in Madhya Pradesh over Opposition leader Gopal Bhargavas demand for the Kamal Nath government to prove its majority in the Assembly with former chief minister and partys national vice-president Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday voicing his opposition to it. Talking to reporters here, Mr Chouhan categorically said that he was not in favour of demanding that the Nath goverment carry out a floor test. The state Congress government will fall on its own due to infighting in the ruling party. The BJP will not pull down the Kamal Nath government, he said. The party high command has also disapproved of the unilateral move by the Opposition leader to call for a special session of the House for floor test by the Congress government. The BJP high command has sought a report from state party leadership on it, a senior party leader told this newspaper requesting anonymity. The issue has threatened to bring to surface the simmering rivalry betw-een Mr Chouhan and Mr Bhargava, said to be formers bete noir. Mr Chouhan appeared to be upset over unilateral decision by Mr Bhargava to write a letter to governor seeking special session of the House for a floor test. Mr Bhargava has not taken senior leaders of the party into confidence before making the demand. His move has irked senior leaders, the BJP leader said. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. A week later, he received a message directing him to verify his mobile number through another weblink upon clicking which his phone automatically downloaded an application called t-mobile. (Representional Image) Hyderabad: A city-based doctor lost Rs 10.85 lakh after providing his details to a website to claim a purported income-tax refund of about Rs 17,000. The victim, Dr Suresh (name changed), 40, is a resident of Kompally in Hyderabad. He received a text message on his mobile phone directing him to submit a formal request to claim an approved refund of Rs 17,259 for his income-tax returns. The message contained a link which led him to a web page where he provided his bank account details, phone number, and email ID. A week later, he received a message directing him to verify his mobile number through another weblink upon clicking which his phone automatically downloaded an application called t-mobile. Subsequently, he received a notification that the verification would complete in 24 hours after which the refund would be deposited to his account. The victim checked his bank account two days later and found that around 17 illegal transactions had been made and Rs 10.85 lakh siphoned of. He approached the Cyberabad cyber crime police and lodged a complaint on May 20. Prima facie, the investigation has revealed that the link sent by the crooks was meant to initiate the installation of a remote access application on his phone which enabled them to view all the activities carried out on the phone. City-based cybercrime expert Akhil Athreya said that the modus operandi was similar to that of clickjacking, where users are kept in dark about the actual purpose of the website which collects personal information, thereby creating the opportunity to rob victims. Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh governor Anandiben Patel has rejected the demand by the BJP to convene a special session of the Assembly to test the strength of the Kamal Nath government. Sources said the governor has communicated her decision to BJP Legislature Party leader Gopal Bhargava, suggesting that the issues he sought for discussion in the special session of the House could be taken up during the budget session of the Assembly. The budget session of the MP Assembly is likely to be convened in the first week of July this year. I talked to the governor on the matter on Tuesday, Mr Bhargava told repor-ters here on Wednesday. The rejection of the special session demand has nipped in the bud a brewing tussle between the Congress and the BJP. Chief minister Kamal Nath reacted sharply to Mr Bhargavas demand, saying that his government had faced floor tests four times in the last four months and was ready to encounter another one any time the Opposition party wanted. The leader also said there was no need to convene a special session of the House to discuss the issues raised by the Opposition leader and detailed the achievements of his government in the last six months. A letter war between Mr Bhargav and the chief minister ensued when the former shot up a letter to the latter saying that Mr Nath appeared to have taken the issues highlighted by him lightly. The issues I have raised are serious in nature and very important. People are suffering due to failure of the state government to implement several welfare programmes. Only the house is the appropriate forum to take up these issues for threadbare discussion, Mr Bhargav replied to the chief minister. Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) received a jolt on the eve of the Lok Sabha polls results as its senior leader Jaydutt Kshirsagar, an MLA, quit the party and joined the Shiv Sena along with his supporters on Wednesday. Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray welcomed him into his party at the Sena headquarters at Dadar. Mr Kshirsagar was a prominent leader of the NCP from Beed district, but he was disgruntled due to internal politics in the party. His entry into the Shiv Sena came as no surprise as he had campaigned actively against the NCP candidate during the Lok Sabha polls. Mr Kshirsagar was upset with the NCP leadership as, according to him, the party ignored him and gave more importance to his rival Dhananjay Munde in Beed. He had also repeatedly slammed the party leader in the district. During the Lok Sabha election campaign, he had backed BJPs Beed candidate Pritam Munde, who is Mr Mundes estranged cousin, against the NCP candidate Bajrang Sonawane. On Wednesday, to leader submitted his resignation to speaker Haribhau Bagade before leaving for Shiv Sena Bhavan. I felt suffocated within the NCP. Hence, I have decided to quit as MLA and resign from the partys primary membership. I think I will be able to work freely in the Shiv Sena and thats why I am joining that party, he said. The NCP made light of the development, saying it was in the offing for long, and it would not affect the party in Beed. Its good that he selected today to quit the party as tomorrows results will give a big lead to the NCP from Beed. After that no party would have welcomed him into its fold, said Mr Munde. The NCPs chief spokesperson Nawab Malik also said Mr Kshirsagar had mentally left the party long ago and continued to remain a member formally only to save his position as MLA. New Delhi: As apprehension over EVMs being rigged continue to keep the Opposition parties on tenterhooks, Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: The next 24 hours are very important. Be alert. And do not be scared. Do not be disheartened by rumours and fake exit poll results. Keep the faith in yourself and in the Congress party. On the other hand Congress leader Udit Raj on Wednesday stirred a controversy when he questioned if the Supreme Court was involved in rigging Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Why doesnt the Supreme Court want all VVPAT slips to be counted? Is it also involved in rigging? Udit Raj asked on Twitter. Hitting back at the Opposition, BJP president Amit Shah said, opposition to EVM is disrespecting the mandate of the people of the country. Meanwhile the Election Commission on Wednesday rejected Oppositions demand for counting VVPAT first and stuck to its established procedure of counting them at the end of the entire process and begin counting EVMs first. The VVPAT matching exercise will take place in five polling stations per assembly segment of each parliamentary constituency which means out of nearly 10.3 lakh polling stations, the EVM-VVPAT matching will take place in 20,600 stations. The paper trail machines slips will be counted in the end in these. In case of a mismatch with EVMs, the results based in paper slip count will be considered as final. The EC has also decided to count the postal ballots simultaneously with EVM. Till now, the postal ballots were counted in the beginning followed by votes polled in EVMs. However, due to huge numbers of postal ballots received this time from service voters the EC has decided to count them simultaneously. According to EC officials counting of postal ballots manually is expected to take a lot of time this year as the number of service voters is around 18 lakh including those of personnel of the defence, central police force, state police, diplomats and support staff posted in Indian embassies abroad. Out of these about 16.49 lakh have sent their postal ballots by May 17. New Delhi: National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Wednesday stressed on the need for the security forces to increase their capabilities and professionalism while claiming that these were important since there could be serious challenges in future for defence and security scenario. While speaking at the annual investiture ceremony of the Border Security Force (BSF), the NSA claimed that it was necessary for the security agencies to constantly reinvent and upgrade their technological skills. ``You should work to enhance your professionalism, capability and strength as security challenges in the days to come could be more grave, he added. Mr Doval expressed satisfaction over the fact that a number of security agencies in the country were now making use of better technology and even trying to modernise the gadgets of this trade. During the event Mr Doval also presented BSF officials with galalantary medals for exceptional and meritorious services. Those decorated with gallantry medals include Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Baljit Singh Kasana, Deputy Commandant Yudhhvir Yadav, assistant sub-inspectors Surjit Singh Bishnoi and Om Prakash, constables Parasram, Vibhas Batbayal and M K Choudhary. The team bravely foiled an armed intrusion bid, supported by unprovoked firing, from the Pakistani side, along the India-Pakistan border in Jammu, in November, 2016 as part of Operation Chamliyal, their citation said. Inspector Bhupinder Singh was awarded the police medal for gallantry for effectively retaliating Pakistani firing and killing a terrorist in October, 2016 along the international border in Jammus Samba. DIG Azad Singh Malik was presented the Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak for saving a 12-year-old girl, who had been electrocuted from a electric BSF is the largest of the three border-guarding forces in the country, for ensuring the safety and security of Indias borders. The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) are the two other border-guarding forces. The BSF, which has about 2.5 lakh personnel, guards two of the countrys most sensitive borders with Pakistan and Bangladesh. The court dismissed the petition filed by them seeking to quash the summons issued by ED on May 3. Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday dismissed the pleas of the owners of Musaddilal Jewels and Gems, to quash the summons issued by the Enforcement Directorate. Justice A. Rajasheker Reddy refused to intervene in the investigation carried out by the ED against group MD Kailash Chand Gupta and his two sons Nitin Gupta and Nikhil Gupta, the directors of Musaddilal Gems and Musaddilal Jewels respectively. The court dismissed the petition filed by them seeking to quash the summons issued by ED on May 3 directing them to appear before them in related to the case lodged against them under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The official said that EVMs are stored in strong rooms for the safety of the EC to challenge the allegations made by political parties cutting across party lines. Hyderabad: In order to be accountable to political parties, and under the guidance of the Election Commission of India, the State Election Commission has been spending public money for procuring voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) machines. After the Supreme Courts directions, it has decided to count VVPAT slips of five booths per constituency. The EC has deployed as many as 26,000 machines at a cost of `19,650 for each unit, from Bharat Electronics, Bengaluru, and the Electronics Corporation of India, Hyderabad. The VVPATs have failed to impress political leaders cutting across party lines. They claim that VVPATs are irrelevant in the current set-up if all the slips are not counted. Congress candidate from the Chevella Lok Sabha constituency, Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, said that there are two aspects to look in as far as VVPATs are concerned. He said that the EC, to gain the confidence of political parties and voters, had introduced VVPATs for accountability. Mr Reddy said that this move came in the wake of allegations made by Opposition parties of tampering electronic voting machines (EVMs). He asked if EVMs can be tampered with, why not VVPATs? He said that in the name of accountability, huge public money and time had been wasted. How many people will look at the slips? I myself did not notice these during the Assembly elections, he said. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy said that not even 10 per cent of population would look at the VVPAT slips after voting. Introduction of VVPATs would only contribute to the delay in declaring results. If they were introduced for accountability why only count VVPATs randomly? Why not all 26,000 VVPATs procured for the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana state, he added. BJP MLC N. Ramchander Rao, who is the candidate from Malkajgiri in the Lok Sabha polls, echoed the same views. Quoting the disbelief over EVMs as a shameful act by the Opposition, he said that there were no tampering issues raised in states where the BJP lost. We lost in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Karnataka where the Opposition did not raise any objection pertaining to EVMs and VVPATs, Mr N. Ramchander Rao said. An Election Commission official said that VVPATs were the ideal solution for rivalry of political parties who blame the EC and EVMs for their poor performance. He said that this would be stored as a record in order to fight court cases filed by contesting candidates. The official said that EVMs are stored in strong rooms for the safety of the EC to challenge the allegations made by political parties cutting across party lines. CEO Rajat Kumar said that five VVPATs will be randomly chosen if any of the contesting candidates raises an objection. In April, a miffed Kshirsagar held a secret meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree. (Photo: ANI) Mumbai: With most exit polls predicting a landslide victory for the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha elections, NCP leader and former cabinet minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar will join Uddhav Thackeray's party on Wednesday. There were whispers in political circles that Kshirsagar may soon join Shiv Sena after he expressed discontent with the NCP leadership for ignoring him and giving importance to his local rival Dhananjay Munday in Beed. Later, he decided to extend his support to BJP-Shiv Sena's Beed candidate Dr Pritam Munde and urged people to cast vote in his favour. In April, a miffed Kshirsagar held a secret meeting with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence Matoshree. However, he denied any talks regarding him joining the party and claimed that it was a "courtesy visit" to wish Thackeray a happy new year. Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray, President of Beed Zila Parishad Bharatbhushan Kshirsagar, party secretary Milind Narvekar were also present in the meeting. Earlier in March, Congress leader Vikhe Patil's son Sujay joined the BJP in presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and he was later given a ticket to contest from the Ahmednagar South Lok Sabha seat. Maharashtra has 48 parliamentary constituencies. Polling for the seven-phased Lok Sabha elections concluded on May 19. The awaited results of the general elections will be announced on May 23. New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (EC) has rejected the demands of the Opposition regarding Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) on Wednesday. The issue to change the protocol for counting was discussed by the Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora at his meeting with election commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra. A delegation of 22 Opposition parties had met the EC on Tuesday to register their complaint on the functioning of EVMs and convey their demands to the EC. The Opposition had demanded that tallying of the VVPAT slips in five polling stations in each Assembly segment with the EVMs be done prior to counting votes cast in EVMs. Also, the Opposition wanted 100 per cent counting of paper slips of VVPATs of all polling stations of an assembly segment, in case of any discrepancy is found in VVPAT verification. Opposition leaders had hinted that they werent very positive that the poll panel would fix the discrepancies hours before the counting process is to begin, as the EC ignored the suggestions for months. We raised these same issues in last one and half months. Why did they not respond? asked Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi who called the suggestion to first verify the VVPAT paper slips a no-brainer. Hindustan Times reported election official to have cited existing orders to point out that in case there is any mismatch between electronic candidate-wise result of the Control Unit and the candidate-wise VVPAT slips manual count, recounting of the VVPAT slips of that particular VVPAT shall be conducted till the recount is tallied with the EVM count or one of the previous VVPAT slips count more details awaited. In cases, where mock-poll data was not erased from EVMs by election officials, those units will be kept aside and only VVPAT slips will be referred to during the counting. New Delhi: BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday criticised the "frustrated" Opposition parties for raising objections against Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), saying that the opposing EVM amounts to disrespect of the people's mandate. "Protesting against EVM is disrespect of the people's mandate. The 22 opposition parties are frustrated with the defeat and tarnishing the image of our democracy by raising questions over it," Shah said in a series of tweets. He termed the Opposition demand of increasing vote tally with VVPATs as "unconstitutional". "Just two days before counting, twenty-two opposition parties' demand for change in the electoral system is unconstitutional. No such decision can be made unless all parties agree for it," he said. He alleged that the Opposition started raising the question on EVM after the completion of six phases of voting which intensified after exit polls predicted NDA getting a clear mandate. "The Opposition started ruckus on EVM after the completion of six phases of polling and it intensified after exit poll results. Exit polls are conducted on voters' opinion, not on the basis of EVM," Shah said. The BJP chief asked as to how the opposition parties can raise questions on the credibility of EVMs based on exit polls results. Shah asserted that the maximum of the dissenting parties has been in power after being elected through the same voting system. "If they do not believe on EVM, why did they take power after getting a mandate in elections?" he asked. He slammed RLSP leader Upendra Kushwaha for his "bloodshed" comment and asked him as to who it was challenging with the remark. Alleging suspicious EVM movement, Kushwaha, on Tuesday, had said: "We got the news that a vehicle laden with EVMs was caught. We want to say that people are getting angry. If this continues, then there will be blood on the streets. Karpoori Thakur used to say that to protect the sanctity of votes, the people should be prepared to pick up arms." He said that the Supreme Court took note of more than three PILs on cases related to vote counting and verification. Shah accused the Opposition of questioning order by raising objections on EVM. Earlier in the day, the EC rejected the Opposition's demand that VVPAT slips be matched with EVM data before counting of votes in a constituency on Thursday. The commission had earlier rejected the Opposition's demand of raising the number of polling stations with VVPATs from the existing five randomly selected polling booths in an Assembly constituency, as ordered by the apex court. The seven-phased extensive Lok Sabha poll exercise came to an end on May 19. Counting of votes for 542 Lok Sabha seats will begin on Thursday. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analyses et all. Happy reading. New Delhi: Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan, reacting to the news reports about the possibility of violence breaking out in the country after the election results would be announced on May 23, said that there will be tit for tat. Dekhiye, PM ne kuch nahi kiya hai. Prastav me bhi kuch nahi hai. Lekin humlog...ye (Rajnath) bhi kuch nahi kahenge...Lekin hum kahna chahte hain tit for tat hoga...samajh gaye na...(see, PM has not done anything. There is nothing in the resolution. But we...he (Rajnath) will not even say...but I want to say...there will be a tit for tat... understand), Paswan said. Paswan was talking to the media persons after attending the dinner hosted by the BJP president Amit Shah. Home Minister Rajnath was also present alongside Paswan. Paswan dismissed the Oppositions charge of EVM tampering calling it an excuse as their defeat is certain. He also said that that the NDA would win more seats than predicted in the exit polls. Sweets and garlands are ready, he added. Former NDA ally and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief Upendra Kushwaha had threatened his political opponents of violence and bloodshed, if they tamper with the results of the Lok Sabha elections. A delegation of 22 opposition parties had met the EC on Tuesday to register their complaint on the functioning of EVMs and convey their demands to the EC. Bengaluru: Fearing a dismal performance by the JD(S)-Congress coalition in the state in the Lok Saha poll, the JD(S) has reportedly decided to play it safe till the new government is formed at the Centre and protect its own interests. After the third round of polling on April 18, JD(S) supremo, H D Gowda, sensed that a non-NDA government at the Centre was a difficult proposition and so stayed away from campaigning with Mahaghatbhandan partners like Ms Mayawati of the Bahujan Samajwadi party and West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee and also stopped Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy from attending a luncheon meeting of UPA partners in New Delhi on Tuesday, according to sources. Although Mr Kumaraswamy was all set to go and had even booked a private jet to fly to the capital, Mr Gowda asked him to stay away, they reveal. He instead advised him to remain in Bengaluru and protect the state government should it come under attack from the BJP following Thursday's results. The coalition government in the state has been under threat from the BJP as the party has been allegedly trying to poach its MLAs and destabilise it for some time now. The worried JD(S) patriarch has reportedly been reassured by Ms Mayawati and Telangana Chief Minister, K Chandrashekhar Rao that they will protect the JD(S)'s interest in the state if the NDA comes to power at the Centre. Despite the exit poll predictions, Mr Gowda believes that neither the NDA nor the UPA can form a government without the help of Ms Mayawati and Mr Chandrashekar Rao. And as both leaders have promised to protect his party's interests in Karnataka, he is keeping a distance from the BJP and Congress for the time being, say sources. I believe that walking the spiritual path is nothing but reversing this deeply human tendency of catering to me, mine and myself and turning towards God. (Representational image) Psychologists tell us that human personality is almost formed by the age of five, contending that if we have received enough love and acceptance as a child we will grow up with a positive outlook towards life and others and vice-e-versa. Spiritual masters contend that a childhood full of love also forms a healthy image of and a positive relationship with God. Psychologist Edward Edinger in his book Ego and Archetype states infants have an implicit assumption of deity. From the moment a child is born, it thinks that it is the centre of the universe. Spiritual author Thelma Hall in, Too Deep for Words, elaborating on it writes, The crying infant is comforted; hungry, it is fed. Its every need is catered to for its very survival and growth; everything is given, nothing demanded of it, and adds: This idyllic state is relatively short-lived it (the child) is challenged soon enough when other centres of the universe collide with its expectations and demands. And so the long process of fabricating a defence system begins, protecting and preserving the illusion. Devious and elaborate ways are found to get my way, often by running roughshod over others. Hall concludes, This basic egocentrism is opposed to God and other-centredness, and is in effect a resistance to love, the source and meaning of our being. I believe that walking the spiritual path is nothing but reversing this deeply human tendency of catering to me, mine and myself and turning towards God. It does call for sadhana a spiritual discipline. Johns gospel, referring to Jesus growing popularity among people that John the Baptist was enjoying before Jesus appeared on the scene, says of Jesus, He must increase, I must decrease. It is much like Arjuna in the Bhagvadgita, who had a similar experience when proceeding to the battlefield Lord Krishna took over his fears and his ego and instructed him, among other things, about nishkama karma yoga work without expecting its fruits. And this is not easy for us who mostly aim at success, power, wealth and ego. In Christian spirituality, it is also called dying to self or as Hall and other spiritual writers call it, dying to false self so that one can anchor ones life on the true self. Jesus summed that up saying, Unless a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it cannot bear fruit. And it is by focusing on our true self that we find God, because as the Bible says, God created us in His own image and likeness. No wonder then that one of the great Christian teachers St Augustine, having found his true self in God, prayed, You have made us for yourself oh God and our hearts are restless until they rest in you. This license also allows operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks for the stated period. A day after major tech companies including Google, Qualcomm, and Intel agreed to follow US orders and cut ties with Huawei, the Trump administration decided to provide some temporary relief to the troubled company. The US Department of Commerce announced that it is issuing Huawei a 90-day exemption from trade restrictions through a Temporary General License (TGL). It grants operators time to make other arrangements and authorises specific, engagement in transactions involving the export, reexport, and transfer of items. This license also allows operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks for the stated period. The Department will evaluate whether to extend the TGL beyond 90 days. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Pornhubs annual Year in Review provides a close look at the Top 20 countries that visit the site. Many of those countries top the list because their large population is spread over a big geographic area. But what about urban areas where a more dense population lives in close proximity? Forbes asked the website's statisticians to compare the worlds Top 20 porn-loving cities. New York City tops Pornhubs traffic list, even though worldwide its a population of 8.5 million only ranks around 26th. Its followed by London in second place, which has a similar population to New York of 8.1 million. Paris comes in third, but with a population of only 2.1 million that means the citys residents are a horny bunch of regular porn watchers. Lets be honest though, the Eiffel tower is a pretty big phallic symbol reminding residents its time to visit Pornhub. Rounding out the Top 5 are Los Angeles and Chicago. The United States has 7 cities in the Top 20, while Australia has 3 and Japan and Italy both have 2. Together, the Top 20 cities make up 16.8 per cent of Pornhubs daily traffic. The average time spent per visit to Pornhub worldwide is 10 minutes 13 seconds. Among the Top 20 cities, Seoul has the longest visit time of 12 minutes 15 seconds. Visitors from Japans cities tend to come and go much faster at less than 9 minutes visit time. Big cities like New York, London, Paris and Toronto have diverse multicultural populations, so its no surprise to see that ethnic categories are relatively more popular when compared to their national averages. Indian is 57 per cent more popular in New York, 42 per cent more popular in London, 76 per cent in Paris and 92 per cent in Toronto. With a relatively high proportion of female visitors (31 per cent), the Popular With Women category is 19 per cent more popular in Bangkok compared to the national average. Visitors from Brisbane are 19 per cent more likely to view Tattooed Women and 17 per cent more into Fisting. In both Rome and Milan, Italian visitors are more likely to view Bukkake videos, while visitors from Warsaw are 10 per cent more into Bisexual videos than elsewhere in Poland. The majority of visitors from these cities use mobile devices when they are visiting Pornhub. The state of Texas stands out with 94 per cent of Dallas visitors and 92 per cent of Houston using either phones or tablets. 77 per cent of Warsaw traffic is from mobile devices, which may sound low compared to our other Top 20 cities, but is in fact much higher than the Polish average of 65 per cent. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Global smartphone brand HONOR officially launches its first smartphone series: HONOR 20 LITE, HONOR 20 and HONOR 20 PRO in London today. This masterpiece collection testifies to the excellence of HONORs N-Series, which is lauded for superior design, unmatched photography capability, and ultimate user experience that resonate with global youth. The newly launched flagship HONOR 20 Series has gathered global limelight through its worlds first Dynamic Holographic Design and 48MP AI Quad Camera. The all-powerful quad camera has earned the HONOR 20 Series an impressive DxOMark score of 111. The flagship quad camera leads with a Sony IMX586 48MP Main Camera, featuring the advanced AI Ultra Clarity mode and AIS Super Night mode to empower users to capture clearer. The quad camera is also packed with the 16MP Super Wide Angle Camera, 8MP Telephoto Camera, and the 2MP Macro Camera, which allows users to capture wider and closer with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS). The HONOR 20 Series also sends shock-waves across the industry by the innovation of AIS Super Night mode and the industrys largest F1.4 aperture. Powered by the AI multi-frame stabilisation technology and an enhanced algorithm, the mode creates ultra-clear night shots with heightened brightness, lower noise, and better colour preservation. With more light passing through the lens owing to the F1.4 aperture, users can record their magical moments in greater detail even in dimly-lit environments. The AI-enabled cameras and the industry-leading features altogether contribute to a DxOMark score of [111]. The 48MP AI Quad Camera enables users to capture photos with extreme clarity during the day, especially with the AI Ultra Clarity mode. After that, the Dual-NPU and the Dual-ISP of the 7nm Kirin 980 AI chipset collate the best details from each of these photos into one Super 48MP Photo with its quality surpassing normal 48MP pictures. The details and colours are adjusted for enhanced vividness. With the 16MP Super Wide Angle Camera, users can capture more with an extensive 117-degree viewing angle. The Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) prompts the tiny gyro-sensors to quickly shift pieces of the lens glass to the off-set motion before the image is converted into a digital format, creating a sharper image even with shaky hands. 2MP Macro lens can give users a creative edge by offering new perspectives that the naked eye would never be able to see. It allows users to capture incredible details as close as 4cm, ideal for photographers who enjoy shooting flora and fauna. Similarly, the ability to zoom in on a subject at 3X lossless optical zoom, 5X hybrid zoom, 30X digital zoom, means that users can shoot minute details with absolute discretion - a useful feature for nature-loving photographers who are looking to photograph elusive wildlife or street photographers who portray the hustle and bustle of city life. The HONOR 20 Series redefines the user experience by becoming the first product in HONORs history to introduce a multi-dimensional, Dynamic Holographic glass back. Meticulously crafted through HONORs industry-first Triple 3D Mesh technique, the two-stage process first creates a depth layer using nanotechnology to engrave millions of miniature prisms Upon completion of this intricate process, the engineers continue with the assembly of 3D curved glass, colour layer, and depth layer. As light passes through the prisms in the depth layer, light is reflected and refracted in all directions. Coated in either Phantom Black, Phantom Blue, Midnight Black or Sapphire Blue, the colour layer of HONOR 20 Series is combined with the glass and depth layer in a vacuum environment under the precise control of temperature and pressure. The outcome is a depth-inducing optical effect that makes the HONOR 20 Series stand out from its predecessors. Due to the complex process, for every 100 back covers, only 20 meet the stringent standards. HONORs Always Better ethos drives the brand to go beyond the textural and colour design of the Dynamic Holographic glass back. HONOR 20 Series boasts a 6.26" all-view display with a 91.7% screen-to-body ratio. With a 4.5mm in-screen camera, the all-view display allows an even more enthralling visual experience without compromising on aesthetics. The fingerprint sensor on the right side of its aluminium frame has been positioned to complement the natural placement of fingers when one picks up a phone. The asymmetrical L-shaped positioning of the four camera lenses allows for a 4,000 mAh battery that can support a full-day uninterrupted use. Meanwhile, the HONOR 20 Series adopts a Graphene cooling sheet technology, a new thermal solution that can efficiently dissipate heat and thus maintaining the optimal performance. In terms of mobile gaming, the HONOR 20 Series is equipped with the industry-leading GPU Turbo 3.0 a feature that boosts the devices gaming capabilities by offering users an enhanced visual and tactile experience. Backed by consumer demands, HONOR 20 Series has teamed up with approximately 25 most sought-after mobile games right now including Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, and Arena of Valor. Apart from the viewing and gaming experiences, users can indulge in an immersive audio experience through the Virtual 9.1 Surround Sound feature powered by Histen 6.0. This is the first time that this cutting-edge technology is applied to smartphones. The Virtual 9.1 surround sound supports most earphones and packs an in-built dual microphone with noise reduction a system tailored according to the specific needs of technophiles and audiophiles. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Nairobi: Internationally-renowned Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina, whose high-profile coming out in a country that criminalises homosexuality made him a revered figure for gay rights in Africa, has died aged 48, his publishing house said on Wednesday. The celebrated author came to world prominence with the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2002. He died just days before Kenyas High Court was scheduled to deliver a long-awaited ruling on whether to abolish colonial-era anti-gay laws. He passed on some time last night, Tom Maliti, the chairman of the Kwani Trust, a Nairobi-based publishing house founded by Wainaina, told AFP. Wainaina had suffered a stroke in 2015 and was living with HIV. His brother James told Capital News that messages of condolence were pouring in from around the globe. We lost Ken last night. We are grieving the loss... but Ken was an incredible person, with an incredible wit, he said. The wound is still fresh, but we have received an outpouring of messages, from the people across the world, we are greatly comforted by them.At times a divisive figure in his native Kenya, where same-sex relationships are outlawed, Wainaina sparked huge debate in 2014 with his bombshell short story entitled I am a Homosexual, Mum. I, Binyavanga Wainaina, quite honestly swear I have known I am a homosexual since I was five, he wrote in the explosive self-published story addressed to his late mother. It was imagined as a lost chapter to his own acclaimed memoirs, One Day I will Write about this Place, which appeared in 2011 but failed to mention his sexuality. The influential literary figure said he timed his public announcement with the passing of controversial anti-gay legislation in Nigeria, a country he admired. So as far as the emotional side was concerned, I did that a long time ago, this is more a political act, Wainaina told AFP in a January 2014 interview. He was flooded with messages of support at the time, and was named among the world's most influential people that year by Time Magazine. But he also became a lightning-rod for criticism across sub-Saharan Africa, where most countries have laws penalising same-sex relationships. A gallant human rights defender who stood up and fought for the dignity and rights of LGBTQ community and others. Rest in power, Amnesty International's local office posted on Twitter. India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights, Foreign Minister Sushma Swarag at the event. (Photo: ANI) Bishkek: Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Affairs, reiterated India's commitment in securing peace and security in war-ravaged Afghanistan as she addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting here on Wednesday. "India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights. I wish to once again underscore the importance India attaches to SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcome an early conclusion of the Draft Roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group," Swaraj said in a statement. The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance created in 2001 in Shanghai, by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined the forum in 2017. The Wednesday's meeting, attended by foreign ministers of the SCO member states, including Pakistan, focused on the effective use of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which serves to promote cooperation, among the member states, against terrorism for a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The discussion on seeking effective ways to fight regional terrorism came in the backdrop of the deadly serial bombings on Easter day in Sri Lanka that targeted churches and hotels across the country killing more than 250 people. Swaraj cited the Pulwama attack that targeted a convoy of Indian soldiers in south Kashmir and killed 50 CRPF jawans in February. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility of the deadly terror strike. "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and news from neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly resolutely against this menace," the minister said. Speaking on global climate change, Swaraj said, "India is committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change. We welcome the agreement reached at Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP 24) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)." The External Affairs Minister further said that India has adopted regional connectivity initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent, and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity with other SCO member nations. "India's commitment to regional connectivity is evident from our involvement in International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway," Swaraj said, adding that India operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017 In the meeting, the minister stated New Delhi firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Earlier, on the sidelines of the meeting, Swaraj called on Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and discussed bilateral cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan and committed to exploring the untapped potential. The minister also held delegation level meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi after the SCO event was over. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi too attended the event. The two-day meeting, beginning May 21, witnessed all sides exchanging views on issues of international and regional importance, along with reviewing the preparation for the forthcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13 to 14. (ANI)Bishkek [Kyrgyzstan], May 22 (ANI): Sushma Swaraj, the Minister of External Affairs, reiterated India's commitment in securing peace and security in war-ravaged Afghanistan as she addressed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meeting here on Wednesday. "India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation, with guaranteed gender and human rights. I wish to once again underscore the importance India attaches to SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcome an early conclusion of the Draft Roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group," Swaraj said in a statement. The SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance created in 2001 in Shanghai, by the leaders of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan joined the forum in 2017. The Wednesday's meeting, attended by foreign ministers of the SCO member states, including Pakistan, focused on the effective use of the Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which serves to promote cooperation, among the member states, against terrorism for a comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. The discussion on seeking effective ways to fight regional terrorism came in the backdrop of the deadly serial bombings on Easter day in Sri Lanka that targeted churches and hotels across the country killing more than 250 people. Swaraj cited the Pulwama attack that targeted a convoy of Indian soldiers in south Kashmir and killed 50 CRPF jawans in February. Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad claimed responsibility of the deadly terror strike. "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and news from neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly resolutely against this menace," the minister said. Speaking on global climate change, Swaraj said, "India is committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change. We welcome the agreement reached at Katowice Climate Change Conference (COP 24) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)." The External Affairs Minister further said that India has adopted regional connectivity initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent, and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity with other SCO member nations. "India's commitment to regional connectivity is evident from our involvement in International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway," Swaraj said, adding that India operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017 In the meeting, the minister stated New Delhi firmly believes in the efficacy of multilateralism and adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter. Earlier, on the sidelines of the meeting, Swaraj called on Kyrgyz President Jeenbekov and discussed bilateral cooperation between India and Kyrgyzstan and committed to explore the untapped potential. The two-day meeting, beginning May 21, witnessed all sides exchanging views on issues of international and regional importance, along with reviewing the preparation for the forthcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13 to 14. Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi is also slated to attend the impending SCO meeting. On March 11, China became the first country to order its airlines to ground the 737 MAX as a result of the two tragedies. (Photo:AP) Beijing: China's three biggest airlines have filed claims seeking compensation from Boeing over the grounding and delayed delivery of 737 MAX 8 aircraft following two deadly crashes, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday. The reports in various state-run media that China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, and Air China would seek payouts from the American aerospace giant come against the backdrop of an escalating US-China trade war. China Southern is Asia's largest carrier by fleet size, China Eastern is the country's number two, while Air China is the state flag carrier. A spokesman for China Eastern confirmed to AFP that a dispatch by state-run Xinhua news agency saying the airline had presented Boeing with a compensation claim was correct. Neither the spokesman nor the report gave any financial or other details. Spokespersons for China Southern and Air China could not immediately be reached for comment. On March 11, China became the first country to order its airlines to ground the 737 MAX as a result of the two tragedies. The day before, an Ethiopian Airlines 737 MAX crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board, including eight from China. That followed the October crash of a Lion Air 737 MAX, which went down shortly after takeoff from Jakarta, killing all 189 people on board. Xinhua had reported that "grounding Boeing 737 MAX 8 planes had resulted in great losses for the company (China Eastern), and the losses are still expanding". Shanghai-based China Eastern has grounded its 14 MAX planes while the US aviation giant addresses the safety risks, Xinhua reported. It was not immediately clear how many planes the other two airlines had grounded. But Chinese media have previously reported that a combined 96 MAX aircraft were in service among all of China's carriers. There was no immediate indication that the move was related to the increasingly bitter trade conflict. Trump launched the trade war last year to extract profound economic reforms from Beijing, accusing China of seeking to forge global industrial dominance through massive state intervention in markets and the theft of US technology. The two sides have exchanged tariffs on more than $360 billion in two-way trade. The conflict has widened recently with the United States taking unprecedented steps to bar US technology sales to Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Washington suspects Huawei has deep links with China's military which could allow Beijing to potentially use Huawei-enabled networks for espionage or cyber-sabotage. Boeing acknowledged on Saturday it had to correct flaws in its 737 MAX flight simulator software used to train pilots. The firm's statement about the simulator marked a first acknowledgement of a shortcoming since the two accidents led to the worldwide grounding of the top-selling airliner. The anti-stall system on the MAX models has been blamed in large part for the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy. Biden during a campaign launch in Philadelphia on Saturday accused President Donald Trump of cozying up to 'dictators and tyrants' like Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: AP) Seoul: North Korea has labelled Joe Biden a fool of low IQ and an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being after the US presidential hopeful called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a tyrant during a recent speech. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday said the former American vice president had insulted the countrys supreme leadership and committed an intolerable and serious politically-motivated provocation against the North. Biden during a campaign launch in Philadelphia on Saturday accused President Donald Trump of cozying up to dictators and tyrants like Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. What he uttered is just sophism of an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician, KCNA said. The piece, labelled a commentary, said Biden had gone reckless and senseless, seized by ambition for power. It went on to mention apparent Biden gaffes, such as once appearing to fall asleep during a speech by President Barack Obama. It is by no means accidental that here is nonstop comment over his bid for candidacy that he is not worth pinning hope on, backed by the jeer that he is a fool of low IQ, KCNA said. It mocked Bidens belief that he was the most popular presidential candidate. This is enough to make a cat laugh, the report said. There was no immediate reaction from the Biden camp, possibly due to the late hour in the United States. North Korea has often unleashed crude insults against US and South Korean politicians to criticize what it sees as slanderous remarks toward its leadership or hostile diplomatic and military policies against Pyongyang. The insults have included racist and sexist diatribes, including when the North called Obama a monkey and former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, the countrys first female leader, a prostitute. During tensions created by a provocative run in missile tests in 2017, Kim called Trump a mentally deranged US dotard after he said that the United States would totally destroy North Korea if forced to defend itself or its allies. The Norths description of Trump dramatically improved after Kim initiated diplomacy with Washington and Seoul in 2018 while attempting to leverage his nuclear arsenal for economic and security benefits. The nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang stalled in February when a summit between Kim and Trump collapsed over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament. Zahran, the mastermind behind the Easter blasts, led the attack on the Shangri-La hotel and was accompanied by a second bomber identified as Ilham Ahmed Ibrahim. (Photo: File) Colombo: Sri Lankan authorities have confirmed through DNA tests that one of the two suicide bombers who died in the Shangri-La Hotel bombing during Easter Sunday attacks was Zahran Cassim, the leader of the local terror group National Thawheed Jammath (NTJ). Zahran, the mastermind behind the Easter blasts, led the attack on the Shangri-La hotel and was accompanied by a second bomber identified as Ilham Ahmed Ibrahim. He was killed inside the luxury hotel where he blew himself up. A senior analyst at the Government Analyst's Department said that the DNA tests done using the blood samples of Zahran's wife, his daughter and a brother have proved that he died in the suicide attack on Shangri-La Hotel. Nine suicide bombers carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and as many luxury hotels on April 21, killing more than 250 people and injuring 500 others. The ISIS terror group claimed the attacks, but the government blamed the local terror group NTJ for the bombings. The victims included over 40 foreigners, 10 of whom were Indians. Zahran was one of the two suicide bombers at the Shangri-La Hotel where 36 people including 12 foreigners died. The hotel's CCTV footage showed the two bombers with heavy back packs arriving at the hotel's restaurant on the third floor. Zahran's wife and the four-year-old daughter survived the suicide bombings carried out five days after the Easter Sunday at a terror group hideout. Some 15 people, including Zahran's father and two brothers, were killed at an eastern province hideout of the NTJ terror group. They exploded bombs after an exchange of gun fire with the troops during a raid of the safehouse on a tip off. Zahran's wife and daughter were pulled out of the blasted house with burn injuries by the troops the following morning. The analysts' report was to be presented to the police's crime investigations department on Tuesday. The department is scheduled to hand over the finalised reports regarding the attacks on Cinnamon Grand, Shangri-La, Zion Church in Batticaloa and Dehiwala Tropical Inn, to the CID. The suicide bombers of the other churches such as Kochchikade and Katuwapitiya have also been identified. Residents of Kodiyala Karenahalli village on Tuesday protested against issuing Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) to 40 acres of land near the village. The residents under the aegis of Raitha Hita Rakshana Samithi staged the protest in front of the BBMP office, demanding the civic body to withhold issuing of the TDRs. The villagers said the land near the village was identified to construct a landfill, which would have severe consequences on its residents. Apart from adverse effects on the health of villagers and its cattle, the plant would be detrimental to around 400 acres of grassland and agricultural land in the village, the protesters alleged. The villagers said the civic body had once given up the proposal. However, vested interests have left no stone unturned to ensure the TDRs for the site. This is a ploy to benefit certain individuals that the Palike should not entertain, the villagers said. Yemen's Houthi rebels said Tuesday they launched a bomb-laden drone targeting an airport in Saudi Arabia that also has a military base inside of it, an attack acknowledged by the kingdom as Mideast tensions remain high between Iran and the US. The attack on Najran comes as Iran quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity amid tensions with the US over Tehran's atomic program, nuclear officials said Monday, just after President Donald Trump and Iran's foreign minister traded threats and taunts on Twitter. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67 per cent limit set under the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in the Middle East already on edge. The Trump administration has deployed bombers and an aircraft carrier to the region over still-unspecified threats from Iran. In the drone attack, the Houthi's Al-Masirah satellite news channel said early Tuesday they targeted the airport in Najran with a Qasef-2K drone, striking an "arms depot" there. Najran, 840 kilometres (525 miles) southwest of Riyadh, is right on the Saudi border with Yemen and has repeatedly been targeted by the Iranian-allied Houthis. A statement earlier Tuesday on the state-run Saudi Press Agency quoted Saudi-led coalition spokesman Col. Turki al-Maliki as saying the Houthis "had tried to target" a civilian site in Najran, without elaborating. It was not clear if there were any injuries. Al-Maliki warned there would be a "strong deterrent" to such attacks and described the Houthis as the "terrorist militias of Iran." Such Houthi attacks in the past have sparked rounds of Saudi-led airstrikes on Yemen, which have been widely criticized internationally for killing civilians. Civilian airports throughout the Middle East often host military bases. The New York Times last year reported that American intelligence analysts were based in Najran assisting the Saudis and a US Army Green Berets deployment on the border. The Pentagon and the US military's Central Command did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Last week, the Houthis launched a coordinated drone attack on a Saudi oil pipeline amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US. That came as already this month, officials in the United Arab Emirates alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged and US diplomats relayed a warning that commercial airlines could be misidentified by Iran and attacked, something dismissed by Tehran. Iran's enrichment announcement came after journalists visiting the country's underground enrichment facility in Natanz were given a statement by an unidentified nuclear scientist who wore a surgical cap and a mask. His outfit wasn't explained, although Israel is suspected of targeting Iranian nuclear scientists. The state-run IRNA news agency later quoted Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, as acknowledging that capacity had been quadrupled. He said Iran took this step because the US had ended a program allowing it to exchange enriched uranium to Russia for unprocessed yellowcake uranium, as well as ending the sale of heavy water to Oman. Heavy water helps cool reactors producing plutonium that can be used in nuclear weapons. Kamalvandi said Iran had informed the International Atomic Energy Agency of the development. The Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog did not respond to a request for comment. Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nuclear weapons, though the West fears its program could allow it to build them. Before Iran's announcement, Trump tweeted: "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!" Trump's remarks reflect what has been a strategy of alternating tough talk with more conciliatory statements he says is aimed at keeping Iran guessing at the administration's intentions. He also has said he hopes Iran calls him and engages in negotiations. He described his approach in a speech Friday, saying, "It's probably a good thing because they're saying, 'Man, I don't know where these people are coming from,' right?" But while Trump's approach of flattery and threats has become a hallmark of his foreign policy, the risks have only grown in dealing with Iran, where mistrust between Tehran and Washington stretch four decades. While both sides say they don't seek war, many worry any miscalculation could spiral out of control. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif soon responded by tweeting that Trump had been "goaded" into "genocidal taunts." Zarif referenced both Alexander the Great and Genghis Khan as two historical leaders that Persia outlasted. "Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone," he wrote. "Try respect - it works!" Zarif also used the hashtag #NeverThreatenAnIranian, a reference to a comment he made during intense negotiations for the 2015 nuclear accord. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Wednesday issued an unprecedented alert to state governments about the possibility of "eruption of violence" in various parts of the country during the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections. The MHA's direction to the states and union territories to "further take adequate measures" to ensure security of strong rooms and venues of counting of votes came in the wake of "calls and statements" issued by "various quarters" for "inciting violence and causing disruption" on the day of counting of votes on Thursday. "The Ministry of Home Affairs has alerted the State Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police regarding possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country in connection with the counting of votes tomorrow. The MHA has asked the States and Union Territories to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquility," an official statement said. Sources said this was an "unprecedented" alert and it has not happened in the recent past. They said central agencies have received inputs that some organisations and individuals, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura, have given certain statements which may lead to violence and disruption in counting process. One of the triggers for the alert was the remarks by RLSP chief Upendra Kushwaha who threatened the BJP of "bloodshed and chaos" if it attempted to tamper the EVMs and manipulate the election results. He is even quoted as telling his party workers to remain alert and "pick up arms if necessary". There were widespread violence in West Bengal during the seven phase of polling. Incidents of violence were reported from some other states also. A senior Opposition leader described the alert as a BJP ploy to indulge in violence as the ruling party was taking an "anticipatory bail". "If they think they are losing, the BJP will indulge in violence," the leader said. The BJP described the allegation as "ridiculous". As the row over apprehensions of EVM manipulation deepened with some leaders and workers in the Opposition threatening to pick guns and spill blood", BJP chief Amit Shah launched a scathing attack on desperate parties for sullying the image of the nation. Dismissing the protests as frustration over defeat by the 22 parties, Shah also alluded to the Congress victory in Assembly elections in three Hindi heartland states Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh just months ago and said that most of the parties raising questions over the credibility of EVMs have won in elections conducted through EVMs some time or the other. If these parties have no trust in EVMs, why did they take over the reins of power after winning poll, he said asking why questions were not raised when Aam Aadmi Party won 67 of 70 Assembly seats in Delhi in past or when the Congress won four states recently. Due to its selfish interest and its mindset of not accepting defeat, the Opposition is sullying the image of the Election Commission and the nations democracy. The questions being raised by the EC on the EVMs are mere attempts to create confusion, he said. Shah particularly slammed the remarks of spilling rivers of blood made by Rashtriya Lok Samata Party chief Upendra Kushwha, an erstwhile NDA ally. Kushwaha, a former Union minister in the Modi government, quit the ruling alliance and joined the Opposition's grand alliance in Bihar before the Lok Sabha polls. Hailing the election process through EVMs after the addition of VVPAT as quite transparent, Shah reminded the Opposition parties that there is no place for violent thought and language in democracy. He also slammed them for making the unconstitutional demand from the EC just two days before the counting day to change its counting protocol and count five random VVPATs first. Even as the long-drawn-out parliamentary polls finally inch towards an end, India on Wednesday launched a campaign for yet another battle of ballots this one to win a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). New Delhi chose a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) at the capital of Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday to launch its campaign to win a non-permanent seat at the UNSC for a two-year-term. (The) SCO must support the member countries candidatures for the non-permanent membership of UNSC for the years 2021-2022 and 2027-2028, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said at the meeting of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers in Bishkek. India is set to contest the election at the United Nations General Assembly in 2020 to secure a non-permanent seat at the UNSC for the 2021-2022 period, sources told the DH. Swaraj, however, did not directly refer to India's candidature for the UNSC seat. The UNSC has five permanent members United States, United Kingdom, China, Russia and France and 10 non-permanent members, who are elected by the UNGA for a two-year term on the Horseshoe Table. India served as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for seven terms in the past 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1991-92 and 2011-12. The election at the UNGA in October 2010 saw India securing a record 187 of the 190 valid votes to win the non-permanent seat at the Security Council for the 2011-12 term. India will seek re-election to the Security Council eight years after its last term ended in December 2012. The SCO, perceived as a counterweight to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), is led by Russia and China two permanent members of the UNSC. It admitted India and Pakistan as its members in 2017. The bloc also comprises Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyz Republic. India and Vietnam recently discussed about forthcoming elections to the non-permanent seats at the Security Council during President Ram Nath Kovind's visit to Hanoi in November 2018. India committed its support to Vietnam for the 2020-2021 term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. Vietnam too pledged its support to India for the 2021-2022 term in the most powerful body of the UN, sources in New Delhi told the DH. Bolivia too pledged support to the candidacy of India during Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu's visit to the country. So did Chile in exchange of India's pledge of support for its candidacy for the 2029-2030 term. New Delhi has also been in the forefront to seek expansion of the Security Council both in permanent and non-permanent categories. India, Germany, Brazil and Japan also floated a group called G-4 to press for early reform and expansion of the UNSC. All the G-4 members are aspirant for a permanent seat in the body. Notwithstanding the outcome of the 17th Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra, the state is set to go through a major political churning once the results are out. Given the fact that Maharashtra will be the first big state to head for Assembly elections after the Lok Sabha polls, alignments, reorientation, new alliances and break-ups of political parties are expected. Election to the 288-member strong state Assembly is scheduled for September-October, right after the monsoon ends. Political parties will be in poll mode again after the legislature session, which comes right after the Lok Sabha results. Nearly 50% of Maharashtra, particularly the Marathwada and Vidarbha regions, is reeling under a severe drought, which is being described as far more worse than the one in 1972. Drought, agrarian distress and farmers' suicide will be among the key issues and deciding factors in the state and are also the major areas of concern for the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government. In the coming election, the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) would be something that both the major alliances the ruling five-party BJP-Sena led combine and the Congress-NCP Opposition that has cobbled up a 56-party front should look out for. During the Lok Sabha polls, Raj had addressed a dozen rallies across the state seeking the ouster of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. NCP supremo Sharad Pawar had favoured the inclusion of Raj in the Opposition grouping but the anti-North Indian stance of the charismatic orator is a problem for the Congress. The Maharashtra Congress leadership headed by Ashok Chavan will have to take a call on this. Prakash, the grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, has managed to set up a formidable front of Dalits, Muslims and other communities including Tribals, Dhangars, Kolis, Agris, Banjaras, Malis and Kaikadis. If one goes by the reports and analysis of the Lok Sabha polls, once can see that Prakash along with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asasuddin Owaisi has created a dent in the Dalit-Muslim votes of the Congress. In 2014, the Dhangars by and large were on the BJP's side but in 2019, they are with the VBA. "Both Raj Thackeray and Prakash Ambedkar have emerged as key players ahead of the Vidhan Sabha elections," veteran political analyst and writer Prakash Akolkar said. Another key player in the Konkan region is BJP-sponsored Rajya Sabha member Narayan Rane. The moment the BJP and the Sena announced a seat-sharing formula, the Maharashtra Swabhiman Paksha founder distanced away. Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has already faced criticism of seat-sharing agreement with the BJP after having targeted the latter's leaders for five years. In every rally, Uddhav had to do a bit of explaining. Post results, two senior politicians Congress MLA Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, who has resigned as leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, and NCP MP Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil, a former deputy chief minister are expected to join the BJP. Their sons, Dr Sujay Vikhe-Patil and Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil, respectively, have already joined the BJP. The sighting of an abandoned speed boat with SriLankan markings, on the coastline 50 km from Satish Dhawan Space Centre which was gearing up to launch RISAT-2B at 5.30 am on Wednesday, created a flutter among the security forces guarding the vital installation. The boat was found days ahead of the crucial satellite launch in the backdrop of terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka. The fibre boat appears to be four months old and was fitted with a Yamaha Engine. Local fishermen found the lightweight fibre speed boat, drifting in the Bay of Bengal, three days ago. It was close to the coast near Ponnapudipathuru village in Vidavalur Mandal of SPSR Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh. Reminiscent of the terrorist attack on 26/11, the security forces found smoked cigarettes, beedi butts, a bed sheet, and a can of water bearing a SriLankan sticker. The security forces to rushed to the village where the boat was sighted as there were intel inputs that terrorists are trying to infiltrate into India. Immediately intelligence and other police wings, including the coastguard, rushed to the Pathuru village. The police also found an India-Sri Lanka friendship poster, pasted on the boat. "The poster has made us suspect that who so ever used the boat tried to pose that they are friendly with India," coastal police said. Kovur Circle Inspector A.D. Siva Prasad said that local fishermen noticed the abandoned boat and brought it to the shore and tied it up. The fishermen first tried to start the engine on 18 May. They then removed the new Yamaha engine fitted to the boat so that they can sell it for a good price. They even celebrated the arrival of a new engine with a drinks party." However, the information of a foreign boat reached Vidavalur Police who immediately rushed to the spot. A quick search in the local villages yielded no results. Vidavalur police booked a case under Criminal Procedure Code 120 and are investigating. The police also suspect that few people who have travelled the distance might have taken shelter somewhere. A search is being conducted along with the Marine police. The Marine police say that the condition of the boat was not good and there was no suspicious material in it. Marine Mallikarjuna Rao said that they were trying to decipher information about the make and ownership of the boat based on the registration numbers painted on its board. Senior Congress leader and seven-time MLA R Roshan Baigs scathing attack against the Congress leadership is seen as an indication of simmering discontent among a section of Muslim leaders of the party in the state. Many senior Congress leaders belonging to the Muslim community are said to be upset with the state leadership, especially coordination committee chairman Siddaramaiah, for sidelining them. Their main grouse is that Chamarajpet MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, who is Minister for Minorities Affairs and Food and Civil Supplies, is getting prominence in the party. Zameer is a Siddaramaiah follower. Sources in the Congress said Baig had been sulking in the party for being denied the Cabinet berth. Instead, Zameer, who joined the Congress after quitting the JD(S) before the 2018 Assembly polls, managed to become a minister with the help of Siddaramaiah. Zameer is also of late trying to position himself as the Muslim face of the party. Siddaramaiah had given the responsibility of pacifying party leaders, who had threatened to contest as rebel candidates in the recently held Kundagol Assembly byelections, to Zameer. Besides, neither Siddaramaiah nor KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao consulted the Muslim leaders while finalising the party candidate for Bengaluru Central parliamentary seat. The party fielded MLA Rizwan Arshad as suggested by Siddaramaiah, the sources said. All these developments, sources said, have caused lot of resentment among senior community leaders, including C M Ibrahim and Tanveer Sait. The late Congress leader C K Jaffer Sharief, too, had criticised Siddaramaiah for the same reason a few months ago. In fact, Ibrahim on Tuesday refused to comment on Baigs outburst. This apart, it is feared that Baigs statements would open floodgates on May 23 and dissident party leaders would start openly speaking against the party leadership if the Congress puts up a poor show in Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka. Several of the loyal and original Congress leaders are upset with the way Siddaramaiah has been handling the JD(S)-Congress coalition government. Siddaramaiah is considered an outsider as he joined the party in 2006. RIDLEY TOWNSHIP-If anyone recognizes the vandal captured on video defacing Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church with pro-choice graffiti early Sunday, theyve yet to speak up to authorities. Not even a $500 reward posted by a parish family is loosening lips. The image of a lone, elusive suspect was captured at 3:17 a.m. Sunday, crouching down at the front of the church in the 900 block of North Fairview Road, with an apparent can of spray paint in their hand. Parishioners discovered the following message painted on the three glass front doors of the church: You do not have the right to decide what people can do, #ProChoice. Spray painted on the side brick wall of the church were the words, # ProChoice. Police obtained the video from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on Monday and immediately shared it on the police departments social media platforms. Its been on Facebook Crime Watch, the TV news and the front page of the Daily Times, and not one call, township police Capt. Scott Willoughby said Wednesday afternoon. Not even the typical, I think it could be so-and-so call. As the investigation led by township police Lt. William Henderson continues, Willoughby said they are second guessing an original description of the suspect as male. The video is not that great in general. Its black and white. And to be 100 percent honest, we dont know if its a male or female, he said. And the way the person is crouching down, it just doesnt strike me as something a male would do. Its among a number of working theories, according to Willoughby. It was hours after the incident that a man arrived at Our Lady of Peace rectory and alerted the pastor, the Rev. Joseph Devlin, to the vandalism. Devlin, in turn, notified police. Deacon James Basilio, who served at Notre Dame before that parish merged with Our Lady of Peace parish several years ago, continues as a deacon at OLP. He told the Daily Times on Monday that it is sad to see someone take out their anger in the way they did by vandalizing Notre Dame. The gospel of St. John says we have to love one another, Basilio said. Youve got to pray for them. The vandalism comes as battles on both sides of the abortion issue rage across the country. Last week, Alabamas Republican governor approved the most stringent abortion law in the nation making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases unless necessary for the mothers health. There is no exception for incidents of rape and incest. Alabama is part of a wave of conservative states seeking to mount new challenges to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Governors in Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Georgia have approved bans on abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected, which can happen as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. A similar heartbeat abortion ban is also proposed in Louisiana. In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said in a video posted on Twitter that he was appalled by legislation in Alabama, Georgia, and even here in Pennsylvania that limits a womans right to choose. Ill veto any anti-choice bill that lands on my desk. I wont let our commonwealth go backward on reproductive rights, Wolf wrote. Michael Kusner is a long-time Notre Dame parishioner and was at Sundays 10 a.m. Mass and saw the vandalism. Its a shame. Everyone has their own opinion and their own voice. But to do something so destructive there are other ways to protest, he said. Joseph and Maureen Hackett, also longtime Notre Dame church members, are offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction of the vandal. While they are both longtime law enforcement officers, the couples gesture is personally motivated. Joseph Hackett announced the reward on Twitter: To the #spineless #ProChoice spray painters, we will pray for youin the meantime my #family will give $500 #cash for the #arrest AND #conviction of the #Doer! Anyone with information is asked to contact Ridley Township detectives at 610-532-4002. To the Times: Do you remember Sandy Duncans 1981 commercial about Nabiscos Wheat Thins, where she tells you that she loves dancing just as much as she loves eating Wheat Thins, One after the other! That commercial reminds me of the anti-Semitic comments that have been said by Congressional Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn, One after the other! Omar has weaponized her position and authority to launch attacks against Israel and Jews. She has tweeted, Israel has hypnotized the world. May Allah awaken the people and help them see the evil doings of Israel. The congresswomans vilification has set a precedent for a sitting U.S. politician to publicly malign an entire race of people. The danger of not specifically dealing with legislators like Omar who have brazenly percolated anti-Semitic tropes is that our government can easily be corrupted with systemic racism such as what is occurring in the British Labor Party. Omar has also taken a swipe at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Omar inferred that U.S. politicians are swayed by political influence in this country that says its OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country. Omars classic anti-Semitic canard against AIPAC is eerily similar to Hiltlers abhorrent slur against the Jews when he blamed the persecution of the Jews (in Germany during World War 11) on the Jewish lobby overseas. Old anti-Semitic tropes never die. They just keep circulating throughout the ages, with new names and new accusers. According to reports filed with the U.S. Department of Justice, South Korea and Japan outrank Israel in their efforts to pay foreign agents to influence U.S. policy and opinion in pursuit of those interests. Israels main interests are security concerns and democracy ties with the U.S. What Omar and her supporters fail to mention is the fact that Muslim-Arab countries like Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates are also paying foreign agents to influence U.S. policy. AIPAC does not directly contribute to candidates and it does not give money to PACs supporting candidates. According to their website, the mission of AIPAC is to strengthen, protect and promote the U.S.-Israel relationship in ways that enhance the security of the United States and Israel. Omar has anti-Semitic cohorts like David Duke (former Louisiana congressman and white supremacist,Linda Sarsour (political activist) and Louis Farrakhan (head of Nation of Islam and virulent anti-Semite). Duke has encouraged Omars tirades against the Jews, calling her the most important member of Congress. In 1985, during an interview with Evelyn Rich about the KKK, Duke was upset that there were Holocaust survivors and stated that the Nazis were sure inefficient, werent they!? Linda Sarsour also praised Omar for her malevolent slurs against the Jews. Sarsour once said, Nothing is creepier than Zionism! Sarsour also worked with other political activists to dilute the House resolution that would have exclusively condemned anti-Semitic statements from U.S. politicians. Another admirer of Omar, Louis Farrakhan has called Jews termites. Recently in (February 2019) he clarified his statement that the termite reference actually refers to the richest 10% of Americans and those Jews who own 84 % of all stocks. There is not another race of people that government officials would be permitted to publicly denigrate, yet Omar has continued spouting her Jewish conspiracies with no authentic contrition and full of unfettered malice. Omar is faulted for her own actions, but the majority of the Democratic Party has winked at her transgressions by their support of her. The House of Representatives did pass a resolution to deal with bigotry, but it was too broad. There should have been a resolution to deal specifically with anti-Semitism and Rep. Omar should have been publicly reprimanded by a congressional censure. Anti-Semitism stands alone as a monumental evil towering above all bigotry. Driven by hatred and buoyed by complicit cowardice, its aims are to assassinate the character of an entire race of people and to open the door to a second Holocaust. On the same page is a series featuring Utah book clubs. Editor's note: If you have a book club and you are interested in being featured, please contact us at features@deseretnews.com. Please include your name, your contact information and one or two sentences describing your book club. SALT LAKE CITY Generally, when you think of a public library, you assume that food is not allowed. However, in the case of the Marmalade Coffee and Chocolate Society Book Club, which meets in the Marmalade Branch of the Salt Lake City Public Library, treats are highly encouraged. Moka, a gourmet coffee shop that specializes in local coffee and chocolate, is located in the Marmalade Branch. The partnership between its owner, Liz Struthwolf, and a Marmalade librarian, Azra Basic, has been especially sweet. Struthwolf is the president of the Marmalade Coffee and Chocolate Society, which holds monthly tasting events and offers gourmet chocolate and coffee catering. She and Basic started a book club supported by the Salt Lake City Public Librarys Marmalade Branch, and they incorporate Mokas locally-made treats into their monthly meetings. Basic spoke with the Deseret News about the value of encouraging community and getting to know new people. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. Deseret News: What kind of books does your book club read? Is there a specific theme? Azra Basic: The mission of our book club is to encourage reading and just open our members to new genres and authors, and basically create a discussion and provide an opportunity for people to meet in the community. And of course, we try to include the coffee and chocolate, so we do book discussions all while snacking on delicious treats. And the books that are chosen for a discussion, although they might not be favorite authors or books for everyone, we are also trying to expand horizons and just kind of like, expose people to different genres and authors. With that being said, we are working very closely with the Utah State Library, which has this amazing program called Book Buzz. Basically, they have in their database, I would say, over 300 different book club kits, so we just select book club kits from their database and then we go from there. We try to have a kind of healthy selection of fiction and nonfiction. DN: Is there a book thats been the biggest hit with everybody in the book club group? AB: Yes. Every year the Salt Lake Valley is actually part of a program called the Big Read. So the book for the Big Read was Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel. We got free copies for our book club. Its kind of a dystopian novel that I did not necessarily think everybody would like, but it was a huge hit. We had great attendance and a very lively discussion afterwards. DN: What are most of your meetings like? AB: Currently we have about 50 active members in our book club, but usually we had 15-20 people attending the book club. Participation is the key to a successful book club, so we do expect our members to attend at least five discussions per calendar year. We meet in the conference room. I have questions that I plan beforehand that just kind of kick off the new book discussion. (It's not a) very formal setting, but Im there to streamline the discussion. At this point, we have become almost like a little family. We try to kind of also talk a little bit about our vacation plans, or just normal things that we do in our free time. DN: Do you have any really memorable meetings or experiences that youve had with this book club? AB: Yes, so in the last April book discussion, we had read The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book, (by Alice B. Toklas.) We had almost every member of the book club prepare one of the recipes from the book and they bought it. So we tasted everything and just kind of like, talked about the recipes, the process that we used to make the dish it was a lot of fun. DN: Is there anything special going on with your book club coming up in the future? AB: Actually, yes, every year, we do try to have a summer party. So we usually do that on the balcony of the library. We have a really nice patio, and we just go out there and have kind of like a little thank-you party and we celebrate our book club. DN: What are some of your book recommendations? AB: For (a) book club, I wouldnt necessarily recommend just a specific title, but I would definitely say books that work the best are the short reads that are dramatic, and that could be a little controversial, so that you can generate a more interesting debate within the members. DN: Do you have a book you think everybody should read? AB: Yes! The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Its a classic and has ideas that are just timeless. DN: Whats your favorite thing about being in a book club? AB: Just bringing people together and having a laugh, getting to know (the members) a little bit better, and making a difference in other peoples lives. We have members that dont really have much family or friends aside from the book club, so just providing that safe space where they can come and feel accepted like they belong really means a lot. I think at the beginning it really started as, "Oh, lets just read and lets discover new titles." But later on, I think it grew into something much bigger. The Marmalade Coffee and Chocolate Society Book Club recommends: Station Eleven, by Emily St. John Mandel, Penguin Random House, 352 pages (f) The Alice B. Toklas Cook Book, by Alice B. Toklas, Harper Collins Publishers, 320 pages (nf) Major Pettigrews Last Stand, by Helen Simonson, Penguin Random House, 384 pages (f) David and Goliath, by Malcolm Gladwell, Little, Brown and Company, 528 pages (nf) Crazy Rich Asians, by Kevin Kwan, Penguin Random House, 544 pages (f) Chocolat, by Joanne Harris, Penguin Random House, 336 pages (f) Little Fires Everywhere, by Celeste Ng, Penguin Random House, 368 pages (f) SALT LAKE CITY Fans of "When Calls the Heart" have had an interesting season this year, with the college admissions scandal that caused the Hallmark Channel to remove lead Lori Loughlin from the show. But now that Season 6 has resumed, life in Hope Valley is soldiering on and over it all flows the strains of show composer John Sereda's music. Sereda, who was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, didnt initially have designs on pursuing a musical career. I was well into becoming a lawyer when music sort of took over my life, he told the blog, From the Desk of Kurt Manwaring, in an email interview. (I) cant really explain it. He purchased a bass guitar in college and joined a band. One thing led to another and he eventually found himself helping a friend by composing some music for a theater production. I would say that was the start of a real attraction to composing music that functioned in support of a larger vision, he wrote. Years later, Sereda was approached by Shona Miko, a friend who worked as a post-production supervisor for "When Calls the Heart." They were looking for someone to take over from Lee Holdbridge a great composer, by the way after four episodes of Season 1, so very near the beginning, he wrote. I was really drawn to the general vibe of the scripts after scoring my fair share of dark and edgy TV. I met Michael Landon Jr., the original showrunner, and he was great. After more than 60 episodes of When Calls the Heart under my belt, Im still grateful for that call." The appreciation goes both ways. Showrunner Alfonso Moreno, who joined the series in Season 5, said Seredas contributions are essential to the successful feel of the show. I was a fan of Johns before I met him. Prior to joining the series as the showrunner, I had watched all the prior seasons of When Calls the Heart," said Moreno. "I would get teary during some of the storylines and I realized the role John played in that. His music really helps set and enhance whatever mood we are going for in a scene, he added. A surprising amount of hard work goes into each episodes musical score. Sereda begins by reading the scripts well before its time to start writing the music. I let the shows percolate inside my head, he wrote. I feel it gives me a head start for when I sit down to write. In addition to getting his own feel for the script, Sereda also screens to see if there are any scenes in which someone needs to sing or dance so he can have that music ready ahead of time what he calls pre-record music. Once an episode has been filmed, Sereda enters the picture editing process and watches comments that pass back and forth between those involved in the show. It is important for me to know the 'intention' of various scenes in the show, he wrote. The general intention is mostly obvious, but there is quite often nuance which may affect how I approach the music. When all decisions become final, the episode is locked. This means that the picture editing is done and no more changes will be made to the picture, wrote Sereda. And that is when I sit down with the locked episode in front of me. Sereda then begins the technical aspect of his work. He creates a cue list, determines if previous themes can be used and adapted, and what needs to be composed from scratch. He then applies his unique talents to producing original music that reaches into the hearts of viewers. Screen music is powerful and almost exclusively about feeling, wrote Sereda. I like to think of the music as an emotional mirror to the scene. It all comes down to making the choices that I feel best allow the emotion of the moment to be reflected back onto the screen. When the music is complete, he begins a collaborative process with others involved in the show and makes changes to the score as needed. Once final approval has been received, the actual process of recording the music begins. Each episode generally takes 10 to 14 days to complete, though deadlines sometimes necessitate a shorter schedule. Despite best efforts, Sereda wrote, "the process sometimes gets compressed to seven days. Whew! Like writers, directors and producers, the notoriety of a composer is often overshadowed by the high profiles of the actors in front of the camera. But that doesnt discourage Sereda. The biggest compliment (I can get) from fans is for them to continue watching and support the show. Family reunification allowed my adult father to immigrate to the U.S. when he only had the equivalent of a sixth-grade education. Because my grandfather had first emigrated to the U.S. from China when my father was very young, he was able to come to this country to build a better life. Meanwhile, my mothers family arrived as unskilled laborers from China who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad. Flash ahead one generation my generation to see how my parents raised four high-performing, successful American citizens. Two now have law degrees. One has a doctorate. One is a judge the first Chinese-American judge in Utah. One is the first Chinese-American state legislator. President Trump, we have merit. President Trump has introduced a merit-based immigration plan which he thinks will improve Americas immigration system. At the same time, the administration wants to diminish family-based immigration which they disparage as chain migration. We shouldnt be so quick to discriminate against immigrants who are seemingly unskilled, or otherwise unworthy of pursuing the American Dream. My familys story is a common story for many, many immigrant families, whether they arrive from Asia, Africa, the Middle East or other parts of the world. They may arrive with few possessions and little education. But often within one generation, their children are working hard, getting educated, innovating and building a stronger America. My family's American immigrant story would never have happened without immigration laws that allowed for family reunification. And yet there are still many Utahns today who have been patiently waiting, some for over two for decades, to be reunified with their loved ones. In Utah, we value immigrants because we recognize that for most of us, at some point in our familys past, we experienced immigration. I love that Utahs values are family values. I also love that Utahns value innovation and hard work. But I am disappointed that this administration is pitching a program that discounts and devalues family ties. I am saddened that this administration wants to overlook nearly three centuries of immigrants building the America we love through hard work and innovation. We shouldnt allow the current immigration policy to pit strong border enforcement against common sense, compassionate support for Dreamers, refugees and hardworking immigrants and their families. We shouldnt have to choose to have one or the other. Of course, we should encourage and welcome skilled professionals with needed talents to immigrate to the U.S. from abroad. But we should not discount the promise and potential of other immigrants who want the same equal shot at the American Dream. IOWA CITY, Iowa A teen searching for arrowheads in southern Iowa found something much bigger: the prehistoric jawbone of a mastodon. The Iowa City Press-Citizen reports that the 30-inch bone belonged to a juvenile mastodon, an elephant-like animal believed to have roamed Iowa some 34,000 years ago. Officials with the University of Iowa Paleontology Repository, which now has possession of the bone found last week, say the mastodon might have stood around 7-feet tall. The farmers who donated the jaw and related bones to the repository did so anonymously, saying they didn't want to encourage people to trespass on their property looking for fossils. There likely are more fossils on the land, as the owners found other mastodon remains there decades ago. SALT LAKE CITY Utah lawmakers have been fretting over what might happen if someone wins a primary election with less than 50 percent, plus one, of the vote. Its an interesting debate and all. Americans, in general, dont like it when someone gets sworn into an office of authority after earning less than that threshold, even though it happens all the time in the race for president and has happened countless times in various elections in the nations history. But, with all that is swirling around us these days, the debate sounds a bit like arguing over which shrubs to plant in the front yard while someone is shooting at the house with a machine gun. The majority vs. plurality argument means little if the nations enemies succeed in hacking an election something they apparently are spending every waking minute trying to do. The Russian hacks on Democratic Party computer servers in 2016 are one thing. The social media campaigns on a gullible and mostly ignorant electorate are another. Both are troubling. But now we learn, thanks to the Mueller report and confirmation from Floridas governor, that in two Florida counties, Russian hackers actually breached county election systems three years ago. Holy hanging chads! And they did this through old-fashioned, low-cost spear-phishing campaigns. You know the drill. Russians sent enticing emails to county workers with links attached. Those links, if clicked, downloaded software that penetrated voter rolls. You probably see these attempts several times a week, along with emails from foreign princes holding money for you. It doesnt matter how good your security is if you give someone the keys to your car, Justin Lee, Utahs director of elections, deadpanned when I called him Tuesday. He also assured me no one had handed over the keys to Utahs registration database, which his office keeps for the entire state, and which last year was receiving 1 billion hacking attempts daily in advance of Election Day. Maybe its just me, but that seems like a lot for a small, isolated Western state. But then, your bank or local retailer probably got a few million hacking attempts this week alone. Its a dangerous virtual world out there. On the eve of the 2016 election, I tried to calm an anxious voting public by illustrating how difficult it would be to rig an election. My argument was simple: In the United States, elections generally are conducted on the county level, and there are 3,143 counties and county equivalents (boroughs, independent cities, etc.) to infiltrate. A conspiracy to change election results would require not only compromising the equipment in those counties, but a lot of precinct judges, too, I said. Thats still a mostly valid argument, except that the bad guys wouldnt necessarily need to mess with actual vote tallies. If they could get enough people to unwittingly hand them the keys to voter registration databases in a few tossup counties, they could unregister people, change their precinct assignments or otherwise wreak enough havoc and confusion to alter who gets to vote, thereby ruining our confidence in the whole system. As if we need a lot of help destroying our confidence in government institutions. We dont know much about what happened in Florida. The FBI and government officials there wont even identify the counties involved. All they will do is assure everyone that the hackers didnt alter the results in any way. Here in Utah, Lee said hes satisfied Utah lawmakers have taken election security seriously, appropriating money to enhance security. Were in a much better place than a lot of other states, he said. Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen wants voters to know that hackers cant get into actual voting machines, which are not connected to the internet. During an election year, she examines registration information daily to look for suspicious changes in how demographic groups are represented. Lee said governors, secretaries of state and lieutenant governors nationwide are talking about this constantly, sharing information and techniques. Sure, the debate over whether someone might win a primary with less than 50 percent of the vote might be interesting on a sort of wonkish, esoteric level, even though it hasnt been much of a problem in Utah since statehood. Should we hold a runoff election, allow ranked-choice voting or conduct a jungle election that advances the top two vote-getters regardless of party? Im not really sure, but I do know this much. Ultimately, the most important thing is to make sure everyone who is registered can vote, and every vote is tallied correctly. SALT LAKE CITY An Ogden woman accused of a verbal outbursts during a general conference session of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in March 2018 now faces an infraction instead of a misdemeanor charge. The Salt Lake City Prosecutor's Office last fall charged Crystal Kerri Moon Legionaires, 24, with disrupting a meeting or procession, a class B misdemeanor. On Tuesday, prosecutors reduced the charge to an infraction. A jury trial scheduled for Thursday was postponed to a bench trial in August. A woman yelled from a corner of the balcony, "Stop protecting sexual predators," during the Saturday afternoon conference session on March 31, 2018. Church security removed her from the Conference Center. "Ms. Legionaires admitted that she made the statements, and denied that she had done so to disrupt the proceedings," according to charging documents. A church security officer told police that he saw Legionaires "create a disturbance in the audience by loudly yelling three different times, according to court documents. Other witnesses also told police they heard the shouts. One conference attendee sitting across the aisle from Legionaires told police the outburst "startled" her. The Conference Center manager would testify that the building is private property and that access is granted using tickets with "printed expectations and standards of conduct," charging documents state. In a press release sent out ahead of her now-canceled jury trial, Legionaires describes herself as a former Latter-day Saint who advocates for sexual violence survivors as well as transgender people, gay people and people of color. Early next month, President Trump will make a state visit to the United Kingdom and visit Portsmouth, a key embarkation point for the D-Day invasion of occupied France that occurred 75 years ago. He will then travel to France for ceremonies at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial overlooking the D-Day beaches. Almost 9,400 U.S. combatants are buried there. In Utah, World War II saw the flourishing of Hill Field as a key base for the Army Air Force, the rapid construction of the mammoth Geneva integrated steel works in Orem, and the tragic internment of almost 8,000 Japanese-Americans at the Topaz Camp near Delta. More than 70,000 Utahns went to war with 3,600 killed or missing. The United States entered wars in Europe in 1917 and again at the end of 1941 because extreme nationalism had torn the continent asunder. Total deaths on the battlefield and from disease, famine and genocide in the two world wars probably surpassed 90 million, the greatest carnage in human history, with most of these fatalities being unarmed civilians. The Marshall Plan signed by President Truman in April 1948 offered vast economic assistance to a devastated European continent. However, the plan first required recipient nations to work together to solve problems regionally in order to ensure that the extreme nationalism of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy would never reappear. A year later, NATO was formed to extend U.S. military protection to Europe in the event of an invasion from Stalins Soviet Union. President Trump has been scathing in his remarks about NATO and Europe in general. He has referred to NATO as obsolete and castigated the members from Europe and Canada for not bearing their fair share of the defense burden. He has labeled the European Union as unfriendly because of its large trade surplus with America and its failure to lower trade barriers to some U.S.-made goods and agricultural products. At times, President Trump has also voiced harsh criticism of European leaders such as Theresa May, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel. In addition, Trump is an enthusiastic supporter of a hard Brexit in which the United Kingdom would divorce itself completely from the European Union, hoping that this would lead to further erosion within the EU in general. He has also threatened to impose steep tariffs on European-made autos and terminate the exemption given to some EU members to import Iranian oil. Unfortunately, the European experiment to foster continental unity and cooperation has already been weakened by the resurgence of nationalism and populism in various countries. A hard Brexit would exacerbate this dangerous trend to the detriment of both the U.K. and EU. President Trumps apparent desire to weaken the EU and downgrade NATO runs counter to post-World War II U.S. policy objectives. Meanwhile, President Xi Jinping of China has recently visited Italy and France, and the populist Italian government has signed on to the controversial Belt and Road Initiative to collaborate with China on a wide variety of infrastructure projects, including ports and telecommunications networks. Several European allies are also embracing Huaweis 5G global network, in spite of warnings from the U.S. intelligence community about Chinese data theft and cyber-espionage. Russia under President Putin continues to threaten Ukraine and the Baltic countries, but Germany is still supporting the development of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, making it even more dependent on Russian natural gas. Merkels government is also spending a pittance on defense, and reportedly has only one military division prepared for immediate combat, compared with a dozen such divisions back in 1990. Even a president not named Trump would be disappointed with Germanys lackluster contribution to NATOs preparedness. Current transatlantic tensions have roots both in Washington and various European capitals. In spite of D-Days noble legacy, this key relationship is deteriorating at a time when economic power is shifting away from the North Atlantic region and toward Asia, which next year will account for over half of the worlds GDP, measured in purchasing power parity. Unless steps are taken to repair U.S.-European ties, global insecurity will intensify. SALT LAKE CITY William Harris, of Salt Lake City, was driving when he saw a suspicious man near his friends market. His friend, who owned the local market, came out and told him the man had robbed him at gunpoint. Harris took matters into his own hands, exited his vehicle and ran after the robber. He tackled the armed man and took him back to the store and waited for police to arrive. Harris also assisted police by showing them where the man had discarded his weapon. He wanted to help his friend, he said, as the owner had given him a gallon of milk on the promise that Harris could pay it back when he had sufficient funds. Harris, along with members of the Salt Lake City Police Department and civilians with similar stories of heroism, were recognized Tuesday at the 39th annual Salt Lake City Police Awards Luncheon at the Utah State Fairpark's Grand Building. The awards luncheon, sponsored by the Salt Lake Police Foundation and the Salt Lake Rotary Club, drew 360 people and followed National Police Week. I could have paid it no attention, but that was a friend of mine, and my friends are really important to me, said Harris, who was one of three recipients of the Partner in Public Safety Award. Over 30 recognitions were given to Salt Lake City Police Department employees and civilians for increasing the safety of their community through acts of courage. Examples included an officer talking a man out of jumping off an edge of an overpass, two officers extracting a person from a car before it became fully engulfed in flames, and others who saved the lives of civilians during medical emergencies. Salt Lake police officer Jose Munoz, whos been employed with the department for four years, was given the Chiefs Officer of the Year award for his contributions building trust with those in the community. His efforts to build relationships in the community have led to arrests and improving the safety of the neighborhood. Its something I never truly expected, so I really I appreciate everyone who recommended me for this award. Its definitely meaningful, said Munoz. He recommended that new officers in the force should constantly look for ways to better themselves and seek a mentor for guidance in their careers. Treasa Chopp, a forensic scientist, was named the Chiefs Civilian of the Year for handling all DNA evidence in Salt Lake police's rape and sexual assault cases and playing a critical role in seeking justice for sexual assault survivors. The Chief's Unit of the Year award was given to Property Crimes East Squad. The seven-member squad handled over 6,800 cases in 2018 and significantly reduced burglary trends. They participated in a pawn shop operation with the Utah Attorney General's Office that led to shutting down seven shops. Among the honorees, "The Silent Table" served as a memorial for fallen Salt Lake City law enforcement officers. Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, who was in attendance, tearfully thanked law enforcement officers for their service. "You are remarkable and you are the best," Biskupski said. "You will keep going and stand with one another and help us build an even better city than we have today." PROVO When it comes to water, technology isn't the first thing that comes to most people's minds. But as Richard Gardner, with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, discussed Tuesday at the third annual Central Utah Water Symposium on safeguarding water, extreme threats and risks exist for water systems if poor cybersecurity is implemented. Even basic security such as two-factor authentication, strong passwords and cutting all access from former employees can help mitigate the risk of hacking, he said. "The more difficult it is for you to ultimately access something, it's harder for someone else to do that," he said. Gardner is the cybersecurity adviser for the region that includes Utah, Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota and South Dakota. In addition to his lecture on cybersecurity, others spoke on wildfire mitigation, natural disaster impacts on water and funding a resilient water future. During his presentation to about 200 people in attendance at the Utah Valley Convention Center, Gardner urged those who rely on computer systems in their jobs to use Homeland Security's free cybersecurity assessments. In the digital age, most workplaces implement best practices when it comes to cybersecurity. However, in the water industry, the consequences of a hack could be far more detrimental than losing a few files. "We're worried about contamination all the time," said Kathryn McMullin, another presenter with the Division of Emergency Management in Utah's Department of Public Safety. "We're all learning how fast and furious we are vulnerable to a contamination event." In 2006, a water treatment plant in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, was compromised by foreign hackers, Gardner said. While it appeared the attack wasn't targeted, he said the intruder still planted malicious software capable of affecting the plant's water treatment operations. The security threat was caused through the internet on an employee's laptop. Lessons learned from this incident include the need to secure remote computers, create firewalls and patches to fix system errors, and to update and check systems regularly, he said. "The less overall access that people have to your systems, the better," Gardner advised. While the recent water scandal in Sandy where fluoride was accidentally pumped into the city's water supply, contaminating over 1,000 households, schools and businesses wasn't due to a cyber issue, it shows the impact a water mishap can have on a community. Gardner mentioned employees should be wary of phishing scams but he also warned of the more undetectable spear-phishing scams where instead of spamming several people, hackers will do research on one person through social media and use their information to target them for the scam. Ransomware, where hackers hold a website hostage, are usually masked as system updates and a common scam, Gardner said. The city website for Baltimore, Maryland, was recently seized by hackers who demanded payment before they released the site back. Gardner advised people to only download system updates from the vendor directly and regularly test backup and recovery procedures. Ransomware is one thing that especially scares Jason Hoyt, electrical group manager for Central Utah Water Conservancy District. He's in charge of the supervisory control and data acquisition, which is an industrial computer that operates water systems such as dams or wells. "We're very concerned about (hacking) and we work hard to make sure that doesn't happen," he said. "We're very concerned about being hacked. But in the same sense we're not real concerned because we feel like we've taken the appropriate steps to protect ourselves." Their supervisory control and data acquisition system operates sites such as the Jordanelle Dam and Olmstead Diversion Dam and the district sells irrigation and drinking water that impacts about 80 percent of Utah's population, he said. Another potential threat to water systems, brought up by McMullin during her presentation was low public education and awareness. Mainly, when it comes to reporting suspicious behavior and proper safe water practices in the event of a natural disaster. She discussed a study completed by the Environmental Protection Agency to determine if backflow water contamination through fire hydrants could be successful. "So what they did was they connected a service connection pump backed to a fire hydrant," she explained. The study was completed with law enforcement and the local water district's knowledge. She said a team of people wearing plain clothes in an unmarked van completed the experiment where they pumped non-toxic food grain solution of potassium chloride in a fire hydrant for more than eight hours in a community neighborhood. "They were highly successful, it went all the way through the system," she said. "The concerning things about this is one it was unmarked (van), right? nobody said a word. They spent less than $200, and not one resident ever questioned what they were doing." Had their intentions been malicious, they would have gotten away with contaminating an entire water system in a public place. McMullin urged attendees who work in water districts to participate in community outreach to raise awareness and education about suspicious activities. "Do you do any outreach within your community, your customers, that they're watching for suspicious activity that they can feel free to contact you if they see something strange?" she asked the audience. McMullin said she's currently working with Utah Department of Health to qualify critical utility workers for vaccination prioritization, which she said is currently reserved for hospital personnel such as surgeons. "Because I need you guys to be able to go to work and protect your families and keep us up and running," she said. "That hospital doesn't have anything if they don't have water and wastewater." McMullin talked about the significant impact of an earthquake along the Wasatch fault line will have on the state, including liquefaction, building damage, waste disposal issues and damaged water systems. She used the 2010 Haiti earthquake as an example of the importance of proper water use in a disaster, noting that because of improper waste disposal, 1.1 million people were infected with cholera and 4,500 died as a result. SALT LAKE CITY Police on Tuesday said they found a minivan taken last week when a man allegedly yanked the owner out of it and drove off with her toddler still inside. The carjacking occurred about 1:30 p.m Thursday as the woman was stopped to make a U-turn at Green Street (between 600 East and 700 East) and 2100 South, Salt Lake police said. The man, who the woman did not know, came up to the vehicle and pulled her out of it, Salt Lake Police Lt. Jenn Diedrich said at the time. The man drove away westbound, Diedrich said. Witnesses saw the carjacking happen and followed the man to State Street and 2100 South while calling police, according to Diedrich. About 30 minutes later, a man noticed the 3-year-old girl walking in the area of Fayette and West Temple and, after not seeing the child's parent, called police. "The mom was elated and very happy," Diedrich said. The girl was OK after the incident, according to the lieutenant. Salt Lake police said they found the minivan Tuesday at Wells Fargo, 300 S. 1300 East. They are still looking for Derek Orr, 29, who they call a person of interest in the carjacking. Anyone with information is asked to call police dispatch at 801-799-3000 and reference case #19-86814. World leaders are often defined on the international stage by their ability to deploy diplomatic skills. The best of diplomats have deep knowledge on a wide-range of topics, a keen interest in and passion for people, an understanding of the world, an appreciation for words, insight into history, an ability to comment with facts and feelings, deftness in delicate conversations, an uncanny ability to execute with precision and exactness and, perhaps above all, physical stamina. The list is long and difficult to develop which is why there are so few that are actually worthy of the title of diplomat to the world. Ive observed many diplomats over the years in a variety of situations. This week, I watched with amazement two extraordinary diplomats as they met with heads of state, interfaith leaders and church followers in Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga, Fiji and Tahiti. Countless lessons in diplomacy emerged. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his colleague Elder Gerrit W. Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, along with their wives, are traveling through the South Pacific on a different, interesting sort of diplomatic mission. After a meeting with New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a dynamic leader with her own impressive diplomatic and leadership skills, Elder Gong commented, "President Nelson is a natural diplomat." A true statement. It just happens to be a statement that could be applied equally to Elder Gong. Both men measure up to and exceed the list of skills required to be an influential diplomat. President Nelsons diplomatic skills have been deployed throughout his career as a heart surgeon and senior leader in the church. Then-Dr. Nelson travelled the world teaching other surgeons who often had to be persuaded to explore new approaches and ideas for healing the heart. As an apostle, he was given the ultimate diplomatic challenge to work with government officials in the communist countries of Eastern Europe to open up their nations to the church. With steely determination and velvet gloves, he spent years nurturing relationships, developing friendship and demonstrating the positive force the church would be in these countries. Eventually all the countries formerly behind the Iron Curtain permitted the church to organize and operate within their borders. Whether teaching surgical techniques, teaching missionaries the Latin origins of the word repent, leading a discussion designed to build bridges of understanding or providing compassionate words of hope and healing, President Nelson is a diplomat without equal. And, even with all of that, the diplomatic characteristic he may epitomize most is his matchless stamina and energy. At nearly 95 years old, he keeps an incomprehensible pace as he continuously travels the world to meet with the 16 million members of the global church. The first apostle called by President Nelson after becoming the prophet to the church was Elder Gong. Their shared diplomatic temperament and skills make them an interesting complement on their current trip. After a little more than one year in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Gong has demonstrated an uncanny diplomatic ability to be present and fully engaged without saying a single word. He can lead from any point on the compass without ever drawing attention to himself or distracting from the flow of a conversation. He understands the difference between influence and power and chooses diplomatically where and when to engage. His vast knowledge and deep understanding often positions him as one of the smartest people in any room. Elder Gongs spiritual sensitivity and love of people is manifest in a quiet confidence to diplomatically convey strength in silence. Yet, as all great diplomats, when needed, he will offer comments with such precision, power and perspective that he can, in an instant, frame or reframe a conversation, elevate the dialogue or expand the vision of what is possible. He never wastes a word or an opportunity to make a difference. Every diplomat must have a voice, and Elder Gongs vital voice echoes a certain trumpet that impacts and inspires. In June, he will speak at the G20 Interfaith Forum where world religious leaders will gather, ahead of the G20 Economic Summit, to discuss religious liberty and the role of people of faith in communities around the world. Attendees at the forum will recognize a unique diplomat with the knowledge, compassion and skill to navigate truly crucial conversations. In Samoa, leaders praised President Nelson and Elder Gong for the churchs commitment to education. Muslim leaders, including representatives and survivors of the two Christchurch mosque attacks, commented on the oneness they felt as they linked arms with President Nelson. Elder Gongs clarion calls to members in large gatherings were simple, profound and filled with energizing compassion. Both of these extraordinary men could lead or represent international businesses, foreign governments or global organizations in a most amazing way. The fact that President Nelson and Elder Gong have chosen to become diplomatic disciples of Jesus Christ and his church may be even more impressive. Diplomats of every stripe could learn much by pursuing the skills easily observed in the lives of President Russell M. Nelson and Elder Gerrit W. Gong. NEW YORK A key federal regulator says he backs T-Mobile's $26.5 billion takeover of rival wireless carrier Sprint, a crucial step for the deal's approval. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai said Monday he supported the deal because the two companies promised to expand mobile internet access in rural areas and roll out 5G , the next generation of mobile networks. While Pai's backing is important, further steps remain. The full commission of three Republicans and two Democrats must still vote, and the Justice Department must also clear the deal. State attorneys general may also move against the combination. Pai said Monday that the combination will help bring faster mobile broadband to rural Americans. The companies have made promises on building out 5G and expanding rural broadband before, but now they are attaching timelines and agreeing to penalties if they fail to meet their commitments. For instance, the companies promise to make fast internet available to 99% of Americans within six years after the deal's close. T-Mobile US Inc. and Sprint Corp. also said Monday that they would sell Sprint's prepaid cellphone brand Boost Mobile to address antitrust concerns. Several public-interest advocates dismissed the companies' promises Monday as not solving the issues posed by industry consolidation. Along with labor groups, the advocates have argued that the deal will lead to price increases and job cuts. Democratic lawmakers have also been skeptical of the companies' promises. Just because the FCC seems ready to approve the deal doesn't mean the Justice Department will, as the two agencies have different criteria. The Justice Department evaluates deals on whether they harm competition and raise prices for consumers, while the FCC examines whether a merger fulfills "public interest" goals. Expanding internet access to more people could count as one such goal, for example. David Cicilline, a Rhode Island Democrat who heads the House antitrust subcommittee, called on the Justice Department to require that Sprint and T-Mobile show that the deal won't harm consumers. "Empty promises will not make this transaction a good deal for American workers and consumers," he said. Sprint and T-Mobile have been talking about their 5G plans even before proposing their combination, so it'll be tough to convince the Justice Department that the 5G buildout depends on it, said Amanda Wait, a partner at Norton Rose Fulbright and former Federal Trade Commission lawyer. And even then, the Justice Department has to decide if those benefits are greater than any harms to consumer. Justice Department spokesman Jeremy Edwards declined to comment Monday. Sprint, which is based in Overland Park, Kansas, and T-Mobile, based in Bellevue, Washington, argue that the combination will lead to better 5G service. They have made promises before to create U.S. jobs and build a home-internet business to compete with cable companies as well as Verizon and AT&T. They've also promised not to raise prices for three years. The Obama administration rebuffed the companies' earlier effort to merge, as well as an attempted deal between AT&T and T-Mobile, on concerns that such deals would hurt competition in the wireless industry. Shares of T-Mobile rose $2.93, or almost 4%, to $78.29, while Sprint's stock soared 19% to $7.34. Shares of Verizon and AT&T also rose. ___ Chapman reported from Newark, New Jersey. SALT LAKE CITY A man who police say was shot by a Hurricane homeowner in self-defense after he threatened to kill the homeowner and another man is due back in court on Thursday. Raul Rivera, 43, of Dickinson, North Dakota, was charged April 30 in Washington County's 5th District Court with two counts of aggravated assault, a third-degree felony; threat of violence, a class A misdemeanor; drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia, class B misdemeanors. On April 27, two men arrived at a home in Hurricane to find Rivera in the driveway. Rivera threatened to shoot the two men and began to reach for something in his vehicle, according to charging documents. Fearing they were about to be shot, one of the men reached into his pants and took out his own weapon and shot Rivera, police say. "Raul fell to the ground next to the driver side door of his vehicle. A black handled screwdriver was found laying on the ground next to where Raul was," the charges state. As detectives investigated the case, they learned that in the beginning of April, "Raul made threatening voice calls from the jail stating that he would get his 'people' to come up to Hurricane and kill them. It was also found that there were text messages sent to the (gunman's) wife or daughter that are threatening in nature of bodily harm as well," according to a search warrant affidavit. Investigators believe Rivera drove from North Dakota to Hurricane to get his children who had been living at that house since December. "Investigators further found that Raul had brought his kids (to) live with (the homeowner) and his family and left them with a handwritten note giving custody of his kids," the warrant states. Rivera was arrested on April 8 for investigation of drug possession, according to the affidavit. "Investigators found that Raul has a lengthy criminal history which involved convictions for both domestic violence assault and manslaughter," the charges state. SALT LAKE CITY A man who stabbed his uncle to death during an argument in the Navajo Nation last year has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in federal court. Kenric Lee, 41, drove to a convenience store with his uncle, identified in court document as J.L., and J.L.'s girlfriend, identified as C.H., in Montezuma Creek, San Juan County, on June 7, 2018. While C.H. was in the store, Lee and J.L. started arguing in the car. C.H. saw Lee on top of his uncle when she returned to the car and saw Lee holding a knife. Lee said he had to take his uncle to a hospital, according to court documents. Although there was a medical clinic next to the store, Lee locked the car doors and drove away with J.L. in the car. Later that morning, the FBI and Navajo Nation police received information about a burning vehicle. They located a burning Ford Expedition and Lee standing about 30 yards away with two knives, according to court documents. Agents and officers took Lee into custody after he initially resisted arrest. Officers found J.L.s body later that evening in a grove of bushes a few miles away from the incinerated vehicle. "The quarrel involved a knife and in the ensuing struggle, and as a result of my actions, my uncle sustained two stab wounds to his chest which resulted in his death," Lee admitted in a plea agreement. Lee and prosecutors agreed May 16 to a 110-month prison sentence, which is subject to U.S. District Judge David Nuffer's approval at an August hearing. WASHINGTON As a candidate and as president, Donald Trump has often been blamed for fanning the flames of racial and religious violence in the United States. But the steady climb in the number of hate crimes in America pre-dates the Trump administration, and a congressional committee this month launched a series of hearings to find out why racially motivated violence is on the rise and look for solutions. In particular, Democrats in Congress want answers to a documented surge in the white supremacy movement, which has been blamed for recent mass shootings that killed dozens of worshippers in two U.S. synagogues and mosques in New Zealand. Lawmakers hope to legislate solutions that will improve data collection on the number of hate crimes committed in the U.S. and redirect resources to beef up prevention and enforcement. "Racial and religious mass killings inspired by white supremacy and other forms of tribal and religious hatred are a plague on the earth, and American society is suffering now along with the rest of the world," said Chairman Jamie Raskin, D-Md., in a dramatic opening statement at a May 15 hearing of the House Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. "It is the primary goal of government under our social contract to make us safer than we would be in a state of war. Yet, when it comes to white supremacist terror, the single greatest domestic terrorist threat to the American people we have, we are falling down on the job." Bad diagnosis One of the hurdles to tackling hate crime is getting accurate data. "Disappointingly, we do not have the slightest idea how many hate crimes there are in America. And we have never known," Roy Austin, a former hate crimes prosecutor who also worked in the Obama White House, told the committee. "The numbers currently kept by the FBI are largely useless." Austin argues the upward trend in hate crimes indicated by the FBI's data is accurate but he believes it's likely worse. The latest FBI report says more than 7,100 hate crimes were reported in 2017, a 17 percent increase from the year before. Race was the primary motivation for 58 percent of the incidents, followed by religion at 22 percent and sexual orientation at 16 percent. The FBI defines a hate crime as a criminal offense motivated by bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender or gender identity. It collects data on hate crimes under a mandate from Congress, but experts believe the statistics undercount what's really happening. Why did this festival of racial terror and hate crimes not make it into the FBI hate crimes statistics report? Chairman Jamie Raskin, D-Md. Part of the problem is that the data is submitted voluntarily by local police departments that don't have the training, incentive or resources to identify hate crimes. The 2017 report showed just 12.6 percent of local agencies reported hate crimes in their jurisdictions, and some as large as the Miami police department reported zero. From 2014 to 2017, Raskin said, hate crimes against African Americans increased by 20 percent, anti-Semitic hate crimes 35 percent, anti-Latino hate crimes 43 percent, and anti-Muslim hate crimes 44 percent. Overall, hate crimes increased 31 percent during that four-year period. Raskin ended his remarks at the hearing with video clips of the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia marchers carrying tiki torches and yelling "Jews will not replace us," squaring off with counter-protesters before a car plows into a group of demonstrators, killing one. "Why did this festival of racial terror and hate crimes not make it into the FBI hate crimes statistics report?" Raskin asked. In fact, it will be in next year's report, a Charlottesville Police Department spokesman told the Deseret News. Public information officer Tyler Hawn said the case involving the man driving his car into the crowd was still under investigation when the deadline passed to submit data to the FBI. The department's statistics have since been updated and it will show up as a hate crime in the next report. The delays underscore dysfunction in the data-gathering and reporting process that has to be fixed to have an accurate understanding of the scope of the problem, several expert witnesses said. "A doctor cannot diagnose a patient without knowing the full set of symptoms," said Susan Bro, whose daughter was killed in the Charlottesville rally. "I don't see how we're expecting you as Congress members to know how to prescribe allocations of personnel and money without knowing the full set of symptoms." While they weren't at the hearing to defend themselves, some law enforcement officials are aware of the problems in collecting timely and accurate hate crimes data. When the latest FBI statistics were released in November, The New York Times reported that the International Association of Chiefs of Police has called on its members to collect, analyze and report hate crimes and that the FBI planned to offer training this year in identifying and reporting bias-motivated crimes. Austin recommended Congress tie federal funding for state and local police agencies to whether they submit accurate hate crimes data in their cities. "It's not that hard," he said. Domestic terrorism Michael German, a former FBI agent and now a fellow at New York University Law School's Brennen Center for Justice, explained that the problem may lie deeper within federal law enforcement culture. He said that under Justice Department policies, hate crimes are not a high priority, noting that such crimes rank fifth out of eight investigative priorities. "This has significant consequences for how federal officials frame these crimes in public statements, how they prioritize and track them, and whether they will investigate and prosecute them," he said. The policies can also determine whether a hate crime falls under the terrorism classification, which is a top priority for the FBI, and terrorism investigations are well-funded. But Raskin said domestic terrorism isn't getting the resources it deserves compared to international terrorism. Islamic extremism, which the FBI classifies as a form of international terrorism, accounted for 23 percent of the murders caused by extremist violence in the United States from 2009 to 2018, Raskin said, citing data from the Anti-Defamation League. Far-right extremism, which the FBI classifies as domestic terrorism, was responsible for 73 percent of the fatalities caused by extremist violence during that same period. "Yet, the FBI devotes its resources almost exactly backwards to these proportions," Raskin said. "The FBI apparently spends 80 percent of its resources addressing international terrorism and only 20 percent addressing domestic terrorism." The FBI isn't the only agency in the committee's sights. Raskin detailed cuts to staff and funding in the Department of Homeland Security's former Office of Community Partnerships, established under the Obama administration to combat domestic terrorism. The agency was renamed the Office for Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention in April. "Step by step, DHS is simply dismantling the infrastructure necessary to counter the threat precisely at the time when the threat is growing to levels we have not seen in many, many years," he said. A deadly movement A hearing in June is scheduled for FBI and Homeland Security officials to respond to criticism and concerns about efforts to prevent and prosecute hate crimes. A Homeland Security news release announcing the office's name change said it complies with the administration's focus on giving states and local communities better support. "By expanding the aperture of terrorism prevention to include targeted violence, DHS can help communities better protect themselves against a broader range of current and emerging threats," said acting department Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan. The Anti-Defamation League says the most immediate emerging threat to the Jewish American community is white supremacy. George Selim, senior vice president of programs for the league, said that its latest data from 2018 showed that of the 313 people killed by right-wing extremists between 2009 to 2018, 76 percent were killed by white supremacists, "making white supremacists the deadliest extremist movement in the United States over the past decade." And Jewish people appear to a primary target. "The data we have compiled from the last three years shows that anti-Semitism in America is far more pervasive than in previous years," Selim said. "Our recently released 2018 audit recorded 1,879 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States. Last year was the third-highest year on record since we began tracking incidents in 1979, it was the deadliest year on record for the U.S. Jewish community, and it saw a doubling of anti-Semitic assaults compared to 2017." Raskin and other committee members noted a pattern of federal law enforcement not categorizing crimes committed by white supremacists as domestic terrorism. The fatal mass shootings by white supremacists at the Mother Emanuel AME Church in 2015 in Charleston, South Carolina, and at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh in October 2018 were not classified as domestic terrorism. But the shootings by nonwhite Muslims in San Bernardino, California, in 2015 and at the Pulse night club in Orlando, Florida, a year later were called domestic terrorism by federal authorities. "I can't help but come to the conclusion that what's being labeled as terrorism almost exclusively came down to the identity" of the perpetrators, said Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Bro, the mother of the woman killed in Charlottesville, said she sensed her own "white privilege" in the response to her daughter's death. "Parents lose their children all the time. I'm not special in that way," she said. "But because my daughter was a white girl, the whole world lost their mind. ... So I'm using the platform that has been given me because of my daughter's death, to carry forward in her work. And I want to say to you, we have to do a better job of recording hate crime but we also have to do a better job of preventing hate crime. We have to find ways to reach these young people before they become radicalized." SALT LAKE CITY The U.S. Senate confirmed the son of a former Utah Republican congressman as a federal judge Wednesday, despite objections from Democrats over his defending a same-sex marriage ban in California and his arguments that a gay judge in the case should have removed himself. Utah Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney joined the Republican majority in approving Howard C. Nielson Jr., 51-47. One Republican, Maine Sen. Susan Collins, voted against him. "It was an honor to help confirm Judge Nielson to the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. He is an extremely qualified nominee and will serve the court with honor and integrity," Lee and Romney said in a joint statement. Nielson, the son of former Utah GOP Congressman Howard C. Nielson, was a partner at Cooper and Kirk, a law firm in Washington, D.C. A constitutional law expert, he has worked in the U.S. Department of Justice as counsel to the attorney general and as deputy assistant attorney general. Earlier in his career, he served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Former Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, called Nielson a "first-rate talent" with broad experience and a commitment to the rule of law when President Donald Trump first nominated him in September 2017. "He has sterling credentials and a solid reputation in the legal community," Hatch said of Nielson, who earned an undergraduate degree from BYU and law degree from the University of Chicago. But Nielson's confirmation wasn't without controversy. Democrats, LGBTQ advocates and gun violence prevention groups were among those opposing his confirmation. On Tuesday, 59 House Democrats sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urging them to reject Nielsons nomination. Howard Nielson has spent his legal career opposing equality, Rep. A. Donald McEachin, D-Va., who organized the letter, said in a statement. He has made baseless and profoundly offensive arguments in court against the LGBTQ community. We cannot afford to confirm Mr. Nielson, another problematic candidate for a lifetime appointment, who may well use his position on the bench to erode important civil rights protections. Democrats grilled Nielson over his role in California's Proposition 8 case in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. After a federal court ruled in 2010 that Proposition 8 violated the Constitution, Nielson argued that Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself because he didn't disclose that he was gay. If you say a judge in a same-sex relationship shouldnt be able to oversee a case on LGBT rights, then do you think African-American judges should have to recuse themselves from civil rights cases? Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., asked last year, according to HuffPost. Or women cant hear sexual harassment cases? Nielson said that the positions he has taken in litigation are those of my clients, not his own. He said he was a junior member of a legal team in the Proposition 8 case and the lead counsel ultimately made the decisions on what arguments to advance. In a written response to questions from Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., after a committee hearing last year, Nielson said of the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage that he would "faithfully follow that decision and will not seek to undermine it." Hatch defended Nielson's involvement in the Proposition 8 case in the hearing last year. He doesnt have a bias in his heart. He was part of a legal team that defends the constitutionality of Prop. 8," he said. "He should not be condemned for having worked at that level. Nielson cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee after Trump nominated him in 2017, but Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., put a hold on his nomination in March 2018, blocking it from a floor vote. Trump renominated Nielson in January and the committee narrowly approved him in February. Sarah Warbelow, Human Rights Coalition legal director, urged the Senate to reject his nomination, calling it another attack on LGBTQ people by the Trump administration. "Nielson has a long track record of hostility and discrimination toward the LGBTQ community," she said in a statement. The San Francisco-based Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence condemned the confirmation. The federal bench in Utah is no place for a jurist who has taken his marching orders from the gun lobby. But thats exactly where a Washington, D.C., lawyer who spent his career advocating a radical view of the Second Amendment is headed," Robyn Thomas, executive director, said in statement. Nielson represented the National Rifle Association in unsuccessfully challenging restrictions on gun ownership for people under 21. In his written response, Nielson said his clients took the position that specific restrictions on 18- to 20-year-olds buying and carrying guns were unconstitutional. "My clients did not argue that the Second Amendment prevents all restrictions on gun ownership by such adults, nor did they challenge any laws restricting gun ownership by children under the age of 18," he wrote. According to a separate report, the OS is far from ready. Huawei may launch indigenously-developed OS as early as this fall, a top company executive has said. The announcement comes after Google cut off Huaweis Android license saying that the Chinese tech giant wont be able to use Android OS on its future smartphones. Reports say that the decision was taken after the Trump administration added Huawei Technologies Co Ltd to a trade blacklist. Richard Yu, Consumer Business CEO at Huawei, revealed that Huawei's operating system designed for the next generation of technology will be available in the fall of this year and at the latest next spring. The OS, which is reportedly under development since 2012, is open to mobile phones, computers, tablets, TVs, cars and smart wearable devices, and is compatible with all Android applications and all web applications. While, Yu is confident of shipping the OS on time, The Information (via Forbes) has reported that the OS project has had its ups and downs and remains far from ready. Also, questions are being raised on Yus claims on app compatibility. I cant believe that the US government has limited Android. Its a consumer product that has no relationship to network security issues, The Information quoted Yu as saying. The executive said that the US blacklisting came as a big surprise for the company and means really a very tough time for the consumer business. Reportedly, he also acknowledged that, unless the sanctions are lifted, it will be difficult for the company to hit its consumer business targets. According to market research firms Counterpoint Research and International Data Corporation (IDC), Huawei registered an increase in the global market share as well as smartphone shipments in the first quarter of 2019. Huawei became the second largest smartphone brand by shipments without a significant presence in an important market like the US. Samsung leads the market, and Apple closely follows the Chinese tech giant. The Huawei-Android issue could dethrone the company from the second spot and give Samsung much edge over its competitors. Huawei generated CNY 179.7 billion in revenue - an increase of 39 percent (YoY). The company's net profit margin in the quarter was about 8 percent, and it shipped 59 million smartphones in the previous quarter. During its recent Corporate Strategy Meeting, Sony revealed that it has withdrawn operations from India and some other regions. Smartphone manufacturing and sales is an uber-competitive market, especially in a country like India. Constant innovation and enticing product pricing seem to be working in favour of companies, at least in India. While some new players like Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo are thriving in this segment, others like Sony are struggling to keep up with changing times. Now, it seems, Sony Mobile India is finally hanging up its boots. During a Corporate Strategy Meeting, Sony revealed that it is completely wrapping up its mobile phone business in India and multiple other regions. The news comes soon after Reuters reported that the company sees its smartphone business as an indispensable asset that shouldnt be scrapped. So, if you are an existing customer of a Sony handset, heres whats happening and what you can expect from the company. Sonys Corporate Strategy Meeting slide contained a segment called Smartphone Business Transformation. In these slides, India is one of the confirmed "non focus and defocused regions" where the company has wrapped up its smartphone business. The only operational regions remaining are Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Europe. However, a fresh Reuters report quotes the companys CEO saying that the smartphone business is indispensable to the company. While the statement by the company executive might be confusing, Sony actually wants to scale back on its smartphone division to reduce losses and drive profit from it in the long term. In the meeting, the company laid out plans to reduce its overall cost in the smartphone division by 57 percent by the year 2020. Sony apparently chose the regions where its mobile business is still operational to drive profitability, and because of future prospects with the advent of 5G in those areas. So, what happens to the existing Sony smartphone customers? We reached out to the company for a comment on the discontinuation of its smartphone operations in India. in an emailed statement, Sony India noted, We have ceased sales in India in FY18 but we are committed to continuing customer support operations including after sales support and software updates for existing customers in India. We will keep monitoring the market situation and business feasibility in India. This spells good news for consumers who are purchasing or just bought a Sony smartphone as the company seems to have no plans of stranding them without any software updates or after sales support. Just a couple of months ago, Sony announced that it is merging its Mobile division with its other divisions like TV, audio and camera into Sony Electronics Products and Solutions and soon after, a report suggested that the phone maker will be cutting down the workforce in its phone division by almost half of its current workforce of 4000, by March 2020. While the news of downsizing is based on a report, judging from the company's goals, it seems like Sony is ready to make some tough decisions to drive down its losses in the mobile phone business. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The Strata on California apartments, at 6312 California Ave. S.W., have sold for a little under $18.7 million, according to King County records. The seller was Mosaic USA Graham Street LP, which acquired the property in 2007 for almost $9 million. The buyer was 6312 California Avenue LLC, which is associated with MHE Enterprises of Marina Del Rey, California. Public records indicate a loan from JPMorgan Chase. . . . I like to think myself a tough guy. A Tripadvisor guru. A man who books cheap flights in one hand while saute-ing hostel leftovers in the other. A man deaf to snores and creaking springs. A man who eats 10-hour delays for breakfast and enjoys a cold marble floor. But nothing could have prepared me for Sofitel Nusa Duas 5-Star Beach Resort. Drawn by the gloating floating breakfasts, shimmering pool, and a private butler service that hotel PR teams talk about in hushed tones, I felt compelled to dip a toe into the Luxury World. For journalism. But first: context. As The Economist observed in 2017, the prospect of getting a flight-upgrade used to be enough to make respectable people fling themselves to their knees like beggars. However, in 2019, a Photogenic Floating Brekkie (delivered by a team of private butlers), is the new #goal of Luxury Travellers seeking Instagram Steeze. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua (@sofitelbalinusadua) on May 2, 2019 at 2:21am PDT Dont believe us? Just check out the 19, 536 Instagram posts with the hashtag floatingbreakfast (or consider the fact that 75 of them were uploaded in the last 24 hours alone). View this post on Instagram A post shared by MURIELLE Magazine (@muriellemagazine) on May 20, 2018 at 11:56pm PDT From Balis Nusa Dua to the Gulf of Thailand, the obsessive quest for the perfect floating breakfast (shot) has become a veritable phenomenon. Mine, however, was more of a natural disaster. It all began when three hotel staff brought a heavily laden breakfast tray to my door, and brought it through to the pool for me. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I asked them to put it in an almost enclosed area, knowing that I would require a minute or twenty to get ready. They put it down, confused as to why I didnt want it in the main section of the pool, which would have allowed me to wander around and take photos. No, no, its all good, I replied, not wanting them to realise I was planning on getting another quarter hours sleep. You sure?, they asked, reminding me the tray required two people to move. Absolutely. I returned 15 minutes later, with a marginally clearer head, only to realise that a one-metre squared radius was hardly going to show off the pool in all of its glory. Although the staff would have come back in a heartbeat, I was embarrassed to ask. So I moved the tray myselfputting my back out, spilling my champagne, drenching my croissants with orange juice and creating some home-brew cafe au chlorine in the process. I then hastily re-arranged each item so that it resembled how the hotel staff had left it. But before I even had the chance to look around guiltily, my private butler appeared out of the (perfectly manicured) undergrowth, wielding an iPhone and the grin of a Papparrazi photographer who had just caught the royal baby taking its first steps. I then posed for a few photos, attempting to ignore the rumbling in my stomach and the chlorine on my tongue. Then I realised: I was missing the point of a floating breakfast. Enjoyment. I ate a few bites of my omelette, gobbled my Smoothie Bowl, and waded around trying to look cool (but looking more like a pale, elderly man with a mobility aide). I then returned my tray to the pool edge outside my back door, and popped inside to make some capsule coffee. By the time I returned, the tray had gone. But after hearing so much about the hyper-efficiency of the hotels butler service, I assumed my tray had been whisked away in more capable hands, shrugged, and went back inside. Later in the day, I came upon the Press Group discussing what sort of person would order a floating breakfast only to send it on a solo adventure around the Nusa Dua resort. I meanseriouslywho would do that? Right? Not me. Thats who. In all seriousness: Sofitels floating breakfast is an awesome experience that anyone with slightly more common sense than I will be able to enjoy. Just remember not to put it in the side compartment of the pool, and to pack your compass and map. Read Next The Peruvian government has decided to build an international airport for Machu Picchu, allowing direct flights from Latin America and the USA to fly straight to the doorstep of one of the worlds most stunning World Heritage Sites. The move is set to create 2,500 construction jobs, provide more lucrative opportunities for local communities to sell up and satisfy local leaders, who the mayor, Luis Cusicuna says, Have been pushing for a second larger airport in Cusco since the 1970s, (The Guardian). However, while the benefits of selling up are all too real (Yanacona, one of Chincheros three indigenous communities, has sold most of its land to the state for about $35m, while some individual families have made small fortunes selling farmland to developers), archaeologists, other locals and tour operators have slammed the new airport as a backwards, short-sighted and destructive force on an ancient wonder which already struggles to cope with the 1.7 million annual visitors it receives (more than double the limit recommended by UNESCO). Although the multibillion-dollar international airport is not set to be complete until 2023, as Traveller reports, Bulldozers have (already) begun clearing land at Chinchero, the gateway to the Sacred Valley in the Peruvian Andes, once the heart of the Inca Empire. In response to this, outraged residents and archaeologists like Natalia Majluf (a Peruvian art historian at Cambridge University) have started a petition, arguing that it is not worth putting one of the most important historic and archeological sites in the world at risk in order to save a few overweight Americans from having to walk (or drive) all the way from Cusco (the closest airport at present) and to give the local economy a short term boost, while devaluing the very experience that people go there for. An airport in the surroundings of the Sacred Valley will affect the integrity of a complex Inca landscape and will cause irreparable damage due to noise, traffic and uncontrolled urbanisation, the petition says, calling upon Peruvian president, Martin Vizcarra, to reconsider the airport. New Zealand-based travel company Viva Expeditions has also protested the decision, saying the airport will erode all that is considered sacred about the Sacred Valley, turning it into a theme park, and losing the special feeling of discovery one gets when visiting the famed Incan citadel. Noise will shatter the peace degrading the whole sacred valley experience. More day trippers or tick box tourists could start visiting Machu Picchu, creating a theme park out of a sacred place. These are legitimate concerns, which we largely empathise with. What we cant get behind, however, are some of the self-righteous statements many Western travellers have begun posting on Twitter. I really cannot believe people are trying to build an airport at Machu Picchu, its so disgusting and awful that anyone even came up with this idea. THIS IS A WONDER OF THE WORLD. HOW CAN YOU SPIT IN THE INCAS FACE LIKE THIS?! pic.twitter.com/nMMGZOMzkk Averi Is Sad (@avereejean) 22 May 2019 While Averis heart is clearly in the right place, she seems to have forgotten that the current, over-saturated tourism situation is already a spit in the face of the ancient Incas (let alone the colonisation of the 16th and 17th centuries). Wheres Machu Picchu located again? Jason Van Den Berg (@ThGoodestOfBoys) 17 May 2019 While Jason was keen to make his thoughts known, he needed to brush up on his geography Such condescending article. Cusco has a small airport, so they plan to build a new one It is not near Machu Picchu, and not on top of it. And yet, the Brits are accusing Peruvians of not respecting culture. The Brits, whove filled their museums with treasures from abroad. Musonia Rufa (@Musonia_Rufa) 18 May 2019 And as Musonia points out: much of the outrage is as historically ignorant as it is hypocritical. After all: what do most travellers really care abouttheir tranquil summit experience or the local economy? As for the tour guides: are they worried a new airport will create competition? And do they not realise that when the original Cusco airport was built, over 50 years ago, the tourism boom it facilitated (and that they now profit from) has already caused significant damage? While we agree that this new airport is a bad idea, we also reckon Bucket-List Travellers should take a second to think before getting all outraged. In other words: protest all you like, but dont get indignant. Especially when you are the exact demographic whose trips the new airport is being built to accommodate. Whatever the case, the government seems keen to press on, with the Peruvian finance minister Carlos Oliva telling media in April, This airport will be built as soon as possible because its very necessary for the city of Cusco, offering a vague justification of, A series of technical studies which support this airports construction. Read Next Dubbed a public display offence by The Telegraph, a fad to be killed by Fashion Beans and a pasty, hairy mania by The Economist the mankle is perhaps the most unfairly maligned male fashion statement of the 21st century. And while no-one takes the man-shaming of the Daily Mail and co. completely seriously, theres no doubt thatbeyond a small subculture of Europe-looking fashionistasmost Australian men are uncomfortable exposing their knobbly bits in public. But as suits get smaller, trousers get tailored within inches of their lives, and publications like Elle encourage men to bare more flesh, Australian men have started feeling the pressure to roll up their cuffs and chuck their socks in the trash. View this post on Instagram A post shared by @menfashioner on Mar 24, 2019 at 9:04am PDT While this looks suave on someone with fresh chinos, deck shoes, a Vespa and a mild Italian climate to match, it is a little trickier to pull off on a sweaty 40-degree afternoon at Redfern station (me in January) or a chilly windswept morning at Circular Quay (me today) as onlookers gawk at your slowly purpling cankles. Further: as The Economist points out, after consulting the Royal College Of Podiatry, Men who go commando are at unusually high risk of getting athletes foot and fungal nail infections: sweat and shoe insoles form a breeding ground for noxious bacteria. And thats not to mentioneven professional Australian stylists admit: many Aussie blokes cant be bothered to shop for themselves, let alone master a precipitous trend that makes even the most sartorially accomplished men sweat. Fashion Beans summed it up perfectly when they said: Why queue overnight for Yeezys just to stink them out?. In a hot climate, whichas you can see from the above mapcomprises most of Australia, this is far from ideal. Andunfortunately for the invisible sock wearing crewyou dont negate this problem by moving south, because then you start to hit English Riviera type temperatures and goosebumps will take precedence over your freshly waxed ankles. Besides, as Stephen Doig wrote for The Telegraph, while this sort of look may sing on the catwalk, it is much harder for those of us in the real world to pull off. The conclusion? Either move to Ballarat, which has the climate of Central Italy, or just embrace those precious windows between March and May, and September and November, to rock your talocrural contours. Read Next British Steel falls into liquidation after failing to secure funding British Steel has been placed under official liquidation after the countrys second-largest steel maker failed to secure emergency government funding, putting at stake some 25,000 jobs, Britains Official Receiver said today. The High Court ordered compulsory liquidation of the company after Greybull Capital, which specialises in turning around distressed businesses, accepted defeat in its efforts to keep British Steel alive. Investment firm Graybull, which bought the business from Tata Steel for a nominal one pound three years ago, said the challenges of Britains looming exit from the European Union proved insurmountable. British Steel employs around 5,000 people, mostly in Scunthorpe, while 20,000 more depend on its supply chain. The staff will continue to be employed as the liquidator oversees the continuing operation of the main site in Scunthorpe, northern England. Britains opposition Labour Party has called for nationalization of British steel even as business minister Greg Clark said British Steel was open to new buyers. British Steel made a profit in 2017, a year after it changed hands to Greybull, but the company cut around 400 jobs last year, blaming factors such as the weak pound and low order book position. Tata Steels efforts to sell off its steel assets in EU failed amidst a weakening of business sentiment amidst weak demand, high raw material and labour cost and cheap imports. EU steel company shares are currently trading at their lowest in nearly three years with export markets almost closed by high tariffs. British Steel had asked the government for a 75 million pound loan, later reducing its demand to 30 million pounds after Greybull agreed to put up more money, according to a source close to the negotiations. It had already secured a government loan of around 120 million pounds ($154 million) this month to enable it to comply with the European Unions Emissions Trading System (ETS) rules. Britains business minister said it would have been unlawful to provide a loan to British Steel on the terms the company or any other party had made. Last Thursday, British Steel said it had the backing of shareholders and lenders and that operations were continuing as usual while it sought a "permanent solution" from the government to its financial troubles. Earlier this week, Fort Rucker officials imposed restrictions on all military personnel forbidding them from using the kennel. A memorandum, penned by Col. Brian E. Walsh, Garrison Commander at Fort Rucker, stated that the restrictions were necessary to protect the health, welfare and safety of all military personnel and will remain in effect until further notice. Another resident, Dave Dawson, said he stopped using the kennel in 2018 because of a similar experience. The first time I used the Kennel was in January 2018, and it was for approximately nine days, Dawson told The Ledger. I didnt really have any issues at all, and everything seemed to go pretty good. I gave them a good review online, and then I used them again about two or three months later. It was awful. It was so bad I refused to pay them any money. Dawson said his dogs came back from the shelter severely dehydrated, vomiting and exhibiting symptoms of diarrhea. The man who is accused of shooting three Auburn police officers, and killing one, is a member of the Alabama National Guard and a graduate of Daleville High School Grady Wayne Wilkes, 29, has been charged with the murder of William Buechner, who had served 13 years with the Auburn Police Department. Two other police officers, Officers Evan Elliot and Webb Sistrunk, were also shot, but they survived. According to reports, Wilkes is a 2011 graduate of Daleville High School and was part of their JROTC program and won several awards. He is also a corporal in the Alabama National Guard, and assigned to the 173rd Infantry, which has headquarters in Enterprise. For more, visit WDHN.com. Get Breaking News Alerts Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Albert Byrne - Independent Albert Byrne is running as an independent candidate on a reform and transparency platform and has pledged to make Louth County Council more transparent. Some of his policy ideas include supporting the Ardee bypass, encouraging tourism in the local area and exploring the option of reducing rates and taxes to encourage small traders to develop their businesses in underdeveloped areas. Kevin Carroll - Independent Kevin Carroll, probably best known for his association with the GAA spanning over 40 years, as a player, chairman for the Sean Mac Diarmada and as a club referee, has decided to throw his hat in the ring for the upcoming local elections as an Independent representative. Kevin says his participation within Louth GAA , has given him a unique insight into community. Hugh D Conlon - Independent Hugh Conlon is running as an independent candidate, one of his campaign pledges is to lobby for park and ride facilities close to the M1 and N2 sections of the motorway in Mid Louth. He has also promised to lobby for funding for flood prevention works on the White river in Dunleer and other at risk areas, as well as this he has called for the reopening of Dunleer railway station. Fintan Malone - Fianna Fail Fintan Malone is a former town councillor who served on Ardee Town Council for 29 years. If elected has pledged to preserve local services and amenities including childrens dental clinic and the local welfare officer. He has also pledged to support local industry through the rollout of improved broadband and to promote local tourism in the broader Ardee area. Colm Markey - Fine Gael Colm Markey was first elected to Louth County Council in 2009; during his time on the council he has put a particular emphasis on recreation and community facilities across the county. He has previously served as national president of Macra Na Feirme and has also been a board member of National Economic and Social Council (NESC), board member of the National Youth Council of Ireland and a Member of the Forum of Europe. Finnan McCoy - Fine Gael Finnan McCoy spent 23 years on the council and 35 years on the Town Council, one of his aims is to enact a partial ban on HVGs that have no business in the town going through Ardee to ease pressure on road infrastructure. He has also pledged to lobby for works to be completed on Ardee Castle and for public toilets to be installed at The Fair Green. Pearse McGeough - Sinn Fein Pearse McGeough a native of Kilsaran has been a member of Louth County Council since 2004. During that time he has been involved in the setting up of the local Community Alert Group, he is also a member of the Housing Community Planning and Emergency Services Special Policy Committee on Louth County Council. Most recently he has served as chair of Ardee municipal district since June 2018. Dolores Minogue - Fine Gael Dolores Minogue was initially elected as a public representative to Ardee Town Council in 2009 and currently serves as a county councillor. If re-elected she has promised to secure for Louth the best possible services available in terms of the allocation of quality housing. She is also keen to promote the area to achieve its full potential economically, socially and culturally. John Sheridan - Fianna Fail John Sheridan is a first time candidate and manager in an Ardee-based healthcare company. He has served as a volunteer committee member with Ardee Credit Union and Dromiskin Text Alert. Some of his key campaign promises are a council led pilot of a work from home incentive to promote more people working from home; and to push for the delivery of the restoration of Ardee Castle and Ardee town. Brendan McKenna - Sinn Fein Brendan McKenna has stated that he wants change, and to improve Ardee and the lives of the people who live there. He has raised concerns about the opening hours of Ardee Garda station and has expressed dissatisfaction at the current level of Garda numbers in Ardee. He has also promised to push for the repair of local roads. Enda Murray - Independent Enda Murray is a local business owner, he has proposed that the people of Ardee buy Ardee Castle from the council for a nominal 1 fee and take over its management. He has also called for additional dog waste bins and an increased Garda presence in the town at weekends. Sean Connolly - Green Party Sean Connolly is the chairperson of the Green Party in County Louth, he also has experience as a policy analyst with the Irish Solar Energy Association and Communications Officer for the Louth Environmental Network. Jim Tenanty - Independent Jim Tenanty is an independent candidate who believes in strong local representation for local communities, his chief priorities include housing and planning, community healthcare and enterprise and employment. He has been a public representative for 25 years occupying various roles including chairperson of Ardee Tidy Towns, chairperson of Ardee Municipal District and vice chairperson of Louth Drugs and Alcohol Forum. This Friday (May 24) sees the people of county Louth go to the polls in the local elections. With that in mind the Democrat has put together a (hopefully!) handy explainer guide to the whole thing. So let's go! There are 29 seats on the Louth County Council up for decision this Friday. In Louth there are five electoral areas in total: Dundalk South (7 seats); Dundalk/Carlingford (6 seats); Ardee (6 seats); Drogheda Urban (6 seats) and Drogheda Rural (4 seats). For visuals on the five electoral areas, check them out here We've decided to focus on the candidates for three areas - Dundalk South, Dundalk/Carlingford and Ardee. To begin with, check out our dedicated article on the eleven candidates in the Dundalk South area fighting for the seven available seats. Then, why not check out the nine candidates vying for the six seats up for decision in Dundalk/Carlingford. Meanwhile in Ardee there are 13 candidates battling it out for the six seats there. The system for democratic voting and counting here in Ireland is called Proportional Representation (PR). It's not your standard 'first past the post' set-up, but the general consensus is that it's a fairer system for democratic election. Check out the guide to understanding PR here. Make sure to stick with the Dundalk Democrat throughout the weekend for live updates from the count - Your No. 1 for local election coverage! And remember - your vote matters. Dundalk-based Dromad Hire was selected as a finalist for the Small Rental Company of the Year award at the European Rental Awards 2019, which took place on 15 May in Madrid. This annual event is organised by the European Rental Association (ERA) in cooperation with International Rental News. Only 1 month ago, Dromad Hire was also named as finalist at the Hire Awards of Excellence 2019. The award for "Small Rental Company of the Year" is intended for hire companies with turnover under 15 million which have shown outstanding performance in various areas, such as customer service, staff training, fleet investment or financial performance. Dromad Hire was nominated together with Spanish hire company Germans Homs, who eventually won the award, and Russian company Arlift. Dromad Hires Managing Director Seamus Byrne: Being shortlisted for such a prestigious award recognises the level of professionalism of our team and really is a reflection of the dedication they show day in day out. Our ongoing commitment to invest, both in staff and equipment is our core focus, along with providing our customers with an unrivalled service within our industry. Dromad Hire has been in business since 1988. 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 contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The new 325 million state-of-the-art WuXi Biologics facility has begun to take structural form as steel erection begins on the companys 52-acre campus site in Dundalk. Work is on schedule for the new contract manufacturing biologics facility which, at 48,000 square metres in size, is set to become the worlds largest single-use biologics manufacturing facility. Planning approval for the facility was confirmed in mid-January. Since then some 200,000 tonnes of earth have been moved and relocated within the site during site-development works while 2,900 cubic metres of concrete have been poured for foundations. In all, over 5,000 tonnes of steel sourced from an Irish supplier have arrived on site to enable steel-works get underway. The project is truly moving at WuXi speed and we are delighted with progress to date, said WuXi Biologics Ireland Site Head and VP Manufacturing Brendan McGrath. Cladding work will commence at the end of July and we are on target to have all of the buildings weather tight by January. This will enable us to move ahead with the installation of the processing plant and equipment to bring us into full commercial production on schedule by 2022. The rapidly advancing schedule will see the number of construction workers on site increase from 120 at present to 500 by year end. Peak construction employment for the project will reach 2,000. Mr McGrath paid tribute to the project team. This rapid progress has been made possible by the excellent standards of our project partners Wills Bros., IPS Engineering, Jacobs Engineering, Kiernans Structural Steel Longford and a number of other contractors who are working with us on the Dundalk facility, he said. We have also enjoyed tremendous support from IDA Ireland and Louth County Council as well as from the local community and this is greatly appreciated. ABOVE: Construction underway at the Wuxi plant in Dundalk PICTURE: Ken Finegan WuXi Biologics is Chinas leading end-to-end biologics solutions provider and the Dundalk campus is to be WuXi Biologics first manufacturing facility outside China. Biologics drugs represent a new frontier in medicine. They are developed in bioreactors from genetically engineered microbes, within living cell culture. This is a highly complex process which involves the production of fragile substances at heavy cost. The production of highly specialised biologics medicines often involves the manufacture of relatively small quantities of highly specialised drugs, Brendan McGrath explained. Generally, it is neither practical nor economic to manufacture small volumes of specialist biologics medicines in traditional large-scale biopharma facilities. Instead, the single use technology and processes which we will create in our new Dundalk campus will allow for cost-efficient scale-out of contract manufacturing biologics production from small to large volumes as required. This advanced technology will establish a factory of the future in Dundalk and reinforce Irelands leading position globally in biologics manufacturing. The new facility is designed to employ high performance single-use biologics manufacturing technology and will have the capability to run multiple batches simultaneously, delivering biologics medicines at a significantly lower cost than is possible using traditional systems, McGrath explained. This will have profound implications as it will help to reduce the cost of medicines production, he continued. As a contract development and manufacturing business, WuXi Biologics currently numbers over 50 per cent of the worlds leading biopharma companies as customers. Reflecting our commitment to breakthrough innovation in supporting the production of new medicines at effective cost, WuXi Biologics is working with about 12 per cent of all the currently known candidate drugs in the global biologics pipeline while also actively pioneering technologies for continuous production processes, laying the foundations for exciting biopharma innovation in Dundalk. The new facility also represents a tremendous opportunity for Irish graduates across a range of disciplines to work in a world class environment. We are inviting talented people to join us on the exciting journey which will see us develop a large-scale integrated facility to produce of some of the worlds most innovative biologics medicines, said McGrath. We hope experienced local and international talent will look to the WuXi Biologics operations in Dundalk, or indeed in China, for exciting career opportunities and challenges at the leading edge of biopharma innovation and production. Recruitment for senior roles at the Dundalk facility has already commenced and mainstream recruitment is planned to begin in the second half of this year. Randstad reveals top 20 most desirable places to work in 2019. Aviation sector flies sky high as Qantas named Australias most attractive employer. Qantas has reclaimed the number one spot in the 2019 Randstad Employer Brand Research Awards*, being named as the most attractive employer in the country today. The iconic Australian airline, has been recognised for its high-flying job perks including travel benefits for its globetrotting employees working in the exciting field of aviation, alongside its perceived adoption of technology and consistent financial performance. Following in second and third place respectively is Epworth HealthCare and Apple, also valued for their robust financials, engaging job content in leading fields and strong public reputations. For the first time, life sciences has emerged as the most attractive industry ahead of early learning which remains in second place and closely followed by the technology sector, down from first place in 2018. The research also reveals a surprising upwards trend in the popularity of the higher education sector, as five of the countrys universities ranked within the ultra-competitive top 20 most attractive employers nationally. Frank Ribuot, CEO of Randstad Australia, said companies need to pay attention to their public image and how this stacks up when compared to their employee experience. With Australias unemployment rate at 5 per cent, competition for top talent is fierce. Business leaders must put their best foot forward with a robust image that truly matches a great employee experience. Closing the gap between expectation and reality is what makes an attractive employer and where Qantas really excels, remaining squarely in the top three for four consecutive years. When it comes down to what really matters to Australians, work-life balance continues to be the single most important reason for employees to stay in their roles (54 per cent). At a time of high employment and talent scarcity, one third (30 per cent) of people are planning to change roles within a year. Here, young workers (aged 18-24) are set to be the most transient (40 per cent). Workers are continuing to battle with work-life balance issues, particularly Gen Z. Its their top reason for leaving a job. We need to listen and do more to retain good employees by delivering the trifecta of work-life balance, long-term job security and a competitive salary. Beyond this, employees want to be stimulated by their job and have a clear career path, said Ribuot. Looking at the impact on a business bottom line, Randstads latest research indicates a direct correlation with a job seekers experience and their consumer purchasing behaviour. Here, 39 per cent of respondents strongly agreed that their experience as an employee with a company would influence their decision to purchase a product or service. Half of Aussies will share their experience with family and friends, taking it far beyond the four walls of the office and ultimately determining if youre perceived as an attractive employer or not. The research is a reminder that an employees experience can directly impact your businesss bottom line and your brand reputation needs to be maintained at all stages of the employee journey, Ribuot concluded. The Randstad Employer Brand Research recognises the top employers and industries in Australia, as well as employee sentiment about attractive qualities in a job, according to a survey of more than 10,861 Australians. Australias Top 20 Most Attractive Employers 2019 1. Qantas Airways (up to two places) 11. Federal Government (up two places) 2. Epworth HealthCare (up 41 places) 12. Healthe Care Australia (up four places) 3. Apple (down two places) 13. The University of Sydney (up 14 places) 4. PricewaterhouseCoopers (up 11 places) 14. The University of Queensland (up 50 places) 5. Tasmanian Government (up 42 places) 15. The University of New South Wales (down seven places) 6. Infosys Technologies Limited (not in top 150 in 2018) 16. Australian Red Cross Society (up 26 places) 7. The University of Melbourne (up 14 places) 17. Monash University (up 39 places) 8. Virgin Australia (down six places) 18. Boeing Australia (not in top 150 in 2018) 9. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (down three places) 19. G8 Education (new to the list this year) 10. Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (up 10 places) 20. Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology (not in top 150 in 2018) What Australian Workers Are Seeking From Work 2019 1. Work-life balance: 54% 6. Flexible arrangements: 34% 2. Salary and benefits 52% 7. Strong leadership: 33% 3. Job security: 47% 8. Location: 33% 4. Pleasant work atmosphere: 40% 9. Career progression: 31% 5. Good training: 36% 10. Financially healthy: 25% The people that small business owners turn to for independent advice believe that cashflow management and access to finance are only getting harder for SME businesses. A recent poll of the finance broker community, commissioned by Apricity Finance, has demonstrated that the key challenge of cashflow continues to drive the demand for small business finance something that is becoming increasingly difficult to access after the Banking Royal Commission. With brokers being one of the first places that small businesses turn to when looking for finance, they get a unique view into the issues faced by the sector. The research demonstrates that 70 per cent of brokers agreed that cashflow is definitely more of a problem than it was for small businesses 12 months ago, and 92 per cent of brokers believed that finance was more difficult to get since the Royal Commission. Linden Toll, CEO at Apricity Finance said the Banking Royal Commission has almost created a perfect storm scenario for small businesses, with the increased need for finance, but then the increased challenge in accessing it from their go-to tier one banks. We work closely with finance brokers and we believe they have a unique view on small businesses. Like the canary in the coalmine, the trends that brokers see across the SME sector can often be indicative of longer-term problems, he said. Small businesses in a squeeze Talking about the size of the businesses suffering the most, the research showed that the broker community agreed that the most likely to suffer from cashflow problems was those with an annual turnover of less than $5million meaning the majority. Mr Toll continues: Our research has shown that brokers are concerned about the increasing number of small businesses suffering from cashflow challenges and the capacity of those businesses to access finance in a post-Royal Commission landscape. And that these cashflow concerns are largely driven by late invoices or long invoice payment terms, with more than two thirds (68 per cent) agreeing that chasing invoices and long invoice payment terms are the main causes for cashflow issues. Small businesses are hugely important to the Australian economy and employ more than four and half million Australians, more than those employed by the whole of the ASX 200. This is a sentiment echoed across the small business sector with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman(ASBFEO) stating similar findings in their report* in April 2019. Kate Carnell, the head of the ombudsman, and ex Chief Minister for the ACT, stated: We received over 2,400 surveys from small and family businesses across the country raising issues on late payments and long payment times. Where large corporations delay payment to their small business suppliers, small business cash flow is unpredictable and presents significant difficulties in their ability to access and service finance. Cash flow is king to small business poor cash flow is the primary reason for insolvency in Australia. Linden Toll continues: The implications of poor cashflow are well documented. Falling short on debt obligations, diminished competitive advantage, not being able to pay salaries being some of many. Any small businesses who believe cashflow could becoming and issue is recommended to act early and take the necessary steps to ensure they dont fall into the 40% of businesses who dont make it into their fourth year. Clovis school board member Terry Martin, left, laughs as he sees Ayden Martin sporting an appropriate pair of sunglasses for the Clovis High School commencement ceremony. CLOVIS - A stream of purple poured Saturday night across the grounds of the Curry County Events Center, accompanied by a cheering audience of thousands and the Clovis High School Band's rendition of the graduation march. That stream collected in front of the stage, where 441 outgoing seniors made their last formal reflection on high school and departed less than 2 1/2 hours later as newly minted members of the CHS Class of 2019. "You are not just anybody," Principal Jay Brady told the students. "You are all Wildcats and you will always be Wildcats." Much of the ceremony was occupied in each individual's walk across the stage, shaking hands and smiling with their diplomas for posterity. The proceedings opened with four student speakers addressing CHS Past, Present and Future as well as a challenge to fellow graduates. Mario Heredia spoke to his experience immigrating to Clovis as a fourth-grader from the Mexican state of Chihuahua. His first word of English was the number "four," spoken at the age of 10. Two years later he was able to hold a conversation in English, and as a graduating senior he delivered his speech on CHS Past to a crowd that almost filled the ground and stadium seats at the events center. "Your past, I'm sure, had its challenges as well," he said. "I'm thankful that my parents took a difficult path to have a brighter tomorrow. ... Even after all the hardship, we made it." James Burroughes followed, encouraging his peers to not be "so caught up in what was, and could be, that we lose sight of what is in front of us." Burroughes quoted the wisdom stated again recently by a character in the film "Kung Fu Panda:" Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. "That's why they call it the present," he continued, exhorting the crowd to "make today ours." Marissa Cabrera had a forecast for the future. Her message was for bravery and resilience. "We will make mistakes. Not a few, a lot," she said. "It is time to get outside of our comfort zone. We must experience what we fear." For the new graduates, the following days, months and years are varied: some are going to college, some straight into civilian or military work, some don't have a definite vision yet. Nobody has a crystal ball, or a guarantee of the time ahead. "So many emotions, so many questions," said Cabrera, who closed with a quote from the actor Will Smith: "God placed the best things in life on the other side of fear." Bailey Weiss had a similar point in her Challenge to the Class of 2019, urging them to "take the lead on (their) own lives." "Don't change yourself for the sake of being accepted by anyone," she said. "I challenge my class of 2019 to be the truest version of you." Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more Baltimore officials have admitted that the city government once again has been victimized by ransomware the second such attack that Baltimore has faced in just over a year. City computers wereinfected with the RobinHood ransomware virus, The Baltimore Sun reported. Hackers told city officials that they would unlock the computers in return for payment of three bitcoins per system, or 13 bitcoins for the entiresystem. Based on the current exchange rate the ransom added up toabout US$17,600 per computer or $76,280 for the system. The hackers gave officials four days to pay or theransom price would increase. They threatened to render the systems data irretrievable after 10 days. In addition, the hackers warned the city not to contact the FBI. Bernard Young, Baltimores new mayor, said on social media thatthe citys essential services were still running, and that there was no evidence that any personal information had been compromised, as of Tuesday afternoon. Baltimore City core essential services (police, fire, EMS and 311)are still operational, but it has been determined that the citysnetwork has been infected with a ransomware virus, Mayor Youngtweeted on Tuesday afternoon. City employees are working diligentlyto determine the source and extent of the infection. As a precaution, the city did shut down the majority of its servers, themayor added. Quick Response City officials were directed to disconnect their computers from theInternet completely, as the virus was spreading fromcomputer to computer. Employees reportedly were directed to unplug theEthernet cable from computers and to turn off any connected divisions. The essential services remained operational, but other services havebeen disrupted, including the ability to discuss billing issues ormake online payments, notably for water bills. As a result, theBaltimore Department of Public Works (DPW) announced via social mediathat it would suspend late water bill fees for both city and countycustomers. The Baltimore City Department of Transportation announced thattwo impound lots and its Right of Way Services Division also were affectedby the computer network outage. The problem largely was contained by Tuesday afternoon, and city teamswere able to quarantine the ransomware, but it by Wednesday it was still unclear when affected systems could be back online. The FBIs cybersquad has been assisting Baltimore with its recovery efforts. Deja Vu All Over Again What makes Tuesdays attack unique is that Baltimore faced a similarattack last year. That one was more damaging, resulting in the temporary shutdown ofautomated dispatches for 911 and 311 calls. A D V E R T I S E M E N T This event tells us that such attacks are on the rise, so much as ittells us that sensible practices are in decline at least inBaltimore, warned Jim Purtilo, associate professor in the computerscience department at University of Maryland. There is no good way to say this: Two crippling attacks in a year isjust pathetic, he told TechNewsWorld. Baltimore isnt the only target of such attacks, of course. Atlanta last year fellvictim to the SamSam ransomware, which disrupted citygovernment operations and functions for a considerable period of time. The Department of Justice last fall indicted two Iranian men last November fordeploying that virus, whose victims included the city of Newark, New Jersey, as well as the Port of San Diego and the Colorado Department of Transportation. Bad actors have no doubt put the 89,000 local governments across thecountry in their cross-hairs, said Mike Bittner, digitalsecurity and operations manager at The Media Trust. These local governments make ideal targets, because they collect andprocess a lot of citizen and business information, and their tightbudgets prevent them from making much-needed IT security updates,he told TechNewsWorld. For these city governments, gettinghacked is not a matter of if but when. Soft Targets Government offices from the federal to the local level typically dont replace computer systems as frequently as corporations or individuals. Many of them rely on outdated systems, which makes them a soft target for hackers, who typically use a well-read playbook in these attacks. As long as individuals can be manipulated via socialengineering or phishing and older, unpatched software and weak perimetersecurity exists, these attacks will continue with 100 percentcertainty, said David P. Vergara, director of product marketing atChicago-based cybersecurity firm OneSpan. Its not reasonable that these attacks will be eliminated; however,for businesses and organizations to reduce their threat exposure theyshould take [appropriate] actions, he told TechNewsWorld. Its important that they full understand that these attacks can happen,and that they are costly and complex to resolve. A D V E R T I S E M E N T To address the issue effectively, there needs to be proper investment in preventivesecurity measures, added Vergara. Initiate mandatory and ongoing employee training on phishing, vishing(voicemail phishing scams) and related social engineering designed toobtain personal or business information to refine attacks or trickthem into installing malware, he recommended. In addition, companies and government agencies at all levels shouldmaintain perimeter security software andinfrastructure, and regularly test it. They also should leverage content filtering on mail servers to block suspicious or malicious attachments. Make sure that all systems and software are up-to-date, said Vergara.This is an easy one yet still overlooked by many businesses and organizations. Bad Practices Are Good News for Hackers Of all the types of cyberattacks in circulation, ransomware presents themost challenges, but it should be easy to recover from with due diligence applied beforehand. If you back up your files, you wont need to negotiate or makepayments to cyberthugs, said The Media Trusts Bittner. Local governments, just like corporations and individuals, need to do abetter job of backing up data, so that paying a ransom is never considered. All organizations should assume they are in the crosshairs ofcybercriminals, said Bittner. In addition, all organizations should assume they are under some formof attack and strengthen their cyberdefenses, he added. Any one system could be vulnerable to a momentary lapse in ourpractices. After all, the attack vectors are there, and sometimes others willfind the vulnerability before we do,said University of Marylands Purtilo. Having experienced this once in the last year, it is difficult toimagine why a competent administrator would allow the city to continueoperating a system that allowed an enterprise-wide loss due to asingle point of failure, he added. To Pay the Ransom Ransomware today isnt really that much different from the way barbariantribes in the ancient era would threaten to raid the frontier andpillage a city unless they were paid off. The difference is thatinstead of a physical attack, ransomware is a digital one, and some cities havegiven in. However, the consensus among security pros is that when under such an attack, paying the ransom should never be considered not even as the last course of action. Even if you do pay the ransom, theres always the chance [thehackers] wont release your files, Bittner pointed out. More worrisome is that if the ransom is paid, that could entice hackers to try again. If the business paid before and has not addressed securityvulnerabilities yes, they will be targeted again. This is low-hangingfruit for hackers, said Vergara. Still, it might be the only option in some cases. There are some cases where payment is not only the fastest path torecovery, but the far more cost-effective choice, admitted Adam Laub,senior vice president of product management atStealthbits Technologies. It totally depends on the situation; if your data is really valuableand there are no other copies to fall back on, then you might have noother choice than to pay up, he told TechNewsWorld. This is why ransomware has continued to be an effective weapon forcybercriminals looking to make a quick buck and wreak havoc whiledoing so. Conversely, if youve done a good job of backing up at least yourmost meaningful data, then it might be perfectly acceptable to losewhatevers been compromised, suggested Laub. Its so effective because it elicits desperation from its victims,and desperate people do desperate things. Given that this is the second attack on one target, it could be thatlightning is unlikely to strike a third time or hackers, as the case may be. Theres too much attention on the city of Baltimore at this point forthere to be a continued barrage of attacks, Laub explained. Itdlikely be too risky for the attackers. Future Attacks Likely The sad truth is that ransomware attacks are likely to continue. Its not just that many cities still rely on older hardware and software. Even when systems arereplaced, legacy devices leave vast holes for hackers to exploit. Corporations and large government agencies will be able to plug theholes, but many large U.S. municipalities will be unable to addresspotential exploits. Whether a successful defense can be mounted may depend on the type of organization targeted, said OneSpan CMO John Gunn. A business can respond immediately and invest in additional ITsecurity tools to prevent the type of attack they just experienced,whereas a government agency may take months or even years to getapprovals and budget to buy new security tools, all the while beingexposed to similar attacks, he told TechNewsWorld. Even new systems and a complete network upgrade might not be enough tokeep the digital barbarians away. There are so many complexities and moving pieces. Its hard toimagine a public institution thats likely to be poorly funded beingable to make many meaningful strides towards a solid security posturein a short period of time, warned StealthbitsTechnologies Laub. Still, the fact the Baltimore has been targeted twice suggests the citydidnt learn its lesson. Said simply, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice shame on me,said Purtilo. Taxpayers in Baltimore should ask a lot of hardquestions. Stopping to marvel at events that connected one reader to our work and offered insight about her health and environment Turkish jets hit PKK terror targets in N. Iraq Turkish airstrikes destroy weapon pits, shelters used by terrorists in Hakurk, Metina regions, says Turkeys Defense Ministry Hulusi Akar Turkish fighter jets hit PKK terrorist targets in northern Iraq, Turkeys Defense Ministry Hulusi Akar said on Wednesday. In a statement, the ministry said the airstrikes destroyed weapon pits and shelters used by PKK terrorists in the Hakurk and Metina regions. In its more than 30-year terror campaign against Turkey, the PKK listed as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the US and the EU has been responsible for the deaths of nearly 40,000 people, including women and children. Assad regime killed 12 civilians in Idlib The new deaths brought to more than 455 civilians, who have lost their lives in Idlib since April 25. Twelve civilians were killed in regime airstrikes in Syrias northwestern de-escalation zones, sources with the White Helmets civil defense agency said on Wednesday. 12 DEAD The attacks targeted the towns of Maarat Al-Numan and Maarat Herma in Idlib province, the sources said. Also, regime forces and Iran-back terrorist group shelled the town of Khan Sheykhun and the villages of Al-Kassabiyya, Abdin, Karasaa, Kafr Sajna and Al-Naqeer. Some 1.5 million people currently reside in Idlib, half are displaced from other parts of the war-torn country. Turkey and Russia agreed last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone in which acts of aggression would be expressly prohibited. The Syrian regime, however, has consistently broken the terms of the cease-fire, launching frequent attacks inside the de-escalation zone. Syria has only just begun to emerge from a devastating conflict that began in early 2011 when the Bashar al-Assad regime cracked down on demonstrators with unexpected severity. Germany wants Turkeys S-400 deal to be questioned In trying to block Turkey to give up the Russian missiles, US had offered to sell its rival Raytheon Co. Patriot missile defense systems. The German government on Wednesday said Turkeys decision to buy Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defense systems raised difficult questions for NATO and that it would welcome Ankara reconsidering the decision. THE DEAL RAISES DIFFICULT QUESTIONS The government is following this very carefully, government spokesman Steffen Seibert told a regular government news conference. For NATO, it is very important that its armed forces demonstrate interoperability - that is very significant - and therefore difficult questions arise if a partner acquires a Russian system, he added. The S-400s cannot be integrated into NATO systems. Germany warns: Terrorists may provoke US-Iran war Situation extremely dangerous, says Heiko Maas, urging Washington and Tehran to de-escalate tensions. Terrorist groups may use escalating tensions between US and Iran as an opportunity to provoke a war between the two countries, Germanys foreign minister warned Tuesday. "THIS IS A REGION WHERE TERRORIST GROUPS ARE ACTIVE" Speaking during a panel discussion in Hamburg, Heiko Maas described the situation in the Middle East as extremely dangerous and urged the two countries to calm down. This is a region where terrorist groups are active. Terrorists may launch attacks to escalate violence and provoke a war, he said. And it would not be only US and Iran participating in such a war, but this would rapidly put the entire region in flames. Maas reaffirmed Germanys continued commitment to a diplomatic solution to resolve disagreements with Iran over its nuclear program and its influence in the region. Recent weeks have seen steadily mounting tensions between Tehran and the Washington. On Sunday, following a rocket attack near the US embassy in Baghdad, President Donald Trump told Iran not to threaten the US, saying it will be Tehran's "official end". "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!" Trump tweeted, without elaborating. Last week, the US deployed a carrier strike group to the Persian Gulf, citing intelligence of an imminent Iranian attack on US interests in the region. Tehran responded to the escalation by threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a main artery for global oil shipments linking the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. If Assad uses chemical weapons in Syria, UK would act State Departments spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus it is investigating the alleged chemical attack in Idlib the last rebel area holding out against Bashar al-Assad. The UK will act appropriately if Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria uses chemical weapons, British Prime Minister Theresa May said Wednesday. "INTERNATIONAL FRIENDS AND ALLIES" Speaking at the House of Commons in a weekly question session with lawmakers, May said the UK previously acted with France and the US when we saw chemical weapons being used in Syria. May said a robust action was taken together with the international friends and allies when the UK suffered from the chemical weapon, referring to Salisbury chemical attack in March 2018. Mays comments came after the US State Department on Tuesday issued a warning to the Assad regime on suspicion it could be conducting a new chemical weapons attack in northwest Syria. "Unfortunately, we continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19, 2019," the State Departments spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus had said in a statement. "The United States continues to closely watch the military operations by the Assad regime in northwest Syria, including indications of any new use of chemical weapons by the regime," the US statement said. May said her country condemns all use of chemical weapons. We are in close contact with the US; we are monitoring the situation closely and if any use of chemical weapons is confirmed, we will respond appropriately, May said. She said our position is clear. We consider Assad incapable of delivering a lasting peace and his regime has lost its legitimacy due to its atrocities against its own Syrian people, she added. Indonesian election violence killed six civilians in Jakarta 6 people killed and 200 injured in civil unrest that gripped parts of Jakarta night after the election commission confirmed that President Joko Widodo won last months election, the governor of the In Six people were killed and 200 injured Wednesday during protests to challenge results of Indonesias presidential election, according to Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. SIX DEAD, 200 INJURED Clashes continued in several areas where mobs pelted police with Molotov cocktails, rocks and torched a car. We have arrested 20 people who allegedly flattering the clash. Most of them came from outside Jakarta, West Jakarta Police Chief Senior Commissioner Hengki Haryadi told reporters. Police spokesperson Argo Yuwono said violence occurred after a mass demonstration in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in Central Jakarta disbanded in an orderly manner. Thousands of protesters in support of presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, began the rally in the afternoon, demanding an annulment of the victory of incumbent President Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin, claiming election fraud. The crowd disseminated before the clash erupted around midnight when dozens of demonstrators tried to force their way into the Bawaslu building by destroying the front gate. But after they disbanded, another unidentified group attacked police with rocks and Molotov cocktails. "But at night there were a handful of people who deliberately made provocations to get citizens involved," Argo told Anadolu Agency. The National Police prepared 32,000 personnel to secure results of the election. Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin was re-elected, according to preliminary results announced Tuesday by the General Election Commission (KPU). It is the second time Jokowi, a nickname, defeated his rival, former special force commander Prabowo Subianto Sandiaga Uno. Based on KPU results (KPU), Jokowi-Amin received 85.6 million votes and Subianto-Sandiaga Uno obtained 68.6 million. KPU commissioner Hasyim Asy'ari said the official results depends if there is a challenge to the findings. KPU will wait until May 24 for a submission of a dispute through the Constitutional Court (MK). Russia condemns US bold ultimatum to Turkey Kremlin condemned as unacceptable US ultimatum to Turkey designed to force it to cancel a deal to buy Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and purchase US Patriot missile systems instead. Moscow was responding to a CNBC report which said Washington had given Turkey just over two weeks to scrap the Russian deal and do an arms deal with the United States instead or risk severe penalties. "SUCH ULTIMATUMS ARE UNACCEPTABLE" When asked about the CNBC report by reporters on Wednesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: We regard this extremely negatively. We consider such ultimatums to be unacceptable, and we are going on the many statements made by representatives of Turkeys leadership headed by President Erdogan that the S-400 deal is already complete and will be implemented. Turkeys defense minister said earlier on Wednesday that Ankara was preparing for potential US sanctions over its purchase of the Russian missile system even though he said there was some improvement in talks with the United States over buying F-35 fighter jets. TIKA distributes tablets in Pakistan Turkish aid agency TIKA gives tablets to 249 students in Pak-Turk Maarif schools in Pakistan. A Turkish aid agency on Tuesday distributed tablets for students of Pakistan-Turkey Maarif schools in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. TECHNOLOGY AID Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) handed out tablets to 249 students who graduated from schools administered by Turkeys Maarif Foundation. Addressing the hand-out ceremony as the chief guest, Turkeys Ambassador to Pakistan Mustafa Yurdakul said: I am very happy that Turkey's institutions TIKA and Maarif Foundation jointly launched an important program to strengthen education system and help the students in Pakistan. Turkish institutes are working in Pakistan to make the educational system stronger, he added. Turkey established the Maarif Foundation in 2016 after a coup attempt to take over the administration of overseas schools linked to FETO. It also establishes schools and education centers abroad. Gokhan Umut, a TIKA coordinator in Pakistan, Selahattin Batur, Pakistan head of Maarif, officials from Pakistans Education Ministry and Turkish Red Crescent were also among the guests of ceremony. US' bold offer: Turkey has until next month to cancel S-400 deal Turkey has a little more than two weeks to decide whether to complete a complex arms deal with the US or to buy a missile system from Russia, Washington said. By the end of the first week of June, Turkey must cancel a multibillion-dollar deal with Russia and instead buy Raytheons US-made Patriot missile defense system or face removal from Lockheed Martins F-35 program, forfeiture of 100 promised F-35 jets, imposition of US sanctions and potential blowback from NATO, CNBC reported. TENSIONS ROSE BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES Tensions between the US and Turkey have reached a fever pitch in recent months with Turkey set to begin receiving the advanced S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia. US officials have suggested Turkey buy the US Patriot missile system rather than the S-400, arguing it is incompatible with NATO systems and is a threat to the F-35 fifth-generation stealth aircraft. Turkey responded it was the US refusal to sell it Patriots that led it to seek other sellers, adding that Russia offered a better deal, including technology transfers. Two Daesh terrorists arrested in Iraq According to a security source, female terrorists were trying to cross into Turkey from the Syrian border. Turkish security forces arrested two Daesh terrorists Tuesday in southeastern Sanliurfa province. TWO DAESH TERRORISTS ARRESTED The female terrorists were captured in an operation in Akcakale district on the Turkish-Syrian border, according to a security source who asked not to be named to due restrictions on speaking to the media. The terrorists, identified by the initials C.B. and B.S., were trying to cross into Turkey, the source added. UK deploys F-35 jets in its S. Cyprus base Six F-35 warplanes have arrived at a UKs air base on Southern Cyprus for training and a systems test in the aircrafts first overseas deployment. The jets from 617 Squadron, flown by three British Royal Navy and three Royal Air Force pilots, touched down at RAF Akrotiri for what officials said will be a six-week deployment on the eastern Mediterranean island nation as part of Exercise Lightning Dawn, local sources reported. CREW TRAINING RAF Akrotiri Station Commander Christopher Snaith said the deployment will let pilots put the planes through their paces, test logistics and sharpen ground crew training. According to an article published on the UK MoD website, British Royal Navy had started deploying F-35s to Cyprus last month, marking the first overseas deployment fo the new aircraft by the UK. US claims chemical weapon use of Assad regime US State Department stated that it continues to watch operations in northwest Syria, including any new use of chemical weapons. US State Department on Tuesday issued a warning to the Bashar al-Assad regime on suspicion it could be conducting a new chemical weapons attack in northwest Syria. ASSAD CONTINUES TO USE CHEMICAL WEAPONS "Unfortunately, we continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19, 2019," department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. "The US continues to closely watch the military operations by the Assad regime in northwest Syria, including indications of any new use of chemical weapons by the regime," she added. Ortagus' statement comes as the regime mounts a new offensive in northwestern Syria the US warned would be a "reckless escalation" that could destabilize the region. The move threatens to unleash a major humanitarian catastrophe with 180,000 civilians forced to flee in the last three weeks, according to the UN. At least 151 civilians have lost their lives in Idlib province since April 25, and more than 405 have been injured. Some 1.5 million people currently reside in Idlib. Half of them are displaced from other parts of the war-torn country. Turkey and Russia agreed last September to turn Idlib into a de-escalation zone where acts of aggression would be expressly prohibited. The regime, however, has consistently broken the terms of a cease-fire there, launching frequent attacks inside the zone. The UN's emergency relief coordinator, Mark Lowcock, said a full military offensive by the regime could result in the worst humanitarian catastrophe of the 21st century. "We repeat our warning that if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons, the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately," Ortagus said. The department also pushed back against Russian allegations against the civil defense agency, White Helmets, that blames Moscow for helping run a disinformation campaign to blame others for the chemical weapons attacks in Syria. "At times, Russia and the Assad regime have made these false allegations as a pretext in advance of the Assad regimes own barbaric chemical weapons attacks," Ortagus said. US could blacklist another Chinese tech firm after Huawei US is considering limits to a Chinese video surveillance giants ability to buy American technology, the latest attempt to counter Beijings global economic ambitions. Trump administration is considering Huawei-like sanctions on Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision, media reports show, deepening worries that trade friction between the worlds top two economies could be further inflamed. US STUCK HUAWEI ON BLACKLIST The restrictions would limit Hikvision's ability to buy US technology and American companies may have to obtain government approval to supply components to the Chinese firm, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. US stuck Huawei Technologies on a trade blacklist last week, effectively banning US firms from doing business with the worlds largest telecom network gear maker, in a major escalation in the trade war. Trump administration has accused Huawei of activities contrary to national security, a charge Huawei denies. However, this week the Trump administration granted the firm a license to buy U.S. goods until Aug. 19 to minimize disruption for customers. US intercepted six Russian military planes off the coast of Alaska US fighter jets intercepted six Russian military planes in international airspace off the coast of Alaska. US F-22 stealth jets intercepted four Russian bombers and two Russian Su-35 fighter jets off the coast of Alaska on Monday, according to a statement from North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). RUSSIAN JETS HAVE BEEN INTERCEPTED Two US F-22 fighter jets first made contact with a pair of Tu-95 bombers, Russian aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and later two other F-22s intercepted a second group of Tu-95s and Su-35 fighter jets, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) said Tuesday. The Russian bombers had entered Alaska's Air Defense Identification Zone which extends approximately 200 miles off Alaska's western coast, according to CNN. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident, saying their aircraft were "escorted" by the F-22 jets. The total flight time for the Russian aircraft was 12 hours, according to the ministry. The Russian planes remained in international airspace for the duration of their flights. "Our ability to deter and defeat threats to our citizens and vital infrastructure starts with detecting, tracking and positively identifying aircraft in our airspace. We are on alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year," NORAD Commander Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy said on the command's Twitter account. A new study examining Medicaid expansion and cancer screening finds that the five states and District of Columbia that first adopted Medicaid expansion saw larger increases in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening than those states that did not expand Medicaid. The study, appearing early online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, estimates that if non-expansion states had experienced the same increase in recent colorectal cancer screening as the very early expansion states, an additional 355,184 people would have been screened. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in 2010 and provided federal support for states to expand Medicaid insurance coverage to low-income adults, a group with limited access to preventive services. Five states and the District of Columbia were very early adopters and expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2010?2011. An additional twenty-one states expanded their Medicaid programs during 2014; five states expanded in 2015-2016 and 19 states did not expand. To find out whether the timing of Medicaid expansion improved screening prevalence, the current study, led by Stacey A. Fedewa, Ph.D., senior principal scientist in the Surveillance and Health Services Research department at the American Cancer Society, examined temporal changes in screening patterns among low-income adults in all states, using data from the 2012, 2014, and 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a state-based telephone survey overseen by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Between 2012 and 2016, the proportion of low-income adults ages 50 to 64 who were up-to-date with CRC screening grew by 8.8 percentage points in very early adopters (from 42.3% to 51.1%), by 2.9 percentage points in early adopters (from 49.6% to 52.5%), and by 3.8 percentage points in non-expansion states (from 44.2% to 48.0%). The magnitude of this change was greatest in very early versus non-expansion states. Recent CRC screening (defined as having a colonoscopy, stool testing or sigmoidoscopy in the past two years) increased by 8 percentage points (from 30.1% to 38.1%) in very early states and 2.8 percentage points (from 29.1% to 31.8%) in non-expansion states. The improvement in screening rates in very early expansion states translated to an additional 236,573 low-income adults receiving recent CRC screening in 2016. If the same absolute increase was experienced in non-expansion states, 355,184 more low-income adults would have had recent CRC screening than what was observed. "Health insurance is a strong predictor of cancer screening, and the uninsured and those with lower socioeconomic status are more likely to be diagnosed at late stage and die from screen-detectable cancers, including colorectal cancer," said Dr. Fedewa. The authors note that the growth in CRC screening prevalence in the very early expansion states was not immediate and that changes in CRC screening among those expanding Medicaid later were comparable to non-expansion states. That may reflect the lag time between people gaining insurance and completing the multistep screening process that typically relies on a physician visit, followed by a recommendation, and then a follow-up visit with a specialist if a colonoscopy is performed. "It is likely that the full impact of Medicaid expansions on cancer screening may not yet be fully visible and the previously reported modest improvements in early stage at diagnosis for screen detectable cancers could progress further," write the authors. They also found breast cancer screening increased only modestly among low-income women residing in expansion states. That could be due to more widespread and historical support for mammography in low income populations through initiatives like CDC's National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, as well as programs offered by non-profits, and mobile mammography clinics. Also, mammography has far fewer financial and logistic barriers than colonoscopy as it is cheaper and requires less preparation. ### Article: Changes in Breast and Colorectal Cancer Screening After Medicaid Expansion Under the Affordable Care Act, Stacey A. Fedewa, Robin Yabroff, Robert Smith, Ann Goding Sauer, Xuesong Han, Ahmedin Jemal, Am J Prevent Med 2019 doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.02.015 URL after embargo: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.02.015 Tracing violence in young men to boyhood trauma buttresses conclusion of second, related global analysis of gender equality: that achieving equality requires focusing on boys and girls Tracing violence in young men to boyhood trauma buttresses conclusion of second, related global analysis of gender equality: that achieving equality requires focusing on boys and girls Analysis by 22 experts finds boys and girls have an equal role to play in achieving SDG5 and interventions should start much younger as "gender straightjackets" locked by age 15 Washington, DC (May 20, 2019)--In poor urban areas around the world, exposure to adverse events as children--including physical and emotional neglect, violence, and sexual abuse--is strongly associated with both adolescent depression and violence perpetrated by young people, with the data suggesting that boys are suffering even more than girls, according to a new study in the Journal of Adolescent Health from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "This is the first global study to investigate how a cluster of traumatic childhood experiences known as ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences, work together to cause specific health issues in early adolescence with terrible, life-long consequences," said Dr. Robert Blum, lead researcher for the Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS) that is based in multiple countries across five continents. "And while we found young girls often suffer significantly, contrary to common belief, boys reported even greater exposure to violence and neglect, which makes them more likely to be violent in return." The study catalogued the ACEs suffered by 1,284 adolescents aged 10 to 14 in 14 "low-income urban settings" around the world. It found remarkably common experiences with trauma--and very similar impacts--regardless of where the children lived, which included Vietnam, China, Bolivia, Egypt, India, Kenya, UK and the United States. The report is the first to include an assessment of how adversity impacts young children in multiple low- and middle-income countries, where the vast majority of the 1.8 billion 10- to 24-year-olds worldwide live--about a quarter of the global population. Overall, the study found that 46% of young adolescents reported experiencing violence, 38% suffered emotional neglect and 29% experienced physical neglect. But boys stood out in several categories. They were more likely to report physical neglect, sexual abuse and violence victimization. Also, for both boys and girls, the more adversity they experienced, the more likely they were to engage in violent behaviors, such as bullying, threatening or hitting someone. But the effect of the adversity was more pronounced for boys than girls, with boys 11 times more likely to be engaged in violence, and girls four times more likely to be violent. Also, the study found that, in general, the cumulative effect of their traumas tended to produce higher levels of depressive symptoms among girls than boys, while boys tended to show more external aggression than girls. Study Supports New Assessment from Global Coalition of Adolescent Health Experts The study is part of the Global Early Adolescent Study, a major collaboration of the World Health Organization and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to understand more about the development of gender stereotypes in early adolescence and their impact on adolescent health around the world. And it buttresses a key conclusion from a major new report to be released next week at Women Deliver in Vancouver based on a global coalition of adolescent health experts: that the world will never achieve gender equality "by focusing on girls and women alone and excluding boys and men." That report, from the Bellagio Working Group on Gender Equality, reflects the assessment of 22 experts from 15 countries. Their analysis, Achieving Gender Equality by 2030: Putting Adolescents at the Center, finds that boys have as equal a part to play as girls in achieving the fifth of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG5), which seeks to "achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls" by 2030. The report notes that the current indicators for SDG5 ignore boys and men. But it warns that "we cannot achieve a gender equitable world by ignoring half of its occupants." In a commentary summarizing the Bellagio report for the Journal of Adolescent Health, working group members from the United States, Ethiopia, Kenya, Indonesia and Great Britain point to the growing amount of data that refute a "prevailing myth that girls alone are disadvantaged by gender norms." They note that evidence from the GEAS work shows that in the many settings around the world, "boys experience as much disadvantage as girls" and are "more likely to smoke, drink and suffer both unintentional and intentional injury and death in the second decade of life than their female counterparts." They conclude that the key to achieving gender equality by 2030 involves addressing conditions and stereotypes that are harmful to both girls and boys--and to intervene much earlier, in early adolescence, at least by age 10, rather than at age 15 which is now the norm. Early adolescence is critical, the Bellagio group asserts, because "gender norms, attitudes and beliefs appear to solidify by age 15 or 16." Their report calls a broader set of indicators for tracking progress on achieving SDG 5 that would include: Tracking the percentage of both boys and girls who at the community level feel that they can ask for help when needed since there appears to be a strong relationship between voice and empowerment Tracking the percentage of boys and girls who feel safe in their neighborhood, as safety and security is a critical factor in the healthy development of both boys and girls; for example, the new study on adverse childhood experiences found a third of children reported a persistent fear of physical harm Gender Equality Critical to Economic Growth in Africa, South Asia The Bellagio Working Group also finds gender equality is a critical component of efforts in the developing world to achieve what economists call a "demographic dividend." It refers to harnessing the vigor of a surging youth population to generate a period of sustained economic growth. A demographic dividend was a major factor behind in the rise of the economic "tigers" of East Asia and even in Ireland's economic boom of the 1990s. There is now hope for something similar to propel the economies of sub-Saharan Africa, home to the fastest growing--and youngest--population in the world. Youth populations also are ascendant in South Asia and across much of the Middle East. The Bellagio Working Group concludes that if these regions want to experience a demographic dividend, they need to "address gender inequalities and rigid gender expectations that limit the future of many of the world's young people." "We must actively engage girls and boys at the onset of adolescence to increase total social inclusion and produce generational change," the report states. ### Global Early Adolescent Study Over the past six years, an international consortium of 15 countries has been working on the Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS). The GEAS aims to understand how gender norms are formed in early adolescence and how they predispose young people to subsequent sexual and other health risks. As children move into early adolescence and start to develop into young men and women, they also start to take up social roles that are linked to masculinity and femininity. The roles they take on have huge implications for their own health and well-being and that of people around them. Hence, this is a critically important period to study. The GEAS has generated valuable information from 15 countries around the world, and developed a tool kit to assess gender norms in early adolescents. The GEAS is led by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in conjunction with WHO's Department of Reproductive Health and Research/Human Reproduction Programme. For interviews or more information, please contact: Katy Lenard at klenard@burness.com; +1 301-280-5719 Anne-Marie Schryer-Roy at aschryer-roy@burness.com; +254 727 305 525 Deaths from stroke in England halved during the first decade of the 21st century, mainly as a result of improved survival due to better care, finds a study published by The BMJ today. The number of strokes, and the number of people who died from stroke, decreased by 20% and 40%, respectively, over this period. But despite this overall reduction, the researchers warn that stroke rates actually increased in people aged under 55, suggesting that stroke prevention efforts need to be strengthened in younger adults. Deaths from stroke have been falling worldwide for several decades, but it is unclear to what extent this is due to a decrease in the number of strokes occurring (event rate), the number of people dying from stroke (case fatality), or a combination of the two. To explore this further, researchers at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford used hospital and mortality records to analyse data for all residents of England aged 20 and older who were admitted to hospital with stroke or died from stroke between 2001 and 2010. Their results are based on 947,497 stroke events, including 337,085 stroke deaths, in 795,869 people. The average age at onset of stroke was 72 years for men and 76 years for women, and the average age of those who died from stroke was 79 years for men and 83 years for women. After adjusting for age and other potentially influential factors, stroke deaths decreased by 55% during the study period. For example in men, death rates decreased from 140 per 100,000 in 2001 to 74 per 100,000 in 2010, and in women from 128 per 100,000 in 2001 to 72 per 100,000 in 2010. And while a reduction was seen in all age groups, the largest annual reduction was in those aged 65 to 74 (-8.1% in men and -8.3% in women). Most of this decline - 78% in men and 66% in women - was due to a reduction in case fatality, which decreased by 40% overall and in all age groups. The remaining 22% and 34%, respectively, was due to a reduction in event rates, which decreased by 20% overall. However, in people younger than 55 years, event rates increased by 2% each year, which contrasts with the downward trend seen in other age groups. This is an observational study so can't establish cause, and the researchers point to some limitations, such as the possibility that "minor" strokes treated outside hospital may have been missed. Nevertheless, they say the large study size over a continuous period of 10 years suggests that the findings are reliable and applicable to the whole of England. "Our findings show that most of the reduction in stroke mortality is a result of improved survival of patients with stroke," write the authors. "However, acute and long term management of such patients is expensive, and the NHS is already spending about 5% of its budget on stroke care. By focusing on prevention and reducing the occurrence of stroke, major resources can be conserved," they conclude. This view is supported by researchers at the University of Toronto in a linked editorial, who say that while more people are surviving after acute stroke, prevention remains a key priority. Targeted prevention is particularly needed in populations in which the incidence of stroke is increasing, such as in younger adults, certain racial/ethnic groups, and people in low and middle income countries, they add. These findings expose another societal challenge: the growing share of overall stroke burden borne by survivors, they write. "Tackling this major public health problem requires a concerted global effort to improve stroke prevention, care, and surveillance," they conclude. ### The re-introduction of measles, mumps and other previously eradicated diseases to the United States is nothing short of a public health crisis. Since Jan. 1, a staggering 880 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 24 states -- the greatest number of cases since 1994. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. The outbreaks have been attributed to an increasing number of Americans who choose not to vaccinate themselves or their children. Overcoming this "vaccine hesitancy" is a major concern for government and health agencies, which have tried a variety of approaches to convince anti-vaxers to change their minds, including mandating vaccinations in some communities. New research from Brigham Young University professors Brian Poole, Jamie Jensen and their students finds there is a better way to help increase support for vaccinations: Expose people to the pain and suffering caused by vaccine-preventable diseases instead of trying to combat people with vaccine facts. "Vaccines are victims of their own success," said Poole, associate professor of microbiology and molecular biology. "They're so effective that most people have no experience with vaccine preventable diseases. We need to reacquaint people with the dangers of those diseases." Poole and his team designed an intervention for college students in Provo, Utah -- a city which ranks sixth nationally for under-vaccinated kindergartners -- with the hope to improve vaccine attitudes and uptake among future parents. The experiment was carried out with 574 students, 491 of which were pro-vaccine and 83 being vaccine hesitant, according to a pre-study survey. For the study, half the students were asked to interview someone who experienced a vaccine-preventable disease such as polio, while the other half (serving as the control group) interviewed someone with an auto-immune disease. Meanwhile some students were also enrolled in courses that contained intense immune and vaccine-related curriculum while others were enrolled in a course with no vaccine curriculum. One student interviewed a member of their church congregation who had shingles, recalling, "The pain was so bad that she ended up at a pain management clinic where they did steroid shots into her spine. The pain meds didn't even touch her pain, even the heavy ones. For months, she couldn't leave the house." Another student interviewed her grandmother, who suffered from tuberculosis. The student said of the experience: "I dislike the idea of physical suffering, so hearing about someone getting a disease made the idea of getting a disease if I don't get vaccinated seem more real." Researchers found nearly 70 percent of the students who interviewed someone with a vaccine-preventable disease moved from vaccine hesitant to pro-vaccine by the end of the study -- even when they had NO vaccine curriculum. Overall, 75 percent of vaccine-hesitant students increased their vaccine attitude scores, with 50 percent of those students moving fully into pro-vaccine attitudes. The researchers also found all vaccine-hesitant students enrolled in a course with intensive vaccine curriculum significantly increased their vaccine attitude scores, with the majority of them moving into the pro-vaccine category. "If your goal is to affect people's decisions about vaccines, this process works much better than trying to combat anti-vaccine information," Poole said. "It shows people that these diseases really are serious diseases, with painful and financial costs, and people need to take them seriously." Poole and coauthors hope other universities and government agencies will see their findings and consider using similar methods to improve vaccine attitudes. Graduate student Deborah K. Johnson served as lead author on the paper, which published this last week in the journal Vaccines. ### A 5,000-year-old toy still enjoyed by kids today has inspired an inexpensive, hand-powered scientific tool that could not only impact how field biologists conduct their research but also allow high-school students and others with limited resources to realize their own state-of-the-art experiments. The device, a portable centrifuge for preparing scientific samples including DNA, is reported May 21 in the journal PLOS Biology. The co-first author of the paper is Gaurav Byagathvalli, a senior at Lambert High School in Georgia. His colleagues are M. Saad Bhamla, an assistant professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology; Soham Sinha, a Georgia Tech undergraduate; Janet Standeven, Byagathvalli's biology teacher at Lambert; and Aaron F. Pomerantz, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. "I am exceptionally proud of this paper and will remember it 10, 20, 30 years from now because of the uniquely diverse team we put together," said Bhamla, who is an assistant professor in Georgia Tech's School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. From a Rainforest to a High School Together the team demonstrated the device, dubbed the 3D-Fuge because it is created through 3D printing, in two separate applications. In a rainforest in Peru the 3D-Fuge was an integral part of a "lab in a backpack" used to identify four previously-unknown plants and insects by sequencing their DNA. Back in the United States, a slightly different design enabled a new approach to creating living bacterial sensors for the potential detection of disease. That work was conducted at Lambert High School for a synthetic biology competition. Thanks to social media and a preprint of the PLOS Biology paper on BioRxiv, the 3D-Fuge has already generated interest from around the world, including emails from high-school teachers in Zambia and Kenya. "It's awesome to see research not just remain isolated to one location but see it spread," said Byagathvalli. "Through this, we've realized how much of an impact simple yet effective tools can have, and hope this technology motivates others to continue along the same path and innovate new solutions to global issues." To better share the work, the team has posted the 3D-Fuge designs, videos, and photos online available to anyone. Frugal Science One focus of Bhamla's lab at Georgia Tech is the development of tools for frugal science, or real research that just about anyone can afford. The tools behind state-of-the-art science often cost thousands of dollars that make them inaccessible to those without serious resources. Centrifuges are a good example. A small benchtop unit costs between $3,000 and $5,000; larger units cost many times that. Yet the devices are necessary to produce concentrated amounts of, say, genomic materials like DNA. By rapidly spinning samples, they separate materials of interest from biological debris. The Bhamla team found that the 3D-Fuge works as well as its more expensive cousins, but costs less than $1. An Ancient Toy The 3D-Fuge is based on earlier work by Bhamla and colleagues at Stanford University on a simple centrifuge made of paper. The "paperfuge," in turn, was inspired by a toy composed of string and a button that Bhamla played with as a child. He later discovered that these toys, known as whirligigs, have existed for some 5,000 years. They consist of a disk - like a button - with two holes, through which is threaded a length of flexible cord whose ends are knotted to create a single loop with the disk in the middle. That simple contraption is then swung with two hands until the button is spinning and whirring at very fast speeds. The earlier paperfuge uses a disk of paper. To that disk Bhamla glued small plastic tubes filled with a sample. He and colleagues reported that the device did indeed create high-quality samples. In late 2017 Bhamla was separately approached by the Lambert High team and Pomerantz to see if the paperfuge could be adapted for the larger samples they needed (the paperfuge is limited to small samples of ~1 microliter--or one drop of blood). Together they came up with the 3D-Fuge, which includes cavities for tubes that can hold some 100 times more of a sample than the paperfuge. The team developed two equally effective designs: one for field biology (led by Pomerantz) and the other for the high-school's synthetic biology project (led by Byagathvalli). Bhamla notes that the 3D-Fuge has some limitations. For example, it can only process a few samples at a time (some applications require thousands of samples). Further, because it's 10 times heavier than the paperfuge, it can't reach the same speeds or produce the same forces of that device. That said, it still weighs only 20 grams, slightly less than a AA battery. "But it works," said Bhamla. "All you need is an [appropriate] application and some creativity." ### This work was funded by the National Science Foundation (award no. 181733), the Mindlin Foundation, and the Jacobs Institute Innovation Catalyst Award. CITATION: Gaurav Byagathvalli, Aaron F. Pomerantz, Soham Sinha, Janet Standeven, and M. Saad Bhamla, "A 3D-printed hand-powered centrifuge for molecular biology," (PLOS Biology, 2019) https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000251 About four to 16 percent of children in Western countries experience physical abuse; the percentage that experiences sexual abuse is between five and ten percent. Victims suffer from constraints in many areas of their lives as a consequence, and are at increased risk for mental illness as well, especially post-traumatic stress disorder. This is associated with stressful symptoms such as flashbacks, anxiety, sleep disorders and irritability. Things and situations that recall the traumatic events are often avoided. However, early treatment can help prevent long-term consequences. The team led by Dr Regina Steil, Senior Academic Council at the Institute of Psychology at Goethe University, developed a developmentally adapted cognitive processing therapy specializing on the situations and needs of teens and young adults between the ages of 14 and 21. It consists of 30 to 26 sessions over four to five months and is subdivided into four treatment phases. After a period of getting to know the therapist, the teens first learn to regulate their emotions and apply strategies for dealing with stress. Only after this do they begin to process their thoughts and feelings about the sexual or physical abuse and gradually regain a sense of security and control. A study funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has now demonstrated that this new form of psychotherapy effectively reduces psychological stress. The study was led by Professor Rita Rosner, Chair for Clinical and Biological Psychology at the Catholic University Eichstatt, and encompassed treatment locations in Berlin (Babette Renneberg), Frankfurt (Regina Steil) and Ingolstadt (Rita Rosner). First results were published in the American Medical Association's JAMA Psychiatry, which is one of the most renowned scientific psychiatric journals worldwide. In the study, the young patients were randomly assigned either to the new psychotherapy or to a treatment that is usual in Germany. The control group was given the option to be treated according to the new therapy once the study was completed. Toward the end of the therapy, or waiting period, the groups were compared with regard to psychological stress. The group that received the new therapy demonstrated significantly fewer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder than the control group. Symptoms of other mental disorders, such as depression or borderline personality disorder, were also improved to a greater degree in this group. These differences were still evident three months after therapy conclusion. "The successful clinical trial of this new treatment represents an important step toward improving the treatment situation of traumatized youth and teens," summarises Dr Regina Steil. ### Publication: Rosner R, Rimane E, Frick U, et al. Effect of developmentally adapted cognitive processing therapy for youth with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder after childhood sexual and physical abuse: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Psychiatry. Published online April 10, 2019. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.4349 Further Information: Dr Regina Steil, Institute for Psychology, Faculty 5, Bockenheim Campus, Phone.: +49 69 798-23379, steil@psych.uni-frankfurt.de Current news about science, teaching, and society can be found on GOETHE-UNI online Goethe University is a research-oriented university in the European financial centre Frankfurt am Main. The university was founded in 1914 through private funding, primarily from Jewish sponsors, and has since produced pioneering achievements in the areas of social sciences, sociology and economics, medicine, quantum physics, brain research, and labour law. It gained a unique level of autonomy on 1 January 2008 by returning to its historic roots as a "foundation university". Today, it is one of the three largest universities in Germany. Together with the Technical University of Darmstadt and the University of Mainz, it is a partner in the inter-state strategic Rhine-Main University Alliance. Internet: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de Publisher: The President of Goethe University Editor: Dr. Anne Hardy, Science Editor, PR & Communication Department, Theodor-W.-Adorno-Platz 1, 60323 Frankfurt am Main, Tel: -49 (0) 69 798-13035, Fax: +49 (0) 69 798-763 12531, hardy@pvw.uni-frankfurt.de. Providing early, appropriate antibiotic treatment for patients with sepsis -- a serious complication of infection that can lead to organ failure and death -- is crucial for their survival. But in a new study, researchers at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City found that antibiotic delivery was significantly faster -- by up to 32 minutes -- for sepsis patients being treated in an emergency department if they were assigned a slightly higher score on a subjective one-to-five acuity scale commonly used for patient triage. "Triaging patients and delivering antibiotics quickly in the emergency department is a constant challenge," said Sierra R. McLean, a University of Utah medical student and the study's lead author. "We're trying to figure out ways to provide better quality care to patients, and this study shows us we need to come up with interventions to make sure very-ill sepsis patients are appropriately recognized to help get their antibiotics on time." In the study, Intermountain researchers examined adult sepsis patients who were treated in four Intermountain Healthcare emergency departments in Utah between July 2013 and January 2017. Many emergency departments, including those in this study, assign patients an acuity score on a five-point scale to aid triage and resource allocation, with one being most in need of immediate care and five the least. The assessment is often made quickly, however, and the choice between mid-range triage scores can be subtle and subjective, researchers noted. For this study, investigators zeroed in on patients with mid-range scores -- those given a 2 (emergent) or 3 (urgent) - who also had abnormally low blood pressures. Among 799 eligible patients, 591 had a score of 2 and 208 had a score of 3. Researchers then evaluated how quickly they received antibiotics. They found that patients given a triage score of 3, or urgent, had door-to-antibiotic times that were 32 minutes longer than patients assigned a triage score of 2, or emergent. "Federal and international standards encourage the start of broad-spectrum antibiotics within three hours of a sepsis patient's arrival in the ED. Those 32 minutes can make a major difference in a patient's chances for survival," said Ithan D. Peltan, MD, MSc, senior author of the study and an attending physician in the Intermountain Medical Center Shock Trauma Intensive Care Unit and Intermountain Healthcare Telecritical Care. "If we could find interventions to help triage patients better, we might be able to help patients get antibiotics on time," added McLean. McLean and Dr. Peltan will present their findings from the study at ATS 2019, the annual international conference of the American Thoracic Society, in Dallas on May 22. Dr. Peltan said the study is part of a broader look at the system level challenges that make it hard to deliver high-quality sepsis care. "How do we help these incredibly busy, skilled ED clinicians - who are working in an environment where there's not much information -- to identify sepsis patients who are at risk for under-triage? This study is a step toward answering that question," he added. ### The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Intermountain Research and Medical Foundation. McLean joined the Intermountain research team as part of a competitive University of Utah Medical School program designed to provide students mentored experience in biomedical research. Intermountain Healthcare is a Utah-based not-for-profit system of 24 hospitals, 160 clinics, a Medical Group with some 2,300 employed physicians and advanced care practitioners, a health insurance company called SelectHealth, and other health services. Intermountain is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare through evidence-based best practices, high quality, and sustainable costs. Instituting combination antiretroviral (ART) treatment at the earliest stages of HIV infection may allow the generation of functional CD8 "killer" T cells and preservation of the CD4 helper T cells that are the virus's primary target. Investigators from the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard describe the results of their study, conducted among South African women at risk for contracting the virus, in Science Translational Medicine. "In a sense, this study shows that limiting the amount of virus the immune system encounters can stimulate much more potent CD8 T cell responses, leading to the development of long-term immune memory," says Bruce Walker, MD, Ragon Institute director and senior author of the report. "The results have implications for HIV vaccine development, as this kind of functional immunity to HIV is what we would need from a vaccine." Typically, HIV infection induces a massive CD8 T cell response that initially suppresses viral levels. But that response soon becomes exhausted and remains dysfunctional, allowing the virus to rebound and establish a persistent infection. The Ragon Institute team - led by Zaza Ndhlovu, PhD, also of the Africa Health Research Institute and lead author of the report - set out to examine whether that process could be subverted by very early institution of ART. To do that, they enrolled a group of participants in the FRESH (Females Rising Through Education, Support and Health) study, based in KwaZulu-Natal, the South African province with one of the world's highest HIV infection rates. Instituted in 2012, the FRESH study enrolled women ages 18 to 23 who were not in school or employed, were sexually active and were HIV negative at the time of enrollment. Along with attending twice-weekly sessions addressing career development, self-esteem, relationships, gender-based violence and HIV prevention and treatment, participants receive HIV testing at each visit. The current study enrolled 46 participants in whom "hyperacute" HIV infection was detected - 26 who began receiving ART within 24 to 48 hours of initial detection, 8 who began receiving ART at later stages of infection and 12 who began treatment when CD4 T cells dropped below 350, the standard treatment guideline for South Africa at the time. The results showed that, while the immediate HIV-specific CD8 T cell response of women receiving very early ART was much less intense than that of those whose treatment began later, that response remained functional - as indicated by continued expression of genes associated with key antiviral cytokines - and persistent. Early ART also altered the maturation of HIV-specific CD8 T cells towards generation of effective antiviral T cell memory and promoted robust HIV-specific CD4 T cell responses. "Understanding what constitutes a 'good' immune response to HIV gives us important information for vaccine design and could guide the development of interventions to achieve these kinds of responses in chronic infection," says Walker. "We now need to see whether these responses can control HIV in the absence of ongoing ART treatment or if we can further augment their immune responses, for example, by immunizing against highly networked viral amino acids as described in our recent Science paper." Walker is the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. ### Additional co-authors of the Science Translational Medicine paper are Samuel W. Kazer, Krista Dong, and Alex K. Shalek, Ragon Institute; Thandeka Nkosi, Funsho Ogunshola, Daniel M. Muema and Thumbi Ndung'u, Africa Health Research Institute; Gursev Anmole, Shayda A. Swann and Mark A. Brockman, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada; Amber Moodley, Doris Duke Medical Research Institute, University of KwaZulu-Natal; and Tarylee Reddy, South Africa Medical Research Council. Support for the study includes Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grants OPP1066973 and OPP1146433, National Institutes of Health grants R01 AI145305 and R37 AI067073; grants from the Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Witten Family Foundation, Dan and Marjorie Sullivan; the Mark and Lisa Schwartz Foundation, Ursula Brunner, Gilead Sciences, the Harvard University Center for AIDS Research and the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative. The Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard was established in 2009 with a gift from the Phillip T. and Susan M. Ragon Foundation, creating a collaborative scientific mission among these institutions to harness the immune system to combat and cure human diseases. A primary focus of the institute has been to contribute to the development of an effective AIDS vaccine. The Ragon Institute draws scientists and engineers from diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise across the Harvard and MIT communities and throughout the world to apply the full arsenal of scientific knowledge to understanding mechanisms of immune control and immune failure and to benefit patients. A global research collaborative including Medical University of South Carolina investigators report in today's Science Translational Medicine that defects in the primary cilia of the developing fetus can cause mitral valve prolapse later in life Genetic variation in heart valve cells of the developing fetus create the blueprint for the later development of mitral valve prolapse, according to the cover story of today's Science Translational Medicine. The mutations cause defects in antenna-like cellular structures called primary cilia that previously had no known function in the heart valves. These findings were made possible by an international research collaborative that included scientists, geneticists, cardiologists, echocardiographers and surgeons. "These tiny structures are really important in establishing how the heart valve develops in utero," says Russell A. Norris, Ph.D., associate professor of medicine in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Norris, who has been studying heart valve disease for more than 20 years, is senior author on the Science Translational Medicine article. What made Norris and the rest of the research collaborative suspect these tiny culprits of playing a role in the development of mitral valve prolapse? In mitral valve prolapse, the mitral valve, whose job is to keep blood flowing in one direction from the left atrium to the left ventricle of the heart, becomes enlarged and no longer closes securely, allowing blood to flow in both directions. Many of the one in forty Americans who have mitral valve prolapse experience minimal symptoms. In some, however, this valve defect can cause damage to the heart muscle itself. This can result in congestive heart failure, scarring of the heart tissue, and in serious cases, sudden cardiac death. The research collaborative had initially assembled for a Leducq Foundation-funded project that culminated in 2015 Nature and Nature Genetics articles announcing identification of genetic variants that cause mitral valve prolapse. The researchers, who have continued their collaboration, have since noticed that each of the genes they had identified could be linked to a pathway involving primary cilia. This led them to test whether removing cilia in mice would cause something like mitral valve prolapse. "We have ways of removing cilia genetically in animal models," explains Norris. "We thought that if we took out the cilia in heart valve cells, then the mice should develop the same disease. And that turned out to be the case." Next, the team looked at a multigenerational family with a history of mitral valve prolapse to see if there was additional evidence for a causative role for cilia in the disease. "Through our existing, long-term collaborations with geneticist Dr. Susan Slaugenhaupt, cardiologist Dr. David Milan and echocardiographer Dr. Robert Levine at Mass General Hospital, genetic analyses of this family were performed," says Norris. "Through many years of study we were able to identify a causative gene in this family, which ended up being a cilia gene." To further support that finding, Norris developed a mouse model of mitral valve prolapse. "A problem in the field today is that there are no really good animal models to study non-syndromic mitral valve prolapse," says Norris. "Now that we had a novel mutation, we felt obligated to develop a genetically accurate mouse model, which would enhance our understanding of disease initiation and progression." Instead of knocking out whole genes, as others had done, Norris and his collaborators at MUSC used CRISPR CAS-9 technology to "knock in" the genetic mutation identified in the large family. "We knocked in the mutation, and it fully recapitulated the phenotypic spectrum of the disease and impaired formation of primary cilia during development," says Norris. "These mice were quite beneficial in that they confirmed that mitral valve prolapse could be caused by a defect in cilia formation during embryonic development." Finally, the research team used an existing dataset from a previously conducted genome-wide association study, in which they looked at 300 known cilia genes to see if there was an association between the variants and mitral valve prolapse. "We found that there was an increased prevalence of cilia gene variants in the mitral valve prolapse population," says Norris. "Whether it's relevant to ten, 40, or 70 percent of the broader population, we don't know yet." Norris now hopes to use the unique mouse model the team has developed to better understand the temporal progression of the disease. "Mitral valve disease is most commonly seen when somebody in their fifties or sixties," explains Norris. "Yet, all of these genes that we've identified that cause mitral valve prolapse do not appear to be expressed in the adult. So how can a developmental error result in an adult pathology?" The research collaborative's data indicate that mitral valve prolapse can be present early but is clinically benign and not likely to present with any symptoms. The disease can take decades to become clinically relevant and represents a slow degeneration of the tissue. Possibly contributing to that degeneration are changes in the geometry of heart tissues and valve anatomy that cause secondary defects. "So we think that the geometry change, combined with altered biomechanics plus additional secondary responses that have yet to be discovered, result over time in the tissue being destroyed," says Norris. Norris will use his unique mouse model to test that theory. "We're the only group in the world that has this particular model," states Norris. "We want to use this model as our test bed to look at the mechanisms and timing by which the disease progresses." Norris also hopes to begin to identify biomarkers of disease severity that could inform treatment. He will work with cardiothoracic surgeons in Leipzig, Germany and echocardiographers in Boston, who are collecting biopsy specimens from patients with mitral valve prolapse. He will compare those specimens with tissue biopsies from his animal model. "Once we have the biopsies, we can then correlate changes in protein profiles in valve and heart tissues in humans with those in our animal models to look for markers of disease severity and/or progression," explains Norris. "Is there something predictive in the patients that will allow us to know that they are at a particular stage of fibrosis or heart failure or let us know what sort of outcomes they are likely to have?" The findings of a developmental cause for some forms of the disease by Norris and other members of the collaborative team could signal the importance of early intervention and lead to rethinking of current treatment guidelines. "If you have mitral valve prolapse, our findings suggest that you may not want to wait for intervention," says Norris. "There's a good chance that your heart is already being stressed and that changes in the heart muscle have already begun, which may be difficult to reverse. So earlier intervention is likely better. We're hopeful that, with the help of additional funding, some of our discoveries will help change guidelines for the timing of surgical intervention as well as lead to non-surgical therapies to treat the disease." ### This research was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The content of the article summarized in this release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. Patrick T. Ellinor, one of the authors of the Science Translational Medicine article, is supported by a grant from Bayer AG to the Broad Institute focused on the genetics and therapeutics of cardiovascular diseases. He has also served on advisory boards or consulted for Quest Diagnostics and Novartis. About MUSC Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the oldest medical school in the South, as well as the state's only integrated, academic health sciences center with a unique charge to serve the state through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and 700 residents in six colleges: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The state's leader in obtaining biomedical research funds, in fiscal year 2018, MUSC set a new high, bringing in more than $276.5 million. For information on academic programs, visit http://musc.edu. As the clinical health system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care available, while training generations of competent, compassionate health care providers to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Comprising some 1,600 beds, more than 100 outreach sites, the MUSC College of Medicine, the physicians' practice plan, and nearly 275 telehealth locations, MUSC Health owns and operates eight hospitals situated in Charleston, Chester, Florence, Lancaster and Marion counties. In 2018, for the fourth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the number one hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit http://muschealth.org. MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets of $3 billion. The more than 17,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers and scientists who deliver groundbreaking education, research, technology and patient care. Researchers from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) have developed the capability to 3D print an unfurnished bathroom in less than a day. After printing, the bathroom is furnished with toilet fittings to become a pre-fabricated unit, ready for use in construction projects. Its interior includes a sink, mirror, shower, toilet bowl, ceramic tiled walls and flooring, complete with concealed drains and piping. This could potentially help firms build prefabricated bathroom units (PBU) about 30 per cent more quickly and 30 per cent lighter than current PBUs. In the past four years, the research team focused on developing a special concrete mix which is fluid enough to flow through the hoses and print nozzle, yet can harden fast enough so that the next layer is able to be printed on it. On top of ensuring a consistent print quality, the final product also has to be as strong as conventional concrete. The printing process takes half the time needed in the construction of a conventional bathroom unit that uses concrete casting. The fittings, tiling and finishing will typically take another five days. This innovation was developed by a joint research team led by Assoc Prof Tan Ming Jen from NTU's Singapore Centre for 3D Printing, in partnership with Sembcorp Design and Construction, and Sembcorp Architects & Engineers. The Singapore Centre for 3D Printing was set up by National Research Foundation (NRF) Singapore, to conduct research and development on 3D printing technology, and accelerate the adoption of the technology by companies. Mr Lim Tuang Liang, Executive Director at the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Coordination Office at NRF, said: "Singapore's strength in advanced manufacturing technologies is deepening not only in the area of research, but also in the adoption and deployment of these technologies by our companies. This latest project between NTU and Sembcorp is testament to our strong research and translational capabilities in 3D printing. We are excited to promote more collaborations between our research institutes and innovation-driven companies to drive the adoption of key technologies in the manufacturing sector." This Proof-of-Concept aims to improve productivity for Singapore's building and construction industry through the use of digital and robotic fabrication methods to reduce skilled labour and manpower requirements. Since 2014, it has been a requirement for all non-landed residential Government Land Sale (GLS) sites in Singapore to use Prefabricated Bathroom Units (PBU) in their construction process. PBUs are usually cast from concrete and completely preassembled offsite with all necessary finishes and fittings, ready to be lifted and installed in a building project. By shifting most of the fabrication off-site to the controlled environment of a factory, PBUs yield time and manpower savings of about 60 per cent, compared to on-site construction which was the practice prior to 2014. There is also better control over the materials and the prefabrication process, resulting in higher quality finishes and lesser wastage. Assoc Prof Tan said 3D-printing a bathroom unit could help manufacturers halve their production time while lowering transport costs, carbon emissions and materials wastage. Less space is required to create and store the same number of PBUs in land- scarce Singapore, since conventional PBUs take about two weeks before they can be ready. "By being able to print-on-demand, companies can save on their inventory costs as well as manpower costs, as they don't have to hold as much stock and their workers can be redeployed to do higher-level tasks. This approach improves the safety of the workplace, since robots are doing the construction of the bathroom unit," Prof Tan explained. Er Lie Liong Tjen, team lead from Sembcorp Design and Construction, and Sembcorp Architects & Engineers said: "3D printing technology allows concrete to be printed and customised. The complicated shape of a PBU and its walls can be developed and printed at a faster pace to satisfy the needs of individual customers as no formwork or moulds are required, whereas conventional construction of PBUs with concrete or lightweight wall panels always limit the possibilities of design. In addition, 3D printing can build curvilinear profiles rather than rectilinear forms." How the bathroom unit is 3D printed The multidisciplinary team comprising researchers across disciplines such as mechanical, civil and material engineering, architecture and robotics, had to first develop special concrete mixtures that could be 3D-printed. New mixtures include green building materials such as geopolymers, which are made from fly ash waste. To enable printing, the team also had to develop new printing and control systems which could match the flow rate of the nozzle to the hardening properties of the concrete. The printing was then carried out in a single build using a 6-axis KUKA Robotic arm, which has a reach of about 6 metres in diameter. The specially designed concrete mixture was fed to mixers and pumped out of a nozzle mounted on the robotic arm, depositing the material layer by layer according to the digital blueprint. To save material and achieve weight savings of up to 30 per cent, the walls of the PBU were printed in a W-lattice shape, which lent additional strength to the final structure. The research team printed and outfitted two PBUs. One measuring 1.62m (L) x 1.5m (W) x 2.8m (H) was printed in just 9 hours while the second PBU measuring 2m (L) x 2.6m (W) x 2.8m (H) was printed in 12 hours. Throughout the whole process, NTU researchers worked closely with Sembcorp's engineers, who gave industrial inputs and commented on research findings, as well as provided resources and materials for the 3D-printing. They also installed architectural finishes and plumbing fixtures on the two printed PBUs and aided in the overall logistics. Meets or exceeds industry standards The larger 3D-printed PBU has already undergone stringent industry tests, with the results showing that it has met the required strength and robustness as spelt out in Singapore Standard SS492: 2001. It is currently undergoing fire resistance tests as part of the requirements under the Building Innovation Panel (BIP) PBU acceptance framework. The BIP is an inter-agency platform which accelerates the development and implementation of feasible methods, processes, solutions, technologies or materials - to cover solutions beyond those that raise productivity to any type of innovation that can improve Singapore's Built Environment. The technology and know-how employed in this multi-disciplinary project is protected by a Technology Disclosure filed through NTU's innovation and enterprise company, NTUitive, and is jointly owned between the university and Sembcorp. Moving forward, the team is looking forward to getting the required approvals for trials from the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA) and to commercialise the technology through licensing or a spin-off company. ### Media contact: Lester Kok Assistant Director Corporate Communications Office Nanyang Technological University Tel: 6790 6804 Email: lesterkok@ntu.edu.sg Hoh Suk Mun Deputy Head, Corporate Communications National Research Foundation, Prime Minister's Office, Singapore Tel: 6694 5036 Email: hoh_suk_mun@nrf.gov.sg About Nanyang Technological University, Singapore A research-intensive public university, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) has 33,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students in the Engineering, Business, Science, Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, and Graduate colleges. It also has a medical school, the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, set up jointly with Imperial College London. NTU is also home to world-class autonomous institutes - the National Institute of Education, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Earth Observatory of Singapore, and Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering - and various leading research centres such as the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI) and Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N). Ranked 12th in the world, NTU has also been placed the world's top young university for the past five years. The University's main campus is frequently listed among the Top 15 most beautiful university campuses in the world and it has 57 Green Mark-certified (equivalent to LEED-certified) building projects comprising more than 230 buildings, of which 95% are certified Green Mark Platinum. Apart from its main campus, NTU also has a campus in Singapore's healthcare district. For more information, visit http://www.ntu.edu.sg About National Research Foundation, Prime Minister's Office, Singapore The National Research Foundation (NRF) is a department within the Prime Minister's Office. The NRF sets the national direction for research, innovation and enterprise (RIE) in Singapore. It seeks to invest in science, technology and engineering, build up the technological capacity of our companies, encourage innovation by industry to exploit new growth areas, and facilitate public-private partnerships to address national challenges. Under RIE2020, NRF is committed to create greater value in Singapore from our investment in research, innovation and enterprise through 1) closer integration of research thrusts, 2) stronger dynamic towards the best teams and ideas, 3) sharper focus on value creation, and 4) better optimised RIE manpower. Visit http://www.nrf.gov.sg/RIE2020 for more details. About Sembcorp Design and Construction Pte Ltd Sembcorp Design and Construction is a wholly-owned subsidiary of public-listed Sembcorp Industries. We are a design and build construction service provider with a dedicated team of professionals to undertake civil and building infrastructure projects and has our history dated back since 1982. Today, we are registered with the Building Construction Authority of Singapore as an A1 building (CW01) and civil engineering (CW02) contracting firm and is qualified to tender for public sector contracts with unlimited tender sums. Together with our engineering arm, our goal is to meet the needs of our clients by transforming their vision into reality by integrating design and construction activities into a seamless process so that clients can enjoy the benefits of exceptional quality, timely delivery and excellent value. We offer a wide spectrum of in-house engineering and construction capabilities, with the ability to customise our solutions to meet the diverse needs of our clients. We are customer-focused, dedicated to deliver value-added product by integrating technologies and innovative engineering solutions to our client's advantage. Our growth strategy lies in our firm commitment to achieve the highest standards of quality, health, safety and environment with our 3 in 1 integrated management system - BCA ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), BCA OHSAS 18001 (Occupational Health & Safety Management System) & BCA ISO 14001: 2015 (Environmental Management System). As a responsible corporate organization, we strive to minimize any negative impact on the environment with eco-friendly measures and promoting efficient use of resources. For more information, visit http://www.sembcorpdc.com About Sembcorp Architects & Engineers Pte Ltd Sembcorp Architects & Engineers Pte Ltd is a whole-owned subsidiary Sembcorp Design and Construction Pte Ltd. We are a Multi-Disciplinary Design Consultancy Services provider with a dedicated team of professionals to undertake major civil and building infrastructure development, engineering and construction Works (Architectural, Civil & Structural, Mechanical & Electrical, Quantity Surveying, Building Information Modelling, Project Management and Land Surveying). For more information, visit http://www.sembcorpae.com Researchers may be able to improve corn yields and nutritional value after discovering genetic regulators that synthesize starch and protein in the widely eaten grain, according to a Rutgers-led study. The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, could benefit millions of people who rely on corn for nutrition in South America, Africa and elsewhere. The world's corn supply depends on improving its yield and quality, which relies on the accumulation of starch and proteins in the grain's endosperm, the study says. Endosperm, an important source of human nutrition that contains starch, oils and proteins, is the seed tissue that surrounds embryos. "We found a novel approach to discover new regulators in the synthesis of starch and protein, which determine grain yield and quality," said study lead author Zhiyong Zhang, a post-doctoral fellow at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. The scientists discovered how corn starch and protein are simultaneously synthesized in the endosperm, which could allow them to find a good balance between nutrient quality and yield, Zhang said. Corn domestication and modern breeding have gradually increased starch content but decreased protein accumulation in endosperms. The researchers looked at key proteins in corn kernels known as zeins, which are devoid of lysine, an essential amino acid (a building block of proteins), resulting in poor nutrient quality. During corn breeding over decades, people increased lysine content by cultivating corn with lower levels of zeins. Still, today's lysine levels are too low to meet the needs of the world's rapidly growing population. So, molecular geneticists and corn breeders are trying to dramatically reduce zein levels to improve corn nutrient quality by focusing on blocking them and so-called transcription factors. Transcription is when the information in a gene's DNA is transferred to RNA, resulting in proteins that play key roles in the body's tissues, organs, structure and functions. The research team found that two transcription factors play key roles in regulating the synthesis of starch and protein, paving the way for further research to fully understand the balance between nutrient quality and yield at a molecular level. Rutgers co-authors include post-doctoral fellow Jiaqiang Dong and senior author Joachim Messing, director of the Waksman Institute. Scientists at the Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Institute of Plant Physiology & Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences contributed to the study. ### A protein from Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV), which can infect monkeys and apes, has shown promise as a potential component of a vaccine against Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), in a new study from scientists at Scripps Research in La Jolla, California. Chimpanzee SIV, which can cause an AIDS-like disease in the natural host, is the virus that "jumped" to humans and evolved into HIV roughly a century ago in Africa. SIV's outer-envelope protein, Env, shares a key structure with HIV's Env; that and other properties make SIV Env attractive as a potential component of a future vaccine against HIV infection. In the study, published in the May 21 issue of Cell Reports, the Scripps Research scientists found that inoculating mice with SIV Env proteins elicited antibodies that neutralize infection against multiple HIV strains. "We've shown here that one can use shapes from chimpanzee-infecting SIV to stimulate the production of antibodies against the human-infecting HIV," says co-senior author Dennis Burton, PhD, the James and Jessie Minor Chair in Immunology in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at Scripps Research. "It's a simple but inspired strategy, reminiscent of the use of cowpox virus to immunize against smallpox virus over 200 years ago, and should help us in making an HIV vaccine." Despite medications that can control HIV and reduce transmission, the disease remains a leading cause of death and a health threat to millions worldwide. Approximately 37 million people worldwide were living with HIV at the end of 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A vaccine for HIV would help prevent infection and control the spread of disease. The traditional approach to designing a viral vaccine is to use a weakened or engineered version of the virus as the "immunogen" that stimulates the immune system to produce protective antibodies. But that doesn't work against HIV. The AIDS-causing virus rapidly mutates its outermost structures during infection, constantly creating new strains or variants that can evade antibodies produced against prior variants. A vaccine based on one HIV strain encountered in the past would be ineffective against virtually all versions of HIV a person would be likely to encounter in the future. As an alternative approach, Burton's group and others want to design HIV vaccines that focus the antibody response on the few truly vulnerable parts of the virus. These vulnerable viral structures, or "broadly neutralizing epitopes," are so important to HIV's ability to infect cells and replicate that they vary by a limited amount from one strain to the next. It's a challenging strategy because these structures normally are well concealed by the virus. Moreover, the antibodies that can fasten to these epitopes tend to have unusual shapes, and essentially are difficult for the immune system to produce; they are found only rarely in HIV-infected people, and even then, usually at low levels. Burton and colleagues hope to overcome those hurdles by using a primary injection plus a series of booster shots, all with distinct immunogens, to gradually force the production of antibodies that fasten tightly to broadly neutralizing epitopes--while minimizing the usual, wasted production of antibodies against non-vulnerable sites on the virus. SIV Env has seemed a potentially good immunogen in such a vaccine because it has a broadly neutralizing epitope, the V2-Apex, that is nearly identical to its counterpart on HIV Env, yet has little similarity otherwise. "In a multi-stage and multi-component HIV vaccine strategy, we would like to elicit antibody responses to the broadly neutralizing epitope shared between sequential immunogens, while minimizing the off-target responses to other epitopes," says Raiees Andrabi, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in the Burton lab who was first author of the study. Andrabi and colleagues engineered a stable stand-alone version of SIV Env--a three-part "trimer" structure normally supported by the viral outer membrane--from a chimpanzee-infecting SIV strain close to human HIV. Using mice engineered by collaborators at Duke University to be capable of producing the necessary antibodies, they showed that inoculating with the SIV Env trimers twice over four weeks elicited the desired, narrowly targeted antibody response to the HIV V2-Apex. The antibody response was capable of neutralizing several HIV isolates; adding a booster inoculation using HIV Env trimers made the HIV-neutralizing response even broader. "This suggests that the antibody responses were developing along favorable pathways," Andrabi says. The laboratory of co-senior author Andrew Ward, PhD, professor in the Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology at Scripps Research, meanwhile used cryo-electron microscopy to map for the first time the atomic structure of the SIV Env trimer. The team analyzed the map to discover the structural differences between SIV and HIV Env trimers. The scientists' SIV Env trimer has been approved by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)/National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a candidate HIV vaccine, and the development of a larger-scale manufacturing process for it is now underway, Andrabi says. The team hopes to begin the human safety trials within the next few years. ### The authors of the study, "Chimpanzee SIV Envelope trimer: structure and deployment as an HIV vaccine template," were Raiees Andrabi, Jesper Pallesen, Joel D. Allen, Ge Song, Natalia de Val, Gavin Gegg, Katelyn Porter, Ching-Yao Su, Matthias Pauthner, Fernando Garces, Ian A. Wilson, Max Crispin, Andrew Ward, and Dennis R. Burton, all of Scripps Research; Jinsong Zhang, Amanda Newman, Hilary Bouton-Verville, Barton F. Haynes, and Laurent Verkoczy, of Duke University School of Medicine; and Beatrice Hahn of the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Support for the research was provided by the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative; the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (UM1AI100663), the Ragon Institute, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Collaboration for AIDS Vaccine Discovery (CAVD, OPP115782, OPP1084519) and the US Agency for International Development. The first ever study to assess secondary school choices made across all households in England has shown that the system is unfair to households in areas where they are given fewer options on the application form, with these parents having to make "less ambitious" choices. Whilst it was shown that most parents actively use the school choice system and 85% of households receive their first-choice school, the system's constraints still restrict education equality across England with parents who are allowed six options - compared to the more regular three - being afforded less caution in their choices. This new research, which has published in the Oxford Review of Education, looked at a two large data sets making up more than 526,000 pupils in England. It found: contrary to a widely held belief, only a minority of parents (39%) choose their local school as their first option 27% of parents make the maximum number of choices permitted and so having more options may be beneficial. Almost twice as many choices are made in local authorities (LAs) where more choices are allowed. Conducted by a team from the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol, the study also investigated the extent to which parents actively use the school choice system and how use of this system varies across households and neighbourhoods. Black or Asian families (or families of children with English as an Additional Language, EAL) make more use of the school choice system (41% of White British households only make one choice, compared to 17% of Asian households and 12% of Black households); prefer higher performing schools; and are far less likely to apply for their local school (only 27% of EAL students compared to 42% of non EAL pupils). Despite making more choices, EAL students have a lower chance (73% relative to 88% for non EAL students) of receiving an offer from their first-choice school, perhaps because they were more ambitious in their choices There was almost no difference in the number of choices made by more and less affluent families. However, households in more affluent neighbourhoods were more likely to choose their closest school, perhaps reflecting the higher quality of their nearest school. In addition, the study, which looked at data from the 2014/15 academic year, found: 35% of households make only one school choice those that make one choice, only 55% nominate their closest school 97% of households that make only one choice receive an offer from this school For those making the maximum number of choices, 77% received an offer from their first-choice school. Professor Vignoles at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge believes that the current system is causing a situation where families are being made to make cautious decisions about their school choice. She said: "There appears to be a degree of caution being exhibited whereby parents are more likely to put down the school that they have the greatest chance of their child being admitted to (often their nearest) when they are only permitted three choices. "Due to the limit in the number of options allowed, first choice schools may be 'safe' rather than 'ambitious'. The data show that the quality of parents' first choice school is higher in LAs where more choices are permitted, suggesting that where more choices are allowed, parents are more ambitious. "On average we found parents and pupils usually attempt to try to study at the highest attaining school, rather than the one which is closest." Importantly, although most households receive an offer from their first-choice school (85%) this is probably masking a wider issue, co-author, Professor Simon Burgess from the University of Bristol added: "Households seem to make pragmatic choices based on the probability of admission at each school. 85% may therefore be viewed negatively as reflecting parents being very cautious in their choices. "A successful system with active and ambitious choices by parents would result in a lower percentage of parents getting their first choice. "Allocating places to popular over-subscribed schools by proximity means that some households have negligible chance of admission to the best schools and it seems that many therefore do not bother applying. This is what needs to change to increase fairness in the English system." Co-author Ellen Greaves, from the University of Bristol, added: "The school a pupil attends can affect their attainment and enjoyment of school, ultimately affecting their life chances. Understanding the functioning of the school choice system and how pupils are allocated to schools is therefore critical if we are to understand and improve educational equality and social mobility. "Our data suggests that many parents are making active choices for schools and appear to value academic attainment. While many households clearly engage with the school choice process, choice is curtailed for others by the limited number of choices permitted, these households may decide that making an 'ambitious' choice would be wasteful." The planned next stage of the research is to determine the relative importance of parental choice and constraints in school allocation. ### Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have found a simple, yet highly versatile, way to generate "chaotic signals" with various features. The technique consists of interconnecting three "ring oscillators," effectively making them compete against each other, while controlling their respective strengths and their linkages. The resulting device is rather small and efficient, thus suitable for emerging applications such as realizing wireless networks of sensors. Our ability to recreate the signals found in natural systems, such as those in brains, swarms, and the weather, is useful for our understanding of the underlying principles. These signals can be very complex, to the extreme case of the so-called "chaotic signals." Chaos does not mean randomness; it represents a very complicated type of order. Minute changes in the parameters of a chaotic system can result in greatly different behaviors. Chaotic signals are difficult to predict, but they are present in lots of different scenarios. Unfortunately, the generation of chaotic signals with desired features is a difficult task. Creating them digitally is in some cases too power consuming, and approaches based on analog circuits are necessary. Now, researchers in Japan, Italy, and Poland propose a new approach for creating integrated circuits that can generate chaotic signals. This research was the result of a collaboration between scientists from Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech), in part funded by the World Research Hub Initiative, the Universities of Catania and Trento, Italy, and the Polish Academy of Sciences in Krakow, Poland. The research team started from the idea that cycles that have periods set by different prime numbers cannot develop a fixed phase relationship. Surprisingly, this principle seems to have emerged in the evolution of several species of cicadas, whose life cycles follow prime numbers of years, to avoid synchronizing with each other and with predators. For example, if one tries to "tie together" oscillators with periods set to the first three prime numbers (3, 5 and 7), the resulting signals are very complicated and chaos can readily be generated (Fig. 1). The design started from the most traditional oscillator found in integrated circuits, called the "ring oscillator," which is small and does not require reactive components (capacitors and inductors). Such a circuit was modified so that the strengths of ring oscillators having three, five and seven stages could be controlled independently, along with the tightness of their linkages. The device could generate chaotic signals over a wide frequency spectrum, from audible frequencies to the radio band (1 kHz to 10 MHz). "Moreover, it could do so at a rather low power consumption, below one-millionth of a watt," explains Dr. Hiroyuki Ito, head of the laboratory where the prototype was designed. Even more remarkable was the discovery that totally different types of signals could be generated depending on the slightly different characteristics the individual prototypes (Fig. 2). For example, the researchers recorded trains of spikes quite similar to what is found in biological neurons. They also found situations in which the rings "fought each other" to the point of almost completely suppressing their activity: this phenomenon is called "oscillation death." "This circuit draws its beauty from a really essential shape and principle, and simplicity is key to realizing large systems operating collectively in a harmonious manner, especially when it enriched by small differences and imperfections, such as those found in the realized circuits," says Dr. Ludovico Minati, lead author of the study. The team believes in its future ability to be a building block for many different applications. They will work on integrating this circuit with sensors to, for example, measure chemical properties in the soil. Additionally, they will create networks of these oscillators on single computer chips interconnected in manners that resemble biological neural circuits. They hope to realize certain operations while consuming many times less power than a traditional computer. ### PHILADELPHIA -- (May 22, 2019) -- New research from The Wistar Institute sheds light on the function of the ARID1A protein, encoded by a gene that is among the most frequently mutated across human cancers. According to the study, published online in Science Advances, ARID1A plays a role in the spatial organization of the genome; therefore, its loss has broad effects on global gene expression. This finding adds critical information towards deciphering the molecular alterations associated with several cancer types and especially with ovarian cancer. "My lab has been studying the role of ARID1A in gene expression regulation as part of a complex known as SWI/SNF," said principal investigator Rugang Zhang, Ph.D., deputy director of The Wistar Institute Cancer Center, and professor and co-program leader of the Gene Expression and Regulation Program. "In our search for new interacting proteins of this complex, we discovered one that offers new perspectives on the function of ARID1A as a genome-wide regulator of spatial chromosome organization." The three-dimensional organization of the genome dictates how several feet worth of DNA molecules are packed in a microscopic space while also allowing each gene to be accessible for transcription and expression at the appropriate time. The team found that ARID1A interacts with a component of the condensin II complex, which regulates gene expression through organizing chromosome structure. "This is a finely regulated process and we revealed that ARID1A has a critical role in it," added Zhang. Results showed that ARID1A dictates the genome-wide positioning of condensin II on certain DNA regulatory elements called enhancers. Therefore, when ARID1A function is lost as a consequence of gene mutation, condensin II distribution is altered and so is expression of a large set of genes. Zhang and colleagues also revealed that, through its interaction with condensin II, ARID1A controls how different parts of chromosomes are spatially organized together in regions known as chromosomal territories that facilitate the coordinated expression of certain sets of genes. "Our findings add an important piece to the field of chromatin regulation in cancer," said Shuai Wu, Ph.D., co-first author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher in the Zhang Lab. "By altering the special organization of chromosomes, ARID1A loss is expected to have much broader consequences on gene expression than we originally thought." ### Co-authors: Co-first author Nail Fatkhutdinov, Osamu Iwasaki, Hideki Tanizawa, Hsin-Yao Tang, Andrew V. Kossenkov, Alessandro Gardini, Ken-ichi Noma, and David W. Speicher from Wistar; Leah Rosin, Jennifer M. Luppino, and Eric F. Joyce from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. Work supported by: National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants R01CA160331, R01CA163377, R01CA202919, P01AG031862, R35GM128903, R50CA221838, and R50CA211199; U.S. Department of Defense grants OC140632P1 and OC150446. Core support for The Wistar Institute was provided by the Cancer Center Support Grant P30CA010815. Publication information: ARID1A spatially partitions interphase chromosomes, Science Advances (2019). Advance online publication. The Wistar Institute is an international leader in biomedical research with special expertise in cancer, immunology, infectious disease research, and vaccine development. Founded in 1892 as the first independent nonprofit biomedical research institute in the United States, Wistar has held the prestigious Cancer Center designation from the National Cancer Institute since 1972. The Institute works actively to ensure that research advances move from the laboratory to the clinic as quickly as possible. wistar.org. A lack of evaluation of the impact of countering violent extremism (CVE) and counter-terrorism (CT) efforts may actually be increasing the threat and risk of terrorism, a new study points out. Researchers say that national and international agencies' efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism have lacked two key ingredients - a clear and coherent theory of how individuals change and consistent evaluation of evidence of their changing attitudes. Now experts at the University of Birmingham are proposing a new evaluation methodology - the Innovative Moments Coding System (IMCS) - to be explored as a more reliable way of tracking changes in violent extremists' narrative accounts and life stories. Working with partners at the Universities of Minho and Aveiro, in Portugal, researchers at Birmingham have published their findings in the journal Aggression and Violent Behaviour. Dr Raquel da Silva, from the International Development Department at the University of Birmingham, commented: "We believe that using the IMCS could provide an in-depth view of how an individual has changed; a useful and reliable indicator in tracking how former militants' life stories change as they leave their radical and extremist views behind. "There is currently no clarity regarding what change looks like in deradicalisation and risk reduction interventions. Indeed, the lack of evaluation of these interventions might be actually increasing the threat and risk of terrorism, instead of doing the opposite." Researchers analysed two life-story interviews of former politically violent militants - 'Julia' and 'Jaime' - with contrasting experiences. They used IMCS to analyse their subjects' degree of change and establish the system's reliability and usefulness in tracking such people's life stories. They note that while radicalised views may open a path to politically motivated violence, these opinions are not criminal or harmful in themselves and do not always lead to certain engagement with a violent organisation. Moreover, they explore studies that show how unrealistic and counterproductive it is to expect offenders to renounce their commitment to certain political and religious beliefs to prove they are no longer radicalised. "It is more accurate to expect individuals to stop committing political violence and reject violence as a personal legitimate tactic, than to expect a full make-over of their belief systems," added Dr da Silva. "We believe that 'self-narrative change' in this context is embodied by thoughts, emotions, actions and experiences that distance the individual from the commission of politically violent acts - demonstrating continued and committed disengagement." Researchers adapted the IMCS from clinical research and provide evidence for the successful use of this tool to reliably track narrative, non-clinical, change in two cases of former violent militants. These changes in individuals' actions, thoughts and feelings have been termed Innovative Moments (IMs) and can be categorised at three different levels: Level 1 - when the individual distances themselves from the problem; Level 2 - when the person starts to voice how they could change; and Level 3 - when the individual makes the necessary changes. Level 1 IMs are crucial at the beginning of the change process, but for lasting change to take place, it is necessary for Level 2 and Level 3 IMs to develop. Researchers believe that applying IMCS could help to provide an in-depth view of how certain individuals have changed and why other individuals did not showcase such levels of change. IMCS could be used as an assessment tool to describe whether a particular individual benefited from an intervention. ### For more information or interviews, please contact: Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0) 121 414 8254 or +44 (0)782 783 2312 or t.moran@bham.ac.uk. For out-of-hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7789 921 165. Notes for editors A new University of California, Irvine-led pilot study finds, on average, Waze "crash alerts" occur two minutes and 41 seconds prior to their corresponding California Highway Patrol (CHP)-reported crash. These minutes could mean the difference between life and death. The paper titled, "Crowdsourced Traffic Data as an Emerging Tool to Monitor Car Crashes," was published today in JAMA Surgery. "According to our research, it takes emergency medical service (EMS) units an average of seven to 14 minutes to arrive on scene after a 911 call," said Bharath Chakravarthy, vice chair of research and academic affairs for the UCI School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine and one of the researchers on the study. "Crowdsourced traffic data might help to cut that time by as much as 60 percent." The study reports that crowdsourced data, collected by software applications like Google's Waze, are highly correlated with conventional reporting data that are often costly to collect and suffer from reporting lag-time. The ability to use crowdsourced user-generated traffic data has several immediate clinical implications for treatment and mortality rates among motor vehicle crash victims as well as for improving efficiency around emergency department operations in the United States. "The potential is game-changing. Trauma surgeons could be notified earlier, diagnostic testing could be prioritized for crash victims, and blood and other life-saving equipment could be made available sooner," said Chakravarthy. "These pre-hospital and hospital level resources, if activated sooner, could aid in increasing quality and rapidity of patient care and potentially reduce morbidity and mortality." Every day, more than 100 deaths and 2.5 million emergency department visits result from motor vehicle crashes, making it one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Reducing ambulance and emergency department treatment response time for crash victims could dramatically save lives. Further research is needed on the integration of crowdsourced traffic data as a tool to monitor car crashes and reduce associated mortality, including the potential risks of implementing this approach. ### This pilot study was funded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and National Human Genome Research Institute, and conducted in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and Waze/Google. About the UCI School of Medicine: Each year, the UCI School of Medicine educates over 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 School of Medicine offers an MD; a dual MD/PhD medical scientist training program; and 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, an MD/master's in public health, or an MD/master's degree through one of three mission-based programs: the Health Education to Advance Leaders in Integrative Medicine (HEAL-IM), the Leadership Education to Advance Diversity-African, Black and Caribbean (LEAD-ABC), and the Program in Medical Education for the Latino Community (PRIME-LC). The UCI School of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Accreditation 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. A great success for FAU: the German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved three new research training groups (RTG) at the University. In these groups, young researchers will use the funding to research cyber crime, new approaches for preventing viral diseases, and energy conversion systems that do not require heavy metals. Cyber crime and forensic computing Speaker: Prof. Dr. Felix Freiling New information technology also means new opportunities for crime. Cyber crime poses a threat to the stability of economic and social systems. However, developments in technology also lead to new opportunities for criminal prosecution, such as automated online data collection and analysis, or monitoring programmes secretly installed in IT systems. Although the latest methods in forensic computing are very effective,they are also controversial in terms of their impact on fundamental rights. Regulating the field on a national level creates additional problems. In the research training group 'Cyber crime and forensic computing', renowned researchers from the fields of computer science and law are collaborating to investigate the emerging research area of cyber crime as well as criminal law in this area, to identify fundamental relationships and to provide the field with better tools to combat crime. Research in this area has the potential to influence the technical and methodological standards of dealing with digital evidence, explore ways in which this evidence could benefit criminal law and contribute to interpreting law on a national and international level for several years to come. At the same time, the group is a source of qualified expertise, counteracting a shortage of professionals who have scientific and methodological training in this area in business, administration and law enforcement agencies. Novel antiviral approaches from small molecules to immune intervention Speaker: Prof. Dr. Klaus Uberla The objective of this research training group is to develop new strategies for treating and preventing viral diseases by identifying cellular points of attack for antiviral treatments and inserting them into the immune system, preventing the development of resistant viruses. A particular focus is placed on training young researchers who are familiar both with anti-viral chemotherapy and immune-based approaches. The doctoral candidates will receive training from medical researchers, biologists, pharmacists and bioinformatics specialists at FAU. Cooperation with the Ragon Institute in Boston, USA, a research institute set up by the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Harvard University, will open up international perspectives for the researchers. Energy conversion systems: From materials to devices Speaker: Prof. Dr. Kyle Grant Webber The objective of this research training group is to research electro-mechanical (piezo-electric) and electro-optical (photovoltaic and water splitting) energy conversion systems that are based on lead-free perovskite materials. The development of lead-free materials systems is a pioneering field of research due to international regulations that prohibit the use of heavy metals in electronic devices, for example. This affects the use of lead-free materials not only in renewable energy but also in high-tech applications such as autonomous wireless sensors. Research into multiscale phenomena during, for example, energy conversion, development and use of lead-free perovskite materials in new 2D and 3D processing technology, and in device integration is of particular interest. This involves the use of various synthesis, manufacturing and characterising techniques that are coupled with simulations. The scientists in this research training group will be working with partners at the Nagoya Institute of Technology in Japan, providing them access to a wide variety of experimental techniques and measuring devices and contact with partners in industry in Japan. ### Star formation within interstellar clouds of gas and dust, so-called molecular clouds, proceeds very rapidly yet highly "inefficiently". Most of the gas is dispersed by stellar radiation, revealing galaxies to be highly dynamic systems, like "cosmic cauldrons", consisting of components that constantly change their appearance. Based on new observations of the NGC 300 spiral galaxy, a team of scientists led by astrophysicist Dr Diederik Kruijssen from Heidelberg University has now managed for the first time to reconstruct the time-evolution of molecular clouds and the star formation process within them. Their analysis shows that these clouds are short-lived structures undergoing rapid lifecycles, driven by the intense radiation from the new-born stars. The findings were published in "Nature". The observed intensity of star formation in the NGC 300 spiral galaxy can be explained in two ways. Molecular clouds may be very long-lived and eventually convert all of their mass into stars. In this case, the positions of young stars should generally match those of the molecular clouds from which they formed. Alternatively, stars may form very rapidly within molecular clouds and disperse the gas with their intense radiation, causing only a small fraction of the gas to be converted into stars. In this case, young stars and molecular clouds should generally reside in different locations. To decide which of these models of the molecular cloud lifecycle is correct, Dr Kruijssen and his team combined two different sets of observations of the NGC 300 galaxy, which is about six million light years away from the Milky Way. The first observation is a map of light emitted by carbon monoxide which shows where molecular clouds reside. The second is a map of hot, ionised hydrogen which marks the positions of massive, newly formed stars. These maps were obtained using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the 2.2-meter telescope of the Max Planck Society and ESO. The ALMA observations were carried out by Dr Andreas Schruba, scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching and one of the co-authors of the study. The scientists analysed the data using a new statistical method which determines how molecular gas and star formation in galaxies are related on different spatial scales. For the first time, this method enables the positions of molecular clouds and young stars to be precisely quantified relative to one another. According to the scientists, the results left no doubt: the positions of molecular clouds and young, massive stars rarely coincide. This effect becomes stronger on smaller scales. The scientists conclude that stars form very rapidly, such that gas and young stars represent distinct, subsequent phases in the lifecycle of molecular clouds. "Our findings demonstrate that star formation proceeds very rapidly and highly inefficiently," explains Dr Kruijssen, research group leader at the Institute for Astronomical Computing. "Molecular clouds in NGC 300 live for about ten million years and take only about 1.5 million years to be destroyed, well before the most massive stars have reached the end of their lives and explode as supernovae." Dr Melanie Chevance, a researcher in his team and also co-author of the paper, adds: "The intense radiation from young stars disperses their parent molecular cloud by heating it and dispersing it in the form of hot interstellar gas bubbles. This way, only two to three percent of the mass in molecular clouds is actually converted into stars." The team of researchers now wants to apply their new statistical method to observations of very distant galaxies to infer how star formation in molecular clouds proceeded across the history of the Universe. "We will now proceed to investigate the relation between molecular clouds and young stars in galaxies throughout the cosmos. In the near future, this will allow us to understand galaxies as collections of components that undergo star formation-driven lifecycles and together shape the appearance of their host galaxies," explains Dr Kruijssen. ### The research was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands. The work was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the European Research Council (ERC). Research carried out into the impact of changes to chimpanzee habitats found they have adapted to human developments -- including learning how to cross roads safely -- but their survival is still threatened Research carried out into the impact of changes to chimpanzee habitats found they have adapted to human developments in a number of ways - including learning how to cross roads safely and the best times to visit human habitats - but their survival is still threatened. A team of anthropologists from the University of Kent and universities in Spain, in collaboration with the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Sierra Leone, made their discoveries from hidden cameras during an eight-month study in the African country. Although chimpanzees living in fragmented habitats cross roads to move from one area to another of their home range and may approach human settlements, any further road widening, tarmacking or expansion and urbanisation could significantly affect their distribution and abundance. Consequently, the research team suggests care with infrastructure development, as well as developing agreements with farmers to allow strategic fallow areas to regenerate into community-managed forest refuges providing corridors for wildlife and vital natural resources and ecosystem services for both humans and wildlife. The research found that chimpanzees do not avoid areas frequented by people, possibly due to human tolerance and low levels of hunting in the study area - but they did not visit areas humans use at midday when human activity was more prevalent. Around settlements, farmers grow fruits that attract chimpanzees despite the risks of encounter with people. The cameras captured images of chimpanzees eating domesticated fruits like mangos and pineapples that were cultivated close to human settlements. The research team used 24 infra-red digital camera traps deployed between 2015 and 2016 for a total of 8 months across 27 1.25x1.25 km grids in the Moyamba district in south-western Sierra Leone. University of Kent expert in primate behaviour and one of the research team Dr Tatyana Humle said: 'If we want to secure their long-term survival, it is crucial that successful protection measures should benefit people and chimpanzees alike. Conservation actions should focus on education and helping farmers to implement alternative agricultural methods to slash and burn farming and environmentally-friendly revenue generating activities to ensure coexistence between the two species.' In a landscape heavily impacted by subsistence agriculture, with many swamps and minimal forest, the researchers found that chimpanzees can survive if habitat loss is gradual, key wild resources such as the native oil palm are abundant and if people are tolerant of their presence. However, chimpanzees in such landscapes tend to avoid roads, including untarmacked secondary roads, and prefer to range in close proximity to the swamps. Approximately 60% of all world's non-human primates are threatened with extinction and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) face serious threats in West Africa, including death from disease, habitat loss, poaching, and retaliation as a result of competition with people for resources. West Africa has one of the most fragmented tropical forest landscapes in the world due to high levels of deforestation. Chimpanzees in the region are critically endangered with the majority living outside protected areas. Factors influencing wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) relative abundance in an agriculture-swamp matrix outside protected areas by Rosa Garriga, Ignasi Marco and Encarna Casas-Diaz, Facultat de Veterinaria, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Pelayo Acevedo, Instituto de Investigacion en Recursos Cinegeticos, Ciudad Real, Spain; Bala Amarasekaran Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Luna Cuadrado and Tatyana Humle, Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, is published in Plos One. ### https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0215545 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui5MExaKmAE For further information and interview or image requests contact Sandy Fleming at the University of Kent Press Office. Tel: +44 (0)1227 823581 Email: S.Fleming@kent.ac.uk News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. It was ranked 22nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and in June 2017 was awarded a gold rating, the highest, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF). In 2018 it was also ranked in the top 500 of Shanghai Ranking's Academic Ranking of World Universities and 47th in the Times Higher Education's (THE) new European Teaching Rankings. Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality. Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium (http://www.kent.ac.uk/about/partnerships/eastern-arc.html). The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals. Kent has received two Queen's Anniversary prizes for Higher and Further Education. The United Nation's goal of ending AIDS around the world by 2030 is undeniably ambitious, but within tantalizing reach. Thanks to medications that suppress the once-fatal human immunodeficiency virus and prevent its transmission, new infections have dropped by nearly 50 percent over the past two decades. Yet in 2017, Miami held the dubious distinction of being No. 1 in the nation for new HIV cases, with a rate nearly four times the national average. Why is not a big mystery to behavioral and social scientists at the University of Miami, who were recently awarded a four-year $3.32 million grant by the National Institute of Mental Health to establish a developmental AIDS Research Center to promote research aimed at curbing the local epidemic. As Steven Safren, principal investigator on the grant and director of the new Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health, or CHARM, notes, controlling Greater Miami's HIV/AIDS epidemic will not happen without addressing the mental and minority health disparities that help perpetuate the disease today--disparities that most affect the poor and marginalized, and the racial, sexual, gender, and ethnic minorities who live in view of the area's gleaming new condos and sun-splashed beaches. "HIV is different today than it was when it first started, largely among gay men," said Safren, a professor of psychology who also heads CHARM's administrative core. "Although men who have sex with men still comprise the majority of individuals living with HIV, it is now largely a disease of big-city poor and intertwined with behavioral health issues, like depression, problematic substance abuse, traumatic stress, stigmas, discrimination--all the things that make it very hard for a lot of people to access treatment, to stay in treatment, and to get the best benefit from treatment." Under ideal circumstances, every person infected with HIV would be promptly diagnosed and immediately start taking the antiretroviral therapy (ART) that would reduce their viral load to an undetectable level. That would not only keep them healthy, but would eliminate their risk of passing on the disease, either through sexual contact or sharing used needles, that has killed more than 34 million people around the world since the first U.S. cases were diagnosed in 1981. But adhering to a daily drug regimen often isn't a priority or even possible for people living with HIV who worry about their next meal or a place to sleep, who have no way to get to the lone pharmacy that provides free medications, who battle unrelenting depression or struggle with substance use, who are traumatized by violence or sexual abuse, or who are cast aside because they are gay, transgender, dark-skinned, or from another culture and speak another language. "When effective medication was discovered for HIV, the assumption was, OK, people are going to get it and take it, and we're going to be done," said Sannisha Dale, assistant professor of psychology and CHARM's scientific director for community engagement. "But there was no attention being paid to the mental and psychosocial factors that would impact people gaining access to treatment, getting their meds, and staying on them. And we scientists didn't do a very good job of engaging with the community experts on the ground." Though administered through the College of Arts and Sciences, CHARM is a cross-campus collaboration, encompassing faculty from multiple schools and complementing the Miller School of Medicine's Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), which the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases first funded as a developmental center in 2007. Transitioning to a full-fledged center in 2012, the CFAR has been refunded through 2022, and focuses primarily on biomedical research aimed at ending HIV/AIDS. Safren, who joined UM in 2015 after founding and leading the behavioral and social sciences core at Harvard University's CFAR, and his CHARM co-directors, the Miller School's Daniel Feaster, professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences,and Deborah Jones Weiss, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, hope CHARM will follow suit. By creating a research infrastructure that will not only help curb Miami's epidemic but be applicable to other under-resourced settings coping with uncontrolled epidemics, they believe CHARM will earn full-fledged center status after its four-year developmental period. Although CHARM is the NIMH's seventh AIDS Research Center, it is the first in the South, the U.S. region hardest hit by HIV/AIDS. Like Miami, the South has many pockets that lack sufficient resources or face significant barriers to fight the epidemic with the existing tools that could, in theory, eliminate AIDS by 2030. That's the goal the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS adopted in 2014, and that President Donald Trump embraced in his last State of the Union address. As it stands today, Miami in particular, and South Florida in general, will not meet even the U.N.'s interim goal for 2020. Known as the 90-90-90 goal, it calls for 90 percent of all people living with HIV to know their status; 90 percent of those who know their status to be on ART; and 90 percent of those on ART to have suppressed viral loads, making their disease noncommunicable. As of 2017, of the 87 percent of the people living with HIV in Miami-Dade County who knew their diagnosis, only 64 percent of them were on treatment, and only 58 percent of them were virally suppressed. Yet, as Safren noted, "the Miami-Dade County Health Department has far fewer resources dedicated specifically to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment than health departments in cities like Boston, New York, and San Francisco, which have seen significant reductions in their rates of new HIV infections." The lack of such resources are among the structural barriers that, by working with state and community partners, CHARM investigators hope to resolve. They're also gearing up to support and catalyze the high-impact research needed to develop prevention and care programs for the most challenging and vulnerable populations. In addition to the administrative core, which will be the hub for community engagement activities that are central to the center's mission, CHARM has three other cores: a developmental core, and two unique research cores. The Developmental Core, which will award funding for pilot studies to early-career investigators, is designed to support and mentor UM's growing cadre of behavioral health-related HIV/AIDS researchers. Led by Adam Carrico, associate professor of public health sciences and psychology who has conducted significant research on people living with HIV and substance use disorders, and the Department of Medicine's Allan Rodriguez and Maria Alcaide, the core aims to award at least two grants a year to UM investigators engaging in research with community collaborations. The Methods Core, led by Feaster, who has more than 30 years' experience as a biobehaviorial statistician, and the Department of Public Health Sciences' Raymond Balise, will help researchers design, implement, and analyze their studies. Led by Jones Weiss and the School of Nursing and Health Studies' Victoria Mitrani, the Mental Health Disparities Core will train researchers to pursue the kind of culturally competent, theory-driven approaches, tools, and interventions that address the mental health disparities among the diverse populations living with or at risk of contracting HIV/AIDS in South Florida. "The fact is one size does not fit all," said Jones Weiss, who has been conducting AIDS-related research around the world for more than three decades. "We have to be sensitive, knowledgeable, and respectful of racial and ethnic perspectives. Otherwise we will not connect to the people we want to help. But if we're successful, we can put ourselves out of this job and that would be a true success." ### PHILADELPHIA - Cancer patients getting proton therapy instead of traditional photon radiation are at a significantly lower risk of experiencing side-effects from their radiation therapy, while cure rates are almost identical between the two groups. Researchers in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania conducted the largest review of its kind to evaluate whether or not patients undergoing radiation therapy at the same time as chemotherapy experienced serious adverse events within 90 days. They will present their findings at the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago (Abstract #6521). "We looked at grade-three side effects - including pain or difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, nausea, or diarrhea, among others - often severe enough for patients to be hospitalized," said the study's lead author Brian Baumann, MD, an adjunct assistant professor of Radiation Oncology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and an assistant professor of Radiation Oncology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. "Our clinical experience is that concurrent chemoradiation therapy patients treated with protons, rather than photons, tend to have fewer side effects. While there is some literature supporting that finding for several disease sites, we did not expect the magnitude of the benefit to be this large." The study's senior author is James Metz, MD, chair of Radiation Oncology, leader of the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn, and a member of Penn's Abramson Cancer Center. Proton therapy has a few key differences from traditional photon radiation. Photon radiation typically uses multiple x-ray beams to attack a tumor target but unavoidably deposits radiation in the normal tissues beyond the target, potentially damaging those tissues as the beam exits the body. Proton therapy is an FDA-approved treatment that is an alternative radiation treatment. It directs positively charged protons at the tumor target, where they deposit the bulk of the radiation dose, with minimal residual radiation delivered beyond the target, potentially reducing side effects and damage to surrounding tissue. For this study, researchers evaluated data on 1,483 cancer patients, 391 of whom received proton therapy and 1,092 who underwent photon treatment. All patients had non-metastatic cancer and were undergoing chemotherapy and radiation intended to be curative. Patients with brain cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and gynecologic cancer treated with concurrent chemoradiation were included. The primary outcome was whether or not patients experienced radiation side-effects that were grade-three or higher within 90 days of treatment. Data showed 11.5 percent (45) of proton patients experienced a grade three or higher side-effect. In the photon group, 27.6 percent (301) experienced a grade three or higher side-effect. A weighted analysis of both patient groups, which controlled for other factors that may have led to differences between the patient groups, found that the relative risk of a severe toxicity was two-thirds lower for proton patients compared to photon patients. Importantly, overall survival and disease-free survival were similar between the two groups, suggesting that the reduction in toxicity seen with proton therapy did not come at the cost effectiveness. While researchers say more study is needed, they point out that this study is the best information we have so far as randomized controlled trials continue to prove difficult to complete. "There are several trials underway, but they are all dealing with a variety of barriers, so it will be years before we have that data. That's why the information we do have is so critical, and our findings here point to a real benefit for our patients," Metz said. ### Baumann will present the findings as a poster session on Saturday, June 1st, at 1:15 p.m. central in McCormick Place Hall A. Editor's Note: Metz has served on proton therapy advisory boards for Varian Medical Systems and IBA, neither of which funded or had any role in this research. Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise. The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $425 million awarded in the 2018 fiscal year. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center--which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report--Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; and Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Penn Home Care and Hospice Services, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others. Penn Medicine is powered by a talented and dedicated workforce of more than 40,000 people. The organization also has alliances with top community health systems across both Southeastern Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, creating more options for patients no matter where they live. Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2018, Penn Medicine provided more than $525 million to benefit our community. (CNN) Coca-Cola is hoping a failed product from the 1980s will help it go viral in 2019. The company is bringing back a limited number of New Coke cans in honor of the upcoming third season of "Stranger Things," in which the product is featured. "Stranger Things" creators Ross and Matt Duffers came up with the idea to bring New Coke back as a way to promote the show, which will start streaming on Netflix on July 4. The third season of the show takes place during the summer of 1985 when Coca-Cola debuted a new recipe for its iconic beverage. So-called New Coke was a flop: Consumers reacted so poorly to the new drink that Coca-Cola pulled it from shelves after a few months. New Coke was rebranded as Coke II, and sold in some places after 1985. But this is the first time Coca-Cola is bringing back New Coke with that branding. Bringing New Coke back is a way for Coca-Cola to "not take ourselves too seriously," Stuart Kronauge, president of Coke's sparkling business unit and senior vice president of marketing for Coca-Cola North America, told CNN Business. And it wasn't easy to recreate the product: Coca-Cola had to reach into its archives to get the design of right, and dig through its vault to recover the recipe. "Maybe a while ago we wouldn't have done this," Kronauge said. "But we're changing and trying to innovate in ways that are beyond traditional new products. This is a cultural innovation." Coca-Cola recently partnered with Disney Parks & Resorts on custom designs for Coke products being sold at Disney's new "Star Wars" theme park, "Galaxy's Edge." The partnership is a way for Coke to reach people in an evolving media landscape. "Buying a 30-second ad to drop into a certain time-frame is not as valuable as it once was," Kronauge said. "The world is changing into streaming and non-ad platforms and subscription-based platforms," she added. "So it's important for us to make sure that we are where our consumers' eyeballs and hearts and spirits are." The new promotion is designed to "break the internet" Kronauge said. There are three ways for customers to get the retro product: As a gift when they buy limited-edition "Stranger Things" Coke and Coke Zero Sugar glass bottles online starting Thursday, through "Stranger Things" themed pop up vending machines that will be in cities this summer, or as a giveaway when they purchase a gift or ticket at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta. Coca-Cola has produced under 500,000 of the New Coke 12-ounce cans, and expects to run out quickly. The company is also selling "Stranger Things" themed cans of regular Coke and Coke Zero Sugar, and is releasing a remake of a 1980s ad featuring characters from the show. For Netflix, the partnership is a way to advertise in new channels. "We exist on the internet, and Coke has a century of experience in building consumer products that are physical," Barry Smyth, Head of Global Partner Marketing at Netflix, told CNN Business. The streaming platform is also partnering with a number of other companies, including Lego, H&M, Schwinn and Baskin-Robbins, to promote the upcoming season. This story was first published on CNN.com "Coca-Cola is bringing back New Coke in honor of 'Stranger Things'" Through research by a political scientist at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), there is potential to see diplomacy between nations improve through the use of Twitter. UTSA researcher, Matthias Hofferberth, is exploring how the United Nations (UN) uses Twitter as a diplomacy tool, an approach that has been discussed as Twiplomacy. "I contend that this ensuing Twiplomacy, if committed to the dissemination and exchange of reason and arguments, holds the potential to improve global public deliberation and contribute to a more legitimate form of global governance by the United Nations," said Hofferberth. The UN was founded in 1945 and is currently made up of 193 Member States. The international organization provides a forum for governments to find areas of agreement on common issues such as security, climate change, human rights, sustainable development, terrorism and health emergencies to solve problems together. The associate professor, with undergraduate and graduate research assistance from Julia Juarez, Javier Roman, Ben Shirani, Sarah-Madeleine Torres and Veronica Vazquez, embarked on this research project to understand how the UN uses social media. The organization joined Twitter in March of 2008 and currently has 11 million followers. Hofferberth presented his paper, "Tweeting to Save Succeeding Generations from the Scourge of War? The UN, Twitter & Communicative Action," at the International Organizations and Digital Diplomacy Workshop at Dalhousie University this Spring. The paper describes how Hofferberth determined key agencies and individuals within the UN Twittersphere (who is tweeting) and collected tweets during the opening weeks of the 73rd UN Session last year that began on September 18 and ended on October 5, 2018. The UN main account, UN institutional handles, and those of UN state and non-state actors were analyzed. He also looked at the purpose of the tweets, content of the tweets, who the tweets were directed to, and how the UN was represented in the tweets. The tweets were collected through an application programming interface (API). The API allowed Hofferberth to collect and look at tweets in real-time, even if they were deleted by the respective user at a later point in time. When Hofferberth looked at the purpose of the tweets, he found that tweets from individuals and institutions tied to the UN were strongly self-referential: They introduced the UN, its structure and proceedings instead of engaging the global audience in substantial debate on peace and security, climate change, underdevelopment, disease control, or any other issues the UN is involved in. He then coded the tweets to decipher whether their implicit focus was on security, economy, human rights, or environment and health. More specific themes were also coded such as war, terrorism, security, world trade, education, and culture and they were coded based on whether the content represented a call for action, a discussion statement, or information dissemination. Overall, the quality of engagement through Twiplomacy, he concludes, remains limited. "The UN's potential on social media and particularly, Twitter, is not fully explored as information remains generic and communication streamlined. Instead of engaging the audience, the UN is talking down at the audience. Given the unique nature and accountability of this organization, this is at least counterproductive if not dangerous," said Hofferberth. Hofferberth said he hopes his paper will help the UN's communication strategy. "I've met the social media team leader of the UN as well as a few different representatives from UN member states. Both were excited to learn about such research and we hope there is potential to follow up to improve practices of communication based on rigorous research," Hofferberth explained. Hofferberth has studied the UN for years and believes it is a fascinating organization because nation states come together to discuss global issues and uphold the vision of global union. "In a basic sense of global democracy, international organizations owe it to their stakeholders to explain what they are doing," he said. "I hope the paper contributes to an empowering of the audience to listen more carefully and challenge the UN's social media message." Hofferberth's research expertise is in global governance and world politics. This year, he received the President's Distinguished Achievement Award for Advancing Globalization and serves as faculty advisor for the Model United Nations Society at UTSA and for Sigma Iota Rho. ### The European Parliament is often viewed as the most democratic and gender equal decision-making institution of the European Union. A new Journal of Common Market Studies article critically scrutinizes this assumption through an analysis of female members' perceptions. The study analyses the gendered experiences of 18 female members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from two Nordic countries, Denmark and Finland. When Dr. Johanna Kantola, of Tampere University in Finland, and Dr. Lise Rolandsen Agustin, of Aalborg University in Denmark, interviewed these women, they found that the institutional culture of the European Parliament is characterized by gender stereotypes and different expectations towards male and female MEPs. For example, policy areas dominated by male MEPs are considered to be more prestigious, and female MEPs are not expected to be experts on areas such as economic policies. Young female MEPs especially found it necessary to overcompensate, by working harder than others and emphasizing their 'strong character', in order to advance in their careers and get ahead in the power hierarchy. "The European Parliament is not the clear champion of gender equality that we would like it to be; the shortcomings in the maternity/paternity leave rights within the Parliament, such as proxy voting, for instance, suggests an exclusionary character," said Dr. Kantola. "This results in MEPs feeling that they have to choose between a political career and motherhood or being faced with serious challenges in balancing work and family life when expectations towards them as politicians and as mothers collide." The findings are being released at a time of pending elections, which take place every five years. "In face of the upcoming European Parliament elections in May 2019, it is relevant to underline how women and men are represented in the Parliament and how issues of gender equality are dealt with in the party groups," said Dr. Agustin. "When we look at the gender composition of the political groups at the leadership and coordinator level, we find that GUE/NGL and Greens/EFA are the most gender equal groups, followed by S&D and ALDE. The most gender unequal are EPP and ECR; however, the EPP group shows some recent practices to enhance gender equality within their group, through some provisions for gender balanced representation and informal women's networks." ### A new study has investigated how exposure to certain triggers can increase the risk of type 1 diabetes A new study has investigated how exposure to certain triggers can increase the risk of type 1 diabetes. Researchers from The Westmead Institute for Medical Research are looking at an array of potential triggers that could increase the risk of type 1 diabetes. Results of a recent study have shown how exposure to coxsackievirus can increase this risk. Coxsackievirus is a common virus that causes diseases including myocarditis, Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease and gastroenteritis. The study discovered a key transcription factor (proteins that help turn specific genes on or off) called hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1A) is behind this increase in risk. Researchers found that mice missing HIF-1A in beta cells (-cells) had a much higher risk of type 1 diabetes after infection with viruses, including coxsackievirus. Lack of -cell HIF-1A increased -cell death and, in turn, increased the incidence of type 1 diabetes. Lead researcher Professor Jenny Gunton said the findings highlight the key role -cells play in the risk of diabetes. "If they are healthy, then -cells recover normally after stresses like viral infections, and diabetes does not develop. But, if -cells don't cope well with these stresses, it can trigger the immune process that leads to type 1 diabetes. "Our study also showed that the increase in diabetes risk can result from exposure to other stresses, including toxins. So -cells play a crucial part in preventing their own death when faced with environmental triggers for type 1 diabetes. "We have now identified that HIF-1A is an important factor in this decision about whether the cells recover, or die. This is the first -cell specific model to show increased risk of type 1 diabetes with a range of triggers," said Professor Gunton. The findings highlight HIF-1A as a potential pathway for the development of new preventative measures and suggest the possibility that a vaccine for coxsackievirus could help prevent type 1 diabetes in at-risk people. This comes at a crucial time, as rates of type 1 diabetes are increasing worldwide. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks and kills -cells in the pancreas. These are the only cells in the body that make insulin, which we need to control our blood glucose (sugar) levels. Professor Gunton said, "While there is a strong genetic component to type 1 diabetes, genes alone cannot explain the rising global rates of type 1 diabetes. Currently, the only cures for type 1 diabetes are whole pancreas or islet transplantation, and people have to take insulin for the rest of their lives. So potential preventative strategies are exciting." ### The research paper was published in Cell Reports: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.04.086 Professor Jenny Gunton is affiliated with The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital and the University of Sydney. Proton therapy results in fewer side effects than traditional X-ray radiation therapy for many cancer patients, according to a new study led by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania. Even with reduced side effects, proton therapy resulted in cure rates similar to those of X-ray radiation therapy. The findings will be presented June 1 by the study's first author, Brian C. Baumann, MD, a radiation oncologist at Washington University School of Medicine, at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, in Chicago. The study is the first major side-by-side comparison of side effects related to proton therapy and X-ray radiation therapy. It included almost 1,500 patients receiving combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy for lung, brain, head and neck, gastrointestinal and gynecologic cancers that had not yet spread to other parts of the body. Such patients receive both radiation and chemotherapy, a treatment regimen that often cures nonmetastatic cancer. But it also causes severe side effects -- such as difficulty swallowing, nausea and diarrhea -- that reduce quality of life and can, in some cases, require hospitalization. After controlling for differences between the groups, such as age and additional medical problems, the researchers found that patients receiving proton therapy experienced a two-thirds reduction in the relative risk of severe side effects within 90 days of treatment, compared with patients receiving X-ray radiation therapy. Forty-five of 391 patients receiving proton therapy experienced a severe side effect in the 90-day time frame (11.5 percent). In the X-ray radiation therapy group, 301 of 1,092 patients experienced a severe side effect in the same period (27.6 percent). Patient data on side effects were gathered as the trial was ongoing, rather than after the fact. "Proton therapy was associated with a substantial reduction in the rates of severe acute side effects -- those that cause unplanned hospitalizations or trips to the emergency room -- compared with conventional photon, or X-ray, radiation for patients treated with concurrent radiation and chemotherapy," said Baumann, an assistant professor of radiation oncology at Washington University and an adjunct assistant professor of radiation oncology at Penn. "The opportunity to reduce the risk of severe side effects for patients and thereby improve their quality of life is very exciting to me. While there have been other studies suggesting that proton therapy may have fewer side effects, we were somewhat surprised by the large magnitude of the benefit." The researchers focused their study on what are called grade 3 adverse events, which are severe enough to require hospitalization. These can include pain, difficulty swallowing that might result in weight loss, difficulty breathing, and nausea and diarrhea severe enough to cause dehydration. The researchers also found no differences between the two groups in survival, suggesting that proton therapy was just as effective in treating the cancer even as it caused fewer side effects. Overall survival at one year for the proton therapy group was 83 percent of patients versus 81 percent for the X-ray radiation therapy group. This difference was not statistically significant. This study is the first large review of data across several cancer types to show a reduced side-effect profile for proton therapy compared with X-ray radiation therapy for patients receiving combined chemotherapy and radiation. Both types of radiation therapy are approved by the Food and Drug Administration for cancer treatment. Protons are relatively heavy, positively charged particles that hit their target and stop. X-ray beams consist of photons, which are much smaller particles that have almost no mass, allowing them to travel all the way through the body, passing through healthy tissue on the way out. Baumann noted that patients in the proton group had fewer side effects despite the fact that they were older -- with an average age of 66 -- than patients in the X-ray radiation therapy group -- with an average age of 61. Baumann said this age difference is due to a quirk of insurance. Medicare, with its minimum enrollment age of 65, covers proton therapy. But since proton therapy is more expensive to administer than X-ray radiation therapy, most private insurers do not cover it. Baumann, who treats patients at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, said he and his colleagues did not compare the costs of the two different therapies and their associated adverse events, but they plan to in future studies. ### This work was supported by research funds from the University of Pennsylvania. Baumann BC, Mitra N, Harton JG, Xiao Y, Wojcieszynski AP, Gabriel PE, Zhong H, Geng H, Doucette A, Wei J, O'Dwyer PJ, Bekelman JE, Metz JM. Comparative effectiveness of proton therapy versus photon therapy as part of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy for locally advanced cancer. American Society of Clinical Oncology poster session. June 1, 2019. Washington University School of Medicine's 1,500 faculty physicians also are the medical staff of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals. The School of Medicine is a leader in medical research, teaching and patient care, ranking among the top 10 medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Through its affiliations with Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Children's hospitals, the School of Medicine is linked to BJC HealthCare. this news is not available The Pound exchange rates continued their lacklustre run into Tuesday's session with Sterling down against all major peers as Brexit pessimism continued to dominate markets. At the time of writing, the GBP to US Dollar exchange rate was seen pushing the frontier of fresh four-month lows with Sterling at $1.26674, down 0.28% from the daily open. Against the Euro, the UK was similarly downbeat with the GBP/EUR exchange rate last seen at 1.13602 amid a thirteenth consecutive day of losses. The British currency did experience a brief period of respite from the almost-incessant downwards pressure its faced over recent week on Tuesday following Prime Minister May's unveiling of her 'new' Brexit proposal/ While offering a number of changes to the original agreement, including an alteration to guarantee of a Commons vote on whether to hold another referendum on the government's Brexit deal, a vote on a post-Brexit customs union and measures to guarantee Northern Ireland remains aligned with the rest of the UK and remains in same customs territory if the backstop comes into force among other, May's proposal prompted a backlash of criticism from all corners of the political spectrum. The concessions offered, while intended to be an extension of a cross-party olive branch, failed to woo the Labour Party. "The prime ministers proposal tonight seems to be largely a rehash of the governments position in the cross party talks that failed to reach a compromise last week," said Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, adding "We will of course look seriously at the details of the withdrawal agreement bill when it is published. But we wont back a repackaged version of the same old deal - and its clear that this weak and disintegrating government is unable deliver on its own commitments." With great reluctance I backed MV3. Now we are being asked to vote for a customs union and a second referendum. The Bill is directly against our manifesto - and I will not vote for it. We can and must do better - and deliver what the people voted for. Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) 21 May 2019 Focus could shift away from the actual Brexit process over the coming sessions as European parliamentary elections get underway. While not normally a source of market-moving news, a decisively low polling for the Conservative party could see added pressure on PM May to resign with either a pro-Brexit euro sceptic expected to take the reigns or, by way of a snap election, Jeremy Corbyn could take the helm. Meanwhile Nigel Farage's Brexit Party look set to dominate the ballot with a recent poll suggesting the party could receive as much as 34% of the vote - more than the Conservative and Labour parties combined. Given Farage's anti-EU sentiment is no secret, a solid turnout for the Brexit Party will likely see UK-EU ties strained. While the EU council's decision to extend Brexit held the caveat that any MEPs appointed would not interfere with the EU's objectives, Farage could increase the already considerable political friction between the UK and EU. A victory for the Brexit Party would also be a testament to anti-EU sentiment on a broader scale with Farage claiming "If we win on Thursday, we kill off any chance of them forcing a second referendum on us because they know they would lose." Hi all, Hoping someone may be able to share some insight into my situation. Currently living in Lyon as an Australian (non EU) on a french titre de sejour with full working rights here in France. The french company I work for has just picked up some work in London, and they want to send me over there being the only native english speaker in our office. The role involves analysing buildings for a french client of ours for potential investment (our client is a fund manager). it is not a full time placement and would likely necessite weekly trips (deplacements) over to London for 1-2 days at a time. Not sure where I stand with the EU mobility laws etc. and if I am legally allowed to go to do this type of work over there whilst on a french TDS. Can I declare it on the passenger card as for business purposes? I could always tick the tourist/holiady box but I imagine after a few visits the UK customs will start to get suspicious. They seem to have a thing against Australians and have always asked me a ton of questions at immigration. Thanks in advance, Mick CONTACT: Pamela D. Wilson 888-393-7754 Email: Inquiry_For_Pamela@pameladwilson.com Golden, Colorado May 22, 2019 Caregiving Webinar: Don't Let This Happen to You Waiting too long to get help results in caregiving stress, regrets, and potential harm to caregivers and loved ones. Caregiving webinars make it easy for caregivers to get help before unexpected events happen in caregiving situations. Caregivers looking for trusted sources of reliable information have difficulty knowing where to turn for help. The role of caregiver is fraught with the unexpected. Daily fluctuations in the ability of aging parents, spouses, and loved ones to take care of themselves plus changes in the health make caregiving feel like a never-ending rollercoaster ride. The effect of caregiving stress on the brain is greater confusion, difficulty making good decisions, and gaining clarity about steps to help spouses and aging parents stay at home. Delays in making decisions prevent good care. Indecision makes problem-solving difficult. A lack of confidence in working with healthcare providers results in doubt. Poor advocacy skills result in denial of care and treatment. All of these are reasons why caregivers should get help before this type of situation happens, and harmful events occur. Webinars Bring Caregiving Support into the Homes of Caregivers and Aging Adults Caregiving expert, Pamela D. Wilson, has the answeronline caregiving support groups and courses offered in recorded and live webinar formats. The webinar format brings much needed personalized help into the homes of caregivers and aging adults eliminating the struggle of having to leave home to attend an in-person support group or caregiving program. According to Pamela D. Wilson, "online courses and groups in a webinar format is an easy way for caregivers and aging adults to get the help they need. This information also helps caregivers avoid the pitfalls of unexpected caregiving situations." Online Caregiving Courses For Computer Savvy Millennial Caregivers and Middle-Aged Caregivers Who Need A Little Computer Support Recorded and live webinars are perfect for computer savvy millennials who are assuming significant responsibility caring for aging family members in record numbers. According to a 2018 AARP Public Policy Institute report, about 6.2 million millennials and counting are acting as caregivers for a parent, in-law, or grandparent. Millennials now represent one in four persons acting as caregivers in the United States. Caregivers who are middle-aged and who may not be computer or tech-savvy receive help in taking the next step forward to embrace online caregiving courses. Pamela offers live videos, discussions, and recorded webinars to illustrate the simplicity and ease of accessing online caregiving courses and support. Caregivers Need and Want Help but Feel Shamed for Asking Caregivers, especially women, want to do it all. The belief exists that caregiving is an honor and a responsibility. When help is needed, there is an unspoken shame attached to asking for help. Expressing concern about caregiving struggles results in being shamed by otherswho have no idea and lack sensitivity to the daily experiences of caregivers. Non-caregivers will say, "it can't be that bad," or "your parents took care of you now it's time to take care of them." Caregivers Want Help But Find It Difficult To Ask This lack of empathy by outsiders makes needing or asking for help a sign of weakness for the caregiver who then feels more isolated when others are unsympathetic. Family members fall into the same category of the unhelpful and the unsympathetic. Always finding excuses not to help or refusing to help is common in caregiving situations where one family member bears the burden of caregiving responsibilities. Online caregiving courses and groups make it easy for caregivers to receive emotional support and camaraderie that is sorely needed. Only another caregiver can understand and be empathetic to the statements, "I'm so tired of being a caregiver," or "my husband's disease has ruined our livesI feel more like the maid than a wife." The role of caregiver results in isolation and loneliness. Few individuals understand what life is like for a 24/7 caregiver. Caring for aging parents can feel overwhelming Family disappears. Friendships dissolve because caregivers can't leave home to socialize. Friends don't want to see the realities of caregiving and don't know how to be empathetic. The Effects of Caregiving on Health and Well-Being Are Shocking While caregivers, both male, and female, readily accept caregiving responsibility out of love, the effects of caregiving can be significant. The health of caregivers is quickly compromised, becoming worse than the health of the aging parent or spouse for whom care is provided. Working caregivers find their schedules interrupted, some decrease work schedules, and experience financial strain. Webinars Help Caregivers Learn New Skills and Gain Confidence in Decision Making The role of caregiving encompasses so many different skills, both task-related and interpersonal. For example, sons and male spouses who become overnight caregivers for mothers and wives have to learn an entirely new skill set. While bathing and personal care may come more naturally to women, who raised children, these tasks open up the door of uncomfortable situations to navigate for male caregivers. Male caregivers hesitate to admit they feel stressed by caregiving responsibilities. Caregiving webinars offer solutions for many of the day-to-day hands-on tasks that caregivers perform as part of the routine of care. The sharing by caregivers in groups and courses about performing these tasks is valuable to participants in the groups. Providing hands-on care for loved ones results in greater stress because of the time commitment and the increased level of responsibility for loved ones who can no longer take care of themselves. Caregivers Need Better Than Average Social and Interpersonal Skills To Succeed Interpersonal skills to negotiate with family members and the healthcare system are a significant need in caregiving. As the health of aging loved ones decline and medical needs increase, interactions with medical practices, insurance companies, and health organizations increases. Aging adults are viewed negatively by a healthcare system that favors youth. Medical treatments are denied and have fatal results. Wilson shares the story of "Don't Let This Happen to You." "I had doctors tell me that my clients (for whom I was power of attorney o court-appointed guardian) were old and should not receive medical care or treatment. Recommendations were made to "let them die - they've lived a good life." As a legally responsible party, I followed the wishes of my clients and advocated fiercely for their care when this was their desire. My advocacy efforts resulted in major disagreements with surgeons, physicians, and other medical staff who I am certain viewed my efforts as interfering and resulting in more work for them." For caregivers, a lack of confidence or unfamiliarity with advocacy skills can be disastrous for the care of aging parents and spouses. Pamela's mission is to help caregivers, and aging adults become more informed about the realities of caregiving to support positive interactions that result in better than average care. The goal of her transition from 1:1 direct care is to reach as many caregivers as possible to provide hope, solutions, and confidence that caregiving can be better. Don't Let This Happen to You -- When Help Is Too Late The reality of caregiving is that caregivers don't know what they don't know. And asking for help when it's too late results in regret and guilt. The following is a quote from a caregiver who watched one of Pamela's educational videos about hospital and nursing home care. "Thanks for that good advice, unfortunately, it comes too late for my 86-year-old brother who passed away recently after hip fracture and both orthopedist refusing to do any surgery. The resultant pain and loss of walking after 8 weeks of healing was horrible, and he fell again and could not get to his oxygen and died!" Some caregivers view "learning" as a negative because the idea of going back to school or taking a course is seen as time that caregivers don't have. In Wilson's opinion, becoming more informed is a proactive decision to take action to avoid unnecessary caregiving disasters. According to Wilson, "getting caregiving help is like changing the oil on a car so that the car runs well and doesn't need more costly maintenance. Waiting to get help in caregiving situations results in health declines, higher costs of care." Many caregivers are stuck in the "I want help" cycle but fewe know how or where to get help. While many caregivers feel hopeless or helpless, the only way forward is to take action and to become more informed to solve caregiving problems. Wilson asks caregivers, "what will the caregiving situation be like in one week, one month, 6-months, or 1 year from now if you do nothing?" Caregiving situations improve by taking action and gaining knowledge. Placing the care and well-being of spouses, aging parents, and other family members at risk because of fear of taking action or making the wrong decision results in regret and guilt. Aging parents and loved ones are concerned about being a burden. Less burden exists when all involved in caregiving acknowledge that help is needed and participate in courses and support groups. A Computer and an Internet Connection Is All That Is Needed to Get Help Today A computer and an Internet connection make it easy for caregivers and aging adults to get needed help today. There's no need to leave home. Course information can be accessed 24/7. The recorded webinars for the courses can be watched over and over again. Workbooks, worksheets, and assessments are part of Pamela's online courses. This support plus live webinars for question and answer help caregivers get the support they need to make caregiving situations better. More information is available on Pamela's website and on her course pages for Power of Attorney and Stay at Home -30- Wednesday, May 22, 2019 Overview Adoption of the new Reuschlein sciences of economics, empire theory, and the global warming cycle will change everything, especially disrupting certain industries and many fields. Here is a partial list. Economic Development Proofs over many decades, the Cold War, the twentieth century, and now the twenty-first century 9-11 military buildup, Great Recession, and Obama Trump recovery show continuous proof that military spending increases hurt manufacturing, productivity, capital investment, and economic and jobs growth rates precisely and in every situation. Bottom line research and capital resources of a nation can be used to grow the economy and produce goods or be diverted into power projection through military spending, but the choice is binary, one avenue leads to economic growth and the other leads to lost manufacturing jobs transferred over to the defense service "make work" economy instead to give a false impression of economic growth. In fact, the "make work" economy depresses manufacturing states in order to give pseudo-growth to military spending states, as research and capital are merely redeployed among the states using the federal budget process. The result is re-arranged economic growth in an atmosphere of overall reduced growth. This pattern can be supplemented by deficit or tax cut economic growth to camouflage or offset the negative military economy effect. Changes in deficit minus military change the economic growth rate. Measured in economic growth rate, jobs growth rate, or unemployment rate change all work about the same, relative to trend. Economic Prediction The uncanny accuracy long term of the Reuschlein economic model shows up increasingly clearly over time, as annual poor accuracy becomes more accurate like the decade long Juglar cycle accuracy over time. The in between years in a nine-year Juglar investment cycle show an 80% reduction in volatility from the twenties to the eighties as industries gradually conquer the inventory recessions so common before 1980. Now recessions since 1982 in America have followed the nine-year Juglar cycle, 1982, 1991, 2001, and 2009. Trade war might give the next recession in 2020, just as trade war gave us the Great Depression in the early thirties. Withdrawal from Iraq military cuts lead to unemployment rate reductions in the five years from 2011 to 2015 at almost twice the rate of the military buildup years from 2016 to 2018. The current formula looks like accuracy is now coming in the annual year by year situation, not just in the decade long Juglar cycle. The new short-term formula: deficits add to economic growth and military spending reduces economic growth, dollar for dollar. Political Predictions Because there is nothing in the federal government budget like military spending. It is the largest category of expense in the authorized budget, about half of the total. Most of the rest of the budget is entitlements or otherwise relatively fixed in distribution among the states. During the Cold War 80% of the variation of per capita federal spending in each state was caused by the military spending differences, with about half the states getting half the national average of military spending per capita, and the other half getting 150% of the national average for the military. This makes those who control the military budget the most powerful people in congress, along with the president. These people not only dominate the leadership positions in congress (80% from high military states and 20% from low military states, but they also dominate the presidential primaries and general election, such that high military state candidates won all eleven Cold War elections and the seven major party nominees from low military spending states all lost. Post Cold War the two Democratic presidents came from CIA backgrounds and low military spending states. Military research funding is in the top three states of California, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, with Silicon Valley, Route 128, and Research Triangle respectively. California has four times that of the other two. Post Cold War the top research institution went from MIT to Johns Hopkins, from weapons to foreign policy, with the increase in the CIA noted in the elected presidents. Social Mobility Prediction Large military spending will devastate manufacturing over time, changing a technology-oriented economy (manufacturing) into a services-oriented economy (financial and defense). This state of empire created also dries up social mobility creating a class-based society. I notice this all the time as increasingly elites from media, Hollywood, and government are the sons and daughters of previous elites. High growth encourages diversity and low growth (military empire) encourages classism and nepotism. Markets are fluid, political command is rigid. National Defense Strategy The military economic effect is so dominant in economics that those nations that overdo military defense will pay a very heavy price in the long run. Minimizing your defense maximizes your growth and maximizes great power longevity. The heavy-handed empire defense will always backfire in the long run. Lightweight English bows and arrows defeated the heavy armored French in the battle of Agincourt. Land armies are always much more expensive than navies, because they are essential for all land powers. Sea powers are protected from land armies by large bodies of water, like the English Channel, or the Japan Sea, or America's two oceans, hence they can defend more cheaply. Investment Predictions Changes in the military budget affect the low military inland Great Lakes area manufacturing states even more than their direct effect on military states, about two to four times as much. But because this effect is not obvious, the inland manufacturing states are largely at the mercy of the coastal military states. Because of the preference for military spending in the Republican party and for domestic spending in the Democratic party, changes in political parties controlling congress will have profound changes in regional economies. This was so overlooked in 1994 that you could have waited two months to invest in defense stocks and still made a 70% profit a year and a half later. Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio are four of the top five manufacturing states that will boom the next time military spending goes down. California, Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, and Arizona are traditional high military spending states that boom during military buildups. In the four decades since the top tax rate was dropped 60% by Reagan in 1981-1984, banks have grown their relative share of the economy ten-fold and the top 1% income earners have quadrupled their share of national income while the lower 99% have flat lined. All these effects are predictable outcomes of empire economics. Climate Change Predictions The Greenhouse Effect is all the rage while we ignore the evaporation effect. Modifying Greenhouse predictions with the evaporation effect 54-year cycle and we greatly increase temperature change prediction accuracy. Current climate change estimates are being underestimated because we are in the cooling half of the cycle from 1998 to 2025. Climate change will dramatically accelerate after 2025, catching the experts by surprise. Hurricane Predictions: Every other generation floods and droughts are regionally predictable, as well as blizzards. Major volcanoes tend to come from the tropical area where the Indian and Pacific Oceans meet. But the greatest opportunities for cyclic prediction of natural events are in the hurricane area. New Orleans, Miami, North Carolina, and New York each have their own unique regional cyclic pattern. These repeat mostly on a 54-year cycle basis plus or minus a couple years. However, North Carolina and Miami have 27-year repetitions give or take a year or two. Regularization of this approach could give greater reliability for protection of these communities. The Seventeen Findings of Peace Economic Theories: https://www.academia.edu/37217512/Findings_and_Special_Claims_November_2017_2_pages Please cite this work as follows: Reuschlein, Robert. (2019, May 22), "Disruption of 8 Industries" Madison, WI, Real Economy Institute. Retrieved from: https://www.expertclick.com/NewsRelease/Disruption-of-8-Industries,2019181131.aspx Dr. Peace, Professor Robert Reuschlein, Real Economy Institute, Nominated Vetted 2016 (2 Web Looks), Given Odds 2017 (3 Web Looks), Strongly Considered 2018 (48 Web Looks, one million words) for Nobel Peace Prize, a favorite in 2019 (double pace of last year 57 in 8 months) for Nobel Peace Prize to be announced Friday October 4th, 2019. Contact: bobreuschlein@gmail.com, Info: www.realeconomy.com While gasoline prices have surged in the first few months of this year the biggest jump since 2011 the number of Americans planing to take summer road trips is up, the gas-price website GasBuddy shows. The companys annual travel survey found that nearly 75 percent of Americans will take a road trip this summer, a 16 percent increase from last year. Americans like to complain about gas prices, but that doesnt change behavior, said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy. OnExpressNews.com: NuStar Energy sells Caribbean storage facility after Venezuela sanctions Gas prices arent stopping Ashley and Jose Cisneros, newlyweds from Corpus Christi. They toured the Alamo on Tuesday, and were planning another road trip to the San Antonio area in the summer. Ashley Cisneros said they will shop around for the best gas prices, but have no plans to curtail road trips. Its quality time, the veterinary technician said. Gasoline prices have had quite a ride since the end of 2018, coming down in December and early January, and surging as the economy improved in subsequent months, DeHaan said. In San Antonio, like nationally, a gallon of regular gas was as low as $1.82 Jan. 7 before reaching a high of $2.47 on April 28. As of May 21, gas stabilized slightly at a price of $2.36, the survey said. Gasoline prices nationally went up 67 cents a gallon between Jan. 1 and May 4, the biggest per-gallon increase since a 91-cents surge in 2011, GasBuddy reports. Nationwide, prices reached a high so far in 2019 of $2.91 per gallon on May 4, but have fallen slightly since then, the survey said. The national average was $2.84 a gallon on May 21, and GasBuddy predicts a small, further reduction of one penny on Memorial Day. Even with this years surge, gas prices still should be 14 cents lower this Memorial Day than on the same holiday last year, according to GasBuddy. DeHaan said the solid economy, along with slightly lower gas prices compared to this period last year, is a good omen for road trips. OnExpressNews.com: San Antonio-made Tacoma sales up, but Tundra sales continue to fall Another survey, conducted by AAA Texas/New Mexico, zeroed in on the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, forecasting that 3 million Texans will drive to their holiday designations. The number exceeds last years figures by nearly 100,000, Kent Livesay, AAAs regional vice president and general manager, said in a statement. Texans are avidly anticipating the start of the summer travel season, he said. The Texas economy remains strong and many families continue to prioritize travel. Among Texas major metros, San Antonio drivers will pay some of the least expensive prices this summer if current trends at the pump hold. The GasBuddy survey found that gas averaged $2.63 a gallon in Dallas, $2.56 in Houston, and $2.48 in Austin as of May 21, compared to San Antonios $2.36. But most Texas gas prices are a bargain when youre driving from California. Tony and Eileen Kutch, nearing the end of the fourth week of their six-week, cross-country road trip, stopped at the Alamo on Tuesday afternoon. Gas in San Diego, Calf., near their hometown of Lakeside, averages around $4, Tony Kutch said. So Texas prices dont seem so bad. Its a good price, he said. California on May 21 had the highest gas prices in the nation with an average price of $4 a gallon, according to GasBuddy. Anyone who has ever undertaken a home project knows how, no matter how small it is initially, things can quickly spiral. For Theresa Poenisch, what started out as a simple refresh of the kitchen in the 1929 Monte Vista house she shares with her husband Gary eventually evolved sprawled off into an almost complete renovation, including the addition of a new bedroom, bathroom, wet bar and breakfast area, moving an exterior wall and building a backyard courtyard, complete with a concrete wall, tile flooring and several gurgling water features. What had been a 2-bath, 2-bedroom, 2,200-square-foot Tudor revival home blossomed to a rambling 3-3 with 3,000 square feet. We only wanted to put in new kitchen countertops, flooring and cabinets, Poenisch said. But when we removed the old countertops, the wood underneath was rotten. Later, they discovered that the ancient water line into the house was corroded and needed replacing, as did the clay sewer line that ran under the neighbors house. The gas line was inadequate for the planned water heater and dryer. And there was no subflooring under the existing oak floors. At that point, Gary became focused on making the back section of the house more presentable and usable, Poenisch said. So they decided to build the additional rooms as part of an extension to the northeast corner at the back of the house. On ExpressNews.com: Home inspired by ONeil Ford undergoes massive, careful renovation in Alamo Heights As the Poenishes wrestled with how to accomplish their vision for the renovation of their home on Laurel Height Place, they consulted with three different architects before calling in Pam and Scott Carpenter with Seventh Generation Design to help wrangle the project. As part of the kitchen redo, for example, they wanted to add a center island. Trouble was, there wasnt enough room in the existing kitchen area. So at the Carpenters suggestion, they agreed to have a 12 -foot section of the exterior wall moved out 1 foot to make room for the island and barstool seating. We couldnt go any further because we were restricted by the rear setback variance approval wed gotten from the (San Antonio) Board of Adjustments, said Pam Carpenter. Moving it any further would have severely reduced the size of the back patio. That patio is a cozy area hemmed in by the house on one side and a 6-foot concrete wall running along the back property line. The brick herringbone flooring and water features, as well as the row of niches in the wall give the area a calming vibe, like the outdoor pocket spaces that can be found throughout Europe. We lived in Manhattan for 11 years, so were used to living with a small outdoor space, said Poenish, who grew up in Alamo Heights. On ExpressNews.com: Global architecture star, Army brat Craig Dykers has deep roots in San Antonio Throughout the renovation, the homeowners insisted on retaining the original design elements of the house and using materials popular at the time the home was built. In the breakfast room, for example, they installed custom-made encaustic tile with a pattern created not from a glaze, but by using different colors of clay, so it wont fade as the tile wears. The French doors leading to the back patio were also handmade of solid mahogany. We looked at some high-quality doors from manufacturers like Pella, but they just didnt feel right, Poenisch said as she ran her hand down the rich, dark wood. Thesell last forever. The homes previous owners had added several Mexican-inspired design elements to the home that the Carpenters stripped away to return it to its Tudor revival roots. Some furnishings were replaced with items more in the spirit of an English home. The interior color palate was changed from bright blues, greens, oranges and the like to more muted plums, blushes and roses. They also replaced the composite shingles that mimicked red clay shingles on the roof with ones made of wallaba, a dense, tropical hardwood said to be fire resistant. The choice was made largely out of respect to what was appropriate to the historical style of the house, said Scott Carpenter. Each shingle is hand-cut and installed and the rustic texture makes a nice complement to the relatively smooth and unadorned exterior stucco walls. Indeed, about the only piece of Mexican design they retained was the Saltillo tile in the guest bedroom. We worked hard to take the home back to its true origins, Pam Carpenter said. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonios new Frost Bank Tower gets likened to drill bit, Bart Simpson The goal was to strip back what had been added over the years to get back to the homes original fairly simple interior. We looked closely for cues to return the house to its essence, Scott Carpenter said. And what we found we re-employed. For example, design of the sculpted mantle over the fireplace in the front living area informed the new overhangs above several exterior doors and windows. And the small leaded glass window in the front door was also the inspiration for several larger leaded glass windows added to two of the bathrooms and the new wet bar area built as part of the extension. The one in the master bathroom replaced a dated glass block window installed by previous owners. It was a challenge, but one that, like the renovation itself, seemed to take on a life of its own. Historic houses tell you who they are and what they want to be, Scott Carpenter said. At some point in the process, they start to design themselves. Richard A. Marini is a features writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | rmarini@express-news.net | Twitter: @RichardMarini Keith Carter began to take his own pictures after he happened upon one of his mother's color prints when he was 19. His mother made her living as a studio photographer in Beaumont, Texas, and the photo was a seemingly straightforward portrait of a young girl holding a basket of kittens. But it wasn't the subject matter that struck Carter; it was the capture of the light. When photographs are created by light falling on film, they show what was physically present at that particular moment in time, but some also reveal the emotional undercurrent of a moment as well: what's not seen but felt, and what reverberates. "The raw materials of photography," Carter once said in an interview, "are light and time and memory." A judge Wednesday denied a motion to return personal property, including a Bible, to convicted child killer Genene Jones, who is accused in five deaths of San Antonio children in the 1980s. Jones, 68, worked in the pediatric intensive care unit of what was later University Hospital in the early 1980s. She was convicted of murder in 1984 for killing Chelsea McClellan, 15 months, by injecting the toddler with a fatal dose of a muscle relaxer while the nurse worked in Kerr County. She was sentenced to 99 years in that case and received 60 years for a similar attempt on a San Antonio child who survived. She was scheduled to be released from prison in March 2018 because of a new law aimed at reducing prison crowding, but in 2017, Jones was indicted in the deaths of five San Antonio children in the 1980s. She is being held in the Bexar County jail awaiting trial. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox On Wednesday, her attorney, Cornelius Cox, asked Judge Frank Castro to grant the return of an address book, her personal Bible, letters and personal documents. He said she had those items while in prison for 34 years, and questioned the seizure under former Bexar County District Attorney Nicholas Nico LaHood. They wanted to harass her and annoy her, Cox told the court. They took her Bible. Why did they remove that possession? But Catherine Babbitt, chief of major crimes for the DA's Office, told Castro that personal writings contained in the Bible, in addition to other documents, showed evidence that Jones could read, write and has the ability to comprehend, considering Cox has questioned her competency. I recognize the importance of religious items, but I also recognize handwriting in the Bible that contains references to her own sin, Babbitt told the court. The state isnt in the position to return documents that could be relevant to a competency trial or anything else. RELATED: Father accused of fatally injuring 3-month-old daughter in 2018, then lying about it Castro denied the motion and instructed the state to provide the defense with copies of all notes in the Bible and other documents. Cox also withdrew another request for a psychiatric evaluation for Jones and asked Castro for a competency hearing, which the judge granted and said could happen either in August or September. Jones is accused of killing Richard Ricky Nelson on July 3, 1981; Rosemary Vega on Sept. 16, 1981; Paul Villarreal on Sept. 24, 1981; Joshua Sawyer on Dec. 12, 1981; and Patrick Zavala on Jan. 17, 1982. All the children were injected with an overdose of either muscle relaxers or pain killers, court records indicate. Elizabeth Zavala covers county and state courts in San Antonio. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 The first mayoral forum since San Antonios May elections grew heated Tuesday when moderators asked challenger Greg Brockhouse about domestic violence accusations against him, prompting outbursts and shouting matches between those in attendance at Travis Park Church downtown. While the candidates were never on stage together, the contentious nature of Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Brockhouses runoff race was on display. The men appeared separately at the event, fielding questions from Rivard Report journalist Iris Dimmick and Pastor Gavin Rogers. The quarrels began about 30 minutes into the forum, when Rogers asked Brockhouse about reports from 2006 and 2009 in which women married to him called police and accused him of assault. Brockhouse doubled down on his assertions that the event chronicled in a 2009 police report did not happen. He also read a statement from his wife in which she also flatly rejects the accusations. Its absolutely false, he said. In the report, obtained and published by the San Antonio Express-News, his current wife, Annalisa, says he grabbed her, threw her to the ground and tried to hit her on Dec. 23, 2009. She told officers then that he relented when children entered the room. Brockhouse said the report contains inaccuracies, such as misidentifying his height and eye color and incorrectly citing a section of the Texas criminal code. There are so many inaccuracies in it, I dont even want to sit here and talk about it, he said. He stopped short of saying the report was not authentic. On ExpressNews.com: Past domestic violence allegations emerge against Brockhouse City officials have said they dont have any record of the report. They told news organizations who requested the report it did not exist. Legal experts say that might be because the report was expunged, or erased through a judicial process. When Dimmick asked whether he or anyone he knows requested the report be expunged, Brockhouse said: No, adding later: The situation did not happen. Moderators also asked Brockhouse about an earlier incident from 2006, in which his second wife, from whom he was separated, told police he pushed her into a wall, prompting her then-boyfriend to come to her defense. Brockhouse, listed as a complainant in the report, has said he was the victim of an attack. He reiterated that point Tuesday night. His answers prompted shouts from some sections of the crowd, demanding he show proof for his denials. Those outbursts drew quick and loud rebuke from Brockhouse supporters, who started chants of Brockhouse and shouted for the removal of one of the people asking for proof. Several times, the moderators reminded those in attendance they were in a house of worship and asked them to remain civil amid the intense discussion. You wanted to hear me speak, Brockhouse said to the boisterous crowd. Im speaking. Now you need to listen. Before he discussed the reports, Brockhouse said domestic violence is a critical issue in San Antonio. He said he would support an effort from two of his colleagues to increase funding to address it in San Antonio. We must put the full weight and force of City Hall behind it, he said. On ExpressNews.com: Activists call on Brockhouse to address domestic violence allegations The police reports, first made public in March by the Express-News, gained new prominence in the race this week after a newly-formed group of activists, Metu, called on him to address the reports in more detail. Tuesday night, Brockhouse again accused the group of doing Nirenbergs political bidding and pointed out once more that one of the groups founders, Gina Galaviz Eisenberg, has a family violence past of her own. He was referring to a July 2007 incident at the Cadillac Bar downtown between Eisenberg and her then-boyfriend, Ronald Aguillen. Court records show that Aguillen struck her, giving her a black eye. She said Monday that she bit him to defend herself. The forum also touched on transportation, the recent influx of migrants, the controversial vote to remove Chick-fil-A from the airport concession contract and the candidates leadership styles. Brockhouse has said the Nirenberg campaign is attacking him personally because the mayor has no record of accomplishment. Last week I put out an action plan with 51 items for the future, Brockhouse said. Ron Nirenberg talks about one thing: my personal life. Asked later to respond, Nirenberg listed what he sees as his accomplishments and said the domestic violence reports raise legitimate questions for someone vying to lead the city. When these revelations come to light, they need to be answered, Nirenberg said. Lets be clear: Councilman Brockhouse is not the victim. Furthermore, I am not the abuser. 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 Starting with the Nov. 5 election, Bexar County will switch to new electronic voting machines that also generate a paper record for security purposes and potential recounts. At the same time, the county will also introduce some vote centers places where any registered voter can cast a ballot away from their designated polling site on Election Day. County officials said the change will make it easier for voters to participate. When the new system is launched in the fall, the number of polling places will be 260, down from 305 currently used for general elections and 286 in most other elections. Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacque Callanen said her staff will be careful when consolidating precincts to retain voting sites in areas, such as suburban cities not served by VIA Metropolitan Transit, that have limited transportation options. VIA provides free bus service on Election Day as a community service. On ExpressNews.com: New voting system could be running by November If we go to this model of vote centers, we are going to stop disenfranchising voters, she told Bexar County commissioners on Tuesday. They approved a contract of nearly $11.5 million with Election Systems and Software to provide the new system, replacing electronic voting machines that have been used for 17 years. Another $537,067 will be spent to buy machine tables and transport carts. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff said the new system will be a big, big help in getting voter turnout. There are going to be some folks that will feel a lot better because theyre going to have a piece of paper. Voters can get an early look at the new machines and paper voting cards when they are put on display at early voting sites for the June 8 runoff, Callanen said. Early voting begins Tuesday. In November, voters will be casting ballots on at least six statewide constitutional amendments. County officials wanted the new system used at least once before the expected large turnout for the November 2020 presidential election. Electronic voting systems became popular after the 2000 presidential election controversy in Florida, involving hanging and dimpled chads on paper ballots. But a 2016 attempt by Russia-linked hackers to target voting systems in 21 states, including Texas, has intensified concerns about election security. On ExpressNews.com: Bexar County looks to buy voting machines with paper trail Bexar County moved to touch-screen voting in 2002. Since then, the number of registered voters increased from 855,000 to well over 1 million. Some polling sites have had very low turnout in the past four years and will likely be eliminated with the switch to vote centers, Callanen said. In the May election, we had sites that had 15 voters all day. Thats what were going to look at, she said. When voters use the new machines, the touch-screen experience will be largely unchanged, except that instead of pushing a vote button to end the process, they will press one saying, print card. They can look the card over, then place it in a scanner, which captures a digital image of the ballot before it drops into a transfer case without election workers having to touch it. Currently, election officials can check paper mail-in ballots but can only print a record of the electronic voting data. It doesnt look like a ballot, but it only is giving us back what the electronic machines tabulated. And thats what people keep questioning, even though the county has never lost a vote with the current system, Callanen said. Scott Huddleston covers Bexar County government and the Alamo for the San Antonio Express-News. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | shuddleston@express-news.net | Twitter: @shuddlestonSA Mayor Ron Nirenberg landed critical last-minute reinforcements in his contentious runoff with challenger Greg Brockhouse, as two groups skilled in mobilizing San Antonio volunteers committed to getting out the vote for the incumbent. But the endorsements from the Texas Organizing Project and the Texas Democratic Party come relatively late in the campaign. TOPs was arrived at after extended internal debate that underscored the difficulty Nirenberg has had generating enthusiasm for his reelection bid, even among natural allies. Local observers said its the first time they can recall a state party organization getting involved in a San Antonio mayoral race. Party officials said its part of a relatively new effort to become involved in local races that offer clear ideological choices. TOP notified Nirenberg and Brockhouse on Monday that it would throw its weight behind the incumbent, pledging to reach out to its membership on his behalf. The group said the vote for Nirenberg was decisive. The decision will be made public Thursday. Im grateful, humbled and proud to once again have the support of TOP and the hard-working people who make up that organization, Nirenberg said of the groups endorsement. We share common goals and I look forward to continuing to work with them. On ExpressNews.com: Progressive group stays on the sidelines in San Antonio mayors race The grassroots group, which has risen in prominence over the past year, notably did not endorse a candidate in the first round of voting. Now, with less than three weeks before the June 8 runoff, it has begun mobilizing members and volunteers in trademark teal T-shirts to knock on doors in support of Nirenberg. The Texas Democratic Party will announce its endorsement of Nirenberg today. Although San Antonio municipal elections are nonpartisan, Nirenberg and Brockhouse generally fall along liberal and conservative lines, respectively. Taken together, the two groups involvement gives Nirenberg assistance to counter the citys powerhouse public safety unions, which have been campaigning for Brockhouse for months. Although Nirenberg has raised and spent significantly more money than his challenger, the unions have helped bridge that gap with a major advertising blitz and get-out-the-vote effort. On ExpressNews.com: Police, fire unions have spent $268K during San Antonios election cycle this year Cliff Walker, deputy executive director of Texas Democrats, said the party has been getting involved in more local contests when theres a stark choice between a progressive candidate and a conservative. San Antonios race fell in that category, he said. We thought the choice was pretty clear in San Antonio, Walker said. Theres a mayor whos a champion for a lot of things we care about. Brockhouse, Walker noted, has the support of the local Republican Party. Nirenberg edged out Brockhouse by 3 percentage points in the May 4 election, but neither man secured the majority needed to win outright. Early voting for the June 8 runoff begins next week. I think this could be the X-factor that tilts back in Rons favor, said Laura Barberena, a veteran Democratic operative. The question is, is it too late? And how will firefighters respond? Local support Michelle Tremillo, executive director of TOP, said its members decided to back Nirenberg because he has proven to be a compassionate leader of the countrys seventh-largest city. TOPs social-equity agenda includes lifting wages, expanding access to education, medical care and affordable housing; and empowering minorities and the poor through community organizing. The mayors plan to expand affordable housing, along with efforts to distribute city resources to communities that have more urgent needs, were among key reasons members chose Nirenberg, Tremillo said. When it comes to the most vulnerable people in our community, who do we want as a leader? We want a leader who is going to be compassionate and will stand up for those of us who are mostly invisible, Tremillo said. Last weeks decision by the City Council to increase emergency funding for migrants passing through San Antonio was a prime example, Tremillo said. Nirenberg threw his support behind the effort, requested by City Manager Erik Walsh. While Brockhouse also supported the unanimous motion, he did so with reservations. The groups relationship with the mayor was strained last year over the issue of paid sick leave. TOP collected more than 140,000 signature to place the ordinance on the ballot, a show of strength that surprised some City Hall observers. The council adopted the ordinance outright instead of placing it on the ballot. While Nirenberg supported that move, he made clear he was doing so reluctantly, and he declined to protect the ordinance from legislative attacks in Austin, which since have sputtered. We dont have the luxury of focusing on just one issue, Tremillo said of that tension. On ExpressNews.com: Paid sick leave ordinances stand in Texas, as bill to outlaw them crumbles Tremillo acknowledged TOP is entering the campaign late, but she said the group has demonstrated it can mobilize quickly and efficiently. TOP has risen in prominence in San Antonio with its recent victories, helping to propel District Attorney Joe Gonzales into office and successfully championing the paid sick leave policy. I think when you look at what happened with the paid sick leave movement, and what Michelle Tremillo did with TOP, it was pretty incredible, said Christian Archer, a veteran strategist who ran mayoral campaigns for Phil Hardberger and Julian Castro. He isnt involved on either side this time around. The groups strength also aligns with Nirenbergs need, Archer said. One of the things that has to change (for Nirenberg), is the dynamics of the race, Archer said. Nirenberg would want increased turnout to secure a victory, and I think thats what TOP does. TOP members also are concentrated in areas where Nirenberg lost ground this year, including the West and South sides. The groups influence there could help reverse that trend. State backing As for the possible influence of the state Democratic Party endorsement, Archer said that remains to be seen. Its really a matter of what they do with that endorsement, he said. If theyre turning out their people, if you have 25 to 30 phone bankers its going to matter. Walker wouldnt reveal many details of the partys strategy, but he said it has used email and phone lists in the past to target Democrats in a get-out-the-vote effort. The party also has the capacity to do targeted outreach, Walker said, enabling it to tell voters where their polling place is and when it is open. What I can tell you is were going to put some resources into this, Walker said. 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 EMILYs List, the powerful political action committee that supports pro-choice Democratic women who seek elective office, will announce Wednesday that it is endorsing Gina Ortiz Jones in U.S. District 23. The groups decision to throw its weight behind Joness congressional campaign isnt exactly a surprise. The organization backed the former Air Force intelligence officer during her 2018 campaign in District 23, a political odyssey that ended last November with a heartbreaking 926-vote loss to Republican incumbent Will Hurd. The timing of the endorsement, however, is noteworthy. OnExpressNews.com: Gina Ortiz Jones will again challenge Rep. Will Hurd in San Antonio-based congressional district During Joness first congressional run, EMILYs List waited until late November 2017 to formally back her, only three-and-a-half months before a primary in which she faced four other Democratic hopefuls. This time around, the EMILYs List endorsement comes only a week after Jones, 38, launched her campaign and more than nine months before this states 2020 Democratic primary. Two years ago, Jones was a first-time candidate still in the process of proving she could handle the political fundamentals: raising money, building an organization and connecting with voters in a sprawling 29-county district that runs from San Antonio to El Paso County. This time around, as the EMILYs List endorsement serves to underscore, she enters the race with the aura of a presumptive Democratic nominee. By putting its muscle behind Jones so early in the process, EMILYs List is helping to clear the field for her so she can concentrate her resources and messaging on Hurd. Two of Joness three major 2018 primary opponents, Rick Trevino and Jay Hulings, already have indicated that theyre staying out of the 2020 race. (Trevino is teaching in Marfa while Hulings is concentrating on his legal career.) The lone question mark is Judy Canales, an Eagle Pass-based former Agriculture Department administrator who declined to comment on her political plans. In a statement provided to the Express-News, Stephanie Schriock, president of EMILYs List, lauded Joness resume and unique perspective as a Filipina American raised by a single mother on the West Side of San Antonio. EMILYs List is proud to stand with Iraq War veteran Gina Ortiz Jones as she continues her fight for Texas working families, Schriock said in a statement provided to the Express-News. Gina is a first-generation American who has dedicated her life to defending the values of hard work and equal opportunity. OnExpressNews.com: Jones has cause for optimism in District 23 From a young age, Gina witnessed firsthand how public policy can impact hardworking families like hers and shes now running for Congress to protect the same opportunities she was afforded. Schriock added: Its high time that Texans have a new voice in Congress, and were excited to help Gina flip this seat from red to blue. Jones, the daughter of a colon-cancer survivor who grappled with the overwhelming costs of medical treatment in this country, focused much of her messaging in 2018 on health-care affordability and accessibility. With the Affordable Care Act under threat from President Donald Trump and various states passing stringent new abortion restrictions, Jones seems more determined than ever to sound the alarm on that issue. As health care access is under attack all across the country, EMILYs Lists mission to elect pro-choice Democratic women has never been more important, Jones said in a statement. Reproductive health care is health care, and I will never stop fighting for the rights of Texans and all Americans to make their own reproductive health decisions. EMILYs List was formed in 1985 by political activist (and IBM heiress) Ellen Malcolm, a byproduct of her frustration with the fact that the high cost of entry into the political system perpetually blocked women from running for office. Women couldnt begin campaigns, Malcolm said in 1991, because they couldnt get the start-up money and they couldnt get the start-up money without campaigning, so they were caught in a vicious cycle. The desire to reverse that cycle inspired the acronym behind the groups name: Early Money is Like Yeast (because it makes dough rise). In 1985, when Malcolm launched the organization, there were only 12 women among the 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. The total currently stands at 102 women in the House, and EMILYs List deserves a considerable amount of credit for that growth. While the organization provides candidate training and campaign staff assistance, its greatest source of power is its donor base of five million members, which enables EMILYs List to bundle large sums of cash to its preferred candidates. That support, so early in the 2020 election cycle, should ensure that Jones gets a running start in her second bid to unseat Hurd. AUSTIN Legislation that could allow property owners to retroactively appeal years-old tax bills is on the verge of becoming law, raising alarms for county appraisers who warn it would wreak havoc on the budgets of Texas cities and school districts. If property owners win reductions, local governments could be forced to issue refunds long after they set their budgets and collect taxes, county appraisers say. The result could be financially ruinous, especially for small counties where one or two large properties make up a substantial portion of the tax base, said Kirk Swinney, an Austin-area attorney who represents roughly 70 appraisal districts. It creates a powerful, powerful tool in the hands of large property owners to basically bring the local taxing units to their knees with a threat of review for many years in arrears, he said. The bill to loosen restrictions on appeals easily cleared the House and Senate and now is on Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts desk. His office didnt respond to questions about whether he would sign or veto it. Texas Take: Get the latest news on Texas politics sent directly to your inbox every weekday Reforming the property tax system is top of mind this session, as Abbott and top Republican leaders seek to rein in homeowners soaring bills by capping what cities and counties can raise in revenue each year without an election. This bill, however, received little attention. Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican who filed it, disagrees his legislation will let property owners file retroactive protests. Geren said the bill simply gives people an opportunity to go back and correct mistakes in a protest if they didnt check the right box. The current laws lets appraisal districts dismiss a protest over procedural errors, without ever considering the merits, he said. He said the appraisal districts are being whiny about House Bill 380. The appraisal districts never liked the bill, he said. They didnt even come and talk to me about it. Swinney and chief appraisers did raise concerns during public hearings in the House and Senate. They argue the bill goes far beyond Gerens stated goal and could effectively eliminate the deadlines for contesting a property appraisal. Jim Popp, a prominent Austin tax attorney who represents businesses and homeowners protesting their property values, said he would have liked it to be a little more clearly written for the courts direction, so we wouldnt be speculating about what the bill meant. Popp said he agrees property owners shouldnt have their protests dismissed over technicalities, but those who miss the deadlines shouldnt have the right to come back years later and file a challenge. The system needs finality and rules, he said. Currently, property owners must protest within 30 days of receiving notice or by mid-May. Once an appraisal review board issues a decision, property owners have 60 days to file an appeal in district court. The possibility of property owners protesting their current values in future years means cities, counties and school districts will have an impossible time setting their budgets and tax rates, said Brent South, chief appraiser at Hunt County Appraisal District and a past president of the Texas Association of Appraisal Districts. It does away with the deadlines, South said. The importance of those deadlines in the property tax code is because it gives certain finality to the taxing units. By extending the time frame for filing appeals, the bill could also expand a tax provision that has helped big businesses knock billions of dollars off their property values. So-called equity appeals cut tax bills by a total of nearly $1 billion in the states five biggest counties last year, an analysis by Hearst Newspapers found. Though any property owner can file an equity appeal, businesses with the financial means to file lawsuits year after year have made most use of the 22-year-old tax clause, records show. Efforts to reform the tax provision this session failed to gain traction. The bills Senate sponsor, Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, wasnt available for comment. In the public hearing, he said the bill gives the property owner a much easier path, rather than being kicked out simply for a minor error on a piece of paper. District judges would have the power to give property owners a chance to fix any mistakes, which appraisers said could include not filing a timely protest. But how the courts might interpret the policy, if it becomes law, remains to be seen. Swinney, who represents appraisal districts, said he has no reason to exaggerate the bills effects. This helps me. I am in the business of defending local taxing units, and the Legislature created a bunch new avenues to sue them. I am probably going to have to hire help, he said. But as a matter of public policy, its just lunacy. 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 Sometimes the gods offer human beings a mulligan, a chance to right a past wrong. When a 19-year-old white male shot up a synagogue in Poway, Calif., the attack got me thinking. Jews have been terrorized for 5,000 years. And when theyve sought refuge, theyve been turned away. Just think what Jews experienced as refugees during World War II. You can see that story on display in Yad Vashem, the Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem. Visitors can see on an enormous map of the globe plastered on an entire wall country by country, who took in Jews fleeing Adolf Hitlers reign of terror and who refused to take them in, usually because of fear, prejudice and hatred. The message comes through loud and clear: Jewish people are keeping score. Good for the Jews. We ought to remember who served humanity and who failed it. Americans failed. Ours is a remarkable country, but Id count at least five great sins: the conquest of Native Americans, the enslavement of African Americans, the invasion of Mexico that created the Southwest, the internment of the Japanese Americans after Pearl Harbor, and turning away Jews seeking refuge during World War II. One of the most notorious episodes occurred in June 1939, when the German ocean liner SS St. Louis and its 937 passengers, almost all Jewish refugees were turned away from a port in Miami, where the ship tried to dock after being rejected by Cuba. The SS St. Louis was forced to return to Europe. Historians say more than a quarter of the passengers died in the Holocaust. And we can live with that? Its a sad but familiar tale. Regardless of U.S. policy, everyday Americans did not put out welcome mats for Armenians fleeing genocidal Turks, Cubans seeking liberation from Castro, or the Hmong who escaped the North Vietnamese intent on killing them for aiding American troops during the Vietnam War. These are the stories that bring tears to my eyes. Thats because I expect more of America. The country I love is better than that. Yet fear, prejudice and hatred are powerful things. Because of anti-Semitism in the U.S., it wasnt until 1945 after the war and 10 years after the German Reichstag passed the Nuremberg laws, which restricted the rights of Jews that President Harry Truman issued an executive order giving refugee preference to Jews fleeing Europe. Incredibly, even then, some anti-Semites in Congress pushed back. Americans should ask themselves: How many Jews died in the decade that we dithered? One hopes that, the next time we get tested, it doesnt take us 10 years to conquer our demons and listen to our better angels. Guess what? The test is today. The United States now has a whole new crop of refugees to contend with. This time, theyre fleeing Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, which are all hotbeds of violence. There is your border crisis. These days, most of the people crossing are not economic immigrants from Mexico, whose numbers are way down. With more opportunity in Mexico, folks are staying put. Refugees dont have that option. You cant stay home when the house is on fire. You jump out the window and pray for mercy. Some people will see the comparison. Others dont want to see it. We dont have to say that brown-skinned Latino refugees coming from Central America in 2019 are exactly the same as light-skinned Jewish refugees who came from Europe in the 1930s and 1940s. And we dont have to argue that ruthless and well-armed drug gangs in Central America are the moral equivalent of the Nazis. Thats not the point. This is about the common denominator: Americans, and how they treat the stranger. The answer often depends on just how strange the visitor appears to the hosts. Im sick of duplicity and double-talk. Its time to decide whether or not were going to live up to our brand. Is America still, as advertised, a nation of immigrants seeking opportunity and a safe haven for refugees yearning to breathe free? Or not? If President Donald Trump gets his way, the answer will be not. In remarks from the White House on Thursday, Trump complained that many of todays asylum claims are frivolous. How would we ever know if thats true if we dont give people a fair hearing? Americans have a chance to make amends to the annals of history. We cant afford to fail again. ruben@rubennavarrette.com President Donald Trumps immigration plan is wholly incomplete. It represents a lost opportunity to pursue more comprehensive measures, as in true reform. This plan amounts to political positioning that addresses most notably only one thing. And that isnt as broken as this plan supposes. The president would prioritize entry on merit skills and talents the country needs rather than family reunification. Reuniting families had represented nearly 60 percent of admissions. That would fall to about one-third, with merit taking the bigger share and the diversity visa lottery eliminated completely. The wall is still in the plan. Emphasizing merit highly skilled workers who speak English and have good income prospects isnt necessarily a bad thing, though families kept apart is likely to be a hard sell. That is not nearly as bad, however, as separating children from parents at the border. For years, folks from all over the political spectrum have had a mantra: Our immigration system is broken. But the leaders who have taken up this mantra lately view whats broken through a narrower lens. Put bluntly, the problem has been perceived by these leaders as too many of the wrong kind of immigrants coming in. Lately, those wrong kind of people have been asylum-seekers from Central America. The presidents view on this topic has been laid bare by his (expletive)hole countries comment and his claim that the nation is now too full for immigrants. This indicates he has had a broader view of whos wrong. Yes, the flood of asylum-seekers has exposed our system as inadequate not enough immigration judges to process the claims and a detention system without sufficient capacity. But that is not even the tip of the iceberg on whats broken about our immigration system. Among its flaws: We currently have a system that refuses to acknowledge U.S. businesss demand for immigrant workers and not just those highly skilled ones that this administration is now emphasizing. It is a system that has a backlog and a wait for legal entry that incentivizes entry without documents. It is a system that, until relatively recently, did not do right by immigrants brought here as children by their undocumented parents. And it is a system that does nothing to bring in from the shadows the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants already here a whole bunch of them with U.S. citizen children but who nonetheless live in constant fear of deportation and separation from those children. This plan does nothing to address these issues. And because it is certain not to gain any traction in the Democratic-controlled U.S. House and likely none in the GOP-controlled Senate for other reasons its timing as a presidential election looms is likely no coincidence. There has been a perception that this administration has not been against just undocumented immigrants (and legal asylum-seekers) but legal immigrants, too. Trump, at one time, proposed cutting the number of legal entries by half. Heres the statement we wish the president would make and the two parties would join him in addressing: Our system is indeed broken. Dreamers must be given permanent residency and a path to citizenship. All of them. The 11 million or so undocumented immigrants must be given this also. Businesses that knowingly hire undocumented immigrants must be as targeted as the undocumented immigrants they hire, while a guest worker program and immigration system with humane contours are put into place to address a deepening labor scarcity crisis in this country for businesses generally but for agriculture specifically. The numbers for the H-1B visa program for skilled workers should be beefed up, but perhaps not accounting for nearly two-thirds of all entries. More border security? Sure, though this is about the most patrolled and monitored border in the world. But more border security should happen only if the other items are addressed. That all used to be called comprehensive immigration reform, and the nation was on the cusp of such a plan in 2013. The Senate approved it; the House refused to act. And here we are. A president who has made demagoguery on immigrants his signature move and a divided Congress unlikely to move the needle on reform with those divisions not helped by the presidents rhetoric. This plan is likely going nowhere. As is, thats good. What isnt good is the lack of political will to tackle immigration in more meaningful fashion. A proposed land swap between city officials and the developer of a controversial East Side apartment complex could help end a years-long legal battle over land next to the historic Hays Street Bridge. Officials have been looking to resolve the seven-year fight since the Texas Supreme Court ruled that local activists could sue the city over a 1.7-acre tract north of the bridge at 803 N. Cherry St. Local activists argue the city had no right to sell the land to developer Mitch Meyer in 2012 that it was intended to become a public park or community space. The Hays Street Bridge Restoration Group sued the city that year and has since opposed efforts to develop the property into a mixed-use apartment complex. On ExpressNews.com: City of San Antonio trying to end legal fight over Hays Street Bridge land Now, city leaders are pursuing a deal to give Meyer two acres of land carved out of a 3.9-acre lot the city owns at 223 S. Cherry Street near the Alamodome for his planned development, less than a mile from Meyers land. In exchange, Meyer would give the city the 1.7-acre tract next to the near East Side landmark. City Council is expected to vote on the proposal by July. If the deal goes through, would activists finally get their park? Not necessarily, officials said. It could be a park, District 2 Councilman Art Hall said Tuesday. It could be other uses if the community feels that thats what they would like to see. Hall described the proposed swap as a value-to-value transaction, meaning the two parcels are of equal value. But Hall and Assistant City Manager Lori Houston declined to disclose the value of the land its proposing to trade. The city threw in an additional 0.3-acre so Meyers planned apartment building would not exceed five floors, Hall said, a concern of the Denver Heights Neighborhood Association. The Bexar Appraisal District valued Meyers land at more than $546,000 this year, but Hall and Houston said they believe the land is worth more though Hall added it is hard to put a value on a piece of property that has had so much community interest. On ExpressNews.com: California developer plans 112-room boutique hotel for downtown San Antonio Activists fear Meyer will profit from the transaction which Meyer and city officials dispute and the city will give away land set aside for affordable housing for a development that will charge market-rate rents. Sweetheart deals are not democracy, and this is what the city continues to do over and over, said Graciela Sanchez, executive director of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center. The proposed land trade is not a good deal for me, Meyer said, adding that he has already spent $600,000 of his own money on designing and planning the 148-unit complex. If he moved the proposed development to the city-owned property, Meyer said he would have to start from scratch. This is really a full-hearted effort for me to try to do right by the neighborhood and this is the thank you you get, that its just somehow a sweetheart deal, he said. Former District 2 Councilman William Cruz Shaw approached Meyer about a similar arrangement before the lawsuit went before the state Supreme Court, Meyer said. At the time, Meyer rejected the proposal because he liked the site. But the years of controversy and legal battles wore Meyer down and made him amenable to a potential trade, he said. It was just like a bad marriage, Meyer said. Here, you can have the car, the money. Just leave me alone. Officials with the Center City Development and Operations Department noted in November the 4-acre site close to the Alamodome would be ideal for an affordable housing development. The city could still use the land for affordable housing or sell the land to an affordable housing developer if the deal falls apart or City Council votes against it, Hall said. Meyer said he plans to set aside 10 percent of the units for affordable housing. The city promised Meyer $1.2 million in housing incentives to build the complex. Meyer and city officials are negotiating whether the developer gets to keep those incentives if City Council approves the land exchange. On ExpressNews.com: Does business support matter in San Antonio mayoral races? Its unclear whether the swap would bring an end to the legal saga. The Hays Street Bridge Restoration Group sued the city after City Council members voted to sell the land, donated to the city in 2007 by beer distributor BudCo, to Alamo Beer. Brewery owner Eugene Simor later deeded the Cherry Street tract to Meyer. The city Historic and Design Review Commission twice shot down Meyers plans for the property. In an unusual decision, Sculley ignored the commissions recommendation and approved the complex in March 2018 with stipulations, including that the developer and the Dignowity Hill Neighborhood Association reach an agreement on its design. Weeks later, the neighborhood associations architectural review committee threw its weight behind the project after association president Chris Barrows, who supported the project, purged all six other committee members and appointed temporary replacements. The Texas Supreme Court ruled in March that the city did not have governmental immunity that would shield it from the restoration groups lawsuit . Joshua Fechter is a San Antonio-based staff writer covering real estate, economic development and philanthropy. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFreports 3 1 of 3 Westport Fire Department photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Westport Fire Department photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 WESTPORT - A driver escaped serious injury Tuesday after their pickup crashed into a utility pole on Wilton Road. Westport Fire Department, along with Westport police and EMS, responded to the single-vehicle accident. Scottish farming leaders have met with Lord Bew to call for Scotlands farm funding shortfall of almost 190 million to be rectified. The Bew Review continues to take evidence on the convergence issue and how the UK government chose to distribute additional EU farm funding, received in 2013, to devolved administrations. The divided of 223 million (190m) came about as a result of Scotlands low payment rate per hectare (approx. 130 per ha). The UK was awarded the sum in 2013 as part of EU CAP reforms. Scotlands below average area payment rates is around 45 per cent of the EU average. Consequently, the UK will receive the 190m over the period 2014 to 2020. In a face-to-face meeting with Lord Bew on Monday 20 May, NFU Scotlands Director of Policy Jonnie Hall and his team said the UK government's decision to share the dividend across the whole of the UK was 'fundamentally flawed.' In the past six years, NFU Scotland has repeatedly called for, and received pledges from successive Defra ministers, that the decision would be subject to review. That process is now under way. The union responded to Lord Bews Independent Review in writing in late April and the meeting on Monday provided the opportunity to reiterate points made in the submission in person. NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick said there was 'never a rational justification' for using historic allocations to distribute this uplift. The UK was given the uplift because of Scotlands low payment rate and that should have meant that the money was paid to Scotlands farmers and crofters, he said. Now we have an opportunity to correct this long running sore and it needs to be addressed. We need this wrong righted. Mr McCornick added: The outcome of this Review has the potential to set the factors that will determine how agricultural support is awarded across the UK in the future. Post-Brexit, a UK agricultural budget will be needed. Auditors are conducting an assessment whether the European Unions agricultural policy helps maintain and enhance biodiversity. In particular, the European Court of Auditors will examine the design of the bloc's biodiversity strategy and its application in the common agricultural policy (CAP). They will also assess the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of EU funding for biodiversity in farming. Agricultural biodiversity refers to all ecosystems and life forms directly related to farming. This includes rare seed varieties and animal breeds, many organisms such as soil fauna, weeds, pests, predators, and all of the native plants and animals living on and passing through a farm. According to the auditors, biodiversity in the EU is in a 'continuous, strong decline, particularly as a result of farming activity'. One million species worldwide are at risk of extinction, a recent international report warns. In the EU, agriculture is the largest contributor to biodiversity loss, said Janusz Wojciechowski, the member of the European Court of Auditors responsible for the audit. Our audit will determine how helpful EU contribution has been to correct and even reverse this situation. Maintaining biodiversity In 2011, the EU adopted its current biodiversity strategy, which aims to help stop biodiversity loss by 2020. One of its main targets is to increase the contribution of agriculture to at least maintaining the same level of biodiversity. According to European Commission estimates, around 85 billion has been earmarked for the 2014-2020 period to tackle biodiversity loss. EU support for farmland biodiversity comes mainly from the CAP. The audit will assess the contribution of the EUs agriculture policy in the period 2014-2020 to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity by 2020. In particular, the auditors will examine whether the biodiversity strategy and the CAP legal framework were well-designed and whether the European Commission and the member states have improved farmings contribution to biodiversity. The audit will include visits to five Member States: Germany, Ireland, Poland, Cyprus and Romania. A Scottish deer estate has created an innovative way to help boost the population of wild salmon in the countrys rivers. The Glenmuick Estate appeared on BBC's Countryfile to show the work it is doing to help The Missing Salmon Project an Atlantic Salmon Trust initiative which is trying to reverse the decline of wild salmon in Scotland. The salmon in the River Dee and the River Muick, which both flow through the estate, are being given a helping hand by the deer farm. Deer legs, a by-product from the farm, are being used by the Dee District Salmon Fishery Board to return nutrients to the rivers. Juvenile salmon are then able to feed on the nutrients, increasing their chances of survival and boosting the salmon population in the long term. Ian McKenzie, an associate at Fisher German who is responsible for managing the estate, helped get the project off the ground after the Deeside Fisheries Board got in touch to see if they could help. He said: We were contacted by the Deeside Fisheries Board who asked if we could supply them with deer legs from Glenmuick deer farm to help with salmon conservation. I approached Glenmuicks owner to see what he thought, and he was only too happy to help. Deer legs are a waste product that butchers dont want, so it made perfect sense to give them to the Deeside Fisheries Board to make use of them. Ian McKenzie added: Were always looking for ways to help the environment, so getting involved with a project aimed at reversing the decline in Scotlands wild salmon seemed like a worthwhile thing to do. The work Glenmuick has done to help Scottish salmon is set to be featured on BBCs Countryfile after camera crews visited the estate at the end of April. Farmers have been asked to share their experiences of milk fever, a disease which can result in significant losses and has an impact on animal welfare. The new survey is aiming to capture the opinions of farmers and their on-farm experiences of the condition, formally called hypocalcaemia. Farmers across the UK are being encouraged to share their knowledge to fill in some of the gaps that still exist on the impact of milk fever both clinical and subclinical. The survey, launched by Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, seeks to assess the scale of the hypocalcaemia problem on dairy and beef farms as well as look at the impact it has on the farm and productivity. Milk fever is currently thought to affect between 4-9% of the UKs dairy cows, with the subclinical form affecting up to 39%. The survey will provide another up to date figure to compare with existing data and look at any regional trends that might exist. Farmers are encouraged to complete the survey regardless of whether they believe milk fever is an issue on their farm or not. Mathieu Maignan, of Boehringer Ingelheim, said: We are really keen to find out about the real-life experience of milk fever and what really matters to farmers so that we can use this knowledge to improve the approach to managing the condition. Milk fever can result in significant losses and has a big impact to animal welfare. Finding out what aspect is of most concern and the strategies farmers currently use will help us support them more effectively. Kath Aplin, veterinary adviser, is hoping to find out more about the recognition of the signs of subclinical milk fever in particular. She said milk fever is not always well recognised as a predisposing factor in a number of conditions associated around transition. It will be really interesting to see if farmers feel there is a connection between those conditions and low calcium levels and how this affects which animals they target with calcium supplementation and other interventions, she said. The survey is online and available for completion now, and will run until 31st August 2019. The results will be shared with the farming and veterinary community alongside any insights gained into ways to improve the approach to milk fever. A niche group of medics suggesting hospitals should stop serving sausages and bacon have 'misunderstood' the report they are relying on to back up their claim. The Plant Based Health Professionals group, run by doctors and medical professionals, has called on the NHS to ban bacon and sausages in hospital canteens over a perceived cancer risk. The group quoted a 2015 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report, suggesting it showed a person has as much chance of developing cancer if they eat processed meat as they would if they smoked or handled asbestos. The vegan medical professionals suggested that patients, staff and visitors should not be served these products. However Maureen Strong, nutritionist with the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), said the IARC report looks at 'hazards only' and to suggest otherwise is 'misleading'. It is worrying that this small group of medical professionals, who people may look to for advice, are suggesting something that it is completely not true, she said. At best, they have misunderstood the report. At worst, it seems that they are pushing a lifestyle change which could have a negative effect on the health of some people. We should be able to expect our hospitals to respect the importance of the totality of scientific evidence to inform policy decisions. To suggest that the IARC report on processed meat implies that it causes cancer is wrong. Ms Strong added: IARC merely performed a hazard analysis which in no way proves cause and effect. A banana skin on the ground is a hazard but it does not mean that all banana skins can cause accidents and are, therefore, potentially harmful to health. Whilst IARC has placed processed meat in the same hazard analysis category as tobacco smoking and asbestos, WHO does point out that this does not mean they are all equally dangerous, she noted. It is also worth highlighting that processed meat is in the same hazard analysis category as HRT and contraception pills, both of which are prescribed by doctors and for which there is no suggestion of any change in behaviour. NHS administration should take note of this to avoid making ill-informed policy decisions which could mislead the general public, Ms Strong said. She added that under IARC definitions, most fresh sausages in the UK would not fall into the category of processed meat. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Campaigners fighting to block plans for an extension of a quarry above Uzumlu have been celebrating success this week. News broke last night that the local authorities would not be granting the application to increase the quarry footprint. The same company will also be denied permission to build a cement factory and asphalt plant on the site between Uzumlu and Incirkoy. Picnic protest In a statement issued on the Uzumlu Environment Protection Groups Facebook page last night, credit was given to the picnic protest at the beginning of this month. Hundreds turned up on May 3 to confront the applicants, demanding answers to questions on the potential environmental impact of the expansion plans. Acting on the protestors behalf, lawyer Bora Sarca confirmed the weight of opposition and the passionate defence of the area by both Turks and foreign nationals had been enough to sway the authorities. The proximity of the quarry to local olive groves has been cited as the prime reason for the application being rejected. A banner giving a very clear message about the proposed quarry above Yesil Uzumlu and Incirkoy. Fighting On However, campaigners point out similar projects have been rejected on the same grounds before so their focus will now switch to securing Protected Status the area in the hope it will prove to be a long-term deterrent. A dinner and Latin dance demo at Park Alya on Saturday boosted funds by TL 3,150. However, spokesman Dave Roue said protesters will not be drawing in their horns. We must now concentrate our efforts on obtaining a Protection Zone for our region and put a final stop to any further applications or developments, he said. Fund-raising will continue over the coming months so please continue supporting us in our efforts. Anyone who would like to donate can still do so on the campaigns GoFundMe page. This article is published with kind permission of the Travel Foundation The Travel Foundation has been actively working in the Mugla region of Turkey for almost 10 years and has delivered major projects related to local livelihoods and conservation. This area has some of Turkeys most popular resorts such as Bodrum, Marmaris and Fethiye and welcomes 3.5 million tourists every year. Together with TUI Care Foundation, weve started to implement one of our most ambitious projects in the region called Flavours from the Fields. Flavours from the Fields The project aims to bring more secure and sustainable livelihoods for rural families by increasing the supply of locally processed agricultural products (such as honey, olive oil and jams) from small-scale producers in the Mugla region into hotels and tourism businesses in the main resorts. Top left: Cihangir Karasu (TUI Blue Sarigerme Park Purchasing Manager) receiving first order from Labranda Olive Oils delivery staff Nurullah Aydin; Top right: Semsi from the Travel Foundation, Agehan Manav (owner of Maki Bahce Natural Products), Yasin Ekizoglu and Cihangir Karasu; Bottom: Kemal Guneri (TUI Blue Sarigerme Park Finance Manager), Semsi, Levent Baydal (owner of Labranda Olive Oils), Yavuz Zeyrek (TUI Blue Sarigerme Park General Manager) and Cihangir Karasu. Region-wide opportunities for supply and demand At the beginning of this year, region-wide opportunities for both supply and demand were explored, identifying the producers and products that were suitable for hotels and tourism businesses. Local cooperatives and SMEs (Small and medium sized enterprises) were the main focus of the initial work as the plan is to directly link them with hotels in the best and most practical ways possible. The project team are utilising previous experience and assessing lessons learned from the Taste of Fethiye project. Being aware of hotels needs, adapting to their standards and gaining their trust are key issues in this kind of initiative. They have already been able to start linking local producers with some of the biggest hotels in the region. It is wonderful to see the ideas from the planning stages turning into reality, such as the recent purchase agreements producers secured with one of the flagship hotels in Turkey. Photograph courtesy of TUI Care Foundation TUI Blue Sarigerme Park (see staff pictured above) have committed to buy all of their honey, olive oils and dried apples from the producers working with the Flavours from the Fields project. The very first delivery of pine honey (a specialist forest honey) from the Karabortlen Village Cooperative was also made this week. Agehan Manav, 34, the CEO of Maki Bahce Natural Products, expressed her excitement about the deal with the hotel: Im very happy with the opportunity this project provided for me. I never supplied products to a hotel of this size. Now I feel more connected with an attractive sector in which I wanted to engage since a long time. Yavuz Zeyrek, General Manager of Sargerme Park, was equally positive about the project: We are excited about the support of Flavours of the Fields, which helps us to source high quality local products. This adds value to both our guests experience and the local economy. There has been great interest in the project from Fethiye hotels and products will start to be delivered to them within the next few weeks engagements with Marmaris and Bodrum hotels will follow. Over the next three years, the project aims to deliver products to 50 hotels in the region and 800,000 tourists will be enjoying local delicacies. MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AT THE USP ROBOCON LAUNCH Acting Vice President Dr. Anjeela Jokhan Associate Dean of the Faculty of Science, Technology and Engineering Head of School, Professor Maurizio Cirrincione Staff and students of School of Engineering and Physics Representatives of engineering student chapters Year 13 Students and staff from selected schools Ladies and Gentlemen Ni sa bula vinaka, As-salam Alaikum, Namaste and a very good afternoon to you all. Thank you for the kind words of welcome accorded to me. I am delighted to be here to officiate at the Robocon launch at USP School of Engineering & Physics. Ladies and gentlemen, the Asia-Pacific ROBOCON competition is held every year and is organised by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union based in Japan. The competition brings together University students from over 20 countries in the Asia-Pacific Region. The University of the South Pacific School of Engineering and Physics students have been engaged in this competition since 2002. I am pleased as well as excited to know that in August 2020, Fiji will host the Asia-Pacific ROBOCON competition which will be a historical event for USP, our secondary school students and for all the Asia Pacific participants. The launch today is a stepping stone for us to gear into a few months of preparation leading up to August 2020 Asia-Pacific ROBOCON competition. Ladies and gentlemen, the Ministry is working together with the University of the South Pacific on a number of events linked to ROBOCON: 1 Holding a secondary school competition at USP this month 2020 2 Inviting secondary school students to the actual 2020 ROBOCON Competition in August (to be held at the Vodafone Arena) 3 Running a competition in schools, from May to June, 2019, to select a theme for next years School competition. 4 Primary school Poster competition during 2020 ROBOCON Competition in July and August. This is the first time our students will have the opportunity to take part in events leading up to the actual Asia-Pacific ROBOCON competition. It is indeed once-in-a lifetime opportunity for our school students. Ladies and gentlemen, the world has recognized the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths education. Fiji has also recognized this need as we lack skilled engineers to contribute to our growing economy whether they help build roads and bridges, new machinery or even buildings which are Cyclone Category 5 proof. Earlier this month, 30 girls completed a STEM camp coordinated by Graduate Women Fiji. This initiative was for primary school students to have a positive self-perception and be encouraged to take up careers in STEM subjects later on in life. We also need to break down the barriers of gender stereotyping in some professions including engineering. In order to promote an increased uptake in STEM subjects at universities, we need those same universities to train new teachers who will inspire our next generation of engineers, statisticians, software programmers, app developers, climate change scientists and the list goes on. Our Ministry has been working with the School of Education and Pacific TAFE to address this as we need them to up their game in this area. Technology and robotics are now being integrated into everyday life in society. This competition will enhance our students knowledge of the applications of different disciplines like Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science. Furthermore, such competitions promote interdisciplinary knowledge and application of different disciplines, which enables greater creativity. So to ensure that our students develop the critical thinking, innovation, analytical skills and team work that are required in the engineering profession, activities such as this help. We are working to develop a new concept of a Science and Engineering Challenge and a Science Circus Pacific which, we believe, will further assist to raise the profile of STEM and engineering with support from various universities. In a profession like engineering, the value of teamwork cannot be over-emphasized. The activities planned require students to work in collaboration and create solutions. The next 12 to 15 months will be exciting times for our school students preparing for the High School competition to be held along with the Asia-Pacific ROBOCON competition in August 2020. When we are engaged with this, we should consider the significance of participation more than winning. As for today, we have established the platform for the planned ROBOCON events that will involve our talented and capable secondary school and university students that have interest in engineering and technology. You will also have the privilege to meet other University students, local and international academics grasp this opportunity to expand you experience and knowledge. Through these competitions, you will gain exposure to new ideas and also experience the innovations in the world of technology. I wish all school and university students well as you prepare to participate in the upcoming months. We will be there to support Team Fiji in the competition. Thank you. Vinaka Vakalevu! May God bless you all! Vandana Confirmed Trouble In Imran-Avantika's Marriage She confirmed there were indeed problems between the couple, but they were working on it. "We all (Vandana, Avantika and Imran) read the news and let me tell you that there is no such thing. There are some differences (between the husband and wife), which will be sorted anyway," she was quoted as saying. Imran-Avantika To Get Divorced? Here's The Truth On being quizzed if they are considering divorce as an option, Vandana rubbished the reports and was quoted as saying, "Absolutely not." The Couple's Family & Friends Are Trying To Help Them To Sort Their Differences A DNA report stated that Imran and Avantika's family and friends are trying to figure out what went wrong and how their differences could be resolved so that they can give their marriage one more chance. A Quick Recap Imran and Avantika were childhood sweethearts who dated for about eight years before finally tying the knot in 2011. It is said that Imran had proposed Avantika in a dreamy way where he snuck into her house and decorated it with candles. After a grand pre-wedding celebration, they had a registered marriage on January 11 and had hosted their wedding reception at Taj Land's End Hotel in Mumbai. In 2014, the couple became parents to a baby girl whom they named Imara. Speaking about the meaning of her name, Imran had said in one of his interviews, "It is Swahili, and it means strong and resolute. It's a dumdaar name." Nothing Has Changed Between Salman-SLB Over The Years Salman said that though he is reuniting with Bhansali after a long gap, nothing has changed about their bond. The actor was quoted as saying, "Whenever he and I meet, there is this connect it's just not an actor-director relationship. Just because he was working with other actors, it didn't have to hamper or spoil our equation." Salman Calls Inshallah 'A Very Sweet Love Story' He further added, "I work with other directors too, so should he. Now, we will be collaborating on this very sweet love story." The Superstar Is All Praises For Alia Bhatt "See how she's turned it around, from a student to now, it's beautiful! And no one can take credit for her growth except Alia herself! Jo bhi bole humne usse banaya hai is not to be believed. It's Alia who has honed her talent," the actor was quoted as saying by the tabloid. Salman Says Alia Is A Godown Of Talent Salman even said that while Alia is a godown of talent, he has no talent. "A godown of talent will be meeting with a bundle of talent....actually there's no talent here," said Salman to the daily. Alia Is Thrilled To Work With Salman The actress in an earlier interview had said, "I am thrilled to be working with Salman. Even I never thought this combination is possible. It will be an intriguing journey and Salman is genuinely warm and kind. They are a magical duo together and I am blessed to be in it." Rashmika Mandanna made her entry in Sandalwood with Kirik Party. Her innocent and charming looks caught the attention of hundreds and thousands of fans. She instantly rose to fame and undoubtedly, was the most liked actress of the Kannada film industry. However, after her breakup with Rakshit Shetty, her presence is more prominent in the Telugu film industry than Sandalwood. And now, there is another actress who is making headlines. Fans are just not able to stop admiring her. She's also being called the next Rashmika Mandanna of Sandalwood. The actress who first appeared on the small screen is now making headlines for her song 'Shaane top ag avle' song from Sinnga. Yes, we are talking about Aditi Prabhudeva. Upon seeing her in films such as Bazaar and Sinnga, fans are calling her the next Rashmika Mandanna of Sandalwood. Fans are also requesting her to act opposite other big stars of Kannada film industry. Seems like, she is, after all, going to be the next big name in Sandalwood. Aditi who was born in Davanagere, joined Kannada serial Gundayana Hendti after completing her engineering and MBA. She made her Sandalwood debut with Dhairyam opposite Ajay Rao. This Famous Kannada Director Had Planned To Assault Srimurali! Here's Why What do you have to say about Aditi Prabhudeva? Let us know in the comments below! Srimurali had proved his potential as an actor by featuring in many hit films. He rose to fame when he acted in Ugramm, which went on to become a blockbuster. After Ugramm, the audience began to associate him with action. But, he was treated quite differently in real life. In the recent episode of Weekend With Ramesh, Srimurali revealed that a famous Kannada director had once planned to assault him. The actor was targeted to be beaten up because he was flirting with this famous director's sister! Interesting much? Read further. Srimurali was studying in college at the time when he developed a huge crush on this girl. She was none other than, KGF director Prashanth Neel's sister. Prashanth was also studying at the same college as Srimurali. When the director came to know that Srimurali was actually attracted to his sister, he planned to assault him. However, Srimurali and Prashanth Neel's sister eventually fell in love and are now happily married. The Ugramm actor laughed as he recollected this incident. Also, Srimurali and Prashanth Neel are related. Prasanth Neel, who also spoke on the chat show, humorously said that the plan he made for Srimurali was a form of dowry as he married his sister. The KGF director got his first break through Ugramm. Apparently, he had promised Srimurali he would make him a star with his first film, which turned out to be true. Yash Was Asked To Bring Tea & Cigarettes For Senior Directors Once Upon A Time; Says It Hurt His Ego Currently, Srimurali is busy with his next film Bharate. Meanwhile, Prasanth Neel is back in action as the shooting for KGF Chapter 2 has commenced. Kajal Aggarwal will be back to Kollywood after a short break with some really promising projects. The movies like Paris Paris and Comali are the ones in the line-up and at the same time, there are other big projects too in the kitty. It is known to all that Kajal Aggarwal has been roped in for Kamal Haasan-Shankar team's upcoming venture Indian 2, which is a highly-awaited film. However, a whole lot of rumours have come out regarding the prospects of the projects. Certain unconfirmed reports also had come in that the project has been dropped with Lyca moving out of the project. Now, if the latest reports that have come out are to be believed, Kajal Aggarwal herself has come up with a clarification regarding all these. According to the reports, Kajal Aggarwal has rubbished the rumours in connection with shelving of the project and has also reportedly conveyed that the shoot of Indian 2 will be beginning in June 2019. Certain latest reports also claim that Lyca is back to the project after the differences getting sorted out. Indian 2 is the sequel to the 1997 movie Indian, which also came from Shankar-Kamal Haasan team. Meanwhile, Kajal Aggarwal is gearing up for her next movie release, which will be in Telugu. The film titled as Sita will reach the theatres this weekend. READ: Kajal Aggarwal Gets Trolled By Her Fans For A Shocking Reason; Deets Inside! Mohit Shot Dead! The incident happened in outer Delhi's Najafgarh when Mohit had gone to visit his friend at a Xerox shop. According to India-forum report, the statement given by the police in charge of Mohit's case read, "The three accused were captured on CCTV camera, leaving the scene of the crime. All the three accused, one of them wearing a black helmet, had come on a scooter. They were seen in a CCTV footage running away from the busy narrow street after the crime." Personal Enmity Or Money Dispute Might Be The Reason The statement further read, "We are trying to identify the accused. Prima facie, it appears a case of personal enmity and a money dispute. We are checking his Tik Tok and Instagram accounts comments and Call Details Record (CDR) to establish his enmity with anyone on social media that may help us to crack the case." 3 Armed Men Fired 13 Bullets At Mohit A senior police officer was quoted by a news portal, "When Mohit was speaking with his friend inside the shop, three armed persons barged inside the shop and indiscriminately fired 13 bullets at him. Mohit Mor fell on a sofa kept inside the shop. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead. Mohit Mor took seven bullets." Was Rising Popularity The Motive Behind The Murder? Mohit was a student of Motilal Nehru College of Delhi University. His family, friends and fans are shocked with his sudden demise. Apparently, his rising popularity could have been the motive behind the daylight murder. Financialnewsmedia.com News Commentary PALM BEACH, Florida, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent industry report on the future of the CBD market, had higher than expected revenue figures than expected. An article focusing on northeastern U.S said: "Other owners of tens of thousands of acres of preserved agricultural land are betting on a bill that's working its way through the state Legislature that will allow them to join a business that's expected to be worth $22 billion by 2022... The demand for CBD products is exploding. At the moment the demand is far outpacing the supply," said Heather Darby, a hemp expert at the University of Vermont Extension who has advised agricultural officials and prospective hemp cultivators in Massachusetts. "Farmers and businesses are scaling up production quickly and moving from producing an acre to producing 50 acres... About 1,500 to 2,000 hemp plants can be grown per acre generating between $40,000 and $50,000, according to information provided by Brightfield Group, a Chicago-based cannabis research firm. Active Companies from around the market with current developments this week include:Marijuana Company of America, Inc.,Medical Marijuana, Inc., Kona Gold Solutions, Inc., CV Sciences, Inc., PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. Marijuana Company of America, Inc. (OTCQB:MCOA) BREAKING NEWS: Marijuana Company of America, an innovative hemp and cannabis corporation, today reported its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019.A fewFirst Quarter 2019 Financial and Operational Highlights: Total revenues were $114,810 for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 , compared to $19,010 for the same period prior year, representing a 504% increase year-over-year. The increase was driven by growth in demand and sales of its hempSMART products in conjunction with the Company's global expansion program. for the quarter ended , compared to for the same period prior year, representing a 504% increase year-over-year. The increase was driven by growth in demand and sales of its hempSMART products in conjunction with the Company's global expansion program. Gross profit for the first quarter of 2019 increased to $74,932 , compared to $8,564 for the same period prior year. Gross margins expanded to 65.3% in the first quarter of 2019, compared to 45% from the first quarter of 2018. , compared to for the same period prior year. Gross margins expanded to 65.3% in the first quarter of 2019, compared to 45% from the first quarter of 2018. Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were $989,037 , compared to $302,872 for the same period prior year, as a result of increases in SG&A associated with the growth of the Company's dedicated associate sales program for its hempSMART sales. , compared to for the same period prior year, as a result of increases in SG&A associated with the growth of the Company's dedicated associate sales program for its hempSMART sales. Net loss from operations was $4.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 , compared to net income of $4.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 . The previous year's income was essentially due to gain in derivatives. for the quarter ended , compared to net income of for the quarter ended . The previous year's income was essentially due to gain in derivatives. Usage of cash flow from operations decreased year-over-year to $207,098 for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 , from a cash usage of $497,250 for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 . for the quarter ended , from a cash usage of for the quarter ended . Total assets were $2,143,188 for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 , an increase of 12% from $1,919,782 for the quarter ended March 31 , 2018. The increase of total assets is due to an increase in cash, inventory and long-term investments that the Company made in the quarter. for the quarter ended , an increase of 12% from for the quarter ended , 2018. The increase of total assets is due to an increase in cash, inventory and long-term investments that the Company made in the quarter. Total liabilities were $8,087,340 for the quarter ended March 31, 2019 , compared to total liabilities of $5,053,887 for the quarter ended March 31 , 2018. The increase of liabilities has largely to do with derivative liabilities increasing by $2.7 million and convertible notes issued during the quarter. "Our first quarter results demonstrate our focus on laying the foundation and investments to establish our presence in the high-growth cannabis, hemp and CBD markets," said Mr. Don Steinberg, Chief Executive Officer of Marijuana Company of America. "During the quarter, we successfully prelaunched our hempSMART line of products in the United Kingdom and promoted them at Super Bowl LIII. Our hempSMART Brain product was also issued a U.S. Patent, followed by the exciting news of our engagement with Natural Plant Extract of California to form a joint venture to operate a cannabis delivery service. Our passion from the beginning has been on our hempSMART wellness products, which continue to successfully generate demand and interest worldwide. As a result, we have significantly expanded our hemp research and growth business. With our powerful consortium of partners and joint venture relationships, we believe we are strategically positioned to vertically integrate our operations and further increase our revenue potential."Read this and more news for MCOA at:https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-mcoa/ In the industry developments and happenings in the market this week include: Medical Marijuana, Inc. recently announced that its subsidiary Dixie Botanicals has released a new orange-flavored cannabidiol (CBD) Isolate Tincture. Each 1 oz. bottle of Dixie Botanicals CBD Isolate Tincture contains 250 mg of CBD, medium chain triglycerides (MCT) oil, and an all-natural orange flavor for a refreshing taste. This tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-free tincture is designed for consumers on-the-go because of its compact size and convenient dropper. "Dixie Botanicals continues to bring consumer-friendly, great-tasting CBD products to the market with the intent of making it as easy as possible for people to nourish their endogenous cannabinoid system," said Medical Marijuana, Inc. CEO Dr. Stuart Titus. "We hope that the large variety in products that this brand offers can help us reach many consumers with a variety of flavor and delivery method preferences." PotNetwork Holdings, Inc. through its wholly-owned subsidiary PotNetwork Media Group is at the forefront of a new revival of print journalism, according to a recent article published on SmallCap Network. As per the piece, the Company's recently launched PotNetwork Magazine, which went into circulation this past February, is one of a select few successful publications to have grown out of the cannabis boom of the past few years. PotNetwork Magazine has "[established] itself as a vital part of a new sector of the media industry," according to SmallCap Network. "We're extremely proud of our PotNetwork Media Group division and the business opportunities that is has afforded us," said Kevin Hagen, CEO of PotNetwork Holding, Inc. "To see such growth in such a short amount of time is a testament to our coordinated strength as a Company." CV Sciences, Inc. recently announced that its industry-dominating PlusCBD OilTM products were used in the first study to date examining the clinical benefit of CBD for the treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The study, published in The Journal Of Alternative And Complementary Medicine in April 2019, examined the effect of oral CBD administration on symptoms of PTSD in a series of 11 adult patients at an outpatient psychiatry clinic. CV Sciences provided various PlusCBD Oil products for the study; delivery systems and usage were determined by patient and provider preference. The published study can be viewed at the following link: Cannabidiol in the Treatment of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A case Series. CV Sciences was not involved in the data collection, data interpretation, the preparation of the article, or the decision to submit for publication. Kona Gold Solutions, Inc. recently announced it has signed an LOI to lease warehouse space in Greer, South Carolina, right outside of Greenville. The warehouse encompasses 30,000 square feet, in which the Company will acquire 15,000 square feet with the option to lease the additional 15,000 square feet within two years. The new warehouse space will operate as Kona Gold's distribution hub, where all product will be stored and shipped to distributors around the country. The location will also serve as a new Gold Leaf Distribution hub as the Company expands Gold Leaf's distribution footprint in new markets. Gold Leaf is currently targeting potential distribution acquisitions to expand its territories and product offerings. Kona Gold moved into its new 5,000 square foot Corporate headquarters one year ago and has already maxed out its capacity to store product at that location as the Company continues its rapid growth. The Florida offices will continue to serve as the Corporate headquarters for the Company. DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. 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Contact Information: Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com +1(561)325-8757 GUANGZHOU, China, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The EY and Guardtime marine insurance blockchain joint venture company Insurwave Limited today announces a new agreement with Zhuhai Port Holdings Group Co., Ltd. to explore and collaborate on shipping logistics and marine insurance to promote frictionless trade across the Greater Bay Area and beyond. During the World Port Conference in Guangzhou, Karen Maddocks, British Consul-General in Guangzhou and Tenghui Chi, Director-General of the Financial Services Bureau for the Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai, attended as witnesses to the signing on May 8th 2019. Zhuhai Port Holdings Group businesses span across the development, construction, management and operation of ports, land and supporting facilities. Insurwave Limited launched Insurwave, the world's first marine insurance blockchain platform for commercial use, in May 2018. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focuses on the link between marine insurance blockchain technology and port logistics, identifying a strategic cooperation in the marine economy of the Greater Bay Area, which can lead to more efficient and effective global trade conditions. Shaun Crawford, EY Global Vice Chair for Industry, says: "Combining the knowledge from Insurwave with Zhuhai Port Holdings' experience in port logistics, we're pleased to establish a joint initiative for identifying blockchain's applications in cross-border financial services, logistics and trade. Insurwave was developed a year ago to transform how businesses manage risk across their organization and how they work with brokers and (re)insurers. Our hope is this is another step in the right direction and will have the same impact on international trade and port logistics. This agreement comes at a great time and we look forward to supporting the Greater Bay Area plan and the Belt and Road initiative." Botao Liu, Strategic Development Center General Manager of Zhuhai Port Holdings Group, says: "Both parties have a common interest and by leveraging our core strengths we're able to seize the opportunities of the Belt and Road initiative, the opening of the Hong-Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and the Greater Bay Area to promote the connection between marine insurance blockchain technology and global port logistics." Karen Maddocks, British Consul-General, says: "Insurwave is a great example of a British technology supporting the development of the Greater Bay Area and on this occasion Zhuhai in particular. This innovative British blockchain platform will streamline marine insurance in the Greater Bay Area and boost international trade along the Belt and Road initiative." Tenghui Chi, Director-General of the Financial Services Bureau for the Hengqin New Area of Zhuhai says: "The agreement lays a great foundation for the future win-win collaboration between the two parties. We look forward to supporting upcoming initiatives from Insurwave and Zhuhai Port Holdings that will deliver valuable insights and growth to the marine insurance sector, logistics and trade in the Greater Bay Area." For more information on Insurwave, please visit ey.com/insurance_blockchain. Notes to Editors About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation is available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients. Brendan Beaver EY Global Media Relations +1 908 -642 -5615 brendan.beaver@ey.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/708904/EY_Logo.jpg SHIONOGI B.V., the European subsidiary of SHIONOGI Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; President CEO: Isao Teshirogi, Ph.D.; hereafter "Shionogi") and L. MOLTENI C. DEI F.LLI ALITTI SOCIETA DI ESERCIZIO S.P.A. (Headquarters: Florence, Italy; Managing Director: Giuseppe Seghi Recli, hereafter "Molteni") announced today that Shionogi and Molteni concluded a contract for the distribution and sale of RIZMOIC (naldemedine) for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adult patients previously treated with a laxative in the two key European markets, Italy and Poland. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190521005648/en/ Shionogi has built a strong heritage in research-based medicine. The company's research and development efforts target pain/central nervous system as one of its priority areas in the mid-term business plan. The company constantly strives to improve the quality of life of patients who suffer from pain or side effects of analgesics by bringing forth innovative drugs. Molteni is a specialty leader in the field of opioid treatments in Europe and is committed to researching and developing novel solutions for the treatment of moderate to severe pain and addiction, to safeguard patients' quality of life and care. According to this contract, Molteni will distribute and sell RIZMOIC in Italy and Poland and Shionogi will co-promote the product in Italy with Molteni. Dr. John Keller, Chief Executive Officer of Shionogi B.V., the subsidiary of Shionogi in Europe, said "This partnership marks another key milestone for the launch of RIZMOICin Europe. By partnering with Molteni, we are combining our extensive knowledge of opioid pain management to ensure more patients experiencing OIC can have access to this important treatment option. The co-promotion of Shionogi and Molteni in Italy offers a synergic partnership to maximise the value of existing commercial structures". Molteni's Managing Director, Giuseppe Seghi Recli, commented, "We are delighted to partner with Shionogi on such a promising new molecule for the treatment of OIC and we believe that the outstanding commitment shown by both parties since the beginning of our discussion will significantly contribute to raising a new patient's awareness capable to tackle this disabling and under diagnosed pathology." On February 22, 2019, the European Commission (EC) granted the Marketing Authorization (MA) for RIZMOIC for the treatment of OIC in adult patients who have previously been treated with a laxative.1,2 RIZMOIC is planned to be launched in Italy and Poland in 2020. RIZMOIC was launched under the brand name Symproic in Japan in June 2017, and in the United States in October 2017.3-5 Shionogi plans to initiate a clinical study of naldemedine in paediatric patients with OIC in the EU, in accordance with an agreed paediatric investigation plan, as well as a clinical study in adult patients with post-operative ileus. END References 1. Release on February 22, 2019 Shionogi announces European Union Marketing Authorisation for RIZMOIC (naldemedine) for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in adults previously treated with a laxative 2. SmPC, RIZMOIC, Shionogi, Feb 2019. [online] Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/product-information/rizmoic-epar-product-information_en.pdf [Accessed 20 May 2019]. 3. Release on June 7, 2017 Opioid-Induced Constipation therapeutic agent 'Symproic (naldemedine) Tablets 0.2mg' launched in Japan 4. Release on October 12, 2017 Shionogi Inc. and Purdue Pharma L.P. Announce U.S. Availability of Symproic (naldemedine) for the Treatment of Opioid-Induced Constipation in Adults with Chronic Non-Cancer Pain 5. Release on April 11, 2019 Shionogi Announces Licensing of Symproic (naldemedine) to BioDelivery Sciences International Inc. 6. Sehgal N, et al. Chronic pain treatment with opioid analgesics benefits versus harms of long-term therapy. Expert Rev Neurother. 2013;13:1201-1220. 7. Camilleri M, et al. Emerging treatments in neurogastroenterology: a multidisciplinary working group consensus statement on opioid-induced constipation. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;26: 1386-1395. 8. Coyne E, et al. Opioid-Induced constipation among patients with chronic Noncancer pain in the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom: Laxative use, response and symptom burden over time. Pain. 2015;16:1551-1565. 9. Hale M, et al. Naldemedine versus placebo for opioid-induced constipation (COMPOSE-1 and COMPOSE-2): two multicentre, phase3, double-blind, randomised, parallel-group trials. Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2017. Published online May 30, 2017. 10. Webster L, et al. Long term use of naldemedine in the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in patients with chronic noncancer pain: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 study. Pain. 2018. Published online February 2018. 11. Bowers B, et al. The evolving role of long-term pharmacotherapy for opioid-induced constipation in patients being treated for noncancer pain. Jour Pharm Practice. 2017. 12. Katakami N, et al. Randomized phase III and extension studies: efficacy and impacts on quality of life of naldemedine in subjects with opioid-induced constipation and cancer. Ann Oncol. 2018. Published online Apr 18, 2018. 13. Satomi E, et al. Efficacy and tolerability of naldemedine in patient with cancer and opioidinduced constipation: A pooled subgroup analysis of 2 randomised placebo-controlled studies. Ann Oncol. 2018. 29 (suppl 8). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190521005648/en/ Contacts: Shionogi Europe Dr. Mark Hill, Shionogi mark.hill@shionogi.eu Mirjam Korn, Shionogi mirjam.korn@shionogi.eu Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Corporate Communications Department Telephone: +81-6-6209-7885 Molteni Italy Ufficio stampa Chapter4 Tel. +39 -02 36795940 Elena Santoro santoro@chapter4.it Flavia Testorio testorio@chapter4.it Regulatory News: Lumibird (Paris:LBIRD) is announcing the success of the capital increase via a private placement, launched yesterday in an accelerated book-build. Due to strong investors demand, Lumibird decided to set the capital increase at 25.1 million euros, compared to approximately 20 million euros originally planned. Lumibird placed 1,675,442 new shares at a price per share of 15 euros, including the share premium, for a total of 25,131,630 euros, representing 10% of Lumibird's share capital pre-capital raise. For Marc Le Flohic, Lumibird Group Chairman and CEO: "With their strong interest expressed for this new operation, investors recognize the relevance of the Lumibird Group's strategy and its successful execution. I am very grateful to them. With significant financial resources, we will now be able to seize the best development opportunities, through structuring acquisitions to gain market share or through the integration of new technologies, by external growth or investment in new R D projects." The capital increase is carried out with a waiver of preferential subscription rights through a private placement based on the 16th and 18th resolutions of the Combined General Shareholders' Meeting on April 27, 2017. The subscription price of 15 euros per new share represents a discount of 10.71% compared to the closing price on May 21, 2019. Following this operation, Lumibird's share capital will be increased from 16,754,425 euros to 18,429,867 euros, divided into 18,429,867 shares with a par value of 1 euro. ESIRA has subscribed for 133,333 new shares in connection with this capital increase and will hold, in concert with EURODYNE, 50.12% of the Company's capital and 51.35% of the Company's voting rights, upon completion of the capital increase. For reference, the companies ESIRA and EURODYNE, which are directors of the Company, are also controlled by Mr Marc Le Flohic, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. For informational purposes, to the knowledge of the Company, the breakdown of the share capital before and after the settlement-delivery operations of the capital increase will be as follows: Before operation Shareholders Number of shares % of capital Theoretical number of voting rights(1) % of theoretical voting rights ESIRA 7,319,457 43.69% 7,319,457 41.21% EURODYNE 1,783,488 10.64% 2,527,554 14.23% ESIRA-EURODYNE concert 9,102,945 54.33% 9,847,011 55.44% Other 7,651,480 45.67% 7,915,101 44.56% Total 16,754,425 100% 17,762,112 100% (1) The percentages of voting rights presented in this table are calculated taking into account the treasury shares held by Lumibird. After operation Shareholders Number of shares % of capital Theoretical number of voting rights(1) % of theoretical voting rights ESIRA 7,452,790 40.44% 7,452,790 38.34% EURODYNE 1,783,488 9.68% 2,527,544 13.00% ESIRA-EURODYNE concert 9,236,278 50.12% 9,980,334 51.35% Other 9,193,589 49.88% 9,457,210 48.65% Total 18,429,867 100% 19,437,554 100% (1) The percentages of voting rights presented in this table are calculated taking into account the treasury shares held by Lumibird. For informational purposes, a shareholder who held 1% of the share capital of Lumibird before the issuance of new shares would hold 0.91% of Lumibird's share capital following the issuance. Settlement for the new shares and their admission to listing on Euronext Paris are expected to take place on May 24, 2019. The new shares will be entitled to dividends from delivery and will be traded under the same listing as the existing shares (ISIN: FR0000038242). They will be assimilated with and give the same rights as the existing shares from their issue. MidCap Partners has acted as Lead Manager and Book Runner for the private placement. LUMIBIRD is one of the world's leading specialists in lasers. With 50 years of experience and a mastering of solid state laser, laser diodes and fiber laser technologies, the Group designs, manufactures and markets high performance lasers for scientific (laboratories and universities), industrial (manufacturing, defense, Lidar sensors) and medical (ophthalmology) markets. Born from the combination of Keopsys Group with Quantel in October 2017, LUMIBIRD has more than 500 employees and over 100 million of revenues and is present in Europe, America and Asia. LUMIBIRD shares are listed on the Euronext Paris B Compartment. FR0000038242 LBIRD www.lumibird.com DISCLAIMER Lumibird ("the Company") would like to draw readers' attention to the fact that, in accordance with Article L.411-2 of the French monetary and financial code and Article 1.5 of European Parliament and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of June 14, 2017, the operation will not be the subject of a prospectus receiving a visa from the French Financial Markets Authority. Detailed information concerning Lumibird, and specifically its business, its results and the risk factors that it is exposed to, is provided in the 2018 registration document, which can be consulted, along with the other regulatory disclosures and all the press releases, on Lumibird's website (www.lumibird.com This press release is intended exclusively for information. It does not constitute and cannot be considered to constitute a public offering, an offer for subscription, an offer for sale or a solicitation of public interest with a view to an operation through a public offering of securities in any country whatsoever. Securities can only be offered or sold in the United States of America after registration in accordance with the amended U.S. Securities Act of 1933 ("U.S. Securities Act"), except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirement. The Company's securities subject to this press release have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, and the Company does not intend to make a public offering of the securities subject to this press release in the United States of America. The publication or distribution of this press release in certain countries may be prohibited under applicable laws. The information contained in this press release does not constitute an offer of securities in France, the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan or any other country. This press release is not intended to be published, released or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Canada, Australia or Japan. This document does not constitute an offer for sale or a public offering for Lumibird shares in the United States of America or any other country. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190521006036/en/ Contacts: Groupe LUMIBIRD Marc Le Flohic Chairman and CEO Tel. +33(0) 1 69 29 17 00 info@lumibird.com Groupe LUMIBIRD Pierre Vallalta Chief Financial Officer Tel. +33(0) 1 69 29 17 00 info@lumibird.com Calyptus Mathieu Calleux Investor Relations Tel. +33(1) 53 65 37 91 lumibird@calyptus.net Midcap Partners Kevin Rolland Company advisor Tel. +33 (0)1 55 04 04 56 contact@midcapp.com Company to Leverage Leadership Experience in Sector with CEO and Board Having Previously Played Key Roles with what are now Supreme Cannabis Company and 1933 Industries Inc. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Codebase Ventures Inc. ("Codebase" or the "Company") (CSE: CODE - FSE: C5B - OTCQB: BKLLF), an investment company is announcing that its leadership team is seeking investments in the cannabis sector, with a focus on information and technology related to the space, to add to its existing blockchain, cryptocurrency technology investments. With CEO Mr. George Tsafalas, and Director Mr. Brian Keane, having previously served in leadership and governance positions with Supreme Pharmaceuticals, now Supreme Cannabis Company (TSX: FIRE) and Friday Night Inc., now 1933 Industries Inc. (CSE: TGIF), Codebase will benefit from the experience and relationships its leadership team has from previous roles in the cannabis sector. "As a result of our knowledge and relationships in the cannabis sector, we have identified opportunities that merit further investigation," said Mr. George Tsafalas, President and CEO of Codebase. "At one end of the cannabis sector we are seeing innovative startups and at the other consolidation with bigger entities. With worldwide medical and recreational market forecasts over $120 billion by 20301, we are seeing a sector today that is in its infancy and there are investment opportunities of interest to us beyond the mainstream, in areas including information, data and technology." As announced earlier this month, the Company's management team is in a strong position with the investments that have been made in the blockchain space to capitalize on Bitcoin's resurgence, having increased in value by 50% over the past 30 days2, and the arrival of new opportunities for retail and institutional investors with cryptocurrencies and distributed ledger technologies. "Whether it be in the blockchain space or the cannabis sector, we are seeking opportunities where the Company holds investments in information, technologies and teams that have the potential to be industry leaders with significant upside potential, which will benefit our shareholders," said Mr. Brian Keane, Director, Codebase. 1 - https://www.barrons.com/articles/wall-streets-first-pot-analyst-offers-her-top-picks-51553769000 2 - https://www.forbes.com/sites/billybambrough/2019/05/19/bitcoin-roars-back/#3a3068a9fab1 About Codebase Ventures Inc. Codebase Ventures Inc. is a small, hands-on team of financial and technology experts who invest early in great ideas. We operate from the understanding that technology is always evolving, bringing early opportunities for strategic investments that can deliver the exponential returns to our shareholders. We seek out and empower the innovators who are building tomorrow's standards with platforms and protocols, not just products. We invest early, support our founders, take their ideas to market and work tirelessly to help them realize their vision. 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. For further information, please contact: Brian Keane, Director Investor Relations Telephone: 1 (778) 806-5150 - TOLL FREE (877) 806-CODE (2633) E-mail: IR@codebase.ventures 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: Codebase Ventures Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546107/Codebase-to-Expand-Investment-Focus-to-Cannabis-Sector Late-Breaking Clinical Trial Results and Updated Global SYMPLICITY Registry Data Demonstrate Long-Term Results of RDN for Uncontrolled Hypertension DUBLIN and PARIS - May 22, 2019 - Investigators today unveiled late-breaking clinical data from a first-of-its-kind physician sponsored clinical trial. The data indicate that renal denervation (RDN) with the Medtronic Symplicity renal denervation system was associated with reduced occurrence of subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) in a small subset of high-risk patients with hypertensive heart disease over a median follow-up period of more than two years. Results from the single-center, randomized, sham-controlled study were presented today during a Late-Breaking Clinical Trial session at the 2019 EuroPCR Annual Meeting in Paris. The investigator-led study funded by Medtronic randomized 80 patients to either the renal denervation procedure with the Symplicity renal denervation system or a fake "sham" procedure. Renal denervation is a minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure intended to deliver energy to overactive nerves in the kidney, decreasing their activity which is thought to be a cause of both hypertension and arrhythmias. AF occurrence was monitored by Medtronic implantable diagnostic technology. The results from the study demonstrate subclinical AF developed at a lower rate in the group of patients who received RDN than those receiving the sham procedure (19 percent versus 47 percent). "In this high-risk cohort of patients with hypertensive heart disease, who are at risk for atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular death, this study suggests there may be an important benefit provided by renal denervation," said Marshall J Heradien, M.D., cardiologist and specialist physician at Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa, and principal investigator in the study. "Consistent with previous studies, these data show that the RDN procedure offers a lasting, positive effect that may translate into improved clinical outcomes." New Data from the Global SYMPLICITY Registry Investigators also reported new, three-year data from the Global SYMPLICITY Registry (GSR), which is the largest registry documenting the long-term safety and effectiveness of the Medtronic renal denervation systems in a real-world setting in patients with uncontrolled hypertension. To date, the registry has enrolled more than 2,600 patients treated with RDN and includes three-year follow-up for more than 2,300 patients. The latest outcomes from the Registry presented at EuroPCR showed renal denervation led to significant and clinically meaningful reductions in both office and ambulatory blood pressure that were sustained out to three years post-procedure (16.5 mm Hg OSBP and 8.9 mm Hg 24H systolic ABPM). The Registry findings showed blood pressure reductions were consistent and sustained across various high-risk patient subgroups, including those with diabetes, isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), chronic kidney disease (CKD), resistant hypertension and those aged 65 years and older. "As demonstrated by these studies presented at EuroPCR, new data continue to demonstrate that renal denervation is a safe and useful complement to manage uncontrolled hypertension, with patients experiencing meaningful blood pressure reductions out to several years and in the setting of daily clinical practice," said Dave Moeller, vice president and general manager of the Coronary and Renal Denervation business, which is part of the Cardiac and Vascular Group at Medtronic. "Results from these studies will add to the robust growing body of evidence supporting renal denervation and may be important for consideration with patients suffering from uncontrolled hypertension." Hypertension is the single largest contributor to cardiovascular death; it dramatically increases risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and kidney failure. The annual direct costs of hypertension are estimated at $500 billion worldwide. It is estimated that almost 20 percent of patients are completely non-adherent to oral medications while nearly half are partially non-adherent, highlighting the need for alternative treatment options. In addition to the Global SPYMPLICITY Registry, the Medtronic SPYRAL HTN Global Clinical Program includes the SPYRAL HTN PIVOTAL and SPYRAL HTN-ON MED Trials, both prospectively powered, randomized, sham-controlled studies evaluating patients with uncontrolled blood pressure in the absence and presence of prescribed anti-hypertensive medications respectively. Medtronic is also conducting a 70-patient SYMPLICITY AF study, evaluating renal denervation in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. Approved for commercial use in more than 50 countries around the world, the Symplicity Spyral system is limited to investigational use in the United States, Japan, and Canada. About Medtronic Medtronic plc (www.medtronic.com (http://www.medtronic.com/)), headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, is among the world's largest medical technology, services and solutions companies - alleviating pain, restoring health and extending life for millions of people around the world. Medtronic employs more than 86,000 people worldwide, serving physicians, hospitals and patients in more than 150 countries. The company is focused on collaborating with stakeholders around the world to take healthcare Further, Together. Any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties such as those described in Medtronic's periodic reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. -end- Contacts: Joey Lomicky Public Relations +1-763-381-1204 Ryan Weispfenning Investor Relations +1-763-505-4626 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: Medtronic plc via Globenewswire Regulatory News: Total Gabon's (Paris:EC) ordinary Annual Shareholders' Meeting was held today in Libreville, chaired by Mr. Guy MAURICE. Shareholders approved all resolutions recommended by the Board of Directors, including: Approval of the 2018 financial statements, including a net income of $258 million (US Dollars) under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and $153 million (US Dollars) under OHADA standards; Approval of the payment of a net dividend of $11 (US Dollars) per share related to the financial year 2018 which amounts to $49.5 million (US Dollars); Ratification of Mr. Yann DUCHESNE's co-optation as director for the remainder of his predecessor's term, until the Annual Shareholders' Meeting called to approve the 2018 financial statements; Ratification of Mr. Dimitri LOBADOWSKY's co-optation as director for the remainder of his predecessor's term, until the Annual Shareholders' Meeting called to approve the 2018 financial statements; Renewal of the directors mandates of Mr. Yann DUCHESNE, Dimitri LOBADOWSKY, Guy MAURICE, Patrick GUENKEL, Etienne MBOUMBA and Patrichi Christian TANASA for a two-year terms expiring at the end of the Annual Shareholders' Meeting called to approve the 2020 financial statements; Determination of the global compensation of the statutory auditors for preparing their reports on the 2018 financial statements. A detailed breakdown of the vote tallies will be posted on the Company's website www.total.ga in the coming days. The Board of Directors in its meeting today approved the modalities of the dividend payment. The $11 (US Dollars) per share dividend will be paid as from June 6, 2019 in an equivalent amount of 9.86 per share (or its equivalent in CFA francs), based on the European Central Bank's rate of $1.1161 per on May 21, 2019. Payment will be made through the following entities: In Gabon: Union Gabonaise de Banque (UGB) In France: BNP Paribas Securities Services acting on behalf of other banks and any financial institution that manages an account. Total Gabon is owned 58.28% by the Total group, 25% by the Gabonese Republic and 16.72% by private sector investors. Societe anonyme incorporated in Gabon with a Board of Directors and share capital of $76,500,000 Headquarters: Boulevard Hourcq, Port-Gentil, BP 525, Gabonese Republic www.total.ga Registered in Port-Gentil: 2000 B 00011 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005324/en/ Contacts: Media : actionnariat-totalgabon@total.com MILAN, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NTC Srl, R&D driven pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Italy, and Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, a global leader in ophthalmology, announce today the extension of their original agreement for Europe signed in December 2017. NTC grants the license and distribution rights of one of its research and development products - a levofloxacin+dexamethasone fixed combination in eye drops - to Santen. The countries covered by the extension agreement include Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Phillippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The levofloxacin+dexamethasone fixed combination in eye drops aims to carry to the ophthalmology community a novelty in the treatment of post-cataract surgery. To provide supportive evidence to its product, NTC completed the Leader7 international, multicenter, randomized, blinded-assessor, parallel-group clinical study designed to prove that a one-week course of antibiotic prophylaxis is comparable to a two-week course, thus reducing the unnecessary exposure of patients to antibiotics. "We are proud of the intense and productive partnership with Santen," Riccardo Carbucicchio, Chairman and CEO of NTC, states. "We believe the evidences supporting levofloxacin+dexamethasone will offer great hints to the ophthalmology community and the benefit of better treated patients undergoing cataract surgery," he adds. About NTC NTC is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Milan - Italy, with distributors and partners in more than 100 countries in the world, engaged in research, development, registration and commercialization of drugs, medical devices and food supplements in ophthalmology, and in other therapeutic areas including pediatrics and gastro-metabolism. NTC offers to more than 200 partners innovative and high quality standard pharmaceutical products. For more information, please visit www.ntcpharma.com. About Santen As a specialized company dedicated to ophthalmology, Santen carries out research, development, marketing, and sales of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, and medical devices. Santen is the market leader for prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in Japan and its products now reach patients in over 60 countries. With scientific knowledge and organizational capabilities nurtured over a nearly 130-year history, Santen provides products and services to contribute to the well-being of patients, their loved ones and consequently to society. For more information, please visit Santen's website www.santen.com. For further information please contact: NTC Srl M. Claudia Nacci Corporate Communication Email: nacci.communication@ntcpharma.com Tel: +39-349-059-2805 MANILA, Philippines, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- IFSEC Philippines, the leading security, fire, and safety event in the country, marks its 3rd edition on 13 - 15 June 2019 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. In line with this year's theme, "Empowering the Philippines to top up its national security and public safety by providing global innovation and expertise", IFSEC Philippines 2019 attracts more than 100 exhibiting companies from both local and international scenes, bringing in the latest products, services, and technologies that are essentials in building a more secure and safer nation. The event focuses on providing a venue where global innovation and expertise in security, fire, and safety sector are freely accessible by the public. "The current economic growth of the Philippines is indeed in line with our theme this year. IFSEC Philippines is supporting the campaign towards reinforcing the national security and building the Philippines a safer place for our families and fellow Filipinos through showcasing the latest news and trends, product insights, and other services related to the security, fire, and safety sectors," says by Mr. Dexter Deyto, General Manager of UBM Exhibitions Philippines. IFSEC Philippines is strongly supported by the 3 government agencies -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). These agencies are solely responsible for protecting the nation from any security, fire, and safety threats. The exhibition at IFSEC Philippines helps in the development of these agencies by providing them the latest innovations and services and gathering various practitioners from the industry to one show. Aside from the exhibition, IFSEC Philippines serves as an educational tool to learn the industry overview and in-depth topics from experts in the security, fire, and security sectors. The show features seminars and conferences where resource speakers from both government and non-government organizations are invited. IFSEC Philippines is also a platform for networking activity where the Business Matching Program, an exclusive business matching service, is used to help the exhibitors and visitors meet face-to-face. This is perfect to connect with the right business partners to cater to their networking needs. Hence, IFSEC Philippines is expecting around 4,000 visitors to attend the 3-day show this year. The visitors profile come from almost all the sectors such as but not limited to agriculture, architecture, healthcare, government, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, distributor, manufacturing, IT, business services and more. IFSEC Philippines is the latest edition of IFSEC which is a globally recognized brand that consistently attracts key industry players, manufacturers, distributors, and experts from the security, fire, and safety industry. IFSEC conducts other series in United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and South Korea. For more information about IFSEC Philippines, kindly visit the official website at https://ifsec.events/philippines/. About the Informa Markets -- The Organiser IFSEC Philippines is organised by Informa Markets, a division of Informa plc. Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891116/IFSEC_Philippines_Logo.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891115/IFSEC_Press_Conference_2019.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891120/Speakers_of_IFSEC_Press_Conference.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891122/InformaMarkets_UBM.jpg News release from Vestas China Beijing, 22 May 2019 Leveraging its high tower solution to increase annual energy production, Vestas has secured a 44 MW order for 20 V120-2.2 MW turbines for an undisclosed wind project in China. With hub heights of 152m, the project matches the hub height record in the Chinese market that was set by Vestas in the beginning of the year with another tall tower solution for V120-2.2 MW turbines. The customised tower solution increases the project's annual energy production by unlocking new wind resources at higher and more consistent wind speeds, underlining Vestas' competitiveness in China's low-wind areas. The order includes a 2-year Active Output Management 4000 (AOM 4000) service agreement, as well as VestasOnline Business SCADA solution. Delivery and commissioning are expected to begin in the second quarter of 2019. For more information, please contact: Chen Xing Product Marketing Professional Mail: chxng@vestas.com Tel: +86 10 59232178 About Vestas Vestas is the energy industry's global partner on sustainable energy solutions. We design, manufacture, install, and service wind turbines across the globe, and with more than 102 GW of wind turbines in 80 countries, we have installed more wind power than anyone else. Through our industry-leading smart data capabilities and unparalleled more than 87 GW of wind turbines under service, we use data to interpret, forecast, and exploit wind resources and deliver best-in-class wind power solutions. Together with our customers, Vestas' more than 24,500 employees are bringing the world sustainable energy solutions to power a bright future. For updated Vestas photographs and videos, please visit our media images page on: https://www.vestas.com/en/media/images . We invite you to learn more about Vestas by visiting our website at www.vestas.com and following us on our social media channels: www.twitter.com/vestas (http://www.twitter.com/vestas) (http://www.twitter.com/vestas) www.linkedin.com/company/vestas (http://www.linkedin.com/company/vestas) (http://www.linkedin.com/company/vestas) www.facebook.com/vestas (http://www.facebook.com/vestas) (http://www.facebook.com/vestas) www.instagram.com/vestas (http://www.instagram.com/vestas) (http://www.instagram.com/vestas) www.youtube.com/vestas (http://www.youtube.com/vestas) Attachment OPPO announced as one of the first smartphone brands to partner with Google in its Android Q Beta program DUBAI, UAE, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- OPPO participated in the recently held Google I/O 2019, Google's annual developer conference, where the leading smartphone company showcased its strong capabilities in both Android development and 5G technology. During the event, held at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California, Google announced that OPPO would be joining its Android Q Beta program as one of the OEMs to introduce testing of the next version of Android. The forthcoming version of Android, Android Q, became available as Beta earlier this year. As an early adopter of the operating system, OPPO featured its newest smartphone 'Reno' in an Android Q Beta demo at I/O, offering software developers in attendance the opportunity to experience and test the device. During the conference, Google also announced that Android Q Beta would be available on OPPO Reno smartphones starting from May 8th. Andy Shi, President of OPPO MEA, said: "OPPO places great emphasis on perfecting users' experiences through the integration of hardware and software. We are glad to have Google as an integral and long-standing member of our ecosystem of partners as we deliver extraordinary experiences through innovative OPPO technology." Reno's inclusion among the first batch of smartphones to offer Android Q Beta for testing underscores OPPO's strong capability in software R&D and its ability to take the lead in responding to the latest technology developments. OPPO will continue to update its Android-based ColorOS system with the latest versions of Android to provide the best possible experiences for users. As one of the world's first smartphone manufacturers to bring 5G to market, OPPO also showcased its leadership in 5G technologies at the Android Sandbox area at Google I/O. At the Sandbox, attendees were able to demo the new Reno 5G phone and view a video feature on OPPO's vision for the 5G era. "We call the 5G era 'an era of intelligent connectivity.' Based on the advantages of 5G connectivity, OPPO has pushed forward into cloud storage, cloud gaming, cloud image & video processing and other services. We will provide smarter and more convenient services to our users," said Henry Tang, Director of Standards Research Center, OPPO Research Institute. Having officially hit the market in Switzerland earlier this month, OPPO's Reno 5G was the first commercial 5G smartphone to go on sale in Europe. OPPO will roll out Reno 5G to additional markets worldwide over the coming months. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smartphone brand, dedicated to providing products infused with art and innovative technology. Based on the brand elements of young, trend-setting and beauty, OPPO brings consumers delighted experience of digital life. For the last 10 years, OPPO has been focusing on manufacturing camera phones, while innovating mobile photography technology breakthroughs. OPPO started the era of Selfie beautification, and was the first brand to launch smartphones with 5MP and 16MP front cameras. OPPO was also the first brand to introduce the motorized rotating camera, the Ultra HD feature and the 5x Dual Camera Zoom technology. OPPO's Selfie Expert F series launched in 2016 drove a Selfie trend in the smartphone industry. In 2017, OPPO was ranked as the number 4 smartphone brand globally, according to IDC. Today OPPO's business covers 40 countries and regions, and has 6 research centers worldwide, providing excellent smartphone photography experience to more and more young people around the world. About OPPO MEA In 2015, OPPO entered the Egyptian market. In 2016, OPPO set up its Middle East & Africa Sales Center in Cairo. The markets OPPO has entered in the Middle East and Africa include: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kenya and Nigeria. OPPO set up its factory in Algeria in 2017, which made OPPO the first Chinese brand setting up factory in North Africa. Now, the factory goes into production. Based on the insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO MEA has started the progress of localization. And the localization includes all the perspectives towards each market - product localization, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localization, to better communicate with local young customers; and team localization, to know our local consumers further and provide better service to the consumers. Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X smartphone and the introduction of the OPPO R Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to young consumers in the region. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891174/Google_IO_2019.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891175/OPPO_Reno_Specifications.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891176/OPPO_Reno_Black.jpg For more details, please contact: OPPO PR Team Email: oppo.mena@bcw-global.com HF Markets (DIFC) Limited has expanded its award showcase after being named "Fastest Growing Forex Broker MENA 2019" by International Business Magazine, one of the most prestigious awards in the industry DUBAI, UAE, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HF Markets (DIFC) Limited has been named Fastest Growing Forex Broker MENA 2019, a historic milestone for the brand as it receives its first individual award as a part of the HF Markets Group conglomerate, which holds a number of highly prestigious industry awards. HF Markets (DIFC) marked its dynamic entry into the MENA region just last year, providing investors in the region with access to a number of financial markets with the capability to trade around the clock. "This award marks a strong start for the year 2019 for our newest entity, and we look forward to further expanding our services in the UAE region as we continue to grow. We are sure this is just the start of even bigger things to come this year and beyond," Andreas Lazarou, CEO of HF Markets (DIFC), commented. HF Markets Group has already earned an unrivalled reputation for their award-winning services that include full client support and protection, all the latest trading instruments and tools, and regulatory licenses from world renowned authorities such as the DFSA. Notes to Media: About HF Markets Group With its origins dating back to 2010, HF Markets - widely known by the trading names HF Markets and HotForex - is a conglomerate which encompasses global and regulated entities which are operating as multi-asset brokers offering both retail and institutional trading services to clients from around the world. HF Markets is continuously establishing its position as a market leader, a fact affirmed by: Over 1,300,000 Live Accounts Opened More than 20 International Awards Client Support in 25+ Languages Top Fund Security Measures To learn more information on HF Markets and its entities, please visit our website by clicking here. Risk warning: Trading Forex and CFDs carries a high degree of risk to your capital. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) (the "Company" or "Santacruz") announces that Carrizal Mining, S.A. de C.V. ("Carrizal"), a private Mexican mining company, has earned a 20% working interest in Santacruz's Veta Grande Project pursuant to the terms of an agreement dated November 30, 2017 (see press release dated December 14, 2017). Further, the Company has entered into separate agreements, with binding effect as of May 21, 2019, to acquire 100% of the outstanding shares of PCG Mining, S.A. de C.V. ("PCG") which is a holding company that owns 100% of Carrizal's outstanding shares. The shares of PCG are owned as to 50% each by two unrelated shareholders. One of the shareholders is at arm's-length to Santacruz and the other shareholder is Carlos Silva, Santacruz's COO. Consideration for the acquisition is as follows: With respect to the acquisition of PCG shares from the arm's-length party (the "Arm's Length Acquisition"), on closing a cash payment by Santacruz of US$500,000 and other consideration in the amount of approximately US$600,000, including the forgiveness of approximately US$450,000 in debt owed by the shareholder to Carrizal; and With respect the acquisition of PCG shares from Carlos Silva (the "Silva Acquisition", and together with the Arm's Length Acquisition, the "Transaction"), on closing the issuance of 30,000,000 shares of Santacruz (the "Consideration Shares") to Mr. Silva at a deemed price of CDN$0.05 per share. Completion of the Transaction is subject to receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Transaction is considered a "Reviewable Transaction" as defined in Exchange Policy 5.3. The Company plans to complete the Arm's Length Acquisition, and thereby initially acquire 50% of PCG, immediately upon receipt of Exchange approval. The Silva Acquisition will be subject to the Company obtaining approval from the disinterested shareholders of the Company pursuant to Exchange requirements, since the Consideration Shares will represent more than 10% of the Company's outstanding shares prior to closing. Carlos Silva does not currently hold any common shares of the Company. On completion of the Silva Acquisition, Mr. Silva would hold 30,000,000 common shares of the Company representing approximately 14.7% of the Company's then issued and outstanding shares (assuming no other shares are issued subsequent to the date hereof other than the Consideration Shares). The Company plans to complete the Silva Acquisition and thereby acquire the remaining 50% of PCG following a shareholder meeting expected to be held in July or August 2019 (subject to the necessary approvals being obtained). The Arm's Length Acquisition and the Silva Acquisition are not conditional on each other. The Veta Grande Project includes the Veta Grande Property (34 mining concessions totaling approximately 1,139 ha) under option from Contracuna (see press release dated August 29, 2018) containing the Garcia, Armados, Navidad and Guadalupana mines; the Minillas Property (four mining concessions totaling approximately 98 ha) and the Zacatecas Properties (149 mining concessions totaling approximately 7,826 ha) acquired outright from Golden Minerals (see press release dated October 16, 2018). The Zacatecas Properties contain the Panuco Deposit. Mineralization is comprised of low-sulfidation epithermal quartz veins that host silver, gold, lead, and zinc minerals. This represents one of the largest land positions in the historic Zacatecas mining district. Recent drilling and underground development funded in part by Carrizal has demonstrated continuity of mineralization along strike and down dip at the Veta Grande and Armados vein structures (see press release dated October 22, 2018). In addition, development of underground faces below the historical workings at the Garcia mine have contributed to increased silver production from the Veta Grade vein structure (see news release dated February 14, 2019). As indicated above, Carrizal has earned a 20% working interest in the Company's Veta Grande Project. Carrizal has to date expended approximately US$4.1 million on exploration and development costs on the Veta Grande Project including increasing the mine and mill production capacity to the current optimal rate of 650 tpd, completing approximately 15,000 metres of surface and underground drilling, and providing various underground, laboratory and infrastructure equipment and supplies to support a mining operation of 650 tpd. The primary rationale for the Transaction is for the Company to effectively buy-back such 20% interest and regain 100% ownership rights of the subject property interests. The aggregate value of the consideration for the acquisition of PCG under the Transaction, being approximately CDN$3.0 million, is significantly lower than the approximately CDN$5.5 million in expenditures Carrizal has incurred in exploration and development costs in relation to the 20% working interest (based on the daily exchange rate of $1 US dollar = CDN$1.3468 reported by the Bank of Canada on May 17, 2019). Accordingly, the Transaction provides the Company with significant value. Carrizal also operates the Carrizal and Mina Monte mines (collectively the "Zimapan Mine") (34 mining concessions covering an area of 5,139 ha) located seven kilometers northwest from the town of Zimapan, Hidalgo, Mexico under a 10-year lease agreement with Minera Cedros, S.A. de C.V. ("Minera Cedros"), a wholly-own subsidiary of Grupo Penoles, S.A.B. de C.V. Unless otherwise amended or extended, the lease agreement with Minera Cedros expires on July 31, 2019. The Company understands that Carrizal and Minera Cedros are currently in negotiations with respect to Carrizal acquiring outright the Zimapan Mine from Minera Cedros. This is an additional potential benefit from the Transaction and there can be no assurance that Carrizal will be successful in funding and acquiring the Zimapan Mine. Accordingly, the acquisition by Carrizal of the Zimapan Mine is not a condition to completing the Transaction. The Zimapan Mine consists of fourteen mineral zones that are characterized by polymetallic replacement mineralization of Pliocene age. Silver, lead, zinc and copper minerals have preferentially replaced carbonate host rocks and pre-existing skarn bodies to produce disseminated, semi-massive sulfide and massive sulfide bodies that occur in proximity to monzonitic intrusions and quartz-feldspar porphyry dikes. The Zimapan Mine milling facility has a capacity of 3,200 tonnes per day ("tpd") that is currently operating at 2,560 tpd and has three circuits producing lead, zinc and copper concentrates. The Company plans to file an independent technical report under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") in respect of the Zimapan Mine as may be required. Arturo Prestamo, Santacruz's CEO stated, "The acquisition of a 100% interest in Carrizal is important as it allows us to return to 100% ownership rights in the Veta Grande Project. It also offers the Company a chance to acquire an operating mine in a potentially accretive transaction that would enhance Santacruz's operations." As Carlos Silva is an insider of the Company, the Silva Acquisition constitutes a "related party transaction" of the Company under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Jorge Federico Villasenor, who is a director of the Company, is also a director of Carrizal. Senior management of the Company, excluding Carlos Silva, negotiated the terms of the Transaction under the direction of the Company's board of directors (excluding Messr. Villasenor). The directors of the Company, excluding Messr. Villasenor who abstained from voting, unanimously approved the Transaction and determined that the Silva Acquisition will be exempt from the formal valuation and shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101, on the basis that, at the time the Silva Acquisition was agreed to, neither the fair market value of the subject matter of, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the Silva Acquisition exceeds 25% of the Company's market capitalization. After reasonable enquiry, the Company is not aware of any "prior valuation" (as defined in MI 61-101) that has been made in the 24 months prior to the date hereof and that relates to the subject matter of or is otherwise relevant to the Silva Acquisition. All scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Van Phu Bui, P.Geo., who is independent of the Company and is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Santacruz is a Mexican focused silver company with two producing silver projects (Veta Grande Project and Rosario Project) and two exploration properties (Minillas Property and Zacatecas Properties, which are associated with the Veta Grande Project). The Company is managed by a technical team of professionals with proven track records in developing, operating and discovering silver mines in Mexico. Our corporate objective is to become a mid-tier silver producer. 'signed' Arturo Prestamo Elizondo, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information please contact: Arturo Prestamo Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. Email: info@santacruzsilver.com Telephone: (011) (52) 81 8378 5707 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. Forward looking information Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" as such term is used in applicable Canadian securities laws, including statements relating to completion of the Transaction. Forward-looking information is based on plans, expectations and estimates of management at the date the information is provided and is subject to certain factors and assumptions. In making the forward-looking statements included in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, that the Company's financial condition and development plans do not change as a result of unforeseen events, that third party mineralized material to be milled by the Company will have properties consistent with management's expectations, that the Company will receive all required regulatory approvals, including approval of the Exchange in respect of the Transaction, and that future metal prices and the demand and market outlook for metals will remain stable or improve. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause plans, estimates and actual results to vary materially from those projected in such forward-looking information. Factors that could cause the forward-looking information in this news release to change or to be inaccurate include, but are not limited to, the risk that any of the assumptions referred to above prove not to be valid or reliable, which could result in lower revenue, higher cost, or lower production levels; delays in and/or failure to obtain necessary regulatory and shareholder approvals of the Transaction; delays and/or cessation in planned work; changes in the Company's financial condition and development plans; risks associated with the interpretation of data (including in respect of the third party mineralized material) regarding the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to mineral exploration and development activities and to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law. Rosario Project The decisions to commence production at the Rosario Mine, Cinco Estrellas Property and Membrillo Prospect were not based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability, but rather on a more preliminary estimate of inferred mineral resources. Accordingly, there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with this production decision. Production and economic variables may vary considerably, due to the absence of a complete and detailed site analysis according to and in accordance with NI 43-101. Veta Grande Project The decision to commence production at Veta Grande Project was not based on a feasibility study on mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, there is increased uncertainty and economic and technical risks of failure associated with this production decision. Production and economic variables may vary considerably due to the absence of a complete and detailed site analysis according to and in accordance with NI 43-101. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44949 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. The Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, composed of Naval Group and ECA Group, a Groupe Gorge company, were today awarded the contract to supply twelve mine-hunting vessels to the Belgian and Dutch navies. Equipped with a total of approximately 100 drones, constituting approximately ten drone (toolbox) systems, six ships are destined for the Belgian Navy, while the other six will be delivered to the Dutch Navy. The Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium as well as the Naval Group and ECA Group teams are honored by the confidence of the Belgian and Dutch navies and look forward to this upcoming partnership. An innovative solution for robotic mine warfare Belgium Naval & Robotics, with Naval Group's recognized expertise, offers a 2800-ton militarized ship specialized in mine warfare with military characteristics (acoustic and electromagnetic discretion, shock resistance) perfectly adapted to the operational use targeted by the Belgian and Dutch navies. In particular, this vessel incorporates a launch and recovery system for ECA Group's inspector 125 unmanned surface vehicles (USV). This innovative, robust and reliable system ensures the safety of operators and maneuvers to protect the ship, the USV and its payloads, while offering a high level of mission availability. The drone systems on board these innovative vessels are the latest generation of drones developed by ECA Group over the past four years. They are integrated into the C2 MCM UMISOFT system connected to the Naval Group's I4drones system to form the mine-warfare mission system integrated into the ship's combat system. The solution includes among others A18-M autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), T18-M towed sonars and Mine Identification & Destruction Systems (MIDS) composed of SEASCAN and K-STER C remotely operated vehicles (ROV). All these drones can be operated autonomously from the USV Inspector 125. The drone system also includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and influence sweeps. The program provides for the supply of drone systems that can also be projected. Containerized and equipped with handling and communication systems, mine-hunting drone systems can be airlifted and deployed directly from the coast without a ship. A transforming contract for the group ECA Group's share of this program represents approximately 450 million euros. The 10-year program will start with a design phase that will last approximately 3 years before the production and delivery phases of the drone systems. The turnover recorded by ECA Group should be above 5 million euros by 2019, reach between 15 and 20 million euros in 2020, be around 40 million euros in 2021 and eventually reach between 50 and 100 million euros per year over the following 5 years. This contract is the largest ever won by ECA Group. However, it does not include any maintenance services that the customer may subsequently entrust to ECA Robotics Belgium, nor any sales of consumables. ECA Group's order book is currently at a historic level of well over half a billion euros. ECA Group has sufficient equity and financial resources to deliver it. Its objective of a turnover growth of 5% in 2019 should thus be significantly exceeded. As the Belgian Navy is a reference in underwater mine clearance within NATO, this contract is a major asset for export. As with the tripartite mine-hunter program 40 years ago which generated sales of self-propelled PAP robots in several dozen navies in 20 years, this success in Belgium should generate many commercial export benefits in the coming years. ECA Group is already in discussions with several navies for the supply of robotic mine-hunting systems. Next release: Second-quarter revenue to be published on 25 July 2019 About Groupe Gorge Founded in 1990, Groupe Gorge is an independent group that specializes in high-tech industries. Today, the Group is active in the fields of security and protection in extreme environments, as well as in the 3D printing sector. In its more than twenty-five-year history, Groupe Gorge has always developed and driven the latest technological and industrial innovations. Smart Safety Systems: Developing complete, innovative technological solutions for complex missions in hostile and confined environments. Protection of High-Risk Installations: Protecting people and ensuring the active and passive protection of installations for energy markets and industrial and tertiary sectors in France. Ensuring the maintenance of these protection systems. 3D Printing: Enabling major industry players to find new routes to successful innovation and production processes by providing 3D printers, premium material, software and 3D printed parts. In 2018, the Group reported revenue of 296 million. It is backed by 2,000 employees and operations in six countries. More information available on www.groupe-gorge.com Groupe Gorge is listed on Euronext Paris Compartment C ISIN code: FR0000062671 Ticker code: GOE Investor contacts: Anne-Pauline Petureaux Investor Relations Tel: +33 1 53 67 36 72 E-mail: apetureaux@actus.fr Press contacts: Lauranne Guirlinger Press relations Tel: +33 1 53 70 05 46 E-mail: lguirlinger@image7.fr Manon Clairet Financial press relations Tel: +33 1 53 67 36 73 E-mail: mclairet@actus.fr Forward-looking statement GROUPE GORGE press releases may contain forward-looking statements regarding GROUPE GORGE's targets. These forward-looking statements reflect GROUPE GORGE's current expectations. Such forward-looking statements and targets depend on known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. The risks and uncertainties that could affect the Group's future ability to achieve its targets include, in addition to those indicated in the press release: the strength of competition; the development of markets in which the Group operates and notably the 3D printing division; currency fluctuations; obtaining the export authorizations that may be required for certain activities; control of costs and expenses; changes in tax legislation, laws, regulations or their enforcement; our ability to successfully keep pace with technological advances; our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel and key staff; the evolution, interpretation and uniform application and enforcement of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), according to which we prepare our financial statements; manufacturing and supply chain bottlenecks; the performance of our business partners (subcontractors, agents, suppliers, etc.). Some of these risk factors are set forth and detailed in our Registration document filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers, available on our website www.groupe-gorge.com. This list of risks, uncertainties and other factors is not limitative. Other unanticipated, unknown or unforeseeable factors, such as changes in the economic situation or financial markets, could also have a material adverse effect on our targets. Follow us on Twitter for live updates from Groupe Gorge! @GroupeGorge ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Recevez gratuitement par email les prochains communiques de la societe en vous inscrivant sur www.actusnews.com Communique integral et original au format PDF:Telecharger le PDF Company also named the best place to work in Ukraine's IT industry AUSTIN, Texas, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SoftServe, a leading digital authority and consulting company, received the Best National Employer in Ukraine award from Randstad, a global leader in the HR services industry. SoftServe was also recognized as the best place to work in Ukraine's IT industry. Randstad's international employer brand research results examined trends in the labor market and identified the most attractive national employers. 2019 was the first time that Ukraine participated in this survey, with 10,000 respondents taking part in a nationwide poll. "It's great to have SoftServe's unique corporate culture and the specific focus that we put into the development and well-being of our employees recognized," said Anna Solohub, HR marketing director at SoftServe. "Our talent is the foundation of our culture of innovation, and together will continue to build a successful and socially responsible company that attract the best and brightest minds." Randstad's research confirmed that Ukrainian employees are less concerned about financial compensation, favoring instead the global mission of the company, career opportunities, and inspiration for long-term goals as the top criteria for company affinity for the majority of respondents. The survey also concluded that employees are more loyal to companies that enable them to keep a work-life balance, including schedule and office location. About SoftServe SoftServe is a digital authority that advises and provides at the cutting-edge of technology. We reveal, transform, accelerate, and optimize the way enterprises and software companies do business. With expertise across healthcare, retail, media, financial services, software, and more, we implement end-to-end solutions to deliver the innovation, quality, and speed that our clients' users expect. SoftServe delivers open innovation-from generating compelling new ideas, to developing and implementing transformational products and services. Our work and client experience is built on a foundation of empathetic, human-focused experience design that ensures continuity from concept to release. We empower enterprises and software companies to (re)identify differentiation, accelerate solution development, and vigorously compete in today's digital economy. No matter where you are in your journey. Visit our website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages. SoftServe Media Contact Paul Jones Senior Manager, Analyst and Public Relations pjone@softserveinc.com 512-796-7358 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/812484/SoftServe_Logo.jpg On July 22, the World Federation of Neurology is dedicated to sharing powerful information about the most common brain disease in the world-migraine LONDON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On July 22, the World Federation of Neurology (WFN) is partnering with the International Headache Society (IHS) to support the highly anticipated 5th Annual World Brain Day. This year, World Brain Day is dedicated to raising awareness for the most common brain disease in the world-migraine. Through this initiative, we are working alongside more than 120 organizations worldwide, to stop the stigma and build awareness around migraine. Migraine is More than Just a Headache "Migraine affects one in seven people and, together with other headache disorders, is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide," explained Prof. Tissa Wijeratne, World Brain Day Chair. "Lack of research support for and publications in the field of migraine from low to middle-income countries is disappointing and alarming. This is where nearly two-thirds of the world population lives. The situation in high-income countries is still in tremendous need of progress." Despite its pervasive impact, migraine continues to be vastly under-recognized, underdiagnosed and under-treated. Due to a lack of education in headache medicine, it's not uncommon for health care providers to lack the tools necessary to diagnose and effectively treat patients. As a result, the majority of sufferers are not receiving the help they need. "Migraine receives less research funding than all of the world's most burdensome diseases," said Prof. Wolfgang Grisold, the WFN's Secretary General. "Driving awareness will help the scientific community to more effectively advocate on behalf of this vast population of patients in need." Migraine is a disabling neurological disease. It is characterized by severe head pain, cognitive impairment, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, vertigo, and sensitivity to light, sound, and touch. It is also highly associated with other diseases such as stroke, heart disease, epilepsy, depression, chronic pain, among others. In order to help patients find relief and improve their quality of life, early diagnosis and access to effective treatment is vital. "Providing patients with appropriate, evidence-based care would dramatically move the needle on the global burden of migraine," says Wijeratne. "There is a need for improved standards of care, so that all can access safe treatment regardless of financial situation, gender, culture or location." The Painful Truth About Migraine The key to driving improvements in migraine care is spreading awareness. This year, World Brain Day is taking to social media to ask people all over the world to share their Painful Truth about migraine using the hashtags worldbrainday and thepainfultruth. Throughout June and July, we are asking patients from around the world to share 'The Painful Truth' about migraine on social media. By encouraging people to speak up, we hope to elevate the patient voice and bring visibility to an invisible illness. Patients, health care professionals, advocates and caregivers are all encouraged to also attend the World Brain Day webinar that will take place on in July to share more information about migraine. During the 60-minute presentation, key migraine experts from around the world will offer vital insights on the disease, as well as outline a strategy to raise the bar on patient care regardless of age, gender, culture or location. Partnering to Influence Change To help ensure that this is one of the most impactful World Brain Days to date, WFN is partnering with national neurology associations, leading migraine and headache organizations around the world to share the message. "The concerted actions of professionals and patient advocacy will help in providing the best therapies available to the many," says International Headache Society President Lars Edvinsson. "There is a new class of effective and specific prophylactic medications directed toward the CGRP system that are already on the market and showing good responses. With further novel specific therapies on the way, the time to make a difference is right now." Additionally, World Brain Day will be broadly promoted alongside the American Migraine Foundation (AMF) in a prominent ad displayed in in New York's Times Square during Migraine and Headache Awareness Month in June. "Nearly 380,000 pedestrians enter Times Square daily, hailing from all corners of the world," said David Dodick, MD, Professor of Neurology at Mayo Clinic, Chair of the American Migraine Foundation and Immediate Past-President of the International Headache Society. There is no better place to spread the word about a disease that knows no borders than one of the world's most international locations." The annual World Brain Day takes place on July 22 and is devoted to a different topic each year. The choice of date was no coincidence: the WFN was founded on July 22, 1957. It's only fitting that WFN recognizes its 62nd year of action by focusing its efforts on fighting a problem as pervasive and debilitating as migraine. "It's imperative that the world understands the physical pain and societal impact of migraine," said WFN President Prof. William Carroll. "The World Federation of Neurology stands beside the more than one billion people living with migraine." Media Contact Heather Budimulia Yakkety Yak heather@yakketyyak.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891038/WBD_Save_the_Date_Social_Media_IG.jpg LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Encision Inc. (PK: ECIA), a medical device company owning patented Active Electrode Monitoring (AEM) Technology that prevents dangerous stray electrosurgical burns in minimally invasive surgery, today announced that it will be presenting at the 9th annual LD Micro Invitational on Tuesday, June 4 at 8:20 AM PST / 10:20 AM EST. Greg Trudel, CEO of Encision Inc.) will be presenting and meeting with investors. "This year's Invitational will showcase some of the most unique names in the financial world, from early-stage start-ups to well-established names on the national exchanges," stated Chris Lahiji, while waiting in the longest TSA line in history. "Even though LD has emerged as one of the largest and most influential organizations in the space, our focus has never deviated from showcasing some of the more interesting businesses in the world to our ever growing community." The LD Micro Invitational will take place June 4th and 5th in Los Angeles, at the Luxe Sunset Bel Air Hotel, will feature 230 companies, and will be attended by over 1,000 individuals. Profiles powered by LD Micro - News Compliments of Accesswire About Encision Inc. Encision Inc. designs and markets a portfolio of high performance surgical instrumentation that delivers advances in patient safety with AEM technology, surgical performance, and value to hospitals across a broad range of minimally invasive surgical procedures. Based in Boulder, Colorado, the company pioneered the development and deployment of Active Electrode Monitoring, AEM technology, to eliminate dangerous stray energy burns during minimally invasive procedures. For additional information about all our products, please visit www.encision.com. About LD Micro LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into several influential events annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event). In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and micro-cap universe. For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information. Contact: Mala Ray, Encision Inc., 303-444-2600, mray@encision.com Encision Inc.View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546097/Encision-Inc-to-Present-at-the-9th-Annual-LD-Micro-Invitational Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - Dunnedin Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DVI) (the "Company" or "Dunnedin") today announced that it has closed the acquisition of 100% of the Mohave copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry project ("Mohave") in Mohave County, Arizona, USA, from Bluestone Resources Inc. ("Bluestone"). For details of the transaction see Dunnedin's news release of March 4, 2019. Claudia Tornquist, President of Dunnedin, said, "We are thrilled to close this acquisition which expands Dunnedin's copper portfolio to three advanced stage porphyry projects in North America. At Mohave we will benefit from the excellent work done by the previous operator Bluestone from whom we inherited a comprehensive suite of high-quality exploration data. In 2011 Bluestone drilled 11 core holes and reported anomalous mineralization over significant intervals in all holes. The work to date strongly indicates that there is a large system of porphyry style Cu-Mo-Ag mineralization present at Mohave and we have a number of promising targets which we intend to follow-up on in the fall, after we complete the summer exploration programs on our Canadian porphyry projects MPD and Trapper." Mohave Project Summary Mohave is a 10 km2 property located in the prolific mineral producing Basin and Range Province of Arizona and 33 kilometres west of Freeport McMoran's Bagdad copper porphyry mine. The project is ideally situated just west of Highway 93 which links Las Vegas and Phoenix (Figure 1). Figure 1 - Location To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3803/44955_dun2.jpg Limited exploration at Mohave to date (26 drill holes since 1960's) clearly indicates the potential to discover a sizeable porphyry style copper-molybdenum-silver (Cu-Mo-Ag) deposit. Historic geological, geochemical and geophysical data shows the project has many hallmarks of a silica-rich calc-alkalic porphyry system: Cu-Mo-Ag geochemical anomalies and structural controls are associated with Laramide intrusions, analogous to those described at Bagdad Multiple and complex Cu-Mo-Ag emplacement is related to lithological and structural events (breccias, hydrothermal veining/stockwork) with younger Mo-Ag and Pb-Zn-Ag overprints Examples of reported historic values include 0.49% Cu over 59.4 m, 0.2% Cu, 0.011% Mo, and 2.35 g/mt Ag over 65.8 m and 0.3% Cu, 0.01% Mo, and 2.54 g/mt Ag over 70.7 m A broad Induced Polarization (IP)/chargeability anomaly 4 km long and 3 km wide, bounded by semi-circular structure/faults and coinciding with strong Cu-Mo and Ag rock and soil geochemical anomalies Presence of supergene oxidation of a quartz vein pyrite-chalcopyrite hypogene sulfide system Typical concentric alteration pattern and assemblages consistent with potassic, intermediate argillic, phyllic and propylitic horizontal and vertical zonation Recent comprehensive work by the previous operator Bluestone provides Dunnedin with a solid framework from which to resume exploration. Bluestone reported favourable mineralization at surface to depths of 390 m from the first drill program in over 20 years (3,500 m in 11 inclined holes in 2011). Bluestone's work also included: IP/magnetic/radiometric ground geophysics, ASTER remote sensing, >1,000 rock and soil geochemical samples, petrography/age dating and detailed lithological-structural-alteration mapping. Many of the datasets demonstrate the distinctive round or "donut-shaped" features typical of porphyry centres (Figures 2). Figures 2 - Ground magnetics, IP sections, copper geochemistry and molybdenum geochemistry To view an enhanced version of Figures 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3803/44955_dun4.jpg https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3803/44955_dun6.jpg Dunnedin's exploration program in 2019 will evaluate historically defined targets, coincident geophysical/geochemical signatures and in particular, numerous anomalies not yet tested by previous drilling. Disclaimer Management cautions that Dunnedin has not performed any exploration on the Mohave Project to date. Historic information reported herein was obtained from publicly available and industry related reports. This news release contains historic data that Dunnedin believes to be from reliable sources using industry standards at the time, but the Company has not independently verified, or cannot guarantee, the accuracy of the information disclosed, and readers should use caution in placing reliance on such information. Comparisons to adjacent or similar mineral properties, deposits and mines are provided for information purposes only. Dunnedin has no interest in, or rights to explore or mine any such properties and references to deposits and reserves reported herein are not indicative of deposits or results obtained on the Company's properties. Jeff Ward, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this release. For further information please contact Mr. Knox Henderson, Investor Relations, at 604-551-2360 or khenderson@dunnedinventures.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors Dunnedin Ventures Inc. Claudia Tornquist President & CEO About Dunnedin Ventures Inc. Dunnedin Ventures is advancing copper porphyry projects in Canada and the USA; and the Kahuna diamond project in Nunavut, Canada. Dunnedin's porphyry assets all present known mineral discoveries with the potential to hold large-scale deposits. They include the Trapper copper-gold porphyry project in the northern Golden Triangle region of British Columbia, the MPD copper-gold porphyry project in the prolific Quesnel Trough in south-central British Columbia and the Mohave copper-molybdenum-silver porphyry project near the world-class Bagdad mine in Arizona. The advanced-stage Kahuna diamond project in Nunavut hosts a high-grade, near surface inferred diamond resource and numerous kimberlite pipe targets. Dunnedin holds diamond interests in 1,664 km2 of mineral tenure located 26 kilometres from Rankin Inlet and adjacent to Agnico Eagle's Meliadine gold mine. Dunnedin's exploration is aimed at the discovery of diamondiferous kimberlite pipes, working with its advisor and largest shareholder Dr. Chuck Fipke. Based in Vancouver, Dunnedin is backed by a world-renowned team of exploration experts with decades of combined exploration experience and significant capital market strength. Dunnedin is part of the Discovery Group of companies led by John Robins, one of the most successful mining entrepreneurs in Canada. 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. Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as, "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations and business prospects, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44955 New York, New York and Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - NexTech AR Solutions (OTCQB: NEXCF) (CSE: NTAR) (FSE: N29) (the "Company" or "NexTech") is pleased to announce that it has signed Nordlands Granite Works (NGW), a 40 year old stone engraving and stone masonry company, to its SaaS e-commerce platform, which provides augmented reality solutions to enhance the shopping experience. NGW will utilize NexTech's ARitize eCommerce platform to showcase true 3D-AR models of their available artwork, enabling 3D-AR previewing of the monuments for clients. "Norland's Granite Works is committed to bringing only the best quality service to our community and clients. Having over four decades of experience in the monument industry, we are certain that the capabilities of augmented reality will give our future clients peace of mind in knowing exactly what the monuments they are investing in will look like as they consider options for themselves or their loved ones," said Dave van Nostrand, Executive Director of Norland's Granite Works. "There is no doubt that the integration of AR into our business will become the industry standard within the next few years." With this AR solution NGW's customers will be able to preview the monument in high fidelity 3D, with full 360-degree rotation, without having to take the added step of driving to a showroom. NexTech's browser-based AR technology eliminates the gap online shoppers experience between themselves and the product. Using AR as a solution NGW will empower new customers to virtually place the fonts or designs on their plaque or stone of choice and see it in 3D as a virtual object, before they buy it for themselves or their loved ones. NexTech's ARitize eCommerce solution is a monthly SaaS subscription platform that enables companies like NGW to transform 2D images into true 3D-AR experiences. "This is another great win for our sales team which is now signing up new customers to our AR e-Commerce SaaS platform every week," said Evan Gappelberg, CEO of NexTech. "The continued rapid adoption of our ARitize eCommerce platform by retailers across various industries demonstrates the demand for and effectiveness of our innovative AR technologies in the eCommerce space." Gartner reports 100 million consumers will shop in augmented reality online and in-store by 2020. NexTech is building out its AR and AI eCommerce offerings, which include using AI to create a guided and knowledgeable curator that can be programmed to be used for eCommerce or for education in the medical device market. About NexTech AR Solutions Corp. NexTech is bringing a next-generation web enabled augmented reality (AR) platform with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and analytics to the Cannabis industry, eCommerce, education, training, healthcare and video conferencing. Having integrated with Shopify, Magento and Wordpress, its technology offers eCommerce sites a universal 3D shopping solution. With just a few lines of embed code, the company's patent-pending platform offers the most technologically advanced 3D AR/AI technology anywhere. Online retailers can subscribe to NexTech's state-of-the-art, 3D AR/AI solution for $79/mo. The company has created the AR industry's first end-to-end affordable, intelligent, frictionless, scalable platform. To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.nextechar.com. On behalf of the Board of NexTech AR Solutions Corp. "Evan Gappelberg" CEO and Director For further information, please contact: Evan Gappelberg Chief Executive Officer info@nextechar.com Media contact: Erin Hadden FischTank Marketing and PR ehadden@fischtankpr.com The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as, "will be", "looking forward" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements regarding the Company increasing investors awareness are based on the Company's estimates and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements of NexTech to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including capital expenditures and other costs. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. NexTech will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44956 "Julian decided to sign for us when he was 17 despite offers from many other clubs and has developed wonderfully since then," Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller said. "He became a national team player at Leverkusen." Cart-based systems to dominate the portable segments in revenue shares and create growth opportunities, finds Frost & Sullivan SANTA CLARA, California, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The mature, yet dynamic ultrasound market generated $6.12 billion from 115,592 units in 2018, driven by its offer of fusion imaging, wearable ultrasound, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered systems in established markets and contrast-enhanced ultrasound and elastography in emerging markets. The cart-based segment was the largest in terms of revenue and accounted for 73.4% of the market share and 60.4% of the unit shipment. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/890731/Ultrasound_Scanners.jpg "Globally, emerging segments such as musculoskeletal, anesthesiology, and endocrinology will evolve into established segments by 2023," said Poornima Srinivasan, Industry Analyst, Transformational Health. "AI will be used in premium ultrasound systems, primarily for detecting breast cancer, in ob-gyn settings for fetal image assessment, and in the cardiology domain in the US, Japan, and Western European countries." Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Global Ultrasound Market for Established and Emerging Clinical Applications, Forecast to 2023, covers cart-based, portable (hand-carried), and ultra-portable (hand-held) devices and analysis of established and emerging applications. The regions covered include North America (US and Canada), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina), Western Europe (Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, and UK), Eastern Europe (Romania, Turkey, Poland, Hungary), and Asia-Pacific (Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India). For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/3gv. "Non-invasiveness, expanding clinical applications, affordability, and introduction of portable and ultra-portable systems, cloud, AI, and other digital capabilities are expected to further drive the growth of ultrasound scanners," noted Srinivasan. "Domestic manufacturers will compete against major OEMs on product features, pricing, and servicing, while vendors will compete on value-based products, product miniaturization, and automation." For additional growth opportunities, market participants can: Engage in cross-functional partnerships across the continuum of equipment management, covering software upgrades and transducer maintenance . . Augment technical support capabilities with onsite engineers, virtual assistance , and online tools. , and online tools. Adopt a targeted approach toward emerging application areas like emergency medicine , anesthesia, and primary care . , anesthesia, and . Identify growth markets based on factors such as ease of transition and willingness to use portable or ultra-portable systems. Target general practitioner ( GP ) clinics with ultra-portable systems and small hospitals with cart-based systems. ( ) clinics with ultra-portable systems and small hospitals with cart-based systems. Develop new business models focusing on operational efficiency and training. Global Ultrasound Market for Established and Emerging Clinical Applications, Forecast to 2023 is part of Frost & Sullivan's global Medical Imaging Growth Partnership Service program. About Frost & Sullivan For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Global Ultrasound Market for Established and Emerging Clinical Applications, Forecast to 2023 ME18-48 Contact: Mariana Fernandez T: +1 210 348 10 12 T: +54 11 4778 3540 E: Mariana.Fernandez@frost.com http://ww2.frost.com - Global health leaders covered biomanufacturing and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) during 72nd World Health Assembly - Event focused on innovative science and technology-based solutions to increase access to medicines and biologics DARMSTADT, Germany, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Merck, a leading science and technology company, today hosted a panel discussion on the occasion of the 72nd World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. The panel entitled, "Leaving no one behind: from philanthropy to sustainable health solutions. How can decentralized manufacturing be part of an integrated approach to tackling NTDs and advancing Universal Health Coverage?" included some of the world's foremost health and policy experts: Dr. Brett Giroir , U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health , U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Africa Prof. Dr. Peter Hotez , dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine ( Texas , U.S.) and director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development , dean for the National School of Tropical Medicine at ( , U.S.) and director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development Subhanu Saxena, regional director of Life Science Partnerships, Europe at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Dr. Udit Batra , CEO, Life Science and Member of the Merck Executive Board "Merck is committed to advancing research and development toward the elimination of neglected and emerging illnesses, such as schistosomiasis, one of the most common and devastating parasitic diseases in tropical countries, with more than 280,000 people dying each year as a result," said Batra. "We, like the World Health Organization, aim to tackle these global challenges and offer a better quality of life." The panel discussed the role of decentralized manufacturing as a strategy to address the problem of accessing medicines and biologics and tackling NTDs. Manufacturing of health technologies has been an objective by officials in developing countries around the world who are working with private sector partners to establish production, according to the WHO. "We understand from both our partners and governments that there is a strong desire to bring biomanufacturing closer to patients, wherever they live, to alleviate supply chain risk, respond to endemic diseases and manufacture at an acceptable or competitive cost," Batra said. "Today's single-use and bioprocessing solutions help make that aspiration possible. We stand ready to support governments and manufacturers in advancing their decentralized biomanufacturing infrastructure to enhance patient access to life-saving biologics and biosimilars." Since 2007, Merck, through its Healthcare business sector, has been supporting the WHO in the fight against schistosomiasis in Africa. The most effective treatment for this disease to date is Cesol 600, a tablet that contains the well-tolerated active ingredient known as praziquantel. Merck produces the tablets at its plant in Mexico and covers the transport and logistical costs involved in getting the tablets to Africa, while WHO manages, monitors and documents distribution at the local level. Merck has significant collaborations with leading universities and research institutes to help advance the vaccine industry as a whole, including Baylor College of Medicine and Oxford University's Jenner Institute. The company has two separate collaborations with Baylor College of Medicine, one through its Life Science business and the other through its Healthcare business. In 2017, the Life Science business of Merck formed a strategic alliance with Baylor to advance vaccine research and development for neglected and emerging infections. Also in 2017, Merck's Healthcare business began a collaboration with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (James Cook University, Queensland) and Baylor to research new biomarkers for the development of vaccines and diagnostics for schistosomiasis. Follow Merck on Twitter @Merckgroup, on Facebook @merckgroup and on LinkedIn. About Neglected Tropical Diseases Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a set of 17 diseases that disproportionately affect more than 1 billion people living primarily in the developing world. As a leading cause of disability, NTDs carry social and economic burdens. However, according to the WHO, many of these diseases can be controlled and, in some cases, eliminated. Merck is committed to research that will treat or even eliminate NTDs and has intensified its efforts to tackle NTDs as part of its campaign to provide access to health. About Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis is transmitted by flatworms. By swimming or washing laundry in contaminated water, people can contract the worm larvae, which then infest their internal organs. The infection rate is especially high among children, and even when it is not fatal, the consequences are serious. In partnership with other organizations including the WHO, Merck has set the goal to fully eliminate this disease. About the World Health Assembly The 72nd Session of the WHO's World Health Assembly (WHA) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 20 - 28 May 2019. The WHA is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. About Merck Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 52,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene- editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices - Merck is everywhere. In 2018, Merck generated sales of 14.8 billion in 66 countries. Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/890461/Merck_Dr_Udit_Batra.jpg From June 3-6, 2019, Philadelphia will host the BIO International Convention, the major annual gathering of the biotechnology community. Lyonbiopole, a European leading healthcare cluster based in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes (France) will attend this year with 17 organizations. Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes is the birthplace of the French life science industry. This region is renowned for its dynamic healthcare ecosystem, which is built on a large pool of world-class facilities: INSERM JEAN MERIEUX BSL-4, EUROPEAN SYNCHROTRON RADIATION FACILITY (ESRF), a network of five University Hospitals and Cancer Research Centers, many world-class industrial leaders (bioMerieux, Sanofi, BD, Boehringer Ingelheim, Merck, Medtronic, Charles River...) and a huge number of innovative start-ups and SMBs This vibrant ecosystem is led by Lyonbiopole, the regional healthcare cluster. Its team comes to BIO with a unique objective: to give exposure to the regional brightest young firms and their state-of-the-art technologies and products. Lyonbiopole aims to drive the emergence of strategic collaborations between these stakeholders and counterparts from other international ecosystems. In total, 17 organizations developing breakthrough innovations in various fields of expertise (novel drugs, medical devices, pharmacology, micro and nanotechnologies, data processing...) will exhibit in the Lyonbiopole's booth on the French Pavilion: Alize Pharma, ANS Biotech, BD, BioFilm Pharma, CarThera, CEA Leti, CYTOO, ELSALYS BIOTECH, genOway, NETRI, Neuronax, Novadiscovery, Prediction BioSciences, Roowin, Signia Therapeutics, Soladis and TransCure bioServices To download a detailed factsheet on each participant, click here. On booth #2109, in the heart of the French Pavilion, all these stakeholders will be available to interact with visitors and present their latest innovations. About Lyonbiopole The Lyonbiopole cluster unites and structures an innovative, fertile healthcare ecosystem of international ambition: the Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region. A global competitiveness cluster since its inception in 2005, it supports the sector's projects and enterprises to strengthen the development of technological innovations, products and services to meet tomorrow's healthcare challenges. Lyonbiopole currently has 226 members, including four major manufacturers who helped cofound it (Sanofi Pasteur, bioMerieux, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, Becton Dickinson). It is Gold label certified by the European Cluster Excellence Initiativeand a member of bioXclusters, the European metacluster. Find out more: lyonbiopole.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005343/en/ Contacts: Media enquiries Monet+Associes Melanie Da Rui mr@monet-rp.com +33 (0)6 58 98 85 75 LUXEMBOURG, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the successful visit to Viva Tech 2019 in Paris, Taiwan's Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST)'s Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) and a group of Taiwan startups, led by Director-General Chyou-Huey Chiou, exhibited at Luxembourg's ICT Spring annual convention, resulting in a 4.5 million Euro partnership agreement with Swiss company, Becare, and French company, Janssen (a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary). The Luxembourg visit also strengthened the network of startup resources between the Taiwan and the European market, paving the way for more future partnerships. Taiwan Startup Receives Swiss & French Smart Health Partnership Agreement ICT Spring 2019, an annual technology convention held by the City of Luxembourg, attracted over 500 startups from over 72 countries, and over 5000 attendees this year. For the first time, MOST's Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) brought three of their startup teams to exhibit at ICT Spring, including FaceHeart which received a partnership agreement worth 4.5 million Euro from Swiss smart health company Becare, and Janssen, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary from France, once again strengthening the deep links between the Taiwan and European markets. Taiwan -- Luxembourg Exchanges Startup Resources to Build a Global Ecosystem For the first time, Taiwan's Ministry of Science & Technology visited ICT Spring 2019 and the City of Luxembourg, creating a gateway for the exchange of startup resources between the two countries in building a global startup ecosystem. The tour also included meetings with Luxembourg's Ministry of the Economy, the Foreign Trade and Investment Promotion, and many of the city's key startup and innovation leaders in order for European startups to leverage the deep technology resources in Taiwan & Asia, while also opening the possibilities for Taiwan startups to access Luxembourg's advantages in finance and ties to the European market. Taiwan's Strength in Innovative Technology Finds New Opportunities in European Smart Technology Sector Director-General, Chyou-Hui Chiou, from the Ministry of Science & Technology (MOST) - Department of Academia Industry Collaboration and Science Park Affairs, remarks that "in recent years, MOST has extensively researched and cultivated the position of Taiwan innovation in the global corporate market. Besides the ongoing development in the software, semi-conductor, and artificial intelligence sectors, smart health tech has also come into focus as an important sector for Taiwan. Through MOST and TTA's network of strong international partnerships, Taiwan startups has been given a bright spotlight on the international stage, communicating through events such as Luxembourg's ICT Spring 2019, that they are ready for the world." TTA Highlights Taiwan as a Country of Innovation & Technology Since opening in 2018, Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) has attracted international partnerships from French Tech Taiwan, Canadian Technology Macerator (CTA), SOSV's Mox, Sparklabs, IAPS, and BE Accelerator. Through its extensive network of global mentors, TTA provides its teams with Silicon Valley-ready training and mindsets, preparing them for expansion into the global market. Besides providing a link between Taiwan startups and the global startup ecosystem, TTA also fosters the development of artificial intelligence, software, and semi-conductor industries. Through TTA's branding and international marketing, Taiwan startups have the opportunity to be seen by global enterprises and investors, opening the doors to partnerships between Taiwan and other countries, and providing a voice for Taiwan innovation to be heard by the world over. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891156/Taiwanese_Startups_in_Luxembourg.jpg Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids WASHINGTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, in historic action to protect the lives and health of Brazilians, Brazil's Office of the Attorney General (Advocacia-Geral da Uniao) filed a lawsuit against multinational tobacco companies to recover funds spent on the treatment of tobacco-related diseases in Brazil's health care system. The suit is the first of its kind for Brazil and a significant step towards holding the tobacco companies who do business in Brazil and their parent companies responsible for the enormous financial and health burdens caused by tobacco use. Brazil's lawsuit seeks to recover funds from the companies responsible for Brazil's tobacco epidemic - British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International, along with their Brazilian subsidiaries. These are costs that the Brazilian government is legally bound to pay for because health is a constitutional right in Brazil. Despite the advancements in tobacco control policies in Brazil, tobacco remains the country's leading cause of preventable death. It isn't an accident - it has been and continues to be caused by the wrongful behavior of tobacco companies that use deceptive marketing tactics to target youth and sell cigarettes, despite scientific consensus that tobacco products are addictive and deadly. Each year over 1.1 million Brazilians become sick due to causes attributable to smoking including heart disease, pneumonia, stroke and cancers. Today's lawsuit marks a crucial step forward in holding tobacco companies responsible for their decades of advertising and marketing practices that hid the dangers of smoking from the public and purposely targeted young people. British American Tobacco and Philip Morris International have received and continue to receive massive profits from sales to Brazilians even while the government and citizens of Brazil are forced to pay billions each year for the medical treatment of its citizens suffering from smoking-induced diseases. This case - the first one of this kind in Latin America - follows similar legal actions taken in the United States and Canada. In the United States, a landmark 1998 legal settlement between states and the tobacco companies required the companies to make payments in perpetuity to the states as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs, restricted some forms of tobacco marketing and provided funding for a national public education campaign to prevent youth tobacco use. The payments made to date have totaled more than US $162 billion. That same year, the first Canadian province sued the tobacco companies to recover its health care costs related to tobacco harms. Since then, every province and territory in Canada except one has filed similar litigation, with health care recovery claims now reportedly exceeding US $89 billion. With the lawsuit announced today, Brazil's Office of the Attorney General is standing up to multinational tobacco companies and seeking just compensation the Brazilian people deserve. With this action the Brazilian government is also acting in accordance with both Brazil's constitution and its international obligations as a party to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control - the international tobacco control treaty. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids applauds the government of Brazil and the Office of the Attorney General for their leadership and vision in bringing this lawsuit. The Brazilian judiciary should move this case forward rapidly to protect the health and economic wellbeing of the citizens of Brazil. For additional resources, please visit: https://www.agu.gov.br/page/content/detail/id_conteudo/756818 http://actbr.org.br/post/nota-de-apoio-organizacao-apoia-acao-judicial-da-agu-contra-souza-cruz-e-philip-morris/17905/ https://g1.globo.com/rs/rio-grande-do-sul/noticia/2019/05/21/acao-da-agu-pede-que-industrias-de-cigarros-paguem-prejuizo-da-uniao-com-tratamentos-de-pacientes.ghtml LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Ionix Technology, Inc. (OTCQB: IINX), ("Ionix Technology", "IINX" or "the Company"), a business aggregator in photoelectric display and smart energy fields, today announced that the company's management is scheduled to present at the 9th Annual LD Micro Invitational Conference, June 4-5, 2019, at the Luxe Sunset Hotel - Bel Air, California. The Company will be presenting at 11:20 AM PT on June 5th, 2019. The presentation will provide an overview of the company's business model, financial highlights and growth strategy. The management will also conduct 1-on-1 meetings at the conference. About LD Micro LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into several influential events annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event). In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and micro-cap universe. For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information. About Ionix Technology, Inc. Ionix Technology, Inc. is a holding company that is principally engaged in the photoelectric display and smart energy industries. The company has four operating subsidiaries: Changchun Fangguan Photoelectric Display Technology Co., Ltd, a company which specializes in developing, designing, producing, and selling TN and STN LCD, STN, CSTN, and TFT LCD modules as well as other related products; Shenzhen Baileqi Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, a company which specializes in LCD slicing, filling, researching and designing, manufacturing and selling of LCD Modules (LCM) and PCBs; Lisite Science Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the production of intelligent electronic devices; and Dalian Shizhe New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a company engaged in photovoltaic power generation, electric vehicles and charging piles with corresponding operation and maintenance and three dimensional parking. Currently, IINX has embarked on the layout of industrialization and marketization of front end materials and back end modules of liquid crystal displays and applications of flexible folding display technology by taking Changchun Fangguan and Shenzhen Baileqi as production bases, to seize the market share of OLED high technology. To learn more, please visit our website: www.iinx-tech.com Safe Harbor Statement This news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, such as the inherent uncertainties associated with new business opportunities and development stage companies. Ionix Technology assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Although Ionix Technology believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Ionix Technology's annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. IR Contact: Dragon Gate Investment Partners LLC Tel: +1(646)-801-2803 Email: iinx@dgipl.com SOURCE: Ionix Technology, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546088/Ionix-Technology-Inc-to-Present-at-the-9th-Annual-LD-Micro-Invitational-Conference-on-June-5-2019 The Economist Intelligence Unit's index measures how individual countries address child sexual abuse and exploitation for 85% of the global population under 19 years of age. The Index also shares best practice solutions for both the private and public sector. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Today, the World Childhood Foundation USA (WCF) announced the latest findings of 'Out of the Shadows: Shining light on the response to child sexual abuse and exploitation.' Combatting sexual violence against children requires a stronger and more targeted response from governments and businesses around the world, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit's Out of the Shadows Index. Developed with support from the World Childhood Foundation and Oak Foundation and with additional support from the Carlson Family Foundation, the Out of the Shadows Index measures how 60 countries are addressing sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The index, which focuses on policies, practices and standards, reveals that governments, the private sector and civil society can do more to protect children from sexual violence and to achieve Target 16.2 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for ending all forms of violence against children by 2030. The index covers a comprehensive range of critical issues, including education and awareness- building, reproductive health, gender norms, victim support, law enforcement and child sexual abuse online. Index indicators also focus on the engagement of businesses in the technology and travel/tourism sectors in fighting child sexual abuse and exploitation. Key findings from the Out of the Shadows study: The top ten countries in the index are among the world's richest, but only four score as high as 75 (out of 100), revealing substantial gaps in the protective conditions for children in even the wealthiest countries. The United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia hold the top three positions in the index. For the 60 countries, the average score is just 50.2. Complete rankings are available online at outoftheshadows.eiu.com. Many countries have strong legal frameworks for protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation, but most have not implemented policies or created effective institutions. The average score in the "Legal framework" category for all countries is nearly 60, but is just over 40 in the "Domestic commitment and capacity" category. Industry engagement is needed to better protect children, especially against online child sexual abuse, where the expansion of broadband has placed more children at risk. Just 15 of the 60 countries have a leading mobile telecoms association that identifies sexual violence against children as a clear priority in its annual report or a code of conduct on its website. Boys are overlooked. Nearly half of the 60 countries do not have legal protections for boys within their child rape laws, while only 19 countries collect prevalence data about sexual abuse of boys. Combatting child sexual abuse and exploitation is becoming a greater priority on the global stage and in many individual countries, and research shows that progress is possible even when resources are limited. "It is our hope that the Out of the Shadows Index will help spur collective action to prevent and address the global challenge of child sexual abuse and exploitation. The index focuses on the response of the key stakeholders -- governments, NGOs and the private sector - and should help create impactful solutions," said Dr. Joanna Rubinstein, President and CEO of World Childhood Foundation USA and Commissioner of The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development. "Based on the research findings of The Economist Intelligence Unit, these solutions should also address the new threats that children are exposed to online. All of the Index countries can do more to protect children and with the engagement of private industry, specifically the Information and Communications Technology sector, can play a vital role in protecting children from abuse." WCF's technology-focused initiatives include engagement of the private sector, in particular the information and communication technology companies, and their use of technology to fight the universal problem of child sexual abuse. This includes the Stewards of Children Prevention Toolkit mobile app, which WCF USA developed in partnership with Darkness2Light and the global telecom company, Ericsson. The app helps to educate adults about how to reduce the risks and recognize the signs of abuse; how to talk to children and react to a suspicion or disclosure of abuse. "How can one address a threat to children when it lives in the shadows? The answer is simply, we can't. If we want to end the sexual exploitation of children, we must first build awareness and by so doing, ignite a sense of urgency that drives cross-sector partnerships focused on ensuring no child lives this reality," said Wendy Nelson, Chair of the Carlson Family Foundation. "It is this fact that spurred The Carlson Family Foundation to join in partnership to develop the "Out of the Shadows Index'. The index is critical to bringing an end to the exploitation of children by spotlighting accountability in the system and uncovering opportunities for a shared commitment to every child's safety." Out of the Shadows Index Framework and Categories This index benchmarks the context in which sexual violence against children is happening; the legal and institutional underpinnings in place to combat sexual violence; and how stakeholders are responding across 60 countries. Categories for the framework include: Environment: The safety and stability of a country, the social protections available to families and children, and whether norms permit open discussion of the issue. The safety and stability of a country, the social protections available to families and children, and whether norms permit open discussion of the issue. Legal framework: The degree to which a country provides legal or regulatory protections for children from sexual exploitation and abuse. The degree to which a country provides legal or regulatory protections for children from sexual exploitation and abuse. Government commitment and capacity: Whether governments invest in resources to equip institutions and personnel to respond appropriately, and to collect data to understand the scope of the problem. Whether governments invest in resources to equip institutions and personnel to respond appropriately, and to collect data to understand the scope of the problem. Engagement of industry, civil society and media: The propensity for addressing risks to children at the industry and community levels, as well as providing support to victims. Sexual violence against children is a universal threat-no boy or girl is immune. The emotional and health consequences linger, and the socioeconomic impacts can be devastating. What can countries and companies do? Barriers and pathways to progress in fighting sexual violence against children are discussed in detail in the index report and data model, which are available online at outoftheshadows.eiu.com. About World Childhood Foundation (WCF) WCF envisions a world where all children are free from violence, sexual abuse, and exploitation. Founded in 1999 by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden, WCF invests in the development of solutions to prevent and address child sexual abuse and exploitation. WCF, a UN accredited NGO, directly supports >100 projects globally and raises awareness about our cause. WCF's work is aligned with the global Sustainable Development Goal 16.2 - ending abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children by 2030. For more information, please visit: www.childhood-usa.org Media Contacts: Adam Friedman adam@adam-friedman.com +1-914-419-7384 or Cathy Loos cathy@adam-friedman.com +1-347-334-4135 SOURCE: World Childhood Foundation USA View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546163/Out-Of-The-Shadows-Index-Shining-a-Light-on-the-Global-Response-to-Sexual-Violence-Against-Children LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Compare-autoinsurance.orghas released a new blog that explains why seniors are considered high-riskdrivers and how this influences the car insurance costs. Elderly are considered high-risk drivers by most of the insurance companies. As a direct result, they are charged more. When renewing coverage or changing the insurance providers, seniors are advised to get car insurance quotes online. Now, it is possible to compare multiple quotes in a single search page. Just use http://compare-autoinsurance.orgto get quotes from many reliable insurance agencies. 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Elder drivers are recommended to periodically take medical exams and check if they should quit driving or not. Involvement in fatal crashes is higher among drivers ages 70?74 and are highest among drivers ages 85 and older . An elder's body is more susceptible to medical complications. Combine that with the diminished perception and we get a really dangerous combination. "Age is an important factor and it is analyzed by each insurance company. People over 65 are gradually becoming high-risk drivers", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. Compare-autoinsurance.org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. For more information, please visit http://compare-autoinsurance.org/ Contact: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546156/Find-Out-Why-Seniors-Are-Considered-High-Risk-Drivers Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - Contact Gold Corp. (TSXV: C) (the "Company" or "Contact Gold") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced financing for aggregate gross proceeds of C$4,000,000 (the "Offering"). Joint underwriters Raymond James Ltd. and Cormark Securities Inc., together with their U.S. affiliates Raymond James (USA) Ltd. and Cormark Securities (USA) Limited (collectively, the "Underwriters") purchased 20,000,000 common shares the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of $0.20 per Common Share the ("Offering Price"). The Company granted to the Underwriters an option (the "Over-Allotment Option"), exercisable in whole or in part, at the sole discretion of the Underwriters, for a period of 30 days from and including the closing of the Offering, to purchase up to an additional 3,000,000 Common Shares at the Offering Price. If the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full, the total gross proceeds to the Company would be $4,600,000. For further information about the Offering, refer to the Company's news releases dated April 10, 2019, and May 13, 2019. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to undertake further drilling at Contact Gold's flagship Pony Creek project located in Elko County, Nevada, and for exploration expenditures on Contact Gold's other properties, as further detailed in the Prospectus Supplement and Offering Statement (each as defined below), which are both available under Contact Gold's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com Matt Lennox-King, President & CEO, Contact Gold said, "The additional support from our key shareholders will allow us to continue to push ahead with our aggressive exploration plans at our flagship Nevada gold project, Pony Creek." The Underwriters received a cash commission equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the Offering, other than in respect of sales to president's list purchasers, on which they received a cash commission equal to 3%. The Offering was conducted (A) in Canada pursuant to a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the Company's short form base shelf prospectus dated October 24, 2018 filed in all of the provinces and territories of Canada, except for Quebec (the "Canadian Jurisdictions"), and (B) to the public under an offering statement on Form 1-A, which includes an Offering Circular (the "Offering Statement"), pursuant to Regulation A under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The Common Shares being offered have not been approved or disapproved by the SEC, or any Canadian securities commission, nor has any such regulatory authority passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Prospectus Supplement or the Offering Statement. A copy of the Offering Statement, including the Offering Circular, is available at www.sec.gov. As a result of the closing of the Offering, all rights previously issued in connection with the Company's March 2019 private placement were converted and 2,047,398 additional Common Shares (the "Additional Shares") were issued to the holders thereof (the "Rights Conversion"). For additional details concerning the March 2019 private placement, please refer to the Company's news release dated March 14, 2019. The Additional Shares are subject to an existing statutory hold period expiring on July 15, 2019, and are also deemed to be "restricted securities" under Rule 144 of the 1933 Act, which generally requires a one-year hold period. The Additional Shares have not been, nor will they be, registered or qualified under the 1933 Act or any state securities laws, and are being issued pursuant to an exemption from such registration requirements under Section 3(a)(9) of the 1933 Act, and applicable state securities laws. As at the date hereof, following the completion of the Offering and issuance of the Additional Shares, 82,471,973 Common Shares were issued and outstanding. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any offer or sale of any securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation, or sale of securities would be unlawful. Related Party Transactions As previously announced, and pursuant to an existing participation right granted by the Company to Waterton Nevada Splitter, LLC ("Waterton"), Waterton exercised its right to participate in the Offering by purchasing 8,448,000 Common Shares. As a result, Waterton holds a 38% interest in the issued and outstanding Common Shares after giving effect to the Offering and issuance of the Additional Shares. In addition, certain directors and officers of the Company acquired an aggregate of 337,000 Common Shares pursuant to the Offering. Participation by the directors and officers of the Company (and together with Waterton, the "Insiders") in the Offering was considered a "related party transaction" pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company was exempt from the requirements to obtain a formal valuation or minority shareholder approval in connection with the Insiders' participation in the Offering in reliance of sections 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as Contact Gold is not listed on a "specified market" as that term is defined in MI 61-101 and the fair market value of the Offering, including the issuance of Additional Shares, as it relates to the Insiders does not exceed 25% of Contact Gold's market capitalization. A material change report was filed in connection with the participation of Insiders in the Offering less than 21 days in advance of the closing of the Offering, which the Company deemed reasonable in the circumstances so as to be able to avail itself of potential financing opportunities and complete the Offering in an expeditious manner. About Contact Gold Corp. Contact Gold is an exploration company focused on producing district scale gold discoveries in Nevada. Contact Gold's extensive land holdings are on the 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. Additional information about the Company is available at www.contactgold.com. For more information, please contact: +1 (604) 449-3361 Matthew Lennox-King - President & CEO E-mail: info@ContactGold.com 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. 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 and United States 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, the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, the intended use of proceeds from the Offering, the Company's exploration plans, and the receipt of applicable stock exchange approvals. These forward-looking statements are based on opinions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made and are based on various assumptions, including but not limited to, favourable and stable general macroeconomic conditions, securities markets, spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals and certain other commodities and currency markets (such as the $ to US$ exchange rate); the receipt of requisite regulatory approvals; no materially adverse changes or economic developments, that various risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining will not materialize and the ability to continue raising the necessary capital to finance operations. 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 risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the forward-looking statements in this news release include but are not limited to: risks related to the Offering; that the Company may be required to use the proceeds from the Offering other than as described in the Prospectus Supplement and the Offering Statement; risks related to the Company's exploration plans including that it may not be able to carry out those plans as currently anticipated, or at all; and the receipt of applicable regulatory and stock exchange approvals. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive of all factors and assumptions which may have been used. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44947 BEIJING, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Seed Award 2019 ("the award") - the world's first creativity award that highlights the integration of technology and everyday life, launched its opening ceremony in Beijing on the 16th of May. The award, which comes with a top-prize of RMB 1,000,000(USD 144,751.30), is aimed at discovering and supporting creative scientific and technological discoveries applicable to real-life scenarios to transform lives and society in the fields of healthcare, intelligent transportation and energy-efficiency. The award was established at a ceremony attended by Jerry Luo, Co-president of Seedland Group; K.K.Ng, CMO of Seedland Group and Head of the Seed Award committee; and Xu Zhenbin, President of Seedland Technology Center. Also in attendance were two of the committee's judges, Dr. Dov Moran, Inventor of the USB Flash Drive, and Eric Frank, Founding Member of Uber AI Labs. "Seeking the doers with innovative ideas and encouraging the development of technologies applicable to life scenarios are the core values of the Seed Award. It is intended to push the improvement and invention of new technologies that can be applied to human life and enlighten people's creativity in science and humanity," said K.K.Ng, CMO of Seedland Group. The award invited 12 world-renowned scientists under the same roof, including Michael I. Jordan, known as the "world's most influential computer scientist" by the Sceience in 2016, and Demis Hassabis, the creator of Alpha Go, making it possible for contestants to receive "golden" guidance on their inventions. The Seed Award will organize its semi-final in North America, Asia Pacific and Europe as a further step in helping contestants to bring their ideas to life. Feyman, a student from Peking University, unveiled his universal brain-machine interface "New Sense 1.0" helping those with impairments to find a new sense to interact with the world. For instance, people with hearing-impairment will be able to receive sound signals via the information carried by different vibrations on the specially-designed wristband. Another invention that caught the eyes of the audience was a piece of equipment designed for fitness brought by Ding Lyu, a student from the University of Shanghai for Science and Technology. What makes this gadget distinctive? It is backed by AI visual recognition technology. The smart device offers guidance on the movements involved during exercise, enabling users to customize their fitness plans based on individual health data. The Seed Award will work in partnership with Fast Company China, the world's leading progressive business media brand to embark on a global tour of Oxford University and Sandford University to discover amazing people with creative ideas and the ambition to make the world a better place. To take part in the Seed Award and find out more about Seedland Group: https://seedaward.seedland.cc About The Seed Award Launched by Seedland Group, the Seed Award is designed to encourage and reward inventors with a passion for the world. Funded by Seedland Group the award aims to discover creative ideas applicable to multiple societal and lifestyle scenarios in the fields of healthcare, AI+IOT, intelligent transportation and energy-efficiency. The awarding committee comprises of Dr. Dov Moran, Inventor of the USB Flash Drive and Eric Frank, Founding Member of Uber AI Labs About Seedland Group Founded in Guangzhou in 2006, Seedland Group is one of China's Top 100 Real Estate companies, dedicated to developing innovative, connected solutions for housing and humanity. Set with the task of re-imagining the relations between body and living space, it has grown into a company that offers "smart living solution" for each stage of the human lifecycle. The company provides services for living security, family health and emotional interaction in the use of intelligent products, data analysis and residential support. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891215/Seedland_Group_Seed_Award.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891216/Seedland_Group_panel_discussion.jpg "We must use punishment and tell the Americans their practice of using concealment and fraud to extract benefits from others, while benefiting themselves, is unfair," said the Global Times newspaper, which is published by the ruling Communist Party and known for its nationalistic tone. Facilitates Deployment of PolyWorks|Inspector in Production and Accelerates CNC CMM Measurement Sequences QUEBEC CITY, May 22, 2019, the leading provider of universal 3D metrology software solutions, today announced the launch of the 2019 release of the PolyWorks Metrology Suite. This latest major release delivers new object measurement scripts that open the door to all the custom measurement techniques of clients within the standard PolyWorks workflow, as well as a new assisted sequencing approach that promises to greatly accelerate the time to set up CMM sequences. "Simplifying the lives of our customers while keeping them fully in control. This statement embodies the development philosophy behind the PolyWorks Metrology Suite and the latest 2019 release," said Marc Soucy, President of InnovMetric. He added, "With its outstanding innovations that combine increased simplicity with important time savings, we are proud to bring the productivity of PolyWorks Metrology Suite users to new heights." Deploy PolyWorks|Inspector in any production environment thanks to powerful object measurement scripts When controlling quality within a production context, customer requirements are generally more detailed and stricter compared to product engineering requirements. They impose a level of customization that has led users to deploy PolyWorks in their production environment through the use of large and complex macro scripts that execute complete inspections. With PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2019, users can now easily adapt PolyWorks|Inspector to their production environment by creating short scripted measurement methods that serve to: Define their own set of custom measurement techniques; Support all their gauging devices; Simplify the measurement acquisition process; and Provide additional measurement guidance with enhanced measurement feedback to quality control operators. These custom measurement methods are embedded directly in measurement objects where they benefit from the standard PolyWorks measurement workflow and can rely on powerful and reliable PolyWorks standard components to guide operators, play inspections, update projects, and report results. This approach leaves users free to build their own library of custom measurement methods that meet all of their manufacturing requirements. Create complete CMM measurement sequences in minutes while staying in control In order to measure parts with a CNC CMM, measurement specialists need to define measurement objects as well as a sequence of CMM operations to measure these objects, which can be very time consuming. PolyWorks Metrology Suite 2019 proposes a novel assisted sequencing approach that automates a large part of the process. Measurement specialists simply select and add the desired measurement objects to the PolyWorks|Inspector sequence editor to automatically obtain: The optimal measurement order that minimizes measurement time; The proper tool orientation for each measurement; and A collision-free measurement path with respect to the part and its fixtures. PolyWorks also offers a new object insertion tool that inserts new measurement objects at the optimal position within an existing measurement sequence. This tool significantly decreases the time needed to bring adjustments to a sequence when a new CAD model revision is integrated into an existing project. Specialists can decide to obtain assistance for an entire inspection or to proceed area by area, staying in complete control of their sequence. This innovative approach eliminates the need for time-consuming reviews of sequences produced by fully automatic sequencing tools. For more information about PolyWorks, including demonstrationsand upcoming PolyWorks Conference 2019 events, visit innovmetric.com About InnovMetric Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Quebec, QC, Canada, with subsidiaries worldwide, InnovMetric Software Inc. is the leading provider of universal 3D metrology software solutions. The world's largest industrial manufacturing organizations (Toyota, GM, Volkswagen, Honda, BMW, Daimler, Ford, Rolls-Royce, Pratt & Whitney, Boeing, Embraer, Bombardier, Apple, and many more) trust InnovMetric's PolyWorks software solutions and associated technical services to maximize the benefits of 3D measurement technologies for their engineering and manufacturing applications. With its subsidiaries and joint ventures, InnovMetric has 400 employees in 16 countries: Canada, United States, Mexico, Brazil, France, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, South Africa, India, Thailand, China, and Japan. For more information about InnovMetric Software, visit innovmetric.com Contact: Patrick Castera, Director of Marketing Strategy, InnovMetric Software Tel: 1-418-688-2061 x242 Email: pcastera@innovmetric.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae9b0e62-f623-438c-b0cf-fb498152e985 http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30fc2cc2-bf78-4fef-902e-afca707080e2 AJ Impact will offer English-language coverage of business and economic stories that impact the global economy NEW YORK, May 22, 2019, AJ Impact will encompass all formats including articles, digital video, podcasts and infographics. Al Jazeera has established new offices in New York City to house a dedicated editorial team to support the new property. AJ Impact introduces a powerful new perspective to the landscape of business news. Grounded in Al Jazeera's mission to give voice to the voiceless and supported by a diverse international l news team, AJ Impact will provide unbiased and inclusive reporting that boosts financial literacy and empowers news consumers to create a more just and sustainable global economy. Unique concentrations of focus for AJ Impact are in four key areas: Global Economy, Inequality, Technology and the burgeoning field of Impact Investing, which seeks to produce healthy outcomes for people and the planet as well as a financial return. "We see a large unmet need for a new kind of business coverage told from a human perspective, and with global reach," said Dr. Yaser Bishr, EVP of Digital for Al Jazeera Media Network. "In a media landscape that has forced other news organizations to cut back, AJ Impact represents a substantial commitment of new staff and resources to make business coverage more accessible and more relevant to all citizens of the global economy." "Traditional business news also focuses on the pursuit of profit, often ignoring negative impacts on people and the environment," said Patricia Sabga, Al Jazeera's new managing business editor overseeing AJ Impact. "This approach does not reflect the mission of Al Jazeera, nor does it reflect the values of next-generation news consumers who understand that how they spend and invest money -- even as little as a dollar -- can help create a more just, prosperous and sustainable global economy. By producing and curating stories with a global purview and a human perspective, AJ Impact will boost economic literacy while demonstrating how we all have a stake in every economic policies and decision whether in our own backyards or thousands of miles away." In addition to expanding Al Jazeera's global English-language news coverage, AJ Impact will augment the Network's broader portfolio of digital offerings, including AJ+ , podcast studio Jetty , and immersive video studio Contrast . For more information, visit AJImpact.com. About Al Jazeera Digital Al Jazeera Digital delivers award-winning news reporting via more than 36 distinct digital properties - including AlJazeera.com (Arabic), AJ+ (English, Spanish, French & Arabic), ContrastVR, Jetty (audio) and more. Headquartered in Doha, Qatar, Al Jazeera Digital pioneers new and emerging storytelling techniques to give voice to the voiceless across all digital media formats, with dedicated offerings for desktop, mobile, audio, video, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality and smart home. With expansive reach and offices and bureaus across the globe, Al Jazeera Digital ranks among the largest and most diverse global news operations on the planet. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Subscribe Technologies Inc. (CSE: SAAS, OTCQB: SRBBF, Frankfurt: 6GQ) ("Subscribe" or "the Company") is pleased to announce the Company has secured international trademarks for its flagship Software-as-a-Service business management solution 'Gingerly'. The registered trademark for the 'Gingerly' name consists of standard characters and varying forms of capitalization without claim to any particular font-style, size, or color. The first use of the name in commerce dates back to July 2018. The Canadian Registrar of Trademarks Office, USPTO, EUIPO, and Australian Trademarks Office are the governmental agencies that oversee the registration of federal trademarks and divides marks into different "classes." The purpose of these classes allows different types of businesses to register their trademarks into categories most related to their core business. Gingerly falls under class 42; 'software as a service for business management, namely, software containing programs for inventory management, tracking usage and price data, point of sale processing, order entry, management of purchasing and receiving goods, document management, management of equipment rental operations'. The European Union Intellectual Property Office and The Commonwealth of Australia Trademark Office have issued certificates of registration of the 'Gingerly' trademark to Subscribe Technologies Inc., EU Registration No. 017945165 and IP AU Trademark No. 1949113. Renewal dates have been set to August 2028. The Canadian Registrar of Trademarks Office application number 1912676 and USPTO Serial No. 88/114,558 must still be scrutinized by the Trademarks Office in respect of substantive requirements. "I'm very pleased the company can protect its global brand as we press forward into new markets throughout Europe and Australia," says Mr. Paul Dickson, President & CEO. "The trademark protection from the aforementioned Trademarks offices will allow us to protect our brand at home in Canada as well as abroad. We are pleased that the EUIPO & IP Australia has approved our class designation of protection for our most important digital mark at this time." About Software as a Service (SaaS) Software as a Service is a fast emerging, cloud based, online business model allowing companies to offer their unique software services and scale their customer base exponentially, worldwide, from any location. About Gingerly Gingerly is a cloud-based business management suite and dashboard offering a growing portfolio of a-la-carte business management applications for solopreneurs, small, and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Start powering up your business for free at www.gingerly.com . About Subscribe Technologies Inc. Subscribe Technologies [CSE: SAAS, OTCQB: SRBBF, Frankfurt: 6GQ] develops, partners with, acquires, and invests in cloud based software as a service (SaaS) solutions for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). To learn more about Subscribe Technologies, please visit www.subscribetech.com . On Behalf of the Board, Paul Dickson President & CEO Contact: Shareholder Communicationsinquiries@subscribetech.comTel: 1 (778) 775 7297 Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and trading in the common stock of Subscribe Technologies Inc. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the company's management. Although the company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release. SOURCE: Subscribe Technologies Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546109/Subscribe-Technologies-Completes-International-Trademarks-for-Gingerly-Platform DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / International Cannabrands Inc. (CSE: JUJU) (the "Company") is pleased to have released the recently completed financial statements for La Vida Verde, Inc. ("LVV") - the northern California family of brands including La Vida Verde, Blank Brands and Skunkfeather. ICL acquired 51% of LVV in January 2019 for $6 million comprised of $3 million of cash and $3 million of common equity. For the calendar and fiscal year 2018, LVV generated $13.8 million in revenue, $2.5 million in gross margin, $1.6 million in Income from Operations and Net Income of $1.1 million. The financial statements of LVV have been filed as a schedule to the Company's Business Acquisition Report dated May 3, 2019, as amended and restated May 14, 2019, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. "We are tremendously pleased to have completed the La Vida Verde investment as projected and proud of the strong performance in the business. Our intention is that LVV will continue its growth through its family of brands and to also act as an increasingly important beachhead for all ICL brands in northern California" shared Steve Gormley, CEO of ICL. In addition LVV received its Annual Manufacturing License in California to April 2020. Bryce Berryessa, President of LVV explained: "There was a very low barrier to entry for temporary licenses in California, all you needed was local authorization. The bar for annual licenses is much higher as it requires intense disclosures, validation of processes, and multiple inspections by state officials. It is our expectation that many of the companies that received temporary licensing will not make it through to annuals." "ICL has already invested additional funds into LVV for equipment and personnel which is expected to more than double the manufacturing capacity of LVV. Further, we have helped fund the material expansion of the LVV sales team with a new VP of Sales, a full sales team and brand ambassador team targeting new dispensaries and a fully refreshed online presence. We believe these investments have the potential to increase gross margins through greater efficiencies and to substantially bolster revenue growth," added Mr. Gormley. LVV brought its expanded sales and marketing resources online at the end of the first quarter as part of its effort to replace an underperforming distributor relationship and to embark on a new distribution arrangement with Nabis announced early May (see press release dated May 6, 2019). Together, management believes it can materially increase market share in existing and new territories within California while enhancing profitability beginning in the second quarter of 2019. About La Vida Verde, Inc. In addition to LVV's wholesale flower, packaged flower, pre-rolls and blunts, its differentiating products include gummies, upscale protein bars, new chocolate forms and super cookies. LVV Brands currently include Skunk Feather Cannabis and Blank Brand. LVV has been operating in California since 2015, and currently has extraction, manufacturing and distribution capability. LVV is a leader in the extraction field, being one of the first to incorporate full spectrum testing in every product, testing for potency, terpenes, pesticides and residual solvents. Its concentrates are pharmaceutical grade and free of any pesticides, microbial contaminants, heavy metals or additives. LVV has recently doubled its manufacturing capability and has installed state-of-the-art technology. LVV believes that the best medicine starts with the food you eat and it takes pride in producing products for people who are search for a natural and healthy alternative for nurturing their bodies. All its products use only healthy fats, are vegan, organic, gluten-free, paleo friendly and low glycemic. About International Cannabrands (ICI) ICI's strategy centers on acquiring micro brands, distribution and specific manufacturing/cultivation companies in the cannabis space. The Company's business model is to generate revenue from cannabis cultivation, brands ranging from flower to edibles and from THC to CBD, oil extraction, ancillary products and apparel in the United States. ICI markets products with THC content where that practice has been legalized at the state level through either medicinal or full recreational use. ICI also markets products containing CBD in the US and internationally. ICI owns 51% of La Vide Verde, Inc. and has the exclusive rights to Julian Marley's JuJu Royal brand. The Company believes as the legal cannabis market evolves, high-quality, unique products will increasingly capture market share and provide a valuable platform for growth. International Cannabrands Contact: Steve Gormley Chief Executive Officer 1045 Lincoln Street, #106 Denver, Colorado 80203 Ph: (323) 828-4321 or steve.gormley@intlcannabrands.com Media Inquiries: media@jujuroyal.net NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Disclaimer concerning Forward-looking Statements Certain statements included herein constitute 'forward-looking statements' relating to the performance of LVV and the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company are described in its publicly-available disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the Company's expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events. SOURCE: International Cannabrands Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546153/International-Cannabrands-Announces-2018-Audited-Financial-Results-for-La-Vida-Verde ADDISON, Texas, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Authentix, Inc., a U.S.-based technology solutions provider specializing in supply chain security and authentication programs, was presented the 2019 Export Achievement Certificate (EAC) on May 16, 2019, by the United States Department of Commerce for the company's continued success and expansion in international markets. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/890746/IMG_2327_1.jpg The EAC award was originally created in 2001 by the International Trade Administration's U.S. Commercial Service division. The award recognizes U.S. based enterprises that successfully entered a new foreign market. Today, the EAC may be given to both first time and experienced exporters that have completed a noteworthy export transaction or that successfully introduced a new product line in a foreign market. Authentix has worked with U.S. Commercial Service for 13 years as it continues to grow and deliver advanced authentication solutions to commercial companies, national governments, and leading central banks across the globe. With over 25 years serving the international marketplace, Authentix is proud to deliver supply chain security on five of the seven continents. "The U.S. Commercial Service has supported Authentix's presence in global markets with local knowledge and experience that connects the right stakeholders and decision makers to our mission to safeguard the integrity of global commerce. With their help, we have been able to grow our footprint internationally and deliver advanced authentication solutions to help our customers thrive in a global economy," states Kevin McKenna, CEO of Authentix. The U.S. Commercial Service visited Authentix headquarters in Addison, Texas on May 16, 2019, where Ana Guevara, Deputy Assistant Secretary of U.S. Operations, delivered the award to Authentix. "Exporting businesses like Authentix are the engine of the U.S. economy. I am pleased to have presented an award for effective export activities to Authentix, and gratified that the U.S. Commercial Service had an opportunity to help facilitate their global success," said Ms. Guevara. About Authentix As the authority in authentication solutions, Authentix helps customers thrive in supply and distribution chain complexity. Authentix provides advanced authentication solutions for governments, central banks and commercial products, ensuring local economies grow, banknote security remains intact and commercial products have robust market opportunities. The Authentix partnership approach and proven sector expertise inspires proactive innovation, helping customers mitigate risks to promote revenue growth and gain competitive advantage. Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in North America, Europe, Middle East, and Africa serving clients worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.authentix.com. Authentix is a registered trademark of Authentix, Inc. About U.S. Commercial Service The U.S. Commercial Service (CS) is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration. The CS is a part of the U.S. Foreign Service and its commercial officers are diplomats. The CS global network of trade professionals helps thousands of U.S. companies to export goods and services worth billions of dollars every year. CS trade specialists are located throughout the United States, as well as in U.S. embassies and consulates in over 75 countries around the world. The mission of CS is to advance and protect strategic U.S. commercial and economic interests around the world. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/429526/Authentix_Logo.jpg The global all-terrain vehicle (ATV) tires market is expected to post a CAGR of close to (1)% during the period 2019-2023, according to the latest market research report by Technavio This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005328/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the global all-terrain vehicle (ATV) market from 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) A key factor driving the growth of the market is the growing use of ATVs in recreational, sports, and military applications. The preference for recreational activities and adventure is growing each passing year among consumers globally, especially among tourists. Currently, countries in North America and Europe dominate the global ATV tires market as sport and off-road activities are highly popular in these regions. These activities include off-roading, trails, mountain racing, and dirt racing, where ATVs have wide applications. The use of ATVs for military purposes is increasing as ATVs are finding varied applications among the armed forces and police departments in emerging markets such as India as well. This is resulting in greater usage of ATVs in recreational, sports, and military applications, which is driving the market in focus. As per Technavio, the growing developments in ATV tires will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This global all-terrain vehicle tires marketresearch report also analyzes other important trends and market drivers that will affect market growth over 2019-2023. Global all-terrain vehicle tires market: Growing developments in ATV tires The global ATV tires market is witnessing advances in the designing and manufacturing process of tires. Designers, engineers, and technicians are working with prominent vendors to leverage their expertise and knowledge to develop efficient ATV tires. The aim is to achieve higher traction, precise handling, and superior durability to maneuver the toughest of terrains. Over the last couple of years, the global ATV tires market has witnessed an increasing number of tire launches. Many prominent vendors have launched newer tires touting their improved performance. "There are no substitutes for ATV tires and, therefore, they cannot be replaced by other types of tires, including passenger car tires and commercial vehicle tires. This stems from the unique tread designs, grooves, tread depths. and the overall profile of ATV tires, which make them stand apart from other tires available in the market. These tires have a different production process and are made with special rubber compounds, nylon belt-reinforced tire construction, which raise the cost of manufacturing. Thus, such advances in tire design and manufacturing technology are further raising ATV tire manufacturing costs, and thereby driving the market," says a senior analyst at Technavio. Global all-terrain vehicle tires market: Segmentation analysis This market research report segments the global all-terrain vehicle tires market by application (utility ATV and sport ATV) and geographical regions (North America, Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America). The North American region led the market in 2018, followed by Europe, APAC, MEA, and South America, respectively. However, during the forecast period, the APAC region is expected to register the highest incremental growth due to the emerging demand for ATVs in China and India. Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Some of the key topics covered in the report include: Market Landscape Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market size and forecast Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation Geographical Segmentation Regional comparison Key leading countries Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005328/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com The French cybersecurity vendor embeds R&SPACE 2 into its AI-based advanced analytics solution to detect and counter cyber threats in real-time. ipoque GmbH, a Rohde Schwarz company providing market-leading deep packet inspection (DPI) software, today announced that Orsec Technologies SAS has licensed its DPI engine R&SPACE 2 for their cyber threat hunting solution oorigin. Providing accurate traffic analytics and a rich set of metadata in real time, R&SPACE 2 significantly strengthens Orsecs threat hunting capabilities. This allows for more accurate alerts, faster threat detection and enhanced machine learning. Cyber-attacks have become a constant threat to governments and enterprises. In 2019 there was, so far, no day without a major data leak or data destruction. While larger companies and governments can afford a dedicated team of experts or expensive security tools, small and medium companies are more vulnerable. However, in today's highly connected IT ecosystems, if security is not established for all companies, there will be no protection at all. oorigin is a next-generation intelligence solution that enables small and medium sized organizations to incorporate cyber threat hunting into their security strategy and turn their defense into a proactive offense. According to Jean-Luc Rouinvy, CTO and founder of Orsec Technologies SAS, "many cyber-attacks remain undetected for up to ten months and can cost companies millions of euros." oorigin empowers IT administrators to proactively search for malware or attackers lurking in the network, discover shadow IT and reduce investigation time after a cyber-incident. With R&SPACE 2, Orsec takes advantage of a DPI solution that can analyze 100% of the traffic in real-time without performance loss. Through its weekly protocol and application signature updates R&SPACE 2 empowers oorigin to classify an extensive range of protocols and applications. With the provided metadata, devices, servers and virtual machines can be identified. This way, Orsec is able to offer a proactive, intelligence-driven IT security solution to prevent and disrupt threats. "Moreover, the metadata extracted from traffic flows by R&SPACE 2 provides a rich information feed that can be used to boost our machine learning for user and device behavior analytics, strengthening our threat analytics and providing priceless information for post cyber incident investigation." says Jean-Luc Rouinvy. Carsten Fischer, Product Manager at ipoque GmbH is also satisfied: "Our fast and accurate DPI engine combined with deep machine learning will be a game changer in future IT security. We are excited that Orsec launches such a powerful product and makes it affordable for those who need it the most." About ipoque ipoque, a Rohde Schwarz company, is a leading vendor of deep packet inspection software that adds protocol and application classification capabilities to network analytics, traffic management and cybersecurity solutions. Rohde Schwarz also provides a holistic network traffic analytics system for communication service providers that allows deep insights into network behavior, network performance and trends to optimize both quality of experience and quality of service. For more information, visit www.ipoque.com About Rohde Schwarz The Rohde Schwarz technology group develops, produces and markets innovative communications, information and security products for professional users. The group's test and measurement, broadcast and media, aerospace defense security, networks and cybersecurity business fields address many different industry and government-sector market segments. On June 30, 2018, Rohde Schwarz had approximately 11,500 employees. The independent group achieved a net revenue of approximately EUR 2 billion in the 2017/2018 fiscal year (July to June). The company has its headquarters in Munich, Germany. Internationally, it has subsidiaries in more than 70 countries, with regional hubs in Asia and America. About Orsec Technologies Orsec Technologies SAS is a French software development company dedicated to solving cyber problems. We build a next-generation cybersecurity solution to protect businesses from growing cyber threats. Our goal is to provide small and medium enterprises with a level of network protection typically only afforded by large corporations or government. Our oorigin solution offers unrivaled network visibility to empower IT security audits and faster post cybersecurity incident investigations. R&S is a registered trademark of Rohde Schwarz GmbH Co. KG. All press releases, including photos for downloading, are available on the Internet at https://ipoque.com/news-media/press-releases View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005466/en/ Contacts: Christine Lorenz Phone: +49 34159403062 Email: christine.lorenz@rohde-schwarz.com Newport Beach, California--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - Vivera Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a pharmaceutical company focused on non-addictive pain management, today announces the appointment of Mr. Fred Jamee as the Company's Vice President of Regulatory and Compliance. Within this role, Mr. Jamee will ensure Vivera meets and exceeds all compliance standards mandated by industry regulations and best practices. "I was attracted to Vivera's mission of focusing on non-addictive therapies for patients," said Mr. Jamee. "I've been successful in helping companies build quality systems from the ground up for nearly 40 years -- it's my passion. When I was approached with the opportunity to oversee quality assurance and product validation on products that could influence a positive change surrounding the opioid crisis, I knew I wanted to be part of it." Prior to joining Vivera, Mr. Jamee was the Chief Quality Officer and Senior Vice President of Quality at Robinson Pharmaceuticals, where staff qualifications, facilities, manufacturing equipment, production processes, and ingredients are routinely inspected by state and federal regulatory authorities, as well as third-party auditors. "I've visited and audited thousands of manufacturing facilities throughout my career and while compliance comes with a cost, there are procedures that must be followed with steps that are in place for a reason," added Mr. Jamee. "I consider myself an extension of the FDA and I hold myself to its high standards when it comes to product safety and product quality." "With his vast experience and dedication to quality, we are excited to have Mr. Jamee on board," said Dr. Stephen J. McColgan, Chief Medical Officer of Vivera Pharmaceuticals. "As regulations around cannabidiol (CBD)-based products continue to evolve, we can rely on his expertise to build our quality systems, and to achieve our business goals." Mr. Jamee is a graduate of California State University, Fresno where he earned a Master's Degree in Science. He is also a member of the American Society for Quality. Figure 1: Mr. Fred Jamee To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6166/44962_72e5fafa64f19b02_001full.jpg For more information, visit https://viverapharmaceuticals.com. About Vivera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Vivera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is an innovative, science-driven pharmaceutical company focused on opioid deterrence and cessation and non-addictive solutions for pain management. In addition to its pharmaceutical and medical device products, the company has global exclusivity to license the patented and patent-pending TABMELT sublingual drug-delivery system for the pharmaceutical use of cannabinoid compounds. Vivera Pharmaceuticals is seeking to conduct case studies and clinical trials on CBD in the TABMELT drug delivery format with the goal of gaining FDA approval for its products. The company is vertically integrated with patented technology, manufacturing capabilities and distribution for its products. For more information, visit https://viverapharmaceuticals.com. Investor Relations Inquiries: thinkHERO Patrick Piette, CFA for Vivera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 416-526-9911 investorrelations@viverapharma.com Press Inquiries: thinkHERO Karin Elz, for Vivera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 416-992-9848 press@viverapharma.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44962 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - Ethos Gold Corp. (TSXV: ECC) (OTCQB: ETHOF) ("Ethos" or the "Company") is pleased to announce trench results at its La Purisima gold project in north-west Chihuahua State, Mexico. Ethos has completed six mechanical trenches (T1-T6) totaling a length of approximately 3.0 km that targeted the surface expression of the Purisima Vein Zone and the parallel Stockwork Zone (see figure below). Highlights T1 - 0.49 g/t Au over 118m, including 1.13 g/t Au over 20m, and 0.76g/t Au over 24m (Purisima Vein Zone), and separately 4.17g/t Au over 5.4m (Stockwork Zone) T2 - 0.47 g/t Au over 127m including 1.11 g/t Au over 40m (Purisima Vein Zone) T3 - 0.84 g/t Au over 10m and 6.51 g/t Au over 2m (both Stockwork Zone) The mineralized zones are situated in a valley about 500 metres wide. Dozer cuts through shallow alluvium exposed well mineralized rocks in trenches across the northern flank of the valley. A portion of the valley was not trenched due to deeper alluvium that would have required larger equipment and additional safety measures. The trenches were oriented North 60 East, generally perpendicular to the northwest trending mineralized zones, and covered approximately 1700 metres of strike distance on these zones. A total of 1000 trench samples were collected in the six trenches, with sample lengths ranging from 2 to 6 metres. Assays results range from below detection to 6.83 g/t Au. In aggregate (not continuous), 155m of the sampling in T1 and 173m of sampling in T2 were above 0.1 g/t Au, indicating the broad dissemination of gold mineralization. The gold mineralization is coincident with anomalous indicator elements including antimony, barium, and arsenic, and the Company is in the process of completing detailed geochemical mapping of various indicator elements. The trenching results will be utilized to guide the next phase of exploration including the upcoming drill program comprising approximately 15 RC holes. In addition, particularly encouraging new high-grade trench results in the Stockwork Zone will be the focus of further work in the upcoming phase of exploration. Commented Craig Roberts, P.Eng., President and CEO of Ethos: "We are very encouraged by the trench results that show dissemination of gold mineralization over significant intervals outside of the primary veins in the Purisima Vein Zone, and also by the new high-grade intervals identified in the Stockwork Zone. We will use these results to plan our fully permitted maiden drill program of approximately 15 RC holes which we intend to commence shortly. In part because of the excellent access and infrastructure our preliminary budget for this drill program is modest, approximately $Cdn 350,000 (currently being finalized). We are looking forward to drill testing this very prospective near surface, bulk tonnage target." Purisima Vein Zone and the parallel Stockwork Zone To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1564/44940_5f6cf443440c4a12_002full.jpg About the La Purisima Gold Project The exploration model for the La Purisima project is to target near surface, bulk tonnage, oxide gold mineralization. The northwest trending mineralized zone has been identified over a strike length of at least 2 km and with a width of alteration and geochemically anomalous gold mineralization of approximately 600 metres. Within this footprint are two north-west striking zones that have the strongest gold anomalies, each approximately 200 metres wide (see figure above). One of these zones (the "Purisima Vein Zone") strikes for at least 2 km, and the other (the "Stockwork Zone") strikes for at least 1 km. Both zones appear to extend under the alluvial valley cover consisting of gravel and soil deposits. Gold and silver mineralization is mainly contained in epithermal quartz veins and veinlets forming stockworks and sheets in both volcanic flow rocks and older discordant sedimentary rocks. La Purisima is located in an area of low, non-mountainous, relief with excellent road access and infrastructure. The concessions are located on private ranch land near active agricultural centers and a long-term annual fee based property access agreement has been signed with the main ranch land owner. QA/QC Trenching samples were picked up by the ALS-Chemex sample preparation facility located in Chihuahua, Chihuahua. ALS-Chemex preparation labwork consisted of splitting and grinding each sample to fine pulp culminates followed by the shipment of 150 grams of this pulp to the ALS-Chemex Vancouver, British Columbia analytical laboratory where gold analysis by 30 gram fire assay with AA finish of dissolved final metal mixture was completed. In addition a second small sample fraction was dissolved in 4-acid mixture and processed for ICP determination of a standard 35-element package. Ethos relied upon ALS Chemex routinely inserted blanks and standards into the sample stream at the assay laboratory. All reported standard and blank assay values, as well as duplicates, were within an acceptable margin of error. Qualified Person Mel Herdrick, a director of and consultant to the Company, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, is supervising the La Purisima trenching and drilling program and has read, reviewed, and approved this release. Jo Price, M.Sc., MBA, P.Geo, VP Exploration of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 has also reviewed and approved this release. About Ethos Gold Ethos Gold is exploring the La Purisima gold project (earning 100%) in Chihuahua Mexico, the Iron Point Carlin gold project (earning 50% from Victory Metals Inc.) 22 miles east of Winnemucca, Nevada, and the Perk-Rocky copper-gold porphyry project (earning 100%), 220 km west of Williams Lake, British Columbia. La Purisima is a near surface, bulk tonnage, oxide gold target, and a maiden drill program will commence shortly. Iron Point is a Lower Plate hosted Carlin style gold target, and a planned program of three vertical holes to test this target will commence shortly under the supervision of Dr. Quinton Hennigh. Perk-Rocky is a copper-gold porphyry target, and an exploration program including detailed airborne geophysics and ground mapping and sampling will commence shortly. Ethos currently has cash of approximately $Cdn 6.8 million and 54.6 million shares issued. In 2019 Ethos plans to spend an aggregate of approximately $Cdn 1.8 million on the maiden drill programs at La Purisima and Iron Point, and on the initial work program at Perk-Rocky. Ethos is also earning into the Pine Pass and Ursula vanadium projects (100% earn-in) in north-central British Columbia. In March 2019 Ethos received notice from the Province of British Columbia that the mineral tenures making up its Pine Pass vanadium project are included in an area under consideration for an immediate moratorium on development proposals and possible inclusion in an expanded environmental protected area, and in light of this notice has suspended work on its vanadium projects. For additional information please contact Tom Martin at E: tmartin@ethosgold.com P: 1-250-516-2455 or view the Company's website, www.ethosgold.com and the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Ethos Gold Corp. Per: "Craig Roberts" Craig Roberts, P.Eng., President & CEO Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs at its La Purisima, Iron Point, and Perk-Rocky projects. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other agency or governmental clearances, necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44940 The global automotive skid plate market is expected to post a CAGR of over 15% during the period 2019-2023, according to the latest market research report by Technavio This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005295/en/ Technavio has published a new market research report on the global automotive skid plate market from 2019-2023. (Graphic: Business Wire) A key factor driving the growth of the market is the rising popularity of off-road motorcycles. The increase in the number of off-road enthusiasts, growing awareness about recreational activities, and increasing disposable income are some of the major reasons that are growing the popularity of off-road motorcycles. The prominent automakers that are offering off-road motorcycles have increased their product offerings over the years, to gain a competitive edge in the market. Prominent motorcycle OEMs have also increased the offerings of dirt motorcycles or off-road motorcycles. These factors, in turn, are driving the growth of the global automotive skid plate market, owing to standard fitment (or optional availability) of skid plates in such motorcycles. As per Technavio, the growing availability of bumper skid plates as OEM fitment in compact SUVs and crossovers will have a positive impact on the market and contribute to its growth significantly over the forecast period. This global automotive skid plate market 2019-2023research report also analyzes other important trends and market drivers that will affect market growth over 2019-2023. Global automotive skid plate market: Growing availability of bumper skid plates as OEM fitment in compact SUV and crossovers The global automotive skid plate market is witnessing various trends that are expected to impact the market positively during the forecast period. One of the prominent trends is the increasing use of lower bumper skid plates by automakers in small and compact SUVs and crossovers. The demand for SUVs and crossovers is witnessing an upward trend in the last few years. The growing popularity of SUVs in emerging APAC markets is also fueling the growth of the global SUV market. Within SUVs, the compact and small-size segment is dominating the sales. Looking at the market potential, automakers are differentiating their products by offering best-in segment features and functionalities. To enhance the appearance of vehicles, automakers are also offering design elements to the exterior of their vehicles. Thus, the increasing use of skid plates in new SUV and crossover models are expected to drive the global market in the coming years. "The growth in the availability of body design accessories at authorized dealers (at the store or official online store) is fueling the growth of the global automotive skid plate market, as more skid plates are being offered by the automaker (either as an individual accessory or as part of an add-on package). This is driving the sales at the dealer level, which is contributing to the overall growth of the global automotive skid plate market," says a senior analyst at Technavio. Global automotive skid plate market: Segmentation analysis This market research report segments the global automotive skid plate market by application (SUV, pickup truck, ATV, adventure motorcycle) and geographical regions (North America, APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA). The North American region led the market in 2018, followed by APAC, Europe, South America, and MEA respectively. During the forecast period, the North American region is expected to continue dominating as well as register the highest incremental growth due to the high popularity of recreational vehicles in the region. Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report such as the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more. Some of the key topics covered in the report include: Market Landscape Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market size and forecast Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation Geographical Segmentation Regional comparison Key leading countries Market Drivers Market Challenges Market Trends Vendor Landscape Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Competitive scenario About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005295/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 www.technavio.com South Africa: South Africans injured in Egypt return home This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Police in KwaZulu-Natal have warned Uber and Taxify taxis to be on high alert when operating in areas surrounding KwaMashu in Durban. In a statement, police said the alert was in the wake of a number of robberies reported over the weekend, where criminals pretend to be clients wanting transport from certain spots to their requested dest... See more Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) The race for the next House Speaker is shaping up as a formidable fight. At least four lawmakers are eyeing to replace former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who is now on her third and last term. They are Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Jay Velasco, Leyte Representative-elect Martin Romualdez, Taguig Representative-elect Alan Peter Cayetano, and Davao del Norte 1st District Representative-elect Pantaleon Alvarez, who once held the position. Romualdez, Cayetano, and Alvarez have confirmed they will join the race when the 18th Congress opens in July. "I'm definitely running for speaker... I will give it a try," Alvarez said. He became Speaker in 2016, but was replaced by Arroyo in July last year during the State of the Nation Address. Cayetano, an ally of President Rodrigo Duterte and former Foreign Affairs secretary, even included the speakership bid in his campaign, with posters introducing him as "Speaker na tapat" (honest speaker.) PDP-Laban's bet Re-elected Senator Koko Pimentel, president of PDP-Laban, said the ruling party will choose who among Alvarez, Velasco, and Pampanga Representative Dong Gonzales will join the speakership race. Pimentel warned that PDP-Laban members who don't abide by the decision will be kicked out. "We will have rules on how to choose, kung sino mapili. Kung merong magrerebelde, we have to kick them out of the party," Pimentel said. Romualdez, a stalwart of Arroyo's former party, Lakas-CMD, said he has in talks with lawmakers to seek their support for his candidacy. "Mini-meeting ko sila one on one, group by group, para makilala nila anong plataporma ko o anong istilo ko, anong gagawin ko," Romualdez said. President's endorsement Majority Leader Fredenil Castro said Duterte's endorsement will be a major factor in the selection of the new Speaker. Castro, however, added that the next House leader may not necessarily come from PDP-Laban, the President's party. "Even if there is no endorsement, but so long as congressmen knows that someone enjoys the favor of the president, they will always follow the endorsement, the likes of the president," he said. "While it is true that members of political parties may abide with the party stand, some members of political parties, they also have their own commitments... It's not the number of the political party that guarantees the election of someone to be speaker of the house," Castro added. Sara Duterte's choice Presidential daughter and reelected Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, who played a major role in Alvarez's ouster, clarified she has not endorsed anyone for the position. "I am only the mayor of Davao City. I am not the correct person to endorse someone to be the next speaker. I only have a personal bet but do not intend to influence Congress," the younger Duterte said. Sara added that she leaves it up to lawmakers to choose who should become the next Speaker. "It is best if the newly elected members of the house of representatives individually decide who among those who are interested to become the next speaker can truly bring good governance and positive change to Congress, to the Filipino people, and to our country," she said. However, Pampanga Representative Dong Mendoza said Velasco is Sara's personal choice to succeed Arroyo. Mendoza told CNN Philippines that Sara already asked the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) to support Velasco, a family friend of the Dutertes. NPC is part of the administration coalition in the House led by PDP-Laban. "Mayor Sara requested NPC to support sana Cong. Lord Velasco's bid for speakership, but there are still ongoing talks with our members regarding this issue. So far madaming may gusto kay Cong. Lord..," Mendoza said. Velasco has neither confirmed nor denied reports he will run for Speaker. He has yet to respond to CNN Philippines' request for comment. This year, Walgreens is selling a plain nose, along with four others with cute faces that the company calls everyday heroes, for $2 each. Of that sum, $1.30 goes to the fund. Walgreens does not make a profit from the merchandise sales and you cant take a nose purchase as a tax deduction. Since 2015, Walgreens has sold more than 40 million red noses. HONG KONG, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- APERTUS Aviation, a private jet charter consultancy, and its sister company, NINETEEN O3 Aviation (1903 Aviation), are joining forces with Air Hamburg to meet the growing demand for private jet travel from clients across Asia. The collaboration sees APERTUS, which provides high-level charter management services in Asia, working in synergy with one of the fastest growing operators in Europe. Together they will offer a world-class and consistent experience and innovative flight solutions to a global audience. Air Hamburg, which is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, has a fleet of 29 aircraft, including the Dassault Falcon 7X, Embraer Legacy 650 and 600 and Cessna planes, to provide a wide choice of options and an excellent charter service. With this partnership, 1903 Aviation members and APERTUS charter clients seamlessly gain access to Air Hamburg's high-quality aircraft and their skilled team of flight operations staff in Europe. Mr. Tristan Yeung, Regional Representative (Europe) at APERTUS Aviation, said: "We are committed to delivering a consistent service from booking to landing of every flight for every 1903 Elite member and APERTUS charter client. This is why we constantly look for and thoroughly research operators around the world. It is important to deliver a structured service to 1903 members, while having the flexibility to quickly deliver the high standard provision that APERTUS clients expect." Mr. Ringo Fan, Managing Director of APERTUS Aviation and NINETEEN O3 Aviation, said: "We share a similar vision with Air Hamburg, and these synergies will benefit our clients traveling globally. Air Hamburg's fleet is sizable and varied, and they offer high-level customer service thanks to their experienced team; these factors give us the confidence to work with them as one of our preferred operators. We have manpower across multiple time zones, delivering local knowledge with a global reach. We will continue to select premium operators in different regions for both our 1903 members and APERTUS charter clients, so they can benefit from aircraft availability and the finest cabin services from operations staff that make safety the highest priority. We look forward to working closely with Air Hamburg." Mr. David Bergold, Vice President Sales of Air Hamburg, said: "We are honored to be the preferred operator for 1903 Aviation and APERTUS. The international demand for charter services is continuing to rise, and our growing fleet and team are ready to meet this demand. Our cooperation with 1903 Aviation and APERTUS gives us the opportunity to showcase our high-quality aircraft and finest cabin service to clients in Asia traveling around the globe." ABOUT APERTUS For further information: www.apertus.aero ABOUT NINETEEN O3 For further information: www.1903.aero ABOUT AIR HAMBURG Find out more at: www.air-hamburg.de Media Contact: Tristan Yeung tyeung@1903.aero Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891259/APERTUS.jpg Asia's first Masters program to include an industry-ready crypto, cybersecurity, and privacy curriculum HONG KONG, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Crypto.com , the pioneering payments and cryptocurrency platform, announced today that its Chief Information Security Officer, Jason Lau, has been appointed as Adjunct Professor at the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) School of Business's new Master of Science in Finance (FinTech and Financial Analytics) programme. Through an intensive selection process, the University selected and invited Jason Lau for an Adjunct Professorship in Cybersecurity and Privacy, as well as a seat on its Advisory Board alongside industry leaders from Tencent, Alipay, IBM, UBS, Ant Financial, Deloitte, Ping An Bank, and others. Tapping on their expertise, the curriculum covers subjects including Financial Analytics, Machine Learning, Financial Computing, Textual Analysis, Cybersecurity, Privacy, Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, Algorithmic Trading, Financial Fraud, and Regulatory Compliance. The Masters programme is a response to today's fast-growing data-driven economy, and encourages students to develop new insights and perspectives towards emerging technologies through lectures, workshops, round-table discussions, case studies, and expert sharing from industry practitioners, Jason Lau, Chief Information Security Officer of Crypto.com said, "I am humbled by HKBU's professorship appointment and honoured to be on their industry advisory board to shape the fintech programme. The programme launch comes at a time as FinTech and cybersecurity have been cited as areas with the greatest skills gap in Hong Kong. It is critical for university programmes to equip students with future-ready knowledge and practices on areas such as cybersecurity, privacy, and cryptocurrency, that can add value to their careers in the real world." Kris Marszalek, Co-Founder and CEO of Crypto.com said, "We have a social responsibility to give back to our home market and to empower the next generation as we brace ourselves for a rapidly changing world. We congratulate Jason on his professorship and his commitment to drive cybersecurity, privacy and cryptocurrency awareness at HKBU and in the region. This is very much in line with our mission to accelerate the global adoption of cryptocurrency." HKBU is the only university in Asia with a post graduate programme which has an official affiliation and course material from the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Visit the link here for more details on the programme. About Hong Kong Baptist University, School of Business Founded in 1956, The Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) School of Business is the longest-established, publicly funded business school in Hong Kong, and is amongst the Top 1% of business schools worldwide. The School is the only business school in Hong Kong with triple accreditation by the three leading international accreditation bodies: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS. The HKBU School of Business was recently named as one of the Top 25 Asia-Pacific business schools 2018 by the Financial Times (ranked 8th), acknowledging the quality of the School's postgraduate programmes. In 2017, the University launched its Institutional Strategic Plan 2018-2028 with a refreshed vision, and will address core issues like artificial intelligence and data analytics and much more. Talent is key to realising this aim. As a result, HKBU launched the Talent100 global recruitment initiative, seeking 100 faculty and research talents from across the world to contribute to their programmes. About Crypto.com Crypto.com was founded in 2016 to accelerate the world's transition to cryptocurrency. Key products include: the Crypto.com Wallet & Card App, the best place to buy, sell, and pay with crypto, the MCO Visa Card, a metal card with no annual fees, and the Crypto.com Chain, which enables users to pay and be paid in any crypto, anywhere, for free. Crypto.com is headquartered in Hong Kong with a 120+ strong team. For more information, please visit: www.crypto.com For press enquiries, please contact: The Hoffman Agency CryptoPR@hoffman.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/891288/Crypto_Stouraitis_and_Lau.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/750079/Crypto_Logo.jpg GURUGRAM, India, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Key Trends The future of Nigeria baby food market looks quite promising given the positive growth and development indicators such as high birth rate and fertility rate, increasing purchasing power of people, increase in number of working mothers, growing awareness among parents about baby nutrition. baby food market looks quite promising given the positive growth and development indicators such as high birth rate and fertility rate, increasing purchasing power of people, increase in number of working mothers, growing awareness among parents about baby nutrition. The receptiveness/adoption of parents towards innovative and new baby food products has increased. Parents have begun focusing on taste along with nutrition from baby foods. This has encouraged the demand for flavored baby foods and other variants besides products which were solely based on cereals in Nigeria . . The shift towards organic baby food is being observed on the back of increasing health awareness among parents and rising purchasing power of households. Many new local companies have entered the market with their own organic baby food products for different income groups. The government of Nigeria has very specific requirements to be fulfilled to be able to import food into the country. Specific norms for manufacturing, packaging, labeling and others are required to be met to be able to import and sell food in the Nigerian market. Also rigid regulations have also been passed over the marketing and promotion of these food products in Nigeria and any violations involves huge penalties. These regulations might act as a hindrance in operations for both existing and potential players in the baby food market of Nigeria . Product Innovation: Emergence of few local players in the market has resulted in introduction of new products in each segment, from flavored dried baby food to non cereal based food to organic baby food. There is shift in terms of product position as well with change in packaging which suits different demands of the consumers. Many international companies now also see the potential to introduce products from their international portfolios which were not introduced earlier in the market with increased demand for baby food products in the country. Newer baby food products such as specialized baby food for infants with allergies, colic, premature babies, regurgitation and other such issues might be launched in near future. Growing Milk Formula Demand: The market share of milk formula products such as standard, growing-up are expected to increase significantly in future. Special baby milk for underweight, lactose intolerant babies is very small in Nigeria as there is not much issue in Nigeria regarding lactose intolerant babies. This is not expected to increase much in the future either. Mothers during pregnancy are also more aware nowadays on what nutrition to intake for the baby, leading to lesser babies being born that need special milk. Regional Demand: South East regions are expected to contribute towards the increasing demand for baby food products in Nigeria. South West & South-South has higher level of education. The level of poverty is low in South region compared to Northern region. Most women don't hold regular jobs, and hence less use of milk formula and other baby food. Personal disposable income, literacy rate and employment opportunities and product availability are some of the main differentiating factors which could affect the adoption of baby food in different regions in Nigeria. Analysts at Ken Research in their latest publication "Nigeria Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 - By Milk Formulae (Standard, Follow-On, Growing-Up Milk Formula), Dried Baby Food (Cereal Based and Others -Meat/Fish, Fruits & Vegetable and Nuts), Prepared/ Ready to Eat Baby Food and Other Baby Food; By Organic Baby Food; By Channel (Supermarkets, Independent Small Grocers, and Online" believe that the baby food industry will witness a boost in the number of consumers with rising number of millennial parents, higher birth rate and fertility rate and increased disposable income in the country. The sale of the baby food has been positively impacted by strategic advertising, innovative packaging of the products and increasing female workforce. The market is expected to register positive CAGR of 11.6% in terms of the revenue generated during the review period 2018-2023. Key Segments Covered: By Food Category: Dried Baby Food Cereal Based Others -Meat/Fish, Fruits & Vegetable and Nuts Milk Formula Standard Milk Formula, Follow-On Milk Formula Growing-Up Milk Formula Prepared Baby Food Other Baby Food By Distribution Channel: Traditional Retailers & Grocers Supermarkets Internet Retailing By Ingredient: Inorganic Organic By Regions: South West South East South South North Central North West Key Target Audience: Baby Food Manufacturers Baby Product Distributors Baby Food Distributors Government Agencies Baby Food Retailers NGOs supporting Baby Health Pharmaceutical Stores Online Sales and Retailing Agencies Time Period Captured in the Report: Historical Period - 2013-2018 - 2013-2018 Forecast Period - 2018-2023E Companies Covered: Nestle Friesland Campina Danone Nutrimental Abbott Promasidor Kraft Heinz Plum Organics August Secrets Baby Grubz Tiger Brand Key Topics Covered in the Report Executive Summary Research Methodology Ecosystem of Nigeria Baby Food Market Nigeria Baby Food Market Overview and Genesis Value Chain Analysis of Nigeria Baby Food Market Nigeria Baby Food Market Size, 2013-2018 Nigeria Baby Food Market Segmentation Trends and Developments in Nigeria Baby Food Market Baby Food Market Issues and Challenges in the Nigeria Baby Food Market Decision Making Criteria for Customers While Purchasing a Baby Food Product Regulations in Nigeria Baby Food Market Baby Food Market SWOT Analysis of Nigeria Baby Food Market Competitive Landscape in Nigeria Baby Food Market Baby Food Market Nigeria Baby Food Market Future Outlook and Projections, 2018-2023(E) Analyst Recommendations in Nigeria Baby Food Market For more information on the market research report please refer to the link below: https://www.kenresearch.com/consumer-products-and-retail/baby-care/nigeria-baby-food-market/204156-95.html Related Reports: Turkey Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 - By Infant Milk Formulae (Standard, Follow-On, Growing-Up and Special Baby Milk Formula), Dried Baby Food, Prepared Baby Food, Milk Formula and Other Baby Food; Organic Baby Food The report titled provides a comprehensive analysis of the baby food market in Turkey. The report also covers ecosystem of the market, stakeholders, market overview and genesis, value chain analysis, market size in terms of revenue, segmentation by food category, nature, age group and channels of distribution, trends and developments, issues and challenges, snapshot on emerging baby foods, decision making criteria for consumers, government regulations, SWOT analysis and competitive landscape. The report then concludes with market projections for future market described above and analyst recommendations highlighting the major opportunities and cautions to be taken before entering the market. The baby food market of Turkey is in its growth stage. The market displayed a strong competitive scenario where international players that hold majority stake are trying to sustain their existing market share while domestic players are trying to increase their market penetration. The baby food market of Turkey is primarily import oriented in nature. It is also very receptive to newness and innovations for instance, application based baby food i.e. baby food designed specifically for infants dealing with various body and health issues have gained a lot of popularity in the country. Goat milk formula products were also witnessed to emerge during the review period. Despite the fact that government is encouraging breast feeding among new mothers, the baby food market displayed consistent growth over the years. Australia Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 - By Type (Dried Baby Food, Prepared Baby Food, Milk Formula and Other Baby Food), By Organic Baby Food), By Region and By Channels of Distribution The report titled provides information on Baby Food market segmentation by category (Milk Formula, Dried baby food, Prepared Baby Food and Other Baby Food), by Milk Formula (Standard Milk Powdered Formula, Follow-on Milk Powdered Formula, Growing-up Milk Formula and Special Baby Milk Formula),by Age Group (0-6 Months, 6-12 Months, 12+ Months), by Nature (Inorganic Food and Organic Food),by Region (New south Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory) and by Channel of Distribution (Supermarkets, Health and Beauty Specialist Retailers, Internet Retailing, Discounters, Other Foods Non Grocery Specialists, Convenience Stores and Forecourt Retailers). Company Profiles of Major Players in Australia Baby Food Market (Nestle SA, Danone Group, Aspen Pharmacare and Other Companies (Kraft Heinz, Bellamy's Australia Ltd., A2 Milk Co. and others) have been covered in the publication. The report concludes with market projection and analyst recommendations. Egypt Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 - By Food Category (Milk Formula - (Standard Formula, Follow-on Formula, Growing-up Formula and Special Baby Milk Formula, Dried baby food and Prepared Baby Food) and by Distribution Channel (Health and Beauty Stores, Supermarkets, Independent Small Grocers, Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores and Online Sales) The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Baby food market in Egypt. The report also covers the overall trade scenario, SWOT Analysis, decision making process, competitive landscape and growth drivers and trends and government role and regulations. The report concludes with market projection and analyst recommendations highlighting the major opportunities and cautions. Egypt baby food market is still in its growth stage with retail revenue increasing at a positive double digit CAGR during the period 2012-2018. Due to a majority of international players, it has been an import oriented market. There has been a vast demand for innovative products such as camel milk based baby food. Due to high level of malnutrition among infants, increasing number of parents has preferred baby food to fulfill their child's nutritional requirements. Also, there has been a shift to organic baby food products as they minimize child's exposure to harmful chemicals and elements. Albeit government is encouraging breast feeding among new mothers; the baby food market has shown consistent growth over the years due to lack of paid maternity leaves to women in the working sector. UAE Baby Food Market Outlook to 2022 - By Category (Dried Baby Food, Prepared Baby Food, Milk Formula and Other Baby Food), By Inorganic and Organic Baby Food, By Region (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain) The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the baby food market in the UAE. The report also covers the overall market size in terms of revenue and sales volume, SWOT Analysis, decision making process, competitive landscape and growth drivers and trends and government role and regulations. The report concludes with market projection for future market described above and analyst recommendations highlighting the major opportunities and cautions for the UAE Baby food market. The baby food market of UAE is still in its growth stage. The market displayed a strong competitive scenario where international players that hold majority of the stake are constantly trying to increase their existing market share. The UAE Baby Food market has majorly been an import dominated market. The market is receptive to newness and innovations for instance, camel milk based baby food products and halal baby food products have gained a lot of popularity in the country. Despite the fact that government is encouraging breast feeding among new mothers and economic impact due to oil price shock of mid 2014 that continued till 2015, the baby food market has shown consistent growth. Contact Us: Ankur Gupta Head Marketing Ken Research Private Limited Ankur@kenresearch.com +91-9015378249 Andrew Roche, managing partner of the Paris-based financial consultancy Finexem, will discuss the growing Nigerian debt trap in a conference call with news media, financial analysts and key stakeholders on Thursday, May 23. The call will take place at 4 p.m. Paris time (3 p.m. Lagos London; 10 a.m. New York Washington, D.C.) Roche, an expert in African sovereign debt, recently released his analysis of the worsening situation, "Nigeria's External Debt: The Post-Election Boomerang." He noted that Nigerian debt is fast approaching levels last seen in the days preceding a 2005 bailout and that the government must take decisive measures to stop the problem from getting worse. He also highlighted a key issue that is often overlooked: Nigeria has an ongoing challenge in revenue mobilization, and urgently needs fiscal consolidation to be able to face high debt servicing costs relative to federal government revenues. "The Government should take advantage of its renewed mandate to implement measures to ensure the external position of Nigeria does not deteriorate," Roche wrote in his paper. "This would begin by resolving outstanding disputed financial obligations and carefully considering new borrowing, thereby signaling to the financial community prudent fiscal stewardship and a transparent and constructive framework for future financing." Roche noted that Nigeria's financial obligations include USD $22.1 billion in external debt, a 115 percent increase in just three years. Nigeria is exposed to additional financial liabilities through arbitration awards, including a judgement of USD $8.9 billion to a private contractor, Process and Industrial Development Limited, over a failed energy project. At the same time, Sunrise Power and Transmission, a Nigerian company, has filed a USD $2.3 billion claim with International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris over breach of contract related to the Mambilla power project. The growing exposure is leading investors to speculate about the sustainability of Nigeria's new debt profile given the nation's dependency on high oil prices and the oil supply caps imposed by OPEC. "Questions abound concerning the end use of borrowed funds, the success of reforms and the ongoing vulnerability of Nigeria's fiscal position given its growing external debt burden," Roche wrote. In comments to the Financial Times earlier this month, Roche asked whether the government was using borrowed cash to patch up holes in budgets, rather than investing in infrastructure or industry, or in efforts to diversify the economy from a heavy dependence on oil. "They have borrowed quite a bit, but where is the money being spent?" Roche said in the Financial Times According to a report last week on AllAfrica.com, the borrowed money has been used to "reflate" the economy and take the country out of recession as part of Nigeria's Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. "When we came on board and we made an assessment, it was clear that our country was going into recession," Zainab Ahmed, Nigeria's Minister of Finance, told a press conference in Abuja. "When we did research on the best way to reverse the recession, it was found that was the best way to reflate the economy (was) putting resources in the economy so that consumption will increase." Despite this strategy, Nigeria's economy slowed to 2.01% in the first quarter as the country's dominant oil sector shrank, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Monday. In the Wednesday conference call, Roche will present an in-depth overview of the situation and take questions from interested parties. To access Andrew Roche's white paper on Nigerian debt: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6531601614753665024/ To participate in Wednesday's call: Please use the dial-in or join us via web link with the information provided below and use Conference ID: Finexem. If your country toll-free number is not listed, please contact us and we will provide the international toll-free number at your convenience. U.S.: 866-952-8559 U.K.: 0-808-101-1183 France: 080 091 2273 Nigeria: 785-424-1743 We will also be offering an online presentation which can be accessed below: Web Presentation Link: http://connexevent.adobeconnect.com/finexem/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005524/en/ Contacts: Indelable, LLC Washington, D.C./Douglas Kiker (202) 903-6739 douglas@indelable.com New York/Jon Pepper (646) 737-9865 jon@indelable.com MONTREAL, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LGC Capital Ltd. (TSXV: LG) (OTCQB: LGGCF) ("LGC" or the "Corporation") announces that after much negotiation, it has successfully acquired, from a non-executive founder, additional shares in Australia's licensed medical cannabis producer Little Green Pharma (LGP) bringing its ownership from 14.1% up to 40.4%. LGP was the first, and is currently the only, domestic cannabis company in Australia producing a locally grown medicinal cannabis medicine for patients. LGC believes the opportunity to increase its ownership in LGP creates significant value for its shareholders and enables the Corporation to further take part in the rapidly expanding Australian medical cannabis market. Little Green Pharma has had over 400 patients approved in Australia, with new patients increasing exponentially month-over-month. The Australian industry represents one of the fastest growing international medical cannabis markets globally, with approximately 6,400 SAS B forms approved to the end of April 2019 of which 1,110 occurred in April alone. Prohibition Partners estimates that the Australian medical cannabis market could be worth US$2 billion by 2028 and US$8.7 billion if adult use was to become legal. Little Green Pharma produces its products in compliance with Australia's strict Therapeutic Goods Order 93 Standard for Medicinal Cannabis and is one of only a handful of companies with an EU GMP recognised medical cannabis facility. Expansion plans for LGP's cultivation facility have been submitted to Australia's Office of Drug Control to increase production capacity in order to supply the Company's growing demand for its products in Australia as well as to export product via its new distribution agreements in Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. Mazen Haddad, CEO of LGC Capital, stated; "Little Green Pharma was one of our first investments and as its business and opportunities expanded, and the opportunity to increase our shareholding to over 40% is a significant move for the Company. To be the first in Australia to grow and produce a full line of Medical THC Cannabis products, in accordance with both Australian and European standards, represents a great opportunity for LGC and its global initiatives. We look forward to expanding Little Green Pharma's production capacity and help growing its reach throughout the globe." Terms of the transaction: Subject to TSXV approval, LGC Capital will pay to the vendor of the shares, AUS$5.5M. Closing of this transaction is expected to be within 95 days of signing the agreement. Statutory information: For the financial year end 30 June 2018, Little Green Pharma generated Revenue of AUS$8,337 and had a net loss for the period of AUS$3,757,810. This was first year that the company was operational as a legal cannabis business. About LGC Capital Ltd) LGC Capital is a leading cannabis investment firm with a focus on the legal global cannabis market. Through its growing portfolio of investment companies, LGC is building a transversal integrated organization of interconnected legal cannabis companies with cultivation, processing and distribution in Australia, Jamaica, Switzerland, Italy, and Canada serving domestic and export markets. LGC Capital Ltd. is a Canadian incorporated public company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: LG) and the US OTC-QB exchange (OTCQB: LGGCF). Through its partners and assuming pending transactions under review by the TSXV are approved, LGC has interests in Jamaica, Switzerland, Italy, Canada and Australia. 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. LGC's partners' branded products are available in a variety of formats including medicines, cosmetics, dry cannabis flower, tinctures, oils and seeds. About Little Green Pharma, Perth Australia (https://lgpharma.com.au): LGP was the first Australian company to locally-grow and produce medicinal cannabis products for sale to Australian patients. The medicines are cultivated, without pesticides, in a hydroponic facility in Western Australia's southwest region and processed in a manufacturing facility near Perth. LGP products have been subject to extensive assessment and testing based on the Australian TGA regulation, before being distributed under Australia's tightly controlled medical prescription system. Under the Australian system, medicinal cannabis products must be prescribed by medical practitioners and sold by registered pharmacists. Medicinal cannabis has been prescribed in Australia for over 51 conditions. For further information please contact: President, John McMullen, +1-416-803-0698, john@lgc-capital.com Chief Financial Officer, Mark Shinners, mark@lgc-capital.com Caution Regarding Press Releases Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements with respect to LGC and their respective operations, strategy, investments, financial performance and condition. These statements can generally be identified by use of forward-looking words such as "may", "will", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intends", "believe" or "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The actual results and performance of LGC and LGP could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such statements are qualified in their entirety by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations. Some important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, among other things, general economic and market factors, competition, government regulation and the factors described under "Risk Factors and Risk Management" in LGC's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended December 31, 2018, as filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The cautionary statements qualify all forward-looking statements attributable to LGC and persons acting on its behalf. Unless otherwise stated, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and neither LGC nor LGP has any obligation to update such statements, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SpendEdge, a leading provider of procurement market intelligence solutions, has announced the completion of their latest article on the key differences between purchasing and procurement This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005560/en/ Difference between procurement and purchasing. (Graphic: Business Wire) Purchasing and procurement form the foundation of a strong and collaborative relationship with suppliers. Procurement involves the acquisition of products and services; whereas, purchasing is a subset of procurement that helps improve the bottom line of the organization. This makes it vital for companies to understand the basics of two functions and devise strategies to efficiently execute them. At SpendEdge, we understand that procurement and purchasing are complicated processes and form an integral part of business functions. However, many times these terms are misunderstood and used interchangeably. Through this blog, we have offered a comprehensive overview of the core differences between purchasing and procurement to help companies plan their strategies more efficiently. Understanding the difference between purchasing and procurement is crucial for companies to strategize their activities. Request a free demo to access our portfolio of customized procurement market intelligence solutions for free. Difference between Procurement and Purchasing: #1 Strategic Sourcing Procurement deals require a complete analysis of costs, taxes, tariffs, and delivery methods and proper strategy before execution. On the contrary, purchasing processes focuses on delivering materials to the buyers within the given time frame and doesn't need much of a strategy or planning. #2 Spend Management Procurement and purchasing varies a lot in terms of managing spend. Procurement conducts a proper spend analysis and analyzes expenditure data to monitor efficiency whereas purchasing is confined to normal transactions. It simply pays for goods and services. Companies can improve their spend management by following a structured approach. Want to know how? Request a free proposal to gain complimentary access to our solution portfolio. #3 Supplier Capability The procurement experts monitor suppliers and meticulously observe the complete process to find ways to improve it. They select vendors, inspect the quality of goods, and evaluate potential suppliers to ensure timely delivering of goods for the organization. However, purchasing departments engage with vendors they are already associated with. To know more about the purchasing and procurement process and the ways to improve them, get in touch with our analysts 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. Want to know how you can improve your purchasing and procurement processes? We're here to help! Tell us more about your business challenges. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005560/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us MONAT launches its limited-edition More Than a Gift with 100 percent of the net profits benefiting nonprofit organizations that assist veterans and first responders in the US, Canada and UK. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005478/en/ MONAT's "More Than a Gift" collection (Photo: Business Wire) Launching on Tuesday, May 28 and available while supplies last, the exclusive set comes packaged in a reusable, water-resistant bag that is perfect for travel. The limited-edition set features three returning favorites and a new product that's sure to be a hit! All four products are infused with REJUVENIQE Oil Intensive for extra hydration: More than a Mist a unique, moisturizing hair and body spray a unique, moisturizing hair and body spray More than a Hand Cream soothe and pamper your hands with shea butter and coconut oil soothe and pamper your hands with shea butter and coconut oil More than a Whip a rich moisturizing body cream that's perfect for dry skin a rich moisturizing body cream that's perfect for dry skin More than a Lather introducing MONAT's lightly scented soap bar "A core value of MONAT is MONAT Gratitude, a philosophy that is ingrained in everything we do," said Stuart MacMillan, President of MONAT Global. "We hope this is our biggest promotion yet. We want to make a huge impact on deserving nonprofit organizations that help our veterans and first responders. We are honored and humbled to give back to those who have given so much for our countries." MONAT's More than a Gift benefits The Wounded Warriors Project and The 22 Project in the US, and Wounded Warriors Canada. The Wounded Warrior Project helps injured service men and women by honoring and empowering those who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wound during their military service. The 22 Project supports underserved war veterans who have traumatic brain injuries and are at risk for depression and/or suicide. Wounded Warrior Canada's mission is to honor and support Canada's ill and injured Canadian Armed Forces members, veterans, first responders and their families. Lu Urdaneta, Director, Global Recognition and Gratitude, commented, "We're grateful that we have the opportunity to help the men and women who served in the military and as first responders. I hope that MONAT inspires others to live in gratitude and give back in their communities." Abiding by MONAT's strict standards for its hair care products, all of the company's products are free from harmful colors and fragrances, phthalates and parabens. All products are dermatologist tested, cruelty-free, vegan, and Leaping Bunny Certified. About MONAT Gratitude MONAT Gratitude has been an integral piece of the MONAT company culture since its inception in 2014. This movement has grown from the Urdaneta family's commitment to instilling gratitude as a core company value. MONAT Gratitude partners with innovative nonprofit organizations in its local communities that support efforts under its three pillars: Families, Children and Education. As a movement, MONAT Gratitude believes in the power of creating conversations and inspiring a greater network to take action. Due to the passion of our MONAT Market Partners and commitment to making gratitude a part of our business, what started as a series of grassroots volunteering efforts in Miami has spread across the U.S., Canada and the U.K. https://monatgratitude.com/ MONATGratitude Facebook: /monatgratitudeofficial Instagram: @monatgratitudeofficial About MONAT Global MONAT Global is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alcora Corporation, whose holdings include L'EUDINE Global, an established Direct Selling company specializing in premium beauty and wellness products throughout the US and Latin America and B&R Products, Inc., their research, development and manufacturing Laboratory subsidiary. All three companies are headquartered in and around Miami, Florida. MONAT was founded in 2014 to enter the multi-billion-dollar haircare market and provides ground-breaking opportunities through a novel Social Marketing approach to Direct Sales. The company offers a unique and exciting business model and one of the most generous compensation plans in the U.S., Canadian and U.K. markets. Availability: www.monatglobal.com MONATGlobal Facebook: /MONATOfficial Instagram: @monatofficial Twitter: @MONATOfficial YouTube: /MONATOfficial View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005478/en/ Contacts: Katie Olivier Sunwest Communications O: 469.547.0016 E: kolivier@sunwestpr.com DZ BANK AG Frankfurt am Main - Pre Stabilisation RNS Number: residue number system Frankfurt am Main, Klicken oder tippen Sie, um ein Datum einzugeben. Not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States or any jurisdiction in which such distribution would be unlawful. Pre-Stabilisation Notice Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) DZ BANK AG (contact: Ralph Ockert; telephone: +49 69 7447 7051) hereby announces, as Stabilisation Coordinator, that the Stabilising Managers named below may stabilise the offer of the following securities in accordance with Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 under the Market Abuse Regulation (EU Regulation 596/2014). The security to be stabilised: Issuer: KfW Guarantor (if any): Federal Republic of Germany Aggregate nominal amount: Tap EUR benchmark Description: 0.125%, due 24. Februar 2023 Offer price: Tbc Other offer terms: Payment 29. Mai 2019, denoms 1k/1k, soft bullet Stabilisation: DZ BANK AG Stabilisation Coordinator: Stabilising Managers: DZ BANK AG JP Morgan Goldman Sachs Stabilisation period expected to start on: 29.05.2019 Stabilisation period expected to end on: no later than 30 days after the proposed issue date of the securities Existence, maximum size and conditions of use of over-allotment facility. The Stabilising Managers may over-allot the securities to the extent permitted in accordance with applicable law. Stabilisation trading venue: Luxembourg Stock Exchange (Regulated Market) In connection with the offer of the above securities, the Stabilisation Manager(s) may over-allot the securities or effect transactions with a view to supporting the market price of the securities at a level higher than that which might otherwise prevail. However, there is no assurance that the Stabilisation Manager(s) will take any stabilisation action and any stabilisation action, if begun, may be ended at any time. Any stabilisation action or over-allotment shall be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws and rules. This announcement is for information purposes only and does not constitute an invitation or offer to underwrite, subscribe for or otherwise acquire or dispose of any securities of the Issuer in any jurisdiction. In addition, if and to the extent that this announcement is communicated in, or the offer of the securities to which it relates is made in, any EEA Member State that has implemented Directive 2003/71/EC, as amended (together with any applicable implementing measures in any Member State, the "Prospectus Directive") before the publication of a prospectus in relation to the securities which has been approved by the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive (or which has been approved by a competent authority in another Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Member State in accordance with the Prospectus Directive), this announcement and the offer are only addressed to and directed at persons in that Member State who are qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Directive (or who are other persons to whom the offer may lawfully be addressed) and must not be acted on or relied on by other persons in that Member State. Infiniti Research, a market intelligence solution provider, has recently announced the completion of their latest trend analysis engagement for a telecom service provider. During the course of this engagement, the experts at Infiniti Research helped the client to quickly adapt to the market changes and formulate effective strategies for making smart business decisions. Also, this engagement highlights how Infiniti's trend analysis engagement helped the client to achieve 7 million annual savings. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005606/en/ Trend analysis engagement for a telecom service provider. (Graphic: Business Wire) With evolving technological advancements and innovations, identifying the latest industry trends and capitalizing on new market opportunities have become imperative for companies operating in the telecom sector. Also, with the rising opportunities in the telecom market, the need to analyze telecommunication industry trends has also increased for telecom companies to maintain profitability. Infiniti's trend analysis solution has helped many organizations to implement flexible business plans to predict future market trends and business projections. The need for leveraging trend analysis solution is increasing for companies in the telecom industry due to the recent technological advancements and innovations. Request a FREE brochure to gain more insights into our services portfolio and know how our solutions will help you understand the latest market trends and stay ahead of your competitors. The business challenge: The client is a leading telecom service provider based out of Ireland. The client encountered challenges in gathering relevant data relating to the telecommunication industry trends and in the adoption of the latest technologies. Also, the company witnessed a huge decline in their revenue due to their inability to adapt quickly to the market changes. With Infiniti's trend analysis solution, they wanted to analyze the past and current market behavior and implement a strategic business plan to achieve sustainable growth. Insufficient data and market knowledge can significantly affect the profit margins of companies. Request a free proposal to know how our trend analysis solution will help you gather relevant market data. The solution offeredThe experts at Infiniti Research followed a comprehensive four-phased approach to help the client develop a strategic business plan to respond to the rapid changes in the market. The approach undertaken by the experts at Infiniti Research helped the client to gain comprehensive insights into the telecommunication market scenario and the latest advancements in the market. Also, the client was able to identify lucrative opportunities in the market. Within a span of one year, the client was able to improve their profit margins by 13% and achieve savings of 7 million. Infiniti's trend analysis solution helped the client to: Gather enough market data to make well-informed business decisions Gauge the future market potential and understand their market position Wondering how your business can benefit from our trend analysis solution? Request more information from our experts! Infiniti's trend analysis solution offered predictive insights on: Gaining a stronger competitive advantage in the Ireland telecom market Achieving cost savings and enhancing profit margins Interested in achieving high growth for your business? Get in touch with us to know how our trend analysis solution can help. 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/20190522005606/en/ Contacts: Infiniti Research Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 844 778 0600 UK: +44 203 893 3400 https://www.infinitiresearch.com/contact-us Meeting Scheduled for May 30, 2019 in New York City Regulatory News: OSE Immunotherapeutics SA (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE) (Paris:OSE), today announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) meeting on novel treatments in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on May 30th in New York City. The meeting will feature a presentation by KOL Benjamin Besse, M.D., Ph.D., from the Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France, who will discuss the current treatment landscape and unmet medical need in patients with thoracic cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Besse will be available at the conclusion of the event to answer questions. At the event, the management team of OSE Immunotherapeutics will also provide an overview of the Company's development plans for Tedopi, a proprietary combination of nine optimized neo-epitopes plus one epitope giving universal helper T cell response targeting T cell activation, and will be available for questions. Tedopi is OSE's most advanced product, currently in Phase 3 in patients with NSCLC after immune checkpoint inhibitor failure. Tedopi is also in Phase 2 status in pancreatic cancer, a trial sponsored by the GERCOR cooperative group in oncology. Dr. Benjamin Besse is a professor of Medical Oncology and a full time cancer specialist at Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus. Currently, Dr. Besse is Head of the Cancer Medicine Department at Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Chair of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Lung Group and coordinator of the French network for thymic malignancies. His main research interests include: the application of molecular abnormalities to personalize treatment, circulating biomarkers, early drug development in thoracic tumors and thymic malignancies. He has authored/co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed papers. This event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals only. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend, as space is limited. Members of the media and the public are invited to participate via the live webcast ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics OSE Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and partnering therapies to control the immune system for immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The company has a diversified first-in-class clinical portfolio consisting of several scientific and technological platforms including neoepitopes and agonist or antagonist monoclonal antibodies, all ideally positioned to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. The most advanced therapeutic-candidate, Tedopi, is a proprietary combination of 10 neo-epitopes aimed at stimulating T-lymphocytes and is currently in Phase 3 development in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after checkpoint inhibitor failure (anti PD-1 and anti PD-L1) and in Phase 2 testing in pancreatic cancer in combination with checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo. FR104 (an anti-CD28 mAb) has successfully completed Phase 1 testing and has potential to treat autoimmune diseases. BI 765063 (OSE-172) (anti-SIRPa monoclonal antibody) is under a license and collaboration agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim; this checkpoint inhibitor has received CTA from French and Belgian health authorities for a Phase 1 clinical trial in multiple cancer indications. BiCKI is a bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component anti-PD-1 (OSE-279) and targeting innovative targets. OSE-127 (monoclonal antibody targeting the CD127 receptor, the alpha chain of the interleukin-7 receptor) is partnered with Servier under an option agreement up to the completion of a Phase 2 clinical trial planned in autoimmune bowel diseases; in parallel, Servier plans a development in the Sjogren syndrome. OSE-127 is currently under Phase 1 clinical trial. Click and follow us on Twitter and Linkedln Forward-looking statements This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics' management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "target", "plan", or "estimate", their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics' shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Reference Document filed with the AMF on 26 April 2019, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2018, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics' website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005473/en/ Contacts: OSE Immunotherapeutics Sylvie Detry Sylvie.detry@ose-immuno.com +33 153 198 757 French Media: FP2COM Florence Portejoie fportejoie@fp2com.fr +33 607 768 283 U.S. Media: LifeSci Public Relations Darren Opland, Ph.D. darren@lifescipublicrelations.com +1 646 627 8387 U.S. and European Investors Chris Maggos chris@lifesciadvisors.com +41 79 367 6254 The trays were produced at the Del Monte Fresh Produce facility in Kankakee, and sold at Kwik Trip convenience stores in Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services said Tuesday that the trays were linked to three illnesses in Wisconsin and one illness in Minnesota. Zwolle, 22nd May 2019 - RoodMicrotec N.V., a leading independent company for semiconductors supply and quality services, today announces that the court has given a verdict in the legal proceedings as announced in a press release on the 26th April 2018. The claim for damage from the debtor against RoodMicrotec is set to 5,225 Euro by the court. RoodMicrotec already included a provision of 130,000 Euro in the books of 2018 which is now released. About RoodMicrotec RoodMicrotec is a leading independent company for semiconductor supply and quality services. With 50 years of experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, RoodMicrotec is well-established as a highly valued partner for many companies worldwide. The company provides full-turnkey ASIC services for complex microchips that are customized to handle specific applications for individual customers. In cooperation with strong partners, RoodMicrotec manages the entire development and production flow of ASICs in the target volume, ranging from low quantities up to multiple millions per year. The turnkey solution includes project management, wafer test, assembly, final test, qualification, failure analysis and logistics. All services comply with the industrial and quality requirements of the high reliability, aerospace, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors. RoodMicrotec's headquarter is located in Zwolle, Netherlands, with operational units in Nordlingen and Stuttgart, Germany. For more information visit https://www.roodmicrotec.com Further information Martin Sallenhag - CEO, Reinhard Pusch - COO, Arvid Ladega - CFO Telephone: +31 570 745623 Email: investor-relations@roodmicrotec.com Web: www.roodmicrotec.com This press release is published in English, Dutch and German. In case of conflict between these versions the English version shall prevail. This communication contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.The company's managing director and CEO Martin Sallenhag, is responsible for arranging for the release of this document on behalf of RoodMicrotec. Attachment LISLE, IL / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / The A.A. IL State Conference, now in its 46th year, saw nearly 500 attendees last year when it was held in Decatur, IL. This summer, the three-day conference will be held August 9-11, 2019 at the Lisle-Naperville Sheraton, 3000 Warrenville, Rd., Lisle, IL 60532. Alcoholics Anonymous has a two-fold primary purpose: to stay sober and to help other alcoholics achieve sobriety. Interestingly enough, however, the annual A.A. IL State Conference isn't only for those with a desire to stop drinking. "While our primary aim is to deepen the recovery journey for current A.A. members, this conference is also held so community members can learn more about Alcoholics Anonymous and the disease of alcoholism in a supportive, non-judgmental environment," says District 43 Conference Co-Chair, George C. "We welcome those who may be curious about A.A. for themselves, those in Al-Anon (people affected by someone else's drinking) or Alateen (teens with an alcoholic parent), as well as professionals such as law enforcement, therapists, doctors, or those working in treatment centers." In addition to a robust schedule of peer-led meetings on various topics such as getting through early sobriety, working the 12 Steps, and maintaining long-term sobriety, the conference will offer several panel discussions on a variety of topics, including bringing the A.A. message of recovery into treatment facilities, cooperating with professionals, and being young and sober. Keynote speakers for this year's conference include men and women with long-term sobriety from Hinsdale, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Chesapeake, OH; Chicago, IL; and the New York General Service Office of A.A. The conference also offers an ice cream social, dance, literature table, archives room to explore A.A. history, and plenty of opportunities for fellowship and fun. General admission for the 3-day event is $25. Teens can attend free of charge. Participants may also attend a banquet on Saturday evening for an additional $40. The deadline for online registration is August 1, 2019. Special room rates are available at the Lisle-Naperville Sheraton through July 10, 2019. For more information about the 46th Annual A.A. IL State Conference August 9-11, 2019 and to register, visit us online: www.AAILCON.org Contact Bruce Mateer brucemateer@gmail.com SOURCE: Alcoholics Anonymous-Illinois View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546210/46th-Annual-AA-IL-State-Conference-Lisle-IL-Aug-9-11-2019 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - The Mint Corporation (TSXV: MIT) ("Mint" or the "Company"), announces that on May 8, 2019 the Ontario Securities Commission revoked the cease trade order previously issued for late filing of audited annual financial statements. As a result of the cease trade order, the TSX Venture Exchange suspended trading in the shares of Mint and conducted a reinstatement review. That review has raised two filings which Mint must make and which Mint has undertaken to complete. In addition, the review has highlighted the absence of a second independent director for the audit committee and the board of directors. Mint is looking for that second independent director. Mint expects that trading in the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange will reinstate on May 23, 2019. Forward-looking Statements. Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events or our future performance. Forward-looking statements include the Company's expectation that trading in the Company's common shares on the TSX Venture Exchange will resume on May 23, 2019. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect current expectations regarding future events and operating performance and speak only as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, any delays in the issuance of a bulletin beyond May 21, 2019 by the TSX Venture Exchange permitting the resumption of trading. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, The Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. About Mint The Mint Corporation through its majority-owned subsidiaries (the "Mint Group"), is a globally-certified payments company headquartered in Toronto, Canada with its primary business in Dubai, UAE. The Mint Group provides employers, employees and merchants with best-in-class financial services supported via payroll cards and the feature rich and linked Mint mobile application. Through its mobile enabled payments platform certified globally by Mastercard and UnionPay, Mint brings modern financial conveniences, at reasonable cost, to employers, merchants and consumers. 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. The Mint Corporation Vishy Karamadam 647-352-0666 www.themintcorp.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44966 INDIRANAGER, BANGALORE / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Harry Ramsay, of Zenquest Digital, has over 13 years of experience in the digital marketing field. For over a decade, the entrepreneur and businessman has managed over $15 million in advertising spending for his clients and has worked to improve the digital marketing models of many companies around the world. Ramsay's new digital marketing firm, Zenquest Digital, helps individual clients, businesses, and even large brands extend their client base and become more visible online. To help even more companies improve and grow their brands, Harry Ramsay is written a book-Go Digital or Go Home-to help his clients further understand how technology and digital media impacts businesses. Many companies are aware that they need a better, more effective digital marketing business plan, but are unsure where to start. Fortunately, Zenquest Digital works closely with companies of all kinds to plan out the best course of action depending on their individual needs. Since no two businesses are alike and given that many of Zenquest Digital's clients operate in several different industries, Harry Ramsay has built his company with professional diversity in mind. Zenquest Digital is capable of providing businesses with excellent strategies in social media marketing, content marketing, LinkedIn marketing, and much more. Ramsay's digital marketing services have led countless businesses to exponential growth, and has allowed him to develop several marketing seminars to help even more companies expand their client base. Harry Ramsay helps businesses advertise smartly and efficiently. Clients of Zenquest Digital do not expand their sales based on the number of their advertisements; instead, they are guided by the marketing company to think about the audience they are trying to reach-and they work to create tailored advertisements towards that population. A major part of advertising more efficiently, according to Ramsay and Zenquest Digital, is fully understanding the user-base of certain social media platforms. Instead of wasting money advertising on a multitude of websites, placing advertisements on specific platforms that cater to the target audience is both cheaper and more effective. The upcoming book, Go Digital or Go Home, goes into great detail on how companies can use modern technology and media to their advantage when doing business. In the book, several successful brands, companies, and individuals share their digital strategies that the reader can adopt within their own business dealings. Ramsay also shares his own highly effective digital marketing process in great detail so his readers can fully understand the steps they need to take to improve and grow their businesses through digital marketing. Go Digital or Go Home is a great resource for entrepreneurs who are still slightly uncomfortable with digital marketing strategies. While the book is full of steps that companies can take to improve their advertising plans, it also explains all the benefits that can occur as a result of marketing online. Along with Harry Ramsay's book, entrepreneurs can gain even more digital marketing knowledge by attending one of his 1-1 Digital Marketing 'Profit Hunting' Sessions. The sessions are held between a Zenquest Digital professional and an entrepreneur, allowing them to freely talk about the client's business model, their current digital marketing model, and what current and long-term goals they have for their company. This allows Zenquest Digital to fully understand where a specific client is with their business, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and what they still have to do to get where they want to go. At the end of each 1-1 session, the client will leave with a detailed and specific plan that outlines exactly what they need do to improve their current digital marketing model. For entrepreneurs interested in learning more about the Digital Marketing Agency Bangalore, Zenquest Digital's main website is full of great resources regarding what they do and how they work to improve businesses of all types. The company also has a highly active blog that can be accessed from their homepage. As in Harry Ramsay's book, the blog is full of articles that work to educate the reader on online marketing, how to choose the right digital marketing medium, how to find the correct target audience for their business, how to track advertising numbers, and much more. For those interested in learning even more than the blog can offer, Zenquest Digital's main website allows potential clients to instantly sign up for the 1-1 Digital Marketing 'Profit Hunting' Session. For more information about Zenquest Digital, contact the company here: Zenquest Digital Harry Ramsay 9902707660 harry@zenquestdigital.com Indiranagar, Bangalore SOURCE: Zenquest Digital View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546221/Digital-Marketing-Agency-Takes-Businesses-to-Greater-Heights-in-Bangalore CANNES, FRANCE / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / "Sunrise Oriental" China's Original Fashion Design World Premiere at Canners will be held on May 21, 2019 at Majestic Beach, the official main venue of the 72nd Cannes International Film Festival in France. With the dream of China's Original Fashion Design showing on the international fashion stage, it will launch an international fashion dialogue across time and space. Mary Hu, the international independent designer, the initiator and the artistic director of the debut show, intends to focus on the global horizon through the stage of the 72nd Cannes Film Festival to present a "Sunrise Oriental" China's Original Fashion Show on sea with unique fashionable art. The debut show on Maritime Floating Bridge Stage at Majestic Beach, the official main venue in Cannes France, will be a China's original show with unique artistic fashion. It will be backed by the human and natural landscape where the sea and the sky merged into one, supplemented by pure white, and extended to the 60-meter corridor stage in the sea. It gathers international supermodels lineup, and nearly 300 guests from the Global Film Festival, will perform a great Original China's Show with unique artistic fashion. International independent designer Mary Hu, the theme of this release series is "Fashion without Borders". The series of works published continue the dress demands of different life scenes. The four dimensions of commuting, leisure, vacation and Party are used to interpret the dressers' yearning for a better life, fashion life attitude and the spiritual core of independent self-confidence. The works are based on cutting, lines, outlines and materials. Multi-latitude alternating manifestations, seamlessly linking the international popular horizon, in the international arena of global events, let the guests zero-distance touch the original pulse from China Original Fashion Design, perceiving the changing modern China. Mary Hu, the initiator of the China's Original Fashion Design World Premiere at Canners , fashion curator Cao Yang and new media manager Jason Liu, focus on the multi-dimensional modern representation of the debut show. They will lead the cutting-edge designers Jianghua and Zeng Liuliu, the famous artist Lu Zhongping, the famous painter Zuo Fengyi and the original musician Sorandaji to focus on global vision on the Cannes international event with their unique artistic expression, will outspeak for China's Original Fashion Design an contribute for Intelligent Manufacturing in China. info@lgohk.com www.lgohk.com SOURCE: Calino International Fashion Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546218/Sunrise-Oriental-Chinas-Original-Fashion-Design-World-Premiere Regulatory News: The Tikehau Capital (Paris:TKO) general shareholders' meeting was held today at the Capital 8 Conference Centre in Paris, under the chairmanship of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Mr. Christian de Labriffe. The quorum was established at 90.016%. All of the resolutions proposed by the General Manager were approved, including the resolutions regarding the approval of 2018 annual financial statements and consolidated accounts, and the distribution of a dividend of 0.25 per share. An update of the Group's results, business activities and developments during 2018 was presented by representatives of the General Manager, along with the outlook for the Group in France and abroad, in particular in connection with recent press announcements. The following topics were also discussed: implementation of the Group's ESG policy, integration of Sofidy acquired in December 2018 and the steps Tikehau Capital has taken towards its shareholder community, in particular, individuals. The detailed results of voting from today's meeting will be published on the Company's website at: www.tikehaucapital.com (section: Shareholders/AGM/Annual Shareholders Meeting 22 May 2019). About Tikehau Capital : Tikehau Capital is an asset management and investment group with 22.4 bn (as at 31 March 2019) of assets under management and shareholders' equity of 2.3 bn (as at 31 December 2018). The Group invests in various asset classes (private debt, real estate, private equity and liquid strategies), including through its asset management subsidiaries, on behalf of institutional and private investors. Controlled by its managers, alongside leading institutional partners, Tikehau Capital employs more than 440 staff (as at 31 March 2019) in its Paris, London, Brussels, Madrid, Milan, New York, Seoul, Singapore and Tokyo offices. Tikehau Capital is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, Compartment A (ISIN code: FR0013230612; Ticker: TKO.FP) www.tikehaucapital.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005714/en/ Contacts: Press Contacts: Tikehau Capital: Julien Sanson +44 20 3821 1001 Finsbury: Arnaud Salla Charles O'Brien +44 207 251 3801 press@tikehaucapital.com Shareholders and Investors Contact: Louis Igonet +33 1 40 06 11 11 shareholders@tikehaucapital.com 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 law. CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed a letter of intent with a US based prospector (the "Vendor") to acquire a 100% interest in the Gold Range Property located in northern Arizona, USA. The Gold Range Property is located in Northern Arizona within a district that has seen considerable lode and placer gold exploration and mining. Earlier this year the Vendor discovered a quartz vein containing abundant visible gold on the Gold Range Property. The discovery was made using a hand held metal detector and occurs within bedrock concealed under 30 cm of soil cover. The discovery occurs near the top of a rounded hill in an area with shallow bedrock and is amenable to low cost surface exploration methods including soil sampling and trenching. The in situ occurrence contains quartz with abundant gold, although the current poor exposure does not allow an assessment of the size, orientation, or controls on the zone. Within the next few weeks CANEX intends to initiate a surface exploration program focused on defining and tracing the new gold-quartz discovery and identifying additional mineralized zones in the immediate area. Permitting will be initiated shortly to allow for trenching and exposing of the new discovery and for exploration of the larger property. Terms of the Agreement The Agreement gives CANEX the exclusive right, at its election, to acquire a 100% interest in the Gold Range Property from the Vendor by making staged cash payments over 4 years totaling US$90,000 and completing exploration expenditures of US$80,000. The Vendor will retain a 2% net smelter royalty, half of which can be bought back by CANEX for US$500,000, and the remaining half can be bought back for an additional US$1,000,000. A definitive agreement will be prepared and entered into between CANEX and the Vendor. Financing CANEX is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 4,000,000 units ("Common Units") at a price of $0.05 per Common Unit for gross proceeds of up to $200,000. Each Common Unit will consist of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each common share purchase warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.08 per share for a period of three years following closing. The Units will be offered on a non-brokered basis by way of private placement to accredited investors and any securities issued will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of closing. Finder's fees of 5% cash and 5% Brokers Warrants may be paid to eligible agents pursuant to the offering. Each broker warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of the Company for a period of 3 years at a price of $0.05 per share This financing is subject to TSX Venture Exchange and regulatory approval. Proceeds of the financing will be used to explore the Gold Range Property, and for general working capital. About CANEX Metals Inc. CANEX Metals is a Canadian based exploration company focused on acquiring and advancing high grade gold and silver deposits in stable mining jurisdictions. Company Management has a proven track record of exploration success, with key personnel being involved in discoveries in Mexico, Newfoundland, and British Columbia. CANEX has optioned five British Columbia exploration projects from Altius Resources Inc. and Altius is a significant shareholder of the Company. CANEX is exploring the Gibson Prospect in British Columbia where significant gold-silver discoveries have been made during 2017 and 2018, including drill results of 872 g/t Ag and 2.7 g/t Au over 0.5m, 11.9 g/t Au and 301 g/t Ag over 1m. Please visit our website at www.canexmetals.ca for additional information. Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX Metals and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. "Shane Ebert" Shane Ebert President/Director 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. Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "expects", "projects", "plans", "anticipates" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc. internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of CANEX shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. CANEX disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements. SOURCE: CANEX Metals Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/546240/CANEX-Signs-Letter-of-Intent-to-Acquire-a-High-Grade-Gold-Discovery-in-Arizona-and-Announces-Financing Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. (TSXV: PEMC) (OTCQB: PEMSF) ("Pacific Empire", "PEMC" or the "Company"), a hybrid prospect generator focused in British Columbia, announces the closing of its non-brokered private placement financing (the "Offering") previously announced on April 24, 2019. The Company raised an aggregate of $846,099.99, of which $747,099.99 was raised on the issuance of 10,672,857 units ("Units") and $99,000 was raised on the issuance of 1,100,000 flow-through shares ("Flow-Through Shares"). Each Unit was issued at a price per Unit of $0.07 and is comprised of one common share in the capital of the Company ("Common Share") and one Common Share purchase warrant entitling the holder to acquire one Common Share for a period of 36 months at an exercise price of $0.14. Each Flow-Through Share was issued at a price per share of $0.09. The offering size of the Units was increased to accommodate demand. Pursuant to the Offering, Stichting Depositary Plethora Precious Metals Fund ("Plethora") subscribed for 2,000,000 Units. Plethora now owns or controls an aggregate of 4,000,000 Common Shares on an undiluted basis and 7,000,000 Common Shares on a diluted basis, representing approximately 9.35% and 13.09% of the Company's issued and outstanding Common Shares on an undiluted and diluted basis, respectively. The Company paid an aggregate $23,385 in cash commissions, and issued an aggregate 349,500 finders' warrants (the "Finders' Warrants") in connection with the Offering. Each Finders' Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one additional common share at an exercise price of $0.14 for a period of 36 months following the date of issuance. The Common Shares, and any Common Shares issued on the exercise of the warrants or Finders' Warrants, are subject to a restricted resale period under Canadian securities law until September 22, 2019. Proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund the Company's planned exploration and drilling programs on its Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry projects and for general working capital. The 2019 exploration programs on the Company's Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry projects will consist of preliminary geochemical and seismic surveys followed by reverse circulation drilling. The initial geochemical and seismic surveys will help to better constrain existing drill targets as well as to outline additional drill targets in certain prospective areas identified by PEMC. The proposed work programs are expected to consist of approximately 100 field days, with the Company planning to complete 50 reverse circulation drill holes testing numerous drill targets in up to a dozen high priority target areas. About Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. PEMC is an exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that employs a "hybrid prospect generator" business model and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEMC and on the OTCQB Markets under the symbol PEMSF. By integrating the project generator business model with low-cost reverse circulation drilling, the company intends to leverage its portfolio by identifying, and focusing on, the highest quality projects for partnerships and advancement. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD, "Brad Peters" President and Chief Executive Officer Pacific Empire Minerals Corp. Tel: +1-604-356-6246 brad@pemcorp.ca www.pemcorp.ca 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. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. The forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to: the Proceeds of the Offering will be used to fund the Company's planned exploration and drilling programs on its Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry projects and for general working capital; the 2019 exploration programs on the Company's Babine Copper-Gold Porphyry projects will consist of preliminary geochemical and seismic surveys followed by reverse circulation drilling; and the proposed work programs are expected to consist of approximately 100 field days, with the Company planning to complete 50 reverse circulation drill holes testing numerous drill targets in up to a dozen high priority target areas. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: the need for additional financing; operational risks associated with mineral exploration; fluctuations in commodity prices; title matters; environmental liability claims and insurance; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers, directors or promoters with certain other projects; the absence of dividends; competition; dilution; the volatility of our common share price and volume and the additional risks identified the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the TSX Venture Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO US NEWSWIRE SERVICES NOR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/44971 Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) today released its regular weekly Net Asset Value ("NAV") and performance returns on its website, https://www.pershingsquareholdings.com/company-reports/weekly-navs/. The NAV and returns were computed as of the close of business on Tuesday, 21 May 2019. PSH NAV per share as of close of business on 21 May 2019 was 24.77 USD 19.50 GBP and year-to-date performance was 43.8%. Weekly net asset value ("NAV") is calculated as of the close of business on each Tuesday and posted on the following business day. In the event that Tuesday is not a business day, the Company will calculate the close-of-business NAV as of the business day immediately preceding that Tuesday. The end-of-month NAV is calculated as of the close of business on the last day of the month and posted on the following business day. For weeks that include a month-end NAV report, PSH will provide only the month-end NAV and not report the Tuesday NAV. Monthly NAVs are published in accordance with the Decree on Conduct of Business Supervision of Financial Undertakings under the Wft (Besluit Gedragstoezicht financiele ondernemingen Wft). Performance is presented on a net-of-fees basis and reflects the deduction of, among other expenses: management fees, brokerage commissions, administrative fees and accrued performance fees, if any. The performance figure includes the reinvestment of all dividends, interest and capital gains. Depending on the timing of a specific investment, net performance for an individual investor may vary from the net performance as stated herein. Net performance is a geometrically linked time weighted calculation. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. All investments involve risk including the loss of principal. About Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) is an investment holding company structured as a closed-ended fund that makes concentrated investments principally in North American companies. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190522005839/en/ Contacts: Media Contact Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk By Alwyn Scott (Reuters) - General Electric Co, once seen as the epitome of corporate greatness, is trying to end infighting between its divisions, tighten up management and fix quality problems in its products, Chief Executive Officer Larry Culp said on Wednesday. The 127-year-old conglomerate, which was a storied CEO training ground under prior chiefs Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt, also needs to simplify its bewildering financial reports and become more frank with investors, Culp said. The unvarnished admissions at the annual Electrical Products Group conference in Florida underscored a cultural shift Culp is attempting since becoming GE's first outsider CEO in October. By Alwyn Scott (Reuters) - General Electric Co, once seen as the epitome of corporate greatness, is trying to end infighting between its divisions, tighten up management and fix quality problems in its products, Chief Executive Officer Larry Culp said on Wednesday. The 127-year-old conglomerate, which was a storied CEO training ground under prior chiefs Jack Welch and Jeff Immelt, also needs to simplify its bewildering financial reports and become more frank with investors, Culp said. The unvarnished admissions at the annual Electrical Products Group conference in Florida underscored a cultural shift Culp is attempting since becoming GE's first outsider CEO in October. "What we're really trying to do is move away ... from flashing a page of 30 metrics and leaving ... the impression that we are actively managing 30 discrete initiatives," he said. "This is ultimately all about culture." GE shares were down 0.5% at $9.91 in afternoon trading. At the start of the meeting he ticked off problems that struck him when he became CEO: GE had high ambition but lacked focus, and it had lost sight of its customers' demands for quality. When Culp asked employees about quality, a top customer concern, he said, "I got a lesson on the cost of quality." When he asked leaders of the healthcare business about meeting its delivery schedule, "they teach me about SCOT - Supply Chain On Time," he said. "The customer doesn't care if the supply chain's on time. They care about GE being on time." Culp said GE is rooting out "intramural skirmishes" between equipment and services units that hampered profit. It is trying to manage billings and cash daily to avoid "quarter-end and year-end sprints," he said. Culp also affirmed GE's grim forecast. It will lose up to $2 billion in free cash flow in 2019, but sees the outflow ending in 2020 and an "acceleration" of improvement in 2021. That is in line with earlier forecasts, and suggests stability after prior CEOs repeatedly missed targets. While he cited progress, Culp stressed the difficulties GE faces. It has cut more than 1,000 jobs at its ailing power unit this year, is not banking on a recovery in turbine sales to China and does not expect the market for power plants to improve. "I don't want anyone to walk out of here thinking this is something that is easily fixed," Culp said. "There's a lot to do here." (Reporting by Alwyn Scott in New York; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe and Phil Berlowitz) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. United is still working on the specifics of its plan to make the case for the 737 Max. Munoz said it would include educating customers and employees about why United feels its safe to resume flights, making it clear to customers when theyre flying on a Max and working with travelers who remain nervous about the aircraft. By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures were steady on Tuesday as the prospect of mounting U.S.-Iran tensions disrupting supply was offset by concerns that a lengthy trade war between Washington and Beijing would limit crude demand. Brent crude futures settled at $72.18 a barrel, gaining 21 cents. U.S By Laila Kearney NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil futures were steady on Tuesday as the prospect of mounting U.S.-Iran tensions disrupting supply was offset by concerns that a lengthy trade war between Washington and Beijing would limit crude demand. Brent crude futures settled at $72.18 a barrel, gaining 21 cents. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures settled at $62.99 a barrel, down 11 cents ahead of the front month contract for June delivery expiring on Tuesday. The July contract settled at $63.13 a barrel. WTI fell slightly in post-settlement trade following industry group the American Petroleum Institute's data showing that U.S. crude stockpiles rose unexpectedly last week, by 2.4 million barrels, compared with analysts' expectations for a decrease of 599,000 barrels. The market will next watch for the U.S Energy Information Administration oil stockpiles report due on Wednesday morning. "I think the market is taking a breath, waiting to see how inventories respond to refiners in the U.S. returning back from maintenance," said Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston. Crude prices were caught in limbo mainly due to counteracting disputes between the United States and other nations, analysts said. "The situation with China is as bearish as the Iran situation is bullish," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. "That's why I think we continue to be here in a stalemate." U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened Iran with "great force" if it attacked U.S. interests in the Middle East. On Tuesday, acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said that while threats from Iran remained high, deterrence measures taken by the Pentagon had "put on hold" the potential for attacks on Americans. He did not provide details. Washington suspects that militia with ties to Iran organized a rocket attack in Iraq's capital Baghdad. Iran said it would resist U.S. pressure, declining further talks under current circumstances. Tensions have mounted in an already tight market as the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers have withheld supply to support prices since the start of the year in a six-month agreement. Saudi Arabia on Sunday indicated there was consensus among OPEC and allied oil producers to continue limiting supplies. Also adding to market tightness was the closure of a major pipeline in Nigeria and Russia supply disruptions. The prolonged tariff fight between the United States and China raised concerns about a global economic slowdown, however. Signs that Asian economies were already being hit by the trade conflict helped to boost the U.S. dollar to a four-week high, making crude more expensive for much of the world. Disappointing U.S. economic data that showed existing home sales fell for a second straight month also hampered crude demand sentiment. (Additional reporting by Henning Gloystein in Singapore; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Sonya Hepinstall) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. In the last two weeks, Ola has dissolved the ground team completely. The company, however, has retained the core operations team consisting of senior employees Cab-hailing startup Ola's parent ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd has reportedly suspended Foodpanda's delivery business and terminated the contracts of several food delivery executives, a media report said. ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd acquired Foodpanda some 18 months ago. In the last two weeks, Ola has dissolved the ground team completely, Mint said, citing people familiar with the matter. The company, however, has retained the core operations team consisting of senior employees, the report added. Foodpanda will be focusing only on running the cloud kitchen brands instead of a food delivery business, a source familiar with the development told the newspaper. According to The Economic Times, Ola is concentrating on building its private label brands, which include The Great Khichdi Experiment, Lovemade and FLRT. In December 2017, Ola acquired Foodpanda India in an all-share deal and said it would invest $200 million (over Rs 1,280 crore) in the business. Ola acquired Foodpanda India from its German parent, Delivery Hero. Delivery Hero had acquired Foodpanda from Rocket Internet in December 2016 to extend its food-ordering business into Asia, the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. Foodpanda competes with UberEATS and Zomato and Swiggy. Uber, the US-based ride-hailing firm is aggressively expanding meal order and delivery platform UberEATS in India. Ola had in 2015 attempted its own food delivery service, called Ola Cafe in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad but shut it down a year later after failing to meet targets. The competition has been intense in the segment with the likes of Zomato and Swiggy fighting aggressively to capture the market. The online food ordering market in India is likely to grow at over 16 percent annually to touch $17.02 billion by 2023, according to a study by business consultancy firm Market Research Future. The growth in online food ordering market has been attributed to the rising number of women among the working population in most of the metro cities. Bengaluru gets the highest number of online orders as compared to other cities with 20 percent of the market share acquired by the southern city, the report said. It is followed by Mumbai, Pune, Delhi and Hyderabad with a share of 18 percent, 17 percent, 15 percent and 12 percent, respectively, while other cities accounted for 18 percent of the market share. "The rising number of logistics providers has also enabled food delivery companies to optimise their fleet, thereby reducing delivery time. Online food delivery platforms are focused towards acquisitions and are collaborating with logistics companies to manage delivery operations in the dedicated region," the study had said. With second-tier cities at its core, Oyo Hotels' chain extends deep into China's tier-2 to tier-6 cities, the company said in a statement New Delhi: Hospitality firm Oyo Wednesday said it has become the second-largest hotel group in China within 18 months of its foray into the country, with presence in 320 cities and nearly 10,000 Oyo-branded hotels with 4,50,000 rooms. With second-tier cities at its core, Oyo Hotels' chain extends deep into China's tier-2 to tier-6 cities, the company said in a statement. Oyo China COO Sam Shih said: "OYO Jiudian (Hotels) operates like a Chinese company and delivers better living for middle-income people across the country." Everyday, over 2,00,000 heads are on OYO Jiudian pillows in China due to the great experience at low cost, he added. "Also, we have enabled jobs for over 1,00,000 young people due to the occupancy rise and, as more people stay in our hotels, more economic opportunities are created," Shih said. Over 97 percent of franchise partners have come back and renewed their contracts, a testament to the impact the company has had on their business both at occupancy and revenue levels, the statement said. To ensure asset owners have improved visibility on potential customers from around the world, Oyo Hotels is also exploring ways to collaborate with online travel agents such as Fliggy, Ctrip and others, along with other consumer traffic-building platforms, it added. Oyo Hotels and Homes currently has a footprint in more than 800 cities across 24 countries. Saudi Aramco has entered into a 20-year agreement with U.S.-based Sempra Energy to purchase liquefied natural gas(LNG) from its subsidiary Sempra LNG, the two companies said on Wednesday Dubai: Saudi Aramco has entered into a 20-year agreement with U.S.-based Sempra Energy to purchase liquefied natural gas(LNG) from its subsidiary Sempra LNG, the two companies said on Wednesday. The Saudi state oil giant plans to become a major global gas player while the U.S. market is undergoing a shale boom. Aramco has been developing its own gas resources and eying gas assets in the United States, Russia, Australia and Africa. The two companies are also finalizing a 25 percent equity investment in phase 1 of Port Arthur LNG, they said in a joint statement. The sale-and-purchase agreement is for 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG from phase 1 of the Port Arthur LNG export project under development, the firms said. The proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project is expected to include two liquefaction trains, up to three LNG storage tanks and associated facilities which should enable the export of about 11 mtpa on a long-term basis. Port Arthur LNG could be one of the largest LNG export projects in North America, with potential expansion capabilities of up to eight liquefaction trains or approximately 45 mtpa of capacity, the statement said. Aramcos trading arm sold its first LNG cargo on the spot market in late March to an Indian buyer, according to sources familiar with the matter. Aramco plans to boost its gas production to 23 billion standard cubic feet (scf) a day from about 14 billion scf now. Starting 1 April, SpiceJet has announced 106 new flights, which include 73 connecting Mumbai, 16 connecting Delhi and 8 flights between Mumbai and Delhi. Mumbai: Budget carrier SpiceJet on Wednesday announced the launch of 20 new domestic flights, with 18 of them connecting the financial capital with a host of metro and non-metro cities. The new services, which include flights to regional destinations such as Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada and Tirupati from Mumbai, will be launched between 26 May and 30 May, SpiceJet said in a statement. All new flights being introduced will be operated daily, except the one for Mumbai-Kolkata route which will not be operational on Wednesday and Sunday, with Boeing 737 NG aircraft, the release said. Starting 1 April, SpiceJet has announced 106 new flights, which include 73 connecting Mumbai, 16 connecting Delhi and 8 flights between Mumbai and Delhi, in an effort to partially offset the capacity loss across domestic and international routes in the wake of Jet Airways grounding. With the new flights, passengers from Thiruvananthapuram, Vijayawada, Goa, Hyderabad, Tirupati, Kochi, Kolkata, Kanpur and Patna will be able to travel to a host of other cities, both on SpiceJet's domestic as well as international network via Mumbai, the airline said. Currently, SpiceJet on an average operates 569 daily flights to 62 destinations 53 domestic and 9 international with a fleet of 95 planes, consisting of 65 Boeing 737 and 30 Bombardier Q-400. Tech Mahindra has recommended a dividend of Rs 14 per share for the financial year ended March 2019 Mumbai: IT major Tech Mahindra on Tuesday posted an 8.4 percent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 1,126.6 crore for the quarter ended 31 March 2019, due to currency appreciation and prudent provisioning for some of the customers. Its net profit stood at Rs 1,230.8 crore in the corresponding period a year ago. However, the city-based company saw its consolidated revenue from operations increasing by 10.4 percent to Rs 8,892.3 crore as against Rs 8,054.5 crore in the year-ago quarter, the company said. For the full fiscal, the net profit was up 13.2 percent to Rs 4,288.8 crore, while revenue from operations was higher by 12.9 percent to Rs 34,742.1 crore as compared to FY2017-18. "We are overall pleased with the performance. Last time we had mentioned that focus would be on operating efficiencies, digital revenue, making sure that the communications engine starts firing. I think we have done very well on all the three counts. "Our EBITDA margin has shown a significant improvement. Our digital revenue is all time high and communication group has now delivered extremely good performance," Tech Mahindra Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer C P Gurnani told reporters here. "We will be pressing the pedal on more operating efficiency gains, growth in both the sectorsenterprise and communication. In dollar terms he noted the revenue for the year was close to $5 billion, at $4.97 billion, a growth of 5.8 percent in constant currency terms," he said. The manufacturing vertical has crossed a billion dollar in revenue, grown 10 percent annually, the second vertical for the company which has crossed revenues in excess of a billion dollar after communications. The communications business grew 4.5 percent quarter on quarter and there is good momentum in the business, Gurnani noted, compensating for the enterprise business that has shown a de-growth of 2.2 percent quarter on quarter. "There has been a slowdown mainly because of the projects being deferred and some of the projects that have got closed. The business which has done well are some of the government initiatives, defence initiatives, digital initiatives and initiatives in 5G enterprise, blockchain, cybersecurity and engineering services," Gurnani said. "I was targeting 8-10 percent (growth) and I think we should have done a little better. The timing didn't work out, one quarter here or there slipped off. I am not disheartened at all...but we will be trying much harder to look at growth vector and execution efficiency vector," he added. The free cash flow for FY2018-19 was at Rs 3,708 crore. The total headcount of the company stood at 1,21,082 people at the end of March 2019 quarter, an addition of 8,275 persons annually. The attrition reduced by 2 percentage points in the last quarter at 19 percent. Its active clients count stood at 938 in the said quarter. The Board of Directors has recommended a dividend of Rs 14 per share for the financial year ended March 2019, subject to approval by shareholders at the forthcoming annual general meeting on 31 July. Unidentified persons broke into the Indian Rafale project management team office in France on Sunday night in a possible espionage attempt to steal data related to the aircraft critical to India's national security plans New Delhi: Unidentified persons broke into the Indian Rafale project management team office in France on Sunday night in a possible espionage attempt to steal data related to the aircraft critical to India's national security plans. "There was a break-in into the Indian Air Force Rafale project management team office which is located in a suburb of Paris in France. No hard disk or document has been stolen. More details are being ascertained about the motive," sources in the Indian Air Force told ANI. The Rafale project team is headed by a group captain-rank officer who looks after issues related to the 36 Rafale combat aircraft, including the production timelines and training of Indian personnel who have to be trained for maintenance and flying operations of the plane, which India is acquiring. The Rafale team sits in a building complex in Saint Cloud suburb of Paris and the police there is investigating the case. Sources said the main aim of the break-in could have been to steal data as valuables or money are not kept in these administrative offices. The Indian Rafale team office is in the vicinity of French Dassault Aviation office blocks. Government sources said the Indian Air Force has already briefed the Defence Ministry in this regard and French police authorities are probing the case. India in 2016 signed a Rs 59,800 crore agreement with France for acquiring 36 Rafale combat aircraft for meeting the shortfall in Indian Air Force squadron strength. The incident has come after the long election season in India where allegations of corruption in the Rafale procurement were levelled by Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The Rafale has been critical to IAF plans for securing the country against the aerial and other threats from enemy countries. After the 27 February incident involving an aerial battle between India and Pakistan, IAF Chief BS Dhanoa had suggested that the Pakistanis would not have dared to come close to the LoC in a conflict situation if the country had Rafale planes in its inventory. National SC Reservation Parirakshana Samiti president Karne Srisailam was attacked allegedly by SWAERO members at a press conference in Hyderabad. Hyderabad: National SC Reservation Parirakshana Samiti president Karne Srisailam was attacked while addressing a press conference at the Press Club in Hyderabad on Tuesday. According to the Panjagutta Police, Srisailam was speaking on alleged irregularities in gurukuls and social welfare residential schools in Telangana when he was thrashed by one Alexander, a PhD student from Osmania University, and his associates. The police said Alexander and his associates alleged that they were attacked by Srisailam's followers. #WATCH: National SC Reservation Parirakshana Samithi president, Karne Srisailam, attacked during a press conference at Press Club in Hyderabad yesterday. He was speaking on irregularities in Gurukul Pathshala (residential schools for SC/ST in Telangana) pic.twitter.com/e0brXDe1Tt ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 According to The New Indian Express, the men who attacked Srisailam were members of 'SWAERO' (a campaign for the social welfare of Dalits). They claimed to be supporters of RS Praveen Kumar, secretary of the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society that handles the functioning of gurukuls in the state. Media persons who tried to intervene and stop the assault on Srisailam were also attacked and their equipment damaged. Srisailam had taken permission to hold the press conference on the alleged irregularities at gurukuls, and how SWAEROs were allegedly controlling the institutes across Telangana. The police have registered a case on the attack on Srisailam and an investigation is underway. SWAEROs is a campaign for Dalit welfare launched by Kumar. 'A massive military operation has been launched by the security forces in eastern Arunachal Pradesh,' Rijiju said in a Facebook post. New Delhi: Union minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said security forces in Arunachal Pradesh have launched a massive operation against the insurgents who killed an MLA and 10 others in the state. He said when members of the local community are involved in insurgent activities and maintain links with militants, the security operations can result in collateral damage. "A massive military operation has been launched by the security forces in eastern Arunachal Pradesh," Rijiju said in a Facebook post. Suspected NSCN militants on Tuesday gunned down sitting MLA and National People's Party (NPP) candidate for the state assembly polls, Tirong Aboh and 10 others, including his son, in Tirap district in eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, asserted that unless the local people cooperate, military action alone cannot be a permanent solution. "When some members of the local community are involved in insurgent activities and maintain links with them, the security operations would result in collateral damage which becomes an issue of human rights. Some people will only question and blame the security forces but never condemn the acts of insurgents," he said. The Union Minister of State for Home said some people talk against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), "which is only brought for providing better security to the citizens". "Since 1997-98, politicians and other important people are primarily responsible as they fall prey to the pressure and at times take the help of insurgents. It is time to take a tough stand and everyone should come together and say no to violence and insurgent groups. If we all stand unitedly, we shall overcome," he said. Many political parties and civil society groups in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir have been demanding the repeal of the AFSPA, which gives special powers to the armed forces to shoot or arrest any suspect and carry out searches in any premises without warrants. Expressing shock over the brutal killing of the MLA and 10 others, Rijiju said in the last few years, the security situation in the entirety of Arunachal Pradesh has improved, but the two incidents in Tirap district this election have spoilt the atmosphere. Director general of Arunachal Pradesh Police SBK Singh said on Tuesday that the Army units had launched massive combing operations in the area to nab the perpetrators. Senior police officers of Tirap and neighbouring Changlang districts have reached Khonsa to supervise and coordinate with various security agencies for the operations, Singh said. The Assembly polls in Arunachal Pradesh were held along with the Lok Sabha elections on 11 April. A 24-hour EVM control room has been made functional in New Delhi at the Nirvachan Sadan to monitor complaints related to EVMs, the Election Commission said. New Delhi: A 24-hour EVM control room has been made functional in New Delhi at the Nirvachan Sadan to monitor complaints related to Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), the Election Commission said. This comes amidst concerns over alleged tempering and suspected manipulation of EVMs used in the 2019 Lok Sabha election being raised by Opposition parties. Any complaints on counting day related to EVMs can be put forth at the control room. Their number is 011-23052123. The EC further said strongrooms have been designed to keep sealed EVMs and Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) in the presence of candidates and observers of the commission. These rooms are absolutely safe and the entire process of sealing and storage is videotaped by the officials. The strongrooms are opened on the counting day and counting agents are shown seals, address tags and serial number of EVMs to maintain transparency and authenticity of the machines used in the polls. The poll watchdog said all protocols and provisions have been explained to political parties and it has been made clear that in any case of a lapse in handling these machines will be investigated. It also ensured a disciplinary action against the officer held responsible for it. On Tuesday, the EC had rubbished reports of alleged movement of EVMs purportedly to replace polled EVMs in strongrooms, terming them as "absolutely false". "Complaints of alleged movement of EVMs, purportedly to replace polled EVMs in strongrooms, doing rounds in sections of media are absolutely false. Visuals seen viral on media do not pertain to any EVMs used during the polls," the EC said in a statement. The statement from the poll body came after opposition parties citing TV reports complained that EVMs were replaced from the strongrooms in some constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, along with 21 Opposition party leaders, urged the EC to count votes through VVPATs instead of EVMs during counting for the Lok Sabha polls. Stop Acid Attack, a group which has been creating awareness about acid attacks and pushing for stricter punishment for the perpetrators launched a country-wide campaign during the election to highlight the demands of acid attack survivors 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 *** Delhi: Anu Mukherjee was a popular dancer in a Delhi Bar named Raajdoot. On 19 December 2004, she suffered a vicious acid attack by a jealous co-worker Meena Khan and her brother Qayoom Khan. The attack disfigured her face and she lost her eyes. The accused were arrested two days later and after a long trial were sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court on 19 January, 2011. But they managed to get bail, and soon after that started threatening Anu. Finally, the Delhi High Court sentenced both the accused to 10 years of imprisonment in 2016. Anus 12-year-ordeal to get justice, her continuing struggle to get proper medical treatment for the injuries and a reasonable compensation to try and rebuild her life is not an isolated story. According to National Crime Records Bureau data, 283 cases of acid attacks were reported across the country in 2016 alone while the figures were 222 and 225 in 2015 and 2014, respectively, with 65 percent survivors being women and 35 percent being men. In every case, the survivors were largely left to fend for themselves. It was not until a decade ago that activists started looking at this phenomenon through a new lens, demanding this crime be brought under the purview of a separate legislation that recognises the heinousness of the act. This was the beginning of Stop Acid Attacks, whose campaign brought national attention to the issue and also resulted in the setting up of the iconic Sheroes' Hangout in Agra and Lucknow. The cafe is run by acid attack survivors, who are often abandoned by their families, and find it difficult to find gainful employment. The activist group had also launched a country-wide campaign called Jago Chunav Hai (Wake up, its Elections) to highlight the demands of acid attack survivors and present their demands to politicians. Ashish Shukla, one of the founders of Stop Acid Attacks campaign, says that the team has been loud and proud about their demands, among which are subsidised education opportunities, better implementation of existing and specialised laws and more help with their medical treatment. Unregulated sale of acid Ignorance about the law among survivors and the indifferent attitude of the authorities in controlling the sale of acids have led to acid attacks ruining countless lives, many of them young women who had spurned the advances of a man. Till 2013, there was no separate provision in the Indian Penal Code to charge those accused of acid attacks, or any rules restricting sale and purchase of acid. It took several protests in many parts of the country over the rising number of acid attacks that the government declared acid attacks a cognizable offence under Section 326 (A) of the Indian Penal Code with punishment up to 10 years. Later the same year, the Supreme Court ordered strict restrictions on the sale of acid in the country. The apex court guidelines made it mandatory for shop owners to acquire a license for selling acid and maintain records such as age and address proof of those who purchase acid. The SC order also said shopkeepers must record the reasons for purchase. But the Supreme Court rules are flouted with impunity, according to Chandrahaas Mishra, an acid attack survivor and activist from Meerut. "People sell acid openly on the streets of Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)," said Mishra, adding, "When I asked a vendor how strong the acid was, he opened the bottle cap and told me that it was very strong acid. We have informed the authorities about the open sale and purchase of acid but they have not taken any steps to curb it." Stronger punishment for perpetrators Survivors say acid attacks are worse than getting shot at as the former ruins their whole life. Just ask Mohini, who survived an acid attack by her jilted lover Rakesh on 6 November, 2005. Though a Delhi court had sentenced Rakesh to eight years in prison under Section 307 of the IPC for attempt to murder, Mohini says the legal system has badly let down survivors like her. "The culprit completed the punishment and is out of jail now. He has followed me many times and threatened me. So, what is the punishment worth?" she asks. The long legal process to get justice is just as traumatic to the survivors as the attack itself. The judiciary is facing a huge manpower crunch, said Sanjib Panigrahi, advocate on record in the Supreme Court. A shortage of courts, a lot of adjournments and the prosecution not being ready with the case all prolong the process, he adds. Senior advocate Anuja Kapoor, who has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a special law for the acid attack survivors, said stricter laws are needed to curb this menace. Acid attack should come under heinous crime, its not just an assault, she says. We talk about fast track courts but it is still a dream, says Mishra. My case took more than seven years; the hearings have now ended and soon the quantum of punishment will be announced. During these years, the perpetrator, Chintu, was out on bail and used to threaten me. He also filed a case against me. Its a time-consuming process and also takes a huge amount of money. The financial burden on top of the severe trauma and suffering that the survivor is going through breaks the victims willpower, adds Mishra. Healthcare remains nightmare for acid attack survivors Two other serious issues acid attack survivors face is getting proper medical treatment for their injuries and adequate compensation. Over the years, survivors have staged several protests in Jantar Mantar in Delhi and elsewhere demanding special health care in government and private hospitals. But to little effect. Anu who was admitted to AIIMS Delhi after the attack says that she didn't receive proper treatment at the government-run hospital "I was admitted there for almost three months but the doctor hardly came to see me, said Anu. "My body was melting and stinking but doctors did not treat me with care. When we ask the government for compensation for treatment, they ask us to get admitted in government hospitals. But why should we go there when they cant provide proper facilities?" asks Anu who has spent Rs 35 lakh so far on medical treatment and even though she lost her eyes in the attack, received just Rs 1.4 lakh as compensation in 2010. "A doctor of a government hospital in Meerut told me that my eyes are 85 percent damaged and that I would not be able to see, but when I was shifted to a private hospital, they saved my eyes and now I can see properly," says Mishra. He has spent more than 30 lakhs in his treatment but, but unlike Anu, he hasn't received any compensation. Kapoor informs that the Supreme Court has ordered government and private hospitals to provide initial treatment to acid attack survivor free of cost, yet many hospitals do not provide that. "Private hospitals deny any knowledge of the order, she says. There is also the fact that hospitals, whether government or private, only provide treatment till there is a life risk to the acid attack survivor. Once a survivor's life is not at risk, hospitals stop treatment, and the patient has to make his or her own arrangement for the required follow up treatment. Most survivors have to depend on charity to get them treated in a hospital, while some NGOs do crowd funding to help them. Poor compensation for survivors Compensation too is a hard and long process for the acid attack survivors and the amount varies from state to state. The Supreme Court in May 2018 approved a pan India compensation scheme for acid attack survivors. According to the scheme, survivors of acid attacks, in case of disfigurement of face, would get a minimum compensation of Rs 7 lakh, the upper limit being Rs 8 lakh. If the injury causes more than 50 per cent damage, a minimum compensation of Rs 5 lakh would be given with the maximum being Rs 8 lakh. But these amounts dont even come close to the actual cost of treatment. The law, however, is of little help to survivors. According to Kapoor, it's tiresome, lengthy and not implemented at all on the ground as most survivors dont get this court-prescribed amount. According to a study by TrustLaw, the legal services of the Thomson Reuters Foundation, out of the 55 cases they analysed, only nine survivors had received compensation. Survivors say there is a lot of paperwork involved in claiming compensation and officials often delay payment and ask them to come again and again or try to fob them off with payments of one or two lakhs. Victims also say that some government officials demand a share of the compensation amount. "I was asked by a lawyer to pay 30 per cent of the compensation," said Mohini. Men who survive acid attacks are denied compensation as officials say there is no provision for compensation to male survivors, said Mishra. The authorities do not even give disability certificates to acid attack survivors which can help them get a job let alone provide assistance to cope with the psychological and social problems they face for the rest of their lives. As acid attack victim Mohini said, many of her relatives had stopped coming to her house and do not invite her family for their functions. "For them, I was responsible for this attack," said Mohini, adding, "Their perception is that if people in their circle get to know about this incident it would ruin their image. I have stopped going to public places, parties and other functions." The author is a Delhi-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters The Gujarat Assembly in September 2018 had amended Section 379 of the IPC by adding two clauses, IPC 379(A) and 379(B), thus incorporating the stringent punishment. New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind has given assent to a Gujarat legislation under which chain snatchers in the state will face up to 10 years imprisonment instead of three years elsewhere in the country. The Criminal Law (Gujarat Amendment) Bill 2018 will provide a maximum of 10 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25,000 if anyone in Gujarat is convicted for the crime of chain snatching and causing injuries in the process. The President has given his assent to the bill recently, a home ministry official said. In rest of the country, chain snatchers are normally charged with the Section 379 of the IPC which is related to the crime of theft and invites punishment of up to three years in jail or with fine, or with both. The Gujarat Assembly in September 2018 had amended Section 379 of the IPC by adding two clauses, IPC 379(A) and 379(B), thus incorporating the stringent punishment, the official said. The Gujarat government enacted the law as the punishment for theft under Section 379 of the IPC is considered to be insufficient to deter the criminals as they often get bail, another official said. As per the new law, for an attempt to snatch chain, the accused will get a minimum five and maximum seven years of imprisonment. For committing the crime of chain snatching, the accused will be liable to get seven years imprisonment. However, while committing the offence, if the accused injures somebody while trying to escape, he will be liable to get imprisonment of up to 10 years. The Myanmar Army and Indian Army's joint operation to flush out fighters of the ULFA (Independent), PLA and the UNLF from Myanmar's Sagaing region could serve a crippling blow to insurgency in the North East, including the Naga rebel group NSCN (Khaplang) faction, which has been unwilling to sit for peace talks with the Indian government Deftly sidestepping a ceasefire agreement with the NSCN (Khaplang) faction signed in April 2012, the Myanmar Army (officially known as the Tatmadaw), in close tandem with the Indian army, is executing its biggest ever assault on the Naga insurgent group in recent times, a blow from which the Naga group may find it very difficult to recoup. The implications may be far-reaching because the NSCN (K) controlled region in Myanmars Sagaing Division (called Eastern Nagaland by the Nagas) is a safe sanctuary for the training camps and general headquarters of the Assam-based ULFA(I) and Manipur-based PLA and UNLF. It's from this area that these insurgents primarily come out from, conduct their operations, and move back to the safety of their camps. The Naga insurgency movement, with total sovereignty as its main demand, is also known as the 'mother of all insurgencies' in the North East India region. It may also be a much thought-out decision on part of the Tatmadaw to move into these insurgent-controlled areas to establish firm administrative control which no doubt may have been prompted by sustained Indian pressure. India has already been aiding the vastly under-equipped Tatmadaw with small weapons including 105 mm guns and mortars for a few years now. But most of all, the Tatmadaws decision has also been prompted by Indias recent proactive help in obstructing Myanmars ethnic-Buddhist Arakanese rebels from entering Mizoram during the Tatmadaws operations. The Arakanese rebels find it much easy to maintain safe havens in Mizoram because of ethnic similarities with people living near the International Border. The tactical military move that has virtually caught the NSCN (Khaplang) cadres as well of the other outfits unaware, and is part of a close collaborative effort between the armies of the two countries that began on a strong footing about four years back. Since then many military top-brass parleys have been a frequent affair either in New Delhi or in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar. While the Indian Army has maintained that it has entered Myanmar territory and is only maintaining a steadfast vigil at the India-Myanmar International Border to block off any fleeing insurgents, a senior security source familiar with the operation has said on condition of anonymity that Indian soldiers belonging to its special forces are also operating in tandem with the Tatmadaws North Western Division Command in Sagaing. The source said the ongoing operation is expected to continue for a week or so. The NSCN (K) has an ongoing ceasefire agreement with the Myanmar government that was signed on 9 April, 2012. The pact had five main points a general ceasefire, continuing with negotiations, allowing free movement of unarmed NSCN (K) cadres inside Myanmar, setting up of a NSCN liaison office at Khamti in Myanmar, and an understanding to allow both sides to carry weapons in certain areas. But the latest action is being undertaken in the pretext of flushing out fighters of the ULFA (Independent), PLA and the UNLF. The Tatmadaws operation began on 16 May, 2019, in areas dominated by the Konyak Naga tribe in Sagaing Division and largely focused in the Naga-dominated villages near the townships of Lahe and Nanyun. Two such villages Hoyat and Laonyu are reported to be among the main bastions of the NSCN (K). The latest assault follows an earlier operation that took place between 29 January, 2019 and 1 February, 2019, when about 400 Tatmadaw soldiers drove into the NSCN (K) headquarters at Taga in the Hukawng valley. There too, according to the source, a small contingent of Indian soldiers from the 21 Para based in Assams Jorhat took part after being flown in by helicopters. Naga organisations and associations including the NSCN (Isak Muivah), the powerful Naga Mothers Association (NMA), Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) and the Nagaland Tribes Council (NTC) have expressed their support to the Nagas in Myanmar who are bearing the brunt of the attack. Concomitantly, the Nagaland administration has extended night curfew for three months up to 21 August, 2019, along a three-kilometre belt along the India-Myanmar border in Nagalands Mon district ostensibly in an effort to blockade the movement of insurgents. Largely porous, locals are also allowed to freely travel up to about 16 kilometres on either side. A 60,000 square kilometres size area and much of a thin corridor with an average of about 50 kilomteres width, that spans about 1,300 kilometres north from across Arunachal Pradesh to the south across Manipur in length till the Chindwin river in Myanmar, is home to some of the deadliest guerrilla fighters that are divided into many groups on the basis of ethnicity, region and the language they speak. While the other main NSCN faction the Isak Muivah group is negotiating with the Centre, the NSCN (K) unilaterally pulled out from a ceasefire pact with the Indian government on 27 March, 2015. The NSCN (IM) has about 4,500 guerrilla fighters while the Khaplang faction has about 1,500 fighters. But then, the NSCN (K) does not have a regular standing army even as every citizen is expected to put in three years of mandatory service. But judged by the intensity and the extent of the Tatmadaws operation, obvert and the covert support by the Indian security establishment, it does appear imminent that the insurgencies based out of the northeastern states are to suffer a serious debilitating jolt. On the BSE, Jet Airways' scrip rose 8.59 percent to Rs 163.70. The stock gained 8.61 percent to Rs 163.85, on the NSE. New Delhi: Shares of grounded Jet Airways advanced over 8 percent in early trade on Wednesday after the diversified Hinduja Group said it is evaluating the opportunity to invest in the airline. On the BSE, the airline's scrip rose 8.59 percent to Rs 163.70. The stock gained 8.61 percent to Rs 163.85, on the NSE. "Hinduja Group is evaluating the Jet Airways opportunity," the group said in a statement Tuesday. The grounded carrier shuttered its operations on April 17 and the lenders, led by SBI, are still scouting for investors to revive the airline, which has a debt burden of more than Rs 8,000 crore. Shares of Jet Airways have risen for the third consecutive session. On Tuesday, the scrip closed with 14.73 percent gains at Rs 150.75, while on Monday, it rose 5.88 percent to settle at Rs 131.40 on the BSE. There were reports that Hinduja Group is reportedly planning to initiate the bidding process for the temporarily grounded airline. Moreover, the business group and Etihad Airways are expected to meet this week to explore ways to revive the cash-starved airline. The Hinduja Group reportedly received the approval of the major stakeholders of Jet Airways such as its founder Naresh Goyal and Etihad Airways to go ahead with the bidding process. While the State Bank of India-led (SBI) lenders' consortium is still working on ways to revive the once-storied Jet Airways, the civil aviation ministry has already awarded the carrier's slots at various airports to other airlines on a temporary basis. Last week, there were reports that lenders to Jet Airways and Etihad Airways had reportedly reached out to Hinduja Group offering a stake in the grounded airline. With PTI inputs Masrat Ahnad, Station House Officer (SHO), Pulwama Police Station, said he cant comment on why the passport was denied to Bashir Ahmad Azim. The road outside the stone archway of the brick and concrete mosque is usually bustling with shoppers. But on 20 March it witnessed protests against the arrest of two town imams. With authorities in the Valley moving to keep tabs on the 'anti-India' sermons in mosques, clerics are facing facing greater scrutiny by the police, detention and even arrest. The authorities denied a passport to Bashir Ahmad Azim, head of a local Auqaf Committee of Pulwama, a religious body that manages the mosques, after at least five cases were registered against him for spurring 'anti-India' activities through his speeches at the grand mosque in Pulwama. Bashir, who crops a salt and pepper beard and bushy eyebrows, said he couldnt go on Hajj, a pilgrimage to Mecca, after he was denied a passport. I applied for the passport last year, he said, sitting on the steps of the mosque. We are being asked by the police not to give sermons or speeches in the mosques that would fan anti-India sentiment. Masrat Ahnad, Station House Officer (SHO), Pulwama Police Station, said he cant comment on why the passport was denied to Bashir. I am not in a position to comment as the decisions were taken by the higher authorities, he added. Only a few miles away from the road of the grand mosque, where the vendors sell prayer beads, skull caps, perfume and incense on rope beds and plastic sheets, the house of 60-year-old imam Peerzada Mohammad Amin was surrounded by security forces on 19 March. It was around 11 pm, when I was awakened by a thud outside. As I drew the curtain, I saw that security forces had climbed the wall of our house. One police officer came inside my home and asked me to accompany him to the police station. I couldnt understand the urgency of the raid and went with him. It was only next afternoon that I was released after the people protested, he said, sitting in a small room of Washbugh mosque, where religious books are stacked up on a steel trunk along with Quran on a book rest. When I asked the police why they detained me, they didnt give any clear answers and said that this was done on the orders of higher authorities, he said. Peerzada denounced the National Investigation Agency (NIA) summons to separatist leader and Hurriyat (M) chairman, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, which he claimed prompted the raid. I asked the police: Why was I picked up at night? I had not gone into hiding. I told them they could have called my mobile and I would have come to the police station on my own. The raid was nothing but a display of excessive force. I was released next day only after protests by people in Pulwama, he said. Peerzada said he opposed the NIA summons to Mirwaiz, as the separatist leader was the chief cleric of Kashmir. The NIA can go about questioning people, but I opposed the summons to the institution which Mirwaiz represents, he said. He added that the police has been calling up local clerics and asking them not to preach any anti-India sermons but I dont attend any of such meets. The raids have not stopped me from preaching peace. I often preach in the Friday congregations that the bloodshed in Kashmir should stop and the dispute should be resolved through a dialogue. What is wrong in that? It is in everybodys interest, he said. Athar Nisar, a cleric who leads often prayers at Gudura, Pulwama, said the police was calling up the clerics and asking what we preach in our sermons. They question us about our sermons. They often ask us what we preach, especially on Fridays, he said. Outside the Gudura mosque, a wall of a house was sprayed with first name of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani, who was killed in a gunbattle with the forces in 2016, which triggered months of protests in Valley, in which at least 75 died. Bashir said cases were registered against him after Burhans death and added that the questioning of imams is being done quite often now. We have thirty mosques in Pulwama, of which Friday prayers are held at eight mosques. The local imams are being often questioned and in March, people protested the detention of two clerics, saying religious rights were being interfered with, Bashir added. Congress, which is leading the Opposition in this adventurism, should understand this even better as they are claiming that they are saving democracy. First, the Opposition questioned the credibility of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) introduced in India with much success in 2000. This was rejected by several high courts of the country and the Supreme Court, apart from the Election Commission of India (ECI), which on multiple occasions issued detailed clarification highlighting the impossibility of EVMs being manipulated. Then the Opposition parties alleged tampering of the machines. They organised a EVM 'hackathon' to discredit the election process. Then they alleged hijacking of the EVMs. Then 21 Opposition parties moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to ECI to increase the voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) tallying with EVM figures to 50 percent which was rejected by the Supreme Court. Then they again filed a PIL seeking to increase the (VVPAT) tallying with EVM figures to 33 or 25 percent which again was rejected. The apex court, however, increased it from 1 to five per assembly segment. Now, the Opposition wants to change the entire counting procedure, that too just a day before the counting is to begin and results to the Lok Sabha elections is to be declared. On Tuesday, 22 Opposition parties met the ECI with a memorandum that asked that VVPAT slips be counted prior to the counting of votes and not after the completion of the last round of counting. They also asked the ECI that there should be 100 percent verification of the entire Assembly segment if a mismatch is found during the random check. On Wednesday, however, EC rejected their plea which prompted a new round of attacks on the commission. The demand made by the Opposition defies basic logic. The full form of VVPAT is voter-verified paper audit trail, which means that a paper slip is generated bearing name and symbol of the candidate along with a recording of the vote in control unit so that in case of any dispute, a paper slip could be counted to verify the result being shown on the EVM. Under VVPAT, a printer is attached to the balloting unit and kept in the voting compartment. The paper slip remains visible on VVPAT for seven seconds through a transparent window. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES ON LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULTS 2019 Now, for anyone, it would not be difficult to understand that an audit can always start when the process is over. Here, the process is 'counting of the vote' in the EVMs, which can be followed by a an audit process where a paper slip is generated bearing name and symbol of the candidate along with recording of vote in Control Unit, so that in case of any dispute, paper slip could be counted to verify the result being shown on the EVM. Now, the Opposition wants that first the VVPAT process should be completed and then the counting take place. It has also demanded that there should be 100 percent verification of the entire Assembly segment if a mismatch is found during the random check. There are various processes during the election that are scrutinised by the ECI after the polling has taken place, after counting has done, after the results are declared and after certificate to winning candidates are given. Certain procedures and schedules are followed in this regard. Consider this: According to Section 78 of Representation of People Act, 1951, every contesting candidate is required to lodge a true copy of the account of his election expenses with the District Election Officer (DEO) within 30 days of the declaration of the result of the election. Failure to lodge the account of election expenses within the time and in the manner required by law without good reason or justification may result in disqualification of the candidate concerned by the Election Commission of India under Section 10A of the Act. Now, if a candidate decides to approach ECI or to the court, claiming that his opponent is spending more than the sanctioned amount, he has to wait till the elections are over to register his complaint. What the Opposition is doing now is attempting to alter the entire electoral procedures that have the backing of the Constitution, Parliament and is overseen by constitutional functionaries like the election commissioners. While ECI itself and Parliament amended the existing election rules from time to time, it has been done after much deliberation and not overnight and in haste because a political party demanded it. Opposition parties need to remember that to deal with important electoral issues like criminalisation of politics, use of money power in elections, it took a good amount of time and deliberation among all the stakeholders to reach out a consensus where certain law was changed to ensure a more robust system of conducting elections. From changing the structure of ECI (by appointing two commissioners apart from the chief election commissioner in 1993) to barring convicted persons from contesting elections, it took much more than a memorandum by a group of political parties. It was made possible only after a law was passed to that effect by Parliament and after Supreme Court approved it. By its demand of changing the entire counting process overnight, Opposition is conveniently ignoring the fact that in a democracy big changes are made by following procedures established by law and due process. Congress, which is leading the Opposition in this adventurism should understand this even better as they are claiming that they are saving democracy. Rajasthan RBSE 12th Result 2019 Declared: Try alternative websites like examresults.net or send an SMS to 56263 to check Senior Secondary Arts or Class 12 Arts Examination 2019 scores if the official website is slow or unreachable. Rajasthan RBSE 12th Result 2019 Declared: The Rajasthan Board of Secondary Education (RBSE) released the results of Class 12 arts students today (Wednesday, 22 May). RBSE declared the results at 3 pm on the official websites rajeduboard.rajasthan.gov.in and rajresults.nic.in. As many as 5.3 lakh candidates appeared for the Class 12 Arts exams, which were conducted from 7 March to 14 March in the state. Due to the large number of students trying to access their scores, the official website might crash or become unresponsive. But students must not panic. They can visit alternative websites like examresults.net or send an SMS to check their Senior Secondary Arts or Class 12 Arts results while the glitch in the official website is being fixed. Result on examresults.net Steps to check RBSE Class 12 result 2019 Step 1: Visit the website examresults.net Step 2: Select the state board, in this case Rajasthan Step 3: Look for the result link that says BSER results 2019 according to your stream. Step 4: Fill in your roll no. and other credentials and Submit Step 5: Check your result, download and take a print out of it for future use. Students can also check their scores right here on Firstpost by entering their details below: Result on SMS Likewise, students can also access their scores through SMS service provided by the board. Candidates need to type RESULTRAJ12AROLL NUMBER and send it to 56263 to view their results. In 2018, the Class 12 result for the arts stream was announced on 1 June. The overall pass percentage in the RBSE 12th arts stream was recorded at 88.89 percent. Girls had outperformed boys with a pass percentage of 91.25 percent against 86.6 percent. Sharing verified news at this time, such as on EVM tampering, damages the gravity of the Opposition far more than the Election Commission and parties they are attempting to question. On Tuesday, two days before the counting of votes begins for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections and a day after the exit polls, 22 Opposition parties submitted a memorandum before the Election Commission of India, requesting the poll panel to verify Voter-Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips of randomly identified polling stations before initiating the counting. The parties raised the demand of tallying VVPAT slips with EVM figures in an entire Assembly constituency in case a discrepancy surfaced in any of its polling booths. Some of the signatories of the memorandum are Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot, Communist Party of India (Marxist) national general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Telugu Desam Party chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and Bahujan Samaj Party leader Satish Chandra Mishra. The list also features the signature of Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi chief minister and national convener of the Aam Aadmi Party. However, before the Opposition came together for the meeting and social media was flooded with photographs of EVMs lying unattended at shops and being transported in trucks, AAP volunteer Savita Anand shared an unverified news clip on the subject on Twitter. Twitter India has withheld the tweet from the handle @savita_aap in response to a legal demand. The video showed an anchor from a network called TNN accusing the BJP of switching EVMs in 200 Lok Sabha seats. The anchor claimed that "government sources" had confirmed this news. In her tweet, Anand described the video as an expose by the international press on how the prime minister had won an election he had really lost by changing EVMs. When Firstpost reached out to Anand and asked her about the source of the video and whether AAP had accessed it, she said: "Since @PMOIndia hasn't yet given out the source of his 'Raw Wisdom' to conduct airstrikes under cloud cover... we, the citizens, too, are now following his footsteps of acquiring our own raw wisdoms from various sources (sic)." AAP's official spokespersons told Firstpost they had no knowledge about the video Anand had shared. "I dont have an idea about this particular video, but the Election Commission should restore the confidence of the electorate because videos and photos of EVMs being transported are causing anxiety among voters," said party leader Rajendra Pal Gautam, who is the minister for social welfare, SC/ST, gurdwara elections and water in the Delhi government and the registrar of cooperative societies. Anand is part of Gautam's social media team for AAP. Party sources confirmed that no official AAP spokesperson or minister had shared the clip the party volunteer had posted on Twitter. Rakesh Sinha, who advises AAP on Election Commission-related issues, said he was not aware of the video but asserted that the Election Commission should do whatever possible to convincingly prove that EVMs cannot be manipulated. Rishiraj Kumar, a lawyer with AAP, also had no clue about the TNN clip. He said AAP had first raised doubts about EVM malpractices during the Punjab Assembly elections in 2017, and that the party has credible sources to prove any doubts it raises. "What are the Election Commission's guidelines on a possible mismatch between the EVM votes and VVPAT slips?" he said, questioning the lack of transparency and clarification from the election machinery. In 2017, AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj had given a 'live demo' of tampering with an EVM in the Delhi Assembly, and the debate on possible EVM hacks has been around ever since, surfacing even more prominently around the time of any election results. Sharing unverified news is the last thing the Opposition needs while it is questioning the lack of transparency in the functioning of the world's largest electoral mechanism. The Opposition's speculations around EVMs are bifurcated and lack clarity. Those casting doubts over lack of transparency in the election mechanism themselves need a transparent, informed critique that they can substantiate with ample evidence in the court of law. Sharing random videos and photographs on social media are just the opposite of what these parties need now. Meanwhile, the vacation bench of the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking 100 percent verification of VVPAT slips. "The Chief Justice of India had dealt with this matter. Why are you taking a chance before a two-judge vacation bench?" Justice Arun Mishra asked at the hearing on Tuesday. "We cannot override the CJI's order... This is nonsense. The petition is taken on board. Dismissed." The petition, filed by a collective of technocrats known as Tech4All, claimed that EVMs are unreliable and vulnerable to tampering. The plea had sought to have EVMs replaced with Optical Ballot Scan machines and subjecting all EVMs to VVPAT verification this election. In response to the speculation on EVMs being left unattended, the Election Commission on Tuesday issued a statement saying "polled EVMs are absolutely safe in strongrooms". "The aspersions in clips being used in media merely pertain to the storage or movement of reserve unused EVMs. However, any case of lapse, even in the handling of reserve EVMs, is thoroughly investigated, and disciplinary action is taken against the officers responsible. An EVM Control Room no. 011-23052123 will also be functioning at the Nirvachan Sadan to handle any EVM-related complaints till the completion of counting. This will become operative from 11 am on 22 May," the poll panel said. On its part, the Election Commission has proactively addressed speculation around videos doing the rounds on social media. It has clarified that each strongroom where the voting machines are stored is guarded round the clock by personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces. It also pointed out that candidates, or their designated agents, are present at the strongroom 24X7. An unverified allegation undermines an institution that engages multiple bodies and lakhs of government officials to carry out its duties. One mistake that AAP makes repeatedly is reacting strongly to speculation without proof. Now, a lesser-known party volunteer has shared a mysterious video and has refused to state its source. Such incidents damage the gravity of the Opposition far more than the institutions and parties they are attempting to question. The ongoing controversy over Ashok Lavasas minority opinion is a reflection of a broader issue of the need for transparency within key democratic institutions. One of the key members of the Election Commission, which is often perceived as a purposeful independent constitutional body, Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasas decision last week to recuse himself from meetings on poll code violations kicked up a storm at the fag end of the electoral process. According to media reports, he wrote a letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora, stating that he took the step as minority decisions in such cases were not being recorded. Lavasas letter is only the latest among a slew of controversies that the poll watchdog has had to deal with. However, it raises broad questions about the Model Code of Conduct and the procedure that the Election Commission adopts to deal with violations of these guidelines. Aroras initial response to the ongoing developments emphasised that the three members of the Election Commission are not expected to be clones of each other. While this statement is certainly correct, it misses the point. The reason for the ongoing fracas is not that there was dissent per se, but that the dissent was not recorded in the orders of the commission, as claimed by Lavasa. Central to the debate on whether minority decisions should be recorded is the question as to whether the poll panels decisions in such cases should be open to public scrutiny. The stand taken by the Election Commission is that cases related to violations of the Model Code of Conduct are executive, and not quasi-judicial in nature, and thus, the dissenting opinion does not need to be recorded in the final communique. The Election Commission (Conditions of Service of Election Commissioners and Transaction of Business) Act, 1991 merely states that in case of difference of opinion among the CEC and Election Commissioners, the opinion of the majority would prevail. However, the Act is silent on whether the minority opinion should be recorded. On this point, senior lawyer and former Maharashtra advocate general Srihari Aney said, Such cases are not just administrative in nature, but are quasi-judicial proceedings. If there is a complaint about misconduct against a candidate running for the election even if it is a frivolous one the Election Commission takes a specific decision in this regard, one way or the other. The panel can issue directions for a host of measures, which can extend to disqualification of the candidate in question. Further, if the alleged misconduct, in any case, comes under the Representation of Peoples Act, 1951, the matter can be taken up in an election petition before a court after the polling process is over. Aney further said, There is nothing secret about it (decisions on Model Code of Conduct violations), and the verdict must be in the public domain. Also, after the passage of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, transparency is a feature that is statutorily encoded into the law, and would extend to all public bodies, including the Election Commission. Lavasa has reportedly contended that the ECs proceedings for deciding code of conduct violations are quasi-judicial, as the panel, like other semi-judicial bodies, follows principles of natural justice and allows the persons accused of violations to explain their stand. Indeed, the panel issues show-cause notices to candidates against whom there is a complaint, and the candidates file their replies in response to them, like in a court proceeding. Moreover, the Election Commission uploads various details about cases of Model Code of Conduct violations on its website including the date of the occurrence, the person or party involved, the stage that the case is at present and the decision taken by the commission. This would appear to be an effort to uphold the principle that justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done. It stands to reason, then, that the reasons given for deciding on a complaint, whether unanimously, by the majority view, or the minority view, should also be made public. Senior lawyer Ashish Goel said, The Election Commissions rules require that all its decisions be unanimous in principle, and in case of dissent, the majority view should prevail. This is normal and is the case in all multi-member bodies. However, the convention has been to publish dissent. In the interest of transparency and public interest, given that the EC has a significant democratic role to play in ensuring free and fair elections, views of the dissenting member must be known not only to the complainant but also to the general public. Let people decide if there is any substance in the dissent. If the EC doesnt disclose dissenting views, despite Lavasa asking for disclosure, then there seems to be an appearance of favouritism towards the ruling government, given that it is the government that will benefit from such non-disclosure. In a somewhat similar vein, former chief election commissioner SY Quraishi had opined on Twitter regarding the same case, The dissenting note need not be included in the order but it should be a part of office proceedings. And (it should) be made public if the commissioner concerned wants it." Moreover, as we see from court judgments, making dissenting opinions public only enriches public debate and discussion on crucial matters. For instance, Justice DY Chandrachuds minority opinion on the legality of Aadhaar gives an important perspective on whether passing the Aadhaar Act as a Money Bill was justifiable. Similarly, Justice Indu Malhotras dissent in the Sabarimala matter made the case for why courts should not interfere in religious practices. These dissenting opinions neither lead to controversy nor lower the prestige of the Supreme Court in any way. Rather, they served to underline that the top court reflects democratic values, and acknowledges a plurality of viewpoints. There is no reason why it should be any different for the Election Commission. Transparency need of the hour The ongoing controversy over Lavasas minority opinion is a reflection of a broader issue of the need for transparency within key democratic institutions. Several aspects of the functioning of the government continue to be shrouded in largely unwarranted secrecy. A case in point is the system of allocating cases to judges, in which the Chief Justice acts as the Master of the Roster. As the allocation of cases is a matter left to the Chief Justice to decide individually, it leaves the field open for arbitrariness, and therefore, avoidable speculation. This issue came to light in unprecedented circumstances in January last year, when four sitting judges of the Supreme Court held a press conference to highlight that the apex courts administration was, according to them, not in order. Even more worrisome was the case pertaining to the allegations of sexual harassment against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. The complainant in the case stated that she was denied a lawyer, audio/visual recordings, copies of her statement and information about the procedure that the panel was following. She subsequently withdrew from the proceedings, and the in-house committee decided the case in her absence. On 6 May, the Supreme Court released a cryptic statement saying that the in-house committee found no substance in the charges made by the complainant, with no mention of how the panel arrived at the conclusion. As this article by Shishir Tripathi argues, the complainant may well be left no further legal recourse following the panels decision, and there is also a judicial precedent for keeping the report confidential. However, the office of the Chief Justice of India is a high constitutional post, and this is all the more reason why the Supreme Court must be seen to adhere to principles of natural justice. The apex court observed in the case of Indira Jaising vs Registrar General, Supreme Court of India and Anr that if a report of an in-house committee gets publicity, it will only lead to more harm than good for the institution. However, as recent events have served to highlight, opacity can cause more damage to the institution, leaving it open to speculation and insinuation. In April, lawyers Ashish Goel (quoted earlier in this article) and Gautam Bhatia wrote an open letter to the Bar Council of India, arguing, Judicial independence does not imply freedom from accountability. The allegations of sexual harassment, made in a sworn affidavit with specific details, cannot be conveniently dismissed as being wild, scandalous, or politically motivated. Speaking to Firstpost, Goel said, I have always said it and I am of the firm belief that the report should have been made public. The rule of law requires it. Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Incidentally, the phrase sunlight is the best disinfectant was used in a landmark recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which allowed the live-streaming of certain cases of constitutional importance. However, if recent events are anything to go by, many key aspects of government functioning are likely to remain deprived of the said sunlight for the time being. At a conceptual level, there is nothing wrong with Ashok Lavasas demand for making dissenting notes public. On the face of it, the raking up of a tired and retired EVM controversy seems frivolous another desperate attempt by a nervous Opposition to whip up an excuse for their impending defeat. The allegations are so baseless, hypocritical and laughable that they are not even worthy of a measured response. A big yawn should suffice. On the face of it, the brouhaha surrounding a dissenting Election Commissioner seems unrelated to the ongoing spectacle of Lok Sabha polls. It sounds too academic and esoteric for the poll-time rough and tumble. And yet, these two controversies are related and their impact could be deeper than is readily apparent. These manufactured rows could raise doubt over the sanctity of Indias electoral process. On the first charge, a lot has been written about how introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) has dramatically improved voter participation in electoral process, empowered the vulnerable sections (women, elderly, scheduled castes and tribes), and made for freer and fairer elections. Scholars have noted in data-driven analysis how EVMs have made elections more transparent competitive and less likely to be manipulated by parties in power and compared to paper ballots, which Opposition is clamouring for, how EVMs have led to significant decline in electoral fraud. As far as manipulation of EVMs is concerned, another fake charge unsupported by proof, domain experts have stressed that the standalone machines used by the Election Commission of India are safe, secure and cannot be tampered with. Experts have explained in analytical deep dives why hacking of EVMs is a theoretically possibility but practically impossible. As far as the current controversy over movement of EVMs and their security post elections are concerned, the Election Commission has rebutted each and every charge. On Oppositions allegations that EVMs were being swapped in strongrooms and boxes were travelling unaccompanied by security forces, the poll panel has said these charges are frivolous and baseless. EC: In all cases, polled EVMs&VVPATs were sealed properly in front of parties' candidates&videographed. CCTV cameras installed. CAPF security there. Candidates are allowed to have watch on strong room at a time&one representatives of each candidates 247. Allegations baseless. https://t.co/cNllIGIUXv ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 21, 2019 The problem, however, is that refuting of bogus allegations and busting of fake news takes time, and by the time the EC can probe the charges and issue an appropriate response, the unverified charges travel far and wide through mainstream and social media. In their use of media in amplifying the noise, the Oppositions multiple accusations against the EC resemble targeted attacks in cyber domain where hackers use multiple compromised systems to flood the servers of a website causing disruption in its services. In cyber security parlance, such attacks are called distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. The Congress-led Opposition, which seems to have been jolted by the exit poll predictions, are carrying out a DDoS attack against the EC. While one set of allegations are being refuted, another set of phony charges are being levelled from another forum. The Supreme Court, for instance, threw out a PIL on Tuesday that sought 100 percent matching of voter verifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) slips with EVMs during the counting process on Thursday. The SC clarified that a CJI-led bench had already dealt with the issue, called it nonsense, and observed that we would not entertain such a plea over and over again cant come in the way of people electing their representatives. Let the country elect its government. Earlier this month, the SC dismissed a review plea filed by leaders of 22 Opposition parties to hike the random matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs to 50 percent. Even as the SC is being kept busy on this front, the Opposition started building pressure on the EC to change the established counting process. As many as 22 Opposition parties submitted a memo to the poll panel demanding that matching of VVPAT slips with EVMs in random polling booths should be done before the counting begins and not after the completion of last round of counting, as is the norm. The three-member EC, on Wednesday, rejected the demand for last-minute changes. It is worth noting how the scope and scale of the attacks against the EC is changing and escalating. From charges of manipulation, tampering, to loss of security for EVMs to demanding last-minute changes in counting process, the idea is to create confusion over electoral process and cast aspersion against EC, the constitutional, autonomous body in charge of conducting free and fair elections. What may the Opposition gain by targeting the EC? These cynical charges and random demands are meant to undermine the ECs authority and show it as a pliable authority working under the influence of the ruling party. Worth noting again that various political parties led by Congress have already started raising questions against ECs neutrality as an umpire. The stated aim of these parties which were silent when Congress won the elections in three states in last Decembers Assembly polls is to malign the election process so that doubts can be raised on the veracity of the results on 23 May leading to (or so the Opposition hopes) invalidation of Lok Sabha results. Such an eventuality, though remote, would be deleterious to the democratic process of India. Despite bitterly fought elections, Indian democracy has stood the test of time and defined skeptics because the parties ultimately accept the verdict handed out by the electorate. This new trend militates against that basic trait and puts in danger the sanctity of Indian democratic process. Along with these attacks from outside the institution, the EC seems to have been subjected to attacks from within. The dissent by Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa is untimely and sad because it adds ballast to the charges faced by the EC and seemingly reinforces the notion that the constitutional body is opaque and unfair. At a conceptual level, there is nothing wrong with Lavasas demand for making dissenting notes public. However, to defy an established process and go against the rules and conventions during the holding of elections cannot be endorsed. The process of adjudication cannot change midway, neither can the rules of a game change while a match is under way. Lavasas dissent is ultimately against convention. Usual practice holds that Model Code of Conduct (MCC) disputes wont be recorded in final order and will only be included in internal files. The EC, in a 2:1 decision during a full-body meeting, decided to continue with the practice. ECs move has legal backing. According to SK Mendiratta, quoted by an article in The Hindu, a legal advisor to the EC who has worked with the poll panel for over five decades, the MCC dissent note is recorded only in files and not in the order which carries the majority view. Only on quasi-judicial matters is the dissenting ruling made part of the order, for example in disputes related to the Representation of the People Act and election symbols. What, therefore, explains Lavasas move to suddenly demand a change in convention? Questions must also be raised on why Lavasa is demanding a change now, and not in earlier instances during MCC violations. Since Lavasa talks about minority rights it is pertinent to ask was there dissent in earlier instances too. To frame the demand that is not in consonance with established practice and rules and colour it as dissent seems to be a political move, that adds to the politicisation of the electoral process and further undermines the inviolability of ECs authority. Lavasa is a 1980-batch Haryana cadre IAS officer who served as joint secretary in Union home ministry during P Chidambarams tenure. Lavasa and his familys proximity with Congress leaders have been variously noted. It will be a sad day for Indian democracy if institutions are attacked from both within and without. The aim of such attacks is to weaken the institutions and reinforce the narrative that such weakening is coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modis tenure at Centre. Reopening wounds, referencing popular culture to deliver insults and sexist jibes, it was all par for the electoral course in a season that tumbled to a name-calling close in a medley of chowkidar', bhrashtachari', Aurangzeb, Mogambo and more. New Delhi: Reopening wounds, referencing popular culture to deliver insults and sexist jibes, it was all par for the electoral course in a season that tumbled to a name-calling close in a medley of chowkidar', bhrashtachari', Aurangzeb, Mogambo and more. It was not about one party or one politician in the just-concluded electoral season of many an epithet, making it difficult to determine whether it was tongues that were sharper or the minds behind the campaigns. The humble watchman came into prominence with Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his party making 'chowkidar chor hai' the centre of their campaign to hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP was quick to react and ran a 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign to counter the grand old party. There was some humour but mostly vitriol as the war of words hit new lows through the seven-phase elections that ended on Sunday. Follow LIVE updates on the Lok Sabha elections here Malegaon blast accused and BJP's Bhopal candidate Pragya Singh Thakur's remarks targeting Mumbai attacks martyr Hemant Karkare and referring to Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse as a patriot reopened chapters of hurt, contemporary and historical. Thakur alleged that Karkare, who was killed along with two other senior police officers while fighting terrorists during the 26/11 attacks, falsely implicated her in the blast case. "He died of his karma. I told him he will be destroyed. I told him his entire dynasty will be erased," Thakur said. Sharp criticism from across the political spectrum, including her own party, led to her issuing an apology. Thakur's comments on Godse, followed by remarks from two other BJP leaders, also led to a reprimand from the party and the prime minister saying he would not be able to forgive her. Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan and his one-time party colleague Jaya Prada, who recently joined the BJP and was contesting against him in Rampur, were engaged in a bitter and unseemly verbal spat. Addressing an election rally, Khan said, "I brought her (Jaya Prada) to Rampur. It took you 17 years to identify her real face, but I got to know in 17 days that she wears khaki underwear." Khan was barred by the Election Commission from campaigning for 72 hours over his remarks. The matter did not end there. At a public meeting, Khan's son Abdullah Azam threw the "Anarkali" barb at Jaya Prada. "Ali bhi humarey, Bajrang Bali bhi humarey, lekin Anarkali nahi chahiye (Both Ali and Bajrang Bali are ours, but we don't want Anarkali)," he said. Anarkali was believed to be a famous courtesan in Mughal emperor Akbar's court who had an affair with his son Jehangir. Jaya Prada also had her brush with controversy when she talked about Khan's "x-ray eyes". "Considering the comments Azam Khan makes against me, (BSP chief) Mayawati, his x-ray like eyes will also stare at you," she said at a public meeting. On his part, Modi kicked up a storm when he trained his guns on the late Rajiv Gandhi. At a rally in Uttar Pradesh, Modi attacked Rahul Gandhi and said, "Your father was termed Mr Clean by his courtiers, but his life ended as bhrashtachari (corrupt) no 1." It was, for many, a recall to a series of Bollywood hits, including Coolie No 1, Hero No 1, Aunty No 1. Modi was himself at the receiving end of several attacks. Mayawati alleged that he "abandoned his wife for political gains", that women in the BJP are scared of their husbands meeting the prime minister, fearing they might "abandon their wives like him" and that he deserves the abusive language used against him by the Opposition. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar stirred up a controversy when he revisited his "neech" jibe against the prime minister. "Remember how I described him (Modi) on 7 December, 2017? Was I not prophetic?" he wrote in an article. Congress' Sanjay Nirupam tagged Modi "modern day Aurangzeb" for demolishing temples in Varanasi "in the name of corridors". Some vitriolic remarks also had communal overtones with Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath being banned from campaigning for 72 hours. Adityanath dubbed the Muslim League a "green virus" and suggested that Hindu and Muslim voters are in an "Ali-Bajrangbali" contest. Giriraj Singh, the BJP candidate against Kanhaiya Kumar for Bihar's Begusarai seat, called Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal part of the "tukde tukde gang", a reference to the JNU students who were booked for allegedly raising anti-India slogans. And then in the last week of the elections, Union minister Anantkumar Hegde added to the list by calling Rahul a moron for his tweet that 'Modilies' is a new word in the English dictionary. There were several asides in a lighter vein, but ended up creating a row nonetheless. Rahul lampooned the prime minister, saying "Modilie" is a new word in dictionary and tweeted a screenshot of a photoshopped page of an English dictionary explaining the meaning of the word. Oxford Dictionaries clarified the word "Modilie" is fake and does not exist in any of its dictionaries. In another case of humour creating controversy, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi referred to Azam Khan as 'Mogambo' after which an FIR was reportedly lodged against him. Mogambo is the iconic villain from the Bollywood blockbuster Mr India. A day ahead of counting, controversy over EVMs rages on as does the Opposition's efforts to consolidate an anti-NDA front, even as exit poll predicts a comfortable win for BJP, ISRO launched earth observation satellite RISAT-2B; day's top stories BJP claims 36 allies backing it as Opposition bid to fortify anti-BJP front continues Riding high on exit polls prediction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah hosted a dinner party for their allies in National Capital. The BJP claimed that 36 allies have pledged support to the National Democratic Alliance in writing ahead of counting day, even as the Opposition's bid, primarily led by Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu continued to consolidate a non-NDA front. Modi described the NDA as an alliance of India's hope and aspirations, saying it has become an "organic entity" like a family and is representative of the country's regional aspirations. The NDA leaders at the meeting, which was presided by Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, felicitated the prime minister and praised his council of ministers for their work. The NDA meet comes in the backdrop of several efforts within the Opposition rank and file to consolidate a front to keep the BJP out of power. Leading such forays is the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Naidu, who has taken it upon themselves to round up as many leaders as possible before results are out. This is despite exit polls predicting a walkover for the NDA and a perceived lethargy in the Congress camp, which has invited all non-BJP, non-NDA parties to Sonia Gandhi's residence on counting day. From Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav to Arvind Kejriwal and HD Deve Gowda, Naidu has met over 21 Opposition party leaders since polling has concluded. Reports of EVM rigging turn political discourse murky ahead of counting The controversy over Electronic Voting Machine continues to rage on after Exit Polls predicted a decisive mandate in favour of the BJP-led NDA. Opposition parties Tuesday raised concerns over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs and asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. As protests erupted in Uttar Pradesh after videos of alleged movement and tampering of Electronic Voting Machines(EVMs) went viral on social media, a concerned former president Pranab Mukherjee also stepped in to say that the onus is on the EC to put all speculation around these machines to rest. The BJP and NDA allies, however, held that the controversy was 'needless' and a mere attempt to discredit the poll panel by Opposition parties who are staring at a defeat. The prime minister expressed concern over the Opposition making "needless controversy" over electronic voting machines, the home minister said. An ugly back and forth ensued in Bihar as well, with the opposition 'Mahagathbandhan' alleging that attempts were being made to manipulate Lok Sabha poll results in favour of the ruling NDA, and warned that "blood may spill on the streets" on account of "tremendous public anger". The BJP hit back, saying an impending defeat had made the opposition grand alliance desperate and its statement was tantamount to "provocation for an armed rebellion". Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar termed the allegations as "bogus" adding that the use of EVMs has brought about a lot of transparency in the electoral process. Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday and JDS supremo HD Deve Gowda were in a late night huddle as part of his efforts to mobilise opposition parties on the controversy over alleged manipulation of EVMs. Confabulating with Gowda for over an hour late Tuesday night after a meeting of opposition parties in New Delhi on the EVM issue earlier in the day, Naidu said 23 parties were raising the issue and demanding transparency and accountability. "Earlier, even the BJP had opposed EVMs," he said. "In Uttar Pradesh, we are seeing EVMs in hotels and homes... strong rooms are being changed," Naidu alleged. EC denies poll rigging allegations, says due process being followed ahead of counting Although it dismissed allegations that the voting machines used in the Lok Sabha election were being switched with fresh ones ahead of counting of votes on 23 May, the Election Commission on Tuesday set up a 24-hour control room in Delhi to monitor complaints relating to EVMs. "The complaints related to storage issues at strongrooms, security of strongrooms, permissions to candidates to post their agents at strongrooms, CCTV monitoring, movement of any EVMs, and any complaints during counting related to EVMs can be informed at control room, number is 011-23052123 (with 5 hunting lines)," it said in a statement. Referring to the allegations and complaints, the commission earlier in the day said it would like to "emphatically and unambiguously" clarify that all such reports and allegations are "absolutely false and factually incorrect." The visuals on TV and social media "do not pertain to any EVMs used during the polls", it said. In an earlier statement, the EC said, after the close of polls, all polled EVMs and VVPATs are brought under security cover to designated strongrooms, which are sealed with double locks in the presence of candidates and observers of the commission. ISRO successfully launches earth observation satellite RISAT-2B In a pre-dawn launch on Wednesday, Indian space agency ISRO scripted history by successfully launching earth observation satellite RISAT-2B that would enhance the country's surveillance capabilities among others. As the 25-hour countdown which began Tuesday concluded, the agency's trusted workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C46) blasted off at 5.30 am from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on its 48th mission, carrying the 615 kg satellite. The RISAT-2B (Radar Imaging Satellite-2B), meant for application in fields such as surveillance, agriculture, forestry and disaster management support, was released into the orbit around 15 minutes after the lift-off. It would replace the RISAT-2, which was successfully launched in 2009. The RISAT-2B is equipped with a synthetic aperture radar that can take pictures of the earth during day and night, and also under cloudy conditions. With a mission life of five years, the satellite would also be used for military surveillance, ISRO sources told PTI. The RISAT-2 has been actively used by India to monitor activities in camps across the border in Pakistan to thwart infiltration bids by terrorists. IL&FS crisis: RBI to create specialised cadre for regulation of banks, NBFCs A specialised cadre will be created within the Reserve Bank for supervision and regulation of financial institutions, including banks and NBFCs, the RBI said. This move assumes significance at a time when non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) are facing severe liquidity crunch in the wake of IL&FS crisis. The decision to create a specialised supervisory and regulatory cadre within the RBI was taken at the meeting of the Central Board of the apex bank headed by Governor Shaktikanta Das. It was 576th meeting of the RBI Central Board. Apple updates MacBook Pro processors and keyboard Apple has made hardware improvements to its 13-inch and 15-inch models of the MacBook Pro with Touch bar. The company has brought 8-gen Intel core i9 octa-core processors. Apart from that, the company is also changing the controversial butterfly keyboard to make it more durable. The Congress had in 2014 bagged only 16 out of the total 147 seats in Odisha Assembly and had failed to open its account in the Lok Sabha polls. Bhubaneswar: A day before the counting of votes take place, Odisha Congress president Niranjan Patnaik Wednesday conceded that the party will not be able to form a government on its own in the state and may lose Opposition status also. Patnaik's statement indicated that it is a straight fight between the BJD and the BJP in Odisha, a state where Congress had its government for several times in the past and where it is principal opposition to the Naveen Patnaik headed party for previous 19 years. Amid indication of Congress poor showing, knives are out for the OPCC leadership. "We(Congress) will not be able to form the government in the state on our own. However, our performance will be better than in 2014," Patnaik told reporters here during an interaction while reacting to exit polls predictions. The Congress had in 2014 bagged only 16 out of the total 147 seats in Odisha Assembly and had failed to open its account in the Lok Sabha polls. Different exit polls this time predicted one Lok Sabha seat and 15 assembly seats for the party. Majority of the exit polls forecast an impressive performance by the BJP in Odisha this time. Many of them even suggested that the saffron party bagging more seats out of a total of 21 Lok Sabha constituencies in Odisha than the BJD. In the state assembly election also, the polls indicated the BJP emerging as the main challenger to the Naveen Patnaik's party. Congress President Rahul Gandhi had addressed several rallies in Odisha to boost party prospect at both the national and state levels. About himself, Patnaik, however, claimed that he will win from both Bhandaripokhari and Ghasipura assembly seats. Senior Congress leader and former minister Jagannath Patnaik Wednesday resigned from the posts of OPCC coordination committee and the Pradesh Election Committee(PEC) in protest against the poor poll preparedness and management by the party state leadership. "The state leadership failed to propagate Rahul Gandhi's NYAY and programmes for farmers. The party also failed to maintain its policy in ticket distribution and management of elections .... I have sent my resignation letter to PCC president," he said. The former minister said that the wrongdoings in the party should be corrected and discussion needed on the reason for losing an opportunity this time. "I therefore did not resign from the PCC or AICC," Jagannth Patnaik said. Congress candidate from Sukinda assembly seat and former minister, Sarat Rout directly blamed the OPCC president and accused him of failing to manage the party's election strategy. "He (Niranjan) has betrayed the trust of Rahul Gandhi," Rout alleged adding that the Congress this time chose to take the third position giving an advantage to the BJP. "There was mismanagement at all levels - from ticket distribution to poll management. I was a candidate fighting against the BJD. Nobody from the party came to my help, I fought the election like an orphan," Rout said. Asked whether change in PCC presidentship will be the right action, Rout said: "Removing Niranjan Patnaik from the post will not help the party. Damage has already been done. He may quit the post on his own." Congress candidate from Cuttack Lok Sabha segment, Panchanan Kangungo also expressed a similar view. A concerted campaign against the authenticity of Electronic Voting Machines used in the Lok Sabha election has been launched by the Opposition parties in India A concerted campaign against the authenticity of Electronic Voting Machines used in the Lok Sabha election has been launched by the Opposition parties in India. The campaign is a cause of great concern as it undermines the credibility of an institution like the Election Commission of India, which is the bedrock of Indian democracy. A day after the rumours about exit polls being propagated by the Opposition and fuelled by its supporters on social media, visuals of EVMs being transported in trucks began to surface. The Election Commission of India clarified that they were the reserved EVMs that were to be used in case EVMs in polling booths developed a snag. It appears that the Opposition is not only acting as a sore loser, but it is becoming a puppet in the hands of the radical Left that has infiltrated Congress at the upper level as well as regional outfits at various levels. Thus, minutes after the polling ended on 19 May, there was a flurry of statements from the Opposition casting doubt on EVMs. The design of the Ultra-Left is to attack all democratic institutions, undermine their credibility and derail the democratic setup of the country. Some regional outfits and the Congress are becoming stooges in its hands as its is moving ahead to implement these nefarious designs after the Opposition failed to gather support on the ground. In 2017, the EC had sent an open invitation by organising a 'hackathon' that invited hackers from any part of the country to come and demonstrate how to hack EVMs. None of the Opposition parties were able to show how EVMs can be tampered with. Currently some the largest democracies in the world are are using EVMs in their polls effectively. It is interesting that as long as non-NDA parties were winning polls, there was no objection to the EVMs and now suddenly we see a grudge against the hapless machines. The EVM was first used in the Kerala's Parur Assembly polls in 1982 when a Congress government was at the Centre. In 1990, the Dinesh Goswami Committee set up by the then government gave a report recommending the use of EVMs. Thus due diligence was done taking all parties on board. These machines were used in limited constituencies in the 1999 Lok Sabha election. The 2004 polls that led to the Congress-led UPA replacing the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre were conducted through EVMS. The 2009 polls which Congress won again were also conducted through EVMs. Earlier this year, the Congress formed government in three north Indian states after winning polls that were conducted via EVMs. The party also scored an upset in Karnataka and formed a government along with the JD(S) last year after doing well in the polls that were conducted through EVMs. In a nutshell, the Opposition's message is very clear: When the BJP and allied parties lose polls, then EVMs are working fine but when BJP and allied parties win polls, the EVMs are tampered. Such assertions are an outcome of not only ignorance but also the manifestation of an intent to manipulate the public discourse. Some of the basic facts need to be recalled here regarding the EVMs: - These EVMs have been designed by the Election Commission's Technical Expert Committee (TEC) in collaboration with two PSUs, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bangalore and Electronic Corporation of India Limited, Hyderabad. - The Electronic Voting Machines are used in some of the world's largest democracies, including Brazil and the Philippines. Some other countries that use EVMs are Belgium, Estonia, Venezuela, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Maldives, Namibia, Egypt, Bhutan and Nepal. The credibility of India's EVMs is quite high. In 2014, Nigeria demanded EVMs from India. Indonesia sent its request for use of EVMs in 2016. The year 2017 saw request from four countries, Russia, Bhutan, Botswana and Papua New Guinea. Afghanistan and Namibia have sent their requests in 2019. Since 2001, the issue of possible tampering of EVM has been raised before various high courts: Madras High Court (2001), Kerala High Court (2002), Delhi High Court (2004), Karnataka High Court (2004), Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench (2004), Uttarakhand High Court (2017) and Supreme Court of India (2017). After a detailed analysis of the various aspects of the technological security and administrative safeguards around the use of EVMs, the credibility, reliability and robustness of the EVMs have been validated by the various high courts in all the cases. In some of these cases, the Supreme Court has also dismissed appeals filed by some petitioners against high court orders that were in favour of EVMs. There are several advantages of using EVMs. It completely eliminates the possibility of casting 'Invalid Votes', which during the paper ballot regime was noticed in large numbers during each election. In fact, in many cases, the number of 'Invalid Votes' exceeded the winning margin, leading to numerous complaints and litigation. Thus, EVMs have enabled a more authentic and accurate reflection of the choice of the electorate. With the use of EVMs, printing of millions of ballot papers for every election can be dispensed with, as only one ballot paper is required for fixing on the balloting unit at each polling station instead of one ballot paper for each individual elector. This results in huge savings by way of cost of paper, printing, transportation, storage and distribution. The counting process is very quick and the result can be declared within three to five hours as compared to 30 to 40 hours, on average, under the conventional ballot paper system.The microchip used in EVMs is a one-time programmable masked chip, which can neither be read nor overwritten. Hence, the program used in the EVMs cannot be reprogrammed in a particular manner. Furthermore, the EVMs are standalone machines that are not accessible remotely from any network are connected with any external devices and there is no operating system used in these machines. There is, therefore, absolutely no chance of programming the EVMs in a particular way to select any particular candidate or political party. The author is CEO of Indraprastha Vishwa Samvada Kendra. The views expressed are personal The Election Commission rejected the Opposition's request to count and tally the EVMs votes with VVPAT slips of five randomly identified polling booths in an Assembly segment before counting officially begins. The Election Commission on Wednesday rejected the Opposition's request to amend the counting process for the 2019 Lok Sabha election, saying it is going to stick to the old methodology. The national poll body said counting is going to go on as planned, dismissing the request of 22 Opposition parties to tally the votes cast in EVMs with VVPAT slips of five randomly identified polling booths in an Assembly segment before counting officially begins on Thursday, 23 May. The Election Commission's plan is that after counting, it will randomly selected Voter-Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips from each Assembly segment of a Lok Sabha seat and match with the votes registered in EVMs. Counting will go on as per the plan to tally the VVPAT slips at the end of counting, the Election Commission said. It has also decided to count postal ballots simultaneously with EVM votes due to the "sheer size" of the ballots received this time from service voters. So far, postal ballots were counted before the electronic ones. Leaders of 22 Opposition parties met the Election Commission on Tuesday, two days before the counting of votes in the Lok Sabha election, asking it to ensure transparency and fairness in the counting process by verifying the votes cast in EVMs with VVPATs. "If any discrepancy is found anywhere during the VVPAT verification, 100 percent counting of paper slips of VVPATs of all polling stations of that Assembly segment should be done," read the memorandum that the parties submitted to the Election Commission. CPM leader Sitaram Yechury, who was part of the delegation that met the poll panel on Tuesday, said that the Election Commission's rejection of the Opposition demand went against the "spirit" of a Supreme Court order on the devices. "This goes against the spirit of the Supreme Court order delivered on VVPATs before polling began," Yechury tweeted. "If the process has been so long drawn for the sake of integrity of the electoral process, why is the EC not adhering to the basic principle of testing the sample first?" "The integrity of EVMs by matching with sample VVPATs has to be done at the start of the counting," Yechury said. "Doing so after the trends are declared makes it infructuous and is likely to lead to protests and a possible law and order situation from the affected candidates." Integrity of EVMs by matching with sample VVPATs has to be done at the start of the counting. Doing so after the trends are declared makes it infructuous and is likely to lead to protests and a possible law and order situation from the affected candidates. https://t.co/Aj3zN2wFUT Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) May 22, 2019 The Election Commission is scheduled to meet Opposition leaders again on Wednesday to discuss the matter. The 22 parties approached the Election Commission a day after the Supreme Court dismissed as "nonsense" a petition seeking 100 percent verification of VVPAT slips with EVMs. In January, too, the Opposition had approached the poll panel, requesting that it increase VVPAT slips counting to 100 percent or revert to the old paper ballot system. "We told the EC that VVPAT machines should be counted first, and if there is any discrepancy, then all of them in that Assembly segment should be counted," Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad told reporters after meeting the Election Commission. Telugu Desam Party's N Chandrababu Naidu told reporters after the meeting with the Election Commission: "We are asking the EC to respect the mandate of people. It cannot be manipulated." Among the other Opposition leaders who attended the meeting were Congress leaders Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Ahmed Patel and Ashok Gehlot, Samajwadi Party's Ram Gopal Yadav, CPM's Sitaram Yechuri and TK Rangarajan, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, NCP's Praful Patel and Majeed Memon and DMK's K Kanimozhi. Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien, RJD's Manoj Jha, CPI's S Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja, LJD's Javed Razawa, National Conference leader Devender Rana and JD(S) leader Kupendra Reddy also attended the meeting. "On VVPATs and the EVM tally, the EC has yet to come out with a procedure in case there is a mismatch. Even if there is one mismatch in the VVPAT samples picked for counting and EVMs, to maintain the integrity of the electoral process, all VVPATs in that Assembly segment must be counted," Yechury said after the meeting. With inputs from PTI Social media is abuzz with posts about not just the hacking of EVMs but also the alleged changing or replacing of these machines. Social media is abuzz with posts about not just the hacking of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) but also the alleged changing or replacing of these machines. Right after the exit poll predictions came out, leaders of 22 Opposition parties submitted a memorandum before the Election Commission (EC), requesting that the verification of VVPAT slips of randomly identified polling stations be done prior to the initiation of counting of votes and not after the completion of last round of counting. Pictures of EVMs being transported in trucks were being shared online and speculations over malpractice by the EC erupted as the narrative against a possible BJP sweep (as predicted by the exit polls) took shape. Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Greater Kailash Saurabh Bhardwaj on Wednesday tweeted: Decision of @ECISVEEP will lead to disaster, its a recipe for mass riots. It can lead to Civil War. If u first let political parties know the Winner & Loser, then will Winner allow elections to be set aside after VVPAT mismatch ? Save this Country. Stay tuned PC at 4:00 PM Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) May 22, 2019 It comes a day after the Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) leader from Bihar, Upendra Khushwaha, on Tuesday warned of violent reprisals from the public if the ruling BJP and its allies try to manipulate EVMs in their favour. Upendra Kushwaha, RLSP in Patna: Vote ki raksha ke liye zaroorat pade toh hathiyaar bhi uthana ho toh uthaiye. Aaj jo result loot ki jo ghatna karne ki jo koshish ho rahi hai toh isko rokne ke liye hathiyaar bhi uthana ho toh uthana chahiye. #LokSabhaElections2019 pic.twitter.com/g29bsWGyre ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2019 Kushwaha, a former Union minister in the Narendra Modi government and now a part of the Opposition alliance in Bihar, also dismissed the exit poll predictions released on 19 May, calling them an attempt to demoralise the Opposition parties so that the "rigged results" could be justified later. Ram Chandra Yadav, a former MLA from Bihar, on Wednesday brandished guns at a press conference to show his support to Kushwahas violent threat. A rumour also spread that EVMs had been changed in Amethi parliamentary constituency. Afzal Ansari, a candidate of SP-BSP alliance from Ghazipur constituency in Uttar Pradesh, created ruckus along with his supporters and sat on a dharna outside the strong room, where EVMs have been stored, alleging that there had been attempts to change original EVMs with duplicate ones. RJD in Bihar has levelled charges of EVM hacking, alleging that trucks with EVMs were found lying outside the strong rooms in Saran and Maharajganj. The party even called the EC a "BJP worker". However, after the completion of polling, the EVMs and VVPATs are sealed, stored and locked safely in a strong room in the presence of candidates and observers of the EC. These rooms are absolutely safe and the entire process of sealing and storage is videotaped by the officials. On the day of counting, the strong rooms are unlocked in presence of the representatives of political parties by showing them the seals, address tags and serial numbers of EVMs to maintain transparency and authenticity of the machines used in the polling process. An important aspect to be noted here is that these rumours and allegations started making rounds during the last phase of the seven-phased polling, especially when the BJP claimed that it would win with a majority. It turned into hyperbole after the exit poll predictions and the projections about the BJP gaining huge margin were linked with EVM hacking. But EVMs have nothing to do with exit polls, as the latter were not conducted through EVMs. They are just surveys of voters who have cast their votes. According to the EC, a 24-hour EVM control room has been made functional at Nirvachan Sadan in New Delhi to monitor complaints relating to EVMs. Bureaucrats have also taken to Twitter and defended the system they are a part of. D Roopa, Inspector-General of Police, Railways, has tweeted that IAS officers and state administrative services officers all over the country know that EVMs can't be hacked. Dr Dinesh Arora, deputy CEO, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY (National Health Protection), has tweeted that he was a Returning Officer thrice and can thus vouch for the effeciency of EVMs. Being a Returning Officer thrice, I can vouch, EVMs r very effective. Entire process frm recording votes to storage to counting happens in an extremely professional & secure way.Elections fr world's biggest democracy is no easy task. Kudos to @ECISVEEP & officers! @IASassociation pic.twitter.com/joogER0oTw Dr Dinesh Arora (@drdineshias) May 22, 2019 N Saravana Kumar, Joint Secretary in the HRD Ministry, has posted a link to a personal blog post he wrote two years ago, in which he has vouched for the integrity of the EVMs as a practitioner. In the blog post, he had stated that the attack on the administrative process felt more like a personal attack to him. It should be noted that the entire administrative setup remains involved in this process of conducting elections. When it comes to the handling of EVMs, First Level Checking (FLC), preparation of EVMs before polls, mock polls are mandatorily conducted in the presence of the representatives of candidates or political parties. The use of EVMs in the Lok Sabha election means the count itself should be simple enough, claims of fraud could make it a laborious affair that could delay the final result. New Delhi: India's enormous election took six weeks to hold, but organisers have alloted just one day to count all the ballots cast by some of the 900 million eligible voters. The use of electronic voting machines means the count itself, set for Thursday, should be simple enough. But with claims of fraud already surfacing in some quarters, it could equally be a laborious affair that could delay the announcement of the final result. More than 67 percent of the electorate turned out to use the machines during seven rounds of voting. Here is how their votes will be counted: Guarded strongrooms Armed police stand outside the strongrooms where the voting machines are kept to ensure no one touches them until the count starts. Representatives of competing political parties can join the guards in the 24-hour vigil or watch a CCTV feed from cameras monitoring the area. Representatives of the candidates can also inspect the machines when they are taken to the counting room where each is put on a table. Sudeep Jain, a deputy election commissioner with the national poll body, said an official then presses a button to get a readout of the votes cast for each candidate. One round of counting including tabulation takes between 20 and 25 minutes, he said. The count is not final until all candidates, or their representatives, and electoral delegates are satisfied with the accuracy of the results. Jain said the tally from machines around the country is expected to be ready in about eight hours. Follow LIVE updates on the Lok Sabha elections here Paper trails India is using a system where the electronic machine results are checked against paper tickets given out with each vote. India's Supreme Court ordered officials to randomly match paper ballots against the machine results at 20,600 out of the total 1.3 million polling stations. Jain said candidates could also demand a check if there were doubts about a machine result. The checks could delay the announcement of the final result by several hours, he added. Every counting table must have a blue ballpoint pen and a paper knife to break open the seals on the electronic voting machines. Teams are also on hand to seal the machines with wax and a safety tag with a serial number as soon as the count is completed to ensure their integrity if a result is contested. No memory loss Postal ballot papers are counted first. India's rules allow security and other officials on election duty to cast their votes by post or electronically. The counting of electronic votes will begin 30 minutes after the postal ballot count is finished. Candidates have 45 days to contest a result. If a court orders a recount, a machine's memory can be reactivated by reconnecting the battery so it displays the result stored in its memory. When the final result sheet is ready, a returning officer in each constituency must pause for two minutes during which a candidate or his agent can ask for a recount. The officer can reject any request that is considered unreasonable or frivolous. When disputes are resolved, the result is announced and the candidate's agents sign the final document to be reported to the Election Commission. India Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Updates: After facing a crushing defeat in most states, heads are expected to roll in Congress rank and file. While media speculation about Rahul Gandhi's resignation continues despite Surjewala's clarification, at least three state incharges have offered to resign claiming moral responsibility for the poll defeat. Auto refresh feeds The Election Commission of India will start counting of votes for the seven-phased elections to India's Lower House of the Parliament (Lok Sabha) in what is being touted as the world's biggest democratic exercise, today (Thursday, 23 May) at 8 am, bringing the curtains down on a bitterly-fought election. Since the Election Commission will also be counting the VVPATs at five polling stations (selected at random) in all Assembly segments, the final results can take a little longer to come out. A day after a delegation met the EC, it issued a statement, saying after two rounds of in-depth discussions Wednesday and Thursday,"it has neither been found possible nor feasible to accede to this demand" in the overall context and especially in view of a Supreme Court judgment of 8 April which had directed the poll panel that the random selection of VVPATs will be subject to the process of slip verification as per the EVM guideline in force. The Election Commission Wednesday said it rejected the demand of 22 political parties to count paper trail machine slips before the counting of votes polled in electronic voting machines (EVMs), because it was not "feasible". Out of the total 543 Parliamentary seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the Election Commission had cancelled polls to the Vellore seat in Tamil Nadu on the grounds of excessive use of money power. The fresh date for elections in Vellore is yet to be announced. While all of you can access Firstpost for essential live updates around results and trends, there are various platforms set up by the Election Commission to put out the information as they come. The poll panel had specially created a website for results and trends: results.eci.gov.in . The website is set to go live at 8 am and will let users look at the results and trends constituency-wise and party-wise. After a six-week long electoral process, the result for the 2019 Lok Sabha election is set to be known soon with the counting of votes beginning at 8 am on 23 May, 2019 (Thursday). Unlike other countries, the US does not send its election observers to India because of the strong independent credentials of the Election Commission of India. "We have a very strong relationship and a lot of cooperation with the Indian government on a full range of issues, and the Secretary (of State, Mike Pompeo) has said numerous times that we have a true strategic partner in India," Ortagus said in response to a question. The United States Wednesday said that it was confident in the fairness and integrity of the Indian elections and would work with whoever is the victor. "I would say from the US perspective, we are very confident in the fairness and the integrity of the Indian elections, and we will obviously work with whoever is the victor and whatever the outcome is there," State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus told reporters during an off-camera gaggle here. In Karnataka, the Congress-JD(S) combine will hope to emerge victorious over the BJP once again, just as it had in the state Assembly polls, even though many exit polls' predictions are in the saffron partys favour. While Congress contested in 21 seats, JD(S) got tickets from seven constituencies. BJP contested from 27 seats and supported independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh in Mandya. State Chief Electoral Officer Sanjiv Kumar told PTI that the first set of results may start from 3 pm and may be over by 6 pm. However, it can be delayed further too. In conclusion to the seven-phases of Lok Sabha polls, political parties will hope for victory as the counting of votes begins today (Thursday, 23 May). Various exit polls predict another NDA wave in the country, mainly in the Hindi heartland, bringing back Prime Minister Narendra Modi back at the helm of affairs. However, the southern states Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and Tamil Nadu also have strong regional political parties that look at getting elected in their respective states. In Andhra Pradesh, where chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu is making efforts to unite Opposition leaders to form an anti-BJP front at the Centre, counting of votes will be held across 36 centres. The state will see a three-tier security cordon at counting centres with prohibitory orders under Criminal Procedure Codes Section 144 implemented in the 16 towns where these booths will be situated. A total of 25,000 EC personnel will begin the counting process at 8 am. Apart from Naidus Telugu Desam Party, the BJP, Congress, YSR Congress and Jana Sena Party are in the fray. Both the BJP and Congress are hoping to make inroads into the south this election. Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari, asserting the party's victory on all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital, said 350-kg of fine quality "ladoos" have been ordered for celebrations at the central office on DDU Marg and the Delhi unit's office on Pant Marg. The party has also placed orders for a 7-kg special 'motichoor cake' and nine similar cakes, each weighing between 4-5 kgs, at the Bengali Pastry shop, the Delhi BJP's social media team's co-convener Neelkant Bakshi said. The cakes will be cut at the BJP's central office, Bakshi said. Buoyed by exit polls predicting a sweeping victory for the BJP in Delhi, the party's unit here has already ordered delicacies like 'motichoor cakes' and 'kamal barfis', a day before counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls on Thursday. Tejasvi on Thursday morning, visited a temple and said, "I am sure we will win. I am confident I will be able to contribute to legislation and policy making in this country." BJP's star candidate Tejasvi Surya, who contested the Lok Sabha election from Bangalore South, a seat that the party has held since 1991, said that he is confident of a win. The 28-year-old lawyer is a poster-boy for the saffron party: he is the state general secretary for the Karnataka BJPs youth wing and also a party spokesperson. Drones, virtual reality and good old analysis, TV channels pull out the stops for counting day Drones that fly overhead to give a "bird's eye view", Rs 1 lakh cash prize if you guess the winner right and good old analysis, television channels are moving from the fantastical to the mundane to entice viewers on counting day Thursday. With millions in India and abroad preparing to tune into television channels and log in to news networks on their phones and other devices as votes for the Lok Sabha election are counted, media houses are making sure they grab TRPs. Many are using VFX and lurid graphics and others are pitching the fact that they have the best network of on-ground reporters and in-studio analysts. The counting of votes of Chikkaballapur Lok Sabha constituency will be taken up at Nagarjuna Engineering college near Devanahalli. Former Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily is seeking a third straight win as Congress candidate, while BJP's Bachhe Gowda is giving a tough fight to Moily. The constituency is unique as it is spread out in three different revenue districts of Karnataka they are Chikkaballapur, Bangalore rural and Bangalore urban districts. Counting of votes begins for 542 Lok Sabha seats. Around 18 lakh postal ballots will be counted before moving to EVMs. Irrespective of all the postal ballots being accounted for, counting of EVMs will begin within the next 30 minutes. Counting has begun in Lucknow and BJP candidate Rajnath Singh is leading, while Shatrughan Sinha's wife and Samajwadi Party candidate Poonam Sinha is trailing. Tharoor is trailing from the seat. The BJP has pinned most of its hope on the Thiruvananthapuram seat, where it increased most votes in the past and even came second in the previous 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It fell short of only around a mere 20,000 votes from the winner, Congress star politician Shashi Tharoor, in 2014, who is seeking a third consecutive win in 2019. The BJP fielded arguably its biggest vote catcher, former state president and ex-Mizoram governor Kummanam Rajasekharan, to win the seat this election. As the counting for general elections began, the Election Commission's website crashed. The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India. One of the major reason for consideration was that it's a tri-junction of three southern states. Many Congress workers and leaders had urged the Congress president to contest from the Southern seat, which he agreed to. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who decided to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala besides his traditional stronghold of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, is leading from the southern seat. Veteran Congress leader from Kerala and former defence minister A K Antony had made the announcement at a press conference, saying Gandhi had consented to fight from Wayanad following requests from the state unit. Independent candidate Sumalatha Ambareesh, wife of the late film star and former Union minister MH Ambareesh, is leading from Mandya, from where HD Kumaraswamys son Nikhil of the Janata Dal (Secular) fought polls. KJ Alphons is trailing from Alappuzha Lok Sabha seat. A constituency with a long coastline covering seven Assembly segments in Alappuzha and Kollam, it has shown a propensity to the Congress in Parliament elections. Despite being known as a citadel and cradle of the Communist movement, the constituency has elected Congress candidates eight times in the last 11 elections held since 1977. As of now, the SP-BSP alliance is leading from one seat in Uttar Pradesh, which is Aonla parliamentary constituency that is currently held by Dharmendra Kumar of BJP. In the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, Dharmendra Kumar beat Kunwar Sarvraj Singh of SP by receiving 41.20 percent of the votes cast in this constituency. Before him, Mahant Avedyanath had won from the parliamentary constituency first in 1971 and then three straight times from 1989. And before him, Mahant Digvijaynath had won the seat in 1967. They were all the 'chief priests' of the Gorakhnath Math, a post that Adityanath also holds. Results of the seats will be keenly watched as this is matter of prestige for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BJP firebrand leader Yogi Adityanath who has won this seat for five consecutive terms since 1998. Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh which has been BJP stronghold over the decades slipped out of BJP's hand in 2018 by-elections when Samajwadi Party (SP) candidate Praveen Nishad with the support of BSP defeated BJPs candidate Upendra Shukla with a margin of around 22,000 votes. This time BJP has fielded actor-turned-politician Ravi Kishan and SB-BSP alliance candidate are Ram Bhuwal Nishad. Congress candidate and Rajasthan chief minister's son Vaibhav Gehlot, who is pitted against incumbent BJP MP and Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, is trailing in Jodhpur . In the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections, Gajendrasingh Shekhawat beat Chandresh Kumari of Congress by receiving 66.20 per cent of the votes cast in this constituency. Hours later, Moon Moon Sens response to the violence spawned a flurry of jokes on social media. Interviewed by reporters, the actor-politician said she was unaware of the clashes. She explained that she had taken a while to get going in the morning because she had been given bed tea very late. The constituency was in the news on polling day on April 29 because of violence there. Supriyos car was vandalised during a clash outside a polling booth between Trinamool Congress workers and security personnel. Alongside, a first information report was filed against the parliamentarian for allegedly entering a booth and threatening a polling agent and an officer. BJP sitting MP Babul Supriyo is leading in Asansol constituency in West Bengal. The Asansol Lok Sabha seat, where Trinamool Congresss Moon Moon Sen squared off against incumbent MP Supriyo, is being closely watched. In the first round, the BJP leads by 1877 votes. Ahead of the counting of votes, BJP's Bengaluru candidate Tejasvi Surya said that his contituency has a huge Modi fever that will lead to his victory. Twenty-eight-year-old Surya is BJP's youngest candidate. BJP candidate K Surendran has wrested lead in Pathanamthitta, one of the two seats on which BJP has pinned hope to open an account in Kerala. Kummanam Rajashekharan, the party candidate in the other seat in Thiruvananthapuram is trailing in the third position. RLD chief Ajit Singh's son Jayant Chaudhary is leading from Baghpat. The Lok Sabha constituency went to polls on Apr 11. In the last Lok Sabha elections, the seat was won by Dr. Satya Pal Singh of the BJP by a margin of 209866 votes. Dr. Satya Pal Singh defeated SP candidate Ghulam Mohammed. According to early trends, B N Chandrappa of Congress is leading in Chitradurga LS seat with 3659 votes; BJP is leading in Haveri with 30,948 votes. BJP's Pralhad Joshi is leading in Dharwad LS constituency with 4966 votes. The BJP candidate in Thiruvananthapuram, after showing initial promise, slipped to the second position behind Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor. Tharoor was leading by over 1,000 votes. Congress President Rahul Gandhi was leading in Wayanad by over 10,000 votes, the sources said. The Left candidates were leading in Kannur by 300 votes and at Mavelikera by around 600. Early trends for all 20 seats in Kerala are in and according to News18 all trends show UDF leading in Kerala . The analysts had felt that the Sabarimala row will affect the voter-bank for the UDF-led government in Kerala, however, early trends show that the issues haven't had the effect that analysts predicted. Bharatiya Janata Party's Sambit Patra is trailing in Puri. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Pinaki Misra of BJD won in this seat by defeating the INC candidate by a margin of 2,63,361 votes which was 25.34 percent of the total votes polled in the constituency. BJD had a vote share of 50.33 percent in 2014 in the seat. There were a total of 7 contestants in 2014. Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad is leading in Patna Sahib constituency. So far, the NDA is leading in all 20 seats in Bihar. Meanwhile, RJD's Misa Bharti is leading and Union minister Ram Kripal Yadav is trailing in Pataliputra. Stock market traders and investors are bracing for the big day ahead. India is going to choose its next prime minister as the verdict of the Lok Sabha elections 2019 gets announced. The Sensex and Nifty may see a lot of volatility as the election verdict will not only affect the days trade, but also set the future trend. The benchmark stock indices have delivered a modest 50-60% return during Prime Minister Narendra Modis current tenure. The 10 fundamentally strong stocks that figure on the list of most brokerage houses and market experts are SBI, Larsen and Toubro, HDFC Bank, HDFC, Reliance Industries, Tata Steel, Mahindra and Mahindra, Bajaj Finance, Tata Consultancy Services and ICICI Bank. BJP's sitting MP from Darjeeling SS Ahluwalia is trailing from Durgapur constituency. In 2014 Lok Sabha elections, SS Ahluwalia had won the Darjeeling. This time, the BJP fielded him from Durgapur constituency. The DMK and its allies the Congress and MDMK were leading in three Parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu, according to trends available from the Election Commission. While DMK surged ahead in Tirunelveli, its ally MDMK and Congress were leading in Erode and Virudhunagar respectively, according to the EC. The DMK fought 19 Parliamentary seats and its allies in the rest of 19 constituencies while elections were cancelled in Vellore. AIADMK had fielded candidates in 20 Parliamentary segments leaving the rest to its allies including the BJP. After two rounds of counting, BJP candidate BN Bache Gowda has established a lead of over 15000 votes over former union law minister M Veerappa Molly, the incumbent MP from Chikaballapur. In North West Delhi, Hans Raj Hans is leading with 33,439. In this political season, the constituency was in the news for two reasons former BJP MP Udit Raj having switched over to the Congress on being denied a ticket and Punjabi singer Hans Raj Hans being fielded from the area by the BJP. The way people enjoy the music in this Parliamentary seat, I will not only win the hearts of the people but also try to make this Lok Sabha seat the best. Hans has been making statements like these in the slums of Sultanpuri and Mangolpuri. Last year, Mangolpuri registered nearly 900 FIRs; an average police station in south Delhi registers approximately 150 FIRs in a year. A displeased Udit Raj, who left the saffron party on being denied a ticket, had shared with Firstpost that BJP has a problem with vocal Dalits and that theres a glass ceiling within the party for people who arent from castes higher up in the hierarchy. Hans campaign was pitifully bereft of the complexity of municipal issues that plague the area. Meanwhile, Raj, also the current MP from North West Delhi, was pre-occupied with exposing the caste dynamic in national party politics. Dalits account for 17 percent and Muslims 13 percent of the state population. The constituency has a Scheduled Caste population of 6,97,237 and Raj had a significant pull in the area because he was recognised as a strong Dalit voice in national politics. BJPs surprised everybody by introducing a popular face as its candidate in the area and early trends suggest that the strategy seemed to have work for the saffron party. Former MLA and controversial Kashmiri politician Sheikh Abdul Rashid has taken a surprise lead of nearly 600 votes in Baramulla Lok Sabha constituency ahead of PDP's Abdul Qayoom Wani, People's Conference candidate Raja Aijaz Ali and National Conference leader Mohammad Akbar Lone. In Ladakh, BJP candidate Jamyang Tsering Namgyal was trailing behind Independent candidate Sajad Hussain by 464 votes, according to officials. The BJP had won three seats -- two in Jammu and the Ladakh seat -- in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls while the PDP had swept all three seats in the valley. However, Abdullah had won the Lok Sabha by-poll to Srinagar seat held in 2017. According to election officials, Abdullah was leading over PDP candidate Aga Syed Mohsin by a slender margin of 80 votes while Singh had opened a substantial lead of over 4000 votes over his Congress rival Vikramaditya Singh. National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, BJP leader Jitendra Singh and Congress state president G A Mir were leading in their respective constituencies in the early trends of counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath Singh's son Nakul Nath, who is contesting on a Congress ticket, is leading Chhindwara by over 6,000 votes. In Indore, a seat previously represented by Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, BJP's Shankar Lalwani is leading by over 18,000. Malegaon terror accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur is leading by over 8,000 votes in Bhopal. Congress' Digvijaya Singh is in second position. In Guna, sitting Congress MP Jyotiraditya Scindia is trailing BJP's Krishna Pal Singh. In the first hour of counting, NDA makes inroads in West Bengal, Karnataka and Odisha. Till 10 am, NDA is leading in 336 seats and BJP is leading in 288 seats, while UPA is leading in 93 and Congress leading in 54 seats. BJP cadres begin celebrations in West Bengal's Ranaghat. The key candidates in the Ranaghat SC constituency for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 are Rupali Biswas of TMC, Biswas Rama of CPI(M), Jagannath Sarkar of BJP and Minati Biswas of Congress. Most of the exit polls had indicated a pro-incumbency wave and projected that the BJP-led NDA will comfortably cross the magic mark of 272 seats to form the government. According to the early trends, BJP-led NDA will comfortably cross the 300-mark. Trends showed that BJP is leading in 288 seats, while NDA is leading in 341. Comparatively, UPA is trailing with lead only in 92 seats while Congress has been able to secure leads in 54 seats. In Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag, the National Conference is leading with 3,700 votes. The PDP has garnered 3,681 votes while the BJP lags with 103 votes. Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's daughter Kavitha is trailing in Nizamabad. Kavitha is locked in an unprecedented fight against 178 farmers who had registered to contest against the sitting MP. The 178 farmers jumped into the fray to support their demand for a remunerative price for turmeric and red sorghum and setting up of a Turmeric Board based in Nizamabad. Kavitha had blamed the BJP for failing to take initiative for setting up the Turmeric Board. The BJP seems to have thwarted all efforts of the TMC to keep the saffron party at bay in Bengal. Out of 42 seats in Bengal, the BJP is leading in 10 constituencies while the TMC takes the lead in 18 seats. Congress is leading in two seats while the Left Front has failed to catch up yet. Asansol, leading by 31670 Hooghly, leading by 9117 Alipurduar, leading by 7221 Bangaon, leading by 7709 Bankura, leading by 4707 Bishnupur, leading by 4215 Burdwan Durgapur leading by 7407 Maldah leading by 7933 Jhargram leading by 3196 Ghatal leading by 1104 Purulia leading by 547 Out of the 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal, the BJP is leading in the following: The Congress performance can by symptomised by the party president Rahul Gandhi's contest in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi is trailing to BJPs Smriti Irani. The partys overall numbers have improved over the 2014 result, with MK Stalins DMK in Tamil Nadu sprucing up the tally. In Karnataka too, the BJP looks set for a sweep with the entire Lingayat belt going one way based on early trends. The Narendra Modi wave has swatted away any challenge posed by the Congress or the united opposition as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) looks set to improve on its humongous 2014 tally to attain a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha once again. The BJP is currently ahead on over 280 seats, with the partners in NDA pushing the total tally to over 340 seats, leads show as results of the general elections pour in. Key states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Mumbai look all set for a saffron sweep based on initial trends as Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks set for a second term. Among the 542 Lok Sabha constituencies which voted in 2019, according to trends in 537 constituencies, BJP is leading in 291 while Congress is leading in 50; DMK in 22; All India Trinamool Congress in 25, YSR Congress Party in 24 and Shiv Sena in 19 constituencies. While in Punjab, BJP's Sunny Deol leads with 1,15,543 in Gurdaspur seat, Congress' Shashi Tharoor leads in Thiruvananthapuram with 13,970. Meanwhile, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is leading with 92,000 votes in Wayanad. The 30-share index zoomed 907.91 points, gaining 2.32 percent at 40,018.12. Nifty was 271.15 point up, gaining 2.31 percent at 12,009.05 at 10.40 am. According to traders, investor sentiment was boosted by initial trends that suggested a win for the ruling NDA. Investor sentiment has been buoyant since exit polls were announced on Sunday, with both the NSE index and the BSE index gaining 3.7 percent each the next session, a level last seen in 2014. Amid market euphoria, the rupee also appreciated 26 paise to 69.40 against the US dollar in opening trade. The markets were buoyant with indices hitting new high as early trends showed BJP-led NDA leading in 340 seats. BSE Sensex rallied over 900 points while the NSE Nifty soared over 270 points to hit their respective record highs in early trade Thursday, as counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election began. Sensex hits 40,000 mark for the first time ever, rallies nearly 900 pts, while Nifty crosses 12,000 as BJP takes a decisive lead in the Lok Sabha election results. Amethi is witnessing a close contest between Congress president Rahul Gandhi and BJP leader Smriti Irani. Irani is leading by only 2,501 votes. So far, Rahul has received 14,030 votes, while the Union minister has won 16,531 votes. Former chief minister of Karnataka BS Yeddyurappa's son BY Raghavendra is leading by a margin of over a lakh votes. BJP's official Twitter handle congratulated the Shimoga candidate by dubbing his victory "a slap against the money power of a coalition of corrupts." "Well they lost money, votes and existence," says BJP. Although the BJP appears to have put up a tough fight against the BJD in Odisha Lok Sabha Elections, Baijayant Panda, who quit BJD to join the BJP recently, is trailing from Kendrapara a seat that he had won in 2009 and 2014 on a BJD ticket. BJD's Anubhav Mohanty is leading from the seat. Rahul Gandhi has crossed one lakh votes and is heading for a majority in Wayanad. The parliamentary segment witnessed a record turnout of voters this year as polling was held in Kerala's 20 constituencies. Buoyed by the large turnout, the Congress-led UDF claimed a 'record-breaking margin for Gandhi when the votes would be counted. The BJP-Shiv Sena combine is leading in all six seats of Mumbai with candidates of the two saffron allies establishing comfortable leads over their Congress and NCP rivals. As per trends available so far, Congress leader Milind Deora is trailing in Mumbai South against sitting Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant by 17,774 votes. In Mumbai North, BJP's Gopal Shetty is leading over his nearest Congress rival and actor Urmila Matondkar by 42,820 votes. In Mumbai North Central, sitting BJP MP Poonam Mahajan is leading over her Congress rival Priya Dutt by 20,512 votes. In Mumbai North West, Shiv Sena's Gajanan Kirtikar is leading by 16,339 votes over Congress nominee Sanjay Nirupam. In Mumbai South Central, Shiv Sena's Rahul Shewale is ahead by 20,355 votes over Congress candidate Eknath Gaikwad. In Mumbai North East, BJP's Manoj Kotak is leading by 44,481 votes over his NCP rival Sanjay Dina Patil. The BJP is leading on all 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, as per trends available so far. Shah is leading by over 1,30,000 votes in Gandhinagar at the end of second round of counting. His party's candidate Mansukh Vasava is ahead of Congress's Sherkhan Pathan in Bharuch by over 33,500 votes. In Dahod seat, Congress candidate Babubhai Katara is trailing by 1,258 votes against BJP's Jaswantsinh Bhabhor. In Amreli, Congress's Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani is trailing by a margin of 1,058 votes against BJPs Naran Kachhadiya. In Ahmedabad (West), BJPs Kirit Solanki is leading by 25,453 votes over Congress candidate Raju Parmar. In Ahmedabad (East), BJPs Hasmukh Patel is ahead by 7,675 votes over Congress nominee Gitabhen Patel. If Modi returns to power with a full majority on 23 May, it will be for the first time in 48 years that an incumbent prime minister and his party return to power with a full majority. The last time this happened was in 1971, when Indira Gandhi led the Congress (R) to victory with a full majority after having done the same in 1967 (for the united Congress). Read more here Our quick research based on data from the official Lok Sabha website showed that if both the predictions hold that the BJP will be voted back and that it will be voted back with a full majority then this victory will be a bigger milestone than 2014. As the exit polls predicted, according to early trends Narendra Modi-led NDA has broken its 2014 record and its headed for the biggest ever mandate since 1971. During a BJP press conference on 21 May, Amit Shah and Modi said that a government would be formed resulting from a clear choice made by the electorate, rather than some pre-poll or post-poll alliance or understanding. He said that the media should carry out research on this. Narendra Modi heading for the biggest repeat mandate in 48 years, Indira Gandhi did it last in 1971 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is currently taking the lead in the two Lok Sabha constituencies of Arunachal Pradesh, as per the initial trends of the Election Commission. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju is leading by 30548 votes in Arunachal West against his nearest rival Nabam Tuki of the Congress. He had won the seat in 2014, defeating Takam Sanjoy of the Congress by a margin of 41738 votes. AAP losing battle badly in East Delhi where Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Swara Bhaskar and other star campaigners have put their maximum efforts for Atishi. Currently, BJP's Gautam Gambhir is leading with 73,000, against Congress' Arvinder Lovely who is leading with 33,500 votes and Atishi of AAP with 22,800 votes. Congress's east UP in-charge Priyanka Gandhi Vadra leaves for Congress president Rahul Gandhi's residence in Delhi. According to trends, Rahul crossed one lakh votes and is heading for a majority in Wayanad. The parliamentary segment witnessed a record turnout of voters this year as polling was held in Kerala's 20 constituencies. Buoyed by the large turnout, the Congress-led UDF claimed a 'record-breaking margin for Gandhi when the votes would be counted. "The people on the ground are not buying the narrative of the opposition that people are under threat. People are doing well that they are looking forward to the next government of Narendra Modi. We have to realise that Modi's government inherited very weak economy and he did a phenomenal job (in the last five year)," BJP spokesman Amit Malviya was quoted as saying. The results are a resounding endorsement of Modi's popularity, his government's achievements in the last five years and his campaign, which centred around national security and nationalism. He also relentlessly attacked the Congress for what he called its dynastic legacy, and blamed it for the country's woes. The Opposition had criticised the BJP campaign as divisive and polarising. The saffron outfit is leading in 15 seats, the TMC is ahead in 25 while Congress is ahead in two. Remember that in 2014 amid nationwide Modi wave, the BJP could win only two seats in Bengal. NDTV paints an even more optimistic figure for BJP. Around 11am, roughly three hours into counting, the NDTV website shows BJP ahead in 17 seats while the TMC is ahead in 22. In 2014, one of the few states to have thwarted the saffron wave was West Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress bagged 34 out of 42 seats. Five years have passed. Going by early trends on counting day, Narendra Modi has not only managed to engineer another 'wave' election in his favour but this time he has done even better. According to trends projected by Firstpost at the time of writing, the BJP has roared into double figures in the state and is hot on the heels of the ruling party. Once the Left lost power, a certain section of this vote that remained anti-Mamata, became anchorless. The BJP's rise has given this anchorless vote a new direction. During campaigning stage, reports emerged of erstwhile Left cadres aligning with and silently aiding the BJP. The Left's tally (0) so far gives us an indication of the way ground realities have changed in West Bengal. The Left vote in Bengal even at the height of its dominance was never a committed ideological vote but perks of ruling a state where power literally flows from the barrel of the gun. Reports were claiming that the Left's tally, so far, is zero. The significance of this cannot be overstated in a state where the Left Front-ruled unabated for 34 years. The total number of voters in the constituency is approximately 16 lakh and from here. In 2014, BJPs Mahesh Girri won from here with 57,2202 votes. Interestingly, the most popular leader from the region has been BJPs Lal Bihari Tiwari. Sheila Dikshit lost to him in 1998 and it was only after his death that Congress had made inroads into East Delhi. The BJP waited for AAP to field its candidates and launched Gambhir to counter Atishi. Its strategy seems to be working. At the fag end of her campaign, Atishi had held a press conference and accused Gambhir of distributing pamphlets with derogatory language against her. That line of attack on Gambhir is apparently not working. Delhi East is a BJP stronghold. As long ago as in 1967 the Bharatiya Jana Sangh had won the constituency in the first elections held to the seat in 1967. BJP candidate and former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has taken a big lead over his nearest competitor Arvinder Singh Lovely of the Congress party. Gambhir is sitting pretty with 98870 votes at 11.30 am, Lovely has 48881. The much-discussed Atishi of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a poor third with 34,435 votes. In the most hotly contested seat of North East Delhi, AAP's Dilip Pandey is coming in third with just over 30,000 votes as BJP's Manoj Tiwari has crossed the one and a half lakh mark and Sheila Dikshit stands at a little over 60,000. AAPs ambition of becoming a national party and engaging with other opposition parties to form an alternative government have been dashed. AAP declared its last candidate Balbir Singh Jakhar from West Delhi, when the chances of the alliance seemed bleak. Aside from the West Delhi Seat, AAP was willing to offer Pankaj Guptas Chandni Chowk seat. AAPs candidates are trailing on all seats. From South Delhi, Raghav Chaddha is coming second to BJPs Ramesh Bidhuri, with a difference of nearly 50,000 votes between them. Sources within the Congress had earlier shared with Firstpost that AAP wanted an alliance in Delhi, Punjab and Haryana, but Bhupinder Singh Hooda, veteran Congress leader, was dead against the idea. Had the new party stuck to Delhi and not been in urgency to expand, it could have avoided the splitting of vote share with the Congress which has also benefited the BJP. The ruling BJP is surging ahead in all four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh, with its candidates securing unassailable leads, according to latest Election Commission trends. In Mandi, the sitting BJP MP Ram Swaroop is leading by over 154418 votes over his nearest rival Aashray Sharma of the Congress. BJP candidate Kishan Kapoor was leading by 201699 votes over his nearest rival Pawan Kajal of Congress in Kangra, a state election officer said. Sitting BJP MP Anurag Thakur is leading by over 201242 votes over his nearest rival Ram Lal Thakur of Congress in Hamirpur. In Shimla, BJP candidate Suresh Kashyap is leading by 180491 votes over his nearest rival Dhani Ram Shandil of Congress. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to be at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters at 5pm today as counting of votes make it clear that people have decided to have a government-led for a second term. The Bahujan Samaj Party was leading in 11 and the Samajwadi Party in eight while the Congress was ahead in one and the Apna Dal (Soneylal) in one. Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam singh Yadav surged ahead in Mainpuri and his son SP chief Akhilesh Yadav was leading in Azamgarh. Akhilesh Yadav's wife Dimple Yadav, who is seeking re-election from Kannauj, was leading the table. In 2014, the BJP got 71 seats, the SP five, the Congress two and the BSP none. In Badaun, sitting SP MP Dharmendra Yadav trailed behind BJP's Sanghmita Maurya while in Baghpat, RLD's national vice president Jayant Chaudary was behind BJP's Satyapal Singh. In Faizabad, sitting BJP MP Lallu Singh was leading while in Firozabad sitting SP MP Akshay Yadav was trailing behind BJP's Chandra Sen Jadon. According to official Election Commission trends, out of 542 constituencies, BJP is leading in 292 while Indian National Congress is leading in 51; DMK in 22, All India Trinamool Congress in 24, YSR Congress Party in 25, Shiv Sena in 20, JD(U) in 16, BJD in 14 and BSP in 11 constituencies. The BJP-led NDA is leading in 38 seats of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar while the RJD is leading in two seats, according to Election Commission trends. The BJP and JD(U) are leading in 16 seats each while the LJP is leading in six seats. The RJD, a 'mahagathbandhan' constituent, is leading in two seats of Jehanabad and Pataliputra. Prominent NDA faces who are leading include- Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad (Patna Sahib) , Radha Mohan Singh (Purvi Champaran) , Giriraj Singh (Begusarai) , RK Singh (Ara), Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Buxar). Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Saran), Chirag Paswan (Jamui), Ram Vilas Paswan's brother Pashupati Kumar Paras (Hajipur) are also among the NDA candidates who are leading. BJP West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh is leading by 700 votes against TMCs Manas Bhuniya in Kharagpur Sagar. In Bankura, TMC heavyweight Subrata Mukherjee is trailing against BJPs Subhash Mukherjee who is leading by more than 25,000 votes. The only seat where Congress is seeing possible victory is Rohtak Lok Sabha where three-time MP Deepender Singh Hooda is taking lead by 10,000 votes. If Congress faces debacle, ruling BJP in Haryana is going to get a major boost ahead of Assembly polls due after three months. BJP in Haryana is set to win nine of the ten Lok Sabha constituencies as per latest trends available on the Election Commission website. Interestingly, Congress senior leader and two-time Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda is trailing by a margin of 86,000 votes to BJP's Ramesh Kaushik. Hooda is considered a pillar of Jat politics in Haryana and prior to 2014, Jat chief ministers have ruled the state for more than 20 years. Jammu and Kashmir BJP chief Ravinder Raina said the country's 130 crore people have expressed full faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and given a befitting reply to the "mahamilawati" conglomeration led by the Congress. "This election was between the idea of Bharat and the idea of terrorism-launching-pad Pakistan," Raina said. "It is the victory of India and Modi ji and his strong and bold steps on all fronts," he was quoted as saying . Over the last five years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been credited with trying to tighten the administration, strong foreign policy and high-profile campaigns like Swachh Bharat and Make-in-India. But he has been attacked by the Opposition over a slowing economy, failure to create jobs, a farm sector crisis and rising hate crimes by right-wing fringe groups. Buoyed by the exit poll estimates, the BJP has prepped a blueprint for its next term, built around the three themes of nationalism, national security and development. Tamil Nadu, along with Punjab, is likely to be the silver lining for the Congress in what it had called its make-or-break election. Most of the credit goes to its partner DMK, which under MK Stalin, put up a spirited fight with the ruling AIADMK since the death of J Jayalalithaa, the state's iconic Chief Minister, nearly three years ago. One of the major promises was setting up an AIIMS in Rewari, which was announced this year on 1 February. His move to switch parties has been successful as he says the Centre and state government are communicating thoroughly and making progressing efforts. While Congress candidate Ajay Singh Yada has failed to please the voters even with his army background, the Congress did not popularise him being from the army much and thus failing to garner the nationalist sentiments. Rao Inderjit Singh, the BJP candidate from Gurgaon, is leading and is set to win the seat. He has been a two-time MP from Gurgaon. From 2009-2014 he was in Congress. While in 2014 he switched to BJP. NC leader Omar Abdulaah tweeted congratulating the BJP and the NDA, and said that credit should be given where it's due. "So the exit polls were correct. All thats left is to congratulate the BJP & NDA for a stellar performance. Credit where credit is due PM Modi Sahib & Mr Amit Shah put together a winning alliance & a very professional campaign. Bring on the next five years." Even before the Election Commission numbers made any official announcements about winners for Lok Sabha elections, Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Narendra Modi saying, "We look forward to working closely with you." Actor Mahesh Babu's brother-in-law and sitting TDP MP Jayadev Galla is trailing to YSRC candidate in Guntur by close to 7,000 votes. Telugu Desam stronghold Hindupur, which was once represented by late actor Harikrishna, is also likely to fall. In Andhra Pradesh, YSRC is leading in all but one of the 25 Lok Sabha seats. Sitting TDP MP Kesineni Srinivas has a slender lead over YSRCP's Potluri V Prasad. Actor Balakrishna's son-in-law, Sri Bharat is trailing by 2612 votes in Visakhapatnam. Former aviation minister and TDP candidate Ashok Gajapathi Raju is also trailing by over 24,000 votes in Vizianagaram. "Spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah over the phone and congratulated them for BJP-led NDAs stupendous victory in these Lok Sabha Elections. This historic victory in the General Elections is the outcome of Modijis visionary leadership, Amit Shahjis dynamism and the hard work of millions of BJP karyakartas on the ground. I thank the people of India for once again giving a decisive mandate to BJP-led NDA and reposing faith in Narendra Modis astute leadership and his vision of New India. Modiji is now all set to build a New India," Union minister Rajnath Singh wrote on Twitter. YS Jagan Reddy likely to be sworn-in on May 30 subject to technical clearances, senior YSR Congress leader Ummareddy Venkateswarulu was quoted as saying. Jagan is set to sweep the elections in Andhra Pradesh, with a perfect 10/10 victory in the Lok Sabha elections and a whopping 147 of the state's 175 Assembly seats. The majority mark in the state assembly stands at 88. The Election Commission has only released official trends till now, the final tally is yet to be released and going by the EC statements results for the Lok Sabha elections will be released only late evening. After Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickramsinghe tweeted congratulatory message to Narendra Modi, President Maithripala Sirisena also tweeted and said, "Congratulations on your victory and the peoples re-endorsement of your leadership. Sri Lanka looks forward to continuing the warm and constructive relationship with India in the future." Sirisena tweets at Modi, says 'Congratulations on your victory and the peoples re-endorsement of your leadership' Malegaon blast-accused Sadhvi Pragya Thakur is leading in Bhopal seat by a margin of over one lakh votes against Congress veteran and former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijaya Singh. The BJP president had become a Rajya Sabha MP but his ambition, abilities and the BJP's need for him to play an even greater role in the next Modi government meant that he had to contest the Lok Sabha elections. The fact that he chose Gandhinagar, a seat which BJP patriarch Lal Krishna Advani had made his own, indicated a generational and ideological shift in the party. During Modis tenure as Gujarat chief minister, Shah was his home minister. It is risky to speculate what portfolio Modi might hand over to Shah, given the latters propensity to surprise. It is safe however to say that it will be an important portfolio that will help achieve the goals of Modi 2.0. As party president, Shah has already proved his administrative acumen and such a job might be a promotion that matches his bigger stature in the party and in national politics. READ MORE HERE The role played by Modi's most trusted general Amit Shah will not go unnoticed and this time Shah had an added responsibility. The BJP, according to trends around noon, is not only the single-largest party but has comfortably breached the 272 mark. The saffron unit is leading in 287 seats as of now and it wont be a surprise if it pushed the 300-mark on its own. The NDA, at this point, is close to leading in 350 out of 542 seats. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot is trailing by over 1.8 lakh votes in Jodhpur against BJP's Gajendra Singh Shekhawat. Former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje's son Dushyant Singh is leading by over 3.8 lakh votes in Jhalawar. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath's son Nakul is leading by over 38,000 votes. His lead had come down to 20,870 in the 2014 election. The Gandhi scion had entered the fray in Kerala accusing the BJP government of neglecting south India. He termed his contest from Wayanad as a fight for espousing the aspirations of south India. However, the BJP had termed it as an escape from Amethi. Rahul's candidature seems to have fuelled a wave across Kerala helping the party establish a lead in 19 of the 20 seats. The lead for Congress president Rahul Gandhi in Wayanad in north Kerala has crossed 2 lakh votes. This is the record margin the Congress party has secured in the constituency after it was carved out from Kozhikode and Malappuram districts in 2009. The seat was won by M I Shanavaz by a margin of 1,53,439 votes. "Sincerely greetings to you, my friend @ Narendramodi , for your impressive victory in the elections! The election results are another confirmation of your leadership and the way you lead the world's greatest democracy. Together we will continue to strengthen the great friendship between us and India and Israel..." Netanyahu tweeted. Israel Prime Minister was the second world leader to congratulate Modi. Earlier, it was Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickramsinghe and president Maithripala Sirisena. Congress leader Hardik Patel said that while the Congress campaigned and ran for the Lok Sabha elections with utmost honesty, the BJP had adopted the dishonest path and it's not the voters that led BJP to its victory but it's dishonest and corrupt means. Nepal prime minister K P Sharma Oli also congratulated Modi and said that he looks ahead to work with India. The NDA is leading in 345 seats and the UPA in 90, a significantly amplified version of the 2014 verdict. Here are some initial takeaways. People rejected Congress president Rahul Gandhi's populist plank. Under Rahul, the Congress has failed miserably to present a convincing economic future plan for the aspiring middle class and rural voters. The Congress committed a grave error in choosing Nyuntam Aay Yojana, or NYAY, as its main poll plank instead of unemployment and rural distress. People didn't understand the scheme in the first place with its complex structure. Forget voters, it is doubtful if Congress workers understood it well enough. The scheme sought to assure a minimum income of Rs 72,000 to the poorest 20 percent of India's population. In a country where availing proper income data is still work in progress, it was virtually impossible for the scheme to work. Gandhi's Congress also failed to answer questions on where the money for the scheme will come from. READ MORE HERE Modi's image as a pro-reform leader remained intact in the five years despite repeated Opposition attacks for his economic policies. At the end of his five-year term, the Opposition has questioned Modi on multiple issues, including the way his government has handled data credibility, demonetisation, and rising unemployment. READ MORE HERE This election has proved conclusively that economic distress is not a key factor in deciding the outcome of major elections. Modi's economic policies such as demonetisation of high value notes in 2016 and the botched implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) a year later brought considerable discomfort to the masses. The fact that Congress didn't have a credible prime ministerial candidate impacted its prospects severely. Till the end of the campaign, there was no consensus among the Congress-led Opposition parties about who would be the UPA's candidate for the top job. READ MORE HERE The new aggressive approach that the Modi government took in taking on terrorists operating from Pakistan soil was welcomed by the masses and converted into votes, both from the rich and poor. One could argue that the Balakot attacks turned the tide in favour of the BJP. Congress accusations against the government such as lack of evidence or intelligence failure that led to Pulwama attacks find any takers among common voters. Tweeting her first reactions, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said " all losers are not losers", probably hinting at Trinamool Congress, who is leading in 22 seats in the 42-seat Assembly. BJP has secured an early lead in 19 seats. Congress leading only in 1 seat. Diverting attention from the job crisis was the Opposition's big mistake. The more they made personal attacks on the prime minister, the more the BJP cleverly used them to channel public ire against the Congress using Modi's track record and achievements. READ MORE HERE The Opposition's personal attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, mocking his interviews, for instance, backfired. Rahul's campaign was centred on anti-Modi rhetoric. Despite Rahul's allegations against Modi in connection with Rafale, Modi still enjoys the image of a corruption-free politician and a prime minister who led this government for five years with no corruption allegations which could be proven. As BJP secured a historic lead of 299, ensuring that if it wins with this mandate it will not need allies to form the government at the Centre, party president Amit Shah tweeted thanking the country and announcing, "Once Again Modi government." Congress spokespersons present at the party headquarters were also keen to know the trends to firm up before giving their opinion. Some Congress workers who gathered outside the party office blamed the trends of the results on the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). They also held a protest carrying placards demanding that EVMs should not be used in elections. The Congress headquarters in New Delhi wore a deserted look with counting trends showing only a marginal improvement in the party's tally from the previous Lok Sabha elections. Senior party leaders were conspicuous by their absence, News18 reported. Trends showed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead in 300 seats while the Congress was leading in 52 seats, as per the Election Commission website. Incumbent Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who is gearing up to take oath for his second term as PM of India, tweeted to acknowledge the electoral support. Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and China's premier Xi Jinping congratulate Narendra Modi on landslide victory. Russian president Vladimir Putin also congratulated the prime minister, who has managed to secure a historic mandate which trumps the 2014 Lok Sabha numbers. Sri Lankan prime minister and president too congratulated Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely set the agenda for the next five years without losing any time. Modi is expected to meet party workers at the BJP headquarter in New Delhi at 5 pm today. BJP will hold their parliamentary meeting, as they traditionally do, on Thursday evening. A large number of workers and supporters are already gathered at the BJP headquarters and are in a celebratory mood after the ruling party is set to secure historic mandate beating their 2014 numbers. The parliamentary board meeting is scheduled for 5.30 pm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted his congratulatory message for incumbent Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik who is set to return as the chief minister for the fifth consecutive term. "Congratulations to Naveen Babu for yet another victory in Odisha. Wishing him the very best for the next term." "But more significant is the fact that the unity of the opposition has been damaged by the Congress. The policies and decisions of Rahul Gandhi has weakened opposition unity, led to divisions and opened the doors for Modi's victory," the Communist Party of India national secretary said. Riding on a massive Modi wave sweeping through most parts of India, the BJP was set to return to power Thursday as it led in 292 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 50, according to trends released by the Election Commission for all 542 seats that went to polls. "The BJP fought these elections on the basis of social and religious divisive policies and the agenda was set by them on this basis. Decisions taken by Rahul Gandhi led to divisions within the opposition, CPI national secretary Atul Kumar Anjaan said Thursday and asserted that the policies of the Congress scion opened the doors for Narendra Modi's victory. "Sunil is a fine candidate, he had done a lot of work there. This is one thing I didn't understand that people gave preference to an actor than experience," he was quoted as saying . Upset with Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar's trailing from Gurdaspur, Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh said he is unable to understand how Jakhar's good work wasn't valued. Former IPL commissioner and fugitive Lalit Modi said, "Massive Massive Win!!! This victory is not just by count of votes, it was a count of the number of hearts #pmmodi has won. Congratulations Narendra Modi. India wins again." Lalit Modi says 'massive win' not just because of votes won, but hearts that the PM won "It is the first time in Indias political history that BJP has won 24 seats in south India. My thanks to people of Karnataka for electing BJP candidates in the regions," says Karnataka BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa. "The state has become an exemplar for what the politics of the Congress nationally could be. I just hope we will be able to build from the very disappointing result nationally," ANI quoted Shashi Tharoor as saying. Kerala has become an exemplar for what Congress could be nationally: Shashi Tharoor The saffron party is currently leading in 290 seats, according to the Election Commission. Congress, on the other hand, is leading in 49 seats. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has secured a win from Jaipur Rural LS seat by a margin of 3,89,403 votes. Congress Krishna Poonia polled 4,22,223 votes. The official result will be out after the VVPAT-EVM paper trail is verified. "Frankly, today is the day of the mandate and I don't want to colour the decision of the people of India by discussing with you what went wrong for us," he added. "The people have given their decision," said Congress president Rahul Gandhi. "In these polls, Narendra Modi and BJP have won. I congratulate them." After conceding defeat in Amethi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that Smriti Irani should take care of Amethi. "I congratulate Smriti Irani and hope she fulfils the peoples trust and treats the constituency with love," he said. The police lathicharged the workers for shouting slogans of MIM's victory. AIMIM was winning in the constituency till the 23rd round of counting. A victory rally was planned despite a ban announced by police commissioner. Shiv Senas Khaire is leading by over 800 votes as the counting goes to the last round. BJPs Poonam Mahajan is leading against INCs Priya Dutt in Mumbais North Central constituency. The BJP workers are ready to celebrate Poonams win which will be declared at any moment as she is leading by over one lakh votes. "Narendra Modi has got one of the most historic victories in India since Independence," said Shah. "We all welcome Narendra Modi, the main hero of this victory," said BJP president Amit Shah as he addressed BJP workers. "But the results have shown that BJP got more than what even exit polls have predicted," he said. "After the exit polls, some parties shouted that the exit polls were wrong. They also talked of EVM manipulation," he said. "Media was asking us how we will win seats in Uttar Pradesh after the SP-BSP alliance. But we won many seats in Uttar Pradesh too," said Shah. "The defeat of the Opposition and the victory of the BJP is against the 'tukde-tukde' gang's ideology," Shah said. "BJP is going to sweep West Bengal in the days to come," he added. "Despite so many elections, the highest number of voters was recorded in this election," he said. "In the democratic world, the 2019 vote is the biggest event," said the prime minister. "Today, we can see that people from all corners have supported this fakir," said Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he addressed party workers. "130 crore Indians had taken the form of Shri Krishna and were standing in support of India," he said. "Lord Krishna said that he was not on anyone's side. He was on Hastinapur's side," he added. "When the war of Mahabharata ended, Shri Krishna was asked whose side he was on. The answer which Lord Krishna had given then is the same answer which Indians have given today," he said. "I congratulate the Election Commission, security forces and all those forces who are responsible for raising faith in democracy," Modi said. "The world will have to recognise the democratic powers of India now," Narendra Modi said. "I sympathise with all those people who have sacrificed for the nation," he added. "If anyone has won, it is India," he said. "Democracy and the people have won," he added. "This is why we dedicate this victory to the people." "Those who had closed their minds won't understand the voice of the people and what I'm trying to say," said the prime minister. "The central government will co-operate with the state governments for development," he said. "BJP is committed to the values of the Constitution," he said. "BJP is committed to federalism." "There were elections in four states. In those state Assemblies, I congratulate those who have been selected to enter those Assemblies," said Narendra Modi. "This victory is of the mother who is desperate for a toilet in her home," he said. "India's political pundits will have to leave behind obsolete ideologies," said the prime minister. "This is not Modi's victory. This is the victory of the hopes and aspirations of the people," he added. "BJP had got only two seats in 1984. Now, we have come to power for the second time," said Narendra Modi. BJP got only two seats in 1984, now we have come to power twice: Modi "I will not do anything for my own gains," he said. "Every moment of my time and every bit of energy in my body is for my countrymen," he added. "I will not indulge in anything with bad intentions: This is my promise," he added. "I may make mistakes, but my intentions will never be evil." "As the trust of the people rises, the responsibility of the government also rises," he said. "Our Constitution is supreme. We have to follow every word of the Constitution," Modi said. Every moment of my time and every bit of energy in my body is for my countrymen: Narendra Modi To adopt that analogy in daily politics, if people belonging to your class, caste or religion are seen to be part of a sort of a transformation, you tend to be more patient towards the process. Assume you are struck in traffic, and the cars have not moved for a while. If the cars in another lane start moving, you feel better because you anticipate you would soon follow suit. That immediate hope, according to Hirschman, is the "Tunnel Effect". The tunnel effect, or the honeymoon period, ends sooner or later. However, if the lane stuck in traffic can identify with the lane moving ahead, the tunnel effect has a longer shelf life, says Hirschman. In a tweet, Narendra Modi wrote, "BJP and NDA have emerged victorious in various Assembly by-polls in Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. I thank the people of these constituencies and congratulate the winning candidates. Best wishes in serving the people." The Election Commission tweeted that Union minister Rajnath Singh has won from Lucknow, while Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's son won from Chhindwara. BJP leader Varun Gandhi has won from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi, who contested from Wayanad besides Amethi, where he conceded defeat, defeated his nearest CPI candidate PP Suneer by a margin of over 4.31 lakh votes, according to the Election Commission website. BJP's Hema Malini retained the Mathura Lok Sabha seat by defeating RLD candidate Kunwar Narendra Singh by a margin of 2,93,471 votes. While the actor-turned-politician secured6,71,293 votes, Singh received 3,77,822 votes, according to the Election Commission said. The Election Commission has declared results for 402 out of the 542 seats that went to polls during the general election.The BJP has won 246 seats, while the Congress has won 39. DMK has bagged 16 seats, while Trinamool Congress and JD(U) have bagged 15 each. Ten seats have gone to Shiv Sena, nine each to TRS and BSP, five each to LJSP and YSRC, 4 each to NCP and SP, 2 each to JKNC, SAD, IUML. Lok Sabha Election Results Latest Updates Of nearly 20,600 paper trail machine results, 12,480 matched with EVMs so far: EC sources Of the nearly 20,600 paper trail machine results to be counted on Thursday, 12,480 have been matched with electronic voting machines (EVMs) so far, Election Commission sources have said. Citing reports of state chief electoral officers, the sources said there have been no mismatch with EVM tally. There have been one case which appears to be a manual error. "It is being looked into by the EC," they said. This is for the first time in a Lok Sabha election that results of voting machines will be matched with slips generated by paper trail machines. So far, the BJP has won 272 seats the number required for it to get absolute majority. Meanwhile, Congress has only managed to win 45 seats. The Election Commission is yet to announce result for 84 seats. After defeating Rahul Gandhi in Amethi by 55,120 votes, Union minister Smriti Irani said, "I'm happy that Rahul ji has expressed faith in prime minister's leadership. The people of Amethi have shown their faith in us through votes and I'm thankful to them. I've been working with them for five years after I lost. Now, I'll again serve them, but this time after winning." In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul had defeated Irani by 1,07,903 votes. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) is expected to meet on Saturday. Reports had earlier claimed that Rahul Gandhi offered to resign as the Congress president in view of the party's poor performance. Though, Randeep Singh Surjewala denied the reports, some section of the media reported that the meeting was being called to discuss Rahul's offer. The biggest electoral upset in the state was witnessed in Anantnag where former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti finished third. The seat has been won by National Conference candidate and former High Court judge Hasnain Masoodi whose nearest rival was Ghulam Ahmad Mir of the Congress. The BJP has retained its three Lok Sabha seats in Jammu and Kashmir, while the National Conference has won two seats in the Kashmir region and is leading in one, leaving Mehbooba Mufti's PDP stunned as it could not open its account. National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and Union minister Jitendra Singh were among the prominent faces to make it to the 17th Lok Sabha from the state which sends six MPs to the Lower House. In the Udhampur seat of Jammu region, BJP's Jitendra Singh won by 3.57 lakh votes defeating Congress' Vikramaditya Singh, the son of Jammu and Kashmir's last prince Karan Singh. As per officials, it is the highest margin of victory for any successful candidate in Jammu and Kashmir till now. Singh got 61.38 percent votes. He had defeated former Union minister and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2014. Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Kirron Kher won the Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat by 46,970 votes. She was fielded against Congress' Pawan Kumar Bansal. Bansal served as the Union Railway Minister under the UPA-II. In the Baramulla constituency, the most-keenly contested seat in Kashmir region both in terms of candidates and people's participation, NC candidate Mohammad Akbar Lone is leading by over 30,000 votes. The Congress is set to draw a blank in the state even though the National Conference and the PDP had not fielded candidates for Jammu and Udhampur seats in order to consolidate anti-BJP vote. For the NC, 83-year-old Abdullah got 1,06,750 votes and defeated Aga Syed Mohsin of the PDP by 70,050 votes in the Srinagar constituency. This will be Abdullah's fourth term in the Lok Sabha, having been a member in 1980, 2009 and 2017 previously. BJP's Jugal Kishore defeated Raman Bhalla of the Congress by 3,02,875 votes on the Jammu seat. The party's J T Namgyal won the Ladakh seat defeating Independent candidate and journalist-turned-politician Sajjad Hussain by over 10,000 votes. Rebel Congress candidate spoiled the game for the grand old party and Hussain by so far bagging 29,000 votes. The four-party Left Front that ruled the state for 34 years till 2011 could manage a measly 7.8 percent votes with its candidates losing deposits in all the seats but one. The Congress, however, fared better by bagging two seats with a vote share of 5.61 percent. The saffron party was giving the TMC a run for its money even in terms of vote share having polled 40.25 percent of votes counted so far. The TMC has clinched 43.28 percent. Bengal witnessed a saffron surge as the BJP inflicted a deadly blow to state's ruling Trinamool Congress by winning 16 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state and leading in two other. TMC won 19 seats and was leading in three others till last reports came in. In Kerala, the Election Commission of India declared results for all 20 seats. Congress-led UDF government got comfortable a victory with Congress winning 15 seats. Here is the final tally: For the Congress, Thursdays drubbing is its fifth consecutive defeat in the city, where it was founded. The party hasnt won a single election here since the 2009 Assembly polls. It has now lost two back-to-back Lok Sabha polls, one Assembly poll, and two civic elections. As of now, the Congress has a hold over just four of the 36 Assemblies in the city. Sources said intense factionalism and infighting within the party had hit the partys Lok Sabha poll campaign. The party had opted for a change of guard in Mumbai replacing Sanjay Nirupam with Milind Deora as the Mumbai Congress president. Both Nirupam and Deora lost from their seats. A report in The Indian Express cited data released by the Election Commission of India and said that six out of every 10 voters in Mumbai voted for 'Team Modi' ensuring a clean sweep for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for a second consecutive term in Mumbai. According to data released by the Election Commission of India , "candidates put up by the saffron allies on the six seats of Mumbai collectively polled more than 58.21 per cent (3,033,993 votes) of the total 5,211,432 votes cast in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, bettering its performance from the 2014 polls, when the BJP-Shiv Senas vote share stood at 56.11 percent," the report said. "A divisive figure, Mr Modi is undoubtedly a charismatic campaigner. Rather than transcend the faultlines of Indian society religion, caste, region and language Mr Modis style is to throw them into sharp relief. He is a populist who speaks in the name of the people against the elite despite being a seasoned public figure. Mr Modi deployed with terrible effect false claims and partisan facts. Perhaps we ought not to be surprised. Polling in 2017 revealed that support for autocratic rule by a strong leader was higher in India (55%) than in any other country, including Vladimir Putins Russia." After Narendra Modi's historic win in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, The Guardian said that the prime minister's second innings at the Centre is "bad for India's soul." In an oped titled The Guardian view on Narendra Modis landslide: bad for Indias soul , the paper said, "The world does not need another national populist leader who pursues a pro-business agenda while trading in fake news and treating minorities as second-class citizens." Geo TV, however kept the coverage simple by providing data only on the initial trends. Sate-run Radio Pakistan in its South Asia segment carried a story titled 'Modi's BJP leads in early India vote count'. Almost all media outlets including ARY News, The Nation and The News also covered the story. They also provided details of the coverage by the Indian media. The Express Tribune carried an agency story titled 'Modi stuns opposition with massive election win. The paper also highlighted that Maleaon blast-accused Sadhvi Pragya won from Bhopal . Both media outlets also highlighted the congratulatory messages pouring in from the world leaders as Modi-led BJP was set to return to power. Dawn news headlined its top story as 'India wins again' says Modi; BJP set to secure historic victory in general election as votes are counted' . The newspaper's website had a separate section for providing live updates about the results of major candidates, trends in market and reactions of the political leaders. The BJP's resounding victory in India's elections made headlines in Pakistan , with the media providing comprehensive coverage of the results of the polls in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi harped on national security issues, including the Balakot strikes. In a scathing oped critiquing Narendra Modi's 23 May Lok Sabha election win, The New York Times, in an oped titled ' How Narendra Modi Seduced India With Envy and Hate' , wrote: Mr. Modi did indeed benefit electorally this time from his garishly advertised schemes to provide toilets, bank accounts, cheap loans, housing, electricity and cooking-gas cylinders to some of the poorest Indians. Lavish donations from Indias biggest companies allowed his party to outspend all others on its re-election campaign. A corporate-owned media fervently built up Mr. Modi as Indias savior, and opposition parties are right to suggest that the Election Commission, once one of Indias few unimpeachable bodies, was also shamelessly partisan. None of these factors, however, can explain the spell Modi has cast on an overwhelmingly young Indian population. Now and then, Lionel Trilling once wrote, it is possible to observe the moral life in process of revising itself. Mr. Modi has created that process in India by drastically refashioning, with the help of technology, how many Indians see themselves and their world, and by infusing Indias public sphere with a riotously popular loathing of the countrys old urban elites. With 23 May mandate, Modi also becomes the first prime minister to return to power winning a bigger vote share for the party enjoying full single-party majority in the Lok Sabha since Jawaharlal Nehru's victory in 1957 Lok Sabha election. Nehru's Congress improved its vote share by 2.79 percentage points over 1951-52 elections, India Today reports . In 2019, BJP has managed to secure over 50 percent overall vote share in 224 seats (according to latest figures). This is the highest vote share received by the party nationwide in any Lok Sabha election since the party was (re)formed in 1980, The Hindu reports. According to latest Election Commission figures (see image below), the BJP has won 299 seats, all by itself, and is leading in four seats taking its final tally to 303. In 2014, a Narendra Modi wave had swept the whole of North India to propel the BJP to power at the Centre. The BJP had become the first party in 30 years to win a single-party majority in a Lok Sabha election. The last time was Rajiv Gandhi's overwhelming victory in 1984 Lok Sabha election with the Congress winning 415 seats. With over 50% vote share in 224 seats, Modi becomes first PM since Nehru to return to power with a bigger mandate BJP retains 81.8 percent of the seats, while Congress managed to retain 37.2 percent of its seats in the Lok Sabha Elections. "Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi is a scholar and intellectual par excellence. His contribution towards improving Indian education is remarkable. He has always worked to strengthen the BJP and mentor several Karyakartas, including me. Met him this morning and sought his blessings. (sic)," the prime minister tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah met up with party's Margdarshak Mandal LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. Tweeting about the meeting, Modi said, "Called on respected Advani Ji. The BJPs successes today are possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing a fresh ideological narrative to the people." BJP also made a clean sweep in 10 seats and Union Territories, but missed winning all seats in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar by just one seat. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 15 seats with over 5 lakh vote margin. Comparatively, in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had won 6 seats with over 5 lakh margin. Analysing BJP's resurgent win, we found that the party has managed to increase its vote share at least 11 states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The Bharatiya Janata Party has managed to retains 81.8 percent seats that it won in the 2014 elections, an analysis of the data shows. This is despite the party facing a consolidated Opposition in key states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. Additionally, the party also managed to make ney forays; it upped its seat tally in West Bengal, Karnataka, Odisha and Telangana. "BJP's onslaught was stopped wherever there were regional parties against it. BJP won 177 out of 300 seats where Congress was against them, after this result if someone says that they alone have the right to rule the country or defeat BJP, I don't think it has any value" Asaduddin Owaisi told ANI. However, Shastri refrained from commenting on the sorry performance of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as the opposition leader, saying: I have not said anything against the party leadership and I maintain that. Speaking with News18, Shastri said the Chowkidar chor hai slogan was rejected by the masses. "The Congress failed to address public issues and the Chowkidar chor hai slogan was not accepted by people of the country. Excessive negative campaign against the Prime Minister has not gone down well with the public, he said. Congress leader and son of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Anil Shastri, has blamed the "excessive negative campaign against Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the grand old partys humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. After facing a crushing defeat in most states, heads are expected to roll in Congress rank and file. While media speculation about Rahul Gandhi's resignation continues despite Surjewala's clarification, at least two state incharges have offered to resign claiming moral responsibility for the poll defeat. First, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar offered to quit from his post after Congress failed to retain even the Gandhi pocket borough Amethi. Now Congress' Karnataka campaign incharge HK Patil has offered to quit after BJP had a near walkover in the southern Indian state governed by a Congress-JD(S) government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit his Lok Sabha seat Varanasi on 28 May and on 29 May he is likely to visit his home state Gujarat. The Prime Minister is expected to take oath for his second term on 30 May, News18 reported. The prime minister's visit to his constituency and home state will come after he lead his party to become the first after Nehru-led Congress to come back to power with a bigger mandate than the first time. BJP general secretary K Surendran, who led the Sabarimala protests against changing temple traditions, also suffered a defeat in Pathanamthitta, ground zero of the Lord Ayyappa Temple agitation. He was pushed to third position with over 2.97 lakh votes behind Congress-UDF nominee Anto Antony and CPI(M)-LDF candidate Veena George. The front had expectations in 3 constituencies- Thiruvananthapuram, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur-, besides hoping to increase its vote share in a handful of other segments. However, a defeat of party veteran Kummanam Rajasekharan to Congress's incumbent MP Shashi Tharoor in Thiruvananthapuram by a margin of nearly one lakh votes led to disappointment among the BJP cadre. The hopes of the BJP-led NDA to ride piggyback on the Sabarimala women entry issue came a cropper in Kerala, with the front failing to open its account once again in the state. The BJP and other right outfits had spearheaded intense protests against the implementation of the 28 September apex court verdict permitting women of menstrual age into the Lord Ayyappa Temple in Sabarimala, hoping it would pay rich dividends in the Lok Sabha elections. Considered to be a prestige seat for the BJP, Adityanath had been a five-time MP from Gorakhpur since 1991. Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan won by a three-lakh margin in Gorakhpur, a seat which was won by chief minister Yogi Adityanath in 2014 Lok Sabha election. "This is a victory of the truth", he said. Narendra Modi-led BJP has secured 302 seats alone in the 542-seat election. At 02.12 pm, the party was also leading on the last seat where counting was still underway. He said the dates for the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and Union Council of Ministers are yet to be decided. "The dates for the swearing-in ceremony and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visits to various parts of the country are yet to be decided," he wrote. The Cabinet and Union Council of Ministers are scheduled to meet on Friday evening to pass a resolution, recommending the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha. "The Cabinet and Union Council of Ministers will meet this evening," government spokesperson Sitanshu Kar wrote on his Twitter handle. It is noteworthy that with the BJP dealing a hammer blow, Congress and JD(S) managed to win only one seat each; JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda also lost elections. "The mandate won't effect the Congress-JD(S) alliance in state because these were national polls and had nothing to do with the state government's performance," G Parameswara, Congress leader and deputy chief minister of Karnataka told reporters after the state government called an 'unofficial cabinet meet' to assess the poll drubbing. BIHAR's electorate casts highest number of NOTA votes in country Bihar saw about 8.17 lakh voters opting for the None of The Above (NOTA) option - the highest in the country. Daman and Diu (1.7 per cent), Andhra Pradesh (1.49 per cent) and Chhattisgarh (1.44 per cent) followed in the list with 1.7 per cent, 1.49 per cent and 1.44 per cent votes, respectively, under NOTA. Congress gets zero seats in 18 states, UTs The Congress has drawn a blank in 18 states and Union Territories, in the Lok Sabha polls which saw the BJP emerging victorious with a margin even higher than the one in the 2014 general elections. The Congress has been completely routed in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Delhi, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand. 20 leaders make Lok Sabha debut in Maharashtra As many as 20 of the 48 MPs from Maharashtra are making their debut in the Lok Sabha. Eleven of them are from the BJP, four from the Shiv Sena, two from the NCP, one is an independent backed by the NCP, and one each is from the Congress and AIMIM. Modi cannot remove Article 370, 35-A from Jammu and Kashmir, says Farooq Abdullah National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot remove Article 35-A and Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. He said the prime minister should make efforts to unite the people of the country instead of dividing them. "Let him be as powerful as he (Modi) likes, he cannot remove Article 370 and article 35-A (from the state of Jammu and Kashmir). Our right of Article 370 and Article 35-A should be protected. This is very important for us. We are soldiers of this country not enemies of this nation," he said. PTI No alternative to Kejriwal in Delhi, says AAP's Gopal Rai Senior Aam Aadmi Party leader Gopal Rai on Friday dismissed suggestions that it would have an impact on Delhi assembly elections slated for early next year, asserting that there is no alternative to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the national capital. Rai said the party lost because the elections were highly polarised and people either voted for Prime Minister Narendra Modi or for Congress president Rahul Gandhi. "We consider it our failure that we could not introduce the agenda of statehood (main poll plank of AAP) in the highly polarised elections," he said. Rai exuded confidence that the result of Lok Sabha polls would not impact the assembly polls in Delhi which are slated for early next year. "There is no alternative to Kejriwal in the national capital and it has emerged that people who voted for BJP or Congress in the LS polls want Kejriwal in the assembly elections," he claimed. PTI Will ask top leaders to take action against those who helped opposition, says Jaya Prada BJPs Jaya Prada on her defeat from Rampur in the Lok Sabha elections, I'll speak to the top leaders of the party about the people who helped the opposition party and that strict action be taken against those people. Ahead of the elections, Jaya Prada was in the news after Azam Khan passed offensive comments about her. Khan won from the constituency. PM Narendra Modi met the President today and tendered his resignation along with the Council of Ministers. The President has accepted the resignation and has requested Narendra Modi and the Council of Ministers to continue till the new Government assumes office. pic.twitter.com/dX4TltRA5S Narendra Modi tenders his resignation from the post of Prime Minister President Ramnath Kovind accepted th Prime Minister's resignation. The President has requested and the Council of Ministers to continue till the new government assumes office. Election Commission concludes counting of votes in all constituencies Counting of votes was completed in most constituencies, except Arunachal Pradesh's Arunachal Pradesh West seat. The counting in the constituency concluded on late Friday evening, with BJP's Kiren Rijiju winning with 2,25,796 votes, Congress' Nabam Tuki trailed behind with just 50953 votes. Rijiju's victory marks the end of counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP's tally now stands at 303 seats, while 52 seats have gone to the Congress, 23 to DMK, 22 each to TMC and YSR Congress, 18 to Shiv Sena, 16 to JD(U), 12 to BJD,10 to BSP, 9 to TRS, 6 to LJSP, 5 each to SP and NCP, 3 each to IUML, TD and JKNC and 2 each to SAD and Others. Party colleagues from Kashi gave me the official certificate of election from Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency! Feel happy to be representing one of the oldest and most vibrant centres of Indian culture. pic.twitter.com/Ijh8YBUvhU Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha Election Result 2019 Latest Updates Narendra Modi gets official certificate of election from Varanasi Prime Minister Narendra Modi got elected from Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency with 6,74,664 votes. Samajwadi Party's Shalini Yadav trailed far behind with 1,95,159 votes. India Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 Updates: After facing a crushing defeat in most states, heads are expected to roll in Congress rank and file. While media speculation about Rahul Gandhi's resignation continues despite Surjewala's clarification, at least three state incharges have offered to resign claiming moral responsibility for the poll defeat. First, owning moral responsibility for the rout of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, state Congress President Raj Babbar has reportedly sent his resignation to Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The Congress could win only one seat (Rae Bareli) in the state and Rahul Gandhi lost Amethi to Union Minister Smriti Irani. Raj Babbar also lost the Fatehpur Sikri seat that he contested. He lost the seat to Raj Kumar Chahar of BJP by a margin of over four lakh votes. Congress' Karnataka campaign incharge HK Patil has also ffered to quit after BJP had a near walkover in the southern Indian state governed by a Congress-JD(S) government. The latest addition to the list is Congress' Odisha incharge Niranjan Patnaik. "The mandate won't effect the Congress-JD(S) alliance in state because these were national polls and had nothing to do with the state government's performance," G Parameswara, Congress leader and deputy chief minister of Karnataka told reporters after the state government called an 'unofficial cabinet meet' to assess the poll drubbing. The Cabinet and Union Council of Ministers are scheduled to meet on Friday evening to pass a resolution, recommending the dissolution of the 16th Lok Sabha. "The Cabinet and Union Council of Ministers will meet this evening," government spokesperson Sitanshu Kar wrote on his Twitter handle. Narendra Modi-led BJP has secured 302 seats alone in the 542-seat election. At 02.12 pm, the party was also leading on the last seat where counting was still underway. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit his Lok Sabha seat Varanasi on 28 May and on 29 May he is likely to visit his home state Gujarat. The Prime Minister is expected to take oath for his second term on 30 May, News18 reported. With the BJP set to return to power, its parliamentary board is expected to meet on Friday evening at the party headquarters where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to make a speech. Meanwhile, the Congress Working Committee will meet up Saturday to look into the possible causes of defeat and deliberate over the party's future strategy. After facing a crisp defeat in most states, heads are expected to roll in Congress rank and file. While media speculation about Rahul Gandhi's resignation continues despite Surjewala's clarification, at least two state incharges have offered to resign claiming moral responsibility for the poll defeat. First, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Raj Babbar offered to quit from his post after Congress failed to retain even the Gandhi pocket borough Amethi. Now Congress' Karnataka campaign incharge HK Patil has offered to quit after BJP had a near walkover in the southern Indian state governed by a Congress-JD(S) government. The latest addition to the list is Congress' Odisha incharge Niranjan Patnaik. In 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won 15 seats with over 5 lakh vote margin. Comparatively, in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had won 6 seats with over 5 lakh margin. BJP also made a clean sweep in 10 seats and Union Territories but missed winning all seats in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar by just one seat. Election Commission released the latest figures from Lok Sabha Election results which confirms that BJP has won 299 seats in total and is leading in four seats. Overall, results for 533 seats have been declared where Indian National Congress has managed to bag 52 seats in total. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah met up with party's Margdarshak Mandal LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. Tweeting about the meeting, Modi said, "Called on respected Advani Ji. The BJPs successes today are possible because greats like him spent decades building the party and providing a fresh ideological narrative to the people." "Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi is a scholar and intellectual par excellence. His contribution towards improving Indian education is remarkable. He has always worked to strengthen the BJP and mentor several Karyakartas, including me. Met him this morning and sought his blessings. (sic)," the prime minister tweeted. According to latest Election Commission figures, the BJP has won 299 seats, all by itself, and is leading in four seats taking its final tally to 303. In 2019, BJP has managed to secure over 50 percent overall vote share in 224 seats. This is the highest vote share received by the party nationwide in any Lok Sabha election since the party was (re)formed in 1980. With 23 May mandate, Modi also becomes the first prime minister to return to power winning a bigger vote share for the party enjoying full single-party majority in the Lok Sabha since Jawaharlal Nehru's victory in 1957 Lok Sabha election. Nehru's Congress improved its vote share by 2.79 percentage points over 1951-52 elections. Bharatiya Janata Party is two seats short of hitting the 300-seat-mark. According to latest Election Commission figures, BJP has won on 298 seats, leading in 5 others, taking the total tally to 303. Meanwhile, after Narendra Modi's historic win in 2019 Lok Sabha elections, The Guardian and The New York Times have published scathing opinion editorials criticising incumbent prime minister's divisive politics. The oped in The Guardian said that the prime minister's second innings at the Centre is "bad for India's soul." In an oped titled The Guardian view on Narendra Modis landslide: bad for Indias soul, the paper said, "The world does not need another national populist leader who pursues a pro-business agenda while trading in fake news and treating minorities as second-class citizens." A report cited data released by the Election Commission of India and said that six out of every 10 voters in Mumbai voted for 'Team Modi' ensuring a clean sweep for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for a second consecutive term in Mumbai. According to data released by the Election Commission of India, "candidates put up by the saffron allies on the six seats of Mumbai collectively polled more than 58.21 percent (3,033,993 votes) of the total 5,211,432 votes cast in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, bettering its performance from the 2014 polls, when the BJP-Shiv Senas vote share stood at 56.11 percent," the report said. Amid several pro-BJP, pro-Modi and generally political trends on social media, 'Churchgate' was one term trending high on Twitter. A Twitter user pointed out, "Today, if you board a train in ChurchGate and move up north, the first Cong MP that you will find is not before Punjab. (sic)..." The tweet caught on pretty rapidly on the micro-blogging site and saw several RTs and reactions. Another user pointed out, "If you take a train in Bhubaneshwar and go south, you will drown in Indian Ocean before you meet a BJP MP. Travelling roughly the same distance from Churchgate to Punjab. A matter of concern that BJP performed so pathetically in AP and TN (sic)." A day after Smriti Irani's landslide victory in Amethi, the Union Minister tweeted, "A new morning for Amethi, a new resolution. Thanks Amethi..." Meanwhile, the BJP is nearing the 300-mark, the party has won 290 seats and is currently leading in 13 seats. On Thursday, Irani quoted a line from a famous poem to assert that nothing was impossible. "Kaun kehta hai aasmaan mein suraakh nahin ho sakta," she tweeted after leading by over 45,000 votes in the seat considered a Congress bastion. Her tweet came immediately after Gandhi conceded defeat and congratulated the minister. The 43-year-old BJP leader took the political hotbed of Amethi by storm after trends indicated that she was heading for a win in the Gandhi-stronghold. The BJP has won 288 seats so far and is leading on 15, while the Congress has only managed to win on 50 seats and is leading in two others. BJP candidates Gopal Shetty, Poonam Mahajan and Manoj Kotak win Mumbai North, Mumbai North Central and Mumbai North East Lok Sabha seats respectively, reported ANI. The Election Commission is yet to announce results for 45 seats. BJP president Amit Shah tweeted, "A historic day, a historic mandate. Thank you India", after the ruling party broke its 2014 mandate. Bihar was swept, by what most of the media was referring to the 23 May results as the "Modi tsunami", as the BJP made a clean sweep in the seats contested by it in the state while allies JD(U) and LJP, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Ram Vilas Paswan, too, rode the tide and came out with stellar performances. The Election Commission has declared results for 402 out of the 542 seats that went to polls during the general election.The BJP has won 246 seats, while the Congress has won 39. DMK has bagged 16 seats, while Trinamool Congress and JD(U) have bagged 15 each. Ten seats have gone to Shiv Sena, nine each to TRS and BSP, five each to LJSP and YSRC, 4 each to NCP and SP, 2 each to JKNC, SAD, IUML. US president Donald Trump congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his historic parliamentary election victory. The Election Commission tweeted that Union minister Rajnath Singh has won from Lucknow, while Madhya Pradesh chief minister Kamal Nath's son won from Chhindwara. BJP leader Varun Gandhi has won from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh. According to the Election Commission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won from Varanasi. Sonia Gandhi has won from Rae Bareli. BJP president Amit Shah said that Narendra Modi got one of the most historic victories in India since Independence. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi and will address party workers soon. Smriti Irani tweeted on her victory in Amethi and said, "Nothing is impossible." Congress president Rahul Gandhi conceded defeat in Amethi and said that he respected the mandate of the people. He also congratulated Smriti Irani for her victory in Amethi. Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan congratulated Narendra Modi. "I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia," he said in a tweet. Pragya Singh Thakur has won from Bhopal against Digvijaya Singh. BJP has won four seats in Karnataka. BJP chief Amit Shah has reached BJP headquarters in New Delhi. Arriving in a car amid a sea of BJP supporters, Shah was welcomed with flowers and fan fare. Meanwhile, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi reach Rahul Gandhi's residence for the second time in the day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will likely set the agenda for the next five years without losing any time. Modi is expected to meet party workers at the BJP headquarter in New Delhi at 5 pm today. BJP will hold their parliamentary meeting, as they traditionally do, on Thursday evening. As BJP secured a historic lead of 299, ensuring that if it wins with this mandate it will not need allies to form the government at the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again!" Party president Amit Shah tweeted thanking the country and announcing, "Once Again Modi government." As Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA inches towards one of the most historic electoral mandate in Independent India, it's prudent to note why did Rahul Gandhi-led UPA manage to fare so poorly. The Congress committed a grave error in choosing Nyuntam Aay Yojana, or NYAY, as its main poll plank instead of unemployment and rural distress. People didn't understand the scheme in the first place with its complex structure. Forget voters, it is doubtful if Congress workers understood it well enough. The scheme sought to assure a minimum income of Rs 72,000 to the poorest 20 percent of India's population. In a country where availing proper income data is still work in progress, it was virtually impossible for the scheme to work. Gandhi's Congress also failed to answer questions on where the money for the scheme will come from. The BJP, according to trends around noon, is not only the single-largest party but has comfortably breached the 272 mark. The saffron unit is leading in 287 seats as of now and it wont be a surprise if it pushed the 300-mark on its own. The NDA, at this point, is close to leading in 350 out of 542 seats. The role played by Modi's most trusted general Amit Shah will not go unnoticed and this time Shah had an added responsibility. It is risky to speculate what portfolio Modi might hand over to Shah, given the latters propensity to surprise. It is safe however to say that it will be an important portfolio that will help achieve the goals of Modi 2.0. As party president, Shah has already proved his administrative acumen and such a job might be a promotion that matches his bigger stature in the party and in national politics. YS Jagan Reddy likely to be sworn-in on May 30 subject to technical clearances, senior YSR Congress leader Ummareddy Venkateswarulu was quoted as saying. Jagan is set to sweep the elections in Andhra Pradesh, with a perfect 10/10 victory in the Lok Sabha elections and a whopping 147 of the state's 175 Assembly seats. The majority mark in the state assembly stands at 88. Even before the Election Commission numbers made any official announcements about winners for Lok Sabha elections, Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe congratulated Narendra Modi saying, "We look forward to working closely with you." The BJP-led NDA is leading in 38 seats of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in Bihar while the RJD is leading in two seats, according to Election Commission trends. The BJP and JD(U) are leading in 16 seats each while the LJP is leading in six seats. The RJD, a 'mahagathbandhan' constituent, is leading in two seats of Jehanabad and Pataliputra. Prominent NDA faces who are leading include- Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad (Patna Sahib), Radha Mohan Singh (Purvi Champaran), Giriraj Singh (Begusarai), RK Singh (Ara), Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Buxar). Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Saran), Chirag Paswan (Jamui), Ram Vilas Paswan's brother Pashupati Kumar Paras (Hajipur) are also among the NDA candidates who are leading. In 2014, one of the few states to have thwarted the saffron wave was West Bengal, where Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress bagged 34 out of 42 seats. Five years have passed. Going by early trends on counting day, Narendra Modi has not only managed to engineer another 'wave' election in his favour but this time he has done even better. According to trends projected by Firstpost at the time of writing, the BJP has roared into double figures in the state and is hot on the heels of the ruling party. The saffron outfit is leading in 15 seats, the TMC is ahead in 25 while Congress is ahead in two. Remember that in 2014 amid nationwide Modi wave, the BJP could win only two seats in Bengal. NDTV paints an even more optimistic figure for BJP. Around 11am, roughly three hours into counting, the NDTV website shows BJP ahead in 17 seats while the TMC is ahead in 22. A quick research based on data from the official Lok Sabha website showed that if the BJP is voted for a repeat term, which according to the early trends look extremely possibly, and with a full majority then this victory will be a bigger milestone than 2014. If Modi returns to power with a full majority on 23 May, it will be for the first time in 48 years that an incumbent prime minister and his party return to power with a full majority. The last time this happened was in 1971, when Indira Gandhi led the Congress (R) to victory with a full majority after having done the same in 1967 (for the united Congress). Sensex hits 40,000 mark for the first time ever, rallies nearly 900 pts, while Nifty crosses 12,000 as BJP takes a decisive lead in the Lok Sabha election results. The markets were buoyant with indices hitting new high as early trends showed BJP-led NDA leading in 340 seats. BSE Sensex rallied over 900 points while the NSE Nifty soared over 270 points to hit their respective record highs in early trade Thursday, as counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election began. The Narendra Modi wave has swatted away any challenge posed by the Congress or the united Many Opposition leaders who gathered at the venue of the meeting to show solidarity with each other were, till a few days ago, fighting a bitter electoral battle against each other. Even though 21 political parties got together in the Constitution Club of India on Tuesday expressing fears about EVM hijacking, the lack of camaraderie among many of the leaders was palpable. The reason for this was clear. Many of the political leaders who gathered at the venue of the meeting to show solidarity with each other were, till a few days ago, fighting a bitter electoral battle against each other. It was no wonder, therefore, that despite them being at the same venue and raising the same demands, many of them were seen entering and exiting the Constitution Club alone and without speaking to each other personally. Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal was seen to be among the loneliest leaders, although he is the chief minister of the state in which the meeting was held. Kejriwal entered and exited the venue alone, and kept his distance from Congress leaders such as Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel. It is important to note that the AAP and Congress had a bitter experience with each other during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Talks between them relating to a seat-sharing alliance failed. Kejriwal had made repeated attempts to stitch an alliance with the grand old party months before the election in a bid to prevent the BJP from returning to power. But the talks failed as the parties could not reach a seat-sharing agreement. After the end of polling, Kejriwal had said, "Until 48 hours before polling, it seemed like all seven seats will come to AAP. But at the last moment, the complete Muslim vote got shifted to the Congress. We are trying to figure out what happened. Interestingly, division of anti-BJP votes in Delhi between the Congress and the AAP was the main fear that was haunting the Delhi chief minister, as it would give the BJP an edge over both the parties. In the meeting on Tuesday at the Constitution Club, Kejriwal was seen in a gloomy mood as he entered the venue. Although he is otherwise known to be one of the fiercest critics of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a vocal leader, he did not speak to the media. He did not answer questions on what the purpose of the meeting was. The relationship among the leaders of the Congress, Trinamool Congress and the CPM did not appear to be a happy one, after the three parties fought against each other in the Lok Sabha election in West Bengal. Earlier, talks over a pre-poll alliance between the Congress and Left had failed to take off. The TMC also would have hoped for an alliance between the Congress and CPM, as it could have ensured that anti-TMC votes do not shift to the BJP. The talks between the parties failed after the Congress and CPM announced candidates for 25 seats unilaterally before the elections. With the alliance not having materialised, a section of Left voters may switch to the BJP, causing a challenge to the Trinamool citadel. Significantly, delegations of parties such as the YSR Congress Party and Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the party in power in Telengana, were not seen in the meeting. The meeting was led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, whose party, the Telugu Desam Party, was routed in Telangana by the TRS in last year's Assembly elections. Naidu is also increasingly being challenged by the YSR Congress Party in his home turf of Andhra Pradesh. Exit polls on the recently-concluded Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh are divided on whether Naidu will retain power. Follow updates on the lead-up to the Lok Sabha poll results here It was only after several procedural deliberations that EVMs were accepted and has been used since 2000. In close to two decades of its existence, EVM has been used in more than 110 elections, starting from state legislative Assemblies and four Lok Sabha elections (since 2009), including the current one. Day-to-day working of almost every institution, from banking to school education, from mail service to transportation has witnessed a discernable shift in the last few decades. The shift prominently has been from 'manual to technology-driven solutions'. And the most important purpose behind this transformation was to make the functioning of these institutions more effective, error-proof and time-bound. With the same intention of "overcoming certain problems associated with the use of ballot papers and taking advantage of the development of technology so that voters cast their votes correctly without any resultant ambiguity and removing the possibilities of invalid votes totally", the Election Commission of India (ECI) in December 1977 first mooted the idea of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). To effectuate this change (from ballot paper to EVM) a new Section 61A was inserted in Representation of the People Act, 1951(December 1988)that guided the election process in India empowering the Election Commission to use EVMs. The amended provision came into force on 15 March 1989. Following this, the Election Commission released a statement in 2017: "Central Government appointed the Electoral Reforms Committee in January 1990 consisting of representatives of several recognized national and state political parties. The Electoral Reforms Committee further constituted a technical Expert Committee for the evaluation of the electronic voting machines. The Committee came to the conclusion that the electronic voting machine is a secure system. The expert committee, therefore, unanimously recommended in April 1990 the use of the electronic voting machines without further loss of time." It was only after all these procedural deliberations that EVM was accepted and has been used since 2000. In close to two decades of its existence, EVM has been used in more than 110 elections, starting from state legislative Assemblies and four Lok Sabha elections (since 2009), including the current one. It is true that any new technology usually brings in some amount of confusion and concerns. In many parts of rural India, people still refrain from using internet banking as they believe that 'hackers' might steal their money. Such concerns usually stem from a lack of knowledge about the said technology. But at the same time, it is also true that some amount of awareness can dispel these fears. But when technology is used as a ploy to buttress one's ill-founded claims then no amount of awareness can help. This is what is happening with EVMs today. Following the exit poll results for the Lok Sabha elections 2019, that were released on Sunday predicting huge win and clear cut majority for Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), there has been a sudden surge in allegations of tampering and hijacking EVMs by the Opposition. However, these allegations seem nothing more than a ploy to defend their defeat, as forecast by exit polls, and shift the onus on EVMs and the Election Commission. In 2017, in wake of Assembly elections of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Opposition parties of these states raised serious questions alleging that the EVMs were tampered with. Following which the Election Commission issued a detailed press note highlighting layers of security measures taken to make EVMs 'tamper proof'. CLICK HERE FOR LIVE UPDATES ON LOK SABHA ELECTION RESULTS 2019 The Election Commission also pointed out that full confidentiality is maintained in manufacturing of these EVMs as the software of EVMs is developed in-house by a selected group of engineers in BEL and ECIL both government-owned Public Sector Units. However, the two bodies function independently. A select software development group of two to three engineers design the source code and this work is not sub-contracted. A rigorous procedure is followed to ensure zero chances of any outside interface and this can be clearly understood by reading the point-to-point steps of developing EVMs. It says, "Most of the systems used in other countries are computer-based with internet connectivity. Hence, these could be vulnerable to hacking. As stated above, the software in the ECI-EVM chip is one time programmable (OTP) and burnt into the chip at the time of manufacture. Nothing can be written on the chip after manufacture. Thus the ECI-EVMs are fundamentally different from the voting machines and processes adopted in various foreign countries". ECI lists, at least, 12 layers of procedural and administrative securities to ensure that there can be no chance of manipulating the EVMs. Elaborating on procedural and administrative securities, the Election Commission further says: "Before every election, a first level checking (FLC) is done for every EVM to be used in the election by the engineers of the manufacturers in the presence of political parties' representatives. Any malfunctioning EVM is kept separately and is not used in the election. Also, manufacturers certify at the time of FLC that all components in the EVM are original. After this, the plastic cabinet of Control Unit of the EVM is sealed using a "Pink Paper Seal", which is signed by representatives of political parties and stored in strong rooms. After this, the plastic cabinet of control unit of the EVMs cannot be opened. There is no access to any component inside of EVMs." ECI used VVPAT in Nagaland by-election in 2013. After the Supreme Court ordered the introduction of VVPAT in phases, the Election Commission proposed VVPAT be used at every polling station in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. In the current Lok Sabha elections, following the Supreme Court decision on 7 May, the number of VVPAT slips was increased from one to five. However, the Supreme Court, in the same order, rejected Opposition parties' plea to increase it to 33 percent of total machines. Finally, as rightly pointed out by the EC, the issue of "doubts being raised" regarding the credibility of EVMs were taken to several high courts and in all of it "after looking into all aspects of the technological soundness and the administrative measures involved in the use of EVMs at elections in India, have held that the EVMs in India are credible, reliable and totally tamperproof". ECI also points out that "in some of these cases, even Supreme Court has dismissed appeals filed by some petitioners against High Court orders". Despite 11 layers of 'technical security', 12 layers of procedural and administrative safeguards, VVPAT and number of judicial pronouncement made in favour of EVMs exist, opposition's continuous onslaught against the EVMs only shows its complete disregard for institutions like Election Commission. The cycle of political violence in West Bengal portends to persist long after the 2019 general elections are over. The cycle of political violence in West Bengal portends to persist long after the 2019 general elections are over. It may actually turn worse even if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manages to make a perceptible dent in the vote bank of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). For, contradictions give birth to confrontation. And there are no dearth of contradictions in West Bengal's politics, which has been centred around the TMC till now. The factors that lead to violence are all intact, and both the parties, it seems, are ready to fight it out both politically and physically on the streets. Why? One, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's much-talked-about policy of appeasement started backfiring with the BJP's advent in West Bengal. The TMC had initially tried to take the lead in wooing the Hindu voter by organising Ram Navmi processions to counter the BJP. It had to quickly abandon the strategy in deference to its Muslim vote base, who make up more than 30 percent of the state's electorate. As a matter of fact, the TMC is now not too sure of the support of the huge chunk of Muslim voters that it has enjoyed so far. The composition of the Muslim vote bank in West Bengal is a little curious. The most aggressive of them are those who came in from Bangladesh and are heavily influenced by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islam and the Urdu speaking Muslims of Kolkata and its adjacent industrial areas. Many of the latter group comprise those who had shifted to East Pakistan as Muhajirs after Independence, but had to come back to West Bengal after the birth of Bangladesh. The TMC, through various religious leaders and opinion-makers, have managed to keep them on its side, while the rest of the Muslim population comprising 'indigenous' Bengali Muslims, mostly small and landless farmers have been led by their brethren. But the situation is changing fast, particularly because indigenous Bengali Muslims are afraid of a Hindu backlash. They are now coming out into the open, pleading for peaceful co-existence. Now with the BJP getting stronger in the state, the TMC is trying to strike a fine balance between the two communities. But public memory is not as short as it is believed to be. While there are possibilities of communal rift and clashes, the TMC is likely to lose its lead role as the arbiter. The Muslims may seek other power centres for protection. What's more, a divide between the Muslims of West Bengal and the aggressive infiltrators and Urdu-speakers may make the situation easier for BJP, while TMC will never be able to recover from the loss of its oldest ally in the state. The 'indigenous' Muslims shifted their allegiance from the CPM to the TMC during the Nandigram uprising in 2006-07. Nandigram is a Muslim-dominated area. Two, the TMC has triggered a dangerous game of brinkmanship. It did so by changing the political narrative just before the last phase of polling. It realised then that the urban middle class 'bhadralok' could not be swayed simply by its claims of having brought about development in the state and the accusations it hurls toward the BJP of communalism, the Centre's 'dirty' politics and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'villainy'. Since the 'bhadralok (read the genteel middle class)' would rather prefer democracy, a goon-free system and clean and impartial governance which the TMC cannot provide at short notice, Banerjee changed the tone and tenor of her tirades against Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. As the elections headed toward the seventh phase of polling in Kolkata and its adjacent industrial areas, she began painting the BJP leaders as low-brow pedestrians, ignorant of Bengals grand heritage. The reason? She said since both Modi and Shah were outsiders, they could never understand the Bengali psyche. Later, she and her party leaders went a step further, saying the BJP, as a party, is anti-Bengali. So, it's the duty of every Bengali to reject the BJP and vote for the TMC. Even if done unwittingly, Banerjee has triggered a dangerous game. Such provocations will obviously not lead to a competition on who knows more about the history of the Bengal renaissance or Tagore's poetry or the group theatre movement. A senior Congress leader, who did not want to be quoted, said, "It might, instead, lead to widespread street fights to decide who will be Bengals icon Ram or Rahim or Tagore. People's lives will be determined by which language they speak and which god they worship." Three, another contradiction that Banerjee will find difficult to handle is the TMC's faction fights. As the Lok Sabha polls draw to a close, the perception that the TMC only has time till the 2021 Assembly elections is growing strong. So, the factions, which are not in a position to control the syndicates and other avenues of making money, are getting increasingly fidgety. They also want their pound of flesh. So much so that soon after the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the TMC office in the North Kolkata constituency was vandalised and burnt down. The Lok Sabha seat is being contested by TMC's Sudip Bandyopadhyay and BJP's Rahul Sinha. The first impression was that it was a BJP attack. But later, TMC leader and state minister Sadhan Pandey admitted that it was the result of the violent clash between two factions of his party. Already, several people have been killed in faction fights. Finally, political observers across party lines are sure that even if the BJP becomes a force to reckon with in the state, as long as the TMC has the power to hand out state doles, it will have ample supplies of musclemen and hangers-on, who depend solely on 'state funding'. And since the BJP has proved this time that it's not going to retreat in the face of violence, the clashes are going to be bloodier in the not-so-distant future. It seems both the TMC and the BJP have created a political demon that feeds on the never-ending cycle of violence in the state. In a tweet in Kannada, Siddaramaiah wrote, 'BJP was the first to raise doubts about the EVMs. The spokesperson of that party had even written a book. Supporting the doubt, LK Advani had written the preface of the book. What's the reason behind BJP's change in stand in the last 10 years?' Bengaluru: As the debate over EVMs hotted up, former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday said it was BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao who has authored a book questioning Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) 10 years ago and party veteran LK Advani had written the preface for it. In a tweet in Kannada, Siddaramaiah wrote, "BJP was the first to raise doubts about the EVMs. The spokesperson of that party had even written a book. Supporting the doubt, LK Advani had written the preface of the book. What's the reason behind BJP's change in stand in the last 10 years?" The book 'Democracy at risk due to EVMs' was written by Rao, a psephologist-turned politician, after 2009 election. A poster Siddaramaiah tweeted says, "Concerns about EVMs are legitimate when raised by BJP!" His tweet came in the backdrop of six questions posed by BJP national president Amit Shah to Opposition parties for raising doubts about the sanctity of EVMs. In his tweets, Shah condemned those questioning the EVMs saying that opposing EVMs is an insult to the voters. He said that by questioning the EVMs, the 22 parties, shaken with the possible loss, were tarnishing the image of the country. Shah also questioned the political parties why did they assume power who were elected through EVMs and were now questioning its authenticity. As many as 21 political parties had on Tuesday submitted a memorandum to the Election Commission, asking it to first count the five VVPATs and tally with the EVMs before proceeding with the counting process for the Lok Sabha polls. However, the EC turned down their plea. Karnataka Congress MLA K Sudhakar questioned why the issue of alleged EVM manipulation was being brought into the discourse about the Lok Sabha exit poll predictions Bengaluru: In another note of dissent from the Karnataka Congress, MLA K Sudhakar questioned on Wednesday why the issue of alleged EVM manipulation was being brought into the discourse about the Lok Sabha exit poll predictions. Sudhakar's stand is contrary to that of the Congress, which has joined other opposition parties in upping the ante on alleged EVM tampering or manipulation ahead of the counting of votes on Thursday. The Congress MLA's remarks came a day after senior party lawmaker Roshan Baig unleashed a scathing attack on its state leadership, calling Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Dinesh Gundu Rao a "flop show" and party general secretary KC Venugopal a "buffoon". Sudhakar, who had often been vocal in airing his grievances against the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in the southern state, tweeted on Tuesday night, saying EVM tampering and exit polls were two different things. Personally I am confused why the issue of EVM manipulation is being brought into conversation while talking about the exit poll results. When in fact the exit poll results indicate the feeling of the voter at the conclusion of polling. pic.twitter.com/OwuWkAnD5M Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) May 21, 2019 Later, talking to PTI, Sudhakar clarified that he had only said exit polls had nothing to do with EVM tampering. "I have only spoken about exit polls because some people have a difference of opinion on them. I said it had nothing to do with EVM tampering...because exit polls are conducted on the polling day," he said. The Congress MLA added that exit polls were conducted by media houses and different professionals who went to the polling booths, spoke to the voters and determined their opinion. "Whatever opinion is built, becomes part of the exit polls," he said. "Sometimes they predict it right and sometimes they go wrong. So, how can you blame the EVMs for that?," he asked. Locked in a battle with the Election Commission (EC) over the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), the opposition pressed for their demand for increasing the tallying of the paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with EVM figures and submitted a memorandum to the poll panel in New Delhi on Tuesday. In the memorandum, leaders of 22 opposition parties, including the Congress, demanded that the verification of VVPAT slips of five randomly-selected polling stations in an Assembly segment should be done prior to the initiation of counting of votes and not after the completion of last round of counting. Agence France-Presse E-commerce giant Amazon was on its way to running its own online neighborhood Monday after the internet's address keeper granted the ".amazon" domain to the company. After waiting in vain for years for the US online retail colossus and an alliance of South American countries to resolve their battle over the right to web addresses ending with ".amazon," the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) this month sided with the Seattle-based company. In 2012, Amazon applied for ".amazon" and two internationalized versions of the name. Brazil and several other countries put the US company on notice that they were opposed to the idea. "Due to its inseparable semantic relation to the Amazon forest, that domain should not be, in any way, the monopoly of a company," the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs argued on its website. "On the contrary, it is imperative that the States concerned be able to participate in the management and use of the name in order to defend and promote the natural, cultural and symbolic heritage of the Amazon region, as well as foster the regional economy and the digital inclusion of the populations living there." ICANN said it balanced concerns of all involved and stalled the company's application for the domain in hopes the internet firm and member states of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization would work out a solution. "ACTO and the Amazon corporation have been unable to come to a mutually acceptable solution or agree on an extension of time for continued discussions," ICANN said. "In light of this, the board is now moving forward with the next steps laid out... and is directing ICANN org to continue processing the .AMAZON applications toward delegation." There will be a public comment period as per procedures established for granting new domain names. The Brazilian Foreign Ministry said it feared the ICANN decision did not sufficiently take into account the interests of the South American governments involved and undermined the rights of sovereign states. tech2 News Staff Huawei has been facing blow after blow in its business relations across companies from around the world, especially US companies after it was put on a trade blacklist by the Trump administration. The latest setback reportedly comes from UK-based chip designer ARM that has sent a memo to its employees to suspend any kind of business with Huawei. Internal documents from the BBC say that ARM wants its employees to halt all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements with Huawei and its subsidiaries. The company memo states that its designs contain US-origin technology. ARM gave a statement to BBC that it was "complying with all of the latest regulations set forth by the US government. Huawei hasnt spoken on this yet. ARM is headquartered at Cambridge with offices spread across the world including six in the US. Although they dont manufacture processors themselves, its designs or architecture are licensed by several other chipmakers including Apple, Qualcomm and Huawei for its mobile processors. Losing business from ARM, which is now owned by Softbank, is a major blow to the Chinese tech giant since its homegrown Kirin SoCs, from its subsidy HiSilicon, are based on ARM processor architecture. Huawei had been anticipating a ban and as a backup, they had been working on an alternative software for its mobile devices. Although the software is something they can build upon open sourced libraries and frameworks, creating a new architecture for its processors will be a huge challenge. Huawei is free to continue using the existing chips with the licenses for now. However, any future engagements will be suspended. It still isnt clear whether the suspension of business comes from ARM themselves or on instructions from the US commerce department. If the former is the case, then more international companies will be joining in and cutting ties with Huawei. Read more on the Huawei banning saga: Huawei's Android license has been revoked: Here's what Huawei has to say about it Huawei's Android licence revoked: What it means for existing Huawei and Honor phone users Intel and Qualcomm join Google in cutting off ties with Huawei following Trump ban After Huawei blacklist, 'Boycott Apple' campaign gaining steam in China: Report German chipmaker Infineon suspends shipments to Huawei after US trade blacklist Huawei is reportedly releasing its own Android alternative called IndeoenOS this fall Huawei accuses US of bullying, says working with Google to respond to ban Huawei doesn't mention Android at its new Honor 20 series smartphone launch event Huawei's trade ban by the US could advance local Chinese chip suppliers Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei claims the US's 90-day reprieve does not bear 'much impact' Some Huawei Mobile users are considering a switch after Google suspension tech2 News Staff Facebook recently saw its co-founder, Chris Hughes call for breaking up of the social media giant, asking for CEO Mark Zuckerberg to decentralise his powers. The social media giant is now facing criticism from yet another one of its former executives. As per a report by CNBC, ex-security chief, Alex Stamos is now urging CEO Mark Zuckerberg to step down, becoming the second former Facebook executive to scrutinise the companys leadership this month. At a tech-centered Collision Conference in Toronto, Alex Stamos said that criticism of Zuckerberg's massive influence on Facebook is valid. "Theres a legit argument that he has too much power, Stamos said. "He needs to give up some of that power, and if I was him, I would go hire a new CEO for the company." Rooting the need for fresh leadership at Facebook, Stamos called on Zuckerberg to hire a CEO that can help signal both internally and externally that the culture has to change. He explains that the important factor in choosing a new CEO here is to avoid having the technologist who owns product be at the top. I think it is important to have a manager up top. The ex-security head at Facebook also offered to share a name of who he thought fits the job well enough Microsoft President, Brad Smith. While calls for breaking up the social media giant have been going around for a while now, Stamos argued against it, saying that such a move wouldn't solve issues such as disinformation campaigns or manipulating ad targeting for political purposes. Stamos, who joined Facebook in 2015, left in 2018 to teach and work on research at Stanford University. Soon before starting his new position, Stamos raised concerns over news that Facebook had discovered hundreds of Russian and Iranian-linked disinformation accounts ahead of the mid-term elections, which the company went on to remove. Shomik Sen Bhattacharjee Huawei and in-turn its sub-brand Honor have had a turbulent few days after restrictions placed by the US government forced Google to sever the company's access to Android. However, the Chinese company, as a show of strength perhaps, decided to go ahead with a rather grand global launch of the Honor 20 Series, featuring its newest flagship the Honor 20 Pro. Now, the Honor 20 Pro isn't a shiny, feature packed premium flagship like the Huawei P30 Pro (Review) or the OnePlus 7 Pro (review). But, as has been the case with Honor's flagships in the past, the company's tried to strike a balance between style and sheer hardware prowess, which pits it against the OnePlus 7 and Google Pixel 3a (review). While the Honor 20 Series is expected to launch in India on 11 June, the phone's been priced at 599 (approximately Rs 46,500) in Europe. Well, Honor's India team decided to give us a small preview of the device before it's formal introduction and here are my initial impressions of the phone. Honor 20 Pro: Design, Build and Display Honor had us beat when it comes to looks with the View 20 earlier this year and the Honor 20 looks and feels just as good. The fancy light refractions have been given a miss this time for a more understated look. Honor fancily calls this "Dynamic Holographic Design" and I'm sure a lot of people will really like the two colours on offer. Pick the phone up and there's definitely some heft here. What you get is glass-sandwich design with curved edges to help you grip the phone better. Turn the phone and you'll see a back flaunting the colour and the new Honor logo at the bottom. What did catch my eye though is the shiny new quad-camera housing with a considerable camera bump. Wondering where the fingerprint scanner went? You'll find that on the side, doubling up as the power button just like it is on the Samsung Galaxy S10e (review). The Honor 20 Pro also mimics the Honor View 20 and the Galaxy S10e with its use of a punch-hole style display. Talking about the display itself, we get a 6.2-inch LCD screen here running at a resolution of 2,340 x 1,080 pixels and a screen-to-body ratio of a whopping 91 percent. I didn't spend a considerable amount with the phone, but from what I could tell, the display looked pleasant while scrolling through apps and browsing through web-pages. Honor 20 Pro: Chipset, RAM and software Just like the View 20 earlier this year, Honor's thrown in its flagship Kirin 980 chipset inside the Honor 20 Pro. This is also the same 7 nm chipset that powers the flagship Mate 20 Pro and P30 Pro. There's no shortage of RAM either. I'm not sure whether we'll see different storage and RAM variants in India but the unit I fiddled around with packed in 8 GB of RAM which should be more than enough for power users as well. On the software end of things, the Honor 20 Pro runs Honor's MagicUI based on Android 9.0 Pie. While this may sound like a new software overlay, in my short time with the phone, I noticed nothing different from Huawei's usual EMUI. Honor says that there are 'minor additions' to the software here, but I guess we'll have to dig a little deeper to find them. At this point, we're also not quite sure about an upgrade to Android Q, given Google's current stance on the matter with Huawei. Honor 20 Pro: Camera and battery That unmissable camera bump I spoke out earlier houses three of the phone's four rear cameras yes, like the Huawei P30 Pro (review), there are four cameras here as well, but the setup is considerably different. There's a main 48 MP f/1.4 camera with 4-axis optical image stabilisation, a 117-degree wide-angle 16 MP f/2.2 camera and an 8 MP f/2.4 telephoto camera (capable of 3X optical zoom), also with OIS. It's a similar setup to what you'll find on the OnePlus 7 Pro or Samsung's Galaxy S10. There's also a fourth 2 MP f/2.4 macro camera on their back and a 32 MP f/2.0 selfie shooter in the 4.5 mm hole-punch on the front. The camera UI packs in all the different modes we'd seen on the Huawei P30 Pro, including a dedicated mode to shoot the moon. As far as the battery's concerned, the Honor 20 Pro comes equipped with a 4,000 mAh battery, along with a 22.5W charging adapter in the box. We would have loved to see the inclusion of Huawei's 40W Super Charge adapter here but a 22.5W should still juice the phone up quite fast. Conclusion The little time I spent with the Honor 20 Pro was enough to tell me that the phone is quite capable of taking down the upcoming OnePlus 7 and also the ASUS Zenfone 6. But the success of the phone will largely narrow down to its camera prowess (and how it compares to the Pixel 3a) and what happens of Huawei's relationship with Google. Honor did not announce which Android OS the Honor 20 series would be coming in with at the launch yesterday. But considering there is a 90-day cooling off period, it is safe to assume that it will have Google-supported Android OS for now. It's a difficult time for Huawei and Honor and we will have to see how the on-going US-China trade war will play out. Reuters By Paul Sandle LONDON (Reuters) - Huawei put uncertainty over the future of its devices business to one side on Tuesday with the launch of new Honor smartphones, in a confident display of the Chinese firm's technology. The world's second-biggest phone maker runs its devices on Google's Android platform outside China, but the U.S. Commerce Department blocked Huawei from buying U.S. goods last week, throwing future software updates into question. The United States temporarily eased restrictions on Huawei on Tuesday, granting it a licence to buy U.S. goods until Aug. 19, meaning that updates of Google apps like Gmail and YouTube can continue until then. George Zhao, president of Huawei's youth-focused brand Honor, told hundreds of reporters, bloggers and analysts that he was "really happy to see so many friends". "No matter what happens, no matter what kind of challenges ... just smile and overcome them," he told the audience, a mantra that could apply equally to Huawei as to its young customers. "We will talk and communicate with the world using our products, technology and innovation," he added, as he showed off the Honor 20 Pro, which features four rear cameras, including wide-angle and telephoto, and a 48-megapixel main camera. Francisco Jeronimo, associate VP for devices at IDC, said Honor had been successful for Huawei with an appeal that went way beyond the young customer they were targeting. "It is a very important brand for them to address lower price points without damaging the Huawei brand. But with the decision on Sunday, everything changes. There are many questions that no-one can answer yet," Jeronimo said. Zhao highlighted a triple-layer back panel that gives an illusion of depth to colours such as "Phantom Blue" and "Phantom Black" on the 20 Pro. A Huawei spokesman said the smartphones had already been certified by Google before it announced any restrictions. The Honor 20 Pro will soon be available at a price of 599 euros ($669), Zhao said, while the Honor 20 and Honor 20 Lite, would retail at 499 euros and 299 euros respectively. (Editing by Georgina Prodhan, David Evans and Alexander Smith) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. You can call it the Chicago Way and pretend its unique to the city by the lake. But its also the Swamp in Washington, or whatever they call it in New Orleans, Baltimore or Los Angeles. Its the same everywhere for the people who pay the costs of corruption. Reuters Indian online retailer Snapdeal is conducting due diligence on ShopClues, in a move likely to result in a potential acquisition of its rival in an all-stock deal, two people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. Snapdeal, backed by SoftBank, has been focusing on the mass market for unbranded goods in Indias smaller towns and villages after a deal to combine it with homegrown Flipkart fell through in 2017. A deal is expected to value ShopClues between $200 million to $250 million, one of the sources said. ShopClues, which shares Nexus Venture Partners as a common investor with Snapdeal, had an estimated value of $1.1 billion in 2017. The sources declined to be identified as they were not authorized to speak to the media. Snapdeal declined to comment, while ShopClues said it will continue to pursue partnerships and commercial relationships with rivals. The Economic Times newspaper was the first to report that Snapdeal was moving closer to buying out ShopClues. ShopClues CEO Sanjay Sethi and co-founder Radhika Aggarwal are expected to sell their stakes and exit if Snapdeal acquires the firm, the second source said. Reuters Japanese telco SoftBank Corps low-cost mobile brand Ymobile said on Wednesday it would delay the launch of Huawei P30 Lite smartphone, following the imposition of trade restrictions on the Chinese manufacturer by Washington. The smartphone from Huawei Technologies was due to go on sale on Friday but a SoftBank spokesman said the telco wanted to be confident it could sell the product in light of the U.S. restrictions. The US Commerce Department blocked Huawei from buying US goods last week, a major escalation in the trade war between the worlds two top economies, saying the firm was involved in activities contrary to national security. Another Japanese telco, KDDI Corp, said on Wednesday it was putting the launch of the Huawei P30 Lite Premium handset on hold. Japans largest telco, NTT Docomo, said it was considering putting on hold reservations for the Huawei P30 Pro smartphone. The United States temporarily eased the restrictions on Huawei on Monday, to minimize disruption for customers. The move is likely to allow companies such as Google to continue providing support such as software updates to Huawei smartphones sold on or before May 16. Alphabet Incs Google suspended some business with Huawei, Reuters reported on Sunday. The firms smartphones run on Googles Android operating system. Read more on the Huawei banning saga: Huawei's Android license has been revoked: Here's what Huawei has to say about it Huawei's Android licence revoked: What it means for existing Huawei and Honor phone users Intel and Qualcomm join Google in cutting off ties with Huawei following Trump ban After Huawei blacklist, 'Boycott Apple' campaign gaining steam in China: Report German chipmaker Infineon suspends shipments to Huawei after US trade blacklist Huawei is reportedly releasing its own Android alternative called IndeoenOS this fall Huawei accuses US of bullying, says working with Google to respond to ban Huawei doesn't mention Android at its new Honor 20 series smartphone launch event Huawei's trade ban by the US could advance local Chinese chip suppliers Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei claims the US's 90-day reprieve does not bear 'much impact' Some Huawei Mobile users are considering a switch after Google suspension tech2 News Staff Xiaomi is expected to launch the Redmi K20 series the company's first Redmi-branded flagship series on 28 May in China and the leaks don't seem to stop. While we've already heard that the Redmi flagship will arrive in two variants - Redmi K20 and Redmi K20 Pro a leaked document has now surfaced, revealing all key specifications of the phones. This could have been any document, but the source here happens to be verified by Slashleaks, who're usually quite reliable. The specs sheet was revealed on Facebook by a page named Redmi Italia, which claims that the Redmi K20 will be powered by a Snapdragon 700-series chipset. A Snapdragon 855 chipset will be seen only on the Redmi K20 Pro. Xiaomi is yet to confirm which variants of the Redmi K20 or the Redmi K20 Pro will be brought to India but our best guess is that the Redmi K20 Pro will arrive in India as the Poco F2. If the leaked document is anything to go by, then the processor is the only bit of hardware that separates the K20 from the K20 Pro. Both the phones in the Redmi K20 series are said to feature 6.39-inch Full HD+ AMOLED displays with an impressive 91.2 percent screen-to-body ratio. There's also Gorilla Glass 5 protection along with it. For cameras, the Redmi K20 series is tipped to include a single pop-up camera on the front and triple rear cameras on the back. The rear-facing setup is said to comprise of a 48 MP primary sensor, a 13 MP ultrawide lens, and an 8 MP telephoto lens. On the front, the Redmi K20 phones will sport a 20 MP sensor for selfies. As per the leaked specs sheet, both phones will also sport 4,000 mAh battery units along with support for 27 W fast charging. On the software front, the phones are said to run Xiaomi's MIUI 10 skin on top of Android 9 Pie. The leaked specs sheet further reveals that the Redmi K20 phones will be available in three colours - flame red, glacier blue, and carbon fibre black. The phones are said to be available in two variants - 6 GB RAM + 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM and 128 GB storage configurations for the Redmi K20 and two variants for the Redmi K20 Pro - 8 GB RAM + 128 GB base variant and 8 GB RAM + 256 GB storage. Both phones will also feature in-display fingerprint scanners. Nimish Sawant Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation on that fateful day in November 2016, the digital payments ecosystem surely got a shot in the arm. One of the best things to come out of demonetisation has to be unified payments interface (UPI) which had just 30 banks supporting in with Rs 100.5 cr in transaction amount in November 2016. Fast forward to April 2019, and UPI is now supported by 144 banks and the amount transacted is Rs 1,42,034 cr. PhonePe, the Bengaluru headquartered financial technology company which is owned by Flipkart, has been one of the prominent players in the digital payments ecosystem. Launched in 2015, PhonePe has also been one of the first to offer UPI outside of the banking apps. The app has added many more features since such as an increasing number of merchant partners, support for other wallets and wealth management and much more. According to Rahul Chari, the co-founder and CTO of PhonePe, India is still at a nascent stage when it comes to taking full advantage of the fintech revolution and theres a lot of scope to do more in the space. Chari, who started his career in the US in networking and embedded software moved back to India in 2009 to work in the consumer internet space with Sameer Nigam, the co-founder of PhonePe. Together they created Flipkarts now discontinued online music store Flyte before quitting and starting PhonePe in 2015. In an exclusive phone interview to tech2, Chari spoke about the early days of PhonePe, its current challengers, UPI frauds on its platform, its ambition to become a super app and much more. Edited excerpts from the interview follow. tech2: PhonePe has been one of the earliest non-govt and non-bank-associated financial technology company. Could you give us a brief background on the journey of PhonePe from its inception to the acquisition by Flipkart Rahul Chari (RC): We got acquired by Flipkart in 2010 to create Flyte which was its ebooks and music download platform. So it became a digital content platform on Flipkart and it was the first native app out of Flipkart, much before the retail Flipkart app. From there, I went on to head the engineering and product supply chain at Flipkart. Post that Sameer (Nigam) and I quit and started PhonePe. One of the reasons Flyte shutdown in my view was because it was ahead of its time. Micropayments were one very critical reason that Flyte didn't take off. Now we are seeing recurring payments having made some progress in the country and though there is scope for improvement, micropayments are a lot better. You still have the subscription models, pay as you go models with Hotstar, etc. Back then, we were selling content at Rs 5 a track and it was clearly meant to be an impulse purchase and it had to be quick. This was at a time when digital wallets weren't there (2012-13) and paying through card was such a nightmare for purchasing something for as low as Rs 5. The whole excitement of making that impulse purchase would fizzle out the moment you had to checkout using a card payment method. Apart from this learning, another learning that we had during the first Big Billion Days sale was that the digital payment infrastructure in the country was not yet created. In 2014, we realised that digital payments aren't scaling as well as they should within the first 10-20 mins of the sale. The next option was cash on delivery (CoD) and there is a cost to cash. With CoD at scale, that cost increases significantly. The amount of cash management, pilferage, reconciliation, counterfeit notes, it just wasn't worth it. That kind of led us to believe that there is an opportunity and a problem to be solved, eventually leading to the formation of PhonePe. Something like UPI is a more natural way to make a payment in a more seamless manner. tech2: How important was Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for the current digital landscape to evolve? RC: Very important. For a largely direct debit country like India where cash is the major means to transact, and where the credit card penetration is much lower than bank cards, no other form of payment being as simple as UPI, it has been a game changer. If it wasn't for UPI, we wouldn't be where we are right now with digital payments. tech2: What are your thoughts on the digital payments landscape in India? RC: If you look at it from an adoption and penetration perspective, it is still a long way to go. Our market is still a cash-heavy. We are at the tip of the tip of the iceberg and have to convert a cash economy to a digital economy. UPI plays a very big role there. UPI has created an infrastructure in the payments space and there can be further innovations by building upon this infrastructure, through application programming interfaces (APIs). UPI 2.0 is a step in that direction. tech2: How critical are merchant partners on PhonePe? RC: We believe in broadening our base. Money transfer is important for us and we are probably the biggest trial drivers for our user base. Merchant transactions fall into three buckets online merchants where we have a payment option; offline merchants where you can pay by scanning the QR code which is at more than 3 million offline stores and then there are partners who offer in-app payment through PhonePe. We are extremely bullish on in-app payments. There are around 30-35 apps on PhonePe. By the end of the year, we want to cross the 100-mark on that front. Our whole model is based on building a technology platform on which our partners can innovate as I believe that is the most scalable and sustainable business model. Ours is an open platform model and we have open APIs which can be used by businesses to build their apps. tech2: A lot of the times, when making in-app payments, one has to get out of that app, make the payment through the PhonePe interface and then return to the original app. Isnt there a way to make it seamless? Or are there regulatory restrictions preventing that? RC: It is not a regulatory restriction. We do have models where we can completely integrate the process on the merchant app. The reason to take the person into the PhonePe app is to not just ensure security, but also to enable all the specialisations the user has done on the PhonePe app. It also helps in applying better fraud detection rules. tech2: There have been cases of UPI fraud on PhonePe. What are you doing to avoid these kinds of frauds as digital literacy regarding these things is still low in most parts of India? RC: Detecting fraud in India is a big problem. No PhonePe customer care representative will ever ask you for details such as transaction ID, virtual ID, MPIN and so on. Eighty percent of the tickets raised are crawled using technology and bots, so there is no agent involved. We continue to educate our customers about the fact that no one from our company will call you to take your details, through SMSes, through the website, etc. Education is a very large part of this. The second part is working with platforms. Now, Twitter, Facebook, etc., are being used by fraudsters who are also on PhonePe and we are working them to ensure that these accounts are automatically taken down. Also, when there are fraudsters acting as PhonePe support, then we can verify those accounts and have them shut down. The problem is we get throttled by the platforms who think that we are spamming them with requests of fraud accounts posing as PhonePe support. We just want these platforms to understand that this is a large problem in India. Apart from this, we take a lot of efforts in profiling our users and ensuring that any kind of fraudsters in the network are blocked. A lot of the times users complain of getting a message that their accounts are blocked for security reasons. We actively do this to ensure that there is no misuse. We use data signals effectively on our machine learning models and if that throws up any issues we block those accounts. tech2: So you mean you are monitoring different data points of users and looking for anomalies during transactions? RC: Yes, we do that. Location is a very large factor and we build affinity models based on your location. So a transaction limit check happens on a well-known location versus on a new location. If there is an anomaly, transactions will be blocked. Thats when you see the Transactions blocked for security reasons error. Another flag is to do with merchant transactions. If we notice that you have never transacted with a merchant and suddenly there are multiple transactions to that merchant of high-value amount, then thats flagged for our systems to automatically block that transaction. We prefer to take an approach where we dont allow a transaction to happen. Of course, there are false positives and that helps us improve our ML models. So theres a score associated with a user, the device, the location and the transaction. The context for the transaction is merchant and amount, but apart from that we also have an affinity for the time of day. By that we mean, there are certain times in the day when you dont interact with the app and dont do a payment so we use that in our affinity model as well to determine whether its a rhythmic pattern or a non-rhythmic pattern. So these are the real-time models that we apply. tech2: Malicious actors also use QR codes or digital payments. So is there a way to identify people who are making use of your platform for illegal purposes? RC: It is difficult to identify the legality, but we can call it suspicious transactions. These suspicious transactions are flagged in our system. For instance, if there is an account which is only receiving huge quantities of money and never transacts then thats a suspicious model and automatically gets flagged. Sometimes they could be legit businesses. We do have anomaly detectors in the system that flag suspicious transactions. But if the party comes back with legit reasons, we enable these accounts. tech2: How do you see this space evolving in the next five years? RC: I think in the next five years, we will see the unbundling a lot of banking services. We will see a lot of partnerships across the board. Fintech is used very crudely nowadays, but true fintech is yet to happen in India and we will see that happening in the next five years. We will see a lot of financial institutes like banks, home loan companies, etc., partnering with true consumer tech companies like us. tech2: What are your thoughts on Cryptocurrency and will we see a PhonePe coin? RC: Blockchain as a technology has a much wider use case and I am more bullish about it starting to become a platform where various use cases in the fintech space can play out. Cryptocurrency by itself, I am not sure how the regulatory discussions will go on it. Given the lack of education in this space and the potential for fraud, I dont think the country is ready for cryptocurrency yet. tech2: This space has a lot of competition such as Google Pay, Paytm and others. What differentiates PhonePe from the others? RC: Yes, its a fairly competitive space. But we have realised that players who relied a lot on the digital wallet aspect of digital payments have not really seen much success. Google Pay is banking on UPI alone and Paytm is transitioning from a wallet to a bank. PhonePe has actually taken up the role of being a local container when it comes to currency and a local platform when it comes to your transactions. So that is our biggest differentiator. In the app, you will notice that there is an option to direct debit using UPI. So in the My Money section, you can actually link your debit and credit cards to your PhonePe account without the need to actually load money in your wallets. At the same time, you can link your PhonePe wallet or other wallets to the PhonePe account and use the balance in those wallets. So we really are payments container whose objective is to allow you to use a digital wallet of your choice so far as you are dealing in digital currency. So PhonePe, JioMoney, Airtel Money, Freecharge, share the same level of importance on our platform. At the same time, it is not mandatory to load money on these wallets to do transactions. Our goal is to mirror your physical wallet (which may have all your cards and cash) so that you dont have to carry your physical wallet. tech2: With UPI becoming so popular, is it making digital wallets redundant? RC: I think there is space for both. Especially with micro-transactions or refunds, digital wallets are the best. Today if you pay by a card and have to get a refund, it can take anywhere from 5-7 days. With digital wallets, its an immediate transaction. I think there is still a case for digital wallets. tech2: The Right to Privacy ruling is expected to come out soon. Will your digital transactions and data usage around it be affected by it? RC: We are still in discussion with the authorities as to how the act will come into play. The privacy act will have to take into consideration how India operates, what are the kind of issues we are seeing today. It cant be an exact mirror of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We have to work with policymakers to define what works. This works in the banking sector as well where innovation doesnt stop. So its early days to predict what the changes will be. Yes, we need it. But in what form it will come, we will only know later in the year. tech2: There has recently been a Rs 450 cr infusion from Flipkart on PhonePe. By when will PhonePe break even or is that not of immediate concern at the moment? RC: Looking at the hyper-growth we are experiencing, there will be a lot of spending on brand marketing and consumer cash back. Putting a date to an immediate breaking even is not the goal at the moment. Give the opportunity to connect with the market is huge and the growth we are seeing, we are being intelligent about how we market. The IPL partnership is important as it gives us a vast reach. I think this will continue as Flipkart is quite bullish about the product. We think now is the right time to amplify the brand and to actually take in national at all possible touchpoints, especially events like the Indian Premier League (IPL). tech2: What are the challenges that PhonePe is facing in the current market scenario. In the cities, it is well-oiled machinery, but in tier 2 and tier 3 towns there are challenges such as network being patchy, more feature phones than smartphones and so on, so how does PhonePe plan to grow there? RC: We are less worried about the feature phone segment, as we feel the transition (to smartphones) is happening at a rapid pace. The price points at which Android phones are selling and a lot of people in tier 2 and tier 3 towns are much more aspirational. Data is also becoming cheap. But yes, the choppy connectivity bit is an issue. Since we have more than a billion transactions every month on the app, we want to ensure that the app works on even 2G-like networks. From a technology standpoint that is a challenge and we are continuously working on improving that. We are looking at seeing how we can make offline payments happen. Such that even if you dont have a network at a given point, can you actually complete a payment? We are working on some solutions in that direction. It is not just about making payments happen, but also consolidating the payments at the merchants end for him to hand over the goods. So instead of optimising for the patchy network, we are also looking at making possible offline payments. The other challenge is educating the consumers about digital payments. Demonetisation was a strong way of getting people to learn about digital payments. Now metros and tier 1 cities are adopting it fine. But we need to be able to educate people about the advantages of digital transactions over cash payment. The challenge is how we can build use cases that are much more local. Thats where the partnership model works. We will be doubling down on finding partnerships which are relevant to those tier 2 and tier 3 towns where we want to grow. Identifying that one use case can help in the easy adoption of the app. tech2: Google Pay offers significantly higher chances of cashbacks. Do you think thats a problem area that needs to be addressed on PhonePe? RC: I think we have a different approach. We are extremely competitive on the number of transactions that we are driving on our platform. Also, from a merchant use case perspective we are way ahead, because the acceptance among merchants being significantly larger and also the number of use cases on the app being way ahead of Google, we are relying more on the prospect of being a habit creating app. We are working towards that, so we dont have to rely as much on the cashback aspect. tech2: How long before India reaches the level of China, when it comes to digital payments. Do you see cash being eliminated in a large way as it is in China? RC: I dont see it going to the level that cash is eliminated in India in the next 3-4 years. However, I see a lot of day to day spends adopting digital payments. If you look at our economy, money changes hands at multiple levels, so it is difficult to eliminate cash from the equation. But at the retail side, I believe there will be a quantum shift over the next three years, because of the kind of partnerships that will evolve between banks, fintech players, etc. There are a number of kirana stores who are accepting digital payments now, that wasnt the case a few years back. tech2: Any plans to expand to other geographies outside India? RC: The opportunity is there and it wont be difficult for us to transition the product when that happens. But right now, the focus is on India. tech2: Is there a plan to have international partners in your app. RC: We have to ensure that whichever partner we bring onboard comes with a network that is beneficial to both of us. So its not just about adding an international partner. If we do that, we will go all the way using our platform approach of bringing in the merchants, BFSI partners, digital currency together. tech2: Do you see consolidation happening in this space? I dont see a lot of consolidation happening now among the big players. I do see a lot of partnerships getting forged between fintech apps. Disclaimer: Jio Money belongs to Reliance Industries which is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd, the publisher of Firstpost and tech2 tech2 News Staff WhatsApp is reportedly testing a bunch of new features. From changes to the WhatsApp Status feature, improvements to the WhatsApp Business app to a new QR code shortcut, reportedly there is a lot being tested on the app. To begin, at the Social Media Summit at FMS 2019 in Rotterdam, Facebook announced a bunch of features to look forward to from its services. Facebook Advertising's Olivier Ponteville shared on Twitter a few announcements from the FMS 2019 which reveal that WhatsApp's product catalogue will soon be integrated with Facebook's existing Business Manager catalogue. WhatsApp product catalog will be integrated with already existing Facebooks catalog. #FMS19 pic.twitter.com/ORVaijuDsr Olivier Ponteville (@Olivier_Ptv) May 21, 2019 Additionally, it has also been announced that WhatsApp Status (Stories) will start showing ads in them by the year 2020. This was speculated back in October 2018 as well. WhatsApp will bring Stories Ads in its status product in 2020. #FMS19 pic.twitter.com/OI3TWMmfKj Olivier Ponteville (@Olivier_Ptv) May 21, 2019 Some improvements to WhatsApp Business' users experience were also announced, though Ponteville only shared that its format will get 'richer'. And richer message formats for businesses pic.twitter.com/QWFJ2PVF7i Olivier Ponteville (@Olivier_Ptv) May 21, 2019 Another user shared a little more details on this saying WhatsApp Business will soon let users link video, image, PDF files to e-commerce websites. WhatsApp soon wil introduce richer formats to be send through the API. Using video, image, PDF files, but also buttons linking to ecommerce for example. #fms19 pic.twitter.com/0TqorKHfxa Thomas v/d Biezen (@ThomasBiezen) May 21, 2019 Some use cases WhatsApp foresees for different verticals. For business initiated messages, think about confirmation of payments, delivery details and receipts. #fms19 pic.twitter.com/Q46vxmuVGP Thomas v/d Biezen (@ThomasBiezen) May 21, 2019 Simultaneously, according to WABetaInfo, the latest beta version 2.19.151 for Android reveals that WhatsApp will soon allow users to share their WhatsApp Status to Facebook Stories. The latest beta version shows a 'Share to Facebook Story' option under WhatsApp Status stories. Reportedly, this feature will allow users to share images, videos, GIFs and text statuses on Facebook. Besides that, WhatsApp is apparently also testing a QR Code feature in the app that will be added to the Profile section. This, in typical BBM-style, will allow users to scan the code to add a contact or share their codes to share their own contact details with someone else. This reduces the entire process of jotting down the number and saving it. For security, WhatsApp will reportedly also give an option to users to revoke the QR Code at any time replacing it with a new one. tech2 News Staff WhatsApp was asked for details by the government after a report pointed out that an Israeli cyber intelligence group exploited a vulnerability in the app's calling function to inject spyware. As per a report by The Economic Times, the Facebook-owned entity has now responded saying, "While no safety programme including ours is perfect and we must constantly improve we are committed to doing all we can to prevent these abuses to our systems." WhatsApp clarified in its statement to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology that the vulnerability was dealt with through several server-side patches, which meant that it isn't imperative for users to update the app to deal with the vulnerability. The popular chat platform did, however, suggest that users update their app as a matter of "abundant caution." MeitY officials had asked WhatsApp for more clarity on the reported spyware hack that allowed attackers to snoop on users and if any remedial action had been taken thus far. A government official speaking to the publication mentioned that WhatsApp also told the government that it had cracked down on most unofficial versions of WhatsApp, including action against 4 million such accounts abusing these bogus variants during the general election polling period. This was in response to reports that claimed that there were several bogus clones offering to allow users software hacks to bypass the app's forwarding restrictions. These modified versions of WhatsApp, bundled with other software tools were being sold unofficially to digital marketers and political activists, helping them bypass anti-spam restrictions set up by the Facebook-owned company. Two French families have filed lawsuits against US aircraft manufacturer Boeing over the crash of a 737 MAX of Ethiopian Airlines in March, lawyers said on Tuesday. Two French families have filed lawsuits against US aircraft manufacturer Boeing over the crash of a 737 MAX of Ethiopian Airlines in March, lawyers said on Tuesday. The 10 March crash of the plane, which was flying from Addis Ababa to Nairobi, killed all 157 people on board including seven French citizens. The crash came after another Boeing 737 MAX of Indonesian company Lion Air crashed in October, killing 189 people on board. The first complaint, filed in Paris by a family of one of the French victims, refers to the Lion Air crash and says that "technical failure could not have been ignored" by the manufacturer and other actors involved in constructing the aircraft. It accuses Boeing of "involuntary homicide". French magistrates are probing the disaster, as is customary when any French citizen is killed abroad. Boeing acknowledged Saturday it had to correct flaws in its 737 MAX flight simulator software used to train pilots, after the two deadly crashes involving the aircraft that killed a total of 346 people. Boeing's statement about the flight simulator marked a first acknowledgement of a shortcoming since the two accidents led to the grounding of the top-selling 737 MAX plane. The plane's MCAS anti-stall software has been blamed in large part for the Ethiopian Airlines tragedy. "We did not wait for Boeing's confessions over the existence of faults to seek the penal responsibility of the manufacturer," said Yassine Bouzrou, the lawyer of the family. The complaint was filed in April but is only being made public now. "Boeing's very grave behaviour will only be resolved through the path of seeking compensation," added the lawyer. Meanwhile, Frenchwoman Nadege Dubois-Seex, whose husband Jonathan died in the crash, filed a suit against the company in Chicago where the company's headquarters is located. Along with Jonathan's mother, Britt-Marie Seex, she argues that Boeing failed to take the necessary measures after the Lion Air accident as the group feared negative financial repercussions if the reputation of the plane was tarnished. "They knew, they were aware, they could have avoided this accident... This plane should never have taken off," Nadege Dubois-Seex told reporters in Paris on Tuesday. They are claiming $276 million in damages, according to the text of their suit which was seen by AFP. "We believe that the evidence in this case will clearly demonstrate that Boeing acted recklessly, wilfully and with conscious disregard to the safety of its passengers," their lawyer Nomaan Husain told a press conference in Paris. He accused the manufacturer of putting "profit over safety". There are three possibilities in the current situation. It may be that Iran actually is testing us and that the administrations moves will convince it to stop. But two others are equally plausible. One is that Iran is doing nothing unusual and will decline to escalate. In that case, Trump can claim to have deterred Iran from doing something it had no intention of doing. As John McPhee wrote in Oranges, his landmark 1967 profile of the fruit and its production, Fresh oranges have become, in a way, old-fashioned. He was thinking mostly of frozen concentrate with a laboratory-controlled balance between its acids and its sugars; its color and its flavor components as uniform as science can make them but the point remains true. Many of us have been conditioned to accept that real fruit is a luxury. Besides, as McPhee described, the orange is ancient, and honorable. It is steeped in more history beginning with a long migration from its origins in the South China Sea, down into the Malay Archipelago, then on four-thousand miles of ocean current to the east coast of Africa, across the desert by caravan and into the Mediterranean basin, then over the Atlantic to the American continents than we allow. From a professional perspective, Ewen was an unusual kind of stage manager, a role in the theater that involves the day-to-day management of shows both in rehearsal and in performance, long after the departure of the director. He was also an actor and a director most notably at his beloved Weston Playhouse Theatre in Vermont, his home base every summer, after spending the rest of the year in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago. Microsoft announced the initial availability of the Windows 10 May 2019 Update through the Windows Insider Programs Release Preview in early April. Today, the company has officially announced the rollout of the stable Windows 10 May 2019 update to all users worldwide. The May 2019 update carries the version 1903 and is now available to all Windows users through the Windows update after being initially available only for users of Windows Insider Program. The new update includes a new light theme for Windows 10 which was earlier unveiled in a test build and the light theme is a white colored system-wide theme making all of the UI to appear white. The update also adds Kaomoji( \_()_/ or () ) support. Users will be able to access the Kaomoji face characters through the same existing emoji shortcut i.e., Windows logo key + period (.). Apart from this, the latest update also includes Windows sandbox feature which will allow users to safely run untrusted .exe files. It will create a temporary desktop environment to isolate a particular app to that sandbox. Once the user has finished running the app, the entire sandbox will be deleted making it secure and disposable. Alongside the windows update, Microsoft has also the new Windows health dashboard that will provide timely information on the current rollout status and known issues across both feature and monthly updates. The May 2019 update will not be automatically installed for users, at least for some months. Users who are interested to install this update, can open Windows Update settings (Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update) and select Check for updates. Once the update appears, you can select Download and install now. Commenting on this, John Cable, Director of Program Management, Windows Servicing and Delivery said: Being on the latest version of Windows 10, the May 2019 Update, provides you with the latest features, more control over updates, and greater transparency for a better update experience. We will continue to work to improve Windows 10 quality and will be closely monitoring and sharing how the rollout is going, including both the current status and issues via the new Windows release health dashboard. We hope you enjoy this new update and encourage you to tell us about your experience by providing comments or suggestions via Feedback Hub. Source Investing in Silver Stocks Silver is a unique precious metal. Its essential for many industrial applications. Silver is the best electrical and thermal conductor of all metals, making it highly valued for electrical applications. Because of that, more than half of silvers demand comes from the industrial sector. Silver is also highly valued by investors because it shares many of the same investment characteristics as gold. A safe-haven metal, silver can help investors to hedge against inflation and weather an economic downturn. Top silver stocks Many companies in the metals sector mine silver. However, most mining companies focus on producing industrial metals such as iron ore, copper, and aluminum. They often produce silver as a byproduct of those primary products. Meanwhile, companies that mine precious metals tend to focus on gold. Consequently, even though many companies mine some silver, it often generates a relatively minor portion of their revenues. While these factors limit the available silver investment options, a few top silver stocks stand out: Silver Stock Description First Majestic Silver: (NYSE:AG) A precious metals mining company that gets the majority of its revenue from silver. iShares Silver Trust: (NYSEMKT:SLV) An exchange-traded fund (ETF) that seeks to track the price of silver. Wheaton Precious Metals: (NYSE:WPM) A precious metals streaming company with significant silver exposure. Source: Company investor relations websites 1. First Majestic Silver First Majestic expects silver to contribute about 55% of its revenue in 2021, making this Canada-based company one of the purest plays on silver in the mining sector. Most other companies that focus on mining silver only expect the metal to account for 27% to 45% of their revenues in 2021. Although its a Canadian company, First Majestic focuses on Mexico because it produces more silver than any country in the world. The company currently operates three mines in Mexico and has several other silver mines under development. First Majestic also operates the Jerritt Canyon Gold Mine in Nevada. It purchased the mine in 2021 to diversify its operations. However, even after adding a primary gold mine, First Majestic has more exposure to silver than any other mining company. Silver stocks such as First Majestic have opportunities to outperform the price of silver by expanding production and reducing costs. But they are also vulnerable to operational problems and cost overruns. Mining issues, management missteps, and exposure to other commodities can weigh on the performance of a silver mining company's stock. First Majestic believes it can be a long-term outperformer. It aims to become the worlds largest primary silver producer and is investing millions of dollars each year toward that goal by exploring for and developing new silver mines. 2. Wheaton Precious Metals Wheaton Precious Metals is a precious metals streaming company. Instead of operating physical mines, Wheaton provides mining companies with cash up front to cover portions of their mining costs. In exchange, the company receives rights to buy some of the metal produced by the mines at fixed prices. Wheaton expects its silver streams to generate 41% of its revenue mix between 2021 and 2025. The company's exposure to silver is the highest among its streaming and royalty competitors. Wheaton has the contractual right through 2025 to purchase the precious metal for an average price of $5.81 per ounce. That means any silver price above that level generates profit for the company. The company's focus on streaming enables it to generate lots of cash. Wheaton uses this money to invest in new streams and pay dividends to shareholders. Wheaton's business model enables it to profit from rising silver prices in the same way as a mining company. However, it assumes fewer of the risks and potential cost overruns associated with physical mining. Gold Stocks We've dug up the best and brightest gold companies for you to invest in. Mining Stocks Mining investments can range from precious metals like gold to the lithium and cobalt in our modern technologies. Metal Stocks Get a list of stock picks from the pros, along with tips on industry trends & how to leverage them. Material Stocks The Materials sector is responsible for producing the raw materials used by all other sectors of the stock market. 3. iShares Silver Trust The iShares Silver Trust is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that focuses on physical silver. The ETF aims to track the performance of the price of silver by owning silver bars, which are stored in bank vaults in London and New York City. Because the ETF holds physical silver, it tracks the precious metal's price relatively closely. The chart below demonstrates how the price of iShares Silver Trust shares have changed with the price of silver: Pembina Pipeline (NYSE:PBA) has been quietly having a good year. Shares of the Canadian midstream company are already up more than 20%, thanks in large part to a rebound in the energy market. While that rally is great news for existing investors, it has pushed down the yield on the company's dividend to about 4.7%. Because of that, Pembina Pipeline isn't as compelling an investment opportunity as it was earlier this year. However, that doesn't mean shares aren't still worth buying. Here's why some investors might want to consider adding the Canadian pipeline company to their portfolio. The bull case for Pembina Pipeline The main draw with Pembina Pipeline is its dividend. The company not only offers a relatively high yield, but it pays investors each month as opposed to quarterly. Further, that payout should be sustainable over the long term. Three factors drive that view. First, Pembina currently gets 86% of its earnings from stable fee-based contracts, which is above its 80% target. Second, it only pays out about 57% of its total cash flow, which is a conservative level for a pipeline company. Finally, the company has a strong investment-grade credit rating backed by leverage metrics that are currently below its target range. Pembina Pipeline adds to the attractiveness of its dividend by aiming to increase it each year. The company has done so for eight straight years, growing the payout at a 4.1% compound annual rate over that time frame. That trend should continue over the next several years because the company has 4.8 billion Canadian dollars ($3.9 billion) in growth projects under construction. As they come online, those expansions should supply the company with the incremental cash flow needed to continue growing the dividend each year. The third factor in Pembina's favor is its valuation. The Canadian pipeline company expects to generate about CA$4.50 ($3.36) per share in adjusted cash flow in 2019. With its stock currently selling for about CA$49 ($36.50) apiece, shares trade at about 11 times cash flow. That's a very reasonable level for a pipeline company, especially considering that leading Canadian rival Enbridge currently trades at slightly more than 11 times cash flow. The bear case for Pembina Pipeline It's hard to find a knock against Pembina Pipeline. That's because the company's management team has set up strict financial guardrails to ensure it maintains a strong balance sheet so that it can weather storms in the energy market. Meanwhile, it has done an excellent job securing expansion projects that position it to continue growing cash flow for the next several years, including adding CA$3.5 billion ($2.6 billion) of projects to its backlog in the past year. However, if there is one concern with the company, it's the Jordan Cove LNG project. Pembina inherited the proposed natural gas export terminal along Oregon's coast when it acquired Veresen. While the project makes lots of economic and strategic sense, it's highly controversial, since both landowners and environmentalists opposed its construction. The company has already faced several setbacks, including a recent permit denial, which have pushed its proposed in-service date to 2025. Continued issues with this project could weigh on the company, which increases its risk. Verdict: Pembina Pipeline is a buy, especially for those seeking monthly income Pembina Pipeline should have no problem continuing to grow its high-yielding dividend at a mid-single-digit rate for the next several years. Thanks to that, the company's stock should be able to produce total annual returns in the low double digits, especially since it has a reasonable valuation. That makes it a solid stock to buy, especially for investors who would like a monthly income stream. On top of that, it has a wild card in Jordan Cove. The project shouldn't hurt the company too much if it sees further delays, while it adds significant upside potential if it eventually moves ahead. Many investors might be unaware that shares of the world's largest travel luggage maker are actually traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. That's where we find Samsonite International S.A. (SEHK:1910), although the company's roots are in fact American and its official headquarters is located in Luxembourg. That's fitting for a company that makes its money by selling the top brands of luggage we regularly see riding on airport conveyor belts every time we travel. The products are well known but the company isn't necessarily familiar to investors. Let's take a closer look at it. A well-traveled business Samsonite is an old company. Founded in the US in 1910, it assumed the Samsonite name in 1965. Over the subsequent decades it acquired and divested numerous assets, and went through several rounds of ownership changes to evolve into the publicly traded entity it is now. Today, Samsonite is comprised of a sizable collection of brands, some more familiar than others. The top three of these are the eponymous Samsonite line, luxury brand Tumi (which it acquired in 2016), and American Tourister. Collectively, the three are responsible for around 83% of the company's total sales. On an annual basis, sales have been rising more or less steadily over the years. In the company's fiscal 2018, its revenues came in at just under HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion), nearly 50% higher than its 2016 revenues. The company also tends to book an annual bottom-line net profit; last year this was almost HK$1.9 billion. Across the past five years, it has fluctuated between HK$1.4 and HK$2.6 billion. Lost luggage Rising revenues and dependable profits usually bode well for a company's stock price over the years. However, if we look at Samsonite's we see that it's now trading more than 50% down from its 2018 peak. So what's going on? For one, there are its Q3 FY 2019 results. The company reported a quarter full of declines in key line items such as net sales and adjusted net income, the latter of which fell a steep 45%. The company attributed this to "economic headwinds" affecting some of its top global markets. It particularly noted South Korea, the US, and the huge B2B segment in China all of which are suffering. Samsonite is also impacted by the worsening US-China trade dispute; its products are directly in the line of fire for tariffs from the US side. Considering that the US is a top consumer for the company's product lines, ongoing tensions will probably continue to affect its performance. Falling short Finally, there's some difficult recent history behind the share price weakness. In May 2018 an activist hedge fund called Blue Orca Capital began to short Samsonite's shares, an assault that brought other shorts into the fray. Blue Orca decried the company's "history of mediocrity which included lurching from the precipice of one restructuring to another," as well as its "questionable accounting practices and poor corporate governance." It particularly zeroed in on then-CEO Ramesh Tainwala, whom it said was prone to "dodgy" transactions with his company, and accused him of lying on his resume about academic credentials. In another pithy yet hurtful blow, it described Samsonite as "a mid-level brand masquerading as a premium luxury player," presumably referring to the upmarket Tumi line. CEO Tainwala's resignation following the short attack apparently didn't quell investor discomfort over the stock. In fact, the short interest in Samsonite has actually grown (in terms of pure share count), per the most recent Securities and Futures Commission data. Might doesn't make right For me, there are too many concerns and question marks about Samsonite right now. The US-China trade war might soon subside, and perhaps those key markets will start buying more Samsonite goods. The investors holding short positions might move on to other targets. That's a lot of "mights," however, so for now I'd hold off on investing in Samsonite stock. A version of this article was written by Eric Volkman and originally appeared on our Fool Asia site. For more coverage like this head over to Fool.hk.en Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said it has filed a criminal case for the death of an Overseas Filipino Worker in Kuwait, who was allegedly physically and sexually assaulted. The DFA expressed its condolences to the family of Constancia Dayag who died on May 14. Officials said they have coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kuwait to receive a forensics report as soon as possible. DFA has also offered to shoulder the cost of the shipment of Dayags remains from Kuwait to her hometown in Cauayan, Isabela. The Department will continue to provide legal and other assistance to the next-of-kin of the late OFW Dayag, DFA said in a statement. It said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait "has hired a lawyer, who has already filed a criminal case." The DFA did not say who was charged and what criminal case was lodged. Earlier, Malacanang said it supports a review of the labor contract between the Philippines and Kuwait in the wake of the incident. READ: Palace backs review of labor deal with Kuwait amid OFW death Dayag was a household service worker who was initially deployed to Kuwait in January 2016. She returned in 2018 and was on her second contract with her Kuwaiti employer. Kids who look like me and come from families like mine shouldnt have to beat the odds to get an education, pursue their passions or build a family, Lightfoot said in her speech. Black and brown kids, low-income kids, every kid in this city should grow up knowing they can pursue anything, they can love anyone thats my Chicago dream. At the hearing, Rep. Lauren Underwood, D-Naperville, questioned McAleenan about what he knew of the psychological problems migrant children face when they are separated from their parents. Last year, the administration separated more than 2,500 children from parents as part of a policy to prosecute anyone caught crossing into the United States illegally, but that practice was stopped. Border agents are still allowed to separate children at the U.S.-Mexico border if the adult has a criminal history or there is concern for the health and welfare of the children. Due to the extenuating circumstances surrounding the past 48 hours, and because graduation is supposed to be a joyous and celebratory event, graduation has been cancelled for this evening and will be rescheduled, Kingsfield said in a Facebook post. We know many of you have family members who have travelled here to be with your family for this celebration and we apologize for the inconvenience. Hardees and Carls Jr. Kick-off Annual Stars for Heroes Campaign Fundraiser Names USA Cares and Stand Up and Play Foundation as 2019 National Beneficiaries FRANKLIN, Tenn. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - May 22, 2019 - CKE Restaurants Inc., parent company of Hardees and Carls Jr., today announced the launch of its eighth annual Stars for Heroes program. The in-store fundraising initiative harnesses the compassion and generosity of its customers, franchisees and employees to rally behind the nations military veterans and families. Since its inception, the fundraiser has raised over $9 million for veteran-focused organizations including USA Cares and the Stand Up and Play Foundation, as well as regional charities in Hardees and Carls Jr. restaurant communities. The Stars for Heroes fundraising campaign begins in both Hardees and Carls Jr. locations today and will run through June 18, 2019. To participate, restaurant guests are invited to donate $1 in support of military charities. For each $1 donation, guests receive a commemorative I am supporting military veterans and families patriotic star-shaped cut out to personalize and place on display in the restaurant. Guests who donate are given coupons valued at more than $10 for future visits. Stars for Heroes is one of the most important ways we connect with customers, employees and the local communities we serve, said Ned Lyerly, CEO of CKE Restaurants. Its an honor for us to be able to thank those who selflessly fight for our country, and we are grateful for a team of franchisees and restaurant employees who work to bring our communities together through these efforts. The Stars for Heroes program has helped USA Cares touch more lives and make a bigger impact than we ever imagined possible, said Hank Patton, President and CEO of USA Cares. Thanks in large part to Stars for Heroes, we have helped hundreds of veterans and their families overcome some of lifes biggest challenges - from supplying basic needs, such as food, water, and electricity, to preventing evictions and home foreclosures. USA Cares exists to provide immediate assistance to the brave men and women of our Armed Forces, as well as their families, and this program makes that support possible. An incredible effort by folks who truly care! Thanks to the efforts put forth through Stars for Heroes, the Stand Up and Play Foundation has given a newfound sense of purpose and way of experiencing life to so many of our wounded veterans, said Anthony Netto, Founder of the Stand Up and Play Foundation. Our continued partnerships with Hardees and Carls Jr. allow us to give back to those who served our country in a truly priceless way, and were eager to see what this years program holds. Driven by the efforts of CKEs Star Franchise Association and Independent Hardees Franchise Association, Stars for Heroes raised over $9M across nearly 3,000 participating restaurants throughout the US since 2011, benefitting 84 local charities in various areas in addition to USA Cares and the Stand Up and Play Foundation. To make a donation online to one of our national partners online, visit the Stand Up and Play Foundation and USA Cares websites. Follow Hardees and Carls Jr. on social media for the latest product news and promotional offers. Twitter: @Hardees and @CarlsJr Instagram: @Hardees and @CarlsJr Facebook: www.facebook.com/hardees and www.facebook.com/carlsjr About CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. (CKE), a privately held company based in Franklin, Tennessee, runs and operates Carls Jr. and Hardees, two beloved regional brands, known for one-of-a-kind premium and innovative menu items such as 100 percent Black Angus Thickburgers, Made from Scratch Biscuits and Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders. With both a US and international footprint, Carls Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardees Restaurants LLC have over 3,800 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 43 foreign countries and U.S. territories. For more information about CKE, please visit www.ckr.com or its brand sites at www.carlsjr.com and www.hardees.com. Media Contact: Alexa Hamelin 615.538.9309 ahamelin@ckr.com SOURCE CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc. ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Scooters Coffee Adds Third Location To Blue Springs, MO New Store To Celebrate Grand Opening On Friday, May 31 May 22, 2019 // Franchising.com // Blue Springs, MO - Scooters Coffee, the Midwest-based coffee franchise that has experienced tremendous growth over the past year, added its third location in Blue Springs with the companys latest opening at 1230 NW Woods Chapel Rd. To celebrate, the location will be hosting a Grand Opening on Friday, May 31, with giveaways throughout the day. We are extremely proud of the brand presence that we have established in the Kansas City Metro area, stated Mike Rogers, Chief Operating Officer of Scooters Coffee. Blue Springs is one of those cities where we just clicked with the people immediately, so it is very exciting to open another store. We see a lot of opportunity for specialty coffee in the area and hope to continue our valued partnership within the community. On Grand Opening Day, customers can expect to receive several fun giveaways: 10 a.m. - First 100 customers will receive a free $5 gift card with purchase 1 p.m. - First 50 customers will receive a free Scooters Coffee tumbler with purchase 4 p.m. - First 50 customers will receive a free Scooters Coffee t-shirt with purchase Franchisee Mackenzie Burnett will own and operate this location. "We are so thankful for the warm reception we receive anytime we open a Scooter's Coffee location in Blue Springs, MO, stated Burnett. It's such a blessing to continue to be able to grow our business in a community that has given us so much over the years. From our customers to our employees, we are in this business for the people and are forever grateful for the relationships we've been able to build through coffee. We look forward to spreading the love in this community for many years to come!" On Saturday, May 11, all three Blue Spring Scooters Coffee locations hosted a Day of Giving to send students from Blue Springs High and Blue Springs South on a service project in Jamaica. 100% of proceeds for the day were donated to the trip, and the stores donated more than $9,500. Scooters Coffee, which has more than 30 locations in the Kansas City metro area, is a drive-thru franchise that has been serving world-class coffee for 20 years. It roasts only the finest beans, making that first morning sip both convenient and rewarding for its customers across the nation. Scooters Coffee has more than 200 locations in 14 states and has over 175 franchise commitments to build new stores. To find out why Scooters Coffee is among the best coffee franchises in the nation and to learn more about franchise opportunities, visit ownascooters.com. About Scooters Coffee Founded in 1998 by Don and Linda Eckles in Bellevue, Nebraska, Scooters Coffee roasts only the finest coffee beans in the world at its headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. In more than two decades of business, Scooters Coffees success is simple: stay committed to the original business principles and company core values. The Scooters Coffee Brand Promise, often recited to franchisees, customers and employees is: Amazing People, Amazing Drinks Amazingly Fast! It represents the companys business origins from 1998 and reflects a steady commitment to providing an unforgettable experience to loyal and new customers. Scooters Coffee specializes in hand-tamped espresso drinks, fruit smoothies, baked-from-scratch pastries and features its signature drink, the Caramelicious. The company also serves a line of hot and iced organic teas, single-origin coffee and the original Cold Brew & Cream. This year, one of Scooters Coffees drink innovations includes Red Bull Infusions. Scooters Coffee is at the dawn of a strategic growth phase in the Midwest and nationwide. The U.S. coffee market is an estimated $48 billion a year recession-resistant industry, and Scooters Coffee is striving to become the #1 drive-thru coffee franchise in the nation. Visit ownascooters.com to learn more about the benefits of owning a franchise of a well-established company. For more information, visit scooterscoffee.com, facebook.com/scooterscoffee, ownascooters.com or call 877-494-7004. SOURCE Scooters Coffee ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Bailey, 62, had just finished an overnight shift on then-Mayor Richard M. Daleys security detail in July 2010 when he decided to polish his new Buick Regal, a present to himself in anticipation of retiring in a few weeks. Prosecutors say Carter, allegedly a prolific armed robber and carjacker, approached Bailey in a botched attempt to steal the Buick, sparking a shootout in which Bailey emptied his gun but was shot three times. A lot of our kids wont read at all because theyre way below grade level, but they read to Jackson because they know he wont judge them, said Vicki Bennett, assistant principal at Elite. Or they dont have to read at all. Theres no stress, no pressure and thats just what these kids need in their lives. It was at the academy that Skewis first noticed Jacksons link to letters. A middle-school student asked what good it did to read to the dog, and Skewis responded that the student was helping Jackson learn the alphabet. The student wanted proof. Skewis happened to have Cheez-It crackers with letters on them, and she put two in front of Jackson and asked him to pick out the B. No one was more surprised than she was when he got it right, so when she couldnt find the lettered cheese crackers anymore, she started putting letters on Post-it notes. The two worked on identifying them, for 2 1/2 years, and Skewis got bored. She wondered if he could spell his own name, and within two months, he had put the letters together. It was like we had broken a code, and suddenly, the letters made sense in his head, she said. I thought it would take a couple years. A man so heavy he cannot walk or dress pleaded guilty Tuesday to participating in a long-running cocaine distribution conspiracy and faces up to 40 years in prison when sentenced in September. Kenneth T. Hicks, 48, of Emporia, who is said to weigh more than 900 pounds, entered the plea and answered questions in a soft, clear voice from inside an ambulance that was backed into the loading dock of the U.S. Courthouse at 701 E. Broad St. in downtown Richmond. Lying on his back and facing the judge, Hicks could be heard by most in attendance through the vehicles open double rear doors, but he could only be seen by U.S. Magistrate Judge David J. Novak, who accepted the guilty plea, and a handful of other people. I want to put on the record were engaged in some extraordinary procedures due to Mr. Hicks health issues, said Novak at the start of the 30-minute hearing. Hicks pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute more than a pound of cocaine from 2013 into 2017. The roads could be packed this Memorial Day weekend if projections by AAA come to fruition. The auto club predicts that nearly 43 million people across the country will travel at least 50 miles for the long holiday weekend, starting Thursday and running through Monday. That figure is 1.5 million more than last year and is the second highest prediction for Memorial Day since AAA started tracking holiday travel in 2000. The number of Virginia travelers is expected to reach nearly 2 million, a 3.6 percent increase over last year, AAA said. AAA spokeswoman Tammy Arnette attributed the high travel prediction to job growth, rising income and strong consumer spending patterns. Since most travelers will be going by car, lower gas prices could fuel the increased travel. The average price for a gallon of gas in Virginia on Monday was $2.85, 7 cents less than a year ago, according to AAA. The states gas prices also are the 11th lowest in the country. We have to stay within the framework of the Constitution, he told reporters. Those kids have a right to come downtown unless theyre committing criminal acts. But I will tell you all unequivocally (if) you come downtown ... and you misbehave, then youre going to be held accountable. Investigators interviewed one witness, who they did not name, that rebutted Northams statement that he had not seen the photo. One unidentified witness has reported to us that he recalls reviewing the governor's personal yearbook page with the governor in 1984, the report says, adding that the witness did not think the Governor was personally depicted in the Photograph. Northam denied that the meeting ever happened. Northam also told investigators that he felt compelled to address the photograph quickly, and feared saying that he did not appear in the photo out concerns that someone would come forward and say, I was there and remember and it is you. Overall, the details in the report, which was paid for by EVMS, fall short of Northams promise during a Feb. 2 news conference, when he said, I want to have all the facts. And I want Virginia to have all the facts. Thats important to me, Northam said. I think that we will continue to collect information to definitively prove, in addition to my word, that Im not in that picture. AN open letter to the residents of Fredericksburg: The Fredericksburg City Council and the Fredericksburg School Board have spent considerable time since 2017 in more regular face-to-face conversations. We have agreed to bring both bodies together for joint meetings at least twice annually, and have formed a City/Schools Working Group that now meets monthly. No one can remember a time in which our two independently elected bodies have been more engaged. This is good progress, but we concede that much more work is needed. We spent significant time discussing capacity issues. The School Board has expressed the need for a new school, and City Council wants to ensure the financial impact on the city is guided by a school expansion strategy that will support the needs of our most precious assets, our children, long term. Both governing bodies have agreed to work together in the immediate future to ensure that sufficient infrastructure is in place for a comprehensive learning environment for all. We encourage citizens to get engaged and stay engaged! More than 30 Virginia localitiesand the City of Fredericksburg plans to soon join their rankshave also sued pharmaceutical companies, prescription drug distributors and pharmacy benefit managers in an effort to recover at least some of the millions of dollars they have had to spend to deal with opioid-addicted individuals. But that leaves people who use these strong pain-killing medications as prescribed in a terrible bind. Some doctors have just stopped prescribing opioids altogether. Others restrict their use to a very short time frame, even after surgery, although relieving pain in cancer and post-surgical patients is exactly what these medications were developed to do. Its not fair to keep them from their intended users because other people have abused them or become addicted. That strategy could also backfire. The biggest driver of overdoses in the Fredericksburg region is not prescription opioids, but illegal fentanyl, which is being smuggled over the southern border. In March, then Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had seized enough fentanyl in 2018 to kill every American citizentwice. Some of that poison is even now making its way to the streets of Fredericksburg. The individual on the phone said, Mr. Harris, he can go with his people. I can take care of my own responsibilities. Hell be fine, Harris testified Wednesday. At the time it wasnt really nothing to think, when its the mother telling you to do one thing or do the other with their child so I gathered up the boy and went upstairs and packed his bags. The scoring became an issue in 2015, when PM Rx, a company that failed to get a license, sued the state to see why it awarded the license to Cresco Labs. An attorney for the state argued that disclosing the facilities locations and other information could make them targets of crime. After winning a court order to see 13,000 pages of documents, and after its CEO Andrew James died, the company agreed to withdraw its lawsuit. As the award winner of Users Choice Game of 2021 and Best Pick Up & Play of Google Play, Ensemble Stars!!Music launched the first English release, which takes this highly acclaimed game to the next level. Its spring, and in Americas state capitals legislatures are winding up their business and, too often, bringing out the padlocks. All 50 states give the public the right to see government records and documents, but many legislatures are weighing changes in their open-records laws. These changes rarely end up making our government more transparent. Instead, lawmakers often try to conceal public records from the people who own them that is, you and me. Public records laws exist to allow us to see into the decision-making of our government. When bureaucrats make efforts to obscure our view into their actions, it serves only to undermine government officials accountability. It also diminishes the publics understanding of, and faith in, democracy. Now secret In Massachusetts, lawmakers are making it harder for the public to see elected officials financial disclosure statements. In California, the Legislature has been considering the shuttering of records that could reveal misconduct or conflicts of interest in publicly funded research. Last year, Washington state lawmakers rushed through a bill that allowed them to hide lawmakers calendars and email exchanges with lobbyists. Only after public outrage erupted over the move did the governor veto the measure. Most efforts to hide public records arent as brazen. Here in Oregon, our once-robust disclosure law, passed in 1973, is now pockmarked with more than 500 exemptions, many chiseled by bureaucrats wishing to avoid scrutiny or lobbyists seeking to protect their clients. Oregon officials can conceal investigative evidence of wrongdoing by medical professionals not just doctors but also dentists, veterinarians and undertakers. Basic information about birth, marriage and deaths is locked away. The pest-extermination industry won a special exemption to keep secret information about bedbug infestations. Oregons once-solid disclosure has become so flimsy that it once allowed state officials to declare it was a confidential trade secret to reveal the location of lightning strikes. The right to know The fight over public access to government documents has often involved the mundane grist of government, such as studies and budgets and memos and emails. This tension over whats called the right to know debates back to the countrys founding. A popular government, as James Madison wrote to a friend, without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy; or perhaps both. I spent 30-plus years as a journalist and editor, focusing on investigative reporting on the state and federal levels. Ive filed hundreds of requests for documents and now teach journalism students to do the same. And I believe the best way to protect these laws of transparency is to put them to use and show the public why they matter. In 1966, Congress passed the Freedom of Information Act, the first law that required all federal agencies to make documents public when asked. But in some ways, state public-access laws that were passed as post-Watergate, good-government reforms have a greater role in our everyday lives. What the Defense Department has in its files may be of national import, but it can be just as powerful for a community to find out what the local zoning board behind closed doors is planning for a citys neighborhoods. Using your rights Journalists do perhaps more than anyone to advertise the power of these laws. A study looking at more than 30 years of news stories found that almost all investigative reporting relies on government documents, and nearly half of investigative reporters make a point of telling readers these disclosure laws played a role in prying records out of governments grip. Researchers, advocacy groups and businesses are among the most common users of these laws, but anyone can write out a request and hand it to a government agency. (In a pinch, I once scrawled a request on the back of a reporters notebook. It worked.) Today, in most states, public officials must work under a deadline to respond to the request. And thats when things can get difficult, because officials have three big ways to block your access to the publics records. One is fees. State laws allow government to make you pay for the records, although many have provisions to reduce or waive these costs. In most cases, government can charge only for the actual cost of retrieving, reviewing and copying documents. But those costs can still be high enough to thwart inquiry. The third way is through more exemptions. Some debates are not easy. The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that would prevent disclosure of photos, audio or video recordings of mass shootings, such as the 2018 shooting that killed 17 students and staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Supporters say that this exemption could prevent further trauma. But others argue hiding these images makes these tragedies sterile and makes them more likely to occur. The availability of these kinds of images later helped news organizations hold police and school officials accountable for failing to do more to stop the Parkland shooter. The South Florida Sun Sentinel won a Pulitzer this year for its reporting that held those officials accountable. Records belong to you In recent years, a rise of public-records watchdogs, such as Muckrock, has made filing public records requests easier while shining a light on government efforts to close off records. The Student Press Law Center offers a public records letter generator. Journalists are writing about government efforts to hide documents a move that properly puts the heat on government officials and increases their own transparency by showing readers how journalists go about doing their jobs. News outlets in Atlanta banded together to expose the mayors secret effort to defy the Georgia public records law. The stories led to a criminal charge against the mayors press secretary for improperly withholding records embarrassing to her boss. Public records are public because they belong to you you and other taxpayers paid to create them and, of course, you paid for all the work they record and represent, Kevin Riley, editor of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, said during the unfolding scandal. So no one should be looking for ways to keep them secret from you. Brent Walth is an assistant professor of journalism and communication at the University of Oregon. He is a member of the Oregon Sunshine Committee, a 15-person panel created by the Oregon Legislature to review exemptions to the states public records law. This article originally appeared at The Conversation, a website that publishes analysis and insights from academics around the world. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 We're willing to bet that among the folks who have been closely following recent events at Portland State University are members of the committee charged with selecting the next president of Oregon State University. The drama at PSU serves as a reminder of how high the stakes are when the time comes to find a new university president and what can go wrong when a selection doesn't pan out. It also should serve as a reminder to members of the committee that they should work hard to include a very public component as part of the OSU search and to make the search process itself as transparent as possible. If you haven't been paying attention to the recent events at PSU, here's a summary: The university's president, Rahmat Shoureshi, recently resigned under pressure from the PSU Board of Trustees. He had been president of the university for just 21 months. Most of the trustees wanted Shoureshi gone after repeated complaints about his management practices and his treatment of employees. The trustees agreed to give Shoureshi a settlement package valued at more than $855,000. The amount includes another year of his base salary, two years of health insurance and $35,000 to cover his legal fees. At about the same time that the trustees were working out the details of the settlement deal, they voted to raise tuition at the school more than 11 percent. As it turns out, the boards that govern Oregon's public colleges and universities can't unilaterally increase tuition by that amount: Tuition increases above 5 percent need approval from the state's Higher Education Coordinating Commission. Ben Cannon, the head of the commission, last week expressed his unhappiness at the severance package and told The Oregonian that the settlement "will weigh heavily on the commissioners if Portland State sticks with its proposal." It's not an idle threat: In the past, the commission has vetoed tuition increases sought by Oregon universities. (This partially explains why OSU's board has taken pains to keep its tuition increases below 5 percent.) Now, the reasons why some of Oregon's public universities believe they need double-digit tuition increases go well beyond a severance settlement to a former president, and as the Legislature grapples with higher education funding, there will be other opportunities to examine those reasons. But suffice it to say that it doesn't look good to offer a six-figure severance deal to an administrator at the same time that you're increasing your tuition rates by 11 percent. And we're suspecting that some of PSU's trustees are having a bad case of buyer's remorse about hiring Shoureshi in the first place. Which highlights, again, the importance of these presidential searches arguably the most important function these university governing bodies perform. This is the first presidential search that the OSU Board of Trustees has overseen, and it has the luxury of time: President Ed Ray has announced his plans to retire on June 30, 2020. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A bill before the state Legislature that would dramatically curtail the cases in which the death penalty could be applied passed the state Senate on Tuesday and now heads for the House. But in the House, the bill might well run into a major roadblock: Speaker of the House Tina Kotek has said in the past she believes such a major revision in Oregon capital punishment laws should go before the state's voters. She said this week that she would need to read the latest version of the measure, Senate Bill 1013, before making a final decision but it certainly is true that the speaker has the power to stop a bill from advancing in the Legislature. Here's a case where Kotek is right: This is something that the state's citizens deserve a chance to consider. To be fair, Senate Bill 1013 is a well-crafted and clever bit of legislation. The bill redefines the crime of aggravated murder (the only crime in Oregon statutes that can be punished by death), so that it includes acts of terror that kill two or more people. The bill has been revised so that it includes two other instances in which a defendant could be sentenced to death: cases in which the victim was under the age of 14 or in which a defendant killed another inmate while serving time for a murder conviction. Other offenses that currently qualify as aggravated murder under state law, such as killing someone during the course of a rape or robbery, would be reclassified as another type of murder, and the maximum punishment for those would be life in prison without the possibility of parole. The proposed legislation also would change one of the four questions juries must decide when considering whether to impose a death sentence. Oregon jurors now must determine whether a person guilty of aggravated murder is at risk of being a danger in the future. The bill would remove that question, which is fine: It's an unfair and unscientific duty to ask jurors to tackle. The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday on a largely party-line 18-9 vote. Among mid-valley legislators, Sen. Sara Gelser, a Democrat, voted in favor of the measure; Sen. Fred Girod, a Republican, voted against it. For a bill that has drawn a measure of attention this session, the floor debate in the Senate on Tuesday was remarkably restrained: Only Sen. Floyd Prozanski, the influential Eugene Democrat who's led the charge on the bill, spoke. The main argument opponents have raised against the bill and the very point that Kotek is pondering is that such a major change to state law on capital punishment should be referred to voters. And that's what the Legislature should do. The verdict of Oregon voters over the last century on capital punishment has been mixed: Capital punishment was outlawed by voters in 1914 and then re-enacted in 1978. Three years later, the state Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was unconstitutional, paving the way for a 1984 initiative in which voters reaffirmed capital punishment. Since then, though, the topic has been rarely revisited in Oregon. After then-Gov. John Kitzhaber imposed a moratorium on capital punishment in 2011, he made a halfhearted effort to goad the Legislature into action, but the proposal didn't gain any traction. Gov. Kate Brown has said that she plans to continue the moratorium, but hasn't taken much of an active role on the issue. Oregon hasn't executed a prisoner since May 1997; the state has 32 men and one woman on death row. It's very possible that the opinions of Oregonians have changed since that 1984 initiative, as the national debate over the death penalty has taken intriguing twists and turns in the 35 years since then. But there's only one way to find out for sure. The Legislature should let voters decide. (mm) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Hello, Sen. Sara Gelser and Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis. Who are these Oregon legislators, whom you occasionally hear named, but never have any need for? Have they ever been known to do you a political favor, or would you know their names or how to solicit a favor? Yet these are your real Oregon legislators, these folks in Salem who pass any hard calls on to the voters and then seem to work for the next 10 years to subvert that same voting outcome. Presently, I feel I am being mistreated by our Oregon Department of Revenue. I employed the very best CPAs in Albany, but that was not good enough for the state. My Oregon tax return was e-filed on March 15. Last year, this meant my refund arrived around March 20. On March 28, I received a threat from the Department of Revenue to mail them copies of my form 1099-R that my CPA had used in the tax preparation. On March 29, I spent some three hours digging these records out, copied them and mailed them on April 1. Now, as I see it, my princely $124 refund has been withheld 60 days so far! I have twice called the Oregon "Where is My Refund" site, but they only say they do not know when the request refund will come up. Could even be July! So why are we required to pay penalties and interest after April 15, but not the state? Could I get any help with this, legislators? Ronald Avery Albany (May 19) Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 She also sought permission to depose Foxx and high-profile attorney Tina Tchen, who connected Foxx with one of Smolletts relatives in the early stages of the investigation. That communication was among the reasons Foxx said she withdrew herself from the matter before her office dismissed the charges against Smollett. The older man, a concealed carry holder, pulled his own firearm and shot the victim, police said. Ford was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn for treatment and was later charged with felony aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and misdemeanor aggravated assault. But the case against Ford was dropped by Cook County prosecutors nine days after his first court hearing. Full Specifications 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display Octa-core Snapdragon 675 6GB/8GB RAM Adreno 612 GPU 128GB storage (512GB expandable) Android Pie One UI 1.1 32MP + 8MP + 5MP rear cameras 32MP front camera In-display fingerprint sensor 4500mAh battery 25W fast charging Design Despite using a plastic back, the Galaxy A70 looks and feels like a premium device. It is identical to the Galaxy A50 which is a cheaper phone in the series. You'll have a tough time telling the difference between the two until you see them closely. The power key and volume rockers are placed on the right, while the Type-C USB port, speaker grille, and 3.5mm audio jack are placed at the bottom. And, Samsung has done a great job at cutting the bezels, making this huge phone easy to use with one hand. The fingerprint sensor is also placed underneath the display, making room for more real estate. Although the design of the smartphone is decent, the back panel comes with what the company likes to call a "3D Glasstic" design offering rainbow-like patterns. It appears to be glass but is plastic in reality. And, due to the glossy nature of the back panel, it attracts fingerprints and smudges very easily. So be ready to carry a cleaning cloth with you all the time. Display For the Galaxy A70, the company has used its signature Super AMOLED panel that covers 6.7-inch up front. Thanks to the AMOLED screen, you wouldn't be missing the dark blacks while watching your favorite videos. Samsung has placed its Infinity-U display that has a u-shaped notch on top, drawing less prominence. The bezels running along the edges are also pretty narrow making this display ideal for multimedia consumption. The device also has Widewine L1 certification, which means you can stream HD playback from all the video services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, among others. For its protection, there's a Corning Gorilla Glass placed above the screen. It also has the Always-On functionality letting you check time and notification without waking up the phone. Besides, Samsung has also added an optical in-display fingerprint sensor along with a face unlock feature for biometric authentication. Playing movies and games on the display is a treat, but if you're a querulous user, you might notice that the company has saved a few bucks by sticking to Full HD+ resolution instead of Quad HD+, despite the size of the display. Overall, the display is eye-soothing and is bright enough for outdoor usage. Software The Samsung Galaxy A70 runs Android Pie wrapped under the One UI skin. The same software has been used for the company's flagship Galaxy S10. The UI supports both the newer gesture-based navigation as well as the older navigation keys. The One UI brings subtle layout along with a convenient one hand usage mode, Knox integration, night mode, Samsung Health, and more. Also, you get to choose what apps to be installed during the initial setup. However, there are a few pre-installed apps like Daily Hunt, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, but most of the users will eventually download these apps. Navigating through the app menu is also swift and we didn't face any issues there. You also get to try the Bixby Routines, which sets routines like automatically turning on the DND mode during the nights, or change lock screen shortcuts according to the apps that are most used. You can set them up manually or wait for the smart assistant to give you suggestions. Samsung Pay with MST support The Galaxy A70 is the first A-series device to get the full version of the Samsung Pay. This feature makes it easy for users to make cashless payments and the service works at almost every place where you can swipe your card. So this is an added advantage if you own a Samsung Galaxy device. Besides, with each transaction made using Samsung Pay earns users Samsung Reward Points which can be used to redeem their choice of vouchers from the redemption catalog. Camera The price segment in which the Galaxy A70 belongs has seen quite a few devices with impressive cameras. And, the new Samsung smartphone might face a tough time competing with its contemporaries. However, it's still the best camera setup on any A-series device launched to date. The smartphone features a triple rear camera setup comprising of a 32MP main sensor with an f/1.7 lens, an 8MP ultra-wide sensor with f/2.2 lens, and a 5MP depth sensor with an f/2.2 lens. Up front, the company has placed a 32MP sensor with an f/2.0 aperture. The images taken in well-lit conditions came out decent and showed an ample amount of details. However, the camera tends to overexpose the shots which makes it hard for taking pictures outdoors. Indoors, the camera fails to capture images with details and softness can be noticed. The camera tries to reduce noise but that results in a lack of facial and skin details. As for videography, the camera can capture up to 4K resolution at 30fps, but you don't get the digital stabilization here. You might lose a lot of details while shooting in dark conditions, as the device lacks a good dynamic range. Performance Under the hood, the Galaxy A70 is powered by a Snapdragon 675 octa-core processor. We managed to push the device to its limits in terms of performance, and the device didn't disappoint us. The chipset and software come together to make a good balance between the performance and battery of the device making the overall experience better. The device can take all the day-to-day tasks with ease and there's no lag or stutter while running heavy apps or switching between them. Animations and transitions look as smooth as any other device in the premium segment. However, we did notice that the Adreno 612 GPU failed to keep u with the pace of the graphics-intensive games at times. The device managed to score 7482 points during the work performance test in PCMark benchmarks. This is a respectable score for its price range and is up there with the most sought after phones in this segment. For biometric authentication, Samsung used an optical in-display fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy A70. Since the company already has the ultrasonic fingerprint technology, using a dated tech seems like a letdown. We've seen companies like OnePlus use an ultrasonic sensor for its latest flagship product, and it's just a few bucks pricier. Battery As for the battery life, the Galaxy A70 comes with a massive 4500mAh battery, which is big enough to keep the device running for a whole day. During our time, we used the device for browsing the internet, social media surfing, taking pictures, and playing a few games. The device will last for a whole day and we still had 30% juice to spare. The device also comes with support for Super-fast charging at 25W. This is also the first time Samsung has used this powerful charging on any of its phones. This also shows how the company is poised to garner a strong user base in the mid-range segment by bringing such features and not limiting them to the flagships. So, if you are a moderate user, this device will last for more than a day. However, if your usage is hardcore, you might want to plug in the device by the end of the day. Verdict Overall, the Samsung Galaxy A70 qualifies as a good package. It packs a great display, smooth performance, and brilliant battery life. Despite its minor flaws, the device still has so much to offer. It could be a great alternative for consumers who don't wish to spend their money on flagship products but wish to have the experience. The company has offered yet another well-rounded smartphone that makes a good value for money. To against the likes of dominating Chinese brands, Samsung Galaxy A70 is probably one of the best choices. Plus you get to use Samsung's best UI to date. It might not be the best smartphone in this price bracket, but is definitely capable of going against the best. The smartphone will be facing competition from phones like the Nokia 8.1, Vivo V15 Pro, and OnePlus 6T. But the big display on the device will make it standout among the avid multimedia consumers and people addicted to social media platforms. Why Indian EVMs cannot be hacked: Mythbuster for Elections 2019 News oi-Vivek EVM stands for Electronic Voter Machine It has become a custom for political parties in India to blame EVMs or Electronics Voting Machines in India, especially when they are on the losing side? What is EVM and why it is almost impossible to hack EVMs in India? Let's find out. EVMs are designed and manufactured by the state-run company Bharat Electronics or BEL, and BEL started developing the electronic voter machines in the 1990s, and the first EMV was used in 1998, and all the states and union territories across India started using EVMs from 2004. EVMs are like calculators EMVs are like calculators, they are not connected to the internet, instead, they will have flash storage with fixed programming. Unlike hacking a website or server, one cannot hack an Indian EVM in any manner. If someone can hack a calculator, then he can also hack an EMV as well. Unlike most of the website and server hacks, one has to have physical access to the electronic voting machine to hack it or to reprogramme it. Stored in a strong room After the announcement of the election date, the EVMs will be stored in the district headquarters (in a super secure room or strong room), where, only a limited number of people can access the strong room. Before the d-day, these machines are thoroughly tested, so that the machine only registers a single vote for each candidate. This will be done in front of the representatives from each political party to minimize the purpose of doubt. Machine allotment by randomization The EVMs will be allotted to a constituency by a random order prior to the commencement of the election in front of General Observer and Political Parties. If a party has a discrepancy at the time of polling, they are allowed to verify the unique serial number of the machine. This re-affirms that a polling booth will get a new machine for every other election. Impossible to swap EVM machines Some political parties are complaining that the original EVMs have been swapped with look-alikes, which are programmed to register a vote for a single party or a candidate. This is almost impossible, as every EVM comes with a unique serial number and those serial number will be attached with the polling booth, and only a limited number of individual will have access to the unique serial number. The serial number on an EVM machine will be matched with the log before voting and after voting, and the number has to match with the register, otherwise, the polling offers will be in a huge problem. These are just some of the security measures from the election commission of India that make sure that tampering an EVM is almost impossible. Via Best Mobiles in India St. Marie resident Jackie Bird was honored with a ServeMontana award presented by Governor Steve Bullock, First Lady Lisa Bullock and the Montana Commission on Community Service on May 10 in Helena. She was one of seven individuals honored with a... Deputy Takes on Partial Role with U.S. Marshals Service Courtesy Photo / For the Courier Courtesy Photo / For the Courier On May 19, Valley County Deputy Jesse Vaughan (r) was deputized as a Special Deputy with the U.S. Marshal Service. Deputy Vaughan has been an officer with the Valley County Sheriff's Office for just over a year and has completed the basic requirements as a law enforcement officer in the State of Montana, which includes attending the Montana Law Enforcement Academy. Deputy Vaughan has shown himself to be an exemplary, hardworking officer who was singled out by Sheriff Tom Boyer and Chief Deputy Hornung of the U.S. Marshal Service. The relationship with the U.S. Marshal Service allows for cooperation between both agencies in the endeavor to apprehend wanted fugitives from justice. Additionally, training opportunities, which encompass court security, officer safety, and tactical maneuvers, will be an additional benefit of the agreement. In attendance for the oath and swearing-in were, Deputy Jesse Vaughan, mom and step-dad Cheryl and Phil, girlfriend Kayla, U.S. Marshal Brandon Ratliff and Sheriff Tom Boyer. By Michelle Bigelbach The Courier GHS Seniors Compete at BPA Nationals First GHS Team to Go in Over 17 Years May 22, 2019 Ronica Sand / For the Courier Pictured left to right, Dillon Godwin, Natosha Sand and Micah Tweten pose in front of Mr. Potato Head at DisneyLand in between National BPA competitions in Anaheim, Calif., on May 3. The baby was brought to the hospital on the evening of April 23, but his mother's body was not discovered until last week after tips led police to three suspects, including Clarisa Figueroa, who told the hospital she was the mother. Even though an exam showed she had not given birth, the hospital did not notify anyone until two weeks later, after detectives went to the hospital asking about the baby. Karen Lou (Anderson) Sampson, age 68, of Glasgow, Mont., passed away on Wednesday, May 15, 2019, at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, after a lengthy battle with COPD. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow. A funeral service will be held Thursday, May 23, at 2 p.m., at Bell Mortuary with Pastor Bonnie Novak presiding. Cremation and burial will take place at a later date. Karen was born in the town of Glasgow on July 6, 1950. She was the second of six children, and the first daughter of Morris Ellwood and Evelyn Elizabeth (Nayes) Anderson. Karen graduated from high school in 1968. She worked at the Deluxe Cleaners as a young adult, a job she often spoke very fondly of (something about a mangle? What is that?!) She was also a dog groomer for 20 or so years, and could make even the mangiest mutts look loveable. Perhaps her most favorite job was tending bar at the Montana for a number of years, where she considered most patrons to be friends (and a few jerks--Not her words exactly, this is a PG obituary). In her younger days, she enjoyed bowling, dart league, and competitive pool league. She could handily kick butt in all of them, and didn't mind telling you so. Karen was a skilled seamstress, from the fine details of clothing creation, to upholstery, she could do it all. She also was a self-taught hairdresser, and could not only nail a 1980's style perm, but also gave many grandchildren and great-nieces their first haircuts. (If you are looking for a Flowbee, we know where it is). She taught her daughters to fish, and could fix nearly anything, even before YouTube existed. She was a caretaker through and through, and along with her sister Rene, she afforded her own mother to live independently as long as was possible. Karen was an avid shopper, and we hope the local delivery drivers will continue to have work after her passing. Karen leaves behind a hell of a lot of 'treasures' that her family doesn't know what to do with. For her friends that loved to see her come to their yard sale, please come collect your belongings, we won't even charge you for them. If anyone is looking for an obnoxious gold cat vase/container, or any other odd yet fine piece of houseware, you should wait the appropriate amount of time and get in touch with the family. Tomorrow would be fine. In addition to her stuff, she leaves behind two daughters that she was extremely proud of, Angie (Bob) Peterson and Brandi (John) Knierim, as well as her husband of 48 years, Lorrie Sampson. She will be missed by her five grandchildren who she did daycare for and taught to curse and play video games, Randy Peterson, Ian Peterson, Will Knierim, Sam Knierim and Mary Knierim. She also left behind siblings Butch Anderson, Jo (Chuck) McAllister, Rene (Curt) Clampitt, and Victor (Carmen) Anderson, as well as numerous beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. She will be having a reunion with many family members and friends that have gone before her, and being a bartender and a good cook, they will be happy to see her. She was preceded in death by her mother, Evelyn; her father, Morris; infant brother, John Dennis; brother-in-law, Leroy McAllister, and her father-in-law, Al Sampson. A common line in obituaries is "She never met a stranger," in Karen's case, this was true. She was difficult to move through Disneyland as she attempted to get to know every other person visiting the park. Despite her occasional saltiness and colorful language used when demonstrating frustration, Karen was a loving, giving, and caring person. The evidence is the sorrow felt by her family after her passing. Karen had a peaceful death, due entirely to the care and dedication of the FMDH hospital staff. The breathlessness that can accompany chronic lung disease can be overwhelming, but they helped her to handle it with grace, and we will be forever indebted to them. As a final gift, Karen was able to donate her corneas as a lasting tribute to her giving spirit. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider making a donation to any animal assistance foundation or other charity of your choosing. After 68 years of life, the last four of them spent courageously fighting cancer. Wesley "Wes" Novak passed away on Friday, May 3, 2019, at Benefis Healthcare in Great Falls, Mont., with his wife by his side. Burial of Wes' ashes will be on Sunday, June 30, at 12:30 p.m. at the Nashua Cemetery in Nashua, Mont., with a luncheon to follow at the Nashua Lutheran Church. The second oldest of five children, Wes grew up on a farm north of Nashua. He had many fond memories of growing up in the Grain Community. A member of the Great Falls Chapter of the Nashua Class of '69, he was looking forward to his upcoming class reunion this summer in Nashua. He loved going back home to visit, where his younger brother still farms on the land their grandparents homesteaded. Their father was a Czech WWII POW and their mother the daughter of Norwegian immigrants. Wes graduated from Nashua High School and after a time working locally, he joined the Marine Corps to "dodge the draft." When he was commended for being a Marine, he would downplay his role, saying he joined only to "dodge the draft" as the Marines were out of Vietnam by then. He pulled some hard duty in sunny California and Hawaii! His brother, Leroy, nicknamed him Sarge, and it stuck with him all through life. After his stint in the military, he went to camera repair school and he eventually settled in Great Falls. He and Roxie Lattin were married in 1978, and they were blessed with two children, Seth and Cassie. Wes was self-employed for years in the camera repair business. Roxie passed away from cancer in 1993 and Wes ended his career in camera repair. He tried many trades, but he was particularly blessed with carpentry and truck driving skills. In 1997, Wes married Janel Sykes. He started his own business, Wilderness Kitchen and Bath, doing bathtub installations and exceptional carpentry while continuing to drive semi-truck. In early 2015, Wes was diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer, due to the HPV virus. While radiation and chemo killed the cancer in his throat, it had already spread to his lungs by the time it was found. Three plus years of various treatment blessed Wesley with more years of basically pain free life, more homebrew, elk hunting, and wonderful evenings with friends around the Novak Fire Pit. In April 2019, they were given the news that the cancer had spread to his liver and kidneys and was progressing fast. The health care providers at Sletten had become like extended family and we are forever grateful for the gifts of caring and compassion they share. Preceding him in death were his parents, Joe and Helen (Egstad) Novak; first wife Roxanne Lattin Novak; and in-laws Frosty and Peggy Lattin and Clair and Ruth Sykes. Wes is survived by his wife Janel, of Great Falls; two children, Seth (Stephanie) Novak and Cassie (David) McArtor, all of Washington state; four siblings, Mel (Linda), of Nashua, Mary (John) King, of Kansas, Leroy (Bonnie), of Nashua, and Tom (Dawn), of South Carolina; and many family and friends. Services were Wednesday, May 8, at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Great Falls by Pastor Scott Hedegaard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church, 332 Riverview 3 West Great Falls, MT 59404 or Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, 550 Lutheran Camp Rd, Lakeside, MT 59922. UN highlights need to solve growing burden of forcibly displaced Africans 21 May 2019 - With 24.2 million Africans forced from their homes in 2017 4.6 million more than the previous year the UN is hosting a three-day event at UN headquarters, focusing on finding durable solutions to the problem, which is a growing burden on the continent's economy, environment and communities which host those displaced. The 2019 Africa Dialogue Series, (ADS) which began on Monday under the theme "Towards durable solutions for forcibly displaced persons in Africa," brings together a wide range of actors with a stake in finding ways to deal with the issue, including representatives of national governments, the African Union, civil society, the private sector and the United Nations. Speaking at the opening session, Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, President of the UN General Assembly, commended the contribution African countries are making to strengthen multilateralism. Ms. Espinosa said that she resolved to make Africa the focus of her activities at the outset of her GA Presidency, adding that she believes Africa's contribution to the UN is under-appreciated, and that the region's voice remains under-represented in the international system. Ms. Espinosa stressed that African leadership "time and time again, has led the way, be it through expanding the definition of 'refugee' in 1969, or through the Kampala Convention, the first legally-binding framework to address internal displacement, which was adopted in 2009." Africa sets 'gold standard' of solidarity and hospitality In his opening remarks, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said that by building strong coalitions of stakeholders, the series was an important element in the effort to boost international cooperation. With regard to the 2019 ADS theme, the UN chief paid tribute to the solidarity and hospitality of African countries, many of whom continue to set the global standard: "Countries like Uganda, Djibouti, Rwanda and Ethiopia are taking innovative action to recognize and promote the rights of refugees. And African countries played a key role in securing the approval of the Global Compact on Refugees last year," he said. Mr. Guterres urged delegates to "consider the issue of displacement in the broadest context, in your search for sustainable and durable solutions," taking into consideration international issues such as the global emergency of climate change, financing for development and universal health coverage. Deputy Secretary-General and former Nigerian Government minister, Amina Mohammed, told delegates: "You can count on the United Nations to be a strong partner for Africa...ensuring the involvement of youth as agents of change in all conflict resolution and political processes." She praised the recent Joint UN-African Union (AU) Frameworks on Peace and Security and Sustainable Development, noting they would "contribute to strengthening our shared efforts to promote inclusive sustainable development and tackle many of the drivers of conflict and forced displacement." Ms. Mohammed called for all to "pledge today to keep working together to transform the narrative and transform the future for Africa, its young people and our world." Displacement a 'significant loss of human potential' Bience Gawanas, the UN's Special Adviser on Africa, whose office was instrumental in setting up the Africa Dialogue Series, echoed the UN chief's recognition of African solidarity, in personal testimony shared during her opening remarks: "I, myself, am a product of African solidarity. Having left home in my teens during the war of liberation against apartheid in Namibia, I spent years in refugee camps in Angola and Zambia and benefitted immensely from the generosity of the Angolan and Zambian people. I want to take this opportunity to personally thank you for your big heart." Ms. Gawanas said that the ADS is just one of several activities being organized throughout 2019 to raise global awareness of the challenge of forced displacement: "Africa is home to over 24 million forcibly displaced persons, representing one-third of the world's total. Forced displacement is not only a tale of human tragedy, it also poses a real threat to achieving peace, prosperity and development." This, explained Ms. Bience, is because the vast amount of resources spent on forced displacement, which is caused mainly by conflict and natural disasters, divert vital funds away from critical areas with potentially greater impact for sustainable development in Africa; and because it contributes to a significant loss of human potential, with highly skilled and educated people unable to use their skills in meaningful ways: "These are brainpowers that could be harnessed in service of Africa to address some of the intractable problems facing the continent. This is a loss to society." A platform for innovative solutions to Africa's problems The Africa Dialogue Series was launched in 2018, to promote topics of importance to the continent, such as peace, humanitarian assistance and human rights. This year, participants will discuss innovative ways to enable countries hosting displaced people and refugees, to reduce their dependence on humanitarian aid, and boost their economic development. An expected outcome is an increased awareness of the solutions to forced displacement currently implemented in African countries, showcasing best practice, and giving a voice to displaced people. Another key aim of the series of discussions, is to secure support from African leaders for the ratification and adoption of major multinational agreements, such as the Kampala Convention, an Africa-wide treaty the world's first that protects people displaced within their own countries by violence, natural disasters or large-scale development projects. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic State in Afghanistan Growing Bigger, More Dangerous By Jeff Seldin May 21, 2019 The collapse of the Islamic State's self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq is doing little to slow down the terror group's branch in Afghanistan. Newly unclassified intelligence suggests IS-Khorasan, as the group is known, is growing both in numbers and ambition, now boasting as many as 5,000 fighters nearly five times as many as estimates from last year while turning its focus to bigger and more spectacular attacks. Military officials say the numbers, shared by U.S. Forces-Afghanistan for the latest quarterly report by the Lead Inspector General for Operation Freedom Sentinel, issued Tuesday, are "low confidence" estimates but that IS-Khorasan has fighters in Kabul, as well as in Nangarhar and Kunar provinces and in other parts of northeastern Afghanistan. More worrisome, according to defense intelligence officials, is that the terror group has been gaining ground, both against the Afghan government and the Taliban, expanding the amount of territory under its control in Kunar province since the start of the year. It also appears IS-Khorasan has managed to gain a toe-hold in other areas. The assessment finds it is "highly likely" IS has smaller cells operating in parts of Afghanistan under either government or Taliban control. "We're very concerned about their capability and trajectory," Col. Dave Butler, the spokesman for U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, told VOA. "IS-K has made it clear that they aspire to attack the United States and our allies." The current state of IS in Afghanistan would appear to represent a remarkable turnaround from the terror group's fortunes in April 2017, when the U.S. dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb in the U.S. arsenal, a GBU-43 Massive Ordnance Air Blast, on an IS cave and tunnel system in Nangarhar province. A series of subsequent U.S. strikes killed the then IS-Khorasan emir and his replacement, and cut the estimated number of fighters from 3,000 to 600. As recently as late last year, top U.S. military officials insisted IS-Khorasan was being kept in check. "ISIS-K is not growing," Gen. John Nicholson, the outgoing commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, said in September before handing over the command to Gen. Scott Miller. Yet despite losing key leaders and suffering constant setbacks on the battlefield, IS-Khorasan found a way to maintain its numbers, successfully recruiting disgruntled Taliban fighters as well as jihadis from further afield. Afghan officials have likewise warned that IS-Khorasan has benefited from surges of thousands of foreign fighters from Pakistan and Uzbekistan, plus the inflow of hundreds of IS fighters fleeing from Syria. But increasingly, many of IS-Khorasan's recruits are local, with fewer coming from the ranks of disgruntled Taliban fighters. And the group has even taken a page out of IS core's playbook, targeting young men seeking economic opportunity. "IS does a lot of recruiting in Afghanistan and the region attempting to enlist disaffected youth and even tech-savvy young people looking for an alternative," Butler said. The U.S. and Afghanistan are not the only countries voicing concern about the growing IS-Khorasan presence. Russia's top intelligence official, FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov, on Tuesday warned that 5,000 IS foreign fighters, many of whom have fought in Syria, were massing along Afghanistan's northern border, potentially threatening former Soviet states in the region. Bortnikov made the comments while visiting Tajikistan, which has blamed a deadly May 19 riot at one of its high-security prisons on IS followers who were being held there. Many Western intelligence officials and analysts have long been skeptical of Russia's claims when it comes to IS in Afghanistan, noting Moscow is prone to inflate numbers to serve its own interests in the region. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address May 22, 2019 News Defense.gov DOD Policy Chief Welcomes Georgia's Defense Minister to Pentagon WASHINGTON -- Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John C. Rood met at the Pentagon with Georgian Defense Minister Levan Izoria to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty and to underscore the importance of the U.S.-Georgia defense relationship. In their May 20 meeting, the leaders discussed regional security and a broad range of topics, including joint operations in Afghanistan. Rood expressed appreciation for Georgia's top per capita force contributions in Afghanistan and steadfast commitment to serve alongside U.S. forces until the mission is complete, Pentagon officials said. Rood commended Georgia's role model defense reform efforts and robust defense spending at 2% of its gross domestic product. The leaders also reviewed future acquisitions and the continued development of Georgia's combat readiness and self-sustaining institutional capacity through the Georgia Defense Readiness Program. The Defense Department looks forward to increased training opportunities in Georgia, he said. Longstanding Defense Relationship The talks depict the strong and longstanding bilateral defense relationship between the United States and Georgia, officials said, calling it a key pillar of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership. Pentagon officials noted some key points about Georgia as a U.S. partner: In Afghanistan, Georgia is the top per capita, top non-NATO, fifth overall contributor of forces to NATO's Resolute Support mission. Since 2009, Georgia has lost 32 soldiers killed in action and more than 290 wounded in action. In 2017, the United States and Georgia launched the bilateral Georgia Defense Readiness Program. U.S. and Georgian forces are partnering to increase Georgia's self-sustainable institutional capacity to generate, train and sustain forces, improving combat readiness for territorial defense. Georgia spends 2% of its gross domestic product on defense and more than 20% on equipment modernization, a key example of burden-sharing. From 2018-2019, Georgia procured the U.S. Javelin weapon system with 100% national funds, a total expenditure of $65 million. This sale demonstrated that Georgia is a U.S. strategic partner entrusted with sensitive defense technology. Georgia leads the way in military reform with an ambitions force restructure plan. As the United States transitions from training provider to training partner, Georgia is developing a combat training center that will increase opportunities for multinational training and exercises. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NATO Secretary General has talks with UK Defence Secretary NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation 22 May. 2019 NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with the United Kingdom's Defence Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, in London on Wednesday (22 May 2019). Mr. Stoltenberg congratulated the Defence Secretary on her appointment and said he looked forward to working with her to address the security challenges the Alliance faces. They discussed the current security environment, NATO's adaption to new threats and preparations for the Summit of NATO Heads of State and Government to be held in London this December. Mr. Stoltenberg thanked the United Kingdom for its leadership in NATO and its strong commitment to the Alliance, on land, in the air, at sea, and in cyberspace. Along with The North Atlantic Council, Mr. Stoltenberg will attend the Cyber Defence Pledge Conference at the National Cyber Security Centre in London on Thursday. The Secretary General will make a keynote speech on NATO's adaption to counter cyber threats. The United Kingdom's Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, will also address the conference. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) The move to reinstate the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) for senior high school students has found a supporter in the education secretary. Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that ROTC-equipped Filipinos would be helpful in defending the country in times of need, as they were among the frontliners during the second world war. "Yun din ang (That is the) purpose ng (of) ROTC, I think ngayon na magkaroon tayo ng (now we will have a) source of defense... We cannot be relying on other countries to defend us. We know by our experience that medyo may katagalang darating yung mga (There might be a delay in receiving) external assistance diyan so we have to rely on ourselves," Briones told reporters Wednesday. She added that safeguards will be in place to prevent abuses within the system. Mandatory ROTC for university students was abolished in 2001, following the death of University of Santo Tomas cadet Mark Chua, who published the alleged abuses of the system in their school paper. The bill on mandatory ROTC for senior high school students was passed on its third and final reading at the House of Representatives on Monday. READ: House OKs bill on mandatory ROTC for senior high students CNN Philippines correspondent Rex Remition contributed to this story. At about 1 p.m., one of the men approached the valet attendant in the 300 block of North State Street with a gun and took the keys of a Jeep Cherokee, Officer Jose Jara said at an afternoon news conference. Ex-minister among six killed in car bomb attack in Somalia's Mogadishu Iran Press TV Wed May 22, 2019 02:32PM At least six people, including a former Somali foreign minister, have been killed as a car bomb exploded near the presidential palace in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu. Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a police spokesman, said most of the casualties were soldiers, adding that the Wednesday's explosion left more than 13 people wounded. Somalia's Information Minister Mohamed Abdi Hayr said at a news conference that Hussein Elabe Faahiye, who served as the country's foreign minister in 2007, was among those killed in the attack. The Takfiri al-Shabab terrorist group has claimed the responsibility for the attack, saying it targeted convoy escorting officials and lawmakers heading to the presidential palace. The car bomb went off at a security checkpoint near the presidential palace in the capital as the Somali troops were carrying out security checks on vehicles on the main road. "The security forces stopped... a vehicle loaded with explosives which was aiming to target a security forces base," deputy police chief Zakia Hussein wrote on Twitter. Zakia Hussein put the death toll at five people, saying that 11 other people were injured in the blast. Al-Shabab was forced out of Mogadishu with the help of African Union forces in 2011. However, it still wields control in large parts of the countryside, and every now and then carries out deadly attacks against government, military, and civilian targets in the capital as well as regional towns. The terrorist group has fought successive Somali governments as well as neighboring governments in Kenya and Uganda. Somalia has faced instability and violence since 1991, when the military government was overthrown. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Palestinian nation united in rejecting deal of century: Hamas official Iran Press TV Wed May 22, 2019 01:55PM A high-ranking member of the Islamic resistance movement, Hamas, says the Palestinian nation vigorously rejects US President Donald Trump's controversial proposal for "peace" between the Israeli regime and Palestinians, dubbed "the deal of the century." "We will not accept solutions that violate our rights The deal of century is aimed at liquidating the Palestinian cause and dropping central issues like al-Quds (Jerusalem) and return of (Palestinian) refugees," Izzat al-Risheq said during a meeting between a Hamas delegation and Lebanese Prime Minister Sa'ad al-Hariri in Beirut. Separately, member of the Hamas political bureau, Husam Badran, has described a US-led conference in Bahrain next month in support of Washington's so-called Middle East peace plan as a plot in coordination with the occupying Israeli regime to liquidate the Palestinian cause. Badran said in a tweet that the Palestinian people are united in their rejection of the deal of the century as it only "serves the interests of Israel." "We are a nation under occupation, and our cause is aimed at national liberation and self-determination. Attempts to whitewash the Israeli occupation through economic solutions will not pass. We will remain loyal to the martyrs and the suffering of prisoners," he pointed out. Saudi Arabia, UAE to attend US-led Bahrain confab Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have announced that they will participate in the June 25-26 conference in Manama. Saudi state news agency SPA reported on Wednesday that the kingdom's Minister of Economy and Planning Mohammed Altwejri will attend the event. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said Abu Dhabi would also send a delegation. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas have called for an Arab boycott of the meeting. Hamas, in a statement issued on Monday, called on Arab countries to boycott the forthcoming conference in Bahrain and provide the Palestinian people with every support to confront and frustrate the US deal of the century. "We are following with great concern the American announcement about holding an economic workshop next June in the Bahraini capital of Manama," Hamas said, describing it as the first American confab in support of the so-called deal of the century. The movement also denounced any Arab participation in adopting and executing the deal, saying any attendance in the American-led Bahrain conference would be considered a violation of Arab and Palestinian positions, and deviation from Arab and Islamic values. Trump's "peace plan" has already been dismissed by Palestinian authorities ahead of its unveiling at the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan and the formation of the new Israeli cabinet, most likely in June. Speaking in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah on April 16, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh lashed out at the initiative, asserting that it was "born dead." Shtayyeh noted that negotiations with the US were useless in the wake of the country's relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem al-Quds, which Palestinians consider the capital city of their future state. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudanese protest group calls strike as transition talks stall Iran Press TV Wed May 22, 2019 08:17AM A leading Sudanese protest group has called for a strike as the ruling generals in the country refuse to grant a demand for the establishment of a civilian-majority transitional body. The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) protest group said Tuesday that after two late-night negotiation sessions with the generals in the so-called Transitional Military Council (TMC), the army was still insisting on directing the transition and keeping a military majority on the council. Last month, Sudan's military announced that it had unseated president Omar al-Bashir and later imprisoned him. It then set up the TMC to rule the country and promised to hand over after elections. But protests, under whose pressure Bashir was forced out, have continued in Sudan, with people demanding that more civilians be on the council than military figures during the transition period. "Civilian power means that the structure is fully civilian with a civilian majority in all its parts," the SPA said in a statement. It said members had to mobilize for a strike, without giving a date. Some bankers and telecoms employees already took to the streets on Tuesday in the capital, Khartoum, calling for civilian rule. Many medical staff members have been on strike since December 19 last year, when protests initially erupted against Bashir in the face of a government decision to triple the price of bread. The protesters fear that a delay to negotiations would allow Bashir's allies to regroup and take power again. The SPA and the TMC have been holding talks for several weeks. The protest group has articulated a set of demands, including a 15-member council consisting of eight civilian-appointed members and seven military-appointed members. The Sudanese military also issued a statement on Tuesday, admitting that the make-up of the sovereign council remained the main point of contention. "Aware of our historical responsibility, we will work toward reaching an urgent agreement... that meets the aspirations of the Sudanese people and the goals of the glorious December revolution," it said. Meanwhile, protesters gathered outside the military headquarters chanting slogans in support of civilian rule. They also demanded that those responsible for the death of dozens of demonstrators since December be brought to justice. On Tuesday, guards blocked the arrest of former intelligence chief Salah Abdallah Mohamed Saleh, known as Salah Gosh. Many Sudanese hold him responsible for the killing of demonstrators. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Venezuela's Maduro urges military to 'capture traitors' Iran Press TV Wed May 22, 2019 06:31AM Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has ordered the country's armed forces to "capture traitors" within their ranks. "If a traitor emerges, capture him immediately, it's an order: capture him immediately!" Maduro told army personnel at a military rally called the "March of Loyalty" in the northern state of Carabobo on Tuesday. The president called on military personnel to be vigilant against enemy threats and to "activate" the "weapons systems... to make any adventure impossible for imperialism." The United States has several times threatened to take military action to oust Maduro's government since the deepening of a politico- economic crisis in the country last year. A small number of renegade soldiers led by opposition figure Juan Guaido staged an attempted coup d'etat against Maduro's government last month. But the bid quickly failed, and many of the putschists have taken shelter at foreign embassies in Caracas. Others have been arrested or gone into hiding. Guaido has continued to urge military personnel to defect. The crisis in Venezuela intensified after he unilaterally declared himself "interim president" in January. Meanwhile, high-level negotiations have begun between the Venezuelan government and opposition in Norway, which is brokering the talks to help end the months-long crisis. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that he was "very much supportive" of the talks in Oslo. And Guaido confirmed on Thursday that he had sent a delegation to the negotiations but denied that any direct talks had taken place between the government and opposition representatives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemeni forces launch drone attack on warplane hangars at Najran airport Iran Press TV Wed May 22, 2019 05:35AM Yemeni armed forces have launched another retaliatory drone strike against an airport in Saudi Arabia's southwestern Najran region, this time targeting hangars housing the regime's warplanes. Yemen's al-Masirah television network reported the counter-strike on Wednesday morning, without giving details about possible casualties or material damage. A day earlier, the network said Yemeni forces, led by the Houthi Ansarullah movement, had launched a counterattack on an arms depot inside the same airport, using a Qasef-2K combat drone. The strike caused a fire at the airport. In mid-May, the Yemeni army launched drone raids on a major oil pipeline deep inside the Saudi kingdom in retaliation for the regime's war crimes against Yemen, forcing state crude giant Aramco to temporarily stop pumping oil on the pipeline. The Ansarullah movement warned on Sunday that those strikes were the start of operations against 300 vital targets in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates a key member of the Saudi-led coalition waging war on Yemen as well as positions inside Yemen, where the foreign aggressors and their allied Yemeni militants hold bases. 'Claim of Yemeni attack on Mecca big lie' Meanwhile, the movement's leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi reacted strongly on Tuesday to recent reports in Saudi media, alleging that the Houthi fighters had launched a missile attack against the holy city of Mecca in the kingdom. He called the accusation "a big lie and an abominable allegation." "Those who conspire against the al-Aqsa Mosque [in the Israel-occupied holy city of Jerusalem al-Quds] are also capable of conspiring against the Grand Mosque [in Mecca] upon being asked to," al-Houthi was quoted by al-Masirah as saying. He was referring to the Saudi regime's widely-reported covert ties with Israel and Riyadh's support for a controversial American plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The Saudi regime is one of the United States' biggest supporters and maintains ties with Israel," he said, adding the regime is trying to use holy sites for political purposes. The Houthis took over control of Yemen's affairs in 2014 amid a political turmoil, which saw the country's former Saudi-backed officials flee to Riyadh after refusing to continue political talks with the movement. Saudi Arabia then led many of its regional allies into an all-out invasion of the Arab world's most impoverished nation to restore its favorite government. Some reports put the number of fatalities from the war at tens of thousands. The country has turned into the scene of the world's worst humanitarian crisis, and is teetering on the edge of a nationwide famine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Suicide car bomber kills at least 12 in Mogadishu Saudi Press Agency Wednesday 1440/9/17 - 2019/05/22 Mogadishu, May 22, 2019, SPA -- At least 12 people were killed when a suicide car bomber detonated explosives at a security checkpoint in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, police said Wednesday. "It was a huge blast at a security checkpoint in Boondhere district. So far we have the deaths of 12 people, among them six security [service] members and a senior female military official," police officer Ahmed Bashane told dpa. There were also civilians among the dead, according to Bashane. He said two members of parliament were injured. --SPA 13:27 LOCAL TIME 10:27 GMT 0008 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Lawmakers Turn Focus to Full Range of Russian Influence Ops By Jeff Seldin May 21, 2019 With all the focus on Russian efforts to sway U.S. elections with social media, there are fears other aspects of Moscow's influence operations are being overlooked. Specifically, some lawmakers and experts are worried just as much damage is being done with old-fashioned, face-to-face contact, along with promises of favors and the prospects of financial reward. In order to help curtail the dangers, the vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee introduced legislation Tuesday that would require all U.S. political campaigns to report any contact with foreign nationals seeking to collaborate or coordinate with candidates' election efforts. "Most Americans already know that if a foreign adversary reaches out about interfering in our elections, you should report that contact," Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said in a statement. But in a swipe at U.S. President Donald Trump, Warner added, "It's clear that some Americans haven't taken that responsibility seriously." The Foreign Influence Reporting in Elections (FIRE) Act would mandate that any U.S. political campaign contacted by foreign nationals report the contact within one week to both the Federal Election Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The bill would also require campaigns to train all paid employees on how such contact must be handled. Warner cited the recent report into Russian election interference by special counsel Robert Mueller, which found at least 140 contacts between members or associates of the Trump campaign and Russian nationals and WikiLeaks, as a key reason the legislation is needed. "The Trump campaign welcomed the help, and sought to hide that from the American people," Warner said. Separately, a panel of experts urged lawmakers Tuesday to take steps to limit the ability of Russia, China and other countries to secretly pump money into U.S. political campaigns. "There's a vast amount of resources that are held by oligarchs, tycoons, businessmen, Russian companies that is available for use in dark money operations," Mike Carpenter, a one-time foreign policy adviser to former Vice President Joe Biden, told the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "The most important is our campaign finance system, which is so opaque that we don't even have an inkling how much foreign dark money is sloshing around the system," he said. "It's simply all too easy and we don't know the extent." Carpenter, who now heads the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy, said money is also likely getting into U.S. campaigns through the use of shell companies and "high-end" real estate deals. Heather Conley, the senior vice president for Europe, Eurasia and the Arctic at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said tackling the potential abuse would require substantial changes to the way the U.S. is currently combating financial threats. "We are structured to fight terrorism and terrorism financing," said Conley, who also served at the U.S. State Department under Democratic and Republican administrations. "We are not structured to fight (Russia's) malign influence and its many manifestations," she said. "We have to treat financial transparency and money laundering as the challenges to America's national security as they are." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing Could Use Rare Earth Metal Exports as Pressure Point in US Trade War Sputnik News 22:40 22.05.2019 After Chinese President Xi Jinping visited a rare earth metal facility earlier this week, fears of a coming clamp-down on exports of the valuable materials have been renewed. China produces the vast majority of the world's rare earths, which are used in electronic devices. On Monday, Xi paid a visit to the JL MAG Rare-Earth Co Ltd facility in Jiangxi Province, where rare earth metals are both mined and processed into a useable form. Accompanied by Vice Premier Liu He, who has led the tense trade negotiations with Washington, Xi's visit instantly raised fears the world over that Beijing could use its leverage over the global supply of rare earth metals in a devastating counter-offensive in the burgeoning trade war. Last December, Sputnik reported that China's ability to respond in-kind to US tariffs was limited, so Beijing might look to other tactics, such as easing fiscal and monetary policy so that the yuan's value falls, in order to weather the blow. However, rare earth metals could be a pressure point on the US economy that might bring Washington back to the negotiating table. "China could shut down nearly every automobile, computer, smartphone and aircraft assembly line outside of China if they chose to embargo these materials," James Kennedy, president of ThREE Consulting, wrote on Tuesday in National Defense. Amanda Lacaze, managing director and chief executive officer of the Australian rare earths mining company Lynas Corporation, told the New York Times in July 2018, "I think there's about 100 PhDs in rare earths working in applications inside China and working in technology development," but that to her knowledge, there are none outside of China. Not everybody thinks it would turn out great for Beijing, though. Kokichiro Mio, a Chinese economy analyst at the NLI Research Institute in Tokyo, told AFP that restricting rare earths exports would "accelerate moves to find alternative supply sources." Likewise, RBC Capital Markets warned, "Should China hike prices for the US or shut it out completely, it would simply speed up that process, leading to rapid development of alternative supplies." They cited Brazil, Vietnam, Russia, India and Australia as competitors that would benefit. However, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang tried to downplay Xi's visit, telling reporters Tuesday morning that it was routine and analysts shouldn't "overthink" it. That said, stocks in 20 of the largest rare earth producers around the globe jumped on Monday by 6.4% their biggest one-day gain since 2011 following the news of Xi's visit to the Jianxi factory. The MVIS Global Rare Earth/Strategic Minerals Index, which tracks the shares of 20 producers from 10 countries, recorded leaps on Monday and Tuesday in key stocks, including JL MAG Rare-Earth Co Ltd whose site Xi poked around at which recorded a 10% jump in value on Monday and a second 10% jump on Tuesday, Reuters noted. Innuovo Technology Co Ltd, which produces permanent magnets, also jumped 10% Tuesday, with its stock having increased by 54.7% overall in May. The 17 so-called "rare" earth metals aren't actually that rare at all in fact, they're quite plentiful in Earth's crust. However, they're typically found in compounds fused with other metals, making their extraction and purification complex, expensive and dangerous. Some of the most common uses for rare earth metals includes cathode ray tubes and flat panel display screens made from yttrium, cerium, lanthanum, europium and terbium; glass made from cerium, lanthanum and lutetium; and magnets made from dysprosium, gadolinium and praseodymium especially permanent magnets made out of neodymium iron boron, which are used in every kind of electronic device from hard disc drives to sound systems, generators and turbines, the South China Morning Post reported. They're used in the defense industry to provide radio frequency circulators for Raytheon's Patriot missile system, and they're used to produce lasers, microwave equipment, superconductors, smartphones, computers and so much more. Since the 1980s, China has dominated global output of rare earth metals, producing 120,000 tons of them in 2018, accounting for 71 percent of global output, according to US Geological Survey data. The US uses about 20,000 tons of rare earth metals each year, Sputnik reported. China supplies 59% of the United States' consumption of rare earths, worth about $155 million in trade, according to the US International Trade Commission. The US' only working rare earths mine, in California, is now Chinese-owned and exports its raw material to China for processing. Today, the center of rare earth mining and processing is in China's Inner Mongolia, Jiangxi, Shandong, Sichuan, Guangdong, Fujian, Hunan, Yunnan and Guangxi provinces, where 90% of the the world's mining occurs. However, paradoxically, China is also a net importer of rare earths that's because of the immense amount of manufacturing that takes place there, as well as Beijing's willingness to circumvent environmental regulations that cause much higher costs for refining processes elsewhere. Last year, China imported 167% more rare earth oxides and oxide equivalents than in 2017 and 10 times more than in 2015, according to a March report by Adamas Intelligence, a consultancy that tracks the rare earths market. The World Trade Organization has rebuked Beijing for restricting rare earths exports, saying in March 2014 that it violated global trade rules. The move followed a lengthy dispute based on a 2010 production curb, which Beijing justified by saying it was trying to curtail pollution and to preserve world resources. "The sovereign right of a country over its natural resources does not allow it to control international markets or the global distribution of raw materials," the European Commission said at the time. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says ready to support nuclear deal 'just as France did' Iran Press TV Tue May 21, 2019 10:08PM Iran says it is fully prepared to implement the 2015 nuclear deal exactly in the same way that France and its European partners did during the past year. The remarks were made by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, in reaction to his French counterpart's statement, in which Iran was urged to continue to implement all of its obligations under the JCPOA, and to refrain from any measures that would put it in violation of its commitments. Mousavi said on Tuesday that Tehran is prepared to fully support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and do its best to implement it exactly like France and other European signatories. He suggested that his sarcastic comment must be completely convincing for the French who claim to be supporting the nuclear agreement. In a daily briefing on Tuesday, the French foreign ministry spokesperson said, "We reject any ultimatums and will assess Iran's compliance with its nuclear commitments in regard to its implementation of obligations set forth under JCPOA." "In this regard, we reaffirm the crucial follow-up and monitoring roles played by the International Atomic Energy Agency. France is determined to see the JCPOA central to the international non-proliferation and international security regime implemented in full," the spokesperson said. "Along with its European partners, France is continuing its efforts to preserve the economic benefits linked to the lifting of sanctions as provided by the Iranian nuclear agreement, as long as Iran respects all of its nuclear obligations," the French official noted. On Saturday, France's ambassador to the United States, Gerard Araud, said on Twitter: "It's false to say that at the expiration of the JCPOA, Iran will be allowed to enrich uranium," adding that sanctions could be reimposed. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Araud's comments were "a major violation of the object and purpose of the JCPOA," adding they needed "immediate clarification by Paris, or we act accordingly." The work underway for the operational implementation of the INSTEX mirror company known as the Special Trade and Financing Institute (STFI) is moving forward in a positive way and should soon be completed, added the spokesperson. Iran announced on May 8 that it will halt implementing some terms of the nuclear deal until parties to the deal other than US take action to mitigate the negative impacts of US decision in May 2018 to withdraw from the agreement. The Islamic Republic says other parties to the JCPOA, particularly the E3 - France, Britain, and Germany - have failed so far to compensate for the US withdrawal and help Iran reap the economic dividends of the 2015 nuclear deal. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has set a two-month deadline for the parties to either do the necessary actions to save the JCPOA or face Iran resuming a nuclear enrichment program which had been suspended as part of the deal in return for lifting of international sanctions on Tehran. Following Iran's decision, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian warned against a bellicose spiral of reactions on an international agreement on Iran nuclear activities. On May 11, Le Drian warned that the chain of reactions on JCPOA could intensify into a "bellicose spiral". The top French diplomat described Iran decision to suspend sale of excess uranium and heavy water as a "bad reaction" in response to a similar "bad decision" by Washington to not honor its commitments. "Iran has had a bad reaction, faced with a bad US decision to withdraw from the Vienna agreements and impose sanctions," said Le Drian while urging Tehran to "show its political maturity". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US: Military Actions 'Put on Hold' Potential Iranian Attacks on Americans By Carla Babb May 21, 2019 Acting Secretary of Defense Pat Shanahan said the steps taken to bolster the U.S. military presence in the Middle East have deterred Iran and "put on hold the potential for attacks on Americans," even as Iran carried out other attacks. "It doesn't mean that the threats that we previously identified have gone away. Our prudent response, I think, has given Iranians time to recalculate," Shanahan told reporters at the Pentagon Tuesday. "We talked about those threats, and there were attacks," Shanahan said. Asked to clarify what attacks he was referring to, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Joe Buccino told VOA that U.S. intelligence points to Iran as "highly likely responsible" for the attack on four oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. The secretary and other officials are scheduled to brief members of Congress in a closed-door session later Tuesday about the military threat the White House says Iran poses in the Middle East. Among those going to Capitol Hill are Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Shanahan and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford. U.S. lawmakers have demanded information about the Iranian threat for days. President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran has been "very hostile," and that the United States will have no choice but to respond to Iranian aggression "with great force." The U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet said it has increased maritime patrols and exercises in the Arabian Sea that highlight the "lethality and agility to respond to threat." The Pentagon has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, the USS Arlington landing platform dock ship, a Patriot missile battery and B-52 bombers to the region. Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, Dunford canceled a trip to Brussels, where he was to have met NATO members Wednesday. Dunford's spokesman, Air Force Col. Patrick Ryder, said the cancelation was because of "unforeseen commitments" that require him to remain in Washington this week. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has responded to what he called "genocidal taunts" by saying that "Iranians have stood tall for a millennia while aggressors all gone," including Genghis Kahn and Alexander the Great. "Try respect. It works," Zarif tweeted. Iranian proxy forces Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday the U.S.' "core challenge" in the Middle East is "diminishing (Iran's) capacity to support" proxy forces such as the Houthi rebels in Yemen. "We will not allow Iran to hide behind its proxy forces, but that if American interests are attacked, whether by Iran directly or through its proxy forces, we will respond in an appropriate way against Iran," he said in an interview on Salem Radio Network's "The Hugh Hewitt Show." Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Monday that after a briefing from National Security Adviser John Bolton, "It is clear that over the last several weeks, Iran has attacked pipelines and ships of other nations and created threat streams against American interests in Iraq." Uranium enrichment As the war of words between the two countries showed little sign of cooling off, Iran said Monday it has quadrupled its uranium enrichment capacity. Iranian officials say the uranium will be enriched for civilian energy uses, far below weapons grade as spelled out in the 2015 nuclear agreement. Enriching uranium means concentrating the element's radioactive component. Natural uranium has less than 1% U-235, while uranium for electric power production is around 4% pure, and weapons-grade material is refined to contain about 90% of this active ingredient. Iran could soon exceed the amount of material it is allowed to stockpile under the deal. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced two weeks ago he is pulling out of some parts of the six-nation nuclear deal, including the condition that Iran sell excess amounts of uranium to other nations. Rouhani has threatened to move Iran closer to weapons-grade enrichment unless it sees promised economic relief from the deal by early July. Trump pulled out of the nuclear agreement deal one year ago. He re-imposed sanctions on Tehran and has threatened other penalties on countries that still do business with Iran. Trump's decision has made the Iranian economy, already in tatters, even weaker. Michael Bowman on Capitol Hill contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A spokesman with the Civilian Office of Police Accountability said the agency was notified of the incident and their own investigation was underway. As per department guidelines, the officers who fired their weapons will go on a mandatory 30-day administrative duty assignment, Guerra said. Classified Iran Briefings Fail to Unite US Lawmakers on Threats, Response By Michael Bowman May 21, 2019 U.S. lawmakers expressed sharply diverging opinions on the threat level posed by Iran after classified briefings President Donald Trump's national security team presented to all House and Senate members Tuesday. "They explained to us how the Iranian threat streams were different than in the past and that attacks against American interests and personnel were imminent," Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told reporters after meeting behind closed doors with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford. "There was an escalation by Iran and its proxies," said the top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael McCaul of Texas. "We're obviously concerned about our military soldiers who are threatened by Iran, and a potential attack on them in Iraq, specifically." Democrats had a different take on the briefings, as well as the wisdom of the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Iran's government and its proxies in the Middle East. "I heard nothing that wasn't a regurgitation of past administration talking points on Iran. It was a long, lengthy history of their many transgressions so far, not a single shred of evidence to justify the escalation of tensions in the region," Virginia Democratic Rep. Jerry Connolly said. "This briefing was all about tactics, not about strategy. And that's been our worry from the beginning that this is blind escalation," Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said. Deployments, patrols Shanahan disputed such characterizations in comments to reporters at the Capitol. "I walked them [lawmakers] through what the Department of Defense has been doing since May 3, when we received credible intelligence about threats to our interests in the Middle East and to American forces, and how we acted on that credible intelligence," the acting defense secretary said. "We have deterred attacks based on our reposturing of assets, deterred attacks against American forces." Earlier in the day, a Pentagon spokesman told VOA that U.S. intelligence points to Iran as "highly likely responsible" for recent attacks on four oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, the USS Arlington landing platform dock ship, a Patriot missile battery and B-52 bombers to the region. The U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet said it has increased maritime patrols and exercises in the Arabian Sea that highlight the "lethality and agility to respond to threat." Iran action Iran, meanwhile, has announced a quadrupling of its uranium enrichment capacity, threatened to move closer to weapons-grade enrichment absent relief for its battered economy, and rejected, for now, any prospect of dialogue with Washington. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif decried what he termed "genocidal taunts" by the Trump administration, adding that "Iranians have stood tall for a millennia, while aggressors [have] all gone," including Genghis Kahn and Alexander the Great. "Try respect. It works," Zarif tweeted. Tehran's responses to America's pressure campaign should give the Trump administration pause, according to Murphy. "The Iranians are nowhere near being ready to talk. They are not showing any signs of backing down from their provocative behavior. So, tell me how this [Trump administration] strategy is working if Iran won't talk and they're not deescalating militarily," the Democratic senator said. "I don't think they [administration officials] have any good answers. Their plan is to just continue to push and push and push, and hope that eventually the Iranians change their mind." Republicans argued that pressure on Iran is wise and warranted to protect Americans serving in the Middle East. "We owe it to those in theater who are doing our bidding as a nation to make sure that nobody can attack them without thinking twice about it. And deterrence is best had by moving military assets forward to make it real to Iran," Graham said. "This is a very measured response. We've been attacked for years by Iran. For 40 years, they have been killing people, including Americans. Now, we are at a point in time when we're pushing back against the regime." Trump pulled out of the 2015 international nuclear agreement with Iran one year ago. He reimposed sanctions on Tehran and has threatened other penalties on countries that still do business with Iran. Washington's actions have made the Iranian economy, already in tatters, even weaker. VOA's Carla Babb contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran ready to implement JCPOA just as France did: Foreign Ministry spokesman ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Wed / 22 May 2019 / 11:56 Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi says Iran is prepared to support the nuclear deal exactly in the same way that France and its European allies have supported and implemented the agreement during the past year. Mousavi said, "Tehran is prepared to fully support the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and do its best to implement it exactly like France". "We think such behaviour should be completely convincing for the French who claim to support the nuclear agreement," added Mousavi. The Iranian spokesman made the comments in response to his French counterpart's statement that Paris strongly urges Iran to continue to implement all of its obligations under the JCPOA. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China says JCPOA implementation sole way to ease tensions, as US blows hot and cold on Iran Iran Press TV Wed May 22, 2019 03:18PM China says ensuring the complete and effective implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers is the only way to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said Wednesday that all parties to the Iran nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), had maintained close communication and consultation for some time, and all stressed firm commitment to safeguarding and implementing the agreement. Lu added that ensuring the complete and effective implementation of the Iran nuclear agreement is not only a requirement of the UN Security Council resolution 2231 that endorses the JCPOA, but also the only realistic and effective way to ease tensions and solve the Iran nuclear issue. "China will work with relevant parties to continue making efforts for that goal and meanwhile firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," he said. Last year, US President Donald Trump stoked tensions with Iran after he unilaterally pulled his country out of the JCPOA and unleashed the "toughest ever" sanctions against Tehran despite international objections. The US further heightened tensions after it dispatched an aircraft carrier strike group, a bomber taskforce, and an assault ship to the Persian Gulf earlier this month, citing an alleged likelihood that Iran could target American interests in the region. Recently, the White House has, however, sent mixed signals over its stance regarding Iran. Just days after saying he was ready for talks, Trump issued a direct threat to Iran, saying the Islamic Republic would be destroyed if it attacked US interests. "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again," Trump tweeted on Sunday. Trump posted his anti-Iran tweet after a Sunday night rocket attack on the Green Zone of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, where the Iraqi government's administrative buildings and foreign missions, including the US embassy, are located. Soon afterwards, though, he downplayed what he has been trumpeting as "Iran's threat" to the region and the US interests. "We have no indication that anything's happened or will happen," he told reporters at the White House on Monday when asked about Iran's alleged threat to US interests, adding: "We have no indication that they will." No one claimed responsibility for the attack on the heavy fortified "Green Zone" in Baghdad, which came in the wake of back-to-back sudden decisions taken by the US recently, including its withdrawal of "non-essential" staff from Iraq. Although the apparent Katyusha attack hurt no one and its target was not specified, Trump was quick to point the finger at Iran. In separate remarks on Tuesday, the Chinese spokesperson reacted to the rocket attack on the Green Zone in Baghdad, and said that China had exchanged ideas with Iran, the US and other sides on the issue. "We have made clear our position that conflict and confrontation will lead us nowhere and that dialogue and consultation is the only way out. We hope relevant parties can exercise restraint and step up dialogue to properly address each other's concerns," Lu said. On Tuesday, President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran will not bow to bullies. Rouhani said in the country's northwestern West Azarbaijan Province that the Iranian nation may be under pressure, but will not "bow its head in the face of bullies." "Holding onto premature perceptions, they had thought they would be able to shatter Iran's grandeur," he said, adding, however, that "we have been witnessing prosperity across this land every day in this tough time and under sanctions." "This is a very decisive response to the White Houseand to those who reckon they can make the great nation of Iran buckle under their pressures," the president noted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Urges Russia to Join Efforts to Counter Iran Sputnik News 17:36 22.05.2019(updated 19:40 22.05.2019) The war of words between the US and Iran intensified earlier in the month after the Pentagon deployed an aircraft carrier strike group and a bomber task force near Iran in response to what Washington called a potential threat from Tehran. Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Special Representative for Syria Engagement and Special Envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS James Jeffrey called on Russia to influence Syria's President Bashar al-Assad into ordering the withdrawal of Iranian forces from the country. "We believe that Russia can play an important role in resolving this conflict just as it played an important role in making it worse and that was the reason that Secretary [Mike] Pompeo went to Sochi and President [Vladimir] Putin met with him because President Putin also would like to find a solution to this conflict because it is a dangerous one for Russia", Jeffrey said. The senior official proceeded by saying that Russia and the US had common interests in Syria. Jeffrey claimed that there are more than 10,000 soldiers from third countries in Syria that are controlled by Iran, including Hezbollah militants. The official continued by claiming that in addition to direct military support, Iran provides drones, radar systems, and other equipment. "What really concerns us more is Iranian power projection systems long range missile, drones, radar systems, air defense capabilities that you do not need to fight an internal civil war", Jeffrey told the committee. Tehran has been accused of using Syria as a playground for a possible future military attack against neighbouring Israel. Tehran has repeatedly denied those claims, stressing that it solely provides military advisors' assistance to Syria at Damascus' request to help the country in its fight against terrorism. The escalation of tensions between the US and Iran reached new level earlier this month, when the US imposed more anti-Iranian sanctions and sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a squadron of B-52 bombers and Patriot interceptors to the Middle East to grapple with what Washington describes as a threat emanating from Iran. Most recently, US President Donald Trump warned Iran in a Tweet that it would be "official end of Iran" if Tehran "wants to fight". Responding to the threats, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif compared Trump with bellicose rulers of the past, such as Genghis Khan and Alexander the Great, saying that Iranians "have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone". Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Gets First Upgraded Chinese Fighters Amid 'Concerns' Over F-16 Safety Sputnik News 14:13 22.05.2019(updated 14:21 22.05.2019) The development comes just days after an Indian media outlet cited government sources as claiming that Pakistan had redeployed its US-made F-16 fighter jets in a bid to avoid major losses in potential strikes from New Delhi. China has delivered the first upgraded JF-17 fighter jet to Pakistan as part of a joint project for the development and manufacture of the multi-role combat aircraft, the Global Times reported. The media outlet cited Fu Qianshao, a Chinese air defence expert, as saying that it represents the trial-and-error phase of the JF-17 project and provides experience in establishing standards for future overhauls. The overhaul of the fighter jet is said to include major maintenance, repairs, replacement of old components, such as engine and the airframe. "Under the framework of China-Pakistan cooperation, Pakistan's aviation industry will continue to develop", he noted. First delivered in 2007, the JF-17 Thunder, also known as the CAC FC-1 Xiaolong, or "Fierce Dragon", was jointly manufactured by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) of China. After a decade of use, the jets needed to be upgraded. Chinese experts are meanwhile working on the JF-17 Block 3 upgrade to include an active electronically scanned array radar, a new helmet-mounted display and sight system for the pilot, according to the Global Times. Over the weekend, the Indian newspaper Economic Times cited government sources as saying that the Pakistan Air Force remains concerned over the safety of its American-made F-16 fighter jets even though it's been over two months since New Delhi carried out an air raid on a suspected terror camp in Balakot. The sources claimed that the F-16s had been redeployed from their home bases in Punjab Province to satellite fields in a scattered manner in order to prevent big losses in the event of a new Indian strike. The delivery comes on the heels of simmering tensions between Pakistan and India, which were exacerbated by a deadly attack on a convoy of Indian soldiers that killed 40 troops and was purportedly claimed by the Pakistan-based Jaish-e Mohammad. Nearly two weeks later, the IAF conducted an airstrike on the alleged Jaish-e Mohammad terror camp in Balakot, Pakistan-administered Kashmir, later claiming to have eliminated a number of facilities and killing hundreds of militants. The following day, the two sides engaged in an aerial combat over the Line of Control with Pakistan, who denied the existence of any terror camps in the area, announcing that it had downed two Indian jets over the de facto border. The Indian Air Force, in turn, confirmed the loss of only one of its warplanes and came up with a counter-claim that its MiG-21 Bison jet had shot down a Pakistani F-16 during the dogfight. The Pakistani side has denied dispatching US-built fighter jets or sustaining any losses, while Asif Durrani, the country's former ambassador to Iran and the United Arab Emirates, said that Islamabad had used the JF-17 Thunder, not the F-16s. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Children of ISIL terrorists likely held in 'secret detention facilities', UN human rights office warns 21 May 2019 - In Syria, it is suspected that children whose fathers fought for terrorist group ISIL are being held in unidentified "settlements" and "secret detention facilities" away from their mothers, the UN human rights office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday. The UN office cited information suggesting that Kurdish authorities are responsible for holding youngsters over 12 years old in al-Hassakeh governorate, in the far north-east of the country. "Reportedly, they are neither allowed to communicate with their families nor have the families been informed about their whereabouts or status", OHCHR Spokesperson Marta Hurtado said. Children must be treated primarily as victims, not perpetrators - UNICEF In Syria alone - highlighting families of extremists who came to be part of the now militarily defeated so-called Caliphate - the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that there are close to 29,000 foreign children, most of them under the age of 12. Some 20,000 children are from Iraq, while more than 9,000 are from around 60 other countries. Addressing the fate of thousands of vulnerable children of foreign fighters who are living in camps, detention centers and orphanages in Syria, Iraq and other places in the world, UNICEF's Executive Director, Henrietta Fore said on Tuesday they were being forced to live in generally "appalling conditions". Underlining the "constant threats to their health, safety and well-being", she said they were being "doubly rejected - stigmatized by their communities and shunned by their governments". In the statement, Ms. Fore also said the children faced "massive legal, logistical and political challenges in accessing basic services or returning to their countries of origin". With an additional 1,000 children of foreign fighters believed to be in Iraq, Ms. Fore said that "all of them are victims of deeply tragic circumstances and egregious violations of their rights" and reiterated the importance of "treating and caring for them as children." Syria's crowded al-Hol camp still hosting 70,000 In a related development, OHCHR also expressed concern about the fate of people in Syria's al-Hol camp also in al-Hassakeh Governorate - who fled the last ISIL-held areas in the country as they were being reclaimed by Kurdish-led forces. Today, the camp hosts more than 70,000 people who face dire living conditions. This includes some 2,500 children under 12 years old who were born to ISIL-affiliated fathers and have been allowed to stay with their mothers. While the temporary restrictions of movement imposed on civilians at al-Hol and in other camps for internally-displaced people (IDPs) run by the Kurdish authorities may be part of a screening and vetting process, Ms. Hurtado said that OHCHR was concerned about the "lack of clarity regarding how long these restrictions will last". Ceasefire in Syria's north-west fails to halt attacks In north-west Syria, meanwhile, the UN official said that airstrikes and ground-based attacks continue to pound Idlib and Hama governorates, despite the announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire. Since this latest military escalation started at the end of April, at least 105 civilians have been killed, and at least 200,000 people have fled the hostilities in southern Idlib and northern Hama, according to the UN office. Both pro-Government forces and non-State armed groups have failed to respect international humanitarian law, Ms. Hurtado insisted. From 8 to 16 May, "multiple attacks" by pro-Government forces claimed the lives of at least 56 civilians - including many women and children. The assaults also caused severe damage to five schools and one hospital, according to OHCHR, while in the same period, attacks by non-State armed groups were reported, causing at least 17 civilian deaths, mainly women and children. "Military objects have been placed in close proximity to civilians and civilian objects, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries, and causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, mosques, schools and markets," the UN human rights office said in a statement. Non-State armed groups have launched ground-based attacks on areas under the control of Government forces, hitting residential neighbourhoods and refugee settlements in Hama governorate and Aleppo city, it said. 'Targeted killings' rights violations in south-west In Syria's south-west, meanwhile, OHCHR's Ms. Hurtado expressed concern for reported "targeted killings" of people who have returned to areas retaken by Government forces last year. Citing rights violations by State and non-State actors, she told journalists in Geneva that the abuse also included "arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, looting and seizure of property". The development comes 10 months after so-called "reconciliation agreements" in Dar'a Governorate between the Government of Syria and some armed non-State groups. Under the deal, the Government re-established its civilian authority across the whole province, but some of the armed groups continued to retain effective military control in some areas. "We have received reports that between 26 July 2018 and 31 March 2019, a number of former members of the armed groups and civilians who took up positions in Government entities including in civilian local councils or military or security forces have been killed in what appears to have been targeted killings," Ms. Hurtado said. "We have been able to document 11 such incidents. During the same period, OHCHR also received reports that at least 380 people were arrested or detained. "In many cases, the reasons for such arrests remain unclear, and little or no information is given to the families of the detainees about their whereabouts and status," Ms. Hurtado said. While 150 detainees were released after a few days at least 230 "have been subjected to enforced disappearances," she noted, adding that in March this year, two detainees died in Government custody, only days after being arrested. "Their families were only officially notified of their deaths, with no information on why or how they died," Ms. Hurtado explained. "Their families did not receive their corpses. Many families in Dar'a continue to have limited or no information about their missing or detained relatives." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Civilian Casualties Mount as Fighting in Syria's Idlib Province Intensifies By Lisa Schlein May 21, 2019 The U.N. human rights office warns civilian casualties are growing in northwestern Syria's Idlib province as fighting between Russian-backed Syrian government forces and rebels allied with al-Qaida escalates. The U.N. agency says it is extremely worried about the military action in Idlib, which is putting at risk the lives of three million civilians trapped in the province. Agency officials express concern at the speed with which a recent 72-hour cease-fire was broken by the warring parties. They say ongoing airstrikes and ground-based attacks in Idlib and Hama governorates do not bode well for peaceful prospects in the region. U.N. human rights spokeswoman Marta Hurtado says indiscriminate bombing and ground-based attacks by both pro-government forces and rebel armed groups has resulted in a high number of civilian casualties and injuries, as well as significant damage to civilian property. "Military objects have been placed in close proximity to civilians and civilian objects, resulting in deaths and injuries among civilians, and causing significant damage to civilian infrastructure such as hospitals, mosques, schools and markets," she said. This latest military escalation started at the end of April. Since then, the U.N. reports at least 105 civilians have been killed. It says about two-thirds of those deaths have occurred between May 8 and 16. The U.N. says the intensified fighting has also forced at least 200,000 people to flee their homes in search of safety. The U.N. human rights office is appealing to the warring factions to respect the principles of distinction and proportionality under international humanitarian law. It says parties to the conflict are obliged to do everything feasible not to put civilians in harm's way. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address France Stands by OPCW Amid US Claims of Chemical Attacks in Syria - Ministry Sputnik News 21:29 22.05.2019(updated 21:43 22.05.2019) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - France has taken into account the US allegations about the Syrian government's use of chemical weapons but has reaffirmed its absolute trust in the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry said. "We have noted with concern these allegations which must be investigated. We have every confidence in the OPCW", the French representative said during a briefing. The spokesperson also noted that French President Emmanuel Macron had earlier reaffirmed that his country would vigilantly monitor the use of chemical weapons. France supports imposing sanctions against the perpetrators of chemical attacks, the spokesperson said, stressing that France launched the International Partnership against Impunity for the Use of Chemical Weapons on 23 January 2018, in this regard. The statement comes after US Department of State Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said the United States was collecting information regarding a chemical weapons attack in Syria that had allegedly been carried out by the Middle Eastern country's government over the weekend. Meanwhile, US Special Envoy for Syria James Jeffrey stated that Washington has "no evidence" of the alleged use of chemical weapons in the Idlib province so far. The statement followed a day after the US State Department claimed it had seen signs that the Syrian army may be using chemical weapons in the country. The State Department also reiterated Washington's past threats that it would "respond quickly and appropriately" if allegations turn out to be correct, with the UK repeating this sentiment. Russia, however, insists on investigating all alleged cases of the use of chemical weapons in Syria, stressing that this investigation should aim to find the truth rather then bring new accusations against Damascus. Earlier in May, the Russian Defence Ministry stated that militants of the Nusra Front* terrorist group were preparing to stage a provocation in Syria's Idlib province in order to thereafter accuse the Russian Aerospace Forces and the Syrian army of allegedly attacking civilians with chemical weapons. *Al-Nusra Front or Jabhat al-Nusra, known as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham is a terrorist group banned in Russia Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan holds live-fire drill along east coast ROC Central News Agency 2019/05/22 18:50:36 Taipei, May 22 (CNA) Taiwan's military held its largest maritime live-fire training exercise in five years along the country's east coast Wednesday at a time of heightened activity by China's military in areas around Taiwan. The training drill involving 22 surface warships and 22 fighter jets was held ahead of the live-fire drill part of the Han Kuang exercises, Taiwan's biggest annual military drill, to be held from May 27 to 31. Wednesday's drill was the largest at sea since the 30th edition of the Han Kuang exercises held in 2014, which were observed by then President Ma Ying-jeou (), the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said. The drill simulated an attack by China on the naval port of Suao in Yilan County as enemy aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait toward the northern part of Taiwan. A warfare center in Suao subsequently issued a notice of combat readiness for the port areas based on enemy threat intelligence, and the Tsoying, a 9,525-tonne Keelung-class destroyer, then left Suao port and joined forces with other ships at the port of Hualien to counter the assault. The drill included anti-aircraft defense exercises, joint anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warfare operations by the Air Force and the Navy, the firing of missiles against aircraft and ships, and the testing of Navy supply lines, the MND said. China has frequently sent military aircraft and ships near Taiwan during drills in recent years amid its intensified efforts to intimidate Taiwan into unifying with China and isolate it in the international community. Two U.S.-made Perry-class guided missile frigates, commissioned in Kaohsiung in November 2018, were deployed in Wednesday's live-fire training mission that also included MBDA Missile Systems' MICA air-to-air missiles and domestically built Sky Sword 1 (TC-1) missiles, the MND said. The 22 surface warships included two Kidd-class Keelung (DDG-1801) destroyers, one La Fayette-class Kang Ding frigate, and three Cheng Kung-class frigates (including the two Perry-class vessels commissioned in November last year). There were also one Knox-class Chi Yang frigate, two Ching Chiang class patrol ships, one Tuo Chiang-class corvette and 12 Kuang Hua VI-class missile boats, according to MND data. The 22 fighter jets taking part in the military maneuvers included Mirages, Indigenous Defense Fighters (IDF), and F-16s, the mainstays of Taiwan's fighter fleet. Wednesday's drill was open to the media, as will be Han Kuang drills to be staged on the Huatan section of National Freeway No. 1 on May 28 and at a military firing range in Pingtung County on May 30, according to the MND. (By Matt Yu and Evelyn Kao) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey says preparing for bans as reported US deadline on Russian S-400 deal looms Iran Press TV Wed May 22, 2019 08:40AM Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar says his country is preparing for potential American sanctions as a deadline reportedly set by the US for Ankara to cancel an arms deal with Russia or face penalties draws near. Akar made the remarks late on Tuesday after the US State Department reportedly gave Turkey until the end of the first week of June to scrap its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense systems or face consequences. Citing multiple people familiar with the matter, CNBC reported that if Turkey receives the S-400s next month, the country will be ousted from Lockheed Martin's F-35 program, will not receive 100 of the stealth fighter jets it has ordered and will face US sanctions as well as a potential blowback from NATO. Turkey has signed a 2.5-billion-dollar deal with Russia for the purchase of S-400 system. It has, at the same time, ordered 30 F-35s and plans to buy over 100 in total. The US has claimed that the Russian defense system is not interoperable with NATO equipment. It has urged Turkey to purchase Raytheon Co Patriot missile systems instead of the S-400s. Akar said that although there was "a general easing and rapprochement" in talks with Washington over the purchase the F-35 and Patriots, Turkey was preparing for potential US sanctions regarding the S-400 deal. "We are doing whatever normal bilateral agreements mandate. Though there are some issues from time to time, we are pleased that there has been no sharp turn until now...Turkey is also making preparations for the potential implementation of CAATSA sanctions," he said, referring to the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. The Turkish defense minister also stressed that his country was fulfilling its responsibilities in the F-35 project and expected the program to continue as planned. He further said that buying the S-400 was only meant to meet Turkey's defense needs and posed no threats, adding that linking the purchase of the Russian system with that of the F-35 is "another hurdle." "There is no clause anywhere in the F-35 agreement saying one will be excluded from the partnership for buying S-400s," he said. "Turkey has paid $1.2 billion. We also produced the parts ordered from us on time. What more can we do as a partner?" Last month, the Pentagon has halted the delivery of equipment related to the F-35 to Turkey. Ankara has long argued that Turkey, as a sovereign state, is entitled to choose its trade partners and arms supplier free from foreign intervention. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hot Shots ownership had described the business as a photo studio when it leased the space, Dadkhah said. The landlord, who was named in the civil case, has been monitoring the situation from Greece, where he lives, and has been not enthused with allegations of an adult business being operated on his property, the attorney said. UN Urges UK to Leave Overseas Territory Chagos Islands Hosting US Air Base Sputnik News 21:42 22.05.2019 London has retained control over the group of islands in the Indian Ocean, having separated them from Mauritius several years prior to the country receiving independence as part of Britain's decolonisation policy. The United Nations General Assembly has accepted a declaration demanding that the UK relinquish its control over the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, with an overwhelming result of 116 for and only 6 against, with 56 abstentions. The islands are currently used by the UK for military purposes and one of them, Diego Garcia, is leased to the US until 2036. The latter has built a military base there, which saw around 2,000 of the island's inhabitants forcibly removed and which served as a base for bombers operating in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both London and Washington oppose the UN decision, which comes in support of an earlier ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in February 2019. British UN Ambassador Karen Pierce argues that the UK must maintain control over the islands at least until the end of the lease to the US. The latter's UN envoy insists that the base is critical to "efforts to ensure global security". Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Juqnauth suggested that London and Washington engage in talks with Mauritius to arrange a lease of the islands for their military operations. The offer didn't find much support in either the US or the UK. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian Lawmakers Decline To Address Zelenskiy's Proposals At Emergency Session By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service May 22, 2019 KYIV -- Ukraine's parliament has defied new President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a day after he issued a decree to disband it and hold snap elections in July, declining to discuss his proposed changes in electoral legislation. At an emergency session on May 22, lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada voted against debating two amendments proposed by Zelenskiy, underscoring the challenge he faces early in a five-year term that began with his inauguration two days before. After announcing in his May 20 inaugural address that he would dissolve parliament, Zelenskiy made it official with a decree the following day and declared that a new parliament will be elected on July 21. He has called for that election to be held based entirely on voting for parties, rather than single candidates, arguing that the current system in which some seats are filled in contests between individual candidates favors corruption. But at the emergency session, only 92 lawmakers voted to discuss that proposal -- far short of the majority, 226 votes, needed to put it on the agenda. Lawmakers also voted not to put another proposal from Zelenskiy, which would change the rules for state purchases during election campaigns, on the agenda. The votes could point to a standoff between lawmakers and Zelenskiy, a political novice who has no formal support in the current parliament. The next parliament session is scheduled for May 28. In a Facebook post on May 21, Rada speaker Andriy Parubiy alleged that Zelenskiy's decree to dissolve parliament and call snap elections was illegal. He said lawmakers would appeal to the Constitutional Court to overturn it. "It is sad and alarming that the guarantor of the constitution starts his work in the post with a gross violation of the constitution," Parubiy said. A comedian and actor with no previous political experience, Zelenskiy has taken the helm of a country of 44 million that faces deep-seated corruption, economic challenges, and a simmering war in eastern Ukraine. On May 21, Zelenskiy appointed Lieutenant General Ruslan Khomchak as chief of the General Staff of the armed forces, which are fighting Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of the eastern provinces of Donetsk and Luhansk in a conflict that has killed some 13,000 people since April 2014. He also picked his legal adviser, Andriy Bohdan, as head of the presidential administration -- his chief of staff. Bohdan has worked as a lawyer for tycoon Ihor Kolomoyskiy, adding to questions about the extent of ties between the new president and the billionaire who owns the TV station that has hosted Zelenskiy's comedy programs and his hit sitcom Servant Of The People. Tetyana Kozachenko, head of the public council on lustration issues at the Justice Ministry, contended in a Facebook post on May 22 that Zelenskiy's appointment of Bohdan violates legislation on lustration because he held government posts under ousted former President Viktor Yanukovych. She said the law prohibits people who served under Yanukovych from holding government posts for 10 years. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy canceled the appointment of Deputy Foreign Minister Olena Zerkal as deputy chief of staff on May 22, one day after he named her to the position. Some media reports said that Zerkal declined to take the job, and she said she would explain the situation later. Zelenskiy defeated incumbent Petro Poroshenko by a wide margin in a presidential runoff vote on April 21. The 41-year-old ran for president without the support of a political party and has no formal backing in parliament now. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-lawmakers-end- emergency-session-without-discussing-zelenskiy-s- proposed-electoral-changes/29956661.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 English French Two Global 7500 business jet options exercised are part of initial agreement signed in May 2018 at the European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva Letter of intent for five new Global 7500 aircraft reinforces flagship status as the largest and longest range business jet, ideally suited for the Greater China region HK Bellawings Jet Limited becomes operator managing Chinas largest fleet of Global 7500 aircraft GENEVA, May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bombardier is pleased to announce that Hong Kong aircraft management company HK Bellawings Jet Limited has signed a letter of intent (LOI) for five new Global 7500 business jets and has also exercised options for two Global 7500 business jets, as part of the initial agreement signed in May last year. This news comes as the industry flagship Global 7500 aircraft is showcased for the first time at the European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva. The Global 7500 aircraft continues to demonstrate its unrivalled performance and smooth ride, all the while delivering uncompromising value to customers under any conditions, at any time, without the need for tailwinds, said David Coleal, President, Bombardier Aviation. HK Bellawings experienced and professional team is a perfect fit for the Global 7500 aircrafts superior performance and we are thrilled that they have chosen our flagship to expand their growing fleet of business jets. Today marks a step forward towards our goal of becoming the premier Asian private jet operator. We are very impressed with Bombardiers Global 7500 aircraft since its entry into service less than six months ago, said HK Bellawings President Mr. YJ Zhang. Its unmatched performance and range is ideally suited for our customers in the Greater China region. As the operator that will manage one of the worlds largest fleet of Global 7500 aircraft, HK Bellawings Jet will further expand its business scope and continuously pursue higher goals. Winner of the 2019 Aviation Week Grand Laureate Award and a Red Dot award for design, the Global 7500 jet offers Bombardiers signature smooth ride and a spaciousness that is unique among business jets. Featuring a full-size kitchen and four true living spaces, the aircraft sets the benchmark for the most exceptional cabin interior. The Global 7500 aircrafts range of 7,700 nautical miles is the longest in business aviation. This business jet can connect the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong non-stop to the cities of New York, London or Milan, and also fly nonstop from Singapore to Vancouver.* Established in 2014, HK Bellawings Jet Limited is a distinguished business jet management company dedicated to providing a diverse array of professional, highly efficient and comprehensive business aviation services and solutions, which include business jet management, aircraft maintenance, travel concierge service, aircraft acquisition service, and business aviation consultancy. They operate a fleet of Challenger and Global business aircraft. About Bombardier With over 68,000 employees, 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 as well as a broad portfolio of products and services for the business aviation, commercial aviation and rail transportation markets. 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 US. The company is recognized on the 2019 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World Index. News and information are available at bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier . Notes to Editors Visit the Bombardier Business Aircraft website for more information on our industry-leading products and services. Follow @Bombardierjets on Twitter to receive the latest news and updates from Bombardier Business Aircraft. To receive our press releases, please visit the RSS Feed section. Bombardier, Challenger, Global, and Global 7500 are registered trademarks of Bombardier Inc. or its subsidiaries. *Under certain operating conditions For Information Mark Masluch Bombardier Aviation 514-297-7043 mark.masluch@aero.bombardier.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f0b22818-65fc-4ba8-a404-c413cb0d56d4 Not for distribution to the U.S. news wire services, or dissemination in the United States. HONG KONG, May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Primeline Energy Holdings Inc. (Primeline or the Company), listed on the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. under the trading symbol PEH, announced today updates on operations and the timing of the award in Primelines arbitration (the CNOOC Arbitration) with China National Offshore Oil Corp and CNOOC China Limited (CCL), and a default in relation to the principal repayment terms of its project finance facility (the Syndicate Facility). Operational Update As previously reported, in September 2018, at the time of the main hearing of CNOOC Arbitration, CCL reduced production from LS36-1 to 60% of the previous production level as the A5 well, which represented only about 13% of the LS 36-1 gas fields total production, stopped producing as a result of water ingress. As a precaution, CCL also reduced production from well A1M which drains the same reservoir. Subsequent investigations showed that the water in the A5 well was not formation water but leaked completion fluids. As such, Primeline believes there was no reason to reduce production from the A1M well and that CCL as Operator should repair the A5 well. Notwithstanding this finding, CCL proposed that the production level of the LS 36-1 gas field for the year 2019 should be reduced to a total sales gas quantity of only 102.31mcmpa, which would be the equivalent of approximately 33% of the annual contract quantity ("ACQ") under the gas sale contract with Zhejiang Gas under which production from the gas field is sold. At that level of production, the gas sales revenue and Primelines cash flow would be greatly reduced. Primeline has been pressing CCL, as Operator, to carry out remedial work and increase production in order to increase revenue but CCL has been slow to take any action. In January 2019, the Joint Management Committee established by CCL and Primeline for the project, instructed CCL to carry out further work to the A5 well to restore production. Belatedly, this has now happened and, on May 11, 2019, CCL recommenced coiled tubing operations to again lift water in the A5 well bore and that operation is currently in process. Irrespective of the success or otherwise of this operation, Primeline will continue to urge CCL to increase production. In the meantime, the arbitral tribunal in the CNOOC Arbitration has now provided an indication that the final award is expected before the end of the summer, slightly later than originally anticipated. As previously reported, the submission and hearing procedures of the CNOOC Arbitration, which commenced in April 2016, were completed in December 2018. Loan Repayment Default Operations Continuing As a result of revenue being significantly reduced due to the reduction in production from the LS 36-1 gas field since September 2018, it was impossible for Primeline to make full repayment of principal in accordance with the agreed schedule, which was based on production according to the ACQ and resulting revenue. Primeline informed its lending banks of the reduction in production and operational forecast made by CCL and, in November 2018, the lending banks, being China Development Bank, China Export and Import Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank (jointly Syndicate Banks), which have been extremely supportive to date, agreed to an adjustment of the principal repayment due in November 2018 so that part of that principal repayment was deferred and added to the principal repayment due in May 2019. However, due to CCLs failure to take measures to increase production levels referred to above, resulting in the continuation of the reduced cash flow, Primeline was unable to effect full repayment of the principal instalment due on May 20 2019 and, as a result, is now in default under the terms of the Syndicate Facility. The position of Primeline is that its inability to repay the principal instalment is a direct result of decreased revenue which is, in turn, due to the various defaults by CCL and CNOOC which form the basis of the claims made by Primeline in the CNOOC Arbitration. However, as of May 21, the Syndicate Banks have confirmed that, notwithstanding the default, they will not take enforcement action but will continue to support Primeline in order to maintain production and operations until the award in the CNOOC Arbitration has been received. With such confirmation and support, the Company intends to maintain normal operations whilst waiting for the award. Further announcements will be made as and when there is any further development. About Primeline Energy Holdings Inc. Primeline is an exploration and production company focusing exclusively on China natural resources under petroleum contracts with CNOOC in the East China Sea. LS36-1 Gas Field has been in production since July 2014. Shares of Primeline are listed for trading on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol PEH. ON BEHALF OF PRIMELINE ENERGY HOLDINGS INC. Signed Andrew Biggs Chief Executive Officer Contact: Primeline Energy Holding Inc. FronTier Merchant Capital Group Andrew Biggs, CEO PH: +44 207.499.8888 Fax: +44 560 372 5179 Toll Free: 1.877.818.0688 E-Mail: IR@pehi.com Robin Cook 1411-1 King Street West Toronto, ON M5H 1A1 PH: +1 (416) 809-1738 FAX: +1 (866) 749-0447 E-Mail: robin@frontiermcg.com www.frontiermcg.com Please visit the Companys website at www.primelineenergy.com . Should you wish to receive Company news via email, please email robin@frontiermcg.com and specify Primeline Energy in the subject line. Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this news release contain forward-looking information, which involves inherent risk and uncertainty affecting the business of Primeline. These statements relate to Primelines expectation that it will ultimately be successful in the CNOOC Arbitration, and that the Syndicate Banks will continue to take no enforcement action as a result of Primelines default under the Syndicate Facility pending the making of the award in the CNOOC Arbitration. Although these statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, actual results may vary from those anticipated in such statements. Primeline may not be successful in the CNOOC Arbitration, and if it is successful Primeline may be unable to enforce the award of the tribunal. The Syndicate Banks may take enforcement action prior to the making of the award in the CNOOC Arbitration notwithstanding the confirmation referred to in this news release. Any of these events may result in Primelines insolvency, and seizure of Primelines assets. Primeline assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information, except as required by law. Exploration for oil and gas is subject to the inherent risk that it will not result in a commercial 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 release. Operating 23,000 Antminer S9s generating 295 Petahashes per second Quebec Energy Regulator confirms no increase in electricity rates for Vogogo TORONTO, May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vogogo Inc. (CSE: VGO) (Vogogo or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on its Bitcoin mining operations. Operating Facilities The Company currently has approximately 23,000 Bitmain Antminer S9s (S9s) actively mining for the Companys own account, producing approximately 295 Petahashes per second (PH/s) of hashing power. Over the past 12 months, Vogogo has grown its mining operations from 4,125 S9s that produced approximately 50 PH/s to approximately 23,000 S9s and 295 PH/s, representing over 450% of growth. Our data centers are now at full capacity in terms of physical space with our 23,000 S9s. Through our recent energy optimization efforts, we are now drawing less power even though we are running more machines. Currently, we are only drawing 33MW of a total available 36MW and are evaluating cost-effective options for the excess 3MW, said Paul Leggett, Chief Operating Officer of Vogogo. Quebec Energy Regulator On April 29, 2019, the Regie de lenergie in Quebec (the Regulator) issued its decision for the blockchain file, providing certainty regarding electricity rates for Vogogo in Quebec. The Regulator confirmed Vogogos industrial hydro electric rates (LG and M) from Hydro Quebec will not be increased. The Regulator rejected Hydro Quebecs request to establish a bidding process for hydro power, and to increase hydro consumption rates. Vogogos total all-in blended electricity cost is approximately $0.053 (US$0.039) per kWh. As announced by the Company on April 30, 2019, Vogogos average cost per Bitcoin mined, calculated as site operating costs1 divided by the number of Bitcoin mined, was CAD$4,543 for the year ended December 31, 2018. Vogogo is currently well positioned with todays Bitcoin price of approximately US$8,000 and our current cost per Bitcoin mined of approximately CAD$4,600 (US$3,450). In addition, we are pursuing other opportunities both inside and outside of the crypto space to further enhance shareholder value, added Mr. Leggett. 1 site operating costs includes electricity cost, contractors fees and general facility operating costs, but excludes non-cash depreciation of mining and infrastructure equipment For information or interview please contact: Jordan Greenberg Chief Financial Officer (647) 715-3707 About Vogogo Inc. Vogogo currently operates its cryptocurrency mining activities in Quebec. This includes mining for cryptocurrencies for its own account and within mining pools. Vogogo continues to explore opportunities in all aspects of the cryptocurrency segment. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in this press release, including statements with respect to the Companys position to capitalize on Bitcoins recovery and the pursuit of other of other opportunities both inside and outside of the crypto space in order to maximize shareholder value, contain forward-looking information which can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology such as believes, expects, may, desires, will, should, projects, estimates, contemplates, anticipates, intends, or any negative such as "does not believe" or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. No assurance can be given that potential future results or circumstances described in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or will occur. By their nature, these forward-looking statements necessarily involve risks and uncertainties, including the risk that costs will be higher than anticipated reducing margins, that expense reductions will not be realized, the risk that the price of power to the Company increases and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to significantly differ from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the view of the Company with respect to future events and are based on information currently available to the Company and on assumptions, which it considers reasonable. Management cautions readers that the assumptions relative to the future events, several of which are beyond management's control, could prove to be incorrect, given that they are subject to certain risk and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected. Other factors which could cause results or events to differ from current expectations include, among other things, the impact of general economic, industry and market conditions. Management 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 required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. ASKER, NORWAY and HOUSTON, May 22, 2019TGS and Schlumberger announced today a strategic collaboration for multiclient ocean-bottom node projects in the deepwater U.S. Gulf of Mexico. This collaboration includes the previously-announced 2,350 km2 Amendment Phase 1 project in the Mississippi Canyon and Atwater Valley protraction areas. Supported by industry prefunding, Amendment Phase 1 commenced in early 2019 and data acquisition is expected to complete in Q3 2019. Under the collaboration agreement, TGS and WesternGeco, the geophysical services product line of Schlumberger, will work together to develop opportunities to co-invest in additional multiclient ocean-bottom node projects in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Both TGS and WesternGeco have extensive, high-quality multiclient libraries of seismic and other geoscience data in the U.S Gulf of Mexico. The combination of ocean-bottom node data, the associated velocity model improvement, full-waveform inversion and other data processing techniques will significantly improve imaging of complex subsalt structures. By collaborating and using the available underlying data, WesternGeco and TGS will be able to produce a higher-quality product for clients than would otherwise be available over the areas of interest. E&P companies are increasingly looking to ocean-bottom nodes, combined with advanced processing, as the next-generation technology to support both exploration and development activities in the Gulf of Mexico. Ocean-bottom node technology has traditionally been focused on development and time-lapse 4D seismic applications, but multiclient node projects will also have significant impact on near-field and greenfield activities. TGS and WesternGeco have a strong track record of investing together, using the latest technology so that our clients can benefit from large-scale, high-quality data in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. Both companies are at the forefront of ocean-bottom node technology with Amendment Phase 1 being the worlds first large-scale, multiclient sparse node program. We are working closely with our clients to plan future phases and are excited by the potential growth in exploration and production activity that this could drive in the U.S Gulf of Mexico and beyond, said Kristian Johansen, CEO, TGS. Maurice Nessim, president, WesternGeco, added, "In line with our asset-light strategy and global technology leadership, we are looking at opportunities to deploy and accelerate the use of advanced technologies, including ocean-bottom node technology. Our goal is to help our clients mitigate subsurface risks and accelerate their exploration and development programs. WesternGeco and TGS are leading the industry in the application of ocean-bottom nodes on multiclient seismic projects. Our geophysical, geological and technology expertise position us well for this next phase of activity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. About TGS TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company (TGS) provides multi-client geoscience data to oil and gas Exploration and Production companies worldwide. In addition to extensive global geophysical and geological data libraries that include multi-client seismic data, magnetic and gravity data, digital well logs, production data and directional surveys, TGS also offers advanced processing and imaging services, interpretation products, and data integration solutions. For more information visit TGS at www.tgs.com. About Schlumberger Schlumberger is the world's leading provider of technology for reservoir characterization, drilling, production, and processing to the oil and gas industry. With product sales and services in more than 120 countries and employing approximately 100,000 people who represent over 140 nationalities, Schlumberger supplies the industry's most comprehensive range of products and services, from exploration through production, and integrated pore-to-pipeline solutions that optimize hydrocarbon recovery to deliver reservoir performance. Schlumberger Limited has executive offices in Paris, Houston, London, and The Hague, and reported revenues of $32.82 billion in 2018. For more information, visit www.slb.com. Forward-looking statements disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These risks and other factors include the parties reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers, their respective ability to continue to expand markets for licensing of data, and the ability to acquire and process data products at costs commensurate with profitability, and other risks and uncertainties detailed in the parties most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and neither TGS nor Schlumberger undertake any responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason. TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSLO:TGS). TGS sponsored American Depositary Shares trade on the U.S. over-the-counter market under the symbol "TGSGY. ### For additional information about this press release please contact: Sven Brre Larsen TGS, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +47 90 94 36 73 sven.larsen@tgs.com Joao Felix Schlumberger Limited, Director of Corporate Communication Tel: +1 (713) 375-3535 communication@slb.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act DENVER, CO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- American Cannabis Company, Inc. (OTCQB: AMMJ) (ACC), a full-service business-to-business cannabis and hemp consulting solutions provider, wishes to announce that it has successfully worked with two clients to launch dispensaries in Colorado and Oklahoma. Laughing Grass, a soon-to-be fully vertically integrated recreational and medical cannabis operation, is located at 1110 West Virginia Avenue in Denver, Colorado. With the dispensary now open, patrons can now begin to shop for carefully selected top-tier products. The company is also working to deploy cultivation and extraction operations for Laughing Grass. Corey Rosen, Owner of Laughing Grass, said: I am enthused by the headway ACC has made so far in the process of helping me to launch my business. With the dispensary being operational, the retail side of the Laughing Grass brand can now start to be effectively marketed. ACC has played a pivotal role in not just deploying my retail store but also with the launching of cultivation and extraction activities as well, and I look forward to soon having all of my operations integrated. Tyler Schloesser, Chief Operating Officer of American Cannabis Company, commented: The company is happy to have deployed a retail dispensary in our own backyard here in Denver. Colorado is host to a very competitive market, but Laughing Grass is positioned to succeed. This retail setting has been designed to streamline the customer experience while offering a wide selection of products to address the needs of every patron. The overall aesthetic turned out very nice, and the staff that we worked to hire has fantastic energy. Geographically speaking, Laughing Grass is strategically positioned. Located right off of a frequented bike path route, and just off of a major highway within the Denver Metropolitan Area, this vertically-integrated operation is serving a widely diverse community where individuals seek to have the best, cleanest products in the market. Furthermore, we are excited to be working on deployment activities, as ACC is diligently working to deploy cultivation and commercial solvent-less extraction operations. The relationship between the client and our team is strong, and we are hopeful that collectively back-end operations will commence very soon. The second dispensary that ACC has recently helped to launch, PHARM+HOUSE, is located at 1610 N Harrison Street in Shawnee, Oklahoma. The company is currently working with this client to build out a 10,000 square foot cultivation and extraction facility in the town of Checotah, Oklahoma, making this business fully vertically operational. Jayne Grissom, Owner of PHARM+HOUSE, stated: We specifically chose to partner with American Cannabis Consulting for several reasons. First, while we knew they had a successful cannabis consulting business model, we learned they were really a great group of professionals who immediately made us feel like our business success was as important to them as it was to us. Second, while we had a specific plan in mind, we have had to modify our plans multiple times and ACC has had the agility and flexibility to accommodate and support every change along the way. We are confident that our business is miles ahead of our competition because of the solid foundation built by ACC. Terry Buffalo, American Cannabis Companys Principal Executive Officer, commented: Working with PHARM+HOUSE has been a true honor. We are ecstatic to be teamed up with this operator as ACC has taken the initiative to deploy ACCs licensed standard operating procedures within retail and soon to be cultivation and extraction settings. Aligning more closely with PHARM+HOUSE will likely bring additional revenues to both companies, as this Oklahoma operator sees and understands ACCs vision and future aspirations to dominate as a long-standing name in cannabis markets all around the United States and around the world. This state market is very unique compared to most other markets around the country, and we have taken the steps to ensure this operators utmost success and we have put them in place with the tools and resources necessary to have true potential to thrive. Our company will continue to align ourselves with operators such as PHARM+HOUSE and continue to expand the cannabis frontier, one operator at a time. About American Cannabis Company, Inc. American Cannabis Company, Inc. offers end-to-end solutions to existing and aspiring participants in the cannabis and hemp industries. We utilize our industry expertise to provide business planning and market assessment services, assist state licensing procurement, create business infrastructure and operational best practices. We aim to continue to grow the Company by taking equity positions in client projects, licensing the American Cannabis Company brand, as well as analyze acquisition opportunities worldwide. American Cannabis Company also developed and owns a portfolio of branded products including: SoHum Living Soils - Winner of the 2017 High Times S.T.A.S.H Award for Best Potting Mix, The Cultivation Cube and the High-Density Cultivation System. We also design and provide other industry-specific custom product solutions. For more information, please visit: www.americancannabisconsulting.com www.americancannabiscompanyinc.com www.sohumsoils.com www.americanhempservices.com For more information on PHARM+HOUSE in Oklahoma, please visit: https://pharmhouseok.com/about-us/ Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" which are not purely historical and may include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such forward-looking statements include, among other things, the development, costs and results of new business opportunities and words such as "anticipate", "seek", intend", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "project", "plan", or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the inherent uncertainties associated with new projects, the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release, and we assume no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Although we believe that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that any such beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions will prove to be accurate. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For more information, please visit www.sec.gov. Fairfax, VA, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of a shared commitment to improving health in Northern Virginia, the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) and Kaiser Permanente have entered into a collaboration to address social determinants of health, particularly for medically underserved and underinsured populations. Kaiser Permanente, the regions leading integrated nonprofit health system, awarded a $500,000 grant to the university to develop a resource hub. The hub will co-locate three community partners including the Partnership for Healthier Kids, NOVA Scripts, and Northern Virginia Family Services. Each organization will work to address both clinical and social aspects of health by providing clients with referrals to medical care, food assistance, prescription medications, housing, and other social services that have been shown to impact health outcomes. The hub will be housed within the CHHS population health center, which is slated to open on George Mason Universitys Fairfax Campus in the fall of 2019. Kaiser Permanente is an ideal partner for the College of Health and Human Services to address the many factors that influence health in Northern Virginia, as we jointly strive for public health. We look forward to a strong partnership that improves health throughout the region, says Dr. Germaine Louis, Dean of the College of Health and Human Services at George Mason University. Currently, more than 240,000 people in Northern Virginia are underinsured or do not have health insurance and nearly 160,000 local residents are living in poverty, 45% of which are in minority groups. This grant award comes as CHHS moves toward becoming a global college of public health. This is the most recent commitment by Kaiser Permanente in Northern Virginia to improve access to affordable, high-quality health care and to address conditions that affect community health in the region. In addition to providing underinsured and underserved communities with social services, the resource hub will complement other research and workforce training planned for the population health center. The organizations co-located in the hub will offer opportunities for students across all health disciplines to experience hands-on learning and to observe as professionals engage with clients. As a part of our approach to care and our deep belief that good health requires more than clinical care, we are committed to creating opportunities and connections to health where the community needs itin traditional as well as unexpected settings, said Celeste James, executive director, Community Health for Kaiser Permanente. Our collaboration with George Mason University allows us to deliver on that promise in the heart of Northern Virginia where we are proud to care for our members and the many communities we serve. ### About George Mason University George Mason University is Virginias largest public research university. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason enrolls 37,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Mason has grown rapidly over the past half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. For more information, visit https://www2.gmu.edu/ . About the College of Health and Human Services George Mason Universitys College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) prepares students to become leaders and shape the publics health through academic excellence, professional service, and innovative practice and research initiatives. CHHS enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate students and more than 950 graduate students in its nationally-recognized offerings, including: 5 undergraduate degrees, 12 graduate degrees, and 11 certificate programs. For more information, visit https://chhs.gmu.edu/ . About Kaiser Permanente: Rockford, IL, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Peter Provenzano, President & CEO of SupplyCore Inc., has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2019 Award in the Midwest by EY. Widely considered one of the most prestigious business award programs in the U.S., the program recognizes entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities, while also transforming our world. Mr. Provenzano was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges and was recognized at the Midwest Finalists award reception Monday night. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 12, 2019, in Chicago, Illinois. Im honored to represent our team in accepting this award, said Provenzano. Ive had the privilege to work alongside talented and dedicated individuals and organizations. Collectively we are having a positive impact on our customers and our hometown of Rockford, Illinois, as well as in other communities that we serve. Now in its 33rd year, the EY program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 16, 2019. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum, the nations most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. About SupplyCore Inc. Founded in 1987, SupplyCore Inc. is a supply chain and technology integrator and small business federal defense contractor providing key support to the U.S. military and its allies. With market segments in Base Operations Supply and domestic and international Weapon Systems Support, SupplyCore is driven by its mission to sustain and enhance the physical and human capital of our nation and its allies in times of peace and crisis. Core competencies include global supply chain management and performance-based logistics executed in a variety of environments. A member of the elite Inc. 500 Hall of Fame, SupplyCore was named in 2018for the third consecutive yearto the Inc. 5000, Inc.s annual list of the fastest-growing companies in America. SupplyCore also includes MPOWR, its software and social enterprise division. For more information about SupplyCore, visit www.supplycore.com. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year, founded by Ernst & Young LLP, is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries. For more information, visit www.ey.com/eoy. ### IRVING, Texas, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REPL Group , a world-leading consultancy and technology group specializing in workforce transformation, supply chain, customer experience and enterprise systems, has announced today that it has seen an 85% increase in North American business in the past year. Headquartered in the UK, REPL Group is a global systems integrator that utilizes its in-house-developed machine learning and AI software, ADAPT , to provide workforce transformation, supply chain, customer experience and enterprise systems, as well as forecasting technology and consulting to large global retailers. Retail has been going through a major transformation over the past few years when it comes to technology, with a lot of innovation taking place in the background said Mike Callender, Executive Chairman of REPL Group. Many organizations have reached the point where theyve put new frameworks in place, they are operating in the cloud, and now is the time to utilize the advantages of those technologies to collect and analyze data in a way that can provide immense value. REPL Group is excited to be advising global brands on how to do that most efficiently and with the biggest yield to their bottom line. REPL Group is well-poised to advise large, global brands on how to best digitize their business thanks to its understanding and expertise surrounding retail transformational solutions. This was most noted by its recent key research revealing that understaffing remained retail workers biggest frustration, with over 80 percent of said workers claiming that more efficient management of stores and better forecasting would improve overall job satisfaction. As part of its commitment to North America, REPL Group has been garnering insights from customers and partners throughout the country at major industry shows to include National Retail Federation and Future Stores , has secured accolades from global associations for ongoing deployment of services and solutions that enable retail vendors to best mitigate the workforce management future. In addition to its U.S. expansion, over the last year, REPL Group has also opened new offices in Japan, South Africa and Singapore. This worldwide presence has allowed REPL Group to enter new markets including Canada, Germany, Australia, Indonesia and South Korea to become a truly global company. As it has continued to grow, REPL Group has increased investment in its technology team, allowing it to make great strides in automated testing and Robotic Process Automation (RPA). This innovation is expected to continue with the appointment of Rafik Salama as head of data science to strengthen the companys dedicated data science division. The role will see Salama work on innovation for retailers, advising on organizational strategies for data-driven approaches and leading the data science team in working with organizations to transform their businesses. About REPL Group REPL Group is a world-leading consulting and technology group specializing in workforce management, supply chain, point of sale and in-store digital solutions. Since its beginnings in 2007, the UK-headquartered firm, formed by a specialist team with highly-successful retail careers, has enjoyed year-on-year growth by drawing on its experience and expertise to deliver visionary professional services and unique solutions that transform business operations. In the US, REPL Group serves the largest US retailer and is expanding its North American presence following the recent opening of a new office in Dallas, Texas. According to initial details, the woman, in her 30s, was in her SUV about 8:10 a.m. in the 100 block of South Laflin Street, near the school, when a teenage boy got into the passenger side of the vehicle, then stole the vehicle at gunpoint, according to Officer Anthony Spicuzza, a police spokesman. Dutch German English Zwolle, 22nd May 2019 RoodMicrotec N.V., a leading independent company for semiconductors supply and quality services, today announces that the court has given a verdict in the legal proceedings as announced in a press release on the 26th April 2018. The claim for damage from the debtor against RoodMicrotec is set to 5,225 Euro by the court. RoodMicrotec already included a provision of 130,000 Euro in the books of 2018 which is now released. About RoodMicrotec RoodMicrotec is a leading independent company for semiconductor supply and quality services. With 50 years of experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, RoodMicrotec is well-established as a highly valued partner for many companies worldwide. The company provides full-turnkey ASIC services for complex microchips that are customized to handle specific applications for individual customers. In cooperation with strong partners, RoodMicrotec manages the entire development and production flow of ASICs in the target volume, ranging from low quantities up to multiple millions per year. The turnkey solution includes project management, wafer test, assembly, final test, qualification, failure analysis and logistics. All services comply with the industrial and quality requirements of the high reliability, aerospace, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors. RoodMicrotecs headquarter is located in Zwolle, Netherlands, with operational units in Nordlingen and Stuttgart, Germany. For more information visit https://www.roodmicrotec.com Further information Martin Sallenhag - CEO, Reinhard Pusch - COO, Arvid Ladega - CFO Telephone: +31 570 745623 Email: investor-relations@roodmicrotec.com Web: www.roodmicrotec.com This press release is published in English, Dutch and German. In case of conflict between these versions the English version shall prevail. This communication contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The companys managing director and CEO Martin Sallenhag, is responsible for arranging for the release of this document on behalf of RoodMicrotec. Attachment English French TORONTO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Investment Funds Institute of Canada (IFIC) today announced investment fund net sales and net assets for April 2019. Mutual fund assets totalled $1.56 trillion at the end of April 2019. Assets increased by $31.4 billion or 2.0% compared to March 2019. Mutual funds recorded net redemptions of $1.0 billion in April 2019. ETF assets totalled $178.7 billion at the end of April 2019. Assets increased by $5.9 billion or 3.4% compared to March 2019. ETFs recorded net sales of $2.4 billion in April 2019. Mutual Fund Net Sales/Net Redemptions ($ Millions) * Asset Class Apr. 2019 Mar. 2019 Apr. 2018 YTD 2019 YTD 2018 Long-term Funds Balanced (922 ) (273 ) (104 ) (1,242 ) 8,293 Equity (2,144 ) (887 ) 260 (2,394 ) 4,062 Bond 1,468 1,816 (12 ) 6,382 1,356 Specialty 673 779 226 2,251 954 Total Long-term Funds (925 ) 1,434 370 4,997 14,665 Total Money Market Funds (80 ) 363 88 (132 ) 282 Total (1,005 ) 1,797 459 4,865 14,947 Mutual Fund Net Assets ($ Billions) * Asset Class Apr. 2019 Mar. 2019 Apr. 2018 Dec. 2018 Long-term Funds Balanced 799.6 786.5 767.5 737.1 Equity 522.9 508.0 490.5 460.0 Bond 193.5 191.3 187.4 180.2 Specialty 21.4 20.1 15.1 18.3 Total Long-term Funds 1,537.4 1,505.9 1,460.6 1,395.6 Total Money Market Funds 27.5 27.6 24.7 27.5 Total 1,564.9 1,533.5 1,485.3 1,423.1 * Please see below for important information regarding this data. ETF Net Sales/Net Redemptions ($ Millions) * Asset Class Apr. 2019 Mar. 2019 Apr. 2018 YTD 2019 YTD 2018 Long-term Funds Balanced 193 233 74 735 327 Equity 782 223 842 1,857 6,728 Bond 1,381 1,301 64 3,547 1,336 Specialty (31 ) (41 ) 20 79 (158 ) Total Long-term Funds 2,325 1,716 1,001 6,220 8,233 Total Money Market Funds 77 69 3 178 164 Total 2,402 1,785 1,004 6,398 8,398 ETF Net Assets ($ Billions) * Asset Class Apr. 2019 Mar. 2019 Apr. 2018 Dec. 2018 Long-term Funds Balanced 3.6 3.4 1.9 2.6 Equity 113.4 109.3 99.3 97.6 Bond 57.1 55.6 49.1 52.2 Specialty 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.3 Total Long-term Funds 176.6 170.8 152.7 154.7 Total Money Market Funds 2.1 2.0 0.9 1.9 Total 178.7 172.8 153.6 156.6 * Please see below for important information regarding this data. IFIC ETF data is complemented with data from Morningstar Canada Inc. IFIC makes every effort to verify the accuracy, currency and completeness of the information; however, IFIC does not guarantee, warrant, represent or undertake that the information provided is correct, accurate or current. * Important Information Regarding Investment Fund Data: Mutual fund data is adjusted to remove double counting arising from mutual funds that invest in other mutual funds. ETF data is not adjusted to remove double counting arising from ETFs that invest in other ETFs. The Balanced Funds category includes funds that invest directly in a mix of stocks and bonds or obtain exposure through investing in other funds. Mutual fund data reflects the investment activity of Canadian retail investors. ETF data reflects the investment activity of Canadian retail and institutional investors. About IFIC The Investment Funds Institute of Canada is the voice of Canadas investment funds industry. IFIC brings together 150 organizations, including fund managers, distributors and industry service organizations, to foster a strong, stable investment sector where investors can realize their financial goals. By connecting Canadas savers to Canadas economy, our industry contributes significantly to Canadian economic growth and job creation. To learn more about IFIC, please visit www.ific.ca . For more information please contact: Lisa Hall Senior Manager, Communications and Public Affairs lhall@ific.ca 416-309-2317 CALGARY, Alberta, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (Gran Tierra or the Company) (NYSE American:GTE)(TSX:GTE)(LSE:GTE) is pleased to announce that the Company has officially signed Participation Contracts (Contracts) for three blocks located in Ecuador. The three blocks were preliminarily awarded to the Company in March 2019 by the Ministerio de Energia y Recursos Naturales No Renovables (MERNR) in the Ronda Intracampos. The three blocks are located in the Oriente Basin and are approximately 140,000 acres in total area, creating a contiguous acreage position extending from Gran Tierras existing assets in the Putumayo Basin in Colombia. Key Highlights Establishes the Company as one of the top landholders in the play trend which extends from the Putumayo Basin in Colombia through to the Oriente Basin in Ecuador; the Putumayo and Oriente Basins are the same geological basin, with different names due to the international border between Colombia and Ecuador Further strengthens and consolidates Gran Tierras position in what the Company considers is a conventional oil resource fairway; Ecuador has the same multi-zone potential in carbonate and sandstone reservoirs found in the Putumayo Basin, including the prolific Napo Formation (Villeta equivalent) and Hollin Formation (Caballos equivalent), which contribute to the majority of reserves and production in the Oriente-Putumayo petroleum system Gran Tierra has secured 100% working interest ( WI ) and operatorship in the Charapa, Chanangue and Iguana Blocks (collectively, the Blocks ), which increases Gran Tierras gross acreage position in the conventional resource plays in Ecuador and Colombia from 1.1 million to over 1.2 million gross acres ) and operatorship in the Charapa, Chanangue and Iguana Blocks (collectively, the ), which increases Gran Tierras gross acreage position in the conventional resource plays in Ecuador and Colombia from 1.1 million to over 1.2 million gross acres Gran Tierra expects to commence its Ecuador exploration drilling program in 2020; this new exploration program is expected to be fully funded through the Companys forecasted net cash provided by operating activities Contiguous acreage extending from Colombias Putumayo Basin into Ecuadors Oriente Basin provides Gran Tierra with the ability to potentially construct strategic gathering infrastructure on operated 100% WI acreage, which would allow the Company to potentially utilize the existing infrastructure in Ecuador Gary Guidry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gran Tierra, commented, "This is a momentous event for Ecuador, one that marks material change for the oil and gas industry, and we are proud to be a part of this initiative. Our entry into Ecuador is very much aligned with Gran Tierras strategy focusing on proven conventional hydrocarbon basins, with access to established infrastructure, in a strong stable economic environment, combined with a highly competitive fiscal regime. The Blocks extend our dominant position in Colombias Putumayo Basin into Ecuadors Oriente Basin, with assets that are highly complementary to our existing land base. Ecuador represents a unique opportunity in terms of scale for Gran Tierra. We believe we are acquiring significant future potential exploration upside which could enhance our long-term growth strategy and be an excellent fit with Gran Tierras diverse reserves and resources base in Colombia. Maps Below is a link to a map of the Blocks awarded to Gran Tierra Link 1: Gran Tierra's Land Position in the Oriente Basin Contact Information For investor and media inquiries please contact: Gary Guidry, Chief Executive Officer Ryan Ellson, Chief Financial Officer Rodger Trimble, Vice President, Investor Relations +1-403-265-3221 info@grantierra.com About Gran Tierra Energy Inc. Gran Tierra Energy Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is an independent international energy company focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production in Colombia and Ecuador. The Company is focused on its existing portfolio of assets in Colombia and Ecuador and will pursue new growth opportunities throughout Colombia and South America, leveraging our financial strength. The Companys common shares trade on the NYSE American, Toronto Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GTE. Additional information concerning Gran Tierra is available at www.grantierra.com. Information on the Company's website does not constitute a part of this press release. Investor inquiries may be directed to info@grantierra.com or (403) 265-3221. Gran Tierra's Securities and Exchange Commission filings are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission website at http://www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com, and UK regulatory filings are available on the National Storage Mechanism website at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm. Forward-Looking Statements and Legal Advisories: This press release contains opinions, forecasts, projections, and other statements about future events or results that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and financial outlook and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words expect, plan, intend, "will" and "believes", derivations thereof and similar terms identify forward-looking statements. In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, this press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the anticipated benefits of the Blocks and the Contracts to Gran Tierra and its shareholders, our expected timeframes for obtaining environmental and other regulatory approvals, our expected timeframes for commencing drilling, our ability to construct gathering infrastructure or access pipelines or other transport facilities, and any expected production from the Blocks. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect several material factors and expectations and assumptions of Gran Tierra including, without limitation, that Gran Tierra will continue to conduct its operations in a manner consistent with its current expectations, the accuracy of testing and production results and seismic data, pricing and cost estimates (including with respect to commodity pricing and exchange rates), rig availability, the effects of waterflood and the general continuance of assumed operational, regulatory and industry conditions in Ecuador, and the ability of Gran Tierra to execute its business and operational plans in the manner currently planned. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements in this press release are: sustained or future declines in commodity prices and potential resulting future impairments and reductions in proved reserve quantities and value; Gran Tierra's operations are located in South America, and unexpected problems can arise due to guerrilla activity; technical difficulties and operational difficulties may arise which impact the production, transport or sale of our products; geographic, political and weather conditions can impact the production, transport or sale of our products; the risk that current global economic and credit conditions may impact oil prices and oil consumption more than Gran Tierra currently predicts; the ability of Gran Tierra to execute its business plan; the risk that unexpected delays and difficulties in developing properties may occur; the timely receipt of regulatory or other required approvals for our activities; the failure of exploratory drilling to result in commercial wells; unexpected delays due to the limited availability of drilling equipment and personnel; the risk that oil prices could continue to fall, or current global economic and credit market conditions may impact oil prices and oil consumption more than Gran Tierra currently predicts, which could cause Gran Tierra to further modify its strategy and capital spending program; and the risk factors detailed from time to time in Gran Tierra's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, under the caption "Risk Factors" in Gran Tierra's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 27, 2019. These filings are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission website at http://www.sec.gov and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on certain assumptions made by Gran Tierra based on management's experience and other factors believed to be appropriate. Gran Tierra believes these assumptions to be reasonable at this time, but the forward-looking statements are subject to risk and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Gran Tierra's control, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and the fact that this press release remains available does not constitute a representation by Gran Tierra that Gran Tierra believes these forward-looking statements continue to be true as of any subsequent date. Actual results may vary materially from the expected results expressed in forward-looking statements. Gran Tierra 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. One man said the city is singling out hotel owners for more taxes with the proposed increase in the lodging tax and $2 per day occupancy tax. We are the easiest target, Gary Patel, owner at the Executive Inn at 2660 W. Main St., told Danville City Council during a public hearing on the proposed increase Tuesday night. The $2 per-night hotel fee is meant to provide funding for the Danville Life Saving Crew. The idea of funding the life saving crew, we are not opposing that and we understand that, Patel said. He added that the lodging tax was at 3 percent in 2007, but doubled to 6 percent about eight to 10 years ago. Lodging tax levels are comparable to those in Washington, D.C., or New York, Patel told the Danville Register & Bee after the meeting. Patrick Dewberry, with Hampton Inn, also expressed opposition to the $2 per night tax. That is an astronomical number, Dewberry told councilmen. While he wasnt happy with the tax increase, Dewberry said it could be worked with. Councilman Gary Miller said the 8-percent rate is on the low end. We must find fund for the rescue squad, he said. Its going to be paid by the people who stay at your hotels. He said he found it hard to believe that someone will not stay in Danville because of the $2 per night occupancy tax. No one spoke out on the proposed 4-cent increase in the real estate tax rate from 80 cents per $100 of assessed value to 84 cents per $100 of assessed value. The proposed real estate tax rate is 84 cents instead of the 88 cents originally presented to council by the city manager. This means that, under an 84-cent rate, a home assessed at $100,000 would bring $840 in taxes. Under the current rate, a home with the same assessment results in $800 in taxes. The reduced real estate tax rate and elimination of a proposed 30-cent per pack cigarette tax left a $1.38 million gap for the city to cover in order to balance the budget. The four-cent reduction on the proposed real estate tax rate resulted in an $880,000 gap, while scrapping the cigarette tax left a $500,000 hole. To make up for that shortfall, the city is relying on revenues from the $2 per-night hotel occupancy fee ($259,250), a 1-percentage point increase in the lodging tax ($155,000), increased revenues from personal property tax ($150,000), increased collection of delinquent personal property taxes ($125,480), higher transfers from the utility funds ($378,000) and other sources. There is also a proposal to increase the personal property tax form $3.50 per $100 of assessed value to $3.60 per $100 of assessed value. John Crane reports for the Danville Register & Bee. Contact him at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987. 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. Many of the states growers have room to increase production significantly, and are expected to need it. One cannabis research firm predicted that Illinois marijuana market could rival Colorados in coming years, with explosive growth if the drug is legalized. Another study commissioned by lawmakers estimated that growers will need four to seven times the amount of current space to serve the market, once it is fully developed. At some facilities, construction is already in the works. In his second day of trial, Dashaun Lamar Trent saw his murder charge dropped in return for a lesser charge that could bring less than two years in prison. His plea came late Tuesday after prosecutors and defense attorneys rested their cases of Trent and co-defendant Tredarius Jameriquan Keene in Danville Circuit Court. The two were indicted in connection to the shooting death of Antwan Duval Tucker, 25. The trial, which began Monday, will continue Wednesday. Prosecutors say there was a party Dec. 22, 2017, that ended with more than 20 spent shell casings littering the 300 block of Ross Street. It began when a white SUV rolled up to dying party and gunfire sounded. Tucker was riding in the vehicle, which was struck many times. After that, the SUV motored to Sovah Health-Danville, where it knocked over a sign for a pedestrian crosswalk. Photos of the interior showed red stains on the center console. Amy Tharp, assistant chief medical examiner at the Roanoke medical examiners office, testified that the fatal shot cut across Tuckers brain, hitting his brainstem among other sections of the organ. The bullet went in just behind the right ear, she said from the stand. The bullet ripped through his brain. There was no stippling or indication that the shot was from close range; in fact, Tharp said, the entrance wound was oval-shaped, which is consistent with a bullet tumbling after hitting something. Danville Police Department crime scene technician J. C. Thornton testified that 13 bullets hit the vehicle Tucker was in. Three Danville men Keene, Trent and a man named KDarius Taequan West were indicted in connection to the shooting. West, 20, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, using a firearm in commission of a felony and unlawfully shooting into a vehicle on Sept. 10, 2018. He was sentenced to 27 years in prison. But Trent was offered a plea deal Tuesday after the prosecution and defense had presented their evidence and rested their cases. He pleaded guilty to two counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle voiding his charges of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. Keene, it turns out, had told Danville police and an investigator from the Franklin County Sheriffs Office that he shot at the vehicle. That Franklin County investigator, Holly Willoughby, spoke to Keene in August 2018 where he told her he had opened fire after the white SUVs occupants started shooting. An audio recording of the interview was presented as evidence. I barely knew the guy, Keene said on the recording. But Tucker and Keenes people had words with each other before the shooting started. After the hearing, Trents defense attorney Christopher Kowalczuk said the commonwealth offered a deal of 1 1/2 years in jail. He said he had a strong defense, and submitted Wests conviction order as the sole piece of evidence in defense of his client. KDarius West has pleaded guilty to murder, and Tredarius said when shots came out of the white vehicle, he started shooting back, Kowalczuck said. Justice was served, he added of Trents plea deal. According to testimony from Wendy Gibson a forensic scientist at Virginias Department of Forensic Science only two guns were matched to casings found at the scene, disqualifying Trent as a shooter in light of Wests plea and Keenes words. Additionally, both defendants charges of attempted murder and firearms-related counts were dropped after Circuit Judge James J. Reynolds noted they were duplicative of each defendants shooting-into-a-vehicle charge. Both Trent and Keene are swept up in a sweeping federal racketeering case against multiple accused gang members from Danville, according to federal court documents. In pleading guilty to the state charges, Trent gave up his right to avoid self-incrimination. But Kowalczuck said that would not impact the federal proceedings against him. This court cannot bind the federal court, he said after the hearing. The fact of this conviction cannot be used by [federal] prosecutors outside of a presentence report. James Whitlow reports for the Danville Register & Bee. Contact him at jwhitlow@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7983. Essie Handy, a sister of Lorene Bug Hopkins-Pequignot, said Wednesday she had been hearing that Thomas Richard Pequignot would be charged in Lorenes death but that she hadnt believed that would happen. At a news conference Wednesday morning, that did happen. Henry County Sheriff Lane Perry and Henry County Commonwealths Attorney Andrew Nester announced the indictment Monday and arrest Tuesday of Tom Pequignot, 71, on a charge of first-degree murder in the strangulation death of his wife, Lorene Hopkins-Pequignot, 69, last year. On Jan. 12, 2018, at 6:57 p.m., the Martinsville-Henry County 911 Center received a call from Tom Pequignot, who told the dispatcher that it appeared his home at 4436 Longview Drive in Fieldale had been broken into and he could not find his wife. Deputies entered the house and found the body of Mrs. Hopkins-Pequignot, and she was deceased, Perry said at the press conference. Her body was sent to the Office of the Chef Medical Examiner for the Western District of Virginia for an autopsy, which ruled the death a homicide caused by manual strangulation. While working the crime scene to identify and collecting evidence, it became quickly apparent that it appeared to be a staged crime scene, Perry said. Evidence was collected, and then over the past 16 months we have continued working very diligently on this case, going through the evidence, the testing with that We also have conducted dozens of interviews, and some of these interviews have been in South Carolina and other locations. On Monday a Henry County grand jury issued a sealed indictment of Tom Pequignot, now of 277 Sheppard Road in Stuart, and he was arrested at that address on Tuesday by deputies from the Henry County and Patrick County sheriffs offices. Handy said she didnt know about the news conference Wednesday, and she and some other family members didnt know that Pequignot had been charged until she heard that on TV news Wednesday morning. We are mad as hell. We are furious we had to see that, Handy said. No one called me, my sister or my brother. They apparently got in touch with the son and grandson last night at the time they picked him [Pequignot] up. They didnt call the rest of us. Do you think thats right? It makes us feel we are not important for us to be called. They have treated me, my sister and my brother like we are not part of this murder. It is like Lorene has been murdered all over again. Was she surprised at Tom Pequignot being charged? I dont know. I was hearing he was going to be arrested, Handy said, adding she didnt believe it. I did not hear the reasons. I heard all they have is circumstantial evidence, very little DNA and its not a strong case. I dont think Tom got up one day and said Im going to murder Lorene. He [Tom] was a very quiet person. He seemed to worship the ground Lorene walked on. If she wanted something built in the house, or redone, he was proud to do it. Handy said she never heard Pequignot say an unkind word to her and that her sister was difficult because she suffered from bipolar disorder and had significant mood swings. Lorene was a wonderful human being, good, but she was bipolar, and you never knew what you were getting [in terms of her mood], Handy said. She pushed all our buttons, and she knew how to do it. Perry, when asked about motive in the slaying, didnt offer one. At this point all we can say is that it was a husband and wife, and we do not know that we can accurately say what a motive is at this time, what may have led to it, he said. He said he believes the slaying took place at the couples home in Fieldale and that Lorene Hopkins had been dead for hours when officers found her. He declined to describe the crime scene or what led investigators to believe it was staged to appear like a break-in As to why Pequignot was charged: The evidence in the case, everything we worked through brought us to the conclusion he was the person who committed this crime, Perry said, declining to be more specific. He would not say if Lorene Pequignot was injured beyond strangulation. We cant elaborate on what evidence we have at this juncture because it is a pending criminal matter that will appear potentially in front of a Henry County jury, Nester said. So we cant disclose all of our evidence at this juncture. Pequignot is being held without bond in Henry County Jail, and Nester said there would be a first appearance hearing soon, when counsel will be appointed, with a docket hearing set for July 15. Arlie Dalton of Willis, Lorenes brother, said Wednesday he wasnt too surprised that Pequignot was charged with the death. Most times, if a family member gets killed, its someone in the family. It was a little surprise, he said. His wife, Jackie Dalton, said that Pequignot told the family that he had a lie detector test and was cleared. She said the couple met via the internet and that Pequignot had moved to Henry County from West Virginia. She said she saw him at family dinners and special occasions. He was always nice and very quiet, she said. I was actually shocked when it happened, and even more [now]. VANCOUVER, May 22, 2019 - Finlay Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: FYL) (the "Company") announces the appointment of Alvin Jackson as Director, effective May 21, 2019, and the retirement of James Tutton as Director effective May 16, 2019. The Company would like to thank Mr. Tutton for his long service as Director, and formerly as Chief Financial Officer, and wishes him the very best. The Company welcomes Mr. Alvin Jackson as an Independent Director of the Company. Mr. Jackson has over 40 years of worldwide experience in mineral exploration and development. During his career, he has been directly involved with the exploration drilling and pre-feasibility studies on two major gold deposits: Detour Lake in Ontario and Golden Cross in New Zealand, and one porphyry copper deposit: Huckleberry in British Columbia - all of which subsequently became producers. His experience includes work as an Exploration Manager for Cyprus Minerals Canada from 1989 to 1992 and serving as President and CEO/COO of Eurozinc Mining between 1999 to 2005 where he directed that company in its acquisition of the Aljustrel and Neves Corvo zinc and copper mines in Portugal. Eurozinc subsequently grew to a market capitalization of over $1.5 billion before merging with Lundin Mining. Currently, Mr. Jackson serves as Director and Vice President, Exploration and Development of Freegold Ventures Ltd. as well as a director of Canasil Resources and International Samuel Exploration Corp.. Robert Brown, President and CEO of the Company states: "I am very pleased that Alvin Jackson has joined our Board of Directors. Mr. Jackson has an excellent geological and exploration company business background which will be invaluable going forward with the Company's projects." About Finlay Minerals Ltd. Finlay is a TSX Venture Exchange company focused on exploration for base and precious metal deposits in northern British Columbia. The Company's properties are: the Silver Hope Property which includes porphyry copper-molybdenum mineralization discovered in 2010, along with three silver-copper mineralized zones, in a contiguous trend with the mined-out deposits of the former Equity Silver Mine (71 million oz. silver, 185 million lbs. copper and 508,000 oz. gold; Reference: http://minfile.gov.bc.ca/Summary.aspx?minfilno=093L++001). The Silver Hope Property surrounds the former Equity Silver Mine; the ATTY Property which is contiguous to the north side of the Kemess East deposit and adjacent to the Kemess Underground deposit of Centerra Gold Inc. and which was recently optioned to Serengeti Resources Inc. (Finlay NR 01-18 dated March 5, 2018), and the PIL Property, which is adjacent to Sable Resource's Baker Mine, has nine known mineralized zones including the recently discovered and expanded Pillar East gold-silver structural system. The Company is focused on the discovery of copper-gold-molybdenum porphyry systems on the PIL Property. Finlay Minerals Ltd. trades under the symbol "FYL" on the TSX Venture Exchange. For further information and details please visit the Company's website at www.finlayminerals.com On behalf of the Board of Directors, Robert F. Brown, P. Eng. President & CEO 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. Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "project", "target", "potential", "schedule", "forecast", "budget", "estimate", "intend" or "believe" and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could", "should" or "might" occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding, among others, the exploration plans for the Company's properties. Although Finlay believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploration successes, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. These forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions including, among other things, assumptions regarding general business and economic conditions, the timing and receipt of regulatory and governmental approvals, the ability of Finlay and other parties to satisfy stock exchange and other regulatory requirements in a timely manner, the availability of financing for Finlay's proposed transactions and programs on reasonable terms, and the ability of third party service providers to deliver services in a timely manner. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Finlay does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. SOURCE Finlay Minerals Ltd. - Fidelity Minerals Corp.[, p> - Project expansion efforts underway to consolidate strategic footprint.< - [wp=3048]Fidelity Minerals Corp. (TSX-V: FMN | FSE: S5GM | SSE: MNYC) ("Fidelity Minerals Corp." or "the Company") is pleased to confirm Exchange approval for the acquisition of the Porphyritic Copper Project announced on April 29, 2019. The Company will now proceed to complete the acquisition of a 100% interest in the Porphyritic Copper project located in the district of La Libertad, Northern Peru, by issuing 4,000,000 in consideration shares, and by making a payment of US$7,000 in cash. Further Milestone Payments of C$500,000 and C$250,000 are payable if, within 5 years, a NI 43-101 compliant resource of >500,000T of contained copper is published by Fidelity Minerals Corp. (Milestone 1), and/or a transaction exceeding C$5,000,000 is consummated (Milestone 2), respectively. The Company is in the process of establishing a subsidiary to hold the 100% interest in the project, as well as any additional interests which will form part of the expanded project in order to facilitate the orderly introduction of a joint-venture partner into the project once project evaluation studies have advanced appropriately. The Porphyritic Copper Project comprises three contiguous concessions covering 1,200Ha, located in an active mining and development district in La Libertad, Northern Peru. The project hosts near surface manifestations of visible copper mineralization, as well as small-scale artisanal workings developed for the purposes of producing small tonnages of gold bearing ore. A recent assessment of the "Upper" and "Lower" Zones has identified similarities in the type of mineralization hosted at the two zones that are situated approximately 4,000m apart. Historical sampling at the project indicates grades of 0.36% - 0.66% Cu at the Upper Zone and higher grades at the Lower Zone including >1% Cu (refer News Release of April 29, 2019). About Fidelity Minerals Corp. Fidelity Minerals Corp. is assembling a portfolio of high-quality mining assets in Peru through the implementation of our Strategic Project Generator (SPG) model. The project generator model involves the identification and acquisition of appraisal stage opportunities with near-term valuation catalysts, including potential for high-impact M&A. The company is backed by an experienced management team with diverse technical, market, and commercial expertise and is supported by committed and sophisticated investors focused on building long term value. On behalf of the Board of Fidelity Minerals; Ian Graham CEO and Director Tel: +1.604.671.1353 Email: igraham@fidelityminerals.com Investor Contact: Bahay Ozcakmak Executive Chairman Tel: +61.3.9236.2800 Email: bahay@fidelityminerals.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 NEWS RELEASE. Disclaimer & Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future events or future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the use of terminology such as "may", "should", "intend", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "project", "predict", "potential", or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release. This news release may also contain inferences to future oriented financial information ("FOFI") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The information in this news release has been prepared by our management to provide a context for the project acquisition and to provide the reader with an outlook for our future activities and anticipated key projects and may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements in this announcement include, (but are not limited to) the expectation that through the Strategic Project Generator model Fidelity Minerals Corp. is positioning itself to identify and acquire appraisal stage projects, and that there exists potential for high-impact M&A.. Copyright (c) 2019 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. According to the Kirkland website, Falk did multibillion-dollar deals for clients that included Boeing, Charter Communications, Deere and Co. and Molson Coors Brewing Co. He also was an outside counsel for Tribune Publishing Co., helping to fend off an unsolicited acquisition proposal from Gannett Co. and working on the $500 million sale of the Los Angeles Times. Governments around the nation are working to design the best vaccine policies that keep both their employees and their residents safe. Although the latest data shows a variety of polarizing perspectives, there are clear emerging best practices that leading governments are following to put trust first: creating policies that are flexible and provide a range of options, and being in tune with the needs and sentiments of their employees so that they are able to be dynamic and accommodate the rapidly changing situation. Pain Refugees Rapid Decline State Laws To stem the opioid epidemic, U.S. doctors cut prescriptions of medications such as OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet by at least a quarter over the last five years. But the reduction in prescriptions came at a cost to some pain patients.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration last month warned prescribers that abruptly cutting off high-dose patients or tapering their doses too rapidly could cause withdrawal and even suicide.The new recommendations likely will prompt states to consider adjusting their opioid prescribing laws, said Karmen Hanson, a public health expert at the National Conference of State Legislatures. But since the CDC and FDA clarifications came near the end of legislative sessions for most states, no actions are anticipated this year, she said.More than half of states enacted laws restricting painkiller prescriptions after earlier federal guidance urged such limits, but the agencies say that advice may have been misinterpreted or taken too far.The FDA last month said it had received reports of patients taken off their pain medicines who were suffering serious withdrawal symptoms, uncontrolled pain, psychological distress and suicide.Likewise, the CDC which in 2016 recommended prescribing limits for opioid painkillers said it had received reports that some prescribers were too rigidly adhering to its dosage guidelines and had misapplied the limits to patients already on high doses of opioids.In its 2016 guidelines, the CDC urged doctors to use opioid painkillers sparingly, and instead opt for non-opioid medications and non-pharmacological solutions to pain, such as physical therapy.The agency recommended a one-week limit on the number of pills prescribed for first-time users suffering from acute pain and urged doctors to avoid increasing longer-term prescriptions for chronic pain to more than the equivalent of 90 mg of morphine a day.Last month, the agency said: This statement does not address or suggest discontinuation of opioids already prescribed at higher dosages, yet it has been used to justify abruptly stopping opioid prescriptions or coverage.The recommended limit of 90 mg equivalents is roughly equal to two tablets of 30 mg OxyContin or nine tablets of 10 mg Vicodin, a medication level that the agency says should be reserved for cancer patients, patients at the end of life, and others with intractable pain.The CDCs clarification came in response to a March letter from a group of more than 300 physicians known as Health Professionals for Patients in Pain who reported that the suggested daily dosage limits had been widely misapplied by doctors, insurers and pharmacists as well as by entire health care systems.The group, which includes three past U.S. drug czars, said patients have endured not only unnecessary suffering, but some have turned to suicide or illicit substance use, because of misapplied CDC guidelines. But they conceded that experiences for these patients are documented predominantly in anecdotal form.Dr. Patrice Harris, president-elect of the American Medical Association, said the CDCs warning about the guidelines underscores that patients with acute or chronic pain can benefit from taking prescription opioid analgesics at doses that may be greater than the guidelines.The misapplication of the CDC guidelines has been so broad, Harris said, that it will be hard to undo the damage.When the CDC guidelines were published in 2016, the American Medical Association and pain organizations backed by drugmakers complained that the recommendations could make it difficult for chronic pain sufferers to get the pills they need.Andrew Kolodny, who co-directs opioid research at Brandeis University and heads Physicians for Responsible Opioid Prescribing, said the reports of pain patients suffering because of misapplication of the CDCs guidelines are exaggerated.The number of doctors who are inappropriately tapering pain patients is likely very small and should not be blamed on the CDC, he said.Kolodny said he sympathized with chronic pain patients. Their emotions are real. But theyre being effectively manipulated to controversialize the CDC guidelines. He said the CDCs April statement on high-dose opioid prescribing simply reiterated what it already said in 2016.Representatives of Health Professionals for Patients in Pain praised both federal agencies for issuing clarifications. But they said more needs to be done to reduce prescribers concerns that they will run afoul of state and federal regulations if they treat chronic pain patients with the high doses of opioid painkillers that they say many patients need.Dr. Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and resident scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, who helped organize the group, said that doses as high as 400 to 800 mg morphine equivalents are not unusual for some pain patients.Next year, Satel said, she expects her group and others will begin talking to state officials about laws that reflect the CDC guidelines.In most states, laws on opioid prescribing dont apply to chronic pain patients, she said, but they certainly reinforce this climate of intense anxiety over the dangers of prescription opioids, which I think has been wildly overstated. Most people can take these meds without problems.Satel and other advocates for opioid use in pain management have argued that under pressure from federal, state and health system policies, many doctors have refused to treat pain patients. This has resulted, they said, in an increasing number of what they call pain refugees who go from doctor to doctor searching for someone who will treat their chronic pain.Kolodny disagrees that the CDCs guidelines and state prescribing laws are putting too much pressure on prescribers.We have a very real problem in this country. But the CDC guidelines didnt cause it, he said. The problem is that millions of Americans have been put on round-the-clock opioids at very high doses and for reasons that doctors now realize were not appropriate.What the FDA needs to tell doctors is that because it is so excruciating to come off of opioids, they need to be very selective about who they put on them, he said. They need to talk to patients about how theyre going to land the plane before they take off in it.In an article last month in the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors of the CDCs guidelines praised efforts by states, hospitals and medical organizations to develop policies that reduce opioid prescribing, addiction and overdoses.In 2017, the number of opioid prescriptions declined more than 25% from its peak in 2012 of 81 per 100 U.S. residents to an average of 59, according to the CDC. During the same period, the rate of high-dose opioid prescribing also declined.In 2012, 683 people per 100,000 in the United States were prescribed high doses of opioids. By 2016, when the CDC issued its guidelines, the rate of high-dose prescribing already had declined by about 4 per 100,000 each month.After the guidelines came out, the monthly decline doubled to 8 per 100,000, according to a recent study by University of Michigan researchers.Another study, by researchers at Harvard, found that first-time opioid prescribing dropped by more than half between 2012 and 2017, largely because many doctors stopped prescribing the painkillers.Prescribing rates vary widely among states and counties, with some counties having rates seven times the national average, according to the CDC.In 2016, Massachusetts became the first state to enact a law limiting first-time opioid prescriptions to seven days, in line with the CDCs recommendation.Since then, 25 states have enacted similar laws restricting opioid prescribing for acute pain.The strictest limits are in Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee, where initial prescribing is limited to three to four days. Minnesota also limits painkiller prescriptions to three to four days, but only for acute dental or eye pain, according to National Conference of State Legislatures.Seven other states New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state and Wisconsin have enacted statutes that authorize a state agency to set prescribing limits on opioids.Arizona and Nevada have laws limiting prescribed doses of opioids to the equivalent of 90 mg a day, as the CDC guidelines recommend. Maines limit is 100 mg morphine equivalents.Rhode Island limits prescriptions to 50 mg morphine equivalents, as does Tennessee, except for prescriptions of three days or less, which can be prescribed at 60 mg equivalents.Arizona, California, Florida, New Mexico, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia and Washington state have enacted laws requiring doctors to prescribe or offer to prescribe the overdose rescue drug naloxone to patients who are taking high doses of opioid painkillers. Coprescribing naloxone with high doses of opioid pain medications also was among the CDCs 2016 guidelines. Two dozen U.S. states and municipalities sued the Trump administration on Tuesday to stop it from enforcing a rule that would make it easier for doctors and nurses to avoid performing abortions on religious or moral grounds.A lawsuit led by New York Attorney General Letitia James said the expanded conscience protections could undermine the ability of states and cities to provide effective healthcare without jeopardizing billions of dollars a year in federal aid.It also said the rule would upset legislative efforts to accommodate workers beliefs while ensuring that hospitals, other businesses and staff treat patients effectively.Sterilizations and assisted suicide are other procedures that might be impeded, according to a complaint filed by New York and 22 other states and municipalities in federal court in Manhattan. California filed a similar lawsuit in San Francisco.The federal government is giving health care providers free license to openly discriminate and refuse care to patients, James said in a statement. Tennessee Republican House Speaker Glen Casada today announced he will resign the post following a no-confidence resolution passed Monday by fellow House Republicans and calls from Republican Gov. Bill Lee for him to step down."When I return to town on June 3, I will meet with Caucus leadership to determine the best date for me to resign as Speaker so that I can help facilitate a smooth transition," Casada said in a statement.That will come after his previously planned European trip.In a statement Tuesday, Lee, who Monday night announced he would call lawmakers into special session if Casada did not call it quits,the said Casada "has made the right decision, and I look forward to working with the legislature to get back to conducting the people's business and focusing on the issues that matter most to our state."Republican Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, the Senate speaker, said Casada's "announcing his intent to resign is the right decision for the legislature, the Republican Party and the state. I commend him for it. Now we move forward."He said he is "committed to working with leadership in the House to help restore the trust that has been lost in any way I can." The most important legislation in play in Springfield is a plan to fix Illinois $133 billion pension crisis. Two companion bills (HJRCA 21 and SJRCA 9) would amend the state constitution so it still protects earned benefits but would allow for changes to future benefit accruals. Theyve already been filed in the General Assembly and could be moved ahead immediately. After amending the constitution, lawmakers should reintroduce reforms similar to those passed through the Democratic supermajority-controlled General Assembly and signed by former Gov. Pat Quinn in 2013. The Colorado Supreme Court greatly diminished the role of police dogs trained to detect marijuana with a ruling Monday that created another divide between how state and federal law enforcement can investigate pot.In a 4-3 ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that, under the state constitution, a dog trained to alert to marijuana cannot be used before an officer establishes probable cause that a crime had been committed.For decades, police dogs were trained to alert their handlers to the presence of pot. But since Coloradans voted in 2012 to legalize recreational possession of small amounts of the drug, the dogs' sniff tests have been controversial because they can alert even if a person has a legal amount of marijuana.Monday's ruling effectively renders the dogs trained to detect pot useless in most situations, said Sam Kamin, a law professor at the University of Denver who studies marijuana law and policy. Previously, the dogs' sniff tests were used to create probable cause for a search. Now, there has to be enough evidence to authorize a search before a marijuana-trained dog can be used, making the dogs' sniff tests redundant."The dog's sniff arguably intrudes on a person's reasonable expectation of privacy in lawful activity," Supreme Court Justice William Hood wrote in the majority's decision. "If so, that intrusion must be justified by some degree of particularized suspicion of criminal activity."Officers using such K-9s are now subject to the same standards used for other searches of property. Law enforcement using pot-trained dogs either have to have a warrant before the sniff test or be in one of a handful of situations outlined by state law that allows police to complete a search without a warrant.Even before the court's decision Monday, Colorado law enforcement agencies had begun retiring and phasing out marijuana-trained dogs in favor of K-9s not trained to detect that drug. Less than 20 percent of the approximately 120 police dogs in Colorado are still trained to detect marijuana.Brian Laas, an Arvada police officer and president of the Colorado Police K-9 Association, said Monday morning that he was scheduled to meet with the Colorado Attorney General's Office that afternoon to discuss the repercussions of the decision. He did not return calls Monday evening.The Colorado Attorney General's Office was reviewing the decision Monday afternoon."We will work with our law enforcement partners in understanding this decision's possible implications," Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement.The decision doesn't seem out of line with how other state courts treat drug-dog sniff tests, said David Ferland, executive director of the United States Police Canine Association."What Colorado is doing does not surprise me," Ferland said. "That's not going to be earth-shattering."There would have been significant repercussions if the court ruled that all tests conducted by marijuana-trained dogs were unconstitutional, he said.The decision does not apply to federal law enforcement agencies working in Colorado, like the Drug Enforcement Administration, said Kamin, the law professor. The decision states that the justices considered the issues only as they apply to the state constitution, meaning the ruling cannot be appealed to the federal courts, he said.Three of the court's seven judges disagreed with the majority's findings and questioned how the decision meshed with the U.S. Constitution and federal law, which still prohibits marijuana in any amount.The decision is another example of the complications created by the conflict between state and federal marijuana laws, Chief Justice Nathan Coats wrote in his dissent, which called the majority's opinion "deeply flawed." The ruling creates a system in which a sniff test by a marijuana-trained dog is a search under the state constitution, but not under the federal constitution.But Hood, the justice who wrote the majority opinion, said the court had to consider Colorado's specific laws."To the extent we end up alone on a jurisprudential island, it is an island on which Colorado voters have deposited us," he wrote. "Our role is not to question their decision. Rather, it is to apply the logic of existing law to a changing world. Though we are the first court to opine on whether the sniff of a dog trained to detect marijuana in addition to other substances is a search under a state constitution in a state that has legalized marijuana, we probably won't be the last."Kamin said states often have rules about evidence that differ from federal standards, even outside of marijuana cases."I just don't see the conflict (the dissenting justices) are so worried about," he said.The Colorado Supreme Court case stems from a 2015 incident in Moffat County during which a Craig police officer stopped a suspicious truck. The officer then requested that a K-9 conduct a sniff test of the truck. The Moffat County Sheriff's Office responded with a dog, Kilo, that alerted that drugs were inside.Deputies searched the truck and found a meth pipe with some residue. They arrested the driver, Kevin McKnight, who was later convicted of two drug-possession charges.But Kilo was trained to alert to marijuana as well as cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and methamphetamine. Police dogs are not trained to give different signals for different drugs.McKnight's attorneys appealed the sentence and argued that the deputies' search was illegal because Kilo could have been alerting to the presence of a legal amount of marijuana and the officers didn't have enough evidence to search the truck otherwise.The Colorado Supreme Court agreed, comparing the sniff to technologies such as thermal-imaging devices that could show both private, legal activity along with illegal acts. The court reversed McKnight's convictions."Because there was no way to know whether Kilo was alerting to lawful marijuana or unlawful contraband, Kilo's sniff violated McKnight's reasonable expectation of privacy," the court's majority opinion states. After four years in development at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory, a new surveillance technology that makes 3-D images using radio waves has found its testing ground in the state of Utah.According to an announcement from weapons detection company Liberty Defense, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes has signed a memorandum of understanding to allow beta testing of the new device, called Hexwave, at public events across the state. While the MOU involves no financial commitment from Utah or specific locations for testing Hexwave, potential venues include sporting events, concerts, schools, churches, government buildings, parks and festivals.Liberty Defense CEO Bill Riker described Hexwave as an array of mobile panels, approximately 5 or 6 feet tall, which emit a low-frequency radio signalthat passes through certain materials but reflects off others. Each panel can then receive these reflections and use deep learning to analyze the resulting 3-D images, identifying the shape of firearms, knives, pyrotechnics, bottles or other suspicious-looking objects, metallic or otherwise.While this is not, in principle, that different from security scanners seen at public events already, Riker said the innovation is in Hexwaves deep-learning capabilities and unobtrusive function.The key aspect of this system is that its real-time, active 3-D imaging, he said. You dont have to stop or pause while youre walking through the detection space.Riker said engineering and design teams in Atlanta are still working on the prototype, which is due in July. After alpha testing on the underlying technology is complete, Hexwave will undergo beta testing in late fall and early 2020, with a redesign expected to go into production by summer 2020.Beta testing will depend on consent and involvement of specific event organizers, but Riker said the Utah attorney generals interest in high-tech, adaptable public security is already forward-looking.I think theres the opportunity to take a leadership role in looking at this type of capability across multiple venues. I think they also like the flexibility of the deployment of the system. Essentially you buy one system that could be deployed across the security space in lots of different places, he said. This is a leading indicator of where things could go. State governments are identifying the opportunity, and it could be multiple products. The main thing is, theres proactive effort in trying to enable that kind of security system to be deployed.Speaking for the Utah attorney generals office, Chief of Staff Ric Cantrell said that when beta testing starts, whether or not people will be privy to the fact theyre being scanned may depend on venue staff. But while the MOU with Liberty Defense is purely exploratory, he said, the sheer pace and volume of technological innovations in the private sector require that governments be curious and proactive about them.Its a general problem of, how do you provide safety for large crowds in large venues? If magnetometers are not the answer, do you have something thats quicker, thats more innovative, thats less intrusive, that protects constitutional freedoms? he said. These tools exist and technology is exploding, we have a thousand new possibilities we didnt have 10 years ago, so as law enforcement officials I think it behooves us to take a look. Y Combinator, the high-profile Silicon Valley startup incubator, is officially getting into gov tech.The incubator has, in fact, already taken on several gov tech companies in the past. But they were essentially brought in on a case-by-case basis. Now, Y Combinator is putting out a formal request for startups that tackle social problems in the tradition of government. Its calling the subject area Government 2.0.That doesnt necessarily mean companies that sell to government or serve government. In a blog post announcing the request, Y Combinator CEO Michael Seibel and Partner Adora Cheung highlighted startups that work to help low-income people pay utility bills, expand housing access and teach people how to code.They also pointed to companies that sell directly to government like Remix and Promise In the past, Y Combinator has also worked with the gov tech companies Token Transit Elucd and Biobot Analytics To be clear, we do not seek to replace the government and its policymakers but seek to fund startups that create solutions that provide Americans the foundations for economic growth, the blog post reads.The incubator works by taking on startups for three months and working with their leaders to develop the companies. It invests a standard $150,000 in each company in return for 7 percent equity. Its investments in the past have included Dropbox, Airbnb and Docker.If you are creating a startup with the goal of making America a better place, we want to talk to you, the blog post reads. (TNS) The Baltimore County public schools are scaling back an ambitious program that supplied laptops to every student, the first adjustments to a plan that began four years ago to much acclaim but hasnt had much impact on student achievement Beginning next fall, the school system will decrease the number of laptops available to students in the early grades, providing one device for every five first and second graders. The change will require teachers to adjust their lesson plans, according to Mary Boswell-McComas, the school districts interim chief academic officer. The county also will switch from HP laptop to Chromebooks far less expensive devices in all its elementary schools.I definitely think it is a move in the right direction. It is morally and fiscally responsible and developmentally appropriate, said Leslie Weber, a parent and education advocate who has been critical of some aspects of the technology initiative.The savings for shifting Chromebooks in the elementary grades are estimated to be about $16 million to $17 million over three years, depending on negotiations with the company that will supply the laptops, and the approval of the Baltimore County school board, according to school officials.While the laptop program garnered wide support, some parents criticized its expense and the amount of time students spent on the devices. The cost of the laptops became a political issue in the last school board election, and the new County Executive Johnny Olszewski Jr. supported the switch to Chromebook.In 2014, the school system began rolling out a $147 million technology initiative that gave students from first to 12th grade access to a laptop. The county was one of a handful of school systems in the state to assign a laptop to every student. Allowing middle and high school students to take their devices home gave students from low-income families access to technology at home for the first time. Just under half of the countys students qualify for a reduced-price or free meal under federal guidelines.Despite the saturation of technology, Baltimore County ranks near the bottom of the state in passing rates on standardized tests. The scores are generally flat for students in grades three through eight, many of whom have had the computers for at least three years.An evaluation of the program by Johns Hopkins researchers found that third grade results at 10 schools that have had laptops longest have shown some increase over four years, but its too soon to say whether that will continue.The impacts of the [laptop program] on student achievement remain encouraging, but still indeterminate given the still relatively short duration of the initiative, the report said.The initiative didnt just give students more access to technology, it also changed teaching methods. Students get reading materials, assignments and other resources on their laptops. Some textbooks have been eliminated. Teachers plan their lessons differently, knowing that one group of students can be working on the laptop while a small group gets some extra attention. Students can turn in assignments and communicate with teachers online, particularly in the middle and high school grades when students can take their laptops home.McComas said lowering the ratio of computers to students in the elementary grades will require teachers to adjust their teaching methods because every student wont be able to sign on to a computer at the same time. Thats a good thing, according to some parents, if it means that the laptops are used less in the earlier grades.A small number of Chromebooks have been tried out at elementary schools this spring. At Oliver Beach Elementary School on the countys east side, teachers said most students have found the new laptops easier to use.They are so much faster. The kids couldnt believe it, said Tracy Tegeler, the Oliver Beach teacher who handles training on the devices. With the four-year-old HP devices, she said, keys fell off and frequent repairs were needed. The new devices are only a few months old, so she doesnt know whether they will develop problems over time. But so far repairs have been minimal.In a fourth grade classroom, students sprawled across the floor and sat around tables working on a project about how Native American cultures changed depending on geography. Zoey Randolph, 9, has a practical approach to the new devices.If you drop these, the bottom doesnt come off, she said, adding that she can erase pencil marks on the new device more easily. Using the old devices meant she would have to keep logging in again and again, she said rolling her eyes just thinking of the inconvenience. Now she wastes less time staying connected.Kindergarten teacher Ashley Eshelman said the switch means little to her students who rarely use the devices and are quick to adjust to new technology anyway. Abby Beytin, the teachers union president, said the switch could be a bit problematic for first and second grade teachers during certain lessons. When they are using it in a group setting, it could mean they dont have enough computers, she said.Reducing the ratio of laptops in the early elementary grades is positive in the view of Dr. Scott Krugman, a pediatrician who serves on the Digital Health Work Group that advises the county school system.We feel it is really important to have balance between active learning and devices, whether it is a laptop, an IPad or a phone, Krugman said. Our general stance is that younger students need more active times with physical things and not electronic things. It is important for young children to be outside in unstructured play at recess and not on a device. Children learn important skills when they have to negotiate how to resolve disagreements over what game to play or who took a ball, he said.Chromebooks are made by many companies to the specifications of Google. Several school board members, including Kathleen Causey and Julie Henn, had been pressing for the change to Chromebooks for years, but administrators had been reluctant to switch because of data privacy concerns.Jim Corns, executive director of information technology, said the county has one of the most stringent privacy data requirements of any school district in the area. Those requirements would not have allowed the system to use Chromebooks, which use cloud-based software rather than storing data on a server in the school system. That changed in May 2018, after the European Union began requiring companies to provide a higher level of protection for the data of private individuals, and the school system can now be assured that Googles Chromebooks will provide the data protection that the school system requires, according to Corns.The school board discussed moving away from HP devices to Chromebooks in the middle grades, but school administrators said they needed more time to adjust the curriculum so that students could access all the programs that they are now using. Fernando Alonso rejected McLaren boss Zak Brown's desire to "buy" a seat for the Spaniard in Sunday's Indy 500. The British marque is embarrassed to have failed to qualify for the fabled race with its own entry. "Fernando has done nothing wrong," the Associated Press quoted Brown as saying on Monday. "He needs to be in the race and should be in the race and we do have a lot of partners who would like to be in the race." McLaren identified the seat occupied by Oriol Servia, who qualified 19th, as an ideal one to buy for Alonso. But Alonso rejected the idea. "He said 'I know what it takes to get into this race and it doesn't feel right to me to take another driver out that has earned it because my team has bought the seat'," Brown revealed. "There is a lot of pride within Fernando and McLaren." Circuit de Catalunya boss Joan Fontsere rates the chances of a Spanish GP next year at "90 per cent". That is despite the fact that Zandvoort, having inked a deal for a 2020 Dutch GP, looks certain to take Barcelona's May date on next year's calendar. Fontsere, the Barcelona circuit director, does not deny that. "We must not link the destinies of Barcelona and Zandvoort," he told France's Auto Hebdo. "When it was necessary to find a date in June for the return of the French GP, a solution was found." It is believed Liberty Media has identified Barcelona for the axe in 2020, as well as Mexico, in order to make room for Zandvoort and Vietnam without adding to the existing 21 race dates. One reason is that the popularity of F1 in Spain has plummeted with the demise of Fernando Alonso. "Moving F1 to a pay channel also caused the audience to plunge, and the spectacle offered on track is too predictable," Fontsere counters. "Over the same period of time, we went from 142,000 spectators in the grandstands to 90,000. "But personally, I am confident," he insists. "I rate our chances of a new contract at 90 per cent." Niki Lauda's surgeon says it has been "clear for some time" that the F1 legend would not recover. Lauda, who had a lung transplant last year, died this week at the age of 70. The tributes have been almost unprecedented. "The idea of not seeing his red cap in the paddock again changes everything," said fellow Austrian Gerhard Berger. There is talk that Mercedes, where Lauda was the team chairman, will tweak the livery of its car this weekend in Monaco as a tribute. "The news will overshadow the weekend in Monaco," predicted Ralf Schumacher. "For Lewis Hamilton, who had a very close relationship with him, this will probably be a difficult weekend. But Niki would have been the first to say 'Keep going!'" Schumacher told Sky Deutschland. While sections of the media have been anticipating Lauda's return to the paddock this year, others said they knew the triple world champion was gravely ill. "His death did not surprise us," said Walter Klepetko, who performed the lung transplant on Lauda last year. "It was apparent since the beginning of the year. "The Christmas holiday in Ibiza did him good, but then came the flu infection. In recent weeks, there have been clear steps backwards," he told ORF television. Klepetko also told Bild newspaper: "There is no cause of death. It was a long process in the end involving a clear decision from everyone. "At some point, you have to let go. "I will not go into detail, as that is the family's responsibility." But Lauda had two kidney transplants in the past as well as the recent lung transplant and influenza. In the end, he was reportedly on dialysis and a respirator. "He was in a hopeless situation at one time, and miraculously came out of it. It was a brave and strong fight, but unfortunately he did not regain his old strength and fell asleep peacefully with his family," Klepetko said. The Pritzker plan would be funded in part by about $1.8 billion annually in new or higher taxes and fees. The Illinois motor fuel tax would jump from 19 cents to 38 cents per gallon. The state currently doesnt tax ride-shares or parking, but that would change: Say hello to a $1 tax for all ride-shares and a 6 percent or higher parking garage tax. Vehicle registration fees would increase, though electric vehicles would pay $250 per year, not the crazy $1,000 one legislator proposed. Also on the docket: a new tax on cable, satellite and streaming services, a liquor tax increase and more. In Illinois, its always more. Many of these young people 2 million of an estimated 6.2 million teens working in summer 2017, according to the Pew Research Center take hotel and food service jobs. Restaurants have become notorious for harassment fueled by close quarters, late hours and other factors. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that some parents were discouraging their teen girls from seeking restaurant work, and that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has filed suits alleging sexual harassment against not only fast-food giants but also establishments from mom-and-pop restaurants to ice-cream parlors. Under the EU FLAGSHIPS initiative, ABB will provide a fuel-cell-based power and propulsion solution for a newbuild push boat for the France-based Sogestran Group subsidiary Compagnie Fluviale de Transport (CFT), due for delivery in 2021. FLAGSHIPS is the EU-funded initiative to deploy commercially operated zero-emission vessels for inland and short sea operations. With hydrogen for the fuel cells sourced from shore-based renewable energy, the complete vessel energy chain will be emission-free. CFT has been an inland waterways innovator for more than half a century. Powering river transport in a sustainable way is a new type of challenge, but it has become vital that we cut emissions on Europes inland waterways and specifically in the city centers. With this project, we aim to highlight that emission-free operation is both feasible and commercially viable. Matthieu Blanc, COO at CFT As a FLAGSHIPS member since the projects start in January 2019, ABB has been working closely with Finnish research organization and project coordinator VTT and the leading global provider of innovative clean energy fuel cell solutions Ballard Power Systems Europe to develop an installation enabling a 400 kW fuel cell to power vessel operations. Ballard plans to deliver two of its next-generation 200-kilowatt fuel cell modules in 2020, which will provide propulsion power for the vessel. The project objective is to demonstrate that fuel cells are a practical and deliverable propulsion solution for owners and builders of mid-sized vessels carrying more than 100 passengers or the equivalent freight volumes inland or coastally. For this reason, the scope of FLAGSHIPS also includes assessing the operational impact of the switch to hydrogen as a fuel. Concept illustration of a push boat powered by fuel cell system. Once the fuel cell power plant has been fitted, the plan is to run the vessel daily, with special attention being paid to the refueling procedures needed to meet the operating schedule. Trials will therefore also provide insights into developing and optimizing the refueling infrastructure needed for hydrogen fuel cells in marine operations. With maritime transport estimated to emit around 940 million tons of CO 2 annually, there is an increased pressure for the shipping industry to deploy means of reducing harmful pollutants. The International Maritime Organization, a United Nations specialized agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping, adopted a strategy on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from ships by at least 50% by 2050 compared to 2008, with the aim of phasing them out entirely. The FLAGSHIPS project is supported by the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), a public private partnership established under Europes Horizon 2020 frameworks to accelerate commercial realization of the technology in a range of transport and energy uses. The three members of FCH JU are the European Commission, fuel cell and hydrogen industries represented by Hydrogen Europe, and the research community represented by Hydrogen Europe Research. Parties involved in the CFT newbuild project also include LMG Marin, NCE Maritime CleanTech and PersEE. Speaking about her Cabinet meeting, Lightfoot said officials emphasized having a plan for summer violence but mostly spent a lot of time introducing ourselves to each other. People told stories about why they got into public service just kind of as icebreakers. About 40 people sat in Courtroom 4C Tuesday morning. They included pastors, members of New Light Missionary Baptist Church, the NAACP including state president the Rev. T. Anthony Spearman and members of Harris family. Bray said she couldnt remember another case where a defendant had that many supporters. I want you to remember at times that you feel alone that youre not alone, Bray said. Look at all these people who took a public stand for you. A lot of people in life dont have this many friends. The crowd all sat in the courtroom listening to Harris attorneys, Bruce Lee and Public Defender Richard Wells, explain what led to her role in Browns death. They said she suffered years of abuse by members of her stepfamily and witnessed her mother being abused. She was bullied at school. She bounced between the houses of her mother, her grandmother and a father she barely knew. She tried to kill herself twice. WINSTON-SALEM The chancellor of UNC School of the Arts will depart in July for a new job in the Triangle. The Winston-Salem arts school announced Wednesday that Lindsay Bierman will step down July 31 after five years. Bierman on Wednesday was named the new CEO of UNC-TV Public Media North Carolina. In a statement, Bierman said it has been one of the greatest joys of my career to serve this incomparable institution, and Ill leave here forever in awe of the artistic talent that called so many of us here. The school credited Bierman with launching the schools first major fundraising campaign since 1999 the effort has raised nearly $50 million in three years helping UNCSA bring in some of the largest donations in its history, putting together a new strategic plan and overhauling the schools website. UNC System President Bill Roper didnt immediately name Biermans successor. The school said Roper will pick an interim chancellor before Bierman leaves. GREENSBORO A Greensboro man has been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in a crash early today that left a 38-year-old pedestrian dead. Terrence Manning, 30, was driving a 2018 Dodge Journey west on Lees Chapel Road near Byers Road about 6:20 a.m. when he swerved across the center line and ran off the road after crossing the eastbound travel lanes, police said in a news release. The vehicle crashed into a utility pole, a pedestrian and a tree, police said. The pedestrian, Varonda Manley was standing off the road when she was struck and killed, police said. Manning was taken to Moses Cone Hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said. He was also charged with driving left of center and driving while license revoked. GREENSBORO A pedestrian died Wednesday morning after a vehicle left the road, striking the person and a power pole. The driver of the vehicle sustained minor injuries, said Ron Glenn, spokesman for the Greensboro Police Department. Updated at 12:53 p.m. on May 22 Donna Marie Jones has been found in good health in Atlanta, police said. Donna Marie Jones, 64, was reported missing by her son Saturday, May 18, Burlington police said. She was last seen in the 1700 block of Roslyn Drive, Burlington, wearing a blue shirt and white shorts. Police don't suspect foul play and believe Jones left Burlington voluntarily, said Burlington Police Assistant Chief Brian Long. Jones was contacted by law enforcement in Georgia on May 15, Long said. "Burlington detectives are trying to verify the nature of that contact," Long said Monday, May 20. On Monday afternoon, police said Jones may be in the Savannah, Ga., area. Jones is described as 180 pounds, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with green eyes and blonde hair. She is driving a silver 2008 Toyota RAV4 with a 30-day registration plate 24903242. Anyone with information on Jones' location is asked to contact the Burlington Police Department at 336-229-3500. For anonymous tips, call Crimestoppers at 336-229-7100 or text 8398 to 274637, both with possible cash rewards. HILLSBOROUGH An elementary school teacher in Hillsborough was charged Tuesday with threatening violence against the school, investigators say. Pathways Elementary School teacher Kristen Thompson, who abruptly resigned Friday, was charged with "communicating a threat of mass violence," an Orange County Sheriff's Office news release says. Orange County Schools spokesman Seth Stephens said in an email that the school system reacted promptly when alerted about Thompson's threat. "Once school administration was made aware about an alleged threat by Kristen Thompson, law enforcement was contacted immediately," he said. Investigators say other teachers told them Thompson "made threats to shoot up the school," the release said. "This situation is being handled by law enforcement with the safety of our students and school staff as our utmost concern," said Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood. "Meanwhile, this situation is also being dealt with by school leadership as a personnel issue as well as a safety one." Thompson is due in court June 14. In 2015, in order to provide parental and student choice in education from grades K-12, Montanas Legislature provided a small tax credit of up to $150 for individuals or businesses donating to private, nonprofit scholarship organizations that award scholarships for children to attend private schools, a program similar to those in 18 states. However, Montanas Department of Revenue quickly issued a rule forbidding recipients from using their scholarships at religious schools. The department said this was required by the Blaine Amendment quoted above. Montanas Supreme Court has upheld this rule, which cripples an organization called Big Sky Scholarships. This organization formed to receive and distribute funding targeted exclusively to low-income families and children with disabilities. One of the petitioners seeking a U.S. Supreme Court hearing is Kendra Espinoza, an office assistant and single mother who took a second job, as a janitor, to help pay her two daughters tuition at a nondenominational not a Catholic school. Without a Big Sky scholarship, her daughters will likely have to leave their school. Nevertheless, pro-life legislative efforts havent been for naught. Fence-sitters may now see more clearly on which side to plant their feet. In a 2016 Pew poll, 69% of Americans opposed overturning Roe vs. Wade. But most people are comfortable with limitations. We can quibble over where those limits should be, but nothing will ever please everyone. Where insight fails, facts are often helpful: Biologically, life begins at conception. Full stop. A fetus is not part of a womans body except as is umbilically necessary to sustain its life. Otherwise, it is a free-floating human being with its own unique DNA. If left to develop according to natures course, the little tadpole would become a fully formed human baby and, barring unforeseen circumstances, grow up to become a regular reader of this column. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) Senators Grace Poe and Nancy Binay did not follow suit with 10 of their fellow Senate race winners who posed for a photo doing President Rodrigo Dutertes signature fist bump. As the incoming set of senators, dominated by Duterte allies, gamely posed brandishing the Duterte fist, Poe placed her hand on her chest, while Binay raised her left hand and pointed upward, forming a number one sign a signature of her party United Nationalist Alliance. Poe and Binay, despite being part of the Senate majority bloc, did not get the endorsement of Duterte and his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte. Nine of the winners, however, got the endorsements of either of the Dutertes. When asked about her refusal to clench her fist, Binay told CNN Philippines' News Night, "I am not part of PDP-Laban nor am I part of Hugpong so why would I make the sign of the party that I don't belong to?" PDP-Laban is the ruling party chaired by the President while Hugpong Ng Pagbabago is a regional party forged by his daughter. "They are part of the party of the President, it's just common for them to do the fist bump. I am hoping na yung magiging stand naman nila in the Senate will be at the end of the day, what will be good for the people and not what will be good for one person," Binay added. The domination of Duterte allies in the Senate have raised concerns that the chamber would not be independent a fear that has been allayed by some senators-elect. Last week, North Carolina became the first state to file a lawsuit against Juul Labs Inc., maker of a top-selling electronic cigarette, contending that it targets underage youths with its products. Others may follow. We appreciate that N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein has taken the lead in protecting our children from manipulative advertising that could have deadly results. Juuls business practices are not only reckless, theyre illegal, and I intend to put a stop to them, Stein said in a statement. We cannot allow another generation of young people to become addicted to nicotine. The last decade has seen a rise in the use of electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, and much of that rise has been among underage users. In North Carolina, e-cig use among high school students has risen a staggering 894% percent between 2011 and 2017, according to the North Carolina Youth Tobacco Survey. Those numbers contribute to the more than 28% of N.C. youth who use tobacco products. E-cigarettes themselves are often portrayed as a safer option than traditional cigarettes. They dont carry the heavy, lingering scent of tobacco, which probably helps them appear less harmful. This response to Patricia Hurts letter (Pitts needs to stop condemning Christians, May 20) is not meant to change her mind, as absolute adherence to her belief is blindly required. It is meant to be read, and digested, by those whose minds and hearts are more open. The key word is true as applied to Christians. Having been born into and raised in a fundamentalist Christian home and having attended fundamentalist Christian high school and colleges, I understand how the Divine Inspiration of the Bible takes on a life of its own. However, the Bible was written by men, selected and interpreted by men, and contains many contradictions. I tried to find those 14 passages concerning homosexuality that Hurt mentioned and came up with six. I found but one sort of dealing with abortion, actually a miscarriage for which a fine would be imposed. I discovered at least five-dozen passages warning about the difficulties wealth and love of money create for entrance into Hurts perfect Heaven. Oh, and what about the proscriptions in Leviticus against wearing clothing with mixed fabrics, animals with cloven hooves and crustaceans? The smart speaker business is booming in China with a 500% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of 2019. During the first four months, 10.6 million units were shipped helping China secure a 51% share of the global market. The US, on the other hand, saw only 5 million smart speaker sales for the same period with a 24% market share. Baidu captured the top spot in the Chinese market due in large to an exclusive deal with the China Central Television (CCTV) channel. This, in turn, gave the brand exposure to a larger audience during the Chinese New Year holiday season. Alibaba, Xiaomi and Tencent also saw double-digit growth during the period. The lightning-fast development in China is largely driven by vendors pouring in large amounts of capital to achieve dominant share quickly. This strategy is favored by internet service providers like Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent. - Nicole Peng (Canalys) Xiaomi and Alibaba continued their growth from Q4 2018 thanks to similar promotions during the holiday season in China. In general, the Chinese brands are going for a broader reach over immediate profits, which also helped boost their sales. On the other hand, Amazon and Google focused on improving their ecosystems and added hardware components in their products like screens and cameras. Source | Via Were officially eight days away from the first commercially available 5G network in the UK. EE announced its ready to launch its next generation network on May 30, beating rival telecom Vodafone who scheduled its 5G launch for July 3. The EE 5G network will be live in six cities at launch - London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester. EE claims its working on adding 100 new 5G sites per month with plans to cover all major UK cities by 2020. The current 5G launch is part of the carriers phase 1 plan which will rely on combining the new generation network with pre-existing 4G coverage for optimal broadband usage. EE expects customers to reach gigabit speeds even in the busiest of areas. Starting in 2022, the carrier will enter full-scale 5G deployment with higher bandwidth support and lower latency. Starting today, EE users can choose from several 5G ready devices including the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, Oppo Reno 5G and LG V50 ThinQ 5G alongside EEs 5G Smart SIM only plans. Pricing starts at 54 per month for 10GB data and maxes out at 74 per month for 120GB. In light of the recent Huawei ban, EE has removed the Huawei Mate 20 X (5G) from its list of 5G handsets. CEO Marc Allera commented that the carrier would not launch the device until it could assure customers of the devices long-term usability. This is the first official response from a European network provider, but unless the issues are resolved quickly it will be followed by more. Source | Via Nokia today officially brought the Nokia 3.2 to India. The phone is priced at INR 8,990 for the 2/16GB model and INR 10,790 for the 3/32GB variant. The phone will go on sale starting May 23 across retail outlets. The Nokia 3.2 is a budget smartphone. The main feature of the phone is the large 6.26-inch display although it comes with the lowish 720p resolution. The other key feature is the promised 2-day battery life, courtesy of a 4,000mAh battery. While the battery may not seem all that big, the phone runs on the modest Qualcomm Snapdragon 429 so there's not much there to drain it. As for the cameras, there is a 13MP f/2.2 camera on the back and a 5MP f/2.2 camera on the front. Other specs highlights include a 3.5mm audio jack, expandable storage, FM radio, Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11n Wi-Fi. The Nokia 3.2 will be available in two colors, Black and Steel. Vodafone and Idea subscribers will get INR 2500 cashback through 50 vouchers worth INR 50 each. HDFC card holders will get 10% cash back when purchasing through EMI. Those who purchase on the Nokia.com website can use offer code "LAUNCHGIFT" for INR 1000 gift card, one-time free screen replacement for a six-month period. The Huawei P30 Pro brought the periscope camera trend followed by the Oppo Reno 10x zoom and it seems Samsung wants to join the long optical zoom party. Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEM) has begun mass production of its new 5x optical module and according to rumors we can expect to see it in Samsungs upcoming Note series phones. The sensor wont protrude from the back thanks to its slim 5mm profile compared to the 6mm thickness on previous Samsung modules. Inside, the new 5x sensor uses a light refracting prism similar to the P30 Pro but with a rectangular lens instead of a circular one. The module will be stacked vertically which should help keep the thickness down. Samsung provided sample shots from the new sensor in its normal, 2x and 5x zoom modes showcasing its real-life performance. The new optics should help Samsung prove an answer to the P30 Pro's and Oppo Reno's telephoto cameras, which currently stand alone in providing as long a reach. Well have to wait and see how it performs in the real world though outside from isolated tests. Source (in Korean) | Via Haiti - Economy : $19.5M for a future Marriott Hotel in Cap Haitien Tuesday David Bohigian, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), the U.S. Governments development finance institution, visited Haiti, where he met with President Jovenel Moise and other senior government officials including Prime Minister Designate Jean Michel Lapin, Foreign Minister Bocchit Edmond, Minister of Finance Ronald Decembre, and the Governor of the Central Bank of Haiti (BRH), Jean Baden Dubois, to promote U.S. investment and discuss enhanced security cooperation. While in Haiti, Bohigian signed a $19.5 million financing agreement to support the expansion of Fatima Groups future Marriott Hotel in Cap Haitien which will bolster economic activity and jobs in the city. He also led roundtables with local business leaders to discuss investment opportunities, highlight how OPIC supports private sector investment in emerging markets, and outline its priorities in the Caribbean including energy as well as agriculture and projects that empower women entrepreneurs. "Haiti represents both a great need for investment and a promising opportunity for investors," said Bohigian. "By working with our partners in Haiti to drive high-impact solutions to longstanding development challenges, OPIC seeks to foster prosperity, stability, and security in Haiti and beyond." Bohigian is leading a high-level OPIC delegation to the Caribbean to explore investment opportunities in energy and other critical sectors, and strengthen relationships with countries who are key partners in fostering stability and security in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti is the third stop on a five-country tour of the Caribbean that has included stops in the Bahamas and Jamaica, and will continue to the Dominican Republic and St. Lucia. OPICs current portfolio in the Caribbean totals more than $250 million, including nearly $35 million in Haiti across a variety of projects in sectors ranging from housing and construction to food production. Lets' recall that at a meeting with Caribbean leaders to discuss trade, energy investment, and security concerns, President Trump https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27284-haiti-flash-what-jovenel-moise-discussed-with-donald-trump.html in March reaffirmed the United States commitment to working with its partners in the region to foster economic growth, counter predatory investment practices, and strengthen security cooperation. Learn more about OPIC : The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) is a self-sustaining U.S. Government agency that helps American businesses invest in emerging markets. Established in 1971, OPIC provides businesses with the tools to manage the risks associated with foreign direct investment, fosters economic development in emerging market countries, and advances U.S. foreign policy and national security priorities. OPIC helps American businesses gain footholds in new markets, catalyzes new revenues and contributes to jobs and growth opportunities both at home and abroad. OPIC fulfills its mission by providing businesses with financing, political risk insurance, advocacy and by partnering with private equity fund managers. OPIC services are available to new and expanding businesses planning to invest in more than 160 countries worldwide. Because OPIC charges market-based fees for its products, it operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost to taxpayers. All OPIC projects must adhere to best international practices and cannot cause job loss in the United States. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Ministerial Cabinet, the Government yields to the opposition Kenscoff's pro-government Deputy, Alfredo Antoine (KID), confirmed Monday that a new presidential decree mentioning the names of the 18 ministers of the new government will be published in the official journal Le Moniteur very soon, although he disapproves the arguments of the four opposition senators based, according to him, on a misinterpretation of the law in what he calls a delaying tactic. A position that does not share his colleague the Deputy of Marigot, Deus Deronneth (PONT) who sees rather a decision of wisdom. In addition, Deputy Antoine sided with the Speaker of the Lower House regarding the willingness of Deputuies to hold the ratification session of the Prime Minister's General Policy Statement, even if the process is suspended in the Senate. A move that categorically opposes opposition minority Deputies demanding that the lower house abandon the idea of holding a meeting before the end of the Senate ratification process, though nothing in the Constitution does not oppose the process of the deputies. However, according to our sources, it seems that opposition members would like to promote debate as a means of opposing rather than disruption and confrontation as happened in the Senate https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27730-haiti-flash-violence-in-the-senate-the-opposition-wins-a-2nd-victory-the-pm-ratification-postponed.html Deputy Antoine asserts that once the names of ministers published in the Official Journal Moniteur, the President of the office will receive a formal correspondence to demand the convocation of the meeting of the Prime Minister. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27775-haiti-politic-the-senate-majority-group-rejects-the-demands-of-the-4-senators-of-the-opposition.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27747-haiti-flash-the-4-senators-of-the-opposition-pose-their-conditions.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27738-haiti-flash-president-cantave-apologizes-for-the-hideous-spectacle-in-the-senate.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27730-haiti-flash-violence-in-the-senate-the-opposition-wins-a-2nd-victory-the-pm-ratification-postponed.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-27715-haiti-politic-the-opposition-minority-forces-the-senate-to-postpone-the-ratification-meeting-of-the-pm.html S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - DR : Dismantling of a false consulate of Haiti in Dajabon Following the work of the intelligence services, agents of the specialized body for the security of land borders (CESFRONT) accompanied by the public prosecutor's office closed a fake Haitian consulate clandestine in the district of Hoyo de Lima in Dajabon (North West of the Dominican Republic). During this operation, the Dominican authorities arrested several Haitians who worked in this false consulate where they sold to their compatriots false passports, visas and other falsified official documents, to be able to enter the Dominican territory illegally. Fake passports, official letterheads, many seals, various equipment to produce false documents and visas, cell phones and a certain amount of money were seized. Haitians arrested will be brought to justice to answer for their crimes and several investigations will be expanded to stop accomplices and dismantle this network of forgers, said a police source. SL/ HaitiLibre The current EU was built on the firm belief of the war-torn generation that European cooperation and unity can prevent hostilities and another full-blown war in Europe. A second cornerstone of the project is Europes conviction that, united, it can be stronger, better able to face global economic competition, and better equipped to safeguard the natural resources of the planet. A unified Europe has enabled a generation of Europeans to live without large-scale wars and enjoy long periods of economic prosperity, elevated social welfare and relative political stability. European integration opened the markets of single member states but did so in an orderly way while respecting high social and environmental principles. For companies from smaller member states, the Union paved the way for participation in global markets by creating a framework for trade and investment. The EUs values also created added brand strength for European companies, signaling that they placed a high value on worker and end-user safety as well as human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The European example of cooperation was admired for the economic benefits and social stability it produced. Top-Jobs des Tages Jetzt die besten Jobs finden und per E-Mail benachrichtigt werden. Standort erkennen For a good example of the opportunities created by European integration, look no further than the history of Kone, the company I represent. In the mid-1960s, far-sighted corporate leaders recognized that national borders and restrictions on goods and services moving across them were going to become less significant in European commerce. This article is an extract from the book: Sven Afhuppe, Thomas Sigmund (Hg.): Europa kann es besser Wie unser Kontinent zu neuer Starke findet. Ein Weckruf der Wirtschaft Herder publishing house 2019, 240 pages, 20 euros ISBN 978-3-451-39360-0 Published on 15. April 2019 Order the book on amazon. Kone began a determined and accelerating internationalization that spread from Scandinavia throughout Europe. With a strong European base, it then became possible to compete successfully in North America and Asia. Today, KONE enjoys the role of market leader in China, a rare distinction for a European company. After decades of learning how to serve customers in varied markets around the world, reconfiguring operations to conform to the boundaries of individual national markets would be disastrous in terms of logistics, personnel, technology and the way we conduct our business. The ability of personnel to move freely among EU countries has contributed not only to our growth but to our effectiveness as a service organization and our ability to provide customers in various markets with the best and most reliable solutions to their needs. At the same time, our children increasingly travel to study, learn languages, and gain experiences of different cultures. As proud of their heritage as many of them are, their world view tends to be much more international than national. Like me, many of them are worried about recent developments in the world and especially in Europe. During the past decade, a nationalist wave of protest over the perceived loss of sovereignty represented by the decision-making powers of a supranational EU has led to a rise in populist movements in almost all European countries. Most significantly, it has resulted in Brexit as well as the election of EU-skeptical governments in several Eastern and Southern European countries. The EU, itself, shares some of the blame for this, having rushed into expansion without ensuring that all the new members bought into the full concept. Failings related to transparency and the impact of the shared currency on countries that would normally have tried to improve their competitiveness by devaluating have caused many previous supporters to become doubters or proponents of leaving the union. The label of elitism is easily attached to an organization that is dominated by two powerful countries, even if decisions are made with the consent of all. We know what a Europe based on cooperation and common institutions means today, but we can only guess what a return to a Europe of nation states that distrust one another would lead to. Who would take responsibility if rising nationalist sentiment were to result in a major war with no EU to mediate or intervene? The defenders of a peaceful and prosperous Europe need to take a stand and explain forcefully why we need a unified and collaborative Europe as much now as ever. Although we have avoided great wars for three-quarters of a century, recent experiences in the Balkans or the even more recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine show how easily they can return. There are other trends, too, that need to be managed collectively. First and foremost, we will need the EU to take on a pioneering role in tackling global warming. Digitalisation, robotics and artificial intelligence are affecting global economic competition, too, and not necessarily in favour of European companies. The character of work is experiencing a major change, not to mention the demographic challenge, which will hit Europe even harder than it already has and necessitate well-managed migration. These problems need to be addressed locally, of course, but it is the EU, rather than its member states, that is large enough to negotiate global solutions and shoulder a leadership role by rallying like-minded partners. In the end, the most important argument for the EUs existence is how it shapes our attitudes. Our generation perceives other European nations as friends, partners in the common European project, not as enemies. Europe has become a shared environment for work and study. It is an enabler of global influence and success. The EU represents itself as a peaceful resolver of conflicts and platform for continent-wide development. These are its best export products and worth both the effort and cost of maintenance. Julia Larita-Jo Snow was sentenced to probation by a District Court judge in Havre after pleading guilty to drug charges. Snow, who was on probation, was charged Nov. 27 with felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs and a misdemeanor count of criminal possession of drug paraphernalia after law enforcement officers were checking on another probationer in a house in which Snow also was present found methamphetamine and syringes, spoons and baggies commonly used with drugs. Snow pleaded guilty Jan. 6 under a plea agreement to the felony, and the misdemeanor was dismissed. Judge Jon Oldenburg imposed on April 1 a three-year deferred imposition of sentence, assessed fees and surcharges and ordered Snow to complete the Hill County Drug Treatment Court program. If Snow abides by all conditions of the sentence, after completion she can request to have the charge stricken from her record. BILLINGS Applications for the NILE Merit Heifer program are now available for the 2019-2020 year. The program is a live animal scholarship, meaning the recipients are given a young, live, heifer calf. The objective is to to help youth get a start in the beef cattle business and gain knowledge about the beef industry. Program participants are chosen based on merit, future goals, and ability to care for the animal. 4-H or FFA members who are 12-16 years old may apply. Applicants are not limited to Montana residents. During the program duration, participants are responsible for caretaking, record keeping, breeding and bringing the heifer back one year later to the NILE Stock Show & Rodeo. The class of merit heifer recipients competes for best phenotype, top showman honors, best record book, best interview and overall top herdsman. This program would not be possible without the generous support of our donors over the years, says NILE General Manager Jennifer Boka. We are truly grateful for them since the programs inception. The NILE Merit Heifer Program is seeking people interested in donating a heifer calf for the upcoming year. Applications and a link to the YouTube video must be received no later than June 28 at 4 p.m. The 2020 recipients will be announced in late August 2019. Applications available online at http://www.thenile.org/. Application Requirements: complete application character references written essay 3-5 minute YouTube video (should include, but is not limited to): an introduction facility tour current 4-H/FFA projects goals and objectives for the Merit Heifer voiced by the applicant For more information regarding the NILE Merit Heifer Program, people can email Shelby at [email protected] or call the NILE Office at 406-256-2495 ext 4. People can download an application at https://www.thenile.org/p/events/livestock/meritheifer/. Sheldon Moluyneaux of the Bear Paw Volunteer Fire Department stomps through burnt grass as he searches for smoldering ground Wednesday at U.S. Bank Park in Havre. Three local fire departments - Havre, Chinook and Bear Paw - came together last week to practice wildfire management techniques during a training exercise at US Bank Park in Havre. The firefighters spent an afternoon analyzing the weather and field conditions before creating a plan of attack and executing it during a controlled burn of a field in the middle of the park. Havre Fire Department Assistant Chief Kelly Jones said the group tries to hold at least one training session a year in order to help stay prepared as Montana's wildfire season approaches. See more photos at http://www.havredailynews.com Although he said some improvements have happened for trade between the United States, Canada and Mexico, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., said he is still concerned with with growing trade war between the United States and China and the country's other trade partners. "It's taking a financial toll on Montana," Tester said. During a press conference call Tuesday from Washington, Tester said the trade war the country is facing is hurting many agricultural producers in rural America and has no end goal in sight. He added that, this year, he has also been working on several bills which should help rural areas in the country such as broadband, health care and education. Montana raises the best products in the world, he said, and needs access to overseas markets to get the best return on its products, but the tariffs have caused commodity prices to fall across the board. The uncertainty the trade war has created is continuing to fill the agricultural market with uncertainty and is hurting family farms and ranches. "If these tariffs cause us to currently lose access to our international markets, that could be a nail in the coffin for family farm agriculture and for rural communities with more consolidation and less food security," he said. "We have to hold China accountable, but not at the Montana ag producer's expense." China has been stealing technology from the United States and other countries it has been doing business with, Tester said. Rather than creating a trade war, the United States should have used the financial industry to confront this issue. "Use the financial industry, that's how you get people's attention and use it in concert with our allies," he said. "It's no secret that China plays the long game. I don't doubt that (the tariffs) are having some negative impacts on China, but the truth is, I don't think that the administration has a plan on how to get us to a point where this tariffs situation is put to an end." It is clear there is no long-term plan to reduce tariffs, and the president's advisors admit American farmers are paying for it, Tester said. "The president must stop using farmers and ranchers as pawns in his trade war," he said. "We cannot afford to begin another growing season with this cloud of uncertainty." The president announced last Friday the end of the tariffs on steel and aluminum coming in from Canada and Mexico, Tester said, and in the Senate Agricultural Committee meeting Tuesday United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said that a bilateral beef export agreement with Japan has been made. Tester added that he doesn't know the particulars of the agreement or if the deal evens the playing field with competing countries. "But if it does, that's a great step in the right direction," he said. But the continuing trade war with China and the United States not being involved in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement is still having a visible negative impact, he said. A producer himself, Tester said that when he took over his family farm west of Big Sandy in 1978, hard red winter wheat was $3.50 a bushel at the time. A couple weeks ago hard red winter wheat was selling for $4.14 a bushel. "That doesn't cut it," he said. Hard red winter wheat has increased 65 cents in the past 41 years while everything else, such as trucks, tractors and fertilizer has gone up in price and is putting additional pressure on farm programs to make up the difference, he said. "You can't work in an environment where you're isolationist," Tester said, adding that if he thought that there was and end in sight it would be different. He said he sees it getting worse and not better. If trade agreements were made in the next couple of months, producers won't feel an immediate impact. Trump has already started discussing a $15 billion bailout for producers, he said. But the $15 billion is not equivalent to market value and can't help all the producers and industries affected by the trade war. But as a producer, Tester added that he appreciates the effort. "The best option here isn't a bailout," he said. "The best option is to get the tariff thing behind us and open up the market so we can do trade and export products." Broadband As a part of the Senate Commerce Committee, Tester said, he has worked to get high speed internet access in rural communities to expand. The Federal Communications Commission and the United States Department of Agriculture are charged with allocating billions of dollars based on coverage maps to target and expand broadband services. "These maps are not accurate enough to pinpoint gaps in coverage in rural areas in America," he said. Last week he introduced a bipartisan bill last week to create new and improved mapping which accurately reflects what areas are covered, he added. "So resources can get to where they are most needed, when it comes to laying out high speed internet," Tester said. Health care Tester said he has also introduced a bill to help recruit and retain medical professionals in rural communities, which is one of the biggest challenges facing health care in Montana. The Restoring Rural Residency Act will bring more doctors to rural communities by making it easier for medical residents to train at critical access hospitals in rural areas, he said. The bill would finally allow Medicare to financially support residency rotations at critical access hospitals, increasing the number of doctors training in rural settings and encouraging more medical professionals to practice in rural communities. He added that he has introduced the legislation every Congress since he was elected but also pushed centers of Medicaid and Medicare to adopt policy on their own. Tester said that recently the agencies agreed and recommended a new policy based on the rural residency act. "The proposed change is a huge step toward bringing more doctors to rural hospitals across Montana," he said. Teachers Rural America is also facing a similar problem with obtaining and retaining teachers, Tester said. At one point in his life he was a music teacher and understands that it is challenging for students coming out of college with debt to want to work in the education field with a low starting salary. "I don't want to say it's all money, it's not all money, but you still got to live," he said. Some families on teachers' wages are eligible for food stamps, he said, adding that could be discouraging for many people. Tester said that one of his daughters has been an elementary school teacher for almost 20 years, while his other daughter has been a nurse for around the same amount of time and the wage difference is obvious. He said that he has introduced a bill called the Rural Education Act which will provide incentives for new teachers to come into rural areas by giving loan forgiveness. "It's as simple as that, I think we need to value public education more," Tester said. "I think it's very very important for a democracy, it's important for our leadership in government and in the private sector, it's important for creating the next generation of entrepreneurs, it's the great equalizers." Education is not for one specific group, it's for everybody and the country needs to invest in it, he said. Friends and neighbors, I attended the rail passenger conference on Saturday in Cut Bank. One takeaway from the meeting that everyone in Northern Montana needs to be aware of; the 2019 Legislature approved House Joint Resolution 34 the Interim Study on Passenger Transportation. Now, that may not cause any red flags to emerge, except that it was noted at the Cut Bank meeting, as per HJ 34, there is a renewed push to revive the Hiawatha Passenger Service, Chicago, Billings, Missoula and Spokane. Heres a bit of history: April 10, 2007 Gov. (Brian) Schweitzer convened a meeting to c... ShareBar Comments must be on-topic and civil in tone (with no name calling or personal attacks). Any promotional language or urls will be removed immediately. Your comment may be edited for clarity and length. Research led by the University of Birmingham suggests that giving progesterone to pregnant women with early pregnancy bleeding and a history of miscarriage could increase their chances of having a baby. The PRISM trial, funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and co-ordinated by Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit in collaboration with Tommys National Centre for Miscarriage Research, is the largest ever trial of its kind and involved 4,153 pregnant women who presented with early pregnancy bleeding. The women, being treated at 48 hospitals across the UK and with the average age of 31, were randomly assigned by computer into one of two groups one group of 2,079 women were given progesterone, while the other group of 2,074 women were given a placebo. Dr Adam Devall, Senior Clinical Trial Fellow at the University of Birmingham and Manager of Tommys National Centre for Miscarriage Research, explained: Miscarriage is a common complication of pregnancy, affecting one in five women, and vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy is associated with a one in three risk of miscarriage. Several small studies have suggested that administering progesterone, a hormone essential for maintaining a pregnancy, may reduce the risk of miscarriage in women presenting with early pregnancy bleeding. The PRISM trial was undertaken to answer a very important research question; whether progesterone given to pregnant women with threatened miscarriage would increase the number of babies born after at least 34 weeks of gestation when compared with a placebo. While the research did not show statistically strong enough evidence to suggest that progesterone could help all women who are suffering early pregnancy bleeding to go on to have a baby, importantly the results did show the hormone benefitted those who had early pregnancy bleeding and had previously suffered a miscarriage. The researchers found that there was a 4% increase in the number of babies born to the women in the study who were given progesterone and had previously had one or two miscarriages compared to those given a placebo. (Of the 777 women given progesterone who had previously had one or two miscarriages, 591 (76%) went on to have a live birth, compared with 534 women out of 738 in the placebo group (72%).) The benefit was even greater for the women who had previous recurrent miscarriages (i.e., three or more miscarriages) with a 15% increase in the live birth rate in the progesterone group compared to the placebo group. (Of the 137 women taking part in the trial who had previously had three or more miscarriages, 98 (72%) went on to have a live birth, compared to 57% (85 out of 148) women in the placebo group who went on to have a baby). The ground-breaking research was published today in the New England Journal of Medicine. Arri Coomarasamy, Professor of Gynaecology at the University of Birmingham and Director of Tommys National Centre for Miscarriage Research, said: The role of progesterone in women with early pregnancy bleeding has been studied and debated for about 60 years, however what we have previously lacked is high quality evidence. The largest study before the PRISM trial had less than 200 participants; whereas our study had more than 4,000 participants and was of very high quality, which means we can be confident in our findings. Our finding that women who are at risk of a miscarriage because of current pregnancy bleeding and a history of a previous miscarriage could benefit from progesterone treatment has huge implications for practice. This treatment could save thousands of babies who may have otherwise been lost to a miscarriage. We hope that this evidence will be considered by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and that it will be used to update national guidelines for women at risk of miscarriage. Jane Brewin, Chief Executive of Tommys, said: The results from this study are important for parents who have experienced miscarriage; they now have a robust and effective treatment option which will save many lives and prevent much heartache. It gives us confidence to believe that further research will yield more treatments and ultimately make many more miscarriages preventable. TRIAL PARTICIPANT SAMANTHA ALLEN: Samantha Allen, aged 31, of Bradford, is married to 36-year-old Stephen. Samantha, who suffered a miscarriage in December 2015, was recruited to the PRISM trial in June 2017 when she was nine weeks pregnant and she was in the group of participants that were given progesterone. The couples son, Noah, was born in February 2018 weighing 9lbs 6oz. She said: It was on my birthday in November 2015 when I found out that I was pregnant; it was the best birthday gift I could have hoped for. However, my joy soon started to turn to concern when I began having some bleeding when I was around seven weeks pregnant and I ended up in A&E. I had a scan and was told to come back on Christmas Eve for another scan. But then on December 23rd I started bleeding quite heavily and had to call an ambulance. I was taken to A&E where I was told the baby had died when I was eight weeks pregnant and I was miscarrying. The following day, on Christmas Eve, I had to also go through the trauma of miscarriage surgery. Words cant describe our devastation. I think people can often be dismissive of miscarriage when it happens in early pregnancy, you are treated as a statistic and told its common. But I am not a statistic, we lost our child and it is a loss we will always grieve. Around 15 months after I miscarried I found out I was pregnant again and I was delighted. However, when I was around seven weeks pregnant I started having spotting and, given my previous loss, I decided to go to the early pregnancy unit. I had a scan and they said they thought they could detect a heartbeat but werent certain, so booked me in for another scan two weeks later. The spotting continued during those two weeks, so I was relieved when the second scan showed I was pregnant. Thats when they told me about the PRISM trial and I decided to take part. I was prescribed progesterone pessaries which I self-administered until I was 16 weeks pregnant. The bleeding stopped within a week of starting the trial, and apart from having some issues with a condition called symphysis pubis dysfunction, which causes pelvic pain in pregnancy, my pregnancy went really well. I opted for a water birth and Noah was born weighing a very healthy 9lbs 6oz in February last year. Hes now 14 months old and hes such a lively and incredibly bright little boy who brings us so much joy, I cant imagine life without him. Of course, well never know whether or not I would have miscarried if I had not taken part in the trial, or if I had been part of the group that received the placebo, either way I feel fortunate and happy that I did participate. I hope the results of the trial will make a difference to the way women receive treatment moving forwards, and that I had a small part to play in that. University of Birmingham THREE sniffer dogs visited Henley on Saturday to promote a campaign against illegal tobacco by Oxfordshire trading standards officers. Springer spaniels Yoyo, five, and Arthur, one, and 10-month-old cocker spaniel Maggie were at a stand in Falaise Square where members of the public could pat them. The dogs sense of smell is so sensitive that they can locate a stash of illegal tobacco behind false walls or under floors. Yoyo has helped seize more than 3 million worth of illegal tobacco in the last four years while Maggie is being trained to find banknotes. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs estimates that tobacco smuggling costs the Treasury about 2.5 billion in lost tax revenue every year. It is often smuggled into Britain from the Far East or former Soviet nations in eastern Europe where it is made by forced labour. Jody Kerman, operations manager at Oxfordshire Trading Standards, said that 50 grams of legitimate tobacco cost about 21 to 24 while the same amount of counterfeit tobacco cost 5 to 10. He said: We have been running a campaign against the availability of cheap and illegal tobacco. It keeps people smoking and it recruits the next generation of smokers. The smuggling is being committed by organised, career criminals. Do we really want that criminality in our communities? Do we want young people to come into contact with criminals in this way? We have taken on the challenge. The dogs are absolutely vital in finding the tobacco because of their sense of smell. You cannot hide from these dogs. Mr Kerman said a lot of the illegal purchases were made on the internet. To report illegal tobacco, call 0333 666 4999. Two brothers who had their 38,000 personal injury claims thrown out in 2015 after a judge found they likely staged the accident have appealed the decision to the High Court. Martin and John Gerard Corcoran, originally from Galway but now believed to be living at a halting site in London, had their claims dismissed in the Circuit Civil Court after the judge found Aviva Insurance's evidence about links between a Romanian group and Travellers to be "compelling". Costs were awarded against the Corcoran brothers but they appealed the decision to the High Court, with the case this week being adjourned to July 1. The pair alleged they were involved in a crash at a roundabout near Blanchardstown, Dublin, in July 2012. Romanian Neagu Alexandru was alleged to have driven his Honda Civic into the back of the Ford Galaxy people carrier in which the Corcoran brothers and five of their cousins were travelling. It is Aviva's case that the accident was fraudulently staged or had never taken place. Mr Justice Raymond Groarke said that from the evidence presented by Aviva it was an inescapable conclusion there was liaison between members of the Irish Traveller and Roma communities to set up staged accidents and claims to defraud insurance companies. Mr Groarke said there was no damage whatsoever on the Galaxy that was consistent with the damage to the Honda. He also described Mr Alexandru as someone who is "experienced, dare I say, in fraudulent activities". Mr Groarke said there was a "considerable question mark" about the veracity of the evidence given by the Corcoran brothers, describing parts of it as "astonishing". The appeal process has taken close to four years and Aviva says substantial costs are being racked up defending the case. Aviva previously applied to the court to rule that the brothers should have to provide security for the costs of an appeal should their claim be dismissed in the High Court. However, Ms Justice Eileen Creedon ruled they were not required to provide security. Defend "Although this case was adjourned, Aviva will continue to defend our position despite the ongoing financial costs of doing so," said investigations manager Rob Smyth. "Unfortunately, this is another example of where claimants simply roll the dice and appeal in anticipation of the insurance company settling their claim for smaller monies. "This will not be happening and we will also take the necessary steps to recover our costs, and we will always leave the final decision to the courts." Five friends have settled a defamation case they had brought against a restaurant for accusing them of leaving without paying for a buffet meal. The five had claimed they were wrongly accused of failing to pay the 200 bill after eating at a restaurant in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. They had sued the restaurant, Cosmo, claiming to have been "deeply shaken and upset at this incident and the gross slurs" on their good names. Mistake The case was brought by Lee Byrne (19), of Raleigh Square, Crumlin; Lee Gibson (20), of Knocknarea Avenue, and Jordan Dunphy, of Mourne Road, both in Drimnagh; Corrie Colgan (30), of Dolphin House, Rialto; and Ashford Coughlan (22), of Hanover Reach, Forbes Street, Hanover Quay. The action was taken at Dublin Circuit Civil Court by the five against Great Dublin Capital, the owners of the restaurant, over an incident on February 8, 2017. The case was settled on terms including the reading of an apology in court, in which the restaurant owners said they "sincerely apologised" for what was a "mistake" after the five paid for the meal in full, including a tip. Judge Raymond Groarke struck out the proceedings. According to the plaintiffs' claim papers, submitted to the court, they ate from the buffet on the day, paid the bill and left a tip of about 10 to 15. After they left, a waitress blocked their access to the lift and "spoke in a loud and accusatory manner", saying in full view of the public: "You did not pay for the food." They told her she was mistaken and she allowed them to leave, but in the car park the restaurant manager said loudly, again in view of the public: "Lads, lads, come back, you didn't pay." The plaintiffs remonstrated but the manager "continued to address them in an accusatory manner", asking them to return upstairs to the restaurant to "sort the matter out". The documents stated the plaintiffs felt they had no choice and returned to the restaurant, where they were told to stand at the door and it was clear to members of the public that they were being accused of leaving without paying their bill. Counsel for the plaintiffs told the court matters had been settled between the parties on terms including the reading of an apology to the court. A barrister for the defendants then read out the apology, saying that as a result of an error on the part of staff, it was thought they had left the restaurant without paying. All had in fact paid in full and left a tip, the apology continued. "The defendant sincerely apologises to the plaintiffs for the mistake," the barrister said. Farmer Patrick Quirke is appealing his conviction for the murder of love rival Bobby Ryan. Lawyers for Quirke filed a notice of appeal on May 16, the Courts Service has confirmed. The move was expected. The grounds of appeal have not yet been disclosed, but it is known various grounds have been considered by his lawyers in the weeks since the trial concluded. Quirke (50) was jailed for life on May 1 after a jury found him guilty of murder on a majority verdict of 10 to two at the Central Criminal Court. The case, which lasted 15 weeks, was the longest murder trial in the history of the State. Affair The farmer, from Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, denied any involvement in the murder of Mr Ryan (52), a quarry worker and part-time DJ known as 'Mr Moonlight'. The prosecution's case was that Quirke murdered his victim and hid the body in an underground tank so he could rekindle an affair with widow Mary Lowry, who was in a relationship with Mr Ryan. An informed source said there would be several grounds of appeal. A number will centre on rulings made in the absence of the jury by trial judge Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. Throughout the case, concerns were raised by the defence over the late disclosure of evidence and the garda investigation. However, defence requests to discharge the jury over these issues were rejected by Ms Justice Creedon. The judge also rejected an application from the defence for a direction to the jury to acquit Quirke on the grounds the evidence against him was speculative and any conviction would be unsafe. Remarks made by the judge during her charge to the jury also led to an application to have jurors discharged. Quirke's defence team claimed its position was harmed when Ms Justice Creedon made comments to the effect that the prosecution did not have to prove the location of Mr Ryan's death. They sought the discharge of the jury as they believed the judge's remarks could not be remedied. However, while Ms Justice Creedon clarified the remarks, she rejected the application. The judge said that in fact what the prosecution had to prove was that the death of Mr Ryan occurred in Co Tipperary, but in law it did not have to prove a specific location. She also told the jurors that the time, date and location of the killing were an issue in the case, but it was up to them to decide what weight to give to evidence and that they needed to bear in mind the burden of proof was on the prosecution. Tank Mr Ryan disappeared on the morning of June 3, 2011, after spending the night at Ms Lowry's home in Fawnagowan, Co Tipperary. Quirke "discovered" the body in a run-off tank on Ms Lowry's farm in April 2013. However, the prosecution said the discovery was staged as his lease on the property was going to be terminated and he would be unable to ensure the body remained hidden. Quirke was moved from Mountjoy to Limerick Prison on Sunday to serve out his life sentence. A 185-bedroom Dublin hotel development by Harry Crosbie has been given the green light after An Bord Pleanala overruled objections, including one from a local TD. Plans for the new development on Vicar Street in the south inner city were in doubt after an objection was lodged in February. Local residents also staged protests over the proposed eight-storey building. However, An Bord Pleanala notified developer Mr Crosbie yesterday that these objections had been overruled. His spokesman said work will begin shortly. PJ Walls, the company that built the 3Arena, will put up the hotel. "The shows at the venue have continued as normal and will now continue to do so. The Vicar Street venue will be upgraded as part of this work," the spokesman said, adding that a "full and clean" planning permission was granted. Earlier this year, an objection was lodged by People Before Profit TD Brid Smith and local councillor Tina McVeigh. In her objection, Ms Smith said the application does not represent development sympathetic to an urban residential community bound by new student accommodation, a public house/music venue, a homeless hostel and two new hotels in the immediate vicinity. In the joint objection with Ms McVeigh, she pointed out that "we are in the depths of a housing crisis having a catastrophic effect on our society". Demolition She added: "Rather than more hotels, apart-hotels or luxury student accommodation, we urge our city planners to exercise their duty of care and refuse planning permission to any further developments that do not positively contribute to the stock of residential housing." The planning appeal case noted that it involved the demolition of buildings and construction of a hotel. In February, around 60 residents gathered at Vicar Street with some protesters carrying banners that read: "Homes not hotels." They objected to the plans, calling for green space, homes and community facilities. An Bord Pleanala did not respond when contacted by the Herald for a comment. One of the conditions of planning is that the hotel firm pays Dublin City Council 487,407 towards public infrastructure. A report accompanying the planning application stated the development will contribute significantly towards the implementation of a core strategy of the City Development Plan in respect of regeneration, urban design and economic and tourism development. The report also stated the development "can provide a catalyst and dynamic for the regeneration and redevelopment of the Liberties area and will enhance the attractiveness and diversification of the city's tourist accommodation offer". Failte Ireland also made a submission with the council in support of the application. This frightening photograph of five knives shows the dangerous weapons that gardai have confiscated from young people in north county Dublin alone in the last week. Two kitchen knives, a folding hunting knife, a box-cutter and a scalpel, as well as a hammer, were all taken from youths during searches. Gardai have posted the image on Facebook as a warning to parents to make sure they know what their children are up to. Parents are being urged to report any sightings of weapons to gardai so that more knives can be taken off the streets. Knife crime came to prominence most recently when south Dublin teenager Azzam Raguragui was stabbed to death in a park in Dundrum on May 10. Attack Gardai are continuing to investigate the attack on Azzam (18), as well as an alleged knife attack in Rathfarnham a short time later which left a teenager with a leg injury. It is not known if the incidents are connected. Azzam's killing was raised in the Dail by Labour leader Brendan Howlin, who said knife crime was now becoming more common. He said 264 knives were seized by gardai in the first six weeks of this year alone. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar also commented, saying: "I'm not quite sure if it is the case that knife crimes are as frequent here as they are in the UK, but they certainly are occurring and they should be of concern to all of us." Concerns are mounting that more and more teenagers are carrying knives either to inflict harm or protect themselves. Figures released by gardai to Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan recently showed a 66pc increase in knife seizures since 2016. Some 2,000 knives were seized in 2018 compared with 1,600 in 2017 and 1,200 in 2016. Gardai said most of the weapons were taken from young people during stop-and-search operations. "The increased seizure of knives reveals that many young men think it is acceptable to carry knives," said Mr O'Callaghan. "It is important that people are aware that carrying knives for no lawful purpose is not permitted and will be severely punished. "The Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act 1990 imposes a maximum sentence of five years and/or a fine for carrying a knife that is intended to incapacitate or injure another person. "The maximum sentence needs to be increased so that there is a real deterrent for carrying knives in public." Scissor Sister mum Kathleen Mulhall has moved back to Dublin and is living on the northside, the Herald can reveal. Our exclusive photo shows Mulhall outside the house on Monday afternoon. "I'm trying to get on with my life," the 63-year-old grandmother said when asked if she wished to talk. Mulhall is understood to have been at the property for several weeks after spending years in London. She was freed from jail in October 2011 after serving a five-year sentence in the Doch- as Centre for impeding the investigation into the murder of her lover Farah Swaleh Noor. He was butchered by her daughters Charlotte and Linda in a north inner city flat in March 2005. Gruesome Her new home is not far from where the gruesome murder took place. A local source revealed that Mulhall is often seen going to and from a nearby supermarket. The mother-of-six spent a number of years on the run after Charlotte (34) and Linda (42) were arrested and convicted, respectively, of Noor's murder and manslaughter following one of the most gory murder trials in Irish history. Charlotte killed Noor with a Stanley knife and Linda struck him with a hammer after the siblings claimed he tried to rape one of them. Linda was released in January last year, but Charlotte could face many more years behind bars. Gardai finally tracked their mother down in London in February 2008 and she agreed to come back to Ireland to face charges. During the investigation into Noor's death, she was interviewed six times. She said she had last seen him in March 2005. Mulhall initially denied any knowledge of the murder, but eventually admitted she had stayed silent to protect her children. The Central Criminal Court heard at Mulhall's sentencing hearing in May 2009 that she had been abused by her parents, but had never been in trouble with the law. She got married at a "very, very early age", according to her counsel, and endured abuse and violence at the hands of her husband, John Mulhall. She left her husband and began a relationship with Noor, who was also violent and abusive. "It was the most grotesque case of killing that has occurred in my professional lifetime," late judge Paul Carney told the packed court. He said the crime to which Mulhall had pleaded guilty carried a 10-year prison term, and the Director of Public Prosecutions had recommended she receive a sentence at the top end of the scale. Mulhall had been fully aware of the grotesque nature of the crime when she rendered assistance, the judge said, and she also laid a trail to give the impression that Noor was still alive. However, the judge said, he took into account her voluntary return from England, lack of previous convictions and her desire to protect her daughters. He also considered her "lifetime of being subjected to abuse and violence at the hands of her family and the men with whom she had relationships". It is understood that Mulhall left Ireland for London shortly after completing her sentence in October 2011, and was mostly based in the UK until recent weeks when she returned home. In an interview with another newspaper in February last year, she told of her regret over the murder that horrified Ireland and also said she was dying. "I'm dying. I have to have a life-saving operation on my lung. It has a hole in it and it has gotten much bigger," she said. "Doctors say I have to get the operation to have half my lung removed and I've been on a waiting list for six months. "If I don't have the surgery I won't be here." Delighted It is not known if Mulhall has since had surgery or if she has visited her daughter Charlotte in jail since returning to Dublin. Last week the Herald revealed that Charlotte was "delighted" to be back in the Dochas Centre after spending nearly five months in Limerick Prison, where she was transferred after being "caught in the act" having sex with a female prison worker in her cell at the Dochas Centre. Dubliners Mark Lacey and Martin Walsh are preparing to climb 26 mountains in a week to raise funds for a toddler's surgery. Three-year-old Kal Jennings was born with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy and periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), a brain injury which affects premature infants. Both illnesses affect his muscle control and co-ordination, and make it difficult for Kal to walk. Fitness experts Mark and Martin have pledged to help raise money for surgery in the US which would allow him to walk freely. The pair are trying to raise money for the tot despite being no relation to the little boy. Harder "His mum comes into my gym and we got talking about her son and how much they needed to raise for this surgery," said Mark. "Once we heard, the first thing I thought was what can we do to help? "We sat down and decided we were going to climb three mountains in Kerry to raise money for him, but then we thought we should do a harder challenge to represent the difficulties Kal goes through. "We plan over seven days to climb the highest peaks, mountains and hills in all 32 counties - 26 peaks in all as six are shared peaks in Ireland." The pair will begin their challenge at 5.30am, climbing Co Donegal's Mount Errigal before hitting five more mountains that day alone, not finishing until 11.45pm that night. "We finish at Dublin's highest peak on August 18." Kal's surgery would be carried out in the St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri and costs around 120,000. The surgery is recommended between the ages of two and four, which is why the race is on to raise the money now. Mark and Martin aim to raise 10,000 to go toward the procedure. Over half the money needed, 65,000, has already been raised by Kal's local community. So the Trump administration delivered a clear message that America will hold Iran directly responsible for any attacks on Americans, even if they are carried out by surrogates and offered a show of force to back those threats providing clarity that makes it less likely Iranian leaders will miscalculate. Sanctions are inflicting major pain. But if the goal is to roll back Irans expansionism, then sanctions alone are not enough. We must also aggressively confront Iran throughout the region, building up our allies inflicting defeats on Iran in critical theaters, just as President Ronald Reagan did to the Soviets. A major drawdown of U.S. forces in Syria is incompatible with a maximum pressure approach. Will Iranian leaders come to the table? Far less draconian sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table under Obama. But Trump has rightly paired tougher sanctions with tougher demands. Pompeo has laid out 12 requirements for a deal with Iran including an end to support for Middle East terrorist groups and a complete withdrawal from Syria that Iran is unlikely to meet. If they dont come to the table, then what is our strategy? Does Trump really want to bring about the collapse of the Iranian regime? Its not clear. If he does, then, as my American Enterprise Institute colleague Frederick W. Kagan points out, this task may be even harder than it was with the Soviet Union. As North Korea has shown, tyrannical regimes can survive even crippling sanctions. Certainly, the world will be better if Iran is focused on survival rather than expansion and terror. But it will take more than sanctions to leave the Iranian regime on the ash heap of history. That requires a strategy. Follow Marc A. Thiessen on Twitter, @marcthiessen. How many new COVID-19 cases in Washington County? We don't know You can't go through an election season without hearing the phrase "small businesses are the backbone of America" repeated over and over again. But while the adage may feel tired, it is far from untrue. Small businesses account for a whopping 99.9% of companies in the U.S., according to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The number can be partly attributed to the administration's broad definition of a small business as any firm with fewer than 500 employees, but it also reflects how embedded entrepreneurship is in American culture. We watch in awe as once-small startups, like Twitter and Slack, transition into hugely successful ventures that are part of our everyday lives. We binge-watch old episodes of "Shark Tank," eager for inspiration for the next great business idea. And many of us dream of starting our own companies by dipping our toes into entrepreneurship with side hustles. But as dreamy as business ownership can seem, it takes a lot of grit, hard work, and old-fashioned luck to find success. Recent data shows that fewer than 80% of businesses make it beyond their first year, while only around half survive for at least five years or more. Small businesses also provide employment for nearly 60 million workers, and the pressure of making payroll every week can be crippling if sales don't meet expectations. Understanding the good, the bad, and the ugly about entrepreneurship is the only way you can decide if it's the right career path for you. To learn the truth about small businesses in America, Stacker took a look at figures and facts on entrepreneurship from a variety of sources, including the SBA, The Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the Census, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and news reports. The statistics painted a fascinating picture of who's most likely to launch a business, the chances of a business to stick around for generations, and how much economic activity comes from firms that aren't major corporations. Are you thinking of founding a company? Before you get started, click through to read 45 facts about small businesses in America. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) Stalwarts of administration party Partido Demokratiko PilipinasLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) admit that federalism is still unlikely to pass in the next Senate, even if it is dominated by allies of President Rodrigo Duterte. We will give it our best shot, pero hindi eh. Kasi 'yung mga nanalo, marami diyan anti-federalism eh, PDP-Laban president and reelectionist Senator Aquilino Koko Pimentel III told reporters Wednesday. [Translation: We will give it our best shot, but no. Because many of those who won are anti-federalism.] Pimentel had hoped that federalism would be passed in the 18th Congress. Senator-elect Christopher Bong Go also said that passing federalism in the next Senate is a long shot, admitting that the measure which would divide the country into autonomous states lacks public support. Sa ngayon kailangan muna i-educate natin ang ating kababayan kung ano talaga ang buting idudulot ng federalism. Sa ngayon it's a long shot, mahihirapan po tayong mapasa ang federalism ngayon, Go said. [Translation: For now, we would need to educate the people on the benefits of federalism. For now, its a long shot, we will have difficulty in passing federalism now.] Federalism is among the key platforms of PDP-Laban, which its national chair, President Rodrigo Duterte, also pushed for. Only Pimentel, Go, Ronald Bato Dela Rosa and Francis Tolentino, senators-elect from PDP-Laban, openly support federalism, while most of the Senate bets have said that the proposal needs to be studied further. In the past, however, Senators-elect Pia Cayetano and Ramon Bong Revilla backed a resolution calling for a shift to a federal form of government filed by Pimentels father, former Senator Aquilino Nene Pimentel, Jr. But Cayetano was among the 22 who voted against Resolution of Both Houses 15, which calls on Congress to convene into a constituent assembly which would amend the Constitution to usher in federalism. Attached to this resolution passed in December by the House is a draft federal constitution, which former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, the head of Dutertes consultative committee to amend the Constitution, said is not real federalism. The Houses draft charter also drew flak for several controversial provisions, including its lack of an anti-political dynasty provision, removal of term limits for lawmakers and the lifting of restrictions on foreign investors. No counterpart measure was ever filed in the Senate, where federalism was declared dead on arrival by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, a position echoed by other Senate leaders. The Senate in the 17th Congress also disagreed with the House on how to vote on amendments to the Constitution, insisting that both chambers vote separately instead of jointly, as what the House wants. The Senate is composed of just 24 members, who would be easily overpowered by around 300 members of the House. CNN Philippines Senior Digital Producer Eimor P. Santos contributed to this report. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here Grand Prize Winner: Donna Rickey Blog Winners: A Song for her Enemies by Sherri Stewart: Mary Ann Hake Spies & Sweethearts by Linda Shenton Matchett: Connie Ruggles Sword of Trust by DebbieLynn Costello: Brenda Walters Justice for Julia by Donna Schlachter: Natalya Lakhno Party Prize winners: Sherri Stewarts Winners A Song for her Enemies: Angie Pool Bottle of Dutch Syrup: Carol Koch Alscheff Corrie ten Boom book: Deb Gramie Burgess Linda Shenton Matchetts winners: $5.00 gift card to online retailer or choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Karen Hadley A Bride for Seamus: Carol Osterhouse Wotring DebbieLynn Costellos winners: Sword of the Matchmaker: Melissa Planas Sword of Forgiveness: Paty Hinojosa Gomez Shattered Memories: Charlene Zall Capodice Sword of the Perfect Bride: Licha Haney Donna Schlachters winner: Leather Journal: Lisa Turley GIVEAWAY RULES Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. A Taylorsville man wanted for several felonies was arrested following a car chase and manhunt near Wayside Church Road in Alexander County Wednesday afternoon. Police spotted Marty Allen Teague, 40, wearing a dreadlock wig and driving a Jeep along Church Road around noon and attempted to pull Teague over. He led police on a pursuit from Church Road onto Rink Dam Road, AL Fox Road, Rink Dam Road, Wayside Church Road and Chesterfield Acres, according to Alexander County Sheriff Chris Bowman. The Jeep darted between two homes off Chesterfield Drive into a field, but the vehicle got stuck soon after. Teague and his girlfriend Heather Shea Jonas, a 36-year-old from Taylorsville wanted for owing child support, fled from police into the woods on foot shortly after noon, Bowman said. According to Bowman, Jonas surrendered to police near Fox Hollow Drive early in the manhunt. Teague was located by North Carolina Public Safety K-9 Officer Waddell and a 3-year-old bloodhound named Copper around 1:40 p.m. Officers arrested Teague in the woods near the intersection of Rink Dam Road and Wayside Church Road. She tracked all the way to him, Waddell said. She done good. The Nevada state Senate voted to join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact on Tuesday, slating it to become the newest member of a growing group of states trying to sidestep the electoral college system. Members of the compact which already has 14 states and the District of Columbia pledged their electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the most ballots from all 50 states. In effect, it hands the 2020 presidential election to whoever wins the nationwide popular vote. But theres one caveat: The compact will only take effect if states representing at least 270 electoral college votes pass the law. If passed, with six electoral votes, Nevada would bring the total to 195. Those involved in the effort doubt that the electoral college delegate procedures can be changed in enough states before the 2020 presidential election, Reed Hundt, chairman and co-founder of Making Every Vote Count, told The Washington Post. Because Republican-controlled legislatures havent embraced the effort, it will be difficult to reach the 270 combined electoral votes needed to become president, he said. (They remain hopeful, though, that the compact will be in effect for the 2024 presidential election.) Holloway presented the idea to aldermen this week at a City Council Committee of the Whole meeting. She said city officials already have applied for a grant for the effort from The Dunham Fund, have developed a program to seek further sponsorship, and have sent out requests for proposals answered by two Aurora agencies to provide the services for the empowerment center. Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi enjoyed many foreign policy successes during his term in office, the incoming government in New Delhi which could witness Modis return to the helm will have to confront serious challenges both around Indias periphery and farther beyond. Grounded in a vision of India as a leading power in the international system, Modi has displayed an extraordinary international activism unprecedented since Jawaharlal Nehrus long tenure, engaging India in global issues ranging from climate change to strategic realignments. For all of Modis achievements, however, Indias strategic aims over the last half-decade were often frustrated by both contextual constraints and limited national capabilities. A successful Indian foreign policy must create external circumstances conducive to realising Indias fundamental goals, namely, protecting its physical security and its decisional autonomy, enlarging its economic prosperity and its technological capabilities, and realising its status claims on the global stage. Attaining these objectives requires New Delhi to engage at three different levels abroad: within its immediate periphery, among the worlds middle powers, and with the great powers of the system. The next government will confront significant tests especially in the first and the last arenas, suggesting that the incoming prime minister will have his work cut out for him. INDIA AND ITS IMMEDIATE PERIPHERY Indias problems within the subcontinent and around its immediate periphery (excluding China) have always been significantand fundamentally for structural reasons. Occasional diplomatic blunders notwithstanding, Indias limitations in material power have proven the primary obstacle to establishing political hegemony among its smaller neighbours. A weak state and inadequate economic development have constricted the resources available for securing Indias external influence. And by pursuing inward-looking growth, India has failed to integrate its region economically. Between the realities of globalisation and Chinas expanding influence within South Asia, the traditional Indian strategy of protecting its local primacyinsulating the subcontinentis well and truly dead. The new government will have to confront this discomfiting reality. Of all of Indias immediate neighbours, the relationships with the Maldives, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Burma, and the Indian Ocean island states are currently comfortable, though in each case good relations are contingent on having friendly governments in place. Ties with Sri Lanka and Nepal are complicated, as recent governments have excessively dallied with China. Indias problems with Pakistan remain insuperable as the Pakistan Army continues to wage subconventional wars against India under a nuclear umbrella. Short of a domestic transformation within Pakistan, the incoming government will have, like its predecessors, only better or worse ways of managing this persistent problem. In order to vivify its regional primacy, therefore, India must accumulate greater power at home and deepen interdependence with its neighbours. INDIA AND THE MIDDLE POWERS If Indias immediate environs are still challenging, Indias relations with most of the key middle powers have improved dramatically. The Modi government has especially utilised Indias partnership with Japan to attract economic investments, acquire critical technology, gain support for Indias permanent membership of the UN Security Council, and create an evolving intra-Asian balance to China. In addition, Modis successful outreach to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia has enhanced Indias quest for stable energy supplies and increased foreign investment while also limiting their traditional support for Pakistan. Much to Indias chagrin, however, Moscow today has ceased to be a reliable partner in balancing China within Asia as India and Russia struggle to find strategic convergence. Indias relations with the middle powers remain robust apart from this exception, but these ties despite their importance cannot compensate for the hazards posed by Indias neighbours and the great powers. INDIA AND THE GREAT POWERS India faces problems from both great powers: intensifying threats from China and geopolitical fickleness from the United States. Hopefully the problems with the latter are a temporary feature of the current Trump administration. The challenges embodied by China, however, are more enduring because China is still growing and is located next door. China has long recognised that India represented one of the three major Asian threats to its quest for continental, if not global, preeminence. Consequently, Pakistan became the favoured instrument for containing India. China is now also intensely penetrating South Asia and the wider Indian Ocean region, further diminishing Indias influence. The Indian attempts to neutralise this Chinese strategy have not yet come to full fruition. Indias relationship with the United States, therefore, matters greatly, but it remains hostage to internal anxieties. Modi has demonstrated a commitment to deepening ties with the United States through his handling of disputes over, for example, the S-400 purchase from Russia and Trumps threat to end Indian privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences. But Indian domestic opposition to strengthening US ties abounds on both the left and the right as the Indian body politic is deeply conflicted about foreign alignments. The Trump administrations targeting of India raises further suspicion about American reliability as a partner to balance China. The incoming government will thus find its ties with both Beijing and Washington to be unsettled concurrently. Restoring a desirable equilibrium will require New Delhi to strengthen relations with Washington while simultaneously minimising the offence to Beijing, a continuing and unenviable challenge. THE REAL TASKS AHEAD Indias foreign policy limitations are linked intimately to its weaknesses at home. Therefore, if India is to realise its great power ambitions, the next government will have to accelerate economic reforms, strengthen Indias institutions, preserve its constitutional ethos, and protect its internal cohesion, all of which have floundered dangerously in recent years. Today, when Indias claims to exceptionalism will not suffice either to protect its security or to increase its influence, its missteps within will have outsized impact abroad. Ashley J Tellis holds the Tata Chair for Strategic Affairs and is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, specialising in international security and US foreign and defence policy with a special focus on Asia and the Indian subcontinent The views expressed are personal Thanks to the current general elections, national security has been brought in to focus. Whether it will continue to remain in focus even after the results are announced, depends on the new dispensation that comes to power at the Centre. An inescapable feature of a national security discourse is that the military of the nation occupies a prominent space. Thus, despite steadfastly straining to remain apolitical on its own, the military becomes vulnerable to politicisation when opposing parties in the discourse try to build public support on the basis of their self-proclaimed nationalism. When we talk of cross-border retaliatory strikes of the military after the terrorist actions at Uri in September 2016 and Pulwama in 2019, these have to be viewed in the context of what they had set out to achieve and how successful they were in accomplishing those goals. By any stretch of imagination, they cannot be seen as reflective of a nations military might since not even 1% of it had been physically employed during the strikes. The first aim of both the strikes was to retaliate against the heinous terrorist acts against our soldiers at Uri and Pulwama, both of which were aided and abetted by Pakistan. Second, it was to destroy the terror infrastructure created by Pakistan all along the Line of Control (LoC) in support of the proxy war in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K). Third, to send a message to Pakistan that its continued support to the terrorists would invite similar retribution in the future. Lastly, the overall aim was to ensure peace and normalcy is restored in J&K by stopping Pakistani support to the proxy war. Retaliatory strikes against the terror infrastructure across the LoC and within Pakistan were largely successful, thanks to meticulous planning and perfect execution by our professional military. However, only the portion of the terror infrastructure which was struck at could be destroyed, leaving the rest of it intact. That does not seem enough to deter Pakistan from continuing its support. As a result, there has been no let up in the intensity of acts of terrorism and the situation in the Valley continues to remain highly volatile and turbulent. The low turnout for polling during the Lok Sabha elections is a clear indicator. Continuing the intense pressure post the strikes could perhaps have ensured better achievement of the above mentioned aims. The military has the prime responsibility of ensuring the territorial integrity of the nation. Its apolitical character enables it to serve national interest and remain above narrow parochial and partisan considerations. A democratically elected government has the constitutional obligation of providing the military with the wherewithal to discharge its responsibilities towards the nation. Regrettably, in the last 10 years the annual defence budget as percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) has been progressively coming down and currently stands at an abysmal 1.52% of the GDP against a requirement of approximately 3%. Therefore, our conventional superiority against Pakistan is gradually diminishing and vulnerability vis-a-vis China increasing since it has been spending almost four times more than us on defence for over 20 years now. While national security has been the central theme of the current elections, it is important that serious issues like modernisation of the military, infrastructural development in border areas, civil-military relations, finalising our national security strategy, streamlining the Defence Procurement Procedure, hastening indigenous defence production through Make in India projects and promoting jointness among the three services, which constitute important facets of national security, are part of the new governments agenda for the next five years. If national security was used purely for securing electoral gains, then its negative effect would certainly contribute to politicisation of the military, which needs to be avoided at all costs. The national security debate during elections has also unfortunately revealed the ignorance of our political class to issues connected with it. Engrossed in local issues like employment, poverty, literacy, health care, development etc, most candidates in the electoral fray hardly have the knowledge and even inclination to dwell on national security. A glance at the list of incumbents in previous parliaments would reveal the minuscule number who have ever served in the military or have had any formal education or training in it. Worse, the electorate straining to earn its daily bread and butter to survive, is much less informed or concerned with national security. Thus, swaying it for electoral gains by proclaiming successes of the military against the traditional adversary Pakistan is certainly leading to politicisation of the military. This politicisation also leaves an unrealistic and incorrect picture of the state of the nations military in public perception, leading to a false sense of security. Currently, there is a tremendous degree of hollowness in the military, thanks to a lack of long term planning in defence matters by successive governments. All three services are facing major deficiencies and obsolescence of equipment. No wonder the media have been lately full of reports of huge ammunition shortages in the army and avoidable casualties of precious soldiers due to defective ammunition. Yet the feeling generated by the electoral hype is that of tremendous strength and well being. In the long run, this does not bode well for the nations security with a dual threat lurking along our northern borders. The Indian military is highly professional, secular and apolitical. In the past 72 years since independence, it has never let the nation down. National security is its prime concern. However, to continue to perform at the same high level, it is essential that its apolitical characteristic is sustained and it is provided with the necessary wherewithal to discharge its responsibility honourably. This can only be ensured by the political authority of the nation. Deepak Kapoor is former Chief of Army staff The views expressed are personal Writer Tahira Kashyap, wife of actor Ayushmann Khurrana, has been an inspiration to many battling cancer like her. Speaking on Pinkvillas new show No Labels Attached, she spoke about how she battled her insecurities like going bald and accepted notions of beauty in her struggle against the disease. She was quoted by Pinkvilla as saying: On an emotional note, you never know how you are going to react until the situation comes. So, when I started going for my chemo, I knew I will lose my hair and I had kept one wig ready, lots of scarves ready, of different colors. I had kept everything ready because I wasnt ready to go bald. Also read | Imran Khan, wife Avantika separate after 8 years of marriage: reports I had never imagined my bald, not even short hair. I came from the school of thought where beauty meant long hair but that was previous me. But there was one day when the extensions couldnt hold on to the humble strands of hair I had on my head. So one day I had to decide to shave it off. When my son saw, he was like, I have seen men go bald, why did it have to happen to my mother? He told me not to meet his friends but I did exactly that, I met them and after spending 15-20 minutes, they knew all is normal. That day I redefined beauty for them. Tahira is an inspiration to not just cancer patients but everyone else too, given the candour with which she has spoken about her insecurities about being a star wife. Speaking to Spotboye in an interview, she had revealed how onscreen kiss between Ayushmann and his co-stars was a huge issue for her initially. I had a problem with him kissing onscreen. I felt like a big, huge fat whale sitting at home. When you are pregnant, your hormones also go up and down. Here this boy is looking at his youngest youth best and he is romancing women and what is this onscreen kiss! We both were very young. He didnt have the time and patience to take me along and I didnt have the patience to understand. There was this disconnect that we were not there for each other to each other along in that journey. Somewhere he knew that she doesnt meant mad. I also knew he wasnt cheating. I had to evolve as a person to understand what art is. Ayushmann also spoke about how they fought her cancer as a team and revealed in an interview to Rajeev Masand about how they got to know of her disease on his birthday. He added that instead of getting bogged down by it, they decided to face it together. In fact, they watched a film (Manmarziyaan) that day. Follow @htshowbiz for more Dairy brand Amul has shared a new topical featuring actors Deepika Padukone and Aishwarya Rai in their stunning outfits that they wore at the Cannes Film Festival. The Amul Girl is seen channelling Deepikas bright green ruffled style and Aishwaryas golden glamour in the ad. The doodle-d girls are also seen with buttered toasts in their hands. Gori tera gown bada nyaara, the ad read and also said that the divas love it. Also read: Ajay Devgn takes a dig at Tabu with a hilarious throwback pic Aishwaryas golden dress was a kaleidoscopic chrome gown by Lebanese designer Jean-Louis Sabaji which she wore to the premiere of A Hidden Life. The actor, 45, completed her look with nude and shimmery make up. The focus was on her eyes and her hair was swept back in a neat side parting. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses for photos upon her arrival at the premiere of the film A Hidden Life. (IANS) Deepika opted for a neon green Giambattista Valli gown with a long trail. She paired the gown, consisting of elaborate ruffled detailing, with a pink headgear, and completed the look with nude coloured stilettoes. Similar to her earlier outfits, this one, too, comes with a bow, although smaller than the others. The Padmaavat actor posted pictures of her outfit on Instagram and wrote, Living a Lime Green Life. 72nd Cannes Film Festival - Screening of the film "Pain and Glory" (Dolor y gloria) in competition - Red Carpet Arrivals - Cannes, France, May 17, 2019. Deepika Padukone poses. REUTERS/Regis Duvignau (REUTERS) On day one, Deepika left everyone awestruck in a Peter Dundas cream gown that had an exaggerated black bow, as she walked the red carpet at the film festival. However, fans missed seeing Priyanka Chopra, who also attended the event, in the new Amul ad. Wheres Priyanka?, read several comments on the post. Others appreciated seeing the Amul girl in the stunning gowns. Seeing the amul girls in gowns makes me feel good as a plus size woman, read a comment. Other celebrities who made red carpet appearances are Kangana Ranaut, Huma Qureshi, Diana Penty, and Mallika Sherawat. Actor Sonam Kapoor, too, attended the event. Follow @htshowbiz for more The office boom in central and eastern Europe, driven by lower wages and a growing pool of local talent, has got the attention of the worlds biggest real estate investor. Banks and financial services firms are looking for cost-efficient office space and for skilled people, which they can still find in the region, said Thomas Villadsen, the head of Austria and CEE at Allianz Real Estate. The company plans to spend as much as 500 million euros ($562 million) over the next two years on property in the region. Munich-based Allianz hired Villadsen last year to set up shop in Vienna and become more active in the fast-growing region. With 72 billion euros of real estate assets globally, Allianz is the worlds biggest landlord but has been late to target a region where Austrian rivals like CA Immobilien Anlagen AG or Immofinanz AG led the pack. Allianz will look at investments in the capital cities of Warsaw, Prague, Bratislava, Budapest or Vienna, while staying away from south-eastern Europe, where it considers political and economic risks too high, Villadsen said. It agreed to buy the Icon tower at Viennas main railway station from Signa Holding GmbH last year for about 500 million euros. Banks are among the drivers of the expansion, which has advanced from the days in which it was low-skilled jobs like call centers that moved east. Morgan Stanley employs more than 1,000 people in its Budapest office, providing firm-wide services from risk modeling to internal audit. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. last year said it plans to hire another 150 people in Poland in addition to its existing 600. Allianz plans to grow real estate investments in Austria and CEE to as much as 5 billion euros within 10 years, from 3 billion euros now, Villadsen said. Apart from office space, hes also looking at residential properties and logistics. Prices in some cities have risen so much that Allianz is already dropping out of some bidding rounds, for instance in Warsaw, according to Villadsen. In Poland, top yields are around 4.5% to 4.7% and falling, he said. In Vienna, yields are between 3.5% and 4% while Prague sees some deals below 4%. Yields in Budapest are about 1 percentage point higher than in Prague. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 27-year-old gym trainer, who was active on social media app TikTok, was shot dead by three men at a shop in outer Delhis Najafgarh on Tuesday evening, the police said. The police identified the deceased as Mohit Mor, who had over 5.17 lakh followers on TikTok. He hailed from Haryanas Bahadurgarh, but often stayed at his home in Najafgarh, the police said. The murder comes in the wake of a gang war in Dwarka Mod on Sunday that saw two alleged criminals gunned down. While an investigator who did not wish to be named said that it was still being probed whether Mor had any connection to the two gangs involved in the recent gang war, deputy commissioner of police (Dwarka) Anto Alphonse said no such link has emerged so far. Mor did not have any criminal cases against him, Alphonse said. Another investigator said Mors mobile phone threw up his conversations with many people in the recent past. We are probing if his murder has anything to do with his friendship, the investigator said. Mor was seated in a photocopy shop around 6pm on Tuesday when he was gunned down. An investigator who didnt want to be identified said that Mor was shot seven times and died on the spot. The police procured CCTV camera footage of the suspects and registered a murder case at the Najafgarh police station. Some of the footage showed the three men running in a street after the murder. Two of them wore helmets while the third was unmasked. The police hope to identify the men from the unmasked suspects image, said the investigator. The police also found the footage of a scooter on which the three suspects had arrived. They are trying to ascertain the registration number of the scooter and working to rule out the possibility of it being a stolen two-wheeler. Having lost his father earlier, Mor is survived by his mother and brother. The police are speaking to them to find out if they had any enemies or if he was involved in a confrontation in the recent past. Reports in some newspapers and websites claim that global tech giants have put their India investments on hold as they seek clarity on the regulatory regime from India -- especially when it comes to privacy, data-protection, and, in the case of e-commerce, ownership of the platform as well as merchants that sell on it. The blurring of physical and virtual has brought new challenges for governments the world over, forcing them to negotiate a workable solution. This means that regulatory regimes are constantly evolving too -- rigid ones will do a disservice to the companies themselves, as also to consumers and users. In general, any country would do well to keep in mind four factors while framing its policies. One, there can be no compromises when it comes to privacy and data protection (including the localisation of servers). Two, media and messaging platforms cannot be given a free pass because they claim to be intermediaries -- for instance, no platform that makes money from advertising can claim it isnt a medium; that would mean laws applicable to media firms would also apply to it. Three, there needs to be a level playing field for local and foreign firms. Four, in general, hi-tech (and new tech) makes life easier and better for users and consumers, fosters innovation, and is good for business. Each country has to evolve its own standards for these. China has its own set of standards, Europe has its own and its imperative that India guard its own interests, keeping in mind monopolistic practices, privacy concerns and likely future conflicts such as information wars. It isnt easy. For starters, the new government would do well to place a regulatory regime for hi-tech high up in its to-do list. Geeta Jaipal tops RBSE 12th arts exam Geeta Jaipal from Govt school, Jorawarsinghpur, Ganganagar has topped the Rajasthan Board Class 12 arts exam scoring 99.40%. 5,66,576 students appeared in the exam A total of 5,66,576 students appeared in the Rajasthan Board Class 12 arts exam Pass percentage of boys is 85.41% The pass percentage for boys in the Rajasthan Board Class 12 arts exam is 85.41% Pass percentage for girls is 90.81% The pass percentage for girls in the Rajasthan Board Class 12 arts exam is 90.81% Rajasthan Board Class 12 arts result 2019 declared Rajasthan Board Class 12 arts result 2019 declared, 88% students pass Press conference to declare RBSE Class 12 arts results expected shortly The press conference to declare Rajasthan board Class 12 arts results is expected to start soon 42,140 students appeared in commerce stream Class 12 exam This year 42,140 students had appeared in the Rajasthan board Class 12 commerce stream exam 89.05% students had passed the Class 12 arts exam last year In 2018, 89.05% students cleared the Class 12 humanities stream exam of the Rajasthan board out of the 5,65,930 candidates who took the exam. 2,57,719 appeared in Class 12 science stream exam in 2019 A total of 2,57,719 students had appeared in the Rajasthan board Class 12 science exam this year In 2018, 5,65,930 candidates took RBSE 12th arts exam Last year, 5,65,930 candidates took the Class 12 humanities stream exam. RBSE 12th science and commerce results were declared last week The Rajasthan Baord declared the science and commerce stream result last week. RBSE Class 12 board arts results at 3pm The Rajasthan Board for Secondary Education (RBSE) will declare the result of Class 12 board arts examination on May 22 at around 3pm. RBSE Class 12 board arts results today The Rajasthan Board for Secondary Education (RBSE) will declare the result of Class 12 board arts examination on Wednesday. More than 70 parents work two hours a day as mentors and aides at eight of the 12 East Aurora elementary schools, Davis said. Twice a year, the mentors earn a stipend check for their work helping in the classrooms, such as in reading or math assistance and leading small-group work. The mentors receive training as a result of their participation in the program. Lime green seems to be the in-thing this season. With almost every Bollywood actress sporting this shade, it looks the colour is here to stay. Newbies Sara Ali Khan, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Panday rocking this experimental colour, seasoned actors and fashionistas like Kareena Kapoor Khan and Sonam Kapoor too have sported this shade in various blends, combinations and outfits. More recently, we saw Deepika Padukone in a Giambattista Valli gown walking the Cannes 2019 red carpet, looking every bit the diva that shes best-known to be. Interestingly, the contemporaries Sara and Tara have both worn not just lime green but also the same dress, a Swapnil Shinde creation at magazine shoots on different occasions. This full-length dress with thigh-high slits on either end is embellished all over with sparkles. A halter-neck, the USP of this dress is its backless cut which brings out the oomph factor. Sara paired it with a red printed jacket by Beg Borrow Steal and a belt by Zara. Tara, on the other hand, kept it simple with just the dress doing the talking for her on the magazine. Both looks are easily doable and by and large depend on your taste, and probably your mood for the day. Even though the colour is largely a day choice, its silhouette makes it more of an evening wear. Our choice would be a sundowner or a cocktail party in summer. Take a look: Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in a gunfight with security forces on Wednesday in south Kashmirs Kulgam district, the police said. The encounter took place after a joint team of the army, the Central Reserve Police Force and Jammu and Kashmir police launched a cordon and search operation in the Gopalpora area of DH Pora town in Kulgam. The militants, who were in hiding, opened fire on the search team, which retaliated, killing the two men, a police spokesman said in a statement. The slain militants, from whom the police seized arms and ammunition, were identified as Irfan Manzoor Bhat of Poniwah in Kulgam and Zahid Ahmad Mantoo of Ferripora in Shopian. The spokesman said Bhat and Mantoo were wanted for complicity in terrorist crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilians. Zahid was involved in planning and executing a series of terror attacks in the area and many other civilian atrocities, the spokesman said, adding he was involved in an attack in which three policemen were killed in Batgund, Shopian, last year. The police said Bhat had joined the Hizbul Mujahideen recently and was part of a group involved in the killing of Abdul Majeed Dar of Sholipora, Kulgam. Dar, who was elected sarpanch after quitting the Peoples Democratic Party, was killed by gunmen on April 3. The police requested civilians not to venture near the encounter site. People are requested to cooperate with police till the area is completely sanitized and cleared of all the explosive materials, if any, the spokesman said. Two militants belonging to the Hizbul Mujahideen were killed by security forces after a gun battle in Jammu and Kashmirs Kulgam, police said on Tuesday. The exchange of fire followed a predawn search operation, which was launched in Gopalpora area of Kulgam on specific input, officials said. Mobile internet was snapped in Kulgam after the encounter. In a bizarre incident, a 27-year-old man has been arrested after being accused of having unnatural sex with cows at a shelter in Ayodhya. Police said the accused, Raj Kumar, was caught by volunteers of the cow shelter on Monday night when he was targeting a calf. The volunteers thrashed Kumar, who was drunk, and handed him over to the local police. Kumar was sent to jail after an FIR was registered under sections 377/ 511 of the Indian Penal Code (attempt of unnatural sex) and section 11 of the Cruelty to Animals Act (inflicting pain or suffering on animals), the police said. Inspector of Ayodhya Kotwali, Jagdish Upadhyay, said over phone that the incident occurred at Karatliya Baba Ashram where a cow shelter has been operating for many years. The accused was identified as Raj Kumar who works as a contractual labourer in Ayodhya. He was under the influence of alcohol when he was brought to the police station, he said. The police said the shelter volunteers first noticed an outsider on the premises while scanning the footage of closed-circuit television cameras that had been installed a few days ago. They came across this footage of a man involved in the act. Since then, volunteers started keeping vigil, said Upadhyay, adding that the footage showed the accused having unnatural sex with five cows. A 52-year-old man running a charitable institution in Mumbai allegedly raped a Brazilian woman who came here to study as part of a youth exchange programme, police said on Wednesday. The accused, Padmakar Nandekar, has been arrested for the alleged incident that took place last month but came to light on Monday when the 19-year-old woman filed a rape complaint against him, a police official said. The woman came to India a few months back and was staying here with Nandekar, who runs a charitable organisation and is also chairman of a residents association in Cuffe Parade area of south Mumbai, he said. According to the woman, on April 15, Nandekar invited her for dinner at a hotel, where he allegedly spiked her drink following which she felt dizzy and went to a room there with him, the official said. Next morning, the woman realised she was allegedly raped and then went to stay at her local guardians place in suburban Bandra without revealing the incident to anyone, he said. She informed her guardian about the incident recently following which both of them went to the Cuffe Parade police station on Monday and lodged the complaint, the official said. Nandekar was subsequently arrested from his residence on Monday night and booked under relevant Indian Penal Code sections for rape, he said. He was on Tuesday produced before a local court which remanded him in police custody till May 24, he said, adding a probe was underway in the case. (The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text, only the headline has been changed.) Six people have been arrested for allegedly clubbing a Dalit youth to death in Gujarats Rajkot district, the police said on Wednesday. Nineteen-year-old Rajesh Sondarva was brutally murdered by a group of eight men on Tuesday night, according to the police, which described it as a family rivalry. But the relatives of the victim and neighbours demanded a probe by the states CID, and refused to take the body until their demand was met. They alleged the killing was a hate crime linked to his caste. The murder [of Rajesh] is a result of rivalry between the two families. Police protection was provided to whole family at their home. The murder took place away from their home on the outskirts of Manekwala, said Balram Meena, superintendent of police, Rajkot. The victims mother Kajalben said Rajesh was pursuing the murder case of his father Naji Sondarva, an RTI activist, who was killed last year by the same people who have been arrested for her sons murder. Dalit activist and Vadgam legislator Jignesh Mevani met the victim Rajesh Sondarvas (19) family on Wednesday. The boy had expressed fears of getting killed after his father was murdered, but police failed to protect him, Mewani said. Nanji was killed in March 2018. An FIR in the Kotda Sangani police station in Rajkot said Nanji filed an RTI application over alleged financial irregularities in a road development project, which had irked sarpanch Mahendrasinh Jadeja, accortding to another police officer. In his dying declaration, Rajesh named Jadeja, and others for his murder, the officer added. The Indian Army said on Wednesday a soldier was killed and seven others sustained minor injuries during training on the Line of Control in Mendhar sector of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. On 22 May 2019 at 0915 hours, during a training activity on a military post in Mendhar Sector, one soldier was critically injured who later succumbed to his injuries. Two more soldiers who suffered non grevious injuries have been evacuated to the nearest Military Hospital and are stable, said defence spokesman Lt Col Devender Anand. The injured was flown in a helicopter to Northern Commands hospital at Udhampur. Official sources said soldiers of the Barasingha Battalion of the 12 Madras regiment were on a patrol in Dera Dibsi area along the hilly LoC when the incident occurred around 10.45am. Pakistani terrorists are known to regularly plant IEDs along the LoC and the international border with an aim to inflict casualties on the Indian Army and Border Security Force (BSF). There have been numerous instances of such IED blasts, a fact accepted and corroborated by the then Northern Army commander Lt Gen KT Parnaik. He had admitted on January 15, 2013, that frequent accidental blasts in KG sector of Poonch were actually mines planted by Pakistan to target and eliminate Indian soldiers. Pakistan Rangers had violated the ceasefire in Samba sector on Tuesday evening. They fired small arms weapons at a post in Bainglard area of Samba sector, prompting the BSF to retaliate in equal measure. There were no injuries on the Indian side. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi Wednesday sat next to each other during a multilateral meeting here of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, amid strained ties between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. Swaraj and Qureshi attended the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), which was founded at a summit in Shanghai in 2001 by the presidents of Russia, China, Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India was an observer at the SCO till 2005 and was granted the membership along with Pakistan in 2017. Swaraj arrived here in the Kyrgyz capital on Tuesday to attend the Foreign Ministers meeting. According to the photos published by the Pakistani media, Swaraj and Qureshi were seen seated next to each other along with other foreign ministers. Earlier in Islamabad prior to his departure, Qureshi said besides addressing the inaugural session of the regional forum, he would also hold meetings with his counterparts from other countries. Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated after the February 14 Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) terror group which killed 40 CRPF personnel. Amid mounting outrage, the Indian Air Force carried out a counter-terror operation, hitting a JeM training camp in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan on February 26. The next day, Pakistan Air Force retaliated and downed a MiG-21 in an aerial combat and captured an Indian pilot, who was handed over to India on March 1. PTI MRJ AKJ MRJ Paris police have begun an investigation into a break-in at the office of the Indian Air Forces (IAF) Rafale project management team in the suburb of Saint-Cloud in the French capital, two people familiar with the development said on condition of anonymity. Unidentified persons may have attempted to steal data relating to the fighter jet project on Sunday night, said one of the officials cited above. News agency AFP quoted an unnamed source in a local French prosecutors office as saying that documents and money had been taken. HT could not verify the statement. French plane-maker Dassault Aviation has an office complex in Saint-Cloud and the five-member Indian project management team, headed by a group captain, operates from the same premises. Defence ministry spokesperson, Colonel Aman Anand, declined to comment on the incident. IAF and the French embassy in Delhi also declined comments. The official cited above said IAF had briefed the defence ministry on the incident. Some unidentified persons broke into the first floor office of the project management team but details are sketchy. Lets see what the police investigation reveals, said the second person. The job of the Indian team in France is to monitor the overall progress of the project, oversee training of Indian air and ground crews and ensure that timelines are met. India has ordered 36 Rafale jets from France in a deal worth 59,000 crore, which is at the centre of a political controversy in the country. The first Rafale jet, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, is expected to be handed over to IAF in France in September, before the first batch of four fighter jets fly to India next April. The incident took place weeks ahead of a crucial biannual project review meeting to be held in France on July 1, the second person added. An IAF official said no documents appeared to be missing from the administrative office. In any case, sensitive documents are not stored in an administrative office, added the official who asked not to be named. Experts said the motive for the break-in appeared to be obtaining documents relating to the Rafale fighter project. The break-in clearly doesnt have a financial angle. It seems that someone wanted to steal documents, said military affairs expert Air Marshal PS Ahluwalia (retd), who was closely associated with the induction of Mirage fighter jets bought from France in the mid-1980s. Hand-picked pilots and technicians are training on the Rafale warplanes at the Saint-Dizier air base in eastern France as IAF prepares the ground for inducting its latest fighter jets. The Rafale will be the first imported fighter to be inducted into IAF in 22 years after the Russian Sukhoi-30 fighters. The first Su-30 entered service in June 1997. India and France signed the deal for two Rafale squadrons (36 planes) in September 2016 as an emergency purchase to arrest a worrying slide in IAFs capabilities. The squadrons will be based at Ambala in Haryana and Hasimara in West Bengal, covering the northern and eastern fronts. All 36 fighter planes will arrive by September 2022. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) governments decision to enter into a government-to-government deal with France to buy the fighters was announced in April 2015. This replaced the United Progressive Alliances decision to buy 126 Rafale aircraft, 108 of which were to be made in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, using parts imported from France. The Rafale jets are tailored for IAFs India-specific enhancements, including a helmet-mounted sight, radar warning receivers, flight data recorders with enough storage for 10 hours of data, infrared search and track systems, jammers, cold engine start capability to operate from high-altitude bases and towed decoys to lure incoming missiles away. The fighters will be equipped with Meteor beyond visual range missiles that will provide a significant edge to the IAF over the Pakistan Air Force. The Meteors no escape zone is touted to be three times greater than that of current medium range air-to-air missiles. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former state minister and senior Bahujan Samaj Party leader Ramveer Upadhyay was on Tuesday suspended from the party on charges of anti-party activities. He has been removed from all the posts in the party organisation as well, said Mewa Lal Gautam, national general secretary, BSP. Gautam said Upadhyay had opposed BSP candidates on Agra, Fatehpur Sikri and Aligarh seats and had campaigned for BJP candidates on these seats. He did not attend the rallies organised by the BSP-SP alliance either in West UP for the alliance candidates. A video, in which he is seen campaigning for Satish Gautam BJP candidate from Aligarh also went viral on social media during electioneering. A Brahmin face of the BSP, Upadhyay played an important role in mobilising the upper caste-Brahmin support for the party. He was in-charge of bhaichara (brotherhood) committee constituted by BSP chief Mayawati to spread partys base among Brahmin community. He enjoyed influence over the upper caste-voters in Braj region (Agra-Mathura-Aligarh-). He was the cabinet minister in the BSP government during 2007-12. Antiparty activities by Upadhyay had damaged the prospects of the BSP on Fatehpur Sikri, Agra and Aligarh seats. Zonal coordinators in their report submitted to Mayawati had stated that Upadhyay action had put the BSP on sticky wicket on three seats. Acting on the report of coordinators, Mayawati ordered suspension of Upadhyay, said a BSP leader. His wife Seema Upadhyay is former BSP Lok Sabha MP. BSP had announced to field her from Fatehpur Sikri seat but later told her to contest from Aligarh, which she refused. She also openly condemned the party leadership for the decision. His brother, Mukul Upadhyay, a former BSP legislative council member, also revolted against the BSP leadership and joined the BJP in February. A heavyweight BSP leader, Upadhyay was also the chief whip of the BSP in the legislative assembly. In 2017 assembly election, he won from Sadabad (Hathras) assembly seat even as BJP wave swept the state. When contacted, Upadhyay refused to comment, I will express my views in a press conference in Hathras on Wednesday, he said. A 22-year-old youth killed his father and chopped his body into 25 pieces, following an argument over a property dispute in the early hours of Wednesday in East Delhi, police said. Aman was arrested, along with a friend, from outside his home in Shahdara while they were trying to dispose off the body. According to the police, Aman runs a small cafe in the Farash Bazaar area of Shahdara. He had been pestering his father, Sandesh Aggarwal, 48, to register a property, located in Bholanath Nagar, in his name. With Amans elder brother and mother away in Manali for the past few days, the father and son were alone at home for the past few days. On Tuesday night, they again had an argument and in a fit of rage Aman first assaulted his father and then stabbed him multiple times, DCP (Shahdara) Meghna Yadav said. He later called a friend to help him dispose off the body. They chopped the body into 25 pieces and stuffed them into two bags and some black-coloured polythene packets bought from a chicken shop, said another police officer. However, a neighbour spotted Aman and his friend from his balcony keeping the two blood-stained bags and packets in a car. He informed the police around 2.07 a.m., following which a local police team reached the spot and arrested them. The incident occurred barely 300 meters away from the DCPs office and the Farash Bazar police station. ( This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) The Centre on Wednesday cleared the names of four judges to be elevated to the Supreme Court, a week after the collegium disagreed with the department of justice for the second time in a year over the issue of judicial appointments. With the appointments of justices Aniruddha Bose, AS Bopanna, BR Gavai and Surya Kant, the number of judges in the apex court will go up to a full strength of 31. A government notification said the four new SC judges will take oath on Friday at 10.30am. The Centre had last month returned the Supreme Court collegiums recommendation to elevate Jharkhand high court Chief Justice Bose and Gauhati high court Chief Justice Bopanna, asking the body to rethink its decision. On May 8, however, the collegium a body of the SCs top five judges headed by the Chief Justice of India reiterated its April 12 recommendation to appoint them. Following the governments objection, the collegium said in its resolution that it kept in mind the twin parameters of seniority and merit while recommending the names. Since nothing adverse regarding competence, conduct or integrity of Justices Aniruddha Bose and AS Bopanna, has been pointed out, their appointment was reiterated, according to the resolution. On the same day, the collegium also cleared the appointments of justice Gavai, a judge of the Bombay high court, and justice Kant, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court. Recommending the two other names, the collegium resolution said: While recommending the names of Mr Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai and Mr Justice Surya Kant, the collegium has taken into consideration combined seniority on all-India basis of Chief Justices and senior Judges of high courts, apart from their competence, conduct and integrity. The collegium has also kept in mind the desirability of giving due representation on the bench of the Supreme Court, as far as possible, to all the high courts as well as to all sections of the society, including those belonging to SC/ST/OBC categories, women and minorities. On the issue of seniority of justice Gavai, the collegium said: His recommendation, in no way, is to be misconstrued to mean that three senior-most Judges from Bombay High Court (two of whom are serving as Chief Justices) are less suitable than Mr. Justice Gavai. With justice Gavais appointment, the Supreme Court will have a judge belonging to the Scheduled Caste on the bench after a gap of a decade. The developments come after the Centre had in April last year returned a file recommending justice KM Josephs appointment, which was first cleared by the collegium in January 2018. The government had contended that justice Joseph was not senior enough and that the Kerala high court, his parent HC, was adequately represented. His name was reiterated by the collegium in July, eventually leading to the government clearing his appointment. The seniority issue is particularly important, if a judge is line to become the future CJI. The SC and the government have been sparring over appointments ever since the apex court struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) bill in 2015 that said all appointments to the higher judiciary would be made by the NJAC. Advocate Viplav Sharma said, it s a welcome development that the supreme court will function at full strength. This will help in faster disposal of cases. The government had passed the bill in 2014. Subsequently, the two sides decided to agree to a Memorandum of Procedure on judicial appointments that would address gaps in the collegium system. Not much has progressed on this front. President Ram Nath Kovind has given his assent to the Criminal Law (Gujarat Amendment) Bill, 2018, which provides for a maximum 10-year imprisonment for anyone convicted of chain snatching and causing injuries in the process. He gave his assent recently, a home ministry official said on condition of anonymity without specifying the exact date when Kovind approved the legislation. Chain snatchers are normally charged with the Indian Penal Code (IPC)s Section 379 (theft) elsewhere in the country and can lead up to three years in jail or fine or both. In September 2018, the Gujarat assembly amended the Section 379. It added two clauses, IPC 379 (A) and 379 (B) to incorporate the stringent punishment. The amendment also provides for a fine of up to ~25,000 for those convicted of chain snatching. An official said any legislation for changes to the IPC requires presidential assent. Another official said the section was amended as the punishment for theft under it was insufficient to deter criminals, who would often get bail. As per the new law, a snatching attempt can lead to a minimum five and maximum seven years of imprisonment. An accused will be liable to seven years of imprisonment for chain snatching. The law provides for up to 10-year imprisonment in case injuries are inflicted during chain snatching. A Gujarat police officer said there are similar provisions under the law for strict punishment for chain snatching in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Haryana. According to the Gujarat police, there has been an increase in chain snatching incidents in the state. As many as 405 cases of chain snatching were registered in 2015, which increased to 541 in 2017. Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday apologised to the people for the hardship caused to them by restrictions placed on civilian traffic on the highway that connects the Valley to the outside world. The apology came a day after the authorities announced that the curbs put in place ahead of Lok Sabha elections would end from Monday. There will be no ban after May 27 [Monday]. I am thankful to people who cooperated despite facing a lot of hardships during this ban, Malik said on the sidelines of an event. Civilian traffic on the 301-km Uri-Udhampur highway was banned from 4 am to 5 pm every Sunday and Wednesday until May 31 to allow exclusive movement of security convoys. The Delhi high court on Wednesday reserved its order on a plea by the CBI seeking six months extension to complete the probe in a bribery case filed against former special director Rakesh Asthana and deputy SP Devender Kumar. Justice Mukta Gupta reserved the order after CBI informed HC that it is seeking more time to conduct the probe in a free, fair and transparent manner. Appearing for CBI, additional solicitor general Vikramjit Banerjee said: We are doing the investigation in a free, fair and transparent manner. We are only asking for extension of time to complete the investigation. We are not seeking review of the courts January 11 verdict, thats the crux of my case, he said. He also said CBI was entitled to implement the order of the HC and to conduct a fair probe and he was asking for four months to complete the probe. The HC then reserved the order. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with her Kyrgyzstan counterpart, Chingiz Aidarbekov, in Bishkek on Tuesday ahead of a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). Swaraj and Aidarbekov held productive discussions on all aspects of bilateral relations, including political and defence ties, trade and investment and people-to-people ties, external affairs ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. During her two-day visit to the Kyrgyz capital, Swaraj will also call on President Sooronbay Zheenbekov and hold several bilateral meetings. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is also attending the meeting of foreign ministers but Indian officials have ruled out the possibility of a bilateral meeting. Issues of international and regional importance would be discussed at the SCO meeting. The foreign ministers will also discuss and review preparations for the SCO Summit in Bishkek from June 13 to14. India was admitted as a full member of SCO in 2017. Swarajs visit comes a month after Nirmala Sitharamans trip to Bishkek to attend SCO defence ministers conclave to boost security cooperation among the members of the grouping. India is keen on deepening security-related cooperation with SCO. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday India is open to regional connectivity initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity during the meeting of the foreign ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Kyrgyzstan. Indias commitment to regional connectivity is evident from our involvement in International North-South Transport Corridor, Chabahar Port, Ashgabat Agreement and India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, Sushma Swaraj said at the meeting of the grouping of Central Asian Republics led by China and Russia, according to news agency ANI. We have also operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017. We welcome regional connectivity initiatives that are inclusive, sustainable, transparent and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, she said. The external affairs minister also condoled the death of more than 250 people in the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka. Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and news from the neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly resolutely against this menace, she was quoted as saying by ANI. Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi is also attending the meeting of foreign ministers but Indian officials have ruled out the possibility of a bilateral meeting. The two-day meeting will be the second such gathering of foreign ministers of the member countries that India is attending as a full member of the SCO. India was admitted as a full member of SCO in 2017. Sushma Swaraj had attended the last CFM meeting in Beijing in April 2018. Swarajs visit comes a month after Nirmala Sitharamans trip to Bishkek to attend SCO defence ministers conclave to boost security cooperation among the members of the grouping. The meeting will review the preparations for the forthcoming SCO Summit in Bishkek on June 13-14 and also exchange views on topical issues of international and regional importance. Unidentified persons broke into the Indian Rafale project management team office in France on Sunday night in a possible espionage attempt to steal data related to the aircraft critical to Indias national security plans. There was a break-in into the Indian Air Force Rafale project management team office which is located in a suburb of Paris in France. No hard disk or document has been stolen. More details are being ascertained about the motive, sources in the Indian Air Force told ANI. The Rafale project team is headed by a Group Captain-rank officer who looks after issues related to the 36 Rafale combat aircraft, including the production timelines and training of Indian personnel who have to be trained for maintenance and flying operations of the plane, which India is acquiring. The Rafale team sits in a building complex in Saint Cloud suburb of Paris and the police there is investigating the case. Sources said the main aim of the break-in could have been to steal data as valuables or money are not kept in these administrative offices. The Indian Rafale team office is in the vicinity of French Dassault Aviation office blocks.Government sources said the Indian Air Force has already briefed the Defence Ministry in this regard and French police authorities are probing the case. India in 2016 signed a 59,800 crore agreement with France for acquiring 36 Rafale combat aircraft for meeting the shortfall in Indian Air Force squadron strength. The incident has come after the long election season in India where allegations of corruption in the Rafale procurement were leveller by Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The Rafale has been critical to IAF plans for securing the country against the aerial and other threats from enemy countries. After the February 27 incident involving an aerial battle between India and Pakistan, IAF Chief BS Dhanoa had suggested that the Pakistanis would not have dared to come close to the LoC in a conflict situation if the country had Rafale planes in its inventory. The Kerala government on Wednesday suspended a senior doctor of Manjeri Medical College Hospital in Malappuram for performing a surgery on a seven-year-old boy for hernia instead of getting his nose treated. The victim, Muhamad Danish, was admitted to the hospital for an operation to remove polyps from his swollen nose. At the same time, a six-year-old boy Dhanush was also admitted to the hospital for hernia surgery. When Danish returned from the operation theatre on Tuesday with a heavy bandage on his stomach and a free nose, his parents suspected something was wrong and made inquiries with the hospital staff. They got to know about the two patients, who had similar sounding names. Initially, there were many attempts to cover up the incident. When his parents questioned the doctors, they said Danish also had a hernia problem. Luckily, the nose surgery was not done on Dhanush. Later, both Danish and Dhanush underwent their respective surgeries without any mix-up. The parents of Danish filed a complaint against the erring doctors. State Health Minister K K Shailaja has ordered an inquiry into the incident. We have suspended the doctor who performed the surgery. It is a serious error. Action will be taken against more people after getting the inquiry report, the minister said. Hospital superintendent K Nandakumar said it was a serious lapse and similar sounding names had led to the incident. Later, the police also registered a case against the doctor who performed the wrong surgery. With just a few hours to go before counting for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 begins, tracking which candidate is winning from which Lok Sabha seat as the results for the 17th Lok Sabha unfolds on Thursday, is now just a click away. On counting day, May 23, the entire country will be glued to their television screens and smartphones to know which political party will come to power at the Centre for the next five years. All an user needs to do is visit www.hindustantimes.com, select his or her state from a drop down list, choose the name of the constituency and the results will follow. Real-time information on which candidate is in the lead in that particular constituency or who is trailing and with how much margin will also be available to the user within seconds. Users will also be able to read updates and analysis on why a particular candidate is losing the political battle for a given constituency. Checking up on the background of their next Member of Parliament, whether or not he has criminal cases pending against him or whether he has a clean image will also be easy for the user. So, read on and know the actual results of the one-and-half month long electoral battle as it is declared. A day before the counting of votes to the simultaneous election to Lok Sabha and Assembly in Odisha, armed miscreants fired at Congress candidate from Aska assembly constituency, Manoj Kumar Jena near Berhampur town this evening, critically injuring him. Jena, travelling in his SUV from Bhubaneswar, had stepped down from his vehicle for relieving himself when 6 miscreants caught up with him near a school in Lanjipali area of Berhampur and started firing at him. Berhampur SP Pinak Mishra said the miscreants also slit his throat with a sharp weapon and attacked his associate Anil Kumar Swain. The miscreants were following him for some time and attacked him the moment he got down from his vehicle. His condition is very critical as he has received bullet injuries in his chest. His condition is being monitored and if necessary he would be shifted outside for better treatment, said Mishra. Jena was admitted to the MKCG Medical College and Hospital in the town. Last month, BJPs Khurda mandal chief Manguli Jena had been shot dead outside party office in Khurda town over party rivalry. The CID which probed the case, arrested 5 people last week. In another case, BJD MLA candidate from Pipili and agriculture minister Pradip Maharathi was arrested last month after his team attacked the magistrate of a flying squad and surveillance team of Election Commission when they raided his farmhouse. One security personnel was killed and seven people injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Mendhar area along the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Further details are awaited. On Saturday, a Border Security Force assistant sub-inspector was injured after the India and Pakistan exchanged fire in the district. Meanwhile, security forces have eliminated two terrorists in a counter-terrorism operation in Gopalpur area of Kulgam district of the state. Weapons and warlike stores have been recovered from their hideout. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) The February 14 suicide terror attack in Pulwama and the Easter bombings in Sri Lanka have strengthened Indias resolve to fight terror and boost security cooperation within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said on Wednesday. India is also committed to support any process that allows Afghanistan to become a united, peaceful and stable country, Swaraj said in her address at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of SCO states in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. Swaraj held talks with several leaders on the margins of the meeting, including her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. She exchanged pleasantries with Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi but there was no bilateral meeting, people familiar with developments said. Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters of Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and the news from the neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly [and] resolutely against this menace, Swaraj said. Nine suicide bombers struck three churches and three luxury hotels in Sri Lanka on April 21, killing more than 250 people. The Islamic State claimed the attacks while the government blamed a local group, National Thowheeth Jamaath (NTJ), for the bombings. The attacks came almost two months after a suicide attack by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) at Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir killed 40 Indian troops. Swaraj said India wants to strengthen cooperation within the SCO framework for comprehensive and sustainable security and is open to ideas for making the Regional Anti-Terrorism Structure (RATS) of SCO more effective. India will back any process that helps Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation with guaranteed gender and human rights, she said. Swaraj underscored the importance India attaches to SCOs Afghanistan Contact Group and called for the early conclusion of a draft road map for further actions by this group. During his meeting with Swaraj, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi expressed his countrys desire to work with Indias new government, people familiar with developments said. The focus of the India-China meeting was on implementing goals agreed on at the 2018 informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping, the people added. Swarajs meeting with Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov focused on expanding bilateral ties and preparations for the SCO Summit in Bishkek in June. India and Pakistan became full members of SCO in 2017 and Swaraj said in her speech that New Delhi is committed to measures aimed at boosting economic and trade cooperation with the members of the grouping. Indias commitment to regional connectivity is reflected by its involvement in the International North-South Transport Corridor, Irans Chabahar port and the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway, she said. A Russian woman tourist has alleged she was stalked and slapped by an unidentified two-wheeler rider in the Arpora village in Goa after she refused his offer for a lift. The tourist has alleged that the police have done nothing since registering her complaint leaving her frustrated and her attacker on the loose. Speaking to Hindustan Times on Tuesday, the Russian tourist said she was followed by a man on a two-wheeler in a white T-shirt and dark blue jeans who offered to drop her home at around noon on May 15 as she was walking home after visiting an ATM at Arpora. He was following me and stopping every five-ten metres and asking me can I sit on his bike, can he drop me home. So I was saying No, no thank you and I was just ignoring him. He was always looking around to see that no one is around, she said. Then he stopped in front of me and he asked me, Can I drop you? I said: Why are you following me? I dont need anyone to follow me because I live right here and I can walk alone, she added. She said instead of leaving he went straight in front and took a u-turn and drove towards her. He went just next to me and slapped me badly, the tourist recounted. She accused the police of doing absolutely nothing since she lodged a complaint. They didnt even ask me about video pictures or the whole story or anything. They didnt need it. It has been five days, she said. Im doing what I can and asking help from local people, people who are around me and my friends and they are helping me more than the police, but it shouldnt be like this because Goa is a tourist place. How can the police be so irresponsible in tourist place? she asked. Anjuna Police have, however, said they are verifying the tourists claims. As per my knowledge there has not been any complaint of this nature registered with our police station but I will still verify this matter, Anjuna Police inspector Navlesh Dessai said. The tourist said she will be leaving India in five days and hopes that her friends can follow up the matter. All I want from the police is to look at this case but I dont want any other women tourists to be harassed or assaulted like me, she said. Attacks on foreign tourists in Goa have got international attention and sought to put the spotlight on the darker side of the state otherwise famous for being a beach paradise. Over the last decade, hundreds of tourists have been molested and raped and 245 foreign tourists have lost their lives in Goa many of them in mysterious circumstances. In December last year, a 42-year old British woman was raped and robbed while walking home from the railway station in Goas Palolem beach village. The same day the police arrested the accused who later confessed to the crime. And in January in the same year, a man was arrested for molesting an American tourist after the woman posted his picture on social media, describing the alleged incident. In March 2017, a young Irish tourist Danielle McLaughlin was raped and brutally murdered in Palolem village in South Goa. The police arrested local resident Vikat Bhagat who admitted to raping and murdering McLaughlin by striking her head with a stone. Saints from across the country will converge in Ayodhya on June 3 to discuss the construction of the Ram temple at a meeting convened by the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas, a body of saints that spearheads the Ram Mandir movement and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right wing Hindu organisation. The proposals finalised at the meet will be put up before the saints at an open platform on the last day of the nine-day-long birthday celebrations (June 7 to June 15) of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das, head of Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath will be a part of the inaugural event. Saints from all across the country will assemble in Ayodhya on June 3 for a meeting to discuss the Ram Mandir issue, said Mahant Kamal Nayan Das, senior member of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas and successor of Mahant Nritya Gopal Das. The Supreme Court, in March, had appointed a three-member mediation panel to resolve the age-old Ayodhya dispute within eight weeks. The deadline was extended for another three more months, till August 15, by the court, earlier this month. In a no-holds barred attack, senior Karnataka Congress leader Roshan Baig Tuesday accused the state party chief of being a flop show and scoffed at AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal as a buffoon, prompting the party to issue a show cause notice for his outburst. Baig, a senior MLA, also slammed former chief minister Siddaramaiah for dividing the Hindu society by attempting to give separate religion tag to Lingayat community and abusing the Vokkaliga community during his tenure in the top post. The attack by Baig who was miffed over being denied ticket to contest Lok Sabha polls came after the exit polls predicted a rout for the Congress-JD(S) alliance in Karnataka and NDAs return to power at the Centre. Baig also appealed to the Muslims to compromise with the situation (about BJP-led NDA being in power) and not to remain like cattle and be reduced to a vote bank. Venugopal (in-charge of party affairs in the state) should have resigned when Congress got 79 seats in assembly polls (a year ago). I feel sorry for such general secretary coming to our state..., he said K C Venugopal is a buffoon, I feel sorry for him, I feel sorry for my leader Sri Rahul Gandhi ji, Baig told reporters here. He added,Buffoons like Venugopal and arrogant attitude of Siddaramaiah and the flop show president Dinesh Gundu Rao...the result is this (Lok Sabha exit polls forecast). A red-faced Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee issued a show cause notice to Baig for his outbursts. It said Baigs remarks were being considered seriously as an anti party activity, and asked him as to why disciplinary action should not be taken against him. Seeking Baigs explanation in a week, the notice signed by KPCC General Secretary V Y Ghorpade said, On failing to reply, further disciplinary action will be taken against you (Baig). The notice has taken strong exception to Baigs comments against Venugopal, Rao and Siddaramaiah. By making statements to the media and causing discomfort to the party and expressing your (Baig) displeasure publicly through the media, you have conducted yourself by going against the partys principles. Your conduct has dented partys prestige, it said. Baig said the drastic decisions led to the downfall of the party in the assembly election and now the same was reflected in the Lok Sabha exit poll results too. Nobody should divide the religion. A chief minister should behave like a statesman. What it means if he (Siddaramaiah) thinks he will win the election by dividing the religion? Isnt it madness?, he said. He was referring to the Siddaramaiah governments decision to seek a separate religious tag to Lingayat community. While the Congress leaders tried to divide the Lingayat community, they abused Vokkalikas, alleged Baig. They abused (JDS leaders) H D Deve Gowda and H D Kumaraswamy. They polarised people. They segregated Vokkaligas and Lingayat communities, Baig alleged. According to political observers, the decision on Lingayat community had cost the Congress dearly in the assembly polls, in which the BJP emerged as the single largest party but fell short of numbers. The Congress and JDS then formed a post-poll alliance and the government. Look at the way CLP leader (Siddaramaiah) behaved - his ego. After going to the doors of Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy with a proposal to form a coalition government, now you are saying I am the chief minister and I will be the chief minister again. People dont like such behaviour, Baig added. Baigs angst was against Congress giving ticket to just one Muslim candidate Rizwan Arshad against the demand for three candidates. Earlier they used to give tickets to three minorities. Today they gave it to only one, Baig said. Appealing to Muslims to compromise with the situation, he said, we should not be sacrificed. We should not remain like cattle. We should not become vote bank of one side. Asked whether he would quit Congress, Baig said he had not taken any decision yet. Meanwhile, Baigs son Ruman Baig in a tweet said: Congress has created a fear psychosis amongst minorities. Theyve created a narrative that minorities should feel guilty if they decide to vote for BJP. But in reality, Congress leadership just uses the minority votebank as a safety cushion. Reacting to Roshan Baigs outburst, Rao said the remarks crossed the limits of partys discipline. The results are not yet out but he is giving statements in a way as if he is extremely happy with the projections, Rao said. Baig had earlier, too, expressed displeasure against the Congress leadership for not being included in the cabinet, headed by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy. His outbursts has come at a time when another senior MLA, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who is hobnobbing with the Bharatiya Janata Party, had threatened to quit the Congress along with other MLAs soon. Later in the day in a series of tweets Baig once again hit out at the Congress state leadership and said, he has not bothered to read the notice sent to him by the party. Ive received the show-cause notice sent to me by the KPCC. Im not even going to bother to read it because its clearly sent by the orders of the same people whose incompetencies were highlighted by me, he said in a tweet. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) National Peoples Party (NPP) legislator Tirong Aboh, who was among the 11 people gunned down by suspected militants in Arunachal Pradeshs Tirap district on Tuesday, was confident of his re-election and was carrying firecrackers in his car to celebrate his victory, his supporters said. One of the four cars in the convoy which went up in flames after the attack had firecrackers in it, Sunil Garg, inspector general of police, Arunachal Pradesh, said on Wednesday. Aboh, the MLA from Khonsa West, was contesting against Phawang Lowang from the Bharatiya Janata Party in the assembly polls. There is no way that the BJP candidate can win from this seat and defeat Aboh, said one of his close aides. Polling for 57 of the 60 assembly seats in the state was held along with the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections on April 11. On March 28, three BJP candidates were declared winners uncontested by the chief election officer of the state. We are confident that he would win the seat even though he was not there anymore, said Noklam Bisai, president of the Tirap Unit of the NPP, adding that Aboh had been receiving threats on phone. We are preparing our counting agents for tomorrow, he said adding if he wins, it will necessitate a by-election in the Khonsa West Assembly seat. In a statement, NPP president and Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said, He [Aboh] had voiced his confidence to retain his seatand expressed his desire to work for peace and development of the constituency. Sangma said he had taken up the incident with Union home minister Rajnath Singh. Garg said investigations were on to ascertain the number of attackers involved in Tuesdays incident and their affiliation. We suspect it was the handiwork of an underground group but we cannot say which one, he said, adding the Arunachal Pradesh Police had done a threat assessment of the slain MLA and deputed four security guards. Located at the tri-junction of Assam, Nagaland and Myanmar, Tirap is known to have significant presence of insurgent outfits, including the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), which was suspected to be behind Tuesdays attack. The NSCN (I-M) is currently engaged in peace talks with the central government. Ashiho Asoumai, a senior leader of the militant outfit based in Camp Hebron near Dimapur, Nagaland, said he was not aware of the incident and came to know of it through media. A convoy comprising four cars came under attack on Tuesday afternoon. Besides the MLA, his teenage son was among 11 people killed in the incident. Police said no arrests have been made so far even as the security forces stepped up their combing operations to nab the culprits. Troops of the Indian Army have launched a massive search operation in the jungles of Tirap, Longding and Changlang to nab the perpetrators of the ghastly killings, a defence spokesperson said in a statement. An official of the special branch, the intelligence wing of the Arunachal Pradesh police, claimed there was no specific input about the attack. A personal security officer of Aboh, who is among the four people who survived the attack, said 12-13 assailants fired indiscriminately with automatic weapons before fleeing. I ducked to cock my gun and remained so as bullets rained on our side, he told a local television channel. An officer posted at Khonsa police station said the police have recovered empty cartridges of the AK series weapons. Meanwhile, Bisai said a pall of gloom has descended on Abohs native Dadam village. We have decided that a mass funeral will be held on May 24, he said. The Andhra Pradesh police sounded a high alert on Tuesday at Krishnapatnam port and the Sriharikota Space Research Centre (SHAR) in Nellore, after an abandoned speed boat with Sri Lankas registration number was found close to the coast. According to marine police inspector K Mallikarjuna Rao, some fishermen found the speed boat about 4 km away from the shore in Pannapudi Pathavuru under Vidavuluru police station limits on May 18 and they brought it to the shore on Tuesday and informed the police. The boats location is about 10-15 km away from the Krishnapatnam port and 50 km north of Sriharikota. It was fitted with a Yamaha engine and contained two oil cans of 20-litre capacity with a Sri Lankan sticker on it, an empty water bottle of five-litre capacity, a blanket and a few burnt cigarettes and beedis. The fishermen reportedly removed the engine, the costliest part of the boat. No other suspicious material was found in the boat, Rao told local reporters. The Vidavuluru police, who registered a case under CrPC Section 102, alerted the security forces at the Krishnapatnam port and also SHAR, where the PSLV C46 was launched on Wednesday morning. Similar alerts were sounded by the Coast Guard police and the Tamil Nadu police and fisheries department. Vidavuluru SI P Nagababu said a thorough search had been launched across the district to check whether any strangers had entered the area through the sea route. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Though the number of gaushalas in Haryana has risen in the past two-and-a-half years, caring for abandoned cattle is becoming difficult for authorities due their ever-increasing numbers. The are currently 567 gaushalas in the state (up from 350 in 2017) but most of these, especially the ones in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar and Panipat districts, are overcrowded and facing a dire shortage of funds. With the population of stray cattle in the state estimated to be around 4 lakh, the authorities are struggling to provide even basic necessities such as fodder, water, shelter and treatment. A visit to any gaushala would reveal the plight of these cattle. Its a common sight to see the cattle battling the scorching heat in the absence of enough shelters. Why is this happening? As farmers find it difficult to afford the upkeep of their livestock once the cattle stop producing milk, they abandon them soon after. Vikram Singh, a caretaker at Govansh Dham Anusandhan Kendra in Mathana village of Kurukshetra district, says,As soon as the cows stop producing milk, their masters abandon them and they are left to die. It seems the cow is no more Gaumata . Moreover, due to the ban on cattle slaughter under the Haryana Gauvansh Sanrakshan and Gausamvardhan Act, 2015, and monitoring by cow vigilantes, the number of stray cattle has been increasing. Number of stray cattle double in two years As per the figures of Haryana Gau Sewa Ayoga (HGSA), the number of stray cattle in the state increased to over 4 lakh from 2.60 lakh in the past two years. Even, the number of gaushalas/nandigrams has increased to 567 from 340 in 2015 but their capacity is limited. The number of stray cattle in most gaushalas is around 2,000 against the capacity of 1,500. It becomes difficult for us to provide proper care to the animals due to this, said a caretaker of a private gaushala in Karnals Tarori town. Moreover, the government does not provide us sufficient funds and we are dependent on largesse of gaubhakts, he adds. Even the Nandigram set up by the Karnal municipal corporation on about eight acres of land in Phoonsgarh village does not have the capacity to accommodate the 1,300 cattle that are presently here. Two more cowsheds are being constructed at the Nandigram as per officials. The HGSA, which has an annual budget of 30 crore, is taking the help of village panchayats for obtaining land to set up gaushalas. They are also awarding 5 lakh cash award to panchayats for providing two acres of land for the purpose. Talking to Hindustan Times, HGSA chairman Bhani Ram Mangla said, We are committed to providing all basic amenities to cattle but their increasing numbers is the main challenge. In the past two years, we have set up 227 new gaushalas in the state but we need more gaushalas. We have also prepared an action plan to make these gaushalas profitable by selling cowdung, urine and milk, he said adding that in the past one year, the Ayog has sent 1.20 lakh stray cattle from roads to gaushalas. There is a law to check cow slaughtering but there is no law to check stray cattle coming to Haryana from other states, especially in the border districts of Sirsa, Hisar and Fatehabad, an official of the Ayog said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Neeraj Mohan Neeraj Mohan is a correspondent, covering Karnal, Kaithal, Kurukshetra, Panipat and Yamunanagar districts of Haryana. ...view detail Until seven months ago, art was just a hobby for prisoners in south Asias largest prison, Tihar. Today, it is enriching prisoners. Literally. Ramesh Singh, 25, an inmate of jail number 4 has earned 1.5 lakh in the last four months and his colleague, Anwar Omeis, 26, has made 60 thousand during the same time a significant amount considering prisoners are paid a daily wage of 171 for skilled work and 107 for unskilled labour. Mohmmad Ayub, who is out on bail now, had reportedly made 1.6 lakh, said jail officials. All of them are associated with the Tihar School of Art, an institution set up in Jail Number 4 in 2016, to encourage prisoners take up art both as a means of reformation and rehabilitation. Earlier, the works by the prisoners used to be donated to government offices and given as present to visiting dignitaries. Most other paintings were hung and appreciated only within the prison walls. However, with the prison administration deciding to put up the creations on sale and giving 50% of the amount to the inmate-artist, art has become the most sought after crafts in the prison. Tihar Jail runs stores that sell a wide variety of items such as confectionary, furniture, perfumes, jute items and oil manufactured at various units set up inside the prison complex. As the prison opened its doors to art connoisseurs, works by the jail inmates have found takers in different government agencies, exhibitions and even a union ministers office. Recently, the ESI hospital in west Delhi bought paintings worth over 2 lakh to display them across the hospital building. Paintings displayed at an exhibition at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts sold for over a lakh rupees and a Union minister, the name of whom the jail officials refused to disclose, placed an order for a painting for the ministry building. Ajay Kashyap, director general, Tihar Jail, said, This is a way to rehabilitate prisoners. Not all prisoners are hardcore criminals. Most of them are here because of their circumstances. They deserve a second chance. Making a living by selling their paintings helps them on their path to reformation. We proposed to give 50% of the value of the art to its creator in order to tell them that hard work pays and to ensure that their energies are used in positive pursuits, said Kashyap. The Tihar School of Art is affiliated to IGNOU and offers diplomas to aspirants. The tales of riches acquired by some of their fellow inmates ha s encouraged several prisoners to apply to the jails art school. Rajesh Chauhan, superintendent of jail no. 4, from where the school operates, said they had received over 400 applications. The demand for a school seat is high. Most of them (prisoners) had to be told that only those who have passed class 12 can apply for the diploma course, said Chauhan. HOPE AND SUCCESS Rahul Kumar, 26, said he had to paint a portrait of his mother to convince his family that he was earning while staying behind bars. I told them that I would send them a cheque for 30,000. They were worried that I was doing something illegal inside the jail, Kumar said it was fate that brought him to the art school. Arrested for a murder, when he was a student four years ago, Kumar said he was depressed during the first few months of his stay in jail. My friends in jail forced me to join art classes. We werent getting paid then. Perhaps it was fate that I realised my calling is in the art world. So far, I have earned 34,000. Ramesh Singh, who is the senior most among the painters helps amateurs learn the art. Apart from painting, Singh teaches students. Currently, one of the highest earners at the art school, Singh said he was saving to pay his lawyer. I have saved 50,000 to pay my lawyer. We are not hardcore criminals. We have come here because of the circumstances. My father is a farmer in Jharkhand. He was surprised when I told him that I am earning behind bars, he said. Besides paintings, the school is also home to some accomplished sculptors. Giant replicas of trees, animals, modern decor and a 15-feet replica of Eiffel Tower made out of scrap have been placed outside the school. Mohammed Rafiq,27, who has collaborated on several sculptures, came to the prison six years ago. Rafiq said it isnt only about earning money, it is about repaying debt. A native of Tamil Nadu, Rafiq had lost his parents and was raised by a Trust. Until he started working as a chef at an eatery, the Trust gave him shelter at a hostel and paid his college fee. About two months ago, Rafiq sold his first work a wooden conch. There were two more orders for a similar wooden conch. When the prison department deposited his earnings of 15,000, Rafiq sent a cheque for 8,000 to the Trust as a donation. It was my way of thanking them but they refused to accept the money. They said that to know one of their boys is doing well and is on the path of rehabilitation is enough for them, he said. ART GALLERY IN JAIL The school had started from a nondescript quarter inside jail no. 4, which once housed the jail library. In July 2016, superintendent Rajesh Chauhan, who had seen prisoners painting in their free time inside prison, suggested starting a school of art to the top officials. We decided to have a gallery of our own inside the prison. We took the help of volunteers from Delhi Universitys School of Art and set up our own art school. Prisoners who were interested in visual arts and painting could come and study here. That was how we started, said Chauhan. Having started with 10 students, the school has 150 enrolled prisoners today. Among the works displayed in the school gallery are paintings of modern art to scenery and portraits. The proposal to sell the works of art was made seven months ago. In the last four months, the prison has displayed paintings at different art galleries in Delhi, Gurugram and Jaipur. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Vice Admiral Bimal Verma on Tuesday filed a fresh petition at a military tribunal here, seeking cancellation of the defence ministrys order appointing Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Navy Chief. In his petition, Verma also sought quashing of a note issued by the defence ministry rejecting his plea against Singhs appointment. The petition will come up for hearing on Wednesday, Vermas lawyer Ankur Chhibber said. Last week, the Defence Ministry rejected Vermas petition challenging the appointment of his junior, Vice Admiral Singh, as the next Navy Chief. Chhibber said a previous petition filed with the AFT on the issue was withdrawn on Monday for filing the detailed plea on the issue. In an order last week, the defence ministry said Vermas statutory petition dated April 10 against appointment of Vice Admiral Singh to the top post is devoid of merit and has been rejected in exercise of powers under Section 23 of the Navy Act 1957. Verma, commander-in-chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command and senior-most naval commander, had moved the tribunal last month questioning Vice Admiral Singhs appointment as the next Navy Chief, overlooking his seniority. Singh is scheduled to take charge as the new Navy chief from incumbent Admiral Sunil Lanba, who will demit office on May 31. The tribunal had on April 25 directed the defence ministry to decide Vermas petition within three weeks. Rejecting Vermas plea, the defence ministry said a thorough selection process was conducted under which overall service profile of all the contenders for the top post was examined. It said specific parameters for selection were applied uniformly to all the contenders and based on the assessment, it was found that Vice Admiral Verma, though being the senior most eligible officer, was unsuitable to hold the post of the Chief of the Naval Staff. In his petition to the defence ministry, Verma wondered why he was overlooked for the top post despite being the senior-most in the line of command, terming as wrongful the governments decision to appoint Singh to the post. While appointing the Army chief in 2016, the government did not follow the long-held tradition of going by seniority. Bipin Rawat was appointed Army chief superseding then Eastern Command Chief Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi and Southern Command Chief PM Hariz. Besides Verma, the other contenders for the Navy Chief post included Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, FOC-in-C of Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar and FOC-in-C of Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla. Singh, who is at present serving as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, will be the first helicopter pilot to become chief of naval staff. Three weeks ago, in Maholi village of central Uttar Pradesh (UP), a group of Dalit women gathered to speak about who they were leaning towards in the general elections. The local Lok Sabha constituency, Sitapur, was won by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 1999, 2004 and 2009 but support from the Valmikis ( a Dalit sub-caste to which the women belonged), among others, helped the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) snatch the seat in 2014. Most of them were manual scavengers, and the primary breadwinners of their families, dependent on the local town council for wages, and as such, the party that controlled the municipality influenced their vote. But they were not happy. After voting, the BJP leaders have not come to our village. Their local faces are all upper castes, said Amarti Devi. These conversations are significant not least because they offers an insight into a group marginalised on account of caste as well as gender. They also indicate that when it comes to understanding voter behaviour particularly in states like UP, where the Samajwadi Party and BSP teamed up the voice of women in caste groups is equally important. The numbers make it hard to ignore. In 2019, the gap between women and men voter turnout narrowed to its smallest margin yet. Until the fifth phase, by when 424 of 543 seats had voted, Election Commission data revealed that womens turnout lagged by 0.3% behind mens. The gap has been steadily narrowing in 2009, it was 4.5%; in 2014, it was 1.7%. The increased participation can be attributed to many reasons, such as better access to mobile phones and hence, news besides outreach by political parties. Rajini Singh, 24, in Deogra village of Madhya Pradesh, is a keen follower of political news on social media. See this mobile. This helps me to find on what is happening in elections. I have seen many speeches of [Narendra] Modi and Rahul Gandhi. A WhatsApp group is a platform to participate in political discussions. This is important particularly in light of what Sarah Khan, a doctoral researcher at the University of Columbia, considers an important factor in charting womens electoral participation their unwillingness to share opinions. In a working paper, Khan found that due to the lower value ascribed to household work, womens preferences are valued differently. Womens unwillingness to express dissenting views on political issues within the household potentially extends to outside the household, affecting their civic participation. Megha Rajawat of Ambikapur village in Madhya Pradesh said she and her friends discuss politics and make up their own minds. Her mother, she said, voted as per the wishes of her father. My mother is not aware of issues. I am and I argue with my father if I dont agree with him. Many young women in my village still vote as per the family decision, she said. Can women be seen as a votebank? Major parties were certainly concerned with this question. In December, the Congress carried out a survey of around 40,000 women in Karauli, Rajasthan, to understand their voting behaviour. The BJP also conducted a survey in the heartland states last year. The manifestos of both parties included several promises meant for women. Both promised 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies. In the Nyay scheme, the Congress sought to transfer 72,000 per annum to bank accounts of women in the poorest families. The BJP spoke of women-focused schemes such as Ujjawala, which guaranteed the first LPG cylinder to poor households. But even if women-centric policies are promised, it is essential that women have greater contact with all levels of government, including being part of it. In the 1952 Lok Sabha, 4.2% out of 489 members were women; in the outgoing Lok Sabha, only 11.2% MPs were women. In an event organized by Bangalore-based citizens group, Shakti, in Delhi in February, a group of women politicians across parties debated the low representation in the Parliament. Dravida Munnetra Kazaghams Kanimozhi, who contested from Tamil Nadu, said, The political space is not used to accommodating women... We need women to work across ideology and party lines in Parliament to help this change. Studies have also found that women voters tend to focus on issues like livelihood, access to water and health, and education. In a Chennai redevelopment colony, groups of women pointed at their plastic pots when a candidate came campaigning last month. Our vote is for someone who can solve our water problem. Tell us what you will do, they said. While there may not be a uniform women vote base, regional issues certainly shape electoral choices. (Chetan Chauhan, Dhrubo Jyoti and TR Vivek contributed to the story) Election commissioner Ashok Lavasa will continue to recuse himself from meetings to decide cases related to the model code of conduct (MCC) after the poll body on Tuesday decided in a 2-1 verdict that minority decisions or dissenting views will not be made part of the final orders issued in such cases. At the full Election Commission of India (EC) meeting, which included chief election commissioner Sunil Arora and election commissioners Sushil Chandra and Lavasa, it was decided that dissenting opinions will only be recorded on files, as it happened earlier. The poll body decided these orders will be reflected in the files, but not included in the final orders as demanded by Lavasa, according to an EC official aware of the developments who spoke on condition of anonymity. Lavasa, who stuck to his stance at the meeting and voted against the decision, said, he will continue to recuse himself from meetings till the panel comes up with a set of instructions on how cases of MCC violations should be recorded. HT first reported on May 18 that Lavasa, a former finance secretary, had recused himself from all MCC-related meetings since May 4 until his demand for inclusion of dissent notes in the final orders was met. The EC official cited above said he would continue to skip the meetings in light of Tuesdays decision. In the meeting of the Election Commission held today, i.e., 21.5.2019 it was interalia decided that proceedings of the Commission meeting would be drawn including the views of all the Commission Members. Thereafter, formal instructions to this effect would be issued in consonance with extant laws/rules, etc. the poll panel said in a statement. Disagreement over the procedure followed for deciding MCC cases erupted in the poll body following Lavasas objection to the process followed to give clean chits to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi. In an interview to HT on Monday, Lavasa said he has no axe to grind. He added: My concern is to have a system of disposal of Model Code of Conduct violation cases in a timebound, transparent, and non-discriminatory manner. HT also reported that Lavasa wrote three letters to the panel on the issue, saying that the manner in which his minority decisions were being suppressed was contrary to well-established conventions observed by multi-member statutory bodies. Reacting to Lavasas demand, Arora on Saturday issued a statement in which he sought to downplay the discord within the poll panel and said the three commissioners are not expected to be clones of each other. The three members of the ECI are not expected to be templates or clones of each other. There have been so many times in the past when there has been a vast diversion of views as it should be, a statement released by the CECs office on Saturday said. Since Lavasas recusal has led to no MCC hearings taking place since May 4, EC is yet to take call on complaints against Modi for comments against former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, against Rahul Gandhi for his comment about the government framing laws to shoot down tribals, and BJPs Bhopal candidate Pragya Thakurs comment describing Mahatma Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse as a patriot. An Orwellian joke by a non-disclosed dissent and a 2-1 decision. The EC decided not to disclose 2-1 dissents! said senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi. A BJP spokesperson declined to comment. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The three-member Election Commission has rejected the demand from 22 political parties to make last-minute changes to the way votes will be counted on Thursday, according to news agency ANI. Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora had taken up the opposition demand to change the protocol for counting at his meeting with election commissioners Ashok Lavasa and Sushil Chandra. Leaders of 22 political parties had yesterday approached the commission to demand that paper slips from the VVPAT (voter verifiable paper audit trail) module are matched before the counting begins so that in cases of discrepancy, all votes in that particular assembly segment can be cross-checked with the paper slips. At present, the counting will involve the matching of paper slips in five polling booths picked at random for each assembly segment towards the end of counting. Also Read | Opposition lays ground to make quick claim if NDA tally falls short Opposition leaders had indicated that they werent very hopeful that the poll panel would fix the discrepancies hours before the counting process is to begin, not when it had chosen to ignore the suggestions for months. We raised these same issues in last one and half months. Why did they not respond? asked Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi who called the suggestion to first verify the VVPAT paper slips a no-brainer. Also Read | Before vote count, a deep dive into 2019 poll campaign and how it unfolded In their memorandum to the panel, the parties had said that in order to make the process more transparent, paper slips must be counted first and if there is a discrepancy with what is shown digitally on the machines, then all votes instead of the 5% the EC has decided to at present in the assembly segment of that parliamentary constituency should be cross-checked. Election official cite existing orders to point out that in case there is any mismatch between electronic candidate-wise result of the Control Unit and the candidate-wise VVPAT slips manual count, recounting of the VVPAT slips of that particular VVPAT shall be conducted till the recount is tallied with the EVM count or one of the previous VVPAT slips count In cases where mock-poll data was not erased from EVMs by election officials, those units will be kept aside and only VVPAT slips will be referred to during the counting. EC tweets snapshot of party-wise election results Happy Rahul ji expressed faith in PMs leadership: Smriti Irani Im happy that Rahul ji has expressed faith in PMs leadership. The people of Amethi have shown their faith in us through votes and Im thankful to them. Ive been working with them for 5 yrs after I lost,now Ill again serve them,but this time after winning, said BJPs Smriti Irani. People of Ghazipur have given their verdict: Afzal Ansari People of Ghazipur have given their verdict. I welcome this decision. I consider myself blessed, said SP-BSP candidate Afzal Ansari on defeating Union Minister Manoj Sinha by 119392 votes Union Minister Smriti Irani offers prayers at a temple in Amethi Union Minister Smriti Irani offers prayers at a temple in Amethi. Union Minister Smriti Irani offers prayers at a temple in Amethi; she is leading by 48078 votes in the parliamentary constituency. Congress President Rahul Gandhi, outgoing Amethi MP, has conceded defeat pic.twitter.com/uqxGzt7eNX ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) May 23, 2019 Result against expectations and sentiments of people: Mayawati Todays result is against the expectations and sentiments of people. Anyway, when all the institutions of the country start bending their knees before the government, the public has to take a stand, said BSP Supremo Mayawati. :ANI Democracy has won: PM Modi If someone has won, its India. Indias democracy has won, its public has won. Therefore, all people from the BJP and NDA with humility dedicate this victory to public. I congratulate all the winners, no matter from which party or which region they contested, said PM Modi Govt is formed by mandate, run by consensus: PM Modi The government is formed by mandate, but the country is run by consensus, said PM Narendra Modi in his victory speech. Only two castes in the country: PM Modi There will be only two castes in the country -- the poor and those contributing to alleviate poverty: PM Modi Will stand by our ideals and values: PM Modi We were not disappointed when we won only 2 seats; we will not leave our humility, ideals and values when we have come back to power, said PM Modi. World now needs to recognize power of Indias democracy: PM Modi The world now needs to recognize the power of Indias democracy, says PM Modi . Bow to 130 crore Indians, says PM Modi in victory speech I bow to 130 crore Indians, says PM Modi in victory speech after BJPs massive win. BJP will establish its might in West Bengal: Amit Shah Even after so much violence, BJP won 18 seats in West Bengal. It tells that in coming days, BJP will establish its might in West Bengal, said Amit Shah. Had Naidu concentrated on Andhra, it would have been better: Amit Shah Amit Shah, taking a dig at TDP chief, said it would have been better for Chandrababu Naidu had he concentrated on Andhra Pradesh instead of meeting all Opposition leaders the day after exit polls predicted NDAs win. No place for dynasty politics: Amit Shah SP-BSPs defeat shows there no place for dynasty and caste politics in India, said Amit Shah. Oppn raised doubts about exit poll predictions: Amit Shah People did not like exit polls predictions. These opposition leaders started meeting each other and raised questions over functioning of EVMs, said Amit Shah. BJPs win is against the tukde tukde gangs ideology he said. In 50 years, BJP first to win absolute majority: Amit Shah BJP is the first party in 50 years that has won a win absolute majority, said Amit Shah at BJP office PM Modi is responsible for BJPs massive victory: Amit Shah PM Modi is responsible for BJPs massive victory. His popularity has ensured BJPs historic win said Amit Shah while addressing party workers at BJP headquarters in Delhi. Amit Shah addresses party workers at BJP office Amit Shah addresses party workers at BJP office Respect the mandate given by people, says Priyanka Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP for their victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and said the party respects the mandate given by the people of the country. Speaking to reporters here at the party headquarters, she said: We respect the mandate of the people and I congratulate Modiji and BJP for the victory. PM Modi arrives at BJP office for parliamentary board meeting PM Narendra Modi has arrived at the BJP headquarters in Delhi. Results of 49 seats declared, BJP wins 30, Congress bags 10 So far, results of 49 Lok Sabha seats have been declared. The BJP has won 30 seats, Congress has won 10, TRS has got 2,the DMK, JKNC, NCP, LJSP, BSP, and JD (S). have won one each. Of the remaining 493 constituencies,BJP leading in 272, Congress in 40, AITC in 23, DMK in 22, Shiv Sena in 18, YSRC in 22, BJD in 12, JD(U) in 16 and BSP in 10 constituencies. PM Modi to reach BJP headquarters for parliamentary board meeting PM Modi will shortly reach the BJP headquarters in Delhi for a parliamentary board meeting. PM Modi drops Chowkidar prefix from Twitter handle Now, the time has come to take the Chowkidar Spirit to the next level. Keep this spirit alive at every moment and continue working for Indias progress. The word Chowkidar goes from my Twitter name but it remains an integral part of me. Urging you all to do the same too!, the Prime Minister tweeted. Stalin congratulates PM Modi I congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his victory. We hope and wish he will provide a progressive government based on the principles of democracy and inclusivity. With folded hands, we accept the resounding victory given to the DMK alliance by the people of Tamil Nadu. During the next five years, we will work hard to fulfil the promises made and protect the interest of our state! said DMKs MK Stalin. Results of 34 seats declared, BJP wins 22, Congress wins 7 34 results been declared of which 22 have gone to BJP and seven to the Congress,one each to DMK, JKNC, NCP, TRS and JD (S). Of the remaining 508 constituencies ,BJP is leading in 282, while the Congress is ahead in 43, AITC in 23, DMK in 22,Shiv Sena in 19, YSRC in 22, BJD in 12, JD(U) in 16 and BSP in 10 constituencies. Farooq Abdullah wins from Srinagar BJP candidate, Bandi Sanjay Kumar has won from Karimnagar, Telangana. Jammu & Kashmir National Conference candidate, Farooq Abdullah has won from Jammu and Kashmirs Srinagar, tweeted EC. Results of 16 seats declared, BJP wins 14 16 results have been declared of which 14 have gone to BJP and one each to INC and JD (Secular). Of the remaining 526 constituencies, BJP is leading in 288, INC in 50, AITC in 23, DMK in 23, Shiv Sena in 18, YSRC in 23, BJD in 13, JD(U) in 16 and BSP in 11 constituencies, tweeted the Election Commission. Smriti Irani has won in Amethi, I congratulate her: Rahul Gandhi Smriti Irani has won in Amethi, I want to congratulate Smriti Irani for winning. Amethi has chosen her. I would want that she takes care of it with love and responsibility, said Rahul Gandhi while addressing the media. Dont want to colour the decision of people: Rahul Gandhi Today is the day of mandate and I dont want to colour the decision of people, said Rahul Gandhi while addressing a press conference. Rahul Gandhi addresses media Its peoples verdict, says Rahul Gandhi and congratulates PM Modi and the BJP. Narendra Modis second term not a fluke: Omar Abdullah National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah Thursday said the country has rejected an alternative to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modis second term is not a fluke. A vocal critic of Modi-led NDA government, Abdullah also requested the BJP leader to take everyone along in the coming five years as this country belongs to all. We fought the election and tried to have an alternative to the BJP and the NDA and put it before the country. The country did not accept it. The reality is that the places from where we were expecting the opposition to win, the number of seats from there has come down rather than going up, Abdullah told reporters. Pak PM congratulates Modi Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated PM Narendra Modi. I congratulate Prime Minister Modi on the electoral victory of BJP and allies. Look forward to working with him for peace, progress and prosperity in South Asia, he said. Thank you India, tweets PM Modi Thank you India! The faith placed in our alliance is humbling and gives us strength to work even harder to fulfil peoples aspirations. I salute every BJP Karyakarta for their determination, perseverance & hardwork. They went home to home, elaborating on our development agenda, tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As Mehbooba Mufti loses from South Kashmir, PDP could face existential threat Peoples Democratic Party which had won three seats from Valley in last Lok Sabha polls faced defeat on all the three seats, even party president, Mehbooba Mufti lost her first election from south Kashmir as she stood third in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency. For the PDP, the loss in South Kashmir which was considered its political bastion could be an existential threat, especially when many leaders had already left the party after the coalition government fell in last June. The loss from all the three seats could trigger further dissensions within the partys rank and file. The only silver lining for the party was that its candidate from Srinagar Lok Sabha seat, Syed Mohsin who is a prominent Shia leader stood runner up, however, the margin of loss to NC president Farooq Abdullah was more than 60,000 votes. Just a stepping stone in political journey: Urmila Matondkar This is just a stepping stone in my political journey. I will take this defeat sportingly and will continue my political journey. I have enjoyed every bit of the process and will keep working for the party in future, said Congress Mumbai-North Lok Sabha seat candidate Urmila Matondkar. Winning & losing integral part of electoral politics: Siddaramaiah Winning & losing is an integral part of our electoral politics & this is the beauty of democratic process. Though the loss was unexpected, we humbly accept people mandate I thank all those who supported our candidates & our fight will continue, tweeted former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah. BJP leads with heavy margin in all 5 seats in Uttarakhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in all five Lok Sabha constituencies with heavy margin in Uttarakhand. Poll analyst claim, unlike last polls, this election, voting share of the saffron party will cross 50%. The party swept 2014 general election wining all five seats. The overall vote percentage of BJP was 34.1% followed by Congress with 21%, Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) with 2.9%, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with 1.0% while others bagged 41%. But, poll analyst claim BJP will get at least 50% vote share. BJPs campaign strategy, connect and above all Modi wave has lead to partys success not only in Uttarakhand, but across the country. In the state, it should be able to cross at least 50% vote share, leaving remaining 50% for rest of the parties, Jay Singh Rawat, a poll analyst in Dehradun said. After Nehru and Indira, Modi is only PM to come back to power with full majority After Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, Narendra Modi is the third prime minister of the country who has been able to retain power for a second term with full majority in Lok Sabha. As counting goes on across the country on Thursday, trends show the Modi-led BJP would be easily able to cross the halfway mark of 272 seats in the 17th Lok Sabha elections. In 2014, the BJP had won 282 seats out of total 543 in Lok Sabha. Jawaharlal Nehru won around three-fourth of the Lok Sabha seats in the first elections in the country during 1951-52. Subsequently, he was able to win 1957 elections as well as 1962 elections with full majority. Alert voters rejected casteist politics of mahagathbandhan: Yogi Adityanath As the BJP marched towards a grand victory in the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday said alert voters have rejected the mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) of opposition parties. It is high time for the opposition to introspect and shun politics of negativity, Adityanath told PTI. The chief minister said that alert voters have rejected opportunistic and casteist politics of the mahagathbandhan. Madhya Pradesh CM Kamal Nath must resign, says BJP Buoyed by encouraging trends of the vote count for the Lok Sabha elections in Madhya Pradesh, BJP Chief Rakesh Singh on Thursday asked Chief Minister Kamal Nath to resign on moral grounds. The BJP is leading on 28 of the 29 seats in the state. Congress bigwigs are losing the elections. In such a situation, the Congress does not have the moral authority to stay in power and Chief Minister Kamal Nath must resign from his post, Singh told reporters at the party headquarters, as reported by news agency IANS. BJP leads in 5 of 6 results declared: EC Six results have been declared of which 5 have gone to BJP and one to INC. Of the remaining 536 constituencies, BJP is leading in 294, INC in 50, AITC in 23, DMK in 23, Shiv Sena in 18, YSRC in 23, BJD in 14, JD(U) in 15 and BSP in 11 constituencies, tweeted Election Commission. Patna Sahib throws up a decisive mandate: Ravi Shankar Prasad Union law and justice, electronics and information and technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the people of his constituency in Patna Sahib had given Prime Minister Narendra Modi a decisive mandate that was in sync with the wave blowing across the state and the country. Prasad, a first-time Lok Sabha candidate of the BJP from Patna Sahib, defeated Shatrughan Sinha, who crossed over to the Congress after two successive wins in 2009 and 2014. Speaking to newspersons, Prasad said the fight in Patna Sahib was one of hope versus opportunism. On one hand, there was hope that the country would progress and flourish under Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership. On the other hand, was an opportunistic alliance of political parties, which made up the Grand Alliance (GA), he said. Mehbooba Mufti concedes defeat from Anantnag PDP president Mehbooba Mufti conceded defeat on Thursday in the election to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat after trailing in the third place, behind the National Conferences (NC) Hasnain Masoodi, who has taken a lead of 7,600 votes over Jammu and Kashmir Congress president G A Mir. Masoodi, a retired high court judge, was leading Mir by 7,600 votes with 18,000 votes to be counted, election officials said. Mehbooba, who had won the Anantnag seat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, was at the third spot, 11,700 votes behind Masoodi. LK Advani congratulates PM Narendra Modi Heartiest congratulations to Narendrabhai Modi for steering BJP towards this unprecedented victory in elections. Amitbhai Shah as BJP President and all dedicated workers of the party have put in enormous effort in making sure that BJPs message reaches every voter. Its such a wonderful feeling that in a country as large and diverse as India, electoral process has been so successfully completed and for that, my compliments to the electorate and all the agencies involved. May our great nation be blessed with a bright future ahead, tweeted veteran BJP leader LK Advani. With 100% strike rate, Nitish Kumar seals position as leader No.1 in Bihar In 2017, when Nitish Kumar decided to part ways with the grand alliance in Bihar, he perhaps read the writing on the wall for what was to come for his Janata Dal (United) by the time the general elections were to be held two years later. Counting trends suggest Kumars party has secured all 17 Lok Sabha seats it fielded its candidates on, reiterating the JD(U)s track record of successful poll alliances. Congress Dikshit, Maken face defeat as BJP looks to sweep all 7 Delhi seats The Bhartiya Janta Party is leading in all the seven parliamentary constituencies of Delhi, pushing Congress heavyweights like Sheila Dikshit and Ajay Maken towards defeat. As per the Election Commission website, all BJP candidates have comfortable leads in all the seven seats ensuring victory for the party. In North East Delhi, the sitting MP and chief of Delhi BJP unit, Manoj Tiwari, is leading by over 2.5 lakh votes against the three-time former chief minister Sheila Dikshit. Earlier today, Tiwari told ANI that his party will come back to power with more than 350 seats. Cricketer-turned-politician Gautam Gambhir of BJP is leading by over 2 lakh votes in East Delhi, leaving behind Arvinder Singh Lovely of Congress and Atishi of AAP. The poll campaign in East Delhi was marred with controversies with the Atishi accusing Gambhir of distributing defamatory pamphlets against her. Amit Shah receives grand welcome at BJP headquarters As the party is headed for a massive win, BJP national chief Amit Shah received a grand welcome at the BJP headquarters in Delhi. Peoples mandate against Oppositions propaganda: Amit Shah BJP president Amit Shah Thursday hailed the BJPs superb showing in the Lok Sabha polls as victory of India and said it is peoples mandate against the Oppositions propaganda and personal attacks as well as their total rejection of politics of dynasty, appeasement and casteism. In a series of tweets, Shah said this victory is a win of peoples confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Todays result is Indias mandate against Oppositions propaganda, lies, personal insinuations and baseless politics. It is also peoples mandate who have chosen development and nationalism and rejected casteism, dynasty and appeasement, Shah said. Feel like batsman who has scored century while his team has lost: Tharoor Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who seemed headed for a win from Thiruvananthapuram, said he feels like a batsman who has scored a century while his team has lost. Tharoors remarks came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi led his Bharatiya Janata Party towards what looks set to be a resounding victory for a second term in office. As my lead nears 50,000 with 72 per cent counted, I feel like a batsman who has scored a century while his team has lost! Its a bittersweet emotion I will take some time to reflect on, Tharoor tweeted. Tharoor, who is eyeing a third straight win from Thiruvananthapuram, was leading by 48,731 votes over his nearest rival of the BJP. I accept peoples decision: Sharad Pawar I accept peoples decision but this is also a fact that people had their doubts about EVMs. Congress had performed really well during Rajiv Gandhis time, but nobody doubted elections then, same was the case when Atal Bihari Vajpayee won, said NCP chief Sharad Pawar as quoted by news agency ANI. Chinese President Xi congratulates PM Modi Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday was among the first world leaders to congratulate, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on the NDA winning the 17th Lok Sabha election under his leadership. In a letter addressed to Modi, which was dispatched even before NDAs electoral victory was officially announced, Xi conveyed his heart-felt congratulations to Modi on the victory. As important neighbours to each other, China and India are the two largest developing countries and emerging economies in the world, Xi wrote. On the occasion of the National Democratic Alliance winning the 17th Lok Sabha of India under your leadership, I would like to extend my heart-felt congratulations, Xi wrote in Chinese in the letter addressed to Modi. Vladimir Putin sends congratulatory telegram to PM Russias President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory telegram to PM Narendra Modi in connection with the convincing victory of the BJP at the general parliamentary elections. India wins yet again, tweets PM Modi As BJP heads for big win, PM Narenrda Modi tweeted that it is yet another win for India. + + = Together we grow. Together we prosper. Together we will build a strong and inclusive India. India wins yet again! #VijayiBharat Chowkidar Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 23, 2019 Rahul Gandhi trails by over 10,000 votes in Amethi Congress president Rahul Gandhi is facing a tough battle in Amethi as BJP rival Smriti Irani is leading from the seat. He is trailing by over 10,000 votes, as per data available on the Election Commissions website. Shashi Tharoor set for a hatrick Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is set for a hatrick. Two-time sitting MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Tharror is leading with over 40,000 votes as counting for results of Lok Sabha elections 2019 is on. Amit Shah is Man of the Match in skipper Modis record victory One must give it to 91-year-old Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) patriarch Prakash Singh Badal to recognize BJP president Amit Shah as the rising star of the BJP after its indomitable leader Narendra Modi as their National Democratic Alliance sweeps back to power in 2019. Before Amit Shah filed his nomination from Gandhinagar on March 30, he received a call from Badal saying that as the BJP has to prepare for the future, he should call all the NDA allies for a show of strength before he files his papers. The 54-year-old BJP president instinctively rebuffed the idea and wanted to go with 11 of his supporters to file his papers for the Gandhinagar seat. Rajinikanth congratulates PM Modi Respected dear @narendramodi ji hearty congratulations ... You made it !!! God bless. Rajinikanth (@rajinikanth) May 23, 2019 Sonia, Priyanka head to meet Rahul Gandhi as Congress stares at big defeat UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi are headed to meet party president Rahul Gandhi at his residence as Congress stares at defeat, reported news agency ANI. Priyanka Gandhi was made in-charge of the partys fortunes in eastern Uttar Pradesh, but despite her high-octane election campaign Congress is ahead on just one seat- her mother Sonia Gandhi from Raebareli. Rahul Gandhi is facing a tough battle in Amethi as BJP rival Smriti Irani is leading from the seat, though by a slim margin. However, he is leading from Keralas Wayanad. Bucking anger against CAB, BJP and allies set to conquer Northeast As protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB) was raging in Assam and several other states in the north-east in January and February this year, several political experts predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was likely to face an uphill battle in the region in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The protests forced the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) not to table the legislation, which sought to give citizenship to religious minorities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, in the Rajya Sabha. But on Thursday, as trends from the 24 seats in the seven states in the region (except Sikkim) trickled in, it appeared that the apparent anger against CAB did not have any impact on the BJPs political prospects in the region. As of noon, four hours after counting started, the BJP and its allies were leading in 19 of the 24 seats. If the trend continues, the north-east would play a crucial part in the NDA retaining power in New Delhi in 2019. In 2014, the BJP won eight seats (seven in Assam and one in Arunachal Pradesh) in the region, while its allies won two. Mixed bag for DMK; AIADMK set to stay on in power in Tamil Nadu Making a near clean sweep in the Lok Sabha election, the opposition DMK is on the road to win 37 of the 38 parliamentary constituencies for which elections were held as counting continued across the country. However, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagams ambition of dislodging the AIADMK government of Edappadi K Palaniswami appears to be distant as the ruling party is ahead in ten of the 22 assembly segments for which by-polls were also held. Polling for Vellore Lok Sabha seat was cancelled by the Election Commission following a large scale distribution of cash and seizure of a huge amount of money. BJP makes deep cuts in Mamatas bastion; leads in 16 seats Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made deep inroads in West Bengal, increasing its vote share by more than 20 percentage points from 17.02% in 2014 to about 39% (till 1 pm) and was leading in 16 of Bengals 42 seats against their 2014 tally of only two seats. Though ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) increased its vote share by about 5 percentage points to about 45% (till 1 pm) from 39.79% (in 2014), the party was leading in 25 seats against their tally of 34 five years ago. KCR congratulates PM Modi, Jagan Reddy for poll victories Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Thursday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the spectacular victory of BJP-led NDA in the Lok Sabha polls. He wished that the country march ahead under the leadership of Modi, a release from the Chief Ministers office said. Rao hailed the victory of YSR Congress in the Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh. Benjamin Netanyahu congratulates PM Modi Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Thursday became the first world leader to congratulate his counterpart Narendra Modi for scripting an impressive victory in the general elections and vowed to strengthen their great friendship as well as bilateral ties. Riding on a massive Modi wave sweeping through most parts of India, the BJP was set to return to power Thursday as it led in 292 seats while the Congress trailed far behind with 51, according to trends released by the Election Commission for all 542 seats that went to polls. Sincerely greetings to you, my friend @Narendramodi, for your impressive victory in the elections!, Netanyahu tweeted in Hebrew and Hindi. Not all losers are losers: Mamata Banerjee Congratulations to the winners. But all losers are not losers. We have to do a complete review and then we will share our views with you all. Let the counting process be completed fully and the VVPATs matched, tweeted West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. BJP leads on all seats in MP except Chhindwara The BJP is leading in 28 of the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh and if the trends continue, the saffron party will better its 2014 result where it had won 27 of the 29 seats. The lone seat where the Congress is leading is Chhindwara, where Nakul Nath, son of chief minister Kamal Nath is leading by 38,000 votes. The reversal for the Congress comes barely six months after it narrowly won the Assembly elections to form the government, ending 15 year BJP rule in the state. The Congress had won 114 seats and it formed the government with support of four independents, two BSP and one independent. The BJP had won 109 seats. In the high profile Bhopal seat, Pragya Thakur of BJP is leading against former chief minister Digvijay Singh by over 90,000 votes. Both minister Narendra Singh Tomar from Morena and Virendra Kumar from Tikamgarh were also leading. Bring on the next 5 years: Omar Abdullah congratulates Modi, Amit Shah National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday credited PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah with running a very professional campaign soon after vote counting leads made it clear that the BJP was heading towards a convincing win in the Lok Sabha elections. So the exit polls were correct. All thats left is to congratulate the BJP & NDA for a stellar performance. Credit where credit is due PM Modi Sahib & Mr Amit Shah put together a winning alliance & a very professional campaign. Bring on the next five years, the former chief minister of Kashmir tweeted. The counting leads projected that BJP was set to win 346 seats, UPA 91, BSP-SP 19 and Others 86 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Elections were cancelled in Tamil Nadus Vellore. The BJP alone is leading in 292 seats, well over the halfway mark of 272, and if the party wins all of these, it will improve upon its 2014 tally of 282. AAP congratulates PM The AAP on Thursday congratulated the BJP for its victory and said it hopes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would do good work in his future tenure. The BJP was leading in all the seven seats in the national capital, with three of its candidates ahead by over one lakh votes, while the Congress and the AAP were trailing at the second spot in five and two seats respectively. In democracy, mandate of the people is considered to be very powerful. We respect the mandate of India and congratulate the BJP for its victory. We offer Prime Minister Narendra Modi best wishes for his future tenure. We hope he would do good work in his future tenure, Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Saurabh Bharwaj said. PM Modis mother greets supporters amid slogans of Har, Har Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modis nearly 99-year-old mother Heeraben Modi on Thursday greeted the BJPs supporters outside her home in Gandhinagar of Gujarat as the party looked set to sweep the Lok Sabha election. News agency ANI tweeted a 19-second video of Heeraben outside her house surrounded by relatives as people were heard shouting the slogans of Har, Har Modi and Modi Sahab Aap Aage Chalo, Hum Tumhare Saath Hain and Vande Mataram. Prime Minister Modi was leading in Varanasi by a margin of 169,000 votes, according to Election Commission trends as the BJP and its ally Apna Dal surged ahead of their rivals in 58 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. BJP workers celebrate across country After observing the trends of results of Lok Sabha elections 2019, BJP workers across the country are celebrating. Here are a few visuals BJP Party workers celebrate in Navi Mumbai ( Bachchan Kumar/HT Photo ) BJP supporters celebrates as the party candidates lead in West Bengal during Lok Sabha election counting. ( Arijit Sen/HT Photo ) Urmila Matondkar trails in Mumbai-North seats, alleges EVM discrepancy Congress Mumbai-North Lok Sabha seat candidate Urmila Matondkar on Thursday alleged that there was a mismatch in signatures on an electronic voting machine (EVM) form. The actor, who was trailing against BJPs Gopal Shetty by over 1,45,991 votes, said a complaint was filed with the Election Commission in this connection. On the form of EVM 17C from Magathane, the signatures and the machine numbers are different. A complaint has been filed with the Election Commission, she said in a tweet. Also read: BJP makes inroads in Mamata Banerjees West Bengal Historic victory is outcome of Modis visionary leadership: Rajnath Singh With early trends indicating BJPs return to power, senior leader and Home Minister Rajnath Singh Thursday termed it historic and credited it to Prime Minister Narendra Modis astute leadership and party chief Amit Shahs dynamism. In a series of tweets, Singh said the people of India have once again given a decisive mandate to the BJP-led NDA and reposed their faith in Modis leadership and vision of New India. "This historic victory in General Elections is the outcome of Modis visionary leadership, Amit Shah's dynamism and the hard work of millions of BJP karyakartas on the ground", tweets Home Minister @rajnathsingh Track LIVE updates: https://t.co/hqQSkilnEM #ElectionsWithHT pic.twitter.com/ggVdB6Pcow Hindustan Times (@htTweets) May 23, 2019 NDA heads for massive victory in Bihar The NDA was heading for a massive victory in Bihar where it was leading in 38 of the 40 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The BJP and the JD(U) which contested 17 seats each were leading in 16 seats each. Another NDA ally, Ram Vilas Paswans LJP was leading in all six seats it contested. The Oppositions Grand Alliance where the RJD and the Congress were the dominant partners failed to make any impact. The Lok Sabha election results will set the stage for another electoral battle in Bihar a year later, when chief minister Nitish Kumar will seek his seventh term. Mehbooba Mufti drops to third position in Anantnag seat National Conferences (NC) Hasnain Masoodi is leading from Jammu and Kashmirs Anantnag seat while former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Mehbooba Mufti dropped down to the third position as of 11:30 am on Thursday. Indian National Congress Ghulam Ahmad Mir is in the second spot and is giving a tough fight to the NC candidate in the counting phase. BJP has taken a lead in Jammu and Udhampur seats while NCs Farooq Abdullah is leading from Srinagar constituency, his fellow party leader is also in the lead from Baramulla seat. Congress leads in Punjab Punjab appears to be the only silver lining for the Congress which is facing a rout in north region states as the BJP candidates have raced ahead of their rivals in most constituencies in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan. The states ruling Congress is leading in eight of the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies. In the early trends for counting of votes, the BJP and its alliance partner, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), are leading in two seats each, whereas the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is ahead in one seat. BJP Parliamentary board meet today, PM Modi to meet workers BJP Parliamentary board meeting is going to be held later today. PM Modi will meet BJP workers at party office at 5.30 pm today. GST, demonetisation had no impact on the ground The Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) performance in both urban and rural constituencies across the country prove that the 2016 invalidation of high-value banknotes and the 2017 introduction of the goods and services tax (GST) did not have a negative impact on the partys political prospects. Even though the Congress and some Opposition parties raised the two issues throughout the campaign, but the results show that they failed to reap any political benefit out of it. In Goa, BJP loses Parrikars seat to Congress After 25 years of uninterrupted run, the BJP on Thursday failed to retain the Panaji Assembly constituency, largely represented by late Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar since 1994. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Sidharth Kuncalienkar lost to Congress Atanasio Monserrate by 1,758 votes. Monserrate polled 8,748 votes against Kuncalienkars 6,990 votes. AAPs Valmiki Naik and Goa Suraksha Manch (GSM) candidate Subhash Velingkar polled 236 and 516 votes respectively. Union Minister Gen VK Singh leads from Ghaziabad Union Minister Gen VK Singh is currently leading with over 50,000 votes from Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad Its victory of nationalism: J-K BJP Amid overwhelming trends in favour of the BJP, the partys Jammu and Kashmir chief, Ravinder Raina, said Thursday it is victory of nationalism in the country. Celebrations have started at the BJP state headquarters here as supporters chanted slogans and distributed sweets amid drums beats and bursting of firecrackers. It is a vote for nationalism in the battle of nationalists and anti-nationalists. It is a victory of the countrys people. It is a victory of nationalism, Raina told reporters here. Raina said the countrys 130 crore people have expressed full faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and given a befitting reply to the mahamilawati conglomeration led by the Congress. This election was between the idea of Bharat and the idea of terrorism-launching-pad Pakistan, he claimed. It is the victory of India and Modi ji and his strong and bold steps on all fronts, he said. 2019 more like 1977 and 1980 than 2014 elections The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has firmly established itself as the dominant pole of Indian politics in the 2019 general elections. If the current trends hold , the 2019 verdict will have a close resemblance to the results of the 1977 and 1980 elections in terms of the dominance of one political party in India. Data scarped from the Election Commission of India (ECI) website shows that at 11:03 am, around 19% of the total votes had been counted in the country. The BJP is leading in 288 parliamentary constituencies (PCs) with a vote share of around 40%, nine percentage points more than what it had in 2014. NDA leading in 38 seats, RJD in 2 seats in Bihar In Bihar, the BJP-led NDA is leading in 38 seats of the 40 Lok Sabha seats while the RJD is ahead in two seats, according to Election Commission trends. The BJP and JD(U) are leading in 16 seats each while the LJP is leading in six seats. The RJD, a Mahagathbandhan constituent, is leading in two seats of Jehanabad and Pataliputra. Prominent NDA faces who are leading include- Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad (Patna Sahib), Radha Mohan Singh (Purvi Champaran), Giriraj Singh (Begusarai), RK Singh (Ara), Ashwini Kumar Choubey (Buxar) Rajiv Pratap Rudy (Saran), Chirag Paswan (Jamui), Ram Vilas Paswans brother Pashupati Kumar Paras (Hajipur) are also among the NDA candidates who are leading. In Odisha, BJD ahead in 12 seats Out of 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) candidates are ahead in 12 seats while the BJP is leading in nine constituencies as per initial trends, officials said Thursday. In Aska Lok Sabha seat BJD candidate Pramila Bisoi is leading against her nearest BJP rival Anita Subahdarshini by 17,404 votes. BJD candidate Rabindra Kumar Jena was leading by 262 votes in Balaslore Lok Sabha seat. BJP takes lead in 9 Assam seats The BJP is currently ahead in nine of 14 Lok Sabha seats in Assam, while its ally Asom Gana Parishad is leading in two seats, according to the Election Commission trends. The saffron party has conceded three seats to its allies this time - two to the AGP and one to the Bodoland Peoples Front (BPF). In Kaliabor, AGPs Moni Madhab Mahanta is leading by 11233 votes against Congress candidate Gaurav Gogoi. Gogoi had bagged the seat in 2014 by 93874 votes. BJP ahead in all four seats in Himachal Pradesh The ruling BJP is surging ahead in all four Lok Sabha seats of Himachal Pradesh, with its candidates securing unassailable leads, according to latest Election Commission trends. In Mandi, the sitting BJP MP Ram Swaroop is leading by over 154418 votes over his nearest rival Aashray Sharma of the Congress. BJP candidate Kishan Kapoor was leading by 201699 votes over his nearest rival Pawan Kajal of Congress in Kangra, a state election officer said. In Uttar Pradesh, BJP ahead in 58 seats The BJP forged ahead of its rivals in 58 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh while the BSP-SP alliance was leading in 19 seats as counting of votes progressed, according to Election Commission trends. In Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was leading by over 55,000 votes against his SP rival. In the high-profile Amethi seat, BJPs Smriti Irani established an early lead of 1,931 votes against sitting MP and Congress president Rahul Gandhi while UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi was leading in neighbouring Rae Bareli by over 17,000 votes. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was leading against his nearest SP rival Poonam Sinha and in Lucknow. The Bahujan Samaj Party was leading in 11 and the Samajwadi Party in eight while the Congress was ahead in one and the Apna Dal (Soneylal) in one. DMKs Stalin emerges from Karunanidhis shadow with emphatic lead For a long time MK Stalin, who even at the age of 64 was the youth president of the DMK, would be privately sneered at by rivals internal and external for failing to emerge from the shadows of his larger than life father M Karunanidhi. Even in 2016, while the election was led by Stalin as Karunanidhi was ailing, the unexpected defeat in the assembly polls to the AIADMK then led by J Jayalalithaa meant that the blame was laid at his feet. Early trends indicated that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led alliance, which includes the Congress, was leading in 34 of the 38 Lok Sabha seats in the southern state. This emphatic win of the alliance led by Stalin, who is fondly called Thalapathi (commander in Tamil), has stamped his hold on the party. BJP leading in all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi BJP is leading the trends in all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, with the Congress trailing in five constituencies and the AAP in two seats, poll officials said, reported news agency PTI. Hema Malini leads from Mathura seat Hema Malini, who is the sitting MP and BJP candidate from Mathura, is currently leading by 22,893 votes against nearest rival and SP-BSP-RLD alliance candidate Kunwar Narendra Singh, reported news agency PTI. Pragya Thakur leads in MPs Bhopal BJPs Pragya Thakur is currently leading in Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal, while Congresss Digvijaya Singh is trailing. Pragya Thakur was named the BJPs candidate from Madhya Pradesh capital Bhopal in a surprise choice against the Congress former chief minister Digvijaya Singh. She is facing trial in the 2008 Malegaon blast case where six people died and at least 100 were injured. The 49-year old has been under fire for several of her controversial comments against several people, including former chief of the Mumbai anti-terrorist squad Hemant Karkare. Rahul Gandhi trails in Amethi After making a comeback, Congress president Rahul Gandhi is again in a tight race with BJP candidate Smriti Irani in Amethi, as per data available on Election Commissions website. Farooq Abdullah, Jitendra Singh lead in early trends in Jammu and Kashmir National Conference President Farooq Abdullah, BJP leader Jitendra Singh and Congress state president G A Mir were leading in their respective constituencies in the early trends of counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir Thursday. According to election officials, Abdullah was leading over PDP candidate Aga Syed Mohsin by a slender margin of 80 votes while Singh had opened a substantial lead of over 4000 votes over his Congress rival Vikramaditya Singh. Sensex hits 40,000 mark for first-time The Sensex hit 40,000 mark for the first-time as leads show BJP alliance ahead in over 300 seats. BJP-Shiv Sena alliance leads in Maharashtra The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra was leading in more than 40 seats with the Congress-NCP combine ahead in six constituencies, according to initial trends as votes were being counted for the Lok Sabha election on Thursday. Counting for the 48 Lok Sabha seats in the state began at 8am. Maharashtra went to polls in four phases on April 11, 18, 23 and 29 and 867 candidates were in the fray in this election. The voter turnout this year was 60.80%, up from 60.32% in 2014. Maharashtra, which has the second highest number of 48 Lok Sabha seats in the country after Uttar Pradeshs 80, added to the sizeable chunk of the National Democratic Alliances (NDAs) 300-plus victory in the last general election. Union minister Nitin Gadkari was leading by 3,066 votes in Nagpur, while Union minister Subhash Bhamre was leading in Dhule by 13,128 votes, initial trends suggested. BJP surging ahead in Rajasthan The BJP was ahead in 23 seats in Rajasthan while its alliance party RLP and the Congress were leading in one seat each, according to Election Commission trends. The BJP had contested 4 seats and its alliance partner Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) headed by former BJP leader Hanuman Beniwal, contested one seat. Of the total 25 seats, the Congress is leading in only one seat of Bharatpur, according to the Election Commission. NCPs Parth Pawar leads in Maharashtras Maval , Amol Kolhe trailing Parth Pawar, the grand-nephew of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, is leading in Maval Lok Sabha seat of Maharashtra, as per initial trends available. Parth, son of former state deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, is leading by 1,173 votes over Shiv Senas sitting MP Shrirang Barne. In Shirur, NCP nominee Amol Kolhe is leading by 2,890 votes over Shiv Senas sitting MP Shivaji Adhalrao Patil. Rahul Gandhi leads in Amethi Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi regained his lead over Union minister Smriti Irani in Amethi after he trailed her for some time shortly after counting began Thursday. The fight to retain the family bastion of Amethi has been one of the fiercest of contests of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. With the SP-BSP alliance staying out of the contest in Amethi, Rahul faced a straight contest from Union minister Smiriti Irani who accused him of shifting to Wayanad (Kerala) for fear of losing in Amethi that he had represented since 2004. In Gujarat, BJP leads in 4 seats, Congress ahead in 1 he BJP is leading in four of the 26 Lok Sabha seats in Gujarat, including Gandhinagar where party president Amit Shah is contesting, while the Congress is ahead in one seat, as per initial trends. Shah is ahead by over 19,000 votes against his nearest rival and Congress candidate C J Chavda, after counting of first round, election officials said. Huge gains for BJP in Karnataka in early rounds In the early rounds of counting for the 28 Lok Sabha seats in the state on Thursday, the Bharatiya Janata Party was leading in 23 seats till 9.50 am. Three Congress veterans Mallikarjun Kharge (from Gulbarga), KH Muniyappa (from Kolar) and M Veerappa Moily (from Chikkaballapur) were all trailing their rivals from the BJP. In Bengaluru, the Congress led in the North and Central constituencies, whereas the BJPs Tejasvi Surya amassed a significant lead over his rival BK Hariprasad of the BJP in the Bengaluru South constituency. Elsewhere, both of former prime minister HD Deve Gowdas grandsons -- Prajwal Revanna (from Hassan) and NIkhil Kumaraswamy (from Mandya) -- were leading in their respective constituencies, even as the patriarch himself was trailing by a slender margin. Congress-UDF leads in all 20 seats in Kerela Opposition Congress led UDF is ahead in all the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala, as per the initial trends released by the Election Commission. In the prestigious Wayanad constituency, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, is ahead by 34,989 votes against his nearest rival P P Suneer of the CPI. The NDA candidate Thushar Vellapally is trailing far behind. Former Union minister and sitting Thiruvananthapuram MP, Shashi Tharoor s ahead of his rival Kummanam Rajashekaran of the BJP by 2,452 votes. Union minister Jayant Sinha leading in Jharkhands Hazaribagh Union Minister and sitting BJP MP Jayant Sinha is leading by 6,486 votes against his nearest Congress rival Gopal Prasad Sahu from Hazaribagh Lok Sabha seat as per initial trends, officials said. BJPs sitting MP Vishnu Dayal Ram is leading by 9,450 votes against his nearest RJD rival Ghuran Ram in Palamau (SC) Lok Sabha constituency after the third round counting, they said. In Khunti Lok Sabha seat Kali Charan Munda of the Congress is leading against his nearest BJP rival and former chief minister Arjun Munda by 1,113 votes. BJP candidate Annapurna Devi is leading by 8,031 votes against her nearest JVM(P) candidate and former chief minister Babulal Marandi. Bidyut Baran Mahato of the BJP is leading against his nearest JMM rival Champai Soren by 6,618 votes in the Jamshedpur Lok Sabha seat, officials said. BJP ahead in Uttar Pradesh, SP-BSP alliance close second The BJP-led NDA is ahead on 35 seats in early trends as counting of votes began at 8 am for the the Lok Sabha election on Thursday with the SP-BSP combine at close second with 27 seats , in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh that send 80 lawmakers to Lok Sabha. Among the alliance partners, Mayawatis BSP is marginally ahead with 15 seats against Akhilesh Yadavs SP with 12 seats. The BJP and ally Apna Dal won an unprecedented 73 seats in 2014 and the Congress two, the Samajwadi Party five in the politically-crucial state. The Bahujan Samaj Party did not win a single seat in the last general election. BJPs Anant Kumar Hegde leads in Karnatakas Uttar Kannada Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde of the BJP was leading by 20,178 votes against Anand Asnotikar of the JD(S) in Karnatakas Uttar Kannada constituency as votes were counted in the Lok Sabha election on Thursday. Ananth Kumar Hegde is a five-time MP from the Uttara Kannada constituency, which is mostly a BJP bastion since 1996. Result trends at 9:41 am DMK front surges ahead in Tamil Nadu The DMK and its allies were leading in over 10 Parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan was trailing in Kanyakumari, according to trends available from the Election Commission. While DMK surged ahead in Tirunelveli, its ally MDMK and Congress were leading in Erode and Virudhunagar respectively, according to the Election Commission. Former Union Minister and senior DMK leader A Raja was leading in the Nilgiris, and sitting Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi was ahead in Tuticorin, while their colleagues had the edge in Arakkonam, Cuddalore, Salem, Tenkasi and Perambalur. Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan is trailing Congress candidate H Vasanthakumar in Kanyakumari by a slender margin of a little over 7,757 votes. BJP ahead in Haryana, Congs Hooda trails in Sonipat Barring Rohtak, the BJP was ahead in all remaining nine seats in Haryana where early Election Commission trends were available Thursday. Union Ministers Rao Inderjit Singh (Gurgaon) and Krishan Pal Gurjar (Faridabad) were ahead in their respective constituencies. Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda of the Congress was trailing in Sonipat. Hooda was trailing behind sitting MP Ramesh Chander Kaushik by a margin of 1,115 votes, as per early trends given by the Election Commission. However, the former CMs son and sitting MP from Rohtak, Deepender Singh Hooda was leading over his nearest BJP rival Arvind Sharma from Rohtak. Of the 10 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP, which is the ruling party in the state, was leading in nine seats. NDA leads in 209 seats, UPA in 105 The BJP-led NDA is currently leading in 2019 Lok Sabha seats while the UPA is ahead in 105 constituencies. Babul Supriyo leading from Bengals Asansol Union minister Babul Supriyo of the BJP is leading by 3448 votes against Moon Moon Sen of All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) from Asansol Lok Sabha seat, as per initial Election Commission trends. In Coochbehar Lok Sabha seat, Nishith Pramanik of the BJP is leading by 1225 votes against AITC candidate Paresh Chandra Adhikary . BJP candidate Locket Chatterjee is leading by 2175 votes over AITC candidate Ratna De Nag in Hoogly parliamentary constituency, the trends suggest. In Uluberia seat, Sajda Ahmed of the AITC is leading by 920 votes against Joy Banerjee of the BJP. At 9:30 am, NDA ahead in 159 seats, UPA in 19 At 9:30 am, the NDA is ahead in 159 seats, while the UPA is leading 19 Lok Sabha seats. Pragya Thakur leading over Digvijay; Scindia trailing BJPs Pragya Singh Thakur is leading against Congress Digvijay Singh by a margin of 3,105 votes in Bhopal Lok Sabha seat of Madhya Pradesh, as per initial trends. BJPs Krishna Pal Singh Yadav is leading by a margin of 1165 votes against Congress Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna. Congress candidate Nakul Nath, son of CM Kamal Nath, is ahead of BJPs Nathanshah Kawreti in Chhindwara seat by a margin of 1,520 votes. Sensex up by 600 points as early trends show NDA ahead Sensex up by 600 points as early trends show NDA ahead. BJP ahead in 3 of 7 Delhi constituencies As per data provided on Election Commissions website, BJP is ahead in three of seven constituencies in Delhi . In North West Delhi, Hans Raj Hans is leading while AAPs Gugan Singh is trailing while in South Delhi BJPs Ramesh Bidhuri is leading and AAPs Raghav Chadha is trailing. BJPs Parvesh Sahib Singh is leading from West Delhi while AAPs Balbir Singh Jakhar. PM Modi leads in Varanasi by over 11,000 votes PM Narendra Modi is currently leading by over 11,000 votes in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi Lok Sabha seat. Ravi Kishan leads in Gorakhpur BJPs candidate actor-turned politician Ravi Kishan is currently leading from Uttar Pradeshs Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency. Sunny Deol takes lead in Punjabs Gurdaspur Actor-turned-politician BJPs candidate Sunny Deol is leading in Punjabs Gurdaspur. Amit Shah leads in Gandhinagar BJP national president Amit Shah is currently leading in Gandhinagar Lok Sabha constituency. Rahul Gandhi trails Smriti Irani in Amethi seat Congress president Rahul Gandhi is trailing in Uttar Pradeshs Amethi Lok Sabha seat. Amethi has been one of the most high-profile constituencies in Lok Sabha elections 2019. He is leading from Keralas Wayanad, the second seat he is contesting from. Shashi Tharoor leads in Thiruvananthapuram Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and sitting MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor is currently leading in Keralas Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat. Rahul Gandhi will be our new Prime Minister, says Stalin DMK president MK Stalin on Wednesday said that BJP-led NDA government at the Centre would be overthrown after the counting of Lok Sabha poll votes and Congress president Rahul Gandhi would become the new Prime Minister. This Iftar is unique from the previous one. Because what we said is going to come true tomorrow, and the Central and state governments would go, said Stalin, while attending an Iftar party here. The exit poll is not the real one. It is manufactured at someones order. Rahul Gandhi would be our Prime minister if we get the numbers in our favour. We never change our mind. I said in the beginning. I would say it tomorrow as well. There is a possibility of going to Delhi at any time, he said. US says it is confident about fairness, integrity of Indian elections The United States Wednesday said that it was confident in the fairness and integrity of the Indian elections and would work with whoever is the victor. I would say from the US perspective, we are very confident in the fairness and the integrity of the Indian elections, and we will obviously work with whoever is the victor and whatever the outcome is there, State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus told reporters during an off-camera gaggle here. BJP leads in 25 seats, Congress in 16 Rahul Gandhi leads in Wayanad Congress president Rahul Gandhi is currently leading in North Keralas Wayanad, the second seat he is contesting from. BJP ahead in 22 seats, Congress in 15 Counting across voting centres has begun, at present the BJP is ahead in 22 seats, and the Congress is leading in 15 Lok Sabha seats. First leads show BJP ahead in 6 seats, Congress in 2 As per first leads, BJP is ahead in six seats while Congress has taken lead in two Lok Sabha seats. Fate of 8,040 candidates to be decided today The fate of as many as 8,040 candidates will be decided on Thursday when the counting of votes polled for the 17th Lok Sabha elections is done. Around 90 crore voters were eligible to vote in this Lok Sabha polls which were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. As many as 13 crore of them were first-time voters. According to the Election Commission of India data, 67.11 per cent voters exercised their right to franchise. This was the highest turnout in the Lok Sabha polls since independence. Voting took place at 10.35 lakh polling stations across 36 states and Union Territories. Around a million polling staff was engaged in the smooth conduct of elections. Counting on in over 4,000 counting centres Counting of votes for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections began Thursday morning across the country. The counting exercise is on in over 4,000 counting centres amid concerns raised by opposition parties over alleged tampering of EVMs. They have asked the Election Commission to ensure transparency in counting. Election Commission officials said results are expected only by late evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several union ministers, BJP chief Amit Shah, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi are among key leaders who contested the polls. Most of the exit polls have predicted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is on course to retain power for a second term. However, the opposition parties have trashed results of the exit polls, claiming that the BJP will suffer severe drubbing due to rising unemployment, farm distress and slowdown in the economy. Counting of votes begins India gets the last word, counting of votes begins All eyes on outcome in UP After having swept the state in 2014, the BJP faces its strongest challenge in Uttar Pradesh with a formidable opposition alliance. Put together, the SP-BSP-RLD social base of Yadavs, Muslims, Jatavs and Jats (in western UP) could outnumber, on paper, the BJPs social coalition in a range of seats. The party, however, has banked on Modis popularity, its own support base of upper castes, smaller OBC and Dalit groups, and its organisational might to take on the challenge. The state sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. Watch out for battles of West Bengal and Odisha Anticipating losses in UP and some other states, the BJP focused on expanding its presence in Bengal, which sends 42 Lok Sabha MPs. It has successfully become the principal opposition force in the state, and most observers believe its vote share will increase. The question, however, is if this will result in an increase in seats, and to what extent. In Odisha, too, the BJP launched a campaign offensive to wrest seats away from the BJD. Together, in 2014, the BJP had only won three of the 63 seats in the two states. The outcome today will be a measure of how much the party has penetrated the minds and hearts of people in the east. Coming to a theatre in US: Indian election results, live When the lights dim at around 9:30 pm US central time (8 am, Thursday in India), the audience at a cinema hall Minneapolis, Minnesota state, will be hit with six to eight news channels airing election results from India, all together on one screen. Thats the plan, according to Ramesh Noone, an IT professional and a supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He has organised what is being touted as Americas first cinema-hall watch party for an Indian election. An estimated 150 people have already purchased tickets at $15 a piece but Noone said he expected more people to walk in going by the response he has received to flyers he sent out just a few days ago they went viral. Heres what analysts say about BSP supremo Mayawati Political analysts had virtually written off Mayawati, 63, after the BSP failed to open its account in the 2014 Lok Sabha election (in the 2017 assembly election it bagged merely 19 seats). But just when the chips were down for her, the Dalit leader decided to sew a strategic alliance with the Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) in Uttar Pradesh, jumping right back into reckoning. If exit polls are anything to go by, the alliance is expected to make gains in the politically crucial state with various exit polls giving them seats in the range of 30-55 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state. This could propel her into the role of a kingmaker in case of an unclear verdict. Traffic in Delhi ahead of counting in Delhi The Delhi Traffic police tweeted this morning that traffic in the city has been affected due to vote counting centre near Swami Narayan Marg. Traffic Alert Traffic remains affected on Swami Narayan Marg due to vote counting center. Motorist are advised to avoid Swami Narayan Marg and take Sunder Lal Jain Hospital road or Nimri Colony road instead of Swami Narayan Marg. Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) May 23, 2019 Traffic Alert Traffic remains affected on August Kranti Marg due to vote counting center at Jija Bai Industrial Training Institute for women. Kindly avoid August Kranti Marg. Delhi Traffic Police (@dtptraffic) May 23, 2019 Counting of votes to begin shortly In half an hour from now, counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections 2019 will begin. By end of day today, perhaps even earlier, India will have its say on who will administer the country for the next five years. BJPs Gorakhpur candidate Ravi Kishan offers prayers before results Actor Ravi Kishan, who is fighting on the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat offered prayers as results of Lok Sabha elections 2019 will be announced today. Counting of votes to begin at 8 am. BJPs Gorakhpur candidate Ravi Kishan offers prayers before results ( ANI Photo ) Final results may be delayed by a few hours, heres why Officials of the Election Commission will count the votes cast across one million booths in all the 543 parliamentary seats spread across the country on Thursday. The date and place of counting votes are usually fixed at least a week before the schedule of the election is announced. The selection of the five EVMs in every assembly constituency there are 4,215 across India will be done by a draw of lots in the presence of all the candidates. When the five EVMs are chosen from each of these segments, it would increase the VVPAT verification percentage from 0.44 to around 2%. The VVPAT system enables EVMs to record each vote by generating a slip. The Election Commissions guidelines say if there is any discrepancy in the vote count between EVMs and VVPATs, then the paper trail will prevail. Confident of win: BJP candidate from Keralas Thiruvananthapuram For development of the state and welfare of its people, I think Kerala should move along with NDA government in Delhi. Now that Kerala is coming up in mainstream, I am very much confident that Ill win in this election, says Kummanam Rajasekharan, BJP candidate from Keralas Thiruvananthapuram. Security tightened outside counting centres Security has been tightened outside across counting centres in the country. Security outside a counting centre in Karnatakas Bengaluru ( ANI Photo ) Counting centre in Madhya Pradeshs Bhopal ( ANI Photo ) Statewide alert in UP, Oppn asks cadres to stay vigilant Amid controversy over security of EVMs, political parties resorted to posturing on the eve of counting of votes by asking their cadres to remain alert even as chief minister Yogi Adityanath sounded a warning that those attempting to foment trouble would be sternly dealt with. The state police on Wednesday sounded an alert and made extensive deployment of forces at 77 counting centres across 75 districts. The state police headquarters issued directives to intensify vigil and ensure deployment at sensitive locations where violence is apprehended. Moreover, victory processions have been strictly prohibited to avert any clash. The alert was sounded after union home ministry raised apprehensions of violence in different parts of the country during counting. The ministry asked all the states and union territories to maintain law and order. Battle of margins for political bigwigs All eyes will be on Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, the day of counting of votes, when the fate of top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav and president Akhilesh Yadav, RLD chief Ajit Singh and his son Jayant Chaudhary will be decided. While in constituencies like Varanasi (Modi), Lucknow (home minister Rajnath Singh), Mainpuri (Mulayam), Rae Bareli (Sonia) and Azamgarh (Akhilesh), curiosity will be more about margins, in other seats like Saharanpur and Kanpur, the BJP is locked in a tough contest with the SP-BSP alliance. Cong party workers asserting that the results would not be onesided as projected Even as the atmosphere at the Congress headquarters remained sombre Monday morning, party workers rejected the exit polls and said May 23 would give results quite different from the projections. Did you know? Rajyavardhan Rathore defeated CP Joshi by over 3 lakh votes in 2014 In 2014 Lok Sabha polls, BJPs Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore defeated Congress veteran CP Joshi by more than 3 lakh votes. Did you know? Barring 1977 and two terms from 1996, Rae Barely seat has always been with Congress Barring 1977, when Raj Narain of the Janata Party emerged victorious, and two terms for BJPs Ashok Singh from 1996, the Rae Barely seat of Uttar Pradesh has always been with the Congress. Cong attacked PM for favouring crony capitalists throughout the campaign Congress fiercely attacked the Prime Minister for his alleged corruption in the Rafale deal, and repeatedly invocated the chowkidar chor hai (the watchman is the thief) slogan. This was supplemented with repeated accusations that the Modi government essentially favoured a set of crony capitalists. Did you know? Akhilesh Yadav is contesting from an East UP constituency for the first time Akhilesh Yadav is contesting from Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh. This is the first time he is contesting from a constituency in East Uttar Pradesh. Did you know? Chhindwara has elected a non-Congress candidate only once since 1957 Chhindwara has elected a non-Congress candidate only once since 1957 -- in the 1997 bypoll when it elected BJPs Sundar Lal Patwa. These elections recorded the highest ever turnout in Indian history The elections, held over seven phases, in 542 constituencies, witnessed the highest ever turnout in Indian history at 67.1% (tentative figure from the Election Commission) beating the previous record of 66.4% in the 2014 polls. Did you know? In 1996, Vajpayee gave up Gandhinagar seat for Lucknow BJPs Atal Bihari Vajpayee won from Gandhinagar, Gujarat, in 1996 but chose to resign and retain the other seat he had won, Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh. This forced a by-election, which was won by Vijay Patel, who defeated film actor Rajesh Khanna. Did you know? Nitin Gandkari contested his first Lok Sabha elections in 2014 Nitin Gadkari, who has been in politics for more than four decades, contested his first Lok Sabha elections in 2014. Did you know? CPI (M) won Asansol seat for eight consecutive terms till 2014 CPI (M) candidates won Asansol, West Bengal seat for eight consecutive terms from 1989 till BJPs Babul Supriyo wrested it in 2014. At national level, elections were a battle between NDA, UPA At the national level, it was a battle between the NDA, led by the BJPs Modi, and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by Congress president, Rahul Gandhi, who was, however, not the alliance or partys declared prime ministerial face. All exit polls predicted second term for NDA alliance All exit polls have predicted that the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will return to power. However, exit polls often get it wrong and the actual results will only be known after the votes are counted. Counting of votes today India will have its say on who will administer the country for the next five years by the end of today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday expressed concern over the needless controversy created by the Opposition over EVMs at a meeting of NDA leaders, even as the ruling alliance laid out its agenda for the next five years if it is elected to power again. At the BJP-led ruling alliance meeting, which was attended by 36 parties, a resolution was passed, terming the 2019 general election decisive for the country and pledging to make India strong, developed, prosperous and inclusive by 2022, when India completes 75 years of its independence, party leader and Union minister Rajnath Singh told reporters. The BJP-led NDA meeting is being seen as its show of strength and projection of a united front by the ruling alliance ahead of counting of votes on May 23, following which a new government will assume charge. Also Read| All allies back PM Narendra Modi, says Rajnath Singh In his address, Modi stressed on the need to change the narrative from caste lines and orient it for the poor, Singh said. The prime minister expressed concern over the Opposition making needless controversy over electronic voting machines, the home minister said. Also Watch | BJP hosts dinner with NDA partners ahead of Lok Sabha polls 2019 results Earlier Tuesday, leaders of 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission and demanded verification of VVPAT slips of randomly-selected polling stations before the counting of the votes. The opposition representation to the EC came barely two days before the counting of votes and after exit poll projections that the BJP-led NDA is likely to return to power. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami were among the BJP allies who attended the dinner-meeting hosted by BJP chief Amit Shah. Union minister and BJP ally Ram Vilas Paswan proposed the resolution. Paswan, who joined Singh in the media briefing, too dismissed Oppositions protest over EVMs as a case of collective frustration over their impending defeat and also warned them of tit for tat. He did not elaborate what he meant by that. Also Read| A deep dive into the 2019 poll campaign and how it unfolded The Lok Janshakti Party chief said Modi turned emotional when he mentioned the political violence, targeting BJP workers, in states of Kerala and West Bengal. Shah had hosted another meeting for Union ministers earlier Tuesday. The BJP described the meeting as an occasion to thank ministers for their service to the nation. The NDA resolution also expressed its concern over the systematic assault by the Opposition on institutions ranging from the CAG, Election Commission and judiciary to police and armed forces. Modi described the NDA as an alliance of Indias hope and aspirations, saying it has become an organic entity like a family and is representative of the countrys regional aspirations. The NDA leaders at the meeting, which was presided by Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, felicitated the prime minister and praised his council of ministers for their work. The resolution expressed confidence that the NDA will come back to power under Modi and said its government planned a capital investment of 100 lakh crore in infrastructure while 25 lakh crore will be devoted to farm and rural sectors. Hailing Modis leadership and expressing faith in him, the resolution adopted by NDA leaders said their alliance is a true representative of Indias diversity and dynamism. It is the alliance that manifests the dreams and aspirations of 130 crore Indians. Today, the NDA has become the principal pole in Indian politics. Under the leadership of PM Modi, the NDA government has future-proofed India, which means the creation of next-generation roads, railways, highways, i-ways and ports infrastructure that caters to the needs of the present and coming generations, it said. The NDA, the resolution added, stands as a bulwark against the vote-bank politics and old-school political thinking of the Opposition whose 20th-century politics has not cut ice with the young voters of the 21st century. The last five years were about fulfilling the basic needs of the people; now is the time to further increase the pace of progress and meet the aspirations of the people, it said. It also praised the outgoing governments development and welfare initiatives. Singh said its work on the security and diplomatic fronts have ensured that India is no longer seen as a soft state by the world. We resolved that once again under the leadership of PM Modi, by 2022, when India marks 75 years of freedom, it is our endeavour to fulfil the dreams of our great freedom fighters and give shape to the strong, prosperous, developed and inclusive India they dreamt of, it said. Besides representatives of 36 NDA constituents, Singh said leaders of three other parties also sent their letters of support at the alliance meeting. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday likened his campaign for this Lok Sabha election to a pilgrimage, saying it stood out from other polls as it was being fought by the people and not the party alone. He made these remarks at a meeting of ministers of his government at the BJP headquarters where he thanked them for their work, Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters. I have seen many elections but this one was beyond politics. Public was fighting them. I have campaigned in assembly elections and undertaken political tours for the party in different elections. When I toured during these polls, it seemed that I was on a pilgrimage, the prime minister was quoted as saying. He met Union ministers from the BJP as well as allies at the meeting- called Aabhar milan (expressing gratitude)- hosted by party president Amit Shah. Shah also later hosted a dinner for party leaders and allies. The BJP described the meeting as an occasion to thank ministers for their service to the nation ahead of the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election on May 23, following which a new government will assume charge. Later in a tweet, Shah said, I congratulate Team Modi Sarkar for their hard work and remarkable achievements in the last 5 years. Let us keep this momentum going for a New India under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi. Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, J P Nadda and Prakash Javadekar were among the key leaders from the BJP at the meeting. Some ministers from BJP allies, including Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party, Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Akali Dal and Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal, also attended the meeting. In the dinner meet, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, JD(U) president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, besides other allies were present. The saffron camp has expressed confidence that the NDA will emerge victorious, with the exit polls too forecasting a return of the Modi government. (The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text, only the headline has been changed.) BJP president Amit Shah Wednesday slammed the opposition over its doubts on EVMs, saying the rival parties are rattled by their likely defeat and are tarnishing India and its democracy by raising questions on its electoral process. He also termed as unconstitutional the demand of 22 opposition parties that the Election Commission change its counting protocol and count five random VVPATs first, saying any decision in this regard is not possible without an all-party consensus. Complete Coverage of Lok Sabha Elections 2019: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/ In his tweets, Shah said the Supreme Court has given final shape to electoral process by hearing three PILs and asked if the opposition is raising questions on the apex court. Any opposition to electronic voting machines is disrespect to peoples mandate, he said, adding that many rival parties came to power through elections done through EVMs in the past. By end of day today, perhaps even earlier, India will have its say on who will administer the country for the next five years. All exit polls have predicted that the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will return to power. If that happens, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the face of the BJPs campaign, will win a second term in office. Although exit polls have been right, if only directionally, in four of the five parliamentary elections prior to 2019, they have been wrong before most significantly, in 2004. Either way, six weeks after the election process kicked off, Indian citizens will finally know which leader will represent their constituencies in the 17th Lok Sabha; which political party or formation is best positioned to form the next government; and, in case of a clear outcome, who will be the countrys Prime Minister for the next five years. The elections, held over seven phases, in 542 constituencies, witnessed the highest ever turnout in Indian history at 67.1% (tentative figure from the Election Commission) beating the previous record of 66.4% in the 2014 polls. At the national level, it was a battle between the NDA, led by the BJPs Modi, and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), led by Congress president, Rahul Gandhi, who was, however, not the alliance or partys declared prime ministerial face. But the battle also assumed distinct forms in distinct states where the BJP was taking on a range of regional formations, from the Samajwadi Party (SP)-Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP)-Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) alliance in Uttar Pradesh to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal or the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha. In some other states, particularly in the south, the battle was between distinct regional formations. For Complete Coverage of Lok Sabha Elections 2019 Click here: https://www.hindustantimes.com/lok-sabha-elections/ At stake was not just the formation of a new government, but the direction in which India should head. Modi sought an endorsement of his governance record of the past five years, including his economic management, foreign policy, and cultural agenda and projected his achievements as a decisive departure from the past towards a new India. In his speeches, Modi focused on four major themes. He highlighted the governments delivery in terms of rural assets (housing, gas cylinders, toilets, electrification); national security, particularly the response to terror emanating from Pakistan through surgical- and air-strikes; corruption, where he claimed that his government had heralded the end of middlemen even as the opposition sought power only to amass resources; and leadership, where he projected the NDA to be a cohesive whole under his firm stewardship and contrasted it with an adulterated alliance of warring parties with no ideological unity or leadership on the other side. There was also a fifth strong theme in the campaign. Without using the word Hindutva, Modi played on the identity of the majority community, rubbished the idea of Hindu terror and accused the opposition of playing vote bank politics, which his base understood as code for appeasing Muslims. The Opposition sought to mobilise people to reject precisely this vision, accusing the government of economic ruin,institutional disruption and communal divisiveness. Also read: Amid EVM controversy, a look at what happens after the last vote is cast In his speeches, Gandhi focused on four themes as well. The first was a fierce attack on the Prime Minister for his alleged corruption in the Rafale deal, with the repeated invocation of the chowkidar chor hai (the watchman is the thief) slogan. This was supplemented with repeated accusations that the Modi government essentially favoured a set of crony capitalists. The second theme was highlighting what Gandhi claimed was the economic failure of the government. As proof, he cited demonetisation and the roll-out of the Goods and Services Tax. The third theme was how the Modi government has, in Gandhis assessment, attacked every independent institution, from influencing the Supreme Court, reducing the Election Commission to an instrument of the executive, and misusing investigative agencies. And finally, Gandhi emphasised his partys flagship promise of Nyay, an income assistance programme of 72,000 per year to 20% of Indias poorest families. Other regional leaders reiterated the strands of the Gandhis attack on Modi, with their own specific variations. Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav claimed to represent the subaltern and marginalised castes, while painting the BJP as anti-backward, anti-Dalit and anti-Muslim. Mamata Banerjee saw in the BJPs aggression in Bengal an attack on her states distinctiveness and accused the party of communal polarisation. The DMK in Tamil Nadu projected Modi and the BJP as having controlled the levers of power in the state after the death of Jayalalithaa through proxies, and saw in the partys ideological agenda an assault on the linguistic and cultural ethos of the south. But even as these were the major contours of the campaign, all parties had specific strategies and expectations from different states. But beyond the campaign agenda and the specific results in different states, the outcome today will determine the shape of the government for the remaining five years. Has India decided to re-elect Narendra Modi and give him another chance to fulfil his agenda, or does India want change in the form of an alternative alliance? We will know today. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON From nationalism to corruption and Varanasi to Wayanad, leaders discussed a host of issues and debated raging controversies in the high-pitched campaign for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Some stirred political storms and some fizzled out quickly, but not before shaping the great Indian political debate in what has been a gruelling election season. HT takes a look at some of the key talking points: NATIONALISM The terror attack on a convoy of the Central Reserve Police Force convoy in Pulwama in February and the Indian Air Forces subsequent action against a Jaish-e-Mohammed training camp inside Pakistan at Balakot dominated the campaign narrative. Even as the ruling BJP and PM Narendra Modi stressed that the government has zero-tolerance towards terrorism, the Opposition asked for the proof of casualties in Balakot, sparking a fierce debate. The Election Commission issued a directive asking leaders to exercise caution while making any reference to the armed forces in their campaigns. At rallies, Modi warned Pakistan that Indias nuclear arsenal was not for show. On several instances, the Opposition alleged that the PM violated the poll code by focusing on the army in his speeches. In an attempt to bolster the Congress in the national security debate, former PM Manmohan Singh said that several such operations had been carried out during the UPA rule. WELFARE OF THE POOR The Congresss campaign, to a large extent, revolved around its proposed minimum income guarantee plan, or Nyay, that promises to give an annual support of Rs 72,000 to the poorest 20% families if the party came to power. The opposition party accused the NDA government of failing to keep its promises, and alleged that the BJP was siding with only rich businessmen while ignoring farmers and the marginalised. BJP leaders trashed the charges, reiterating its commitment to kisans, highlighting its cash transfer scheme for farmers. CORRUPTION Congress President Rahul Gandhi targeted PM Modis government over alleged corruption in the Rafale jet deal, a charge rejected by the ruling dispensation. Ahead of the fifth phase, Modi termed former PM Rajiv Gandhi Corrupt No 1, apparently referring to the Bofors gun deal that was mired in allegations of corruption and bribery. Rahul and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hit back. ANTI-SIKH RIOTS Congress leader Sam Pitrodas hua to hua (it happened, so it happened) remark on the 1984 anti-Sikh riots grabbed headlines and sparked a political firestorm. PM Modi accused the Congress of arrogance and the BJP lashed out at Pitroda. The Congress president said it was completely out of line, and senior party leaders distanced themselves from the remark. Pitroda later apologised and said his remark was misinterpreted because his Hindi was not good. CONTROVERSIES The BJPs decision to field 2008 Malegaon blast accused Pragya Singh Thakur from Bhopal Lok Sabha seat stirred a row. Thakur, 48, who is out on bail, remained in news throughout the election season. She got two notices from the EC for her remarks over demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya and for saying that her curse killed former ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who was shot dead by terrorists during the 2008 Mumbai terror attack. Karkare probed the Malegaon blast case. Her remark describing Mahatma Gandhis assassin Nathuram Godse as a patriot for which she apologised later drew criticism. WILL SHE CONTEST? Priyanka Gandhi Vadras appointment as a Congress general secretary and the partys eastern Uttar Pradesh incharge triggered speculations over her possible candidature in the elections. Even names of high-profile seats such as Varanasi and Allahabad started doing the rounds. Priyanka said she would be happy to contest if her brother and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi asks her to. The buzz subsided after the party gave a ticket to Ajay Rai from Varanasi. ALL EYES ON WAYANAD Rahul Gandhis decision to fight the polls from Wayanad in northern Kerala, apart from the traditional Congress stronghold of Uttar Pradeshs Amethi, emerged as another talking point. While the Congress said the move will boost the partys prospects in southern India, Keralas ruling Left leaders sounded upset at the decision. VARANASI: HIGH-PROFILE SEAT A grand roadshow, a huge crowd during PM Modis nomination filing made it clear. The BJP is not just looking to win Varanasi, the prestigious seat held by the PM. It is out there to secure a record margin in the victory. Former BSF jawan Tej Bahadur Yadav, who was hoping to contest against Modi on a Samajwadi Party ticket, had to return empty-handed after the poll watchdog cancelled his papers. BUSY SCHEDULE FOR EC In the high-pitched poll season, the EC had to sweat it out. From complaints about poll code violations and EVM malfunctioning, and poll-related violence, the EC was pretty busy in handling the worlds biggest election. The poll watchdog gave clean chits to PM Modi in seven cases and BJP president Amit Shah in two cases. Rahul Gandhi got one clean chit and a notice. MAJBOOR VS MAZBOOT PM Modi set the tone for the elections, saying its an election to choose a mazboot (strong) government, and not a majboor (helpless) government, a reference to the coalition of different opposition parties. Modi also called the Opposition alliance a mahamilawat (adulterated). His war of words with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who he called speed-breaker didi, made news. Bengal was one of the states that witnessed one of the most violent election process, with the BJP trying to gain foothold in the TMC bastion. On Sunday, when exit poll results were being telecast, the 78-year-old leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Sharad Pawar, was busy working the phone lines to reach out to leaders from three non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) parties that have largely remained away from the Opposition alliance talks so far. Hindustan Times has learnt from officials aware of developments in the NCP and the Congress that Pawar was getting in touch with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), and the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP). While Jaganmohan Reddy (YSRCP) wasnt available because he is travelling abroad, Pawar spoke to Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik (BJD) and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (TRS), an NCP functionary said, requesting anonymity. Also Read | PM Modi concerned over Opposition kicking up needless controversy on EVMs The functionary added that the discussion between KCR, as K Chandrashekar Rao is popularly called, and Pawar took place at KCRs farmhouse outside Hyderabad. The functionary said KCR confirmed to Pawar that his party would be open to supporting the United Progressive Alliance in the event of a hung Parliament. TRSs Rajya Sabha MP J Santhosh Kumar, however, denied that KCR had spoken to Pawar. The NCP functionary said that Pawar, who has been in contact with Patnaik since the election for the deputy chairmans post in the Rajya Sabha last August (NCPs BK Hariprasad eventually lost to NDA candidate Harivansh), also got a positive response about a possible tie-up from the Odisha CM if the numbers were in their favour. Patnaiks office did not respond to queries seeking comment. Shri Pawar has been in touch with almost all non-NDA political parties over the last few days. Hes been doing this even before political schedule started and this is part of the reaching out. We are all now waiting for the results, said Rajya Sabha MP from Sharad Pawars party, Majeed Memon. He said Pawar did not share details of the calls that were made to the parties on Sunday. Also Read | Opposition lays ground to make quick claim if NDA tally falls short Congress managers who are now working out the post-poll strategy confirmed Pawars role as one of the key people talking to parties who may be open to supporting the United Progressive Alliance. He is talking to everybody, said a senior leader, asking not to be named. A senior YSRC leader, who asked not to be named, said Jaganmohan was sceptical about engaging with the Opposition camp because his political rival in Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, is playing an important role in the grouping as a key negotiator. Do they want a five- member party (Telugu Desam) or a 35-member bloc (the TRS and YSRCP together)?asked the YSRCP leader. Andhra Pradesh sends 25 members and Telangana 17 to the 543-member Lok Sabha. Odisha has 21 representatives in the Lower House. Congresss city president Milind Deora has written to the chief electoral officer of Maharashtra, raising doubts about the safety of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) stored in counting centres across the city. Ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections counting day on Thursday, Deora has called for security and vigilance to be beefed up to avoid any tampering. He has also demanded the poll commission to allow party workers to monitor counting centres and share passwords of the CCTV network inside the strong room. Deora, in his letter written on Tuesday, said party workers have raised concerns about the suspicious presence of unidentified people and vehicles around strongrooms, where the EVMs have been stored. Such movement has raised serious concerns about the safety and security of EVMs. To avoid any type of tampering, you are requested to increase the vigilance at these centres to ensure free and fair results, he has stated. Election commission, however, has ruled out any such possibility of tampering. Due security has been provided at strongrooms. We have received the letter from the Mumbai Congress chief and everything related to security is being done according to the standing guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), said Dilip Shinde, additional chief electoral officer of Maharashtra. Shinde said party workers are allowed to stay at designated areas at the counting centres, as per the ECI guidelines. According to officials from the state poll body, every strongroom is manned by 250 security personnel in three tiers. The first tier is manned by the Central Industrial Security Force, while the middle layer is by State Reserve Police Force and the outer tier is by the local police. More than 100 residents from Lokhandwala and Powai slammed the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for poor planning of Metro-6 (Swami Samarth Nagar to Vikhroli), at a public consultation meeting held on Tuesday. They also submitted their suggestions and objections for the corridor, with a large number demanding that the corridor be made underground. On Tuesday, the authority also revealed that close to 899 trees will be cut for the first two construction packages of the corridor. This enraged activists further as the project report stated that 57 trees will be cut for the project. The 14-km corridor has been divided into three packages. MMRDA officials had to face tough questions on why the consultation was held when work on the corridor has already begun. Residents were also agitated that the meeting was not addressed by the metropolitan commissioner or an additional metropolitan commissioner, but officials from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which is executing the project on behalf of MMRDA. Pamela Cheema, a resident of Powai said, We [the residents] should have been consulted before the work began. How can MMRDA call it a preliminary discussion when our lives have already been affected because of the work? Sonali Mishra, a resident of Powai, said the Metro should be re-routed via Chandivli, instead of clogging the Jogeshwari-Vikhroli link road (JVLR). The MMRDAs own DPR says that the peak-hour ridership on stations like Rambaug in Powai will be around 146. Who are we building this Metro for? Instead, the denser areas of Chandivli should get an underground metro. Stalin D, an environment activist, also questioned the MMRDAs decision of building a depot at Kanjurmarg (East). The same land was said to be marshy and unfit for Metro-3 depot. How is it suddenly fit for Metro-6? Debi Goenka, an environment activist, said, There is no clarity on any of the environmental aspects of the project. Earlier, it was said that 57 trees will be affected because of the project. Ashok Datar, a transport expert, said MMRDA should have instead undertaken a bus rapid transit project along the line. PK Sharma, project director, DMRC, said all the suggestions will be looked into thoroughly. We agree that the consultation might be late, but it is the right time for incorporating suggestions. There was a similar meeting held for Metro-7, where all suggestions were given due consideration. Sharma assured citizens that all options were considered before deciding on an elevated corridor. He also assured the citizens the Powai lake will not be affected in any way. There will be trouble during construction, but the line will benefit many, he said. Vishram Patil, chief of the social development cell of MMRDA, said, The objective of this meeting is to take suggestions from people. The minutes of this meeting will be shared with the people in a month. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Environmentalists on Tuesday complained to the government that over 1,500 mangrove trees across five acres were found hacked just outside an industrial zone at Uran. They also claimed construction debris, illegally dumped at the site over the past few months, had resulted in the destruction of more than 60% of the 400-acre Pagote wetlands. The complaint comes less than a week after the state mangroves committee, appointed by the Bombay high court (HC), issued directions to the Raigad district administration under which the area comes to check violations of environmental laws in their jurisdiction. Activists from Shree Ekvira Aai Pratishthan (SEAP) visited the site on Monday and Tuesday, and submitted their findings with satellite photographs (see box) to various government agencies. Nandkumar Pawar, head of SEAP, said that most of the mangrove destruction at the site happened while enforcement agencies were busy with the Lok Sabha elections. State agencies as landowners, have outsourced mangrove and wetland destruction activities to the debris mafia, and over the past two months the area has been decimated, he alleged. The City Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), which holds a stake in the industrial zone, said illegal debris dumping was carried out by unidentified persons. Private companies that have a stake in the industrial zone have not begun construction work. It is unclear where construction debris or mud is coming from, said Pramod Patil, nodal officer, environment and forest, Cidco. Responses obtained from the district administration earlier this month through right to information (RTI) queries revealed no permission was granted to state or private agencies to dump debris or reclaim any ecologically-sensitive areas in Uran. Debris dumping has been carried out without permission from the revenue department or district mining officer, said Afroz Baig, Raigad assistant district mining officer. We are awaiting directions from our district collector to initiate action. Environment clearances granted by the Union environment ministry to the industrial zone project proponents in 2006 stated that mangroves and bird habitats in the peripheral areas cannot be destroyed, and Bombay HC orders and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms need to be followed. Vijay Suryavanshi, Raigad district collector, said directions were issued to investigate the allegations on Tuesday. Due to elections, we were not able to investigate the matter properly. However, our mining officers will take stock of all violations. Environmental destruction will not be tolerated, and offenders will be taken to task, he said. Destruction of mangroves is illegal under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. In a 2005 HC order, that was upheld in September 2018, destruction of mangrove forests across the state as well as construction within 50m of mangroves was banned. The area falls under the jurisdiction of the revenue department. We will be informing them about the offence as it is a serious violation of HC orders, said Neenu Somraj, member secretary of the state mangrove committee. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Tamil director Vignesh Shivan is at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival where he met his all time fav filmmaker Quentin Tarantino. The filmmaker called the meeting his best moment at Cannes and added that it made his Cannes trip a success. Tarantino returned to the festival with his latest offering, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Met my all time fav legendary #quentintarantino !! Few words , shake hands , a smile .,, podhum da saaamyyyyy Cannes trip successssss #bestmoment #cannes #cannesfilmfestival #cannes2019, Vignesh wrote alongside a picture of the Hollywood director. Also read: Varun Dhawan, Natasha Dalal may be planning a Goa wedding in December: report Later, the Poda Podi director also shared a long post elaborating on his experience of watching Tarantinos Once Upon A Time in Hollywood that was screened at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival Tuesday night. The insane moments that I experienced yesterday for #QuentinTarantino & his film #onceuponatimeinhollywood was crazyyy!! Great experience , great moments and great learning #aspiring #directors #inspiration #cannes2019 #cannesfilmfestival #cannes #quentintarantino #leanardodicaprio #dicaprio #margotrobbie #bradpitt #premiere #respect #filmfestivals #filmmaker #writer #director, he wrote along with a video. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - Tarantinos ninth directorial - had its premiere at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival. The film releases worldwide in July this year. The film is an ode to the Hollywood of his childhood and explores how the Golden Age of the industry came to an end with the murder of actor Sharon Tate at the hands of the Manson Family cult in 1969. It features Leonardo DiCaprio as Rick Dalton - an ageing, out-of-work actor, with Brad Pitt playing his long-time stunt double named Cliff Booth. The two characters happen to be the neighbours of Tate, essayed by Margot Robbie in the film. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Actor Karisma Kapoor is all set to make a comeback to acting with web series, Mentalhood. The actor was last seen in 2012 film Dangerous Ishhq. While she is a mother of two kids - daughter Samaiera and son Kiaan Raj Kapoor in real life -- the actor will be seen as a mother of three kids living in Mumbai. The actor can be seen shutting her ears on the poster as three kids engage in pillow fight in the background. Producer Ekta Kapoor welcomed Karisma on board and tweeted, @altbalaji n I welcome Karishma Kapoor on board to frontline this amazing ensemble of mommies! She was d first n only choice n it took many mtngs ( n ten fully bound scripts ) to get this perfectionist on board !!!p.s Thanku Reshma #Mentalhood. She wrote in another tweet, Meet meira sharma (she was meera but the momzillas call her meiraaa mairaaa to make her sound more fashionable)she is d inner voice of all moms ! She navigates her way thru gluten free chips n gajar ka halwa..bullies n control freaks ...n then blogs all of it!!! #Mentalhood. .@altbalaji n I welcome Karishma Kapoor on board to frontline this amazing ensemble of mommies! She was d first n only choice n it took many mtngs ( n ten fully bound scripts ) to get this perfectionist on board !!!p.s Thanku Reshma #Mentalhood pic.twitter.com/pKzvdnjJ32 Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) May 22, 2019 Meet meira sharma (she was meera but the momzillas call her meiraaa mairaaa to make her sound more fashionable)she is d inner voice of all moms ! She navigates her way thru gluten free chips n gajar ka halwa..bullies n control freaks ...n then blogs all of it!!! #Mentalhood pic.twitter.com/m2ZREOjsJc Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) May 22, 2019 The web series will showcase the topsy-turvy ride of the various kinds of mothers that exist and how they manoeuvre their way through unreasonable expectations and eccentricities to raise their children. How multi-tasking becomes a habit and constant worrying and guilt becomes their nature forms the crux of the show. Also read: Shadaa trailer: Diljit Dosanjh finally gets to marry Kylie Jenner, Akshay Kumar calls it mad fun. Watch video Talking about why she gave her nod to the show, Karisma said, Out of choice I wanted to be with my family and children. After a while when I heard this script it was so interesting, the script was about todays mother and it was so strong. Women of all ages and all those who are mothers will identify with my characters. It is also something which I am going through right now. Young parents and older parents will identify with Mentalhood. My character is todays mom and as a human, she will do the right thing and is real. I am thoroughly enjoying shooting with all my lovely co-actors. The show will release later this year. Revealing that her children are also excited about her getting back to work, Karisma told IANS in an interview, They are excited that I am working again. I started working at a very young age. Everyone in my family has been an actor and contributed to this industry. I have grown up with a really strong work ethic, and I think thats hopefully gone down to my children as well. Karisma credits mother Babita for her success so far and added, She has given me and sister (Kareena) the strength and the grounding. We have learnt a lot from her. She gave us really good values like to respect our family, to value money, to work hard and be sincere and be good human beings. These things go in a long way. These mould you as a person.. Follow @htshowbiz for more American helmer Terrence Malick makes movies that come close to a three-hour run time but his creations like The Thin Red Line and A Tree of Life can be abstract, confounding and confusing. But as much as Malick may be a viewers nightmare, he can, at the same time, be a jurys delight. In 2011, he won the Palm dOr for A Tree of Life. Nobody can deny that he is enormously talented, but he is also frighteningly mystifying. However, his latest title, A Hidden Life, which played as part of the Cannes 2019 Competition, has a less abstract narrative, though it leaves behind many unanswered questions. Based on a true story, set during World War II, A Hidden Life talks about an Austrian man, married with children. But the mans often puzzling conscience takes him to the Nazi guillotine. A Hidden Life has been directed by Terrence Malick. (Reiner Bajo) Running three hours, the film is gorgeous to look at, and director of photography (DOP) Jorg Widmer captures the Austrian landscape in its lush splendour. The undulating lands, the imposing mountains and the lively streams add beauty to a story whose climax is all but predictable. But, yes, I am sure there must have been some in the audience who would have wished for a happier end. Also read | Game of Thrones stars Kit Harington, Sophie Turner react to final season backlash: Shut up, it was perfect Shot in northern Austria, which may not be far from where the classic, The Sound of Music, was filmed, A Hidden Life begins with a black-and-white footage of Hitlers rise and his arrogant invasions. Later, it settles down to a more personal format. Franz Jagerstatter (August Diehl) and his wife, Franziska (Valerie Pachner), have a farm. But after the German takeover, Franz is called for military duty, and he goes just like everybody else. But when he is called upon to swear his allegiance to Hitler, he flat refuses. Warned by his local priest not to get into this kind of defiant mode (Your sacrifice will benefit no one), Franz remains steadfast in his commitment to his conscience. A Hidden Life has its problems. It seems highly incredible that a man like Franz, who loves his wife and brood of daughters, would put his own life in peril, knowing full well that defying the Fuhrer could mean death. Malick never explains the reasons for Franzs stand. At best, they seem fuzzy, and he is never allowed to explain to his family the reason for his dogged pursuit to oppose Hitler. We are left in the dark as to why the man internalises his struggle, and often the movie begins to look like a silent work. With 173 minutes at hand, Malick could have offered a more convincing view of Franzs life. He was certainly not interested in being a martyr. He adored his family. But did his love and loyalty for Austria overshadow his responsibility towards his mother, wife and children? Malick never answers. (Gautaman Bhaskaran has covered Cannes close to three decades.) Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop The US department of defense has included Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) among the three terrorist organisations posing the greatest threat to foreign troops in Afghanistan, with at least 300 LeT operatives active in the war-torn country. LeT, designated a global terror organisation by the US and the UN, was responsible for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people. The US has offered a $10 million bounty for the groups founder, Hafiz Saeed, whose bid to be removed from a list of sanctioned terrorists was rejected by the UN in March. There have been reports of LeT cadres fighting alongside the Afghan Taliban for more than a decade, though the report by the lead inspector general of the US department of defenses office of inspector general is perhaps the first public acknowledgement of the threat posed by the group in Afghanistan. The report for the period from January 1 to March 31 summarises significant events related to Operation Freedoms Sentinel, the official name for US-led military operations in Afghanistan. The report states the department of defense identified the Haqqani Network, the Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM), and Lashkar-e Tayyiba as groups that present the greatest threat to US and allied forces in Afghanistan. In its estimates of the size of terror groups in Afghanistan, the report states some 300 LeT fighters are active in the country. The Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, another Pakistan-based group that is a faction of the Pakistani Taliban, was estimated to have 200 fighters in Afghanistan. LeT, formed in the 1980s as a militant arm of Markaz Dawa Wal-Irshad, is one of the largest terror groups currently operating from Pakistani soil. Over the years, its operatives have been linked to terrorist activities in Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Europe, apart from their primary target, India. Though Pakistan banned LeT in 2002, the group has continued to recruit, raise funds and operate a large network of camps, madrassas and other facilities across the country. Mounting pressure from the Financial Action Task Force and Western powers resulted in Pakistan banning two LeT front organisations Jamaat-ud-Dawah (JuD) and Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF) only in March this year. The US report said the conflict in Afghanistan was continuing despite talks between the special representative for Afghan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, and Taliban representatives, who had reached an agreement in draft on a framework for peace. Under the draft agreement, the Taliban will deny safe haven to terror groups in Afghanistan, and the US will withdraw its forces. While the agreement in draft is an important milestone in the negotiation process, the peace talks could break down at any time, the report said. The report estimated the Khorsan wing of Islamic State, Haqqani Network and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan each had 3,000 to 5,000 fighters in Afghanistan, while al-Qaeda had about 300 fighters. The presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan, particularly al-Qaeda and ISIS-K, remains a central focus of the [Operation Freedoms Sentinel] mission and has emerged as one of the key concerns in the ongoing peace negotiations. As the peace talks continue, the questions of whether the Taliban can help influence and deny sanctuary to these groups, and the extent to which an ongoing US counterterrorism presence may be required, have become more prominent, the report said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Xi Jinpings visit earlier this week to a rare earth firm in east Chinas Jiangxi province has triggered sharp speculation whether the strategic sector will be included in the escalating Sino-US trade war. China is one of the worlds major suppliers of rare earth metals, a group of 17 elements that are widely used in high-tech products ranging from flat-screen TVs to lasers and military equipment. According to some estimates, China is sitting on 90 percent of the worlds rare earth reserves. Chinas rare earths exports, a Reuters report said, have been spared from recent tariffs by the US, which has decided not to impose import duties on those and some other critical minerals from China as part of the trade war. Beijing, however, has raised tariffs on imports of U.S. rare earth metal ores from 10 percent to 25 percent from June 1, making it less economical to process the material in China, the report said. Xis visit to the JL MAG Rare-Earth company as well as the development of the rare earth industry in the city of Ganzhou could be an indication that Beijing is well aware of the power of the element of rare earth in the ongoing tit-for-tat trade war and could be ready to deploy it. Xi was accompanied by vice-premier Liu He, the top negotiator with Washington amid the ongoing dispute. Brief reports on the visit didnt give details or mention the trade war but the official news agency, Xinhuas report in Chinese pointed out the importance of rare earth to China, calling it industrial vitamin, industrial gold and mother of new materials. It also said that rare earth is an important element that cannot be regenerated. In March, China announced that the first batch of quota for rare earths totals 60,000 tonnes, about half the quota set for 2018, according to a circular jointly issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Of the total, 50,425 tonnes were allocated for light rare earths, with 9,575 tonnes for medium and heavy rare earth metals, the Xinhua reported. China has by far been the largest source of imported rare earths into the US for a number of years, totalling almost US$92 million in 2018, according to the US International Trade Commission. Japan, the US second largest source, contributed US$23 million worth of imports in the same year, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. Interestingly, Xi visited a monument in Yudu, in the same province, which marked the start of the Communist Partys Long March 85 years ago. It could be interpreted as the Communist partys general secretarys message of unity and endurance to the Chinese amid trade war. The ministry of foreign affairs, however, advised against over interpreting Xis visits. Its only normal for the Chinese leader to pay a domestic field trip and do research on relevant industrial policies. I hope you will not over-interpret that. To the China-US economic and trade relations, just like I said earlier, they must be based on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, spokesperson, Lu Kang said. India is in the process of setting up a chair in a British university as part of Guru Nanaks 550th birth anniversary celebrations, Indias high commissioner announced at an event in Cardiff attended by local dignitaries and others. The Guru Nanak Chair funded by India is to be based in a university in the Midlands region of England, which has a considerable population of Sikh and Indian origin. Ruchi Ghanshyam announced the plan over the weekend among other initiatives to mark the year-long celebrations. Part of the high commissions community outreach, the event was organised at Cardiff University in association with the Sikh Council of Wales and four gurdwaras in Wales. It was attended by the first minister of Wales Mark Drakeford and others. Recalling Guru Nanaks message transcending time, countries, castes, creed and gender, Ghanshyam said it is relevant today and would continue to guide humanity for generations to come. Besides the Guru Nanak Chair, Ghanshyam noted initiatives such as the development of the Kartarpur corridor and that of the historic town of Sultanpur Lodi, special trains connecting various holy places associated with Guru Nanak and commemorative coins and stamps. She said the universal appeal of Guru Nanaks message was reflected in the Sri Ram Mandir in Londons Southall, recently organising a major event with the participation of several gurdwaras and people of different faith. The Cardiff event was telecast live by the Sikh Channel to 106 countries and one of the highlights was children reciting shabad or the hymns from the Guru Granth Sahib and focus on the various facets of the Sikh culture, a spokesperson of the high commission said on Tuesday. Dignitaries at the event included Brooke Boothby, vice-lord lieutenant of Cardiff and South Glamorgan, Diane Rees, lord mayor of Cardiff, Jenny Randerson, chancellor of Cardiff University, Gurmit Singh Randhawa, president of Sikh Council in Wales, and professor James Hegarty of Cardiff University. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Top US officials told Congress in close-door briefings that ongoing actions regarding Iran are about deterrence, not war as questions continued to be raised if the Trump administration is gunning for a conflict or could accidentally provoke one through a miscalculation. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo and secretary of defence Pat Shanahan on Tuesday briefed US Senate and the House of Representatives on the credible intelligence that led to recent escalation, with the US deploying an aircraft carrier group, bombers and anti-missile defence system to the region. We have deterred attacks based on our reposturing of assets, deterred attacks against American forces, Shanahan said after the briefings. We do not want the situation to escalate. This is about deterrence, not about war or not about going to war. This is about continuing to protect our interests in the Middle East and conducting the missions that we are there to perform. The specific intelligence cited by the US was the sudden appearance of small Iranian boats carrying missiles in the Persian Gulf, which were since withdrawn. While some officials described them as offensive manoeuvres by Iran, others, and critics, called them defensive. Emerging from those closed-door sessions, lawmakers seemed unconvinced both about the intelligence and the administrations plans. I still dont have a clear idea of what the administrations objectives are, Adam Smith, chairman of the Democratic-led House armed services committee, told reporters. There was a lot of talk at the briefing of the huge risk of Iran miscalculating, he added, but I think there is a risk of miscalculation on both sides, and that remains my biggest concern. Republicans, in contrast, were largely in agreement with the administration. Critics have been most concerned about National Security Adviser John Bolton, an Iran hawk who wasnt at the briefing. His belligerence continues to fuel an impression the US is spoiling for a fight. In a quiet neighborhood near Googles headquarters last month, rusty, oleaginous sewage was seeping from a parked RV onto the otherwise pristine street. Sergeant Wahed Magee, of the Mountain View Police Department, was furious. You guys need to take care of it, like ASAP, he said, lecturing the young couple living in the vehicle. Im not going to tow it today, but tomorrow if I come out here and its like this, its getting towed! As he delivered the ultimatum, a self-driving car rolled past. Mountain View is a wealthy town thats home to Alphabet Inc., the worlds fourth-most valuable public corporation and Googles owner. Magee spends a lot of his time knocking on the doors of RVs parked on the citys streets, logging license plates and marking rigs that havent moved for several days. This is the epicenter of a Silicon Valley tech boom that is minting millionaires but also fueling a homelessness crisis that the United Nations recently deemed a human rights violation. Thousands of people live in RVs across San Francisco and the broader Bay Area because they cant afford to rent or buy homes. In December, Mountain View police logged almost 300 RVs that appeared to be used as primary residences. Palo Alto, Berkeley and other Bay Area towns have similar numbers. Some Silicon Valley towns have cracked down in recent months, creating an even more uncertain future for RV residents. At a March city council meeting, Mountain View voted to ban RVs from parking overnight on public streets. The ban hasnt taken effect yet, but soon, the towns van dwellers will need to go elsewhere. The city council also declared a shelter crisis and passed a new ordinance to ticket vehicles that discharge domestic sewage on the public right of way. At the meeting, some people opposing the ban blamed Google for the housing crisis. In my neighborhood there are a group of five or six duplexes and a couple that I know lived in one of them for 22 years. When Google moved in next door, their landlord raised the rent by $700 a month, said resident Susan Barkin. Preventing parking and throwing more people out of our community is unconscionable. I do not want to live in a town where the only people who can afford to be here are very, very, rich techies or very, very, old retirees like myself. If representatives from Google were in attendance, they didnt speak up to defend the company or address the housing crisis. But the issue has arisen inside the Googleplex. At a staff meeting earlier this year, one Google worker asked why Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai was paid hundreds of millions of dollars, while some employees struggle to afford to live in the area. Pichai said it has little control over the high cost of living, people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg at the time. The median rent in Mountain View almost doubled since late 2010 to $4,151 a month. Thats nearly triple the national average, according to Trulia. The median home value is $1.8 million, up from $750,000 ten years ago, according to Zillow. We have rising rents. We have gentrification. We have people being displaced, said Jennifer Loving, head of Destination: Home, a group thats trying to reduce homelessness in Santa Clara County, home to Google and Mountain View. All of that together is creating an untenable situation for thousands and thousands of families and individuals who are trying to live and work here. At first, its hard to spot RVs that are used as homes. But these vehicles are all over Silicon Valley. They line frontage roads that run alongside highways. There will often be a chain of them on quieter streets in office parks and light industrial areas. But they can also be found on suburban residential streets parked in rows opposite the ranch-style homes common to the area. The RVs are often white or beige, and the windows are covered with blinds, sheets or blankets for privacy. Leaves and dust sometimes accumulate on the windshield wipers, and some have generators on the back for extra power. Around Googles campus there are sometimes multicolored company bikes parked nearby so RV dwellers can jump on and ride to work. Soon, these impromptu communities may be gone. Before that happens, Bloomberg spent the past month interviewing RV residents and speaking with officials and other locals about the phenomenon. One 24-year-old Google contract worker lives in a rented RV with her girlfriend close to the internet giants campus. She asked that her name not be published, because she didnt want her employer to know about her living situation. She grew up in the Bay Area and served in the Navy for three years. After that, she studied psychology, then moved to Atlanta where she rented a townhouse for $1,050 a month. She applied online to be a Google security guard and when the contracting firm gave her the job, she moved to Mountain View in April. She initially considered renting a small apartment, but realized she couldnt save any money that way. An apartment out here would cost at least $2,500 a month, she said. The money I make here is great, but I would be pretty much spending the majority of that on rent and I just dont want to do that. So she decided to rent the RV for $800 a month. Theres less space. Thats the main thing. Its confined, she said. Her day starts on Googles campus where she can grab a quick breakfast, usually a banana. Lunch is also available at headquarters, while dinner is prepared on the RVs two stove tops. Theres no oven. Complaints from neighbors arent a problem because shes parked the RV close to Googles headquarters, which is all office parks with very few residential buildings. At night, she takes courses at the City College of San Francisco to become a firefighter. If she can get a job as a firefighter in San Francisco within a year, shell continue to stay here, she said. If not, I will take my earnings and go back to Georgia and purchase a home and live happily ever after. I can probably buy a house back there. Its Georgia, its really cheap. Another RV resident in Mountain View is a 41-year-old IT professional who now drives for Lyft Inc. He moved from Sacramento about two years ago after his wife got a job at a big drug-development company in Silicon Valley. (He asked not to be identified because he worries his wife might lose her job if her employer learns about her living situation.) Once they arrived, they realized they couldnt afford to rent an apartment and build their savings, despite a combined income of roughly $100,000 a year. We just did the math when we were, you know, renting a room, and we could kind of stay afloat but theres no way to save any money for retirement or the future at all, he said. The Lyft driver, and other van dwellers around him, said they arent sure what theyll do when the parking ban kicks in, rendering their situation illegal. Many hope to just muddle through somehow. Im aware of the ban, said Brandon, another Mountain View RV resident who didnt want to share his last name. Ill cross that particular bridge when I get to it. Tech companies should be doing more to fix the housing crisis, the Lyft driver said. There was a time when corporations were allowed to operate because they were also providing for the communities around them in some way, he said. And for some reason that responsibility has shifted to profits only. Google declined to comment, but referred to an interview one of the companys public policy managers, Rebecca Prozan, gave to PBS in 2016. Obviously, our footprint creates pressure. It creates pressure on housing and transportation, but that pressure isnt just tech. Its not just Google, she said. Its all the industries that are creating the economy of the Bay Area. We all have to work together to figure out what were going to look like, and how were going to live. When asked about employees living in RVs, she said: We dont necessarily want to comment on our employees participating in those activities. Since 2014, Google has given more than $14 million to groups tackling homelessness in Mountain View. That includes $1 million for Destination: Home, and $1.5 million to help with construction of a 67-unit affordable housing development. It also has a plan to invest much more in a project to build thousands of homes on a nearby part of the city called North Bayshore. Twenty percent of that will be affordable housing, although its a long way from happening: Mountain View hasnt decided how to proceed yet. Loving, the head of Destination: Home, thinks the North Bayshore plan should include a lot more affordable housing. But she and others say its not just about money. There needs to be political willpeople have to want to help their neighbors in need. Some Silicon Valley residents dont want new apartment buildings changing their suburban towns, and they get angry at the thought of affordable housing bringing poorer people to their neighborhoods. Two years ago, about 500 local residents showed up at a meeting to discuss small, temporary housing in San Jose. Many screamed and shouted at Loving and her colleagues. At one point, the crowd chanted build a wall to keep homeless people away. There have been meetings since where theres a lot of fear about what these developments would look like, and fear is a really powerful emotion and it seems to supersede logic, Loving said. Some cities are beginning to work more affordable housing into their expansion plans. And theres a growing movement of residents who support, rather than fight, such development. But its nowhere near enough to fix the problem quickly. Thats a risk to Silicon Valley itself, because tech companies may go elsewhere. In February, Googles CEO Sundar Pichai announced a plan to spend $13 billion on new and expanded offices and data centers. A lot of this is outside Silicon Valley, where its cheaper to hire talentin part because housing is more plentiful. Theres a second issue, too. If teachers, nurses, trash collectors and other regular workers cant afford to live the area, the fabric of society begins to fray, according to Alison Hicks, a Mountain View council member who voted against the RV ban. To have a regular functioning town you need to have occupational diversity, she said. You cant have a town that functions if we only have tech workers living in it It wont be a functioning city as I know it. It wouldnt be a city I would want to live in. Back on Mountain Views streets, Magee followed up on the RV that was dripping with sewage. The following day, the owners had fixed the problem. When asked whether the RV situation will ultimately be resolved, Magee looked tired as he thought about the answer. After a 12-hour day, he had a long drive ahead to get homehe cant afford to live in Mountain View. The way things are going, I dont see how its all gonna disappear, he said. Where are we gonna put everyone? India and China have reached a consensus on maintaining stability in their relationship and avoiding the ups and downs that have characterised ties in recent years, outgoing Chinese ambassador Luo Zhaohui said on Wednesday. Luo, who has been promoted as vice minister in the foreign ministry responsible for Asia, is expected to leave India at the end of the month. He played a key role in putting bilateral relations back on an even keel after the military standoff between India and China at Doklam in the tri-junction with Bhutan in 2017. One major feature is that such types of important bilateral relations always see ups and downs. So we have a consensus...with the Indian government on how to make this relation stable and break the up and down circle, he told the media on the margins of a seminar hosted by the Chinese embassy. The India-China relationship is important for both countries and the leadership of the two sides had reached consensus on ensuring that ties continue to move in a healthy and stable direction, Luo said. India-China relations improved after the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in the Chinese city of Wuhan last year. The top leaders of the two sides are expected to hold the second informal summit in India later this year. In 2020, the two sides will mark the 70th anniversary of bilateral relations. Luo referred to the Doklam face-off and said something going wrong between two big neighbours is as natural as two brothers of a family living under one roof having issues. The two sides did not ignore the matter and instead worked together to resolve it and this ensured bilateral ties were back on the normal track, he added. That is my job and the two leaders of both countries did a great job and provided strategic guidelines, he said. Despite the border problem between the two nations, Luo said it was important to maintain peace along the boundary. McDonalds workers filed dozens of new sexual harassment charges against the fast food giant, advocates said Tuesday, escalating a years-long battle for unionization in the US and stronger worker protections. The complaints, filed with the US agency that investigates workplace misconduct, were on behalf of workers in 20 cities. Allegations included groping, indecent exposure, propositions for sex and retaliation against those who complained. Dozens of workers protested in front of the companys headquarters in Chicago, two days before its annual shareholders meeting, tying their efforts to the #MeToo movement. I was subjected to a humiliating and intimidating environment at McDonalds and managers did nothing to stop it, said Jamelia Fairley, a worker of a Florida store who filed a complaint. In advance of the protest, McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook said in a letter that the company has improved its sexual harassment policy, training and education initiatives, and provided resources for its franchisees to do the same. The McDonalds system has always had an unyielding commitment to providing a safe and respectful work environment for all, Easterbrook said in the letter. The company has said it has limited authority over the personnel decisions of its US franchisees -- independent businesses that operate more than 90 percent of its 14,000 US restaurants. Workers say little if anything has changed since 10 complaints were filed last year with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and 15 complaints in 2016. Many of the cases are still pending -- two have advanced to lawsuits, joining three other lawsuits filed outside of EEOC review, according to workers advocates who claim McDonalds has not done enough to address their concerns. We can find no one who has heard of a new policy or training initiative, said Gillian Thomas, an attorney with the ACLU Womens Rights Project, which is helping the workers. Workers are demanding the right to help craft sexual harassment policies and for the corporation to assert control over the personnel decisions of franchisees. Their demands are part of a unionization effort of McDonalds workers known as Fight for $15 -- an initiative begun in 2012 with demands for a $15 minimum wage. The Times Up legal defense fund, created to help workers who dont have deep pockets to fight sexual harassment, is bankrolling the effort. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) More than 50 years after being shot down, a Navy pilot is honored for his sacrifice The inscription on the white marble headstone of Lt. Cmdr. Frederick Peter Crosby, whose remains were buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego on Memorial Day weekend in 2017, reads simply: NOW HE IS HOME. Crosby was home 52 years after being shot down over North Vietnam and listed as dead but also considered missing in action because his remains had not been recovered. On a beautiful Sunday morning along the rolling hillside of Fort Rosecrans overlooking San Diego Bay, Crosby was given a funeral with full military honors attended by no less than 300 people. Many were friends who came to support the family, but others were paying their respects to a decorated Navy pilot killed while serving his country. Following an emotional 40-minute ceremony that included a nerve-shattering three-volley gun salute from seven Navy riflemen, four F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets in perfect formation executed the missing man flight honoring a fallen aviator. Crosbys headstone will be among the thousands of white marble monuments precisely aligned in a cemetery groomed to perfection. On June 1, 1965, Crosby and his wingman had taken off from the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard and were flying unarmed RF-8A Crusader reconnaissance planes on a dangerous photo mission over North Vietnam, made even more dangerous because of low clouds and poor visibility. On a low approach to photograph an important bridge about 20 miles south of Hanoi, groundfire erupted, and soon Crosbys stricken jet crashed at high speed into a small fish pond. His wingman survived the mission. Crosby was 31. He and his wife, Mary, had been married for 10 years. They had four children, Douglas, age 8; Deborah, 6; Steven, 4; and John, 2. The lieutenant commander was also survived by an older brother, David, and a sister, Sharon. Crosbys wife and children lived in the San Diego area during the pilots deployment at sea. Douglas, Steven and John still live there. Frederick Peter Crosby was born June 15, 1933, the son of Lowell and Dena Crosby of Lockport, New York. An avid model airplane builder and aviation enthusiast, he wanted to be a pilot someday, most particularly a Navy pilot. He attended the University of Florida in Gainesville but left when he was accepted into the Navys flight training program. He later received a degree in naval science. The Crosby familylike the families of many Americans whose loved ones were missing after the war endedhad a long journey to endure before they could lay their hero to rest. First, the remains had to be found. American search teams have been allowed in Vietnam only since 1988 and conduct joint searches with Vietnamese counterparts, but access to some sites has been restricted. Even with Vietnamese cooperation, plenty of difficulties confront recovery efforts. The investigators dont have unlimited funds and often know only the general coordinates of crash sites, which might not look like they did during the war years. Nevertheless, Deborah Crosby refused to accept the near impossible and pursued the quest for her fathers remains with dogged research and untiring efforts. Investigators from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, housed within the U.S. Defense Department, were also in pursuit of Crosbys remains. They made multiple trips to the suspected location of the crash. The area was covered in vegetation, and the wreckage had been removed many years earlier. The Defense Department team, however, had the good fortune of meeting an 89-year-old farmer who was so close to the crash that he was splashed with mud and water when the plane plunged into the pond. The searchers used buckets to empty the pond and spent days sifting through mud and slime before finding Crosbys wedding ring and cigarette lighter. Greatly encouraged, the searchers continued until they uncovered several bone fragments, mainly from one of Crosbys hip bones. That was enough, and after DNA testing at a Defense Department lab in Hawaii, using sister Sharons DNA, a positive identification was made. On the Friday afternoon before Memorial Day 2017, Delta Flight 1687 from Hawaii arrived at San Diego International Airport. In keeping with Deltas tradition of showing respect for returning military remains, the captain asked all passengers to stay seated until Cosbys flag-draped casket was removed. There were no passenger complaints. Standing on the tarmac were Crosbys sons Douglas, Steven and John, daughter Deborah, brother David and sister Sharon. Mary Crosby, who never remarried and died in 2002, was surely there in spirit. Now the long-awaited closure had begun. Deltas volunteer honor guard and six sailors in dress white uniforms stood at attention while the family had all the time they wanted to welcome Peter home. Later the six sailors, with military precision, escorted the casket to the Fort Rosecrans chapel, where it would remain until Sundays ceremony. At precisely 10:30 a.m. on May 28, a white horse pulling a black caisson with Crosbys casket began its journey to the vestibule. On each side of the roadway, standing at attention and holding American flags, were about 20 members of the Patriot Guard Riders, an all-veteran motorcycle group whose mission is to show honor and respect to fallen warriors. Basically unnoticed but there paying his respects was another Vietnam veteran, John P. Baca, a Medal of Honor recipient who served with the 1st Cavalry Division (Airmobile) in 1970. After the ceremony, he said, I just had to be here. As hard as he tried to not show it, you could see that his emotions were fragile. Prayers were said, speeches were made, taps was blown, but it was the American flag now precisely folded and being presented to Deborah that caused tears in most everyones eyes. With the ceremony concluded, it was time to place Lt. Cmdr. Frederick Peter Crosby in his final resting place, and for this it was requested only his immediate family be present. Thomas R. Messick, a retired Army major, served for 28 years as an Army aviator, including two tours in Vietnam. Later he retired as manager of flight operations and chief helicopter pilot for General Electric Co. At the start of 1939, most of England had, for the most part, written Winston Churchill off as an alarmist. The Munich Agreementa peace pact between Nazi Germany and the rest of Europe had been created to avert the risk of war between nations. However, Churchills worries about Hitler and his dubious ambitions would soon be proven right. And within 18 months, Churchill had gone from a voice in the wilderness warning of the great danger posed by Nazi Germany to prime minister of the United Kingdom. The Nazi invasion of Poland had touched off World War II. The fighting raged across globe, as far as Uruguay, where a squadron of British cruisers chased down the German pocket battleship Graf Spee and knocked it out of action in the first major naval battle of the war. U-boats were roaming the Atlantic, sinking merchant ships. In essence, it had become obvious that Neville Chamberlain, the British prime minister who had promised peace in our time but did not deliver peace at all. At the time Chamberlain stepped down, a military campaign in Norway was not going well for the British, and they were in the process of evacuating their forces after initial successes in two naval battles around Narvik. On May 8, Chamberlain barely survived a vote in parliament. Two days later, when the Nazis invaded Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and France, Chamberlain resigned. Churchill replaced him and was tasked with forming a coalition government. In his first speech to Parliament, he famously said, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. Joaquin Jimenez, Puente's community outreach coordinator, says La Sala provides a sense of community for many in the South Coast particularly farmworkers who can feel isolated. Review File Photo Metro Manila (May 22, CNN Philippines) President Rodrigo Duterte wants the trash from Canada shipped back immediately at the government's expense, his spokesperson said. In a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte had ordered that the government find a contractor that would return Canada's garbage which have been languishing in Philippine ports since 2013. "As a result of this offending delay, the President has instructed the appropriate office to look for a private shipping company which would bring back Canada's trash to the latter's jurisdiction," Panelo said, referring to the previous May 15 deadline set by the President. The spokesperson said that the Philippines would shoulder the shipping cost for the over 2,000 tons of trash that was brought to the Philippines in several batches from 2013 to 2014 by Canadian-based firm Chronic Plastics, Inc. "The government of the Philippines will shoulder the expenses and we do not mind," Panelo said, although he could not say where exactly the funds wouls come from. Should Canada not accept the trash, Panelo said that it would be left within the territorial waters of North American country. "If Canada will not accept the trash, we will leave the same within the territorial waters, or 12 nautical miles out to sea from the baseline, of any of their country's shores," he said. Asked if the government had already informed Canada about the decision, the spokesperson said that the press conference counted as the announcement. The move showed just how insulted Duterte was by the Canadian government's failure to meet the May 15 to retrieve the trash. READ: Canada offers to ship back its trash; DFA says 'delicate negotiations' underway "The President has already made his position. He, in fact, even said he would declare war. So it means na ganito siya ka-inis (that he is this irritated)," Panelo said. READ: Duterte threatens war vs. Canada for dumping trash in PH As for the possible adverse impact on Filipinos living in Canada, Panelo said, "I don't think they will be affected." The Philippines recalled its diplomats in Canada immediately day after the May 15 deadline expired. T he High Court will rule on the future of the regeneration of Elephant & Castle, in a test case over gentrification and cheaper homes for young Londoners. Southwark council has approved redevelopment of the Elephants notoriously shabby shopping centre, with Mayor Sadiq Khans support. But a crowdfunded legal challenge, which will be heard at the UKs highest court in July, claims there are not enough low-cost homes included in the 1 billion scheme. Of the 979 rental properties to be built by development giant Delancey, 116 will be for social rent typically offered to those who would otherwise be eligible for a council flat, and charged at around 100 a week for a one-bedroom home. Another 53 will be available for the London Living Rent, another social housing scheme, and will cost about 150 a week. Meanwhile, 161 will be rented under the banner of discount market rent, with an 80 per cent discount on market prices and aimed at households earning up to 60,000. On the open market a one-bedroom build-to-rent flat in Elephant & Castle costs about 2,000 a month. Most of affordable housing is simply not affordable to people who live in Southwark, said Jerry Flynn, who is leading the legal challenge. If we agree we are in a housing crisis, then big developers should be meeting the most severe need for affordable housing first. Flynn grew up on the Elephant & Castles Heygate Estate. He points out that some 1,200 council homes were lost when the Heygate was demolished to make way for new homes, but are being replaced by only around 600 equivalently priced homes in the area. A spokeswoman for Delancey said it was providing the maximum amount of affordable homes possible. The total affordable housing offer has been independently tested by Southwarks own viability consultants who calculated the levels to be the maximum reasonable offer the scheme can provide, she said. The shopping centre redevelopment also includes a new base for London College of Communications and a new retail mall, and is seen as the crucial new gateway to Elephant & Castle. But there are also concerns about the fate of the shops and restaurants currently based in the shopping centre. Delancey and Southwark are attempting to find new sites for 79 of the businesses based at the shopping centre and adjacent market, which include many restaurants and cafes run by the areas South American community. So far 36 have been offered new units. Delanceys spokeswoman said that efforts to relocate the rest were ongoing and when the new shopping centre is built, 10 per cent of its shops will be offered to independent businesses at cut-price rents. The legal dispute has won traders a temporary stay of execution. Last year Delancey said it was hoping to begin work on the decade-long building project in March this year. This has now been delayed at least until the High Courts ruling is announced. Paul Heron, of the Public Interest Law Centre, is the campaigners solicitor in the case. A victory could force Southwark to scrap the planning consent and begin the entire process again, potentially increasing the number of low-cost homes at the shopping centre. But it has a wider implication than one housing development. And he looked up through his glasses at me and said You better find the fly, he said. I crawled down on the floor and under the seat and was just praying there was a fly somewhere around there on the floor. And I found one. But I dont know if it was the one I was supposed to have swatted at the time, but I found one and showed it to him. And he just kind of gave me a look. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Now Open 22 May 2019 Best Western Hotels & Resorts today announced the arrival of GLo, an energetic and exciting boutique hotel, in Nashville, Tennessee. This property is the fifth GLo hotel to open in North America as the brand continues its rapid expansion. With a lively ambiance, GLo provides an energetic and dynamic experience featuring modern amenities, revolutionary architecture, stylish design and strategic use of LED lighting. Designed with the connected traveler in mind, the addition of digital keys, a digital concierge, and communal workspaces position the GLo brand as a powerful innovator in the growing upper-midscale market, and the ideal accommodation for today's mobile workforce. GLo hotels are already welcoming guests in key cities throughout North America including Asheville, North Carolina; Ottawa, Ontario; DeSoto, Texas; and Lexington, Kentucky. GLo offers an iconic experience that connects guests with state-of-the-art technology and modernized designs. The 93-room Nashville property is designed to connect today's savvy travelers with a spacious lobby area where they can unwind, a large meeting area to gather or network, contemporary workspaces with secure Wi-Fi and printing, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. Located just minutes from Nashville International Airport, GLo Nashville is a convenient resting place for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel is a five-minute drive from downtown, where guests can enjoy shopping, live music, dining, nightlife and more. Nearby attractions include Opryland, South Broadway and Nissan Stadium, making it an ideal base for guests to discover all that Music City has to offer. Pipeline 22 May 2019 Cambria Hotels will be expanding to Vermont, following Choice Hotels International, Inc.'s (NYSE: CHH) agreement with Hospitality Funding Inc. and TQP Capital Partners to develop a 142-room hotel, slated to open in 2021. Located at 266 College St., the new Cambria hotel in Burlington will preserve the historic facade of the existing structure, which was built in 1934 and formerly housed the Greater Burlington YMCA. Located on one of Burlington's busiest thoroughfares, the hotel is a few blocks from the University of Vermont (UVM) and the UVM Medical Centerthe state's largest university and medical center, respectivelyas well as Champlain College and The Church Street Marketplace, an outdoor, pedestrian-friendly shopping district. Cambria Hotels is designed for today's time-starved travelers looking for moments to connect to people and places through modern conveniences. The Cambria hotel in Burlington will feature the following amenities: Event The air is electric. IMEX in Frankfurt is the efficient, one-stop-shop for planners looking to book and organise worldwide meetings, events and incentive travel programmes. Run by meetings professionals for meetings professionals, were committed to providing outstanding business opportunities for exhibitors and buyers alike. And of course, our hallmark Hosted Buyer programme is at the core of the show. 3,500 exhibitors come to IMEX each year (including tourist boards, convention bureaus, international hotel chains, airlines and destination management companies). Theyre poised to do business with the 9,000 visitors (including almost 4,000 hosted buyers) who attend during three energetic and very inspirational days. IMEX buzzes with activity, sound and energy, driving business with the force of global opportunities. If youre in the meetings industry, this is the show for you. IMEX | Worldwide Exhibition for Incentive Travel, Meetings is organized by The IMEX Group Opinion Article 22 May 2019 SO FALLS THE WORLD: AN INTRODUCTION Advertisements "Quamdiu stat Colisus, stat et Roma Quando cadet Colisus, cadet et Roma Quando cadet Roma, cadet et Mundus" This famous epigram can be approximately translated with: "As long as the Colossus stands, so shall Rome. When the Colossus falls, Rome shall fall. When Rome falls, so falls the World" and it refers to the Colossus Neronis, a sumptuous statue built for Emperor Nero. After Nero's death, the statue was moved next to the Amphitheatrum Flavium, better known as the Colosseum. In retrospect, the epigram's prevision turned out to be surprisingly accurate, as the statue, eventually, fell on the 4th century, just a few years before the final downfall of the Roman Empire. At its zenith, the surface of Rome was over 4 million km, a monolithic entity built around a central hub (Rome) connected to a myriad of interdependent, yet very diverse, regions, each one with its own cultures, habits, and mixed feelings toward the big Empire. And "mixed feelings towards big Empires" is exactly what you can feel in the air of the 2019 edition of PhocusWright Europe. Empires on the Edge, in fact, is the tagline welcoming attendees in the stunning venue of Beurs van Berlage, the famous former stock exchange building in the center of Amsterdam. After the opening speech, the event goes straight to "battle-mode", with some of travel's newest startups pitching their disruptive ideas: GuruWalk, Cruisewatch, Efectio Sleep, Nannybag, Klazz, Travel Ledger, Questo and Setoo share the Effectenbeurszaal room stage, followed by MediaAlpha, Radware/ShieldSquare, Exoticca and Zizoo. Brand Loyalty Is The New Success Metric 20 minutes of caffeine recharge and networking, then breakout sessions start. Topics are well balanced amongst rooms, so there is virtually no risk of missing out something of interest. I, unsurprisingly, kept the proverbial walk on the geek side and opted for the Can AI Help Build Brand Loyalty?'s panel, moderated by Pim Van Den Nulff, Client' Partner at Criteo. "Brand loyalty is the new success metric for travel companies", opens up Edwin Hof, Digital Director of the TUI Group. "Unlike hotels, TUI really does not have its own loyalty program, but we collect data and ask feedback, and this helps us improving every part of the customer journey". "Brand loyalty is the new success metric for travel companies" ~ Pim Van Den Nulff, Client' Partner at Criteo According to Hof, AI plays a crucial role in brand loyalty, going as far as saying that, "in a way, investing in AI is the best brand-awareness marketing strategy any travel company can get today". Nevertheless, "it will be hard to provide a really personalized experience until we get rid of obsolete asynchronous systems, unstructured and unorganized data", warns Ian Di Tullio, SVP Guest at Accor. Van Den Nulff shares similar opinions: "making data actionable and connecting the dots in the Customer Experience is, still, really difficult". But, luckily, we're at a turning point: "AI today is still quite cold", Di Tullio points out, "but, in the near future, we will see AI and humans working together more and more, rather than one against each other". "AI is the best brand-awareness marketing strategy any travel company can get today" ~ Edwin Hof, Digital Director of the TUI Group When Millennials Breed: Generation Alpha, AI And Brexit I quickly move to the next session, Generation Alpha: How the World's Youngest Generation is Already Influencing Travel, presented by Expedia Group Media Solutions. According to EMS, 68% of families with Gen Alphas children opts for domestic travel, and they are more sensitive to price when compared to other travelers, factors that hotels trying to market this audience, should take these into consideration. After lunch, the action moves to the center stage. Lorraine Sileo, Senior VP, Research and Business Operations at Phocuswright introduces Dana Dunne, CEO at eDreams Odigeo for an intimate interview. The main focus of the interview is, again, AI. "We're in the very early days of AI personalization", Dunne says, "but our strength is that we're not competing against other OTAs, we're simply focusing on customers. That's why we invest in such sophisticated machine learning algorithms: to show to each customer exactly what he wants, in that particular moment". Then it's time for one of the hottest topics in Europe right now: Brexit. With the "Dead Ahead" roundtable, the tone of the day starts swinging from pessimistic to cautiously optimistic. Whatever side you stay on the argument, the underlying message of the round table is pretty clear, as I counted the word "uncertainty" pronounced over a dozen times in half an hour. I move a few minutes before the end of the roundtable to get an exclusive interview with Francesca Benati, Senior VP Online Travel WEMEA at Amadeus. "We're not competing against other OTAs, we're simply focusing on customers"~ Dana Dunne, CEO at eDreams Odigeo Tech Has No Gender: Women's Leadership Initiative After its debut at the latest U.S.Phocuswright leg of the conference, the Women's Leadership Initiative has been replicated in Amsterdam as well. As I was not there during the session (that took place on the 14th), Benati helped me catch up. "I was raised on a very matriarchal family", Benati says. "I've never even considered the issue of gender inequality growing up, because it has never been my model. My mother was a journalist and she was the one that was never around, not my father". For Benati, everything changed when she entered the working world. "In 2000 I had my first child. When I came back to the office, I was taken away a good part of my job. I felt discriminated for the first time. Consider that this was a different time, where YOU HAD to physically be at your workplace". Technology, anyhow, helped Benati managing her work/life balance later in life and, when she gave birth to her second child in 2005, things were way different. "Smart-working can really help to eradicate gender inequality in the workplace. Women can work remotely even during and after pregnancy and not feel disconnected from their companies while they're away". "Smart-working can really help to eradicate gender inequality in the workplace" ~ Francesca Benati, Senior VP Online Travel WEMEA at Amadeus To Hotels And Beyond: Airbnb One of the highlights of the day is the interview to Jeroen Merchiers, Managing Director, EMEA at Airbnb. "Hospitality is about making travelers feel like they belong", Merchiers opens up. "We went from pure home sharing to where we are now, but it's still very much about feeling like a local". When asked about the future of the company, Merchiers commented that "millennials, Airbnb' original customers, are starting having families now, and we want to evolve with them". When pushed about what the real motivations behind the HotelTonight recent acquisitions are, Merchiers got candid about the company's plans to get into the hotel space: "We're presenting a distribution alternative to independent hotels, and that is why we acquired HotelTonight, to move faster into that direction. They have the people, the technology and the integrations". About the OYO investments, Merchiers does not open up too much: "We have a lot of synergies in OYO. We have never seen them as a competitor, in fact, some of OYO inventory is already present in our platform". The million dollar question, however, remains unanswered: when asked about the imminent IPO, Merchiers simply smiles and says: "there is not really much to say at this stage". "Hospitality is about making travelers feel like they belong"~ Jeroen Merchiers, Managing Director, EMEA at Airbnb Of Buzzwords And Ecosystems "Digital transformation is a buzzword", states Dirk Tietz, Chief Digital & Transformation Officer at DER during the Tech Heads roundtable moderated by Peter O'Connor, Senior Market Analyst Europe at Phocuswright, "because a lot of what we do in the industry is still manual, whatever we like it or not". "We have to move from a transactional to a relational relationship with the industry", echoes Christian Langer, VP Digital Strategy at Lufthansa Group. Ian Di Tullio gets even more pragmatic on the topic: "at the end of the day, we're all fighting for customer attention and, in order to do it, we have to understand that travel is not about hotels only, it's about the whole ecosystem". "We should ask ourselves: is our strategy right?", says Dara Brady, Digital Director at Ryanair. "In a business that is very operational, we need to monitor technology costs vs benefits". The roundtable ends with O' Connor debunking some of the most (over)used industry's buzzwords. AR? Overhyped. BookOnGoogle? Frenemy. Amazon? Well... A bookstore. "We're all fighting for customer attention" ~ Ian Di Tullio, SVP Guest at Accor Experience This! The day moves to its end with the Experience This!' roundtable, moderated by Lax Poojary, Founder of Touring Bird. "How can we remove friction for the traveler?", asks Ram Papatla, VP Global Experiences at Booking.com, "this is what drives us". "What is amazing about our industry is that we can collaborate with all the participants of the travel ecosystem, being that Google, TUI, or whoever", continues Javier Arevalo, Managing Director Beyond The Bed at Hotelbeds. For Alessandro Petazzi, CEO at Musement, this is a no-brainer: "if cannibalization must happen, then it's better that it happens from a company within the group, not outside of it...". David Armstrong, CEO at HolidayPirates is more known as the CEO that never spent 1 on Google Ads. Born as a travel blog, he likes to refer to his company as a travel-deal-sourcing-platforms. "We're working on hyper-personalization heavily. If you're not offering just a random travel deal, then users will get interested, buy it or share it. Right now we have more fans on Facebook than Expedia, and it's all because of the pertinence of our offers". The first day of PWC Europe ends with the Innovation Awards Ceremony, won by Nannybag, Setoo, GuruWalk, Questo, MediaAlpha and Zizoo. "How can we remove friction for the traveler? This is what drives us"~ Ram Papatla, VP Global Experiences at Booking.com APAC / MIDDLE EAST Day two starts with a focus on two of the world's largest and fastest changing travel markets: APAC and the Middle East. Amadeus, Cambon Partners, TripAdvisor, Travelstart and Wego share the stage and discuss trends, technologies, and challenges. Brent Hoberman, Co-Founder of lastminute.com inaugurates the second part of the day. Facebook, Oculus, And Whatsapp "AR is already here, but VR is the future", says Nikhilesh Ponde, Head of Global Travel Strategy at Facebook, talking about the all-in-one VR set Oculus Quest, out in less than 10 days. Ponde then moves to the new WhatsApp Business Product Catalog, which allows hotels listing their products directly on the instant messaging app. "AR is already here, but VR is the future"~ Nikhilesh Ponde, Head of Global Travel Strategy at Facebook Booking.com, Google, and NDC Next on the central stage is Olivier Gremillon, VP Global Segments at Booking.com. "Last year we had 40 millions of our users booking a home accommodation", he opens up, "and what we found out is that more and more users book both hotels AND homes, rather than hotels OR homes". When asked about the merging of Villas.com into Booking.com, Gremillon comments that "people want to have everything in the same platform". "Everybody knew it was going to happen at some point", Gremillon says about the recent launch of the Google Travel website, admitting that "it is a very good product". On the other hand, he's skeptical about Amazon getting (again) in the short term. Amadeus, Hopper, and Skyscanner take the stage to discuss NDC, the new IATA's program for the development and market adoption of a standard, XML-based data transmission system. "People want to have everything in the same platform"~ Olivier Gremillon, VP Global Segments at Booking.com European Trends After the lunch break, Maggie Rauch, Senior Director Research of Phocuswright unveils insights on European travelers preferences. According to Rauch, Europe witnessed a "dip in high-spending travelers", but the Industry remains stable or, to use her words, "resilient". Unsurprisingly, offline channels dropped to "single digits market share" in the last 5 years. There is still a big room for improvement in loyalty programs and mobile bookings, with little differences from Country to Country. "Travel is resilient"~ Maggie Rauch, Senior Director Research of Phocuswright Under A Pale Gray Sky We Shall Arise: DLT "A ledger is immutable, auditable and transparent", Nadim El Manawy, CEO of Arise Travel explains. It is "a database and a network combined. No need for APIs, mapping or cached data". Data fragmentation is a major issue in our industry, and distributed ledger technology can give hotels more control over their inventory, distribution and even commission management. TechTalk continues with panels on railways, biometric technology, and vacation rentals. I move to the networking floor and spend some time drinking coffee discussing software integration issues with David Curran, Machine Learning Engineer at OpenJaw. I go back to the central stage where Henrik Kjellberg, CEO of Awaze express its feeling about facilitated bookings: "users don't want an Amazon-like experience when it comes to travel. It's ok when I buy a selfie stick, but I don't want the hustle to be taken away from me when I organize my holidays". "Users don't want an Amazon-like experience when it comes to travel"~ Henrik Kjellberg, CEO of Awaze Google Trip, Expedia And The Path To Greatness The highlight of the day is Google's talk. Thijs Van As, Lead Product Manager of Google Flight speaks about the new trip platform: "We want users to be able to easily switch from flight-search to hotel-search to experience-search. We want to offer a comprehensive, trip-centric UX". Van As then move to the company machine learning algorithm: "people don't know what a fair price for a flight should be, and this cause stress and anxiety. We want our users to understand when the price is high, low or typical. How? Thanks to machine learning, we leverage a ton of historical data and forecast previsions". Google Travel Google "Being continuously challenged is the path for greatness", says Cyril Ranque, President, Lodging Partner Services at Expedia, during the final roundtable of the day. When asked about commissions, Ranque comments that renewed agreements with brands were signed "without drama". "Being continuously challenged is the path for greatness"~ Cyril Ranque, President Lodging Partner Services at Expedia Conclusions So, are Empires really on the edge? I left without a definitive answer, so I have to wrap up this piece with the wise words of somebody else. I chose a Seneca's quote: "every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end". And this is exactly where our industry is right now. See you in 2020. Opinion Article 22 May 2019 All things considered, the Houston economy weathered the worst energy depression since the 1980s relatively well, highlighting the depth and diversity of Houston's economic base today. Job growth in other sectors, such as healthcare, professional services, and construction, helped offset the approximately 25% loss in energy-related jobs. While the oil-and-gas industry is no longer the sole pillar of the local economy, it remains, nonetheless, and integral component. Hiring activity tied to oilfield services and the manufacturing industry has picked up in response to rising oil prices and increased activity in the Permian Basin; however, the jobs related to the exploration and extraction sector (the upstream-related jobs that support areas like the Energy Corridor) have been slow to return. Advertisements Key Performance Indicators Source: HVS, STR, Greater Houston Partnership, Houston Economic Development Guide, BLS, VisitHouston, Houston Airport System HVS The Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world, continues to grow, most notably through the planned 30-acre biomedical research hub known as TMC3. This collaborative mixed-use campus is expected to break ground this year and open in 2022. The recent opening of the Intercontinental Medical Center, as well as the early-2020 planned opening of the Westin Medical Center, should bolster average rates in the submarket in the near term. Photo: HVS The Downtown submarket has realized the most growth within the hospitality sector in recent years. The opening of the Marriott Marquis in late 2016, as well as the openings of the Hotel Alessandra and Le Meridien in late 2017 have provided an elevated guestroom to the competitive market and have enabled the convention center to accommodate more groups with 1,500+ room nights on peak. The three hotels under construction in this submarket (AC Hotel by Marriott, Hyatt Place, and Cambria Hotel) are all categorized as upscale, select-service hotels. The volume and timing of the additional rooms may create a more competitive rate environment for similarly priced hotels that lack competitive differentiation in the near term. Nonetheless, the long-term outlook is positive. Downtown Houston is supported by a myriad of employers, including nine Fortune 500 headquarters. Two new Class-A office buildings, Skanska's Capitol Tower and Hines' Texas Tower, are under construction in Downtown's Historic District. The 35-story Capitol Tower is expected to open in 2019, while the 47-story Texas Tower is anticipated to open in 2021. Downtown's residential population has increased significantly in recent years, with three additional residential buildings featuring nearly 900 units currently under construction. Most notably, Hines' 46-story residential building will be one of the tallest such buildings in the state when it opens in 2022. Moreover, the redevelopment of dated properties, including the Lancaster Hotel, which reopened in October 2018, and the DoubleTree by Hilton, which will reopen as the C. Baldwin, a Curio Collection by Hilton affiliate, mid-year 2019, should continue to bolster average daily rates. Photo: HVS Nowhere has Houston's recent luxury trend been better epitomized than the Galleria area, home to the city's only AAA, Five-Diamond hotel, The Post Oak Hotel at Uptown Houston, which opened in March 2018. The property boasts a wine room with $3,000,000+ in inventory and a 20,000-square-foot, full-service spa with a five-star rating from Forbes. The Galleria shopping mall continues to support this submarket with retail shopping venues that are unparalleled in other submarkets across the city. In 2017, the mall's owner unveiled a new, $250-million wing that features 35 luxury shops and high-end dining venues. In 2018, a new, $500-million mixed-use development was announced for the corner of Post Oak Boulevard and Richmond Avenue. The development, which is expected to be anchored by a luxury Rosewood Hotel with 150 rooms and 80 residences, is anticipated to break ground this year and open in 2023. Both The Post Oak Hotel and the to-be-developed Rosewood will test the rate ceiling of the Galleria area and Houston as a whole. Houston's economic base is benefiting from increased diversity compared to prior economic cycles. The prospect of a recovery in energy-related demand continues to bode well for hoteliers in the near term and should help absorb new supply. With recently opened luxury supply and planned developments, including a Rosewood Hotel in the Galleria area and a W Hotel downtown, the outlook is positive, as the new supply should help boost average rates in the city's key submarkets. HVS continues to regularly consult in this city, with the Houston office serving the greater Texas Gulf Coast region. The Houston HVS team is ready to assist you on any consulting need you may have. Eric Guerrero with HVS Brokerage can also discuss any Houston asset you may be considering selling in 2019. 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 Radisson Hotel Group announced the appointment of Sergio Amodeo as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Radisson Hospitality AB, and member of the Global Steering Committee for Radisson Hotel Group, effective 1 June 2019. Radisson Hotel Group announced the appointment of Sergio Amodeo as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Radisson Hospitality AB, and member of the Global Steering Committee for Radisson Hotel Group, effective 1 June 2019. Sergio joins Radisson Hotel Group from TeamSystem Group, the leading management software company in Italy, where he was CFO since 2015. During his time there, he supervised the sale of the group from one private equity fund to another (Hellman & Friedman), which has given him a deep understanding of capital markets. Prior to that, he spent two years serving as CFO of Bolton Group, a privately owned FMCG group, following sixteen years at Danone. His final role there saw him responsible for the global corporate development of the company's leading division after holding several country and regional CFO roles. Sergio graduated from Insead's Advanced Management Program (AMP) and has a major in Business Economics from the University of Salerno. "I am delighted to welcome Sergio to his new role and to Radisson Hotel Group," said Federico J. Gonzalez-Tejera, President & CEO of Radisson Hospitality AB and Chairman of the Radisson Hotel Group Global Steering Committee. "He joins us at a key stage on our journey towards becoming one of the three top-of-mind hotel groups in the world. His experience and expertise will be critical in delivering on our commitments of the five-year operating plan." Sergio will take on the duties of Knut Kleiven, who is currently the Deputy President & CFO of Radisson Hospitality AB and a member of the Global Steering Committee for Radisson Hotel Group. After more than 30 years of service, Knut is retiring. Formerly an Internal Auditor for SAS, Knut joined the company in 1986 as Group Accounting Manager, swiftly moving up to become CFO in 1994, when the Rezidor Hotel Group signed a strategic agreement with Carlson Hotels to develop the Radisson SAS brand under a master franchise agreement for EMEA. He helped guide the group's rapid expansion, actively supporting the President & Chief Executive Officer in driving the company's strategic development, while also steering its economic policy. "I wish to personally thank Knut for his hard work and dedication over the many years he has been a part of the group," continued Gonzalez-Tejera. "He has been an inspirational and iconic figure within our company for decades and has helped transform it into the globally renowned brand it is today. I wish him all the best during his retirement." Taking over the role of CFO from Knut (along with his position on the Global Steering Committee), Sergio will be based at Radisson Hospitality AB's headquarters in Brussels, reporting directly to President & CEO Federico J. Gonzalez-Tejera. Within EMEA, Sergio will have responsibility for the Finance, Accounting, Group Tax, Internal Audit, and Group Controlling central teams. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource When discussing the importance of employee wellness, we arrive at a central consideration: employee safety. After all, the last thing a guest wants to consider is whether or not the hotel is safe enough for guests or staff, alike. This is an increasingly important, fundamental part of any hotels structure. When it comes to the hospitality workplace, the case for enhancing the general, day-to-day wellness of staff is rather obvious. The process of hiring and training new employees consumes valuable time and resources and is undeniably expensive. In an industry that has long been plagued by notoriously high staff turnover rates, hoteliers should feel especially inclined to invest in employee retention. More than that, we are in the business of servicing happy guests. What is the best way to ensure guests remain happy? The guest experience created by happy employees. When employees arent happy within their role, it shows and in the landscape of hospitality and increasing guest expectations, hotels cant afford a team of dissatisfied employees who feel unsupported by their company. Empowering your employees empowers your service offering its a directly correlated relationship. Now, this brings us to an important point. When discussing the importance of employee wellness, we arrive at a central consideration: employee safety. After all, the last thing a guest wants to consider is whether or not the hotel is safe enough for guests or staff, alike. This is an increasingly important, fundamental part of any hotels structure. And while there is no shortage of factors that can positively (or negatively) impact an employees perception of their employer and satisfaction within their role, one reigns supreme their safety. Employees expect their employer to provide a safe work environment. One which ensures protection from various hazards (injury, harassment, risks, etc.) and this isnt an unrealistic expectation. Rather, it is their right. And yet, hotel employees face arguably more risk across their day-to-day duties than any other profession. Not only are many of the roles undeniably physically demanding, but staff are placed in a vulnerable position when servicing guests and performing their duties behind closed doors. In fact, a recent Chicago study found that women who work in Chicagoland hotels and casinos face a high level of sexual harassment, mainly from male guests. According to the study, 58% of hotel workers and 77% of casino workers surveyed have been sexually harassed by a guest. In fact, the lack of adequate employee safety measures has become an alarming trend across the industry, with many staff members solemnly accepting this risk as part of the job. In an effort to remedy this long-standing insufficiency, many of the largest hotel companies in the industry, along with the American Hotel & Lodging Association, are aligning to improve safety conditions in hotels through investments in training and technology, and the Five Star Promise, with a plan to issue employee safety devices to workers as soon as possible. U.S. hotels aim to have full implementation of panic buttons at all properties by 2020. However, as with any new technology adoption, hoteliers are now tasked with the selection of an appropriate safety platform, in order to comply with these new standards of care. Is it just a matter of supplying staff with noisemakers? Is that enough? Or do hoteliers need to invest in a more comprehensive solution to ensure their employees continued safety? Quite simply when it comes to hotel employee safety systems, it isnt one size fits all. From CRM to PMS and beyond, hoteliers are privy to a choice of various best in class options when vetting prospective hotel technology platforms. Why? Because not all technology is created equal, and catering to the ever-evolving needs of modern guests requires more in-depth functionality than a one-size-fits-all solution can provide. In the case of employee safety devices (ESDs), the same rules apply. AHLA has convened a sourcing task force to assist companies in identifying the appropriate technology for their respective properties. As hotels continue to evolve, they require more robust platforms to support their operational structure. In the case of employee safety, a simple noisemaker (i.e., ax whistle) could hardly even be considered as a band-aid solution. Without location accuracy capabilities to accurately locate the employee in distress, a security officer will have to check various rooms or floors in the general direction of the alert. This lack of accuracy translates to a delay in response which, in some cases, could stand in the way of appropriate intervention. Response time aside, this also entails the disruption of other, paying guests. Instead, hotels should seek out a dedicated, flexible safety alert platform that allows them to locate employees anywhere on property within seconds of a distress call. Relying on Bluetooth beacon technology that easily integrates with a hotels existing platforms, hotels can effectively pinpoint the location of a distress call down to the exact floor and room number. Further, if the employee in distress moves, their location will be updated in real-time. Of course, every hotel is unique and the platforms they invest in should reflect that. At React Mobile, we built our enterprise safety platforms with precisely this in mind ensuring our solutions can be customized to each hotels respective needs. With various tiers of service, we work with each hotel to not only integrate seamlessly into their existing infrastructure, but also to ensure a completely customized and intuitive safety solution that can scale with their operations. Why? Because we understand that employee safety isnt one size fits all, and we want to help our customers find the perfect solution to ensure the health, happiness, and safety of your employees both now and in the future. About the Author Robb Monkman is the founder and CEO, of React Mobile, Inc. With experience launching multiple products, from idea to exit, Robb previously headed up the sales and marketing of advanced communications solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Several years ago, Robb was the victim of an armed robbery and hostage situation that left a lasting impression on him. He soon learned that thousands of people every day were in situations where they desperately need help but couldnt make a call. He made it his mission to solve this problem, founding React Mobile to create a simple yet powerful personal safety platform that today is transforming the way people call for help in emergencies. React Mobile is making tomorrow a safer place and already helping people all over the world. About React Mobile Founded in 2013, React Mobile is a global leader in providing panic button solutions for hotels. Their best in class hospitality safety platform helps hotels keep their employees safe. The React Mobile system allows management to deploy response resources to the exact location of an emergency within seconds of an alert, getting help to where they need it fast. In an emergency quick response times are essential. To learn more, visit ReactMobile.com. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Located in Plaza Mayor, in the heart of Madrid's capital, Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid encompasses two historic buildings - the 17th century Casa de la Carniceria and an old fire station. Pestana Hotel Group announced the opening of their most recent hotel, under Pestana Hotel Group's Collection brand, Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid, the group's most exclusive brand in luxurious and historic buildings in premium locations. This new European capital joining Pestana Hotel Group's extended portfolio, after Lisbon, London, Berlin and Amsterdam, is certainly one of the most vibrant tourist destinations in the world, having received, just in the last year, over more than 10 million visitors. Following Barcelona, where the Pestana brand entered in 2013, Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid represents an important step in the brand's Spanish and global reach strategy. Located in Plaza Mayor, in the heart of Madrid's capital, Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid encompasses two historic buildings - the 17th century Casa de la Carniceria and an old fire station. This hotel is a true tribute to its original architecture, in which its solid walls, reveal the 400 years of history of the Plaza Mayor, one of the most emblematic of Europe, while its interiors pay homage to the work of the old craftsmen, weavers, carpenters, blacksmiths and potters. Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid is centrally located, just a short walk from other main attractions of the capital, such as the Cathedral and the Royal Palace. It is also right next to the famous Puerta del Sol, close to Gran Via and Castellana, with its grand museums (Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen), and truly continues to be the ideal stage for the most typical Madrilenian festivities. Pestana Plaza Mayor Madrid is the first hotel in the history of Plaza Mayor, offering 89 rooms and suites, of which almost half face the Plaza Mayor square, containing both elegant and contemporary design, with imperial decorative elements, combined with modern and colorful pieces inspired by various expressionist painters. The hotel features an outdoor pool located at the top of the building, perfect for those Spanish summer days, with views over the historic rooftops and domes of Madrid. The Spa, located on the level below the square, offers an immediate atmosphere of tranquility and total embodied relaxation, with its indoor pool and traditional vaulted brick ceilings, illuminated by a clear and tempering lighting. It also features a fully equipped treatment center, a fitness center and various other breathtaking surrounding and unique spaces, ideal for holding events. The hotel's restaurant offer includes the RIB | Casa de la Carniceria | Beef & Wine, specializing in meat, and the Cafeteria on the Plaza Mayor square, dedicated to tapas and snacks, as well as a cocktail bar, the Coqueteleria evocative of Madrid's most bohemian years, for pre or post-dinner cocktails and drinks. The Baroque style lighting, the legacy of Islamic art, the inspiration of the great artists like Goya and Velasquez and the staircases in the style of 'herreriano' (typical of Juan de Herrera) in which Casa de la Carniceria was built in, are just a few of the elements that give life to this unique hotel that is part of the Pestana Hotel Group's Collection Brand: a selection of hotels, buildings and luxurious monuments in magnificent locations. Truly disclosed treasures that offer unique and enriching experiences in impressive historic properties. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource In the latest news concerned with Amber Heard and Johnny Depp's messy divorce, Johnny Depp shared what he claims was his final text from Amber Heard. In court papers filed in Fairfax County, Virginia and obtained by Daily Mail, Depp also claims to have spoken with a number of Heards former partners about her alleged history of abuse (even detailing an incident between Heard and her ex-wife which resulted in the actress having to spend a night in jail). Heard said in her text to Depp that the two could "do this or undue [sic] this as we see fit. You and I have the control. And love each other." Another text read: I thought you filed [for divorce]. You said you were going to and said goodbye. Im sorry if Ive hurt you. I have nothing but love for you. Michael Buckner/Getty Images However, as Depp pointed out, that sentiment didn't last long. "When I did not accede to her demand for money, Ms. Heard publicly accused me of domestic violence, seeking and receiving a temporary restraining order against me when appearing in Los Angeles Superior Court on Friday, May 27, 2016 with a first-ever-seen prominent bruise and cut on her face that she claimed resulted from being hit in the face by a cell phone thrown by me and further facial battering from some appendage of mine on the evening of May 21, 2016," wrote Depp in his declaration. Depp insisted that the "domestic violence allegation was untrue, and Ms. Heards purported injury was staged. Depp also spoke of an incident that happened ten years ago, which involved Heard and her then-wife. "Ms. Heard was arrested in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in 2009 after police officers observed her committing domestic violence against her then-wife Tasya Van Ree," wrote Depp. He continued to detail how Van Ree had asked police to arrest Heard, but that the prosecutor declined to charge her "only because neither she nor her victim were residents of King County, Washington, but not before Ms. Heard spent a night in jail and appeared before a judge in court." Heard and her then-wife Tasya Van Ree, via Donna Ward/Getty Images The actor went on to admit that he had spoken to others who were involved in similar situations with Heard. "Several women who have been in a relationship with Ms. Heard have come forward to share their personal experiences of brutal violence and other abuse at the hands of Ms. Heard," revealed Depp. "My advisors have and continue to interview these victims, who remain deeply fearful of Ms. Heard, and to collect evidence from these victims." The declaration also detailed why he believed Heard was acting this way, placing the blame on pills. "While mixing prescription amphetamines and non-prescription drugs with alcohol, Ms. Heard committed innumerable acts of domestic violence against me, often in the presence of third-party witnesses, which in some instances caused me serious bodily injury, stated Depp. "Multiple of these commissions of violence against me she has even admitted to under oath." The way things are going now, it's looking like this he-said-she-said situation is going to be dragged on a little longer, with both parties continuing to make opposing claims. Who do you guys believe? On Wednesday, June 17, 2015, white supremacist Dylan Roof walked into a prayer service at the historical Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina and opened fire. He killed nine people in the name of racism and has been sentenced to death for his crimes. The event is a sad moment in American history and is considered one of the deadliest attacks on a place of worship in the United States. As a community continues to heal from the four-year-old tragedy, a man named Emanuel Kidega Samson plotted a shooting at his former church, reportedly in retaliation for the Charleston massacre. Nashville Deputy District Attorney Amy Hunter states that back in 2017, Samson walked into the Burnette Chapel Church of Christ on a Sunday with the intention of killing 10 white churchgoers. Samson left a note in his vehicle that made references to the Charleston shooting and Roof. "Dylann Roof is less than nothing," Samson's note reportedly reads. "The blood that 10 of your kind will shed is that of the color upon the RBG flag in terms of vengeance." Samson also left a goodbye note for his girlfriend and a video for his cousin. https://www.instagram.com/p/BZcmEkNHfBk Melanie L. Crow, a 38-year-old wife and mother of two, was shot and killed while seven other survivors were wounded. Samson's lawyer, Jennifer Lynn Thompson, believes that people should focus on her client's state of mind, as he's been previously diagnosed with "schizoaffective disorder bipolar type" and PTSD from his abusive childhood. "What this case is about is a man who was very sad, very suicidal, and he was looking to die that day," she said. Today, Denzel Curry announced that his TA13OOfollow-up ZUU will hit the streets next week on May 31. To celebrate the revelation, the rapper dropped his latest single "SPEEDBOAT," a track that will be featured on his forthcoming record. Curry has also given us the Zev Deans-directed visual for "SPEEDBOAT," a song described as seeing "Denzel meditating on the consequences of living the fast life, masterfully bouncing between melodic moments and combative bars as he refuses to fall victim to the violence that plagued his childhood in Miami." It's been ten months since Curry dropped TA13OO, the breakout album that showcased the rapper's artistry and lyricism. He'll be hitting the road throughout Summer 2019 beginning next week when heads out with Billie Eilish until July 13. After that North American tour, Curry will storm festival stages including Lollapalooza, Osheaga and Outside Lands in August. He'll then join the $uicideBoy$ on another North American tour run beginning July 27 in San Diego and concluding August 23 in Los Angeles. You can check out his tour dates here. Check out "SPEEDBOAT" and let us know what you think. Quotable Lyrics Gas all in my brain it's fumigating my thoughts Thinking 'bout intricate plots to get out the 'hood That's when I started to jot, not Givin' a opportunity to let the devil ruin me, no A few weeks ago, former Love & Hip Hop Hollywood star Hazel-E accused City Girls of ripping off her 2017 single "Actin' Up" to create their 2018 breakout hit "Act Up." The rapper was on Instagram Live as both tracks were played back to back, and before long the screen recording of the session made the rounds. Yung Miami fiercely defended the partially-Lil Yachty-penned "Act Up" and said no one stole anything from Hazel-E. "We never heard a song by the ugly ass b*tch!!!!!" she wrote. "That surgery going to that hoe head!!!" Hazel-E uploaded a screenshot of her albums and songs on her Instagram page, captioning the photo by writing, "People be mad asf at the truth ai @girlcodeinc its been my lifestyle. Periodt in my @citygirls voice." On Tuesday, the conflict continued to escalate after Hazel dropped her City Girls diss track "Actin Up." Hazel's good friend Joseline Hernandez, also known as the Puerto Rican princess from Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, gave Hazel props for the song. This turned into an all-out Instagram war with Yung Miami who was suited up for a fight as the ladies calling each other every disgraceful name in the book. Check out the diss that targets City Girls, Lil Yachty, and Quality Control and let us know your thoughts. G Herbo already gave Hazel his opinion when he commented, "Lol man this sh*t weak as hell On bro." Quotable Lyrics You don't know who you f*ckin wit I'm sharp as some cutlery so cut the cameras b*tch It's 4 a.m. in Abu Dhabi and I'm puffing Marley From a Benz to a Porsche to a Maserati Okay I took a step back when I f*cked wit Katt But funny thing I got a ring and didn't give it back People will go to great lengths to protect their homes, especially celebrities who have crazed fans and foes. Ice-T may now be known as Detective Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but way back when he was a gangster rapper who spit rhymes about killing police officers. The actor-rapper is a family man who makes sure that security around his residence is on point, but he recently tweeted that things almost went south because of a delivery guy. Ice-T, real name Tracy Lauren Marrow, told Amazon that they were thisclose to being down one delivery driver after the man approached the rapper's home. "Message To Amazon: Now that you have regular people making your home deliveries.. Maybe they should wear a Vest with AMAZON DELIVERY on it," he said. "I almost shot a MF creeping up to my crib last night.... Just sayin." https://twitter.com/_/status/1130908273828290560 Dave Clark, the Senior Vice President of Operations at Amazon saw the television star's complaint and responded, "Just sayinthanks for the suggestion. We MFing love you and our drivers. Lots of innovations coming on this and many that already exist to help you track your package and delivery on a map. Thanks for being a customer." A Twitter user didn't appreciate Clark's words and told him, "VPs shouldn't be posting 'MF'ing'. Have some class." It's been a trying time for Youngboy Never Broke Again. While his entire career has been plagued by legal issues, he's dealing with even more troubles in his life. Earlier this month, the rapper was in Miami for Rolling Loud where he was scheduled to perform. While he was leaving the Trump International Beach Resort Miami, the rapper was targetted in a shooting. The rapper wasn't hit but a man nearby was killed by a stray bullet. Now, it's being reported that he and his record label, Atlantic Records, are trying to give the victim's family some sort of financial ease. Mohamad Jradi, 43, was identified as the man who was shot and killed in the shooting that targetted Youngboy Never Broke Again. The man worked as an employee at Hertz Rental Cars. According to The Blast, Youngboy and Atlantic Records are "heartbroken" over the man's death and have offered to cover the costs for the funeral. Reps have contacted Florida officials to help them track down and speak with Jradi's family. Although Jradi was the only victim who died, three others were injured in the shooting including a five-year-old boy and Youngboy's girlfriend. Although Youngboy is currently locked up on possible probation violation charges, his lawyer issued a statement, saying the rapper was a victim of an "assassination attempt." He added, "[Youngboy] told me, I wish they would have gotten me, not him, Last week, we reported on the Nike Air Force 1 Low "Puerto Rico" which was set to release in June. Immediately after Nike announced the shoe, the internet erupted in outrage and for good reason. It was pointed out by many in the Puerto Rican and Panamanian communities that the graphics on the side of the shoe was actually a "Mola" which is an art form in Panama and not Puerto Rico. A petition was launched to cancel the shoe, while avid sneakerhead DJ Clark Kent took to Instagram to educate people on what a "Mola" is. This is called a Mola It is a Panamanian art form," DJ Clark Kent explained. "You can find it anywhere in my home country, PANAMA. Respectfully, This is not a part of Puerto Ricos rich culture. Though we are both Spanish speaking people, we have different traditions, art & cultural expressions. When celebrating one, please do proper research. These things should not be confused." In the aftermath of these criticisms, Nike has officially canceled the launch of the shoe. A spokesperson for the company spoke to Sole Collector, saying "We apologize for the inaccurate representation of the design origin for the Nike Air Force 1 'Puerto Rico' 2019. As a result, this product will no longer be available." Once again, the power of the internet reigns supreme. What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? The ongoing feud between 50 "Fofty" Cent and Teairra "I Ain't Got It" Mari is a study in exactly that. Though 50 Cent may be hoping that doubling down on "the law is the law" is enough to sway Teairra's steely resolve, she has remained stalwart in her efforts to fight Jackson's continued legal attacks. Today, The Blast has provided an update on their ongoing court battle, which recently found 50 calling her out for missing a date. As it happens, Mari actually had a viable reason for missing the court date, one that she has since presented before a judge. Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images Mari claims that she ultimately missed a court date to attend her grandfather's funeral in Detroit, providing a copy of the funeral program. As it happens, TJ Doc Murphy's funeral took place on April 20th, which coincides with the weekend of the hearing. As Mari was initially a no-show, 50 opted to take a harder stance, requesting an additional $25,000 in attorney fees. Mari has clapped back, reportedly claiming that Fif has provided little that proves him worthy of being awarded further. The Blast's report concludes stating that Mari has requested to appear at a rescheduled hearing at the end of May. Who'd have thought this petty feud would have gone this far? [via] Is DaBaby's "Suge" going to be the hot song to freestyle over this summer? The song dropped all the way back on March 1 as part of DaBaby's album Baby On Baby, and like the album itself (which rose to a new peak of #14 on Billboard's album chart in its 10th week of eligibility last week), it's only continued to increase in popularity. Last week "Suge" rose to #22 on the Hot 100, and its producer, Jetsonmade, was interviewed about the song by Genius. Other rappers have taken notice, with both Jeezy and Bow Wow recently delivering freestyles over the ascendant hit. This week, the former's take on DaBaby's track is our #1 song. Quavo and Machine Gun Kelly lead all artists with two appearances apiece inside of our top ten this week. New songs barely missing out on spots include DJ Khaled, Nipsey Hussle, and John Legend's "Higher" (#11), Akon and Anuel AA's "Get Money" (#12), DJ Khaled, 21 Savage, and Cardi B's "Wish Wish" (#13), and Mozzy's "Legal Guardian/Guardian Angel" (#14). ---- 10. Logic Feat. Will Smith - Don't Be Afraid to Be Different On his newly-crowned #1 album, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Logic enlists several high-profile guests, though perhaps none more so than actor/former rapper Will Smith. "Don't Be Afraid to Be Different," which features Smith, debuts at #10. 9. London on Da Track & G-Eazy Feat. City Girls & Juvenile - Throw Fits Former frequent Young Thug collaborator London On Da Track's recently been making moves as a solo artist, and his latest features the unlikely cocktail of G-Eazy, City Girls, and Juvenile. "Throw Fits" debuts at #9. 8. Tyler, The Creator Feat. Kanye West - Puppet Lat Friday, Tyler The Creator unveiled his latest album, Igor, in slightly mysterious fashion. In addition to no singles being shared beforehand, the features are also uncredited in the track titles. Some, like Kanye's turn on "Puppet," are quite obvious though. This one debuts at #8. 7. Machine Gun Kelly - Ocean Eyes (Billie Eilish Cover) Since his beef with Eminem last year, Machine Gun Kelly's stayed in the news thanks to his role in Netflix's Motley Crue documentary The Dirt, as well as a steady stream of new music. One of his latest offerings certainly qualifies as eye-catching, as it's a cover of a song by ascendant pop star Billie Eilish. MGK's version of "Ocean Eyes" debuts at #7. 6. DJ Mustard Feat. YG, 21 Savage, Quavo& Meek Mill - 100 Bands Last week's #1 is only one of two repeats on this week's list. DJ Mustard's star studded new single "100 Bands," which brings together YG, 21 Savage, Quavo, and Meek Mill, debuts at #6. 5. Madonna & Quavo - Future For her upcoming album Madame X, Madonna has chosen to collaborate with some of the hottest names in hip hop. Following a collab with Swae Lee, she recently shared one featuring Quavo entitled "Future." This isn't the first time the two have linked up, as Madonna appeared on the song "Champagne Rose" on Quavo's album Huncho last year. This one debuts at #5. 4. Bow Wow - Fuck That Bitch Who's dropping new music on Livemixtapes in 2019? Bow Wow's dropping new music on Livemixtapes in 2019. His latest is a freestyle over Lauryn Hill's "Lost Ones" entitled "Fuck That Bitch." It debuts at #4. 3. Jim Jones Feat. Cam'ron - Mama I Made It In a rather unlikely success story, Jim Jones and Cam'ron's recent collaboration has now spent four straight weeks inside of our top ten. In its fourth week out, it's down one place from #2 to #2. 2. Machine Gun Kelly - Hollywood Whore Accompanying MGK's Billie Eilish cover was "Hollwood Whore," a single from his upcoming album, Hotel Diablo. Exploring the dark side of the "sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll" cliche, according to Machine Gun himself, it seems likely that this one was inspired by hanging out with Motley Crue. "Hollywood Whore" debuts at #2. 1. Jeezy - Suge (Freestyle) Jeezy's take on DaBaby's Suge Knight-referencing single may be short (only 1:08 in length), but people were clearly clamoring to hear his new bars. In its first week out, his "Suge" freestyle debuts at #1. WEATHERFORD -- Brittany Parson had no idea how close to death she was when she stumbled into an emergency room that night in February 2018. Her fever was nearing 104 degrees and her body shook uncontrollably as her organs began to shut down. Since then Parsons has battled back from near-fatal septic shock, but alongside that fight came another, this one with a Texas health care system that hit her with a $36,000 bill and then misled or abandoned her at every turn. Both the free-standing emergency room where she sought initial care and the insurer she assumed covered her treatment appear to have skirted or outright ignored state law and Texas insurance regulations. So, too, did the Texas Department of Insurance, the state agency that enforces insurance rules, erroneously telling her it could do nothing to help. We feel betrayed by everyone, said Parsons, a 34-year-old stay-at-home mom of two. Hers is more than just another story of a patient caught in the crossfire between insurers and providers. It is how the health care system in this state can become so broken that one of the most basic tenets of health insurance is undermined: In emergencies, especially life threatening ones, insured patients must be covered. Parsons doctors warned her it might take a full year to recover and what she needed most was rest and calm. What she got instead were 16 months and untold hours on the phone and writing emails, pleading for help from billing clerks at Excel ER, the freestanding emergency room that first treated her, and with customer service representatives for her insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Neither would budge and seemed more intent on blaming the other side. She filed two appeals; both were denied. Her father, a hospital administrator, intervened figuring he knew the ways of health care. He, too, got nowhere. Read the Chronicles coverage: How the impenetrable maze of medical billing traps patients at their most vulnerable It was only this month, after the Houston Chronicle began asking questions did the Texas Department of Insurance open an investigation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas agreed to reverse its previous decision and pay nearly all of Parsons bill. When the insurance company tells you theyre done and arent going to pay any more and the provider says we still want money, what are we supposed to do? she asked, her voice catching, We were in big trouble and every door had been closed in our face. Pile of bills Earlier this month the kitchen table in Parsons rural Weatherford home was strewn with piles of overdue medical bills and health plan benefit explanations. The numbers blur together but one sticks out: $36,069.49. Thats the amount Excel ER said she owed and was headed for collections because Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas balked. The insurer wanted Parsons to tell the facility to lower its price; the facility wanted her to tell the insurer to pay up. It all started on the morning of Feb. 24 when Parsons awoke with a rash and odd pain in her leg. As the day wore on, it got worse. By the time she put her kids to bed, she could barely walk. Then the fever hit. When she called her doctor, he said to get to an emergency room immediately. Excel ER, a 24-hour freestanding emergency room, was about 10 miles away. She worried about insurance coverage so, before leaving, she checked the facilitys website, which said it accepted all insurance plans. What she did not realize despite a state law to force insurance network transparency is that accepting her insurance did not mean the facility as in-network. The facility was, in fact, out-of-network leaving her vulnerable to higher charges. When she arrived at the ER, the staff began running tests and worked to stabilize her. They quickly concluded she needed to be transferred to a hospital because her condition was so dire. Parsons spent seven days at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, three in the Intensive Care Unit. She was diagnosed with sepsis, a potentially fatal complication from an unknown infection. The billed charge from that hospital was about $56,000, most of which her husbands Blue Cross and Blue Shield health maintenance organization (HMO) plan paid, leaving them with a few thousand dollars of out-of-pocket costs. But then, months later, she got a seven-page bill from Excel ER that said she owed more than $36,000 for the roughly 6 hours she was there. Stunned, she called for an explanation and instead got an earful from a billing clerk who complained that Blue Cross and Blue Shield had been unfair to them. Ill tell you whats unfair, Parsons snapped, That I got a bill for $36,000. Phone calls and emails to Excel ER for comment were not returned. On HoustonChronicle.com: Medical pricing shrouded in secrecy, leaving patients in the dark Parsons also called her insurer who said it would not fully pay an inflated bill. Among the charges were $90 for a Tylenol with codeine and $305 for IV tubing, which the insurer allowed $2.48 and $8.44 respectively. In all Blue Cross and Blue Shield initially paid just $950 for the facility and doctor less than 3 percent of the claim. That meant the bulk of the five-figure bill landed in her lap. The worst of it is it never should have happened. Subject to interpretation Under Texas law, insurers are required to pay the usual and customary amount to providers in emergency care regardless of whether the facilities are part of their network. Such vague language, though, leaves the door open to gaping billing disputes which can be shifted onto patients. But a lesser-known mandate called the hold harmless rule is designed to shield HMO patients such as Parsons, from those fights. Under the Texas Administrative Code, HMO patients are only responsible for out-of-pocket costs such as co-pays and deductibles. Insurers are required to pay enough to satisfy a provider and, if an agreement cannot be reached, the patient is not to be stuck in the middle by either side. Parsons had no idea such protections existed and did not learn of it even when her husband, Matt, called the Texas Department of Insurance last fall to contest Blue Cross and Blue Shields denial of their appeal. Instead, he was told they were not eligible for the states mediation process to settle disputes because they were enrolled in an HMO plan. The agency said it could do nothing to help. That is, at best, incomplete information. HMO members are indeed ineligible for the states mediation system, but that is because they are supposed to be protected by the hold harmless rule. Further, the state agency is required to investigate complaints and potentially refer violations to its enforcement division. That did not happen until the Chronicle began making inquiries. What happened isnt the type of customer service we expect of our agency and our staff, Stephanie Goodman, the departments spokeswoman, said in a statement. Even if a caller doesnt qualify for mediation, our staff are trained to discuss other options. On May 8, the agency contacted Parsons and opened an investigation. Six days later, Blue Cross and Blue Shield paid all but about $1,300 of the original billed charges. The insurance company said it could not comment on the case because of privacy laws. But in a statement, Blue Cross and Blue Shield said, It is always our goal to keep our members out of billing issues with a provider, so were continually working to improve our processes to ensure claims are handled appropriately. When we identify gaps in our processes, we promptly address them as we are committed to providing our members with the highest possible level of service. Rising complaints The number of hold harmless complaints lodged with TDI against insurers has climbed rapidly, from two in 2016 to 156 last year, according to the agency. So far this year, 95 were filed. Of the 270 total complaints in the past three years, 222 resulted in insurers making higher payments to providers, said Goodman. The rest are pending or did not warrant revised payments. On HoustonChronicle.com: How facility procedure codes can become weapons Still, that is 222 patients who never should have been in that position, said Stacey Pogue, senior health policy analyst at the Center for Public Policy Priorities, an Austin advocacy group. Complaints, she added, are always a tiny fraction of the real number. Jamie Dudensing, CEO of the Texas Association of Health Plans, the state insurance trade group, said any uptick in hold harmless complaints is not due to delays or denials of payments, but rather it is the fault of providers for sending inflated bills. Last summer, the insurance trade group sued the Texas Department of Insurance in part to get rid of the hold harmless rule, contending the agency had set an unfair payment mandate for insurers. TDI declined to comment. The lawsuit is pending. Eroded trust Parsons joy in learning that her claim is being paid is tinged with bitterness. If we hadnt had a reporter asking questions, she said. we would still owe $36,000. She wonders how many others in Texas have paid bills they do not owe because they were told they had to. Not long after she was released from the hospital, she suffered a severe asthma attack that she feared might be a heart attack. Last month she awoke with a fiery neck pain, which turned out to be a bulging disc. Both times she told herself to wait it out until she could get to the doctors office. She is now afraid to go to the emergency room. Its hard to trust a system that has let you down, she said. Homeowners in Tanglewood, a leafy subdivision near the Galleria where a trail winds through a picture-perfect boulevard lined with oak trees and the average home sells for $1.8 million, have filed suit to keep a high-rise from being developed at the entrance of their neighborhood. The owners of the property descendants of Tanglewoods original developer are planning to sell their land or partner with a developer to build a 20-story residential tower on the site at the northeast corner of San Felipe and Tanglewood Boulevard, according to a petition filed this month in state District Court. They want to preserve Tanglewood as it has existed for 70 years, said Rick Butler, general counsel for Tanglewood Homes Association Inc., which is seeking a declaratory judgment against WMJK Ltd., an entity associated with Tanglewood Corp., a real estate firm with its headquarters on the site of the planned development. The situation is reminiscent of the so-called Ashby high-rise case where residents of an affluent neighborhood near Rice University spent more than a decade opposing a developers plan to build a residential tower near their homes. If built, the residents said, the tower would have cast shadows on their homes, limited their privacy and caused an abundance of traffic. This time, though, the homeowners claim a tower would violate decades-old covenants that were established to preserve the character of the neighborhood. The 55,000-square-foot site, which includes WMJKs headquarters at 1661 Tanglewood Blvd., is noted as unrestricted acreage on a city of Houston land plat, but the homeowners claim it is part of a restricted area. If the restrictive covenants are ambiguous, they must be interpreted in favor of the innocent landowners who purchased their homes with the understanding that they were buying homes in an exclusively residential neighborhood, absent the fear in unzoned Houston of having a skyscraper looming over their backyards, according to the petition. The association has asked the court to rule that the property is encumbered by covenants, among them a 38-foot height restriction on new buildings, the need for approval of architectural plans and construction documents by the homeowners and other restrictions it says prohibits high-rise buildings. The Reservations, Restrictions and Covenants governing this section of Tanglewood, posted on the Associations website, does note an exception for the WMJK site, allowing it to be used for commercial purposes. Tanglewood Corp. President Kendall Miller, grandson of the neighborhoods founder William Farrington, is the registered agent of WMJK, according to state records. Through a spokesperson, the family declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. Residents found out about the proposed tower after they received marketing surveys about the project, Butler said. Founded in 1949, Tanglewood is comprised of some 1,200 homes, many of which are on oversized lots. New builds along Tanglewood Boulevard, the neighborhoods signature tree-lined street, are increasingly replacing the original 1950s ranch houses. A 17,000-square-foot lot in the neighborhood sells for as much as $1.5 million, said Marilyn Thompson, president of Martha Turner Sothebys International Realty. The WMJK property is appraised at $4.5 million, according to the Harris County Appraisal District. Thompson said properties in Tanglewood have maintained their values and she doesnt expect a building along San Felipe to be a detriment. If they design it as a very attractive building, I think itll be OK. We live in an urban area. People want to live closer to where they spend their time, to where they work and socialize, she said. Youre not going to avoid this. nancy.sarnoff@chron.com twitter.com/nsarnoff Seven years after billionaire investor Carl Icahn bought a controlling ownership of Sugar Land's CVR Energy, the company is considering selling itself or other strategic alternatives, the refiner said this week. CVR said it has hired Bank of America Merrill Lynch to act as its financial adviser in evaluating a potential sale. There is no definitive timeline for completing the evaluation, which may not result in a transaction or sale, the company said. CVR Energy also said Tuesday that it sold its 1.5 million barrel Cushing, Okla. crude oil terminal to an affiliate of Houston-based Plains All America Pipeline for $36 million. RELATED: CVR executes on refinings formula for success CVR Energy earned $289 million in net income last year, up from $235 million a year earlier, according to the company's annual report. It has a stock market value of about $4.7 billion. CVR Energy's stock jumped more than 2 percent Wednesday morning to hit $48.25 by mid-morning on the news of the potential sale, before falling to close at $46.42, roughly where it stood before the announcement. CVR stock has climbed about 35 percent this year. Icahn acquired a controlling stake in CVR Energy in 2012 and considered taking the company private. Icahn has opposed a biofuel credits program that refineries such as CVR pay when they can't blend renewable fuels like ethanol or biodiesel with petroleum, He served as an adviser to President Donald Trump following his election, before stepping down in August 2017. In an April filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said that it is cooperating with the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York following a September 2017 subpoena related to Icahn's activities regarding renewable fuel policy and his role as special adviser to Trump. The refiner and its subsidiaries employ about 1,500. CVR owned 3.8 million barrels of storage capacity in 2018 and leased storage of 2.5 million barrels, according to its 2018 annual report. CVR's refining unit runs refineries in Coffeyville, Kansas and Wynnewood, Oklahoma EARLIER: Icahn's CVR Energy losing bet on bio-fuels credits under Trump The piece: North to South and Back The artist: Lina Dib Where: Space HL, 1303 Cullen Blvd.; noon-5 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, through June 9 Art openings usually feel like parties, so Lina Dib was pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago to find a room full of people reverent and silent when her show North to South and Back opened at Space HL, Paul Middendorfs new gallery a few blocks east of the University of Houston campus. The space is blackened from floor to ceiling, and theres nothing to look at, really, other than 20 small, round speakers that dangle from the ceiling in dim light. Dib has created an isolation chamber, a bubble within the ruckus of the city, where visitors focus on listening, not seeing. They might first think they are in the woods or out on the Katy Prairie. The 20-minute sound loop contains the calls of migratory birds the crackety-crack of sandhill cranes, the soft ta-too-too-too-too-too of a white-throated sparrow, the unreal gulpy echo of the American bittern, the buzzing wings of a ruby throated hummingbird, the high-pitched ch-ch-ch-ch-ch of a chimney sweep, the tweets of a bobolink, the trills of a Bewicks wren. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Mini-Murals make a big impression across Houston A boys voice recites the names of birds, adding gentle humor. Listeners may not realize it, but the boy, Siddharth, is an immigrant. Dib also layers in sounds made by other migratory humans, including herself (she came to Houston a decade ago from Montreal). There are people mimicking bird songs, using bird whistles or doing indiscernible people things. For example, Dib digitally deconstructed a few notes from an electric guitar to create bass notes that help define the space and provide a moment of clumsiness to remind listeners she is manipulating their experience. She and Rebecca Novak, another sound artist, also added what might be an exotic bird sound by tapping an egg around the inside of a cup. Dib sets up the opposing forces wild vs. man-made in a choreographed call and response that spins between the speakers. Although its hard to tell the difference unless you really, really know your birds. The sound comes in calming waves, never a cacophony, with brief, silent intermissions that give you time to think. If the speakers, which use magnetic energy, were not secured with wire, their backs would all turn to face north. Birds are a bit like that too: Many species have iron in their beaks, which helps them track with magnetic fields when they migrate. They also follow celestial bodies another thing the dark space suggests. Dib, who teaches classes in art and the environment at Rice, says she didnt know much about birds before she started this project, which began with a smaller piece last year at Lawndale Art Center and will grow larger this fall with a Sculpture Month show at the Silos. She learned to soar before she could drive, riding gliders. More recently, she was enthralled by the haunting, melodic song of the last Kauai Oo, a now-extinct Hawaiian species, as it calls for a mate, that she first heard on Cornell Universitys ornithology website. It acts as the warning sound, or a flute, she says. It wasnt a migratory bird but it has so much to say I wanted to bring him back. The Kauai Oos last song is included in North to South and Back, along with other bird calls from the Cornell site and bird songs Dib recorded from her front porch. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Ariana Grande says 'thank u,' Houston for skipping the 'Game of Thrones' finale Birds are cute but so resilient, fragile but also strong, and also witnesses to so much change, she says. Some species fly the equivalent of to the moon and back. Its so epic, really moving. And there are the ones that wait a long time and mate for life and have these fascinating social relationships. Or the smaller ones that have to flap all the time and cross the Gulf of Mexico. They take these micro naps, so they can sleep while theyre flying. She can share so much about all she is learnning, but the installation isnt didactic. She also wanted to create space for visitors to do nothing but sit and let their minds wander. To cultivate that is really important, Dib says. If we listen here, well notice more outside, including how many birds there are. molly.glentzer@chron.com PREVIEW: Get experts picks for concerts, kids stuff, fine arts, movies and more delivered to your inbox weekly. Do large museums have a responsibility to help support local artists? The general opinion is yes. But how much? The Dallas Museum of Art appears to be doing a better job than the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The DMA on Wednesday announced it will help support 13 emerging Texas artists this year through three annual programs: The Clare Hart DeGolyer Memorial Fund Award, which pays up to $1,500; the Arch and Anne Giles Kimbrough Fund Award, which pays up to $3,500; and the Otis and Velma Davis Dozier Travel Grant, which pays up to $6,000. This years awards will support the publication of art books and travel to art book fairs, photography equipment, artist residencies, classes on glass-making techniques, studio space and video production. Three Houston artists are among the winners, all of whom have recently mounted shows at Lawndale Art Center: Ryan Hawk, a filmmaker, sculptor, performer and installation artist who is currently a Core Program fellow at the Glassell School of Art; and recent Core fellow Yue Nakayama, also a filmmaker, both received Kimbrough Funds. Olaniyi Rasheed Akindiya won a travel grant to visit Cameroon and Ghana to study masquerade traditions. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston film director Annie Silverstein makes splash at Cannes Film Festival Since 1980, the DMAs Awards to Artists program has distributed nearly $800,000 to more than 300 recipients, many of whom have gone on to successful careers. Among the Houston artists who have benefited: Trenton Doyle Hancock, Robert Pruitt, Joseph Havel and Katrina Moorhead. All of this years recipients are from Texas, including three from Dallas-Fort Worth and six from the Austin area. and Kristen Gaylord, assistant curator of photographs at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, was the guest juror. We are thrilled to continue our support for some of the most promising and dynamic artists in our community with the Awards to Artists grants, said Anna Katherine Brodbeck, the DMAs senior curator of contemporary art. We look forward to seeing how their probing, incisive work continues to rearticulate our understanding of themes including the body, gender, technology and rituals of belonging. Museums can help local artists in multiple ways, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston offers significant support through the Glassell Schools Block Program. (The Core residencies dont really count as local; they are open to international talent.) But it appears to lag in the awards department. During its early years decades ago, the MFAH staged a local competition each year that awarded a purchase prize. The now-legendary John Biggers, during his emerging artist phase, won in 1950 for The Cradle, a dramatic conte crayon drawing of a mother and child. While the MFAH has nothing on the scale of the Dallas awards, it does sponsor the biennial Citywide African American Artists Exhibition, a collaboration with the museums 5A advisory group that offers three prizes totaling $900. This years exhibition opens June 21 at the University Museum at Texas Southern and moves to the Glassell School August. 16. molly.glentzer@chron.com PREVIEW: Find fun things to do and see around Houston in our weekly Preview newsletter. Subscribe here. Booksmart, the first feature film by Olivia Wilde, doesnt play it safe. It announces a first-time director with lots of skill and a willingness to make choices. And everything Wilde does, she does for a reason. Lets look at one scene. The movie is a coming of age comedy, focusing on two girls, best friends about to graduate high school. They get into an argument at a party. Wilde films the argument in one long take, rather than going back and forth from one character to the other. Why? Because the scene is not about this person feeling one thing, and the other person feeling something else. Its about the fact that theyre arguing, and to an extent about the phenomenon of friends arguing. Then, at a certain point in the scene, Wilde cranks up the soundtrack and drops out the voices, so that even though theyre still talking, we cant hear them. And why not? Theyre barely hearing each other anyway, and it doesnt matter what theyre saying. Thus, through her choices, Wilde tells us the precise way that the scene is important and the ways in which it isnt. This is a strong debut for Wilde. She didnt just stumble up and make a good movie. Yes, the script may have been strong to begin with, full of fun vignettes and a warm spirit that embraces everyone on screen. But Wilde vigorously made this picture, finding the tone and teasing out the laughs and the performances with a combination of bold and subtle strokes. Booksmart Rated R: For strong sexual content and language throughout, drug use and drinking - all involving teens Running time: 102 minutes ***1/2 (out of 5) See More Collapse In the end, though, the fact of the movie, the fact that its being perceived as a breakthrough, may be more important than the movie itself. Like Superbad, its about one amazing night as experienced by a pair of high school students, who know that time is precious, that they are preparing to say goodbye to this period of their lives. As in similar films, Booksmart delivers a first-time sex scene, only this time its a lesbian sex scene. Theres coarse and honest talk throughout, and gross-out visuals, but this time its girls involved. And a woman directed it, and four women wrote it. This makes for a subtle and positive shift in the genre. Instead of the cliche of boys pursuing sex in a frantic way, Molly (Beanie Feldstein) and Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) are searching for something more nuanced. In a perfectly pitched early scene, Molly -- the more aggressive and confident of the two friends -- has her worldview shattered, when she realizes that she and Amy didnt need to spend four years avoiding parties and social life just to get into Ivy League schools. Their classmates, it turns out, will be attending those same schools, but they had fun for four years. So the two book-smart girls decide to get an education in fun in their last night before graduation. Some of the incidents are labored -- an interlude on a party boat strains for laughs, and the mad drive to the graduation day ceremony seems like a failed effort to inject excitement where there isnt any. But a surprising number of scenes are strong, including a conversation between the girls and a pizza delivery driver (Michael Patrick OBrien) that takes some interesting turns. And Feldstein and Dever are very good at making us believe theyve been friends for life. However, while I have your attention, you know what movie is even better than this? Never Goin Back (2018) from Dallas writer-director Augustine Frizzell, about two 17-year-old girls trying to raise money for a weekend getaway. Its something like Booksmart, minus the rich Californians and the faint whiff of politically correct self-congratulation. Unfortunately, no one saw Never Goin Back, because its about working-class girls in Texas. mlasalle@sfchronicle.com The summer movie season is off to a roaring start, with Avengers: Endgame alone hauling in more than $734 million in North America since its release a month ago. But not everyone cares about superheroes and super-grosses or, even if they do, they still might want to occasionally see a film where nothing explodes. Some patrons will always crave a well-told, character-driven story where humanity is the biggest special effect. If thats you, theres no need to hibernate until October, when Oscar season means its time for serious movies. There are enough alternatives on the calendar over the next three months to keep even the most superhero-averse filmgoer busy without having to feign concern over the fate of an Avenger or X-Man. Here are more than two dozen independent, arthouse and smaller-budget films you should keep an eye out for in the next few weeks. Houston release dates are shown but are subject to change. Friday All Is True Kenneth Branagh is William Shakespeare in this look at the last days of the writers life. Judi Dench and Ian McKellen support. Booksmart Word of mouth is strong for this comedy about two studious high school girls who, on the day before graduation, decide to make up for all the fun they missed. It marks the feature-film directing debut from actress Olivia Wilde. Non-Fiction Acclaimed French director Olivier Assayas (Personal Shopper, Clouds of Sils Maria) lightens up with a romantic comedy-drama set in the world of publishing. Photograph Amazon Studios picked up this Mumbai-set drama about a street photographer who, after being pressured to marry by his family, coaxes a stranger to pose as his wife. Director Ritesh Batra made the well-received 2013 film The Lunchbox. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Houston film director Annie Silverstein makes splash at Cannes Film Festival May 29 Always Be My Maybe Randall Park (Fresh Off the Boat) and Ali Wong (American Housewife) play lifelong friends who fall for each other. May 31 The Souvenir Neil Young and Tilda Swinton star in Joanna Hoggs drama about a film student who gets romantically involved with a disreputable older man. The film won a Jury Award at Sundance. The Third Wife The martial-arts film Furie put the world on notice earlier this year that the Vietnamese film industry is on the rise, and this 19th-century-set drama about a wealthy landowner and the suffering life of his 14-year-old bride could give director Ash Mayfair a high profile in the West. It has won or been nominated for honors at film festivals around the world, including Toronto, Cairo, Milan and Chicago. June 7 Late Night Mindy Kaling writes and stars in a comedy about a long-running late-night host who thinks her show is being canceled. Its directed by Nisha Ganatra, who cut her teeth in such TV comedies as Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Dear White People. June 14 The Tomorrow Man Two very different people a survivalist (John Lithgow) and a shopaholic (Blythe Danner) find they have more in common than they thought. Director Noble Jones is known for music videos for Taylor Swift, OneRepublic and Keith Urban. The Dead Dont Die It has been some time since director Jim Jarmusch (Mystery Train, Down by Law) has had moviegoers talking about him. But thats whats happening with this off-kilter zombie thriller featuring a say what? all-star cast, including Adam Driver, Steve Buscemi, Chloe Sevigny, Bill Murray, Selena Gomez, RZA, Tom Waits, Sturgill Simpson, Iggy Pop, Danny Glover and many more. Halston Documentarian Frederic Tcheng has made his mark as a nonfiction filmmaker specializing in the world of fashion. He has made Dior and I and Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel, and now heres a look at the designer Halston, with appearances from Liza Minnelli, Marisa Berenson and more. June 21 The Fall of the American Empire Quebec filmmaker Denys Arcand (Jesus of Montreal) returns with a drama about a shy truck driver who happens upon a crime scene and hides two bags of cash in his truck. The Last Black Man in San Francisco Blindspotting, one of last years best films, buzzed with an undercurrent of anger over gentrification in the Bay Area. Joe Talbot, in his first feature, explores the issue in this story about a young man who feels lost in the city he calls home. Danny Glover, Jimmie Falls, Mike Epps, Finn Wittrock, Tichina Arnold and Jello Biafra star. Wild Rose What happens when a Scottish musician tries to make it big in Nashville? Tom Harpers drama, starring Julie Walters and Jessie Buckley, attempts to find out. June 28 Yesterday Director Danny Boyle (127 Hours) comes up with one of the most inventive storylines of the summer: What if a musician finds himself stuck in an alternative universe where the Beatles never existed and he starts playing their songs? The cast includes James Corden, Kate McKinnon, Lily James, Ed Sheeran and Himesh Patel as the stranded musician. July 3 Midsommar Ari Aster made a big splash with his first feature, Hereditary, and he looks to build on that with this mystery-horror film where a Scandinavian vacation goes very wrong. Florence Pugh, Wil Poulter and Jack Reynor star. July 12 Maiden Alex Holmes documentary chronicles the life of Tracy Edwards, the skipper of the first all-female crew to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race. July 19 The Farewell When family members find out their grandmother is dying, they dont tell her, they schedule a wedding instead. Lulu Wang writes/directs and Awkwafina (Crazy Rich Asians), Tzi Ma (The Man in the High Castle) and Gil Perez-Abraham star. July 26 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Quentin Tarantino comes back with his first film since The Hateful Eight four years ago. James Marsden, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Timothy Olyphant and Dakota Fanning are all along for the ride in this late-1960s set comedy-drama about an actor and his stunt double trying to make it in LA during the time of the Manson murders. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Three Houston artists among recipients of Dallas Museum of Art grants Aug. 9 The Nightingale Australian director Jennifer Kent earned much praise for her first film, The Babadook, and now she ventures into history with a thriller about an Irish convict and Aboriginal tracker chasing a violent English officer through the Tasmanian wilderness in 1825. Sam Claflin, who was in three Hunger Games movies, stars. Aug. 14 Blinded by the Light Set in Englands South Asian community during the Margaret Thatcher years, Gurinder Chadhas dramedy tells the story of how one teenager used the music of Bruce Springsteen to get him through tough times. Its based on the life of journalist/culture commentator Sarfraz Manzoor. Chadha directed Bend It Like Beckham and Bride and Prejudice. Aug. 16 The Informer Actor Andrea Di Stefano (Life of Pi, Eat Pray Love) directs his second film, this one a crime thriller about an ex-con who intentionally gets himself sent back to prison in order to break up a prison gang. Clive Owen, Rosamund Pike and Common star. Whered You Go, Bernadette? Richard Linklater (Boyhood) isnt telling a Texas story this time. Instead, hes adapting Maria Semples novel about a mom who discovers her creative side. Cate Blanchett, Kristen Wiig, Laurence Fishburne, Judy Greer and Billy Crudup star. TBA Luce Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Tim Roth and Kelvin Harrison headline this drama about an American family and their adopted son from Eritrea. Julius Onah (The Cloverfield Paradox) directs. Official Secrets South African director Gavin Hood, best-known for Enders Game, Eye in the Sky and Tsotsi, tackles the true story of a British whistleblower who made public information designed to lure the U.N. Security Council into sanctioning the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Them That Follow This thriller, set in the world of Appalachian snake handlers, stars Walton Goggins (Justified), Olivia Colman (The Favourite) and Jim Gaffigan. cary.darling@chron.com Twitter: @carydar PREVIEW: Get experts picks for concerts, kids stuff, fine arts, movies and more delivered to your inbox weekly. Pearland Independent School District has come under fire from parents after multiple confrontations with its minority students deemed as culturally insensitive and discriminatory. Families of Pearland ISD are now requesting a committee, of which half should be students, be formed to represent diverse perspectives of the district, according to a news release. They're also requesting cultural sensitivity training, as well as data on the demographics of student punishment and student enrollment in various academic programs. "In the absence of meaningful community conversations about race and religion, we will not be able to address adequately the underlying issues that motivate the discriminatory dress code policy and enforcement in this district," Dona Kim Murphey, spokesperson for the families, wrote in the news release. Pearland ISD did not respond to phone call and email requests for comment. Find out why critics are saying that changing property tax appeals could wreck city, school budgets on HoustonChronicle.com In April, Juelz Trice, a seventh-grade African American student, showed up to Berry Miller Junior High with a new buzz cut with a design in it. The then-assistant principal, Tony Barcelona, told Trice that the design in his haircut was against the school dress code because it was distracting, Trice's mother Angela Washington wrote in a Facebook post. More 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. See More Collapse He "decided to color my baby's design with a PERMANENT MARKER!" Washington wrote. "His only options was to go to (in-school suspension) or get his head colored. They did not call to inform me at all." Five days later, the black ink was still on Trice's head. Washington told the Houston Chronicle last month that had she and her son's father known that Trice's haircut was against the dress code, they would have taken him back to the barber. "It became way more than it should have, and it should have been solved very easily. Call the parent and we'll fix it," Washington said. "He was humiliated. The look on his face when he got in the car, he was totally embarrassed." At the time, the school district put out a statement condemning Barcelona's actions and said he was placed on administrative leave. Before the incident took place, Barcelona had been chosen to be the school's next principal. Also in April, Hadiya Henderson, an African American freshman at Dawson High School who wears the hijab, was instructed by an assistant principal to get a note from her imam confirming she is wearing her headscarf for religious reasons, the parents' press release said. "Hadiya has worn her hijab since the fourth grade and we have never had a problem," Henderson's mother, Luciana Brady-Henderson, told Murphey. The Pearland ISD dress code says that students are not allowed to cover their heads, wear caps, hats or hair rollers inside the building. It does not mention anything about religious exemptions. In both cases, the parents have said that the school district administrators have been extremely unresponsive to their concerns. Charles Gooden Jr., a Pearland ISD trustee, wrote on Facebook on May 14 that in response to the incident with Trice, the school administration asked the Dress Code Committee to re-examine the code for any culturally insensitive or out-of-date policies. He added that the administration is looking to possibly expand diversity training, and establish "a committee of minority district leaders to look at issues around diversity and sensitivity." "It's no secret that racism, whether intentional or not, has crept into the code," Trustee Mike Floyd wrote on Facebook afterward. "The administration has made it clear that they are aware of the Board's stance that provisions which are rooted in cultural or racial inequalities must be changed, and anything less will be unacceptable in my opinion." Murphey, a physician who has been living in Pearland for 15 years, ran for school board last month. She said that of the roughly 1,000 people she spoke with while campaigning, multiple families of color told her they had left the school district due to similar discriminatory experiences. The district has also faced accusations of being discriminatory toward the LGBTQ community. Kimberly Shappley, the mother of a transgender teen, told the Houston Chronicle last year that they moved to Austin from Pearland because the school district was insensitive to her daughter's new gender identity. "We've just been having trouble with other students telling her she can't line up with girls because she's a boy. It's not the kids' fault, they don't understand," Shappley said. "And Pearland ISD doesn't want to educate them. It became too much." In addition to dress codes that parents say are culturally insensitive to non-white, non-Christian students, Pearland ISD has disproportionate punishment rates of its students of color. According to a 2015 study by the Office for Civil Rights, while there were more than twice as many white students (38.6%) than black students (15.9%) enrolled in the school district, the two groups made up equal portions of students who received in-school suspensions (30.4%). Hispanic students made up nearly 32% of the school's enrollment, and almost 31% of their in-school suspensions. "A lot of why we do not see culturally sensitive policies, likely has to do with the climate created by the current Superintendent (who drove Kai Shappley out of Pearland)," Murphey wrote in an email, "and the fact that those immediately below him who have been here for many years to oversee hiring are very entrenched in the whole racially and religiously homogeneous, church-state-business, social-industrial complex of Pearland." Texas brewers are holding their breath this week, as they await a verdict on legislation that would legalize selling beer to go from their taprooms. The "Beer To Go" bill cleared the Texas House late last month, and passed through the Senate's Business and Commerce Committee last Tuesday, prompting speculation that the widely supported bill would make it through the Senate by last Friday. But it still hasn't reached the floor. Currently, breweries are allowed to sell beer on site, but it is against the law for them to sell crowlers, growlers, six-packs, or any other form of beer to be taken off premises. And in Houston, this can get confusing, since some of the establishments commonly referred to as breweries operate under brewpub licenses, making beer-to-go legal there. "It's confusing to consumers," said Casey Motes, the founder of Eureka Heights Brewing in the Heights, which is already able to sell beer to go because it is technically licensed as a brewpub rather than a brewery. "We get this all the time, like 'You can sell beer.' And then that person goes to 8th Wonder, and they're annoyed because they got a crowler from us last weekend, and then they go to 8th Wonder and try to buy one, and the people at 8th Wonder say they can't sell that," Motes said. "But the customer's like, 'Well Eureka Heights did it. Why can't you?'" As a brewpub, Eureka Heights is capped at producing 10,000 barrels a year, which is not currently an issue for the brewery. But for larger operations, like Saint Arnold, which produces 70,000 barrels a year, or 8th Wonder, the 10,000 barrel cap means they have to be legally licensed as brewers, and as such cannot currently sell beer to-go. And there are other breweries on the smaller side of the spectrum that are also limited for different reasons. At Holler Brewing in Sawyer Yards, owners John and Kathryn Holler were unable to get a brewpub license due to zoning laws and their proximity to an HISD building. As such, Holler operates under a brewery license, which means Holler beer is never allowed to leave the brewery site. "That's a challenge," said Motes. "I can tell you that we couldn't have paid our rent the first few months if we didn't sell beer on site. It made us viable to get to the point where we could grow a little bit." John Holler has become a key part of the push to help Texas become the 50th state in the nation to allow beer-to-go sales. He has joined the board of the Craft Brewers Guild, and has taken an active role in negotiating for changes in the Texas alcohol code that would put the state on equal footing with the rest of the nation. And beer-to-go isn't the only item up for passage here. The TABC sunset bill, to which beer-to-go is attached as an amendment, would also make it legal for retailers to sell beer before noon on Sundays. At Southern Star Brewing in Conroe, founder Dave Fougeron said being able to sell takeaway beer will help his bottom line. "I'm expecting that if we can sell beer-to-go here, it will raise our taproom revenue by 15 percent, maybe. And that will be a bump," he said. "It won't be huge. But I'd love to see it because it will open up a toolbox for me to do other things." Now, with less than a week remaining until the legislative session ends, it's a waiting game. Bumper-to-bumper traffic. Climate change. Politics. Who did or did not die in Game of Thrones. Were stressed, yall. And researchers say that our tweets are showing it. An algorithmic tool called TensiStrength analyzed more than 5 million real-time tweets over a two-week period in every U.S. state and the 100 most populated cities, according to Babylon Health, a digital health-care provider. The tool analyzes terms related to stress, frustration, anxiety, anger and negativity and ranks them on two scales: no stress or very highly stress and no relaxation or highly relaxed. TensiStrength detects stress and relaxation strength in social media text messages by examining the words and vocabulary used and a set of rules to detect direct and indirect expressions of stress or relaxation, particularly in the context of transportation, according to Science Direct, a platform for peer-reviewed research literature. On ReNewHouston.com: Mindfulness for third-graders? Meditation, yoga help kids ward off anxiety and depression Top 13 most-stressed Texas cities 1. San Antonio 2. Houston 3. Corpus Christi 4. Lubbock 5. El Paso 6. Laredo 7. Fort Worth 8. Garland 9. Irving 10. Dallas 11. Austin 12. Plano 13. Arlington Source: Babylon Health See More Collapse The results do not bode well for Texas, which shows that more than 10 percent of the reviewed cities population published stressed-out tweets in that two week-period. Texas ranks as the 12th most stressed-out state in the U.S. at 10.88 percent of tweets reviewed were measured as stressed, according to the study. Monday mornings are when we stress-tweet the most. Thirteen Texas cities were reviewed, including Arlington with a population of nearly 400,000 people to Houston at 2.3 million. Houston is ranked second most-stressed with 11.60 percent of its residents tweeting out stress-related language, according to the study. San Antonio comes in first on the list at 11.62 percent. City size and population do not appear to factor into how stressed the tweeters are. Corpus Christi, Lubbock, El Paso and Laredo are ranked third through sixth on the list, with similar percentages, circa 11.5 percent. Dallas rounds out the top 10 at 10.29 percent, and Austin is right behind it at 10.2 percent of its residents stress-tweeting. I dont think anyone would disagree that our lives are getting more and more complicated even than just 20 years ago, said Renae Tomczak, chief executive officer of Mental Health America of Greater Houston. We have to talk more about work-life harmony rather than work-life balance. If you focus on making small changes in your life, that can have a significant impact and will help you build on those small successes, build resiliency and lead toward a path to focusing on overall health. Recent surveys have shown that Houstonians continue to stress over Hurricane Harveys devastation. A 2017 survey by the American Psychology Association showed that more than 60 percent of Americans feel that the future of the nation is a source of stress for them, and 43 percent of survey respondents stated that health care is a national issue that causes them stress. Stress in America: Generation Z targeted Americans between the ages of 15 and 21 as its own study within the scope of the 12th annual APA Stress in America survey. It showed that headline issues, like immigration, sexual assault, mass shootings and climate change, are causing significant stress among members of Gen Z. On ReNewHouston.com: Simply sleepy, or fighting fatigue? Here is the difference. Its important to remember that this generation grew up with cellphones in their hands and an intuitive use of the internet and social media. They may know how to access every platform, but do they know how to filter information? said Alejandra Posada, chief operating officer for MHA-Greater Houston. (Social media) is used to connect us to things that we care about: finding activities that bring us joy and to add to relationships that already exist. It can be a tool in our wellness toolbox. But we know from a body of research that communicating solely virtually should not replace in-person interaction and can be detrimental. Constant stimulation from devices can lead to a lack of good sleep and a feeling of insecurity, Posada said. Its a mode of comparison. Most of what people put on Facebook is them having fun but no one is like that 24/7, she said. Theyre curating that feed, and it can lead to unrealistic expectations (by the viewer). The mental health organization offers free online screenings for anyone who feels a little off. But Posada said that you dont need to be diagnosed to seek help from a friend or a mental health professional. Its important to have face-to-face interaction and identify someone in your life that you trust to go to when youre feeling overwhelmed, Tomczak said. For more information on MHA-Greater Houston, call 713-523-8963 or visit www.mhahouston.org. julie.garcia@chron.com Twitter.com/reporterjulie Housing sales would drop, gasoline prices would increase and Texas would lose hundreds of billions of dollars in economic output if a major storm struck an unprotected coastline, according to a new study. The joint study by Texas A&M University at Galveston and the Texas General Land Office assesses the storm surge impacts on the three counties along Galveston Bay Galveston, Harris, and Chambers and explores how flooding from a severe storm would impact different sectors of the local and national economies. The study finds that a 500-year storm would result in an 8 percent decrease in Gross State Product by 2066, an $853 billion loss. (A 500-year flood has a 0.2 percent chance of occurring in a given year. Hurricane Harvey was the third such event in the Houston area in three years.) STUDY: Sea level rise causes Texas coastal homeowners to lose millions in potential property value With a coastal barrier in place, the study found, economic losses would be significantly less harmful. Gross State Product would still decline after a 500-year storm, but only by 2 percent. Housing sales would decrease by 2 percent, while petroleum and chemical output would decline by 3 percent and 5 percent, respectively. "This is the first time that people have looked at indirect damages and how things occur other than the damage we think of from floods," said Wes Highfield, an associate professor at Texas A&M University at Galveston and an investigator on the study. "This is another data point that says, 'Hey this could be a really important piece of mitigation.' It creates a richer picture." The economic outlook for an unprotected Houston-Galveston region ravaged by a storm surge is bleak, the report shows. Housing sales would decline by nearly 8 percent, a $39.5 billion loss. Revenues in the petrochemical sector would decline by 19 percent, a $175.4 billion loss, while prices on petroleum products would increase by 13 percent. Nationally, following an unprotected, 500-year surge event in Galveston Bay, the U.S. Gross Domestic Product would be 1.1 percent lower by the end of the 50-year period, an estimated $863 billion dollar economic decline. "This study clearly demonstrates that, without any new protections in place, future storm surges could have substantial and lingering impacts on Texas' economy and send lasting ripples through other economic sectors nationwide," said George P. Bush, the Texas land commissioner, in a statement. READ MORE: Houston Ship Channel dredging could be used for coastal barrier The study was conducted prior to the Army Corps of Engineers' selection in October of a barrier proposal calling for 71 miles of dunes, gates, levees, and wildlife restoration beginning at High Island and running the length of Bolivar Peninsula and Galveston. The barrier models used in the study are roughly 17 feet high and include protection of San Luis Pass, which the current proposal does not. With a barrier in place, the study shows that the decline in national GDP would be limited to .28 percent. Estimated residential losses in the Galveston Bay region are also four times lower with a coastal barrier in place Stay Informed Text "Houston" to 77453 to receive HoustonChronicle.com alerts on your phone. See More Collapse A barrier would have the most pronounced impact on coastal flood insurance premiums. The analysis indicates that $8 billion of National Flood Insurance Program insurance coverage would have reduced surge risk with a coastal spine. Over 31,000, or 10 percent, of all National Flood Insurance Program policies in Harris and Galveston Counties would experience a reduction in 100-year storm surge cost with a coastal barrier in place. Authors of the study also conducted a survey to assess public perception of a coastal barrier. The sample of 2,300 residents of Chambers, Galveston, and Harris Counties was conducted in 2018, months prior to the Army Corps' selection of a coastal barrier proposal. The survey found that 73 percent of respondents supported the construction of a coastal spine, while 55 percent believed the government and port industries should share the cost of building such a system. Two-thirds of respondents also supported some type of public tax, including a sales or hotel tax, to raise revenue to construct the coastal barrier. nick.powell@chron.com MISSION MOON: Nearly 50 years have passed since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to walk on the moon. Our special Apollo 50 anniversary coverage explores how the country came together to fulfill President John F. Kennedys goal of reaching the lunar surface by 1970, NASA's bold missions - and crippling tragedies - since that historic day, and the future of space exploration and Houston as America's "Space City. *** As a young child growing up in South Carolina, Charlie Duke didnt even consider rocketing to the moon in a spaceship. Mom would have sent me to the psych hospital, Duke, now 83, said during an event last year hosted by the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas. But rocket to the moon he did. Duke, who lives in New Braunfels, was part of the Apollo 16 mission to the moon in April 1972. The fifth mission to land on the lunar surface, Apollo 16 focused on conducting science experiments and using the lunar rover. He and his commander, John Young, spent 20 hours exploring the surface. By the end of that year, the Apollo program was prematurely canned, nestling Duke in the history books for two significant reasons: He was one of only 12 men to walk on the moon, and he was the youngest to do so by three months. The Charlie Duke file Early days: Born in Charlotte, N.C. in 1935. Military days: After graduating from the Naval Academy in 1957, Duke entered the Air Force, where he spent three years as a fighter interceptor pilot at Ramstein AFB in West Germany. NASA days: Was one of 19 selected for NASA's fifth astronaut class in 1966. Served as CAPCOM for the historic Apollo 11 mission and was in charge of communicating to the astronauts from the ground. Later served as a backup crew member for the ill-fated Apollo mission. Mission Moon: Became the 10th of 12 men - and the youngest ever to do so - to walk on the moon as part of the Apollo 16 crew in 1972. On his last day on the moon, Duke left a photo of his family. See More Collapse It didnt bring the fame and fortune one might expect. No one has ever recognized me, he joked at the Dallas event last year. I dont get on an airplane and they say, Hey, you walked on the moon. I know you! It doesnt happen. But thats perfectly fine in Dukes mind: He didnt get into the space business for money or notoriety. Duke grew up in a South Carolina town that was home to about 8,000 people. And his heroes were those who fought and died in World War II. So, he decided to go to the Naval Academy, where he fell in love with airplanes. After switching to the Air Force, he became a fighter pilot and served as a pilot trainer. He was tapped as an astronaut in 1966 several years after many of the moonwalkers joined the fledgling space agency. I didnt think Id have much of a chance to fly, Duke said. But much to his surprise, Duke started bubbling up to the top of the ranks. Three years after joining NASA, Duke was on the Mission Control room floor for the Apollo 11 lunar landing at the request of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon in charge of communicating with the astronauts from the ground at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. When Armstrong and crew member Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon on July 20, 1969 uttering the now famous phrase, Houston, Tranquility Base here, the Eagle has landed Duke was there to answer the call. And he was so excited, he fumbled the words for the whole world to hear. I was so excited, I couldnt get out Tranquility Base. It came out sort of like Twangquility, Duke said in an interview with NASA in 1999. It was, Roger, Twangquility Base. We copy you down. Weve got a bunch of guys about to turn blue. But were breathing again. After playing a vital role in that historic mission, Duke served as a backup crew member for the doomed Apollo 13 mission in 1970, where he famously and accidentally exposed crew member Ken Mattingly to German measles. Duke had been exposed to the disease by his young son. Both were pulled from the mission, which had to abort its moon landing after an oxygen tank exploded. Duke finally got his chance at the moon in 1972, touching down on the surface as part of the second-to-last Apollo mission. He was 36. During the mission, Duke and Young collected more than 200 pounds of rock and soil samples, according to NASA. On his last day on the moon, Duke left a photo of his family him, his wife, Dorothy, and their sons Thomas and Charles on the dusty lunar surface. The moon was awesome, exciting and adventurous, Duke said last year. It was the most beautiful desert. Duke retired from NASA in 1975, entering the private sector. He also served as chairman of the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation based in Florida. alex.stuckey@chron.com The Texas Senate has brought Fort Bend County a step closer to owning and operating a cemetery on the site where 95 African-American remains believed to be those of prison laborers were discovered last year. HB 4179, which would enable the county to operate the cemetery, was approved unanimously by senators Tuesday after earlier passage by the House. The measure now requires only Gov. Greg Abbott's signature to become law. The Texas Health and Safety Code limits ownership of cemeteries to counties with a population of 8,200 or fewer. Rep. Rick Miller,R-Sugar Land, originally filed a bill to make such ownership possible in Fort Bend County, where the population is more than 780,000. Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, who carried the bill in the Senate, said he was honored to be part of the process. "This is purely a matter of respect and righting the wrong that was done many, many years ago," Miles said Tuesday. "Everybody deserves a right to a proper burial and that's what we're trying to do here." Read more: Fort Bend ISD superintendent reflects on discovery of 95 remains Fort Bend County Judge KP George said county officials will continue negotiations with Fort Bend ISD on the proper way to memorialize the remains. He declined to go into detail, but said he hoped to come to a resolution next month. "This was a major obstacle and it's cleared," George said of the legislative action "I'm very excited to see that it's going in the right direction." The human remains discovered in 2018 at the school district's James Reese Career and Technical center construction site are believed to be those of prisoners in the state's convict-leasing system, through which inmates were contracted out to perform cheap labor across the state. Their discovery attracted national attention, and community members pleaded with the school district to keep the remains at the construction site. Fort Bend ISD decided earlier this year to negotiate with the county and canceled plans to build on the portion of the construction site where the human remains were discovered at the James Reese Career and Technical Center in 2018. At first, the district appeared adamant that the remains should be moved to the nearby Old Imperial Farm Cemetery, filing a court petition in November to achieve this goal. District officials said it would cost $18 million to change course on the project. Miller said he had been following the issue as his district encompasses the area where the remains were discovered "It became a little divisive, but now this is a way to pull all that together and do the right thing for the Sugar Land 95," said Miller about the bill passing. Earlier this year, the school district's stance began to change when elected officials, including George and Miles, sent a letter to school board members in February asking them to halt construction and keep the remains at the site. Some of the elected officials also appeared at a school board meeting to discuss the matter later that month. At the school board meeting in February, U.S. Rep Al Green, D-Houston, implored board members to come to an agreement. While he voiced his plea to school board members, elected officials stood in solidarity around him Fort Bend ISD spokeswoman Veronica Sopher said the district was grateful for the Senate vote. The school district's technical center is still scheduled to open this fall. "We are excited and thankful that the Legislature supports the efforts of Fort Bend ISD, Fort Bend County and the city of Sugar Land in finding a solution that memorializes the importance and the historical significance of the discovery of the Sugar Land 95," said Sopher. Samuel Collins, who has been vocal about keeping the remains at the construction site, said he was looking forward to seeing what type of memorial could be built to honor the 95 remains. "I'm hoping that it will be something that individuals will come from far and wide to see and be inspired by, not just the suffering and torture of what they went through, but the acknowledgment of their contributions to the economic success of that entire area and the prosperity of that Sugar Land region," said Collins. Reginald Moore, who has long been outspoken about the area's ties to the convict-leasing system, said he hopes the county, school district and the city of Sugar Land can give a formal proclamation to recognize the 95 remains once they are memorialized. "It's been a long time coming," said Moore about the steps forward. The governor's office did not respond Wednesday for a request to comment on whether he intended to sign the bill. Sen. Miles said he was pleased to see the school district, city and county working together on the issue. "In the state of Texas, we're trying to come together and not rewrite history, but learn from our history and learn how to work together, " said Miles. "It's a new day in Texas." brooke.lewis@chron.com " The Tomball City Council is moving forward with eminent domain on four properties to install public utilities, adopted a water conservation plan and a rezoning request during its regular meeting on Monday, May 20. City manager Rob Hauck said the city was working with landowners to purchase four portions of their properties to install water lines along East Hufsmith Road between Zion Road and Snook Lane. Theres a very distinct difference between easement, which is us utilizing or us having the right to put some pipe in the ground where we still dont own it, where they still can have fences in their yards and those kinds of things, he said. The first property would be for a 0.1099-acre portion or 4,789 square feet of land, while the second property would be for a 0.0555-acre portion or 2,417 square feet. The third property would be for a 0.1107-acre portion or 4,822 square feet and the fourth property would be a 0.1268-acre portion or 5,522 square feet of land. Councilman Derek Townsend voted against the ordinance for the first property, even as council members John Ford, Lori Klein Quinn and Mark Stoll voted in favor of passing the ordinance. Councilman Chad Degges did not attend the meeting. I am firmly a believer that when people own property, they own that property and I dont think that anybody should come in and take that property from them for any other use, Townsend said. According to the Office of the Attorney General of Texas, eminent domain allows government entities to force private landowners to sell their property for public use. A government entity would then condemn the property and compensate the landowner for the property taken. Hauck told the council that the city had been negotiating with the landowners to obtain a 20-foot easement of the landowners properties to install water lines as part of a capital improvement project. Townsend then said he understood the need for eminent domain and voted in favor of the remaining three ordinances. Its important for folks to understand that when this council approves an $800,000 water line expansion project that is going to improve our water system across the citywe cant allow one landowner to completely hold us hostage so that we can damage or negatively affect everyone in the community, Hauck said. Water conservation plan The council approved a water conservation and drought contingency plan, which it periodically reviews and adopts every five years to be submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, according to the agenda. The city would establish and maintain rules and policies to conserve water supplies during droughts and other emergencies where water supplies may be low. This is a re-adoption of a citys drought and contingency plan. Every five years, we need to reevaluate and resubmit to TCEQ and its that time, said public works director Beth Jones. According to the proposed plan, Tomball residents and businesses use about 788 million gallons of water per year with 70 percent for homes, 5 percent for multi-family residences and 24 percent for businesses. The public works department would test and calibrate the water meters and have them replaced as necessary. It would also identify abnormal conditions and repair equipment and pipeline breaks. Depending on the severity of a drought, the city will determine the amount of of water residents and businesses can use, emit boil water notices and may purchase in case of contamination. Residents or business owners who violate plan can be fined up to $2,000 per day. The city council would need to approve the next water contingency plan in 2024. Rezoning request The council also approved a rezoning request for a 3.6-acre property to commercial from agricultural. Located along Texas 249 and Alice Road, the site would be used as a high-end mixed-use development according to a letter written by Harpreet Mangat and Hardial Mangat. Wed appreciate if the zoning was approved so that we can build a beautiful shopping center that welcomes people into Tomball and also, it will provide revenue for the city, said Harpreet. The site would be used for a retail, office and restaurant complex, according to an application submitted to the community development department planning division. mayra.cruz@chron.com WASHINGTON A bloc of liberal Democrats began pressing Tuesday for an impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump, underscoring party divisions and the growing difficulties that Speaker Nancy Pelosi faces as she tries to chart a more methodical course. Trumps latest defiance of congressional oversight demands precipitated the break among Democrats. Former White House counsel Don McGahn, who had been called to testify Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee about the presidents attempts to obstruct the Russia investigation, skipped the scheduled hearing after Trump ordered him to ignore lawmakers subpoena. Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York, the committee chairman, promised to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress and warned other potential witnesses to expect new hardball tactics like changing House rules to allow fines for people held in contempt but he stopped short of publicly endorsing impeachment. He later issued subpoenas for testimony to McGahns former chief of staff, Annie Donaldson, and Hope Hicks, the former White House communications director, both key figures in the special counsel investigation. House Democrats also continued to negotiate this week with the staff of the special counsel, Robert Mueller, over his own potential testimony, according to two people familiar with the conversations. We will not allow the president to stop this investigation, and nothing in these unjustified and unjustifiable legal attacks will stop us from pressing forward with our work on behalf of the American people, Nadler said during a brief hearing of an emotionally raw Judiciary Committee. We will hold this president accountable, one way or the other. The Democrats divisions over how to get the administration to cede to their oversight demands grew out of their fears that Trump is succeeding not only in evading accountability himself but also in permanently rewriting the rules of engagement between the legislative and executive branches. He could set a precedent that frees future presidents from one of the Constitutions most potent checks on their power. We can focus on McGahn. We can focus on Barr. We can focus on Michael Cohen. We can call the roll, said Rep. Val Demings, a Florida Democrat on the Judiciary Committee who supports impeachment. But the problem here is the president of the United States. Their concerns that Trump might be permanently weakening Congress powers prompted prominent liberal Democrats to declare privately and publicly in the past day and a half that they saw no choice but to initiate an impeachment inquiry. The supporters of impeachment now number roughly two dozen. The new advocates included Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas, the chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, a chairman of the influential Congressional Progressive Caucus; Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania, the vice chairwoman of the Judiciary Committee; and Rep. Donald Beyer of Virginia. They argued that an impeachment inquiry would streamline disparate House inquiries and empower the chambers committees as they conduct oversight of the executive branch. And they expressed hope that it would show the public that the fight over documents and witnesses is not just another partisan Washington squabble but a showdown with historic implications. Congress has patiently tried to work within traditional means to get to the bottom of this extraordinary situation, Scanlon said. The time has come to start an impeachment inquiry because the American people deserve to know the truth and to have the opportunity to judge the gravity of the evidence and charges leveled against the president. Democrats are not getting help from House Republicans, who remain opposed to any additional investigation despite the abdication of Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, who came out in favor of impeachment over the weekend. Here we go again the theater is open, Rep. Doug Collins of Georgia, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, said at the outset of Tuesdays hearing. He accused Nadler of abusing his subpoena power to make unreasonable demands of the White House and witnesses to get a headline. Trump has made similar arguments, posting Tuesday on Twitter that Democrats are merely trying for a do-over after Mueller did not accuse him of committing a crime. Democrats continue to hold out hopes, albeit diminishing ones, that they can secure testimony from Mueller himself. Muellers team is questioning the timing and format of possible testimony, including how much of any hearing would take place in public rather than behind closed doors, the two people said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss negotiations. The slow pace of the talks appears to go beyond logistics: House aides involved in the report say they have gotten the sense that Mueller, and some of his aides, would rather let his written report speak for itself. Press officers for the Justice Department and the special counsels office declined to comment. Although outspoken and growing in numbers, supporters of an impeachment inquiry remain a relatively small minority of House Democrats. And their calls are at odds with their own leader, Pelosi, who holds the ultimate decision-making power over her caucuss strategy and has consistently warned against the divisiveness of impeachment. Several members of Pelosis leadership team confronted her in private Monday night with arguments in favor of beginning an inquiry, only to be gently swatted down with calls to stay the current course. On Tuesday, her allies pushed back hard in public. Candidly, I dont probably think theres any Democrat who probably wouldnt in their gut say, Hes done some things that probably justify impeachment, Pelosis top deputy, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, said Tuesday. Having said that this is the important thing I think the majority of Democrats continue to believe that we need to continue to pursue the avenue that weve been on. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the No. 5 House Democrat, told reporters that it was clear Democrats had not won back the House majority in last years midterm elections by campaigning on impeachment or obstruction of justice. But in a sign that Pelosi senses her caucus growing restless, she called a Wednesday morning meeting to update lawmakers on the status and strategy behind the Houses investigations. People involved in the investigations say that the speaker has also approved an escalation of tactics short of impeachment to try to turn the tables. McGahn may become a test case. He skipped the Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday after being instructed to do so by the White House, leaving an empty chair where Democrats had hoped he could serve as a star eyewitness. In ordering him not to appear, the president cited a Justice Department legal opinion that the Constitution gives senior presidential aides absolute immunity from congressional subpoenas compelling them to testify about their official work. In addition to fighting those claims in court, Democrats indicated that they would swiftly move to hold McGahn in contempt, perhaps taking the case straight to the House floor rather than waiting for a committee vote. They are newly considering altering House rules to allow for so-called inherent contempt penalties, like fines, people familiar with internal discussions said. The Judiciary Committee has already voted to recommend that the full House hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt for his defiance of another subpoena asking for Muellers full report and underlying evidence. Democratic leaders have been stalling on bringing the contempt citation to the floor of the full House and have not indicated they will accelerate a vote when they return in June from the Memorial Day recess. Pelosi is said to be newly open to pulling Trumps policy priorities into the fray, too. Thus far, she had refused to touch some of Congress traditional leverage buttons, like government appropriations bills. That could force Trump to reassess his approach but also run the risk of backfiring on Democrats. The new arrows in Democrats quiver came after lawmakers pushing for impeachment pressed Pelosi in private meetings Monday night. After Pelosi lamented to members of her leadership team that the battles with the president were overshadowing Democrats legislative agenda, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., argued that opening an impeachment inquiry could help solve the problem by centralizing fights with the White House over documents, according to three people in the room for the exchange, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the private meeting. Pelosi, who has long tried to move her caucus away from impeachment, was cool to opening such an inquiry right away. She asked Raskin whether he was suggesting the four other investigative committees just close up their work, the people said, and pointed out that Democrats had won an early court victory Monday in a dispute over a House subpoena for Trump financial records. Pressed in another meeting by Rep. Steve Cohen, D-Tenn., whether she was making a political calculation in tamping down impeachment talk, Pelosi insisted the answer was no, according to one of the people. This isnt about politics at all, she said. Its about patriotism. Its about the strength we need to have to see things through. Pelosis strategy still has broad backing, even among some rank in file members on the overwhelmingly liberal Judiciary Committee. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, said she was not ready for an impeachment inquiry. Our job is to educate before we activate, she told reporters. Rep. Lucy McBath, a Georgia freshman who is one of the lone Judiciary Committee members from a swing district, said she was trying to remind her colleagues of the political realities of an ideological diverse caucus and voters who sent them there. For people like me that are in the kinds of districts that I am in, impeachment is not something that a lot of people in my district want to talk about, she said. But at the same time I am tasked with being on this committee to make sure that no one is above the law. This article originally appeared in The New York Times Above our heads, a toy train slowly chugged in an endless loop on a track near the ceiling. An antique toy truck and airplane remained on display, though Tuma said she recently removed a classic rocking horse from the front window display. She said she didnt want anyone thinking it was for sale as the store liquidates its inventory. Each year in the United States, more than 160,000 people become nurses. One of them will report for work next month at a Virginia hospital. A 15-year Air Force veteran, Kathy Wales stopped working in 2009 when her two young sons were diagnosed with a rare disease. She lost both in the years that followed - one to the illness, the other to suicide. Wales will perform the same tasks as her fellow nurses, but she took a different path to wearing scrubs. She's building a new career by working through grief, helping patients with their mental health and honoring the lives of her children. "The biggest thing I've learned is that you have no idea what someone's going through when you see them walking down the street. You just have no idea," she said. "And I really would like to try to be able to make a difference for people like us." Kathy, 46, met her husband, Mike, in 1995 while they were stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. They married the next year and bounced around the country, working as intelligence analysts before landing in Bristow, Virginia, about 40 miles outside Washington. One night in 2009, her younger son, 9-year-old Alex, woke up disoriented, tripping over a metal toy truck and cutting his chin. A few stitches, Kathy thought, and that would be the end of it. Alex started behaving strangely at the hospital. He wouldn't sit in a wheelchair or allow anyone to touch him. When given a drug to reduce anxiety, he only became more agitated, trying to pull out his IV and pick nonexistent ants off his body. An MRI showed Alex had lesions on his brain and a blood test confirmed a diagnosis of adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). The degenerative disease, which often strikes boys between ages 4 and 10, causes the brain's nerve cells to lose their myelin sheath, leading to an inability to speak, blindness and deafness. Death often follows within five years of a diagnosis. "Your best hope is buy a video camera and enjoy your time," Kathy said doctors told her. "You might have six months." "No parent ever should sit still for that," Mike said. "We started looking for second opinions." It was the start of a seven-year quest to forestall an inevitable outcome that would give Kathy a painful crash course in nursing. The first stop was the University of Minnesota, where Kathy learned Alex could get a bone-marrow transplant that might halt the disease's progress. One candidate for the donation was Zach Wales, Alex's older brother - but, in a macabre twist, testing showed Zach also had ALD. Kathy said the diagnosis came as a "complete shock." Zach's ALD could become active at any time. "That's exactly what the doctors said would happen," Kathy said. "And there was no way to tell how or when." Kathy stayed by Alex's side as another donor was found and the bone marrow transplant was performed - "a horrible process," Kathy said. Alex endured daily chemotherapy for three weeks. He was nauseous, unable to walk and stricken with hives. The treatment did nothing to halt Alex's slow decline. When overnight nurse Saffie Kamara started to work in the family's home in 2011, he was nearly blind and had a feeding tube. Alex could speak and attend church and school, but his speech was deteriorating. Still, he charmed Kamara, then a 19-year-old nursing school graduate who worked with the family for more than five years. She would field text messages from girls at Alex's school and replied as he dictated. "After awhile, I kind of tossed my nurse hat out of the window," Kamara said. "I became a family member." Kamara found herself a vital part of the mini-hospital built into the Waleses' home. It contained a pulse oximeter machine, an oxygen concentrator, a nebulizer, a ventilator and a host of other devices. The gear to keep Alex alive came with a cost. Kathy struggled for three years to secure Medicaid and battled insurers over payments. She searched for teenage-size diapers - Alex couldn't fit in children or adult diapers - and bought a custom wheelchair part by part, only to learn her insurance company wouldn't reimburse her for the wheels. "You don't get a case manager when you have a rare disease," she said. "You have to learn everything yourself. There is no one to teach you." Not every family she worked for was as determined, Kamara said. "I could pick up that it was different," she said. "It was more than a mother's love." Lt. Gen. VeraLinn "Dash" Jamieson, the Air Force's deputy chief of staff for intelligence who has known Kathy for more than 20 years, said the family's home was a regular spot for parties and backyard barbecues. She said Alex was always included in activities despite his illness. "One of the most amazing things during Alex's deterioration of health was Kathy's ability to be the mom that created the house that every kid in the neighborhood - every kid in the school - wanted to be at," Jamieson said. "It was a lighthouse." Still, the end was approaching. Alex's speech worsened to the point where his mother sometimes couldn't understand him and, by summer 2016, he was "starting to give up," Kamara said. He died in September that year. He was 16 years old. "We knew going in that there was no grand outcome at the end of this road," Mike Wales said. "We were fighting to keep him around - to let him have a quality of life that was as good as we could give him. It went from six months to him being here with us for seven more years." He added, "Kathy was the rock." After Alex's death, Kathy didn't know what to do. Her son had been her full-time job. Others around her had ideas. "You should be a nurse," Kamara told Kathy. "You are a nurse. You care for your son . . . you are falling in love with it. I can see you have this passion." In February 2017, five months after Alex's death, Kathy started an accelerated nursing program at East Coast Polytechnic Institute's campus in Manassas, Virginia. The program packed a lot into 18 months - anatomy, physiology, microbiology, pediatrics and nutrition. Kathy thought she could handle it. After all, she'd been through the Air Force. Nursing school was harder, she said. And the medical know-how she picked up with Alex didn't provide the advantage she expected. Deep-suctioning - inserting a tube through the trachea to clear the lungs - was one example. She had done it for Alex many times. Doing it for a grade was different. "It's obviously different in school with a plastic mannequin than with your child," she said. "It's hard when there's a clinical instructor watching. When it's your child sitting there looking at you, it's a whole other story." About three months into the program, tragedy struck the family again. At age 20, Zach took his own life. It happened on an otherwise "normal day," Kathy said. Zach had come home from his apprenticeship as an electrician. He was going to go out with his girlfriend. He had ordered parts for his pride and joy - a big, black Dodge truck - and had made an appointment to have a tattoo filled in. Kathy was studying for a test when she got the news. "We were just starting to find our new normal," she said. "It was the last thing I expected." The family searched for reasons. Zach's brother had died months earlier of a disease that could affect Zach at any time. He had been in counseling, but stopped going when he turned 18, choosing consultations with the family's pastor. Whether his final act was the result of a bad relationship, grief or guilt, the result was the same. Both boys were gone. "There are no words to describe what you feel and the just overwhelming loss and grief and hopelessness that you feel," Mike said. "You have a future that you think is set. You look out in a year and you see your son's career and family and kids and grandkids and things like that, and the natural progression of things is interrupted, erased completely." After a three-month break from school, Kathy did what she had always done: She came back. On June 3, she will begin as a nurse in the behavioral mental health program at the Novant Health UVA Prince William Medical Center in Manassas. At her pinning ceremony - an age-old tradition for new nurses at which they receive pins from veteran nurses - Kamara did the honors. "Now that Kathy is doing this part of her life, going into her own field, it's given her a sense of purpose," she said " I think that's going to make her life happier." Jamieson said what her friend has gone through would leave her "rolled up in the fetal position." Instead, Kathy is powering forward into another phase of life. "You are never too old to learn, grow, have the career that you always wanted," Jamieson said. "Kathy really is truly a role model and inspiration to all." Kathy's mission is simpler. She is living for her sons. "I don't want anyone to ever forget them," she said. "They were pretty unforgettable. We can help other people with what we learn. That's the best way to remember them." The first fire lit up the shingles of the rabbi's home, forcing him and his family into their car for safety. Six days later, another blaze broke out there. Then it happened once more - this time at another rabbi's residence, 13 miles away. The homes in Massachusetts are also Chabad centers, where Jews worship, study the Torah and build community. Authorities are investigating this month's fires as arsons. No arrests have been announced. "Somebody out there wants to hurt us," Chanie Krinsky, who runs one of the centers with her husband, Rabbi Mendy Krinsky, wrote on Facebook the day after their home burned. "Just because we exist. And that is frightening." The blazes in Arlington and Needham, Massachusetts, follow arsons at mosques in New Haven, Connecticut, and Southern California, three predominantly black churches in Louisiana, and a mostly Hispanic Pentecostal church in Pennsylvania. For members of those houses of worship, the intended messages were clear, said Jamie Aten, executive director of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College: intimidation, hate and marginalization. "Those houses of worship have a symbolic meaning," Aten said. "They oftentimes are also identified with a particular ethnic group or racial group, and there's that overall attack that's happening on the identity that attend those houses of worship." The Massachusetts fires began the night of May 11, police said, when the rabbi of Chabad Center for Jewish Life of Arlington - Belmont and his family smelled smoke and heard the fire alarm. A second fire at the home - also on the building's shingles - broke out Thursday. Like the first, this blaze did no damage to the home's interior. That night, police said exterior siding burned at the Chabad Jewish Center in Needham. Chanie Krinsky wrote on Facebook that her husband ran outside with a fire extinguisher before the home's smoke alarms went off. She woke up her children, she wrote, and ushered them into their car. Needham police said the fire was being investigated as a "possible hate crime." They said they did not know for sure whether it was connected to the blazes in Arlington. The arsons come amid a wave of nationwide anti-Semitism that has included an attack with molotov cocktails at a Chicago synagogue and shootings at synagogues in Pittsburgh and California. Intentionally set fires are a somewhat new way that hatred toward Jews has manifested, Aten said. The Ku Klux Klan frequently burned black churches in the South during the civil rights movement of the 1960s, Aten said. In the 1990s, there was another spike of arsons of black churches, which became so prevalent that Congress created the National Church Arson Task Force to investigate. The task force disbanded in 2001, and responsibility for investigating arsons scattered to various agencies. Arsons now affect a broader range of minority religious groups than they used to, Aten said - a trend he attributes largely to the nation's divisive public discourse. He said individual people, as opposed to organized hate groups, are more often the perpetrators now and increasingly target historically significant houses of worship. "Because of the echo chambers that people are living in, whatever a person's driving hate toward another group, there's more opportunity for that to be amplified and intensified," Aten said. Reported hate crimes in the United States increased 17% in 2017, according to the FBI, making the number of instances 7,175. Arsons made up a fraction of hate crimes, with 42 instances that year. Hate crimes aimed at Jews, meanwhile, rose 37%. Those statistics are important, Aten said, because hatred of religious groups more often motivates arson than other types of violence. In shootings or assaults, he said, the offender usually has a personal tie to the victims. When an arsonist targets a religious institution, Aten said, the perpetrator wants it to serve as a symbol. Christopher Strain, a history professor at Florida Atlantic University, said in an email that a "contagion effect" can take hold among hate crimes against religious groups. He pointed to the recent indictment of a California man accused of setting fire to a mosque in Escondido and later opening fire inside a Chabad center in Poway. Rabbi Avi Bukiet, who leads the Chabad center in Arlington, Massachusetts, said at a news conference that the arsons have hurt the local Jewish community and his family. Still, he said, the center's doors would remain open for anyone who wants to experience or learn about Judaism. The community's support, Bukiet said, has given him and his family strength to handle whatever comes their way. They thought their protest against the Vietnam War would have short-lived repercussions. Early that sunny morning 50 years ago, Les Bayless, who was 22; his brother, Jonathan, 17; and Michael Bransome, 18, entered the empty offices of the Silver Spring, Maryland, draft office. They turned over file cabinets, emptied their contents and poured buckets of paint and blood, including some of their own, over draft registration documents. In preparation, they'd had their blood drawn the day before by Mary Moylan, a registered nurse and member of radical Catholic draft resistance group Catonsville Nine, led by renowned priests Philip and Daniel Berrigan. When the three finished demolishing the draft records, they wrecked the office equipment, throwing typewriters out the windows. The destruction on May 21, 1969, took about 20 minutes. Then they patiently waited for the police to come. "We did the most radical thing we could think of to help stop the war in Vietnam," Les Bayless said in an interview. He said his group, which was soon dubbed the "Silver Spring Three," notified a few reporters affiliated with the radical publications Ramparts and the Guardian. The journalists took photographs of the Bayless brothers and Branscome ransacking files and pouring blood and paint in the office. It took almost an hour for the police to arrive, followed by FBI agents who arrested and handcuffed the three, sending them to a federal jail in Baltimore. Jonathan Bayless, a juvenile, was released. Les Bayless and Bransome remained incarcerated. "I was very scared," Bransome said in an interview. "I knew there would be dues to pay." The 18-year-old had just dropped out of Einstein High School in Kensington, Maryland, to live in a Washington commune filled with antiwar protesters, joining Les Bayless and members of the Catonsville Nine who were awaiting trial for torching draft files at a Selective Service office in suburban Baltimore. The two young men soaked up the nonviolent teachings from the Catonsville group along with writings by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi. Bransome figured he'd serve about two years in prison, like other protesters he knew who were arrested for similar actions. "You have to understand that between 1968 and 1969, thousands of young men were being drafted every day to fight and die in Vietnam," said Bayless, who is now 72 and lives in Baltimore. By 1969, the number of American military personnel in Vietnam had reached more than 500,000, and the number of those killed had soared over 30,000. Just two days before the Silver Spring Three attacked the draft board office, American troops fought for 10 days to capture Hamburger Hill, one of the most famous battles of the Vietnam War. "The war was raging all around us, and we were angry," Bayless said. The Silver Spring action was part of an antiwar movement called "Hit and Stay," which the Catonsville Nine pioneered. Participants destroyed war-related offices or equipment and waited for the police to arrive to arrest them. The strategy was to use the arrest and ensuing trial to gain publicity for the antiwar cause. In the days before copiers and computers, local draft boards kept Selective Service registrations on 3-by-5-inch index cards. There was no central registry in the United States, Bransome said. "If you managed to spirit away or destroy the cards, you could keep someone from getting drafted, since there was no backup system," he said. "These actions had a very real impact on the draft." After their incursion, the Silver Spring draft board was closed for six to nine months, Bayless said. The Silver Spring protest was considered small by the movement's national standards, said Kara Speltz, who lived in the commune with Bayless and Bransome. "But who knows what other person heard about it and said, 'I can refuse to fight, too, I can stand up, too.' " After months in jail, Les Bayless and Bransome were tried separately. Bransome pleaded no contest in fall 1969 and was sentenced to three years at Robert F. Kennedy Youth Center, a federal prison in Morgantown, West Virginia. About 50 young people attended the trial of Les Bayless to show support. After he received nine years in prison for draft evasion, three felonies and mutilating government documents, the maximum allowed by law, U. S. District Judge Roszel Thomsen, who also presided over the Catonsville Nine trial, asked Bayless if he had anything to say to the court. "Yes," Bayless said, and he proceeded to throw his courtroom table in the direction of the judge. Guards jumped on Bayless and protesters chanted, "Right on!" "My sister started kicking at the guards, saying, 'Don't hurt my brother!' " Bayless said. Bayless was sent to a maximum security federal prison in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and he ended up on the same cell block as Jimmy Hoffa. Meanwhile, Bransome said he believed his life was in danger at the youth center in Morgantown. Two inmates accused him of being a communist and threatened to kill him just before he was to be paroled for good behavior. Bransome didn't think the authorities could protect him if he told them about the threat. He went out on furlough two weeks later and decided to not go back. "I was only 18, just a kid, and I just knew I couldn't go back there," Bransome, 68, said. Bransome, who was raised Catholic, reconnected with the Catonsville Nine clergy who housed him in different cities around the country. While in a safehouse in Cleveland, he dyed his hair blond, put on a priest collar and robe and began calling himself Father Richard Murphy. In this disguise, he crossed the border into Canada, then made his way to Stockholm in 1971. He was granted asylum in Sweden a few years later. Bransome has been an exile in Sweden for almost 50 years, and he has built a life there. He learned the language, went to college and eventually became a psychiatrist, treating survivors of rape and torture from around the world. He and his wife have six children. "For years, I missed the United States; it was my home country," he said. Yearning to see family and friends, Bransome sought pardons from Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. But each time, the Justice Department said fugitives are not allowed pardons. "I just never thought that our small action in Silver Spring, Maryland, would lead me into permanent exile," Bransome said. "But I still think it's the best thing I ever did," he added. Bayless agrees. After serving four years in Lewisburg, he was released from prison in 1973 when the war was ending and he wasn't considered a threat to the government. He became a trade union activist and retired 10 years ago after serving as an organizer and steward for 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. "I have no regrets," Bayless said. "I stood up and said I will not go to an immoral war. I took a stand, and I'm proud of that." And he was a father not only to his own four sons but to the thousands of McDonalds employees who worked for him in the six decades in which his business grew from one restaurant on Larkin Avenue in Elgin to two dozen throughout the northwest suburbs, David Bear said. Bills to simplify and cut the costs of transferring from a lower-level college to a four year-university and that would impose penalties for failure to report Title IX offenses are now both on the way to the governors office for approval. SB 212, filed by Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, will help boost the Title IX federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities receiving federal funding. SB 25, filed by Sen. Royce West, D-Dallas, in March, was passed by the Texas House this week nearly a month after it passed through the Senate and just days before the end of the 86th legislative session. The bill aims to save taxpayers, students and parents money by ensuring that courses at technical institutes or community and junior colleges can easily transfer and count toward a degree at a four-year university. The current system of transferring from one public university or college to another is complicated and costly, and students often accumulate an average of seven more credit hours than needed, according to a report by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. RELATED: Texas state Senate passes college transfer bill We have a lot of students that are taking college courses that are not applied or they dont get credit, West told the Houston Chronicle in April. Transferring costs students and parents around $45 million and the state about $15 million. That comes to $60 million of money wasted on untransferable credits each year, he said. If enacted, the bill will reorganize prerequisites, core and lower-level courses, making it easier for students to identify which courses will transfer and how they can rely on fields of study in order to graduate in a timely manner without losing credits. It further details and encourages articulation agreements between community colleges and four-year colleges, and would require students to consult with academic advisers and file degree plans within 30 to 60 credit hours that would map out their course load. RELATED: Several higher education-related bills make their way to the governor Universities will also be held accountable and will be required to provide the coordinating board with an annual report, detailing which courses were not transferable that year and why, West said. The bill, which has 30 lawmakers as sponsors and received a unanimous vote from all lawmakers who were present during the time of voting, has been a long time coming, according to West, who introduced the first version of the bill two sessions ago. But figures from major institutions have shown their support for amendments to the current college transfer process, including University of Texas at Austin President Gregory L. Fenves, who earlier this year called SB 25 one of this sessions most important bills, and Higher Education Commissioner Raymund A. Paredes, who called transferring the most vexing issue for the past several legislative sessions. A host of other higher-education related bills have been passed this month and are heading for Gov. Greg Abbotts approval, including Huffmans bill which was passed Wednesday. If enacted, the Title IX bill would require all employees of state colleges and post-secondary institutions to report incidents of sexual abuse against a student or employee to the schools Title IX coordinator. The new legislation would create a penalty a fine and/or jail time for those who fail to report or create a false report. The bill also further defines sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. Other higher education-related bills that have passed both Houses include HB 449, that would require colleges to indicate if a student had been expelled or suspended on their transcript, and HB 3165, which would create an occupational and life skills associates degree at Lone Star College also passed earlier this week. Bills addressing the revision of the definition and awareness of hazing, the protection of freedom of speech on campus, foster care services for college students, dual credit agreements between school districts and colleges, enforced degree plans, and using fees for a new student wellness and success center at University of Houston-Downtown all passed this month and have been submitted or are en route to the governor. brittany.britto@chron.com twitter.com/brittanybritto After a Capitol Hill hearing with more than a few minutes devoted to a back-and-forth about whether a California congresswoman was asking about foreclosed properties or Oreo cookies, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson lobbed a tweet at a Houston congresswoman and claimed undocumented immigrants were keeping Houstonians from public housing. There are more than 100,000 American citizens waiting for public housing in Houston, TX, Carson tweeted Wednesday night at Rep. Sylvia Garcia, a Democrat representing Texas 29th district. Do you think they should continue to wait while people here illegally are taking their space? But the Houston waitlist has nothing to do with undocumented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants arent eligible for housing subsidies. But if one member of the household is eligible including U.S.-born children, permanent refugees and asylum-seekers they could qualify. Mixed-status families account for just 42 families of the 22,500 who live in Houstons public housing or receive vouchers for housing, said Houston Housing Authority President Tory Gunsolley. In other words: Families that include an undocumented immigrant make up less than 1 percent of families in Houstons public housing system. Moreover, housing subsidies are prorated for families with mixed immigration status so undocumented immigrants do not receive any government money. Instead, the reasons behind the 100,000-person waitlist in Houston dates back to the World War II era. While public housing in cities like New York grew thanks to government subsidies from the 1930s to 1960s, Houston relied instead on the market to provide housing. The consequences of that decision show: One in 17 Harris County households gets some form of housing assistance, compared to one of every six in New York City. As Houston grew and became more expensive, people needed more affordable housing. The government didnt build any. Some private landlords receive government subsidies, but those properties too come with waitlists. Fewer and fewer homes in Houston fall in the category of whats called naturally occurring affordable housing that is, private housing that is affordable to people with low incomes. As of 2017, 335,000 of the affordable multifamily housing units in Harris County were at risk of becoming unaffordable, according to a study by the Greater Houston Flood Mitigation Consortium. When Hurricane Harvey hit, the crisis only got worse. Some public housing properties became so unlivable that the Houston Housing Authority decided it had no choice but to rescind vouchers from residents in what it deemed unsafe conditions. A legal aid group sued the owner of a privately owned, government-subsidized housing complex over allegations that repairs were never done post-Harvey. Stay Informed Text "Houston" to 77453 to receive HoustonChronicle.com alerts on your phone. See More Collapse A study put together by the flood mitigation consortium warned that construction restrictions after Harvey would leave low-income residents with even fewer options when the next storm hits. Carson was on the Hill to discuss a proposed regulation that would evict any undocumented immigrant. An internal analysis found the plan would put 55,000 children who are legal U.S. residents at risk for eviction because a parent would be evicted. HUDs new proposed regulation would force housing authorities across the nation to serve as an extension of immigration enforcement instead of focusing on our real purpose to provide safe, quality and affordable housing to low-income families, seniors, veterans and those with disabilities, Gunsolley said. sarah.smith@chron.com Kevin Mazur/MG19/Getty Images for The Met Museum/ Houston's own Travis Scott will be donating all of his merchandise profits from an Alabama music festival to Planned Parenthood amid backlash toward the state's lawmakers for outlawing abortions. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the most restrictive abortion regulation into law last week, making all abortions a felony offense and providing no affirmative defenses for victims of rape or incest, according to the Associated Press. Scott, who performed at Hangout Fest in Gulf Shores, Alabama, over the weekend, is now deciding to donate all of his profits from the merchandise he sold at the festival to Planned Parenthood, according to BuzzFeed. The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association on Tuesday asked Mayor Sylvester Turner to enter arbitration to settle its ongoing labor dispute with the city, a request the mayor shot down as he called instead for a return to collective bargaining. The unions request came less than a week after a state district judge ruled Proposition B unconstitutional and void. The charter amendment approved by voters last November granted firefighters the same pay as police of corresponding rank and seniority. Turner made clear Tuesday that he does not intend to accept the unions request. "The city of Houston is willing to return to the table for collective bargaining which would be the regular course of business, the mayor said in a written statement. Immediately after last weeks ruling, Turner said he would like to negotiate a pay raise for firefighters "that the city can afford, a call he repeated at his State of the City address Monday. Fire union President Marty Lancton said the mayor had yet to contact the union about sitting down to negotiate anew. He repeatedly has questioned Turners claim that the city could not afford Prop B, and on Tuesday cast doubt on Turners willingness to negotiate a fair raise for firefighters. Arbitration, Lancton contended, would resolve the pay dispute before Houstons 2020 fiscal year starts July 1. This is a sensible solution, Lancton said. We continue to wait for the call that the mayor says he is willing to make. Let's resolve this now, mayor. Turner spokeswoman Mary Benton said the union knows how to reach the mayor, and repeated Turners statement that his door is open and he is ready and willing to meet with the fire union. Lancton made the arbitration request in a letter sent to Turner Tuesday. "Again, recent developments present you with an opportunity to end your political and legal war on Houston firefighter families and negotiate a firefighter contract in alignment with the will of the 298,000 Prop B voters," he said, referring to the number of Houstonians who voted in favor of the referendum. The city turned down the unions request for arbitration in 2017, too, after the firefighters declared an impasse in contract negotiations. Lancton has said Turner could have resolved what has become a years-long pay dispute by simply agreeing to arbitration, which would produce a binding contract. After Turner rejected arbitration, the city and union in June 2017 entered mediation. The talks were unsuccessful, and the union sued the city later that month, claiming Turners administration failed to negotiate in good faith. That lawsuit has reached Texas 14th Court of Appeals, after a state district judge rejected the citys argument that a section of Texas Local Government Code violates the Texas Constitution by granting a judge discretion over firefighter pay. Get notifications Text "Houston" to 77453 to receive HoustonChronicle.com alerts on your phone. See More Collapse The provision in question allows the union to seek a district judges ruling if the city refuses to engage in arbitration. If the judge finds firefighters are not receiving compensation that meets criteria laid out in the code, the judge can declare what pay would meet those standards, and order the city to make the affected employees whole as to the employees past losses. The city has contended that would violate the state constitutions separation of powers provision. The fire union has said the citys appeal amounts to an attempt to rule collective bargaining unconstitutional by removing the teeth behind it. Turner has denied that. Benton sent the Chronicle a court filing from March, in which a lawyer representing Houston wrote that the city does not contest the constitutionality of the Local Government Code section that lays out fire and police collective bargaining rights. Earlier this month, the city and fire union failed to settle the labor dispute during court-ordered mediation. The order was part of the lawsuit in which Prop B was ruled unconstitutional. The judge presiding over the case had hoped the two sides could work out a deal, but a mediator declared an impasse. jasper.scherer@chron.com There's nothing quite like terrifying animals finding unexpected ways into your home. A crafty reptile tried such a move on Monday evening at the home of Wayne Melvin, reports said. Much to his surprise, the Yukon, Oklahoma, resident saw a snake, almost seven feet in length, make its way through his dryer vent. The vent leads into his house. Melvin broke down the dryer trying to find the unwanted guest. On HoustonChronicle.com: Here's how Houston is combating mosquitoes Initially, he did not call a pest control company. Instead, he wanted to see if the snake would leave on its own. This was, after all, a first-time occurrence, he told a local news station. Eventually Melvin pulled out the snake, put on a pair of gloves and carried it to the creek located behind his home. Peter Dawson is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | Peter.Dawson@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. Because of the selfless acts, professional behavior and exemplary skill of these officers, this incident ended with no injuries and no loss of life, Pedersen said. All of the officers involved have been highly trained, but their courage and dedication to the safety of our community was demonstrated in action on this spring morning. Presidential candidate Beto ORourke used more than an hour on national television Tuesday night to take his fight for the White House more directly to President Donald Trump. We should begin impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump, ORourke said early in the town hall meeting on CNN, citing the White Houses recent attempts to defy congressional subpoenas for information. He didnt stop there either, calling the Trump administrations policies on both the domestic and international fronts an absolute disaster and faulting him for his hatred and racism aimed at dividing the nation. Im making the case that the President of the United States of America right now does not just offend our ears or our sensibilities, he makes possible the acts of violence and hatred that were seeing played out in this country today, ORourke said at the forum from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. ORourke reminded the crowd of Trump calling Mexican immigrants rapists and murderers and his calling white nationalists in Virginia very fine people in 2017 after he took office. While ORourke has been critical of Trump since he stepped onto the campaign trail in Iowa in March, his performance Tuesday was a more sustained critique of the Trump administration than hes typically given at campaign stops around the nation, where he often talks up his ability to work with Republicans and reach out to Trump voters. The appearance also marked his biggest national television spot since he declared his bid for the Democratic nomination. For most of his first two months on the campaign trail, ORourke has bypassed the national television programs such as CNNs town hall series that is credited with helping other contenders, including Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren, surge ahead of him. Last week, ORourke seemed to kick a new strategy into high gear, making lengthy appearances on The Rachel Maddow Show on MSNBC, ABCs The View and now CNN. Its a change that comes as ORourkes initial momentum appears to be waning. When ORourke launched his campaign in March, he raised $6.1 million in just the first 24 hours in the campaign and was among the top three or four choices in most early public polling. But in April and May, ORourke has acknowledged his fundraising slowed and his polling numbers have slipped as other candidates have pushed ahead of him. A Quinnipiac University Poll on Tuesday showed just 2 percent of 454 Democrats polled said they were backing ORourke. That put him 33 points behind former Vice President Joe Biden and in seventh place. In March, ORourke was the choice of 12 percent, which put him 17 points behind Biden and in third place. ORourke acknowledged the need for change in the interview with Maddow, saying I recognize I can do a better job also of talking to a national audience. ORourke has largely tried to mimic his 2018 U.S. Senate campaign with a non-stop travel schedule that includes frequent town halls and constant livestreaming of rallies and even mundane events, including his hair cut in El Paso last week. Since March, ORourke has had more than 40 campaign events in Iowa, the first stop in the Democratic nomination process. Since he entered the race, no candidate has had more events in Iowa. With a larger audience, ORourke used the time on CNN to outline a plan that he said would protect and expand womens reproductive rights. He also called for going after opioid manufacturers who promoted medicines they knew were dangerously addictive, and demanded an immigration policy that would never separate children from their families. You dont get kids in cages at the border until you have dehumanized them in the eyes of your fellow Americans, ORourke told CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash. Immigration has become a signature issue for the 46 year-old ORourke. He often notes that he is the only candidate in the field of 23 Democrats who lives in a city on the border with Mexico, which gives him a unique perspective on an issue that has gripped the nation. On Tuesday, he said if elected president he would double U.S. foreign aid to Central American counties that many of the migrants showing up a the U.S. border are fleeing. He has said before he would vote to impeach Trump, but Tuesday ORourke was clear that he thinks hearings should begin even as Democratic leaders including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have warned it could be divisive and be used against Democrats in 2020. ORourke acknowledged the political risk, but said Trump went too far when he began denying subpoenas from Congress. He added Democrats cant be worried about short-term consequences when so much is at stake long-term if they dont stand up against Trumps actions and make sure he knows he is not above the law. Not something that I take lightly. Its an incredibly serious, sober decision that we should make as a country, he said. I understand the political implications of this, but I think this moment calls for us to look beyond the politics and the polling and even the next election. ORourkes CNN appearance comes just about a month before the first presidential debates set for June 26 and June 27 in Miami. AUSTIN With President Donald Trump and Congress at an impasse on border security, the Texas Legislature is taking matters into its own hands, speeding legislation that could build 12 miles of retaining walls along the Rio Grande in Laredo, construct 90 miles of new roads that would help border patrol, and address choking weeds that are blamed for hindering law enforcement. While Democrats supporting the bill insist its not President Donald Trumps wall, Republicans are calling the 20-foot-high non-scalable retention wall a step toward improved border security that the federal government has failed on. The legislation cleared the Texas House on a bipartisan vote this month, and the Texas Senate pushed it through a committee on Tuesday morning. It is almost certain to pass the Senate, and Gov. Greg Abbott is supporting it. The federal government can't get their act together. When you have the Democrats and Republicans fighting over border security, not much is going to get done, said State Rep. Kyle Biedermann, a Republican from Fredericksburg, who is the bills main sponsor in the House. House Bill 4306 would create a border infrastructure enhancement program that Republican Gov. Greg Abbott would be able to use for the retention wall, for building a new road connecting Eagle Pass to Laredo and clearing non-native plants, such as thickets of Carrizo cane where border crossers can hide. The costs, however, remain a major question mark. Laredo city officials, who have pitched plans for an 18-to-20-foot retention wall for over a decade, have said it could cost up to $18 million per mile. In January, Laredo elected officials took the idea to Washington D.C. for potential funding. Texas Take: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox In the Legislature, the bill gained a new sense of urgency as border apprehensions soared this spring. U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials announced that for the second month in a row, more than 100,000 people were apprehended at the border in April, twice as many as in April 2018. With six months left in the fiscal year, there have already been more apprehensions at the border than in any single year in the past decade. State Sen. Judith Zaffirini, a Laredo Democrat, is the lead sponsor of the bill in the Senate. She said the retention wall is part of a plan to turn part of the riverfront into something akin to the River Walk in San Antonio. The project would include park space, bike paths and commercial developments that all lead to a 15-foot to 20-foot drop down to the Rio Grande. It would include a footpath that Border Patrol could use to monitor the river. Zaffirini says it would beautify the waterfront, help with flood control, and result in improved border security. Its not a Donald Trump wall, she said. If it were a project for a wall, I wouldnt be carrying the bill. Id be killing the bill. But if Republican outcry for the border wall helps pass the bill, so be it, Zaffirini said: I believe some people are supporting it because they see it as a wall and I welcome their votes. Biedermann also applauds the dual purpose of the retaining wall. It's for flood control, but it also forms a choke point to force people to go around the urban area, he said. So if you're having illegals come across, this way they can't just blend into the urban area. They have to go around the bulkhead, which is a flood control barrier. Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz said it would be much more aesthetically pleasing than the fencing the federal government is erecting in the Rio Grande Valley. This plan we have had is a compromise to what Washington would impose on us by way of a physical fence, Saenz said. This is our answer toward that end, and by virtue of this bill the state of Texas can now assist in border security measures. And that's what this bill would bring, aside from the economic development features. State Sen. Pete Flores, a Republican from Pleasanton who is co-sponsoring the bill with Zaffirini, pointed to the proposed 90 miles of road improvements along the border from Webb County to Maverick County. He said currently there is a very rough road that he used to patrol as a game warden. Pushing through a roadway would help border patrol better travel between Eagle Pass and Laredo, he said, which now takes over two hours. Just dont call it wall, insisted another Democrat who is a co-sponsor in the House. It's a water infrastructure project, said Rep. Poncho Nevarez, an Eagle Pass Democrat. "I am not naive. Someone might point and say, 'We built a wall.' But the truth is the city of Laredo asked for this. Texas has about 1,200 miles of border with Mexico. About 112 miles of fencing or barriers already exist in places such as El Paso and McAllen. Abbott has left no doubt that he wants the bill to pass, taking to social media two weeks ago to push the Legislature to act. Border security remains an urgent priority, Abbott said in a tweet. Texas can lead the way. We need more tools, infrastructure & barriers to combat human trafficking and illegal drugs pouring across the border. Pass HB 4306. To make it happen, the Legislature would need to find money in the budget to pay for the project, or Abbott could shift money set aside for his priorities. Flores said the key is getting the program at least started and then nail down how much money it will take. Senior quotations are reviewed and approved by a team, and we take full responsibility for having missed the quotations that should have never been published in the yearbook, Township High School District 113 officials said in a statement. Any act that disrupts the learning environment or makes our students feel unsafe is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Regarding We cant afford to ignore talk of war with Iran (Opinion, Tuesday): The author, Emran El Badawi, states there is no credible evidence linking the sabotage of tankers in the Gulf to Iran. Does he have access to all of our CIA intelligence? I hope not! As for his statement that the Pentagon presented a plan to send 120,000 to Iran: It is a common practice to have contingency war plans for areas of conflict. Anyone who did not make contingency plans would be derelict in duty. B.C. Bowen, Houston Balloons, plastic bags Regarding Dont litter in remembrance (Letters, Monday): I have read the several (in some cases moralistic) letters contesting the practice of releasing balloons as a memorial to a missing 4-year-old due to environmental impacts. One writer comments on the fact that several states are considering banning the balloon-release practice and suggests that Texas should follow suit. I hope these same writers are equally critical of the more overwhelming practice of dependence on single-use plastic bagsand are petitioning our Texas legislators (more interested in overruling local regulations controlling their usage) to participate in such environmentally important controls. Alan Husak, Houston Second Amendment Regarding Founding fathers (Letters, Wednesday): Defenders of the Second Amendment tend to overlook the amendments opening phrase, A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State. They do not realize that this phrase was the primary reason for the amendments very existence. At the time of the Constitutions ratification, there was a great amount of popular opposition to the idea of any American standing army, based on the bitter experience with occupying British troops. Consequently, the only generally acceptable option for national defense was a civilian militia. This meant that being able to bear arms was not only a political right, but also a patriotic responsibility. Needless to say, with the increasing acceptance of a standing army as the primary means to defend the United States, an armed citizenry became increasingly less essential from a national security standpoint. Unfortunately, the continuing existence of the Second Amendment in its original contextual meaning is preventing a general consideration of the need to manage civilian arms in the same way that the civilian automobiles and civilian drugs are legally managed. This is an indulgence which cannot be allowed to continue, because lives are at stake every day. Brian L. Hope, Bryan Dont waste helium Recent letters to the editor have pointed out the environmental impact of balloon releases. Party supply stores sell helium-filled balloons for graduation, birthdays and similar celebrations. Prohibition of such uses is necessary for a far more urgent reason: a looming shortage of helium. Failure to prohibit waste will result in serious consequences. R.J. Bartosh, Houston As the school year winds down, the start of a seemingly endless summer delights students (and their teachers). Nevertheless, the Texas Commission on Public School Finance sees the traditional school year as an anachronism. Last year the commission recommended that the Legislature pay for up to 30 more instructional days. With only about 40 percent of third graders reading at grade level, the argument is that adding to the 180 seven-hour days to the school year is the solution. But by itself, subjecting students to an extended school year is unlikely to produce the desired results. Public schools in Texas and in other states, such as California, New York and Massachusetts, already have higher totals of instructional time (more than 900 hours) than most countries, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Paradoxically, Finland, which scores near the top on nearly every international assessment, requires fewer hours (608 hours) than any other state in this country. Consider what happens in New York. Every year, attendance in New York Citys public schools slips as the spring semester comes to a close. Principals try to combat the chronic end-of-year attendance drop-off with class trips and field days. But those have done little to remedy the problem. Test scores do not necessarily rise with a longer school year. Despite support by a majority of parents in favor of a year-round schedule, Salt Lake City ended its experiment in 2011 after an analysis found that comparable local schools with traditional schedules posted better test scores. Las Vegas also abandoned its year-round schedule when results failed to meet expectations. Researchers believe the answer can be found in the benefits of distributed versus mass learning. Students learn more efficiently when subject matter is spread out, rather than when it is crammed in. Instead of merely adding days to the present calendar, therefore, Texas should consider structuring the year differently to keep student interest high and maximize learning. One way of doing so is to stagger vacations. Rather than the traditional 10- or 12-week summer break, schools would operate year-round, but with a series of three-week breaks. Or they could have six weeks off in the summer, with additional two-week vacations. No calendar is perfect and no outcomes are guaranteed. For one thing, year-round schools cost more to operate because of air-conditioning, extra transportation costs and other expenses. For Texas, which is known for its climate extremes and geographical distances, these are serious considerations. Moreover, splitting up summer vacation would mean that parents have to scramble more often to find suitable childcare. If Texas is seriously considering altering the school calendar, we need to consider all the ramifications. Research is mixed and parents are divided. No calendar is ever going to satisfy everyone. But when it comes to public schools, that should be no surprise. Gardner blogs about education at theedhed.com. On May 17, 1954, 7-year-old Linda Brown became the successful plaintiff in perhaps the most significant civil rights ruling in Supreme Court history: Brown v. Topeka Board of Education. It was a decision that would desegregate schools. But instead of simply commemorating the 65th anniversary of Brown, we should measure our progress toward an equal society. That progress is incomplete. There were actually two Brown cases. Brown II (1955) focused on the mechanisms for integration, including the phrase with all deliberate speed. This introduced the imperative of immediacy, but its vagueness and lack of timeline allowed states to resist integration for decades. Public opinion was against integration: Two years after Brown, only 49 percent of Americans supported integration 61 percent of Northerners and 15 percent of Southerners. The years that followed presented some of Americas most shameful moments, such as mobs attempting to intimidate black students into abandoning their right to attend an integrated school or college. Despite these disgraceful events, between 1954 and 1988 the percentage of black children attending majority white schools in the South increased from 0 percent to 43 percent. If we were to celebrate the high point of integration, it would be 31 years ago, in 1988. Since then, two cases accelerated the decline of school integration. Board of Education of Oklahoma City v. Dowell (1991) and Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1 (2007) weakened district desegregation plans by releasing districts from court orders and declaring some integration plans unconstitutional. Although residential segregation in American cities has been on the decline since 2000, most metro areas with populations of more than 1 million and more than 3 percent black populations have black-white segregation indices over 50, which is considered highly segregated. Without mechanisms to create racially diverse schools, neighborhood schools and districts by default tend to be racially segregated. A 2019 report found that more than half of American schoolchildren attended racially concentrated districts, where 75 percent of students are white or of color and also found that nonwhite districts received $2,200 less per student. Such data should make us ask, how committed are we to integrated schools? This open question is very relevant today: Ten Trump judicial nominees have refused to endorse the Brown decision, something scholars consider a settled legal question. We know that integrated schools do not reduce achievement. Students in diverse schools benefit with greater empathy, less prejudice and a broader array of abilities for work in an increasingly diverse world. But two-thirds of black and Latino students are in schools where the majority of their classmates are low income, isolating them from opportunities that wealthier peers can access. Additionally, inaccurate stereotypes about schools with low-income children of color quickly emerge, such as concerns about school safety and drug use. And it is no guarantee that federal policy at this time will reinforce efforts toward integration. Instead, the motivation to meet the promise of Brown will come from white, black and Latino parents alike. We need more parents to hear what writer and speaker Abby Norman says: White people get to be comfortable in most of American society. It took me until I was an adult to be somewhere white feelings were not centered. My kids already know what that is like. The grass-roots organization Integrated Schools, with 15 chapters across the nation, offers the following advice: research and reflect, speak up, set foot, step in, step up (not on), and step out. The savior mentality isnt helpful or welcome. On this anniversary of one of the most important civil rights cases of the past 100 years, we have an opportunity for critical re-assessment of our progress toward an integrated, not simply desegregated, society. Instead of a surface analysis, we need to look closely at how we make housing choices, how we fund schools equitably and how we provide resources for low-income communities. May 17, 1954, marked a high mark for American morality, but to realize its potential, we must be committed to individual and collective action to meet the legacy of Brown. Reddick is an associate professor of educational leadership and policy, and an associate dean in the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. He is co-editor of Legacies of Brown: Multiracial Equity in American Education (with Dorinda Carter Andrews and Stella Flores). For ocelots small wild cats native to Texas a slight, unremarkable-looking hill in South Texas is an important spot. The hill, or loma, is located between Brownsville and the coastal town of Port Isabel. The scrubby brush that covers it is one of the only remaining patches of native Tamaulipan thornscrub along the Brownsville Ship Channel. The spiny, dense vegetation, once abundant in this corner of the state, provides ocelots the cover they need for denning, hunting and travel. This may be the last place these endangered cats swam across the waterway, traveling from Mexico to the United States. Corridors like this have long been important to the species, but now natural gas refineries and export terminals may irreversibly alter and obstruct this unique pathway. Defenders of Wildlife recently released a sobering report detailing how three planned liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities including pipelines, refineries and terminals will harm ocelot recovery. If built, the LNG facilities likely would block ocelots from reaching a neighboring population in Tamaulipas, Mexico, where interbreeding could provide vital genetic exchange. Once ranging throughout the eastern two-thirds of Texas, this cat has been reduced to approximately 60 individuals residing in two populations in Cameron, Willacy and Kenedy counties. Today, less than 1 percent of their habitat in Texas remains, putting them in danger of localized extinction. Every bit of remaining habitat matters for the species survival. Increasing human population, urban development, agriculture and oil and gas development all compete with the ocelot for remaining lands. In the immediate area of Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, home to one of the two remaining ocelot populations, recent and planned development includes the three LNG facilities, multiple wind farms, the SpaceX port and a new causeway. LNG development in the region directly threatens the ocelots. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), responsible for environmental analysis and licensing of the LNG facilities, should reject these ill-considered applications. But FERC has refused to evaluate whether production facilities might be redesigned and located away from the cats habitat. The construction of each of these plants will cost between $3 billion and $7 billion. Despite those giant price tags, other than a few concessions from Annova LNG, the companies offer little or nothing to lessen the loss of habitat and connectivity. For example, mitigation efforts listed in the final environmental impact statement for Texas LNG include trying to make the footprint of the facility compact, shielding light to minimize glare and training workers not to run over ocelots. The companies could have done a far better job addressing the threat that LNG development presents to ocelot habitat. For instance, the facilities could do less environmental harm if they could agree to share pipelines and terminal facilities instead of each building its own miles-long pipeline and terminal. Fortunately, it is not too late to save this native Texas species. A dedicated team of biologists, rangers and staff with the ocelot program at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge is working to expand and connect habitat, supported by the Friends of Laguna Atascosa NWR and other volunteers. Plans are underway to translocate cats from Mexico to the U.S. to increase the genetic diversity in the population. South Texans deep love for wildlife translates into action. Each year, Ocelot Awareness Day events hosted in and around Brownsville draw huge crowds. The Friends group and citizen volunteers monitor trail cameras and help plant thornscrub to restore habitat. Nonprofit organizations including The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy are helping to protect private lands with conservation easements. Defenders has staff working in Texas with partner agencies, organizations, landowners and businesses not only to stop ocelot numbers from dwindling but to increase the population. The hope is that someday, the species may no longer be endangered in the U.S. Together, we can ensure that the ocelot remains a charismatic emblem of our states natural heritage. Wilcox, Ph.D. is Defenders of Wildlifes Texas representative based in Austin. People are more connected to each other than they have ever been. For that, you can partly thank Robert Metcalfe. Depending on your point of view, you may want to blame him instead. Metcalfe is the inventor of Ethernet, the primary way computers talk to each other when they are joined by wires. On Wednesday, his creation will be 46 years old. For context: The internet itself turns 50, and the World Wide Web will be 30 this year. While Wi-Fi once known as wireless Ethernet is more top-of-mind for most folks wanting to hop online to watch Netflix, shop at Amazon, download a repair manual or argue politics with Uncle Fred on Facebook, Ethernet is still in the mix. If you are receiving information, images or data from across the great Network of Networks, Ethernet is involved. His achievement is so profound there is a law named after him. Metcalfes Law states that a network becomes more valuable financially and in utility as more people and now things connect to it. That helps explain why networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Google and others are so compelling. With so many other computers and by extension, the people who use them linked together, the result is arguably the most powerful tool our species has created. FATHER OF THE NET: Vint Cerf looks forward at his creation The most important new fact about the human condition is that we are connected, Metcalfe said in a recent interview. And this has happened very suddenly. We are still figuring out how to deal with it. Bond and wedge Indeed, its not all lollipops, bunnies and roses. The networks that bring us together also drive us apart. The spread of misinformation, a.k.a. fake news; the ugliness of political polarization; and even foreign meddling in our most sacred institution, democratic elections, are part and parcel of the modern networked world. And what does the man who inventing the connective tissue of the internet think of these woes? These are the pathologies of connectivity, Metcalfe said, adding that other maladies have preceded them as our connectedness has evolved. First there was porn, and we dealt with that. And then there was spam, and we dealt with that, he said. Now you have fake news, security breaches, invasions of privacy and so on. These pathologies need to be dealt with. There are now calls from consumer advocates, social scientists and politicians for the largest of the social networks to be broken up, a la the original AT&T. Several of the candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020 are among those advocating a tech breakup. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren has said she wants to see Facebook, Twitter, Google and even Apple trustbusted. Not to be outdone, front-runner Joe Biden said last week it was worth considering, as did U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris. But heres the thing: If you take a company like Facebook and reduce it in size, it becomes less useful for those who rely on it. History also shows us that technology companies broken up and reduced in size tend to want to reconstitute. AT&T, once broken up into separate regional components, is once again a telecommunications behemoth. DENIED: Facebook rejects calls for its breakup by a co-founder Metcalfe doesnt think breaking up a company like Facebook is the answer. If the social network were to be taken down a notch, its actual usefulness would decline, as per Metcalfes law. Breaking Facebook into pieces would greatly diminish its value, he said. Adult supervision Metcalfe believes that the problem with Facebook lies in its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, who controls most of its stock and is both its chief executive and chairman. Facebook, he says, needs adult supervision. Zuckerberg should have brought in adult supervision to run that company a long time ago, Metcalfe says. He brought in Sheryl Sandberg, but he didnt make her CEO. Shes the COO. Indeed, most of the big tech companies that critics charge are eroding societys fabric still have their founders overseeing things. Besides Zuckerberg, theres co-founder Jack Dorsey helming Twitter. Larry Page, who co-founded Google, is chief executive of its parent company, Alphabet Inc. New leadership is not always easy to find and mistakes are made. Metcalfe said. But government breakups are also hard and mistakes are made, he added. To be clear, Metcalfe isnt saying government should not be involved at all big techs abuses. Hes not against the enforcement of antitrust laws. Even though I am a right-wing nut, I am in favor of antitrust enforcement. That is not typical of right-wing nuts, he said with his typical candor. For example, I think the governments harassment of IBM was a good thing during its dominant period. Unprecendented connections Metcalfe, who also had a storied career as a journalist hes currently a professor at the University of Texas at Austin is known as the first technology writer to accuse Microsoft and its co-founder Bill Gates of anticompetitive behavior in a famous 1991 column in Computerworld. In the end, he pointed out, Microsoft was not broken up. There was government oversight, yes, and an antitrust trial. But by the time the dust had settled, Microsoft was losing its monopoly power as the world moved away from desktop computer systems to the internet and mobile devices. As a giant, it could not move fast enough. Metcalfe allows that Facebook may have become so big that it has outgrown Metcalfes Law. It may be such a part of everyday life in the cultures where it dominates that a breakup might not diminish its usefulness. Facebook and Google, he muses, may have reached saturation mode. There may also be ways to break it up that dont necessarily relate to size, he added, like maybe pulling spinning off its advertising component into a separate company. Ultimately, Metcalfe is an optimist when it comes to the impact of ubiquitous connectivity on humankind. Indeed, optimism is the very basis behind Metcalfes Law. We are making progress with these pathologies, inch by inch, he says. There are 4.2 billion people who are connected now to the internet. Thats just unprecedented. dwight.silverman@chron.com 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) With eight of President Rodrigo Dutertes anointed candidates heading to the Senate, his fiercest allies vowed to keep the upper chamber independent. Senator-elect and the former head of Duterte's war on drugs Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa on Wednesday said he will not be a yes-man to the President now that he is set to serve as a lawmaker. "Rubber stamp? Definitely no. Ako ay cooperative and supportive, but not under the dictates of Malacanang," he said. The former Philippine National Police Chief recalled a conversation with Duterte wherein he asked for guidance on how to face his new gargantuan job. "Sabi niya sa akin, 'Bato, you are already a senator of the Filipino people. You are not a senator of Duterte. Hindi kita pakikialaman sa trabaho mo at gawin mo ang trabaho mo para sa kapakanan ng Pilipino.' Klaro iyan, hindi niya ako papakialaman," he said. He also revealed that he has previously aired his grievances to the President and said they have talked about it openly. Staunch Duterte ally Cynthia Villar, the topnotcher in the senatorial race, said the Senate will remain focused on working for the public, not at the whims of one man. "The laws we craft or legislate must consider all interests involved. A strong and independent Senate has always been our goal ever since," she said. Of the newly-proclaimed senators, only Grace Poe, Nancy Binay, and Lito Lapid ran without the blessing of either the President or his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. With the entry of the 12 new senators, there will only be four opposition senators against 20 in the Senate majority bloc in the 18th Congress. "The Senate should always be viewed as an institution, not the individual members," Senator-elect Francis Tolentino, Duterte's former political adviser, said. Sanders was taken into custody May 25, 2017, three weeks after Urbans family found her body on the kitchen floor of her home on the 700 block of Town Place. Her throat has been slashed, and a bloody kitchen knife that had been broken in two was found in the sink, police said. The data shows the vehicle traveled to Hinsdale on the day of the robbery and the two prior days, the opinion states. The data shows the vehicle also went to each of the defendants homes during those three days. The nuns treated the students like family. They respected and loved us while encouraging us to always do our best. The nuns also instilled the importance of prayer into our daily lives, Schoenberger said. I remember one of the nuns giving me a St. Patrick prayer card that I still have today. It is on my dresser, and whenever I see it, I think of her fondly. This is just one attempt to put it in writing to spur conversation and discussion, Morris said. It isn't something we're wedded to or anybody's necessarily insisting on. If you have a thought that it's too rigid or not appropriate, it's OK. We encourage you to reach out to the board members or me or anybody else and let us know. Journalists Keyvan Samimi and Marzieh Amiri were arrested in Iran on 1st and 2nd of May and are still being held according to IFJ affiliate, the Association of Iranian Journalists. The IFJ has demanded that the authorities release them immediately and stop harassing journalists. Along with more than 35 other people, Keyvan Samimi was arrested while taking part in a peaceful protest in front of the Iranian Parliament in Teheran. On Labour Day, demonstrators were marching for the right to establish independent labour organisations, among other demands. The chief editor of Iran Farda magazine, Samimi has already served six years in jail from 2009 to 2015 following the 2009 elections. On 12th May, the authorities took him to his magazines office, where they searched documents and seized electronic devices, the activist Taghi Rahmani said. A reporter with Shargh newspaper, Marzieh Amiri was arrested the following day while trying to get some news about those arrested on Labour Day. She is being held in Evin prison and has been forbidden to see her lawyer. According to the AoIJ six journalists are currently in jail in Iran - Afarin Chitsaz, Hengameh Shahidi, Kiomars Marzban, Pouya Khoshhal as well as Keyvan Samimi and Marzieh Amiri. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: We condemn the authorities repressive attitude towards journalists on Labour Day. Keyvan Samimi and Marzieh Amiri have now been detained arbitrarily for three weeks, only because they defended the fundamental right of expression, each in their own way. They must be released immediately, as well as the four other journalists currently behind bars. A local court in Karachi has dismissed all charges against Pakistani journalist, Shahzeb Jillani, who had been accused of cyber-terrorism. The IFJ welcomed the decision which was reached after the court said their was insufficient evidence against him. A local court in Karachi has dismissed all charges against Pakistani journalist, Shahzeb Jillani, who had been accused of cyber-terrorism. The IFJ welcomed the decision which was reached on May 18 after the court said their was insufficient evidence against him. Shahzeb, a former BBC correspondent and local representative of the National Union of Journalists, had been facing a possible jail term of up to 14 years for his reporting on the activities of the Pakistani military and intelligence services and for a tweet which upset some hardliners. Shahzeb was fired by his employers at the Dunya News Network during the process. Shahzebs case was taken up by the IFJ, the Commonwealth Journalists Association and the NUJ. The complaint accused Shahzeb of breaching sections 10(a) (cyber terrorism), 11 (hate speech) and 20 (harming the reputation or privacy of a natural person) of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016, and sections 34 (acts done in furtherance of common intention), 109 (abetment) and 500 (defamation) of the Pakistan Penal Code. According to media reports, the complaint stated that Jillani's actions "are tantamount to creating a sense of fear, panic, and insecurity in government institutions, general public and society". However, the Federal Investigation Agency was unable to provide evidence of this and the case has now been closed. The judge added that the one remaining charge of defaming a state agency could not proceed as the complaint must be registered by the aggrieved person, something that did not happen. IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: This victory is only a partial one. We demand the Dunya News Network reinstate Shahzeb and compensate him for all the harm he has suffered. This case illustrates the increasing pressure that journalists in Pakistan face when trying to report the news and was a clear attempt to muzzle independent voices. We urge authorities to stop harassing and prosecuting journalists for doing their job. Imperial Valley News Center Support For President Donald J. Trumps Actions On Trade Washington, DC - Support For President Donald J. Trumps Actions On Trade, what they are saying: Members of Congress Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA): Thank [you] Mr. President for really helping the farmers of Iowa [with] this important step in USMCA. [With] lifting metal tariffs @realdonaldtrump just proved he can deliver on negotiations China ought to take note/start dealing in good faith & take [President] Trump seriously. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA): This is huge news for Iowaespecially our states farmers and manufacturers who have been caught in the crosshairs of this tariff war with our neighbors. Months ago the president indicated that when a new trade deal was reached with Mexico and Canada, the tariffs would no longer be needed. Todays hes followed through on that. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS): I applaud the administration for reaching an agreement to lift the steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico, and eliminating those countries retaliatory tariffs targeted primarily at U.S. agriculture. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS): Great news! Mississippi exported $526 million in goods to Japan in 2018. This @USDA @SecretarySonny accomplishment will help us expand that market. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO): Todays announcement by the Trump administration is a significant move in the right direction. Lifting these tariffs will help ensure we have an economy that continues creating jobs and building things in our state from bass boats and beer cans to airplanes and pickup trucks. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT): Great news for Montana ag. Thank you for your leadership @SecretarySonny. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): It is great to hear that Japan has lifted the restrictions on U.S. beef exports, increasing opportunities for our states ag producers. I thank Secretary Perdue for his hard work on this front and look forward to continuing to work with him to expand market access for Nebraska agriculture products. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE): Todays news that the Administration is dropping steel tariffs on Canada and Mexico is great for America, great for our allies, and certainly great for Nebraskas agriculture industry. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND): BIG NEWS: The admin just announced a deal to lift steel/aluminum tariffs on Canada & Mexico. Led the ND delegation in urging the President to do this, which will benefit both our manufacturers as well as #NDag, and will help as we work to move #USMCA through Congress. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH): Pleased to see that @POTUS & @USTradeRep have reached a deal to lift our steel & aluminum tariffs on Canada & Mexico and they have subsequently lifted theirs on us. This is a positive step forward in passing #USMCA & will benefit #jobs in #Ohio. Sen. James Lankford (R-OK): Lifting steel & aluminum tariffs on two of our closest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, is welcome news and especially great to hear that there will be no quotas in place of tariffs. Now is time to move forward with ratifying USMCA. Sen. John Thune (R-SD): Great decision by the Trump administration to lift the steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Once those tariffs are ultimately lifted, we will be one step closer, I hope, to ratifying the USMCA, which would be a boon to American businesses and ag producers. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD): Glad to see the U.S., Mexico and Canada came to an agreement to end steel and aluminum tariffs. This is a positive step as we seek to continue a healthy trading relationship with our North American partners. Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY): I am glad sound science finally won out and that Japan has fully opened its doors to the best beef in the world. Japan is one of Wyomings biggest export markets and this decision will help continue our important trade relations. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY): This is great news for Wyoming and all of Americas farmers and ranchers who produce the highest quality beef in the world. Expanded trade with Japan is critical for the economic growth and competitiveness of our businesses, workers, farmers, and ranchers. Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR): For the first time since 2003, American cattle products from all cattle, all ages, can be sold in Japan. This is great news for beef producers across the country. Thank you, @SecretarySonny for your leadership and hard work! Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL): The announcement from the White House that tariffs will be lifted is welcome news. I applaud this Administration for their impressive work on USMCA and this announcement will help move Congress closer to approving the new agreement. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-IN): I am thrilled with the Administrations decision to remove the Section 232 aluminum tariffs, without quotas, from our responsible trading partners Canada and Mexico. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN): The agreement with Canada and Mexico to lift steel and aluminum tariffs and retaliation without quotas will allow the U.S. to better target Chinas unfair trade practices and pave the way for the USMCA. Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS): The decision by the US, Mexico and Canada to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum is a significant milestone as we work toward free and fair trade among our three countries. This is one more reason for us to push toward final passage of the USMCA. Rep. Steve Watkins (R-KS): Kansas exports to Canada and Mexico in 2017 totaled $4.4 billion. This is great news weve reached a deal on Steel and Aluminum. Now all we need is USMCA! Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI): The lifting of steel and aluminum tariffs between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is welcome news and a very positive step that will have a significant impact on Michigan. This agreement now sets the stage for a much broader conversation to improve our trading relationship with both Canada and Mexico so more hardworking Michiganders and job creators can benefit from trade between our nations. Rep. Paul Mitchell (R-MI): Lifting steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico signifies we are one step closer to our goal of making trade fairer worldwide. I have been deeply engaged on this issue, and I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress, the White House, and our trade negotiators to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement and future trade deals that protect American workers and products. Rep. Jim Hagedorn (R-MN): We applaud the bilateral US-CAN agreement to remove steel and aluminum tariffs. We agree that our consumers and manufacturers want solutions and expanded opportunities for trade, not more tariffs. I have publicly supported quick action on #USMCA in Congress. Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO): The U.S., Canada, & Mexico agreed to lift all Sec. 232 #steel & #aluminum #tariffs, including retaliatory tariffs! This is a huge relief for #agriculture as our North American allies are some of our largest markets. I hope this propels momentum for my colleagues to pass #USMCA. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE): Products from all cattle will now be allowed to enter Japan for the first time since 2003, increasing U.S. beef and produce exports as much as $200m a year. This is great news for Nebraska! Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE): I am pleased an agreement was reached to remove tariffs on steel & aluminum imports from Canada & Mexico and corresponding retaliatory tariffs. Maintaining these trade relationships is crucial to Nebraska producers, manufacturers, and our rural economy. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY): Removing these tariffs on steel and aluminum is a major step in the right direction to ratifying the USMCA and strengthening our relationship with Canada, our nations closest economic partner. This is great news for #NY21. Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC): @realdonaldtrump has shown great leadership in renegotiating NAFTA and getting a better trade deal for American workers. With tariffs lifted, Pelosi must bring USMCA to the floor for a vote. Now, lets get a better deal with China and protect our jobs and intellectual property. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND): Great news: @POTUS @realDonaldTrump has reached a deal to lift steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico! Free and fair trade will greatly benefit North Dakota and the country. Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH): Pleased to see this agreement struck. It will smooth the path towards passing the USMCA while both providing much-needed relief to our farmers and protecting our domestic steel manufacturers. Now we need to put USMCA on the floor for a vote! Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH): Encouraged that @POTUS lifted the steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Our allies have worked diligently to create fair trade practices. This is welcome news for American businesses and workers. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK): Thankful for @POTUS continued commitment to American industries. Lifting steel and aluminum tariffs on our Southern and Northern neighbors brings us one step closer to finalizing #USMCA and bringing North American trade into the 21st century. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD): Im glad to hear the administration has come to an agreement with Mexico & Canada to eliminate 232 tariffs. This is a good first step to increasing trade stability in North America. Now its our turn & I urge the Speaker to bring USMCA to the floor. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN): Tennesseans have long benefited from free trade. Todays announcement about the removal of steel and aluminum tariffs with Canada and Mexico is good news for #TN03 businesses. Rep. Mark Green (R-TN): I agree with Leader McCarthy President Trump should be lauded for getting Mexico and Canada to agree to lift tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. We are advancing towards the goal of ratifying the USMCA. Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX): I applaud President Trump and Ambassador Lighthizer for lifting tariffs on steel and aluminum from Canada and Mexico without burdensome quotas. Canada and Mexico are strong allies and have taken significant steps to assure that trade-distorting and subsidized steel and aluminum from third countries will not surge into the U.S. market. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX): 14 million American jobs depend on free trade with Mexico and Canada, and our economies rely on a healthy trading relationship. Removing the Sec. 232 steel and aluminum tariffs on our closest trading allies is the right move to advance negotiations on USMCA. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI): @realdonaldtrump has reached an agreement with Canada and Mexico to lift steel and aluminum tariffs. Great news! State and Local Officials Gov. Kim Reynolds (R-IA): Today represents a significant step forward for Iowas agriculture and manufacturing industries. Mexico and Canada are Iowas top two trading partners, and the removal of steel, aluminium, and retaliatory tariffs will increase exports of Iowa products. I want to thank President Trump and his administration for leading on this important issue throughout the entire negotiation process. Now that these tariffs have been lifted, its critical for Congress to ratify the USMCA as soon as possible. Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND): American beef will have full access to Japanese markets once again, which could expand U.S. exports by up to $200 million. This is great news for North Dakotas ranchers! Thanks @SecretarySonny for supporting and hearing us out on this issueThe US deal with Canada and Mexico to lift tariffs on steel & aluminum is great for NDs manufacturers & consumers. Now, Congress must ratify the #USMCA to modernize ties with NDs two largest trading partnersrepresenting more than 85% of our exports. Gov. Chris Sununu (R-NH): The removal of these tariffs is a win for the New Hampshire economy, and something that I have long urged the Administration to act on. As two of our top trading partners, Canada and Mexico are close economic allies, and a strong, free, and fair trade agreement must be in place. Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD): A big win for SD ag. Gov. Mike Parson (R-MO): Japan ended longstanding trade restrictions on US beef. This is more proof trade takes patience and a tough negotiator. HUGE step forward for our cattle farmers and ranchers, because Missouri is a top 10 beef producer. Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg (R-IA): As our two top trading partners, our relationship with Canada and Mexico is critical for the continued growth of Iowas agriculture and manufacturing industries. Now is the time for Congress to act, and ratify the USMCA! Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig (R-IA): Im encouraged by the trade news coming out of Washington today. With the steel tariffs lifted, this is the time for Congress to approve the USMCA. Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles (R-KY): Great news about the lifting of tariffs between the US, Mexico and Canada. Now, Congress should move quickly to adopt USMCA. USMCA is a great deal that reflects American interests and the concerns of a 21st century economy. Lets do it. Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain (R-LA): President Trumps announcements on Friday, May 17, 2019 regarding the agreement with Canada and Mexico to lift retaliatory tariffs on steel and aluminum is a huge victory for all farmers and citizens. Further, the United States and Japan also announced an agreement which will eliminate Japans longstanding restrictions on U.S. beef that have the potential to expand our beef trade by an additional $200 million annually. Missouri Department of Agriculture Director Chris Chinn (R-MO): Now, we hope to see the improved trade agreement w/Canada & Mexico in place quickly with the removal of steel tariffs. #USMCA is critical to Missouris economy 56% of our total exports are sent to our neighbors. Its time to ratify #USMCANow! Our farmers & ranchers deserve it. New Mexico Secretary of Agriculture Jeff Witte (R-NM): Great news from @SecretarySonny today on the agreement to lift restrictions on beef exports from the USA to Japan! Opportunities for NM value added in the future!! Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller (R-TX): This is a homerun for Texas beef producers. Thanks to the hard work of President Trump, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. trade negotiators, Japan has lifted its age restrictions on imports of Texas beef for the first time since 2003. Mayor of Mesa, Arizona John Giles (R-AZ): I agree with @SenMcSallyAZ that Congress needs to pass the #USMCA. Arizonas economy will only grow stronger with effective trade policies. Mayor of Yuma, Arizona Douglas Nicholls (R-AZ): The #USMCA is critical to keep the Yuma border region growing. Now that the 232 Tariffs are resolved, it is the best time for Congress to secure the future of North American trade. #4FrontED Mayor of Nevada, Iowa Brett Barker (R-IA): This is a big deal! Now we need Congress to get the USMCA across the finish line. Trade with Canada and Mexico is vital for Iowa. Mayor of Rochester Hills, Michigan Bryan Barnett (R-MI): Great news on the trade front as the Administration reaches deals to eliminate the retaliatory tariffs with Mexico and Canada. Now we need congress to pass the #USMCA and keep the Michigan economy rolling. Advocacy & Policy Organizations Alliance for American Manufacturing President Scott Paul: The administrations steel trade enforcement action has stabilized the domestic industry to a point where it believes alternative arrangements can be made with Canada and Mexico. Domestic output and capacity utilization are up, more than 12,000 new jobs have been announced, and import penetration is down. Steelmakers are investing billions of dollars in their American facilities. Meanwhile, there are 476,000 job openings in manufacturing, where the unemployment rate is an astonishingly low 3 percent. Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers: Automakers welcome this announcement. Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum have increased costs for automakers and suppliers. While many automakers already source the vast majority of their steel and aluminum domestically, tariffs drive those prices up which decreases investment and harms auto workers and ultimately consumers. Lifting these tariffs not only reduces economic harm, it would also remove a significant hurdle to Congressional consideration of USMCA. Aluminum Association President & CEO Heidi Brock, IMEDAL President Fernando A. Garcia, and The Aluminum Association of Canada President & CEO Jean Simard: We greatly appreciate the efforts of our respective governments to reinstate exemptions from Section 232 tariffs for North American aluminum. Removing tariffs, without quotas, is a major win for the entire industry and will support continued growth and investment throughout the region. American Dairy Coalition: The metal tariffs placed on Canadian and Mexican products will be lifted immediately in wake of an agreement between the North American countries. We applaud the efforts of all involved in the finalization of this important agreement. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: Todays lifting of steel and aluminum tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports and the elimination of retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products by Mexico and Canada is welcome newsElimination of these tariffs should help pave the way for approval of the USMCA by Congress. American Seed Trade Association President and CEO Andy LaVigne: Todays announcement of a trilateral deal on steel and aluminum tariffs is great news for the seed industry, and agriculture at largeThe USMCA includes the seed industrys core priorities for tradethis action is absolutely essential so that Congress can now come together and pass this critical trade agreement for Americas farmers and our partners in Canada and Mexico. Archer Daniels Midland Company: We applaud todays announcement of an agreement by the United States, Mexico, and Canada to lift trade tariffs associated with the 232 case on steel and aluminum, and we thank Ambassador Lighthizer and the Administration for their leadership on this critical issue. This agreement represents a key step toward approval and ratification of the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will greatly benefit American farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness. Associated Equipment Distributors President & CEO Brian McGuire: AED commends the United States, Canadian and Mexican governments for reaching an accord to remove the steel and aluminum tariffs. Business Roundtable: Business Roundtable is encouraged that the United States, Mexico and Canada have come to a resolution that lifts steel and aluminum tariffs as well as corresponding retaliatory tariffs. We look forward to reviewing the details of the agreement. Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode: This agreement represents a key step toward approval and ratification of the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which will greatly benefit American farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness. We commend the efforts of President Trump toward overcoming this roadblock in negotiations, and strongly urge Congress to swiftly ratify the USMCA trade agreement. Distilled Spirits Council President and CEO Chris Swonger: We thank the Administration for reaching an agreement to secure the removal of retaliatory tariffs on American Whiskey exports to two of our largest and most important export markets. With this critical issue now resolved, we look forward to joining the various efforts to support the prompt Congressional passage of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which includes important benefits for our industry The Ford Motor Company: Ford applauds all three governments for working together to find resolution on this critical issue. The elimination of steel and aluminum tariffs on Mexico and Canada allows the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to reach its full potential. We urge Congress to swiftly pass the USMCA to promote an integrated, globally competitive automotive business. General Motors: General Motors is pleased that an agreement has been made with Canada and Mexico regarding steel and aluminum. We hope this good news clears the path for approval of the USMCA agreement which, we believe, is vital to the success of the North American auto industry. International Dairy Foods Association President and CEO Michael Dykes: We applaud the Trump Administration as well as the governments of Mexico and Canada for prevailing with a market-principled approach. With this deal in place, it is now essential that Congress turn its attention to swift ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association President and CEO Bill Long: Todays action is the right thing to do and we urge the Congress to quickly pass the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). MEMA looks forward to working with all the parties to fully understand the outlined monitoring and surge protection processes. There is no question that this good news today reinforces the need for Congress start consideration of the USMCA. National Association of Manufacturers President and CEO Jay Timmons: The Presidents action on tariffs today will help to advance USMCA. We are now one step closer to a North American trade deal that opens markets, raises standards, provides enforcement and modernizes trade rules so that manufacturers across the United States can grow our economy. Manufacturers look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to get this over the finish line. National Association of Wheat Growers President Ben Scholz: Leaders in Congress made it clear that the USMCA agreement would never be approved unless the tariffs on Mexican and Canadian steel and aluminum were removed. We want to remind members of Congress that the farmers in their states and districts expect support for this agreement. We are certain USMCA will bring jobs and economic prosperity to rural America and across the United States. National Cattlemans Beef Association: NCBA is grateful to President Trump for working with Canada and Mexico to resolve the steel and aluminum tariff situation. Removing this trade barrier opens the door for Congress to ratify the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement (USMCA). NCBA strongly supports the USMCA, and now is the time for Congress to work with President Trump to ratify the USMCA as soon as possible. We cannot afford to delay action on this monumental agreement. National Grain and Feed Association President and CEO Randy Gordon: This is an extremely important development that should spur expeditious ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade accord in all three countries. As an organization that is a strong and unconditional supporter of USMCA, we urge the administration to submit enabling legislation, and Congress to approve, USMCA on a bipartisan basis. In the current trade environment, in particular, U.S. agriculture desperately needs the certainty and market access USMCA will provide. National Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern: Americas struggling dairy farmers are in need of some good news, and todays announcement certainly helps. This paves the way for Mexico to drop retaliatory tariffs that have harmed dairy, and for Congress to take its next step to help our producers to vote on USMCA and quickly ratify it. Steel Manufacturers Association President Philip K. Bell: SMA continues to support the administrations efforts to improve free and fair trade in North America by modernizing trade rules for steel producers and other manufacturers in the region. We are hopeful that a primary benefit of the 232-tariff resolution will help clear a path in Congress for immediate passage of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. United States Apple Association President and CEO Jim Bair: The U.S. Apple Association commends the Trump Administration for the removal of Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum on Mexico and Canada and the successful negotiation of provisions going forward to protect agriculture from being drawn into future trade disputes involving metals. We welcome the return of duty-free access to Mexico, our largest export market, and continued duty-free access to Canada, our number two market. United States Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Thomas Donohue: The Chamber applauds the administrations decision to lift the tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from Canada and Mexico. Critically, this action delivers a welcome burst of momentum for the USMCA in Congress, and we urge the administration and Congress to continue their efforts to chart a path toward its approval as soon as possible. United States Dairy Export Council President and CEO Tom Vilsack: This is an important development for the U.S. dairy industry, and we applaud the hard work of negotiators from all three countries that made it possible as well as the numerous members of Congress that have insisted upon the need to resolve the Section 232 metal tariffs dispute with our North American partners. United States Grains Council President and CEO Tom Sleight: The U.S. Grains Council is encouraged by the announcement of a deal to lift Section 232 tariffs and countertariffs on goods traded between our country, Canada and Mexico. Our two neighbors are among our best customers for every grain and grain product the Council promotes, and efforts to continue to build stronger relationships with them, including through the pending U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), are critical. United States Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom: USMEF appreciates the efforts of USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative to secure removal of the 30-month cattle age limit for beef exports to Japan, which is a major step toward putting BSE in the rear view mirror when it comes to global beef trade. Spidey senses could help autonomous machines see better West Lafayette, Indiana - What if drones and self-driving cars had the tingling spidey senses of Spider-Man? They might actually detect and avoid objects better, says Andres Arrieta, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University, because they would process sensory information faster. Better sensing capabilities would make it possible for drones to navigate in dangerous environments and for cars to prevent accidents caused by human error. Current state-of-the-art sensor technology doesnt process data fast enough but nature does. And researchers wouldnt have to create a radioactive spider to give autonomous machines superhero sensing abilities. Instead, Purdue researchers have built sensors inspired by spiders, bats, birds and other animals, whose actual spidey senses are nerve endings linked to special neurons called mechanoreceptors. The nerve endings mechanosensors only detect and process information essential to an animals survival. They come in the form of hair, cilia or feathers. There is already an explosion of data that intelligent systems can collect and this rate is increasing faster than what conventional computing would be able to process, said Arrieta, whose lab applies principles of nature to the design of structures, ranging from robots to aircraft wings. Nature doesnt have to collect every piece of data; it filters out what it needs, he said. Many biological mechanosensors filter data the information they receive from an environment according to a threshold, such as changes in pressure or temperature. A spiders hairy mechanosensors, for example, are located on its legs. When a spiders web vibrates at a frequency associated with prey or a mate, the mechanosensors detect it, generating a reflex in the spider that then reacts very quickly. The mechanosensors wouldnt detect a lower frequency, such as that of dust on the web, because its unimportant to the spiders survival. The idea would be to integrate similar sensors straight into the shell of an autonomous machine, such as an airplane wing or the body of a car. The researchers demonstrated in a paper published in ACS Nano that engineered mechanosensors inspired by the hairs of spiders could be customized to detect predetermined forces. In real life, these forces would be associated with a certain object that an autonomous machine needs to avoid. But the sensors they developed dont just sense and filter at a very fast rate they also compute, and without needing a power supply. Theres no distinction between hardware and software in nature; its all interconnected, Arrieta said. A sensor is meant to interpret data, as well as collect and filter it. In nature, once a particular level of force activates the mechanoreceptors associated with the hairy mechanosensor, these mechanoreceptors compute information by switching from one state to another. Purdue researchers, in collaboration with Nanyang Technology University in Singapore and ETH Zurich, designed their sensors to do the same, and to use these on/off states to interpret signals. An intelligent machine would then react according to what these sensors compute. These artificial mechanosensors are capable of sensing, filtering and computing very quickly because they are stiff, Arrieta said. The sensor material is designed to rapidly change shape when activated by an external force. Changing shape makes conductive particles within the material move closer to each other, which then allows electricity to flow through the sensor and carry a signal. This signal informs how the autonomous system should respond. With the help of machine learning algorithms, we could train these sensors to function autonomously with minimum energy consumption, Arrieta said. There are also no barriers to manufacturing these sensors to be in a variety of sizes. This work is financially supported by ETH Zurich and Purdue University, and aligns with Purdue's Giant Leaps celebration, acknowledging the universitys global advancements made in AI, algorithms and automation as part of Purdues 150th anniversary. This is one of the four themes of the yearlong celebrations Ideas Festival, designed to showcase Purdue as an intellectual center solving real-world issues. Its hard to get the lights and shadows right because the petals curve in certain places and the light hits them at different angles, said Hanson, who studied photography and ceramics in her final years at Woodlands. I.M. Pei, the world renowned architect died May 16 at age 102. If you don't know his name you will undoubtly recognize his work, and there is much to learn from his creative strategy which blends craftmenship with the ability to sell through daring and seemingly impossible visions of the future. Born on mainland China and raised in Hong Kong before studying in the United States, Ieoh Ming Pei soon became a leading architect. He began as a junior designer with a New York developer, and made his name after winning the commission to design the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, shortly after Kennedy's assassination in 1963. Pei built his reputation on epic projects like the entrance to the Louvre museum in Paris, the East Building of the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. and the Museum of Islamic Art in Qatar. In fact, at age 80, Pei was still traveling the Middle East to seek inspiration for the museum. His unapologetic use of geometric shapes, plain surfaces and natural light throughout the years made his works structurally and visually impressive. Pei's design style echos two geometry-driven art projects. One is Walter de Maria's famous installation of aluminum channels, "Triangle, Circle, Square" of 1972, and the second one is Sol LeWitt's drawing, "All Double Combinations of Six Geometric Figures" from 1977. His extensive portfolio includes several important commissions in upstate New York, including the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse as well as Wilson Commons at the University of Rochester. Pei was hired for the UR job in the late 1960s. The university desired a new, central location to host the student union and serve as a hub for campus activities. Construction cost $9.5 million and was largely funded by Xerox President and UR graduate Joseph Wilson and his wife Peggy. There are three design lessons any brand can take from Pei's work: Develop a signature style According to ArchDaily, as a student of Le Corbusier, Pei embodied the core belief of modernism that form follows function, and added his own interpretation. Pei believed that form follows intention (which incorporates function). His work reflects this philosophy by his incorporation of functional symbols into all his works. His signature style was geometric patterns and it's what makes his buildings instantly recognizable. He considered the role of geometry in planning and designing buildings by using a variety of lines and polygons. Pei's signature pyramids can be enjoyed at the National Gallery of Art East Building in Washington, DC. and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. When you see his pyramid at the Louvre you know that is Pei. Build resilience Designers all know that the pain-staking detail of the process can be unforgiving and thankless. Being resilient in the face of adversity is a skill every successful designer must master. Pei struggled in the early years of his own career to fix the John Hancock Tower in Boston, after the glass facade of the 60-story block had design issues that led to delays and cost overruns. He later faced criticism over the glass pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre. During a NPR interview Pei said, "I couldn't walk the streets of Paris without people looking at me and saying, 'There you go again. What are you doing here? What are you doing to us? What are you doing to our great Louvre?" According to Pei "Success is a collection of problems solved;" some thick skin. Eliminate the inessential To mark Inc.'s 40th anniversary, we're matching 40 aspiring founders with 40 experienced mentors in the Founders Project. Here's an update on our latest pairing. I'm excited to be part of the Inc. Founders Project. We started our running sunglass brand goodr in March of 2015. Since then, we've grown three times every year, and now we have over 50 employees. (On a side note, each applicant has to submit a drawing of an octopus fighting a pirate to be considered for employment.) At goodr, using mentors is deep in our culture. We provide everyone with personal mentors and check in on key issues regularly. So getting guidance from Morris Miller--the CEO of health care company Xenex Disinfection Services and managing partner at Tectonic Ventures--for Inc.'s Founders Project has made me feel right at home. Here are the three main goals Morris and I are working on: 1. Growth Finance Plan We are a self-owned company and want to stay that way. Still, my partner and I (like so many founders) have real concerns about our cash flow. We hope to create a capital/cash flow model so that we know how much money we need to continue to grow as quickly as we have been while maintaining the same profitability. 2. Team Growth Plan We currently have an amazing team of over 50 and growing by the week. But I know we need to make some key hires moving forward to keep us on the same revenue growth path of 300 percent per year. Morris has been helping me identify those roles and create the right revenue-per-employee model to get us there. 3. Culture Recognition We always joke that we come across as a culture that just slams margaritas all day, but our fun culture takes a lot of work (and occasional margaritas...). We have no bosses (a flat reporting structure) and a personal, development-based advancement system. Our team is amazing. They're our most valuable asset and we celebrate them. We want to ensure that goodr is a place where employees want to work every day and ensure that our culture can scale with us. Daniel Craig will undergo surgery after getting injured while filming Bond 25. The official @007 Twitter account announced the news on Wednesday, saying the actor was to receive "minor ankle surgery" due to an injury "sustained during filming in Jamaica". "Production will continue whilst Craig is rehabilitating for two weeks post-surgery," the statement continued. Bond 25, the full title of which has yet to be revealed, remains on track to be released in April 2020 as planned. The cast of the upcoming spy film was revealed in April. Craig will reprise his role as Bond for what is expected to be the last time, though his co-star Naomie Harris recently hinted otherwise, saying she believes Craig himself doesn't know yet. Best films of 2019 (so far) Show all 49 1 /49 Best films of 2019 (so far) Best films of 2019 (so far) The Favourite Macabre and fraught though The Favourite gets, this isnt so much a film about sex or power as it is about plain mischief. Its a hilarious, buffoonish pleasure, right down to the sets and costume design, and a breeze to spend 120 minutes with. Christopher Hooton Fox Searchlight Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Beautiful Boy Casting Chalamet as Nic was a very clever move. The young actor from Call Me by Your Name and Lady Bird has a natural charm and charisma. He still engages an audiences curiosity and sympathy even when his behaviour is at its most selfish and erratic. Geoffrey Macnab Amazon Studios Best films of 2019 (so far) The House by the Sea Guediguians storytelling style is deceptive. At first, it seems as if this is low-key social realism in the Dardennes or Ken Loach mould, albeit set on the French Riviera. Gradually, though, we realise how stylised and theatrical his approach really is. Geoffrey Macnab Best films of 2019 (so far) Stan & Ollie Director Jon S Baird, whose previous film was scabrous Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth, wrings every last drop of pathos he can from his material. This is very much a case of the tears of the clowns. Geoffrey Macnab Entertainment One Best films of 2019 (so far) Vice Vice is bravura storytelling. McKay isnt only taking us through Cheneys life and career but is giving us a whistle stop tour through US politics from the Nixon administration almost right to the present day. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Can You Ever Forgive Me? Playing Lee Israel, McCarthy manages something very special: she makes a character who is odd, obnoxious, difficult and alcoholic seem lovable and even heroic. The rest of the world is at fault, not Lee. Geoffrey Macnab Fox Searchlight Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Green Book "Green Book flatters the audience about its own good sense and tolerance. It deals with racism and homophobia but still has a fairytale, fantasy feel to it. Whatever humiliations Don endures on their road trip, we know no real harm will ever come to him as long as Tony is at his side. Geoffrey Macnab Universal Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Velvet Buzzsaw The golden age of bonkers horror movies is gloriously evoked by Netflixs latest feature length presentation. Beginning as a satire of the arts world, Velvet Buzzsaw swiftly and gleefully descends into a savage splatter-fest, smeared in paint, viscera and garishly-bright blood. Ed Power Netflix Best films of 2019 (so far) If Beale Street Could Talk The setting is New York in the 1970s. Anyone who has watched Martin Scorseses Taxi Driver knows this was an era of violence, corruption and sleaze on a monumental level, but [Barry] Jenkins somehow makes the city seem like a modern-day Eden. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) All Is True Written by Ben Elton and directed by its star Kenneth Branagh, the film plays so fast and loose with the playwrights final years that they neednt have bothered fitting Branagh with a prosthetic nose accuracy is clearly not the priority here. Alexandra Pollard Sony Pictures Classics Best films of 2019 (so far) The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is the doomed progeny of a celebrated genius brilliant but slightly stunted by the knowledge they will never live up to their predecessor. Clarisse Loughrey Warner Bros. Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Piercing Nicolas Pesces sleek and stylish horror comedy is repulsive and funny by turns. In adapting Ryu Murakamis cult novel, Pesce strikes just the right balance between humour and Grand Guignol-style shock tactics. Geoffrey Macnab Universal Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Capernaum "The best moments here are remarkable. Labaki elicits an astonishing performance from her young lead. Hes an irrepressible figure with such an inbuilt sense of moral decency the film seems upbeat and optimistic, even at its darkest moments. Geoffrey Macnab Sony Pictures Classics Best films of 2019 (so far) The White Crow "Ralph Fiennes combines thriller elements with poetic flashbacks to ballet legend Rudolf Nureyevs childhood and keeps a tight focus on the dancer. When he is most at risk, Nureyev makes decisions with his artistic future more in mind than his personal safety. As Fiennes reminds us again and again in what is his best film yet as a director, the 'white crow' will do anything to put himself in the limelight, the one place he is convinced he belongs." StudioCanal Best films of 2019 (so far) Border "Border reverses the perspective taken by most other horror films. In more conventional genre fare, Tina and Vore would be portrayed as malevolent outsiders, but in the world conjured up by director Ali Abbasi, the humans are the monsters. Tina is the innocent a visionary who hardly understands her own powers but who can sense human venality and corruption wherever it appears." TriArt Film Best films of 2019 (so far) Fighting with My Family "Certain scenes feel very trite and predictable but the film gets you in a choke hold early on and wont let you go. It is far more gripping than its subject matter might suggest. Who ever would believe a story about a wrestling family from Norwich could have quite such heart and resonance?" James Field Best films of 2019 (so far) Us "Doppelgangers abound in Jordan Peeles weird, creepy and ingenious new horror film. As in his Oscar-winning 2017 feature Get Out, Peele leavens matters with ironic humour but the joking becomes increasingly uncomfortable once the main characters come face to face with dark shadows of themselves which wish them extreme harm." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Avengers: Endgame "The Avengers cycle comes to a rich and very satisfying conclusion with Endgame, surely the most complex and emotional superhero movie in Marvel history. At 181 minutes, this is a veritable epic, but with so many characters and plot strands, it fully warrants its lengthy running time." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Eighth Grade "Its a rare and precious feeling when a film completely dismantles you. Eighth Grade the directorial debut of US comedian Bo Burnham breaks down every delusion we have about ourselves and burrows deep into those parts weve made such an effort to lock away. You may cry. You may shudder as every awkward social interaction thats kept you up at night replays in your head all at once. You may feel the sharp pain associated with those moments when you feel completely isolated from the world. Burnham may have crafted a simple story about the most ordinary of teenage girls, but it speaks with the emotions of a true cinematic epic." A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Vox Lux "Natalie Portman gives her fiercest, most memorable performance since Black Swan in Brady Corbets enjoyably subversive satire about a troubled pop star whose loss of innocence mirrors the fall from grace of the US itself. Portmans character, Celeste, is certainly one of the most objectionable figures she has played: a pampered, hard-drinking drug-taking floozy whose appearance and high-handed behaviour rekindle memories of Liz Taylor and Joan Crawford at their monstrous worst." Neon Best films of 2019 (so far) High Life Robert Pattinson gives one of his most striking performances as Monte, the death-row criminal in outer space, tricked into making a voyage described at one stage as a class-one suicide ride. The former Twilight star makes his shaven-headed, gaunt-faced character seem hyper naturally sensitive and feral at the same time. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Amazing Grace Amazing Grace is as uplifting a film as you will see all year. Its a concert movie filmed over two nights and featuring Aretha Franklin, the first lady of soul, performing gospel standards in a church in Los Angeles in 1972, with a huge backing choir and an enthusiastic congregation. Neon Best films of 2019 (so far) Aladdin Disneys live-action remake of its 1992 animated feature is a rip-roaring, old-fashioned matinee-style spectacle that turns out far better than we had any right to expect. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Booksmart Olivia Wilde is a visually inventive director, who keeps the tempo here so brisk that we hardly notice how glib the storytelling sometimes becomes. We can tell exactly how the film will end, but it still feels original both in its screwball energy and in the deft way it continually reverses stereotypes and gender cliches. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Late Night Late Night is a caustic satirical comedy that turns into an unlikely tearjerker. Its by turns snide and uplifting, and often very funny too. Its writer/producer/star Mindy Kaling makes vicious observations about the inanity, narcissism and corruption of the mainstream US media at the same time as she celebrates the professionalism of many of those who work within it. The film has a glorious performance from Emma Thompson and a very sly one from Kaling. Thompson is at her most imperious as Katherine Newbury, a legendary entertainer, the only female in a male-dominated field, but one whose career is beginning to slide. Geoffrey Macnab Amazon Studios Best films of 2019 (so far) Gloria Bell Gloria Bell is somewhat exhausting both unbearably intimate and at a constant remove but it is endlessly pulled back into focus by Moore, who has a firm understanding of the delicate balance between contentment and yearning, joy and pain, recklessness and spontaneity. In a remake that could have felt indulgent in the hands of people less skilled, she more than justifies its existence. Geoffrey Macnab Curzon Best films of 2019 (so far) Toy Story 4 "The brilliance of the new film lies in the surefooted way it caters both for children too young to have seen its predecessors and for adults whove grown up (or grown older) watching the previous instalments. It takes some kind of genius for the Pixar animators to give such a searing emotional charge to a story in which one of the main characters is a single use plastic spork retrieved from the trash." Pixar/Disney Best films of 2019 (so far) In Fabric In Fabric feels like Peter Strickland at his most free and playful, drawing as much from the British sense of humour dry and morbid to a fault as from Italian glamour. Curzon Artificial Eye Best films of 2019 (so far) The Flood "Perhaps The Flood isnt quite the urgent, profound film a crisis of this scale deserves, but in a culture where refugees are so rarely shown any empathy in mainstream media, maybe this is the film we need right now." Best films of 2019 (so far) Midsommar "Ari Aster's follow-up to Hereditary serves up much of the same: its a break-up movie wrapped up in pagan horror. Its also bound to be one of this years most memorable films, proving that Aster is far from a one-hit wonder." A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) The Lion King "The Lion King is undoubtedly a technological marvel that, much like Avatar, will come to be viewed as a milestone in special effects history, yet its just as interesting to see how all this innovation has been employed." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Varda by Agnes "For a film thats almost entirely narrated by Agnes Varda's own voice, it doesnt feel driven by ego, but by pure intellectual and emotional curiosity." Best films of 2019 (so far) Animals "Animals treats its subjects with patience and generosity. Youll find no life lessons here. Its main characters are free to pursue their desires, to whatever end." Best films of 2019 (so far) Blinded by the Light "Blinded by the Light offers not only a reminder of Springsteens lyrical genius, but of how hes always served as a beacon for the disenfranchised." Warner Brothers Best films of 2019 (so far) Good Boys Lined up against some of this years other more heartfelt offerings, including Booksmart, Good Boys offers further proof that putting a little humanity in our comedy always gets the best results. Best films of 2019 (so far) Hustlers "Hustlers is an electrifying response to the deluge of stories weve had over the years about very rich, very bad dudes. Finally, we can turn the tables on every film thats used women, specifically strippers, as decorative accessories to drape over businessmen as they conduct their illicit backroom meetings. Or, failing that, to shake their out-of-focus tits in the background of a shot." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) For Sama For Sama is one of the most profoundly intimate depictions of the Syrian conflict ever put to film. Its the push to help those on the outside process something so incomprehensible in the depth of its horrors. Republic Film Distribution Best films of 2019 (so far) Ad Astra The real drama here is not whether or not apocalypse can be avoided but whether Brad Pitts character can reconcile himself with his father and overcome his own extreme emotional repression. In other words, in spite of all the jargon and the hardware, this is an intimate family melodrama at heart. Thanks to Pitts performance and Grays delicate direction, it turns into a very moving one. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) The Farewell Wrapped up in all the intricacies of immigrant identity and family politics, The Farewell is a comedy of warmth and bracing honesty. Simply put, its one of the best films of the year. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Judy This is Renee Zellwegers Judy. It doesnt belong to Rupert Goold, its director. Nor does it belong to Tom Edge, its screenwriter. Its a performance of such overwhelming force that it wrests authorship from every other hand that guided the films creation. Pathe Best films of 2019 (so far) Ready or Not As absurd and self-indulgent as Ready or Not can get, it doesnt mess around with its social commentary. The class system is the game we never asked to play, dont get a fair chance at, and have no hope of winning. Its a timeless metaphor. 20th Century Fox Best films of 2019 (so far) A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon Despite its mouthful of a title, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is an utter delight proof that good storytelling and strong craft are what matters, however familiar the packaging. Studio Canal Best films of 2019 (so far) The Beach Bum Clearly, Harmony Korine is steered by his attraction to the theatrical, the absurd and the grimly nihilistic. The Beach Bum is all of that and absolutely none of it, too a leisurely, neon-soaked stroll through chaos and hazy bohemia, full of slapstick and pathos. It is as much Korines most mature film as it is his most juvenile. Neon/Vice Best films of 2019 (so far) The Last Black Man in San Francisco Its a beautiful, frightening and tragic vignette of the urban nightmare, though The Last Black Man in San Francisco isnt really an angry film. Its less of a rallying cry against gentrification than a rumination on the kind of pained acceptance those who suffer its effects must face. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) The Irishman Scorseses signature camerawork goes down like a glass of fine whisky, as smooth and as elegant as youd expect. The violence arrives in short, sharp shocks. Steven Zaillians screenplay even nails the mobster patter, with arguments about fish, tardiness, and business shorts that feel destined to one day be quoted to death. Netflix Best films of 2019 (so far) Le Mans '66 The films greatest trick is saved for its final reel. For much of its running time, youd be easily fooled into thinking Mangold had made a grand ode to the American dream. Its a film about an immigrant worker who, through perseverance and toil, gains the respect of one of the richest men in the country. And then the rug is pulled right out from underneath you. Le Mans 66 may relish in the high life, but its final moments feel devastatingly hollow. AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Marriage Story The film never loses its sense of humour and absurdity. Somehow, in spite of the bleakness of the subject matter, it feels more redemptive than despairing. Best films of 2019 (so far) The Report Adam Driver plays Jones, Annette Bening Senator Feinstein, and director Scott Z Burns captures the events in a cold, rigorously factual, and largely dispassionate manner. But thats the point. The Report chooses to value the truth over bombastic displays of morality. AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Knives Out Casting an ensemble film is a little like perfecting a cocktail blend, balancing flavours until they sing together in harmony. Knives Out hits the mark here: the actors all feel well-suited to their roles and they bounce off each other with ease. Lionsgate Harris is returning as Miss Moneypenny while Ralph Fiennes will star once again as Spectre. Also reprising her role is Lea Seydoux, aka Madeleine Swann. Ben Wishaw will appear once more as Q. Rami Malek, meanwhile, will make his Bond debut as the new villain. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Cary Joji Fukunaga is directing the film, having replaced Danny Boyle in 2018. The first reviews are in for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and critics have been charmed by Quentin Tarantino's new film. Set in the summer of 1969, around the time of the Manson family murders, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood stars Leonardo DiCaprio as struggling actor Rick Dalton and Brad Pitt as his stunt double Cliff Booth. Margot Robbie plays Sharon Tate, one of the victims of the murders on 8-9 August. Overall, critics praised Tarantino's depiction of Hollywood in the late sixties, as well as his take on real-life events. Some were slightly more reserved about the movie as a whole, though they avoided divulging too much about its plot in accordance with the wishes of Tarantino himself, who asked audiences to refrain from sharing spoilers ahead of the film's premiere in Cannes. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood opens in cinemas on 26 July, 2019. Here is what critics have said so far (mild spoiler warning): The Guardian 5/5 Quite simply, I just defy anyone with red blood in their veins not to respond to the crazy bravura of Tarantinos film-making, not to be bounced around the auditorium at the moment-by-moment enjoyment that this movie delivers and conversely, of course, to shudder at the horror and cruelty and its hallucinatory aftermath. (Peter Bradshaw) 5/5 The Telegraph 5/5 And so the film rambles along intriguingly and mostly non-violently, less the fairy tale promised by the title than a bundle of short stories, none of which give any obvious hints as to where they might end up. Where it does end is undoubtedly the big talking point, and one that would be insane to broach three months before its UK release though its safe to say Rick and Cliff become embroiled to an extent, while the murders themselves must be the single most shocking sequence in Tarantinos filmography for a number of reasons: one moment made me groan oh no out loud. (Robbie Collin) Best films of 2019 (so far) Show all 49 1 /49 Best films of 2019 (so far) Best films of 2019 (so far) The Favourite Macabre and fraught though The Favourite gets, this isnt so much a film about sex or power as it is about plain mischief. Its a hilarious, buffoonish pleasure, right down to the sets and costume design, and a breeze to spend 120 minutes with. Christopher Hooton Fox Searchlight Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Beautiful Boy Casting Chalamet as Nic was a very clever move. The young actor from Call Me by Your Name and Lady Bird has a natural charm and charisma. He still engages an audiences curiosity and sympathy even when his behaviour is at its most selfish and erratic. Geoffrey Macnab Amazon Studios Best films of 2019 (so far) The House by the Sea Guediguians storytelling style is deceptive. At first, it seems as if this is low-key social realism in the Dardennes or Ken Loach mould, albeit set on the French Riviera. Gradually, though, we realise how stylised and theatrical his approach really is. Geoffrey Macnab Best films of 2019 (so far) Stan & Ollie Director Jon S Baird, whose previous film was scabrous Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth, wrings every last drop of pathos he can from his material. This is very much a case of the tears of the clowns. Geoffrey Macnab Entertainment One Best films of 2019 (so far) Vice Vice is bravura storytelling. McKay isnt only taking us through Cheneys life and career but is giving us a whistle stop tour through US politics from the Nixon administration almost right to the present day. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Can You Ever Forgive Me? Playing Lee Israel, McCarthy manages something very special: she makes a character who is odd, obnoxious, difficult and alcoholic seem lovable and even heroic. The rest of the world is at fault, not Lee. Geoffrey Macnab Fox Searchlight Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Green Book "Green Book flatters the audience about its own good sense and tolerance. It deals with racism and homophobia but still has a fairytale, fantasy feel to it. Whatever humiliations Don endures on their road trip, we know no real harm will ever come to him as long as Tony is at his side. Geoffrey Macnab Universal Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Velvet Buzzsaw The golden age of bonkers horror movies is gloriously evoked by Netflixs latest feature length presentation. Beginning as a satire of the arts world, Velvet Buzzsaw swiftly and gleefully descends into a savage splatter-fest, smeared in paint, viscera and garishly-bright blood. Ed Power Netflix Best films of 2019 (so far) If Beale Street Could Talk The setting is New York in the 1970s. Anyone who has watched Martin Scorseses Taxi Driver knows this was an era of violence, corruption and sleaze on a monumental level, but [Barry] Jenkins somehow makes the city seem like a modern-day Eden. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) All Is True Written by Ben Elton and directed by its star Kenneth Branagh, the film plays so fast and loose with the playwrights final years that they neednt have bothered fitting Branagh with a prosthetic nose accuracy is clearly not the priority here. Alexandra Pollard Sony Pictures Classics Best films of 2019 (so far) The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is the doomed progeny of a celebrated genius brilliant but slightly stunted by the knowledge they will never live up to their predecessor. Clarisse Loughrey Warner Bros. Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Piercing Nicolas Pesces sleek and stylish horror comedy is repulsive and funny by turns. In adapting Ryu Murakamis cult novel, Pesce strikes just the right balance between humour and Grand Guignol-style shock tactics. Geoffrey Macnab Universal Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Capernaum "The best moments here are remarkable. Labaki elicits an astonishing performance from her young lead. Hes an irrepressible figure with such an inbuilt sense of moral decency the film seems upbeat and optimistic, even at its darkest moments. Geoffrey Macnab Sony Pictures Classics Best films of 2019 (so far) The White Crow "Ralph Fiennes combines thriller elements with poetic flashbacks to ballet legend Rudolf Nureyevs childhood and keeps a tight focus on the dancer. When he is most at risk, Nureyev makes decisions with his artistic future more in mind than his personal safety. As Fiennes reminds us again and again in what is his best film yet as a director, the 'white crow' will do anything to put himself in the limelight, the one place he is convinced he belongs." StudioCanal Best films of 2019 (so far) Border "Border reverses the perspective taken by most other horror films. In more conventional genre fare, Tina and Vore would be portrayed as malevolent outsiders, but in the world conjured up by director Ali Abbasi, the humans are the monsters. Tina is the innocent a visionary who hardly understands her own powers but who can sense human venality and corruption wherever it appears." TriArt Film Best films of 2019 (so far) Fighting with My Family "Certain scenes feel very trite and predictable but the film gets you in a choke hold early on and wont let you go. It is far more gripping than its subject matter might suggest. Who ever would believe a story about a wrestling family from Norwich could have quite such heart and resonance?" James Field Best films of 2019 (so far) Us "Doppelgangers abound in Jordan Peeles weird, creepy and ingenious new horror film. As in his Oscar-winning 2017 feature Get Out, Peele leavens matters with ironic humour but the joking becomes increasingly uncomfortable once the main characters come face to face with dark shadows of themselves which wish them extreme harm." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Avengers: Endgame "The Avengers cycle comes to a rich and very satisfying conclusion with Endgame, surely the most complex and emotional superhero movie in Marvel history. At 181 minutes, this is a veritable epic, but with so many characters and plot strands, it fully warrants its lengthy running time." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Eighth Grade "Its a rare and precious feeling when a film completely dismantles you. Eighth Grade the directorial debut of US comedian Bo Burnham breaks down every delusion we have about ourselves and burrows deep into those parts weve made such an effort to lock away. You may cry. You may shudder as every awkward social interaction thats kept you up at night replays in your head all at once. You may feel the sharp pain associated with those moments when you feel completely isolated from the world. Burnham may have crafted a simple story about the most ordinary of teenage girls, but it speaks with the emotions of a true cinematic epic." A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Vox Lux "Natalie Portman gives her fiercest, most memorable performance since Black Swan in Brady Corbets enjoyably subversive satire about a troubled pop star whose loss of innocence mirrors the fall from grace of the US itself. Portmans character, Celeste, is certainly one of the most objectionable figures she has played: a pampered, hard-drinking drug-taking floozy whose appearance and high-handed behaviour rekindle memories of Liz Taylor and Joan Crawford at their monstrous worst." Neon Best films of 2019 (so far) High Life Robert Pattinson gives one of his most striking performances as Monte, the death-row criminal in outer space, tricked into making a voyage described at one stage as a class-one suicide ride. The former Twilight star makes his shaven-headed, gaunt-faced character seem hyper naturally sensitive and feral at the same time. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Amazing Grace Amazing Grace is as uplifting a film as you will see all year. Its a concert movie filmed over two nights and featuring Aretha Franklin, the first lady of soul, performing gospel standards in a church in Los Angeles in 1972, with a huge backing choir and an enthusiastic congregation. Neon Best films of 2019 (so far) Aladdin Disneys live-action remake of its 1992 animated feature is a rip-roaring, old-fashioned matinee-style spectacle that turns out far better than we had any right to expect. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Booksmart Olivia Wilde is a visually inventive director, who keeps the tempo here so brisk that we hardly notice how glib the storytelling sometimes becomes. We can tell exactly how the film will end, but it still feels original both in its screwball energy and in the deft way it continually reverses stereotypes and gender cliches. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Late Night Late Night is a caustic satirical comedy that turns into an unlikely tearjerker. Its by turns snide and uplifting, and often very funny too. Its writer/producer/star Mindy Kaling makes vicious observations about the inanity, narcissism and corruption of the mainstream US media at the same time as she celebrates the professionalism of many of those who work within it. The film has a glorious performance from Emma Thompson and a very sly one from Kaling. Thompson is at her most imperious as Katherine Newbury, a legendary entertainer, the only female in a male-dominated field, but one whose career is beginning to slide. Geoffrey Macnab Amazon Studios Best films of 2019 (so far) Gloria Bell Gloria Bell is somewhat exhausting both unbearably intimate and at a constant remove but it is endlessly pulled back into focus by Moore, who has a firm understanding of the delicate balance between contentment and yearning, joy and pain, recklessness and spontaneity. In a remake that could have felt indulgent in the hands of people less skilled, she more than justifies its existence. Geoffrey Macnab Curzon Best films of 2019 (so far) Toy Story 4 "The brilliance of the new film lies in the surefooted way it caters both for children too young to have seen its predecessors and for adults whove grown up (or grown older) watching the previous instalments. It takes some kind of genius for the Pixar animators to give such a searing emotional charge to a story in which one of the main characters is a single use plastic spork retrieved from the trash." Pixar/Disney Best films of 2019 (so far) In Fabric In Fabric feels like Peter Strickland at his most free and playful, drawing as much from the British sense of humour dry and morbid to a fault as from Italian glamour. Curzon Artificial Eye Best films of 2019 (so far) The Flood "Perhaps The Flood isnt quite the urgent, profound film a crisis of this scale deserves, but in a culture where refugees are so rarely shown any empathy in mainstream media, maybe this is the film we need right now." Best films of 2019 (so far) Midsommar "Ari Aster's follow-up to Hereditary serves up much of the same: its a break-up movie wrapped up in pagan horror. Its also bound to be one of this years most memorable films, proving that Aster is far from a one-hit wonder." A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) The Lion King "The Lion King is undoubtedly a technological marvel that, much like Avatar, will come to be viewed as a milestone in special effects history, yet its just as interesting to see how all this innovation has been employed." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Varda by Agnes "For a film thats almost entirely narrated by Agnes Varda's own voice, it doesnt feel driven by ego, but by pure intellectual and emotional curiosity." Best films of 2019 (so far) Animals "Animals treats its subjects with patience and generosity. Youll find no life lessons here. Its main characters are free to pursue their desires, to whatever end." Best films of 2019 (so far) Blinded by the Light "Blinded by the Light offers not only a reminder of Springsteens lyrical genius, but of how hes always served as a beacon for the disenfranchised." Warner Brothers Best films of 2019 (so far) Good Boys Lined up against some of this years other more heartfelt offerings, including Booksmart, Good Boys offers further proof that putting a little humanity in our comedy always gets the best results. Best films of 2019 (so far) Hustlers "Hustlers is an electrifying response to the deluge of stories weve had over the years about very rich, very bad dudes. Finally, we can turn the tables on every film thats used women, specifically strippers, as decorative accessories to drape over businessmen as they conduct their illicit backroom meetings. Or, failing that, to shake their out-of-focus tits in the background of a shot." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) For Sama For Sama is one of the most profoundly intimate depictions of the Syrian conflict ever put to film. Its the push to help those on the outside process something so incomprehensible in the depth of its horrors. Republic Film Distribution Best films of 2019 (so far) Ad Astra The real drama here is not whether or not apocalypse can be avoided but whether Brad Pitts character can reconcile himself with his father and overcome his own extreme emotional repression. In other words, in spite of all the jargon and the hardware, this is an intimate family melodrama at heart. Thanks to Pitts performance and Grays delicate direction, it turns into a very moving one. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) The Farewell Wrapped up in all the intricacies of immigrant identity and family politics, The Farewell is a comedy of warmth and bracing honesty. Simply put, its one of the best films of the year. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Judy This is Renee Zellwegers Judy. It doesnt belong to Rupert Goold, its director. Nor does it belong to Tom Edge, its screenwriter. Its a performance of such overwhelming force that it wrests authorship from every other hand that guided the films creation. Pathe Best films of 2019 (so far) Ready or Not As absurd and self-indulgent as Ready or Not can get, it doesnt mess around with its social commentary. The class system is the game we never asked to play, dont get a fair chance at, and have no hope of winning. Its a timeless metaphor. 20th Century Fox Best films of 2019 (so far) A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon Despite its mouthful of a title, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is an utter delight proof that good storytelling and strong craft are what matters, however familiar the packaging. Studio Canal Best films of 2019 (so far) The Beach Bum Clearly, Harmony Korine is steered by his attraction to the theatrical, the absurd and the grimly nihilistic. The Beach Bum is all of that and absolutely none of it, too a leisurely, neon-soaked stroll through chaos and hazy bohemia, full of slapstick and pathos. It is as much Korines most mature film as it is his most juvenile. Neon/Vice Best films of 2019 (so far) The Last Black Man in San Francisco Its a beautiful, frightening and tragic vignette of the urban nightmare, though The Last Black Man in San Francisco isnt really an angry film. Its less of a rallying cry against gentrification than a rumination on the kind of pained acceptance those who suffer its effects must face. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) The Irishman Scorseses signature camerawork goes down like a glass of fine whisky, as smooth and as elegant as youd expect. The violence arrives in short, sharp shocks. Steven Zaillians screenplay even nails the mobster patter, with arguments about fish, tardiness, and business shorts that feel destined to one day be quoted to death. Netflix Best films of 2019 (so far) Le Mans '66 The films greatest trick is saved for its final reel. For much of its running time, youd be easily fooled into thinking Mangold had made a grand ode to the American dream. Its a film about an immigrant worker who, through perseverance and toil, gains the respect of one of the richest men in the country. And then the rug is pulled right out from underneath you. Le Mans 66 may relish in the high life, but its final moments feel devastatingly hollow. AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Marriage Story The film never loses its sense of humour and absurdity. Somehow, in spite of the bleakness of the subject matter, it feels more redemptive than despairing. Best films of 2019 (so far) The Report Adam Driver plays Jones, Annette Bening Senator Feinstein, and director Scott Z Burns captures the events in a cold, rigorously factual, and largely dispassionate manner. But thats the point. The Report chooses to value the truth over bombastic displays of morality. AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Knives Out Casting an ensemble film is a little like perfecting a cocktail blend, balancing flavours until they sing together in harmony. Knives Out hits the mark here: the actors all feel well-suited to their roles and they bounce off each other with ease. Lionsgate Collider A- Were not going to pretend that Once Upon isnt another Tarantino film that plays with revisionist history. The fact Rick lives right next to Polanski and Tate gives that away very early on. There is a difference this time around. Unlike Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained, what happens in Once Upon isnt in the context of revenge or moral justice. Born in 1963, Tarantino spent much of his childhood in Los Angeles county. He was only six on that fateful night, but he knows how it tainted how many saw Hollywood from that point forward. The faux innocence meticulously managed by the big studio machines had been fading for a decade, but it was truly lost that night. And, if you didnt know already, Tarantino loves Hollywood which is why this film is the ultimate love letter from him. (Gregory Ellwood) Variety (Mixed) You can say, as many will, that its only a movie. But for much of Once Upon a Timein Hollywood, Tarantino brilliantly uses the presence of the Manson girls to suggest something in the Hollywood cosmos thats profound in its diabolical bad vibes. And the way the movie resolves all this feels, frankly, too easy. By the end, Tarantino has done something thats quintessentially Tarantino, but that no longer feels even vaguely revolutionary. He has reduced the story hes telling to pulp. (Owen Gleiberman) Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events IndieWire B Once Upon a Time is an unapologetic fantasy of the kind Tarantino has relished in his recent spate of projects, and this one seems to exist in dialogue with its forebears. Theres even a late monologue from one of the Manson killers about the fetishization of murder and violence in entertainment that registers as Tarantino reducing his most conservative critics to the worst possible caricatures. From there, the filmmaker settles into business as usual. Theres no point in spoiling the specifics, but needless to say, the movie careens into a form of historical revisionism familiar from Tarantinos other recent work. After a movie built around a surprising degree of restraint, he cant help but let himself go. As Once Upon a Time in Hollywood makes clear, its hard to keep a good showman down. (Eric Kohn) Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker director JJ Abrams has opened up about Carrie Fishers role in the film. In Vanity Fairs coverage of the film, Abrams spoke about the difficult choices he had to make as a filmmaker when it came to Leias character, following the actors death in 2016. Lucasfilm had previously stated that CGI would not be used and the role would not be recast, with Abrams later confirming that unused footage of Fisher from 2015s Star Wars: The Force Awakens would be used instead. Its hard to even talk about it without sounding like Im being some kind of cosmic spiritual goofball, the director said of the footage, but it felt like we suddenly had found the impossible answer to the impossible question. He then revealed that specific scenes were written around the footage in order to place Leias dialogue into new contexts, with Abrams using lighting in the new scenes that matched the way Fisher had been lit. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Show all 13 1 /13 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Who are you, Rey? It seems extremely likely (some might even say crystal clear) that The Rise of Skywalker will shed light on Rey's origins namely her possible Skywalker heritage. It is unknown exactly how this will play out, though. Is Rey a Skywalker by blood, or by spirit? YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown The return of the lightsaber Rey still has the blue lightsaber she inherited from Luke! And it works! YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown This fighter means trouble It definitely looks like the fighter Rey is about to jump over (and presumably damage with her lightsaber) is Kylo Ren's. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Dark warrior Speaking of Kylo Ren, what is he up to? Well, he's definitely up to no good. And he's accompanied by a Stromtrooper, which rarely means good news. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown On the mend Kylo Ren's helmet is shown getting re-forged. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Duo In case any one had doubt: Poe and Finn are back. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown A new friend Looks like BB-8 has a new droid buddy! Very cute. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Co-pilot Look at Chewbacca flying the Millenium Falcon with Lando Calrissian! YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Big reveal Speaking of Lando, the trailer marks the return of Billy Dee Williams, who last played the character in Return of the Jedi 36 years ago. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Wait a minute Eagle-eyed viewers have pointed out on Twitter that this medal is extremely similar to the ones Luke and Han Solo receive from Leia during a ceremony at the end of A New Hope. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Leia's return Carrie Fisher's Leia can be seen in the trailer giving Rey a heartfelt hug. Deleted scenes from The Force Awakens were used in order to feature Fisher, who died in December 2016, without resorting to CGI. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Wreckage It looks like Rey is staring at the Death Star II here, possibly on Endor. YouTube / Star Wars Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer shot-by-shot breakdown Listen Yes, this is a dark screen. At the end of the trailer, the screen goes black, and Palpatine's cackling laugh can distinctly be heard a surprise that few saw coming. YouTube / Star Wars It was a bizarre kind of left side/right side of the brain sort of Venn diagram thing, of figuring out how to create the puzzle based on the pieces we had, he added. Fishers daughter Billie Lourd, who appears in the new Star Wars trilogy as Lieutenant Connix, was at first deliberately written out of the scenes as Abrams believed it might be too painful for her. Lourd instead said she wanted to be included in those scenes. And so, there are moments where theyre talking; there are moments where theyre touching, Abrams said. There are moments in this movie where Carrie is there, and I really do feel there is an element of the uncanny, spiritual, you know, classic Carrie, that it would have happened this way, because somehow it worked. And I never thought it would. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is released in UK cinemas on 19 December. A new trailer for Toy Story 4 has been released, giving a first full look at Keanu Reeves's character Duke Caboom. The two-minute clip, unveiled on Tuesday, comes just one month ahead of the film's release. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie and the rest of the toys are facing a crisis when their owner, Bonnie, returns home with a new creation, Forky who does not know the first thing about being a toy. While the family goes on a vacation, Forky becomes lost, prompting the rest of the toys to go rescue him. Along the way, Woody and Bo Peep encounter Duke Caboom, who introduces himself as "Canada's greatest stuntman" before launching into a series of complicated posing on his motorcycle. Best films of 2019 (so far) Show all 49 1 /49 Best films of 2019 (so far) Best films of 2019 (so far) The Favourite Macabre and fraught though The Favourite gets, this isnt so much a film about sex or power as it is about plain mischief. Its a hilarious, buffoonish pleasure, right down to the sets and costume design, and a breeze to spend 120 minutes with. Christopher Hooton Fox Searchlight Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Beautiful Boy Casting Chalamet as Nic was a very clever move. The young actor from Call Me by Your Name and Lady Bird has a natural charm and charisma. He still engages an audiences curiosity and sympathy even when his behaviour is at its most selfish and erratic. Geoffrey Macnab Amazon Studios Best films of 2019 (so far) The House by the Sea Guediguians storytelling style is deceptive. At first, it seems as if this is low-key social realism in the Dardennes or Ken Loach mould, albeit set on the French Riviera. Gradually, though, we realise how stylised and theatrical his approach really is. Geoffrey Macnab Best films of 2019 (so far) Stan & Ollie Director Jon S Baird, whose previous film was scabrous Irvine Welsh adaptation Filth, wrings every last drop of pathos he can from his material. This is very much a case of the tears of the clowns. Geoffrey Macnab Entertainment One Best films of 2019 (so far) Vice Vice is bravura storytelling. McKay isnt only taking us through Cheneys life and career but is giving us a whistle stop tour through US politics from the Nixon administration almost right to the present day. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Can You Ever Forgive Me? Playing Lee Israel, McCarthy manages something very special: she makes a character who is odd, obnoxious, difficult and alcoholic seem lovable and even heroic. The rest of the world is at fault, not Lee. Geoffrey Macnab Fox Searchlight Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Green Book "Green Book flatters the audience about its own good sense and tolerance. It deals with racism and homophobia but still has a fairytale, fantasy feel to it. Whatever humiliations Don endures on their road trip, we know no real harm will ever come to him as long as Tony is at his side. Geoffrey Macnab Universal Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Velvet Buzzsaw The golden age of bonkers horror movies is gloriously evoked by Netflixs latest feature length presentation. Beginning as a satire of the arts world, Velvet Buzzsaw swiftly and gleefully descends into a savage splatter-fest, smeared in paint, viscera and garishly-bright blood. Ed Power Netflix Best films of 2019 (so far) If Beale Street Could Talk The setting is New York in the 1970s. Anyone who has watched Martin Scorseses Taxi Driver knows this was an era of violence, corruption and sleaze on a monumental level, but [Barry] Jenkins somehow makes the city seem like a modern-day Eden. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) All Is True Written by Ben Elton and directed by its star Kenneth Branagh, the film plays so fast and loose with the playwrights final years that they neednt have bothered fitting Branagh with a prosthetic nose accuracy is clearly not the priority here. Alexandra Pollard Sony Pictures Classics Best films of 2019 (so far) The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part "The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is the doomed progeny of a celebrated genius brilliant but slightly stunted by the knowledge they will never live up to their predecessor. Clarisse Loughrey Warner Bros. Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Piercing Nicolas Pesces sleek and stylish horror comedy is repulsive and funny by turns. In adapting Ryu Murakamis cult novel, Pesce strikes just the right balance between humour and Grand Guignol-style shock tactics. Geoffrey Macnab Universal Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Capernaum "The best moments here are remarkable. Labaki elicits an astonishing performance from her young lead. Hes an irrepressible figure with such an inbuilt sense of moral decency the film seems upbeat and optimistic, even at its darkest moments. Geoffrey Macnab Sony Pictures Classics Best films of 2019 (so far) The White Crow "Ralph Fiennes combines thriller elements with poetic flashbacks to ballet legend Rudolf Nureyevs childhood and keeps a tight focus on the dancer. When he is most at risk, Nureyev makes decisions with his artistic future more in mind than his personal safety. As Fiennes reminds us again and again in what is his best film yet as a director, the 'white crow' will do anything to put himself in the limelight, the one place he is convinced he belongs." StudioCanal Best films of 2019 (so far) Border "Border reverses the perspective taken by most other horror films. In more conventional genre fare, Tina and Vore would be portrayed as malevolent outsiders, but in the world conjured up by director Ali Abbasi, the humans are the monsters. Tina is the innocent a visionary who hardly understands her own powers but who can sense human venality and corruption wherever it appears." TriArt Film Best films of 2019 (so far) Fighting with My Family "Certain scenes feel very trite and predictable but the film gets you in a choke hold early on and wont let you go. It is far more gripping than its subject matter might suggest. Who ever would believe a story about a wrestling family from Norwich could have quite such heart and resonance?" James Field Best films of 2019 (so far) Us "Doppelgangers abound in Jordan Peeles weird, creepy and ingenious new horror film. As in his Oscar-winning 2017 feature Get Out, Peele leavens matters with ironic humour but the joking becomes increasingly uncomfortable once the main characters come face to face with dark shadows of themselves which wish them extreme harm." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Avengers: Endgame "The Avengers cycle comes to a rich and very satisfying conclusion with Endgame, surely the most complex and emotional superhero movie in Marvel history. At 181 minutes, this is a veritable epic, but with so many characters and plot strands, it fully warrants its lengthy running time." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Eighth Grade "Its a rare and precious feeling when a film completely dismantles you. Eighth Grade the directorial debut of US comedian Bo Burnham breaks down every delusion we have about ourselves and burrows deep into those parts weve made such an effort to lock away. You may cry. You may shudder as every awkward social interaction thats kept you up at night replays in your head all at once. You may feel the sharp pain associated with those moments when you feel completely isolated from the world. Burnham may have crafted a simple story about the most ordinary of teenage girls, but it speaks with the emotions of a true cinematic epic." A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Vox Lux "Natalie Portman gives her fiercest, most memorable performance since Black Swan in Brady Corbets enjoyably subversive satire about a troubled pop star whose loss of innocence mirrors the fall from grace of the US itself. Portmans character, Celeste, is certainly one of the most objectionable figures she has played: a pampered, hard-drinking drug-taking floozy whose appearance and high-handed behaviour rekindle memories of Liz Taylor and Joan Crawford at their monstrous worst." Neon Best films of 2019 (so far) High Life Robert Pattinson gives one of his most striking performances as Monte, the death-row criminal in outer space, tricked into making a voyage described at one stage as a class-one suicide ride. The former Twilight star makes his shaven-headed, gaunt-faced character seem hyper naturally sensitive and feral at the same time. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Amazing Grace Amazing Grace is as uplifting a film as you will see all year. Its a concert movie filmed over two nights and featuring Aretha Franklin, the first lady of soul, performing gospel standards in a church in Los Angeles in 1972, with a huge backing choir and an enthusiastic congregation. Neon Best films of 2019 (so far) Aladdin Disneys live-action remake of its 1992 animated feature is a rip-roaring, old-fashioned matinee-style spectacle that turns out far better than we had any right to expect. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Booksmart Olivia Wilde is a visually inventive director, who keeps the tempo here so brisk that we hardly notice how glib the storytelling sometimes becomes. We can tell exactly how the film will end, but it still feels original both in its screwball energy and in the deft way it continually reverses stereotypes and gender cliches. Geoffrey Macnab Annapurna Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) Late Night Late Night is a caustic satirical comedy that turns into an unlikely tearjerker. Its by turns snide and uplifting, and often very funny too. Its writer/producer/star Mindy Kaling makes vicious observations about the inanity, narcissism and corruption of the mainstream US media at the same time as she celebrates the professionalism of many of those who work within it. The film has a glorious performance from Emma Thompson and a very sly one from Kaling. Thompson is at her most imperious as Katherine Newbury, a legendary entertainer, the only female in a male-dominated field, but one whose career is beginning to slide. Geoffrey Macnab Amazon Studios Best films of 2019 (so far) Gloria Bell Gloria Bell is somewhat exhausting both unbearably intimate and at a constant remove but it is endlessly pulled back into focus by Moore, who has a firm understanding of the delicate balance between contentment and yearning, joy and pain, recklessness and spontaneity. In a remake that could have felt indulgent in the hands of people less skilled, she more than justifies its existence. Geoffrey Macnab Curzon Best films of 2019 (so far) Toy Story 4 "The brilliance of the new film lies in the surefooted way it caters both for children too young to have seen its predecessors and for adults whove grown up (or grown older) watching the previous instalments. It takes some kind of genius for the Pixar animators to give such a searing emotional charge to a story in which one of the main characters is a single use plastic spork retrieved from the trash." Pixar/Disney Best films of 2019 (so far) In Fabric In Fabric feels like Peter Strickland at his most free and playful, drawing as much from the British sense of humour dry and morbid to a fault as from Italian glamour. Curzon Artificial Eye Best films of 2019 (so far) The Flood "Perhaps The Flood isnt quite the urgent, profound film a crisis of this scale deserves, but in a culture where refugees are so rarely shown any empathy in mainstream media, maybe this is the film we need right now." Best films of 2019 (so far) Midsommar "Ari Aster's follow-up to Hereditary serves up much of the same: its a break-up movie wrapped up in pagan horror. Its also bound to be one of this years most memorable films, proving that Aster is far from a one-hit wonder." A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) The Lion King "The Lion King is undoubtedly a technological marvel that, much like Avatar, will come to be viewed as a milestone in special effects history, yet its just as interesting to see how all this innovation has been employed." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Varda by Agnes "For a film thats almost entirely narrated by Agnes Varda's own voice, it doesnt feel driven by ego, but by pure intellectual and emotional curiosity." Best films of 2019 (so far) Animals "Animals treats its subjects with patience and generosity. Youll find no life lessons here. Its main characters are free to pursue their desires, to whatever end." Best films of 2019 (so far) Blinded by the Light "Blinded by the Light offers not only a reminder of Springsteens lyrical genius, but of how hes always served as a beacon for the disenfranchised." Warner Brothers Best films of 2019 (so far) Good Boys Lined up against some of this years other more heartfelt offerings, including Booksmart, Good Boys offers further proof that putting a little humanity in our comedy always gets the best results. Best films of 2019 (so far) Hustlers "Hustlers is an electrifying response to the deluge of stories weve had over the years about very rich, very bad dudes. Finally, we can turn the tables on every film thats used women, specifically strippers, as decorative accessories to drape over businessmen as they conduct their illicit backroom meetings. Or, failing that, to shake their out-of-focus tits in the background of a shot." AP Best films of 2019 (so far) For Sama For Sama is one of the most profoundly intimate depictions of the Syrian conflict ever put to film. Its the push to help those on the outside process something so incomprehensible in the depth of its horrors. Republic Film Distribution Best films of 2019 (so far) Ad Astra The real drama here is not whether or not apocalypse can be avoided but whether Brad Pitts character can reconcile himself with his father and overcome his own extreme emotional repression. In other words, in spite of all the jargon and the hardware, this is an intimate family melodrama at heart. Thanks to Pitts performance and Grays delicate direction, it turns into a very moving one. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Best films of 2019 (so far) The Farewell Wrapped up in all the intricacies of immigrant identity and family politics, The Farewell is a comedy of warmth and bracing honesty. Simply put, its one of the best films of the year. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) Judy This is Renee Zellwegers Judy. It doesnt belong to Rupert Goold, its director. Nor does it belong to Tom Edge, its screenwriter. Its a performance of such overwhelming force that it wrests authorship from every other hand that guided the films creation. Pathe Best films of 2019 (so far) Ready or Not As absurd and self-indulgent as Ready or Not can get, it doesnt mess around with its social commentary. The class system is the game we never asked to play, dont get a fair chance at, and have no hope of winning. Its a timeless metaphor. 20th Century Fox Best films of 2019 (so far) A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon Despite its mouthful of a title, A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon is an utter delight proof that good storytelling and strong craft are what matters, however familiar the packaging. Studio Canal Best films of 2019 (so far) The Beach Bum Clearly, Harmony Korine is steered by his attraction to the theatrical, the absurd and the grimly nihilistic. The Beach Bum is all of that and absolutely none of it, too a leisurely, neon-soaked stroll through chaos and hazy bohemia, full of slapstick and pathos. It is as much Korines most mature film as it is his most juvenile. Neon/Vice Best films of 2019 (so far) The Last Black Man in San Francisco Its a beautiful, frightening and tragic vignette of the urban nightmare, though The Last Black Man in San Francisco isnt really an angry film. Its less of a rallying cry against gentrification than a rumination on the kind of pained acceptance those who suffer its effects must face. A24 Best films of 2019 (so far) The Irishman Scorseses signature camerawork goes down like a glass of fine whisky, as smooth and as elegant as youd expect. The violence arrives in short, sharp shocks. Steven Zaillians screenplay even nails the mobster patter, with arguments about fish, tardiness, and business shorts that feel destined to one day be quoted to death. Netflix Best films of 2019 (so far) Le Mans '66 The films greatest trick is saved for its final reel. For much of its running time, youd be easily fooled into thinking Mangold had made a grand ode to the American dream. Its a film about an immigrant worker who, through perseverance and toil, gains the respect of one of the richest men in the country. And then the rug is pulled right out from underneath you. Le Mans 66 may relish in the high life, but its final moments feel devastatingly hollow. AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Marriage Story The film never loses its sense of humour and absurdity. Somehow, in spite of the bleakness of the subject matter, it feels more redemptive than despairing. Best films of 2019 (so far) The Report Adam Driver plays Jones, Annette Bening Senator Feinstein, and director Scott Z Burns captures the events in a cold, rigorously factual, and largely dispassionate manner. But thats the point. The Report chooses to value the truth over bombastic displays of morality. AP Best films of 2019 (so far) Knives Out Casting an ensemble film is a little like perfecting a cocktail blend, balancing flavours until they sing together in harmony. Knives Out hits the mark here: the actors all feel well-suited to their roles and they bounce off each other with ease. Lionsgate Little has been revealed about Reeves's character, though Tim Allen, who voices Buzz Lightyear, told Jimmy Fallon on his Tonight Show last year that the part is "great". Actually, a little inside story, even [Reeves] said gentle, wonderful guy that he is This sounds too much like Buzz Lightyear. And his character does have an edge to that. And the guy said, So we calmed him down a little bit, and they reminded me his toy is only that big," he added, gesturing to indicate the toy's small size. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Toy Story 4 is out on 21 June. Following the conclusion of Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke has revealed that she watched videos of dictators such as Nazi leader Adolf Hitler to prepare for her final speech. In the final episode, after Daenerys has taken control of Kings Landing, the would-be dictator addresses her army in two made-up languages, Dothraki and Valyrian. To perfect the speech, Clarke told Variety that she studied dictators and powerful leaders speaking different languages to see if those listening could understand the tone and the theme of the speech, if not the language itself. In giving all these speeches in fake languages, I watched a lot of videos of - now it seems funny - dictators and powerful leaders speaking a different language to see if I could understand what they were saying without knowing the language, Clarke said. And you can! You absolutely can understand what Hitlers f**king saying, these single-focus orators speaking a foreign language. So I thought If I can believe every single word Im saying, the audience wont need to be looking at the subtitles much'. Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Show all 9 1 /9 Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Tyrion at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Euron looking worried on 'Game of Thrones' Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Greyworm at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Daenerys at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Jon Snow and Varys arriving at Dragonstone on 'Game of Thrones' Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Davos and Jon Snow preparing for battle on 'Game of Thrones' Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Cersei (and the Mountain) on 'Game of Thrones' Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Davis, Jon Snow and Tyrion at King's Landing on 'Game of Thrones' Game of Thrones season 8 episode 5 photos Golden Army leader Harry Strickland on 'Game of Thrones' During the interview, Clarke also said that she wasnt prepared to feel so numb while watching the final episode. Emilia Clarke watched videos of dictators to prepare for final speech (HBO) According to the 32-year-old, herself and the cast have been saying goodbye to [the show] for a while, with the understanding throughout the last couple seasons that the end is coming. As for her thoughts on what the lasting legacy of the show will be, Clarke said she believes it will be a discussion of power, and what it does to a single human being, a group of human beings, and the people they are meant to be serving. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events You can read the full interview here. Europeans all need to work far shorter hours each week to help combat the climate crisis, a study has said. The think tank Autonomy said with the existing carbon intensity of our economies and current levels of productivity, the UK would need to adopt a nine-hour working week in order to cut emissions by enough to meet the Paris climate agreement targets and keep global warming below 2C. The paper suggests Sweden would have to cut its working hours to 12 a week, and Germany to just six. The paper says cutting the work-week by, for example, just one day would fail to decrease carbon emissions to a sustainable level by itself. The reports recommendations are based on UN and OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) data on greenhouse gas emissions, and examines the UK, Germany and Sweden. The data, the report suggests, indicates all three countries require drastic reductions in working hours to decarbonise the economy to prevent climate breakdown, while also pursuing greater efficiency in other areas. 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 climate crisis calls for an unprecedented decrease in the economic activity that causes [greenhouse gas] emissions, and this confronts us with the necessity to be lazy, the report says. The report notes the economists Paul Lafargue and later, John Maynard Keynes spoke of the prospect of three-hour shifts and a 15-hour working week as targets to aim for in order for humans to live a better life. If ecological sustainability requires an overall decrease in material consumption, a vast expansion in terms of leisure time and thus an increase in time prosperity would be less of a luxury and more of an urgency, the authors say. As the climate crisis worsens, the necessity to take action is becoming greater, the report argues. Last year the UNs scientific body the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the most urgent and far-reaching call yet for world governments to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and stop global warming. But the authors warned limiting global warming to 1.5C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society. There have already been calls to reduce working weeks as a means of improving productivity, but working less hours as a means of also reducing economic activity is more radical. Earlier this month Momentum urged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to back a four-day working week. The Labour 4 Day Week group said it was an opportunity for the party to take the lead on a policy gaining a growing consensus across the world, and one that will become increasingly necessary in the future. Emma Williams of the Four Day Week campaign said: We welcome this attempt by Autonomy to grapple with the very real changes society will need to make in order to live within the limits of the planet. In addition to improved well-being, enhanced gender equality and increased productivity, addressing climate change is another compelling reason we should all be working less. Mat Lawrence, director of the Common Wealth think tank said: This new paper from Autonomy is a thought experiment that should give policymakers, activists and campaigners more ballast to make the case that a Green New Deal is absolutely necessary. The link between working time and GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions has been proved by a number of studies. Using OECD data and relating it to our carbon budget, Autonomy have taken the step to show what that link means in terms of our working weeks. A sudden surge in algae has killed at least eight million salmon in one week across Norwegian fish farms, the state-owned Norwegian Seafood Council has said. The enormous algal blooms, due to recent warm weather, have spread rapidly around Norways northern coast, sticking to fishes gills and suffocating them. Wild fish can swim away from the lethal clouds of aquatic organisms, but farmed fish are trapped. The algae is continuing to spread, the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries said. The organisation said on Tuesday that more than 10,000 tonnes of farmed salmon, with a sales price of some 620 million Norwegian crowns (56m), had been killed, but the Seafood Council said the loss would be much greater. Fish farming - in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Fish farming - in pictures Fish farming - in pictures Barramundi in tanks at a fish farm in South Australia, 2017 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures Barramundi in tanks at a fish farm in South Australia, 2017 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures A trout and sturgeon farm on the Yenisei River in the Siberian village of Primorsk in 2017 Reuters Fish farming - in pictures A sturgeon farm in the Polish village of Rus in 2014 AFP/Getty Fish farming - in pictures Barramundi in tanks at a fish farm in South Australia, 2017 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures A fish farm outside the Siberian town of Nazarovo in 2019 Reuters Fish farming - in pictures A fish farm near Haifa, Israel in 2018 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures Barramundi in tanks at a fish farm in South Australia, 2017 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures A salmon farm on Lake Tagua Tagua in southern Chile in 2016 AFP/Getty Fish farming - in pictures Barramundi in tanks at a fish farm in South Australia, 2017 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures Barramundi in tanks at a fish farm in South Australia, 2017 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures A fish farm near Haifa, Israel in 2018 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures Tanks at a fish farm in South Australia, 2017 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Fish farming - in pictures A fish farm on Lake Victoria in Kisumu, Kenya in 2018 AFP/Getty Fish farming - in pictures Barramundi in tanks at a fish farm in South Australia, 2017 Jo-Anne McArthur/We Animals Its too soon to say how big the losses will be for the producers. Preliminary numbers point to eight million dead fish, corresponding to 40,000 tonnes of salmon that wont reach markets, Seafood Council analyst Paul Aandahl said. This means the algae may already have wiped out over 200m worth of fish in total. Similar algal blooms have been reported on the west coast of Scotland in recent weeks, and experts told The Independent the algae, believed to have killed thousands of fish in Loch Fyne, had come very early in the year. Hundreds of tonnes of dead fish were removed following the bloom, according to the BBC. Norway is the worlds largest exporter of salmon and the effect of the millions of deaths will likely see half the expected growth in salmon volumes wiped out this year as a result, while prices are likely to rise, said Lars Konrad Johnsen, an analyst at Fearnleys, an investment bank which specialises in maritime industries. Providing the net effect is something in the area of 20 30 thousand tonnes, this means you lose around half of the growth that was to come this year and that will no doubt affect prices, Mr Johnsen told Reuters. Norway exported 1.24 million tonnes of salmon in 2018, up 2.5 per cent from 2017, according to data from Statistics Norway. This year Fearnley had expected a volume growth of around 4 per cent. The colossal death toll comes as Mowi, the worlds biggest salmon farming company, which is also Norwegian, is being investigated over claims it has misreported the volume of chemical medications it uses to fight disease at its Scottish salmon farms. Overuse of chemicals has disastrous impacts on the surrounding marine environment. Farmed salmon stocks are already collapsing due to infestations of sea lice, which have in turn affected wild stocks. Last month, Mowi revealed the amount of gutted salmon it produced from Scottish waters had fallen by 36 per cent in a year, with infestations of sea lice and disease blamed. Open-net salmon farms, alongside climate change and soaring demand for salmon are all blamed for impacting wild salmon populations, which have dwindled to the lowest levels ever recorded. There are now no commercial wild salmon fishing stations operating in the UK due to the collapse in numbers. We had a major bloom here in upper Loch Fyne a fortnight ago, Alastair Sinclair, the national coordinator for the Scottish Creel Fishermens Federation, told The Independent. He said the overall impact of salmon farming was having a serious effect on the marine environment. Its a huge risk to the inshore fishing industry in the sense that these farms are generally sited in sea lochs which historically have been known as breeding and spawning grounds for every species you could imagine. Theres basically no fish stocks left on the west coast. Its become almost a marine desert, and the use of these chemicals (from the salmon farming industry) has not helped the situation they are exacerbating it. He added: There are many concerned communities on the west coast where salmon farming takes place, who are worried the future has not been thought of here Were all pretty worried. Additional reporting by Reuters A travel blogger has reached dizzy new heights in the romance stakes, proposing to his partner at the top of a 7,600ft active volcano Canadian couple, Alison and Jarod, were climbing their first volcano Mount Bromo in Indonesia when Jarod decided to pop the question. After trekking up the side of the volcano, the pair finally reached the peak and began walking along its narrow ridge. Footage taken by a drone owned by the romantic explorer and operated by their friend, then reveals the moment Jarod springs the surprise proposal on Alison. Jarod can be seen dropping to one knee and presenting Alison with the engagement ring, before she covers her mouth in shock and the pair embrace. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures Show all 16 1 /16 Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images For Entertainment Weekly Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures AFP/Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures Getty Images Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures REUTERS Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas in pictures EPA Footage shows a stunned Alison covering her mouth in shock, before flinging her arms around her new fiancee. In an online statement accompanying the footage, Jarod wrote: While walking atop the crater rim, hearing the deep rumble down below and stunning 360 landscape views, I got down on one knee and asked the love of my life to marry me. She was so shocked and couldn't believe it was really happening. After some tears of joy, a big YES, and some kisses, Alison quickly said she needed to get off the volcano as she couldn't process both of these things happening at the same time. Recommended The definitive ranking of marriage proposal techniques We feel so lucky to have found each other in this adventure called life and there is no one else we'd rather be beside. Thanks to our friends Jenny and Stu for capturing the moment and helping make this all happen! The couple met on a teacher education programme in Ottawa and have reportedly been inseparable since. The pair now run a travel blog together called Our Moving Roots, which is inspired by the concepts of dynamism and positivity: Our Moving Roots is the idea that in life we are not meant to be stagnant, but rather be in constant motion; planting new roots in the places we go, the people we meet, the experiences we have, while infusing love in all of the above, it reads. I want to get a (plan) far enough along that we can use to apply for some of that money, Weppler said. What Libertyville and Lake County send down to Springfield, we dont get anywhere near that dollar amount back. I want to get some of that money. The US city of Baltimore is being held to ransom by anonymous hackers who took over thousands of government computers with a powerful form of malware. The cyber criminals are demanding 13 bitcoins - around $100,000 - for access to the computer systems to be restored. The city's mayor, Bernard Young, is refusing to pay, which means officials are unable to process utility bills, parking fines or performer other basic administrative tasks. However, the city's emergency services remain unaffected. Mayor Young who had been in office less than a month when the cyber attack was launched, said the city is working with the FBI and other experts to locate the perpetrators and regain control of the computers. Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Satoshi Nakamoto creates the first bitcoin block in 2009 On 3 January, 2009, the genesis block of bitcoin appeared. It came less than a year after the pseudonymous creator Satoshi Nakamoto detailed the cryptocurrency in a paper titled 'Bitcoin: A peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System' Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin is used as a currency for the first time On 22 May, 2010, the first ever real-world bitcoin transaction took place. Lazlo Hanyecz bought two pizzas for 10,000 bitcoins the equivalent of $90 million at today's prices Lazlo Hanyecz Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Silk Road opens for business Bitcoin soon gained notoriety for its use on the dark web. The Silk Road marketplace, established in 2011, was the first of hundreds of sites to offer illegal drugs and services in exchange for bitcoin Screenshot Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The first bitcoin ATM appears On 29 October, 2013, the first ever bitcoin ATM was installed in a coffee shop in Vancouver, Canada. The machine allowed people to exchange bitcoins for cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures The fall of MtGox The world's biggest bitcoin exchange, MtGox, filed for bankruptcy in February 2014 after losing almost 750,000 of its customers bitcoins. At the time, this was around 7 per cent of all bitcoins and the market inevitably crashed Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Would the real Satoshi Nakamoto please stand up In 2015, Australian police raided the home of Craig Wright after the entrepreneur claimed he was Satoshi Nakamoto. He later rescinded the claim Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's big split On 1 August, 2017, an unresolvable dispute within the bitcoin community saw the network split. The fork of bitcoin's underlying blockchain technology spawned a new cryptocurrency: Bitcoin cash Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin's price sky rockets Towards the end of 2017, the price of bitcoin surged to almost $20,000. This represented a 1,300 per cent increase from its price at the start of the year Reuters Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures What goes up... Bitcoin price crashes spectacularly, losing half of its value in a matter of days Getty Images Bitcoin's volatile history in pictures Bitcoin plunges The cryptocurrency eventually bottoms out below $4,000 in 2019 before slowly rebuilding momentum to outperform more traditional assets Getty Images "We won't talk more, all we know is MONEY!" Hurry up! Tik Tak, Tik Tak, Tik Tak," the hacker's ransom note said. The attack took place two weeks ago but with the city refusing to pay out to the cyber criminals, the mayor warned it may take several months for all services to be restored. "I am not able to provide you with an exact timeline on when all systems will be restored," Mayor Young said in a statement. "Like any large enterprise, we have thousands of systems and applications. Our focus is getting critical services back online, and doing so in a manner that ensures we keep security as one of our top priorities throughout the process. Recommended How a single trade crashed bitcoin "You may see partial services beginning to restore within a matter of weeks, while some of our more intricated systems may take months in the recovery process." It is understood the hackers used a powerful form of ransomware called RobbinHood to compromise the city's computers, a variant of which has been used in previous attacks on US government computers. Earlier this year, Greenville, North Carolina, was hit by the ransomware. The city also refused to pay and was able to restore some of its systems, although many still remain inaccessible. A company that left customers without gas for months and had no records for hundreds of blocks of flats in its network has been hit with a record fine. Cadent, which runs half of Britain's regional gas networks, is to pay a 24m fine and set up a 20m support fund for vulnerable customers after the energy watchdog discovered serious failings. Ofgem launched an investigation into Cadent in 2018 in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster when it emerged that the company didnt have safety records for its pipes in many high-rise buildings. The failings meant that up to 775 tower blocks may not have received regular maintenance inspections. The Health and Safety Executive is currently investigating the issue. Cadent chief executive Steve Hurrell apologised, saying the company had fallen short of customer expectations and the higher standards we have now set ourselves. Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Show all 18 1 /18 Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Kitchen in flat 16 where the fire started Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began The kitchen from flat 16 ReutersGrenfell Tower Inquiry/Reuters Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began The kitchen from flat 16 PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Hallway in flat 16, leading to the kitchen where the fire started Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began The kitchen from flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began The kitchen from flat 16 PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Bedroom in flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Living room in flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Toilet in flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Living room in flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Bedroom 2 of flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/Reuters Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Bedroom in flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Bedroom 2 of flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/Reuters Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began The kitchen from flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Kitchen in flat 16 where the fire started Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Door to flat 16 from the lobby on floor 4 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Living room in flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Grenfell Tower Inquiry: photos of inside the flat where fire began Hallway in flat 16 Grenfell Tower Inquiry/PA Some of the companys record-keeping systems are decades old but are now being updated, Mr Hurrell said. Ofgem found that Cadent was increasingly leaving residents in blocks of flats without gas for longer than necessary, for example during pipe repairs. Earlier this year, Cadent told the watchdog that it failed to pay the required compensation over six years to a possible 12,000 residents left without gas for more than 24 hours. The company will also double the statutory compensation payments, at an estimated cost of 6.7m, for customers who unexpectedly lose their gas supply for for longer than 24 hours over the next two years. Recommended Ofgem opens investigation into gas network company Cadent Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan said: Cadent has a duty of care and responsibility to millions of people across half of the country who rely on the gas it pipes to their homes for cooking and heating. Cadent acknowledges that it failed these customers by leaving many without gas for longer than necessary, failing to properly compensate some of those affected and not having the proper systems in place to keep records of all the high-rise blocks of flats it supplies. Gas and electricity network companies are largely unknown by consumers, but they perform a vital role in maintaining the infrastructure that transports energy around the country. The firms have come under fire from consumer groups for making billions in unjustified profits for their shareholders and adding hundreds of pounds to household bills. In 2017, research by Citizens Advice found that gas and electricity network companies were on target to make an average 19 per cent profit margin over eight years, handing an average 10 per cent return back to shareholders, despite the fundamentally low risk nature of the business. Customers have overpaid by 7.5bn an average of 285 per household over the last eight years because of errors in judgment made by Ofgem in pricing the network contracts, Citizens Advice found. It said the money should be refunded to customers. The education secretary has hit back at vice-chancellors who accused the government of acting unlawfully in its attempts to curb the use of conditional unconditional offers at universities. Damian Hinds has said it is a shame that universities are still justifying giving out guaranteed places to students, regardless of A-level results, as long as they make them their first choice. Eight universities have stopped or will stop offering "conditional unconditional" offers to prospective students, but a number of institutions have not yet made a change. The ministers comments came after academics accused the government of unlawfully threatening their autonomy when he called for a review of university admissions. Mr Hinds wrote to 23 of the worst-offending universities, including a Russell Group institution, calling on them to stamp out pressure-selling tactics last month. Student news in pictures Show all 34 1 /34 Student news in pictures Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain a student demonstrator during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain student protestors during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea. The protesters demanded that the parliament takes steps to impeach President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures Filipino demonstrators face off with anti-riot police during a protest near the US Embassy in Manila, Philippine EPA Student news in pictures Hundreds of protesters including Indigenous People, students and militant groups marched towards the US Embassy to protest against the presence of US military troops and condemning the violent dispersal which left at least forty people hurt including twenty police officers and three people who were run over by a police van EPA Student news in pictures A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students Student news in pictures A man holds up a photograph of a missing student with a caption reading 'We are missing 43,' during a meeting marking the 25-month anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero, in Mexico City. A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students AP Student news in pictures Miguel Perez, an intern student from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, puts away his cell phone before walking into the operating room at the Dr. Isaac Gonzalez MartInez Oncological Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once they complete their general surgery training, many residents are moving to the United States in search of better wages, one of the main factors linked to the current shortage of specialists in the Island Student news in pictures Fewer EU students have applied to start university courses in the UK next autumn. There was a 9% fall in the numbers who had applied for courses, according to admissions service UCAS. PA wire Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela. Masses of protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela's capital on the heels of a move by congress to open a political trial against Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election AP Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela AP Student news in pictures Thousands, most of them high school students, march during a demonstration in Madrid, Spain, on a one day strike to protest about the country's education law that increases the number of annual exams AP Student news in pictures Students gather on the west mall to confront the Young Conservatives of Texas student organization over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action Student news in pictures Donald Parish Jr, right, confronts Electrical and Computer Engineering senior Dewayne Perry over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action AP Student news in pictures Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school's strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use AP Student news in pictures Students of secondary education march to protest against the final examinations and LOMCE (The Improvement Quality Education Law) law, after a call by trade unions, in Murcia, Spain EPA Student news in pictures South African police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech AP Student news in pictures Police break up student protests outside the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures South African Policemen fire rubber bullets at student protestors in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures A student protestor is hit by a rubber bullet in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures An injured student is helped by colleagues during protest outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's medium term budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures Plaintiffs and bereaved families of elementary school students killed in the tsunami that followed a major earthquake in northeastern Japan in 2011, show banners that say 'victory in a suit filed with the Sendai District Court' in Sendai. A Japanese court ordered municipalities to pay $13.7 million dollars to families of school children who were swept away to their deaths by the 2011 tsunami Getty Student news in pictures A group of student at Ewha Womans University calls for a thorough investigation into those involved in years of engagement with state affairs backstage by Choi Soon-sil, a personal confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, at the school's front gate in Seoul, South Korea EPA Student news in pictures Students raise placards during a strike action called by the student union, in Madrid against university entry exams Getty Student news in pictures Libyans throw a newly graduated student into a fountain as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Thousands of Thai Catholic students take part in mourning tributes and in singing the Thai Royal Anthem to honour late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saint Dominic School in Bangkok, Thailand EPA Student news in pictures Students of Silpakorn University paint portraits of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures A student of Silpakorn University paints a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend PA wire Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend, an annual tradition where student 'parents' inflict tasks on the unfortunate first-years they have adopted as 'children' as part of a mentoring scheme PA wire Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba Reuters Seven other institutions have also pledged to review their use of these offers, the Department for Education has said. Mr Hinds said: "While I am pleased that many university leaders are taking the issue seriously, it is a shame there are still some trying to justify practices which are damaging the integrity of our higher education and students' interests. I make no apology for speaking out as I have done." The education secretary added that he could not stand idly by watching questionable practices spread and educational standards slide. Universities are making billions of pounds in public funds, as well as students' own contributions, and I have a responsibility also to sixth form teachers, who want all their students to have the same incentive to reach their best, he said. A spokesperson for Universities UK (UUK) said: There are clear benefits for students in universities being able to use a variety of offer making practices that reflect the individual students circumstances and potential. As with all offers to study at university, universities must be able to explain why and how they award unconditional offers with conditions attached. We are already working together with Ucas, reviewing existing guidance and gaining a better understanding of how these offers are being used. They added: This work will help inform the review and includes surveying universities to understand how good practice is being adopted, and holding forums to discuss best practice. It is essential that admissions processes and policies are fair and transparent, underpinned by clear criteria and in the best interest of students. The parents of a teenage Muslim convert bought him a plane ticket to the Middle East for a grand adventure, despite being warned that he was radicalised and wanted to fight in Syria. The Old Bailey heard that Jack Lettss parents had been supportive when he converted to Islam aged 16 in Oxford. Sally Lane, 56, and John Letts, 58, later helped him travel to Jordan and allegedly tried to send him more than 1,700 after he reached Isis territory. The defendants, of Chiswell Road in Oxford, deny three charges of funding terrorism. But opening the case on Wednesday, prosecutors said they knew or had reasonable cause to suspect their son had joined Isis in Syria and had been warned about his activities and the consequences of their alleged actions. Timeline of the Isis caliphate Show all 19 1 /19 Timeline of the Isis caliphate Timeline of the Isis caliphate ISIS began as a group by the merging of extremist organisations ISI and al-Nusra in 2013. Following clashes, Syrian rebels captured the ISIS headquarters in Aleppo in January 2014 (pictured) AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi declared the creation of a caliphate in Mosul on 27 June 2014 Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis conquered the Kurdish towns of Sinjar and Zumar in August 2014, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes. Pictured are a group of Yazidi Kurds who have fled Rex Timeline of the Isis caliphate On September 2 2014 Isis released a video depicting the beheading of US journalist Steven Sotloff. On September 13 they released another video showing the execution of British aid worker David Haines Timeline of the Isis caliphate The US launched its first airstrikes against Isis in Syria on 23 September 2014. Here Lt Gen William C Mayville Jnr speaks about the bombing campaign in the wake of the first strikes Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis militants sit atop a hill planted with their flag in the Syrian town of Kobani on 6 October 2014. They had been advancing on Kobani since mid-September and by now was in control of the citys entrance and exit points AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Residents of the border village of Alizar keep guard day and night as they wait in fear of mortar fire from Isis who have occupied the nearby city of Kobani Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Smoke rises following a US airstrike on Kobani, 28 October 2014 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate YPG fighters raise a flag as they reclaim Kobani on 26 January 2015 VOA Timeline of the Isis caliphate Isis seized the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra on 20 May 2015. This image show the city from above days after its capture by Isis Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Kurdish forces are stationed on a hill above the town of Sinjar as smoke rises following US airstrikes on 12 November 2015 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Kurdish forces enter Sinjar after seizing it from Isis control on 13 November 2015 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Iraqi government forces make the victory sign as they retake the city of Fallujah from ISIS on 26 June 2016 Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Iraqi forces battle with Isis for the city of Mosul on 30 June 2017 AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Members of the Iraqi federal police raise flags in Mosul on 8 July 2017. On the following day, Iraqi prime minister Haider Al Abadi declares victory over Isis in Mosul Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Members of Syrian Democratic Forces celebrate in Al-Naim square after taking back the city of Raqqa from Isis. US-backed Syrian forces declare victory over Isis in Raqqa on 20 October 2017 after a four-month long campaign Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Female fighters of the Syrian Democratic Forces celebrate in Al-Naim Square after taking back the city of Raqqa from Isis. US-backed Syrian forces declare victory over Isis in Raqqa on 20 October 2017 after a four-month long campaign AFP/Getty Timeline of the Isis caliphate Trucks full of women and children arrive from the last Isis-held areas in Deir ez-Zor, Syria in January 2019 They were among the last civilians to be living in the ISIS caliphate, by this time reduced to just two small villages in Syrias Deir ez-Zor Richard Hall/The Independent Timeline of the Isis caliphate Zikia Ibrahim, 28, with her two-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter, after fleeing the Isis caliphate, on Saturday 26 January 2019 Richard Hall/The Independent Alison Morgan QC told the jury that members of an Oxford mosque Jack attended initially thought he was curious about Islam and keen to learn. But he then came into contact at the mosque with men who appeared to introduce him to a more radical ideology, she added. Jack began to express himself in more extreme language and he appeared to have been radicalised by others. One of the teenagers friends from the mosque, Anwar Belhimer, contacted Mr Letts in May 2014 because Jack had told him of plans to travel to Kuwait. The court heard that he urged Mr Letts to stop his son from travelling and to confiscate his passport, warning that he had been saying worrying things. Ms Morgan said that at a meeting with Jack and his father, Mr Belhimer pleaded with Jack not to travel, saying that there were other ways that he could help the people of Syria rather than by going out to fight. Mr Belheimers engagement with John Letts was a clear warning to the defendants about Jacks radicalisation and his intentions, before he even left this country, the prosecutor added. Despite the concerns that had been expressed to them about Jacks potential radicalisation, and against the background of their own concerns about Jacks emotional wellbeing, the defendants permitted Jacks travel. On 24 May 2014, Ms Lane bought a ticket from London Heathrow to the Jordanian capital of Amman, and Jack who was then 18 flew out two days later. The court heard that a return flight was booked for June, but never used. Jack Letts left the UK aged 18 in 2014 (ITV News) Prosecutors showed the jury an email where Ms Lane told a friend she had been stressed about Jack saying he was going to fight in Syria, but had then told his parents he had decided not to fight. You may want to consider why, if she thought that there was any possibility of Jack going to fight in Syria, she decided to pay for his flight nonetheless, Ms Morgan told jurors. The court heard that analysis of phones seized from the family home suggested that Jack remained in Jordan until September 2014 and it became clear that he would not be using his return ticket. He initially told his parents he wanted to travel to Kuwait and they discussed the plan in happy exchanges. The jury was read an email from Mr Letts to his son reading: Hi bud. Its weird emailing you so far away but hey, youre on a grand adventure. Jacks parents sent him money transfers totalling 350 in Jordan and 900 at a location where they understood him to be in Kuwait. They are not charged with a criminal offence over those funding because Jack was not yet in Iraq or Syria, but prosecutors said he was about to travel into Islamic State territory. Ms Morgan told the jury of clear warning signs about what Jack was doing, including a message from an Oxford PhD student with links to Kuwait raising concerns about the company he is keeping. Mr Letts wrote in an email that he was not getting much info back from him, until Jack asked for money to leave Kuwait in August 2014. Phone records from the following month show Jack was in Turkey, the court heard, and the tone of communications changed. Mr Letts emailed his son saying: Jack, a father should never live to see his son buried. Please, I beg you my son, come home or at least leave where you are and do not get so involved there are many other things you can do to help and carry out Allahs will. The trial is under way at the Old Bailey in London (Getty) He said that Ms Lane was collapsing with fear and sadness, writing: You have misled us. You were supposed to be studying in Kuwait. Where are you? What are you doing? Mr Letts added: You dont have to die to help your fellow Muslims. He later told the Oxford academic who raised concerns that Jack was not in Kuwait and had gone to a more radical place. The court heard that Ms Lane contacted a man called Dewan Musa, who she described as being one of Jacks most militant friends from the mosque. In September 2014, she wrote to Musa: I believe my son received help from people from Portsmouth to travel to a warzone. The court heard that Ms Lane later obtained Facebook messages between Jack and Musa by accessing her sons account and concluded that the man was obviously a fighter, perhaps he is the one who helped him. Excerpts of the conversation read to the jury that Jack and Musa had discussed Isiss goals and a path. We suggest the path being talked about was the route to get into Islamic State territory and that is what Musa was assisting Jack to do, Ms Morgan told the court. It was in this period that Ms Lane was making money transfers to Jack all of this would have become apparent to Ms Lane when she captured the conversation and studied it. She was aware of what hed done, plans hed made with Dewan and that the money was not being used for study. Ms Morgan told the jury that Ms Lane and Mr Letts were not alleged to be terrorists or have sympathies for Isis themselves. However, they sent money to their son, with knowledge or reasonable cause to suspect that it might be used by him or others to support terrorist activity, she added.The law is focused on the greater good, stopping money flowing into terrorist groups. Ms Morgan accused the parents of committing terror offences despite being warned by a wide variety of people: those who had associated with Jack Letts before he travelled, academics who told the defendants what to do and not to do who they had sought out for advice, a charity worker who advised them as to how they might encourage their son to come back from Syria. It was not open to these defendants to take the law into their own hands and to send money to their son, whatever their own reasons and motives may have been, she added. The trial continues. A former US Secret Service operative who specialised in protecting politicians from unknown substances has told Nigel Farage to keep a change of clothes handy and man up after the Brexit Party leader was doused in milkshake as part of a growing protest against figures on the right. Dan Kaszeta, who served as a senior physical security specialist under president George W Bush, suggested the rise of milkshaking should be considered a form of protest and not political violence, unless there was evidence it was intended to cause harm. Anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson, Ukip candidate Carl Benjamin and Mr Farage have been repeatedly targeted by people brandishing milkshakes in recent weeks. The trend has led to an increasingly polarised debate as to the limits of legitimate protest, and whether throwing soft drinks at divisive political figures could lead to more dangerous tactics in future. A number of politicians have condemned the practice, including Change UK MP Anna Soubry, who called it unacceptable and wrong. Mr Farage blamed his milkshaking on radicalised remainers and politicians who were not accepting the referendum. Others, however, have claimed food throwing has a rich history as a form of protest and has rarely led to more violent forms of demonstration. Mr Kaszeta, who advised the White House on how to respond to unknown dangerous substances, said nearly all instances of food throwing should be considered a form of protest rather than violence. Click on the Twitter icon below to expand the thread Nearly all of the time an egg is an egg, and a milkshake is a milkshake. We, in the [Secret Service], on President Bush, in the post 9/11 era didn't consider that stuff to be political violence in the absence of evidence of intent to cause actual harm, he tweeted. We had eggs thrown. We had powder thrown. We had drinks thrown. I had a frappucino thrown at us in a motorcade. Mostly, this stuff never made the press, George Bush had a valet with a spare suit and a good attitude. FFS, Nigel, Carl, Stephen. You got a whole posse of handlers and factotums. Keep a change of clothes handy and man up. Milkshaking: New tactic emerges in fight against far-right Show all 6 1 /6 Milkshaking: New tactic emerges in fight against far-right Milkshaking: New tactic emerges in fight against far-right Newcastle says "no thanks Farage" Brexit Party leader Nigel farage is led away by security after being hit with a milkshake at a campaign event in Newcastle Reuters Milkshaking: New tactic emerges in fight against far-right Tommy Robinson covered in a milkshake... While out on the campaign trail for the European Elections in Warrington, a man threw a milkshake in Tommy Robinson's face. Frame 1: Man throws milkshake. Frame 2: Robinson and Co. beat man. Frame 3: Robinson covered in milkshake @AzTheBaz/Twitter Milkshaking: New tactic emerges in fight against far-right ...the day after being covered with a milkshake The day before in Bury, a suspected child threw a milkshake over Robinson before running away Paul Ryder/Youtube Milkshaking: New tactic emerges in fight against far-right Gerrard Batten's image Amy Thompson from Plymouth greeted the Ukip tour bus by throwing a milkshake over the image of leader Gerrard Batten McCoys Media/SWNS Milkshaking: New tactic emerges in fight against far-right Carl Benjamin milkshaked Ukip candidate Carl Benjamin aka Sargon of Akkad was met with a milkshake while campaigning in Totnes, Devon PA Milkshaking: New tactic emerges in fight against far-right Aftermath The remains of the milkshake that struck Carl Benjamin Cornwall Live/SWNS What some fail to understand is that this is not a binary all or nothing, black or white thing. There's a whole lot of grey area in a spectrum between completely innocuous funny s*** and actual physical violence. And a milkshake is towards the former, not the latter. On Tuesday, police said they had charged a man with common assault and criminal damage following the dousing of Mr Farage while on a walkabout in Newcastle city centre. Mr Farages suit was left covered in the drink after the incident at about 1pm on Monday and he was quickly hurried away from the scene by staff. A Conservative Brexiteer MP has been called a liar and a traitor during an extraordinary exchange with a Leave supporter during a television interview. David Davies was speaking to BBC Wales outside parliament about a rise in abuse towards politicians when he was confronted by a passing woman, who accused him of acting like a snowflake and being a remoaner. I voted to leave, actually, the Monmouth MP responded. Im not a snowflake. He added: I was actually campaigning for Brexit and have been for years, so I dont need to be given lectures by people like you. But the woman, wearing a microphone and filming Mr Davies on her mobile phone, told the Conservative he was a liar after he confirmed he voted for Theresa Mays Brexit deal. Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Show all 5 1 /5 Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Brexit culture: film posters reimagined The Hunchback of Notre Dame with a Brexit spin Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Les Miserables reimagined Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined A Room with a View of Britain's future Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Roman Holiday relocated Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined The Sound of Music reimagined Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Shame on you. Youre a traitor, she added. Youve betrayed 17.4 million people. Mr Davies responded: I tell you what, people like you make me want to join the EU again quite honestly. Turning to the camera towards the end of the three-minute exchange, the Tory MP said: And thats what you have to put up with when youre out here all the time. One viewer, writing on Twitter, said the confrontation between two staunch Leave supporters kind of sums the whole sorry mess of Brexit. BBC manages to find the personification of Brexit during David Davies interview, added another. A third wrote: "David Davies meets the contents of Pandoras box. Wonder if its sunk in yet?" Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Labour Welsh Assembly member Alun Davies said the spat showed the need for a conversation about how we can disagree with each other, have a serious debate and rebuild our politics. Mr Davies replied: I can start by agreeing with you 100% on that Alun! The Tory MP has taken to wearing a GoPro camera around his neck in public to document any abuse from members of the public. He told The Independent in January the footage he captured was also for his protection against malicious allegations. Emmanuel Macron's EU election chief has warned that a second EU referendum in Britain would probably result in the country voting to leave again. Nathalie Loiseau, who was the French government's Europe minister in charge of Brexit talks until she took on her new role for this week's contest, said she doubted that another vote would produce "a very different outcome". The comments highlight the ambivalence in some quarters of EU capitals to Britain staying in the bloc, and the level of confusion about the political situation in the UK. "I'm not sure that a new referendum would necessarily have a very different outcome. I fear that the result would be again a very divided England," Ms Loiseau told broadcaster RTL. She added that the current Brexit situation was a result of "the bankruptcy of populists and formulas with the cookie cutter" and said France's priority should be "that they do not export their crisis in the European Union". "England must go forward, Brexit must take place, and if need be in the future, later we will talk about [membership] again," she said. "But they cannot keep their foot in the door, say 'I want to stay but leave, both at the same time, and above all block everything in the European Union'." The latest polling on a second referendum suggests only a marginal movement towards remain, with a Kantar survey released this week showing Remain at 54 per cent and Leave at 46 per cent. Most polls are now showing the public would prefer to remain, however. Ms Loiseau is leading the electoral list for Mr Macron's party and will likely end up as a senior MEP after this week's contest. Despite the polling, activists are keenly aware that polls also showed Remain ahead before the first referendum - which resulted in a Leave victory. Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Nigel Farage speaks at the launch of his new Brexit Party's campaign for the European elections Reuters Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Brexit Party candidate Annunziata Rees-Mogg, sister of Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, speaks at the launch AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures A supporter waits for Farage to speak AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Supporters wait for Farage to speak AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage's socks Reuters Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage and prospective candidate Annunziata Rees-Mogg wait at the launch AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Supporters listen as Farage speaks AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Free T-shirts for all attendees AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Posters on the seats for supporters of the Brexit Party AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures A safety sign is pictured AFP/Getty The prospect of a final say referendum is still uncertain, however. MPs have rejected the idea twice in indicative votes, despite the main opposition party Labour whipping for it on both occasions. Theresa May this week offered MPs the prospect of another vote on a referendum, but only if her deal is passed - which looks extremely unlikely, given the strong adverse reaction to it from all sides. Councils in England are facing a 50bn black hole over the next six years, according to a new report warning of services for residents being stripped to a bare minimum. The findings, published in a detailed report commissioned by the County Council Network (CCN), note that councils could be left struggling due to rising demands for services, and escalating costs. It calls on the Treasury to urgently allocate funds towards local government in the long-awaited spending review, and claims the situation will become untenable if there is a failure to do so. The independent analysis by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) of the financial pressures facing local government across the country in the period up to 2024/25 claims local authorities will need an additional 51.8bn. For the financial year 2019/20, the auditors claim local authorities face a funding gap of 4.8bn rising to 9.3bn in 2022/23 and 12.2bn in 2024/25. The report claims that spending on adult social care alone will rise by over 6bn nationally by 2025 compared to a decade before. The CCN claims that even with local authorities using their reserves and yearly rises in council tax, they will not be anywhere near enough to fill the funding gap Paul Carter chairman of the CCN said: Over the last decade councils have played a crucial part in reducing the deficit, but the yearly compounding effect of funding cuts and rising demand means that the situation is fast becoming untenable. Todays report concludes that counties are most exposed and least able to address these financial pressures local government is at the limit of elasticity. Therefore, this spending review is crucial if we are to protect and enhance services. Mr Carter continued: If government does not provide additional funding for councils over the medium term, many local authorities will resort to providing the bare minimum, with many vital services all but disappearing, particularly preventative services. Even these draconian cuts wont be enough for many well-run councils to balance the books and it will leave our finances in disarray with many of us struggling to deliver even the basic level of local services. The CCN director Simon Edwards said the report laid bare the stark reality facing the sector and severe financial challenges now being felt by all types of councils. PwCs report provides a platform for the sector to unite around ahead of the Spending Review and make a united case for additional funding, while also recognising that the diverse circumstances faced by different types of councils to influence the fair funding review, he added. A government spokesman said: "We are investing in Britain's future, and this year's local government finance settlement includes extra funding for local services. "Local authorities will have access to 46.4 billion this year, a real terms increase that will strengthen services, support local communities and help councils meet the needs of their residents. The government will be looking at funding for services as part of the spending review." Theresa May's Conservatives are on course for their worst electoral defeat in a national vote as a fresh poll for The Independent puts the party in fourth position on the eve of the European elections. The survey - cementing the Brexit Party in first place - also shows Labour and the Liberal Democrats vying for second place, with Jeremy Corbyn's party slightly ahead as the UK public prepares to elect its next crop of MEPs on Thursday. The poll by BMG researchers puts the Brexit Party way ahead of the established political parties at Westminster with 35 per cent of respondents opting for the newly-formed party - spearheaded by Nigel Farage. It indicates that just nine per cent of those who voted Leave at the European Union referendum in 2016 will vote for the Conservatives tomorrow, as Theresa May's last-ditch attempt to save her Brexit plan looked doomed to be rejected by MPs. Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Show all 5 1 /5 Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Brexit culture: film posters reimagined The Hunchback of Notre Dame with a Brexit spin Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Les Miserables reimagined Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined A Room with a View of Britain's future Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined Roman Holiday relocated Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Brexit culture: film posters reimagined The Sound of Music reimagined Jeff Moore / Rooftop Film Club Over two-thirds - or 67 per cent - who cast their ballot for Brexit three years ago said they will now vote for Mr Farage's insurgent party. It comes after the former Ukip leader told a 3,000-strong rally in central London on Tuesday evening that a decisive victory for the Brexit Party could see the end of both Ms May and Mr Corbyn in a "buy one get one free" result. He also made the bold claim that his party will demand to have places round the UK-EU negotiating table if they emerge top in the Euro elections. The poll adds that Labour are clinging to second place with 18 per cent while Sir Vince Cable's party are in third place with 17 per cent and the Conservatives trail behind with just 12 per cent of the vote share. This would constitute the Tories' worst ever result in the European elections. The Green Party enjoy eight per cent support while Change UK - formed of ex-Labour and Tory MPs - are on four per cent and Ukip are on just two per cent. Robert Struthers, the head of polling at BMG, said: "In the 2014 European parliament elections, Nigel Farage's Ukip topped the poll. On the eve of polling day, our final poll suggests [Mr] Farage is set to do so again, and even more remarkably, he is at the helm of a different party. "Having mopped up the Ukip vote, it is clear that the Brexit Party now represent a significant threat to the Conservatives should they be able to translate a sizeable proportion of their support at these elections into support in a Westminster context. "Out final poll shows 56 per cent of likely voters who reported voting Conservative in the 2017 general election saying they intend to back the Brexit Party in tomorrow's election." He continued: "While support for the Brexit Party appears to have increase since our last poll, out latest figures would suggest the Change UK have failed to bolster their support in the closing weeks of the campaign. If the poll is to believed, the fortunes of the two new parties at this election could hardly be more different." Source Note: BMG interviewed a representative samples of 1601 GB adults between 20th and 22nd May. Data are weighted. BMG are members of the British Polling Council and abide by their rules. The painstaking progress being achieved in Yemens bitter civil war risks being jeopardised by rising tensions between the US and Iran, the UKs foreign secretary has warned. Jeremy Hunt stressed that he would raise his concerns over the issue with Donald Trump during the presidents state visit in June. Mr Hunt has already discussed the issue with US secretary of state Mike Pompeo. Yemen, shattered by violence over four years, is facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Some 12 million people, nearly 40 per cent of the population, are on the brink of starvation. Almost 8,000 people have been killed and 11,500 injured since the conflict began in 2015, according to the United Nations. However, following talks in Stockholm at the end of December, Houthi rebels pulled out of three key Red Sea ports Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Isa in partial implementation of a ceasefire. Attempts are under way for aid to be distributed in the worst-hit areas. Speaking on National Yemen Day in the House of Commons, Mr Hunt acknowledged that the country was seeing one of the worst humanitarian disasters in recent times and that there was a long way to go before the conflict ended. Food aid for Yemenis stolen Show all 21 1 /21 Food aid for Yemenis stolen Food aid for Yemenis stolen People walk in a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen People stand near their rooms inside a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A baby sleeps inside a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A woman sits with her baby inside a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen Sisters play in their room at a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen The entrance of the hangar of the United Nations in Aden, Yemen, in this 23 July 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A man sells aid supplies at a market in Aden, Yemen, in this 23 July 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen The entrance to the port where aid is received, in Aden, Yemen, is shown in this 23 July 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen This 24 July 2018 photo shows a gas station on a road in Shabwah, Yemen. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A worn-out list of registered names for aid by Relief International, part of the World Food Program, is posted in Aden, Yemen in this 23 July 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A truck carries aid on a road in Aden, Yemen, in this 23 July 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A man fixes his scarf at a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen Children play in a room at a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen Children look out of their room at a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A woman holds her baby as she leaves her room in a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A family poses for a photograph in their room at a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A family sits in their room at a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A bucket filled with bread at a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, is shown in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A family poses for a photograph in a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A child stands in a room at a shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) Food aid for Yemenis stolen A shelter for displaced persons in Ibb, Yemen, is shown in this 3 Aug 2018 photo. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty) But Mr Hunt added: There is now a profound commitment on both sides to end the conflict and the frustrations over Hodeidah may be coming to an end. The United Kingdom has a particular responsibility as a penholder [pushing forward motions] at the UN and we recognise that. But my concern is to ensure that Yemen does not get caught up in the tensions between the US and Iran. I will raise this with President Trump when he comes; I have discussed this with Secretary Pompeo. We all need to ensure that the ceasefire is maintained and built upon, it is all our jobs to do this. Mr Hunt was speaking at the all-party event before a Commons debate on Yemen, during which the government was expected to come under severe criticism for continuing to sell arms to the Saudi-led Sunni bloc carrying out the military campaign against the Iranian-backed Houthis. In a message to the Yemen day gathering, Jeremy Corbyn reiterated that the Labour Partys policy was an immediate end to arms sales to Saudi Arabia and a United Nations-led investigation into allegations of war crimes against both sides. Meanwhile, the problem of separating the Yemen conflict from wider regional tensions involving Iran was brought into focus by the Yemeni information minister. Speaking at the Commons event, Moammar al-Eryani said: What the Houthis are doing in Yemen, they are doing with the support of Iran. The Houthis have been using hospitals and schools as military places, they have expelled thousands of civilians and laid mines, they have laid mines and destroyed aid, food and medicine. The Houthis supporters know what they are doing. The Saudi-led coalition has also been accused of committing war crimes in Yemen, which it denies. The Houthis have been using Yemen to fire missiles into neighbouring countries, al-Eryani added. They have been responsible for the firing on the Aramco tanker, which raised oil prices and created economic instability in the area. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The Saudi government has blamed Iran, its Shia regional rival, for instigating missile strikes by Houthis from Yemen. US officials have claimed that Tehran was behind the attacks on oil tankers and have used that as one of the key reasons behind deploying an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the Gulf region. Iran has denied involvement in any attack on the tankers, and has denied being behind a Houthi drone strike on Saudi Arabia. A Labour peer has resigned from the party after announcing that he will vote for the Liberal Democrats in this week's European Parliament elections. Michael Cashman, a prominent LGBT campaigner and former Labour MEP, said he "can't trust" Jeremy Corbyn and his team on Brexit and would be backing the Liberal Democrats because of their "absolute consistency" on the issue. A number of elected officials from the main parties have now said they are unable to vote for their own party in the EU elections because of the leadership's position on Brexit. Mr Corbyn has come under pressure for refusing to commit to another Brexit referendum and has seen many of his party's supporters switch to the Liberal Democrats. The latest polling suggests Labour is on course to receive just 13 per cent of the vote in Thursday's elections, compared to the Liberal Democrats' 19 per cent. Recommended Lord Heseltine has Tory whip suspended for backing Lib Dems As the main parties haemorrhage support, the Conservatives are polling at just 7 per cent having significantly lost ground to Nigel Farage's Brexit Party, which is on course to win the elections with 37 per cent of the vote. Lord Cashman, who sat as a Labour MP between 1999 and 2014, used his Twitter page to announce that he "Will not be voting for the Labour Party". Referring to journalist Matthew Parris, who said he would also be voting Lib Dem for this first time ever, the peer wrote: "I cant trust Corbyn or the people around him on the defining issue in postwar Britain so on Thursday I will not be voting for the Labour Party. As Matthew Paris [sic] said, I am not a Liberal Democrat, but I support their absolute consistency. Voting Lib Dem in the EU elections." He added: "I think Ive just resigned from the Labour Party by declaring that I will support the Liberal Democrats in the European elections." He had earlier told his followers to "vote wisely on Thursday", suggesting they should back a party that wants another referendum. He said: "The only way to resolve the most important issue facing this country and dividing it is with a final say on Mrs Mays deal. " A Labour spokesperson said they did not comment on individual membership cases. Conservative peer Andrew Cooper, a former director of strategy to David Cameron, also announced that he would be voting for the Liberal Democrats, and swiftly had the Tory whip withdrawn. He follows in the footsteps of Michael Heseltine, the former Tory deputy prime minister, who said last weekend that he would be voting for Sir Vince Cable's party. Lord Cooper said: "I have come to the same conclusion as Michael Heseltine, for exactly the same reasons - and will be voting Lib Dem in Thursday's European Parliament elections." Warning the Conservatives to ditch their current Brexit policy, he added: "I think the party is going to plunge into oblivion if it continues on the path of trying to out-Brexit the Brexit Party. I think the right thing to do in this election is to vote for the party that believes in a referendum and giving a chance to look again at the whole question. 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 A Conservative spokesperson said: "Publicly endorsing the candidates of another party is not compatible with taking the Conservative whip in parliament. "As a result, the chief whip in the House of Lords has informed Lord Cooper of Windrush that he will have the Conservative whip suspended. "This will be reviewed if he is willing to support Conservative candidates at future elections." Earlier in the week, Lord Heseltine wrote in The Sunday Times: I cannot, with a clear conscience, vote for my party when it is myopically focused on forcing through the biggest act of economic self-harm ever undertaken by a democratic government". A third peer, former cabinet secretary Gus O'Donnell, also announced his support for the Lib Dems. The former head of the civil service, who sits as a crossbencher in the House of Lords, said he believed another referendum was the only way "to bring to country" together and that he would back Remain in such a vote. Admitting it felt "very strange" to be endorsing a political party, he wrote in The Times' Red Box: "I am extremely disappointed that while the Brexit Party is an obvious choice for dedicated Leavers the Remain vote is potentially spread across many parties. "This is deeply disappointing and very annoying, particularly given that the Liberal Democrats seemed to be prepared to cooperate with other parties. Under the voting system used for European elections it means that the Brexit Party will do extremely well compared with the Remain parties unless supporters of the latter view vote tactically. "This means voting Liberal Democrat in England, so thats what I will do. I would urge all those who support Remain to do the same." Theresa Mays premiership stands on the brink, after the resignation of key cabinet Brexiteer Andrea Leadsom. Announcing her bombshell decision to quit on the eve of European elections in which the Tories are set for a historic defeat, the leader of the Commons said she no longer believed the prime ministers Brexit plans would deliver on the EU referendum result. Her departure will spark fears in Downing Street of an exodus of Leave-backing ministers, amid a cabinet-level revolt over the PMs offer of a binding Commons vote on a Final Say Brexit referendum. Ms May was hunkered down in No 10, apparently resisting requests from ministers, including home secretary Sajid Javid and Scotland secretary David Mundell, for a meeting, although she is expected to see foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt on Thursday. The former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who was himself forced out in 2003, said: The sofa is up against the door, shes not leaving. In a night of high drama in Westminster, the PM appeared to have bought a few more days by agreeing to see the chair of the backbench 1922 Committee on Friday. Sir Graham Brady is expected once more to ask for a timetable for her departure, with the implicit threat that a no-confidence vote in her position could otherwise be brought forward to June. But her future was again cast into doubt by the resignation of Ms Leadsom, who stood against her for the leadership in 2016 and has made clear she will join the battle for the succession. In a damning letter to the PM, Ms Leadsom said she had remained in the cabinet to fight for Brexit, but added: I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result. She said she was unwilling to carry out the Commons Leaders role of announcing to the House on Thursday a Withdrawal Agreement Bill with new elements that I fundamentally oppose. In a statement, a Downing Street spokesman said the prime minsiter was disappointed by her decision but remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for. Earlier, Ms Leadsom had joined members of the pizza club group of cabinet Brexiteers to discuss their response to the new Brexit deal set out by Ms May in a speech in London on Tuesday. Although absent from the meeting, defence secretary Penny Mordaunt is also understood to have voiced concerns to Downing Street. Sources close to Mr Mundell said he was concerned that Scottish Nationalists could take advantage of the referendum pledge to bolster their case for an independence vote. Ministers were privately protesting that Ms Mays package went further than they had agreed in a stormy cabinet meeting earlier in the day, with some suggesting they expected the PM to offer only to make time for a vote on a second referendum, rather than to write it into the text of legislation. Downing Street insisted that the speech represented the agreed way forward and there were no plans to change the text of the bill before its publication on Friday. As a string of formerly loyal MPs declared they would rebel in the crucial second reading vote on 7 June, senior backbencher Tom Tugendhat who backed the PM on previous Brexit votes went public with a demand for the departure of a discredited Conservative leader. European Parliament election voting intention poll (BMG Research) Writing in the Financial Times, the chair of the influential Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said leadership had been absent from the government for too long. This can only change with a new prime minister who can inject fresh energy into a moribund process and rebuild the trust necessary to deliver a deal, he said. Former minister Tim Loughton submitted a letter of no confidence in the PM to Sir Graham. The challenge to Ms Mays position came on the eve of what will be the Conservatives worst result in a national election since the partys creation in 1834, according to a new poll. The BMG survey for The Independent put Ms Mays party on just 12 per cent for Thursdays European Parliament elections, trailing in fourth place behind the dominant Brexit Party on 35 per cent and Labour and Liberal Democrats vying for second on 18 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. Tories had lost three-quarters of their supporters from the 2017 general election, with the bulk of them switching to Nigel Farages new party, the poll found. Just 9 per cent of those who voted Leave in the 2016 referendum said they will back Theresa Mays party on Thursday, with 67 per cent opting for the Brexit Party. Theresa May promises parliamentary vote on second referendum in desperate bid to force through exit plan Ms May faced a wall of stony hostility from much of her own party as she outlined her new Brexit deal in the House of Commons to near-silence on Tory benches. Leave-backing backbencher Lee Rowley accused her of leading a government paralysed by inaction Where every principle is being shredded, trust is shattered to get a deal through. The new package was dismissed by Tory Julia Lopez as an unholy fudge and by Simon Clarke as a devastating failure of politics, leadership and statecraft. The embattled prime minister told MPs: If the bill is not passed then this House will be faced with a very stark choice, and that choice will be whether they go for no deal or whether they go for something which is either revoking Article 50 or a second referendum with the intention that many have to stop Brexit. 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 Labour said Ms Leadsoms departure showed that the prime ministers authority is shot and her time is up. Chairman Ian Lavery said: The government has made a catastrophic mess of the Brexit negotiations, our steel industry is under threat and universal credit is pushing people into poverty. For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election. A healthy dog was euthanised and buried after her owner left specific instructions to have the dog killed and buried with her. The Shih Tzu mix, called Emma, arrived at an animal shelter in Chesterfield County in Virginia on March 8, following the death of her owner. She remained there for two weeks, before the executor of the dead womans estate brought forth the womans wish to have her dog killed. Emma was then taken to a local vet and put down. She has since been cremated, and her remains were placed in an urn in the casket of her dead owner. Staff at the animal shelter reportedly pleaded with officials in order to stop the death, but were unsuccessful. The situation has raised legal concerns. Under Virginia law, dogs are personal property, and it is legal to euthanise a healthy pet. However, according to Larry Spiaggi, the president of Virginia Funeral Directors Association, it is not legal to bury the remains of a pet with a person, including putting them into a persons casket, as was done with Emmas ashes. There are some exceptions to this law, in cases of private and family-owned cemeteries. Its unclear where Emma and her owner are now buried. Online, animal lovers expressed outrage over the unnecessary euthanisation and cremation. "This is the worst," one Twitter user wrote, "but it's a perhaps inevitable result of our owning dogs and controlling their lives." Carrie Jones, the manager of Chesterfield Animal Services, where Emma was located before the womans estate collected her for her death, expressed regret over the situation. We did suggest they could sign the dog over on numerous occasions, because its a dog we could easily find a home for and re-home, Miss Jones told WWBT. Ultimately, they came back in on March 22 and redeemed the dog. An independent investigation into a racist photograph on the yearbook page of Virginia governor Ralph Northam has ended with no conclusive findings. In February of this year, a photograph featured on Mr Northams 1984 yearbook page from East Virginia Medical School showed a man in blackface smiling next to presumably a man in a Ku Klux Klan outfit. Mr Northam initially appeared to take ownership of the photograph, saying he was deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now. It was never confirmed whether this statement referred to Mr Northam being in black face or in the KKK outfit. The day after releasing this statement, the governor released another statement retracting the admission, saying that it was definitely not me in the photograph. Now, nearly four months after the governors constituents demanded action for their governors past, an investigation conducted by McGuireWoods has failed to reach a definite conclusion on whether or not the governor appears in the photograph. Recommended Virginians split on fate of Governor Northam after blackface scandal In a 55-page report released Wednesday, McGuireWoods describes interviewing classmates, members of the 1984 yearbook staff, and employees of the factory that manufactured the yearbook. They also spoke to current students and officials at the medical school. With respect to the photograph on Governor Northams personal page, we could not conclusively determine the identity of either individual depicted in the Photograph, the report reads. The Governor himself has made inconsistent public statements in this regard. No individual that we interviewed has told us from personal knowledge that the Governor is in the Photograph, and no individual with knowledge has come forward to us to report that the Governor is in the Photograph. Blackface controversy in popular culture Show all 6 1 /6 Blackface controversy in popular culture Blackface controversy in popular culture Justin Trudeau Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau apologised after three images of him in blackface emerged, just weeks before the 2019 federal election AP Blackface controversy in popular culture Alitalia Obama Ad Italian airline Alitalia apologised after releasing a video featuring a white actor in blackface playing Barack Obama to promote their non-stop flight from Rome to Washington Blackface controversy in popular culture Katy Perry shoes The Katy Perry Collection pulled this design after it was noted that they resembled blackface. Perry said "I was saddened when it was brought to my attention that it was being compared to painful images reminiscent of blackface. Our intention was never to inflict any pain." Dillard's Blackface controversy in popular culture Prada collection In December, lawyer Chinyere Ezie spotted figurines in the Prada shop window in Soho, New York that bore a resemblance to racist depictions of black people, with dark skin and large, red lips and voiced her disgust over social media. Prada has since apologised. Chinyere Ezie / Facebook Blackface controversy in popular culture Gucci jumper This "balaclava jumper" was removed from sale after it was noted to resemble blackface. In a letter to Gucci employees, designer Alessandro Michele expressed the pain he felt that one of his creative projects was seen as an intolerable insult. Blackface controversy in popular culture Moncler Penguin French brand Moncler claims the golliwog-style face is really the face of collaborator Friends With You's character "Malfi the Penguin" The report also notes that it was unable to determine whether or not the photograph was placed on Mr Northams page by accident. Following the yearbook revelation, Virginias Attorney General Mark Herring apologised for wearing blackface in college. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events In the same timeframe, the states Lieutenant Governor, Justin Fairfax, was also accused of sexual assault by two women. He denied both claims. Mr Northam, Mr Herring, and Mr Fairfax all remain in office. A California teenager is facing jail for stealing a geriatric ring-tailed lemur during an overnight break-in at a zoo last year. Aquinas Kasbar, 19, reached a plea deal on Monday with federal prosecutors over his involvement in a July 2018 break-in at the Santa Ana Zoo. The teenager knew that it was a lemur and wanted to keep it as a pet, according to the plea agreement. He reportedly cut holes into the lemurs enclosure, as well as enclosures housing capuchin monkeys. The 32-year-old ring-tailed lemur named Isaac was later found unharmed in a plastic container outside a hotel. Mr Kasbar faces a maximum one year sentence in federal prison and a fine of up to $100,000 (78,700). Endangered and threatened species of Britain Show all 10 1 /10 Endangered and threatened species of Britain Endangered and threatened species of Britain Hedgehog In 1950 there were an estimated 36 million hedgehogs in the UK, there are now only one million Getty/iStock Endangered and threatened species of Britain Hazel dormouse The population of the hazel dormouse is thought to have declined by over one third since 2000. It is threatened by loss of habitat Getty Endangered and threatened species of Britain Red squirrel Famously ravaged by the North American grey squirrel, the red squirrel is nowadays very rare with a population of around 140,000 Getty Endangered and threatened species of Britain Mountain hare The population in Scotland stands at 1% of its 1950 level and only one colony remains in England in the Peak District Getty Endangered and threatened species of Britain Natterjack toad Threatened by the disappearance of their coastal habitats, the natterjack toad is now only found at a handful of site across the UK Getty Endangered and threatened species of Britain Water vole Once found across Britain, the water vole is no longer anywhere to be seen in 90% of waterways Getty Endangered and threatened species of Britain Turtle dove On the Red List of conservation concern, the turtle dove population has declined by 97% since 1970 Getty Endangered and threatened species of Britain Small tortoiseshell butterfly Amid a general decline in butterfly population since records began in the 1970s, the small tortoiseshell saw a 38% drop in population in 2018 Getty Endangered and threatened species of Britain Noble chafer beetle Classed as vulnerable, the noble chafer beetle became increasingly rare throughout the 20th century due to habitat loss. Members of the public are encouraged to report any sightings to the People's Trust for Endangered Species gbhone Endangered and threatened species of Britain Stag beetle Their population is not known but due to habitat loss and other threats they are a protected species. Members of the public are encouraged to report any sightings to the People's Trust for Endangered Species Getty The lemur was returned the next day. Other animals that were released throughout the break-in were also shortly recovered and remained unharmed. Mr Kasbar left a note outside of the front door at the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview the day after the break-in that was labelled SA Zoo. Recommended Venezuelan naturalist wins award for saving endangered parrot The note was placed above a crate with the animal and read: This belongs to the Santa Ana Zoo. It was taken last night. Please bring it to police. Another note also read: Lemur (with tracker). Mr Kasbar is reportedly facing an additional 29 felony counts and 32 total charges related to a series of burglaries in the California area, the Los Angeles Times reported. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Zoo officials have said the lemur is adapting normally and was unharmed, despite being placed in an unventilated box overnight. Lemurs are among some of the most endangered group of vertebrates on Earth. Beto ORourke has said he opposes Medicare for All because people struggling with illness in the US dont have time for such a healthcare system to be put in place. Addressing an audience at a CNN town hall in Iowa on Tuesday evening, Mr ORourke instead touted a less radical plan, dubbed Medicare for America, which would guarantee universal coverage but leave work-based private insurance for those who want it. It comes as the former Democratic Texas congressman attempts to revive an ailing 2020 presidential campaign, which in recent weeks has seen him fall beneath a raft of rivals in the race for his partys nomination. They dont have time for us to get to the perfect solution, Mr ORourke said after CNN host Dana Bash asked why he did not support Medicare for All, a national health insurance programme which would cover everyone in the US. If we were to start from scratch, maybe we would start with a single payer, but weve got to work with the system that we have here today. The surest, quickest way to get there is Medicare for America. It guarantees every single person in this country gets the care they need to live to their full potential and do those things they were placed on this planet to perform in the first place. While all the major Democratic 2020 candidates support increasing the publics access to healthcare, there is much disagreement about by how much and how to get there. The more ambitious Medicare for All is being touted by Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris, whereas Joe Biden, who currently leads the polls, supports an optional Medicare buy-in, a far less sweeping measure that would keep healthcare essentially structured as it is today. Mr O'Rourke's CNN appearance was well received by the audience, who frequently cheered his responses to questions. His aides will be hoping the appearance before a national audience will help breathe new life into a candidacy that has been struggling to gain traction. The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was 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 AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended 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 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: 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 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty In recent weeks, Mr O'Rourke has been languishing low down a second tier of Democratic candidates, with his poll numbers falling to between three and five per cent support among likely Democratic primary voters. He has largely focused on meeting voters in small events, a strategy that has so far had little success. In the past week he has stepped up national television appearances, with interviews on MSNBC, ABC's The View, and Tuesday night's CNN town hall. Mr O'Rourke rose to national prominence last year when he narrowly lost his bid to defeat Republican US senator Ted Cruz in Texas. Additional reporting by Reuters Elizabeth Warren is the only presidential candidate with a plan for comedian Ashley Nicole Black's love life. That's at least according to Black, who wrote on Twitter that she had a chat with the Democratic presidential candidate had called her up making good on a weekend tweet from Ms Warren offering to help. "Guess who's crying and shaking and just talked to Elizabeth Warren on the phone?!?!? We have a plan to get my mom grand kids, it's very comprehensive, and it does involve raising taxes on billionaires," Black wrote on Twitter, referencing Ms Warren's campaign mantra that she has a "plan for that". The phone call which the Warren campaign confirmed took place to The Independent follows after Black jokingly tweeted on Sunday about the dozens of policy proposals Ms Warren has released, and that have come to largely define her campaign. "Do you think Elizabeth Warren has a plan to fix my love life," Black tweeted then. The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was 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 AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended 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 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: 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 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty Ms Warren's account replied: "DM me and let's figure this out." Ms Warrens' campaign provided no details of what the phone call included. But Black, a comedian who has worked on Samantha Bee's "Full Frontal" television show, provided some context piecemeal in her replies. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events "I'm literally shaking," she wrote in response to one user. It's "like you're talking to someone super smart, who actually cares," she wrote in response to another user, who asked how it feels to speak with Ms Warren. "It was amazing." Finally, a hint at the advice: She said I've [got to] focus on what I've got going for me... that's when I started crying LOL". Republican Congressman Justin Amash said Tuesday that he wouldn't rule out challenging President Donald Trump as a third party candidate in the 2020 election. The Hill reported that prominent Libertarians have been attempting to recruit Amash since he garnered attention as the first Republican to publicly support impeachment hearings against the president in light of the Mueller report. When asked directly by The Hill whether he was considering running, Amash said it he been thinking about it, but he hadn't taken it off the table either. Im just focused on defending the constitution, its not something Ive thought about, Amash said. I dont take things off the table like that, but its not something at the forefront of my considerations right now, Im just focused on my job. I wouldnt take running for governor off the table or Senate or state house, I dont take things off the table. Were Amash to run, it could have significant implications in his home state of Michigan, which Donald trump held by only 11,000 votes in the 2016 election. Recommended Why Republican Justin Amash thinks Trump should be impeached There are a lot of Libertarian Party members actively encouraging Rep. Amash to switch parties and seek the Libertarian nomination, Nicholas Sarwark, the chairman of the Libertarian National Committee, told the Hill This is probably the most organised recruitment effort Ive seen going back to 2012 when people were trying to recruit Ron Paul. President Trump and other Republican leaders have taken aim at Amash lately. In a Tweet Trump called the congressman "a total lightweight who opposes me and some of our great Republican ideas and policies." In another Tweet, the president called him "a loser who sadly plays right into our opponents hands!" Independent Minds Events: get involved in the news agenda Amash, the son of Palestinian and Syrian immigrants has clashed with Trump on a variety of issues including the president's Travel Ban, which targeted middle eastern countries, as well as the border wall. He has expressed frustration with the Republican party as well, and criticised the state of what he's called the "Two-party Duopoly." The only challenger to Donald Trump on the right at the moment is former Massachusetts governor William Weld. However, Weld has seen little public support from other "never Trump" Republicans. Nevada has passed comprehensive legislation to remove a series of restrictive statewide abortion guidelines, defying a wave of newly-imposed limits and bans towards womens reproductive health across the country. The new measure, which passed 27-13 in the state Assembly on Tuesday, will overturn decades-old policies requiring physicians to determine a womans age and marital status prior to performing an abortion. Supplying medication to induce an abortion without prior advice from a doctor will also be decriminalized under the new bill. Women will also no longer have to be told about physical and emotional implications that could possibly result from having an abortion a policy critics have said was implemented to effectively deter women from ever receiving the procedure. While one of the nations most restrictive laws was passed recently in Alabama with only male politicians voting in favour of the bill Nevadas majority-female state legislature passed the measure mostly along party lines, according to NPR. When the rest of the country may feel hopeless, may feel bleak, they should look to Nevada as the shining beacon that we are for women's rights," Democratic Senator Yvanna Cancela reportedly said in a statement outside of the Nevada legislature prior to the vote being held. Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Show all 23 1 /23 Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions An abortion rights activist holds placards outside of the US Supreme Court before the Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Texas law placing a raft of restrictions on abortion clinics, handing a major victory to the "pro-choice" camp in the country's most important ruling on the divisive issue in a generation. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Pro-life activists pray on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Texas abortion provider Amy Hagstrom-Miller looks on as Nancy Northup, President of The Center for Reproductive Rights speaks to the media outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions An abortion rights activist holds placards outside of the US Supreme Court before the Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. The US Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Texas law placing a raft of restrictions on abortion clinics, handing a major victory to the "pro-choice" camp in the country's most important ruling on the divisive issue in a generation. Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Texas abortion provider Amy Hagstrom-Miller wipes a tear as she walks down the steps of the United States Supreme Court with Nancy Northup, President of The Center for Reproductive Rights on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Abortion rights activists Morgan Hopkins of Boston, left, and Alison Turkos of New York City, celebrate on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 27: Abortion rights activists Morgan Hopkins of Boston, left, and Alison Turkos of New York City, celebrate on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. (Photo by Pete Marovich/Getty Images) Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activist Morgan Hopkins of Boston, celebrates on the steps of the United States Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a 5-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to close. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists embrace after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of a ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. / AFP / MANDEL NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images) AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists embrace after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Pro-choice activist, Alissa Manzoeillo, of Washington, D.C. waits for rulings in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. A ruling is expected in Whole Woman's Health v. Hellerstedt, a Texas case the places restrictions on abortion clinics, as well as rulings in the former Virginia Governor's corruption case and a gun rights case. Pete Marovich/Getty Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists cheer after the US Supreme Court struck down a Texas law placing restrictions on abortion clinics, outside of the Supreme Court on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. In a case with far-reaching implications for millions of women across the United States, the court ruled 5-3 to strike down measures which activists say have forced more than half of Texas's abortion clinics to close. Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images Supreme Court strikes down abortion restrictions Abortion rights activists hold placards outside of the US Supreme Court ahead of an expected ruling on abortion clinic restrictions on June 27, 2016 in Washington, DC. AFP/Getty Images The easing of abortion restrictions in Nevada arrived as states like Alabama, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Kentucky, North Dakota and Mississippi have all passed opposite measures in recent years, with most of them going into effect in 2019. Georgias latest bill will ban abortions at the first detection of a heartbeat, which often occurs before many women even learn they are pregnant. Recommended Thousands protest abortion bans across America Alabamas recent law has sparked national outrage as it flew directly in the face of constitutional law and the Supreme Courts decision in Roe v Wade. The states conservative politicians understood that, effectively designing the law to yield challenges that could result in a case reaching the Supreme Court. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events To the bills many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every life is a sacred gift from God, Republican Governor Kay Ivey said in a statement while signing the bill on Wednesday. A new poll showed the vast majority of Americans support providing choice in women's reproductive health, with 82 per cent saying abortion should be legal in cases of rape an incest. That exception was not included in the Alabama law. That polling, released by Quinnipiac this week, includes 68 per cent of Republicans. More than $1.5bn (1.24bn) of border wall funding has produced a mere 1.7 miles of fencing along the nations southern border, a federal judge was told. US District Judge Haywood Gillam requested the information while considering requests by 20 state attorneys general and the environmental group Sierra Club to prevent Donald Trumps administration from using the funds to build the wall. Congress previously appropriated the total $1.57bn (1.24bn) to be used towards the presidents long-time campaign promise throughout the entirety of the 2018 fiscal year. An attorney representing the state attorneys general wrote in a court filing it appears that [Customs and Border Protection] has now constructed 1.7 miles of fencing with its fiscal year 2018 funding. The new figures from the border which show that less than a mile of construction has been done since the administration last reported in late February caused Mr Trump to lash out on Twitter at the haters and defend his vow to build a wall sprawling the entirety of the US-Mexico border. Much of the Wall being built at the Southern Border is a complete demolition and rebuilding of old and worthless barriers with a brand new Wall and footings, the president wrote on Wednesday morning in a series of tweets. Problem is, the Haters say that is not a new Wall, but rather a renovation. Wrong, and we must build where most needed. He added: Also, tremendous work is being done on pure renovation - fixing existing Walls that are in bad condition and ineffective, and bringing them to a very high standard! The motion filed by 20 states decried Mr Trumps decision to circumvent Congress and pull federal funds by invoking a national emergency declaration, with attorneys general describing the move as an abuse of power. 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 in a statement when the motion was filed in April. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The motion followed a lawsuit filed in February against the presidents national emergency declaration. The federal judge was provided the latest information on the border wall funding and construction during a 17 May hearing. Pruitt was hired as Garys school leader in 2012. Lawmakers placed the district under state control in August 2017. She left Gary in February 2018 and now is CEO at Chicago Virtual Charter School. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has called on Democrats to begin impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump. Citing the White House's continued obstruction of oversight efforts by Congress, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said the US president's actions made such a move "entirely appropriate". The influential Democratic congresswoman's intervention piles pressure on House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has so far resisted calls for Democrats to launch impeachment proceedings. Ms Pelosi instead backs continued investigations of Mr Trump and his administration by numerous congressional panels. But more Democrats are openly discussing impeachment, and liberals like Ms Ocasio-Cortez, a leader of the progressive left since she beat an established Democrat in a surprise primary upset last year, are stepping up the pressure. "I think it's time for us to, at the very least, open an impeachment inquiry ... we've been given no choice I think, in this scenario," Ms Ocasio-Cortez said outside the House of Representatives. She said the Mueller report on Russian meddling in the 2016 campaign had described evidence of obstruction of the investigation by the executive branch, adding that the report had pointed directly to Congress as the body to take action. The report by special counsel Robert Mueller stopped short of declaring the president obstructed justice, but it also refused to exonerate him. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez takes Gilead CEO to task over price of HIV drug Truvada "We now have the president actively discouraging witnesses from coming in to answer a legally binding subpoena from Congress," Ms Ocasio-Cortez added. Former White House counsel Don McGahn on Tuesday defied a subpoena from the House judiciary committee, at the White House's request. "It's getting to the point where we can't even do our own jobs. And I think it is entirely appropriate, given this overwhelming amount of evidence and the continued actions from the executive branch, that we exert our power as a co-equal branch of government," Ms Ocasio-Cortez said. She said she was not sure whether impeachment advocates were a majority of the Democrats in the House, but "I personally have not felt a very strong opposition to impeachment". Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez greets fellow lawmakers ahead of the State of the Union address Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez participates in an event with Democratic members of Congress EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures The Democrat senator speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol January 30, 2019 Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and fellow Democrat Rashida Tlaib AP Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at the Senate chamber to watch two votes on January 24, 2019 Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez arrives with Chellie Pingree at a House Democratic Caucus meeting Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez during Donald Trump's State of the Union address Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures New York State Assembly member Catalina Cruz with Ocasio-Cortez AFP/Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Nydia Velazquez talks with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez casts her vote for Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez poses with a campaign worker during a whistle stop in the Queens borough of New York Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez outside the US Capitol AFP/Getty Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio-Cortez after casting her ballot in the 2018 midterm general election at a polling site in New York EPA Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez looks on during a march organised by the Women's March Alliance in Manhattan Reuters Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - the Democratic congresswoman in pictures Ocasio Cortez looks on at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 16, 2019 AFP/Getty Another Democratic politician, representative John Yarmuth, said on Tuesday he believed Ms Pelosi realises events were trending in the direction of impeachment, even as the Democratic leader argues for continued focus on House investigations of the Trump administration. Ms Pelosi listened as advocates of impeachment spoke at a Monday night meeting with senior Democrats, Mr Yarmuth said. "I think she realises that the path is leading more and more inevitably toward an impeachment process. But she wants to let all these committees do their thing," Mr Yarmuth said outside the House. Additional reporting by Reuters A senior Democrat in the House has suggested increasing numbers of his colleagues expect Donald Trump to be impeached. Many in the party have resisted calls for proceedings to be initiated, with many suggesting that doing so would aid the president's repeated and unsubstantiated claims that he is the victim of a "deep state" conspiracy. But John Yarmuth, chairman of the House budget committee, said: I think what we have is we have a situation in which I think a growing majority of our caucus believes that impeachment is going to be inevitable. Speaking to CNN, he continued: "But they also believe that we need to pursue the investigations that are going on to make sure that certain conduct of the administration and the president that they need to be held accountable for is discovered" The comment comes as Democrats have become increasingly frustrated with the White House, which on Tuesday instructed former White House counsel Don McGahn to defy a congressional subpoena to give evidence. In response, top Democrats threatened further action and then issued two more subpoenas for two top former White House aides. Mr McGahn was a key witness in the investigation conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller, who looked into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. His testimony to that investigation indicated Mr Trump repeatedly asked him and others to subvert or end the investigation. 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 Mr Yarmuth is far from the only Democrat in the House who has acknowledged that impeachment is a popular idea among those in his party. House whip James Clyburn told the same CNN programme: The vast majority [of House Democrats] would, in fact, support impeachment just not now. "The issue now is whether or not that is something that should be done today or tomorrow, or whether or not we go through a process by which we build a foundation upon which to successfully impeach the president. So thats where we are. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events It comes after influential Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Donald Trump was "entirely appropriate". A confidential Internal Revenue Service (IRS) legal memo says tax returns must be given to Congress unless the president takes the rare step of asserting executive privilege, according to a copy of the memo obtained by The Washington Post. The memo contradicts the Trump administrations justification for denying lawmakers request for President Donald Trumps tax returns, exposing fissures in the executive branch. Mr Trump has refused to turn over his tax returns but has not invoked executive privilege. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has instead denied the returns by arguing there is no legislative purpose for demanding them. But, according to the IRS memo, which has not been previously reported, the disclosure of tax returns to the committee is mandatory, requiring the Secretary to disclose returns, and return information, requested by the tax-writing Chairs. Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies Show all 7 1 /7 Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies Doctors and mothers killing babies At a rally in Wisconsin in April 2019, Mr Trump made this extraordinary claim. The baby is born, the mother meets with the doctor, they take care of the baby, Mr Trump said. They wrap the baby beautifully and then the doctor and the mother decide whether they will execute the baby Getty Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies "China rapes our country" At a rally in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2016, Mr Trump said this in reference to the US trade deficit with China: "we cant continue to allow China to rape our country and thats what theyre doing. Its the greatest theft in the history of the world" Getty Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies "EU formed to take advantage of US" At a rally for the midterm elections in October 2018, Mr Trump called the EU a "brutal" alliance that "formed to take advantage of us" AFP/Getty Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies "I will build a wall and Mexico will pay for it" Mr Trump first made this claim at the launch of his presidential campaign back in 2015: "I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will have Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words" AFP/Getty Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies "Horrible, horrendous people" At a Republican rally in Pennsylvania on August 3 2018, President Trump deemed all journalists in attendance "horrible, horrendous people". He later denounced the "fake, fake, disgusting news" for falsely reporting that he was late to his meeting with the Queen when visiting Britain AFP/Getty Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody" Mr Trump said this in reference to his popularity during a rally in Iowa in 2016 AFP/Getty Most shocking remarks made by Trump at campaign rallies "I wish I could punch him" Mr Trump said this in reference to a protester who was escorted out of his rally in Las Vegas on 22 February, 2016. There was often violence between protesters and supporters at Trump's campaign rallies AFP/Getty The 10-page document says the law does not allow the Secretary to exercise discretion in disclosing the information provided the statutory conditions are met and directly rejects the reason that Mr Mnuchin has cited for withholding the information. [T]he Secretarys obligation to disclose return and return information would not be affected by the failure of a tax writing committee ... to state a reason for the request, it says. It adds that the only basis the agencys refusal to comply with a committees subpoena would be the invocation of the doctrine of executive privilege. The memo is the first sign of potential dissent within the administration over its approach to the tax returns issue. The IRS said the memo, titled Congressional Access to Returns and Return Information, was a draft document authored by a lawyer in the Office of Chief Counsel and did not represent the agencys official position. The memo is stamped DRAFT, it is not signed, and it doesnt reference Mr Trump. The agency says the memo was prepared last fall. At the time, Democrats were making clear they would likely seek copies of President Trumps tax returns under a 1924 law that states that the IRS shall turn over tax returns to Congress. Precisely who wrote the memo and reviewed it could not be learned. The agency says IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and current chief counsel Michael Desmond, who took over in February, were not familiar with it until a Washington Post inquiry this week. The IRS says it was never forwarded to Treasury. Executive privilege is generally defined as the presidents ability to deny requests for information about internal administration talks and deliberations. On Friday, Mr Mnuchin rejected a subpoena from the House Ways and Means Committee to turn over the tax returns, a move that will now likely lead to a court battle. Mr Mnuchin has criticised the demands as harassment that could be directed against any political enemy, arguing Congress lacks a legitimate legislative purpose in seeking the documents. Breaking with precedent, Mr Trump has refused to provide tax returns, saying without evidence they are under audit. Mr Mnuchin and other senior staff members never reviewed the IRS memo, according to a Treasury spokesman. Donald Trump 'will never release tax returns' claims White House official Mick Mulvaney But the spokesman said it did not undermine the departments argument that handing over the presidents tax returns would run afoul of the Constitutions mandate that information given to Congress must pertain to legislative issues. The spokesman said the secretary is following a legal analysis from the Justice Department that he may not produce the requested private tax return information. Both agencies have denied requests for copies of the Justice Departments advice to Treasury. Some legal experts said the memo provides further evidence that the Trump administration is using shaky legal foundations to withhold the tax returns. The memo is clear in its interpretation of the law that the IRS shall furnish this information, said William Lowrance, who served for about two decades as an attorney in the IRS chief counsels office and reviewed the memo at the request of The Washington Post. Daniel Hemel, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School who also reviewed the memo, said the document suggests a split over Mr Trumps returns between career staffers at the IRS and political appointees at that agency and the Treasury Department. The memo writers interpretation is that the IRS has no wiggle room on this, Mr Hemel said. Mnuchin is saying the House Ways and Means Committee has not asserted a legitimate legislative purpose. The memo says they dont have to assert a legitimate legislative purpose or any purpose at all. The administration has resisted a range of House inquiries, although a federal judge on Monday ruled the presidents accounting firm must turn over his financial records to Congress. Treasury Department officials said there had been extensive discussions about the tax return issue, with one official saying the issue put the agency in a difficult spot because President Trump has pre-determined the outcome and Mr Mnuchin is a Trump ally who was the finance chair of his 2016 campaign. The decision has been made, this official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Now its up to us to try to justify it. Mr Trump has told advisers he will battle the issue to the Supreme Court, according to people familiar with the matter. President Trump recently has argued that the tax returns were an issue in the 2016 election, but he won anyway so they should no longer be an issue. Last week, Mr Mnuchin told a Senate panel that Treasury Department lawyers held an early discussion about disclosing the tax returns long before Democrats officially demanded the documents in April. He did not reveal details of that deliberation or say what, if any, legal memos he had reviewed. 'Hey president Trump, my wife and I just released 10 years!': Bernie Sanders calls on Donald Trump to reveal tax returns Some legal experts have held that the law is clear in giving Congress the power to compel the provision of the returns. But other former government lawyers, including two who served in the Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush administrations, have argued that the law is unconstitutional and could lead to widespread abuses of taxpayer privacy for political aims. The IRS memo describes how and why Congress has the authority to access tax returns, explaining the origin of the provision and how it has been interpreted over the decades. It highlights the special powers given to three committees for compelling tax returns: the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation. Other congressional committees, the memo emphasises, do not have the same authority to compel returns. When it comes to the Ways and Means Committee, the obligation to divulge the returns would not be affected by the failure to give a reason for the request. By contrast, other committees must include a purpose for their request for returns and return information when seeking access, the memo states. One potential basis for refusing the returns, the memo states, would be if the administration invoked the doctrine of executive privilege. But the IRS memo notes that executive privilege is most often invoked to protect information, such as opinions and recommendations, submitted as part of formulating policies and decisions. It even says the law might be read to preclude a claim of executive privilege, meaning the law could be interpreted as saying executive privilege cannot be invoked to deny a subpoena. Earlier this month, the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS) published a review of Section 6103 that found the code evinces no substantive limitations on the Ways and Means Committees authority to receive the tax returns. But, the CRS report added, the committees authority arguably is subject to the same legal limitations that generally attach to Congress use of other compulsory investigative tools, including the need to serve some legislative purpose and not breach constitutional rights. The Washington Post Accusations that officers refused to investigate the alleged rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl have led to a police chief being suspended in Pakistan. The child vanished after leaving her home in the neighbourhood of Shahzad Town, in the capital Islamabad last week. Her body was discovered in a nearby forest on Monday, five days after she disappeared. The killing sparked huge protests in the city with many, including the girl's family, claiming the police did not act quickly enough. Originally from the Pashtun minority Mohmand region bordering Afghanistan, her family refused to bury her body until a post-mortem examination was carried out, the Pakistan Today newspaper reported. Rape and murder of 10-year-old girl sparks protests in Pakistan Show all 5 1 /5 Rape and murder of 10-year-old girl sparks protests in Pakistan Rape and murder of 10-year-old girl sparks protests in Pakistan People rally to protest against the murder and alleged rape of a 10-year-old girl, Farishta, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on 21 May 2019. EPA/ARSHAD ARBAB Rape and murder of 10-year-old girl sparks protests in Pakistan EPA/ARSHAD ARBAB Rape and murder of 10-year-old girl sparks protests in Pakistan EPA/ARSHAD ARBAB Rape and murder of 10-year-old girl sparks protests in Pakistan AP/Anjum Naveed Rape and murder of 10-year-old girl sparks protests in Pakistan EPA/ARSHAD ARBAB Officer Mohammad Imran said police chief Mohammad Abbas was suspended for failing to act promptly in the case and an investigation has been launched. Two suspects have also been arrested in connection with the investigation into the girl's death. Crimes against children are common in Pakistan and often go unpunished. In October, authorities executed a man convicted of killing eight children, including six-year-old Zainab Ansari, whose murder attracted media coverage worldwide. Associated Press contributed to this report The Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte won a convincing victory in midterm elections that were seen as a referendum on his controversial administration, official results show. Announcing the tally of results that was delayed by glitches in the automated counting machines, election officials said the winners included nine candidates backed by Mr Duterte for the 12 Senate seats up for grabs. The other three went to independents. Only half the upper houses 24 seats were being contested at this election, alongside positions for a total of 18,000 mayors, governors and local officials. But the results give Mr Duterte an effective majority in the Senate, and tighten his grip on a country where he faces allegations of authoritarianism, sexism and widespread human rights violations. The successful Senate candidates include Mr Dutertes former national police chief, Ronald dela Rosa, who enforced the president's crackdown on illegal drugs in a campaign that left thousands of suspects dead and drew international condemnation. Mr Duterte's three children also won races for mayor, vice mayor and a congressional seat representing their southern home region of Davao city. It sets up the possibility of a family succession when the president reaches the end of his single, six-year term as stipulated by the Philippine constitution. With the president also in control of the lower House of Representatives, the Senate has so far been the most important check on his power, moving to block a number of more controversial measures. Analysts expect Mr Duterte to use his control of both chambers to push ahead with plans that include massive infrastructure spending, the return of the death penalty and potentially even re-drafting the constitution to set up a federal style of government. When asked about concerns that the new Senate would be beholden to Mr Duterte, Senator-elect Bong Go, a longtime aide to the president, said: Do I look like a rubber stamp? He nonetheless stressed he would back the president's war against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs and would support a bill to reimpose the death penalty for heinous crimes and drug trafficking. Mr Go said Duterte has not given any illegal orders to him or anyone he supervised. During the campaign, Mr Go said he felt Filipinos were not ready yet to support a shift to a federal form of government partly because of a lack of adequate information campaign about its benefits. "It's a longshot and it'll be difficult for us to work for the approval of federalism at this time," he said. Mr dela Rosa, in a separate news conference, said: "My no 1 agenda is the reimposition of the death penalty for drug trafficking," adding the drug menace remains troubling despite Mr Duterte's crackdown. As much as they are a boon to Mr Duterte, the midterm results are a significant blow to the opposition, which campaigned on a liberal message but was beset by lack of funding and other campaign issues. The opposition failed to take a single one of the contested Senate seats, meaning they now hold just four in total. Election officials said nearly 75 per cent of more than 63 million registered Filipinos cast their votes in a strong turnout at the 13 May elections. Additional reporting by agencies The risk of conflict involving nuclear weapons is at its highest since the Second World War, a senior United Nations (UN) security expert has warned. Renata Dwan, director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, told reporters in Geneva the arms control landscape is changing, partly due to strategic competition between the US and China. "I think that it's genuinely a call to recognise - and this has been somewhat missing in the media coverage of the issues - that the risks of nuclear war are particularly high now, and the risks of the use of nuclear weapons, for some of the factors I pointed out, are higher now than at any time since World War Two," she said. Calling it an "urgent" issue the world should take more seriously, Ms Dwan said all states with nuclear weapons have nuclear modernisation programmes under way. Traditional arms control arrangements are also being eroded by the emergence of new types of war, with increasing prevalence of armed groups and private sector forces and new technologies that blur the line between offence and defence, she said. Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures Show all 9 1 /9 Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures The floating nuclear power plant, the 'Akademik Lomonosov', is towed out of the St. Petersburg shipyard. AP Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures Workers on the nuclear atomic icebreaker "Arktika" operated by Rosatomflot watch the floating nuclear power plant "Akademik Lomonosov" being towed . Reuters Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures The 'Akademik Lomonosov', the first in a series of floating nuclear plants planned, will be fuelled, tested and in 2019 towed 5,000 kilometres through the Northern Sea Route and put to use near Pevek, in the Chukotka Region. EPA Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures The Akademik Lomonosov is to be loaded with nuclear fuel in Murmansk. AP Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures The floating nuclear power plant. AP Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures Fishermen sail on a boat past the floating nuclear power plant "Akademik Lomonosov". Reuters Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures The floating nuclear power plant, the 'Akademik Lomonosov'. AP Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures The plant, owned and operated by Russian state controlled nuclear giant Rosatom, will pass through Estonian, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian waters towards Murmansk. EPA Russia's floating 'nuclear Titanic': in pictures The floating nuclear power plant "Akademik Lomonosov" Reuters With disarmament talks deadlocked for the past two decades, 122 countries have signed a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, partly out of frustration and partly out of a recognition of the risks, she added. The nuclear ban treaty, officially called the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, was backed by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017. The treaty has so far gathered 23 of the 50 ratifications that it needs to come into force, including South Africa, Austria, Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico. It is strongly opposed by the US, Russia, and other states with nuclear arms. The Federation of American Scientists has estimated there are currently 15,375 nuclear warheads held by eight countries (Federation of American Scientists) Cuba also ratified the treaty in 2018, 56 years after the Cuban missile crisis, a 13-day Cold War face-off between Moscow and Washington that marked the closest the world had ever come to nuclear war. Ms Dwan said the world should not ignore the danger of nuclear weapons. "How we think about that, and how we act on that risk and the management of that risk, seems to me a pretty significant and urgent question that isn't reflected fully in the (UN) Security Council," she said. Just two days into his new job, Volodymr Zelensky has suffered a heavy defeat in parliament, with legislators voting against his plans to hold snap elections. The 226-92 split looks to set the tone for an ongoing conflict between the new president and the Supreme Rada in the weeks to come. In his inauguration speech on Monday, Mr Zelensky announced that he would be dissolving parliament to hold snap elections in July. Few had expected such a bold move so early, especially since there was at the very least a legal argument to be had over whether he had the powers to do so. On Wednesday, the new president upped the ante, proposing fundamental changes to electoral law. In a draft bill that was defeated before it reached the floor, Mr Zelensky suggested reducing the voting threshold and removing first-past-the-post voting. (Ukraine has a mixed first-past-the-post and proportional voting system.) Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Show all 26 1 /26 Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Volodymyr Zelenskiy, centre right, and his wife Olena Zelenska, greet supporters after exit polling gave the comedian a commanding lead AP Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Outgoing Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko raises his hand with his wife Maryna at his party headquarters in Kiev AFP/Getty Images Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy reacts following the announcement of the first exit poll REUTERS Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Comedian and leading Ukrainian presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelenskiy plays ping pong with a journalist at his election night gathering in Kiev, Ukraine. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in a second-round election on April 21 Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Election officials count ballots at a polling station in Kiev during the first round of Ukraine's presidential election, AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures People walk in front of St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev during Ukraine's presidential election AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian servicemen sit in a truck to head to a polling station, near the front line with pro-Russian separatists, near Butivka, Donetsk region AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian citizens living in Kyrgyzstan vote in Ukraine's presidential election at a polling station in the Ukrainian embassy in Bishke AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian citizens living in Kyrgyzstan vote in Ukraine's presidential election at a polling station in the Ukrainian embassy in Bishkek AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian citizens living in Kyrgyzstan vote in Ukraine's presidential election at a polling station in the Ukrainian embassy in Bishkek AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian citizens living in Kyrgyzstan vote in Ukraine's presidential election at a polling station in the Ukrainian embassy in Bishkek AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures A young girl casts the ballot of a man at a polling station in Kiev on the first round of Ukraine's presidential election, on. Exit polls are expected when voting stations close at 8 pm local time (1700 GMT). First preliminary results are expected several hours after. Barring a shock result in which one candidate crosses the 50 percent threshold in the first round, a run-off will be held on April 2 AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian comic actor, showman and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky waves in front of voting booths at a polling station during Ukraine's presidential election in Kiev AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Former Ukrainian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko speaks with the media after casting her ballot at a polling station during Ukraine's presidential election in Kiev AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Former Ukrainian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko speaks with the media after casting her ballot at a polling station during Ukraine's presidential election in Kiev AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Former Ukrainian Prime Minister and presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko speaks with the media after casting her ballot at a polling station during Ukraine's presidential election in Kiev AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian comic actor, showman and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky casts his ballot at a polling station during Ukraine's presidential election in Kiev AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian comic actor, showman and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky gestures in front of voting booths at a polling station during Ukraine's presidential election in Kiev AFP/Getty Images Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian comic actor, showman and presidential candidate Volodymyr Zelensky walks with his ballot at a polling station during Ukraine's presidential election in Kiev AFP/Getty Images Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures A view of the building of the Ukrainian Central Election Commission in Kiev during Ukraine's presidential election. AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko (L) casts his ballot at a polling station in Kiev on the first round of Ukraine's presidential election, The 53-year-old president has positioned himself during the political campaign as the only person able to stand up to the Kremlin and has promised to return Crimea to Ukraine if he is re-elected. AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures A voter emerges from the voting booth after filling out her ballot for Ukraine's presidential election in Kiev, Ukraine. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in a second-round election on April 21. Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian president Petro O. Poroshenko (C), running for re-election, receives his ballot in Ukraine's presidential election on in Kiev, Ukraine. If no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two vote-getters will face off in a second-round election on April 21 Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures A woman holds her ballot as she leaves a voting booth at a polling station in Kiev on the first round of Ukraine's presidential election. - Exit polls are expected when voting stations close at 8 pm local time (1700 GMT). First preliminary results are expected several hours after. Barring a shock result in which one candidate crosses the 50 percent threshold in the first round, a run-off will be held on April 21 AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures A young girl casts the ballot of a man at a polling station in Kiev on the first round of Ukraine's presidential election. Exit polls are expected when voting stations close at 8 pm local time (1700 GMT). First preliminary results are expected several hours after. Barring a shock result in which one candidate crosses the 50 percent threshold in the first round, a run-off will be held on April 21 AFP/Getty Ukraine Elections 2019 in pictures Ukrainian servicemen queue to cast their ballots at a polling station near the front line line with pro-Russian separatists near Avdiivka, Donetsk region, during the first round of Ukraine's presidential election AFP/Getty Team Zelensky said the move was designed to encourage smaller parties into parliament. Critics wondered whether it was not more about driving home his numerical advantage. In Wednesdays extraordinary parliament session, called to discuss the draft legislation, speaker Andriy Paruby condemned Mr Zelenskys "worrying" plans. He also said that his intention to disband parliament ran contrary to the constitution, and would be appealed. In earlier comments on Facebook, he said that Mr Zelensky's first moves were a "bad sign:" It is sad and worrying that the guarantor of the constitution has begun his job with such a gross violation of the constitution." While Mr Paruby is closely associated with the outgoing administration, criticism came from less tribal quarters too. The head of the Central Election Committee Tatyana Slipachuk, for example, said that changing election law less than 12 months away from an election was bad practice. Moreover, it was explicitly discouraged by the OSCE. But with the public and political momentum on his side, it seems unlikely that Mr Zelensky will be denied his wish to call elections in July. However todays hitch means it is probable those elections will now take place under old rules, i.e. a mixed system. Mr Zelenskys new representative in parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said the former showman would not be discouraged by the setback. We have a few plans, but they depended on what reaction wed get from the Supreme Rada, he said. We got our reaction, and will build our tactics according to plans A, B or C, which we have ready. Children of foreign Isis fighters being held in Syrian camps are among the worlds most vulnerable and should be returned to their countries of origin, according to the United Nations. Some 29,000 foreign children are languishing in squalid camps in Syria, while the countries their parents came from are refusing to bring them home. Among that number are more than 30 British children who emerged with their parents from the Isis caliphate in its dying days. Last month, France repatriated five young children from camps in northern Syria, which are home to tens of thousands of Isis families. But the British government has so far refused to repatriate any of its citizens who went to join Isis, citing security fears. Separating the children from their parents would also raise legal questions. The thousands of children of foreign fighters languishing in camps, detention centres or orphanages in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere are among the worlds most vulnerable children. They live in appalling conditions amid constant threats to their health, safety and wellbeing, said a statement from Henrietta Fore, Unicefs executive director. These children are doubly rejected stigmatised by their communities and shunned by their governments. They face massive legal, logistical and political challenges in accessing basic services or returning to their countries of origin, she added. Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Show all 14 1 /14 Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Trucks full of women and children arrive from the last Isis-held areas in Deir ez-Zor, Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Zikia Ibrahim, 28, with her two-year-old son and 8-month-old daughter, after fleeing the Isis caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Men who fled the last Isis-held area of Syria line up to be questioned by American and Kurdish intelligence officials Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate A young girl pulls her belongings after arriving Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate An SDF fighter hands out bread to women and children after they arrive Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Sita Ghazzar, 70, after fleeing from the last Isis-held territory in Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate A family from Russia who recently fled the last Isis-held area of Syria Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Syria at war: Fleeing the caliphate Richard Hall/The Independent Most of the 29,000 foreign children stuck in the camps are under the age of 12, according to Unicef. Some 20,000 are from Iraq while more than 9,000 are from around 60 other countries. Unicef is now calling on UN member states whose children are stranded in Syria to prevent them from becoming stateless and support their safe, dignified and voluntary return and reintegration to their countries of origin. Ms Fore said: These children must be treated primarily as victims, not perpetrators. Every decision regarding them, including on repatriation, must take into consideration the best interest of each child and be in full compliance with international legal standards. The plight of British children stuck in Syria made the headlines earlier this year when the infant child of Shamima Begum, named Jarrah, died in one of the camps. The British teenager fled her home in Bethnal Green to join Isis in Syria in 2015. In the caliphates final days, thousands of women and children fled the last Isis stronghold in Baghouz, eastern Syria. Ms Begum arrived heavily pregnant at the al-Hol camp in early February, after leaving the last-held areas under the terror groups control. She gave birth to her son there shortly after, having already lost two children. Labours shadow home secretary, Diane Abbott, blamed the death on the callous decision to strip Ms Begum of her citizenship. It is against international law to make someone stateless, and now an innocent child has died as a result of a British woman being stripped of her citizenship, Ms Abbott said. Hundreds of children have died at the camp or on the way to it since December, according to the UN, most of malnutrition or disease. Responding to a query from The Independent on the status of British children, a UK government spokesperson said last month: The government does not have a consular presence within Syria from which to provide consular assistance. The Foreign Office advises against all travel to Syria, and that British nationals should leave by any practical means. We will not put British officials lives at risk to assist those who have left the UK to join a proscribed terrorist organisation. If a British child who has been in Syria is able to seek consular assistance outside of Syria, then we would work with local and UK authorities to facilitate their return if requested. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed an urgent call from former security and intelligence officials to halt the unilateral annexation of the West Bank, saying the occupied Palestinian territory is the heritage of our forefathers. Over 200 Israeli former army, security, police and intelligence officials, who are part of non-partisan movement Commanders for Israels Security (CIS) sent a letter to the premier warning that such an action would endanger Israel and damage its economic, regional and international standing. In the run-up to last months general election, Mr Netanyahu, who secured a record fifth term in office, promised his right-wing supporters he would annex Jewish settlements within the West Bank. He also said he would prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. CIS, which supports a two-state solution, said that even imposing sovereignty over parts of the West Bank would lead to the entire territory being annexed, meaning nearly 3 million Palestinians would be absorbed into Israel. They said this would paralyse the Palestinian Authority, leaving a security vacuum for armed terror groups. It would also place a massive financial burden on Israel. Annexation is illegal under international law. Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Show all 7 1 /7 Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights An Israeli soldier stands next to signs pointing out distances to different cities on Mount Bental, an observation post in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Druze people take part in a rally in Majdal Shams near the ceasefire line between Israel and Syria Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Israeli Druzes sit together watching the Syrian side of the Israel-Syria border on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights Reuters Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A European member of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on October 19, 1973 shows Israeli Defence Minister General Moshe Dayan (R) looking towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights, four days after the beginning of the Yom Kippur War AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights A file photo taken on the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights on September 5, 2014 shows members of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force Zone (UNDOF) using binoculars to look towards the Syrian side of the Golan Heights AFP/Getty Trump backs Israels annexation of Golan Heights Members of the United Nations peacekeepers standing on a watch tower during a visit by the Israeli Defence Minister in 2018 AFP/Getty A decision by the Knesset to pass legislation for annexation, however partial, can only be interpreted in the territories, the region and the world as a national decision to slam the door on any future arrangement, the officials claimed. It is not possible to assess whether the Palestinian response to the collapse of hope for an agreement will be violent, they added. Mr Netanyahu hit back, saying the West Bank was not just a guarantee for Israels security, it is also the inheritance of our forefathers signalling he would push through with his election promise. He added: These experts supported the nuclear agreement with Iran and warned: Bibi [Netanyahu] is making a mistake in navigation and is destroying the alliance with the US. Mr Netanyahu was joined by a chorus of members of his right-wing Likud party. According to The Times of Israel, public security minister Gilad Erdan also dismissed the CIS letter, saying that applying Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank was a natural and moral step. Were tired of hearing time and again of former senior defence officials using the ranks on their shoulders to push their political viewpoints, he said in a statement. Tell the public the truth: you are leftists who oppose our presence in Judea and Samaria, he added, using the biblical term for the West Bank. And dont hide behind such doomsayings. Parliamentarian Tzipi Hotovely from Likud said that the majority of Israelis favour sovereignty. Mr Netanyahus comments do not bode well for a peace plan that the United States has vowed to roll out next month, during a two-day economic conference in Bahrain. On Sunday, Washington and Manama announced the joint Peace to prosperity economic workshop, which the White House said will focus on achieving a prosperous future for the Palestinian people and the region. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE have said they will participate, the conference has been rebuffed by Palestinian officials and business leaders who said the US was offering them the choice of securing political rights or economic rights. The Palestinians cut diplomatic ties with the US in 2017 after President Trump announced he would recognise the contested city of Jerusalem as Israels capital. Mr Trump later sparked further anger when he severed all funds to the United Nations Palestinian refugee agency and slashed other Palestinian aid. Mohamed Shtayyeh, the Palestinian prime minister, said at a cabinet meeting this week that Palestines economic crisis was a result of a financial war waged against them and they would not trade [their] national rights for money at the conference. Any solution to the conflict in Palestine must be political ... and based on ending the occupation, he added. In a rare agreement between Palestinian rivals, Hamas, the militant group which runs Gaza, also called for an Arab boycott. Hamas hopes Bahrain and its noble people will reject their soil being defiled, said a statement by the militant group. Protests held outside Eurovision Tel Aviv's Expo centre It comes just a few weeks after Israel and Gaza appeared to be on the brink of another war, during one of the most ferocious exchanges of cross border fire since the 2014 war. A tense Egyptian-brokered ceasefire deal remains in place. A man was forcibly removed from a plane after locking himself in the toilets just before landing and refusing to come out. Kieran Crowley, 44, was arrested on arrival when the easyJet flight from Faro, Portugal landed at Gatwick airport. By the time cabin crew managed to get him back in his seat, the landing had to be aborted as they had failed to secure the cabin, adding 40 minutes to the journey by the time the aircraft had landed, taxied and waited on the runway for police to arrive. Crowley was quiet for most of the flight, according to fellow passengers, only becoming disruptive when the fasten seatbelt signs came on. The Londoner demanded to go to the toilet and pushed past crew to lock himself in the cubicle for 10 minutes. The most expensive cities in the world Show all 11 1 /11 The most expensive cities in the world The most expensive cities in the world 10. Los Angeles Getty The most expensive cities in the world 10. Tel Aviv Getty The most expensive cities in the world 7. New York Getty The most expensive cities in the world 7. Copenhagen Getty The most expensive cities in the world 7. Seoul Getty The most expensive cities in the world 5. Osaka Getty The most expensive cities in the world 5. Geneva Getty The most expensive cities in the world 4. Zurich Getty The most expensive cities in the world 1. Hong Kong Getty The most expensive cities in the world 1. Paris Getty The most expensive cities in the world 1. Singapore Getty Flight attendants knocked on the door every few minutes or so and asked him to take his seat, before finally unlocking the door, at which point onlookers report he became angry. Fellow passenger Tom Porter, 24, told the Daily Mail that Crowley was this angry, wild animal, and didnt want taming and said he started swearing at anyone who looked at him, telling them to die. The whole episode was shocking, and not what you want to see, added Porter. Recommended Brawl erupts on Wizz Air plane after drunk tourist refuses to sit down When Crowley heard the pilot announce that police were on their way, he reportedly tried to lock himself in the toilet again, but was blocked by a member of cabin crew. Video of the incident shows police officers having to restrain Crowley and drag him off the aircraft after he refused to comply. Applause and cheers from passengers can be heard as he was removed. Crowley was charged with using abusive and threatening language and behaviour that was racially aggravated, according to Sussex police. He was also charged with two counts of assault on an emergency worker (two police officers) and assault on an emergency worker (a police officer) in the exercise of their duty. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events EasyJet confirmed the incident took place onboard flight EZY8926 and said in a statement: While such incidents are rare we take them very seriously, do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard and always push for prosecution. EasyJets cabin crew are trained to assess and evaluate all situations and to act quickly and appropriately to ensure that the safety of the flight and other passengers is not compromised at any time. Safety is always easyJets highest priority. Crowley has been released on bail and is due to appear before Crawley Magistrates Court on 19 June. I saw the Pipeworks Brewing Co. guys were opening in the Chicago neighborhood I grew up in and wanted to support them any way I could. Thats when I started volunteering to help get their business off the ground. My background is rather unusual. In 2014, I went from group homes to a town of wealthy individuals when I moved in with my great aunt Joan, the woman I call my mother, at 16. Coming from bars on the window, I went to a private high school with students with some of the biggest houses Ive ever seen. From group homes to galas, needless to say, I felt out of place. The school was lovely, as were my new friends, but I was extremely conscious of the need to fit in. I craved acceptance and validation, but I was different. I was the only student of color, the queer students were marginalised, and my outspoken opinions did not always go over well with my audience. I wanted a home, and I found one. However, that home would not accept me as I was: a queer, disabled, black and Native American teen. All of a sudden, my very existence was political. In a school with a mandatory class on modern Zionism, a school where I was ridiculed for saying I felt that both soldiers and Caitlyn Jenner were brave, a school where I came out of the closet as bisexual and quickly went back in, I seemed to be facing two options: assimilation or social suicide. So I assimilated, because things like that matter at 16. I walked the walk and wore the clothes. I climbed the social ladder and echoed the views and attitudes of those around me. I defended Israel, declared my love for Evan McMullin, and tweeted about it relentlessly. I became, effectively, an all-American, liberal Republican poster child. I believed, at the time, that this was what I wanted. I believed that Republicanism was good because everyone around me was a Republican. I believed that if I said Republicanism was right and just, I would have friends. I dont know if I ever believed what I said or what I was doing from an ideological point of view, but that didnt matter. Pete Buttigieg: God would not be a member of the Republican Party I wanted a community, and I found several in Republicanism. However, there was a striking difference between my peers and me being little Republican edgelords, and it lies in my blackness. When youre a young black teen being loud about Republican politics on the internet, people listen. And some of the people who are listening want to co-opt your voice for their benefit. I was found by several publications through my provocative tweets, who asked me to join their ranks. By the age of 17, I was working as a contributor for a small conservative publication. By 18, I was writing for other teen-led right-wing websites, I covered the Conservative Political Action Committee as a member of the press, and I had been published by Fox News. I thought this would make me happy. I thought it would make my friends like me more, and it did for a while. And then I went to college. I started college during an election year, and I went in all guns blazing. The first night of freshman year, I lectured a girl called Peyton (who is now a great friend of mine) about the detriments of feminism in front of the entire college dorm. I made a fool of myself, but my identity hinged on being a young Republican with anti-feminist views. It felt edgy and cool; people got mad about it, but it gave me what I wanted: attention and belonging. I guess I thought that would translate to college. After two years of fully immersing myself in Republicanism, I didnt know how to be anything else. I didnt have a real personality, and I honestly didnt know jacks**t about politics. But as I started Politics 101, read the work, and considered that maybe I didnt know everything, that began to change. I learned that politics is not a substitute for my own identity, and started to figure out who I really was. I gave up the Republican crusade when I figured out I was harming my own interests, and shut up for a while while I figured out what I truly believed. The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Show all 25 1 /25 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Bernie Sanders The Vermont senator has launched a second bid for president after losing out to Hilary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primaries. He is running on a similar platform of democratic socialist reform Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Joe Biden The former vice president recently faced scrutiny for inappropriate touching of women, but was thought to deal with the criticism well and has since maintained a front runner status in national polling EPA The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Elizabeth Warren The Massachusetts senator is a progressive Democrat, and a major supporter of regulating Wall Street Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Amy Klobuchar Klobuchar is a Minnesota senator who earned praise for her contribution to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Michael Bloomberg Michael Bloomberg, a late addition to the 2020 race, announced his candidacy after months of speculation in November. He has launched a massive ad-buying campaign and issued an apology for the controversial "stop and frisk" programme that adversely impacted minority communities in New York City when he was mayor Getty Images The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 Tulsi Gabbard The Hawaii congresswoman announced her candidacy in January, but has faced tough questions on her past comments on LGBT+ rights and her stance on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Pete Buttigieg The centrist Indiana mayor and war veteran would be the first openly LGBT+ president in American history Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Deval Patrick The former Massachusetts governor launched a late 2020 candidacy and received very little reception. With just a few short months until the first voters flock to the polls, the former governor is running as a centrist and believes he can unite the party's various voting blocs AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Beto O'Rourke The former Texas congressman formally launched his bid for the presidency in March. He ran on a progressive platform, stating that the US is driven by "gross differences in opportunity and outcome" AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kamala Harris The former California attorney general was 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 AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Bill De Blasio The New York mayor announced his bid on 16 May 2019. He emerged in 2013 as a leading voice in the left wing of his party but struggled to build a national profile and has suffered a number of political setbacks in his time as mayor AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Steve Bullock The Montana governor announced his bid on 14 May. He stated "We need to defeat Donald Trump in 2020 and defeat the corrupt system that lets campaign money drown out the people's voice, so we can finally make good on the promise of a fair shot for everyone." He also highlighted the fact that he won the governor's seat in a red [Republican] state Reuters The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Cory Booker The New Jersey Senator has focused on restoring kindness and civility in American politics throughout his campaign, though he has failed to secure the same level of support and fundraising as several other senators running for the White House in 2020 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Wayne Messam Mayor of the city of Miramar in the Miami metropolitan area, Wayne Messam said he intended 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 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Kirsten Gillibrand The New York Senator formally announced her presidential bid in January, saying that healthcare should be a right, not a privilege Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Delaney The Maryland congressman was the first to launch his bid for presidency, making the announcement in 2017 AP The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Andrew Yang The entrepreneur announced his presidential candidacy by pledging that he would introduce a universal basic income of $1,000 a month to every American over the age of 18 Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: 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 The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Marianne Williamson The author and spiritual adviser has announced her intention to run for president. She had previously run for congress as an independent in 2014 but was unsuccessful Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Eric Swalwell One of the younger candidates, Swalwell has served on multiple committees in the House of Representatives. He intended to make gun control central to his campaign but dropped out after his team said it was clear there was no path to victory Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Seth Moulton A Massachusetts congressman, Moulton is a former US soldier who is best known for trying to stop Nancy Pelosi from becoming speaker of the house. He dropped out of the race after not polling well in key states Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Jay Inslee Inslee has been governor of Washington since 2013. His bid was centred around climate change AFP/Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: John Hickenlooper The former governor of Colorado aimed to sell himself as an effective leader who was open to compromise, but failed to make a splash on the national stage Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tim Ryan Ohio representative Tim Ryan ran on a campaign that hinged on his working class roots, though his messaging did not appear to resonate with voters Getty The Democrat challengers to Trump in 2020 DROPPED OUT: Tom Steyer Democratic presidential hopeful billionaire and philanthropist Tom Steyer is a longtime Democratic donor AFP/Getty My politics changed, and that doesnt make me a con artist or a flake. It makes me capable of growth, change, and thought. I can acknowledge the mistakes Ive made, and still do good work in the future and present. My old work is still out there, and while Im grateful for the platform I was given, I do regret what I wrote. Its not representative of where I am now, and I would make changes to the past if I could, but I cant. All I can do now is be better, engage in activism, and forgive myself for thinking that popularity mattered more than principles during my young life. Oh, and by the way, Im a socialist now. This Thursday, people across the country will vote in the European parliament elections. Historically, the turnout at such elections is low compared to local and general elections. In fact last time they were held, only 35 per cent of eligible voters even bothered with them. However, this year is different. This is because we were never supposed to be having these elections. The UK was supposed to have Brexited by now. We were due to leave the EU on 29 March, nearly two months ago. My views on Brexit are well documented. As a strong advocate for a peoples vote, Im happy we havent left without going back to the people to confirm they want to proceed with the deal on offer. The elections are also strange as both the main political parties are committed to leaving the EU but have put little to no resources in campaigning in these elections. This has created a vacuum. Enter Nigel Farage and his latest venture, the Brexit Party. The serial loser who has stood for parliament on seven occasions and has lost each time. A man who has long campaigned against the EU but is happy to take a yearly salary as a member of the European parliament for the last 20 years. It will be of little surprise to hear its MEP candidates hold sympathies for the far right. One such candidate, John Tennant, has previously heaped praise on a colleague for using a Nazi slogan in the European parliament. It beggars belief. Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Nigel Farage speaks at the launch of his new Brexit Party's campaign for the European elections Reuters Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Brexit Party candidate Annunziata Rees-Mogg, sister of Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, speaks at the launch AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures A supporter waits for Farage to speak AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Supporters wait for Farage to speak AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage's socks Reuters Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Farage and prospective candidate Annunziata Rees-Mogg wait at the launch AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Supporters listen as Farage speaks AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Free T-shirts for all attendees AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures Posters on the seats for supporters of the Brexit Party AFP/Getty Farage launches his new Brexit Party: in pictures A safety sign is pictured AFP/Getty It is not just Farage and his latest thirst for attention we are dealing with. Challenging his party in what could be seen as a bid to be more offensive and more extreme is Ukip, a party Farage quit for being... wait for it, too extreme. Yep, it is also on the march. Worryingly, its lurch to the right has gone even further. Not only has it recruited Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the EDL, as an adviser, but he is also running separately as a candidate to become an MEP for the North West. If that wasnt bad enough, enter Carl Benjamin, a notorious figure from the online world of the alt-right. Benjamin is well known for making rape threats to Jess Phillips, a well-respected Birmingham Labour MP, and footage has emerged of him using racist and discriminatory language against ethnic minorities, the LGBT+ community and people with disabilities. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events The increasing tide of far-right politicians running for elected office should worry us all. To think these parties, with documented racism, should represent the diverse population of the UK on an international stage does not bear thinking about. But it is a distinct possibility. Consistent polling shows the Brexit Party is set for victory, polling above nearly all other political parties. It is weaponising Brexit to further its agenda and trying to stoke up anger and hatred. Three-quarters of Britons surveyed recently said the UK is divided. This is what the likes of the Brexit Party, Ukip and others are counting on: exploiting those divisions for political gain. I appreciate the work journalists have been doing to hold them to account by asking these individuals about their previous abhorrent statements and views. However, the harsh reality is this: those who sympathise and support them either agree with the sentiments they hold, or they dont view them as deterrent enough to not support them and their parties. Dousing them in milkshakes or any other kind of soft drink wont cut it either. This is why they need to be rejected at the ballot box. That is how we tackle the immediate threat the far right pose. Without occupying positions of power, their power diminishes. The BNP was at its strongest when it had a number of local councillors, a seat on the London Assembly and even two MEPs. Now it is a distant memory, consigned to the dustbin of history. We beat the far right once before at the ballot box we must do so again. Please vote on Thursday. If we dont, the winners will be the champions of the far right and we will all have lost a part of our humanity. Britain. 6pm. Wednesday 22 May 2019. On the night before nationwide European elections that were not meant to happen, Theresa May has turned 10 Downing Street into her own private panic room and Nigel Farage is trapped on a bus in Rochester, surrounded by crowds holding milkshakes. Or is the other way round? Who even knows? Welcome, everyone, to the sunlit uplands. We have made it to the promised land. We have reached the fully post-metaphor stage of Brexit. It is not like anything. Nothing so farcical has occurred before or will again. Not until tomorrow, anyway. The Conservative Party, and by tragic consequence, the rest of the nation, is now living out a full Oceans Eleven remake, a heist movie to somehow bust Theresa May out of office when it simply cannot be done. Where can you even start? The absolute, absolute state of it. For reasons that can only be known to herself, though probably arent, Theresa May is determined to bring forth her Withdrawal Agreement for a fourth humiliating defeat, to make sure she goes out on the lowest of the possible lows. She has spent the last two months listening to other parties, carefully piecing together the kind of bill that just might carry enough support across the House of Commons to get over the line. And then, less than 24 hours after announcing it, in a feat of quite pyrotechnic uselessness of the kind that she alone is capable, she had turned into a resignation issue. Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Show all 20 1 /20 Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies The Beatles "Brexit is like Liverpool trashing all its links to The Beatles and spending all its time and energy building Esther McVey World." Shutterstock / terry bouch Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies The number seven "Trying to understand Brexit is like trying to figure out what colour the letter seven smells like." Shutterstock / jgl247 Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Pilots "Brexit is like being in a plane hurtling towards the ground with the pilot and co-pilot arguing over who would crash it better." Shutterstock / View Apart Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Operation "Brexit is like going to the doctor, being told you need an operation, agreeing to it, then finding out they are going to cut off your cock & sew it to your forhead... ...but refusing to get a 2nd opinion." Shutterstock / Dmytro Zinkevych Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Wall "My mentions have taught me that Brexit is like Trumps wall. For its devoted fans it has a symbolic value totally unrelated to its workability, its true cost or the glaring self-interest of its proposers, whereas non-believers see nothing but a deranged and costly vanity project." Shutterstock / Tony Craddock Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Skydive "brexit is like a sitcom where at the start of the episode the main character tells a casual lie about being able to skydive to impress someone and now they're at the end of the episode in a plane about to jump" Shutterstock / Mauricio Graiki Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Crumble "Brexit is like if Farage & Johnson said May we make you an *amazing* apple crumble? & then 18 months later handed you a leaking bag of maggots & offal. You shouldnt have to eat it." Shutterstock / CKP1001 Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Punch "Asking me to support Brexit is like asking me to punch my constituents in the face, said Anna Turley, the Labour MP for Redcar, which voted 66:34 to leave. It doesnt make it easier if you tell me my constituents want to be punched." Shutterstock / ZoneCreative Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Fire "Watching this government deal with Brexit is like being locked outside your house while you can see people inside setting fire to the furniture as the laws telling you you cant go in and stop them." Shutterstock / Gorb Andrii Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Villains "Brexit is like living in a superhero movie that has no heroes, just loads of incompetent villains fighting over who is more evil." Shutterstock / Aisyaqilumaranas Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Book "Brexit is like a bad novel. You are so far into it you just want to skip to the end to see if it ended as badly as it had begun. (You throw the book at the wall when you realise it is the first book in a trilogy)." Shutterstock / Stokkete Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Cricket "Watching Brexit is like trying to reverse engineer the rules of cricket by listening to the radio. I have absolutely no idea what is going on." Shutterstock / ChrisVanLennepPhoto Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Car "Brexit is like the UK took a motorway exit, then found the road turning into a rutted grassy track, and now the car's stuck in a muddy field, there's no help in sight, it's getting dark, everyone's shouting at the driver, and the passengers are beginning to worry about food." Shutterstock / Kolbakova Olga Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Cable "Watching Brexit is like watching someone try and plug a coaxial aerial cable into a HDMI port. There is a lot of anger, a lot of swearing, and a lot of remarks about how this used to work before." Shutterstock / Elnur Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Windows "#Brexit is like going back to Windows 3.1" Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Liars "I'm sure most people remember a kid at school who just lied constantly? Who refused to back down, however outlandish the lie, and however it was disproven? Brexit is like all of those kids from every school have got together, and are now running the country." Shutterstock / chairavee laphom Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Donors "Trying to extricate ourselves from the EU, and Brexit, is like a multiple transplant patient attempting to give all the donated organs back." Shutterstock / Luuuusa Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Electricity "Paying my taxes to pay for Brexit is like asking a guy on death row if he has any change to put in the meter for the electric chair." Shutterstock / Fer Gregory Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Bandersnatch "Brexit is like watching Bandersnatch with your bae where bae is 70,000 Conservative party members hogging the PlayStation controller & choosing the most WTF option every time.! Shutterstock / George Dolgikh Brexit is like... The Top 20 Twitter analogies Constipation "Brexit is like the shit that never comes. Total constitutional constipation. Ironically Brexit also sounds like a constipation relief medicine." Shutterstock / sasha2109 The specific issue at hand was that, on Tuesday, after many hours of arguing, she persuaded her cabinet to support the new-look bill by convincing them the commitment to a second referendum within it was meaningless. But, in what may be a May first, something that was meant to be meaningless turned out to contain actual meaning. They were furious. Throughout the afternoon, ministers requested meetings with her, to tell her the inevitable in so many words. Her ingenious strategy, in the end, was not to agree to have the meetings. How can you be told to resign, after all, if you dont allow anyone to come anywhere near you? Quotes from sources close to various cabinet ministers began to appear. One source close to Sajid Javid told Sky Newss Lewis Goodall that Javid had definitely not told the prime minister to resign, but merely wanted to express his unhappiness with the Withdrawal Bill. This was definitely not an orchestrated putsch but these things do gather momentum. Indeed they do, and they gather momentum when someone, like, say Sajid Javid slams his foot as hard as he can on the accelerator. In any event, shes not quitting. And they cant make her quit because they had one go at that in November and they got it hopelessly wrong. And now theyve tried again to bring down the leader, on the night before an election. It could yet be that she will be forced out on Thursday, an actual election day. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events Even some of the nations most senior news broadcasters have admitted that, if a prime minister resigns on an election day, when strict broadcasting rules are in place, they are not completely sure if they will even be allowed to mention it. Could there be a more fitting end? Well, yes there could actually. Parliament doesnt sit again now for another 11 days. And whos in town then? One Donald J Trump. Oh, and by the way, British Steel collapsed this morning. Health Minister Simon Harris appears before the Health Committee to give the quarterly health update. (PA) The number of people on long-term hospital waiting lists has jumped by 800% in three years, an Oireachtas committee has been told. More than 550,000 people have been waiting to see a consultant for over a year and a half. Fianna Fails Stephen Donnelly told the health committee there was a postcode lottery across different areas of the health service. Mr Donnelly made the claim at the committees quarterly update on health issues. Expand Close Stephen Donnelly (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stephen Donnelly (Brian Lawless/PA) The health spokesman criticised access to outpatient care, adding: Right across the system access is becoming worse and worse and worse. For the first time ever we have over 550,000 on the list for outpatients. The number waiting more than a year and a half is particularly striking. It was 13,000 about three years ago. It has gone up to over 100,000. Thats an 800% increase in just three years in the number of men, women and children waiting to see a hospital consultant. With this huge increase in funding, why are people waiting longer than ever to see doctors and get treatment and get diagnostics?Stephen Donnelly The longest lists ever is a massive geographic variance. Theres a postcode lottery going on and its different for different parts of the system. Those waiting for outpatients in Galway University Hospital is over 40,000, Limerick University Hospital is nearly 35,000, Waterford is at 40,000 and Tallaght is over 30,000. We are seeing this postcode lottery depending on whether you need to see a doctor, or physio or OT (occupational therapist). Given there has been an unprecedented increase in healthcare funding nearly 3.5 billion euro extra in the last few years with this huge increase in funding, why are people waiting longer than ever to see doctors and get treatment and get diagnostics? Minister for Health Simon Harris said around 3.3 million people go to outpatient clinics every year. He said one million of these are first appointments while the remainder are repeat appointments. He added: One of the challenges for us is, can we reduce the number of return appointments needed to the hospital. He said a way to fix the issue is by significantly reducing the number of people returning to consultants and instead seeing more patients in the community. About 500,000 people missed their outpatient appointment last year. People dont miss them unless they have a good reason, he added. If 500,000 people were offered an outpatient appointment and didnt turn up, what does that tell you about the waiting list? He also said the nursesstrike earlier this year had an impact on waiting lists. Paul Reid, who was appointed director of the HSE a number of weeks ago, said the health service is continuing to deal with increased demands. Expand Close Paul Reid, director general of the Health Service Executive, appears before the Health Committee. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Paul Reid, director general of the Health Service Executive, appears before the Health Committee. It remains a fact that waiting times are too long, he said. I fully acknowledge there is a need for significant improvement in waiting times for our patients. Mr Harris added that the countrys population is rapidly changing which means changing healthcare needs. He acknowledged the health service needs to radically change to meet the needs of the public. Mr Reid said he visited the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford after concerns were raised by consultant pathologists about inadequate facilities. He said he recognised the facilities are not compliant with contemporary requirements, adding that immediate interim control measures have been put in place while additional refrigeration capacity has also been made available. In acknowledging the issues and concerns expressed by the staff, a review of the mortuary services is now planned, he added. This is to include a review of existing mortuary facilities and the terms of reference are currently being finalised and it proposed the final report will be available in September 2019. A second man has been shot in Dublin in less than 24 hours. Gardai said the shooting happened in the Marigold Road area of Darndale at about 4pm on Wednesday. It comes after a man was found dead beside a burning car in Balbriggan on Tuesday night. He had gunshot wounds. Gardai said the shooting happened at Rowans Little, Walshestown, at about 11.20pm on Tuesday night. They were alerted to the car on fire and found the man beside the vehicle. He was in his twenties. His body was removed from the scene on Wednesday and taken to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The area was sealed off to allow an examination by forensic investigators. Gardai have appealed for anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed either incident to come forward. Police at the scene in the Marigold Road area of Darndale (PA) A second man has been shot dead in Dublin in less than 24 hours. Gardai said the shooting happened in the Marigold Road area of Darndale at about 4pm on Wednesday. The victim was in his twenties. Its believed a lone gunman approached him between a school and church in the area. His body remained at the scene on Wednesday evening. The death comes after another man was found dead beside a burning car in Balbriggan on Tuesday night. He had sustained gunshot wounds. Gardai said the shooting happened at Rowans Little, Walshestown, at about 11.20pm on Tuesday. Expand Close The shooting took place near a school and a church in Darndale (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The shooting took place near a school and a church in Darndale (Brian Lawless/PA) They were alerted to the car on fire and found the victim, also in his twenties, beside the vehicle. His body was removed from the scene on Wednesday and taken to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The area was sealed off to allow an examination by forensic investigators. Gardai have launched a murder investigation into the death. They have appealed for anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed either incident to come forward. As a society that promotes lawfulness and prosperity, we cannot give into intimidation and senseless brutalityJim O'Callaghan, Fianna Fail Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan said that the gun violence in the capital within a 24 hour period showed how brazen those involved have become. Depraved violence of this nature has no place whatsoever in our society, he said. The prevalence of gun related violence has continued to intensify, and it is essential that all possible resources are provided to protect the public. He added: We can never accept gun crime as an aspect of everyday life. No child or young person growing up in any community should be led to believe that firing a gun is reasonable. As a society that promotes lawfulness and prosperity, we cannot give into intimidation and senseless brutality. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan condemned the violent loss of life and said he was extremely concerned about the incidents. I would appeal to anyone who has information which could help to please come forward to them as soon as possible, he said. Any information, no matter how small, could play a vital part in bringing the perpetrators of these acts to justice. Expand Close Police at the scene in the Marigold Road area of Darndale (Brian Lawless/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police at the scene in the Marigold Road area of Darndale (Brian Lawless/PA) Labour senator Aodhan O Riordain also condemned the shootings, saying the escalating number of attacks showed that the government had lost control of gangland crime. Mr O Riordain said: I am appalled but not in anyway surprised with the news of another fatal shooting on the northside today, in the Darndale area. What is most upsetting is that people working and living in the area have been warning of an escalation of violence for months. It is stomach churning to think, that in the week of a shooting outside Donaghmede Shopping Centre, a body found dead in north Dublin and a murder in Darndale that a government minister is taking photo opportunities beside Stepaside Garda Station and heralding its re-opening. He added that now was the time to intervene and nip this in the bud. Final roll of the dice: Theresa Mays deal will be voted on for a fourth time in two weeks. Picture: Reuters The British prime minister has dangled a package of sweeteners, including the possibility of deciding on another referendum, in a final effort to get her Brexit deal ratified. Theresa May has told MPs she will make a legal commitment to complete negotiations on alternatives to the controversial Irish backstop by December 2020. She also said she will align Northern Ireland and British rules and regulations should the backstop come into force. However, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Simon Coveney are holding out little hope for the embattled Mrs May succeeding in her vote in two weeks' time. They both publicly conceded that the risk of a no-deal Brexit by the deadline of October 31 was now at its highest and vowed to step up preparations to manage that risk. "With every day that passes, the likelihood of a no-deal Brexit increases," the Taoiseach said. While Mr Varadkar insisted an orderly Brexit was the most likely outcome, he said preparations for a worst-case scenario must be increased. He also said Mrs May's latest bid to deliver Brexit appears acceptable to Ireland. "We have always said that if this Withdrawal Agreement bill doesn't contradict the letter or spirit of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Irish backstop, well then it's something that we can accept," he told RTE. "It hasn't been published yet so we don't have a formal view on it. From what I've heard, it sounds like it is OK and would be acceptable." As her ruling Conservative Party faces major losses in tomorrow's European Parliament elections, Mrs May unveiled her fourth vote plan to rescue her legacy. She will leave office after this final effort - no matter what the outcome. The most eye-catching measure is a promise to give MPs the chance to set up a confirmatory referendum on whatever version of Brexit they end up approving. That measure is a key demand of the Labour Party. But a second referendum is also bitterly opposed by Brexit-supporting MPs in her own Conservative Party, whose votes she also needs if she is to get her deal passed. The British government is aiming for the UK to leave the EU at the end of July - assuming MPs reject a second referendum. Failing that, the deadline is likely to be October 31 with the continuing risk of Brexit without a deal. Meanwhile, former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has urged the Government to reach out to the Democratic Unionist Party on Brexit. He said the DUP had caused a lot of its own problems over Brexit but there was still a lack of understanding about its position on what was a crucial issue for the party. BRITISH Prime Minister Theresa May has urged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to compromise and back her Brexit deal after the proposals received a hostile response from critics on her own side. Mrs May's deal, which opens up the possibility of a second referendum, was described as "dead on arrival", with the prospect of a larger Tory revolt than her previous failed attempt to get a Brexit agreement through the British Parliament. Leadership rivals Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab were among Tories who backed Mrs May's deal in March but have vowed to oppose the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB). Rejection of the WAB would heap further pressure on Mrs May to quit immediately, but some Tories called on her to go now without even risking the humiliation of a fourth House of Commons defeat on Brexit. Mrs May, who will face the House of Commons today, hopes her 10-point compromise plan will woo enough Labour and DUP MPs to make up for Tory Eurosceptics who are implacably opposed to her deal. In a letter to Mr Corbyn, she highlighted the tests he had set at the start of the failed process to reach a cross-party agreement, and insisted that the proposals would hold "for the remainder of this parliament" - a reference to his concerns that her successor could unpick a deal. She told him: "I have shown ... that I am willing to compromise to deliver Brexit for the British people. "The WAB is our last chance to do so. I ask you to compromise too so that we can deliver what both our parties promised in our manifestos and restore faith in our politics." On Tuesday Mr Corbyn said: "We will, of course, look seriously at the details of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill when it is published. "But we won't back a repackaged version of the same old deal - and it's clear that this weak and disintegrating government is unable to deliver on its own commitments." Expand Close Talks collapsed: UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn ended discussions. Photo: Jeff Overs/BBC/Handout via REUTERS / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Talks collapsed: UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn ended discussions. Photo: Jeff Overs/BBC/Handout via REUTERS Read More Mrs May's last-ditch attempt to get a deal through included offering a vote on whether to hold a second referendum, as well as a choice over the UK's future customs arrangements. But the deal was described as "dead on arrival" by Conservative Mark Francois, vice-chairman of the European Research Group (ERG). Former British foreign secretary Mr Johnson said: "Now we are being asked to vote for a customs union and a second referendum. The Bill is directly against our manifesto - and I will not vote for it. "We can and must do better - and deliver what the people voted for." Former UK Brexit secretary Mr Raab said: "I cannot support legislation that would be the vehicle for a second referendum or Customs Union. "Either option would frustrate rather than deliver Brexit - and break our clear manifesto promises." Brexiteer Cabinet ministers are understood to be trying to persuade Mrs May to ditch the fourth attempt to pass her deal, warning the vote will end in yet another humiliation. And the beleaguered British Prime Minister faces a fresh bid to eject her from Downing Street from the 1922 backbenchers' committee, which meets later on Wednesday. Tory MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the 1922 executive, said he would be seeking a rule change to hold another confidence vote and the Prime Minister should "make way for fresh leadership without handcuffing her successor to a poisoned baton". Mrs May said her deal was "one last chance" for MPs to deliver on the result of the 2016 referendum and take the UK out of the European Union. In an appeal to MPs, she said that the "biggest problem with Britain today is its politics" but with the right Brexit deal "we can end this corrosive debate". In a message to MPs, she said: "Reject this deal and leaving the EU with a negotiated deal any time soon will be dead in the water." Read More But as well as Tory anger, Mrs May also failed to win immediate support from her DUP allies. DUP parliamentary leader Nigel Dodds said: "We will examine the legislation closely when the Bill is finally published but the fundamental flaws of the draft Withdrawal Agreement treaty itself remain unchanged. "Many of the proposals on the backstop serve as an attempt through domestic law to mitigate a bad deal, whereas the focus should be on getting a better deal." Mrs May is also braced for a backlash from voters in Thursday's European elections as former Conservative voters switch to Nigel Farage's Brexit Party in their droves. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, who has received an opinion poll boost for his clear anti-Brexit message, will carry out a whistle-stop tour of the country, taking in Mr Corbyn's constituency of Islington, north London, before travelling to Edinburgh and Cambridge, as he urges Remain voters to lend his party their support. Call it a coincidence. After voicing my frustrations about rural internet on the national airwaves at the weekend, two shiny vans rolled into the farmyard last week to install...high-speed internet. I didn't know whether to laugh out loud or cry with tears of joy, such was the anticipation of being able to finally pack in the dreaded dongles once and for all. So it was somewhat of an anti-climax when I realised that all the fuss had been over a 200m reel of innocuous black cable connected into a box no bigger than a pack of rashers in the office. Boom! A few hours later we were connected the Eir's fibre-optic network. The next job is to extend the service around the farmyard using a Cat6 cable. While we are paying for the highest speed available of 300 megabits per second (Mbs), once you pipe it through the wifi into the phone or laptop you're back to just over 100Mbs. However, that's still at least 25 times faster than what we had before, either via the copper landline or the darned dongles. I'm forever scarred by my experiences of going a few gigabytes of data over our monthly limit on the dongles. During one episode I got a bill for additional charges of over 900. So one month was going to cost me the same a subscribing to the service for nearly eight years! The constant threat of punitive extra charges is a notion that makes most urban dwellers smile in the same way we do when we recall people reading by candle light and oil-lamps. Avoiding going online during heavy showers or at times when most people were logging on in the evenings is another quaint reminder of times gone by in our cities and towns. Rows over whose turn it was to restart the internet will soon be in the same bracket as the pre-remote control era when somebody had to actually get up to change the channel on the telly. Of course the economists tell us that these 21st century problems shouldn't require the Government to ransack the State's coffers for up to 3bn. They will argue that if broadband is really so critical to the survival of businesses in rural Ireland, businesses should be prepared to pay for a connection, in much the same way that every new business premises pays for a connection to the ESB. Marian Finucane recently cornered me on this exact point on her show. "Would you offer two grand (for a connection)?" she asked. I squirmed, but conceded the point. If it was a choice between no quality broadband for the next 20 years or a fee of 2,000, I would part with the cash. However, there are two problems with this approach. A notional 2,000 fee would immediately put the vast majority of budding entrepreneurs off whatever start-up they had in mind - at least until they upped sticks and moved to the nearest city or town with high speed broadband. And so the gravitational pull of youth and innovation away from rural areas would continue unabated. The second issue follows on from this but is by far the more important one. If the State allows the gap in opportunity between urban and rural areas to grow ever larger, a deeply divided society will surely follow. You can argue that society is already divided and that urban areas will always have greater opportunity - that's why people are prepared to pay multiples of the price of a house in Delvin to get one half the size in Dublin. But societal rifts lead to all kinds of mayhem. Brexit is the result of big chunks of the British population believing that they are permanently losing out. The election of Trump had a lot to do with large parts of American society feeling forgotten and left behind by the urban elites. The Irish Government knows that it's not getting the best broadband deal in the world. But the other bidders for the contract didn't walk away because they thought there was a fortune to be made. If these industry experts felt that this was not such a great business opportunity, how much longer would it take to get more bidders into the mix? In the meantime, rural Ireland stagnates, housing and traffic pressures grow in urban areas, and the urban-rural divide deepens, possibly beyond the point of repair. Richard Bruton has gone with the least worst option. At nearly 5,000 per house, it's not cheap. But it's the first step in ensuring that Ireland prospers together rather than in parts. Donogh O'Malley ignored the advice of his civil servants when he announced free secondary education for all in 1966 - a decision that generated opportunity for all that followed. Sometimes you've just got to follow your gut. Theres always a challenge to doing a mystery, because you have to keep the audiences engaged and committed to get them to the outcome. When you add the element of comedy to the storyline and these unique characters, you have a new direction to the timing and reaction. Irish dairy would be the biggest losers if a trade war was to occur between the US and EU, according to a new report published by Rabobank. In April the US announced that it was considering putting additional tariffs on European products. These tariffs would include 44 dairy items including butter, cheese and yoghurt products. In the dairy trade battle, the EU is set to lose far more than the US because US imports of dairy far exceed EU imports of US dairy products. In 2018 the US imported over 230000 metric tonnes of EU dairy products compared to the EU which imported less than 23,000 tonnes. The EU exports more than $1bn to the US, in comparison to the US which exported in the region of $100m. Four countries represented 65pc of the US dairy products to imports from the EU under the selected tarriffs- Ireland 25pc, France 21pc, Italy 12pc and Spain 8pc. Nearly almost all of the US imports of Ireland's butter and cheese are covered under the 44 tariff codes. In the event of these tariffs being implemented Rabobank said that Ireland would be most at risk as it exported over 34,000 tonnes of butter to the US in 2018. Rabobank said that the majority of Irish dairy exported to the US would be subject to tariffs. The report said that the worst case scenario would be if an additional 100pc tariff was added as US customers would have to pay double the price for European butter, which would be harmful as EU branded butter is already twice the price of US branded butter. It is highly unlikely that European butter would retain its existing market share if prices escalate to four times the level of the leading domestic branded butter. This means the US consumer could be more likely to switch to domestic butter if the EU price was to double in a trade war situation. In general, speciality European cheeses are high value and not necessarily as price-sensitive at the retail level. However, a 100pc surcharge on top of an already pricey product could have customers choosing a less-expensive domestic cheese or non-EU import, Rabobanks Global Dairy Strategist Mary Ledman said. Ornuas Kerrygold is the number two butter brand in the US, with butter exports to North America increasing by 90pc in 2018. Global dairy prices slipped at a fortnightly auction held early on Wednesday, snapping a record gaining streak. The GDT Price Index dipped 1.2pc, with an average selling price of $3,414 per tonne. The index had risen 0.4 percent at the previous sale, gaining for the eleventh time in a row. Whole milk powder, the most widely traded item, fell 2.1pc, largely as supply from the Northern Hemisphere ramped up. But analysts said the outlook remained relatively strong due to robust demand from Asia. Demand from China looks to have remained reasonably firm over the last month, Westpac economists said in a research note. Ongoing firm demand from China will be key in determining whether dairy prices are able to remain near these levels. Prices have been rising due to weak supply from New Zealand, combined with strong demand, particularly from Asia. The Global Dairy Trade auction is operated by U.S.-listed CRA International Inc. GDT Events is owned by New Zealands Fonterra Co-operative Group Ltd, which controls nearly a third of the world dairy trade, but operates independently from the dairy giant. A total of 15,510 tonnes was sold at the latest auction, up 0.9 percent from the previous sale, the auction platform said on its website. The auction results can affect the New Zealand dollar as the dairy sector generates more than 7 percent of the nations gross domestic product. The currency was largely flat on Wednesday, trading just above $0.6500 and lingering near seven-month lows, largely on the back of global trade concerns and this months central bank rate cut. A number of companies, including Dairy America and Murray Goulburn, use the platform to sell milk powder and other dairy products. The auctions are held twice a month, with the next one scheduled for June 4. A zero tolerance approach to the mistreatment of animals has been demanded by the one of the countrys leading dairy farmers. Galway-based milk supplier, Kevin Moran, said the aggressive and cruel treatment of Irish calves at a Cherbourg lairage recently could not be tolerated. The Macra Young Farmer of the Year said there absolutely no place for such behaviour in Irish agriculture and he warned of the reputational damage that such incidents can cause for the industry. Footage emerged recently allegedly showing the mistreatment of Irish calves at the Cherbourg lairage in northern France while the animals were being transported to farms on the continent. The incident, which involved a French worker at the facility, resulted in calls from the ISPCA and the Green Party for the live export of calves from Ireland to be banned. Commenting on the footage, Mr Moran said: There is absolutely no place for that behaviour in agriculture and it is important that we come down hard on people like that to ensure our animals and reputations are protected. Mr Moran stressed that given the countrys dependence on export markets; Irish agriculture must be ethically sustainable. Our consumers demands are constantly evolving and we must continuously improve and adapt to exceed these expectations. Here in Ireland we have the highest animal welfare standards and we must voice that message to everyone, Mr Moran said. Mr Moran was speaking at the launch by Mayo Co Council of A Sustainable Agricultural Strategy for Mayo, a comprehensive analysis of Mayos farming sector that aims to provide a road-map for the future development of the industry in the county. Close to 160,000 calves were exported from Ireland last year, with the vast majority going to Spain and the Netherlands. A roadmap for Mayo farming aims to improve farm incomes and maximise the sustainable contribution of agriculture to the county's economy. Farming is estimated to be worth more than 500 million to Mayos economy and directly employs 13,500 people. These are the two of the standout findings from a major study of farming in the county, which was launched last week by Mayo Co Council. The study, entitled A Sustainable Agricultural Strategy for Mayo, is a comprehensive analysis of Mayos farming sector that aims to provide a road-map for the future development of the industry in the county. The pioneering work, the first of its kind nationally, highlights the contribution that agriculture makes to the Mayo economy, with the income from the farm sector put at 128 million, and farm output at an estimated 250 million. The purpose of the strategy is to set out a series of actions that will guide the sector to capitalise on its opportunities and overcome the barriers to developing this significant component of the Mayo economy, Mayo Co Council stated. It added that the strategy aimed to help: Improve farm incomes in the long-term; Maximise the value of all food produced; Ensure farmers are encouraged to play a key role in the countys future development; Support continued investment in the sector; Ensure sustainability from an environmental perspective. The document identifies the challenges and opportunities facing each of the traditional farming enterprises in the county beef, sheep and dairy together with evaluating how the less-developed areas such as forestry, agri- tourism, renewable energy and high nature value farming might be better supported and developed. Councillor Michael Smith, chair of the Mayo Agricultural Working Group, thanked Teagasc, the Department of Agriculture, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the IFA and INHFA for their contributions and efforts in devising the strategy. He said the studys publication was a timely acknowledgement of farmings importance to Mayos wider economy. Veteran farm leader and county councillor, Michael Holmes, said the launch of the strategy was personally satisfying as it confirmed that farming remained the most important economic activity in Mayo. These sentiments were echoed by well-known dairy farmer Kevin Moran. The Mayo native, who farms in north Galway, told the audience that Irelands farmers had to be both ethically and environmentally sustainable. A week in politics is a long time. A lot of things can change: you're loved on a Monday and loathed by the time the seventh day rolls around. Well a week is a long time for farmers too. Blue skies and decent prices can be followed by black clouds and depressing returns in a matter of days. It's perhaps these similarities that give those from an agricultural background the steadfast qualities needed to put their heads above the parapet and stand for public office. One such farmer is Sinn Fein candidate Mark Maguire, who was nicknamed 'No Fodder, No Bother' for his response to last year's drought. The 30-year-old dairy farmer and plasterer from Moyne, Co Longford set up a fodder service on Facebook to match farmers with feed deficits with those with surplus amounts. Expand Close Local issues: Independent Pierce OLoughlin on his farm in Carrick-on-Suir. Photo: Damien Eagers / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Local issues: Independent Pierce OLoughlin on his farm in Carrick-on-Suir. Photo: Damien Eagers "In all, fodder was sourced for over 300 farmers. It was because of that that somebody approached me to run in the local elections and after a bit of thought I said yes," he says. Mark has 30 cows and has no plans to expand as he feels there should still be a place for the small dairy farmer, especially with the focus on carbon emissions. He is campaigning for the re-introduction of the Early Retirement Scheme to make land more accessible to young farmers and wants to make the Farm Assist less bureaucratic. In terms of social issues, he says the local doctor surgery closed in Legga due to lack of broadband and he wants to make every effort to reduce rural isolation. "I would lobby to set up a bus to bring farmers living on their own to bingo or to the pub in the evenings," he says. "I'd try encourage them to get involved in social media and I'd do my best to set up classes especially for them to get trained in computers as they can sometimes be intimidated if there are young people in the class." Three hours south, Tipperary Independent candidate Pierce O'Loughlin from Carrick-on-Suir is no stranger to the coal face of farming. He sold off all his cattle last autumn after the summer drought and now has 40 Limousin and Saler suckler cows. "The drought tore things apart for us. We usually do two cuts of silage and would get 100 bales from the first cut then 80 from the second. Last year we did three cuts and only got 90 altogether," says Pierce, who also runs a printing business. Expand Close Fine Gael candidate Dan McSweeney with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. Photo: Press 22 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fine Gael candidate Dan McSweeney with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe. Photo: Press 22 "We got terrible prices for the cattle but it was the best thing we did as it allowed us to survive the winter." He adds that the closure of Carrick-on-Suir Mart has been a "huge blow" to the farming community and local businesses. "I make the point to farmers I meet that I will be their voice and represent them," he says. "I'm a true independent candidate and fearless. I know the issues facing farmers. "The traffic flow for tractors and trailers is very slow in the town. It needs to be improved as it's a nightmare. Farmers who want to bring silage or bales from Clonmel to Waterford have to go through Carrick-on-Suir, they've no other option." Labour candidate Eoin Barry, 33, a dairy farmer's son - now a social worker - from Wolfhill, Co Laois adds: "In Leinster the fear of crime is so large in rural areas that elderly constituents are often afraid to open the door. "Numbers have dropped recently but people are worried as burglary of farm equipment has been raised, and even when we knock on the door, elderly people can be afraid to open it for fear it's criminal activity." Meanwhile, suckler/sheep farmer and publican Eamon Moore is hoping it'll be second time lucky for him as he runs for Fianna Fail in the Ballina constituency in Co Mayo. He is a strong advocate of the policies of the Beef Plan Movement and feels it's important to have the issues of beef farmers voiced in council chambers. "The Four Movement Rule is a big issue and is putting the man buying cattle off the road," he says. "If you've more than two movements buyers don't want to know about you." As owner of the Thatch pub in Crossmolina, Eamon says not enough is being done to stem business closures and that tax breaks need to be offered to pub owners to provide transport to their customers or incentives for taxis to provide transfer services due to drink driving laws. "I've seen so many businesses close down and the Minister for Transport doesn't care about us. He brought in a law that has affected pub numbers and jobs but has brought nothing in to combat isolation," he says. While most 20-year-olds are confused about their career path, student and farmer Dan McSweeney is certain that his lies in politics. Dan is studying Law and Taxation in Limerick Institute of Technology is the second youngest candidate running in the local election in the country. Running for Fine Gael, he wants to be a fresh voice for farmers; he came face to face with the harsh realities of farming when his father Michael lost his eye during a farm accident last summer. "I did a lot of work on farm safety in school; it's something I'm very passionate about," he says. "Dad's back now working full-time and I hope to go dairy and beef farming full-time in a few years but I want to get some life experience first." Dan thinks CAP reform and climate change are going to impact farmers "big time" and that's why he believes "new fresh blood" is needed to tackle these issues, especially when his voting region Limerick City West has no rural representative. 'The 100m beef package is only a temporary band-aid to cover retrospective losses' Liam Minehan has spent the best part of a decade lobbying politicians on issues close to his heart. An independent candidate in the European elections for the Ireland South constituency, Liam (pictured) has been a key player in the Fight the Pipe campaign in North Tipperary, opposing the Shannon Water Extraction Scheme proposal to pump water from the Shannon through a 170km pipe to Dublin. Expand Close Liam Minehan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Liam Minehan "I'd grin and bear it if I thought the pipe was necessary but it isn't," Liam says. "It would stop me from being able to milk my cows while it's being built. It would finish the farm and destroy my legacy." Liam says years of lobbying politicians opened his eyes to the waste of taxpayers' money in Ireland. "This is a rural Ireland issue. The pipe fiasco has shown me that everything goes to Dublin," he says. "The majority of students go to Dublin for college. The brightest and best leave and they never come back. There's incredible brain drain." Former Fine Gael senator Fidelma Healy Eames, based in Oranmore, Co Galway, is determined to fight for beef farmers like her husband Michael if she gets a Midlands-North West seat. "I'm sceptical of the 100m beef package introduced by the EU. What good will it be if the Mercosur deal goes through and beef from South America is allowed in? It was telling that it was introduced a week before the election," she says. Expand Close Fidelma Healy Eames / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fidelma Healy Eames "The money is only a temporary band-aid to cover retrospective losses. The EU and government need to focus on ending anti-competitive practices and the dominance of feed-lots." Fidelma (pictured) would like to focus on developing the EU Smart Villages programmes to revive rural areas. "We need to develop infrastructure that stands the test of time - there's been too much centralisation," she says. "Young people are emigrating and never coming back." 'We need to bring CAP in line with EU environmental policies' Saoirse McHugh from Achill Island, Co Mayo always viewed politicians as some sort of different species. It was only when Green Party leader Eamon Ryan suggested she run as MEP candidate for the North-West that the tables turned. Saoirse, from a hill sheep farming family, studied Genetics in UCD and added a Masters in Sustainable Agriculture in 2013, before working with SeedSavers in Co Clare for a period. Expand Close Saoirse McHugh / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Saoirse McHugh She feels trade and agriculture policies in the EU are often in conflict with each other and there is a need for a common food policy and less emphasis on increasing production. "I have met many farmers who feel under pressure as they feel the need to keep producing more and more," she says. "They feel they can't escape. We need to bring CAP in line with environmental policies." Saoirse was appalled by the recent footage that allegedly showed Irish calves being mistreated in France. "Live exports are there to try and alleviate domestic supply, we can't keep patching up the system. Where will this end? When the price goes down the situation will be worse." Diageo, which owns Dublins Guinness brewery, is to introduce 26 weeks paid paternity leave in Ireland. Guinness owner Diageo is to introduce 26 weeks paid paternity leave in Ireland. From 1 July, 26 weeks fully paid parental leave will be offered to all Diageo employees in Ireland, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, or how people become parents via birth, adoption or surrogacy, the company said. The news follows the announcement last month that all parents employed by Diageo in the UK are now eligible for the same fully-paid 26 weeks. Oliver Loomes, Diageo Ireland country director said: Our business has always had strong record of being one of the best employers in Ireland. Todays announcement is a significant step for us and shows our commitment to leading the way with progressive employment policies by supporting gender equality in the workplace. Globally, the company is setting a minimum standard of four weeks paternity leave on full rate of pay in all markets, with a significant number of Diageos businesses moving to 26 weeks fully paid paternity leave including North America, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Russia, Colombia, Venezuela, and Australia amongst others. GREENCORE has ceased stockpiling ingredients in the UK after the likely Brexit date was extended to October. But CEO Patrick Coveney said the group remains ready to initiate contingency plans including airlifts of produce if a hard exit by the UK from the EU looks likely. Earlier this year, Greencore - which manufactures about 706 million food-to-go items including sandwiches every year - had been stockpiling ingredients from prawns to tomato paste as it prepared for a hard Brexit in March. But with the Brexit deadline now extended to the end of October, companies have more breathing room to ready themselves for such a scenario. "We're not really stockpiling anything at the moment," Mr Coveney told the Irish Independent. "But we're not seeing any sign of a [Brexit] solution, so we'll be using the same contingency planning that we had earlier this year." The company had activated an airfreight contingency for flying some types of salad leaf from southern Europe in advance in the previous March deadline. Mr Coveney, the brother of Tanaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney, was speaking as Greencore released first-half financial results. Its reported revenue for the six months to the end of March fell 4.6pc to 701.4m (798.7m), but was 5.4pc higher on a pro-forma basis. That reflected the disposal of UK sites and businesses. Greencore also exited its US business last October. The group's adjusted operating profit in the latest period edged 0.9pc higher to 44.7m (50.9m). Mr Coveney said that while the UK grocery market remains challenging, Greencore's important food-to-go category of products outperformed the wider market, posting sales growth of 7pc. Greencore's food-to-go category accounted for 64pc of group revenue from continuing operations in the first half of the financial year. He added that Greencore will pursue expansion in the UK market organically but also via a significant number of small-scale acquisitions. The company has committed financial facilities totalling 461m (524.8m). Its net debt fell to 284.1m (323.4m) at the end of March from 501.1m at the its last financial year as it used some proceeds from the US sale to cut the figure. Mr Coveney pointed out that the acquisition of Peacock in 2016 for $750m was significant in scale for Greencore. "I think we're much more likely to be in a space of doing a whole series of significantly smaller things as opposed to one very large thing like that," he said in relation to future acquisition activity in the food-to-go area. "Each of those steps will be individually modest," he said. Financial services group Carne is to create 250 jobs in Ireland over the next three years. The group is expanding in a bid to further strengthen its offering, providing governance solutions in the investment fund sector. It is recruiting 50 highly-skilled people to work at a new financial services centre, which it is opening in Wexford. Carne is hiring for multiple positions within risk management, compliance and operations, and is also looking to recruit IT developers, data miners, cybersecurity experts, financial crime specialists and business analysts. The remaining 200 roles will be split between Wexford and its office in Kilkenny, where it currently employs 50 staff. "The demand for our next-generation technology and risk-driven asset management solutions continues to drive rapid growth across the entire group," said Carne CEO John Donohoe. "The expansion of our Kilkenny financial services centre and the opening of our new financial services centre in Wexford reflects this." Established by Mr Donohoe in 2004, Carne provides services to asset managers with assets of $1trn under management. It has 10 offices worldwide including in the US, Luxembourg and the UK. The expansion is being supported by the Department of Business, Enterprise, and Innovation, through Enterprise Ireland. Kevin Sherry of Enterprise Ireland said: "It is exciting to see this highly innovative company go from strength to strength with the opening of its new regional site and the announcement of the creation of new jobs in Wexford and Kilkenny which Enterprise Ireland is pleased to support." The National Broadband Plan may cost the state 1bn less than the reported 3bn figure, the head of the state-subsidised process has told TDs. Fergal Mulligan, programme director of the National Broadband Plan, told the Joint Committee on Communications, Climate Action and environment that a best case scenario could see the state subsidy for the rural fibre broadband rollout come down by a third. Its possible that a number of things could come in under cost, he said. You can see that subsidy coming down by up to 1bn. He said that the most predictable base cost will be 1bn to pass premises with fibre broadband cable. We have a good handle on that, he said. This includes things likes 144,000 kilometres of fibre cable, brackets, maybe some poles. It also includes things like optical line equipment in exchanges. Mr Mulligan said that further costs could turn out to be more variable. Connecting to each home is the biggest unknown cost, he said. We think it will be somewhere in the order of between 400 million to 700 million. However, its only paid on costs incurred. So if connecting homes comes in at 300 million, thats all well pay. Mr Mulligan said that the government will be looking to reduce the subsidy on a quarter by quarter basis. The National Broadband Plan has been estimated to cost up to 3bn in state subsidies, made up of a maximum of 2.1bn in infrastructure payments, VAT on that and 480m in contingency funding for unexpected events. The preferred bidder for the 25-year contract, National Broadband Ireland, has said that it will put up 175m of initial capital and a further 45m in working costs. Department officials say while state funding is capped, the bidders costs are uncapped and may rise if rollout targets are not met. Questioned by Fianna Fail Communications spokesman Timmy Dooley, Mr Mulligan said that clawbacks that may be due to the state are common in other countries building large infrastructure projects. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan asked why the state was proceeding with a procurement model that saw the asset revert to the bidder at the end of the contract, adding that it would surely be a valuable asset. Mr OhObain answered that the value of the asset is likely or be low because the profitability is likely to be low. Mr Mulligan added that a number of rural households may still be unprofitable when the network is funded and rolled out, but that the bidding company will still be obliged to serve them. Last week, Communications Minister Richard Bruton told Independent.ie that the finished network would be one tenth the size of Eir, which recently sold for 3.5bn. However, unlike Eir, it will not own the bulk of its own poles to deliver the broadband, instead renting it from Eir. Eamon Ryan also asked why the government, and the Department of Communications in particular, could not build the rural broadband network itself. Mr OhObain said that the Department Of Communications does not have the skills and resources to do so relative to the expertise available in the private sector. Mr Dooley asked about the companies providing financial backup for the bid by National Broadband Ireland, the firm controlled by US businessman David McCourt that is now the preferred bidder for the 25-year state contract for broadband to 540,000 rural homes and businesses. The assistant secretary general of the Communications Department, Ciaran OhObain, said that the two companies which provided letters of financial support are Tetrad, a company controlled by the family of US billionaire Walter Scott, a longtime business partner of David McCourt, and McCourt Global, a firm controlled by David McCourts brother, Frank McCourt. Mr OhObain said that Tetrad is a shareholder in National Broadband Ireland, adding that the Department would publish a chart outlining the shareholders. Mr Mulligan said that the Department Of Communications will now spend two or three months preparing the contract. KBC Bank has apologised for tracker-loss cases and committed to learning the lessons from the scandal. More than 3,700 customer accounts have been impacted. The bank told members of the Oireachtas Finance Committee the tracker probe is a top priority for it. New CEO Peter Roebben said KBC was determined to right the wrongs experienced by its customers. He said he did not expect the numbers of customers impacted by the tracker scandal at KBC to rise. The 1bn tracker scandal blew up at 15 lenders as banks did not allow people who originally had a tracker to return to the attractive rate after being on a fixed rate for a period, or did not make it clear to customers what they would lose by signing off on a tracker. Mr Roebben told the committee: "We would like to again acknowledge our errors in relation to the administration of tracker mortgages and can I, as a newly appointed CEO, add my sincerest apologies, to that of my predecessors, to those affected. "Can I also publicly commit us to taking on board the lessons learned on behalf of our customers." KBC said 96pc of its customers impacted by the tracker issue have now received redress and compensation. Paying refunds and compensation has cost the bank 120m. This is way up from the 4.4m it had set aside in 2016 to cover the cost of tracker redress. At the start of the year the bank identified 661 extra cases wrongly denied tracker mortgages. There are no further customers affected, the bank told the committee, which is chaired by Fianna Fail TD John McGuinness. KBC is one of six banks that are expected to be fined by the Central Bank due to their denial of trackers to customers. Mr Roebben added that the bank is not planning sales of non-performing home loans, with the remainder of arrears cases to be dealt with internally. Last August, the bank sold a 1.9bn portfolio of non-performing loans to Goldman Sachs. "When it comes to the issue of non-performing loans and arrears, I believe that we should continue to tread carefully. We must remain conscious of the vulnerability of those who find themselves in difficulty and behave accordingly," he said. The KBC boss said that around 90pc of its arrears cases borrowers have agreed a resolution with the bank. In December, the bank hit headlines when it moved to repossess a farm in Strokestown, Co Roscommon, in a high-profile case that attracted controversy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) A Hong Kong legislator slammed the decision of immigration authorities to bar former Philippine Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales from entering China's autonomous territory, calling the move unreasonable and a departure from the rule of law. Looks like political reasons rather than security reasons were considered, legislator Ted Hui Chi-fung said in a statement Tuesday. "Under the one country, two systems policy, the Hong Kong government has no legal basis to consider the court case that has nothing to do with Hong Kong. Hui, a member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, was referring to a complaint filed last March by Morales and former Foreign Affairs chief Albert Del Rosario before the International Criminal Court against Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chinese officials for crimes against humanity in the conduct of activities in the West Philippine Sea, which is claimed both by the Philippines and China. The lawmaker said the court and not immigration authorities should be making decisions on legal matters. Deportation based on a court case is plain barbaric, Hui stressed. Hui is a member of the Democratic Party, which advocates economic cooperation with Mainland China while recognizing Hong Kong's administrative independence. China's "one country, two systems" policy attempts to unify previously colonized, now autonomous regions -- such as Hong Kong and Macau -- with Beijing's central government. Morales arrived with family members -- her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren -- in Hong Kong on the morning of May 21 for a holiday. Immigration officers, however, separated her from her family and detained her. The feisty former Supreme Court justice was asked to sign several documents in relation to her detention. While Morales was kept in the dark on the reason for her detention, her legal counsel said she was told the former anti-corruption official was a security threat. Morales and her companions were eventually allowed entry, but they chose to return to Manila that evening instead. Jones was charged with killing Fleming after kidnapping her and her baby in Anderson on April 6, 2015, and taking the two to Gary. Fleming's body was found in a closet in a Gary home; the infant was at the home and being cared for by Jones' sister, according to court documents. Hike tax: The OECD has urged the government to raise property taxes Property taxes should be hiked and valuations need to happen regularly to keep up with the reality of rising house prices, the Government has been warned. After a decade of boom-bust and recovery, Ireland's volatile property market continues to throw up major risks, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned. Its sharp focus on housing came amid fresh criticism of Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy's handling of the crisis. Mr Murphy this week said that younger workers should be "excited" about "co-living" and having "less space for less rent". Amid harsh exchanges in the Dail, Solidarity TD Mick Barry warned that "Deputy Eoghan Murphy arguably tops them all". "Again and again, he defends the landlords," he said. "Again and again, he defends the markets. Again and again, he defends the indefensible." Amid the latest economic risks identified by the OECD is the potential fall-out if the surge in foreign funds gobbling up billions of euro of Irish properties comes undone. Those investors do not borrow here and are not a risk to the Irish banks - which property investors were in the last crash - but they leave the property market here vulnerable to what the OECD calls "new channels for the transmission of external shocks". It means that if big funds come under stress in their home markets, they would become forced sellers of Irish assets - potentially flooding the market. Foreign investors account for more than half of commercial property investment in Ireland, so the risk is concentrated in offices, industrial and retail properties - but the rise of the so-called "cuckoo funds" means billions are now pouring into housing. Many of those funds are in the US, where the Federal Reserve has been warning that rising commercial property prices may pose a risk to financial stability, alongside rising levels of company indebtedness. The Government is looking at doing more to tax the big funds that now dominate swathes of the property market, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said yesterday. In the meantime, the OECD said his Government should hike property taxes to raise money and cool the market. Lifting the local property tax in line with house price rises would help "rationalise property purchase demand", it said. In a mostly upbeat report on Ireland, the Paris-based OECD said the economy here would grow 3.9pc this year and 3.3pc in 2020. Brexit remains a big risk, but the report said if there was a shock, the Government should look to spend its way through the crisis to offset the impact. The OECD report also warned that repeated overruns of health spending - 600m in 2018 alone - risked placing State finances in jeopardy. It said that if they continued, the Government would have less room to offset risks such as Brexit, as well as less money to spend on remedying the large gaps in infrastructure spending that emerged thanks to the deep budget cuts imposed in the financial crisis. The Irish Data Protection Commissioner is to open a statutory inquiry into Google over concerns that the tech giant may not be in compliance with GDPR privacy rules over personalised advertising. It is the 17th statutory inquiry into tech multinational firms opened by Helen Dixons office since the advent of GDPR one year ago. Arising from the Data Protection Commissions ongoing examination of data protection compliance in the area of personalised online advertising and a number of submissions to the Data Protection Commission, including those made by Dr Johnny Ryan of Brave, a statutory inquiry pursuant to section 110 of the Data Protection Act 2018 has been commenced in respect of Google Ireland Limiteds processing of personal data in the context of its online Ad Exchange, said a spokesman for the Irish DPC. The purpose of the inquiry is to establish whether processing of personal data carried out at each stage of an advertising transaction is in compliance with the relevant provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation, including the lawful basis for processing, the principles of transparency and data minimisation, as well as Googles retention practices. Under GDPR, Google can be fined up to 20m or a maximum of 4pc of annual revenue, amounting to billions of euro. The probe was initiated after complaints by the Irishman Johnny Ryan who works for the UK web browser Brave. Surveillance capitalism is about to become obsolete, said Dr Ryan. The Irish Data Protection Commissions action signals that now, nearly one year after the GDPR was introduced, a change is coming that goes beyond just Google. We need to reform online advertising to protect privacy and to protect advertisers and publishers from legal risk under the GDPR. Dr Ryan submitted a formal GDPR complaint to the Irish DPC in September of last year. Duplicate complaints were also submitted to the UK Information Commissioner by Jim Killock, executive director of the Open Rights Group and Dr Michael Veale of University College London. The Arcadia Group has announced plans to close six stores around Ireland including Topshop, Wallis, Evans and Miss Selfridge. The British retail group, of which Sir Philip Green is chairman, announced the plans to scale back its retail operations around the UK and Ireland, with a total of 23 store closures across both markets. Topshops flagship Irish store in Dublins Stephens Green, a three-storey premises which opened in 2005, is among those being closed as it virtually retreats from the Irish retail market. Closures have also been announced for the Topshop store in the Jervis Shopping Centre, a 20,000 square foot premises which has been open for less than two years, and the adjoining Topman, blaming a highly competitive retail environment for the restructuring. Henry Streets Wallis-Evans hybrid will also be closing. In Cork, the Dorothy Perkins-Evans store has been selected, and the Miss Selfridge store in Eyre Square Shopping Centre in Galway has also been earmarked for closure. A specific date for store closures has not yet been decided, but a spokesperson for Arcadia told the Irish Independent that it would be a matter of months and not weeks. On June 5, Arcadia will meet with creditors and seek approval for the closure plan, after which, if approved, they will announce a schedule. All of the stores will continue to trade as normal until the meeting in two weeks time. The decision puts 520 jobs in total at risk. Specific figures for Irish employees were not available. Read More All of Topshop and Topmans 11 stores in the US have also been selected for closure. As part of the plan, Sir Philip Green's wife Tina has offered landlords a 20pc stake of any proceeds if the group is eventually sold. Ms Green will also inject 56.8 million of equity into the business, on top of 50 million she had already loaned the company. Arcadia directors will meet creditors at meetings on June 5 to seek approval for the proposals. Seventy five per cent of creditors will have to approve the plans. Arcadia chief executive Ian Grabiner said: "Against a backdrop of challenging retail headwinds, changing consumer habits and ever-increasing online competition, we have seriously considered all possible strategic options to return the group to a stable financial platform. "This has been a tough but necessary decision for the business. "We will ensure all potentially affected colleagues are kept fully informed as we seek approval from our creditors on today's CVA proposals." Daniel Butters, partner at Deloitte, said: "Arcadia and its portfolio of iconic fashion brands have faced unprecedented market conditions in recent years, which have significantly impacted the group's financial performance. "These CVAs will provide a stable platform for Arcadia's experienced and committed leadership team to implement its turnaround plan and ensure the long-term sustainability of the group." Speculation began early this year that Sir Philip would look to either sell off the company or close stores. In March, Arcadia confirmed it was exploring options to improve efficiency in the business. Later that month it hired property advisers to assess its estate while drawing up restructuring plans. Last month US investor Leonard Green & Partners sold its 25pc stake in Topshop and Topman back to the parent company, in a move which Arcadia said simplified its structure and would allow the board to focus on restructuring. The news comes just weeks after Sir Philip failed to appear on the Sunday Times Rich List for the first time in 17 years. His reputation has been left damaged by the 2016 collapse of BHS, which resulted in the loss of 11,000 jobs. BRITISH STEEL, the UK's second-largest steel producer, is on the brink of collapse unless the government there agrees to provide an emergency 30m (34.2m) loan, two sources close to the situation said. British Steel said negotiations had not concluded and it continues to work with all parties to secure the future of the business. It also reassured employees that their salaries will be paid in full for May. Owned by investment firm Greybull Capital, British Steel employs around 5,000 people, mostly in Scunthorpe, in the north of England, while 20,000 more depend on its supply chain. Greybull, which specialises in trying to turn around distressed businesses, paid former owners Tata Steel a nominal 1 in 2016 for the loss-making company which they renamed British Steel. British Steel had asked the government for a 75m loan but has since reduced its demand to 30m after Greybull agreed to put up more money, according to one of the sources who is close to the negotiations. Greybull was also the owner of Monarch, an airline that went bust in the UK in October 2017. If the British Steel loan is not approved, administrators EY could be appointed as early as today, the source said. Greybull declined to comment. Andrew Stephenson, a junior business minister, told the UK parliament the government was in discussions with the company and will "leave no stone unturned in its support for the industry". He added the government has been in contact with former British Steel owner Tata Steel. The second source said British Steel lost the backing of one of its four big lenders earlier on Tuesday, while some of the others had already exited. "The (company's) cash was not big enough to sustain even one bank pulling the plug," he said. The possible collapse of British Steel comes after Germany's Thyssenkrupp and India's Tata Steel ditched a plan this month to merge their European steel assets to create the EU's second-largest steelmaker after ArcelorMittal. The collapsed merger leaves the wider EU steel sector fragmented and vulnerable to economic downturns. It also calls into question the fate of Britain's largest steelworks in Port Talbot, Wales, owned by Tata Steel. Stephenson said he held talks with Tata Steel this week about issues relating to Port Talbot, and that the India-based steelmaker had painted a positive picture of the site. Reuters Reports of suspicious financial activity in the Vatican reached a six-year low in 2018, according to an internal watchdog report yesterday - continuing a trend officials said showed reforms were fully embedded. The annual report by the Vatican's Financial Information Authority (AIF) also showed that Vatican's co-operation with international financial regulators to fight fraud and money-laundering had increased nearly sixfold in the same period. "I think it's fair to say that a fully functioning system has been implemented and achieved," said Rene Bruelhart, a Swiss lawyer and anti-money laundering expert who has headed the AIF since 2014. The report showed that 56 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) were filed with the authority in 2018, down from a peak of 544 in 2015. Eleven were passed on to the Vatican's investigating magistrate. They involved suspicion of international fraud, fiscal fraud or market abuse. The trial of a former head of the Vatican bank and an Italian lawyer on charges of money laundering and embezzlement began last year and is still in progress. For decades before reforms were implemented, the bank, officially known as the Institute for Works of Religion (IOR), was embroiled in numerous financial scandals as Italians with no right to have accounts opened them with the complicity of corrupt insiders. Pope Francis, who has made cleaning up Vatican finances a priority and given Mr Bruelhart wide powers, considered closing the IOR when he was elected in 2013. Hundreds of accounts have been closed at the IOR, whose stated purpose is to manage funds for the Church, Vatican employees, religious institutes, or Catholic charities. Asked about resistance to change, Mr Bruelhart, in an apparent reference to the Pope's backing, said: "The support on the political level from superiors has been tremendous, otherwise it would not have been possible to bring these reforms forward in such a short period of time, especially from a Vatican perspective." The AIF carried out an on-site inspection of IOR in 2018 to see it was complying with anti-money laundering legislation and the outcome was "substantially positive", the report said. In 2017, Italy put the Vatican on its 'white list' of states with co-operative financial institutions, ending years of mistrust. The same year, Moneyval, a monitoring body of the Council of Europe, gave Vatican reforms a mostly positive evaluation. Not everything is rosy in the Vatican's financial departments, however. Economy minister, Cardinal George Pell, was found guilty of sexual abuse of minors in his native Australia in February and the post is vacant. Pell denies all wrongdoing. Reuters Jokha Alharthi is the first Gulf writer to win the prize (Man Booker International/PA) Celestial Bodies has won the 50,000 Man Booker International Prize for 2019. The book was written by Jokha Alharthi, the first Gulf writer to win the award. Her novel was translated by US academic Professor Marilyn Booth from the original Arabic. Both writer and translator were praised for their work and the prize money has been divided between them. Were delighted to announce our #MBI2019 winner is Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth and published by Sandstone Press. Read more here: https://t.co/rWHBRXwDOy pic.twitter.com/SfJr2Yg98u The Booker Prizes (@TheBookerPrizes) May 21, 2019 Celestial Bodies follows the story of three sisters in Oman as the cultural landscape of the nation slowly evolves. Historian and broadcaster Bettany Hughes presented the prize at a ceremony at the Roundhouse in London. She said of the winning book: Its delicate artistry draws us into a richly imagined community opening out to tackle profound questions of time and mortality and disturbing aspects of our shared history. Were delighted to announce our #MBI2019 winner is Celestial Bodies by Jokha Alharthi, translated by Marilyn Booth and published by Sandstone Press. Read more here: https://t.co/rWHBRXwDOy pic.twitter.com/SfJr2Yg98u The Booker Prizes (@TheBookerPrizes) May 21, 2019 The style is a metaphor for the subject, subtly resisting cliches of race, slavery and gender. The translation is precise and lyrical, weaving in the cadences of both poetry and everyday speech. Video of the Day Celestial Bodies evokes the forces that constrain us and those that set us free. Luke Ellis, chief executive of Man Group, added: As one of the first literary awards to celebrate the work of international authors and, in recent years, to celebrate fiction in translation, the Man Booker International Prize plays an invaluable role in encouraging a diversity of voice in fiction worldwide. Di Caprio previously shared a snap of him in costume with Once Upon a Time in Hollywood co-star Brad Pitt Director Quentin Tarantino and his wife Daniela Pick shared an intimate moment on the carpet at the premiere of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) Dakota Fanning wore a white gown for the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood premiere in France (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) Actress Margot Robbie turned heads at the Cannes film festival as she arrived on the red carpet for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt led a star-studded cast at the Cannes premiere of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) Leonardo DiCaprio (right) and Brad Pitt posed on the red carpet as audiences got their first look at Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) Once Upon a Time in Hollywood received a seven minute standing ovation following its premiere at Cannes on Tuesday. Quentin Tarantino's ninth film comes nine years after Inglorious Basterds and stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, and Dakota Fanning, who all attended the premiere. The black comedy is one of the most highly anticipated films of the year and is set in 1960s LA. The plot charts the relationship between TV star Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) and his stunt double Cliff Booth (Pitt) as they navigate a changing industry. Although the film was frequently cited as being about the Manson Murders, it is not centred on those tragic events, but features multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood's golden age. However, Margot Robbie plays actress Sharon Tate, who was murdered by Charles Manson's followers and Dakota Fanning (25) plays Lynette Squeaky, a member of the Manson family. Deadline reports that Cannes boss Thierry Fremaux took time before the film to ask audience members not to reveal any spoilers. Expand Close Director Quentin Tarantino and his wife Daniela Pick shared an intimate moment on the carpet at the premiere of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Director Quentin Tarantino and his wife Daniela Pick shared an intimate moment on the carpet at the premiere of Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) Its a bit exceptional because the production and Quentin Tarantino asked me to ask you not to discuss the film, he said. They would greatly appreciate that you not reveal anything that would prevent audiences worldwide from experiencing what you do today. Video of the Day Also starring in the film are Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Timothy Olyphant, Luke Perry, and Margaret Qualley. Early reviews are in following the screening and they are largely positive, with some quibbles, and the film currently holds a 91 per cent rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. Read More The Hollywood Reporter describes it as "uneven, unwieldy in its structure and not without its flat patches. But it's also a disarming and characteristically subversive love letter to its inspiration, in which Tarantino rebuilds the Dream Factory as it existed during the time of his childhood, while rewriting the traumatic episode often identified as the end of that era." Variety's review praises the performances and describes the film as "a heady, engrossing, kaleidoscopic, spectacularly detailed nostalgic splatter collage of a film, an epic tale of backlot Hollywood in 1969.." but also references how Tarantino deals with the Manson Murders. Expand Close Actress Margot Robbie turned heads at the Cannes film festival as she arrived on the red carpet for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Margot Robbie turned heads at the Cannes film festival as she arrived on the red carpet for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) In this respect, reviewer Owen Gleiberman is not impressed, writing, "The way Tarantino plays with the Manson murders in Once Upon a Timein Hollywood is at once more extreme and more trivial. And frankly, for this Tarantino believer, that made it less satisfying." The Guardian's reviewer Peter Bradshaw has awarded the film 5 stars and writes that while the provocative ending will divide opinion but adds, "any ostensible error of taste is nothing like, say, those in the much admired Inglourious Basterds". Expand Close Dakota Fanning wore a white gown for the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood premiere in France (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dakota Fanning wore a white gown for the Once Upon A Time In Hollywood premiere in France (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) He adds, "Quite simply, I just defy anyone with red blood in their veins not to respond to the crazy bravura of Tarantinos film-making, not to be bounced around the auditorium at the moment-by-moment enjoyment that this movie delivers and conversely, of course, to shudder at the horror and cruelty and its hallucinatory aftermath." Indiewire, meanwhile, points out its lack of plot, but praises Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt's performances, while describing Margot Robbie's turn as Sharon Tate as "a subtle, mostly wordless performance". Here are some of the reactions on social media: #OnceUponATimeInHollywood: Quentin Tarantino wants to tell us a story about Hollywood life at the time of the Manson Family slayings of '69, and man, does he ever, going from awestruck to WTF. Brad Pitt the standout, his coolest role yet. #Cannes2019 pic.twitter.com/WgJywDPW9i Peter Howell (@peterhowellfilm) May 21, 2019 ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: Tarantino wasn't joking when he said this was the closest to PULP FICTION that he has come. He juggles a mosaic of characters and story-lines in this one, eventually stringing them together for a relentlessly playful and touching finale. #Cannes2019 Jordan Ruimy (@mrRuimy) May 21, 2019 ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD: Why is no one tweeting about Margot Robbie? She's the heart and soul of this film. Her Sharon Tate is the most humane and resonant character of the entire movie. Almost every scene she's in is heartbreaking to watch. #Cannes2019 Jordan Ruimy (@mrRuimy) May 21, 2019 Not sure if Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood will be among the main prizes (Id like to think it will), but its definitely got the Palme Dog sewn up. Best hound in a competition film since Marvin in Paterson #cannes2019 Jamie Graham (@jamie_graham9) May 21, 2019 Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood is so gloriously, wickedly indulgent, compelling and hilarious. The film QT was born to make. The world is a more colourful place in Quentin Tarantinos twilight zone. Round two, please. #Cannes2019 Joe Utichi (@joeutichi) May 21, 2019 ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD - Historically dubious, thematically brilliant, QT finds his form in film that could win Palme d'Or or be picketed by audiences, or maybe both. Thrilling, provocative, blackly comical, intensely unsettling masterwork. #cannes2019 Jason Gorber (@filmfest_ca) May 21, 2019 Once Upon A Time in Hollywood is the sweetest and most nostalgic film of Quentin Tarantino's career. A love letter to a time gone by and a literal fairy tale. DiCaprio and Pitt are fantastic. Tons of great actors kill it in small roles. #Cannes2019 Gregory Ellwood - The Playlist (@TheGregoryE) May 21, 2019 ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD is wonderful. its like tarantino is just dreamily reminiscing for our benefit. feels innocent somehowlovely, pure, hilarious. witnessing robbie, dicaprio, & pitt pristinely embody 60s LA is enough to make it great. andthatpayoff #Cannes2019 Luke Hicks (@lou_kicks) May 21, 2019 The biggest surprise of #Cannes2019 - Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood deserves to win the Palme Dog award. Seriously. Alex B. (@firstshowing) May 21, 2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood releases in the UK and Ireland on August 15. Cinema stars have produced a manifesto backing the European Union ahead of continent-wide elections. The manifesto claims the union is threatened from the outside, and from within Europe itself from people looking for a way out. Film-makers issued a rallying cry praising the EU as an inspiration for all of humanity and claiming the bloc is under attack on all fronts. Actor Ralph Fiennes and directors Stephen Frears and Sir Alan Parker are among about 500 signatories of the document, which claims the future could depend on the outcome of voting this week. Expand Close Stephen Frears (David Parry/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stephen Frears (David Parry/PA) The document has been signed by stars gathered at the Cannes Film Festival, who called on voters to unite behind the EU as extremism and regression are spreading like a plague. The manifesto says: Let us remember that Europe united for peace. What started as a union of six countries has now grown to include 28 countries in a unique alliance that is inspiring for all of humanity. This union was built on the principles of open borders, free circulation, fraternity, solidarity, values that are today under attack on all fronts, including from within Europe itself. Expand Close Sir Alan Parker (Ian West/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sir Alan Parker (Ian West/PA) A free and democratic Europe is a Europe of creativity, freedom of thought and expression. As we are facing extremism and backwards tendencies, once again spreading like a plague, it is our duty to stand up for these values. Video of the Day This incredibly fragile balance must be strengthened and improved, when facing those who want to destroy it by dividing, giving up and looking for a way out. To the question how do we build a desirable, unifying, open Europe offering a space for freedom and peace?, we must reply by standing firmly for what we believe in, in this battle of ideas. Today, at the 72nd @Festival_Cannes, film celebrities backed the presentation of a manifesto to encourage citizens to vote in the European elections (23-26 May).#ThisTimeImVoting #chooseyourfuture #EUelections2019 Read the full manifesto here https://t.co/goADwhqjWA pic.twitter.com/2Wv5foY6jP LUX Audience Award (@luxaward) May 21, 2019 From May 23 to 26, for the European elections, we will therefore vote. It is our common future that is at stake, if not our future itself. The manifesto is mainly signed by French film-makers, with a large proportion of Belgian and German signatories, and 13 names from UK cinema. Film-makers from Russian, Venezuela, Burundi and Chile have also signed. The manifesto was initiated by groups including the French Film Directors Guild and the Federation of European Film Directors. The Family and Social Services Administration has different levels of reimbursement rates for services for hospitals in Indiana and those out of state, according to a letter from Region lawmakers, and that some facilities that provide a high-level of neonatal care have indicated they might not be able to continue accepting Medicaid-covered children at the current rates. Geri Horner has given sneak peek of Spice Girls tour before it kicks off (Matt Crossick/PA) Geri Horner has given fans a sneak peek of the Spice Girls reunion tour days before it kicks off. The group will reunite on stage for the first time in seven years for their comeback tour, which starts on Friday in Dublin. Horner, also known as Ginger Spice, posted a picture of herself rehearsing on stage alongside Melanie Chisholm (Mel C) on her Instagram page. She also shared a shot of the stage, complete with large screens on either side and a large Spice World setpiece in the centre of the stage with backing dancers in front. She wrote: Spice World Production rehearsals done! Welcome to Spice World 2019! See you in Dublin! #3daystogo #HouseofGinger. Horner and Chisholm will be joined by Melanie Brown (Mel B) and Emma Bunton for the tour while Victoria Beckham has decided not to take part. The Spice Girls have been preparing for the tour for the past few weeks but in April they were forced to deny a rift between them as Brown missed the start of rehearsals. Expand Close Sneak preview of the Spice Girls tour stage (Andrew Timms) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sneak preview of the Spice Girls tour stage (Andrew Timms) The speculation of a row came after Browns claims that she previously had a one-night stand with Horner. Video of the Day The Spiceworld Tour was announced last November with six dates, but it was later was extended to 13 dates due to popular demand. The Spice Girls will first perform on May 24 at Dublins Croke Park, and will then head to Cardiffs Principality Stadium (May 27), the Etihad Stadium in Manchester (May 29 June 1), the Coventry Ricoh Arena (June 3 4), the Sunderland Stadium Of Light (June 6), the Edinburgh BT Murrayfield Stadium (June 8), the Bristol Ashton Gate Stadium (June 10) and Londons Wembley Stadium (June 13 15). Spicing it up for 2019, are from left: Geri Horner, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown Preparations: Geri Horner with Mel C in rehearsals A sneak peek of the Spice Girls reunion tour, which starts on Friday in Dublin, of Emma Bunton on stage rehearsing alongside Melanie Brown. Picture: Andrew Timms/PA Wire Two of the Spice Girls arrived into Dublin airport this afternoon in the lead up to the bands opening night of their world tour at Dublins Croke Park on Friday. Melanie Brown and Melanie Chisholm arrived on a British Airways flight just before 3pm. Emma Bunton and Geri Horner are expected over the next 24 hours as they gear up to rehearse tomorrow. The quartet are believed to be staying in the Intercontinental Hotel in Ballsbridge. Expand Close Preparations: Geri Horner with Mel C in rehearsals / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Preparations: Geri Horner with Mel C in rehearsals Mel B Scary Spice earlier posted a picture at Londons Heathrow airport of herself and Sporty Spice (Mel C) before their departure for Dublin. Me and @melaniecmusic have arrived just now at the airport in proper spice girl spirit I even had a sleep over at sportys [sic] last night yipppee we are soooo on time its killing me. The pair also posed yesterday for a picture in the British capital for early rehearsals. Victoria Beckham has opted out of playing the new tour. Over 75,000 fans are expected to descend on Croke Park for the bands first Irish gig in 21 years. Organisers predict the gig will generate over E40m for the capital in what will be the first female pop group to perform in GAA HQ. Expand Close Spicing it up for 2019, are from left: Geri Horner, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Spicing it up for 2019, are from left: Geri Horner, Melanie Chisholm, Emma Bunton and Melanie Brown Video of the Day Many of the groups fans have grown up with them and insiders are quipping about Mum Power, with a slew of mammies expected. Some 15,000 fans are coming if from abroad, ranging from as far afield as Brazil and Taiwan. The Spice World 2019 tour consists of 12 other shows across the UK, ending at Londons Wembley stadium. The Dublin show will be the girls first time performing together since the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Fridays concert, which has support by Jess Glynne, is due to kick off at 8.15pm and due to finish close to 10.45pm. Dublin is a buzz of showbiz happenings today as Mariah Carey will play the 3 Arena tonight Sam Smith has also been mysteriously being spotted in and around Dun Laoghaire and theres speculation he may be heading to the Spice Girls gig as their lighting design is the work of Tim Routledge who masterminded Smiths previous tour. Meanwhile, Westlife kick off their world tour tonight in Belfast, the first time theyve played live in seven years. Naaaw, dyou remember... Dr Alexs various shades of salmon; Adams nonchalant ability to gaslight; Hayleys take on Brexit; Samira leaving because she couldnt bear staying sans Frankie; how Wes dropped the L-bomb on Laura before treating her horrendously; and how everyone was either called Ellie, Charlie, Laura, Josh or Jack? And how Megan was judged for having sex with both Eyal and Wes, yet Wes didnt get nearly as much flack for bedding both her (that being Megan, not Caroline Flack) and Laura? Are you still with me? For those still reading, youre clearly licking your chops in anticipation of this summers impending run (pencil Monday, June 3 in yisser diaries). With last years contestants due to be relegated to the term previous Love Island contestant, were looking back at some of the more enduring participants (not all 38 of them. Yes, there were 38 contestants last year) and asking Are they still together? In short, no... no, theyre not. In addition to Samira parting ways with Frankie two months after she left the show for him, none of the below lasted the pace. Georgia & Sam Expand Close Georgia and Sam (ITV) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Georgia and Sam (ITV) Mostly known for being real and loyal (apart from when she put the lunge in on Other Jack while he was with Laura), actress Georgia made an impression on the menfolk in last years Villa initially thanks to her buttock-baring bikinis, but lastingly due to her volume level. Georgia and Sam Bird split in October of last year after he went through her phone and drew the conclusion she cheated on him. She claims otherwise. Adam & Zara Expand Close Adam flirting with Zara (ITV) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Adam flirting with Zara (ITV) First, there was Kendall (but she wasnt really into it), followed by Rosie, and then Zara. Adam also busied himself with Darylle after Zara left the Villa, but it was only because he was missing Zara so much (hes complicated like that). They split in February of this year after Adam enjoyed an especially raucous night out with Jack Fincham, Sam Bird and a bevvy of other women. Wes & Megan Expand Close Love Island star Megan Barton-Hanson announced the split in January (Ian West/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Love Island star Megan Barton-Hanson announced the split in January (Ian West/PA) They were going so strong until Wes landed a spot on ITVs Dancing on Ice last January. He got caught up in the excitement of yet another new relationship, this time with professional partner Vanessa Bauer. Given his array of on-camera moves, Wes truly gives new gravitas to the term Snake Hips. Video of the Day Josh & Kaz Expand Close Love Islands Kaz Crossley and Josh Denzel appear to have split after six months of dating (Anthony Devlin/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Love Islands Kaz Crossley and Josh Denzel appear to have split after six months of dating (Anthony Devlin/PA) He left Georgia for his precious Kaz, who he met when the boys went to stay in Casa Amour. The couple, who came third in the show, also split in January. Kaz is now said to be cuddling up with former Love Island contestant Theo. Laura & Paul Expand Close Love Islands Paul enjoys soggy Scottish weather with Laura after villa exit (ITV) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Love Islands Paul enjoys soggy Scottish weather with Laura after villa exit (ITV) The old birds of the group, Laura seemed to finally find love after bedding a couple of immature frogs along the way; 31-year-old Paul of I kissed Britney fame and 29-year-old Laura were perfect on paper. Shame Pauls face didnt get the memo... They parted ways soon after, with Paul claiming they werent compatible. Laura has since been seen enjoying herself with former contestant Eyal Booker. Dani & Jack Expand Close Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer (Ian West/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jack Fincham and Dani Dyer (Ian West/PA) They won our hearts and won the show after staying true to each other for the entire series. Unfortunately, real life got in the way, and after a series of spats and too much partying, the pair broke up and reunited too many times to keep count. At the time of going to print, theyre still apart. Not that dad Danny Dyers bovvered. THE NEW BATCH As has become tradition, the criteria for contestant selection seems to include having a strong Instagram presence, while preferably also having a connection with someone famous, either romantically or familially. So, without further ado, here are the people rumoured to be coupling up this year... Curtis Pritchard Expand Close AJ Pritchard and his brother Curtis were attacked at a nightclub (Anthony Devlin/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp AJ Pritchard and his brother Curtis were attacked at a nightclub (Anthony Devlin/PA) Dancing with the Stars professional Curtis Pritchard is reportedly on board. He was paired with Holly Carpenter for the most recent series of the hit RTE dance show but had to pull out due to injuries sustained during an attack at a nightclub in the UK. Jane Park Remember when a Scottish teenager won a load of cash on the Euromillions? That was Jane, that was. Park banked 1 million via the Euromillions six years ago, aged 17. Shes endured more than her fair share of bad relationships and is seeking real love. Sophie Piper The younger half-sister of Rochelle Humes (of The Saturdays and This Morning fame), 20-year-old model Sophie is reportedly in advanced talks to appear on the show and is currently mulling it over. She's centre in the pic above. Sairah Pinnock One of last years reserve contestants, 29-year-old Sairah is Leigh-Anne Little Mix Pinnocks older sister. The business-woman and mother-of-one has quite the Instagram following. Ercan Ramadan The builder/reality TV star is reportedly a good mate of last years winner Jack The Teef Fincham. Hes also recently dated Geordie Shore/Im a Celebs Queen of The Jungle 2015, Vicky Pattinson. She called things off back in March as it was moving too quickly. Braelin Kail Peery Providing much-needed fluidity to proceedings given how traditional the couplings have been in prior series, Braelin is a 20-year-old bisexual model hailing from Americas Georgia. Lotan Carter Expand Close Lotan Carter had a controversial weekend (Channel 5) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lotan Carter had a controversial weekend (Channel 5) Viewers of Channel 5s incarnation of Big Brother will recognise the name. The 30-year-old former stripper was asked to leave the house in 2017 after a fraught fight with fellow housemates. Megan Barton Hanson Expand Close Last year's contestant Megan Barton Hanson may return for the new series (ITV) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Last year's contestant Megan Barton Hanson may return for the new series (ITV) Its probably wishful thinking, but rumours abound that Megan is re-entering the Villa for the second year in a row. One would wonder why on earth she would do that considering the amount of abuse she received on social media during and after the show last year. HOW LONG WILL IT LAST? The number of contestants coming and going has increased year on year, as does the length of the shows run. Since its new incarnation on ITV2 four years ago, the series has been extended by almost a week each year. In other words, Love Island will soon be on 24/7 365 days of the year... Facetiousness aside, with the length of the show increasing, and in light of the recent deaths of Sophie Gradon and Mike Thalassitis, what will that mean for future contestants? ITV released the following, stating that they will offer therapy to all Islanders and not only those that reach out to us. The broadcaster added: We will be delivering bespoke training to all future Islanders to include social media and financial management. The key focus will be for us to no longer be reliant on the Islanders asking us for support but for us to pro-actively check in with them on a regular basis. Julia Stiles was living a glorious double life as she took centre stage for the second season of Sky Atlantics smash hit drama Riviera in Nice last summer. By day, she was reprising her role as the glamorous, dashing Georgina Clios in a show that gave Sky record ratings when it first aired in the summer of 2017, yet she was happy to step away from the millionaire fantasy world when she returned to her temporary home every night. A few months before filming began, Julia and her Canadian husband Preston J. Cook welcomed their first son into the world, with little Strummer ensuring mummy was duly occupied during her secondment on the Cote dAzur. It was amazing to be down in Nice with our wonderful little baby and he was a great diversion when I went home at night, Stiles told Independent.ie. Expand Close Julia Stiles in Riviera / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Julia Stiles in Riviera In the past, I would think about my work after filming. Did I say that line right....how did I look on screen? Thats what we normally worry about, but all that changes when you have a little guy at home waiting to see you. It meant I had something else to worry about and it was a delight to I get back to my family every night and see his little face, even though it meant I was tired a lot of the time. Expand Close The cast of Riviera / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The cast of Riviera Having a baby is an incredible experience and allows you to put a lot of perspective on everything that used to seem important in this world. Just ten months after giving birth, the engaging Stiles looked radiant as she sat down for a chat during a set visit to Chateau Diter, a stunning property situated between Nice and Cannes that boasts two on-site helipads. The Hollywood A-lister, who shot to prominence in 10 Things I Hate About You alongside Heath Ledger back in 1999, turns in a commanding performance as the under-siege Georgia as the Riviera plot takes some dramatic twists. A new family joins the brash storyline that proved to be such a hit when the show first aired in 2017. The next chapter of a show that delves into the mysterious and notoriously unregulated world of art dealing among the mega-rich makes for intoxicating viewing, with Riviera executive producer Paul McGuinness excited by the feast he has helped to serve up since he stepped down from his role as long-time of rock super-group U2. Video of the Day Read More We have so many exciting new additions to the cast and, having overseen the scripts, Im convinced season two will be even more spectacular than the first, said McGuinness. My initial vision for Riviera was that we would produce a drama that no-one had ever seen before. Glamour, sex, crime, huge wealth and everything you dream about is here in Nice and Monaco and we have used that landscape to take a key role in our show. We have certainly had no problem attracting actors to be part of this show. Imagine getting an offer to spend a few months in the south of France being looked after while you film a glamorous show like this? Not many actors would turn down that offer and thankfully, the audience love it as well and the ratings confirm as much. What we have with Sky Atlantic and Riviera is a perfect mix. This is an edgy show loaded with glamour, shocking scenes, murder, financial excess, incredible yachts and Russian bad guys stirring everything up. I would like to think Riviera will go on for several years. It has been a huge success story for all of us involved and Sky love what we are doing. This network are not bound by the same watershed rules as the BBC and this gives them a chance to allow creativity to flourish. The end result is a show that pushes the boundaries and gives you something very special. Will Arnett and Juliet Stevenson are among the notable names joining the Riviera cast for season two, with Stiles suggesting the eagerness to use female characters in prominent roles fits neatly into the drive to change the perception of female leads in marquee roles. This show could easily be just about big boats and girls in bikinis, but it is much more than that for the female characters, added Stiles. We have four really well fleshed out females in leading roles in Riviera and it feels like the make-up of this show fits in with the mood of change we are seeing across the industry as more doors are being opened for women. Riviera is very different to a lot of what we see on TV. It is larger than life, it is set in such an amazing place and we walk a fine line between escapism and the fancy cars that are great to see, alongside some serious characters who are living our extraordinary lives. Season one of Riviera finished on quite a cliff hanger and now we have lots of new characters for season two and that adds to the tension and the drama. Also, Georgina is doing things I never imaged she would do and that is always exciting for an actress. Read More When I was sent the script for the first episode, I was asking what the premise of the show would be and the quote they gave me was; this is a sunny place for shady people. Also, the idea that behind every great fortune is a great crime and the female characters in our show refuse to be pushed around by the powerful men around them. With a little baby to distract me at home, I have to be honest and admit I dont watch a lot of TV at the moment as all of my spare time is spent learning lines and trying to get some sleep. That said, I have heard that there is a push for women to get more prominent roles and Im told its a campaign that has been going quite well! Series 2 of Riviera starts 23 May on Sky Atlantic and NOW TV A boy accused of murdering Ana Kriegel told garda interviewers that he thought of her as a "weirdo" and she wasn't liked because she was "different", a trial has heard. Boy B also said that Boy A was "weird, not a rational thinker". Asked by gardai if Boy A was a goth, Boy B said "no, he's more strange". The teen further told gardai that Boy A was "not really my friend since what happened". Boy B said he had called for Ana because he was asked to do so by Boy A. He initially refused but Boy A started "whinging" and saying "please, please" and he had agreed to do so. Questioned by gardai if he had asked Boy A why he wanted him to call to Ana's house, Boy B said Boy A told him "relationship problems". He said Ana had a crush on Boy A and he didn't want to be in a relationship with her. Boy B also said Boy A had lied and a garda told him that Boy A had said he hadn't asked him to call for her. The two youths, aged 13 at the time, have pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ana Kriegel (14), at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road in Lucan, Dublin, on May 14 last year. Boy A has also denied a charge of aggravated sexual assault. On Tuesday, the jury continued to watch the video footage of interviews which gardai conducted with Boy B at Finglas garda station on May 24, 2018. Present during the interviews were Boy B, his mother, his solicitor David Powderly, Detective Garda Donal Daly and Detective Sergeant (now Inspector) Damien Gannon. Mr Justice Paul McDermott told the jury to bear in mind that anything Boy B said in his interviews with gardai about Boy A could not be used in the prosecution case against Boy A. During the interviews, Boy B told gardai he called to Ana's house and when she came to the door she asked him what he wanted. "I replied '[Boy A] wants to see you'," he said. "Once I said that she got her clothes, shoes and mobile phone and came out the door with me," he said. Boy B said that Ana's face "lightened up" when he told her Boy A wanted to see her. He told gardai that as he and Ana walked through the park gates she showed him a photograph on her mobile phone. It was an image of Ana strapped to a chair with duct tape. "It was a really scary photo," he said. Boy B said Ana told him she had not shown it to anyone else, and he didn't know why she had shown it to him. Boy B was aware there was CCTV in the park, and he pointed out three areas to gardai where he said there were cameras. Boy B further said that Boy A "seemed surprised to see me" when he met him in the park. Boy B said he and Ana were walking towards the spot where he had arranged to meet Boy A when he saw somebody all in black walking in front of them. The person turned and it was Boy A. Boy B said Boy A was wearing all black clothes and army boots as well as black gloves and he had a black backpack. Boy B said he was with them for a couple of minutes until he started dropping back to give them space. Boy B said he then told them "I'm gone, see yous" and Boy A turned around and said "I'll see you." Asked by gardai why Boy A didn't go to Ana's house, Boy B said his guess was that he (Boy A) was "too shy" or he "didn't want to be seen with her in public". Boy B said that some people who had been asked out by Ana got "negative backlash". During the second interview, gardai asked Boy B to describe Ana Kriegel. Boy B said Ana was not liked and she was "outcasted" because she was "different" and "weird". He said she was taller and more mature than other girls, and her breasts, posture and hips had developed more than other girls. She was a "lonely and sad person" and had been through depression quite a bit, he said. Boy B said Ana was a goth and dressed all in black, usually in "slutty clothes", like tight trousers, short shorts and T-shirts. She was also anti-social, had dyed her hair and wore "so much make-up". "If you asked her to hang out she'd probably say no," Boy B said. Asked what he thought of her, Boy B said he "thought of her as a weirdo. Someone I shouldn't be around". The court also heard that Boy B had visited a house he called the "abandoned house" with Boy A last year (2017). The place was "really trashed", he said. Boy B said they had gone in the back door, into a room which he was sure was the kitchen. He said everything was broken and trashed, and there was dust and dirt on the ground. The trial continues. A DUBLIN couple living in a select area of the city and who have not paid anything off their mortgage for the past four years have been told by a judge that in her experience, even lone parents, pay something off their debts. Vulture Fund Havbell Dac is seeking to re-possess the home of Pat and Freda OKane, who live at 64 Tritonville Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4, and who, a court has been told, owe almost 780,000 on a mortgage it took over from another bank. Judge Jacqueline Linnane in the Circuit Civil Court told self-employed quantity surveyor Patrick OKane and his wife, Freda, who sat at the back of her court listening to the re-possession proceedings that they had been living in the house since October 2015 without paying anything. The judge said she hoped that the suggestion of the couples barrister that this may constitute a reality check for the OKanes would get through to them. Judge Linnane said the couple had the benefit of legal advice from their solicitor when they signed for a business residential loan in 2002 and again in intervening years when they increased their indebtedness. The court, which had been told that in December 2017 the couple owed 778,522, directed that within the next month Mr OKane swear an affidavit outlining their current position and detailing their financial position. Judge Linnane said that in other cases where possession was being sought by banks she inevitably learned that there were other outstanding debts. Mr OKane had sought the advice of a financial adviser under the personal insolvency process but had failed to inform the bank when his relationship with that adviser had ended. The judge told the couple that the value to them of their home was being eroded. They could sell the property and afford to trade down mortgage free to a smaller property. She said that irrespective of any issue raised by the two defendants there was an undisputed default in repayments on their mortgage. The court also allowed Havbell Dac time to reply to Mr OKanes affidavit and suggested the court would be in a position to have a full hearing on the application for possession by October next. Farmer Pat Quirke is appealing his conviction for the murder of love rival Bobby Ryan. Lawyers for Quirke filed a notice of appeal on May 16, the Courts Service has confirmed. The move was expected. Within days of his conviction earlier this month, the Irish Independent revealed Quirke fully intended to appeal. The grounds of appeal have not yet been disclosed, but it is known various grounds have been considered by his lawyers in the weeks since the trial concluded. Quirke (50) was jailed for life on May 1 after a jury found him guilty of murder on a majority verdict of 10-2 at the Central Criminal Court. The case, which lasted 15 weeks, was the longest murder trial in the history of the State. The farmer, from Breanshamore, Co Tipperary, denied any involvement in the murder of Mr Ryan (52), a quarry worker and part-time DJ known as 'Mr Moonlight'. The prosecution's case was that Quirke murdered his victim and hid the body in an underground tank so he could rekindle an affair with widow Mary Lowry, who was in a relationship with Mr Ryan. An informed source said there would be several grounds of appeal. A number will centre on rulings made in the absence of the jury by trial judge Ms Justice Eileen Creedon. Throughout the case, concerns were raised by the defence over the late disclosure of evidence and the Garda investigation. But requests to discharge the jury over these issues were rejected by Ms Justice Creedon. The judge also rejected an application from the defence for a direction to the jury to acquit Quirke on the grounds the evidence against him was speculative and any conviction would be unsafe. Remarks made by the judge during her charge to the jury also led to an application to have jurors discharged. Quirke's defence team claimed its position was harmed when Ms Justice Creedon made comments to the effect the prosecution did not have to prove the location of Mr Ryan's death. They sought the discharge of the jury as they believed the judge's remarks could not be remedied. However, while Ms Justice Creedon clarified the remarks, she rejected the application. The judge said that in fact what the prosecution had to prove was that the death of Mr Ryan occurred in Co Tipperary, but in law it did not have to prove a specific location. She also told the jury that the time, date and location of the killing were an issue in the case, but it was up to them to decide what weight to give to evidence and they needed to bear in mind the burden of proof was on the prosecution. Mr Ryan disappeared on the morning of June 3, 2011, after spending the night at Ms Lowry's home in Fawnagown, Co Tipperary. Quirke "discovered" the body in a run-off tank on Ms Lowry's farm in April 2013. But the prosecution said the discovery was staged as his lease on the property was going to be terminated and he would be unable to ensure the body remained hidden. Quirke was moved from Mountjoy to Limerick Prison on Sunday to serve out his life sentence. SOLICITOR Gerald Kean, who last week was granted 160,000 damages from a High Court jury after it found he was defamed in an Irish Daily Star article, has settled an additional claim for breach of privacy arising from the article. No details of the settlement were outlined when the matter was mentioned before Mr Justice Bernard Barton on Wednesday. Last week, a High Court jury, by a majority of at least nine, awarded Mr Kean 160,000 damages against Independent Star Ltd after finding he was defamed in an Irish Daily Star article of March 11 2016 concerning a visit by members of the Criminal Assets Bureau to his Dublin offices. The majority found the article, headlined Kean Caught up in CAB probe, meant Mr Kean was subject of a probe by CAB into the criminal activities of the Hutch/Kinahan gang following the Regency Hotel shootings of February 2016 and defamed him. After rejecting arguments by the newspaper that the article concerned a matter of public interest and it was fair and reasonable to publish it, they decided Mr Kean was entitled to damages of 160,000. Mr Kean was also awarded his costs by Mr Justice Barton. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday when the judge was due to deal with a separate claim by Mr Kean alleging that the article breached his constitutional right to privacy. That claim was not before the jury for determination. The newspaper had also indicated to the judge, after the verdict last week, that it was considering whether to appeal the jury decision and to seek a stay on the damages order in the event of any such appeal. Today the judge was told by Paul OHiggins SC, with Jim OCallaghan SC, for Mr Kean, that peace has broken out and the entire proceedings had been settled. Counsel said the only order required was one striking out the entire proceedings with an order for taxation of Mr Keans costs, to include reserved costs and discovery and stenography, in default of agreement. The judge said he would make those orders. Eoin McCullough SC, for Independent Star, said such cases are invariably difficult and he thanked the judge for the time and courtesy afforded to the sides. A TEENAGER stabbed to death in Tallaght in Dublin was on the phone when he was fatally wounded. An inquest into the death of Reece Cullen at 19 Kilclare Crescent, Tallaght, Dublin 24 heard a number of youths arrived at the address at 2.45pm on January 5 2017. Neighbour John Sutcliffe noticed the group as he worked on a car in his driveway. There were three or four males, all aged between 16 and 19, Mr Sutcliffe said. Reece had been staying at Kilclare Crescent with friends since the tragic death of his mother the previous September. I heard only general chit chat, there was no shouting or anything to make me look over, Mr Sutcliffe said. Minutes later a youth came into his driveway asking for help. Expand Close Reece Cullen and girlfriend Sophie Evans(17) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Reece Cullen and girlfriend Sophie Evans(17) He said, my mate has been stabbed, can you ring an ambulance? His hands were covered in blood, Mr Sutcliffe said. He phoned emergency services and ran to the house where Reece lay injured in the hallway. He was lying on the ground a couple of feet inside the front door, Mr Sutcliffe told the court. Dublin Fire Brigade responded to a call received at 3.05pm. Paramedic Noel Keegan found Reece unresponsive. He was not breathing and he appeared to have a stab wound to the chest, Mr Keegan said. The injured youth was transferred to Tallaght Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan conducted an autopsy and found a single stab wound had penetrated his heart. A toxicology report found he had no alcohol or drugs in his system. Gardai launched a substantial investigation, Detective Inspector John Walshe told Dublin Coroners Court. A couple of youths were at the address, one youth had arrived while Reece Cullen was on the phone and he was fatally stabbed, DI Walshe said. Some 110 lines of inquiry were opened, 88 statements were taken and three arrests were made. A file was submitted to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) but no charges were brought. The file remains open. Det Insp Walshe said there was a single perpetrator responsible for Mr Cullens death. Addressing the jury of four women and four men, Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane said there was only one verdict open to them in this situation. The evidence though tragic and stark, is very clear in relation to the findings you have to make, Dr Cullinane said. The jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing by person unknown. Residents wanted to know if the retention pond proposed would be large enough to guarantee they wouldn't flood again, what kind of landscaping there would be and if the expanded pond would infringe on their property. They asked to see drawings and that all agreements be in writing. An uninsured driver who was involved in an incident that led to the death of a man has had a 500,000 judgment registered against him. Dara O'Sullivan, from Dublin, was the driver of a limousine when it drove over father-of-two Liam 'Bill' Stafford in 2009. The Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) has secured a judgment of 500,000 against the uninsured driver. It took the action to recover the money it had to pay out to the family of the victim. The MIBI is a not-for-profit company that was established to compensate victims of road traffic accidents caused by uninsured drivers and unidentified vehicles. Mr O'Sullivan, of Clonard Road, Dundrum, Dublin, has paid the MIBI 720, but now owes it 503,600 plus costs, according to 'Stubbs Gazette'. He was the driver and co-owner of the limo when a young man was run over after jumping on the bonnet while "acting the goat", the inquest into the death was told. The prank went wrong when the car pulled off because the people inside were scared and panicked, the coroner heard. It led to the death of Mr Stafford (28), who was dragged along the road and later suffered a cardiac arrest. Dublin Coroner's Court heard that Mr Stafford, from Ballyogan, south Dublin, was not aware that there was anyone in the car when he jumped on the bonnet. Mr Stafford had been on his way to his mother's house after a night out with friends when the incident happened at Clonard Lawn in Sandyford in the early hours of November 8, 2009. His friend James Clarke was on the roof and Mr Stafford was on the bonnet. Mr Clarke said they were not aware that anyone was in the car at the time. The car drove off and travelled more than 30 metres. Mr Stafford clung to the bonnet, before falling under and being dragged along the road. He suffered a cardiac arrest on his way to St Vincent's Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination found he died as a result of multiple injuries, particularly severe chest injuries. The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure. Following a Garda investigation, Mr O'Sullivan was charged with dangerous driving causing death, and was acquitted. The MIBI said at the start of this year that uninsured drivers who were responsible for road traffic accidents faced the prospect of being pursued for substantial costs. Punishment terms facing the uninsured drivers responsible include having their assets or vehicles seized by a sheriff, mandatory debt repayments, bankruptcy proceedings, the mandatory sale of their home and even imprisonment. Gardai are at the scene of the shooting in Darndale, north Dublin. Gardai cover evidence at the scene of a fatal gun attack in the grounds of the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Darndale this evening...Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Garda forensics pictured in the laneway beside Our Lady of Immaculate National School in Darndale where a man was fatally shot.Pivture Credit:Frank McGrath 22/5/19 The countrys latest murder victim was shot dead as he was walking with his four-month-old baby in a buggy outside a Dublin primary school. The man (20s) was shot dead 17 hours after his close pal Sean Little was killed in a separate shooting. Moments before he was shot, the young dad posted a tribute to Little online. Detectives have launched separate murder investigations following the escalation in gun violence in the capital. Last night Little (22) was shot dead and his body discovered at Rowans Little, Balbriggan. Around 17 hours later a second fatal shooting took place outside a primary school in Darndale. The victim was shot dead in a targeted attack shortly before 4pm. Both this victim and Sean Little were close friends and detectives are now investigating if the two killings are directly linked. Expand Close Gardai at the scene of a fatal gun attack in the grounds of the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Darndale this evening...Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai at the scene of a fatal gun attack in the grounds of the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, Darndale this evening...Picture Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin Several garda units are at the scene and senior investigators have also attended the scene along with a helicopter. The victim's body was still at the scene this evening. Plain clothed officers have also been inspecting an area beside the school yard. Gardai say they are appealing for witnesses in relation to the shooting at a laneway adjacent to Our Lady Immaculate National School, Darndale. "An incident room has been established at Coolock Garda Station. We are appealing for anyone who was in the area shortly before 4pm to contact Gardai in Coolock Garda Station on 01 666 4200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station," a spokesman said. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has appealed for anyone with information on the recent shootings to come forward. "I utterly condemn any violent loss of life and I am extremely concerned about the three shooting incidents that took place in Balbriggan, Mulhuddart and Darndale in the past 24 hours," Mr Flanagan said. "An Garda Siochana are now conducting full enquiries into the circumstances surrounding these incidents and I would appeal to anyone who has information which could help to please come forward to them as soon as possible," he added. Fianna Fail justice spokesman Jim O'Callaghan said the spate of shootings highlight how brazen the perpetrators have become. The prevalence of gun related violence has continued to intensify, and it is essential that all possible resources are provided to protect the public," he said. "This afternoons shooting took place near a national school and both staff and pupils are likely to have only made their way home in the hour or so before hand. That is a terrifying precedent. To witness a shooting or hear about one occurring is not normal. We can never accept gun crime as an aspect of everyday life. No child or young person growing up in any community should be led to believe that firing a gun is reasonable," he added. Technology is a game-changer in education. Its power to transform teaching and learning is well documented, while familiarity with it can nurture a curiosity in students that may ultimately inspire further innovation. At the very least, digital literacy is now as essential as proficiency in reading and maths for every student and in every society. In recent weeks, the debate over the 3bn rural broadband rollout plan, has turned the spotlight on the digital divide in Ireland and the need to ensure that parts of the country, and their schools, businesses and homes, are not left behind in the technological revolution. The challenges are even greater in developing countries where education levels already lag behind the rest of the world - a gap that can only be exacerbated if access to technology in education is beyond their reach. Quality education is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030. Government agencies, such as Irish Aid, and non-governmental organisations play a crucial role supporting countries in, for instance, sub-Saharan Africa in meeting those targets. Camara, an Irish charity, is one such non-governmental organisation whose mission is to transform education using technology to empower disadvantaged students. Camara takes in new and pre-used computers from companies, and refurbishes them for re-use in communities, both in Africa and Ireland. It is now embarking on its third, and largest, agreement with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education. Zambia and Kenya are among the other African countries where it has a presence. In an 11.5m deal recently signed with the Ethiopian government, Camara committed to bringing 21,000 computers to 840 schools in the country over the next three years. Some 690,000 students should benefit. Camara's work doesn't stop at installing the hardware - it delivers a wrap-around support package that also includes educational software tailored to the particular needs of school communities, teacher training and a back-up service. The Ethiopian government will contribute 7.3m to the new project, while Camara Education will fundraise to gather the balance of 4.2m. In other words, for every 1 Camara Education raises, the Ethiopian government is matching it with a further 1.70. Camara Education CEO Jean Cox-Kearns says the project will have a huge impact in schools all across Ethiopia, with some students getting access to computers for the very first time. She says with a better education, a student has a much higher chance of attaining a job and a career. "A career means a prosperous future for them and their family." In terms of impact, Camara already knows it can make a difference: in 2018, 94pc of teachers who worked with Camara reported that using the ICT equipment and software had a positive effect on the ICT skills of students, while 83pc of teachers reported that it enhanced students' overall academic performance. Abiy Ebbiso, Director, Regional Education ICT Directorate with the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, says what differentiates Camara is the fact that it works on capacity building. "They don't just donate the computers, but start their work by analysing what the school's actual capabilities are and what can be improved. They don't just dump the computers, but work to raise the capabilities and capacity of the teachers and schools." Each school in Camara Education's new project will receive 26 computers and a full suite of teacher training. The schools will also be supported with maintenance visits to ensure the computers keep working. Each computer will come loaded with content focussed on the STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering, and maths. A selection of the schools will receive software, allowing teachers to assign specific content to students, design and set tests, and monitor individual student performance over time. This means the teacher can ensure that no child in their class is being left behind. That is why Camara needs 5,000 for each school, and why it is launching a new corporate fund-raising campaign. Nostra, an IT services firm based in Lucan, Dublin and a long-time partner to Camara - donating more than 800 computers since 2013 - has taken that relationship a step further as the first company to come on board as a sponsor. Nostra CEO Kevin O'Loughlin says they understand the power of IT to transform an organisation and wanted to support Camara Education in bringing the power of computers to Ethiopian classrooms. The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has announced significant changes to how some Leaving Cert subjects will be marked. Most schools will have let their sixth years go at this stage, so many candidates may be unaware of these changes. While the changes should not have a huge impact on how students will approach those exams, some candidates may be a little thrown off if they first come across them when they are sitting the actual exam. Over the past number of years, the SEC has been exploring the introduction of online marking, i.e. the scanning of Leaving Cert and Junior Cert papers so they can be accessed online by the examiners for marking. The new system started in 2016 with Junior Cert higher level French and the same process was introduced for Junior Cycle English in 2017. This year, online marking is being extended to Leaving Cert maths, chemistry, physics, biology, politics and society and LCVP. At Junior Cycle, business and science have been added. How will this impact candidates? For most, it will have very little impact and some may not even notice that anything has changed from their experience of past papers and mocks. The exam structure will be exactly the same as before, with the same layout as seen in previous years. However, in some papers, answer booklets may look a little different from those used in previous years. For example, the short answer section of the Leaving Cert biology paper is now a separate, returnable section. New answer books have been created for use in chemistry, physics and biology. These will contain both writing and graph paper. It is important for candidates to understand that just because graph paper has been provided, it does not mean it will be required, so they should not be thrown off by this. We have been advised that there will be ample paper available in these booklets and candidates should not require extra paper. Therefore, exam superintendents have been asked not to supply any extra paper unless the student has already filled their answer booklet. In previous years, it was possible, and sometimes preferable, to ask for any graph paper or extra paper one might require early so that it is to hand when required. The original answer booklets only contained blank writing paper. In the new answer booklets, there will also be a place for students to indicate which question they are about to answer. This must be completed. It is also essential that a new page is used for every answer. Finally, all of the above subjects should now be completed in black or blue pen only and, specifically, gel pens should not be used. Diagrams should still be completed in pencil. Most students would do this anyway, but it is important to highlight it just in case. Candidates will now indicate their subject, level and whether they are taking the English or Irish version of the paper by shading in the boxes provided rather than writing the information on the cover. A little bit of understanding of what to expect should prevent any problems arising. Aoife Walsh is a guidance counsellor at Malahide Community School, Co Dublin A Fine Gael election hopeful has accused Peter Casey of trying to use her sexuality against her as they go head-to-head for a seat. Former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh said her experience on the campaign trail has been mostly positive - but cited a few exceptions, including her exchanges with the businessman. She described herself as "really surprised" and "quite disappointed" that he has accused her of going after the "pink vote". Ms Walsh also claimed Mr Casey had unfairly tried to rule her out of the contest on the grounds of age. He has said the Mayo woman is "very inexperienced". "She'll be a good politician one day. I think she's obviously latching on to the vote of the LGBT community and other things like that," he said. Ms Walsh told the Irish Independent her rival was "grabbing headlines". "I don't talk about my sexuality. People see me as more than my sexuality," she said. The pair are locked in a battle for the final seat in the Midlands North-West constituency along with Fianna Fail's Brendan Smith. Ms Walsh's running mate Mairead McGuinness, Independent Luke 'Ming' Flanagan and Sinn Fein's Matt Carthy are tipped to take the first three seats in the European election. Fine Gael is now pumping massive resources into Ms Walsh's campaign in a bid to get an unexpected win. The party made a decision yesterday to allow her to campaign in Kildare, which was originally reserved for Ms McGuinness, a sitting MEP. At the start of the campaign, Ms Walsh was restricted to Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal. But last week, she was also allowed into Longford and Westmeath. She described being called a "cheeky upstart" by one voter in the midlands and said Mr Casey has been particularly critical, but insisted being a young person was an advantage. One of her policy promises is to try to secure more funding for the Erasmus programme. In a clear dig at Mr Casey, who finished second in last October's presidential election, she said her message to voters in the final hours will be that "populism is alive and well". "It's in this country. If we send four voices that do not represent our communities it'll be a mistake. I want people to realise I'm in with a shot," she said. Ahead of voting, Mr Casey is ramping up his call for tighter immigration controls. He said Ireland "cannot afford" people who are here illegally and "welfare tourists coming from EU countries that are not working and not prepared to help out". European Parliament candidate Peter Casey has described himself as an Irish racist with three days to go before the election. The controversial Irish American businessman said he makes no apologies for describing himself as a racist and continued to criticise the EUs policies on migration. Speaking on Independent.ies Floating Voter podcast, Mr Casey said: Im not going to apologise to the political correct brigade. The Donegal based politician was responding to a video uploaded to Twitter in which he was recorded saying: People say youre racist. Of course Im racist, Im a very proud Irish man. During a heated podcast debated, Mr Casey claimed he later described himself as an Irish racist when he was being filmed speaking on the street in Dunboyne, Meath but this was not uploaded to the social media platform. Im proud to be Irish and if youre not proud to be Irish then you have a problem with that, he told the Floating Voter. Mr Casey also denied he was deliberately stoking racial tensions during the election campaign by raising issues around migration. The businessman, who has spent most of his life living in America, called for stronger borders in Ireland and Europe to prevent further migration. He also claimed the Government are lying to people bout migration. Mr Casey said the country cannot afford people coming into Ireland illegally and called for tighter passport controls. However, he refused to criticise Irish people who are living illegally and not paying taxes in the US. Mr Casey said the plight of the undocumented Irish was a sad situation. They go to American and they dont arrive and say can I have a free house, free education, free social welfare. They get off the plan and they start working the very day they get there, he said. Mr Casey also doubled down on his comments on Fine Gael candidate Maria Walsh who chasing the pink vote because of her sexuality. If the cap fits wear it. Shes going after a certain vote and thats fine. I dont have any issue with that, he said. He added: She keeps reminding us she represents the young people, shes well past her 20s now A cacophony of barking fills my mother's house in Killarney and is swiftly followed by her, exasperated, asking: "What's riled the dogs now?" Our yapping terriers pause as the letter box shuts and a familiar paper-rustle skirts the ground. A Healy-Rae has just dropped the latest piece of election literature into the O'Connor household. "That was Maura," my mother says with a sense of familiarity. The pair have never met but everyone knows the Healy-Raes. The leaflet is added to the pile of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, Green Party and whatever-you're-having-yourself brochures gathered in a corner of the kitchen. The Healy-Rae young guns, Maura, Johnny and Jackie Jnr, are the latest generation vying for council seats in Kerry and none of them wants to be the first in the family to fall short on polling day. No Healy-Rae has ever lost an election. Although she is a sitting councillor, this is Maura's first contest. She was co-opted to take her father Danny's council seat for the Killarney electoral area when he was elected to the Dail in 2016. "Obviously down through the years we have all been out canvassing for my grandfather, dad, Michael and Johnny but it is different when you know it's your name on the ballot. You can't help but feel like you are up against it," she says as we follow her hustings to a supermarket in Killarney. She is cut from the same cloth as her father. She worries about rural isolation, defines herself as pro-life and thinks farmers are being harshly singled-out by a green agenda. However, it is boundary changes ahead of these elections that have really got her worked up. She points out that families in Kilcummin, 6km from Killarney, are now aligned with Castleisland, 14km from their homes. But this fuels her hunger. "I would appreciate if you would consider me on Friday," she tells each shopper. The response is largely positive and support even comes from outside of the county. "You should be running in west Cork," two visitors to the area tell her. Maura is a secondary school teacher in Bandon, and jokes that she "won't go national yet" with her political career. Her brother Johnny is a veteran councillor at this stage, with eight years sitting locally for the sprawling Kenmare district. He's on the canvass about 10km away from Maura at the foot of Carrauntoohill with Timmy O'Sullivan, a long-time Healy-Rae supporter in the 1980s. The pace is relentless and between houses Johnny is taking calls on the hands-free about machinery for the family's plant-hire business. Constituents are also in touch, worried that their polling cards haven't arrived. "Hopefully people will recognise the work we have done over the past five years. If we hadn't put that in we would have no chance of picking up any votes this week," he says. Yesterday, Jackie Jnr was focusing on meeting people in Castleisland. He has been knocking on doors since January, lost 22lb in the process and the sole is coming away from his shoe because of the ground he has covered. "I have started in these and I will finish in them," he insists. Last month he appeared at Kenmare District Court over an alleged assault in Kenmare in 2017 but this does not come up on the hustings and locals are happy to meet him. "The county council will be on to you because you'll have their paths worn," is the closest he gets to criticism when the Irish Independent spent an hour with him yesterday. "I am looking to become only the second Healy-Rae to get elected without already holding a seat. That's a huge challenge. My grandfather was co-opted, as was Danny, Johnny and Maura. Only my father has gone in out of the cold, so to speak. I don't want to break the tradition." Danny and Michael are anxious and lend support on the canvass. Danny can't explain why but thinks it is because "you always want better for your children". Michael agrees: "How couldn't you be a ball of nerves?" At least come Friday it will be a while before they come setting the dogs off again. Garda and detectives at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM A burnt out car is removed from the scene of a shooting at Walshestown, Co. Dublin. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM GARDAI believe the young man found dead beside his burning car in north Dublin overnight is known to them through his involvement in organised crime. The victim was shot multiple times at the laneway located at Rowan's Little, Walshestown, near Junction 5 on the M1 in Co Dublin. Officers are investigating if the 22-year-old travelled to the location of the shooting in his own car as part of a deadly set-up. The young man - whose name has not been formally released - is from the Coolock area of the capital. He was known to gardai, but did not have any serious criminal convictions. He had links to the Kinahan crime cartel and the Mr Flashy gang who have been involved in a signifciant Finglas feud. He is suspected of being a main player in the drug scene on the northside of the capital for the past 18 months. He was a close pal of drug dealer Zach Parker (23) who was shot dead in Swords last January in an unsolved case. Expand Close Garda at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Garda at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM There have been no arrests so far in the case which is being investigated by Balbriggan gardai. The man's body is believed to have been found at the edge of the road around 10ft from the burned out car. Early indications are that the man had been shot in the head and chest on a quiet country lane. Gardai were informed of the incident shortly before midnight, and the emergency services rushed to the scene. The car was an Opel Insignia, and it was extinguished by a unit from the Dublin Fire Brigade. "Gardai at Balbriggan Co Dublin are investigating a fatal shooting incident which occurred at Rowans Little, Walshstown, Balbriggan, Co Dublin at approximately 11.20pm last night," a spokesman said. Expand Close Gardai and detectives at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai and detectives at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM "Gardai and emergency services were alerted to a car on fire at the above location and discovered a male (age unknown) with apparent gunshot wounds beside the car. "Investigating Gardai are appealing for anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact the incident room at Balbriggan Garda Station on 01- 802 0510, the Garda Confidential Line 1 800 666 111 or any Garda Station." Members of the garda technical bureau arrived at the scene shortly after 10am and began a forensic search of the area around the body and the car. They could be seen in white forensic suits working at the scene. Shortly after 11.30am today the Morgue ambulance arrived at the scene, and the body was removed for post mortem. More to follow LaPorte and Porter County students seeking a career in the surgical environment can apply for an award of up to $5,000 through the Maria Petti Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established as a living memorial to Maria Petti, Franciscan Health Michigan City peri-operative director who mentored many students over her 35 years at the hospital. Applicants must meet the following requirements: be a U.S. citizen and high school graduate; be a resident of LaPorte County or Porter County; provide proof of active enrollment in an accredited surgical technology program or nursing program; completed pre-requisite nursing courses prior to application; and have a 2.5 GPA or higher. Special consideration will be given to applicants with a volunteer or work history in health care. Scholarship winners will be given preferential consideration for hire upon graduation. Applications and two letters of recommendation must be postmarked on or before May 31. More information is at 219-877-1969. THE Chairman of the State agency charged with solving the housing crisis is set to turn a historic 19th century Georgian house into "co-living" accommodation. Chairman of the Land Development Agency John Moran said the building in Limerick could hold up to eight people "who are happy" to share a kitchen and living room. He said it would be the first of its kind in the city. Georgian buildings have been used for shared living before, although in more impoverished circumstances, in the 1800s and 1900s. Speaking about the "co-living" of today, he said: "Georgian houses by their nature tend to be too large for single-unit homes, but what they're perfect for is being sub-divided into purpose-built co-living spaces. "Our builders haven't finished our one yet, but it's not the same model that we've seen heavily criticised in recent days." Ginger Spice Geri Horner has given fans a sneak peek of the Spice Girls reunion tour, just days before it kicks off in Dublin. The group will reunite on stage for the first time in almost seven years for their comeback tour, which starts on Friday in Croke Park. Horner posted a picture of herself rehearsing on stage alongside Melanie Chisholm - Mel C - on Instagram. She also shared a photo of the stage, complete with large screens on either side and a large Spice World setpiece in the centre of the stage, with backing dancers in front. She wrote: "Spice World Production rehearsals done! Welcome to Spice World 2019! See you in Dublin! #3daystogo #HouseofGinger." Horner and Chisholm will be joined by Melanie Brown, (Mel B) and Emma Bunton for the tour, while fifth Spice Girl Victoria Beckham has decided not to take part. The Spice Girls have been preparing for the tour for the past few weeks, but in April they were forced to deny a rift between them as Brown missed the start of rehearsals. The speculation of a row came after Brown's claims that she previously had a one-night stand with Horner. The Spice Girls will be the first girl group to headline in Croke Park. It will be their first concert on Irish soil in 21 years and their first concert in general since their performance at the 2012 Olympic Games closing ceremony in London. Fans have been urged to arrive early and be prepared to queue, albeit briefly, at individual entrances before doors open at 6pm. However, gardai said they "strongly discourage any overnight queueing". The Spice Girls are due to take to the stage at 8.15pm and will perform a two-hour set. Concert promoters MCD are confident the 75,000-ticket concert will be sold out. They said that due to some changes in staging and production requirements, they will release an undisclosed number of additional tickets. Gardai yesterday advised concertgoers to only to buy tickets from credited sources in order to avoid scams or unfair prices. So far, about 20pc of the tickets have been sold in countries outside of Ireland, with some fans travelling all the way from Taiwan or Brazil. The concert is estimated to generate around 41m for Dublin city, with organisers calling it a "fourth All-Ireland final" in terms of its revenue-raising potential. Scene of the search for the remains of one of the Dissapeared Joe Lynskey in bogland near Oristown in Co Meath (Photo: Kyran O'Brien) This photo of a young Robert Nairac was taken in Spiddal, Co Galway Photo: RTE A mystery donor has offered a reward of $60,000 (54,000) for information that could help locate the remains of three people who went missing during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. Columba McVeigh, Joe Lynskey and Robert Nairac were among 16 people classified as Disappeared who were believed to have been killed and secretly buried by republicans in the 1970s and 1980s, and are the only three yet to be found. CrimeStoppers said the reward had been offered by an anonymous donor and amounted to $20,000 (17,900) for the recovery of each body. "Our reward is not about finding out what happened to these people," said Fiona McCormack, director of operations for the charity. "The families of those who have yet to be found deserve to be able to hold a long-overdue funeral for their relatives." Expand Close This photo of a young Robert Nairac was taken in Spiddal, Co Galway Photo: RTE / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp This photo of a young Robert Nairac was taken in Spiddal, Co Galway Photo: RTE The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains (ICLVR), which has worked to locate the bodies of the Disappeared, said it hoped the reward could help "close a chapter of a terrible story in the lives of families who have suffered decades of torment not knowing where their loved ones were buried". "Whether or not it helps bring forward information that we haven't had to date and which results in the location and recovery of the remains we'll have to wait to see," said Geoff Knupfer, lead investigator for the ICLVR. "If it does it will be a hugely significant breakthrough. "We should never lose sight of the fact that the whole issue of the Disappeared is fundamentally a humanitarian one. Expand Close Columba McVeigh was one of the Disappeared (Family Handout/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Columba McVeigh was one of the Disappeared (Family Handout/PA) "There are three families who have suffered so much and are still waiting for their loved ones to be brought home for Christian burial." Mr McVeigh, from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, was abducted, shot and secretly buried by the IRA in November 1975. Republicans with knowledge of the crime have told the commission, in confidence, that the 19-year-old was buried across the border in Bragan bog near Emyvale, but searches in the bog have not uncovered his remains. Former Cistercian monk Mr Lynskey was kidnapped in west Belfast in August 1972, while British soldier Mr Nairac was taken in South Armagh and killed by the IRA in 1977. Distraught: Jamie Oliver took to Twitter to express his sadness. Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images Jamie Oliver is "devastated" after his restaurant chains collapsed into administration, making around 1,000 staff members redundant. Administrator KPMG has closed 22 of the celebrity chef's 25 restaurants, after investment could not be secured to keep them trading. The business, which includes Jamie's Italian, Barbecoa and Fifteen, confirmed the closure of all its sites in the UK. Jamie's Italian in Dundrum Town Centre will not be affected by the news. Gerry Fitzpatrick, who operates Jamie's Dundrum under a franchise arrangement, said it is "business as usual" for the restaurant. "Jamie's Dundrum is a very healthy, profitable business, we are completely independent of the UK," he said. Meanwhile, Oliver took to Twitter to express his sadness, saying he was "devastated" and thanking those who "put their hearts and souls into this business over the years". "We launched Jamie's Italian in 2008 with the intention of positively disrupting mid-market dining in the UK high street, with great value and much higher quality ingredients, best-in-class animal welfare standards and an amazing team who shared my passion for great food and service. And we did exactly that." Mr Oliver offered 4m (4.5m) to support a last-minute search for funds, but with "no investment forthcoming" and in light of difficult trading conditions, the firm appointed the administrators. Around 1,300 people are estimated to work for the UK business in total. Will Wright, partner at KPMG and joint administrator, said the immediate priority was to work with employees who have been made redundant. Sean Little (inset), and a burnt out car is taken away from the scene of his death in north Dublin. Photo: Damien Eagers A young man shot dead in north Dublin has been named locally as Sean Little (22). Little was found dead next to a burning car after being shot multiple times at a laneway located at Rowan's Little, Walshestown, near Junction 5 on the M1 in Co Dublin. Expand Close Gardai and detectives at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gardai and detectives at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM Detectives are probing if Little - who is from the Coolock area of the city - travelled to the location of the shooting in his own car as part of a deadly set-up. He was found dead beside the burning car overnight and is known to gardai through his involvement in organised crime. Despite being known to gardai the man did not have any serious criminal convictions. It's understood the man was a juvenile offender and had one conviction as an adult for a road traffic offence. Little had links to the Kinahan crime cartel and the Mr Flashy gang who have been involved in a signifciant Finglas feud. He is suspected of being a main player in the drug scene on the northside of the capital for the past 18 months. He was a close pal of drug dealer Zach Parker (23) who was shot dead in Swords last January in an unsolved case. Gardai in Balbriggan are investigating, but no arrests have been made as of yet. The victim is believed to have been shot in the head and the chest. A forensic examination is still being carried out with the scene sealed off. Gardai were informed of the incident shortly before midnight, and the emergency services rushed to the scene. The car was a 161 D Opel Insignia, and it was extinguished by a unit from the Dublin Fire Brigade. Expand Close Garda at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Garda at the scene of a shooting at Walshestown. Picture credit; Damien Eagers / INM "Gardai at Balbriggan Co Dublin are investigating a fatal shooting incident which occurred at Rowans Little, Walshstown, Balbriggan, Co Dublin at approximately 11.20pm last night," a spokesman said. "Gardai and emergency services were alerted to a car on fire at the above location and discovered a male (age unknown) with apparent gunshot wounds beside the car. A SENIOR minister has defended Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey's right to take a personal injury action against a Dublin hotel. Regina Doherty said: Every individual has a right to take a case. Her remarks came after Independent Senator Michael McDowell warned the government's efforts to tackle claims culture cannot be taken seriously when a Fine Gael TD is taking a case over falling off a swing. Ms Doherty insisted the government is incredibly serious in its efforts in the area while saying she would not comment on any particular case. But asked directly if she would defend Ms Bailey's right to take a cases she replied: Every individual has a right to take a case. In response to Mr McDowell's remarks Ms Doherty pointed out that the Cabinet agreed an amendment yesterday to set up a committee of judges to set guidelines for public injury pay-outs. Expand Close Fine Gael's Maria Bailey. Photo: Steve Humphreys / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fine Gael's Maria Bailey. Photo: Steve Humphreys We don't want to stop anybody from going to court and making a claim if they feel that they have a right to do so but what we absolutely cannot have and tolerate is exorbitant claims being given to people off the back of previous records of exorbitant claims that are putting people out of business. We can't have that. I said to you we need to balance the rights of individuals to go to court. Every single citizen in this country has the right to go to court if that's what they want to do. Nobody. And I don't think anyone here is suggesting that we'd want to take that away. Mr McDowell highlighted the controversy surrounding Ms Baileys personal-injury action against the Dean Hotel in the Seanad. She claims she suffered injuries to her head, back and hip when she fell from a swing inside the premises on Dublins Harcourt Street. The hotel is denying any liability. It comes at a time when there is sharp political focus on personal injuries payouts in the courts, a matter that barrister Mr McDowell chose to highlight last night. He questioned the proposition that there should be supervisors for swings when adults are using them and that its a matter of civil liability if there isnt. We live in a strange world where civil liability can exist in such circumstances, Mr McDowell added. But who knows, maybe were only hearing a portion of the evidence. If the Government is serious about driving down the claims culture, we cannot stand idly by when adults lose their seat with two objects, one in each hand and fall off a swing and then claim that there should have been a supervisor looking after them. He added: Especially when it comes from somebody who has so much public influence and clearly influence over Government policy in these matters. The Government is to fast-track changes to the law to allow for the establishment of a committee of judges to set guidelines for personal injury payouts. It comes after judges shot down a previous stop-gap proposal by Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan aimed at bringing down the size of awards for minor injuries. A Government spokesman said the guiding principles of the proposed committee will be that "modest injuries should attract modest damages". The committee would also promote the need for consistency in the level of personal injuries damages being awarded by the courts. Mr Flanagan got Cabinet approval to prioritise the drafting of amendments to the Judicial Council Bill 2017 to provide for the establishment of the committee. Legislation for the setting up of a Judicial Council has stalled for long periods since it was first brought forward two years ago. Mr Flanagan now hopes to get it over the line before the Dail's summer recess. Earlier this month, the Irish Independent revealed that Chief Justice Frank Clarke raised serious concerns about a previous proposal to set up an interim group to revise guideline award levels for less serious injuries such as whiplash. It would have been made up of judges and officials from the Department of Justice and the Personal Injuries Assessment Board (PIAB). Mr Flanagan had wanted to set up the group as an interim measure pending the introduction of a Judicial Council. However, after consultations with other judges, Mr Justice Clarke wrote to the minister to warn there were "very considerable legal difficulties" with that proposal. He said it "would almost certainly lead to a succession of challenges". Mr Flanagan has dropped the stop-gap measure in favour of fast-tracking amendments to allow for the setting up of the personal injuries guidelines committee within the framework of the Judicial Council. The amendments are to be moved in the Seanad. They are to give effect to a recommendation of the Personal Injuries Commission, which suggested that the proposed Judicial Council should have a role in setting the guidelines for appropriate damages for various types of injuries. The commission, chaired by Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, found that award levels for minor injuries in this country are almost five times higher than in the UK. Joes, Pats and Michaels are outnumbering women in some of the local election races. There are 16 of the local electorate areas (LEAs) with only one female candidate, and six have no female candidates at all. And there are six LEAs around the country that have more men with the same first name than women running. Joes, Pats, Peters, Michaels and Brendans outnumber the women in Castlecomer, Castlebar, Killaloe, Loughrea, Clane and Kells. Castlecomer is a town with more Pats and Michaels than women running - but Kilkenny councillor Mary Hilda Cavanagh is remaining positive, having retained her seat for 40 years. "It is challenging being the only woman," she says. "I think the overall decision-making is definitely affected by a lack of women sitting on the council. We see things from a different perspective." Meanwhile, in Castlebar, Donna Sheridan is the only woman running. She is a first-time candidate for Fine Gael. "It is difficult for women to get a start in politics," Ms Sheridan says. "But on the doorstep, it's been mainly positive. People are saying it's great to see a woman and someone young on the ballot." In Cork county, Melissa Mullane is the only woman contesting Mallow. The Sinn Fein councillor said the lack of representation of women in her area was disappointing. Josepha Madigan campaigning for a Yes vote in the divorce referendum yesterday. Picture: Damien Eagers Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey is being represented by a law firm of owned by the family of party colleague Josepha Madigan in her case after falling from a swing. But Culture Minister Ms Madigan yesterday moved to distance herself from the controversy over the fellow TD's legal suit. A law firm run by her brother, Patrick, is representing Ms Bailey in the case. The minister also worked with Madigans Solicitors, alongside other members of her family, before entering Leinster House as a Fine Gael TD. It comes after the Irish Independent revealed that Fine Gael TD Maria Bailey is suing the Dean Hotel in Dublin over alleged injuries she received after she fell out of a swing. The hotel is denying any liability. Neither Ms Bailey or Fine Gael have so far commented on the case. When asked about the case yesterday, Culture Minister Ms Madigan stressed that she is no longer involved with the company. "I left the practice in 2017," she told the Irish Independent. Asked whether the image of a fellow Government TD initiating legal proceedings after falling from a swing was a bad look for the Government, she replied: "I'm not going to comment on any individual cases." The controversy over Ms Bailey's law suit has caused considerable disquiet within Fine Gael. A number of the party's TDs have privately expressed concern that the high-profile case will damage the Government at a time when they are already under pressure over rising insurance costs for businesses. Campaigners claim premiums are being pushed up by personal-injury claims. Ms Bailey is taking the case alleging she suffered injury and long-term effects following the fall. Her solicitors say that she suffered soft-tissue injuries and was diagnosed with concussion. It is claimed that Ms Bailey can no longer sit or stand for long periods without experiencing pain or discomfort. The Dun Laoghaire TD's solicitors claim she was sitting on a swing "unsupervised", having her photo taken by friends, "when she was caused to fall backwards". The action lists 18 different particulars of alleged negligence or breach of duty by the hotel. Holtend Limited, trading as the Dean Hotel, has lodged a full defence. Ms Bailey's case was mentioned briefly before the County Registrar at Dublin Circuit Civil Court on Monday. She was not present at the hearing but was back in the Dail for its normal sitting yesterday. The 43-year-old was first elected to the Dail for the Dun Laoghaire constituency in 2016. She picked up 10,489 first-preference votes in the election that year. Ms Bailey is chairperson of the Oireachtas Housing Committee and says her areas of political interest include planning, economic development, housing and health. She is an ally of Tanaiste Simon Coveney and supported him in the Fine Gael leadership race, which he lost to Leo Varadkar. A Fine Gael spokesperson yesterday declined to comment on the case. Her Fine Gael colleague Ms Madigan specialised in family law, when she worked at the law firm. She was elected as a TD for Dublin Rathdown in 2016 and made a rare jump from the backbenches to Cabinet in November 2017. She is an increasingly influential figure within the Government and played a key role in the decision to hold Friday's referendum on divorce. On its website, Madigans Solicitors is described as "one of Ireland's most respected law firms", which has been trading for more than 40 years. Attorney General William Barr is all upset because during Trump's first two years in office, federal judges issued 37 injunctions against actions taken by his administration. He contrasts this with only two such injunctions issued during Obama's first two years, and concludes that this proves that federal judges are out of control. Of course, he could have concluded that it proves Trump has done 37 stupid things to only two for Obama, but that conclusion wouldn't please his boss, which of course is Trump. The Governments efforts to tackle claims culture cannot be taken seriously when a Fine Gael TD is taking a case over falling off a swing, a former justice minister warned. Senator Michael McDowell highlighted the controversy surrounding Maria Baileys personal-injury action against the Dean Hotel in the Seanad. Expand Close The swings on the 5th floor outside Sophies Bar in the Dean / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The swings on the 5th floor outside Sophies Bar in the Dean She claims she suffered injuries to her head, back and hip when she fell from a swing inside the premises on Dublins Harcourt Street. The hotel is denying any liability. It comes at a time when there is sharp political focus on personal injuries payouts in the courts, a matter that barrister Mr McDowell chose to highlight last night. He questioned the proposition that there should be supervisors for swings when adults are using them and that its a matter of civil liability if there isnt. Expand Close Michael McDowell. Picture: Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Michael McDowell. Picture: Collins We live in a strange world where civil liability can exist in such circumstances, Mr McDowell added. But who knows, maybe were only hearing a portion of the evidence. If the Government is serious about driving down the claims culture, we cannot stand idly by when adults lose their seat with two objects, one in each hand and fall off a swing and then claim that there should have been a supervisor looking after them. He added: Especially when it comes from somebody who has so much public influence and clearly influence over Government policy in these matters. The Government is aiming to fast-track changes to the law to allow for the establishment of a committee of judges to set guidelines for personal injury payouts. In her case against the Dean Hotel, lawyers for Ms Bailey list 18 particulars of alleged negligence or breach of duty including a failure to have signs or supervisors. Neither Ms Bailey nor Fine Gael have yet commented on the case. Culture Minister Josepha Madigans family's law firm is taking the case, although she no longer works there. Ms Bailey's case against the Dean Hotel was mentioned on Monday in Dublin Circuit Civil Court. It is understood the swings in question are located indoors, on the top floor of the hotel, near a bar and restaurant area. Her lawyers claim there should have been signs or a member of staff to instruct how to use the swing safely. They claim that patrons at the hotel are encouraged to use the swing unsupervised. They also state there was nobody to supervise and intervene if a patron was at risk of a fall, and there was no cushioning of the area surrounding the swing. Her lawyers said that after the fall, Ms Bailey woke up the next morning with a severe pain, and after attending A&E was diagnosed with soft tissue damage and contusions, as well as concussion. Defence papers claim Ms Bailey failed to use the swing in a proper manner and held items in both hands, restricting her ability to balance and preventing her from holding the rope grips properly. The hotel claims that if any injury was suffered, this was due to Ms Bailey's own negligence. Speaking in the Seanad, Mr McDowell said: "As somebody who was careless enough to lose my seat on three occasions in the other house, I was struck by reading in today's Irish Independent about a member of that house who lost her seat while on a swing in a hotel in Harcourt Street recently. "I just want to say two things without commenting on the merits of the case - that it would appear that 55 years after Belfast City Council unlocked the swings on Sunday, the proposition has been put in court that there should be supervisors for swings when adults are using them, and that it's a matter of civil liability if there isn't." He was warned to "tread carefully" by the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Denis O'Donovan - and Mr McDowell replied that he would not comment on the merits of the case. 'Scissor Sisters' mother Kathleen Mulhall has moved back to Dublin and is living in a property on the northside. "I'm trying to get on with my life," the 63-year old grandmother said when asked if she would like to talk. Mulhall is understood to have been at the north city property for a number of weeks after spending years living in London. She was freed from jail in October 2011 after serving a five-year sentence for impeding the investigation into the murder of her lover, Farah Noor, who was butchered by her daughters Charlotte and Linda in a north inner-city flat in March 2005. Her new home is not far from where the horrific murder took place. The mother of six spent a number of years on the run after Charlotte (34) and Linda (42) were arrested and convicted, respectively, of Mr Noor's murder and manslaughter following one of the most gruesome murder trials in Irish history. Charlotte killed him with a Stanley knife and Linda struck him with a hammer after the siblings claimed that he tried to rape one of them. Linda was released in January 2018, but Charlotte could face many more years behind bars. Gardai tracked their mother down in London in February 2008 and she agreed to return to Ireland to face charges. It's one of the great contradictions of the motor industry right now that these appear to be the best of times for the economy but not such great times for new car or van sales. We've always tended towards the belief that van/commercial sales, in particular, were accurate and timely reflections of the economy's true state of well-being and performance, as that has historically been the case. New van sales, especially, rose and fell in tandem with increasing or declining economic activity at the coalface of business and services over the years. And that would very much have been the case up to relatively recently. Until a powerful force was roused from its slumber: used imports. They have soared and surged these past few years on the back of weaker sterling and in the wake of the confusion around Brexit. Generally speaking, we have tended to view imports as being passenger cars only (100,000-plus forecast for this year). But thousands of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) are being imported each year too. Also fuelling the flight to used imports is the opportunity to exploit used van prices that are perceived to be lower than their second-hand counterparts here. The extraordinary (galling even) thing is, as we outline in detail inside on pages two and three of this supplement, that there are some super new vehicles on the home market which should, in reality, be the targets of a much wider audience. It goes without saying that were things different on the Brexit and sterling/euro exchange fronts, the number of new van purchases would be significantly higher. Not alone would that benefit the industry and its workers in increased new car and van turnover, but we as taxpayers would not be losing out on revenue either. From industry and Exchequer perspectives, the loss of revenue on new-sales tax is a major downside of imports. New commercial van registrations for the first four months are down around 10.7pc on last year. At the same time, used import volumes are down by roughly the same percentage. But that still means the proportion of used import LCVs remains at around 26pc of total registrations. It's a big figure. SIMI's director general, Brian Cooke, told Independent Motors: "Not surprisingly for the first quarter of 2019, registrations of LCVs were down 10.7pc as the impact of Brexit filtered into the business community." He added that many companies are "stalling investments as they await a clearer picture on how Brexit will impact them". Mr Cooke continued: "While there has been some recovery in recent weeks, perhaps as a result of less discussion in the media on Brexit, the remainder of the year is difficult to predict, as Brexit with undoubtedly be back in focus in the run-up to the exit date of October 31." Economist Jim Power, who produces quarterly reports for the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, sums up the current situation. He says Brexit is the "overhanging dark cloud" creating major uncertainty and caution in businesses across the economy. In a challenging environment which also includes rising housing costs, high personal taxation and subdued wage growth, the uncertainty is reflected in reduced registrations of new cars and light commercial vehicles. The biggest commercial brands being imported are Ford, Citroen, Peugeot, Toyota and Volkswagen. Between them they account for two-thirds of all used LCV imports. The most popular models are the Ford Transit, Citroen Berlingo, Toyota Hilux and Peugeot Partner. It's interesting too that Toyota leads the pickup imports volumes with the Hilux. It is followed by the Ford Ranger and Mitsubishi L200. Almost all of the used imports are diesel powered. The A-Z of every van and pickup on the market Shetland is home to the annual Up Helly Aa festival (Andrew Milligan/PA) Travel bible Lonely Planet has named the 10 European destinations it says we should all strive to visit this summer. Slovakias High Tatras tops the list, followed by Madrid in Spain, the Arctic Coast Way in Iceland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Bari in Italy. "There's something mythical about the landscape of Slovakia's High Tatras," it gushes. "You may never want to come back down to earth." Shetland, the Scottish archipelago, places sixth in Lonely Planets Best In Europe 2019 list, with high praise for its awesome coastal trails, wicked wildlife watching, and fabled fish and chip shops. Expand Close Shetland boasts craggy coastal scenery (Danny Lawson/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Shetland boasts craggy coastal scenery (Danny Lawson/PA) Visitors should spot otters and orcas from craggy headlands, then ease into the evening at one of Lerwicks local pubs or experience the Viking-inspired Up Helly Aa festival (above) which bursts into fiery life each January, it adds. Lonely Planet's Best in Europe, 2019 High Tatras, Slovakia Madrid, Spain The Arctic Coast Way, Iceland Hercegovina, Bosnia & Hercegovina Bari, Italy Shetland, Scotland Lyon, France Liechtenstein Vevey, Switzerland Istria, Croatia Shetland, which consists of more than 100 islands, only 15 of which are inhabited, is also a Unesco Global Geopark and is said to be more geologically diverse than any similar sized area in Europe. It is the only destination from the UK or Ireland to feature. Lyon in France is in seventh place on the list, followed by Liechtenstein, Vevey in Switzerland, and Istria in Croatia. Expand Close The town of Scalloway has a busy harbour (Andrew Milligan/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The town of Scalloway has a busy harbour (Andrew Milligan/PA) Steven Coutts, leader of Shetland Islands Council, said: Shetland has long been known as a welcoming destination for travellers, and its great to have made Lonely Planet and Europes top 10 this year. Those of us who live here know how fantastic the islands are, with stunning scenery and incredible wildlife on our doorstep. Weve a vibrant economy, tremendous natural resources and a beautiful environment, all of which makes Shetland an excellent place to live, work, study and visit. Read more: Trust the bookies, and this race is over before it has officially begun. Some time this summer, Boris Johnson will become British prime minister. Take a moment to fetch the antiemetics, or make use of the nearest receptacle if a strong gag reflex leaves no time for that. And now, if we've all recovered, to the well known and marginally encouraging fact that never once has a front-runner won the Tory leadership. Yet here on the cusp of the end of days, the past is no guide to the future. On Betfair, Boris has narrowed sharply to a hot 13-8 favourite. In a YouGov poll, he is the membership's preference with 39pc - triple the support of second-placed Dominic Raab on 13pc. As the geriatric xenophobe's wettest dream, Johnson would win any run-off by a landslide. His problem is reaching the final two selected by MPs, who by and large appreciate his limitations better than the members and perhaps himself. Knowing this, his media supporters are taking pre-emptive action to style his potential exclusion from the final showdown as an unconscionable affront to the ancient democratic precepts they invented in the last few days. "It would be monstrous if Tory MPs deny Boris his shot at Downing Street," declared a 'Mail on Sunday' leader, before expressing the hope "for a thoughtful, responsible contest in which all the contenders speak and act with wisdom and generosity". Admittedly it's still early doors there - but so far, so good. An unnamed ministerial supporter describes Johnson's Tory critics as "a cadre of entitled pr**ks". His imminent efforts to reassure the "entitled pr**k" demographic, according to his wise and generous employers at the 'Daily Telegraph', will involve "highlighting his successes as... foreign secretary to remind MPs that he is a man who gets things done". This appears to be written without ironic intent. But if anyone on the Conservative benches has forgotten his triumph in securing Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe her berth in a Tehran cell, by falsely claiming she was training journalists in the region, Johnson will want to remind them how he got that thing done. He isn't the only candidate with achievements worth highlighting, of course. Raab has the success, as Brexit secretary, of negotiating the deal that shocked him into a protest resignation. Raab seems static at the minute, possibly conserving energy for the attritional campaign ahead, but others are on the march. Environment Secretary Michael Gove, whose new big thing is using less bath water, but who suffered an alarming leak of his highly confidential memo on the matter, is positioning himself as the healer. Last Tuesday, he held a dinner for 50 MPs in a location cleverly chosen to emphasise his yearning to reach out to deprived corners of the country. In Chelsea, he "pitched his unity vision". We count the moments until he leaks the details of that. Esther McVey, the erstwhile GMTV journalist and leader of the party's Provisional Anthea Turner Wing, has launched Blue Collar Conservatism, a group dedicated to the interests of "ordinary working people". McVey will then depart for a 10-date pub tour to sell this thrillingly novel philosophy to the punters. It isn't known if she'll be invading Gove's urban deprivation turf in Chelsea. But ordinary working people can risk the sack by bunking off work to catch her first gig at the Brown Cow in Bingley, Yorkshire, later this month. If McVey does win - and you can't rule it out; in that poll, she's somewhere behind Health Secretary Matt Hancock, who makes a strong early showing with 1pc - her Denis Thatcher will be fiance and fellow Tory MP Philip Davies. As PM, the rise in her income to double his would confirm Davies's conviction that the gender pay gap is "a problem... stirred up by those who can be described as militant feminists and the politically correct males who pander to this nonsense". Jeremy Hunt is quiet at the minute, but his rival for the Remainer-faking-it-as-an-ultra demographic isn't. Sajid Javid's deliciously subtle appeal to hardliners took him to Scotland Yard on Monday to give "a major speech" about tackling extremism. Amber Rudd and Rory Stewart have relaunched the One Nation caucus of 60 Tory MPs with a request to the party to "reject the comfort blanket of populism". Or "of Boris", as my English leadership campaign dictionary translation translates. Good luck to them with that. And "friends of Steve Baker" reveal the ERG self-dramatist is threatening a crack unless Johnson and Raab vote against Theresa May's deal when it makes its final appearance. "Steve's been contacted, [always a concern when a minor celeb takes to referring to himself in the third person] by a number of colleagues asking him to run, and so far he's been listening to them out of politeness." Bless him. And so it begins, the month-long preamble to two months of guilty pleasure hilarity as the indescribably awful go in pursuit of the most indelibly impossible job (even for a competent leader) in the democratic world. For decades, I've thought that the most perfect metaphor ever conjured for the absolute overwhelming futility of human existence was 'Wacky Races'. If that belief makes it through the summer, I'll take a shallow bath with Gove. Independent News Service With faux presidential aplomb, Nigel Farage has stolen the agenda from under the noses of mainstream politics in the UK. Tories who dithered or schemed are now desperately chasing an uncatchable juggernaut. In UK government circles, there is deep-rooted fear that the anticipated dismal results in the European elections could cascade into the next general election. Theresa May will soon be swept away, opening the way for a full-blooded swashbuckling Brexiteer. None of which bodes well for an orderly Brexit. With Conservatives facing annihilation and a strident Farage tipped to top the polls, the sombre tone struck by Tanaiste Simon Coveney yesterday, on our being closer to a disorderly exit of Britain from the EU, was entirely justified. A grim Cabinet was informed by Mr Coveney that at no point in the past two-and-a-half years has the risk of a no-deal been greater. Businesses who took a cavalier "it will be alright on the night" approach could pay dearly for their lack of preparation for a crash out, he cautioned. Bereft of solutions, Mrs May's government appears to have allowed itself to be swayed by the clamour of beguiling nonsense peddled first by Mr Farage, and then parroted by various Tory grandees as its popularity grew. Prosperous politicians have never grown poor from telling people what they want to hear. They have the luxury of being sufficiently insulated from the possible economic downside. Yesterday, Mrs May's chancellor, Philip Hammond, valiantly tried to introduce a note of reality. "There will be a longer-term effect, which means our economy will be smaller," he said. "I did not come into politics to make our economy smaller." But there is no heeding such warnings as the Brexit drum-roll reaches a crescendo. Near to home, Paris-based think-tank the OECD also warned how a no deal could plunge our economy into recession. We may desperately need the support of our EU allies in the days ahead. To date, the British position has been to regard any reasoned compromise as a defeat. Now, with all bridges burned and with virtually no prospect of achieving it, Mrs May is finally seeking common ground in parliament. Her "new-and-improved" version of the Brexit deal looks as feeble as the others in terms of getting across the line. Offering MPs a vote on a second referendum and a temporary customs union in exchange for supporting her Brexit deal next month looks like another busted flush. Her end was to end the "nightmare future of permanently polarised politics". But it appears to be another example of London talking to London, An international agreement cannot be sidestepped by using domestic law. Brussels and Dublin, key stakeholders in the Withdrawal Agreement, can't be ignored. The worry now is the shameless fiction of a "clean break, no cost, no deal" sold so brazenly by Brexit ultras seems destined to hijack the official narrative. Rob Kearney was the glaring omission from the list of 21 contracts signed, sealed and delivered by Leinster yesterday. And with good reason. The Leinster and Ireland full-back has attracted the interest of at least two French clubs due to the current divide between what Kearney wants and what the IRFU are willing to give. The full-back is contracted up until the end of the World Cup and is looking to continue his career to the end of next season, at the very least. "Discussions are ongoing with Leinster and the IRFU. We had hoped to have reached a conclusion by now," said Kearney's manager, Dave McHugh. "The discussion is live and open. But it has led us to check other options. "We are still hopeful of reaching an agreement with the IRFU and Leinster." Kearney is discovering that the IRFU plays hardball when it comes to contracts for players into their 30s. Indeed, Sean O'Brien has referenced how he would have taken 25% of what London Irish offered to stay at Leinster. In fact, it was earlier this month when O'Brien posted an Instagram photo with Kearney with the message, best of luck in France chieftain been a pleasure.' "The IRFU has made Rob an offer. But if I am honest, it is well below where it needs to be well below," said McHugh. "It has been a little protracted. We are struggling to get it to a point where it makes sense for him. "It is Rob's goal to continue playing rugby while he is fit and healthy and well. "He is a starter both for his country and for his province. We need it to make sense for him. "We appreciate there is an end point to his rugby playing career. But it isn't yet." Kearney is willing to follow O'Brien out of the club if the terms do not adequately reflect his current standing in the game. "Rob is contracted to the end of the World Cup, so I guess we're not in the same rush that Leinster were to announce their 21 new contracts for the start of next season. "He wouldn't return to the province until after the World Cup, so there isn't the same urgency from our perspective." Meanwhile, Cian Healy has signed a two-year extension to his National Contract, joining the previously secured deals for Jonathan Sexton and Robbie Henshaw. It wasn't that long ago that Healy was on the brink of retirement due to a serious neck injury. "Pulling on a Leinster or an Ireland jersey is something that I have always taken a huge amount of pride in and I am thankful for every opportunity I get," said Healy. "There has been some difficult times over the last few years for me personally with injury. "The support within the Leinster and the Irish rugby family was very humbling from fellow players, coaches and supporters. It's something that I won't forget," issued the loose-head. "It made this decision all the easier knowing that I was part of something bigger than just a rugby team." Leinster New Senior Contracts 2019/20 B Byrne, J Conan, M Deegan, S Fardy, C Frawley*, J Gibson-Park, C Healy, R Henshaw, D Kearney, H Keenan*, C Kelleher, R Kelleher*, D Leavy, F McFadden, L McGrath, J Murphy, C O'Brien*, J O'Brien*, H O'Sullivan*, S Penny*, J Sexton. *Players Promoted from the Academy. Leinster Departees 2018/19 T Daly, M Kearney, N McCarthy, J McGrath, I Nagle, S O'Brien, N Reid. Jessica Alba and Cash Warren decided to marry on the day of their wedding. The 38-year-old actress tied the knot with her spouse - with whom she has three children, Honor, 10, Haven, seven, and Hayes, 16 months - over a decade ago in 2008, and has said their decision to walk down the aisle together was made on a whim when they both had a day off. She said: "I remember I looked over at him and we were in bed, and I was like, 'Do you have any meetings this morning?' And he was like, 'I don't think so.' And I was like, 'Should we get married?' And he was like, 'Ok.' "I just didn't want to be rushed through my Nate 'n Al's crispy bacon drowned-in-butter pancake situation." Expand Close Jessica Alba and her producer husband Cash Warren wed in 2008 at a Beverly Hills courthouse with no guests present. Her brother didn't even know about the wedding until Us Weekly called him for comment. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jessica Alba and her producer husband Cash Warren wed in 2008 at a Beverly Hills courthouse with no guests present. Her brother didn't even know about the wedding until Us Weekly called him for comment. The Honest Company co-founder also admitted she was nine months pregnant with her oldest daughter Honor when she and her film producer husband decided to get married. And despite their wedding being decided in an instant, Jessica says her parents weren't so convinced on their partnership at first. Speaking during an appearance on 'The Late Late Show with James Corden', the 'LA's Finest' star said: "[My parents were like] 'Does he really know who you really are? Because you're kind of difficult.' I was like, 'Oh my gosh, Dad.'" Meanwhile, Jessica previously insisted she and Cash, 40, are "best friends", and haven't stopped "liking each other" in their decade of marriage. She said: "My husband and I like each other still. [Laughs] I'm not good with conflict. "I didn't know how to express myself, and I feel like I've evolved into this person who can communicate so you can address stuff before it gets out of control. We're best friends, and we respect each other." Expand Close Cash Warren (L) and Jessica Alba arrive for the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix / AFP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cash Warren (L) and Jessica Alba arrive for the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by JB Lacroix / AFP) A model presents a creation by TOPSHOP during a catwalk show for the Spring/Summer 2018 collection on the third day of The London Fashion Week Women's in London on September 17, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / CHRIS J RATCLIFFE Its a dark day for retail in Ireland. The increasingly complicated landscape has taken four more victims, all impacting the consumer landscape around the country. On Wednesday, it was announced that Arcadia, the UKs biggest retail group, would be closing 23 stores, six of those being Miss Selfridge, Evans, Wallis and Topshop in Ireland. Topshop, once the jewel in Arcadias glistening crown, is essentially retreating from the Irish market at an aggressive rate, closing down two of the biggest stores in Dublin city. When they launched the three-storey flagship store in Stephens Green in 2005, it was, like all Celtic Tiger launches, the source of much fanfare. Sir Philip Green, the chairman of Arcadia who has become increasingly reclusive as both his personal and professional brand continues to suffer, flew over for the occasion and described it as a little bit of Oxford Street in Dublin. He wasnt wrong. It was an accurate read of the shopping environment at the time and while countless stores suffered closures during the recession and recovery; Topshop endured. It was seemingly untouchable, surviving the worst economic conditions in Ireland, occuping a space that is one of the countrys most expensive commercial rents, only to reinvest once again in 2017 across the other side of Dublin city with a new 20,000, square foot premises in the Jervis Shopping Centre. It was not only a sign of faith into some geographical diversification in what was clearly a successful market here, but also an indication that they would be investing when others were pulling back and re-strategising. Part of that way of thinking is what we will call 'The Topshop Problem' (TTP). Once upon a time, Topshop was the only game in town: it was agenda setting, disruptive and set trends in influential ways before Instagram was even invented. It launched Kate Moss first fashion collaboration and their partnership virtually launched the concept of skinny jeans. But, like the style of denim with which it is now synonymous, its become passe. For unclear reasons over the years, Topshop has refused to innovate, dragging its heels with creativity, all the while increasing its prices. Women across their 30s were devoted to Topshop as teenagers, but have grown up and as happens with maturity, fallen out of love with the brand that filled their wardrobes for years. Video of the Day Instead of identifying new opportunities for design and consumer experiences, they seemed to ignore the problem in the hope it would go away. While there is an increasing lack of customer loyalty across the board, they had already missed the boat in luring the lucrative Generation Z market by the time fast fashion brands go their hooks into them. In spring 2018, their version of the slip dress was hard to ignore and it proved so popular, they relaunched it again this season in countless colours and as a result, there are still a number of styles and colours available online still - another trademark of TTP. They havent quite mastered the art of giving consumers what they want, all the while holding back just enough to maintain exclusivity - a basic principle of a successful business. That beautiful store that launched 14 years ago looks virtually identical as it did in 2005 and nothing - least of all shopping - is the same as it was then. To say Topshop is simply a victim of a merciless retail environment would be removing responsibility from its creative directors, who have spent too many years resting on their laurels, and executives who couldnt identity an obvious problem in time. Employers have a responsibility to its employees to provide a good product and in that case, they have let their employees down. And we all suffer as a result. Actress Margot Robbie poses with the trophy for Best Actress in a Comedy during 23rd annual Critics' Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar on January 11, 2018, in Santa Monica, California. / AFP PHOTO / JEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIXJEAN-BAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP/Getty Images Margot Robbie attends the Calvin Klein Collection front row during New York Fashion Week at New York Stock Exchange on February 13, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images) Actress and producer Margot Robbie attends the "Dreamland" world premiere during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on April 28, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP) Margot Robbie attends the photocall for "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2019 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) Australian actress Margot Robbie (L) and US actor Leonardo DiCaprio pose during a photocall for the film "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 22, 2019. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP) Quentin Tarantino and Margot Robbie attend the screening of "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2019 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) Actress Margot Robbie turned heads at the Cannes film festival as she arrived on the red carpet for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) Margot Robbie attends the screening of "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" during the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2019 in Cannes, France. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) Australian actress Margot Robbie poses as she arrives for the screening of the film "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" at the 72nd edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 21, 2019. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP) It's hard not to take notice of Margot Robbie, no matter the context. She moves from blockbuster role to indie lead with an ease rarely seen in films these days and her presence on the red carpet is perfectly aligned with the chameleon-like quality that makes her such an onscreen success. On Tuesday night, she arrived at the Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood premiere at the Cannes Film Festival embodying the late Sharon Tate, whom she is portraying in the film - with hair and makeup reminiscent of the 1960s era she spent months immersing herself in. The uniform at Cannes is strict and women are required to wear high heels and usuallly full length gowns, no matter how high your profile, so her decision to wear a pair of black sequin skinny trousers by Chanel was a choice. The babydoll-style white sequin top with black trim and a blush pink corsage was the type of bold appearance we've come to expect from the 28-year-old over the years. While most young-Hollywood types undergo their style experimentation phase in the public eye, Margot was already an established actress in her native Australia by the time she moved to Los Angeles and was therefore something of a ready-made red carpet package, earning best dressed accolades within just a few months of arriving onto the scene. Expand Close Actress Margot Robbie turned heads at the Cannes film festival as she arrived on the red carpet for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Margot Robbie turned heads at the Cannes film festival as she arrived on the red carpet for Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP) All of her questionable looks are buried in the back of people's memories from the noughties (although the photo archives never forget) and by the time her breakout role in 2013's The Wolf of Wall Street hit cinemas, she was a force to be reckoned with. Although she possesses that je ne sais quoi quality that is really just a mix of genuine talent and the kind of natural beauty that makes you stop in your tracks, she never plays it safe, instead pushing the envelope further and further with the execution of a master. She understands her colouring better than anything and often wears white, which complements her blonde hair and sun-kissed skin tone, but it always boasts some extraordinary feature like feathers, embellishment, draping or floral pattern. Since 2018, she has been a part of the Chanel family and earlier this week she was announced as their new fragrance ambassador, so the fact that she was championing this ongoing partnership at Cannes was expected. Despite her alliance with the French fashion house, she is still permitted to wear other brands on occasion, although the instances are rare, meaning she always the power to surprise. Her stylist Kate Young, with whom she has been working since 2016, said that her elevation to the upper echelons of fashion's elite has been a carefully choreographed transition; each look chosen with the same consideration as the as the big-ticket events. I cant always give the crowd what they want. Im not gonna dress my clients like princesses and put them in sparkly strapless puffball gowns all the time. Thats not what Im hired to do. In some ways I need a bunch of them to hate me, in order for me to have done my job properly," she told the Telegraph last year. "I want it to be the dress that everybody copies for prom, or their wedding, and that everyone remembers that time Margot Robbie wore Chanel'." Expand Close Margot Robbie arrives for the Australian Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2009 at Hisense Arena on November 13, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Margot Robbie arrives for the Australian Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2009 at Hisense Arena on November 13, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) Video of the Day By this morning, Robbie was back in front of the camera a photocall for the film with co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt, wearing a white bardot ankle length dress by - who else? - Chanel, her hair with two distinct braids and the kind of confidence that comes from being known as one of the only movie stars of her generation. "Light in Darkness," a movie co-produced by China and Germany about Peking Opera, started shooting Tuesday in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Based on a true story, the movie tells how an underachieving Peking Opera actor grooms an abandoned child to become a star, with the help of Chinese and German actors and doctors. The "light" in the title refers to the inspiration the daughter provides to her father, who has gone through tremendous difficulties, said the movie's chief director Xia Pan. "I found that German audiences keen on German Opera and ballet also love Peking Opera," said the movie's investor Henry Lei. "For them, Peking Opera is like a mysterious world." "I hope China and Germany will deepen their cooperation in the area of cultural exchange under the Belt and Road Initiative," said Lei, who is the president of Panchina Development GmbH. The movie is expected to be screened in China and Europe next year. The person turned out to be an umbrella (AndrijTer/Getty Images) A woman in New York has been praised by police for alerting them to a possible suicide attempt after she mistook a closed umbrella for a person. Casey McCormick tweeted she thought she saw a woman dressed as a handmaid about to jump from a building and called 911. The sighting turned out to be a table umbrella which, from a distance, looked much like a handmaid from the seminal Margaret Atwood novel The Handmaids Tale. Today I thought I saw a woman dressed as a handmaid about to jump from a building. I called 911. pic.twitter.com/EIrz6wR0bz Casey McCormick (@itsmeCaseyMc) May 21, 2019 The New York Police Departments news account made it clear on Twitter that McCormick had done the right thing in alerting the authorities. Blessed be the umbrella. Thank you Casey and the @POPSUGAR team for alerting us to this crime, glad we could save the day, they tweeted. Jokes aside, if youre ever hesitant about calling 911 dont be! We take all calls seriously, and worse case we get to go home with a great story. Blessed be the umbrella. Thank you Casey and the @POPSUGAR team for alerting us to this crime, glad we could save the day. Jokes aside, if youre ever hesitant about calling 911 - dont be! We take all calls seriously, and worse case we get to go home with a great story. https://t.co/PJLNw9Gx0P NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) May 21, 2019 Better safe than sorry! one Twitter user replied. Gas network company Cadent is to pay a total of 24 million and set up a 20 million community fund after three serious customer failures, Ofgem said. Thousands of residents of blocks of flats served by Cadent were left without gas for longer than they could have been, while others did not receive the required compensation, the regulator said. The company also had no records of 775 high-rise blocks of flats in its gas network. Ofgem said Cadent had committed to an improvement plan after the regulators intervention and would also set up a 20 million fund to support vulnerable consumers. The company will also double the statutory compensation payments, at an estimated cost of 6.7 million, for customers who unexpectedly lose their gas supply for for longer than 24 hours over the next two years. Ofgem said it became aware in 2018 that Cadent was increasingly leaving residents in blocks of flats without gas for longer than necessary, for example during pipe repairs. Cadent has a duty of care and responsibility to millions of people across half of the country who rely on the gas it pipes to their homes for cooking and heatingOfgem Earlier this year, Cadent told the watchdog that it failed to pay the required compensation over six years to a possible 12,000 residents left without gas for more than 24 hours, and also reported that it had no records of gas pipes in many high-rise blocks of flats in its London network. Ofgem said Cadent had admitted all three failings, and the regulators investigation was now closed. Ofgem chief executive Dermot Nolan said: Cadent has a duty of care and responsibility to millions of people across half of the country who rely on the gas it pipes to their homes for cooking and heating. Cadent acknowledges that it failed these customers by leaving many without gas for longer than necessary, failing to properly compensate some of those affected and not having the proper systems in place to keep records of all the high-rise blocks of flats it supplies. Ofgem has worked with the company, which is under new ownership and has given commitment to improve its operations to put customers at the heart of the business, to help it address its failings and prevent further harm to customers interests. Cadent has also agreed to make a significant financial contribution to customers as redress in recognition of its past failings. This is a move we welcome. Cadent chief executive Steve Hurrell apologised, saying the company had fallen short of customer expectations and the higher standards we have now set ourselves. He said: While Cadent is a relatively new business, some of its record-keeping processes and practices go back many decades, and a number of the issues we are addressing today are a legacy of that past. We are taking the opportunity to reshape the company to set new standards of customer experience and are investing significantly through our community fund to reach those customers in the most vulnerable situations. Smartphone and tablet manufacturers often use US, Japanese or Taiwanese microchips (AP Photo/Andy Wong) China is cutting taxes on its fledgling software and integrated circuit industries as US export controls threaten to handicap Chinese tech companies. The Finance Ministrys announcement comes amid a spiralling tariff war with Washington over Chinese technology ambitions. Most smartphones, tablet computers and other electronics are assembled in China. But its manufacturers usually use US, Japanese or Taiwanese microchips and other components. Beijing is developing its own suppliers to capture more of the industrys profits and reduce what the ruling Communist Party sees as a security risk in relying on foreign vendors. Integrated circuits, or microchips, are among technologies China has targeted for state-led development in official plans that helped to ignite Beijings tariff battle with President Donald Trump. Expand Close Donald Trumps United States is engaged in a trade war with China (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Donald Trumps United States is engaged in a trade war with China (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The United States, Europe, Japan and other trading partners say those plans violate Chinas market-opening obligations. Chinese officials have offered to alter details but are unlikely to abandon a strategy they consider a path to prosperity and global influence. Under the new measure, software and integrated circuit companies founded by the end of 2018 will owe no income tax for two years and the rate will be cut by half for three years after that, the Finance Ministry said. Its two-sentence statement gave no details. But the top economic official, Premier Li Keqiang, said May 8 policies to promote the industry would apply equally to foreign-financed and Chinese companies. Beijing has spent billions of dollars over the past two decades on research subsidies and importing technology, sometimes using tactics that have angered Washington and other governments. Mr Trump vetoed the 2017 acquisition of an Oregon tech company, Lattice Semiconductor, after it became clear the buyer was financed by the Chinese government. Political analysts say the sense of urgency over reducing reliance on foreign technology increased after another telecom equipment maker, ZTE Corp., was nearly forced into bankruptcy last year by US export controls. Washington imposed a seven-year ban on technology sales to ZTE over its exports to Iran and North Korea. Mr Trump agreed to restore access after ZTE agreed to pay a 1 billion US dollar (790,000) fine and replace its executive team. Also last year, the Trump administration imposed restrictions on technology exports to a state-supported Chinese semiconductor maker, Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co. The Commerce Department said Jinhua was developing the ability, possibly with US technology, that threatens the viability of American vendors needed for military systems. One measure of how far China needs to go to supply its own technology needs is industry analysts warnings about how many US suppliers may be battered by the loss of Huawei Technologies as a customer. They include industry leaders Micron Technologies, Qualcomm, Qorvo, Skyworks Solutions, Xilinx, Broadcom and Texas Instruments. Expand Close Huawei is Chinas first global tech competitor (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Huawei is Chinas first global tech competitor (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) The Trump administrations order last week will reduce or eliminate Huaweis access to American chips and Google, which provides the Android operating system and services for its smartphones. Vendors are required to obtain government permission for technology sales to Huawei. The Commerce Department said it granted a 90-day exemption for some technology to minimise the impact on rural phone carriers that use Huawei equipment. Huawei, Chinas first global tech competitor, has developed its own chips for smartphones, servers and artificial intelligence. But it needs American components for its top-line phones, network gear and other products. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei said the company has supply backups if it loses access to American components. He said Huawei was talking to Google about possible emergency relief measures for its smartphones but gave no details. Patrick Shanahan and Mike Pompeo after the classified briefing for members of US Congress on Iran (Patrick Semansky/AP) Top Trump administration officials have told Congress that recent actions by the US in response to the situation in Iran have deterred attacks on American forces. After a day of closed-door briefings on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said their objective over recent days has been to deter Iran and now they want to prevent further escalation. Were not about going to war, Mr Shanahan told reporters. Our biggest focus at this point is to prevent Iranian miscalculation, said Mr Shanahan, flanked by Mr Pompeo, after back-to-back briefings for the House and Senate. We do not want the situation to escalate. Expand Close ActingUS defence secretary Patrick Shanahan (Patrick Semansky/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp ActingUS defence secretary Patrick Shanahan (Patrick Semansky/AP) The officials arrived on Capitol Hill as questions mounted over President Donald Trumps tough talk on Iran and sudden policy shifts in the region. Sceptical Democrats sought out a second opinion, holding their own briefing with former Obama administration officials, former CIA director John Brennan and Wendy Sherman, an architect of the Iran nuclear deal. The competing closed-door sessions on Tuesday came after weeks of escalating tensions that raised alarms over a possible military confrontation with Iran. Mr Trump, veering between bombast and conciliation in his quest to contain Iran, threatened on Monday to meet provocations by Iran with great force, but he also said he was willing to negotiate. The results of the meetings on Tuesday were mixed, with views settling largely along partisan lines. Senator Mitt Romney said the action taken by the Trump administration is totally appropriate and sends a message that if you attack our people, there will be a response. Mr Romney characterised it as defensive in nature and meant to deter Iran from malign actions. Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego, a veteran of the Iraq War, left the classified House briefing, saying: What I heard in there makes it clear that this administration feels that they do not have to come back and talk to Congress in regards to any action they do in Iran. Expand Close Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Capitol Hill in Washington (Patrick Semansky/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Capitol Hill in Washington (Patrick Semansky/AP) Democrats are particularly concerned the Trump administration may try to rely on nearly 20-year-old war authorisations rather than seek fresh approval from Congress for any action. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he told Mr Pompeo and the others their consultation with Congress has been inadequate. Mr Shananan said he and the others heard that message and vowed to better communicate with lawmakers and the public. In recent weeks, the US sent an aircraft carrier strike group, four bomber aircraft and other assets to the region, and is moving a Patriot missile battery to an undisclosed country in the area. The Trump administration has evacuated non-essential personnel from Iraq, amid unspecified threats the administration says are linked to Iran. Mr Shanahan said the recent US actions in the region were based on credible threats to US forces and interests in the Middle East. We have deterred attacks based on our repositioning of assets, deterred attacks against American forces, he said. Top Democrats say Mr Trump escalated problems by abruptly withdrawing the US from the Iran nuclear deal, a complex accord negotiated during the Obama administration to prevent Iran from nuclear weapons production. I have yet to see any exhibited strategy, said Democratic Representative Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer. Representative Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, said, What Im interested in more right now is what the administrations strategy is if they have one to keep us out of war. Republicans and Mr Trumps allies in Congress said the threats from Iran are real. Going to the Hill shortly to have a serious discussion with lawmakers about 40 years of unprovoked aggression from the Iranian regime and to explain the prudent steps were taking to deter violence, protect American interests, and support the brave Iranian people. Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) May 21, 2019 The US military appears to have concluded that Iran was behind the reported attack on May 12 on four commercial vessels off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. A US official said on Monday a probe into the attack was finished and evidence still pointed at Iran, although the official did not provide details. On Sunday, a rocket landed near the US Embassy in the Green Zone of Iraqs capital of Baghdad, days after non-essential US staff were ordered to evacuate from diplomatic posts in the country. No one was reported injured. Defence officials said no additional Iranian threats or incidents had emerged in the days since the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier battle group arrived in the Arabian Sea late last week. Iran, meanwhile, announced that it has quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity. Officials said it remains set to the limits of a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it usable for a power plant but far below what is needed for an atomic weapon. Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nuclear weapons, although the West fears its programme could allow it to build them. Poised: US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln has been sent to the Arabian Sea as tensions escalate with Iran. Photo: Garrett LaBarge/U.S. Navy/Handout via REUTERS Iran has quadrupled its production of low-grade uranium enrichment amid increased tensions with the United States, nuclear officials have said. Iranian officials stressed the uranium would only be enriched to the 3.67pc limit set by the 2015 nuclear deal, making it suitable for civilian nuclear power generation but well below the 90pc purity required to make atomic bombs. However, by increasing production Iran will soon exceed the stockpile limit of 300kg. "This is part of Iran's pushback strategy against the Trump administration's maximum pressure campaign," said Sanam Vakil, an expert on Iran at UK think-tank Chatham House. "This is their effort at building up various portfolios that can then be used as leverage or bargaining positions if and when they come back to the negotiating table." Tehran has set a deadline of July 7 for Europe to set new terms for the deal after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal. It has warned it will enrich to medical grade levels of 20pc, closer to the 60pc needed for a dirty bomb or the 90pc for nuclear war head, if no deal is reached. Ms Vakil said Iran would probably breach the deal's stockpile limit in 60 days, "sending a message" to Europe, as well as Russia and China, that its compliance "can't be taken for granted anymore". Former US director of national intelligence James Clapper, speaking to the BBC, played down the uranium announcement, saying: "I don't know that it's necessary to go into the panic mode yet." He warned about the danger of accidental escalation, particularly as both US and Iranian vessels patrol in close proximity in the Strait of Hormuz. "The thing I would be concerned about is some inadvertent incident that could go incendiary," he said. Tensions in the Middle East have flared after officials in the United Arab Emirates alleged four oil vessels, including two Saudi Arabian oil tankers, were sabotaged and Houthi rebels allied with Iran launched a drone attack on an oil pipeline in Saudi Arabia. Iran has denied it was behind any of the attacks. The US has ordered B-51 bombers and an aircraft carrier to the Persian Gulf after warning of unspecified threats from Iran. US President Donald Trump warned on Monday that Iran would be met with "great force" if it attacked US interests in the Middle East, after a rocket landed near the US Embassy in the Green Zone of Iraq's capital Baghdad. No one was reported injured in the rocket attack, which happened days after non- essential US staff were ordered to evacuate from diplomatic posts in the country. Mr Trump told reporters: "I think Iran would be making a very big mistake if they did anything. If they do something, it will be met with great force but we have no indication that they will." The attacks all followed Mr Trump's decision to attempt to cut off Iran's oil exports, roughly a year after he withdrew from the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and six major powers. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected any talks with the US yesterday and called for the government to be given more power to run the sanctions-hit economy in an "economic war". "Today's situation is not suitable for talks and our choice is resistance only," state news agency IRNA quoted Mr Rouhani as saying. Mr Trump's description of Iran's recent actions stood somewhat in contrast with the portrayal given by his national security team. Senator Lindsey Graham tweeted earlier on Monday that Mr Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, had warned about "escalating tensions" with Iran. "It is clear that over the last several weeks Iran has attacked pipelines and ships of other nations and created threat streams against American interests in Iraq," Mr Graham said. The Trump administration has been on high alert in response to what officials have deemed specific and credible threats from Iran against US personnel in the Middle East. But the president is frustrated with some of his top advisers, who he thinks could rush the United States into a military confrontation with Iran and shatter his long-standing pledge to withdraw from costly foreign wars, several US officials told the 'Washington Post' earlier this month. Mr Trump prefers a diplomatic approach to resolving tensions and wants to speak directly with Iran's leaders. The Trump administration's top foreign affairs officials are issuing threats against Iran, and the media is suddenly focused on the possibility of a war with the Islamic republic. The regime in Tehran, not to be outdone, makes counter- threats that only fan the rhetorical flames. But, as tensions rise, the voices of one crucial group are missing: the Iranian people. Most Americans know war through their television screens or perhaps the military service of a relative or friend. First-hand knowledge of armed conflict is an experience that few have. For Iranians, though, it's different. Any military strike will almost certainly take many Iranian lives on Iranian territory. And those who will suffer most have little say in the matter. It's the Iranian people who have borne the brunt of 40 years of enmity between the United States and the Islamic republic, and in the current standoff, they stand to lose the most yet again. Unlike Americans, Iranians have already endured a vicious war in their homeland in recent memory - the war with Iraq, from 1980 to 1988. Every Iranian knows someone who died in that war. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives. Murals of many of them adorn public spaces, and throughout the country streets were renamed after kids who grew up on them and then paid the ultimate price in a battle. Those memorials serve as a constant reminder of the toll of war. Turn on the television in Iran and you can't avoid grainy footage from the front lines of that war. The state attempts to glorify the national sacrifice, but no one wants to endure that again. Despite a range of political opinions and future aspirations among the Iranian public, the desire for long-term peace and stability is one point that binds them. At the moment, though, Iranians are confused and unsure how to react to the escalating tensions. Should they prepare by hoarding non-perishable food? Convert their money to dollars as the Iranian currency tumbles in value? Or flee the country? These are the questions Iranians are nervously asking each other and their relatives abroad as they brace for the next piece of bad news. There is little evidence of Iranians rushing to defend the current regime. But there is equally little evidence that Iranians welcome the form of armed regime change evidently being planned by John Bolton. They simply don't want war. Yes, the people of Iran have made it amply clear that they want to live more like we do in the West, with fewer restrictions on their personal freedoms. They've expressed this view through countless protests, through private conversations and even through the vast numbers of satellite antennas installed on roofs so they can receive information from the outside world. The clearest example is the sustained and dramatic rejection by many Iranian women of the main symbol of the Islamic republic's state-sponsored gender apartheid. For the past 18 months, a growing number of women have been going out in public without wearing the compulsory hijab. There have been many moments over the past decade when the United States could have engaged directly with Iranian civil society and the Iranian people. Many such projects were planned - and then shelved. Some of the plans included exchange programmes that would have given Iranian journalists the opportunity to report from the United States for domestic audiences. Others would have allowed scientists to share information about looming environmental crises, or given tech entrepreneurs access to top IT college programmes or partnerships with Silicon Valley start-ups. Instead, resources that could nourish internal agents of change were diverted toward poorly conceived and under-informed efforts to promote US goals from outside Iran's borders. Today, State Department programmes have little measurable impact on Iranian civil society. Indeed, US policies over the past few decades have always seemed out of touch with aspirations of the Iranian people. Perhaps by design? ( Washington Post) 'Mr Raniere (58), a purported self-help guru, sometimes ordered the women to paddle each other if they disobeyed his rules, Ms Salzman said' (stock photo) Alleged sex cult leader Keith Raniere expected his female followers to be as obedient as "hungry dogs", whether he wanted nude photos on demand or food paid for out of their pockets, his trial has heard. Former devotee Lauren Salzman told a New York City jury that members of secret society Nxivm were brainwashed to respond at all hours when asked for "acts of care". Among the written instructions for those in the sorority were: "You should be a hungry dog for your master." Mr Raniere (58), a purported self-help guru, sometimes ordered the women to paddle each other if they disobeyed his rules, Ms Salzman said. Her testimony came in a trial in which Mr Raniere's lawyers have claimed his contact with Nxivm's members was consensual and intended to help with their personal growth. Ms Salzman (42) took to the stand as part of a plea deal in which she admitted keeping a lower-ranking member of the upstate New York group captive in a bedroom for two years as a form of discipline. Allison Mack, an actor best known for her role as the friend of a young Superman in the 'Smallville' series, has also pleaded guilty to collecting embarrassing material - referred to as "collateral" -used to blackmail "slaves" into silence about the society. Ms Salzman said the "collateral" included nude photos with forced smiles that the women took of themselves when they met three times a week in their "sorority house". Mr Raniere would sometimes demand they reshot the photos if they did not turn out the way he wanted, she said. "The elephant in the room was that he was having sex with lots of these people," Ms Salzman said. The women were branded as part of the initiation into the group, but only senior members were allowed to know the brand represented Mr Raniere's initials, she added. She and others expressed concerns about keeping members in the dark about the brands, Ms Salzman said, but Mr Raniere told them "it shouldn't matter" and that "we were making problems". Ms Salzman has previously told the court Mr Raniere would hold meetings in which he would sit fully clothed in a chair and give lectures on philosophy while "slaves" sat naked on the floor around him. The women were told to make sure their branding was visible and that they "looked happy", the court heard. North Korea has labelled Joe Biden a "fool of low IQ" and an "imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being" after the US presidential hopeful called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a tyrant during a recent speech. Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said the former vice president had insulted the country's supreme leadership and committed an "intolerable and serious politically motivated provocation" against the North. Mr Biden during a campaign launch in Philadelphia on Saturday accused President Donald Trump of cosying up to "dictators and tyrants" like Mr Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "What he uttered is just sophism of an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician," KCNA said. Expand Close Mr Kim has had two summits with US President Donald Trump (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Kim has had two summits with US President Donald Trump (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) The piece said Mr Biden had "gone reckless and senseless, seized by ambition for power". It went on to mention apparent Biden gaffes, such as once appearing to fall asleep during a speech by then president Barack Obama. "It is by no means accidental that here is non-stop comment over his bid for candidacy that he is not worth pinning hope on, backed by the jeer that he is a fool of low IQ," KCNA said. "Yet he is self-praising himself as being the most popular presidential candidate. This is enough to make a cat laugh." North Korea has often unleashed crude insults against US and South Korean politicians in past years to criticise what its saw as insults to its leadership or hostile diplomatic and military policies against Pyongyang. The insults have included racist and sexist diatribes, including when the North called former president Barack Obama "a monkey" and former South Korean president Park Geun-hye, the country's first female leader, a prostitute. During tensions created by a provocative run in missile tests in 2017, Mr Kim called Mr Trump a "mentally deranged US dotard" after the latter said the US would "totally destroy North Korea" if forced to defend itself or its allies. The North's description of Mr Trump dramatically improved after Mr Kim initiated diplomacy with Washington and Seoul in 2018 while attempting to leverage his nuclear arsenal for economic and security benefits. The nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang broke down in February when a summit between the two leaders collapsed over mismatched demands in sanctions relief and disarmament. A federal judge has rejected US President Donald Trump's bid to quash a House subpoena for years of his financial records from his accounting firm. The judge stayed his order for seven days to give the president's lawyers time to appeal. Mr Trump's legal team will appeal, it announced yesterday. The ruling handed an initial defeat to Mr Trump's vow to defy subpoenas by House Democrats and came in one of the first courtroom challenges to a series of lawmakers' investigative demands for his bank records, accounting statements and tax returns. District Judge Amit Mehta refused to block the records request to Mazars USA from the House Oversight and Reform Committee while litigation continues. Attorneys for Mr Trump and associated businesses filed a suit on April 22, arguing that Congress is not entitled to investigate his past personal financial dealings for potential corruption. "So long as Congress investigates on a subject matter on which 'legislation could be had', Congress acts as contemplated by Article I of the constitution," Judge Mehta said in a 41-page opinion. He ruled that the committee's assertions that Mr Trump's records will help it consider strengthening ethics and disclosure laws and enforce a constitutional ban on acceptance of foreign gifts by a president were "facially valid", saying: "It it is not for the court to question whether the committee's actions are truly motivated by political considerations." In court, Douglas Letter, general counsel of the House of Representatives, has charged that the lawsuit would dismiss Congress's constitutional oversight powers as "a nuisance... getting in (Trump's) way while he's trying to run the country". Mr Trump's private attorney Jay Sekulow said when the lawsuit was filed that the president's team "will not allow congressional presidential harassment to go unanswered". An appeal would test decades of legal precedent that have upheld Congress's right to investigate, arguing the novel theory that a president's past dealings are irrelevant to the legislative branch's fundamental job of writing bills. The legal battle comes as House Democrats seek to probe Mr Trump's finances, his campaign and allegations he sought to obstruct justice in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Mr Trump, his three eldest children and companies raised similar arguments in a bid to block a subpoena by the House Financial Services Committee for Mr Trump's bank records issued to Deutsche Bank and Capital One, which a federal judge in Manhattan will hear today. The White House is also resisting House demands for former White House counsel Donald McGahn's records and testimony pertaining to federal investigations of Mr Trump, as well as by testimony by Mr Mueller himself over his recently concluded report on Russian interference in the 2016 US election. Democrats say the lawsuits are long-shot bids to delay the unearthing of politically damaging information about Mr Trump until after the 2020 election, and to obscure from the public ongoing conflicts of interest by officials charged with executing the nation's laws. Mr Trump's attorneys say Democrats' true goal is not governance but political advantage, to expose the Trumps' "private financial information for the sake of exposure, with the hope it will turn up something Democrats can use as a political tool against the president". In the Mazars case, Judge Mehta cut down Mr Trump's lawyers' arguments that the oversight committee's inquiry into whether Mr Trump misled his lenders by inflating his net worth violated the constitution's separation of powers, by having Congress assume the Justice Department's powers to investigate "dubious and partisan" allegations of private conduct. A ceremony to launch the renovation work of Myanmar National Theater in the commercial city of Yangon with Chinese aid was held Tuesday at the theater. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Myanmar Minister of Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko described the event as a deep demonstration of close friendship and mutual help between Myanmar and China, while Yangon Region Chief Minister U Phyo Min Thein said the project will remain as a new milestone in the history of Myanmar-China friendship. Noting that the National Theater is the largest one in Myanmar and was built with the assistance of China, Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang said the theater has hosted many artistic shows for many years, fulfilling the outlook of Myanmar people. Since the theater plays an important role in China-Myanmar cultural exchange currently, China will renovate it to a modern theater according to the requirement of Myanmar side, he said, adding that the project will contribute to the promotion of mutual understanding and paukphaw (fraternal) friendship between peoples of the two countries. The renovation work, which covers upgrading of sound system, stage lighting system, airconditioning system and other general repair and maintenance, is estimated to take two years' time. A former White House aide is defying a request to testify before the US Congress. Democrats in the House of Representatives are facing another attempt by President Donald Trump to thwart their investigations after instructing former White House counsel Donald McGahn to defy his subpoena. A lawyer for Mr McGahn said he would follow the president's directive and skip the House Judiciary hearing, leaving the Democrats without another witness. House speaker Nancy Pelosi, backed by House Judiciary Committee chairman Jerrold Nadler, is taking a step-by-step approach to the confrontations with Mr Trump. Mr Nadler said the committee would vote to hold Mr McGahn in contempt, and take the issue to court. Mr Nadler warned Mr McGahn in a letter on the eve of the hearing: "You face serious consequences if you do not appear." Democrats are encouraged by an early success on that route as a federal judge ruled against Mr Trump in a financial records dispute with Congress. But that has not been swift enough for some members of the judiciary panel who feel that Ms Pelosi should be more aggressive and launch impeachment hearings that would make it easier to get information from the administration. Such hearings would give Democrats more standing in court and could stop short of a vote to remove the president. The issue was raised in a meeting among top Democrats where some members confronted Ms Pelosi about opening up the impeachment hearings. Ms Pelosi said several committees are doing investigations already and they had already been successful in one court case. Royal Mail has warned that it will pay a smaller dividend from next year to support transformation plans, as the postal service reported a dip in underlying profits. The group will change its policy to pay out at least 15p per share in 2020, in a move aimed at freeing up funds to invest in transforming the UK business. While the dividend could be topped up by any excess cash flow, it marks a significant reduction compared with the 25p dividend paid out this year. Shares in the group were up 6.4% in late morning trading on Wednesday. We have announced our five-year strategic plan: https://t.co/IpuXpcwiud We are investing around 1.8 billion in the UKs postal service. Our ambition is to build a parcels-led, more balanced, more diversified international business to support our customers growth ambitions. pic.twitter.com/iEEJMcZar2 Royal Mail (@RoyalMail) May 22, 2019 Chief executive Rico Back said: Royal Mail is one of the most widely held stocks in the FTSE. The board appreciates the support of our shareholders, including our postmen and women who have received free shares. We very much understand the importance of the dividend to all our shareholders. Our decision to rebase the dividend and change the policy is not one that we have taken lightly. In doing so, we have sought to find the appropriate balance between investing in the future sustainability of our business, and shareholder returns. It comes as the group posted an adjusted profit before tax of 398 million for the year to March 31, down from 565 million last year. Revenue meanwhile inched up to 10.58 billion, partly due to higher income from delivering parcels. Royal Mail also announced a clutch of new services targeting the growing trend for online shopping. These include a second daily delivery of parcels, collection of returns and more options for customers who will not be home when their orders arrive. The group said the changes would target the fast-growing areas of 24-hour delivery and online returns, and would result in a 1.8 billion investment in the postal service over five years. Meanwhile it will continue to cut costs, with savings of 150 million to 200 million expected in the year to March 2020. Were investing around 1.8 billion in the UKs postal service. Over the next five years, well introduce a second delivery for parcels which will consist of Next Day parcels purchased online from retailers the night before. There's more here: https://t.co/IpuXpcwiud pic.twitter.com/kQlDDQO6D0 Royal Mail (@RoyalMail) May 22, 2019 Ed Monk, associate director at Fidelity Personal Investings share dealing service, said the cut to the dividend was painful, especially given the decline in the groups share price by almost two-thirds over the last 12 months. Royal Mail clearly still has some reassuring to do before investors can be confident about its future, and politicians will no doubt want to know that the universal service is secure, he said. Higher parcel revenues, which are being delivered, are essential help but the business needs to take more costs out. People walk to the Alabama State Capitol during the March for Reproductive Freedom against the state's new abortion law. Photo: REUTERS/Michael Spooneybarger The United Nations human rights office yesterday called on US authorities to ensure that women have access to safe abortions, saying bans lead to risky underground abortions that can endanger a woman's life. Missouri's Republican governor Mike Parson signed a bill into law on Friday that prohibits women from seeking an abortion after the eighth week of pregnancy, days after Alabama enacted the most restrictive abortion law in the United States. "We are very concerned that several US states have passed laws severely restricting access to safe abortion for women, including by imposing criminal penalties on the women themselves and on abortion service providers," UN human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters. Evidence and experience have shown that complete bans on abortions do not reduce their number, but drive them underground, "jeopardising the life, health and safety of the women concerned", she said. Such bans are also "inherently discriminatory", affecting women who are poor, from minority backgrounds or other marginalised communities, Ms Shamdasani added. "So we are calling on the United States and all other countries to ensure that women have access to safe abortions." "At an absolute minimum, in cases of rape, incest and foetal anomaly, there needs to be safe access to abortions," she added. Missouri is one of eight states where Republican- controlled legislatures this year have passed new restrictions on abortion. It is part of a co-ordinated campaign aimed at prompting the conservative-majority US Supreme Court to cut back or overturn the 1973 Roe vs Wade decision that legalised abortion nationwide and recognised a right under the US constitution for women to terminate pregnancies. The most restrictive of those bills was signed into law in Alabama last week. It bans abortion at all times and in almost all cases, including when the pregnancy resulted from rape or incest, but allows for exceptions when the woman's life is in danger. Anti-abortion advocates are aware that any laws they pass are certain to be challenged. But supporters of the Alabama ban said the right to life of the foetus transcended other rights, an idea they would like tested at the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, district lawyers in Georgia have announced they will not prosecute women for getting an abortion after the US state effectively banned the procedure. Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed the controversial "heartbeat" abortion ban into law earlier in the month - giving the southern state one of the most restrictive laws in the US. The legislation, which has provoked outrage among women's rights groups, bans abortion once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo. This can be as early as six weeks - at which point most women do not yet know they are pregnant. The new bill imposes jail sentences for women found guilty of aborting or attempting to abort their pregnancies, with the potential for life imprisonment or even the death penalty. It is not scheduled to come into effect until January 1 and is expected to face challenges in the courts - with it potentially being postponed. But anti-abortion activists hope such challenges will lead to the US Supreme Court reversing Roe vs Wade, especially with new conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh sitting on the court. CONCORD- HOPE Academy (HOPE), a kindergarten through 12th grade private Christian school in Concord, will celebrate its first first high school graduating class this week. The graduation commencement will be held in the Worship Center of West Cabarrus Church, off Bruton Smith Boulevard, on Friday, May 24, at 7 p.m. James Metsger, pastor of Christ Point Church in Concord, will be the keynote speaker. Graduates will be attending additional academic pursuits at a wide variety of institutions including Appalachian State University, Central Piedmont Community College, Gardner-Webb University, Lancaster Bible College, Montreat College and University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Eighty-six percent of the class received full or partial scholarships valued at $660,804 toward the colleges or universities they will attend. Larson, a California native who is 15th in the points standings, signed collectables for about 200 fans, many coming from far away, including Germany. Just having their support means a lot, Larson said. We all want a big fan following so seeing all of the die-cast cars and sheet metal for me to sign is cool. Knowing they collect it, it means a lot. Gary Meadows traveled 13 hours from Rome, New York with his son Brandon to attend both races at Charlotte Motor Speedway. They waited at the front of the line for nearly 4 hours to meet Larson. Hes the $1 million man, Meadows said. Weve met him a few times, plus this is our hobby, and hes a good driver and a likeable guy. Spencer Cowan is in town for the races from Daytona Beach, Florida. He met Larson wearing the Team Larson jersey. Hes good with his fans and hes a great racer, Cowan said. Cowan was at Saturdays all-star race to witness Larsons big-time victory. Im sure that helps him get a lot of people out here. Why not come out and see the winner of the All-Star race? Cowan said. Ive been watching the emerging election for North Carolinas Senate seat and wonder if we are seeing symptoms of a larger trend. Our traditional tribalism Republicans and Democrats - has morphed into contentious sub-tribes within each party. Instead of a sure re-nomination next year, Senator Thom Tillis faces a serious challenger from within his own tribe. Thoms Republican bona fides are impressive. A former business consultant, he was elected to the NC General Assembly in 2006 and served as the campaign chair for the House Republican Caucus that helped orchestrate the 2010 GOP takeover of the House. The new majority elected him Speaker for the 2011 session and Tillis served in that capacity until he left to run for the U.S. Senate. During his tenure Tillis led the House through some of the most dramatic political and legislative changes in modern history, bringing together an often-fractious caucus to pass legislation. Even the opposition grudgingly admits that not only did he make the trains run, but they ran on time. His 2014 challenge to first-term incumbent Democrat Senator Kay Hagan garnered endorsements from former Florida governor Jeb Bush, sitting governor Pat McCrory, former Presidential candidate Mitt Romney and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. West Cabarrus High School officially has a mascot. When the school opens in 2020, its logo will say the West Cabarrus Wolverwines. Students who will attend the school once it opens selected the mascot. Officials with Cabarrus County Schools said the Wolverine logo will be unveiled in the coming weeks. West Cabarrus is set to open for the 2020-2021 and will be the largest school in the Cabarrus County Schools district. It will be the districts first three-story structure and have a capacity for 1,800 students. It sits off of Weddington Road almost across the road from Weddington Hills Elementary School, Harold E. Winkler Middle School and the new Performance Learning Center. The Chinese embassy in Uzbekistan presented more than 8,000 books to Uzbek educational institutions on Monday to assist in Chinese language courses. The books covering mainly on Chinese language learning as well as the history and culture of China were given as a gift in a ceremony before a Chinese language competition. These books will help young Uzbeks who are studying the Chinese language learn more about China, and promote mutual understanding between the two peoples, Chinese ambassador Jiang Yan said. The Chinese embassy will further contribute to improving the educational level of Uzbek youth and expanding their range of vision, she said. These books will help students learn Chinese language and assist teachers and professors in improving their teaching methods, Sabohat Khoshimova, dean of the faculty of Sinology at the Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies, said. Tribes are losing out on millions of dollars in federal energy contracts and President Donald Trump himself is partly to blame, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office Federal agencies spent about $6 billion on energy for their facilities in 2017, the GAO observed in a report made public on Monday. If just a small portion of those contracts went to tribes, it would represent a huge boost for Indian Country, where economic opportunities lag behind the rest of the nation. Yet neither the General Services Administration , which helps manage operations across the entire government, nor the Department of Defense or the Department of Energy , have ever utilized the Indian preference policy that was adopted by Congress through the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT05), the GAO said in the report.. That means tribes have been losing out on such contracts for nearly 15 years. "The federal government, as a significant energy consumer, is in a position to support energy development on tribal lands," the report read. "However, no federal agency has used the preference since its establishment in 2005, in part because EPACT05 does not require its use or include goals specifying how agencies should use it," the report continued. An aerial view of the Kayenta Solar Facility on the Arizona portion of the Navajo Nation. The facility generates enough power for 18,000 homes on the reservation, Cronkite News reported. Photo: Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President Even after the GAO highlighted the preference issue in a prior report, tribal energy providers have been excluded from such contracts. At the time, federal officials said they were unsure how to carry out the policy. In hopes of resolving the situation, the GSA developed guidance to help the key agencies implement Indian preference. The guidance, however, was rejected by the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council , which is the ultimate authority on the matter, the GAO said in the new report. According to the report, the Far Council thought the guidance was of limited use because it mainly affects just the GSA, DOD and DOE. But there was another reason given and that's where Trump -- whose administration has otherwise promoted increased energy development, including on tribal lands -- comes in. In one of his first actions as president, Trump in January 2017 issued Executive Order 13771 , which requires all federal agencies to reduce regulatory costs and burdens. Three months later, the FAR Council cited the order in declining to accept the Indian energy preference guidance, the GAO disclosed. As a result, the GSA merely "added the preference language from EPACT05 to the form it uses to delegate purchasing authority to other federal agencies that may seek this authority in the future." While that action might be seen as progress, there are signs which suggest additional direction is needed. DOE, for example, adopted its own internal guidance in 2013, some eight years after the Indian preference policy became law, the report stated. But it still hasn't helped tribes land such contracts because a majority of DOE offices didn't even know about the guidance, according to the report. "DOE distributed the tribal energy preference guidance through a February 2013 acquisition letter," the GAO noted. "However, in our interviews with officials responsible for purchasing energy in nine DOE offices, we found that officials in five of these nine offices were unaware of the DOE guidance or unaware of the preference. DOE headquarters officials stated that the agency did not take further action to communicate the guidance or ensure relevant officials were aware of it after its initial distribution." There are other indications that Trump's agenda has caused setbacks to Indian Country. He has refused to carry on the work of the White House Council on Native American Affairs, which was established by former president Barack Obama , even though a subgroup had been established to address roadblocks to tribal energy development. Instead, Trump conducted just one energy roundtable with tribal leaders and that was back in June 2017. The meeting was characterized by extremely confusing and conflicting information from the president himself. Indianz.Com Video by Kevin Abourezk: David Bernhardt on Indian Trader Regulations Then, in September of that year, his Indian energy czar resigned in disgrace and a permanent director didn't get installed until earlier this year. Separately, a key appointee at the Bureau of Indian Affairs whose portfolio included energy development, ended up leaving by the end of Trump's first year in office. And despite widespread support for an update to the Indian Traders regulation , which tribes say would help protect energy development on their lands, the Trump administration has quietly killed the initiative. A document circulating within the Department of the Interior and described to Indianz.Com by those who have seen it indicates that the initiative was a high priority when former Secretary Ryan Zinke came on board in March 2017. In fact, the Indian Traders regulation was put on the fast track and as late as June 2017, senior Trump officials at Interior were telling tribes it was one of their top priorities . But after David Bernhardt joined the department as Deputy Secretary at the end of that summer, it was removed from the internal document, according to people who have seen it. Bernhardt is now serving as Secretary of the Interior following Zinke's fall from grace Amid the turbulence, the Trump administration has vowed to address another failing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The law encourages tribes to develop tribal energy resource agreements, or TERAs, and submit them to the BIA for acceptance. The concept is similar to the Helping Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act (HEARTH Act) in that a tribe isn't required to seek BIA approval for every single agreement once their regulations are accepted. The HEARTH Act has proven to be popular in Indian Country, with dozens of tribes streamlining their leasing regulations. However, due to uncertainty at the federal level, no tribe has ever developed a TERA since 2005 even though the law was touted as a step toward greater self-determination during the Republican-controlled 109th Congress. Indian Country directly benefits from the Administrations energy security initiative. Energy royalties paid last year to Indian tribes and allottees totaled over $1 billion. Energy production in Indian Country, as a source of revenue, is now second only to gaming. Assistant Secretary Tara Sweeney (@ASIndianAffairs) April 10, 2019 Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney , whose nomination was delayed by conflict of interest issues connected to her advocacy for energy development in Alaska, has since vowed to get a TERA approved under her watch. "Indian Country directly benefits from the administration's energy security initiative," Sweeney asserted on April 10, in what was her first appearance on Capitol Hill since being confirmed to her position nearly nine months prior. Her written testimony , which had been delivered late to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs , used the words "energy dominance initiative" instead. "Energy royalties paid last year to Indian tribes and allottees totaled over $1 billion," Sweeney added, or nearly double the amount from the year prior. "Energy production in Indian Country, as a source of revenue is now only second to gaming." Government Accountability Office Report Prior Government Accountability Office Reports Join the Conversation Related Stories Hopi journalist leads others on journey of Phoenix Indian School, other Native American history Cronkite News PHOENIX Born and raised on the Hopi reservation, Patty Talahongva has always been sure of her identity as an indigenous woman but she wasnt always certain how she viewed religion. Raised in the traditional Hopi culture and the Catholic Church, she began to question the religious practices of Hopis and Catholics after she became more familiar with history. She attended Phoenix Indian School, among Native American boarding schools with complicated pasts , for two years beginning in 1978. While there, she also found her life calling: journalism. After an adviser recommended her for a position as a teen correspondent for the Phoenix Gazette, an evening newspaper, she fell in love with storytelling. Thats when I started understanding that I could actually make a living talking to people and writing their stories, she said. After graduating from high school in 1981, she went on to work in radio, television and print. Today, she said she is a part-time television producer in Phoenix, but returned to her former high school in 2013 as the curator of the newly renovated Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center . (It was closed as a school in 1990, almost a century after it opened in 1891.) These are some of the first articles Patty Talahongva ever wrote. She began working for the Phoenix Gazette when she was 16 years old and now works as a part-time producer in local television news. Photo courtesy of Vivian Meza She said the best part about the job is getting to uncover so much of indigenous history that cant be found in textbooks. People dont know our history, and sometimes our people dont even know our own history. Its not surprising, she said. Talahongva tells her story about how she grappled with religion and her faith, what life was like as a student at Phoenix Indian School in the late 1970s, and how she feels about the issues facing Native Americans today. Did you grow up religious? My dad is hardcore Hopi and my mom went to a Catholic boarding school, so my mom is also hardcore Hopi, but has a Catholic school influence. When my mom and dad got married, they were married in the Catholic Church and then they were also married in the Hopi way, so they had two wedding ceremonies. Every Sunday my father would get up and brush our hair and braid it and get us ready for church, and he would always say, Hurry up, your God is coming at 10 o clock! I think about his perspective now, because Hopi (faith) is on every day, our creator is around us every day. Its not like, Oh, 10 o clock, time to pray! So I was raised in both ways, and then at one point I realized as an adult that I was born Hopi, and thats my way. Im not a great Catholic and Im not a great Hopi because Im not there for all the ceremonies. I just decided if I was going to be bad at religion, I should be bad at least with just one, not two. I dont consider myself Catholic at all. My mom raised us in the Catholic Church but also Hopi. In her mind, she has reconciled it. I dont know how, but that works for her. For me, I can only wrap my head around one, and thats Hopi because thats what I was born into. Whats interesting about religion is that tribes do not believe in conversion. We dont practice it and we dont force our way onto other people. We expect that you have your own way of worshiping, and we respect that. Go about it how you believe. Weve never gone to war over religion, we dont do that. I believe that were the true practitioners of freedom of religion, because we dont force our way. We truly have respect for other peoples religions, their way of worshiping. No one has to fight over anything. Patty Talahongva watches pictures of her former classmates flash across a screen in an exhibit about American Indian boarding schools she helped create at the Heard Museum. She attended Phoenix Indian School in the 1970s. Photo courtesy of Vivian Meza How do you reconcile being raised Catholic while also practicing the traditional Hopi way? The Catholic Church preaches about a jealous God, and the Hopi dont see the Creator as being like that. It was really hard trying to understand Gods wrath. Why would God be mad at you? Of course were mere human beings and were going to fall off and make mistakes, but I dont think we have to worry about incurring the wrath of God. This idea of what is good, what is bad, the idea of confession and absolution, it just doesnt make any sense. Switching gears a bit: were you forced to attend Phoenix Indian School? When people ask me if I was forced to come to school here, I ask them to define force. Here was the scenario: In 1978 my tribe didnt have a high school on its reservation, so I had no option. I had to come to boarding school. We didnt have a high school on the reservation and we didnt have a junior high, so all the kids were going off to boarding school. Thats what we had to do, too. So, no, government agents didnt come up and round us up and forcibly remove us from our homes, but on the other hand, there was no other option other than to drop out of school. For my family, that wasnt an option. Did you encounter culture shock going from the reservation to Phoenix Indian School? Yes, in the sense that I had been going to public school off the reservation where the majority were white with some Mexicans, no Asians and no African Americans, so then coming to a boarding school that was nothing but American Indians, that was a culture shock, even for an Indian. You dont know every single tribe, you dont know their languages, and all of a sudden youre sharing a room with somebody, so that was hard. It was exciting, but it was hard, and getting to know the little protocols of each tribe was different. When you came to the school, was it OK to speak your own language and embrace your Native culture? Here at Phoenix Indian, toward the end of the schools life, culture wasnt repressed. In fact, when I came to school here we had the Pow Wow Club, the Hopi Club, we had a Miss Phoenix Indian pageant. People were feeling more free to express themselves and speak their languages. When I came here, everyone was speaking their languages, and that was really cool because I had never even met the Quechans , who are from Yuma. To hear people speaking in their languages was really cool because they were languages I had never heard before and to hear people conversing was cool. So yes, very much so, I would say. We shared culture and we shared language. Everybody across campus knew how to laugh and tease in Apache and in Hopi. There were shared words that everybody knew what they meant. So that was fun to have that melding of culture. You could insult someone in Apache or in Hopi and everyone knew what you were saying because it just became part of the schools language. One of the first articles Patty Talahongva wrote is displayed in the visitor center at Phoenix Indian School. Thats when I started understanding that I could actually make a living talking to people and writing their stories, she said. Photo courtesy of Vivian Meza Did your views on religion change when you started school here? I dont think so. Growing up, I was fortunate because I saw our traditional side and our Catholic side, and then I lived in a town with a high population of Mormons, and then some Baptists and Mennonites, so I was around a lot of different faiths. Is there anything else you would like people to know about the school or about you? I think that we dont teach this history, and I think its really important to understand it and to know about it. Our stereotypes as American Indians, theyre pretty strong and theyre pretty negative, so where do they come from? Alcohol is very much a European tradition, its very much a part of their cultures. Its not for Native Americans. We dont have happy hour, most of us dont even have a fermented drink. Thats all new to us, and yet alcohol has devastated our people. Its a foreign substance and idea, everything thats not our traditional ways, and were reeling from the aftereffects of alcoholism in generations . I think that needs to be taught. Our stereotypes are drunk and lazy, but no, thats not who we are. But its the perception you see out there, and thats really sad. Our people built the pyramids , our people were navigating the stars. Even teepees are aerodynamic , not even the wind will knock it down. A teepee will stay in its position because of the aerodynamic way it was built, and thats indigenous intelligence Vivian Meza is a former Cronkite News reporter and wrote this story for her Arizona State University honors thesis, a project posted on her website that explores the intersection of Christian and Native faith This story originally appeared on Cronkite News and is published via a Creative Commons license . Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University Join the Conversation Statement regarding Herrera v. Wyoming ruling On Monday the United States Supreme Court decided to rule on a very important case involving treaty rights While the basic arguments within the case can be picked apart and subjected to opinion and interpretation there remains a much more important message. The treaties made between the United States and Native Nations are important documents that determine much more than many people realize. Treaties made are not merely Indian treaties, but United States treaties that are guaranteed under Article 6 of the United States constitution as the supreme law of the land. All laws are to be made in pursuant thereof and not conflict with the constitution and treaties. Too often the rights outlined in treaties have been abused by the Federal government with laws and legislation that conflict with the treaties. We have been sovereign nations on this land prior to any states ever existing on this land. Every treaty made with Native Nations is a skeleton in the closet of the United States. The United States will only honor the treaties it makes when they are forced to do it. I applaud the Justices on the United States Supreme Court for understanding the importance of the very documents that are designed to initiate and promote peace among our peoples. I would like to personally thank Mr. Herrera and the Crow Tribe for taking a stand and winning a victory for all Native Nations. This decision reinforces the United States desire to live in peace while respecting our rights. I have hope that this will encourage the United States and Tribal governments to visit our respective responsibilities in the treaties. Harold Frazier is serving his third term as chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, based in South Dakota. He previously served as vice chair of his tribe and previously as an area vice president for the National Congress of American Indians. Supreme Court Decision: Herrera v. Wyoming Supreme Court Documents: Herrera v. Wyoming Indianz.Com on SoundCloud Jam out with the justices! Listen to lawyers! No, really, these are important U.S. Supreme Court cases Join the Conversation Related Stories A man was arrested in Ayodhya for raping several cows at a shelter in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The accused has been identified as Rajkumar. He was caught red handed by the shelter authorities and volunteers at Kartaliya Baba Ashram. The volunteers were keeping a vigil after watching a man sexually abusing cows in the CCTV footage. The accused was caught in the act after he returned to the shelter and attempted to rape cows again. Rajkumar was beaten up by volunteers and was later handed over to police. BCCL The man has been arrested and booked under sections 376 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code for cruelty against animals, Ayodhya SSP Jogendra Kumar said. Rajkumar hails from Gonda in Nawabganj and claimed he was under the influence of alcohol. BCCL/Representational Image "I was drunk, I don't know what I did, I only remember that I was beaten by both, people who caught me and the police," Rajkumar told India Today TV. This isnt the first time that a case of animal rape has come to the fore. In July last year, eight men gang raped a pregnant goat in Mewat area of Haryana causing massive outrage. In a shocking crime, a gym trainer, who had a huge fan following on social media was shot dead by unidentified gunmen. The incident happened in Delhi's Najafgarh area on Tuesday evening, when the deceased, Mohit Mor was at a photocopy shop run by a friend in the Dharampura area. Mohit Mor/ Facebook Mohit, who hailed from Haryanas Bahadurgarh was talking to his friend when three men barged into the shop and fired indiscriminately. According to police, the assailants had fired around 13 bullets out of which seven hit Mohit. "He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead," a senior police officer told IANS. The 27-year-old fitness enthusiast was a popular figure on Tik Tok where he used to post his workout videos and had more than 5 lakh followers. Police have launched a manhunt for the three accused. Even though they were caught on CCTV camera, fleeing the crime scene, none of them have been identified so far. Police also said there was no immediate indication of the motive behind the murder. Even though the initial suspicion is on a personal rivalry, the murder which happened just days after a gang war and shootout in Dwarka Mor where two notorious gangsters were killed has led police to look into any possible links. The investigators however clarified that there were no records of Mohit being associated with any gangs and that he did not have a criminal history. The Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) is one thing that has captured the imagination of the Indian citizens. Their future is stored in a machine and it will be revealed once the counting starts tomorrow. World's largest democracy has never seen a controversy as big as this with many of the political parties are questioning the safety and possibility of hacking the machine. Why are they opposing its use? What are the main arguments? Can the safety of EVMs be compromised? There are many other questions that have gone unanswered over the years. And now as the nation is poised to know who will be our next PM, doubts are being raised on the technology that has been used in India for the last few elections. The Supreme Court has dismissed a writ petition, seeking 100 per cent random physical counting of VVPAT saying that there is not enough time in counting. What are EVMs and can these be hacked? India uses these low-cost machines to register votes and its one of those countries where the ballot paper voting has been fully removed. There are three parts to the machine, which makes it a unit ready to cast votes through. The first part is the control unit held by the election officers every booth and this control unit collects and records votes. The balloting unit which comes next is a series of button on one panel with names and symbols of the candidates and parties respectively. EC guidelines on return of EVMs - both polled and unused reserved. pic.twitter.com/PrXCLi3bML Dr. S.Y. Quraishi (@DrSYQuraishi) May 21, 2019 After the voter presses the button of his choice, a paper slip gets generated and is displayed for seven seconds before getting dropped into the box. This Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail machine (VVPAT) is said to be the answer of all concerns of the people about EVMs. Another argument is that since no part of the EVM is networked with any connection to the internet, it cant be hacked. But the experts differ and say that any machine can be hacked. But since EVMs arent networked, hacking them would require the physical access to the machine. But EVMs and VVPAT have been recovered from places where they were not supposed to be available with people who were the officials of the Election Commission. Efforts to demonstrate its malfunctioning Apart from raising concerns, the political parties have demonstrated how the EVMs can be hacked. In past both AAP as well as Congress have demonstrated that how EVMs arent full proof and are subjected to hacking. Another EVM video from UP (from Jhansi) Officials claim these are reserve machines. But they have no answer why the movement of EVM was not informed to candidates. And why reserve EVMs are transported in private vehicles a day after election? pic.twitter.com/SLpRVw0ws7 Ravi Nair (@t_d_h_nair) May 21, 2019 The episodes that wind the speculations Videos of EVM being transported in private vehicles As soon as the seventh phase of the polls was over on May 19th, the social media started buzzing with allegations of EVMs being tampered with as several videos surfaced on social where the EVMs were seen getting transported in private cars. The videos surfaced different states such Punjab, Haryana, Bihar and UP ahead of the counting of polls scheduled for tomorrow. Two EVMs and VVPAT found in hotel in Bihar PTI During phase V of the Lok Sabha polls, two EVMs and VVPATs were recovered from a hotel near a polling booth in Bihars Muzaffarpur. According to an India Today report, sector magistrate who was incharge of 4 EVMs in Muzaffarpur kept the EVMs and VVPATs in hotel as backup option in case any machine witnesses malfunctioning. Votes went to ruling party According to The Wire report, during the first phase of polling a April 11, Assams Tezpur and Meghalayas Shillong constituency were reportedly had complaints where voters reportedly alleged that despite pressing button for another candidate, the vote went to BJP candidate. EVMs didnt function at various places Representational Image Several states including Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir and even UP, the first phase of the election reportedly had many places where EVMs malfunctioned. The Hindustan Times reported Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu wrote a letter to ECI that 30 percent of the EVMs werent functioning. More allegations Election of shame ? Mock poll with 9 votes for each of 6 candidates in booth no 31 in 34 AC in Goa. Total count BJP gets 17, Cong 9 , Aap 8. Ind 1 . Robbery. @SpokespersonECI , @CEO_Goa claims are hollow . @AamAadmiParty pl take up Elvis Gomes (@ielvisgomes) April 23, 2019 After voting in the third phase, AAP tweeted that an EVM in Goa showed flawed results during mock poll. The machine, which had nine votes for each of the six candidates, but it recorded 17 votes for BJP, nine to Congress, eight to AAP and one to an independent. It is unfortunate the the largest elections in the world are witnessing such a controversy on the eve of the results. The political parties should come together to quell the doubts about EVM and restore confidence in the minds of the voters. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the RISAT-2B Satellite which will enhance the country's surveillance capabilities. ISRO launched the RISAT-2B from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota at 5.30 am. The 615 kg satellite was launched into space on-board the PSLV-C 46. It was the 48th flight of PSLV. Read more Tik Tok Celebrity Gym Trainer Mohit Mor Shot Dead At Point-Blank Range At A Shop In Delhi In a shocking crime, a gym trainer, who had a huge fan following on social media was shot dead by unidentified gunmen. The incident happened in Delhi's Najafgarh area on Tuesday evening, when the deceased, Mohit Mor was at a photocopy shop run by a friend in the Dharampura area. Read more Fishermen Living In Chilika Lake Feel Cyclone Fani Devastation Has Taken Them 20 Years Back Cyclone Fani has devastated the state of Odisha and damage done by the natural calamity is unlikely to be covered in months and even years to come. On the contrary, people think that devastation caused by the cyclone has thrown some particular sections of people in Odisha almost 20 years back and fishermen in Asias largest brackish water lake-Chilika think that the cyclone took them 20 years behind. Read more UAE Introduces 'Golden Card' Permanent Residency Scheme For Expats The UAE has introduced a permanent residency scheme to woo wealthy individuals and exceptional talents. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday, launched the permanent residency system which is aimed at attracting more investors and professional to move there. Read more Man Arrested For Raping Seven Cows At A Shelter In Ayodhya; Claims He Was Drunk A man was arrested in Ayodhya for raping several cows at a shelter in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. The accused has been identified as Rajkumar. He was caught red-handed by the shelter authorities and volunteers at Kartaliya Baba Ashram. The volunteers were keeping a vigil after watching a man sexually abusing cows in the CCTV footage. The accused was caught in the act after he returned to the shelter and attempted to rape cows again. Read more Scripting History, Marriage Between Transgender Woman And Man Registered In Tamil Nadu On October 31, Arun Kumar and P Srija got married at a temple in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu but they were denied marriage receipt by the temple management. Reason- Srija is transwoman while Kumar is a cis man. Cut to May, 2019, Kumar and Srija finally got their marriage registered at the district registrar office in Tamil Nadu's Thoothukudi, making it a first of its kind marriage. Read more The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has for long remained one of the most sought after investment location for the rich and famous around the world. In fact, more than 80 percent of the total population of the UAE are non-natives living and working there. Now the UAE has introduced a permanent residency scheme to woo wealthy individuals and exceptional talents. AFP Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Tuesday, launched the permanent residency system which is aimed at attracting more investors and professional to move there. We launched a new Golden Card system to grant permanent residency to investors and exceptional doctors, engineers, scientists and artists. The first batch of 6,800 investors with Dh100 billion worth of investments will be granted the Golden Card. HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) May 21, 2019 The permanent residency Golden Card will be granted to exceptional talents and everyone who positively contributes to the success story of the UAE. We want them to be permanent partners in our journey. Residents are an indispensable part of our country. HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) May 21, 2019 The announcement is great news for investors in the UAE, especially those who have been there for a long time, as they will be able to plan long-term strategies for their businesses and invest more in existing businesses. In the first batch, a total of 6,800 investors whose total investments exceed Dh100 billion have been given Golden Cards. REUTERS Earlier this month, Major-General Saeed Rakan Al Rashedi, UAE's Director-General for Foreigners Affairs and Ports, said the "Golden Card" visa categories include general investors who will be granted a 10-year visa, real estate investors, who can get a visa for five years, along with entrepreneurs and talented professionals such as doctors, researchers, and innovators 10 years. The fifth category outstanding students will also be permitted residency visas for five years. All categories of visas can be renewed upon expiry. Earlier, two Indian businessmen in Dubai became first the recipients of the 10-year UAE resident visas. GULF NEWS Vasu Shroff, chairman of the Regal Group of Companies, and Khushi Khatwani, managing director of the Khushi Group of Companies & Al Nisr Cinema Film, are the first Indians to benefit from the long-term visa scheme announced last year. The 10-year visa scheme was rolled out in January and some Arab scientists and experts in the medical field were the first ones to receive it. Cremating or burying bodies are the two main ways we deal with the dead in India. The problem is, one creates pollution, and the other simply occupies space that can be used for valuable housing. Instead, there's a third option that both saves space and helps the environment. It involves composting the recently dead. Manikarnika Ghat in Varanasi - Micha Huniewicz/Flickr Just to clarify, we're not talking here about just tossing a dead relative's corpse into a pit with the rest of your kitchen waste. There are actually respectful and hygienic ways to do this, so the person's physical remains can be put to use, even while the family has a respectful ceremony. Washington has become the first US state to legalise this process, though it's not the first place to do this. Human composting is already legal in Sweden, while the UK legalised natural burials, which is where the body is buried without a casket or in a biodegradable coffin. Under the new US law, signed in by Governor Jay Inslee, people can opt to have the body turned into useful soil. This is an especially efficient method of laying the dead to rest in US cities, where graveyard space is incredibly scarce Katrina Spade was one of the chief lobbyists for the bill. She recently set up a company called Recompose, that could be the first commercial group to offer the service. "Recomposition offers an alternative to embalming and burial or cremation that is natural, safe, sustainable, and will result in significant savings in carbon emissions and land usage," she Spade told AFP. With Recompose, they place the deceased's body in a hexagonal steel container filled with alfalfa, wood chips and straw. They eventually shut and seal the container, leaving the body to decompose naturally. When it's opened up again 30 days later, the body is completely gone, and you're left with two wheelbarrows full of fertile soil. Unfortunately, this process is likely a little expensive to do at the moment. With enough time for the idea to proliferate however, this could forever change the way we deal with death, especially how much we spend. Consider for instance, that Hindus make up about 79.8 percent of India's population (Census 2011). When they cremate a body, it's either a traditional funeral on an open-air pyre of wood, or sometimes in a CNG-powered incinerator. The former costs anywhere between Rs 2,160 to Rs 50,40,000, based on the type of wood used, according to a study by the Department of Social Work in Delhi. Muslims (about 14.2 percent of the population) bury their dead. The shroud or kafan costs up to Rs 1,000, with another Rs 1,000 for the grave to be dug and Rs 3,500 Rs 4,000 for wooden planks covering the sides. Plus another Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 for the prayers Katrina Spade, Founder of Recompose - Twitter With Christians (2.3 percent of the population), the main expenditure is the coffin and ceremony. The former can cost anywhere between Rs 2,000 to several lakhs depending on quality and craftsmanship. Kuccha graves, basically just dug holes, costs about Rs 3,500, while those with cement or concrete poured over cost up to Rs 6,500. Then there are additional expenses for labourers, flowers, and the priest. On average, the study says just a burial or cremation costs between Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 across all religions, minus any added expenses for prayers, later memorials, food for attendees, and everything else. We could avoid a lot of that however if we decide to compost our dead. They won't mind, they're gone anyway. In fact, it would be a huge gesture to them if you could use the soil generated by their body to plant a new tree. There are different kinds of wedding in India - one where the grooms side doesnt take dowry but wants wedding gifts from the bride's family; and the other where they say a big NO to dowry. But, despite the many initiatives by the government, dowry continues to flourish in many parts of the country. But this groom, Suryankanta Barik, decided to set a glowing example. Barik who belongs to West Bengal, is a school teacher who told his in-laws that he would not accept any kind of dowry from them. But as the 30-year-old arrived at the wedding venue where he was all set to tie the knot with Priyanka Bej, his in-laws surprised him with a gift. Unsplash I had made it clear that I would not accept any dowry. When I arrived for the wedding, I was pleasantly surprised to find a huge pile of books as a gift, the groom told The Telegraph. The brides family gave their book-lover son-in-law around 1000 books which cost around one lakh rupees. Priyanka is herself a book-lover and expressed how happy she was to get married to a man who was against the concept of dowry. My family knew that I dont like the concept of marriages that involve giving or taking dowry. So I am very grateful to have a husband who understands that. My father also knew that I love to read. Thats why he gave us this gift, she told The Telegraph. The Telegraph They reportedly bought all the books from Kolkatas college street and Udbodhan Karyalaya. We hope that society has more people like Suryankanta Barik who help curb this practice which has claimed many innocent lives. Picture Credits: Unsplash Chinese cellist Chu Yibing held a mini-concert at the Temple of Agriculture, a historic site in Beijing, on Tuesday. Chu and his ensemble performed a variety of music ranging from German composer Johann Sebastian Bach's "Air on the G String" to the theme song of the 2008 Olympic Games "You and Me," treating the audience to peaceful and mind-blowing melodies amid the hustle and bustle of city life. After 21 years of studying and playing the cello in Europe, he returned to China in 2004. Since then, Chu has dedicated his time and energy to popularizing cello ensemble music by holding more than 500 performances around the country. The concert was part of the May Festival organized by the National Centre for the Performing Arts, which features a series of public performances aimed at bringing chamber music to ordinary people. The Temple of Agriculture, located along the central axis of Beijing, is an ancient complex where emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties performed sacrifices to the god of farming. The temple and 13 other historical places along the central axis of Beijing will apply for World Heritage status in 2035. Vivek Oberoi talks to media persons at the poster launch of the forthcoming biopic "PM Narendra Modi" on May 20. Following a tweet controversy, the actor said he has always been careful about respecting the opposite gender. (IANS photo) Victor Colon, a resident of New Jersey, was arrested by Paramus police May 15 in connection with an incident on a bus when he called an Indian man a terrorist and threatened to kill him. (Paramus Police photo) Indian American scientist and community activist Sibu Nair checked his mailbox on the morning after Easter to find a hateful flier (with F**k crossed out in this photo). "Its scary. An individual walked up to my mailbox; they can easily walk into my house, Nair, who lives in Williamsville, New York with his family, told India-West. (photo courtesy of Sibu Nair) National People's Party MLA from Arunachal Pradesh's Khonsa West Assembly constituency, Triong Aboh was killed along with six others after suspected Naga militants fired at the vehicle they were travelling in, at Bogapani area in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, on May 21. (IANS file photo) Members of All India Anti-Terrorist Front pay tribute to former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on the eve of the 28th anniversary of his death, in Amritsar on May 20, 2019. (Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images) Australian explorer Syrah Resources Ltd has signed a statement of sales intent (SSI) to supply graphite to Hiller Carbon LLC, which provides carbon materials to North American electric arc furnace steel producers, among other customers in the paper, foundry, lime, polymer and chemical sectors. The SSI is valid for a five-year period, with prices for Syrahs graphite negotiated on an annual basis. Hiller intends to purchase 25,000-35,000 tpa graphite from Syrahs Balama project in Mozambique, for use as a natural recarburiser. Hiller will also be granted exclusive rights to sell the Balama recarbursier within the US, Canada and Mexico. The companies intent to investigate the potential for using Balama material in other applications. TSX-listed Alabama Graphite Corp. has completed downstream lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery tests on coated spherical purified graphite (CSPG), produced from flake graphite from the companys Coosa Graphite project in Alabama, US. A total of 60 CE2016 Li-ion half-cell batteries were produced in the US using Alabama Graphites CSPC as a material component. Test results demonstrated that the companys graphite responded well in CR2016 Li-ion battery coin cell performance testing, achieving near theoretical electrochemical performance. "The test results confirm Alabama Graphites potential midstream capability to manufacture and tailor Li-ion battery anode grade graphite in order to create value-added products to meet highly demanding downstream customer specifications," the company said. Alabama Graphite also said this week that it is not planning to pursue the graphene business any further, until a major commercial application for the nanocarbon emerges. In Africa, ASX-listed Magnis Resources Ltd also announced positive test results on the suitability of graphite sourced from its Nachu graphite project in Tanzania as anode material for Li-ion batteries. A first cycle efficiency rate of 97.1% was achieved, equating to a loss of only 2.9%, which the company said is an improvement of 42% over synthetic graphite. A surface area (BET) of 4.09 m2/gt and tap density of 0.87 g/cc combined with the first cycle efficiency was also achieved. Tests were carried out in North American laboratories using Nachu graphite concentrate as a feedstock, and micronised coated Nachu graphite upgraded to 99.8% TGC without chemical or thermal purification. "The results confirm that graphite from the Nachu project has the potential for high end energy and power applications like Li-ion batteries used in the electric vehicle market," Magnis said. South African resources financier Nedbank has offered Australia-based Kibaran Resources Ltd up to $30m in additional funding for the companys Epanko graphite project in Tanzania. The company recently lodged indicative terms and conditions for a senior debt financing deal with German bank KfW IPEX-Bank for up to $40m. Start-up financing for Epanko has been estimated at $77m, and the company has already secured 10-year offtake agreements with German conglomerate ThyssenKrupp and 10,000 tonnes with a European graphite trader. Elsewhere in Tanzania, fellow Australian explorer, Black Rock Mining Ltd, has said it will focus on its core Mahenge graphite project, choosing not to exercise an option to purchase the Bagamoyo prospects. According to the company, a drill programme on the Bagamoyo zone in December yielded poor results, failing to find significant intervals of graphite mineralisation. Exploration work at the Mahenge prospect meanwhile has facilitated the discovery of significant intervals of graphitic gneiss, including a 123 metre graphitic zone. A scoping study has now commenced Mahenge, as recent drilling and ongoing metallurgical work are expected to lead to a maiden graphite resource next month. The Ontario Ministry of Environment in Canada has approved an amendment to TSX-V-listed Great Lakes Graphite Inc.s air/noise permit for the companys Matheson Micronisation Facility, which the company is in the process of commissioning in Ontario. Great Lakes is now fully permitted and has all the required approvals from the Ontario government, local aboriginal communities and the community of Matheson to proceed with the project. It is aiming to start production of micronised graphite this quarter, for supplying a regional customer base. In Australia, Hexagon Resources Ltd has released the results of metallurgical tests on samples from the companys McIntosh graphite project, which is located in East Kimberley in Western Australia. Diamond core assays yielded grades ranging from 4% C to 6% C over intersections of up to 62 metres. The company is planning to release further bulk scale metallurgical results over the coming weeks. Finally, Vancouver, Canada-based Graphite One Resources Inc. has completed and closed the first tranche of its Canadian dollar (C$) 600,000 ($420,470*) non-brokered private placement. The company has issued 4.8m units at a price of C$0.09/unit for a total of C$424,090 pursuant to the closing of the placement, with each unit consisting of one common share and one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each warrant allows the holder to buy an additional common share of the company at C$0.12/share on or before three years from the closing date. Net proceeds of the offering will be used for the exploration and development of the companys Graphite Creek project in Alaska, US, and for general working capital purposes. *Conversion made January 2016 Chinese drone maker DJI on Tuesday denied U.S. accusations that Chinese-made drones are hacking sensitive flight data of their customers. This came after the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a warning that Chinese-made drones contain components that collect operation and customer data for intelligence use. CISA has released an industry alert on "the inherent risks associated with using UAS (unmanned aircraft system) technology manufactured in China," a spokesman for CISA told Xinhua in a statement on Tuesday. A DJI spokesman told Xinhua on Tuesday that the company gives all customers full and complete control over how their data is collected, stored and transmitted. "For government and critical infrastructure customers that require additional assurances, we provide drones that do not transfer data to DJI or via the internet, and our customers can enable all the precautions the Department of Homeland Security recommends," a DJI statement said. The Chinese drone manufacturer holds more than 70 percent of the worldwide civil drone market share, according to Skylogic Research, a drone analyst company. Hollywood actor Boris Kodjoe, 46, and his wife actress Nicole Ari Parker, 48, are today celebrating their 14th wedding anniversary. Kodjoe, took to social media to share a beautiful photo of them and penned a short post alongside which showed just how much he loves his woman. In his words; Happy 1??4??th anniversary ??? to this flower next to me. I love you ?? @nicoleariparker for baring your soul, for opening your heart, and for shining your bright light through the thickest and thinnest of times. ?? #RideOrFly ???? #NoMatterWhat ?? #ThisIsUs ? #IFLY ?? #BestSixMonthsOfMyLife ? The couple got married in 1995 and have two kids, a boy and a girl. Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa has recused herself from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja. This follows a request by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Counsel to Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the PDP, Livy Ozuokwu that Justice Bulkachuwa recuses herself because her husband is a senator-elect of the All Progressives Congress(APC). After much protests from the PDP and some Nigerians, Justice Bulkachuwa who was the chairman of the tribunal recused herself on Wednesday. More details to follow President Muhammadu Buhari has returned back to the country after undergoing lesser Hajj (Umrah) in Saudi Arabia. He came back to the country alongside his wife, Aisha Buhari, who was with him all through the journey. He is expected to chair the Federal Executive Meeting(FEC) which comes up tomorrow before embarking on an official visit to Imo state. Buhari while in Saudi met with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of his Party, All Progressive Congress(APC) Photos: A driver was discovered hanging on a tree after the bus he drove killed eight people in Welkom in Free State, South Africa, on Monday. According to Free State police, the bus was travelling to Upington from Durban when his bus upturned along Alma road killing seven people instantly and one died later in hospital. Provincial Spokesman, Brig. Motantsi Makhele revealed that three children and four females were among those who died in the fatal crash. People injured have been transported to various hospitals. The information we gathered from the scene is that the bus might have lost control and overturned on a circle, he said. The bus driver was later found hanging on a tree with a safety belt from his bus about 300 meters from the accident scene. An inquest will be launched to ascertain the actual cause of death of the 32-year-old drivers, Makhele said. He was found hanging, but we cant conclude that he killed himself. A culpable homicide case and an inquest would tell us how he died, he said. The driver was said to have spoken to paramedics when they arrived at the scene according to the Health Department in the province. Binyavanga Wainaina, a Kenyan author and LGBT activist is dead. According to reports, he passed at the age of has died at the age of 48. Reports have it that Wainaina, who founded the literary magazine Kwani, died after battling a short illness. Tom Maliti, chairman of the Nairobi-based magazine told The Daily Nation newspaper on Wednesday that the writer passed a few minutes past 10 pm (19:00 GMT) at a Nairobi hospital. Wainaina bagged the Caine Prize for African Writing for his short story Discovering Home in 2002. Wainaina revealed he was gay back in 2014. In 2016, the writer also tweeted that he was HIV-positive. He was listed in Time Magazine in 2014 as one of the Most Influential People in the World. Nollywood actress, Foluke Daramola-Salako, has released a video via her Instagram page where-in she chided her colleagues for criticizing the Economic and Financial Crime Commission(EFCC) over the arrest of Nairamarley. According to the plus sized actress, the fact that some politicians are also looting the economy doesnt make fraud right. She added that her colleagues are free to swap themselves for him in prison if they feel he is not wrong. Instagram post: //www.instagram.com/embed.js Hollywood actress Elle Fanning reportedly fainted at this years Cannes Film Festival where she is a member of this years jury. The actress fainted during the gala dinner this week, which she blamed on her donning a tight dress she wore at her time of the month. Elle took to IG to share the news writing; Oops, had a fainting spell tonight in my 1950s Prada prom dress but its all good. She posted a selfie adding the hashtags #dresstootight and #timeofthemonth. British actor Colin Firth, who was also at the dinner, quickly rushed to Fannings aid until she was taken for medical assistance. Daddy Freeze has reacted after seeing that a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor in Ondo State was performing miracles in the market place. The controversial OAP took his time to narrate the discovery of the cause of leprosy by a scientist in Norway. Daddy Freeze pointed out that it was only Jesus time, there was no known cure for leprosy but 1800 years later a cure has been discovered for it. Also Read: Boris Kodjoe gushes over his wife as they celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary The causative agent of leprosy, M. leprae, was discovered by G. H. Armauer Hansen in Norway in 1873, making it the first bacterium to be identified as causing disease in humans. The first effective treatment (promin) became available in the 1940s. In the 1950s, dapsone was introduced. Only a dingbat still needs a miracle to cure leprosy. During the time of Christ, there was no known cure for leprosy and it didnt exist for another 1,800 years. However, there has been a cure in existence for the last 80 years and it is readily available. Its a miracle that we are this ignorant in this part of the world. 90% of global malaria cases occur in subsaharan Africa, while we are looking for miracles, a Chinese woman received half of a Nobel peace prize for malaria through her discovery of Artemisinin, a disease that affects us so much more than the Chinese, the greatest disease killing us is ignorance. Artemisinin and its semisynthetic derivatives are a group of drugs used against malaria due to Plasmodium falciparum.[1] It was discovered in 1972 by Tu Youyou, a Chinese scientist, who was awarded half of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Medicine for her discovery. President Muhammadu Buhari has given directives that ministers should continue working until Tuesday, May 28th. The president who presided over the valedictory federal executive council held at the state house, Abuja on Wednesday, asked the ministers to keep working, as they prepare to hand over to the permanent secretaries of their respective ministries. According to Buhari, the ministers should submit their handover letters to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation on that same date. The ministers also recounted their experience while working with Buhari in the last three and a half years. The Valedictory session held at the council chambers of the presidential villa, Abuja. Things are getting heated by the hour as Ghanaian actress, Juliet Ibrahim has fired back at Tonto Dikeh after the latter called her out on social media. Tonto had taken to her IG page to call out a couple of entertainers to include IK Ogbonna, Tuface Idibia, Annie Idibia, Eniola, Praise, Toyin and Juliet while warning them to steer clear her new boyfriend and not beg him for money. Reacting to Tontos post., Juliet wrote: They need to speak about me to get attention because if they spoke about themselves, no one would care. See her post below. (CNN) U.S. F-22 stealth jets intercepted four Russian bombers and two Russian Su-35 fighter jets off the coast of Alaska on Monday, according to a statement from North American Aerospace Defense Command. The Russian nuclear capable long-range bombers flew into the Air Defense Identification Zone, which extends approximately 200 miles off Alaska's western coast. The Russian bomber flights are seen by U.S. military officials as part of Moscow's effort to train its military for a potential crisis while simultaneously sending a message of strength to adversaries. This latest intercept comes amid tensions with Russia on a wide range of geopolitical issues and a week after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Russian Vladimir Putin in the resort town of Sochi where he warned Russia about interfering in U.S. elections, taking a tougher public line than President Donald Trump on the issue. U.S. F-22s fighter jets and an E-3 Airborne Early Warning and Control System from North American Aerospace Defense Command "positively identified and intercepted a total of four Tupolev Tu-95 bombers and two Su-35 fighters entering the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) on May 20," NORAD said in a statement. "Two of the Russian bombers were intercepted by two F-22s, and a second group of bombers with Su-35 fighters was intercepted later by two additional F-22s, while the E-3 provided overall surveillance," NORAD said, adding that "the Russian bombers and fighters remained in international airspace and at no time did the aircraft enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace." READ: Pompeo claims Russia stopped Maduro leaving Venezuela for Cuba The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed the incident in a tweet Tuesday, saying the Tu-95 bombers "made scheduled sorties over the neutral waters of the Chukotka, Bering and Okhotsk seas, as well as along the western coast of Alaska and the northern coast of the Aleutian Islands." "At certain stages of the route, Russian aircraft were escorted by #F22 fighter jets of the #USAF. The total flight time exceeded 12 hours," the ministry added. U.S. officials say Russian bombers and jets have flown in the area several times a year for the last few years and have similarly been intercepted by U.S. or Canadian jets operating as part of NORAD. "NORAD's top priority is defending Canada and the United States. Our ability to deter and defeat threats to our citizens, vital infrastructure, and national institutions starts with successfully detecting, tracking, and positively identifying aircraft of interest approaching U.S. and Canadian airspace," Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, the commander of NORAD, said in a statement. "Patrols by Russian military aircraft off the coasts of the United States and Canada have grown increasingly complex in recent years," O'Shaughnessy said in written testimony submitted to Congress earlier this month. He wrote that the bomber patrols were a "highly visible" message intended "to underscore Russia's capabilities" and develop "a new generation of air crews," adding that "NORAD fighter aircraft routinely intercept Russian military aviation missions inside the U.S. and Canadian Air Defense Identification Zones, and there is no indication that Russian leadership intends to reduce the number of these missions in the near future." In January, a U.S. E-3 aircraft, two F-22 fighter jets and two Canadian CF-18 fighter jets similarly "positively identified" two Russian Tu-160 Blackjack strategic bombers entering the Canadian Air Defense Identification Zone. NORAD is tasked with patrolling U.S. and Canadian airspace and air defense identification zones. This story has been updated. This story was first published on CNN.com "US intercepts Russian bombers, fighter jets off the coast of Alaska" Chinese telecom company Huawei on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to roll out 5G "the European way", at a debate held in Brussels at the Huawei Cybersecurity Transparency Center. "Huawei's 5G has been co-developed by Europeans and is tailor-made for Europe's needs and challenges," said Abraham Liu, Huawei's Chief Representative to the EU Institutions, in a speech. "Huawei's 5G solution is not just the best on the market. But it is to a large extent a European product, and it's tailor-made for Europe's needs," he added. Huawei has been operating in Europe for nearly 20 years. It now has 12,200 employees in Europe -- 70 percent hired locally, according to Liu. "We are pleased that Europe is coming out with its coordinated approach to 5G. The European Union has proved its capacity of bringing European countries together to develop some of the most advanced and comprehensive laws like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Europe should continue to drive that agenda forward," said Liu. "Huawei has been respecting all applicable laws and regulations. Now Huawei is becoming the victim of the bullying by the U.S. administration. This is not just an attack against Huawei. It is an attack on the liberal, rules-based order," he added. Huawei also took the opportunity at the event to "switch on" its new redesigned and restructured website at huawei.eu, which presents the company's priorities ahead of the rollout of 5G networks and technologies over the next few years. Huawei currently runs 23 R&D centers located in 14 European countries. It has participated in 13 Horizon 2020 projects on 5G in Europe since 2012, and trials 5G technologies in testbeds in Munich, Germany, at the University of Surrey in Britain and in Bari, Italy. The police in Kaduna state has confirmed the arrest of Alhaji Musa Imam, who raised a false alarm which led to the death of three persons alleged to be kidnappers in a mob attack at Kawo area of Kaduna metropolis on Monday. In a statement on Tuesday, DSP Yakubu Sabo, the states spokesperson while giving an update, said the culprit of the sad incident was arrested around 5:00 pm on Tuesday. At about 1700hrs today (Tuesday), Police Operatives investigating the incident of yesterday at Kawo flyover which resulted to the death of three persons have arrested the master minder of the crisis Alh. Musa Imam who raised the false alarm that attracted the mob who lynched the driver and incited disturbance, the statement read. According to the police, as the investigation continues, more update will be given eventually. In Monday evening, Alhaji Musa had raised a false alarm without evidence that the suspects were kidnappers which ultimately led to a mob descending in them, police said. Police also revealed that the alarmist, who deals in oil business had a problem with one of his business partners and was reported to the Lagos State Police command, he was invited and later detained. From the information available to us, his friend went to secure his bail and he was released to them and they became his Sureties, after appearing at the Police station on two occasions he disappeared. The Sureties were later invited and asked to produce him, it was then that they informed the Police that they know his resident in Kaduna, and they promised to take the Police there. When they arrived Kaduna, they went straight to his house, while the Police were still perfecting their documents at the Commands headquarters. When he sighted them, he sensed their mission and quickly jumped into his car and drove off. The Sureties followed him in their own car and blocked him before Kawo flyover bridge, he (Alhaji Musa) jumped out of his car and raised a false alarm that people running after him are kidnappers. You know that Kawo flyover is a flashpoint before you know, the Mobs descended on the Sureties believing that they are Kidnappers, that is when we got the distressed call and we moved straight to the spot, we were able to rescue three Sureties but the driver was burnt alongside with the vehicle. In the process, the Suspect Alhaj Musa escaped, and we are doing everything now to track him down. He said. Nollywood actress, Georgina Onuoha, has taken to social media to implore the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to use the same energy used in prosecuting rapper, Naira Marley, to prosecute politicians. In a lengthy post on Instagram, Georgina Onuoha admonished youths to use their time to do more positive things. Also Read: If you have the urge to be gay, lesbian, transgender or Bisexual, just fight it Omokri Read her post below: dont know this young man. I believe everyone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. I condemn any form of crime. I condemn cyber crimes My family have been victims of frauds and the pain caused is always palpable. That being said, I hope our young men and women will begin to do the needful by speaking up and standing up to their elected officials and demand better governance and accountability so we can eradicate this pandemic scam ravaging our society and image locally and internationally. Please guys, the time and talent wasted in cybercrime and other forms of crime can be used well. Nigerian youths deserve better from their government. What happened in Sudan and Arab spring will come to our shores if our elected officials and politicians dont begin to address the hunger, poverty and joblessness amongst Nigerian youths. I dont know this young and I pray for him that they tamper justice with mercy. @officialefcc, I will be more than glad if you start arresting our politicians who are looting our National treasury this way. I hope you show this same show of force to the cabals causing untold hardship on the Nigerian citizenry. I hope you hold every criminal in Nigeria accountable like this. If you use this amount of security and force on this young man according to your policy and procedures, I hope every politician and public office holders who steal from our treasury will be treated like this, so that equal justice will be served under the law. Our society is so corrupt and sadly, the legal system works differently depending on your social-political status. Weakness for Monday Wheat Markets Barchart - Mon Dec 27, 4:49PM CST The Monday session closed with front month wheat futures down by double digits. CBT SRW gave back 3 1/4 to 10 3/4 cents, but held above $8 through December 22. KC HRW futures were 6 1/2 to 14 1/2 cents... ZOH22 : 722-0 (-0.28%) ZWH22 : 806-2 (+0.28%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.5713 (-1.44%) KEH22 : 847-0 (unch) KEPAWS.CM : 8.2636 (-1.71%) MWH22 : 1028-4 (+0.39%) Cattle Market Closes Mostly Red Barchart - Mon Dec 27, 4:49PM CST The December fat cattle futures ended the session 25 cents stronger at $137.30, while the other nearbys gave back 5 to 35 cents. Cash trade for Monday was unestablished, though last weeks market was... LEZ21 : 137.300s (+0.18%) LEJ22 : 143.675s (-0.17%) GFF22 : 162.400s (-0.64%) GFH22 : 163.275s (-0.29%) Hogs Higher on Monday Barchart - Mon Dec 27, 4:49PM CST Lean hog futures rallied $0.42 to $1.07 on the first trade day of the final week for 2021. Prices had traded lower during the session, but also closed off their intra day highs. For the Feb contracts,... HEG22 : 83.650s (+0.51%) HEK22 : 91.850s (+0.71%) KMG22 : 93.350s (+0.24%) Nat-Gas Prices Surge on the Outlook for Below-Normal U.S. Temps Barchart - Mon Dec 27, 2:29PM CST February Nymex natural gas (NGG22 ) on Monday climbed to a 2-week high and closed up by +0.312 (+8.60%). Natural gas prices on Monday rallied sharply to a 2-week high on a colder U.S. winter outlook. ... NGH22 : 3.857 (+1.98%) Crude Oil Rallies to a 1-Month High on Economic Optimism Barchart - Mon Dec 27, 2:25PM CST February WTI crude oil (CLG22 ) on Monday closed up +1.78 (+2.41%), and February RBOB gasoline (RBG22 ) closed up +2.71 (+1.23%). WTI crude oil and RBOB gasoline prices on Monday rallied moderately and... CLG22 : 75.76 (+0.25%) RBG22 : 2.2279 (-0.11%) NY Cocoa Prices Slip on Demand Concerns from Omicron's Spread Barchart - Mon Dec 27, 1:52PM CST March ICE NY cocoa (CCH22 ) on Monday closed down -12 (-0.49%). March ICE London cocoa #7 (CAH22 ) did not trade Monday with markets in the UK closed for the Christmas holiday. Cocoa prices on Monday... CCH22 : 2,461s (-0.49%) CAH22 : 1,680s (unch) Air China and China Southern Airlines on Wednesday confirmed that they are officially seeking compensation from Boeing Co. for the damages caused by the grounding of their 737 Max jetliners after two fatal crashes, following China Eastern Airlines' same claim on Tuesday, according to a CCTV reporter. The three Chinese carriers, transporting 65 percent of the passengers in the country in 2018, are in possession of 53 of the 96 737 Max planes currently grounded in the country, China Daily reported citing VariFlight, a local aviation statistics company. China is the first country that suspended the commercial operations of all Boeing 737 Max jets following the Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10, which killed all 157 people on board. Last October, a 737 MAX 8 operated by Indonesian budget carrier Lion Air crashed 13 minutes after take-off from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on a domestic flight, killing all 189 on board. Boeing said in a report it received zero orders for the troubled 737 Max jets, or other jets, such as the 787 Dreamliner or the 777, in April. The airplane manufacturer estimated a one-billion-U.S.-dollar hit in costs on account of its troubled 737 Max and has pulled its 2019 earnings forecast allowing for uncertainty looming over the jetliner. The figure is regarded by industry insiders as a conservative starting point. Hilary Bates, chief claims officer for Zurichs general insurance arm, was among the first speakers to take to the stage, offering insight into how innovative technologies are streamlining the claims process and transforming the customer journey. Technology is allowing us to challenge whether the way it has always been done, is the right way for it to be done, said Bates. It provides an opportunity to completely change our claims processes. Earlier this month, Zurich picked up the prize for General Insurer Claims Team of the Year at the 2019 Insurance Business Awards and Bates provides some insight into what sets the firm apart. We approach the technology question from the perspective of: what technology experiences are our customers having as retail consumers that they will soon come to expect from a commercial insurance provider? said Bates. For example, most postal and courier companies let you track your deliveries online in real-time, so it makes sense that you should be able to track the progress of your insurance claim in the same way. Nick Wiesener disaster response, resilience and innovation manager with the Insurance Council of Australia also shared details of the organisations mission into the epicentre of Cyclone Debbie and offered insight into how the organisation helps both the insurance industry and impacted communities during the recovery period. Aamer Fattah, research and innovation specialist at Munich Re, meanwhile, was also among the speakers, as was Chubbs claims operations manager, Cecilia Hidalgo and Karim Derrick, head of research and development at Kennedys. More detailed coverage of the event will soon follow on Insurance Business. Vero is proud to support the next generation of industry leading insurance brokers and its longstanding association with NIBAs Young Professionals and the Warren Tickle Memorial Award, said Andrew Walker, Veros state manager for Western Australia. NIBA CEO Dallas Booth congratulated the region finalists, adding: We received a significant number of nominations this year, all of which were of an extremely high calibre. We're thrilled to acknowledge Jordyn, Luke, and Jono for their outstanding contribution to the broking profession. The WA region winners will be announced at the NIBA WA gala lunch on July 19 at the Crown Perth and will then compete for the Warren Tickle Memorial Award for Young Professional Insurance Broker of the Year, which will be awarded at the 2019 NIBA Convention on the Gold Coast. McGough, an accounting specialist, embezzled the money from her agency which was not named in the criminal complaint over the course of seven years. She used her access to the companys books to steal money from the firms insurance premium revenue, according to NJ.com. She hid the thefts by issuing refunds for canceled policies. The thefts were generally between $4,000 and $8,000 each, according to NJ.com. McGough ran the scam from 2008 to 2015, when the broker was acquired by another firm. A change in accounting practices revealed the thefts, according to NJ.com. A former accounting specialist in the Ridgefield Park, N.J., office of an insurance broker was arrested and charged with allegedly defrauding her employer of approximately $900,000, Acting U.S. Attorney William E. Fitzpatrick announced. Violeta McGough, 55, of Bergenfield, N.J., has been charged by complaint with one count of wire fraud. U.S. Postal Inspectors and criminal investigators with the U.S. Attorneys Office arrested McGough at her home. According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court, from 2008 through October 2015, McGough allegedly made numerous fraudulent accounting entries to steal funds that her employer identified as Victim-Company 1 in the complaint collected as insurance premiums. The premiums were for policies underwritten and issued by Victim-Company 1 on behalf of a United Kingdom-based insurance syndicate that actually held the risk. As part of her employment duties, McGough tracked premiums collected by Victim-Company 1 and its monthly payments to the syndicate. McGough repeatedly used her access to Victim-Company 1s books to divert a portion of those payments to her personal use. McGough disguised the stolen funds as reimbursed premiums for cancelled policies. She caused Victim-Company 1 to generate checks payable to a person identified in the complaint as Individual 1, who supposedly worked for a premium financing company, but did not actually work there. McGough personally deposited the checks into Individual 1s bank account and the bulk of the funds were transmitted back to McGoughs bank account. The single wire fraud count is punishable by a maximum potential penalty of 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. The charge and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Source: The United States Attorneys Office District of New Jersey Topics Agencies USA Fraud Abuse Molestation New Jersey Norbord Inc said on Tuesday it suspended production at its oriented strand board (OSB) mill in High Level, Alberta, to comply with evacuation orders following nearby wildfires. More than 4,000 people from High Level and the Bushe River First nations reserve were evacuated on Monday as the wildfires burned within 5 kilometers of the town, fire officials said at a media briefing. All non-essential employees had been safely evacuated and there were no reported injuries, the company said. Norbord, which is the worlds largest producer of OSB, said it was assessing the impact of the halt on production. The companys shares were down 2.2% at C$29.54 on the Toronto Stock Exchange. OSB is a type of wood panel used to make flooring, industrial containers and furniture. Wildfires are common in western Canada every summer. In 2016, a blaze tore through the town of Fort McMurray in the heart of Albertas oil sands region, destroying thousands of homes, making it the costliest insured disaster in Canadian history. (Reporting by Debroop Roy in Bengaluru and Nia Williams in Calgary; editing by Sriraj Kalluvila) Related: Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Not since 2005 have the worlds insurers considered shipping in the Persian Gulf so dangerous for oil tankers. The Joint War Committee of Londons Lloyds Market Association said Friday that it would expand its so-called listed areas those regions that pose the greatest risks for shipping, and potentially warranting higher insurance costs to include the entire Persian Gulf. The last time the entire region held the designation was a period that ended in June 2005 and encompassed the most recent Iraq War. It highlights the growing risks in the worlds most important export region and chokepoint for oil. The classification comes after the committee met to discuss the sabotage of four tankers at the port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Saudi Arabia said those incidents represented an attack on its fleet, with the nations energy minister describing it as an attempt to prevent the free flow of goods over the worlds oceans. Intense Period Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran two key global oil producers have been steadily rising in recent weeks, while the U.S. is ratcheting up its sanctions regime on the Persian Gulf state. In terms of geopolitics, I dont remember a period that was as intense as today, said Olivier Jakob, managing director of consultancy Petromatrix GmbH. Growing tensions in the region are significant for oil markets, as the Strait of Hormuz, the key bottleneck in and out of the Persian Gulf, sees tankers hauling about 16.5 million barrels of oil passing through it daily. As such, any curb to flows through the region would have a significant impact on crude prices. Fujairah Too The Joint War Committees decision also means the port of Fujairah is now considered an area of more significant risk. That matters because its one of the worlds major areas for refueling tankers, along with Singapore and Rotterdam. Weve heightened the security levels on our ships, Robert Hvide Macleod, CEO at tanker company Frontline Ltd., said in an earnings call. The situation in the area, in terms of the risk levels, theyre obviously up and were raising the alerts on the ships. It will take time for higher insurance costs to filter through to the market. The Committees decision will could lead to an additional premium for ships sailing to the Persian Gulf, but some underwriters are still deciding how to respond. The Committees decisions arent binding, though theyre generally followed by the worlds insurers. Real Impact Most important though, is the potential effect on global oil supply if the insurers concerns turn out to be well founded. Both the U.S. and Iran have escalated a war of words that culminated in President Trump saying Sunday that further acts of aggression would be the official end of Iran. Though both the U.S. and Iranian regimes have also dismissed the prospect of war, those in charge of valuing risks see skirmishes like the sabotage in the U.A.E. as adding to the potential financial cost of doing business in the region. There is no doubt that considerable damage was done and there will be significant claims, the Committee said in a statement, referring to the attacks at Fujairah, adding that there is now heightened risk across the region. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics USA Energy Oil Gas A prominent Chinese environmental group has called on chemicals multinationals to stop cutting corners by outsourcing business to Chinese suppliers that violate safety regulations after an investigation into a deadly explosion at a factory in March. In a new study, the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) said it had identified global chemical producers among indirect buyers of products made at the Jiangsu Tianjiayi chemical plant, at Yancheng on Chinas eastern coast. The IPE is a non-governmental organization which has a close relationship with Chinas environment ministry. The factory was shut for good after the March 21 blast. Chinas cabinet has set up a special team to investigate the incident and at least 26 people have already been detained. IPEs investigation named German conglomerate Merck among indirect buyers of Tianjiayi products, while Swiss chemicals firm Lonza previously confirmed Tianjiayi was one of its major suppliers. Asked to comment on the IPE report, Merck called Tianjiayi a tier two supplier and said it was still assessing the situation. Chinas massive chemical sector plays a vital role in the supply of basic products widely used across the world, many of which are hazardous. Tianjiayi was a major manufacturer of products like 1,3-dinitrobenzene, used to make explosives, and M-phenylenediamine, a key polymer component. But IPE said international firms had created a powerful engine for continued irresponsible operations around the country and they must ensure they buy only from factories that meet safety standards. Officials told Reuters that oversight failures were partly caused by the inability of regulators to keep up with the chemical sectors rapid growth, with demand soaring at home and overseas. Loophole Ma Jun, IPEs director, said Chinas economic slowdown had encouraged local authorities to allow non-compliant firms like Tianjiayi to resume operations, but improving enforcement wasnt the only issue. Data and information exist to allow multinational firms to make informed decisions about suppliers rather than focusing only on costs. We all recognize the real problem is not about someone being immoral, and more a dynamic that basically rewards those who cut corners, Ma told Reuters. Those who have gained the most from globalized outsourcing practices are basically taking advantage of a loophole instead of joining efforts to solve the problem, he added. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment did not respond immediately to a faxed request for comment on the IPE report. Also named in the IPE report as buyers of Tianjiayi goods were U.S. chemical conglomerate DuPont, Switzerlands Clariant and Germanys BASF. The report said BASF and Clariant sourced Tianjiayi chemicals via Chinas Hifi Chemical Co., which has confirmed it was one of Tianjiayis major customers. A Hifi sales official told Reuters that BASF and Clariant were among its clients. Clariant said it was still investigating but Tianjiayi was not a direct supplier. BASF said, After an initial internal audit, we did not find Tianjiayi Chemical as the supplier to BASF in China. DuPont didnt immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment, but IPE wrote in its report that it had been told by DuPont that the firm had no business relationship with Tianjiayi. After the March accident, the Chenjiagang industrial park where Tianjiayi was located was found to be rife with violations and shut down. Jiangsu is now planning a wider crackdown to eliminate hundreds of small-scale chemical producers. Among the 400 chemical factories in this chemical industrial park and two others in adjacent regions, more than 300 had records of violations in our database, said Ma. IPE tracks corporate environmental violations nationwide in a database followed closely by the environment ministry. If the brands continue only wanting to buy from the cheapest, then they become part of the problem, he added. (Reporting by David Stanway; additional reporting by Shanghai newsroom; editing by Kenneth Maxwell) Related: Topics China Pollution Chemicals Assicurazioni Generali SpA is in early talks to buy the Central European assets of MetLife Inc. as the Italian insurer seeks to expand through acquisitions in high-growth markets, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The business may be worth more than 2 billion euros ($2.24 billion) and is concentrated in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, the people said, asking not to be identified as the plans arent public. Talks are at a preliminary stage and the transaction may not happen, the people said. A representative for MetLife declined to comment, while a Generali spokesman said that the insurer doesnt comment on rumors and speculations. Generali has said that its willing to consider acquisitions to enter new countries as one of the top-five players in that market and had signaled that it was interested in pursuing opportunities in central and eastern Europe. Expansion in the region is one of the pillars of Chief Executive Officer Philippe Donnet strategy, as mergers and acquisitions reshape the industry. External growth in central and eastern Europe makes perfect sense, as the CEE region is the jewel in Generalis crown, Gian Luca Ferrari, an analyst at Mediobanca SpA, wrote in a note Wednesday. Generali has plenty of internal resources to finance a potential deal of this magnitude. MetLife Shares Up MetLife shares rose as much as 6.1% and closed 1.3% higher at $48.13 in New York on Tuesday. Generali was little changed at 16.32 euros in Milan trading as of 11:20 a.m. Wednesday. The stock has gained 12% this year, giving Italys biggest insurer a market value of 25.6 billion euros. The firm has said it has several billion euros to invest in deals and internal growth by 2021. This year it bought assets in Slovenia, insurance portfolios in Hungary and Slovakia and has signed a bancassurance agreement with UniCredit SpA to strengthen its position in central and Eastern Europe. Generalis central and eastern Europe unit, which includes Austria and Russia, accounted for about 15% of the companys operating income last year, data compiled by Bloomberg show. A deal could be positive news for Generali, although it depends on the price paid, Banca Akros Enrico Esposti said in a note. Poland accounts for one of MetLifes largest operations in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, according to a company filing. In 2012, MetLife agreed to buy life insurance businesses from Aviva in the Czech Republic and Hungary, as well as Avivas life insurance and pension businesses in Romania. MetLife also has a presence in Bulgaria and Slovakia. With assistance from Dinesh Nair and Daniele Lepido. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Mergers Europe Generali Life Assurance (Thailand) Plc. Federal safety officials cited an excavation company after two employees suffered serious injuries when a trench collapsed at a construction site in Lincoln, Nebraska. The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also proposed penalties of $106,078 against T.H. Construction Co. for one willful violation of its trench safety standards. Two employees suffered injuries when a portion of the trench wall caved in as they repaired fiber optic cable. A third employee escaped injury. OSHA cited the company for failing to use protective systems to prevent a collapse. Compliance with trenching and excavation regulations is not optional, said OSHA Omaha Area Office Director Jeff Funke. Employers are legally required to use appropriate protective systems to ensure that workers are not injured. OSHA recently updated the National Emphasis Program on preventing trenching and excavation collapses, and developed a series of compliance assistance resources to help keep workers safe from these hazards. The agencys trenching and excavation web page provides information on trenching hazards and solutions. Additional information is available in OSHAs construction hazards prevention videos on trenching and soil classification. The company has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Source: OSHA Topics Workers' Compensation Nebraska Every 36 hours on average, American local news outlets deliver a new report on violence at a McDonalds. A group of employees in Chicago say workers bear the brunt of such incidents, enough to constitute a pattern of regular on-the-job violence they want the company to address across the U.S. In a complaint filed with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Monday, the workers at one location described being threatened with guns, attacked with hot coffee and having to dodge food thrown by a disturbed customer. Despite the frequent incidence of workplace violence, our employer has done nothing to implement safety measures to protect us, the workers allege in the complaint, which names McDonalds Corp. and franchisee Oscar Perretta. The employees and other Chicago-area workers, who are working with the union-backed Fight for $15 campaign, are also sending a letter asking OSHA to open a systemic investigation into the corporations handling of workplace violence in its thousands of U.S. locations. Their letter cites data from the National Employment Law Project, which counted 721 local media reports of violence at U.S. McDonalds stores over the past three years, most of them involving guns. Training Push When asked about the letter, McDonalds said its rolling out national training programs in its company-owned restaurants this year focused on workplace safety. We believe every person working in McDonalds restaurants deserves to do so in a safe and respectful environment and, along with our franchisees, have invested in programs that promote safe environments for customers and crew members, the company said in a statement. This includes clear policies that strictly prohibit violence, threats of violence and other conduct that jeopardizes or harms the safety of employees and others in the workplace. Perretta didnt respond to messages left at his company, Nornat. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Workers' Compensation The three biggest airlines in China have all formally requested compensation from the Boeing Company over the long-period grounding of the 737 Max aircraft as of Wednesday. Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines have also sought payouts due to delayed delivery of previously ordered new aircrafts from the America-based manufacturer of commercial jetliners. The grounding of Boeing 737 Max 8 planes has resulted in great losses for the company, and the losses are still expanding, the China Eastern Airlines noted. The Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines said it had suspended commercial flights of 24 737 Max aircraft since March 11 and requested a negotiation with Boeing over the compensation plan as soon as possible. China's carriers own a total of 96 737 Max 8 planes, with 14 belonging to the China Eastern Airlines and 15 to Air China, data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) showed. Last month, China was invited by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to review the safety of the Boeing 737 Max aircraft. "To resume operation of 737 Max 8 jetliners, we have to ensure the absolute saftey of the planes," said Xu Chaoqun, an official with the CAAC. China was the first to halt the commercial operations of all Boeing 737 Max 8 airplanes after two fatal crashes. On March 10, a 737 Max jetliner of Ethiopian Airlines crashed shortly after taking off from Addis Ababa, killing all 157 people on board, including 8 Chinese. It was the second crash of the new aircraft after one operated by Indonesia's Lion Air crashed in October last year, triggering global scrutiny and bans on operating Boeing 737 Max aircraft. Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay at least $25 million to a woman who said she contracted a rare asbestos-related cancer through decades of daily use of J&Js Baby Powder or its other talc product, Shower to Shower. The New York verdict for plaintiff Donna Olson, 66, and her husband against J&J and its consumer-products unit only reflects the award of compensatory damages. Jurors will return next week to consider assessing punitive damages against the companies over their mishandling of the talc products. J&J faces more than 14,000 claims that its powders caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The company denies its products ever contained the carcinogen and argues talc doesnt cause the life-threatening illnesses. Olson has mesothelioma located in her lungs, according to court filings. Also on Tuesday, a South Carolina jury concluded that J&J wasnt liable for a womans mesothelioma that she blamed on asbestos in the companys baby powder. J&J had the case removed to federal court last month, but a judge sent it back to state court for trial. The companys record at trial has been mixed. It lost a $29 million jury award in a California mesothelioma case March 13 but won a New Jersey trial on March 27, the same day it settled three cases. J&J also won in California on April 5. A trial is ongoing in California. J&J will appeal, said Kim Montagnino, a company spokeswoman. This trial suffered significant legal and evidentiary errors one of the most egregious being the demonstrably false testimony from the plaintiffs central expert, she said. The company contends William Longo, a scientist who has testified for many plaintiffs in talc cases, lied in earlier trials about where he obtained talc samples in which he found traces of asbestos. Judge Manuel Mendez in Manhattan allowed Longo to testify on Olsons behalf. The verdict is the 10th win for talc plaintiffs since trials over cancer claims tied to J&Js talc-based powders began in 2016, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. J&J has won seven defense verdicts while jurors deadlocked in three other cases. The company also settled four cases. Some of the plaintiffs verdicts have been overturned while others are still on appeal. Olson, a former Manhattan resident who now lives in Delaware, testified she used baby powder on herself from age eight until after she was married in 1984. Olson said the powder would create a cloud when she applied it and she breathed in some of the talc particles, according to court filings. Mendez ruled before trial that because Olson argued Johnson & Johnson put corporate profits and reputation over the health and safety of consumers, jurors could weigh awarding punishment damages if they ruled in the womans favor. The New York case is Olson v. Brenntag, 190328/2017, New York Supreme Court (Manhattan). The South Carolina case is Beth-Anee F. Johnson v. Johnson & Johnson, 18-CP40-01781, South Carolinas Court of Common Pleas, Fifth Judicial Circuit (Columbia). Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics California New York South Carolina Nearly two years after Hurricane Harvey ravaged the Texas coast, the Texas House approved legislation that would pull more than $3 billion from the states rainy day fund to help pay for flood control projects statewide. The House version of Senate Bill 7 is one of three disaster relief bills Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick declared a top priority earlier in the legislative session. Sponsored by state Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, it combines the Senate version with a House alternative, creating two funds that would provide grants and loans for flood control and mitigation projects. The first is the Flood Infrastructure Fund, which would draw nearly $3.3 billion from the states savings account, the Economic Stabilization Fund. The second is the Texas Infrastructure Resiliency Fund, outlined in the Senate version authored by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe. That fund would allow cities, counties and other political subdivisions to apply for grants and low- or zero-interest loans for specific projects through the Texas Water Development Board. It is a great product of two different ideas that I think will serve this state really well for the coming years, Phelan said. The resiliency fund would comprise four accounts. The Hurricane Harvey Account would help draw down federal dollars for flood projects related to Hurricane Harvey. The Federal Matching Account would use state money to help local communities with the matching funds required for projects that are eligible for partial federal funding. Another account would help finance projects included in the statewide flood plan, created under Senate Bill 8 by state Sen. Charles Perry, a Lubbock Republican. Similar to the water development boards State Water Plan, the state flood plan would allow representatives from each of the state flood planning regions to craft a plan and submit it to the water development board for consideration. High priority projects would be considered first for funding, Perrys office told the Tribune in January. SB 8 also received approval in the House, with only a third reading usually a formality remaining. Today, the Texas House passed historic flood mitigation legislation that will benefit the state for generations, Creighton said in a statement after the House version passed. Hurricane Harvey was the worst storm in U.S. history and exposed serious weaknesses in our infrastructure, and this bill is a strong step forward to ensuring a more resilient Texas. This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/05/16/texas-house-passes-bills-to-help-pay-for-flood-projects-statewide/ The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Topics Texas Flood Hurricane Teri Brinson, Randy Myers and Leslie Milvo have been named to the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX) board of directors, with three-year terms set to run through Dec. 31, 2021. Brinson is vice president at LP Risk Inc. and has been with the organization (previously known as M.D. Jensvold & Co., Inc.) since 1992 in Houston. Prior to this position, she worked as a retail agent for 18 years. Brinson served as president of the Texas Surplus Lines Association (TSLA) in 2017 and has held multiple TSLA committee appointments, after first joining the TSLA Board of Directors in 2011 and becoming an officer in 2014. Myers has been underwriting commercial property insurance in Texas since 2001. He has 12 years of experience in excess and surplus lines with Admiral Insurance in Austin, and more than five years experience in property reinsurance. The combination of these roles has provided him with a different grasp of the critical issues that consumers and insurers experience with the unique weather patterns Texas is currently experiencing. Milvo has served as risk manager for the City of Austin for almost 26 years. She is a current member of the Texas Chapter of the Public Risk Management Association (TX PRIMA) Board of Directors, and she was named TX PRIMAs Risk Professional of the Year in 2015. Leslie is a lifelong risk management practitioner with significant experience in governmental procurement, insurance placement, contract interpretation, Open Meetings Act, and general parliamentary process as required in similar boards. The new board members assume the vacancies of Chairman Greg Rubel, Vice Chairman Robby Neill and Andrew Fieker, whose terms ended on Dec. 31, 2018. Source: SLTX Topics Texas Excess Surplus The North Carolina Department of Insurance announced multiple fraud enforcement actions during the month of April 2019. Insurance fraud costs American consumers approximately $80 billion dollars a year. According to North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, fraud costs North Carolinians between 15 and 20 cents of every dollar paid on insurance premiums and its getting worse. Insurance fraud affects our economy. Not only does it damage insurance companies, it cheats businesses and consumers too, Causey said. This kind of white-collar crime is unacceptable. Thats why Ive doubled the number of Special Agents to investigate insurance fraud. Cracking down on fraud will put more money in the pockets of businesses and consumers. Details of the incidents, as reported by NCDOI, are as follows: Randleman Woman Accused of Insurance Fraud Lizbeth Cabrera Appleget, 30, of Randleman, N.C., was arrested and charged with felony insurance fraud, according to the North Carolina Department of Insurance on April 16. Appleget is accused of providing a fraudulent tow bill to Geico to support a claim that her auto was damaged after a policy was in effect, the arrest warrant states. However, the warrant says the damage to her vehicle occurred when she had no coverage on it. The offense occurred between Dec. 14-26, 2018. Special agents with the NCDOI Criminal Investigations Division, along with Randleman police, arrested Appleget on March 16. She was given a $1,500 secured bond. Smithfield Woman Arrested for Lying About Auto Accident Calleigh Marie Grennier, 29, of Smithfield, N.C., was arrested and charged with felony insurance fraud, NCDOI said on April 17. Grennier is accused by special agents with the NCDOIs Criminal Investigations Division of making a false and misleading statement regarding an auto insurance claim. According to the arrest warrant, Grennier falsely said she was not driving a car involved in an accident. The offense occurred between July 4, 2018, and March 27, 2019. Grennier was arrested on April 12 and given a $20,000 unsecured bond. Apex Man Charged with Insurance Fraud for Scamming Progressive Brendal Scott Epling, 30, of Apex, N.C., was charged with felony insurance fraud, Causey said in a statement on April 18. NCDOI special agents with the Criminal Investigations Division accuse Epling of falsely telling Progressive Casualty Insurance Co. that he and his two minor children were injured during an auto wreck, when none of the three were in the vehicle at the time of the collision. The offense occurred between Nov. 3-26, 2018. Epling was arrested on April 5 and released on a written promise to appear in court. Georgia Man Accused of Staging Fall at Restaurant Cedric Shropshire, 42, of Calhoun, Ga., was charged with felony insurance fraud after being accused of intentionally falling at a Wendys fast food restaurant in Murphy last summer, Causey said in a statement on April 22. Special agents with the Department of Insurances Criminal Investigations Division accuse Shropshire of trying to deceive Employers Mutual Casualty Insurance Co. by claiming he slipped on the restaurants floor near the bathroom. According to the arrest warrant, the restaurants surveillance video shows Shropshire initially looking down at water on the floor, stepping over the water and then leaving. Moments later, he returned to the restaurant and purposefully fell where the water was located, the warrant says. The offense occurred between July 30, 2018, and Sept. 1, 2018. Shropshire was arrested March 27 and given a $5,000 secured bond. Norwood Woman Accused of Filing False Lost Jewelry Claim Jennifer Dawn Burris, 38, of Norwood, N.C., was charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, NCDOI said in a statement on April 22. According to a criminal summons, Burris told Erie Insurance Co. that her wedding ring had been lost in an attempt to collect a $4,000 claim. Special agents with the Department of Insurances Criminal Investigations Division say Burris admitted during the investigation that the reported loss was false. The offense occurred between Jan. 11 and April 3. Burris was served with a criminal summons on April 3 and ordered to be in Stanly County District Court on April 29. Hubert Woman Accused of Providing False Info on Florence Claim Kasia Alicia Taylor, 34, of Hubert, N.C., was arrested and charged with felony insurance fraud, NCDOI said in a statement on April 30. Special agents with the NCDOI Criminal Investigations Division accuse Taylor of providing false information to America Bankers Insurance Co. of Florida in a renters insurance claim for storm damage from Hurricane Florence, including receipts that were also going to be submitted to another insurance company in a claim. The offense occurred on Sept. 12, 2018. Taylor was arrested on April 18 and released on a written promise to appear in Onslow County District Court on May 13. Taylors codefendant, Johnny Lee Henderson Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., was still wanted by the N.C. Department of Insurance at the time of the statement. People with information on Hendersons whereabouts are asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840. Brunswick County Woman Charged with Felony Insurance Fraud Lashandra Jean Humphrey, 34, of Supply, N.C., has been arrested and charged with insurance fraud and attempting to obtain property by false pretense, both felonies, Causey said in a statement on April 30. Special agents with the NCDOI Criminal Investigations Division accuse Humphrey of trying to obtain $2,000 from American Bankers Insurance Co. of Florida by presenting an altered estimate for damages on a homeowners claim. According to the arrest warrant, the offense occurred on Oct. 9, 2018. Special Agents arrested Humphrey on April 26. She was given a $5,000 secured bond and is due in Brunswick County District Court on June 6. Topics Trends Agencies Auto Fraud Abuse Molestation North Carolina Restaurant Baldwin Risk Partners (BRP), a Tampa, Fla.-headquartered insurance distribution and consulting holding company, has appointed Trevor Baldwin as chief executive officer. He will take over for Lowry Baldwin, who will maintain an active role in the organization as chairman and continue to provide corporate governance and influence BRP strategy, among other tasks. As CEO, Trevor will oversee all strategic planning pertaining to BRPs vision and mission. In his prior role as president of BRP, Trevor successfully executed on driving BRPs growth organically and through strategic partnership. He joined the company in 2009. Led by Trevor, BRP has partnered with several firms across Florida, Alabama, Texas and Georgia in recent years. In 2018, BRP was ranked the 43rd Largest Independent Insurance Broker in the United States by Insurance Journal. Topics Mergers Florida A lawsuit has been filed against a retired University of Alaska Anchorage anthropology professor who is banned from campus over sexual misconduct allegations by multiple women. David Yesner is named in the federal lawsuit filed Wednesday along with The University of Alaska system and the University of Alaska Board of Regents, Anchorage television station KTVA reported . Plaintiffs maintain Yesner was allowed to use the UAA campus as his own personal hunting ground while the university shielded its reputation instead of protecting female students. They say he preyed on women who relied on him for professional and academic success. The lawsuit says Yesner was promoted for decades despite known instances of sexual misconduct. What the University did do was continue to reward Yesner for his sexual harassment, sweeping the students/Plaintiffs complaints under the rug and awarding Yesner with promotion after promotion within the Anthropology department and within the graduate school in general, the lawsuit states. The lawsuit does not name the plaintiffs, who are identified as Jane Does 1 -through 20. Claims by the first five women are represented in the case. The lawsuit follows an investigative Title IX report that found the accusations by nine women credible. One of those women, who is not a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said she was using a public shower when Yesner entered fully naked and accosted her during a trip to Delta Junction to get supplies. Attempts to reach Yesner for comment were not immediately successful. UAA spokeswoman Kirstin Olmstead declined to comment on the pending litigation. But the universitys own investigation showed Professor Yesner engaged in reprehensible behavior, she said in a statement. The university has taken available steps to address that conduct and offered to do what it can to make things right for affected individuals, she wrote. We remain willing to do so. Plaintiffs allege they were subjected to years of sexual harassment, discrimination, exploitation, abuse and retaliation that hurt their emotional well-being and academic careers. They say the university failed to follow Title IX requirements following numerous complaints from the women. Plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial and reimbursement for tuition and other expenses. The lawsuit also seeks removal of Yesners name from diplomas and other university documents. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Education Universities May 22, 2019 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The Intercept has published an exclusive interview by co-founding editor Glenn Greenwald with Brazilian ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is currently serving a long prison sentence in a federal police building in Curitiba, in the state of Parana. In an insightful one-hour interview with Greenwald, Lula spoke about the political nature of the "Operation Car Wash" investigation, the election of Jair Bolsonaro in 2018, the rise of far-right governments and politicians globally, the failings of neoliberal policies, and his "strong beliefs" that the U.S. Department of Justice is involved in the investigations that led to his imprisonment and on Dilma Rousseff's impeachment. English link: https://theintercept.com/2019/05/22/lula-brazil-ex-president-prison-interview/ Portuguese link: https://theintercept.com/2019/05/21/greenwald-entrevista-lula-bolsonaro-nova-politica/ YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93MgeyNqc_k&t=2371s When asked by Greenwald on the "Car Wash" investigations, Lula responded: "I have no doubt, Glenn, that everything that's happened in connection with Operation Car Wash has been to prevent Lula from running for president. [] Operation Car Wash has been gradually changing into a political operation that benefits whoever participates in it." Lula continues: "I'm the president who sent the highest number of students to university, who opened the most public universities, who launched the most technical schools in the history of the country, who had the largest policies of distribution of wealth, who raised the minimum wage the most, and who helped the most in settling the landless." On Trump's election, Lula said: "Trump's victory was due to him having the right kind of discourse for the white blue-collar workers, you know, from the automobile industry, who were unemployed. He promised the obvious: more jobs for Americans." At the end of the interview, Lula insisted on offering a statement on the current crisis in Venezuela: "Venezuela deserves its own sovereignty, they have the right to self-determination, and Venezuela's problems are Venezuelans' problem, they're not the USA's problems. Trump should take care of the U.S. and stop sticking his nose where he's not wanted." About The Intercept: The Intercept is an award-winning nonprofit news organization dedicated to holding the powerful accountable through fearless, adversarial journalism. Its in-depth investigations and unflinching analysis focus on surveillance, war, corruption, the environment, technology, criminal justice, the media and more. Press contact: Rodrigo Brandao Director of Communications / The Intercept rodrigo.brandao@theintercept.com / +1.917.434.6168 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. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp You are here: China Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with military officers and experts at the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in east China's Jiangxi Province. Xi inspected the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in east China's Jiangxi Province Tuesday. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping underlined the importance of better education of military personnel for building strong armed forces, when inspecting the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in east China's Jiangxi Province on Tuesday. Military education should meet the requirements of combat, the needs of the armed forces and the demands of future missions, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He told military academies and schools to have a strong political underpinning, clarify their direction, advance reforms and improve education quality. Arriving at the Army Infantry College on Tuesday morning, Xi came to the training ground to observe cadets tackle military obstacle courses. Leaving the training ground, Xi visited an institute dedicated to the research on revolutionary history and stressed the passing on of revolutionary traditions. When briefed about the work of the college, Xi stressed the need to follow the right political direction and strengthen Party leadership and Party building. He asked the college to train the cadets for combat and focus on how to win when called on. Xi stressed the need to accelerate innovation in school management and operation, strengthen integration and upgrading of the faculty, and introduce high quality educational resources from outside. He called for imposing strict discipline, as well as curbing the practices of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism. The Single Payment Scheme was introduced to Ireland in 2005. This scheme allows farmers within the EU who follow certain rules to gain entitlements from the land. This provides farmers with another income stream from their lands and can be a great help to farmers, particularly those who have small farm holdings. Single farm payments were not attached to land, but to the farmer. As such, where payment entitlements were not specifically mentioned in a will, they formed part of the residue of the estate, and passed to those entitled to the residue, ie the part of the estate left over after deduction of specific bequests, devises, tax, debts etc. This usually resulted in a person who was not farming receiving the payments, and, most of the time, this would not have been the intention of the deceased. Entitlements can be sold, leased, gifted etc. It is common practice for farmers to leave the family farm to one child who has been farming the land with them. Generally, the farmer leaving the farm will intend for the entitlements to pass along with the farm. Because entitlements do not usually attach to land, there have historically been problems when a farmer leaves his or her farm to a child and omits to deal specifically with the Basic Payment Entitlements in their will. Since the coming into force of The European Union (Basic Payment Scheme Inheritance) Regulations 2017 which was transposed into domestic law by Statutory Instrument 639 of 2017, the Basic Payment Entitlements to land will pass to the person to whom the land was bequeathed in the scenario where the land is transferred to one person and there is no mention made of the entitlements, providing there is no other legal impediment to the transfer. It is more prudent to mention entitlements in your will It is nevertheless more prudent to specifically mention the entitlements in your Will, despite the statutory instrument, in order to prevent future disputes or confusion between family members. If the entitlements are to pass on to the person who is to receive the farm, this should be expressly stated in the will, in order to avoid any possible disappointment, uncertainty and difficulty for the intended beneficiary. Certainty and specificity are essential in the drafting of wills. It is important to let your solicitor know to whom you wish for the entitlements to pass. Following the death of a farm there are two issues that need to be dealt with: 1. Any change in relation to the registration details of the herd number and 2.The transfer of any entitlements which are held by the deceased. When a regional veterinary office is notified of the death of a farmer, it records the death of the farmer on the Department of Agricultures systems and commences the process of herd transfer details, subsequently changing the registration details of the herd owner. Where appropriate, arrangements for the registration of a herdkeeper, with responsibility for the management and care of livestock in the herd, are made. Outstanding payments and/or the transfer of payment entitlements held by the deceased, are transmitted to the legal personal representative, who will deal with them in accordance with the deceaseds will. As soon as possible, an executor of an estate should contact the inheritance enquiry unit of the Department of Agriculture. Karen Walsh, from a farming background, is a solicitor practicing in Walsh & Partners, Solicitors, 17, South Mall, Cork (021-4270200), and author of Farming and the Law. Walsh & Partners also specialises in personal injury claims, conveyancing, probate and family law.Email: info@walshandpartners.ie Web: www.walshandpartners.ie The reality of knife crime and arranged fights between gangs of teens is laid bare in this Garda photograph. Gardai are alerting youths to the lethal dangers posed by carrying such weapons and are concerned that the problem could worsen during the school summer holidays. The photograph details the array of weaponry seized in one operation in Ballyfermot, southwest Dublin, targeting an arranged fight between teen gangs. The cache includes a saw, a sledgehammer, a hammer, a 3in claw knife, a fashioned piece of copper piping, a Stanley knife, and a normal knife. Each and every one of these weapons could cause fatal injuries to any person, said Inspector Ronan Barry of Ballyfermot Garda Station. If you bring a saw, a knife or a hammer to a fight, you are talking about serious instruments. He said: In my 22 years, Ive never seen anything like this number of sharp, and potentially lethal, weapons in one find. He told the Irish Examiner that the Garda operation prevented a fight arranged between a local gang and a rival teen gang from neighbouring Drimnagh. Details of the haul, which dates from St Patricks Day, were revealed at a local policing forum meeting this month and featured in an echo.ie report. Most of the kids in that arranged fight are thought to be aged between 14 and 16. Insp Barry said theyve had up to 10 incidents in Ballyfermot since February, saying arranged fights are a serious problem. He said they are liaising with the community and stepping up patrols and stop and searches. With most fights arranged through social media, they are difficult to prevent. He said they are concerned that the fights could escalate during the summer holidays. Sinn Fein councillor for Ballyfermot-Drimnagh, Daithi Doolan, said that since last August there has been a serious increase in gang-related incidents: There is a sinister element growing, with weapon carrying, violence and serious anti-social behaviour. He said massive cuts have crippled local gardai: They either have no cars or one shared car with Rathcoole and Clondalkin. Garda morale, numbers and resources are at a low. He said youth services have also been badly hit with cuts, but that the FamiliBase project in Ballyfermot is engaging with teenagers. Within the last week, gardai in Balbriggan, north Dublin, seized six weapons five knives and a hammer in street searches, including against juveniles. The consequences of knife crime were underlined tragically this month with the fatal stabbing of 18-year-old Azzam Raguragui in a south Dublin park. A juvenile is suspected in the attack. Arranged fights featured in Cork last Saturday. Gardai were called to a number of incidents in Midleton between 6-8pm after reports of disturbances involving groups of youths. A Garda spokesman said they dispersed the groups: One 16-year-old youth was arrested and other suspects were identified. A hammer was recovered. In a follow-up search, a 17-year-old was arrested and a knuckle duster recovered. On May 15, a male in his late teens and a male in his 20s attended Cork University Hospital, after an assault on Curaheen Road, with the teen suffering stab wounds. Garda statistics show that knife seizures jumped from 1,197 in 2016 to 1,936 in 2018. The problem is greatest in Dublin and Cork. Knife seizures increased 65% across Dublin divisions, including North Central (100 to 192), South Central (129 to 194), Northern (86 to 183) and Western (100 to 168). Numbers in the three Cork divisions doubled, from 85 to 169. Cork city seizures rose 65 to 101, Cork North from 20 to 42 and Cork West from 13 (in 2017) to 26. Divisional breakdown of knives seized by gardai 2016-2019 Update: 4.02pm: Gardai say its too early to say for certain if last night's shooting in Dublin was gang-related. A man believed to be in his 20s was found dead beside a car on fire at Walshestown in Balbriggan at 11.20pm. He was shot a number of times and sustained injuries to his head and chest. A murder investigation has been launched and a post mortem examination has been carried out. Earlier, Gardai said they were examining the possibility the shooting was related to a West Dublin crime feud. Superintendent Tony Twomey is appealing for information about the car found at the scene. He said: "We're particularly interested in anybody that may have seen a black, Vauxhall Insignia. "It's an imported Vauxhall Insignia, registration number 181 D 46703. If anybody saw that in the area, we would be interested in talking to them." Update 12.30pm: The body of a man who was shot in Rowans Little, Walshestown in Balbriggan has been removed from the scene. Gardai have said the man was in his 20s. Picture: Collins They added that his body has been removed from the scene to the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital for a full post mortem examination. The scene remains sealed off this afternoon. Earlier: Gardai are investigating after the body of a man has been discovered in a car in north county Dublin. Gardai were called to the scene at Rowans Little, Walshestown in Balbriggan at around 11.20pm last night. Gardai say they were alerted to a car on fire just off the M1 where they discovered the man beside the car with "apparent gunshot wounds". Gardai are trying to confirm the age and identity of the man and have launched a murder investigation. They are examining whether the murder is linked to ongoing crime feuds in Drogheda and Dublin. The road where the discovery was made as been sealed off at both ends and Diversions are in place. Gardai say the body of the man remains at the scene and the area is currently preserved pending an examination by Garda Crime Scene Examiners. Investigating Gardai are appealing for anyone with information or anyone who may have witnessed this incident to contact the incident room at Balbriggan Garda Station on 01- 802 0510, the Garda Confidential Line 1 800 666 111 or any garda station. This story was updated at 9am. Calls have been made for compulsory purchase orders to be used for graveyards. It comes as farmers ramp up prices for land, while certain graveyards around the country are rapidly running out of space. Women without private health insurance who suffer an early miscarriage in this country are more likely to be hospitalised and in need of a blood transfusion than private patients, a study has found. Research on more than 50,000 cases where women were admitted to an acute maternity hospital due to an early miscarriage found public patients had almost double the risk of being hospitalised and more than double the risk of needing a blood transfusion compared to private patients. The study by researchers from University College Cork and Cork University Hospital examined a total of 50,534 cases where women required hospitalisation for early miscarriage between 2005 and 2016. It found that there were 69.1 hospital admissions for early miscarriage among public patients for every 1,000 births compared to 44.8 per 1,000 for patients with private health insurance. It also showed that 1.2% of public patients who suffered an early miscarriage then required a blood transfusion compared to 0.6% for those with private health insurance cover. One of the reports main authors, Indra San Lazaro Campillo of the Pregnancy Loss Research Group at UCCs Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research, claimed the research team had found no other study which assessed the possible impact of health insurance coverage on the risk of complications among hospital admission for early miscarriage. In order to promote an equal provision of care to pregnant women who miscarry in hospital settings, this possible association should be investigated, said Ms Campillo, a PhD candidate at UCC. The study also showed women who suffer an early miscarriage in Ireland are less likely to require hospitalisation now than 15 years ago. However, they face an increased risk of requiring a blood transfusion and a longer stay in hospital. Overall, the study showed that there were 63 hospital admissions for early miscarriage for every 1,000 births over the 11-year period but the rate decreased from 70.6 per 1,000 deliveries in 2005 to 51.5 by 2016. On average one in four women, will experience an early miscarriage when the pregnancy is lost within the first 13 weeks of gestation. The research, which is published in the medical journal, Reproductive Health, noted various international studies show early miscarriage occurs in between 10% and 30% of all pregnancies. Ms Campillo said that the objective of the study was to explore the national trends in incidence rates of hospital admissions for early miscarriage in hospitals across the country. Early miscarriage hospitalisation became 19% less common during 2005-2016 but the risk of blood transfusion doubled, said Ms Campillo. The vast majority of women only needed to stay in hospital for one day but 10% stayed for two days and 3.6% required a stay of three or more days. Women aged 40 years or older were three times more likely to require hospitalisation for early miscarriage than women under 25. The danger of a no-deal Brexit is the highest it has been for more than two years, Simon Coveney has told his Cabinet colleagues. The Tanaiste also warned fellow ministers that a new British prime minister could adopt a different approach to Brexit. As British prime minister Theresa May scrambles once more to persuade MPs to back a new initiative on the withdrawal agreement, Cabinet here discussed the Brexit impasse. Mr Coveney reiterated that the Government would not accept a reopening of the deal. However, it was agreed that Ireland must continue to prepare for a disorderly Brexit. Government sources confirmed that Mr Coveney warned colleagues that the danger of a no deal had not been greater than now over the last two and half years. The Tanaiste will also update the Cabinet next month on hiring extra officials at ports and custom points, as efforts continue to plan for Brexit. The Cabinet heard that the Government is planning a fresh public awareness campaign over Brexit fears. This will include a new round of seminars and advertising around Brexit preparation. It will include making businesses aware that they must register with Revenue to trade with British companies after Brexit. In a statement, Mr Coveney said: There is no grey space here. If a company trades with the UK after Brexit it will need its EORI [European Union Registration and Identification] number from Revenue. We are doing everything we can to avoid a no-deal Brexit but the impasse at Westminster means the possibility is still there for the UK to leave without a deal at the end of October. The Tanaiste also brought a memo to Cabinet on Ireland and Britain agreeing to continue to operate the Common Travel Area in the event of Brexit. Ministers also agreed that secondary legislation is needed in some areas, and work needs to be done on European Health Insurance Cards and the Erasmus education programme in the event of Brexit. Meanwhile, in Britain, Ms May briefed her cabinet on a so-called bold new plan for a series of fresh votes in Westminster. At a business event in London, she outlined parts of the new approach to trying to get her withdrawal agreement approved by MPs. Ms May said the deal sets out that her government will seek to conclude alternative arrangements to replace the controversial Irish backstop by December 2020, so that it never needs to be used. Should it be used, she said, her government was committed to keeping Britain aligned with the North. MPs will have to approve the final treaties for Britains future relationship with the EU. And Ms May said there would be no change in the level of environmental protection when we leave the EU. She also pledged that the UK would seek as close to frictionless trade in goods with the EU as possible while outside the single market while ending free movement. Britain would keep up to date with EU rules for goods and agri-food products that are relevant to checks at the border, she said. Culture Minister Josepha Madigan has urged people to vote in Friday's divorce referendum, warning the outcome must not be taken for granted. Speaking at a Fine Gael rally in Merrion Square, Dublin City, on Tuesday morning, Ms Madigan said while the polls are suggesting a yes vote it is important to ensure the divorce referendum passes. Ms Madigan, who is Fine Gael's divorce campaign director of elections and pushed for the referendum to be held, spoke of "lightening the cross" those who suffer marital breakdown must bear. I would urge people to get out to vote and ensure that they vote yes to help families in terms of financial impact, in terms of the emotional impact and will go a long way to also helping children who suffer, obviously, very adversely from the consequences of marital breakdown," she said. Josepha Madigan The divorce referendum, which takes place on Friday, will ask voters to decide yes or no on two issues. If they vote yes, divorce will no longer be in the constitution, and will instead be replaced by Oireachtas legislation. The proposals are about two issues relating to divorce, namely how long people must be living apart before applying for a divorce, and the recognition of foreign divorces. There will be one question on the ballot paper and voters can either vote Yes to allow both changes, or No to reject both changes. Voters cannot accept one change and reject the other. Over 70 percent of a total of 521 families have signed agreements with the government to transfer their land for the building of a new city in the Xiongan New Area. The Rongcheng County government issued a statement last week to announce the start of the relocation program in Xiongan, about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing. The 521 families, who are among the first batch to be resettled, need to vacate from 157 hectares of land in the Hexi and Gongzhuang villages in Rongcheng. The land is expected to become a residential compound of the new city in the future. Xiao Jinzhu, a 65-year-old resident of Hexi village, received over 730,000 yuan (107,000 U.S. dollars) for his family of five in compensation, which includes a monetary settlement for his houses, crops and homestead. Like Xiao, most of the residents have opted to come back and live in the new apartments when they are built. They also receive subsidies to rent houses and pay for heating during the transition period. The Xiongan management committee has rolled out detailed policies to meet the diverse demands of the residents and safeguard their long-term interest. Companies and small business owners are entitled to subsidies for relocation and suspension of operations, it said. "We uphold the principles of fairness and transparency in the process to ensure harmony in the relocation," said Song Haibin, director of the committee of the Hexi Village. As voters prepare to cast their ballot in tomorrow's European elections, new analysis of Google search trends has revealed the issues and personalities that have sparked the most interest ahead of polling day. And, according to the data, Irish voters are most concerned with international topics, with Brexit the most searched topic and Nigel Farage, the leader of the UK's Brexit Party, the most searched politician. However, the data does note that the spike in searches for Farage did follow his encounter with a protestor's milkshake earlier this week. Farage tops the list of the most searched European election candidates ahead of Independent candidate Ben Gilroy whose campaign video of him breaking down walls with a hurley (or "hurling stick", in his own words) went viral earlier this week. Rounding out the top five most searched candidates are former Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh, who is running for Fine Gael, and outspoken candidates Gemma O'Doherty and Mick Wallace. Frances Fitzgerald also seems to have caught the public's imagination. As well as being the seventh most searched for candidate, the most Googled question is "What age is Frances Fitzgerald?", with voters also curious to know Mark Durkan's age. Ben Gilroy, Alice Mary Higgins and Alex White also prompted regular Google searches, with some also interested to know why people throw milkshakes at Nigel Farage. And, as voters make up their minds before casting their ballot, a number of political topics are dominating the agenda. Brexit is the most searched topic in Ireland this week, with citizenship, immigration, United Nations, climate change, employment, unemployment, healthcare and renewable energy also among the most searched issues. Solicitor Gerald Kean, who last week got 160,000 damages from a High Court jury after it found he was defamed in an Irish Daily Star article, has settled an additional claim for breach of privacy arising from the article. No details of the settlement were outlined when the matter was mentioned before Mr Justice Bernard Barton today. Last week, a High Court jury, by a majority of at least nine, awarded Mr Kean 160,000 damages against Independent Star Ltd after finding he was defamed in an Irish Daily Star article of March 11, 2016 concerning a visit by members of the Criminal Assets Bureau to his Dublin offices. The majority found the article, headlined Kean Caught up in CAB probe, meant Mr Kean was subject of a probe by CAB into the criminal activities of the Hutch/Kinahan gang following the Regency Hotel shootings of February 2016 and defamed him. After rejecting arguments by the newspaper that the article concerned a matter of public interest and it was fair and reasonable to publish it, they decided Mr Kean was entitled to damages of 160,000. Mr Kean was also awarded his costs by Mr Justice Barton. The matter was adjourned to Wednesday when the judge was due to deal with a separate claim by Mr Kean alleging that the article breached his constitutional right to privacy. That claim was not before the jury for determination. The newspaper had also indicated to the judge, after the verdict last week, that it was considering whether to appeal the jury decision and to seek a stay on the damages order in the event of any such appeal. Today, the judge was told by Paul OHiggins SC, with Jim OCallaghan SC, for Mr Kean, that peace has broken out and the entire proceedings had been settled. Counsel said the only order required was one striking out the entire proceedings with an order for taxation of Mr Keans costs, to include reserved costs and discovery and stenography, in default of agreement. The judge said he would make those orders. Eoin McCullough SC, for Independent Star, said such cases are invariably difficult and he thanked the judge for the time and courtesy afforded to the sides. The Government has agreed to provide an extra 2m in funding to the Rehab Group. It comes after it threatened to shut down its entire care services due to financial difficulties. Green Party TDs have accused other election candidates of hijacking their campaign issues as the party urges voters, both young and old, to give them their number ones on Friday. Party leader Eamon Ryan said there is a real chance its three Green MEP candidates could get elected and there are hopes the party will at least double its local representation. We want young people to come out and vote, to vote on their climate, to vote for their community and to vote Green, said Mr Ryan. Polls predict Cllr Ciaran Cuffe may win a seat in Dublin while Senator Grace O'Sullivan has growing support in Ireland South and Saoirse McHugh in Midlands-North West's has performed well in debates. Running 82 candidates, the Greens hope they will at least elect 25 councillors, doubling their current local representation. Mr Ryan also believes there is a real chance its three MEP candidates could get over the line too. The European Parliament is one of the few places where parties can influence the shape of the future of agriculture, economies and where elected members also had a global reach, he said at a final press conference for the party's election campaign. The green movement is the only alternative to counter support for the far right in Europe, he added. But he also cautioned that as few as 20% of 18 to 30-year-olds voted five years ago in Ireland's local and European elections and there was a huge need to get the young vote out this time. Mr Cuffe said Europe could fund transforming council houses into A-rated energy homes as well as hundreds of kilometres of cycle lanes across the country. This is the climate change election. We are facing a serious crisis. TD Catherine Martin accused other parties of "hijacking" the party's policies and platforms and of "greenwashing" their campaigns ahead of Friday's vote . A man is due to appear in court in Roscommon today charged with assault during a house repossession in Strokestown. The alleged incident took place on December 11, 2018. The Health Minister says there are no plans to legalise cannabis in Ireland. Simon Harris is rejecting claims by an alliance of senior doctors that the Labour, the Social Democrats, and the Greens have shot down Labour TD Sean Sherlocks suggestion that the parties come together for the next general election, insisting that they plan to fight the campaign as individual parties. A senior Labour spokesman said Mr Sherlocks view is his personal opinion, while Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy and Greens leader Eamon Ryan, similarly downplayed the suggestion. Cork East TD Mr Sherlock stated in a Twitter post yesterday afternoon that he is in favour of the three parties uniting or merging to form a radical base for future election campaigns. He stated: One often thinks that @labour @greenparty_ie and @SocDems should be uniting (merging?), leaving personal egos to one side, to create a radical future based on climate action and speaking to the future of work?. Asked by the Irish Examiner to explain the proposal, Mr Sherlock said he believes there needs to be a platform between like-minded parties and that he is of the view such a move should be considered in the medium to long-term future. However, despite Mr Sherlocks enthusiasm for the plan, all three of the parties he would like to see involved shot down the proposal. Asked if the party itself would be in favour of a shared platform with the Greens and Social Democrats, a senior Labour spokesman said Mr Sherlock sent a personal tweet and was not speaking on behalf of the party. Mr Ryan said that while the parties listed by Mr Sherlock have been working very closely on some matters, I dont think that kind of proposal is likely, as his party is setting out its own agenda. Ms Murphy similarly said it came as a surprise to us, emphasising that while they [Labour] raise this during election campaigns her party is contesting Fridays local and European elections independently of other parties. People with disabilities are waiting up to ten years for social housing across Ireland. That is according to the Irish Wheelchair Association, which is making its pre-Budget submission today. A striking proportion of vulnerable young people are in concealed homelessness such as couch surfing, according to new research which also finds many opt to sleep rough rather than go into emergency accommodation. The study, conducted by Paula Mayock and Sarah Parker from Trinity College Dublin, also said the private rented sector was not viable for young people who had experienced homelessness, arguing that other solutions need to be found. The 40 young people, aged between 16 and 24 years, enlisted in the study between May 2013 and January 2014 all were either homeless or at risk of homelessness. By Phase 2 of the research two years later, just seven of the 29 young people (24%) still involved had transitioned to housing while 22 (76%) either remained homeless or had entered into a living situation considered to be insecure or inadequate. According to the study: A majority continued to experience homelessness or housing exclusion, although not all of these young people reported constant or uninterrupted homelessness. "Several had, in fact, exited homelessness temporarily over the course of the study sometimes to the PRS [private rented sector] but, for various reasons, were unable to maintain this accommodation and subsequently returned, often on more than one occasion, to homelessness services. The extent to which young people entered into situations of concealed homelessness that is, living temporarily with family members, friends and acquaintances or in a partners family home is striking for the sample as a whole. In addition, a considerable number were living in unfit or overcrowded conditions while many others were living in situations of hidden homelessness. Living in emergency and short-term homeless hostels was perceived by young people as being associated with constant exposure to violence, victimisation, substance use and criminality. The report said: Young men, in particular, sometimes opted to sleep rough because they felt it was a better and safer alternative to hostel accommodation. The authors of the report said they wanted to underscore the dramatic increase in youth homelessness and the multiple barriers to stable housing and the extent to which young people get stuck in the service system. Many had multiple episodes of hidden homelessness, including periods spent doubling up or sofa surfing, not knowing when it would end. The report said housing solutions that encourage speedy exits from homelessness were required, particularly to avoid young people entering cycles of prolonged homelessness with longer-term consequences. You are here: China The death toll has risen to six after the roof of a bar collapsed Monday in the city of Baise, southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Rescuers found two more bodies in the debris on Tuesday afternoon, and all missing have been found so far, according to the regional emergency management department. A total of 87 people were injured, including one in critical condition and 16 with severe injures. Local police have summoned 23 people for investigation and seven have been detained on suspicion of causing a major safety accident. Police and fire departments sent around 260 people to aid in search and rescue after the collapse. Both the national and regional health commissions have sent medical expert teams to guide treatment of the injured. The bar, with an area of 700 square meters, is located on the top floor of a three-story steel-framed building. Investigation and clean-up efforts are underway. A Sudanese man who twice overstayed his visa to Ireland has failed in a High Court challenge to a refusal to allow him remain here. The man arrived here in October 2014 on a three-month visa. He twice overstayed that visa but during those periods made applications to remain which were refused. He was made subject of a deportation which was later revoked but in March 2018, he decided to return to Sudan. The following month, he applied for visa to re-enter Ireland but was refused for reasons of his immigration history. He brought proceedings against the Minister for Justice and Equality claiming he was not given adequate reasons for the refusal. Mr Justice Max Barrett, in a ruling on his challenge, said the decision of the minister was not in any way irrational or unreasonable. The clear reason for the refusal was that he had twice overstayed his visa and had been subject to the later revoked deportation order, he said. An obligation on the minister to provide a reasoned decision "does not entail an obligation to give an essay-long consideration of each aspect of the application which precedes such a decision", he said. In a separate case, Mr Justice Barrett quashed the Minister for Justice's decision to revoke an Egyptian man's right of residence card. The minister decided he was not entitled to it because his EU-national wife, who lives here but from whom he is separated, was not exercising her EU free movement rights. The judge said the minister should have given a reasoned through decision as to how the man did not enjoy a derivative right of residence based on his wife's primary right of residence here. An appeal by two Albanian nationals which raised issues about the applicability of EU data protection laws to asylum seekers has been dismissed by the Supreme Court. The applicants sought asylum here in December 2014 and appealed over a decision the UK is the EU member state responsible for deciding their applications. Under the regulatory system known as the "Dublin scheme", the EU member state where either fingerprints are stored or an asylum claim was first made has principal responsibility for determining claims for international protection. The Irish authorities had sent the applicants' fingerprints, taken on their arrival here, to the UK authorities. After the UK stated the fingerprints matched prints held on UK records for persons with different names who had been issued with multi-visit visas for the UK valid from October 2014 to late April 2015, the Refugee Appeal Tribunal upheld a finding by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner (ORAC) the UK must decide their applications. The applicants took judicial review proceedings raising issues about whether information sharing provisions under Article 34 of the Dublin III Regulation 2013 create enforceable legal rights they could potentially enforce. They claimed the information requests sent from here to the UK did not comply with requirements of Article 34 with the result personal information about them was sent by the UK to Irish immigration authorities. After the High Court and Court of Appeal dismissed their case, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a further appeal. Today, the five-judge court unanimously upheld the RAT decision and also ruled the appeal raised no issues concerning the applicability of Article 34 which required referral to the Court of Justice of the EU. Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne, with whom the other judges agreed, said Article 34.1 and 34.2 of the Dublin III Regulation contemplate a situation in which the country from which information is requested - the UK - is entitled to look for information to enable it answer that request. It is clear from Article 34.2 that fingerprints can be sought by the requested country, she said. The fact the UK did not ask Ireland for fingerprints did not mean they could not be provided and the transfer and provision of these fingerprints to the UK involved no breach of Article 34 or any other data protection law, she held. While the grounds for the information request to the UK should have gone further than simply stating the applicants had claimed asylum here, such as setting out the fact they had said they had transited through the UK, "it is hardly necessary to state the obvious", she said. There was no breach of Article 34 by providing the fingerprints in the relevant form and they were lawfully transited to the UK under the relevant provisions of the Refugee Act 1996. She also held there was no breach of the obligation under Dublin III to make "take charge" requests in respect of the applicants "as quickly as possible" or within three months of the date on which the application was lodged. This take charge request was made exactly three months to the day from when the applicants sought asylum here and was thus made within time, she said. In a concurring judgment, Mr Justice Peter Charleton said there "is no reality" to a judicial review seeking to overturn transfer to the UK of this international protection application where it is now admitted the applicants are different people to whom they said they were and who are liable to be processed in Great Britain because they had obtained a visa to visit there. There was no "mass transfer of data" in this case and the "only reliable" information available to the Irish authorities was the applicants' fingerprints, he said. As a matter of law, the State is entitled to protect its border and internationally obliged under EU legislation to make this transfer, he said. Growing, stabilising, or stagnating? They may not sound like eye-catching buzzwords, but for Sinn Fein the phrases and what happens over the coming days are crucial to defining the partys next step on the long road to what it presumes will eventually lead to power. A year after Mary Lou McDonald replaced Gerry Adams as the partys president, Sinn Fein is facing its second election contest in the Republic under new management, after last autumns faltering presidential campaign. Repeated polls say the partys support has levelled off at a respectable if uninspiring 16%-18%. Its attempts to protect its core voter base from other left-leaning parties while extending into middle-class Ireland is causing as many difficulties as opportunities. And while party officials may dispute the suggestion, the backdrop makes this weeks MEP elections crucial in the new phase of Sinn Feins development. The party currently holds three MEP seats in the Republic, with Matt Carthy in Midlands North West, Lynn Boylan in Dublin and Liadh Ni Riada in Ireland South all in genuine contention to retain their positions this Friday. However, any drop in their support which has been mooted for all three candidates in three campaign polls to date would indicate a noteworthy if not quite yet worrying trend Sinn Fein would rather do without. No pressure, then, for its trio of MEP candidates as they reach the campaign home straight this week. Speaking to the Irish Examiner at the Metropole Hotel in Cork City, arguably the partys most high-profile MEP Ms Ni Riada who was elected in 2014 with the second highest first preferences in Ireland is outlining her re-election policies. Irish cost of living and bread and butter issues can be addressed in Brussels, she says. Extra supports for fishing communities are essential and can be achieved through quiet negotiations, she claims, and European Investment Bank funds must be freed up to solve Irelands housing and, potentially, broadband problems. With her track record in Europe, where she has been ranked in the top 10 of 751 MEPs for productivity and was nominated as MEP of the year, Ms Ni Riada says she is the person to deliver. But on the wider issue of whether Fridays vote is a make-or-break moment for her party, the West Cork-based MEP is far more non-committal. You always have to evolve as a party and you have to look at the political landscape, and I think the locals and Europeans will be a good indication of that, on what we can do to ensure the party grows and moves with the times. The most important thing is to take the seat, so the figure doesnt really matter provided you get over the line. Im sure there are political analysts out there who do this number crunching for a living that would be in a much better position than I to comment. You take note of the polls, of course you take note of them, but at the end of the day and I know its a cliche but its the ballot box that will tell, she says. How Ms Ni Riada intends to ensure the ballot box tells her what she wants to hear, she explains, is through convincing voters the EU is not some distant bureaucratic beast, but instead offers a real opportunity to impact on their daily lives. While joking she has had to go to great lengths to explain to some voters potholes are not under the European competency to be fair, Ms Ni Riada is adamant the belief MEPs are cocooned from daily political problems is incorrect, and insists they can help with the bread and butter issues at home. In 2014, when she was first elected to Brussels, there was a huge anti-austerity vote as people were still reeling from the shock of the bailout and the banks. Ms Ni Riada says the issues coming up on the doors in this campaign have been about the next step cost of living. She says while there is high employment in Ireland, people are working more hours, precarious hours, and still not having anything in their pockets after all these bills. She says the fact there is a recovery but people are still not feeling that recovery makes this a different election. The point is a standard and often accurate post-recession Sinn Fein position, with the partys TDs, senators and councillors regularly pushing for greater supports for struggling households and communities. In a European context, Ms Ni Riada says she can also help through her work in Brussels by influencing policies which trickle down to Irish law. Describing herself as a solutions-based MEP, Ms Ni Riada says over the past five years she has put forward amendments to European legislation on vulture funds and cost of living concerns at the European parliaments budget and petitions committees. She says the practical measures introduced there have ensured we have an Irish voice in Europe on grassroots issues affecting this country which she believes might otherwise not be heard from other parties. Ms Ni Riada says the big problems of vulture funds and housing have not been addressed effectively by other parties so far, saying it is heartbreaking when you see communities starved of cash and realise the funding just isnt being drawn down from Europe. Similarly, she says there are over-burdensome obstacles in the way of farmers trying to access Leader funding, with just 38m of the 250m available accessed by Ireland since 2012, an issue she says she has worked to address by holding Europe to account. While welcoming the 100m Brexit support fund for farmers announced last week, Ms Ni Riada says: Their promises are well and good but if theyre not implemented its no good for the person on the street. She says that, again, is an issue up to MEPs to ensure does not happen. And on broadband and fishing community support - the latter of which is a central part of why she is in Brussels the MEP is adamant the European parliament cannot just give a lastminute.com approach to Irish concerns, saying our political representatives should push for European Investment Bank help to shore up financial gaps. They are all genuine issues for voters, and Ms Ni Riadas record shows she is consistently raising them in Europe. They may not be buzzwords, but for better or worse the party has more riding on the European elections outcome than just the results themselves. Two men have been arrested following an intelligence-led garda operation in Dublin. The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau and the Special Crime Task Force carried out a search on Tuesday night of a residence in the Ballyfermot area as part of an operation targeting organised criminality in the Dublin area. Cormac Begley is a solo bass, baritone, treble and piccolo concertina player from a West Kerry musical family. He is one of the musicians playing at the Feile Nasc music festival at Marlay Park in Dublin on Saturday. Other trad musicians on the bill include Steo Wall and Liam OConnor. Best recent book youve read: Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. Best recent film youve seen: Camino go Saille [The Camino Voyage documentary, featuring Cormacs father Breanndan and three other rowers travelling from Ireland to Spain by currach]. Best recent show or gig: Ernst Reijsegers solo cello concert during the Spike Cello festival in the Workmans club, Dublin. Best piece of music youve been listening to lately (new or old): House recordings of accordion player Fiachna O Mongain. First ever piece of music that really moved you: This is very hard to pinpoint but has to be my dad Breanndan playing around the house growing up. Beyond dad, as a teenager I was really influenced by track 5 of Mary MacNamaras solo album Traditional Music from East Clare, where she is joined by Martin Hayes playing John Naughtons Reel and the Reel of Birl. The best gig youve ever seen (if you had to pick one!): Aidan Connolly (fiddle) and Liam McGonigle (accordion) playing together at St Nicholas Church, Galway, is up there. Tell us about your TV viewing: I rarely watch TV anymore but when I did I used enjoy watching Father Ted, DUnbelievables, Dont Feed the Gondolas and any of the wind-up hidden camera series. Radio listening and/or podcasts: Podcasts are Eamon Dunphys (The Stand), Inside Politics and some of the ones by Bill Burr, Tim Ferris, and Joe Rogan. Radio programmes are Clare FMs West Wind shows; Radio Na Gaeltachta traditional music programmes; The Rolling Wave on RTE Radio 1; and Donal Dineens programmes. Your best celebrity encounter: Playing a tune with Tommy an Lord O Conchubhair [west Kerry accordion player]. You can portal back to any period of human cultural history or music event where, when, and why? Id love to be transported to Howlin Wolfs best live performance. Why? Because he was soulful, fearless, force of nature. You are curating your dream festival which three artists are on the bill (living or dead)? Paddy Canny, Joe Cooley, Nina Simone Do you have any interesting ancestors or family? My great grand uncle, Thomas O Donnell, represented West Kerry in the House of Commons, Westminster. On the 19th of February 1901 he spoke Irish for the first time in the House of Commons and subsequently became a prominent figure for the Gaelic Revival. Unsung hero individual or group you think dont get the praise they deserve: Tommy an Lord O Conchubhair on accordion. You are king for a day whats your first decree? I have three: 1. Everyone has to plant three trees (i.e., native woodland trees) 2. Publishers of all types (journalists, commentators, etc) have to support each of their claims with accessible evidence, citations and references 3. Ban clapping along to Irish music! Prosecco may be Italys answer to Champagne, but is it a girly drink or a serious business? Ellie OByrne raises a flute at a masterclass at Irelands first Prosecco festival. Everybody loves a glass of bubbly. But how much do you actually know about Prosecco? Invited to a masterclass at Irelands first ever Prosecco festival, I phone a friend to invite her along, and put this question to her. I know I like drinking it, is her succinct reply. Im no different. Prosecco, Italys answer to Champagne, is a sparkling favourite in an increasingly wine-mad Ireland, and the perception is that its more affordable, so to me, as to many, its a relatively common occurrence to find myself clutching a flute of the stuff. Once reserved for celebrations, its now on the menu for many as a standard tipple of choice. Irish people uncorked 9.1 million cases of wine in 2017, according to Revenue. Nearly three in every hundred bottles were sparkling, and Prosecco cornered the lions share of this market. So maybe it was time to go and find out more about this delicious business, at a masterclass and tasting in The Metropole Hotel. The evening starts with delectable, delicately hued cocktails courtesy of one of The Metropoles in-house mixologists: triple sec, elderflower liqueur, fresh lime, gomme and peach tincture, topped with highly photogenic edible flowers. Our host for the evening is Harriet Tindal, one of just four female Irish Masters of Wine, and one of two accredited Burgundy tutors in the country. Shes elegant, witty and extremely charming and soon has the room lapping up her every word alongside their flutes of prosecco. Good to see a few token men in the room, she says, as a waiter serves us the first wine were sampling, Soraloc, a prosecco frizzante. And its true, there really are only a handful of men present, including Harriets husband Jim, whos sharing a table with my friend and me. Why is it that prosecco has such a girly reputation, I ask? People say prosecco is a girls drink because its sparkling and simple, and thats bollocks, she says. But for some reason women do go for it: I was in a restaurant once and two women sat down and they didnt even look at the wine list: one said Ill have a Prosecco and the other said, Ill have a Pinot Grigio, and I thought, please stop being so cliched. Although billed as a talk on the history of Prosecco, we skim over a few dates apparently, Prosecco was flat, sweet and not all that special until the 1960s and Harriet moves on to discuss production. Whats the difference between a frizzante and a spumante? About four bars of pressure, according to Harriet. Its all in the bubbles: frizzante wines are bottled at around 1.5 bars of pressure, meaning they can be sold in screw caps. We are delighted to be a part of The Festival of Prosecco in association with @Tindalwines & in conjunction with @MetropoleCork. We are hosting a Prosecco Brunch on Sun 26th May. 25pp Call 021-4772209 / https://t.co/PcJnkdmNB3 to book @whazoncork @kinsale_ie @Perlagewinery pic.twitter.com/xICrjo3igt The Blue Haven Collection (@Bluehavenkinsal) May 17, 2019 The perlage, the frequency and character of the bubbles, is sparser and softer. Spumante wines, bottled at between five and six bars of pressure, are designed for extra cork-popping fizz, which may be why we associate them with celebration. The Irish government certainly considers them a luxury; if bottles of spumante seem more pricey, thats because we pay through the nose for bubbles, Harriet explains. Theres an excise duty of 6.37 on a bottle of spumante, while frizzante is still categorised alongside table wines, nearly half the government tax. As these facts sink in, the bubbles are rising: time to taste the Soraloc, a DOC wine, organically grown, as are all the wines at Trevisos Perlage winery, the source of our three samples for the evening. Its a delicate lime and lemon, soft and aromatic, Harriet says. This comes from the low-lands and its an easy-drinking, lighter style. The higher in the hills the vines grow, Harriet explains, the more character the wines. When a grape is stressed, it produces more concentrated wines I file that nugget away under useful analogies to use for friends in time of crisis. We talk terroir, and the difference between the Italian DOC, Denominazione di Origine Controllata, and DOCG labels; that all-important G is Garantita, or guaranteed: both DOC and DOCG wines are produced in defined regions, but DOCG wines are produced to more stringent standards. We taste Sgajo, a dry DOC spumante, light and clean and crisp, but with a more persistent flavour than the first sample, and finally, Canah, a DOCG Prosecco Superiore, worlds apart from the sweet throw-away bottles on supermarket shelves. Sampling over, Harriet comes around for a chat at the table as platters of delicious antipasti are served and the evening dissolves into pleasant, tipsy chat. Harriet, who works for her family business, Tindal Wine Merchants, says theres inevitably a heavier side to the business of selling things light and fizzy: making sure prosecco doesnt fall victim to its own popularity with unsustainable production methods. Its why shes supporting an organic winery. The 2018 harvest, across the DOC and DOCG regions, will yield an estimated 3,700,000 hectolitres. For the fantasists amongst you, Ive calculated thats 148 Olympic swimming pools of bubbly. Synchronised swimming, anyone? Thats twice as much as was produced in the Champagne region of France. But this boom is encouraging production methods that favour quantity over quality, Harriet warns. There are prosecco producers out there who just want to make money and who have no interest in the quality of what theyre producing, she says. So please, it might be tempting, but dont buy the cheapest Prosecco; in general, you do get pay what you pay for. The Festival of Prosecco will be hosted in The Metropole Hotel, The Blue Haven in Kinsale and the Cork International Hotel throughout the month of May, and will be an annual event. Theres a Prosecco Supper Club hosted by Elena Brugnera on Friday, May 24. Officials and conservationists on Tuesday released over 100,000 adult Dabry's sturgeon and fry into the Yangtze River in southwest China's Sichuan Province to help restore the wild population of the endangered species. The release in the city of Yibin also marked the start of an awareness campaign that will see volunteers and experts sail along the country's longest river in a 23-day tour to promote marine species protection with visits, exhibitions and seminars in riverside cities and towns. The campaign was jointly launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Transport and the World Wildlife Fund. Dabry's sturgeon, also known as the Yangtze sturgeon, has lost its natural ability to breed since 2000 due to dam construction, overfishing and crowded rivers. It was classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2010. In recent years, China has stepped up efforts to rescue Dabry's sturgeon and other endangered endemic species in the river, such as Chinese sturgeon, by targeting illegal fishing, closing polluting factories and releasing captive-bred fry into the wild. Asia Four More US Citizens Wanted in Connection with Mandalay Marijuana Plantation John Fredric Todoroki in a police van outside the district court where the trial on the alleged marijuana plantation was accepted to be heard in Myinchan, Mandalay Region on May 21, 2019. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy MANDALAYThe police have added four more US citizens to the wanted list for having played a role in the marijuana plantation in Myotha Industrial Park, Mandalay Region. According to the lawyers of the three detainees facing trial under the Anti-Narcotic Law for their ties to the plantation, the police presented the names of the four US citizens to the court in Myinchan during the court session on Tuesday. At the time of the three April arrests, a fourth personUS citizen Alexander Kemp Todorokiwas also sought for arrest but declared to have gone on the run. His name brings the list of those wanted in connection to the case to five. The CEO of III M [Global Nutraceutical Companys], Martin Chi Cheong Pun and four others are on the wanted list and the police will need to arrest and present them to the court by the next hearing on June 4, said their lawyer U Thein Than Oo. Along with III M Global Nutraceutical Companys CEO Pun, Thomas Zeberlon, Grcoug Mercheius, Douglas Soe Lin and Alexander Kemp Todoroki are now wanted by the police. If the police cant present them to the court, they will declare them (the US citizens) fugitives and send the report to the court so it can proceed with the trial process, explained the lawyer. Three company employeesU.S. citizen John Fredric Todoroki, 63, Ko Shane Latt, 37, and Ma Shunlae Myat Noe, 23were arrested on April 24 under the Anti-Narcotics Law for allegedly operating a marijuana plantation in Mandalay Regions Myotha Industrial Park. At the first court session at Myinchan District Court on Tuesday, the court accepted the case. Following information about the alleged marijuana plantation being widely circulated among Myanmar netizens on Facebook in April, the three detainees were arrested in connection with the plantation. After their arrest in April, the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) announced that the three are responsible for the marijuana plantation at the 20-acre plantation of III M Global Nutraceutical, located in Myotha Industrial Park of Myinchan District, Mandalay Division. The CCDACs announcement also stated that over 300,000 marijuana plants, 380 kilograms of marijuana seeds, formic acid, acetone, acetonitrile concort water, methanol liquid, 270.5 kilograms of dried marijuana and other related chemicals and materials were seized. However, on the same day, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that the investigation team actually found hemp-like plants believed to have the same content as marijuana, some chemicals and materials and that the plantation is believed to have been planted for medical purposes. About 60 acres of land for plantation were leased from Mandalay Myotha Industrial Development PLC by III M Global Nutraceutical. There are weakness in our Burmese Anti-Narcotics Law. The law only mentions cannabis, not the specific features or the species of it. However, internationally, these plants are industrial hemp which could benefit farmers, said lawyer U Thein Than Oo. It would be better if credible research could be done on those plants. Otherwise, the detainees, especially Ko Shane Latt and Ma Shunlae Myat Noe who are only interns, will be the ones who suffer because they have no responsibility for the plantation, he added. You may also like these stories: Four Arrested in Malaysia Suspected of Plotting Ramadan Attacks Mandalay Police Officer Seriously Injured in Landmine Training 17 Injured as Police Break up Protest Against Cement Factory Project in Mandalay Myanmar Pilot Safely Lands Plane on its Nose After Landing Gear Failure Asia Politician, Family Members Among 11 Killed in India Ambush Indian Army soldiers march in the northeastern Indian state of Arunchai Pradesh, near the Myanmar border, May 29, 2012. / Reuters GUWAHATI, IndiaEleven people, including a lawmaker and four of his family, were killed in an ambush by tribal separatists in the eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, a senior police official said on Tuesday. Heavily armed militants fired automatic weapons at the five-vehicle convoy of Tirong Aboh, a member of the legislative assembly for the state seat of Khonsa, in the Tirap district near the border with Myanmar, the police official said. We are yet to ascertain the group responsible for the attack, the police official, who declined to be named as he is not authorized to talk to the media, told Reuters. The area where the ambush took place is very remote, making investigation of the attack difficult, the official said. Extremely shocked by unfortunate incident of killing of Khonsa MLA Tirong Aboh along with several others by insurgents, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu tweeted. Attacks on Indian officials by separatist militias have declined in recent years, though dozens of groups still operate in north and eastern areas of the country. In April, five people including a lawmaker from Indias ruling party were killed in the eastern state of Chhattisgarh when Maoist militants detonated a bomb as an entourage travelled back from a campaign appearance. You may also like these stories: India-Pakistan Border Quiet But Kashmir Tense Amid Militancy Crackdown Anti-Statue Activists Ignore Police Summons in Loikaw Tensions High as Security Forces Deployed in Loikaw Taang Rape Victim Claims Attackers Army Soldiers Burma AA Says Army Captain Killed in Clash; Military Denies Claim Capt. Aung Moe Myint poses for a picture elsewhere in Myanmar. / Pyae Min Thura / Facebook YANGONCaptain Aung Moe Myint from the Myanmar Armys Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) No. 212 was killed along with several other soldiers when Arakan Army (AA) commandos attacked an Army column traveling in Chin States Paletwa Township last Friday, the AA said. Photographs released by the AA showed what it said were items seized from the Army column, including an MG-42 machine gun with 120 rounds of ammunition; a portable 60-mm mortar with 20 rounds; four assault rifles and more than 2,000 rounds; a BA 100 machine gun; 25 grenades; three rocket propelled grenades; a dozen M-14 landmines; mine detectors; and the pistol and military ID of Capt. Aung Moe Myint, issued by the Office of the Commander-in-Chief. LIB No. 212 is under the control of the Armys Light Infantry Division (LID) No. 11. The AA said its commandos attacked the Army (or Tatmadaw) column near Kha Wae Road 5.2 km west of Paletwa town. It said the clash lasted more than one-and-a-half hours. The website of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief carried no public announcements of the Paletwa clash as of Tuesday. However, speaking to The Irrawaddy, Army spokesman Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun denied the AAs claim that a high-ranking officer had been killed. He said a few soldiers had been wounded in Paletwa Township but had no details about casualties, saying only that some government soldiers may have died in the hospital while receiving medical treatment. He also dismissed as baseless rumors online tributes to Capt. Aung Moe Myint posted online in recent days. Over the weekend, a number of people claiming to be Capt. Aung Moe Myints long-time friends, including a businessman and a medical doctor, expressed their condolences to the fallen Army officers family on social media. One of them said that the captain had recently been transferred from strife-torn Shan State to northern Rakhine. During the AAs attacks on Mrauk-U Police Regiment No. 31 and the Lay Nyin Taung camp on April 9-10, Army Captain Htet Thura Soe of Defense Services Academy (DSA) intake 52 was killed along with a number of troops. Although his family and friends wrote about the captains death on Facebook, the Army did not reveal the names of the fallen soldiers. The Army only occasionally issues limited information regarding the death of high-ranking officers via its website, sometimes providing verbal confirmation via the spokesman. In December 2018, the Army said that from January through May, at least three army captains and a major had been killed during clashes with the AA. It did not provide figures for lower-ranking soldiers. You may also like these stories: Renewed Clashes Leave 4 Dead in Chin State: AA Spokesman ISIS a Threat to N. Rakhine: Govt Spokesperson Police Officer Injured in ARSA Ambush in N. Rakhine Speculation Surrounds Murder of Rakhine Police Station Head Burma Bank Manager Demanded Bribe from Farmers Seeking Loan, ACC Says A farmer works in a field in Irrawaddy Division. / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe Myanmar Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has filed a lawsuit against the manager of a Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank branch in Irrawaddy Regions Kyaunggon Township for allegedly misappropriating agricultural loans. In a statement released on Tuesday, the ACC accused Daw Mar Lar Tin of abusing her position to line her pockets while serving in a previous post at the banks Myaungmya Township branch. According to the statement, in August 2017 Daw Mar Lar Tin asked a group of 14 farmers from a village in Myaungmya Township to pay her 700,000 kyats to approve their request for a loan. She made the demand one day after they repaid an earlier loan taken out in 2016 to cover the cost of cultivating rice paddy. The amount she demanded was equivalent to 5 percent of the new loan. The commission has filed a lawsuit against her at Myaungmya Township Police Station under Article 56 of the Anti-Corruption Law. This case is the second brought by the ACC this month. The commission on May 16 filed lawsuits against three individualsformer Khin U Township judge Daw Yi Yi Mon (now a judge in Kyauktaga Township), a lawyer and a court guardunder articles 56 and 63 of the Anti-Corruption Law. Daw Yi Yi Mon fled the legal action against her, prompting the Home Affairs Ministry to issue an arrest warrant for her on Monday. The new cases follow a comment from ACC Chairman U Aung Kyi during his presentation of the commissions annual report for 2018 to the Union Parliament on April 29 that, despite the agencys best efforts, the overall level of corruption in the country had not declined. He told Parliament the commission would carry out more investigations and prosecutions this year. You May Also Like These Stories: From Beans to Gooseberry, Rice-Mad Myanmar Eyes Healthier Diet Death by DietThe Race to Transform the Worlds Bad Food Habits Infographic: Chinas Plantation Greed Rising Public Concern Over Vacant Land Law Amendment Goes Unaddressed Burma Civilians Suffer Landmine Injuries in N. Rakhine The two locals from Nga Pyaw Chaung Village at Kyauktaw Township Hospital to receive medical treatment on May 21, 2019. / Kyaw Hla Myint SITTWETwo civilians were injured after they stepped on a mine on Tuesday in Rakhine States Kyauktaw Township. Two locals, aged 25 and 27, from the village of Nga Pyaw Chaung in Kyauktaw suffered injuries to their legs, arms and shoulders and are receiving medical treatment at the local hospital in Kyauktaw, Ko Nyi Pu, a member of the Kyauktaw-based social organization Phyu Sin Meitta told The Irrawaddy. They got serious injuries on their legs, but are not in a critical condition. We have arranged to send them to Sittwe Hospital if necessary, said Ko Nyi Pu. The two men, together with some 30 other residents of the village went to a mountain to the west of the village to collect timber to be used for building houses. The pair stepped on a mine on their way back home, said Ko Maung Maung Than who was part of the group collecting timber. The logs are quite big so we brought over 30 people to carry them. We used the same route to go to the mountain, but nothing happened. The two stepped on the mine and the explosion occurred as the whole group came down the mountain carrying logs, Ko Maung Maung Thein told The Irrawaddy. Locals said that the Myanmar military, or Tatmadaw, and the Arakan Army (AA) had clashed in the same area some two months ago. The Irrawaddy was not able to obtain a comment from the Kyauktaw Township administrator, but police officer Thant Zin of Kyauktaw Township Police Station confirmed the incident. In a previous incident on May 8, a 30-year-old man from Khamaung Village in Kyauktaw Township was also seriously injured in a mine explosion in the mountains outside his village. You may also like these stories: NLDs U Soe Lwin Elected Deputy Mayor of Yangon Rakhine State Man Files Police Complaint Accusing Soldiers of Assaulting Son Police Convoy Attacked in Northern Rakhine; Locals Say Officers Killed NLD Urges Military to Cooperate on Charter Amendment Sittwe Bombing Suspects Get Six Months for Illegal Border Crossing Burma Foreign Countries Behind Myitsone Dam Opposition: Chinese Ambassador Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang speaks to the media at the National Reconciliation and Peace Center on May 3, 2019. / Chinese Embassy in Myanmar / Facebook YANGONOpposition to the controversial Chinese-backed Myitsone Dam was politically victimized by some forces backed by foreign countries in an effort to derail Myanmars democratic reform process and hinder China-Myanmar relations, the outgoing Chinese ambassador to Myanmar said. Misinformation frequently came out [about the dam]. Their goal is to create misunderstanding about the project, Ambassador Hong Liang said through a translator at a press conference on Tuesday in Yangon. Hong did not name the forces or foreign countries he referred to. We need to beware of their stance, he said. The US$3.6-billion (5.46 trillion kyats) dam on Myanmars lifeline, the Irrawaddy River, in Kachin State was suspended in 2011 after nationwide opposition over its potentially severe environmental and social impacts. Recent pressure from Beijing to push the project forward has only inflamed opposition across the country. Claiming the Myitsone Dam is the only obstacle between China and Myanmar, Hong warned those who want to damage relations between the two nations: They wont accomplish it. The dam issue came under the spotlight again when Hong, after visiting Kachin State at the end of December, claimed that the Kachin people were not opposed to the dams resumption. Prominent Kachin parties immediately objected, calling the claim inaccurate and misleading. In recent months, a series of protests against the project were held in major cities throughout Myanmar, including Yangon, Myitkyina and Pathein. In April, prominent environmentalists, writers and civil society leadersformed a nationwide committee to oppose the project, warning the government of more resistance if it were revived. They also held aOne Dollar campaign to collect money from the publicone dollar per personto compensate China for scrapping the mega dam project. The Archbishop of Yangon, Cardinal Charles Bo, also called on Myanmar and Chinese leadersto permanently terminate the Myitsone Dam project, saying they have a responsibility to protect the rights and lives of Myanmar citizens. Despite all the opposition to Myitsone, the ambassador said, China continues to secure projects in Myanmar, and there remains great potential for the two countries to work together for the benefit of all in the future. In November, the two countries successfully renegotiated the Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone, inking a framework agreement. The project would give Chinas landlocked Yunnan province access to the Indian Ocean. During State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis Beijing visit to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum last month,the two countries signed three agreements detailing strengthening cooperation between the countries on the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), trade and technology. They also signed agreements on a list of projects to be implemented under the CMEC, and China handed over a feasibility study report for the Muse-Mandalay Railway. While many had speculated that the State Counselor and Chinese President Xi Jinping would discuss the Myitsone Dam issue, Myanmar officials said the issue was not on the agenda. At Tuesdays press conference, Hong said the Myitsone project was meant to meet Myanmars electricity shortage, citing the countrys chronic blackouts. Electricity is needed for Myanmar when it comes to implementing infrastructure projects, he said. However, according to an agreement between the Ministry of Electric Power No. 1 and the China Power Investment Corporation (CPI), now known as the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), the project would send 90 percent of its electricity to Yunnan Province in southern China. Hong emphasized that the dam project has been suspended for more than eight years and that the company behind it has been suffering economic losses as a result. He also stressed that the Myanmar government needs to protect the rights of that company, which has operated in accordance with the countrys legal framework. In late January, Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations U Thaung Tun said the government is working in earnest toward a final decision on the Myitsone Dam and is considering three possibilities: downsizing the dam, relocating it or developing other projects instead. Hong did not declare a preferred solution Tuesday. Both sides agreed that we would solve the issue by looking [to] both countries benefit, he said. In 2016, the National League for Democracy (NLD) set up a 20-member commission, including the chief minister of Kachin State, to review the dam and its likely impacts on the environment and local communities. The commission has produced two reports to date, but the government has yet to release either. We are waiting [for] the results of the reports by the commission, Hong said on Tuesday. If we settle the issue smoothly, it will support [the] advancement [of] bilateral relation. It will also support extended trust between both countries, he said. The ambassador said people need to be patient about the Myitsone project. In suitable time, the Myanmar government will give an answer which will please the Myanmar citizens, he said. After nearly four years, upon the completion of his duties, the Chinese ambassador is now preparing to leave the country. He met with top leaders in Naypyitaw last week, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, in a gesture of farewell. You may also like these stories: Myitsone Dam Not Discussed During State Counselors Visit to Beijing MyitsoneDecision Time for the Peoples Leader Thousands of Downstream Villagers Protest Against Myitsone Dam You are here: China China has unveiled a guideline to meet the goal of removing all expressway toll booths at provincial borders by the end of this year. Local governments should work to improve toll collecting systems and promote the application of non-stop electronic toll collection systems, according to the guideline released by the General Office of the State Council. Meanwhile, related laws and regulations should be optimized, said the guideline. Through the move, China aims to help solve the issue of expressway traffic congestion, enhance traffic efficiency and reduce logistics costs. Burma MRTV Made False Statement on Disrupted Parliamentary Coverage: Minister Press gallery reporters observe a debate session on a television at the Union Parliament in Naypyitaw. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy NAYPYITAWUnion Information Minister U Pe Myint has rejected state broadcaster Myanma Radio and Television (MRTV)s claim that the interruption of live TV coverage of a heated parliamentary debate on constitutional reform in January was caused by an optical fiber problem. In the last week of January, Parliament was gripped by a fierce debate over National League for Democracy Upper House Lawmaker U Aung Kyi Nyunts proposal to form a joint committee to work on amending the military-drafted 2008 Constitution. During one debate session, as the leader of the military-appointed lawmakers in Parliament defiantly stood up and began criticizing the proposal, MRTVs live coverage suddenly dropped out. It was replaced for around 5 minutes by a song. The Information Ministry initially said the problem was caused by a technical error. In a statement on Feb. 1, it quoted MRTV as saying that a malfunction involving the fiber-optic cable via which the broadcast was transmitted from Parliament to MRTVs headquarters in Naypyitaws Tatkon Township forced the broadcaster to switch to a satellite cable system, temporarily disrupting its coverage. Within a week, the Myanmar military said the fiber-optic system was not used that day, prompting the ministry to announce an internal investigation. We have taken action against those responsible for issuing false information. The process is partially completed, Dr. Pe Myint said in response to a question from The Irrawaddy at a press conference at the ministry on Tuesday. He declined to give further details, and said the ministry would issue a statement when disciplinary action was taken. It is not yet clear why the management of MRTV made a false statement about the cause of the incident. Ministry Permanent Secretary U Myo Myint Maung confirmed to The Irrawaddy that MRTV director-general U Myint Htwe had been transferred as punishment. I am serving as the acting director-general of MRTV. Thats all I can say because it is an ongoing case, U Myo Myint Maung said. U Myint Htwe was transferred to the National Reconciliation and Peace Center, an official at the Presidents Office told The Irrawaddy on condition of anonymity. As officials are involved in the case, we cant cover it up when actions are taken against them. So, we will disclose it in a transparent manner later, U Pe Myint said. MRTV issued apologies for the disruption to the live coverage and later aired a recording of the debate in full. You may also like these stories: People are Dying: UN Official Urges Aid Access for Myanmars Rakhine State Rakhine CSOs Feel Overlooked in UN Envoy Visit Big Bad Wolf Book Fair Heads to Mandalay Parliament Paves Way for Environmental, Ecological Conservation with IPBES Membership Approval Burma Police Open Cases against Prominent Activist, 4 Others for Supporting Jailed Performers Ma Nilar Thein, a member of 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, appears in front of the Botahtaung Police Station on Tuesday night. / Aung Kyaw Htet / The Irrawaddy YANGONPolice have filed lawsuits against well-known democracy activist Ma Nilar Thein and four youth activists under four articles of the Penal Code over their support for a group of students who were jailed for criticizing the military in a satirical performance. Police from Yangons Botahtaung Township opened the cases against Ma Nilar Thein, Ko Nan Lin, Ko Naing Ko Thu, Ko Min Han Htet and Shar Yamone under articles 114, 186, 332 and 353 on Tuesday for allegedly abetting an offense, as well as obstructing and causing hurt and assault to deter police officers from discharging their duties. The offenses carry possible sentences ranging from three months to three years in prison, as well as fines. At a court hearing for the jailed students, who belong to the Peacock Generation thangyat troupe, in Botahtaung Township on Monday, scuffles broke out between police and supporters of the studentsincluding the five who have now been suedas police attempted to bundle them inside the courtroom upon their arrival. When asked by their supporters why they had arrived at the court late, the detainees said it was because the police had used force against them while handcuffing them, slowing the process down. Thangyat is a traditional Myanmar performance art that often involves political satire. Two detained troupe members shouted from the police van taking them back to prison that police told them the military had pressured police to handcuff them for their court appearance. They were not handcuffed at a previous court hearing. Military spokesperson Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun denied the troupe members claim. We cant intervene in the police forces rules and regulations We have not put any pressure on police or on the judiciary in this case. Whether or not handcuffs are used depends on police regulations, he said. The military sued seven Peacock Generation members under the Penal Codes Article 505(a) and the Telecommunications Laws Article 66(d) over performances criticizing the militarys role in politics. Late Tuesday night, Ma Nilar Thein, who is also a member of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, was briefly detained by police for questioning. She wrote in a Facebook post that the police came to her house and knocked on her door at around 10:15 p.m. Police also searched the homes of two of the other accused, Ko Min Han Htet and Shar Yamone, last night. Former political prisoners and political activists denounced Tuesday nights detentions. It seems the same as the arrests [of political dissidents] under the former military regimeslate at night without a warrant, said Ko Mya Aye, a leading member of the 88 Generation group. Regarding the slew of recent cases opened by the military against its critics, he said the military shouldnt be so sensitive to criticism, saying it would only increase misunderstanding of the institution. Since last month, senior military officials have opened cases against several perceived critics including a human rights activist, a prominent filmmaker, local media outlets and satirical performers. You may also like these stories: Four Arrested in Malaysia Suspected of Plotting Ramadan Attacks Taang Rape Victim Claims Attackers Army Soldiers Vietnam to Mobilize Military in Fight Against African Swine Fever Civilians Suffer Landmine Injuries in N. Rakhine Burma Rohingya Man, 8-Year-Old Son Killed in Blast in Northern Rakhine Kyauktaw General Hospital / Kyaw Hla Myint / Facebook YANGONAn explosion killed a Rohingya boy and his father and severely wounded another adult in northern Rakhine States Kyauktaw Township on Tuesday, according to a village official. The victims were identified as Mohamad Shofi, 38, his son Husson, 8, and Mohammad Shazam, an adult of unknown age, according to Ah Lel Kyun village administrative official U Win Hla Tun. Mohammad Shazam was transported to Sittwe Hospital for medical treatment this morning, U Win Hla Tun said. The victims were from Ah Lel Kyun, a village 8 km north of downtown Kyauktaw, said U Win Hla Tun. Ah Lel Kyun is a mixed community, with Buddhist and Muslim settlements within half a mile of one another, he said. U Win Hla Tun said there had been armed conflict between the Arakan Army (AA) and the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) on Monday but that the situation had returned to normal. Then, unexpectedly, there was an explosion near the village on Tuesday morning. He could not clearly determine the nature of the blast that occurred near Mohamad Shofis home. I tried to inquire [about] details with them [the Muslim villagers] but they did not elaborate, said U Win Hla Tun. A Rohingya village official contacted by The Irrawaddy was also unable to provide additional information, and additional calls made on Tuesday afternoon went unanswered. A Rohingya news blog reported that both the father and his son died from a landmine blast while working at a vegetable farm nearby. The blog said it remains unclear who was responsible for planting the reported landmine near the Rohingya village in Kyauktaw. As of Wednesday evening, neither the AA nor the website of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief carried any information regarding the death of the two Rohingya from Kyauktaw Township. You may also like these stories: Violence Flares in West Bengal as Voting in Indian Election Ends Mon Party Still Struggling to Hold Public Meetings Even After Ceasefire Deal Rohingya Trading Identity for Partial Citizenship, More Rights in Rakhine State Dozens of Rohingya Arrested for Traveling Illegally Burma Yangon Municipality Requests $1M for Official Cars Amid Mounting Urban Woes Summer rains drench Yangon, causing minor floods in downtown Yangon in 2018. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe Yangon City Development Company (YCDC) has requested a budget from the regional government to purchase 45 vehicles for the heads of its task forces and advisors, which would amount to at least 1.5 billion kyats (US$975,000). The Irrawaddy has learned that the YCDC has requested to buy 20 double cab and 25 saloon vehicles with price tags ranging from 35 to 50 million kyats. Yangon Region Lawmaker U Kyaw Zay Ya posted on his personal Facebook account on Wednesday, writing that he was surprised to see the request. He is a member of the parliaments Public Accounts Committee, which is reviewing the Public Budget, in which departments have to submit their expected expenditures for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Under a new law enacted in 2018, the YCDC has seven authorities (or task forces) responsible for areas such as urban development, construction, road-building, water supply, as well as three departments for public relations, security and finance. Each authority has five members with three external advisors. U Kyaw Zay Ya told The Irrawaddy the new cars should be for work-related travel purposes for the YCDCs six newly-elected committee members only, meaning that only six cars should be needed. The municipal bodys leading committee is made up of 11 members, five of whomincluding the city mayorare appointed by the government, while the remaining six are elected. Its a shame for the YCDC to focus on cars rather than city development projects for the betterment of the people, he said. Currently, Yangon is struggling with numerous urban problems inherited from the military regime and previous government which both lacked urban planning and regulation enforcement. A weak regulatory framework at the time led to a boom in construction projects which caused wide variations of the population density across Yangon, causing social, commercial and infrastructural problems for its residents. For all of its former grandeurthe old capital was once considered one of the most beautiful cities in Southeast AsiaYangon today is a city of dysfunction and neglect. Monsoon rains regularly leave parts of the city inundated; commute times have dramatically increased as roads have become congested by growing numbers of taxis and private vehicles; sidewalks are disappearing to make way for parking spaces. Normally, the Public Accounts Committee suggests budget cuts if it thinks the submitted expected expenditures are overstated. If not settled, the issue is discussed at the regional parliament. In June 2018, the Yangon regional government requested a budget to purchase 10 Ford vehicles at a cost of 1 billion kyats for use by the government ministers. At the time, a number of regional lawmakers voiced fierce opposition to the plan, insisting that priority should be given to the needs of the general public rather than the purchase of official vehicles. The request was forwarded to the Union Parliament for a final decision, however it was rejected in September. You May Also Like These Stories: Yangon Authorities Slow to Implement New Municipal Law $80M Loan from France Denounced as Unnecessary in Parliament Yangon Municipal Body Invites Firms to Participate in Smart Parking Project Yangon Municipal Body Must Strictly Enforce Its New Law Should you worry about being attacked by a mountain lion on your next trail run? No. Definitely not. The odds of winning the Western States 100 cougar trophy are better than being attacked by one. (Mountain lions have more names than whiskers. Some of the most commonly used ones are cougar, puma, and panther.) There have been about 150 documented mountain-lion attacks and about 20 fatalities in the United States and Canada since 1890. Dogs kill more people annually. And, as far as I can tell, only six of the mountain-lion attacks involved runners. Two of these runners were killed. Now, if youre a worrier like me and your email and social media have been filled with news of that Colorado trail runners attack in February, then your brain has likely translated those statistics to: Runners have been attacked and killed by mountain lions since 1890! Moveover, thats just documented attacks. How many more havent been recorded? So lets break down your risk based on where youre running and racing. And then we can talk about how to mitigate that risk and what to do in the very unlikely event a mountain lion decides you look tastier than anything else around. The goal of this article is to address your parents worries that youll be attacked by a mountain lion while youre out trail runningand maybe your concerns too. I wont address the mountain lions important relationship to the ecosystems they live in, their reduced habitat due to human encroachment, their innate value, or their awesomeness. To read more about that, please check out the resources on the Mountain Lion Foundations website. Oh, and one more thing, this article is focused on North American mountain-lion populations. Mountain lions live in South America, too, where they are usually called puma. They are the same species, but their behaviors around humans are different. Where Mountain Lions Live Youre probably more likely to get into the Hardrock 100and win itthan to see a mountain lion east of the Mississippi River. There are no mountain lions in Alabama, Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Maryland, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, and Prince Edward Island. In fact, east of the Rocky Mountains, the only breeding mountain-lion populations are in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, and Florida. Thats not to say there arent other mountain lions wandering around east of the Rockies. Theyre just few and far between. Take a look at the map below to see how many mountain-lion sightings there were in 2017 outside their established range. As a bonus, check out the interactive version of the above map created by the Cougar Network, a non-profit that tracks expanding cougar populations, to see the exact locations of these sightings or to explore data from other years. Mountain-lion populations are rebounding after being extirpated in the Midwest and eastern United States in the last century. Theyre returning to old habitats and, also, populating new areas. This recovery, combined with suburban sprawl, increases the likelihood of sightings and encounters. What to Do If You Come Face-To-Face with a Mountain Lion Thats all well and good, youre thinking, but what should I do in the unlikely event I do come face-to-face with a mountain lion? The answer is simpleat least in theorydont act like prey. Thats your goal. Ask yourself, What would a mouse do in a face off with a house cat? Then do the opposite. A mouse is small. Dont be small. I know, I know, trail runners are generally fairly small people. Instead, make yourself look as big as possible. And if youre running with a buddy, get close together and seem like an even bigger creature. A mouse is quiet. Dont be quiet. Yell at the mountain lion. Holler whatever comes to mind. Yelling mountain lion! might attract some help as well as scaring the lion off. But I am not a mouse! could work as well as anything if you say it loudly and sternly. A mouse squeaks in fear. Dont squeak. This sounds like easy advice, but I think Id likely scream in a mouse-like way if I ever rounded a corner on the trail and came face-to-face with a mountain lion. A mouse tries to run to safety. Dont try to run to safety. I dont care how well your training is going, you wont outrun a mountain lion. Also, anybody who owns a house cat knows how cats love to chase things that are moving away from them. Basically, if you run, its game on! Dr. Paul Beier, who verified and detailed all the fatal and non-fatal mountain lion attacks in the U.S. and Canada between 1890 and 1990, found only one person who had actually escaped by panicked flight. In that case, a 16-year-old boy fled after encountering a cougar at 25 feet. The cougar was gaining ground rapidly when the boys boot fell off and the cougar attacked and ate the boot. This story was supported by the presence of boot fragments in the stomach of the cougar when it was shot an hour later. So, no running! (Unless youre running in loose, tasty boots.) A mouse is defenseless. Dont be defenseless. Pick up a big stick and wave it around. Throw rocks at the cat. Mountain lions arent looking for a good fight. Mice freeze. Dont freeze. And dont play dead. An attack in 1990 in Glacier National Park, Montana, chronicled by Dr. Beier, provides and arresting illustration of the foolishness of playing dead. A nine-year-old boy said that he had been advised to play dead if he ever encountered a wild animal. When a cougar pounced on him as he was walking out of a lake, he followed this advice. However, the cougar continued to bite him and drag him away until his father kicked gravel at the cougar. The cougar then rushed at his seven-year-old sister; she did not play dead but screamed, causing the cougar to turn and run. In fact, dont turn your back on the mountain lion either. According to the Mountain Lion Foundation, The best way to ensure that both you and the lion may leave safely is for you to back away slowly while continuing to look as big and intimidating as possible, leaving the lion avenues of escape. You have to assess the situation to know when to start backing away, says Korinna Domingo, a conservation specialist with the foundation. You need to establish that youre not prey before you start backing away, especially if the mountain lion is exhibiting stalking behavior. Basically, the steps are: I see you. Im not prey. Now Im backing away. What to Do If Youre Attacked by a Mountain Lion If the mountain lion decides youre easy prey and attacks, fight back. I was surprised at all the accounts of people successfully fighting off mountain lions with sticks, rocks, random outdoor gear, and their hands. Tom Chester, Linda Lewis, and Helen McGinnis list the details of most of the attacks since 1890 on their websites. (Id like to apologize to my husband for reading most of these out loud before bed last night.) During one attack north of Las Vegas, Nevada in 1991, a female research biologist was saved by her co-workers beating the lion with their cameras. Travis Kauffman, the Colorado trail runner who was attacked on February 4th of this year, used sticks, rocks, and his hands and feet to save himself from the mountain lion. Travis was on a 12- to 15-mile run that started in Lory State Park outside Fort Collins, Colorado. He ran through Lory into Horsetooth Mountain Park to do some hill training. Shortly after he made it to the top of Towers Road, he heard pine needles rustle behind him. He turned his head and saw a mountain lion about 10 feet away. In an interview with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Travis said his heart sank into his stomach. (I bet it did!) Then, Travis did everything right. He did not act like a mouse. I threw my arms up and started yelling. The cat kept approaching anyway. It lunged and latched onto his wrist and clawed at his face. Travis continued to do all the right things. He picked up sticks with his other hands and tried to stab the mountain lion. He aimed for the throat. Unfortunately, the sticks werent strong and broke. So Travis grabbed a rock and tried to bash the mountain lions head. The cat still had Traviss left wrist in its mouth, which made it difficult for Travis to hit the cats head with much force. Travis eventually got his right leg close to his left wrist and was ultimately able to step on the cats neck and suffocate it. Travis flew down the trail and away from the cat. He ran into another trail runner about two miles down the trail. That runner turned and ran back down the trail with Travis. The two met up with another pair of trail runners, who, along with the first runner, helped get Travis to the hospital and collected his car from the parking lot. Travis did everything right. He was attacked and he fought back. I asked Lynn Cullins, Executive Director of the Mountain Lion Foundation, about criticism Travis had received because the mountain that attacked him was probably three to four months old and weighted 35 to 40 pounds. She did not equivocate: If attacked, fight back. People who fight back, live. Its not appropriate for us to second guess somebodys behavior in a mountain-lion attack. How to Decrease Your Risk of Being Attacked If you run where mountain lions live, you can decrease the risk of meeting up with one by taking these actions: Run with someone Youre less likely to be attacked, and youll have help if you are. Travis Kauffman says hell be running with a buddy from here out. Youre less likely to be attacked, and youll have help if you are. Travis Kauffman says hell be running with a buddy from here out. Make noise, so you dont surprise the mountain lion Mountain lions, like bears, hate surprises. Talk to your running buddy while you run. Lynn Cullins suggests clapping as you round blind corners. (Or just keep talking loudly.) Mountain lions, like bears, hate surprises. Talk to your running buddy while you run. Lynn Cullins suggests clapping as you round blind corners. (Or just keep talking loudly.) Be alert and make noise before you squat down to go to the bathroom You look less like a human and more like prey when youre squatting. The position also exposes your neck and the back of your head. According to the Mountain Lion Foundation, [T]his is where a lion will target an attack. You look less like a human and more like prey when youre squatting. The position also exposes your neck and the back of your head. According to the Mountain Lion Foundation, [T]his is where a lion will target an attack. Dont run with unleashed dogs A frightened or aggressive dog might lead to an encounter rather than prevent one. A mountain lion might chase your dog and your dog might lead the mountain lion back to you. A frightened or aggressive dog might lead to an encounter rather than prevent one. A mountain lion might chase your dog and your dog might lead the mountain lion back to you. Dont run with earbuds Travis Kauffman attributes his success at fighting off the mountain lion to not wearing earbuds. And one of the things I was really glad I did was turn my head [when I heard a noise behind me] and I couldnt have done that if I had earbuds in. You need to be aware of the noises in the environment around you when youre trail running. Travis Kauffman attributes his success at fighting off the mountain lion to not wearing earbuds. And one of the things I was really glad I did was turn my head [when I heard a noise behind me] and I couldnt have done that if I had earbuds in. You need to be aware of the noises in the environment around you when youre trail running. Wear bright, contrasting pieces of clothing that break up your silhouette According to Lynn Cullins, the less your clothes make your outline look like a deer, the better. According to Lynn Cullins, the less your clothes make your outline look like a deer, the better. Carry bear spray Bear spray works on mountain lions too. But its usefulness depends on how quickly you can access and deploy it. The spray needs to be in front of your body in a quick-access holster or up front on your hydration pack. If you cant pull it out quickly, its useless. If you decide to carry bear spray, practice deploying and spraying an inert training spray canister first. Theyre inexpensive and the experience is invaluable. Bear spray works on mountain lions too. But its usefulness depends on how quickly you can access and deploy it. The spray needs to be in front of your body in a quick-access holster or up front on your hydration pack. If you cant pull it out quickly, its useless. If you decide to carry bear spray, practice deploying and spraying an inert training spray canister first. Theyre inexpensive and the experience is invaluable. Be especially vigilant at dawn and dusk Mountain lions are more active during conditions of low light. Mountain lions are more active during conditions of low light. Dont check out dead animals in the brush (Duh!) This is how mountain lions store their food and they will not take kindly to you fiddling with it. Three Things to Remember About Trail Running with Mountain Lions Your chances of encountering a mountain lion are probably less than getting into Hardrock your first try. If you come face-to-face with a mountain lion, dont act like a mouse. If a mountain lion attacks, fight back! Call for Comments (from Meghan) Wang Yuan, a popular youth icon, expressed regret and determination to behave himself on his social media account after getting a warning from health authorities for smoking indoors on Tuesday. Photos revealed Wang, 18, was smoking at a Beijing restaurant on Monday night. It is forbidden to smoke indoors according to municipal regulations on tobacco control. Wang carries wide influence as a youth icon, and his violation of regulations has triggered heated discussion online. The star apologized for the potential negative influence from his misbehavior via his official Weibo account on Tuesday, promising better behavior in the future. The Beijing Center of Health Supervision warned punishment would follow if they can confirm these violations, adding the matter has been under investigation in a post released on its official Sina Weibo account on Tuesday. Based on these regulations, individuals who smoke indoors are fined 50 yuan ($7.20), which rises to 200 yuan if the culprits refuse to correct their violations. In 2016, another famous actor, Wen Zhang, was fined 50 yuan for smoking inside a restaurant. Wednesday, May 22nd, 2019 (8:37 am) - Score 1,377 The European Commission has recently confirmed the winners from their second call up of applications for the 120m WiFi4EU initiative, which includes 14 municipalities in the United Kingdom that should now receive vouchers worth up to 15K (13.2K) to help them install FREE public WiFi wireless broadband hotspots by 2020. The scheme originally aimed to equip every European village and city with free WiFi internet access by 2020. Under this approach municipalities can harness the WiFi4EU vouchers to purchase and install Wi-Fi equipment (wireless access points) in their chosen centres of local public life, although any on-going costs for maintaining the network must be covered by the local authority. The funding is ultimately expected to help support free public Wi-Fi deployments in nearly 9,000 municipalities across all EU Member States, as well as Norway and Iceland. The vouchers themselves are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and each participating country will receive at least 15 vouchers. Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, said: We are pleased to see that the response from municipalities to this second call has been overwhelmingly positive with more than 10,000 applications. We will continue connecting Europeans, enabling them to enjoy the benefits of the Digital Single Market. In the first round, which was announced at the end of 2018, some 2,800 municipalities were chosen (estimated budget of 42m) and 15 locations in the United Kingdom were handed vouchers (here). By comparison this second call for applications has resulted in 3,400 municipalities (out of 10,000 applications) being awarded with funding (estimated budget of 51m) and 14 are in the UK (total of 29 so far). The 14 UK Winners (Municipalities) WiFi4EU Angus Bexley Blackburn with Darwen Blackpool Braintree Coventry East Northamptonshire East Riding of Yorkshire Falkirk Fife Mid and East Antrim Stirling Suffolk Coastal Wigan The programme has not finished and two more calls for applications are expected to be conducted by the end of 2020, including one later this year. We get the impression that many local authorities may not be taking full advantage of this as our allocation is but a fraction of what similar sized countries have been awarded. This may be down to issues of Brexit, a lack of awareness or simply the fact that public WiFi is already quite common across the UK. You are here: China Central government has preliminarily approved a Greater Bay Area university in Dongguan, Guangdong province. The city has said it plans to embrace the branch campuses of Hong Kong universities. The city will also improve the quality of Dongguan University of Technology to help drive regional innovation, said Dongguan mayor Xiao Yafei in a recent interview with Nanfang Daily. Comprising nine cities in Guangdong province and the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area is 56,000 square kilometers region with a 2017 population of 70 million. The outline development plan for the bay area was released in February. High-technology enterprises now number 5,798 in Dongguan, with research and development (R&D) spending accounting for 2.55 percent of the city's GDP. The number of advanced R&D institutions collaborating with universities has increased to 33, Xiao said. Dongguan currently ranks second in Guangdong in international patent applications via the Patent Cooperation Treaty, he said. Xiao pledged more support for high-tech enterprises and new R&D facilities, aiming next year to accommodate 6,000 high-tech firms and 50 advanced R&D institutions. Announced at VeeamON 2017, Veeam Availability Platform v10 has been in the works for a long time. Most of the features promised in 2017 - and others - have been delivered in v9 and its updates, said Veeam co-founder and executive vice president of sales and marketing Ratmir Timashev. The final features are being added, and "v10 is coming," said vice president of product strategy Danny Allan during a media briefing at VeeamON 2019. The ability to protect cloud workloads will be added later this year, he said. V9r4 includes cloud-native protection, cloud mobility, cloud tier, and cloud-ready licensing (ie, Veeam licences can be moved from on-premises installations to the cloud and vice versa as required by the user), Timashev explained during a general session of the conference. Now expected in the second half of 2019, v10 will provide 20 new features (some of which may appear in v9r5), including NAS backup, instant recovery of VMware cloud workloads to on-premises hardware, immediate copying of backups to the cloud, and the ability to expose all the data in a backup as if it were a drive (eg, so it can be scanned for security or compliance issues). Such analyses would be done by third-party software. Allan told iTWire that the company has no current plans to provide such functionality, instead it wants to "make it really simple for our partners to do this," for example by making use of Veeam's data tagging capabilities that allow users to identify sets of data relevant to GDPR or PCI requirements. This is an area where Veeam's cloud service provider partners in different regions have a part to play. Even within the EU there are regional variations, he observed, for example in breach notification rules. Veeam demonstrated the ability to rapidly restore a back-up in a VMware virtual machine by dunking in a tub of water the laptop running the session's PowerPoint presentation, and then opening the backup in a VM to complete the presentation. NAS back-up will work with SMB, NFS, and Windows and Linux servers, said global technologist for product strategy Anthony Spiteri. The product is based on Veeam's own engine, which was designed for scalability. The extension of cloud tiering means there will be an option to immediately copy new backups to Amazon S3, S3-compatible storage, Azure Blob storage, or IBM Cloud object storage. Currently, the cloud tier is just used as a cheaper way of retaining old backups. This feature is policy based and therefore adds no complexity, according to senior vice president of product management Anton Gostev. A stub file representing the backup remains in the performance storage tier, and when a restore begins the software checks for any matching blocks that are present in the performance tier before transferring them from the cloud tier. "The [existing] cloud tier has been tremendously successful," Spiteri told iTWire, but customers wanted the ability to make a cloud copy immediately after a back-up completed in order to comply with the 3-2-1 rule (three copies of the data on two media, with one off site). The mechanism uses a form of deduplication similar to that in Microsoft's ReFS. Whichever way data is being moved, the system checks whether each block of data is already resident on the destination, and if so, the existing block is reused instead of transferring data. For example, there will be many data blocks in common across a number of Windows VMs, he said. This approach speeds things up, reduces the volume of data being stored, and minimises the cost of transferring data from the public cloud. V10 will also provide agentless protection of Azure and AWS virtual machines. An appliance running in Azure will provide visibility of all VMs running in nominated subscriptions. Several of the forthcoming features have particular relevance to market segments in Australia, Spiteri said. He expects the mining sector to welcome NAS backup, as it makes extensive use of filers. And while any business can be hit by ransomware, the compliance-driven finance sector will benefit from being able to scan for inactive ransomware before restoring from a backup. Some features are particularly relevant to CSPs, for example allowing them to offer services that back up a customer's data to two locations. Looking further ahead, Allan said Veeam's ten-year goal is to achieve the same dominance of cloud data protection that it has in data centres. "Almost all our focus is on that," he told iTWire. Part of that strategy is to support a wider range of SaaS products. For example, Veeam already supports Office 365, but Google Apps is more popular in some regional markets such as Japan. Spiteri mentioned that various SaaS products including Google Apps and Salesforce are under consideration for backup services, but stressed there are "no promises when that will happen." Veeam is also working on SaaS to SaaS data mobility, which would help customers wishing to switch between competing services. "We make it easy now, and we will continue to make it more easy," said Allan. SaaS and PaaS will win over IaaS, he predicted, adding "we keep a very close pulse on those markets." Disclosure: The writer attended VeeamOn 2019 as a guest of the company. Chinese telecommunications equipment vendor Huawei Technologies will unveil its own operating systems for both mobile devices and PCs by September, or at the latest by April next year, a report in a government-owned newspaper says. The Global Times quoted Richard Yu Chengdong, head of Huawei's consumer business as saying: "Our homegrown OS is likely to be launched this fall, or no later than spring 2020. "We're willing to continue using Google and Microsoft [software], but we have no other choice [than to develop our own system]." Huawei has been hit hard by the US imposing a ban on the company that forces it, and 68 of its affiliates, to seek permission in order to use any American products. Shortly after that, Googlethat it would be withholding updates and proprietary parts of its Android mobile operating system from Huawei. On Tuesday, the US Commerce Department said the ban would be held in abeyance for 90 days to enable existing users to update their devices. Yu said the operating system would be compatible with Android apps. Some Chinese media have said the new operating system would be called HongMeng OS and that it was already being tested. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei told Chinese media on Tuesday: "It's not a difficult task to come up with a new OS, but it's difficult to build up an ecosystem for that." And he added: "To build a new ecosystem is a big thing, we should take it step by step." Last year, there were reports that Huawei had been working on its own operating systems since the US Congress published an investigation into the company in 2012, accusing it of spying. Australian-listed energy storage technology company Redflow has secured an agreement with telco Mobax South Africa to provide batteries to test as a solution for mobile phone towers owned by a leading South African mobile network provider. The agreement will see Redflow (ASX:RFX) batteries deployed at existing mobile sites, with a particular focus on reducing the high cost of running diesel back-up generators as well as being a less attractive target for theft. Redflow will supply as many as 10 ZBM2 batteries at its cost for the duration of the project, which aims to validate the technical and commercial benefits of the Redflow energy storage solution. The six-month project is expected to commence in June with defined success criteria that can be achieved earlier. The ZBM2 batteries will be deployed and supported by Mobax, a new Redflow system integration partner. Mobax, part of Mobax Group, a field service provider of engineering, project and technical services to telecommunication network operators across southern Africa, will be supported by Redflows long-time South African distributor SSS (Specialised Solar Systems). The Mobax agreement follows Redflow's order last year from Moropa Site Solutions for 37 ZBM2 batteries to support the rollout of new sites across its South African mobile network. Redflow managing director and chief executive Tim Harris said this latest agreement was a clear sign of the companys progress. Were very excited that one of Africas leading mobile operators is now looking at how to deploy Redflows ZBM2 batteries at their existing sites rather than just new towers," he said. Our batteries have clearly demonstrated performance and cost savings benefits when compared with diesel-powered generators for backup power at off-grid sites. Our batteries can also help grid-connected towers in areas with unreliable power supply. Our batteries help solve a real and growing customer problem, so we are very positive about the opportunity this development may provide. Redflow is also delighted to welcome Mobax as our latest partner. Mobax has an excellent industry reputation and deep reach throughout Africa. We see a long and strategic partnership ahead of us. Mobax Group chief executive Fred Watkins said he saw significant opportunities from offering Redflow energy storage batteries for deployment at telecommunications sites across southern Africa, Redflows ZBM2 batteries offer many advantages over diesel generators, lithium and lead-acid batteries," he said. As well as eliminating the cost and complex logistics of constantly shipping and storing diesel at remote sites and having to replace lead-acid batteries every few years, these long-life Redflow batteries reduce the risk of theft which is a major issue for all mobile telecom operators. Chip designer ARM says it has to suspend business with Chinese telecommunications equipment vendor Huawei Technologies, a report claims. The BBC reported that an internal document instructed ARM employees to stop "all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements with Huawei, following an American ban. ARM, a British company, is owned by Softbank, a Japanese fund. On 16 May, the US imposed a ban on Huawei and 68 of its affiliates, preventing the company from importing components from American companies without government approval. Some of the affiliates are in other countries like Canada, Japan, Brazil, the UK, Singapore and others. Processor firm Intel told iTWire it had no comment at the moment about its position on the Huawei ban. The company wasto have told its employees on Monday that it would not supply Huawei until further notice. The internal ARM document said its designs contained technology which originated in the US, the BBC said. On Monday, Google announced it was cutting off Huawei's access to future updates of Google's Android and Google Play Store. Huawei uses Android in its smartphones. Some parts of Android, like the kernel, which is a modified version of Linux, are under open-source licences. On Tuesday, the US Commerce Department eased some of the restrictions, allowing Huawei to maintain and update existing networks and handsets. A Huawei spokesperson was quoted as saying: "We value our close relationships with our partners, but recognise the pressure some of them are under, as a result of politically motivated decisions. "We are confident this regrettable situation can be resolved and our priority remains to continue to deliver world-class technology and products to our customers around the world." One can't exactly put a name to it, but something akin to cultural cringe must have led the Australian Bureau of Statistics to avoid picking Australian companies to run the 2021 Census. Exactly why this revulsion for one's own exists is unclear, but the ABS opted for Amazon Web Services (American), PwC Consulting (UK) and Adecco (Switzerland) to look after the headcount. Memories of the 2016 Census haven't yet quite gone away, with IBM leading the charge and the census website hitting the skids at 7.30 on the night of 9 August, allegedly due to a distributed denial of service that has never been proven to this day. After the whole mess was over, IBM had to pay compensation to the government. There were messy scenes in court, with Nextgen Networks and Vocus Communications flinging accusations ("you are to blame!" "No. it's your fault.") at each other and at Big Blue. The ABS doesn't appear to have learnt from that episode. It still hires cut-price vendors. AWS is one of six providers that is certified as a Protected cloud provider by the Australian Signals Directorate, which means it can host top-secret government data. But there are three Australian companies among those six; could not one of them have been picked instead? Vault (formerly Vault Systems), Spliced Tech and Macquarie Government have been certified to the Protected level and went through much tougher tests before being granted the tick of approval. The AWS service that is certified is the same as the commercial cloud service that is offered to every entity on the face of the earth. In the US, the AWS cloud service offered to the government has to be air-gapped, have top-notch encryption and controlled metadata, and only on-shore security-cleared personnel can operate the facility. But for the plebs in Australia, an inferior product is fine. In fact, it's so good that the ABS has no hesitation in picking it over three Australian firms who have also have the scale to offer the same or better service. As to PwC and Adecco - are there no Australian equivalents? Asking the Australian Information Industry Association yielded no answer. People, it would appear, are afraid to say anything against a government decision. Perhaps they fear being overlooked in the next round of contracts - much smaller ones, for sure. PwC will build and run the Census website. And nobody in Australia can do that? Adecco will provide field staff for the Census. Can an Australia company to do this job not be found? This business of kow-towing to the Americans was set in train by the former Prime Minister John Howard who, during his 11 years in office, gave that country the upper hand in the energy, rural industry, culture, defence and blood supply sectors, excluding local players. Why he even changed the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme to favour the Americans. [You can read all about it in a brilliant book titled National Insecurity, written by three of Australia's best academics.] With the Coalition Government said to be in a rush to push services to the cloud, and the cheaper options not necessarily the most secure being American, it looks like local players will not even get the crumbs. A classic example of this was witnessed last year, when Vault, which was supposed to be hosting a trial of GovPass, was unceremoniously pushed out. To date, the Digital Transformation Agency is mum on who will be the cloud host for the trial which is to be run by the Australian Taxation Office and the Department of Human Services but given that the DTA itself has engaged the services of Microsoft, it seems very likely that more Australian dollars are already flowing in the direction of Redmond. But when a country has gone to the extent of specifying that documents submitted for the purpose of contesting its elections have to be in a Microsoft-compatible format, then this certainly would not come as a surprise. Bowing and scraping appears to have become an art form Down Under. There's one additional benefit to hiring local companies no matter what they charge, they will pay their fair share of tax. Wikipedia defines cultural cringe as "an internalised inferiority complex that causes people in a country to dismiss their own culture as inferior to the cultures of other countries". Yes, that's the one. The ABS has got it in spades. Update: In response to this article, the ABS has requested that the following statement be added: "The recent appointment of suppliers to provide digital services and recruit temporary field staff for the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census followed a rigorous and stringent open tender process that adhered to Commonwealth Procurement guidelines, including ensuring value for money for Australian taxpayers. "In line with Commonwealth Procurement rules, the ABS treats all potential suppliers to government equitably and does not discriminate." Samsung's S10 5G will be the first 5G smartphone to go on sale in Australia. Set to be available via Telstra and Samsung's own Experience Stores from 28 May, and a free upgrade for select Telstra S10+ customers earlier this year, the S10 5G will also feature a 6.7-inch screen, bigger battery and the promise of "an incredible camera experience". Also, those who purchased an S10+ from Telstra earlier this year during the free S10 5G upgrade eligibility period, will have 21 days from May 28 to redeem the remarkable offer. As you can imagine, Samsung has ensured its new S10 5G smartphone "builds on the most popular features of the Galaxy S10 range which celebrates a decade since the launch of the first Galaxy smartphone". Samsung explains the S10 5G "has been designed for users who want access to the ultimate in Samsung device performance and combines 5G and 4GX network capabilities to help provide customers with high-speed mobile wherever 5G and 4GX is available", while also delivering "the richest feature set ever offered in a Galaxy smartphone, including a 6.7-inch Infinity-O Display, 4,500mAh battery with Super Fast charging capability, and an incredible camera experience". While there is no 5x optical or 10x hybrid zoom as seen on the Huawei P30 Pro, Samsung can still boast of "six cameras enhanced with intelligence so users can take incredible photos and video", while offering a 2x optical zoom. One of the flagship features is a 16MP Ultra Wide Camera that captures a 123 degree field of vision "so users can photograph a stunning range of content from expansive landscapes, to fun social settings. The camera also offers Live Focus video which helps to focus and create bokeh effects to make the subject stand out". There also the "new 3D Depth Camera, users can also detect depth, distance, height and length of objects within in the cameras vision using Quick Measure". All up, these features have seen the S10 5G earn a DxOMark score of 112, matching the Huawei P30 Pro and beating the S10+ score of 109. The Notebookcheck website notes that the S10 5G has a photography score of 117, compared with the P30 Pro's score of 119, and has "the second best zoom score" of 74 (behind the P30 Pro), beating the Mate 20 Pro at 70 and the P20 Pro at 73. When it comes to video, Samsung notes the S10 5G's score was 100, which Notebookcheck notes is better than the P30 Pro, Mate 20 Pro and S10+, and as Samsung states, the selfie camera scored 97, which Notebookcheck adds "makes it the best selfie smartphone in the world". Garry McGregor, vice-president of IT and Mobile at Samsung Electronics Australia, said: The Galaxy S10 5G is designed to perform at a level that we have never before seen in a Samsung device. "From its 3D Depth Camera to 5G network capability, were delivering the ultimate in terms of innovation, design, and experience. This is the most anticipated device Samsung has ever launched in Australia as it combines additions to our amazing Galaxy range but also opens the door to the opportunities that 5G experiences will bring people in future. With this upcoming launch, we are delivering on years of collaboration with Telstra to help break new ground in device and network performance, McGregor added. Telstra Consumer Segment executive Kevin Teoh said the launch of Australias first 5G-enabled smartphone would mark the beginning of a new mobile era. Teoh said: This will be a game-changing moment for our customers. Telstra has been building Australias first 5G technology for some time, and now our customers are ready to be the first in Australia to experience this technology in the areas where 5G is now available. 5G-enabled devices are the next step towards customers experiencing the potential of this revolutionary network technology. "Faster downloads, high resolution video streaming with less buffering and better mobile gaming on the go are just the start of the network technologys possibilities. 5G also has the potential to transform the way we all live and work. Out-of-the-box, Samsung promises its Galaxy S10 5G "will also unlock new experiences for customers thanks to high speed download speeds made possible through the 5G network. "For example, the ability to download a full-length feature movie to your mobile device in seconds and enhancing applications that demand high volumes of data like AR, VR, gaming and video conferencing. "The device will be available with 256GB or 512GB memory variants. Two colour options will also be available, these being Crown Silver for the 256GB variant, or Majestic Black for the 256GB and 512GB variants". There is no MicroSD slot for additional expansion for the camera, other digital media files and any other file you want to have on hand, which is a shame, so if you want to store more, the 512GB model will be the one to get - even though it will obviously cost extra. There's also the question as to when Samsung will release a 5G capable Note 10 model for those who want a stylus, but all of that is still in the future. Mobile plans will be announced closer to the local on-sale date of May 28, so sit tight - those details are coming soon. GSMArena has a list of specs for the S10 5G here with the official Australian specs to presumably be made public at Samsung's Australian site here sometime between now and the 28th of May. So, Australia's first 5G phone has arrived, and while it will inevitably be joined by other 5G flagships in the future, the first past the 5G post is Samsung and those who buy it! If George Santayana were alive today, he would be sad to see how right he was. Are we forgetting history? American foreign policy makers, it seems, cannot even remember the defining events of their own lifetimes and decisions they were personally involved in making just less than two decades ago. Once again, a potential "pre-emptive" war beckons in the Middle East, and a leading United States senator is saying an American victory would be quick and easy. This time, the potential target is Iraq's neighbor, Iran. The Trump administration has been saber-rattling on Iranian issues since day one, and its level of threats have progressively heightened. Iran hawks like John Bolton were appointed to national security positions, the U.S. broke the nuclear deal with Iran, sanctions were threatened, and now the U.S. is grasping at straws to find any possible justification for war. To anyone who has observed politics play out in their lifetimes, this is like a horror movie playing in slow motion. We know the ending, and it isn't pretty. The latest flimsy pretext is a set of apparent attacks carried out on four oil tankers, none American, which resulted in no reported casualties. Tankers operated by the Saudis, Emiratis, and Norwegians sustained damage. Anonymous U.S. government sources claimed the attacks were carried out by the Houthis, the group currently in charge of Yemen's capital and which is locked in a war with Saudi Arabia, potentially with the encouragement of Iran. A spokesman for the Houthis did claim credit for a drone strike on a Saudi oil pipeline. Iran, however, has denied any involvement. While it has historically supported the Houthi movement, because they share aligned interests, experts say Iran's current level of operative involvement with the Houthis is limited or non-existent. So the U.S. is now raising the prospect of war over low-level attacks on non-American assets that Iran doesn't even appear to have been behind. To put things in perspective, the Houthis and the Yemeni people are being bombarded daily by Saudi bombing campaigns, with supplies and operational help that have been provided by the U.S. Thousands of civilians have been killed and yet the attention of the U.S. is focused on the damage to the tankers. Trump stated in response to a question about the incident, "It's going to be a bad problem for Iran if something happens." Whether this is a legitimate threat or just more of the kind of sound and fury we have become used to from Trump potentially an attempt to ratchet up pressure on Iran it remains dangerous. Even if he "does not seek a war" (Secretary of State Pompeo's words), this kind of bluster does increase the likelihood of miscalculations. The idea that the U.S. could somehow get a "better" deal than the one the six countries (the U.S., the U.K., Russia, China, France and Germany) and the European Union negotiated while united in purpose over years is far-fetched. In his May 2018 speech "A New Iran Strategy," Pompeo called Iran to end many of its national defense strategies unrelated to nuclear activity. Iran's continued testing of its ballistic missiles (which are only tangentially related to nuclear activity as missiles can be used for conventional warfare too) and its backing of militant groups like Hezbollah must be stopped, he said. The U.S., Saudi Arabia, and other countries with perceived interests in the region have all supported militant groups in the Syrian Civil War. In short, Pompeo is demanding Iran cease the foreign policy activities that its adversaries continue to engage in. It's clearly a demand Iran would never agree to and one that does nothing to advance the anti-nuclear proliferation agenda. Now Iran has suggested that parties should work together to renegotiate a deal. Iran warned that if they do not do so, it will resume some of the previous uranium enrichment activities it had ceased in compliance with the old deal. Will Trump take Iran up on its offer? The best case scenario is that the world goes back to the table less united than before and ends up with a worse deal than before. If this happens, the U.S. would have wasted years of negotiating and threats. Back to recent history. In September 2003, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said on national television, "My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators," and around the same time, Donald Trump thoughtlessly nodded along when asked if he supported the war. The U.S. struggled to cobble together an international coalition, sent a fraction as many troops as necessary to secure the country, had no plan for addressing insurgency or rebuilding, and the Department of Defense even froze the State Department out of the process. Now, not long after, Cheney is still criticizing the Iran deal. The U.S. once again has no international support for its position, not even among its traditional allies. The Trump administration in the meantime has been hollowing out the State Department and doesn't trust its advice. One difference, however, is that the Iranian military is much larger than the Iraqi military was in 2003, and Iran covers 3.5 times as much land mass. A war with Iran would be worse. David Frum, one of the Bush administration officials involved in the Iraq War, wrote in "The Atlantic" last week, "The idea of repeating such a war, only on a much bigger scale, without allies, without justification, and without any plan at all for what comes next staggers and terrifies the imagination." If only there were more people who could learn from their mistakes. Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. Singing Phenom BRI BABINEAUX To Record Sophomore Album "THE ENCOUNTER" Friday, May 31, 2019 @7:00PM CT In the New Orleans Area May 21, 2019 NASHVILLE, TENN. (May, 2019) Crossroads Music knows what it means to pray for a breakthrough. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based worship collective of Crossroads Church is sharing the heart behind their prayers in their new single, God of the Breakthrough, set to release on digital platforms Friday, June 7. The single will be the sixth single Crossroads Music has recorded and released, following two EPs and two full-length albums. Written as a response to the death of one of Crossroads Churchs senior leaders, and a near-fatal heart attack that struck the Churchs executive pastor, co-writer Austin Livingood says God of the Breakthrough is an anthem written out of desperate prayers for God to intervene in impossible situations. We have seen people in our community over the past few months going through maddening life matters: cancer treatments, heart attacks, surgeries, and friends passing away, says Livingood, worship leader for Crossroads Music. When we have nowhere else to go, we want God near. When we sing God of the breakthrough, Your promises stand true. You havent failed us yet, its a reminder that though we dont have all the answers in life, we can always depend on His presence being near to us in broken times, and to hold onto his faithfulness. This song is as much an invitation to the miraculous as it is miraculous that we can lean on God in times of hardship. The song has special meaning to Pastor Darin Yates, the Churchs executive pastor who survived a heart attack in March caused by a 99% blockage in one of his arteries. Writers, including Livingood, Mosteller and Robbie Reider, learned of Yates heart attack in a writing session, which was the catalyst for penning God of the Breakthrough. Less than 24 hours after Yates heart attack, Crossroads Church senior leader Kathy Beechem passed away after battling lung cancer. Kathy was one of my best friends, was a mentor to me, and a confidant to me. She was literally on her death bed praying for me, Yates shares. When I heard God of the Breakthrough for the first time, I quickly connected with it deeply and emotionally. I thought it was because it was written as a prayer for Kathy and me. However, I now realize it was my prayer to Jesus before the cardiologist would come. I identified with the words, We've nowhere else to go. We've nowhere else to turn We need your Kingdom now. Exchange it for our doubt. I had no doubt God saved me in that moment. In difficult times, Crossroads Music hopes that people will use the song as a tool to get through their darkest moments. Theres a tension that I want people to feel when they listen to the song to stand confidently in, says Reider, National Worship Director for Crossroads Church. The tension of, this hurts, and yet God is still on the throne. Maybe I cant see your throne from where Im standing right now, but that doesnt mean youre not there. Rather than make it easier, God let me see you and make me stronger. For more information on Crossroads Music and God of the Breakthrough visit www.crdsmusic.com. About Crossroads Music: Crossroads Music is a collective of worship artists creating music to help their community and the Church connect with God in meaningful ways. Crossroads Music is a part of Crossroads Church, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The music they make and sing at Crossroads expresses the human journey, from brokenness to wholeness, from seeking to finding, and from darkness to light. Their songs express the redemption and restoration of a loving God and their natural responses of gratefulness and worship. Crossroads Musics hope is that these songs become not simply the soundtrack of their day to day lives, but the tools they use to get and give God as much glory as they can. Recently named the fastest-growing and third largest church in the country, the Crossroads Church community of 30,000 gathers in 13 locations in Ohio and Kentucky, along with Crossroads Anywhere. Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube ### Flash China topped the ranking of foreign tourists to Nepal as of April this year although China contributed the second largest number of visitors to the Himalayan country in 2018, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said in a report on Friday. According to the data from the Department of Immigration, China sent a total of 70,640 tourists to Nepal in the first four months this year, followed by India, traditionally the largest source market of foreign tourists, sending a total of 60,438 Indian tourists during the period. The United States came the third by sending 32,740 tourists while Thailand ranked fourth by sending 30,707 visitors during the period. Nepal received a total of 15,343 Chinese tourists in January, 18,313 in February, 18,660 in March and 18,324 in April. "Due to increased marketing about Nepal in China, Chinese people are hearing about Nepal in the recent years which has been reflected in arrivals from China," Sriram Thapa, managing director of a travel agency mainly dealing with Chinese tourists told Xinhua on Saturday. "Nepal does not charge any fee for the visa for Chinese tourists and air connectivity has also been improved, contributing to higher inflow of Chinese visitors to Nepal." Thapa, however, said despite the rise in overall arrivals from China, the number of high-spending visitors from China is still relatively low. Nepal has been witnessing a continued increase in the number of tourists in 2019 as the country aims to attract 2 million foreign tourists this year. A total of 445,109 international tourists visited Nepal in the first four months this year, a cumulative increase of 15.3 percent over the same period last year. India sent the largest number of tourists as a total of 260,124 Indian tourists visited Nepal in 2018 followed by 134,362 from China. Flash Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held talks with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Chyngyz Aidarbekov in Bishkek, vowing to enhance cooperation in various fields between the two countries. Wang noted that China and Kyrgyzstan are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners linked by mountains and rivers. The two heads of states reached a wide range of consensuses on further developing bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership on the sidelines of the second Belt and Road Forum of International Cooperation in Beijing in April. Taking the opportunity of jointly building the Belt and Road, China is ready to pursue coordination of the development strategies between China and Kyrgyzstan and effectively implement the key projects for the benefit of the two peoples, the Chinese state councilor said during the meeting. To this end, the two sides should work to build closer people-to-people ties, promote local-level cooperation, further strengthen security cooperation ties and expand cooperation in fighting the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, transnational crime and drug trafficking, said Wang, adding that China fully supports Kyrgyzstan in hosting the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June to promote further cooperation among the member states. Wang stressed that the sustained, steady and sound development of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China appreciates Kyrgyzstan's firm support on some major issues concerning Taiwan and Xinjiang, and will resolutely support Kyrgyzstan's independent choice of development path as well as its internal and external policies to maintain national independence, sovereignty and security. For his part, Aidarbekov extended warm congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and expressed sincere admiration for China's great achievements during the 40 years of reform and opening up. He noted that Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, fully supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and is ready to further promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, energy, transportation, agriculture and disaster relief. The Kyrgyz foreign minister stressed that his country firmly upholds the one-China policy, fully supports China's stance on its internal affairs including Taiwan and Xinjiang issues and hopes the mutual political trust between the two countries can be further strengthened. Following their talks, the two officials signed the Cooperation Program from 2020 to 2021 between Chinese Foreign Ministry and Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry and jointly met with the press. For a better experience on our website and avoid any trouble, we strongly recommand to activate Javascript ( click here ). Hello and welcome to Journal des Palaces You are a communication or the PR manager? Click here You are an applicant? Check out our questions and answers here ! Flash British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill will include a vote on whether to hold another referendum. "I recognize the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the House on this important issue," she said, calling it the "last chance" to get Brexit done. "If MPs vote against the second reading of this Bill, they are voting to stop Brexit," she said. The latest offer from the prime minister came after the six-week-long cross-party talks between the government and the opposition Labor ended yielding little progress last week. "If the House of Commons were to vote for a referendum, it would be requiring the government to make provisions for such a referendum -- including legislation if it wanted to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement," May said in her speech entitled "A new Brexit deal - seeking common ground in Parliament". May also promised in her 10-point offer to MPs the measures on the alternative arrangements to replace the backstop by December 2020, the temporary customs relations, environment and workers' rights to attract the support of Labor MPs. "As part of the cross-party discussions the government offered a compromise option of a temporary customs union on goods only, including a UK say in relevant EU trade policy and an ability to change the arrangement, so a future government could move it in its preferred direction," she said. "I knew delivering Brexit was not going to be simple or straightforward," May said, adding that delivering Brexit has proved "even harder" than she anticipated. The Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which will implement the content of the deal with European Union, will be put to a Parliament vote in early June. Williams Piedmont Advantage Credit Union said Tuesday its board of directors has hired Dion Williams as its president and chief executive. He took over May 1. Williams replaces Judy Tharp, who retired on April 30 after 13 years with Piedmont and more than 40 years in the credit union sector. Jim Taylor, Piedmonts chairman, said Williams, 45, was selected after a national search to lead the credit union that has $356 million in total assets and more than 40,000 members. We are extremely pleased to have selected someone with Dions credentials, experience and leadership skills to fill the CEO role, Taylor said in a statement. Williams is a native of North Carolina, having grown up in the Granite Falls area. He received a bachelor of arts degree from UNC Chapel Hill and a masters of business administration from Wake Forest University. He has worked in the credit-union sector for more than 20 years, most recently at Del-One Federal Credit Union in Dover, Del. That credit union had $480 million in total assets and 67,000 members. Cook Medical to partner with Denmark group Cook Medical, with offices in Winston-Salem, and Ambu A/S said Monday they plan a partnership under which Cook will distribute Ambus single-use, disposable duodenoscope in the U.S., following FDA clearance. The scope is currently being developed by Denmark-based Ambu to help address infections caused by cross-contamination. Since 2015, U.S. regulators have increased their focus on endoscope cross-contamination, particularly reusable endoscopes for gastrointestinal use. The use of reusable endoscopes can pose a contamination risk to patients because the devices are difficult to reprocess between uses. Alternatively, single-use scopes could have a significant impact on device-related infections and improve hospital workflows because they do not require cleaning or repair. Our mission is to improve patient care and we were looking for a solution to reduce the risk of infections associated with the use of reusable endoscopes, said Barry Slowey, vice president of Cook Medicals Endoscopy business. Our collaboration with Ambu is based on a shared goal to enhance patient safety. William Marks began yelling at Naylor. He got up from the couch and went into the kitchen to get Naylors attention. The two men began arguing, and William Marks called Naylor the N-word and a mooch. Marks also told Naylor, This is my home. Soon, William Marks went into Amy Marks room and got a .22-caliber rifle. Joshua Marks, who had gone into his room, heard several gunshots. A Forsyth County medical examiner later testified that Naylor was shot four times and that he died after a bullet penetrated his heart. After the shooting, William Marks tried to get his son, Joshua Marks, off the phone with a 911 dispatcher and later put the rifle back in his ex-wifes closet, then left before law-enforcement officers got there, the court of appeals said in its opinion. Marks appellate attorney, James R. Glover, argued that Allen made an error in allowing testimony from Detective Charles Neblett, who told the jury that he spoke briefly with William Marks, who was in a patrol vehicle. Neblett, according to the opinion, said he began telling Marks he had the right to remain silent and to ask for an attorney. Flash The Philippine National Police (PNP) has conducted an investigation into reports that Huawei was involved in espionage and found no evidence that the Chinese telecommunications company is spying for the Chinese government, a police spokesperson said on Tuesday. PNP spokesperson Bernard Banac said that the initial findings were based on the investigation conducted by the anti-cybercrime group (ACG) of the Philippine police, which coordinated with law enforcement agencies from other countries. "We have not obtained pieces of evidence that would prove Huawei spied on us. We have been receiving information about the alleged espionage but there is no proof of that," Banac said. He said the ACG has yet to release a consolidated report on its investigation. In March, PNP chief Oscar Albayalde announced the police would validate whether Huawei is involved in "spying or any other illegal activities" in the Philippines, after U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned in Manila of the "security risk" posed by the Chinese tech giant. Albayalde in April ordered PNP to look into the allegations that Huawei was "spying for the Chinese government." The investigation results showed that the allegations were false. "We conducted validation and today, we found out that there is no sufficient evidence that connects Huawei to allegations of espionage," Banac said. The protesters included mostly women, but several men participated in the rally. Some drivers honked their horns as they passed by the demonstrators. The drivers, their passengers and protesters often waved at each other. Lois Roewade of Pfafftown, who is affiliated with NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, said she organized the local protest to rally against the states that have passed restrictive abortion laws. These states have gone too far, Roewade said. We need to stand up and shout out that we do not support that kind legislation here in North Carolina. The rally in Winston-Salem was held a day before the Republican-majority N.C. House was expected to vote whether to override Democratic Gov. Roy Coopers veto of Senate Bill 359, which would instruct medical professionals to care specifically for newborns who survive an abortion. The legislation would enact new punishments for physicians and nurses who dont comply with the law or who fail to report noncompliance. Under the legislation, doctors and nurses would face felony charges, prison time and up to $250,000 in fines. State legislators passed the bill earlier this year, but Cooper vetoed it on April 18. The church filed for Chapter 11 protection in April 2018. Chapter 11 is designed to allow a debtor to restructure its finances and keep operating. In its filing Friday, Apex contests the churchs claim that it has reached an agreement with a charter school to lease space from the church for $10,000 to $15,000 a month. In a recent filing, the church had said the extra money would allow it to service a new loan on its debt. Apex called the churchs new claim that it would not be able to function if it has to leave its property deplorable, saying the church repeatedly told the bankruptcy court in previous filings that it could still pay its creditors even if it had to leave its site on Lansing Avenue. Apex said the church is now saying in essence that Bishop McCarter effectively perjured himself in a Feb. 19 hearing in which he called the former reorganization plan doable. The banks salvo was the latest in a war of words between the bank and the church. On its website, the church has a confession that binds Satan and Apex Bank ... and your negative activity in the name of Jesus in an invocation for God to come to the aid of church finances. In a filing last week, Apex contested the churchs claim that it had reached an agreement with a charter school to lease space from the church for $10,000 to $15,000 a month. In a recent filing, the church had said the extra money would allow it to service a new loan on its debt. On Wednesday, McCarter testified that the lease had failed to materialize but said he had an agreement for a local non-profit group to lease the church's gym for $5,000 per month. McCarter said he was also negotiating with a day care on a lease of church space. Under questioning, however, McCarter acknowledged that the lease had no firm commitment from the nonprofit group to lease the gym for any particular period of time. McCarter denied saying something at an earlier hearing that both the judge and Apex attorney said they had heard him say: That the church could still meet its financial obligations even if it lost its building. "I have never said that we could find another place," McCarter said. "I have never said that in court." McCarter acknowledged that the church's reorganization plan, which he signed, including possibly losing the church property, but said he never thought that was going to happen. As with Howard Schultz, the question would be whether Amash would get many votes and whom they might otherwise have gone to -- Trump or his Democratic challenger. But Amash is a slightly different case. You'll note that his state was one of the surprise states that Trump carried by less than 1 percentage point on the way to his 2016 victory. It's also a state that has not shared in the broader country's economic gains. A January poll showed Trump with a 37.5 percent approval rating and trailing several Democrats in the state by as much as double digits. Trump was also disapproved by 17 percent of Republicans -- about double where that rate has been in national polling. There is evidence that home states tend to be better for third-party candidates. New Mexico, where Johnson served as a Republican governor, gave him 9 percent in 2016, while Utah gave Evan McMullin 21 percent. Texas was one of Ross Perot's better states when he ran in 1992 and 1996, as was Minnesota when Sen. Eugene McCarthy (D-Minn.) waged a quixotic 1976 independent bid. By contrast, 1980 independent candidate John Anderson, who like Amash served as a Republican congressman, did only slightly better in his home state of Illinois as he did nationwide. WASHINGTON -- The ship has sailed, the train has left the station, the horse is out of the barn, the genie is out of the bottle, and the toothpaste is out of the tube. Enter President Trump. "As most people know, and for those who would like to know, I am strongly Pro-Life, with the three exceptions -- Rape, Incest and protecting the Life of the mother -- the same position taken by Ronald Reagan," Trump tweeted on the weekend. He was trying to distance himself from Alabama's new law begging the Supreme Court to ban abortions even for victims of rape and incest. But it no longer matters what Trump thinks -- and not just because the Alabama ban is already signed into law. Trump put Alabama on course to do what it has done. He rewarded pro-life advocates for their support with two new justices, vetted by the conservative Federalist Society, and likely an antiabortion majority on the high court. Now, pro-lifers are predictably testing to see how far they can go in reversing Roe v. Wade. Why wouldn't they? Trump's chance to influence this has passed. Flash Trade agreements between China and the United States must be two-way balanced, equal and mutually beneficial, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. Spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks in response to media reports that U.S. President Donald Trump said that any deal could not be "50-50" between China and the U.S., and it had to be more in favor of the United States because of past trade practices by China. "The two concepts of '50-50' and 'more in favor of' are not the same thing in trade relations," Lu said. The spokesperson said it was unrealistic to require two economies to be absolutely reciprocal and open in trade practice. Moreover, economic globalization itself is a process for countries to complement each other's advantages and supply each other's needs. "Mutually beneficial trade should mean the overall reciprocity and balance of interests in market opening across all industries," Lu said, adding that it was unscientific and unprofessional to simply think the United State was "suffering losses" in China-U.S. trade relations. On May 17, President Trump tweeted that no one warned him that Michael Flynn, his first national security advisor, might be trouble. It now seems the General Flynn was under investigation long before was common knowledge. It would have been impossible for me to know this but, if that was the case, and with me being one of two people who would become president, why was I not told so that I could make a change? The assertion is absurd. We have on the record already that President Obama warned Trump not to hire Flynn. Then-acting Attorney General Sally Yates warned Trump about Flynn and Trump fired her. Former New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie warned Trump about Flynn. Everyone but the cashier at the neighborhood CVS warned Trump about Flynn. He really cant take responsibility for anything, can he? Its always someone elses fault. What a great role model for our children. What a great leader for our nation. Tom Pannell Winston-Salem No more Rubin Summerville, SC (29483) Today Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 77F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low near 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR) reports multiple high-grade silver-gold intersections in the Plateros and San Miguel veins from the 2019 drill program at the Bolanitos mine in Guanajuato, Mexico. A total of 19 holes were drilled to mid-April, of which 12 holes intersected high grades over mineable widths and an additional 4 holes intersected old mine workings (view longitudinal sections for Plateros and San Miguel here). Drilling highlights in the San Miguel vein just north of the Bolanitos plant include 58 grams per tonne (gpt) silver and 22.1 gpt gold for 1827 gpt silver equivalent (Ag Eq calculated at an 80:1 Au:Ag ratio) over a 3.5 metre (m) true width (53.3 oz per short ton (opT) AgEq over 11.5 feet (ft) in hole MG-10). New high-grade vein mineralization has now been delineated over a 250 m length by 130 m depth below and northwest of the old San Miguel mine workings, still open to the northwest. Drilling highlights in the Plateros vein just west of the Bolanitos plant include 108 gpt silver and 4.25 gpt gold for 448 gpt Ag Eq over a 2.3 m true width (13.1 opT AgEq over 7.5 feet (ft) in hole PLU-20). New high-grade vein mineralization has now been delineated over a 250 m length by 120 m depth below the Plateros mine workings where Endeavour is currently mining, still open at depth and to the southeast. Bradford Cooke, Endeavour Director and CEO, commented, We continue to be encouraged by our positive exploration results at Bolanitos. Recent drilling has extended high grade silver-gold mineralization in both the Plateros and San Miguel veins, which should help to replace reserves, increase resources and extend the mine life at Bolanitos. Our operations group are nearing resolutions to the elevated arsenic in certain ores and reduced equipment availabilities, both of which put mine development and production behind schedule in Q1 2019. We plan to provide a full operational review for shareholders late this month. Drilling highlights are summarized in the following table of drill results. Hole Structure From True width Au Ag AgEq (m) (m) (gpt) (gpt) (gpt) PLU-15 Plateros PL3 114.50 1.5 3.25 31 291 Including 115.5 0.5 4.68 65 439 PLU-17 Plateros PL1 99.50 1.5 2.14 283 454 Including 99.50 0.2 7.60 1295 1,903 PLU-18 Plateros PL2 128.00 3.1 2.76 5 226 Including 128.00 0.2 6.13 8 499 PLU-20 Plateros PL1 145.15 2.3 4.25 108 448 Including 146.30 0.3 18.30 348 1,812 Plateros PL2 155.85 2.1 3.23 95 353 Including 160.50 0.1 9.18 153 887 Plateros PL3 168.60 3.0 4.42 48 402 Including 170.10 0.4 14.25 219 1,359 PLU-21 Plateros PL3 168.95 1.7 3.33 8 275 Including 168.95 0.3 6.64 14 545 PLU-22 Plateros PL2 137.05 3.3 3.45 6 282 Including 137.40 0.4 4.82 11 397 PLU-23 Plateros PL1 163.55 2.2 4.26 15 355 Including 164.00 0.4 4.19 31 366 PLU-24 Plateros PL1 131.70 0.9 3.19 2 257 Including 132.75 0.4 6.43 3 517 MG-10 San Miguel 167.50 3.5 22.12 58 1,827 Including 168.10 0.3 78.80 193 6,497 MG-11 HW San Miguel 74.05 1.3 2.88 212 443 Including 75.40 0.3 8.57 718 1,404 MG-12 San Miguel 80.10 0.9 4.63 34 404 Including 81.25 0.4 6.61 39 567 MG-13 San Miguel 145.05 3.0 3.35 11 278 Including 145.45 0.4 9.54 21 784 Silver equivalents are calculated at a ratio of 80:1 silver: gold. All widths are estimated true widths. Qualified Person and QA/ QC Godfrey Walton, M.Sc., P.Geo., Endeavours President and COO, is the Qualified Person who reviewed and approved this news release and supervised the drilling programs in Mexico. A Quality Control sampling program of reference standards, blanks and duplicates is used to monitor the integrity of all assay results. All samples are split at the local field office and shipped to ALS-Chemex Labs, where they are dried, crushed, split and 50 gram pulp samples are prepared for analysis. Gold is determined by fire assay with an atomic absorption (AA) finish and silver by aqua regia digestion and ICP finish, over-limits by fire assay and gravimetric finish. About Endeavour Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns and operates four high-grade, underground, silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the Terronera mine project towards a development decision and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico and Chile to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer. Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders. SOURCE Endeavour Silver Corp. Contact Information - For more information, please contact: Galina Meleger, Director, Investor Relations Toll free: (877) 685-9775 Tel: (604) 640-4804 Fax: (604) 685-9744 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.edrsilver.com Follow Endeavour Silver on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forwardlooking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavours anticipated performance in 2019 including changes in mining and operations and the timing and results of various activities. The Company does not intend to, and does not assume any obligation to, update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial risks due to precious metals prices, operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Companys title to properties; as well as those factors described in the section risk factors contained in the Companys most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Companys mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mines will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with managements expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. NAZCA, Peru--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Keith Piggott, owning approximately 7% of the issued and outstanding shares of Core Gold Inc. ("Core Gold" or the "Company") (TSXV: CGLD, OTCQX: CGLDF) has uncovered additional disturbing details about ASX-listed Titan Minerals Ltd. (Titan - ASX: TTM), its value-destructing track record including documented evidence of environmental damage, and potential liabilities in relation to Titans Tulin processing plant in Peru. Notably, Mr. Piggott has confirmed, through notarial sworn statements of witnesses, that Titan has tried to conceal their environmental damage at the Tulin processing plant by surreptitiously burying cyanide tailings outside the plant area in the dead of night. In just the past several days, since my press release exposing the alarming track record of Titan, an overwhelming number of shareholders have contacted me saying that they will vote AGAINST the Titan-Core deal, said Mr. Piggott. Since then, I have travelled to Peru with boots on ground to get to the bottom of the allegations about the conduct of Titans management. What Ive discovered is that Titan allegedly concealed the burying of cyanide-bearing tailings outside, and within, the Tulin plant which could potentially cost a combined Titan-Core millions of dollars in liabilities. In addition, it appears that the Tulin plant has been over many years incurring, and paying fines for environmental, safety and occupational health violations. This provides further evidence that the Titan-Core arrangement would be a Titan-ic disaster for Core Gold shareholders. MORE SHOCKING REVELATIONS: TITAN SURREPTITIOUSLY BURYING CYIANIDE-BEARING, EVIDENCE OF AN UNREPORTED CHEMICAL SPILL AFFECTING AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL ZONE In June 2018, Titan acquired Andina Resources (Andina) a gold and base metals exploration company which, through a subsidiary, operated the Tulin Plant in Peru. Importantly, there was a clear link between the two companies: Andina directors Matthew Carr and Timothy Neesham held close to 2.5 million shares in Titan, while three Titan directors held shares in Andina; Matthew Carr was also executive director of both companies. Reports from Peru indicate that Titans Tulin Plant was marred with environmental violations as recently as 2018 and dating back to 2012. In a report dated November 27, 2017, the Regional Directorate of Energy and Mines (DREM) issued several penalties against the mine for a number of infractions including for deposits of cyanide bearing tailings outside the permitted area. The report also listed the many previous violations and fines paid, including for an incident involving a spill of caustic soda used in activated carbon which reached an archaeological zone. In connection with this incident, the DREM report stated: It is worth mentioning that in the path of the spill there are Nazca lines and geoglyphs and that there are no documents in which the Ministry of Culture is informed of what happened. DREM also noted that Tulin Golds tailings pads were located beyond the permitted area (by 40% in the case of tailings pad No. 2 and 5% for tailings pad No. 1) and that approximately 10 thousand bricks were manufactured using the cyanide-bearing tailings possibly mixed with cement and lime--potentially putting its workers health at serious risk. These bricks had been used at the Tulin plant for the construction of warehouses, cyanide deposit, solid waste, industrial, and a scrap deposit. DREM subsequently recommended the following actions: that a joint inspection be carried out with the OEFA (Organismo de Evaluacion y Fiscalizacion Ambiental - Agency for Environmental Assessment and Control) so that a monitoring of the area can be made as the DREM lacks the technical equipment needed to analyze and monitor the tailings and the bricks that the Ministry of Culture be informed since a spill had occurred affecting an archaeological zone that the National Water Authority be contacted since the plant is located in an intermittent marginal belt with use restrictions On February 12, 2018, the DREM inspected the Tulin Plant again, noting several violations and fined Titan, once again, for non-compliance. Further, as described above, Mr. Piggott has learned, through eyewitness accounts, that Titan has tried to conceal their environmental damage by secretly burying cyanide-bearing tailings outside the plant area in the dead of night. These cyanide-bearing tailings were moved outside the Tulin plant over a period of approximately two weeks, purportedly to allow room for further tails in the plant area. Witnesses have attested to this and the Peruvian authorities have been notified. The fact that these guys have tried to bury and conceal their tailings is outrageous, and could cost Titan millions of dollars in liabilities and loss of license to operate, added Mr. Piggott. Titan already has a poor track record with employees and with this latest revelation is jeopardizing its credibility with South American governments. WHERES THE DISCLOSURE? Despite the many fines and rebukes by Peruvian environmental agencies regarding Titans principal operation, Titan and Andina have failed to make the appropriate disclosures in their respective annual reports. Year Ending Company Statement on Environmental Issues 2018 Titan Environmental Issues: The Company's operations comply with all relevant environmental laws and regulations and have not been subject to any actions by environmental regulators. (emphasis added) 2017 Titan Environmental Issues: The Company's operations comply with all relevant environmental laws and regulations and have not been subject to any actions by environmental regulators. (emphasis added) 2017 Andina ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: There were no known significant breaches of the Groups license conditions or any environmental regulations to which it is subject (emphasis added) 2016 Andina ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: There were no known significant breaches of the Groups license conditions or any environmental regulations to which it is subject (emphasis added) 2015 Andina ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES: There were no known significant breaches of the Groups license conditions or any environmental regulations to which it is subject (emphasis added) TITAN CONTINUES TO MISLEAD SHAREHOLDERS, REGULATORY BODIES ABOUT SHOOTING INCIDENT AT THE TULIN PLANT In his press release of May 13, 2019, Mr. Piggott revealed news reports of shooting incident at the Tulin plan allegedly involving individuals related to Titan that left two people wounded. Based on Mr. Piggotts further investigation while in Peru, the incident was in relation to expiration of Tulin Golds mining assignment agreement with a private owner, and Tulin Golds closure obligations, including removing tailings from the site. In November 2018 things came to a head when the owner noticed that Tulin Gold had started to remove equipment from the plant, in contravention of Tulin Golds contractual obligations. In response, the owner of the plant implemented a security plan, as contemplated in the agreement, to prevent the removal of additional equipment. Tulin Gold personnel departed from the plant on or about December 7, 2019. Mr. Piggott has been informed that on December 14, 2018, a demonstration took place at the plant where the crowd threw stones and broke through a perimeter fence. Mr. Piggott was also informed that on Thursday December 20, 2018, a more serious incident took place where several dozen individuals, many armed, approached the plant but were unable to proceed further due to the presence of the security guards at their posts inside the plant. Two assailants were wounded by gunfire and many were arrested. Local media reported on the incident and presented the owners views on the incident. A report by Perus Provincial Prosecutor's Office for the Prevention of Crime in Environmental Matters, dated February 6, 2019, makes reference to the Legal Technical Report prepared by the DREM in Ica following an inspection of Tulin Golds activities at the Tulin plant that took place on November 15, 2017: ...the tailings pads No. 1 one and No. 2 of the aforementioned beneficiation plant are full, so the operator should have applied the definitive closing of said pads; the company Tuling (sic) Gold Co SAC, has manufactured 10 thousands bricks approximately, using the tailings as a raw material possibly mixed with cement and lime; in slab No. 1 fresh tailings are being deposited after previously passing through a vacuum disk filter, being that the aforementioned slab lacks a geomembrane. The owner of the plant is now faced with the costs of fixing the plant and closing and remediating the tailings pads, which were clearly obligations of Tulin Gold under its contract with the owner. Its expected that these costs will likely amount to many millions of dollars. It does not appear that Titan has made any provisions for such contingencies. Finally, in light of the above information, it is worth revisiting Titans disclosures about the expiration of the Tulin Plant mining assignment agreement: The strategy to establish expanded production for 2019 at the Companys wholly owned Vista Gold Plant tied in optimally with the expiry of lease at the Tulin Plant. The Tulin Plant, operated by Tulin Gold Co. SAC (Tulin) was operated under a mining assignment agreement with a private owner negotiated by the previous management (refer to ASX release dated 23 May 2018) and as a result of the expiry of the plant lease, Tulin ceased processing ore at its Tulin plant facility. The extinguishment of lease payments for the Tulin Gold Plant provide a significant cost saving opportunity. - Titans 2018 Annual Report Similarly, it appears that Titan has misled the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). On April 23, the ASX issued a letter to Titan asking for responses on a number of questions. The ASX made reference to Note 5(b) at point 3 of the Independent Auditors Report in the Full Year Statutory Accounts of Titan which states: The Tulin Plant, operated by Tulin Gold Co. SAC (Tulin), a subsidiary of Andina Resources Limited, was operating under a mining assignment agreement with a private owner and as a result of the expiry of the plant lease, Tulin has ceased processing ore at the facility. The expiry of the lease and the non-compliance has resulted in a dispute in finalising the termination of assignment. The Company is working with DREM (The Direccion Regional De Energia Y Minas or The Regional Energy and Mines Institute) with a focus on the return of the facility back to the underlying owner. Until there is a resolution, the Company is restricted from accessing assets owned by the Company, including ore material stockpiles and operational equipment. As a result of the above, a provision for impairment amounting $2,003,072 over the restricted assets have been raised. ASX Question: Given the Company chose to impair the Plant and Equipment the subject of the access restrictions as set out in Note 5(b) point 3 of the Full Year Statutory Accounts, on what basis does the Company consider the inventory to be recoverable, given the same access restrictions that apply to the Plant & Equipment appear to also affect the Inventory and those access restrictions were the reason cited for the inventory audit qualification? Titan Response: For clarity, the access restrictions relate solely to inventory, plant and equipment at the Tulin Plant whereas the Inventory and Plant and Equipment reported in Note 23 covers the aggregate of inventory, plant and equipment at the Tulin Plant and the Vista Plant (at two separate locations). Due to the access restrictions detailed in Note 5(b) point 3, the inventory, plant and equipment at the Tulin Plant has been impaired. However, under the Australian accounting standards there is no requirement for the segregation of inventory (by location) and accordingly, the total inventory balance in the Full Year Statutory Accounts is subject to an inventory qualification. On this basis, TTM considers the Inventory to be recoverable.... TTM has been working with its Peruvian counsel to resolve the dispute concerning the access restrictions at the Tulin Plant, however, it is not in a position to undertake any additional steps at this stage to obtain an unqualified opinion. TTM anticipates that an unqualified opinion can be obtained once: (a) an additional year of trading has occurred (noting that TTM only exited external administration in October 2017); and (b) the aforementioned dispute has been resolved and Titan has the right to access the ore material stockpiles and operating equipment at the Tulin Plant. Notably, Titan fails to discloseto its shareholders and to ASXany information regarding the mess it allegedly left behind at the Tulin Plant and about the potential liabilities. WHAT ELSE IS TITAN HIDING? BOTH CORE GOLD AND TITAN SHAREHOLDERS DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH ONLY YOUR VOTE CAN SAVE YOUR INVESTMENT Shareholders will be receiving proxies in the mail shortly and are encouraged to vote AGAINST the Proposed Arrangement with Titan. The Titan-Core arrangement is not in the best interest of Core Gold shareholders. Titan is a company with illiquid shares, questionable governance, and a track record of destroying shareholder value. Core Gold shareholders need to understand that this deal threatens to destroy their investment. Your vote AGAINST the Titan-Core Gold deal is important regardless of the number of shares you own. INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF PUBLIC BROADCAST SOLICITATION Mr. Piggott is relying on the exemption under section 9.2(4) of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations (NI 51-102) to make public broadcast solicitations. The following information is provided in accordance with corporate and securities laws applicable to public broadcast solicitations. This press release and any solicitation made by Mr. Piggott in advance of the Meeting is, or will be, as applicable, made by Mr. Piggott, and not by or on behalf of the management of Core Gold. Mr. Piggott has filed a copy of this press release containing the information required in section 9.2(4) of NI 51-102 on Core Golds company profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Mr. Piggott has retained Kingsdale Advisors (Kingsdale) as his strategic shareholder and proxy advisor. Kingsdales responsibilities will principally include soliciting shareholders, providing strategic advice and advising Mr. Piggott with respect to the Meeting and proxy protocol. Any proxies solicited by or on behalf of Mr. Piggott, including by Kingsdale, may be solicited by way of public broadcast, including through press releases, speeches or publications and by any other manner permitted under applicable laws. All costs incurred for any solicitation will be borne by Mr. Piggott. The anticipated cost of Mr. Piggotts solicitation is estimated to be $50,000.00, plus disbursements and customary fees. A proxy may be revoked by instrument in writing executed by a shareholder or by his or her attorney authorized in writing or, if the shareholder is a body corporate, by an officer or attorney thereof duly authorized or by any other manner permitted by law. Core Golds office is located at Suite 1201 1166 Alberni Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 3Z3. A copy of this press release may be obtained on the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. ADVISORS Mr. Piggott has retained Koffman Kalef LLP and Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP as his legal advisors and Kingsdale Advisors as his strategic shareholder, communications and proxy advisor. ABOUT KEITH PIGGOTT Keith Piggott is a seasoned mining developer and operator with over 50 years of experience in Africa, Australia, Mexico and South America. Mr. Piggott as CEO, and as an investor, rescued Dynasty Metals and Mining from certain bankruptcy and the loss of all its assets in 2016. He has worked diligently for over two years to take the company, as Core Gold Inc., from a $5 million market capitalization to over $40 million market capitalization before the Titan proposal. He can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , by phone at 520-247-5753. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - Ethos Gold Corp. (TSXV: ECC) (OTCQB: ETHOF) ("Ethos" or the "Company") is pleased to announce trench results at its La Purisima gold project in north-west Chihuahua State, Mexico. Ethos has completed six mechanical trenches (T1-T6) totaling a length of approximately 3.0 km that targeted the surface expression of the Purisima Vein Zone and the parallel Stockwork Zone (see figure below). Highlights T1 - 0.49 g/t Au over 118m, including 1.13 g/t Au over 20m, and 0.76g/t Au over 24m (Purisima Vein Zone), and separately 4.17g/t Au over 5.4m (Stockwork Zone) T2 - 0.47 g/t Au over 127m including 1.11 g/t Au over 40m (Purisima Vein Zone) T3 - 0.84 g/t Au over 10m and 6.51 g/t Au over 2m (both Stockwork Zone) The mineralized zones are situated in a valley about 500 metres wide. Dozer cuts through shallow alluvium exposed well mineralized rocks in trenches across the northern flank of the valley. A portion of the valley was not trenched due to deeper alluvium that would have required larger equipment and additional safety measures. The trenches were oriented North 60 East, generally perpendicular to the northwest trending mineralized zones, and covered approximately 1700 metres of strike distance on these zones. A total of 1000 trench samples were collected in the six trenches, with sample lengths ranging from 2 to 6 metres. Assays results range from below detection to 6.83 g/t Au. In aggregate (not continuous), 155m of the sampling in T1 and 173m of sampling in T2 were above 0.1 g/t Au, indicating the broad dissemination of gold mineralization. The gold mineralization is coincident with anomalous indicator elements including antimony, barium, and arsenic, and the Company is in the process of completing detailed geochemical mapping of various indicator elements. The trenching results will be utilized to guide the next phase of exploration including the upcoming drill program comprising approximately 15 RC holes. In addition, particularly encouraging new high-grade trench results in the Stockwork Zone will be the focus of further work in the upcoming phase of exploration. Commented Craig Roberts, P.Eng., President and CEO of Ethos: "We are very encouraged by the trench results that show dissemination of gold mineralization over significant intervals outside of the primary veins in the Purisima Vein Zone, and also by the new high-grade intervals identified in the Stockwork Zone. We will use these results to plan our fully permitted maiden drill program of approximately 15 RC holes which we intend to commence shortly. In part because of the excellent access and infrastructure our preliminary budget for this drill program is modest, approximately $Cdn 350,000 (currently being finalized). We are looking forward to drill testing this very prospective near surface, bulk tonnage target." Purisima Vein Zone and the parallel Stockwork Zone About the La Purisima Gold Project The exploration model for the La Purisima project is to target near surface, bulk tonnage, oxide gold mineralization. The northwest trending mineralized zone has been identified over a strike length of at least 2 km and with a width of alteration and geochemically anomalous gold mineralization of approximately 600 metres. Within this footprint are two north-west striking zones that have the strongest gold anomalies, each approximately 200 metres wide (see figure above). One of these zones (the "Purisima Vein Zone") strikes for at least 2 km, and the other (the "Stockwork Zone") strikes for at least 1 km. Both zones appear to extend under the alluvial valley cover consisting of gravel and soil deposits. Gold and silver mineralization is mainly contained in epithermal quartz veins and veinlets forming stockworks and sheets in both volcanic flow rocks and older discordant sedimentary rocks. La Purisima is located in an area of low, non-mountainous, relief with excellent road access and infrastructure. The concessions are located on private ranch land near active agricultural centers and a long-term annual fee based property access agreement has been signed with the main ranch land owner. QA/QC Trenching samples were picked up by the ALS-Chemex sample preparation facility located in Chihuahua, Chihuahua. ALS-Chemex preparation labwork consisted of splitting and grinding each sample to fine pulp culminates followed by the shipment of 150 grams of this pulp to the ALS-Chemex Vancouver, British Columbia analytical laboratory where gold analysis by 30 gram fire assay with AA finish of dissolved final metal mixture was completed. In addition a second small sample fraction was dissolved in 4-acid mixture and processed for ICP determination of a standard 35-element package. Ethos relied upon ALS Chemex routinely inserted blanks and standards into the sample stream at the assay laboratory. All reported standard and blank assay values, as well as duplicates, were within an acceptable margin of error. Qualified Person Mel Herdrick, a director of and consultant to the Company, is a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101, is supervising the La Purisima trenching and drilling program and has read, reviewed, and approved this release. Jo Price, M.Sc., MBA, P.Geo, VP Exploration of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 has also reviewed and approved this release. About Ethos Gold Ethos Gold is exploring the La Purisima gold project (earning 100%) in Chihuahua Mexico, the Iron Point Carlin gold project (earning 50% from Victory Metals Inc.) 22 miles east of Winnemucca, Nevada, and the Perk-Rocky copper-gold porphyry project (earning 100%), 220 km west of Williams Lake, British Columbia. La Purisima is a near surface, bulk tonnage, oxide gold target, and a maiden drill program will commence shortly. Iron Point is a Lower Plate hosted Carlin style gold target, and a planned program of three vertical holes to test this target will commence shortly under the supervision of Dr. Quinton Hennigh. Perk-Rocky is a copper-gold porphyry target, and an exploration program including detailed airborne geophysics and ground mapping and sampling will commence shortly. Ethos currently has cash of approximately $Cdn 6.8 million and 54.6 million shares issued. In 2019 Ethos plans to spend an aggregate of approximately $Cdn 1.8 million on the maiden drill programs at La Purisima and Iron Point, and on the initial work program at Perk-Rocky. Ethos is also earning into the Pine Pass and Ursula vanadium projects (100% earn-in) in north-central British Columbia. In March 2019 Ethos received notice from the Province of British Columbia that the mineral tenures making up its Pine Pass vanadium project are included in an area under consideration for an immediate moratorium on development proposals and possible inclusion in an expanded environmental protected area, and in light of this notice has suspended work on its vanadium projects. For additional information please contact Tom Martin at E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. P: 1-250-516-2455 or view the Company's website, www.ethosgold.com and the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Ethos Gold Corp. Per: "Craig Roberts" Craig Roberts, P.Eng., President & CEO Forward-Looking Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs at its La Purisima, Iron Point, and Perk-Rocky projects. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include the risk of accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, or the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other agency or governmental clearances, necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes in the jurisdictions where the Company carries on its business that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects 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. Highlights: Drilling results at New Beliveau continue to confirm bulk tonnage potential with intercepts grading up to 3.4 g/t Au over 17.8 metres, including 12.2 g/t Au over 3.3 metres and 2.2 g/t Au over 25.2 metres, including 4.7 g/t Au over 7.0 metres; Resource expansion drilling east of North Zone continued to intersect mineralization with intervals grading up to 2.9 g/t Au over 7.0 metres Results still pending for approx. 22,000 metres of drilling for the Pascalis, Courvan and Monique areas TORONTO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Probe Metals Inc. (TSX-V: PRB) (OTCQB: PROBF) (Probe or the Company) is pleased to provide new results from its on-going drill program on the Pascalis Property, which includes the New Beliveau, North, South and Highway gold zones, located near Val-dOr, Quebec. Results from fifty-five (55) drill holes, totaling 16,875 metres, were received for infill and resource expansion drilling along the Pascalis gold trend (See Figure 1). Significant new drill results from the current program are presented below. David Palmer, President and CEO of Probe, states Winter drill results continue to indicate a broad, robust gold system along the Pascalis gold trend. Work to date has greatly increased our understanding of the main controls on gold deposition and in 2019 we plan to expand our exploration programs to target new areas where we are seeing strong potential for the discovery of additional gold deposits. Although resource growth and expansion remain a priority for the Company, these recent drill results indicate the potential for significant resource conversion as we advance our model towards a reserve-based mine plan. Infill drilling results continue to support the potential for a bulk tonnage, open-pit gold system and confirm our 3D geological interpretation as well as demonstrating continuity in gold mineralization. Assay results from selected drill holes are reported in the following table: Selected drill results from the Pascalis Gold Trend Area drilling program1 Hole Number From (m) To (m) Length (m) Au (g/t) Area PC-18-444 8.5 10.0 1.5 8.8 North Zone / Volcanics 86.0 95.0 9.0 1.2 North Zone / Volcanics PC-18-451 333.5 334.5 1.0 15.1 New Beliveau / Volcanics PC-18-452 117.8 164.0 46.2 0.7 North Zone / Volcanics&Dyke including 117.8 126.1 8.3 2.2 North Zone / Dyke including 120.8 121.8 1.0 8.8 North Zone / Dyke PC-18-455 207.7 214.7 7.0 2.9 North Zone / Volcanics&Dyke including 210.7 211.7 1.0 9.1 North Zone / Dyke PC-18-458 169.3 179.5 10.2 1.5 New Beliveau South / Volcanics including 169.3 171.3 2.0 4.6 New Beliveau South / Volcanics PC-18-462 42.8 52.5 9.7 1.3 New Beliveau South / Volcanics 140.5 150 9.5 1.7 New Beliveau South / Volcanics including 145.7 146.7 1.0 9.6 New Beliveau South / Volcanics PC-18-463 38.0 41.0 3.0 2.9 New Beliveau / Volcanics 213.5 222.0 8.5 3.2 New Beliveau / Volcanics including 213.5 215.0 1.5 5.7 New Beliveau / Volcanics including 217.5 219.0 1.5 10.2 New Beliveau / Volcanics 243.0 247.5 4.5 3.1 New Beliveau / Volcanics PC-18-464 218.8 219.8 1.0 11.0 North Zone / Volcanics&Dyke PC-18-467 103.0 109.0 6.0 2.4 New Beliveau / Volcanics 131.0 134.0 3.0 3.5 New Beliveau / Volcanics PC-18-469 156.9 177.2 20.3 1.2 North Zone / Volcanics including 164.0 166.0 2.0 5.5 North Zone / Volcanics PC-18-471 51.0 52.0 1.0 11.0 New Beliveau South / Dyke 222.0 239.0 17.0 2.1 New Beliveau South / Dyke including 237.0 239.0 2.0 11.6 New Beliveau South / Dyke PC-18-472 166.0 167.5 1.5 9.3 New Beliveau / Dyke PC-18-473 144.0 150.0 6.0 2.1 North Zone / Volcanics&Dyke including 148.0 149.0 1.0 10.0 North Zone / Volcanics&Dyke PC-18-474 384.7 402.5 17.8 3.4 New Beliveau / Volcanics including 384.7 388.0 3.3 12.2 New Beliveau / Volcanics 431.0 434.0 3.0 3.8 New Beliveau / Volcanics 461.5 466.5 5.0 2.3 New Beliveau / Volcanics PC-18-475 19.0 20.0 1.0 66.9 New Beliveau / Volcanics PC-18-477 108.5 136.5 28.0 1.0 New Beliveau South / Dyke 250.0 275.2 25.2 2.2 New Beliveau South / Dyke including 268.2 275.2 7.0 4.7 New Beliveau South / Dyke PC-18-478 13.0 25.0 12.0 1.5 New Beliveau / Volcanics PC-18-479 113.5 119.6 6.1 4.4 North Zone / Volcanics including 117.5 118.5 1.0 24.5 North Zone / Volcanics PC-18-482 263.0 264.0 1.0 86.8 New Beliveau / Volcanics PC-18-483 176.0 179.0 3.0 4.2 New Beliveau / Dyke PC-18-485 129.0 142.0 13.0 1.3 North Zone / Volcanics including 138.0 142.0 4.0 2.7 North Zone / Volcanics 174.3 176.3 2.0 5.4 North Zone / Volcanics PC-18-490 186.5 196.5 10.0 2.3 New Beliveau South / Volcanics including 186.5 188.0 1.5 13.9 New Beliveau South / Volcanics PC-18-491 317.1 328.8 11.7 2.2 New Beliveau / Volcanics&Dyke including 317.1 318.2 1.1 16.8 New Beliveau / Volcanics&Dyke PC-18-495 100.7 126.0 25.3 1.7 New Beliveau South / Volc&Dyke including 100.7 115.5 14.8 2.7 New Beliveau South / Dyke including 104.0 108.5 4.5 5.5 New Beliveau South / Dyke (1) All the new analytical results reported in this release and in this table, are presented in core length and uncut. Additional drilling is planned for the immediate area which will enable the true width determination. The New Beliveau Gold Deposit The New Beliveau deposit consists predominantly of a series of parallel, east-west trending, moderately dipping, mineralized zones hosting gold-bearing quartz-pyrite-tourmaline veins. Gold mineralization occurs in the veins and also in the host wall rocks. The sulphide content is generally 1 to 5% but may reach up to 10% in the higher-grade sections. The extent of the alteration zone, which consists of a mixture of quartz, tourmaline, dolomite, albite, and euhedral pyrite is commonly twice the thickness of the vein itself. The north-south trending diorite dykes also contain significant gold with gold grades typically increasing in areas where the dykes are intersected by the east-west quartz-tourmaline veins. Wall rocks for both systems consist of intermediate volcanics rock. Together with the Highway, North and South Zones, the New Beliveau Deposit hosts a NI 43-101 resource of 682,400 ounces Indicated at 2.35 g/t gold and 722,100 ounces Inferred at 2.41 g/t gold. Qualified Persons The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed, prepared and approved by Mr. Marco Gagnon, P.Geo, Executive Vice President, who is a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Quality Control During the last drilling program, assay samples were taken from the NQ core by sawing the drill core in half, with one-half sent to a certified commercial laboratory and the other half retained for future reference. A strict QA/QC program was applied to all samples; which includes insertion of mineralized standards and blank samples for each batch of 20 samples. The gold analyses were completed by fire-assayed with an atomic absorption finish on 50 grams of materials. Repeats were carried out by fire-assay followed by gravimetric testing on each sample containing 3.0 g/t gold or more. Total gold analyses (Metallic Sieve) were carried out on the samples which presented a great variation of their gold contents or the presence of visible gold. About Probe Metals: Probe Metals Inc. is a leading Canadian gold exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of highly prospective gold properties. The Company is committed to discovering and developing high-quality gold projects, including its key asset the Val-dOr East Gold Project, Quebec. The Company is well-funded and controls a strategic land package of approximately 1,000-square-kilometres of exploration ground within some of the most prolific gold belts in Quebec. The Company was formed as a result of the sale of Probe Mines Limited to Goldcorp Inc. in March 2015. Newmont Goldcorp Corporation currently owns approximately 13.7% of the Company. On behalf of Probe Metals Inc., Dr. David Palmer, President & Chief Executive Officer For further information: Please visit our website at www.probemetals.com or contact: Seema Sindwani Director of Investor Relations This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. +1.416.777.9467 Forward-Looking Statements Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Companys future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as believes, anticipates, expects, estimates, may, could, would, will, or plan. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet managements expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Companys objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration and mine development plans, timing of the commencement of operations and estimates of market conditions. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to failure to identify mineral resources, failure to convert estimated mineral resources to reserves, the inability to complete a feasibility study which recommends a production decision, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, inability to fulfill the duty to accommodate First Nations and other indigenous peoples, uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, delays in the development of projects, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, and those risks set out in the Companys public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 22, 2019) - Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) ("Transition", "the Company") is pleased to announce that it has staked two new properties, collectively covering 15,144 ha in the Wollaston Basin Copper Belt, northern Saskatchewan. The Fannon and Tosi properties are located approximately 100 kilometres south of Key Lake (see Fig 1), and about 30 and 85 kilometres, respectively, southwest along trend with the company's Janice Lake Property that is currently under option from the Company to Forum Energy Metals (Forum) and subsequently to Rio Tinto Exploration Canada (RTEC) (see Transition news release dated May 9, 2019). The new claims were staked to cover known copper showings and on-strike equivalents that are interpreted to have potential to host sedimentary-hosted copper mineralization similar to that at Janice Lake. Commenting on the staking, Company CEO and President Scott McLean, P.Geo. stated: "We view the Wollaston Basin as an important emerging copper district. The good work of the Saskatchewan Government identifying the potential of the belt led Transition to originally stake Janice Lake and initiate exploration in the belt. Recent drill results by Forum (see Transition news release of October 10, 2018) demonstrates the significant discovery opportunity which resulted in RTEC's new investment in the district. We look to further evaluating our new properties with the perspective of attracting new investment to the area." About the Fannon and Porcupine Properties The Wollaston Domain includes a thick succession of Lower Proterozoic sedimentary rocks that contain some significant base metal occurrences such as sediment-hosted copper in the Janice Lake area as well as lesser known copper occurrences such as Fannon Lake and Tosi, as well as lead-zinc occurrences at Sito Lake1,2. The Fannon Property is located 30 kilometres southwest of the Janice Property and is underlain by northeast-trending, quartzofeldspathic paragneisses with subordinate amphibolite-bearing pelites, quartzites, and feldspathic quartzites3. The Tosi property is 85 kilometres to the southwest of Janice Lake and is underlain by northeast-trending biotite and garnet-biotite pelitic gneisses with minor intercalated quartzites4. The following analytical results are from select samples and are not necessarily representative of the mineralization hosted on the entire property. 1. Delaney, G.D. 1995. Geological Survey of Canada Open File Report 3119, p.39-51 2. Coombe, W. 1994. Saskatchewan Energy and Mines, Report 213, 108p. 3. Government of Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index Details: Mineral Property 0949B. 4. Government of Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index Details: Mineral Property 0930. Located on the north end of Fannon Lake and extending north to Flag Lake, mineralization at the Fannon occurs over widths of 4.6 m or more as lenses in meta-arkose which is interbanded with quartzite and biotite schist3. Mineralization consists of massive blebs of chalcocite in fractures and parallel to the foliations, minor chalcopyrite in fractures, pyrite and pyrrhotite as minor disseminations, and locally minor molybdenite. Malachite, chalcocite, covellite, chrysocola, and azurite are common in fractures. Grab samples collected by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey from trench 2 averaged 0.24% Cu over 12.8 metres, and historical drill assays from FN-94-1 returned between 0.33% Cu and 0.74% Cu over widths of 0.5 to 1.5 m metres for a weighted average of 0.48% Cu over 8.6 metres3. The Sommerville Lake occurrence, located about 6 kilometres to the southwest, is also hosted in meta-arkose and hosts copper values of up to 0.25% Cu5. 5. Government of Saskatchewan Mineral Deposit Index Details: Mineral Property 0948B. The Tosi Cu Showing mineralization consists of shear-hosted disseminations, blebs, stringers, and veinlets of up to 5% pyrite-chalcopyrite-bornite (or chalcocite) within graphitic quartzite and intercalated garnetiferous graphitic pelitic gneisses4. Exposed over 1 to 2 metre wide by 12 metre long, the northeast-trending shear parallels the regional Porcupine Creek Shear Zone. Grab samples reported by the Saskatchewan Geological Survey returned from 1.73 to 4.52 % Cu, 0.17 to 0.42 oz Ag/t, and 0.01 to 0.03 oz Au/t4. The Showing is located approximately 1.75 kilometres southeast of the Fable Lake Zn-Pb occurrence. Fig 1: Location of Newly Staked Fannon and Tosi Properties Qualified Person The technical elements of this press release have been approved by Mr. Thomas Hart, P.Geo. (APGO), a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Historical trench and drill results reported herein have not been verified by Transition as seasonal weather conditions prevent a qualified person from accessing any part of the property or obtaining beneficial information from it, and hence have not been verified. About Transition Metals Corp Transition Metals Corp (TSXV: XTM) is a Canadian-based, multi-commodity project generator that specializes in converting new exploration ideas into Canadian discoveries. The award-winning team of geoscientists has extensive exploration experience in established, emerging and historic mining camps and actively develops and tests new ideas for discovering mineralization in places that others have not looked, which often allows the company to acquire properties inexpensively. The team is rigorous in its fieldwork and combines traditional techniques with newer ones to help unearth compelling prospects and drill targets. Transition uses the project generator business model to acquire and advance multiple exploration projects simultaneously, thereby maximizing shareholder exposure to discovery and capital gain. Joint venture partners earn an interest in the projects by funding a portion of higher-risk drilling and exploration, allowing Transition to conserve capital and minimize shareholder's equity dilution. The Company has an expanding portfolio that currently includes more than 25 gold, copper, nickel and platinum projects across Canada. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of the Company. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 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. Further information is available at www.transitionmetalscorp.com or by contacting: Scott McLean President and CEO Transition Metals Corp. Tel: (705) 669-1777 CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / CANEX Metals Inc. ("CANEX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed a letter of intent with a US based prospector (the "Vendor") to acquire a 100% interest in the Gold Range Property located in northern Arizona, USA. The Gold Range Property is located in Northern Arizona within a district that has seen considerable lode and placer gold exploration and mining. Earlier this year the Vendor discovered a quartz vein containing abundant visible gold on the Gold Range Property. The discovery was made using a hand held metal detector and occurs within bedrock concealed under 30 cm of soil cover. The discovery occurs near the top of a rounded hill in an area with shallow bedrock and is amenable to low cost surface exploration methods including soil sampling and trenching. The in situ occurrence contains quartz with abundant gold, although the current poor exposure does not allow an assessment of the size, orientation, or controls on the zone. Within the next few weeks CANEX intends to initiate a surface exploration program focused on defining and tracing the new gold-quartz discovery and identifying additional mineralized zones in the immediate area. Permitting will be initiated shortly to allow for trenching and exposing of the new discovery and for exploration of the larger property. Terms of the Agreement The Agreement gives CANEX the exclusive right, at its election, to acquire a 100% interest in the Gold Range Property from the Vendor by making staged cash payments over 4 years totaling US$90,000 and completing exploration expenditures of US$80,000. The Vendor will retain a 2% net smelter royalty, half of which can be bought back by CANEX for US$500,000, and the remaining half can be bought back for an additional US$1,000,000. A definitive agreement will be prepared and entered into between CANEX and the Vendor. Financing CANEX is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 4,000,000 units ("Common Units") at a price of $0.05 per Common Unit for gross proceeds of up to $200,000. Each Common Unit will consist of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each common share purchase warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share at a price of $0.08 per share for a period of three years following closing. The Units will be offered on a non-brokered basis by way of private placement to accredited investors and any securities issued will be subject to a hold period of four months plus one day from the date of closing. Finder's fees of 5% cash and 5% Brokers Warrants may be paid to eligible agents pursuant to the offering. Each broker warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one common share of the Company for a period of 3 years at a price of $0.05 per share This financing is subject to TSX Venture Exchange and regulatory approval. Proceeds of the financing will be used to explore the Gold Range Property, and for general working capital. About CANEX Metals Inc. CANEX Metals is a Canadian based exploration company focused on acquiring and advancing high grade gold and silver deposits in stable mining jurisdictions. Company Management has a proven track record of exploration success, with key personnel being involved in discoveries in Mexico, Newfoundland, and British Columbia. CANEX has optioned five British Columbia exploration projects from Altius Resources Inc. and Altius is a significant shareholder of the Company. CANEX is exploring the Gibson Prospect in British Columbia where significant gold-silver discoveries have been made during 2017 and 2018, including drill results of 872 g/t Ag and 2.7 g/t Au over 0.5m, 11.9 g/t Au and 301 g/t Ag over 1m. Please visit our website at www.canexmetals.ca for additional information. Dr. Shane Ebert P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for CANEX Metals and has approved the technical disclosure contained in this news release. "Shane Ebert" Shane Ebert President/Director 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. Except for the historical and present factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this news release, including words such as "expects", "projects", "plans", "anticipates" and similar expressions, are forward-looking information that represents management of CANEX Metals Inc. internal projections, expectations or beliefs concerning, among other things, future operating results and various components thereof or the economic performance of CANEX. The projections, estimates and beliefs contained in such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause CANEX's actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, those described in CANEX's filings with the Canadian securities authorities. Accordingly, holders of CANEX shares and potential investors are cautioned that events or circumstances could cause results to differ materially from those predicted. CANEX disclaims any responsibility to update these forward-looking statements. Kansas State University zoonotic disease research fights viruses in the hot zone Wednesday, May 22, 2019 Kansas State University's Biosecurity Research Institute not only allows comprehensive infectious disease research on threats to human, animal and plant health in biosafety level-3 labs, but it also is committed to training the next generation of scientists who will study recurring and emerging infectious diseases. | Download this photo. MANHATTAN A new federal report shows Kansas State University researchers are tackling the zoonotic diseases of most concern in the U.S. The report, "8 Zoonotic Diseases Shared Between Animals and People of Most Concern in the U.S.," is a collaboration of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Department of Agriculture and is the first report to list the top-priority zoonoses for the nation. Zoonotic diseases are those that spread between animals and people and according to the report, sicken tens of thousands of Americans each year. Kansas State University researchers are actively working on six of the eight diseases named in the federal report: zoonotic influenza, salmonellosis, West Nile virus, emerging coronaviruses, rabies and Lyme disease. University researchers also are addressing other zoonotic diseases of worldwide concern, including headline-makers like Rift Valley fever, Japanese encephalitis, Zika and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The report underscores why the zoonotic disease research, programs and facilities at Kansas State University are critical to national biodefense efforts, said Peter Dorhout, university vice president for research. "K-State research is crucial to national security and public health," Dorhout said. "We study several diseases including zoonotic that are priorities for the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, and as we do this work, we are training the workforce needed to provide future biodefense." Just like the real-life story of university alumni Nancy and Jerry Jaax, featured in the upcoming National Geographic limited series THE HOT ZONE about the arrival of the zoonotic disease Ebola to the U.S., Kansas State University researchers depend on specially equipped biosafety labs where work on deadly zoonotic diseases can be conducted safely. The National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF, is being built by the Department of Homeland Security adjacent to the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan and will be the nation's foremost animal disease facility with biosafety level-4 laboratories. The university also is home to the Biosecurity Research Institute, or BRI, in Pat Roberts Hall, which allows comprehensive infectious disease research on threats to human, animal and plant health in biosafety level-3 labs. "The BRI is like no other facility anywhere else in the world," said Stephen Higgs, the institute's research director and university associate vice president for research. "Collaborative research, education and training activities encompass pathogens of livestock, humans, plants and food. Some of the animal and plant disease research can be done at no other universities in the U.S." For example, Higgs noted that because of the BRI, researchers with Kansas State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service recently found that white-tailed deer are highly susceptible to the Rift Valley fever virus, and that university researchers were able to conduct the first Japanese encephalitis swine research in the U.S. "Both of these zoonotic viruses are threats to the U.S. and are listed as priorities for NBAF," Higgs said. The following is a list of Kansas State University researchers, who in teams or individually, have active projects battling the nation's top zoonotic diseases of concern: Zoonotic influenza Gary Anderson, Jianfa Bia, Sally Davis, Ying Fang, Jamie Henningson, Yanhua Li, Xuming Liu, Wenjun Ma, Lalitha Peddireddi, Jurgen Richt and Bob Rowland. Salmonellosis Greg Aldrich, Natalia Cernicchiaro, Steve Dritz, Sara Gragg, Terry Houser, Cassandra Jones, Travis O'Quinn, Randy Phebus, Valentina Trinetta, Jessie Vipham, Jason Woodworth and Weiping Zhang. West Nile virus Yan-Jang Huang and Dana Vanlandingham. Emerging coronaviruses Kyeong-Ok Chang, Yunjeong Kim and Jurgen Richt. Rabies Jamie Henningson and Susan Moore. Lyme disease Brandon Garcia. Learn and read more about other zoonotic disease research at Kansas State University at k-state.edu/seek/fall-2018/zoonotic/. You are here: World Flash Iran will never bow to the pressures exerted by the United States, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Tuesday. It was the illusion of the "enemies" to think that they will shatter Iran's steadfastness in development, Rouhani made the remarks in Iran's northwestern West Azerbaijan province. However, Iran "prospers" and the country develops in the hard time of sanction pressures, he said in a live broadcast from state TV. "This is a very decisive response to the White House ... and to those who think that they can make Iran surrender under their pressures," Press TV quoted him as saying. Iran has been under unprecedented sanction pressure by the United States following U.S. President Donald Trump's withdrawal from Iran's nuclear deal in May last year. Besides, rising tension between Tehran and Washington has put the rivals on the brink of military clashes. Washington seeks to seal a new nuclear deal with Iran, to further curb Iran's nuclear program, stop Iran's ballistic missile development and brake Iran's push for influence in the region. Iran has vowed to withstand the pressures and resist the U.S. "bullying policies." You are here: World Flash Egyptian and French naval forces carried out on Tuesday a maritime training exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, the Egyptian Armed Forces said in a statement. The drill saw the participation of French frigate SURCOUF and units from the Egyptian navy. The training was conducted within the framework of the Egyptian Armed Forces' efforts to bolster military relations with different countries, according to the statement. The drill included maritime activities such as how to apply sailing formations, counter hostile targets and repel non-traditional threats, as well as carrying out inspection of vessels. Egypt regularly holds military exercises with Arab, African and Western countries to boost military collaboration and exchange expertise. The military ties between Egypt and France have been growing in the past years. In October 2015, Egypt and France signed a contract worth 1 billion U.S. dollars on the purchase of two French Mistral warships, which were delivered to Egypt in June and September 2016. Egypt has so far received 11 French-made Rafale fighter jets out of total 24, under a 2015 contract worth more than 6 billion dollars. Flash Malawian President Peter Mutharika on Tuesday expressed happiness with the peaceful way the elections process has so far gone. Mutharika, who arrived around 10:00 a.m. to cast his vote at Goliath Polling Station in Thyolo district, about 45 km south of Blantyre, said reports received from different parts of the country indicate that the process has been peaceful. Mutharika, who was accompanied by his wife to cast his vote, hoped that the situation will remain peaceful. He further encouraged voters to exercise their rights to vote for candidates of their choice and turn up at different polling stations, adding that no one should be intimidated or stopped from voting. Mutharika, 78, is seeking his second term in office but he faces stiff competition from Saulos Chilima of the United Transformation Movement and Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party. Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said on Tuesday that the voting process has so far progressed well with no disturbances. Justice Jane Ansah, chairperson of MEC, said most of the 5,002 polling stations around the country opened within the stipulated time of 06:00 a.m. except for a few and that those that opened late will be given some extra time to compensate for lost time. The MEC said elections results will be announced within eight days and that the electoral body would not be pressurized to announce the results as it wants to ensure a thorough job. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday sent congratulations to Joko Widodo on behalf of the Chinese government and people and in his own name on the latter's reelection as president of Indonesia. In a congratulatory message, Xi pointed out that China and Indonesia are natural partners as they are both large developing countries and share broad common interests at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. Over recent years, the two countries have taken the opportunity of jointly developing the Belt and Road to further synergize their development strategies and have achieved fruitful results in practical cooperation in various fields, ushering their relations into a new phase of rapid development, Xi said. Xi said he attaches great importance to China-Indonesia ties, and will continue to work with Widodo to build on the progress made in the past five years and lift the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to higher levels, so as to bring benefits to both countries and peoples. Hong Kong: Fugitive bill further clarified The Government has been further clarifying the fugitive bill to different groups and sectors to dispel any misunderstandings or concerns about it, Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said today. Mr Cheung told reporters that he had communicated with foreign chambers of commerce and some of them had expressed their understanding after listening to the Governments explanation. He added that the Government will continue to provide more explanations to dispel any doubts or misunderstandings that people may have about the fugitive bill. This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Flash Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Tuesday urged Washington to cease meddling in his country's internal affairs and to overcome the differences between the two countries through diplomacy. During a speech at the XVIII Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) taking place in Havana, Arreaza reiterated Caracas' will to live in peace without threats from the U.S. government. "We call on the United States to apply diplomacy, dialogue, and understanding, respect each other, and end the military threat, the arrogance, and the economic blockade," said Arreaza. The senior official said domestic issues should be solved by the Venezuelan people and the political forces in the South American nation, without foreign interference. He thanked Mexico, Uruguay and some Caribbean nations for initiating dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the local opposition, and condemned the sanctions imposed by Washington against his country, especially the "financial persecution" which impedes the country from buying goods and medicine abroad. This ALBA meeting is of "vital importance" due to U.S. threats against regional peace and security, as well as solidarity with Caracas, he said. During the meeting, several nations including Cuba, Bolivia, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Suriname expressed their opposition to threats of foreign military intervention in Caracas and called for dialogue to resolve the political crisis in the South American nation. Founded initially by Cuba and Venezuela in 2004, the ALBA bloc aims to reduce Latin America's reliance on Western aid by promoting intra-regional alliances and cooperation in key sectors such as energy and trade. Flash China on Wednesday urged the United States to heed the "reasonable call" from within after more than 170 footwear companies in the U.S. warned of the "catastrophic" effects of proposed tariff hikes against Chinese goods. In a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump, the footwear manufacturers and retailers including big names such as Adidas, Nike and PUMA said a new round of tariff hikes on footwear imported from China will have "catastrophic" effects on consumers, companies and the U.S. economy. There should be no misunderstanding that U.S. consumers pay for tariffs, and companies cannot simply move factories out of China, the letter reportedly said. "As a matter of fact, it's not the first time U.S. businesses publicly voiced opposition to tariff hikes," Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang said at a press briefing, adding it's understandable that they are not satisfied with U.S. government's arbitrary interpretation of the consequences of the trade war. There is no winner in a trade war, as stated by the Chinese side many times, Lu said. "The wantonly used tariff hikes will ultimately victimize U.S. consumers and enterprises." "We urge the U.S. side to pay serious heed to the reasonable call from within its own country," the spokesperson added. MEDFORD, Ore. After a search process that lasted several months, the Medford School District (MSD) has chosen a superintendent candidate to replace Dr. Brian Shumate when he leaves on the first of July. The position has been offered to Dr. Bret Champion, erstwhile superintendent for the 54,000-student Klein Independent School District (KISD) in the outskirts of Houston, Texas. Champion has led the district since July of 2016. Dr. Champion is a great fit for Medford, said MSD Board Chair Cynthia Wright. His skills as a communicator and collaborator, his experience with innovation and pathways, his focus on every child succeeding, and his work with large financial budgets all uniquely qualify him as the candidate of choice. Dr. Champion has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Houston, a Master of Education from Texas State University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Texas. Prior to his tenure at Klein, Champion served as superintendent for the Leander ISD near Austin, Texas over a period of eight years. In all, Dr. Champion has some 28 years of experience in public education beginning as a teacher before becoming a principal, then assistant superintendent before his tenure as superintendent of Leander. I am a big believer in the opportunity that our public schools provide for our students. Public schools are our nations great equalizer. As we work toward bringing equity to our state and nation, public schools are leading the way in that work, said Dr. Champion. One of the things thats intriguing about Medford is how many great things are already happening here in the areas of preparing students for their next steps. There is so much in place to ensure students leave with every option available to them and I am excited to get to know the people doing that work, the students who are part of that work, and the community embracing that work. MSD's superintendent heir-apparent is in no way leaving Klein due to any lack of appreciation for his skills there he recently signed a contract extension offered by the district. However, Dr. Champion said that he sees himself as a learner, and realized that he could learn more by leaving Texas. During a recent visit to Southern Oregon, Champion and his wife found themselves at Crater Lake. He told NewsWatch 12 that he quickly fell in love with the area and its beautiful surroundings. According to MSD, Dr. Champion has said that he plans to spend his first several months on the job engaging with staff, students, families and community members by listening and learning about the systems already in place. Im interested in looking at the great things that are happening and looking at where we have some opportunities to grow and improve, Dr. Champion said. I look forward to collaborating with the entire community to ensure that all students find and embrace their pathways to success. Champion sees himself as an instigator of conversation, and he hopes to hear from everyone about what they think students need to succeed, then take action from there. Some people may not like what we choose, but everyones voice will be heard," Dr. Champion said. Dr. Champion said that he is firmly aligned with the Pathways program that MSD launched in 2016. Rather than coming into Medford with a plan to make sweeping changes, Champion told NewsWatch 12 that he intends to build on the great things that the MSD is already doing. The search for a new superintendent began in March following Dr. Shumate's announcement that he would be leaving. The MSD Board voted to approve Champion's contract at its meeting on Tuesday night, with his first contracted day set for July 1. Current superintendent Dr. Shumate leaves the District at the end of June. He has said that he is leaving Medford, in large part, so that he can be closer to his family in Kentucky. Shumate accepted a position at Troup County Schools in Georgia. Click here to see the full interview with NewsWatch 12's Brian Morton and Dr. Bret Champion. KEARNEY For the second time in five months a threat was discovered at Kearneys Horizon Middle School. The threat was discovered at 3:45 p.m., said Tori Stofferson, a KPS spokesperson. The written threat was found on a brick bathroom wall at HMS, 915 W. 35th St. The anonymous graffiti threat of violence was for the last day of school, which is today, said Lt. Kevin Thompson of the Kearney Police Department. Its unknown how long the threat had been in the bathroom, if it was in a boys or girls bathroom or which bathroom. An email was sent to HMS parents and guardians notifying them of the threat, said Stofferson. Additional officers were at HMS today, and had a presence at all Kearney Public Schools this morning. School was scheduled for a 2 p.m. dismissal. We take everything seriously, said Thompson. We typically have officers at every school anyway. Thats just standard. Between the school resource officers and officers doing extra patrol we just try to have a presence at most schools. The threat would have been captured in video surveillance inside the school, said Stofferson. Nebraskas lawmakers intend to conclude their 2019 session at the end of May and head home early without passing major property tax reforms. Sorry, ladies and gentlemen, this isnt what you were elected to do. When voters chose you to go to Lincoln it was because we figured you would roll up your sleeves and get some work done. And if ever there is a year when Nebraskans need heavy lifting in Lincoln, its this year. Our property taxes are seventh highest among the 50 states, and the tax load falls unfairly on Nebraskas major industry. Weve been seriously over-taxing farmers the backbone of our state for a decade, and this year were over-taxing them while they struggle to hang on as misguided federal trade policies cut them off from major markets and depress prices for grain and livestock. The owner of a 1,000-acre farm could owe $35,000 to $40,000 in property taxes, but the price of corn is just a few pennies above the break even point. Its beyond comprehension that lawmakers have failed to legislate reforms that substantially address the tax plight of Nebraska farmers. And senators are planning to go home early within the next two weeks. The urban-rural split remains alive and well as the Nebraska Legislature enters into its final crucial days. It has reared its head in debate on the budget, property tax relief, eminent domain and economic development incentives. Not surprising, but important as one seeks legislative approval of solutions to major problems that affect both rural and urban residents. Budget opposition came not so much in the form of what was said, but what wasnt said. Consider a recent vote to amend the Appropriations Committees state budget proposal by moving $51 million the committee had allocated to nourish the states depleted cash reserve fund into the states property tax credit fund. The motion was adopted 28-8. Twelve senators who were present decided not to cast a vote. Of the 20 senators who either voted no or declined to vote, 18 of them are from Lincoln or metropolitan Omaha. Appropriations Committee Chairman Sen. John Stinner of Gering and Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island were the other two. A 52-year-old Burlington man is being held in Kenosha County Jail awaiting charges after he was arrested for a sixth operating while intoxicated offense following a hit-and-run crash and a high-speed chase. Charles E. Johnson is being held in jail on a probation hold while he awaits charges. According to a Kenosha Police report, a woman was driving a Toyota Prius south on 60th Avenue and was stopped waiting to turn in to a gas station near 75th Street at about 1:10 p.m. Friday when a pickup truck smashed into the back of her car. The pickup then pulled around her and fled. A witness told police she saw the crash from the window of a nearby business, the witness going to help the woman who had been in the vehicle with her children a 10-year-old and a 1-year-old. The woman had minor injuries, according to police. After the crash was reported, another officer saw a pickup truck with front-end damage on the 7700 block of 60th Avenue. The officer attempted to stop the truck, but the driver fled. Police began chasing the truck, the chase lasting just over three miles and reaching speeds of up to 80 mph before police terminated the pursuit. At one point during the chase, the truck turned northbound onto Green Bay Road, striking a sign at 49th Street and briefly driving north in the southbound lanes. Police found the truck an Excel Disposal work vehicle abandoned on the 4600 block of 45th Avenue. The tan pickup truck still had the large white rear bumper of the victims vehicle stuck to the front of it, according to the police report. Officers began searching the area, including with police dogs. Johnson was arrested while he was walking on a sidewalk on the 5200 block of 52nd Street. According to the police report, he smelled strongly of alcohol. The report stated that Johnson told police he had taken a work truck to lunch and stopped at a bar. He told police that, when he left the bar, the truck was not in the parking lot, according to the police report. Police are awaiting results of a blood test to determine Johnsons blood alcohol level at the time of his arrest. Police are recommending that Johnson be charged with OWI-sixth offense, fleeing police, hit-and-run causing injury and driving without an ignition interlock device. According to Wisconsin Department of Corrections records, Johnson is on supervision for a 2015 conviction for operating while intoxicated-fifth offense. He was sentenced to two years in prison followed by two years of extended supervision for that case. He was released from prison in October 2017. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 15 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. The states crop of honeycrisp one of the most popular varieties of apple was damaged by the polar vortex, Wisconsin apple growers report. The polar vortex was particularly harsh on the Honeycrisp trees, Bill Stone, owner of Brightonwoods Orchard in Kenosha County, said. It will be less of a crop than usual. Sue Hughes, owner of Harvest Time Orchards in Twin Lakes, and Dave Flannery, owner of Apple Holler in Sturtevant, reported similar damage to their Honeycrisp crop. Hughes said about 70 percent of her Applecrisp trees, which make up about a quarter of the trees at the orchard, will not produce a typical yield. Flannery said this will be in contrast to last seasons heavy yield of Honeycrisp, one of 30 varieties at his orchard. Because Honeycrisp tends to be an every-other-year producer, Flannery said it was already expected to be a smaller yield. Honeycrisp (yields) will be down, Flannery said. It is a weaker growing tree for one and the polar vortex put added stress on the tree. Amaya Atucha, fruit crop production specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said growers statewide have reported a similar plight during conference calls and through emails. What I have been hearing from apple growers, in particular, is that there are way fewer flowers, Atucha said. While honey crisp is a Minnesota variety, it is less cold hearty than some of the other varieties, she said. We definitely do see quite a bit of damage as a result of the Polar Vortex, Atucha said. It has been a very tough winter and not a very helpful spring. Atucha said, statewide, there have been about half the growing-degree days so far this year than there were last year by this time. Everything seems to be very delayed, she said, adding growers in places like Door County are reporting very little activity so far. Add to this that bees dont like to fly unless it is above 50 degrees, which means there has been very little pollination so far. (Monday) morning I saw no bees in the trees, Flannery said. There were some bees flying in the afternoon, but not a lot. Flannery said the cold weather has strung out the bloom period. In a typical year, the bloom period lasts about seven-to-ten days, he said. This year, he said it could last three weeks. Fortunately, Stone said, only 7- to 10-percent of the bloom needs to be pollinated to get a full crop. While not a big crop statewide, peaches have been all but wiped out, the growers report. Stone said he lost all 20 of his peach trees, and Flannery may lose all 3,500 of his. Flannery said, when it is 10 degrees below zero, 10 percent of the peach crop is lost. For each degree below that, another 10 percent is lost. He recorded a low of 26 degrees below zero in January. That is the kiss of death for peaches, Flannery said. I dont see any peach blooms out there. That is only the second time in 10 years that has happened to us. Hughes, one of few who grows tart cherries, said the cherry trees look good, but are behind schedule. While tart cherries can be ready at the pick-your-own farm by late June, Hughes is estimating they wont be ready this year until the second week of July. This spring has made everything a little slower, Hughes said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 2 Angry 0 SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- County clerks in Oregon would be required to audit results after each election under a bill that overwhelmingly passed the Senate on Election Day. The bill requires county clerks to conduct hand-count or risk-limiting audits after every primary, general and special election. Risk-limiting audits are based on counts of statistical samples of paper ballots. Ballots are due Tuesday in Oregon's special elections. Candidates are running for school boards, fire districts and other offices, and local tax levies are decided. In Oregon, voters mail in ballots or leave them in official drop boxes. Sen. Lew Frederick, a Portland Democrat, said the bill ensures more audits happen to make sure election results are correct. The bill requires audits after every election, instead of just general elections. It goes next to the House. Over 50 businesses and individuals from Kilkenny today attended Failte Irelands Taste the Island workshop in the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny. This is part of a series of workshops taking place across Ireland over the next number of weeks to develop a strong programme of food and drink experiences that can be included in the Taste the Island initiative. The workshops have been organised by Failte Ireland for the industry to learn more and provide them with the opportunity to shape the development of a programme. Failte Ireland have produced a number of promotional videos for the workshops that can be viewed HERE. Globally, Ireland is known as a nation with a vibrant culture with green fields and pristine waters together with a mild wet climate which gives us bountiful, sustainable and high-quality food produce. To enhance this reputation and to secure a greater reputation for Ireland in 2020 and beyond, a new all-island initiative Taste the Island a celebration of Irelands food and drink has been developed by Failte Ireland, in collaboration with Tourism Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland and a range of stakeholders. The new initiative, Taste the Island, will showcase Irelands world-class food and drink culture across the island of Ireland from September to November by providing visitors with access to authentic food and drink experiences, high quality local ingredients and world class Irish food and drink produce. In 2018 food and drink consumption accounted for around 2.6bn, or 35% of visitor spend and this expensive programme will seek to create an awareness and renewed appreciation at home and abroad of the strength and richness of Irelands food culture today. Above: Ann Phelan - Marketing Manager - Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel, Brendan Murran and Tracey Coughlan, Failte Ireland Commenting at the workshop in the Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, Tracey Coughlan, Failte Irelands Food Tourism - Strategy and Programmes Manager, commented: The range and quality of food and drink businesses and experiences from Kilkenny that we met at the workshop here in the Newpark Hotel in Kilkenny today are really world class and have the potential to drive a lot more tourists to this area. We know that there is scope for growth around food and drink for tourists and aligned with our world-famous seascapes and landscapes, we have an incredibly strong offering to motivate tourists to visit here. Taste the Island is designed to showcase Irelands fantastic food and drink across September, October and November and I look forward to seeing some really strong ideas coming out of todays workshop. Whats really important now is that people submit their proposals outlining what they are going to do for Taste the Island for whats shaping up to be chock full season of food festivals and events all showcasing our world class produce. Paul Beehan, General Manager, The Newpark Hotel, Kilkenny, commented: The Newpark Hotel here in Kilkenny is delighted to host Failte Ireland and the Taste the Island initiative. Kilkenny has already established itself as an amazing foodie destination and we are looking forward to further promoting the wonderful food the region has to offer. Ms Coughlan continued: This initiative supports Failte Irelands strategic imperative to address seasonality and grow revenue by driving increasing bed nights outside of the summer season while also driving visitors to explore lesser-known locations across the country and will, in the long term, enhance Irelands international food and drink reputation before they get here. A new Toolkit guide (website www.failteireland.ie/ tastetheisland) on how the industry can deliver and maximise the opportunities in food and drink tourism, including a step by step guide for their business built around these 5 pillars: Taste pubs, restaurants, cafes, hotels- everywhere you can taste out fantastic food and drink Meet the maker our passionate and innovative food producers Make it yourself our wonderful interactive food experiences, cookery schools and educational facilities Trail/Networks over 30 trails or clusters of businesses working together to enhance the visitors food and drink experience all over the country Festivals and Events We are building a programme full of festivals and events throughout the Taste the Island from September to November 2019 SILAGE season 2019 is underway and swathes of the lush green countryside are about to be splashed with vibrant pink as a major #PinkBales fundraising drive is unwrapped. Glanbia Agribusiness has teamed up with Breast Cancer Ireland for the 5th year in a row to raise vital funds to support the charitys pioneering research and awareness programmes around the country. Through #PinkBales 2019, farmers are encouraged to share photos and videos of their pink bales on social media, using the hashtag #PinkBales. They are also urged to embrace the BaleWatch drive by placing some of their pink-wrapped silage bales in visible locations on the farm to help raise awareness of breast cancer amongst those passing by. This year, the campaign focuses on the importance of good breast health. Over 3,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer annually and while the figure is increasing the charity believes this is a result of better awareness, screening and increased population size. A donation will be made to Breast Cancer Ireland for every single roll of the limited-edition pink MastercropAgristretch silage wrap purchased across all Glanbia Agribusiness and Glanbia CountryLife branches, as well as online at www.GlanbiaConnect.com. Supporters can also donate by buying a Breast Cancer Ireland 2 trolley token, keyring or pin, available through all of Glanbia Irelands 53 branches online through the link above. Farmers around Ireland have already embraced the worthy cause. Last year alone, Glanbia Agribusiness raised over 100,000 for Breast Cancer Ireland through the #PinkBales campaign, their Two Peaks Challenge and the Glanbia Ireland 300 cycle. This year, Glanbia Agribusiness has also introduced the Plant Pink initiative, which sees the company donate 2 to Breast Cancer Ireland for every special Pink Dianthus plant sold through its 14 Glanbia CountryLife stores. Commenting on the initiative, Breast Cancer Ireland CEO, Aisling Hurley, says, Breast Cancer Ireland is once again, delighted to be the beneficiary of funds raised through this annual initiative with Glanbia Agribusiness. We welcome the impact the pink bales, dotted around the countryside throughout the summer, have in driving awareness of good breast health across rural Ireland. In addition, the monies raised allow us to fund pioneering research and ongoing awareness programmes. Early detection saves lives and we are grateful to those who help us to transform the landscape of breast cancer in Ireland. Glanbia Agribusiness is delighted to support research into breast cancer and to raise money for and awareness of such an excellent cause. Glanbia Irelands Marketing Manager, James Byrne, says, Glanbia Ireland organises a number of campaigns and events annually to support breast cancer research and this one always has the greatest visual impact. This year, we really want social media users to help raise awareness of breast cancer in rural communities, not only by painting the countryside pink, but also by sharing their photos and videos of their bales with us, using the hashtag #PinkBales. We want everyone on board as the silage season 2019 kicks off and to make everyone in rural Ireland more breast cancer aware. Breast Cancer Ireland wants to offer translational therapies from bench to bedside for patients diagnosed. Their aim is to focus on improvements in research that are changing the landscape. BCIs outreach co-ordinators are covering all regions and are having massive impact. In addition, Breast Cancer Ireland is also helping to heighten awareness and education on the importance of breast health amongst women of all ages as earlier detection will save lives. Pink Silage wrap is now available on www.glanbiaconnect.com or visit your local branch. Gardai have thanked the people of South Kilkenny for their prompt response to a text alert circulated which proved crucial in solving a burglary at a rural farmhouse. James Berry, 36 Hewitsland, New Ross pleaded guilty to the burglary at a rural location outside Mullinavat on August 16, 2018. The victim, who was 80 at the time, said he is nervous since the burglary and is not the same man I used to be. Sergeant PJ Griffin said that on the date in question he was alerted to a break-in at a rural farm where an 80-year-old male was living alone. Sgt Griffin gave evidence in the case that the injured party had left his home and gone to walk his dog at 11am. The sergeant outlined how when the injured party returned he saw a guy coming out of a window. He had his walking stick with him and struck the intruder with the stick once or twice and he left. The injured party then saw a second individual who confronted him with a knife. One of the intruders dropped some cash at the gate and was picked up by the defendant, who was driving a white van, he said. Gardai subsequently located two witnesses who were living locally and who gave descriptions of the van and a text alert was sent out. The vehicle was identified and the registered owner was identified and it was established that the ownership of the vehicle had changed in recent times. Sgt Griffin told the court that CCTV footage tracked the van travelling from New Ross and onto Tullogher and Mullinavat. James Berry was subsequently arrested and detained at Thomastown Garda Station and 2055 in cash and a mobile phone was seized. The defendant admitted leaving New Ross and meeting a number of other people and to staying in the van while other individuals went into the home of the injured party. He dropped the other guys off knowing what they were going to do. He dropped them and got a phone call ten minutes later when they were leaving and collected them. The 80-year-old man was targeted by these individuals and he got 3,000 for his part in the break in, Sgt Griffin told the court. Prosecuting counsel, Cephas Power confirmed that according to the injured party no more than 10,000 was taken. Mr Power also stressed to the court that the crime was a joint enterprise between the parties involved. In a victim impact statement the victim outlined how everywhere I go now, the place has to be locked up. He also said he had to get an alarm and is nervous and uses a lock and chain on his gate. I am not the same man I used to be, he said adding that this was the third time his home was burgled. Berrys defence barrister told the court that his client had a number of convictions, which were minor in nature at the time of the offence. He was 22 and was under financial pressure as he was due to get married. He is happy that the 2400 seized by gardai from him be given to the injured party and he has a further 600 in court for the injured party. Defence counsel also confirmed that gardai do not believe that the defendant was involved in the other two burglaries and added that his client wanted to apologise to the injured party and wanted him to know that he has nothing to fear from him or his family. Judge Patrick Meghen imposed a sentence of three years and nine months. He suspended the final two years for a period of four years on condition that he enter a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The respective choirs of Kilkennys St Canices Cathedral and Limericks St Marys Cathedral will join their musical forces this Sunday, May 26 for a special Choral Evensong. Beginning at 5pm, music will include Preces and Responses by William Smith (1603-1645) Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Irish composer Charles Villiers Stanford (1854 - 1924). Of particular excitement is the Anthem Sing Joyfully by William Byrd (1539 - 1623). Written for six voices, this piece is particularly challenging for choirs and was one of the most popular anthems of the Elizabethan age. William Byrd was the foremost English composer in the decades around 1600. Master of every genre he cultivated from Anglican service music and lighthearted song to the Catholic Mass his music is unmatched for sheer inventiveness, richness and depth of feeling. His life story with its tension between loyal service to the crown in public and adherence to the illegal Catholic faith in private is endlessly fascinating, shedding light on the social and religious tensions of the time. Entry to this unique Choral Evensong at St Canices Cathedral is free, and refreshments will be served afterwards in the Deanery. Editor's Note: Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news stories and expert opinions that moved the precious metals and financial markets. Sign up here! Creative Commons image of lithium pack courtesy of Rodrigo Senna (Kitco News) - Lithium Australia added a maiden vanadium resource of 185 million tonnes grading at 0.33% V2O5, the company announced in a news release today. The company released its mineral resource estimate for a portion of the Youanmi Complex in the mid-west region of Western Australia. The company said it "does not consider vanadium a core part of its business" and is planning a strategy for the resource within its portfolio. "Lithium Australia is heavily invested in the battery industry. That said, the company acknowledges the competition from alternative technologies in the battery field; in particular, vanadium flow batteries," said the company in a statement. "Lithium Australia will evaluate the potential to form partnerships that leverage its current position with respect to vanadium." Jason Lange, Michael Martina WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - The United States is at least a month from enacting its proposed tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese imports as it studies the impact on American consumers, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday. Washington this month hiked existing tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods to 25% from 10%, prompting Beijing to retaliate with its own levies on U.S. imports, as talks to end a 10-month trade war between the worlds two largest economies stalled. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has embraced protectionism as part of an America First agenda aimed at rebalancing global trade, has threatened to slap tariffs of up to 25% on an additional list of Chinese imports worth about $300 billion. There wont be any decision probably for another 30 to 45 days, Mnuchin said in a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee. That timeline, which is accelerated compared to previous rounds of tariffs, means the next levies could be ready around the time when Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at a G20 summit in Japan June 28-29. Im still hopeful we can get back to the table. The two presidents will likely see each other at the end of June, Mnuchin said, adding that the impact of tariffs on American consumers was a key consideration in the U.S. trade strategy. Walmart Inc, the worlds largest retailer, has said its prices will rise because of higher tariffs on Chinese goods. Mnuchin said the Trump administration is open to holding new talks with China if the two sides can proceed on the basis of previous negotiations. No high-level talks have been scheduled since the end of two days of discussions in Washington on May 10, the day Trump imposed the higher levies on Chinese goods. HUAWEI FALLOUT The seeds of the current stalemate were sowed when Chinese officials sought major changes to the draft text of a deal that the Trump administration says had been largely agreed. The Chinese governments top diplomat Wang Yi said on Wednesday that Chinas door would always be open to further trade talks with the United States, but added that Beijing would not accept any unequal agreements. Acrimony between the two countries has intensified since Washington put Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd on a blacklist that curbs Huaweis access to U.S.-made components last week. The move is a potentially devastating blow for the company and has rattled technology supply chains and investors. Some mobile operators, including the Ymobile unit of Japans Softbank Corp and rival KDDI Corp, put launch plans for Huaweis new P30 Lite smartphone on hold on Wednesday. A person briefed on the matter said the United States is considering Huawei-like sanctions on Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd over Beijings treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority. Global equity markets slid on Wednesday as investors sought safety in bonds, the Japanese yen and Swiss franc amid renewed worries over the standoff after the Hikvision report. British chip designer ARM said it had halted relations with Huawei to comply with the U.S. blockade, and mobile operators EE and Vodafone said they had dropped Huawei smartphones from the imminent launch of their 5G networks. Huawei said it valued its close relationships with its partners but recognized the pressure some of them are under as a result of politically motivated decisions. CHINA WILL NOT BEND China has not said whether or how it may retaliate against the measures directed at Huawei, but state media have taken an increasingly nationalistic tone and vowed Beijing will not bend to U.S. pressure. China will have to overcome major risks and challenges, state news agency Xinhua paraphrased Xi as saying on a trip this week to the southern province of Jiangxi, a cradle of Chinas Communist revolution. We must be conscious of the long-term and complex nature of various unfavorable factors at home and abroad, and appropriately prepare for various difficult situations, Xi said. The report did not elaborate and did not directly mention the trade war or the United States. U.S. firms said in a survey released on Wednesday they were facing retaliation in China over the dispute. The American Chamber of Commerce in China and its sister body in Shanghai said members reported increased obstacles such as government inspections, slower customs clearances and longer waits for approval for licensing and other applications. It said 40.7% of respondents were considering relocating or had relocated manufacturing facilities outside of China. Of the almost 250 respondents to the survey, which was conducted after the latest round of tariffs, nearly three-quarters said the levies were hurting their competitiveness. The United States is seeking sweeping changes to Chinas trade and economic policies, including an end to forced technology transfers and theft of U.S. trade secrets. Washington also wants curbs on subsidies for Chinese state-owned enterprises and better access for U.S. firms in Chinese markets. The idea is not to have tariffs, the idea is for them (China) to treat our companies fairly, Mnuchin said on Wednesday, and referred to the impact on U.S. agriculture, which has been among the targets of Chinas retaliatory tariffs. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said last week a new aid package for farmers hurt by Chinas tariffs was likely to amount to between $15 billion and $20 billion, exceeding the up to $12 billion in aid rolled out last year. Reporting by Jason Lange, David Lawder and Michael Martina; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey and David Shepardson in Washington, Ben Blanchard and Zhang Min in Beijing and Brenda Goh in Shanghai; Writing by Paul Simao; Editing by Susan Thomas and James Dalgleish BEIJING/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China must prepare for difficult times as the international situation is increasingly complex, President Xi Jinping said in comments carried by state media on Wednesday, as the U.S.-China trade war took a mounting toll on tech giant Huawei. The worlds two largest economies have escalated tariff increases on each others imports after talks broke down to resolve their dispute, and the acrimony has intensified since Washington last week blacklisted Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd. The listing, which curbs Huaweis access to U.S.-made components, is a potentially devastating blow for the company that has rattled technology supply chains and investors, and saw several mobile carriers on Wednesday delay the launch of new Huawei smartphone handsets. During a three-day trip this week to the southern province of Jiangxi, a cradle of Chinas Communist revolution, Xi urged people to learn the lessons of the hardships of the past. Today, on the new Long March, we must overcome various major risks and challenges from home and abroad, state news agency Xinhua paraphrased Xi as saying, referring to the 1934-36 trek of Communist Party members fleeing a civil war to a remote rural base, from where they re-grouped and eventually took power in 1949. Our country is still in a period of important strategic opportunities for development, but the international situation is increasingly complicated, he said. We must be conscious of the long-term and complex nature of various unfavorable factors at home and abroad, and appropriately prepare for various difficult situations. The report did not elaborate on those difficulties, and did not directly mention the trade war or of the United States. No further trade talks between top Chinese and U.S. negotiators have been scheduled since the last round ended on May 10, the same day President Donald Trump increased tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods and took steps to levy duties on all remaining Chinese imports. Negotiations between the United States and China have stalled since early May, when Chinese officials sought major changes to the text of a proposed deal that the Trump administration says had been largely agreed. However, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai, speaking to the Fox News Channel, said on Tuesday that Beijing was still open for talks. Repercussions of the blacklisting mounted for Huawei, with some mobile operators, including the Ymobile unit of Japans Softbank Corp and rival KDDI Corp putting launch plans for Huaweis new P30 Lite smartphone on hold. Another big Chinese tech firm, video surveillance equipment maker Hikvision Digital Technology Co Ltd, could also face limits on its ability to buy U.S. technology, the New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter, sending the firms Shenzhen-listed shares down 5.54 percent. RETALIATION While China has not said whether or how it may retaliate to the measures against Huawei, state media have taken an increasingly strident and nationalistic tone. U.S. firms said in a survey released on Wednesday they were facing retaliation in China over the trade war. The American Chamber of Commerce of China and its sister body in Shanghai, said members reported that they faced increased obstacles such as government inspections, slower customs clearances and slower approval for licensing and other applications. It also said that 40.7% of respondents were considering or had relocated manufacturing facilities outside China. Of the almost 250 respondents to the survey, which was conducted after China and the United States both raised tariffs on each others imports this month, almost three-quarters said the impact of tariffs was hurting their competitiveness. To cope, about one third said they were increasingly focusing their China operations on producing for Chinese customers and not for export, while one third said they were delaying and cancelling investment decisions. Long considered a solid cornerstone in a relationship fraught with geopolitical frictions, the U.S. business community has in recent years advocated a harder line on what it sees as discriminatory Chinese trade policies. The United States is seeking sweeping changes to trade and economic policies, including an end to forced technology transfers and theft of U.S. trade secrets. Washington also wants curbs on subsidies for Chinese state-owned enterprises and increased access for U.S. firms in Chinese markets. China for years has blocked major U.S. tech firms, including Google and Facebook, from fully operating in its market. Those and other restrictions have fueled calls from within the U.S. business community for Washington to pursue more reciprocal policies. Cui told Fox News Channel that U.S. restrictions on Huawei are without any foundation and evidence and could undermine the normal functioning of markets. Everybody knows Huawei is a privately owned company. It is just a normal Chinese private company, Cui said. So all the action taken against Huawei are politically motivated. Reporting by David Lawder and Stella Qiu; Additional reporting by Makini Brice and Eric Beech in Washington and Michael Martina and Ben Blanchard; writing by Tony Munroe; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore, Robert Birsel LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - Britain has granted an indemnity to the official receiver handling the collapse of British Steel, the countrys second largest steel producer, Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday. (Finance minister Philip Hammond) has also agreed an indemnity for the official receiver to enable British Steel to continue to operate in the immediate future, May told parliament. The company collapsed after failing to secure emergency government funding, jeopardising some 25,000 jobs. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and William James, Editing by Kylie MacLellan) BEIJING, May 22 (Reuters) - China must prepare for difficult times as the international situation is increasingly complex, President Xi Jinping said in comments carried by state media on Wednesday, as the country faces increased tariffs in a bitter trade war with Washington. The two countries are locked in tit-for-tat tariff increases on each other's imports, after talks broke down to resolve their dispute. Acrimony has intensified since Washington last week blacklisted Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies Co Ltd , a potentially devastating blow for the company that has rattled technology supply chains and investors. During a three-day trip this week to the southern province of Jiangxi, one of the cradles of China's Communist revolution, Xi urged people to learn the lessons of hardship of the past. "Today, on the new Long March, we must overcome various major risks and challenges from home and abroad and win new victories for socialism with Chinese characteristics," state news agency Xinhua paraphrased Xi as saying. "Our country is still in a period of important strategic opportunities for development, but the international situation is increasingly complicated," he added. "We must be conscious of the long-term and complex nature of various unfavourable factors at home and abroad, and appropriately prepare for various difficult situations." The report did not elaborate on those difficulties, and nor was there a direct mention of the trade war or of the United States. Xi also talked about the importance of technology, and "emphasised that technology innovation is the lifeblood of companies". "Only by having indigenous intellectual property and core technology can products possessing core competitiveness be produced, and only then can an invincible position be attained amid fierce competition." China must master more core technologies and seize the "high ground" in industrial development, he added. Xi visited a rare earths firm too, sparking speculation the sector could be the next front in the Sino-U.S. trade war. Xi learned in detail about China's rare earth resource situation, exploitation techniques, applications, and environmental protection measures, Xinhua said. "Rare earths are important strategic resources, and are non-renewable resources." Stuff reports: Parliament is a toxic workplace with a systematic bullying and harassment problem, a sweeping new review has confirmed. Staff have reported a known minority of MPs who engage in inappropriate behaviours on a regular basis and were described as various shades of s.. Some had low people-management experience, poor self awareness and a big sense of entitlement. The full report is here. If you read it, you would be tempted to conclude everyone is a bully MPs, Ministers, managers, colleagues and even the press gallery. Yes MPs or staff complained of being bullied by journalists. I worked in Parliament for eight years, in three different roles in a ministerial office, in an opposition office and in the neutral support service of Ministerial Services. Heres my take. First of all, most (as in over half) MPs and Ministers are great bosses. Their staff love working for them, and are personally and professionally loyal. Many remain friends after they leave. Some examples of offices where staff were really well treated would be Roger Sowrys, Annette Kings, Paula Bennetts, John Keys, Tau Henares, Phil Goffs. You also have some MPs and Ministers who are okay bosses. Theyre nice people, but they dont always have experience in managing staff. Being a good boss does often require learning skills. Then you have some MPs and Ministers who have tense offices.Most of the time it is a cool place to work, but when the pressure is on the MP can be very hard work. They see their career at stake if an issue isnt managed well, and they freak out etc and it isnt fun. Finally you have some MPs or Ministers who are just really bad to work for. Not a lot of them, but there are some. They scream, they yell, they throw things, they belittle. You also have some MPs who are sleazy not necessarily to their own staff, but to others. In the 1990s there were quite a few. I have to say I think it is far far less today. Now the problem is an MP isnt an employee. They are an elected representative. So what do you do with the ones who are bad bosses? Well in my experience they tend to have very high staff turnover. So one incentive you could introduce is regular reporting of staff turnover by MPs. A high turnover might be for quite valid reasons, but would signal there may be a problem and incentivise MPs to try and retain staff. Of course sometimes staff are not up to the job. It is a difficult environment. And MPs should move them on. But you do that by using the irreconcilable difference clause, not by making life terrible for them. It is also worth noting that many of the stories in the report are also about staff who dont work directly for an MP,. They work in a support agency. Those issues need to be dealt with by the agency heads. Another change I would consider is changing the employment structure in Parliament. At present MPs staff are technically employed by Parl Serv or Min Serv, but in reality their MP or Minister is their boss. Why not make each parliamentary party the legal employer of their staff, so they are incentivised to be good employers. Make the PMs Office the employer of all ministerial staff. Share this: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit WhatsApp More Pinterest Print Tumblr Albion, IN (46701) Today A mixture of winter precipitation in the morning. Then snow mixing with rain at times in the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 100%. 3 to 5 inches of snow and ice expected.. Tonight Cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 33F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Garrett, IN (46738) Today Rain showers in the morning with precipitation turning to a mixture of rain and snow in the afternoon. High near 35F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.. Tonight Cloudy skies early then becoming foggy and damp later at night. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 33F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Angola, IN (46703) Today Showers in the morning changing over to snow in the afternoon. Some sleet may mix in. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 100%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.. Tonight A few showers in the evening then fog developing overnight. Low 32F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Light rain...mixing with snow in the afternoon. Some sleet may mix in. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches.. Tonight Cloudy skies early then becoming foggy and damp later at night. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 32F. Winds ESE at 10 to 15 mph. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Showers in the morning changing over to snow in the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 100%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.. Tonight Cloudy skies during the evening. Fog developing overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 33F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Over the course of the years, the KpopStarz team always focused coverage on KCON USA in both New York and Los Angeles. Now, we went overseas to check out how big Hallyu's influence is in the Land of the Rising Sun. On May 19, KCON 2019 Japan held the last day (of three) at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan. With a three-hour M! Countdown concert on the go, the ten artists on the lineup were undoubtedly some of K-pop's on the rise and finest acts today; D-Crush, fromis_9, GWSN, IZ*ONE, Nature, ONEUS, Pentagon, SF9, TWICE and VAV. The format of KCON Japan's M! Countdown concert is no different to KCON USA's; 2-3 songs per artists with little games in between and some special stages thrown in as well. However, what may be considered an eye-opener was witnessing how powerful groups IZ*ONE and TWICE were to the Japanese audience. We may have heard or read about their popularity online, but it's different (and better) in person. A sea of their respective lightsticks lit up throughout Makuhari Messe's event hall, in addition to synchronized fan chants. IZ*ONE, who made their debut last fall, performed on the first and last day of KCON 2019 in Japan proving their popularity in demand. Having hits like "Violeta and "La Vie En Rose" alongside some of their own J-pop hits, the group's cross-promotional activities only amplified the group's presence and brought them to where they are today. On the other hand, TWICE, who has successfully topped Japan's Oricon chart and various charts in South Korea, certified their name as Asia's No. 1 Girl Group as the night's headliner the "All things Hallyu" event. Prior to taking the stage, rookie acts Nature, GWSN and, fromis_9, paid tribute to the nonagon with a medley of songs that "Cheer Up", "Knock Knock" and "Likey." Nonetheless, the evening celebrated the influence of K-pop and its globalization. Thanks to a 2018 government decision, the duration of the mandatory military service for South Korean males has already been shortened. And as such, idols who are rendering their services will be returning to civilian life sooner than expected. One of them is Bigbang's main rapper, T.O.P. In a statement released on May 21, a representative from Yongsan District's administrative office said that "Choi Seung Hyun (also known as T.O.P.) will be discharged from his mandatory service on July 8." "Due to the government's mandatory service law which went into effect last year for public service workers as well, his mandatory service date has been shortened by approximately 27 days," the official further explained. The K-pop megastar, who first enlisted as a conscripted police officer in February 2017, is currently serving as a public worker in the said city. Under the previous law for mandatory military service, the Bigbang member was supposed to be released in the first week of August this year. T.O.P.'s military conscription has been one of the most controversial among K-pop idols in recent memory. A little over a quarter since he enlisted, news of him illegally using marijuana has surfaced. Upon investigation, he was charged, fined, and then transferred to his current duty. He has been doing various public service works in Yongsan since January 2018. During his stint there, he has also faced issues like receiving special treatment. The officials were quick to deny the said allegation. Apart from T.O.P., the remaining Bigbang members are also set to be released from the military this year - G-Dragon in October, and Daesung and Taeyang in November. Seungri, who has earlier announced his retirement from the industry, is currently facing prostitution charges. Bigbang - the K-pop group behind the hits "Fantastic Baby," "Bang Bang Bang," and "Last Dance" - released their latest single "Flower Road" in 2018. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. The Federal Government of Nigeria, has ordered the closure of four foreign missions abroad due to lack of funds. Geoffrey Onyeama, the minister of foreign affairs said on Tuesday that the missions are Sri-lanka, Serbia, Ukraine and Czech Republic. The minister who may exit President Muhmmadu Buharis administration at the end of the month said the closure was because the government could not fund the missions anymore. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates French President Emmanuel Macron has invited President Muhammadu Buhari to the Africa-France Summit scheduled for June 2020 in Bordeaux, France. Secretary General, Africa-France Summit, Stephanie Rivoal, said this when she visited the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama, on Tuesday in Abuja. She said that the summit with the theme Sustainable Cities was aimed at helping African countries resolve the rural-urban drift among other challenges bedevilling the continent. According to her, Nigeria is expected to showcase its projects that have been proven to work at the two day summit for all stakeholders involved in development of cities. She said it was the wish of Macron for Nigerias president to attend the summit because of the importance of Nigeria in the continent. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates DARIEN Two people found dead in what police believe was a murder-suicide have been identified as a former boyfriend and girlfriend. Police today said ex-boyfriend Casey J. DePriest, 29, killed Jenna M. Brovold, 29, and then took his own life. Police said both victims suffered gunshot wounds and were found dead May 13 inside a home at 452 Buckingham Court in Darien. The Delavan Police Department, which serves Darien, said DePriest and Brovold had lived together at the home prior to their relationship recently ending. The Walworth County Medical Examiners office performed autopsies on both victims. Gina Carver, investigator for the medical examiners officer, declined to comment on the autopsy findings. Also injured in the incident was Brovolds brother, Evan A. Brovold, 26, of Delavan. Police said Evan Brovold is recovering from what earlier had been described as a gunshot wound to the shoulder. A statement from the police department presents no possible motive for the murder-suicide. We have determined what has occurred, the statement said. What will take time is why it took place. Police were called to the home just after 6 p.m. May 13 by a 9-1-1 caller who reported a possible shooting. After finding a wounded man and transporting him to a hospital, police called for help from the FBI and several area police and SWAT teams from as far away as Milwaukee. An earlier statement from Delavan police said several hours of attempted negotiations and investigative leads followed, although details were not disclosed about the negotiations. When officers went inside the home, they found the two people dead inside. Officers were on the scene until about 4 a.m. May 14. Other police agencies on the scene included Lake Geneva police, Rock County sheriff, Kenosha County SWAT and the Wisconsin Department of Justice. 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. WALWORTH Agape Houses school for boys still needs work to comply with village building codes, but the school already has its first student. The student, a junior from Round Lake, Illinois, is taking classes in the basement classroom of the former church at 119 Phillips Ave. But the interior will need some big changes before students can board there during the school year. Plans call for a dormitory able to sleep eight boys ages 12 to 16. House parents will have their own apartment in the building. Around the classroom, workers are installing sprinkler systems, wiring and plumbing and hanging drywall. Most of those workers are volunteers from area churches that have adopted Agape House. Pam Patterson, director of Agape House, said she had hoped to have the school completed by now. But because the former church changed its use from a gathering place to a residence, there were building code changes that caught Patterson and Agape House staff by surprise. Patterson said she had originally estimated that the repairs and renovations would cost between $50,000 and $60,000. But the school learned it had to install a larger water connection to the village main. She said the building has to be completely sprinklered for fire suppression. On May 18, the former church building was filled with the sounds of hammers and saws, as 11 volunteers from First Christian Church in Kenosha put up siding outdoors and worked at converting church restrooms into bathrooms that comply with federal Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines. Floors and drains will have to be reconfigured to accommodate walk-in showers. Volunteer Brian Hauser was in the basement of the former church, using a sledge hammer to pound down a stubborn piece of conduit that was sticking out of a concrete floor in a restroom waiting to be converted to ADA compliance. By his count, this was his third or fourth visit to the school to help with remodeling work. Its fun, he said after the conduit succumbed to repeated blows from the sledge and finally snapped off at the floor line. His son, John Hauser, 17, was also among the volunteers. John said it was his second time working at the church with his dad. Mika Kerr of Antioch organized the volunteer effort. Kerr said his daughter attended Agape House, and he wanted to help the school. Kerr said volunteers from First Christian also help out with projects on the girls school a half-block away at 215 Main St. Helping out the volunteers were Ben Patterson, Pam Pattersons husband, and Pams father, Bob Milliman. Brooklife Church in Mukwonago, with 1,000 congregants, sends out up to 40 volunteers every month to help with maintenance and the work at the boys school, said Harry Spalding, the churchs outreach director. BrookLife is about 40 miles from Agape House. Agape House was put to the congregation as a possible project the church could support. What they were doing rang true to us, Spalding said. We have volunteers with construction experience who help out. Most of the work involves hanging drywall, although the church has sent out one or two electricians to work on the wiring. Tim Yorgey, family pastor at Calvary Community Church in Williams Bay, said the church has supported Agape House for many years. He said the church sends over volunteers from its mens ministry group at least once a month to help out. Numbers vary from four or five to 10 or 12, Yorgey said. It depends on the kind of work that needs to be done. If its clean up, we can get a larger group, he said. When its skilled work, its harder to come up with the numbers. Joe Zimmer, a Lake Geneva architect, has worked with the Pattersons on the Agape House boys school since September 2018. He was instrumental in pointing out the additional work that had to go into the building before it could be used as a boarding school. Building codes have changed since the girls school was opened in 2006, he said. The boys school received zoning approval from the village last year. But getting zoning approval is not the same as an occupancy permit, Zimmer said. As a church, the building only needed a pull fire alarm. Now, because people will be sleeping in the building, the building will also require smoke alarms that are connected to the fire alarm system, Zimmer said. And because it is a boarding school, the entire school building must have fire sprinklers. The sprinklers required an increase in water service. The one-inch lateral from the village main to the building had to be replaced with a three-inch lateral. Pam Patterson said shes looking for additional volunteers, particularly those with painting and construction experience, to help with the construction. She said she is also seeking future school staff. Wed love to find a couple who would move in and be house parents, she said. 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. Lake Geneva's historic downtown church organ is coming home one restored piece at a time. Parishioners at Holy Communion Episcopal Church are welcoming back their 19th-century Hook & Hastings pipe organ after a four-month offsite restoration effort. Crews from Buzard Pipe Organ Builders in Champaign, Illinois, this week have started returning pieces of the restored church treasure and delicately reassembling it inside the church. "There's a lot of excitement," parish member Tom McGrath said. "Everyone is excited about it all being put back together." The congregation worked five years to raise about $65,000 to repair and restore the organ. The music piece was donated to Holy Communion in 1883, after being manufactured in Boston and then shipped to Chicago by train. It has not undergone significant restoration since the 1960s. Crews estimate that it will take a few weeks to bring back all of the repaired pieces and reinstall the organ inside the church at 320 Broad St. Pastor Kevin Huddleston said he is anxious to hear the organ's music once again. "We've been missing it," he said. "We've been waiting patiently." TOWN OF GENEVA Woods Elementary School is bidding farewell to an administrator who oversaw a hard-fought campaign for an expansion that transformed the school. Jeff Klaisner, the schools principal/administrator for the past four years, has announced that he is retiring at the end of this school year. Klaisners career in education also included serving previously as a Lake Geneva middle school principal for about 10 years. Klaisner, 60, said he decided about a month ago to make this his final year in the Woods School District. I just decided it was time for me to look for other adventures, he said. His last day on the job is June 30. School board members have already begun accepting applications for a new principal/administrator. Board member Neil DeVries said Klaisner did a good job of shepherding along the school expansion effort, after voters had twice rejected referendums to fund the project. He helped us through some rough waters, DeVries said. And he helped us get to a calm spot. After two previous failures, the school district in 2016 won voter approval to borrow $4.6 million for expansion and upgrades to the school property at N2575 Snake Road in the town of Geneva. Klaisner had joined the district at the start of the 2015-16 school year. Woods teacher Jeanine Kopecky remembers watching Klaisner during the referendum campaign as he tirelessly answered voter questions and held public events to promote the school expansion. He really reached out to the community, Kopecky said. With the $4.6 million, Woods school was able to build a new gymnasium, new science laboratory and new classrooms, while also transforming the old gymnasium into a cafeteria. In addition, many classrooms got new equipment, including a kiln in the art room and stoves in the consumer science room. Renovations also included a redesigned front entrance, new administrative offices, and a more spacious library. Two years worth of construction work was completed last summer, nearly doubling the buildings size. Klaisner said he was proud of overseeing the expansion effort, and he feels like it is a fitting end to his tenure at Woods. The school is in a good place now, he said. Klaisner began his teaching career about 40 years ago and landed in 1996 in Lake Geneva, where he served as principal of Denison Middle School and then Lake Geneva Middle School. After six years as a principal in Waukesha County, he took over as principal/administrator at Woods Elementary. Woods Elementary serves about 200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Kopecky, who also worked with him previously in Lake Geneva, described Klaisner as a principled educator who made school a fun place, but who also worked hard and set high standards for students. He is very professional, she said. He never takes shortcuts. Klaisners retirement follows the resignation of district business manager Janet Elrod at the beginning of the current school year. The district hired an interim business manager, and officials now are planning to search for both a principal/administrator and a business manager. DeVries said he was sorry to see Klaisner go, but installing a new management team also will bring in near ideas. Its not without its challenges, obviously, DeVries said. But I think were excited. 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. Lowell L. Lemmerhirt, 85, of Randall, died Tuesday May 14, 2019, from a heroic yet too short of a battle with cancer. He was born in Burlington, on March 24, 1934, to Roy and Marge (Steffen) Lemmerhirt. He graduated from Lake Geneva Badger High School in 1952 and then went on to join the Army where he served until 1956. He married Yvonne Wasilewski on June 24, 1961, and they enjoyed 57 years of their life together. Lowell worked at American Motors in Kenosha from 1958 to 1990 as an Assembly Line Supervisor. Lowell was a member of the Randall Fire Department, the Twin Runners Snowmobile Club and he served as president of St. Johns Lutheran Church in Slades Corners for many years. Lowells greatest passion was his motorcycles. His knowledge of every back road in the area suitable for motorcycle driving was legendary. He was a member of the Gold Wing Road Riders Association and the American Gold Wing Association. He was a charter member of the All the Way Gang who drove their motorcycles from Chicago to Santa Monica in September of 2009. Lowell has been to every state, except for two on his motorcycle. Lowell is survived by his wife, Yvonne, his daughter, Jackie (Ziggy) Kowalski of Millbrook, Illinois, and one sister, Joy Kerkoff of Imperial Beach, California. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Shirley LaBelle and Beverly Ford. He is further survived by many nieces and nephews and many special friends who will miss him dearly. Funeral services will be held on Saturday May 18, 2019, at 11 a.m. at St. Johns Lutheran Church, 39505 60th St., Burlington (Slades Corners). Burial will follow in the Parish Cemetery. The family will greet friends on Friday May 17, 2019 from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Haase-Lockwood & Assoc. Funeral Home, 620 Legion Dr. Twin Lakes, WI and from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Saturday at the church. For those wishing to express their sympathy, Memorials in Lowells honor may be made to St. Johns Lutheran Church, 39505 60th St. Burlington, WI 53105 or Aurora at Home Hospice, 116 n. Dodge St. Suite 8, Burlington, WI 53105. For online guestbook: haaselockwoodfhs.com. My dear friend Bob Spitzer passed away late last month, just a few days short of his 97th birthday. Some columns are easy to write, but this one is not. Dr. Bob made such full use of those 97 years that it is not only impossible to tell his story in a single column, it is hard to even know where to begin. Rather than starting in 1922, I will pick up the story a bit later, which was when I first met him in 2005. The Kikkoman Corporation made two gifts to our county that year to kick start our fledgling economic development program; the first was a $10,000 check, and the second was Dr. Bob, one of its directors. As much as we needed the money, Dr. Bob turned out to be the better part of that deal. He became a founding director of the Walworth County Economic Development Alliance and served on that board for many years. Dr. Bob was a curiosity to us when he first walked into my office after the Kikkoman announcement. We had not done our research on him, and we were skeptical of what he could bring to our program and why he would want to start a journey like this at 83 years of age. By the end of his visit, our doubts were erased, and someone said, What an amazing man. I am confident that this was said, because nearly every conversation about Dr. Bob ended with that statement. I featured a story about Dr. Bob in one of the sidebar pieces in my annual letter to our board introducing our 2006 budget. In retrospect, that fact is remarkable to me, since I had only met him a few months earlier; but then, Dr. Bob was a remarkable man. In that 2005 piece, I wrote: Although he went far in life, Dr. Robert Spitzer never strayed far from his roots. Growing up in the Depression near Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Bobs family farmed the land upon which Mayfair Mall is now located. From a very humble but value-oriented upbringing, Bob earned his baccalaureate, masters and doctorate degrees from University of Wisconsin-Madison before embarking on a career at Murphy Products in Burlington. Bobs accomplishments are too numerous to mention. Highlights include presidency of the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and a stint at the U.S. State Department in 1970s. Bob is a founding member of Guideposts National Advisory cabinet, and he has himself authored several books. Working to solve the problem of world hunger has been Bobs passion throughout his distinguished career. I thought I had written a pretty complete piece in 2005, but it was really only an outline. There were huge gaps in my narrative. The many improvements that occurred at MSOE under Dr. Bobs leadership during the 1980s could have used a little fleshing out, as could his stint at the U.S. State Department. He was appointed to that position by President Ford to run a program called Food for Peace. Its goal was nothing less than ending world hunger. Dr. Bob figured out how to do that and wrote the plan down in a book called No Need for Hunger. It is on my shelf, along with three others that he wrote. I was blessed to have Dr. Bob fill in many of the gaps that appeared in my 2005 piece during the next 14 years. This information was revealed to me in more settings than I can remember, but my favorite place was at his home where he carefully displayed many of the artifacts that he collected over the years. His basement was a museum, and I always felt that the collection was significant; so did the Wisconsin Historical Society. In 2018, the Society received many of Bobs personal and professional papers to be cataloged and made available to future generations. It was, naturally, Bob who reached out to me to expand our business acquaintance into one of friendship and mentorship. It all started with a call from him, inviting my family to join him and his wife, Delores, at German Fest in Milwaukee. That became an annual tradition until just a few years ago. After church services there, we would have lunch and listen to his favorite group, the Freistadt Alte Kameraden Band. He always remembered my kids names and required an update from them about their studies and future plans. I am convinced that each of them spent some time preparing for that discussion. He encouraged them to work hard in school, as he did with every young person he met. Dr. Bob mentored in subtle but effective ways. Rather than lecturing, he taught by example. Humility was a pervasive theme. I dont recall ever leaving a restaurant without Bob engaging the wait staff, inquiring about their lives and praising them for their work. Generosity was always evident. You could not leave Bobs house without receiving some gift like popcorn, cheese or extra Vidalia onions that he happened to have on hand. Bob had perfected the art of letter writing. Several times a year, I would receive handwritten notes from him offering encouragement and passing along an inspirational pamphlet or article, many of which he had authored over the years. He would periodically include me with some of his other friends to strategize about a project he was working on. Bob had a deep bench of friends, and he would have been just fine without my counsel. The lesson, however, was not lost on me: engage others to solve problems. His over-the-top introductions of me at events taught me a final lesson. After years of protesting these accolades, which always included the endorsement of being a great American, I learned to be more gracious and accept this undeserved kindness. It was, of course, Dr. Bob who was the great American and a great human being. I will miss him, but I will never forget the lessons he taught me. David Bretl is the county administrator for Walworth County. The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Walworth County Board of Supervisors. Just 30 pages into his new memoir, Then It Fell Apart, musician Moby details meeting actress Natalie Portman in 1999 in Austin, Texas. In the same month that year, Moby achieved international fame with his breakout album, Play, and Portman starred in The Phantom Menace. I was a bald binge drinker who lived in an apartment that smelled like mildew and old bricks, and Natalie Portman was a beautiful movie star, he writes. But here she was in my dressing room, flirting with me. He goes on to detail what he calls a dating relationship with Portman, a characterization the Vox Lux star has publicly disputed. Advertisement I was surprised to hear that he characterised the very short time that I knew him as dating because my recollection is a much older man being creepy with me when I just had graduated high school, Portman said in an interview with Harpers Bazaar UK. There was no fact checking from him or his publisher it almost feels deliberate, she added. That he used this story to sell his book was very disturbing to me. It wasnt the case. There are many factual errors and inventions. I would have liked him or his publisher to reach out to fact check. Moby responded in an Instagram post Wednesday with a photo of the two of them from that year, evidently meaning to serve as proof. (Hes bare-chested with his arm around Portman.) I recently read a gossip piece wherein Natalie Portman said that wed never dated. This confused me, as we did, in fact, date, he wrote in the caption. And after briefly dating in 1999 we remained friends for years. I like Natalie, and I respect her intelligence and activism. But, to be honest, I cant figure out why she would actively misrepresent the truth about our (albeit brief) involvement. He added a postscript: I completely respect Natalies possible regret in dating me (to be fair, I would probably regret dating me, too), but it doesnt alter the actual facts of our brief romantic history. To hear Moby tell it, after her visit to his dressing room, they met up at the MTV Video Music Awards, where Steven Tyler told Moby shes so hot, then attended a Donatella Versace party together where he performed. I was thirty-three and she was twenty, he writes of the night at the VMAs, but this was her world. (He said I was 20; I definitely wasnt. I was a teenager. I had just turned 18, Portman told Harpers. In 1999, she would have turned 18 in June.) As he performed at the Versace party, he writes, Natalie was there, dancing with Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow. In unison they raised their hands and smiled and cheered. For me. Somehow a door had opened into this flowing, golden world, and Natalie and Gwyneth and Madonna and David Letterman and Elton John were holding it open, smiling and telling me they loved me. Moby in 1999, the year he claims he dated Natalie Portman. (Corinne Day / Associated Press) In a subsequent chapter, he details an amazing night with her in Cambridge, Mass., : We held hands and wandered around Harvard, kissing under the centuries-old oak trees. At midnight she brought me to her dorm room and we lay down next to each other on her small bed. After she fell asleep I carefully extracted myself from her arms and took a taxi back to my hotel. In a third chapter, their relationship reaches past tense: For a few weeks I had tried to be Natalies boyfriend, but it hadnt worked out, he writes. I was relieved that Id never have to tell her how damaged I was. In her interview with Harpers, Portman described their time together in much less romantic terms. I was a fan and went to one of his shows when I had just graduated, she said. When we met after the show, he said, lets be friends. He was on tour and I was working, shooting a film, so we only hung out a handful of times before I realized that this was an older man who was interested in me in a way that felt inappropriate. By Thursday, the situation had gotten serious, with Moby writing on Instagram that he had received threats. [T]heres ample photographic evidence that we briefly dated and then were friends(some pictures included in this post), he wrote. It hurts to be lied about, especially as Ive always respected her, and I thought we were friends. But Ive been receiving anonymous threats of violence from her fans, and its affecting my business and my health. So what should I do? What do you do when people believe lies and accusations and not actual photographs and evidence? I want to take the high road, but I honestly dont know what to do. In a later Instagram post, Moby wrote that he had decided he was going to allow people to attack slander lie about him, while he, an activist, would be trying to save animals and help stop humans from destroying the only home we have. Bye. Portman has remained silent on the issue on her own Instagram account. Times staff writer Christie DZurilla contributed to this report. The Holy Grail of self-driving technology, so its promoters tell us, is to replace the error-prone idiot behind the wheel with a flawlessly discerning and safer system of sensors and software. By that standard, a new version of Teslas Navigate on Autopilot self-driving system is a big step back. Thats the opinion of Consumer Reports, which road-tested a new optional Navigate on Autopilot feature allowing Tesla vehicles to make lane changes automatically, without the participation of the driver. Tesla says the feature makes for a more seamless active guidance experience. Consumer Reports begs to disagree. In a review posted Wednesday, it says it observed the opposite in its own tests of the feature, finding that it doesnt work very well and could create potential safety risks for drivers. The feature cut off cars without leaving enough space and even passed other cars in ways that violate state laws. Consumer Reports Advertisement All told, CR says, the feature is far less competent than a human driver. Said Jeff Fisher, the magazines senior director of auto testing, The systems role should be to help the driver, but the way this technology is deployed, its the other way around. The feature aims to give drivers one more bit of respite from managing their cars operations by allowing the cars to initiate a lane change without requiring driver confirmation. But in CRs experience, the feature cut off cars without leaving enough space and even passed other cars in ways that violate state laws. As a result, the driver often had to prevent the system from making poor decisions. Weve asked Tesla to comment on the report, and will update this post if the company does so. Tesla did, however, point CR to its April 3 blog post announcing the new feature, in which it stated, more than 9 million suggested lane changes have been successfully executed with the feature in use. Tesla drivers, the post said, have traveled more than 66 million miles using the Navigate on Autopilot system, which aims to guide the vehicle in highway driving from on-ramp to off-ramp. Tesla argues that so much experience tends to support the validation of Navigate on Autopilot. Statistically speaking, however, thats a flawed argument. Teslas 66 million miles of experience, much less its 9 million lane changes, arent remotely enough to validate any safety claims that purport to compare to the experience of human drivers. As the Rand Corp. observed in 2016, American motorists drive an average of 3 trillion miles per year and fatalities are relatively rare the 32,800 deaths annually on U.S. roads amount to only 1.09 per 100 million miles. Establishing to a statistical near-certainty that driverless cars would reduce vehicular fatalities by even 20% would require 5 billion miles of road testing a record that would take a fleet of 100 test vehicles 225 years to complete if they operated at an average of 25 miles per hour, 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. In other words, a sample of 66 million miles proves nothing. CRs experience is another data point suggesting that the gap between todays driver-assistance features such as automatic braking on cruise control and assisted lane changing and fully automated driving without driver participation may be much greater than is estimated by promoters of autonomous vehicles. To prove statistically that driverless vehicles would have a 20% lower fatality rate than human drivers would require 5 billion miles of test drives. (Rand Corp.) There are signs that some Autopilot users may vest the system with more control over their vehicles than is wise: Autopilot was engaged during three fatal Tesla crashes, including on March 1, when a driver was killed in a collision with a semitrailer. There are no indications that either the driver or the Autopilot system took action to avoid the trailer, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Tesla cautions that drivers should always be attentive when using Autopilot; its standard system has required drivers to confirm lane changes via the turn signal stalk and in some cases requires drivers to have their hands on the steering wheel. Yet the companys own terminology hints at a rather more freewheeling approach. Its automated lane-change function can be set to four levels Disabled, Mild, Average or Mad Max. The mild setting allows lane changes when the car is traveling at a speed significantly slower than the cruise control setting; Mad Max when the car is just a bit slower than the cruise control speed. Thats not necessarily imprudently fast, but calling it Mad Max conjures up the wild-eyed dune-buggy-riding speed demon of the eponymous movie series not a character one would wish to share a highway with. CRs findings indicate that giving Teslas the authority to make lane changes without driver participation that is, without confirmation via the turn-signal stalk may be premature. Its testers reported that their vehicles often changed lanes in ways that a safe human driver would not cutting too closely in front of other cars, and passing on the right. The magazine specifically challenged Teslas assertion that its vehicles three rear-facing cameras could detect fast-approaching objects from the rear better than the average driver. In practice, the system had trouble detecting vehicles approaching from behind at high speed: Because of this, the system will often cut off a vehicle that is going a much faster speed since it doesnt seem to sense the oncoming car until its relatively close. In several cases, CR says, the Teslas passed cars on the right on a two-lane divided highway. In Connecticut, where the testing took place, thats illegal and would get the driver ticketed. In short, while Tesla says its Navigate system aims to make highway driving more relaxing, enjoyable and fun, CR found that the lane-change function made the driving experience more stressful. Tesla is showing what not to do on the path toward self-driving cars, said David Friedman, CRs vice president of advocacy: release increasingly automated driving systems that arent vetted properly. 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. Travelers love those insanely cheap fares that airlines sometimes post by mistake, such as when Cathay Pacific Airways in January sold $16,000 business-class tickets from Da Nang in Vietnam to New York for as little as $675 round trip. But carriers have found a way to more quickly cancel those cheap mistake fares. The Airline Tariff Publishing Co., an airline-owned clearinghouse that feeds fare information to more than 400 airlines, has upgraded its software to replace erroneous domestic fares within 15 minutes after they are distributed to online travel agencies, with international fares replaced within an hour. Before the upgrade, the Virginia-based company, known as ATPCO, took an hour or longer to replace mistaken domestic fares and as long as a day to replace erroneous international fares. Advertisement ATPCO began installing the software upgrades to fix erroneous domestic fares last year and started addressing international fares in March. The ultra-low fares are usually the result of human error when the prices are punched into the system by hand or when they are converted into foreign currency prices, experts say. Airfare mistakes are rare occurring only a few times each month among the hundreds of millions of fares posted daily by all the worlds airlines. But when mistakes happen, sharp-eyed travelers are quick to book the deals before the error gets fixed. The problem is less about how often it happens and more about the magnitude of the error, said David Mark Smith, head of standards and industry relations for ATPCO, noting that word about a fare error can be spread across social media as fast as it takes to tap a keyboard button. In fact, several websites now specialize in identifying mistakes and notifying travelers about the deals. The founders of such sites say the number of mistake fares hasnt declined dramatically in the past year or so but they do disappear more quickly. The new ATPCO technology is an interesting step forward but not entirely foolproof, still allowing for the occasional error to slip through, said Shahab Siddiqui, who founded Cheapflightsfinder.com. Scott Keyes, the founder of Scottscheapflights.com, said he has identified 31 mistake fares in 2019 alone, including a $396 round-trip fare from Los Angeles to Fiji on Fiji Airways and a $377 round-trip fare from New York to Kenya on Kenya Airways. To take advantage of erroneous fares, Keyes said, travelers have to be quick to buy the tickets and flexible about when they can take the flight. The more flexibility, the greater your ability to book a mistake fare, he said. Airlines in the U.S. are forbidden from raising the price of a ticket after it has been booked but federal law does not require airlines to honor fares that are published by mistake. In the past few years, airlines havent been consistent about responding to mistaken fares, by honoring the erroneous fares on some occasions and other times canceling reservations on them. Even with ATPCOs new software fix, Smith said, airlines can lose tens of millions of dollars in the 15 minutes that erroneous fares are published. Its constantly being evaluated for how big an issue it is in the market, he said of mistake fares. Among the biggest fare errors was the round-trip tickets that Hong Kong Airlines offered last year for a business-class seat from Los Angeles or San Francisco to several Asian cities for $561 a fraction of the usual price. Delta Air Lines mistakenly published one-way tickets in 2013 from Minneapolis to Baton Rouge, La., for $51, and tickets from Raleigh, N.C., to Philadelphia for $35, about one-tenth the normal price. Delta honored only those tickets that were paid for before the error was discovered. In 2012, United Airlines published fares from the U.S. to Hong Kong for about $35. The carrier canceled all the reservations made for the mistake fare. Keyes got the idea to launch his travel website in 2013 when he stumbled upon a nonstop, round-trip fare from New York to Milan, Italy, for only $130 clearly a mistake. Once his friends heard about the deal, they asked to be notified about the next ultra-cheap fare he found. Eventually, he launched a website that employs 40 people and searches for mistake fares and unadvertised, bargain tickets. They are still popping up quite a bit, he said. Its really exciting. Its the holy grail for travelers. hugo.martin@latimes.com To read more about the travel and tourism industries, follow @hugomartin on Twitter. Amazon.com Inc. shareholders rejected a large slate of proposals at the companys annual meeting Wednesday, including one that would have restricted the use of controversial facial recognition technology. Proposals calling for Amazon to end the sale of its Rekognition technology to governments and study its potential risks were defeated by a majority of voters, Amazon said. The software is being used by a sheriffs office in Oregon to identify suspects, but civil liberties groups have been critical of such technology, citing the possibility it could be abused. Shareholders also voted down a proposal submitted by employees, and supported by more than 7,600 of them in an open letter, that called on the company to detail its strategy for coping with climate change and reducing its use of fossil fuels blamed for contributing to a warming Earth. That proposal generated a dramatic moment during the meeting in Seattle, when dozens of employees and shareholders, many wearing white, stood up in support of the speaker advocating for the proposal. Emily Cunningham, an Amazon employee, asked for the opportunity to address her concerns directly to Chief Executive Jeff Bezos but was denied. Advertisement The company also elected its entire proposed slate of directors. Vote totals will be made available in a regulatory filing Friday, Amazon said. The employee activism that has roiled Silicon Valley in recent years has arrived at Amazon. The company opposed the climate-change resolution, citing efforts to reduce the amount of packaging it ships to consumers as well as investments in wind, solar energy and other alternatives. Yet two months after the proposal was filed, the company disclosed an initiative to eliminate carbon output from half of its customer deliveries by 2030. I have no doubt that was because of us, says Weston Fribley, an Amazon software engineer who helped organize the resolution and like other employees is a shareholder by virtue of his stock grants. Fribley, however, says the companys response didnt go far enough to withdraw the proposal. In the last two years, employee activism has forced tech giants to reverse course on corporate initiatives. After employees at Google raised concerns about its bid for military contracts, the Alphabet Inc. search giant backed out of a U.S. Defense Department drone program and decided not to bid on a contract to build cloud services for the Pentagon. Employees of Microsoft Corp. and Salesforce.com Inc. pressured executives about their companies dealings with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Emboldened Amazon employees have taken on other issues, including pushing for change on human resources issues such as benefits for transgender employees and backup daycare for parents. But the current climate-change campaign is the rare instance when workers at the technology giants headquarters have taken a public stand for change inside the company. Rebecca Sheppard, who works in Amazons air cargo operations, said Amazon encourages employees to not be shy about proposing big, creative ideas. But if those proposals dont fit with top goals articulated by Bezos and his lieutenants, they arent likely to become a priority. Sheppards hope is the employee groundswell causes Amazon executives to bump climate change up on their list of priorities. The enthusiasm is overwhelming, said Sheppard, who promised before the vote that if the proposal didnt pass it wouldnt fade away. Well be back. Sempra Energys ambitions to become a major player in the global liquefied natural gas market took another big step when the San Diego-based energy giant Wednesday announced an initial agreement with Saudi Aramco to take part in Sempras proposed LNG facility on the Texas Gulf Coast. Aramco is the national petroleum and natural gas company of Saudi Arabia, one of the largest companies in the world by revenue and, by some estimates, the most profitable. In what is billed as one of the biggest heads of agreement deals in the American LNG export infrastructure market in the past decade, Aramco Services Co. plans to purchase 5 million tons per year of LNG for the next 20 years and take a 25% equity stake in Port Arthur LNG. Financial details of the proposed deal were not disclosed. Advertisement We are pleased to partner with affiliates of Saudi Aramco, the largest oil and gas company in the world, to advance development of Sempra LNGs natural gas liquefaction facility in Texas and enable the export of American natural gas to global markets, Sempra Chief Executive Jeff Martin said in a statement. Although the deal is still preliminary, the agreement underscores Saudi Arabias desire to expand its business interests into the growing market for international natural gas. Citing Aramcos long-term strategy to become a leading global LNG player, Amin Nasser, Saudi Aramcos chief executive, said in a statement, We see significant opportunities in this market and we will continue to pursue strategic partnerships which enable us to meet rising global demand for LNG. Nasser pointed to some estimates that predict global demand for LNG to grow 4% per year and exceed 500 million metric tons by 2035. Sempra, whose subsidiaries include San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas, has aggressively moved into the LNG export business, taking advantage of the boom in U.S. natural gas production in the last decade in states such as Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Texas, and sending it to countries around the world that are eager to buy gas to heat homes and businesses. A little more than a week ago, Sempra opened a $10-billion facility called Cameron LNG on the Louisiana Gulf Coast. LNG developers need to line up customers and investors to finance building the facilitys terminals, and though Sempra has not made a final decision to break ground on the Port Arthur LNG project, the agreement with Saudi Arabia figures to improve the chances the facility will be built. Its certainly looking better for them, said Charlie Cone, LNG proprietary analyst for energy data provider Genscape. Last December, Sempra signed Polands national oil and gas company to a 20-year agreement to take about one-fifth of Port Arthurs export capacity. And in 2017, South Koreas state-owned natural gas supplier agreed to establish a framework for an agreement at the site. Sempras LNG division is also looking to add an export component to its Energia Costa Azul LNG terminal near Ensenada, Mexico, that could see LNG cargoes shipped to lucrative markets in Asia, where countries like China want to convert from oil and coal to natural gas. A final decision on that project is expected by the end of this year. U.S. exports of liquefied natural gas were practically nonexistent a few years ago. But with the launch of the countrys first LNG export facility in 2016 Cheniere Energys Sabine Pass facility, not far from Cameron the U.S. has quickly become a contender in the global market. At LNG export facilities, natural gas comes in via pipeline and is liquefied by cooling it to minus 260 Fahrenheit. At that point, the gas can be loaded onto specially made cargo tanks on double-hulled ships to destinations around the world. Weve long held the belief that there will be a shakeout and all these facilities that were proposed to be built are not going to come to fruition, said Andy Smith, a senior analyst who follows utilities and LNG for Edward Jones. And Sempra certainly has first-mover advantage and I think theyve solidified their position with the Aramco deal. In the end, they are going to be one of the biggest players in LNG exporting. Sempra stock finished the trading day up $2.80 to $134.30. Nikolewski writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. Executives from some of the worlds largest airlines will gather for a private meeting Thursday in Canada to discuss Boeing Co.s 737 Max at the same time global regulators convene in Texas to sort out whats needed to return the plane to service. Carriers including American Airlines Group Inc. and United Continental Holdings Inc. will join peers in Montreal for a gathering called by the International Air Transport Assn. Of IATAs 290 member airlines, 28 have the Max in their fleet, the trade group said. But whatever is meant to be gleaned from the Montreal huddle is so far staying just among the airlines, which have put up a wall to inquiries. Airlines are grappling with how to address safety concerns with the Max after two fatal crashes killed nearly 350 people. The planes have been grounded worldwide since March, leaving airlines struggling to replace the lost capacity during the peak travel season. The meeting will provide a forum for airlines to exchange information about the experiences and challenges that they face as a result of the grounding and in their preparation for the reintroduction of the aircraft into operations, IATA said last week. Advertisement Full coverage: Boeing 737 Max planes grounded in U.S. and around the world following 2 deadly crashes Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration has invited global regulators, including those of China, the European Union, Canada and Brazil, to a meeting Thursday in Fort Worth for a joint review of steps needed to get the plane airborne again. For airlines, successfully returning the planes to service will require assuring passengers that the reputation-scarred jetliner is 100% safe, American Airlines Chief Executive Doug Parker said in an interview with NBC Nightly News to be aired Wednesday. Max operators are also expected to seek compensation from Boeing due to the grounding. Air Canada and WestJet withdrew their 2019 financial guidance after losing use of the Max. But carriers are mum on what they plan to discuss in Montreal. American, which has 24 Max aircraft, has no plans to comment publicly on the meeting, a spokesman said. Ditto for United, which is sending its vice president of flight operations and a safety executive; United has 14 Boeing Max 9s. Southwest Airlines Co., which has the largest 737 Max fleet, with 34, is also sending executives but didnt respond to requests for more details. WestJet Airlines Ltd., which is based in Calgary, Canada, and has 13 Max aircraft, declined to discuss the meeting. The association declined to offer any details on how many carriers are attending, the location of the meeting in Montreal, or whether any U.S. or Canadian government officials are invited. IATA said it wont be offering any public comments on what was discussed at the gathering after its over. Dennis Muilenburg wanted to be the worlds best airplane designer, he once told a reporter. Growing up milking cows on his fathers farm in Sioux County, Iowa, he earned a coveted place studying aerospace engineering at Iowa State University, where a scholarship named after a former Boeing chief executive won him an internship with the worlds largest passenger aircraft manufacturer. That launched a 34-year, one-company career and led to Muilenburgs appointment as chief executive in 2015. But now he stands accused of helping precipitate the biggest crisis in Boeings 103-year history and of a faltering response that may deepen the companys troubles. Questions over whether design and software flaws caused the fatal crashes of two of Boeings top-selling passenger jets have handed the man in its cockpit a career-threatening challenge. It was still dark outside on the Sunday in March when Muilenburg was woken by news that Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 had gone down, killing all 157 people aboard. It was the second such disaster in five months, and, like the Indonesian Lion Air plane that plummeted into the Java Sea last October at the cost of 189 lives, the model was a 737 Max 8, the single-aisle passenger aircraft at the heart of Boeings short-haul product line. Advertisement Within three days, regulators began to suspect that the same flight control system had played a role in both disasters and authorities from Beijing to Washington grounded all the nearly 400 Max aircraft Boeing had delivered. The fallout could cost the company billions of dollars. Shareholders and families of the dead have brought lawsuits, airlines will claim compensation for the costs of the grounding and at least one of the government investigations it faces could end in prosecutions. Full coverage: Boeing 737 Max planes grounded in U.S. and around the world following 2 deadly crashes The crisis demands that Muilenburg, 55, summon the kind of political skills they do not teach aviation engineers. He has to address accusations that engineering mistakes or deliberate shortcuts led to 346 deaths. He also has to restore the trust of regulators, airlines and pilots as well as navigate a U.S. president with strong views on aviation. Muilenburg must defend the worlds largest commercial aircraft manufacturer against charges that it rushed a plane to market without paying enough attention to how design changes would affect its safety or even that it deliberately ignored the risks. He will also have to answer charges leveled by some pilots, aviation experts and politicians that Boeing could have prevented both crashes by training pilots on the Maxs new anti-stall maneuvering characteristics augmentation system (MCAS) and that after the first crash it resisted rushing out a software update that pilots from American Airlines called for. Some of these accusations relate to decisions that predate his tenure at the helm, but others were taken squarely on his watch. Most of all, he will need to convince a skeptical public that the aircraft which Boeing hopes will be back in operation in August is safe to fly. Boeing says it has completed a software update that solves the Maxs MCAS problem but the Federal Aviation Administration is not satisfied yet. Global aviation regulators met last week to draw up a plan for recertifying the aircraft as safe. What happens next especially in Washington, where Boeing faces congressional and federal investigations and a criminal probe could put question marks over some of Boeings nearly 5,000 orders for the Max, and over Muilenburgs position. His response so far has highlighted his strengths but exposed some serious blind spots, according to industry veterans. But with regulators and politicians increasingly in control of the next phase, he faces new tests. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at the Yale School of Management, says that in the league of leaders handling of crises, from Takatas exploding air bags to General Motors faulty ignition switches, I give [Muilenburg] a B. He argues, however, that the chief executives engineers personality has not helped. Dave Calhoun, Boeings senior independent director, says Muilenburg deserves credit for his internal communications but what he can say in public has been constrained by regulators. He has a very difficult time when [hes not allowed to rebut] all of the speculative comments that are thrown at him in interviews, the Boeing director says, and when he does it looks defensive. Asked to explain Muilenburgs handling of the seven months since the Lion Air crash, analysts and colleagues tend to start with the observation that he is, first and foremost, an engineer. His background and hands-on style have helped in recent weeks as he has toured plants, hosted customers and accompanied pilots on flights to affirm the safety of the Max, Calhoun says. Dennis Muilenburg, lower left, joins Boeing test pilots for a flight demo of updated software on a 737 Max 7. (Paul Weatherman / AFP/Getty Images) Muilenburg arrived in the top job with a reputation as a cost-conscious defense executive. In his mid-30s he had led the weapons design component of a bid for the $200-billion U.S. Air Force Joint Strike Fighter contract. Boeing lost that bid, but Muilenburg rose rapidly and was running the whole defense division by the age of 45. When Muilenburg succeeded Jim McNerney in 2015, Boeing was mired in accounting investigations into its delayed 787 Dreamliner long-haul program and falling behind Airbus in the short-haul passenger market. Under pressure to compete with its European rival, Boeing opted to tweak the 737 which had been flying since the 1960s rather than start from scratch. It did not take long for the competitive environment to change in Boeings favor, and by last summer, the punchy confidence Muilenburg brought to the company was on display at the U.K.s Farnborough Air Show. That self-assurance has been missing during what Muilenburg has called the most heart-wrenching weeks of his career. Since 1982, when Johnson & Johnson recalled 31 million bottles of Tylenol after some painkillers were laced with cyanide, there has been a playbook for corporate crises: take swift, decisive action and put the boss in front of the TV cameras to explain and reassure. Muilenburg has not followed this model. There is a consensus that he was slow [to respond], says John Chevedden, an activist Boeing shareholder. Not only did Muilenburg insist the Max could keep flying after Chinese, U.K. and European regulators had grounded it, he was also all but invisible to the flying public. The company only put its leader in front of journalists seven weeks after the Ethiopian Airlines crash. The usually affable Muilenburg appeared stiff and defensive during a 16-minute press conference, taking just a few questions before bolting for the door after being asked whether he should resign. But he had also adopted a more combative stance, suggesting that pilot error and other factors should share blame for the crashes. Critics say Boeing rushed the Max through certification without revealing that the MCAS system had tremendous power to force the nose of the aircraft down in certain circumstances. Boeing denies this claim. Even if flaws in MCAS were just one link in a chain of events, as Muilenburg now suggests, that would not absolve Boeing, says Scott Hamilton, an analyst at Leeham News and Analysis, an aviation website. Even if the pilots committed by-the-book errors I would argue that they were trapped into making the errors by MCAS and by not knowing about it. They were trapped into making them by Boeing. In a further blow to its credibility, Boeing said over the weekend that it had corrected a flaw in the software of Max flight training simulators because they did not accurately reproduce the conditions in the Ethiopian flight. Boeing has been doing a lot of half measures, says Jim Corridore, an aerospace analyst at CFRA Research. I was applauding them when they said, We own this, but then they backtracked. The reason, he and other analysts surmise, is fear of legal liability. There are many good reasons not to have lawyers run a company, says Richard Aboulafia at aerospace consultancy Teal Group. Its the wrong gamble: The upfront pain from litigation can be managed. Reputational and product image damage, that keeps on giving. Could the 737 Max disaster force Muilenburg out? For now, he has the advantage of a supportive board, which paid Muilenburg $23 million last year and whose lead independent director defends him in glowing terms: So far he has passed all the tests.... He is early in his career but this will be a defining moment in his leadership and I think its going to serve him incredibly well, Calhoun says. Aprils annual meeting rejected a proposal to split his dual roles and pick an independent chair, Corridore says, though support for doing so rose to 34% from 25% the year before. For Aboulafia, Muilenburgs fate is tied to Boeings share price, which has held up remarkably well. It is 20% off its February peak, but over 12 months Boeing stock has only slightly underperformed the S&P 500 index, despite the Max crisis and the U.S.-China trade battle. Boeing is heavily dependent on orders from Chinese airlines. At $358.75 at the close Tuesday, the shares remain far above the $146.47 price on the day Muilenburg was named CEO. His commitment to share buybacks and dividend increases has helped but so has the strong increases in Boeings top line and profit margins. But outside the investment community, Muilenburg faces a much tougher ride. Consumer activist Ralph Nader, whose grandniece died in the Ethiopian crash, says Boeing put shareholders before safety. Muilenburg should resign, he believes. If he pinched a secretary on the rear he would have been forced to resign; instead he pursued a policy of overriding their own engineers, overriding objections from pilots, and killed 346 people, Nader says. Aboulafia agrees that Boeing obsessed over its share price and undervalued engineers during the years of Max development. Customers came second. Company assets, such as people, became a commodity, something to be measured against returns. Boeing denies having cut corners on safety in designing the Max, but these questions will be a focus of the lawsuits and investigations it faces. Muilenburg is likely to find himself testifying before Congress. Perhaps the biggest imponderable is whether the public will shun the Max once it returns to the skies, probably starting in the U.S. in August. A Barclays survey of 1,700 passengers found 44% said they would wait a year or more before flying in a Max. Yet industry veterans doubt this prediction, saying passengers concerns over aircraft safety typically fade fast. A Reuters/Ipsos poll released last week found most U.S. air travelers said ticket prices were more important to them in choosing flights and only 43% even knew which model had been involved in the recent crashes. The Financial Times Ltd. 2019. All Rights Reserved. FT and Financial Times are trademarks of the Financial Times Ltd. Not to be redistributed, copied or modified in any way. Google is at risk of another hefty privacy fine under the European Unions strict data protection rules after Irish regulators opened a probe of possible violations into how the search giant processes users data in advertising transactions. The purpose of the inquiry is to establish whether processing of personal data carried out at each stage of an advertising transaction is in line with the EUs General Data Protection Regulation, the Irish Data Protection Commission said Wednesday in a statement. The probe focuses on Googles online Ad Exchange. The EUs so-called GDPR took effect a year ago, empowering the blocs previously toothless privacy authorities to levy fines of as much as 4% of a companys annual sales for the most serious violations. Google was earlier this year slapped with a $55.8 million privacy fine by the French data regulator for violating the EU law. Irelands data regulator on Jan. 22 became the lead authority to watch over Googles privacy compliance, after the Alphabet Inc. unit established its main European base in the country. Advertisement We will engage fully with the DPCs investigation and welcome the opportunity for further clarification of Europes data protection rules for real-time bidding, Google said in a statement. Authorized buyers using our systems are subject to stringent policies and standards. The latest investigation the first by the Irish watchdog into Google brings to 19 the number of open cases by the regulator targeting big U.S. tech companies. They include probes into Apple Inc., Twitter Inc., eight probes into Facebook Inc., plus one into Instagram and two into WhatsApp. The Google case will analyze whether its data processing happens on a lawful basis and whether it respects EU principles of transparency and data minimization and will look into Googles data retention practices, the regulator added. The watchdog said it has been looking into privacy compliance in the area of personalized ads for a while and received a number of submissions, including by Johnny Ryan, chief policy officer at Brave, which makes an ad-blocking browser. In a quiet neighborhood near Googles headquarters last month, rusty, oleaginous sewage was seeping from a parked recreational vehicle onto the otherwise pristine street. Sgt. Wahed Magee of the Mountain View Police Department was furious. You guys need to take care of it, like ASAP, he said, lecturing the young couple living in the vehicle. Im not going to tow it today, but tomorrow if I come out here and its like this, its getting towed! As he delivered the ultimatum, a self-driving car rolled past. Mountain View is a wealthy town thats home to Alphabet Inc., the worlds fourth most valuable public corporation and Googles owner. Magee spends a lot of his time knocking on the doors of RVs parked on the citys streets, logging license plates and marking rigs that havent moved for several days. This is the epicenter of a Silicon Valley tech boom that is minting millionaires but also fueling a homelessness crisis that the United Nations recently deemed a human rights violation. Thousands of people live in RVs across San Francisco and the broader Bay Area because they cant afford to rent or buy homes. Advertisement In December, Mountain View police logged almost 300 RVs that appeared to be used as primary residences. Palo Alto, Berkeley and other Bay Area towns have similar numbers. Some Silicon Valley towns have cracked down in recent months, creating an even more uncertain future for RV residents. At a March City Council meeting, Mountain View voted to ban RVs from parking overnight on public streets. The ban hasnt taken effect yet, but soon the towns van dwellers will need to go elsewhere. The City Council also declared a shelter crisis and passed an ordinance to ticket vehicles that discharge domestic sewage on the public right of way. At the meeting, some people opposing the ban blamed Google for the housing crisis. In my neighborhood there are a group of five or six duplexes and a couple that I know lived in one of them for 22 years. When Google moved in next door, their landlord raised the rent by $700 a month, resident Susan Barkin said. Preventing parking and throwing more people out of our community is unconscionable. I do not want to live in a town where the only people who can afford to be here are very, very rich techies or very, very old retirees like myself. If representatives from Google were in attendance, they didnt speak up to defend the company or address the housing crisis. But the issue has arisen inside the Googleplex. At a staff meeting this year, one Google worker asked why Chief Executive Sundar Pichai was paid hundreds of millions of dollars, while some employees struggle to afford to live in the area. Pichai said the company had little control over the high cost of living, people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg at the time. The median rent in Mountain View has almost doubled since late 2010, to $4,151 a month. Thats nearly triple the national average, according to Trulia. The median home value is $1.8 million, up from $750,000 10 years ago, according to Zillow. We have rising rents. We have gentrification. We have people being displaced, said Jennifer Loving, head of Destination: Home, a group thats trying to reduce homelessness in Santa Clara County, home to Google and Mountain View. All of that together is creating an untenable situation for thousands and thousands of families and individuals who are trying to live and work here. RVs that are used as homes are all over Silicon Valley. They line frontage roads that run alongside highways. There will often be a chain of them on quieter streets in office parks and light industrial areas. But they can also be found on suburban residential streets parked in rows opposite the ranch-style homes common to the area. The RVs are often white or beige, and the windows are covered with blinds, sheets or blankets for privacy. Leaves and dust sometimes accumulate on the windshield wipers, and some have generators on the back for extra power. Around Googles campus there are sometimes multicolored company bikes parked nearby so RV dwellers can jump on and ride to work. One 24-year-old Google contract worker lives in a rented RV with her girlfriend close to the internet giants campus. She asked that her name not be published, because she didnt want her employer to know about her living situation. She grew up in the Bay Area and served in the Navy for three years. After that, she studied psychology, then moved to Atlanta, where she rented a townhouse for $1,050 a month. She applied online to be a Google security guard and when the contracting firm gave her the job, she moved to Mountain View in April. She initially considered renting a small apartment but realized she couldnt save any money that way. An apartment out here would cost at least $2,500 a month, she said. The money I make here is great, but I would be pretty much spending the majority of that on rent, and I just dont want to do that. So she decided to rent the RV for $800 a month. Theres less space. Thats the main thing. Its confined, she said. Her day starts on Googles campus, where she can grab a quick breakfast, usually a banana. Lunch is also available at headquarters, while dinner is prepared on the RVs two stove tops. Theres no oven. Complaints from neighbors arent a problem because shes parked the RV close to Googles headquarters, which is all office parks with very few residential buildings. At night, she takes courses at the City College of San Francisco to become a firefighter. If she can get a job as a firefighter in San Francisco within a year, shell continue to stay here, she said. If not, I will take my earnings and go back to Georgia and purchase a home and live happily ever after. I can probably buy a house back there. Its Georgia, its really cheap. Another RV resident in Mountain View is a 41-year-old IT professional who now drives for Lyft Inc. He moved from Sacramento about two years ago after his wife got a job at a big drug development company in Silicon Valley. (He asked not to be identified because he worries his wife might lose her job if her employer learns about her living situation.) Once they arrived, they realized they couldnt afford to rent an apartment and build their savings, despite a combined income of roughly $100,000 a year. We just did the math when we were, you know, renting a room, and we could kind of stay afloat but theres no way to save any money for retirement or the future at all, he said. The Lyft driver, and other van dwellers around him, said they arent sure what theyll do when the parking ban kicks in, rendering their situation illegal. Many hope to just muddle through somehow. Im aware of the ban, said Brandon, another Mountain View RV resident who didnt want to share his last name. Ill cross that particular bridge when I get to it. Tech companies should be doing more to fix the housing crisis, the Lyft driver said. There was a time when corporations were allowed to operate because they were also providing for the communities around them in some way, he said. And for some reason that responsibility has shifted to profits only. Google declined to comment but referred to an interview one of the companys public policy managers, Rebecca Prozan, gave to PBS in 2016. Obviously, our footprint creates pressure. It creates pressure on housing and transportation, but that pressure isnt just tech. Its not just Google, she said. Its all the industries that are creating the economy of the Bay Area. We all have to work together to figure out what were going to look like, and how were going to live. When asked about employees living in RVs, she said: We dont necessarily want to comment on our employees participating in those activities. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai. (Josh Edelson / AFP-Getty Images) Since 2014, Google has given more than $14 million to groups tackling homelessness in Mountain View. That includes $1 million for Destination: Home and $1.5 million to help with construction of a 67-unit affordable housing development. It also has a plan to invest much more in a project to build thousands of homes on a nearby part of the city called North Bayshore. Twenty percent of that will be affordable housing, although its a long way from happening: Mountain View hasnt decided how to proceed yet. Loving, the head of Destination: Home, thinks the North Bayshore plan should include a lot more affordable housing. But she and others say its not just about money. There needs to be political will people have to want to help their neighbors in need. Some Silicon Valley residents dont want new apartment buildings changing their suburban towns, and they get angry at the thought of affordable housing bringing poorer people to their neighborhoods. Two years ago, about 500 local residents showed up at a meeting to discuss small, temporary housing in San Jose. Many screamed and shouted at Loving and her colleagues. At one point, the crowd chanted build a wall to keep homeless people away. There have been meetings since where theres a lot of fear about what these developments would look like, and fear is a really powerful emotion and it seems to supersede logic, Loving said. Thats a risk to Silicon Valley itself, because tech companies may go elsewhere. In February, Google CEO Pichai announced a plan to spend $13 billion on new and expanded offices and data centers. A lot of this is outside Silicon Valley, where its cheaper to hire talent in part because housing is more plentiful. Theres a second issue, too. If teachers, nurses, trash collectors and other regular workers cant afford to live in the area, the fabric of society begins to fray, said Alison Hicks, a Mountain View council member who voted against the RV ban. To have a regular functioning town, you need to have occupational diversity, she said. You cant have a town that functions if we only have tech workers living in it. It wont be a functioning city as I know it. It wouldnt be a city I would want to live in. Back on Mountain Views streets, Magee followed up on the RV that was dripping sewage. The following day, the owners had fixed the problem. When asked whether the RV situation will ultimately be resolved, Magee looked tired as he thought about the answer. After a 12-hour day, he had a long drive ahead to get home he cant afford to live in Mountain View. The way things are going, I dont see how its all gonna disappear, he said. Where are we gonna put everyone? If you feel like youve been seeing more Twitter ads lately, its not just your imagination. A Twitter Inc. spokeswoman said Tuesday that the company is experimenting with ad load, the industry term used to describe how frequently users are shown advertisements. As a result, some people are getting more ads in their Twitter feed than usual. We are always running experiments with our ad experience, including with the various aspects of ad frequency and targeting, the social media company said in a statement, which also encouraged users to share feedback on the experience. Advertisement Some journalists first noticed and started tweeting about seeing more ads on Twitter this week. Not all Twitter users have the same ad load, which means the experiment wont affect everyone. Some people see more ads than others depending on a variety of factors, including how the number of ads influences their use of the platform. Facebook and Instagram do something similar. Three years ago, Twitter shut off ads for some of the networks most prominent users as part of an effort to keep them engaged. Some users still have an ad-free Twitter. A Twitter spokeswoman declined to say how big the experiment is. San Francisco-based Twitter makes most of its revenue from advertising, and while its daily audience has been growing, its monthly user base has been shrinking for most of the past year. Its plausible that Twitter may be trying to increase ad load as a way to sustain revenue growth despite a declining user base. A federal judge has ruled that Qualcomm Inc. violated antitrust laws by using its dominant position in smartphone chips to extract excessive patent license fees for its cellular inventions, striking a major blow to the San Diego companys business model. After four months of deliberations, U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh found against Qualcomm in an antitrust lawsuit brought two years ago by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. The FTC argued that Qualcomm used its dominance in 3G and 4G smartphone processors it supplies 50% of the global market to force phone makers to pay too much to license its standard essential patents. The 233-page decision requires Qualcomm to renegotiate patent agreements and offer standard essential patent licenses to rival chipmakers, which opens the door to component-level patent licensing. Today, Qualcomm licenses its cellular patents based on a percentage of the price of smartphones, subject to caps. Component-level licensing could significantly reduce Qualcomms profits from patent fees, which fund much of its research-and-development work in advanced wireless technologies. Advertisement Qualcomms shares dropped 10.9% to $69.31 on Wednesday. This is a gut punch to Qualcomm and could have a major ripple impact across the smartphone industry, said Daniel Ives, managing director at Wedbush Securities. It could not come at a worse time for Qualcomm going into 5G and its pricing power on chips. Qualcomm said it would immediately seek a stay while it appeals Kohs ruling to the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. We strongly disagree with the judges conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law, Don Rosenberg, Qualcomms general counsel, said in a statement. Kohs ruling comes a month after Qualcomm settled a separate lawsuit with Apple, which involved antitrust allegations similar to the FTCs claims. It also was issued amid a flare-up in the U.S. trade war with China and a decision last week by the Trump administration to require Qualcomm and other suppliers of Huawei to get government permission to export components to the Chinese telecom. Apple executives were top witnesses in the FTCs case. The settlement, which included a six-year patent license agreement and multiyear chip supply deal between the two companies, had been seen by investors as a sign that the FTC case against Qualcomm was weak. We do believe that, post the Apple settlement, that some investors might have hoped that the judge would have softened her views in the wake of the Apple capitulation, said Bernstein Research analyst Stacy Rasgon. Apparently not. The FTCs decision to bring an antitrust lawsuit against Qualcomm came in the waning days of the Obama administration and was controversial, with then-Commissioner Maureen Ohlhausen writing in dissent that the lawsuit rested on a flawed legal theory. The U.S. Justice Departments antitrust division also sought a hearing before any sanctions were issued against Qualcomm, arguing that harsh requirements could hurt U.S. competitiveness in upcoming 5G wireless technologies. Koh denied the request as unnecessary. In a January trial in federal court in San Jose, Qualcomm lawyers argued that the FTC failed to prove that Qualcomms business practices harmed competition and consumers in a thriving smartphone market. Koh ruled that Qualcomm must negotiate patent licenses with customers free of the threat of a lack of access to its chips, and it must make exhaustive patent licenses available to rival modem chip suppliers, such as Samsung Electronics Co., MediaTek Inc. and Huawei Technologies Co. She also imposed seven years of monitoring. They will appeal it, so there will be no near-term impact as this continues to run through the court system, Ives said. But what it does is Qualcomm goes from a position of strength to a few steps down with this ruling. Huawei is not a major customer of Qualcomm. Still, because Qualcomm is the U.S. leader in 5G technologies, Ives believes Kohs decision could weaken the Trump administrations efforts to curb Chinas Huawei from becoming the dominant player in the 5G race globally. Qualcomm is dealt a blow with this FTC ruling as the main [U.S.] 5G arms dealer, he said. Huaweis leverage is strengthened on 5G. Rule No. 1: Walk. Los Angeles may be a vast tangle of freeways best navigated on wheels, but there are plenty of walkable art hubs in the city, and the densest among them might be on Grand Avenue, between 1st and 4th streets. Here, clustered together, are the Broad museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Music Centers Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the latter of which houses some impressive but lesser-known fine art. Since the Broad opened in 2015, this section of the so-called Grand Avenue culture corridor has blossomed super-bloomed, if you will regularly drawing unwieldy crowds of selfie-seeking millennials, expectant tourists and art-loving hipsters. A flurry of the requisite food carts serving vegan ice cream and watermelon-lime agua fresca followed, contributing to a lively scene that, on any given afternoon, is nearly as colorful as whats inside the museums. Advertisement Heres the rest of the rule book for how to maximize your art expedition. Wear shoes with good soles; theres art traction to be had here. FULL COVERAGE: Grand Avenue project Daniel Evans, 28, of Los Angeles quietly looks around Yayoi Kusamas Infinity Mirrored Room The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, on display at the Broad. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Rule No. 2: Say cheese or watch others saying it. What not to miss at the Broad: Since the museums debut, Eli and Edythe Broads vibrant collection of postwar and contemporary art, with its iconic Pop Art works by crowd-pleasers such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring, has been a social media magnet. Leading the pack as the museums most Instagrammed work is Yayoi Kusamas immersive Infinity Mirrored Room The Souls of Millions of Light Years Away, which draws roughly one visitor a minute. There are only a handful of Kusamas infinity mirror rooms on view in the U.S., and this one an intimate chamber tricked out with mirrors, twinkling LEDs and glistening water is worth the added wait, a trippy and Zen-like experience at once. Getting around the Broad is half the fun. The futuristic ride up the 105-foot-long lobby escalator deposits visitors into the belly of the building on the third floor (some have likened the escalator to a birth canal). Takashi Murakamis psychedelic-looking mural, In the Land of the Dead, Stepping on the Tail of a Rainbow, and El Anatsuis Kimona-like Red Block, made of flattened bottle caps and copper wire, are standouts of the collection and have long greeted visitors at the top of the escalator, in the central, third floor exhibition space. The works are currently on loan, but the space still houses must-see art, including Mark Bradfords 34-foot work of social abstraction, Helter Skelter I, about cult leader Charles Mansons 60s-era obsession to start a race war and newly acquired pieces by Julie Mehretu, including her energetic if chaotic Congress, incorporating a vortex of swirling, national flag-like imagery. If a super-sticky art selfie is your goal, Jeff Koons blingy Tulips sculpture is there too. And his shimmering, metallic Balloon Dog (Blue), along with Robert Therriens ginormous, Alice-in-Wonderland-like Under the Table, are in galleries on the same floor. From there, make a beeline for one of the museums most beautiful if disturbing nooks, featuring the work of Kara Walker. A collection of her large-scale, silhouetted paper cutouts, Africant, spans a curved wall and explores the dark history of plantation life in the Deep South. Some of her most powerful works are tiny, delicate cutouts inside a case, Burning African Village Play Set with Big House and Lynching, presenting a frightening world, teeming with violence. Dont miss a peek into the museums transparent art storage area from the staircase landings, or the view from a third-floor corner gallery facing north the buildings milky, honeycomb-like architecture offers glimpses of Disney Halls gleaming, silvery curves across the street and patches of street life below. Jeff Koons Balloon Dog (Blue) on display at the Broad. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Rule No. 3: Channel your inner artist. What not to miss at MOCA: If the Broad is one mans collection, or vision, then MOCA, across the street, is a collection of collections. The contemporary art museum, with its more than 7,000 works from the 1940s on, is often called the artists museum, as it was founded by local artists and civic leaders in 1979. The museum features one of the largest collections of Mark Rothko works in the country. Visitors travel from all over the globe to see the Rothko room, with about half a dozen towering canvases, at any one time, in delicious, saturate hues of red, yellow, orange and purple. Among the many collections gifted to the museum by artists and patrons is the Panza Collection, 80 abstract expressionist and Pop Art works from Italian collector Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo, which includes works by Franz Kline, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg and James Rosenquist. More recently, the Blake Byrne Collection, acquired in 2004, features works by 78 artists such as Gordon Matta-Clark, Felix Gonzalez-Torres and Mike Kelley, among others. All of which amounts to a prism of perspectives channeled through art. MOCAs iconic, action-oriented Jackson Pollock painting, Number 1, 1949 which the artist created by hurling paint straight from the can onto the canvas or dripping it from sticks is being restored but will be back on view this summer. And other pillars of the collection remain on view. Among them: Alberto Giacomettis tall, spindly bronze sculptures, Tall Figure II and Tall Figure III, which echo both the horrors of World War II and the contemporary global refugee crisis; and a wall of Claes Oldenburgs painted plaster objects clothing, food and household items one might find in a neighborhood store that collectively speak to materialism, consumer culture and the commercialization of art. The Arata Isozaki-designed MOCA building itself is of note, considered an important example of postmodern architecture, with an emphasis on geometric forms pyramids and squares and circles. And just a few blocks away, its worth noting, is the museums vast 40,000-square-foot Geffen Contemporary space. Barbara Krugers 1990 mural on the buildings exterior, Untitled (Questions), was recently re-installed there and urgently asks passersby: Who is beyond the law? Who dies first? and Who laughs last? People walk through the gallery, in view of Keith Herings Red Room, on the left, and Untitled, on the right, and John Ahearns Raymond and Toby, in the center. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Rule No. 4: Follow the cat in the purple smoking jacket. What not to miss at the Walt Disney Concert Hall: Sure, the building itself might be Los Angeles most recognizable, not to mention one of the crowning achievements of architect Frank Gehrys career. But once youve snapped a picture of the exterior of Disney Hall and visited its famous, French fry-like pipe organ, wind your way back down to the lobby and sign up for Thought Experiments in F# Minor. If you dare. The mind-bending work, from Canadian artist duo Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, is a free, immersive, augmented reality video walk, with 3-D sound, through Disney Hall and its environs. It was one of several commissions marking the Los Angeles Philharmonics centennial season. As they navigate the building, guests don puffy headphones and watch a pre-recorded video, on a Disney Hall-provided iPad Mini, hosted by a mischievous hairless cat in said smoking jacket. The work is dense and poetic, weaving poetry, quantum physics, science fiction and news events not to mention musical performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic all while employing multimedia to distort participants sense of reality. On the way out, dont miss the massive 48-foot-long mural, Blue, by California light and space artist Peter Alexander. Gehry requested he make the work for the building. It hangs along a terrace-level staircase, depicting sunlight flickering on the Pacific Oceans surface. REDCAT, CalArts downtown center for contemporary arts on the lower level of Disney Hall, includes a 3,000-square-foot gallery worth swinging by that features rotating exhibitions of experimental work by international artists as well as a black-box theater and bar. A portrait of the late Dorothy Chandler hangs in the Founders Room of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Rule No. 5: Pay your respects. What not to miss at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion: In the mid-1950s, Dorothy Buffum Chandler, wife of Los Angeles Times publisher Norman Chandler, willed the Music Centers first building into existence by leading a campaign that raised nearly $19 million in private donations. Today, honoring her efforts, theres an imposing portrait of Buffy by William F. Draper in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilions Founders Room that looms over VIP guests sipping champagne during intermission at the opera. The buildings midcentury glam exterior and grandiose interior, with its draping crystal chandeliers, gets all the attention; but theres actually notable fine art throughout and free art tours through the Music Center. The Founders Room features works on loan, indefinitely, from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The exhibit includes eight artworks by under-recognized female artists working in Southern California in the 30s and 40s. Claire Falkensteins abstract metal sculpture, Vibration, as well as her painting Tapping Out Steel; June Harwoods simplistic geometric Sliver Series (Blue, Violet, Green); and Gloria Stuarts Watts Towers I are standouts. Elsewhere in the building, hovering over the antique marble bar on the second floor, is Thomas Hardys ceiling-mounted, gold-leafed bronze sculpture, Sun Birds. The clusters of what amount to 500 birds glimmer against the rooms dark mirrors and black walnut paneling, giving them an almost animated, dramatic effect. Other notable artworks surround the bar, including Frank Stellas bold, minimalist painting Ossipee III; a Signature Quilt, a work created by artist Sandi Fox in 1981 that features embroidered signatures of Music Center supporters and performing artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Gregory Peck and Natalie Wood; and a tapestry by Mexican artist Leonardo Nierman that captures, the artist once said, the eternal romance between music and color. Rule No. 6: Rest. Youll need it. The Grand Avenue arts corridor may be perched on a hill, but the organizations that have come to define it believe their turf extends across Southern California and beyond. Giving back to the community is key to each institutions mission, particularly when it comes to youth outreach. Here is a sampling of their programs: Colburn School: This performing arts school, with a focus on music and dance, features a Center for Innovation and Community Impact that offers education for low-income students via a variety of free peer-to-peer performances, summer classes and scholarships. Through these programs, 5,000 students hear music played by Community School participants annually, and more than 200 students, in grades 1 through 12, receive five-plus hours a week of instruction. FULL COVERAGE: Grand Avenue project The Broad: For the next few months, the contemporary art museum is bringing groups of schoolchildren to see its exhibit, Soul of a Nation: Art in the Age of Black Power 1963-1983, which highlights the contributions of black artists during the civil rights movement. It is also offering free access to the show every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. and is hosting a series of free gallery talks featuring history lessons from current community activists and artists from South Los Angeles. Advertisement Museum of Contemporary Art: Kids can unleash their inner artist via a classroom partnership program called Contemporary Art Start, which connects students in grades 3 through 12 with the museum through teacher training, school curriculum, museum visits and family-involvement opportunities. Since its founding in 1986, the program has reached more than 100,000 students and 3,000 teachers. Los Angeles Opera: The fourth-largest opera company in the United States, based at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, administers more than 25 programs out of its education department. These include initiatives that pair elementary and secondary schools with Los Angeles Opera teaching artists to help children create and perform specially commissioned operas. The organization also partners with the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to present free large-scale community performances conducted by music director James Conlon. Music Center: The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater and Walt Disney Concert Hall all fall under the umbrella of the Music Center, one of the largest performing arts centers in the country. It recently formed Music Center Arts, or TMC Arts, which approaches arts education through community engagement. Initiatives include Dance DTLA, a free summer program that invites live bands, DJs and prominent dance instructors to teach group lessons in a variety of styles and musical genres. Center Theatre Group: This 52-year-old L.A. institution is one of the nations leading theater companies, staging plays and programs at the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and the Kirk Douglas Theatre. It hosts annual college and career festivals for high school students, which facilitate conversations between budding thespians and theater professionals from dozens of colleges and universities, including USC, UCLA, Pepperdine and Emerson College. It also hosts a series of library readings, student matinees and audience talks. Los Angeles Philharmonic: L.A.s hometown orchestra is considered one of the best in the world, thanks to its charismatic maestro, Gustavo Dudamel, and its reputation for bold experimentation. Its Youth Orchestra Los Angeles offers free music instruction in under-served neighborhoods, and more than 1,200 students between the ages of 6 to 18 participate at four community sites annually. All of the listed organizations participate in Grand Ave. Arts: All Access, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 2. Currently in its fifth year, the community event will feature family-friendly activities, workshops and tours that offer opportunities to interact with the arts institutions on Grand Avenue. The program is free and open to the public. In an early scene from The Exiles, Kent MacKenzies moody 1961 film about the lives of a group of indigenous people living in Los Angeles midway through the 20th century, a young woman carries a bag of groceries up a hillside street flanked by weathered Victorian houses converted into apartments and boarding houses. The shot is sumptuous: a play on shadow and light and the geometries of the once-graceful homes that lined the streets of L.A.s Bunker Hill. The Exiles, as Times film critic Kenneth Turan noted in a 2008 review, captured a brooding picture of a darkly beautiful, long-gone Los Angeles. Indeed, that Los Angeles is long gone. Clay Street, the narrow thoroughfare where Yvonne Williams, the young Apache woman who serves as the films heart, was seen carting her goods, no longer exists. Neither do any of the Victorian buildings that once lined the street. Like the rest of old Bunker Hill, the street was demolished during an infamous pique of 1960s slum clearance policies that saw the entire neighborhood leveled to raw earth. The last two Victorian homes on Bunker Hill, the Salt Box, left, and the Castle, await a move in 1968. (Boris Yaro / Los Angeles Times) Advertisement FULL COVERAGE: Grand Avenue project Today, the sliver of Clay Street where MacKenzie filmed subtly alluring scenes is occupied by Angels Knoll, the shuttered, unkempt park that occupies a patch of steep hillside at Grand Avenue and 4th Street. On a recent afternoon, one of its more remote corners was inhabited by a gaunt man slipping into an opioid nod. All of this lies just a couple of blocks over from Grand, where two internationally famous museums the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Broad stand alongside several performance complexes, including the Music Center, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Colburn School and REDCAT, all representing different eras of Bunker Hill revitalization. Indeed, every few years it seems that a major civic or commercial development opens atop Bunker Hill, leading to ample media coverage. The Music Center, which opened in stages, starting in 1964 around the same time the city was bulldozing the last boarding houses that sheltered elderly and immigrants has been described as the project that commenced the revitalization of Bunker Hill. When Frank Gehrys Walt Disney Concert Hall opened on Grand Avenue in 2003, it was described as the centerpiece of revitalization. Developer Eli Broad once described his ambitions to transform Grand Avenue into the Champs-Elysees of Los Angeles which may have been an exaggeration, he later said. From the Archives: The Castle on Bunker Hill Leo Politi sketches the Victorian home known as the Castle in 1964. The Wells Fargo Center on Grand Avenue has since replaced it. (Los Angeles Times) Now as construction begins on Gehrys Grand Avenue project the mixed-use retail and residential complex that will occupy the dour parking lot that has, for years, sat across from Disney Hall there is renewed chatter about revitalization. But what does it mean to revitalize something that we had a hand in extinguishing? Bunker Hill was a vital neighborhood that was dismembered by city, state and federal policies, then reassembled into corporate superblocks by private developers. The neighborhoods roots took hold when a pair of early moguls Prudent Beaudry and Stephen Mott, for whom streets are named downtown acquired much of the land in the 1860s. By the late 19th century, the neighborhood was a bastion of the well-to-do, draped in extravagant Victorian houses and Beaux Arts apartment buildings. In the early 20th century, as more fashionable districts emerged west of downtown, the wealthy moved with them. By the 1920s, Bunker Hill had transitioned into a lively working-class neighborhood, the broad wooden porches of the Victorians beckoning transplants from Mexico, Europe, the Midwest and a multitude of indigenous reservations, as seen in MacKenzies The Exiles. Rather than improve the lot of the working poor who inhabited the areas 1 in 5 of whom were foreign-born, primarily in Mexico, according to the U.S. census the city set out to get rid of them. By the time the Depression steamrolled in, plans were already being floated to remake Bunker Hill. ALSO: Architect Frank Gehry unveils designs for long-delayed Grand Avenue project Bunnie Burns, seated, is evicted by sheriffs deputies from the condemned Northern Hotel on 2nd Street on Bunker Hill in 1969. (Frank Q. Brown / Los Angeles Times) One enterprising local developer proposed razing the entire hill with hydraulic mining equipment, since it was a barrier to progress in the business district of Los Angeles. This was followed by countless other plans to modernize the neighborhood. As critical theorist Norman Klein notes in The History of Forgetting: Los Angeles and the Erasure of Memory, his 1997 book exploring the ways in which L.A. has continuously reinvented its landscape, no ethnic community downtown was allowed to keep its original locations: Chinatown, the Mexican Sonora, Little Italy. The path for Bunker Hills ultimate undoing was set with the 1949 federal Housing Act, which allowed for a looser use of eminent domain. In 1959, the City Council voted for the Bunker Hill renewal project that would keep our city from slipping backward, like San Francisco and New York in the population race. The plan: The government would acquire every property on Bunker Hill through eminent domain, evict the elderly and the immigrants who lived there, demolish everything in sight, then turn the land over to private developers. Within a decade, the last Victorian mansions on Bunker Hill were carted off to Heritage Square, where they promptly succumbed to arson. The rebuild took decades and is underway still. When Klein came from New York to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, he thought Bunker Hill felt very bald like a person who has a big bald patch and a big fat head like some of the architecture there is trying to cover up the bald spot. Certainly its an architecture that is trying to compensate for something. To walk the length of Grand Avenue, from Temple to 5th Street, is to immerse yourself in a tour of the monumental: Rafael Moneos cathedral (a medieval Spanish castle rendered contemporary), Gehrys Disney Hall (an ebullient sailing ship) and Diller Scofidio + Renfros Broad museum (aka the cheese grater). It is also to immerse yourself in corporate development projects that are actively hostile to the street, impassive glass towers whose policed private-public spaces lie above or below grade impervious to happy accident, human scale or the sight of a half-naked hippie playing the bongos. As Mike Davis describes its structures in City of Quartz: It is a Miesian skyscape raised to dementia. Review: L.A.'s Exiles revisited The Angels Flight funicular on opening day in 1901, at the corner of 3rd and Hill streets. (Los Angeles Times) This makes it a curious location for L.A.s most important cultural hub. Culture is often at its most dynamic when it is pushing boundaries, cropping up unexpectedly in in-between spaces. The design of Grand Avenue, with its string of large-scale institutions, has left little room for this. Not that there arent moments of L.A. scrappiness: an artist staging a performance on the plaza before MOCA, nighttime dance shows on the steps of the Music Center, experimental multimedia shows at REDCAT, which has served as a bastion of emerging artist culture on this very corporate strip. But culture on Grand Avenue is largely top-down. And this has overwritten a place where ideas once bubbled up. Could a budding John Fante peck out his novel on todays Bunker Hill? Probably not. The erasure of Bunker Hill as it once stood has generated a kind of schizophrenia, says the voluble Klein. It has made it difficult to understand the city. The quaint Angels Flight funicular, which opened in 1901 and ran alongside the 3rd Street tunnel, once connected residents of Bunker Hill to the city below. After redevelopment, it was relocated a few hundred feet to the southwest and now hauls office workers to the Postmodern corporate plazas on Grand Avenue a relic from another era, its original significance and purpose lost. In The Exiles, there is a scene where the camera settles on a bar called El Progreso the Progress. Progress can be a curious thing. Progress for some can mean erasure for others. Like the old Bunker Hill, El Progreso is also gone. ALSO: Last House in Bunker Hill Razed By 1968, Bunker Hill had been denuded. Angels Flight, which has since been relocated, stands alone against a barren hillside. (Larry Sharkey / Los Angeles Times) carolina.miranda@latimes.com | Twitter: @cmonstah There is a moment in Rose McGowans new documentary series when she learns that Harvey Weinstein has allegedly stolen the first half of her memoir, Brave, months in advance of its publication. I cant tell you how violating it felt, she explains via voice-over. It was like being back in that room with him all over again, only this time, it was the inside of my mind and not my body. Readers of Brave will understand why the revelation so enraged McGowan. She does not hold back when writing about Weinstein, whom she refers to only as The Monster. Long before the Weinstein scandal broke, McGowan publicly alleged that she had been raped by a Hollywood producer. After other women came forward with allegations of abuse, McGowan named Weinstein. But Brave is the first time she has described the alleged attack. Weinstein has denied the allegations. Advertisement Midway through the memoir, the incident occupies an entire chapter called Death of Self. At the 1997 Sundance Film Festival, Weinstein invited McGowan to his hotel room for a meeting. Just a few hours before, he had sat behind her at the premiere of her film Going All the Way, in which she appeared topless. Her manager insisted the meeting was important, she writes. I was so new to the industrys upper echelon, I didnt know what so many already knew, that he was a predator and I was walking into a trap. Once she was inside his hotel room, Weinstein offered to show her the hot tub, and before long, she writes, he had pushed her into a steamy room and begun stripping her clothes off. After picking her up and putting her on the edge of the Jacuzzi, she writes, he forced her legs open and performed oral sex on her while masturbating. She pretended to have an orgasm in an attempt to end the experience. I did what so many who experience trauma do, I disassociated and left my body. Detached from my body, I hover up under the ceiling, watching myself sitting on the edge of the tub, against a wall, held in place by the Monster whose face is between my legs, trapped by a beast. In this tiny room with this huge man, my mind is blank. Wake up Rose; get out of here. The alleged sexual assault was the culmination of years of torment for McGowan, and Brave begins at the beginning. Using a brash tone that will be familiar to the millions who follow her on Twitter, McGowan describes her life, starting with the girlhood years she spent in a religious cult (I was told I was worth nothing in the eyes of God), the eating disorder she suffered as a teen (I was never able to get below 92 pounds), and her decision to legally emancipate herself from her parents at 15. Still, as she describes her formative years it is clear that McGowan, 44, has always viewed herself as a defiant spirit and still takes pride in the fact that she grew angry over being made to wear a pink smock at school while the boys got blue ones. That was after her family split from the Children of God. McGowans father led the Italian branch and McGowan remembers being forced to declare her acceptance of God, lest she be beaten. When she was 4 a cult elder spotted a wart on her thumb and sliced it off with a razor blade, beginning a narrative that [messed] with my head for years, that of perfection as self-protection. I told myself if I were just perfect enough, Id be okay. When the cult began promoting sex between children and adults, McGowans father decided to leave. After the family returned to America, where they split time between Oregon and Colorado, she felt out of place. Her schoolmates couldnt understand her odd upbringing and she lashed out, still describing their proverbial white picket fence backgrounds as equally dangerous, a different kind of cult. Im sure I was unnerving as a child because of my intensity. I know I was because I basically was the same as I am now, and I tend to unnerve people to this day. A runaway at 13, McGowan lived for a year on the street. When she returned home, her father demanded $300 a month in rent so she began gigging as an extra for $35 a day. Before long, shed moved to Hollywood, finding leading roles in movies like Scream and Jawbreaker. She began dating high-profile men such as Marilyn Manson and director Robert Rodriguez, whom McGowan calls only RR. Her relationship with Manson, though oft-scrutinized in the press, was largely without conflict, blissful even, from her descriptions of Manson painting watercolors of my Boston terriers while I was ordering glassware from Martha Stewarts online store. This was not the case with RR, whom McGowan met at the Cannes Film Festival while the filmmaker was still married. RR was at turns weirdly flattering I got you at your ripest, he told her and intensely possessive. On the set of Grindhouse, McGowan writes, RR would often fly into jealous rages, accusing her of secretly being in love with his collaborator, Quentin Tarantino. Then, after the movie was completed, RR sold it to Dimension Films, a division of the Weinstein Co. I cant tell you what it was like to be sold into the hands of the man who had assaulted me and scarred me for life, McGowan writes. I had to do press events with the Monster and see photos of us together, his big fat paw pulling me in to his body. (In October, Rodriguez released a lengthy statement saying he was aware of what Weinstein had done to McGowan and purposefully made Grindhouse with his company in an effort to make the executive literally pay for what he had done.) Grindhouse was the beginning of the end for McGowan and what she calls the cult of Hollywood. To promote the film, she and costar Rosario Dawson were asked to pose naked on the cover of Rolling Stone in 2007, their bare bottoms touching. When she saw the cover image her long hair teased voluminously, her pout drawn out with red lipstick she was horrified. Who is that person? she recalls thinking. What have they done to you? This is what its come to? While she admits to being complicit in the creation of this image, she also says the public often misinterpreted why she was showing off her body. When she turned up nearly nude to the 1998 MTV Video Movie Awards with Manson dressed only in beaded transparent mesh that left her bare breasts and thong underwear exposed she writes that she was trying to reclaim her body after her recent assault. Over the past decade McGowan began to cut ties with the industry, even shaving her head to distance herself from the long, glossy Kardashian-esque ideal that agents told her would make her desirable to men. And then she found Twitter. In 2015, McGowan received a casting call for an Adam Sandler movie that urged actresses to wear push-up bras to an audition. She was disturbed by the request, but not surprised by it so when she posted it on Twitter and the message went viral, she was stunned. I realized it was time I finally start some real conversation with the public, she writes. I would no longer be silenced. Since then McGowan has become one of social medias leading warriors, calling out what she views as abuses of power in the movie business and encouraging her followers to join the #RoseArmy. The journey has not always been smooth at moments she has personally attacked even her closest allies, including Charmed costar Alyssa Milano and Amber Tamblyn. McGowan has acknowledged she is a work-in-progress recently tweeting that there is no map for this road Im on. Brave is in part an exploration and explanation of the rage constantly leaking out of McGowans pores. But her aim is not to engender sympathy rather its to encourage those feeling disempowered to channel some of her plentiful anger. Being angry is okay, she advises, no one is going to die if we women let our anger out in healthy ways. Brave Rose McGowan HarperOne: 272 pp., $27.99 McGowan speaks onstage about Citizen Rose during the NBCUniversal portion of the 2018 Winter Television Critics Assn. Press Tour. (Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images ) McGowan speaks on a panel at the inaugural Womens Convention in Detroit last October. (Paul Sancya / AP ) amy.kaufman@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @AmyKinLA Times critic Justin Chang is filing regular dispatches from the 72nd annual Cannes Film Festival, which runs May 14-25 in France. The day before the Cannes premiere of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, his hotly anticipated movie set in Los Angeles during the tumultuous events of 1969, Quentin Tarantino published an open letter online. He addressed it to audiences at the festival, opening with the words I love Cinema, which may be the most redundant thing this movie-mad auteur has ever written (and given his endless, self-admiring flurries of dialogue, that is saying something). The letter then implored us not to reveal anything that would prevent later audiences from experiencing the film in the same way. A version of this entreaty was repeated from the stage by a festival representative shortly before the picture screened Tuesday for members of the press, some of whom booed and snorted in response. I didnt join in. Even as someone who believes that excessive spoiler sensitivity is a sign of an entitled, infantile approach to moviegoing, its easy to understand Tarantinos anxiety, especially after a leaked script nearly led him to shelve The Hateful Eight. (Many, of course, still wish that he had.) READ MORE: Once Upon a Time in ... Hollywood trailer offers more clues to Tarantinos latest Advertisement Twenty-five years after Pulp Fiction won the Palme dOr at this festival, Tarantinos movies may no longer have quite the same audacity or revelatory power, but the ability to shock and, if youre lucky, to make you think remains an important tool in his kit. This turns out to be the case even when hes dealing with real-life subjects such as Sharon Tate, Roman Polanski and members of the Charles Manson cult, whose well-documented stories would, by now, seem beyond spoiling. Not quite, apparently. I will do my best to oblige Monsieur Tarantino and his collaborators on this richly evocative, conceptually jaw-dropping, excessively foot-fetishizing, inescapably terrifying and unexpectedly poignant movie. Still, if you wish to preserve the purity of a first viewing, it is probably best if you read no further, and that you read nothing else about the movie before Sony Pictures releases it in U.S. theaters July 26. Like Tarantinos 2009 picture, Inglourious Basterds, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is both a luxuriant, sometimes lumbering ode to a bygone era of moviemaking and a singularly bold reinterpretation of a violent chapter of history. The title is practically a spoiler in itself: We are not just in the dream factory, but also within the realm of fantasy. Our guides to this cracked-mirror vision of Hollywood, which kicks off in February 1969, are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), an actor whose career peaked years ago with the western TV series Bounty Law, and Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), a war veteran who is Ricks longtime stunt double and best friend. Actress Margot Robbie and cinematographer Robert Richardson shoot a scene for Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood. (Sony Pictures) The first screen pairing between DiCaprio and Pitt proves worth the wait, even if the practical realities of the actor-stuntman relationship dont seem to interest Tarantino all that much. Thats fine; the personalities are what matter. DiCaprio, his golden-boy wattage persuasively dimmed, is both mockable and sympathetic as a handsome has-been actor, the unwitting star of his own male midlife-crisis movie. Hes cradled beautifully by Pitt as the most loyal of pals, someone whos always there to lend a shoulder or some serious muscle as needed. (The second-billed Pitt may be playing the lower man on the industry totem pole, but this is very much his movie.) It would be a hoot to watch these stars in boozy, cigarette-chomping buddy-comedy mode even if they werent tethered to such a loving and persuasive re-creation of the movie industry at the time. Fans of the era may be reminded of legendary actor-stuntman pairings such as Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham, and some will supply their own real-life reference points for Rick and Cliffs work, even if they are unable to match Tarantinos characteristically obsessive scholarship. For most of its 159-minute running time, Once Upon a Time both does and doesnt behave the way you might expect a Quentin Tarantino picture to behave. Bounty Law is a distant cousin of western serials including Gunsmoke and Bonanza. One of Ricks more successful movies, 14 Fists of McCluskey, might be a callback to The Dirty Dozen. Barbara Lings production design is a wittily intricate treasure trove of fake movie memorabilia, though theres some real stuff in the mix too. A one-sheet for the 1949 Roy Rogers western The Golden Stallion is just one of many decorating the walls of Ricks Benedict Canyon home. Yes, Benedict Canyon. The early sight of a Cielo Drive street sign cuts ominously through Tarantinos flood of references and reminds you that he does have a very dark story to tell. That story is slow to coalesce, however, in a movie that doesnt always draw a distinction between period detail and narrative thrust. Is Mike Mohs amusingly cocky Bruce Lee impersonation a gratuitous touch or a key piece of foreshadowing? Do the extensive scenes of Rick struggling on the set of his latest movie count as character development or mise-en-scene overkill? (Thanks to Julia Butters lovely performance as Ricks preternaturally confident child costar, I didnt much care either way.) For most of its 159-minute running time, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood both does and doesnt behave the way you might expect a Quentin Tarantino picture to behave. The storytelling is entirely linear. The talk loops and drones endlessly, as usual, but its also slow to gather momentum. The loose hangout vibe achieves some of the mellowness and melancholy of Jackie Brown (a very good thing). A chill enters the picture whenever attention shifts to the Manson family, especially when we arrive at their temporary digs at the Spahn Movie Ranch, but overt acts of violence are (initially) few and far between. Brad Pitt in Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood. (Sony Pictures) Given the movies lurching stop-and-go rhythms, you could blink and miss some of the actors listed in the huge ensemble cast. You will, however, remember the faces of Bruce Dern and the late Luke Perry (in one of his last performances), and also of Margaret Qualley, Austin Butler, Mikey Madison and Dakota Fanning as Mansonites. Most of all, perhaps, you will remember Margot Robbie in the role of Sharon Tate, who pops up every so often, hijacking the narrative as she goes about her day, her luminous presence working in almost contrapuntal rhythm to the main story. I am both reluctant and obliged to say more. When the picture was first announced in 2017, many expressed their reservations about Tarantino, not a director known for his tact or sensitivity, taking on a story that would deal with a subject as horrific and painful as the Manson murders. And that was months before the #MeToo storm broke, bringing with it the downfall of Tarantinos longtime collaborator Harvey Weinstein, plus Uma Thurmans account of having been subjected to reckless treatment on the set of Kill Bill. A resurfaced 2003 audio clip of Tarantino defending Roman Polanski (played by Rafal Zawierucha in a few scenes) didnt help matters. In short, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood arrived in Cannes on Tuesday saddled with the kind of foul-smelling baggage that perhaps only a filmmaker of Tarantinos reputation, an artist still revered as one of the industrys last true big-picture originals, could possibly overcome. Does he overcome it? Its far too early to tell. But after a first viewing, it seems clear to me that Tarantino delved into this project intent on allaying our worst fears and doing right by his subject. And he does this, of course, in the language he speaks best: the love of cinema. Where the character of Sharon Tate is concerned, that love takes the form of a seemingly unconnected subplot that shows her casually walking up to a Westwood theater screening her 1968 movie The Wrecking Crew. We see the real Tate light up the big screen, and Robbies eyes glow with joy in the audience, as she watches the person shes playing. Its a moving act of homage, and it is not, crucially, the only way in which Tarantino seeks to inspire a fresh and compassionate reconsideration of Tates memory. The final act of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is funny, scary, troubling and exhilarating by turns; the meandering structure clicks into place as it becomes clear where Tarantino has been taking this story and, given his track record, perhaps could only have taken this story. This is hardly the first time that this director has turned fiction and reality into blood-slicked bedfellows; nor is it the first time he has made the outrageous suggestion that cinema, as both an art and an industry, can make up for some of lifes most grievous imperfections in ways that nothing else can. Spoilers or no spoilers, you may not be terribly surprised, which doesnt mean you wont be astonished. justin.chang@latimes.com The final Star Wars movie in the triple-trilogy Skywalker saga is inching closer to its December release date, and its latest tease came Wednesday, sprinkled with on-set photos by famed portrait photographer Annie Leibovitz. The behind-the-scenes look came by way of Vanity Fair, which features Episode IXs principle characters Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) on its summer issues dual covers. J.J. Abrams, who directs Disney and Lucasfilms Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, boasts about the franchises place in the zeitgeist and about filming the latest installment in the otherworldly Wadi Rum desert in Jordan a shooting decision deliberately made to give the space opera the authenticity of George Lucas first films. Every generation has a legend. @VanityFairs special Star Wars: #TheRiseOfSkywalker issue has arrived with exclusive first look photos by @annieleibovitz: https://t.co/FM1bXlvoB5 pic.twitter.com/ndqDxSBkzb Star Wars (@starwars) May 22, 2019 Advertisement Abrams is the last film in the latest trilogy, which he launched in 2015 with The Force Awakens. The filmmaker has been tasked with concluding the 42-year saga of the Skywalker family. (After that, the Game of Thrones guys will tell their Star Wars story.) Thats the challenge of this movie, Abrams told Lev Grossman. It wasnt just to make one film that as a standalone experience would be thrilling, and scary, and emotional, and funny, but one that if you were to watch all nine of the films, youd feel like, Well, of course that! What we learned from the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer Though little is known about the plot of The Rise of Skywalker, its expected that the Resistance and the First Order are headed toward a final showdown, presumably bringing a conclusion to the millennia-long conflict between the Jedi Order and the Sith. It could also fortify or diminish the maybe-bond between Kylo and Rey, Driver said. As for Leibovitz, she first photographed the cast of The Empire Strikes Back for Rolling Stone back in 1980. Then, since The Phantom Menace in 1999, Leibovitz has visited the set and shot portraits from each Star Wars film. Her latest outing features a glimpse of Keri Russell in character as the masked Zorri Bliss and Domhnall Gleeson as General Hux and Richard E. Grants villainous Allegiant General Pryde of the First Order are also revealed. Other Leibovitz stills show the mysterious Knights of Ren, as well as Star Wars veteran Billy Dee Williams, 82, reprising his role as the charismatic Lando Calrissian. He returns to pilot the Millennium Falcon alongside Oscar Isaacs Poe Dameron, Chewbacca and the droid BB-8. Director @jjabrams rehearses a scene with the Knights of Ren on the set of #TheRiseOfSkywalker. Read more on these elite warriors in @VanityFairs special The Rise of Skywalker issue. Read the cover story: https://t.co/Nq5QF0Wn8V pic.twitter.com/tx25tiMZqd Star Wars (@starwars) May 22, 2019 Follow me: @NardineSaad What can one say about The Perfection, a film that repeatedly turns on a dime, constantly subverting expectations, swapping subgenres and scrolling back and forth in time to reveal what was previously hidden? Is it an erotic thriller, a contagion film, a revenge movie, a slasher flick? Is it art or exploitation? Its all of the above. One thing is for certain: The Allison Williams Scream Queen evolution is one of the most exciting current trends in cinema. After her brilliantly basic, benevolently brutal performance in Get Out, and now with The Perfection, where she continually shifts between victim and villain, its obvious that the Girls actress has incredibly daring taste when it comes to her film roles. What makes her so effective in these complex roles is the way that Williams preppy, pleasant-seeming demeanor the wide, white surfaces of her teeth, the doe eyes, the dimples can shape-shift between sinister or sweet, depending on the context. Sometimes its both. Directed by Richard Shepard and written by Shepard, Eric C. Charmelo and Nicole Snyder, The Perfection is a film about trauma, jealousy and the trap of perfectionism. Williams stars as Charlotte, to whom were introduced in small, disjointed moments and memories: her mother on her death bed surrounded by orange pill bottles; at age 14, packed up and leaving a stately home with her cello in tow, glimpsing the new girl taking her place; a practiced phone call, her voice carefully modulating a casual tone, asking her former cello teacher to meet up. Charlotte makes her way to Shanghai to visit the teacher, Anton (Steven Weber), and his wife, Paloma (Alaina Huffman), at a contest for placement at Bachoff, the elite cello school she once attended. At the competition, Charlotte encounters a star cellist, Lizzie (Logan Browning), who has the fame and accolades she had to sacrifice when her mother got sick. The two women collide in this charged atmosphere, instantly understanding each other and what they went through as dedicated elite cellists. The tension between them is palpable are they going to fight or kiss? Perhaps both? Advertisement It would be unfair to share the shocking twists and turns that unfurl in long waves, sweeping the footing right out from under you. Then Shepard carefully rewinds, showing us what we didnt see before, explaining the mechanics of how everything ended up in such a dark and demented place. While Williams Charlotte is poised perfection personified, Brownings Lizzie is her frank, feisty and feral foil. Lizzie is all id, Charlotte is the superego, and together, they make quite a pair. Browning is a revelation in The Perfection, showing new, unexpected colors and facets of her range. Weber is also note-perfect as their sophisticated and demanding cello instructor. The Perfection is Shepards eighth feature film, and shows him working in a vastly different arena than his indie comedies of the 90s or light crime capers The Matador and Dom Hemingway. A veteran of episodic TV (Ugly Betty, Girls), Shepard brings a crisp, polished style that belies the truly twisted events that are about to unfold. Like leading lady Williams, the exterior of The Perfection is flawless, covering up the darkness that lies beneath. The wild ride in store is both supremely disturbing and unpredictable. But rendered with such care, skill and sheer glee its utterly divine. ------------- The Perfection Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Playing: Available May 24 on Netflix ------------ calendar@latimes.com @LATimesMovies Edie Parker, a New York-based accessories line known for its signature acrylic clutch handbags, is the latest fashion brand to tap into the upscale marijuana movement thanks to a colorful, fruit-themed collection of smoking accessories and three strains of stylishly packaged cannabis flower. The Flower by Edie Parker hard goods channel the brands cheery, irreverent vibe into a range of smoking accouterments that includes hand-blown glass pipes shaped like bananas, strawberries and grapes (which, yes, technically makes them fruit bowls), floral-print rolling papers and chunky acrylic stash boxes, rolling trays and matchbox covers. Refreshingly, theres nary a pot leaf to be seen. An acrylic rolling tray insert (left, $150, on top of a $295 vanity tray sold separately) and mini cigarette case (right, $295) are part of the new Flower by Edie Parker collection. (Edie Parker) Retailing from $20 to $500, the inaugural collection of paraphernalia is currently available at the brands Madison Avenue flagship in New York and on edieparkerflower.com. In July, it is set to launch at Barneys New York, which in April launched a luxe headshop concept at its Beverly Hills store called the High End. Advertisement What makes Edie Parkers move into the cannabis space notable is the combustible consumable part, created in partnership with Northern California cannabis brand Flow Kana. (Its not totally novel though; in April an upstart smokewear label called Sundae School made a similar move into branded cannabis.) Starting Wednesday, tiny, thoughtfully designed jars each containing slightly more than a gram of cannabis flower will be available for purchase to Los Angeles customers 21 and older through the recently launched delivery service Emjay. The three strains being offered ($20 each) continue the fruit theme of the collection; Cherry Cheesecake (an indica), Pineapple Rising (a sativa) and a hybrid called Banana Jam. The relatively small amount of weed (about the amount youd find in a pre-rolled, dispensary-purchased joint), certainly wont make this every smokers cup of cannabis. But the gold metallic jar tops and brightly striped boxes make them a thoughtful hostess or host gift option for the fashion-forward cannabis enthusiast in your social circle. adam.tschorn@latimes.com For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me at @ARTschorn The taco salad, a midcentury Mexican American dish, has never gotten much respect in food circles. Its credibility hit an all-time low May 5, 2016, when then-presidential candidate Donald Trump tweeted a picture of his lunch: a mystery meat taco bowl, ostensibly eaten in honor of Cinco de Mayo. I love Hispanics! tweeted the would-be president, a wolf-in-sheeps-clothing grin pasted on his face, further affirming the dishs reputation as the stuff of unappetizing cafeteria menus and watered-down Mexican cooking. At Amorcito, a new counter-service Mexican restaurant located inside the Hangar, the aviation-themed food hall located at the Long Beach Exchange shopping center, chef Thomas Ortega presents a version of the taco salad thats, at once, ennobling and playful. He swaps out the familiar stratum of mealy ground beef, grated yellow cheese, diced tomatoes, sour cream and iceberg lettuce for a crisp, cheffy blend of organic field greens, garbanzos, roasted corn, shredded cabbage and a scattering of sharp cotija cheese. Its served inside a comically oversize tortilla shell, which has been shaped to resemble, more or less, the worlds biggest taco. Review: Sushi master Morihiro Onodera reappears at hidden Inn Ann Advertisement The dishs cheeky presentation, and the way it smudges the line between high and low, is a good example of Ortegas cooking style, which food writer Bill Esparza has described as pocho cuisine. For much of the 20th century, the word pocho was hurled pejoratively at Mexican Americans who were deemed to have lost their Mexican culture, a judgment often revolving around a lack of fluency in Spanish. (Novelist and native Angeleno Jose Antonio Villarreal helped disseminate the term more widely with Pocho, his groundbreaking 1959 coming-of-age Chicano novel). In more recent decades, many Chicanos have reclaimed the word, mining it as a rich source of identity, humor and strength. The taco salad at Amorcito is served in an oversize, taco-shaped shell. (Liz Barclay / For The Times) Pochismo, in Ortegas cooking, is a philosophy and culinary aesthetic guided by several qualities: wit, irreverence and the sort of fearless autonomy that allows a chef to erase the boundaries between what we think of as Mexican and American cooking; haute and lowbrow cuisine. In Ortegas world, the tension that comes from living between two different cultures is not a source of anguish or confusion, but something to be exploited for creative purposes. Some of his most famous dishes include chilaquiles plates made out of Doritos; a tater tot poutine lathered in black mole; pasta sauced with pureed New Mexico Hatch green chiles. Authenticity, a dubious concept frequently imposed on Mexican cooking, is never more meaningless than when you pull up a chair at Ortegas table. Review: At Yours Truly in Venice, a chef offers his vision for modern Californian cooking Before launching a spate of Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles southern suburbs Ortega 120 in Redondo Beach, Long Beachs Playa Amor and Amor y Tacos in Cerritos Ortega cooked at Spago, the Water Grill and the Four Seasons in Newport Beach. Amorcito is his fourth restaurant and his first foray into fast-casual dining. The menu is considerably smaller than at his other restaurants, but the spirit of his cooking is still there, particularly in the tacos. You can get battered fish tacos touched with a gently spicy secret remoulade; a succulent pollo asado taco garnished with crumbles of chile-lime peanuts; and tacos made with wonderful long-cooked short-rib beef birria. As at Ortegas other restaurants, everything is served on fresh, hot, sturdy tortillas that are made in-house corn or flour, your choice. A taco plate from Amorcito, chef Thomas Ortegas new fast-casual Mexican restaurant located inside the Hangar at the Long Beach Exchange. (Liz Barclay / For The Times) A highlight of eating at Amorcito are the taquitos de papa stuffed with a blend of potatoes, mushroom and spinach the tightly rolled, deep-fried tacos shatter pleasantly between your teeth, the texture going from crunchy to creamily soft and then crunchy again. Theyre topped with a spicy-tangy onion-cilantro slaw and a tangy drizzle of the house guacsalsa. The best taco in the house is the Tepito, which Ortega said was inspired by one he had on a recent trip to the Tepito Market in Mexico Citys Barrio Bravo. The taco is a pork lovers delight: a heap of braised carnitas hacked into loose, juicy scraps and laced with slinky, meltingly soft cueritos. Crisp, thin French fries are crowbarred into the taco, gently punctuated with green and red salsa and the bracing freshness of cilantro and onion. The crowning touch is a wafer-like chicharron chip, a sort of crisp bookend to the whole drippy, delicious mess. Burritos are monumental beauties stuffed with your choice of meat and all the trimmings: rice, beans, pico, queso, cilantro, onions and a sweet-tangy green chile aioli. They weigh a half-pound or more, probably, but stay miraculously intact and unsoggy. Ive grown especially fond of the bean y queso, a fat, bulging tube filled with a creamy mash of Peruvian beans whorled with molten white cheese and a smoky salsa verde. The crispy chicharrones plate at Amorcito in Long Beach. (Liz Barclay / For The Times) Hopefully your table will be covered with paper boats loaded with Ortegas salty-tangy salsa verde y queso fries, or maybe the pastor fries, spiked with meaty, spicy hunks of the chefs pineapple-sweetened al pastor. In between tacos, you are probably snacking on the house pork rinds, appropriately crisp and spritzed with lime and a spicy salsa roja. It wouldnt be a true pocho joint without a burger or two on the menu. Amorcitos New Mexico Hatch chile cheeseburger is a slim, well-cooked patty capped with melted American cheese, the bread lightly smeared in a satiny garlic aioli and a thin puree of green chiles. Its a very good burger, although probably not why you came to Amorcito in the first place. But as any pocho knows, the world is a richer, more delicious place when you ditch the rules and eat without boundaries. Amorcito Chef Thomas Ortega prepares a taco salad at Amorcito, his fast-casual Mexican restaurant in Long Beach. (Liz Barclay / For The Times) Chef Thomas Ortega opens a fast-casual Mexican restaurant in Long Beach. LOCATION 3991 N. Lakewood Blvd., Long Beach (Inside the Long Beach Exchange shopping centers Hangar extension), (562) 420-5005 PRICES Tacos $3.75-$4.25; burritos $9.50; starters $4-$9.50 DETAILS Credit cards accepted. No bar. Lot parking. Dining room and restroom are wheelchair-accessible. RECOMMENDED DISHES Taco salad; short rib taco; Tepito taco; bean y queso burrito patricia.escarcega@latimes.com Twitter: @piescarcega Instagram: @holynopales The menu at Ototo, the new Echo Park bar from Courtney Kaplan and Charles Namba of the izakaya Tsubaki, aims to capture your sake aura. Are you into fruit and flowers or earth and umami? Do you tend toward rice and minerals, or, be honest, delicious weirdos? A glass of Tengumai Junmai Yamahai is described as old-school mushroomy funk machine. If thats not your thing, maybe a flavor bomb of cocoa and earth, or something tart and sweet, like if German Riesling had a Japanese cousin. Through familiar language, the couple hope to find the point of entry for customers to get better acquainted with sake. Advertisement They dont need to understand the words. They dont need to know what ginjo means, they just need to taste it and tell me, Oh, I like it, Kaplan said. I find that getting it on the table in front of people takes the intimidation out of it. Ototo Japanese for little brother will open next door to Tsubaki on Wednesday. In the two years since opening their restaurant, Kaplan and Namba said they have discovered an emerging enthusiasm among Angelenos for drinking and learning about sake. What started as a small and conservative list has outgrown the menu. Ototo sits next to sister restaurant Tsubaki on Allison Avenue. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) We dont have enough room on the page for all the sake I want to pour, said Kaplan, who worked at Domaine L.A. and Bestia before opening Tsubaki with Namba. Ototo offers more space for drinkers and bottles. The handsome, 1,000-square-foot space, with wooden benches upholstered with fabric that Nambas parents brought back from their favorite store in Kobe, sits on a sliver of Allison Avenue just off Sunset Boulevard. About 40 to 50 types of sake will regularly be available. If you want to geek out, you can, or if you just want a glass of something simple, thats an option too, Kaplan said. The dining room and bar at Ototo in Echo Park. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) What youre drinking tastes better, sometimes, when you know a little bit about whats behind it. Courtney Kaplan, co-owner of Ototo and Tsubaki They imagine some customers continuing their evening around the cozy bar after dinner next door at Tsubaki, or stopping in for a quick cup of sake (or beer, wine or shochu) on the way to a Dodgers game just up the hill. The bar will serve contemporary Japanese food: Osaka-style okonomiyaki, the savory pancakes typically drizzled with mayo and piled with bonito flakes, inflected with pickled ginger; a modern version of the hot-pot dish oden; a chili burger inspired by the one at Japanese fast-food chain Mos Burger; karaage; and the cheese Delice de Bourgogne with black truffles, what the owners call the ultimate sake pairing. Sohomare Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo and a chicken katsu sando at Ototo. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Namba said his intention was to fill Ototos menu with sake- and beer-friendly menu items, but ones that feel light and fresh. Sometimes drinking food can be heavy, he said. I think its important to have clean flavors. Kaplan noted the duo also wanted a menu that reflected a wide subset of Japanese food: Its not just all ramen or yakitori, she said. The same goes for sake. While wine culture thrives on stories of history, makers and terroir, the language around sake is much more demure. Drinking sake in Japan is seen as old-fashioned, Kaplan said. Most young people dont drink it most of my friends in Japan drink shochu or wine or beer and as an industry it is really struggling to shake this old-fashioned image, she said. Co-owner Courtney Kaplan at Ototo, a new sake bar in Echo Park. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Kaplan has found that the lack of a narrative link between drinker and distiller can provide challenges when it comes to selling sake. Most of our clientele have been to a winery, or theyve been to Napa, and theres a picture of the winemaker on the back of the bottle, she said. But with sake, people often have a hard time envisioning where it comes from and how it is made. We are trying to find stories to tell about it, like this is made by a female brewer, or this is from this region where maybe someone has been before, or this is made with heirloom rice, Kaplan said. For instance, she tells people that Yamahai, a type of sake developed in the early 20th century, requires a longer and slightly warmer fermentation, which gives more time for things to grow, so you get more crazy aromatics, like shitake mushroom, a lot of earthiness, a lot of forest-floor aromas, flavors that tend to resonate with natural-wine drinkers. Unpasteurized sake (nama), due to its high acidity, tends to appeal to those with funkier tastes in wine, as does barrel-aged sake with its dark brown color and echoes of madeira. Sake seems very mysterious to most people. So we tell them: This is the person who makes it, its named after his daughter, she said. Because once you can make a personal connection, it resonates more. What youre drinking tastes better, sometimes, when you know a little bit about whats behind it. In swaths of rural America, along roads where there are just a few farms or homes within a mile-long stretch, customers are so few that the likes of AT&T and T-Mobile dont bother to build cell towers for coverage. The only operators providing wireless access are small carriers, many of which cant afford equipment from suppliers such as Ericsson and Nokia Corp. and instead rely on cheaper network infrastructure from Huawei Technologies Co. and other Chinese companies. President Trumps move last week to bar U.S. telecommunications networks from acquiring or using equipment from foreign suppliers left these small broadband companies under a cloud of uncertainty. If they can no longer rely on affordable foreign equipment to run their networks, will they run at all? Small carriers face a constant uphill battle both in terms of limited vendors who will supply to us compounded by the regulatory challenges were up against, said John Nettles, president of Pine Belt Communications, a small telecommunications company in Alabama that relies on the Chinese company ZTE Corp. for its 4G network. Sometimes it feels like the cards are really stacked against us. Advertisement Last week, the U.S. Commerce Department separately added Huawei and its affiliates to a list of firms considered a risk to national security, effectively preventing Huawei from buying parts from American companies. Who is Ren Zhengfei -- the man behind Huawei? Huawei immediately began to feel the effects of the administrations crackdown, with Google initially cutting off Huawei from many Android hardware and software services. (After the Commerce Department announced a 90-day buffer period, Google walked back, saying it would continue to work with Huawei in the meantime). U.S. companies such as Qualcomm Inc. and Intel Corp., which provide the Shenzhen telecommunications giant with crucial chips and other special parts, told employees they wouldnt supply Huawei until further notice. The move also left rural broadband companies that use Huawei equipment scrambling to figure out what it might mean for their day-to-day operations. Though small carriers dont export to Huawei, they often need to send technical drawings or data to Huawei in order to maintain their current network infrastructure. The 90-day window announced by the Commerce Department on Monday allows companies that rely on Huawei equipment for crucial services to continue operations for now. In short, this license will allow operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said in a news release. Ross had indicated last week that his department was not looking to harm rural providers. More pressing to the carriers is the executive order, which the administration will shape over the next five months. Rural broadband carriers could be forced to rip out and replace entire networks because they wouldnt be able to import spare parts or software updates to maintain infrastructure, said Roger Entner, a telecom analyst at Recon Analytics. If something breaks, what are you going to tell your customer? Im sorry you have an outage. We dont know when we are going to fix it because its Huawei equipment. Until then, sorry. No internet for you, Entner said. You dont want to tell that to a customer. Nettles estimates that replacing Pine Belts network would cost $5 million to $10 million. And downtime from installing new equipment would probably cause Pine Belt to forgo $1 million to $3 million in roaming fees, according to Federal Communications Commission filings. Carri Bennet, general counsel for the Rural Wireless Assn., a trade group for carriers with fewer than 100,000 subscribers, said her organization is waiting to see how the Trump administrations move will affect members. She estimated that 25% of the associations members used Huawei or ZTE gear in their networks. When something new comes up, were sent scrambling, Nettles said. What its going to mean for us in the long term is difficult to say at best. Nettles company is small, with about 40 employees and some 60 cell sites. Thats a drop in the bucket for big companies such as Ericsson and Nokia, which often dont see a reason to scale down their services for such small accounts, Nettles said. Whereas national carriers operate in more densely populated parts of the region, Pine Belt covers many of the roads farmers regularly travel areas overlooked by big providers. Its 4G network offers rural drivers cell service and even provides household internet access in areas without broadband cable. Im aware of the need to have secure networks. Were not trying to suggest security is not an important consideration, Nettles said. But how do you balance it with providing service to underserved markets which is mainly where we operate? The Federal Communications Commissions Universal Service Fund funnels money to smaller telecom companies including members of the Rural Wireless Assn. to provide internet services in rural areas. Since June 2018, a group of rural broadband companies mostly in the Midwest have been fighting an FCC proposal that would ban the use of federal subsidies to purchase Huawei and other Chinese equipment that might pose a national security threat. In a series of filings to the FCC, the Rural Broadband Coalition argued the ban would force many small rural broadband providers into bankruptcy. Sagebrush Cellular, a cell service provider in northeast Montana, said that when it considered options for 4G deployment, Lucent equipment was double the price of Huawei. Ericsson technology was almost four times the cost of Huawei equipment. One unnamed prominent alternative vendor didnt even give Sagebrush a price quote, according to the filing, stating only that a small company would be unable to afford them. Sagebrush moved forward with Huawei, spending more than $25 million on its equipment. It would cost Sagebrush an estimated $57 million to replace its network, the company said in the filing. Its network size would shrink by two-thirds, losing coverage in many areas where Sagebrush is the only wireless carrier, including 173 miles of the U.S.-Canadian border. The FCC proposal is still pending, as it awaits guidance from the Trump administration on how it should proceed. Nettles is waiting to see what will happen with the rule-making process, but he expects he will have to find a new vendor to replace current network infrastructure. The question is: Where will he get the capital to make the change? Pine Belt relies on federal funds for capital costs. Hes hoping the government will provide assistance. Otherwise, hes not sure what he will do: Pine Belt could fold as a result. Im really counting on the system to do right by all of us, he said. Hussain reported from Los Angeles, Su from Beijing. Movie actress: An article in the May 21 Calendar section about movie actress Leyna Bloom said that in 2017 she appeared on the cover of Vogue India. She appeared inside the magazine, not on the cover. Ultima Thule: An article in the May 20 Section A about NASAs New Horizons mission said the space object Ultima Thule receives 900 times less sunlight than Earth does. It receives nearly 1,900 times less sunlight than our planet. If you believe that we have made an error, or you have questions about The Times journalistic standards and practices, you may contact the readers representative by email at readers.representative@latimes.com, by phone at (877) 554-4000 or by mail at 2300 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo, CA 90245. The readers representative office is online at latimes.com/readersrep. Authorities were having some trouble investigating a brawl that erupted during a weekend meeting of local politicians at an Indian Wells resort, noting that many individuals on scene were uncooperative. The Riverside County Sheriffs Department said in a statement that detectives were still trying to talk to an individual who witnessed the violence at the Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa during the annual meeting of the California Contract Cities Assn., an advocacy group for cities that contract for public services. The search for details is ongoing, and we are still attempting to locate and identify those who may have been involved or have information about the incident, the department said. It was not clear who started the fight early Saturday morning, but it involved members of the Commerce City Council and other public officials, according to a statement from Mayor John Soria and several witnesses who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident. Advertisement Some witnesses said the melee involved more than seven people including some who were trying to break up the combatants and included political consultants, government vendors and elected officials from the Los Angeles area. One or more women were screaming, the sources said. It was a hectic scene, one witness said. A photo circulating among local politicians appeared to show Commerce City Councilman Leonard Mendoza lying on the floor with drops of blood at his feet. A man is seen in the photo checking his pulse. Soria said in his statement that he was told that Mendoza and a council colleague, Ivan Altamirano, were having a conversation that had become elevated, so he went to the area to defuse any potential conflict. He said that when he approached, he saw Mendoza on the floor apparently unconscious and Altamirano standing nearby with a facial injury. Soria, a civilian law enforcement technician for the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, said he and Altamirano were then attacked from behind by two individuals. He did not identify the assailants, saying he wanted to let law enforcement conduct a thorough investigation. He said he would file a police report and press charges. I want to be clear in condemning the violent behavior from the individuals who initiated these assaults, Soria said. Once additional information is available, I intend to call on my council colleagues to take appropriate action regarding any individuals that represent the City of Commerce who were involved in the incident. In an interview with The Times, Mendoza said he recalled having a heated exchange with Altamirano, who he said interrupted a conversation he was having. I asked him if he could step away, and he wouldnt step back, Mendoza said. I guess he didnt like that, and it got heated and it got loud. Shortly after the exchange, Mendoza said, he felt a blow from behind and woke up in a hospital. In the room were his wife and a law enforcement officer. It mustve been one of those things where I got knocked out with one punch, he said. He said he didnt know who struck him. Mendoza suffered a large cut to the back of his head and cuts to his face. In a statement Monday, a lawyer for Altamirano said the vice mayor had received an outpouring of support and called Mendoza the physical aggressor in the confrontation. Vice Mayor Altamirano has been threatened by Councilman Mendoza before, and this incident fits an unfortunate and documented pattern of misconduct, the statement read. The Sheriffs Department said it was still investigating the melee and did not provide any information on possible suspects. Many individuals on scene were uncooperative and did not provide statements, the department said in a statement. Staff writers Adam Elmahrek, Richard Winton and Anh Do contributed to this report. A long-awaited state audit of Los Angeles Countys troubled Department of Children and Family Services has uncovered shortcomings that often place vulnerable children in harms way. The audit found that the departments social workers didnt initiate or complete investigations of neglect accurately or quickly enough, used inaccurate assessments to determine child risk and didnt always conduct criminal background checks of those living in homes where children were placed. The department has allowed children to remain in unsafe and abusive situations for months longer than necessary because it did not start or complete investigations within required time frames, the state auditors office concluded. Although wide-ranging in scope, the audit was prompted by the high-profile slayings of two boys Anthony Avalos and Gabriel Fernandez who were both subjects of abuse investigations in L.A. County and, according to prosecutors, may have come out as gay. Advertisement Investigators specifically reviewed whether the department had adequate protections in place for LGBTQ youth, who are disproportionately represented in the foster care system and who face additional trauma because of having been rejected by their families for their sexual orientation or gender expression. Though the audit did find that the department is working to improve conditions for LGBTQ children and teens under its supervision, citing an internal county study from 2014 that indicated a need for improvement, investigators found far less progress in other areas. RELATED: The Los Angeles Times investigation into the killing of Anthony Avalos For example, the departments safety and risk assessments used to gauge a childs immediate safety and need for services have often been late and inaccurate, making it difficult to mitigate risks to childrens safety, according to the audit. Investigators found several instances in which social workers submitted the assessments without having visited the childs home. Social workers also did not consistently conduct required home inspections and criminal background checks before placing children with relatives. Despite budget increases that allowed the department to hire more social workers and reduce caseloads, department workers did not always conduct monthly visits to homes to assess the well-being of children on their caseload, according to the report. Reunification assessments, which document caretakers behavioral problems and evaluate risk, were also not completed in a timely manner in all but one case the state auditors reviewed. Not completing these assessments properly could lead the department to inappropriately return a child to a parent or guardian, the state auditors office concluded. Issues with the speed and quality of investigations and the failure to conduct background checks before placing children have been long-running problems for the department. Those same deficiencies were brought to light in a report released by the state auditor in 2012. In one case highlighted in the report, a social worker tried once without success to contact a family within a day of receiving a report of possible abuse and then waited 151 days to follow up. Once the department made renewed attempts, it removed multiple children from their mothers care after discovering she had been abusing illegal drugs, the audit states. Throughout those five months, the department risked the health and safety of the children by leaving them in an unsafe situation. Bobby Cagle, the director of DCFS, said social workers are focused on improving the way they conduct safety assessments for children and families. Cagle also said the department hoped to hire more supervisors to help manage the more than 2,000 new caseworkers hired in recent years. Those supervisors are crucial for training and mentoring, but also for holding caseworkers accountable for meeting deadlines for case assessments. Of the audit, he said, Weve welcomed it, we will make use of it and we will comply with the recommendations to make a better agency. Hilda Solis, a member of the county Board of Supervisors, which oversees the departments policy priorities and budget, said the department must work harder to train new caseworkers and seek to reduce their caseloads so they have more time to spend with families. Our residents deserve a child welfare system that ensures their safety, serves their unique needs in a culturally competent manner and provides them with opportunities to succeed, Solis said in a written statement. That is the standard of care that I expect of our county and child welfare system. She noted that the board recently approved plans for a new family treatment court for cases involving substance abuse. Supervisors this week also approved a motion calling for a new Office of Equity that would focus on racial disparities in the department and specifically address the needs of LGBTQ youths. The treatment of LGBTQ youths was a catalyst for the investigation by the state. After the death of Anthony Avalos a 10-year-old who had been the subject of 13 calls to the department the California legislative audit committee last year approved a request for the investigation. Then-state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) made an emotional appeal. In demanding the audit, legislators, citing reporting in The Times, noted that Anthony may have come out as gay before he was killed. As an openly gay man who had to endure bullying using my home as a place to shield myself from that and having a welcoming environment where I felt protected was my only reprieve, Lara said in August. Seeing and hearing the grotesque and inhumane way these parents treated their children for being gay or being perceived as gay shocked me. Anthonys mother, Heather Barron, was arrested in 2018 and charged with murder, child abuse resulting in death and torture. Her boyfriend, Kareem Leiva, faces the same charges. They have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for a pretrial hearing in July, according to Los Angeles County Superior Court records. In the Fernandez case, four social workers are facing criminal charges related to 8-year-old Gabriels death. A judge concluded that red flags were everywhere before Gabriel was killed by his mother and her boyfriend, and that the social workers mishandled evidence of escalating abuse and failed to file timely reports. Gabriel died in May 2013 after months of torture and abuse allegedly motivated by the boyfriends belief that the boy was gay, prosecutors say. Supervisor Janice Hahn said the audit revealed disturbing gaps in the departments work, saying its unacceptable for caseworkers to fudge paperwork or miss deadlines in child welfare cases. It is up to us to protect these children, and the thought that we are not taking every precaution to ensure every child in danger is placed into a safe home is maddening, she said in a written statement. I appreciate that our social workers do difficult work, but we rely on their judgment to protect our children. The auditors office also found positive news, saying that despite its problems, numerous indicators point to a department positioned to overcome its challenges. It noted that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has developed a long-term strategic plan to improve DCFS and that its overall staff turnover rate was lower than national averages. DCFS workers interviewed by auditors were generally positive about their work environment. Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report. For months, the two Los Angeles Police Department bloodhound handlers saw their supervisor harass their female colleague. Over and over, they saw him try to massage her shoulders, unsolicited, and heard him make suggestive comments about her body. The supervisor often showed up to her calls, something he didnt do as much with her male counterparts. When they complained on the womans behalf, Officers Elliot Zibli and David Dooros suffered backlash so severe that they feared for their safety. They said they were denied tactical bloodhound training, and werent given adequate equipment and support during searches for violent suspects. Eventually, Zibli resigned. Dooros is still on the force. Advertisement The supervisor, meanwhile, was transferred to the internal affairs group, the division that investigates officer misconduct. He remains with the department. Instead of taking care of the bad apple, they literally destroyed us, Zibli told The Times. We blew the whistle on the wrong person one with connections. A jury has awarded Zibli and Dooros each more than $4 million for the reprisals they faced, a massive verdict in a retaliation case that comes on top of a $1.6-million settlement for the female officer who was harassed. Jurors deliberated for only about half a day before awarding Zibli $4.4 million and Dooros $4.2 million. An LAPD spokesman declined to comment. These men came forward to back up their female colleague who was being sexually harassed and got nothing but punished, said Greg Smith, an attorney representing the plaintiffs. The LAPD left only the perpetrator of sexual harassment unscathed. The city attorneys office said it is considering appealing the decision. We are reviewing all of our options, said Rob Wilcox, a spokesman for the office. Ed Obayashi, an attorney and sheriffs deputy in Plumas County who conducts sexual harassment training, said the evidence suggests the LAPD failed to heed the warnings of officers trying to protect their peer. Instead, it proceeded to punish them. What were they thinking? he said. Obayashi said higher-ups should have been extra vigilant about sexual harassment happening within their ranks given that officers work long hours in close quarters in a male-dominated space. Retaliation only makes matters worse, he said, adding that jurors view retaliatory acts by police supervisors to punish their subordinates dimly. Hence, the significant verdict. The problems for Dooros, 52, and Zibli, 54, began soon after the supervisor Sgt. Joe Danny Garcia took over the departments K-9 unit in May 2015. Several times over the next year or so, both officers, who have worked with police dogs since 1998, went to various superiors with their complaints. They said Garcias actions created a hostile work environment for Officer Karolin Clarke, who is now retired. They also alleged Garcia instructed them to falsify their overtime slips so he could do the same. Garcia had instructed bloodhound handlers to stay at a scene even after the incident was resolved so that he could finish driving there and thus bill for more overtime. Garcia denied the allegations during the trial. Zibli said that one 2015 incident in particular sticks in his memory. He and other officers were in a corridor when they saw Garcia put his arm around Clarke and massage her. Clarkes eyes widened. Her eyes were as big as grapefruits, Zibli said. I remember that look in her eyes I will never forget it. It was up to them, he thought at the time, to make the harassment stop. Clarke remembered that moment. It scared me. I thought immediately, Nothing good can come of this, she said. I was terrified what would happen next. On another occasion Clarke was in her car changing out of sweaty clothes after a four-mile foot chase. Garcia, against the other officers advice, walked over to the car, Zibli said. The jury verdict was really a vindication. We knew the truth and we have been telling the truth for 3 1/2 years, Zibli said. It was so good to see 12 jurors from all walks of life agree with us. After Clarke complained, she said in court documents that she faced backlash that put her in clear danger. One night, she was with her bloodhound searching for Vinh Dao, a man convicted in April in the fatal stabbings of two men at a Chinatown social club more than two years ago. Clarke said she was holding her bloodhounds leash with both hands as the dog led her into a pitch-black alcove. The two officers backing her up were about 20 feet behind her, much farther than they should have been. If the homicide suspect whom we were searching for had been in that alcove, I could easily have been stabbed or killed as I went around that blind corner, Clarke told The Times. We found a bloody glove in the alcove. Hed been there minutes before. After, I was angry and I thought they are going to leave me hanging. The guys with guns were way too far back to protect me. City News Service contributed to this report. Jackie Goldberg took a seat on the Los Angeles school board Tuesday and immediately signaled change to come, shifting the discussion to whether charter schools were getting unfair advantages over district-run public schools. Not long ago, the seven-member Board of Education with one different member was easing restrictions on charters. The 74-year-old political veteran last week won a special election to fill a board seat that has been vacant since last July, when former board President Ref Rodriguez resigned after pleading guilty to violating campaign finance laws. She rejoined a body that she had served on more than 25 years ago, taking the oath of office twice: once in the morning so she could take part in an early meeting; the second time at midday, to accommodate more than 200 cheering well-wishers. Advertisement Rodriguez, the co-founder of a charter school organization, was elected with millions of dollars in support from wealthy backers of charters. Goldberg won with funding and volunteers anchored by the teachers union, which built on momentum from a six-day teachers strike in January. Union leaders have called for a moratorium and tighter controls on charters, which are privately operated and mostly nonunion. Charters compete with district-run schools for students, and critics say they undermine traditional schools by pulling away higher performing students and funding. Supporters say that charters offer high-quality options for parents and helpful competition. Under state law, the district must offer charters available space. A classroom without a regularly assigned teacher, for example, is typically counted as available. Goldbergs concerns arose minutes after the board began moving through its agenda. The item was $16 million to prepare space for charters operating on up to 79 district campuses. In all, about 11% of campuses host charters, according to the California Charter Schools Assn. Charters enroll nearly one in five district students. Goldberg noticed that some of the money would pay for computers and wanted to know if the host school would have comparable technology. I have a school that lost its computer lab and the charter school went in there and put in a computer lab, which it used to recruit students, Goldberg said during the meeting. Thats crazy. Goldberg declined to name the school. Another board member, George McKenna, raised similar points. And board member Richard Vladovic asserted that this sharing of campuses is real bad for kids. More surprising were comments from two board members elected with substantial support from charter backers. Nick Melvoin said it was difficult for staff and families at a district-run school to see a charter move in with fresh paint and new furniture on only the charter portion of the campus. He suggested that both parts of the campus should get upgrades. And Kelly Gonez formally proposed postponing the technology upgrades until staff could present more information. She said the age of the computers should be considered as well as the ratio of devices to students. A senior manager in the charter division, Sean Jernigan, said there already was an effort to make sure the distribution of technology was fair. Schools Supt. Austin Beutner pledged to return to the board with more information. In the meantime, he said, the technology purchases would be delayed. In a later interview, Cassy Horton, a senior official with the state charter association, said rental fees paid by charters could benefit the host school, creating a win for both. Ebony N. Wheaton, a regional facilities director for the association, said that there are plenty of examples of sharing that is working well. Both charter and traditional students are equal in value and should have equitable access to facilities, she added. Goldberg also raised questions about district bond funds being used to help build new facilities for charter schools when declining enrollment was already resulting in empty seats at both traditional and charter schools. Here, Melvoin diverged, noting the Catch-22 of denying charters space at existing campuses and then also denying them the opportunity to build new ones. The funds in question were set aside for charters as part of a voter-approved bond measure. During her campaign, Goldbergs foremost theme was winning more money for schools, although charters also came up often. The main topic of her acceptance speech was a push for Measure EE, a local school funding measure on the ballot in June and for still more dollars after that. EE has got to pass, Goldberg said. Its the down payment on what our children need. Among the officials seated behind her, Beutner was first on his feet with applause. With news cameras rolling, it was good press for a measure that could be challenged to win a required two-thirds majority. A poll released Monday by Probolsky Research says low voter turnout and a low turnout is anticipated would probably doom the measure. The Newport Beach pollster said it is not affiliated with either campaign. Goldberg abstained on a motion to provide about half the funding for Rise Kohyang High School to build an $80-million campus in Koreatown. Other board members approved the grant, while acknowledging Goldbergs concerns. The new board member joined her colleagues in approving a $9.7-million grant for Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Pacoima. That schools founder, Yvonne Chan, has won Goldbergs respect over the years. Even before Goldberg could get to it, staff withdrew a third charter school grant from consideration at least for Tuesday. Her supporters were thrilled. OMG, texted parent activist Sara Roos. Its electric in here. Last summer, Los Angeles police released dramatic video of a violent encounter that unfolded near a Van Nuys church: A man in a standoff with police suddenly grabbed a bystander and held a knife to her throat. Three officers then unleashed a volley of gunfire that fatally wounded them both. On Tuesday, a civilian oversight panel ruled that two of the three officers violated department policy on the use of deadly force in the incident. Guillermo Perez, 32, was armed with a knife and a metal chair during the June 16 confrontation. The officers fired a total of 18 rounds when Perez did not follow orders to drop the knife. Officers had initially fired a less-lethal beanbag shotgun, but Perez had blocked some some of those rounds with the metal chair. Elizabeth Tollison, a 49 -year-old homeless woman, was standing nearby against a wall during the encounter. She used a walker and may have frozen with fear or been unable to quickly move away before Perez wrapped his arms around her and pressed the knife against her throat, police said. Advertisement The LAPD identified the officers as Eugene Damiano, Andrew Trock and Cristian Bonilla, all of the Van Nuys Division. It was unclear which of the officers were found to have violated rules that call for lethal force only when protecting oneself or others from imminent injury or death. But the unanimous decision by the five-member Los Angeles Police Commission coincided with conclusions Chief Michel Moore detailed in a report he presented. Moore said other officers with similar experience and training would have reasonably believed Perez presented an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. But one of the officers did not have a viable sight picture of Perez before firing, which caused an extreme potential for risk of injury to the hostage, Moore said. In the case of the second officer found to have violated policy, Moore said he took into consideration the rapidly unfolding tactical situation in which the officer made a split-second decision under stressful circumstances. Still, Moore said, the officer should have withheld fire because other officers had already engaged Perez with deadly force. Until the Van Nuys shooting, the Los Angeles Police Department had gone 13 years without killing a hostage or a bystander. The next month, at a Trader Joes in Silver Lake, a store manager was fatally shot by a Los Angeles police officer exchanging gunfire with a suspect. In hostage situations, LAPD officers have long been taught to aim a precise head shot at the suspect, Moore said last year. In the aftermath of the Van Nuys incident, Moore announced changes in tactics and weaponry that may lessen the odds of another hostage situation ending in the death of an innocent person. The changes, Moore said at the time, had already been in the works after worrying trends emerged in LAPD shootings. Some of the changes included implementing new training as well as equipping officers with a 40-millimeter launcher that fires foam rounds and has a greater chance of stopping suspects than a beanbag gun. He also issued a training bulletin instructing officers to organize themselves better at scenes to avoid having too many guns pointed at suspects. Moore will now decide what discipline the officers should face. Times staff writer Cindy Chang contributed to this report. About 37 acres at John Wayne Airport are set aside for private planes like Gary Schanks single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza. The six-seater is what pilots call light GA, a smaller class of general aviation planes, in contrast with heavier corporate jets such as Bombardiers and Gulfstreams, which get 27 acres of their own at JWA. Orange County, which owns and operates the airport, is pondering upgrades to aging general aviation infrastructure, such as buildings and airfield roads. This is to comply with Federal Aviation Administration standards and to reflect what officials say is current usage. In the process, light-GA pilots fear theyll be squeezed out. Advertisement Under a plan preferred by airport staff, private jets would get more benefits, including a new terminal, and small planes could lose up to 20 of their 37 acres, displacing 250 light-GA aircraft. The SoCal Pilots Assn., of which Schank is vice president, believes it has a solution. The association, which says it provides a voice for general aviation at Southern California airports, suggests leaving overall space allocations and activity the same for light and heavy general aviation and for the smaller planes trading uncovered tie-downs, or parking spaces, for enclosed hangars. The pilots plan also would allow for three support operators for corporate jets providing services including fuel, hangars and maintenance each with about nine acres. The Bonanza that Schank co-owns with two partners is stored in a $140-per-month uncovered tie-down near the runways. Its the least costly of the three storage options, behind hangars and carport-like covered spaces. Covered spaces cost $300 a month and hangars about $700 monthly, and both have waiting lists, he said. Airport staff has recommended changes including the new general aviation terminal the airport currently has terminals only for commercial service and dedicated, fee-based customs screening for non-commercial international flights. The county says the updates would serve an increase in the number of private jets at the airport and reflect a decline in smaller planes. Schank said he also had seen a decline but added that the trend included the recession years of a decade ago and that the drop wasnt huge. Leading into the start of the recession in 2008, 445 (or 74%) of the 604 general aviation planes based at JWA were single-engine aircraft, while 68 (11%) were private jets, according to airport data. By 2017, the most recent year for which data are available, all types of private aircraft based there had dropped 358 (77%) of the 462 planes were single-engine and 40 (9%) were jets. Schank said the pilots association was allied with Newport Beach residents concerned that the airports preferred plan would lead to increased noise from more jets. Schank, who lives in Coto de Caza in south Orange County, said if he had to move his plane to the Corona, Long Beach or Fullerton airports, it would be inconvenient and far from what he considered his home airport, JWA. Nobody wants to be evicted from their home, he said. A small plane in the skies of Orange County. (Hillary Davis / Daily Pilot) Orange County officials have delayed votes on the general aviation matter several times in the last month. The countys Board of Supervisors had been scheduled to resume discussions Tuesday but is now scheduled to vote on a plan June 25. After the supervisors spent roughly five hours on discussion and public input at their May 7 meeting, they appeared to lean toward a compromise that would expand business jet services while limiting overall private jet activity and preserving storage capacity for smaller planes. But the board has twice put off a vote. The compromise, suggested by Supervisor Andrew Do, would allow for a general aviation terminal while capping the number of private planes based at the airport 65 business jets and 374 light planes, primarily single-engine aircraft. The compromise also would keep the number of support operators the same and increase hangar space for light GA. The O.C. Airport Commission twice has delayed votes on recommending a general aviation plan to the Board of Supervisors in hopes of maintaining onsite storage space for smaller private planes that could be squeezed out by amenities for corporate jets. Laguna Niguel pilot Randall Lipton told the supervisors that private pilots who preceded the arrival of commercial carriers at John Wayne Airport didnt mind sharing their space at first. At this point, he said, as a GA pilot, Im sorry that we let the camels head into the tent. It would be a mistake to scrap parking for small planes, he said, adding that their economic impact hadnt been properly measured. Newport Beach pilot Jeffrey Swedo, who has been based at JWA for 15 years, used aviation metaphors to urge the supervisors to consider the pilots associations plan. Youre flying around in the soup. Its in the clouds. Youre bumping along. You need to get down safely. And how do you do that? You pull the throttle back. You slow down, you assess what youre doing, he said. You know why? Because you have one chance to get your plane on the ground and do it right. You all have one chance to come in for a great landing. hillary.davis@latimes.com Davis writes for Times Community News. Facing a firestorm of public criticism, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said Tuesday the raid of a journalists home earlier this month was prompted by the suspicion that the reporter was a co-conspirator in a criminal investigation, adding that his alleged conduct crossed the line. Scott explained at a 20-minute news conference that freelance videographer Bryan Carmody allegedly played a role, along with at least one Police Department employee, in obtaining and selling the confidential police report about the death of Public Defender Jeff Adachi. Adachi died in February at age 59 of an accidental overdose of cocaine and alcohol. Carmody, a veteran journalist, has said he obtained the report from his source and sold a package of his reporting, which included the document, to Bay Area TV stations. Advertisement We do believe Mr. Carmody committed a crime, and thats what weve been investigating, Scott said. We believe that in order for this to be successfully pulled off, there had to be some contact between an SFPD employee and Mr. Carmody. San Francisco police officers conducted a search last week at the home of journalist Bryan Carmody. (Courtesy of Bryan Carmody) Scott didnt identify or reveal more details about how many police employees might have been involved in the leak. Carmody has repeatedly refused to identify his source but said that he didnt pay for the information or the document. Reached by phone after the news conference, Carmodys attorney, Thomas Burke, declined to comment. The chiefs comments offer the fullest explanation yet of why police arrived at Carmodys home, armed with a sledgehammer, to seize his notebooks, computers, hard drives and other equipment. Although he stressed he wasnt defending the conduct of his rank and file, Scott sought to justify their tactics, including the use of a sledgehammer. We know that looks bad, he said, adding that the Department of Police Accountability, a civilian watchdog panel, would be reviewing the incident. There are some lessons to be learned here. Were very humble about taking a critical review of this. Earlier Tuesday, an attorney for the Police Department said at a court hearing that the agency would return Carmodys equipment. The raid on Carmodys home and the ensuing controversy are part of the evolving intrigue surrounding Adachis death. Shortly after he died, local TV affiliates circulated images online of the apartment the lawyer had been using, and the report described the official as spending time with a woman who was not his wife. The suggestive and salacious details sourced from the police report angered local politicians and Adachis widow, who criticized San Francisco police for allowing the details of a confidential document to get into the medias hands. Since news of the search broke, journalists and 1st Amendment advocates have voiced their outrage that a reporter could be searched in such a manner. It is black-letter constitutional law that a reporter cannot be held liable, criminally or civilly, for receiving, possessing or publishing truthful information on matters of public concern merely because government officials were supposed to keep the information secret, Carmodys attorneys, Burke and Daniel Laidman, told a judge in their motion last week. Both attorneys have previously represented the Los Angeles Times. They cited the strong legal protections for journalists, including the federal Privacy Protection Act and the states Shield Law, which is enshrined in the California Constitution, and argued that the warrants were plainly invalid. State and federal law make it virtually impossible for government officials to obtain and execute search warrants targeting journalists news gathering material, the attorneys said in their motion. Public officials such as San Francisco Mayor London Breed initially defended the raid but backtracked as anger increased across the city. On Sunday Breed posted on Twitter that she was not OK with raids on reporters. Seizing the entire haystack to find the needle risks violating the confidences Mr. Carmody owes to all his sources, not just the person who leaked the police report, San Francisco Dist. Atty. George Gascon said in a Monday tweet, adding that he had not seen the warrant. benjamin.oreskes@latimes.com @boreskes Frozen rain in May has some Southern California residents wondering: What the hail? An unseasonably late spring storm that rolled into the region Wednesday brought pea-sized pellets of hail and thunderstorms to several communities, including Ontario and Yucaipa in San Bernardino County, according to the National Weather Service. Tiny bits of hail also littered lawns and residential streets in South Pasadena as a chilly low-pressure system moved into the area. Samantha Connolly, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego, said while hail isnt uncommon in Southern California, its certainly unusual for this time of year. Advertisement This is a very late-season storm, she said. These storms coming in from the north are pretty cold, which creates conditions that allows hail to form. Thunderstorm now between Santa Paula and Fillmore, moving from north to south, poised to move across Highway 126. Expect low visibility, heavy rain, gusty winds, and possible hail. #cawx #LArain pic.twitter.com/cEHe9r0zEL NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) May 22, 2019 Hail forms when strong thunderstorm updrafts carry water droplets above the freezing level. The freezing process forms a hailstone, and eventually the stone becomes too heavy for the updrafts and it falls to the ground. The forecast this month has been a doozy in California with rain, hail and snow falling across much of the Golden State two months after the end of winter. A hail storm? At the end of May? In Stockton? California?! Climate change is going to kill us all https://t.co/CMums1Yw00 TT (@teeteestea) May 21, 2019 Thunder and hail outside my work window. In May? Is this #California ?? 5SLisa (@5SLisa) May 22, 2019 Large swaths of the state, including parts of Los Angeles, have seen two to five times more precipitation than is normal for this point in May, according to the weather service. The unusual rainfall amounts have been enough to break records in some parts of the state. A weekend storm broke a 130-year-old tally for May rainfall in downtown Sacramento. By Sunday with 12 days left in the month and more rain in the forecast the downtown area had received 3.28 inches of rain, surpassing the previous monthly record of 3.25 inches set in 1889. A storm last week broke at least half a dozen daily rainfall records for the date in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. Unlike the capital, though, those areas arent close to breaking monthly precipitation records even with new showers on the way data show. Downtown L.A. is ahead of its normal rainfall pace. So far this month, 0.74 inches of rain have fallen in the area, which typically sees an average of 0.26 inches in May. This makes it the 18th-wettest May on record, so far, according to precipitation data. Los Angeles International Airport has received 0.56 inches of rain this month, making it the eighth-wettest May on record, data show. The rainiest May at the airport was in 1977, when it received 2.55 inches. This latest storm, which is expected to linger through Thursday morning, likely wont amount to much precipitation along the coast or in the valleys. However, higher elevations could see more significant rainfall, Connolly said. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry The relationship between President Trump and California has long been fraught, but in the aftermath of the states deadliest wildfire season, the acrimony is burning hotter than ever. In November, as crews battled the Camp and Woolsey fires, Trump blamed the state for gross mismanagement of the forests and delivered this ultimatum: Remedy now, or no more Fed payments! Then, while visiting the devastated town of Paradise later that month, Trump suggested California could eliminate the threat of wildfire by raking. Now, the Trump administration has taken matters a step further. Advertisement As California prepares for what some officials fear will be another devastating fire season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service are withholding reimbursements that state fire agencies say are owed for battling wildfires on federal lands last year. Instead of fulfilling Californias full $72-million reimbursement request, the Forest Service conducted an audit of the California Fire Assistance Agreement and now accuses the state of overbilling. The Forest Service has demanded that the state provide proof of its actual expenses. With the start of the traditional fire season just weeks away, California officials worry that the audit is a precursor to the Trump administration cutting back on fire assistance. In a May 14 letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen, Sen. Dianne Feinstein implored them to delay any actions that would reduce reimbursement rates. As you know, around 60% of forested land in California is owned by the federal government, Feinstein wrote. Wildfires dont stop at jurisdictional boundaries, so a unified federal-state approach is the only way to properly protect lives and property. President Trump visits a neighborhood ravaged by the Paradise fire with Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, left, and outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown in November. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The dispute marks a sudden change in a decades-long partnership between federal and local authorities. Since 1961, the Forest Service has reimbursed the Governors Office of Emergency Services, or Cal OES, for the costs of local, state and volunteer firefighters who help battle blazes on federal lands. Under the current assistance agreement, which runs from 2015 to 2020, the state calculates those costs by averaging the salaries, benefits and other indirect expenses tied to the work of firefighters, according to Cal OES Fire Chief Brian Marshall. For the 2018 fire season, which killed at least 100 people, Cal OES calculated total reimbursements of $72 million. That estimate included the work of some of the 5,600 firefighters who battled the Camp fire as it spread into Plumas National Forest in November, and 3,400 firefighters who battled the Carr fire in Shasta-Trinity National Forest in July. The Forest Service said in a statement that it decided to audit the agreement after receiving a letter from Cal OES Director Mark Ghilarducci. That letter, which was sent in July 2017, chastised the agency for not reimbursing the state in a timely manner. The USFS has blatantly ignored its financial responsibility to the men and women of California who have risked their lives fighting fires to protect federal land, Ghilarducci wrote. As a result of the audit, the federal government is now withholding more than $9 million of the original $72 million reimbursement request. Some of that money, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, is reportedly owed to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The audit found that the current [California Fire Assistance Agreement] does not result in reimbursement of actual expenses to local fire departments, the Forest Service said in a statement provided to The Times. Our intentions are to fully reimburse the State of California for all of their actual expenses. The only payments that we have not made are those that do not have documentation that substantiate actual expenses, the Forest Service said. Cal OES argues that the federal government is changing the terms of its agreement unfairly. Fire Chief Marshall said it has been a long-accepted practice for the state to submit average personnel costs, and that tabulating the actual salary, overtime, travel costs and other expenses for thousands of individual firefighters on every federal incident would be too onerous and time-consuming. The new requirements the USFS seeks to impose would be cumbersome and would severely impact Californias ability to respond to fires, Marshall wrote in a letter to the agency. He also said the federal government is withholding the audit itself, and that he and other officials were only briefed on portions of it. It wasnt a typical audit that you see from the government. It was a PowerPoint; it wasnt an audit. They said overcharging. But they also said undercharging, Marshall said. They wont tell us if theyre going to be able to pay our volunteers or not. While large fire departments like L.A. Countys may be able to absorb the financial hit, those with only a few employees, or those that run exclusively on volunteers, cant, Marshall said. If a fire department is unable to send resources and personnel to a fire because they dont know if theyre going to get paid, then obviously the fires are going to get bigger, and thats unacceptable. California has long served as a model for large-scale disaster response, although its history of preparation has left something to be desired. After the Oakland Hills fire in 1991, California set up a framework for responding, communicating and allocating resources across multiple jurisdictions and levels of government during an unfolding disaster. That became the outline for a national model following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Similarly, Californias current approach to mutual aid among fire agencies is viewed and cited as the nations most effective model, Marshall wrote to the Forest Service on April 24. To date, the USFS provided no legal citation for these requirements, nor any basis for the need to deviate from past interpretation and implementation of the CFAA. For its part, the Forest Service said its only looking out for the American taxpayer. We are working diligently with the State of California to obtain the information needed to expedite full reimbursement of the States incurred expenses, the agencys statement said. A watchdog group voted Tuesday to urge Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva to do more to distance his department from the work of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying the sheriffs policies still allow for federal immigration contractors to take custody of inmates from inside the county jails. In February, Villanueva began blocking ICE agents from accessing the secure parts of the county courthouses, Sheriffs Department stations and county jails for the purposes of civil immigration matters and removed some of the criteria that would qualify a convicted inmate for transfer to ICE custody. He has also barred ICE from conducting interviews with inmates regarding their immigration status. Villanuevas promise to kick ICE agents out of the jails was central to his campaign to unseat former Sheriff Jim McDonnell last fall. But a majority of members of the Sheriff Civilian Oversight Commission said Villanuevas moves do not go far enough to separate his department from ICE and build community trust. Their recommendations a version of which were initially proposed last year under McDonnell say that Villanueva should stop allowing his employees to screen requests by ICE to take custody of inmates for civil immigration violations and should not let transport officers that contract with ICE to set foot inside secure department facilities. Advertisement Our recommendations are needed more than ever to send a message to the community that you can trust your L.A. Sheriffs Department. Report crimes. Report them, report them, report them, said Hernan Vera, a commission member who served as chair of the committee that wrote the report approved Tuesday. Vera, a business litigator, cited data from various news articles that indicated that since 2017, Latinos across the country have been reporting fewer crimes to local police due to fears about federal immigration enforcement by the Trump administration. Villanueva said he will consider the recommendations and will include commission members in further conversations on the topic, but he stated that he has already made big strides in limiting ICEs role in the jails. He said some transfers to ICE are still necessary for public safety, as allowed by law. These are convicted felons who pose a threat to the community. Nobody even in the undocumented population would want them as their neighbor. In fact, neither would you, he said. Under Villanuevas policies, Sheriffs Department custody assistants screen requests from ICE to evaluate whether an inmate has been convicted of a crime serious or violent enough to qualify for transfer to ICE, as allowed by Senate Bill 54, Californias sanctuary state law. Qualified inmates are handed over to transport officers hired by ICE who are allowed inside the secure area of the Inmate Reception Center, the downtown jail that processes the majority of bookings and releases for the countys vast system of lockups. The oversight commissions report says these practices arent required by law and could still result in inmates who have already served their time for criminal convictions to be deported for civil immigration violations. The commissioners also noted that the Sheriffs Department spends $106,000 a year on each of the 13 custody assistants hired to screen ICE requests, at a total annual cost of $1.4 million that commissioners say could be diverted to other causes. During Tuesdays meeting, several members of the public applauded the recommendations, including Kent Mendoza, who said he was in the U.S. illegally when he was transferred to ICE custody while being held in the L.A. County Jail. He now serves as policy coordinator for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and has since gained legal status and had his record expunged, he said. I really believe that we shouldnt be making it harder for this population thats already dealing with many barriers as immigrants in this country by continuing to dehumanize them, by calling them illegal aliens, by excluding them from having rights within the county jail, Mendoza said. The meeting briefly erupted into a shouting match when one attendee, who said the recommendations would undermine public safety, made remarks toward people in the room that some commission members found to be inflammatory. The attendee was temporarily ejected. The commissions recommendations were approved by five members, with one abstention and three members absent. Commission member Robert Bonner, a former administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, has raised concerns in the last several months that the recommendations would erode public safety by allowing people convicted of offenses including child sex abuse, rape and kidnapping to remain in the community. Bonner did not attend the meeting. Vera said people convicted of the most serious crimes including sexual assault and murder have accounted for a very small percentage of those transferred to ICE. maya.lau@latimes.com Twitter: @mayalau Good morning and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Wednesday, May 22. Its also Harvey Milk Day in California, as designated by the state Legislature in 2009. Milk was Californias first openly gay elected official and one of the first openly gay men to hold elected office in the United States. He would have turned 89 today, had he not been assassinated alongside San Francisco Mayor George Moscone on Nov. 27, 1978. Milks election as a San Francisco supervisor and his assassination less than a year into his term were era-defining moments that shaped the state and the gay rights movement nationally. Growing up in Simi Valley in the 1980s, Stephen Torres felt as if he had always sort of been aware of Harvey Milk. It was looming secondhand history, muddled through media and overheard conversations. Advertisement Torres knew that something terrible had happened. He also knew that discussion of that terrible thing was often paired with ugly laughter, the ubiquitous gay jokes that went along with Harvey Milk. For a young gay kid in a conservative community, the jokes were like a sting of recognition, that they were talking about me too. He also knew something good that a movie had been made about Milk and that it had won an Academy Award. When Torres came out as a teenager, one of the first things he wanted to do was see that movie. The Simi Valley Blockbuster didnt stock The Times of Harvey Milk, so Torres borrowed his mothers old Volvo station wagon to rent the 1984 film in Thousand Oaks. When I saw it, I just wept, he remembered. It was 1997 and Torres was newly 18. It was crazy to me to see this story that had taken place in California and at a time that was so familiar to me from my early childhood. Just the power of his story and the movement. Eventually, Torres would move to San Francisco and become an activist himself. He now sits on the board of the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club, which is hosting a Harvey Milk Day block party on Castro Street tonight. People in my generation really wanted to know this history. Not just about Harvey, but about the gay movement of the 70s, Torres said. San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Franciscos gay freedom parade in June 1978. (Associated Press) Its hard to conceive of just how monumental Milks 1977 election was in 2019 terms. Openly LGBT individuals have now held some form of elected office in all 50 states, the last midterm election brought a a rainbow wave of advancements, and Pete Buttigieg, who is gay, is in the field of contenders for the 2020 Democratic nomination. But the late 1970s were a time of radical gay activism and conservative crusades. This was the age of Anita Bryants Save Our Children campaign and the Briggs Initiative, a California ballot measure that would have banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools. If you just look at those two efforts that were happening during the time, they were hugely powerful culturally in California and across the U.S., said Terry Beswick, the executive director of the GLBT Historical Society and museum in San Francisco. But they also really empowered gay people. They raised the visibility of people like Harvey Milk. Beswicks Castro museum, which has a permanent exhibit on Milk, is the first stand-alone museum of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender history and culture in the United States. The collection includes the blood-stained suit that Milk was wearing the day he was gunned down at San Francisco City Hall. Knowing of threats to his life, Milk sat down in the back room of his Castro Street camera store just 10 days after he was elected in 1977 to tape-record his will. The museum exhibit is set up so that visitors can listen to that recording, in which Milk talks about what his intentions are in the event of his assassination, while looking at the suit. Beswick described how he recently took Chasten Buttigieg, the husband of the presidential candidate, on a tour of the museum. The two men paused in front of the suit. In that moment, I was just thinking about giving him a brief look at Harvey Milk, Beswick remembered. But when he stepped back to allow Buttigieg to listen to the recording, he recalls thinking, Ah, what did I just do. I could see the tears in his eyes and I was thinking, hes got to be thinking about the risk that his husband is taking, even by running for president, Beswick said, explaining that although San Francisco is a bit of a queer cultural bubble, that isnt the case in the rest of the country. After Buttigieg finished listening to the recording, he turned to Beswick and said, This is why we do what we do. That could mean so many things, but for me what it meant was this is why we hear our history, so that people think about the juxtaposition of the history with todays current events, Beswick recalled. Later, I asked Beswick if he had ever imagined living in an a time where wed not only see an openly gay man running for president, but pushback that that openly gay candidate was too establishment. He laughed. In some ways, it feels like we have arrived, he said. The thing about the queer community is that we are as diverse as the rest of the culture. And now, heres whats happening across California: TOP STORIES The Trump administration wants to cut payments to California for fighting wildfires on federal land. The acrimonious relationship between President Trump and the Golden State has grown even more fraught in the aftermath of the states deadliest wildfire. Now, as California prepares for what some officials fear will be another devastating fire season, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Forest Service are withholding reimbursements that state fire agencies say are owed for battling wildfires on federal lands last year. Los Angeles Times Get the Essential California newsletter L.A. STORIES At 80, L.A.s Union Station tries to reinvent itself for a rail future. Metro has spent more than $21 million on efforts to beautify and restore the station since 2013. Los Angeles Times Thousands of property owners along the L.A. River might be required to get flood insurance in the next two years. Curbed LA Newly elected Los Angeles school board member Jackie Goldberg officially took her seat Tuesday and immediately challenged aid to charter schools. Los Angeles Times Walt Disney Concert Hall and Grand Avenue, photographed in downtown Los Angeles. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Downtown L.A.'s Grand Avenue is home to cultural institutions ranging from MOCA and the Broad museum to Walt Disney Concert Hall. But where is it headed? This multi-story package explores the past, present and future of the arts hub. Los Angeles Times A 102-year-old Ladera Heights woman is being evicted to make way for her landlords daughter. Los Angeles Daily News A Lionsgate comedy and an Amazon Studios TV series have both pulled out of planned filming in Georgia in protest of restrictive abortion legislation recently passed in the state. Georgias generous tax incentive program has drawn many productions to the Southern state over the last decade. Los Angeles Times Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Subscribe to the Los Angeles Times. POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT The California High-Speed Rail Authority sued the Trump administration over terminating a nearly $1-billion grant for the states beleaguered bullet train. The lawsuit escalates the conflict between California and the Trump administration over a project that aims to make the state a leader in advanced transportation. Los Angeles Times Labor unions are paying to help Californias lieutenant governor decorate her office. Sacramento Bee After snarling San Francisco traffic, Uber and Lyft could face a new tax in their hometown that would raise millions to pay for the citys transportation needs. San Francisco Chronicle CRIME AND COURTS Facing a firestorm of public criticism, San Franciscos police chief defended the controversial raid of a reporters home. Los Angeles Times In the ongoing war between Hollywoods writers and their (now former) agents, the Writers Guild of America has added another claim to its lawsuit against the talent agencies. Hollywood Reporter THE ENVIRONMENT Half of all failing water systems in California are in the agricultural San Joaquin Valley. Jose del Real reports on the tainted water crisis facing many California farmworkers. New York Times CALIFORNIA CULTURE Tesla enters survival mode as the companys stock price drops. Los Angeles Times Postmates couriers have joined the growing surge of gig-economy worker activism. More than 1,200 couriers have signed a petition protesting how the San Francisco-based company recently restructured its pay rates. Workers have said the restructuring cut their incomes by about 30%. San Francisco Chronicle For minority chefs in the Bay Area, restaurant partnerships bring opportunity and tension. San Francisco Chronicle Racial inequity in the fine-dining world runs deep: A new report shows that, on average, workers of color make $6 less an hour than white workers employed in the Bay Areas finest restaurants. Mother Jones A towering Burning Man installation has racked up more than $20,000 in fines after an Alameda man started working on it in his live-work space. SF Gate Whos making the decisions for the L.A. Lakers amid the team turmoil? Its complicated, but the Lakers are, at root, a family business. At the head of the organization is owner Jeanie Buss and her trusted advisors. Heres how that inner circle was formed. Los Angeles Times CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Los Angeles: sunny, 68. San Diego: rain, 63. San Francisco: sunny, 66. San Jose: partly sunny, 71. Sacramento: sunny, 71. More weather is here. AND FINALLY There is science, logic, reason; there is thought verified by experience. And then there is California. author and environmentalist Edward Abbey If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints, ideas and unrelated book recommendations to Julia Wick. Follow her on Twitter @Sherlyholmes. During a swing through Los Angeles on Sunday, California Sen. Kamala Harris touted a plan to force companies to close the wage gap between their male and female employees or pay a daily penalty equal to 1% of their profits for every 1% of pay gap. She estimated that companies would owe about $180 billion in fines over a decade (which would pay for family leave programs) before new pay policies kicked in and reduced the penalties. Were not sure whether this particular proposal is the smartest way to close the frustratingly persistent gender pay gap. The reasons that women collectively earn less than men for the same work are myriad, and there are many proposals for how to solve the problem that deserve consideration. But it is refreshing to see a concrete, tough proposal to address a so-called womens issue get more than passing attention in a presidential campaign. For too long, subjects like paid family leave, child care, sexual harassment, gender discrimination and equal pay have taken a back seat on the debate stage to other (also important) policy issues such as immigration, international trade and healthcare. To be sure, Hillary Clinton was a supporter of equal pay for equal work and would have no doubt pushed for family leave and other policies that support working parents, and especially mothers, if she hadnt run up against the nations highest glass ceiling. But those issues werent a huge part of the campaign discussion or debate. Perhaps that will now change. The cultural climate of 2016 was fundamentally different from that of 2019. Politically, Democratic candidates would be fools not to support issues that women care about. Advertisement Three years ago the most significant womens issue was the possibility that the nation might elect its first female president. In the three years since, a new era of activism has sparked the #MeToo movement and motivated women to engage politically. Perhaps it was inevitable that the 2020 Democratic primary race would include more than just a token woman or two among ranks. Of the 23 Democrats hoping to win the party nomination, six are women. And two of them are considered serious contenders: Harris and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who has been a staunch and vocal champion of equal pay policies. Another candidate, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), has made families and women the centerpiece of her campaign. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute And the male Democratic candidates support equal pay and paid family leave as well. Of course they do. Not only because its the right position, but also because female voters 59% of whom voted Democratic in the midterm elections were pivotal in helping Democrats retake the House, and will be just as important to the party in the 2020 presidential race. Politically, Democratic candidates would be fools not to support issues that women care about. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in particular has given womens rights an important place in his campaign platform. (He and all the other U.S. senators in the race are co-sponsors of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is stalled in the Senate after passing the House). Abortion is certain to have a central role in the campaign, given the recent laws passed by conservative legislators in some states to restrict and even outlaw a womans ability to end a pregnancy. But national paid family leave, which all other developed countries provide, and the Equal Rights Amendment, which has roared back to life in recent years, also deserve a significant place. Even President Trump realizes the importance of paid family leave and has supported providing six weeks of it. When the Democratic presidential primary debates begin in June, equal pay, paid family leave and equal rights should be on the debate agenda. And no matter the gender of the eventual Democratic nominee, those issues should remain front and center because the reality is that womens issues affect everyone. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Police officers should be able to use deadly force only when necessary to prevent death or serious injury to themselves or to others. That standard seems so logical and so based in common sense that it may come as a surprise that its not already the law. It ought to be, and a bill currently before California lawmakers would make it so. Assembly Bill 392 is a measured piece of legislation to improve police practices and enhance accountability. It deserves to pass. Under current law, you need only to show that another reasonable police officer would have made the same decision to use force, but not that all reasonable alternatives had been exhausted. The basic premise of shooting only when there are no reasonable non-deadly alternatives already underlies police practices in a number of cities. It is the explicit rule of engagement, for example, in San Francisco, and is in effect ingrained in the training and review standards of the Los Angeles Police Department. Even as police groups argue against the bill, some departments across the country are moving toward the only-when-necessary rule. Advertisement This bill would make it the standard for every department in California. And it would apply that standard not just to disciplinary rules that determine whether an officer should be fired for misconduct or grievous errors, and not just to liability guidelines that dictate when a victim or survivors can sue and recover monetary damages. Assembly Bill 392 is a measured piece of legislation to improve police practices and enhance accountability. It deserves to pass. It would also apply in the criminal context. Officers who misuse deadly force could be held criminally liable for manslaughter (although not for murder). That brings police officer conduct closer to the standards we expect from others in society in the performance of their duties or daily activities. Surgeons, for example, can be held liable for criminal negligence if they botch an operation because of conduct that was wildly reckless. Even a nonprofessional can be criminally prosecuted for example, if a driver gets behind the wheel while intoxicated. Police officers constantly put themselves in harms way to protect the public and should be accorded a measure of deference, especially when they are trying to arrest a person perceived to be armed and dangerous. But even police should be held to account when their own actions unnecessarily exacerbate the danger for example, when they are warned that a man is having a mental breakdown alone inside a house and they immediately (and unnecessarily) enter, provoke the man and shoot him when it appears he may have a weapon. In that case, officers might have chosen from a number of deescalation options, including persuasion, without entering the house and putting themselves and the person in danger. Backers and opponents alike argue that the bill represents a departure from rules set by the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1980s, but thats only partly true. In Tennessee vs. Garner, the court ruled that an officer couldnt shoot a fleeing suspect just to prevent his escape, unless there was good reason to believe the person would put the officer or others in danger. AB 392 is very much in the spirit of that ruling. But several years later the court ruled, in Graham vs. Connor, that because officers do dangerous work requiring split-second thinking, their actions should be judged by what any objectively reasonable officer on the scene might have done. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute But thats a kind of circular standard: When is it reasonable for a police officer to use deadly force? Whenever other reasonable police officers would have done the same thing. The necessary standard embodied in the California bill makes it clear that officers must consider nonlethal alternatives, and must keep in mind how their own actions leading up to the encounter might exacerbate the danger. Of course, police must still make split-second decisions in dangerous situations. The new law would not require discipline or prosecution if, for example, a suspect points a gun and the officer shoots in self-defense, only to learn after the fact that the gun was not loaded. The law would not require officers to become omniscient mind-readers. Rules of reasonableness would still apply: Would a reasonable officer in the same situation believe it was necessary to use deadly force? Contrary to the rhetoric of some proponents who measure justice for police shooting victims by the number of convicted officers, this bills chief asset is not that it will send bad officers to prison, although it may eventually do that. Its that it will make good and middling officers better by raising the standards of professional conduct. It will hold all officers accountable and by the way, it may do the same for prosecutors, who ultimately decide how to enforce the law. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook. In recent weeks, the Trump administration raised an alarm about Iran mounting missiles on boats in the gulf and potentially putting U.S. ships in danger. Citing intelligence about an increased threat from Iran, it sent B-52 bombers, an aircraft carrier, and several warships to the gulf. The State Department last week also ordered a partial evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq due to an increased threat stream in the region. As the drumbeat for war in Iran gets louder, I cant help but recall the way intelligence was presented prior to the tragic 2002 vote in Congress to authorize war in Iraq. As the senior Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee then, I read the intelligence carefully. I traveled to Britain to discuss it, and analysts there also validated it. Consequently, I joined 295 colleagues in the House and 77 in the Senate in a broad bipartisan consensus to authorize the use of military force. I was reasonably sophisticated at the complicated business of intelligence, but it wasnt always easy. Members of Congress basically have to play 20 Questions in order to get briefers to provide crucial information needed to make a decision. The intelligence provided prior to the Iraq war was compelling. Advertisement In early 2003, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell addressed the United Nations Security Council, assuring it that every statement I make today is backed up by sources, solid sources. How would a war against Iran end? We need a plausible answer before we start one. He then showed satellite images purporting to reveal how Iraq had been concealing its weapons of mass destruction. He held up a vial meant to represent one teaspoon of anthrax, toxic enough on its own to kill several people, and claimed Saddam Hussein had enough anthrax to fill tens upon tens upon tens of thousands of teaspoons. He described Iraqs mobile production facilities used to make biological agents: trucks and train cars where weapons could be produced in unprecedented quantities. He described Iraqs alleged nuclear, missile and drone programs. Finally, he confidently drew links between Baghdad and Al Qaeda, in particular calling out a previously unknown terrorist named Abu Musab Zarqawi. I have no doubt Powell believed what he was saying, but our intelligence turned out to be dead wrong, and I was wrong to vote to authorize the war. Some 5,000 American casualties and trillions of dollars later, Iraq is still a mess, which has permitted Iran to expand its malign reach throughout the Middle East. Much later, Powell would call his U.N. speech a great intelligence failure and a blot on his record. Zarqawi, whose name was mentioned in the speech 21 times, would go on to found the organization now known as ISIS, and by some accounts, the speech helped Zarqawi rally supporters. Curveball the Iraqi defector whose account the White House relied on for much of its intelligence has since admitted he lied extensively. Still, Powells speech was as convincing as it was wrong. The day after he delivered it, the Washington Posts Mary McGrory, a vigorous opponent of the Vietnam War, published a column titled simply, Im Persuaded. Many of us were, though it all looks much different in hindsight. When I realized the scope of our intelligence failure, I joined the effort to reform the U.S. intelligence enterprise in 2004. One key element of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act was correcting how we do National Intelligence Estimates. Today, sources are required to be vetted, disagreements among agencies are featured prominently, and the final product is red teamed. At this writing, there are no reports of an intelligence estimate on the Iranian situation, and no declassified summary has been released. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute Now, as tensions with Iran spiral, with the U.S. military sending B-52 bombers, an aircraft carrier, and several warships to the Persian Gulf in response to unspecified threats possibly attacks on Saudi Arabian oil tankers I fear we are facing another Iraq moment. Thats the phrase Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), the ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, used recently to express what is on so many peoples minds. In contrast, another senator was less cautious, saying he only knows what he has read in the newspaper. Not even close to a responsible statement. What happens next in Iran affects what we will be able to do elsewhere in the world. I worry about the various signals we are sending to Venezuela and North Korea. In Venezuela, efforts at removing Nicolas Maduro short of the military option seem stalled, which may empower Iran to think we are bluffing. And North Korea, which has lots of nuclear weapons and is testing short-range missiles, may get the impression that we will eventually repudiate any deal with them and possibly call for regime change. Clearly our Iran strategy is causing collateral damage. In 2003, weeks after the start of the Iraq war, General David H. Petraeus posited the question: How does this end? Thats an important question today when thinking about Iran: How would a war against Iran end? We need a plausible answer before we start one. Jane Harman is president of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a former U.S. congresswoman (D-Venice). Who is this guy, Democrats want to know this week. Are there more like him in the Republican Party? Could he help us win back Michigan? Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) threw a turd in the punchbowl of predictable two-party politics Saturday when he became the first of the GOPs 197-member caucus to declare that President Trump has engaged in impeachable conduct. Now the Grand Rapids libertarian is getting the strange new respect treatment from the likes of Mark Hamill, while journalists puzzle over how an alleged former gadfly could suddenly seem so resistance-y and the Libertarian Party damn near begs for him to switch teams. For the record: An earlier version of this story misstated the countries of origin of Justin Amashs parents. His father is a Palestinian, not a Syrian, refugee. His mother is a Syrian immigrant, not a Palestinian. But the first thing to know about Amash is that, whether you agree with his conclusions on impeachment or authorizations of military force, he takes his job with a seriousness that has almost vanished from the legislative branch. He holds the modern day congressional record for most consecutive votes not missed, 4,289 over six-plus years, and reportedly wept when he accidentally missed one. Few members of Congress even read Muellers report; their minds were made up based on partisan affiliation and it showed, Amash tweeted during his Saturday thread, and even fewer serious people in Washington would disagree. (Note: Donald Trump is not a serious person.) Advertisement Amash is not a septuagenarian shaking his fist at clouds, but a 39-year-old fitness enthusiast who actually grasps basic technology and market economics. Amash is that nerd who insists on reading entire bills before voting on them, then explaining every vote on social media. And as an honest-to-goodness constitutional conservativeremember them? he gets stubborn when his own team violates its stated principles, or when Congress willingly abdicates its role as a co-equal branch of government. When one party has full control of government, he told me in 2017, that party starts to go on a spending spree and stops worrying about the debt and deficits. You will recall that the one party in question back then was the GOP. Indeed, this latest impeachment jag is hardly the first time Amash has gone out on a limb to oppose the president. He condemned Trumps initial travel ban of residents from predominantly Muslim countries, helped scotch Republican efforts to repeal/replace Obamacare (drawing a call from Trumps social media director to defeat Amash in a primary). He also opposed the presidents emergency declaration along the southern border, called Trumps comments about murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi repugnant, and was one of the only Republicans on Capitol Hill to support setting up a special counsel investigation after the firing of FBI Director James B. Comey. So is House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) right when he says that Amash votes more with Nancy Pelosi than he ever votes with me? Er, no. As New York magazines Jonathan Chait points out, Amash has an 88 percent score from the American Conservative Union, [and] a 100 percent score from FreedomWorks. Hes anti-abortion, more anti-interventionist than the average Democrat, and when bills add to the federal governments vast ocean of red ink, he votes no. In other words, Amash sounds a lot like a Libertarian (abortion stance notwithstanding). He has been publicly mulling a third-party run at the White House all year; the Libertarian presidential field thus far has failed to impress, and even two years ago Amash was saying things like, Hopefully, over time, these two parties start to fall apart. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute Michigans straight-ticket voting system, whereby voters can choose a partys entire slate of candidates by checking just one box, has until now dampened any Amashian urge to jump ship. But now that he has a new primary challenger, and the very House Freedom Caucus that he co-founded has voted unanimously to condemn him, the temptation to abandon Congress entirely and run for president as a Libertarian may prove irresistible. If Amash were to seek and win the Libertarian nomination which isnt decided until May 2020 he almost certainly wouldnt become president, but its possible hed affect the outcome by throwing up a Michigan-sized roadblock to the presidents reelection. In a state Trump won by just 10,704 votes, Amash in 2016 received 203,545, or more in just one district than Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson won statewide. Unlike Johnson, Amash is all too familiar with the pronunciation of the word Aleppo, what with his mother being a Syrian immigrant and his father a Palestinian refugee. And unlike Trump, Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders, Amash is not a septuagenarian shaking his fist at clouds, but a 39-year-old fitness enthusiast who actually grasps basic technology and market economics. You wont go broke betting against independent and third-party candidates in American politics, particularly in these polarized and fearful times. But even if Amash merely serves out his term and then steps aside, he will have done us a favor. Sometimes those on the outside of the two major political tribes can show us things about ourselves we cant otherwise see. Matt Welch is editor-at-large at Reason magazine and a contributing writer to Opinion. To the editor: California is wrestling with a healthcare workforce shortage. Thats why the California Medical Assn. is leading the fight to secure more than $600 million in this years budget to ensure low-income and underserved residents have access to high-quality healthcare. (California faces a doctor shortage. But doctors just derailed a plan to fix it, column, May 17) Despite columnist David Lazarus misunderstanding of the states healthcare crisis, we firmly believe that we can have both access and quality when it comes to healthcare. We know there are numerous ways that well-trained nurse practitioners can help improve care for patients. But there is great variation in the quality and rigor of nurse practitioner training programs. Some obtain online degrees with virtually no clinical experience. There is no requirement in their training that nurse practitioners prove competency before being cleared to treat patients. Currently, that responsibility falls to the supervising physician. Assembly Bill 890 would have removed that important patient safeguard. What Lazarus failed to mention was that in states that have given nurse practitioners more autonomy, the data show they do not in fact move into underserved communities in large numbers. Advertisement Nurse practitioners are an important part of the healthcare system, and we are open to discussions about how best to utilize and maximize their training and expertise. But we cannot trade access to care for quality. David H Aizuss, M.D., Encino The writer is president of the California Medical Assn. .. To the editor: California missed the boat on this one. The California Medical Assn. has no evidence of inferior care given by nurse practitioners, nor does it have evidence that supervision of nurse practitioners by physicians results in a higher quality of care. Many nurse practitioners focus on vulnerable populations, such as the homeless, those with mental illness and substance abuse problems, and those with other challenges affecting public health. I believe the medical profession restricting the practice of other health professionals is wrong. Nurse practitioners have long ago charted this course, I for one with the full support of the best physician I ever have known. As an independent Maryland nurse practitioner, I stand with California nurse practitioners and the physicians who support them. Deborah Gootee, East New Market, Md. The writer is a psychiatric nurse practitioner. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: First columnist George Skelton and then the L.A. Times editorial board came out against the proposal by Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) to allow at least one retail marijuana dispensary for every six liquor stores in cities where the voters approved Proposition 64. The majority of California voters said they wanted to have well-regulated, controlled and taxed dispensaries, not to reduce their numbers. I have needed medical marijuana for some time and there were more legal dispensaries available before Proposition 64 than now. I say that rather than spending large amounts of taxpayer resources to, in essence, play a whack-a-mole game trying to stop the many nonlicensed dispensaries that pop up regularly and to decrease the number of illegal growers, spend some of that money streamlining the licensing process and working with financial institutions to offer banking services. I encourage state legislators and Gov. Gavin Newsom to support Tings proposal and actually follow the will of the people. Advertisement George Poitou, Ontario .. To the editor: So Ting, an elected Assemblyman, wants the state government to break a promise made to voters in 2016 because not enough communities in California have pot shops. Really? Perhaps Ting is merely following the governors example of forgetting what the voters said they wanted twice when he decided to effectively end the death penalty in California. Whats next from our elected officials? James McKellar, Arcadia .. To the editor: Its easy for someone like Skelton to write about waiting to vote out representatives who refuse to honor the will of voters and license medical cannabis dispensaries in their cities. I can only guess that the well-being of his children is not at stake. But the well-being of mine are. Safe and convenient access to medical cannabis is not a political choice for my family, its a necessity. For too many patients across California, safe access to medical cannabis actually became more difficult since Proposition 64 passed almost two years ago. Assembly Bill 1356, the legislation written off by Skelton, would help people like me secure the medicine that my children need. Sacramento has not only the right, but the responsibility to act when local cities and municipalities fail to do so. Joni Hill, Hacienda Heights Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook When Joe Biden entered the Democratic presidential race last month, pundits (including me) questioned whether a gaffe-prone 76-year-old symbol of last-century politics could survive in a next-generation campaign. So far, the old guy is proving us wrong. Biden has surged to the top of the Democratic field with a well-designed message and an uncharacteristically disciplined campaign. Admittedly, were a month from the first debate and eight months from the first balloting. But polls show him winning the support of about 38% of Democratic voters nationwide and in early primary states, well ahead of his nearest rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. The former vice presidents kickoff speech in Philadelphia last weekend showed why. It was vintage Biden: folksy, garrulous, at once conciliatory and combative and focused almost entirely on defeating President Trump. Advertisement You want to know what the first and most important plank in my climate proposal is? he said. Beat Trump. With that as his refrain, Biden is putting himself squarely where Democratic voters are. Polls show that most Democrats yearn for a candidate any candidate who can credibly promise to unseat the president. Virtues like has new ideas and represents a new generation rank much lower. Its smart positioning, Tad Devine, a veteran Democratic strategist who isnt working for any of the 2020 candidates, told me. Bidens a guy they know. They can see him beating Trump. And thats what matters most. Theres a second part to Bidens message: He promises to undo the angry polarization of the Trump era and restore civility and bipartisanship to American politics. (He doesnt specify how.) I know some of the really smart folks say Democrats dont want to hear about unity, he said in Philadelphia. They say Democrats are so angry that the angrier a candidate can be, the better chance he or she has to win the Democratic nomination. Well, I dont believe it. If the American people want a president to add to our division, lead with a clenched fist [and] spew hatred, they dont need me, he added. Theyve got President Donald Trump. Bidens talk about making deals with Republicans and his relatively moderate policies may seem out of sync with his partys apparent turn toward the progressive left, but here too hes in tune with primary voters. A Harvard-Harris poll released in March asked Democrats to describe their politics; the most popular label was Obama Democrat, well ahead of progressive. In an odd way, Biden, like Trump, is offering voters the politics of nostalgia, only as a mirror image. Biden says he too wants to return the country to a golden age in his telling, the halcyon days of what he calls the Obama-Biden administration. His message boils down to: Make America Normal Again. Some Democrats disagree, of course. In their view, Bidens notion of bipartisanship is an anachronistic fantasy. Republicans blocked most of Obamas initiatives after 2010, including his attempt to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court. Sanders says merely replacing Trump isnt enough and that the country needs more fundamental change. The core question of the Biden-Sanders debate is clear: restoration or revolution. Bidens support is strong across most demographic groups. He has more backing from women than all the female candidates combined, for example. But its strongest among older voters, weakest among the young. That suggests a possible opening for a younger candidate like Kamala Harris or Pete Buttigieg, someone who can appeal to younger voters seeking change. Still, Bidens age and experience carry advantages, beginning with the name recognition that gave him a head start in the polls. Nearly everyone else in the overcrowded Democratic field has to scramble to define themselves in the eyes of the voters. Biden doesnt, for good or ill. Whatever you think of his pitch, its authentic. Hes been talking about the same themes unity, civility, bipartisanship long before Trump walked down the escalator at Trump Tower and laid siege to the Republican Party. And Biden is a better, more disciplined campaigner than in 2008, when he last ran for president or in 1988, when he first tried. All those factors give him, in his third attempt, the best chance at the nomination hes ever had. None of this guarantees Biden will win the nomination. Front-runners often fall short. At this point in the 2008 campaign, Hillary Clinton and Rudolph W. Giuliani led their respective parties polls; neither survived the primaries that year. Biden still needs to flesh out his sketchy policy portfolio with clearer ideas about the economy, climate change, healthcare and other crucial issues. His aides say those are coming soon. At some point, hell have to respond to Sanders needling about his past positions, including his 2002 vote to authorize President George W. Bush to use military force in Iraq. Sanders voted no for that war, as he did nearly every military action in his career. And Biden needs to remain gaffe-free for longer than he ever has before. But his unexpectedly strong start has made him the clear front-runner, and serves as a reminder that we pundits arent always right especially once the voters weigh in. (CNN) Bathed in afternoon sunlight on the steps of the Palais des Festivals, Mati Diop screamed out with arms aloft, joy writ large on her face. Red carpet galas at the Cannes Film Festival are not usually like this. More common is the sight of a director smiling through the nerves, appeasing the cameras while preparing for critics' slings and arrows. Raw emotion is for when the credits roll, coddled by applause inside the Grand Theatre Lumiere. But no such reticence from Diop; she was already celebrating. Two days later Diop was still buoyant. "What I felt that day, I had never felt it before," she said. "It was so unique and special." Diop's film "Atlantics" is a rare thing: a director's debut feature in competition for the Palme d'Or. Its selection also meant French-Senegalese Diop became the first black woman in the running for one of the highest prizes in world cinema. Part romance, part ghost story, "Atlantics" is a magical-realist take on the migrant crisis, following a community in Dakar, Senegal, after a group of exploited construction workers, owed months of pay, set sail for a better life in Europe. Rather than focus on the migrants, Diop turns her attention to the trauma of those left behind: the women haunted by the young men's absence. Diop is quick to make clear the experiences on screen do not reflect her own, but it's a deeply personal project nonetheless, and one with a degree of self-discovery. Born in Paris into a family of distinguished Senegalese artists, Diop's father Wasis is an acclaimed jazz-folk musician, while her uncle Djibril Diop Mambety was a pioneer of African cinema whose 1973 Cannes-winner "Touki Bouki" also addressed the subject of migration. Until now best known as an actress, Diop has directed short films since 2004, including "Snow Canon" (2011), an exploration of a young woman's sexual awakening, and 2012's "Big in Vietnam," revolved around the search for an actor missing from set. Her 2009 short "Atlantiques," about a young man in Dakar mulling an attempt to sail to Europe on a small pirogue boat, would become the foundation stone of her first feature. "As soon as I decided I was going to become a filmmaker, it was immediately connected to my African origins, as if I wanted my cinema to be rooted there," she said. "I think I needed to use cinema to explore this territory." Diop compared the filmmaking process particularly editing to psychoanalysis: "A lot of things appear to you that were a bit unconscious." When "Atlantiques" took shape 10 years ago, mass migration "was very big, something tragic in Senegal," Diop explained. "At the time (it) really marked the population a lot myself included. I was coming from France to make a return to my origins and I would meet people (going the other way) ... I was not chosen, but taken by a history that was much, much bigger than mine." The film found poetry in describing a generation's predicament. "What is Europe?" a character ponders, a destination transfigured into an idea. When you have "nothing but dust in your pockets," as one voice puts it, dreams become nourishment. Diop described her "Atlantics" as the sequel to "Atlantiques," exploring "the other side of this story." We bear witness through the eyes of Ada, whose beau Souleiman takes to the sea, leaving her to face an arranged marriage to the wealthy but uncaring Omar. On their wedding night, an unexplained fire consumes the bridal bed, with Ada's friend swearing she saw Souleiman nearby. A police investigation ensues, and Ada is accused to harboring her missing lover, but the detective in charge becomes one of many seized by a mysterious illness when night falls. Diop, who co-wrote the script with Olivier Demangel, said she imagined "the ocean as an accomplice ... a supernatural force which was gobbling up the youth." Only in her film, it spits them back out to wreak havoc on the community. "Atlantics'" hypnotic visual storytelling carries the viewer from young love's first blush into something slightly sinister, navigating "djinn" spirits and the witching hour before arriving at an achingly sincere denouement. Like the films of Claire Denis -- to whom Diop's directorial style bears comparison there's ellipses everywhere, faces and bodies left to do the talking. However, Denis, who directed Diop in her breakthrough role in 2008's "35 Shots of Rum," insists that Diop "has her own territory and spirit." "I knew she was very determined," Denis wrote in an email, "but when I saw 'A Thousand Suns' (Diop's 2013 documentary following up on the cast of "Touki Bouki"), I became convinced she was brave, not only talented." "(Diop) really is one of the most subtle people I've ever worked with," said musician Fatima Al Qadiri, who composed the film's score. "The details are so fine and minute, and she will take you there with her. There's something very fragile but also extremely strong. There's paradoxes in her work that I was very drawn to." "Atlantics" themes -- first love, precarious employment, arranged marriages and migration may be universal, but the film is a staunchly Senegalese parable. The dialogue is nearly entirely in Wolof rather than French (though Diop doesn't speak it herself). Casting took place on the streets of Dakar. Writing in close consultation with trusted friends, she said fidelity was key, stressing the importance that "Senegalese people some Senegalese people recognize themselves in the story." "It's extremely important that more and more stories concerning African history, of characters, are (made)," she added. "It's really a matter of re-appropriating your own stories." Speaking at a press conference the day after the gala she went further. "(Growing up watching cinema) as a black woman, I really missed black figures and black characters ... It's also why I made this film. I needed to see black people on screen, like huge, everywhere." Al Qadiri revealed that in September the film will premiere back in Dakar, bringing the project full circle. "It means everything," said Diop. "I'm very curious to have feedback from the people there." In "Atlantics," Ada muses that "some memories are omens." For Diop and her young cast, that sunny afternoon on the French Riviera should be considered one. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Cannes 2019: 'Atlantics' director Mati Diop is the first black female contender for the Palme d'Or." Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democratic leaders on Wednesday tried to tamp down the brewing fervor among rank-and-file lawmakers to move more aggressively toward trying to impeach President Trump, even as she accused the president of engaging in a cover-up. Pelosi (D-San Francisco) convened a closed-door meeting of her House Democratic members Wednesday morning in the basement of the Capitol to walk through the series of investigations and court cases Democrats have launched against the White House, with hopes of pumping the brakes on calls to move immediately to impeachment. For the record: A previous version of this article identified Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) as a member of the House Judiciary Committee. He sits on the House Oversight Committee. That was really the message: Be a little bit patient, said Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), a member of the House Oversight Committee. Things are kind of breaking our way, and more is about to happen. Lets not rush to something that we cant take back. Pelosi has long advocated a cautious approach toward impeachment. But the White Houses refusal to cooperate with the House probes his Cabinet and lawyers have snubbed congressional inquiries and subpoenas prompted several rank-and-file lawmakers to publicly come out Tuesday in favor of impeachment. Advertisement She fortified the pro-impeachment crowd by emphasizing that the White House is engaging in a cover-up. Shes used the term before and House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) has urged Democrats to repeat the phrase as often as possible in their public comments, according to a Democratic source. We do believe its important to follow the facts. We believe that no one is above the law, including the president of the United States, and we believe that the president of the United States is engaged in a cover-up in a cover-up, Pelosi said. But the goal was to convince Democrats to ease up on the impeachment fervor. She pulled her key allies leaders of the committees that are conducting investigations to catalog recent Democratic wins, such as a court ruling in favor of Congress oversight power. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles), one of the chairs, spoke in support of impeachment, according to two lawmakers who were in the room. But other rank-and-file members told their colleagues that they cant go there yet. They include California Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont), a progressive, and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), a veteran lawmaker. Pelosi also explicitly put on the table the idea of Congress using its so-called inherent contempt power a rarely-invoked authority to directly enforce its subpoenas through fines or even jail time, instead of relying on the courts or Justice Department to enforce them, according to Democrats in the room. Lawmakers are now confronting the reality of what was once a theoretical question about whether to impeach the president. It raises deep constitutional and philosophical questions that will have repercussions for the 2020 election and for future Congresses that want to do oversight of the executive branch. Weve all been struggling with this on a personal basis about whats the right thing to do given our obligation based on the oath we swore to the constitution, said Rep. Katie Hill (D-Agua Dulce), who said the calls to her office about impeachment have risen dramatically, with 3-1 in support. She acknowledged that future generations will judge lawmakers on how they act today. This is a moment in history. The latest from Washington More stories from Jennifer Haberkorn Numerous House Democrats on Tuesday demanded immediate impeachment proceedings against President Trump amid White House resistance to their investigations, a marked increase in support for launching an effort to remove the president from office. The calls came in response to former White House Counsel Donald McGahns refusal to attend a congressional hearing, despite a House subpoena. The snub served as a final straw for several Democrats who were already leaning toward starting an impeachment inquiry. There are still many Democrats chief among them Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) who are reluctant to pursue impeachment, worried about the political risk of appearing too eager to oust Trump and aware that the GOP-controlled Senate is all but certain to refuse to convict Trump and remove him from office. But the move toward impeachment on Tuesday puts Pelosi in the middle of a divided House Democratic caucus. She has advocated for a cautious approach, arguing that she would only support impeachment if it is bipartisan and amid overwhelming evidence. She has called a closed-door speakers meeting with her members for Wednesday morning to discuss where the Houses many investigations and lawsuits stand. Advertisement Several Democrats on Tuesday came out publicly in support of an impeachment inquiry for the first time. Among them were prominent Democrats such as Reps. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin and Pramila Jayapal of Washington, co-chairs of the influential Congressional Progressive Caucus; freshman Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania, vice chair of the Judiciary Committee; and Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, who is also on the panel. Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, who is chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, said Monday night that McGahns refusal to testify would push him to call for impeachment. What people have realized is its not just everything detailed in [special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs] report. Its the administrations continuing refusal to cooperate with Congress and attempt to continue to obstruct justice, said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), who called for impeachment proceedings Tuesday. Thats why I think more and more people are frustrated, because weve never seen anything like this. Jayapal, who sits on the Judiciary Committee at the center of the investigations, says the support is growing among both progressives and centrists. Democrats are coming up to me saying: We were elected to do a job. We were sworn to uphold the Constitution, she said. A situation in which the president and the administration can completely not just undermine, but actually destroy the foundation of checks and balances is something we cant [ignore]. While centrists may have spoken to Jayapal privately, those who have publicly called for impeachment proceedings are, for the most part, the Houses most progressive members, those who are most likely to have long supported impeachment. I dont feel the numbers [of impeachment supporters] are increasing, but the megaphone is getting bigger, said one senior Democratic aide. The amp is going up, but the chorus is not growing. Pelosis job now will be to prevent the dam from breaking. She has forged a winding path of congressional investigations and subpoenas that may prolong a final decision on impeachment until election day 2020, when the president will be on the ballot and the question could be moot. Pelosi and other senior Democrats dont want to begin impeachment proceedings unless they know it will be successful, according to Democratic aides. But senior Democratic leaders acknowledge that it may be hard to hold lawmakers back for 18 months. There is unlikely any Democrat who probably wouldnt in their gut say: You know, hes done some things that probably justify impeachment, said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). But, this is the important thing. I think the majority of the Democrats continue to believe that we need to continue to pursue the avenue that weve been on, in trying to elicit information, testimony, review the Mueller report [and] review other items going on. And if the facts lead us to broader action, so be it. Some Democrats who are worried about losing focus on the issues we were elected to work on things such as healthcare policy, immigration reform and infrastructure, according to Rep. Scott Peters (D-San Diego). But he acknowledged that he expects Congress to pursue impeachment proceedings. It just wouldnt surprise me if thats where it ends up, he said. I dont know what the alternatives are if hes going to stick his middle finger up to Congress and pretend hes a king. The Houses pace of investigations shows no sign of slowing. The Judiciary Committee on Tuesday subpoenaed former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks as well as a former White House counsels office aide, Annie Donaldson. Earlier Tuesday, the panel convened to hear testimony from McGahn, who was a pivotal witness for Muellers team but said that he would abide by the Justice Departments instruction to not testify before Congress. He was directly involved in some of the most explosive incidents detailed in the Mueller report, such as Trumps effort to fire the special counsel. McGahn prepared to resign rather than pass along Trumps directive that Mueller needed to be removed, and he told former White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus that Trump had asked him to do crazy shit, according to the report. After the New York Times revealed the incident the following year, Trump tried to persuade McGahn to release a statement disputing the report. He also wanted McGahn to write a letter for our records to say it wasnt true. McGahn declined to take either step. Times staff writer Chris Megerian contributed to this report. The latest from Washington More stories from Jennifer Haberkorn An investigation ordered by a Virginia medical school failed to determine whether Gov. Ralph Northam is in a 1984 yearbook photo of a man in blackface next to someone in a Ku Klux Klan hood. Investigators with a law firm hired by Eastern Virginia Medical School said Wednesday they couldnt conclusively determine the identities of either person in the 35-year-old photo. They also said they couldnt discern how the picture was placed on Northams yearbook page, but found no evidence it was placed there by mistake or as a prank. The findings are unlikely to have a major effect on state politics or Northam, who has been trying to regain his footing for several months. Advertisement Virginia politics was turned upside down in a matter of hours in early February after a conservative website posted a picture of Northams medical school yearbook page. The Democratic governor issued two apologies within hours, initially indicating that he was one of the people in the picture. By midnight it appeared his entire political base was gone, with the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, other key Democratic groups and top allies calling on him to resign. Northam reversed course at a news conference the next day, saying he was convinced it was not him in the picture, while revealing that he did in fact wear blackface once decades ago, to look like Michael Jackson for a dance contest. Defying calls to resign, he said he wanted to focus his remaining three years in office on addressing longstanding racial inequities. While he was all but invisible in February and much of March, the governor is making routine public appearances again. And hes won praise from black lawmakers and others for several recent policy moves. Those include ending the suspension of drivers licenses for motorists with unpaid court fines and costs, and a review into how public schools teach the nations racial history. The heat for Northam to resign significantly lessened after scandal enveloped his potential successors. Two women publicly accused Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax of sexual assault, which he denies. And state Atty. Gen. Mark Herring admitted hed also worn blackface in college, just days after he too called on Northam to resign. Both Fairfax and Herring also resisted calls for their own resignations. And other politicians around the South soon had their own explaining to do over yearbook images taken long ago. But the incident will forever mark Northams time in office, and opponents still use it against him. House Majority Leader Del. Todd Gilbert recently said Northam had chosen to repair his own racist legacy, rather than protect victims of domestic abuse after the governor vetoed a bill requiring a mandatory jail term for repeat domestic abusers. President Trump is expected to appoint Ken Cuccinelli II, an immigration hard-liner who is one of the presidents strongest cheerleaders on cable news, to oversee administration efforts to crack down on both legal and illegal immigration, a White House official said Wednesday. Cuccinelli, who enjoys a reputation as a right-wing firebrand, has no immigration experience and would take responsibility for a politically explosive issue that crosses multiple federal departments and is probably key to the presidents 2020 reelection chances. He is a controversial figure among Republicans, however. Cuccinelli led an intraparty revolt during the 2016 presidential race when he tried to strip Trump of delegates at the partys national convention, even throwing his ID badge on the floor to protest Trumps nomination. He also has few friends in Congress after leading a far-right group that backed insurgent candidates against Republican incumbents. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has vowed to block him from any post requiring Senate confirmation. Advertisement But Cuccinelli, 50, has offered staunch support for Trump on immigration and other priority issues. The two met Monday at the White House and a formal announcement could come this week, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the president had not made the final decision. Cuccinelli served four years as Virginias attorney general and lost a 2013 run for governor to Democrat Terry McAuliffe. Trump recently pushed out the leaders at the Department of Homeland Security, which is responsible for most immigration policy and enforcement, in a sign of frustration at their inability to stem a dramatic surge of Central American families to the southern border. More than 100,000 migrants arrived last month, the highest level in more than a decade, creating a crisis for overstretched Border Patrol officers and other officials. Cuccinelli likely would report to Kevin McAleenan, the acting secretary of Homeland Security, but give regular briefings to Trump. His expected appointment was first reported by the New York Times. As a state lawmaker in Virginia before he was elected attorney general in 2010, Cuccinelli sponsored bills to force employees to speak English in the workplace and tried to repeal birthright citizenship, foreshadowing Trumps own support for that proposed policy. Like Trump, he also publicly speculated that President Obama was not born in the United States, although both later backed down from that claim. A self-declared warrior for traditional Christian values, he has declared that homosexuality brings nothing but self-destruction, not only physically but of their soul. For months, Trump has considered appointing an immigration czar to take the lead on issues central to the presidents political identity and his reelection bid the migrant surge to the border, the abandoned effort to separate families for detention, multiple deaths in U.S. custody and the so far unsuccessful effort to vastly expand existing border barriers. Blocked by Congress in his attempts to get money to build the wall and frustrated by other legal limits in confronting the border crisis, Trump is eager to demonstrate success on his signature policy issue as he heads into the 2020 race. He threatened to shut down all U.S. border crossings in March but was forced to back down from that threat amid a backlash from Capitol Hill. It wasnt clear how Cuccinelli would work with White House advisors Stephen Miller, an immigration hawk, and Jared Kushner, the presidents son-in-law, who recently helped unveil a more moderate merit-based immigration reform proposal. Miller, for example, has pushed Trump to consider busing migrants from detention centers on the border and releasing them in so-called sanctuary cities around the country, as well as House districts held by Democratic lawmakers, an idea the president himself has floated but not pursued. The administration also has reportedly considered a policy dubbed binary choice that would give migrant parents detained at the border the option of being separated from their children or bringing their families into long-term detention with them. Immigration advocates have slammed that proposal as inhumane. The secretary of Homeland Security has numerous other responsibilities, from counter-terrorism to hurricane relief, so Cuccinellis job could be as a point person on immigration for the president. At least on paper, he could coordinate policy and operations across the major departments involved in immigration Homeland Security, State, Defense, Justice, and Health and Human Services and manage personalities jockeying to influence the president. That could prove a heavy lift in a White House long beset by turf battles and infighting under a president known to act impulsively and unilaterally. The latest from Washington More stories from Eli Stokols Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday he had reached an agreement with the Trump administration not to redirect funds from a high-speed rail grant while Californias lawsuit against the federal government proceeds. California filed a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday challenging the federal governments decision to terminate a $929-million grant to the California High-Speed Rail Authority for the states bullet train. The state asked the court for a temporary restraining order to prevent funds from being obligated to another project while the suit was ongoing. California and the Trump administration came to an agreement overnight that the federal government will not immediately re-obligate the funds to another project elsewhere in the United States, the governors office said in a statement, adding that the pact was filed in the Northern District of California on Wednesday morning. Advertisement Under the agreement, the Federal Railroad Administration, or FRA, cannot re-obligate Californias funding to another state without first initiating a formal process, which ordinarily takes at least 4 months, the governors statement said. Importantly, California has preserved its ability to seek a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction should the FRA initiate the formal process with the intention of re-obligating our funding to a different project. On Tuesday, California filed a 20-page complaint in federal court effectively accusing the Trump administration of playing politics with its decision to withdraw the $929-million grant. California claims the decision contradicts federal regulations and makes faulty allegations about the projects lack of progress. The FRA has argued that Newsom, in his State of the State speech in February, substantially curtailed the scope of the rail project to focus on a Central Valley operating segment and pushed back to an indefinite date the original goal of a Los Angeles-to-San Francisco system. Federal officials say that scaled-backed plan violated the terms of the grant agreement, a claim California rejects. In a speech Friday, President Trump criticized the revised rail project, saying it links one tiny little town to another tiny little town for billions of dollars. Trump boasted that if he had his way, he would have helped launch an even faster bullet train to the state. And we also would have had it built on time, Trump said. And we also would have had it built on budget. Powerful interests lined up behind Senate Bill 50, a proposal in the California Legislature to dramatically increase home building near mass transit and in neighborhoods zoned only for single-family homes. On board were labor and business groups, environmentalists and developers, students and retirees, all of whom argued that radical change was necessary to solve the states housing affordability crisis. But an influential cohort with membership across the state opposed the measure with all its political might: suburban homeowners. And last week, a legislative committee blocked SB 50, a decision principally made by the panels chairman Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Democrat from the Los Angeles bedroom community of La Canada Flintridge. Other legislators from the suburbs said they were alarmed about the legislations potential effects on their communities. Local elected officials and neighborhood groups from San Diego to Marin County united to push back against the bill with activists from smaller, affluent areas taking the lead. All believed SB 50 represented a significant incursion by the state into local affairs. Advertisement There is a wake-up call that our legislators are not representing people at the grass-roots level, said Susan Kirsch, an activist from Mill Valley and head of Livable California, a slow growth organization. We were very concerned about decisions being made further and further away from people who have to live with the consequences of them. Without a strong push from Gov. Gavin Newsom and Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), the weight of the opposition led to the bills demise. California bill to add housing in single-family home neighborhoods blocked by lawmakers The legislator behind SB 50, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), argued that major changes to how local governments plan and zone for housing were necessary to address a severe shortage of available homes and to help the state meet its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. His proposal would have required local governments to allow mid-rise apartment construction near rail stations and four or more homes on parcels of land in most single-family neighborhoods. With some exceptions, the bill would have allowed more growth in nearly every area of the state where homes already have been built. But to many residents in suburban areas, the legislation was a threat one they felt would have taken power away from local officials, destroyed the character of neighborhoods and allowed development interests to overrun communities with expensive new projects. Kirsch founded Livable California in 2018 shortly after Wiener put forward an earlier version of the bill that was defeated with broader opposition. This year, as SB 50 gained support from more interest groups, the group mobilized to oppose it. Kirsch said she believes state officials have demonized suburban homeowners and local governments, blaming them for Californias housing problems. The true culprits, Kirsch said, are giant technology companies that rapidly grew but did not invest enough in affordable housing to offset the effects of an influx of new workers on the housing supply. Legislative leaders should instead force those companies to do more, she said. Success led to the housing crisis, Kirsch said. These companies are having enormous profits without having to take responsibility for their own contribution to the jobs-housing imbalance. Kirsch considered her organization a clearinghouse for information about SB 50 that she disseminated to like-minded activists across the state. Her Northern California group joined with the Coalition to Preserve L.A., an organization that has backed measures to restrain the amount of building in the city, to start a website identifying communities that would be most affected by the bill. The effort connected neighborhood groups and local officials from San Diego to Silicon Valley. Earlier this year, Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand attended a Livable California event nearly 400 miles away in Palo Alto. More than 90% of residents in Redondo Beach work outside the city, Brand said. Forcing Redondo Beach to allow more housing would not attract the jobs the community needs to boost its budget and fix traffic problems, he said. For the state to come down and say were going to take away your ability to control what happens in your town is misguided, Brand said. They dont know what theyre doing. Redondo Beach Mayor Bill Brand is part of a group of local officials and activists considering filing a 2020 ballot initiative to amend the state Constitution and ensure zoning rules remain the sole responsibility of cities and counties. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Brand is part of a group of local officials and neighborhood activists that is considering filing a statewide ballot initiative for 2020 to amend the California Constitution and ensure planning and zoning rules remain the sole responsibility of cities and counties. Why should we have city councils if we cant control the type of development we have in our town? he said. We should just dissolve the city and let [the state] handle it. State lawmakers felt the full force of community groups that came out against the bill. Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), who represents the San Fernando Valley, said the neighborhood councils in his area were all so opposed to SB 50 that they formed special committees within their groups to fight the bill. Hertzberg said the bill would have undermined the character of his district, which saw a boom in single-family tract home development after World War II. The San Fernando Valley that I represent was the American dream where people could have a barbecue and a backyard, Hertzberg said. He said the state should find less radical means to incentivize growth, such as providing leases on public land and tax breaks for investors to build low-income housing. You do not need to destroy single-family housing in order to achieve the necessary goals that we need to meet, Hertzberg said. But supporters of SB 50 said those fighting hardest against the bill are wedded to a system that favors suburban homeowners. We all talk about the climate change crisis, the homelessness crisis, the affordability crisis, but when push comes to shove we all keep doing the same things weve always been doing, said Michael Lane, deputy director of Silicon Valley at Home, an affordable housing advocacy group. Our elected officials at every level are listening to the loudest voices, those who want no change, those who are already comfortably housed. Suburban communities and neighborhood groups werent the only ones against SB 50. The Los Angeles City Council voted to oppose the bill, as did the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Many groups that represent low-income tenants were instrumental in defeating last years version of Wieners bill but did not oppose SB 50. Still, they raised concerns that growth spurred by SB 50 would lead to wealthier newcomers pushing out longtime residents. But it was suburban lawmakers from more affluent areas who controlled SB 50s path through the state Capitol. In April, Wiener agreed to limit the bills effects in small counties by reducing required building heights near rail and lowering density requirements in single-family neighborhoods from those proposed for larger counties. The move was a concession to Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg), who represents Marin and Sonoma counties and other suburban and rural Northern California communities. In turn, McGuire threw his support behind SB 50 and the bill advanced from the committee he leads. The deal between Wiener and McGuire prompted Kirsch, who was vacationing in Greece, to write a letter to nonprofit news site CALmatters, arguing that lawmakers were providing giveaways to developers by undermining the foundations of local democracy. As earthquake and erosion destroyed Athens, the housing bills of Wiener and McGuire, rather than solving the housing crisis, chip away at the pillars of Western Civilization, Kirsch wrote. Thats the crisis. State Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) left, talks with Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo during the Senate session at the Capitol on May 16 in Sacramento. Portantino is chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, which blocked SB 50. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) After McGuires committee, the bill headed to the Senate Appropriations Committee, led by Portantino. The lawmaker is a former mayor of La Canada Flintridge, a suburb of 20,000 people where city officials say no multifamily housing developments have been built in a decade. The median sales price for a home in La Canada Flintridge is $1.6 million, according to the most recent monthly data from real estate tracker CoreLogic. State legislators can block bills in appropriations committees without explaining how or why action was taken, and there was no public vote to shelve SB 50. Portantino said he was opposed to the bill because it stripped decision-making authority from local governments. He also believed the legislation would create a disincentive for cities and counties to expand transit in their communities if it meant they would lose control over land use at the same time. I think it was the time to take a breath and we took a breath, Portantino said after blocking the bill, which is eligible to come up again next year. While Portantinos opposition to SB 50 was expected, it was still a surprise that the bill did not advance to a vote on the Senate floor. Legislative leadership plays an outsized role in deciding whether bills move forward from appropriations committees. In December, Atkins created a new housing committee in her chamber and made Wiener the chairman, a move that appeared to be an endorsement of his aggressive approach to housing legislation. Atkins declined requests for an interview, but said in a statement that she deferred to Portantinos wishes. Short of significantly amending the bill and limiting its applications in large swaths of the state, there was no path to move forward this year, Atkins said. Newsom, who has pitched a nearly five-fold increase in home building as part of his plan to address the states affordability problems, did not support the bill in advance of it being shelved last week. Soon afterward, he said he was disappointed by the decision to block it. At a news conference on Tuesday to announce a new task force on homelessness, the governor declined to say whether he wanted the bill to be revived this year. To the extent that we can find a pathway to take core components of SB 50 and getting it over the finish line, Im committed to helping support that effort, Newsom said. Times staff writer Phil Willon contributed to this report. liam.dillon@latimes.com @dillonliam The Burbank Animal Shelter has been a haven for animals who are looking to have another chance in a loving home. However, animal officials for several months have had to deal with some uninvited guests numerous rodents that may have been displaced by Caltrans 5 Freeway improvement project, said Burbank police Capt. Eric Deroian. Since October, Burbank police, employees from the citys Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments, as well as county officials have been working on substantial renovations to the shelter and its administration building to make sure they are free of rodents and to prevent the creatures from easily returning. Deroian said he is hoping the facility is ready for employees and guests to return in the next month or so. I dont want us to go back until I feel like the building is exactly where we want it to be, Deroian said. In the fall, California Department of Transportation officials were busy making progress on the Empire interchange project along the 5 Freeway, which involves building an underpass that will connect Empire Avenue with North San Fernando Boulevard. The location of the animal shelter is near where theyre doing all that construction, Deroian said. So, when they started doing construction, Im not a rat expert, but it probably uprooted a lot of the nests or wherever they were living, and thats how we got an influx of them. For the most part, upgrades to the facility included rodent-proofing every entry into the administration building, kennels and rooms where cats are housed and surgeries are performed. Deroian said employees were moved into a mobile command center for several months to conduct adoptions and other business. However, the space proved to be too small for employees and guests, so operations were moved into modular bungalows until the renovations are completed. The animals have been in their kennels for most of the facilitys rehabilitation, but they were moved into a local boarding facility for five days while the shelter was tented to fumigate for insects and rodents. Deroian said the facility has been rodent-free since then, and he is waiting for the renovations to be completed before the staff moves back in. Its been a long and productive journey, and I think the employees and citizens will be proud of the new facility, he said. Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Shaun Miller has a unique partnership. His fellow investigator is trained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and can detect ignitable liquids in just minutes. He is 2-year-old Freedom, a 70-pound yellow Labrador retriever who joined the OCFAs investigations team in December 2018. The dog is the only K-9 certified to detect accelerants by the ATF in the county, one of three in the state and 59 in the country. Freedom can be used to assist in investigations anywhere in the United States, though his primary focus is in Orange County. Freedom, a Labrador retriever, discovers the scent of a fire accelerant placed on a car as handler Capt. Shaun Miller of the OCFA runs him through a demonstration at a recent press conference at the fire authoritys headquarters in Irvine. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) Though not all calls require Freedoms skill set of sniffing out ignitable liquids like paint thinners, kerosene and gasoline, he is available whenever needed. Hes with me 24/7, said Miller, a fire investigator. Any time I go to a call, he goes with me. According to Miller, the OCFA responded to 2,338 fires in 2018. Of the 429 fires examined by the Investigation Services Section, 158 were deemed arson and 58 arrests were made, giving the unit a 37% arrest rate. In comparison, the approximate national average for arrests in arson cases is 15% to 20%, Miller said. Miller said that in the six months Freedom has been on the team, hes assisted in more than 20 fire investigations, both in and out of Orange County. His work with fire investigators has contributed to multiple successes that resulted in the identification of the fire cause, as well as the persons responsible for the fires, Miller said. Some of these investigations involved other crimes in addition to arson, including murder. For Miller, Freedom isnt only an important resource for the community, but hes a big part of his life now. He goes to work with Miller OCFA bases K-9 units in Irvine and Foothill Ranch on calls and, of course, home with him at night (Freedom particularly enjoys the family pool). I spend every day with him, Miller said. If we take vacations, he goes with me hes truly a family member at home or at work. Capt. Shaun Miller taks about the newest addition to the OCFA alson investigation team, Freedom, who is trained to detect fire accelerants much faster and efficiently than a human. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer) When Freedom isnt investigating or napping in the office hes training. Miller turns meals into reward-based exercises that give Freedom the chance to detect odors and then eat when he accomplishes his tasks. He doesnt eat outside of training or work, Miller said. Freedom isnt the only K-9 unit working for the OCFA. The agencys K-9 program began in 2006 as part of the Urban Search and Rescue team (USAR). OCFA Capt. Doug Van Iwaarden, a USAR team member and canine search specialist, was part of the original K-9 handler group 13 years ago. There are four USAR K-9s working for the OCFA (with two more on the way in June). Though USAR K-9s are searching for living people trapped in natural or man-made disaster areas, as opposed to ignitable fluids, the detection tool the snout is the same. The dog is doing the same thing that the arson dog is our dog is just looking for a different scent, Van Iwaarden said. All the dogs are working for a reward, and theyve got that reward tied to a certain scent. Like Freedom, Van Iwaardens 8-year-old black Lab, Sadie, and other members of the K-9 USAR team are certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for search and rescue missions anywhere in the country. Van Iwaarden and Sadie assisted in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas, the Montecito mudslides and the wildfire in Paradise. And theyve done plenty of local searches as well. Weve searched for lost hikers in the hills surrounding Laguna lost medical patients in the city of Irvine, he said. Van Iwaarden said the ability of the K9s to detect specific odors is vastly superior about 200 times to human capabilities. To see them work is truly phenomenal, he said. Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. For more news and features about Orange County, visit TimesOC.com or follow us on Twitter @timesocofficial. Amid a slew of administrative reassignments in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, former Newport Elementary School principal Rich Rodriguezs transfer to College Park Elementary for the coming school year led Newport Elementary parents to a discussion Thursday night where they talked with district staff about the qualities they expect in their schools next leader. During the forum at the Newport Beach campus attended by more than 20 parents, speakers said theyd favor an administrator who supports school staff, self-evaluates, infuses arts in classrooms, engages with parents and students and values transparency. Parents said they were notified of Rodriguezs request for transfer before the last day of school last month. Like all employees, he has the opportunity to make a change, but we personally thought he did a great job here, parent Jason Price said. We want to know that the program Rich put in place survives. Parent Darcy Gassel said she is excited for the opportunity to get a new leader who could help the school grow further. Hopefully this will bring us together to find the right principal, Gassel said. The principal sets the tone for the school, and Newport El is unique in that its small and has tremendous parent support. Newport Elementary and the district made an online survey available for comments from parents who could not attend the meeting Thursday. District spokeswoman Annette Franco said input from the forum will be considered during the interview process for a new principal. Regardless of whether it is an internal candidate or someone from outside, the important thing to note is that the district works very closely with parents and staff to meet the needs for the school, which is why well go above and beyond to make the forum, Franco said. Interviews for the principal position will be conducted next week by panels of Newport-Mesa staff members, teachers and parents. The top candidates will move on to interviews with Supt. Fred Navarro and his leadership team, who will make the final recommendation for board approval. Rodriguezs reassignment to be principal at College Park in Costa Mesa is part of a series of principal transfers for the coming school year, which starts in September. He will replace College Parks former principal Julie McCormick, who relocated to Newport Coast Elementary to replace former principal Duane Cox, who moved to Rea Elementary in Costa Mesa. Cox is replacing Reas interim principal, Alex Morales, who replaced Kalim Rayburn after Rayburn left the district. Several College Park teachers and parents were upset by the transfer of McCormick, a speaker of multiple languages who had been at the school for eight years and helped spearhead its Mandarin language immersion program in 2015. The district announced her reassignment in May. Newport-Mesa board President Karen Yelsey said at the time that the board understands the transfer is difficult for the community but that such changes are well-thought-out at the district level. For the community, it can be difficult when someone they respect and like is someone they lose, Franco said this week. However, we have to do whats best for the schools, and if the district sees an internal principal that they feel is strong for one school, well make that placement. The district faced a similar administrative shuffle last summer after Laura Canzone then known as Laura Sacks requested reassignment from her post as principal of Mariners Elementary School in Newport Beach amid complaints from teachers and parents about her leadership and the accuracy of a school award application she filed during the 2015-16 school year. Canzone was transferred to Costa Mesa Middle School, where she served as a principal on special assignment during the 2016-17 school year before she resigned from the district this spring. Her replacement at Mariners, Matt Broesamle, previously was principal of California Elementary School in Costa Mesa. The announcement of his transfer in June 2016 drew a crowd of California Elementary parents to a board meeting where they expressed a desire to keep Broesamle at the school while also stating the qualities they wanted in a new principal. Broesamle was replaced at California Elementary the following August by Jacob Topete, who previously was an assistant principal for Newport Heights and Whittier elementary schools. Alexandra.Chan@latimes.com Twitter: @AlexandraChan10 For years, about 200 monarch butterflies have made their way from Canada to Huntington Beachs Norma Gibbs Butterfly Park around winter time. But it hasnt always been so. The monarchs stopped coming to Gibbs park for a period after the trees and vegetation that the milkweed butterflies rely on deteriorated. Enter longtime resident Leslie Gilson, who along with members of the Huntington Beach Tree Society and others restored the park starting around 2007. Known around town as the butterfly lady, Gilson has devoted the last several years to developing Gibbs park and raising butterflies, particularly the monarch, in her home. In her small butterfly house, caterpillars lazily wriggle along milkweed leaves, a poisonous plant that only butterflies eat. A few are entombed at the top of the house in their chrysalis, a hardened skin similar to a cocoon, beginning the final stage of their butterfly metamorphosis. Once they become butterflies, Gilson will tag them with little stickers and release them into the park. A monarch caterpillar eats eats milkweed at Leslie Gilsons home in Huntington Beach on Dec. 21. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot) Her activism started when Gilson returned to Huntington Beach more than a decade ago after living abroad. She had grown fond of seeing the butterflies at Gibbs park, which was dedicated on July 8, 1995, in honor of the first female mayor of Huntington Beach. But Gilson was met on her return by a dilapidated version of the place she once loved. The trees were all dead. It was a mess, she said. The 6.8-acre butterfly park, at 16641 Graham St., between Warner Avenue and Heil Street, had become known as a refuge for a substantial homeless population. Worst of all, Gilson learned that the butterflies had not returned in about 15 years. Gilson decided she was going to do something about it. In 2007, Gilson took storyboards to the Huntington Beach City Council and made her case for the parks restoration. At the meeting, she was approached by Jean Nagy, president of the Huntington Beach Tree Society, who proposed that they team up. The environmental nonprofit works on developing and maintaining local parks and greenery in the city. Gilson was made the societys coordinator for the restoration project. Nagy said Thursday that she had grown concerned about the park at the time because it looked like a jungle, and Gilson had enough energy for both of us. Before the project could move forward, Gilson and Nagy, who both lacked traditional knowledge of butterflies, hired a butterfly guru from a Northern California research firm to conduct a study to determine the best way to plant trees to benefit the insects. Gilson said she paid for the study out of pocket. A believer in fate, she mentioned that her mother had left her $3,000 when she died, and the cost of the project would cost exactly that. With the necessary information in hand, the two of them partnered with the city and the long renovation process began. By 2008, the city had removed 179 rotting eucalyptus trees from the park and planted new ones. Nagy said the team also purchased and planted the flowers and plants that butterflies need to feed off of. Within three months of the new trees going in, the monarch butterflies returned to the park, Gilson said. Gibbs park is now, once again, a regular stop for them on their annual migration. Nagy said Gilson has done a beautiful job heading the the renovation efforts in Gibbs park. Shes fabulous. This is her baby, echoed Norma Brandel Gibbs, the parks namesake. I am so grateful for a person to have that energy and vision to do that. We all owe her a debt. Gibbs, who is now 91 and still lives in the city, served on the council from 1970 to 78 and was Huntington Beachs first female mayor, from 1976 to 77. Known for breaking barriers and getting things done, she was also the first female psychology professor at Cal State Long Beach and, back home, was instrumental in developing the citys Central Park and Central Library, as well as its public park policy. She also has been a member of numerous organizations. Norma Brandel Gibbs, Huntington Beachs first female City Council member and mayor, sits on a 35-foot tile mosaic of butterflies in 1995 at the park named in her honor. (Karen Tapia / Los Angeles Times) Gilsons love for monarch butterflies has only grown in the past decade. She said that about five years ago she began working with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to raise and tag monarchs so they can be tracked. (The monarchs spend their winter hibernation in Mexico and some parts of Southern California where it is warm all year. Then they start their return trip around March. ) Every year, she and a team of local residents go to Gibbs park and collect caterpillars. They bring them back to their homes and raise them. Gilson monitors the growth of the caterpillars as they go through their life cycles. She said her favorite part is when the butterflies emerge from their chrysalis. Leslie Gilson of Huntington Beach holds a caterpillar that will become a monarch butterfly at her home on Dec. 21. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot) She described as quiet and amazing the moment when the newly transformed insect slowly uses its legs to claw its way out of the shell, emerging as a butterfly. Wednesday at her home, she held two caterpillars in her hand as they appeared to nip at one another. They fight with one another for position, she said. They have a personality to them. As she placed them back into their small house, keeping them separated, it appeared that raising butterflies shares amusing similarities with parenting. An autodidact, Gilson has read books and articles and taken trips to Mexico and Florida in her quest to learn more about butterflies. Florida is a key East Coast refuge for migrating monarchs before they fly over the open water of the Gulf of Mexico. To Gilson, these creatures are special and have a numinous quality to them. She remembers when the family of a boy who had recently committed suicide dedicated a tree in Gibbs park to their son. On that day, a butterfly appeared out of nowhere on the tree, Gilson said. She said butterflies are the souls of people who have died. Today, Gilson gives talks and tours of the park to the public. She hopes to instill a sense of wonderment in kids so they will one day take on the responsibility of preserving the park and keep the butterflies coming back to Huntington Beach. People can donate to the park at hbtrees.org. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter: @benbrazilpilot Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) A group taking charge of rehabilitating Boracay has shut down 10 establishments in the island owned by Chinese and Korean nationals after they were discovered operating without permits. In a statement, the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force said they have ordered the closure of the following business: 1. Bellas Bar and Restaurant 2. Old Captain Cuisine 3. Ken Minimart 4. Ken St. 5. Island Staff Restaurant 6. Coco Spa 7. Kim Ji Man 8. W Hostel Boracay Dragon 9. VIP Souvenir Shop 10. and YH World Network Service, Inc. The crackdown on these foreign-owned stores came from Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu, amid reports that some restaurants cater exclusively to Chinese tourists with their signage and menu written only in Chinese characters. Chinese visitors were found to be the top violators of local ordinances in Boracay as of April, according to the Boracay Tourism Regulatory Enforcement Unit. Chinese nationals listed 739 violations during the first four months of the year, followed by Koreans with 277 reported misdeeds. To add, the agency said it was in response to the increasing number of Chinese and Korean nationals working as tour guides, restaurant chefs and staff in the popular tourist destination, even without valid working permits and visa. The task force served the closure orders to these establishments with the help of the local government of Malay, Aklan on Tuesday, after conducting inspections from May 7-9. Natividad Bernardino, Boracay Inter-Agency Rehabilitation Group general manager, said there are 49 stores in the island with foreign business names placed on their signages. Apart from the 10 which have been shuttered, 14 other establishments had incomplete requirements from the local government and from the Bureau of Fire Protection. We cannot allow flagrant violation by foreign nationals of our countrys laws and regulations, especially in the island which we have painstakingly rehabilitated, Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III said in a statement. In April, Densing said several state agencies are looking into reports from Malay residents about Chinese-only restaurants in Boracay, which comes a year after the six-month shutdown of the island for a massive clean-up as ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte. Reports of Chinese-only restaurants have also sprouted in Metro Manila, with Malacanang saying this practice is illegal and discriminatory to Filipinos. Hotel employees are known to welcome a variety of weary travelers, but an unusual guest who appeared outside the front door of the Newport Beach Marriott Bayview early Saturday caught the staff by surprise. A 32-year-old ring-tailed lemur named Isaac was in a crate marked SA Zoo. Inside the crate was a handwritten note that read: This belongs to the Santa Ana Zoo. It was taken last night. Please bring it to police. Hotel staff called Newport Beach police shortly after 2 a.m. to report the finding. Officers retrieved Isaac and took him to the one of the Police Departments animal enclosures, where he could move around, said police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella. Manzella said Isaac, who was raised in captivity, was docile around officers. A few hours later, Santa Ana Zoo staff discovered that an unknown number of intruders had entered the zoos 20-acre grounds overnight and cut through two enclosures one that houses lemurs, including Isaac, and another that houses capuchin monkeys, said zoo manager Ethan Fisher. This handwritten note was found with a stolen lemur recovered from a Newport Beach hotel. (Santa Ana Police Department) Staff captured the primates that had left their enclosure and were roaming the property. But Isaac was missing. Employees called police shortly before 8 a.m. First we were very startled and we were just concerned for the lemur, Fisher said. We wanted to make sure that it was OK. About 30 minutes later, Newport Beach authorities called to report they had him. Isaac is now back at the zoo and is his usual mellow self, Fisher said. Isaac, the oldest of six lemurs at the Santa Ana Zoo, has lived there since 2000. Hes the second-oldest lemur in North America, Fisher said. Lemurs are found in the wild only on the island nation of Madagascar and are an endangered species. Taking an endangered species is a federal crime, authorities said. Fisher said zoo staff hasnt been able to determine why someone would take the lemur. People do all sorts of strange things, he said. Some people think it might have been a prank, others think maybe someone was trying to sell him. There are so many theories, but I cant begin to guess. Its also a mystery for authorities, who as of Wednesday had no suspects, said Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS (847-6227). KTLA contributed to this report. UPDATES: 1:25 p.m.: This article was updated throughout. This article was originally published at 7:50 a.m. You know how cockroaches are notoriously hard to kill? Thats the way it is with the myths surrounding vaccinations. Three years after California lawmakers passed Senate Bill 277, which requires every child enrolled in public school to be fully immunized against 10 diseases unless a doctor provides a medical reason for an exemption, the situation has improved. By eliminating the so-called personal belief exemption that had previously allowed parents to send their unvaccinated kids to public school for virtually any reason, the immunization rate of kindergartners went from a dangerous 90.4% in the 2014-15 school year to 95.1% in 2017-18. This means that the overall rate in California has now reached the level at which a population achieves herd immunity that protects against outbreaks of disease. In other words, a lot of cockroaches have met their demise. With apologies to the cockroaches they are, after all, just doing their thing, trying to survive that is good news. But the positive movement is shaded by the darker reality that in some communities, and in small pockets within those communities, immunization rates remain stubbornly, frustratingly below levels considered safe. Its particularly telling that the California Department of Public Health reported that the overall immunization rate of the last school year, though still high, was actually 0.4% lower than in the 2016-17 school year. Whats more, the share of permanent medical exemptions rose from 0.5% to 0.7% from one school year to the last, and from 0.2% before SB 277. The proportion lacking immunizations for other reasons rose from 0.5% to 1.1%, with 0.8% reported as enrolled in independent study programs, the agency reported. The rate of those overdue for required immunizations also rose last year, from 1.0% to 1.2%. Those are a lot of numbers to throw out, so the picture can be confusing, and the changes can appear tiny. But the upshot of all of this data is that people are still squeezing through the loopholes in the law. And while that is often justified some children cannot be vaccinated for legitimate medical reasons sometimes its not, and therein lies the problem. In large measure, health officials believe, the loss of the personal belief exemption is being offset by an increase in medical exemptions, some of which are obtained under dubious circumstances. According to a study conducted by University of Pennsylvania researchers in cooperation with California health officials, and published last month in the journal Pediatrics, bogus medical exemptions are on the rise. The researchers found that some medical exemptions were given for reasons that are considered invalid, or they were signed by medical practitioners not authorized to provide exemptions. In one particularly egregious case, a doctor charged patients to watch a video in exchange for signing exemptions. Some doctors were identified who actually advertised their willingness to sign off on exemptions for a fee. The study found other problems, including the fact that schools, not health officials, are responsible for deciding whether to accept medical exemptions; and attempts to track exemptions have been met with open hostility, legal challenges, and even death threats. Many health care officials are calling for a crackdown on providers known to flaunt the limits and true intent of medical exemptions. That could certainly help, but it wont be enough. Keep in mind that the data cited above is for public school students. Many kids attend private schools, or are homeschooled, and they are not covered under SB 277. Its likely that vaccination requirements are among the reasons some parents opt to keep their children out of public schools. I believe that the only way to kill this cockroach for good is through strong, continued doses of education. Parents suspicions about the safety of vaccinations have been fed by conspiracy theorists and medical crackpots whose harmful ideas, widely disseminated on the Internet, have been thoroughly debunked in every reputable corner of the medical establishment. Yet the rumors and myths persist, so we must continue to fight back with rationale, fact-based information campaigns and personal outreach to those who remain skeptical. We must remind the doubters that vaccinations are one of the greatest public health achievements in modern history, right up there with antibiotics, seat belts and clean drinking water. They help prevent terrible diseases that once claimed thousands of lives every year, and they continue to protect those who are sick and unable to be vaccinated. The 2014-15 measles outbreak traced to Disneyland that infected at least 147 people should have been enough to convince those still in denial about how easily diseases once thought conquered can resurface when vaccination rates fall. It was that outbreak that prompted state legislators to pass SB 277. Even with that law now established, we see how fragile remains the effort to keep herd immunity intact. A raging measles outbreak in Europe this year has generated little attention here, even as health officials warn that something similar could easily occur in the United States if immunization levels drop. Thats why we must continue to battle against the misinformation that plays on parents fears. Its a tough bug to beat, but lets hope we can do so before we experience a large-scale resurgence of deadly diseases. Patrice Apodaca is a former Newport-Mesa public school parent and former Los Angeles Times staff writer. She lives in Newport Beach. A nationwide search that produced 21 candidates from nine states ultimately resulted in Glendale Unified school board members selecting someone from their own backyard. Vivian Ekchian, who has worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District for 34 years, was officially voted in 5-0 Tuesday as the first female and first Armenian American superintendent in the positions 106-year history for a district thats made up of 32 schools and 26,000 students. Ekchian, who has lived in Glendale for 20 years, was born in Armenia and will head a district with students of Armenian descent making up 36% of its population in a city with 39% of its residents reflecting the same background. The decision to go to another school district after many years at the Los Angeles Unified School District was an important decision in my life, but I felt I was ready for it, Ekchian said. I wanted to serve my community, the community I lived in. She added, The commitment I made during my interviews was I just wasnt coming in as an applicant, I was coming in as a community member who was going to make a difference in our schools. Ekchians contract is for four years with a base annual salary of $310,000. Her last day as the Los Angeles Unified deputy superintendent will be June 14, and shell start with Glendale Unified on July 1. Although Ekchians hire is historic, her ties were only a bonus and not the main reason behind her selection, said Jennifer Freemon, Glendale Unifieds school board president. Our absolute first priority was finding the best person for the position and finding somebody that had the wealth of experience, that had the understanding what student achievement really means that its not just a test score, but the whole child and really deeply understands that, Freemon said. Ekchian demonstrated her versatility at Los Angeles Unified, taking on many roles, including as human resources chief and chief labor negotiator. She also just finished her educational doctoral degree at USC in leadership in urban settings. Ekchian was joined at the Glendale Unified meeting on Tuesday by her son, her parents and her mother-in-law. She signed her contract, along with the five board members after the unanimous vote, almost as a formality after the district sent out a press release Friday saying the hire was likely. Ekchian is the 18th superintendent in the districts history and replaces Winfred B. Roberson, who was voted out of office by a 3-2 vote on Jan. 29. Kelly King, who has been serving as the districts interim superintendent, will return to her position as assistant superintendent of education services. I, for one, know the role of the interim superintendent, Ekchian said to King during the meeting. So, Im very familiar with it, and I do not underestimate the amount of time and energy it has taken for you to continue to do this work. Ekchian once served as Los Angeles Unifieds interim superintendent in 2018 before former Los Angeles Times publisher Austin Beutner was hired for the position. Dr. Ekchian has served Los Angeles Unified for more than 30 years as an educator, administrator, innovator and leader, Beutner said in a statement Tuesday. She has been a terrific partner with me in our work. The Glendale Unified School District is lucky to have her. The meeting on Tuesday was part signing ceremony, but also part meet-and-greet because representatives from the Glendale Teachers Assn., Glendale Schools Management Assn. and Glendale Council PTA were there to introduce themselves to the new superintendent. Alicia Harris, president of the teachers association, presented Ekchian with a red association shirt, while the management association president and Glenoaks Elementary principal, Daniel Di Mundo, gave her a pin. Ekchians hire completes a quick search process handled by firm Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, which received a search contract with a $29,650 bid on Feb. 19 to find Glendales next superintendent. When we were going through the interviews as [board member Shant] Sahakian said, we had amazing, amazing candidates, board vice president Armina Gharpetian said. It was difficult for us to choose, but after meeting you and going through your interview, I was confident that you will be the great choice for GUSD. Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Portable restrooms and classroom changes are in the works at Monte Vista Elementary School after the Glendale Unified board voted 5-0 recently to install modular bathrooms next fall and move all kindergarten students away from bungalows and into permanent classrooms due, in part, to parental complaints. The district committed $255,000 in developer-fee funding on May 7 to install a 12-foot-by-40-foot portable restroom facility to be used by students and staff. This is an urgent need, and it needs to be addressed now, board member Shant Sahakian said. We have to also make sure that things this essential are proactively addressed moving forward with other school sites as well. The new building, to be located at the campus southeast corner near many of the schools bungalows, will have boys and girls restrooms on opposite sides and a unisex staff unit in between. Boys will have access to two toilets, two urinals and two sinks, girls will have three toilets and two sinks, while the smaller staff restroom will have one toilet and one sink. For me, a restroom, we just cant avoid that, board member Armina Gharpetian said. I dont know how we handled it without a restroom being close by. The vote came two months after parents filed a document known as a Williams complaint against the school, which affords the district 60 days to resolve an issue and complete a written report. A Williams complaint can be filed for various reasons, such as a school lacking textbooks or instructional materials or facility problems that create problem issues with health and safety. Some Monte Vista parents claimed inadequate restroom access created an urgent threat for some students, primarily those in the schools dual-immersion Korean-language program. They also cited overcrowding and poor planning as a driving force. Issues for older students centered on lengthy distances from restrooms and an inadequate number of stalls. The Williams complaint stated 10 classrooms that served roughly 128 female students, mostly in the rear bungalows at the school, were out of compliance because students had access to only one restroom with three stalls. That ratio would leave one stall per 43 girls, short of the California standard of one stall for 30 girls. Students in the back bungalows also have to traverse considerable distances, including girls in Elizabeth Nakanos third-grade class, room No. 8107, who walk roughly 100 yards to the nearest restroom. We need better things at school, said Lorelei Doudian, a student in Nakanos class. The walk is too far to go to the bathroom. The walk, for me, takes about 15 minutes. Doudian added, We need a classroom, not a bungalow. The heater and air-conditioning dont always work, sometimes the [electric outlets] dont work, and were all crowded. New portable restrooms would be installed next to the southeast bungalows. Hagop Kassabian, the school districts new administrator of planning, development and facilities, said the new restrooms should be installed within six months. Maybe the most notable objection made in the Williams complaint was that some dual-immersion kindergartners were urinating on themselves, while others reverted to using pull-up diapers. Parents claimed kindergartners had to walk too far to restrooms or were uncomfortable using bigger toilets, while others were said to be bullied by older students. While district officials have consistently said they have never seen any evidence to support those assertions, the board decided to move dual-immersion kindergartens from bungalows to permanent classrooms starting in the fall. The move will allow all kindergartners access to age-appropriate facilities. School board members expressed a desire to find more permanent solutions in the future. Deborah Pasachoff, who has two children who attend Monte Vista Elementary and who spoke at the May 7 meeting, said she hopes the portable-restroom facility is the start of change that will lead to the eventual removal of all bungalows from the campus. We do really appreciate you considering the bathroom and that does address a very immediate need, but its not enough, Pasachoff said. We have students in these bungalows that are not living what education standards are. Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. When a sign went up last month in the window of the long-planned Pink Pig Cafe in Montrose announcing the owners were seeking a permit to sell beer and wine, local business owners and nearby residents took note. Every day, customers are asking, Whats going on? When are they going to open? said Mary Dawson, owner of a clothing store down the block from the space thats been shuttered for nearly three years. They are not happy about it. Its a negative and a bad reflection on our town. While no opening date has been announced, Glendale city officials approved the alcohol permit on May 8, according to Betty Barberena, the citys planner for the project located at 2325 Honolulu Ave. That administrative-use permit was the only pending application for the site, but Barberena said the owners may have to pull additional permits depending on their intentions. Andre Ordubegian, president of the Montrose Shopping Park Assn., said hes been in contact with the owner, Jeff Williams, and that the project is progressing. Williams owns two nearby restaurants Star Cafe and Black Cow Cafe. Our fingers are crossed after all these years, said Ordubegian, adding that he hopes the restaurant can open within the next few months. Once home to Montrose Bakery, the property changed hands shortly after former owner Henry Baeza retired in 2015, Dawson said. By spring 2016, Cafe Rose opened in the space, but appears to have closed within a year. The property has been dark ever since. The Pink Pig isnt the only vacant restaurant space on the street. Since 2012, the former home of Rocky Cola Cafe, located at 2201 Honolulu and also once leased by Williams, has been shuttered. It opened in 1988. Its located on a prominent corner at the main entrance to the Montrose Shopping Park for motorists or pedestrians coming from the east. National restauranteur Tom Christopoulos, of La Canada Flintridge, took over the lease of the former Rocky Cola space from Williams by July 2017 and soon announced he would be opening a family-oriented restaurant called Gus & Andys Montrose Grill. Glendale officials have extended the projects plan-check process the time frame during which building plans are reviewed to make sure they comply with the citys code until July 24, according to Joseph Rodarte, with Glendales building and safety department. The plan-check process began when an application was submitted in January 2018, he added. Currently, the project owner needs to resolve an issue with its back exit, which discharges into someone elses property, according to Dennis Joe, the city planner assigned to the project. Those issues are handled by the citys building and safety department, not planning, Joe said, adding, I havent touched this project in a while. Initially, Christopoulos intended to open the casual-dining spot last year. Typically, with the process, no one gets it right on the first time, said Rodarte, who is not the plan checker for the project. Ordubegian said he hopes that the process goes a little faster. ... This [project], in particular, is taking a long time. With what he describes as the shopping districts two anchor corners closed, its just an eyesore, he added. If the building clears plan check, the owner has a year to pull a building permit and begin construction, Rodarte said. Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Susan Wolfson has lived in Glendales Rossmoyne neighborhood for 10 years, but it wasnt until recently she felt compelled to seek public office, throwing her name in the hat with nine other candidates running for Glendale City Council in an election on Tuesday. The first-time candidate attributes the recent initiative to the urging of several neighbors, as well as being inspired by working as an account clerk for the city of La Canada Flintridge and seeing an efficiently run city up close. Its been a wonderful experience, Wolfson said of her time at La Canada City Hall. Because the city is small, I get to interact with everyone who works there in every department. Its made a huge impact on me and how I see things. Join the conversation on Facebook >> Though she initially pursued a music degree at Claremont College, later majoring in anthropology at UCLA and earning a masters degree from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, Wolfson has spent the bulk of her professional life working in the field of accounting. In addition to providing accounting services for a number of clients on a consulting basis, shes held positions at Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte), California Federal Bank and KPMG. Wolfson, a certified public accountant, said she will bring a sense of fiscal responsibility and sustainability to the Glendale City Council. If elected, she wants to be a point person who can explain complicated budget matters to the general public. Im good at communicating financial information, she said. When youre deeply involved with it, you forget how arcane it is, Wolfson added. You assume people understand it, but they might not. Wolfson said her expertise would also aid Glendales ongoing discussions about its pension liabilities, which she feels have been made to look worse than they actually are. Thats something I bring my CPA hat to, she said, adding that pension debt is a challenge, absolutely. We need to work on it, steadily and without giving up and without giving in to the temptation to slack off. With 10 contenders vying for a council seat her competitors are all male, some of whom have raised tens of thousands in donations, compared to the $1,700 shes amassed from supporters she acknowledges she may seem an underdog candidate, but assures voters her intentions are serious. With most of these guys, its big business here in Glendale, she said. But I think Im a serious candidate because I have a good grip on the issues and have a good mind for solving problems. Thats what should really matter. Locally, Wolfson is a longtime member of the Glendale Historical Society and an active member of Rossmoyne Mountain Homeowners Assn. She also served for a year as treasurer of the Glendale Educational Foundation. For its part in the region, Wolfson said Glendale does need to build affordable housing, but I dont think the projects that have been approved are solving that need. She suggested stopping the citys approval process for new development long enough for us to figure out how we absorb whats coming in the pipeline and, considering how development affects the citys infrastructure and public safety needs, financially if we can make it. Wolfson said shes also bringing some environmental awareness with her candidacy. She pointed to a need for better solid-waste disposal than using the Scholl Canyon landfill. She also pointed to some residents frustration that a minimal environmental impact report was completed on some recent projects. Thats something that should be revisited, Wolfson said. Whether she wins or loses, Wolfson said shes learned so much and is eager to continue engaging with community groups shes met on the campaign trail. Her ultimate goal is to be able to bring more of the transparency and customer service she sees at La Canada Flintridge City Hall to her hometown. When people come into City Hall, theres an attitude of Let us help you, she said. I think thats terrific and I think it can be like that anywhere. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine bradley.zint@latimes.com Twitter: @BradleyZint Dont know about you, but Ive been enjoying our crisp weather and cooler evenings. At last maybe we can believe that winter is on its way. I am recuperating from heart surgery that took place on Nov. 11. I am considering taking two or three weeks off from the column, then easing back into it. So, in case you notice that the Valley Line is missing next week, please know I expect to be back soon. In the meantime, I invite you to send any information about local social events to our newspapers general inbox, lceditorial@valleysun.net, where one of the Valley Suns staff members will find it. -- La Canadans were out and about to raise funds to support the Los Angeles Public Library so that all 73 libraries across the city can offer free access to information, books, ideas, technology, educational and cultural programs for millions of children, teens and adults. The event, Literary Feasts, is held every two years by the Council of Library Foundation of Los Angeles. This year there were 48 dinner parties across the greater Los Angeles basin, each with a featured author. The fundraiser garnered more than $1.2 million. La Canada Flintridge residents Sharon and Nelson Rising hosted one of the dinners at their beautiful home. Their guest author was L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez and his wife, Alison Shore. La Canadans Loretta Savery, her husband Alex Black, along with Rob and Elizabeth Toms attended a dinner at the home of political consultant Frank Luntz in his Brentwood home. Also joining them at this feast was Val Toms, Robs mom, and Francoise Rozzell. Before dinner, Luntz gave guests a tour of his home, giving them the opportunity to see collectibles and treasures from famous moments in history. Nancy and Mike Harahan went to a literary feast in Pasadena co-hosted by Phyllis and Mike Hennigan and Andrea and John Van de Kamp. Their guest author was Jim Newton, who spoke about his book on President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The menu that night reflected the cuisine that was served at the White House when the Eisenhowers were in residence. Guests left the party wearing buttons that said, I Still Like Ike. La Canada author and resident Mark Salzman spoke at a home in Pacific Palisades. He spoke on his book, The Man in the Empty Boat. An accomplished cellist, before dinner Salzman gave a delightful cello recital for the guests. -- The Oakmont League of Glendale, under the presidency of La Canada resident Nina Ratliff recently honored past presidents at a luncheon and fashion show held at the Oakmont Country Club. Past presidents attending the event included Marcia Lytle, Joanne Ashton, Joanne Cate, Ann Chadney, Jeri Benton, Barbara McCullough, Julie Budimer, Marlene Hirt, Chloe Ross, Judy Mendicina, Donna Sauer and Chris Halajian. The retail store My Fair Lady presented a fashion show. Jonathan Rick, owner of the shop, was the commentator. Models included Lydia Trout, Cathy Steel, Ellen Farewell, Sharon Swinford, Fernanda Genthon and Nina Ratliff. -- Getting in an autumn mood in decor, the Womens Council of the USC Verdugo Hills Hospital Foundation hosted its third annual Boutique Wine Tasting. Nearly 200 people attended the event in the newly renovated Council Rooms at the hospital. The gathering was held to benefit the hospitals nursery and the planned NICU. Our focus is to continue to help renovate the hospital to bring the latest in medical services in the right environment to the community, said Ruth McNevin, chair of the womens council. Jeff Zitti of Rosso Wine Shop selected high quality premium wines for sipping. The hospital caterers prepared a delectable menu featuring a hot and cold buffet and a beautiful array of desserts. There was an array of silent auction items available for placing the highest bids. It gave guests an opportunity to get some holiday shopping done early. It was a highly successful evening that built awareness of the hospital and its needs. It was also a way to build new friends for the hospital. -- JANE NAPIER NEELY covers the La Canada Flintridge social scene. Email her at jnvalleysun@aol.com. A small but dedicated group of La Canada High School students led hundreds of their fellow Spartans Wednesday morning in a passionate call to action against gun violence, casting their lot with countless other schools participating in a nationwide walkout. Activists with the Womens March organized events to begin at 10 a.m. and last 17 minutes to honor the 17 victims of the school shooting that took place one month earlier at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. For the record: An earlier version of this story misspelled a LCHS seniors last name. It is Ethan Crane, not Krane. While Wednesday morning protests centered on remembrance, other events planned for March 24 and April 20 will focus on lobbying legislators for stricter gun control laws and participating in antiviolence demonstrations. The La Canada High protest was organized entirely by students, many of them members of the non-school affiliated club Activism USA, who planned the event around speakers, chants and songs but also provided ways for students of all ages to make their voices heard. Its kind of like our Vietnam students are getting involved in something they think needs to be changed, said LCHS senior Jack Weirick, who founded Activism USA. My goal is to get these kids out of their comfort zones and start speaking for themselves, regardless of their partisan beliefs. Worried about kids incurring unexcused absences to leave their classrooms, and potentially the campus, high school administrators extended a morning break to run from 10 a.m. to 10:24 a.m. As a result, hundreds of kids gathered on the quad to check out the action. On the sidewalk fronting campus, two dozen parents and elementary school students, technically not authorized to be on campus, held up signs and posters supporting gun control. LCHS senior Abi Lidar addressed the crowd, speaking through a megaphone. I know that it feels scary and unsafe to speak out, but violence will never win against cohesive, united people action, she said. Taking action can mean something as simple as joining a social media movement. Online engagement may seem trivial while we watch tangible actions occurring on Capitol Hill, but by using our social media voice, were garnering the attention of media and of lawmakers. A large banner sign let students and faculty write messages to be delivered to the local office of U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank). There, LCHS freshman Samira Iqbal picked up a marker and wrote: Too many lives have been lost. Its time for a change. Iqbal said she was glad to see hundreds of students out on the quad, listening to speakers and talking about the issues. She hoped politicians would see student walkouts across the nation as a call to action to advocate for more gun control. Just because were not old enough to vote doesnt mean we shouldnt have a voice about whats going on, the 14-year-old added. Were the next generation, so we should be able to create what we want the world to be like when were older. Nearby, student organizers manned a table with a number of laptops where students could pen swift letters to California Secretary of State Alex Padilla and even register and pre-register to vote. Senior Max Kinsel, 18, sat down and was registered in just a few clicks. He said while he supports some gun limitations against automatic weapons and rules that allow 18-year-olds to purchase rifles he supports Americans 2nd Amendment rights. I think every person has a right to own a gun, a handgun at least, Kinsel said. [But] 18-year-olds shouldnt have rifles. Were still young and too immature to handle those kinds of weapons. Organizer and LCHS senior Ethan Crane, 18, said the protest was intended not to embrace any partisan ideal but to give students a voice and a sense of personal empowerment. Later Wednesday, students planned to attend a 5:30 p.m. candlelight vigil at Memorial Park. On March 24, Activism USA members are chartering a bus for anyone who wants to join them at the March For Our Lives demonstration in Downtown Los Angeles. On April 20, students will lead a march from campus to Memorial Park in remembrance of the 1999 Columbine school shooting. What were doing here is the start of something big, and its not going to happen right away, Crane said. Well have to keep pressing our demands from next week to the next. But vigilance now is important, because the more we wait, the more lives will be lost. To learn more, follow Activism USA on Facebook or on Instagram at ActivismUSA. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine John Walker Lindh, the young Californian who became known as the American Taliban after he was captured by U.S. forces in the invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001, is set to go free after nearly two decades in prison. But conditions imposed recently on Lindhs release, slated for Thursday, make clear that authorities remain concerned about the threat he could pose once free. Lindh converted to Islam as a teenager after seeing the film Malcolm X and went overseas to study Arabic and the Quran. In November 2000, he went to Pakistan and from there made his way to Afghanistan. He joined the Taliban and was with them on Sept. 11, 2001, when Al Qaeda terrorists attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The U.S. attacked Afghanistan after the country failed to turn over Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Lindh was captured in a battle with Northern Alliance fighters in late 2001. He was present when a group of Taliban prisoners launched an attack that killed Johnny Micheal Mike Spann, a CIA officer who had been interrogating Lindh and other Taliban prisoners. Advertisement Television footage of a bearded, wounded Lindh captured among Taliban fighters created an international sensation, and he was brought to the U.S. to face charges of conspiring to kill Spann and providing support to terrorists. Eventually, he struck a plea bargain in which he admitted illegally providing support to the Taliban but denied a role in Spanns death. Lindh received a 20-year prison sentence. He served roughly 17 years and five months, including two months when he was in military detention. Federal inmates who exhibit good behavior typically serve only 85% of their sentence. His probation officer asked the court to impose additional restrictions on Lindh while he remains on supervised release for the next three years. Lindh initially opposed but eventually acquiesced to the restrictions, which include monitoring software on his internet devices; requiring that his online communications be conducted in English and that he undergo mental health counseling; and forbidding him from possessing or viewing extremist material, holding a passport of any kind or leaving the U.S. Authorities never specified their rationale for seeking such restrictions. A hearing on the issue was canceled after Lindh agreed to them. The Bureau of Prisons said Lindh rejected an interview request submitted by the Associated Press, and his lawyer declined comment. But there have been reports that Lindhs behavior in prison has created cause for concern. Foreign Policy magazine reported in 2017 that an investigation by the National Counterterrorism Center found that Lindh continued to advocate for global jihad and to write and translate violent extremist texts. A former inmate who knew Lindh from the time they spent at the same federal prison said he never heard Lindh espouse support for Al Qaeda or indicate hed be a risk for violence, but he found Lindh to be antisocial and awkward around others, with an unyielding, black-and-white view of religion. The inmate spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he wanted to avoid further stigmatization from his time in Lindhs prison unit. Michael Jensen, a terrorism researcher at the University of Marylands National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, said its clear the government has concerns about Lindhs mindset. For three years hes going to be watched like a hawk, Jensen said. He said Lindh represents an interesting test case, as he is on the leading edge of dozens of inmates who were convicted on terrorism-related offenses in the aftermath of Sept. 11 and are eligible for release in the next five years. He said theres little research to indicate the efficacy of deradicalizing inmates with connections to radical Islam, but he said the research shows that recidivism rates for those connected to white supremacy and other forms of extremism are high. Lindh was housed in Terre Haute, Ind., with other Muslim inmates convicted on terrorism-related charges. The rationale was to keep those inmates from radicalizing others in the general prison population, Jensen said. Those inside the unit were supposed to be limited in their ability to communicate with each other. But the reality is these guys still talk to each other, he said. Lindh, for his part, admitted his role and his wrongdoing in supporting the Taliban, but he and his family have bristled at any notion that he should be considered a terrorist. When he was sentenced, Lindh said he never would have joined the Taliban if he fully understood what they were about. He also issued a short essay condemning acts of violence in the name of Islam that kill or harm innocent civilians. Lindhs time in prison has provided only a few clues about his current outlook. He filed multiple lawsuits, which were largely successful, challenging prison rules he found discriminatory against Muslims. In the more recent lawsuits he used the name Yahya Lindh. One lawsuit won the right to pray in groups at the prison in Terre Haute. A second lawsuit reversed a policy requiring strip searches for inmates receiving visitors, and a third won the right to wear prison pants above the ankle, which Lindh said is in accordance with Islamic principles. Some have criticized Lindhs pending release. In March, the legislature in Alabama, where Spann grew up, adopted a resolution calling it an insult to Agent Johnny Micheal Spanns heroic legacy and his remaining family members. In addition, Republican Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby and Democratic New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan wrote a letter last week to the Bureau of Prisons expressing concern. We must consider the security and safety implications for our citizens and communities who will receive individuals like John Walker Lindh who continue to openly call for extremist violence, they wrote. The last time elections for the European Parliament were held, the vote was dismissed by many as a sleepy, low-stakes affair. Five years ago, Brexit wasnt even a blip on the horizon. Populist and extreme-right parties were mainly political sideshows. The pillars of the postwar order NATO, the European Union were weathering occasional family squabbles but hardly riven by existential threats. And the transatlantic relationship hadnt been turned on its head by an impetuous U.S. president who speaks far more harshly of traditional European allies than he does of tyrants such as North Koreas Kim Jong Un. This time around, its an entirely different landscape. When four-day balloting for the European Unions legislative body begins Thursday, starting with votes in Britain and the Netherlands, mainstream parties that have held sway for decades face an unprecedented insurgency by anti-establishment movements. With more than 425 million Europeans across 28 countries eligible to vote in the contest for 751 parliamentary seats, outright victory for national-populist movements is considered unlikely. But most analysts say thats beside the point. Advertisement The populists dont need to win in order to be perceived as making significant gains, said Thomas Wright, the director of the Brookings Institutions Center on the United States and Europe. They can deprive anyone else of a majority and complicate government afterward. Another factor in the populists favor: Turnout in the European Parliament vote tends to be relatively low, a boon for movements with a fired-up base and a laser focus on a few specific issues, such as migration or skepticism toward the EU. A center-right grouping, the European Peoples Party, appears likely to win the largest share of votes, but it will almost certainly need coalition partners to command a majority. That gives smaller national parties on both the left and right a king-making role and with it, outsized policy influence that could last for years to come. The European Parliament is sometimes thought of as largely symbolic, but lawmakers, who are based in the French city of Strasbourg and in Brussels, wield budgetary powers and have an essential say in matters such as trade deals. In Italy, Poland, Hungary, Denmark and elsewhere, nationalist parties are expected to make gains. Austria was forecast to be on that track as well, until the spectacular seeming self-immolation of its main far-right party in a scandal that burst into view over the weekend. The Freedom Partys Heinz-Christian Strache, who served as vice chancellor, was captured on a secretly made video appearing to proffer favors to a woman who claimed ties to the Russian oligarchy. He resigned, and the party was swiftly dropped as a coalition partner by conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who called for early elections. The Freedom Party has destroyed itself, Kurz told the German newspaper Bild. Preelection drama of a more farcical variety came in Britain, which would not even have taken part in this vote had it left the European Union as scheduled at the end of March. The divisive head of the new Brexit party, Nigel Farage, was hit with a milkshake during a campaign stop in the northern English city of Newcastle on Monday, and then overheard angrily berating his security detail. The Brexit party, created to drive home the demand to carry out the 2016 vote to depart the bloc, has a substantial lead over the ruling Conservative and opposition Labor parties in the European election contest. The anti-Brexit vote was significant, polls suggested, but split among several parties. The bumpy road to Brexit illustrates a European paradox: Many of the politicians who have offered the most vigorous and vociferous opposition to the European Union during the parliamentary campaign are not looking to emulate Britain and move to leave the bloc. Rather, they hope to reshape it in their own image, working from within. Those far-right figures include Frances Marine Le Pen, who has rebranded her National Front as the National Rally. She once called for dissolution of the EU but now says it should be overhauled to give individual member states more power. In another paradox, public opinion polls consistently suggest that immigration is not the top concern for most European voters. But in this campaign, its been a dominant issue, if not the predominant one. An especially noisy display of anti-immigrant sentiment came five days before the start of the vote, when Le Pen and about a dozen other nationalist-populist leaders from across Europe gathered for a triumphal preelection rally in Milan, Italy. Led by Italys hard-line deputy prime minister, Matteo Salvini, the group denounced out-of-control immigration even though numbers of migrants arriving in Europe have dropped off dramatically since 2015, which saw a surge in arrivals from war-torn Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Working in concert with parties such as Germanys Alternative for Germany and the Dutch Freedom Party, whose platform largely rests on anti-Muslim sentiment, Salvinis alliance hopes to wind up as the European Parliaments fourth-largest grouping. But the Milan gathering did not include Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whom the far-right movement considers one of its brightest stars. He says he may remain allied with the centrist parliament bloc and try to move it rightward. Orban has also shown no interest in joining forces with Le Pen. Some analysts say election fervor is helping create an illusion of unity among insurgent parties one that may prove fleeting. Nationalist movements, by their nature, champion the interests of their individual states, which are bound to conflict at times with those of their neighbors. In very different ways, both the mainstream parties and the insurgents cast themselves as defenders of Europe. But they disagree on what that means. Leaders like Emmanuel Macron, whose 2017 election as French president was widely and in retrospect, perhaps incorrectly seen as a sign that the populist wave sweeping the continent had crested, place their faith in the European project, exemplified by common values, goals and interests. Salvini and his would-be coalition partners have seized upon the notion that immigrants, especially from Muslim countries, pose a threat to European culture often used in that context as a code word for Christianity. Even from across the Atlantic, President Trump is an unseen presence in the vote, some analysts said. He hosted Orban in the Oval Office last week, and as a candidate, he was an enthusiastic proponent of Brexit. His onetime senior White House strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, has sought to play a more active role, boosting politicians such as Salvini and denouncing Macron. The election, Bannon told the French newspaper Le Parisien last week, is a referendum on Macrons vision of Europe, which he derides as unworkable. One thing we found in our polling is that there is a lot of anxiety and insecurity among Europeans, said Mark Leonard, director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. And having the first U.S. president who doesnt support the European Union is adding to that anxiety. With German Chancellor Angela Merkel having decided not to seek another term in federal elections due in 2021, Macron has sought to take up the mantle as the leading proponent of a united Europe. But as his popularity at home has slipped, he finds himself grappling with widespread resentment over falling living standards in rural areas. The yellow vest movement has held raucous and sometimes violent demonstrations across the country and in iconic Parisian venues such as the Champs-Elysees. Macron, while promising to listen to the grievances of those who feel left behind, has painted the European vote as a referendum on moving forward with closer integration that would help the EU compete with world powers such as the United States and China. Retreating into nationalism offers nothing, Macron wrote in an open letter to Europeans in March. It is rejection without an alternative. And this is the trap that threatens the whole of Europe. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) The Department of Justice has filed money laundering charges against five officers of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC) for their alleged involvement in the $81-million Bangladesh Bank heist three years ago. Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete told reporters on Wednesday that a case has been filed against former RCBC treasurer Raul Victor Tan, national sales director Ismael Reyes, regional sales director Brigitte Capina, customer service head for Jupiter business center Romualdo Agarrado, and senior customer relationship officer for Jupiter business center Angela Ruth Torres. All five are or were part of RCBC's Retail Banking Group. This comes after the investigating prosecutor denied their appeal as authorities found ample grounds to charge them for violating the Anti-Money Laundering Act. "As defined, 'willful blindness' is the deliberate avoidance or knowledge of a crime, especially by failing to make a reasonable inquiry about suspected wrongdoing, despite being aware that it is highly probable. There is no better way to describe the acts of respondents Tan, Capina, Reyes, Agarrado, and Torres than this," the 10-page resolution read. "Their complacent attitude in handling the suspicious remittances is unacceptable, and rocked the integrity of our banking system." The case has been filed with the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 141, Perete said. In January, the Makati RTC branch 149 found RCBC branch manager Maia Santos-Deguito guilty of money laundering. Deguito cleared and processed the money stolen by unknown hackers from the Bangladesh government which were wired to four bogus accounts at the bank's branch along Jupiter Street, Makati on Feb. 5, 2016. The $81-million deposits were later withdrawn, converted into pesos, then gambled in a number of casinos in the Philippines where it was left untraced. READ: Casinos now covered by anti-money laundering act under new law Deguito was sentenced to 4-7 years in jail for each of the eight counts of money laundering and was ordered to pay $103 million. Now, Perete said prosecutors discovered that the five other bank officials also had roles to play in ushering in the stolen funds from the Bangladesh central bank's account in New York to the Philippines through RCBC. Of the amount, only $15 million has been recovered and returned to Dhaka so far. "The five were found instrumental in the lifting of the temporary hold on the four beneficiary accounts of the international inward remittances of funds allegedly wrongfully taken from the Bangladesh Bank, and the withdrawal of such funds, among other acts," Perete said. "These acts were found to have been made even after notice of the irregularity in the transaction from the Bangladesh Bank," he added. Meanwhile, the state prosecutor granted the appeal filed by RCBC district sales director Nestor Pineda after discovering that Deguito bypassed him and went straight to Capina and Tan for the release of the stolen funds, despite receiving recall orders from abroad. Bangladesh lodged a criminal case against RCBC before a New York court on Jan. 31 of this year. In March, RCBC retaliated with a defamation case against the foreign central bank for making "baseless allegations" that supposedly tarnished reputation of the Yuchengco-owned lender. In a statement, RCBC said they expect the charges against their five employees to be dropped eventually. "We are confident that they will be vindicated since our investigation, conducted by independent third parties, concluded they had no knowledge about the alleged money laundering activity at all. We expect the complaint to be dismissed consequently," according to RCBC legal counsel Thea Daep. CNN Philippines Correspondent Anjo Alimario contributed to this report. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has moved to have truckloads of garbage that Filipino officials say were illegally shipped to the Philippines years ago be forcibly shipped back to Canada, Dutertes spokesman said Wednesday. Canadian Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said later that the trash will be back on Canadian soil before the end of June. McKenna said the government has awarded a contract to a shipping company, Bollore Logistics Canada, that will return 69 containers filled with household waste and electronic garbage. Philippine presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo earlier held a news conference to announce that Duterte has ordered officials to look for a private shipping company to transport the garbage to Canadian territory in an escalation of his increasingly adversarial stance. The Philippines will shoulder the cost of the garbage shipment, Panelo said. If Canada will not accept their trash, we will leave the same within its territorial waters or 12 nautical miles out to sea from the baseline of any of their countrys shores, Panelo said. The presidents stance is as principled as it is uncompromising: The Philippines as an independent sovereign nation must not be treated as trash by other foreign nations. Advertisement The Philippine government recalled its ambassador and consuls in Canada last week over Ottawas failure to comply with a May 15 deadline to take back the garbage. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that Canada has been working hard with Philippine officials and hopes to strike a resolution shortly but did not specify a time frame. In 2017, Trudeau said legal issues preventing the return of the garbage to Canada had been resolved. This is a situation that is unacceptable and has gone on too long, Trudeau said. Canada is also looking at ways to hold the responsible parties to account. At least 103 containers of household trash, including plastic bottles and bags, newspapers and diapers, were shipped in batches from Canada to the Philippines from 2013 to 2014. Most of the shipping containers remain in two ports in Manila and northern Subic Freeport, sparking protests from environmental activists. Philippine officials say they were falsely declared by a private firm as recyclable plastic scraps and have asked Canada to take back the garbage. Duterte raised the garbage issue in a speech last month while officials from both countries were already discussing a resolution to the issue. The volatile president said he was ready to declare war against Canada over the issue. Panelo said Duterte was upset about the inordinate delay of Canada in shipping back its containers of garbage, adding, We are extremely disappointed with Canadas neither here nor there pronouncement on the matter. Obviously, Canada is not taking this issue nor our country seriously. The Filipino people are gravely insulted about Canada treating this country as a dumpsite, Panelo said. Dutertes moves have been the latest strain in Philippine relations with Canada under Duterte. Last year, Duterte ordered the cancellation of a multimillion-dollar agreement to buy 16 helicopters from Canada after its government decided to review the deal due to concerns that the Philippine military might use the aircraft in counterinsurgency assaults. - Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh recently showed an act of kindness to a social media troll - The individual who had been a pain in her neck was given N50k by the actress - This generous and unexpected deed done by the celebrity caught the attention of her fans Recently, Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh gifted a social media troll N50,000. As shown in a screenshot shared by the screen diva, the Instagram 'bully' begged the celebrity for money. Upon stumbling on the comment, Tonto taunted the individual for asking for money despite all the insults he or she regularly hurled at her. Then, she asked the person to send an account number. When Tonto sent the money, the troll extended her appreciation to the actress. See the dialogue below: READ ALSO: NAIJ.com upgrades to Legit.ng: a letter from our Editor-in-Chief Bayo Olupohunda PAY ATTENTION: Get your daily relationship tips and advice on Africa Love Aid group Many fans reacted to what Tonto Dikeh did for this troll. See some of the reactions below: mbabylast: "I love your heart, honestly I felt stupid for insulting you too, but I just realized how cool and cute your heart is, the truth is no one really understands you, no one care to reason with you, no one knows the pain you pass through, no one knows what it feels like, all the society do is Condemn instead of giving you a listening ear, you're a strong woman may God bless you and give you all the happiness you lost,I love you." bae77198: "How do people do it? Insult someone and stil beg the same person? Na wa o." READ ALSO: Man reveals how he lost job offer because of Tonto Dikeh and Bobrisky vanessa_stinko: "Saw you y'day and you are a complete different person from what social media makes you looks like. You simple, a mother and a sweet heart." socrazykool: "Nigerians hate you until you give them money . Then they still hate you but stop being too loud about it." nuhuasabe: "Wow! 50k for always insulting u. U have a good heart." READ ALSO: This babe housed me in Lagos for 2 years without collecting a dime - Daniella Okeke praises Tonto Dikeh (video) Recently, an Islamic cleric said that the actress would never remarry again because of the way she disgraced her ex-husband. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Should Tonto Dikeh have blasted her ex-husband online? Nigerians react | Legit TV Source: Legit.ng A mother will head to Northampton County Prison after her 5-year-old son was repeatedly found alone outside in Easton. Tonia Edwards, of the 800 block of East Fifth Street in Bethlehem, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 days to 23 months in county prison, followed by two years of probation, after previously pleading guilty to child endangerment. The 33-year-old Edwards is slated to report to prison at 6 p.m. Friday, and was given a later report time so she could make arrangements for another child, prosecutors said. She has been free on $5,000 unsecured bail. Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Laura Majewski said probation would have been a standard range sentence in the case, but she pushed for jail time in this case because it was the sixth incident involving the boy being found outside and alone. Edwards previously said her son was diagnosed with autism, and he had a tendency to wander away from their home. The countys Children, Youth and Families division had been working with Edwards, and she was supplied with alarms for the window and doors, Majewski said. I fought vigorously for (prison time). It comes to a point where we have to take action to protect these kids, she said, calling the incidents the result of neglect. After Edwards is released, she will need to comply with mental health treatment and any recommendations following a drug and alcohol evaluation. Children and Youth will also stay involved, Majewski said. Edwards two youngest children are not in her care, and she will need to attend parenting classes and complete various other steps, Majewski said. Police said on March 15, 2018, when Edwards lived in the 600 block of Bushkill Street in Easton, a driver found the boy in the traveling lanes of Route 22 East near Cemetery Curve. Police said the boy wandered away from the home when Edwards was taking a nap. Thirteen days later, Edwards reported her son wandered away from their apartment, and he was found a short time later, police said. The night of April 4, 2018, two people found the boy walking on North Seventh Street near Easton Cemetery in nothing but a diaper. Police said the temperature was 43 degrees at the time. In addition to those three incidents, Northampton Countys Children, Youth and Families division also reported the boy wandered away from the familys residence on May 30 and 31, 2018. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) A top official of the Liberal Party said Wednesday that Senator Francis Kiko Pangilinan, who resigned as the political partys president, should not be blamed the loss of the opposition's senatorial candidates in the 2019 midterm elections. I think its a shared responsibility of the whole group. We know that we were up against a wall . We knew that if we ever went to different towns and provinces, there would be no welcoming party there, LP Vice President for External Affairs Erin Tanada told CNN Philippines The Source. In his resignation letter on Tuesday, Pangilinan held himself primarily accountable for the loss of Otso Diretso, the opposition coalition led by the LP. The party's Secretary General Quezon City 6th District Rep. Kit Belmonte also quit for the same reason, but Vice President Leni Robredo, chairman of the former ruling party, rejected both resignations. Apart from taking full responsibility for the worst turnout for the opposition since 1947, Pangilinan may have also resigned in anticipation of his re-election bid in 2022, Tanada said. He has not yet decided, but I would assume that he would be running and it would be hard to manage a party in a presidential election and run also at the same time, he explained. LP Vice Chairman Senator Franklin Drilon said the party will hold a caucus after the proclamation of the winning senators to discuss Pangilinans resignation. LP stalwarts dissuaded Pangilinan from stepping down, but Tanada said it was also an option for the party to elect Robredo as its president. Cards stacked against opposition All Otso Diretso bets, including Tanada, failed to clinch a Senate seat, in a crushing blow to the opposition unseen since 1947 when the administration swept the election. The coalition's highest-ranking candidate in the senatorial race was outgoing Senator Paolo Benigno Bam Aquino IV, who placed 14th. Tanada said they expected that the cards would be stacked against the opposition, as normally happens in any election. However, he said the odds against the Otso Diretso candidates went up when President Rodrigo Duterte scared off local officials from endorsing opposition bets. [Duterte] used fear, waved a bunch of papers proclaiming a narcolist ... that caused even mayors to shudder. And so traditional friends, who you can call and approach, especially with friends of mine who Ive had the courtesy of being part of three Congresses would say, Erin, you can come but dont expect me to welcome you in that district or in that town, baka mapagalitan eh [I may get scolded,] he revealed. The administration had repeatedly denied using its powers against the opposition. However, Malacanang released a matrix tagging certain opposition figures, including Otso Diretso bets Aquino and Magdalo party-list Rep. Gary Alejano, as part of a plot to discredit Duterte. The Palace also said that the victory of mostly administration-backed candidates was a sign that voters did not want an obstructionist Senate. Nine of the 12 incoming senators were endorsed by Duterte or his daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara, raising concern about the independence of the chamber. Some of the incoming senators, however, have assured that they would remain independent. The election results expands the Senate majority bloc in the Senate to 20 members as the minority bloc shrinks to four with Senators Aquino and Antonio Trillanes IV stepping down next month. De Lima remains detained in Camp Crame over drug charges, leaving the minority bloc with only three votes on the floor. Despite this, Tanada said the remaining senators in the minority bloc Drilon, Pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros would take up the cudgels in questioning bills that they would deem to be anti-poor and anti-people. LP not crumbling The LP also had a dismal showing in the House of Representatives where the party only got 18 seats. Tanada said this may even shrink further if the elected congressmen switch alliances. Despite the massive defeat, Tanada said the party would not fall apart. We will not crumble. As a matter of fact, we faced the dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s. The Liberal Party did not crumble. We will continue. Again, there are always setbacks in life, he said. A 27-year-old Phillipsburg man was walking home early Tuesday when three other men allegedly attacked him near the intersection of Roseberry Street and Fisher Avenue in town. John M. Marion, 24, of the 500 block of Elm Street, and two 16-year-old male juveniles were arrested and charged with third-degree aggravated assault in connection with the assault, Phillipsburg police report in a news release. Marion was sent to the Warren County Correctional Facility. The teens were released. About 1:10 a.m., the trio encountered the 27-year-old man and confronted him about a previous incident involving one of their family members, police said. Police did not provide further details about the prior issue. The three men allegedly began to punch and kick the victim. Marion struck the man with a plastic insert that was removed from the hatch of a car, police said. The victim was treated at St. Lukes Hospital for injuries to his face and cuts on his back and released. Third-degree crimes carry a maximum term of up to five years in state prison. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Heres a look at the winners in key races in Pennsylvanias primary: Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney steps from the voting booth after casting his ballot in the the primary election in Philadelphia, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Kenney won the Democratic primary, Tuesday, May 21, 2019, in his bid for re-election. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP PHILADELPHIA MAYOR Democrat Jim Kenney is poised to keep his job as mayor of the nations sixth largest city after fending off two challengers in Tuesdays primary who criticized his signature achievement: a soda tax to help provide free preschool classes. The victory all but assures Kenney will stay on as mayor in Philadelphia, where Democrats outnumber Republicans by a nearly 7-to-1 ratio. The city has not elected a Republican mayor in nearly 70 years. Republican Billy Ciancaglini ran unopposed in the GOP primary. Kenney, 61, beat two longtime city political figures: Alan Butkovitz, the former city controller, and state Sen. Anthony Williams. ___ U.S. HOUSE SPECIAL ELECTION Republican Fred Keller, a state lawmaker from Snyder County, won the special election for Congress in a heavily Republican district that sprawls across central and northern Pennsylvania. Keller, 53, will replace the Republican congressman who resigned in January. He beat Democrat Marc Friedenberg and ran with the support of President Donald Trump. The 12th District also strongly supported Trump in the 2016 election. The two-year term runs through 2020. Keller is a fifth-term member of the state House of Representatives, and one of its most conservative members, with a 90% lifetime rating by the American Conservative Union. ___ LEGISLATIVE SPECIAL ELECTION Republicans won special elections for three open seats in the state Legislature in heavily GOP districts in southcentral and western Pennsylvania. For the 33rd Senate district in southcentral Pennsylvania, Republican Doug Mastriano beat Democrat Sarah Hammond; for the 41st Senate district in western Pennsylvania, Republican Joe Pittman beat Democrat Susan Boser; and for the 11th House district in Butler County, Republican Marci Mustello beat Democrat Sam Doctor. All three seats were last held by Republicans, and the special elections have no effect on Republican control in both chambers. ___ SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES A steelworkers' union lawyer and a county prosecutor have been nominated to run for open seats on a statewide appellate court. Democrat Amanda Green-Hawkins, a Pittsburgh lawyer, and Republican Megan King, a Chester County prosecutor, won spots on the fall ballot in Tuesday's primary election for the state Superior Court. Races for the last two spot remained too close to call Tuesday night. ___ ALLENTOWN MAYOR Ray O'Connell declared himself the winner in Allentown's mayoral race over challengers Michael Daniels, Cheryl Johnson Watt and Patrick Palmer. The interim mayor will run against Republican Tim Ramos in November to fill imprisoned former Mayor Ed Pawlowski's term. ___ PHILADELPHIA SHERIFF A woman who leads a city organization of black police officers beat Philadelphia's incumbent sheriff, who is the target of several sexual harassment lawsuits. Former police officer Rochelle Bilal defeated Sheriff Jewell Williams. ___ PITTSBURGH DISTRICT ATTORNEY Pittsburghs longtime top prosecutor has fended off a challenge in the Democratic primary, his first in 20 years. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala on Tuesday defeated Turahn Jenkins, a former public defender who criticized his handling of the case of a white police officer charged in the fatal shooting of a black teenager. Five previous times Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. has passed through the Democratic primary election and moved on to the general election in the fall. This year makes six, according to unofficial results. The 67-year-old South Side resident had no trouble holding off relative newcomer Taiba Sultana to win the mayoral primary. With 14 of 15 precincts reported, according to the Northampton County voter services website, the mayor had more than 75 percent of the votes for what appeared to be an insurmountable lead. Panto has served three consecutive terms and will run for a fourth in November. He also served two consecutive terms as mayor starting in 1984. The mayor will face a general election challenge from Republican Timothy D. Reilly, a longtime city firefighter. When he launched his re-election campaign in February, the mayor said he wants to see through initiatives he has invested years in building. Among those initiatives is a plan to bring the Da Vinci Science City museum to downtown Easton. He also supports building a parking deck on Fourth Street, high-end apartments on Third Street, and a mixed-use development to go along with a rebuilt parking deck on Pine Street. Throughout his tenure he has championed a clean and safe Easton. Hes furthered that cause by supporting the Easton Ambassadors and backing police efforts to fight gangs and drugs. He chipped away at the citys deficit without raising real estate taxes. Sultana admitted at a pre-election debate that she lacked political experience, but called herself a fighter for progressive causes. Shes an immigrant to the United States who formerly owned a Mexican restaurant and ran a mini-mart in Phillipsburg. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. An Allentown man was indicted Tuesday because he bought five guns in Emmaus but lied about whether the guns were for himself. Jose Antonio Acevedo-Reyes was indicted for making false statements to a firearms dealer, according to court records. The law against straw purchases was set up to prevent people from buying guns and handing them over to individuals who are disqualified from gun ownership. Acevedo Reyes allegedly bought the guns on these dates from Xtreme Gun Worx on Chestnut Street in Emmaus: On Aug. 22, 2018, he allegedly bought a Taurus Model 605 .357 caliber pistol and a North American Arms Model NAA22 .22 caliber pistol. On Aug. 24, 2018, he allegedly bought two Taurus Model Spectrum 380 caliber handguns and another North American Arms Model NAA22 .22 caliber pistol. A bench warrant was issued Tuesday for his arrest by U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda K. Caracappa. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. A police officer and a firefighter were hurt Tuesday afternoon as a fire left two homes unlivable in Hackettstown, police report. Town police, fire and emergency medical personnel responded at 3:18 p.m. to 5 Route 57 and saw smoke coming from a second-story window, Sgt. Darren Tynan said in a news release. A connected residence at 7 Route 57 sustained smoke and water damage, Tynan said. Neither could be lived in until repairs are made, Tynan said. A police officer suffered smoke inhalation and a firefighter suffered a minor injury that was treated at Hackettstown Medical Center, Tynan said. The police Detective Bureau, the Mount Olive Township fire marshal and the Warren County fire marshal said the cause of the fire is undetermined but it was not suspicious, Tynan said. A fire May 21, 2019, damaged attached homes at 5 and 7 Route 57 in Hackettstown.Rich Maxwell | lehighvalleylive.com contributor Route 57 was closed for about an hour between Route 182 and Herbert Lane, Tynan said. Town fire police and public works employees assisted at the scene as did firefighters from Washington, Tri County, Independence Township, Allamuchy Township, Budd Lake, Schooleys Mountain and Netcong, Tynan said. The American Red Cross, the Hackettstown Construction Department and JCP&L also aided in the effort, Tynan said. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The attorney for a woman accused of endangering dozens of children on her school bus says the police version of events may not tell the whole story of what happened to Lori Anne Mankos and how she handled it. Thats why attorney John Waldron had the 44-year-old Lehigh Township woman evaluated by a psychologist. He said he plans to review surveillance video, and possibly audio, from the school bus to determine whether her behavior warrants criminal charges. Mankos waived her right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges she endangered the welfare of 35 Northampton Area School District children on the bus on March 1, 2019. She was initially charged with 26 counts, but that amount was adjusted after authorities got a correct count of students on the bus, according to Northampton County Assistant District Attorney Laura Majewski. According to court papers, Mankos was pushed to the limit by the students behavior. She was yelling, cursing, driving erratically and speeding, according to court papers. The children "related Mankos said she wanted to kill them, troopers said. Then she pulled over at a Sunoco gas station at 109 W. Main St. in Bath, handed the bus keys to an employee there and abandoned the kids. Its a traumatic event for all of the children and to have to go through, Majewski said. Majewski tacked on 35 new charges Tuesday of recklessly endangering the children. Mankos is also charged with reckless driving and careless driving. Mankos waived her right to a preliminary hearing on all the charges. Majewski dropped a DUI charge against Mankos, however. Police didnt track Mankos down until two hours after the incident, Majewski said. Their first priority was to make sure the children were safe, she said, so they didnt get to her quickly enough for a breath or a blood test. Mankos admitted she had been drinking, Majewski said, which was further reason not to bother with a test. However, Waldron said Mankos drank after she got home, not before she drove the bus. Records say Mankos lives in the 4700 block of Timberline Road. She drank alcohol with her husband and her father because she was upset, Waldron said. Witnesses are prepared to testify she did not appear to be under the influence shortly before she drove the bus, although children told police Mankos smelled of alcohol. Waldron said the incident resulted from mounting tension caused by the misbehavior of children on the bus. She had been complaining to the bus company since the time she had been on this route and was having problems with some of the students. Nothing was done, Waldron said. And the stress was building up and building up and we believe she couldnt take it any more. Mankos drove for First Student, a private contractor with a national headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio. A call and an email to First Student seeking comment were not returned. Waldron said Mankos suffered a mental breakdown. Hell review the psychological report and review the surveillance video, then decide how to proceed with the case. One of the children on the bus was prepared to testify Tuesday before Mankos waived her right to a hearing. Majewski said its important not to lose sight of the victims in this case. She wants their voices heard. Youre on the school bus every day. That trauma is going to be triggered each time you enter that school bus. I think its important for them to be able to see this through, Majewski said. District Judge John Capobianco added a condition to Mankos bail Tuesday. She may not possess a gun. Mankos said she has a license to carry a concealed weapon but does not own any firearms. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. In his May 21 column about the steps Pennsylvania must take now that Gov. Wolf has joined the U.S. Climate Alliance upholding the 2015 Paris Agreement goals, author Joseph O. Minott suggested aggressive, unprecedented action. The best way to reduce carbon emissions quickly and the most palatable way to legislators involves a market-driven approach. A severance tax or fee on fossil fuels at the well, mine, or port of entry would raise the cost of energy and inspire consumers to cut back or find alternative means. It would also spur entrepreneurs to find new energy solutions. Such a fee would unfortunately hurt low and fixed-income Americans, who would bear the brunt of the inevitable higher prices for energy. In the U.S .House, HR 763, the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act seeks to address this inequity by returning the fees collected to every household on a per capita basis. This approach will drive down carbon pollution and encourage the move toward cleaner, cheaper alternates. It will also improve air quality and thus improve health and save lives, while creating new jobs, thanks to growth in the clean energy economy. And help the disadvantaged. Congresswoman Susan Wild of the Lehigh Valley has co-sponsored this legislation. It is awaiting introduction of a companion bill in the U.S. Senate. Our Pennsylvania legislators ought to be thinking along the same lines. A carrot as well as a stick. More effective than cap-and-trade, and not a tax that government can spend as it sees fit. Consumers will choose how to spend their dividend. John Gallagher Bethlehem Gov. Tom Wolf showed up in Jim Thorpe Tuesday with an entourage and a pair of hiking boots. His purpose was two-fold: Find a way to reopen the Glen Onoko Falls Trail closed earlier this month because of frequent injuries to hikers and difficulty of emergency access and drum up support for his Restore Pennsylvania infrastructure plan, which would make funds available for the trail work. The trail is treasured by hikers because of its steep grades and challenges, along with scenic views of the falls and Lehigh Gorge. Its also a thorn in the side of park officials and rescue personnel, who have had to evacuate injured visitors from remote parts of the trail often because they are inexperienced or attempt the trek without proper footwear. Some have died from falls on the trail, which is part of State Game Lands 141, near Jim Thorpe. The Democratic governor may have an equally rocky road trying to persuade the Republican-majority Legislature to support his Restore Pennsylvania initiative. The plan calls for a severance tax on natural gas extraction to provide $4.5 billion in Pennsylvania infrastructure improvements eliminating blight, fixing roads, preventing floods and fixing flood damage and expanding high-speed internet availability. If we get Restore Pennsylvania, I guarantee you well open this up, Wolf told a group of reporters assembled near the trail on Tuesday. Even if funding is secured, work on shoring up the trail would take time and require an estimated $1.5 million. Another $3 million would be needed for improvements for emergency access and others areas of need, state officials say. What do you think? Should the Legislature back funding for Glen Onoko Falls Trail, to make it safer for hikers? Have a say in our informal, unscientific poll, and feel free to elaborate in the comment section. A contract worth 11.5 million was advertised seeking accommodation for 'persons seeking international protection' in four Midlands counties including Laois. Tenders were invited for the contract in March by the Office of Government Procurement. The agency said at the time it could take in up to seven different accommodation providers across Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford. The tender documents referred to this as a multi-supplier framework agreement for the provision of premises within the Midlands region including the provision of management, catering, housekeeping, general maintenance and security services for persons seeking international protection. It did not define 'persons seeking international protection' as asylum seekers nor did it mention direct provision. The duration of any contract award was for 24 months with two possible 24-month extensions. This means that if a premises in Laois was awarded the contract it could be there for up to six years. Included in additional information about the contract, the service summary is: Operate a system of Independent Living which comprises of a food hall for the distribution of foodstuffs, toiletries and cleaning materials for residents use. There shall also be facilities available to residents to allow them to store and cook food. The time limit for receipt of tenders was March 15, 2019. The Irish government has obligations to accept refugees from Syria but the nationality of those to be cared for is not referenced. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) Two party-list groups won three seats each at the House of Representatives after the 2019 midterm polls. The Commission on Elections sitting as the National Board of Canvassers on Tuesday evening proclaimed that Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS) and Bayan Muna as the top winners. Among those that secured two seats are AKO BICOL, CIBAC, Ang Probinsyano, 1-PACMAN, Marino, and Probinsyano Ako. Forty-three other party-lists had one seat each, including KABATAAN Party-list, Duterte Youth, TUCP, Magdalo, ACT-Teachers Partylist, and GABRIELA. Seats in the House are distributed under the party-list law via proportional representation. Based on the law, each group getting 2% of the total party-list votes will get a seat each their No. 1 nominee will become representative. After the first batch gets a seat each, what remains of the 61 seats will be distributed among those that got more than 2%. This will be raffled to nominees No. 2 and 3 of the party-list groups. Celbridge Local Electoral Area has 11 candidates contesting for four seats. The area is essentially the parts of the electoral division of Donaghcumper that do not include Leixlip. Michael Beirne is an independent candidate and teacher. He also contested the 2014 election. Fianna Fail's Michael Coleman was co-opted to Kildare County Council in March 2016 to replace Frank O'Rourke who had been elected to the Dail. Ide Cussen was first elected to the council in 2014 as a member of Sinn Fein, a party she left claiming a lack of freedom of conscience in the abortion issue. She is now running as an independent. Ciara Galvin is a new candidate to the election for the Labour party following the late withdrawal of long serving Kevin Byrne. Peter Kavanagh is running as an independent in the Celbridge area. Vanessa Liston is running for the Green Party and wants to increase the voice and power of communities in decision-making Stephen Marken is a first time candidate on behalf of the Social Democrats John Paul Monks is a social care worker originally from Dublin and will contest the election for Sinn Fein. Tony Murray is an independent candidate and is a staunch supporter of the Defence Forces, nurses, midwives and carers. Philip Slattery is a Fine Gael candidate and previously ran for the party in the 2014 local elections. Brendan Young is an independent first elected to Kildare County Council in 2014. Looking for details of your own local area and more coverage of the election? Click here. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) is looking for leaders in energy efficiency and renewable energy to enter this years SEAI Energy Awards. Now in their 16th year, the SEAI Energy Awards recognise and reward excellence in sustainable energy. Businesses, public bodies and communities who are using smart energy solutions and practices are encouraged to apply and be recognised for their commitment to a cleaner energy future. Entries can include any combination of electricity, heat or transport initiatives. There are eight categories to choose from including: Large Business; Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs); Public Sector; Community; Buildings; Renewable Energy Solutions; Energy Manager or Team; and Research and Innovation, which has a bursary of up to 10,000. Announcing the launch of the awards, Fergus Sharkey, Head of the Public and Private Sector Business in SEAI, said: The transition to a clean energy future will require leadership from businesses, communities and public bodies. The SEAI Energy Awards recognise and celebrate the current leaders, shining a light on their achievements to inspire others to take action. As more and more sectors are pushing the boundaries in energy efficiency and renewable energy, I would encourage individuals and organisations to enter the SEAI Energy Awards 2019 and get the deserved recognition for their hard won achievements. Last year, entrants to the Awards demonstrated savings of 38 million through innovative sustainable energy projects. The top prize for Energy Manager of the Year went to Mike Pearson, Principle of Gurteen College, Tipperary, for spearheading an ambitious renewable energy programme at the college. This project brought about the installation of a wind turbine, solar electricity system and a biomass boiler, all of which are included in the colleges education module for students. The biomass boiler is fuelled from willow grown on site and provides 80% of the heating in the college each year. Speaking on the Award win, Pearson said: This award acknowledges our efforts to go beyond sustainable energy best practice. Through demonstrating renewable energy technologies, we are preparing young farmers and rural enterprises for the future. Other winners in 2018 included MPOWER for its work with the Tallaght Community Living Lab. MPOWER received a 10,000 research bursary for its research project which aims to develop a model for communities to produce and share electricity at a local level. The Renewable Award 2018 went to EirGrid for its DS3 system, which will increase the level of renewable generation possible on the power system at any given time. EirGrid is now recognised as being a world leader in the integration of renewable electricity into the national grid. Closing date for entries is Friday, 14 June 2019. The winners will be announced at a gala event on Wednesday, 16 October 2019. For further information on the Awards and details on how to enter the 2019 SEAI Energy Awards visit www.seai.ie/energyawards Co Leitrim farmers and local communities are being urged to make their views heard as part of the study into forestry in the county which is currently underway. Co Leitrim Irish Farmer's Association (IFA) chairperson, Des McHugh, is calling on farmers and local communities to take the opportunity provided by the University College Dublin (UCD) study to have their say about forestry and the level of afforestation in the county. The local IFA spokesperson said UCD is currently meeting with key stakeholders in Co Leitrim and the study is seeking comments from people living and working the county. I and other representatives from Leitrim IFA recently met with Aine Ni Dhubhain, who is the lead on the research study, to express the serious concerns of farmers at the level of planting in the county, particularly by people that do not reside in the county as well as the impact on rural communities, said Mr McHugh. IFA farm forestry chairperson, Vincent Nally, added that a lot of work had been done to get the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine to fund this independent study on forestry and stressed it is very important that farmers and local communities engage with the study to make their views known. The more engagement from farmers and local communities with the study, the better the study will represent the views of the people, said Mr Nally. The aim of the study is to assess the social and economic impacts of forestry in Co Leitrim. A dedicated website has been established to receive comments from interested parties: www.leitrimforestry study.ucd.ie. Written comments can be sent directly to: Dr Aine Ni Dhubhain, Room 2.39, School of Agriculture and Food Science, Agriculture Building, UCD, Belfield, Dublin 4. The closing date for making your views known as part of this study is Friday, June 7. The trial of a former psychic charged with money laundering has heard audio recordings in which a man says cash cannot be withdrawn from the 800,000 without raising alarm bells. Simon Gold (54) with an address of Augharan, Aughavas, Co. Leitrim, has pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments on dates between January 1, 2010 and October 22, 2012. The trial has heard that Mr Gold accepted he had used the names Simon Gold, Simon Gould, Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. On the fourth day of evidence before the jury, Detective Garda Deirdre Heenehan told Lorcan Staines SC, prosecuting, that during their investigations gardai seized a laptop which contained a number of audio recordings which she said were relevant to the case. On a recording made on October 15, 2012, which was played to the jury, two men can be heard speaking. One of the men, who is referred to as Niall by the other, tells the other that he cannot withdraw 50,000 in cash from the 800,000 without raising alarm bells. Niall can be heard saying that if this all happens under the radar then happy days. He can be heard saying that the first flag that's raised we're f***ed and if they freeze the account we get nothing. He can be heard remarking how many times that has happened in the past and that it only happens if we get greedy. He can be heard saying that there would be nothing worse than having been so close and yet so far and that they want to see more money coming in. On a recording made on October 24, 2012, which was also played to the jury, a man can be heard saying that he has not seen a penny out of this. This man can be heard saying he is looking for 15,000 in cash as he does not have any bank accounts left. He can be heard saying that he has got nothing out of nothing because his account was frozen and that we can sort all this out by working together. The trial has heard that Mr Gold agreed in interview with gardai that 800,000 was transferred into an Ulster Bank account in the name of Anglo Irish Global Ltd on October 15, 2012. The trial has heard Mr Gold acknowledged he is responsible for this bank account. The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Nolan and a jury. Facebook ads promoting a website designed to target and discredit European Election candidate Maria Walsh on the grounds that she is an LGBTQI activist, need to be fully investigated, a Fine Gael Senator has said. Tim Lombard, who sits on the Oireachtas Communications Committee, was responding to sponsored posts from an individual promoting a website that targets the Midlands North West candidate. Fine Gael has contacted Facebook to request the ad be removed. Senator Lombard said: Social media is a powerful tool for political debate and we have seen that throughout this debate. However ads like this are supposed to be subject to very specific transparency rules - which dont seem to have worked in this case. We hear a lot of talk from Facebook about their commitment to protecting elections here and around the world but they need to put their money where their mouth is now and take decisive action. Maria has put in a great campaign and is exactly the type of fresh voice Ireland needs in the European Parliament. This website, which is designed to misconstrue her hard work as an LGBTQI activist, is not what Irish elections are about. The websites content is hardly worth talking about but the way it has been promoted on Facebook needs a full explanation from the company. The Joint Oireachtas Committee has already done a lot of work in this area and this shows that we need to meet with Facebook on these issues again as soon as possible. Australia has proven to be a hugely popular destination for Irish people with over 100,000 emigrating there in the last decade. The Irish desire to pack up everything and head to Oz seems to be stronger than ever before with 9,000 Irish people going on the Australia Working Holiday visa this past year, a massive increase of 11% since the year before. However, its still not enough for the Aussies! They want more of us to head Down Under. Tourism Australia has launched a new campaign called Australia Inc. This new initiative seeks to fill thousands of jobs available right now in Australia in a wide range of industries. To help answer their call for Irish backpackers, Tourism Australia have partnered with USIT the work and travel visa experts. USIT can get you to Australia for less than a grand! For only 999 you can get a flight to Oz, a visa, travel insurance and other includes to help you get set up. Check out USITs website for more details. Also check @australia on Instagram for some serious motivation to make the move! Why go to Australia on a working holiday visa? Well according to Australia Inc Australia is the best workplace in the world. A year spent in Australia is all about learning, discovering and experiencing. While some might imagine a year spent sunbaking on the sand, a working holiday gives you valuable real-life experience that you couldnt gain by staying home. Earning money while you travel will allow you to stay longer and explore further. Youll get international experience on your C.V no matter where or what you work as, Irish employers love this. Tourism Australia Managing Director, John OSullivan said, Australia Inc. will target a new generation of young Irish traveller and show them that a working holiday in Australia not only offers incredible fun and a life changing experience, but also the environment and opportunity to improve their life skills and employability after they return home. Working holiday makers are crucial to Australias tourism industry, especially the Irish, who have been coming Down Under in large numbers for many years. Dont forget the rules recently changed for Irish passport holders so you can now head to Australia on a one year visa up until the age of 35 (it was previously 30). If youve any questions USIT are on hand so head to their website for more information. An enthralling evening in Kiltyclogher this Friday evening, May 24 will reveal rare footage of Leitrim and Fermanagh. At 8pm, the Irish Film Institute brings Local Films for Local People to Kiltyclogher Community Centre for an evening of films featuring both counties. The programme will include rare newsreel footage of the Battle of Belleek in 1922; film of An Tostal celebrations in 1953 Drumshambo; a film from Radharc about the introduction of water pipes to Aughnasheelin in 1968; and the beauties of Belleek Pottery in 1977. The evening will finish with a cine-concert of the striking The Farm Below the Mountain (1958), a film made by Scotsman Ernest Tiernan of his Leitrim honeymoon with his young Cornamuchlagh bride as she visits her family; the film will be presented with live musical accompaniment by local musicians Patrick Carayannis, Rodney Lancashire and Seamus Hernon. The free Kiltyclogher event is supported by the European Unions Peace IV Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). It will take place in Kiltyclogher Community Centre and mark the inauguration of new film screening and projection facilities which have been provided through the Shared Spaces project of the Peace IV programme. The Peace IV programme is delivered in Leitrim by Leitrim County Council and is supported locally by a cross border community project delivered by Kate McCarthy, Community Arts Engagement Worker with Leitrim Development Company. Commenting on the event, IFI Head of Irish Film Programming Sunniva OFlynn, said, When archival colleagues have done such a fine job in preserving our film heritage, it is rewarding to present that heritage to the communities with which it resonates most strongly. Audiences are attracted to the shared cinema experience and by the exciting possibility of seeing themselves on screen. Their feedback greatly enhances our understanding of the films and the contexts in which they were made. The Irish Film Institute is delighted to bring films from the IFI Irish Film Archive to communities across the country. These specially curated programmes of local interest films are presented in cinemas and arts centres around Ireland, providing easy access to our national film heritage for a broad range of audiences. As always, the programmes include both professional and amateur films documenting all aspects of Irish life including education, agriculture, music, tourism, industry, sport, music and much more. Read Also: Delia Murphy tribute concert at The Glens Centre Read Also: Don't miss our live coverage of Election 2019 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 22) More illegal fishing vessels were spotted within the municipal waters of Zamboanga City in the first four months of 2019 compared to the same period last year, according to an international advocacy organization for ocean conservation. Karagatan Patrol, launched under the partnership between international organization Oceana and League of Municipalities of the Philippines have detected 1,045 commercial fishing vessels in East Sulu Sea and Moro Gulf off Zamboanga City from January to April. The number is 74.16 percent higher than 600 commercial vessels detected in the area during the same period last year, making Zamboanga City the local government unit in the Philippines with the highest number of illegal fishing vessels. The city was in the second place in 2018. There were also big jumps in the number of commercial fishing vessels in San Francisco in Quezon, Hadji Mohammad Ajul in Basilan, Tongkil in Sulu, Santa Cruz in Marinduque and Cuyo in Palawan this year. Karagatan Patrol detected a total of 18,564 commercial fishing vessels in 151 city and municipal waters in 2019 significantly higher than the 14,089 commercial fishing vessels seen in 2018. They were found through the visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) which detects superlights coming from commercial fishing vessels. The Fisheries Code of the Philippines prohibits commercial fishing vessels from catching fish in municipal waters. Oceana Philippines is set to release the full list soon and will coordinate with each local government unit. The advocacy group is also pushing for the Philippines' enrollment in the Global Fishing Watch's vessel tracking system. This is to further monitor ships or fishing boats within Philippine waters to help apprehend those involved in illegal fishing activities. THE EDUCATION Minister has committed to meeting a group of former students, who were abused by their teacher as children at a Limerick national school, after it emerged not one person has been paid through a scheme set up to compensate victims of abuse. Education Minister Joe McHugh was speaking in the Dail after it emerged that 45 applications to a scheme set up to compensate victims of abuse have been declined and a further five cases have yet to be determined. Former students from Creagh Lane National School have been barred from accessing compensation for the horrific abuse they suffered and the Government has steadfastly stood in their way of justice, according to Limerick TD Maurice Quinlivan. In order to access the scheme, victims must provide evidence that their abuser abused prior to their case; The Creagh Lane students do not meet this criteria as their class was the first class their abuser taught. Their abuser, Ex-Christian Brother Sean Drummond, was jailed in 2009 for indecently assaulting 19 boys, between the ages of seven and nine, at the school on Bridge Street between 1967 and 1968. Speaking in the Dail, Deputy Quinlivan said the scheme was designed by officials and lawyers to lock survivors out and keep the compensation bill down for the State, hoping that many of them would die and would not be able to access the compensation. Their childhoods were ruined by paedophiles and their lives scared by the abuse. The very least they deserve is to be treated with dignity and respect and to be provided for in respect of the hurt and loss they have suffered because of the failure of the State to protect them when they were children, he added. They do not want to empty words or sympathy. They want the Minister to take action. In 2017, an independent assessor, retired High Court judge Justice Iarfhlaith ONeill, was appointed to assess applications declined under the scheme, Minister McHugh said. A total of 20 applicants have sought an independent assessment. The assessors decisions are awaited in respect of these cases. I look forward to receiving the assessors decisions on the cases and his findings will be abided by. What time do you get up? I get up at 7:15am on a weekday to get the kids ready for school but on Saturdays I am up either 5am or 6am depending on if I am the one opening Harpers Coffee House in the Milk Market. Our other big days in the Milk Market are Fridays and Sundays - so on Sundays, Im up at 8am. What is your normal breakfast? Even though coffee is my livelihood and Ive all blends and varieties available, I like a cup of good old Barrys tea on school mornings. On work days, I like a double espresso with something delicious from one of the Milk Market food stalls Do you go for a walk or to the gym before/after the office? Im afraid not. With children and running Harpers Coffee House, theres always too much to do. I used to run a lot and my plan is to start running again. I find running very therapeutic. Even though I dont do a lot of exercise these days, I am never sitting down. I suffer with an autoimmune condition so that determines my energy levels and how much I can do. I like to do meditation as much as I can. I find that a massive benefit. How many cups of coffee/tea would you drink a day? As many as my brain and body require - average 4-5. What is normal lunch - do you have a favourite place? Im a qualified chef by trade, so I cook quite a lot at home. However, most Saturdays, after a busy day at the Milk Market, our family treat is usually a takeaway from our local Indian and Thai restaurant Copper and Spice in Annacotty, which always tastes beautiful. After all the years getting Harpers Coffee House to where it is now, I like to support small locally-run businesses, when I go out. I appreciate the effort they put in, especially competing against bigger chains and brands. Also I do enjoy trying coffees and teas in other coffee shops to see if Harpers is still the best! Do you have many meetings during the day? It varies from week to week. I have regular meetings with Eoin Shinners, the principal of Limerick Educate Together Secondary School. I am proud to say that I am the Chair of the Board of Management there. And as it is a start up school it requires a lot of the boards time. Ill have meetings with Harpers Coffee House suppliers and reps to make sure we are on top of our game with quality products always. Im also involved in local community groups which again require meetings. What time do you finish up at? As anyone who runs their own business will tell you - work doesnt finish when you close your doors. There is always something to do. My brain is always on. But thats just the price of doing something you care about. its important to be passionate about what you do. Do you watch much television? Yes I do watch television and I have to say I tune into Netflix. Do you read the newspapers? I like to read the newspapers both online and in print but mainly online. I feel it is vital to keep up with local and national and international news What do you do to relax? I like to spend time with my husband, Mason, daughters, Charley and Chloe, and family and friends. And also meditation. Are you able to leave the office behind? Not always - but its better to care about what you do than feel that your job is just work. Im learning to switch off, especially with meditation. But theres no harm in having the brain bubbling away, alert to new ideas for the business. What is a perfect work day? When my customers and staff are smiling. I am very lucky with my staff. Harpers would not be the same without them. They are all gems. We have such an amount of regular customers too and it is always nice to hear their stories of the week gone by. Some regular customers have become good friends over the years too. Do you ever lose the cool and if so what would make you annoyed? Oh I do, but I like to keep it under control and to myself. People being rude annoys me. Im speaking of everywhere in life. Manners are free, and a smile doesnt cost anything either. A WORLD Health Organisation (WHO) seminar held at the University of Limerick has sought to break down myths around the health of refugees and migrants. The event which took place at the UL Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS), examined evidence about refugee and migrant health and promoted fact-checking and myth breaking. A WHO report on the health of refugees and migrants, the first report of its kind that sets out key new evidence to inform health policy and practice, was also launched at the seminar. One of the main myths that has been busted by the WHO report is around the fears in countries that migrants will bring infectious diseases to host populations, but the evidence does not support that, UL GEMS chair of primary healthcare research Professor Anne MacFarlane said. Evidence shows that the displacement process makes migrants more vulnerable to infectious diseases because of living in poor conditions, she added. We have seen evidence that the experience of moving from their home to a new country can impact negatively on their health and we do need to pay attention to their health needs, she added. The seminar at UL also aimed to promote advocacy in addressing the health needs of refugees and migrants in the Irish healthcare system. The seminar in Limerick is part of a series that is taking place in cities such as Athens, Rome, Moscow, Ankara and London. A LIMERICK farmer has been sentenced to six years in prison for raping his ex-girlfriend following a high-speed car chase with gardai. Eamon Roche, 28, of Ballymorrough, Templeglantine texted the victim hours after he raped her saying, Sorry for being a bollocks, a court has heard. Roche denied the sole count of rape which related to an incident in a rural area of County Cork on March 21, 2015. The complainant was in a car driven by Roche when he refused to stop for a garda patrol and embarked on a high-speed chase. She said Roche was driving at crazy, ridiculous speeds and she was roaring like a maniac for him to stop, thinking she was going to die. Roche drove to a lay-by and despite her repeated protests and attempts to push him off, he climbed on top of the woman and raped her. Sergeant Paul Ahern told Caroline Biggs SC, prosecuting, that Roche had been in a relationship with the young woman for less than a year before the relationship had ended. However, the pair remained friends and Roche would sometimes give her lifts to visit her friend. Sgt Ahern said Roche and the complainant had consensual sex twice after the relationship ended. The court heard that the day before the rape, Roches aunt had died, but he nonetheless offered to drive the complainant to her friends house. Roche was found guilty by a jury after a trial at the Central Criminal Court last month. It was the third time the case had gone to trial; the first jury was discharged by direction and the second disagreed on a verdict. Reading from her victim impact statement, the young woman said her confidence had been shattered by the rape and she had found it extremely hard to go through the courts three times. I sometimes felt like I was on trial, having to prove that what I said was the truth, she said, thanking the jury, the gardai and her legal team for their support. The mother-of-one said she has suffered with her mental health, particularly with anxiety, since the rape and that she has difficulty sleeping as her mind keeps reliving the trauma. I find myself waking up sometimes not knowing who I am and crying for no reason, she said. The young woman said she found it difficult to trust people and felt crippled by anxiety and crowds. She had to abandon her chosen career because of the pressure of the court proceedings. Passing sentence, Mr Justice Paul McDermott said it was a crime of serious sexual violence that had enduring consequences for the young woman who had to live with constant reminders of the abuse as it occurred close to her home. The judge set a headline sentence of seven years but reduced this by a year because of mitigating factors, including letters describing Roche as a valued member of his family and community. Mr Justice McDermott refused to allocate any suspended portion to the sentence because of Roches unwillingness to accept the guilty verdict, which he said was a cause for concern. He ordered that Roche should not make contact with the complainant in any way, including on electronic media or via a third party. SHANNON GROUP has said that Donald Trumps visit will create an opportunity to showcase the attractiveness of the Wild Atlantic Way and the US companies located in the region. The White House confirmed that the US president will touch down at Shannon Airport on June 5 as part of his official visits to France and the United Kingdom. As part of his visit to Ireland, Mr Trump will hold bilateral talks with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. A spokesperson for the group said that Shannon had a special relationship with the US, with every president having been welcomed at Shannon Airport since John F Kennedy became the first serving president to visit Ireland in 1963. Commenting on the announcement that US President Donal Trump will fly into Shannon Airport and meet with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar on June 5th there, a spokesperson for Shannon Group, which operates Shannon Airport, said: This visit will put Ireland at the centre of world media attention and, as a result, it will create an opportunity to showcase the attractiveness of the West of Ireland, the Wild Atlantic Way and the strong US FDI located at Shannon. This visit, and the fact that our Taoiseach will meet with President Trump at Shannon, reflects again Shannon Airports place in Irish-US relations. Weve had that since Shannon became the first European gateway airport all those years ago and today have it through direct services to the US that support the huge tourism industry and the US multi-national presence in this region. The spokesperson said the West of Ireland region has deep links with the US. So many people emigrated from here and went on to play an important role, at all levels, in the development of the US. There is a huge US multi-national footprint here and Shannon Free Zone, which Shannon Group operates, has the single largest concentration of US multinational investment outside the capital. In addition, Shannon Airport is the premier gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and this has become one of the global tourism phenomena of the last decade. Dog ownership may be shaped as much by genetics as by environment, according to a new study. There may be a genetic explanation for why John Wick (played in the film series by Keanu Reeves) cared so much about his puppy that he embarked on a murderous rampage after a team of hit men killed the innocent pup. OK, maybe not. But scientists did recently discover that people who love dogs may do so in part because of their DNA. Prior studies have shown that exposure to dogs during childhood can shape a lasting affinity for canine companionship, but researchers wondered if genetic factors might play a role as well. To find out, they examined data from more than 85,000 twins in the Swedish Twin Registry the world's biggest twin registry searching for genetic clues that may be linked to dog ownership in adulthood. [10 Things You Didn't Know About Dogs] Twin studies offer scientists a chance to compare genetic and behavioral data from two individuals who share either their entire genome (monozygotic twins) or 50% of their genes (dizygotic twins). This can help researchers determine if certain behaviors result from environmental factors or if they're likely rooted in DNA. For the new study, the scientists consulted copious twin data and 15 years of records on dog ownership. (Sweden requires all dogs to be officially registered with the Swedish Board of Agriculture, while pedigreed dogs may also be registered with the Swedish Kennel Club.) Of the 85,542 twins evaluated in the study, 8,503 people owned dogs. The study authors then created computer models to identify patterns among the twins that could represent genetic influence or environmental impacts shaping a lifelong attachment to dogs. Researchers found that genetics were slightly more predictive of dog ownership in adulthood than environment; genetic contribution to dog ownership amounted to about 51% in men and around 57% in women. "These findings are important as they suggest that supposed health benefits of owning a dog reported in some studies may be partly explained by different genetics of the people studied," study co-author Carri Westgarth, a lecturer in human-animal interaction at the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, said in a statement. For instance, scientists reported in 2017 that owning a dog could lower the risk of heart disease by providing people with emotional support and increasing exercise. However, the new findings hint that genetics could also partly explain physical and mental health trends in dog owners. While the study couldn't identify which genes were responsible for those warm feelings toward dogs, it demonstrated "that genetics and environment play about equal roles in determining dog ownership," said study co-author Patrik Magnusson, an associate professor in epidemiology at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden. "The next obvious step is to try to identify which genetic variants affect this choice and how they relate to personality traits and other factors, such as allergy," Magnusson said in the statement. The findings were published online May 17 in the journal Scientific Reports. Originally published on Live Science. The Mediterranean islands of Corsica and Elba are famous for being the birthplace and exile prison, respectively, of Napoleon Bonaparte. But now the isles might be known for something else: being the neighbors of a chronically forming garbage "island" floating in the Mediterranean Sea. The sea's currents periodically carry the trash a blob measuring tens of miles long north, just between the two islands, according to The Local, a French news outlet. "This is a situation that is chronic," because of the Mediterranean's currents, Francois Galgani, of the Corsican branch of the French maritime research institute IFREMER, told France Bleu, a radio station in France. (His statement was translated from French.) [In Images: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch] The currents in the northwestern Mediterranean send garbage floating in the sea up along the western Italian coast, where it arrives at the base of Elba, the largest island in the Tuscan archipelago, Galgani said. Once there, the trash "cannot pass, and it will rush into the Corsican canal," Galgani told France Bleu. "And that is why we have higher densities [of waste in this area]." The trashy situation can get particularly bad when it's windy: For instance, the northeastern winds that blow during the summer can send "massive arrivals" of debris to the Corsican coast, he noted. This map shows Elba, Italy (red dot), and the French island of Corsica. The garbage patch periodically forms between these two islands. (Image credit: Map Data copyright 2019 GeoBasis-DE/BKG, Google, Inst. Geogr. Nacional) However, unlike the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (located in the North Pacific, between California and Hawaii), the Mediterranean patch isn't a permanent fixture. The trash usually hangs around for a few days or weeks, although sometimes it lingers for months, Galgani said. It's possible that some of the trash in the patch could be salvaged. For instance, fishing nets stuck in the chunky glob could be repaired and reused, Galgani said. However, much of the waste cannot be recycled. "They are very heterogeneous materials, there are different types of plastics," and it would be expensive to collect and recycle them, he said. "So, it will not happen." Even so, it would be worth everyone's while to clean up the patch, not only for animals but also for locals and tourists. "There are places where we have a real plastic soup," Oceane Couturier, a member of the association Mer et Vivre (Sea and Life), told France Bleu, in French. "The problem in the end is that this plastic will accumulate in the tissues of fish, will diffuse its toxic products, and we ... will eat these fish." This garbage patch isn't the only recent news of trash polluting beautiful islands. The remote Coco Islands of Australia now have an estimated 414 million pieces of debris littering their shores, and the vast majority of that waste is buried beneath the surface, according to a May 16 study in the journal Scientific Reports. Originally published on Live Science. (Spoiler Alert! This article contains information about the last episode of "Game of Thrones.") After eight seasons, the epic "Game of Thrones" TV series finally resolved the question of who will reign with an unexpected twist. Bran "the Broken" Stark rolled into position as the new monarch of the Six Kingdoms, but no longer will a king or queen's rule be automatically inherited by their children. And that's a good thing: Much of the political upheaval throughout the HBO series stemmed from uncertainty about the lawful heir to the throne. While it's anyone's guess what lies ahead for Westeros under its new system, we know from European history that hereditary succession can cause disruptions that reverberate to this day. In fact, researchers recently found that when male heirs for medieval European monarchies were in short supply, the resulting social discord hampered economic growth for generations. As a result, countries in regions that lacked male heirs "are today poorer than other regions," scientists reported online March 11 in the journal Comparative Political Studies. [5 Real-Life Inspirations for 'Game of Thrones' Characters] During the Middle Ages in Europe, around the years 1000 to 1500, direct male descendants were the most desirable heirs for a throne or noble title. Women and distant male descendants could also fill those roles; however, these were more likely to spark dissent and violence among rival groups of supporters, and the fighting could undermine future economic growth, the researchers wrote. In regions where monarchs were lucky enough to have male heirs, allowing for uncontested leadership transitions, "rulers were able to build the state institutions necessary to support economic development," the scientists wrote. "In areas burdened by a greater potential for political instability, the path to economic prosperity was much more arduous," the researchers said. What about illegitimate male heirs? In "Game of Thrones," King Joffrey Baratheon called for the murder of all his father's bastards so that none could challenge the new king's claim to the throne. But in the study, the researchers determined that medieval taboos against succession by illegitimate sons were so strong that the number of bastard "heirs" didn't have much of an effect on medieval politics. Over the centuries, other factors across Europe also shaped social and economic fortunes, the scientist reported. But the fingerprints of medieval hierarchies left a powerful imprint; France and Naples, for example, had consistent male lineages during the Middle Ages, and even today, those areas tend to be better off economically than some of their neighbors, according to the study. "The emergence of the first modern states in this period was so important, and the states themselves so fragile, that even small disruptions could have long-term consequences," the researchers wrote. Fans of "Game of Thrones" will have to imagine for themselves whether Westeros' new approach to leadership where new rulers are chosen by a noble council, rather than preordained by heredity will prove successful. Judging from the council's uproarious reaction to Sam Tarly's proposal that they empower the common people to choose a leader, the Six Kingdoms clearly isn't ready to embrace democracy just yet. Originally published on Live Science. A great white shark thought to have entered Long Island Sound a possible first for a great white shark in that body of water may not have been there at all. Cabot, a 9-foot-8-inch-long (nearly 3 meters) male shark, seemed to pop up off the coast of Greenwich, Connecticut, Monday morning (May 20). When a tagged shark's dorsal fin breaches the water's surface, nearby satellites "ping" the location to whomever is tracking the fish. In the case of Cabot, the nonprofit Ocearch got the ping, suggesting the shark was in Long Island Sound. The problem with these trackers is that they don't give an exact location. "There's a huge error bar to the right or left of whatever location they give you," said George Burgess, a marine biologist and director emeritus of the Florida Program for Shark Research at the Florida Museum of Natural History. "And that error bar can be the difference between one side of Long Island and the other." Sure enough, less than a day later, Cabot's tracker pinged well off the southern shore of Long Island, outside of the sound, Ocearch posted on its Facebook page. That would mean Cabot had traveled nearly 200 miles (320 kilometers) in just half a day, The New York Times reported. "He either was in the sound or he was never in the sound," said Ocearch spokesperson John Kanaly, as reported by The Times. "We have calculated that he wouldn't have had time to go all the way around the island and back." [In Photos: Great White Shark Washes Up on Santa Cruz Beach] Long Island Sound is a tidal estuary connected to the Atlantic Ocean and located between Connecticut (to the north) and Long Island (to the south). Burgess, a shark scientist, said he doesn't recall any record of a great white shark in that body of water. And possibly for good reason the shark's primary prey, seals, haven't been seen in the sound in any abundance since before the 1960s, Burgess said. "I suspect as the seals disappeared from Long Island Sound, so did their predator, the great white shark," he added. Other large sharks, most of which prefer warm water (unlike the cold-water-loving great white), make their way up to Long Island via the Gulf Stream. This "river" of warm water in the sea travels from the Gulf of Mexico into the Atlantic Ocean at the southern tip of Florida and then up the East Coast all the way north to Newfoundland. But that warm current doesn't flow into the Long Island Sound. Even so, the great white shark is a migratory animal, traveling as far south as Florida and the Gulf of Mexico and as far north as Newfoundland. So, perhaps Cabot was making his way up toward New England for the summer, but instead of taking a slight right turn at New York, the shark turned left, essentially making a "wrong turn," Burgess speculated. If the subadult shark Cabot did indeed enter Long Island Sound, there's no need to worry as beachgoers head to the sun and sand for Memorial Day weekend. "It's an interesting record and a great piece of information to know that Long Island Sound is still going to be a good enough place for a white shark to wander into," Burgess told Live Science. But as far as a danger to humans, that's an afterthought." Earlier this month, on May 9, Ocearch got a ping from a 15-foot (4.6 m) great white shark dubbed Luna over the deepwater feature known as the Charleston Bump, off the coast of South Carolina. Another shark, 12-foot-9-inch-long (3.9 m) Caroline pinged that same day from closer to shore at South Carolina's Edisto Beach. Editor's Note: This article was updated with new information on the location of Cabot, information suggesting the shark may not have entered Long Island Sound at all. Originally published on Live Science. New Latvia link from home to the e-commerce industry in China is another step in the ongoing cooperation between Russias Volga-Dnepr Group and Alibabas logistics subsidiary Atran Airlines, the Russian air express carrier within Volga-Dnepr Group (VDG), is introducing a new route into its network between Hangzhou in eastern China - an emerging technology hub and home to the e-commerce industry in China - and Riga, Latvia. The flight, which is to be operated every Thursday onboard its recently deployed Boeing 737-800BCF, will provide up to 23 tonnes of cargo capacity for e-commerce shipments of Cainiao Network, the logistics arm of Alibaba Group. The new freight link from Cianiaos main hub in China, is another step of the ongoing cooperation between VDG and Cainiao Network. The two signed a Memorandum of Understanding at the end of 2018 with the aim to strengthen VDGs positions in the cross-border e-commerce logistics market and jointly build a global smart logistics network to meet upgrading demands. Dmitry Obsharov, general director of Atran Airlines, commented: We have been focusing on satisfying growing demand of cross-border shipments, analysing best-case scenarios for the consumers, and launch of the lane Hangzhou-Riga is a result of our joint cooperation. Atran Airlines will offer cargo connection between Hangzhou, a major city in the Yangtze River Delta region, and Riga, which opens up distribution possibilities to both Russian and EU markets. He said customers may also wish to use weekly air cargo services from Riga to Moscows Vnukovo airport to access to interline routes and various connections to CIS countries. James Zhao, general manager of Cainiao Global, commented: Cainiao is striving to enhance cross-border logistics service for merchants, brands and consumers. We are pleased to partner with Atran Airlines to leverage its freight capabilities to provide efficient cross-border delivery. Ilona Lice, chairperson of the board of Riga Airport, said: With the arrival of Atran, Riga Airport has become the first Baltic airport to be used for direct regular e-commerce cargo transportation to China. It provides invaluable opportunities for both businesses and the economic cooperation between the Baltic region and China in general, especially considering that Atran will also provide a connection to Russia, thus providing new opportunities for Baltic exporters. This project would not be possible without the active and efficient co-operation between all the parties involved. Therefore, I would like to thank the carrier, the Post of Latvia and the state institutions, especially the State Revenue Service Customs Board, for their effective engagement in the implementation of the project. Atran Airlines, which operates the fleet of Boeing 737-400SF and Boeing 737-800BCF, is concentrating on creating bridges for the booming volumes of online purchases between China and Russia, expanding its network and enlarging the fleet. The new service adds to the recently launched a Xian route into Atrans network, with the carrier aiming at further increases of its foothold in the region. (CNN) A shock Australian election result has sparked a wave of suicide attempts among refugees held in the Manus Island detention center off Papua New Guinea, activists say. Detainee and activist Behrouz Boochani told CNN at least nine people have attempted suicide since the election results were confirmed on Saturday, with three now in hospital. Almost 1000 refugees are currently being held in offshore centres in Papua New Guinea and the island of Nauru at the behest of Australia, the country in which they had been attempting to seek asylum. Human rights monitors such as Amnesty International have reported "hellish" conditions, abuses and neglect. An unexpected election win for the incumbent Liberal National coalition dashed refugees' hopes that a new Labor government would change their circumstances. Seven cases had occurred on Manus Island and two in Port Moresby on the mainland, but so far no one has died, said Boochani. Chief Inspector David Yapu, Manus Island Provincial Police Commander, reported different figures, telling CNN that two refugees in Manus attempted to take their own lives over the weekend, one from Iran and one from Iraq. When asked about the discrepancy between official numbers and his own report, Boochani said that that "police aren't here to know about the cases." The men involved in the attempts reported by police are now being evaluated by psychiatric professionals, the commander said. He added that their possible clinical depression would be taken into account in pressing charges. Attempting suicide is a crime in Papua New Guinea, and the detention centers are managed by PNG and Nauru on behalf of Australia. Port Moresby Police Chief Superintendent Dominic Kakas declined to comment. More than 4,000 people have been sent into offshore detention in Nauru and Papua New Guinea since 2012, when Australia agreed on the processing arrangements to stop refugees from settling there, according to the Refugee Council of Australia (RCA). The RCA says that as of March this year, just under 1000 remained in the centers: 359 in Nauru and 547 in Papua New Guinea. Ahead of Australia's election, the opposition Labor party said it would agree to a deal with New Zealand to resettle 150 refugees held on the island of Nauru if it formed the next government, as polls had indicated. This had raised hopes among refugees on Nauru and Manaus that their lives would change in the event of a Labor victory. "We people on Manus and Nauru were really hopeful that if Labor wins the election they will accept the New Zealand offer and set us free finally," said Boochani. However the Liberal National coalition led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison won a shock victory, setting the party up for a third term in government against all expectations. Morrison's government is known for a hardline immigration policy, which includes attempting to block the so-called Medivac bill, which allows refugees from Nauru and Manus into Australia for medical treatment. While the government ultimately suffered a defeat in parliament as the legislation was passed, lawmakers are now pushing to repeal the Medivac Bill, reports CNN affiliate SBS News. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg told reporters Tuesday repealing the bill is a priority for the coalition, although there is a chance of a veto from the Senate. Across the ocean in the detention centers, political developments have been met with despair. "That was a very disappointing moment for us, our lives depended on it," said Boochani of the election result, referring to hopes of resettlement in New Zealand. "Right now people think that there is no other way to get off of these islands and that we will be soon forgotten forever." However Yapu, the Manus police commander, said that the two confirmed suicide attempts on the island may not be linked to Australian politics. "We can't jump to the conclusion that it is related to the election as long term depression is a factor," said Yapu. Ian Rintoul from Refugee Action Coalition, an Australian rights group, told CNN that he had heard reports of seven attempted suicides on Manus since Saturday. "There is clearly a spate of attempted suicides since Saturday's vote in Australia," said Rintoul. "They were already increasing in the run up to the election but it is clear that the election result has increased the rate." Yapu said that "9 or 10" attempted suicides on Manus have been referred to police since November 2018. The Australian government has not responded publicly to the suicide attempts. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Refugees attempted suicide after Australia's election, activists say." WASHINGTON - A confidential Internal Revenue Service legal memo says tax returns must be given to Congress unless the president takes the rare step of asserting executive privilege, according to a copy of the memo obtained by The Washington Post. The memo contradicts the Trump administration's justification for denying lawmakers' request for President Donald Trump's tax returns, exposing fissures in the executive branch. Trump has refused to turn over his tax returns but has not invoked executive privilege. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has instead denied the returns by arguing there is no legislative purpose for demanding them. But, according to the IRS memo, which has not been previously reported, the disclosure of tax returns to the committee "is mandatory, requiring the Secretary to disclose returns, and return information, requested by the tax-writing Chairs." The 10-page document says the law "does not allow the Secretary to exercise discretion in disclosing the information provided the statutory conditions are met" and directly rejects the reason that Mnuchin has cited for witholding the information. "[T]he Secretary's obligation to disclose return and return information would not be affected by the failure of a tax writing committee ... to state a reason for the request," it says. It adds that the "only basis the agency's refusal to comply with a committee's subpoena would be the invocation of the doctrine of executive privilege." The memo is the first sign of potential dissent within the administration over its approach to the tax returns issue. The IRS said the memo, titled "Congressional Access to Returns and Return Information," was a draft document authored by a lawyer in the Office of Chief Counsel and did not represent the agency's "official position." The memo is stamped "DRAFT," it is not signed, and it doesn't reference Trump. The agency says the memo was prepared last fall. At the time, Democrats were making clear they would likely seek copies of Trump's tax returns under a 1924 law that states that the IRS "shall" turn over tax returns to Congress. Precisely who wrote the memo and reviewed it could not be learned. The agency says IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig and current chief counsel Michael Desmond, who took over in February, were not familiar with it until a Washington Post inquiry this week. The IRS says it was never forwarded to Treasury. Executive privilege is generally defined as the president's ability to deny requests for information about internal administration talks and deliberations. On Friday, Mnuchin rejected a subpoena from the House Ways and Means Committee to turn over the tax returns, a move that will now likely lead to a court battle. Mnuchin has criticized the demands as harassment that could be directed against any political enemy, arguing Congress lacks a "legitimate legislative purpose" in seeking the documents. Breaking with precedent, Trump has refused to provide tax returns, saying without evidence they are under audit. Mnuchin and other senior staff members never reviewed the IRS memo, according to a Treasury spokesman. But the spokesman said it did not undermine the department's argument that handing over the president's tax returns would run afoul of the Constitution's mandate that information given to Congress must pertain to legislative issues. The spokesman said the secretary is following a legal analysis from the Justice Department that he "may not produce the requested private tax return information." Both agencies have denied requests for copies of the Justice Department's advice to Treasury. Some legal experts said the memo provides further evidence that the Trump administration is using shaky legal foundations to withhold the tax returns. "The memo is clear in its interpretation of the law that the IRS shall furnish this information," said William Lowrance, who served for about two decades as an attorney in the IRS chief counsel's office and reviewed the memo at the request of The Post. Daniel Hemel, a professor at the University of Chicago Law School who also reviewed the memo for The Post, said the document suggests a split over Trump's returns between career staffers at the IRS and political appointees at that agency and the Treasury Department. "The memo writer's interpretation is that the IRS has no wiggle room on this," Hemel said. "Mnuchin is saying the House Ways and Means Committee has not asserted a legitimate legislative purpose. The memo says they don't have to assert a legitimate legislative purpose - or any purpose at all." The administration has resisted a range of House inquiries, although a federal judge on Monday ruled the president's accounting firm must turn over his financial records to Congress. Treasury Department officials said there had been extensive discussions about the tax return issue, with one official saying the issue put the agency in a difficult spot because Trump has predetermined the outcome - and Mnuchin is a Trump ally who was the finance chair of his 2016 campaign. "The decision has been made," this official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. "Now it's up to us to try to justify it." Trump has told advisers he will battle the issue to the Supreme Court, according to people familiar with the matter. Trump recently has argued that the tax returns were an issue in the 2016 election, but he won anyway - so they should no longer be an issue. Last week, Mnuchin told a Senate panel that Treasury Department lawyers held an early discussion about disclosing the tax returns long before Democrats officially demanded the documents in April. He did not reveal details of that deliberation or say what, if any, legal memos he had reviewed. Some legal experts have held that the law is clear in giving Congress the power to compel the provision of the returns. But other former government lawyers, including two who served in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, have argued that the law is unconstitutional and could lead to widespread abuses of taxpayer privacy for political aims. The IRS memo describes how and why Congress has the authority to access tax returns, explaining the origin of the provision and how it has been interpreted over the decades. It highlights the special powers given to three committees for compelling tax returns: the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Finance Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation. Other congressional committees, the memo emphasizes, do not have the same authority to compel returns. When it comes to the Ways and Means Committee, the obligation to divulge the returns "would not be affected by the failure" to give a reason for the request. By contrast, other committees "must include a purpose for their request for returns and return information when seeking access," the memo states. "One potential basis" for refusing the returns, the memo states, would be if the administration invoked the doctrine of executive privilege. But the IRS memo notes that executive privilege is most often invoked to protect information, such as opinions and recommendations, submitted as part of formulating policies and decisions. It even says the law "might be read to preclude a claim of executive privilege," meaning the law could be interpreted as saying executive privilege cannot be invoked to deny a subpoena. Earlier this month, the nonpartisan congressional Research Service published a review of Section 6103 that found the code "evinces no substantive limitations" on the Ways and Means Committee's authority to receive the tax returns. But, the CRS report added, the committee's authority "arguably is subject to the same legal limitations that generally attach to Congress' use of other compulsory investigative tools," including the need to serve some "legislative purpose" and not breach constitutional rights. - - - The Washington Post's Damian Paletta contributed to this report. Oil tumbled the most in almost three weeks as a raft of negative U.S. data revived fears of a supply glut while persisting U.S.-China trade tensions threaten demand. Futures in New York slipped 2.7% Wednesday, the biggest drop since May 2, after the U.S. Energy Department said weekly crude inventories had swelled to the highest level since July 2017. Gasoline stockpiles also grew faster than expected, domestic oil production ticked up and refinery utilization fell to the lowest seasonally adjusted level in five years. Prices had already been falling along with equity markets Wednesday as trade tensions between the world's top two economies showed no signs of abating. The Trump administration was said to be considering new restrictions on Chinese firms, after blacklisting Huawei Technologies Co. last week. On Tuesday, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development trimmed its global growth projection. EARLIER: Oil dips as trade standoff muddies outlook for economic growth "It's a tough one to be bullish about," said Rob Thummel, managing director at Tortoise, a Kansas-based money manager that oversees $21 billion in assets, referring to the Energy Department report. Aside from a drop in crude imports to the U.S., "everything else here would be a trend that leads to lower oil prices." West Texas Intermediate crude for July delivery fell $1.71 to $61.42 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange at the close of official trading. Brent for July settlement declined $1.19, or 1.7%, to $70.99 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark crude was at a $9.57 premium to WTI. PRODUCTION: U.S. oil output still expected to hit 13M barrels daily by end of '19 Oil investors are assessing conflicting supply and demand signals. While U.S. supplies and trade conflicts are keeping prices in check, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies are restricting output to prop up the market. Conflicts in the Middle East and unplanned outages from Libya to Venezuela have also tightened global supplies. "While forecasts by the OECD and others suggest demand growth will slow, OPEC is expected to control supply," said Miyoko Nakashima, a senior strategist at Mizuho Securities Co. in Tokyo. "That means there is a limited upside, but prices may stay in a relatively stable range." --With assistance from James Thornhill, Rakteem Katakey and Tsuyoshi Inajima. 2019 Bloomberg L.P. According to new Forbes report, Los Angeles has lost its place as the nation's leading port, with the Gateway City earning the honor. The report looked at Census data for the month of March, where Port Laredo's trade totaled $20.09 billion. Trade through the port of Los Angeles was at $19.66 billion. In March, trade facilitated through the City of Laredo surpassed that of Los Angeles for the first time ever, making Laredo the No. 1 port in the country, be it land, sea or air. Local leaders have long touted Laredos ranking as the No. 1 inland port in the U.S. as proof of the important role the city plays in state and national economies. And since 97% of trade coming through Laredos bridges is with Mexico, leaders often point to the financial significance of this binational relationship when ties to Mexico are under threat. Laredo Mayor Pete Saenz was in Austin on Tuesday for a meeting on the Texas-Mexico Border Transportation Master Plan, which seeks to identify important trade corridors in both Texas and Mexico, and create a plan to fund their growth. As the No. 1 inland port in the country, it has been important for Laredo to be represented at meetings such as these, Saenz said. After the meeting, though, Laredo was not just the No. 1 inland port, but the No. 1 port overall. Saenz said he was at lunch when someone texted him the news. He was elated and taken aback. He added it was outstanding news for the City of Laredo, and a ranking they have been pursuing. Us, the city we felt that with time we could reach that goal, he said. READ MORE: Meeting held for creation of animal cruelty task force The news was announced Tuesday in an article on Forbes.com by Ken Roberts, a trade data analyst who produces annual publications for cities across the country. He said he has been working on Laredos annual TradeNumbers booklet for more than 10 years. In March, the Port Laredos trade value was $20.09 billion; in the Port of Los Angeles, it was $19.66 billion, Roberts reports. Laredos trade increased almost 10% from February to March, while Los Angeles decreased 10%, he said. Roberts attributes this change in rankings mainly to the trade war that has unfurled between the U.S. and China. Much like Laredo is dependent on Mexico for international trade, the Port of Los Angeles is dependent on China for its trade industry. In Los Angeles, trade with China is down more than 17% this year, and in Laredo, trade with Mexico is up 1.5%, Roberts reports. Although it is just one month of trade ... it is just one more sign that President Trumps efforts to force change in Chinas policies is having an impact, Roberts wrote. Roberts told LMT that its incredibly hard to know if these reshuffled rankings will keep Laredo on top into April. It all depends on politics and if the trade war with China can be resolved, he said. He added he has been watching the gap close between Laredo and Los Angeles since last summer when soybean exports to China fell dramatically. READ MORE: Laredo ISD shows improvement on STAAR testing Laredo has managed to keep growing, while Port Los Angeles was just whacked this year, he said. The good news for Port Laredo is that at the moment there is nothing to derail its trade with Mexico. ... Its been growing strongly for several years, Roberts said. He called Laredo the little engine that could the No. 1 port above huge cities like Los Angeles and New York. Roberts said we should know in about three weeks how these cities all ranked in April. For eight days last month, Laredos international bridges slowed down dramatically as about 15% of its Customs and Border Protection officers were temporarily reassigned to help Border Patrol in the Valley. It took as long as 11 hours to cross the World Trade Bridge, where it usually takes three at peak traffic. Roberts said he is unsure how this will affect Aprils trade numbers. Mayor Saenz said he attributes Laredos success to its port efficiency, close ties to the customs brokers in Nuevo Laredo, Customs and Border Protection, and coordinating with the industry to see exactly what they need. He added that being named the No. 1 port is a huge marketing tool for the city. These are all good things that will help us further develop and grow in a good way, he said. In a news release Tuesday, Co-Interim City Managers Rosario Cabello and Robert Eads said the city has made monumental strides partnering with the private sector. This ranking signifies more good-paying jobs, further expansion and development, and most importantly, a better quality of life for all Laredoans. We look forward to working every day to build up our community, said the two in a release. Year to date, the Port of Los Angeles trade value is still well above Laredos at $66.76 billion. Laredos is $56.72 billion. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 jwallace@lmtonline.com WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court Tuesday refused to block a grand jury subpoena for testimony by Roger Stone associate Andrew Miller in an investigation launched by special counsel Robert Mueller III, clearing the way for a final appeal to the Supreme Court in the long-running legal dispute. Miller was subpoenaed in June 2018 in Mueller's probe for information about longtime Trump friend and GOP operative Stone, as well as key figures in the 2016 hacking and public release of Democratic Party emails, including by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks, led by Julian Assange. Miller was also ordered to answer questions before a grand jury about Guccifer 2.0 and DCLeaks, entities that U.S. prosecutors have alleged were online fronts invented by Russian intelligence operatives to spread the hacked documents before the 2016 presidential election. On Tuesday, Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson, Judith Rogers and Sri Srinivasan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit declined to stay the subpoena after earlier refusing to rehear a February decision upholding the constitutionality of Mueller's appointment over Miller's challenge. The full appeals court also had declined to revisit the case. The three-judge panel gave Miller seven days to persuade the Supreme Court to take the case. If he fails, or the high court rules against him, Miller faces an August contempt finding by U.S. District Chief Judge Beryl Howell of Washington for refusing to testify, an order that would leave him facing jail if he continues to decline to appear. Miller's lawyer, Paul Kamenar, called the ruling "disappointing, but not unexpected." He said he will decide shortly whether to ask Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. to intervene. Mueller's Russia investigation is over, but the special counsel's office turned over Miller's case to the U.S. attorney's office for the District, which has said his testimony is still needed. Stone has pleaded not guilty and faces trial in November on Mueller charges of lying to Congress and obstructing justice about his efforts to learn about the hacked emails. Kamenar questioned why prosecutors still need testimony from Miller given Stone's indictment and the release of Mueller's final report. "Why do they still need to hear from Andrew Miller?" Kamenar asked. Prosecutors' stance suggests that Miller's testimony may be sought in one of more than a dozen pending matters that Mueller reported referring to U.S. attorney offices, or perhaps in connection with a matter for which Stone was not charged. The parties face a looming deadline. The federal grand jury in Washington that worked with Mueller is set to end its two year term on July 5, after which unanswered subpoenas will expire. Six words - increasingly met with cheers on the campaign trail - have come to encapsulate Elizabeth Warren's position as the leading ideas candidate in the crowded Democratic presidential primary: "I've got a plan for that." In town halls across the country, Warren has promoted her plans to offer Americans free college, universal child care, student debt cancellation and more - all paid for by raising taxes on the superwealthy. Taken as a whole, the Massachusetts senator's transformative slate of social programs and tax increases could amount to the largest transfer of wealth from the richest Americans to the middle class in U.S. history. But Warren's ambitious agenda relies on two assumptions that defy a long history of U.S. policymaking: First, that the country's wealthiest taxpayers won't find ways to evade the targeted tax hike she proposes, and second, that new entitlement programs won't result in ballooning costs that plunge the federal government deeper into debt. "She's gone big. There's nothing small about these proposals," said Mark Zandi, who, as chief economist at Moody's Analytics, has analyzed policies for Warren and other presidential candidates. "Will the wealthy do things that wealthy people can do to avoid paying the tax? That's the real concern that I have. . . . A lot of other countries have tried this and backtracked because of tax avoidance issues." While other candidates have offered general platforms and principles, Warren has outpaced the field in outlining specific policies and detailing how she would pay for them. As her "I've-got-a-plan" mantra has caught fire with voters in recent weeks, her poll numbers have also risen, highlighting the hunger many Democratic primary voters have for fleshed-out policy prescriptions. Since launching her presidential campaign, Warren has rolled out a domestic platform that, so far, her campaign estimates would cost a combined $3 trillion over 10 years - plans that include canceling student debt for almost every American, building 3 million affordable housing units, reducing rents by 10 percent nationwide, shrinking the black-white wealth gap by 4 percentage points, subsidizing child-care for all young families, offering universal prekindergarten, providing universal opioid treatment and eliminating the National Park Service's maintenance backlog while making all national parks free. The centerpiece of Warren's agenda is a 2 percent annual tax on household assets above $50 million, hitting the wealthiest 0.1 percent of Americans. Underscoring the populist themes that drive her candidacy, Warren often spends several minutes describing the "wealth tax" before laying out her ideas for free college, child care and pre-K. "Think about that. That's how badly out of whack our economy has gotten - that two cents on the greatest fortunes in this country would yield an investment in every one of our kids across this country," Warren said earlier this month at a Kermit, West Virginia, town hall on the opioid crisis. "I'm tired of freeloading billionaires." The crowd broke into cheers several times as Warren described how a 2 percent tax on "the diamonds, the yachts and the Rembrandts" of multimillionaires would pay for a host of new social programs - including a $100 billion plan to combat the opioid epidemic. But some economists are beginning to question the math behind Warren's proposals. Warren's campaign claims that the wealth tax would raise $2.75 trillion over 10 years, enough to cover her spending plans with hundreds of billions of dollars to spare. She also has proposed a $1 trillion corporate tax on the most profitable companies. In a Washington Post op-ed last month, former Obama administration economic adviser Lawrence Summers and University of Pennsylvania professor Natasha Sarin wrote "such a wealth tax will not yield the revenue that its proponents hope for," citing figures from the current estate tax that show how the wealthy have proved adept in avoiding the 40 percent levy on their assets after death. "The problem with their estimate is that they fail to engage with the fact that wealthy people do a lot of things that make it very hard to tax their estates, and will make it equally hard to tax their wealth," said Sarin, who teaches finance at the Wharton School of Business. A recent poll of about 40 top economists by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business found that 73 percent believed a wealth tax"would be much more difficult to enforce than existing federal taxes" because of tax evasion. Only 7 percent disagreed. Several cited the experience in Europe, where most countries have abandoned their wealth taxes in recent decades. Wealth taxes in the world's richest nations have brought in far less revenue than expected due to tax avoidance, according to a 2018 report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Warren declined a request to comment. A campaign aide cited research by University of California at Berkeley professors Gabriel Zucman and Emmanuel Saez, who came up with the wealth tax proposal and calculated the revenue estimate. In an interview, Zucman said Warren's numbers are well-founded. Zucman said Warren's plan is specifically designed in a way that limits tax evasion - allowing no exemptions, increasing enforcement by the IRS and imposing heavy fines on people who try to skirt the tax by undervaluing assets, hiding their wealth abroad or renouncing their U.S. citizenship. The $2.75 trillion estimate includes an allowance for 15 percent tax avoidance, said Zucman, whose work with Saez on wealth concentration is respected by other economists. "If it's properly enforced and there's a serious effort at having no exemptions and enforcing it strongly, then it can collect a lot of tax revenue," he said of the wealth tax. "Tax avoidance, tax evasion - these are not things that happen out of the blue. The government chooses to make taxes work, to enforce them well, or to not enforce them properly." Even as economists debate the feasibility of an "ultra-millionaires tax," Warren has found it to be an effective political weapon on the stump. She talks about taxing the "wealthiest 75,000 families in the country" to illustrate how the wealth gains in recent decades have disproportionately flowed to the top 1 percent. Her plan offers an aggressive path to shrinking the wealth gap and has proved popular among broad swaths of the public. A February Politico-Morning Consult poll found that 61 percent of voters supported the wealth tax, while only 20 percent oppose it. Among Republicans, 50 percent supported it and 30 percent were opposed. And even if the wealth tax proves more complex in practice than in theory - it would certainly face legal challenges - voters give Warren credit for offering fresh ideas to address such major issues as income inequality. Many are seeking a contrast to President Donald Trump, who ascended to the presidency with a campaign heavy on slogans and light on policy details. "They really have a good team," said Zandi, who has worked with Warren's aides to analyze plans for affordable housing and universal child care. "That's why they're coming out with the most in-depth proposals." Warren's campaign has indicated that it will continue to roll out new policies. While Warren has voiced support for universal health care, paid sick leave and an expansive federal response to climate change, her campaign - like others - has yet to describe how those programs would be structured and funded. Some of the plans Warren has described in detail would create massive new entitlements, with the risk of overshooting budget estimates. Warren has promised that the government would pay all tuition and fees for students to attend public colleges. And she has proposed a universal child-care and pre-K program that would cap costs at 7 percent of family income. She also pledged to cancel student loan debt for 95 percent of borrowers who have it. "College is a basic need that should be available for free to everyone who wants to go," Warren wrote in a Medium post describing her plan. Warren's estimated cost for her college and student loan plan totaled more than $1.25 trillion over 10 years. Sandy Baum, a higher education fellow at the Urban Institute, said costs for free two- and four-year college could quickly spiral beyond estimates. Using the example of a student in Pennsylvania contemplating where to go to college, Baum said a free public college program might incentivize more students to take advantage of the government benefit, raising potential costs. "Right now, you might decide 'I'm not going to college in Pennsylvania. I'm going to go to a private college in Massachusetts,' " she said. "If it suddenly becomes free to go to Penn State, then that's going to be a very different choice. And some of those students are definitely going to say 'Penn State - it's free.' " The Warren campaign did not provide an analysis of how it estimated the cost of its free-college program, which includes increasing Pell grants and creating a $50 billion fund for historically black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions. "It's a lot of money," said Baum. "If it accomplishes its goal of getting more people to go to college and stay there for a longer time, it'll be more expensive." Warren's child care and early education proposal is one of her most costly initiatives. Citing estimates from Moody's, Warren's campaign said providing free child care for families below 200 percent of the federal poverty line and subsidizing care for almost everyone else would cost about $1.1 trillion over 10 years. That total is reduced to $700 billion if you include the benefits of economic growth, the campaign said. But Zandi, who wrote the Moody's analysis for the campaign, acknowledged that the child-care program could ultimately be more expensive. One risk is that the free benefit could attract more users than forecast, driving up costs. "It's very possible the takeup could be more significant that what I've anticipated," Zandi said, adding that there's also a chance that economic growth could be greater than forecast, canceling out additional costs. Warren's conservative critics have chafed at her claim that such a major expansion of government benefits could be financed only by taxing the wealthy. Some also predict that higher taxes on the rich - quickly compounding at 2 percent annually - will have unintended consequences for the economy, shrinking growth. "That's one of the things about taxes - they change behavior," said Michael Strain, an economist at the conservative-leaning American Enterprise Institute. "If you tax savings, you'll get less savings. That will hurt investment, which will hurt productivity. And that will hurt wages." But Warren is banking on the idea that voters are ready to reject the kind of supply-side economics that have dominated much of U.S. policymaking for decades and embrace a new system aimed at reorienting the economy around the middle class. During a campaign stop last week in Philadelphia, Warren talked about how working families had fallen further behind as politicians catered to millionaires and large corporations. Then she described her push to fundamentally restructure government with an expansive social program financed by a historic tax increase on the wealthy. "We need to make not some nibbles around the edge, not like one statute over here and a regulation over there in a little piece. What we need is big structural change in this country," she said to applause. "And I've got a plan for that. In fact, I've got multiple plans for that." - - - The Washington Post's Annie Linskey contributed to this report. Despite House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's, D-Calif., best efforts, House Democrats are seriously considering beginning impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. On Wednesday morning, they met to talk about it. Right now, the consensus seems to be to retain the status quo, but that could change quickly. That's because the case for impeachment has been building over the past month. Here's a run-down of some key flash points that have brought an increasing number of Democrats (and one Republican) on board: - The Mueller report is released: There were some Democrats who thought that the obstruction-y actions outlined by special counsel Robert Mueller in his report released April 18 were enough to impeach the president. But the majority stuck with Pelosi, who privately urged her caucus to take it slow. - Elizabeth Warren takes the stage: She was one of the first 2020 Democrats to come out in favor of impeachment and gave an eloquent, forceful explanation why at a CNN town hall April 22 that drew headlines and became a bumper-sticker argument for the pro-impeachers: "There is no 'political inconvenience' exception to the United States Constitution." - The Mueller letter comes out: On April 30, a letter is leaked that showed that Mueller was unhappy with how Attorney General William Barr characterized the special counsel's report. Mueller sent that letter to Barr in March, urging him to release more and warning of "misunderstandings." This followed reports that Mueller's team thought Barr's summary had been too easy on Trump, and it gives the perception among some Democrats that there is a coverup in the Trump administration. Speaking of . . . - Trump blocks a lot of congressional investigations: Impeachment talks were continuing in Democratic circles, but the lawmakers who mattered - Pelosi and Democratic leaders of key committees - had settled on another plan. They were investigating all aspects of Trump's life, including the Mueller report, without starting impeachment proceedings. "Impeach or nothing. No, it's not that," Pelosi would later explain. But Trump had other ideas. "We're fighting all the subpoenas," he said. "These aren't, like, impartial people. The Democrats are trying to win 2020." He sued his accounting firm and Congress to prevent them from getting his financial information. His treasury secretary said he won't release Trump's tax returns, despite an IRS interpretation of the law otherwise. His former top aides refused to comply with subpoenas to testify. If Trump was stonewalling traditional investigations, what other options did Congress have but to consider impeachment, some Democrats wondered. "I think what he's trying to do and I think what they think he's trying to do is render us toothless and say we're not that important," said House Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif., who was one of the first lawmakers to call for impeachment. - Attorney General Barr doesn't show up, so Congress holds him in contempt: A sitting Cabinet secretary refused to come to Congress to testify about the Mueller report. Barr said his problem was with the format, but it added to the perception that the White House was blocking Congress from its constitutionally mandated role of oversight. On May 8, the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Barr in contempt of Congress for not showing up. He is only the second sitting attorney general in U.S. history to be held in contempt. But if this was a big deal symbolically, practically speaking, it didn't change much. Barr still hasn't testified in front of Congress. - Pelosi says Trump is "becoming self-impeachable": The morning of the contempt vote, Pelosi sat at a Washington Post Live event and said Trump is "becoming self-impeachable." It wasn't immediately clear what she meant - that he was making his own case that he should be impeached, or that he was damaging his election chances by blockading Congress. But it did seem like a turning point in Pelosi's language, that she was more open than ever to considering impeaching Trump. At least, we wrote, she's laying the groundwork to consider impeaching Trump if it comes to that. - Justin Amash is open to impeachment proceedings against Trump: A sitting Republican member of Congress, Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., tweeted over the weekend that he had finished reading the Mueller report and he thought Trump "engaged in impeachable conduct." Amash is one of the most conservative members of Congress, so his words carried weight. But he is also a maverick with libertarian leanings who often breaks with his party. Bottom line: This one Republican wasn't going to change Pelosi's calculations to avoid impeachment, but suddenly, Democrats' impeachment efforts were technically bipartisan. - Donald McGahn ignores a subpoena to talk to Congress: On Tuesday, another big name in Trump World refused to show up to Congress. McGahn was the White House's top lawyer, and he is a key witness in the Mueller report to Trump's attempts to fire the special counsel then lie about it. The House Judiciary Committee issued a subpoena to force him to talk, but McGahn, under pressure from Trump, did not show up. "We will hold this president accountable," House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said at the hearing, with an empty seat where McGahn was supposed to be, "one way or another." To many Democrats on the fence about impeachment, this was the last straw. The night before, Nadler and top Democrats had urged Pelosi to consider impeachment proceedings, even if it doesn't lead to articles of impeachment against the president. What other choice does Congress have at this point, they argued? If potential crimes outlined in the Mueller report weren't deserving enough, the cover up has been, they argued. As Ted Deutch, D-Fla., a Judiciary Committee member told The Post on Monday: "If the answer is, 'No, you can't talk to anyone, you can't have anything, we're simply not going to cooperate,' then at that point the only avenue that we have left is the constitutional means to enforce the separation of powers, which is a serious discussion of impeachment." Washington More Democrats are calling for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump after his latest defiance of Congress by blocking his former White House lawyer from testifying on Tuesday. A growing number of rank-and-file House Democrats, incensed by former counsel Don McGahn's empty chair in the Judiciary Committee hearing room, are confronting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and pushing her and other leaders to act. Their impatience is running up against the speaker's preference for a more methodical approach, including already-unfolding court battles. Pelosi summoned some of them still a small fraction of the House Democratic caucus to a meeting of investigators Wednesday to assess strategy. Some other Democratic leaders, while backing Pelosi, signaled that a march to impeachment may at some point become inevitable. "We are confronting what might be the largest, broadest cover-up in American history," Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. If a House inquiry "leads to other avenues including impeachment," the Maryland Democrat said, "so be it." Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas and Diana DeGette of Colorado added their voices to the impeachment inquiry chorus. "There is political risk in doing so, but there's a greater risk to our country in doing nothing," Castro said on Twitter. "This is a fight for our democracy." Tweeted DeGette: "The facts laid out in the Mueller report, coupled with this administration's ongoing attempts to stonewall Congress, leave us no other choice." One Republican congressman, Justin Amash of Michigan, has called for impeachment proceedings. He said Tuesday he thinks other GOP lawmakers should join him but only after reading special counsel Robert Mueller's report carefully. Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy dismissed Amash as out of step with House Republicans and "out of step with America." And Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said wryly of Amash's position, "I don't think it's going to be a trend-setting move." As Democrats weigh their options, Trump is almost taunting them by testing the bounds of executive power in ways few other administrations have. The White House contends that even former employees like McGahn do not have to abide by subpoenas from Congress. NEW YORK - A federal judge on Wednesday rejected a request by President Donald Trump to block congressional subpoenas for his banking records, dealing the latest blow to the president in his bid to battle Democratic investigations into his personal finances. The decision in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York could clear the way for Deutsche Bank and Capital One to hand over the president's financial records to Democrats in the House. Trump's attorneys could appeal the decision. Attorneys for Trump, his family and the Trump Organization filed for a preliminary injunction earlier this month as part of a lawsuit seeking to block the two institutions from handing over documents to the House Financial Services and Intelligence committees. "There will be no way to unring the bell once the Banks give Congress the requested information," William Consovoy, Patrick Strawbridge and Marc Mukasey wrote. "The Committees will have reviewed confidential documents that this Court may later determine were illegally subpoenaed." But U.S. District Judge Edgardo Ramos said Wednesday that Trump's lawsuit was unlikely to succeed. Deutsche Bank and Capital One did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The ruling comes two days after a federal judge in Washington rejected the Trump legal team's argument in a separate case seeking to block the House Oversight Committee's demands for records from Trump's accounting firm, Mazars USA. Trump's attorneys notified the judge on Tuesday that they have appealed "all aspects" of that ruling. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., welcomed Wednesday's ruling, saying she was "very excited" by the news. "Two in one week: Mazar Monday, Deutsche Bank today," she said. "Another Day, another very important ruling," House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said. "Different judge, same opinion: the Trump legal arguments are without merit." Deutsche Bank has been a major lender to both the Trump Organization and Kushner Companies, which previously was run by Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who now is a presidential adviser. Deutsche Bank has loaned or been a co-lender of at least $2.5 billion to Trump's business, much of it at a time when other banks declined providing money to him, according to a Wall Street Journal report. At one point, when Trump had trouble paying back a loan for a Chicago tower, Trump sued the bank, saying it had played a role in a broader financial crisis that hurt the project. Trump and the bank eventually settled the case. Shortly before Election Day in 2016, Deutsche Bank finalized a $285 million loan to Kushner's real estate company, The Washington Post has previously reported. At the time, the bank was negotiating settlements with federal and New York regulators. Congressional Democrats have long said they want to examine the bank's loans to the Trump and Kushner businesses, particularly to see if there is any connection to money-laundering in Russia. During Wednesday's hearing, protesters holding signs stating "Congress has a right to know" and "You can sue but you can't hide" were admonished by the judge after they stood up in the courtroom. Strawbridge argued during the hearing that the committee subpoenas were overly broad and claimed that House Democrats were acting as law enforcement rather than legislators. "They are looking for records about minors, about in-laws," said Strawbridge, claiming that even information about Trump's grandchildren could be swept up in the subpoenas. An attorney for the House Democrats, Douglas Neal Letter, said the committees have issued "a whole batch of subpoenas . . . having nothing to do with Trump or his family." "This is not an investigation just about Trump and his family," Letter said. In his ruling from the bench, Ramos said he would not halt enforcement of the subpoena. Ramos said his ruling rejecting a preliminary injunction was of "little consequence" because Trump and his family "are unlikely to succeed on merits of their claims." --- Kranish and Sonmez reported from Washington. Reis Thebault and Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report. SEBEWAING Fifty years after the Vietnam War ended, local veterans of that war received some long overdue honor, respect and thanks that they didnt get when they returned home to civilian life. The American Legion Post 293 of Sebewaing on Saturday hosted a memorial dedication of a veteran parkway, the commemoration of the 50th anniversary and a pinning ceremony of that war, and observance of Armed Forces Day. For the last year, the Vietnam 50th Commemoration Committee of Joe Halza, Greg Treder, Dale Nelson and Bill Mielke worked to create the parkway and memorial, selling commemorative bricks, and putting the program together. Others who helped were Joel Sting of Gagetown, and Joseph Caballero of Grand Blanc, said Bill Mielke, who coordinated the event. The two men who uncovered the plaque were Dale Nelson and Greg Treder, who were both were very instrumental in getting the memorial site built. Unless you were from that era, few understand just how badly those veterans were treated. Some were spit on, called baby killers and murderers, and some had animal blood thrown on them. Because of the harassment, many soldiers booked night flights to come home in efforts to avoid activists. They didnt wear their uniform, or talk about serving their country or what they went through. These facts were noted in some of the speeches given on Saturday. One of those who spoke about the impact war can have was Joseph Caballero, a retired U.S. Marine sergeant. He talked about the loss of comrades and friends while in-country; close calls of being killed; years of grappling with depression, hopelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); and how his wife, family and music helped him heal. Another guest speaker was Debbie Robinson, who knows all too well that freedom is far from being free. Although her husband, Newton, safely served in Vietnam from 1967-68, he did not survive the after affect of it. He died Sept. 19, 2003, from the effects of being exposed to Agent Orange, which was a chemical freely sprayed by the United States to kill ground cover and trees. Years later, it was determined that 14 major diseases of Vietnam veterans was because of Agent Orange. Although they lived through combat, many died years later from complications of Agent Orange. Others are still suffering, and some had children whose health was also impacted by the chemical. As a way to honor those who are still suffering, and those who passed way because of Agent Orange, Julie Dembowski Epperson, who is Sebewaing villages president, painted a mural honoring those impacted by Agent Orange at the post. War took a second tole on Robinson. Her son, Brian, who did multiple tours in Iraq and in Afghanistan safely, died Feb. 15, 2012, after trying to live with PTSD. While a key part of the event was honoring all who served their country, it mostly honored those who were killed in action during Vietnam. District Commander Lewis Mitchell read the names of each of the 14 men from Huron County who were killed in the Vietnam War and a bell was rang in them memory. The veterans who were killed in action were: Larry N. Bakke, Terrance Clancy, Jack Lee Connors, Donald Cook, Oliver Darrow, William Davidson, David Graham, Bruce Johnson, Frances Laurier, Robert John Miller, William H. Nelson, Gerry Polega, David Tinsey, and Mike Zurek. The memorial and the parkway is to honor those who were killed in action as well as others who served their country in any war. A report published by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in 2016 analyzed 55 million veterans' records from 1979 to 2014. It indicated that an average of 20 veterans a day die from suicide. The keynote speaker was state Rep. Phil Green, who focused on veterans helping fellow veterans. You are here. You are victorious, Green said. Your commission is to help fellow veterans. Green suggested older veterans reach out to the younger ones to help them, listen to them and guide them and to pass on their experience and fortitude, and make them aware of services that are available to them. Besides passing out several pins to dozens of Vietnam veterans, honors and pins were also given to the spouses of those who were killed in action. Some of the other special events during the ceremony was flyover by the U.S. Coast Guard; a reading of a poem by student Chase Payne; and the National Anthem was sung by Allyson Kemp. The memorial at American Legion Post 293 is off of M-25. Bricks for the walkway are still for sale for any veteran of any branch of service from any war. For more information, call 989-977-2079. WASHINGTON - Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., Tuesday evening became the first member of the Virginia congressional delegation to call for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. The liberal three-term congressman is one of more than two dozen Democrats who have spoken up to support an impeachment "inquiry" in recent days. After Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Beyer is the second capital region member to call for impeachment. In a lengthy statement, Beyer cited a list of accusations, from "obstruction of justice" that he said was detailed in special counsel Robert Mueller III's report to tax fraud, in justifying his call for an impeachment inquiry. "Endorsing such a course is not easy, and I do not do so lightly, but I believe that the President has left Congress no other option but to pursue it. When I came to Congress I swore an oath 'to defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,' Beyer said. He added that Trump has shown "utter contempt for the Constitution from the moment he took office, but we are now faced with evidence of actions that strongly resemble high crimes and misdemeanors." Beyer said Congress can do little to investigate potential crimes committed by the president when the administration prevents former White House counsel Donald McGahn and other officials from responding to congressional subpoenas. The congressman said he would not support impeachment unless it was a bipartisan process. In addition to Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., publicly calling for impeachment, Beyer said he had spoken privately to Republicans who agree. In recent weeks, Beyer's office has been flooded by constituents clamoring for him to take this position, he said. The nonpartisan analysts at Cook Political Report rank Beyer's congressional district as the most heavily leaning Democratic district in Virginia. Voters in his district, which is just across the Potomac River from District of Columbia and includes Virginia cities Arlington and Alexandria, both of which preferred Hillary Clinton over Trump in 2016 by a margin of 74 to 21. Last month Beyer became the first member of Congress to endorse presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Beyer, the owner of car dealerships in Virginia, is co-chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's fundraising efforts. He served two terms as Virginia's lieutenant governor in the 1990s, was a major fundraiser for Obama and served as U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein from 2009 to 2013. - - - The Washington Post's Mike DeBonis contributed to this report. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is nominating Barbara Barrett, a former U.S. ambassador to Finland and onetime Republican candidate for governor of Arizona, to serve as the next secretary of the U.S. Air Force, tapping a longtime space enthusiast to run the service set to oversee the new Space Force. Trump made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday, starting the clock on a confirmation process that will require Barrett to be approved by the U.S. Senate. "I am pleased to announce my nomination of Barbara Barrett of Arizona, and former Chairman of the Aerospace Corporation, to be the next Secretary of the Air Force," Trump wrote. "She will be an outstanding Secretary! #FlyFightWin." If confirmed, Barrett, 68, would be the third woman in a row to serve in the top civilian position at the Air Force and would bring significant experience from the space world at a time when the Pentagon is sharpening the service's focus on space to compete with Russia and China. She would also join acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan in attempting to win congressional support for plans to establish a separate Space Force underneath the Air Force, one of Trump's top priorities for the service. She would replace Heather Wilson, a retired Air Force officer and former Republican congresswoman, who is leaving the Pentagon to become president of the University of Texas, El Paso. Wilson submitted her resignation in March. Barrett - a wealthy Republican donor and wife of former Intel CEO Craig Barrett - served as chairman of the Aerospace Corporation, a nonprofit corporation based in California that operates a federally funded research and development center for the space enterprise. She also served on the board of the National Air and Space Museum, the Rand Corp., Sally Ride Science and the Space Foundation, according to a biography released by the Smithsonian when she joined its board of regents in 2013. She is a certified astronaut, having spent time at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Russia and the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to become the backup crew member for Cirque du Soleil co-founder Guy Laliberte when he traveled to the International Space Station as a space tourist. Barrett didn't end up going to space, because Laliberte was able to travel. The Washington Post was unable to reach Barrett for comment on her nomination. A spokeswoman for the Aerospace Corporation didn't respond to a request for comment. Apart from her interest in space, Barrett has had a career spanning business, politics, education and diplomacy. She served as the U.S. ambassador to Finland under President George W. Bush and as deputy administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. According to her State Department biography, she was chairman of the U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy and senior adviser to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. In 1994, Barrett ran unsuccessfully in a Republican primary against Arizona Gov. Fife Symington, eliciting the ire of the late John McCain for challenging the incumbent governor. In a 2014 interview with the publication Business Jet Traveler, Barrett said she trained and qualified to fly an F-18 Hornet and landed the fighter jet on the USS Nimitz. Around that time, she served on the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, advising the Pentagon on servicewomen in the U.S. armed forces. A law school graduate, she cited retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who led the Arizona Senate while Barrett interned there, as one of her inspirations. "In my generation, girls had three choices: teacher, secretary or nurse," Barrett told the publication. "When I was 4, I said I wanted to be a nurse and my dad said, 'Why not a doctor?' That was my breakaway moment, and since then, I've always asked myself, 'Why not this or this?' " Barrett and her husband are the owners of Triple Creek Ranch, a luxury resort in Montana. Venezuela's opposition is engaging in a blitz of diplomacy in the aftermath of last month's abortive uprising, including talks with the government of President Nicolas Maduro. But the opposition's most important international backer - the United States - is skeptical of Maduro's good faith, or that the talks will lead to his removal from office. The opposition, led by Juan Guaido, sent emissaries to Oslo last week for talks brokered by the Norwegian government with two senior Maduro loyalists, including Jorge Rodriguez, the government's communications minister. Four people familiar with the talks said the sides did not meet directly - they exchanged points of view and proposals through diplomatic intermediaries. A senior Trump administration official described the government's proposals at the meeting as vague and lacking in key details, particularly on the opposition's demand that Maduro step down, and on the makeup of any transitional government. The Norwegians approached the Americans "a couple of weeks ago" to broach talks, the official said. The administration remains deeply skeptical that Maduro would be willing to leave power, and have told the Norwegians they need to press for demonstrations of good faith, including the release of political prisoners. "Is it an exercise to buy time? To distract? Or are they serious?" the official asked. He said the Oslo talks were "inherently flawed" in part because they did not include good-faith gestures by Maduro's government. "You can't have honest negotiations when some [from the opposition-controlled National Assembly] are in prison," he said. Another senior administration official said the core demand of both the Venezuelan opposition and the United States has not changed: "Maduro must go." The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss closed-door policymaking. On planning for a post-Maduro government, they stressed the need to keep institutions intact. They cited the collapse of Iraq in 2003 after the United States disbanded the army and other institutions. Any "transition presided over by Maduro is a phony," the second official said, but outreach to other senior government officials and guarantees that they can stay in their current positions will be key to success. Talks between the government and the opposition could continue in the days and weeks ahead. Publicly, at least, the sides remain far apart. Maduro this week floated a proposal that the opposition sees as a nonstarter: early elections for the National Assembly, now headed by Guaido, controlled by the opposition and recognized internationally as the nation's only democratic institution. Maduro's government stripped the assembly of its power in 2017, and opposition critics say a new election to would serve only to strengthen Maduro's grip on power. "Venezuela has a humanitarian crisis with no precedent," Guaido said at a National Assembly session on Tuesday. "What is the regime's response? To make fun of the people by talking about parliamentary elections, while our proposal has been clear: end of usurpation; transitional government; and free elections. Truly free elections. That's what they fear . . . Because there is no doubt that a free election would open the doors for change in Venezuela." Guaido streamed the session on social media, because national guards surrounding the legislative palace blocked the press from going in. The international contact group - including the European Union, Britain, Italy, Spain, France, Germany, Portugal, Sweden, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Uruguay and Ecuador - dispatched a delegation to Caracas last week to speak with both sides. There were no specific signs of progress. One person briefed on the talks said the meeting with Maduro did not go well, and that he told them any new presidential elections before the end of his five-year term were "unthinkable." "It seems as if Maduro is still stuck on the idea that he is constitutional and legitimate, and that hasn't changed, and until there is a change of tone, there won't be a breakthrough," the person said. Luis Vicente Leon, director of the Datanalisis polling agency in Caracas, called the fact that both sides are agreeing to explore talks a significant step toward a possible negotiated solution to the crisis. He said the first meetings were part of a "longer process." "It means both sides are starting to feel exhausted," he said. The government is isolated, divided and barely able to govern, he said, while the opposition has realized that its strategy to oust Maduro by wooing the military and his loyalists has thus far fallen short. The international mediation efforts come weeks after the failed uprising led by Guaido and his mentor, Leopoldo Lopez. In the days since, the opposition scrambled to stay united while the startled international community strengthened calls for a negotiated solution. Even the Lima Group, a regional collective of nations that largely backs Guaido's agenda, announced its intention to approach both the contact group and Cuba, which backs Maduro. Both Maduro and the opposition, meanwhile, are sending mixed signals. Maduro has pledged to ease tensions and agreed to talk to the countries hoping to mediate a deal. Yet his government has also imprisoned the National Assembly's vice president, Edgar Zambrano, and charged 10 lawmakers with treason in connection with the April 30 plot. "I will focus all my efforts for Venezuela, to sooner rather than later, reach an agreement with the Venezuelan opposition," Maduro said in a televised speech on Monday. The opposition has become more vocal on the option of a foreign military intervention to oust Maduro. Guaido told The Washington Post this month that he would take a hypothetical offer of U.S. military assistance to the National Assembly. And on Monday, his representative to the United States, Carlos Vecchio, met with the U.S. State Department and Department of Defense to "evaluate joint mechanisms of cooperation and strategic planning to advance in a solution," Vecchio said on Twitter. He said he was "satisfied with the progress made." Maduro claimed victory last year in elections widely viewed as fraudulent. Guaido declared himself interim president in January, and has been recognized as Venezuela's rightful leader by the United States and more than 50 other countries. As time passes, both sides have much to lose. Maduro has shown himself unable to halt Venezuela's economic free fall into the unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has sparked a mass exodus from the oil-rich nation. As conditions deteriorate, he risks more internal divisions, especially in the military. Signs of those rifts have already been made evident. Most recently, his ambassador to Italy, Julian Isaias Rodriguez, resigned Tuesday, saying he leaves his post "without regrets and without money. My wife just sold jewelry her ex-husband gave her to maintain us in front of the U.S. blockade." He said the "gringos" sanctioned him and he doesn't have a bank account. Guaido risks losing domestic support as his efforts to push out Maduro have faltered. His approval rating slipped five percentage points from February to April, according to Leon's polling firm. The fall is not dramatic, but could worsen if Venezuelans fail to see him achieving tangible results, Leon said. During last week's negotiations in Oslo, Guaido said they were only part of his team's larger strategy to oust Maduro. "We repeat it: we are working in all options to end the dictatorship and are advancing in each of them: mediation of countries that approach a solution in Venezuela, international cooperation, and encouraging constitutional backing from our Armed Forces," he tweeted. Hawks in the Trump administration have pushed for military options in Venezuela, even as President Donald Trump has privately indicated little appetite for an intervention, particularly heading into the 2020 election cycle. One senior administration official acknowledged that "nobody wants to do it, certainly the [Department of Defense] doesn't." Nevertheless, the official added, "people who think there is no military option are wrong. It's not our policy, but who knows what will happen tomorrow?" The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results Danville, WV (25053) Today Overcast with rain showers at times. High 67F. E winds shifting to S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Rain showers in the evening will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 56F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Rainfall around a half an inch. A war of words over the Governments contentious National Broadband Plan (NBP) has erupted between two local politicians hoping to lead their parties into securing the balance of power of Longford County Council after this weekends local elections. Fine Gaels Micheal Carrigy and Fianna Fails Seamus Butler have traded political blows this week after the former hit out at Micheal Martins criticism of the plan. Mr Martin said that Fine Gaels National Development Plan was "in shreds" given the anticipated 3bn investment which was required and accused the Government of "playing fast and loose" with taxpayers' money. In a strongly worded statement issued to the Leader this week, Cllr Carrigy took aim at Mr Martins comments, saying such remarks represented a kick in the teeth to the people of Longford. He said: Micheal Martin has confirmed that Fianna Fail wants to axe this plan. If in Government, they wouldnt sign the contract. Micheal Martin says rural Ireland must wait and couldnt care less about those without broadband in Longford. Read also: Irish Rural Link call for the National Broadband Plan to now be delivered as a matter of urgency If 3bn is too expensive how much should it cost the Opposition have never provided a figure, and they have no basis or evidence for providing one. The only way to save money is to leave people out, (so) which communities do Fianna Fail want to leave behind? Speculation over the weekend had suggested a drop in support for Fine Gael was heightening fears among senior ministers that the broadband controversy was damaging the party's election chances in urban areas. For those in opposition like Cllr Seamus Butler, the spiralling nature of the plan was indicative of a government which had lost touch with its core values in being frugal with public monies. The track record of this government when it comes to public procurement is absolutely atrocious, he said. Asked if the timing of Cllr Carrigys comments were politically motivated, Cllr Butler replied: Theres an election in four days time, theres your answer. The local businessman said his partys reservations over the size and cost of the plan were well-founded, saying government chiefs could learn plenty from the economical nature in which St Mels Cathedral was restored. The fact we won't even own the network is an absolute disgrace and it's far better to get it right than to rush it. Read also: Broadband plan saga is a mess of our own making We delivered a cathedral for Co Longford for 30m on time and on budget and they (government) just seem to be incapable of grasping the importance of this. In fact, very few of those that are in government have any real experience of business and it is really beginning to show between health, infrastructure and housing, he said. For those with no political party affiliation, the saga was one which likewise came in for stinging rebuke. It it's anything like the Children's Hospital they (Fine Gael) are looking to build, 3bn won't be near enough and to say they will have it in seven years is really ridiculous, said Independent Cllr Mark Casey. We need rural broadband now. Read also: National broadband plan delays are alienating rural Ireland Cllr Casey, who is no stranger to calling into question the Government's record when it comes to matters concering Longford, said he was not surprised by the growing controversy. In reserving equally piercing words for Fianna Fail's past history in rhyming out pre electoral promises, Cllr Casey used an old 19th century saying in which to reflect his irritation over the fallout. This is a typical Fine Gael promise of jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but no jam today, he stated. It would be more in their line to reopen all those garda barracks they closed and to start tackling rural crime. I'm not surprised by any of this to be honest. Their record when it comes to spending public money has been deplorable. People aren't stupid. This is yet another cheap election stunt by Fine Gael. It's absolutely ridiculous what is going on. Read also: Broadband a huge issue on Longford's local election campaign trail Food, Wine, & Dining, Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases By Meg Parisi Published: May 22 2019 The bill bans the sale and distribution of polystyrene products effective January 1, 2020 The Nassau County Legislature on Monday unanimously passed a ban on the use of polystyrene, or Styrofoam, containers. Legislators unanimously voted Monday in favor of the ban, which gives local businesses until January 2020 to use up their reserve of styrofoam containers and stock up on alternatives. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran is expected to sign the bill into law. Brian Lew, owner of Sandwich Express in Plainview, says environmentally friendly alternatives to Styrofoam doesnt come cheap and will likely leave small businesses with no choice but to pass on the added expense to their customers through price increases. Lew says a case of Styrofoam containers can be bought for $14; something more biodegradable would go for $85-$90 for the same quantity. But Nassau legislators argue that there are affordable alternatives, citing Dunkin's decision to begin to phase out its use of Styrofoam. Legislator Denise Ford, of Long Beach, says the environmental benefit of a ban is undeniable. Nassau now joins Suffolk County and New York City in banning the use of Styrofoam. Businesses that violate the ban will face fines from the Office of Consumer Affairs. The money from those funds will provide for environmental investigation and cleanup of Nassau properties, officials said. Nassau's Office of Consumer Affairs will have the authority to fine businesses that use Styrofoam once the law takes effect next January. That money will be used for environmental investigations and cleanup within the county. Lew says he's already starting to phase out Styrofoam in favor of aluminum. NBV Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Geoff Toone (r) and Finance Minister Gaetan Pikoune (l) cutting a cake to mark the milestone development in Luganville, Santo. counterfeit-168x112 Justify the budget The first step to managing a budget is having one to begin with. In order to justify continued funding from the business, Paola Piccoli, head of brand enforcement at Maus Freres in Paris, recommended tracking carefully and communicating regularly what the brand enforcement team is doing. For example, Piccoli said that her team re-balances the global budget allocation of Maus Freres-owned brand Lacoste every three months. This re-balancing relies on tracking certain metrics, including quantitative measures such as the number of counterfeit products, manufacturers, and transit points identified, but also qualitative measures like visibility of the goods and related to tourism trends. When weighted by importance, these metrics paint a picture that serve the dual purpose of prioritising the teams budget allocation, as well as providing a tool to justify that budget to senior management. The business is very demanding, so its important to communicate with them about our successes, Piccoli said. Involving distributors directly in anti-counterfeiting efforts can help them understand their importance, as well as back up the legal team on a practical level. In the Lacoste brand, for example, distributors are involved in covering some of the costs, conducting market surveys and test purchases, and testifying in court. We lawyers are not the only ones who should be doing this, Piccoli explained, because they also know the products. What if your budget were halved? The in-house panel, speaking at the INTA Annual Meeting on May 20, revealed their priorities in a discussion about what they would do if their budgets were slashed by 50%. Remote training: Michelle Brownlee, trademark counsel at Bose in Massachusetts, said the first thing she would do is conduct remote training. Effective brand enforcement relies on regular training with local customs agents and law enforcement officials around the world, and the costs in travel and materials can rack up quickly. Of course its nicer to meet in person, Brownlee said, but webinars are a great tool that can save you a lot of money. I just did one with US customs and it was fantastic. Cut training: Angela Wilson, assistant general counsel at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri, suggested cutting some training entirely. By looking at the relationship between training and seizures of goods based on past data, she recommended calculating the return on investment (ROI) and keeping only the most effective training programmes based on that measure. Trim recordals: Customs recordal programmes can be quite expensive in some countries, so Wilson advised brands to narrow their list of trademarks to only the most necessary those for new and upcoming products and the core brand. Company-led investigations: Additionally, Wilson said that proactively conducting targeted, company-led investigations has turned out to be cheaper than reacting to local prosecutors reports of counterfeits and calls to raid. We would spend money on travel and investigators, she said, but it wasnt a great benefit to us because only some of the counterfeits would be our products. Ditch proactive measures: Piccoli, of Maus Freres, went a step further than Wilson, and said that proactive measures such as company-led investigations should be dropped entirely in a severe budget-squeeze. Instead, she prioritises maintaining relationships with law enforcement and motivating them by reacting quickly to their reports of counterfeit goods. Invest in key relationships: Boses Brownlee pointed out that these relationships can be difficult to maintain when the low number of counterfeit goods they sometimes report is not worth pursuing due to the expense of many enforcement actions. Piccoli shared that when that happened to her in South Africa, she explained to law enforcement that the company needed to implement a temporary minimum threshold for budget reasons, but that the company greatly appreciated the update. The relationship stayed positive, she reported. We regularly send thank you letters. Drop memberships: Hallmarks Wilson also recommended evaluating the value-add of memberships, and cutting costs by dropping the least valuable ones. Many organisations support anti-counterfeiting in some way, but which ones get the best ROI? Work with investigators directly: This recommendation comes with a serious caveat: not in corrupt countries! It it cheaper to work with investigators directly rather than using a local law firm as a broker, but law firms charge for a reason: they speak the local language and can be a liability buffer. Brands must comply with certain ethics and compliance standards, so when working in areas known for corruption, law firms can [act] like a filter between us and the investigation, explained Piccoli. Ideally, have a primary point of contact in each country for an investigator and law firm, and choose one depending on the specific actions you want to take. If using a law firm is necessary, negotiating a flat fee ensures there are no surprises for the budget. Tools The panel also recommended a number of tools to use in anti-counterfeiting. 301 report: The US Trade Representatives (USTR) office publishes an annual report on notorious markets for illicit trade and counterfeiting. This year, 36 countries made the list. Wilson said that the most colourful discussions at Hallmark centre around where to enforce, so the 301 report helps her team anticipate where there are likely to be issues. Also, if the business intends to expand into one of the listed countries, we can use that list to manage the business expectations, Wilson explained. Using this data helps the business buy into the enforcement programme. Case management tools: Jennifer Dirks, IP protection manager at Epson in Long Beach, California, observed that all the resources in the world are useless without an effective case management system. From data related to prosecution and oppositions to customs and litigation, Dirks said that its important to keep all the relevant information in one place because new information being entered has the chance to match up with old data. Linking that information helps build really strong cases against counterfeiters, she said. Take advantage of your own intel. What are the best tools? Dirks uses WebTMS. At Hallmark, Wilson shared: We used to use Anaqua, but Im still looking for a platform thats just right for anti-counterfeiting and will help trace where products are coming from. Training apps: Hallmarks Wilson praised the International AntiCounterfeiting Coalitions (IACC) law enforcement training app, in which brands may upload images of their products for customs agents to review in real-time. Ive done trainings in Latin America, said Wilson, and theres a parade of brand owners talking about all their products, but these guys see thousands of marks per day. The app is a practical tool they can use so they dont have to remember thousands of images offhand, and a tool for brands to keep their information reviewed at the border up to date. Amazon: The e-commerce platform currently offers three brand protection programmes: Brand Registry, Project Zero, and Transparency. Having direct relationships with the marketplace is super important, said Dirks. We have a key contact at Amazon, and I feel like hes part of our internal team; we talk on a daily basis. Uniting against a common enemy Many international groups have formed to combat the growing global problem of counterfeiting the IACC, INTAs anticounterfeiting committee, and Interpols illicit goods unit among them. However, some companies dont want to cooperate with their competitors, said Piccoli of Maus Freres, and it can be difficult to explain to senior management. She emphasised that were not working with our competitors; were reducing our costs and fighting a common enemy. REACT is an international, not-for-profit anti-counterfeiting organisation that coordinates enforcement with customs, in the market and online. The advantages of partnership with other brands under REACT include a bigger impact, shared costs, and flat fees, according to Piccoli. The Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI) is an industry-specific anti-counterfeiting group dedicated to sharing information. While business interests often require keeping private data and strategies secret, the public health issue of counterfeit medicines supersedes some competitive concerns. Wilson said it has been a great resource for her: At PSI, we talk openly about which law firms and investigators we use. Whos the best? Can we share costs? These external stakeholders can help, because we have a common enemy. Wilson shared an incident: An investigator in Latin America called me and said if you give me six thousand dollars, Ill tell you where the warehouse is. If I have an issue like that in one country, Ill talk with the others about attacking the problem together, and make sure were all on board to support local authorities. The panel was called The Cost of Combating Counterfeits: How to Maximise Your Return on a Limited Budget. The material on this site is for law firms, companies and other IP specialists. It is for information only. Please read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Notice before using the site. All material subject to strictly enforced copyright laws. 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article The remains of the American of Martinsville warehouse on Aaron Street may be cleaned up by August, readying the area for a potential new apartment complex across the road. The former warehouse at 200 Aaron St. was destroyed by fire two years ago, following a massive fire of the much larger American factory across the road in March 2014. The former warehouse property is owned by F & L LLC, which is owned by Lowanda Martin and also was owned by the late Fred Martin and was not insured, City Attorney Eric Monday said. The former factory site, which backs up to the railroad, is under consideration for a 52-unit apartment complex by The Landmark Group, and if plans go through, that property would be cleared in the process. The factory property is owned by Jeb Stuart Auction Services in Stuart. It was insured, Monday said, and the property owners stayed in litigation limbo for a while with the insurance company on coverage. Meanwhile, the city has been negotiating with Lowanda Martin to try to get the old warehouse cleared. In fairness to Mrs. Martin, she has made efforts to try and get a contractor to clean up the property, he said. There have been difficulties to try to get that finalized. No one at Fred Martin Associates could be reached for comment by telephone Tuesday afternoon. The city also made estimates at clearing the lot, coming up with a cost of $50,000, Monday said. The metal could be recycled, and the bricks, blocks and concreted could be pushed into the basement and covered over, compacted, graded and seeded. F & L LLC now has until August to get the lot cleared and cleaned, and if it doesnt, the city will do it, Monday said. That should take about a week. Last year the city took over as an emergency measure the cleanup on an unsafe corner on this structure that was in danger of falling into Aaron Street and also had the potential of hitting a major power supply line, Monday said at the meeting. It also required that property owners put a fence around the property. City council members took two steps to allow the city to take control of the warehouse property cleanup as well as take action on other properties needing attention. First, it passed a new ordinance, 2019-5, Removal of Unsafe Structures, allowing the city to take charge of cleanup and charge the property owner the cost by placing a lien on the property. Then it passed a resolution specifically targeting the old warehouse property at 200 Aaron Street to be cleared and cleaned. There already are a number of tools available to the city to deal with unsafe or blighted properties, Monday said at the meeting. This allows the city to undertake remediation of a property if the private owner will not do it without initiating a court action. We can just do it. Not only does the ordinance allow the city to tear down unsafe buildings, but it also lets the city put a lien on the property for the cost of having done so. We certainly want to be accommodating with private owners, but eventually we do have to clean these sites up, he said Tuesday. In the time period after the fire, Mr. Martin was ill, and the city didnt really want to create additional difficulties for the family at that time. Now that hes passed away, its time to move on that property. The state code does not require the city to get a resolution from city council to act on the ordinance, but the city did it out of an abundance of caution, Monday said. Given the nature of the owner and the assets available Im confident that we would be able to recover the cleanup costs, he said at the meeting. There have been no recent developments in progress toward the potential apartment complex, City Manager Leon Towarnicki wrote in a email Tuesday, but things appear to be moving according to plans. The environmental testing on the site has been mostly completed, he said, and an application for grant funds for the site cleanup is planned for the fall. Update: Boston police arrested Shakeen McNeill of Brockton in connection with the alleged shooting, WBZ News Radio reported around 7:15 a.m. --------------- Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting in Dorchester Tuesday night. The Boston Police Department said officers responded to a call for a person shot in the area of 95 Millet St. around 8:42 p.m. Upon arrival, they found a man suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The victim was brought to the hospital by Boston EMS and was later pronounced dead, police said. Boston police are investigating the crime and have asked anyone with information to contact homicide detectives at 617-343-4470. Community members wishing to assist this investigation anonymously can do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Tip Line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS or by texting the word TIP to CRIME (27463). A second person from a Boston neighborhood tested positive for HIV, which one Boston health center believes is cause for concern for the citys homeless individuals who use drugs. The mobile outreach medical staff at the Whittier Health Center diagnosed two HIV cases in Boston over the last two months. The two recently diagnosed individuals were the first to test HIV positive since the van launched its outreach program in November 2018, the health center said in a statement. Both recent cases were diagnosed in the area between Melnea Cass Boulevard and Massachusetts Avenue, on the border of Roxbury and the South End, according to the Boston health center. The number of HIV cases in Boston has increased at an alarming rate since 2015, following a trend in cities across the country, the Whittier Health Center reports. Medical professionals diagnosed six cases in Boston between November 2018 to January 2019, an increase from the zero cases reported during that time period a year prior. In January, an alert from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Bostons public health commission asked doctors to increase vigilance on HIV cases in order to prevent the possibility of a larger outbreak. Theres an urgent need to address the homeless situation in Boston, Dr. Cyril Ubiem said in a statement shared Tuesday. This is about the opioid crisis and the spread of HIV and STIs." Ubiem, who works as the director of infectious disease and special populations at Whittier, said disease, drugs and sex are connected among some of Bostons vulnerable populations. She noted that sex and other services are often traded for drugs, which impacts women and increases the potential to contract sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV. They come to Boston for greater access to more drugs, access to homeless services and access to ways to make money for drugs," Ubiem said. The Whittier mobile health van program travels three times per week in Boston with seven outreach workers who engage roughly 40 people per shift. In addition to HIV testing, workers provide prevention counseling, condoms and other forms of support, the center said in a statement. Sometimes, the van drives people who express a desire for help to a clinic on Tremont Street. SPRINGFIELD The former North Congregational Church at the corner of Salem and Elliot streets in Springfields Mattoon Street neighborhood is for sale with an asking price of $600,000. The brownstone church at 18 Salem St. which has gone by many names over the decades dates to 1873 and features stained-glass windows from the studios of Louis Comfort Tiffany. Architect Henry Hobson Richardson designed the building, making it an early example of his distinctive Romanesque style, said Robert McCarroll, a neighbor and member of the Springfield Preservation Trust. The church, currently owned by Iglesia Apostolica Renovacion Springfield, is one of two surviving examples of the six H.H. Richardson buildings that once stood in Springfield, McCarroll said. The other survivor is the old Hampden County Courthouse, 37 Elm St., which is still in use by the juvenile and housing courts. The courthouse has been renovated over the decades even though it retains the exterior look Richardson designed. The church at 18 Salem St. is a "relatively unaltered Richardson building, McCarroll said. And Richardson was one of the greatest American architects of the late 19th century. Brownstone is a signature material for Richardson, who lived in Brookline, Massachusetts. McCarroll said the round entrance arch over the churchs doorway is typical for Richardson and for the Romanesque style. The half-acre North Congregational Church property includes an attached rectory. The church is just down Elliot Street from the U.S. District Courthouse, and at the elbow where Mattoon Street curves down the hill. The windows in the former North Congregational Church are from the famous Tiffany studio. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican) The building totals 21,000 square feet on two floors, according to a listing from SR Commercial Realty in East Longmeadow that went up earlier this week. McCarroll said an attached parish hall was built around 1900. The North Congregational Church disbanded in 1935. For many years after that it was known as Grace Baptist.; the churchs current congregation there was once known as the Hispanic Baptist Church and as the Christian Biblical Church. Calls made to Iglesia Apostolica Renovacion Springfield and its pastor were not returned this week. The church has another Springfield facility at 1602 Allen St. Congregations with historic church buildings often have a hard time surviving shifts in population and membership. First Congregational Church of West Springfield sold its Park Street building, built in 1872, to the town of West Springfield for $750,000 in December. The town also bought an adjacent parsonage, on property where it plans to build a new school, for $100,000. The church will be converted to a community center and the congregation rents it for Sunday services. In April, developer Fran Cataldo demolished the former Gardner Memorial AME Zion Church at 90 Carew St. Cataldo plans a 13,000-square-foot medical office building at the site. SR Commercial Realty has fielded calls from interested buyers at 18 Salem St., said Paul Bongiorni, Realtor and operations manager. So far, prospective buyers have spoken of keeping the building as a church, Bongiorni said. Hes unable to give more details this early in the process. THIS CHURCH IS GORGEOUS! Take a it will !!! / 413-505-9010 to set up your showing today Epic job on the... Posted by Jeremy Casey on Saturday, May 18, 2019 But keeping 18 Salem St. as a house of worship would be the best outcome from a historic preservation perspective, McCarroll said. "Clearly things are best used for what they were originally built for," he said. "There is always the concern about the future of a building when it comes up on the market." For example, subdividing the church into apartments or condominiums or converting it into office space might tempt a new owner into splitting the sanctuary horizontally into two floors, he said, altering Richardsons work. The church is in the Quadrangle-Matoon Local Historic District, McCarroll said. That means any new owner would need permission from the Springfield Historical Commission for any exterior changes including, but not limited to, removing the Tiffany windows. The building is also under state historic preservation protection, according to the Massachusetts Historical Commission. As state Sen. Jo Comerford campaigned to represent Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester in the Massachusetts legislature last year, the issue of transportation connecting the state kept arising among voters. Residents in Central and Western Massachusetts spoke of an easier way to get to and from Boston. Its within peoples lifetimes that we had passenger service, Comerford, a Northampton Democrat, told MassLive of the former rail service along the Route 2 corridor. The previous passenger service ran from 1875 to 1968, connecting Eastern and Western Massachusetts. Comerford introduced a bill to study the feasibility of restoring the passenger rail, which was passed in the Massachusetts State Senate Tuesday. The study will look at the costs and economic opportunities of establishing rail services between the cities of North Adams and Greenfield, and Greenfield and Boston. Costs to be studied include projected capital costs, operating costs and revenue estimates. It will measure projected ridership levels and community impact and benefits, as well as the environmental impact. It feels right to push for this, Comerford said. I see great promise of economic opportunity, environment benefits. It will begin after the study of an east-west rail connecting Pittsfield and Springfield to Worcester and Boston, an issue championed by state Sen. Eric Lesser, is completed. Massachusetts Department of Transportation retained a consulting firm to look at six options, each with different speeds and a different number of stops along the way. At least one option will include a 90-minute service from Springfield Union Station to Bostons South Station. The goal is trips under two hours. The lower Pioneer Valley gained additional transportation options with the expansion of the CT rail into Springfield, connecting Western Massachusetts with the train service through Hartford, New Haven and New York City via Metro-North trains from New Haven. The line will be expanded north to Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield, offering two new round trips a day to Springfield, connecting the communities to the CT rail. Amtraks Vermonter is the only passenger train on the line north of Springfield currently. The north-south trains will cost Massachusetts $1 million a year to operate and are expected to draw 24,000 passengers a year. U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal said Wednesday that CRRC, and the 158 jobs the Chinese-owned rail car manufacturer brought to Springfield, do not have to fall victim to rising national security concerns about the threat those cars could bring to rail and transit networks. Theres no question that the Chinese have a long history of actions that have threatened American jobs, technology and national security, said Neal, D-Springfield, said in a statement. However, its in our best interest, whenever possible, to strike the proper balance between protecting our national security and welcoming companies that create jobs and invest in our community. I believe we can do both. Neal was reacting to a fellow Democrat, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, who over the weekend called for a security review of any work CRRC does for New York City. Given what we know about how cyberwarfare works, and recent attacks that have hit transportation and infrastructure hubs across the country, the Department of Commerce must give the green light and thoroughly check any proposals or work Chinas CRRC does on behalf of the New York subway system, including our signals, Wi-Fi and more, Schumer, of Brooklyn, said in a statement. There are bipartisan bills in the House and Senate that would ban transit agencies from using federal money on Chinese-built buses and transit vehicles. In 2014, CRRC received a $566 million contract from the MBTA to build 152 Orange Line cars and 252 Red Line cars in Springfield. In December 2016, the state upped the order with another 120 new Red Line cars, with production on those set to begin in June 2022 at a cost of $277 million. So Far, CRRC has delivered 14 Orange line cars and they are being tested by the T. Production on the initial Red Line car order begins later this year. The T went without federal funding on the project so it could require that the cars be assembled in Massachusetts and jump-start a transit-car industry here. CRRC built its $95 million Springfield factory at the old Westinghouse site on Page Boulevard. It is adding a warehouse at the site and also has contracts to build cars for Philadelphia and Los Angeles. The car shells come in from China via the port of Albany, New York, but components including the motors, interiors and all the electrical wiring are installed here. In Springfield, 60% of the car components are U.S.-made, a company spokeswoman said. At the CRRC plant in Chicago, where Washington and New York City cars would be made if it wins the contract, 70% of the parts are made in America. Encore Boston Harbor, the $2.6 billion Everett casino expected to open in late June, was approved Wednesday to serve drinks until 4 a.m. Wynn Resorts asked the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to extend the cutoff from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. for people gambling on the casino floor, according to a packet filed earlier this month at a commission hearing. Gaming commissioners approved the alcohol license until 2 a.m. unanimously, and all but commissioner Eileen OBrien approved the extension until 4 a.m. on the gaming floor. The commission approved the license on the condition that the company and agency regularly monitor the impact on patrons and the Everett community. Like the commission, we are also concerned about public safety and want to make sure people come and enjoy the facility in a fun and very responsible way," said Bob DeSalvio, president of Encore Boston Harbor. Were very thankful. Encore Boston Harbor servers will offer complimentary drinks to patrons who are actively gaming on the floor between 2 a.m. and 4 p.m. Company officials said Wednesday that only active gamblers would be eligible and that they can only have a limited number of drinks per hour. Overall, Wynn Resorts submitted requests for 23 licensed outlets, including three licensed by restaurants that will be open late: Mystique, Fratelli and Memoire. These areas contain a request for alcohol service between 8 a.m. and 2 a.m. Warren Richards, executive director of food and beverage, said the casinos drink stations will be manned by physical bartenders, suggesting there wont be any mechanical bartenders like those seen at MGM Springfield. Most commissioners allowed similar extensions at MGM Springfield after the casino put certain safeguards in place. The Springfield staff serves complimentary drinks after 2 a.m. to active gamblers. Wynn Resorts request mirrors the conditions proposed by its competitor in Western Massachusetts. The company called for draft beer, liquor dispensing systems and point-of-sale systems to be disabled by 2 a.m. in all cash bars and 4 a.m. in the bars serving guests who are actively gambling. The chief concern raised by commissioners was how the company would detect when customers have had too much alcohol and how it would respond to drunken patrons leaving the casino, especially after mass transit shuts down. Another safety factor is that, unlike its competitors across the state, Encore Boston Harbor sits along a water front. That is both beautiful but presents a challenge," said Cathy Judd-Stein, commission chairwoman. DeSalvio and other Encore Boston Harbor officials said on Wednesday the servers and security staff are trained to detect when someone may be intoxicated. Those employees are fully authorized to provide transportation home to patrons, whether they send someone home on a bus with a friend, a ridesharing service or a car service. I make sure our staff 100% knows that if they have a question about a customer ... they have the full authority to provide them a ride home, DeSalvio said on Wednesday. Commissioner Gayle Cameron, who asked multiple questions about public safety, said she does support the extension to 4 a.m. on the gaming floor but could revisit the license in the future. I do understand international business. I do understand the need to compete with other casinos in the region, but I needed to be assured that everyone was taking this really seriously, she said. OBrien, the sole no vote on the 4 a.m. extension, said she was just inclined to oppose this application as she was when MGM made its request. Given the density and the size of this operation, my preference would be to have this conversation six months out from opening, she said, though the commission was still reviewing Wynn Resorts suitability six months ago. The commission meeting comes after a whirlwind of developments regarding the future of Encore Boston Harbor, which DeSalvio said will open June 23. Three weeks ago, the commission announced it would fine Wynn Resorts $35 million and CEO Matt Maddox $500,000 for its handling of sexual misconduct allegations against founder Steve Wynn. The company can retain its license if it pays the fines and agrees to multiple conditions, including implementing an independent monitor and sending Maddox to leadership training. On Friday, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International confirmed they were in talks over a possible sale of the Everett casino, stirring confusion and anger from local and state government officials. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said he would fight tooth and nail for the residents and taxpayers of the city of Springfield to protect our investment. Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria was so angry that he penned an opinion piece Tuesday in the Boston Herald called Enough is Enough, vowing to block any sale attempt. Both cities had the power to block a sale through their community host agreements with the casino companies, but by Tuesday night, that didnt matter. MGM announced it was backing out of the talks. We have noted the anxiety raised by various stakeholders regarding a transaction and this troubles us at MGM. We only wish to have a positive impact on communities in which we operate," MGM wrote. We think the best course of action is to discontinue discussions concerning this opportunity. Wynn Resorts confirmed the talks had ended in its own statement Tuesday night: At times, world class assets attract the attention of others and our board takes seriously its fiduciary duty to review such interest. After careful consideration we have agreed to cease discussions with MGM Resorts. Weeks after CEO Matt Maddox suggested Encore Boston Harbor could open a week or two later than scheduled, Wynn Resorts officials told commissioners they are firm on the June 23 opening and scheduled test dates. Were bringing in the entire team on June 3 for a June 23 opening, and the reason we do that is so that we can have that extra preparation and make sure that this building is as flawless as humanly possible for the day we open, said Robert DeSalvio, president of Wynn Resorts $2.6 billion Everett casino. Encore Boston Harbor plans to host its test dates on June 17, June 19 and June 20, days before the grand opening. The test dates are requested by state statute. Encore Boston Harbor has almost 1,500 of its more than 5,000 employees on board, DeSalvio said. He said most of the employees are expected to begin on June 3 to prepare for the opening. Weve had a tremendous response to the jobs event that weve had at the Hynes (Convention Center) and other places, and I think weve assembled quite a team to pull this off," he said. During those test nights, a limited group of individuals will be allowed into the casino to test out the tables, slot machines and other operations at the casino. The staffers will also perform a mock shift change to test out how smoothly the casino operates, DeSalvio said. The commission plans to receive at least a temporary operating certificate by May 31, but the commission is expected to issue the permanent certificate after reviewing the results of the test dates, per state statute. That comes literally a few days before we open, DeSalvio said. The presidents comments come weeks after Maddox told investors he could push back the Everett casinos opening to make sure the operations are flawless." Maddox also told investors that 90 percent of hiring was complete, when including job offers extended and hires finalized. The news of talks between MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts over a possible sale of Encore Boston Harbor sparked a whirlwind of questions and speculation over the timing of the negotiations and whether it would affect the opening date. The talks, however, were short-lived. Four days after the companies confirmed they were in talks, MGM Resorts International announced it was pulling out of the discussions. Judd-Stein starts by addressing the Wynn/MGM sale talks over Encore Boston Harbor: "To be clear, at no time was there a proposed transaction pending before the commission, however, like many, we were of course closely monitoring developments. Steph Solis (@stephmsolis) May 22, 2019 An uncertainty still hovers over the casino. Wynn Resorts has nine days to decide whether it will agree to the fines and conditions issued by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission or file an appeal. The commission fined Wynn Resorts $35 million and Maddox $500,000 for the companys attempt to cover up sexual misconduct allegations against founder Steve Wynn. The commission also imposed an independent monitor for at least three years and mandated leadership training for Maddox. The deadline to pay the fines or submit an appeal is May 31. When asked whether an appeal would delay the June 23 opening, commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said the commission will have to deal with whatever facts are presented to them. I think that the licensee is aware that there is an expectation that conditions are met," she said. "That said, they do have a right to appeal, so the commission would have to assess that. Michael Weaver, Wynn spokesperson, said on Tuesday that the company is working with the commission to understand the intent of the monitor condition in their recent decision. DeSalvio said the company plans to make its decision before the deadline. Im going to leave that up to the company to respond to that," he said when asked about the likelihood of an appeal. "At the local level were concentrating on getting the opening ready. The short-lived talks between Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International set off a firestorm of speculation and reactions over the future of the $2.6 billion Everett casino Encore Boston Harbor. One thing remained clear amid the news of the talks: No matter what deal materializes, Wynn Resorts has nine days as of Wednesday to respond to the historic fines and conditions imposed by Massachusetts regulators. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission let Wynn Resorts retain the Eastern Massachusetts gaming license in exchange for $35 million fine against the company, a $500,000 fine against CEO Matt Maddox and multiple conditions requiring oversight of the company. Industry analysts say the bigger issues are the conditions establishing an independent monitor and requiring Maddox to undergo leadership and sensitivity training. With just days until the deadline, Wynn Resorts officials biggest concern may be the monitor condition. Michael Weaver, company spokesman, confirmed that the company is working with the commission to understand the intent of the monitor condition in their recent decision." Its unclear whether an appeal would affect the scheduled June 23 opening of Encore Boston Harbor, the $2.6 billion casino along the Mystic River. When asked whether an appeal would affect the opening, commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said that depends on the facts presented to the commission. I think the licensee is aware that there is an expectation that conditions are met," she said. "That said, they have a right to appeal. The commission would have to assess that. The commissions decision brought some closure to a drawn out investigation into the Las Vegas-based companys handling of sexual assault allegations against founder Steve Wynn. Regulatory investigators found that the company attempted to cover up the allegations, which date back to 2005. Regardless of any talks of a sale the Commissions written decision stands, Massachusetts Gaming Commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said in a statement. "The deadline for fine payment and notice of appeal is May 31. The MGC continues to focus its efforts on the significant amount of regulatory preparations required before Encores opening. " In its written decision, the commission imposed that Wynn Resorts works under an independent monitor that reviews compliance with human resources policies that reflect best practices, anti-harassment training, the use of gag orders or other confidentiality clauses, the use of outside counsel and internal reporting channels, among other things. The independent monitor, which would be paid by the casino company, would be required to oversee operations for at least three years. The monitor would be expected to provide an assessment and any recommendations within the first six months of oversight. During an earnings call earlier this month, Maddox told investors the company was reviewing some of the secondary or tertiary decisions imposed by the commission, but he didnt believe it would affect the Everett casinos opening. Wynn Resorts and MGM confirmed on Friday that they had engaged in talks over the past weeks, calling them preliminary, although the talks have been rumored for more than a year. The news fueled speculation from industry analysts, politicians and competitors about what led to the sales talks after Wynn Resorts had endured intense scrutiny by Massachusetts regulators. I think what youre seeing here a little bit of a temper tantrum by the CEO of Wynn, said Richard McGowan, a Boston College professor who studies the gambling industry. Im sure hes miffed by the stipulations that were put on him, McGowan said Thursday afternoon. McGowan said he wasnt surprised to hear thatthe companies discontinued talks. It is exactly the way I thought it would end. There is too much political opposition and MGM could not obtain the finances," he said. "Plus the Wynn brass has cooled off and become rational. Andrew Klebanow, senior partner at Global Market Advisors, said the timing of the talks is unusual, but he also questioned the commissions timing and conditions. He called the historic fines and the mandated leadership training for Maddox onerous. That is a pretty insulting message to the CEO of one the most successful casino companies and one that had previously received awards and accolades as great places to work," he said. Alan R. Woinski, CEO of Gaming USA, said the news of the sale after the suitability investigation and ruling was insulting to Massachusetts. Did they really think they were going to get off scot-free? Woinski asked. He was baffled by the sales talks. Any proposed sale was bound to be burdensome for the parties involved. They would have needed to convince officials in Everett and in surrounding communities to approve the transfer of obligations outlined in their agreements with Wynn Resorts. Then they would have to take it up with the commission for approval. This deal was even more complicated because the prospective buyer was MGM, which already runs the Springfield casino. State statute prohibits any company from owning, operating or investing in a second license, whether partly or entirely. MGM would have had to find a buyer willing to undergo suitability review and take on all the obligations outlined in MGMs agreements with Springfield and surrounding communities. When asked about the talks, Klebanow said this situation doesnt bode well for the state and its budding casino industry. He said the fine alone sends the message that Massachusetts is a difficult state to conduct business in. While there are not many opportunities to develop new casinos in the United States, most casino companies will probably look at other jurisdictions for opportunities or, if they are intent on growing rapidly, look at acquisitions, he said. Woinski said hed like to think both companies can put the talks behind them to work on their own properties: MGM needs improvements and Wynn needs to open. Given all this I also believe it lessened the chance of Wynn being successful if they decide to appeal next week, he said. BOSTON Queen Latifah will headline the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which will also feature Arlo Guthrie in a tribute to the Summer of 69 and 50th anniversary of Woodstock. I know I join many here in Boston and around the country when I say that my wish for this years Fourth of July is that all Americans come together in a spirit of celebration around the foundational ideas and shared history that have guided us through both good and difficult times since the countrys founding 243 years ago," said Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops in a statement. Concerts are planned on July 3 and 4 at the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreations (DCR) Hatch Memorial Shell on the Charles River Esplanade. There will also be a large viewing screen and sound towers installed on Memorial Drive in Cambridge, to accommodate Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular fans on the other side of the Charles River. In addition to the screens along the Charles River, a large screen will be mounted for the second year in a row on the Rose Kennedy Greenway for additional public viewing. The Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular, which will be broadcast on Bloomberg TV and WHDH-TV on July 4 beginning at 8 p.m, will also be available for streaming on Bloomberg.com. A major 20-minute fireworks show designed by Grucci Fireworks and accompanied by the music of the Boston Pops and other popular music of the past and present, will bring the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular to a close. On July 4, gates open at 9 a.m. and the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular concert begins at 8 p.m., followed by the events fireworks display at approximately 10:30 p.m. A day earlier, the gates open at 5 p.m. and the performance begins at 8 p.m.; there will be no fireworks on July 3. Concert attendees of the event can ride the MBTA for free after 9:30 p.m. on July 4. Complete details can be found at bostonpopsjuly4th.org. Creating programs for the Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular presents us with a daunting yet welcome challenge to craft a program that will appeal to the varied musical tastes of the enormous crowd of individuals who gather each year to help us celebrate our countrys founding," Lockhart said. He added, From the incredible energy and diverse selections of Queen Latifah, to a performance by the legendary Arlo Guthrie in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Woodstock, a special appearances by two recent star acts of Americas Got Talent Amanda Mena and the Texas Tenors, and poignant patriotic moments from the United States Air Force Honors Guard and the U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters Chorus, we hope our musical offering will inspire moments of joy and inspiration for everyone attending this extraordinary celebration. LUDLOW - Two Shutesbury residents are accused of attacking a pair of police officers who responded to a complaint of a disturbance on the side of the road Monday night. Donald F. Roberts Jr., 33, was charged with two counts of assault and battery of a police officer, attempting to disarm a police officer, malicious damage of a cruiser over $1,200, disturbing the peace and disorderly conduct, Police Lt. Daniel Valadas said. Katharine V. Smola, 25, of was charged with two counts of assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, he said. Police initially received several calls at about 9 p.m. from people reporting a couple having a loud argument outside a car parked on the side of Center Street, near the intersection of Bondsville Road. Officer Ryan Churchill responded and approached the couple to talk to them, Valadas said. Katharine V. Smola, 25, of Shutesbury The couple together advanced on him and starting punching and fighting with him, Valadas said. "It was unexplainable," Valadas said, adding Churchill simply asked them what was happening when they attacked. While Churchill tried to gain control, Officer Ryan Auclair arrived. During the fight, he attempted to stop the couple using his stun gun, but they were too close to Churchill. After entering the fray, he was finally able to handcuff Smola, Valadas said. Meanwhile Roberts was able to tackle Churchill and was punching him when he was on the ground. Auclair attempted to help him but he was still trying to control Smola, Valadas said. At that time, a 52-year-old off-duty Connecticut Department of Corrections officer, who lives in Ludlow, was driving by and saw the fight. He stopped, identified himself and then joined the fight and helped the officers handcuff Roberts. "My officers said, 'thank God this man was right there,'" Valadas said. Even after they got control, the couple continued to yell and spit. When the officers pushed Roberts up against the cruiser, he kicked it multiple times denting the side, Valadas said. "They were very hostile, very belligerent, very angry," he said. Churchill was later treated at the hospital for minor injuries and mostly for exposure to blood that happened during the fight. Roberts declined to go to the hospital and was treated at the station by Ludlow Fire Department paramedics for a cut on his head, he said Auclair was uninjured and he and Churchill remained on duty, Valadas said. Bail was set at $2,500 for Smola and Roberts and both were transferred to Hampden County Department of Corrections jails to be held overnight, Valadas said. After arraignments in Palmer District Court on Tuesday, they were released on bail, he said. CHICOPEE Police shot and injured a 55-year-old Chicopee Street resident early Wednesday after the man charged at officers with a large kitchen knife, according to the office of Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni. The man, identified as Dauda Handan, suffered gunshot injuries to his abdomen and arm. He was rushed to Baystate Medical Center for treatment. Gulluni spokesman James Leydon said Handan is expected to recover. Police were dispatched at 1 a.m. to a fourth-floor apartment at 830 Chicopee St. for a well-being check, Leydon said. A co-worker had called police to report receiving disturbing messages from Handan. The caller told police he was concerned about Handans safety and feared Handan was suicidal. When officers arrived, they encountered Handan in the doorway of his apartment carrying a large kitchen knife, Leydon said. He was holding it in a threatening manner and refusing commands from officers to drop it, Leydon said. One officer shot Handan with a stun gun in order to get him to drop the knife but it was not successful, he said. At his point, the second officer discharged his firearm, striking him twice, Leydon said. The two officers then called for assistance and performed first aid until EMTs arrived, he said. The EMTs who brought him to the hospital said Handan told them in the ambulance that he wanted to die. Handan is expected to be charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon once he recovers from his injuries. The incident remains under investigation by the State Police unit assigned to Gullunis office. The names of the officers have not been released to the press. Chicopee Police spokesman Mike Wilk said the officer who fired the shot has been placed on administrative leave, according to department policy. HOLYOKE Residents for and against a debt exclusion or Proposition 2 override to pay for two proposed middle schools spoke at Tuesdays City Council meeting. Proponents, led by City Councilor Rebecca Lisi, rallied outside City Hall before the meeting. Many of the speakers before the council favored the override. The question still resides in the councils Charter and Rules Committee, which is expected to vote on ballot language May 29. After that, the full council would have to approve the question and set a date for a special election. The two proposed schools would cost a total of $134 million. The sites are at Cabot and Chestnut streets and the current William R. Peck School near Northampton Street. The Massachusetts School Building Authority, which approves and reimburses municipalities on school renovation and building projects, typically refunds communities 80% of construction costs. But Holyokes projected refund dips below 60%. If passed, the override would let the city secure a $55 million, 30-year bond to cover the funding gap. Council President Todd McGee and Councilor Mike Sullivan met last Friday with the lieutenant governors office to discuss project funding. The office suggested that state Treasurer Deb Goldberg should tour Holyokes public schools. McGee implored the public to call Goldbergs office and compel her to come to Holyoke and ask why the School Building Authority reimbursement rate for Holyoke is not 80%. Bill Rogalski, the Holyoke Malls general manager, said painting the argument as pro-education or anti-education was the farthest from the truth. He said he was advocating for fiscal responsibility. A debt exclusion, if passed, would further burden an already overburdened tax base, Rogalski said. He proposed reexamining the per-square-foot cost and the School Building Authoritys refund rate. Helene Florio, president of the Holyoke Taxpayers Association, said the override would hurt small businesses and senior homeowners. They live on incomes that are not increasing, Florio said of Holyokes older residents. Patrick OConnor, of Cranberry Drive, said his son is thriving in the Holyoke Public Schools dual-language program. Its something Holyoke gives us and something you cant get anywhere else, he said. OConnor said he sends his children to schools that are in disrepair. I know that people are talking about hypothetical situations, about businesses. Were not talking about hypotheticals here, were talking about concrete things, he said. We have schools that are crumbling, the concrete is crumbling. You dont get any more concrete than that. Jason Garand, of the New England Council of Carpenters, said while he was excited about potential construction jobs for the unions membership, escalation fees or delays would cost $3 million, or a years worth of bond payment. Though not a parent, Jennifer Myszkowski, of St. James Avenue, said she believed firmly in funding the two schools. My feelings on this is not based on self-interest but based on being a human person living in this community, she said. Patricia Lubold, of Norwood Terrace, a lifelong resident, read excerpts from a 2016 school building report. According to Lubold, the report mentioned a school roof so bad that it was a danger to life and property, she said. The report also mentioned poor air quality, a lack of natural light, structures that presented security risks, and a bathroom turned into a special programming office. I dont understand how a resident or taxpayer or homeowner or business in this community could accept this, Lubold said. Its appalling, and its time to reinvest in our community. Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin testified before a congressional committee on Wednesday about election security. Galvin, a Democrat, was scheduled to speak at a 2 p.m. hearing of the Subcommittee on National Security, which is chaired by U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Boston. The hearing, Securing U.S. Election Infrastructure and Protecting Political Discourse, was called to examine the security of the nations election systems. According to a summary of his prepared remarks provided to the committee, Galvin stressed the importance of federal funding and of communication between state, federal and local election officials. Galvin said the federal government must keep states informed of suspected breaches, alerts and intelligence. Concerns from local officials should be reported back through the state to federal authorities. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission needs to update its standards for voting machines and take a stronger regulatory role in testing voting equipment before it is sold to states, Galvin said. Despite all the controls that we have implemented, the threat against our elections will not cease, and the malicious efforts will become increasingly difficult to identify and mitigate, Galvin said. Massachusetts would like to be able to rely on the federal government for assurances and guidelines as we look to replace voting equipment, make new purchases such as electronic poll books and replace or update election software. He also urged federal officials to work with social media platforms to identify and quash the deliberate misinformation campaigns. Galvin said there must also be more federal funding to pay for continued training, equipment replacements, software upgrades and implementation of security controls. MGM Resorts is pulling out of talks with Wynn Resorts to negotiate a purchase of Encore Boston Harbor Casino in Everett. The company released a statement saying We have noted the anxiety raised by various stakeholders regarding a transaction and this troubles us at MGM. We only wish to have a positive impact on communities in which we operate. We think the best course of action is to discontinue discussions concerning this opportunity. We wish the company and the Everett community all the best and look forward to visiting their beautiful resort when it opens and welcoming the 5,600 employees to our industry. MGM opened the first resort casino in the state in Springfield in August. Officials confirmed Friday that they had entered into talks about purchasing the Wynn Casino, which is not opened yet. If it were to purchase the Encore Boston Harbor Casino, MGM Resorts would had had to sell the Springfield casino, as state law prohibits a company holding more than one gaming license. Wynn Resorts officials confirmed that the talks, which began several weeks ago, have ended with no agreement. Wynn Resorts prides itself on the design, development and operation of the worlds best integrated resorts. At times, world class assets attract the attention of others and our board takes seriously its fiduciary duty to review such interest. After careful consideration we have agreed to cease discussions with MGM Resorts, said Michael Weaver, spokesman for the company. He said the corporation remains committee to opening and operating the casino. The tentative opening date for the Encore Boston Casino is June 23, but shareholders were recently told that could be delayed a week or two. The development comes after Wynn Resorts faced a harsh investigation from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Wynn Resorts officials, especially CEO Matt Maddox, were grilled on how the company responded to years of sexual misconduct allegations against founder and former CEO, Steve Wynn. The commission concluded that Wynn Resorts could keep its license if it pays a $35 million fine and allows an independent monitor to check its compliance. Maddox faced an additional $500,000 fine and was ordered to undergo leadership and sensitivity training. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said he always doubted the talks would come to fruition, and added he is pleased MGM will be staying in Springfield. We have a good relationship with MGM, they are a good corporate citizen and they are the cream of the crop, he said. Im happy. We work well together. MGM would have had to jump through multiple hoops for it to take over the Everett casino. It would have either have the state Legislature change the law to allow it to receive two gaming licenses or it would have had to receive permission from the state Gaming Commission to sell the Springfield casino. Ive said all along it didnt make any sense, he said, adding there was no obvious mechanism for MGM to purchase the Encore Boston Harbor Casino. But if the sale actually did go through, Springfield was protected by the host community agreement that was adopted when Springfield officials selected MGM as the company to open a casino in Springfield. If a new company came in, Sarno said he would strongly fight to expand that agreement. In that agreement MGM agreed to pay the city more than $25 million per year in property tax payments, community impact payments, community development grants, Riverfront Park improvements and surrounding communitys. It has also made multiple other pledges. I would fight tooth and nail for the residents and taxpayers of the city of Springfield to protect our investment, Sarno said. MGM spent $960 million to develop the casino in the South End of Springfield. So far its highest one-month take was $26.9 million in September, its first full month of operation. Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria said he applauds MGM for ending the talks. I understand that this could have been a great opportunity for them, but I appreciate their loyalty to the Springfield community," he said in a statement Tuesday night. Here in Everett, we are looking forward to opening day, and to a continued partnership with Encore Boston Harbor. Everett City Councilor Michael McLaughlin said he was beyond pleased to hear that the talks were discontinued. I hope this will end these talks and we can get back to working on opening plans," he said. A new Congressional report accuses the World Health Organization of being corrupted by Purdue Pharma, the Oxycontin manufacturer facing a wave of lawsuits for its alleged role in causing the opioid addiction crisis. The WHOs guidelines for opioid prescription understate risks of addiction and mirror false or disputed claims made by Purdue in its marketing materials, the report says. And those guidelines were written in consultation with groups and individuals funded by Purdue, it alleges. We are highly troubled that, after igniting the opioid epidemic that cost the United States 50,000 lives in 2017 alone and tens of billions of dollars annually, Purdue is deliberately using the same playbook on an international scale, says the report, which was written by the Offices of U.S. Reps. Katherine Clark and Hal Rogers. Moreover, we are disturbed that the WHO, a trusted international agency, appears to be lending the opioid industry its voice and credibility. Based on the course of events that has taken place in the U.S. over the past 20 years, if the recommendations in these WHO guidelines are followed, there is a significant risk of sparking a worldwide publish health crisis. We have received the most recent letter from Congress and are reviewing it point by point, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier wrote in an email. Purdue Pharma disputed the reports conclusions in a statement, saying the Food and Drug Administration has continued to certify Oxycontin as safe for use treating chronic pain. Purdue strongly denies the claims in todays congressional report, which seeks to vilify the company through baseless allegations, the company said. Purdue Pharma L.P. is solely based in the United States with no international operations. The company has never violated any applicable rules or guidelines and no formal complaint or enforcement activity has resulted from Purdues financial support or relationship with any third party. These relationships are transparent and any potential conflicts of interest are fully disclosed. Purdue also cited the recent dismissal of a lawsuit against it by the state of North Dakota, in which a federal judge ruled that the company could not control how doctors prescribe its products. North Dakotas Attorney General plans to appeal the ruling. And that case is one of dozens of state-level suits still pending, including a suit from Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. In March, Purdue settled with the state of Oklahoma for $270,000, which will be used to fund addiction treatment and research. In 2018, more than 70,000 people died of drug overdoses in the United States -- a figure driven by a years-long spike in opioid abuse. About 2,000 people died from opioid overdoses in Massachusetts last year. The rising death rates have been deemed an ongoing crisis by advocates and policymakers across the country. And while the bulk of opioid deaths are due to black-market drugs like heroin or highly potent synthetic opioids like fentanyl, researchers have placed prescription drugs like Oxycontin at the origin of the epidemic. In the 1990s, drug manufacturers like Purdue launched aggressive marketing campaigns that described prescription opioids as safe and unlikely to lead to addiction. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, that was not true, with contemporary research showing that eight to 12 percent of chronic pain patients develop opioid use disorders when prescribed the drugs. The congressional report found that the WHOs 2011 guidelines on opioid prescriptions claim that less than one percent of patients abuse their medications, with even fewer developing dependency. But by that time a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse had already found a vastly higher rate of substance abuse among chronic pain patients -- findings that were corroborated by later studies. The report also found that another WHO report on opioid prescriptions for children modified its recommendations in ways sought by Purdue. While the WHO had previously recommended a three-step guideline for pain medications -- moving from non-opioids like ibuprofen, to mixtures like acetaminophen and codeine, to strong opioids like Oxycontin -- the new guidelines eliminated that second step. Purdue had long sought that change, viewing those low-power opioids as competition, the report found. A 1996 Purdue budget plan, released by the Florida Attorney Generals Office, included a goal of establishing OxyContin as the opioid of choice in Step 2 of the W.H.O. analgesic stepladder. The report also found that some groups who worked with the WHO to help craft its pain recommendations were funded by Purdue Pharma, including the International Association for the Study of Pain and the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care. A 2017 congressional report found extensive financial ties between opioid manufacturers and advocacy groups that promoted the use of opioids for chronic pain. SPRINGFIELD Despite a decline in enrollment at its schools this year, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield is considering opening early childhood schools before 2020, Superintendent Daniel Baillargeon said Wednesday at a press conference at St. Michaels Academy. Baillargeon said multiple pastors have approached him about the idea. The prekindergarten schools would be for children ages three- to four-years-old. Our enrollment this year was down 2.5 percent from last year across the dioceses schools, Baillargeon said, adding that the hope is to see enrollment stay flat or show a slight increase next year. As a system, we really should be growing for the upcoming year, he said. Baillargeon offered the example of other dioceses specifically the Diocese of Manchester, New Hampshire that have opened schools for three consecutive years. The schools are designed for 40 to 50 students, with financial models and educational programming tailored to that enrollment. With communities in the Springfield diocese similar to the Manchester diocese in terms of population, Baillargeon said he is hopeful that new schools would prosper under a new financial model. A 120-person school is not necessarily unsustainable, he said but such a school would be unsustainable if it were run the same way as a 500-person school. So, we have to be very aware of the models of our schools," Baillargeon said. Presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., is introducing a bill Wednesday to expand access to federal housing assistance for survivors of natural disasters. The bill is a response to problems that Puerto Rican evacuees faced getting federal housing assistance after their homes were damaged by Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017. Catastrophic natural disasters from Puerto Rico to California have devastated families and left them searching for safe, stable and affordable housing, Warren said in a statement. The Housing Survivors of Major Disasters Act would push the Federal government to step up for these families and make it easier for them to access the help they are entitled to and desperately need. The bill is sponsored in the House by Rep. Adriano Espaillat, D-N.Y. There are housing assistance programs already in place for disaster victims who lose their homes. But after the hurricanes in Puerto Rico, many survivors did not have the documents necessary things like leases, titles or land records to access those programs, and their claims were denied. In addition, the Federal Emergency Management Agency offered a temporary shelter program and some housing assistance through a program that pays for short-term lodging and home repairs. But FEMA did not ask the Office of Housing and Urban Development to activate the Disaster Housing Assistance Program, or DHAP, which offers help paying rent, security deposits or utilities to displaced people to help them get into stable housing. DHAP is meant to help people access housing for longer than the temporary FEMA programs. Advocates for those displaced by the hurricanes have criticized President Donald Trumps administration for its response to the hurricanes in Puerto Rico. The treatment of the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico by the Trump administration is a slap in the face and blatant disregard of the lives of thousands of individuals and families in need, Espaillat said in a statement. The Trump administrations inability to provide adequate disaster relief, coupled with FEMAs crippling delay and lack of coordination with housing authorities to issue disaster recovery funding is appalling and outright embarrassing. Warren and Espaillats bill would try to address both problems. The bill would expand eligibility for assistance to help a larger group of people, including those living in boarding houses, mobile homes or trailers, or those who are homeless. It would also make it easier to apply for assistance. Rather than having to show a deed or title to a property, someone could prove residence using a utility bill, drivers license, pay stub, property tax receipt, school registration or other documents. While the bill would not require federal officials to activate DHAP, it would require officials from FEMA and the Office of Housing and Urban Development to discuss activating the housing program any time the president declares a major disaster. The bill would also provide DHAP housing benefits to anyone who still needs them from disasters in 2017 and 2018, which would include the hurricanes in Puerto Rico and wildfires in California. After the hurricanes, Western Massachusetts received a huge influx of Puerto Ricans who fled to the mainland. Warren and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., introduced a similar bill last year, but it did not become law. NEW BEDFORD -- Police investigating fentanyl sales raided a home, arrested a 30-year-old suspect and found more than 85 grams of the drug, some it next to a mattress where young children were sleeping. Oscar Ramos-Torres, 30, was charged with trafficking in fentanyl over 80 grams, possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute and unlawful possession of ammunition. At the time of his arrest, he was out on probation for a previous arrest for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, state police said. As a result of the investigation, police received a search warrant for Ramos-Torres McGuirk Street apartment and members of the Massachusetts State Police Gang Unit and New Bedford Police Gang Unit went to his home on Tuesday. When Ramos-Torres did not answer a knock immediately, officers forced open the door, police said. They found Ramos-Torres, a woman and two young children in a bedroom. About 8.7 grams of powder that tested positive for fentanyl was discovered about 2 feet from the mattress where the children were sleeping. Because the synthetic opioid is so powerful it can cause harm by coming in contact with a persons skin, police contacted the Department of Children and Families to report finding the fentanyl near the children, police said. In a further search of the house, police found a workbench where Ramos-Torres is accused of preparing fentanyl for sale. There they found a container holding about 77 grams of a powder that tested positive for fentanyl and a variety of paraphernalia used to package the drug for sale. Police also discovered 26 Suboxone strips and $6,245 in cash. They also found 10 rounds of ammunition in the basement of the home, police said. The Bristol County State Police Detective Unit and a deputy from the Bristol County Sheriffs Department assisted in the raid, police said. HOLYOKE Holyoke Public Schools awarded 10 graduating seniors the first-ever Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy on Tuesday at Holyoke High School North Campus. The award honors the students mastery of two languages. Receiver Stephen Zrike and Executive Principal Dr. Stephen Mahoney presented the certificates to Marianegely Aldarondo, Ruth Arzuaga-Rodriguez, Katelynn Cruz, Khyarah Gaston Feliciano, Mia Hernandez, Karina Lopez-Perez, Nashali Pagan, Thayra Quinones, Dylan Rios Bernier and Cristal Sepulveda. Jennifer Gonzalez, an educational coordinator with Holyoke Public Schools, said the students were tested on their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in English and Spanish. They have proved themselves to be literate in a language other than English, she said. Mahoney said the students were pioneers, the first in the state to earn the Seal of Biliteracy. In 10 or 15 years youre going to look at yourselves as pioneers in the United States of America, he said. He added that biliteracy in 21st century America is essential and will help solve the challenges facing the nation. Khyarah Gaston Feliciano, 16, came to Holyoke from her native Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017. I wanted to show people that I can speak two languages, and that my language learning, in English and Spanish, was not in vain, she said. Gaston Feliciano said many of her friends are bilingual. She often translates for friends who only speak one language. I can help them understand other people and show them so that they can learn with me how to speak another language, she said. Gaston Feliciano was pleased Holyoke expanded its dual-language program at Metcalf and E.N. White Schools. She plans to attend Bay Path University in September and hopes to become a neuroscientist. Anne Day, director of English as a second language and bilingual education, said, Im so proud of these kids and its unbelievable. Its an opportunity they wouldnt have had before this. We had a great turnout (and) the families supporting this is even better. She added, We need to spread awareness that bilingualism and biculturalism are so important. When they enter the workforce, it makes them more marketable. Day said the districts dual-language program continues to generate interest from students and parents. Parents are thrilled about this opportunity. We just opened two new classrooms because the demand for the program is huge right now, she said. Kathleen Anderson, the director of Community Benefits at Holyoke Medical Center, said two of the awardees interned at the hospital where their bilingual skills were needed. She said patients often feel more comfortable speaking in their first language. Youre going to be looked for out in the community, Anderson told the students. More than a thousand protesters spoke out against a proposed plan to Connecticut highways as legislators plan for a potential special session this summer to vote on the measure. This is the type of issue that Id like to get done before we adjourn, but I wouldnt be opposed to coming back in special session, House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz told reporters on Monday. Its that important to the state. The legislative session adjourns on June 5. State legislators have proposed adding electronic tolling on Connecticuts major roadways: Interstate 91, Interstate 95, Interstate 84 and Route 15. Gov. Ned Lamont proposed the tolls as necessary for funding infrastructure improvements. Legislators estimate tolling across the state would net about $800 million each year, with an estimated 40 percent from out-of-state drivers. Opponents of the plan argue state officials should reevaluate spending plans before placing the cost on drivers in the state. A rally against the proposal drew an estimated 1,500 protesters to the Capitol on Saturday. Rally-goers held signs reading future out of state driver and others targeting specific lawmakers - including Lamont - seeking them to reverse their thinking on the measure, the CT Mirror reports. Rally organizers played a clip of Lamont speaking as a candidate for governor of his plan to introduce tolls only on commercial tractor-trailer trucks, not cars. Thats a pledge. Thats not going to happen, Lamont said of a toll on cars in a clip played during the rally, the CT Mirror reports. A tolling study released by the Connecticut Department of Transportation calls for differing rates for Connecticut residents with an E-ZPass, commuters and out-of-state residents, in addition to peak period driving rates and off-peak. Class one vehicles will pay the lowest rates, with class two - medium trucks, buses - paying about double and heavy trucks paying about four times as much. Peak driving rates for passenger vehicles is estimated to be 7.9 cents per mile, with a 30 percent discount for Connecticut residents. A out-of-state driver with an E-ZPass traveling from Hartford to New Haven - about 38 miles - during peak hours would spend about $6 roundtrip. A Connecticut resident with an E-ZPass would spend slightly over $4, less with the commuter discount. For a Massachusetts driver with an E-ZPass traveling on I-84 during off peak hours, the proposed toll would cost $6.17 one-way, $12.34 roundtrip. During peak hours, the cost of that trip rises to $7.74 one-way, $15.48 roundtrip. The highest costs will be fared by out-of-state drivers without an E-ZPass. These drivers will be charged up to 50 percent higher than the base cost, 11.8 cents per mile. Traveling from the Massachusetts state line down I-91 to New Haven during peak travel times would cost such a driver $13.68, roundtrip, under the current plan. Traveling off peak hours, with an E-Z Pass, would save an out-of-state driver $4.52 roundtrip. Connecticut and Vermont are the only states in New England to not toll along state roadways. Massachusetts introduced all-electronic tolling in 2016. It replaced toll plazas at more than two dozen locations with 16 metal gantries featuring cameras that can read E-ZPass transponders or take pictures of license plates for vehicles without transponders. Numerous pundits are treating Joseph Bidens impressive lead in the Democratic polls as proof the party has not been taken over by identity politics and avowed socialists. Perhaps thats true. Drawing conclusions about Bidens presidential candidacy now, though, is vastly premature. The former vice-presidents center-left reputation might indicate voter reluctance to support the extreme left, but the Biden victory train could still be easily derailed by factors uniquely associated with him. One is the danger of being positioned as the odds-on favorite before the real campaigning has begun. History is littered with candidates who were unable to measure up to high expectations, the most famous perhaps being President Lyndon Johnson, whose 1968 New Hampshire primary victory over underdog Eugene McCarthy was so skimpy that LBJ dropped out of the race 19 days later. Theres also the nature of primary voters. Biden appeals to more moderate elements of the Democratic Party. Primaries and caucuses normally draw the most passionate ideologues, the likes of which ignited the 2016 campaigns of Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz - while voters preferring standard politics often stay home. Biden is experienced and highly intelligent, but he is no firebrand. His campaign has said little, which has allowed him to avoid alienating the splintered elements of the party. But it could leave voters wondering what theyre really getting. Will a vanilla campaign style, which is Bidens nature, draw primary support at a time political emotions are so raw? Theres also Bidens place as a singular candidate in a field of two dozen Democrats. many of which are accompanied by a physical or political label. Many voters are struggling just to keep track of them all. Bidens opponents are male, female, gay, people of color and in some cases, socialist-leaning. In this crowded field, theres no other candidate really like Joe Biden. Once the field is winnowed and Biden faces a smaller number of clear-cut challengers, will these sharper comparisons and choices work in his favor? Maybe. Maybe not. Theres his age; Biden will be 78 less than three weeks after Election Day 2020. With sensitivity high over the treatment of women, theres some unease about his alleged handsiness in the past. Neither will sink the Biden candidacy, but they wont help. Lastly, if 2016 taught us anything, it taught us not to take polls at face value. If we could, wed be hearing from President Hillary Clinton these days. Barack Obama remains very popular among Democrats, and so, for that matter, is his wife. They could be of tremendous benefit to Obamas former No. 2 man, especially among liberals and minority voters- although polls say Biden is already claiming impressive support from minorities. Will the former First Family actively help Biden, or stay on the sidelines? In May of 2019, Joseph Biden has emerged as the clear favorite to take on Donald Trump in November of 2020. Many Democrats see Biden as the most electable choice, as opposed to the most charismatic nominee, and that should favor him among voters who think the overwhelming priority is not to push an agenda or platform plank, but to get Trump out. But, offering Biden as proof of Democratic centrism, let alone consigning the nomination to him at this point, is absurdly premature. Some of his strengths are uniquely associated with him, but so are some of the obstacles - not the least of which is that the leader can only maintain a lead, with nowhere to go but down. With more than a year until the 2020 presidential election and a growing, crowded field of Democratic contenders, pollsters are already examining who American voters plan to choose as their next president. Quinnipiac University released its latest poll on Tuesday, which found that while the majority of Americans believe the economy is stronger than its been in nearly two decades, voters gave President Donald Trump mixed grades when it comes to his job approval. The poll found that a combined 71 percent of American voters rated the economy as good and excellent, the highest total number of positive views on the economy in 18 years. Yet the poll found that the majority of voters, as of May 2019, will not vote for Trump come November 2020. In a methodology report, authors said 29 percent of voters polled identified as Republican, while 32 percent identified as Democrat and 30 percent Independent. President Trump begins his reelection campaign in a deep hole as 54 percent of American voters say they 'definitely will not vote for him, compared to 52 percent in an April 30 Quinnipiac University National Poll, the report reads. According to the poll authors, the president has most recently received blowback for his actions on foreign policy. Drawing on a sample of 1,078 self-identified registered voters in a telephone survey, the poll results found that voters gave a 39 to 53 percent disapproval rating for how Trump has handled trade, a 40 to 50 percent disproval rating for how he has handled policy toward China, and a 37 to 47 percent disproval rating for the nations policy toward Iran. His base still holds strong, the poll found, with 76 percent of Republicans saying they will definitely vote for Trump. Three percent of Democrats and 21 percent of independent voters reportedly also said they would definitely vote for the incumbent. The nations economy is pretty darn good and President Donald Trumps approval numbers are pretty darn awful, Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a statement on the poll. "So what to make of the good news, bad news mashup and how to correct it? For the moment, the disparity leaves the president on shaky re-election ground. Meanwhile, the poll found that former Vice President Joe Biden remains the most favorable Democratic candidate among voters, with a 49-39 percent favorability rating. He is trailed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, with a 41 to 48 percent favorability rating, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, with a 32 to 41 percent favorability rating. Behind them in favorability are California Sen. Kamala Harris, former Texas U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley demanded answers from HUD Secretary Ben Carson about what she called his departments inability to protect the health and well-being of Americans living in public housing. Pressley, a Democrat from Boston, told Carson, who heads the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, she had been waiting to question him for a long time. Carson appeared before House Financial Services Committee Tuesday. But the residents of my district have been waiting far longer for your agency to do its job, Pressley said. This matter is very, very personal. Let me be clear: housing is a fundamental human right and the displacement of families should be regarded as the public health crisis that it is. Pressley asked Carson to answer a few yes or no questions, but he did not provide answers. She began: Is stable and safe housing a social determinant of health? Carson responded, There is no question that its an important part... Pressley cut him off. Yes or no, said Pressley. If left unaddressed, do you believe the substandard public housing conditions pose a risk to tenants physical, mental and emotional health? Carson responded: You already know the answer. She asked again for a yes or no response and Carson repeated: You know the answer. Carson said it seemed as though Pressley did not listen to his previous responses in the hearing and complained about her questions. Yes or no, can you ask me some questions yourself and stop reading this silly stuff?" Carson said. Pressley responded: You dont get to dictate what my line of questioning is. Reclaiming my time. Youre a very smart man so you understand the question, please answer it. Yes. Or no." Carson said, again, you know the answer. Pressley responded: I know the answer, do you know the answer? Yes or no? Then Carson said he wanted to reclaim his time - a phrase reserved for members of the U.S. House of Representatives to take the floor back from another person who is speaking during the meeting. When told he was not allowed to that, Carson chuckled and said: Oh. Carson said it would be very nice if Pressley stopped acting out. SPRINGFIELD A prosecutor said Wednesday that Willie Williamson had sex with two inmates while he worked as a maintenance officer at the Western Massachusetts Regional Womens Correctional Center in Chicopee. By law in Massachusetts, inmates are deemed incapable of consenting to sexual contact with any employee of a correctional facility, Assistant District Attorney Katharine A. Johnston said. Johnston, in her opening statement in Williamsons jury-waived trial before Hampden Superior Court Judge John S. Ferrara, said Williamson knew the law because he had been through trainings that enforced that knowledge. The offenses are alleged to have taken place in 2016. Williamson was fired in December of that year. Defense lawyer Jeffrey S. Brown, in his opening statement, said there is no dispute as to what the law says, but evidence will show the alleged conduct didnt occur. In the end the evidence will show the commonwealth will not be able to meet its burden of proof, Brown said. The two women who said they had sex with Williamson knew each other before being in jail together, according to Brown. He said one of them twice denied the sex happened and at a third questioning session said it did happen. Williamson had worked as a correctional officer at the jail but then transferred to maintenance officer. As part of the job he could have women from the minimum-security section help him outside the jail, according to testimony. The women did not have to do landscaping with Williamson because helping him was voluntary, according to testimony. It was done after the womens day jobs in the institution. The two women said Williamson treated the women as friends at first, according to Johnston. Williamson offered one woman nips of alcohol, cigarettes and energy drinks if she went to the woods with him, Johnston said. Williamson had sex with the woman and then gave her cigarettes and asked her not to tell anyone, Johnston said. Two other times both women went with Williamson to the woods on the jail property and had sex, Johnston said. She said the women were worried they would get caught and did not tell anyone. The accusations came to light through information from another person, Johnston said. Connie Burke of the Hampden County Sheriffs Department testified about the trainings Williamson attended that outlined all the prohibitions about contact with inmates. She said Newport cigarettes were found in the spot in the woods identified by one of the women as where Williamson took her. Williamson is charged with five counts of a law listed on the docket as Prison guard having sex relations with prisoner. He faces one charge of trafficking a person for sexual servitude, which can cover a number of scenarios. The two women alleging the sexual conduct have not yet testified. The trial continues Thursday before Ferrara. Finally people believed me. Those words were uttered by a woman sitting inside Worcester District Court moments after former UMass Medical School Dr. Marcus Cooper was found guilty of photographing a woman in a bathroom stall. The woman inside the courtroom was the victim in the case. The people were a jury. Cooper, 50, of Grafton, was sentenced to one year in jail with 60 days to serve after he was found guilty of secretly photographing an unsuspecting nude person. The balance of the sentence was suspended for three years. Cooper will be on probation for those three years and must undergo mental health evaluations. Cooper was sentenced to pay a $150 fine after he was found guilty of disorderly conduct. The former UMass cardiologist was found guilty on both charges by a jury Thursday after a two-day trial. Cooper took a picture of a female medical student inside a bathroom stall in the Albert Sherman Center at the UMass Medical School campus in Worcester on Sept. 1, 2015. As of December 2015, he was no longer an associate professor or employee at the hospital and medical school. He also turned in his license to practice medicine after he was initially charged. The woman, who spoke in court before sentencing, was in a bathroom stall and heard a clicking noise. She tried to confront Cooper after she spotted a cellphone camera lens pointing at her. You have no idea who I am. If you did, you wouldnt be doing this, Cooper told the woman. In court, the victim said she was three weeks into medical school when the incident happened. It impacted her entire life. She was afraid to use public restrooms, afraid to go on campus and endured personal attacks by Cooper and others, she said. Because of this incident, I now have anxiety each time that I use a public restroom, she said. The events that took place on Sept. 1 ruined every sense of safety and security I felt on campus. She then expressed relief, Calling Cooper a predator that has been stopped. The womans father told the judge the actions by Cooper have taken a toll on her for the past four years, physically, intellectually and emotionally. It has forever tainted her memories and experience of medical school, the family said. Prosecutor Lambrini Pashou said in 1994 at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland, Cooper was also accused of peering over a bathroom stall and looking at a woman. The same woman said Cooper also used a mirror to look at her in the stall. The prosecutor said Cooper admitted to doing it in a letter. Other women at UMass came forward and told investigators Cooper was spotted lingering around bathrooms, not near his office. Cooper was only charged in the September 2015 case. Defense attorney James Gribouski said his client should have been sentenced to probation and not jail time. Cooper, who is married, was abused as a child by his stepfather and began to take medicine and undergo treatment for a mental disorder after the 1994 incident, the defense lawyer said. Gribouski never mentioned the specific disorder. He said Cooper relapsed after going off the medication in order to have children. Cooper was a highly respected cardiologist and researcher, his lawyer said. Adroit Market Research studied on Global Folic Acid Market Dynamics, Application Share, Growth, Vendor Competition, Trends & Forecast 2019-2025. Upgraded medical technologies have enabled the production of high-quality folic acid tables that are recommended for intake during pregnancy. Get Professional & Technology Advancement Industry Insights @ Folic Acid Market Size 2019 The consumption of folic acid is estimated to witness a rapid growth over the forecast period owing to its high medicinal value. The folic acid market holds several vital factors such as increasing health consciousness coupled with growing awareness level regarding the significance of folic acid for maintaining good health. This is indeed supporting the growth of folic acid market. Folic acid has been promoted by various health agencies such as U.S. Public Health Service and CDC recommended that every individual women of childbearing age should compulsorily consume 0.4 mg (400 micrograms) of folic acid on daily basis for prevention of serious birth defects in child. The global folic acid market is divided on the basis of application and geography. On the basis of an application, the market is segmented into nutraceuticals, food & beverage and others. Due to the wide usage in the nutrition therapy, pharmaceutical application of folic acid is expected to drive the high demand in the market. Folic acid is believed to be one of the most essential nutrient which can be commonly seen in leafy vegetables, broccoli, corn, cereal, oranges, peas, and green meats. It is highly beneficial in treating urinary, cardiovascular system disorders, nervous system, and many more. Folic acid is also known as vitamin B9 and it also plays a vital role in supporting fetal development preventing the risk of birth defects. It also benefits in improving cardiovascular system, thereby lessen the risk of high cholesterol level, heart attack, and provides neurological support. Access Complete Folic Acid Market Insights @ https://adroitmarketresearch.com/industry-reports/folic-acid-market Geographically, folic acid market is primarily segmented into region such as Middle East and Africa, Western Europe, North America, Japan, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Asia Pacific is estimated to witness a major share in the folic acid market during the current period. Due to the high market share of Asia Pacific region, the market is experiencing the same demand from China, India, and Japan. North America is expected to be second largest market share all over the globe during the forecast period resulting to the efficient consumption of folic acid due to the high health benefits. Leading players in the global folic acid market include D SM N.V., Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Zydus Pharmaceutical Ltd., Medicamen Biotech Ltd., BA SF SE, Jiangi Tianxin Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., and more others. Due to an increasing application in the pharmaceutical and nutraceuticals industries globally, folic acid is anticipated to be driven in the near future. The demand for folic acid is expected to escalate due to an increasing purchasing power of consumers along with their increasing preference for nutraceuticals and mineral-rich instant food products. The growth of the folic acid market might affect resulting the tightening pricing and supply hike in the coming years. Key Segmentation of the global folic acid market 2018-2025 Regional analysis for Folic Acid includes: North America US Canada Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of LATAM Europe Western Europe Germany France K Italy Spain Nordics Benelux Rest of the Western Europe Eastern Europe Poland Russia Rest of the Eastern Europe Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) China India ASEAN Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Rest of APEJ Japan The Middle East and Africa GCC Countries North Africa South Africa Rest of MEA Make an Enquire to Buy This Report @ https://adroitmarketresearch.com/researchreport/purchase/195 What to expect from the upcoming report on Global Folic Acid market: Global Folic Acid analysis about future prospects as well as trends market over the forecast period (2018-2025) Information regarding technological progressions as well as innovations taking place in developing as well as developed economies. Supportive initiatives by government likely to influence the market dynamics. Key drivers influencing markets growth, opportunities, restraints, sales channels and distributors. In-depth analysis of different market segmentations including regional segmentations, nature, applications and end-users. Deep analysis about the competitive landscape of the market and the initiatives by them to improve this market. Who should buy this report? Report is especially designed for Venture capitalists, Investors, financial institutions, Analysts, Government organizations, regulatory authorities, policymakers, researchers, strategy managers and academic institutions looking for insights into the market to determine future strategies. About Adroit Market Research: Adroit Market Research is an India-based business analytics and consulting company incorporated in 2018. Our target audience is a wide range of corporations, manufacturing companies, product/technology development institutions and industry associations that require understanding of a markets size, key trends, participants and future outlook of an industry. We intend to become our clients knowledge partner and provide them with valuable market insights to help create opportunities that increase their revenues. We follow a code Explore, Learn and Transform. At our core, we are curious people who love to identify and understand industry patterns, create an insightful study around our findings and churn out money-making roadmaps. AR & VR Healthcare Market: WiseGuyReports.com adds AR & VR Healthcare Market Size study, by Component (Hardware, Software, Services), by Technology (Augmented reality, Virtual Reality) and Regional Forecasts 2018-2025 reports tits database. Executive Summary AR & VR Healthcare Market to reach USD 6141.78 million by 2025. AR & VR Healthcare Market valued approximately USD 748.3 million in 2017 is anticipated to grow with a healthy growth rate of more than 30.1% over the forecast period 2018-2025. Increasing investments in emerging technologies and growing adoption in of Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality in the medical field are the major driving factors of AR & VR Healthcare market. The market is driven mainly by applications in surgical simulation, diagnostic imaging, patient care management, rehabilitation and health management. Increase in quantity of startups has led to higher demand for investments to fund development of AR & VR technologies therefore market is witnessing an increase in private investments by various investors which is expected to boost the growth of AR & VR Healthcare market. One of the major restraining factor of AR & VR healthcare market is the lack of expertise among medical practitioners to adopt new technologies. Increase in private investment by various investors creates various opportunities in the AR & VR Healthcare market. Augmented Reality is an interactive experience of a real-world environment whereby the objects that reside in the real-world are augmented by computer-generated perceptual information, sometimes across multiple sensory modalities, including visual, auditory, haptic, somatosensory, and olfactory whereas Virtual reality is an interactive computer-generated experience taking place within a simulated environment, that incorporates mainly auditory and visual, but also other types of sensory feedback like haptic. The consumption of augmented reality & virtual Reality saves time and reduce extra time taking. The AR & VR can significantly improve the quality of treatment in the healthcare field and receive from their healthcare provider. Therefore, both AR & VR play an important role in the field of healthcare market. It has witnessing that it is the best solution for surgery and for healthcare market. Request Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3483231-ar-vr-healthcare-market-size-study-by-component The regional analysis of AR & VR Healthcare Market is considered for the key regions such as Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Latin America and Rest of the World. North America is the leading/significant region across the world in terms of market share. North America dominated the global market for AR and VR due to greater adoption of advanced technology and sophisticated infrastructure. Whereas, owing to the countries such as China, Japan, and India, Asia Pacific region is anticipated to exhibit higher growth rate / CAGR over the forecast period 2018-2025. Asia-Pacific contributes 33% growth rate in AR & VR Healthcare market. The objective of the study is to define market sizes of different segments & countries in recent years and to forecast the values to the coming eight years. The report is designed to incorporate both qualitative and quantitative aspects of the industry within each of the regions and countries involved in the study. Furthermore, the report also caters the detailed information about the crucial aspects such as driving factors & challenges which will define the future growth of the market. Additionally, the report shall also incorporate available opportunities in micro markets for stakeholders to invest along with the detailed analysis of competitive landscape and product offerings of key players. The detailed segments and sub-segment of the market are explained below: By component: Hardware Software Services By Technology; Augmented Reality Virtual Reality Furthermore, years considered for the study are as follows: Historical year 2015, 2016 Base year 2017 Forecast period 2018 to 2025 For further information on this report, visit https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3483231-ar-vr-healthcare-market-size-study-by-component The industry is seeming to be fairly competitive. Some of the leading market players include Intuitive Surgical, CAE Healthcare, Siemens Healthnieers, Philips Healthcare, Hologic, EON Reality, GE Healthcare, LAYAR, World wiz, Thera Sim Inc. and so on. Acquisitions and effective mergers are some of the strategies adopted by the key manufacturers. New product launches and continuous technological innovations are the key strategies adopted by the major players. Target Audience of the AR & VR Healthcare 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 Investors Table of Contents Chapter 1. Executive Summary Chapter 2. Definition and Scope Chapter 3. AR & VR Healthcare Dynamics Chapter 4. AR & VR Healthcare Industry Analysis Chapter 5. Hybrid Operating Room, by Component Chapter 6. Hybrid Operating Room, by Technology Chapter 7. Hybrid Operating Room, by Regional Analysis Chapter 8. Competitive Intelligence Chapter 9. Research Process Continuous Contact US: sales@wiseguyreports.com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK) Contact Lens Market: WiseGuyReports.com adds Global Contact Lens Market (By Segments, Materials, Design, Modality, Region), Key Technologies, Key Players Analysis, Recent Developments Forecast to 2025 reports to its database. Executive Summary The global contact lenses market is predicted to reach nearly US$ 13 Billion by 2025. Contact lenses are thin plastic discs made from hydrogel or silicon hydrogel. Contact lenses are used for vision correction, and for cosmetic and aesthetic purpose to change the color or appearance of eye. Contact lenses are continuously gaining increased importance and adoption due to high prevalence of various eye related disorders such as myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, and other forms of vision disorders. The use of lenses offers varied medical and lifestyle-related benefits. Some of the therapeutic benefits of using lenses are corneal protection, for post-surgical conditions, and for corneal pain relief and healing. The growing focus on aesthetic look and popularity of colored contact lenses in the fashion industry will further boost the demand for contact lenses products. Request Free Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/4051549-global-contact-lens-market-by-segments-materials-design The factors such as ageing population coupled with increasing prevalence of eye related disorders, technological advancements, rising awareness, growing disposable incomes, and increasing preference for contact lenses over prescription eyeglasses to enhance aesthetics fuels the growth of global contact lenses market. Although these factors are expected to drive the contact lenses market growth, elements such as the high cost and dearth of skilled ophthalmologists are projected to hamper the growth of the market. By Segments Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast On the basis of segmentation, corrective contact lens dominates the global contact lens market, followed by therapeutic contact lenses. Therapeutic contact lenses are known to increase the speed of re-epithelization, reduce the discomfort of the patient and also possess some therapeutic and clinical effects. Cosmetic lens captured nearly 10% share of the contact lenses market in 2018. Prosthetic and Lifestyle-oriented segment is also gaining popularity in the global contact lens market. By Materials Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast Silicone hydrogel soft contact lenses captured highest share of the overall contact lens market. In 2018, methacrylate hydrogels were reportedly used in around 20% of fits. Hybrid contact lens segment is expected to maintain stable growth over the forecast period. The gas permeable contact lens segment is anticipated to expand at a significant rate due to rise in incidence rate of corneal irregularities and astigmatism. Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) held least share of the overall contact lens market. By Design Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast In 2018, Spherical design accounted for highest share of the overall contact lenses market. Toric soft contact lenses have different powers in different meridians of the lens to correct astigmatism as well as nearsightedness or farsightedness. Multifocal is the fastest growing design segment of the contact lens market. By Modality Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast By modality, monthly disposable is the most preferred contact lenses. The daily disposable contact lens market is likely to see the highest growth during the forecast period. The weekly replacement lenses are more durable than daily disposable lenses. Annual disposable lens is the least preferred segment and thus accounted for least share of the overall contact lens market. For further information on this report, visit https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/4051549-global-contact-lens-market-by-segments-materials-design By Region Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast In terms of region, the global contact lens market is dominated by North America. In North America, United States captured highest share of the total contact lens market in 2018. Europe represents a major market for contact lenses, owing to rising chronic eye diseases among geriatric population. In Europe, United Kingdom and Germany are the major market for contact lenses. There are around 3.6 Million contact lens wearers in the UK. In Italy, around 6% of the population wear contact lenses. Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period due to the presence of untapped opportunities in the emerging economies such as China and India. In Asia Pacific, Japan captured highest share of the global contact lens market, followed by China. report titled Global Contact Lens Market (By Segments, Materials, Design, Modality, Region), Key Technologies, Key Players Analysis, Recent Developments Forecast to 2025 provides a comprehensive analysis of the Global Contact Lenses Market. This 181 Page report with 94 Figures and 13 Tables has been analyzed from 11 View Points: 1) Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 2) Global Contact Lens Market Share and Forecast (2012 2025) 3) By Segments Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 4) By Materials Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 5) By Design Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 6) By Modality Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 7) By Region Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 8) Country Analysis Global Contact Lens Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 9) Global Contact Lens Market Key Technologies 10) Global Contact Lens Market Key Players Sales Analysis (2013 2025) 11) Global Contact Lens Market Growth Drivers & Challenges Global Contact Lens Market By Segments Corrective Therapeutic Cosmetic Prosthetic Lifestyle-oriented Global Contact Lens Market By Materials Silicone Hydrogen Soft Contact Lens Methacrylate Hydrogel Soft Contact Lens Gas Permeable Rigid Contact Lens Hybrid Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Global Contact Lens Market By Design Spherical Toric Multifocal Others Global Contact Lens Market By Modality Daily disposable Weekly disposable Monthly disposable Annual disposable Global Contact Lens Market Company Analysis Alcon, Inc. Bausch Health Companies Inc. CooperVision, Inc Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. Data Source Employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. This report is built by using data and information sourced from Proprietary Information Database, Primary and Secondary Research Methodologies, and In house analysis by iGATE Research dedicated team of qualified professionals with deep industry experience and expertise. Research Methodologies Primary Research Methodologies: Questionnaires, Surveys, Interviews with Individuals, Small Groups, Telephonic Interview, etc. Secondary Research Methodologies: Printable and Non-printable sources, Newspaper, Magazine and Journal Content, Government and NGO Statistics, white Papers, Information on the Web, Information from Agencies Such as Industry Bodies, Companies Annual Report, Government Agencies, Libraries and Local Councils and a large number of Paid Databases. Continuous Contact US: sales@wiseguyreports.com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK) The Global EPharmacy Market is likely to expand at a stellar CAGR after recent improvements in marketing and delivering pharmaceutical products at the doorstep of customers. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, titled EPharmacy Market:, the market is likely to grow in the coming years due to rapid adoption and increasing demand for doorstep- deliverable medicines. The initial drawbacks in the limitations of delivering prescription based drugs have now been overcome. Customers have the option of uploading prescriptions, online, and after verifications, prescription drugs can be delivered too. Growing penetration of internet in the e-pharmacy market in recent years has been a major driving factor. According to research statistics by the World Bank, in 2010, around 34% of the population in China was using the internet and this was estimated to rise to almost 54% by 2016. Such high internet usage indicates more end-user coverage in the global e-pharmacy market. The global e-pharmacy market is likely to grow in the forecast period, due to increasing demand for deliverable medicines. Get Exclusive Sample Copy at https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/sample/e-pharmacy-market-100238 Technological Advancements in E-commerce is boosting E-Pharmacy Market, Globally E-commerce plays a major part in the global e-pharmacy market. The advent of features such as live tracking, time for delivery, availability of products, and quick delivery options are major factors why e-pharmacy is being adopted at a rapid pace. Furthermore, e-commerce eliminates the need to set-up retail chains or medical stores for companies that have invested in this market. E-commerce bodes well for customers as well as companies, as customers may benefit from getting to order medicines from their homes and companies can manage to deliver right from storehouses or warehouses. The aforementioned factors are boosting the global market are likely to favor the growth of this market in the forecast period. Strict FDA Regulations Ensure that only Genuine Medicines Are Marketed and Delivered In the early years of e-pharmacy, there were reports of false and illegal drugs being delivered. The regulatory authorities around the world were quick to identify this and took rapid steps to seize and stop such false product deliveries. Strict rules have been imposed to ensure and verify that fake drugs are not being manufactured and delivered. These steps have led customers to rely on e-pharmacy and this has boded well for the global market. Some of the leading companies that are operating in the global e-Pharmacy market worldwide are Medisave, The SANICARE Group, eDrugstore.MD, Rowlands Pharmacy, CVS Caremark,CanDrugstore.com, Domzdrowia.pl SA, drugstore.com Inc, CanadaDrugs.com, and Walgreen Co. Increasing Initiatives and Awareness Programs by Governments Around the World, to Boost the Market E-Pharmacy involves delivering medicines at the customers doorstep with the option of digital payments. As governments are promoting digital payments, they are encouraging people to adopt e-pharmacy. Numerous initiatives and programs have been conducted to promote e-pharmacy and spread awareness regarding the advantages and ease-of-use for adopting e-pharmacy. Such initiatives are likely to have a positive impact on the global market in the forthcoming years. Browse Complete Report Details at https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/e-pharmacy-market-100238 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. At Fortune Business Insights we aim at highlighting the most lucrative growth opportunities for our clients. We, therefore, offer recommendations, making it easier for them to navigate through technological and market-related changes. Our consulting services are designed to help organizations identify hidden opportunities and understand prevailing competitive challenges. Contact us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Segmentation: The global medical imaging software market has been segmented into software type, imaging type, modality, application, and end user By software type, the market has been segmented into integrated software and stand-alone software. On the basis of imaging type, the global medical imaging software market has been segmented into 2D imaging, 3D imaging, and 4D imaging. On the basis of modality, the market has been segmented into Computed Tomography (CT), MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), radiography, photoacoustic imaging, nuclear medicine, echocardiography, ultrasound, thermography, and others. Get Premium Free Sample Report at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7622 Based on application, the market has been segmented into neurology, cardiology, oncology, musculoskeletal, dental, obstetrics & gynecology, urology & nephrology, and others. The global medical imaging software market, by end user, has been segmented into clinics & hospitals, diagnostic centers, research laboratories, and others. Key Players: Some of the prominent players in the global medical imaging software market are GE Healthcare Siemens Healthineers Agfa-Gevaert N.V. Hologic Inc. Pie Medical Imaging Media Cybernetics Inc. AQUILAB MIM Software Inc. IBM Corporation and others. Medical Imaging Software Market: Highlights The Global Medical Imaging Software Market held a market value of USD 2.66 billion in 2017 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.4% over the forecast period. Medical imaging software supports processing and producing high-resolution images of the internal body parts of a human for disease diagnosis and treatment. The emergence of 3D and 4D imaging technologies, increasing the prevalence of geriatric population and subsequent growth in the incidence of cardiac, and neurological diseases including cancer, growing government fundings for development of medical diagnostics field are some factors that are anticipated to drive the market growth during the assessment period. Additionally, a rise in the number of diagnostic centers and increased healthcare expenditure is likely to contribute to market growth. As per the data by the Office for National Statistics, in 2016, the gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) was Euro 33.1 billion (USD 35.2 billion) in the UK. However, the high cost of equipment related to clinical validation and lack of skilled professionals may hamper the market growth during the assessment period. Regional Analysis: On a regional basis, the Americas is anticipated to dominate the global medical imaging software market owing to the growing clinical R&D budgets by both governments as well as public and private organizations in diagnostic imaging modalities and increasing adoption of advanced technologies in the region. Additionally, the rising prevalence of geriatric population along with various chronic diseases is contributing to the growth of this market. According to a report by the Population Reference Bureau, the number of older population (aged 65 and above) will rise to nearly 24% from 15% by 2060. Europe is expected to hold the second largest position in the global medical imaging software market owing to the presence of strong academic & research base and availability of funding for research in the European countries. Moreover, the rising number of diagnostics centers, strong healthcare infrastructure and awareness among people for detection of diseases is boosting the market in this region. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to be the fastest growing region is due to rising demand for technologically advanced software solutions, good quality healthcare infrastructure and incidence of major key players for growth and development in this region. The Middle East & Africa is expected to contribute the least share of the global medical imaging software market. Moreover, the Middle East & Africa region will provide strong opportunities for medical imaging software market due to the rising government initiatives for the healthcare sector. Browse Complete 90 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled With Respective Tables And Figures at https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/medical-imaging-software-market-7622 Major TOC Medical Imaging Software Market Research Report Global Forecast till 2023 Chapter 1. Report Prologue Chapter 2. Market Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope of The Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations Chapter 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation Chapter 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Drivers TOC Continued.! 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 Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road, Hadapsar, Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +1 646 845 9312 Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Ophthalmic Devices Market: WiseGuyReports.com adds Global Ophthalmic Devices Market (By Applications, Products, End Users, Regions), Major Deals, Trends, Key Players Analysis, Recent Developments Forecast to 2025 reports to its database. Executive Summary The global ophthalmic devices market is predicted to reach nearly US$ 65 Billion by 2025. Ophthalmology is a branch of medical science dealing with the structure, functions, and diseases of the eye. Ophthalmic devices are medical devices used in the identification and treatment of ocular defects or deficiencies and eye disorders. The ophthalmic devices are designed for diagnostics, surgical, and vision correction purposes. These devices are continuously gaining increased importance and adoption due to high prevalence of various ophthalmic diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and other vision related issues. Request Free Sample Report @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3908852-global-ophthalmic-devices-market-by-applications-products-end The factors such as increasing prevalence of eye related diseases such as glaucoma, cataract, and others, rapid technological advancements, increase in initiatives to spread awareness, and high adoption of digital devices globally fuels the growth of global ophthalmology devices market. Although these factors are expected to drive the ophthalmic devices market growth, elements such as the high cost of ophthalmic devices and dearth of skilled professionals with expertise in ophthalmic surgery are projected to hamper the growth of the market. By Application Segment Global Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast On the basis of application, the vision care segment dominated the overall ophthalmic devices market. Surgical instruments devices held second highest share of the overall ophthalmic devices market, while the diagnostic & monitoring devices segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. By Products Global Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast On product basis, Ophthalmic Devices held largest share of the ophthalmic devices market, while, cataract surgery devices accounted for second highest share of the total ophthalmic devices market. Retinal surgery devices is the third largest product segment of the ophthalmic devices market in 2018. The global market for fundus cameras was valued close to US$ 430 Million in 2018. The global optical coherence tomography (OCT) scanner market is poised to grow at a CAGR of around 9.5% during the forecast period 2019 2025. The global cataract surgery devices market is projected to reach close to US$ 9 Billion mark by 2025. By End Users Global Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast Consumers segment accounted for highest share of the global ophthalmic devices market, as majority of the ophthalmic products such as vision care products are used by the common consumers. Hospitals and ophthalmic clinics & centers captured 2nd and 3rd largest share of the overall ophthalmic devices market respectively in 2018. Ambulatory surgical centers are likely to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period, as these centers provide cost-effective services and a convenient environment that is less stressful than what many hospitals can offer. By Region Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast North America dominated the global ophthalmic devices market in 2018. In North America, United States captured highest share of the total ophthalmic devices market in 2018. Europe represents a major market for ophthalmic devices, owing to rising chronic eye diseases among geriatric population. In Europe, Germany and United Kingdom are the major market for ophthalmic devices. Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate over the forecast period due to the presence of untapped opportunities in the emerging economies such as China and India. Argentina ophthalmic devices market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of 4.7% over the forecast period 2019 2025. China accounted for nearly 4% share of the global ophthalmic devices market in 2018. For further information on this report, visit https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3908852-global-ophthalmic-devices-market-by-applications-products-end Report titled Global Ophthalmic Devices Market (By Applications, Products, End Users, Regions), Major Deals, Trends, Key Players Analysis, Recent Developments Forecast to 2025 provides a comprehensive analysis of the Global Ophthalmic Devices Market. This 237 Page report with 109 Figures and 11 Tables has been analyzed from 11 View Points: 1) Global Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 2) Global Ophthalmic Devices Market Share and Forecast (2012 2025) 3) By Application Segment Global Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 4) Global Ophthalmic Diagnostics & Monitoring Devices Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 5) Global Ophthalmic Surgical Instruments Devices Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 6) Global Ophthalmic Vision Care Products Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 7) By End Users Global Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 8) By Region Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 9) Country Analysis Ophthalmic Devices Market and Forecast (2012 2025) 10) Global Ophthalmic Devices Market Key Players Sales Analysis (2012 2025) 11) Global Ophthalmic Devices Market Growth Drivers & Challenges Global Ophthalmic Devices Market By Application Segments 1. Diagnostics & Monitoring Devices Fundus Camera Optical Coherence Tomography Scanner Tonometer Others 2. Surgical Instruments Devices Refractive Error Surgery Devices Glaucoma Surgery Devices Cataract Surgery Devices Retinal Surgery Devices 3. Vision Care Ophthalmic Devices Others Global Ophthalmic Devices Market By End Users 1. Hospitals 2. Ophthalmic Clinics and Centers 3. Ambulatory Surgical Centers 4. Consumers 5. Others Global Ophthalmic Devices Market Company Analysis 1. Alcon, Inc. 2. Carl Zeiss Meditec AG 3. Topcon Corporation 4. Bausch Health Companies Inc. (Formerly Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc.) 5. Iridex Corporation 6. Ellex Medical Lasers 7. Escalon Medical 8. Second Sight Medical Products Inc. 9. Lumenis 10. Nidek Co., Ltd. Data Source Employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. This report is built by using data and information sourced from Proprietary Information Database, Primary and Secondary Research Methodologies, and In house analysis by iGATE Research dedicated team of qualified professionals with deep industry experience and expertise. Research Methodologies Primary Research Methodologies: Questionnaires, Surveys, Interviews with Individuals, Small Groups, Telephonic Interview, etc. Secondary Research Methodologies: Printable and Non-printable sources, Newspaper, Magazine and Journal Content, Government and NGO Statistics, white Papers, Information on the Web, Information from Agencies Such as Industry Bodies, Companies Annual Report, Government Agencies, Libraries and Local Councils and a large number of Paid Databases. Continuous Contact US: sales@wiseguyreports.com Ph: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK) by Tanya Gazdik , May 20, 2019 DoorDash is launching a national TV campaign that plays up the ease and convenience of ordering food through the app. The company, which is the nations largest on-demand destination for door-to-door delivery according to Edison Trends, worked with Brand New School to create the campaign. Themed Pop Up, it includes TV spots and digital content. Billboards, transit shelters, bus sides, wallscapes and taxi tops are used for ads in 13 cities, including Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and Austin. Creative highlights the apps selection of merchants including Chipotle, The Cheesecake Factory and Wendys. The TV spots will feature these national brands and regional favorites such as Costa Vida, Zios Italian Kitchen, and The Original Mels. advertisement advertisement DoorDash is sponsoring Taste of Chicago this summer to give Chicago residents and visitors a unique pop-up experience, says David Bornoff, DoorDashs head of brand and creative. It will run through late September, strategically timed to remind consumers that DoorDash gives them the ability to order food wherever or whenever hunger strikes this summer, in the office or poolside. The 30-second spot shows how DoorDash, which is available in more than 4,000 cities in the United States and Canada, meets customers wherever they are, such as employees gathering in an office or hanging poolside with friends and family. The campaign is an evolution of the first-quarter effort, Delicious at Your Door, Bornoff says. Were all about connecting with our customers in unexpected and delightful ways, Bornoff tells Marketing Daily. We think that food is the perfect vehicle to make this connection, and when you can enjoy food with other people through a shared experience, it creates community. The campaign seeks to differentiate DoorDash from its competitors, which include Postmates, Uber Eats and Yelp Delivery. This campaign creates even more distance between us and our competitors by reinforcing that you can find your favorites on DoorDash due to our industry-leading selection," Bornoff says. by Sara Guaglione , May 21, 2019 The UPS Store is taking over the cover and logo of Inc. magazine for its latest campaign targeting small-business owners. This month, 650,000 subscribers will receive magazines wrapped in covers that change Inc. into Ing. (The Ing. is in bold white, with the Inc. below in a faded gray). The UPS Store is marketing its resources for small business needs beyond shipping, such as faxing, printing, notarizing and shredding. The wraparounds will also run on the back cover of newsstand issues. Two female, small-business owners are featured on the Inc. cover wraps. On the front cover is Shanine Yngvason, founder of design and production studio House of Wolves, which makes leather goods. On the back is Bryanne Leeming, founder of Unruly Splats, an educational game that helps teach kids how to code. advertisement advertisement The interior of the wrap features advertorials about each entrepreneur. The collaboration was an ideal match as Inc. has a national reach of small-business owners and entrepreneurs, Karen Kelly, advertising director at The UPS Store Inc. told Publishers Daily. The takeover was conceptualized, in partnership, with creative agency Doner. It is part of The UPS Stores ongoing Beyond Shipping campaign, which launched last fall. After a successful initial launch of the Beyond Shipping campaign, we challenged the agency to develop ways to further amplify our message, Kelly said. Doner teamed up with Inc. and developed this creative transformation from Inc. to Ing. The UPS Store and Inc. also produced a series of videos featuring entrepreneurs and their personal stories, created by Inc.s branded content studio, as well as a contest for small-business owners to win $25,000. by Ray Schultz , May 21, 2019 The defamation lawsuit filed by self-proclaimed email inventor Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai and Floor64, Inc. (Techdirt.com) ended without any money passing hands. Ayyadurai had sued over 14 articles on Techdirt that debunked his claim that he had invented email, and that featured such term as fraud, liar and fake. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts ruled in 2017 that such terms are rhetorical hyperbole that nobody would take as factual. The case was thrown out on First Amendment grounds. But Ayyadurai argued that the expressions go far beyond hyperbole, and filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Techdirt also appealed to that court because it was not awarded attorneys fees and the case was not stricken. Ayyadurai contended that the court erred when it said that Techdirt was not guilty of malice against him, a factor in some defamation cases. Techdirt has agreed to post a hyperlink titled "Dr. Shiva Ayyadurai's Response to this Article and Statement on the Invention of Email," at the top of each of the 14 Articles. Reuters, Wednesday, May 22, 2019 4:09 PM Walmart is hosting an event, dubbed 5260, in New York next week to entice large consumer goods companies to use the retailer as a vehicle to reach their customers. The numerical name comes from a Walmart store near the retailers hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas, which is known for being a test lab for retail innovation. Invitees include Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Coca Cola, Mattel, Glaxosmithkline and NBC Universal, multiple sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Read the whole story at Reuters This article explores what the research says about the benefits and uses of stinging nettle. It will also discuss potential side effects and how to use the herb. However, there is limited research to suggest stinging nettle is an effective remedy, and more studies are necessary before researchers can confirm its health benefits. Stinging nettle is an alternative remedy that people use for many reasons, including reducing arthritis pain and treating seasonal allergies. Stinging nettle features sharp hairs on its leaves . These hairs contain chemicals, such as formic acid and histamine, which can irritate the skin and cause stinging, itching, and redness. Stinging nettle hairs also contain a range of other chemicals that can affect humans, including acetylcholine and serotonin. Relieving arthritis People have been using stinging nettle to treat various ailments for centuries, and the remedy is still in use as a medicinal aid today. Some individuals claim the nettle can help with: inflammation osteoarthritis pain gout An older test-tube study suggested that stinging nettle extracts may have anti-inflammatory properties and could assist in treating symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. However, further human studies are necessary to fully assess the efficacy of stinging nettle for relieving arthritis symptoms. Reducing seasonal allergies Stinging nettle is a popular treatment for seasonal allergies, which occur when a substance, such as pollen, triggers the body to produce histamine. Histamine causes characteristic symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as inflammation, itching, and hives. The current evidence for how effective stinging nettle is for relieving allergies is mixed. Older studies suggest stinging nettle may disrupt the allergy process by inhibiting the bodys histamine production and related inflammation. However, in a 2017 study , researchers found that stinging nettle extract was no better at reducing allergy symptoms than a placebo. The National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health indicates that there is currently insufficient evidence to suggest stinging nettle can help treat allergies. Treating benign prostatic hyperplasia Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a noncancerous growth of the prostate gland in males. The condition can cause a range of symptoms, mostly involving urinary processes. A review suggests that, in combination with other medications, stinging nettle extracts may be beneficial in treating BPH symptoms. And while other studies support these claims, it is clear that more research is necessary to fully assess the benefits of the herb in treating BPH symptoms. A person should seek emergency assistance if they develop symptoms of BPH, so a doctor can rule out or treat any serious issues. Managing diabetes There is some evidence suggesting that stinging nettle could also help treat diabetes. Two review studies have found evidence that sting nettle supplementation may help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. However, researchers in both studies concluded that more research was necessary to determine whether stinging nettle could be a useful addition to traditional diabetes treatments. At the time of writing their study, they did not recommend it for use. As a result, anyone wishing to start taking stinging nettle products to manage their diabetes should speak with their doctor first and monitor their blood sugar levels regularly if possible. Following their study in rats, scientists have broken new ground in memory research. The finding concerns how the brain retrieves long-term memory and should open new avenues for investigating and treating Alzheimers disease and other causes of dementia. Share on Pinterest New research in rats has unveiled a brain mechanism that could explain how we retrieve old memories. Researchers at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas have discovered that two brain areas that work together to consolidate memories interact differently during the retrieval of remote memories. The two brain areas are the hippocampus and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). During consolidation, memory dependence transfers from the hippocampus to the ACC. However, the recent study reveals that during remote memory recall, the ACC takes the lead and drives the hippocampus. Graduate student Ryan A. Wirt and psychology professor James M. Hyman describe the 4 years of laboratory and analysis work that led to the findings in a Cell Reports paper. Our research, says Prof. Hyman, opens up potential new avenues to explore why certain dementias and disorders lead to problems recalling long-term memories, which could help pave the way for future treatments that might be able to restore this ability to afflicted individuals. Memory problems and cognitive impairment Memory problems are a key symptom of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition that can precede Alzheimers disease and other types of dementia. MCI affects around 1520% of people in their mid-60s and older, according to Alzheimers Association estimates. Although the symptoms of MCI are not severe enough to disrupt everyday life, people who experience them will notice the changes, as will those who know them. There are two types of MCI: amnestic, which affects memory; and nonamnestic, which affects thinking and judgment. People with amnestic MCI begin to forget things that they would previously have remembered, such as recent events, conversations, and important appointments. Prof. Hyman explains that losing the ability to remember long-term memories is a hallmark symptom of the transition from MCI to the more severe cognitive impairment that characterizes Alzheimers disease. From previous research on memory consolidation, he and Wirt already knew that with time, memory recall becomes less and less dependent on the brain region that includes the hippocampus. They note that studies have also shown that the area that includes the ACC is involved with contextual information processing and remote recall. They explain, for example, how animal experiments have shown that neurons in the ACC encode the where, when, what, how, and emotional aspects of contextual representations. Importantly, add the study authors, these findings extend into memory retrieval, showing that as time passes the ACCs role in contextual processing increases. What this previous work did not show, however, was the extent to which interactions between the ACC and the hippocampus changed as memories became more remote. Charlottetown OTTAWA May 22, 2019 Charlottetown Canada The number of seniors is expected to exceed the number of children aged 14 and under for the first time ever in Canada by 2021 (source: Statistics Canada) by 2021 (source: Statistics Canada) Nine in 10 (88%) Canadians say they're worried about the growing number of seniors requiring more health care (source: Ipsos 2019) Six in 10 (58%) believe that Canadians will have to delay their retirement to afford their health care; Baby boomers believe that a failure to improve the health system will result in them having to pay more out-of-pocket for health care and more taxes In 2018, Canadian caregivers and care receivers had to spend more than $9B out-of-pocket to care for their loved ones, a number that's expected to continue to rise out-of-pocket to care for their loved ones, a number that's expected to continue to rise When it comes to how Canadians feel about the future of health care, negative emotions (62%) far outweigh positive (38%), with nervous (22%), afraid (21%) and distressed (18%) topping the list (source: Ipsos 2019) (consider deleting) Concerns on health care could sway voting behaviour this election, with Canadians 55 and over more likely to say they'll vote for the party they think has the best plan for the future of health care (source: Ipsos 2019) Gigi Osler Charlottetown Canada's /CNW/ - As the number of aging Canadians grows, so do our worries about being able to get the health care we need. The findings from a national Ipsos survey released today tell a startling tale of Canadians significantly concerned about the state of our health care system. With the youngest Baby Boomers now reaching the age of 55, a significant portion believe they'll need to delay retirement to afford the health care services they need.Today, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) is in, where federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for seniors are meeting to discuss issues affecting older Canadians. The CMA is on-site with provincial medical associations from the region to brief ministers on the state of seniors care in, sharing views from the front lines and a pan-Canadian perspective.What we know:"Meeting the health care needs of our aging population is a nationwide issue, with seniors across the country having to pay more out of their own pockets for the care they need," said CMA President Dr.. "What we're seeing today reflects the limitations of seniors' care, and we can and must do better."In, the CMA is advocating for new federal investments in seniors care both to help the provinces and territories better deliver services and to support individuals in affording the increased costs of care. As such, it is urging the federal government to top up the Canada Health Transfer, providing additional financial support to provinces with higher numbers of seniors. In addition, it is suggesting the creation of a seniors' care benefit to provide direct financial support to seniors and caregivers.SOURCE Canadian Medical Association CHICAGO May 22, 2019 $22,375,000 Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville Davidson County, Tennessee Trevecca Nazarene University Nashville, TN Brad Garrett David Caldwell Chicago /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ziegler, a specialty investment bank with a dedicated Higher Education Finance Practice, is pleased to announce the successful closing of theSeries 2019 for. The Series 2019 tax-exempt bonds were issued through the Health and Educational Facilities Board of the Metropolitan Government ofand. Proceeds from the 2019 Bonds will be used primarily to restructure the University's debt portfolio and fund various campus projects.is a co-educational Christian university, with its main campus located in the heart of, approximately a mile from downtown. Trevecca offers 68 baccalaureate degrees, 18 associate degrees, 16 master's programs, and two doctoral programs. As of fall 2018, the University enrolled 3,233 full-time students and 694 part-time students. As an official university for the Church of the Nazarene, the University is guided by the Articles of Faith and the Covenant of Christian Conduct of the denomination."We were privileged to have partnered with Trevecca on its inaugural public market bond issue, and were excited to have successfully executed this transaction on behalf of the University," noted, Director of Ziegler's Higher Education Finance Practice. "Trevecca is a special university and the entire talented TNU team was a pleasure to work with. I am very proud of the effort that was put into this transaction and believe that the fitting outcome sets up Trevecca for continued strategic and financial success. There has rarely been a better time to borrow through the fixed-rate tax-exempt capital markets.", Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration added, "This was an effort by many people but specific thanks to the Ziegler team that did a stellar job creating significant interest in our offering and locking in attractive rates for us without sacrificing for a debt service reserve fund. This was an incredibly successful first public bond issuance that allows the institution to save significant interest expense next year and provides Trevecca the knowledge that 100% of our debt is now fixed for up to 30 years."Ziegler is one of the nation's leading underwriters of financing not-for-profit borrowers. Ziegler offers creative, tailored solutions to its higher education clients, including investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, private placement services, USDA financing, capital and strategic planning as well as higher education research, education and communication.For further information on the structure and use of this issue, please see the Official Statement located on the Electronic Municipal Market Access system's Document Archives, and visit us at http://www.ziegler.com.For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.ziegler.com.About Ziegler: Ziegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. We have a unique focus on healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered inwith regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales & trading and research. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com.Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This client's experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees.SOURCE Ziegler There are some freaks amidst us (me) who love the horror movie genre. So much so, we'd watch them alone if we have to. I don't really know what it is. I guess it's the thrill of feeling something other than sadness or joy while watching movies? That particular tingle when you're watching a horror film is irreplaceable and mostly it's just that and, of course, the special effects, CGIs, production and sound effects that make good horror. warner bros. pictures Now, just like every year, we bring you a list of special horror movies you must watch this year too. It's always good to delve into a better screenplay and visual effects once in a while, and this year promises to take us away from the usual 'haunted house ghost' series and use a bit more creativity in creating horror content. So, gear up because 2019 promises to be a year of good horror and I hope you catch all of them whenever they release. Here's a list of horror films (Hollywood) releasing in 2019: (1) BrightBurn Sony Pictures releasing James Gunn's production of a dark horror tale of a superhero boy, who lands from outer space just like Superman did. But, he decides to use his superpower for evil and not for the good of mankind. We can call him the anti-Superman child! Releases on: May 24 Watch the trailer here (2) Ma Universal pictures Octavia Spencer stars in this psychological horror that'll send shivers down your spine, just by watching the trailer. Tate Taylor, a lonely woman allows young people to throw parties in her basement but later, they realise something is definitely not right about her and things start to, let's see, fall apart? Releases on: May 31 Watch the trailer here (3) Annabelle Comes Home Warner Bros pictures The first 'Annabelle' movie wasn't that scary, the second one was maybe something you could watch with the lights off, sitting alone on your bed, but the third one looks godawful scary AF by the looks of the trailer. It's actually 'Conjuring' meets 'Annabelle' and this time, the doll's not gonna give up, I feel. This movie is a directorial debut for Gary Dauberman, who actually wrote the screenplay for 'IT' Chapters 1& 2, 'The Nun' and 'Annabelle: Creation' and is now all set to direct his first horror flick, a popular franchise. So, the story revolves around the 'Conjuring' protagonists Ed and Lorraine Warren, who've kept the doll in their room of horrors, never to be touched or brought back to life again. But things don't always have to be the way they are, do they? Releases on: July 5 Watch the trailer here (4) Midsommar A24 This one is surely one of the most anticipated movies of the year. The movie is a folk horror focused on a young girl reluctantly joining her boyfriend for a trip to Sweden, to join a 9-day festival taking place there. The trailer looks a bit ambiguous but still terrifying. Definitely something different horror-wise to catch. Releases on: August 23 Watch the trailer here (5) IT: Chapter 2 Warner bros pictures The second part of the Stephen King scary clown novel is back with an absolute bang and we can't wait to see what this one's about. Part two will probably see folks from the Losers Club head back to Derry when the red-haired Pennywise resurfaces to get them, once again. The first part was a great success, so let's hope this one's equally scary. Releases on: September 6 Watch the trailer here (6) Zombieland 2 : Double Tap Sony Pictures releasing The first one released in 2009 and it was a great watch, funny yet focused on zombies mostly. Remember Bill Murrey? Yup the cast is great and so is the plot and we can't wait to witness a couple of Zombie movies lined up this year. Releases on: October 11 Trailer not out yet (7) Child's Play United Artists releasing Although the scary doll movie has maintained its sequels pretty well, the new one isn't a part of that. In fact, the new 'Child's Play' is the remake of the original one and it seems as scary as the first one was. The movie definitely has some old-school slasher vibe. Can't wait to see this again. Releases on: TBD Watch the trailer here (8) Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark Lionsgate With Guillermo Del Toro's screenplay, this movie is based on the Alvin Schwartz books and seems quite interesting. The story is about a young woman with a troubled tale, who decides to turn the horrors of her life into a book, which is later discovered by some teenagers who actually experience the book come alive, through her stories. The movie, of course, won't be an anthology but a well stitched together narrative instead. Releases on: TBD Watch the trailer here (9) The Dead Don't Die Focus Features To add some light humour to an intense horrific year, we have another comical (of sorts) Zombie movie, with an awesome cast. The movie is obviously about a small-town police department battle some zombies. Of course, it's like any other Zombie movie but the cast surely makes this better. With Tilda Swinton, Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Selena Gomez, Steve Buscemi, Rozie Perez and Iggy Pop, this movie looks damn promising. Releases on: July 12 Watch the trailer here (10) Crawl Paramount Pictres A young woman who tries to save her father from a category 5 hurricane is trapped in her own basement, with a huge Alligator floating about, trying to kill her. This one's a new-age version of 'Jaws' and 'Lake Placid' all mixed into one and yes, it does look scary. Releases on: August 23 Watch the trailer here So, there you have it. Ten awesome horrors releasing this year. I am not sure how many will release in the hall here, but if and when they do, catch them to keep your love for the horror genre alive! They say dreaming, and dreaming big, is our only way of moving towards a future that none of us have seen, but all of us have certain hopes for. There wouldn't be a single individual who hasn't ever thought about their future in a certain way, but it is also true that most of us fail to pursue that dreamy future, and put in the work that would turn it into a reality. But, like most things in our world, there are two types of people who must be taken into consideration even here. Because, what about those who put in all their sweat and blood to breathe fire to their dreams? They always deserve a special mention, don't they? Jagran Jharkhand girl Manali Gupta happens to be one such young woman who inspired a million hearts with her most recent achievement. Manali is the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC) topper of class 12th Arts examinations held earlier this year. Manali scored an impressive 437 marks out of 500 in her finals. According to reports, she obtained 75 in English, 89 in Hindi, 90 in History, 92 in Geography and 91 in Economics, which makes it an aggregate of 87.4%. Awesome right? But wait until you learn her complete story. Bharat Khabar Manali, who aims to serve her country by becoming an IAS officer in the future, is a daughter of daily wage electrician. Which means her father gets money only on the days he gets work. Can we imagine living and pursuing our dreams under similar circumstances, when even the chances of the next meal is uncertain on days? Yet, Manali persevered and worked hard day and night to get a step closer to her dreams, despite all the odds. Since early age, I have a dream to become an IAS. This is why I took Arts after completion of matriculation, Manali told the media. Hindustan As for her next step, Manali plans to study her favourite subject Geography for graduation. Even with the many challenges that continue to look her in the face, Manali remembers to thank her parents for the success, My parents laboured hard for my education. I would also like to give credit of my success to my teachers in school, as it was not possible without them. Manali's school principal, Pramod Prakash Singh told the media that people in Patratu have lots of hope from her. He further added that despite belonging to a poor family, she continued her education and has set an example in the society. Sony Mobile, the smartphone division of the Japanese company is now going to be pulling out from India and other regions. The move comes when Sony experienced fewer smartphone sales than the previous year and will be stopping its mobile business in India, Australia, Canada, South America, Mexico, Africa and the Middle East. Sony has been trying to cut its losses and the company will now concentrate its mobile business in countries like Japan, Europe, Taiwan and Hong Kong. The Xperia mobile division has also been dismantled and formed into a new division called Electronics, Products and Solutions and has been merged with TV, Audio and camera divisions. Sony The company is also cutting its operational cost by 50% by pulling out of markets that are not deemed profitable for the company. The company has suffered low smartphone sales in key markets due to stiff competition from Chinese companies that offer better smartphones at a considerably low price. According to Counterpoint Research, Sony's smartphone market share was reduced to less than 1% and was probably due to making outdated smartphones. Sony was not able to adopt new technologies, features and even hardware in order to compete with its Chinese counterparts. Slashhleaks Sony recently announced the Xperia 1, the world's first 4K smartphone at MWC earlier this year. No release date has been confirmed by the company and it is likely that the smartphone will not launch in India and other markets the company has decided to pull out from. Source: GSMArena Even though Google had revoked Huawei's access to an Android license, Chinese smartphone users are firmly rallying behind Huawei and some are even switching from their iPhones. The US Government added Huawei to its Entity List which basically forbids American companies to do business with blacklisted Chinese companies. Many US-based companies like Qualcomm, Intel, amongst many other key suppliers, have suspended business with the Chinese tech giant. Reuters According to What's on Weibo , Chinese customers are posting videos/images in support of Huawei by either keep continuing to use their Huawei devices or purchase their next device from the Chinese company. Key hashtags such as Huawei Doesn't Need to Rely on America for its Microchips (##) and Huawei's Self-Developed Operating System Hong Meng (##) were trending on Chinese social website Weibo. Many of these social media users are often very patriotic about Chinese tech companies and some of these hashtags have garnered over 50 million views. Please note, some of these translations may be inaccurate as it has been translated using Google Translate. MensXP I've also decided to buy a Huawei Phone, and I will change my plan from buying an Apple Watch into a Huawei product, taking action to support Huawei, one Weibo user said in a Mandarin post. It had been bullied by the U.S. so poorly recently. MensXP Even though my stock investment account is facing a loss continuously, I'm still preparing to switch my other phone into Huawei, to show support with action, another user said. Huawei does rely on components from American companies, however, the Chinese company has already been stockpiling key components in order to sustain itself for the time being. Reuters According to What's on Weibo, Both on Weibo and Douyin, people express that Huawei is more than a brand to them, saying it is national pride. The slogan Go China! Go Huawei! ( ) is ubiquitous on social media. For now, Huawei will get access to the Android license for a period of 90 days in order to support existing devices. These devices will still get updates provided by Google, however, the future for Huawei remains uncertain for now. Source: What's On Weibo , CNBC The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Giorgos Katrougalos, met with representatives of the Greek National Minority (GNM) in Albania and, more specifically, yesterday, Monday, 20 May, with Vangelis Tavos, representing the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI), and Vangelis Dules, the leader of the Unity for Human Rights Party (KEAD), and today, Tuesday, 21 May, with Vassilis Kagios, the President of the Democratic Union of the Greek Minority - OMONOIA, who was accompanied by the Vice-President of the Union, Giorgos Tzomakas. Discussions focused on the latest developments and issues concerning the Greek National Minority and the dialogue between Greece and Albania. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed that Greece firmly supports the GNMs demand for safeguarding the right of free self-identification of its members throughout the territory of Albania, without this depending on the incomplete and often unreliable according to the Council of Europe data of Albanian registries, a matter on which Albania has repeatedly received recommendations by international organisations and experts. In the same context, particular emphasis was placed on the importance of 2020 population census, which must safeguard the right of free self-identification in practice. In this case, the need to avoid repeating the policy of the 2011 census, the conduct of which was criticised by the competent international organisations and the Council of Europe and the European Union, in particular, was underlined. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also stressed Greeces active support for the protection of the property rights of the Greek minority in Albania in accordance with European and international law. In this context and following the publication of recent decisions by the Albanian ministerial cabinet, Greece expects the swift and effective enabling of the members of the Greek minority to register their properties, which many have been unsuccessfully attempting for decades. As regards education, the importance of implementing the policies agreed during the 5th Meeting of the Joint Committee of Experts for the examination of school textbooks (Athens, 20 March 2018) and, more specifically, the removal of unacceptable references in Albanian school textbooks, was underlined. The need for the Albanian state to take the necessary actions for the timely publication of school textbooks for use by Greek minority pupils at Albanian state minority schools during the 2019-2020 school year was also expressed. Following the above, the Greek minority politicians highlighted the importance of opening one more Greek-Albanian school. The Minister of Foreign Affairs responded that he fully comprehends this need and that decisions have already been made for the Ministry to take action and initiate the relevant procedures, in cooperation with the Albanian Authorities. The representatives of the GNM also referred to the need to boost economic activity in areas where its members traditionally reside. The Minister of Foreign Affairs stated that Interreg programmes already under examination provide the opportunity for cooperation between local government units in both countries which, if leveraged correctly, could create new jobs in Albania to benefit the local economy and community, which would certainly include the members of the Greek minority. The issue of Local Elections in Albania in light of political developments in the country was also discussed. It was stressed that the recent decision of the Albanian Central Election Commission has no legal basis, and that the political representation of the Greek National Minority in the Local Elections in Himara must be ensured. The Minister of Foreign Affairs once again made clear that respecting the rights of the Greek National Minority is directly linked to Albanias European prospects, as it forms an integral part of the 5 Key Priorities for the opening of accession negotiations between Albania and the EU. Finally, G. Katrougalos informed the individuals he met that, following arrangements with the Ministry of Labour, Social Insurance and Social Solidarity, a provision will be included in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs draft law under submission that will satisfy the request of our minority in Albania for its members to be exempted from the obligation of continuously residing in the country, in order to receive the social security benefit for uninsured elderly persons. The Minister of Foreign Affairs once again repeated that Greece will continue to play a stabilising role in the Balkans and will strive for the continuous improvement of bilateral relations with Albania and all countries in the region, for the benefit of our peoples and the consolidation of peace. Yesterdays announcement by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs constitutes yet another inappropriate exercise in misconstruing history. The recognition of historical truth, self-criticism, and the abandonment of revisionism is a show of strength, not weakness. They are requisites for dialogue in good faith, the tackling of extremities of nationalism, conciliation between peoples and countries and their peaceful co-existence. This is the stance, both in life as well as in politics, that Eleftherios Venizelos chose when he nominated Mustafa Kemal Ataturk for the Nobel Peace Prize. And this continues to form, even today, part of the significant legacy that the great Greek politician left behind, for Greek-Turkish relations, but not limited to just that. It is the historic duty of all of us, and especially of our of neighbouring country Turkey, to recognise events such as the genocide of the Pontian Greeks so that the darkest moments of the past are not repeated and in order to heal the deep wounds left behind. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Reports on India Provides the Trending Market Research Report on India Paper & Paper Products Market By Application (Writing & Printing Paper, Paperboard & Packaging, Newsprint and Specialty Paper), By Raw Material (Waste & Recycled Paper, Wood and Agro Residue), Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2024 under Chemical category. The report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, competitive intelligence and industry reports. Indias share in the demand for paper across the globe is growing, as the domestic demand is increasing at a steady pace, while the demand in western nations is shrinking. Notably, domestic paper demand in India rose from 9.4 million tonnes in FY08 to 15.4 million tonnes in FY16. Despite the continuous growth in the industry, per capita paper consumption in the country stands at a little over 14 kg, which is still well below the global average of 57 kg and considerably below 200 kg in North America. India Paper & Paper Products Market is projected to grow from $ 8.6 billion in 2018 to $ 13.4 billion by 2024, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.8% during 2019-2024. Growing manufacturing sector, requirement of better quality packaging of FMCG products marketed through organized retail and demand for upstream market of paper products, such as tissue paper, filter paper, tea bags, light weight online coated paper and medical grade coated paper are expected to drive paper & paper products market in India in coming years. Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT) and ITC are among the largest producers of paper in the country. Moreover, many of the existing players are increasing their capacity to meet the growing demand. However, high cost of production as a result of unavailability and high cost of raw materials, high cost of power, concentration of mills in specific areas only, technological obsolescence as well as environmental challenges are some of the factors hampering market growth. Request a free sample copy of Paper & Paper Products Market Report @ http://www.marketreportsonindia.com/marketreports/Sample/Reports/1512570 India paper & paper products market has been segmented into raw material, application and region. Based on raw material, the market has been categorized into waste & recycled paper, wood and agro residue. The waste & recycled paper segment is expected to dominate the market during forecast period, owing to growing concerns about the cutting down of trees for producing pulp. Further, based on application, the market has been bifurcated into writing & printing paper, paperboard & packaging, newsprint and specialty paper. Among the application segments, demand for paperboard & packaging is growing at the fastest pace, as paperboard & packaging caters to industries including FMCG, food & beverages, textiles and pharmaceutical. The segment is also expected to dominate the market, owing to factors such as rising urbanization, increasing preference for ready-to-eat foods and requirement of better-quality packaging of FMCG products marketed through organized retail. Paper & paper products market in India has been segmented into North, South, East and West. Western region is the lead consumer of paper & paper products across the country, on account of increasing paper consumption, especially FMCG products. Paper mills are concentrated in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The paper mills use a variety of raw materials such as wood, bamboo, bagasse, recycled fiber, wheat straw, rice and husk. The geographical location of the mill often determines the type of raw material used. Most mills in the northern and western regions of India depend heavily on agricultural residues and waste paper as their raw material. While pulp & paper production in southern and eastern regions use wood and bamboo as raw materials. Years considered for this report: Historical Years: 2014-2017 Base Year: 2018 Estimated Year: 2019 Forecast Period: 2020-2024 Objective of the Study: To analyze and forecast India paper & paper products market size. To forecast India paper & paper products market based on application, raw material and regional distribution. To identify drivers and challenges for India paper & paper products market. To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers & acquisitions, etc., in India paper & paper products market. To conduct pricing analysis for paper & paper products market. To identify and analyze the profile of leading players involved in the manufacturing of paper & paper products. Some of the leading players in India Paper and Paper Products market are Ballarpur Industries Limited (BILT), Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Limited, Genus Paper & Boards Limited, JK Paper Ltd., Century Pulp & Paper Limited, Seshasayee Paper & Boards Limited, ITC Paperboards and Specialty Division Ltd., Rainbow Papers Ltd., Westcoast Paper Mills, International Paper APPM Ltd., Khanna Paper Mills Private Limited, among others. Our Research performed both primary as well as exhaustive secondary research for this study. Initially, Our Research sourced a list of leading manufacturers across the country. Subsequently, Our Research conducted primary research surveys with the identified companies. While interviewing, the respondents were also enquired about their competitors. Through this technique, Our Research could include the manufacturers which could not be identified due to the limitations of secondary research. Our Research analyzed the product offerings, distribution channels and presence of all major players operating in India paper & paper products market. Our Research calculated India paper & paper products market size using a top-down approach, wherein data for various end-user segments was recorded and forecast for the future years. Our Research sourced these values from the industry experts and company representatives and externally validated through analyzing historical data of these product types and applications for getting an appropriate, overall market size. Various secondary sources such as company websites, news articles, press releases, company annual reports, investor presentations and financial reports were also studied by Our Research. Browse our full report with Table of Contents : http://www.marketreportsonindia.com/marketreports/india-paper-paper-products-market-by-application-writing-printing-paper-paperboard-packaging-newsprint-and-spec/1512570 About Market Reports on India: Market Reports on India is an excellent source to obtain top quality market research reports that helps you to understand the business in the Indian market. We cover various industries, identifying and understanding key macro and micro-economic trends, insights and futuristic growth opportunities. To help achieve all this and more, Market Reports on India is the answer to all your business needs. Contact us at: Market Reports on India Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810775 Email: info@marketreportsonindia.com Website: www.marketreportsonindia.com Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn STAMFORD Five states announced Thursday that they were suing OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma and co-owner and former CEO and President Richard Sackler, piling more pressure on a company already faced with more than 1,000 similar lawsuits for allegedly fueling the opioid crisis with deceptive marketing of its pain drugs. The attorneys general of Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, West Virginia and Wisconsin are separately filing their complaints, which accuse the company of deliberately misrepresenting the risks and benefits of OxyContin, its top seller. More than 40 states, including Connecticut, have sued the firm, which prosecutors argue shares much of the blame for exacerbating an epidemic of opioid abuse that has seen some 218,000 Americans die from overdoses related to prescription opioids since 1999. Purdue Pharma is responsible for a public health crisis that has profoundly affected patients, their families, our communities and our health care system, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said in a statement. The company and its executives were recklessly indifferent to the impact of their actions, despite ever-mounting evidence that their deceptions were resulting in an epidemic of addiction and death. In a statement, Purdue denied the allegations. These complaints are part of a continuing effort to try these cases in the court of public opinion rather than the justice system, the statement said. The states cannot link the conduct alleged to the harm described, and so they have invented stunningly overbroad legal theories, which if adopted by courts, will undermine the bedrock legal principle of causation. A message left for a spokesperson of Richard Sackler was not immediately returned. For West Virginia, the lawsuit follows a $10 million settlement, in 2004, of a lawsuit with similar allegations. Ongoing litigation The past two weeks have marked one of the busiest periods in the past couple of years for Purdue-related litigation. On Tuesday, Pennsylvania filed a similar lawsuit. Including the Keystone State, eight of the 10 most populous states have sued Purdue for alleged marketing fraud. Illinois and Georgia sued earlier this year. New York originally sued last August and filed an expanded complaint in March. Florida, Texas and North Carolina sued last year. Ohio submitted its lawsuit in 2017. California, the most populous state, has not filed a complaint. Last Friday, a District Court judge in North Dakota dismissed that states lawsuit, which was filed last year. Purdue cannot control how doctors prescribe its products, and it certainly cannot control how individual patients use and respond to its products, regardless of any warning or instruction Purdue may give, Judge James Hill wrote in his decision. The state plans to appeal the decision, said North Dakota Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem. Focus on Richard Sackler Richard Sackler, one of eight Sackler family members named in Connecticuts lawsuit, has emerged as a particularly controversial figure in the litigation. Connecticut Attorney General William Tong last week released an unredacted version of the complaint, which he said showed shocking and offensive emails, from 2001 that Richard Sackler exchanged with an unnamed acquaintance. At the time, he was about halfway through a four-year stint as Purdues CEO and president. In one correspondence, the acquaintance said that abusers die; well, that is the choice they made. I doubt a single one didnt know of the risks. Richard Sackler responded that abusers arent victims; they are the victimizers. Representatives of Richard Sackler argue that those messages do not reflect his current views on the opioid crisis. He elaborated on the 2001 emails saying that he probably was quite emotional when he wrote them according to excerpts from a court deposition he gave in March. Ive gotten a lot more information about addiction, in general ... or opioid addiction, in particular, and, of course, my views have evolved and changed, Richard Sackler said in the deposition. At that time, I was very concerned that the balance that had been struck by the FDA between the benefits and risks of strong opioids might be upset, perhaps with terrible consequence for patients and for doctors, who wanted to treat them. Richard Sackler gave the deposition for a group of Multidistrict Litigation cases, consolidated in a federal court in Cleveland, involving about 1,700 cities and counties across the country that have sued Purdue and other opioid makers. None of the pending cases has gone to trial yet, leaving open the possibility of more individual or multistate settlements. In its largest settlement of the past 10 years, Purdue agreed in March to a $270 million settlement of Oklahomas lawsuit. About $200 million including $75 million donated by the Sacklers would help establish the National Center for Addiction Studies and Treatment at Oklahoma State Universitys campus in Tulsa. An attorney for the four of the Sackler defendants said in a recent interview that they want to reach a global settlement with the plaintiffs. Tong has said in the past couple of weeks that he still plans to take Connecticuts case to trial. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott STAMFORD The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced Wednesday that it would not take new donations from members of the Sackler family who own controversial OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, a move that reflects increasing scrutiny of the Sacklers prolific philanthropy. Following similar decision in recent weeks by other museums and a review of its gift-acceptance policy, the Mets suspension of its acceptance of new contributions from the family did not come as a major surprise. Criticism has grown in recent months over nonprofit institutions ties to the Sacklers, with eight of them named as defendants in Connecticuts lawsuit against the company, which accuses them of fueling the opioid crisis with deceptive OxyContin marketing. Every object and much of the building itself came from individuals driven by a love for art and the spirit of philanthropy, Met President Daniel Weiss said in a statement. For this reason, it is our responsibility to ensure that the public is aware of the diligence that we take to generate philanthropic support. Our donors deserve this, and the public should expect it. That is what were doing here. The Mets decision would not lead to a re-naming of the Sackler Wing, which houses the Temple of Dendur from ancient Egypt. In a statement, family members of the late Purdue co-founders Mortimer and Raymond Sackler said they supported the Mets decision. While we know that the allegations being made against our family are false and unfair, the last thing we would want to do is to put the Met in a difficult position, and we understand and respect their decision, the statement said. Our goals has always been to support the valuable work of such outstanding organizations, and we remain committed to doing so. The Sacklers support of the Met began more than 50 years ago some 30 years before OxyContin went on the market. The Met said it had not received any donations from the Sacklers in the past two years. But the Sacklers are still widely viewed as some of the museums most-prominent backers. A 1978 announcement of the official dedication of the Sackler Wing reported that its construction cost $9.5 million to build, worth approximately $36 million today. The same day as the Mets announcement, the American Museum of Natural History said that it would not take more Sackler donations. The Natural History museum is, coincidentally, a neighbor; it faces the Met from the west side of Central Park. The voluminous litigation against Purdue and the Sacklers including ones by Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York that name eight family members as defendants has piled pressure on museums, universities and medical organizations in the U.S., United Kingdom and Israel to disavow their support from the family. The Sacklers have cumulatively given tens of millions of dollars to those institutions. In March, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, an Upper East Side Manhattan neighbor of the Met, and the United Kingdoms National Portrait Gallery and Tate galleries said they would not accept additional Sackler donations. Meanwhile, Harvard University faces calls from the likes of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic presidential candidate, to remove the Sackler name from campus buildings. This crisis has been driven by greed, pure and simple, Warren wrote, in her plan to tackle the opioid crisis. If you dont believe that, just look at the Sackler family. Connecticut-based beneficiaries of the Sacklers include the University of Connecticut, Yale University and Greenwich Hospital. So far, those organizations have not severed their relationships with the family. Returning the money to the Sacklers would not undo the damage of the opioid crisis or punish the family or the company they are associated with, a UConn spokeswoman said earlier this year. Rather, it would hamper the work of UConn students and researchers who have no connection to the issues at hand and have done nothing wrong. In Stamford, Purdue ranks as one of the most-prominent corporate donors. It has given between $500,000 and $1 million to the Mill River Park Collaborative, the nonprofit that oversees the downtown park and sponsors the Stamford Downtown Special Services District. At 61 Atlantic St., The Palace Theatre has an art gallery that is named after Arthur Sackler, who died in 1987. His late brothers bought Purdues predecessor company in 1952. For-profit organizations are always rethinking their relationships. Stamford-based hedge fund Hildene Capital Management told investment entities of Sackler family members late last year that the firm was no longer comfortable managing their money. Amid those organizations distancing from the family, the Sacklers who own Purdue have changed their oversight of the company. In the past two years, all eight of the Sackler defendants in the Connecticut lawsuit have stepped down from the Purdue board, with the last of them leaving the panel at the beginning of the year. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; 203-964-2236; twitter: @paulschott CENTERBROOK Spectrum Art Gallery and Store of Centerbrook presents the Summer Arts Festival Gallery Show, a six-week exhibit May 31-July 14) of select works by artists, running May 31-July 14. These arists are participating in the upcoming Summer Arts Festival on the Essex Connecticut Town Green. The show includes mixture of painting, both representational and abstract, as well as mixed media, photography, and a variety of original jewelry designs, and fine crafts made from glass, ceramic, porcelain, fabric and more will be exhibited. In the summer gallery Show, multiple artists are presenting for the first time, as well as returning favorites who have presented since the gallerys inception in 2014. The opening reception for the Summer Show, which will include wine and light refreshments, is Friday, May 31, 6:30-9 p.m. at Spectrum Gallery, 61 Main St., Centerbrook. The Spectrum Gallery Show is a concurrent exhibit by artists participating in the Arts Center Killingworths Annual Summer Arts Festival, Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday, June 16, 11 a.m.-5 pm. Located on the picturesque Town Green of Essex, Connecticut, the Festival is a perfect destination to explore this historic New England town offering a vibrant art scene and fine dining options. As always, entrance to both the Summer Arts Festival and Spectrum Gallery Group Show are free. Spectrum Art Gallery and Store celebrates its 5th anniversary in 2019. An expansion of the nonprofit Arts Center Killingworth, the Gallery showcases regional and national artists and artisans, both emerging and established. In addition to painting, sculpture and photography, the Gallery includes a Store which offers fine crafts in diverse mediums such as fabric, glass, ceramics, paper, pottery, jewelry, wood and more. Spectrum Gallery hours are Wednesday-Saturday (12-6pm) and Sunday (12-5pm). The Arts Center Killingworth also celebrates an anniversary in 2019 - its 15th year, The Center presents arts festivals in the summer and autumn, as well as offers children and teens July art and fashion camps, as well as classes and workshops for those of all ages. For more information about Spectrum Gallery and Store visit spectrumartgallery.org or call 860-767-0742. For more information about Arts Center programming visit artscenterkillingworth.org or call 860-663-5593 and email artscenterkillingworth@gmail.com. PLAINVILLE - State liquor control authorities indefinitely shut down a local bar after two rival biker gangs staged a brawl on the patio Thursday night, reports said. The Diablos, a well-known biker gang dating back decades, quickly rolled up to the Central Cafe at 54 West Main St. Thursday night as the "Outlaws," also a well-known motorcycle club, were on the patio of the bar, according to papers released by the state Department of Consumer Protection. "A significant number of Diablos" quickly jumped the fence enclosed around the patio and began attacking the Outlaws, leading to an all out brawl that left one man with a head injury and a human "bite" mark and a second with a head laceration, reports said. As police arrived, the bikers fled by driving over lawns and on the wrong side of the road and by illegally passing other traffic, reports said. Many were wearing their gang gear clearly indicating they were either with the "Diablos" or the "Outlaws," said police who called in officers from other towns in case the situation escalated. The entire night shift of Plainville officers responded to the scene as some of the bikers took of their identifying gear to watch from across the street, reports said. Members of the "Outlaws" were shouting obscenities at police and more members of the biker gang arrived as officers were trying to get the situation under control, police said. One of the men injured was identified as an associate of the "Outlaws" and refused to cooperate with police, documents said. The other man who received a head injury and was bitten said he was hanging out when he was "jumped" but refused to provide other details. The manager of the bar admitted that he is friends with several members of the Outlaws and that the establishment was being operated as a "gang bar." Police Chief Matthew Catania told liquor control authorities that his officers responded to at least two other incidents of bike gang violence at the bar. Catania called the situation "dangerous" and not likely to stop. "This type of activity presents a very real danger to the involved parties, the police, but even more so to the innocent people who happen to be walking/driving by when the mass exodus occurs" as the bikers quickly flee, Catania said. The Director of the Liquor Control Division of the DCP announced Tuesday the indefinite suspension of the establishment's liquor permit and the closure of the cafe until pending proceedings for revocation of the permit. HARTFORD Even though an overwhelming number of lawmakers supported the concept, Attorney General William Tong said allowing the legislature to wrest control of the Bond Commission away from the executive branch would violate Connecticuts constitution. In an opinion requested by Gov. Ned Lamont, Tong said it is highly likely that a Connecticut court, if presented with the issue, would conclude that the provisions of the Proposed Bill violates the Connecticut Constitution. Since the attorney generals job is to defend the constitutionality of state laws this office historically has been hesitant to offer opinions on the constitutionality of legislation except where the statute is unquestionably unconstitutional on its face, Tong noted in a footnote. Tong issued his opinion Friday. Sen. John Fonfara, D-Hartford, proposed the legislation Tong said was unconstitutional and it passed the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee 46-4 earlier this month. Under the proposal, the Senate President and House Speaker would be in charge of the Bond Commission, which oversees all the borrowing for infrastructure projects. The leaders from both parties would replace members of the executive branch on the 10-member board, which is currently chaired by Lamont. The Office of Fiscal Analysis would staff the commission, which is currently staffed by the Office of Policy and Management. Tong said the Connecticut Constitution allows for some sharing of power, but does not condone giving over all the power to one branch of government. Although the Connecticut Constitution allows for flexibility in the exercise of the separate functions of government, the Proposed Bill would go too far. It would completely oust the executive branch from its role in executing the laws related to bond authorizations. Because the execution of the laws is the principle function of the executive branch, this would constitute a significant interference with the orderly conduct of the essential functions of another branch, Tong wrote. He said already the legislature has the power to authorize specific bonds for specific projects, which the governor would then have to sign off on. He said thats how things happened before the Bond Commission was created in the 1950s. Fonfara said he doesnt agree with the opinion. The way we proposed it is one way. There are several ways in which we can ultimately have an outcome where the legislature has a much greater role in capital investment in Connecticut, Fonfara said. Weve ceded enormous authority to the executive. He said the 46-4 vote in committee is representative of the desire to shift the balance. The Lamont administration praised Tongs opinion. We appreciate the AGs thoughtful analysis and fully concur with his conclusion that the proposal is likely unconstitutional on multiple grounds, Maribel La Luz, a spokeswoman for Lamont, wrote in an email. HARTFORD Gov. Ned Lamont called a press conference Wednesday afternoon to tell reporters he would veto the Paid Family and Medical Leave bill the Senate planned to run Wednesday night. Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, said theyre running the bill regardless of the veto threat. I want to do big, bold progressive things, but sometimes I do them in a conservative way, Lamont said. In a way that gives the taxpayers a high degree of confidence that we know what were doing. The 15-member board that would be in charge of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Authority created under the legislation to oversee the program is too big, according to Lamont. Lamonts staff has been negotiating with Democratic legislative leadership for a long time over the legislation, but I dont think were there, Lamont said. He said he was surprised to learn the Senate would be running the bill Wednesday. To me we are starting up a $400 million company, a big new insurance program. The idea that its going to be lead by this top heavy bureaucracy just looks like its not a recipe for success to me. Asked if there was some miscommunication during negotiations, I dont know, Lamont said. I was the one person early on who said I want to make sure a public or a private has the right to bid on this, Lamont said. He said he doesnt believe the current board set up and rules would allow for such an open bidding process to manage the program. I think somebody whose done it before has an advantage to being able to do that, Lamont said. Looney said if Lamont still has problems with the legislation then they can pass a separate bill to address the administration issues, but they are moving forward with SB 1. Its the highest priority of the Democratic caucus, Looney said. He said theyre open to changes through another piece of legislation, but they are moving forward. Looney said he was surprised Lamont has reservations about the bill because he did not express them during a meeting Tuesday. He also said they made it clear to the governor a week ago that they were going to vote on the bill today. Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, said the creation of a quasi-public agency to manage the program was Lamonts idea. Weve spent hours and hours with the governors people working on the governance issues, Kushner said. And I believe we have accommodated them in many, many ways. Kushner said theyve been negotiating this for five months and we havent gotten anything from the governor in the last few days. She said theres a whole year before employees would be asked to start contributing to the fund so theres time to tweak the program if necessary. Theres two and half years before people could start benefiting from the program, so we do have enough time to get this right. Under the current draft of the bill, Kushner said there is opportunities for requests for proposals to go out for claiming processing and database development. We want to make sure the process of bidding out that part of the program would have to be transparent and would have to live up to criteria to make it cost effective and good for the people of Connecticut, Kushner said. Looney said Democrats initially felt the program should be managed by the Department of Labor and Lamont wanted it to be run by a quasi-public agency. Lamont made it clear he wanted private insurance companies an opportunity to bid. We accommodated that through the RFP process thats included in the bill, Looney said. So theres been a great deal of back and forth. Looney said those are peripheral issues to the important core of the bill, which is to get the benefit to the people. If the bill passes the Senate, it would still have to pass the House before going to the governor. MIDDLETOWN The city has begun a project intended to ensure the safety of walkers and bicyclists, encourage healthful recreation, and make Middletown friendly to alternative means of transportation. Road stencils, or sharrows (shared lane markings), have popped up from the Main Street and Rapallo Avenue intersection in the North End. They will eventually stretch all the way to the Durham line. This comes as travel by bike has decreased significantly in the past decade or so, said John Hall, executive director of the Jonah Center for Earth and Art and member of the citys Complete Streets Committee. Its more and more common for motorists, especially those driving large vehicles and positioned higher in their seats than car operators, to believe they are priority users, said Hall, an avid cyclist who has flashing lights on his bike at all times. There are some, and they seem to be drivers of pickup trucks, who come very close, gunning their engine, and making a big noise when theyre right by you, and scaring you, he said. Hall noted that Streets were first paved, back in the 19th century, because people were riding bicycles before cars. Between two and three decades later, cars took over. It got to the point where people got the idea the streets are only intended for cars, when, in fact, both pedestrians and cyclists have use of these public places. Pavement originated because the bicycle, developed by Albert Pope in Boston, was becoming very popular in the late 1870s. In Middletown, the five-mile route identified by the streets committee will travel along deKoven Drive to Main Street Extension, past Stop & Shop and all along the length of Millbrook Road, according to Public Works Director Bill Russo. It will enable people to patronize businesses such as Stop & Shop, the pharmacies and Marshalls, as well as go to their doctor and other appointments along that route, Hall said. These paths are part of a 20- to 30-year plan to construct a network of travel methods throughout the city for non-motorists. They include a Newfield corridor path, one that takes walkers downtown from Wesleyan University, and another on West Street that runs all the way to Veterans Memorial Park. The intention is to inform the public about whats really going on in our society to get out of our cars and try to do more healthy living, and not produce as much pollution and as much carbon emissions, and less obesity and diabetes, and people exercise more, Hall said. Its the second paved project the committee, formed in 2012, has seen to fruition, but it took seven years. The first, recently completed, runs along Long Lane near Wesleyan. These sharrows, placed in the center of the roadway, are different from bike lanes, which require a five-foot-wide shoulder so a white line with a bicycle symbol can be painted on it. If theres not sufficient road width, then you have a share-the-road situation, Hall said. This is about user-friendly roads, and understanding there are bicyclists out there, and motorists should be aware of all their surroundings. Soon, signs will be erected along the route, said Russo, to ensure the safety of bikers who go on group runs originating from Pedal Power on Main Street. They see as many as 30 to 35 cyclists in the fair-weather months. Were trying to educate the driving public that bicycles are allowed on streets they have every right to be there, Hall explained. The city will also build ADA-compliant sidewalks on Saybrook Road/Route 154, funded by a $2.4 million grant from the Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments of Essex, a 17-municipality coalition that works on transportation needs, to reconstruct the corridor that runs from CVS and Walgreens on Main Street Extension to the Middletown Elks Club. The Stop & Shop/Saybrook Road intersection, a high-density residential area, is the worst place in Middletown for pedestrians, Hall said. There, the need for a crosswalk, sidewalks and pedestrian signals to ensure safety is crucial. In fact, pedestrians have worn paths in the dirt along the grassy shoulder because so many frequent the plaza. In winter, visibility is much worse, Hall said, because piles of snow obstruct views for walkers and motorists. The shovel-ready sidewalk project is awaiting approval from the state, Russo said. Already, the city was granted $1.8 million to redo the Westlake Drive area and $2.4 million for Millbrook Road work a total of $6.2 million. The money will pay for all expenses except engineering specs, which will come out of the citys road bond. Hall hopes the project will be done some time in 2020. For information, visit thejonahcenter.org and the Complete Streets Committee at middletownct.gov. AUSTIN, Texas -- Five sailors were arrested Friday at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas on charges that the men sexually assaulted a woman last year, law enforcement officials said. The sailors arrested are Mauricio Chaparro, 28, Kenneth Johnson, 20, Anthony Cooney, 21, Dominick Burns, 20, and Kyle Tuschmann, 19, said Adelina Simpson, a spokeswoman for the Bexar County Sheriff's Department. The sailors spent the weekend in a county detention center and arrived Tuesday at a jail in Hays County, where the charges are filed. It is located just north of San Antonio, which is in Bexar County. A Hays County grand jury indicted the men on April 24, each on four counts of aggravated sexual assault and with a bond of $500,000, according to indictment records. Burns, Cooney and Tuschmann are accused of performing sexual acts on the same woman and the other two men are listed as "intentionally and knowingly" participating in the crime, according to the records. Police were called to the scene of the incident at about 10:13 p.m. on May 19, 2018, according to a San Marcos police report. A woman said she'd been sexually assaulted in the back of a truck at San Marcos' Rio Vista Park. The incident report states the woman initially did not want to pursue charges, but returned to a police station the next day and was cooperative. Hays County District Attorney Wes Mau said Tuesday that he could not comment further on the case. Bexar County Sheriff's Department took the five men into custody about 2 p.m. Friday at Lackland Air Force Base to transfer the sailors to Hays County, where they were indicted on the charges, Simpson said. Base personnel escorted the men just outside the gates at Lackland, where local authorities arrested them, said Cmdr. James Stockman, spokesman for the Naval Education and Training Command. The men all were students at the Navy's Master at Arms Apprenticeship Training at the Naval Technical Training Center in May 2018, located at Lackland, Stockman said. The seven-week training course prepares sailors to enter Navy law enforcement careers such as base security or dog handlers. They had remained at the center "suspended in training status due to alleged misconduct," Stockman said. As Congress and the Defense Department move to improve housing conditions for troops and military families, an advocacy group has released more details on the state of military homes, from those who reside in them. According to a Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN) survey, more than 16,000 military family members reported dirty and unsafe conditions on more than 160 military bases. A preliminary report on the survey released in February had shown dissatisfaction with the private companies that built and manage on-base housing, as well as widespread problems in the homes -- from maintenance issues and responsiveness to unhealthy and dangerous living conditions such as mold, chipping lead-based paint, pest infestations and faulty wiring. New details from the survey show that 93% of respondents lived in homes managed by just six private companies and 84% of tenants had "very negative, negative or neutral" experiences in base housing, with those who said their feelings were "neutral" providing largely negative feedback regarding repairs and remediation, mold, dirty homes on move-in day and shoddy construction. Related content: On a five-point scale, with 1 being "very negative" and 5 being "very positive," Lincoln Property Company earned the highest satisfaction rating, at 2.57; Balfour Beatty Communities was second with a score of 2.53. They were followed by Lendlease/Winn, 2.46; Michaels Military Housing, 2.44; Corvias, 2.4; and Hunt Companies, 2.34. The base with the highest satisfaction rate was Naval Base San Diego, with housing managed by Lincoln Property, scoring a 2.94. Tied for the lowest were Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and Fort Carson, Colorado, with a score of 2.12. They are managed by Corvias and Balfour Beatty Communities, respectively. MFAN pointed out, however, that even the highest scores were not at the positive or very positive level. "Satisfaction rates were not significantly distinctive. None of them had average satisfaction levels at or above neutral," MFAN analysts wrote. By rank, flag and general officers who took the survey (and there weren't many, less than 1 percent of respondents) had the highest satisfaction scores, 2.94, and personnel ranked E-4 to E-6 had the lowest, at 2.32. E-4s through E-6s also made up more than half the respondents. Nearly 57% of those who participated reported problems with maintenance and repairs. Mold was the next most widely reported issue, with nearly 30% reporting problems, and "filth" was third, reported by 25% of respondents. One military spouse described the condition of the house when the family moved in: "The house was filthy. They had never cleaned it. There was a drawer filled with men's hair. Like someone cut their hair or shaved their chest in the drawer," the person wrote. "Carpet was absolutely disgusting, smelled horrific, and I vacuumed two canisters full of white dog hair before moving in our household goods. We don't have a dog," another wrote. In addition to battling mice, rats, cockroaches, mold infestation and crumbling construction, many reported extensive health problems they attribute to living in the homes. "Within weeks of moving into our house, my husband developed asthma. He is a combat vet with eight deployments under his belt, none of which resulted in any respiratory issues. Within 2 months of living in our home, all three of my daughters as well as myself suffered chronic sinus infections, swollen lymph nodes, sore throats and bloody noses," wrote the spouse of a senior enlisted Army soldier who lives at West Point, New York. MFAN executives said the newest report provides clarity on the state of the Defense Department's Military Housing Privatization Initiative, requested earlier this year by the Senate Armed Services Committee. The survey and detailed responses provided by participants show that housing is a force readiness concern, said Shannon Razsadin, MFAN's executive director. "If service members are worried about the safety of their homes, it distracts them from the military mission," she said. The survey also found that more than 10% of respondents felt that their homes weren't worth the Basic Allowance for Housing payments made on them and that they were charged outrageous fees for problems not caused by the tenants. Problems with military housing began garnering national attention following a series of media reports by Reuters in 2018 on mold and lead in some military housing. The Senate held oversight hearings on the problems earlier this year, and many lawmakers have personally toured homes and spoken with the Pentagon to resolve the issues. Army, Navy and Air Force leaders have inspected thousands of homes, developed a tenants' bill of rights designed to empower service members when dealing with management companies, withheld utility payments made directly to the companies, and are making plans to hire customer service representatives to advocate for residents. But for Congress, the Pentagon's initiatives may not be enough. On Tuesday, members of the Senate Armed Services personnel subcommittee said the proposed fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act would include initiatives to improve housing and reform the management system. While subcommittee chairman Sen. Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, did not release details of the legislation, he said during a markup of the bill's personnel section that the bill would "restore accountability and oversight of privatized housing." "Let me assure you that this subcommittee will not rest until every military family has a safe home to live in. ... Military families deserve safe, high-quality housing commensurate with the sacrifices they make every day for the security of our nation," he said. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, the panel's ranking Democrat, added that the legislation would reduce the extra housing payments the DoD is required to make to the privatized housing contractors. "It would allow the services to use the funding to improve housing and incentivize better performance," Gillibrand said. Details on the Senate Armed Services Committee bill are likely to be released later this week. The House of Representatives also is expected to have housing measures in its version of the fiscal 2020 authorizing bill. At least one company that oversees military housing is making improvements to its system for handling maintenance requests and tenant communications. Balfour Beatty Communities, which manages 43,000 military homes in 55 communities, announced Wednesday that it has introduced a new online system that residents can use to upload photos and videos of housing issues, track work orders, access lease documents, make online rent payments and communicate with staff. "It's part of our ongoing commitment to provide a 21st-century living experience to the brave men and women who rely on us to provide a home for them and their families," Balfour Beatty Communities Senior Vice President Anne-Marie Niklaus said in a release. Razsadin said that the MFAN report shows immediate and long-term changes are needed. "Military families don't have high expectations for their homes," she said. "We saw over and over again that basic needs were not being met. Military families believe they are actively being taken advantage of, and they have reported having no recourse." -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @PatriciaKime. This article by Jared Keller originally appeared on Task & Purpose, a digital news and culture publication dedicated to military and veterans issues. In what appear to be his first public remarks on U.S. national security since his resignation as Secretary of Defense, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis offered a word of caution to President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions with Iran on Tuesday. "The United States should buy time to keep peace and stability and allow diplomats to work diplomacy on how to keep peace for one more hour, one more day, one more week, a month or a year," Mattis said during remarks in the United Arab Emirates. "Iran's behavior must change," Mattis added, "[but] the military must work to buy time for diplomats to work their magic." In his remarks, entitled 'The Value of the UAE-US Strategic Relationship,' Mattis emphasized diplomacy and cooperation as critical to beating back the rising tide of radical terrorism around the world. Here are the meatiest bits, courtesy of Gulf News: "We're going to have to work together as nations to respect each other's differences but throughout this terrorism that is growing, it is not going away; it's growing in the other direction, we see it spreading in North Africa, and we see what's going on now as it spreads deeper into South Asia." "We're going to have to figure out how to do this. We don't have to be perfect nations, each one of us. We're going to have to protect what we have and we all work on our own nations to make them better. But I'm going to be spending a lot of time studying how do we get more nations to work together and see a way for the world with less disparity. If this terrorism continues, eventually there will be a time that the terrorists get their hands on weapons of mass destruction. And we must not let that happen. We need to hold fast to each other. We need to engage more with each other." Mattis's remarks came the day after Trump offered yet another strong warning to Iran following a rocket attack on the heavily-fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Monday, an attack that government sources reportedly suspect was carried out by Tehran-connected Shi'ite militias. "I think Iran would be making a very big mistake if they did anything," Trump told reporters that evening. "If they do something, it will be met with great force but we have no indication that they will." Trump had previously tweeted that any future threats from Iran against the United States would "be the official end of Iran." Mattis's emphasis on diplomacy is unsurprising despite the 'Mad Dog' moniker he despised. After all, this is the same man who once told Iraqi leaders, "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes: If you fuck with me, I'll kill you all." Indeed, Mattis was generally in favor of engaging with Iran over President Barack Obama's landmark nuclear accord, a position that put him at odds with Trump. "If we can confirm that Iran is living by the agreement, if we can determine that this is in our best interest, then clearly, we should stay with it," he told Congress in October 2017, per ABC News. "I believe, at this point in time, absent indications to the contrary, it is something the president should consider staying with." Mattis's remarks came the day after Trump offered yet another strong warning to Iran following a rocket attack on the heavily-fortified Green Zone in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on Monday, an attack that government sources reportedly suspect was carried out by Tehran-connected Shi'ite militias. "I think Iran would be making a very big mistake if they did anything," Trump told reporters that evening. "If they do something, it will be met with great force but we have no indication that they will." Trump had previously tweeted that any future threats from Iran against the United States would "be the official end of Iran." More articles from Task & Purpose: Hundreds of Army Psyop specialists are being promoted this month For Democrats in Congress who fought in the Iraq war, Iran is deja vu all over again The Army is getting its first brigade of souped-up Abrams tanks sooner than expected An investigation is underway aboard a Navy ship after a sailor was found dead during a stop in Spain. A sailor assigned to the amphibious transport dock Arlington was found unresponsive on Tuesday, said Cmdr. Kyle Raines, a spokesman for U.S. 6th Fleet. The sailor was later pronounced dead aboard the ship, he added. The person's identity has not been released, pending family notification. Navy Times is reporting the sailor was a woman. The sailor's death is under investigation by members of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Raines said. No additional details were immediately available. The Arlington was at Naval Station Rota for a regularly scheduled port visit at the time. The ship is part of the Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group, which deployed in December. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. NORWAY -- As the U.S. maps out plans to protect American military bases susceptible to climate change, its partner nations are growing increasingly concerned that global warming may lead to weapons and technology proliferation as now-frozen waterways open. Norwegian officials worry that melting Arctic ice will lead players such as Russia, China and the U.S. to increase use of undersea and aerial unmanned weapons as well as intelligence gathering platforms in the newly opened areas. The drones could be programmed to "follow strategic assets," including Norwegian or ally submarines, a top Norwegian Ministry of Defense official said in early May. He added that the presence of such drones may increase the potential for collisions. "I don't think all these unmanned things work perfectly at all times," he said. Military.com spoke with officials here as part of a fact-finding trip organized by the Atlantic Council, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, through a partnership with the Norwegian Ministry of Defense. The group traveled to Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger to speak with organizations and government operations officials May 6-10. Some officials provided remarks on background in order to speak freely on various subjects. Related content: The official's concern is not unfounded. Norway's military has reportedly spotted unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) surfing alongside Russian submarines in the Barents Sea. Russia is also funding research into aerial UAVs that can operate longer in the cold climate, according to a recent report from TASS. And during the U.S.-led exercise Trident Juncture in 2018 -- the largest iteration of the drill since 1991 -- troops observed multiple drones flying nearby, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Roughly 50,000 U.S. and NATO forces participated in the three-week exercise. It spanned central and eastern Norway, as well parts of the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea, including Iceland and the airspace of Finland and Sweden, NATO said at the time. Officials could not confidently say the observing drones belonged to Russia, but noted the increased risk posed by the flights. While Russia and Norway's coast guards deconflict on a near daily basis, Norway's MoD has not held top-level talks with its Russian counterparts since 2013, officials said. Norwegian military officials instead call up their Russian peers on a Skype line they keep open, checking in weekly. Russia has been clear about its push for additional drone operations in the Arctic circle. "There has to be some sort of deconfliction in order to avoid collisions," said Svein Efjestad, policy director for security and policy operations at Norway's Ministry of Defense. "If you use UAVs also to inspect exercises and weapons testing and so on, it could become very sensitive." Complicating things further, China, which considers itself a "near Arctic state" is planning to create new shipping lanes with its "Polar Silk Road" initiative. Officials expect that process with include drones to surveil the operation. Commercial drones also compound the congestion issue. For example, Equinor, Norway's largest energy company, is partnering with Oceaneering International to create drones able to dock at any of the company's offshore oil drilling facilities to conduct maintenance. The smart sea robot will be controlled from a central hub at Equinor's home facilities, a company official told Military.com. Another MoD official highlighted further risk, worrying that "smart drones" could be manipulated in favor of an adversary. "What if [the drone] can collect data, but [put that data out there] out of context?" the official said, citing spoofing concerns. "The risk is getting higher." Norwegian officials plan to pursue regulatory changes to help avoid "nasty reactions" due to the growing congestion of drone operators in the region. Because as the ice melts, the Arctic "will be an ocean like any other," the MoD official said. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Joseph V. Micallef is a best-selling military history and world affairs author, and keynote speaker. Follow him on Twitter @JosephVMicallef. Since assuming power in January 2017, the Trump administration has zeroed in on Iran. On Jan. 27, 2017, a week after being sworn in, President Donald Trump issued an executive order "Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorists Entry into the United States," temporarily banning Iranian citizens from entering the U.S. During the presidential election, Trump repeatedly denounced the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which limited Iran's nuclear program, as "the worst deal ever negotiated" and repeatedly pilloried the Obama administration for failing to stand up to Iran. Within months, the Trump administration signaled that it wanted to build a coalition of Saudi Arabia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states to challenge Iran and roll back its influence in the region. In May 2018, the White House announced that the U.S. would be pulling out of the JCPOA and that it would re-impose economic sanctions on Iran effective Nov. 4, 2018. Iran responded by threatening to "begin our industrial enrichment (of uranium) without any limitations" and also threatened to close off the Straits of Hormuz. Tehran also increased its attacks on Saudi Arabia by its Yemenite proxies, the Houthis. In August 2018, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei announced that under no circumstances would Tehran engage in direct talks with Washington. The escalation of U.S.-Iranian tensions was occurring against a backdrop of widespread intervention by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) Quds Force in the Syrian Civil war and continued Iranian tests of its intermediate-range missiles. Following the renewed imposition of sanctions in November 2018, the Trump administration issued six-month waivers to eight countries, including India, China and Iraq, to continue to import Iranian petroleum and, in the case of Iraq, electrical power. In April 2019, the U.S. announced that, as of May 2, it was ending all waivers on Iranian oil purchases and that those who continued to import it would also be subject to U.S. sanctions. At the same time, the U.S. Department of State announced that it was designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) effective April 15. The announcement spurred Iran's Parliament to designate "all legal and real persons and troops of the U.S. and its allies operating in the West Asian region, terrorists." Subsequently, Iran's Supreme National Security Council designated the United States as a "terrorist government" and "a state sponsor of terrorism" and U.S. Central Command as a "terrorist organization." A rapid escalation of belligerent threats prompted the U.S. to expedite deployment to the Persian Gulf of the USS Abraham Lincoln Aircraft Carrier Strike Group and a task force of B-52 Stratofortress bombers. In response, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, head of the IRGC's Aerospace Division, dismissed the U.S. buildup, noting, "An aircraft carrier was a serious threat for us in the past but now it is a target and the threats have switched to opportunities." A week ago, in an additional escalation, four oil tankers -- two from Saudi Arabia, one from the UAE and one from a private Norwegian shipping company -- were "struck by an unknown object," , according to Saudi officials. The U.S. subsequently called the attacks sabotage and blamed the IRGC as the perpetrator. By mid-month, both sides were signaling that neither was looking for a war. Iran, in an apparent effort to deescalate the confrontation, publicly announced that it was removing anti-ship missiles from two of its boats on station in the Persian Gulf. The IRGC: Iran's Power Broker The IRGC was established in May 1979, following Iran's Islamic Revolution, as an armed militia charged with protecting the regime's clerical leaders and safeguarding the Islamic revolution. Then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini distrusted the Iranian military, which he saw as being beholden to the Shah, and wanted a separate military force that would be loyal to him and the new Islamic government. Initially, the IRGC functioned as an elite bodyguard to the Iranian clerics. The outbreak of the Iraq-Iranian war, however, transformed the IRGC into a parallel but separate military force, complete with its own navy and air force and, eventually, a separate missile force. Today, the IRGC consists of a far-ranging military force that also wields enormous economic clout through direct control of large segments of the Iranian economy. In addition, its de facto political wing, Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran (Abadgaran), is among the largest voting blocs in the Iranian Parliament. Under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration, himself a former member, the IRGC expanded its role into virtually every aspect of Iranian society. The IRGC's main role is national security, internal and border security, law enforcement, control of smuggling, control of the Straits of Hormuz, advancing the Islamic Revolution internationally, and Iran's missile forces. The IRGC has also played a prominent role in the development of Iran's nuclear program. All of these functions operate under the broad umbrella of defending the Islamic Revolution from its opponents, both internal and external. The IRGC's operations are geared toward a combination of asymmetric warfare against its foreign opponents, principally the U.S. and its Gulf allies, and a comprehensive internal security apparatus. There are three principal operating arms under the IRGC umbrella. The IRGC has a total strength of around 125,000 members, spread across its ground forces, navy, aerospace and special forces. The ground forces are organized into 31 provincial corps, one each stationed in Iran's 30 provinces -- except for Tehran Province, which has two. The regional commanders have wide-ranging authority and are tasked with maintaining public order in their provinces. In addition, the Ansar-u-Mahdi Corps, part of the IRGC's ground forces, are tasked with a range of special functions, from protecting the regime's leaders to counterintelligence and covert operations. The IRGC's aerospace forces operate a small fleet of antiquated fighters and one attack helicopter. Its main force consists of seven Su-25s that fled Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War. In addition, it also possesses an unspecified number of drones. The aerospace forces are also responsible for Iran's strategic missile force and its missile development program. They operate several thousand short and medium range mobile ballistic missiles, with operating ranges of up to 1,200 miles. The aerospace forces are also tasked with the development of space launch vehicles and medium range ballistic missiles. The IRGC has relied heavily on North Korea in the development of its ballistic missile program. The IRGC navy relies primarily on swarm tactics, using large numbers of small, fast attack craft. It specializes in asymmetric, hit-and-run tactics. In addition, it maintains large arsenals of mines and anti-ship cruise missiles to attack commercial and military traffic in the Gulf and, in particular, the Straits of Hormuz, and is also responsible for coastal defense. The second element of the IRGC's forces is the Basij Militia (Mobilization Resistance Force), a volunteer force consisting of 90,000 militiamen and 300,000 reservists. Western intelligence agencies estimate that, if necessary, the Basij could mobilize in excess of a million supporters. The Basij were the template used by the IRGC in organizing the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq following the collapse of Iraqi military forces when the country was invaded by Islamic State jihadists. They have also served as the template for the pro-Assad militias: the National Defense Forces (NDF) and the Popular Defense Committees (PDC). During the 2009 election, which brought Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power, the Basij were used to mobilize voter turnout. When numerous allegations of election fraud led to widespread protests, the Basij were used to intimidate protesters and crush the demonstrations. The Basij militias are primarily engaged in internal security. They function as an auxiliary to law enforcement and monitor and suppress dissident groups. They also provide social services, organize public religious ceremonies and function as a morality police. The final element of the IRGC's military structure is the Quds Force. Under its legendary commander, Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the 5,000-strong force is tasked with conducting unconventional warfare in foreign operations and in training and assisting other Iranian-aligned foreign militant organizations. The Quds Force has worked closely with Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza. It is also playing an important role in organizing pro-Maduro militias in Venezuela. Militants from many organizations have undergone training at Quds Force facilities in Iran, and it's believed that the Quds Force now operates at least one training facility for Hezbollah in Lebanon. The IRGC is believed to control between 15% and possibly as much as 33% of Iran's economy. Its economic portfolio began with the confiscation of assets of Iranians who fled the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Over the last 40 years, it has transformed itself into a vast conglomerate that controls over 200 different companies. Western intelligence agencies estimate that the IRGC's annual revenue is upward of $30 billion. In addition, it receives more than $8 billion from the Iranian government to fund military operations, plus undisclosed amounts to fund its foreign operations. It is particularly entrenched in the construction and infrastructure sector. During the Ahmadinejad administration, IRGC-controlled construction companies received billions in lucrative no-bid contracts for a wide range of government-funded projects. It also controls 51% of Telecommunications Company of Iran, acquired under Ahmadinejad's tenure, which controls fixed-line and cellular communications in the country, as well as internet and satellite services. The IRGC also controls Bachman Group, the manufacturer of vehicles under license from Mazda and SADRA, the leading shipbuilding and repair company in Iran. And it controls airports and port facilities throughout Iran and has, in the past, been accused of conducting widespread smuggling operations of contraband goods. The IRGC and the United States The IRGC is like a Praetorian Guard that was created to protect a nation's rulers but, over time, has come to amass more power than those it was designed to protect. In the process, it has become the backbone of the clerical regime and parlayed its power and influence into economic wealth and, increasingly, a large, ongoing, political role. The apex of the IRGC's power was under the Ahmadinejad presidency, one of their own, who ensured that the group received lucrative government contracts and was able to take control of key economic sectors. Its relationship with the current Rouhani government, on the other hand, has been strained. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has tried to limit the group's influence in Iranian politics and the economy. He has also tried to crack down on its lucrative smuggling activity. The purpose of the IRGC today is to ensure the continuation of the clerical regime in Iran. In that role, it will stifle political dissent and curb any social unrest that has the potential to grow into a regime threat. It will also ensure that any reformist elements within Iran will not challenge the position of the clerical regime. However, it also functions to protect its own position within Iranian society. The IRGC has become a self-perpetuating, political-economic-military elite. It is not unlike a criminal syndicate that engages in both legal and illegal activities and which relies on violence and political influence to protect itself and its sponsors from opponents. The IRGC benefits from the continuation of ongoing tensions with the U.S., as it underscores its role in protecting the clerical regime, provided that those tensions stop short of triggering an all-out war. Indeed, it plays a prominent role in stoking them. Likewise, domestic unrest -- as a result of sanctions-induced, deteriorating economic conditions -- work for the benefit of the IRGC by highlighting its role in crushing any social or political dissent against the government. Sanctions also have the added benefit of creating lucrative smuggling opportunities. Western analysts like to distinguish between conservative and reformist/moderate elements within Iranian politics, arguing that U.S. policy should be designed to help the moderate elements achieve and retain power. This was a common refrain during the Obama administration and was, in part, the inspiration of its policy of seeking a reconciliation with Tehran. There are certainly moderate/reformist elements within Iranian politics. As long as the IRGC retains its role in Iran, however, such reforms will never be allowed to threaten the role of the IRGC in Iranian society. Indeed, it is questionable where Iran and the U.S. could ever normalize their relationship as long as the IRGC plays such a prominent role in Iran. The IRGC certainly has its critics within Iran. Its wealth, and especially its ostentatious displays by many of its commanders, has made it unpopular with large segments of Iranian society. Given its military power, however, it is hard to imagine that the organization would ever be dismantled, short of a civil war and the complete collapse of the clerical regime. In targeting the IRGC, the Trump administration is zeroing in on the one organization most responsible for maintaining the clerical regime in power and whose agenda is most inimical to U.S. interests in the region. In doing so, it will, in the short term, strengthen popular support for the IRGC within Iran. Following the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization, for example, Iran's parliamentarians wore the green pants from the IRGC's uniform to show their support for the organization. President Rouhani remarked that the U.S. move "was a mistake which would only increase the IRGC's popularity in Iran and elsewhere." In the long run, however, it is in Washington's interest to see that the power and influence of the IRGC in Iran is curbed. Making it harder for the organization to function, limiting its economic opportunities and constraining its activities, at least abroad, may serve to weaken the organization. This is a long-term objective, however. Short term, it is unlikely that the IRGC's position in Iran will change. Neither will U.S.-Iranian relations. -- The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. How Bad Do You Want to Achieve Your Goal? Heres How to Tell If You Want It Enough to Succeed Do you have a goal in front of you? How badly do you want to achieve that dream? Are you willing to take on the challenge to... Key Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Strunz Dana Chemical Elements Entries shown in red are rocks recorded for this region. Note: this is a very new system on mindat.org and data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information! Chenoweth, W.L. (1967), Uranium deposits of the Lukachukai Mts, New Mexico Geol. Soc. 18th Guidebook: 78-84; Chenoweth, W.L. (1973), Uranium deposits of northeastern Arizona, New Mexico Geol. Soc. 24th. Guidebook: 139; Dare, W.L. (1961), Uranium mining in the Lukachukai Mts., US Bur. Mines Info Circ. 8011: 2-30; Peirce, W.H. (1970), Coal, oil, natural gas, helium, and uranium in Arizona, AZ Bur. of Mines Bull. 182: 235-248. Reference: Chenoweth, W.L. (1967), Uranium deposits of the Lukachukai Mts, New Mexico Geol. Soc. 18th Guidebook: 78-84; Chenoweth, W.L. (1973), Uranium deposits of northeastern Arizona, New Mexico Geol. Soc. 24th. Guidebook: 139; Dare, W.L. (1961), Uranium mining in the Lukachukai Mts., US Bur. Mines Info Circ. 8011: 2-30; Peirce, W.H. (1970), Coal, oil, natural gas, helium, and uranium in Arizona, AZ Bur. of Mines Bull. 182: 235-248. Scarborough, Robert B. (1981), Radioactive occurrences and uranium production in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Report for U.S. Department of Energy (Atomic Energy Commission), GJBX-143. RME-2071: 114. Reference: Scarborough, Robert B. (1981), Radioactive occurrences and uranium production in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Report for U.S. Department of Energy (Atomic Energy Commission), GJBX-143. RME-2071: 114. Description: May be present. Scarborough, Robert B. (1981), Radioactive occurrences and uranium production in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Report for U.S. Department of Energy (Atomic Energy Commission), GJBX-143. RME-2071: 114. Reference: Scarborough, Robert B. (1981), Radioactive occurrences and uranium production in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Report for U.S. Department of Energy (Atomic Energy Commission), GJBX-143. RME-2071: 114. Description: May be present. Scarborough, Robert B. (1981), Radioactive occurrences and uranium production in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Report for U.S. Department of Energy (Atomic Energy Commission), GJBX-143. RME-2071: 114. Reference: Scarborough, Robert B. (1981), Radioactive occurrences and uranium production in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Report for U.S. Department of Energy (Atomic Energy Commission), GJBX-143. RME-2071: 114. Description: May be present. Chenoweth, W.L. (1967), Uranium deposits of the Lukachukai Mts, New Mexico Geol. Soc. 18th Guidebook: 78-84; Chenoweth, W.L. (1973), Uranium deposits of northeastern Arizona, New Mexico Geol. Soc. 24th. Guidebook: 139; Dare, W.L. (1961), Uranium mining in the Lukachukai Mts., US Bur. Mines Info Circ. 8011: 2-30; Peirce, W.H. (1970), Coal, oil, natural gas, helium, and uranium in Arizona, AZ Bur. of Mines Bull. 182: 235-248. Reference: Chenoweth, W.L. (1967), Uranium deposits of the Lukachukai Mts, New Mexico Geol. Soc. 18th Guidebook: 78-84; Chenoweth, W.L. (1973), Uranium deposits of northeastern Arizona, New Mexico Geol. Soc. 24th. Guidebook: 139; Dare, W.L. (1961), Uranium mining in the Lukachukai Mts., US Bur. Mines Info Circ. 8011: 2-30; Peirce, W.H. (1970), Coal, oil, natural gas, helium, and uranium in Arizona, AZ Bur. of Mines Bull. 182: 235-248. Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A) In-text Citation No. Nestler, R.K., and Chenoweth, W.L. (1958), Geology of the uranium deposits of the Lukachukai Mountains, Apache County, Arizona: U. S. Atomic Energy Commission Report RME-118, 64 p. Dare, W.L. (1961), Uranium mining in the Lukachukai Mountains, U.S. Bureau of Mines Information Circular 8011: 2-30. O'Sullivan, R. B., and Beikman, H. M. (1963), Geology, structure, and uranium deposits of the Shiprock quadrangle, New Mexico and Arizona: USGS Miscellaneous Geological Investigations Map 1-345. Chenoweth, W.L. (1967), The uranium deposits of the Lukachukai Mountains, in New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 18th. Field Conference, Guidebook of Defiance-Zuni-Mt. Taylor region, Arizona & New Mexico: 78-85. Chenoweth, W.L. (1967), The uranium deposits of the Lukachukai Mountains, in New Mexico Geological Society Guidebook 18th. Field Conference, Guidebook of Defiance-Zuni-Mt. Taylor region, Arizona & New Mexico: 78-85. Peirce, H. Wesley, S.B. Keith and J.C.Wilt (1970), Coal, oil, natural gas, helium, and uranium in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Mines Bull. 182: 235-248. Chenoweth, W.L. and Malan, Roger C. (1973), The Uranium deposits of northeastern Arizona, in: Monument Valley (Arizona, Utah and New Mexico), James, H. L.; [ed.], New Mexico Geological Society 24th. Annual Fall Field Conference Guidebook, 232 p. : 139-149. Scarborough, Robert B. (1981), Radioactive occurrences and uranium production in Arizona, Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Report for U.S. Department of Energy (Atomic Energy Commission), GJBX-143. RME-2071: 114. Welty, J.W., Reynolds, S.J., Keith, S.B., Gest, D.E., Trapp, R.A., and DeWitt, Ed (1985) Mine index for metallic mineral districts of Arizona: Arizona Bureau of Geology and Mineral Technology Bulletin 196, 92 p.: 3. (district assignment & alternate names) USGS (2005), Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS): U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, loc. file ID #10027492. Shiprock NTMS. Toh-Atin Mesa, Arizona, quadrangle 15 minute topo map. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Preliminary Reconnaissance Report #PRR-EDR-598. U.S. Department of Energy files. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. 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If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts Corruption and Pakistan cannot go hand in hand: Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri Chairman MQI Supreme Council Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri has said that promoting the culture of truthfulness and honesty is the requirement of the Constitution of Pakistan and Islamic teachings. He said the scourges of corruption, nepotism and injustice have undermined the ideological foundations of the country. Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri made these remarks while addressing a meeting held at the central secretariat yesterday. Brig. (r) Iqbal Ahmad Khan, Khurram Nawaz Gandapur, GM Malik, Jawad Hamid, Rafique Najam, Ahmad Nawaz Anjum, Noorullah Siddiqui, Raja Zahid Mahmood, Ms. Farah Naz, Mazhar Mahmood Alvi, Chaudhry Irfan Yousaf, Rashid Kalyami and other leaders attended the meeting. Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said that the destruction of the system that does not provide justice to the families of the martyrs and allow them to have right to a fair trial is in the best interest of the people. He said that corruption and Pakistan cannot go hand in hand, stating that the role of the judiciary is of paramount importance in the eradication of corruption. He said that Pakistan cannot be put on the path to progress and stability without putting the powerful to the process of accountability. The heads of the administrative committees established to make arrangements for Itikaf presented their progress reports in the meeting. They said that the best facilities will be provided to the residents during the ten days of Itikaf. Dr Hassan Mohi-ud-Din Qadri said in his concluding remarks that the youth should be persuaded to become part of Itikaf City. He said that they should turn their back on the worldly commitments for ten days and focus exclusively on their spiritual reform and well-being. Youth pivot of national progress: Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri President MQI Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri has asked the youth to play their educational, and reformative role for progress, peace and stability of Pakistan. He said that no one can bring down a nation that has skilled, educated and patriotic youth. He said that youth are the pivot of phenomenal progress that Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and China have made in recent decades. Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri made these remarks while talking to a MYL delegation Hafizabad that called on him at the central secretariat. Central President MYL Mazhar Mahmood Alvi was heading the delegation. The delegation included Amir Sultan, Haroon Sani, Umar Awan, Zeeshan Qadri and others. Allama Rana Muhammad Idrees, Noorullah Siddiqui, Jawad Hamid, and Raja Zahid Mahmood were also present during the meeting. MYL Hafizabad chapter presented the progress report of its welfare and organizational activities and informed that they are arranging for the provision of clean drinking water in the government schools as well. The meeting was also informed that the MYL chapter also distributes ration among the needy and poor and also takes part in the tree plantation campaign. Dr Hussain Mohi-ud-Din Qadri congratulated the office holders of MYL Hafizabad and promised to visit the district in the month of September. He said that it is a matter of great honour that Allah Almighty creates the feeling of public service among the youth. He said that MYL is among the organized and disciplined youth organization of Asia that has been in the forefront of serving humanity. He asked the students and youth to become part of Itikaf City and benefit from the lectures of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri. EAST LANSING, MI -- Were you hoping to see Hamilton at the Wharton Center? Tickets are sold out, right? Wrong. Yes, most seats for most shows are indeed sold out, but there is the Hamilton lottery available, where fans get incredible orchestra seats for only $10. (More on that in a moment.) But some premium seats also are available on the Wharton Center website, said Wharton Center spokesperson Bob Hoffman. The show releases them periodically, and we never know when theyre going to do that, he said. I stumbled upon that option on Sunday morning. I had just returned from our two-week trip on the search for Michigans Most Iconic Restaurant. It was a great trip, and well have those results posted soon. But I was bummed that I had missed opening weekend, and that I wouldnt likely see the show because of some upcoming family commitments. Thats when I said to myself, Let me check if there seats for any upcoming shows." I went to the Wharton Center website where I found eight tickets remaining for the 1 p.m. Sunday matinee performance. Two of those tickets were in the front row. So, I bought them. (Yes, it was a splurge at $175 a ticket, but I justified them as early birthday present for my wife, Pam.) It was an unforgettable show, and worth every cent. Plus, it made the wife happy. Why were those seats still available? Hoffman said tickets are sometimes held for VIPs or media from other markets who are getting a preview of the show. Wharton has no control over those holds; they just get released by the company. After I purchased the tickets I went back to see if tickets were available for other shows, and indeed they were -- for all shows. The Wharton Center website actually tells you how many tickets remain for each performance. Hoffman said he contacted the Company this morning, and no more tickets are planned to be released for upcoming performances, which means whats on the website now is whats available for the rest of the run. I just looked for tonights show (7:30 p.m., May 22, 2019) and orchestra tickets are available from $95-$205. I clicked on best available and found two seats for $422 (after service fees) in row F. Other shows in the run only had $395 tickets available. Is it worth it? Thats for you to decide, of course. We loved it, telling our friends the show is life changing. Hoffman said thats exactly what hes hearing from patrons. Its been amazing. Ive heard from so many people that want to come back and see it again because its so incredible. This show has really touched people." As for The Lottery, fans can download Hamilton App to register for the next days Lottery and get two tickets for $10 each. Hoffman said there are about 40 orchestra seats held for the random lottery drawing for each show. He also encouraged fans to sign up for the Wharton Center E-Club to get pre-sale information and other insider tips for Hamilton and other future shows. More info at https://www.whartoncenter.com/events-tickets/join-the-eclub The national tour of Hamilton continues through June 2, 2019 at the Wharton Center in East Lansing. Hamilton is the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of Americas Founding Fathers. The musical from Lin-Manuel Miranda features a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B and Broadway. In 2016 its received a record-setting 16 Tony nominations, winning Best Musical and 10 other categories. Learn more at https://hamiltonmusical.com/us-tour/home. Another way to see the show: Negotiations over legislation to overhaul Michigans existing auto insurance policy are ongoing as the legislatures Republican leaders continue to work towards a deal with Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. No additional votes on auto insurance legislation were taken Tuesday as Whitmer, House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, and Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake, continued ongoing talks to come to a consensus. The leaders met over the weekend, as well as Monday and Tuesday, to continue discussions. Asked about the progress of auto insurance negotiations as she stopped to visit with volunteers planting flowers at the capitol Tuesday, Whitmer said only that the parties were talking as she walked between the capitol and her office, shooing away further questions. Last week, Chatfield and Shirkey said they were encouraged by Whitmers recent indications she was open to allowing drivers some choice on personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage. Shirkey spokesperson Amber McCann said talks have come to focus on a few key details, suggesting the outcome could be decided in a matter of days. If those details cant be resolved in a few days, theyre likely not going to be resolved at all, she said. But nobodys looking to pull the plug based on an arbitrary timeline. Chatfield is happy with the progress being made, spokesperson Gideon DAssandro said. He did not elaborate further, noting that discussions are ongoing. A prospective ballot initiative now looms over the negotiation process. Businessman Dan Gilbert is currently in the process of creating a ballot committee, Citizens for Lower Auto Insurance Rates, in case the legislature and Whitmer dont come to a consensus, Quicken Loans vice president of government affairs Jared Fleisher told the Associated Press Monday. Fleisher told the Associated Press a legislative solution would be preferable, but noted signature collection must begin soon in case it doesnt pan out. If an initiative earns enough signatures, the legislature can approve it without Whitmers signature. McCann said the ballot drive is further evidence of how important this issue is for most citizens in Michigan. Lawmakers in both the House and Senate passed versions of a bill making big changes to auto insurance earlier this month. Both versions give consumers levels of personal injury protection to choose from aside from the current unlimited coverage option and put a fee schedule on what hospitals can charge auto insurers for specific injuries. Whitmer threatened a veto on both bills as currently written. But she indicated shed be open to giving drivers the option of choosing $250,000 or more in personal injury protection, or PIP, coverage. She said last week a complete zero-coverage option for Michigan drivers is where I have to draw the line, because that just shifts the burden on to the taxpayers in a different form, which is Medicaid." On Tuesday, the Coalition Protecting Auto No-Fault, or CPAN, suggested Whitmer and legislative Republicans didnt need to reduce medical coverage to lower auto insurance rates. George Sinas, CPANs general counsel, said during an afternoon press conference the state already has the authority to oversee Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association assessments and regulate insurance premiums. No major changes should be made to this incredible reparations system until we first address what is perhaps its biggest problem, and that biggest problem is failed government, he said. There are tools in the toolbox that have been there for decades that have not been used. Opening the market up to PIP choice will lead to a domino effect of more litigation, financial difficulties for those who incur medical expenses over the coverage limit they choose and increased Medicaid expenses, he continued. PORTER, IN Authorities are searching Indianas Lake Michigan shoreline for a man who vanished during a kayaking trip. According to the Associated Press, 23-year-old Jacob Sandy of South Bend was last seen on May 18. The Porter Police Department has determined that a car with a Michigan license plate found at a parking lot near Porter Beach on Tuesday belongs to the missing man, the Associated Press reported. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Coast Guard are searching for Sandy. Porter Assistance Police Chief Todd Allen told the The (Northwest Indiana) Times that a surveillance camera outside Porter Beachs bathrooms showed Sandy walking in front of a Porter police cruiser Saturday afternoon, and that cars dashboard camera showed him taking his kayak into the water. Report to be filed with Police on inappropriate use of PMs photo: PRO TRAVERSE CITY, MI A Michigan man has been arrested for allegedly filming a minor female using the bathroom in his home and then saving the files on his computer. The Michigan State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force took James Duane Wilson, 51, of Grand Traverse County, into custody on May 16. The investigation into Wilson began when MSP received a tip through the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children involving suspected possession of child sexually abusive material A search of Wilsons home resulted in authorities discovering multiple internet-capable devices, including several covert, concealable digital video cameras. Further investigation revealed evidence that the suspect had been actively surveilling the minor in the bathroom, according to police. Wilson has been charged with one count of surveillance of an unclothed individual having reasonable expectation of privacy. Additional charges are expected, police said. The MSP Cadillac Post, MSP Computer Crimes Unit and the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office assisted in the investigation. ANN ARBOR, MI - Resumes for Ann Arbors three police chief candidates show a combined 87 years of experience in law enforcement. But the interview process for Michael Cox, Jason Forsberg and Bryan Jarrell last week highlighted career moments not included among the bullet points of accolades. During the three-day ordeal, Jarrell and Cox addressed headline-grabbing moments in their careers: a lost gun and an officer-on-officer assault headed for the big screen. When prompted during an interview Friday with city council, Jarrell, police chief in Prescott Valley, Arizona, said his biggest mistake was accidentally leaving a gun in a public library restroom. I wish I could go back and change that, but I cant, he said. He lost his department-issued gun in November 2017, while changing in a restroom while at the library for a town council meeting, according to The Associated Press. He didnt realize for four days and a $500 reward was offered to find it. After the news splashed across national media, Jarrell was suspended for two days without pay, ordered to compete a firearm safety course and pay for the replacement of the gun, the AP reported. "It pales in comparison to how much I beat myself up on this every single day," Jarrell said of the punishment, according to the AP. During a candidate meet-and-greet last week, Cox, Bureau of Professional Development superintendent for the Boston Police Academy, confirmed he was the victim of an assault and subsequent cover-up by fellow officers in 1995. Cox was brutally beaten while chasing a suspect as an undercover officer in Boston, after fellow officers mistook him for a black gang member suspected in a fatal shooting, according to media reports. He was then harassed with phone calls, had his tires slashed and had firefighters called to his home on a false report of a fire. Cox received nearly $1.3 million in a federal lawsuit for violation of his civil rights in the incident, according to The Associated Press. Three officers were fired - though one was later reinstated through arbitration - and another officer was convicted of perjury, but later cleared on appeal, according to the Boston Globe. On Friday, Cox said he's not proud of the ordeal, but willing to address it, noting he's "very aware of bad policing." "I dedicated probably the remainder of my career to making sure things like that didn't happen," he said. "The narrative wasn't going to be that those kinds of people do these things, are successful and then thats what policing is. The fact is you need good people to stay in police departments and work as hard as they can to make things better." Good officers need to be encouraged, he said, adding some people can be trained and those that can't need to be removed as fast as possible. Coxs saga, documented in former Globe journalist Dick Lehrs book The Fence: A Police Cover-Up Along Bostons Racial Divide, is being made into a movie, according to media reports. Sterling K. Brown of This is Us and Black Panther fame was in talks in December to star in the movie adaption, according to Variety. Both Jarrell and Cox are up against an internal candidate, Ann Arbor Deputy Police Chief Forsberg. Forsberg has 23 years of experience in policing, according to his resume. Before coming to Ann Arbor police in 2018, he worked as deputy police chief for the University of Michigan-Dearborn and spent 20 years as a police officer at the universitys Ann Arbor campus. Hes helped lead the Ann Arbor police administration, serving as a liaison with other city services, resolving controversial issues and meeting with other police agency executives to enhance county services, according to his resume. Elsewhere, hes managed units including internal affairs and facilitated a data-driven approach to strategic, operational and tactical decision making. Jarrell has 34 years of experience in law enforcement, according to his resume. Since 2013, hes overseen 100 employees, including 76 sworn officers, while serving as police chief in Arizona, his resume showed. Before then, between 1985-97, he worked at the Southfield Police Department, rising through the ranks to become deputy chief of police. Among his accomplishments, he cited Prescott Valley being named the safest city in northern Arizona, increasing diversity by 62 percent over four years and his work with a university to develop a domestic violence lethality assessment tool under consideration by the U.S. Department of Justice. Jarrell is slated to retire from Prescott Valley in July, according to the AP. He plans to move to Michigan either way. Cox has 30 years of experience in policing, according to his resume. He rose through the ranks in Boston to be a zone commander, commander of internal affairs, commander of operations and deputy superintendent in the Bureau of Field Services, before taking his current role, according to his resume. In it, he's responsible for training 115 new police officer recruits, 20 cadets and exiting staff members. During his time as a commander he lowered crime for his zone, with 292 officers, by 16 percent, according to his resume. He's earned the Boston Police Medal of Honor, helped implement a recruit-testing system, sat on a mayor's diversity council and was key in the overhaul of the 911 center. The candidates now await a recommendation to city council by City Administrator Howard Lazarus. ANN ARBOR, MI Kaila Roark doesnt know what she would have done without the help of Planned Parenthood. The 24-year-old Ypsilanti mother relied on the agency for prenatal care when she was pregnant with her daughter and without insurance. I went to Planned Parenthood the entire time, Roark said. They helped me with everything for no cost. I didnt have insurance I wasnt able to take care of myself at that point and they helped me with her. Roark brought her 5-year-old daughter Lucie with her to rally with Planned Parenthood organizers in a Stop the Ban demonstration Tuesday, May 21, at the University of Michigan. While she found help from Planned Parenthood with her pregnancy, others rely on the organization when it comes to family planning and making pivotal decisions, like abortion. She believes that decision is for women to make for themselves, with no interference from anyone else. Its not (politicians') choice as to what we do with our own bodies, she said. I understand they have their own beliefs why they want to do it, but that doesnt mean we shouldnt have our own choices. Tuesdays event was part of a nationwide day of events to Stop the Bans, opposing laws that make abortion more difficult or illegal. Zaynab Elkolaly, chair of the Womens March Michigan Youth Cohort, helped organize the rally with a goal of giving young people a voice in the conversation. Young women are heavily affected by reproductive issues, but arent old enough to technically vote for them, Elkolaly said. So making sure their voices are heard in other ways is great to ensure theres representation all around. Cecile Richards, former Planned Parenthood president, spoke to the crowd and discussed recent laws passed in Alabama and legislation proposed in Michigan. Heres the punchline: Do you know the thing that those legislators have in common? Theyre never going to be pregnant. Theyre never going to actually face the issues we deal with every single day of our lives, Richards said. ... Were not going to let them take away our rights." Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey earlier this month signed a bill to make abortion a felony in that state. The thing about that act and the signing of that piece of legislation by the governor (of Alabama) it has lit a fire all across the United States of America, Richards said. The Michigan House of Representatives and Senate on May 14 voted to ban dilation and evacuation (D&E) abortions in Michigan. The legislation defines the procedure as dismemberment abortion, and makes it a two-year felony if performed by a physician, unless it was to save the life of the mother. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has said she will veto the bills. The procedure is often performed in the second trimester of a pregnancy. Anti-abortion activists have called the procedure gruesome and say theyll launch a ballot initiative if the bill is vetoed. With rallies taking place across the state Tuesday, Genevieve Marnon, legislative director for Right to Life of Michigan, said she thinks this is due to pro-choice activists realizing Roe vs. Wade could be overturned. For the first time in 46 years, with the seating of Justice (Brett) Kavanaugh, theres a conservative majority on the supreme court," Marnon said. "We saw the confirmation hearings and how angry abortion supporters were about his confirmation because I think that they see and we see the first time in 46 years the possibility of Roe vs. Wade being overturned. "(Pro-choice activists) are preparing, I think, for the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. These protests are there way to push back, and the conservative base is doing the same thing. Protesters held signs that read "Abortion access for all, and Womens rights are human rights. People in the crowd chanted with loudspeakers Hands off my body, and End the war on women. The fact is, not a single one of us should have to share our story and our most personal experiences just to convince politicians that we are human beings deserving of our rights, Richards said. Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures in this country and it is still legal in the United States of America and were going to keep it that way. Pro-life protesters attended the rally, but were told by law enforcement to stay on the perimeter of the event. ANN ARBOR, MI -- City leaders have defeated a resolution to garner funds from private property owners for a neighborhood sidewalk project. Only four City Council members voted in favor of the Northside STEAM Safe Routes to School sidewalk gap project at the Monday, May 20 council meeting. The resolution needed eight votes in favor for approval. The $1-million project would have installed new sidewalks along several streets near Ann Arbor STEAM at Northside. The streets include Traver Street between John A Woods Drive and Barton Drive, the south side of John A Woods Drive between Pontiac Street and Pear Street, the north side of Barton Drive west of Starwick Drive, the west side of Starwick Drive north of Barton Drive, and along portions of Brookside Drive between Delafield Drive and Pontiac Trail. Several area property owners opposed the projects special tax assessment, which would have totaled more than $94,000, city records show. Councilwoman Jane Lumm previously voted to move the resolution forward until she learned neighbors who would be assessed were unaware of it and make up 73 percent of the money needed for the work, she said on Monday. I do think that the Safe Routes to School recommendations are technically sound and would involve general improvements to pedestrian safety but I will say recent events have given me pause, Lumm said. Those opposing the resolution were Lumm, Anne Bannister, Jack Eaton, Kathy Griswold, Elizabeth Nelson and Ali Ramlawi. Supporting it were Mayor Christopher Taylor, Zachary Ackerman, Julie Grand and Jeff Hayner. During the meeting, Grand read a comment on Twitter about how it would be difficult to assess the efficiency of sidewalks if the area does not currently have them. If there are no sidewalks, youre less likely to use that road and I think thats a really good point when were looking at a road that leads directly to this school, Grand said. This has been a concern for (Ann Arbor) STEAM parents." A contract agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation for $415,874 for the construction phase of the project also was turned down Monday night. The project involved seeking a federal grant through the Transportation Alternatives Program. City Engineer Nick Hutchinson said if council denied the resolution, it could potentially hinder applying for future grants. UPDATE: UPDATE: The incident has been cleared, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation RICHFIELD TWP, MI -- A crash involving at least two vehicles Tuesday night has shut down a lengthy stretch of M-15 in Genesee Countys Richfield Township. Officers were called out around 7 p.m. May 21 to M-15 (North State Road) and Harding Drive near the entrance to Continental North Mobile Home Park for a personal injury accident. A gray minivan with damage to its back end and a maroon minivan with heavy damage to its front end are visible at the scene where Davison Township police, Davison police, Richfield Township police, and members of the Davison-Richfield Fire Department have all responded. The Davison Area Reconstruction Team, or DART, has been called to the scene to investigate the crash. The team consists of investigators from the Richfield Township, Davison, and Davison Township police departments. Police at the scene said an initial investigation has revealed the gray minivan was heading south on M-15. The vehicle had stopped and was waiting to turn left into the mobile home park when it was rear-ended by the maroon minivan. Two adults and three children in the gray minivan are being treated at a local hospital. Their conditions were not immediately available. The driver of the maroon minivan was treated at the scene. M-15 is closed in both directions between Coldwater Road to the north and Richfield Road to the south. People who live in the mobile home park or off Orchard Lake Drive can access their residences by heading south on M-15 from Coldwater Road or Clark Road. The incident remains under investigation. LINDEN, MI -- A colored pencil drawing by a local high school student will soon be on display in Washington D.C. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint Township, announced the winner of Michigans 5th District Congressional Art Competition Friday, May 17. The winning art piece, a colored pencil drawing titled Primarily by Linden High School junior Quinn Arnold, was selected by a panel of community judges. The Congressional Art Competition recognizes the artistic talents of high school students from each congressional district around the nation, a news release states. The annual event is sponsored by the members of the U.S. House of Representatives Congressional Art Caucus. Arnolds work, along with other winning art pieces from congressional districts across the country, will be on display in the Cannon Tunnel to the U.S. Capitol. Arnold will also have the opportunity to go to Washington D.C. later this year with other winning student artists for a reception and ribbon cutting hosted by Kildee and the Congressional Art Caucus. Kildee said he looks forward to walking past Quinns artwork every day on his way to the U.S. Capitol. Reflecting Grace, a piece by Linden High School junior Hannah Lapham, was selected as runner-up. Third place went to Jaden Haas, a Pinconning High School sophomore, for her piece titled Schizophrenic. I am grateful to all the participants, teachers and families for their work this year," Kildee said. I am so impressed with all of the art pieces. The level of talent from high school students in our district is remarkable. FLINT, MI-- The two Flint business owners who recently opened The Scoop ice cream shop hope it will inspire entrepreneurship in kids on the north side of the city. Omar Harris, 41, and Montez Brown, 41, co-own Courtside Cuts, at 1107 North Chevrolet Avenue, a barber shop that opened in 2014. The men decided to open an ice cream store next door after Harris 13-year-old daughter, Sydney Owens, approached him about starting her own business. She wants to own a shoe business, Harris said. I dont know anything about the shoe business but after talking to some people, we thought an ice cream shop would be something good to put in the center of the north side. With the help of Harris Aunt Carla, The Scoop serves ice cream classics like Rocky Road, Tennessee Toffee and Superman. The shop is softly open right now, but a grand opening is set for Memorial Day weekend. Sydney Owens, daughter of co-owner Omar Harris, talks with her great aunt, Carla Harris, while they work at The Scoop on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 in Flint. The new hand dipped and soft serve ice cream shop opened next to Courtside Cuts Barber Shop on the corner of Chevrolet Avenue and Flushing Road. Kaiti Sullivan | MLive.comKaiti Sullivan Learning the business Owens scoops ice cream for customers at The Scoop and is learning the ins and outs of doing business. Sometimes the best teacher is just life itself, Brown said. You come up with an idea, you write it down and you shoot your shot. Kids see them get up and go to work everyday, Brown said, now they want to start businesses of their own. We instill in our kids (the drive) to go to school, get an education and create your own job, Brown said. Thats generational wealth. There is one other ice cream shop in Flint, The Banana Boat, which can be hard for kids to get to, Brown said. The closest ice cream these kids have is at the corner store, Brown said. A lot of these kids have never tried hand-dipped ice cream." Brown and Harris said they felt The Scoop was something good to give back to the community as well as start generational wealth within their own kids. Its not big, but its something that can be big," Brown said. "You have to start small sometimes, one block at a time. Lapel resident Denay Pollard, 17, scoops ice cream at The Scoop on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 in Flint. The new hand dipped and soft serve ice cream shop opened next to Courtside Cuts Barber Shop on the corner of Chevrolet Avenue and Flushing Road. Kaiti Sullivan | MLive.comKaiti Sullivan Growing north side Flint Opening Courtside Cuts was a major move for Harris, who also works at General Motors, because it showed growth on the north side of Flint. Putting businesses back in the north side of Flint shows a lot of young adults and kids that it starts with a dream, then a plan, execution and it becomes a reality of what you want to do," Harris said. Harris mother died when he was 21 and didnt leave him anything behind. Harris said he wants better for his kids. She did the best she could with the resources she had and the things she knew, Harris said. "My plan is when I die I want to leave my kids something whether its just the knowledge of how to make a dollar and work for your own self. The goal of the shop is to provide kids with a goal, Brown said. We want the kids to create their own vision, Brown said. It doesnt take a million dollars to start your own business, you just have to be dedicated to it and believe it. Brown worked for General Motors for eight years before his job was shipped elsewhere, he said. GM was someone elses dream, Brown said. They shut down and moved to Mexico. I was left with nothing, not a nickel, nothing in my savings, nothing. I dont want our kids to end up on the same road. We want to show them there are other ways. The men said they were never taught the ins and outs of business, so they want to teach kids in their communities how to create their own jobs. You might (not) be Lebron James, you might (not) be Kobe Bryant, but you can be Montez Brown or Omar Harris, Harris said. You pound the pavement, work hard and do your due diligence and youll be good. SHIAWASSEE COUNTY, MI Michigan State Police are asking for the publics help to track down a suspect in connection with an armed robbery at a gas station in Durand. Officers were called out shortly after 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 15 to the Valero gas station located at 8982 E. Lansing Road for a robbery. The suspect entered the store alone and walked to a back office where the night clerk was confronted with a weapon and forcibly walked the clerk to a cash register and demanded the register to be opened, police said. The suspect took money from the cash register and then fled the store. Police say the suspect stands 5-feet-7 inches tall with a thin build. The suspect, whose face was covered to the time of the robbery, had on pants, boots, a hood and gloves. Anyone with information on the armed robbery is asked to contact Detective Sgt. James Moore at 989-415-0984, Michigan State Police Flint Post at 810-732-1111, or report a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan at 1-800-840-7867. GRAND RAPIDS, MI The DeVos family is ending its financial support of U.S. Rep. Justin Amash, who drew controversy last weekend when he announced on Twitter that President Donald Trump engaged in impeachable conduct. DeVos family members have not made campaign contributions to Congressman Amash during this political cycle and based on earlier discussions have no plans to do so, said Nick Wasmiller, a family spokesperson. Amash, a Republican from Cascade Township who represents Michigans 3rd Congressional District, became the first Republican congressman to support impeachment proceedings based on findings in U.S. Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into 2016 election interference. The investigation did not establish Trump or any of his aides coordinated with Russia in its efforts to influence the 2016 election, but left open the question of whether Trump obstructed justice. Wasmiller said Amashs most recent comments were not the driving factor behind the familys decision. Recent statements by Amash have not changed the familys thinking regarding its intention to provide future support, he said. He said the family has experienced increasing concerns about a lack of representation for the 3rd Congressional district. He also said the family has expressed concerns about the inability of Amash, who was first elected to Congress in 2010, "to advance efforts connected to important policy matters. Wasmiller declined to offer further specifics. The DeVos family led by the late Amway co-founder Rich DeVos has been a high-profile player in Republican politics for decades. In the 2013-14 election cycle, the last time Amash faced a strong primary competitor, the family contributed about $65,000 to his campaign, said Craig Mauger, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, a nonprofit watchdog group. The DeVos family stuck by Amash in 2014, even as some Grand Rapids business leaders who once backed him threw their money and support behind his challenger, businessman Brian Ellis. Amash defeated Ellis by about 57 to 43 percent. Amash could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon. Wasmiller is the director of communications for RDV Corporation, the DeVos family office. He said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has resigned from her role at RDV Corporation and was not involved in the discussion to no longer support Amash. Two people state Rep. Jim Lower, R-Greenville, and Tom Norton, the former president of the Village of Sand Lake in Kent County have announced their intention to challenge Amash in the August 2020 Republican primary. The conservative-leaning 3rd Congressional District encompasses Kent, Barry, Ionia, Montcalm and Calhoun counties. Wasmiller said the DeVos family has not chosen a candidate to support in the August 2020 primary. Its certainly far off at this point, he said, adding that the family will go through its standard process to decide if it will support a particular candidate. Mauger said the DeVoses are the biggest political givers in Michigan by far. Thats not to say theyre the only large donors that would play (a role) in a race for Congress like this, he said. GRAND RAPIDS, MI Supporters of the Green New Deal, an ambitious plan to invest in renewable energy and phase out fossil fuels, will host a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids. The meeting is being hosted by the Grand Rapids chapter of the Sunrise Movement, a grassroots group that wants to stop climate change and create jobs by upgrading the nations infrastructure. We want people to know this is possible, its out there, and theres a lot of power in power of the people, said Drew Stapleton, a Grand Rapids resident whos helping organize and increase awareness of Thursdays town hall. The town hall will feature three speakers: Seth Barnard, an artist and community activist; Joel Campbell, a community organizer and activist with the Democratic Socialists of America; and David Benac, an associate professor of history at Western Michigan University who lost the 2018 Democratic primary for Michigan's 6th Congressional District. The Green New Deal is a non-binding resolution introduced in October by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass. As part of a 10-year national mobilization strategy, the plan calls for expanding and upgrading renewable energy sources, with the goal of meeting 100 percent of the countys power demand through clean, renewable and zero-emission energy sources. It also calls for investing in research and development of new clean and renewable energy technologies. Stapleton, 28, said the event is expected to last about two hours. A news release promoting the event says that in addition to investment in renewable energy, speakers will also touch on the importance of building safe water infrastructure. While the Green New Deal has drawn opposition, including from Republicans and the AFL-CIO union group, Stapleton says he believes the Green New Deal can become a reality. The bottom line is most Americans support legislation to fight climate change, he said. People are talking about this and I have a lot of faith. Trinity United Methodist Church is located at 1100 Lake Dr. SE. The Sunrise Movement has held similar town hall events across the country and in Michigan, Stapleton said. In April, members of the group pushed for U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, to sign onto the Green New Deal. A page on the Sunrise Movements website shows two members of Michigans congressional delegation have signed on as co-sponsors of the Green New Deal resolution: Andy Levin, D-Bloomfield Township, and Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- City planners may give the go-ahead to Grand Rapids first medical marijuana dispensaries Thursday afternoon. The Grand Rapids Planning Commission is holding public hearings at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 23, at 1120 Monroe Ave. NW on proposals for medical marijuana provisioning centers at 3510 E Mall Drive SE and 3425 Plainfield Ave. NE. The applicants are the first of 80 vying to open a medical marijuana facility in Grand Rapids that will go before the planning commission. The order was determined by a random-draw lottery weighted by an application scorecard. Going before commission early is important because once a facility is granted a special use permit, it could void another applicant for being too close, city officials previously said. At the end of both hearings Thursday, commission members will vote to approve or deny a special use permit. If approved, the permit is granted after an appeals period of 16 days. Once a permit is in hand, companies then must obtain a medical marijuana facility operating license from the state before they can open up shop. The process could take a while because the state must, among other things, conduct an inspection of the facility after it is remodeled to final specification. Among the considerations for a permit, planning commissioners have to examine if the facility will overburden the area with traffic and parking and if attempts to engage the community were adequate, authentic, and/or consistent with the intent of the citys Good Neighbor Plan. The application near Woodland Mall from Greenstone Michigan LLC has no listed neighbor concerns. Neighbors in the area of the Plainfield Avenue application, however, are petitioning the planning commission to postpone the public hearing. Nick Dobkowski, president of the Creston Neighborhood Association Board of Directors, wrote the commission on May 17 that the association has significant concerns with the Good Neighbor Plan presented to them last minute by applicant Green Skies-Healing Tree LLC. The Good Neighbor Plan presented by Green Skies on May 16, 2019 was sorely lacking, especially in the areas of security, lighting, parking, management and community engagement, Dobkowski wrote. Also disturbing was a lack of transparency and inability to answer questions. Under the citys Good Neighbor Plan, an applicant is required to contact a neighborhood association in the area and hold a public meeting. Green Skies officials wrote they tried to reach the neighborhood association three times -- on March 12 and 14 by email, and again on March 14 by phone call. Green Skies held only one public hearing. It was from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 12 at the Amway Grand Hotel. They notified the neighborhood association three hours before the meeting started. No one attended. The planning commission expects to tackle at least two medical marijuana facility applications each meeting. They meet twice a month. Because of the setback distances that could potentially void another applicant, the commission wont hear applicants vying for the same area in the same month. The hottest contested areas, called influence areas, in the city are just north of downtown (area B on the map below), on Michigan Avenue east of medical mile (area C), just west of Woodland Mall (area L) and just east of Woodland Mall (area M). Two applicants, MPM-R West LLC and Battle Creek-based Humble Roots LLC, are suing the city on allegations that claims city staff has acted arbitrarily and unfair to non-locals in the process. Lawyers for the applicants petitioned a judge for an emergency order to postpone the drawing but were unsuccessful. The case will proceed in court. UPDATE: The budget was adopted Tuesday evening. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids officials are slated to adopt a $553 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year after trimming off about $10 million from the initial proposal presented last month. In addition, the city is set to approve the FY2020 tax rate, which is down from last years rate but will result in a slight increase in payment for the average homeowner. The main reason for the budget adjustment was to plan for a higher-than-anticipated projected contribution by the city into the fire and police pension fund in the coming years. The most significant changes to the April 23 budget proposal include reductions of nearly $4 million in proposed spending for sewer capital projects, and the reduction of three proposed staffing positions. City commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday morning, May 21, to approve the revised version of the budget, which takes effect July 1, the start of the 2020 fiscal year. The commission also unanimously approved the proposed property tax millage rate of 8.9011. The new millage rate will equate to an increase of about $21 per year for the average Grand Rapids property owner, city officials said. Both the budget and millage rate are expected to be officially adopted at the 7 p.m. Tuesday commission meeting in the ninth-floor commission chambers at City Hall. There are so many things in here Im excited about, and I hope everyone in Grand Rapids has a few items theyre excited about," said First Ward Commissioner Kurt Reppart. What an incredible value added to our residents for a $21 a year increase. Thats the real ticket. Its a nominal impact on peoples pocketbooks for even more excellent services from the city. Washington presented his proposed budget to the city commission four weeks ago. Since then, the commission held two meetings to discuss the proposal, and a public hearing was held May 14 for community input. On Tuesday, Jeff Dood, the citys chief financial officer, presented the revised budget during the committee of the whole meeting. Most of the budget proposals decrease comes in the form of an almost $4 million reduction in spending for sewer capital projects. Dood said the reduction actually accounts for about $8 million of the $10 million decrease due to how the city accounts for internal transfers of funds. The CFO acknowledged that the citys biodigester project also played a role in some sewer projects being delayed. The biodigestion project came in over budget, Dood said. We reviewed capital projects and delayed some other projects that will be done eventually ... Thats not unusual. We do a 10-year capital plan and things get moved around as priorities change. Excluded from the newest edition of the budget were three proposed positions -- an administrative analyst for the planning department, a budget analyst for the fiscal services department, and a senior electrical engineer for street lighting and the environmental services department. Washington said the positions could still be added around the midway point of the fiscal year if funds are available. The new budget includes a reduction of about $200,000 in capital funds for design and engineering costs for a new Division Avenue fire station. Washington said the city still anticipates purchasing land for the new station in FY2020, and the change isnt expected to alter the project timeline. Before, we built in not only the land acquisition but the construction costs for the fire station, Washington said. What we did was we backed up the construction and just focused on the land acquisition. Well get through this year and reassess our needs. All in all, the FY2020 budget is about $42 million less than last years $595 million budget, which was the largest budget in city history. This years fiscal plan is built around six strategic priorities -- economic prosperity and affordability, mobility, safe community, health and environment, government excellence, and an engaged and connected community. Second Ward Commissioner Ruth Kelly said clarity has been a benchmark of this project, as she thanked Washington and city staff for the smooth budget proposal process. Other budget stories: GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Environmental groups say a proposed, massive infrastructure project to pipe oil and gas under the Straits of Mackinac for years to come is backwards thinking and runs counter to Gov. Gretchen Whitmers pledge to fight climate change. The day in 2028 when people gather to mark the inauguration of a new tunnel carrying tar sands oil is going to seem as out of tune as its possible to be, said author and environmentalist Bill McKibben. By 2028, were going to have to be making fundamental transformations if we have any hope of dealing with the climate crisis. McKibben joined state environmental groups and a former tribal leader in a telephone conference call Wednesday morning, May 22, to criticize the proposed Line 5 tunnel as locking Michigan into fossil fuel dependency at a time when the state and U.S. should actively be considering renewable options to combat climate change. Its the effort of the fossil fuel industry to try and keep us in our present place for a few more decades -- a few more decades that, at this point, having wasted the last three decades, we simply dont have, said McKibben, who has written books on climate change since 1989 and runs climate action site 350.org. The timing and topic of the call relates to Whitmer going back to the table with Enbridge on the future of Line 5 in the Straits. While she has halted her predecessors plan to construct the Line 5 tunnel, she later said she remains open to it if it aids in getting the 66-year-old pipeline decommissioned faster. Enbridge spokesperson Ryan Duffy said the energy on Line 5 is vital to families, schools, manufacturers and businesses and the tunnel project would make sure that energy continues to be safely delivered. Construction estimates on a tunnel beneath the Straits housing a Line 5 replacement initially anticipated completion in seven to 10 years. Revised estimates are now five years, or by 2024. The Line 5 pipeline, built in 1953, runs 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Canada, and transports up to 540,000 barrels of light crude oil and natural gas liquids per day. Calls to shut down the pipeline were renewed in April 2018, when an anchor struck and dented the twin lines. Whitmers office has declined to comment on how soon she wants Line 5 out of the Straits and what options, beyond the tunnel, she is considering to replace it, if at all. Her office did not return comment for this article. Kate Madigan, director of the Michigan Climate Action Network, said environmental groups also are in talks with the Whitmer administration, voicing their concerns about the tunnel, Line 5 and the need for transparency. Should that not be enough, Madigan said, theres talk of legal action. She declined to say anything further on that. Much of the conversation around Line 5 has centered on the threat of an oil spill in the Straits and how that would harm the economy, environment and enjoyment of the Great Lakes. That point was raised by environmentalists in the conference Wednesday, but the main focus was on the tunnels incompatibility with the growing demand for renewable energy and the fight against climate change. Duffy declined to answer questions on long-term oil and gas needs, saying he wouldnt speculate on energy demands in the future. He added that Enbridge has invested in solar, geothermal and other renewable energy options and is committed to being part of the transition to a lower-carbon economy. He declined to say whether Enbridge has considered renewable energy options or other non-tunnel options to meet the natural gas demand in the Upper Peninsula. Whitmer has made her stance on climate change known. Not even a month into office, she entered Michigan into the U.S. Climate Alliance, a bipartisan coalition of governors from 20 other states that have committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions consistent with Paris Climate Agreement goals. When the Department of Environmental Quality was restructured earlier this year, an Office of Climate and Energy was created to disseminate progressive climate policy across state government. But opposition to climate change doesnt sync up with consideration of a long-term oil and gas tunnel, said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of Michigan League of Conservation Voters. Allowing Enbridge to continue this conversation, allowing the continuation of a conversation about an oil tunnel in our state to pump more oil for decades longer is the opposite, exact opposite, of the climate solutions Michigan needs to be prioritizing, Wozniak said. McKibben predicted that by 2028 the impacts of climate change will be ramping up quickly and that long-term projects to facilitate fossil fuel use will be deemed anachronistic," or belonging to an earlier time, in the wake of greater attempts to reverse the course of climate change by shifting to renewable energy. He likened the Line 5 tunnel project to a person who decided to breed horses for transportation at the dawn of the automobile. Under former Gov. Rick Snyders deal with Enbridge, the Canadian Energy company would have paid an estimated $300 to $500 million to construct the tunnel about 100 feet beneath the Straits. After completion, Enbridge would then hand tunnel ownership over to the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority and be allowed to transport oil and gas through the tunnel for up to 99 years thereafter. The deal was put on hold after the law creating the state oversight panel was deemed unconstitutional by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. EATON RAPIDS TWP., MI -- A woman whose badly decomposed body was found in the woods north of Eaton Rapids has been identified as Stephanie Lynette Southwell. Southwell, 35, was a Lansing resident who went missing about a year ago, according to an Eaton County Sheriffs Office statement. Her body was found March 27, and police determined it was a homicide on March 29. On April 4, police released a photo of a shoe Southwell was wearing along with descriptions of her clothing in an attempt to have the public help identify her. Detectives worked with the Michigan State University departments of anthropology and integrative biology, along with the medical examiners office to identify the remains, police said. Anyone with information about Southwells death or her last known whereabouts is encouraged to contact Eaton County Sheriffs Office Det. Rick Buxton at 517-323-8484 or Det. Troy Gardner at 517-543-5519. Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan can also be contacted at 517-483-7867. JACKSON, MI Four years ago, the city of Jackson quietly abandoned its process of publicly determining annual pay raises for top officials in favor of an automatic, multi-layered, less transparent system. No city employee gets a formal evaluation anymore, from the newest employee to the city manager. Percentage-wise, raises are equal for all nonunion employees including those who determine what the raises should be. Since the policy changed in 2015, City Manager Patrick Burtchs salary has increased 26 percent from $130,000 to $164,000, making him the highest paid city manager among Michigan cities comparable to Jackson. But that salary figure isn't highly publicized. You won't find it scouring City Council agenda packets, digging through minutes or listening to council deliberate at meetings. When asked, some council members didn't know Burtch's salary or thought it was tens of thousands of dollars less than what it actually is. What really is just appalling to me is, they sit up there and vote on stuff, said Barb Shelton, a Jackson resident and member of the grassroots group Jackson Citizens Advisory Council. And they dont even know what theyre voting on. Burtch's salary will rise to $170,356 in 2019-20 through an automatic step increase on the pay scale. But his grade on that scale won't get a cost-of-living increase this year like all other nonunion employees, he said in an email. Burtch decided not to include that raise for himself this year to narrow the percentage gap between positions, he said. Currently the manager's pay grade on the scale tops out at $183,659 on the top step, while the next-highest pay grade maxes out at $126,408. Altering the raise system While most communities comparable to Jackson are specific about the raises they give top officials, the city of Jackson is not. Per the city charter, raises for the appointed officials the manager, attorney, assessor and clerk can be set through contract changes or by an ordinance. Before Burtch became city manager in 2012, Jackson awarded raises to the manager the same way as most other similarly-sized cities. City Council would do an annual review of the manager in closed session, then determine and vote on a new salary in public and amend the contract. "You're not on the pay scale," said Warren Renando of his time as Jackson city manager from 1996-2004 and 2010-11. "As a city manager, you're an independent operator. You negotiate your own contract." But the process changed, starting with personnel policy changes made at a special council meeting the Friday before Christmas 2014. The change affecting how appointed officials get raises was tacked on the following April, as it was left off the December version, documents show. Instead of getting individual contractual raises, appointed officials now receive the same percent raises as all nonunion employees. The 2015 changes approved by the city council also added a new pay grade at the top of the scale solely for the city manager. Nonunion employees get two forms of annual raises. They move up one spot on a 10-step pay scale until they reach the top, plus, the scale itself increases across the board via cost-of-living raises approved by council. Cost-of-living increases are budgeted by Burtch to be 3 percent for 2019-20, but still need council approval. Step increases are typically between 3 and 4 percent. Awarding the same percentage raises to all nonunion employees including the city manager is the fair way to do it, Burtch said. "Could you imagine if every person that works in the city had to go to council and ask for a raise, 216 people? It'd be a nightmare," Burtch said in a 2018 interview. "And invariably, it'd be 'I don't like that person' or 'My brother dated him' or 'I don't really like her.'" Other communities prefer addressing the top officials raise separately. It can look bad to have an official deciding how big their own raise is, Jackson County Administrator/Controller Mike Overton said. "You never want to really tie the person who's making the recommendations on the other employees' raises, to his or her wage," Overton said. "Because if I get what they get, (I could say) 'Well heck, I'm recommending 5 percent for everybody.'" 'They hide a lot of stuff' Raise-giving is more straightforward on other boards and commissions. Many do it like Jackson used to with the board doing a written evaluation and deciding on a new salary during a meeting. Cities like Midland are forthcoming with the details like in June 2018, where meeting minutes spell out the annual base salary shall increase by 4.5 percent for the city manager. Its not so straightforward in Jackson. The council approves annual raises for top officials through an agenda item phrased, "An ordinance to establish compensation rates for administrative and supervisory employees of the city of Jackson." Details of the new pay scale are included in Jacksons council meeting agenda packet, when that ordinance appears each May or June. But it doesnt note where anybody falls on that scale in terms of the pay grade and step number. A look at the 2018-19 pay scale for city of Jackson nonunion employees. I dont think it is as transparent as it should be, Councilman Jeromy Alexander said. The only sure way to uncover salary specifics is through a Freedom of Information Act request. Its not something like we go and decide that one day were going to hide all this stuff, Burtch said. Its just that, theres a lot of things that happen every day at city hall with decisions that are made. People could find out what those decisions are if they simply ask. The annual budget has pay details for all positions but they arent always correct. For example, the 2019-2020 budget shows Burtchs salary as the same as his 2018-19 pay. "They hide a lot of stuff," Shelton said. "They don't want us to know and then they don't bring the information out until the last minute so that people don't have the opportunity to react." Burtch started as assistant city manager in 2011, making $90,129, according to documents received through an MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot FOIA request. When he became city manager in 2012, his contractual salary was $120,000. The biggest jump was from October 2015 to July 2016, with nearly $14,000 in raises. It averaged more than $11,000 per year from 2015-18. Once he's bumped to $170,326 this July, Burtch will be on step eight of 10. Compared to city managers in similarly-sized, non-suburb cities, Burtch's salary is at the top. City managers in Mount Pleasant, Port Huron, Bay City, Holland, Muskegon and Midland make between $122,000 and $156,000 annually, according to documents received via FOIA. None have been in their position as long as Burtch, however. This graphic illustrates city manager salaries and raises in seven mid-sized Michigan cities. City Attorney Bethany Smith made $120,473 in 2018-19. Its difficult to say how that compares to other mid-sized cities since many dont keep a city attorney on staff, opting instead to contract out legal work. There have been transparency concerns surrounding Burtchs pay increases in the past. Some council members in 2013 were unaware Burtch had received an automatic $6,000 raise earlier that year, as set in his initial city contract. At the aforementioned December 2014 special meeting, the council approved an increase in Burtchs retirement annuity from 12 percent to 15 percent, which was an additional $4,000 at the time. An agenda and minutes for that meeting didnt go on the city website for more than a month. Minor transparency concerns arent uncommon in other communities either, with multiple cases of boards leaving pay-increase discussions off the agenda until the meeting. But in the meetings themselves, pay changes are rarely masked. Are evaluations outdated? Since Burtch took over as city manager, the city stopped doing formal performance evaluations. Burtch calls them outdated and punitive. Forward-thinking communities don't do evaluations anymore, he said. "People are used to an old scientific management theory from the '50s that says: 'This is what you do, this is a hierarchy, here's how you evaluate somebody,'" Burtch said. "There's all sorts of research on that that says that's now a defunct process." Burtch meets with council members at least every other week. Some speak with him multiple times a day, a few council members said. This is how Burtch is given necessary feedback, he said albeit in an informal setting. "It's less political that way," Burtch said. "If you think somebody's doing poorly, you give them feedback. You don't say, 'You did bad, so zero raise.'" The old city system of awarding varying raises to employees based on merit could get political, Renando said. That's why "you'd better be able to explain it," he said. The new system eliminates the drama, Burtch said. Overton, however, said he would rather err on the side of caution, putting transparency ahead of comfort since "it's the people's money we're spending." If youre a top government official, taking criticism is part of the job, he said. "Can it be political? Sure," Overton said. "I don't think there's been a union contract yet where somebody hasn't said, 'Well, I want to make what you make.'" Formal evaluations don't replace regular communication, Overton said. While all other employees are given raises as groups, Overton's is considered separately each summer by the board. Overton was given a 3 percent raise last summer to bump his salary to $134,695. He's led the county since 2011. Multiple council members who are the appointed officials bosses disagree with Jackson's new evaluation-free system. During Freddie Dancy's 23 years in the U.S. Army, evaluations were helpful to iron out strengths and weaknesses, he said. "There's no evaluation from anywhere inside in the system (in the city), if you ask me," Dancy said. "I have a lot of questions." Pay raises not only need to be more transparent, but should be based on performance for top officials, Alexander said. "That is something I'm looking into," he said. "I know that was the past practice to have evaluations and I have not had the opportunity to give an evaluation since I first took office." What could be changed? Burtch is accessible to the council and thriving in his role, multiple council members said. But many believe the current system of evaluations and raises could be tweaked for transparency's sake. "It's probably something that we need to address," Councilwoman and Vice Mayor Arlene Robinson said. "I think (Burtch) is very smart and knows the ins and outs of being a city manager I don't have any issues with his performance. But we probably should be a little more structured in evaluating." It's wise to be transparent about all uses of taxpayer dollars, said Mayor Derek Dobies, who's been on the council since 2011 when Larry Shaffer was city manager. "I'm certainly open (to changes) if there's a better way for doing it and explaining it," Dobies said. "We can certainly work to address that at future council meetings so that people are aware of what people are actually making." One idea is sharing appointed official pay details on the city website, through its open data portal, Dobies said. The portal currently includes information like property data, traffic counts, road ratings and crime statistics although some components havent been updated in recent years. Its incumbent on us to provide that level of transparency, Dobies said. Certainly when weve made a commitment as a city to open data and provide that information outright, without necessarily having to be requested through a FOIA. JACKSON, MI A former Napoleon High School teacher has pleaded no contest to second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a student. Jason Cunningham, 47, and a woman, who is not being named because of the nature of the case, had sex and oral sex several times while she was a Napoleon High School senior and after she graduated in 2009, according to court records. Cunningham was originally charged with third-degree criminal sexual conduct on Sept. 5, 2018. On Friday, May 17, he took a plea deal before Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson. The woman, now 27, testified during Cunninghams October 2018 preliminary examination that she had known Cunningham, her music teacher, since she was a young girl and that she had babysat for his children. A sexual relationship began in May 2009, when she was 17 years old, the woman testified. Cunningham, who was married at the time, wouldve been 37. The woman testified that in the days before the two had sex, they searched the age of consent for sex in Michigan on his office computer. They also searched the felony they were breaking - criminal sexual conduct. After she graduated in late May 2009, the woman said she returned to the school to have sex with Cunningham in the band room. She said their relationship continued until he ended it in June 2012. Cunningham resigned from Napoleon High School in 2016 for a job in the Western School District, which was closer to his home. He resigned from Western Middle School in July 2018, citing personal reasons, as previously reported. Cunningham was given a $5,000 personal recognizance bond in September 2018, which he is still out on. His sentencing is scheduled for 9 a.m. July 18. Second-degree CSC is a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The Zen Leaf Provisioning Center, a medical marijuana retail facility, will open for business on Friday, May 24 at 259 E. Front St. in downtown Buchanan. A grand opening ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. There will be free refreshments in the lobby, discounts and door prized for registered patients. The Buchanan location will be the only medical marijuana business in a 65-mile radius, according to a press release. It will be the first medical marijuana center in Berrien County. Zen Leaf offers marijuana concentrates, edibles and extracts. According to the Zen Leaf website, the company offers sativa, indica and hybrid strains. Sativa strains are used to uplift patients and indica strains are used to give a relaxing feel. Zen Leaf is one of five dispensaries that were awarded operating permits by the city. Michigan had a total of 297,210 registered medical marijuana patients as of last September, according to the Marijuana Policy Project. The business opening will create 10-12 full-time jobs for local residents, according to a press release from the center. Zen Leaf will provide a brighter way for patients and their caregivers to access the highest quality, pure, laboratory tested cannabis medicines for qualifying medical conditions, said William Breen, Zen Leaf Provisioning Center general manager. MUSKEGON, MI Former Muskegon Community College students who owe the school money can now return and have those debts forgiven. Students who have financial holds typically cannot return to take additional classes, said Ken Long, MCC finance director. The MCC Debt Forgiveness Program will allow some of those students back in the classroom. The program could boost MCC enrollment numbers, increase the skill level of the Muskegon County workforce and benefit individuals who would have continued college if theyd had the means to pay, he said. We have adults in our region with some college coursework but no degree, and we have others who have not attended college at all, MCC President Dale Nesbary said in a news release. We are addressing the former group by reaching out to those adults who need to complete their degree or certificate at MCC in order to get into or to remain in the workforce. There are several caveats to the program. Eligible applicants must: Owe no more than $1,200 Not have been enrolled at MCC for at least three years Possess at least a 2.0 GPA Commit to support services Have the means to pay for classes now When a student doesnt pay their college tuition, MCC experiences that loss in the year the debt is incurred, Long said. That means that forgiving the debt does not represent a cost to the current year MCC budget. If former students were to pay the debts, it would be unanticipated revenue. The requirement to not have been an MCC student for at least three years comes from an assumption that those former students are unlikely to ever pay the debt, he said. The $1,200 limit was set arbitrarily, Long said. Former students who owe more than that could pay down the debt to $1,200 to become eligible for the program. Under the program, debt will be forgiven incrementally during three semesters, Long said. The program was inspired by a similar one at Wayne State University called the Warrior Way Back, Long said. The main goal of this debt forgiveness initiative is to get former MCC students, who have left because of a debt owed to the college, to return so that they can graduate with a credential, MCC Provost/Executive Vice President John Selmon said in the news release. Those interested in the program can apply online. The MCC Care Team will review all applications. MUSKEGON, MI The Muskegon Museum of Art is celebrating pop culture, rock n roll and prized artwork during summer 2019. There are several new exhibits this year featuring rock n roll photography, Legos and prize-winning paintings. The MMA, 296 W. Webster Ave. in downtown Muskegon, is open Tuesday-Sunday. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, MMA is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Thursdays, it's open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday hours are noon to 5 p.m. The museum is celebrating its 107th anniversary this year. Heres what you can see at the museum this summer: Untitled plastic brick sculpture by The CollectiveCourtesy of the Muskegon Museum of Art Replay: The Exhibition The exhibit celebrates the American pop and geek culture through multimedia, including large-scale LEGO sculptures. The colorful show is in galleries where walls have been transformed to resemble giant Lego bricks. The artwork explores the influence that iconic cartoons, video games, movies, and comic heroes and villains have had on American culture. The exhibit includes interactive installations, including a downhill Lego car racetrack, figure drawing with wooden models, mirror self-portrait drawing and a station to build Lego creations. A $5 admission upgrade will be applied for entrance to the Replay galleries. Replay runs through Sunday, Aug. 18. A collage of photos by Paul Jendrasiak included in the Lights, Camera, Rock n Roll exhibit at the Muskegon Museum of Art.Courtesy of the Muskegon Museum of Art Lights, Camera, Rock n Roll: Music Photography by Paul Jendrasiak The exhibit features photography that spans the career of the veteran Michigan concert photographer Paul Jendrasiak. His front-row photos spotlight rock stars performing at Michigan venues during the past 20 years. A photo of James Hetfield of Metallica performing at the L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon during 1991 is among the collection. Most of the photos were taken in Grand Rapids, and include Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, Rob Zombie, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. A Rock Star Super Saturday is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 10 to give budding artists a chance to create their own limelight-worthy artwork. Super Saturdays feature free admission to the museum. Lights, Camera, Rock n Roll will be open Thursday, May 23, through Sunday, Sept. 1. Photo of Paul McCartney by Laurence Juber.Courtesy of the Muskegon Museum of Art Guitar with Wings: The Photography of Laurence Juber The exhibit features photographs by Laurence Juber from his 2014 book Guitar with Wings, which showcases intimate photographs he took when he was the lead guitarist for Paul McCartneys Wings. Juber, a two-time Grammy winner who fuses folk, jazz, and pop, will perform a concert at the museum on Friday, June 14. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. for a pre-concert reception. Tickets are $25 in advance and are available online or by phone at 231-720-2580. Tickets will be $30 at the door. The exhibition runs through Sunday, Sept. 1. The Bennett Prize-winning mixed media artwork "Formidable" by Aneka Ingold.(Courtesy of the Muskegon Museum of Art) Rising Voices: The Bennett Prize for Women Figurative Realist Painters The exhibit features artwork by female artists, including the first-ever Bennett Prize winner, Aneka Ingold of Florida. Twenty-nine paintings by the winner and the other nine finalists from across the country comprise the show. The works exemplify universal issues and stories specific to the artists. The finalists were chosen from a field of over 600 entries. Ingold won a $50,000 prize. The Bennett Prize project and show were organized by the MMA and The Pittsburgh Foundation with Steven Bennett and Dr. Elaine Melotti Schmidt who are avid collectors of and advocates for female artists painting in the figurative realist style. Special films, a figure drawing workshop, and an original theatrical performance will accompany the exhibition. Rising Voices runs through Sunday, Sept. 8. Related links Downtown Muskegon is more dog friendly thanks to youth program Muskegon Heritage Museum to debut elevator along with new exhibits Everclear, Sponge, 80 breweries coming to Burning Foot Beer Festival 2019 Racquets downtown bar gets updated menu with new cooks in the kitchen Starbucks planned at downtown Muskegon Delta Hotel to open in June 9-ton anti-aircraft gun added to floating museum in Muskegon 17 vendors to open at Muskegons Western Market for 2019 season Muskegon Farmers Market opens for better than ever 2019 season Muskegons Parties in the Park 2019 to feature The Voice singer Taste of Muskegon 2019 to most food ever Inaugural wine festival to kick off Muskegon summer 2019 SAGINAW, MI For his role in two murders two months apart, a Saginaw man is going to spending the better part of a century in prison. Saginaw County Circuit Judge Janet M. Boes on Tuesday, May 22, sentenced Alexander Jennifer Red Jones III, 41, to concurrent terms of 1,000 months or 83.3 years to 125 years in prison. Boes gave Jones no credit for time served, as he was on parole when he committed his crimes. Jones in April pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder, related to the killings of Willie Dawson, 41, and Shlindrill B. Lewis, 54. Though Jones was the triggerman in both killings, he testified for the prosecution in trials of codefendants. Dawson was killed in the parking lot of Dom's Food Market, 2326 N. Michigan Ave., on Sept. 8, 2017. Jones testified in the trial of codefendants Troy L. McClain Jr. and Benjamin R. Daly that he shot Dawson. Prosecutors had alleged McClain had a strong influence over Daly and Jones, describing him as a kingpin, with Daly and Jones as his minions. McClain, they alleged, had instigated Dawsons killing. A jury in October 2018 found both McClain and Daly guilty of first-degree premeditated murder and numerous related counts. Judge Boes then sentenced both men to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Lewis was shot numerous times while inside her vehicle in her driveway at 2825 Capeheart Drive in the Sheridan Park subdivision on Oct. 26, 2017. In a preliminary examination, witnesses testified Lewis was targeted for being related to someone her alleged killers had issues with. Jones testified in the January 2019 trial of codefendant Tamaris D. Took Jones, to whom Alexander Jones is not related. A jury found Tamaris Jones not guilty of first-degree murder and related counts. Jakarta has descended into violent chaos with angry mobs torching cars and firing missiles and Molotov cocktails at police in post-election skirmishes. So far, six people have been confirmed dead and a further 200 injured. A reportedly 50,000-strong security force used tear gas and water cannon to quell torrents of rocks, Molotov cocktails and other burning projectiles thrown by violent protesters who decried the re-election of incumbent President Joko Widodo, who won a second term with 55.5 percent of the vote. His rival Prabowo Subianto, an ex-special forces commander, refused to accept the election result, claiming widespread election fraud, but without providing any evidence to support such allegations. Footage from social media shows the extent of the overnight unrest and the sheer ferocity of the violence in some areas. Widodo reportedly beat Subianto by 17 million votes, or roughly 15 percent of the countrys population. Subianto has vowed to challenge the decision in Indonesias constitutional court. Authorities are already on high alert, having arrested some 30 would-be suicide bombers who had planned to target the elections and subsequent protests. Some 20 people have been arrested according to National Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo. Post-mortem examinations are underway to determine the cause of death for those killed but he insisted that security forces, including some military personnel, deployed to contain the violence were not armed with live ammunition. We are still checking, but I need to reiterate that police officers were not equipped with live bullets, Prasetyo told reporters. Authorities have also arrested three pro-Subianto activists including a retired general and a retired commander of Indonesias special forces, on suspicion of treason. Meanwhile, Indonesias Chief security Minister Wiranto announced on Wednesday that the government will partially block social media to avoid provocations and the spread of fake news. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! A sizeable majority of US citizens oppose the idea of pre-emptive strikes on Iran, and massively disapprove of Trumps policy towards the Islamic Republic, a survey has revealed as tensions continue to flare in the Gulf. Some 60 percent of Americans believe that the US should not attack Iranian armed forces first, while a measly 12 percent supported carrying out a pre-emptive attack, according to a Tuesday poll by Reuters/Ipsos. Thats despite 53 percent of American adults referring to Iran as a serious or imminent threat. That figure, overlooked by many mainstream media outlets, was almost as large as the number of American adults (51 percent) who believed their country is set to go to war against Iran in the next few years. Nerves in the troubled Gulf region were put more on edge last week after Donald Trump delivered a veiled threat to Iran via Twitter, saying that any conflict with the US would mean the official end of Iran. During two years of his presidency, he also quit the hard-fought 2015 nuclear deal and re-imposed sweeping sanctions on Irans economy. Now, nearly half 49 percent of Americans were notably unappreciative of Trumps handling of Iran. US-Iran tensions were fueled by a string of American military deployments this month. The Pentagon has already sent an aircraft carrier strike group, a squadron of B-52 bombers, and a battery of Patriot missiles to the Middle East, stirring up fears of a looming conflict. Iran was skeptical about the US willingness to engage in an all-out military confrontation, saying Washington lacked both the political will and military assets. In the meantime, Tehran stated that while it does not want war, it remains ready for any eventuality. Like this story? Share it with a friend! During the 2019 race, Volodymyr Zelensky relentlessly bashed how Ukraines former president, Petro Poroshenko, had run things. Now, the comedian-turned-president is unhappy about the way he furnished his office, and wants to move. An existing chair at Ukraines presidential office didnt prove to be comfy enough for Zelensky, whether thats due to the ergonomics, or the tough legacy of his predecessor, is unclear. Filmed entering the office and trying the luxury chair on the day he was sworn in, Zelensky complained its not comfortable, garnering a round of applause from other people in the room. Im looking [at this] and wonder when we are going to move, he confessed with a smile. Its known that Zelensky is not a big fan of the building which houses the presidential administration. During his election campaign he repeatedly vowed to relocate it to a smaller and more convenient place outside Kiev. The administration now sits at the historic quarters occupied by Ukraines Communist Party until 1991. But Zelensky seeks another place where he could work at a normal European office, and such an office could have an open space design, his allies told local media. However, privacy is a consideration and it remains to be seen how behind-closed-door discussions or working with sensitive information merges with the reality of a vibrant, noisy open space. Curiously, the relocation plans bear striking resemblance to some of the scenes from a television comedy called Servant of the People, where Zelensky played a history teacher whose honesty and commitment to justice propel him to the presidential office. In the show that boosted Zelenskys popularity during the 2019 campaign, his character moves the administration to a remote, shabby location somewhere in Kiev to cut costs and reduce traffic. He also scraps all luxury cars in the presidential fleet, riding a bicycle or using his sole bodyguards pickup truck. But the real-life Zelensky will face real challenges which may jeopardize his cost-saving measures. It emerged recently that moving the presidents office from downtown Kiev could cost tens of millions of dollars, which are nowhere to be found in the budget. Critics of the proposal also argued that it could downgrade the safety & security of the government and the president himself. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Pyongyang has unleashed an avalanche of insults directed at Joe Biden after the Democratic presidential hopeful referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as a dictator. Biden was declared a "fool of low IQ" and an "imbecile" lacking human qualities by Pyongyang's state-controlled Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Tuesday. The verbal lashing comes just days after the presidential hopeful suggested during a rally in Philadelphia that US President Donald Trump was "embracing dictators like [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and Kim Jong-un." The state news agency further accused Biden of insulting the country's leadership and engaging in an "intolerable and serious politically-motivated provocation" against the North. "We will never pardon anyone who dare provoke the supreme leadership of the DPRK but will certainly make them pay for it," KCNA said. Also on rt.com Trump praises Kim Jong-uns leadership, wants Americans to stand to attention for him too The slew of insults directed at Biden seem to echo similar sentiments expressed by Trump, who previously dismissed the presidential contender as "another low IQ individual." Despite the borderline admiration Trump has been professing to Kim (angering his opponents and handing ammunition to the likes of Biden), actual progress towards denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula has been stalling for months. The relationship remains mired by a largely unsuccessful second summit in Vietnam in February, during which the US rejected sanctions relief for North Korea. Efforts by Washington to push Pyongyang to give up its nuclear capabilities have also faltered, with North Korea reportedly starting new missile tests in the wake of the diplomatic breakdown. Also on rt.com Trump tweets about tongue-tied Joe Biden after former VP accidentally says hes running in 2020 Like this story? Share it with a friend! Nearly 40 percent of US corporations operating in China are mulling leaving the country amid the ongoing trade dispute between the two countries, the latest poll carried out by two American business lobby groups in China reveals. The negative impact of tariffs is clear and hurting the competitiveness of American companies in China, a press release from the lobbying bodies reads. However, less than six percent of the surveyed firms are ready to move their manufacturing facilities back to the US with 24.7 percent of those who are thinking of relocation expected to settle in South East Asia. Mexico is reportedly the destinations for 10.5 percent of the respondents. Nearly 8.5 percent may move their production lines to India, Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka. Also on rt.com Chinese farm stocks gaining as US-China trade war escalates The poll, conducted jointly by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai and the Beijing-based American Chamber of Commerce in China, covers 250 firms, 61.6 percent of which are manufacturing-related, 25.5 percent represent services, 3.8 percent retail and distribution, and the remaining 9.6 percent are focused on other industries. The survey, held from May 16 to May 20, also shows that 75 percent of the respondents claimed that tit-for-tat tariffs, by the worlds two strongest economies over the past years, have had a negative impact on business. The increase in import duties reportedly dragged down demand for products, boosted manufacturing costs, and resulted in higher sales prices for products. Also on rt.com Burden of Trumps trade war to fall on US businesses & consumers, expert tells RTs Boom Bust The latest round of Sino-American talks over reciprocal trade claims failed to find a resolution, with Washington taking another step towards escalating the dispute. The US hiked tariffs on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports from 10 to 25 percent. President Donald Trump threatened to impose further levies on another $300 billion of goods imported from China. Beijing retaliated by hiking tariffs on $60 billion worth of US products, starting June 1. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section The US has underestimated the consequences of the attack on Chinese telecom giant Huawei as it sends a strong signal for the rest of the world to avoid dealing with such an unstable partner, professor Richard Wolff believes. The trade war with China has already evolved into a technological one as Washington barred American companies from supplying Huawei with components or technology. The move will eventually deprive the Chinese corporation of access to Googles apps and services as well as Intel and Qualcomm chips when the measure fully comes into force. This is going to hurt the American economy for years to come in countless ways, it will leave an economic scar on the American economy and there is a stunning example of stupid economics, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts, Richard Wolff, stressed in an interview to RT. He explained that the way the Trump administration is hurting Huawei may apply to many others. Now, CEOs realize that interactions with US firms may become unsafe and put companies in a vulnerable position. Thus doing business with the US can result in damages for companies, who can be destroyed by a political operation as the Huawei case shows. Here is the terrible, terrible miscalculation of the United States, which is very similar to the miscalculation of this tariff war. Youre teaching the rest of the world not to trust doing business with the United States, Wolff said. Every CEO of every company has this morning sent a memo to the vice president, saying reduce our interactions with United States companies, it is not safe for us. We become vulnerable. Trumps decision also hurts US companies as they are forbidden from operating in the normal way to find the best quality at the lowest price. The analyst stressed that no other political leader in Europe or Latin America has done such a public attack on their own businesses. For more stories on economy & finance visit RT's business section The Swedish government is looking into the possibility of forbidding the use of Norse runes, local media has reported, amid concerns that the ancient symbols have been misappropriated by neo-Nazi groups. Justice Minister Morgan Johansson is currently investigating whether or not runes should be banned in Sweden as a way to deter hate groups, a Swedish website Samhallsnytt reported. His is expected to make a recommendation on the matter by the end of May. If Johannsson decides to move forward with legislation prohibiting the runes, the ban could potentially encompass all Norse symbols, imagery, and traditional jewelry. Also on rt.com Racist forest? Sweden sparks PC debate over plans to take N-word out of woodland name The proposal has enraged many Swedes, who see Norse runes as part of their shared history. For those who identify as pagan or heathen, the potential ban has been interpreted as an assault on freedom of religion, which is guaranteed under the Swedish Constitution. The Nordic Asa-Community, the largest heathen religious group in Sweden, has spoken out against any government efforts to police Swedens ancient heritage, arguing that prejudices and misunderstandings are best cured with knowledge and facts. The religious organization has warned that banning Norse runes in Sweden would wipe out a part of own history, culture and beliefs and our freedom of expression. Former parliamentarian and member of the right-wing Swedish Democrats, Jeff Ahl, expressed similar contempt at the idea of such a ban. Our government advocates multi-culturalism, but we must not have our own culture. What the government is doing now is trying to censor our own cultural heritage and blur our roots. Fifth column, he tweeted. Dozens of other Swedes flooded social media with comments expressing disbelief and contempt. One Twitter user even noted that she had several rune tattoos, and jokingly wondered if the government would pay for laser surgery to remove the images from her body. A petition against the potential ban started by the Nordic Asa-Community had more than 11,000 signatures on Wednesday. The group is also holding a rally in Stockholms historic center on May 24. While Nazi Germany and contemporary neo-Nazi groups have used Norse symbols for their flags and regalia, today runes are most commonly found on any modern phone or computer: The logo for Bluetooth, named after Harald Bluetooth, a Danish Viking age ruler, combines the runic equivalent of the letters H and B. Like this story? Share it with a friend! British Prime Minister Theresa May offered a new Brexit deal which raises the possibility of a second referendum. While the offer will soon be introduced in parliament, it was quickly slammed by Labor and Conservative MPs alike. May put forward a New Brexit Deal in her speech Tuesday, proposing a 10 point plan for negotiations going forward. The new plan includes an offer for a second referendum that would allow a public ratification of the exit deal, which has yet to take shape. The offer also touched on arrangements for the Irish border, a workers rights bill, environmental issues and post-Brexit trade agreements. I say with conviction to every MP or every party: I have compromised, now I ask you to compromise, the prime minister said in the speech, warning of a nightmare future of permanently polarized politics in the event no deal is reached. READ MORE: PM in denial: UKs May wants to make bold offer to MPs to save Brexit deal Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn was among the first to respond to the proposal. "The prime ministers proposal tonight seems to be largely a rehash of the governments position in the cross party talks that failed to reach a compromise last week," Corbyn said in a statement Tuesday, after Mays latest attempt to end negotiations over the UKs exit from the European Union. Also on rt.com EU establishment cries Russia! in desperate bid to defeat critics We will of course look seriously at the details of the withdrawal agreement bill when it is published, he said. But we wont back a repackaged version of the same old deal. The new proposal appears to have many sides miffed, leaving nobody happy. Both Labor and Conservatives are really in a bit of turmoil, and Im not convinced that [Mays] really quite ambiguous remarks today will persuade many people, British politician and political commentator Jonathan Fryer told RT. What weve seen today is basically her pulling a rabbit out of a hat, in other words dangling the prospect of a referendum before MPs, Fryer added. Also on rt.com Corbyn says nothing fundamentally different in Mays new bold Brexit deal Conservative MPs also reacted with disappointment. I'm frustrated, said Conservative MP Andrew Percy. I really am concerned about the proposed possibility of a second referendum. People were told in the referendum, it was the final say on the matter for a generation it would be implemented. The deputy head of the Irish Democratic Unionist Party, which has been supportive of May, wasnt impressed with the speech either. All the attention in Westminster is focused on what comes after the prime minister, that's one of the problems she has now in terms of delivering this kind of hodgepodge set of proposals, DUPs Nigel Dodds told Irish media. Mays offer comes just days before the EUs parliamentary election, where the UKs participation has generated some controversy given the countrys ongoing attempt to exit the union. After months of wrangling over the exit deal, the PM has vowed to resign after the British Parliament votes on key Brexit legislation in June. READ MORE: Hang in there Brexiteers, the majority of Europeans expect EU to end within 20 years Like this story? Share it with a friend! Two of the worlds largest video surveillance products manufacturers, Chinas Hikvision and Dahua, are likely to follow Huawei onto the US blacklist, according to reports. The sanction may be announced in the coming weeks. Washington is considering denying more Chinese companies a share of the US market. Limiting access to American technology is being considered for the surveillance equipment giant Hangzhou Hikvision, the New York Times reported. A later Bloomberg report included up to four more companies on the list of potential outcasts, including China's second largest producer of surveillance equipment, Zhejiang Dahua Technology Co. If the companies do make the US blacklist, American companies would need to receive approval from the government before selling components to the Chinese firms. As with the case of the worlds leading supplier of telecommunications equipment, Huawei, which has so far bore the brunt of the US sanctions, Hikvision is likely to be presented as a threat to national security for its perceived ties to the Chinese government. Also on rt.com Chinese farm stocks gaining as US-China trade war escalates However, Hikvisions and Dahuas cases are more complex. According to the NYT and Bloomberg, the companies have also been singled out for their alleged role in the persecution of the Chinese ethnic Uighur minority. It is alleged that Beijing makes use of the sophisticated high-resolution surveillance equipment to monitor Uighurs to prevent public disturbances. The Trump administration is reportedly going to make a final decision on whether to banish Hikvision in the coming weeks. Shortly after the report came out, Hikvisions stock took a nosedive, falling nearly 10 percent. US President Donald Trumps crusade against Chinese tech, taking place amid an ongoing trade spat between Washington and Beijing, has seen shares of major Chinese technology and telecom corporations sliding. Since its 10-month high on April 2, Hikvision shares have dropped by over 25 percent. Also on rt.com Huawei CEO says companys own OS will run Android apps - reports Last May, Hikvision was barred by US lawmakers from selling equipment to the US government over security concerns. The company denounced the measure as baseless. If you like this story, share it with a friend! Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has called on the West to counter China's "aggression," as Ottawa tries to get back two alleged spies arrested by Beijing. Canada, meanwhile, is working to extradite a Huawei executive to the US. "China is making stronger moves than it has before to try and get its own way on the world stage," Trudeau complained to a press conference on Tuesday after he was asked about two Canadian citizens currently imprisoned in China on espionage charges. He claimed the prisoners were being held for political reasons and warned China the whole world was watching. Also on rt.com China confirms formal arrest of two Canadians after months-long detention While Canada has denounced China's detention of Canadian citizens Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor as arbitrary and illegal, and the US has piled on with support for its northern neighbor, the Canadian government earlier this month granted authorization to the US to extradite Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou, who faces 23 counts of bank and wire fraud and theft of technology in the US. Prosecutors have admitted the US government surveilled Meng extensively under FISA, hoping to find evidence she (and by extension Huawei) were acting as an agent of the Chinese government. "Western countries and democracies around the world are pulling together to point out that this is not something we need to continue to allow," Trudeau declared. Kovrig and Spavor were arrested in December, several days after Meng was detained on US orders at a Vancouver airport. China has accused Kovrig of stealing state secrets allegedly passed to him by Spavor, and the pair were formally arrested last week. A Canadian parliamentary delegation arrived in Shanghai on Monday to push for the prisoners' release. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland has said her Chinese counterpart is unwilling to discuss the matter and called the detentions "unacceptable," at the same time insisting "we do not escalate." Also on rt.com US lagging behind in 5G: Chinas Huawei says Trumps ban only hurts American consumers The US and China have been embroiled in a trade war for over a year, a conflict which appears to be spilling into Canada. China has blocked Canadian shipments of pork and canola worth billions of dollars in the last month. If you like this story, share it with a friend! Turkey is poised for potential sanctions from the US over its purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system, its defense minister has said, amid reports Washington has given a June deadline for Ankara to drop the deal. Speaking to media late on Tuesday, Turkeys Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said there had been an improvement in negotiations with Washington over Turkeys purchase of the S-400 and US F-35 fighter jets. In our talks with the US, we see a general easing and rapprochement on issues including the east of the Euphrates, F-35s and Patriots, Akar said. He added that Ankara would continue the discussions earnestly as part of efforts to come to a compromise. However, Turkey was also making preparations for US penalties via the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Also on rt.com US sanctions wont interfere with Moscows international dealings Foreign Ministry Akar also noted headway on Washington's offer to sell Raytheons Patriot air defense system, a rival system to the S-400, to Turkey. Regarding the Patriots, they [the US] have renewed some conditions in terms of price, technology transfer, upgrade, joint production, the minister said. The offer is now being evaluated by Turkish officials. The defense ministers comments follow reports in US media on Tuesday, that Washington has given Turkey until the end of the first week of June to pull out of the S-400 deal, before first deliveries are made by Russia. Speaking to CNBC, a US State Department official warned Turkey risked facing very real and negative consequences if it accepted the S-400. Turkey has repeatedly said the S-400 contract is a done deal and Turkish military personnel have already started training with the system in Russia. There is no clause anywhere in the F-35 agreement saying one will be excluded from the partnership for buying S-400s, Akar said. Also on rt.com US wants India to swap Russian S-400s for THAAD & Patriots, but will it take the bait? Turkey has paid $1.2 billion. We also produced the parts ordered from us on time. What more can we do as a partner? In addition to the issue of NATO interoperability, the US fears that Turkeys purchase of the S-400 would compromise the security of the F-35, as Turkey is an industrial partner in the program. As a result, it has threatened to kick Turkey out of participation in the F-35 program and cancel its order for 100 jets, four of which have already been delivered. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! The director of the UN disarmament think tank has said that the risks of a nuclear strike are now higher than ever since the World War II ended, partially due to the erosion of old arms control mechanisms. Renata Dwan, director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), an autonomous institution set up by the UN General Assembly in 1980 to assess risks to international security arising from militarization, told Reuters in an interview that the world has never been closer to crossing the nuclear threshold since the end of the WWII. "I think that it's genuinely a call to recognize and this has been somewhat missing in the media coverage of the issues that the risks of nuclear war are particularly high now, and the risks of the use of nuclear weapons are higher now than at any time since World War II," Dwan said. Also on rt.com Why is the US always 'stumbling' or 'sliding' into war? How the media misleads with language The growing likelihood of a nuclear attack brought about the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, the first legally binding agreement prohibiting all types of nuclear weapons as well as their transfer, stationing and threat of use. The treaty passed by the UN General Assembly by a majority of votes in July 2017, with all nuclear weapons states abstaining from the vote and only one NATO member, the Netherlands, taking part in the procedure but voting against. The treaty needs to be ratified by at least 50 member states to come into effect. So far, it has only been ratified by 23 out of the 70 signatories. Dawn mentioned the strategic arms race between the US and China, modernization programs run by nuclear-armed states, the emergence of new technologies that can be used for both defensive and offensive purposes as well as of new state-of-the-art weaponry as the reasons for the erosion of the decades-old mechanism that used to curb arms proliferation. Another factor is non-state actors such as militant groups and private militias that do not abide by the law. The US has been undergoing a nuclear build-up in accordance with its hawkish nuclear doctrine that refuses to rule out a nuclear strike as a response to a conventional attack. Dozens of US nuclear bombs are stored across Europe, including in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. The presence of US tactical nukes in Europe has since long been a source of deep concern for Moscow, which considers the nuclear weapon training Washington provides for its European allies a violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty. US officials have frequently cited Russia's ongoing nuclear modernization and its creation of new types of weapons, like hypersonic nuclear warheads and a nuclear-powered drone torpedo, as a reason to ramp up the US nuclear deterrent. Moscow insists that its new arsenal is purely defensive and is a reaction to the US military build-up at its doorstep. Russia has also voiced concerns over the US encircling it with AEGIS ashore systems capable of launching INF-banned missiles. The installations are being built in Romania and Poland. In what was widely regarded as another blow at global security, the US withdrew from the Cold-War era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) earlier this year. The 1988 treaty was aimed at diminishing the risks of an accidental nuclear exchange in Europe. Following Washington's decision, Russia suspended the treaty as well. Think your friends would be interested? Share this story! Moscow has said that Washingtons decision to set a deadline for Turkey to pull out of the S400-deal with Russia is an unacceptable ultimatum. On Tuesday, reports in the US media suggested that the White House was urging Ankara to abandon the deal to purchase the S-400 air defense system by the end of the first week of June, or it would face consequences including sanctions. We have a negative view of ultimatums in general, we consider them unacceptable, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, calling the S-400 agreement with Turkey a done deal. Also on rt.com No other options: US will deliver F-35s, while Turkey will get S-400 and S-500, Erdogan says As a NATO-state, Ankara has been trying to buy four batteries of the Russian S-400 systems, the first of which should arrive in July, despite the strong opposition from the US. Washington wants Turkey to purchase American defence systems, arguing that the S-400 is not compatible with NATO systems and also citing security concerns over Russian equipment working alongside their own. The US fears that Turkeys deal with Russia would compromise the security of the F-35, threatening to kick Turkey out of participation in the program and cancel its order for the jets. If you like this story, share it with a friend! An FSB assault team descended on a terrorists safe house outside the city of Vladimir, killing two militants who were set to carry out attacks in Russia. The shootout was caught on camera. Footage released by Russias National Anti-terrorism Committee (NAC) shows four Special Forces officers entering the hideout near Vladimir, a city 200km (125 miles) east of Moscow. The operatives can be seen throwing a flash grenade into an open doorway, at which point the video jumps, skipping scenes of the shootout. The NAC says the two suspects, who allegedly prepared terrorist attacks, refused to lay down weapons and opened fire, leaving the FSB officers with no choice but to use lethal force. The video also shows unloaded pistols, improvised explosive devices, and bags of ammonia found inside the house. WARNING: The footage contains images that some may find disturbing. The neighborhood was cordoned off and residents were evacuated during the operation, authorities said. There were no casualties among officers and locals. It comes less than a month after suspected Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) recruiters were arrested during a raid outside Moscow. Also on rt.com Terrorists can use drones to deliver chemical weapons, head of Russian security services warns The group has been active since November 2016, recruiting members into IS ranks and purveying terrorist propaganda, which included inciting attacks on Russian law enforcement organizations. The underground terrorist cell has been coordinated by high-profile terrorists from abroad, according to investigators. Like this story? Share it with a friend! Budget carrier AirAsia India is looking to double its fleet in the next 12-15 months as well as launch international operations by October, a senior official said. The Bengaluru-headquartered airline -- a joint venture between Tatas and Malaysia's AirAsia Berhad -- is eligible to fly overseas. Currently, it has a fleet of 21 A 320 planes. "We are planning to double our capacity (fleet size) in the next 12-15 months, beginning May this year. We are planning to induct some fuel-efficient A320 neo planes as well in our fleet " the official told PTI. AirAsia India, which started operations on June 12 2014, had a market share of 6.2 per cent of the domestic traffic in April. As part of expansion plans, AirAsia India is likely to launch international services by September-October with flights to destinations in South East Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand. "After South East Asia, we plan to expand our operations to destinations such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in the SAARC region and also to Japan, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region," the official said. SAARC is South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. "We are eligible to fly on overseas routes both by the earlier rules as well as the existing ones. We applied to the civil aviation ministry in January for approval, which we expect to receive after the new government is in place," the official said. Under the existing norms, airlines should have at least 20 aircraft to start international routes against the earlier one of having 20 planes and minimum five years of domestic operations. After receiving its 21st plane this week, the airline's chief operating officer Sanjay Kumar said AirAsia India was focusing on strengthening its presence in tier-I and tier-II cities. The official ruled out plans to induct long range A321 neo planes in its fleet. In 2016, AirAsia India's parent company AirAsia Berhad had signed a firm order for 100 A 321 neo planes worth $12.6 billion. A probe by the investigations unit of India's antitrust body has found that Monsanto abused its dominant position as a supplier of genetically modified (GM) cotton seeds in the country, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) in 2016 ordered the unit to carry out the probe after the agriculture ministry and some local seed companies complained that Monsanto was charging unreasonably high royalty fees for its GM technology. The investigation unit's report will now be reviewed by senior members of the CCI. The watchdog has powers to impose a penalty of up to 10% of the company's relevant turnover in the past three financial years if it agrees with the report's findings. The CCI did not respond to Reuters queries. An Indian spokesperson for Monsanto also did not respond. Monsanto was acquired by German pharmaceutical and chemical maker Bayer AG in a $63 billion deal last year. Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (India)(MMB), a joint venture with India's Mahyco, licenses a gene that produces its own pesticide to a number of local seed companies, in lieu of royalties and an upfront payment. MMB commands more than 90% of the cotton market. The CCI investigation unit's probe found that Monsanto abused its dominant position in the market to hurt rivals, and that the royalty it charged was unfair, the sources said. "The company's agreements with seed companies were anti-competitive," said one of the sources aware of the probe's results. A second source familiar with the CCI's findings said the watchdog had found MMB had abused its dominant position and set its "trait fees", or royalties, to extract maximum profits from captive customers. Monsanto launched the GM cotton variety in India in 2002 despite opposition from critics who questioned the safety of genetically-modified crops. It has been locked in a battle with Indian seed makers, including Nuziveedu Seeds, which is one of the complainants at the CCI. The agriculture ministry has slashed royalties that local seed companies pay to Monsanto. After a spate of unfavourable government orders and a tussle over royalty payments, Monsanto in 2016 withdrew an application seeking approval for its next generation of GM cotton seeds in India. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Tech Mahindra is betting on communication segment to drive growth in FY20, on the back of deal wins and increasing spending by telecom providers, said Manoj Bhat, Chief Financial Officer, Tech Mahindra. Speaking to Moneycontrol, Bhat said, What we are seeing is a revival in spending in telecom backed by deal wins across the board from the US to New Zealand. If you look at that trend, this is a trend which ceased. From 2015 onwards there has been a bit of a slowdown in that vertical. To me, that is a very positive sign. Hoping that that kind of momentum would continue going to next year, he added. Communications is the largest revenue generator for Tech Mahindra. The company reported a 13.1 percent increase in its FY19 consolidated net profit at Rs 4,298 crore. Its revenue rose 12.9 percent to Rs 34,742 crore in the year ended March 2019, from Rs 30,772 crore in the corresponding period of the previous year. However, the communications vertical saw a dip in revenue in FY19. For the year ended March 2019, the sector revenue accounted for about 41.2 percent of the total revenue as opposed to 43.3 percent in FY18. Bhat said that while communication de-grew annually, the company saw healthy growth in the last three quarters. But if I really look at the quarterly trend, Q1 was a dip, Q2, Q3 and Q4 saw compounded growth rate averaging about 4 percent, he added. Bhat attributed this to the dip in spending by the telecom sector in the last 2-3 years and consolidation the sector witnessed. I think we are just emerging out of that phase and into a new phase where spends increasing and people are spending money on digital transformation and moving to cloud very aggressively, Bhat said. Bhat said, To me, that is a very positive sign and we are hoping that this momentum would continue next year as well. Apart from communications, the company is looking at strong growth from enterprises business as well. Bhat said, the enterprise segment will be on a growth track in FY20 due to increased spending by manufacturers on factory automation, implementation of IoT-based solutions, modernising factory floors and warehousing and logistics. In terms of geographies, India is a big focus area for the company. Bhat said, For us, India is the focus market and has been doing extremely well. If you look at constant currency India grew about 20 percent last fiscal. Americas account for about 47.2 percent followed by Europe at 29.3 percent and rest of the world at 23.5 percent. The company did not report India-specific revenue figures. In India, the company works on projects including e-governance, smart city projects, modernisation of the private sector in India including banks and defence modernisation. The company recently signed a Rs 300 crore defence contract. As part of the 'Armed Forces Secure Access Card' (AFSAC) Project, the company will implement RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) based access control system across all naval bases and ships. Talking about the deal, Bhat said, It is a combination of our abilities and some of our latest technologies like RFID tracking and security, making sure that the whole network is secure creating almost identity management system using this technology. Going forward, Bhat said defence modernisation is a big focus area for Tech Mahindra. There is a market that is only growing in size and that is something which is good for the country. From our perspective, we are positioning ourselves to the preferred provider for some of these areas we are focusing on, he added live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More IDBI Bank sold insurance policies worth Rs 160 crore in March 2019 after a partnership with Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC). In a statement, the bank said LICs corporate agents will be able to sell the products across their 1,800 branches. LIC is the majority shareholder in IDBI Bank holding a 51 percent stake in the banking entity. In January 2019, LIC completed the deal with IDBI Bank. The bank sold 26,116 policies in the month of March 2019. IDBI Bank said that LIC's diversified product base would enable targeting their high net-worth customers in metro and urban areas and other customers in semi-urban and rural areas. Rakesh Sharma, MD & CEO of IDBI Bank said, With all these initiatives and synergies in place, the bank will be able to add Rs 1,000 crore to its bottom-line. LIC in a statement said in FY20, the bank has sold 1.929 policies with a premium of Rs 30.2 crore. With an increased association with LIC of India in the opening of accounts and resultant balances, IDBI Bank shall move faster towards healthier balance sheet, said LIC. The bank has also rolled out retail loan products that will only be available to LIC employees. These products offer attractive discounts and concessions in the home loan, auto loan, personal loan and education loan segments among others. IDBI Bank and LIC have also formed a task force and a bancassurance steering committee to ensure the accomplishment of synergy initiatives and achieve the policy sales targets. Representative Image The Union Government has five major functions. That of protecting our borders; protecting life, liberty and property of citizens; ensuring justice through courts; managing our external affairs; and managing the currency, for which it taxes citizens. The current government initiated many good programmes to help the poor and provide social security, build infrastructure, and clean up the banking system among others. This May, India will get a new government. What should its priority be for society and for the markets? Justice System Of the main functions, the biggest failure is that of our justice system. This has reduced respect for the rule of law, increased criminal activity and corrupted our society. Our courts take long to decide civil and criminals cases, appeals move at a snail's pace, and costs - especially in the Supreme Court, have become prohibitive for ordinary Indians. An 'activist' court has also created uncertainty in the economic area. People charged with grave criminal acts often move freely on bail and appeal the case knowing well the time it takes for a hearing. Meanwhile, lakhs of poor undertrials languish in jail, sometimes 'serving' the potential punishment without being sentenced, only because they are too poor to get bail. We only have 18 judges per million people, while the Law Commission recommends 50. For perspective, most developed countries have 50 to 100. Our courts lack capacity, proper infrastructure and are under-invested. We need to increase capacities in our prosecution, investigative and intelligence gathering systems, along with making changes in the functioning of our police. Delayed justice is restricting our growth and the rule of law. Taxation Another big issue is taxation. As a labour surplus, capital short country, we do not incentivise the creation of jobs adequately and overtax capital. Thus, our cost of capital remains high and burdens investments and costs. The current government incentivised jobs a bit by refunding employer contribution towards provident fund (PF) and Employee State Insurance (ESI) for the first three years for new employees, which has accelerated formal employment. However, we need to increase employer funds towards training and apprenticeship, and for the development of specialised skills which will make our labourers more productive and enable them to earn more. Capital is taxed highly. We pay corporate tax at 35 percent along with a tax on dividend of more than 20 percent -- individuals pay an additional 10 percent on dividend receipt above Rs 10 lakh, capital gains short term of more than 35 percent, long term of 10-20 percent, tax equity purchases by securities transaction tax (STT), and stamp duty on share issue, etc., which drives up the cost of equity. Thus more people borrow, enhancing risk in the system whereas increased equity investment is needed. Further, corporates suffer the highest tax even though economically they offer greater capacity to invest, pay taxes, create value and good high paying jobs. A sole proprietor pays more than 35 percent at the marginal rate, with no dividend tax if they withdraw the profit. We need to exempt payment of the dividend from tax or drastically lower rates, eliminate capital gains taxes or reduce them, and on the whole lower taxation on capital to increase investments. We need to create a good debt market for government securities (G-secs) and bonds. For 40 years, governments have worked on this and we are yet to see a liquid debt market. The reasons are structural. We need to incentivise debt trading, capitalise large debt trading intermediaries, and lower the cost of raising debt. Today, a large number of jobs are created by service sector entities who are heavily taxed, while capital intensive entities are incentivised via liberal capital allowances through high depreciation. The depreciation needs to be reduced to 10 percent and overall corporate tax to more than 25 percent as promised. Overall costs will decrease if the cost of equity for banks, NBFCs, labour incentive entities, and regulated utilities are reduced, improving competitiveness. We need these two areas to be prioritised to ensure a big impact and a more productive and law-abiding society. TV Mohandas Pai is Chairman of Aarin Capital Partners live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Corporate and retail banks along with IT remain our top pick, and if a stable government is voted to power and the monsoon is normal, the economic engine is likely to roll faster creating improved demand environment, Arun Thukral, MD & CEO, Axis Securities, said in an interview with Moneycontrols Kshitij Anand. Edited Excerpts: Q: What are your views on March quarter earnings? A: March quarter earnings have been a mixed bag so far. Companies in FMCG sector recorded single-digit volume growth after seeing almost five quarters of low double-digit growth. The tepid volume growth is temporary as per management commentary which is largely due to stress in the rural economy and tight liquidity in the system. This situation is expected to rebound post elections. A good monsoon is expected to support the volume growth going forward. HUL and Titan Company reported better growth numbers compared to its peers in FMCG and discretionary consumption respectively and we believe healthy growth to continue going forward. Similarly, the discretionary spends are seen losing momentum and is very much visible in the monthly sales number of automobile and consumer durable segments. We are of the opinion that the discretionary consumption would bounce back if the monsoon is normal, liquidity situation eases and stable government is in place. Q: Where are the pockets of opportunities in this market? A: Corporate and retail banks along with IT remain our top pick. The profitability of corporate banks is expected to improve given that the resolution of NPAs is progressing albeit slowly and the banks have made requisite provisioning. Incremental slippages are contained as asset quality improves. If a stable government is voted to power and the monsoon is normal, the economic engine is likely to roll faster creating improved demand environment and better capacity utilisation. Indian IT companies have reported mixed performance, healthy outlook for FY20 on the back of improving deal wins. Steadily accelerating US economy also augurs well for the IT sector on the back of rising IT budgets for the US corporations especially the BFSI sector. A growing share of digital revenues helps to improve the margins over the long run. Q: There are signs of a slowdown in the market, do you think we have entered the first phase of a bear market? A: The golden phase of markets is still ahead. Indias per capita income has just crossed $2,000; there is empirical evidence of a rise in discretionary spends in other economies when the per capita income crosses this level. The current slowdown is cyclical and can be attributed to rural stress, as well as uncertainty due to ongoing general election and tightness in liquidity. Consumption-led demand would push capacity utilisation which currently stands at approximately 75 percent thereby inviting private capex. The markets are currently experiencing bouts of volatility on account of uncertainty on both global scale (the US-China trade talks, sanctions on Iran, etc.) and domestic front (the outcome of general elections). Once the uncertainty subsides, the markets would take a fresh direction driven by earnings which are expected to report decent growth over the next two year period. Hence we feel that the markets have a lot of momentum ahead. Q: There are more stocks which have hit 52-week low than highs. Is it the time to go for a kill and deploy cash in case you are an investor for long term? A: At this juncture, the markets are ruled by volatility ahead of the outcome of the general elections. As we approach the D-day, the volatility is likely to increase instead of subsiding. Whatever the outcome of the elections is, the economic juggernaut of India is going to roll-on. While there could be a near term pressure, if the general election outcome is against market expectations, the inherent consumption based nature of Indian economy will keep the growth wheel turning. Indian economy is set to double its size over the next decade. However, if there is a favourable outcome for general elections, then it would slightly cut short the time to achieve its target. Hence, an investor should position himself to benefit from the businesses which would grow with the expanding economy. One should use the volatility in the markets to drive home the bargains. Stagger the investments as the volatility is to persist as both domestic and global events have converged in the near future. : 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. Youve got a bunch of mutual funds that are supposed to be debt meaning, they are like fixed deposits. Except, some of these funds gave money to certain companies that had no real business but they got shares of big listed companies as collateral. Where did the money go? No one cares because hey, they had shares as collateral. These bonds were rated by rating agencies with a (SO) suffix. Like AA (SO). When you read that fast.ok, just read that slowly. The recent debacle in Zee had a mention of what happened here: An issue where such a bond defaulted and suddenly lenders found what happens if you try to sell the collateral major damage. SO means Structured Obligation. Its just a way to say look were giving this bond from this shady company with a AA rating, but its backed by something else really. Corporate entities create trusts or special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to raise the money in debt markets. The debt is backed by either cash flows, corporate guarantee, securitised loan book or shares of something else. This debt will be rated by rating agencies according to the risk profile. Accordingly, the coupon rate is fixed and prospective investors buy in. What makes them risky? Not all structured obligations have enormous risk. A securitized instrument may be backed by cash flows of a thousand bonds and have protection from first loss by a lower level tranche. A bond may have a government guarantee so if the bond issuer cant pay, the government will. But the ones to worry about are: Those that dont pay regular interest (only at maturity) and are backed only by shares and not by cash flow. Typically the pledged shares value will be from 1.2 2.0 x of the issued debt. If the share price falls, then underlying collateral value also erodes. The entity/trust need to pledge more shares to maintain the collateral value at a similar rate. Three things which make some of these SOs riskier are The SOs are backed by shares.SO is a Zero Coupon Bond. > The Trust/SPV issuing this bond doesnt have much of cashflow. The nature of it all. The Zero Coupon Bond means only one thing the issuer has to make no payments till maturity. Making payments means it has to earn some cash flow from somewhere. But most of the problem entities are shell companies with no real cash flow of their own now, or in the future. That makes the nature of the Zero Coupon Bond dangerous. So how does a buyer of this bond earn money? Simple. You give me Rs. 100. I give you back Rs. 130 in two years. Thats 30 percent return for two years, or a 14 percent compounded return! Fabulous, you might think. But just before this bond matures, Ill just issue a new bond, back to you, for Rs. 130, with a maturity value of 160 in two years. This can go on forever (and has, until now). As weve said, even a dead body can issue a zero coupon bond if you will only roll over at maturity. No cash flows in the servicing entity, and no coupon on the bond these are toxic combinations. The loan will be good on the books, but the lenders are not receiving actual payments. Theyre fine so far because they have collateral of some shares. But if the bond defaults for some reason, boom: you have to sell the shares to recover the money. And the shares can crash simply because of that information. Banks cant lend large amounts purely against shares. Mutual Funds and NBFCs can. Then the collateral may not cover the loans, so the promoter needs to put in more shares to compensate the 1.5-2.0 X criteria. (Similarly, shares are released from the pledge if the shares go up beyond say 2.5x) And finally, what if you cant sell the collateral? You can say you have shares worth 200 when the loan is worth Rs 100. But if you start to sell and the value of the shares falls 75 percent, you will have shares worth Rs 50 only. You have to be careful you dont own so much that you impact the market. What is the market exposure of such Structured Obligations in Mutual Funds? We scanned only seven well-known fund houses viz. Aditya Birla, Axis, Franklin Templeton, HDFC, ICICI, Kotak and Reliance for structured obligations which have zero coupon bonds and are backed by shares. We shortlisted six entities (Adani, Apollo, Emami, JSW, Piramal, Zee) which we feel carry some risk. Below is the table of firms which have exposure in these seven fund houses. Adani Group has raised funds via its trusts viz. Adani Rail Infra, Adani Infra and Adani Properties. The SPVs have pledged shares of Adani group like Adani Port, Adani Enterprises and Adani Transmissions. The total market cap of all the above three firms is at Rs 1,13,500 crore. Adani Group's exposure to the seven fund houses stands at Rs 2,856 crore, which is roughly 2.5 percent of its market cap. The maximum exposure is for Aditya Birla at Rs 1284 crore, followed by Franklin India at Rs 1065 crore. Kotak FMP Series 187 and Kotak FMP Series 189 have maximum exposure towards Adani Group of 11.88 percent and 11.58 percent with respect to their AUM. Apollo Hospital Apollo Hospital has borrowed via its SPV Indian Hospitals Corporation Ltd. Apollo Hospital total exposure to seven funds is at RS 482 crore. Apollo Hospital market cap is at 15,892 crore. The highest exposure is taken by Reliance with Rs 284.64 crore followed by Kotak with 150.62 crore. Reliance Ultra Short Duration Fund has an exposure of 4.38 percent of its AUM followed by Axis Credit Risk Fund at 2.86 percent. Emami Emami Limited has borrowed through its four SPVs viz. Raj Infraproperties, Emami Realty, Prabhakar Viniyog and Raviraj Viniyog. The total borrowing across seven funds stands at 453.43 crore. Emamis market cap stands at 16,575 crore. The highest exposure is taken by HDFC at Rs 322 crore followed by Reliance at 106 crore. HDFC FMP 1136D June 2017 has exposure of 11.88 percent of its AUM followed by Reliance Ultra Short Duration Fund at 2.44 percent. This one might be under control as Emami promoters have sold shares in the flagship Emami Ltd. to help repay. JSW Group JSW Energy and JSW Steel promoters together have borrowed Rs 2,280 crore across four fund houses. The two firms together have a market cap of Rs 78,804 crore. The debt represents 2.89 percent of the market cap. The promoters have borrowed through four firms viz. JSW Techno Projects Management, Dolvi Minerals And Metals, JSW Logistics Infrastructure and Sarvoday Advisory Services. Franklin India has a maximum exposure of Rs 1355 crore followed by Kotak at Rs 662 crore. The maximum exposure in terms individual AUM is for Kotak Credit Risk Fund at 7.63percent followed by Franklin India Credit Risk Fund at 4.70 percent. The House of Piramal Piramal Enterprises has borrowed through its SPV Aasan Corporate Solutions. In all Piramal has borrowed Rs 443 crore from Kotak and Reliance fund house. Piramal Enterprises has a market cap of Rs 39,634 crore. Reliance has an exposure of Rs 279 crore, the rest is by Kotak. Reliance FMPs have highest exposures in terms of individual AUMs. Below is the list of funds with exposure of 10 percent and above its AUM. The Subhash Chandra Zee Essel Group Zee promoters have borrowed through various SPVs. In all, there are 17 SPVs through which Zee promoters have borrowed 10,850 crore. Below is the list of 17 SPVs through which Zee has borrowed 10,850 crore We have written a detailed note on Zee promoter pledging titled Zee Promoter Company Borrows 2,200 crore. , Has No Cash Flows, Negative Net Worth, Rated A+ on Shares Pledged and Franklin Templeton MF owns 800 crore of That Debt That was then. Currently, seven fund houses have exposure to 9 SPVs with a total of Rs 3,965 crore. Out of which Aditya Birla has the highest exposure of Rs 1,095.25 crore followed by Franklin India at Rs 1,010 crore. We have written a detailed note on Zees debt titled The Pandoras Box, Risk of Leverage and Zee The highest exposure is HDFC FMP 1128 D June 2016 with 11.81 percent of its AUM followed by Kotak FMP Series 194 with 11.54 percent of its AUM. How liquid are the shares, if you have to sell? Liquidity is a key measure when you want to offload a substantial amount of shares. In the case of Zee, lenders are unable to sell underlying shares without hurting the price substantially. For instance, if we consider Zees 11,000 crore debt with average daily delivery volume of 8.85 crore, it would require a whopping 1,200 trading days to offload 11,000 crore worth of shares. The other problem is you require that kind of persistent buying for entire selling period. Its better to find a bulk/block buyer rather than offloading it in a market. Lets look at the list of companies, and show you how much time it will take to sell Rs 100 crore worth of shares. Note: We assume an investor can sell 10 percent of the daily delivery volume without much of a difficulty. Above is the average 10 percent daily delivery volume since Aug 1, 2018. There are other entities like Apollo Hospitals which has a lower debt of Rs 500 crore, which can be offloaded in six month's time. But lenders are too lazy to do that in some cases, instead want to find an easier way by selling the loan at discount to ARCs. A similar case happened in 2012 between ICICI and SREI, when ICICI sold a share-secured loan to SREI. The ICICI and SREI Saga with Kingfisher ICICI was one of the lenders to Kingfisher. ICICI apparently had an exposure of Rs 430 crore to Kingfisher. ICICI sold its loan to SREI Venture Capital at a substantial discount (numbers uncertain). The Kingfisher loan was backed by nearly 49 lakh shares of United Spirits Limited. When SREI took over the loan, USL shares where trading at Rs 800 and subsequently share price went up to Rs 2,900 by next two years in anticipation of a Diageo buyout. SREI took full advantage and sold the USL shares in the market. In the process, SREI recovered its 450 crore with interest and on top of that, it made an additional profit of Rs 650 crore. It eventually put the extra profits back into the court for the rest of the lenders to divide between themselves. Strangely, ICICI didnt do the same thing (i.e. sell the shares) Even if ICICI had sold the underlying collateral of USL over a period of next three months rather, it could have nearly recovered most of its Rs 430 crore. The bank chose not to take that measure and instead sold the loan to SREI at a discount. The current scenario is no different. Zee promoters have defaulted on bonds. Those bonds are backed by Zee shares. Mutual funds refuse to sell the Zee shares or even get rid of the bonds from their funds. The End-Game: What happens and what Should? Firstly, why have mutual funds lent to promoter companies using zero coupon bonds, to entities with no cash flow? This practice has now stopped, perhaps abruptly, but there was no indication of where the money would be used either. They might have been used for good purposes to build roads and such or to simply shore up stock prices. With zero coupon bonds, rollovers, and no cash flow in teh underlying entity, mutual funds are basically lending against the value of shares and betting that the share price wont fall too much. This would be okay if the fund house was doing it with its own money. Or if a hedge fund were to do it (their investors might be happy to take more risk) But to package this risk inside a mutual fund called by fancy names that is going to end badly. Second, why buy such SO in FMPs? In an FMP, you buy for a tenure and at the end, are paid back the money. If the SO bond is looking for rollovers at maturity, whats the logic in buying them in FMPs? When the FMP matures, you have to find other FMP investors to buy another FMP so that you can roll over this bond. And that is just a horrendously risky thing. Some FMPs (like HDFC FMP 1136D JUNE 2017) have 11.25 percent of their AUM in a Zee promoter issued bond with a SO. Why should an FMP have SO much concentration in a zero-coupon bond thats desperate to roll over when the FMP matures? No one likes to question HDFC AMC. But this is a good question to ask them. The entities that seem to have a lot of risks are: Adani and JSW groups, with some risk in Piramal and Apollo Hospitals too. The problem is if these company shares start to fall, thats another wave of madness in debt mutual funds that will hit. Again, all of them take too long. With Zee, we have till end-September for the debt to be paid back. Meanwhile, some entities Reliance Capital included have dumped the collateral shares in the open market and recovered their money. If the others dont get their act together fast, theyll never be able to sell shares. The best thing to do now is for the industry to come together and create a mechanism to dispose of collateral shares of listed companies: >Create a common website asking for bids on the underlying shares. Every fund or lender that has the collateral can put up chunks for sale. >Allow any fund (AIF, another mutual fund, a bank or other institution) to provide bids, even for a higher quantity than is listed. >On any day, sell shares (offline demat transfers) to people who bid at a price within 1 percent of the market price. >Do this piecemeal over a few weeks instead of all at once. >At the same time, ask for bids on the bonds themselves (which are backed by shares) sell the bonds at a 1 percent to 2 percent haircut, and let the buyer push for sales of the underlying shares. If they get together and do this now, they have hope if there is a default in other companies, in at least an orderly sale of shares. But given how chicken these funds are about even selling a few shares, this will remain a pipe dream. Whats next, therefore, is a disorderly sale of Zee shares if there is a default. And then trouble with more such promoter share backed bonds because the market punishes anyone thats similar. And then more disorderly sales. Hopefully, we wont need a crisis to learn, but those are just high hopes. The author is Market Analyst at Capitalmind. The article first appeared on Capitalmind. It has been reproduced with permission. You can read the original article here The board of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is against providing a credit line to unstable non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), saying there is no internal liquidity issue but solvency concerns in large firms, Business Standard reported. The RBI board, spearheaded by Governor Shaktikanta Das, convened in Chennai on May 22 to discuss the ongoing crisis in the NBFC space and its controversial 'resolution of stressed assets' framework, which it had released in February last year. The central bank is working towards a more stable NBFC sector by way of a liquidity framework in the pipeline. It is not planning an asset quality review (AQR) of the NBFCs anytime soon, but large entities in the sector have been asked to submit plans for capital infusion and asset monetisation, according to the report. A source told the paper that the issue was discussed at length but 'liquidity is enough in the system'. Recently, RBI had ordered NBFCs with assets of over Rs 5,000 crore to appoint chief risk officers (CROs) to keep the liquidity of the firms in check. The board also decided that banks would not be forced by RBI to take stressed assets to the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for insolvency proceedings, but would 'incentivise them' through new norms. Moneycontrol couldnt independently verify the report. RBI's February circular had stated that accounts in default of Rs 2,000 crore or more can be taken to the bankruptcy court. If that doesn't help, banks could drag the companies to the NCLT as well. It was considered a default even if there was a day's delay in repaying the loans. This paved the way for a huge disagreement between the government and the regulator, and is possibly the reason why Urjit Patel stepped down from the post of governor. In April, the Supreme Court ruled that the RBI would have to take the Centre's permission in each such case before allowing banks to start insolvency proceedings. "The reading from the Supreme Court judgment is that banks cannot force a company to the NCLT. But if they dont do it, banks may be asked to make steep provisions," a source told the paper. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More What if a real estate company offered you to deliver your house in three years? What if it said you can get your dream house by investing Rs 50 lakh over a period of three years? And what if it organised easy finance from banks? You would be tempted, as thousands of others, hoping to move into your own house within three years. Now, what if you, like thousands of others, are still waiting to get your houses from the private real estate company ten years after you had paid up for it? What if you find out that it is not just about your house? What if you find out that your friends and peers have similar tales of unending wait to tell about their houses promised by other private developers? You will likely stop trusting private sector builders and most likely will be drawn towards government-owned companies to take these over and hand over the houses. This syndrome may well explain why the public sector company National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) is fast emerging as the homebuyers' preferred choice to take over beleaguered and much-delayed residential apartment projects. Amrapali and Jaypee housing projects in Noida could be emblematic of this pattern. Experts say that a public sector character that comes with an ingrained sense of sovereign guarantee may well be behind this belief. Logjam and solutions As one of the possible solutions to the Jaypee Infratech mess, NBCC has submitted its proposed resolution plan to acquire the embattled firm and complete 20,000 homes. Also Read: Whither RERA? Three years on, rough edges need ironing out Jaypee Infratech went into insolvency process in 2017 after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) admitted an application by IDBI Bank-led consortium seeking resolution of the realty firm. In the first round of insolvency proceedings, a Rs 7,350-crore bid of Lakshdeep, part of Suraksha Group, was rejected by lenders. Later in October 2018, interim resolution professional (IRP) Anuj Jain started a second round of bidding process to revive Jaypee Infratech on the direction of NCLT. Earlier this month, creditors, including banks and homebuyers, rejected a bid of Suraksha Realty through a voting process, following which, the CoC decided to consider NBCC's offer. In its revised offer, NBCC proposed an infusion of Rs 200 crore equity capital, transfer of 950 acres of land worth Rs 5,000 crore as well as Yamuna Expressway to banks and completion of flats construction by July 2023 in order to settle an outstanding claim of Rs 23,723 crore of financial creditors. Later, the CoC decided to put on vote the revised offer of NBCC, with homebuyers favouring the voting process while bankers dissenting it as the bid was seen as conditional. Also Read: Wheres my house? NCRs Notorious Construction Record Clarifications from NBCC were sought in the wake of the Interim Resolution Professional (IRP) flagging to the lenders that NBCC's bid was conditional and non-binding. In its resolution plan, NBCC had stated that its plan would not be binding unless key relief measures such as extinguishing of income tax liability and exemption from seeking consent of YEIDA (Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority) for any business transfer, were taken. Ever since, NBCC has decided not to dilute the conditions of exemption from income-tax liability as well as from taking consent of development authorities for transfer of businesses. In the Amrapali case, the apex court on May 8 had said that it may give ownership rights of all the 15 prime residential properties of Amrapali Group to Noida and Greater Noida Authorities as it has failed to fulfil its obligations towards 42,000 hassled homebuyers. But the authorities have informed the Supreme Court that they don't have the requisite resources and expertise to construct the stalled projects and favoured handing over the properties to a reputed builder under the supervision of a high powered committee. On May 11, the apex court reserved its order on a plea regarding projects of the embattled real estate Amrapali Group. On January 25, the Supreme Court gave NBCC the go-ahead to complete two stalled projects of Amrapali Group. Recently, the Supreme Court suggested that the government look into the possibility of taking over embattled real estate firm Unitech and complete housing projects to protect the interests of homebuyers. There is a possibility that these projects too may fall in NBCC's lap. Saviour for stuck projects If the government-owned NBCC undertakes construction of stuck projects, stakeholders' apprehensions about funding construction may just ease. Most stalled projects have considerable monetisable assets in the form of land banks and Floor Space Index (the ratio between the area of a covered floor or built up area to the area of the plot of land on which the building stands), which the NBCC can use to cover some of the construction costs. Some experts are of the view that the company is like any other developer in the business of outsourcing projects to contractors. But the real issue is to do with funds who will bring in the money if there is a shortfall? What will happen in the event of land banks not getting sold in a slow moving real estate market? "It may be a liquid company but it is not putting money from its pocket. It has the capability to execute projects but what is required is an entity that will steer the ship from the problem areas to the coast line. There is also no clarity on who will bridge the gap in terms of funding, regulatory and legal issues," said a real estate expert on condition of anonymity. One must also remember that every project is different with its own set of problems. A complete feasibility analysis for every project needs to be undertaken how much has been completed, what is the extent of unsold inventory, additional land banks available, fresh plans to develop them have to be drawn up so that revenues can be generated. "Right now, NBCC does not seem to be taking any market risks. Which means that anybody can be brought in to do the job of managing an incomplete project," said experts. Some experts are of the view that the company does not have the wherewithal to execute a project of the size of Jaypee. "The scale is daunting, they also do not have the mindset to handle 20,000 customers apathy or for that matter the legal issues confronting it. Handling all of this will be a challenge," said an expert. NBCC needs to tread with caution since undertaking stalled projects may adversely impact balance sheets. There is also very less scope of demanding escalation costs from customers as a majority of them have paid almost 90 percent of the amount. The most important issue is that of land monetisation. This may not be easy going forward in the present economic environment. Also, in this case potential buyers would have a choice between purchasing land from the authorities on easy terms by paying just about 10 percent upfront vis-a-vis the full amount if they were to buy land from Jaypee's eventual buyer. It is worth noting here that in case of Jaypee, the land was given to it in lieu of construction of the Expressway on freehold basis instead of leasehold, which is the norm. The authority was set up to hold the title of the land. Another challenge is to develop a master plan of the remaining land parcels that need to be monetised to raise additional funds. "The existing master plan and the land use for projects may not be feasible in the current environment. You cannot just build more houses there as there may not be requisite demand. NBCC may just have to bring in more partners to develop those land parcels and address the challenges of scale and meeting timelines," said an expert. Should NBCC essay the role of saviour for every stalled project? NBCC cannot be seen as handling all the distressed assets in the country. It is not something they undertake as a CSR activity but a serious business proposition. NBCC is like any other corporation at the end of the day and they have to see if taking on a stuck project makes financial sense. They are not in it to do a CSR project, this is their business, said an expert. There are other developers too who can take on such projects as the Jaypee bids have indicated. Having said that, a single model cannot sustain for every project as all are different. "A one-size-fits-all approach may not help. Some projects may be badly stuck and not viable at all," said an expert. It is also essential that the bid process be competitive. Such projects should not be allocated unilaterally. "Even if the government takes up a stuck project through NBCC and the exchequer ends up paying the money to complete them, it would in any case be through taxes paid by homebuyers," said another expert. In some cases, the land was allotted on leasehold for 99 years by the authorities a decade ago. If for the remaining 88 years nothing transpires and the lease expires by default, land is bound to devolve upon the authorities who may then be tasked with completing the projects. One way to monetise such parcels could be to charge stakeholders for changing the title from leasehold to freehold. "The amount collected could be utilised for completing unfinished projects," suggest experts. Besides, the government coming forward to complete every stuck project may set a bad precedent. A look at the list of NBCC residential projects across the country shows that the company's order book is filled with projects across the country from Patna to Kochi, besides a clutch of projects in Delhi-NCR like NBCC Green View in Sector 37-D in Gurgaon, which is spread across 17.2 acres, while NBCC Heights in Sector 89 in Gurgaon is spread across 11.31 acres. The company's redevelopment project in East Kidwai Nagar in New Delhi is spread across 86 acres and cost of construction is over Rs 5,000 crore. It is also involved in the redevelopment of four out of seven housing colonies in South Delhi located in Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar and Kasturba Nagar. In the Jaypee case, the balance cost of completing projects is Rs 6,500 crore. NBCC is also constructing affordable housing projects in Alwar, Rajasthan and Rajarhat, Kolkata among others. It is involved in the redevelopment of four out of seven housing colonies in South Delhi located in Nauroji Nagar, Netaji Nagar, Sarojini Nagar, Thyagraj Nagar and Kasturba Nagar. The cost of the project is around Rs 24,000 crore. NBCC's annual turnover is about Rs 10,000 crore and has a salary bill of Rs 300 crore. It is preferred because time and cost overrun is nil compared to CPWD, which has a salary bill of around Rs 2000 crore. Rs 15,000 crore is its work execution turnover. Salaries for the latter are paid from the consolidated fund of India. HUDCO was set up for the purpose of financing housing and urban development programmes, said an expert on condition of anonymity. When contacted, NBCC declined to respond to queries. Other options Some buyers who are feeling the heat of delays in project completion may either depend on a public company such as NBCC, or a private player that can be brought in as a project management consultant. They may even consider completing the projects all by themselves. In effect, rather than being victims, buyers could form their own groups, hire contractors and even consult with the government authorities about the process of completing their projects themselves, said Anuj Puri, Chairman ANAROCK Property Consultants. Successful self-completion also depends on the actual state of the delayed project its stage of completion, financial health, size, land title, etc. Only smaller-sized projects (of 200 units per project or less) can be considered a safe option for buyers opting for self-construction. (This is part of a series of pieces on issues plaguing the real estate sector) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The first thing one notices while entering Max Towers is the statue in the courtyard. It is of a man doing a version of halasana, the plow pose in Yoga. While installing it, there was a debate on how to position the statue? In the end, it was decided to place the art form, created by South African artist Angus Vanzyl Taylor, in such a way that a visitor would first see the man's rear. It may seem like an unusual decision, but Sahil Vachani knew it was the perfect way to portray Max Towers. "We want to position the building as a fun place to work. We want to offer a space with the philosophy of work well. We want to bring in the environment to work well," says Vachani, who is the managing director and CEO of Max Ventures and Industries Limited. The Rs 600-crore Max Towers is the first real estate project of Max Ventures, also marking the entry of parent Max Group into the sector. Bringing the focus on the work well part is, Vachani likes to call it the software of the building. This includes amenities like creche, an auditorium for hosting talk-shows and movies, restaurants, laundry services and even a garage. In the near future, those working here can also buy groceries and vegetables before heading home after work. "We have created an infrastructure that fosters collaboration and networking," says Vachani. The CEO often doubles up as the venture's salesman-in-chief, proudly taking visitors through the features of this 21-floor building located on Delhi-Noida corridor. The building was inaugurated in April, within two years of firming up the land lease. As proud he is of it, Vachani also understands the importance of Max Towers in the overall vision for Max Ventures. Since he joined Max Ventures in 2016, Vachani has been leading a turnaround in the company. Much of its revenues comes from speciality films, a manufacturing business that is at odds with the otherwise service-bent of the $3 billion Max Group. Max Group gets most of its revenues from insurance and healthcare. Vachani led two crucial transactions that helped in bringing in equity and expanded the speciality films business. From Rs 660 crore in the 2017 FY, the company's revenues are expected to be close to Rs 1,000 crore in the 2019 financial year. Margins, though, have remained squeezed because of high fuel costs and oversupply in the industry. Despite the improvement, the stock of Max Ventures has lagged its peers and is now trading close to its 52-week low. The company's market cap is just about Rs 620 crore. The real estate bet Vachani wants to change that and is banking on the real estate venture to do that. "While in our manufacturing business, the capacity expansion is kicking in and revenues should go up by 50 percent, in the coming years, the share of real estate will increase," he said. The company expects to earn Rs 100 crore from lease rentals this year alone. After Max Towers, the focus is on Max House the Group's Okhla office in Delhi that is being rebuilt. "While Max Towers has six lakh square feet, Max House will have 3.5 lakh square feet. That is nearly a million square feet of space. And we are exploring similar opportunities in NCR," says Vachani. Apart from the financial opportunity, the 36-year-old is looking at real estate as a chance to create a brand at a time when many of the big industry names have been hauled up by consumer courts or are fighting insolvency in bankruptcy tribunals. And, he is strongly seconded by Max Group founder Analjit Singh. "What we bring is performance and integrity. So many realtors have stolen away customers money. There is a lack of transparency," says Singh. He points out at the Group's insurance business, Max Financial Services Ltd, which has become the country's largest non-bank insurer, as an example of being a differentiator in a crowded space. And, in Vachani who is married to Singh's younger daughter Tara Singh Vachani, the Max Group founder says he has found a star to emulate the insurance arm's performance in real estate. "It is a difficult venture. At the same time, in Sahil, we have someone with a unique combination of strong business acumen, focus on delivery, and also humility," says Singh. Is that just an indulgent father-in-law speaking? May not be. Building business Vachani comes from a business family. His grandfather was the founder of Weston Electronics, a home-bred brand that ushered in the television era in the country. Vachani joined one arm of the family business. After completing his studies in the US, he had a stint in investment banking in London. After that, Vachani joined Dixon Technologies, a family firm that was into contract manufacturing. Vachani set up a new vertical that specialised in making washing machines for white goods brands. He built it as the largest manufacturer of washing machines in the country before selling his stake to join Max Group in 2016. At Max Ventures, too, Vachani has shown the penchant to grow businesses, this time in the real estate sector. It was not a smooth ride. The land, on which Max Towers today stands, was under a dispute. The Towers was earlier a part of a larger project, which included other commercial and residential buildings by a builder. But, when the builder went bankrupt, Vachani took upon himself to not just clear the way for Max Towers - by getting clearances from the Noida authorities - but did the same for the project's other neighbouring buildings that belonged to Berger Paints and Manikchand. Vachani also built the infrastructure, including parking area, basement and landscape, which were supposed to be done by the developer. This has helped Berger and Manikchand to begin work on their towers. Vachani has shown interest in buying the rest of the project's buildings, which include residential towers. "This cluster will become an ideal place for office-goers. Imagine having your office - with all the amenities - home and a senior living space for your parents, all neighbouring each other," says Vachani. Future role Last year, Vachani was appointed a director on the board of Max Financial Services, as a representative of the Owner Sponsor Group, led by Singh. The Max founder is clear about the role Vachani and Tara will play in the future. "They will take the role of face of sponsors," says Singh about his succession plan. Tara had led the Group's entry to senior living. She is now the MD & CEO of Antara Senior Living, which started off with its property in Dehradun. Vachani is cognizant of his role but is taking one step at a time. "It is an exciting time," he says. Snapdeal is close to finalising a deal with ShopClues, with a final decision expected soon, according to a report by The Economic Times. The deal will help Snapdeal make a strong comeback and give stiff competition to rivals Walmart-owned Flipkart and Amazon. ShopClues investors are likely to receive one share of Snapdeal for every nine shares, giving them a 10 percent stake in the combined entity, the report stated. Gurgaon-based ShopClues has asked for a 30 percent stake in the merged company, the report added. The transaction is expected to be a complete stake purchase of ShopClues, the publication reported. The management and founders, Radhika Aggarwal and Sanjay Sethi, will likely be given a small cash exit, the article quoted a source as saying. Moneycontrol couldnt independently verify the report. Also read: A look at how ShopClues is trying to turn the corner In April, Moneycontrol had reported that Snapdeal and ShopClues have begun preliminary discussions. The due diligence process for the merger has begun, the report said. Nexus Ventures Capital is a common investor in both Snapdeal and ShopClues. Singapore-based sovereign wealth fund GIC and US hedge fund Tiger Global are among the other investors in ShopClues. Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, Bessemer Venture Partners and Foxconn are among the other investors in Snapdeal. Snapdeal clocks around 200,000 orders daily, while ShopClues records around 30,000 orders. Amazon and Flipkart, on the other hand, witness daily orders of around 600,000. Snapdeal had in 2017 attempted a merger with Flipkart, a deal which eventually collapsed. Ola has suspended Foodpanda's food delivery business and has laid off several employees, according to a report in Mint. "They (Ola) have realised they can't burn money like Swiggy and Zomato, which is why they only want to do in-house brands. Over the last few months, Foodpanda has been scaling down its marketplace," a source told the paper. The company has laid off about 40 entry-mid level staff, and terminated contracts of 1,500 delivery executives, the report said. However, Foodpanda's cloud kitchens business, which operates under private labels The Great Khichdi Experiment, Lovemade and FLRT brands, will continue operations. Moneycontrol had in April reported that Foodpanda had delisted several restaurants and its services either unavailable or skeletal across different cities. In December 2017, Ola had acquired Foodpanda from Berlin-based Delivery Hero for around Rs 200 crore ($30-40 million). Ola had also invested $200 million (about Rs 1,300 crore) in the food delivery company at the time. The app currently shows that most restaurants are temporarily unavailable, with only 1-2 restaurants open for delivery in each location in Mumbai. Media reports over the past few months had suggested that Ola is cutting its investment in Foodpanda and reducing its focus on the business. Ola has dissolved its ground team over the past few weeks, and retained its core team of senior executives, the report said. "The entry-level employees were given intimation first, followed by the on-ground operations team," a source told the publication. Ola had first tried its hand at the food business in 2015, launching Ola Cafe which it discontinued a year later. Foodpanda had last year offered deep discounts to compete with Swiggy, Zomato and UberEats. Foodpanda currently clocks around 5,000 orders per day, while Swiggy and Zomato record around 200,000 orders daily. 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Backed by Taiwan-based Rigo Global Co. Ltd, Rigo Taxi has already invested Rs 5 crore in this project and plans to invest another Rs 30 crore by August. Rigo is providing the taxis a smart taximeter, which is imported from Taiwan and is priced at for Rs 30,000 to facilitate the bookings. "To begin with, we are offering the devices, free of cost to the drivers," Kuldip Sengar, India chief executive officer and managing director of Rigo Global, told Moneycontrol. The company has been running its pilot programmes in Kolkata and Mumbai for a couple of years now and is set to launch its taxi aggregation business in Delhi on June 1. Rigo users will also won't have to worry about surge pricing. Customers will be able to book a ride via the app or by just walking to the nearest taxi available. The cabs will charge customers, government-approved tariffs -- Rs 12.50 per km for non-ac and Rs 14.50 for ac taxis. To top it all, there will be no surge pricing unlike how Ola and Uber operate. In order to boost safety, all the Rigo taxis will also be equipped with free real-time video calling facility by means of a video camera installed within the Rigo smart taximeter. In return, Rigo plans to charge a fixed 15 percent commission from the taxi drivers. It has already signed up 700 drivers on its platform. While taxi hailing firms such as Uber and Ola have solved the intra-city logistics problems of a common man massively, according to a study done by community media platform LocalCircles, surge pricing has become a major pain point for the users. The survey which was done last year polled 20,000 people across the country over a period of a week. It stated that 64 percent customers were affected by dynamic and surge pricing. On the other hand, since the last couple of years, the drivers have been staging multiple protests citing declining income and increasing commission rates the two ride hailing firms charge them. It will be interesting to see if this newcomer is able to challenge the existing duopoly of Uber and Ola. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Prabhudas Lilladher's research report on Sharda Cropchem Sharda Cropchem reported lower than expected results this quarter. Topline was flat YoY at INR 7.6 bn due to subdued performance from the agrochemical segment. Heightened competitive intensity from the innovators in the EU region led to 720 bps decline YoY in agchem EBIT margins @ 16.5%. Other expenses shot up 28% on account of sharp spike in write offs of intangible assets (@ Rs 420 mn in 4Q) dragging the EBITDA margins down by 516 bps to 20.6%. The business model of SHCR, (which used to be its USP at a point of time) has now become its biggest drawback due to the control of environmental pollution in China. It has been most impacted among its peers with agrochemical segment margins nearly halving over the last 3 years (from 30.4% in 4QFY16 to 16.5% in 4QFY19). While the business model also provides a fluidity to rapidly realign its product with market demand, stress on gross margin is expected to continue in the near term due to pressure on both cost and revenue. Our topline and EBITDA estimates are largely unchanged but we reduce our PAT estimates for FY20E and FY21E by 13.8% and 10.0% respectively due factor in higher depreciation (led by higher capitalisation of registrations costs). Outlook We downgrade the stock to ACCUMULATE with revised target price of INR 401 (Previous - INR 444) based on 15x FY21E earnings. For all recommendations report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Prabhudas Lilladher's research report on Bharat Forge BHFC's Q4FY19 operating performance surpassed expectations with OPM at 31% against PLe of 29.3%, on the back of better realisations (up 24% YoY / 5% QoQ driven by a better product mix - higher share of exports). While the management plans to neutralise the impact of OEM production decline post BS VI implementation by way of higher content per vehicle and increasing market share, it seems like a long drawn strategy and we expect domestic auto segment revenue over FY21 to remain subdued. The company has also increased its capex spend over FY19 & FY20 to Rs8.5bn for its Baramati, Nelor and other capacity expansions, ramping up of which will have an impact on margins over FY20/21E. Outlook Given that we are already at the down cycle for the class 8 truck market and revenues from other businesses are not sizeable enough still to compensate for the same, we maintain Hold with a target price of Rs513, based on 21x Mar'21E Standalone EPS. For all recommendations report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi addressed more than 140 rallies each in the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, the opposition leader scoring a tad better in terms of voter outreach by also holding eight press conferences. Modi addressed 142 rallies and Gandhi 145 in the fiercely contested elections that saw both leaders totting up many thousand miles as they crisscrossed the length and breadth of the country in a bid to reach out to the maximum number of people. Both leaders covered all the states in the elections that began on April 11 and ended on May 19 with Modi flying over 1.5 lakh kilometres, his party said. The votes will be counted on May 23. Modi, the main campaigner for the BJP, was supported by party chief Amit Shah, while Gandhi was aided by his sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who also campaigned in many parts of the country. Ending the 2019 poll campaign with a press conference, Shah said Modi braved scorching temperatures of up to 46 degrees Celsius. There was hardly any part of the country the prime minister did not visit, he added. Modi accompanied Shah at the presser, but deflected questions saying he is a "disciplined party soldier" and the party chief is supreme for him. The BJP president said the campaign started on March 28, 2019 from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and the prime minister addressed 142 public rallies, held four roadshows and, according to conservative estimates, directly addressed about 1.5 crore people. Modi ended the campaign with a speech in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, on May 17. "Modi's campaign involved air travel of around 1.5 lakh kilometres," Shah said. "Since Independence, the most hardworking, extensive election campaign was this one and Modi's outreach was unprecedented," he said. Shah said he himself visited 312 Lok Sabha constituencies and addressed 161 public rallies in this election. He claimed he travelled 1.58 lakh kilometres and held 18 roadshows. The Congress said its president addressed 145 poll rallies, eight press briefings and five road shows. He started with a joint public meeting in the Bihar capital Patna on February 3 and ended in Solan, Himachal Pradesh, on May 17. The campaign culminated with a press conference in Delhi. "You must have seen that I have improved with press conferences. You've seen that? Now, how do you think I have improved, who made me improve? What do you think? You made me improve. So it is because I come here and I do press conferences in front of you...," Gandhi said, thanking media persons. In 2014, Rahul Gandhi was party vice president and did not lead the campaign. Modi, however, addressed more than double the number of rallies that year. "History will remember the 2014 elections as historic and marking a paradigm shift from conventional electioneering," Modi had said after the 2014 poll campaign. Shah had later stated that BJP's prime ministerial candidate addressed 437 big rallies, participated in 5,827 public interface events and travelled over three lakh kilometres across 25 states in his attempt "to connect himself to the people everywhere". The Election Commission of India (EC) will begin counting votes for the 17th Lok Sabha Election on May 23. The final results are likely to be delayed this time by four to six hours because of the introduction of additional Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) counting. The Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases across the 542 parliamentary constituencies from April 11 to May 19. Approximately 60 crore voters have cast ballots across 10 lakh booths in 29 states and seven union territories. Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners are hoping to retain power at the Centre. This is amid efforts by several Opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, to put up a united fight. 'Others' or the 'third front' is also trying to wrest power. The general election witnessed a mega campaign from key political players such as PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi, BJP chief Amit Shah, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati of the Mahagathbandhan and several other senior BJP and Opposition leaders. When does the counting of votes begin on May 23? Counting happens in the presence of the Returning Officer (RO) of the constituency and candidates and their agents. It is expected to begin at 8.00 am. The RO declares the result when he or she is certain that counting has been successfully completed. In addition, the EC appoints its observers to oversee the process and ensure that it happens in a transparent manner. Each candidate can appoint up to 16 counting agents from his/her party for each place of counting. The counting agent takes care of the interests of the party. For more on the counting process, click here Where can I watch live counting of votes on May 23? Readers can follow Moneycontrols Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 live blog , besides our other live blogs, analyses articles, opinion pieces and videos for both the Lok Sabha polls and the four Assembly elections (Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh). Moneycontrol will keep bringing you the latest updates from across all 542 constituencies. The live blogs will also inform readers about which candidate is leading or trailing in different constituencies. There will be a counting widget showing the results tally on the Moneycontrol homepage and the Lok Sabha elections 2019 page. In keeping with its push for digitalisation, the EC has designed an interactive website (results.eci.gov.in), complete with a countdown. The website also allows viewers to check constituency-wise and party-wise results and trends. Results and trends can also be checked on the Election Commissions's Android app Voter Helpline, which will provide candidate-wise, party-wise and constituency-wise updates. One can also 'bookmark' a candidate to get real-time updates on his/her performance, as also the depiction of each party's vote share in graphical format. Moreover, voters can also check the results of their constituency by scanning the barcode of their EPIC number through the app. To know more, read how you can check Lok Sabha Election Results 2019 on the Election Commission website and app. When does counting end? It depends. For some assembly elections, the counting has gone on till late in the night; but it typically ends by evening, while the provisional results are, by and large, known by the afternoon. This time, however, results might be delayed by around five hours, according to the EC. This is due to an increase in the number of VVPAT verification to five random EVMs. In April, the Supreme Court had ordered the EC to increase VVPAT slips from one EVM per Assembly constituency to five. When will be the results be announced? The results are likely to be declared on May 23. FAQ: The complete guide to Lok Sabha election 2019 How do they count the postal ballots? The postal ballot (PB) process is reserved for service officers, their spouses, those on polling duty, electors subject to preventive detention etc. The postal ballots are counted only at the Returning Officer's table. The voters are provided with Cover A, which contains the ballot paper. The voters are also provided with Cover B, containing Form 13A. On the counting day, Cover B is opened and attestation in Form 13 A is checked. If it has been properly attested and the number of PB written in 13 A, matches with the number written on Cover A, only then is Cover A opened and ballots counted. It normally takes about half an hour for the PBs to be counted, after which counting for the EVMs can be started. How is counting done when Lok Sabha and assembly elections are held simultaneously? Counting for both is done in the same counting hall. One side of the hall is reserved for counting of Lok Sabha votes while the other is reserved for the state assemblies. FAQ: All you need to know about 2019 Lok Sabha election Counting Day How many constituencies are there in India? Rima M. | Rakesh Sharma A rather compelling headline but are we really heading towards another crisis in the Indian aviation sector? Rhea Arora's 19 May piece in Qrius retells how the IndiGo crisis came under the spotlight after promoters Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia moved the NCLT (The National Company Law Tribunal) over mounting disagreements The piece tries to highlight what it calls the Indian aviation sectors beleaguered state and on this edition of Digging Deeper, we will try and focus on just that. Internal cracks? Rhea writes how Indias largest airline with 46.9% of the market share, IndiGo is facing internal managerial struggle as it continues to report losses. And that the airlines two main promoters, Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal, have hired lawyers to resolve a dispute between them on whether the airline should adopt double-aisled aircraft or code shares. IndiGo, the piece reminds, also cancelled flights in March after it fell short of pilots to operate newly acquired carriers, and clearly failed to capitalise on Jets temporary shutdown. The story began when The founders Rakesh Gangwal and Rahul Bhatia co-founded IndiGo in 2006. The piece informs that Gangwal holds 37% and Bhatia has 38% of InterGlobe Aviation, the airline services company that runs IndiGo. The remaining equity is with the public, financial institutions, and other investors. Who is Gangwal? He is an aviation veteran and has worked with United Airlines in 1984 and Air France before being appointed CEO and Chairman of US Airways Group. He was also, the piece informs, named by Forbes magazine as the 775th richest billionaire in 2019 and the 70th richest in India in 2015. And Bhatia? The piece informs that in 2018, Bhatia took over as the airlines interim CEO while new candidates were being vetted. This January, Ronojoy Dutta was named IndiGos new CEO. Like Gangwal, Bhatia has also been featured on Forbes list of billionaireshe ranked 504th in the world and 41st in India in 2018. Firstpost was among the first sources to report that Gangwal had issues with Bhatias influence over the airlines operations, executives and management. However, Ronojoy Dutta had made a much publicised statement where among other things, he said that Gangwal did not want to take control of the airline. In the statement, Gangwal was cited and we quote,"To put to rest the messaging on the fact that the RG group is attempting to renegotiate the shareholders agreement (SHA), I am placing on record that the RG group stands by the current SHA, which in any case expires this October. The pair is however, as has been reported widely, also reportedly arguing about the future of the airline and weighing whether to add superior, double-aisled aircraft or deal in code shares. Says Rhea and we quote, "Bhatia wants to invest in a double-aisled carrier that can fly non-stop for over 10 hours and make passengers more comfortable, while Gangwal wants to focus on code shares, a commercial arrangement where two or more airlines sell seats on a flight operated by one of them under their own flight code. Bhatia and Gangwal have now enlisted JSA Law and Khaitan & Co law firms, respectively. " Mint, we learn, spoke to Pavan Kumar Vijay, founder of advisory firm Corporate Professionals, who said that the emphasis will be on the effort to first resolve the differences within the boardroom over the question of who controls the company. Under Section 241 of the Companies Act, informs Rhea, a shareholder can take other shareholders to task if the former alleges that the company is being run according to the latters interests only. While this drama unfolds in the background, IndiGo announced this February that 30 flight cancellations would unfold till March and in 2018, the airline also cancelled close to 2,000 flights after safety concerns rose about their engines. Notes of dissonance There have been conflicting stories emerging from the IndiGo battlefield. While Business Standard said IndiGo will be adding 100 new aircrafts this year at a rate of nine aircraft a month, there were comments from observers about how the airline would need to hire about 2,000 more pilots. IndiGo COO Wolfgang Prock-Schauer on the other hand, told Financial Express that the airline has hired more pilots, who will be joining in April and can help correct the ratio of piloting crew to aircraft. Rhea quotes Prock-Shauer, We are sticking to the growth forecast given to investors. There was a slight mismatch in the projected and actual availability of pilots. But we are on our way to set things right by April.'' A Rediff report says that IndiGo has asked recruiters to focus on pilots from Latin America and West Asia where airlines are trying to reduce their costs and laying off staff. However, hiring foreign pilots needs to undergo a more stringent approval process, which is adding to the delay, adds Rhea. The Economic Times on the other hand found that IndiGo had invested in expensive software that organises pilot rosters for maximum productivity, so the airline could coast in the interim with a smaller crew. However, the new schedules were hectic and impacting pilots personal lives. There have been reports about disgruntled pilots deciding to form a union though the management has set up a committee to look into their grievances. There is also the question of a rise in salary costs that the company will have to deal with in the face of the fact that the company reported in 2018, its lowest quarterly profit since it launched its IPO in 2015. Rising fuel costs and a depreciating rupee have made future projections sluggish with the company's fuel expenses spiralling by 54% and transactions for other unrelenting expenses like airport rent, maintenance, and refuelling made in the US Dollar. The expansion plans seem unrealistic and former CEO Aditya Ghoshs resignation did not help matters. Stories about rude staff and faulty engines have muddied the waters further. With all the unresolved issues on their plate, IndiGo has not maximised the gains from Jet Airways absence in a competitive market unlike SpiceJet, that moved in for the kill, and took over routes to Kathmandu, Hong Kong, Colombo, Bangkok, Dhaka, Jeddah, and Riyadh. The conflict over Jet's global flying rights There is more to this story though. Money Control has recently reported that the government had decided that Air India would get half of Jet's slots on high-demand routes and the rest would be given to carriers ranked on the basis of flight frequency which is measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs). Here too IndiGo has not had an easy time. The Economic Times reported that.and conflicts have cropped up between IndiGo and its main domestic rivals over the method of distribution of grounded Jet Airways' foreign flying rights among them by the Aviation ministry. This strategy is currently benefitting IndiGo as it is the market leader but its main rivals - SpiceJet, Vistara and GoAir - have voiced their objection to the aviation secretary Pradeep Singh Kharola, saying that this move would create a monopoly. "While the decision on the award of foreign flying rights of Jet Airways temporarily to other carriers has been taken, the opposition by airlines to the AIC is being discussed," a source from the aviation ministry said. We quote the Money Control piece, " State-run Air India has been allotted around 5,700 weekly seats on the India-Dubai route, over 5,000 on the India-Qatar route and 4,600 additional seats to and from London. This is about 50 percent of Jet's quota on routes." While, a SpiceJet spokesperson said, "This is temporary allocation. The objective is to immediately provide flights for passengers who are paying high fares, mostly to foreign airlines. This objective is fulfilled by those airlines that can provide immediate capacity and who have slots at both origin and destination.The rule referred to was made in 2005 with the objective of protecting incumbent carriers at the time, primarily Air India. The rule is not relevant to the temporary allocation that is being done at this time. The ministry has already ignored this rule by allotting some of Jet's traffic rights to Air India on a temporary basis." While most industry members believe that IndiGo will get the slots as it has the most market share, the bigger issues are caused by differences within the company even though IndiGos CEO Ronojoy Dutta has been at pains to state that despite the rumbles, the company's growth strategy remains unchanged. Anirban Chowdhury wrote in an ET report that Ronojoy Dutta believes , the company has a great track record of resolving issues and that in any strong and well-managed company there will always be differences. Sources have told ET and as we have said before in not so many words, that the differences stem from multiple reasons including a shareholders agreement skewed heavily in favour of Bhatia as well as differences in their respective visions for the future of the airline. We quote, "The agreement, which expires in October, gives Bhatias holding company InterGlobe Enterprises (IGE) the right to appoint the chairman and key managerial personnel, including the managing director, chief executive officer and president of the company. It also has the right to nominate three non-independent directors, one of whom will be non-retiring." And as we have said before, in the statement, Dutta has cited Gangwal as saying that the RG Group which represents his and his familys holding has no interest or desire to take control of the company or to renegotiate the shareholders agreement. Dutta has said the promoters and the board have worked as a team in making the management changes and that not every management change should be seen as a sign of dissonance at the top. Dutta acknowledged that Bhatia is represented by the law firm J Sagar Associates and Gangwal by Khaitan & Co. But he added that have been on retainer by the founders since IndiGos IPO in 2015." Damage Control On May 18, Money Control had also cited Reuters to share CEO Ronojoy Dutta statement that we have been quoting from. He said and we quote, We are all very much united in vision, purpose and direction as we move forward to build a world class (airline). I would like to forcefully address these baseless speculations as they are not in the best interests of our shareholders, our employees and the travelling public. It is true that IndiGo has gone through a number of changes in a continuum that stretches from Aditya Ghosh, to Greg Taylor to a team of highly skilled expatriates to me... But all great companies go through periods of transition as they evolve from one phase of their growth to another and a little bit of turbulence during these transition phases is neither unusual nor unwelcome." Whether these statements can quell the gathering storm is however another matter as a sharp fall in IndiGo's shares earlier this week was noted by investors who feared that exit of one of the promoters could impact the airline's growth. The faultlines have been sighted and it is up to the company to make sure that they don't swallow the brand equity which has kept it afloat thus far in rather challenging times. As counting of votes polled in 38 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu gets underway at 8 AM on Thursday, all eyes will also be on the results of the bypolls to 22 Assembly seats, since the outcome will decide whether the K Palaniswami government is here to stay or not. While exit polls have forecast a second saffron surge in the country in five years, mainly in the Hindi heartland that will enable a successive term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they have predicted a good show by Congress-ally DMK in the state. The exit polls have painted a bleak picture for the AIADMK, even as the ruling party keeps a nervous eye on the bypolls to know its fate. However, both AIADMK and DMK have dismissed the exit polls. While bypolls to 18 of the total 22 vacant assembly seats were held on April 18, the rest went to the hustings on May 21. AIADMK would require a significant number of seats to remain in power even as rival leader, AMMK founder T T V Dhinakaran, has threatened to play spoilsport to Palaniswami's chances to continue in power. The AIADMK has a strength of 113 minus the Speaker in the 234 member house with 22 vacancies. The simple majority in the full house is 117. DMK is banking on the byelections to have a shot at capturing power in the state. The party, along with its allies, including Congress, has 97 MLAs against AIADMK's 114 in the 234-member assembly with 22 vacancies. DMK demitted office in 2011, when the late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa stormed to power with a massive victory, reducing the opposition party to double-digit figures in the state assembly. She also led her party to a successive term in 2016, a feat repeated by an incumbent after three decades. On Thursday, results will also be out for 38 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state, with the election to Vellore being cancelled following recovery of huge amount of cash. Over 800 candidates are testing their fortunes from the 38 Lok Sabha seats and another 406 from the by-polls. Meanwhile, the EC said all arrangements were in place for counting. Counting of votes will be done in 45 centres across the state, with over 17,000 polling staff and 45,000 police personnel deployed on Thursday. The security personnel comprises 1,520 from Central Armed Paramalitary Forces and 36,000 state police and the rest from Tamil Nadu Special Police (TSP), Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Satyabrata Sahoo said. He said 88 counting observers have been deployed for the state. "The counting process will be videographed continuously, from the opening of the strong room," where the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) are stored, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the "needless controversy" created by the Opposition over EVMs at a meeting of NDA leaders, even as the ruling alliance laid out its agenda for the next five years if it is elected to power again. At the BJP-led ruling alliance meeting, which was attended by 36 parties, a resolution was passed, terming the 2019 general election decisive for the country and pledging to make India "strong, developed, prosperous and inclusive" by 2022, when India completes 75 years of its independence, party leader and Union minister Rajnath Singh told reporters. The BJP-led NDA meeting is being seen as its show of strength and projection of a united front by the ruling alliance ahead of counting of votes on May 23, following which a new government will assume charge. In his address, Modi stressed on the need to change the narrative from caste lines and orient it for the poor, Singh said. The prime minister expressed concern over the Opposition making "needless controversy" over electronic voting machines, the home minister said. Earlier Tuesday, leaders of 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission and demanded verification of VVPAT slips of randomly-selected polling stations before the counting of the votes. The opposition representation to the EC came barely two days before the counting of votes and after exit poll projections that the BJP-led NDA is likely to return to power. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E K Palaniswami were among the BJP allies who attended the dinner-meeting hosted by BJP chief Amit Shah. Union minister and BJP ally Ram Vilas Paswan proposed the resolution. Paswan, who joined Singh in the media briefing, too dismissed Opposition's protest over EVMs as a case of collective frustration over their impending defeat and also warned them of "tit for tat". He did not elaborate what he meant by that. The Lok Janshakti Party chief said Modi turned emotional when he mentioned the political violence, "targeting" BJP workers, in states of Kerala and West Bengal. Shah had hosted another meeting for Union ministers earlier Tuesday. The BJP described the meeting as an occasion to thank ministers for their service to the nation. The NDA resolution also expressed its concern over the "systematic assault by the Opposition on institutions ranging from the CAG, Election Commission and judiciary to police and armed forces". Modi described the NDA as an alliance of India's hope and aspirations, saying it has become an "organic entity" like a family and is representative of the country's regional aspirations. The NDA leaders at the meeting, which was presided by Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, felicitated the prime minister and praised his council of ministers for their work. The resolution expressed confidence that the NDA will come back to power under Modi and said its government planned a capital investment of Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure while Rs 25 lakh crore will be devoted to farm and rural sectors. Hailing Modi's leadership and expressing faith in him, the resolution adopted by NDA leaders said their alliance is a true representative of India's diversity and dynamism. "It is the alliance that manifests the dreams and aspirations of 130 crore Indians. Today, the NDA has become the principal pole in Indian politics. "Under the leadership of PM Modi, the NDA government has future-proofed India, which means the creation of next-generation roads, railways, highways, i-ways and ports infrastructure that caters to the needs of the present and coming generations," it said. The NDA, the resolution added, stands as a bulwark against the "vote-bank politics and old-school political thinking of the Opposition" whose 20th-century politics has not cut ice with the young voters of the 21st century. "The last five years were about fulfilling the basic needs of the people; now is the time to further increase the pace of progress and meet the aspirations of the people," it said. It also praised the outgoing government's development and welfare initiatives. Singh said its work on the security and diplomatic fronts have ensured that India is no longer seen as a "soft state" by the world. "We resolved that once again under the leadership of PM Modi, by 2022, when India marks 75 years of freedom, it is our endeavour to fulfil the dreams of our great freedom fighters and give shape to the strong, prosperous, developed and inclusive India they dreamt of," it said. Besides representatives of 36 NDA constituents, Singh said leaders of three other parties also sent their letters of support at the alliance meeting. Nearly 60 per cent female voters came out to exercise their franchise in Bihar in the Lok Sabha elections as against just about 55 per cent turnout for men. As per the figures released by the Election Commission here, the overall turnout for female voters stood at 59.92 per cent as against 55.26 per cent for men. The constituencies which registered the highest female turnouts were Katihar (72.37), Supaul (71.64), Kishanganj (70.37), Araria (69.39), Purnea (68.15), Begusarai (67.13), Samastipur (66.74), Vaishali (66.62) and Ujiarpur (65.12). In contrast, the male turnout did not exceed 65 per cent in any of the 40 seats in the state and exceeded 60 per cent in only five Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar and Purnea, it said. Notably, among the constituencies with the highest female turnouts, only Supaul and Vaishali had a woman candidate as one of the main contestants. While sitting Congress MP Ranjeet Ranjan is in the fray from Supaul, in Vaishali the LJP has fielded Veena Devi. In some constituencies, the difference between male and female turnout was significantly high. In Sitamarhi 54.53 per cent men voted as against 64.36 per cent women. In Madhubani and Jhanjharpur, the male turnout stood at 48.14 per cent and 51.25 per cent respectively as against 59.97 per cent and 63.83 per cent for female voters in these constituencies. Siwan, where the main contest is between Kavita Singh of JD(U) and Heena Shahab of RJD, both married to local bahubalis, the female voters appeared similarly enthusiastic as their turnout stood at 59.56 per cent as against only 50.17 per cent for men. However, in adjoining Gopalganj (SC) and Maharajganj, which did not have any prominent female candidate, womens turnout was, similarly, about 10 per cent higher than that of men. However, all the constituencies which went to polls in the last phase registered lower female turnouts. Patna Sahib, which covers the entire Bihar capital, saw a measly 43.07 per cent female turnout as against 49.27 per cent men. The seat is witnessing a high-profile battle between actor-turned-politician and second term MP Shatrughan Sinha, who is the contesting on a Congress ticket, and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad who has been fielded by the BJP. In adjoining Pataliputra, Lalu Prasads daughter Misa Bhartis presence in the fray seems to have failed to enthuse female voters as their turnout stood at 52.40 per cent compared with 59.07 per cent for male. In Sasaram (SC), which former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar seeks to wrest back from BJPs Chhedi Paswan, female turnout was 51.65 per cent as against 56.88 per cent for male. Even in Nalanda, the home turf of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who has been working over the years to carve out a following among female voters, cutting across caste and religious lines, through measures like reservations in panchayats ban on alcohol and free uniforms and bicycles to school-going girls, only 47.44 per cent women voted compared with 50.15 per cent men. Female turnout was similarly lower than that of men in the remaining four seats Arrah, Jehanabad, Karakat and Buxar which went to polls on May 19. The only other seat besides these eight where the female turnout remained lower than that of male was Gaya (SC). Former chief minister and HAM president Jitan Ram Manjhi is engaged in, virtually, a straight contest with JD(U)s Vijay Manjhi in the constituency which went to polls in the first phase on April 11 and where 55.55 per cent women came out to vote as against 56.74 per cent men. Senior Congress leader M Veerappa Moily on Wednesday alleged exit polls that predicted return of the NDA government at the Centre were aimed at boosting investor sentiment on the stock market and "disrupting" opposition unity. The former Union Minister said he strongly felt that those exit polls do not reflect the reality on the ground, and claimed that some agencies who have conducted them have now "backed out" saying "there are full of errors". "It (exit polls predicting second term for the Modi government) must have been done with some ulterior motive. Number one is to project the stock market...people have gained between Rs 4.5 lakh crore to Rs five lakh crore"", he said. He was referring to investor wealth soaring by more than Rs 5.33 lakh crore as the benchmark BSE Sensex sprinted more than 1,422 points on Monday after exit polls predicted a return of the NDA government led by the BJP. "And another (reason for such exit polls) is to disrupt the opposition unity. That they have not succeeded. Tomorrow (counting day), it will not be a surprise if opposition unity springs out with a majority", Moily told PTI. Asked if unity efforts of "disparate" non-BJP, non-NDA parties would work, the former Karnataka Chief Minister said: "Sometimes it works because the common enemy is Modi and BJP. Because during elections all of them have suffered because of BJP's excesses. So, I don't think they can go with BJP". On the "contentious" issue of choosing Prime Ministerial candidate in the event of opposition mustering the numbers to form Government, he said, "I don't think there is much difficulty in choosing PM from the opposition". "We would like to react only tomorrow (after the results are declared)", Moily said when asked if the Congress would not insist on the post of Prime Minister. Foreign Minister Ralph Regenvanu (background) and UN Secretary General Anotnio Guterres during a visit to Port Vila's seafront. Mr Regenvanu confirmed that he had raised the issue of West Papua during a bilateral meeting, but little seems to have come from it. India's ruling coalition has promised to rev up growth, double farmers' income and boost infrastructure spending in the next five years after exit polls showed it would retain power when general election votes are counted on Thursday. Exit polls have predicted an outright majority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance in the seven-phase election that ended on Sunday. Such surveys have proved misleading before and the opposition has dismissed them as "gossip". The coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met in New Delhi on Tuesday confidant that victory was assured. "The NDA has resolved to speed up economic growth and fulfil the needs of the people in the next five years of our government," Home Minister Rajnath Singh, also a senior member of the BJP, told reporters late on Tuesday. "We're committed to a strong, developed and inclusive India." Six of the seven exit polls conducted have predicted that the NDA would comfortably surpass the majority mark of 272 seats in the lower house of parliament. But the main opposition Congress party has dismissed the polls and urged its workers to remain vigilant at centres where votes are being stored before the Thursday count. Economic growth eased to a five-quarter low of 6.6% in the three months to December and there are signs it is still slowing. March industrial output contracted for the first time in nearly two years, and surveys show a slackening in manufacturing and services growth, while car and motorbike sales have tumbled. Some economists have called for some stimulus. Singh said plans were ready to meet the BJP's manifesto pledge to spend 100 trillion rupees ($1.44 trillion) on infrastructure in the next five years and 25 trillion rupees on agriculture and rural development. Singh also reiterated the BJP goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022, the 75th year of India's independence from British colonial rule. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, whose regional party is part of the NDA, said the election had unleashed a "tsunami" of support for Modi. Political analysts say the election result could consolidate Modi's dominant position in politics while undermining the role of Congress party and opening up space for newer parties. "If the exit polls are to be believed, Modi's image as the incorruptible defender of the faith and nation has triumphed once again," said NikhilA Menon, assistant professor of historyA at the University of Notre Dame. "Narendra Modi may well be leading his party into an era of electoral dominance." Nearly two dozen opposition parties have complained to the Election Commission of attempts to tamper with voting machines in vote-count centres. The commission has rejected the allegation. Ahead of counting of votes for Lok Sabha polls, UP Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma Wednesday claimed that May 23 will witness the "political funeral" of the anti-BJP alliance of opposition parties. The month of May, he said, will prove to be a "sad month" for SP, BSP and Congress, which are fighting for their political survival. "May 23 will witness the political funeral (rajnitik antim sanskar) of the anti-BJP 'gathbandhan' of SP, BSP, RLD and Congress. These parties will level allegations and counter-allegations against each other, Sharma told PTI here. The deputy chief minister also claimed that in the 'gathbandhan', the SP is contesting elections to decimate the BSP and vice versa. Taking a jibe at the 'gathbandhan', he said, "With mercury rising everyday, the temperature of the 'gathbandhan' is also rising as they can easily see defeat approaching. It is for this very reason that they are making preposterous remarks. He said, "Transfer of votes among gathbandhan partners could not take place. "Akhilesh knew this very well and in order to make Mayawati happy said the BSP chief should be made the prime minister. When Akhilesh's party is contesting on 37 seats, how can he think of making someone the prime minister? It seems Akhilesh is showing 'Mungeri Lal ke haseen sapne' (day dreaming, Sharma remarked. Attacking the Congress, Sharma said, Congress has itself accepted that it is a vote-katwa party (a party which believes in splitting votes). Its leaders have a record of travelling abroad. For them, election campaigning is like a picnic. The leaders of the 'vote-katwa' party are now booking tickets to go abroad as their politics of splitting votes has failed. Lashing out at Rahul Gandhi, he charged,"The Congress president uses indecent words for the prime minister and has crossed all limits of decency. And in this way he has presented himself as an indecent person.The Congress president, during the tenure of UPA-2, had also insulted the then prime minister by tearing the Cabinet proposal. The Congress president must learn decency. The National Democratic Alliance has promised to rev up growth, double farmers' income and boost infrastructure spending in the next five years, after exit polls showed it would retain power when general election votes are counted on May 23. The exit polls have predicted an outright majority for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance in the seven-phase election that ended on May 19. However, such surveys have proved misleading before, and the main opposition Congress party on Wednesday dismissed them as fake. The NDA, which is led by Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met in New Delhi on May 21 confident of victory. "The NDA has resolved to speed up economic growth and fulfil the needs of the people in the next five years of our government," Home Minister Rajnath Singh, a senior member of the BJP, told reporters. "We're committed to a strong, developed and inclusive India." Six of seven exit polls have predicted the NDA will comfortably exceed the majority mark of 272 seats in parliament's lower house. But Congress has dismissed the polls and urged its workers to remain vigilant at centres where votes are being stored before Thursday's count. "The next 24 hours are important, stay alert and vigilant," its president, Rahul Gandhi, said on Twitter on Wednesday, addressing party workers. "Don't be scared. You are fighting for the truth. Don't be disheartened by the false propaganda of fake exit polls. Believe in yourself and the Congress party, your hard work will not go in vain." The Ministry of Home Affairs has warned of violence on Thursday and asked top police and civil officials of states to take preventive measures. "This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes," the ministry said in a statement. "TSUNAMI" FOR MODI Economic growth eased to a five-quarter low of 6.6% in the three months to December and there are signs it is still slowing. Modi has also faced criticism for weak farm prices and a shortage of jobs. March industrial output contracted for the first time in nearly two years, and surveys show a slackening in manufacturing and services growth, while car and motorbike sales have tumbled. Some economists have called for some stimulus. Singh said plans were ready to meet the BJP's manifesto pledge to spend 100 trillion rupees ($1.44 trillion) on infrastructure in the next five years and 25 trillion rupees on agriculture and rural development. He also reiterated the BJP goal of doubling farmers' income by 2022, the 75th year of India's independence from British colonial rule. Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, whose regional party is part of the NDA, said the election had unleashed a "tsunami" of support for Modi. Political analysts say the result could cement Modi's dominant position in politics while undermining the role of Congress and opening up space for newer parties. They have also said that another bad showing by Congress would prompt questions over the leadership of the Nehru-Gandhi family, which has dominated politics for decades. "If the exit polls are to be believed, Modi's image as the incorruptible defender of the faith and nation has triumphed once again," said NikhilA Menon, assistant professor of historyA at the University of Notre Dame. "Narendra Modi may well be leading his party into an era of electoral dominance." Nearly two dozen opposition parties have complained to the election panel of attempts to tamper with voting machines in vote-counting centres. It has rejected the accusation. Abhijit Iyer-Mitra In response to Indias purchase of the S-400 missile system from Russia, the United States has counter-offered the Theatre High Altitude Air Defence (THAAD) missile to India. On the face of it this would seem like a simple commercial counter, but a deep dive shows the US is misreading Indian intentions very badly, something that does not bode well for the bilateral relationship as it reflects a severe communication gap, as well as a lack of analytical rigour in Washington. The S-400 is formidable. Its long range (up-to 400 Km depending on the missile chosen) means that even when stationed a 100 km inside Indian territory, it can take down planes up to 300 Km in Pakistani territory. Due to this the Indian Air Force believes that the S-400 is the most potent system it can buy against the F-16 and other US fighters especially given its stellar role in Syria, where after the initial shoot down of Russian fighters by Turkey, the deployment of the S-400 deterred any further Turkish misadventures. Sadly that is only half the story, with the other half being, the ability of NATO aircraft and cruise missiles to infiltrate Syrian airspace at will, fooling the S-400. Moreover, it cannot integrate comprehensively into Indias mix of western and eastern equipment. Clearly, then the F-16 deterrence story isnt the full picture. What the US fails to understand is that the deal has been signed under duress, the duress of not buying enough from Russia, after India cancelled its participation in the ill-fated (and atrociously designed and built) Su-57 programme. This was a major blow to Russian industry, given that it was counting on India to buttress its flagging sales, but on the other hand India could simply not digest a badly designed product that would have been obsolete even before it entered production. Consequently, the only solution was the buy a product that was deemed suitable to the Indian military. However, as discussed above, the S-400 has at best a mixed record in Syria. So why was it considered suitable when the Su-57 fighter was not? This brings us to the third and only plausible explanation. The purchase was not done entirely to use the missile against adversaries, but rather to understand its capabilities thoroughly, simulate how to go up against it, how to jam it and to understand what its limitations are. As such its main use will be testing the Rafales ability to penetrate Chinese airspace guarded by the system. In this, it is money well spent as it fulfils our quota with Russia, and indirectly meets our requirements, as it prevents several billions of dollars worth of our aircraft and missiles being shot down by the Chinese. It is in understanding this complex and multi-causal problem that the THAAD offer seems off mark. For starters, THAAD is an anti-ballistic-missile (ABM) system that the S-400 is not optimised for (despite what its sales brochure says). Second, the Americans failed to understand Indian political compulsions regarding the purchase. Third, they seem to have missed the opportunity for using the purchase as an excuse to supply complementary systems that will help India deal with the Chinese S-400 menace, instead offering us a competing system that leads to duplication, and answers a requirement that India has not put out. It is imperative then that India reaches out to the US and clarifies its position in a spirit of cooperation rather than the usual diffidence that much of our JNU-trained bureaucracy display towards western imperialists. What has to be kept in mind here is that the S-400 is a potent enough system to significantly sour bilateral ties with the US. After all the S-400 is one of the reasons that Turkeys participation in the F-35 programme has been halted; and Turkey, unlike India, is a privileged NATO ally. Indias rationale for buying the S-400 is solid, however, diplomatic diffidence cannot be allowed to poison the well. The ball, therefore, lies in Indias court to explain how the S-400 purchase serves common goals, and suggest avenues of cooperation complementary to the S-400, rather than competing with it. Abhijit Iyer-Mitra is a defence economist and senior fellow at Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, New Delhi. Twitter: @iyervval. Views are personal. For more Opinion pieces, click here live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Irate HDFC Bank customers are threatening to close their accounts with the bank after their response to a controversial post on Facebook written by an employee of HDFC Life. In the post, the employee talks about the possibility of holding a referendum in India to decide whether Muslims should be given citizenship. The post by the HDFC Life employee was brought to light by Uzair Hasan Rizvi a journalist with news agency AFP. He tagged HDFC's customer care handle on Twitter to register his protest. In the tweet, he said, "Hello @HDFCBank_Cares this person (name withheld) claims to work for @HDFCLIFE wants a referendum on religion. His post is both Islamophobic & Xenophobic His views reflect hatred, as a Muslim, I will have to think twice before using ur services. Ppl like him will be biased to me." Uzair has since protected access to his tweets. HDFC's customer care handle responded to Rizvis tweet by acknowledging the post and confirming that the concerned person was their employee and said: "Hi Uzair, a post has been brought to our attention on social media. We'd like to state that the person in question is an employee of our group company HDFC Life and that we have in turn brought it to their notice for appropriate action. As an organization, and as a group, we strongly condemn such divisive and insensitive comments /views." The post itself and the reply by HDFC have since put the cat among the pigeons. Moneycontrol couldn't independently verify the original post on Facebook as the person's profile is inaccessible. "At HDFC Life, we strongly condemn such divisive and insensitive comments/views. We have taken strict action against the individual for violating our code of conduct/social media policy and he has been suspended, pending investigation," said an official spokesperson of HDFC Life. However, screenshots of the post in question have been doing rounds on Twitter and Facebook. Supporters of the post are saying that the bank should not take any action against the employee as he is just exercising his freedom of expression. You, sir, are a hypocrite. However distasteful, it's his opinion and he has expressed it on his social media account. Where is the freedom of expression?@HDFCLIFE would lost my respect if they take any action against the employee. Need to stand with him. Himanshu Mishra (@himanshualive7) May 22, 2019 Let us know about ur appropriate action... We will help u in reducing ur workloads Ajit Pratap Singh (@jhallia_vairagi) May 22, 2019 Sir, when a particular sect welcomes plebiscite in J&K, then why not this point of view. Anyway the threat u r giving shows a fake hinduphobia. Pls note, any corporate employee has to adhere to an employee code of conduct. Only if he violates it, can he be sacked. #Getwellsoon Dipti.Kane (@DiptiKane) May 22, 2019 Others have pointed at the hateful content in the employee's post and have said that the company should take action against him. Please look in to it .And take necessary action on him ! Aaqib shaikh (@shaikh_aaqib11) May 21, 2019 I am NRE account holder with @HDFC_Bank planning to close after this hatred mindset ahsanulhaque (@ahskhan) May 22, 2019 Communal hatred is not covered under freedom of expression! Under Indian law! Ashwin Baindur (@ashwin_baindur) May 21, 2019 Great step, there is no space for hate in our beloved country. Propagating ideas of communal division is not free speech it's a hate speech in all sense, a disciplinary action is must #HDFCBank_Cares Deshbhakt Pranav Kumar Jha (@pranavkumarjh18) May 22, 2019 Along with people expressing their views, many trolls have also attacked Rizvi. Others have even called for his arrest. @MumbaiPolice these is no bar to express an opinion and this man @RizviUzair should be arrested and investigated for his motives. Could be an isi paid plant. Manish_chauhan12 (@Chauhan12Manish) May 22, 2019 (The story has been updated with HDFC Life's response. On request from the person in question, we have updated this report to omit the name.) Ankush Bhosale, a peon at the SVS High School in Khadki, Pune, recently got married. It would have been a normal affair, save for the special gesture by the school staff, that decided to come together to collect funds and arrange the wedding of their colleague. Bhonsale had been associated with this school, one of the oldest in Pune, for the last two and a half years. The twenty-four-year-old tied the knot last Sunday in a ceremony inside the school premises, which was attended by around 400 people from the school fraternity, including former principals and retired teachers as per a report by The Indian Express. Brother to three married sisters, Bhonsale had lost all hopes of marriage due to his financial inabilities. My mother died of blood cancer eight months ago. Until the time she passed away, she kept urging me to tie the knot. She was worried there would be no one to take care of me after her. However, due to her illness and the subsequent expenses, I could not get married, he said. It was when he discussed his plight with the school principal Gowri Santhanam, did things turn positive. Gowri assured him of the staffs support for his marriage. Speaking on the touching gesture, Santhanam said: He is our colleague and thats why we have rallied around him. For his wedding, the schools premises and the shamiana was provided free of cost. In addition, the school authorities also sent out 300 invitations and arranged for lunch. Talking about this gracious act, A Kanraj, the general secretary of the school said such gestures are worth emulating. Such kind deeds go a long way to weave together various communities and uphold a positive picture of the society, he said. The US administration is considering Huawei-like sanctions on Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision, media reports show, deepening worries that trade friction between the world's top two economies could be further inflamed. The restrictions would limit Hikvision's ability to buy US technology and American companies may have to obtain government approval to supply components to the Chinese firm, the New York Times reported on May 21. The United States stuck Huawei Technologies on a trade blacklist last week, effectively banning US firms from doing business with the world's largest telecom network gear maker, in a major escalation in the trade war. The United States has accused Huawei of activities contrary to national security, a charge Huawei denies. However, this week the Trump administration granted the tech giant a license to buy US goods until Aug. 19 to minimize disruption for its customers. Huawei says it can ensure a steady supply chain without US help. A Hikvision executive echoed a similar sentiment on May 22 but told Reuters that the company had not been informed of any possible US blacklisting. "Even if the US stops selling them to us we can remedy this through other suppliers," said the executive, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. "The chips Hikvision uses are very commercial and most of the suppliers are actually in China," she said. The White House did not respond to a request for comment. Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, reported the US government was deliberating whether to add Hikvision, security equipment maker Zhejiang Dahua Technology and several other unidentified firms to a blacklist. A Dahua investment department employee declined to comment. Hikvision, with a market value of more than $37 billion, calls itself the world's largest video surveillance gear maker. Its products are used extensively in public places in China, from Beijing to Xinjiang. Headquartered in high-tech Hangzhou, one of China's richest cities, it sells close-circuit television products, traffic and thermal cameras, and unmanned aerial vehicles. UIGHUR CONNECTION Shares in Hikvision, 42% held by state-owned firms, opened 10% lower on May 22. It later pared some losses to trade down 6%. Dahua shares slumped as much as 9.2%. Jefferies analyst Rex Wu downplayed the impact of a possible ban on Hikvision, saying the United States accounted for roughly 5% of the company's sales. "Most AI solutions are sold to the government, public and enterprise sectors in China. Hikvision may be able to acquire GPU (graphics processing unit) via local distributors," Wu said. Hikvision and Dahua were specifically cited in a letter to US President Donald Trump's top advisers last month, signed by more than 40 lawmakers, which called for tighter US export controls over China's treatment of Muslim minority. The lawmakers said China's actions in its western region of Xinjiang "may constitute crimes against humanity". China has faced growing global condemnation for setting up facilities that UN experts describe as mass detention centres holding more than 1 million ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims. Beijing has said its measures in Xinjiang, which reportedly also include widespread surveillance, are aimed at stemming the threat of Islamist militancy. The camps that have opened are vocational training centres, it has said. In a separate email on May 22, a Hikvision spokeswoman said the firm took these concerns seriously and had since last October been engaging with the US government on the subject. Bank of Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on Tuesday warned that escalating U.S.-China trade tensions could hurt business sentiment and inflict widespread damage on the economy. Worries that the United States and China were digging in for a longer, costlier trade war weighed on markets, adding to headaches for policymakers in Tokyo fretting about the impact on Japan's export-reliant economy. "If trade tensions persist, they would have a widespread impact on global and Japanese economies via business sentiment and market developments," Kuroda told parliament. "We hope the United States and China engage in constructive discussions," he said. Other Japanese policymakers also voiced concern over damage from the trade war but maintained their view Japan's economy was on a solid footing, signalling that Tokyo plans to proceed with a scheduled sales tax hike in October. "We're seeing some manufacturers delaying capital expenditure plans," Finance Minister Taro Aso told parliament on Tuesday. "But corporate profits are high and the fundamentals supporting domestic demand remain solid." Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the government is already planning to take sufficient steps to mitigate the pain from the tax hike. "We'll do our utmost to respond to concerns over the impact" the tax hike could have on the economy, Suga told a briefing on Tuesday, suggesting that Tokyo will go ahead with it and deal with any damage to growth through additional spending. CALLS TO POSTPONE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly said he would proceed with the twice-delayed tax increase to 10% from 8% in October. But some lawmakers have called for a postponement on concern it could tip Japan into recession. Data on Monday showed Japan's economic growth unexpectedly accelerated in January-March, though weakness in consumption and capital expenditure kept alive market speculation Abe could delay the tax hike. Former BOJ Deputy Governor Kikuo Iwata, among architects of the premier's "Abenomics" stimulus programmes, said the gross domestic product (GDP) data looked "pretty bad." "Raising the sales tax when Japan has yet to pull out of deflation could cause recession," Iwata told academics and lawmakers who met on Tuesday to discuss the potential impact of the tax increase. Markets are focusing on the government's monthly economic report for May, scheduled for release on Friday. Sources have told Reuters the government is considering revising down its economic assessment. The key is whether the report will drop its view the economy is recovering, which some analysts say would be a sign the government sees growth as too weak to weather the hit from the higher levy. A senior official of the Cabinet Office, which compiles the report, gave no hints on the assessment but said there were some weaknesses in exports and output. "The impact of China's (slowdown) is being felt among manufacturers," Tomoko Hayashi, deputy director-general, told parliament. "But we don't see domestic demand as under threat of a downturn." Iranian and US leaders have reassured their nations that they do not seek war. But among ordinary Iranians who already face hardship from tightening sanctions, nerves are being strained by worry that the situation could slip out of control. In interviews conducted from outside the country by telephone and online, Iranians described heated discussions at home, on the streets and on social media. The prospect of war was now the main topic of conversation in workplaces, taxis and buses, Nima Abdollahzade, a legal consultant at an Iranian startup company, told Reuters. "Apart from the deterioration in the Iranian economy, I believe the most severe effect" of confrontation with the United States "is in the mental situation of ordinary Iranians," he said. "They are sustaining a significant amount of stress." The United States pulled out of an agreement between Iran and world powers a year ago that limited Iran's nuclear programme in return for lifting economic sanctions. This month tensions have risen sharply, with Washington extending its sanctions to ban all countries from importing Iranian oil. A number of US officials led by National Security Adviser John Bolton have made hawkish remarks, citing Iranian threats against US interests. Trump himself tweeted: "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran." Iran has tended to dismiss the tough talk as a bluff - "psychological warfare" from a US administration not ready for a fight. But some Iranians say the tension could have its own logic, raising the chance of a mistake leading to violence. 'A DOG THAT WON'T BITE BARKS' A labour activist who spent months in an Iranian jail for his activities and asked not to be identified, said: "War and sanctions are two sides of the same coin, designed by the (US) capitalist system. The working class would bear brunt of the pressures." Some Iranians expect pressure to lead to negotiations, as when former President Barack Obama tightened sanctions that crippled the Iranian economy and led to the 2015 deal. But others believe their leaders will never go back down that road following Trump's reimposition of sanctions. "Any politician who starts negotiations with America would make a fool of himself," said a student who also asked not to be identified. "Even (Mohammad Javad) Zarif has given up on that," she said, referring to Iran's US-educated foreign minister. Zarif told CNN this week Iran had "acted in good faith" in negotiating the deal that Washington abandoned. "We are not willing to talk to people who have broken their promises." Trump has said Washington is not trying to set up talks but expects Tehran to call when it is ready. A US official said last week Americans "were sitting by the phone, but had received no call from Iran yet. Foad Izadi, a political science professor at Tehran University, told Reuters that phone call is not coming. "Iranian officials have come to this conclusion that Trump does not seek negotiations. He would like a phone call with Rouhani, even a meeting and a photo session, but that's not a real negotiation," Izadi said. Despite saying talks are now off the table, Iranian leaders still say war is unlikely. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's highest authority, said the United States would not attack as "it's not in their interests." The logic makes sense to Mohsen Mortazavi, a young cleric who graduated from a religious school in the city of Qom. "There won't be any war because a military confrontation will not resolve any of the US problems, it will only add to them," Mortazavi told Reuters. "Trump's shouts and threats are a psychological war. A dog that cannot bite barks." But Izadi, the political science professor, disagrees. "A war is highly probable. There are officials in Washington who have planned for invading Iran for years," he said. STOCKPILING Meanwhile, Iranians cope with the day-to-day implications of sanctions and tension. Worries over access to products have prompted some Iranians to stock up on rice, detergent and tinned food, residents and shopkeepers said. An advertisement on state TV discourages stockpiling. A middle-aged man heading home after work is drawn to a supermarket when he sees people panic shopping. He buys anything he can put his hands on, causing shelves to be emptier. Ali, an Iranian student in Tehran, told Reuters that unlike many, he was not against a US military invasion, as he believed the fall of the Islamic Republic would be the only solution to the rising economic and political problems. "My only hope is a war so I can take my revenge. I am telling my friends in the university that our only way is an armed struggle.... We have nothing to lose." Shahin Milani, a 38-year-old who tweets about Iranian politics to more than 7,000 followers on Twitter, believes military intervention could never bring democracy. "The people should do it themselves ... If someone is truly worried about the threat of war, they should work to create a democratic, secular government in Iran ... As long as the Islamic Republic is in power, the shadow of war will loom over Iran." McDonald's Corp was accused in 25 new lawsuits and regulatory charges of condoning sexual harassment in the workplace and retaliating against employees who speak up. The cases announced by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the labor group Fight for $15, and the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund cover alleged misconduct at McDonald's locations in 20 U.S. cities, including groping, indecent exposure, propositions for sex, and lewd comments. McDonald's is one of the world's most recognizable brands, and the cases make the fast-food chain a primary target of a campaign to extend the #MeToo movement, which sprung from sexual harassment cases in Hollywood, to the workplace. The Chicago-based company said it has more than 14,000 locations in the United States with some 850,000 workers. More than 90 percent of the locations are franchised, and McDonald's has long maintained it should not be liable for how employees in franchised restaurants behave. Chief Executive Steve Easterbrook said his company has improved and more clearly defined its harassment policies, has trained most franchise owners, and will be training front-line employees and setting up a complaint hotline. "McDonald's is sending a clear message that we are committed to creating and sustaining a culture of trust where employees feel safe, valued and respected," Easterbrook wrote in letters this week to Illinois Senator Tammy Duckworth and "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi, who supports the workers' cause. The 25 cases include three new lawsuits, two by workers who previously filed charges, and charges filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). McDonald's has faced more than 50 such charges and lawsuits in the last three years, the ACLU said. Last September, McDonald's workers in 10 cities staged a one-day strike to protest alleged sexual harassment. Jamelia Fairley, a single mother who makes $9.60 an hour at a corporate-owned McDonald's in Sanford, Florida, told reporters she went to the EEOC after a co-worker began groping her, rubbing against her and saying he could "give me a ride." She said that after she reported the harassment, McDonald's transferred but did not fire her harasser, while her boss cut her weekly hours to seven from 25, "Trying to raise a 2-year old on $67 a week is, well, I can't do it," Fairley said. Sharyn Tejani, director of the Time's Up fund, which is part of the National Women's Law Center, said having to put up with workplace harassment should not be a cost of making a living. "For McDonald's, time is past up," she said. North Korean state media slammed former U.S. vice president and 2020 Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden for criticising leader Kim Jong Un, calling him "bereft of elementary quality as a human being". The criticism contrasts with North Korea's repeated references to the good relationship between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump. Kim said in April his personal relationship with Trump was still good despite the collapse of their second summit in Vietnam in February. According to Newsweek, Biden said at a campaign launch in Philadelphia on Saturday: "Are we a nation that embraces dictators and tyrants like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and Kim Jong Un?" State media the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) responded to criticism of the North's leadership in a commentary late on Tuesday. "What he uttered is just sophism of an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician," it said. KCNA listed previous controversies concerning Biden, including allegations of plagiarism and falling asleep during a speech by former President Barack Obama in 2011. "We will never pardon anyone who dare provoke the supreme leadership of the DPRK but will certainly make them pay for it," KCNA said, using North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Denuclearisation talks have stalled since the breakdown of the second meeting between Trump and Kim in February and North Korea conducted more weapons tests this month. The tests were seen as a protest by Kim after Trump rejected his calls for sanctions relief at the Hanoi summit. Saudi Aramco has entered into a 20-year agreement with U.S.-based Sempra Energy to purchase liquefied natural gas(LNG) from its subsidiary Sempra LNG, the two companies said on Wednesday. The Saudi state oil giant plans to become a major global gas player while the U.S. market is undergoing a shale boom. Aramco has been developing its own gas resources and eyeing gas assets in the United States, Russia, Australia and Africa. The two companies are also finalising a 25% equity investment in the phase 1 of Port Arthur LNG, they said in a joint statement. The sale-and-purchase agreement is forA 5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) of LNG from phase 1 of the Port Arthur LNG export project under development, the firms said. The proposed Port Arthur LNG Phase 1 project is expected to include two liquefaction trains, up to three LNG storage tanks and associated facilities which should enable the export of about 11 mtpa on a long-term basis. aPort Arthur LNG could be one of the largest LNG export projects in North America, with potential expansion capabilities of up to eight liquefaction trains or approximately 45 mtpa of capacity,a the statement said. Aramcos trading arm sold its first LNG cargo on the spot market in late March to an Indian buyer, according to sources familiar with the matter. Aramco plans to boost its gas production to 23 billion standard cubic feet (scf) a day from about 14 billion scf now. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs has told the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) that a few lenders of the IL&FS Group and its group companies have not released payments to meet the "going concern" status of the companies, which is against the tribunal's directive for release of payments in such matters. The ministry's affidavit noted that in the order dated October 15, 2018, the NCLAT had directed that creditors shall not set off or possess any amount lying with them in account of an IL&FS Group entity against any dues, whether principal or interest. On February 11 too, the bench had ordered the lenders to the release "any amount payable" to the the group companies. However, despite repeated orders, the IL&FS "continues to face some difficulties" from Allahabad Bank which is refusing to release going concern payments in respect of Road Infrastructure Development Company of Rajasthan Ltd (RIDCOR), a group company. Particularly, while the Allahabad Bank had previously released "going concern payments in respect of RIDCOR of some invoices pertaining to months of October 2018 till February 2019 aggregating to Rs 98.23 lakh crore, some invoices aggregating to Rs 52.51 lakh have not been released," it said. The ministry affidavit observed that if creditors continue to hold back payments, it will be difficult for the companies to maintain the "going concern" status and may impact the resolution process. Further, according to the affidavit, two more companies have entered the "red" list of the IL&FS group firms, increasing the number of entities that cannot meet their payment obligations, not even to the secured financial creditors, to 82. According to the affidavit filed in the NCLAT by the ministry, the total number of "red" companies is now 82, against the initial number of 80 firms. The list of "green" companies also has increased by five to 55 firms, it said. Companies that are able to pay all payment obligations are "green", the companies only able to meet operational payments and senior secured debt obligations are "amber" and those that are unable to meet obligations to even senior secured financial creditors are categorised as "red". The new companies in the "red" category are the Jharkhand Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd and the Orissa Project Development Company Ltd. Companies newly classified under the "green" category are the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Company Ltd, Managalore SEZ Ltd, New Tirupur Area Development Corporation, ONGC Tripura Power Company and Canopy Housing & Infrastructure. On Tuesday, the NCLAT adjourned the matter till May 29. After the fresh categorisation, the NCLAT asked the government to file an affidavit detailing the present financial status of the companies and if their categorisation can be changed among "green", "amber" and "red" categories. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. We had mentioned in Tuesdays closing report that Nifty, Sensex were to move sideways. The major indices of the Indian stock markets were range-bound on Wednesday and closed with minor gains. On the NSE, there were 969 advances, 770 declines and 361 unchanged. The trends of the major indices in the course of Wednesdays trading are given in the table below: The market now awaits the results of the general elections to be declared tomorrow. If the poll results do not favour the Bhartiya Janata Party as much as the exit polls did, the market may give up a lot of gains. In any case, even if the BJP comes to power, the economy is not doing well at all. Meanwhile, the valuations of stocks are at a record high. It will take some very bold initiatives for Mr Narendra Modi to push the economy out of the current doldrums. India VIX, or volatility index shot up to hit a 4-year high intraday and closed 7.38% higher. The Adani Group is set to withdraw all defamation suits filed against news portal thewire.in and its editors in an Ahmedabad court for articles against its companies, highly placed sources said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with top bureaucrats from key ministries, sources said. There was no official word about the agenda of the meeting, which comes ahead of the Lok Sabha election results on May 23. Sources said the Prime Minister is believed to have taken feedback on various issues, including about the state of the economy, from the bureaucrats. This is possibly the first time that PM Modi convened a meeting of top bureaucrats from key ministries after announcement of dates of general elections in March. IndusInd Bank Wednesday reported a decline of over 62% in March quarter net profit at Rs360.10 crore. Net profit in the same quarter of 2017-18 financial year stood at Rs953.09 crore. The decline was due to provisions on its Rs3,004 crore exposure to IL&FS. Total income for the latest quarter rose to Rs7,550.43 crore as against Rs5,858.62 crore in the same period a year ago. The bank's board has recommended a dividend of Rs7.50 per equity share for 2018-19, it said. IndusInd Bank shares closed at Rs1,528.00, up 5.54% on the NSE. Shares of Dewan Housing fell up 17% in intraday trading after the company announced that it has stopped accepting fresh public deposits and renewals of existing deposits with immediate effect. Shares of Jet Airways was up 5% after media reports suggested that Etihad Airways, along with the Hindujas, has joined hands with AdiGro Aviation and Jet Airways founder Naresh Goyal to revive the airline. The shares of Jindal Steel and Power fell 7% after the company reported a net loss of Rs2,713.34 crore for the quarter ended March 2019. KEI Industries was up 6% after it reported a 21% jump in net profit in the quarter ended March 2019. The top gainers and top losers of the major indices are given in the table below: The closing values of the major Asian indices are given in the table below: At time of writing, the share price of Myer Holdings Limited [ASX:MYR], is down 3.08%, trading at 63 cents. The months of March and April were very kind to the Myer share price, but it is slowly approaching a crossover of its 20- and 50-day moving averages (not the good kind): Source: tradingview.com As we suggested in earlier coverage, the Myer share price would struggle to break above resistance around the 75-cent mark. This has subsequently played out and the latest data out of National Australia Bank Ltd [ASX:NAB] points towards further declines. Related: Looking for dividend paying stocks? Matt Hibbard shares his top five picks in this report. Myer share price could struggle over the coming weeks The company has been on a solid run, but now may be the time to lock in gains. Foremost among the concerns is a looming contraction in retail sales. NAB released its cashless retail sales index today and the forecast for retail trade in April was very weak. They made a downward revision to their forecast for ABS retail sales data for March to 0.0%. NABs cashless retail sales index has been a relatively reliable indicator of ABS data: Source: National Australia Bank There is a potential bright spot for Myer, however, with NABs data suggesting an uptick for department stores. Source: National Australia Bank So the picture here is a bit murky. Macro factors may work against Myer Retail sales account for just under a third of consumption and the RBA views this as a key uncertainty. Regardless of what the long-term damage might be, the RBA may well cut the cash rate two or more times this year. This would provide a little more juice for the economy and free up some money for Australian consumers to spend more in the retail sector. But this would only forestall a mid-cycle slowdown, something which has the potential to hurt retailers like Myer. This slowdown may also have flow-on effects to the size of their dividend. All in all, with greater downside risks present after todays data release, Myers share price looks ripe for profit-taking assuming you bought in over the last 12 months. Put it this way, it would be a brave person that claims the Myer share price will break the 75 cent mark in the coming months. The ABS will release their retail sales report on 4 June. Regards, Lachlann Tierney For Money Morning PS: Special 2019 report: The next generation of Aussie income super stars revealed. Hint: its not the banks. Click here to claim your copy now. May 22, 2019 Venezuela - After Opposition Support 'Deflated' - U.S. Targets Food Aid Supply The hot-air figures the U.S. used for its regime change efforts in Venezuela failed to do their job. The New York Times declares their movement "deflated". Eleven hours after the story went live (and the White House had called?) the headline changed. While it still repeats propaganda claims, the report makes clear that Guaido is lacking public support: CARACAS, Venezuela It was a daring gambit: Juan Guaido, Venezuelas opposition leader, stood by a military base alongside dozens of uniformed officers and political allies, calling for a military uprising against President Nicolas Maduro. ... Three weeks later, Mr. Guaido is shuttling among a half-dozen safe houses to escape capture. ... And the protests that filled the streets with Mr. Guaidos supporters are dwindling .. ... Weakened and unable to bring the political crisis gripping Venezuela to a quick resolution, Mr. Guaido has been forced to consider negotiations with Mr. Maduro. Both sides have sent representatives to Norway for talks, a concession Mr. Guaido previously rejected. This change is a turning point for the opposition, which in January had gathered momentum, attracting broad international backing and huge crowds of supporters. Now, that momentum has nearly dissipated a testament to Mr. Maduros firm hold on power even as the country crumbles around him. The government of Venezuela is talking with some of the opposition parties, there is no confirmation yet that Guaido's party, which is the most radical opposition element, is actually involved. It is doubtful that the government would want to 'negotiate' with it. Interestingly the NYT now leaves out the false "interim president" attribute that it previously used to describe Guaido. That Guaido failed with his clownish coup attempt does not mean that the U.S. will give up on its regime change efforts. Venezuela's economy is in a deep economic crisis. The cause are not the minor socialist attempts its government made, but the economic war the U.S. is waging against it: United States sanctions are ravaging Venezuelas vital oil sector and imports, making it increasingly difficult for Mr. Maduro to govern. The country largely ground to a halt over the weekend because of a lack of fuel a shortage that Mr. Maduro has blamed the sanctions for. Luckily no one in Venezuela has yet to die for lack of food. But there are severe problems: [T]hree years have passed since oil prices plummeted from over US $100 a barrel in early 2014 to around US $40 in early 2015. Three years have also gone by since the first sanctions against Venezuela were implemented by the Obama administration, since being intensified by the current US government. The result has been a combination of these two factors with the enormously complex structure of the Venezuelan food system, which is reliant on imports, heavily colonised by northern tastes and swollen by the oil boom of recent decades. Currently, and despite all efforts, the dynamics of food-access depends on income: those who have more money eat more and better. In 2015 the opposition used its support from large producers, importers and distributors to create artificial scarcity of food and hygiene products. The government responded by creating the Local Provision and Production Committees (CLAPs) which deliver monthly packages to more that 6 million families: The CLAP program is an arrangement between the government and grassroots groups aimed at distributing subsidised food and other basic household goods to low income Venezuelan households. The poor welcome their packages but the more wealthy opposition supporters in the U.S. and on the ground always hate the program: While Venezuelas commune movement largely supports the CLAPs, the opposition has long claimed the program discriminates against households that dont support the government. According to the government, the CLAPs have reduced hunger and food scarcity across the country. The packages program is means based. But there are also CLAP markets (vid) where everyone can buy. CLAP does not discriminate between government or opposition supporters. It just happens that the poor are not the ones who support the neo-liberal politics the opposition parties prefer. During recent riots opposition supporters burned down CLAP storehouse and packaging centers. The Trump administration is now joining the opposition effort to increase the number of people in Venezuela who go hungry: The United States is preparing sanctions and criminal charges against Venezuelan officials and others suspected of using a military-run food aid program to launder money for President Nicolas Maduros government, according to people familiar with the matter. ... Sanctions and fraud indictments are under consideration against Venezuelan military officials and politicians as well as Venezuelan business people and foreign partners, the sources said. ... Many Venezuelan families rely on the subsidized food program, known by its Spanish initials CLAP, for their basic necessities in the oil-producing South American nation ... How can a Maduro government subsidized food program "launder money for President Nicolas Maduros government"? Their is no logic in the argument the Trump administration makes. The move will be ineffective. It will not help to 'regime change' the government. Targeting subsidized food distribution for the poor will not increase support for the opposition. Any disruption of CLAP will be blamed on it. The less the people receive, the more they will dependent on even a reduced CLAP and on other government programs. It is pure viciousness, not thought through politics, that drives this. Posted by b on May 22, 2019 at 18:41 UTC | Permalink Comments Those who held vital positions conned more than double the average taken by those in the rank and file. Most worryingly, the study found that 16% of offenders who were placed in positions of trust already had prior raps filed against them. Organizations that fail to properly screen company leaders could be bilked out of millions of dollars, MNP LLP vice president (valuations, forensics, and litigation support) and former RCMP investigator Greg Draper stated. Many organizations may be operating with a false sense of security, he added. They may assume that employees in leadership positions or who have been around a long time are safeguarding the interests of the company when, in fact, these individuals are the most capable of committing fraud with the greatest potential loss. Jeff Thomson, Acting Sergeant for the RCMP at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, argued that the findings only reinforce the notion that no organization should place its complete trust in any single employee. In a lot of cases the fraud has been committed by someone who is very well-liked and respected within the organization. The crime is not only a financial burden for the organization, but there is a loss of workplace morale as well, Thomson explained. We definitely leveraged the CMA wins to secure those thought leadership opportunities. Ive become the go-to person for information relating to mortgage lending in the local media. They call me before anyone else, and having the wins really put Atlantic Canada on the map. Everyone knows its hard to compete on the national level in Halifax, but it shows the amount of effort we put in here, and were getting positive results from those efforts. Were reaping the benefits of our hard work. However, before Wilkins exploded on the scene at the 2018 Canadian Mortgage Awards in Toronto, there were a lean years of business. After funding $62 million over 305 units in 2011, things tapered significantly and Wilkins considered folding his business and moving to either Toronto or Vancouver. Now, Wilkins, who also authored Confessions of a Halifax Mortgage Broker, is one of Canadas premier mortgage brokers. After 2011, the market was very soft in Halifax and there wasnt much going on, said Wilkins. I wasnt really pushing myself like I had been, but by 2017 Id decided that I didnt want to merely scrape by. I wanted to focus on the thought leadership aspect of my business and became a regular contributor to CTV News, Rogers News Radio and Global News. I wanted to be the go-to person around mortgage lending in Halifax and Atlantic Canada, and last year I wrote a book on mortgage lending for consumers. Thats how much I love this industry, but I certainly needed to recommit myself and Ive come back stronger and with more motivation than ever. Halifax is home and its motivating to see the year-over-year growth in business, as well as being recognized by a group of my peers by winning back-to-back CMAs. 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. Carta preyed primarily on the religious community, according to a Detroit Free Press report. He used appearances on Christian television shows, online videos and word of mouth to promote his faith-based mortgage assistance company. One of Cartas victims, Shelly Pesta, was at risk of losing her home after her sons catastrophic illness left her with crushing medical bills. She gave Carta a total of nearly $110,000 to save her home, according to the Free Press. Pesta said that when she became suspicious and tried to confront Carta, he would try to dodge her. I was begging him for some of the money back, Pesta told the Free Press. My son was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and I had to pay for medicine. I was in an extremely vulnerable place, very much leaning on my faith. My faith has been strong since I was a child. Absolutely, when he came forth and projected I am a faith-based person and I can do right by you, and through God, we help you, I listened. I let him pray over my child. Cartas sentence includes: Nine to 40 years in prison for conducting a criminal enterprise Nine to 30 years in prison for false pretenses of $20,000 or more but less than $50,000 Five to 10 years in prison for false pretenses of more than $1,000 but less than $20,000. The sentences will run concurrently. Carta has also been ordered to pay restitution of $658,626.17. Current homeowners are stretching themselves financially in order to get into a home but are confident that theyll be okayonce they get a renter. Theres an uptick in interest for in-home rentals, such as basement apartments and over-garage units, also known as accessory dwelling units. They are popping up in some of the most expensive cities in the country, Cheryl Cort, policy director for the non-profit Coalition for Smarter Growth, told Reuters. City officials in Washington, D.C., for example, have made the permit process easier, and other policymakers are looking to follow suit in order to boost affordable housing options. Architect Ileana Schinder has overseen the construction of about 20 granny flats in D.C. over the past few years, and she said that her prospective clients are all looking for ways to get additional income to stay in the city that they have made home: either young families that want to stay in the city and closer to work, or older people who want to avoid moving out of their family home. Midland ISD officials at Mondays school board meeting discussed the large number of educators who have resigned or retired since the April board meeting. That discussion included new incentives that could improve the districts retention rate. The incentives include monetary bonuses and an increase in teacher salaries, said Woodrow Bailey, the districts chief of human capital management. Earlier in the year, the board approved a budget amendment that provides $4,000 this year in retention incentives for support staff employees. Longtime staff members will receive $3,500, in addition to $500 they received in December. The board also approved giving a one-time retention bonus in the amount of $1,000 to all professional and certified employees who are returning for the 2019-20 contract year. RELATED: MISD: 212 educators resign or retire spring semester Bailey said the school district is optimistic that it can increase the teacher salary schedule, improving the baseline of a teachers salary at zero years from $50,000 to $52,500. We believe thats something that will happen, Bailey said. (And our benefits) are stellar and better than other districts in the state, and especially, in our area. Weve got health plans; weve addressed employee child care; and we are opening up a second child care center this year. He said up until this month, the districts resignation number was trending well below previous years. Data will show that in May 2019, there were more resignations received than in May of previous years, and this is because the teacher contracts ended in May this school year, instead of June. However, in June of last year, more than 100 educators resigned, which Bailey said was an anomaly. He said many educators received a lease renewal for their house or apartment around that time, and many of their costs increased by 50 percent. Housing cost is an underlying issue, Bailey said. One thing is, if you have a teacher certificate, you can teach anywhere in the nation. Thats a reason a lot of people teach they want the flexibility. Currently, retirements and other educational employments are the top two reasons (of leaving) for this time of year. They already have plans to transition to other parts of the state, but we are getting some as well. We have people in and people out. He said 51 educators were retiring, and 51 had other educational employment. Thirty-eight said they have family obligations; another 38 were for other reasons; 34 were personal reasons; and 30 were spousal transfers. Bailey said, on the positive side, campuses hired 30 more teachers between December and March than the 2017-18 year, and 34 more between March and May compared to the 2017-18 year. We are cautiously optimistic about the data, Bailey said. We ae still below the trend when it comes to resignations, and we will have a more accurate picture as we get closer to June and to the penalty-free day to resign on July 1. Matthew Busch, For The San Antonio Express-News / For The San Antonio Express-News If you earn a bachelor's degree, you have a better chance of being employed at a better-paying job. But which college majors lead to the highest salaries? A recent study from HeyTutor attempted to find out using data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Research. HoustonChronicle.com reveals Texas unemployment numbers and jobs added across the state for the month of April The information says that full-time workers with a bachelor's degree have a median annual salary of $60,996. Meanwhile, high school graduates that didn't go to college earn $37,024 per year The data collected by the National Center for Education Research shows that the cost of college tuition is on the upswing, and student loan debts are increasing. Those who have received a high school diploma have an unemployment rate of 4.6 percent. However, individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree or above have unemployment rates below 2.5 percent The most-recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data comes from the 201617 academic year. During that time period Colleges awarded a record 1.96 million bachelor's degrees. The most popular majors were associated with business (381,000 degrees), health professions (238,000 degrees), social sciences and history (159,000 degrees), psychology (117,000 degrees), biological and biomedical sciences (117,000 degrees), and engineering (116,000 degrees). However, even college professors argue that one's college major is not the be-all end-all. While field of study is important, it does not control one's financial destinythere is great variation in earnings within majors," Georgetown University by Dr. Anthony P. Carnevale and Dr. Ban Cheah said in a recent study. Above, you can click through and see the top 25 majors with the highest-paying salaries according to that study from HeyTutor. The company analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. HeyTutor looked at the median early career wage, median mid-career wage, unemployment rate, and underemployment rate of the most common undergraduate majors. You can see the HeyTutor.com's full report and methodology here. All of the quotes and information in the slides above is also from that study, which can be found on HeyTutor.com. Peter Dawson is a digital reporter in Houston. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and on our subscriber site, houstonchronicle.com. | Peter.Dawson@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. Looking for the right time to visit New York City, but hoping to skip the typical Big Apple tourist scene in favor of a more local experience? The Governors Ball Music Festival is right around the corner, and might have exactly what you're looking for. Started by local music lovers eight years ago, it features 60-plus artists of all genres, plus a selection of the best eats in town, street artists from around the city, interactive games and activities, and more. What better way to experience the music, art and culture at the heart of NYC? Fortunately, there are plenty of relatively inexpensive flights between Houston and New York City on travel site Skyscanner. Heres a list of flights, hotels, restaurants and local attractions in New York City to round out your trip. (Prices and availability are current as of publication and subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in the articles may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Cheapest New York City flights The cheapest flights between Houston and New York City are if you leave on May 29 and return from New York on June 2. American Airlines currently has tickets for $258, roundtrip. There are also deals to be had later in May. If you fly out of Houston on May 31 and return from New York City on June 3, Spirit Airlines can get you there and back for $262 roundtrip. Top New York City accommodations To plan your stay, here are two of New York Citys top-rated hotels, according to Skyscanner, that we selected based on price, proximity to things to do and customer satisfaction. The Standard, High Line (848 Washington St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner If you're looking to treat yourself, consider The Standard, High Line. The hotel has a 4.4-star rating on Skyscanner, and rooms are currently available for $275. All 338 rooms at The Standard, High Line have ground-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views. It is within close proximity to the west side highway, Javits Center, SoHo and the Financial District. The Dream Downtown (355 W. 16th St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner There's also the 4.5-star rated The Dream Downtown. Rooms are currently set at $204/night. Situated between the thriving Meatpacking District and Chelsea, the Dream Downtown is the latest addition to the Vikram Chatwal Hotel portfolio. This luxury property features 315 loft-inspired rooms and a rooftop lounge with city views. Top picks for dining and drinking New York City has plenty of topnotch dining options. Here are a few of the most popular, according to Skyscanner. Levain Bakery (167 W. 74th St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner Let's start with the essentials: dessert. For a popular option, check out Levain Bakery, which has an average of 4.8 stars out of 42 reviews on Skyscanner. From the beginning, Levain Bakery has been a comfortable and inviting presence in its Upper West Side neighborhood where it boasts a steady stream of community regulars and tourists loyal to its diverse assortment of freshly baked products. The menu includes an inventive array of rustic breads and other equally creative takes on traditional baked goods. Red Rooster (310 Lenox Ave.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner One of New York City's most popular restaurants is Red Rooster, with 4.5 stars from 56 reviews. The Red Rooster is part of the vibrant Harlem community. The menu reflects the roots of American cuisine while celebrating local farmers and artisanal food makers. The Red Rooster features a takeout market, bar and restaurant. "I am writing this at home after one of the most amazing meals I've ever had," wrote reviewer John349. "I cannot say enough how absolutely delicious every meal that was ordered at our table was." The Meatball Shop (84 Stanton St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner Also worth considering is The Meatball Shop. "These are the best meatballs I have ever had," wrote ABelle. Top New York City attractions New York City is also full of sites to visit and explore. Here are a couple of popular attractions to round out your trip, again from Skyscanner's listings. The Brooklyn Bridge Park (334 Furman St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner First up is The Brooklyn Bridge Park. Located in the heart of New York City, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great opportunity for tourists and residents to visit. This park is located beside the Brooklyn Bridge, considered one of the portals into the city. Although the park itself is simple, it also offers an amazing view of the entire city. "The walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, whether you're walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan or vice versa, is one of the most iconic walks New York City has to offer," wrote visitor Gary. The Statue of Liberty Photo: Trip by Skyscanner Lastly, spend some time at The Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty has welcomed the grandparents and great-grandparents of many Americans. A symbol of the country's possibilities, the Statue of Liberty National Monument includes nearby Ellis Island, where many European immigrants started on their journey of becoming Americans. This story was created automatically using flight, hotel, and local attractions data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Looking for the right time to visit New York City, but hoping to skip the typical Big Apple tourist scene in favor of a more local experience? The Governors Ball Music Festival is right around the corner, and might have exactly what you're looking for. Started by local music lovers in 2011, it features 60-plus artists of all genres, plus a selection of the best eats in town, street artists from around the city, interactive games and activities and more. What better way to experience the music, art and culture at the heart of NYC? Thankfully, there are plenty of regular, relatively inexpensive flights between San Antonio and New York City. We pulled from travel site Skyscanner to provide you with a short list of flights and hotels handpicked for the occasion. (Prices and availability are current as of publication and subject to change.) Hoodline offers data-driven analysis of local happenings and trends across cities. Links included in the articles may earn Hoodline a commission on clicks and transactions. Flight deals to New York City Currently, the cheapest flights between San Antonio and New York City are if you leave on May 30 and return from New York on June 2. Delta currently has tickets for $300, roundtrip. If you fly out of San Antonio on May 30 and return from New York City on June 3, Frontier Airlines can get you there and back for $326 roundtrip. Top New York City hotels To plan your accommodations, here are two of New York Citys top-rated hotels, according to Skyscanner, that we selected based on price, proximity to things to do and customer satisfaction. The Standard, High Line (848 Washington St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner If you're looking to treat yourself, consider The Standard, High Line. The hotel has a 4.4-star rating on Skyscanner, and rooms are currently available for $275. The hotel stands in the Meatpacking District overlooking the historic high line, the former elevated rail road that has been developed into New Yorks new favorite public park. All 338 rooms have ground-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views. The Dream Downtown (355 W. 16th St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner There's also the 4.5-star-rated The Dream Downtown. Rooms are currently set at $204/night. Situated between the thriving Meatpacking District and Chelsea, the Dream Downtown is the latest addition to the Vikram Chatwal Hotel portfolio. This luxury property features 315 loft-inspired rooms and a rooftop lounge with city views. Top picks for dining and drinking If you're looking to snag a bite at one of New York City's many quality eateries, here are a few popular culinary destinations from Skyscanner's listings that will help keep you satiated. Levain Bakery (167 W. 74th St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner Let's start with the essentials: dessert. For a popular option, check out Levain Bakery, which has an average of 4.8 stars out of 42 reviews on Skyscanner. From the beginning, Levain Bakery has been a comfortable and inviting presence in its Upper West Side neighborhood where it boasts a steady stream of community regulars and tourists loyal to its diverse assortment of freshly baked products. The menu includes an inventive array of rustic breads and other equally creative takes on traditional baked goods. Red Rooster (310 Lenox Ave.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner One of New York City's most popular restaurants is Red Rooster, with 4.5 stars from 56 reviews. The menu reflects the roots of American cuisine while celebrating local farmers and artisanal food makers. The Red Rooster features a takeout market, bar and restaurant. "I am writing this at home after one of the most amazing meals I've ever had," wrote reviewer John349. "The flavors still lingering with me. I cannot say enough how absolutely delicious every meal that was ordered at our table was." The Meatball Shop (84 Stanton St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner Also worth considering is The Meatball Shop. "These are the best meatballs I have ever had," wrote ABelle. Top New York City attractions To round out your trip, New York City offers plenty of popular attractions worth visiting. Here are a couple of top recommendations, based on Skyscanner's descriptions and reviews. The Brooklyn Bridge Park (334 Furman St.) Photo: Trip by Skyscanner First up is The Brooklyn Bridge Park. Located in the heart of New York City, Brooklyn Bridge Park is a great opportunity for tourists and residents to visit. This park is located beside the Brooklyn Bridge, considered one of the portals into the city. Although the park itself is simple, it also offers an amazing view of the entire city. "The walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, whether you're walking from Brooklyn to Manhattan or vice versa, is one of the most iconic walks New York City has to offer," wrote visitor Gary. The Statue of Liberty Photo: Trip by Skyscanner Lastly, spend some time at The Statue of Liberty. Lady Liberty has welcomed the grandparents and great-grandparents of many Americans. A symbol of the country's possibilities, the Statue of Liberty National Monument includes nearby Ellis Island, where many European immigrants started on their journey of becoming Americans. This story was created automatically using flight, hotel, and local attractions data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. ALBANY An aggressive package of limousine safety bills are expected to start moving in the state Senate's committee process next week. The chamber's Transportation Committee is scheduled to consider new legislation that requires seat belts in altered vehicles capable of carrying at least nine passengers; mandates drug and alcohol testing of drivers of for-hire vehicles; authorizes the state to impound or boot defective or deficient vehicles; and closes a licensing loophole for limo drivers. A renewed conversation about limo safety in New York was prompted by a stretch limousine crash last fall in Schoharie County that caused the deaths of 20 people, and raised questions about industry safety standards, and the strength of existing regulations and state oversight. Earlier this month, Sen. Tim Kennedy, a Buffalo Democrat and chair of the committee, convened a hearing to solicit input from the transportation industry, safety experts and family members of those who died in limousine accidents in Schoharie County and on Long Island. "This legislation was created as a direct result of the concerns we heard from the grieving families of the victims involved in the horrific crashes in Schoharie and Cutchogue (on Long Island in 2015)," Kennedy said. "Their voices are driving this important conversation, and hand in hand we are introducing these reforms to ensure that other families across New York will never have to face the same heartbreak." Following the Schoharie crash, it was revealed that the limousine had significant safety defects. One of the measures scheduled for a vote would ensure state regulators have the power to keep the vehicle off the road with a boot, as opposed to just removing the license plate. This sanction would extend to vehicles that exhibit problems with the horn, which may have not functioned properly in the Schoharie crash. Another bill from Kennedy requires the installation by May 2021 of seat belts in all altered vehicles capable of carrying nine passengers and mandates the addition of anti-intrusion bars two years later. Drivers of stretch limousines would also need to obtain a commercial driver's license. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo proposed new precautions in January, including a blanket ban on after-market stretched limousines that was subsequently dropped from the final state budget deal. State lawmakers did sign off on a new $85 state inspection fee, tougher penalties for illegal limo operators who circumvent state regulations, and broad powers to remove license plates from limousines that fail inspections or do not have state certification to operate. Some of those changes were crafted in direct response to the breakdowns and violations that allegedly contributed to the Schoharie crash. 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." David.Lombardo@timesunion.com - 518.454.5427 - @poozer87 Man stabs another to death for ... CAL Fire truck View Photos Update at 5:30 p.m.: CAL Fire reports that the fire has been contained to the attic of the home in the 900 block of Iroquois Circle near Feather Drive, off OByrnes Ferry Road. Crews will remain on scene mopping up for the next hour as investigators try to determine what ignited the fire. No injuries were reported and no residents were at the home when the flames broke out, according to CAL Fire. Further details on the blaze are below. Original post at 5:15 p.m.: Copperopolis, CA Fire responders are battling a house fire in the Copperopolis area of Calaveras County. CAL Fire reports that when crews arrived on the scene in the 900 block of Iroquois Circle near Feather Drive, off OByrnes Ferry Road, smoke was coming out of the two-story home. There is no word as to whether any other houses are threatened or if the flames have spread to vegetation, but we will bring you more details as soon as they come into the newsroom. (Bloomberg) -- If getting rid of Mexicos Air Force One and flying commercial wasnt enough, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is bolstering his man-of-the-people image by auctioning off luxury cars seized from criminals to anyone who wants to participate. And where better to hold this public auction than at Los Pinos, the former presidential mansion in Mexico City that Lopez Obrador already converted into a cultural center. The proceeds from the sale will go to two poor towns in the southern state of Oaxaca. Registration to participate costs a little over $5. The preparations were over, and it was now time to reap the rewards of her hard work. As the judges drew nearer, her heart raced. Then they stood within a few feet of her. It was over. The was judging complete and now she could relax. Joley Jacksons heart was lifted when she realized the best day of her life was about to really begin. The sophomore at Dayton High School had completed her objective, but now the fun was about to begin, and she couldnt wait. This morning I showed (my goat), and it was completely nerve-wracking. But when I finished, I completely relaxed because I got to come and hang out with my friend and help her show her animal, Jackson said. Her new friend was junior Autumn Williams, who had been paired up with Jackson for the annual Unified Rodeo at Anson Rigby Arena in Dayton. The not-so-well-known part of the annual rodeo schedule couples Future Farmer of America students with their Life Skills counterparts, who have special needs, and the FFA students say its life-changing. Last year was my first year to do it, and I absolutely loved it, Jackson said. When the pair walked out of the arena, Williams had a trophy in her hand celebrating her win. To see that big smile on her face just made my day, Jackson said. The affection is mutual with Williams. I did a goat last year and got the blue ribbon, she smiled from ear to ear. It is so much fun to do and my helper (Jackson) is really nice. Around 42 Life Skills students from Dayton High School and Woodrow Wilson Junior High participated in the Unified Rodeo. The joy in the room was palpable, Jackson said. They dont get to do things like this often and when they do, you can see the smiles on their faces. It really warms my heart, Jackson said. It was hard to see who was giving and receiving the blessings throughout the morning as both Life Skills students and FFA students were charmed with each other and the compassion seemed to flow naturally, said DHS Ag teacher Jake Walker who brought the program to Dayton three years ago. This is literally my most favorite day of the year, he said. It pairs two of my most favorite thingsanimals and children. Walker said he may have to do some explaining to his fiance because hes getting married in September, but said he thought she would understand why. Walker has been teaching five years, two in Huffman and his last three at Dayton. The 2006 Humble High School graduate went to Oklahoma State and graduated in 2010. We do more than just animals in FFA, but for this event, its children and animals, he said. Walker said they put the students together and have two practices before the Unified Show. We teach them animal husbandry and how to show their animals, he said. The program, at the same time, inspires others to get involved with the Livestock Show each year, a staple of a farming community like Dayton and spreads gobs of good will. This is probably the best thing we do all year, said senior Hunter Muskiet, the sentinel for the FFA chapter. Its not about competing. Its about bringing these kids out here who may not be privileged to work with animals daily as we are and let them do what we do and it makes them feel like they are like us with no difference, he said. Muskiet has been in FFA since he was a freshman and has participated in the show all three years. He had two projects ready for the showa steer and a breeding heifer. For Haylie Burns, who played on the softball team and was a member of the powerlifting team, it was special. Now that I got to do it my first year, it was a blast, the senior said. I met a new boyfriend, he says. Well, I think he has six or sever other girlfriends, she laughed, and he smiled. Burns said she has photos, memories, and some lifelong friends she will cherish forever. Its all about making memories for them and they have something to look forward to next year, she said. Walker said for many of the FFA students, its a daily commitment to the program. Our kids who have steers have been working with them for at least a year now, he said. They start as early in the morning as 5 feeding and then have to be at school by 7 a.m., the ag teacher said. Then students go home and have chores to take care of feeding their animals again, brushing the animals down, giving them water and cleaning stalls. Its not an easy job, but Walker said it prepares the students for the responsibilities of life. Its a year-round, daily project for them. One student has 10 projects that he takes care of dailya huge responsibility. We tie all of this in together with our Unified Showunified because we are one regardless of disabilities or anything else, nothing separates us, he said. When the rodeo is over, the students relationship isnt over. Our kids are so thankful to be able to participate in this program, Walker said. A lot of times they will see them in the hall at school and the Life Skills students will recognize them and run up to them and give them a hug. Its touching. In the bleachers and on the floor of the arena were parents, family members, friends and spectators who come out to support the studentsall of them. I dont see this program ever dying out as long as Im here at Dayton, Walker said. dtaylor@hcnonline.com A former Houston municipal worker who murdered his supervisor in 2015 was sentenced on Wednesday to 19 years in state prison. Tyrone Auzenne had pleaded guilty to killing his boss, Michael Vaughn, at the southeast Houston offices of the citys solid waste management department on Dec. 21, 2015 The man, then 43, told authorities that he was being picked on unfairly. He said he walked into Vaughns office and shot him with a semi-automatic pistol hed brought to work. Auzenne posted $50,000 bond almost immediately and awaited trial for several years. After pleading guilty, state District Judge Josh Hill decided his sentence. Vaughns family delivered witness testimony on Tuesday, telling Hill that the shooting appeared to stem from jealousy in the workplace. Vaughn was recruited from the city of Dallas to Houston for his position, which Auzenne had previously held on a temporary basis, they said. Auzenne had worked for department for 21 years, an agency spokeswoman said at the time of the shooting. The slain man told his family members that he was frustrated with the way Auzenne was behaving and had even asked his superiors to transfer the man out of his office. Regardless, the family said they found it hard to believe that he would have picked on an employee. Michael did not have bullying in his soul, his brother, Ronald Vaughn, said. A child was killed Wednesday after a sedan plunged off Interstate 10 East near the San Jacinto River, authorities said. The sedan and an 18-wheeler were both westbound on the East Freeway near Crosby-Lynchburg around 7 a.m. when the big rig changed lanes and hit the car, according to Harris County Sheriff's Office Sgt. Eduardo Rivera. The sedan was pushed up over the left concrete barrier that protects cars from falling off the bridge, Rivera said. The car somehow fit between that barrier and another one on the eastbound side of the bridge, falling to the dry riverbed below, Rivera said. The child was not properly restrained, according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. A 4-year-old girl was found dead underneath the crumpled sedan, while her 35-year-old father had to be pried free by firefighters, authorities said. He was airlifted to a Houston hospital in critical condition. The girl's 24-year-old mother was also in the car and suffered only minor injuries, Rivera said. She was shaken up but was treated by paramedics on scene and released soon after. The driver of the big rig is cooperating with investigators as they work to determine what happened particularly if he broke any laws that caused the crash. As of 10 a.m., he was not facing any charges, Rivera said. The crash closed several westbound and eastbound lanes of the freeway as investigators worked. Jay R. Jordan covers breaking news in the Houston area. Read him on our breaking news site, Chron.com, and our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com | Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan | Email him at jay.jordan@chron.com | Text CHRON to 77453 to receive breaking news alerts by text message Family members met with an attorney behind closed doors Wednesday in a downtown Houston courtroom, where a hearing related to the custody of Maleah Davis and her older brother was scheduled to take place. That hearing did not happen -- at least not within public view at the scheduled time Wednesday morning in state District Judge Gloria Lopez's courtroom. The judge has imposed a gag order, so attorneys and family members declined to comment. Authorities have identified a man wanted in a fatal shooting last week at Keith-Weiss park in north Houston. Martin Vela, 26, has been charged with murder in the shooting, Houston police said Wednesday. Vela has not been arrested. Vela is accused of killing Arnoldo Moreno, also 26, who was found dead next to a pickup about 7:10 p.m. May 14 at the park at 12300 Aldine Westfield Road. A witness told police the gunman fled into a nearby field. Anyone with information on the case should contact the Houston Police Department's Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS. A man was arrested Wednesday after he allegedly fatally shot his 62-year-old wife, authorities said. Louis Joseph Benevento, 71, was charged with murder in the death of Alicia Wills.His bail set at $100,000, according to court records. Bexar County deputies responded to a call for a shooting at about 1:30 a.m. in the 6900 block of Luckey Path and found Wills with no pulse. She was later pronounced dead at University Hospital. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The Bexar County Medical Examiners Office said she died of multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators said they believe Benevento and Wills had been fighting before the shooting. 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 During closing arguments in the recent murder trial of a San Antonio woman accused of shooting her boyfriend and stabbing him in the neck to make sure he was dead, prosecutors asked the jury to consider the evidence. "She let him die by her own admission," the prosecutor told the panel. "And, she's not sorry. No remorse." A 30-year-old man was arrested Wednesday, more than a year after he allegedly injured his 3-month-old daughter so badly she later died. Arthur Martinez now faces a charge of injury to a child causing severe bodily injury in the death of Melanie Martinez. He will be booked into the Bexar County Jail on Wednesday. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox According to police, Martinez called 911 on May 7, 2018, and informed dispatchers his daughter was blue in the face and wasn't breathing. When she was hospitalized, doctors discovered she had suffered severe head trauma and retinal hemorrhaging. Martinez initially chalked the girls injuries up to a tumble from the couch, but later changed his story. "Since the very beginning of being interviewed with detectives, Mr. Martinez has consistently changed his story, and his story does not match up with the injuries that this child suffered," said Jennifer Rodriguez, a spokeswoman for the police department. READ ALSO: San Antonio man accused in King Jay's death is not the father, mother testifies Melanie Martinez died five days after she was hospitalized. Homicide detectives eventually passed the case off to the Bexar County District Attorney's Office, who then presented the case before a grand jury. The jury issued an arrest warrant on the first-degree felony charge, and Martinez was subsequently arrested on the South Side. 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 The Republican Party in Alabama has proven how low it will go. While I may not be pro-abortion, I do not believe it is my job to enforce my beliefs through legal actions on others more specifically women. News flash: No woman gets pregnant on her own. There is always a male involved. Yet this predominantly white male party in Alabama (and the country) has decided to put the lives of women in danger and hold doctors liable with a felony charge. This is not a pro-life law. This is one minority party and group of people trying to impose their will or beliefs on others. The Republican Party has decided it is better for a child to be born to a parent or parents who do not want the child. We can debate contraception and its use, as well as the fact that the Trump administration has reduced funding for Planned Parenthood. We can also debate the real purpose of this law. They want to eliminate a womans choice throughout this country. For those of you who believe justice is blind, I submit you are blind to justice. A sponsor of this bill, Rep. Terri Collins, a Republican and a woman, and Gov. Kay Ivey, also a Republican and a woman, openly state they want it challenged up to the Supreme Court so that Roe v. Wade can be overturned. They recognize that the not-so-blind Supreme Court is now stacked with justices whose ideology is aligned with theirs. So, I have a suggestion. Every member of the Alabama Legislature who voted in favor of this bill and the governor who signed it into law should post their addresses on a public website and in hospitals. Then when women are forced by law to give birth to children they do not want, these children should immediately be placed in the homes of these folks. An allocation process can be worked out. I know this sounds absurd, but what is most likely to happen is these children will become wards of the state. The men who passed this bill will go on living their lives while the old folks of Alabama will be saddled with the bill to care for these children. Or worse, which is my fear, these children will go home to a parent or parents who will abuse them. Or some grandparents will be forced to raise the children. Way to go, Alabama! James Keown lives in Garden Ridge. Sometimes its important to write a column about something youre pretty sure isnt going to happen. In this case, that thing is war with Iran, which Donald Trump clearly doesnt want, and which he will therefore probably avoid. But since the presidents current foreign policy is making war more likely, its still worth saying clearly that it would be a terrible idea for the United States to enter into a serious armed conflict with the Islamic Republic of Iran. In the past I have argued that there is a certain coherence to the Trump foreign policy, even if its just an accidental synthesis of a chaotic White Houses competing impulses. According to that synthesis, recent American presidents have been overly optimistic about democratic transformation, embracing naively utopian hopes in the Islamic world and naively accommodating the rise of China. So what is needed instead is a retrenchment in the greater Middle East, an abandonment of nation-building efforts and a return to kill-your-enemies, back-your-friends realpolitik that, in turn, will make it easier for the United States to pivot to a more confrontational approach with Beijing. In practice, this retrenchment has included backing out (or trying to) from the Bush-era military commitment to Afghanistan and jettisoning the Obama-era effort to woo Iran into detente. Spun in realpolitik terms, the Trump White Houses hard line toward Tehran reflects a belief that the mullahs enmity is an ineradicable fact, that agreements with them in one area inevitably enable aggression elsewhere, and that its better to just back our Sunni and Israeli allies rather than reach for an unlikely realignment and reap more mischief in return. But the (arguable) coherence of this approach has been breaking down as the Trump administration has moved into its maximum pressure phase of sanctions against Tehran. Because if you impose maximum pressure on a regional power you are, by definition, effectively returning to the last two administrations more dramatic Middle East ambitions: You are assuming either that some great diplomatic coup awaits or that your pressure will lead to regime change and democratization. I suspect that Trump is making the first assumption, imagining all this pressure as a prelude to a dramatic deal, while John Bolton and Mike Pompeo are making the second one, imagining the Iranian regime suddenly buckling like the Soviet Union in 1991. But whatever the core assumption, the maximalist approach inevitably increases the risk of war. If the White House is wrong about the Iranian regimes willingness to make more concessions, then theyre turning a dial that can produce only two policy responses: endurance or armed reaction. And if theyre right that regime change is a possibility, then the regime theyre trying to change will become more likely to lash out the closer it gets to its own breaking point. Either way, there is nothing about the current situation in the Middle East, or globally, that makes the chance of war with Iran worth taking as hawks as well as doves concede. For instance: National Reviews David French, generally far more hawkish than I am, describes a potential conflict with Iran as possibly worse than any of our wars since 9/11 and a terrible idea absent the most serious, urgent and compelling need. David Frum, once a notable Iraq War supporter, writes that war with Iran would recapitulate our Iraq blunders on a much bigger scale, without allies, without justification, and without any plan at all for what comes next. There is no explicitly pro-war rejoinder to these points; theres only the sort of half-hawkish argument offered by Eli Lake of Bloomberg, who writes that of course nobody wants war, and the recent flurry of U.S. moves is just all about establishing deterrence. But even Lake acknowledges that this strategy is fraught, and as tensions rise, so does the risk of miscalculation. Which brings us back to the question of whether the larger context in which tensions are rising the broad maximum pressure approach by the U.S. makes clear strategic sense. It does not. The United States can treat Iran as an enemy without going all in for brinkmanship; it can leave the nuclear deal without taking steps that make a conventional war more immediately likely. Trumps 2016 campaign rhetoric made a case against a hawkish Republican foreign policy consensus that seemingly wanted to confront all our enemies, at once, everywhere. The president is now in the middle of a trade war with China that by his own logic is far more important to long-term U.S. interests than some immediate breakthrough or regime breakdown in Tehran. So he should return to that campaign-season wisdom, and to the maxim it suggested: Whenever possible, one war a time. Domestic violence and fast-food concessions at the airport are the two issues that have defined the race for mayor between incumbent Ron Nirenberg and District 6 City Councilman Greg Brockhouse. We disagreed with councils decision to exclude Chick-fil-A from a vendor contract at the San Antonio International Airport, and we have found Brockhouses response to past domestic violence allegations to be utterly lacking, particularly in regard to a 2009 police report that has gone missing from the public record. But these are not the only issues in this city, even if they are the ones that have captured most of the publics attention this spring. The next mayor will almost certainly face a tightening of property tax revenues; the city and San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association remain at an impasse over a contract; housing affordability is an ongoing concern; and the citys rapid growth makes improving transit a necessity, not an option. On each of these issues, Nirenberg is the superior choice. He deserves a second term for the potential of his ideas and policies, but also because of the hollowness in the policies we have seen from Brockhouse, who has pledged to cut city property taxes and somehow spend more on core services. Politics might be the art of the possible, but we wonder how Brockhouse will improve bus service, hire more police, agree to a lucrative new fire contract and cut city property taxes (on top of almost certain state limits on property tax revenue growth). We also have serious concerns about how independent he can be from the citys powerful public safety unions, which have spent big to support his bid for mayor. In fire union President Chris Steeles own words, the goal is to set it up to where May of 2019, we can put our own guy in the mayors office, which would be Greg Brockhouse. Well, its May of 2019 and their guy is in a runoff. Add to this equation those past allegations of domestic violence, and Brockhouses inability to acknowledge a 2009 police report. Asked Tuesday if he caused it to be expunged, he said no. OK, why is it missing? Taken together, we see a candidate who has failed to demonstrate the requisite character and transparency to serve as spokesman for the seventh-largest city in the nation. Nirenberg has earned a second term. This really shouldnt be a question. In resume, character, policy understanding and demeanor, there is a gaping qualification gap between the candidates. Nirenbergs greatest strength is his vision, underscored by his understanding of policy. This is reflected in his long-term plans: ConnectSA, to get this city moving again; the creation of a Housing Policy Task Force, which seeks to identify long-term housing solutions for those displaced by gentrification; the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan, which many in the business community dislike, but is an aspirational document to outline a local response to a global catastrophe; an Alamo master plan to bring proper reverence to this hallowed site. All these plans will take time to implement and get right, which is exactly why Nirenberg deserves another term. Even under the best of circumstances, it would be unrealistic to have expected Nirenberg to have implemented these policies in just two years. And Nirenbergs first term was challenging. He made some rookie mistakes, but thats not reason enough to forsake the promise of his vision or his potential to grow in the job. Another reason to support Nirenberg is his independence from the public safety unions. He has sought to contain public safety spending to roughly 67 percent of the general fund. Its not like anyone is shortchanging our first responders. The San Antonio Police Officers Association agreed to a contract in 2016 that included a 3 percent lump sum bonus and a wage increase of 14 percent over four years with some modest offsets on health care. This has not been good enough for the fire union. The importance of containing public safety costs is that it leaves room for other city services, such as streets and parks. This is the other side of the fire union getting its guy into office. The question voters should hold in mind is which candidate will move this city forward, and which will hold it back. For his vision and independence from the public safety unions, Nirenberg deserves a second term. Reportedly, President Donald Trump plans to pardon several members of the U.S. military who have been accused or convicted of war crimes, including murder, attempted murder and desecration of a corpse. What kind of message does this send our troops and the rest of the world? That it is OK to take the law into their own misguided hands and perhaps murder innocent people? We shield our eyes when atrocities are committed by militias around the world. Are we going to be part of these barbaric actions? These pardons are un-American, undemocratic and unjust. Maureen Wilson Enough trivial news Some media outlets are obsessed with reporting one general subject, no matter how trivial. Recently, it was the presidents misspelling of Kentucky. Wow, looks like an impeachment item! Scrolling and repeating such trivial items over and over is counterproductive. The public is overloaded and distracted from the important information of what Trump is doing to us and for us. We, the public guardians of our country are saturated with presidential trivia that make up the news. This technique of distracting the public is prehistoric. There must be more critical characteristics for judging elected officials. Am I wrong? Let others know your opinion speak out. Charles C. Seeber, Boerne End voter apathy Re: Wont vote until city leaders step up, Another View, Monday: It was with great dismay that I read Eric Mapes op-ed in which he outlined why he does not vote in midterms. After stating his entire education was in San Antonio beginning in NEISD and concluding at UTSA, he ends his column seeking candidates who value education across the board in San Antonio. Obviously, the institutions he attended failed to teach him how government and official change work in a democracy. Change is to occur through people being involved politically and voting. If his voting apathy is the product of local educational institutions, then his premise that we need more importance placed on education is accurate. Katherine Hess Another solution Re: Wont vote until city leaders step up, Another View, Monday: Eric Mapes explanation of why he does not vote in city elections was thought-provoking. I could not find any fault in his statistics or conclusions except for the final one not voting is an appropriate solution. How does this differentiate you from someone who doesnt care? If you feel the candidates arent addressing the issues, talk to them. Be the squeaky wheel. Find a fringe candidate and support them or, better yet, become one yourself. Every Wednesday, anyone can go to City Councils B session and sign up for Citizens to be Heard and speak on any topic. You have something to say and they have to listen. Make a noise. Make a difference! Sue Snyder THE Zimbabwe Republic Police on Monday arrested four people at Robert Mugabe International Airport believed to be part of shadowy anti-Government organisations working with the MDC-Alliance who were planning to roll out violent demonstrations in the country after receiving training from abroad. This confirms a report by our Harare Bureau last week which correctly reported that eight individuals including a multimedia journalist from a local newspaper were attending workshops in Zimbabwe, the region as well as Czech Republic and Maldives on tactics to abet the violence. Upon the discovery of the plot, our Harare Bureau understands that the groups travel plans were altered to cover up and wrong-foot authorities. But a group of four was arrested coming from Europe. Those that were arrested by the police are the Citizens Manifesto co-ordinator Tatenda Mombeyarara (37), Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe Advocacy Officer George Makoni (38), Nyasha Frank Mpahlo (35) of Transparency International Zimbabwe and executive director of Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), Gamuchirai Mukura (31). Following their arrests, the four were taken to Harare Central Police Station for further investigations. They were last night still in custody and will appear in court today. Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Mr Nick Mangwana yesterday confirmed that the police had arrested the four soon after their arrival from the Maldives. The four were arrested after disembarking from a South African Airways flight while coming from the Maldives and are currently assisting police with investigations, he said. Shadowy organisations and some rogue elements with links to the MDC-Alliance had been circulating messages since last week, through social media, instigating members of the public to engage in civil disobedience and engage in demonstrations in central Harare, but people did not take heed. The police maintained a heavy presence ready to deal with any unlawful actions in Harare and other cities. Law enforcement agencies said there were no incidences of disturbances and violence reported countrywide. A tight vigil by the police followed information at hand that there were shadowy organisations seeking to unleash a wave of violent demonstrations beginning next month, with ring leaders of civil unrest having received training in the Czech Republic and the Maldives. Further, there were revelations that after the training, the groups briefed the MDC-Alliance leadership led by Mr Nelson Chamisa. It is understood that the training in the Maldives was conducted by Centre for Applied Non-violent Action and Strategies (CANVAS), a Serbian organisation which trained MDC activists who were involved in the co-ordination of the January 14 to 16, 2019 violent protests. CANVAS was founded in 2003 by Serbian nationals Srdja Popovic and Ivan Morovic and has been involved in the training of anti-government activists in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Iran, Lebanon, Tibet, Ukraine and Venezuela. Chronicle Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News THE Master of High Court has jointly appointed Daisy Mtukudzi and another family member Vennah Muchakagara as executors to the estate of the late music icon Dr Oliver Mtukudzi. Daisy and Muchakagara were appointed following an edict meeting during which family members unanimously agreed to have the pair as executors. At least 15 family members attended the edict meeting that was presided over by the Additional Master responsible for Deceased Estates, Kumbirai Chigomararwa. Among the family members were the late musicians widow, daughters, sisters, and other relatives. They agreed on two executors for transparency. The Will left behind by Dr Mtukudzi appointed Chibune & Associates as executor, but the parties settled for the two family members considering that the law firm in question was now defunct. The Will was read out in the meeting and no objections were immediately raised. Family members also did not contest the fact that Tuku left behind a wife, Daisy and four daughters. The Will was accepted by the Masters Office for administrative purposes. Efforts to get a comment from either the Master of High Court Mr Eldard Mutasa or Ms Chigomararwa were fruitless. End of last month a Harare law firm filed with the Master of High Court, a one-page Will and Testament bequeathing all movable and immovable property to surviving spouse Daisy. All his children and other family members were left out. Thoughts Deme Attorneys at Law, filed a will dated April 15, 2014 believed to have been left behind by Dr Mtukudzi. The will appointed Chibune & Associates, a law firm currently under curatorship following the death of its principal, as the executor dative to the estate. Chibune & Associates is under curatorship of Thoughts Deme following the death of Steve Chibune in 2017. Thoughts Deme, being the curator, filed the will with the Master of High Court. Part of the will reads: I, Oliver Mtukudzi, born 22 September, 1952, presently domiciled in Zimbabwe, hereby cancel and annul all former wills and cordials and declare this to be my last will and testament. I nominate and appoint Chibune & Associates Legal Practitioners to be the executor of my last will and administrator of my estate and effects, hereby giving and granting unto him all such powers as allowed in law especially those of assumption and substitution and direct that my executor shall not be required to file security with the Master of the High Court in respect of his appointment. Dr Mtukudzi, according to the will, left out all his children and gave everything to the surviving spouse. I hereby bequeath all my properties, share and shares in any company or companies or entities to my wife, Daisy Kudzai Mtukudzi born on the second of February 1959, reads the will. In February this year, Mrs Mtukudzi had notified the Master of High Court of the death and filled in an inventory stating the property left behind by the music icon. According to the inventory, Tuku left behind four daughters namely: Samantha, Sandra, Selmor and Sybil. Immovable properties declared by Daisy in the inventory include: Original deed of transfer number 0009820/2003 in favour of Samantha and Oliver Mtukudzi Original deed of transfer number 8557/2007 in favour of Tuku Music Promotions (Private) Limited. Original deed of transfer number 0005527/2008 in favour of Oliver and Daisy Mtukudzi Offer letters for subdivision 5 of Bloemfontein, Mazowe, in favour of Oliver Mtukudzi. Movable properties include, a Land Rover Discovery, Nissan NP200, Tata bus, Tata truck and a Challenger trailer. The late musician also left an undisclosed amount of money in his FBC Bank (Belgravia) account. Herald Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News Botswana veterinary officials have shot and incinerated about 600 cattle which strayed from Bulilima West constituency into the neighbouring country over the past three years over fears of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), local villagers have revealed. The villagers from Nswazwi, Mangubo and Hinkwe say they are losing their source of livelihood and appealed to legislator Dingimuzi Phuti to lobby for a fence along the border to save their herd. Bulilima, in Matabeleland South, together with Masvingo and some parts of the Midlands, are currently under quarantine to contain FMD outbreaks. Botswana, a major supplier of beef to the European Union and ever wary of an outbreak that could jeopardise those exports, has a shoot to kill policy of cattle that stray from Zimbabwe, a classified FMD Red Zone. We will write a petition to the Ministries of Home Affairs and Agriculture so that they should protect us against Botswanas foreign policy. We cant make Botswana change its policy, they are protecting their market because they supply beef to the EU. They were told by the bloc that Zimbabwe is a red zone and if your cattle mix with those from that country we will stop buying your beef, Phuti said. He said government should act with urgency before part of the national herd is decimated through the shootings. I was told that cattle from here, Hinkwe, Nswazi, Malalume, Madabe and Izimnyama have been killed in their numbers. Over 600 is not a joke thats a national herd going. We are not going to take time to solve the issue because at this rate we will lose all the livestock, he said. Headmen Nswazwi, Hinkwe and Mangubo urged the government to erect a security fence on the Zimbabwean side so that livestock does not cross into Botswana. The fence was destroyed and the poles were also stolen. Government should consider erecting an electric fence to save the cattle from being shot, the traditional leaders said. Contacted for comment, Agriculture minister Perrance Shiri said he was dispatching a team from Matabeleland South to visit affected areas and find the solution to the problem. Right now I am dispatching a team of our officers to the affected areas so that they would see how best we can deal with the situation and also talk to farmers to understand how they can be helped in the interim, in averting further shootings. We are preoccupied with separating game parks and the farming areas to curb the spread of the foot and mouth disease, Shiri said. NewsDay Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News MDC leader Nelson Chamisas popularity on social media has spiked, seeing him hitting 500,000 followers on his favourite Twitter mode of communication. He joined Twitter in September 2010. Were now 500 000 Thank you dear friends for this happy space on Twitter. I thank God as I appreciate you all for the half a million followers mark. You are awesome and wonderful. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brothers live in harmony! Chamisa said in a message marking the landmark number. https://twitter.com/nelsonchamisa/status/1130807209879846912 Chamisa is among the most followed political figure on Twitter, and posts almost daily. His main political rival, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has just shy of 379,000 Twitter followers. The President joined Twitter in December 2011, and both he and Chamisa run verified Twitter handles. Analysts say social media will continue to erode the influence of legacy media which has worked in favour of Zanu PF since it controls the state media Zimpapers and ZBC with the only television in the country and an array of radio stations. People no longer wait for news bulletins on radio or television; they follow topical issues on their mobile phones, thanks to social media, which has enabled instant messaging, live social media broadcasts and internet television. Social media an unbelievable advantage, which most parties and individuals participating in this poll appear to be very much alive to. People are targeted with personalised, tailor-made messages. At least 90% of urban Zimbabweans followed last years election cycle glued from their phones, particularly social media, according to a new study by Afrobarometer. According the survey, the biggest reason voters gave for following politicians on social media was to find out news before other people did, and to become more personally connected to the candidates as well as receiving news stories and updates on the election. Likewise, a 2016 study published in a United States publication, PLoS ONE, found that the more someone relies on their smartphone for information, the less likely they are to trust neighbours, strangers, and people from other religions or nationalities. In contrast, obtaining information through any other method including TV, radio, newspapers, and even the internet more broadly predicted higher trust in those groups, according to the authors of the study. Supporters of Mnangagwa and Chamisa last year went on an all-out war against each other on social media as election mood reached fever pitch. Zealous followers of Chamisa were branded Nerrorists while Mnangagwas foot soldiers were branded Varakashi (the vicious attackers). In this war, however, there is a very critical mass which is being left out: the rural folk. The Afrobarometer report says that only 10% of rural Zimbabweans follow the elections on their cellphones, while 46% rely on television and radio. The rest rely on the traditional interactive meetings. ZOOMZimbabwe Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg met with the United Kingdoms Defence Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, in London on Wednesday (22 May 2019). Mr. Stoltenberg congratulated the Defence Secretary on her appointment and said he looked forward to working with her to address the security challenges the Alliance faces. They discussed the current security environment, NATOs adaption to new threats and preparations for the Summit of NATO Heads of State and Government to be held in London this December. Mr. Stoltenberg thanked the United Kingdom for its leadership in NATO and its strong commitment to the Alliance, on land, in the air, at sea, and in cyberspace. Along with The North Atlantic Council, Mr. Stoltenberg will attend the Cyber Defence Pledge Conference at the National Cyber Security Centre in London on Thursday. The Secretary General will make a keynote speech on NATOs adaptation to counter cyber threats. The United Kingdoms Foreign Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, will also address the conference. I am happy to announce that the next Summit of Allied leaders will take place on 3-4 December 2019 in London to mark NATOs 70th anniversary. I discussed preparations for the event with Prime Minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street last week (14 May) and I thanked the United Kingdom for agreeing to host the event. In 1949, the United Kingdom was one of NATOs twelve founding members. London was the home of our first headquarters, so it is a fitting venue for NATO Heads of State and Government to plan the Alliances future. Together we will address current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead. I look forward to a successful Summit. On 22 May 2019, the twenty-nine Allied Chiefs of Defence and invitee North Macedonia met in Brussels, Belgium for the 181st Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session. Ahead of the Meeting of Defence Ministers in June, the Chiefs of Defence came together to discuss NATOs new Military Strategy, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR)s Area of Responsibility and the development of the Alliances deterrence and defence posture. The Chiefs of Defence began their day by meeting with NATOs Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, where discussions focused on the key strategic issues facing the Alliance. The Allied Chiefs of Defence then signed the new Military Strategy. The signature marks an important step in adapting the Alliance for the increasingly complex security challenges that NATO faces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach stated: The strategy will guide Allied military decision making and provide NATOs Military Authorities with a definitive policy reference, enabling us to deliver our core mission - defending almost 1 billion people. For the session on SACEURs Area of Responsibility, the Military Committee invited the Chairman of the European Union Military Committee, General Graziano to join them. The Chiefs of Defence emphasised the EUs efforts on military mobility and NATOs work to enable SACEURs Area of Responsibility are mutually reinforcing. The Chiefs of Defence received a detailed briefing on the current security situation in and around Ukraine, and the ongoing challenges emanating from the Black Sea region. Talking with their Mediterranean Dialogue Partners, discussions focused on capacity building in the Middle East and North Africa region, increased interoperability and marking twenty-five years of the Dialogue. (Natural News) Researchers at the Central South University in China examined the potential protective effects of aucubin, a compound found in eucommia (Eucommia ulmoides Oliv.), on neurons against epilepsy in the hippocampus using a rat model. Their findings were published in The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. Eucommia is a common traditional Chinese medicine that has antioxidative and neuroprotective effects. Aucubin is the main component of eucommia. For the study, the researchers induced status epilepticus in rats by administering lithium-pilocarpine. Before the administration of lithium-pilocarpine, they pretreated the rats with 5 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg, low dose) and 10 mg/kg (high dose) of aucubin for two weeks. Pretreatment with both doses of aucubin dramatically reduced the number of dead neurons and increased the number of surviving neurons in the hippocampus of rats after status epilepticus induction. Both doses also inhibited necroptosis proteins and enhanced autophagy protein prevalence in the hippocampus. These results suggest that aucubin can reduce the damage caused by status epilepticus by inducing autophagy and inhibiting inflammatory cell death. The researchers concluded that aucubin can potentially be used in the treatment or prevention of epilepsy-related neuronal damages. Visit ChineseMedicine.news for more studies on neuroprotective compounds found in Chinese medicine. Journal Reference: Wang J, Li Y, Huang WH, Zeng XC, Li XH, Li J, Zhou J, Xiao J, Xiao B, Ouyang DS, Hu K. THE PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF AUCUBIN FROM EUCOMMIA ULMOIDES AGAINST STATUS EPILEPTICUS BY INDUCING AUTOPHAGY AND INHIBITING NECROPTOSIS. The American Journal of Chinese Medicine. 7 April 2017;45(03):557-573. DOI: 10.1142/S0192415X17500331 (Natural News) Having access to fluoridated drinking water that can supposedly improve your dental health sounds like a first-world luxury on the surface but the truth is that its a recipe for ill health and experts are calling for this dangerous practice to be stopped. In fact, America is one of very few developed countries that fluoridates its water, with Green Med Info reporting that just 5 percent of the worlds population consumes this type of water. More people in America drink it than in all other nations combined, and were paying the price in terms of our health. Thats because the fluoride chemicals that are placed in our drinking water are actually unprocessed toxic waste products. Most people never take the time to question where all that fluoride added to our water comes from, and the answer is shocking: It is generally pollutants captured from the phosphate fertilizer industry in Florida or chemical imports that come from China, known for a lack of regulation and adulteration. These chemicals arent purified before theyre added to drinking water, and its not at all unusual for them to contain significant amounts of heavy metals like arsenic, mercury and lead. Fluorides many dangers outweigh any possible benefits Researchers have expressed concerns about the lack of regulation and safety of fluoride additives. Studies have shown its a neurotoxin that can be linked to problems like lower IQ in children, premature birth, neurological development impairments, autism, and preeclampsia. In fact, some experts believe the unusually high rate of premature birth in the U.S. could be related to the practice of fluoridating water. Its also worth noting that the death rates in the ten states with the most fluoridation are as much as 26 percent higher than they are in the ten states with the least fluoridation, and they also have triple the rates of Alzheimers disease. Fluoride is added to water on the pretense of improving dental health, but its track record there is questionable, too. There are some concerns about the rising number of people with fluorosis. This condition, which is caused by excessive fluorine intake, leads to stained teeth and ligament calcification. Some studies have even shown that cities with fluoridated water actually have higher rates of cavities among their population than non-fluoridated cities, something that is likely due to the weakening and damage caused to tooth enamel over time by fluoride. It also threatens your thyroid glands ability to absorb iodine, making you vulnerable to fatigue and weight gain. In addition, it can calcify your pineal gland, which can cause a host of health problems we are just beginning to understand. Theres another big concern, too: Fluoride bonds with the aluminum found in drinking water, facilitating its entry into your body and brain. This can lead to neurodegenerative problems and other serious issues, like an even higher risk of Alzheimers. While 74.4 percent of Americans on public water systems have access to fluoridated water right now, other countries have resisted the practice. Finland, Norway and Sweden all banned water fluoridation during the 1970s and 1980s because its impact on health and the environment was questionable, while Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and France have all deemed it too dangerous. Its time for this mass medication experiment to be put to an end. If water fluoridation was really so beneficial, other places would be doing the same thing. At the very least, people should have the option of deciding for themselves if the supposed benefits outweigh the risks rather than having their water poisoned without their consent. Sources for this article include: GreenMedInfo.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com CDC.gov (Natural News) People experiencing extreme pain find it difficult to sleep. Most of the time, it requires the use of painkillers, which is why opioid abuse is associated with both sleep loss and chronic pain. And while it is easy to imagine how pain can deprive people of sleep, how the interaction works the other way how does sleep affect pain? is not understood. In a new study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, University of California, San Francisco, University of Colorado Boulder, and the John Hopkins University in Maryland investigated the mechanisms behind this relationship. They found that sleep deprivation actually intensifies and prolongs pain due to neural glitches that happen in key regions of the brain associated with pain processing. Pain sensitivity is heightened by lack of sleep For their study, the researchers worked with 25 healthy young adults who were neither sleep-deprived nor experiencing any pain. They first measured each participants pain threshold after a full nights sleep and used Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to record their brain activity while gradually increasing heat levels were applied to their skin. The participants, on average, reported thermal discomfort at around 111 F (44 C). Next, the researchers asked the participants to undergo the same procedure after a sleepless night. They discovered that when people are sleep-deprived, their pain threshold decreases. The majority of the participants reported thermal discomfort at around 107 F. Their brain imaging results also changed after a sleepless night. Researchers observed a marked increase in activity in the somatosensory cortex and a decrease in activity in the nucleus accumbens and insular cortex, indicating that the neural mechanisms that manage physiological responses to painful stimuli were malfunctioning. If poor sleep intensifies our sensitivity to pain, as this study demonstrates, then sleep must be placed much closer to the center of patient care, especially in hospital wards, Matthew Walker, a professor of neuroscience and psychology at University of California, Berkeley and senior author of study, said. Our findings suggest that patient care would be markedly improved, and hospital beds cleared sooner, if uninterrupted sleep were embraced as an integral component of healthcare management, he added. Loss of sleep amps up pain sensitivity, ramps down dopamine levels When the researchers began their study, they were working on the hypothesis that sleep deprivation would increase pain sensitivity. They assumed that neural mechanisms responsible for processing pain signals and activating natural pain relief would not function properly due to the loss of sleep. They found that they were right on both accounts. But what surprised them were the brain imaging results that showed reduced activity in the nucleus accumbens, a part of the brain involved in reward circuitry. One of the many functions of the nucleus accumbens is to increase dopamine levels in response to pain to trigger relief naturally. Sleep loss not only amplifies the pain-sensing regions in the brain, but [it] blocks the natural analgesia centers, too, Walker said. In addition, the researchers noticed that insufficient sleep also affected the level of activity in the insular cortex, another region of the brain that should be working in the presence of pain. The insular cortex evaluates pain signals and puts them in context to help the body prepare an appropriate response. Adam Krause, the lead author of the study and a student of Walkers, explained that the insular cortex pain is part of a critical neural system that assesses and categorizes pain signals to allow natural painkillers inside the body to work. Its low activity while the body was experiencing pain indicates a neural glitch that is specifically induced by the lack of sleep. When Walker and Krause further examined the relationship between sleep and pain in more common scenarios, they found that even the smallest alterations in a persons sleep and wake patterns could change their pain sensitivity. The results clearly show that even very subtle changes in nightly sleep reductions that many of us think little of in terms of consequences have a clear impact on your next-day pain burden, Krause said. The findings of their study not only highlight the importance of sleep; they also demonstrate how profoundly sleep affects the inner workings of the brain. This should be an important consideration for everyone every time they think about sacrificing sleep. Sources include: NeuroscienceNews.com JNeuroSci.org (Natural News) The White House is asking Americans to share their personal stories of censorship and bias on social media. Predictably, liberals dont seem interested in believing these victims. (Article by Brad Parscale republished from Breitbart.com) The appeal was announced on Wednesday and includes a tool to monitor Big Tech censorship. This is welcome news for conservatives and anyone concerned about the trend of censorship by the giant social media and search engine companies. Its proof positive that Donald Trump is very serious about stopping the suppression of conservative speech on social media, as he alluded to in a recent tweet, when he said, Social Media & Fake News Media, together with their partner, the Democrat Party, have no idea the problems they are causing for themselves. VERY UNFAIR! The mainstream media response to the new White House initiative, however, expressed precious little concern over the notion that the tech oligopoly is abusing its power over ordinary Americans, instead trying to gaslight us by implying that social media censorship is all in our heads. I wasnt surprised. Thats been the fake newss consistent stance throughout Big Techs campaign to banish voices on the right from the modern public square and shift the terms of the debate in favor of their Democratic allies. Luckily, after years of ever-tightening censorship against conservatives and Trump supporters, that narrative is so transparently false that its impossible to take seriously. Facebook, Twitter, Google, YouTube, and other social media platforms have become the essential forum for political debate. The gradual disappearance of popular right-leaning personalities and accounts from these platforms over the past three years is hardly just some big coincidence. In the beginning, when their terms of service were still minimal, vague, and ill-defined, the social media giants used overblown accusations of harassment to justify banning conservatives while still clinging publicly to their founding ethos of free speech. One preliminary study by Dr. Richard Hanania showed that 21 out of 22 prominent people suspended by Twitter in recent years were Trump supporters. Now, the social media companies increasingly inject politics into their rules and decisions for monitoring their platforms, banning people not for any tangible violation, but for having dangerous ideas or, as was the case for Michelle Malkin, censoring users for merely speaking in support of people who have dangerous ideas. Big Tech has tried to pass off some of its rule changes as politically neutral, such as when they began mandating the far-lefts new gender ideology, as well as banning those who dare refer to biological males as he, including prominent conservative scholars and even socialist feminists who choose to observe traditional binary genders. Other changes, they admit, are purely political, such as banning white nationalism at the behest of left-wing groups that openly apply that same label to the President and his supporters. We have mountains of direct evidence that Big Tech is seeking to swing political debate in this country leftward. We know from conscientious whistleblowers that Big Tech employees discuss censoring conservatives in the coarsest terms. Just this week, we learned that a Google subsidiary is working closely with the disgraced Southern Poverty Law Center to create automated artificial intelligence tools to reduce toxicity in online comments. Despite the best efforts of the left, the existence of Big Tech bias and censorship is beyond debate. Even honest Democrats like Tulsi Gabbard recognize that. Twitter founder and CEO Jack Dorsey certainly does, admitting, I dont think we can be this neutral, passive platform anymore. Incredibly, though, many liberal journalists still claim not to see the censorship taking place all around them, insisting that it must be a right-wing conspiracy theory, even as they call for Big Tech to take action against even more people and ideas they dont like. Their more honest colleagues openly admit that the whole point of policing language is to deplatform their ideological opponents, but such honesty is disappointingly rare. CNNs Oliver Darcy, for instance, uses his platforms both online and on cable TV to claim that President Trump is cherry-picking and misleading us about the problem, and that Big Tech bias is just an allegation and a narrative. Darcy, as is typical of Big Techs media champions, denies the existence of online censorship, yet prides himself on having pressured social media companies into banning his competitors. Darcy recently set his sights even higher, tacitly urging Twitter to ban the President of the United States from its service, asking, What is the difference at this point between Trumps Twitter feed and Inforwars.com? Buzzfeeds Joe Bernstein set his sights much lower than Darcy, publishing a long report castigating YouTube for not censoring a 14-year-old girls comedy channel that he finds offensive. If these journalists are going to argue that speech they dont like should be censored, they cant simultaneously pretend that social media censorship is made up or worse, that President Trump is misleading people when he asks Americans to share their own experiences with that censorship. In short, we cannot let the liberal media piss on our back and tell us its raining. We have plenty of evidence statistical, anecdotal, and even direct statements by Big Tech execs. What we dont have is Big Techs bread and butter, the one thing most responsible for their power: massive amounts of data. Thats why President Trump needs your help to fill in the blanks. Dont let them continue to get away with silencing you and then pretending you never existed. Let the White House know about every dirty, biased trick Big Tech has ever played. Im a data guy by profession. I know how much of a difference this will make. Mark my words: next year, when were in the home stretch of the presidential campaign, Silicon Valley is going to kick its censorship campaign up to a level weve never seen before. Big Tech executives and liberal journalists are going to do their very best to gaslight us, pretending that were crazy whenever we try to complain. With your help and the submission of concrete examples of their bias, well be ready to call that bluff. So go to wh.gov/techbias today, and let the White House know about every time youve been unfairly silenced and censored online so President Trump can take stock and then take action to protect our constitutional rights and make sure we arent silenced in 2020. Read more at: Breitbart.com (Natural News) The radical Left has now jumped the shark, with calls for violence against conservatives and Christians now being made by mainstream media outlets and commercial businesses run by progressives. This normalization of demanded violence against conservatives is the latest escalation among progressives who appear to be part of a dangerous authoritarian cult that demands the silencing and extermination of all political opponents. For example, a Nigel Farage bus tour was just threatened by masked protesters. CBS News broadcast an endorsement that called for progressives to engage in acts of violence against conservatives. The Views Joy Behar has called for all Republicans to be jailed for daring to support Trump, and CNN has a long history of calling for violent acts against political opponents. While the lunatic Left claims to stand for diversity and tolerance, in truth Leftists are increasingly and openly calling for acts of violence including murder against conservatives and Christians. Where is this heading next? Death squads. When the death squads are unleashed against conservatives, no one on the Left will speak out against them The truly shocking realization is that this escalation will sooner or later lead to left-wing death squads being unleashed to mass murder conservatives, Christians, Trump supporters and gun owners. Based on the escalating rhetoric and increasingly violent actions already being committed by deranged Leftists today, this escalation isnt far off. Once the left-wing death squads are unleashed, no one on the Left will speak out against them, obviously. We know that because theres virtually no one on the Left that is speaking out against the silencing of conservatives or the physical attacks taking place against conservatives right now. In other words, nobody on the Left thinks theres anything wrong with silencing, defaming, de-platforming, de-monetizing or just flat-out murdering their political opponents. The Left has become lawless, irrational and insane. Leftists respect no laws, no rules, no logic, no evidence, no reason and no real diversity at all. This is the new radicalism of the runaway Left, which has morphed into an authoritarian cult thats afflicted with mass mental illness. This authoritarian cult demands absolute obedience on everything, including transgenderism, climate change, vaccine compliance, Trump hatred, open borders and everything else imaginable. Its gotten so insane that if you dont celebrate the mass murder of babies after theyre born (infanticide), you are accused of being anti-women. But if you defend womens sports, youre accused of being an anti-LGBT bigot. Watch my full video here for more details about the coming left-wing death squads and why a civil war is now inevitable in America. Brighteon.com/6039799142001 (If the video doesnt appear below, just refresh this article. We are in the middle of a video migration to our enhanced new Brighteon 2.0 platform.) Read more about the authoritarian left-wing cult at LeftCult.com or Violence.news. Putting their own twist on robots that amble through complicated landscapes, the Stanford Student Robotics club's Extreme Mobility team at Stanford University has developed a four-legged robot that is not only capable of performing acrobatic tricks and traversing challenging terrain but is also designed with reproducibility in mind. Anyone who wants their own version of the robot, dubbed Stanford Doggo, can consult comprehensive plans, code and a supply list that the students have made freely available online. "We had seen these other quadruped robots used in research, but they weren't something that you could bring into your own lab and use for your own projects," said Nathan Kau, '20, a mechanical engineering major and lead for Extreme Mobility. "We wanted Stanford Doggo to be this open source robot that you could build yourself on a relatively small budget." Whereas other similar robots can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars and require customized parts, the Extreme Mobility students estimate the cost of Stanford Doggo at less than $3,000 - including manufacturing and shipping costs - and nearly all the components can be bought as-is online. They hope the accessibility of these resources inspires a community of Stanford Doggo makers and researchers who develop innovative and meaningful spinoffs from their work. Already Stanford Doggo can walk, trot, dance, hop, jump and perform the occasional backflip. The students are working on a larger version of their creation - which is currently about the size of a beagle - but will take a short break to present Stanford Doggo at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation May 21 in Montreal, Canada. A hop, a jump and a backflip In order to make Stanford Doggo replicable, the students built it from scratch. This meant spending a lot of time researching easily attainable supplies and testing each part as they made it, without relying on simulations. "It's been about two years since we first had the idea to make a quadruped. We've definitely made several prototypes before we actually started working on this iteration of the dog," said Natalie Ferrante, '19, a mechanical engineering coterminal student and Extreme Mobility Team member. "It was very exciting the first time we got him to walk." Stanford Doggo's first steps were admittedly toddling, but now the robot can maintain a consistent gait and desired trajectory, even as it encounters different terrains. It does this with the help of motors that sense external forces on the robot and determine how much force and torque each leg should apply in response. These motors recompute at 8,000 times a second and are essential to the robot's signature dance: a bouncy boogie that hides the fact that it has no springs. Instead, the motors act like a system of virtual springs, smoothly but perkily rebounding the robot into proper form whenever they sense it's out of position. Among the skills and tricks the team added to the robot's repertoire, the students were exceptionally surprised at its jumping prowess. Running Stanford Doggo through its paces one (very) early morning in the lab, the team realized it was effortlessly popping up 2 feet in the air. By pushing the limits of the robot's software, Stanford Doggo was able to jump 3, then 3 feet off the ground. "This was when we realized that the robot was, in some respects, higher performing than other quadruped robots used in research, even though it was really low cost," recalled Kau. Since then, the students have taught Stanford Doggo to do a backflip - but always on padding to allow for rapid trial and error experimentation. What will Stanford Doggo do next? If these students have it their way, the future of Stanford Doggo in the hands of the masses. "We're hoping to provide a baseline system that anyone could build," said Patrick Slade, graduate student in aeronautics and astronautics and mentor for Extreme Mobility. "Say, for example, you wanted to work on search and rescue; you could outfit it with sensors and write code on top of ours that would let it climb rock piles or excavate through caves. Or maybe it's picking up stuff with an arm or carrying a package." That's not to say they aren't continuing their own work. Extreme Mobility is collaborating with the Robotic Exploration Lab of Zachary Manchester, assistant professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Stanford, to test new control systems on a second Stanford Doggo. The team has also finished constructing a robot twice the size of Stanford Doggo that can carry about 6 kilograms of equipment. Its name is Stanford Woofer. The Royal Navy Special Boat Service (SBS, the Royal Navy equivalent of the SAS) has apparently joined the US carrier strike group currently deployed in the Persian Gulf, near Iran, in order to counter potential Iranian attacks on UK merchant ships. The Royal Navy Special Boat Service (SBS, the Royal Navy equivalent of the SAS) has apparently joined the US carrier strike group currently deployed in the Persian Gulf, near Iran, in order to counter potential Iranian attacks on UK merchant ships. The Royal Navy SBS corps training off the coast of Pembrokeshire (Picture Source: UK MoD) According to The Express, two units from the Royal Navy SBS, the UK's elite amphibious special forces, have joined the UK registered oil tankers transiting the Persian Gulf south through the Strait of Hormuz, where they will have to monitor Iranian activities around the Island of Qesham (home to Iranian warships). "Both teams will collate information as the ships move south through the Strait of Hormuz and into the Gulf of Oman, where it is understood they will be airlifted off by Royal Navy Merlin helicopters operating out of Oman," reports the Express. This comes after the U.S. government took the decision to deploy one of its carrier strike groups (CSG 12), which comprises the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) with its embarked Carrier Air Wing Seven (CAW 7), the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), the guided-missile destroyers from Destroyer Squadron Two (DESRON 2), along with the Spanish Navy Alvaro de Bazan-class frigate, ESPS Mendez Nunez (F-104). Last week, the Spanish frigate as been pulled from the CSG. Spanish Defence minister Margarita Robles said that Spain had never given its blessing for the frigate to go on a mission in the Persian Gulf when it had taken the decision of the two-year cooperation agreement in which this frigate is implicated. Though, the frigate will return to the CSG when this one goes back to its scheduled deployments. Today, on May 22, the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, composed of Naval Group and ECA Group, was awarded the contract to supply twelve mine-hunting vessels to the Belgian and Dutch navies. Equipped with around 100 drones, constituting approximately ten drone systems (toolboxes), six ships are destined for the Belgian Navy, while the other six will be delivered to the Dutch Navy. Today, on May 22, the Belgium Naval & Robotics consortium, composed of Naval Group and ECA Group, was awarded the contract to supply twelve mine-hunting vessels to the Belgian and Dutch navies. Equipped with around 100 drones, constituting approximately ten drone systems (toolboxes), six ships are destined for the Belgian Navy, while the other six will be delivered to the Dutch Navy. French consortium formed by Naval Group and ECA Robotics won the tender for the replacement of the mine hunters of the Belgian and Dutch navies (Picture Source: Naval Group) The contract, worth nearly two billion euros, will last ten years. After a three-year design phase, Belgium Naval & Robotics will launch the production phase of the ships and drone systems with a first delivery expected in 2024. Belgium Naval & Robotics, thanks to Naval Group's recognized expertise, offers a 2800-tonnes militarized ship specialized in mine warfare with military characteristics (acoustic and electromagnetic discretion, shock resistance) perfectly adapted to the operational use targeted by the Belgian and Dutch navies. In particular, this vessel incorporates an implementation and recovery system for ECA Group's Inspector 125 unmanned surface vehicles (USV). This innovative, robust and reliable system ensures the safety of operators and manoeuvres to protect the ship, the USV and its payloads while offering a high level of mission availability. The drone systems onboard these innovative vessels are the latest generation of drones developed by ECA Group over the past four years. They are integrated into the C2 MCM Umisoft system connected to the Naval Group's I4drones system to form the mine-warfare mission system integrated into the ship's combat system. The solution includes A18-M autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), T18-M towed sonars and Mine Identification & Destruction Systems (MIDS) composed of SEASCAN and KSTER-C remotely operated vehicles (ROV). All these drones can be operated autonomously from the USV Inspector 125. The drone system also includes unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and dredgers. The programme provides for the supply of drone systems that can also be projected. Containerized and equipped with handling and communication systems, mine-hunting drone systems can be airlifted and deployed directly from the coast without a ship. Belgium Naval & Robotics will carry out a significant part of the contract in Belgium, in particular, the production of certain equipment for the ship and all naval drones. Ship maintenance will be carried out in Zeebrugge in partnership with Flanders Ship Repair (FSR). The maintenance of naval drones will also be carried out in Zeebrugge according to the needs of the customer, who already has maintenance facilities on his naval base. The cooperation plan already includes 39 Belgian partners and the notification of the contract will make it possible to finalize the last ones and reach some 50 agreements. The contract should thus generate an average of 350 jobs per year in the three regions of Belgium. A 6-week-old kitten was rescued by Santa Clara County sheriff's deputies and San Jose firefighters from a Cupertino storage drain on Tuesday morning. A woman was walking with her son in the area of Chelmsford Drive and Bollinger Road at 9:22 a.m. when she heard meowing, and looked down into the storm drain to see a tiny orange and white calico. Deputies arrived to the scene with firefighters to lift the heavy metal lid on the drain, which leads into Saratoga Creek. A deputy then hopped into the drain and was able to rescue the kitten. "When it does rain, cats like to kind of get underneath any sort of shelter or underneath cars," Deputy Michael Low said. The kitten was taken to a South Bay animal hospital, given some food, and will be picked up by San Jose Animal Care and Services. Facial recognition is once again making headlines in the Bay Area. Already this week, law enforcement was under pressure to answer questions about how its used and now, one of the biggest retailers in the world is under the spotlight, too. Amazon will be under serious pressure Wednesday to stop selling its facial recognition technology called "Rekognition" to law enforcement and other government agencies. Investors will vote on several proposals, including one from shareholders who already proposed that Amazon stop the sales to the government altogether and another from the Japanese American Citizens League that would call on the company to study the effects and report back. In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is urging the company to disclose who buys the "Rekognition" software and to explain how it's used. Amazon is telling investors that "Rekognition" is a powerful tool for business and law enforcement. Santa Clara County Supervisors on Tuesday defended the sheriffs department's use of it, though without a formal policy. "We've got almost 2 million people here in Santa Clara County. We owe them a right to privacy," Supervisor Joe Simitian said. "We need to respect their due process. I think we can use the technologies that are available in a careful and narrowly crafted way." Earlier this week, San Francisco banned facial recognition technology. Oakland appears to be headed the same way. With Teslas stock sinking to around $200 this week, Craig Irwin, an analyst at Roth Capital Partners, told CNBC on Tuesday that the electric car company could have sold to Apple six years ago for a significantly higher price per share. Around 2013, there was a serious bid from Apple at around $240 a share, Irwin said in an interview on Squawk Box. This is something we did multiple checks on. I have complete confidence that this is accurate. Apple bid for Tesla. I dont know if it got to a formal paperwork stage, but I know from multiple different sources that this was very credible. Apple and Tesla did not respond to requests for comment. Tesla is down more than 38% in 2019, to a share price of $197.76 at the start of trading Tuesday. The stock has plunged 46% from its high in August, when CEO Elon Musk said he had funding secured to take the company private at $420 a share. Knowing there was a very credible bid on the table in 2013 keeps Irwin from being more bearish on the stock today. If Apple had interest then, they would probably have interest now at the right price, he said. Irwin said that Apples car project continues to develop in secret, and that the company is building large dry rooms in California to do something related to automotive batteries. According to Irwin, those rooms are designed to handle the environmental containment required for the production of lithium-ion batteries. My checks are Apple is building several dry rooms, including a couple that are much larger than what you would need for watch or consumer product battery development, Irwin wrote in a follow-up email. Irwin is not the first to suggest that Apple and Tesla have held discussions. The San Francisco Chronicle reported in 2014 that Musk met with Apples head of mergers and acquisitions and most likely CEO Tim Cook as well. If the two companies were to combine, it would be by far Apples largest acquisition ever and one of the biggest in the history of the technology industry. Teslas current market cap is about $36 billion. The most Apple has ever paid is $3 billion for Beats Electronics in 2014. For a deal to take place Apple would face the question of what to do with the outspoken Musk and his tendency to gain attention for many of the wrong reasons, whether its tweeting out material nonpublic information or smoking weed on a podcast. Regarding the acquisition: my understanding is Apple wanted Elon Musk to step away, and that was a deal killer, Irwin said in the email. This story first appeared on CNBC.com More from CNBC: The most popular stocks for hedge fund managers are crushing the market This map shows Americans' average credit score in every state Potential Fed nominee wants a change in the way interest rates are set The California Senate has voted to let pet owners volunteer their animals to donate blood. Currently California only allows pet blood transfusions from blood banks that only accept blood from animals that are kept on site for that purpose to avoid diseases. Animal rights groups say holding animals captive solely for their blood is wrong. Senators approved a bill, 37-0, on Tuesday that would allow pet owners to volunteer their animals to donate blood. The bill would require the process to be overseen by a licensed veterinarian and force all donations from dogs and cats to be tested for blood-borne pathogens. It would also force commercial blood banks to comply with the state's open records law. The bill now heads to the Assembly. A New York lawyer and a Napa Valley vintner have admitted to participating in the college admissions bribery scheme. Gordon Caplan and Agustin Huneeus Jr. pleaded guilty Tuesday in Boston federal court. Caplan was co-chairman of the prominent law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher. The Greenwich, Connecticut, resident was charged with paying $75,000 to get someone to correct the answers on his daughter's ACT exam after she took it. Huneeus' family owns vineyards in California's Napa Valley and in Oregon. Authorities say he agreed to pay $300,000 to rig his daughter's SAT score and have her designated as a water polo recruit to the University of Southern California. They are among 14 parents who have agreed to plead guilty. Actress Felicity Huffman pleaded guilty last week. A week ago, San Francisco became the first city in America to ban the use of facial recognition technology by police and other city agencies. But in the South Bay, the sheriff continues to use it in limited cases. Some are now saying the Santa Clara County Sheriff''s Office needs a formal policy about when or when not to use it. A proposed policy has been drafted but not formally approved, and it came up again Tuesday. The county Board of Supervisors was expected to adopt the policy at Tuesdays meeting, but it pushed the vote back to a later date. "Here in Santa Clara County, we have very limited use of facial recognition technology," county Supervisor Joe Simitain said. "The sheriff uses it essentially as a match for mug shots, static photos. Its a pretty narrow use." The sheriff's office essentially uses it to identify criminals in an investigation. For instance, detectives can use the technology to freeze a frame from surveillance video of a burglary suspect to help identify him. The concern is there is no policy in place to make sure detectives are following proper protocols. So the county drafted a policy, with direction and guidelines. "We have over 2 million people in Santa Clara County," Simitian said. "We owe them a right to privacy, need to respect their due process. We can use this technology available in a careful and narrowly crafted way." Critics say no facial recognition technology should ever be used. "No, I dont think they should do that," resident Unique Perry said. "Thats an invasion of privacy, for sure." What to Know Researchers are tracking a great white shark in the Long Island Sound for the first time ever, according to the group OCEARCH The 9 foot 8 inch sea creature, which has been dubbed Great White Shark Cabot, pinged late Monday morning off the coast of Greenwich The shark weighs more than 530 pounds and is named after an Italian explorer; it was first tagged in Nova Scotia The first great white shark to ever ping in the Long Island Sound had an inauspicious introduction to fame Monday, drawing so much traffic to a research group's website that it stopped working -- and still was having trouble the next day. OCEARCH, which has long tracked great whites all over the world, broke the news Monday afternoon that a 9 foot 8 inch, 533-pound great white named Cabot (who does have a corresponding Twitter account) pinged earlier that day just off the shore near Greenwich, Connecticut. Curious as to where Cabot is now? OCEARCH's tracker was still just a whirring wheel as of 9 a.m. Tuesday; at times, the page wouldn't load at all. The tracker was back up before 11 a.m. -- and Cabot was on the move. OCEARCH said the shark, which was the top trending U.S. Google search at one point Tuesday and graced local paper covers on its accelerated launch to global notoriety, had pinged southwest of Montauk earlier in the morning. Meanwhile, Cabot is psyched by the attention -- and so is the group following it. "Oops ... looks like my little stunt visiting the Long Island Sound overloaded the @OCEARCH tracker!!! My bad," @GWSharkCabot tweeted Monday afternoon. "The Tracker is running kinda slow since you many of you logged on to check out where Im at." OCEARCH also weighed in on the excitement, saying it was "so cool" to be tracking Cabot in the Long Island Sound since great whites virtually never visit this area -- they need consistent water temps between 54 and 75 degrees. Cabot was first tagged in Nova Scotia in October. It was named after the explorer John Cabot, based on suggestions from Nova Scotians. John Cabot was an Italian explorer known for his 1497 voyage to North America, where he claimed land in Canada for England. He disappeared the next year, believed lost at sea. Secretary Ben Carsons stumble over a real estate acronym that he heard as Oreo dominated the headlines of a congressional hearing Tuesday about the Department of Housing and Urban Development, but the attention it received overshadowed some other serious exchanges. One came when the Democratic chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee criticized a plan to require that every member of families living in subsidized housing be in the country legally. Now families can stay together even if some members are undocumented as long as someone in the family is eligible for the housing. The HUD-subsidized rent covers only the residents who are eligible a child born in the United States, for example. The Trump Administration proposal puts mixed-status families at risk of being evicted, separated, and left homeless, said the chairwoman, California Rep. Maxine Waters. Democrats are considering blocking the proposal, which The Washington Post reported could displace more than 55,000 children who are U.S. citizens or legal residents, according to an analysis from HUD. Carson said that taxpaying American citizens should be taken care of first. Its not that were cruel, mean-hearted, Carson said in defense of the potential change. Its that we are logical. This is common sense. You take care of your own first. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York raised HUDs so-called one-strike rule that allows tenants to be evicted for one instance of criminal activity. She gave the example of someone stopped, frisked and found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana. His or her entire family could be evicted. Im concerned here that the war on drugs has not been solely limited to incarceration and that the negative impact of the war on drugs has not been limited to incarceration, but also we have legislative rippling effects that also seems to have been codified in our housing system, she said. She asked whether Carson would support a case-by-case consideration over a blanket one-strike policy. Im always in favor of more flexibility, he said. Rep. Katie Porter, another Democrat from California, whose questions prompted the Oreo mistake, said on MSNBCs Morning Joe on Wednesday that her questions were serious and not meant to be funny. Porter had asked Carson about REO, an abbreviation for real estate owned, as she probed the high rate of foreclosures on houses insured by the Federal Housing Authority. Carsons agency oversees the FHA. Porter, who earlier worked as a mortgage-settlement official, said on Morning Joe that its been a well-known problem that FHA the agency at the government that is designed to help first-time home buyers and moderate income home buyers, a part of HUD has real problems in how it services mortgages and how it helps families in foreclosure. But in response to her question, Carson asked, "an Oreo?" Told REO, he guessed that it was short for real estate organization, which was not correct. On Fox Business Network's Varney & Co on Wednesday, Carson said he did in fact know what an REO was. He was having difficulty hearing, he said. "Of course, I'm very familiar with foreclosed properties and with REOs," he said. New technology is allowing companies to tailor ads to consumers based on the locations they visit, but privacy experts warn that sort of tracking could cross the line when people visit areas where they may expect a heightened level of privacy, such as medical centers, houses of worship and courthouses. Geofencing gives advertisers the ability to draw a virtual fence around a location. Once a person with a phone enters that perimeter, companies can target ads to device owners without their knowledge. Its an effective advertising tool, according to digital marketing companies. We can get all the way down to a 25 square foot radius of a location, said Justin Croxton, Managing Partner of Atlanta-based Propellant Media. You can target people at individual malls, at car dealerships, at individual restaurants. We just want to talk to those people who are most likely to have an interest in what we have to say. Croxton said geofencing is a growing field, and most uses that hes seen have been for legitimate marketing purposes. For example, his firm has helped car dealerships geofence competitors locations to target customers. Someone going to a car dealershipis someone who is most likely to buy a vehicle, Croxton said. But privacy experts said geofencing creates a gray area. They said theres nothing stopping advertisers or anyone from geofencing sensitive areas, such as hospitals, polling places, schools and beyond. Really what we are talking about is whats appropriate and what environment? said privacy attorney Peter Hanna. Hanna points to the example of digital ambulance chasers personal injury attorneys who solicit business by sending ads to people inside emergency rooms. It tries to monetize their grief or their suffering or their struggle, Hanna said. Hanna said sending a targeted ad to the cell phone of a person in a waiting room is far different than a billboard parked right outside the hospital. Theres a certain intimacy that we have with our personal devices that we dont have with a billboard, Hanna said. Rep. Ann Williams, D-Chicago, said she received unwanted ads when she was visiting her ill father in hospice. I would get ads in my email inbox from assisted living homes. I even got an ad for burial insurance, Williams said. It was personally disturbing, and it did feel quite invasive. Elected leaders are paying attention In Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey said a digital marketing company crossed the line when it used mobile geofencing to target women entering Planned Parenthood locations with anti-abortion ads. The AGs Office prohibited the company from continuing the practice. Consumers are entitled to privacy in their medical decisions and conditions, Healey said. This settlement will help ensure that consumers in Massachusetts do not have to worry about being targeted by advertisers when they seek medical care. The Illinois Attorney Generals Office said geofencing may be beneficial to consumers, such as receiving a coupon while walking past a store, but it too would be concerned about uses that pose privacy breaches, like an instance of a person receiving an ad while at their doctors office. Rep. Williams said she will explore setting safe zones where geofencing would be off-limits. Things like health clinics, hospitals, places of worship, political gatherings all those are sensitive areas to most people, Williams said. At a minimum, Williams said apps should notify users any time location data is being collected and shared. She has introduced the Geolocation Privacy Protection Act, which was vetoed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner. Trade groups and media companies also opposed the legislation. Geofencing in the 2020 Election Croxton and privacy advocates expect geofencing to play a big role in the upcoming 2020 presidential election. Both political parties in Michigan have utilized the tool in the 2016 election, according to Crains Detroit. The Michigan Republican Party geofenced mega-churches to identify evangelical voters who may share the GOPs conservative stance on social issues. The Democrats geofenced a handful of precincts in Detroit to send messages to voters at the polls, Crains reported. Users who dont want to receive targeted ads should turn off location services on their phone and apps. A doctor testifying Monday in a lawsuit challenging four abortion-restriction laws in Virginia said abortion is "one of the safest medical procedures that exist." Dr. Mark Nichols, an obstetrician/gynecologist who worked for years as the medical director of a Planned Parenthood chapter in Oregon, testified as the first witness for women's health groups who are suing Virginia over laws they say are overly restrictive and limit access to abortion in the state. Nichols, during cross-examination by a lawyer for the state, acknowledged that complications, though rare, do occur and sometimes require hospitalization. The trial in federal court in Richmond began as the abortion debate intensifies nationwide. Several states have passed tough new anti-abortion laws, including Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio and Kentucky. The Virginia laws being challenged include a physician-only measure that bars nurse practitioners and physician's assistants from performing abortions. The lawsuit also seeks to overturn Virginia laws mandating that: All second-trimester abortions must be performed at an outpatient surgical hospital or general hospital. Women must get an ultrasound at least 24 hours before the procedure. Abortion providers who provide five or more first-trimester abortions per month must undergo licensing requirements. Lawyers for the women's health groups suing Virginia skipped their opening statement and began their case by calling Nichols, who currently serves on the Planned Parenthood Federation of America's national board of directors. Nichols said he believes the laws being challenged in Virginia are not medically necessary. He said the vast majority of abortions are simple procedures that can be done in an office setting and that he has trained many physician's assistants and nurse practitioners who have done "just as good a job as the physicians" performing abortions. "There's no medical reason to add these layers of regulation," he said. During cross-examination by Courtney Paulk, a lawyer for the state, Nichols acknowledged that he formed his opinion about Virginia's abortion laws without ever observing an abortion in Virginia or ever talking to any abortion providers in the state. He also acknowledged that although there is a low rate of complications during abortions, some more serious complications would require a woman to be hospitalized. Paulk also questioned Nichols in an attempt to show that Virginia is not an outlier when it comes to its physician-only law. Only 16 states allow nurse practitioners and physician's assistants to perform medication abortions, and only five allow non-physicians to perform suction aspiration abortions. The trial is expected to last about two weeks. U.S. District Judge Henry Hudson will decide the case, not a jury. Family of Marlen Ochoa, the pregnant teenager who was murdered before her baby was cut from her womb in Chicago, met her infant child after traveling to Chicago from Mexico this week. Five of Ochoa's extended family members landed in Chicago Tuesday on temporary visas ahead of the young mother's funeral Saturday. Photos and video showed the family meeting her infant son for the first time as they await a miracle for the child who remains on life support. Ochoa was strangled in Chicago last month before her baby was cut from her womb, authorities said. The family is planning to request a meeting with Illinois officials, a spokesperson for the family said. Pastor Emma Lozano, speaking on behalf of the family, said the relatives still have many questions surrounding the investigation and want answers. Also on Tuesday, the Illinois Department of Public Health opened an investigation on Advocate Christ Medical Center, which is also facing questions in connection with the case, NBC 5 Investigates learned. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ochoa-Lopez family," Christ Medical Center said in a statement. "Our top priority is to provide the safest and highest quality care for the patients and communities we serve. Out of respect for patient privacy and in compliance with federal and state regulations, we are unable to provide comment. We continue to cooperate with local authorities." The news comes one day after the Cook County sheriffs office questioned if the hospital violated state law by not immediately reporting that a woman who claimed to be the mother of a newborn had not given birth. The woman, Clarisa Figueroa, and her daughter, Desiree, were later charged with strangling the babys mother, Ochoa, and cutting the newborn from her womb. They are currently being held without bail. At a bail hearing last week, prosecutors explained how the 46-year-old Figueroa was examined in a birthing center at Christ Medical Center on April 23 but showed no signs consistent with a woman who had just delivered a baby. A technician at the Oak Lawn hospital cleaned blood from Figueroas arms, face and hands, prosecutors said, but it was unclear if anyone verified that she had actually given birth. Figueroa was allegedly able to pass off the baby as her own for weeks. It wasnt until May 9 that a mandated reporter someone required to report suspected neglect or abuse notified the Department of Child and Family Services about the newborn, DCFS spokesman Jassen Strokosch said. The child was then taken into protective custody. After a DNA test proved that the baby was actually that of Ochoa's husband, the agency let the 48-hour protective custody lapse, and the baby was turned over to his father, Strokosch said. We will consult with DCFS and if they determine the facts and circumstances of this tragedy were such that should have been reported by mandated reporters, we will ensure an investigation takes place, sheriffs office spokeswoman Cara Smith said in an email. In a statement, DCFS said it will provide any support needed to the family in this case and to those handling any investigations into this matter. There is currently no law or regulation to to ensure a baby belongs to the person presenting with the baby at a hospital. Hospital regulation falls under the purview of The Illinois Department of Public Health and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Strokosch said. In Utah, drones are hovering near avalanches to watch roaring snow. In North Carolina, they're searching for the nests of endangered birds. In Kansas, they could soon be identifying sick cows through heat signatures. Public transportation agencies are using drones in nearly every state, according to a survey obtained by The Associated Press ahead of its release Monday. The report from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials shows a sharp increase in their use over the last few years, reflecting the rapid adoption of the technology by governments as well as hobbyists. In 2016, the nonprofit group found no state transportation agency was using drones on a daily basis. Now, 36 states have certified drone pilots on staff. When the survey was done this month, all but one state was using drones in some way. Since then, the lone holdout Rhode Island has bought a drone, said Tony Dorsey, a spokesman for the group. The small, unmanned aircraft are often used for prosaic tasks, like inspecting bridges and roads. With sophisticated cameras and thermal technology, they can detect tiny cracks and identify potential potholes before they're visible to the human eye. Drones have caused their share of headaches for officials over the years as personal devices forced the grounding of planes at airports or those fighting wildfires. But they also can be useful for work that's dangerous for people. In Utah, drones record from the air as state workers set off planned avalanches, allowing them to watch the slides close up in real time, said Jared Esselman, director of aeronautics at the state Department of Transportation. Drones also can measure snow and other elements of the state's rugged terrain to keep them from blocking roads or other infrastructure. "We can predict not only snow slides, but mudslides and water runoff as the snow melts," Esselman said. "Drones are a perfect tool for any job that is dangerous or dirty." Utah is getting 40 new drones to take photos at traffic wrecks for the investigation. In North Carolina, drones are finding the nests of endangered species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, said Basil Yap, unmanned aerial systems program manager at the state's transportation department. People used to fan out in helicopters or all-terrain vehicles to check for evidence of the protected birds before building new projects, but the drones can do the job quicker with less disruption, Yap said. They're also used to check for protected bats nesting under bridges and to spray herbicide on invasive plants near shorelines. North Carolina is one of three states working with the Federal Aviation Administration to test drones beyond the operator's line of sight, at night and over people. The FAA doesn't usually allow those uses without a special waiver. Also part of the program is Kansas, where workers are using drones to create sophisticated farming programs and monitor cattle heat signatures to prevent any illnesses from spreading. A number of states are beginning to explore how to regulate a flood of private drone traffic expected in the future. In Ohio, the state is working on an air-traffic control system called SkyVision, which would allow drones to detect and avoid other aircraft in flight. The Better Business Bureau says travel schemes are a growing trend as we head into the summer season and warns consumers to be careful. A Litchfield man reached out to NBC Connecticut Responds after finding out the hotel didnt have his trip deposit to Mexico. The summer season means summer travel. For Tyrus Williams, Mexico was his place of choice. This is our one big time, you know, for all of our family to get together, said Tyrus Williams. The price was phenomenal. The Litchfield resident booked an all-inclusive trip to Mexico, seven days and six nights, for $698 through Florida-based 360 Tri-Star Travel. After speaking with my wife and everything, I said lets book this, said Williams. Williams said hed never used a travel agency for this kind of trip before. When he reached out the hotel to confirm the reservation, he ran into trouble. I said, and were all set? And they go, yeah, except you got to send us your money, said Williams. I said, what do you mean I have to send you my money? I said this has already been paid for. Williams said the hotel didnt receive the deposit. He showed us his receipt and bank statement for the $698 payment. And he said he had no luck getting in touch with Tri-Star. You call them, nobody answers, said Williams. After Williams exhausted all of his options, he turned to NBC Connecticut Responds. You have the means more than I have to really go out and get these people, said Williams. The Florida Attorney Generals office has received four complaints against 360 Tri-Star travel. They include: taking money and not providing the trip, unanswered phone calls, and the company offering refunds not given. On the BBBs website, there were 24 complaints closed in the last three years. All of those complaints went unanswered with many customers unable to locate the business. The issues ranged from paid vacation packages, to reservations, to no response from the company. According to the BBB, from 2017 to 2019 there were 39 reported travel scams from Connecticut residents, claiming it cost them $52,487.17 total. Luke Frey with Connecticuts BBB says the cheapest price isnt always the best option. Whenever you make that last payment, you should have your hotels, you should have your airlines. You should really have everything youre purchasing in that last payment. So, you know you actually have a trip that is booked, said Frey. Remember to check the companys cancellation policy. If you have to cancel due to health or other issues. And really see what that refund policy is, especially if youre being pressured to pay on the spot, said Frey. The BBB says you should check online reviews of any travel agency before booking a trip. We reached out to 360 Tri-Star travel multiple times. Were still waiting to hear back. Meanwhile, Tyrus Williams said he was refunded the $698. Police are continuing to investigate the death of an Amesbury girl who was brought to a Massachusetts hospital on Monday afternoon. Chloe Ricard, 13, was left at Lawrence General Hospital at 4:47 p.m. on Monday and police said she was already dead when she was dropped off, according to the Essex District Attorney's Office. Prior to being dropped off, she was hanging out with friends on Monday morning, according to her stepfather, Brian Dolan. Authorities are now investigating the cause of the child's death and are searching for the person or people who left her at the hospital. "The doctor told me, 'I tried everything I can. When she came in, she was lifeless, she had no pulse," Dolan said. Questions are still swirling around the puzzling circumstances. She had been a student at Amesbury Middle School, but left for an alternative school a few months back. Lawrence Police Chief Roy Vasque told The Eagle-Tribune the hospital called police to notify them of the death. An autopsy is being performed Tuesday by the chief medical examiner's office, but the district attorney's office said it could be some time before there is a ruling on the cause and manner of death. No arrests have been made. She is the second young girl to die in Lawrence in the last six months. An 11-year-old Haverhill girl who had been staying at her granduncle's house in the city after exposure to fentanyl. Her granduncle is charged with murder. In New Haven, some women are tackling sexual discrimination head-on. NBC Connecticuts Keisha Grant sat down with the students spearheading a lawsuit against Yale University and its fraternities to find out why they call the culture on campus dangerous. Anna McNeil and Ry Walker are both juniors at Yale, but theyre more than just classmates and friends theyre young women on a mission. "It's a class action lawsuit on behalf of all women, McNeil explained. "I'm proud to lead this charge. " These women are using their voices to take on a 300-year-old institution. "Our lawsuit against Yale and the fraternities allege gender discrimination. It also alleges a hostile environment in terms of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment, McNeil said. They are two of three students who filed an 85-page class action lawsuit against Yale in federal court. "We're really filing this lawsuit to try to correct the harm that so many people experience., McNeil said. Its an experience Walker said she never thought shed encounter when she set foot on campus for the first time. "When I first got to campus I didn't know how dominant Greek like would be in the social life at Yale, Walker said. "I was being touched, I was being groped without my consent in these very dark, very cramped spaces which are fueled by alcohol, she added. "Nothing in Yale's promotional material suggests that frat culture is as influential as it is and is as dangerous as it is, McNeil said. Yales fraternities are technically off-campus, but these students are calling for more accountability from the university. "They've been aware of this conduct for decades and have been warned by many different people that fraternities are dangerous and have chosen to do nothing about it, McNeil said. A Yale spokesperson had no comment on the lawsuit, but did share a letter to students from the Dean of Yale College following a year-long review of the climate on campus and on Fraternity Row. It condemns the culture and lays out a plan to change it, including providing more opportunities for students to socialize on campus, and an initiative to help recognize, prevent and respond to sexual misconduct. But for McNeil and Walker, its too little too late. "A big reason why we're challenging Yale in this lawsuit is we're trying to show Yale - you have an obligation to these students, McNeil said. Not only is (Yale) letting down its students because it promised an environment of equal opportunity but it's also turning a blind eye to harassment that's actively happening on the campus, Walker said. Theyd like to see Yale get even tougher, like some rival institutions have recently done. But for now, theyll take it one step at a time, and it starts in the courts. "Change is in the air a lot of these conversations have started to really pick up momentum in just the last couple of years, McNeil said. "And we think this change can be part of that legacy and that history. " An attorney for the fraternities named in the suit calls the allegations baseless and unfounded. For its part, Yale filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, but that motion was denied, due to an amended complaint. The university now has until May 29 to try to have it thrown out again. Pets and their owners often share special bonds, but for one woman in Virginia, that bond was meant to continue after death. According to NBC affiliate WWBT, a healthy Shih Tzu mix named Emma was recently euthanized after her deceased owner left explicit instructions in her will for the pet to be cremated and buried with her. Emma arrived at a local animal shelter in Chesterfield County on March 8, after her owner died and stayed for about two weeks before the executor of the dead woman's estate arrived and asked to euthanize the healthy pup. According to shelter personnel, staff tried to dissuade him from euthanizing the dog, but Emma was eventually transported to a local veterinarian and euthanized. "We did suggest they could sign the dog over on numerous occasions, because its a dog we could easily find a home for and re-home, Carrie Jones, the manager of Chesterfield Animal Services, told WWBT. Ultimately, they came back in on March 22 and redeemed the dog. Emma's remains were then taken to a pet cremation center in Richmond, where her ashes were put in an urn to be buried with the dead woman. While the ethical nature of euthanizing pets to be buried with owners remains unsettled, the law is clearer, Virginia Funeral Directors Association President Larry Spiaggi said. "Its not legal to put a dogs cremated remains or any animal in a casket and bury them," Spiaggi told WWBT. While Virginia code forbids pets to be buried with humans in commercial cemeteries, there are exceptions for cemeteries that are private and family owned. Spiaggi said he is a pet-friendly funeral director and would never put down an animal to bury it with an owner. Many veterinarians said they also oppose the choice, saying they won't do it. Dr. Kenny Lucas of the Shady Grove Animal Clinic told WWBT his ethical guidelines would lead him not to euthanize a healthy pet. Whenever were faced with a euthanasia situation, its a very emotional situation and beyond everything we talk about that we need to do ethically, and weve taken an oath to do, he said to WWBT. Also, its something we take home, too. It weighs on us as professionals. A North Texas man police believe abducted an underage girl was arrested after she told workers at a fast food restaurant that she was held against her will and sexually assaulted, police say. The teenage girl was reunited with her family Tuesday after she ran into the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Azle on Boyd Road and told an employee that she needed help and that she was being held captive. "She was just shaking. She was a scared little girl," co-manager Shannon Cates said. Cates and fellow manager Lynci Cedillo began to comfort the girl as they locked the doors of the restaurant and called police. "I immediately jumped in, grabbed my phone and the cops were here in less than two minutes," Cedillo said. The girl told responding police officers that 24-year-old Diamond Marquis Williams left her in the car while he went into a pawn shop across the street. Azle police officers then quickly located and detained Williams. "If he would have tried to come in he was messing with the two wrong mommas because these two mommas would have put him down," Cates said. "I would have held him until the cops got here." After his arrest, Williams was first taken to John Peter Smith Hospital for treatment of a minor self-inflicted injury before being taken to police headquarters where he was interviewed by detectives and eventually charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child -- both first-degree felonies. On Thursday, Williams spoke with NBC 5 from the Tarrant County Jail where he said he didn't kidnap anyone and that he and the girl were happily dating. He said they had been arguing, but that he never assaulted her. He added that he went to the pawn shop to sell jewelry so that he could buy her food. The teenage girl, meanwhile, was taken to Cook Children's Hospital for a medical evaluation and treatment. She was reunited with family at the hospital, police said. Wednesday evening, Williams' mother, Rebecca Kindred, spoke out defending her son, claiming police have it all wrong. She said she and her family had seen the girl with Williams for two weeks. She thought they were dating and says she told the family she was 18. "They were always laughing and joking," Kindred said. Kindred says she even went out to lunch with the girl, without her son. "She didn't want to leave any time before because if she did, she had plenty of opportunity," said Kindred. She doesn't doubt that something happened Tuesday to scare the girl but doesn't believe the kidnapping charge. "If it was true what they said that she was held hostage, why would he get out of the car and leave her?" Kindred said. But Azle police say that's not unusual. "Either you physically hurt them or threaten them to the point that they are afraid now to try to escape from you," said Azle Police Chief Rick Pippins. Police say the pair met on the social media app Snapchat and that she initially went with him willingly but that changed. Investigators added that no missing persons report was filed because the man forced her to tell her parents that she was OK and with friends. Police commended the KFC restaurant employees for providing a safe space for the victim and for providing an accurate description of the suspect. Williams is currently being held in the Tarrant County Jail; a bond amount has not been set and an attorney of record is not listed. He has an extensive criminal history, including serving time for aggravated assault for hitting a woman with a rock. But his mother said that shouldn't affect this case. "I want the truth to come out," Kindred said. "I don't want them to persecute him because of his background. It's not fair." NBC5's Alice Barr contributed to this report. The Justice Department and the House Intelligence Committee reached a deal over documents from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation Wednesday after the prosecutors' office said it is willing to provide them to the congressional panel as long as the panel agrees not to take any action against Attorney General William Barr. The unusual request comes after the committee's chairman, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California, warned that the committee would take an unspecified "enforcement action" against Barr or the Justice Department after they refused to hand over an unredacted version of Mueller's report and other documents related to the Russia investigation that shadowed Donald Trump's presidency for nearly two years. Schiff postponed a vote on an enforcement measure in light of the agreement, saying Wednesday that 12 categories of intelligence materials will be turned over during the week though he is keeping the subpoena in effect in case the Justice Department doesn't provide all documents requested. "The Department has repeatedly acknowledged the Committee's legitimate oversight interest in these materials. I look forward to, and expect, continued compliance by the Department so we can do our vital oversight work," Schiff said in a statement. The intelligence committee had been scheduled to vote Wednesday on the enforcement action, though Schiff didn't say whether that would mean a vote to hold Barr in contempt or some sort of civil action. The detente represents a thaw in tensions in the fraught relationship between congressional Democrats and Barr, who they've accused of trying to stonewall and block Congress' oversight power. A separate House panel voted earlier this month to hold Barr in contempt for failing to comply with a similar subpoena. The Justice Department had missed a subpoena deadline to hand over an unredacted version of Mueller's report and declined to hand over what Schiff described as "a dozen narrow sets of documents" that were referred to in the report. In a letter to Schiff on Tuesday, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd said that the DOJ would be willing to make less-redacted portions of the report available to members of the committee and that officials were reviewing troves of investigative documents that were also requested by the committee. The Justice Department is willing to provide expedited access to the investigative information because of the committee's interest in counterintelligence matters, but only if the committee "confirms today that it will not pursue any vote on an 'enforcement action,'" Boyd said. The department needs a "reasonable amount of time" to review the documents, Boyd said. But, if the committee votes to hold the attorney general in contempt, the Justice Department would stop that process, he added. Schiff said earlier this month he issued the subpoena to compel the department's compliance and warned that the committee could take legal action if the Justice Department continued to "ignore or rejects our requests." An Alabama inmate serving a life sentence for robbery has been indicted in the 1974 fatal shooting of a Texas police officer. Prosecutors joined police in Alice, Texas, on Tuesday to announce the May 10 indictment of Roberto Lopez on a capital murder count. Officer Matthew Murphy was shot during a traffic stop in Alice, 120 miles (193.11 kilometers) south of San Antonio. Alabama Department of Corrections records show Lopez in 1981 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for robbery. Alice police in 2017 identified Lopez as a suspect. An affidavit says the inmate bragged about killing a "narc" named Murphy. The victim previously was an undercover narcotics officer. Alabama corrections officials didn't immediately return messages Wednesday. No information could immediately be located for an attorney representing Lopez. A federal prosecutor says authorities have recovered only 73 of the 654 guns stolen in 2017 in Springfield, Missouri. Prosecutors say six men from the North Texas area stole the guns by maneuvering several trailers into a United Parcel Service lot. The handguns and 12-gauge shotguns were being shipped from Beretta USA in Maryland to Bass Pro Shops in Springfield when they were stolen. The Springfield News-Leader reports that during a sentencing hearing Monday, U.S. Assistant Attorney James Kelleher said most of the guns are in public circulation. Frank McChriston, 35, and Derrick White, 33, both of Dallas, Texas; Quinton Haywood, 27, of Glenn Heights, Texas; and Eric White, 28, of Arlington, Texas were sentenced in separate appearances before U.S. Chief District Judge Beth Phillips, according to a Department of Justice news release. McChriston was sentenced to seven years and eight months in federal prison without parole. Derrick and Eric White were each sentenced to seven years and three months in federal prison without parole. Haywood was sentenced to seven years and six months in federal prison without parole. All four were also ordered to pay a total of $206,000 in restitution. Two other men Raynord Hunt, 36, and Keith Lowe, 29, both of Dallas have pleaded guilty in the case and await sentencing. A Mesquite car dealership is accused of not issuing titles, license plates and worse, not paying off trade-in vehicles. Carl Barns said his credit score dropped 140 points in just a few months. He said he has no doubt that Fenton Hyundai in Mesquite is to blame. "This has turned into a nightmare and I just want to get the car back," he said Last year, he went to Fenton Hyundai and traded in his old car for a new Hyundai. "I thought, OK. I trade in the car. I get a new car. They pay off the lien and that's the end of it," he said. But he said Fenton Hyundai never paid off his trade-in. He found this out when the bank started calling him, demanding payment. But Barnes said the dealership told him not to worry. He said he was told Fenton Hyundai was in the process of selling the dealership and they'd get his payment out soon. But a month later, Barnes received another bill from the bank saying he owed more than $27,000 on a car he no longer owned. Each month he doesn't pay, he said his credit score drops. And to make matters worse, Barnes said the dealership still hasn't sent him the title or license plate for his new car, and his temporary tag is about to run out. "We're just common people. I just work a job, every day, and I expect people to be fair with me ... it's disturbing," he said. According to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, Barnes is far from alone. The Texas DMV currently has 241 open cases against Fenton Hyundai and have opened a formal investigation into this dealership. Many customers claim the dealership didn't pay off their trade-in vehicles. Others, like Cheryl Jones, can't get the dealership to send their license plate. "I'm worried I'm going to get pulled over. I don't know what to do at this point," she said. Hyundai corporate sent this statement regarding the claims against Fenton Hyundai: "Hyundai is aware of the issues some customers are having with Fenton Hyundai, the independent Hyundai dealer in Mesquite, Texas. We are concerned about the situation and understand our customers frustrations. We are doing everything we can based on our dealer agreement and Texas franchise rules. We have also voiced our concerns directly to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement Section to assist in addressing the situation. We are fully committed to providing Hyundai customers in the market with a reliable, honest dealer that provides them with an outstanding shopping, buying, ownership and service experience." Capital One bank has even filed a lawsuit against "The Fenton Dealers" for overstating customers' incomes and failing to pay off trade-in liens. "Consumers of Dallas can't be treated this way," said Barnes. NBC 5 Responds went down to Fenton Hyundai to find out what was going on. The general manager declined to talk, but a receptionist said they are still selling cars, leaving Barnes even more angry. And with a $27,000 bill hanging over his head, he's demanding the Texas DMV do all it can to shut this dealership down. "All dealerships have complaints. This goes well beyond just a typical complaint. This is straight fraud," said Barnes. NBC 5 Responds reached out to Barnes' bank, Capital One. The bank said because the dealer is unwilling to pay off his trade-in, they're forgiving him of the outstanding debt. So, that's $27,000 Barnes doesn't have to worry about. NBC 5 Responds asked if the bank will help Barnes restore his credit score, but Capital One didn't respond to that question. The Texas DMV said customers who are still waiting on plates and titles should contact Jason Ortiz in the Dallas County Tax Assessor-Collectors Office (even if they live in a surrounding county) for assistance. The Texas DMV said the dealership could face fines and could even have its dealer license revoked. The investigation into Fenton Hyundai is ongoing. MORE: Texas Department of Motor Vehicles | Enter a Complaint A ban on red light cameras in Texas awaits the signature of Gov. Greg Abbott (R) after both chambers of the Texas Legislature approved the new law. But a grandfather clause in the bill would allow existing cameras to operate through the term of city contracts with vendors. That could be many years into the future. "If a city has a contract as of May 5 of this year, they can continue to operate their camera system until that contract expires," attorney Scott Stewart said. The Irving lawyer has sued many cities on behalf of clients who received $75 red light camera tickets. He said the city of Dallas extended a vendor contract in 2017 through the year 2024. "Some cities have extended their contracts up to 20 years. So we may have these for a long time," Stewart said. Bedford is the only North Texas city with red light cameras that actually lost money on the program. Bedford Police Chief Jeff Gibson said it was not about the money for his city. "It's never been a revenue issue for us. It's about the ways we can improve safety throughout our community," Gibson said. Just two Bedford intersections are currently equipped with red light cameras, but 13 were equipped in the past and Gibson said he did research that showed a substantial safety improvement when the cameras were present. "We have seen a dramatic reduction in intersection accidents. That means less people are getting hurt traveling our roadways. That's a win-win in my opinion. That's why I support and am a proponent of them, because they've proven that they work," Gibson said. State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R-Bedford) is the legislator who sponsored the Texas House bill to ban red light cameras. Gibson said he has discussed the issue with Stickland many times. "This is an area or subject matter that we agree to disagree on," Gibson said. "It's a health and safety issue, number one." Stewart said studies he has seen showed red light cameras increased rear-end collisions because of drivers stopping rapidly to avoid crossing the intersection. "What boosts safety if you've got a problem at an intersection, increase the yellow light by a couple of seconds. That will significantly reduce the red light running without having to impose a money making fine on the people," Stewart said. Since the proposed state ban would not immediately eliminate red light cameras, Stewart said there was plenty of reason to continue the court fight he's been waging to block enforcement of red light citations. He said current programs lack due process for alleged violators. "The law is just defective, but the courts are bending over backward to protect the cities because it's a lot of money," Stewart said. The lawsuits he has filed since 2014 include a combined $400 million in revenue for 53 Texas cities, Stewart said. Gibson said Bedford would actually save money if it could no longer use red light cameras. The new law would give other cities time to adjust to the loss of revenue. The driver Dallas police say pulled out a machete and damaged another driver's car while in stop-and-go traffic earlier this month is in the Dallas County Jail. Jose Monsivais, 32, has been charged with criminal mischief, a state jail felony, in connection with the apparent road rage incident recorded May 10 on LBJ Freeway. NBC 5 News According to the 39-year-old driver of the Subaru, motorists were being forced to merge due to a crash on the highway and the HHR driver tried to move into his lane. He said he exchanged words with a passenger in the HHR about their car getting over. When the recording starts, the HHR and Subaru are rubbing fenders. The driver of the HHR, straddling two lanes, appears to try to move up and in front of the Subaru, only to be overtaken in the lane. In stop-and-go traffic, the driver of the HHR gets out of his vehicle, walks over to the Subaru and then swings wildly four times, smashing the glass on the vehicle. A North Texas driver captured an apparent case of road rage on dashcam Friday showing a man attack another driver's car with a machete after a minor crash on LBJ Freeway. The man then went back to his HHR and began to pull away, but the cars collided again and the HHR slowly spun around 180 degrees. The driver of the HHR then drove out of the frame in the wrong direction. The driver of the Subaru, who asked that his name be withheld, filed a report with the Dallas Police Department who classified the incident as vandalism and damage to property. Dallas police said they were able to track down Monsivais by his license plate. Monsivais is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail. A bond amount has not been set and an attorney of record was not listed. According to records obtained by NBC 5, the charge is not Monsivais' first. In January 2018 he was charged with assault family violence after being accused of choking a woman and pushing her head against a car; the case, which is pending, has yet to be heard. A North Texas driver captured an apparent case of road rage on dashcam Friday showing a man attack another driver's car with a machete after a minor crash on LBJ Freeway. What to Know John Walker Lindh is set to be released Thursday after serving 17 years of a 20-year sentence The Northern California man became known as the "American Taliban" after his capture by U.S. forces in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan During his time behind bars in Indiana, he responded with hand-written letters to questions from an NBC Los Angeles producer Prison letters from the Northern California man who became known as the "American Taliban" after his capture by U.S. forces in the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan underscore concerns among authorities that he remains a potentially violent extremist, current and former officials told NBC News. John Walker Lindh was released Thursday after serving 17 years of a 20-year sentence. He is being released early due to good behavior, standard in the federal prison system. During his time behind bars in Indiana, he responded with hand-written letters to questions from an NBC Los Angeles producer. All correspondence in and out of the prison is subject to inspection. In the letters, some with introductions on lined paper, Lindh identified himself as Yahya Lindh and said he spends his days in pursuit of Islamic knowledge. He called himself a political prisoner. "We are in prison due to our beliefs and the practice of our religion, not for committing any crime," he wrote in a March 2014 letter. He was asked whether the militant group ISIS represented Islam. "Yes, and they are doing a spectacular job," he wrote in February 2015, going on to say he supports their efforts. "The Islamic State is clearly very sincere and serious about fulfilling the long-neglected religious obligation of establishing a caliphate through armed struggle, which is the only correct method." Lindh's response was after ISIS beheaded Americans in well-publicized videos, including journalist James Foley in August 2014. Lindh did not respond to follow-up letters about the violence. His correspondence with journalists and other comments in prison were part of the basis for a 2016 U.S. intelligence document from the National Counter Terrorism Center that said Lindh continued to "advocate for global jihad." Lindh, who grew up in Marin County in the Bay Area, converted to Islam as a teenager after seeing the movie "Malcolm X." He then studied Arabic and the Quran overseas. In November 2000, he went to Pakistan and Afghanistan, where he joined the Taliban, according to his father. He was with the group on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorists conducted a series of coordinated attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. When the United States attacked Afghanistan for its failure to turn over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Lindh was captured during a battle with Northern Alliance fighters. Television images showed Lindh, appearing dazed and exhausted among captured Taliban fighters. The government would ultimately drop nine of 10 charges against him, including conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals. He pleaded guilty to supply services to the Taliban and a weapons charge. When asked whether time behind bars changed his views, Lindh responded in a March 2014 letter: "I feel honoured to have been able to take part in the Afghan Jihad and to contribute to the defence of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, albeit only in a very limited capacity." During his sentencing, Lindh condemned terrorism and said it is never justified. He also said the Sept. 11 attacks were "against Islam." He was present for, but denied any role in an attack by Taliban prisoners that killed CIA officer Johnny Micheal "Mike" Spann, who interrogated Lindh. Spann's father has protested the early release. The legislature in Alabama, where Spann grew up, approved a resolution calling Lindh's release an insult to Spann's legacy and family. Lindh will be subject to mandatory monitoring of his internet use. He is banned from foreign travel and must undergo mental health counseling. A U.S. official told NBC News he would live in northern Virginia, which his lawyer confirmed to NBC Bay Area. "It is one of the most restrictive sets of conditions Ive seen in a terrorism case, and it probably speaks to their concerns about him," said Seamus Hughes, a former U.S. intelligence official who studies extremism at George Washington University. Lindh did express remorse during his 2002 sentencing and said he did not support terrorism. However, a U.S. official told NBC News that a memo circulating this week described Lindh as a jihadi. Lindh's lawyer and a representative of his family declined to comment to NBC News. NBC News' Ken Dilanian contributed to this report. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled Wednesday honoring Guy Fieri, who went from winning "The Next Food Network Star'" to becoming one of the cable network's best-known personalities. Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, a longtime friend of Fieri, Kathleen Finch, chief lifestyle brands officer at Discovery, the Food Network's parent company, and Fieri's oldest son Hunter joined him in speaking at the late-morning ceremony in front of the Eastown apartment complex on Hollywood Boulevard. The star is the 2,664th since the completion of the Walk of Fame in 1961 with the first 1,558 stars. The ceremony will be livestreamed on walkoffame.com. Born Jan. 22, 1968, in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Ferndale, California, near the Oregon border, Fieri began his interest in food when he was 10 years old and sold soft pretzels from a three-wheeled bicycle cart he built with his father called "The Awesome Pretzel Cart." After selling pretzels and washing dishes for six years, Fieri earned enough money to pursue his dream of studying abroad as an exchange student in Chantilly, France, where he gained an appreciation for international cuisine. Fieri received a degree in hotel management from UNLV in 1990, then was hired by Stouffer's as a manager for its Long Beach restaurant operations. After working at Stouffer's for three years, Fieri joined Louise's Trattoria as a district manager, supervising its six restaurants. Fieri opened his first restaurant, Johnny Garlic's, a pasta grill in Santa Rosa, in 1996. He would go on to open more than 63 restaurants around the world, including in New York City, Las Vegas, Atlantic City, South Africa and Dubai, and a winery in Sonoma County. He is also the author of six cookbooks. Fieri's television career began in 2006 when he was the second-season winner of "The Next Food Network Star." His first series on the network was the cooking show "Guy's Big Bite," which premiered that year and brought him a Daytime Emmy nomination in 2017 for outstanding culinary host. He was also nominated in the category in 2018 for "Guy's Ranch Kitchen." Fieri also hosts "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," a four-time Primetime Emmy nominee for outstanding structured reality program. A special he hosted, "Guy Fieri's Family Reunion," won a Daytime Emmy in 2013 as outstanding special class special. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Tuesday approved a plan to crack down on unlicensed cannabis businesses, including locking and sealing premises and potentially shutting off utilities. Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended implementing a set of recommendations for closing down illegal shops -- which have often closed in one location only to pop up in another -- as outlined in a May report from the Office of Cannabis Management. The county has been threatening these tactics since July 2018. Some details still need to be worked out, including the appropriate procedures for locking business owners out and the feasibility of shutting off utilities, as well as whether the plan can be paid for by civil penalties. In the meantime, the county plans to hire a consultant to design an outreach campaign to educate residents who may be unaware of the applicable laws or how to tell if a cannabis store or delivery service is licensed and what risk they face by shopping at illegal businesses. Solis stressed in her motion that the plan emphasizes "non-criminal interventions to avoid the inequities brought about by the war on drugs." The county has a ban in unincorporated areas on all commercial cannabis activity, including the cultivation, manufacture, processing, testing, transportation and retail sale of medical and non-medical marijuana. One advocate urged the board to focus on orderly legalization and licensing and warned that otherwise, voters may take action on their own. "I would like to encourage the board to please actively work toward licensing," said Jonatan Cvetko, a member of the county's Cannabis Advisory Working Group. "The election period of 2020 is coming quickly upon us. The industry is more than prepared and working towards ... voter initiatives that could potentially take the opportunity for the board to implement responsible regulations out of their hands." California voters approved the legalization of recreational marijuana in November 2016 and the state rolled out a framework for licensing and sales in 2018. Personal use and cultivation of small amounts for that purpose is legal statewide, but local jurisdictions have the ability to regulate commercial activity. Solis' motion was approved without comment by the board. A report is expected back in 120 days. A Reseda man who allegedly plotted to carry out a terrorist bombing during a Long Beach political rally was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday on charges of providing material support to terrorists and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. Mark Steven Domingo, a 26-year-old Army veteran who had recently converted to Islam, was arrested April 26, the same day he received what he thought was a was a bomb, but was actually an inert device supplied to him by an undercover law enforcement officer. Federal authorities contend Domingo was planning to set off a nail bomb during a rumored white-supremacist rally April 28 at Bluff Park in Long Beach. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment May 31 in downtown Los Angeles. If convicted of the charges in the indictment, he faces up to life in prison. According to a FBI affidavit filed last month in federal court in Los Angeles, Domingo plotted during March and April "to manufacture and use a weapon of mass destruction in order to commit mass murder." On April 23 and 24, 2019, Domingo purchased several hundred nails to be used as shrapnel inside an explosive device, and provided the nails to a person whom Domingo believed to be a collaborator, but who was in fact an undercover law enforcement officer working for the FBI, for the purpose of having the (officer) manufacture weapons of mass destruction for Domingo to use in an upcoming attack," according to the affidavit. According to the affidavit, Domingo made a series of online posts and had discussions with an FBI informant describing "his support for violent jihad and his aspiration to conduct an attack in the Los Angeles area." One posting referenced the recent fatal attacks at mosques in New Zealand and said "there must be retribution." In early March, he allegedly posted a video online professing his devotion to the Muslim faith, the affidavit states. The following day, he wrote online that "america needs another vegas event ... something to kick off civil unrest ... and its not about winning the civil war its about weakening america and giving them a taste of the terror they gladly spread all over the world." Federal authorities contend Domingo considered a variety of attack targets -- including shooting police officers, churches and a military facility. According to the federal affidavit, Domingo repeatedly met with a person he believed to be a co-conspirator but who was actually an FBI informant. During those meetings, Domingo allegedly discussed carrying out a mass-casualty attack and obtaining an explosive device and firearms to carry out the plan. At one point, Domingo allegedly "drew a diagram and explained multiple scenarios for how he could attack police officers," according to the affidavit. But Domingo ultimately planned to set off an explosive device during what was anticipated to be a white nationalist rally at a Long Beach park. The rally never actually materialized, although a number of counterprotesters showed up in anticipation of the gathering. Domingo allegedly plotted with the informant to obtain an explosive device and purchased the 3-inch nails that he wanted to be planted inside the bomb to cause more extensive damage and injuries. After later learning the Long Beach rally might be canceled, Domingo and the informant discussed other possible targets, including a Saturday rally in Huntington Beach or a summer attack on the Santa Monica Pier, according to the affidavit. But on April 24, Domingo told the informant he was again focused on the expected Long Beach rally, the affidavit states. Federal officials said Domingo was arrested April 26 after an undercover officer and the informant delivered inert devices to Domingo, who believed they were actual explosive devices. The group also traveled to the Long Beach park where the rally was planned so they could conduct surveillance and determine where to place the explosive device so it would cause the most injuries. "During the drive (to the park), Domingo said the plan was to arrive early in the morning on Sunday, before too many people showed up for the rally, and disguise themselves as counter-protesters," according to the affidavit. "As Domingo drove past the Port of Long Beach, Domingo told (the informant and undercover officer) that if they survived the attack on Sunday, they could conduct further attacks, including at the Long Beach Port, which Domingo said would significantly disrupt the U.S. economy. Domingo also discussed initiating an attack on a train." While they were at Bluff Park in Long Beach, Domingo said "they should try to find the most 'crowded' areas in order to kill the most people in the attack," according to the affidavit. More than five million passengers set sail out of Port Miami in 2018. The port lives up to the nickname of "cruise capital of the world." But, it's not always smooth sailing on the open waters. In early March, the Norwegian Escape navigated through winds of 110 mph and rough seas. Several passengers were injured as the ship rocked violently. Two weeks after that incident, the Viking Sky lost propulsion in a severe storm near Norway. Hundreds of people has to be evacuated as hurricane force winds and 30-foot waves raged. Anne Decker was on the ship with her childhood friend. "As the water came, the wave broke into our room and suddenly we were all completely submerged in the North Sea within our restaurant," Decker recalled. She said she saw tsunami-like waves crash into the ship. Decker thought it was the end for her. She sent a frantic text to her husband. "In a muster station, not good, really bad. I love you, thank you for a wonderful family and a blessed life," Decker remembered writing to her husband. These incidents are preventable, according to maritime attorney Jim Walker. "That ship sailed into a well forecasted storm and had a very predictable and what could've been entirely avoidable," Walker said. Even with more accurate forecasts and better technology, nearly two dozen times in the last decade, cruise ships have sailed into serious storms. Walker believes finance is favored over forecasts. "The reason for sailing into those weather conditions was what? To make money. That's why cruise ships sail into those conditions," Walker said. The ships are built to withstand inclement weather, but Walker questions what passengers should have to withstand. "One of the things most people don't realize is that there is not enough life boats," Walker said. "So, you can imagine the weather conditions, the waves crashing into the life boats." While you are worried about your vacation, Royal Caribbean International's says its number one priority is safety. That's where James Van Fleet comes in. He is the first full-time, on-staff meteorologist in the cruise industry. "I know it's made a difference just in the short two plus years I've been here," Van Fleet said. "We've caught fog where before having a meteorologist in house, that wasn't the case." It's common practice in the cruise line industry to use consultant based meteorologist for forecasting but for Royal Caribbean, it goes beyond that. "The difference is having a scientist in house to explain it. Everybody gets the data. [But] what does it mean? How do we keep everybody safe and comfortable on their vacation," Van Fleet said. The on-board meteorologist says he allowed to be proactive and work with the captains to ultimately avoid dangerous weather. "I think by having someone in house who knows where it is and where to find it. We are saving everybody time and also time to make decisions sooner," Van Fleet said. The cruise line tells us they even factor climatology in to setting routes for where you'll sail and when. Authorities say a Florida teacher was arrested after bringing a handgun and knives to the elementary school where she worked. The Tampa Bay Times reports 49-year-old Betty Jo Soto was arrested and fired Monday. Pinellas County Schools Police say she faces two misdemeanor charges of carrying a concealed weapon. A district spokeswoman says Soto was exhibiting "suspicious behavior" Monday at Starkey Elementary School in Seminole. The principal notified police. An arrest report says officers searched a backpack in Soto's fourth grade classroom and found a 9mm semiautomatic pistol. Police also reported finding two knives. Soto has a concealed weapons permit, but that doesn't allow her to carry weapons on school property. Soto recently learned her teaching contract wouldn't be renewed, but school officials wouldn't say when Soto was told. What to Know Traveling with CBD oil or hemp-based derivatives could you get arrested at the airport. While CBD does not contain enough THC to give anyone a high, it can be enough to test positive. With CBD laws differing state-to-state, including in Texas, travelers face a confusing patchwork of enforcement. Lena Bartula, at age 71, is an accomplished artist and proud grandmother who had an unsettling experience as she passed through North Texas on her way to visit her granddaughter in Oregon. In fact, a nightmare, she said, would be a better description for when police officers slapped handcuffs on her at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport after they found cannabidiol (CBD) oil in her travel bag. The Fort Worth native, who now lives in an artist community in Mexico, was told she was under arrest. "I think I almost laughed out loud, because I thought that couldn't really be," Bartula said in a Skype interview with NBC 5 Investigates. She realized it was no laughing matter when, handcuffed, she was driven to the DFW Airport Jail where, "I slept on the floor, my head next to the toilet." It was a far cry from the peaceful, picturesque community in Mexico where Bartula runs a popular gallery. And it only got worse the next day -- she said her arms and legs were shackled, and she was moved to the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth to spend another night behind bars, then facing a felony drug charge. "I had no idea what would happen to me," Bartula recalled. Records obtained by NBC 5 Investigates showed that other travelers have been arrested at the airport for having CBD, with two of them telling us they were still waiting for the outcome to their cases. CBD oil is a hemp-derived substance that is gaining in popularity for its purported health benefits. State lawmakers are now considering whether to make it legal, if it contains little or no THC, the component in marijuana that, in higher amounts, produces a high. A year ago, arrests for CBD at the airport were "almost non-existent," said Cleatus Hunt Jr., area port director for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection at DFW. "But in the last six months, the interception rate for that has skyrocketed," Hunt said. Attorneys for the CBD industry said federal authorities have no right to detain someone with the product. They argue that hemp-made CBD was legalized in December with the passage of the federal farm bill. But customs officials said they were still in the process of implementing the new federal rules so, for now, products with THC are still prohibited at ports of entry, such as the one at DFW Airport. As a rule, if federal authorities detect THC, they notify the airport police who likely will make an arrest, because state law prohibits CBD oil with any amount of THC in it. CBD oil has become a health craze, both in Texas and across the country, with users saying it does such things as ease their anxiety and soothe their aches and pains. For Bartula, she said it was those aches and pains -- so common as the years add up -- that caused her to use CBD for relief. Her case was dropped, when a Tarrant County grand jury declined to move the case forward. Still, those nights in jail have convinced her to never again pack CBD in a suitcase when she travels -- a bit of advice she's quick to give to her friends. "I have warned everyone I know, because most people my age, with my kinds of aches and pains, do take this," said Bartula. "They rely on it." What to Know An NJ man faces terror charges for allegedly trying to provide material support to terrorists; he allegedly spoke of bombing Trump Tower He also allegedly discussed attacking the Israeli Consulate in New York and made threats against pro-Israel groups in the United States The man, from Basking Ridge, is accused of lying to enlist in the U.S. Army for training; he is expected in court later Wednesday A 20-year-old New Jersey man who allegedly sent money abroad to Hamas militants in an effort to support the terror group also spoke of bombing Trump Tower and attacking the Israeli Consulate in New York, authorities say. He also spewed hatred against Jewish people, allegedly vowing in an Instagram Live video that he would go to a pro-Israel march and "shoot everybody." The suspect, identified as Jonathan Xie, of Basking Ridge, was arrested Wednesday morning on charges of attempting to provide material support to a designated terror group, making false statements and transmitting a threat of interstate commerce. Though he spoke of the attacks, authorities say there was no specific plot. Xie is expected in federal court in Newark later Wednesday. One official tells News 4 Xie has a history of mental issues, but his alleged actions, threats -- and the fact investigators found three guns in his family home -- were part of the reason they moved forward with the criminal terror charges. It wasn't immediately clear if the weapons were legally obtained. According to a criminal complaint, Xie lied in an effort to enlist in the U.S. Army for training earlier this year. Prosecutors say he went as far as completing a Security Clearance Application for National Security Positions in February and answered "no" to the question "Have you ever associated with anyone involved in activities to further terrorism." An error occurred in the application processing and he had to do it again 10 days later. Again, he answered no to that question. Xie allegedly said he wanted to join "to learn how to kill ... so I can use that knowledge" and "Idk if I pass the training ... If I should do lone wolf." Last month, FBI surveillance saw Xie outside Trump Tower in Manhattan. Shortly thereafter, according to Instagram records, he posted two photos to his account, one with the words "[S]hould I bomb Trump Tower," a Yes/No poll and an emoji of a bomb imposed over the Trump Tower building image. Records show Xie then posted on Instagram, "Okay, so I went to NYC today and passed by Trump Tower and then I started laughing hysterically . . . s*** I forgot to visit the Israeli embassy in NYC ... i want to bomb this place along with trump tower," according to the criminal complaint. According to documents filed in the case and statements made in court, Xie appeared in an Instagram Live video in April wearing a black ski mask and said he was against Zionism and the neo-liberal establishment. He allegedly said he would "find a way" to go join Hamas if he could, then displayed a Hamas flag and got a handgun. "I'm gonna go to the [expletive] pro-Israel march and I'm going to shoot everybody," officials say he said in that video. In later Instagram posts, Xie allegedly said, "I want to shoot the pro-israel demonstrators . . . you can get a gun and shoot your way through or use a vehicle and ram people . . . all you need is a gun or vehicle to go on a rampage . . . I do not care if security forces come after me, they will have to put a bullet in my head to stop me." The money to Hamas was sent last year, officials say. Xie allegedly sent $100 via Moneygram to a person in Gaza he believes to be a member of a Hamas faction that has conducted suicide bombings against civilian targets in Israel. At about the same time, he allegedly posted on Instagram, "Just donated $100 to Hamas. Pretty sure it was illegal but I don't give a damn." He also allegedly sent a small Bitcoin donation last month just to see if it went through. The investigation revealed other social media accounts for Xie, including a YouTube account which contained a playlist containing videos, many of which advocated or propagandized Soldiers for Allah, the war in Syria, Hezbollah (a foreign terrorist organization), and the Houthi movement in Yemen, as well as support for Bashar al Assad, Saddam Hussein, and North Korea. "Homegrown violent extremists like Xie are a serious threat to national security, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said in a statement. "The actions that he took and planned to take made that threat both clear and present, and we commend our law enforcement partners for working closely with us to stop him before he could carry out his plans to commit violence on American soil. We will continue to do everything in our power to safeguard our country and its citizens from the threat of terrorism, whether that threat comes from abroad or as here from within." Each count of attempt to provide material support to terrorists carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. The false statements and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce counts each also carry hefty prison time and fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Information on a possible attorney for Xie wasn't immediately available. "The FBI remains vigilant in its efforts to protect the public from those who support terrorist groups and ideologies," FBI-Newark Special Agent in Charge Gregory Ehrie said. "Thanks to the hard work and determination of our agents and their law enforcement partners on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, this defendants further support to terrorism was disrupted and a threat to the safety of our community was averted. This case also illustrates the value of public awareness and participation. When you report suspicious activity, you become a force multiplier in the mission to keep America safe." What to Know A Connecticut fugitive told cops he would surrender if enough people "like" the police department Facebook post with his wanted poster in it The wanted man, Jose Simms, said he wanted 20,000 "likes," but a police official said he talked him down to 15,000 "likes" Simms, A Connecticut police department says a fugitive has agreed to surrender if enough people respond to an online wanted poster on social media. Torrington police say 29-year-old Jose Simms, who is believed to be somewhere in New York, has seven arrest warrants and is being sought as a fugitive because he failed to show up for a court appearance. Lt. Brett Johnson posted on the department's Facebook page on Wednesday that Simms had contacted him through Facebook and agreed to turn himself in if the social post containing his poster gets 15,000 "likes." Johnson says he tried to get Simms to agree to 10,000 "likes" but Simms wanted 20,000 -- so they split the difference. On Wednesday evening, the Facebook post eclipsed 15,000 likes, but Simms had yet to turn himself in. The lieutenant described the challenge as difficult but doable. He also suggested that if anyone knows were Simms is hiding they could let police know and save the department some suspense. [[510269992 , C]] What to Know A 29-year-old man allegedly tried to snatch a Queens toddler in front of her mom, then burst into a woman's home and held her at knifepoint The child's mother was able to grab her back; the quick-thinking teacher opened her door just at the right moment -- when cops burst in The suspect faces a felony count of attempted kidnapping; no motive was clear but his lawyer asked that he receive medical treatment A 29-year-old stranger allegedly tried to snatch a toddler as she rode a scooter on a Queens street Monday, then busted into a neighboring home and held a teacher at knifepoint, authorities say. The 3-year-old girl was riding in a motorized toy car along 104th Avenue in Jamaica around 5:45 p.m. Monday when cops allege Lester Augusto tried to grab her right in front of her mother. The girl was strapped into the pink toy car and he couldn't immediately pull her out. Then he allegedly grabbed the entire seat and tried to run off with the girl; her mother wrestled the child away, while screaming for help. A neighbor nearby, who only wished to be identified as Johnathon, came and engaged the stranger, scaring him off. A witness told the Daily News that Augusto, a native of Guatemala whose current address wasn't immediately clear, was acting "crazy" and started trying to get into random houses on the block. One door was unlocked, neighbors said, and Augusto allegedly busted in, holding a teacher in terror with a knife to her throat. He allegedly dragged her around the apartment and acted as if he were trying to barricade them inside with furniture. The teacher, who had just got home from work before being held, opened the door and cops pushed their way in not long after. No injuries were reported. Police say Augusto didn't know either of the victims and they don't have a motive at this time for the alleged kidnapping attempt. Augusto was charged with a felony count of attempted kidnapping and burglary. He was arraigned Tuesday. The man's lawyer asked for medical treatment; Augusto was ordered held on $100,000 bail. What to Know A witness testified Tuesday at alleged sex cult leader Keith Raniere's New York City trial A follower was confined to a bedroom for years, Lauren Salzman said, despite passing a note that begged: "Let me out. I'm coming undone." Salzman, an ex-member of his inner-circle in a group called NXIVM, pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government Self-help guru Keith Raniere was a coward during his arrest last year in Mexico on a U.S. sex-trafficking charge and a bully when dealing with a follower who failed to adhere to his twisted code of ethics, a witness testified Tuesday at Raniere's New York City trial. The follower was confined to a bedroom for two years, the witness said, despite passing a note that begged: "Let me out. I'm coming undone." The harsh portrait of Raniere was provided by Lauren Salzman, a former member of his inner-circle in a group called NXIVM who's pleaded guilty and is cooperating with the government. Salzman, 42, was recruited, along with TV actress Allison Mack and others, for a secret society within NXIVM of women who prosecutors say were brainwashed by Raniere's teachings, branded with his initials and pressured into having sex with him. Mack, a star of the TV series "Smallville," has also pleaded guilty, but it's unclear if she'll testify. Defense lawyers have insisted any contact Raniere had with the women was consensual. Salzman told the jury on Tuesday that Raniere - spooked by mounting news reports that the sorority was under investigation - went to Mexico with Salzman, Mack and others to try to reconstitute the group there. When Mexican authorities broke down his door at a villa in Puerta Vallarta to grab him, Salzman was there and tried to stand up to them while he hid in a closet, she said. The scene made clear that while she had been programmed to put Raniere first in times of trouble, "Keith would choose Keith," she said. The witness also detailed how Raniere groomed as followers a family from Mexico with three daughters. According to prosecutors, he sexually exploited all three - the youngest starting at age 15. The middle sister, whose full name has been withheld by prosecutors, had a falling out with Raniere around 2010, Salzman said. He assigned Salzman to rehabilitate the victim by ordering her into a bedroom in her family's Albany-area home - with only a mattress and pen and paper - until she made amends to him in handwritten letters, she said. What was expected to last no more than 10 days stretched into nearly two years when Raniere refused to forgive the victim and allow her back into the NXIVM community, the witness said. Her family finally returned her to Mexico and cut off support. "I was unkind," said Salzman, weeping as recalled her role in the episode. "I think it's horrendous. Of all the things I did in this case, this was the worst." A suburban Chicago high school student captioned his senior photo with a quote generally attributed to Nazi leaders, prompting the school to halt its yearbook distribution for the time being, according to students and school officials. "If you tell a big enough lie, and you tell it often enough, it will be believed," the message, situated under a students photograph in Highland Park High Schools yearbook, reads. The quote is attributed to "anonymous" in the yearbook but is often credited to Nazi leaders Adolf Hitler and his minister of propaganda Joseph Goebbels. The quote is one of two offensive statements to make it into the schools yearbook, according to school officials. "This year, students brought to our attention that they found two quotations in the yearbook to be unacceptable and offensive. Senior quotations are reviewed and approved by a team, and we take full responsibility for having missed the quotations that should have never been published in the yearbook," Township High School District 113 said in a statement. "Any act that disrupts the learning environment or makes our students feel unsafe is unacceptable and will not be tolerated." In a letter to parents, the schools principal apologized and said no further yearbooks will be distributed "until we are able to rectify the situation." "We apologize that we missed quotations that should not have been published in the yearbookThese quotations do not align with our mission and values and have no place in our learning community," the letter from Principal Debby Finn read. "We actively work to eliminate hate speech and anti-Semitism in all of our learning spaces." Students said they were shocked and disturbed to see the senior quote in their yearbook, saying it was particularly alarming given the largely Jewish student body. "Promoting the speech of an evil person is not only wrong but vile. It amazes me that a kid could be raised in this community and espouse these words from such an animal and continue think it's okay," one student said in a statement. It remains unclear if disciplinary actions will be taken against the students involved. Its not the first time the quote has appeared in school yearbooks. Last year, a Massachusetts senior submitted a variation of the Nazi-originated quote, prompting a public apology from his high school. Last week, the same senior quote stirred controversy at a high school in Green Bay, Wisconsin, according to the Green Bay Press Gazette. President Donald Trump, in a lengthy interview on Fox News, made several statements that were false, misleading or not supported by the evidence: --Trump claimed Joe Biden, as vice president, pressured Ukraine to fire a prosecutor who was after his son, Hunter Biden. Theres no evidence that Biden was under investigation, although he was a board member for a company whose owner was under investigation. --Trump said of North Korea: They havent had any tests over the last two years zero. Its true that they havent had any nuclear tests or long-range missile tests, but North Korea has tested short-range missiles twice this month. --The president said he will provide $15 billion in assistance to U.S. farmers hurt by the trade war, because thats the most money that China has ever paid for U.S. agricultural goods. But federal data show that China purchased nearly $27.2 billion in U.S. agricultural goods in 2012. --Trump boasted that Honda is coming in [to the U.S.] with $14.5 billion in investments. A Michigan-based automotive research group says that Honda has announced $1.7 billion in U.S. vehicle manufacturing investments over the last five years. --The president said he has tremendous poll numbers now. Trumps average approval rating is currently below 43 percent. In a wide-ranging interview that aired May 19 on The Next Revolution, Trump and the shows host, Steve Hilton, discussed foreign policy, international trade, the economy, politics and more. Hunter Biden and Ukraine At one point, Hilton raised Trumps campaign promise to drain the swamp, asking the president whether former White House aides should be allowed to lobby for foreign companies. The president pivoted to 2020 implying that a potential 2020 rival, Joe Biden, intervened while he was vice president to halt an investigation in Ukraine of his son, Hunter. Trump twisted the facts when he said that the then-vice president threatened to withhold $2 billion in U.S. loan guarantees unless Ukraine dropped its investigation into Hunter and fired the prosecutor. Theres no evidence that Hunter was under investigation. -- Trump: Biden, he calls them and says, Dont you dare prosecute, if you dont fire this prosecutor the prosecutor was after his son. Then he said, If you fire the prosecutor, youll be OK. And if you dont fire the prosecutor, were not giving you $2 billion in loan guarantees, or whatever he was supposed to give. Can you imagine if I did that? -- Lets review what we know and dont know about the Bidens and Ukraine. In March 2016, Biden went to Ukraine and told the government that the U.S. would withhold $1 billion in loan guarantees if Ukraine failed to address corruption and remove its prosecutor general, Viktor Shokin. We know this because Biden boasted about it last year during an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations. The former vice president, who is now running for president, said the incident occurred during a visit to Kiev. -- Biden, Jan. 23, 2018: I was supposed to announce that there was another billion-dollar loan guarantee. And I had gotten a commitment from [then-Ukraine President Petro] Poroshenko and from [then-Ukraine Prime Minister Arseniy] Yatsenyuk that they would take action against the state prosecutor. And they didnt. So they said they had they were walking out to a press conference. I said, nah, Im not going to or, were not going to give you the billion dollars. They said, you have no authority. Youre not the president. The president said I said, call him. I said, Im telling you, youre not getting the billion dollars. I said, youre not getting the billion. Im going to be leaving here in, I think it was about six hours. I looked at them and said: Im leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, youre not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. He got fired. -- The U.S. wasnt the only one critical of Ukraines anti-corruption efforts. A month earlier, the International Monetary Fund threatened to withhold $40 billion unless Ukraine undertook a substantial new effort to fight corruption. At the time, Hunter Biden was a board member for the Burisma Group, one of the biggest private gas companies in Ukraine. He joined the board in May 2014, instantly raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest. An Associated Press article called Bidens hiring politically awkward. Hunter Bidens employment means he will be working as a director and top lawyer for a Ukrainian energy company during the period when his father and others in the Obama administration attempt to influence the policies of Ukraines new government, especially on energy issues, the AP wrote. However, there is no evidence that Hunter Biden was under investigation or that his father pressured Ukraine on his behalf. A few days before Fox News aired the Trump interview, Yuriy Lutsenko, Ukraines current prosecutor general, gave his own interview to Bloomberg News and said: Hunter Biden did not violate any Ukrainian laws at least as of now, we do not see any wrongdoing. Lutsenko told Bloomberg that the prosecutor generals office in 2014 before Shokin took office opened a corruption investigation against Mykola Zlochevsky, the owner of Burisma, and numerous others. He said the probes focus was Serghi Kurchenko, who owned a number of gas companies, and a transaction that occurred in November 2013, months before Biden joined Burisma. -- Bloomberg News, May 16: As part of the 5-year-old inquiry, the prosecutor generals office has been looking at whether Kurchenkos purchase of an oil storage terminal in southern Ukraine from Zlochevksy in November 2013 helped Kurchenko launder money. Lutsenko said the transaction under scrutiny came months before Hunter Biden joined the Burisma board. Biden was definitely not involved, Lutsenko said. We do not have any grounds to think that there was any wrongdoing starting from 2014. The investigation is still active, he said. -- Talks between the leaders of the United States and North Korea broke down on day two of their second summit. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un were not able to reach a consensus on denuclearization and sanctions, Trump said. North Korea and Nuclear Tests The president also spoke about North Korea and its nuclear weapons program. Trump met with North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un in June of last year, and the two leaders agreed to promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. During Kims reign, North Korea has conducted numerous nuclear tests and missile launches including four nuclear weapons tests and three test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs. -- Trump: But, they havent had any tests over the last two years zero. Theres a chart and it shows 24 tests, 22 tests, 18 tests. Then I come, and once Im there for a little while you know, we went through a pretty rough rhetorical period. Once Im there for a little while, no tests, no tests, no tests. -- Its true that North Korea has not conducted a nuclear test since Sept. 3, 2017, and it hasnt launched an ICBM since Nov. 29, 2017. (See details in the Arms Control Association timeline.) But North Korea has conducted short-range missile tests twice this month, and it continues to actively pursue a nuclear weapons program. The U.S. intelligence community released a threat assessment report in January that said, We continue to observe activity inconsistent with full denuclearization. The report didnt detail what kind of activity. But a week earlier, the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington issued a report that said it found approximately 20 undeclared missile operating bases, including one that serves as a missile headquarters. A month later, three Stanford University researchers issued a report that said North Korea continued to operate and, in some cases, expand the nuclear weapons complex infrastructure. It continued to operate its nuclear facilities to produce plutonium and highly enriched uranium that may allow it to increase the number of nuclear weapons in its arsenal from roughly 30 in 2017 to 35-37. China and Trade Another subject that the president addressed was the ongoing trade war with China. The Trump administration last year imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods, and China responded with tariffs on $110 billion of U.S. goods. The trade dispute escalated this month. First, the Trump administration on May 10 raised tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on about $200 billion worth of Chinese goods. China responded three days later when it announced that it would increase tariffs from 10 percent to 25 percent on roughly $60 billion worth of U.S. goods, beginning June 1. The dispute has hurt U.S. agricultural exports in particular, and the administration responded by authorizing up to $12 billion in aid to U.S. farmers. Trump said he would increase financial assistance to $15 billion and explained how he arrived at that number. -- Trump: I said to Sonny Perdue, Department of Agriculture secretary of Agriculture Sonny, whats the most money that China has ever paid toward agriculture, toward buying food product? He said $15 billion a number of years ago. I said Is that the most? He said Yes. Some people will say close to (inaudible) but $15 billion was about the most. I said Good. Im going to take $15 billion out of the $100 billion, and Im going to give that to our farmers. -- Trump told a similar story in a recent speech to the National Association of Realtors. -- Trump, May 17: So I called Sonny Perdue, our great Secretary of Agriculture, and I said, Sonny (applause) I said, Sonny, whats the biggest amount theyve ever spent in this country? He said, About $15 billion. People could say 18, 19. But basically $15 billion. And I said, So lets take $15 billion, set it aside out of the 100 or 125 billion [in annual tariffs imposed on all imports]. -- We asked the White House and the Department of Agriculture about this conversation. Neither responded. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative referred us to the White House. But this much we know based on available data and emails from two federal agencies: $15 billion isnt the biggest amount that China has spent on U.S. agricultural exports. In its annual reports on shifts in U.S. merchandise trade, the United States International Trade Commission reported that China purchased $27.2 billion in U.S. agricultural products in 2012 the most in one year from 2010 to 2017. The most recent USITC report covers 2013 to 2017, and a commission spokeswoman told us a new report covering 2018 would not be released until November. However, according to the Department of Agriculture, agricultural exports to China fell dramatically to $9.2 billion in 2018. That was almost all due to retaliatory tariffs imposed by China, Wallace E. Tyner, who teaches agricultural economics at Purdue University, told us in an email. We also know that, as of the morning of May 20, the U.S. has paid $8.54 billion to farmers through three aid programs, a USDA spokesperson said. The Market Facilitation Program the largest of the three programs can provide up to $10 billion to producers of corn, cotton, sorghum, soybean, wheat, dairy, hogs, almonds and sweet cherries, according to a December report by the Congressional Research Service on the trade aid programs. The top five commodities that received assistance through the program were soybeans, corn, wheat, cotton and sorghum, the USDA spokesperson told us. We found that, from 2009 through 2018, the most that China imported of those five commodities in any one year totaled nearly $20 billion, according to Census Bureau export data. That occurred in 2012, when Chinas agricultural purchases included nearly $14.9 billion in soybeans, $3.4 billion in raw cotton and $1.3 billion in corn, according to Census data. As we said, we dont know what the president meant when he said that $15 billion was the biggest amount theyve ever spent in this country. We will update this item if the White House responds. Honda and U.S. Investments In talking about the U.S. economy, Trump boasted about companies coming to the United States singling out one car company in particular. -- Trump: Well, really very simply, we have companies coming in here, as you know, by the dozens and by the hundreds and big ones, car companies, Hondas coming in with $14.5 billion. -- We dont know how many companies have relocated to the U.S. or have left the U.S. But the president overestimates Hondas future investment in the U.S. On its website, Honda said that its total capital investment in the U.S. (not just auto manufacturing) has been $21 billion over the last 60 years, including $5.6 billion in the last five years. We could not find any new automotive investments that would equal $14.5 billion, so we reached out to the Michigan-based Center for Automotive Research Group, which tracks new investments in the United States. Kristin Dziczek, vice president of industry, labor and economics, told us that she, too, could not match the $14.5 billion figure cited by Trump, and we try to keep very close tabs on these things. She said Honda has announced auto manufacturing investments totaling $1.7 billion over the last five years. In February, Honda announced that it would close a manufacturing plant in Swindon, England, in 2121, when it stops production of its current Civic model. Honda Chief Executive Officer Takahiro Hachigo told Automotive News that the next generation Civic will be manufactured in North America, but the company has yet to say where the plant or plants will be located. Honda currently has five vehicle manufacturing plants in the United States, including one in Indiana that builds the current Civic models. It also manufactures Civic models in Ontario, Canada. We reached out to Honda, but did not hear back. We will update this article if we do. Trumps Approval Rating The president also boasted that he has tremendous poll numbers now. Its subjective, of course, to describe ones poll numbers as tremendous. But Trumps average job approval rating based on polling data assembled from dozens of polls by Real Clear Politics and FiveThirtyEight is currently below 43 percent. As of May 22, Trumps average job approval rating on Real Clear Politics was 42.5 percent, and FiveThirtyEight put it at 41.1 percent. By contrast, those who disapproved of Trumps job performance averaged 53.7 percent, according to Real Clear Politics, and 53.8 percent, according to FiveThirtyEight. As for individual polls taken this month, Trumps job approval rating reached a peak of 51 percent in the Zogby Poll, which was conducted May 2 to May 9 and had a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent. The low point was a Morning Consult poll, which showed the president at 37 percent. That poll was taken May 17 to 19, and had an error margin of plus or minus 2 percent. Trump Repeats As we often find, the president also repeated some false claims that we have previously debunked: China Trade Deficit: The president said, We have a trade deficit with China of $500 billion. Thats false. As we have written before, the U.S. trade deficit with China in goods and services was a record $378.7 billion in 2018, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis (see table 3). The U.S. had a $419.3 billion deficit with China in goods (table 6) and a $40.5 billion surplus in services (table 9). Tariff Revenue: Trump said that, as a result of tariffs he has placed on Chinese goods, we are going to be taking in possibly $100 billion, possibly more than that in tariffs. We never took in 10 cents from China. Its not true, as we have previously said, that the U.S. has never collected tariffs on Chinese goods. The amount of tariff revenue has increased, but the U.S. did collect billions of dollars each year since at least 2000. For example, the U.S. collected about $13.4 billion in 2016, according to the U.S. International Trade Commission database. As we also wrote, tariffs are taxes paid by U.S. importers in the form of customs duties, not by the Chinese government or its companies. Liquefied Natural Gas Exporting. The president said, I was in Louisiana opening up a $10 billion LNG plant that wouldve never been approved under another type of administration, never, and, Theyve been trying for years to get it built, but we got approvals very quickly for the big LNG. Thats false. As we wrote before, the plant in question, Sempra Energys Cameron LNG plant, was approved in 2014 by the Obama administration, a fact Sempra Energy confirmed. What to Know George Peltz acknowledged providing free home and office improvements to Johnny Dougherty, head of IBEW Local 98. The MJK Electrical Corp. co-owner was sentenced Monday on earlier pleas to federal charges. Peltz apologized in court and provided $958,000 in restitution. A New Jersey electrical contractor and longtime ally of a powerful Philadelphia labor leader indicted earlier this year has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that George Peltz, MJK Electrical Corp. co-owner, was sentenced Monday on earlier pleas to federal charges including making unlawful payments to a union official, tax fraud and theft from an employee benefit fund. Peltz acknowledged providing free home and office improvements to Johnny Dougherty, head of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Prosecutors said the union steered millions of dollars in work to Peltz during the same period. Peltz apologized Monday and provided $958,000 in restitution. Dougherty faces embezzlement and fraud charges, accused along with members of his inner circle of having misspent $600,000 in union funds. What to Know US Marshals stunned then shot a man who police say exited his car armed with a machete. The incident took place Wednesday morning near Wissinoming Park in Philadelphia. Police rushed the man to a nearby hospital. U.S. marshals opened fire on a man who was armed with a machete in Philadelphia Wednesday morning, more than a week after he threatened a police officer, law enforcement said. Neighbors had children leaving for school duck for cover as gunfire rang out. On May 13 at noon, an Abington Township Police officer spotted a man sleeping in his car in the parking lot of Lorimer Park on the 100 block of Moredon Road in the Huntingdon Valley section of Abington Township. The man, who was wearing what appeared to be a ballistic vest, threatened the officer, telling him that the next time he saw him, "it would be bloody," according to investigators. Police later identified the man as 31-year-old Joseph F. Ankrah of Philadelphia. Investigators learned Ankrah had tried to buy an assault rifle and handgun back in March but was denied. Ankrah was then charged with terroristic threats and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Police searched Ankrah's last known address on the 5800 block of Sylvester Street but were unable to find him. They then reached out to the United States Marshals for help. On Wednesday, around 8:15 a.m., U.S. Marshals found Ankrah in a car along the 5900 block of Charles Street in Philly's Wissinoming section, police said. As the Marshals approached, Ankrah allegedly jumped out of his car while armed with a machete. The marshals used a stun gun on Ankrah after he refused to drop the weapon, police said. Ankrah then ran off into an alley where marshals fired several shots, investigators said. Ankrah was shot once in the lower back, and the officers took him to the hospital. His condition has not yet been revealed. Nearby, Wagner Martinez hurried his kids indoors as gunshots rang out. "I told my kids to get inside the house I was trying to get the kids to school, then I saw somebody fleeing in the alley, he said. I told my kids get inside the house cause I was trying to get kids to school then I saw somebody fleeing in the alley Wagner Martinez hurried his kids indoors after hearing the gunshots Police say suspect was shot in lower back. No one else was hurt.@NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/Jb1V94g0Lu Miguel Martinez-Valle (@MiguelMValle) May 22, 2019 A machete sheath was left in the alley. Police also said Ankrah was in possession of other weapons and a Kevlar vest. In the aftermath of the shooting, police could be seen surrounding a roped off area that included a section of Wissinoming Park. That is where witnesses said the injured man, having darted out of the alley, finally dropped the machete and surrendered. The United States Marshals Service didnt immediately have comment about the incident. The Senate Intelligence Committee has struck a deal with Donald Trump Jr. to appear for a closed-door interview next month, pulling the two sides back, for now, from a confrontation over a subpoena as part of the panel's Russia investigation. Under the terms of the deal, according to two people familiar with the agreement, Trump Jr. will talk to the committee in mid-June for up to four hours. The people spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday to discuss the confidential terms. The deal was also reported by NBC News. The deal comes after the panel subpoenaed President Donald Trump's eldest son to discuss answers he gave the panel's staff in a 2017 interview. Trump Jr. had backed out of interviews twice, prompting the subpoena, according to people familiar with Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr's remarks to a GOP luncheon last week. Those people spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Burr's remarks in the private senators' meeting. The deadline for Trump Jr. to respond was Monday, according to one of the people familiar with the terms. His lawyers drafted a letter to the committee declining an appearance and the president's son expected to be held in contempt for declining to be interviewed. But before the letter was sent, the committee reached out Monday evening and extended the deadline. The deal was then struck. A spokeswoman for Burr declined to comment. The North Carolina Republican has weathered fierce criticism for the subpoena from the president and his GOP colleagues. Trump said Tuesday he believed that his son was being treated poorly. "It's really a tough situation because my son spent, I guess, over 20 hours testifying about something that Mueller said was 100 percent OK and now they want him to testify again," Trump told reporters at the White House before traveling to Louisiana. "I don't know why. I have no idea why. But it seems very unfair to me." It's the first known subpoena of a member of the president's immediate family, and some Republicans went as far as to say they thought Trump Jr. shouldn't comply. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., tweeted, "It's time to move on & start focusing on issues that matter to Americans." Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a GOP member of the panel, said he understood Trump Jr.'s frustration. Cornyn's Texas colleague, Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, said there was "no need" for the subpoena. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said on "Fox News Sunday" that if he were Trump Jr.'s lawyer, "I would tell him, 'You don't need to go back into this environment anymore.'" Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has defended Burr, telling his colleagues during the private GOP luncheon last week that he trusted the intelligence committee chairman. On Tuesday, McConnell told reporters that "none of us tell Chairman Burr how to run his committee." Still, McConnell made it clear that he is eager to be finished with the probe, which has now gone on for more than two years. Burr has "indicated publicly he believes they will find no collusion" with Russia, McConnell said. "We're hoping we will get a report on that subject sometime soon." It's uncertain when the panel will issue a final report. Burr told The Associated Press earlier this month that he hopes to be finished with the investigation by the end of the year. The subpoena has highlighted a delicate bind facing Burr, a third-term senator who has said he is not running for reelection in 2022. He has been adamant that the panel's Russia probe be bipartisan and fair and has worked closely with the panel's top Democrat, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner. Burr's committee had renewed interest in talking to Trump Jr. after Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, told a House committee in February that he had briefed Trump Jr. approximately 10 times about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow before the presidential election. Trump Jr. told the Senate Judiciary Committee in a separate interview in 2017 he was only "peripherally aware" of the proposal. The panel is also interested in talking to the president's eldest son about other topics, including a campaign meeting in Trump Tower with a Russian lawyer. An NBC 7 investigation found the owners of a San Diego based pornographic website accused of coercing women into performing in sex videos had ties to shell companies charged with laundering billions of dollars for a Mexican drug cartel and trafficking illegal weapons. Nearly two dozen women from across the country have filed a lawsuit against the three men behind the popular website GirlsDoPorn, which according to court depositions is operated out of the Spreckels office building downtown. They allege the men hatched an elaborate scheme in order to convince them to perform in erotic videos that eventually were posted online. Attorneys representing the GirlsDoPorn website and its owners have denied those allegations and said the women knew what they were signing up for. Yet, as the trial nears, NBC 7 Investigates looked into the websites finances along with its corporate affiliations and found a network of offshore shell companies that prosecutors say were used to fund criminal enterprises. Listen to how the NBC 7 Investigates team uncovered this story in INSIGHT: Episode Two. Listen below or subscribe on your favorite podcast app. Corporate filings, as well as court documents, show New Zealand native and website owner Michael Pratt purchased the internet domain name GirlsDoPorn in July 2006. By December, Pratt incorporated BubbleGum Films. BubbleGum Films was created under the umbrella of a larger corporate entity, GT Group Limited, according to the Girls Do Porn website and the companys financial filings. NBC BAY AREA GT Group was founded by a New Zealand businessman named Geoff Taylor in 1995. The company name comes from Taylors initials and, according to a company brochure, specialized in setting up offshore business entities to take advantage of offshore tax breaks. NBC 7 Investigates contacted attorneys representing GirlsDoPorn and GT Group Limited, as well as Geoff Taylor and his sons, with questions regarding the companys finances but they did not respond. GT Groups headquarters was located in a small room on Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific. In recent years, the small island nation has been reported to be a tax haven for shell companies that have hidden billions of dollars, according to a 2017 Bloomberg article. According to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), one of the companies incorporated by GT Group was SP Trading. It was created by Geoff Taylors sons Ian and Michael Taylor and did business with Russian arms smugglers. In 2008, authorities arrested Viktor Bout, who was nicknamed the Merchant of Death and was the inspiration behind the Nicholas Cage character in the movie Lord of War, during a joint U.S.-Thai sting operation, according to a federal complaint. One year later, agents seized 30 tons of rocket-propelled grenade launchers on a cargo plane destined for Iran. The plane was formerly owned by Bout and was registered to one of SP Tradings entities when it was stopped on a runway tarmac in Bangkok, according to the charging documents. Bout was sentenced to 25 years in a United States prison for gun trafficking-related charges and is currently appealing that conviction. In 2016, an Appellate Court denied Bouts motion for a new trial. Bout is currently appealing that ruling. In 2010, federal prosecutors in Florida linked another GT Group company to what was called at the time the largest money-laundering operation in U.S. history. Instead of Russian arms smugglers, four New Zealand firms, all registered by GT Group, helped the Sinaloa cartel launder billions of dollars, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). Court records tied to the laundering prosecution remain under seal, but according to a DOJ news release, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency tied the companies to a Wachovia bank that helped disguise the origins of the funds. Wachovia later agreed to pay $160 million to the federal government to settle the case, according to federal prosecutors. One year after the drug-money laundering prosecution, according to Auckland news reports, GT Group announced it was shutting down its operations. But those werent the only ties the GT Group had to alleged international criminal enterprises. At the same time, Prevezon Holdings Limited, another company registered by GT Group, was a front for a group of corrupt Russian officials who were behind a $230 million dollar tax refund fraud scheme in Russia, according to the DOJ. In a settlement agreement in the case, the DOJ said Prevezon Holdings agreed to pay back more than $5.8 million dollars to the U.S. without its defendants admitting to the charges they faced. NBC 7 tried contacting Prevezon Holdings at the firms contact information listed online but have not heard back. In 2016, the largest documents-leak in history, known as the Panama Papers, revealed and confirmed the use of vast networks of shell companies, many of which were offshore businesses used to hide criminal activity and shield itself from taxes requirements, according to the ICIJ. Back in San Diego, Michael Pratt was busy building the adult website that GT Group incorporated, featuring videos of young amateur girls having sex on camera for the first time, according to the websites home page. The format for shooting the videos was simple, say court filings in the civil lawsuit against the website and its owners. Costs were kept to a minimum. The women who brought the lawsuit say the men would fly girls from across the country to San Diego to perform in the videos. According to the lawsuit, the videos were posted on the Girls Do Porn website, as well as popular adult websites such as PornHub, the fourth most-visited website behind Wikipedia, Netflix, and Microsoft. The site is member-only and charges $29.99 for a basic monthly plan. But in addition to the website, court records state Pratt posts the womens videos on conglomerate sites such as YouPorn and PornHub, both rank in the top ten for most popular websites. Court exhibits show in November 2015, Pratt transferred assets from his company Bubblegum Films, Inc. to new Vanuatu entities named Oh Well Media Limited and Sidle Media Limited. Pratt and Wolfe also listed these new Vanuatu entities on corporate registrations for the GirlsDoPorn website in California, Nevada, and Wyoming. When the civil lawsuit was originally filed in 2016 against the GirlsDoPorn website and its owners, four women were named. Months later, 18 additional women joined the lawsuit, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to 22. NBC 7 Investigates spoke to seven women who are not plaintiffs in the case but shared stories similar to what was described in court filings. As the civil trial neared, a San Diego Superior Court judge indicated the womens claims had merit and would likely prevail. NBC 7's Investigates reporter Mari Payton spoke to women victimized by a scheme they say tricks girls into filming porn for mass consumption. In January 2019, San Diego Superior Court Judge Joel Wohlfeil issued a tentative ruling finding there was substantial probability that the women would prevail and Pratt and his employees engaged in malice, fraud, and coercion. That same day Pratt filed for bankruptcy. In his bankruptcy filings, Pratt claimed to make over $60,000 a month, or $722,000 a year in salary from GirlsDoPorn. The filings also show Pratt owed $134,000 in state and federal taxes. Mr. Pratt certainly did not file bankruptcy because he was struggling to keep up with his debts, said Brian Holm, one of the attorneys representing the women in the civil case. In fact, according to one former employee, the company often spent just ten percent of its budget on each shoot. In a court deposition, Val Moser said she worked as the websites Office Manager and also chauffeur, driving the women to and from the airport. Moser testified in the civil case that Pratt, Wolfe, and Garcia often refuse to pay the women all the money they were promised after filming the videos. Portions of Mosers testimony were recently made public. Models were booked to fly to San Diego with a certain quote or figure in mind, testified Moser. It was highballed. They were promised funds for multiple shoots. When they arrived, their body blemishes would reduce that amount. Moser testified that half of all the women she spoke to had complained to her about getting paid less than what they were promised. The women NBC 7 spoke to shared similar stories. But Moser says that while Pratt, Wolfe, and Garcia had knowingly shorted the women, they often bragged about how much money they could spend on a video if they wanted to. I have overheard Andre Garcia say on more than one occasion braggingly, that we could spend up to $50,000 on a shoot if necessary. Meanwhile, bankruptcy and civil court filings obtained by NBC 7 show the men lived a luxurious lifestyle. Pratt formerly owned a home in Rancho Santa Fe. Employees testified that Garcia drove a new BMW, Pratt drove a Lamborghini, and Wolfe a Land Rover. Despite the inner-office boasts, as well as the flashy cars and lifestyle, Pratt filed for bankruptcy protection in January. There had to be some other motivation, says attorney Holm. Delaying our clients from receiving justice and public vindication is the only thing that makes any sense. Pratts bankruptcy, however, was short-lived. In March, a federal bankruptcy judge ruled that the civil case could proceed despite the presence of Pratts bankruptcy case. Just two days before the continued meeting of creditors, Pratt voluntarily dismissed that case. The ruling and subsequent dismissal now allows for the civil lawsuit from the 22 women to proceed. The trial is set for June 24. An attorney for Pratt did not respond to a request for comment for this story. A fare war between Uber and Lyft has led to billions of dollars in losses for both ride-hailing companies as they fight for passengers and drivers. But in one way it has been good for investors who snatched up the newly public companies' stock: The losses have scared off the competition, giving the leaders a duopoly in almost every American city. The two San Francisco companies have already lost a combined $13 billion. And with no clear road to profits ahead, no one else has much of an incentive to mount a challenge using the same model relying on people driving their own cars to pick up passengers that summon them on a smartphone app, said Susan Shaheen, co-director of the Transportation Sustainability Research Center at the University of California, Berkeley. Even if another rival dared enter the market, it would likely be difficult to raise enough money to pose a viable threat after Uber and Lyft spent the past decade pulling in billions of dollars from venture capitalists. And in the past six weeks, they raised an additional $10.4 billion in their recently completed initial public offerings of stock. "There's only a duopoly because both companies have enough capital to compete with each other and no one else does," said Gartner analyst Michael Ramsey. It's likely to remain that way until any of dozens of companies trying to create self-driving cars refines their technology so they can launch a network of robotic taxis that removes human drivers from the equation. That breakthrough could enable them to slash their fares below the prices currently being charged by Uber and Lyft. Google spin-off Waymo has made no secret of its intention to muscle its way into the ride-hailing market with a fleet of self-driving cars built on technology that it has been working on for the past decade. Waymo launched a ride-hailing service with robotic vans in the Phoenix area five months ago, but only 1,000 people are currently allowed to use it. Besides being on the leading edge of bringing robotic vehicles to market, Waymo also is backed by more money than Uber and Lyft have combined. Waymo is owned by Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., which is sitting on $113 billion in cash. In its IPO document, Uber listed Waymo as a potential threat along with Tesla, General Motors' Cruise Automation and Apple. Lyft also cited Waymo and Apple among the companies that could undercut its position as the second largest ride-hailing service. But most experts believe it will still be many more years before self-driving car technology reaches the point that it can support a large fleet of robotaxis. Until then, the U.S. duopoly is likely to continue, giving Uber and Lyft the luxury of focusing on growth rather than turning a profit, analysts said. That means ride-hailing fares in the U.S. are likely to remain below the actual cost of providing the service, a boon for consumers. "These subsidies will continue as long as each company believes they will be gaining new customers by having a lower price," says Alejandro Ortiz, principal analyst at SharesPost. "The story now is growth, but growth is expensive." Eventually, though, investor pressure will mount on the companies to make money, and doing that almost certainly will require higher prices for their rides. On the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Friday, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi hinted that it will be three to five years before the company pivots to a focus on profit. That timetable hasn't been well received on Wall Street so far. Lyft's stock has fallen 29% below its IPO price of six weeks ago, and Uber flopped in its stock market debut Friday as its shares slipped by almost 8% percent. Markets with only one or two dominant players often create situations for companies to abuse their power or attempt to stifle competition. Regulators and legislators around the world argue that's already happened in many corners of technology, with Facebook having a seemingly impenetrable stronghold in social networking, Google dominating search and Amazon controlling a wide swath of online shopping. That has stirred calls to break up some of the companies, especially Facebook, whose own co-founder, Chris Hughes, recently argued his former company has become too powerful for society's good. For now, Uber and Lyft have been drawing upon all the money that they have raised from investors to keep prices relatively low, creating a barrier for smaller-scale competitors without the capital to sustain massive losses. Take Austin, Texas, for instance. In 2016, Uber and Lyft pulled out of the city after voters approved regulations on ride-hailing companies, including fingerprint background checks for drivers. Four competitors stepped in to give rides in tech-savvy Austin, including two local companies. But the following year, Texas legislators passed a looser state law that superseded Austin's, and Uber and Lyft came back. Shortly after their return, three of the competitors, Boston-based Fasten, locally owned GetMe and Phoenix-based Fare stopped operations, and the remaining one, nonprofit RideAustin, lost thousands of its riders. "It was a matter of a couple months and those three companies were gone," said Chris Simek, an associate research scientist with the Texas A&M University Transportation Institute, who co-authored a study of Uber and Lyft's impact on ride-hailing in Austin. Uber hasn't been as successful thwarting competition outside the U.S. It has waved a white flag during the past three years in Russia , China and parts of Southeast Asia by selling its services in those parts of the world to stronger rivals. Lyft hasn't expanded outside North America yet, so it faces few other competitors besides Uber in the U.S. Via has managed to carve out a niche by running a pooled ride system in New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, and it contracts to provide transit in about 70 cities worldwide. It competes most directly in New York, where Uber and Lyft also offer pooled services that transport multiple riders. Via specializes in carrying up to six passengers at a time, largely in vans, and is growing because it can do a more efficient job carrying more people, said spokeswoman Gabrielle McCaig. Still, the company is losing money as it invests in growing the business, she said. And so it remains, at least for now, that Uber and Lyft will occupy the ride-hailing industry's driver's seat. "It is hard to see a third or fourth player coming in at this point," said D.A. Davidson analyst Tom White. "I think we are looking at a duopoly in North America." A 71-year-old man was killed in a hit-and-run collision earlier this month in Fallbrook and now, his family members are trying to fulfill his wish of being buried in Mexico. Jose Cardenas Villarreal needed to go the Social Security offices on May 15 and was on his way to get on a bus when he was struck by a car. Security camera video from a nearby business shows a person walking slowly near E. Mission Road and N. Vine Street at the top of the frame. Moments after the crash, a late 1990s or early 2000s white Suburban or Yukon can be seen driving away. The California Highway Patrol said evidence appears to show the victims body was trapped under the car and was dragged for nearly a block. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is investigating the collision as a hit-and-run crash. Cardenas was a healthy, energetic man who worked picking avocado, lemon or other crops. He had no wife or children, according to his nephew. "It makes me very sad that he has left that way," Primitivo Cardenas said in Spanish. His uncle lived part of the time in Fallbrook and part of the time in Tijuana. The little money his uncle received from his retirement he used to pay his apartment rent and also saved to visit his family in Mexico, Primitivo Cardenas said. Now, family members are trying to raise money through an online fundraising account to get his uncle's remains to a small town called Totatiche, Jalisco. "We need funds to be able to move the body to Tijuana, and if possible to the town, it is very difficult for me, but I hope it can be done," he said. It's important to note that families facing a similar issue should also contact the Mexico Consulate in San Diego and ask if there is financial help available. The National City City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday that will change the way pet stores stock their pens. The new ordinance requires any pet store in the city to only sell pets from rescues within the city that also have partnerships with the San Diego Humane Society, the ASPCA, or reputable shelters within the county. The passage comes after a local group of neighbors voiced concern that some pet shops in the city were out of compliance with Californias new law banning the support of so-called puppy mills. Assembly Bill 485 became law in January 2019. Under the new regulations, pet stores are prohibited from selling cats, dogs, and rabbits unless the animal was obtained from a public animal control agency or shelter, humane society, or rescue group. Violators of the new law could face a misdemeanor. Leslie Davies of Oceanside said two facilities in National City, Puppy Patch and National City Puppy, are in violation of AB 485 because they are purchasing dogs from facilities that pose as rescues and are selling dogs purchased from breeders and puppy mills. The fake rescues are sourcing from the puppy mills which are located in Joplin, Missouri. They can provide an unlimited number of puppies at eight weeks old and that is just not possible, said Davies. Davies attended the City Council meeting Tuesday night in National City to discuss her concerns. We would like to see all pet stores not selling any cats, dogs or rabbits. But if that doesnt happen, at least require the rescues to be registered within San Diego County and must partner with one of the seven humane societies or shelters located within San Diego County, said Davies. NBC 7 reached out to both businesses for comment Tuesday afternoon. A manager with National City Puppy, David Salinas, said to NBC 7: We are obeying the law. We are grabbing a puppy that we feel is a good quality puppy. Thats why we work with that rescue. As long as its a good quality puppy, we receive it. Because at the end of the day its about the customer, said Salinas about purchasing from certain rescues. They have a 501c3 so they are a rescue, and if you have a problem with that take it up with the federal government. The general manager of Puppy Patch said that her facility is in full compliance with new California laws. She said before the passage of AB 485, Puppy Patch did buy dogs from breeders. However, now they work with a shelter called Pet Connect out of Joplin, Missouri. According to their website, Pet Connect Rescue is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization operating an open admission animal rescue for care and assistance for other pet organizations. We are in full compliance with the law, the general manager said to NBC 7 over the phone Tuesday. If not, we would be shut down by animal services by now. San Diego police arrested a man who allegedly fled his Rancho Penasquitos home before officers arrived in response to a woman's report that she had been kidnapped. Seyed Hassan Kaboli faces charges of forcible rape, false imprisonment and torture, police said Tuesday. Neighbors on Camanito Bolsa Way called police at around 11 a.m. Monday when they saw a woman running frantically down the street saying she was kidnapped. She was covered only by a bed sheet and set off a car alarm as she ran away. Within minutes, several patrol cars responded, and a police helicopter was flying overhead. The San Diego Police Department told NBC 7 that something went wrong inside the home that caused the woman, a sex worker, to flee. By the time police arrived, the man, identified as Kaboli, was nowhere to be found. SDPD said its Sex Crimes Unit was handling the case, but that it was not being investigated as a kidnapping. Neighbors described Kaboli as a man of faith who was quiet and often gone from his home. It's hard to process. Now, my roommates and I have to take precautions -- you know, text each other wherever were going. It's unfortunate, but we don't mind when something like that happens in this neighborhood, we're all just trying to keep an eye out, David Rosa, a resident in the area. Rosa said the neighborhood is trying to form a neighborhood watch. Kaboli is being held on $1,000,000 bail. Anyone with more information can call SDPD's Sex Crimes Unit at (619) 531-2210 or Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. No other information was available. Please refresh this page for updates on this story. Details may change as more information becomes available. A Massachusetts man is being held on $10,000 bail in connection with a hit-and-run crash near the Sagamore Bridge in Bourne Tuesday night. Gregory May, 35, of Duxbury, was arraigned Wednesday in Falmouth District Court on charges of leaving the scene of a crash. He was arrested by state police earlier in the day at a relative's home in Bourne. State police responded to a hit-and-run crash on Route 6 east just after 8 p.m. Tuesday and found that an off-duty trooper driving a Volkswagen Passat had been struck head-on by the driver of a Toyota who had allegedly crossed the center line. The trooper who was struck said the driver of the Toyota, later identified as May, fled the scene and jumped into the back of a passing landscaping truck. By the time police found the owner of the landscaping truck, the stowaway was long gone. The driver of the trailer told NBC10 Boston he had no idea he was drivign a fugitive. His boss, who owns the trailer, said May must have slipped into it while the vehicle was stopped because of the crash. "He stopped probably 10, 15 minutes," said Adilson Segolini. "I think that the moment he stopped, the guy jump in." Prosecutor Matt Palazola said May's bizarre getaway is why he should remain held. "The fact that he jumped on a trailer to flee the scene of an accident is relevant to whether he would show up in court for his next court appearance," said Palazola. Defense attorney Jim Morse argued that May is gainfully employed. "He's a lifelong resident of Duxbury. He's gainfully employed at a golf course," said Morse. The trooper and his wife, who was also in the car with him, were both taken to Beth Israel Hospital in Plymouth for minor injuries. The judge ordered May held on $10,000 bail and to wear a GPS monitoring device. He's due back in court June 18. Businesses in one central Massachusetts community say they are struggling due to extremely high electric bills. Turning the lights on in Beemers Pub & Grill in downtown Fitchburg could mean lights off for the business. "It's more than my mortgage and taxes combined. I shouldnt have to pay that kind of money to operate a business, said owner Pete Cote. Cote showed NBC10 Boston dozens of monthly bills with a $4,000 balance or higher. "I fell over. I couldn't believe it. I almost fainted," he said. "How am I gonna pay that?" Cote said he's not sure how much longer he can keep the doors open and he's not alone in his concern over Unitil bills. Hundreds of business owners and residents in Fitchburg are sharing the same concerns, posting on Facebook saying they are crippled by the bills. Some say it could be a huge downside to attract more businesses to fill empty store fronts. "How can I look at anyone else and say Fitchburg is great come to Fitchburg," said Cote. As much as some want to point the finger at Fitchburg, they are stuck with the rates. Mayor Stephen DiNatale explained that Unitil owns the infrastructure for heating and electric in Fitchburg, so unless the city dishes out millions to buy it back in a dragged out process that costs the tax payers, they have to work with the company. "We have to work with what we can change," said DiNatale. The Mayor admitted they are concerned about the rates and just introduced aggregation as an option at a city council meeting. The aggregation means people can shop around for lower rates rather than just using Unitil's rates. Unitil is only one of four investor owned companies left in the Commonwealth with a small footprint of only about a handful of cities in Western Massachusetts. Like other utility companies they are regulated and their rates are decided by demand. "In the state of Massachusetts, utilities are not allowed to own power plants. What we are required to do by state regulations is we go to the power generators and we say to them what is going to be the market rate for electricity over the next 6 month period? And whatever rate we get that becomes part of the customers bill," said Alec O'Meara of Unitil. There's no one person or company to point the finger at for these exceptionally high rates, still, utility bills remain and the obstacle is turning people like Cote away. "I don't recommend anyone opening a business in Fitchburg. Go to Leominster, or Worcester, or wherever. Just don't come here," said Cote. The death of a 13-year-old Amesbury girl who was brought to a Massachusetts hospital earlier this week remains shrouded in mystery. Chloe Ricard was left at Lawrence General Hospital at 4:47 p.m. on Monday, and police said she was already dead when she was dropped off. Prior to being dropped off, she was hanging out with friends on Monday morning, according to her stepfather, Brian Dolan. Authorities are now investigating the cause of her death and are searching for the person or people who left her at the hospital. "The doctor told me, 'I tried everything I can. When she came in, she was lifeless, she had no pulse," Dolan said. Questions are still swirling around the puzzling circumstances. Chloe had been a student at Amesbury Middle School, but left for Solstice Day School, an alternative school in Rowley, a few months back. Amesbury schools released a statement saying Chloe "was kind to the younger students in the school and she showed great empathy for others. We will miss her smile, her creativity and her huge heart." The girl's mother, Deborah Goldsmith-Dolan, told the Boston Globe that she had dropped her daughter off at a friend's house in Amesbury on Sunday afternoon. When she didn't hear from her by Monday morning, she texted her daughter's friends, who told her she was with a friend in Haverhill. She went to file a missing person's report around 4 p.m. Monday and got a text shortly thereafter from one of Chloe's friends saying that she had been taken to the hospital. Her mother also told the Boston Herald Chloe had posted on Snapchat that she wanted to run away from home earlier on Monday. It still isn't clear who dropped Chloe off, and Goldsmith-Dolan said she heard different accounts saying both that attempts were made to revive her daughter in the car and that her daughter was thrown from the vehicle. Goldsmith-Dolan told the Herald that her daughter had been hanging out with a 16-year-old girl who "dumped her" at the Lawrence hospital. "I'm angry, I want to shake somebody and say, 'Why would you do, why would you bring her to the hospital lifeless, dead?" Goldsmith-Dolan said Tuesday. Dolan, meanwhile, told the Globe that he heard that a 47-year-old man dropped her off at the hospital. But investigators have not confirmed that information. An autopsy was performed Tuesday by the chief medical examiner's office, but the district attorney's office said it could be some time before there is a ruling on the cause and manner of death. No arrests have been made. Three businessmen at the center of what's been called Vermont's largest-ever white collar crime entered not guilty pleas Wednesday during their arraignments in federal court. The fraud charges were filed Tuesday against former Jay Peak Resort owner Ariel Quiros, of Florida, and former president, William Stenger, of Newport. Also indicted were Quiros' adviser and chief oprerating officer of Jay Peak Resort, Wiliam Kelly, and Jong Weon Choi, a businessman in South Korea. The allegations were for a range of financial crimes including embezzlement and wire fraud. Investigators said the men defrauded foreign investors in a series of projects dating back to 2011 which included expansions of Jay Peak and Burke Mountain Ski Resort. One of the jobs was slated to be a bio-medical research facility in Newport that would manufacture artificial human organs. Investigators say, however, the bio-medical center was a sham cooked up to collect nearly $100 million in investor money. In court Wednesday, prosecutors say the men used the money on personal expenses and to cover payments from other construction jobs in what regulators called a "ponzi-like scheme." Attorneys for some of the men denied the allegations. "The full story has not been told been told by the government. We look forward to the truth coming out and we look forward to Mr. Quiross vindication," said Seth Levine, attorney for Quiros. "He wanted to bring jobs, he wanted to bring economic vitality, and there is simply zero evidence that he benefited in any way from engaging in the allegations that the U.S. government has put forth," added Brooks McArthur, attorney for Stenger. Choi, who was indicted but did not appear in court Wednesday, has been convicted of fraud in South Korea, according to prosecutors. They were searching for the fountain of youth, but instead, two Massachusetts women found themselves in search of a refund from a medical spa. After they reached out to NBC10 Boston Responds for help, consumer investigator Leslie Gaydos uncovered a slew of complaints against the business. Barbara Wilkinson, of Connecticut, wanted to look younger, so she made an appointment for a procedure called Face-Tite at LaDermique Medical Spa in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts. "It was $2,245.50," said Wilkinson. "They wanted to be paid in full, and upfront, and the procedure was supposed to be done on the 16th of February, but it never happened. Got a call at 7 at night from the manager, and she said the surgical nurse was in the ER and we could not do the procedure the next day. The next time we were supposed to do the procedure, the doctor was down in Florida for some kind of a seminar and he missed his connecting flight, so now we couldn't do the procedure then. And then the third time, it snowed." Lynne O'Connor, of Feeding Hills, booked a different procedure at LaDermique, but said she had the same problem. O'Connor said she paid $463 last May for Botox injections that she never received. "I had booked my initial appointment, they canceled on me," explained O'Connor. "I had a second appointment. I showed up. The business shut down early that day. I had a repeat of that on a Saturday where I showed up, the lights were out, the building was closed. I had called repeatedly asking to talk to the manager and I always got, 'She'll call you back.' She never phoned me back." Both women ended up filing disputes with their credit card companies to get their money back. O'Connor said her credit card company told her she had lost her dispute because LaDermique claimed she had received the services she paid for. She then filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau of Central New England, but that didn't go anywhere. The BBB told NBC10 Boston that LaDermique stopped responding to their emails. "I thought, 'It's over... it's never going to happen,'" said O'Connor. "It was a harsh lesson for me, but I felt there was no hope." The BBB gives LaDermique a D-rating and has posted an alert on its website stating that the business has a pattern of complaints. "I think $2,000 is a lot of money no matter how much money you have, especially paying for something you don't get," said Wilkinson. NBC10 Boston Responds obtained 16 complaints against LaDermique filed with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office in recent years -- eight from consumers who said they never got services they paid for, four from consumers who claimed they were double-charged by the business and four from people who said they had an unsatisfactory experience and didnt get refunds. NBC10 Boston Responds reached out to LaDermiquee about Wilkinson and O'Connor's complaints. The medical spa said it would not challenge Wilkinson's credit card dispute and she was finally refunded her money. They sent O'Connor a check for the full amount she paid. LaDermique's medical director is Dr. Stanley Swierzewski, a urologist at Holyoke Medical Center. He did not respond to our requests for an interview made through the spa manager or the director of marketing at Holyoke Medical Center. Holyoke Medical Center issued a no comment to our inquiries. LaDermique sent NBC10 Boston Responds a statement stating: "At LaDermique, our mission is to make our patients feel their best and walk out of our doors feeling rejuvenated and confident. We are aware that due to previous management, this was not always the case. Appropriate action has been taken and we are working with local authorities as well as our patients to make sure they are repaid for their time and services. We are truly sorry for all that our patients have faced. What is happening is not the culture at LaDermique and we are committed to and working tirelessly to fix the situation so that we can once regain our patients." Agawam police confirm that they are taking part in an ongoing investigation involving LaDermique Medical Spa, but would not provide us with any details. O'Connor is happy to have gotten her money back. "I was elated and I was very grateful, because I honestly didn't think it was going to happen," said O'Connor. A Massachusetts police officer has shot and injured a possibly suicidal man who refused to drop a knife he was holding. A spokesman for the Hampden district attorney says Chicopee police responded to an apartment at about 1 a.m. Wednesday for a well-being check after a caller said he was receiving disturbing messages from a co-worker he believed to be suicidal. Officers found Dauda Handan, 55, holding a large kitchen knife in a threatening manner. Authorities say he refused to drop it, so police used a stun gun, which failed to subdue him. The second officer fired twice, striking Handan in the abdomen and arm. He was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover. Handan faces assault and battery charges. The officer has been placed on leave pending an investigation. Families of five Vermont teenagers who died in a crash with a wrong-way driver in 2016 expressed gratitude and relief Wednesday, after hearing a Burlington jury return guilty verdicts for the man who killed them. At least hes not going to hurt anybody elses kids now, and that makes a difference to me, Sarah Zschau, the mother of Cyrus Zschau, said of convicted murderer Steven Bourgoin. Eli Brookens, 16, of Waterbury, Janie Chase Cozzi, 15, of Fayston, Liam Hale, 16, of Fayston, Mary Harris, 16, of Moretown, and Cyrus Zschau, 16, of Moretown were killed on Interstate 89 in Williston in October 2016 as they headed home from a concert. Childhood friends, Brookens, Hale, Harris, and Zschau attended Harwood Union High School in Duxbury, and Chase Cozzi was a student at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, New Hampshire. I can move beyond focusing on my son Elis death, and go on and focus on his life and the beautiful person that he was, Colleen Ovelman, Eli Brookens mother, said after learning the verdict. Steven Bourgoin of Williston now stands convicted of five counts of second -degree murder for driving the wrong way on the highway and crashing into the teens car. Prosecutors said he was in a rage from his failing finances and relationship. Additionally, Bourgoin was convicted of a charge he stole a vehicle after the crash, and another charge that he drove recklessly. They were 15 and 16 years old, and had really incredible personalities, really big dreamsreally impressive talents, Chittenden County States Attorney Sarah George said of the crash victims. And it was all taken from them by one person. At this time, we would ask you to refocus the energy toward the incredible young people whose lives were needlessly and tragically taken from us, and them, Sue Hale, the mother of Liam Hale, asked of the general community, following more than two weeks of high-profile media attention on Bourgoins trial. Jurors did not buy the defense claim that Bourgoin was insane at the time of the crash. His attorneys are planning an appeal. Steven is disappointed, lead defense attorney Bob Katims said after the verdict came in. We respect the verdict, but were disappointed. The mother of Mary Harris, who was holding photos of her daughter and Janie Chase Cozzi, whom she described as being like a daughter to her, asked all Vermonters to love like Mary in the kids memoryurging them to treat their friends and neighbors like gold. I ask you to be kind, Elizabeth Harris said, reading from an essay Mary wrote shortly before her death. Be compassionate. Be respectful. Be selflessbecause without kindness, what is the point? No sentencing date has been set, but its likely to be late-summer. The U.S. intelligence community wants Silicon Valley to think twice about doing business with China, NBC News reported. Amid mounting national security concerns, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said he and fellow lawmakers have held classified briefings with intelligence officials and American businesses, including major Silicon Valley and venture capital firms, to warn them about the dangers China presents. The briefings, which began last fall, come as the U.S. is ramping up pressure on Chinese businesses amid concern over their ability to spy on American citizens and steal intellectual property. Pupils learn values for 21st-century living A THATCHAM school has launched a new set of values for 21st-century children. Spurcroft Primary School and Nursery held a special launch day to share its new school tag line of the future begins here. The event also introduced Spurcrofts new school values of kindness, teamwork, responsibility, creative thinking, ambition and self-belief. Deputy headteacher Claire Exton said: The six core values are the key qualities that we hope to inspire in our school from now on. These are the values we hope children can hold on to long after they leave Spurcroft and will last through a lifetime of learning. As a memento of the day, all children were presented with a goody bag to take away, which included a set of stickers, bookmark, a pencil with one of the new values on and a value cupcake. Spurcroft pupils, from nursery up to Year 6, worked hard to create an exhibition of learning in the school hall. Headteacher Kate Flowerdew said she was incredibly proud of all the children who contributed towards the exhibition. The new tag line, school logo and values form part of the work from the school development plan that the senior leadership team have been working on since last year to prepare children for their lives in the 21st century. Defendant acted with "complete disregard to the safety or wellbeing of the victim or her unborn child" A man has been jailed after assaulting a pregnant woman in Newbury. Steven Angliss punched the pregnant 29-year-old in the face, leaving her with multiple eye socket fractures. The assault took place outside the Bacon Arms Hotel on January 16. Angliss went on the run and Thames Valley Police issued an appeal to find the London-based rapper, who goes by the name MC Stevus G He was was arrested on February 8 and charged the following day. Angliss, 28, of Lewin Terrace, Feltham, Middlesex, was found guilty by unanimous jury of one count of grievous bodily harm. He was convicted and sentenced to a total of three-and-a-half years imprisonment at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, May 7. Specialist investigator Colin Squibb of the Domestic Abuse Investigation Unit based at Newbury police station, said: This was a callous and unprovoked attack committed by Angliss on a pregnant woman. Angliss knew she was pregnant and acted with complete disregard to the safety or wellbeing of the victim or her unborn child. After the assault, Angliss refused to face up his crime and went on the run for several weeks before being arrested. I believe that this sentence reflects the nature and seriousness of the incident. It also serves as a reminder that that all forms of domestic abuse will be robustly and fully investigated and perpetrators made to face the consequences of their actions. No coercive action will be taken against BJP candidate Arjun Singh for 7 days in cases lodged against him by WB Police, says the Supreme Court. (Photo: Twitter/ ANI) New Delhi: Supreme Court on Wednesday gave protection from arrest for five days to BJP candidate from Barrackpore constituency in West Bengal, Arjun Singh, in view of various cases lodged against him. A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra and Justice MR Shah grants protection to Singh from arrest in cases registered against him by the West Bengal police. The Supreme Court has stated that violence has become common in West Bengal and for no issue, some people fight. No coercive action will be taken against BJP candidate Arjun Singh for 7 days in cases lodged against him by WB Police, the apex court has also stated. The Supeme Court said its order granting protection to BJP candidate Arjun Singh will cease after May 28, and has asked him to seek bail before appropriate forum. Keep yourself updated on Lok Sabha Elections 2019 with our round-the-clock coverage -- breaking news, updates, analysis et al. Happy reading. The Barkery Bootique in New Milford has a new home in town. The store, which specializes in dog and cat food, supplies and accessories, has moved from Bank Street to 92 Park Lane Road (Route 202). The new site is more than double the size of the Bank Street space and has ample parking. This is just perfect, said owner Debbie Bauman, citing the shops location between Sharoans Hair Studio and the Cider Mill, near the intersection of routes 202 and 109. Bauman said although she is disappointed to leave downtown, the move comes with positive benefits, the biggest one being accessibility. Customers will no longer have to vie for parking on Bank Street, as they have since the shop settled into the Bank Street storefront in 2007. I love it, said longtime customer Jessica Brown of New Milford on her second visit to the stores new home. Its nice and bright, and an easy in and out. For years, many customers who bought bags of pet food and other bulky items at the store had to make their purchases and then, if their vehicle wasnt in close proximity to the store, move their car to pick up their purchases. Bauman and her staff would often carry goods to the curb, so customers could pick them up. It was doable. But now customers can easily pull in and out right in front of the stores entrance. In addition to expanded parking, Bauman has much more space to display the stores products and offer in-store events in the future. Weve never had room before to do special events, she said. Now we have room to do fun events, maybe a dog whisperer, dog training, or more. The owner said she added only a handful of items to the new store, even though it looks like there are many more products. We put the products out so they can be seen easier, she said. Ive always had everything, its just displayed differently. The store sells dry, can and raw food for dogs and cats, as well as treats. Its people products in a bag, she said, describing the food and treats as all natural. Bauman focuses on carrying products that are all natural, organic and made with quality ingredients so customers know where the product is sourced. The shop sells several dog treats that are made locally, including Pauls Custom Pet Food in New Milford. All natural, human grade, gluten free, wheat free products we have it, Bauman said. She prefers to work with family-owned and operated companies that sell healthy, natural, organic products, including food and treats. Among them, Rawz, Honest Kitchen, Fromm and others, and for raw food, Primal and Steves. Some of the companies she works with use proceeds to benefit canine medical issues. Resident Hamilton Brower, who with his dog, Buddy, has been a customer since 2007, praised Bauman for making the store a hub for everything healthy for a pet. Ive been a big fan since day one, and Im an even bigger fan now, Brower said, adding the conversations he has had with Bauman have proved invaluable. The store also carries pet collars and scarves; bowls; natural flea/tick products; dog shampoos, pillows, clothes and life vests; dog and cat toys; and T-shirts, hats, stickers and a few other accessories for animal owners. A tag engraving machine is also located on site. A display case filled with baked goods, in particular cookies and cakes, including birthday cakes, is a popular stop for many patrons. Although her business is no longer located downtown, Bauman said she plans to continue to be part of the community and special events, including a pet parade, which she has organized for several years. The Barkery Bootique is located at 92 Park Lane Road (Route 202) in New Milford. For more information, call 860-210-1312 or visit www.barkerybootique.com. To The Editor: The New Milford Food Bank and Loaves & Fishes Hospitality House would like to thank the United States postal carriers of New Milford for an amazing campaign this year with Stamp Out Hunger. The weather was on our side this year and we received 6,750 pounds of food dropped off by 20 postal trucks. These donations will help feed over 280 families through weekly distributions from the food bank. In addition, donations will help Loaves & Fishes serve daily meals to 20 to 30 people. We would also like to thank all New Milford residents who so generously left non-perishable food donations by their mailboxes. And, lastly, our special gratitude to volunteers from the New Milford Youth Agency, the New Milford Food Bank and Loaves & Fishes, who worked tirelessly to help sort and stock the pantries. This is a very important event that we look forward to every year as a critical means of helping local families with their food needs. If anyone did not have the opportunity to donate and would like to, please bring non-perishables to the food bank at New Milford Social Services at the John Pettibone Community Center, 2 Pickett District Road, Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 a.m to 4 p.m. and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Loaves & Fishes, on the lower level at 40 Main St., daily from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Hunger doesnt take a vacation. With immense appreciation, we thank you. Lisa Martin Chief Operating Officer Loaves & Fishes Hospitality House Ivana Butera Director of Social Services New Milford Housatonic Habitat for Humanity will hold a 10th anniversary sale at its store, ReStore, May 28 through June 1 to thank customers for their support of its mission of building workforce housing for first-time homebuyers in the Greater Danbury area. ReStore, located at 51 Austin St. in Danbury, will offer featured discounts each of the five days. Not for shoppers only, the week will include a series of programs for all family members from dads to teens. Headlining the activities on June 1 will be three free STEM workshops led by Microsoft associates, including coding in Minecraft, creating a robotic finger, and creating digital art with Windows 10. Children of all ages are invited to play at the six XBox gaming stations. The Bach to Rock Music School of Ridgefield will also provide hands-on opportunities for those interested in trying a new instrument. Its students will perform throughout the day. Macaroni Kids, a local newsletter, will host a crafts tent for children, and two DIY classes for adults will be offered. Foxtrot Home will be in the tent from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. for demonstrations. In addition, the American Red Cross will present a talk about safety and offer free smoke alaams from noon to 4 p.m. Treasure hunters love shopping for bargains at ReStore and even better, by doing so, they are helping us help the community, said executive director Fran Normann. ReStore helps fund Habitat for Humanitys mission to offer better access to housing for the community workforce by building strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter, Normann said. Housatonic Habitat for Humanity has built a total of 27 homes in Danbury, Newtown, Brookfield and New Milford. The Del Mar/Solana Beach Optimist Club held its 37th Annual Vic Kops Childrens Challenge Awards, celebrating eight outstanding elementary students in a league of their own. At the May 15 breakfast at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club, students won in the categories of community service, art, science fellowship, courage and humanities and went home with a certificate and $100. Meet the winners: Community Service: Caleigh Bijan, Ocean Air School fifth grader Teacher Tanya Lukomudrov said Caleigh is like sunshine on a cloudy day. Every day at school she greets everyone with a big smile and sets a positive tone for the day. She works to include everyone, is compassionate, kind, and always puts others first like last week when she offered her umbrella to a teacher who was getting soaked by the pouring rain. Caleigh makes people feel like theyre worth a million dollars and that is a community service that is of the greatest value, said Principal Ryan Stanley, reading Lukomudrovs words. Thanks Caleigh for making the world a better place, we are so truly grateful for you. Science: Guy Ashkenazi, Ashley Falls third grader Guy was honored for his interest, exploration and discovery in the field of science. Guy is a very curious and deep thinker and he especially gets excited and quite eager to learn and share what he knows about anything related to science, said teacher Sandy Johnson. Johnson said most recently he shared with his classmates what he has learned about Southern Californias Super Bloom and said that for a third grader, he has extensive knowledge of the Periodic Table of Elements. After a recent field trip to the San Elijo Lagoon, he took on the topic of addressing sewage outflow to help the lagoon and prevent pollutiona topic not picked by any other classmates. Art-Writing: Emily Chao, Sage Canyon fourth grader Emily a fourth grader at Sage Canyon was nominated by her mother Cindy Hsu. Emily loves to write every day, particularly poetry. Emily is such a joy to have in class and her writing is phenomenal, said her teacher Gina Abbamonte, noting she always looks forward to getting to Emilys work in her stack of papers as her writing is so much fun to read. You can truly tell how passionate she is by reading her writing. Art-Dance: London Thomas Brumond, Sycamore Ridge School fourth grader A love of art is a big part of the Brumond familylast year Londons sister Sharkey won a Childrens Challenge Award in the same category. London is a dancer, taking classes with Love to Dance Inc. She dances tap, ballet and jazz and is also a part of the competition dance team. When she is on stage, thats where your eye goes, she shines, said her mother Mariah, who nominated her for the award. In addition to dance, London also sings in a rock band. Art-Music: Elena Burington, Ashley Falls School third grader Elena has been playing piano since she was 5 years old. She had expressed and interest in playing the drums but her mother Amy Mandel-Burington was hesitant. After trying the drums in an introductory rhythm class at The Foundation Music Center, her mom was astonished: The first time she sat down she sounded like shes been doing it all her life, said Mandel-Burington, immediately signing her up for a rock band program where they discovered she also had a talent for singing. Elena has also inspired her parents: her dad took up bass and mom started taking guitar. They recently had their first family music performance together. Fellowship: Kellen Gawie, Del Mar Heights fourth grader Teacher Susie Hopper said that Kellen is the most optimistic child you will ever meet. He is delightfully positive, quick with a compliment, always looking out for others in need and helping fellow students. Hopper said one day in class she was asking her students what kind of reward they would like for their effort on a task when Kellen asked: Cant I just do it to learn? You can imagine how having this voice in my class helps persuade the others to try a little harder and, even more importantly, to help spread the joy of learning, said Hopper, who was brought to tears at the thought of this happy little soul. Courage: Luke Schneider, Carmel Del Mar first grader Courage exploits usually come from a tale of woe, said teacher Cathie Hays. But there is nothing woeful about her student Luke, a smiling example of determination and courage. Luke came from China this year where he spent some time in an orphanage. Hays said he taught the students in her class about what it means to be an orphan and speaks to her often about his parents in heaven and his new family here. This child has taught me more this year about how to take what life gives you and just keep going, Hays said. Humanities: Kristen Rosskopf, Carmel Del Mar first grader After seeing the musical Hamilton with her family, Kristen became fascinated with history and read a novel on her own about Alexander Hamilton to learn more. The play helped spark an interest in history that is amazing for a first grader, said teacher Andrea Appel. She has gone on to read books on the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War and she is also very interested in current events and learning about other cultures. I am very, very lucky as her teacher to have witnessed her curiosity and her passion for history on a daily basis, said teacher Andrea Appel. She is definitely a global thinker. The Childrens Challenge Awards fearless leader Susan Pfleeger was in the hospital and could not attend what is always her most favorite morning as an Optimist. The awards were her friend Vic Kops baby and she took over running them after his death in 2007. Holly Palmer of the Del Mar Union School District, who has worked with Pfleeger for many years on the awards, nominated Pfleeger for what she called the Vic Kops Adult Challenge Award in the categories of community service, fellowship and courage. The impact she has had over all these years on children throughout several school districts is amazing. Each child who gets an award will never forget that recognition and will carry that accomplishment with them throughout their life, Palmer said. She has faced and continues to face great challenges with extraordinary bravery, endurance and effort. Her impact on those around her is magnified by her kind and true spirit. A Cleveland woman was arrested the afternoon of May 21 following an armed robbery at Key Bank, 8405 Munson Road in Mentor. Police stated that the bank was robbed just before 1 p.m. by a woman carrying a handgun. Mentor police found the suspects vehicle traveling westbound on Route 2, but their pursuit was terminated shortly after for safety reasons, according to a press release. Wickliffe police were then able to locate the vehicle and used spikes to slow the car, but the vehicle continued eastbound on I-90 before stopping near SOM Center Road. Shannita M. Martin, 28, was taken into custody. The release stated that an undisclosed amount of money and a handgun were recovered in the arrest. No injuries were reported in the robbery or pursuit. An investigation is ongoing, the release stated. Martin could face charges for aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony. Skip to Menopause is a natural phenomenon which occurs in women as they age. It is defined as the permanent absence of menstrual activity due to loss of ovarian follicular development. It is diagnosed retrospectively when 12 consecutive months have elapsed after a woman's last menstrual cycle. The years leading up to menopause are called the menopausal transition, and are typically between 45 and 55 years of age. Menopause brings numerous physical and psychological changes. During the transitional phase, also referred to as perimenopause, women may notice changes in the length of the monthly cycles, with eventual cessation, and the appearance of hot flashes among the most bothersome symptom of menopause. Perimenopause is linked to fluctuations in the production of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. During the transition from perimenopause to postmenopause, the ovaries produce less and less estrogen. Thus the levels of circulating 17-estradiol are low, with elevated levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). As a result, women develop estrogen deficiency once they reach menopause. This in turn causes physiological and cognitive impairments in postmenopausal women. Decreased bone density is common in women going through menopause; this increases their susceptibility to fractures. Menopause may also lead to a decrease in muscle strength and sarcopenia (loss of skeletal muscle mass). Alterations in body mass increase the incidence of functional ailments and other diseases during this period. How does menopause affect white blood cell numbers? The Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis (ERMA) study is an on-going Finnish trial to assess the transformations that occur between pre-menopause and the post-menopausal stage. The study is also investigating the correlation between the psychological factors and the various hormonal changes that occur during this transition. The researchers observed that postmenopausal women had a lower total leukocyte count and differential neutrophil count. However, the relative percentage of lymphocytes was higher than in perimenopausal women. Lymphocyte values were found to correlate with estradiol and FSH values. Lymphocyte surrounded by red blood cells, 3D illustration. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock Lymphocytes and neutrophils are key mediators of various inflammatory pathways. Chronic low-grade inflammation may escalate with aging, which may ultimately pave the way for a plethora of chronic diseases. These findings are expected to yield exciting data related to menopausal hormonal changes, which may ultimately help to improve the health of middle-aged women. Does menopause affect platelet count? Platelets play a key role in thrombosis, and hence are important mediators in endometrial hemostasis following menstrual events. A low estrogen concentration in postmenopausal women is considered to be responsible for the decreased platelet count. Platelet activation is also decreased in this group. Blood profile in menopausal women Menopausal women are reported to have higher red cell counts, haemoglobin concentrations, haematocrits and increased mean cell volume (MCV). One study demonstrated a progressive increase in haemoglobin concentration from 40 years to 65 years. This was attributed to the effects of the hormonal environment at menopause as well as the cessation of monthly bleeding which caused or aggravated iron deficiency. Another study found that estrogen administration caused increased proliferation of haematopoetic stem cells (HSCs), which could explain the higher blood counts in women during the reproductive years. Sources Vuokko K., et al. (2018). Design and protocol of Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis (ERMA) study with 47 to 55-year-old women's cohort: novel results show menopause-related differences in blood count. Menopause. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000001117 National Institute of Aging. What Is Menopause? (2017). https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/what-menopause University of Jyvaskyla. Leucocyte amount proportions associate with menopausal stage (2018). www.jyu.fi/.../leucocyte-amount-proportions-associate-with-menopausal-stage Nancy I., et al.(2016). Changes in Haematological Indices of Women at Different Fertility Periods in Nnewi, South-East, Nigeria. The Journal of Medical Research. http://www.medicinearticle.com/JMR_201626_10.pdf Cruikshank J. M. (1970). Some variations in the normal haemoglobin concentration. British Journal of Haematology. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.1970.tb00773.x Nakada D. (2014). Oestrogen increases haematopoietic stem-cell self-renewal in females and during pregnancy. Nature. doi: 10.1038/nature12932 Aldrighi J. M. (2005). Platelet activation status decreases after menopause. Gynecological Endocrinology. doi: 10.1080/09513590500097549 Further Reading In the heavily male-dominated firefighting profession, females seem to take on a majority of stress. Consuelo Arbona, UH professor of counseling psychology reports in the journal Occupational Medicine that one-fifth of female firefighters in a large, urban fire department experience post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and are at higher risk of contemplating suicide than their male colleagues. Until now, little has been known regarding the mental health of female firefighters. Arbona's study is unusual because her team separately evaluated data from women and men in the same fire department and examined their responses against each other. Because women are such a small number of the population in each fire station, they have been somewhat overlooked when they are included in larger studies and their unique issues are lost. This study begins to explore work and mental health characteristics of women firefighters who make up a population that needs better understanding." Consuelo Arbona, UH professor of counseling psychology One issue that seems to impact female firefighters in a more profound way than their male counterparts is the need for second jobs to make ends meet. "Women who had second jobs tended to show higher levels of stress, possibly due to having children at home. The findings indicate that this is a good area for psychologists working with the women to explore for effective intervention," said Arbona. Arbona and her team of graduate students culled through data collected from 2,639 firefighters. Of those, only 75 respondents were women and approximately 20% of them scored positively for PTSD and 30% reported lifetime suicidal ideation. Women with PTSD symptoms were more likely to be in their mid-career years than in their first 10 years on the job. It is no secret that duty-related exposure to emotionally charged and hazardous situations with the potential threat of serious injury, disfigurement or death elevates firefighters' risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and suicidal ideation. In other words, the symptoms don't come on suddenly. Our work provides empirical evidence that mental health variables like depression, general stress and having seen a mental health professional were positively associated with PTSD and suicidal ideation for both gender groups." Consuelo Arbona Arbona hopes the study opens the avenue for discussion about screening and intervention efforts with focus on mental health risk correlates of PTSD and suicide ideation. In 2017 in the United States, 103 firefighters committed suicide, whereas 93 firefighters died in the line of duty, but that might only represent about 40% of the suicide deaths according to a Ruderman Family Foundation study, which indicates firefighter suicides are underreported. Source: University of Houston Journal reference: Arbona, C. et al. (2019) PTSD symptoms and suicidal ideation in US female firefighters. Occupational Medicine. doi.org/10.1093/occmed/kqz057. If a genetically or synthetically engineered organism is released into the environment, how will we know? How can we tell it apart from the millions of microorganisms that exist naturally in the wild? That's the challenge being taken on by a multi-institution research team, including Eric Young, assistant professor of chemical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), that is developing a biosecurity tool that can detect engineered microorganisms based on their unique DNA signatures. Genetic engineering, in which genes are added to the genomes of organisms, and synthetic biology, which focuses on understanding and designing better DNA sequences, are both used today to make a wide array of products, such as pharmaceuticals, like insulin, and agricultural crops. Genetic engineering also is used by biotechnology companies--from start-ups to multinational corporations--to manufacture products like detergents, food ingredients, and biofuels. For decades, the U.S. government has sponsored research on and development of engineered organisms and better ways to design DNA, while the government and the synthetic biology community have worked together to develop safety and ethical practices to ensure the organisms that are made are safe and can be contained. For example, the government has sponsored the development of "kill switches" that make it impossible for engineered organisms to survive outside the lab. Recently, the U.S. government and research scientists have identified a need for new tools that can identify engineered organisms when they are mixed in with a myriad of naturally occurring microorganisms. These tools could eventually be deployed to detect engineered organisms in the environment. They could be used to protect a company's intellectual property should an organism it designed accidentally escape the lab or to detect intentional releases of potentially harmful organisms. This is the task being taken on by the multi-institutional team charged with developing such a tool. The project is funded by an 18-month award from the Finding Engineering Linked Indicators (FELIX) program, which is run through Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), an organization within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that funds research to address challenges facing the U.S. intelligence community. The award has a second phase that could be renewed for an additional 24 months. Raytheon, a Massachusetts-based defense contractor, is the primary contractor; Young, who has received a $377,746 award for his part of the project, is one of five subcontractors. The others are Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University, University of California at San Francisco, and Mission Bio, a San Francisco-based biotech company. We realize the power of engineering and bioengineering, whose expertise is in synthetic biology, including the genetic engineering of bacteria, yeast, and fungi. We are excited about the promise of synthetic biology, but we also have an ethical responsibility to think about the potentially negative uses of the technologies we develop. My lab is developing engineered organisms to solve problems, and we use safety practices beyond what we are required to use. Hopefully, this project will lead us to a low-cost tool that we can use to make sure everyone is working to prevent the release of organisms into the environment, from universities to manufacturing plants to DIY bio enthusiasts in their garages." Eric Young, Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Scientists create engineered microorganisms by introducing new genes into their genomes that enable them to produce valuable drugs, biofuels, or food products. A bacterium containing the human gene for producing insulin, or a yeast bearing multiple genes from several organisms to make the antimalarial drug artemisinin are examples. Because many of the genes in these engineered organisms exist in nature, telling them apart from non-engineered organisms in soil or water samples can be challenging. "It's akin to finding the proverbial needle in a haystack," Young said. He added that the key to making that distinction will be identifying genetic signatures for each organism. By virtue of the way they are produced, the majority of genetically engineered organisms have one or more short sections of DNA that are unique to their genomes and make them different from their non-engineered cousins. These DNA signatures can be used as markers to quickly spot an engineered organism in a population of naturally occurring microorganisms. Young's role in the research project is to generate examples of bioengineered organisms that contain these specific markers. "We are supplying the 'expert' information the detection device will look for," he said. "We are taking into account the genetic engineering of the past 50 years and reducing all of that knowledge and information down to a set of essential signatures for bioengineered organisms that we would most likely need to find. It's up to our sponsor and the team to decide which organisms are important, and we help decide what signatures we have to look at. It's very exciting work." Initially, Young, who is working with two graduate students, will focus on brewer's yeast, which he says is increasingly becoming the organism-of-choice for bioengineering companies because it is easy to engineer and simple to grow, given the decades of large-scale fermentation experience in the brewing industry. The signatures he is identifying will be useful for detecting known engineered organisms that may have come from corporate and university labs. Detecting potentially harmful organisms that may have been intentionally released into the environment will be a greater challenge. "It's a whole lot more complicated when you don't know what organisms you might need to look for," he said. "We have to think about what is most likely to be out there and what would somebody with limited resources create. We need to create tools that can detect a wide range of engineered organisms. And they need to be flexible enough that they could detect a specific set of signatures but then detect newly added signatures as they are found. We are helping develop a technology to do that." The knowledge Young is generating will ultimately be incorporated into a benchtop detection device that will be developed by other members of the research team. Other team members are creating machine learning algorithms that will find new signatures that experts may not identify. Young said he expects a usable detection device for yeast will be ready at the conclusion of the program, but it could be five to 10 years before the more complex challenges are solved. Source: Worcester Polytechnic Institute A Del Mar City Council debate over whether domestic partners should be allowed to serve simultaneously on the towns decision-making bodies ended with no decision after a one-and-a-half-hour discussion Wednesday, May 22. With no resolution within grasp at 11:45 p.m., council members agreed to postpone further dialogue on the issue to an unspecified future date. The argument stemmed from a request placed on the agenda by council members Ellie Haviland and Dwight Worden. They asked their colleagues to approve a policy that would allow spouses and domestic partners significant others to occupy seats on the City Council and other decision-making boards at the same time, while requiring those individuals to abstain from decisions that might create illegal conflicts of interest. Haviland and Worden explained their goal was to propose a clear policy that spells out practices already in place or recently clarified by the city attorney amid an ongoing community controversy. My hope is ... it will help to clarify this situation and will protect Del Mars long and proud history of citizen involvement, Haviland said. It was a desire for transparency that started this conversation, so lets be transparent about how to end it. Mayor David Druker objected, saying that the proposed policy left too much room for interpretation and potential for abuse. We (in Del Mar) need to be at a very high bar, Druker said. That is the expectation of our constituents. The controversy arises from the election of Haviland to the City Council in 2016, while her husband, Tim Haviland, was a member of the citys Design Review Board. With his term expiring last month, he applied for reappointment, and was among five candidates for the post considered by the council at its April 15 meeting. His application generated opposition among many observers, saying his continuing to serve with his wife on the council creates the potential for conflicts of interest in decision-making. Also, they argued it would violate an unwritten civic policy in which spouses traditionally have passed up opportunities to participate on boards while their partner was on the council. Others, however, argued, in favor of Havilands reappointment, emphasizing his knowledge, while expressing their confidence that any conflict issues could be addressed appropriately. As recommended by the city attorney, Councilwoman Haviland abstained from the April proceeding. The councils vote was split. Worden and Councilwoman Sherryl Parks favored Tim Havilands reappointment while Druker and Councilwoman Terry Gaasterland voted for Karen Lare. As a result, the council directed the city clerk to reopen the application process to fill the review board vacancy, while extending Havilands tenure on an interim basis until his seat is filled. Anticipating the showdown at the April 15 meeting, Druker and Gaasterland in an early March council meeting brought up the idea of creating a policy that would prohibit significant others from serving on Del Mar boards at the same time. City Attorney Leslie Devaney said its not against the law for spouses and romantic partners to serve on councils, boards and committees at the same time. She said potential conflicts should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis as they arise. The March discussion also ended without resolution. In the few days prior to Wednesdays session, the city received dozens of letters mostly opposed to the policy proposed by Haviland and Worden and supporting a prohibition on allowing significant others to serve together on Del Mars council and quasi-judicial panels. A visit to the doctor's office typically begins with a series of questions, including one about medications. An Iowa State University researcher recommends doctors ask a follow up to that question to make sure patients are taking their medications as prescribed. Alison Phillips, an associate professor of psychology, says medication adherence is vital to patient health and outcomes. However, research shows 20 to 50 percent of patients forget or do not take their meds for various reasons. While doctors know adherence is a problem, Phillips says they avoid asking about it, because patients struggle to recall missed pills or give an answer they think doctors want to hear rather than admit the truth. Understanding these challenges, Phillips and co-author Elise A. G. Duwe, former postdoctoral researcher in Phillips' lab and resident physician at Northeast Iowa Family Medicine Education Foundation, tested whether doctors could effectively estimate adherence by reading transcripts of patients' descriptions of their medication routine. The study, published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, is one of the first to find doctors were as accurate in estimating patients' adherence as patients were in reporting the medications they had taken. Most doctors do not discuss adherence with their patients, but they should. If it's too uncomfortable to ask if they're taking their medications, doctors should ask patients about their habits. It can offer insight on adherence or at the very least be a conversation starter for a topic normally not addressed." Alison Phillips, associate professor of psychology Routines are revealing Patients in the study were asked to describe their daily routine for taking medication and to recall how many days during the last week they missed a pill. Researchers used a medication monitoring system to track compliance for the following month. The system attaches to a pill bottle and records the date and time when the bottle is opened. Of the 156 patients, 75 took a pill for hypertension, the other 81 were on medication for type-2 diabetes. Phillips and Duwe shared examples of how patients described their medication-taking routines. A patient with high adherence: "Get up, take it very first thing because must be time lag between taking it and eating. Then shower and shave then eat." A patient with low adherence: "I take it twice a day with food. I try to take it at lunch and dinner. But sometimes I slip up and end up taking at different times." Researchers shared this data with doctors and asked them to estimate adherence (for percentage of prescribed doses taken and percentage of doses taken on time) based on patient descriptions and recall. The estimates were compared to adherence rates calculated by the monitoring system. Phillips says the doctors were just as good at estimating patients' adherence from the patients' routine descriptions as they were when estimating from patients' direct reports of missed pills. Helping patients develop a routine If patients do not have a medication routine or habit, developing one will lessen their risk of forgetting, Phillips said. She plans to build upon the research by designing and testing interventions for doctors to share with patients they identify as less likely to adhere. Phillips says there are several reasons why patients do not take their medications. For some, cost and access is a barrier. Others do not trust medications and would rather make lifestyle changes than take a pill. Even those who accept they need the medication may think they can take a break or only take half of what is prescribed, she said. Lauren Walls has lived with panic attacks, nightmares and flashbacks for years. The 26-year-old San Antonio teacher sought help from a variety of mental health professionals including spending five years and at least $20,000 with one therapist who used a Christian-faith-based approach, viewing her condition as part of a spiritual weakness that could be conquered but her symptoms worsened. She hit a breaking point two years ago, when she contemplated suicide. In her search for help, Walls encountered a psychiatrist who diagnosed her with post-traumatic stress disorder. As a result, she sought out a therapist who specialized in trauma treatment, and that's when she finally experienced relief. "It was just like a world of difference," Walls said. Seeing herself as someone with PTSD was odd at first, Walls recalled. She isn't a military veteran and thought PTSD was a diagnosis reserved for service members. But her psychologist, Lindsay Bira, explained that she likely developed the mental disorder from years of childhood abuse, neglect and poverty. PTSD has long been associated with members of the military who have gone through combat, and with first responders who may face trauma in their work. It's also associated with survivors of sexual assault, car accidents and natural disasters. Researchers have also found that it can develop in adults who've experienced chronic childhood trauma from physical, emotional or sexual abuse by caregivers, to neglect or other violations of safety. Walls was fortunate to find a therapist trained to treat PTSD. Outside of military and veterans' health facilities, finding knowledgeable help is often difficult. Only a portion of the more than 423,000 mental health counselors, therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists in the U.S. are trained in two key therapies, called Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Prolonged Exposure (PE) therapy. These are treatments recommended as part of a patient's care by the American Psychiatric Association and the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has studied treatments for PTSD since it affects many service members. There is no definitive tally of people trained in these therapies, and neither the American Psychiatric Association nor the American Psychological Association tracks this data. A 2014 study by the Rand Corp. found that only about a third of psychotherapists had the training. The VA says over 6,000 of its therapists have, although rosters for the CPT and PE organizations list just a few hundred total practitioners. Nonetheless, the VA's National Center for PTSD wants to expand access to these treatments, and regional groups, including those in Texas, are following its lead. Texas has a need for more PTSD providers: It ranks No. 2 nationwide for its number of human-trafficking victims; it's the leading state for refugee resettlement; it has the most unaccompanied child migrants of any state; and Texas is second only to California in the number of military service members all factors that raise the risk of PTSD. UT Health San Antonio, a University of Texas medical school and hospital, teaches community mental health providers how to provide the two PTSD therapies through its Strong Star Training Initiative. Funded by the Texas Veterans + Family Alliance grant program and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, it has trained 500 providers since it started in 2017. Most training takes place in San Antonio, and many of the mental health professionals who participate are Texas-based, though they also come from Florida, Illinois and other states. In February, about 20 therapists gathered in a conference room at the medical school for instruction. Calleen Friedel, a San Antonio-based marriage and family therapist, was one of them. She said she is seeing more people with PTSD and often feels inept at helping them. "I would just do what I know and do my own reading," Friedel said. "And what I was taught in graduate school, which was, like, over 20 years ago." The group learned about one of the mainstream therapies, Prolonged Exposure therapy, which gradually exposes patients to trauma memories to help reduce PTSD symptoms. Strong Star also teaches Cognitive Processing Therapy, which involves helping the patients learn to reframe their thoughts about the trauma. But both therapies often referred to as "evidence-based treatments" have been slow to gain traction among psychotherapists because they're closely scripted and differ from the common therapeutic approach to mental health issues. Edna Foa, who created PE, said in a 2013 journal article that many psychotherapists believe delving into a patient's inner life and history is central to their work. By contrast, highly structured evidence-based treatments with their pre- and post-session evaluations and their focus on symptom relief can seem "narrow and boring," she wrote. Indeed, some people living with PTSD have complained that the treatments don't work for everyone. But Foa and others argue the focused approach targets the brain's mechanisms that cause PTSD symptoms, and symptom relief is what many living with PTSD want. Edwina Martin, a psychologist in Bonham, Texas, said treatments like the ones she's learning at Strong Star weren't mainstream when she finished school more than 10 years ago. She now is employed at a VA health center after working for a decade in prisons, and she said she wants these in her "tool bag." The push to expand the workforce coincides with a growing understanding of trauma's effects. The National Council for Behavioral Health, a nonprofit organization of mental health care providers, calls trauma a "near universal experience" for people with mental and behavioral health issues. Because so many patients think that PTSD is mostly a military problem, Bira said, they encounter a roadblock to recovery. "I get that all the time," Bira said. "The beginning stages in treatment that I find with civilians are really about educating [them] about what PTSD is and who can develop it." Delivery of antiretroviral HIV treatment via community-based clubs can reduce retention of patients in care, according to a new research study published in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Colleen Hanrahan of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland and colleagues. Credit: London, Flickr Despite advances in preventing and treating HIV infection, around a million people die from AIDS-related illnesses each year. To improve provision of very effective antiretroviral therapy to patients and thereby delay or prevent progression to disease, researchers are investigating methods of Differentiated Service Delivery (DSD) that make treatments available in ways that are more accessible to patients and can reduce issues such as stigma. A key question is how best to retain patients in care, ensuring consistent therapy and monitoring. Hanrahan and colleagues did a randomized trial in Johannesburg, South Africa to compare retention of HIV patients in community-based adherence clubs with similar clinic-based clubs. The study involved clubs of 2530 patients meeting in a community venue every other month for counseling, medication pick-up and screening for tuberculosis, as compared with those meeting in a clinic-based venue. Although community-based clubs are intended to be more convenient to patients and reduce pressure on clinics, as judged by the trials primary endpoint 52% of patients were lost from community-based care over 2 years, as compared with 43% lost from clinic-based care (adjusted HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.011.87, p=0.032). Missing a club session was the most common reason for loss from care. As part of the study, patients lost to care were returned to standard clinic-based care, and health outcomes were similar in the two groups. In an accompanying Perspective article discussing the research, Elvin Geng and Charles Holmes note that DSD models are no panacea for complex issues in global health systems, but do represent a strategic pillar of the HIV response likely to grow in impact over time. Source: PLOS Journal reference: Hanrahan, C.F. et al. (2019) The impact of community- versus clinic-based adherence clubs on loss from care and viral suppression for antiretroviral therapy patients: Findings from a pragmatic randomized controlled trial in South Africa. PLOS Medicine. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1002808. The anti-tumor protein p53 can decide on the life or death of a cell: If it detects damage in the cell's genome, the protein pushes the cell to suicide. New research conducted at Technical University of Munich (TUM) shows that this inborn cancer prevention only works when special proteins, known as chaperones, allow it to take place. A cancer therapy without side-effects, that specifically attacks only tumor cells: still a dream for doctors and patients alike. But nature has long since developed exactly this kind of focused anti-tumor program. Each of our cells is equipped with it: When serious damage to the genome is detected, the cell destroys itself, thus preventing the growth of the tumor. A research team in Munich has now decoded the complex regulatory mechanism, which involves a number of different proteins. We've known for some time that such a regulatory mechanism exists, and that the tumor suppressor protein p53 plays a key role. What was not known before was the role played by molecular chaperones in regulating the cellular machinery." Prof. Johannes Buchner, who holds the TUM Professorship for Biotechnology A closer look at the molecular machine The chaperones, as they are called in biotechnology, are proteins that make sure that other proteins fold properly and thus remain functional. In their laboratory the researchers demonstrated that two groups of these "escort" proteins, Hsp70 and Hsp40 as well as Hsp90, control the function of the tumor suppressor protein p53 by influencing its three-dimensional structure. The biochemists investigated what happens in the test tube upon adding the chaperones Hsp40 and Hsp70 to a solution containing p53. p53 lost its ability to bind to DNA, meaning that its biological activity also ceased. Fluorescence reveals the structure But what makes all this work? To answer this question, the scientists marked p53 with fluorescent dyes, making it possible for them to monitor the structure of individual p53 molecules. In isolation, p53 alone is folded; under the influence of Hsp40 and Hsp70 it is completely unfolded, consuming energy in the process. The opposite effect was observed when the chaperone Hsp90 was added: It put the unfolded p53 back into its active, folded form. "We were very surprised by this enormous impact of the chaperones," Buchner recalls. "Here the cell has an extremely complex regulatory mechanism which the chaperones use to keep the tumor suppressor protein in line." As long as these molecular escorts are available, p53 stays unfolded and biologically inactive. But if the cell comes under pressure and the chaperones have to keep the peace at another location, p53 folds, binds to the DNA and, when necessary, triggers the cellular suicide. According to Buchner, an understanding of this molecular interaction could in the future help to better understand the role of proteins and to find new points of attack for cancer therapies. The structure of p53 was investigated using Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET). The procedure is based on the concept that when the protein labeled with the donor dye is excited by light, it triggers the acceptor dye molecules, at a distance of only a few nanometers, to emit light thereby revealing structural changes in a protein. Working together with a team led by Prof. Don Lamb at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the researchers were thus able to measure individual p53 molecules and to observe how these molecules change their structure under the influence of Hsp40 and Hsp70 or Hsp90. Source: Technical University of Munich (TUM) Journal reference: Buchner, J. et al. (2019) Coordinated conformational processing of the tumor suppressor protein p53 by the Hsp70 and Hsp90 chaperone machineries. Molecular Cell. doi.org/10.1016/j.molcel.2019.03.026. When Sam Andrews formed Audacity Brass Band (ABB) with fellow Longwood University music student Tyler Gage in 2014, he received a lot of flack. Among the complaints was the wild, party energy of the music the group was creating, and crowds especially hated the cursing in their lyrics, Andrews explained in an email. When we first started, some people thought that we should be more like the school jazz bands, he added. Instead of moping, Andrews channeled his feelings into what would become the 10-piece bands anthem, Brap Attack! If you want Kenny G then you want soft jazz/The stuff is lame, well cool don't give no sass," Andrews raps on the track in what has become the groups signature style, dubbed brap (thats a combination of the words brass and rap in case you missed it). Five years after starting the group, no one is complaining about ABB, which plays a free show at Beales Beer in Bedford on Saturday. We started out playing at events on campus like Spring Weekend, Oktoberfest, and [Longwood University radio station] WMLU's Battle of the Bands and eventually worked our way off campus, Gage wrote in the same email. Its only grown from there. Just last month, one of the songs on the bands new album, The Chemically Imbalanced, was featured on Relix Magazines April/May sampler CD that accompanied its 50 Years of Jazz Fest issue; the playlist is also available on Spotify. We were looking for artists that had that authentic New Orleans sound and Audacity Brass Band had just that, Connor Falvey, Relixs manager of business development, wrote in an email. ... Even though they aren't from New Orleans they have the spirit and energy of a party band you would find playing top-notch venues in The Big Easy or marching down Bourbon or Frenchman Street. Following a summer tour that spans from Baltimore, Maryland, to Myrtle Beach, ABB will play a set at Lockn Festival in August as one of this years Rockn to Lockn winners. Dave Frey, co-organizer of Lockn, said the group, which recently moved from Farmville to Richmond, competed against 200 other Virginia bands to earn one of three spots in the lineup. Theres other brass bands out there, but these guys, their energy was infectious, said Josh Read, co-owner of Fifth & Federal Station, who saw the band perform during Rockn to Lockn and has since booked them for a show on June 7. The way they play and the spirit behind the music and how they all groove together, it's something special to behold for sure. They bring a sort of young, but really unique, talented sound that is impossible to replicate in a normal band. Before the show at Beales, Gage talked about the bands approach to jazz, incorporating rap into jazz, and winning Rockn to Lockn. Audacity is such a great word. Why include it as part of your name? When Sam and I were in the beginning stages of planning out the band, we were music students at Longwood University. At the time we were taking a composition class and using the cheapest (worst) recording software we could find because we were broke college kids. That software was called Audacity. We said it as a joke at first, then when were heard the direction of the music going into a nontraditional form of brass band music, we decided that it was a great name. I love how you described yourself as "shiny heavy metal" at one point. What is Audacity's approach to jazz? When people think of jazz, your mind immediately goes to the Big Band Era. But every jazz artist was always looking for that new place to go. It's like that in every style of music, musicians have so many different influences that change the direction of their sound. With Audacity having 10 members, we have a huge variety of writing styles. We may have started with the intention of being a traditional, second line brass band but with the addition of a bass player and all of these musicians writing, we have been labeled as a new wave New Orleans-style brass band, much like the nu wave of alt-rock and heavy metal music in the 90s. Still the same concept, but it has so much more thrown in with it. Where does the rap come from? Are you going for that jazz rap of the '80s and '90s or something else entirely? I think that the rap is one of our truest tributes to New Orleans. America's music was mostly started from the African-American culture; jazz and rap. All other forms of American-born music come from that, and when we started to place more funk into the music, it fit very easily. Sam Andrews and another one of our original members, Andrew Bentley, are huge rap fans, so it made it easier for us to incorporate it because they knew the history. How do you balance so many points of view and streamline them to produce a consistent, energetic sound? I think this is what really sets us apart, we have so many completely different backgrounds in the band it really makes us who we are. You can hear it onstage too. When each member solos, you can hear where they have come from and what is going on with them now. There will never be a moment that you can see into music better than when they are improvising a solo. Every single part of their being is right there, and I don't ever want to balance that or try to control it. You were one of the Rockn to Lockn winners this year. Whats that feel like? We are crazy excited for it. Any musician that would shrug off this opportunity is a lunatic. We have been putting in some serious work for years in Charlottesville. ... It was an honor to look out over that crowd in the [Sprint] Pavilion and see so many familiar faces and our logo across so many shirts. We write the music because that is what we do, but we travel, cram into small hotel rooms, sleep five hours a day and go nonstop because of those people out there. Will Lockn' be the biggest stage you've played on? Will it be the biggest crowd you've performed for? A few of us have been in some touring bands prior to Audacity, but I do believe this will be the biggest show for any of us. I know it is going to be the most memorable. An Altavista Town Councilman is charged with two felony counts related to his election, according to Virginia State Police. Timothy H. George, 57, turned himself in to police Tuesday, according to an email from VSP spokesperson Corinne Geller. George has been a member of Altavista Town Council since early 2013 when he was appointed after then-council member Mike Mattox vacated his seat to become mayor. In 2014, George ran on a platform of economic development for both large and small businesses, and sought to bring new jobs to the town. Indictments filed against George on Monday state that he lied on a petition of qualified voters required by a section of state code that dictates candidates file a petition of signatures along with their declaration of candidacy. Police initiated the investigation last June into allegations related to George's campaign for council. George was indicted by a Campbell County grand jury Monday on two charges of perjury/false written statement, according to Geller's email. The charges are punishable as a Class 5 felony, and a conviction would result in George losing his seat on town council, and prohibit him from serving again. Further details behind George's charges were not immediately available. The charges are unrelated to earlier charges about prohibited activities at the polls alleged against two former Altavista Town Council members in 2017. He was released Monday on his own recognizance. The investigation continues. George could not be reached for comment on Wednesday. Officials with the town did not return calls seeking comment. 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. An ongoing shortage in nurses nationwide has led Centra to increasingly rely on traveling nurses to supplement its staff. Centras December 2017 end-of-year financials show it spent approximately $17.5 million on contract labor, which includes travel nurses, at the same time it was engaged in robust nursing recruiting efforts with the intent of eliminating the need for contract nurses by the end of 2018. In 2018, Centras "continued reliance on travel nurses to meet demands for services drove an increase of $11.7 million" a full 67% in contract labor expenses to $29.2 million total over 2017, according to financial disclosure documents. Centra revealed in December 2018 it would end the year with a negative operating margin for the first time in more than a decade. Officials pointed to the unforeseen costs of implementing the new electronic medical record system Cerner as the main driver, and the nursing shortage as a contributor. Regional and national nursing shortages have materially impacted Centras operations, financial disclosure documents filed with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board show. The board promotes a fair and efficient municipal market, regulates firms that engage in municipal security and advisory activities and promotes market transparency. While the nursing shortages are cyclical, according to Centra, the U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics is forecasting 1,182,000 vacancies in nursing nationwide between 2014 and 2024. Most hospitals in the country seek contracts with traveling nurses to supplement their staffs. Will we have traveling nurses next year? Yes. We would like to have less. However we will have as many as we need to provide the quality of care at the bedside that is demanded by our population, Michael Elliott, Centras senior vice president and chief operating officer said in December when he was acting as interim president. You will not speak with any health care organization across the nation, and perhaps the world, that wont talk about workforce being a big deal and the spearhead of that is the nursing workforce. A 2015 study on the costs of supplemental travel nurses published in the Journal of Nursing Care Quality showed the modest use of supplemental nurses was cost-efficient with regard to overall nursing personnel costs, but heavy reliance on supplemental nurses to meet staffing needs was not cost-efficient. Centras Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Curt Baker said Centra is better off than most health systems. Centra pays its staff nurses about two-thirds what it pays a travel nurse, according to Baker. Because the salaries of travel nurses are determined through a competitive bidding process, Baker would not reveal the salaries of employee nurses or contract nurses. Virginia Baptist and Lynchburg General hospitals employ about 1,230 acute-care nurses currently and of those, 160 are contract nurses, down from 184 in March, Baker said. He projects Centras travel nursing ranks will be below 100 by September, thanks in part to an influx of May graduates. Many of those will be from the Centra College of Nursing, according to Melody Sharp, dean of the college. Sharp said 92% of CCN graduates join Centra. This May, 42 students graduated from its RN program and in December Centra anticipates seeing another 148 graduate from its RN, LPN and RN-BSN programs combined. Centra also hires grads from Liberty University and University of Lynchburg, but in much smaller numbers. Tiffany Lyttle, who has been a nurse for six years and joined Centra four years ago, is grateful for traveling nurses. They decrease Centras nurse-to-patient ratio and give her more time to be better at her job. We are full all the time, said Lyttle, who lives in Forest. While there is no national nurse-to-patient standard Virginias hospitals must maintain, Baker said patient safety drives nurse staffing decisions, and thus how many travelers are brought in. In critical care, for example, Centra aims to have a one-to-one nurse-to-patient ratio. Lyttle said the appeal of becoming a traveling nurse is the money and paying off student loans, but personally she found it even more appealing to be able to work at her hometown hospital. The work is so much more meaningful because here is where I live, Lyttle said, adding that many traveling nurses have stayed in Lynchburg after a stint at Centra. I got a friend to stay because she loved working alongside the other nurses in our group, Lyttle said. I would love to see some of our travel nurses, which are very talented, stay. To that end, Centra is tweaking recruitment and retention efforts. There are numerous scheduling options, a focus on keeping nurse-to-patient ratios low and most notably, mandatory overtime which Centra called mandatory flex has been eliminated. Weve done a lot of things to improve our retention, Baker said. We have to make sure our salaries are competitive, our benefits are competitive, that we have attractive schedules. Centra now offers a residency program for new grads and a paid nurse externship program for those in their last year of school, and it continues to offer retention bonuses to new hires that are paid out over time. Its College of Nursing offers countless financial assistance programs and customizable education plans to attract and keep students. Acute-care nursing is hard we dont ever close, we dont have snow days, we work holidays, weekends, nights, so its a hard job, Baker said. Contact Amy Trent at (434) 385-5543 or atrent@newsadvance.com. Find her on Twitter: @amylynnetrent. 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. Seeking a path to raise salaries for dozens of Lynchburg City Schools lowest-paid employees to a living wage threshold drew support from several school board members during a work session Tuesday night. A living wage is loosely defined as the hourly rate an adult working full time needs to earn to meet basic needs such as housing, food and transportation. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which has created a living wage calculator, places the threshold in Lynchburg for one person at $11.28 per hour, or about $23,462 per year for a full-time worker. Board member Atul Gupta has advocated moving all employees up to a living wage because it would separate LCS from other school divisions and could draw more possible employees to the division. Looking from a human perspective, these are all members of our community, and we know many of them are below living wages. It takes incremental steps to reach our ideal place. This will maybe be a first step forward in lifting people up who we are not making wages that are livable wages, Gupta said. We have to start someplace, and this could be the starting point. The school division has about 85 classified employees who earn less than $11.28 per hour custodians and instructional assistants, for example, currently earn between $9.47 and $10.45 per hour, depending on the position. Other classified employees who fall below the threshold include student support assistants, delivery people and grounds workers. Tuesday, board members directed division administrators to look into how to address the gap. A 5.17% division-wide pay increase, OKd by city council in late April, will bring the divisions classified employees to $10.09 and $11.11 per hour, depending on the position. Superintendent Crystal Edwards said the division has about $2.2 million that hasnt been used for medical claims in the health budget and can be reallocated. The school division presented the board two scenarios for addressing concerns about employees not earning a living wage. For the first scenario, Lynchburg City Schools Director of Personnel Marie Gee said the division looked at adjusting rates to be around $11 because we thought thats a good first step, so employees were adjusted to be just below $11 or just above $11. Employees who reached $11 after the 5.17% raise were not adjusted. With the adjustment, employees depending on the position could make between $10.95 and $11.11, and move up a number of steps. For example, a part-time bus assistant currently on step two making $9.54 would be moved up to step six and make $10.95. Gee said it would cost the division $74,523 to adjust the employees hourly rate to close $11, and after the 2020-21 school year, everyone would be at or above living wage. Option two would bring all employees up to at least $11.28 and would cost about $119,676. When you get down to custodians, theyre going to jump to step 12 to [reach living wage]. Youre going to have people with zero experience or 10 years of experience going to step 12, Gee said. Gee said the overall cost doesnt include any increase in benefits, and the division simply ran their contract amount. Gee and Edwards both cautioned board members that they needed to take into consideration the implications of moving everyone up to a living wage threshold, which would include compression at the bottom of the scale and, for some employees, eliminating experience as a factor in their step placement. For example, if everyone was moved up to living wage a new bus assistant with zero to eight years of experience would make $11.28, while a new bus driver would make $11.49. A new custodian with zero to 10 years of experience would make $11.48 compared to a new head custodian with no experience making $11.33. Gee said it would be her dream to make it so no one in LCS has to do a second job, but I think the little steps were taking for our employees is very important. In December, the school board approved a salary schedule that added a zero step for people entering positions with no experience, eliminated repeating steps and placed staff on a comparable experience step. I dont want to step back from what we just accomplished, Gee said. Board members Kimberly Sinha, James Coleman and Charleta Mason all expressed concerns about retention and morale with moving all employees up to a living wage threshold because wages on different tiers would be close. Board member Michael Nilles said he had a general support for moving employees close to $11 because of issues with people getting compressed on steps with various experiences. Board members Sharon Carter, Robert Brennan Coleman, Gupta, Sinha and Mason all expressed support for moving everyone up to living wage. The board will continue to discuss the matter at its June 4 meeting. Defendants facing murder charges in Campbell County have been scheduled for either trial or sentencing dates. Marquie Brandon Williams, 26, of Lynchburg, was arrested in July and charged with second-degree murder, using a firearm in a felony and grand larceny in connection with the April 5, 2018 death of Appomattox woman Lisa Henderson. Hes now scheduled for a weeklong trial starting Oct. 7. His co-defendant, 22-year-old Felix Jerome Jefferson III, is facing charges of second-degree murder, using a firearm in a felony, grand larceny, being an accessory after the fact in a felony and being an accessory after the fact in a homicide. Jeffersons next hearing date was to be scheduled Monday, but court records dont indicate when that hearing will be. Both of the defendants in Hendersons murder are being held without bond in separate Blue Ridge Regional Jail facilities. In a separate case, Tony Allen Kidd pleaded guilty to five counts of attempted capital murder and seven other related charges in February. Those charges stem from an Oct. 6 shootout with five officers from the Lynchburg Police Department after they chased him in a stolen SUV. Kidd was seriously injured in the shootout and one officer was shot through the shoulder. Between those 12 charges, Kidd could face anywhere from a mandatory minimum 23 years in prison to five life sentences. Hes now scheduled for a sentencing hearing on May 29. Kidd, 54, was also facing a murder charge from the death of 65-year-old Robin Chenault until it was dropped after his preliminary hearing in March. Chenaults death, and the beating of her husband, Dale Chenault, were what prompted the LPD chase of Kidd in a vehicle stolen fromDale Chenault. Commonwealths Attorney Paul McAndrews asked a General District Court judge not to certify Kidds charges from Chenaults death. He said in March hes considered indicting Kidd directly on a capital murder charge, which bears the possibility of the death penalty, and he didnt want to start the five-month speedy trial clock. As of Tuesday, Kidd hadnt been indicted in Campbell Circuit Court for Chenaults death. Hes appealed judgment against him from a domestic assault case against his girlfriend and is scheduled to be in court today for that appeal. 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. WASHINGTON - The Trump administration will hire conservative firebrand and former Virginia attorney general Ken Cuccinelli to buttress its immigration efforts, according to three administration officials. Cuccinelli will work at the Department of Homeland Security in a senior role, a senior White House official said, declining to specify what Cuccinelli's duties will entail, what his job title will be or if he will report to Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan. The hiring appears to come in response to Trump's desire for an immigration "czar" to help coordinate border policies across agencies, officials said, although the job will be more limited in nature. Cuccinelli was at the White House on Monday, officials said. He could not be immediately reached for comment. News of Cuccinelli's expected hiring was first reported by The New York Times. The former Virginia attorney general is deeply disliked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has vowed to block Cuccinelli from any Senate-confirmed post after Cuccinelli helped lead efforts in 2014 backing insurgent candidates that hurt the Senate GOP majority, McConnell advisers said. For months, DHS officials have discussed the need for a border crisis manager who would coordinate among the multiple federal agencies struggling to cope with an unprecedented surge of Central American migrant families. The job would smooth out communication and planning among the departments of Defense, Justice and Health and Human Services, as well as DHS. But that role was never contemplated as one outranking the DHS Secretary; rather the person would work in a complimentary role. In April, more than 100,000 migrants were taken into custody for the second consecutive month, and the numbers in May are on pace to go even higher. But some in the administration fear that there will be too many power players fighting to wrest control over an immigration agenda - with White House adviser Stephen Miller already chafing officials at DHS. One White House adviser said Cuccinelli is likely to advocate for the White House's aggressive position at the agency. Miller has argued to Trump that others within DHS are trying to stall him. At the Republican Party convention in 2016, Cuccinelli protested the "petty, tyrannical rules" and threw his convention badge on the floor in protest of Trump's nomination. He was a strong supporter of the presidential bid by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who has since become one of Trump's most ardent defenders. Mark Kirkorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington think tank whose immigration-reduction agenda has had significant influence in The White House, called Cuccinelli "an unusual choice." "He doesn't have any immigration experience, but he does have law enforcement experience," said Kirkorian, who said he was "cautiously optimistic" that the appointment would make a difference. "If he does not answer directly to the president, he's not likely to be able to get much done," he said. One senior administration official expects Cuccinelli to function more like a crisis manager and policy adviser with a direct line to Trump, who is frustrated with the border surge. "He won't be able to order McAleenan to do a thing," the official said. "The president's frustration is not directed at DHS alone. It's DOJ, DOD, State. So this job will ensure closer coordination at a senior level, and it's an effort to acknowledge you need someone who can have conversations with department heads about policies and drive them to the same place." The official said Cuccinelli's appointment risked undercutting McAleenan at a time when the acting secretary has been making inroads with lawmakers, including Democrats who see him as a neutral law enforcement official, rather than a White House political operative. "I don't see how this appointment makes things better on the Hill," the official said. Writer: Letter insulted Pence Visiting immediate family in Lynchburg this weekend, I read the letter to the editor Pence a poor choice for speaker in Sundays Opinion section. I have never read such a hateful, poisonous, venomous, full of vitriol letter as the one you printed. You seem to drive a wedge continuously with a definite progressive agenda in past letters I have read, but this was over the top. I have no idea why they subscribe to your paper. Theres no way that I would. By the way, I know several of their friends that have cut you off. You probably wont get much response countering this because smart conservatives have dropped their subscriptions. Why alienate half of your market? Bring a divided country together? Not with your paper! MERRILL TATE Jr. Montpelier Pences false claims At the top of the list of things I do not miss having left my hometown is living under the dark cloud that emanates from atop Candlers Mountain. That figurative cloud does not refer to Liberty University per se. The school has provided a decent education to thousands of graduates who came there for an evangelical Christian experience. The LU graduates I know are smart, good people. No, the cloud comes from the apex namely, LU President Jerry Falwell Jr. He has proven himself over time to be a greedy, over-reaching, self-important man who strives to align himself with people of political power in our nation. Nothing exemplifies this better than Falwells quick allegiance to Donald Trump when it became clear that he would be the Republican nominee for president in 2016. Worse is the fact that he continued to support Trump long after he established himself as the most despicable and dangerous president in our history! Then comes Vice President Mike Pence to deliver the featured commencement address to this years LU graduates. What a triumph for Jerry not many have a VP at their graduation! So what is the highlight of Pences speech? He tells the grads that The truth is we live in a time when the freedom of religion is under assault. More specifically, according to a News & Advance article, he says the right for Christians to freely worship is threatened and must be defended. What evidence does he offer? None. The fact is these are not truths. They are lies, plain and simple! And they must be called-out by people of conscience and goodwill. I challenge readers to provide any personal examples of when and how they were denied freedom from worshipping at the Christian church of their choice and in the manner they wished! At LU, however, this particular rhetoric earned Pence an honorary doctorate for what Falwell called his nobility of character, among other virtues. The cloud descends. BILL BLACKWELL Midlothian A sidewalk or a life? I was recently involved in a serious car accident on Leesville Road. I was in the inside lane when a pickup truck came across from the side street by Taco Bell near Lowes. I struck the truck at approximately 40 miles per hour without touching the brakes. It was a very hard hit that caused a total loss to my vehicle. While my injuries were not life-threatening, I was injured from the deployment of the airbag and required a trip to the emergency room. Lynchburg fire and rescue was called within a couple of minutes by bystanders. It took 40 minutes for the ambulance to arrive because the paramedics had to come from the station on U.S. 221. There is a firehouse on Graves Mill Road near Krogers, but they do not have a paramedic unit. In the great wisdom of our City Council, they believe that building a $10 million sidewalk to nowhere, used by five people, is more important than honoring the request of Lynchburg Fire Department to add another paramedic unit, probably at Station 3 on Graves Mill Road. Council cares more about a sidewalk than the safety of the residents in Ward III. Jeff Heggleson, the councilman for Ward III, was one of two who voted against the sidewalk. I ask that he takes this up again with the rest of the members. I was lucky to survive, but the next person on that edge of the city limits may not be. GARLAND D. LUCKADO Lynchburg The MCU future of the Kingpin may be a mystery, but Marvel Comics has an answer Marvel Comics has already provided the perfect way for Kingpin to keep going in the MCU backyard at Sunriver Resort The Sunriver Brewfest, which will take place in The Backyard behind the Lodge at Sunriver Resort, will feature over 50 beverages from breweries and cideries in Oregon, Washington, and California. It runs from 4-9pm on Friday 5/31 and Saturday 6/1. The event is pet- and kid-friendly, and is free to enter. A tasting mug with five tokens is $20, and more tokens can be purchased in packs of five for $5. Take in the brews with a view of Mt. Bachelor. This event benefits the La Pine Habitat for Humanity. Those interested in volunteering can contact stacia@habitatlapinesunriver.org. Complete event info can be found here. Breweries: Backwoods Brewing Company | Carson, WA Cascade Lakes Brewery | Bend, OR Coalition Brewing | Portland, OR Crux Fermentation Project | Bend, OR Deschutes Brewery | Bend, OR Fremont Brewing | Seattle, WA Full Sail Brewery | Hood River, OR Georgetown Brewing | Seattle, WA Gilgamesh Brewing | Salem, OR Hop Valley Brewing | Eugene, OR Hopworks Urban Brewery | Portland, OR Lagunitas Brewing | Petaluma, CA Lost Coast Brewery | Eureka, CA Migration Brewing | Portland, OR Rogue Brewing | Newport, OR Saint Archer Brewing | San Diego, CA Sierra Nevada Brewing | Chico, CA Silver Moon Brewing | Bend, OR Stone Brewing Company | Escondido, CA Two Beers Brewing | Seattle, WA Worthy Brewing Company | Bend, OR Cideries & Kombucha 2 Towns Ciderhouse | Corvallis, OR Bad Granny Cider | Wenatchee, WA Kyla Hard Kombucha | Hood River, OR Reverend Nats Hard Cider | Portland, OR Schilling Cider | Auburn, WA Seattle Cider | Seattle, WA (Newser) We hear a lot about antibiotics used to produce our meat. Oranges, not so much. But that's the reality, reports Andrew Jacobs for the New York Times. It's all due to citrus greening disease, which is caused by a bacteria that is spread to orange and grapefruit trees by way of a Chinese insect. The result has been widespread devastation in Florida, but as one farmer tells the Times, there's "hope." It takes the forms of two antibiotics: streptomycin and oxytetracycline. In humans, they're used to treat everything from tuberculosis to syphilis. In the EU and Brazil, their agricultural use is banned, but in the US, it has just been expanded. The EPA has since 2016 given Florida farmers permission to spray the drugs on their trees; another 764,000 acres in states like California and Texas are now also getting the OK. story continues below "The decision paves the way for the largest use of medically important antibiotics in cash crops," writes Jacobs, and the CDC and FDA are not on board. They've opposed the move over the potential for the agricultural usage to cause the germs to mutate and develop a resistance to the drugs. But a plant pathologist counters that per EPA rules, all applications of the drugs must cease 40 days before harvest, so the chance of humans consuming any antibiotics is slim; further, he says the drugs have for decades been used on a small scale to combat a bacterial disease that hits apple and pear trees. But the CDC says streptomycin can stick around in the soil for weeks, and some worry the bacteria could develop resistance there and then make its way to humans via groundwater. Another twist: There are no peer-reviewed studies proving the drugs even work on the disease. Read the full article here. (Read more Longform stories.) (Newser) His options: Pay a $5,600-a-day fine or submit to a paternity test. The former king of Belgium has opted for the latter, though not without plenty of teeth gnashing, according to the New York Times, which is the only media outlet that is so far reporting the news. King Albert II, who abdicated in 2013, has been dogged by a 51-year-old woman's claim that she is his daughter. He was ordered to take the test in relation to Delphine Boel's claim six months ago, but had refused. Last week he was ordered to pay that fine, and according to the Times, his lawyer on Monday said King Albert would comply with the orderon one condition. story continues below He will take the test so long as "the results are kept secret until Belgium's highest court rules on the appeal against the order," said the lawyer, a ruling that could not come for years. Boel claims then-Prince Albert had an affair with her mother, the Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, while he was married, and that he provided care for her in secret. But when his elder brother, King Baudouin, died childless in 1993, Albert had to unexpectedly assume the throneand that's allegedly when he severed all ties with her. (Boel's legal father has already taken a DNA test.) (Newser) A small sliver of light in the dark story of a baby cut from his mother's womb: Little Yadiel recently opened his eyes for the first time, according to a student pastor who is assisting the family. "We were just praying and praying and he opened his eyes, and his dad said, 'Oh my God, he opened his eyes,'" Cecilia Garcia tells CNN. The infant's father, Yovany Lopez (variously spelled as Yiovanni), was holding him at the time; Garcia posted photos of the moment on Facebook Sunday. Lopez's wife, 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez, was fatally strangled before her abductors removed Yadiel from her body, police say. The family told NBC News Monday that Yadiel is still in critical condition and reliant on a breathing machine. "We plead to God that he gives us our child because that is a blessing that my wife left for us," the baby's father said last week. story continues below Meanwhile, the agency that licenses and inspects health care facilities in Illinois confirmed for the first time Tuesday that it has started an investigation of the suburban Chicago hospital where Clarisa Figueroa, who along with her daughter Desiree is charged with Ochoa-Lopez's murder, brought the baby on April 23. Police and state child welfare agency workers said Monday that nobody at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn alerted authorities when they discovered that Figueroa had no physical signs of having given birth to the infant as she claimed. It was weeks before authorities figured out what had happened to Ochoa-Loepz and the baby she had been nine months pregnant with; they suspect Figueroa lured the teen to her home with an offer of free baby clothes, then killed her for her baby, whom she intended to raise as her own. (More on the gruesome case here.) (Newser) The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons may have pushed 122 countries to sign the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons treaty, but a top UN security expert says "the risks of nuclear war are particularly high now, and the risks of the use of nuclear weapons are higher now than at any time since World War II." Renata Dwan, director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research, told reporters from Geneva on Tuesday that the "urgent" issue should be getting more attention, reports Reuters. She noted every state with nuclear weapons has nuclear modernization programs in progress. Dwan also described new technologies and new types of war transforming the arms control landscape amid heavy competition between the US and China. story continues below "How we act on that risk and the management of that risk seems to me a pretty significant and urgent question that isn't reflected fully in the [UN] Security Council," Dwan said. So far, the nuclear ban treaty has been ratified by 23 UN member statesmost don't have nuclear weaponsof the 50 needed for it to take effect, per the Hill. The US, Russia, and China, strongly oppose the ban with Defense One describing much uncertainty, and sometimes secrecy, among them. Indeed, a recent PAX report found $116 billion in active contracts between governments and the private sector to design, build, and maintain nuclear arsenalsa figure likely understated, per the Intercept, which reports America's nuclear modernization program is expected to cost $1.2 trillion by 2050. (We're the closest ever to apocalypse, according to the Doomsday Clock.) (Newser) Uber and Lyft say they have permanently removed accused war criminal Yusuf Abdi Ali from their apps. The Somali ex-colonel, who drove for the rideshare apps in northern Virginia, was ordered to pay torture victim Farhan Tani Warfaa $500,000 by a jury in the state Tuesday, the Washington Post reports. Warfaa testified that in 1987, when he was 17, Somali troops commanded by Ali abducted him and tortured him for months before Ali shot him and left him for dead. The jury found Ali responsible for the torture and fined him $400,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages. Warfaa, who has been pursuing Ali in the courts since 2004, said he was "very pleased" with the outcome. story continues below Ali, who served under dictator Mohamed Siad Barre, was deported from Canada after a 1992 documentary revealed that he was suspected of torturing and killing hundreds of people, the BBC reports. He was also deported from the US, but returned on a spousal visa in 1996 and worked as a security guard at Dulles International Airport before becoming an Uber driver around 18 months ago. Aliwho had a 4.89 rating at Ubertold undercover CNN reporters last month that passing the background check was easy. A spokesperson for Checkr, which carries out background checks for Uber and Lyft, says that "under federal law, consumer reporting agencies that process background checks rely on criminal records that have been filed in a court of law rather than unverified sources like Google search results." (Read more Somalia stories.) (Newser) A Pennsylvania appeals court has ruled a fired university professor who had sex with two students should be reinstated because he didn't break school rules. The Commonwealth Court upheld a June 2018 decision by an arbitrator to reinstate Bloomsburg University assistant professor John Barrett with full benefits and back pay since no university policy prohibited consensual sexual relationships between instructors and students not enrolled in their classes, reports Penn Live. Barrett was fired in June 2017 for "lack of professional judgment" and violations of the school's sexual harassment policy after a female student described an eight-month sexual relationship. The woman, who came forward after learning Barrett had sex with another student, said the relationship began months after she took one of Barrett's classes in the spring of 2015. story continues below But though the woman said the relationship that developed over coffee was consensual, she also said she'd awoken multiple times to find Barrett touching her genitals, reports Newsweek. University officials claimed the arbitrator's decisionwhich acknowledged "inherently exploitative" behaviorundermined the school's sexual harassment policy in seeking to overturn it. However, Judge P. Kevin Brobson denied that the fondling constituted sexual harassment in the context of a consensual sexual relationship. He stressed Barrett's denial and said the woman admitted she never told him it made her uncomfortable. Brobson did acknowledge the university was right on one count, though. "We are in no way ignoring [Barrett's] appalling lack of judgment, especially as one who once held a position of trust," he wrote, per Newsweek. (Harvard frowns on professor-student relationships.) (Newser) A draft Internal Revenue Service memo obtained by the Washington Post directly undercuts Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's rationale for refusing to give President Trump's tax returns to House lawmakersand may expose a rift in the IRS over the issue. The legal memo prepared last fall states that providing tax returns to the House Ways and Means Committee "is mandatory, requiring the Secretary to disclose returns, and return information, requested by the tax-writing Chairs." Mnuchin says he is withholding the returns because the request "lacks a legitimate legislative purpose," though the memo says his obligation to provide returns would not be affected by a failure to "state a reason for the request." story continues below The memo says that the only way the returns could be withheld is if the president invokes executive privilege, which Trump hasn't done. "The memo writer's interpretation is that the IRS has no wiggle room on this," says University of Chicago Law School professor Daniel Hemel, who suspects there is a split between career staffers and political appointees at the IRS. An IRS spokesman says the memo is a "draft background paper" that never became official agency policy, the New York Times reports. Insiders say discussions of the issue at the Treasury Department have been overshadowed by the fact that Trump has already decided that the returns will not be released. The decision has been made," a source tells the Post. "Now it's up to us to try to justify it." (Read more Trump tax return stories.) (Newser) Japanese foreign minister Taro Konofirst name Taro, last name Konowould like the world's media to start calling him Kono Taro. The minister said Tuesday that, as a new royal era dawns in Japan, it is time for the international media to start putting the family name first in Japanese names as they do with Chinese and Korean names, meaning that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe should be known as Abe Shinzo, reports the Washington Post. He said he would like the switch to happen before Japan hosts the G20 summit next month. The family name comes first in Japanese, but it has been customary since the late 19th century to put it second when writing in English, the Guardian notes. (Read more Japan stories.) Since 1997, DR1 has been covering the Dominican Republic in English. A site overhaul had long been due. Here is the beta version of the first phase of the new DR1. We have upgraded the website with user-friendly software to serve our community better. We have kept the up-to-date content. Now it is your turn to give the new DR1 a test run! We are tough-skinned. Go ahead and tell us what we are doing right, wrong, and what we need to change asap or work on next. Tell us what you would like to see less or more of, and what we shouldnt change! Imagine we have bought a new house for DR1. The house comes with: New server that ensures DR1 can handle peaks in traffic New DR1 Forums Improved Search New DR1 Calendar DR1 News and DR1 Calendar are integrated into the DR1 Forums New DR1 Wiki for frequently asked topics New Trending Topics emails We now need to furnish the house. It is YOUR DR1! We invite you to collaborate in adding valuable content. What content or services should we add? Check out the new resources, but get creative, too. You can contribute and play a key role in helping people connect, enjoy and be productive in the Dominican Republic. Dolores Vicioso, founder Write to support@dr1.com (Newser) The monks of Grimbergen Abbey in Belgium are getting back in the beer business with recipes that go back to the 12th century. The monks there spent four years poring over hard-to-decipher monastery books written in old Dutch and Latin and have produced a new brew based on the old methods, reports the Guardian. "We had the books with the old recipes, but nobody could read them," says Father Karel Stautemas of the abbey. With some outside help, the monks finally recreated an ingredients list, including the particular hops used, as well as the types of barrels and fermentation methods used, per NPR. The resulting beer is relatively potent10.8% alcohol by volumeand will be more readily available next year when the abbey opens, yes, a microbrewery able to accommodate patrons. story continues below The Grimbergen monks have a long tradition with beer, and, in fact, turned to hops from fermented herbs faster than most of their Medieval contemporaries, per the Guardian. They produced their own until 1798, when French troops burned down the abbey. Fortunately, some quick-thinking monks managed to save the recipe books from the fire, and those are the guides for the new brew. The monks already lend their name to two commercial producers, Carlsberg and Heineken, but they will now be directly involved in the beer-making for the first time in 220 years. And as Reuters notes, the monks will abide by the rules of the nation's Trappist brewers (even though they are not Trappist themselves) by using any profits to maintain the abbey or support charities. (Read more monks stories.) (Newser) A New Hampshire school cafeteria worker was fired after giving a student free food when he reportedly didn't have enough money to pay for it, and then, after national media attention, she rebuffed the school vendor's offer to rehire her. Now, some new twists involving Bonnie Kimball, from a rather surprising corner: the parents of the boy she gave the food to. "I have three children, and they are all well-cared for and well-fed," the mom tells the Union Leader, noting her 17-year-old son is tasked with packing his own lunch. Kimball "did not get fired for feeding a hungry child," she says. More: An exec with Cafe Services, the vendor that provides the lunches for Mascoma Valley Regional High School, adds that Kimball had been giving the boy free food for three months. During the incident in question, Brian Stone says Kimball not only let the teen have a free lunch, but also four additional a la carte items, per CNNfries, cookies, and a Powerade. story continues below Kimball also lied and said she'd charged the boy, Stone says in a YouTube video: "This employee was dishonest and was let go for not following procedures." The Union Leader reports that on Monday Kimball told the paper that she would let the boy charge his meals to his friends' or girlfriend's accounts because he was a well-liked "jock." The boy's mom notes Kimball also tried to drag her son into covering up the gratis grub, sending him private Facebook messages before she was fired asking him to add money to his account and openly pay for lunch in front of a manager who'd be watching. "We will prolly get written up, but we can make it look good. Lol," she wrote in a message seen by the Union Leader. "What kind of an adult says that to a child?" the mom asks, adding that in another message Kimball tried to get the boy to gather classmates to talk to a reporter about Kimball's firing. Mascoma Valley Superintendent Amanda Isabelle now says in a statement that, due to this new info, "the school district is rescinding its demand that the employee be rehired." WMUR reports Cafe Services says company policy is to always provide a child with a lunch; it called attention to the four extra items the teen was reportedly given. (Read more school lunch stories.) (Newser) Musician Moby claims he touched his naked penis against Donald Trump for a bet at a party in his new memoir, Then It Fell Apart, per the Guardian. Surprisingly, that's not the assertion headlines are focused on. As Harper's Bazaar reports, Natalie Portman has accused the 53-year-old of selling the book based on a fraudulent account of their friendship. "I was surprised to hear that he characterized the very short time that I knew him as dating because my recollection is a much older man being creepy with me when I just had graduated high school," the actress says. Moby writes that he "tried to be Natalie's boyfriend" after the pair met in September 1999. He describes her falling asleep next to him in her Harvard dorm room, giving their ages as 33 and 20. But Portman, born in June 1981, had just turned 18. story continues below "There was no fact-checking from him or his publisherit almost feels deliberate," says Portman, who was a fan of the musician when she met him backstage at a show in Austin, Texas, in the months after his hit album Play dropped. "There are many factual errors and inventions" but "that he used this story to sell his book was very disturbing to me." She adds "we only hung out a handful of times before I realized that this was an older man who was interested in me in a way that felt inappropriate." The memoir is Moby's second, following 2016's Porcelain. At the Guardian, Kitty Empire calls it a "harrowing" account of the "more perilous face of the fame mountain." And though "you highly doubt he can remember all the conversations he recounts Moby makes for a compelling Virgil." (Both Portman and Moby changed their names.) (Newser) US fighter jets are staying busy this week, thanks to a slew of Russian aircraft off the coast of Alaska. Per CNN, NORAD is reporting that American F-22 jets have intercepted Russian Tu-95 bombers and Su-35 fighter jetsnot once, but twice over a two-day span. The first incident happened Monday, when four Russian bombers and two fighter jets cruised into the Air Defense Identification Zone, which stretches a couple hundred miles off the west coast of Alaska. "The Russian bombers and fighters remained in international airspace and at no time did the aircraft enter United States or Canadian sovereign airspace," NORAD said in a statement. story continues below The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that fly-by in a tweet, noting "total flight time exceeded 12 hours." It said the flights were part of scheduled training exercises, per NBC News. Then came a similar incident Tuesday, when two Russian bombers flew into the ADIZ, were intercepted by two US fighter jets, and left, only to return a short time later with their own two fighter jets. Those aircraft also stayed in international airspace, per NORAD. US officials note that Russia has done this sort of maneuver near Alaska a few times a year for the past several years. (Read more Russia stories.) (Newser) When Aretha Franklin died, the initial word was that she didn't leave a will. That changed in a big way with the discovery of not one, not two, but three handwritten wills in her home. The big questions now are whether they're real and, if so, whether they're legal, and the family has asked a judge to help figure it all out. In the meantime, a closer look at the wills has revealed a surprise, reports NBC News. In one of the documents, Franklin writes that the father of her first son was not the man biographers had long thought. She identifies Clarence's dad as Edward Jordan Sr., not schoolmate Donald Burk, and she specifies that Jordan "should never receive or handle any money or property belonging to Clarence or that Clarence receives as he has never made any contribution to his welfare, future or past, monetarily, material, spiritual, etc." story continues below Franklin gave birth to Clarence, who has unspecified special needs, when she was 12. Her second son, Edward, came two years later, and Jordan is said to be his father as well. In the wills, Franklin goes to great lengths to make sure that her four sons are treated wellshe directs her assets to be divided equally among the three younger ones and for arrangements to be made for Clarence's care, per the Detroit Free Press. The newspaper digs out another nugget: Franklin was receiving $100,000 a year in royalties from Warner Music Group, parent company of Atlantic Records, which released mega hits such as "Respect." Warner Bros. also kept a $1.6 million account in deferred royalties for Franklin, perhaps because she wanted to keep down her taxes. The Free Press has links to Franklin's handwritten notes here, here, and here. (Read more Aretha Franklin stories.) (Newser) Keith Bush was convicted of murdering a 14-year-old girl when he was 17. The New York man spent 33 years in prison before being released on lifetime parole in 2007. On Wednesday, a judge vacated the now 62-year-old Bush's conviction, acknowledging that it was tainted because prosecutors didn't disclose that police had interviewed another possible suspect in the 1975 Long Island murder of Sherese Watson, the AP reports. "Mr. Bush, I cannot give you back that which was taken from you in the 1970s. But I can give you back your presumption of innocence," the judge said, per Newsday. Bush said he has "learned and grown" as a result of what happened to him, but when asked whether he forgives the police who were involved, he said no, per ABC 7: "Do you know what they did to me? Do you know what they did to the victim's family?" He says police beat him and forced him to sign a confession, the Wall Street Journal reports. story continues below He added that he feels sorrow for Watson's family, as they will now never know for sure what happened to the girl, who was found strangled to death in a vacant lot. The other possible suspect in the case, John Jones, died in 2006, per USA Today. Police questioned Jones three months after they had secured Bush's confessionwhich officials have now deemed falseand Jones told them he left the same party Watson had attended on the night of her death, stumbled over her body, dropped his hair pick, and left it at the scene, where police found it. After police discarded him as a suspect, he went on to be arrested multiple times, including for raping and impregnating a 15-year-old girl. Bush's lawyer sued for case records and authorities turned over the statement from Jones; a review convinced Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini that the conviction should be overturned, and prosecutors filed to do just that. (See USA Today for much more on the problems with the case, which also include a witness who recanted her testimony and a racist cop.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region "We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." - President Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address New Delhi: A TikTok celebrity in his 20s was shot dead by three unidentified gunmen on Tuesday in the Najafgarh area of Delhi. Mohit Mor was a fitness enthusiast and had half a million followers on popular video-sharing app TikTok. He also had a sizeable following on Instagram. He was at a photocopy shop near the gym he used to visit, when he was murdered. He was there to meet a friend around 5 pm when bullets were fired at him. He belonged to Haryanas Bahadurgarh, but often stayed at his home in Najafgarh, the police said. Having lost his father earlier, Mor is survived by his mother and brother. He was sitting on a sofa at the photocopy shop, when three unidentified men, who were on a bike, entered the shop and pumped five bullets into him. A senior police officer quoted by news agency IANS, however, said 13 bullets were fired at him. The CCTV camera captured the gunmen leaving the scene of the crime. Two of the attackers' faces were concealed with helmets, while one of them could clearly be seen in the footage. "When Mohit Mor was busy talking with his friend inside the shop, three armed persons barged inside the shop and indiscriminately fired 13 bullets on him. Mohit Mor fell on a sofa kept inside the shop. He was rushed to near-by hospital where he was declared brought dead," a senior police officer was quoted as saying by news agency IANS. The police are investigating the motive behind the murder, while not ruling out gang violence. "We are checking his TikTok and Instagram accounts comments and Call Details Record (CDR) to establish his enmity with anyone on social media that may help us to crack the case," the senior police officer said. "Prima facie, it appears a case of personal enmity and a money dispute," the officer added. The police have registered a case under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and an investigation has been initiated. The incident occurred after two suspected criminals were killed in a shootout near Dwarka Mor metro station. For all the Latest Crime News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Indian Institute of Mass Communication Admit card for entrance examination for admission to Post Graduate diploma courses 2019 at iimc.nic.in. Students who have registered for IIMC exam, can visit the official website to download their admit card. Candidates need to feed the details in the relevant fields like date of birth, mobile and unique registration number. The admit card will have the date and venue of the examination along with other details like name, birth date, signature. It is compulsory for appearing candidates to carry IIMC Admit Card 2019 to the exam centre, along with one photo identity proof. IIMC will conduct the entrance exam on May 25 and 26 in offline mode or pen-paper mode. IIMC Entrance Exam 2019 Important Dates: Malayalam, Marathi, Odiya and Urdu Journalism examinations on May 25, 2019 from 9.00 AM to 11.00 AM Hindi and English Journalism examinations on May 26, 2019 from 9.00 AM to 11.00 AM. Examination for admission to Radio and TV journalism courses will be held from 12.00 AM to 2.00 PM Examination for admission to Advertising and PR courses will be held from 3.00 PM to 5.00 PM on 26 May 2019. The IIMC Result 2019 will be declared in the third week of June. The exam will be conducted in multiple centers at Ahmedabad, Arizwal, Amravati, Aurangabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Dehradun, Delhi, Dhenkanal, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jammu, Jaipur, Kolkata, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, and Srinagar. Steps to Download IIMC 2019 Admit Card: Step 1: Visit the official website of IIMC, iimc.nic.in Step 2: Click on the link Admit Card for all PG Diploma Courses 2019-20 available in news and announcements section. Step 3: Click on the link Admit Card. Step 4: Enter date of birth and mobile number/unique registration number in the space provided. Step 5: Click on Login button after entering the details. Step 6: Download the IIMC admit card 2019 displaying on the screen and take a printout of the same. South Africa: Provincial legislatures swear in new members South Africas nine provincial legislatures on Wednesday held their first sittings in which Premiers were elected and sworn into office. The swearing-in of members of the legislature follows the recently concluded sixth National and Provincial Elections on 8 May. At the Lebowakgomo Legislative Chamber in Limpopo, Stanley Mathabatha was elected as Premier of the province while Mavhungu Luruli-Ramakhanya was elected as Speaker of the legislature. Mathabatha had previously served as Premier. Essop Mokgonyana was elected as Chief Whip of the legislature in which the ruling party the African National Congress (ANC) retained 38 of the 49 seats in the provincial legislature. Limpopo Judge President Ephraim Makgoba oversaw proceedings in the legislature that got underway at 10am. In the North West, Judge President of the Mmabatho High Court Monica Leeuw presided over the swearing-in of members of the provincial legislature. Professor Job Makgoro retained his seat as Premier of the platinum-producing province. The legislature elected Susan Dantjie as Speaker and Viola Motsumi as the Deputy Speaker. In Gauteng, Judge President Dunstan Mlambo presided over the swearing-in of members of the legislature. Dressed in a dark suit and red tie, David Makhura - who was nominated together with Democratic Alliance (DA) candidate Solly Msimanga - took the honours of becoming Premier for a second consecutive time. In his acceptance speech, Makhura promised to serve residents with integrity, humility and unflinching dedication. The people of Gauteng want a growing and inclusive economy that creates more jobs. They want access to housing and land. They want us to fight crime and corruption with determination and vigour, said the Premier. He was nominated to the top post by ANC Deputy Chairperson in the province, Panyaza Lesufi. In the KwaZulu-Natal legislature, sitting in Pietermaritzburg, Sihle Zikalala was elected Premier after being nominated unopposed at the ceremony overseen by provincial Judge President Achmat Jappie. The Western Cape legislature appointed Alan Winde as Premier while Masizole Mnqasela was elected as Speaker. Speaking after his swearing-in, Winde said among the first things that will receive his attention as Premier is the fixing of the train system in the province. We want to make a difference we have a lot of work to do, he said. The Mpumalanga Premier Refilwe Mtshweni retained her seat, while Busisiwe Shiba was appointed as the Speaker in the ceremony that saw the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) nominating Collen Sedibe for the top post. The Northern Cape elected Dr Zamani Saul as its Premier. In his acceptance speech, Saul said residents of the province yearn for a modern, growing and successful province a plea which he would talk to at his inaugural address scheduled for next week. The Eastern Cape, which has a total 63 seats in which the ANC secured 44 seats, elected Oscar Mabuyane as Premier. Mabuyane was elected unopposed in the Bhisho legislature. Meanwhile, Helen Sauls-August was elected as Speaker of the house. Sisi Ntombela was elected as Premier of the Free State with Zanele Sifuba elected as Speaker. The swearing in of members of the provincial legislatures was done at the same time as the swearing-in of Members of Parliament (MP) in the National Assembly. Tomorrow will see the National Council of Provinces sitting for the first time. The ceremonies occurred as the country prepares to inaugurate South Africas President-elect at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. New Delhi: After the national exit poll, the exit poll of the VIP seats, News Nation brings you what senior political journalists have to say about the Lok Sabha elections 2019. Senior journalists TR Ramachandran, Renu Mittal, Satish Pednekar, Rajesh Badal, NK Singh, Chitrata Sanyal and Jagdish Upasane have expressed their views. Senior journalist TR Ramachandran said while the NDA can get up to 320 seats, the UPA may get 80-100 seats and Others are likely to bag 122 seats. He, however, thinks the BJP does not seem to get the majority, which is 272. According to Ramachandran, Narendra Modi will win the Varanasi seat and return as the Prime Minister for the second term. He further said in the last five years, Modi has given importance to nationalism, which has overshowed other important issues, including farmers. Ramachandran gave 60 per cent to nationalism as a key issue this election. He said it was the PM who had raised nationalism as the most important issue. He further said Modi speaks very positively about the country. However, there was a lack of employment during his regime. Also, incidents of farmer suicides have increased in the last five years. He said further it was Congresss Digvijaya Singh who had coined the term Hindu terrorism and thats why the BJP has fielded a strong candidate like Pragya Singh Thakur against him from Bhopal. Ramachandran said Priyanka Gandhi should have come to East UP much earlier. Senior journalist Renu Mittal said the NDA is expected to get 180 seats, while the UPA will get around 190 and Others 172. She said Priyanka Gandhis entry into the UP politics has brought new energy to Congress workers. However, she did not approve any of the names given to her for the PM candidate. According to her, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge is a better option for the post of PM. Mittal further said rural and urban issues should have been raised in this election, but PM Modi did not address these issues. Senior journalist Satish Pednekar said the NDA is likely to get 300 seats, the UPA 100-110, Others may win 125-30 seats. He added that Modi has emerged as the identity of Indianism. He further said Manmohan Singh did not visit Pakistan even once when he was the prime minister, but Modi went to the neighouring country soon after becoming the PM. Pednekar said Modi is a better PM than his predecessor. He said elections in India have always been fought on the face. Similarly, the elections of 2019 were fought on the face. In the 2014 elections, Congress president Rahul Gandhi got 11 crore and Modi got 17.1 million votes. According to him, Priyanka Gandhi's entry into politics did not help the Congress. What did Priyanka Gandhi do that people vote for them? he asked. Senior journalist Rajesh Badal said the NDA is expected to get 265 seats, the UPA should get 175 seats, while the Others may win between 103 and 104 seats. He said the BJP alone is likely to get 190 to 200 seats. He further said in states, where the Congress got zero seats in the last election, it may get an edge this time. He said Modi is a better candidate for the post of PM. He gave Modi 40 per cent for the coveted post and 30 per cent to Rahul Gandhi. Badal said there is an outrage among people about Modi, but people have no other options at the moment. He said the Modi wave is no longer a winning factor for the BJP. He added that Priyanka Gandhi has brought life to the Congress. Her impact will clearly be seen in the next assembly elections, he said. Badal said had Priyanka Gandhi contested from Varanasi against PM Modi, she would have been lost the polls for sure. But that would not end her political career. Yes, Priyanka Gandhi can become a better leader than Rahul Gandhi, he added. Senior journalist Jagdish Upasane said the NDA is likely to get 324 seats, the UPA 74 and Others 144 seats. According to him, the condition of farmers has improved in the last five years. Upasane added that the number of farmer suicide cases in the NDA government has come down. The Modi government has started the online system to sale agricultural products. Now, farmers are not forced to go to the market. He added that nationalism has been the main issue this election. He gave 70 per cent to nationalism as a key election issue this time. Senior journalist NK Singh said the NDA may win 305 seats, the UPA 125 and Others 112 seats. In 2014, PM Modi has emerged as the most prominent face after the Anna Hazares movement. He had given 225 seats to the NDA before the exit poll, but now the figure has changed, according to him. Singh gave 20 per cent to nationalism and 40 per cent to polarisation as election issues this time. He added that farmers working in the field do not care much about nationalism. Another senior journalist Chitrata Sanyal said the NDA is likely to win around 250 seats, the UPA may bag 150 seats, while the Others to secure 142 seats. The BJP has emerged as a new party in West Bengal. Before Balakot, the situation of the BJP was not that good, and the NDA was predicted to win around 150 seats. But after the strike, the alliance is projected to win 100 seats more. He voted 50-50 per cent for nationalism and polarisation as key election issues this time. Experts say farmers and casteism have also been among the main issues this election. Polarisation in South will not work much for the BJP. The party can get some seats in Odisha. The BJP will not get much seats in Naveen Patnaik's stronghold, but there will definitely be some advantage. New Delhi: Five months ago, the Congress under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi wrested the Hindi heartland state of Madhya Pradesh from the BJP, which ruled the state for 15 years. Analysts say that by and large farmers voted for the Congress, and the loan waiver announced by president Rahul Gandhi before the state election proved to be a game-changer for his party. Going by numbers and vote share in the November 2018 assembly polls, Congress appears to have an edge over its rivals on the six seats Sidhi, Mandla, Balaghat, Chhindwara, Shahdol and Jabalpur. Of these, five were won by BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. However, the exit polls have predicted in favour of the saffron party. According to the forecast, the BJP is likely to win 23 of the 29 Lok Sabha seats in the state while the Congress may win the remaining six. The time, the one-on-one contest between the Congress and the BJP has turned into a triangular fight with the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party deciding to forge an alliance in the state. The Congress in Madhya Pradesh will look to repeat its performance in the state in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. However, parliamentary and assembly polls have different dynamics and the BJP is expecting a wave similar to 2014 in its favour to sweep the state. BJP has a strong history of high performance in Madhya Pradesh since 1991 and the only exception was 2009 when the seat tally and vote percentage difference was close between both the major political parties. What happened in 2014 Lok Sabha polls There are 29 parliamentary seats in MP, of which 27 were won by the BJP and two by Congress in 2014. Later in by-poll, one more seat (Ratlam) was won by Congress increasing its tally to three. The BJP received 1,60,15,695 votes with a whopping vote share of 54.8 per cent. The Congress managed to win only 2 seats in the state and received 1,03,40,274 votes with a vote share of 35.3 per cent. Only Kamal Nath from Chhindwara and Jyotiraditya Scindia from Guna were able to emerge victorious from the party in the state. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) got 3.8 per cent of the total votes polled in the state. What happened in 2009 Lok Sabha polls After a tough competition between BJP and Congress, the BJP managed to win 16 seats and garnered 43.4 per cent vote share. The Congress won 12 seats with 40.1 vote share voting percentage. BSP got one seat of Rewa and 5.9 per cent votes. The BJP managed to retain the seats of Morena, Bhind, Gwalior, Sagar, Tikamgarh, Damoh, Khajuraho, Satna, Sidhi, Jabalpur, Balaghat, Vidisha, Bhopal, Indore, Khargone and Betul. What happened in 2004 Lok Sabha polls This was the first general election held in the state after the division. The result was a major victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which won 25 seats. The remaining 4 seats were won by Indian National Congress (INC). What happened in 1999 Lok Sabha polls Even in the 1999 general elections, BJP won more seats than Congress, i.e. 29 and 46.6 per cent voting percentage. INC could manage to win 11 seats in total and 43.9 per cent votes. After 1999, in the year 2000, Madhya Pradesh was divided and Chhattisgarh was formed, as a result of which Madhya Pradesh lost some of the parliamentary seats, and it has 29 seats now. New Delhi: The counting of votes for the seven-phase elections to India's lower house of parliament, the world's biggest democratic exercise, will take place today, bringing the curtains down on a bitterly-fought contest which the country rarely witnessed. The counting will begin at 8 am and trends are likely to start coming in by afternoon, while results are expected by the evening, an official said. For the first time in Lok Sabha polls, the EC will tally vote count on Electronic Voting Machines with voter verified paper audit trail slips in five polling stations in each assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the ground of excessive use of money power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several union ministers, Congress President Rahul Gandhi, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav are among key leaders who contested the polls. Here are the LIVE updates: 13:44 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Ahead of the day of counting Congress chief Rahul Gandhi advised his party workers to remain alert. Asking them to not be discouraged by the exit poll results, which he termed 'fake', he asked them to believe in the party and themselves. He assured them that their 'hardwork' will not go in vain. aaaaaaaa aaaaaYa aa aaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaa , aaaa 24 aaaYa aaaaaaaaaa aaaa aaaaa aa asaaaaaa aaaaa aaa aaaaa aa aaaa aa aaa aaa aaa aaa a aaaaa aaaaaaY aaa aa aaaaaaaasaa aa aaaaa a aaa aaa aa aa aaaaaaaa aaaaaYa aa aaaaaaa aaaa, aaaa aaaaa aaaaa aaaa aaaaaa aa aaaaaa aaaaa aaaaa Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 22, 2019 13:33 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Election Commission rejects demands of opposition parties' regarding VVPAT. 13:06 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Supreme Court gives protection from arrest for five days to BJP candidate from Barrackpore constituency in West Bengal, Arjun Singh. A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra &Justice MR Shah grants protection to Singh from arrest in cases registered against him by the West Bengal Police. 13:06 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Supreme Court gives protection from arrest for five days to BJP candidate from Barrackpore constituency in West Bengal, Arjun Singh. A Bench of Justice Arun Mishra &Justice MR Shah grants protection to Singh from arrest in cases registered against him by the West Bengal Police. 12:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Bhopal Collector S Khade: Three-tier security present at EVM Strong Room. All counting agents,polling agents & candidates to be frisked before entering the area. Movement of EVMs & counting to be done under police presence & CCTV surveillance. 12:25 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress leader Udit Raj: Election process continues for 3 months hampering development work, so what is the big deal if it takes 1-2 days more? I'm not levelling allegations on Supreme Court, I'm only raising concerns. 12:20 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In "On counting day Road no 224 in front of IIIT, Sector 9, will be closed from 4 am till the closure of counting, from Sector 8/9 Red light point to 19/20 Red light point. The Residents of Societies situated on both sides of this closed road are requested to carry their identity card/society related documents to gain access and exit from this blocked road. Inconvenience is regretted. All office bearers of MC/RWA are requested to place it on their respective notice board and circulate to concerned Whatsapp groups in Dwarka," ACP Dwarka said in a statement. 12:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Smriti Irani on Twitter: 24 hours to go .. while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, heres taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership. 24 hours to go .. while most of us will be glued to our TV sets tomorrow to watch vote by vote, count by count analysis, heres taking this opportunity to say thank you for the countless blessings of millions across the Nation for my party and my leadership Y Chowkidar Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) May 22, 2019 12:15 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Jaydutt Kshirsagar, NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister, has resigned from MLA post; he will join Shiv Sena later today 12:25 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In 'Is SC Invoved in Rigging?' Asks Udit Raj Congress leader Udit Raj stirred a controversy on Wednesday when he questioned if the Supreme Court was involved in rigging elections and hence did not want all VVPAT slips to be counted. Rajs statement comes amid a growing demand by the Opposition to verify VVPAT slips of randomly selected polling stations before the counting of votes polled in the just-concluded Lok Sabha election begins on May 23. 11:23 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In NCP MLA Jaydutt Kshirsagar to join Shivsena today. He is sitting MLA from Beed Assembly Constituency. He was a Cabinet Minister in Congress and NCP governments. 11:14 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Supreme Court decides to hear a petition filed by BJP Lok Sabha candidate, Arjun Singh, seeking bail in certain political cases in which he claims he is implicated by West Bengal Police, on Wednesday. Senior lawyer Ranjeet Mishra told SC "he fears arrest and thereby seeking a direction for relief in the cases." 11:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Nifty, Sensex edge higher day ahead of Lok Sabha Election results. 10:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Tuesday said that if he does not win by over three lakh votes in Rampur, his parliamentary constituency, it means that the election was not held in a free and fair manner across India. 10:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan on Tuesday said that if he does not win by over three lakh votes in Rampur, his parliamentary constituency, it means that the election was not held in a free and fair manner across India. 10:46 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Three Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party legislators may join BJP, as per media reports. 10:45 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In The Election Commission to meet in New Delhi to address the concerns raised by leaders of 22 opposition parties, who met the poll panel on Tuesday, voicing their concerns over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and use of VVPATs. 10:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Polling underway at polling station number 200 in North Kolkata parliamentary constituency. ECI had declared void the poll held on 19 May at the polling station. #WestBengal: Polling underway at polling station number 200 in North Kolkata parliamentary constituency. ECI had declared void the poll held on 19 May at the polling station, reports ANI. Y: ANI#ElectionsWithNewsNation Follow LIVE updates:https://t.co/qQqy3oJOp0 pic.twitter.com/JkRUFNlwOS News Nation (@NewsNationTV) May 22, 2019 10:06 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Jay Panda, BJP on being asked who will be the next Odisha CM: I joined BJP after much soul searching. I'm happy to carry out whatever responsibility the party gives me. BJP has a lot of talent, whosoever takes which ever responsibility, we are going to cooperate with each other. 10:06 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP's Baijayant Jay Panda on being asked if BJD will support NDA: My Party president has said that we are confident of getting more than 300 seats. We'll form the govt with NDA allies. If other parties seeing the national mood want to also join in, I think, BJP will keep an open mind 09:51 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In NCP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar set to join Shiv Sena today, reports ANI. 09:35 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Polling is underway at Amritsar constituency's Polling Booth No. 123 of Rajasansi assembly constituency Polling is underway at Amritsar constituency's Polling Booth No. 123 of Rajasansi assembly constituency. The Election Commission of India ordered the re-poll on Monday. Voting will continue from 7 am to 6 pm. The voters are being given 'certificate of appreciation' by the Election Commission. 09:07 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Heavy security deployment in Kolkata ahead of counting day On counting day, the Kolkata Police will deploy 4,000 security personnel in the city. As many as 200 companies of central forces have also been deployed inside the counting centres. The joint forces will remain active in order to curb any violence. Sensitive areas are also under surveillance. Kolkata armed police along with city police will be posted outside the main gate of the counting centre. Counting of votes will take place at 13 locations in Kolkata. 09:37 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In less than 24 hours, counting for 542 Lok Sabha seats will begin across the country. Central paramilitary forces have been deployed for security of strong rooms in which the EVMs have been kept. The Election Commission has also set up 24-hour Control Room to monitor complaints relating to EVMs. A dedicated 24 hour control room has been set up to respond to any complaints related to EVM. You can call at 011 23052123. #ITrustEVM pic.twitter.com/RGKFEnN9fC Election Commission #DeshKaMahatyohar (@ECISVEEP) May 22, 2019 08:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Thomas Isaac had reportedly alleged that Pillai is making use of his position as BJP state president to sabotage development in Kerala & had said that "Sreedharan Pillai, who tried to disrupt development of National Highway in Kerala should be treated as a public enemy of state." 08:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In BJP Kerala unit president PS Sreedharan Pillai: Kerala BJP has decided to sue and prosecute Finance Minister Thomas Isaac of CPM for a defamatory statement he made on May 6. I have claimed Rs 10 cr as compensation besides seeking criminal prosecution against Isaac. 07:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In He had told PTI that Sonia Gandhi will play a crucial role in bringing non-NDA parties together and in the formation of the next government. 07:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Congress President Rahul Gandhi will meet with some seniors leader. Rahul Gandhi has said his party will use the experience of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to their advantage. 07:04 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Barely two days before the Lok Sabha vote count, a political row erupted Tuesday over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs and a concerned former President Pranab Mukherjee also stepped in to say the onus is on the Election Commission to put all speculation around these voting machines to rest. New Delhi: As per the News Nation Exit Poll, the YS Jaganmohan Reddy-led YSRCP is predicted to emerge victorious with 42 per cent vote share in the state. Whereas, the TDP, BJP and the Congress are likely to get 35 per cent, 9 per cent and 7 per cent votes respectively. When it comes to seat share, the YSRCP, TDP, are likely to bag 15-17, 7-9 seats respectively. On the other hand, both the BJP and Congress may bag 0-2 seats each. However, the actual situation will to get clear only on May 23 after the counting begins and it will be interesting to see which party outshines in the polls. Meanwhile, we bring to you the data of vote shares of the past few General Elections including 2014, 2009, 2004 and 1999 in the state of Andhra Pradesh in detail. 2014 Lok Sabha Elections - In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, it was the last time as united Andhra Pradesh at the time of polls with a total of 42 seats. The elections were held in two phases on April 30 and May 7 in the 7th and 8th phase of general elections. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) won the highest number of seats with 16 and Telangana Rashtra Samithi came second with 11 seats. 2009 Lok Sabha Elections The major contenders in the polls were the Third Front, Indian National Congress and Praja Rajyam. Telugu Desam Party (TDP) left the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after the losses in 2004 general elections and now joined the Third Front. Even, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) who were part of the UPA, in the 2004 election, now forged an alliance with the Third Front. After the results were announced INC-led UPA secured a landslide victory with 34 seats out of 42 while TDP won 6 and TRS has to settle with just two seats. 2004 Lok Sabha Elections The Lok Sabha elections and the state Assembly elections were held simultaneously where UPA won 34 seats out of 42, on the other hand, BJP could not manage to secure even a single seat. 1999 Lok Sabha Elections In the Lok Sabha elections, National Democratic Alliance and its ally Telugu Desam Party achieved a landslide victory by securing 36 out of 42 seats while Congress could manage to win just five seats and AIMIM got one seat. New Delhi: In a bid to keep the BJP out of power if the ruling party is short of a majority in a hung house, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of senior Congress leaders on Wednesday, a day ahead of the counting of votes in the Lok Sabha elections. All senior leaders, general secreatries and 'in-charge' of the party have been called to prepare for the meeting of UPA allies and some other parties. The meeting will also discuss the strategy to be adopted in the May 23 meeting of the UPA and allied parties. The possibility of roping in new non-NDA parties into the UPA coalition may be discussed in todays meeting, sources said. After the feedback session, tasks will be assigned to various leaders as per their expertise. A team of four leaders has already been put in place to reach out to potential allies and is working hard to make the alliance meeting successful. Gandhi is understood to have invited leaders of secular parties including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, DMK chief MK Stalin, RJD and TMC for the meeting on a day the results will be out. Speaking to the media in Tirupati on Saturday, former Prime Minister and JD(S) president, HD Deve Gowda, and his son, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said that it is not possible for regional parties to form the government at the Centre without the support of the Congress. There are many aspirants for prime ministership and a consensus has to be reached among them. Deve Gowda said that he will communicate his opinion to Ms Gandhi at the meeting of UPA allies on May 23. There were reports that Rao and the chief of YSRCP Congress Jaganmohan Reddy have also been invited but there was no confirmation. (With agency inputs) Cannes: Venice Golden Lion-winning filmmaker Mira Nair, who is in Cannes this year as the mentor of the Institut Francais' La Fabrique programme, is all set to begin filming her long-in-gestation adaptation of Vikram Seth's best-selling novel "A Suitable Boy" in September in Delhi and other locations across northern India. "I'm already deep into the project, which is a BBC series of six one-hour episodes. The casting is 80 per cent done," she told PTI in an interview here. However, she has yet to take the final call on who will play Lata, the young woman at the heart of the sprawling story. "I've been looking for an actress to play Lata for six months now. A major movie star wants to do it. I would love to have her on board. But I am also looking at a couple of unknown possibilities. I cannot, therefore, declare a name because it is still cooking," said Nair. Her connection with "A Suitable Boy" goes back to 1994, the year the book was published. "I simply love the book. I tried to get the rights when it was written," she said. "But it was too big and too hard to adapt at that point. So, I created my own microcosmic response to the huge epic by making my own intimate 'Monsoon Wedding'. It is great to be going back to it." A large part of the ensemble cast for "A Suitable Boy" is already in place and among the names Nair mentions are Tabu, Shefali Shah, Vivek Gomber, Rasika Dugal and Vivaan Shah. She is also close to signing up Naseeruddin Shah in a key role. "We would love to premiere 'A Suitable Boy' in a major film festival," said Nair. "In fact, we'd like to bring it to Cannes. We'll be finished in time for the festival in 2020. But if not Cannes, then Venice." The other big Mira Nair project that will premiere in 2020 in July, to be precise is a stage musical version of "Monsoon Wedding". "I am shooting all of this year and then editing 'A Suitable Boy'. 'Monsoon Wedding' will be first staged in Roundhouse Theatre after the BBC series is wrapped," she said. The first Indian filmmaker to win the Cannes Camera d'Or for "Salaam Bombay" in 1988 she failed to get either "Monsoon Wedding" or "The Namesake" into the Cannes Film Festival. "I was dejected, and grateful in hindsight, that 'Monsoon Wedding' was rejected by Cannes. But I came to the Cannes Film Market and the film was sold to virtually every major territory," she recalled. "Monsoon Wedding" eventually went to Venice and the rest is history. Asked why Indian films have been finding it difficult to crack Cannes of late, she said, "The onus isn't only on us. The answer also lies in what the French are looking for, and who they want to champion." For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The trailer of Quentin Tarantino's upcoming movie Once Upon A Time in Hollywood starring both Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio is out and revealed much about its plot. The movie also stars Margot Robbie, Kurt Russel, Timothy Olyphant, Dakota Fanning, Luke Perry, Margaret Qualley and Al Pacino in significant roles. The film has been written and directed by Tarantino. The black comedy marks ninth film of filmmaker Tarantino. The movie as it name goes is set in the 1960s' Los Angeles and brings to screen the story of television actor Rick Dalton played by Leonardo and his longtime stunt double and best friend, Cliff Booth played by Brad. The over 2-minute long trailer captures moments of fun, laughter and bromance bwtween Pitt and Caprioa. Rick, who was a successful television actor goes through a rough patch in his career while his friend and body double Cliff stands by him like a rock. The trailer also makes references to other films. Margot essays the role of movie star Sharon Tate. The film with such a great ensemble cast is sure to get cinephiles more excited than ever! Once Upon a Time in Hollywood had its world premiere at the ongoing 72nd Cannes Film Festival Its theatrical release is slated on August 9, 2019, in India. Ahead of the film's premiere at Cannes, Tarantino had penned a letter urging fans and viewers to not reveal the film's ending. I love Cinema. You love Cinema. It's the journey of discovering a story for the first time. I'm thrilled to be here in Cannes to share "Once Upon A Time... In Hollywood" with the festival audience. The cast and crew have worked so hard to create something original, and I only ask that everyone avoids revealing anything that would prevent later audiences from experiencing the film in the same way. Thank you, For all the Latest Entertainment News, Hollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: At least two terrorists were killed on Wednesday in an encounter that broke out in Kulgam area of Jammu and Kashmir. Additional security forces have been rushed to the area for strengthening the cordon. The identity of the terrorist is yet to be ascertained. On Saturday, one suspected terrorist was neutralised in an encounter with security forces in Kashmirs Sopore of Baramulla. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of encounter. In the anti-militancy operation, the spokesman said, a cordon and search operation was launched by security forces in the Hathlangoo area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district. During the search operation, terrorists fired upon the forces, triggering an encounter, he said. One terrorist was killed in the gun battle, he added. The body of the slain terrorist was retrieved from the site of the encounter and his identity and affiliation was yet to be ascertained, the spokesman said. He said incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, was recovered from the site of the encounter. In another operation, three terrorists, including the one who was part of a group of ultras involved in the killing of Army jawan Aurangzeb last year, were on Saturday gunned down in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, the police said. Three Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) terrorists were killed in a pre-dawn operation by security forces in Pulwama district of south Kashmir. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi : The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Wednesday successfully test fired the BrahMos air version missile from its frontline Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, marking a major milestone to enhance its precision strike capability. The 2.5 tonne air-to-surface missile has a range of around 300 km, and it will significantly enhance the IAF's combat capability, military officials said. The BrahMos cruise missile travels at a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times that of sound. "The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target," IAF spokesperson Group Capt Anupam Banerjee said. The IAF became the first air force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category on a sea target on November 22, 2017. "Today's was the second such live launch of the weapon. The integration of the weapon on the aircraft was a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications on aircraft," the IAF said. It said the software development of the aircraft was undertaken by IAF engineers, while the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd carried out mechanical and electrical modifications on it. "The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, Defence Research and Development Organisation, BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd and HAL have proven the capability of the nation to undertake such complex integrations," the IAF said. It said the BrahMos missile provides the Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. "The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach," the IAF said. BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. The IAF has already begun work to integrate the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft. Once the project to integrate the weapon on the combat fleet is over, the IAF capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target in sea or land is expected to go up manifold. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: One jawan was killed and seven others were injured in an IED blast in the Mendhar area along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. Reports said an army patrol of 12 Madras Regiment was going through the area at Dhera Dabsi when the explosion took place. In the explosion, eight soldiers suffered injuries and were evacuated to nearby armys health facility, they said. One among the injured soldiers succumbed to injuries, they said. The officer said that the nature of the blast is being ascertained, as per reports. The Jammu and Kashmir Defence Ministry Spokesperson clarified that "it wasn't an IED blast, but a training-related incident. no fatal casualties but one soldier seriously injured while many other suffered minor injuries in the incident that took place along Line of Control in Poonch sector." For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Sonam Kapoor is back to her best creating ripples at the red carpet with her sartorial fashion choices that she carries off with elan and looks drop dead gorgeous.A The actress has so far pulled out five looks starting with a valentino red gown with extended ruffled sleeves and then sporting multiple attires like a purple Elie Saab gown with an extravagant bow and cape, modern-maharani couture in gold, white tuxedo with a long trail and a princessy lemon yellow dress. All of Sonam's looks created were game changers and send out quite a fashion statement strong enough to take Cannes by storm. Rhea Kapoor who is with Sonam on her Cannes journey at the French Riviera this year and has always been her stylist decoded her looks and revealed interesting details about them all.A For her modern-maharani couture look witha golden veil, Rhea shared, "And the other look was inspired by an old Hollywood actress that kind of took inspiration from a Maharani. So it was a mix of old Hollywood and Indian Royalty, and I tried to put both the elements in her red carpet looks." A Sonam combined modernity and traditions in her white tuxedo look by Ralph and Russo with a striking trail and emerald jewellery. Rhea revealed that the theme of the look was India and royalty. "One of Sonam's looks was inspired by the Raja of Patiala which was her red carpet look and it was the modern rendition of that time of tux and emeralds." she said. A Her lemon yellow gown that she sported for press interaction from earlier today, complemented the serene surroundings. Her dress painted a romantic picture with roses placed in symmetry in the background. About which, Rhea explained, "It was inspired by classic romance. It was an idea about timeless love and romanticism because that's the place Sonam is in her life and that's what is inspiring me right now. Because I feel we need to go back to something which is pure and beautiful." The look mentioned that tt promotes sustainable luxury and is made of precious materials from nature. A Revealing further about their mutual trust in choosing looks , Rhea said ""Sonam completely trusts me with the looks that I put together. I run them by her on and off when I'm in the process, but she pretty much gives me 100% freedom, said Rhea. " She further added, "Then we do the fittings and whatever she feels comfortable in and makes her look the best is what we go with. But we've been working together for so many years now that we kind of understand each other." Rhea turned producer for Sonam's film Veere Di Wedding that also stars Kareena Kapoor, Swara Bhaskar, Shikha Talsania amongst others.A New Delhi: A disgraceful way to be thrown out from gym for life! A man from South Africa allegedly caught masturbating near a woman doing squats has been banned from a gym for life. In a footage that was captured by one Twitter user at a branch of Virgin Active in the university town of Stellenbosch, in South Africaas Western Cape in an attempt to expose athe mana, the video shows the man seated on an exercise mat with a towel over his lap, steps away from other gym goers and doing away his private act whilst in the midst of the public. I want this manas face to go viral. This was at the Virgin Active in Stellenbosch @virginactiveSA Absolutely abysmal behaviour pic.twitter.com/7szUj56F3I a wdnsdyadams (@heleneargy) May 17, 2019 We see the aunnamed mana place one hand inside his pants, and could be seen moving it around vigorously while looking at a phone in his other hand seated closely to a woman who was using a kettlebell to practise squats. It has since been widely shared on social media, causing disgust and anger. The shocking footage is believed to have been shared by Virgin Active Twitter account with the caption: aI want this manas face to go viral. This was at the Virgin Active in Stellenbosch @virginactiveSA. Absolutely abysmal behavioura which they have also acknowledged while responding to News 24. Following the surfacing of the video, netizens have widely condemned the shameful act on social media calling it sexual harassment and a sexual predator while also demanding for an immediate action. For all the Latest Offbeat News News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Chinese smartphone major Huaweis consumer devices brand Honor, which launched three new Android-based smartphones on Tuesday amid uncertainty over access to key services of Google-owned software platform, exuded confidence that it will continue to grow in the industry. Honor will continue to work hard to bring out best innovation, best product and best technology for everybody and will continue to work to support the best experience to our customers. Honor will continue to grow in this industry and will continue to grow with young people, Honor President George Zhao said while unveiling the Honor 20 series smartphones here. Google on Monday said its basic services on Huawei smartphones still will function following US sales curbs, but the Chinese tech giant faces the possible loss of other features Huawei Technologies Ltd., which uses Google's Android operating system in its smartphones, said it would continue to provide security updates and service. It gave no indication which map, photo or other services they might lose and support. "We assure you while we are complying with all US gov't requirements, services like Google Play & security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning on your existing Huawei device," said Google on Twitter. Earlier, Google barred Huawei from some updates to the Android operating system. This came after US President Donald Trumps administration added Huawei to a list of companies that American firms cannot trade with unless they have a licence. "Complying with the order and reviewing the implications, Google said in a statement. Several countries have raised concerns that Huawei gear could be used by China for surveillance. Huawei however has said its work does not pose any threats and that it is independent from the Chinese government. Earlier, Huawei founder had said that Huawei is ready to deal with Washington's crackdown and will reduce its reliance on US components. "We have already been preparing for this," Huawei founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei said. Huawei is a rapidly expanding leader in 5G technology but remains dependent on foreign suppliers. It buys about USD 67 billion worth of components each year, including about USD 11 billion from US suppliers, according to The Nikkei business daily. US government agencies are already banned from buying equipment from Huawei. Huawei claims to have nearly 190,000 employees, operates in 170 countries, and reported revenue of more than USD 100 billion in 2018. Washington: President Donald Trumps administration charged Tuesday it was quite possible Iran was responsible for the sabotage of Gulf oil interests but said its robust response had stopped potential attacks on Americans. Top Trump officials appeared to be toning down weeks of fiery warnings to Iran before delivering a classified briefing to the full Congress, where opposition Democrats have accused the administration of hyping intelligence and pushing the United States dangerously close to war. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United States has not made a definitive conclusion that can be presented publicly over the sabotage of oil tankers off the United Arab Emirates or drone strikes on a crude pipeline in Saudi Arabia. But given all the regional conflicts that we have seen over the past decade and the shape of these attacks, it seems like its quite possible that Iran was behind these, Pompeo told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt before heading to Capitol Hill. Most importantly, we will continue to take acts that protect American interests and that work to deter Iran from misbehavior in the region, which has the real risk of escalating the situation such that crude oil prices rise, he said. Yemens Huthi rebels, who are allied with Iran and are being hit hard by US-backed Saudi air strikes, claimed responsibility last week for a drone strike on a major east-west pipeline in the kingdom, which was forced to shut down temporarily. John Bolton, Trumps hawkish national security advisor, earlier this month warned of unrelenting force if Iran strikes US interests as he announced the deployment to the region of an aircraft carrier strike group, followed by nuclear-capable B-52 bombers. Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan, who was joined at the briefing by the US military chief, General Joseph Dunford, said the US response had made an impact. I think our steps were very prudent and weve put on hold the potential for attacks on Americans, Shanahan told reporters. Id say were in a period where the threat remains high and our job is to make sure that there is no miscalculation by the Iranians, he said. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that the United States was playing a very, very dangerous game with military deployments, saying that some actors were interested in accidentsa likely allusion to its regional rivals such as Saudi Arabia. There will be painful consequences for everybody (if) there is an escalation against Iran, thats for sure, he said, Zarif told CNN. Trump last year pulled out of a multinational agreement negotiated under his predecessor Barack Obama under which Tehran drastically scaled back its nuclear work in return for promises of sanctions relief. The administration, which is closely allied with Riyadh, instead vowed maximum pressure to weaken Irans regional influence, including by trying to stop all oil sales by Tehran. Democrats said they were determined to hold the administration to account after the debacle over intelligence before the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Entering the classified briefing, Representative Eliot Engel, the Democrat who runs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the administration should inform the Congress why we seem to be walking towards war. I think we should have learned our lesson. War is the last thing you do, not the first thing you put on the table, he told reporters. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine said that a new war in the Middle East would be absolute lunacy and, while criticizing Iran, said its actions were in line with predicted responses to Trumps moves. Bluntly, I believe the path to the current level of tension began when President Trump unilaterally walked out of a diplomatic deal, Kaine said Monday on the Senate floor. Trump stoked the fire on Sunday in a tweet in which he warned: If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. But the US presidentwho made similar threats against North Korea before meeting leader Kim Jong Undownplayed the Iranian threat to US interests a day later and has called for talks. Few expect Irans leaders to meet Trumpanti-Americanism is a cardinal tenet of the 1979 Islamic revolution. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Tributes poured in from all quarters yesterday after the honoring of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa as a World Leader in health by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Arab Health Ministers in a statement said the achievement has entitled Bahrain to be a leader in the health sector. WHOs honoring of HRH Premier was in appreciation of his prominent role in enhancing general health in the kingdom, said Egypts Health and Population Minister and President of the preparatory meeting of the Executive Bureau of the Arab Health Ministers, Dr. Hala Zayed. She was speaking during the 52nd meeting of the Arab health ministers, which discussed the preparations for the 72nd World Health Assembly meeting at the UN headquarters here. Bahrains delegation to 72nd World Health Assembly, led by Health Minister, Faeqa bint Said Al-Saleh, participated in Arab Health Ministers meeting. Foreign minister Minister of Foreign Affairs, Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa, in a statement, affirmed that the honour furthers the international recognition of His Royal Highness significant role in advancing human development. This achievement reflects the WHOs appreciation of the Prime Ministers role in supporting the Organisation in different countries, said Shaikh Khalid. The Council of Representatives Speaker Fawzia Zainal, in a statement, said the award is a recognition of His Highnesss contribution to Bahrains comprehensive development and modernization. Kuwait Finance House Bahrain (KFH-Bahrain) has announced Adeela Saleh Ameen as the Grand Prize winner of a luxury furnished apartment at Durrat Marina, alongside 60 winners for the April 2019 draw for the Libshara Savings Account. The draw took place at KFH-Bahrains headquarters at Bahrain World Trade Centre. On the occasion, Subah Al Zayani, Deputy Head of Retail Banking Group at KFH congratulated Adeela Saleh Ameen for winning the 2nd luxury furnished apartment, including service costs for 2 years, at the iconic waterside development Durrat Marina; located near the luxurious Durrat Al Bahrain. Adeela Saleh Ameen, said, I truly never imagined to win a Grand Prize, or expected to win this luxurious apartment in Durrat Marina. The 2019 Libshara prizes include, 6 grand luxury apartment prizes at Durrat Marina, 6 grand cash prizes of $50,000, as well as every month sixty lucky monthly winners will receive an amount of $500 each for the special segment categories. KFH said it has also collaborated with VIVA Telecommunications Company to present 10 monthly vouchers worth $500 for small and medium enterprises upon spending BD50 or more on corporate services, in addition to other cash prizes. In the days since terrorists carried out attacks on churches and hotels in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday, a series of violent reprisal attacks have targeted the countrys Muslim community. The assaults intensified during the week of May 13, when marauding mobs torched Muslim homes, businesses and places of worship, compelling the Sri Lankan authorities to order a nationwide curfew. These attacks are alarming not only because of their intensity, but because they threaten to aggravate the societal divides in Sri Lanka that helped fuel a brutal, 26-year civil war that ended a decade ago. The schisms during that conflict were different than those playing out today. During the civil war, militants representing the Tamil ethnic minority fought against the ethnic Sinhalese-dominated state for the right to a separate homeland. Today, the tensions are religious in nature, between Sri Lankas majority Buddhists, who have staged the violent reprisals, and the Muslim minority. But the broader issues of communal tensions and violence remain the same. Unfortunately, this is exactly what Daesh, the sectarian-minded terror group that claimed responsibility the Easter massacre, wants to achieve and exploit: Different societal groups pitted against each other, violently. To its credit, the beleaguered Sri Lankan government which has come under fire for not acting on multiple intelligence reports that warned of the Easter Sunday attack in advance has said and done the right things in response. Leading officials have called for calm and unity. Security forces have cracked down on those involved in the anti-Muslim violence, crackdowns that have been particularly robust since Sri Lanka declared a state of emergency the day after the Easter attack, which gives it full (critics would say excessive) powers to act against those suspected of violence. And yet, there are three reasons to fear that Sri Lankas communal tensions could worsen and even spiral out of control, despite the best efforts of state and civil society to bring the country together. Firstly, the virulent Buddhist nationalism that has fuelled anti-Muslim attacks not only in recent days but also in the months preceding the Easter Sunday attacks, is a clear and present danger. Buddhist extremist groups in Sri Lanka have been around for quite some time and have generally been treated with kid gloves if not openly supported by Sri Lankan political leaders. These groups advocate for, and carry out, violent acts against Muslims. This phenomenon is also seen in Myanmar, where nasty anti-Muslim ideologies spouted by radical Buddhist monks have contributed to the environment that led to the Myanmar militarys assaults on the Rohingya Muslim community. Until the Sri Lankan authorities take irreversible steps to expunge the scourge of Buddhist extremism, communal violence will continue to flare. Secondly, in Sri Lanka, social media one of the great double-edged swords of our time is a powerful purveyor of the toxic narratives that fuel communal violence. We all know the power of social media; it has the ability to instantaneously spread news far and wide. This is a good thing when it is spreading important information, from warnings about incoming flash floods to tips on where to vote on election day, and many other useful things in between. But social medias clout when it comes to information dissemination is a very bad thing when that information consists of fake news or other provocations that prompt violence. Indeed, reports abound that social-media posts played a role in triggering the anti-Muslim violence recently seen in Sri Lanka just as they did in 2017, when false rumors spread about Muslims planning to attack a sacred Buddhist monument. Of course, this nefarious use of social media to trigger unrest is part of a wider problem that plays out across the globe. In Sri Lanka, officials banned social-media platforms after the Easter attacks to reduce the likelihood that they would be used to incite retaliatory violence. But banning the platform will not solve the underlying problem, as the violence of recent days makes painfully clear. Thirdly, Sri Lankas political situation heightens the risk of increased communal tensions and violence. The country faces an election later this year. With emotions from the Easter Sunday attack sure to remain high for some time, leaders of the current government might find it politically expedient to resort to increasingly tougher rhetoric (and actions) toward Muslims. Indeed, given that a leading presidential candidate, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, has been associated with hard-line Buddhist nationalist causes, politicians aspiring for high office might calculate that such ugly talk could strengthen their electoral position. This is not to say Sri Lanka cannot step back from the precipice. Sri Lankans both the state and society know all too well the bloody consequences of letting widening societal divisions go unaddressed. This painful legacy of past tragedy provides a powerful incentive to take corrective measures that can bridge divides and generate stability. But given Sri Lankas troubling trend lines, it will not be easy. On May 13, at a rally near Bergamo, the heartland of right-wing party the League, which is ahead in polls approaching this weeks European elections, its leader Matteo Salvini asked the police to remove a banner hanging from a window. It read: You are not welcome. Not a smart move on his part. Suddenly, anti-Salvini banners started popping up wherever he went. Some were quite funny. One man in Florence posted a banner from his tiny attic with a challenge to the authorities to take it down: Bring a long ladder. I live on the fifth floor, he wrote. On May 18, at the rally with several leaders of the European far right, including Marine Le Pen of France and Viktor Orban of Hungary, Salvini could watch another joyful display. Banners mocking him were everywhere. A man dressed as Zorro including an eye-mask and a sword appeared on a balcony in the Piazza del Duomo, where the crowd gathered to listen to the speeches. We Italians are an irreverent bunch, and hard to rein in. Our deep-rooted distrust of power, in regular times, may be a drawback; but in exceptional moments like this one, its a form of insurance. Lately, Salvini has become more prone than ever to acting over the top. Speaking from a balcony that was used by Benito Mussolini, downplaying fascism at every turn, flirting with supremacist groups and praising Vladimir Putins Russia are hardly appropriate, in a democracy, for a party leader who is also interior minister and deputy prime minister. But jumping to conclusions is also wrong. There is no chance that Italy will become an authoritarian state, let alone a second fascist regime. We are too undisciplined for that. And Salvini may be a cheeky demagogue, but hes no dictator. Its undeniable, though, that he must be monitored. His party won 17 percent in the general election in March, 2018, then formed a government with the Five Star Movement which got nearly 33 percent and used it as a springboard. He left the thorny issues employment, transportation, public works to his inexperienced partners, and focused on self-promotion. This involved a lot of barking about the dangers of immigration, spreading fear but accomplishing little. Half a million illegal immigrants, whom he promised to expel pronto, are still here. Fewer come now, its true. But the idea of locking down Italian ports and letting people drown at sea doesnt play well with many Italians or in the courts. On May 19 a public prosecutor ordered 47 migrants, stranded off the coast on Lampedusa, a tiny island south of Sicily, to be brought ashore, and he confiscated the rescuing boat. Salvini has campaigned endlessly; this year he has held more than 200 rallies and spent a mere 17 full days in his ministerial office, according to one newspapers tally. He broadcasts daily on Facebook, tweets with Trump-like ferocity, and posts selfies wearing every type of uniform. Earlier this month, he introduced Vinci Salvini (Win Salvini), a campaign in which voters gain points by posting likes on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. And what do they win? Their photos on their leaders social profiles and, he beams, for the lucky ones, even a chat on the phone with me! This frantic activity has helped Matteo as he is known among the faithful gain a consensus on the right, even in the poorer South, where the League was despised until recently. Meanwhile, Silvio Berlusconi, whom Italians used to call Cavaliere, is, despite declining health, leading his much weakened Forza Italia party into the election, using the slogans and images from its historic win in 1994. But the aging Berlusconi is no match for the younger, tech-savvy Salvini. According to the latest polls available Italian law forbids publishing them in the two weeks before elections Forza Italia is at well under 10 percent, with the League between 30 and 35 percent. Some predict that on May 26 the League could end up being one of Europes largest parties. But there are small signs that may point to a different outcome. To start with, Five Star is fighting back, attacking its allies (about corruption, regional autonomy, and expanding Italys flat tax) and hinting at a possible leftist alliance with the Democratic Party. More important, the current government hasnt delivered. Italys economic growth is the slowest in the European Union, public debt keeps piling up and international investors are nervous. The patience of business people and entrepreneurs, especially in the wealthy north, is wearing thin. And they represent the core of the Leagues support. The European elections are so close now that Salvini is bound to do well. But the mood is changing. Its like with marshmallows: the sweets you cant get enough of, until you are suddenly sick of them. And Matteos marshmallow moment may be coming sooner than most expect. Italys political mood has known big swings in the recent past. Berlusconi was unceremoniously sacked in 2011; Mario Monti was extremely popular in 2012, helped get Italys public finances in order, and then became undeservedly a figure of hate; in 2014, Matteo Renzi, then leader of the Democratic Party, polled a stunning 41 percent in the European election, and was dumped in 2016. His fault? An untimely referendum on constitutional reform and a self-assurance that bordered on arrogance. Even Beppe Grillo, the larger-thanlife founder of the Five Star Movement, quickly became a has-been, and was sidelined by his own people. So never underestimate our operatic tendencies. In Italy we cheer our tenors until we boo them off the stage. And we chew our delicious marshmallows until, suddenly, weve had enough and spit them out in spectacular fashion. Matteo Salvini, be warned: the Italian political trash can always has room for one more. Thousands of soldiers fanned out across Jakarta on Tuesday after the surprise early announcement of official results in Indonesias election showed Joko Widodo re-elected leader of the worlds third-biggest democracy. The election commission had been due to give the final tally of the divisive poll on Wednesday, but the results were revealed early Tuesday with little advance notice amid fears of unrest. Presidential challenger Prabowo Subianto had warned of possible mass uprisings in response to his claims of widespread cheating. Tensions have also spiked high since police said last week that they arrested dozens of Islamic State-linked terror suspects -- including some who planned to cause chaos by detonating bombs at any post-election protests. On Friday, the US embassy in Jakarta issued a heightened security alert for Indonesia, the worlds biggest Muslim majority nation. There was a heavy security presence in Jakarta on Tuesday, including in front of the elections commission office, which was barricaded with razor wire and protected by scores of heavily armed troops. Subianto, a 67-year-old retired general, has targeted the commission by accusing it of allowing a string of election violations. The former military man -- who has strong ties to the Suharto dictatorship that collapsed in 1998 -- has kept up a steady string of rhetoric since unofficial results for the April 17 poll put bitter rival Widodo ahead by a wide margin. Widodo, who had held off declaring victory after last months polls, confirmed the win Tuesday. After were sworn in... we will be president and vice president, Widodo told reporters in Jakarta with running mate Maruf Amin, a Muslim cleric, at his side. Subianto, meanwhile, rejected the results but called for supporters to remain calm and said his camp would pursue legal avenues. Earlier Tuesday, Subiantos legal director was quoted by Indonesian media as saying a formal appeal would be filed at the Constitutional Court. Subianto unsuccessfully challenged Widodos 2014 victory over him at the same court. Sway public opinion Analysts and election officials have discounted Subiantos claims that the result was affected by voter fraud and widespread cheating. The scale of abuses and errors in the conduct of the election are clearly very minor overall, Jakarta-based political analyst Kevin ORourke said before Tuesdays official results. (Subianto) and his camp are harping on minor deficiencies and very micro problems, clearly in an attempt to sway public opinion and delegitimise Widodo. It was unclear if huge crowds would flood the streets to support Subianto, but there was little sign of Tuesday. There will be protests from disappointed (Subianto) supporters but I dont think itll be significant, said Syamsuddin Haris, a political analyst at the Indonesian Sciences Institute. Authorities have been anticipating this, he added. The presidential campaign was punctuated by bitter mudslinging and a slew of fake news online -- much of it directed at the presidential contenders. The soft-spoken Widodo -- who pointed to his efforts to boost Southeast Asias biggest economy with a huge infrastructure push -- stood in stark contrast to fiery nationalist Subianto, a strongman who courted Islamic hardliners and promised a boost to military and defence spending. Last month, a record 245,000 candidates ran for public office in Indonesia, from the presidency and parliamentary seats to local positions -- the first time all were held on the same day. Some 85.6 million votes were cast in favour of Widodo out of about 154 million in total, it added. Widodo scoring thumping victories in holiday hotspot Bali and heavily populated East Java, while Subianto landed big wins in conservative Aceh and West Java. DANBURY New evidence has been submitted in the case of an Oakville man charged for his role in a womans death on Candlewood Lake last summer. Gary Morrone is facing criminally negligent homicide and first-degree reckless boating charges in the death of a Waterbury teacher last June. Wanda Tirado, 38, was thrown from a pontoon boat piloted by Morrone near Squantz Cove in New Fairfield and injured by the boats propeller. Morrones pretrial hearing at state Superior Court in Danbury on Wednesday was continued to July 10. Were waiting on an FBI report, States Attorney Stephen Sedensky said. We sent some evidence down to the lab and were waiting on the results. Sedensky did not disclose what kind of evidence was submitted. Morrone, 66, pleaded not guilty earlier this year to the criminally negligent homicide and reckless boating charges class A and B misdemeanors, respectively as well as to a charge for failure to report a boating accident. Investigators said they have found inconsistencies in Morrones description of the events that led to Tirados death. Emergency personnel in New Fairfield were dispatched to the lake around 2:15 p.m. June 19 for reports that a man and an injured woman had been pulled from the lake by a Good Samaritan who had spotted both in the water a few minutes apart, according to an Environmental Conservation Police report. Another boater initially helped the man later identified as Morrone back onto his pontoon boat. The boater told police Morrone, who smelled of alcohol, then left the scene in his boat. Tirado was found about five minutes later, face down in the water. Rescue personnel performed CPR on Tirado, but they found significant traumas to her right arm and head consistent with injuries of a propeller strike, according to the report. Officers tried to find Morrone, but discovered he had left the lake. He arrived at Danbury Hospital more than an hour later and spoke with police although the marina is only 15 minutes from the hospital, police noted in the report. Police also noted glaring inconsistencies in Morrones explanation that he had been swimming with Tirado when his boat began to drift away from them. He later changed his story and stated he heard her yell for help, walked around on the boat to find her and then jumped into the water to help her, police said. The issue: Outbreaks of the highly contagious measles in nearby New York have raised concerns that Connecticuts children, seniors and those with compromised immune systems could be put at risk to contract the disease that could lead to death. Although only three cases of the disease once-thought eradicated have been reported in Connecticut, the potential is there for the number to increase. Measles is easily spread and the virus can remain hours after an infected person leaves a room. Parents who do not vaccinate their children are putting entire communities in harms way. A school-by-school report released earlier this month by the state Department of Public Health seemed to confirm the threat 108 public and private schools are below the 95 percent immunization rate for measles, mumps and rubella recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What we said: The percentage is important. Above that amount is what health officials call a herd immunity, which protects the few who might not be vaccinated. Below that amount, however, the highly contagious disease can take hold. Measles is dangerous. Severe complications include pneumonia and encephalitis ... For every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die from it, the CDC states. ... The question is, what can be done? And what ought to be done. Immunization is required for school attendance, but the state allows exemptions for religious or medical reasons. It is time to examine the propriety of religious exemptions. No major religion preaches against vaccinating children ... Individual beliefs are putting others at risk. ... Measles can be prevented. No child should have to endure the disease, or possibly die from it, because of those who refuse to vaccinate. Editorial, May 5, 2019 What happened: House Majority Leader Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, was a proponent of removing the religious exemption for the vaccination otherwise required to attend school, as have several other states. Such a measure would have passed in the House, he said. But two things happened to derail legislation this session. About 500 people packed an informational hearing at the Capitol, including about 150 who threatened not to vote for legislators who would remove religious exemption. Although we consider that an ineffective threat, the turnout for the hearing underscored the controversy. At a time when other much more contentious topics face the legislators whether to institute tolls or legalize recreational marijuana, come to mind vaccinations were put aside for another session. Second, the DPH school data report was found to have typographical errors and flawed statistics. New information is expected in June. What should happen next: The clear possibility of a measles outbreak in Connecticut remains, no matter the protests or imprecise school data. Connecticuts Public Health Commissioner Renee D. Coleman-Mitchell should take a leadership position on this issue. Her statement that collectively considering all options to increase the rate of vaccination among our children is a desirable public health strategy is wishy-washy. And the General Assembly should act now because measles wont wait until the next session in February. The problem with Wealth Inequality is not that the rich have too much, or earn too much it is that the poor have too little, and earn too little. The Democrats in Connecticut just won a battle against the Republicans for a minimum wage hike for the lowest paid citizens that will rise to $15 an hour in four years. While they may have won a battle for wage increases, they still are losing the war for cost-of-living minimum wages. A minimum wage is not a true minimum wage if it is not a cost-of-living wage, unless a person who works a full-time job will be able to support a spouse and child with the basic necessities to live. Millions who work at giant corporations for minimum wages are surviving because they are being subsidized by our government with food stamps, housing and Medicaid much of this being paid for by taxes from the middle-class. In many ways it was easier and better to have lived during the Depression. I grew up in a family of five, and my father made only about $25 a week which was a minimum wage then. However, we lived in freshly painted apartments and while we may not have had rugs on the floor, I never felt poor nor went to bed hungry. And if one of us ever got sick with a fever, our doctor would come to our home with his black medical bag, and my father would pay him $3 or $5 for his visit. Wealth Inequality has greatly increased over the years because the Republicans, who represent wealthy corporate interests, have successfully prevented minimum wage increases to keep up with cost-of-living increases. The only way we can stop the poor from becoming poorer is for the minimum wage of employees of giant corporations to be increased to cost-of-living wages immediately not four years from now! Employees will be able to buy the products of the giant corporations, and dollars will go back into our economy rather than just lying in the banks of the super rich. And minimum wage earners will have more income to buy health insurance since doctors dont come to our home anymore for $5. Paul Adinolfi is a resident of Sandy Hook. EDMONTON, May 21, 2019 /CNW/ - Indigenous communities have the innovation and drive to unlock new jobs in the forestry sector while protecting the environment. That is why Canada is investing in projects to equip Indigenous communities with the tools to build businesses while helping to tackle climate change and mitigate its impacts on the forest sector. Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, today announced investments of more than $2.1 million in three forestry projects in Alberta. These investments are: $1.5 million for Kapawe'no First Nation in Narrows Point near Grouard to design and install a renewable and eco-friendly heating system that will help to reduce the community's reliance on diesel, cut energy costs and generate jobs for the surrounding communities. The project is funded through the Clean Energy for Rural and Remote Communities program, facilitating economic development opportunities to reduce the reliance on diesel fuel for heat. for Kapawe'no First Nation in Narrows Point near to design and install a renewable and eco-friendly heating system that will help to reduce the community's reliance on diesel, cut energy costs and generate jobs for the surrounding communities. The project is funded through the program, facilitating economic development opportunities to reduce the reliance on diesel fuel for heat. $500,000 to The Rockies Institute in Canmore , allowing it to collaborate with Indigenous communities to bring together the best available Indigenous and scientific knowledge on fire management. The project will inform innovative practices for local, regional and provincial climate change adaptation. The project is funded through the Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise program, which works with provinces to support private sector and non-government organizations in applying climate change considerations to decision-making and implementing adaptation actions. to The Rockies Institute in , allowing it to collaborate with Indigenous communities to bring together the best available Indigenous and scientific knowledge on fire management. The project will inform innovative practices for local, regional and provincial climate change adaptation. The project is funded through the program, which works with provinces to support private sector and non-government organizations in applying climate change considerations to decision-making and implementing adaptation actions. $110,000 for Nu Ch'anie Society in Cold Lake to pursue business development activities in various emerging market opportunities in the forest sector with the goal of creating revenue and employment. The project is funded through the Indigenous Forestry Initiative, which supports Indigenous-led economic development opportunities in the forest sector. The Government of Canada is committed to working with industry and the provinces and territories to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of Canada's natural resources sectors through investments in world-class science and innovation while expanding markets for Canadian products. The global shift toward a cleaner, greener economy is the opportunity of a lifetime. From May 27 to 29, 2019, Canada will welcome over 25 countries to this year's Clean Energy Ministerial and Mission Innovation Ministerial to discuss a future that is cleaner, brighter and more prosperous for generations to come. Canada will showcase its leadership in cleantech innovation, champion the issue of gender equality, youth and Indigenous peoples in clean energy and promote Canada as an investment destination. Learn more at: http://cem-mi-vancouver2019.ca/. Quotes "These important projects will help bring together the tools and knowledge necessary for communities to capture opportunities presented by our forest sector while making it more resilient to a changing climate. They are great examples of how we are working with Indigenous partners to create good jobs while providing greener solutions that will directly benefit Canadians." Amarjeet Sohi Canada's Minister of Natural Resources "Kapawe'no First Nation is fortunate, and as Caretakers of the Earth we are happy knowing that this benefit we receive and the effort we commit will help educate and provide sustainable clean energy for years to come." Chief Frank Halcrow Kapawe'no First Nation "Wildfire knows no boundaries. Managing it in the context of climate change will require effective cooperation of people, agencies and organizations across jurisdictions and across cultures.The Fire with Fire project supported by NRCan is an innovative approach to building connections and to developing our resilience to climate change. By braiding Indigenous and scientific knowledge of fire management, we will mobilize the best available knowledge of fire management to inform innovative practices for local, regional and provincial climate change resilience." Laura Lynes, Co-Founder and President The Rockies Institute "Programs such as the Indigenous Forestry Initiative are incredibly important to our society and our membership at Cold Lake First Nations; they provide much needed capacity funding to help us explore business development opportunities aimed to increase the overall economic health of our community." Gail Muskego, Counsellor Nu Ch'anie Society Associated Links: Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan) SOURCE Natural Resources Canada For further information: Media Relations, Natural Resources Canada, Ottawa, 343-292-6100, [email protected]; Vanessa Adams, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 343-543-7645, [email protected] Related Links www.nrcan.gc.ca State Forest Rangers recently came to the rescue of two kayakers who flipped their boats in an Adirondack Lake, came to shore but were unable to find their way back to their motor vehicle in the dark. They also rescued a pair of hikers who mistakenly thought a hike to the summit of Whiteface Mountain was an easy 45-minute trip. These incidents and others involving Forest Rangers, occurred between May 17-19. All information below was supplied by the state Department of Environmental Conservation. T own of Harrietstown, Franklin County Wilderness Rescue: On May 17 at 8:20 p.m., DECs Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for two individuals stranded after flipping their kayaks on Middle Saranac Lake. The reporting party helped the individuals to shore, but the Denver, Colorado, men could not navigate the trail to Ampersand Parking Lot in the dark. Forest Ranger Scott Sabo arrived on scene, located the men at 9:50 p.m., and helped the subjects to the trailhead by 11 p.m. Town of North, Elba Essex County Wilderness Rescue: "On May 17 at 5:45 p.m., DECs Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance for a 33-year-old male from Saranac Lake who became separated from his party while descending Mt. Jo. When his hiking companions arrived at the trailhead, the subject was not there. The hiking party proceeded to check both the long and short trails and eventually met at Heart Lake without finding their missing friend. Two Forest Rangers arrived on scene, and while interviewing the group, the lost hiker walked in to the Adirondak Loj. The subject had veered off onto a herd path, followed a stream, and arrived at Last Chance Ranch. The caretaker at the ranch gave him a ride back to the Loj. The incident concluded at 6:35 p.m. " Town of Hunter, Greene County Wilderness Rescue: On May 18 at 4:40 p.m., Central Office Dispatch received a 911 call requesting assistance for a 58-year-old female from Kingston who had fallen ill while hiking with a Girl Scout troop from Laurel House trailhead to Inspiration Point. When the scouts reached Laymans Monument, the woman felt weak and decided to rest while the rest of group continued to Inspiration Point. When the troop returned to the subjects location, she was still unable to continue. Forest Ranger Robert Dawson was on foot patrol in the area and was able to quickly find and evaluate the hiker. Food and water were provided, and the subject walked out a short distance to a jeep trail, where a Hunter Police unit drove her to the roadside. The woman refused further medical care and left the area with her group. Town of Minerva, Essex County Wilderness Rescue: On May 18 at 6:10 p.m., Franklin County 911 transferred a call from a 30-year-old female hiker on Vanderwhacker Mountain. The call provided little information, but it was clear the hiker had lost the trail. The subject remained at her location overnight at the direction of Ray Brook Dispatch and began moving at first light. Several Rangers worked through the night to locate her, and additional Rangers were dispatched to the search along with NYSP Aviation in the early morning hours. The subject was located around 2:30 p.m., the next day by Rangers who were able to follow her tracks down a drainage. Town of Wilmington, Essex County Wilderness Rescue: "On May 19 at 4:19 p.m., Essex County 911 transferred a call to DECs Ray Brook Dispatch reporting two hikers requesting assistance. The hikers had parked at Connery Pond and walked to Lake Placid. While at Lake Placid, they spoke with an unknown individual about hiking to the summit of Whiteface, which they were told would take about 45 minutes. After climbing through the ice and snow to the summit for several hours, the couple called for a taxi to return to their vehicle, which was six miles away. They were informed the Whiteface Mountain toll road was closed. Forest Ranger Robert Praczkajlo picked up the hikers at the Whiteface summit and gave them a courtesy transport back to their vehicle by 5:50 p.m. " For more Upstate NY outdoors on Facebook, go to Upstate NY Outdoors on NYup.com. Wed appreciate a like. Video: A year in the life of a CNY fox family the US has a bipartisan senate bill Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act (AI-IA), which would organize a coordinated national strategy for developing AI and provide a $2.2 billion federal investment over five years to build an AI-ready workforce, accelerating the responsible delivery of AI applications from government agencies, academia, and the private sector over the next 10 years. In February, the Trump administration released a national artificial intelligence strategy that called on agencies to ramp up investments in AI research and explore other ways to advance the tech across society. However, the plan included few specific policy proposals and no additional funding to support those efforts, which drew criticism across the tech community. In March 2019, Senators Heinrich and Portman announced the formation of the bipartisan Senate Artificial Intelligence (AI) Caucus to address transformative technology with implications spanning a number of fields including transportation, health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and national security. The Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act would: * Establish a National AI Coordination Office (Director and staff to coordinate federal AI efforts), an AI Interagency Committee (senior leaders across federal departments), and an AI Advisory Committee (non-governmental experts) to develop a National Strategic Plan for AI research and development, and facilitate coordination across government agencies. * Require the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) to identify metrics which may be used to establish standards for evaluating AI algorithms and their effectiveness, as well as the quality of training data sets ($40 million each year). * Require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to formulate educational goals for addressing algorithm accountability, explainability, data bias, privacy as well as societal and ethical implications of AI. NSF will also fund research on both the technical and educational aspects of AI and its effect on our society through awarding to up to five new Multidisciplinary Centers for Artificial Intelligence Research and Education. At least one of these five centers will have K-12 education as its primary focus, one will be minority-serving institution, and all will include a lifelong education component. (+$500 million total; five Centers at $20 million per year for 2020-2024) * Require the Department of Energy (DOE) to create an AI research program, building state-of-the-art computing facilities that will be made available first and foremost to government and academic AI researchers, but will also be available to private sector users on a cost-recovery basis as practicable. The bill will establish up to five Artificial Intelligence Research Centers to include institutions of higher education and national laboratories. (+$1.5 billion; five AI Research Centers at $60 million each per year for 2020-2024) SOURCES Senator Heinrich Written By Brian Wang MILFORD Manslaughter suspect Ricky Garcia told police he kicked Christopher Peckham, another resident of the Anderson Avenue address they shared, no more than two times inside a bedroom in the home Sunday, according to an arrest warrant. I stomped him, police quoted Garcia telling them during an interview. He was kicking at me and I dropped the hammer on him. But other residents of the home, who included Peckhams sister, told police a different story. They said that Garcia beat the 49-year-old Peckham repeatedly with his hands and feet, then dragged him, limp and mumbling, out of the house, leaving him to die there hours later as others milled about the property. Garcia was arraigned at Milford Superior Court Tuesday on a charge of first-degree manslaughter, a felony punishable by up to 20 years behind bars. Judge Peter Brown ordered Garcia held in lieu of $250,000 bond and continued the case to June 4. The warrant says Garcia, 57, called police to the home about 10 p.m. Sunday saying he had found Peckham dead. Peckham had numerous and significant injuries indicating he had been assaulted broken ribs, a broken sternum, a lacerated liver and fractured vertebrae. An autopsy performed Monday at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ruled the death a homicide, caused by blunt trauma to the upper torso. More News Milford man accused of beating housemate to death According to the warrant, Peckhams sister told police she had asked Garcia to remove her brother, who was passed out on the floor, from her bedroom earlier Sunday. Garcia allegedly told police he started roughhousing with Peckham and slapped him in the face trying to wake him up, but described Peckham as dead weight and unresponsive. Garcia initially told police he left the room and didnt know how Peckham ended up outside, but after more questioning said he dropped his foot on Peckhams torso and it went like jelly on him, the warrant says. Garcia then told police he stomped and dropped the hammer on Peckham. He explained that this is what its called when you bring the foot down on somebody, Detective Kenneth Catino wrote in the warrant. Peckhams sister told police Garcia kicked her brother up to 50 times, including kicking him repeatedly in the stomach pretty freaking hard. She also told police Garcia and her brother were constantly fighting over things that she really couldnt specify. Another resident of the home told police he saw Garcia hitting and kicking Peckham as Peckham said, stop hitting me. He said he saw Ricky Garcia punching Christopher Peckham in the chest and legs, further saying he saw Ricky Garcia jump up and land with his two legs on Christopher Peckhams stomach, the warrant says. The man told police he helped Garcia drag Peckham out of the home, then went back inside and went to sleep. Later in the day, the man told police, he went outside to cut the grass and saw Peckham still lying there, mumbling and moving. After mowing the lawn, the man said, he touched Peckhams leg and called to him, but got no response, the warrant says: At that time he thought that Christopher Peckham was dead. In court Tuesday, Assistant States Attorney Matt Kalthoff said the state has a strong case against Garcia, including statements by several witnesses and Garcias own admissions. A bail commissioner said Garcias record dates back to 1992, for crimes including assault, operating under the influence and failing to appear in court. NEW HAVEN Mirneli brought her nephew to wait for the school bus at the corner of Congress Avenue and White Street Wednesday morning, and had to face an uncommon concern. How would the school bus get to them, her nephew wondered, as the road was blocked by police tape set up after a man was shot and killed on Congress Avenue? Police were there investigating Wednesday because a man was killed in a shooting in the area of Congress Avenue and Redfield Street Tuesday night, officials said. A 21-year-old man had been shot in the arm in the same area Monday evening, according to Capt. Anthony Duff. It is not yet known whether the two incidents were connected. The man who died in Tuesdays shooting was identified as Thomas Hart, formerly of Milford, according to Duff. His death is the citys second homicide this year. City resident city resident David London, 46, was killed on Jan. 10 on Diamond Street in the Beaver Hills neighborhood. I just think its crazy now the kids have to get to school, said Mirneli, who declined to give her last name. Hopefully, it doesnt happen again. Mirneli said her street had been closed Monday evening, as her boyfriend was unable to get down the road in his car. On Tuesday night, she had seen the police lights. But what had happened didnt become clear to her until Wednesday morning, as she checked Facebook. Floyd Smith, a resident of neighboring Ann Street, said he had been having a barbecue in his back yard Monday when the first shooting occurred. He had heard the shots; police responded and talked to him after ShotSpotter indicated gunfire in the area. He said Tuesday that gunfire was a regular part of life in the area. When he moved there five years ago, things werent bad, he said, but the situation had gotten worse recently. Police regularly patrol the area, but it did not seem to have helped. Its a common occurrence, said Smith. All day, every day, thats all you hear gunshots, gunshots. He called for greater investment in the area, giving the young people who gather on the corner something else to do, and said he was saddened by the shootings. I feel really heartbroken, said Smith. This is another young man, a young man of color, who died senselessly for nothing. Its really unfortunate. Around the scene of the shooting, parents sent their children off to the school bus Wednesday. Young people arrived at John C. Daniels school down the block, across the street from a police substation. Down Congress Avenue, on the other side of the area cordoned off, stands Ring One Boxing, where former world champion Chad Dawson honed his craft. In between, on a neighboring side street, is 150 West St., where Michael Randall and Corey Reed died in a fatal fire earlier this month. A memorial to the two men was set up in front of the home, which no longer is surrounded by police tape. Inside the tape at the site of the fatal shooting, police investigated the scene, where evidence had been noted with yellow markers. Alder Evelyn Rodriguez, D-4, who represents the Hill North neighborhood, said she and other local leaders were concerned by the shooting. She said they would meet, along with police, and explore how to address violence in the area. This is a serious thing, said Rodriguez. Were worried. As of May 5, police have said there had been 27 shootings that far in 2019, up from 11 at that point in 2018 and 23 at that time in 2017. Duff said Wednesday that officers responded to a ShotSpotter alert and 911 calls that a person had been shot in the Hill neighborhood at about 11:26 p.m. Tuesday, finding a male victim in the street. The man was taken by ambulance to Yale New Haven Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Surveillance footage of the shooting from a nearby store shows the victim was one of four individuals who ran down Congress Avenue toward its intersection with Redfield Street. Three of the individuals turn down Redfield Street, where they can no longer be seen. The victim, somewhat behind the others, is passed by three cars as he reaches the corner and looks over his shoulder toward traffic. It is not clear from which direction shots were fired. A passing motorist stops to tend to the victim; police arrive on scene a few minutes later. Firefighters and EMTs get there shortly after, offer care, and place him into an ambulance for transport to the hospital. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call the New Haven Police Department Detective Bureau at 203-946-6304. Callers may remain anonymous. NEW HAVEN A former city employee pleaded guilty Wednesday to embezzling $100,000, according to federal authorities. Daniel Lion, 64, of Hamden, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall in New Haven to one count of wire fraud stemming from a long-running embezzlement scheme, federal authorities said. Further, according to court documents and statements made in court, Lion was employed by the city of New Haven for about 40 years, most recently as a management analyst in the citys payroll department. Lion participated in the fraudulent scheme from about January 2002 until around June 2018, according to court documents. Lion faces from 15 to 21 months in prison, a $250,000 fine and must make restitution. He could be subject to a maximum of three years of supervised release. He would pay himself one or two extra checks when going on vacation and then clear the evidence, according to an information filed in the case. Lion waived an indictment and a jury trial, entering a guilty plea instead on the wire fraud charge. More News New Haven to seek payback from worker suspected of embezzlement He will be sentenced on Sept. 4. Lion was free to go Wednesday after pledging the equity in his home. U.S. Attorney Ray Miller appeared for the government. Attorney Jake Donovan represented Lion. Lion had been on sick leave for months after having a heart attack and open heart surgery in August 2018. He retired in March 2019 just as the city was about to hold a hearing prior to firing him. Lion used his knowledge of the payroll department to manipulate it, according to the court. The city discovered the fraud after putting in tougher controls following alleged credit card abuse by another worker. In a press statement after the fraud was uncovered in March through an audit, the city said an employee knowingly, deliberately and surreptitiously falsified payroll records and vacation accruals to illicitly acquire a significant amount of money to which the employee was not entitled. His guilty plea was entered after less than an hour in court before Hall. She spent that time making sure he understood what his plea would mean. Lion answered her in a clear voice as his wife quietly wept in the second row in a nearly empty courtroom. From about 2002 to June 2018, Lion periodically accessed the citys financial accounting software to issue vacation paychecks to himself, according to a release from the U.S. attorneys office. He then deleted the computer entries for the checks, which caused the payroll system to issue his regular paycheck, as well. Through this scheme, Lion stole $102,947.44 from the City of New Haven, the office reported. At the end of the court session, Hall told Lion to report to the federal probation office next to the couthouse on Church Street. He cannot leave the state without getting permission from the court and his probation officer. For pleading guilty at this stage of the court proceedings, Lion faces less time in prison when his is sentenced, according to the federal guidelines. Hall, as she does in every case when someone is released until their sentencing, reminded Lion to not make another mistake. She said any actions that show he didnt accept the seriousness of his actions or the gravity of the situation, would have tremendous impact on the sentence she imposes. mary.oleary@hearstmediact.com; 203-641-2577 By NBC News, May 19, 2019 Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said on Sunday that President Donald Trump "could substantially improve his game" in helping shape the nation's character. In a wide-ranging interview with CNN, Romney also discussed the possibility of Trump's impeachment, his decision to vote against a judicial nominee who called President Barack Obama an "un-American imposter," and voiced his displeasure with a controversial Alabama abortion law signed last week, among other topics. NEW HAVEN Attorneys for the victim who won a federal civil lawsuit against Rabbi Daniel Greer in a sexual assault case have filed a new federal lawsuit in an effort to collect the $21.7 million owed. The federal complaint was filed against five New Haven-based corporations that Greer has completely dominated and controlled and operated as a single enterprise, according to the attorneys. The plaintiff and the victim of the alleged sexual assaults is Eliyahu Mirlis, who now lives in New Jersey. The New Haven Register generally does not identify people who allege sexual abuse but Mirlis wanted to come forward, according to one of his lawyers. In May 2017, a federal jury in Hartford awarded Mirlis $15 million in compensatory damages, plus punitive damages. The total amount of damages was $21.7 million, including $5 million in punitive damages, plus offer-of-compromise interest. The jury ruling was against Greer and the Yeshiva of New Haven, the Orthodox Jewish school he founded. Two years after the jurys decision, the court complaint states, The judgment remains almost completely unsatisfied, and the outstanding amount of the judgment has increased on account of accruing post-judgment interest. The complaint was filed by attorneys Matthew Beatman, Eric Henzy and John Cesaroni. The New Haven Register left a message with Greers attorney in the federal case, David Grudberg, seeking his comment. In their complaint, the three attorneys referred to the five corporations as the defendants. The companies are: Edgewood Elm Housing Inc., F.O.H. Inc., Edgewood Village Inc., Edgewood Corners Inc. and Yedidei Hagan Inc. According to the complaint, F.O.H., Edgewood Corners and Edgewood Village own residential properties in New Haven and derive the majority of their incomes from renting to tenants. The attorneys noted Mirlis allegation that when he was between the ages of 15 and 17 and a student at the Yeshiva, Daniel Greer repeatedly and continuously sexually abused, exploited and assaulted him. The complaint alleged: Daniel Greer frequently gave the plaintiff alcohol at the time Greer raped and assaulted him and showed him pornographic films. The complaint stated the alleged sexual assaults occurred at among other places, rental properties owned by Edgewood Elm, Edgewood Village and F.O.H. Those properties are on Elm Street, Norton Street, West Park Avenue, Maple Street and Edgewood Avenue. At all times relevant to the complaint, Daniel Greer was the president, a director and in complete control of all the defendants and the Yeshiva, the attorneys wrote. They alleged: Rather than prevent their property from being used by Daniel Greer to perpetrate his abuse against the plaintiff as a property owner dealing with a third party on a normal basis would, because of Daniel Greers complete control over them, Edgewood Elm, Edgewood Village and F.O.H. never took any action to prevent Daniel Greer from sexually abusing the plaintiff on their properties. The attorneys asserted: This court should pierce the veil of the Enterprise and hold each of the defendants liable for the judgment. The attorneys added: Adhering to the fiction that the defendants had or have separate identities would only serve to defeat justice and equity by permitting the defendants to escape liability for the judgment. The defendants were operated under the complete control of Daniel Greer to shield the Yeshiva and Daniel Greer from their creditors, including the plaintiff, as part of Daniel Greers and the Yeshivas efforts to hinder, delay and defraud their creditors, including the plaintiff. According to the complaint, Greer has been employed by Edgewood Elm and receives a salary as well as retirement benefits from it. The attorneys wrote: Daniel Greer has used this Enterprise to hold assets in the defendants hands, in the form of money and property, for the benefit of himself, his wife Sarah Greer and the Yeshiva, so that the Yeshiva and Daniel Greer do not hold any significant assets but the defendants are able to provide funds to the Yeshiva and Daniel Greer to use at their discretion. The attorneys stated Edgewood Elm had about $800,000 in liquid assets as of the end of 2016 and continues to hold substantial amounts of cash or other liquid assets. Greer, 78, of West Park Avenue, also has criminal charges pending in New Haven Superior Court because of Mirlis allegations. Greer is charged with second-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child. After he was arrested in July 2017 he quickly posted a bond of $100,000 and was released. He has since had repeated pretrial court appearances and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorney in that case, William Dow III, declined to comment on the federal complaint. randall.beach@hearstmediact.com By Washington Examiner, May 19, 2019 House Democrats have invited former CIA director and frequent Trump critic John Brennan to brief them on the situation in Iran. Brennan is scheduled to speak at the party's weekly caucus meeting Tuesday, according to the Associated Press. Wendy Sherman, a former State Department official who helped negotiate the Iran nuclear deal under President Barack Obama, was also invited. Authorities have released a sketch of a man accused of assaulting a woman as she jogged in a park in Atlantic County earlier this month. The 28-year-old woman was running on trails at Birch Grove Park in Northfield around 4:30 p.m. on May 7 when a man dropped his pants and began masturbating before grabbing her shirt collar, police said. She pushed his hand away as he lunged at her and she fled, officials said. Police say the assailant is 25 to 35 years old, white or Hispanic, and was wearing wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and gray sweat pants. He has dark hair and a thin mustache. Cops searched the area after the attack but were unable to find him. A similar attack took place at the same park in December 2017 when a man grabbed the crotch of a 26-year-old woman as she was jogging. She fought back by raking his face with her keys and escaped. Police told NBCPhiladelphia.com theyre investigating whether the same man is responsible for both assaults. Anyone with information is asked to call Northfield police at 609-641-2832 ext.153 or 609-641-3122. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters The parents of a four-month-old boy who suffocated in their motel room last year have now been indicted on murder and related criminal counts for his death. The baby, Hunter Brochhausen, would not stop crying the night of Feb. 14, 2018. He was with his parents, Brianna Brochhausen and William Herring, at the Hilltop Motel on Route 68 in Springfield. Herring and Brochhausen were frustrated ... and decided he needed to be placed in a time out, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said in a news statement. Authorities say the parents placed Hunter on his stomach on the bed and pulled a comforter over him, covering his whole body and head. They went outside the room for about 10 minutes to smoke cigarettes. When they returned, Hunter was not breathing and unresponsive. They called 911 and tried to perform CPR before responders arrived. Hunter later arrived at Virtua Hospital in Mount Holly, and was immediately transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. He died there on March 3, 2018 after he was taken off life support. In July, his parents were criminally charged. A grand jury in Burlington County handed up an indictment last week on one count of first-degree murder and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child, a second-degree offense. Herring and Brochhausen will face an arraignment in Superior Court soon. Last year, when the charges were announced, State Police Col. Patrick Callahan commended investigators for finding justice for Baby Hunter and condemned the thoughtless actions of these individuals [that] ended up costing a defenseless 4-month-old infant his life. While announcing the indictment, Coffina pointed to resources available for parents in crisis: Parents Anonymous of New Jersey, which has parent support groups and a 24-hour help line. They can be reached at 1-800-THE-KIDS, or www.pofnj.com He also referenced the state Safe Haven Infant Protection Act, which allows parents or their representatives to surrender a baby less than 30 days old at any hospital emergency room, police station, fire station, ambulance, first aid or rescue squad that is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. http://www.njsafehaven.org/ 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. Federal authorities arrested a New Jersey man on Wednesday, claiming he sought to join a terror group after being radicalized online and posted an Instagram poll asking his followers if he should bomb Trump Tower." Jonathan Xie, 20, faces charges of attempting to provide support to a designated terrorist group, making false statements and transmitting threats, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito said. Authorities claim the Basking Ridge resident corresponded with members of Hamas, a Palestinian fundamentalist group considered a terror organization by United States, eventually wiring the group $100 and bragging about it on social media. In April, he allegedly appeared in one Instagram video wearing a black ski mask saying he intended to go to a pro-Israel march and to shoot everybody, authorities claim. FBI surveillance later captured images of him outside of Trump Tower in New York, where he is accused of posting a photo of the building alongside the text, I want to bomb Trump Tower." A criminal complaint filed in federal court on Tuesday depicts a young man who recently adopted a radical interpretation of Islam and openly discussed on social media his plans to join the cause of a variety of groups considered terror organizations by the U.S. The behavior alleged by authorities does not speak to a methodical terror plot but instead an isolated individual acting out practically in plain sight. The 2017 Ridge High School yearbook includes this photo of Jonathan Xie, who was arrested by federal authorities Wednesday. Xie repeatedly declared he did not give a shit if he was arrested or killed and joked with an undercover FBI operative that he wired money to the terror group because using the crypto-currency Bitcoin was too confusing lol, according to the documents. While he railed online against America and Israel, federal prosecutors claim Xie also sought to join the U.S. military to learn how to kill. He also allegedly openly mused about another potential terror target: Coachella, the popular California music festival. In a statement announcing the arrest, Carpenito called Xie a homegrown violent extremist whose actions and statements online presented a threat both clear and present. The U.S. attorney credited law enforcement for intervening before he could carry out his plans to commit violence on American soil. Investigator leave the parents home with computers.. Jonathan Xie, 20, of Basking Ridge, New Jersey, was arrested this morning and is charged with two counts of attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, two counts of making false statements, and one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce, in Basking Ridge , N.J., Wednesday, May, 22, 2019Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for Federal authorities were active Wednesday afternoon at the home of Xies parents in Basking Ridge, an affluent Somerset County suburb. A yearbook photo from Ridge High Schools 2017 class shows Xie smiling slightly above a quote from comedian Mel Brooks: Hope for the best, expect the worst. As officials in uniforms carried boxes from the house and news helicopters circled overhead, neighbors who gathered to watch the scene unfold said they were puzzled by the accusations against Xie, whom they described as normal. An FBI official at the scene declined to comment. Twenty-five miles away in Newark, Xie appeared solemnly in front of Judge Mark Falk in federal court, wearing a green T-shirt, black sweatpants and sneakers, his wrists shackled to a chain around his waist. He did not speak other than to say, yes, sir in response to questions from the judge, who later ordered him held pending a potential bail hearing. If convicted, authorities say, he faces up to 20 years in prison. Authorities say Xie first drew their attention in January when an unidentified person who interacts online with him tipped them off about his activity on social media and in group chats. An excerpt from a federal criminal complaint contains an alleged transcript of Xie's posts about joining the army "to learn how to kill." In a February exchange on Instagram, Xie allegedly announced plans to join the Army to learn how to kill and wondered whether I should do a lone wolf. I dont give a shit, he allegedly responded to someone asking whether he would get arrested. I am political soldier. I am not afraid to die. So that I can carry out something in the future. It was more than idle talk, authorities claim. Days earlier, Xie had completed a security clearance application in order to join the Army. In response to a question on the application regarding whether he had ever associated with anyone involved in activities to further terrorism," authorities say, Xie responded no. In a March post on Instagram, according to the complaint, Xie asked, How can you fight against your oppressors without using violence? I do not want to compromise with these people, he allegedly wrote. If they say Im a terrorist, then I am proud to become a terrorist. Around November of last year, the complaint alleges, Xie began pursuing an interest in Al-Qassam Brigades, a Hamas faction connected with numerous suicide bombings and other attacks. I was wondering if non-Palestinians/ non-Arabs would be allowed to join the Al-Qassam Brigades, and if so, what are the qualifications and how do you start the process of joining? he allegedly wrote to an email address associated with the organization. The document includes screenshots of a Moneygram transaction allegedly showing he wired $100 to the organization. Pretty sure it was illegal but I dont give a damn, he allegedly announced on Instagram. In April, authorities allege, Xie appeared in an Instagram live video wearing the ski mask and brandishing a handgun determined to be registered in his fathers name. In the video, authorities say Xie decried Zionism and the neo-liberal establishment and displayed a Hamas flag. In a separate instance, Xie was allegedly spotted outside Trump Tower in Manhattan on April 20 by FBI investigators. Around the same time, authorities claim he posted a series of images of the building on Instagram. The first was superimposed with the text I want to bomb Trump Tower. The second was a poll with the question should I bomb Trump Tower with a bomb emoji displayed over the building, authorities allege. An excerpt from a federal criminal complaint details alleged social media posts in which Xie mused about bombing Trump tower. One person asked whether Xie was on an FBI watchlist, according to the complaint. Another commented Xie was doing his typical terrorist bs again. Donald Trump, he should be hung from the gallows! Xie allegedly responded. Okay so I went to NYC today and passed by Trump Tower, then I started thinking about bombing it and I was imagining that the explosion would kill Trump and then I started laughing hysterically... shit I forgot to visit the israeli embassy in NYC...i want to bomb this place along with trump tower. Days later, authorities claim, Xie mused on Instagram about shooting pro-israel demonstrators and said you dont need martial arts to fight when you can use a gun or use a vehicle and ram people. He had other targets in mind, authorities claim. Someone needs to get a truck filled with explosives and blow up the Coachella event, he allegedly said in another post, referring to the music festival. Watch their blood and dead bodies litter the streets. He faces two counts of attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, two counts of making false statements and one count of transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. READ THE COMPLAINT: S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Q. Does a foreign bank account get reported every year on your tax return? Investor A. Reporting a foreign bank account is separate from your tax return. An FBAR, or Foreign Bank Account Report (FinCEN Form 114), is required to be filed by all U.S. persons who have an interest in, or signatory authority over, a foreign financial account if the aggregate value of those accounts exceeds $10,000 at any time during the calendar year, said Matthew Rheingold, an attorney with Einhorn Harris in Denville. This includes checking or savings accounts, mutual funds, brokerage accounts and other types of foreign financial assets, he said. He said for FBAR purposes, U.S. persons include United States citizens, green card holders, resident aliens, partnerships, corporations, LLCs, trusts and estates. An FBAR is a reporting requirement and is not a separate tax on the balance of the accounts, he said. FinCEN Form 114 is a form, separate and apart from your individual tax return, which must be filed by April 15 in any year that the combined total of all foreign financial accounts is at least $10,000 at any point during the calendar year, however, an automatic extension of up to six months is available, Rheingold said. Failure to file this form may result in extremely harsh penalties, including punitive financial fines and/or criminal prosecution. For taxpayers whose lack of filing was non-willful - which means that they did not know about the reporting obligation - the fine can be $10,000 per violation, he said. However, if it is determined that a taxpayer purposely avoided filing or did not file an accurate FBAR, then the fine can be $100,000 or 50 percent of the balance of the account at the time of the violation whichever is greater. 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. Spengler, Ray and Venkman could be coming to New Jersey if a project envisioned by Dan Aykroyd ends up seeing the light of day. While promoting his Crystal Head vodka on May 16, Aykroyd told The Canadian Press that he has written a script for a Ghostbusters prequel story called Ghostbusters High. In the script, set in 1969, the three slime fighters meet at high school in New Jersey. In the classic 1984 movie, Harold Ramis played Egon Spengler, Aykroyd played Ray Stantz and Bill Murray played Peter Venkman. Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), the fourth Ghostbuster, joined the team after meeting the three friends in the movie. Aykroyd, 66, who co-wrote the original film and Ghostbusters II with Ramis, says the prequel project has the potential to become either a movie or a TV series. But first comes a Ghostbusters sequel that will be set in the universe of the original movie franchise, unlike the 2016 Paul Feig-directed Ghostbusters" reboot starring Leslie Jones, Kristen Wiig and Kate McKinnon. That movie is being directed this summer by Jason Reitman, son Ivan Reitman, who directed Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II (1989). The sequel is expected to be released in July 2020. Aykroyd said he also wanted to get the younger Reitman involved in Ghostbusters High. Were looking to do that as probably a glorified feature or pilot within the next maybe five years, Aykroyd said. And it would lead to a television project and I thought of him immediately for that." He said the possible prequel would only come into focus after one or two other concepts following Reitmans upcoming movie. Its on his desk but thats years away from the current project, Aykroyd continued. But its a neat idea for a prequel. Imagine casting the three characters as teenagers! 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. A Newark man sentenced to 55 years in prison for murder was denied an appeal hearing in which he wanted to argue that his trial lawyer failed on several fronts, including by not reviewing a Star-Ledger news story about the investigation that he believes contradicted a detectives testimony. Appellate court judges reversed that denial this week and ruled that Raheem Cleveland will receive a full evidentiary hearing on all of his claims. Cleveland was convicted in the 2011 killing of Marquis Robinson and wounding of Robinsons fiance, identified in court documents by the initials A.N. A.N. identified Cleveland as the shooter and confirmed that claim in a video-recorded statement to police. The interview was detailed in the Star-Ledger news story, which was also published in 2011, headlined The Killing Cycle: Inside story of the Essex County homicide squad as it tries to break the murder chain. During his trial for the Robinson murder, A.N. recanted her claim that Cleveland shot her future husband and accused police of forcing her to identify him. In seeking an appeal called post-conviction relief, or PCR, which is handled by the trial court, Cleveland argued that his trial attorney dropped the ball by not speaking with an alibi witness, by not seeking a mistrial, by not objecting at several points during the trial, by not raising discovery issues and by not reviewing a 2011 Star-Ledger story. That article, which gave a reporter and photographers front-row access to the homicide task forces work, includes a passage about the police interview with A.N. that resulted in her identifying Cleveland as the killer. During Clevelands trial, Detective Tyrone Crawley testified about bringing A.N. to the prosecutors office for an interview that began 10 minutes after she entered the interview room and that included no preliminary interview before the camera was turned on. The article, however, describes a two-hour process in which she sat, often alone, in an interrogation room. She was first interviewed by two detectives who played good cop, bad cop. One warned her of dire consequences after she was shown a photo of Cleveland and she denied he was the gunman. The other detective offered her protective custody if she cooperated. A tearful A.N. told them she was scared to cooperate. Finally, Crawley returns to the room and closes the deal, with A.N. identifying Cleveland as the shooter. Based on these inconsistencies in accounts, Clevelands PCR attorney sought testimony from the Star-Ledger reporter and detectives involved in the interview. The PCR judge stated at the time that the law enforcement officers have not complied with defendants request and the reporter has asserted his privilege. The PCR judge identified in other court documents on the case as Superior Court Judge Michael L. Ravin agreed to an evidentiary hearing, but limited it to only testimony regarding a gunshot residue test performed on Cleveland. In the end, the judge rejected all of Clevelands claims and denied PCR. In its ruling issued this week, the appellate court found the Ravin was wrong to limit the evidentiary hearing. As a result, the judge did not have the testimony of critical witnesses, including defendants trial counsel, the appeals panel wrote in the decision. The judge needed this testimony to competently address the issues raised by defendant. Those issues included learning the trial attorneys reasons for not using the information and witnesses identified in the (Star-Ledger) article to impeach Det. Crawleys testimony. Trial counsel may or may not have good reasons for not utilizing the Star-Ledger article, the judges wrote. A full evidentiary hearing should provide an explanation. With that, the appeals court ordered a full evidentiary hearing on all of Clevelands claims and a new decision supported by specific findings of fact on each point. 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. UPDATE: Attorney says Newark officer charged with fatally shooting driver committed a heroic act of bravery, not a crime A Newark police officer has been indicted nearly four months after he killed the driver of a fleeing vehicle during a wild chase caught on the cops body cam, the video of which shows the excited officer repeatedly jumping from his cruiser and firing shots at the car. The grand jury indicted Jovanny Crespo, 26, on charges of aggravated manslaughter, aggravated assault, and two counts each of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and official misconduct in the Jan. 28 incident, according to the Essex County Prosecutors Office. Crespo, of Newark, was taken into custody and was being held at the Essex County jail, the office said. The indictment comes nearly three months after the prosecutor and Newark public safety director both said they had serious concerns about the officers conduct during the shooting and that he had been suspended without pay. Body camera video of the incident, released Tuesday night, shows Crespo jumping out of his moving cruiser three times to fire at close range on the fleeing vehicle, ultimately killing Gregory C. Griffin, 46, of Newark. Newark Officer Jovanny Crespo was indicted on charges including aggravated manslaughter for shooting two men, one fatally, Jan. 28, 2019. Griffin, , who had a history of drug offenses, fled a traffic stop after another officer allegedly spotted a handgun in his vehicle, according to police. Officer Hector Ortiz gave chase, with Crespo riding in the cruisers passenger seat, according to police records. The video shows Crespo jump out and shoot at the car before jumping back in and ordering Ortiz to go faster and cut Griffin off. Relax! Relax bro! Ortiz says in the video. He repeats it as Crespo again bails out of the cruiser and fires at Griffins vehicle again, the video shows. I think I shot him! Crespo says as he gets back in the cruiser. When the car finally came to a stop at 54 Irvine Turner Boulevard, police found that Griffin had been shot in the head and the passenger, Andrew Dixon, 35, was shot in the face, according to authorities and police records. Griffin died at University Hospital and Dixon, who was initially in critical condition, was charged with possessing the illegal handgun loaded with hollow-point bullets, police said. The video shows Crespo repeatedly telling other officers that Dixon pointed a gun at him each time the vehicles stopped. Alphonso Whitaker, Griffins father, said after learning about the indictment from a reporter Tuesday night that he was relieved to hear the news. He didnt deserve what that officer did to him. He didnt have to do that, Whitaker said. While shooting at a moving vehicle is not prohibited, the New Jersey Attorney Generals use-of-force guidelines discourage it because of the risk to bystanders and passengers. The guidelines say officers should only fire on moving vehicles if there are no other options and there is an imminent danger of death or serious bodily harm to the officer or another person. James Stewart Jr., president of the Newark FOP, defended the indicted officer, saying gun arrests made by Crespo are one of the reasons crime is down in Newark." The Newark FOP fully supports him, and his family, and we look forward to the next step in this process, which will be a courtroom, where a jury will hear the fully story of what occurred that night, not just a portion of the events," Stewart said. In February, after announcing the officers suspension, both Newark police and the prosecutors office refused to publicly name the officer or release police video of the incident in response to records requests, arguing that it shouldnt be released until the end of the grand jury process. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. When Audible opened its latest tech offices at the renovated Second Presbyterian Church in Newark last week, CEO Don Katz spoke of the space as a metaphor for the city -- a dead building for 25 years finally coming back to life. But longtime Newark activists say the church on James Street wasnt actually abandoned all those years. Though they support Audibles efforts and called the renovations to the space incredible, they want to make sure their contributions to the community are recognized, too. So many things have happened in that space. If you choose not to mention it, thats fine, just dont present a false narrative, said Amina Bey, co-chairperson of the Newark chapter of the Women in Support of the Million Man March (WISOMMM). Bey said WISOMMM owned the property for eight years between 2004-2012 where the organization hosted graduations, funerals, concerts, protests and operated a preschool. The space is phenomenal, the work that (Audible) has done and that they plan to do is incredible, said Bey, who attended Fridays official opening of Audibles Innovation Cathedral. Bey said she is supportive of Audibles role in the city, but thought the company should better acknowledge the work already done by the residents here. In a statement Tuesday, Audible said Innovation Cathedral stands as a symbol that reflects and celebrates Newarks past, present and future. As hundreds of our employees settle into this restored and reimagined space, we are already learning more about its legacy and listening to stories about how it has served the community over generations as a place of worship, organizing and learning. We are committed to continuing to tell the long story of this cathedral including WISOMMM and city were proud to call home. Audible moved its headquarters to Newark in 2007 and is one of the citys anchor institutions. Katz has been a major partner for Newark, spearheading investment funds and programs to incentivize his employees to live in the city, support local businesses and mentor local students. Both the companys headquarters on 1 Washington Street and Innovation Cathedral on 15 James Street boast more than 175 conference rooms, each named after famous local residents or places. WISOMMM continues to operate at 19 James Street, Bey said. The organization, created to empower and better local residents lives, was previously investigated for misusing federal grant monies. The group and its founder agreed to a $125,000 settlement in 2014. Bey said the bank took over the church property in 2012. We lost it after some time, things happen. It doesnt erase the work and the social impact that our social organization had in that space and in that city, she said. An Audible official said the company had reached out to WISOMMM for a meeting. Karen Yi may be reached at kyi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @karen_yi or on Facebook. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. More than two dozen third-graders at School 15 in Jersey City were exposed to pepper spray this morning and are being treated at local hospitals, officials said this afternoon. An 8-year-old girl who had a small pepper spray container on her key chain inadvertently sprayed it, Public Safety Director James Shea said this afternoon at an impromptu news conference. Some 25 kids were exposed, said Shea, who added that up to 45 students were potentially affected to varying degrees. Shanna Bell, whose three children attend the Stegman Street school, said her third-grade daughter and her classmates were exposed to the pepper spray. The students were sprayed in the gym, said two parents who spoke with The Jersey Journal. At noon, some parents were waiting outside the school and others were at the Jersey City Medical Center, where some of the students were taken to be treated. The incident occurred at roughly 10:30 a.m. and the school was evacuated, officials said. The police tape blocking the entrances was removed at 12:15 p.m. and the students and staff were allowed back inside. Tyeese Cox, who rushed to the hospital to check on her 9-year-old granddaughter, said the kids were afraid when things first happened, but by the time they got them to the hospital, nobody was crying. They had already calmed the children down. When Cox arrived, there were roughly 20 children from the school in the JCMC emergency room. She said her granddaughters vital signs were taken and she was asked about any possible symptoms she might be suffering. The 9-year-old was released after about two hours and at 4 p.m. she was home playing with her sister, her grandmother said. Cox said she thinks the school is too relaxed when it comes to security and she wondered aloud why the keychain was not spotted. We were told the girl who originally had the mace was being bullied and she asked her sister to hold the keys, Cox said. The fact that her mom has to give her mace to protect her while shes coming home, thats a problem. Norma Fernandez, spokeswoman for the school district, said the district does not allow the use of pepper spray. Jersey City Board of Education President Sudhan Thomas said the board will be looking into whether there needs to be new policy implemented or whether existing policy must be better enforced. We werent sure what it was so out of an abundance of caution, we evacuated the school, the board president said, adding that the incident would be reviewed to make sure emergency protocols were correctly executed. Authorities are investigating the death of a 39-year-old woman whose body was found inside an apartment building in Kearny. The Hudson County Prosecutors Office said its homicide unit is probing the womans death at 89 Halstead St., which sits on the corner of Kearny Avenue. No additional information was provided, but the HCPO said more details would be released at a later time. HOBOKEN Its the middle of the afternoon and Ladi Habina is on his phone, trying to activate an electric scooter he found on the side of the road. "You could say that I'm having technical difficulties," he said. The 35-year-old flags down a resident riding one of the 300 scooters that arrived in Hoboken on Monday. Its the third time Kristopher Salinas, 18, has utilized the citys newest means of getting around. He shows Habina how to activate the scooter before he kicks off again down Marine View Places waterfront bike path. Its a good way to move around the city in a cheap way, the 12th Street resident said. Its a brave new world in the Mile Square City. City Hall officials and representatives with the two scooter companies, Lime and Ojo, officially rolled out the program on Monday becoming the first municipality in the state to utilize the technology. The City Council in April authorized the six-month pilot program with the two companies. "Not only are electric scooters a convenient way to get around, they also provide an environmentally friendly alternative to driving a vehicle, which will help reduce emissions and improve our environment," Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement. Two variations of scooters were made available: Lime operates 250 dockless scooters, which can be left anywhere throughout the city, while Ojo, in partnership with P3GM, operates another 50 seated scooters that are docked at JerseyBike bike share stations. I am extremely pleased with our results from yesterday, said Ojo CEO Max Smith. It was the first day and the engagement with the community is among our best deployment. There were more than 2,700 rides on the Lime and Ojo scooters on Monday, as riders collectively traveled nearly 3,000 miles the equivalent of driving from Hoboken to San Francisco, city spokesman Vijay Chaudhuri said. Lime is a reliable, affordable first-and-last mile transportation option for hundreds-of-thousands of people around the world and Hoboken residents and commuters are clearly excited to join them, Phil Jones, senior director of east coast government relations and strategic partnerships at Lime. But some 24 hours after the program launched in Hoboken, police Chief Ken Ferrante already has received 1,000 notifications on Twitter concerning the scooters both positive and negative, he said. "I can't wait to see how many calls I got once I get back to my office," he said Tuesday afternoon. "I'm betting around 500 or so." It wasnt exactly a smooth opening. One video posted on social media shows a rider using one of the scooters at top speed roughly 20 mph driving north on the sidewalk on River Street. Another shows two individuals riding on a Lime scooter, going against traffic on Washington Street while weaving between cars. "We saw some very careless operations," Ferrante said. Scooter systems like Hobokens have popped up throughout the country, leading to varying opinions from residents of those communities. Some see them as a clean and efficient means of getting around, while others see them as dangerous. A study published earlier this year examined a one-year period in Los Angeles emergency departments and found that more people were injured while riding standing electric scooters than while riding bicycles or traveling on foot. The pilot program has already drawn some criticism from public officials who say they were frustrated with the speed of the roll out and have safety concerns. "Effective community education and an enforcement plan to ensure safety was what were required by and promised to the City Council, but neither were delivered and there were rampant examples of unsafe use in the first two days," Second Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said. "The City, the vendors and the residents who want this program to stay and succeed need to take steps to make sure safety is the top priority." Ferrante said no one has been injured thus far, but added that there needs to be an effort to educate residents on the safety requirements. "We can't just go out and start hammering people with summonses. That would cause such bad police community relations." he said. Riders are reminded to not ride on sidewalks, always ride with the flow of traffic, and adhere to traffic signals such as stop signs and red lights, he said. But really it is not our sole responsibility to be educating people on something that is a brand new, he added. We are a very busy department ... we have a lot on our plate, and it is not our sole responsibility or priority to educate the public on these scooters. Well be involved, but it is not our priority. A major test for the city will likely come this weekend, when Hobokens late night bar scene discovers the scooters (you can be issued a DWI while riding an electric scooter). Both companies and the city say they are working to conduct outreach programs to educate residents. A meeting was held with representatives from Ojo, Lime and the city to continue outreach operations. Lime also has a number of rider education programs scheduled throughout the city in the next two months. We view this as a joint responsibility, Smith said. "We cant rely on the police to solve every problem or infraction although were happy to have the police enforce and we need to help augment. If our riders are disobeying laws we want to get on top of that and better educate them and in some cases fine them, he added. Were absolutely thrilled to be in Hoboken and look forward to a long term partnership. "But we need to do it responsibly. Lime charges $1 to unlock its scooters and then $0.15/minute during an active rental. It costs $1.25 to unlock an Ojo scooter plus $0.18/minute during an active rental. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @cwmcdonald_. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. A Carteret police officer who is accused of assaulting a teenager after a brief chase in the Middlesex County borough took the stand Wednesday in his own defense, testifying that the force he used was necessary because he feared for his life. This incident is one of the most scary things I have ever had happen in my life, officer Joseph Reiman said on the witness stand at the end of his trial in Middlesex County Superior Court in New Brunswick. The officer is on trial for charges of aggravated assault, official misconduct and falsifying police reports. The charges were filed by the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office after Reiman, 33, was recorded beating Monte Stewart, then 16. On May 31, 2017, Stewart sped away from Reiman after the officer attempted to stop him. Stewart eventually crashed into a guard wire for a utility pole. Stewart is seen in a police dashcam video exiting the vehicle and appears to be heading down to the ground when Reiman pounces on him and punches him repeatedly. During direct questioning, Reiman denied engaging in any use of force that exceeded what was needed to arrest Stewart. The officer said he was patrolling the west Carteret neighborhood known as Chrome Park because its a high-crime area where gang members congregate. The officer was not assigned to cover that part of town, he testified, but the presence of a marked patrol car can deter crime. He said he was parked when he saw a vehicle driving over the speed limit. Within seeing me, he made the first right turn he could make, which seems odd at that time of night, Reiman said. Someone is going very fast and they make the first turn not using a blinker, going around the corner very fast. This reaction, Reiman said, was an indicator of possible criminal activity. And when Stewart distanced his car from the officer and then ran through a stop sign, Reiman said, he grew more suspicious. There is something going on here, something more, he said. Stewart, in his testimony earlier in the trial, admitted to stepping on the gas when Reiman turned on his emergency lights. Stewart said he got nervous when he saw the officer and feared repercussions from his father, who did not know his son had taken his car out that evening. Stewart acknowledged that he was on probation for robbery but said that wasnt why he didnt pull over. Assistant Prosecutor Christine D'Elia makes her opening statement to the jury last month. Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com During cross-examination, Assistant Middlesex County Prosecutor Christine DElia asked Reiman why he didnt use other police methods to arrest Stewart such as pepper spray or drawing his service weapon. I did not want to pull a weapon at that distance and bring a weapon into the fight, Reiman responded. She also asked Reiman why he omitted key details in the first version of his report, including that Stewart had allegedly grabbed at Reimans gun holster and that the officer feared for his life. Reiman said the first version of the report he submitted was a draft and that his goal was to come back to it and flesh it out with more detail. It was so important, you were so afraid for your life, and somehow it didnt make it into your first report, DElia said. The draft report, Reiman responded. Right, that you submitted that tells your superiors and everyone else what really happened that night did not make it into your first report, DElia said. Reiman said, the draft report is a generalization, not a detailed narrative. DElia also wondered why Reiman, who wrote in a previous job application that hes accustomed to stressful situations, didnt turn on his body-worn camera before the altercation with Stewart. I dont think not turning on my body-worn camera means I cant handle stressful situations, Reiman said. The body camera just wasnt a thought. DElia also played a video to the jury that showed Reiman yelling at bystanders. In the video, Reiman had to be restrained by his fellow officers and could be heard telling his superior to get your f---ing hands off me. She wondered why an officer, who is trained to keep calm in stressful situations, would lash out at members of the public. Youre supposed to remain calm but youre still human, Reiman said. Im upset because someone could have been injured. I was frustrated with the fact that they were taking sides with a scumbag who could have potentially killed one of them, Reiman said later in his testimony, recounting what he had said to another officer after the arrest. Months after Reimans arrest, NJ Advance Media published a report that showed Reiman accounted for more than one-fifth of all arrests involving force recorded by the Carteret Police Department over a 23-month period. From the time Reiman was hired in 2015, the officer was responsible for 24 of the 115 incidents involving force, according to public documents obtained in October 2017. The officer, whose brother is longtime Carteret Mayor Daniel Reiman, has been on paid leave since his arrest. His case was also part of the impetus behind The Force Report, a 16-month investigation by NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, which found alarming disparities in how police officers use painful holds, punches, kicks, pepper spray and other force across New Jersey. See Joseph Reimans force incidents from 2012-2016 here. Reiman is also named in four lawsuits involving excessive force, one of which was filed by Stewart. They are all on hold until the outcome of his criminal case. Reiman faces up to five years in prison if convicted of third-degree aggravated assault. Each count of official misconduct also carries a prison sentence of five years. Earlier in the day Wednesday, John Ryan, a former police captain in Providence, Rhode Island, testified that he believed the amount of force used by Reiman was absolutely consistent with the training officers receive. The defense rested its case at the end of the day. Closing arguments are scheduled for Thursday, and the jury could begin deliberations later that day. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Crowds gathered in three towns around New Jersey Tuesday to protest a recent string of restrictive abortion laws passed in several states. In Maplewood, around 200 people gathered some with toddlers in tow and some holding signs in support of legal abortions outside the train station where speakers stood on a park bench, addressing the crowds. Behind every successful woman is an abortion she didnt regret, one of the speakers, Mary Alice Carter, told the gathered crowd through a megaphone. I am here today and I am able to be in the job that Im in, in the relationship that Im in and the mother that I am because of an abortion I had. Other groups gathered in Somerville and Montclair. The events were hosted by the National Organization for Women of New Jersey, Blue Wave New Jersey and SOMA Action. Three counter-protestors holding signs that said Pray to End Abortion, stood across the street in Maplewood. One, Susan ODougherty, a Morristown resident, referenced a book by Bernard Nathanson an obstetrician who oversaw the performance of about 75,000 abortions before becoming a leading pro-life advocate and a convert to the Catholic faith. Maybe its time, she said, referring to the possible repeal of laws that allow abortions. Maybe the time has come finally. A speaker rallies people near the Maplewood station. Crowds gathered in three towns around New Jersey Tuesday to protest restrive abortion laws that were recently passed in some southern states. While the pro-choice advocates in Maplewood marched around nearby Memorial Park, about 200 people gathered at the Somerset County Courthouse lawn, according to organizer Anjali Mehrotra. The Somerset Protestors were encouraged to bring wire coat hangers a symbol of self-induced abortions that would be delivered to sponsors of New Jerseys Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act bill. The bill was introduced by Republican lawmakers last week. If passed, it would ensure that healthcare professionals treat babies that are born during an attempted abortion just as they would treat any other child, with the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child as they would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age." Protestors in Somerville show off their signs. Their gathered to speak out against restrictive abortion laws recently passed in several states. The protests come in the wake of several other states severely tightening their laws on abortion. Alabamas Governor signed a bill into law last week that makes it largely illegal for women to get abortions within the state. (It provides exceptions for abortions that help women avoid a serious health risk, for ectopic pregnancies and if the unborn child has a lethal anomaly.) It is unclear if or when the Alabama law will take effect. The law is intended to challenge Roe v. Wade, a 1973 Supreme Court decision that prohibited governments from banning abortions for women in their first trimester, according to Representative Terri Collins, an Alabama Republican who sponsored the legislation. Collins and other pro-life advocates think they have their best shot in decades to overturn Roe v. Wade, following President Donald Trumps appointment of two conservative judges to the Supreme Court. Ohio, Mississippi, Kentucky and Georgia passed Heartbeat laws which ban abortion after a fetus heartbeat is detected, which is around six weeks. Missouri and Louisiana are close to passing similar laws, local media reports. The laws throughout the South and Midwest have not yet taken effect and many expect them to be blocked while they face various legal challenges in court. Protestors who knew someone who received an abortion raised ther hands. People gathered in Maplewood Tuesday to protest a string of restrictive abortion laws that were passed in some southern states this month. Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, said the New Jersey protestors views were inhumane and extremist." The reality is that the tide is turning favorably toward protecting unborn children thanks to advancements in medicine and technology which allows us a window into the womb, she said. We are talking about the smallest, most defenseless members of the human species - little baby girls and boys in the womb - distinct, unique individual human beings with beating hearts and their own DNA and blood supply. But in Maplewood, the crowds were overwhelmingly pro-choice. Rev. Marie Bacchiocchi, pastor of Stanley Congregational Church in Chatham, stood among the protestors. She was there to show that even religious people can support womens right to choose to have a child, she said. Every single life is important and womens lives are just as important as fetuses and born and unborn children," she said. If we are going to stand for life we need to stand for all life and make sure there is adequate healthcare and prenatal care and we also need to be taking care of all the children and people who are already here. Speakers at the rally called for protestors to donate to Planned Parenthood and justice funds, which help women in need pay for abortions. One speaker said she wanted lawmakers to know that their friends and family members are likely among those that chose abortions. There are not women who have children and women who have abortions, Carter said. "We are the same women just in different times of our lives. This story was updated to reflect a more accurate number of people at the Somerset rally. Cassidy Grom may be reached at cgrom@njadvancemedia.com Follow her at @cassidygrom. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. A prison guard from Irvington sexually abused female inmates at a federal detention center in New York City for years, including trading smuggled items for sex acts with a prisoner, prosecutors said Tuesday. Colin Akparanta, a federal correctional officer at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, was charged with four counts of sexual abuse of a ward, four counts of abusive sexual contact and one count of deprivation of civil rights. As alleged, Colin Akparanta was a predator in uniform, exploiting his position to sexually abuse multiple inmates over a several-year period. No inmate in a Bureau of Prisons facility should fear sexual abuse at the hands of a correctional officer, and thankfully, Akparanta will have no more victims, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said in a statement. Akparanta smuggled contraband, including, but not limited to, personal hygiene items, makeup, and food into the MCC for some of the victims, and, with respect to at least one of the victims, explicitly conditioned his provision of contraband on the inmates continued performance of sexual acts with him, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office statement. Authorities said Akparanta asked his victims for their contact information to reach them after they get released from the prison. The 42-year-old guard abused four inmates at the facility between 2012 and 2018, an indictment unsealed in Manhattan federal court alleged. Akparanta, who also goes by Akon and Africa, was arrested Tuesday. Correctional officers have a duty to protect federal inmates, but Akparanta allegedly abused his power over female inmates, Special Agent-in-Charge Guido Modano, of the Justice Department Inspector Generals Office New York branch, said. Attorney information was not listed for Akparanta. A spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Prisons could not be immediately reached. Anyone with information about the case was asked to call 866-874-8900. 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 By Kevin Barfield As the fight over New Jerseys lucrative corporate tax incentives rages on in Trenton, local advocates here in Camden are forced to ask how they have benefited our communities. The short answer: We have our doubts. When former Gov. Chris Christie joined with legislative Democrats to pass the Economic Opportunity Act in 2013, political leaders like George Norcross promised that the law would herald a new day for Camden by driving growth and new opportunities in our impoverished city. Yet in the years since, even as gleaming corporate office buildings have risen on the waterfront, Camden residents continue to be left behind. Politically connected companies like Conner Strong & Buckelew, Norcross insurance company, have received more than $1 billion to relocate here. Despite professing to care about Camdens future, these companies havent even done the bare minimum to prove their commitment. In the years since these tax breaks were awarded, the Camden County NAACP hasnt heard any recipient company publicly commit to an affirmative action plan or economic opportunity plan to ensure that Camden residents actually get access to jobs. None of the companies has publicly released employment data that would demonstrate how many jobs are being created for Camden residents and families of color and how their pay compares to that of their white and suburban counterparts. Instead, the Camden County NAACP is forced to rely on the public statements of people like Krishna Kris Singh, whose company, Holtec, received a whopping $260 million in tax incentives to move its headquarters to Camden. Singh infamously rejected any responsibility to hire Camden residents in exchange for the lucrative tax breaks New Jersey taxpayers were underwriting, saying that they cant stand getting up in the morning and coming to work every single day. They havent done it, and they didnt see their parents do it. Of course, some of them get into drugs and things. So its difficult. To smooth over the uproar caused by these racist comments, Holtec executives agreed to meet with us to discuss their commitment to the city. During that meeting, we asked for detailed employment data. Were still waiting. Comments like those, coupled with a total lack of transparency, force us to conclude that these promises to rebuild Camden were mere window dressing to get tax incentives that has instead rewarded the politically powerful. The Economic Development Authority, which oversees the Grow NJ tax incentive program, has also fallen down on the job. EDA officials recently responded to an open records request from advocates about diversity and inclusion plans for the program by admitting that the state doesnt have any records on minority contracting and hiring practices from tax credit recipients. If companies relocating to Camden were serious about building up our city, they would publicly commit to hiring local residents. They would be working to expand employment opportunities in one of Americas poorest cities by working with our public schools to develop workforce training programs. And these companies would be willing to take on the building trades unions. Political allies of the South Jersey machine, they have reaped major benefits from the construction boom sparked by the tax incentive program but have done too little to ensure that apprenticeship programs are available to people of color and Camden residents. Instead of pursuing these potentially transformative initiatives, these companies have taken up some of our citys most valuable real estate and converted it into suburban-style office parks. Camden residents, in turn, have been left with substandard infrastructure, an aging housing stock and a $27 million schools budget deficit that is leading to layoffs and school closures. The new task force commissioned by Gov. Phil Murphy must get to the bottom of how these tax credit deals were put together and who is really benefiting. Any future incentive program must be capped and evaluated for effectiveness. It must include incentives for historic preservation, housing and workforce development. Its time to stop these giveaway to corporations and political interests. We must stop gentrifying development and truly invest in the people of Camden. Kevin Barfield is President of the Camden County NAACP. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion. Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. For years, Jersey City was absurdly generous in handing out tax breaks to rich developers, yet when it came to affordable housing, totally derelict. Unlike Newark or Hoboken, it still has no policy that requires developers to include a certain number of affordable homes. As a result, luxury towers sprouted on blocks that were considered poor until only recently, enticing people fleeing high-priced Manhattan and Brooklyn with hundreds of new apartments, zero of which are affordable. More are set to go up in the next few years. And in the next wave of gentrification, nothing protects poorer families from being forced out while the affluent reap all the benefits of the new investment. This problem predates Mayor Steve Fulop, and the good news is, he finally has a plan to address it. The bad news is, it does not appear to be a serious plan to deal with gentrification in Jersey City. Fulops proposal would allow developers to build housing for a family of four earning more than $100,000 annually and call it affordable. And they could avoid including any affordable apartments at all, by paying off the city instead. This is helpful for greasing political deals, as City Hall negotiates for something other than affordable housing -- like a new fire station, courtesy of a Kushner brother. It is not helpful for poor people being priced out of their neighborhoods. Few or no affordable homes will be developed for them. The city would be much better off adopting a rule that requires new projects to set aside 20 percent of apartments as affordable, with no escape hatches or scams. And since the poor have the hardest time finding new housing in Jersey City, these affordable homes should go to families earning between $24,000 to $60,000 annually. Thats the alternative plan on the city councils agenda Wednesday, endorsed by Council President Rolando Lavarro, Councilwoman Joyce Watterman and Fair Share Housing advocates. Its the sort of policy that towns all over the state are adopting. Typically, of their affordable homes, half go to low or very low-income families, and half go to moderate income people. But Fulop would designate only one quarter for low income families, one quarter for moderate income households, and a full half for those earning close to -- and over -- 100 grand. Nowhere else in the state, including Hoboken, does that count as affordable housing. Someone who can afford to pay $3,000 per month in rent isnt really in need of affordable housing, even in Jersey City. The mayors defense is that such people are being forced out of the citys priciest areas. Regular middle income families are being displaced downtown, Fulops spokeswoman notes. True. But this policy isnt just for downtown. It will apply everywhere. Back in 2013, Councilman Lavarro paid $1,200 a month for a large two bedroom in the less affluent area of Greenville. Today, renters there might pay $2,000. We need to be looking at the rest of the city at this point, he said. We need to make every effort to not repeat the mistakes of the past that allowed downtown Jersey City to be completely gentrified. According to a housing plan Jersey City released in 2015, the greatest need is for families earning less than $50,000. So its policy should be written with them in mind, instead of better-off people in a hot neighborhood. And rich developers shouldnt be allowed to wriggle out. Fulops office notes that New York City, San Francisco, Seattle and Newark all allow for some pay-outs by developers. But Newark has a much more limited loophole than what hes proposing, and a weaker housing market. The rest of those places arent in New Jersey, which has stronger laws that permit a more aggressive response to gentrification. So why wont the mayor use them? His market-rate rents in luxury towers, dressed up as affordable housing, will only lure more gentrifiers. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. WASHINGTON Cory Bookers odds of becoming president just got a little longer. Booker, who went off at 8 to 1 in January 2017 around the time President Donald Trump was sworn into office, dropped to 33 to 1 for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, according to US-Bookies.com, which owns https://bet-nj.com and aggregates data from major bookmakers. Sadly for the former mayor of Newark, it looks like he hit his peak almost two years ago and his prospect of victory has dwindled ever since, said Alex Donohue, a spokesman for US-Bookies.com. "Itll be interesting to note if theres a Booker bounce should he benefit from some more favorable airtime as the race hots up. Certainly as a serious candidate, his odds cant get much worse, that is for sure. Booker has qualified for the first Democratic debate next month in June, and has made gun control a major issue as he seeks to call attention to his campaign. Still, he has ground to make up. Former Vice President Joe Biden is the odds-on favorite to win the nominatino at 9 to 4, followed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders at 4 to 1 and California Sen. Kamala Harris to 5 to 1. A Quinnipiac University poll released Tuesday put Booker in sixth place with 3 percent, far behind the leaders, Biden with 35 percent,Sanders with 16 percent, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren with 13 percent. Its former Vice President Joseph Biden and then theres everyone else, descending from Sen. Bernie Sanders to Sen. Elizabeth Warren to Sen. Kamala Harris to a bunch of people most Democrats have never heard of, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll. The poll of 454 Democratic voters and those who lean Democratic was conducted May 1620 and had a margin of error of 5.6 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. Undeterred by the uproar it caused last year among top Democrats, a pro-Gov. Phil Murphy group launched a more than $1 million ad campaign Wednesday to support the governors call for a millionaires tax in New Jersey, NJ Advance Media has learned. The group, New Direction New Jersey, will use the cable TV and digital ads to encourage residents to show their support for increasing income taxes on the states wealthiest residents, a spokesman for the group said. Murphy, a Democrat, wants to a state budget with a new millionaires tax to pump more money into education, transportation, and public-worker pensions. But leaders of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature oppose the measure. The stage is being set for a possible state government shutdown over the issue if the governor and lawmakers dont find agreement by July 1. New Direction New Jersey sparked turmoil a year ago after it ran similar pro-Murphy messages despite warnings from top lawmakers that the campaign would scuttle budget negotiations. Legislative leaders viewed it as an effort to push them during already tense talks. The state narrowly avoided a shutdown. Since then, the so-called dark money group has come under further attacks from top Democrats most notably state Senate President Stephen Sweeney over its decision to reverse plans to disclose its donors. The Legislature went as far to pass a bill that would force more political action organizations like the pro-Murphy group to disclose their donors. But Murphy conditionally vetoed the proposal earlier this month, in part, because it took a swipe at a Murphy political ally, his former campaign manager Brendan Gill. The bill would have also have barred elected officials from having any involvement in independent expenditure committees. This was a clearly aimed at Gill, who is an Essex County freeholder. Murphy removed that piece with his conditional veto and added language that would require entities that receive more than $25,000 in tax credit subsidies from the state to be more transparent. That was a Murphy swipe at South Jersey powerbroker George Norcross III in the wake of news reports and findings from a special task force Murphy set up to investigate how tax credits were doled out under former Gov. Chris Christie. Tens of millions of dollars in tax incentives had been awarded to companies and a non-profit associated with Norcross in Camden, where he is chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew, an insurance brokerage, and chairman of Cooper Health System. Earlier this week, we learned about at least one of New Direction New Jerseys backers, according to a report from Politico New Jersey. The New Jersey Education Association, the states largest teachers union that has been long at odds with Sweeney, donated $2.5 million to the pro-Murphy group. The latest ad campaign will also include an online petition for people to show their support for a millionaires tax. Its time to build a state that works for the middle class and all those striving to get there, so were going directly to the people of New Jersey to encourage a discussion about how to move our state forward, New Direction New Jersey spokesman Philip Swibinski said in a statement. While some in Trenton cling to a failed status quo, this movement looks to a future focused on fairness for all of New Jerseys families rather than serving the special interests and politically connected," Swibinski added. The group is run by members of Murphys inner circle, including Gill, long-time Democratic operatives and Murphy advisers Steve DeMicco and Brad Lawrence, and pollster Danny Franklin. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. WASHINGTON U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said Wednesday he was going all-in on abortion rights, promising to expand access and to set up a White House Office of Reproductive Freedom if he is elected president. Booker, one of two dozen Democrats seeking the partys 2020 presidential nomination, said he was acting in response to near-total abortion bans enacted by Republican lawmakers in Alabama, Georgia and Missouri. Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country are mounting a coordinated attack on abortion access and reproductive rights, said Booker, D-N.J. A coordinated attack requires a coordinated response." Just 20 percent of Americans favor a ban on abortion, according to a CBS News poll released Tuesday. More than twice as many, 44 percent, supported making abortion generally available while another 34 percent favored stricter limits without outlawing the medical procedure. In a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday, 60 percent of U.S. voters said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 35 percent said it should be illegal all or most of the time. Booker said he would establish a White House office to fight to expand abortion rights, reverse Trump administration rules that prevent health care providers from telling patients about their right to abortion, restore federal funding for family planning and contraception, support Planned Parenthood, and seek to eliminate the long-standing ban, known as the Hyde amendment, on federal funding for abortions except in cases of rape, incest or if the womans life is at risk. While the new Republican laws violate the abortion rights granted by the U.S. Supreme Court in its Roe v. Wade decision and certainly will be challenged in court, GOP lawmakers have said that they hope the justices will use the occasion to reverse the 1973 ruling. President Donald Trump pledged to name justices who would overturn the landmark abortion decision, winning him unprecedented support from Christian conservatives. Booker, who earlier promised to set up a litmus test for his court nominees and only choose judges committed to upholding abortion rights, said he also would urge Congress to make Roe v. Wade the law of the land. My goal with these actions isnt just to undo the damage the Trump administration and Republican state legislatures and governors have caused, but to affirmatively advance reproductive rights and expand access to reproductive care for all, Booker said. He also has urged men to speak out against attempts to ban abortion, saying women shouldnt have to face this fight alone. Two-thirds of Americans in the CBS poll, 67 percent, said they did not not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned, with just 28 percent in favor. By similar margins in the Quinnipiac poll, 65 percent to 27 percent, U.S. voters supported the ruling. There is little ambivalence as recent legislation in Alabama, Missouri and other states renews an emotional national debate over abortion, said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac poll. Americans are in agreement on upholding one of the countrys most contentious rulings." The CBS survey of 1,101 adults was conducted May 17-20 and had a margin of error of 4 percentage points. The Quinnipiac poll of 1,078 registered voters was conducted May 1620 with a margin of error of 3.7 percentage points. An open letter to all men on abortion, from presidential hopeful @corybooker https://t.co/I66BzEq3mC GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) May 17, 2019 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 Rejecting President Donald Trumps proposed budget, federal lawmakers have agreed to continue funding the Gateway project in the upcoming transportation spending bill. The transportation appropriations bill for the 12 months beginning Oct. 1 added funding in order to finance a new tunnel under the Hudson River and a new Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River. As has been done in the last two transportation bills to get around a Trump veto threat, the bill does not specifically allocate money for Gateway but rather increases funding in several accounts, most notably for Amtraks Northeast Corridor, with the understanding that the extra dollars would be used for the project. The Northeast Corridor is critical to our national economy, and the Gateway project is critical to the continued growth and success of the Northeast Corridor," said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., a member of the House Appropriations transportation subcommittee. We can no longer afford to put off investments in our nations crumbling and outdated infrastructure, for Gateway or any other project. Trumps proposed budget specifically excluded Gateway funding, though the president has expressed willingness to reconsider his opposition to the project. The new Democratic majority in the House has made Gateway a priority. The legislation also overrides the administrations contention that federal loans to municipalities do not count as the local share for a project. It specifically says that such loans are to be considered as the local share, meeting the requirements to unlock federal funding. The Trump administrations rationale for lowering Gateways rating, making it ineligible for federal dollars, has its contention that New Jersey and New York have refused to put up their share, even though Gov. Phil Murphy has earmarked $600 million in state funds for construction of the new Portal Bridge. 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. What started as a relatively easy bus commute Wednesday morning was stalled after a crash on the Express Bus Lane approaching the Lincoln Tunnel. Commuters reported long delays sitting in buses stopped in the express lane after 8:30 a.m. -- all while watching cars drive by neighboring traffic lanes at quicker speeds. On the heels of our NJ Transit train challenge last year, we sent three reporters out Wednesday morning to ride various bus routes into New York to see what theyd find. They found traffic. Using the #njcommute, our reporters are Tweeting about their morning rush hour journeys. Tweet your commuting updates and questions using the hashtag, follow a curation of their live updates below, and be sure to check back on NJ.com Tuesday afternoon for reporters updates on what happens as they ride the bus lines during the evening rush hour commute. Our first commuters took off on NJ Transit buses at about 6 a.m. Good morning! From the Lakewood bus terminal where Im currently the only person on this bus. #njcommute Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 I was surprised and impressed to see seat belts on this bus. But I will say, no one within eye shot is wearing them. #NJcommute pic.twitter.com/gP24qdfotW Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 We just left the third stop on our route and now the bus is pretty much full, that was quick. #njcommute Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 This bus is so quiet, no one is talking and the alarm I usually use to wake up in the morning just went off #njcommute Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 So far so good on bus route #159. Headed to NYC from Fort Lee and I think we are on time ha. #NJcommute pic.twitter.com/JUHpTpSzMX Tennyson Donnie Coleman (@TennysonTV) May 22, 2019 I sat next to veteran Mark Hemenetz on my first trip. He has commuted for almost 40 years from Wayne to Manhattan via the train or bus. "The bus is faster." Although, "the train is more reliable in snowstorms." His biggest frustration is PA mngmt in the evening." #NJCommute Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 I'm back in Jersey aboard the 165 and ready to commute again. This time from Hackensack. #NJcommute pic.twitter.com/ic13jfgGWp Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 This bus is a lot less crowded than the express I took to Port Authority. And the view is much prettier. #NJCommute pic.twitter.com/Qsfs6H30t0 Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 Still in NJ (West New York to be exact) and the #159 bus from Fort Lee is starting to get packed the closer we get to NYC. Not to the point where anyone has to stand though. PS: Sorry for the glare. #Njcommute pic.twitter.com/aoow6Ws16i Tennyson Donnie Coleman (@TennysonTV) May 22, 2019 So far weve been cruising up the Turnpike, with minimal traffic and Im pretty impressed #njcommute Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 Business picks up out near Weehawken. At least 15 people just got on the #159 headed to NYC from Fort Lee (where I started my a.m. commute). Im counting around 4 people standing at the moment and I believe we have a few more stops. (I think ) #NJcommute pic.twitter.com/2hsVKh68gx Tennyson Donnie Coleman (@TennysonTV) May 22, 2019 In Fairview now and there is standing room only on the 165. The man next to me is like many of the others onboard - carrying a backpack, wearing a baseball cap and has earphones slung around his neck. He's headed to a construction job in Hackensack. #NJCommute Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 According to the schedule were supposed to be arriving in Port Authority at 7:24, its 7:23 and were not in the city yet #njcommute Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 Some other commuters Wednesday werent having much luck on the bus. Made it to Manhattan from Fort Lee riding @NJTRANSIT bus route #159. Heres my recap of how the trip went this morning #njcommute : pic.twitter.com/t1h1DktuYG Tennyson Donnie Coleman (@TennysonTV) May 22, 2019 We hit a pot hole as I attempted to take this picture, were moving a little slow but we made it to the tunnel without crawling to a complete stop. #njcommute pic.twitter.com/E0eBa5SFV2 Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 In case you were wondering, this bus doesn't have seat belts. #NJcommute Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 Ive arrived in NYC, but only 10 minutes behind schedule #njcommute pic.twitter.com/4Zv1hVRd9A Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 I'm at the bus stop in Hackensack near Anderson St and Main St. Waiting to begin my second commute. #NJcommute pic.twitter.com/MHcHnAzNhd Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 It only gets worse as the morning goes on, seasoned commuters warn. Good! Leaving for work at 6:30am (to beat traffic and crowds) is insanely different than leaving at 8:30. Id love to get more sleep, but its not worth the stress. Neek (@mannequin_idc) May 22, 2019 Round two. Hackensack to Port Authority. Let's see if I can make it into the city by 9am. And if I do, my faux job that I'm commuting to better be INSIDE Port Authority because I probably won't have much time leftover. #NJCommute pic.twitter.com/RM9WmHMOa1 Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 The air conditioning in these buses has been fierce. Glad I wore layers. And the buses have been cleaner than I expected. No weird smells. No toenail clippers . #NJCommute Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 I think we are behind schedule on the #159 from NYC to Fort Lee. The bus driver just came on the intercom and said something but I couldnt make out everything he said tbh but it sounds like we are backed up. #Njcommute pic.twitter.com/RIn5LD1qh4 Tennyson Donnie Coleman (@TennysonTV) May 22, 2019 Joey Ortiz of Hackensack just sat down next to me. And boy does he hate the bus. He says the fabric seats are disgusting "don't even look in the crevasses." They're never on time. Monday it took him 2.5 hours to get to his Midtown job. #NJcommute Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 Ortiz said if he tries to leave earlier the buses are packed with union workers and he can't get a seat. His advice to NJ Transit "use a vaccum and wash the buses." His advice to me, "check yourself for bedbugs when you get off." #NJcommute Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 Current status: CRAWLING. Oh scratch that. Dead STOP. I hear there's an accident in Union City. #NJCommute pic.twitter.com/CxBM26kVHD Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 Passengers are starting to call into work late as we are dead stopped in the bus lane and cars fly by to our left. #NJcommute Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 The XBL is not working. Common sense is not working either: if theres a disabled bus blocking traffic, why dont the bus drivers use the regular lanes to get us to the city?#njcommute Lori Knight (@LoriKnight260) May 22, 2019 The driver is telling us over the loud speaker what the hold up is but the guy behind me is talking and I can't hear the driver. He concluded with "be patient." Do we have a choice? #NJCommute Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 @NJTRANSIT why is there standstill and intermittent stop and go into the Lincoln tunnel?! Been in XBL for almost an hour now ... Aleksandra Popkowska (@alekspopthatcow) May 22, 2019 Moving along nicely on my return trip to NY but dreading the traffic everyone says is coming. #njcommute Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 Can you see all the buses lined up on the ramp? pic.twitter.com/CFKbYPs0Rk Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 Been sitting in traffic (would go farther by walking) for over 40 minutes #njcommute aw how tweet (@Heyykrispy) May 22, 2019 I can see you NYC, you are so close yet so far away #njcommute pic.twitter.com/O1fgghlgqe Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 Since you asked, my commute is a stunning display of incompetence from @NJTRANSIT_NBUS that should take about 45 minutes but is stretching into its second hour for the second time this week. I love watching all of the cars zoom past as we sit in he express bus lane. #NJCommute Alex (@firstofautumn) May 22, 2019 Finally passed through the toll plaza and getting onto Rt. 3. This is where the traffic usually starts, my fellow passenger told me. #NJCommute pic.twitter.com/gRpsSsJIx1 Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 The #NJCommute has been a nightmare all week. Monday - car accident Tuesday - car fire Today - car accident LauraAnne (@LauraAnne730) May 22, 2019 We're doing about 25mph down the helix. Seems like the problems are behind us. #NJCommute pic.twitter.com/vH5N47oEv8 Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 We passed the accident, we are in the tunnel, we are home free!! #njcommute Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 This trip took about 1 hour and 45min. #NJCommute pic.twitter.com/q4uDmjfnsT Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 #njcommute FYI - bus lane started moving. Now to see if PABT is ready to receive a steady stream of buses. Will one be overheight? Will one break down on the onramp? I'm on 1.5hrs already today, so I hope the odds are in my favor. In tunnel now. @NJTRANSIT Jeff Hollis (@jeffhollis) May 22, 2019 Siri play Welcome to New York by Taylor Swift (again) #njcommute pic.twitter.com/TThMMy5XZ8 Olivia Rizzo (@LivRizz) May 22, 2019 I'm back! Now to find a bus to where I left my car. #NJcommute pic.twitter.com/nlEQheMIp8 Allison Pries (@allisonpries) May 22, 2019 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. New Orleans historic City Hall Annex has reopened as Maison de la Luz, a new luxury guest house developed by the team behind the Ace Hotel. The six-story, 67-room property moves into the 110-year-old building, located adjacent to the Ace and directly behind Gallier Hall, following an extensive, 2-year renovation. The hotel itself is closed to the public, but passersby can catch a glimpse of it at Bar Marilou, the craft cocktail bar linked to the property. The bar, which has a separate, public entrance to the side of the guest house, opened Friday (May 17) in what used to be the buildings law library. The project is the second local development from Atelier Ace, the creative agency behind Ace Hotels, and The Domain Cos., which is developing the South Market District, a $500 million mixed-use development in New Orleans downtown. Los Angeles-based design firm Studio Shamshiri oversaw the hotels design. Quixotic Projects, a French hospitality group with multiple cocktail bars in Paris, is running Bar Marilou. The bar is the groups first U.S. venture. EskewDumezRipple was the project architect and Palmisano was the general contractor. The Domain Cos., the projects developer and owner, approached Atelier Ace with an interest in redeveloping the building at 546 Carondelet St. shortly after Ace Hotel opened in 2016, Kelly Sawdon, Atelier Ace partner and chief brand officer, said in an email. The historic building seemed like a perfect fit for a more intimately-scaled project, she said. The project "was our opportunity to take 20 years of experience and filter it through our unrestrained love of New Orleans and impulse to take risks and push the needle forward, Sawdon said. The hotel joins a growing list of historic renovations reshaping the citys Central Business District and Warehouse District. Recent hotel conversions, fueled in large part by historic tax credits, include NOPSI Hotel, which opened inside the historic NOPSI headquarters at Baronne and Union streets in 2017; The Troubadour, which converted the 17-story Rault Center on Gravier Street into a 184-room boutique hotel; and The Jung Hotel on Canal Street, which opened 207 rooms after a $140 million renovation in 2018. The team behind Maison de la Luz thinks they can carve out their own space despite a recent burst in offerings. With the property, Atelier Ace seeks to provide an alternative to New Orleans traditional luxury hotel market fewer rooms, tailored service and elevated design, said Peter Honan, the hotels director of sales. The idea is to buck the trend and avoid what Ace Hotel Group CEO Brad Wilson calls beige luxury, Honan said. They expect the hotel will have broad appeal, including among foreign travelers. Rates start at around $389 a night. As we grow and expect some more international travelers and people from more far-flung destinations, we have something that will really resonate with them as luxury no matter where they go, Honan said. 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 On Tuesday afternoon, the Maison de la Luz lobby was quiet, save for the sound of footsteps on the century-old staircase and the checkerboard floor. A chandelier of clustered, round light fixtures put off a warm glow. The mood was in contrast to its sister property, the 234-room Ace Hotel, which sits on the other side of Lafayette Street and counts a bustling lobby filled with tourists and locals as a selling point. We wanted Maison de la Luz to be a private sanctuary, Sawdon said. New Orleans-area home prices rise in early 2019, report says The historic Carondelet Street building most recently housed the Stone Pigman law offices. Renovations for Maison de la Luz started in 2017. The property now features 67 guest rooms, a common area for guests and a blue-and-white china-inspired private dining room where guests will be served breakfast. The majority of rooms have both a walk-in shower and a separate tub. The most expensive suites are on the buildings second floor, which, like many historic buildings, has the highest ceilings in the building. Honan pointed out a few details. Room keys hang on a silk tassel and are left at the concierge when guests are out for the day. A Biblical snake motif surfaces repeatedly, from the apple-carrying snake bordering an area rug to the sculptural snake shower handles a reference, Honan said, to a local history shaped both by religion and revelry. Local touches include craft beer from Louisiana breweries stocked in the in-room minibars and painted works by New Orleans artist Rebecca Rebouche. WWOZ automatically plays on the in-room Bluetooth radio when guests check in. Sawdon said the aim is to weave high-level amenities and service into the historic surroundings. Its a place that feels like its existed always, created just for you, Sawdon said. Jennifer Larino covers residential real estate, retail, tourism and other consumer and business news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Reach her at jlarino@nola.com or 504-239-1424. Follow her on Twitter @jenlarino. Parishioners of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church Wednesday morning (May 22) couldnt help but laugh when seventh grader Malik Johnson called his class a handful. He praised his teachers for preparing him for St. Augustine High School. Malik and his peers were participating in the St. Peter Claver Catholic School promotion ceremony in Treme, the last such ceremony before the school is scheduled to close permanently later this month. Malik called his eight years at the private school truly special," and said the school has developed the students talents for the world. He and the other 13 seventh graders in his class overcame stereotypes to become leaders in the mission of God, he said. Malik compared the schools closure to the loss of a loved one. He garnered cheers and applause, however, when he shared his belief that while the school may be gone, its legacy will never end. The seventh graders words fell under the auspice of the schools final school Mass with the Rev. John Asare-Dankwah. The schools last day is May 29, after which St. Peter Claver School will be closed for good. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans in January said the school, which teaches nearly 140 students from pre-kindergarten through seventh grade, has experienced a significant decline in enrollment while operating at a significant budget deficit. State records show the nearly 100-year-old elementary school has been sanctioned five of the past seven years because of low LEAP scores. St. Peter Claver School in Treme closing; more Catholic school changes coming in New Orleans area But on Wednesday, everyone present was looking forward to a fresh start, as the seventh graders dressed in suits and dresses clapped in unison with African drumbeats performed by their lower school peers. Several young girls dressed in traditional African attire performed the West African welcome song and dance known as Fanga Alafia. St. Peter Claver School was founded as an African-American school in 1921 by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, an order founded by St. Katharine Drexel to serve the black and Native American communities. Although the ceremony was likely bittersweet for some, Mayor LaToya Cantrell told the church the legacy of the school will continue through the alumni operating throughout the United States and throughout this world. She encouraged the seventh graders to embrace change because its inevitable. 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 Cantrell also told the students and parents in attendance that God is with them as they transition to the next stage of their lives. They will continue to face challenges, but Cantrell said theyve been taught to rise up above them. She sought to assure them the church and the city will support them along the way. The minds and the hearts of the students of St. Peter Claver Catholic School will always be open, Cantrell said. St. Peter Claver principal Deacon Lawrence Houston presented several awards to the seventh graders for extracurriculars and high academic standards. Houston, who will be traveling to Tanzania in July for missionary work, also received an award of appreciation from middle school English teacher Dawn-Annarose Butler Haynes. She praised Houston for supporting the students and teachers throughout his time with the school. The Catholic schools closure has affected many residents, but Asare-Dankwah has been one of the most outspoken community members in regards to the news. On Feb. 27, he stressed to attendees at the schools Black History Program that the school may be closed one or two years, but it could come back strong with community support. Asare-Dankwah reiterated Wednesday that hes praying this will not be the end but a new beginning. He stressed God gives them the spirit of endurance. He advised the graduates to be yourself, to establish good relationships, to have the right attitude, to have discipline, and to have the spirit of gratitude. The attendees applauded him as he paused to remove his glasses and wipe away tears. He told everyone he loved them and wished them peace and happiness. In times of trials and tribulations, always keep hope alive, Asare-Dankwah said. 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. Hundreds of abortion rights advocates gathered in New Orleans Wednesday afternoon (May 22) to protest bills being advanced by Louisiana lawmakers that place further restrictions on abortion access. People crowded the corner in front of the Hancock Whitney Center and poured out onto the street, some holding signs with phrases like Pro-woman, pro-choice, and Hands off my means of reproduction. About a dozen anti-abortion protesters also gathered in the area, on St. Charles Avenue. Most were there to specifically protest two of the more restrictive bills that have advanced through the Louisiana Legislature this session. One, SB 184 authored by state Sen. John Milkovich, would place a ban on abortions after six weeks when a fetal heartbeat is detected. The bill is very similar to laws that have passed in Ohio, Georgia and Mississippi. Milkovichs bill does not include exceptions in the case of rape or incest, though it does make exceptions if the mother could die or suffer a severe health risk if the pregnancy isnt terminated or if the fetus has died in utero. Its scheduled for a vote on May 28. On Tuesday (May 21), Louisiana senators voted to let the public decide whether the states constitution should include an amendment outlawing abortion and public funds for the procedure. The amendment would only go into effect if Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion, is overturned. Amy Irvin, the executive director of the New Orleans Abortion Fund, said that they were specifically coordinating efforts against these two bills because they are going to have the most impact on women in this states. They are yet another indication of how unsympathetic our legislators are. 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 organization raises funds to support access to abortion for women without means. The protesters read off a list of 10 demands Wednesday, including fully funded childcare centers and increased funding for early childhood education, as well as comprehensive sex education and contraception access without barriers. Lizette Toto, 20, attended with her mother Desiree Loeb-Guth, 58, a nurse who specializes in HIV care in New Orleans. I see everything going backwards, said Toto. Her generation fought to have this right. Mine had it for a little while. Now we have to fight again for it. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune photographer Michael DeMocker contributed to this report. Correction: This story has been updated to correct the exceptions provided for in SB 184. A water main broke in front of the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board plant on South Claiborne Avenue on Wednesday morning (May 22), forcing police to close the road and reroute traffic. The line that broke was a 6-inch pipe that is part of the water tower project, according to the utilitys communications director, Richard Rainey. He said the pipe break has not affected water pressure anywhere in the city or the Sewerage & Water Boards daily operations, and that crews are still assessing what caused the break. Rainey also noted repairs would be done as soon as possible. The water tower, located at the Sewerage & Water Boards Carrollton power and treatment facility, went online in November 2018. Its purpose is prevent potential damage to water pipes during steep pressure drops in the distribution system and to give utility operators breathing room to correct equipment issues in time to avoid the need for issuing a precautionary boil-water advisory. Water could be seen pouring out from the S&WB facility Wednesday morning, and the road appeared badly buckled. Officials at the scene were concerned about the roadway potentially collapsing. Eastbound Claiborne Avenue is closed in the 8800 block from Mistletoe to Leonidas, city officials said. Officials are advising drivers to avoid the area. This story has been updated. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune staff photographer Michael DeMocker contributed to this story. Beau Evans also contributed. Carlie Kollath Wells is a morning reporter at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Have an early-bird tip? Send it to her: cwells@nola.com or Twitter @carlie_kollath. I love my cars, and I love high-horsepower V8 engines. However, even someone like me eventually learns that our city streets are not the place for speed. Its, literally, the difference between life and death. In crashes involving people walking, the risk of killing someone, or being killed, increases slowly until speeds reach 30 miles per hour. Above this speed, risk increases rapidly. At 20 mph, theres a 95 percent chance an adult is going to survive being hit by a car. At 30 mph, those odds drop to 55 percent. At 40 mph, you have virtually no chance at 5 percent. We can make New Orleans the premier city for biking and walking The reasons behind these increases is tied to the difference between speed and kinetic energy, which increases much more quickly than velocity. In other words, a small change in speed, or velocity, results in a large change in kinetic energy. The increase isnt linear. For children and older adults, or for crashes involving SUVs and other large vehicles, even slower speeds can be deadly. New Orleans is a dangerous place for people simply walking down the street. We rank among the highest statewide for crashes involving pedestrians. Our pedestrian fatality rate consistently exceeds the national average. Why? Its partly due to drivers who consistently exceed the speed limit. Its also a direct result of how our streets are designed. New Orleans streets have been built to accommodate more and more cars for more than 100 years. In the French Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods on the east bank most of the streets are narrow, having originally been designed and built for walking, horses and carriages. Even after 100 years, its difficult to drive too fast on these narrow streets with so many cars parked on all sides and the deteriorating conditions in between. On the west bank and areas beyond the center of the city, conditions are very different. Wide, multi-lane roads are everywhere. Its on many of these wider roadways, both east bank and west bank, in the urban center and in the suburbs, where the most serious crashes are occurring. Its where our focus for designing safe and accessible streets must change. New Orleans needs to fill the gaps in its transit system Simply put: Many of our major roads arent safe -- for people driving, walking, biking, or riding the bus. Mayor LaToya Cantrell released her plan to improve transportation at the beginning of May, called Moving New Orleans. It covers a lot of ground. As a professional planner, president of the Louisiana Chapter of the American Planning Association, and member of the New Orleans Complete Streets Coalition, I want to advocate for the widespread introduction of traffic-calming measures such as lower speed limits, lane reductions, longer pedestrian crossing times, and yes, additional traffic cameras to make traveling to work and visiting friends easier and safer for everyone. And as a means to ensuring the city commits to making transportation safe, equitable and sustainable for the years ahead, we need a solid understanding of how were moving, and how fast. We need a data-driven policy thats publicly accountable and can be sustained through this administration and the next. Once such a policy is established, and were collecting better data, on major roads connecting people to jobs, where congestion allows, the city should consider lane reductions and other traffic-calming measures. Too many of our neighbors are seriously injured or killed from excessive speeds, illegal turns and drivers not stopping at crosswalks. Still, in many cases, people are simply choosing to not respect the rules of the road, all the while knowing peoples lives are at stake. Start with your own behavior: Do you use the turn signal consistently, do you come to a complete stop, do you stay at 20 mph and below in school zones? We also should hold accountable those family and friends we ride with who drive too fast. Their lives, as well as those walking and biking, can be quickly ruined by a crash. Everyone out there, especially people walking, need us drivers not to crash into them. They need us to stay at or below the posted speeds, observe school zones, put away the smart phones, stop at the stop bars, use our turn signals and preserve open crosswalks. Lives are at stake: our own. Derek Chisholm is a driver, a cyclist, and an urban planner and designer in New Orleans. As a scientist at LSU, Dr. Catherine O'Neal knew the COVID-19 vaccines had undergone rigorous safety testing before they were made available for children. But when the time came to sign her own kids up for the jab, the mother of three experienced Democratic presidential candidate and former Maryland congressman John Delaney toured the devastated home of Fran and Jason Parr and their two children in Pacific Junction Tuesday. The family was displaced after historic Iowa flooding in March. Delaney and the family discussed various housing options: Rebuilding versus a possible government buyout. Federal Emergency Management Agency provided relief funds to save the structure of the house, but Fran Parr said the property is in limbo. Were preserving the option to rebuild, she said. Were still deciding since we have two young kids. Weve got to get on with life. During his tour, Delaney spoke on his policies and plans to strengthen infrastructure, the environment and the economy if he was elected president. I plan on being a responsible president, and what a responsible president does is deal with the issues that are affecting the American people today and also deal with issues in the future, Delaney said. Delaney said he would seek to enhance infrastructure to endure harsher weather patterns or storms and put a price on carbon emissions, he said. His long-term environment plans include investing in renewable energy and new technologies. Delaney said he would end the trade war because it hurts farmers and the economy, work with allies of the United States to deal with China and promote capital budgeting in the private sector to set aside money for disaster relief efforts. Whether its the storms of Katrina, the super storm Sandy that hit the east coast or the flooding that hit Iowa and Nebraska, he said. Its a responsibility of the federal government to step forward and help communities when theyve been devastated. Its a form of social insurance in many ways. Delaney ended his tour at the Council Bluffs Democratic Central Committee Meeting Tuesday night at the Council Bluffs Public Library. Some of the Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Birthing Center nurses gathered Friday in memory of Noah Bellows, son of Paul and Karin Bellows, who died in 2012, six days after his birth. An engraved digital camera gifted by the Bellows family will now help families better preserve memories in such circumstances. The Bellows have given back every year since his passing, as a way to show generosity toward the nurses and team who cared for them during that time, Karin Bellows said. Bellows works in the radiology department and has had two more children at Jennie Edmundson since Noahs passing. Because of the generosity weve been shown by so many nurses here, we love to give back to those families who have limited resources to remember their babies, Karin Bellows said. 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. A 74-year-old woman was killed after her house was destroyed in Adair in a rare overnight tornado Wednesday. A total of 27 unconfirmed tornadoes were reported from storms that swept through southeast Nebraska, northeast Kansas and southwest Iowa Tuesday evening into Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Des Moines confirmed late Wednesday morning that an EF-2 tornado swept through Adair from 1:29 a.m. to 1:37 a.m. Wednesday. The tornado killed Linda Brownlee and sent her husband, 78-year-old Harold Brownlee, to a hospital, after it destroyed their home on their farmstead. Adair is located 80 miles east of Omaha. Weather service officials said in a preliminary report that the tornado reached peak winds of 120 to 130 miles per hour, had a path length of 4.8 miles and a maximum width of 150 yards. The Brownlees lived in a home atop a hill, said Robert Kempf, emergency management coordinator for Adair and Guthrie Counties, so the damage could have been caused by straight-line winds. Three buildings were destroyed at the farm and two nearby houses were damaged, Kempf said. The National Weather Service in Des Moines has gone to the area to conduct an assessment. Tornadoes are rare at that time of day. Since 1980, less than 5 percent of tornadoes that occurred in Iowa happened between midnight and 6 a.m. The majority of tornadoes in the state happened between 2 and 7 p.m. No one was reported injured in Nebraska. People in southeast Nebraska got a scare Tuesday night when tornadoes were seen near several towns. The storm dropped tornadoes on the ground near Dawson, Stella and Auburn before moving out of the area. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service is dispatching damage survey teams to confirm the sightings, fine-tune the location, determine the strength and categorize the potential tornadoes. The first tornado sighting in Nebraska occurred southwest of Dawson in Richardson County at 7:42 p.m., said Cathy Zapotocny, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley. A second was spotted at 8:07 p.m. one mile north of Stella in Richardson County, she said. There were also funnel clouds reported in Nemaha County, Nebraska, and between Page and Montgomery Counties in Iowa. Zapotocny said favorable conditions of warm, moist, unstable air with strong wind shear produced mini super cells, a type of fast-moving storm system that produces short tornadoes. "These were unique, they weren't really the classic kind of storms," Zapotocny said. "They have a different look to them and tend to be brief." Looking ahead, Zapotocny said people should be aware of changing weather conditions. There is a slight risk for severe storms on Thursday night and thunderstorms amid higher temperatures forecast on Saturday and Sunday. However, it's too early to tell which areas of the metro have the highest risk. "People will just have to pay attention to the weather as we get closer to the weekend," she said. - The Associated Press contributed to this report. JAKARTA, Indonesia Indonesian President Joko Widodo said authorities have the volatile situation in the country's capital under control after six people died Wednesday in riots by supporters of his losing rival in last month's presidential election. The clashes began Tuesday night when supporters of former Gen. Prabowo Subianto tried to force their way into the downtown offices of the election supervisory agency and have continued unabated since then. More than two dozen vehicles were burned as rioters took over neighborhoods in central Jakarta, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. Flanked by the military chief and other top leaders, a grim-looking Widodo said, "I will work together with anyone to advance this country, but I will not tolerate anyone who disrupts the security, democratic processes and unity of our beloved nation." Subianto, an ultra-nationalist politician, has refused to accept the official results of the April 17 election and instead declared himself the winner. The Election Commission on Tuesday said Widodo, the first Indonesian president from outside the Jakarta elite, had won 55.5% of the vote, securing the moderate technocrat a second term as leader of the world's most populous Muslim-majority nation. Subianto, an elite figure from a wealthy family connected to former dictator Suharto, also lost to Widodo in 2014. He has made four unsuccessful bids for the presidency since Suharto was ousted in 1998. "The bottom line is the people who are protesting and rioting in the past 24 hours represent a small minority of Indonesian voters and a small minority of Indonesian Muslims," said Alexander Arifanto, an Indonesian politics expert at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. "The vast majority of both clearly accepted the election results. By tacitly backing the protesters, Prabowo has lost any remaining legitimacy he had left and clearly shows his true colors as a narcissistic New Order-era relic," Arifanto said, referring to the Suharto era. Rudiantara, the communications and information technology minister, said social media including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp will be restricted on a temporary basis to prevent the spread of hoaxes and inflammatory content. He said messaging systems will still work for text and audio but photos and videos will be blocked or slowed. National police chief Tito Karnavian said the people who died in the rioting were hit by gunshots or blunt devices. Authorities are still investigating the causes of death and are not ruling out the involvement of third parties acting as provocateurs. "There are attempts to create martyrs, blaming security officials for building public anger," he said. The rioting in the capital was planned and not spontaneous, according to police. Officers found an ambulance filled with stones, and some of the dozens of people arrested had envelopes of money, said national police spokesman Muhammad Iqbal. Many of those arrested had come from outside Jakarta, he said. The government had deployed some 50,000 police and soldiers in Jakarta in anticipation of protests following the official election results. Many residents have left the city and parts of the downtown are closed to traffic, with the election supervisory agency and Election Commission barricaded with razor wire. In the past week, authorities have arrested three pro-Subianto activists on suspicion of treason. They included Sunarko, a retired general and former commander of Indonesia's special forces who uses a single name. Police allege there was a plot to seize crucial government buildings in Jakarta. Subianto's campaign plans to challenge the election result in the Constitutional Court. They allege massive fraud in the world's third-largest democracy but have provided no credible evidence. The former special forces general and members of his campaign team had said they would mobilize "people power" during days of street protests. Subianto on Wednesday called on supporters and security forces to exercise restraint. "Like we've said many times before, we support all moral and constitutional means that are peaceful and nonviolent in this political fight for our nation," he said. "And so I plead to all elements of the people exercising their aspirations: the police, the armed forces, and everyone else to refrain from acts of physical harm." Subianto ran a fear-based election campaign, emphasizing what he sees as Indonesia's weakness and the risk of exploitation by foreign powers or disintegration. He aligned himself with hard-line Muslim groups and won massive majorities in conservative provinces such as Aceh, which follows Islamic Shariah law, but was defeated by Widodo in the president's populous East Java and Central Java strongholds. Widodo's campaign highlighted his progress in poverty reduction and improving Indonesia's inadequate infrastructure with new ports, toll roads, airports and mass rapid transit. Associated Press writers Niniek Karmini and Achmad Ibrahim contributed to this report. The following editorial was published in the Fort Dodge Messenger on May 15: Agriculture long has been at the heart of our states economic well-being. The states farms and those industries related to agriculture remain absolutely vital to the Hawkeye States continued prosperity. Whenever the Legislature convenes issues pertinent to agriculture get especially careful consideration. The 2019 session was no exception. Much that will position the farm economy to thrive in the years ahead was accomplished. Shortly after the Legislature adjourned, Mike Naig, who heads the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, expressed satisfaction with the work the lawmakers had completed this year. Im proud to have worked with the Legislature to pass several bills that create new opportunities and provide additional protections for agriculture, the Iowa secretary of agriculture said. Here are some of the highlights of the Legislatures record this year as it pertains to agriculture: The governors request that the Iowa Water Quality Initiative be given priority attention was heeded. This crucial program received more than $10.5 million in funding. This support will make possible accelerated implementation of the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. The infrastructure for renewable fuels got a boost. Cost-share grants were funded to help stimulate the installation of E85 dispensers, blender pumps, biodiesel dispensers and biodiesel storage facilities. Making it easier for consumers to access biofuels is vital to the continued growth of the renewable fuels industries. Protecting Iowas livestock and farm animals from disease is crucial. Lawmakers enhanced the departments ability to provide safeguards by funding preparations to address outbreaks of disease. Additionally, more money was provided to strengthen the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Making it possible for Iowans to become farmers is important to the future of agriculture in our state. The Beginning Farmer Tax Credit Program created by the Legislature will make it possible for more people to consider becoming farmers. Looking to a possible new crop for future development, the Legislature passed and the governor signed the Iowa Hemp Act. It gives IDALS regulatory authority regarding hemp to the extent that growing hemp is permitted by federal law. Upon signing this law, the governor issued an important cautionary statement: But Iowans should be aware that this bill does not legalize the sale or manufacturing of all hemp-derived products . And Iowans should be aware that nearly all of the provisions of this bill will not go into effect until the federal government approves our state hemp plan. . As federal regulatory bodies approve additional hemp-derived products and the hemp industry evolves, it is imperative that our state agencies and the Iowa Legislature remain vigilant in evaluating the effects of this legislation and the need for additional changes to ensure that our laws protect the health and safety of all Iowans. This cautious approach makes sense. The Messenger welcomes that progress lawmakers have made this year in helping position agriculture in our state for continued success. Huawei and Aptoide are reportedly in talks to offer an alternative to the Google Play Store after Google decided to suspend all commercial engagements, including Android licensing, with Huawei following a recent executive order by the US Government. Aptoide boasts of over 900,000 apps and almost 200 million users making it an interesting prospect for Huawei to consider. Aptoide CEO Paulo Trezentos has, however, ruled out any chances of a merger with Huawei at the moment. 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 , Leaks / Rumors , Linux / Unix , Lucienne (Zen 2) , MacBook , Mini PC , Monitor , MSI , OnePlus , Opinion , Phablet , Radeon , Renoir , Review Snippet , Rocket Lake , 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 Huawei is reportedly in talks with Aptoide to provide users with an alternative to the Google Play Store according to a report by Portuguese news outlet Dinheiro Vivo. This development comes on the heels of Google revoking Huawei's status as a licensing partner for the commercial version of Android following an executive order from the Trump administration that banned US firms from conducting any business engagements with the Chinese smartphone and networking major. Aptoide is one of the largest third-party Android marketplaces with over 900,000 apps and 200 million users. CEO Paulo Trezentos told Dinheiro Vivo, We see this news as an interesting market opportunity to create a partnership with Huawei and solve this problem that has arisen for them. The contacts were alive, we exchanged emails, we had meetings and they have shown interest, so we revive this contact." [sic as per Google Translate] It is not clear at this moment as to how exactly Aptoide's marketplace would be integrated with upcoming Huawei devices. Right now, it is being speculated that Aptoide's app store could either be offered as a dedicated app or Huawei could tap into an API to offer Aptoide's collection via its own front-end. Either way, it remains to be seen how well Huawei curates the Aptoide store as users are likely to bump into 'dodgy' apps here and there. It may be recalled that Huawei already offers its own App Gallery store for users in China where Google Play services are unavailable. Bloomberg reports that Huawei's App Gallery had already catered to about 50 million users at the end of 2018 and the company is trying to court app developers to directly publish to the App Gallery to circumvent US restrictions. Huawei is reportedly proposing to offer a "very significant" revenue share to European wireless partners while also offering marketing support and "China app store exposure" to developers who hop on board. However, Google apps would still remain inaccessible. Amidst the ongoing trade war between the United States and China, the world number 2 smartphone maker has found itself in a quagmire after having been accused by US authorities of violating trade sanctions and performing espionage for the Chinese Government. Following the executive order, US tech giants such as Google, Intel, Microsoft, ARM, Broadcom, and Qualcomm have severed all commercial arrangements with Huawei. This means no supply of networking hardware from Broadcom or Qualcomm, no Android licensing from Google, no Windows licensing from Microsoft, no ARM licensing for developing HiSilicon Kirin CPUs, and no x86_64 CPU supply from Intel or AMD for MateBooks and other computers. There is still a 90-day reprieve on some export restrictions that Google can use to provide security updates for existing Huawei smartphone customers. Huawei, in the meanwhile, is said be to haven been preparing for the worst since long and the company's Android alternative, HongMeng OS, is already under trial in China and could very well be the OS of choice in the upcoming Mate 30 smartphone. Trezentos confirmed that there are no plans for a merger with Huawei as of now. He said, Rachel Young, a student at North Platte High School, was selected to sing the national anthem at the opening ceremonies of the Cornhusker State Games on July 19 at Seacrest Field in Lincoln. Young said she entered the contest a few years ago and didnt make it, but decided to try again this year. I didnt make it the first time and didnt really think much of it, Young said. Then my mom saw it again and I quickly recorded the national anthem and posted it, not really thinking anything much of it again. A few weeks later, Young received an email informing her she made the top four finalists. I thought that was really cool, Young said. Then we had to have voting and I was thinking, well, Im from a small town, I wont get a lot of votes. But, she said, she did get a lot of votes. I won and I was super excited, Young said. Young also won the Miss York Outstanding Teen pageant and on May 11 competed in the Miss Nebraska Outstanding Teen pageant in Omaha. Four ESRF projects are among 170 schemes awarded funding by the ATTRACT consortium to develop innovative imaging and detection technologies with the aim of solving key societal challenges. ATTRACT, a Horizon 2020 research and innovation project funded by the European Union and backed by a consortium of nine partners, including the ESRF, has announced a total of 17 million to fund 170 breakthrough ideas each receiving 100,000 to develop technologies that change society. A kick-off meeting at CERN in Geneva will start the clock on a one-year countdown for the selected proposals to prove the scientific merit and innovative potential of their detection and imaging technologies. The projects selected for funding were drawn from a pool of more than 1,200 proposals from researchers and entrepreneurs in scientific and industrial organisations across the world. An Independent Research, Development and Innovation (R&D&I) committee used a rigorous evaluation process to determine which of the proposals should receive 100,000 of funding. 170 breakthrough ideas were selected based on a combination of scientific merit, innovation readiness and potential societal impact, explained Sergio Bertolucci, chair of ATTRACTs Independent R&D&I Committee. The idea is to speed up the process of developing breakthrough technologies and applying them to address societys key challenges. Four ESRF projects among the 170 selected Among the 170 projects, four ESRF projects have been selected, including algebraic speckle tomography for clinical studies of osteoarticular diseases; a novel readout concept for the front-end of 2D pixelated detectors; the transferral of indium-gallium-nitride epilayers onto substrates for full-spectrum LEDs; and artificial intelligence for the automatic segmentation of volumetric microtomography images. ATTRACT is a new way to demonstrate that the advances in experimental scientific research provide opportunities to innovate in industry, creating new knowledge as well as a competitive edge for our society. I am very pleased with the overwhelming number of applications submitted to the ATTRACT initiative, said Francesco Sette, ESRF director-general. The ESRF is very proud to be associated with four projects supported by ATTRACT, all of which represent areas of X-ray detection critical to the advancement of X-ray science. ATTRACT has an exciting future and provides real opportunities to develop European industry in areas such as medical imaging, environmental analyses and the characterisation of new materials. Most of all, ATTRACT opens a new paradigm where pioneering scientific ideas are used to fuel innovation for the benefit of all European citizens. With ATTRACT funding, the ASEMI project aims to automate the segmentation of microtomography images, such as the Egyptian ibis mummy (above) in its sealed jar (from the collection of the Musee de Grenoble). This will speed up the virtual removal of the different layers of a specimen: here, terracotta, loose textile, textile wrapping the animal, soft parts of the ibis (with feathers) and, finally, the skeleton of the ibis. Credit: P. Tafforeau & C. Berruyer/ESRF. The ESRF projects in detail ASPECT (Algebraic SPECkle Tomography) ASPECT will revolutionise the medical diagnosis of osteoarticular diseases, which affect millions of people worldwide, thanks to a new type of information delivered to radiologists that will help in understanding diseases such as osteoarthritis. Thanks to a new computational and simple experimental approach, ASPECT will transfer phase contrast from the synchrotron to clinically available X-ray devices. InGaN-FULL-SPECTRUM (Strain relaxation of In-rich InGaN layers for full-spectrum micro-LED displays) This project proposes the transferral of indium-gallium-nitride epilayers onto substrates for full-spectrum LEDs. It will address a key challenge, giving rise to a huge market for displays and micro-displays based on nitride mini- and micro-LEDs, representing a potential multi-billion-euro market for virtual and augmented reality devices and beyond. ASEMI (Automated SEgmentation of Microtomography Imaging) The ASEMI project, led by the University of Malta in partnership with the ESRF, aims to develop and use artificial intelligence techniques for the automatic segmentation of volumetric microtomography images, such as images of Egyptian mummies. Microtomography is an X-ray imaging technique based on the same principle as the medical scanner. This technology is able to provide 3D images to visualise the structure of materials in a non-invasive and non-destructive way, with applications in cultural heritage, materials research, life sciences, biomedical research and paleontology, where the ESRF has developed unique expertise. DINPAD (Digital-integration front-end for high dynamic range pixel area detectors) This project aims to validate a novel readout concept for the front-end of 2D pixelated X-ray detectors under development by the ESRF and the University of Heidelberg. Although DINPAD targets experiments at the new generation of high-energy storage rings, the new scheme can be potentially applied to other scientific cases. Text: Anya Joly When he opened his businesses in North Platte five years ago, Chad Fosdick, owner of Premier Rental-Purchase and Mr. Appliance, wanted to show he was invested in the community. Fosdick decided to pay for rides at Cody Park for everyone in his second year of business and this Friday is the fourth year of his community gift. The rides at Cody Park open on Friday from 5 to 10 p.m., and Premier Rental-Purchase and Mr. Appliance will cover the cost that day. After we got through our first year, opening a business is a very stressful and tenuous situation, we started looking for ways that we could somehow give back in a community, family-driven way, Fosdick said. Because, of course, we serve families in our businesses. He said he and his family enjoy their times at Cody Park. At Cody Park, the rides are inexpensive regularly, Fosdick said. But this time of year, expenses increase significantly for families with children of school age because theyre no longer in school. Day care may become a situation that it wasnt for the bulk of the year, Fosdick said, as well as additional bills. Sixteen troopers with Nebraska State Patrol were honored on Tuesday for their efforts to remove drunk drivers from the road and educate the public about the dangers of drunk driving. They include four members of Troop D, based in North Platte. The awards were presented by Mothers Against Drunk Driving at their 20th annual Hero Awards ceremony in Lincoln. Troop D members receiving awards were Troopers Matthew Naughtin, Kelli Nichelson and Nick Jones, for adult driving under the influence enforcement, and Investigator Shane Belgum for minor in possession enforcement. Drunk driving has the potential to hurt many people, said Col. John Bolduc, NSP superintendent. We salute MADDs continuous efforts to shine a light on drunk driving. These honors for our troopers, along with other officers and public servants around the state, demonstrate a collaborative dedication to making Nebraskas roads safer and preventing tragedies. MADD honored individuals from more than a dozen agencies and organizations in Nebraska, including NSP. The 16 troopers recognized by MADD accounted for more than 360 DUI and driving under the influence of drugs arrests in 2018. They have also conducted hundreds of events across the state to educate Nebraskas youth about the dangers of drinking and driving. When Dejan Markovic was preparing to premiere his film, The Blacklisted, he was expecting some pushback, but not on the scale of what actually happened. One month before the festival, there was a burglary and vandalism in my office, Markovic told NTD News. The director of the film noticed that we [were being] watched by the police, he said, and its not one or two policemenits many people, tailing us around the city in the car and whatever you do. He added, because Im experienced in that kind of tailing by the police, when you see them, it means that they want you to [see them]. So we understood this as pressure to make some kind of auto-censorship in the film. As one of six films screened at the Bel Docs International Film Festival in Belgrade earlier this month, the documentary talks about the persecution in China of the spiritual discipline, Falun Gongalso known as Falun Dafaand how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) extends this persecution to other countries like Serbia. In 2014, Serbian police detained 11 European citizens during the Chinese Summit when the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was visiting Serbia. All 11 Europeans were Falun Gong practitioners who were planning to protest during the summit. The horrifying deeds committed by the CCP that are exposed in the film continue today. Markovic said the same forces behind the persecution tried to stop the film from screening. They Just Disappeared Markovic said that before the 2014 summit with China, Serbia never had any problem with Falun Gong practitioners efforts to raise awareness about human rights atrocities in China. However, that year, everything changed, he said, the police banned all the activities of Falun Gong practitioners, without any legal reason to do it. Markovic said most practitioners who were planning to protest were forced to cancel their trip, but nine people from Bulgaria, one from Finland, and one from Slovakia did manage to enter Serbia. However, the moment they checked into their hotel, the police came and took their mobile phones, and took their passports, Markovic said, And in the end, they ended up in a detention center. They were not given the right to call a lawyer. They were not given the right to make a phone call. And this was very unusual in Serbia, he said. The practitioners were only freed after the Chinese leader left Serbia. They call this kidnapping, because they were not officially arrested, Markovic said, They just disappeared. Markovic said the arrest was particularly traumatic for one of the activists arrested, Lihua Lan, who is originally from China. She escaped the persecution there and became a refugee in Finland. She was tortured in China, arrested three times. So obviously, she is traumatized by what happened, he said, And imagine she is coming to Serbia, a democratic country. And suddenly, she is kidnapped. Of course, there was no police violence on her. But how can you not remember what happened to you in China, when you were in prison? The Pushback Markovic said the festival was forced to change venue four times, as the first three venues were all canceled for stated reasons such as fire safety, security, and celebrating the end of the second world war. After a local newspaper interviewed the film director two weeks before the premiere, hours before the paper was printed, the festival owner received a call from the Chinese embassy. In this call, they ask him if there are any Chinese films on the festival. They said no, Markovic said, And the second question was, who is the main sponsor of the festival? Is it the government? Which government body is that? And so on. Markovic said the pressure and endless police tailing almost made him give up. My family members are very annoyed by this kind of behavior. They are afraid, he said, At one point, I even said to the director, Well, we can really cancel the festival, if thats the only solution. But the director, Sarah, she said No, we need to follow this [through]. One of the protagonists of the films, he said our weapon is the truth, and we need to bring it out to the light of day, he said. Markovic said the festival organizers and some Serbian film professionals were upset by the behavior of the Chinese embassy and Serbian authorities. They raised their voice to defend the film. The festival actually appeals to the Chinese government to understand that we here, we dont ban films, Markovic said. Prominent Serbian film director Srdjan Dragojevic voiced his support through Twitter. And many young film enthusiasts working for the festival asked for the support of their professors in the film academy. Odlicno. Video sam trailer. Srdjan Dragojevic (@srdjandrago) May 9, 2019 The film eventually had a successful premiere on May 10th. After the film, many people congratulated us. And told us that we were very brave, Markovic said. He said that while people may not have believed the film initially, now they can see for themselves how the Chinese regime sabotages human rights. They are witnesses of that, he said, adding that they are now much more likely to believe the horrific stories in the film. Markovic said that Dvorana Kulturnog Centra, where the film is initially planned to be screened but was closed by the fire department five days before the premiere, is soon to be opened. As a way to apologize to the festival, they offered to screen all six films from the Serbian competition, he said. The Blacklisted will be showing on May 28. Its a small victory of all free-minded people in Serbia against darkness and lies by CCP, he said. NTD reporter Miguel Moreno contributed to this report. You are clearly a super-user of NUVO.net. Thats a good thing. It means you depend on independent and local news sources to keep you informed. You are a smart person. Coincidentally, independent and local news sources depend on you too. Youve read 25 articles this month and now, wed like you to be join our mission and become a NUVO Supporter. For as little as $4 a month, you can keep us alive and fighting -- and can have unlimited access to the independent news that cant be found anywhere else. A popular breakfast restaurant in Gary secured the city's first microloan through a new program intended to encourage entrepreneurship. The city and First Financial Bank are offering loans of up to $20,000 to small businesses that participate in the Gary Micro-Enterprise Initiative, a training program for small business owners in the city. The first grant of $10,000 was awarded to Joslyn Kelly, who owns Js Breakfast Club at 3669 Broadway in the city's Glen Park neighborhood. The restaurant near the Indiana University Northwest campus has built up a loyal following with menu items like shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and three-egg omelets. Small businesses in our community contribute greatly to our local economies, Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson said. Not only do small businesses present different employment opportunities and diverse offerings in our communities, they inspire other aspiring entrepreneurs. The GMI program and this collaboration with First Financial is an awesome opportunity. J's Breakfast Club will use the grant to buy new restaurant equipment and expand its capacity. Kelly is looking to move J's Breakfast Club from its now-leased location to a bigger site. SHELBYVILLE, Ind. A $175 million solar power project planned for central Indiana could help power some Region homes and businesses. Officials announced Tuesday that plans call for Brooklyn, New York-based Ranger Power to build the solar project in Shelby County starting in 2022. The "Speedway Solar" project will generate enough power to serve about 35,000 households when it's brought online in 2023, according to Ranger Power's plans. About 1,014 of the 1,200 acres of the Ranger Power project will be devoted to solar panels. Electricity generated by the project will be distributed through the Wabash Valley Power Association, a wholesale electric supplier. Wabash Valley Power cooperative members include the Kankakee Valley REMC, which serves rural areas in Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties, as well as parts of St. Joseph, Pulaski and Marshall counties and all of Starke County. About 400 workers are expected to build the solar power project. The announcement follows development projects in Shelby County including a $160 million ethanol plant and a $310 million food manufacturing plant. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The first line of the novel captures the reader's attention: "I was almost twelve years old when I decided to kill my parents," Hannah says. "The beginning started as a page, that page turned into three paragraphs, those three paragraphs into one until I got to that sole phrase," Correa said. "I wanted to get you inside of that world and see the level of desperation of a girl that can make such a drastic decision." After a long and obsessive research process Correa not only read all the books about the St. Louis, he also brought them along with many related artifacts the author shaped his novel inspired by his own family's experiences and found the voice of his young Hannah at home: "All the time, while I was writing, I thought about my daughter. I felt like a father to those children," he said. He recalled that when he started middle school in Cuba, he was taught Russian, not English, so his grandmother would send him to get English lessons from a grouchy German teacher that all the kids hated they called him the Nazi. "Then, when I went to college, I learned from a friend that that old man was actually a Jewish refugee that my grandmother was helping," Correa said. Instead, she kept the documents for the next four decades and sold some, like the original manuscript of Kafka's "The Trial," which fetched $1.8 million at auction in 1988. She kept some items in a bank vault in Tel Aviv, some in Switzerland, and others at her apartment in Tel Aviv. When she died in 2008, the collection went to her two daughters, who fought to keep it but eventually lost a battle in Israel's Supreme Court in 2016. The court sided with the country's National Library, whose lawyers had argued the Kafka papers were "cultural assets" that belonged to the Jewish people. Both daughters have now died, and the documents stored in Israel have already been transferred to the National Library's care. The documents held in Switzerland should be on their way soon after the National Library won a court case in Zurich last month. But that left the documents in Germany, which had been stolen from Hoffe's apartment about a decade ago. They ended up with an Israeli dealer, who tried in 2013 to sell them to the German Literature Archive in Marbach the same institution that bought "The Trial" manuscript in 1988. The German archive instead reported the offer to Israel's National Library, which then got authorities involved, Litt said. Reductions will begin as soon as possible now that the policy update has been approved, Miller said, to give affected teachers time to seek new jobs in nearby districts. "We want to continue to have the programs for our students to have the best teachers and programs," Board President Deborah White said. "But with our district having 20 buildings that are growing older with the day, we are going to make the best decision fiscally to keep the corporation from folding that other corporations have. If there was any other way to get any other funds, we would do it." He said its a common misconception that these students, enrolled in college courses, dont need food assistance. When you think about college students paying for tuition, paying for housing, trying to pay for food, and then all the myriad of other things that they might have kind of going on that we dont even know about, family obligations and whatnot, theres just so little left and they have to make choices, Iverson said. And, at PNW, he said, the need is there. In a survey administered to PNW residents last year, 71% of students who responded said they knew someone in university housing who, at times, did not have enough food. Seventy-five percent said there was a time they didnt have enough food for themselves. Response to the survey was low. Iverson said 66 of last years 744 residents took the survey. But to Iverson, even a few students in need justifies a community-supported pantry. These were 66 students that felt passionate about this, Iverson said. Sure, I would like more, but that still to me shows a clear need. One student shows a clear need. Not knowing if the suspect was still armed, Gligic gave commands to the suspect to throw his weapon out and come out of the shed, but the suspect refused. Radar was then sent into the structure, where he grabbed Robert Stewart, of Merrillville, and drag him out for officers to take him into custody without any officers getting hurt. Stewart was charged with two counts of murder along with enhancements for using a gun during the crime in the shooting deaths of Ryan Halbe, 27, and his mother, Candy Halbe, 55, in the 2400 block of West 61st Place, Lake Criminal Court records show. Not only were Radar and Gligic named Employees of the Month by Crown Point Mayor David Uran for their heroic actions, the two were also awarded the Uncommon Valor Award by the APCA last year. The award is the most prestigious honor granted by APCA, according to the association. It is presented to officers who displayed actions of uncommon valor during the performance of their official law enforcement duties, which subjected the nominee(s) to imminent death and or serious injury, which led to the termination of the incident and or displayed the same to save others from death or severe injury. CROWN POINT Despite an initial request Wednesday by the defense for a trial date, a judge scheduled a June status hearing for a former Gary school superintendent charged with stealing from the cash-strapped district. Cheryl Pruitt, 56, appeared with attorney Scott King for a brief hearing before Lake Criminal Court Judge Diane Boswell. King initially asked Boswell to schedule a two- to three-day trial. Boswell asked King and Lake County Deputy Prosecutor Judith Massa to approach the bench. After a private discussion, the attorneys agreed to a status hearing June 11. Pruitt was charged Oct. 5 in Lake Criminal Court with felony counts of theft and official misconduct, which allege she deposited a $1,256 reimbursement from the district into her personal bank account after the district already had paid $1,617 from its extracurricular account to a district credit card to pay for her business trip in May 2016. The state took over the Gary Community School Corp. in 2017, delegating all authority of the School Board and superintendent to an emergency manager who could cut costs and pay off more than $100 million in debt. FAIR OAKS All southbound lanes of Interstate 65 near Fair Oaks Farms in Jasper County have reopened in the wake of an overturned semitrailer that spilled its load Wednesday morning, according to Indiana State Police. The spill occurred south of Indiana 14 about 9:15 a.m., police said. The overturned truck spread scrap steel across the roadway, police said. The truck driver reportedly suffered minor injuries. Traffic had been rerouted earlier in the morning around the crash scene. The crash comes two weeks after a truck fire a little further north shut down the southbound lanes of I-65. The heat from the fire melted part of the highway that had to be patched until further repairs could be carried out, police said. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 1 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. "We have a cornucopia of pilots in our group, some of whom are just getting started. They help with the ground school," Miller said. "We have others with thousands of hours flying aircraft, some with military experience." Each flight generally takes 15 to 20 minutes. "We fly around over the city and over the lake," Miller said. "You can see all the way to Chicago, you can see the sailboats in the summertime." As they fly, the pilots answer any questions the children might have. Some kids even get to take the controls of the plane. Glenn Dee, a member of the EAA and Young Eagles program pilot, says some kids are more eager than others to take the wheel on their first flight. "I have four seats in my airplane so I can take up to three kids with me," Dee said of his 1955 Cessna 170. Dee says the enthusiasm varies when he offers the controls of the airplane, but everyone ends up enjoying their experience. MUNSTER, IN - Linda K. Wleklinski (nee Griesel) 74, of Munster, (formerly of Highland), was peacefully born into Eternity after a brief battle with cancer, on Sunday, May 19, 2019, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Fred; her two daughters, Wendy VanderTuuk (Scott Lush), and Kristen (Eric) Wilson; her two granddaughters, Lindsey and Lauren Wilson. This list wouldn't be complete without mentioning Sandrine Lafuente, who has been like a third daughter to Linda. She was considered part of the family after her first visit as a French exchange student in 1981. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Blanche Griesel, and her sister Sonya. Thomas A. Witzman CHESTERTON, IN - Thomas A. Witzman, 84 of Chesterton passed away Thursday, May 16, 2019. He was born December 2, 1934 in Chicago, IL to Jacob and Virginia (Davis) Witzman, graduated from South Shore High School and Eureka College. Thomas served proudly with the U.S. Army, was a member of Chesterton First United Methodist Church, a past Porter County Library Board member and Westside Masonic Lodge member. Tom was a gentle, kind and giving man who loved to tell jokes. He was a wonderful father and a good friend to many. On August 10, 1957 he married Audrey Peterson who preceded him in death in 2006. Survivors include their daughters, Johanna (Jeff) Schroeder of MT. Zion, IL and Jocelyn Hibshman of Chesterton; four grandchildren, Justin and Jason Schroeder and Elizabeth and Evan Hibshman and many loving nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Virginia Phillips. A celebration of life gathering will begin at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, July 7, 2019, at Chesterton First United Methodist Church, 434 S. Second St. Memorial donations may be made to Parent Project MD or Housing Opportunities. PORTER The Porter County Search and Rescue Team was called out shortly before 4 p.m. Tuesday to Porter Beach to search for a South Bend man missing since Saturday. Come Tuesday night, no trace of the man was found, police said. The local search began with the discovery of the man's vehicle in the parking lot of the Johnson's Inn property along the lakefront, said Porter Assistant Police Chief Todd Allen. Jacob Sandy, 23, had told his family Saturday he was going kayaking, Allen said. He never returned home. Sandy was last seen at 10 a.m. Saturday in South Bend and has not been heard from since, according to the South Bend Police Department. He was possibly heading to kayak at Lake Michigan but the exact destination he was heading to is unknown. Patching together surveillance images, police were able to track the last sightings of Sandy before he left shore. Before seeing the footage, authorities were unsure whether Sandy last went onto the lake or went into the woods. "The only update we have so far is that we were able to determine that he did have his kayak set up on the shore, and he went into the water with it," Allen said. PORTER The search resumed Wednesday morning for a missing South Bend man, who was last seen Saturday afternoon assembling a kayak on Porter Beach and taking it out on the water. "By eyewitness accounts it was learned that they observed a white kayak boating north at the same time," according to an update from Porter police. Jacob Sandy, 23, had told his family Saturday he was going kayaking, Porter Assistant Police Chief Todd Allen said. Sandy was last seen in South Bend at 10 a.m. Saturday and never returned home. Sandy's vehicle was discovered Tuesday in the parking lot of the Johnson's Inn property along the lakefront, Allen said. A search was undertaken Tuesday afternoon by several area agencies but was called off at nightfall without success, according to police. Surveillance images outside of the bathroom at Porter Beach showed the man walking in view of a Porter squad car, Allen said. The same squad car's dashboard camera showed Sandy setting up his kayak and taking it into the water. They were able to track the time of Sandy's departure about 3 or 3:30 p.m. Saturday. The NVAO riders make stops at veterans hospitals, homes and schools, and at cemeteries and memorials to lay wreaths. The organization aims "to visit, spend time and thank our veterans for their service and sacrifice," according to its website. "If you saw the looks on their faces when they get a card from a student and they're holding it by their heart with tears in their eyes, you know what you're doing is really impactful," Kris Kuepker said. After parking, the riders entered the high school to recognize and also be celebrated by the JROTC. NVAO gave the senior students pins and presented certificates of appreciation to the school and Portage Police and Fire Departments. Senior Master Sgt. Ed Bowers opened the program. He has been the Marine instructor of the JROTC for more than a decade and has ridden with NVAO in previous years. Out of Portage's 30 seniors in the JROTC, 22 are planning to or have enlisted in the armed forces. The focus of the JROTC is on personal development, leadership and character. "My mission is not to put kids in the military, my mission is do what's right for the kid," Bowers said. VALPARAISO Renovation of the old Porter County jail is set to begin this week after the county commissioners approved contracts for the work Tuesday morning. More than $4.5 million worth of contracts were signed off by the commissioners to redo the interior of the building on 157 S. Franklin St. The interior is basically gutted right now, Commissioner Jeff Good, R-Center, told The Times. We just have to get it ready and fix the roof. The building is set to become home to a number of county offices related to the courts, including the county prosecutor and adult probation. The top floor will become a state-of-the-art 911 dispatch center. Good said the goal was to better centralize county services and also make space in the courthouse. Work is expected to start Thursday and is currently scheduled to finish in March 2020. Good said that offices moving into the building would start their transition over shortly after, no later than May. This is a project we've been workings on for quite some time, said Good. This is the last part of our capital plan, so we're very anxious to get this going. At any given moment, millions of doctors and medical researchers across the globe are working toward a singular goal: that no illness should be a death sentence. One large leap was taken toward accomplishing that goal recently, when for the second time in history an HIV patient was cured of the disease. Like the first case, the cure was a result of a bone marrow transplant intended originally to treat cancer. Unfortunately, this transplant isnt likely to have broad application, and the 36.9 million people who struggle with HIV worldwide serve as a reminder that the fight is far from over. Hope for a cure, however, is threatened by activists who are lobbying to shut down all animal research, despite its proven benefits for medical science. Nobel Medical Laureate Peter C. Doherty puts it best in saying, There is no alternative to the use of animals for analyzing the complexity of immunity. In other words, we cant fight disease in computer simulations. Sometimes we need to use lab rats to help find cures for human (and animal) ailments. Clearly, the antiquated SWIFT payment system could soon be rendered obsolete by these faster, more seamless options. Before any pervasive adoption happens, one major industry issue will require resolution: regulation. Particularly in the United States, a lack of regulatory clarity created by haphazard decisions on the part of the Securities and Exchange Commission coupled with varying degrees of state-based guidelines has left companies of all sizes with no indication as to how their products or other innovations will be governed on the marketplace. The emergence of utility tokens makes the possibility of true cryptocurrency integration more concrete and the importance of getting any regulation right that much more pressing. Utility tokens like XRP are tools for business solutions like Ripples, as opposed to the more speculative digital assets like bitcoin. Unlike debt, equity or other financial asset classes, utility tokens do not represent an investment and, as such, are not securities. Given the numerous benefits of utility tokens, that could very well be the form that an Amazon token would take in the near future. Her new Brexit deal, as she described it, would give Parliament a broader role in shaping her plan. But the part that drew the most attention was her vague offer to have lawmakers vote on whether to have a second referendum, something she had previously ruled out. It was unclear what questions any referendum would pose. The plan seemed designed to entice pro-Brexit Labour Party lawmakers to support her Brexit blueprint. Key issues: Her plan includes the opportunity for Parliament to decide whether to keep a type of customs union with Brussels, eliminating tariffs and reducing checks on goods at frontiers. Another issue is the Irish border, and the deal would commit the government to working on measures to track goods. Response: The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said his party would not support the plan. Pro-Brexit Conservatives have also reacted angrily. Reminder: Mrs. May essentially promised to step down no matter what lawmakers decide about her plan. The vote on Brexit legislation is set for the week beginning June 3. Bryan Carmody, the Bay Area freelance journalist whose house was raided by the police this month, was to get back his property that was seized including his laptop and three decades worth of archives following a hearing in San Francisco Superior Court on Tuesday. Mr. Carmody became a target of the San Francisco Police Department in February, when his reporting was used in three local TV news reports on the death of Jeff Adachi, a longtime public defender. The materials Mr. Carmody sold to the TV stations included a police report that revealed Mr. Adachi had collapsed at an apartment in the presence of a woman who was not his wife. The police wanted to find out who had given the report to Mr. Carmody. After Mr. Carmody refused to tell them, the police obtained a search warrant, raided his apartment and detained him, in handcuffs, for six hours. In a Twitter statement on Tuesday, Mr. Carmody said: I am pleased that everything that the San Francisco Police took from my office and home will be returned today. This includes the police report, video, records, notes, computers and personal electronics. A grand jury indicted a Newark police officer on Tuesday on charges that he repeatedly shot at a fleeing vehicle during a chase, killing the driver and wounding a passenger. According to the Essex County prosecutor, the 26-year-old officer fired at the fleeing vehicle at three separate locations during the Jan. 28 pursuit, after the driver, Gregory C. Griffin, 46, sped off from a traffic stop. The indictment comes three months after both the Essex County prosecutor and the Newark public safety director said they had serious concerns about the conduct of the officer, Jovanny Crespo, during the chase and suspended him without pay. The action taken by the grand jury marks a rare indictment of a police officer amid a national debate over policing and the use of lethal force, particularly against African-American men. President Trump said Tuesday that he would nominate Barbara Barrett, a former diplomat and aerospace research executive, to be the next Air Force secretary, a move that came as Mr. Trump ratchets up plans to increase the militarys focus on threats in space. Mr. Trump announced his plans on Twitter, more than two months after the current Air Force secretary, Heather A. Wilson, said she would resign. Ms. Wilson had spent two years reining in plans for the United States Space Force, successfully working to ensure that the Space Force would be a part of the Air Force instead of a separate military branch amid concerns over cost and bureaucracy. Mr. Trump provided few details on Tuesday about why he had selected Ms. Barrett. The White House did not return an email request for comment, and Ms. Barrett could not immediately be reached. In many ways, hes a case study of a larger issue they have in government: They arrested hundreds of people since 2002 but theres not a system in place to address these individuals, Mr. Hughes said. In all, 346 people have been charged and convicted of jihadist terrorism related crimes since the 2001 terrorist attacks, according to David Sterman, an analyst at New America who studies terrorism and violent extremism, citing a database maintained by the research organization. About one-fourth of those prisoners, 88, have been released, he said. About half should be released by the end of 2025, with 19 of them, including Mr. Lindh, on the path for release this year and next, Mr. Sterman said. Mr. Hughes earlier worked on how to counter violent extremism in his capacity as a staff member at the National Counterterrorism Center, which was established in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks. So far, however, he said, the Bureau of Prisons, Justice Department, F.B.I. and court probation offices have yet to develop a single strategy for helping former jihadists re-enter society. Because of the vacuum, he said, the best hope for Mr. Lindh is that his probation officer finds a Muslim former federal prisoner someone who has conservative beliefs but is not radical to help him navigate society. Ideally, youd team him up with a mentor, somebody who perhaps had the same experiences as he may have had and came out the other side better of because of it, Mr. Hughes said. [For more stories about the experiences and costs of war, sign up for the weekly At War newsletter.] Johnny Spann, the father of the C.I.A. operative who was killed in Afghanistan, remains bitter about the Lindh case and said he is distrustful of the decision to let Mr. Lindh go. His son is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, about eight miles from the Alexandria courthouse where Mr. Lindh was charged. Weve got a traitor that was given 20 years and I cant do anything about it, said Mr. Spann, a real estate dealer in Winfield, Ala. He was given a 20-year sentence when it shouldve been life in prison. WASHINGTON Attorney General William P. Barr said on Tuesday that district court judges who have put a stop to dozens of President Trumps policies illustrate the extent to which the judiciary has amassed power far beyond its constitutional authority rather than how the administration has violated the law. Some say this proves that the Trump administration is lawless, Mr. Barr said in a speech on Tuesday evening to the American Law Institute. Not surprisingly, I disagree. Pointing to the broad use of nationwide injunctions, in which local cases are used to block nationwide policies, Mr. Barr said that the courts have undermined executive authority. The injunctions have also thrust the judicial branch into the political process and encouraged plaintiffs with strong political leanings to bring lawsuits just to frustrate the work of the president, Congress and even other district judges, he said. If we consider how things ought to work, it is perverse, Mr. Barr said. Rather than an orderly pattern of litigation in which the government loses some cases and wins others, with issues percolating their way through the appellate courts, we have an interdistrict battle fought with all-or-nothing injunctions. WASHINGTON The Internal Revenue Service has no choice but to honor congressional requests for President Trumps tax returns unless he invokes executive privilege to protect them, according to a draft legal memo written by agency staff members. The memo appears to undercut the reasoning offered by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, who has refused to comply with Democrats requests because they lack a legitimate legislative purpose. Mr. Mnuchin said he made his decision after consulting with lawyers from the Treasury Department, the I.R.S. and the Justice Department. But the I.R.S. memo says the Treasury secretary does not have the authority to deny tax-writing committees requests for taxpayer returns. The House Ways and Means Committee is seeking six years of the presidents personal and business tax returns. Mr. Trump has not asserted executive privilege to block the request, and his personal lawyers have asked the Treasury Department not to release them. The president has indicated that he is prepared to take the legal fight over his returns to the Supreme Court. WASHINGTON Two more senior aides to President Trump announced on Tuesday that they were stepping down, the latest staff changes in a White House operation that has been whipsawed over the last two and a half years by the most turnover of any in modern times. Johnny DeStefano, a counselor to the president, and Shahira Knight, the White House legislative affairs director, separately disclosed they would leave for new opportunities. Neither departure was a surprise, but they deprive Mr. Trump of two top lieutenants as he heads toward his re-election campaign. Mr. DeStefano has been a key member of Mr. Trumps circle since he took office, earning the presidents trust as he was handed more and more responsibility. By the end, Mr. DeStefano was in charge of the Offices of Presidential Personnel, Intergovernmental Affairs, Political Affairs and Public Liaison. Ms. Knight took over as legislative director only 10 months ago, making her the presidents official envoy to Congress. But with gridlock already gripping Capitol Hill and the 2020 campaign likely to aggravate partisan divisions, she chose to leave as the prospects of major legislation dimmed. WASHINGTON President Trump effectively blew up negotiations with Democratic leaders over a plan to rebuild the nations highways, airports and other infrastructure on Tuesday night, insisting that they put the idea aside until Congress approves a new trade pact with Mexico and Canada. The surprise demand came on the eve of a White House meeting scheduled for Wednesday at which Mr. Trump was to host Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California and Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, to discuss a construction package he has targeted at as high as $2 trillion. Before we get to infrastructure, it is my strong view that Congress should first pass the important and popular U.S.M.C.A. trade deal, Mr. Trump wrote in a letter to Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer, using the initials for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Once Congress has passed U.S.M.C.A., he added, we should turn our attention to a bipartisan infrastructure package. The presidents abrupt shift came only three weeks after he agreed with Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer to pursue an ambitious rebuilding plan that, if approved, would be the most significant bipartisan achievement of his presidency. Republicans and Democrats have agreed for years that the countrys bridges, railroads, broadband and other structures are badly fraying and in need of repair and improvement. She was an up and coming research professional, who embodied the characteristics most valuable to our team and was truly committed to improving the health and well-being of Alaska Native people, Andy Teuber, the chairman and president of the health consortium, said in the statement. Mr. Johnson told reporters on Tuesday that weather conditions in the area had been good at the time of Mondays crash, with winds of 10 miles per hour, visibility in excess of 10 miles and a light chop on the water. He said it was way too early to speculate about the cause of the crash. Investigators will spend several days in the area, and would not assume a connection between last weeks crash and the most recent one, he said. I have to stress that each one of these are separate events, they are being investigated separately, we have two separate investigators in charge that are looking at different things, he said. The accidents are different in nature, but obviously Taquan is the common denominator here. Karl S. Cook, the mayor of the Metlakatla Indian Community, expressed his support for Taquan Air in a statement on Tuesday. The losses this organization has faced in the past week have been devastating, he wrote. We stand with Taquan Air, in appreciation of all this company does for South East Alaska in general, and Metlakatla in particular. Last weeks crash killed six people one pilot and five cruise ship passengers when a Taquan Air plane collided in midair with a smaller plane. Ten others were injured. NAW DEH, Afghanistan Just before midterm exams in January, Mohammad Sadiq Halimi, the deputy education director for Farah Province in western Afghanistan, was given an ultimatum by local Taliban leaders. Fire all male teachers at girls schools, Mr. Halimi said he was told. Replace them with women men should not teach girls, the militants said. The government did as it was told. We didnt want to give them an excuse to shut down the schools by force, Mr. Halimi said. But Farahs schools were not spared. Last month, on two successive nights, armed men on motorcycles set fire to two girls schools just outside Farah city, the provincial capital. Both were badly damaged and the teaching materials inside were destroyed, ending classes indefinitely for nearly 1,700 girls. Graffiti on a nearby wall read, Long live the Islamic Emirate the Talibans name for their movement. Last year just before the big date of May 25, I wrote a post trying to analyze GDPR provisions through the lens of the whistleblowing process. At that time there were many questions ranging from how the rules will apply to whistleblowing on a national level to how to balance individuals privacy rights against companies need to pursue investigations. Ambiguity was there, and we hoped that after the GDPR enforcement date the national Data Protection Authorities or DPAs would issue guidelines on the best ways to implement whistleblowing procedures in compliance with the new legislation. It has been a year since that time lets see how much clarity we got so far. Its worth noting up front that the German Data Protection Authority was the only national DPA to issue specific whistleblower-related guidance. Others either incorporated minor comments into the mainstream guidelines or so far didnt address the issue in their communications. Legitimate interest, As we have seen from the enforcement cases that I wrote about last week, having legitimate grounds for data processing is a crucial area for any sector and is particularly relevant in a whistleblowing context. According to the German DPA guidance On Whistleblowing Hotlines the collection of personal data via a whistleblowing hotline is permissible if it relates to the following subject matters: fraud, internal accounting controls, auditing matters, corruption and bribery, banking and financial crimes, insider trading, human rights violations, environmental concerns, and alleged violation of the law against equal treatment. The regulator confirms that the data processing related to these violations is legitimate based on the Article 6 (1)(f) because the processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by the controller. Unfortunately, the regulator didnt indicate whether these arguments could also be applied to other subject matters such as violations of data privacy law, anti-trust law, or harassment cases. As we have seen from the Google case, ensuring transparency in the data processing is key, which is very relevant for whistleblowing facilities. Employees should be made aware of how their data will be processed at the point of contact. This clarity must be provided in the Code of Conduct, whistleblowing policy or other communications including training programs. Rights of the data subject. The German DPA has taken a very particular approach to interpreting Article 14 relating to the personal data that have not been obtained from the data subject. Pursuant to the requirements of the Art. 14 (2)(f), the regulator deems that the identity of the whistleblower must be disclosed to the individuals mentioned in the report, and in particular to the alleged person. At the same time, the guidance further determines there is no statutory justification for the disclosure of a whistleblowers name therefore, whistleblowers consent will be required. As a result, a whistleblower has two options when submitting a report: 1) identify themselves and give consent at the point of contact to the company disclosing their identity to the alleged; or 2) submit the report anonymously. The second option is strongly encouraged by the regulator which interestingly reversed its position on anonymous reporting 180 degrees. In case a whistleblower decides to take the first option, they retain the rights to withdraw the consent at any time pursuant to the Article 7(3), however, given the one-month timescale of notification, this right is unlikely to be exercised in time. Following the criticism of this position which may disproportionately harm a whistleblower, the regulator issued an updated version of the guidance now addressing several exemptions to the whistleblower identity disclosure requirement, including: The obligation can be postponed pursuant to Article 14(5)(b) in case it is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the objectives of the data processing. Once the disclosure cannot compromise the investigation anymore, the disclosure obligation must be fulfilled. The obligation shall not apply where the personal data must remain confidential subject to an obligation of professional secrecy regulated by Union or Member State law, including a statutory obligation of secrecy (Article 14(5)(d)). Pursuant to the Section 29(1) sentence 1 of the German Federal Data Protection Act, the obligation shall not apply as far as meeting this obligation would disclose information which by its nature must be kept secret, in particular, because of overriding legitimate interests of a third party. Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA). Under Article 35(1), where a type of processing is likely to result in a high risk to the rights and freedoms of natural persons, the controller has the responsibility to carry out the DPIA. DPIAs are considered important tools for accountability, as they demonstrate that appropriate measures have been taken to ensure compliance with GDPR provisions. Some of the national DPAs (for example, the ones of France and Germany) have specifically stated that whistleblowing facilities represent high risk processing and, therefore, require full DPIAs. At least for this requirement, we are likely to have an identical treatment on Member States level. How the EU-wide Whistleblowing Regulation May Help. On April 16, 2019, the European Parliament voted with an overwhelming majority in favor of the new EU rules to better protect whistleblowers who report breaches of EU law. The EU-wide Whistleblower Protection Directive was first proposed by the European Commission in April 2018. Among other benefits, its introduction is expected to provide important guidance on how to interpret certain GDPR requirements and address some of the difficulties mentioned above, including: Pursuant to Article 4, it would provide for the legitimate grounds for the data processing with the basis of processing laid down by Union law (Article 6(3)(a) GDPR). Pursuant to Article 5, it would resolve the paradox of the right to be forgotten versus a legitimate interest to retain: the obligation to erase the personal data of an individual upon request will not apply when the processing is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation which requires processing by Union or Member State law to which the data controller is subject (Article 17(3)(b) GDPR). The obligation to disclose the identity of a whistleblower to the individuals mentioned in the report may no longer be applicable pursuant to Article 5, there will be a requirement under Union Law to maintain a whistleblowing facility and process the data in a confidential manner (Article 14(5)(c) GDPR). Currently, only ten EU members France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Sweden, and the UK have comprehensive whistleblower protection laws. The new regulation will address the existing fragmentation of whistleblower protection. The directives interaction with GDPR, particularly in relation to data subject rights, may finally resolve most of the ambiguity and help to establish GDPR definitions consistent across all Member States. The latter now have two years to transpose the Directive to national legislation with a due date of May 15, 2021. ____ Vera Cherepanova, FCCA, CIA, MSc (pictured above), has more than 10 years experience as a compliance officer. Shes the founder of Studio Etica, a boutique consultancy that provides advice on corporate ethics and compliance programs to companies around the world. She speaks English, French, Italian, and Russian. She can be contacted here. He did not mention the trade war directly, and Mr. Xi has used the term the new Long March in speeches before to exhort officials, military officials or ordinary citizens to follow his policies. But the visit, broadcast on state-run television on Tuesday, came as tensions flare between the worlds two biggest economies. Among the officials with Mr. Xi was Liu He, his chief economic adviser and top trade negotiator. On Wednesday, Mr. Xi told another audience in Jiangxi that the country must be conscious of the long-term and complex nature of various unfavorable factors at home and abroad, and properly prepare for the various difficult situations. The trade war shows little sign of letting up. In the latest move, the Trump administration is considering placing a Chinese company called Hikvision on a list that would limit its ability to procure American technology like chips and software to meet its needs. The company, which provides equipment for Chinas growing surveillance state, said in a statement on Wednesday that it has never in the past done any business that requires us to violate human rights. At a daily news briefing on Wednesday, Lu Kang, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said, China opposes the U.S. practice of abusing state power and arbitrarily discrediting and suppressing foreign enterprises, including Chinese enterprises. In one of the first gestures hinting at a potential opening salvo, Mr. Xi on Monday visited a rare earths mine in the city of Ganzhou, which some observers saw as an attempt to remind Mr. Trump of the leverage that China has when it comes to certain resources. Rare earths are found in many of the electronics that the world uses every day, and China is the largest source. China has used its control of rare earths to exert pressure before, most notably in 2010 when it halted all exports to Japan for two months over a territorial dispute. WASHINGTON The State Department said on Tuesday that the Syrian government might be renewing its use of chemical weapons, citing a suspected chlorine attack in northwest Syria, and maintaining that any use of such weapons would lead the United States and its allies to respond quickly and appropriately. The Trump administration said the suspected attack took place on Sunday in the Idlib area, the final stronghold of rebels who have tried to topple the government of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria. In the fall, Mr. Assad appeared to be on the verge of ordering an invasion of the area, where millions of civilians live or are seeking safe harbor, before a cease-fire agreement was put into effect between rebel groups and the Syrian government. But since April, the Syrian military, with help from Russian forces, has started an air bombing campaign in Idlib to retake the territory in what is expected to be a slow and bloody campaign. Unfortunately, we continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in northwest Syria on the morning of May 19, 2019, Morgan Ortagus, a State Department spokeswoman, said in a written statement on Tuesday. Thousands of Syrian government documents recovered amid the countrys civil war provide a paper trail showing widespread and systematic human rights violations by its powerful security agencies, according to a Syrian-led organization that analyzed the papers, the Syria Justice and Accountability Center. In a report released Tuesday, the center said the documents reveal the governments own record of practices long described by numerous ordinary Syrians, including sweeping arrests for nonviolent dissent, the detention of women and children, the imprisonment of relatives of wanted people, the ordering of military attacks without apparent regard for the danger to civilians, and the harassment of the Kurdish minority. The documents bolster reporting by The New York Times and others on the sprawling network of torture prisons where at least 14,000 people have died and nearly 128,000 remain imprisoned or unaccounted for. They provide an additional glimpse of the broad array of offenses for which the Syrian security agencies made arrests, such as attending a protest (or simply being rumored to be planning to attend one), spitting near a statue of the former president, or making a critical remark at a dinner party. While such practices are familiar to many Syrians, the centers executive director, Mohammad Al Abdallah, called the report the first broad, public analysis of official government documents that expose clear patterns of widespread, systematic human rights violations and show that security agencies operate above the law. But, Ms. Cohen said, Its important not to read history backwards. We must keep in mind that nobody knew how it would end, she said, so for a long time, people thought, as bad as it is that we have to wear Jewish stars, we might go on with daily life. But, she added, Once Jews were being rounded up, you didnt want to be photographed because that would be a death sentence. Only four witness photographs are known to exist of the Nazi extermination camps, and they were taken in August 1944 at Auschwitz-Birkenau, most probably by a Greek prisoner, Alberto Errera, who was later killed by a guard. The negatives were smuggled out of the camp in a tube of toothpaste. No one knows how Mr. Errera got the camera, and the images are blurry, shot hastily at an angle. They show naked women and burning piles of dead bodies. A controversy erupted in the Dutch news media about the images, after Emile Schrijver, the general director of the organization that runs the National Holocaust Museum and other Jewish cultural sites in Amsterdam, decided that the photographs would not be included in the show , an exclusion that Mr. Kok and Mr. Somers, the NIOD researchers , opposed. Mr. Schrijver said in an interview that the photographs did not fit in an exhibition focused on the persecution of Dutch Jews, because the subjects were known to be from Hungary. Three of the four photographs are also already on display across the street at the Hollandsche Schouwburg, a Holocaust memorial, where they are part of a larger exhibit that explores brutal, humiliating or otherwise difficult imagery of the mass extermination. If we are going to show images like these, the context has to be 100 percent historically correct, Mr. Schrijver said. Were not afraid to show them, but we feel we show them in the context that we believe is necessary, which also contains a discussion on how to deal with them. How did this get started? I had been in conversation with Aperture for a while about doing something, and we came around to this idea of Orlando. Curating is new for you, yes? I curated an exhibition of experimental film at the ICA London a long time ago. Ive also curated film festivals quite regularly. But nothing on the walls until this. Discussions of gender are so prevalent now, more so than when you did the film Orlando. Did that naturally lead you back to this story? I think thats the Trojan horse of Orlando-ness both the film, but more important the book is that its all about gender-bending. And it really isnt. So whats it about? Its about inevitable, perpetual change being the only thing that we can rely on, and its about identity being positively negligible. Its a properly revolutionary book. I propose hypothetically that had Virginia Woolf continued this book for another thousand pages, Orlando could easily have turned into a mouse. And yet the story is so poignant in the way it deals with the male-to-female transformation:our protagonist waking up one day as a woman and carrying on. The judge rejected the White House claim that Congress does not have legitimate oversight, pointing to precedents involving James Buchanan, Warren G. Harding, Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton. Or, as history will remember them, bizarro Mount Rushmore. STEPHEN COLBERT In what late-night hosts saw as a delightful irony, Trumps appeal of the decision (That right there is the first time a sentence has included both the phrases Donald Trump and appealing, James Corden joked) could be heard by Judge Merrick Garland, whose Supreme Court nomination by President Barack Obama was blockaded by Senate Republicans. [Imitating Trump] You cant trust an Obama-appointed judge. Take it from me, a Putin-appointed president. STEPHEN COLBERT Its like if Donald and Melania renewed their vows, and the minister was Stormy Daniels. JIMMY KIMMEL Now for the first time since 2016, he can wake up and say, Its a good day to be Merrick Garland. STEPHEN COLBERT If You Give a Congressman a Cookie Ben Carson, the secretary of housing and urban development, appeared before Congress on Tuesday, where he was asked a question about REOs, an acronym for real-estate-owned properties. Carson, however, did not understand the meaning, asking the questioner, Representative Katie Porter of California, if she had meant Oreos. She lost him as soon as he started thinking about cookies. JIMMY KIMMEL I know a lot of people say this hearing proves Ben Carson doesnt know anything about his job, but in his defense, no creature is at its best after hibernation. TREVOR NOAH [Imitating Carson] Is it a mint Milano? A Do-si-do? A pecan sandie? A snickerdoodle? Help me out. Im not a rocket scientist Im only a brain surgeon. STEPHEN COLBERT Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, Don McGahn, the former White House counsel, ignored a subpoena to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Representative Jerry Nadler of New York, the Democratic chairman of the committee, expressed his irritation by speaking to an empty chair as if it were McGahn, saying, among other things, that our subpoenas are not optional. Stern words, if he didnt direct them to an empty chair. [Imitating Nadler] O.K., Im done with McGahns chair. Now Ive got some serious questions for Donald Trumps La-Z-Boy, by which I mean his son. STEPHEN COLBERT Now, Don McGahn needs to be very careful here. Attorney General William Barr skipped his hearing and look what happened to him: nothing. JAMES CORDEN Trump was so impressed he made the chair secretary of commerce. [Imitating Trump] You did great up there. You didnt give them anything. I like that. Keep up the good work, chair. SETH MEYERS The Punchiest Punchlines (Arthur Edition) Alabama Public Television refused to air an episode of the PBS show Arthur because in the episode, theres a same-sex wedding involving Arthurs teacher Mr. Ratburn and his fiance, Patrick. No word on whether they banned it because the couple is gay or because one is a rat and the other is an aardvark. JIMMY KIMMEL This episode of Arthur was titled, Mr. Ratburn and the Special Someone, but Alabama Public Television changed it to Mr. Ratburn and His Roommate, Patrick, Who Isnt Allowed to Come to Thanksgiving Until After Grandma Dies. STEPHEN COLBERT They do have one point: Kids who watch Arthur are too young to learn about weddings. Well, kids, when two people love each other very much, they make all of their friends fly to Nantucket, but then get on a bus to go to some lilac field to take some pictures. Then they make each other wear full suits and gowns in the middle of summer and get drunk in a barn full of Mason jar lights. STEPHEN COLBERT The Bits Worth Watching Trevor Noah delved into the contentious issue of whether Democratic candidates should appear on Fox News. Whats Streaming A TALE OF TWO KITCHENS (2019) Stream on Netflix. Gabriela Camara, the influential chef whose restaurants include Contramar in Mexico City and Cala in San Francisco, connected disparate parts of Mexico by bringing fresh coastal seafood to the landlocked Mexico City when Contramar opened in 1998. This short documentary, directed by Trisha Ziff, connects the Mexico City and San Francisco restaurants and the cities themselves by showing the day-to-day life in each, and speaking to some of the cooks and other staff who keep both running. RASHOMON (1951) Stream on Kanopy; Rent on Amazon and iTunes. The Japanese actress Machiko Kyo died last week at the age of 95, bringing renewed attention to this breakout thriller from the revered director Akira Kurosawa. Kyo stars as the wife of a dead samurai. The plot presents four contradictory accounts of the circumstances surrounding the killing. When the film was shown at the Venice Film Festival in 1951, it was given the festivals top prize, the Golden Lion. Immediately, the film and its maker became international sensations, the critic Phillip Lopate wrote in The New York Times in 2016. It is easy to see why, Lopate added. THE PLAYERS BALL A Genius, a Con Man, and the Secret History of the Internets Rise By David Kushner In The Players Ball, David Kushners lively re-enactment of the battle to control the web address sex.com, the internet gets the creepy, disturbing origin story that it deserves. Some may prefer to trace the internets rise to the wizards who stayed up late connecting computer centers across the globe or to the bookish Tim Berners-Lee weaving the World Wide Web from his Swiss lab, but the unsavory characters at the heart of The Players Ball are a better fit for today. Stephen Michael Cohen and Gary Kremen spent the better part of the 1990s fighting for custody of sex.com, which raked in as much as $5 million a year in profits by serving as a hub for porn ads and subscriptions. In the process, they proved that with the right stimulus, crowds would flock online and spend freely. As in the American Frontier of the 1800s, the early settlers of the net fought to stake their claim and make their millions, Kushner writes at the start of the book. They established the systems that defined the world to come. But none of this would have been possible without the fuel that made the internet what it is today, love and sex. In other words, once there was money to be made from porn, the trappings of civilization were certain to follow infrastructure investments, legal protections and the like. This comparison between the early internet and the Wild West mythologized as virgin territory waiting to be conquered by visionary men is hardly unique to Kushner. One of the first important digital rights groups, for example, named itself the Electronic Frontier Foundation. But Kushner, who is the author of several books including a history of the video game Grand Theft Auto, leans especially heavily on the tropes of the western, building his story around a white hat (Kremen) and black hat (Cohen). The restrictions would be similar to those placed on Huawei, another Chinese tech giant, which prevent it from purchasing American software and semiconductors without approval from Washington. Background: Using Hikvision technology, China has built what amounts to a police state in the northwestern region of Xinjiang, home to the Uighurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority. Related: President Xi Jinping has urged China to begin a modern long march, invoking a turning point in Communist Party history to suggest that Beijing has abandoned hopes of a trade deal in the near term. Democratic calls for impeachment grow Speaker Nancy Pelosi is to update lawmakers today on the Houses investigations of President Trump. More liberal Democrats have called for an impeachment inquiry, but Ms. Pelosi has repeatedly warned against the divisiveness of such a strategy. The executive in charge of Boeings troubled 787 Dreamliner factory in North Charleston, S.C., is leaving the company, according to an internal company memo reviewed by The New York Times on Wednesday. The departure of the executive, David Carbon, the vice president for 787 operations at Boeing South Carolina since 2016, comes about a month after The Times published an article detailing shoddy production practices and weak oversight at the factory. No full-time successor to Mr. Carbon, who plans to return to his native Australia, was announced. The Boeing memo, written by Brad Zaback, the head of the companys 787 program, said Mr. Carbon was leaving to care for his family. The Timess article detailed a decade of problems at the South Carolina plant that continue to plague the factory. Debris was often left on finished jets, planes were badly damaged during the manufacturing process, and employees who tried to register complaints were frequently sidelined. Hunters.AI, a Tel Aviv, Israel-based autonomous threat hunting company, raised $5.4M in seed funding. The round was led by YL Ventures and Blumberg Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand operations and its development efforts. Led by CEO Uri May and CTO Tomer Kazaz and co-founded and incubated by Chairman Ehud Schneorson, Yodfat Harel Buchris and Idan Nurick, Hunters.AI provides a threat response and fight cybercrime platform for organizations to detect, identify and remediate sophisticated cyberattacks targeting their cloud, hybrid and enterprise environments. The companys autonomous hunting solution finds the breadcrumbs that are always left behind by attackers, but that remain hidden to security defenses. It then connects those digital traces to quickly identify and isolate attacks, and provide high fidelity and contextual attack stories, accelerating cyber threat detection and response time. Hunters solution deployment does not require introducing new agents or scanners into the environment nor duplicating existing data. The solution is currently in limited availability to qualified customers. General availability will be available in late 2019. FinSMEs 22/05/2019 Good Wednesday morning. (Want this by email? Sign up here.) Qualcomm loses a big antitrust case The company suppressed competition in the smartphone chip market and then charged excessive licensing fees, a federal judge has ruled. Qualcomms licensing practices have strangled competition in key parts of the modem chip market, the judge, Lucy Koh of the U.S. District Court in San Jose, wrote. That harmed rivals, O.E.M.s, and end consumers in the process, she added. The company must now strike new licensing agreements with its customers that are free from onerous fees for the use of its patents. Qualcomm must also be monitored for the next seven years to ensure that it complies with the remedies. Qualcomm is considered the industry leader in wireless modem chips, an ever-more-important position as the race to develop next-generation 5G wireless networks accelerates. The returns filed in New York, the presidents home state and site of his Trump Tower headquarters in Manhattan are likely to contain much of the same information as his federal tax returns, which the Trump administration has refused to hand over to Congress. The Legislatures actions put the state in a bit of uncharted legal territory; Mr. Trump has said that he is ready to take the fight over his federal tax returns to the Supreme Court, and it seems likely that he would seek to contest New Yorks maneuver. Even so, among the Democrats who have long been frustrated over the presidents refusal to release his returns, the Legislatures action was cast as a victory for states rights and the often-unsung power of their lawmakers. Its a matter of New Yorks prerogative, said Senator Brad Hoylman, the Manhattan Democrat who sponsored the bill in his chamber. We have a unique responsibility and role in this constitutional standoff. In Washington, two congressional committees issued subpoenas last month to Deutsche Bank, the presidents primary lender over the last two decades, and Capital One, where Mr. Trump keeps some of his money. The subpoenas sought decades of personal and corporate financial records, including any documents related to possible suspicious activities detected in Mr. Trumps personal and business accounts. Mr. Trump, his company and his three eldest children Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka filed a lawsuit on April 29 to block Deutsche Bank and Capital One from complying with the subpoenas. Saudi Arabia is planning to buy large volumes of American natural gas for the first time, signaling a new strategy for its state-owned company Saudi Aramco and the growing importance of the United States as an energy exporter. Saudi Aramco has reached a preliminary agreement with Sempra Energy to buy five million metric tons of liquefied natural gas a year for 20 years, the companies said on Wednesday. The gas will be shipped from an export terminal that Sempra plans to build in Port Arthur, Tex. Aramco intends to buy a 25 percent equity stake in that terminal as part of its deal with Sempra. The Saudi energy giant has previously indicated that it wants to make large investments in the United States, where the shale-drilling boom has produced a glut of cheap natural gas over the last decade. The United States has become one of the major exporters of natural gas in recent years, along with Qatar, Australia and Russia. Gas is increasingly replacing coal as a fuel for power plants around the world. Qatar Petroleum, a competitor of Saudi Aramcos, said in February that it was investing in a gas export terminal in Texas with Exxon Mobil. LONDON Googles decision to cut off support to Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications giant blacklisted by the Trump administration, is rippling across the globe as companies suspend ties to the handset maker. In Britain, where Huawei is one of the most popular cellphone brands, two of the countrys biggest mobile networks, EE and Vodafone, announced that they would stop offering Huawei phones to 5G customers as a result of Googles decision. In Japan, the three largest cellphone companies also said they were reconsidering plans to sell a new series of Huawei smartphones. And ARM, a chip maker based in Britain, was reportedly suspending its business with Huawei because some of its designs contained technology from the United States, according to documents seen by the BBC. ARM said on Wednesday that it was complying with all of the latest regulations set forth by the U.S. government and declined to comment any further. FRANKFURT The chlorinated chickens are back. Thats a bad sign for free trade. The birds are being used in a food fight by populists in Europe who are poised to make significant gains in parliamentary elections this week. Such a shift in the makeup of the European Parliament would complicate the simmering trade conflict between the United States and Europe. Chicken meat from the United States is routinely sterilized using a chlorinated wash, a method forbidden in the European Union. The American birds are banned and often cited, with some dread, as an all-purpose justification for putting up barriers to American products. The Trump administration has tried to put the chickens back on the negotiating table, notably with Britain as it prepares to leave the European Union. European candidates, both on the left and on the right, have seized the cluckers as a way to dramatize the stakes in the balloting that runs from Thursday to Sunday. Among the first candidates to bring up chickens was Yanis Varoufakis, a left-wing former finance minister of Greece who is running for a seat in Brussels. During an appearance in March, Mr. Varoufakis vowed to block multinational corporations that will want to introduce chlorinated chickens in Europe. Want climate news in your inbox? Sign up here for Climate Fwd:, our email newsletter. Rogue emissions of a gas that harms the ozone layer are coming from eastern China, primarily from two heavily industrialized provinces, an international team of researchers said Wednesday. The findings confirm what many scientists, environmental groups and policymakers had suspected after an initial study a year ago reported new global emissions of the gas, CFC-11, but could only locate the source generally as East Asia. The new research will add to international pressure on the Chinese government to curtail the illegal use of CFC-11. It also confirms the results of several investigations, including one by The New York Times, which found evidence that factories in Shandong, one of the provinces specified in the study, were still making or using the gas to manufacture foam insulation. CFC-11 is one of a class of compounds called chlorofluorocarbons that destroy atmospheric ozone. They are also potent greenhouse gases that contribute to atmospheric warming. It is a truth universally acknowledged or at least, much discussed on social media that a woman who works in an office is in want of a sweater. Office air conditioning is often set at a temperature that women find chilly; the resulting water-cooler debate has been called the battle of the thermostat. One study even suggested that because women have slower metabolic rates, the formula used to set temperatures in workplaces, which was developed decades ago based on the comfort of men, may overestimate womens body heat production by 35 percent. A question that hasnt been asked much, however, is whether temperature affects the productivity of men and women differently. In a study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One, researchers reported that at colder temperatures, men scored higher than women on verbal and math tests. But as a room grew warmer, womens scores rose significantly. The findings require further confirmation under an assortment of conditions. But they add to a scientific rethinking of the spaces where we work and study, which sometimes have been devised with a limited set of physical requirements in mind. [Like the Science Times page on Facebook. | Sign up for the Science Times newsletter.] The researchers asked more than 500 college students to take tests for an hour in rooms with temperatures between 61 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The students performed as many simple math problems (without the help of a calculator) as possible, and rearranged a set of letters into as many words as they could, within a time limit. They also were asked to solve a series of tricky logic problems. That realization came at a time when advances in digital technology and platforms spurred both anxiety and layoffs among photojournalists as well as a drop in freelance editorial assignments. James Estrin envisioned an online destination that would highlight excellent photography and serious discussion of visual journalism, a mission that over the years expanded to include debates on important issues of accuracy, ethics and representation. After some research, James suggested to Michele McNally, then The Timess director of photography, the idea of a photo blog. There were few such blogs at the time, and none with The Timess reputation or reach. She agreed, though she also realized it could be too much for one person to take on. Thats when David W. Dunlap, then a Metro reporter with a keen interest in photography, came on board as the incipient blogs co-editor. Josh Haner, who besides being a fine photographer he would go on to win a Pulitzer Prize in 2014 was conversant in the language of coders and designers, also joined the team as co-editor, setting up a simple WordPress blog for a one-week trial run. Michele wasnt kidding about the amount of work involved. Lens took a year to get up and running there were so many people involved in the planning that it took about four months to agree upon on a name. We settled on Lens, a name that had been previously used for a weekly photographic column from 2005 to 2008. Originated by Anne Cronin, then a metro editor, it featured projects by staff as well as freelance photographers. Lens finally went live five days a week with a sleek design featuring a dark background, slide shows and white type. The first post declared that Lens would showcase the work of Times photographers and also highlight the best images by photographers from other publications, wire services and agencies from around the web: In time, we hope it will also become the center of a community of readers who are not just interested in photojournalism in the broadest sense of visually chronicling the world around us but actively involved in some way or other, whether professionally or informally. LEONARDO DICAPRIO We had a screening of a multitude of B films that I had never heard of, a lot of 1960s television with actors like Ralph Meeker and Ty Hardin. These guys could have been McQueen-esque, but didnt make the transition from black and white television, especially westerns, to career-makers like The Great Escape. So it was almost like a love story to them. Did they get that one opportunity? No, that may have passed them by. So lets start talking about your character, what he might have been, what hes struggling with as a working-class guy in the industry who has been playing the heavy from television show to television show. What that does to his psyche and his confidence? PITT I [remember] a lot of that television. In fact [Tarantino] reminded me of much of it that I had forgotten. We did watch Billy Jack, some Tom Laughlin, just for fun. We were pretty much weaned on the same television and film. We talked a lot about the stuntman-actor relationship. I got to meet Bud Ekins, who was Steve McQueens. This was a legendary relationship. He did the jump for The Great Escape, got Steve McQueen into motorcycles. And, then, Burt Reynolds and Hal Needham. We got to talk to Burt. Originally he was going to play George Spahn. We had rehearsals before he passed. I was surprised what a joy that was and how giving he was, and I was really moved by it. But then I realized that so much of my childhood was watching Burt Reynolds he was the biggest thing around in the late 1970s. DARGIS Did you two hang out so you could develop your flow together? DICAPRIO You come to Hollywood and youre basically isolated and left to your own devices. [Rick and Cliff] rely on this friendship for everything. We immediately fell into those shoes. We understood that relationship [laughs] so quickly that on the first day, we were those guys. PITT It was pretty automatic. We both came on the scene around the same time, we have crossed paths many times, we have the same reference points. Ive always felt that you dont understand the deal youre making when suddenly youre that lone gazelle on the plain and the herds gone, so to speak. And, you know, my friend here [he gestures toward DiCaprio] has been the same. So theres automatic comfort in having experienced the same thing in that way. Thats not a complaint in any way, I say that merely as fact. We have mutual respect and I know when an actor elevates a scene, so we carry that respect. So Ms. Liff did what many others have: she turned to DNA testing and the internet. She found answers, some happy and others heartbreaking, but the information was always revelatory. Through the genetic testing company 23andMe, which says it has sold 10 million kits and that 95 percent of buyers have connected with relatives who are in its database, Ms. Liff found her parents. Ms. Liff connected with a biological cousin who linked her with her biological father, Keith Cruz . Mr. Cruz, 52, was from the Bensonhurst neighborhood in Brooklyn but had moved to Long Island where he lived with his wife and three children. In February, Ms. Liff called Mr. Cruz after rehearsing with her boyfriend the various scenarios the conversation could take. Mr. Cruz knew why Ms. Liff would be calling, but he could still not believe what she was telling him. He was so nervous to be speaking with the daughter he had never met, that he almost fell down a flight of stairs. But within moments, he said, It was like I had spent every day with her I felt instantly at ease. They arranged to meet recently near Ms. Liffs apartment, at Toms Restaurant, the diner of Seinfeld fame. He showed up with flowers, grabbed a booth near a window and held his breath as he watched her approach. My heart stopped, recalled Mr. Cruz, a trash collector. This 22-year-old girl my daughter who Id never seen before was crossing the street. My heart was beating in my chest like a hammer. For that brief second, time seemed to stop. Jiuye Supply Chain Management, a Shangai, China-based cold chain service provider, closed a Series C+ funding round of undisclosed amount. The round was led by CMH Growth Fund. The company intends to use the funds for the development of the cold chain logistics platform and Freshcn its global fresh food direct services platform. Founded in 2014 and led by Zhang Bing, CEO, Jiuye SCM provides companies in the agriculture, e-commerce, and food processing industries with a cloud based cold-chain fresh service platform to connect in real-time, making visual mobilization and collaboration possible. The companys B2B shipping platform is powered by its 30 cloud warehouses, complete with a transportation monitoring system which uses GPS and temperature sensing technologies to achieve traceability and temperature visualization for smart cold storage and delivery. With its managed online network, a fleet of 2,000 vehicles and more than 1,500 established routes, Jiuye can distribute to thousands of retailers nationally in 24 hours across on 502 routes nationwide. FinSMEs 22/05/2019 Lying on the pavement of a parking lot, Cyprian Lukes face reddened as an officers hand clamped his throat. Put your hands behind your back! the officer shouted, then punched Mr. Luke twice in the temple. By the time Mr. Luke, 19, was dragged to a police cruiser, his mouth and face were bloody and raw. Footage of the Sunday incident in Dover, N.J., was the latest online posting to prompt cries of police brutality and racism, exposing a rift in another community that feels terrorized by its own authorities. A great white shark named Cabot who is tagged with an electronic tracker and has a Twitter feed that makes him appear friendly was detected in Long Island Sound this week. But researchers now say that their initial detection may have been wrong, raising questions about the exact location of Cabot and other sharks just as New Yorkers are heading into the water. [Read more about the shark that was (or wasnt) in Long Island Sound.] Are there sharks in the waters off New York? In the East River, no. In the Atlantic Ocean, of course. In Long Island Sound possibly? The research organization Ocearch said Cabot was detected in the waters off Greenwich, Conn., yesterday morning. But that night, he was detected in Great South Bay, between Jones Beach and Fire Island. Maybe Cabot swam an intricate route past New Rochelle, down the East River, hooked a sharp left and bypassed most of the South Shore or Ocearchs data was inaccurate. (Later data appeared to show Cabot well east of Montauk, as if in a hurry to get to Nantucket. ) In the past, where have sharks been detected? In September 2015, a six-foot hammerhead shark named Elias was detected south of East Hampton on Long Island. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] So many rats regularly lurk on a sidewalk in Brooklyn that it is the humans who avoid the rats, not the other way around. Not even cars are safe: Rats have chewed clean through engine wires. A Manhattan avenue lined with trendy restaurants has become a destination for foodies and rats who help themselves to their leftovers. Tenants at a public housing complex in the South Bronx worry about tripping over rats that routinely run over their feet. New York has always been forced to coexist with the four-legged vermin, but the infestation has expanded exponentially in recent years, spreading to just about every corner of the city. Im a former Marine so Im not going to be squeamish, but this is bad, said Pablo Herrera, a 58-year-old mechanic who has counted up to 30 rats while walking on his block in Prospect Heights, just around the corner from the stately Brooklyn Museum. We are proud of all the endorsements we have gotten, but this is a big deal, Ms. Caban, who previously worked as a public defender, said. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a progressive champion and shes been an inspiration for me. It shows that we are building a national, grass-roots progressive movement. Ms. Ocasio-Cortezs endorsement was one of the most sought after among progressive candidates in the race to replace the longtime district attorney, Richard A. Brown, who died May 4 from complications of Parkinsons disease. Mr. Brown had previously announced he would resign on June 1, the 28th anniversary of his taking the office. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, who has more than 4 million followers on Twitter, is expected to send an email to her supporters this week announcing her endorsement and asking them to donate to Ms. Caban. Instead of criminalizing poverty, were going to dedicate resources toward prosecuting abusive landlords, Ms. Ocasio-Cortez said. Instead of targeting people who use marijuana, we can go after the drug companies that took advantage of working-class folks for profit. She added: We can end broken-windows policing and rebuild the relationship between our communities, and the justice system thats supposed to work for us. We can end cash bail, so that the rich and poor are held equal in the eyes of the law. Ms. Caban could not be more ideologically different than Mr. Brown. She is in favor of closing Rikers Island, but she does not support the plan to build new borough-based jails. She is in favor of ending the prosecution of drug use and supports fully decriminalizing prostitution, including for the clients. She is also a proponent of ending cash bail for all crimes. Ms. Caban has received endorsements from the Democratic Socialists of America, VOCAL-NY Action Fund, Real Justice PAC and the Working Families Party, among others. [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] ALBANY New York State lawmakers on Wednesday gave their final approval to a bill that would clear a path for Congress to obtain President Trumps state tax returns, injecting another element into a tortuous battle over the presidents refusal to release his taxes. The bill, which is expected to be signed by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, a third-term Democrat and regular critic of Mr. Trumps policies and behavior, will authorize state tax officials to release the presidents state returns to any one of three congressional committees. The returns filed in New York, the presidents home state and business headquarters would likely contain much of the same information as the contested federal returns, though it remained unclear whether those congressional committees would use such new power in their investigations. The Legislatures actions put the state in a bit of uncharted legal territory; Mr. Trump has said that he is ready to take the fight over his federal tax returns to the Supreme Court, and it seems likely that he would seek to contest New Yorks maneuver. Larry J. Hanley, a transit workers leader who championed union democracy and denounced organized crimes infiltration of the labor movement, died on May 7 in Columbia, Md. He was 62. His daughter, Monica Hanley, said the cause was pulmonary disease. Mr. Hanley, a former bus driver in Brooklyn and Staten Island and labor militant, won the presidency of the 200,000-member Amalgamated Transit Union in 2010 after challenging the incumbents lax oversight of its largest New York City local, which represented 15,000 school bus drivers. He pressed the international to more aggressively attack the problem of corruption in the Queens local, and its failure to do so was one reason he ended up running for international president, said Joshua B. Freeman, a distinguished professor of history at Queens College and the City University of New York Graduate Center. He also helped move the union to the left, Professor Freeman said. Mr. Hanleys predecessor as international president, Warren S. George, failed to place Local 1181 in receivership in 2005 after its president, Salvatore Battaglia, was charged in a racketeering conspiracy indictment linking him to the Genovese crime family. Mr. George did so in 2006 only after Mr. Battaglia was indicted a second time and was forced to resign as a condition of being granted bail. Louis Osteen, a gregarious chef whose influential South Carolina restaurants helped elevate Southern cuisine to a new respectability in the 1980s and 90s, died on May 19 at his home in Highlands, N.C. He was 77. His wife, Marlene Osteen, said the cause was liver cancer. In 1980, in the coastal vacation town of Pawleys Island, about 70 miles north of Charleston, the Osteens turned what had been a casual sandwich joint into a high-end restaurant, the Pawleys Island Inn, offering local dishes and ingredients; the catch of the day, from nearby waters, might be served over stone-ground grits. In 1989, their Pawleys Island lease expiring, they opened Louiss Charleston Grill in Charleston, putting themselves at the beginning of that citys rise as a culinary destination. That restaurant scene started with the Osteens, the food writer John Egerton told The Atlanta Journal and Constitution in 1996. It used to be that you had to get invited to a private home to have a fine dinner in Charleston. The Osteens took that tradition and made it public. It was another chapter in a dismal saga of Nimbyist urban mismanagement that is crushing American cities. Not-in-my-backyardism is a bipartisan sentiment, but because the largest American cities are populated and run by Democrats many in states under complete Democratic control this sort of nakedly exclusionary urban restrictionism is a particular shame of the left. There are many threads in the story of Americas increasingly unlivable cities. One continuing tragedy is the decimation of local media and the rise of nationalized politics in its place. In America the local problems plaguing cities are systematically sidelined by the structure of the national media and government, in which the presidency, the Senate and the Supreme Court are all constitutionally tilted in favor of places where no one lives. (There are more than twice as many people in my midsize suburban county, Santa Clara, as there are in the entire state of North Dakota, with its two United States senators.) Thats why, aside from Elizabeth Warren who has a plan for housing, as she has a plan for everything Democrats on the 2020 presidential trail rarely mention their ideas for housing affordability, an issue eating American cities alive. I watched Joe Bidens campaign kick off the other day; the only house he mentioned was the White House. Then there is the refusal on the part of wealthy progressives to live by the values they profess to support at the national level. Creating dense, economically and socially diverse urban environments ought to be a paramount goal of progressivism. Cities are the standard geographical unit of the global economy. Dense urban areas are quite literally the real America the cities are where two-thirds of Americans live, and they account for almost all national economic output. Urban areas are the most environmentally friendly way we know of housing lots of people. We cant solve the climate crisis without vastly improving public transportation and increasing urban density. More than that, metropolises are good for the psyche and the soul; density fosters tolerance, diversity, creativity and progress. But today one of the main effects of the law is to make it much harder for doctors and hospitals to share data with researchers. The fees they would have to pay for legal experts, statisticians and the other consultants needed to ensure compliance with the law are just too steep to bother. [Technology has made our lives easier. But it also means that your data is no longer your own. Well examine who is hoarding your information and give you a guide for what you can do about it. Sign up for our limited-run newsletter.] Julia Adler-Milstein, the director of the Center for Clinical Informatics and Improvement Research at the University of California, San Francisco, told me that the costs associated with sharing data for research purposes in a Hipaa-compliant way are beyond what many hospitals can justify. She added, The fines associated with a potential data breach are also a deterrent. These fines are a blunt instrument that dont correspond to varying levels of harm, creating a climate of fear that discourages sharing. Leaking personal information onto the internet has rightfully led to fines in the millions. But so have cases of data loss in which it was unlikely that anyone ever gained access to the lost data, because it was stored on a laptop or on thumb drives that may never have even left the office. This isnt to say that the latter case shouldnt be fined, only that the current amounts are excessive. What can be done? One solution is to increase patient control. The government could create a data repository to which patients could upload their information, and that would give them controls over how much they wanted to share and with whom. The problem with this plan is that it is unlikely many would bother to use the platform . We could offer an incentive by allowing private companies to purchase the data from patients, but millions of people would need to participate. The fact that Chinese companies are already getting hundreds of thousands of records cheaply compounds the problem: The price of an A.I. cancer scanner from an American company that paid millions for its data would risk being undercut by a low-cost Chinese competitor. A more pragmatic alternative would be to ease some of Hipaas more onerous requirements and think more deeply about when we need more privacy and when we could live with less. Exit polls are predicting a significant win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India when final results are announced on Thursday. Thats not only good news for Mr. Modi; its also good news for his country. While his bold economic policies generated a blizzard of controversy, I came away from a recent trip to India more optimistic about the prospects for India and its 1.3 billion people. For that, much credit goes to Mr. Modi. Elected in 2014 on a platform of aggressive change, he has delivered on important reforms to modernize Indias hidebound economy. Perhaps the most important challenge that Mr. Modi had to address was lagging productivity. In part, thats due to the countrys slowness to urbanize. Mumbai may be wildly overcrowded, but Indias overall urbanization rate is only 34 percent, compared with Chinas 59 percent. And its also a consequence of poor infrastructure and the estimated 81 percent of Indians who work in the informal economy. At first glance, some of Mr. Modis reforms may seem small. He replaced a portion of a complex tax system with a kind of national sales tax. The change is forcing businesses operating in the informal sector to regularize and this is important begin to pay taxes. (Indias taxes as a share of the size of the economy are among the lowest in the world.) Locana, Inc., a San Diego, CA-based RNA-targeting gene therapy company, closed a $55m Series A financing. The round was led by ARCH Venture Partners with participation from Temasek and Lightstone Ventures and new investors UCB Ventures and GV (formerly Google Ventures). The company intends to use the funds to advance and expand its pipeline of RNA-targeting gene therapy programs, further extend capabilities of the Locana platform technology, and assemble a premier leadership team. Founded in 2016 and led by Jeffrey M. Ostrove, Ph.D., chief executive officer, Locana is an RNA-targeting gene therapy company with a platform technology to address a wide spectrum of human genetic diseases. The company has advanced a modular RNA targeting-effector approach to optimize and advance therapeutic candidates that is distinct from DNA-targeted approaches and nucleic acid-based RNA targeting. Locana intends to build a portfolio of therapies that address the root cause of genetic diseases driven by dysfunctional RNA behavior. The companys technology was developed in the laboratory of Professor Eugene (Gene) Yeo, Ph.D. by Dr. Yeo and Locana Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder David Nelles, Ph.D. and was licensed from UC San Diego. Ranjan Batra, Ph.D., co-developer of the Locana platform, is vice president of research and development. FinSMEs 22/05/2019 Some of them seemed to have partnered with plants that also left fossils behind in the rocks. Others appeared to have specialized in breaking down dead plant matter. Until now, those fossils have been the oldest clear evidence of fungi. Many scientists considered them a snapshot of the early conquest of land. Fungi and plants came ashore together as ecological partners, it seemed. Together, they transformed barren lands into a soil-carpeted habitat. Recently, though, some researchers have grown dissatisfied with this scenario. By comparing the DNA of different species, scientists have drawn an evolutionary tree of fungi. If the Scottish fossils were among the earliest members of the fungal kingdom, youd expect that living fungi would share a common ancestor not much before 407 million years. But thats not what the DNA trees tell us. The genes of living fungi indicate that their common ancestor lived over a billion years ago. Could there be a 600-million-year gap in the fossil record? In recent years, scientists have searched for fungi in rocks older than those in Scotland, and theyve found a few microscopic fossils that looked like they might be fungi. But they were too ambiguous to convince many experts. The new fossils came to light during a geological expedition to the barren fringes of the Canadian Arctic. In 2014, Robert Rainbird, a research scientist at the Geological Survey of Canada, noticed black flecks on a piece of shale. He knew that sometimes flecks like these turn out to be microscopic fossils. I thought, I should grab some of this stuff, because it looks juicy, he said. In addition, the history of space projects, big and small, is that they are almost never completed on time. These factors seem to make it unlikely that astronauts will set foot on the moon during a second term of Mr. Trumps presidency, if he is re-elected. Still, pursuing this goal could help speed the status quo at NASA. That might make it more likely the agency could make the original 2028 timetable, or even move it up a year or two. [Sign up to get reminders for space and astronomy events on your calendar.] Vice President Mike Pence has been leading the administrations space policy. As chairman of the National Space Council, which coordinates off-planet issues among federal agencies, he has spoken of the moon mission in sweeping and urgent language. Failure to achieve our goal to return an American astronaut to the moon in the next five years is not an option, he said in March when announcing the 2024 deadline This was a swerve for NASA. In mid-March, the Trump administrations budget request to Congress still followed a timeline for reaching the moon in 2028. But a week later, Mr. Pence told Mr. Bridenstine that the White House wanted to accelerate the moon landing to 2024, setting off a rush of revisions, Mr. Bridenstine said. NASA officials have not disclosed the total budget for a 2024 moon landing, only that they expect the cost to rise for at least the next couple years. Summer camp : Its not just for campfires, crushes on counselors and crying alone in a bunk bed. Summer camp is also for capitalism. Or at least it is for a growing number of children whose parents enroll them in workshops and sleep-away trips that focus on stimulating the entrepreneurial mind-set, enlightening youth about the importance of innovation, and imbuing the next generation with an appreciation for surplus value. Because really, what could be more fun? Biznovator, a company in South Florida, offers a slew of camps, academies and programs that are designed to teach students about how to be businesspeople and innovators (biznovators!). That includes the weeklong Kamp for Kids, which this summer will be held at the Divine Savior Academy, in Doral, Fla. There, children as young as 8 will learn how to monetize their hobbies, interview local corporate executives, and shoot YouTube commercials for their prospective businesses. It also includes the more advanced Connect Camp, for preteens and high schoolers, which is typically run at Florida International University. Campers get tours of places like a Starbucks corporate office or the Federal Reserve, and are tasked with analyzing problems facing various companies and industries. Days are broken up with stints on a ropes course and trust exercises, and students are encouraged to network during lunch, which is included in the cost of tuition. (Suggested topics of discussion, according to a schedule on the camps website, include The Richest Kids in America and The Time is Now: Harnessing the power of this moment and taking action today!) At the Laurel Foundations summer camp in California, kids swim, sail, hike and do crafts. They may also opt to take a Trans 101 workshop, a transgender history course and a transgender rights class. All of the campers in the program, which started in 2017, are transgender or gender nonconforming. At many traditional summer camps, its all fun and games until campers gather in their cabins and realize that one of them is not quite like the others. To cater to these kids, there are many new camps, including gender-fluid and L.G.B.T.Q. sleep-aways. Its helpful for a young person to attend a program where there are other kids like them, said Tom Rosenberg, the president and C.E.O. of the American Camp Association. While many traditional camps may describe themselves as inclusive and tolerant, it can be difficult for L.G.B.T.Q. children to attend when they are required to sleep in gendered cabins or are trying to fit in while pretending to be straight or gender conforming. In Los Angeles, where even houses get their proverbial close-ups as TV or movie locations, a propertys appeal can crest on its IMDb credits alone. But only the Sowden House in the Los Feliz neighborhood can claim film cameos, a pedigreed architect and a history as the possible site of a grisly unsolved murder. Never mind the fact that the exterior entryway resembles a menacing maw, earning it the apt nickname the Jaws house. Designed by 1926 by Lloyd Wright (the son of Frank Lloyd Wright), the Mayan Revival-style mansion most recently appeared in the TNT limited TV series I Am the Night, a fictionalized account of the Black Dahlia murder of an aspiring Hollywood actress, Elizabeth Short, in 1947. Some believe that Ms. Short was murdered and mutilated in the basement of the Sowden House when it was owned by George Hodel, a prominent gynecologist who lived there from 1945 to 1950. Mr. Hodel was known for hosting wild parties in its basement. SEATTLE Amazon said on Wednesday that its shareholders had voted down proposals that would have pushed the company to reconsider its societal impact in two key areas: facial recognition and climate change. The proposals asked Amazon to develop a more comprehensive approach to reducing its carbon footprint and put the brakes on how the company sells surveillance technologies to governments. The companys board had opposed the changes. But the initiatives received support from the two most prominent shareholder advisory firms, which help large, long-term investors decide how to vote. Amazon did not disclose the vote total on Wednesday, but said it would by the end of the week. Activist investors typically bring shareholder proposals. But the climate change initiative had an interesting twist: Amazon employees, paid in part with stock, pushed the plan. The move introduced a new tactic in the growing activism among tech employees. More than 7,500 workers signed a letter supporting the climate change proposal, disclosing their names publicly. It sounded very real, Mr. Tran said in an interview after hanging up the call with Google. It was perfectly human. Google later confirmed, to our disappointment, that the caller had been telling the truth: He was a person working in a call center. The company said that about 25 percent of calls placed through Duplex started with a human, and that about 15 percent of those that began with an automated system had a human intervene at some point. We tested Duplex for several days, calling more than a dozen restaurants, and o ur tests showed a heavy reliance on humans. Among our four successful bookings with Duplex, three were done by people. But when calls were actually placed by Googles artificially intelligent assistant, the bot sounded very much like a real person and was even able to respond to nuanced questions. In other words, Duplex, which Google first showed off last year as a technological marvel using A.I., is still largely operated by humans. While A.I. services like Googles are meant to help us, their part-machine, part-human approach could contribute to a mounting problem: the struggle to decipher the real from the fake, from bogus reviews and online disinformation to bots posing as people. Here are the results of our experiment. Googles A.I. is eerily human, when it works To test Google Duplex, we used a pair of Googles Pixel smartphones, which include the companys virtual assistant by default. (Apples iPhone users can try Duplex by downloading the free Google Assistant app.) At the bottom of the screen, we pressed a button to summon the Google assistant and then said, Book me a dinner reservation. I know whats going to happen. Ill try to go to bed with fear of failure flapping like a fruit bat in my head. Ill sleep for half an hour. The clock will ring at six. Ill wake up in the shower with a stomach full of bricks. So I wont have any breakfast, maybe just a little tea. Like when you have to go and get a colonoscopy, which incidentally isnt half as disconcerting or upsetting as going for a part you know theres no way that youre getting. But anyway, Im heading downtown for the audition, where everything Im dreading will be coming to fruition. And heres whats going to happen. Ill walk in weak with hunger, and theres a dozen girls who look like me but 10 years younger. Ill go into the bathroom and Ill try to vocalize. And Ill be singing minga, minga, minga, minga ming, but Ill be hearing Sandy sucks, she really sucks, she really, really, really blows. And shes old, and shes lame, and then someone calls my name. And heres what happens. Ill walk into the room. The gross fluorescent lighting is inviting as a tomb. Then everybody smiles. Theyll say its good to see you. But all I see is judges and theyll all look like Scalia. And then a little banter as they look me up and down. And somewhere through the fog of insecurity and hate, Ill try to convince them that Im charming and Im clever, and Im fun to have around. But Im starting to unravel. In my head, I hear the gavel guilty. Theyre going to throw the book at me, cause Im guilty of coming in and wasting all their time. Guilty of almost every other showbiz crime, not young enough, not thin enough, not pretty enough, not good enough. We hereby sentence you to a lifetime of waiting tables and debilitating self-loathing. But wait, no, someones asking, so can we hear your voice? I make a lame attempt at humor, do I have a choice? I nod at the pianist. Hes always wearing black. Hes always in a turtleneck with dandruff on his back. No sooner do I get my note and open up my trap, then inevitably some mealy-mouthed assistant directors thumbs all over his iPhone, and I know hes probably tweeting, wow, wow, wow, this girl is crap. Shes a fake, shes a phony, she can never win a Tony. And now Im in a place I know quite well. Ive left the world and Ive entered hell. Im this far away from a fainting spell. But just before I die, I finish a song which I oversell. Somebody says thanks and wishes me well. The next thing I know, Im at Taco Bell, stuffing my face with meat. [laughter] Im trying to take it slowly. Im trying to be my best. Im trying to be more holy, less bitter and depressed. Im reading Eckhart Tolle. He makes a lot of sense. I bought a Buddhist bowl. He says it helps you be less tense. [laughter] That doesnt do a thing for me. I sit there on the floor, and watch a vivid sequence of humiliating incidents from my past go by and think what kind of masochist keeps coming back for more, when she knows whats going to happen because it never doesnt happen, cause it always, always Michael, no! I know whats going to happen. Dont tell me that I dont. And dont say that Ill rise to the occasion, cause I wont. And dont say Ive got talent. And dont say Ive got heart. And dont say that Im clever, because I know Im pretty smart. Im smart enough to know that Im too stupid to admit you cant survive a diet that consists of eating shit. The trick is knowing when its time to pack your bags and say thats it. You know whats going to happen. I know whats going to happen. Heres whats going to happen. I quit! I quit! I quit! [cheering] Jenny Bruso is a 37-year-old, plus-size, queer hiker living in Portland, Ore. She went on her first hike seven years ago after a person she was dating asked her to join. On the 5.8 mile loop trail she felt self-conscious, walking slowly and sweating because she wasnt used to working out. I really didnt know what to do except walk, she said. But I felt something kind of unlock, this feeling of possibility like I was seeing nature for the first time. Ms. Bruso became obsessed with hiking. But the more she hiked, the more she saw that the people on the trails did not resemble her. In 2016, she created an Instagram account, Unlikely Hikers, posting photographs of African-American, gay, transgender and disabled hikers. Within a year she had 8,000 followers and now she has more than 59,000. She also began to organize group hikes several times a month. Ms. Bruso is one of many hikers turning to social media to try to make the outdoors more welcoming and diverse. While Ms. Bruso targets all minorities, other hikers and outdoors groups try to inspire people from specific nationalities, identities or with physical challenges. Many organize real-life events to push their members outside. Outdoor-equipment companies including REI and Merrell are helping to fund or promote these new groups and leaders. But theres nothing about Chokehold that threatens day-to-day safety of inmates or jailers, he said. Chokehold is all about threatening the institution of prison. My book wants to abolish prison, but it wants to do it in the same nonviolent fashion that Martin Luther King took down Jim Crow. I found the ban somewhat ironic, he added, because its kind of supporting the thesis. The ban on his book is similar to those that had been imposed on another book about racism in criminal justice The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander in states including North Carolina and New Jersey. The A.C.L.U. successfully challenged both of those decisions, and last week it wrote a letter to the Arizona Department of Corrections asking officials not to censor Mr. Butlers book. Chokehold was published by the New Press, a Manhattan-based publisher, in 2017. Its title refers to a maneuver that police officers have used to restrain people one that became well known when Eric Garner, 43, died after an officer appeared to use the maneuver on him on Staten Island in 2014. Mr. Butler wrote in the book that black men were disproportionately incarcerated and mistreated because the system was supposed to work that way. Cops routinely hurt and humiliate black people because that is what they are paid to do, he wrote. The police, as policy, treat African-Americans with contempt. He said the solution is not to reform law enforcement, but to rethink the entire structure of the criminal justice system. The book does not pose any danger to people in prisons, Emerson Sykes, a staff attorney with the A.C.L.U., said in an interview on Tuesday. Christopher Velis, founder of Miraki Innovation, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based technology investment and development firm, has launched his third fund to finance and build the next generation of pioneering medical technology (medtech) companies. The $175m Medical Technology Breakthrough Fund will focus on building and supporting portfolio companies, leveraging existing and new academic and research relationships to develop and commercialize novel, market-leading medtech. The portfolio companies will benefit from experience and tools, including experience in oncology, tissue regeneration, infectious disease, imaging and diagnostics, cardiology, trauma and robotic surgery. Miraki translates ideas and research out of labs and builds them into medtech companies. The company works with the worlds leading institutions to license IP and operates its portfolio companies exclusively in its Cambridge, Massachusetts Venture Development Center. This approach has already led to the creations and exits of more than 16 companies. Mirakis Medical Technology Breakthrough Fund will be the third fund started and managed by Velis. One of Velis past successes is Auris Health, a surgical robotics company that was acquired by Johnson & Johnson in February 2019 for $5.75 billion (inclusive of milestone payments). FinSMEs 22/05/2019 The city immediately notified the F.B.I. and took systems offline to keep the ransomware from spreading, but not before it took down voice mail, email, a parking fines database, and a system used to pay water bills, property taxes and vehicle citations. At least 1,500 pending home sales have been delayed, too, according to a letter from a group of congressional lawmakers in Maryland requesting information on the attack from the directors of the F.B.I. and the Secret Service. This week, the city put into place an offline fix to allow the transactions to proceed. What was the threat? A copy of a digital ransom note, obtained by The Baltimore Sun, stated that the city could unlock the seized files for a price: three Bitcoins (nearly $24,000) per system or 13 Bitcoins (about $102,000) for them all. (The price of this decentralized, hard-to-track virtual currency fluctuates wildly. On the day of the attack, the ransom would have cost about $17,000 per system, or less than $75,000 for them all.) We wont talk more, all we know is MONEY! the note said. Baltimore has released little else about the attack, citing a continuing F.B.I. investigation. The agency said it has begun an investigation into his death. The tally of migrant children who have died in federal custody since late 2018 increased to five from four Wednesday evening, after officials confirmed that a 10-year-old girl from El Salvador died in September 2018 in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement. The unidentified girl, whose death was first reported by CBS News, was a medically fragile child with a history of heart problems, according to a statement from Health and Human Services. She underwent surgery in San Antonio, but complications left her in a comatose state, the statement said. She was later transferred to Omaha, Neb., to be closer to her family, and died there on Sept. 29, 2018. Of the children who died in custody in recent months, she was the only one from El Salvador. The other four were from Guatemala. The sixth child who died after being released from custody was also from Guatemala. After Carloss death on Monday, officials at the Centralized Processing Center spent Tuesday checking detainees temperatures, and identified 32 adults and children who appeared to have influenza. Officials declined to say whether the 32 had been exposed to Carlos, saying the agency was still investigating. But they said the ill migrants were given additional medicine, and some were sent to a hospital and later released back into federal custody. Officials have been struggling to house and care for a flood of Central American families, most of whom turn themselves in after crossing the border illegally. Hundreds of migrant families are apprehended daily, and even hourly in some border regions. Agents in South Texas apprehended more than 400 migrants in several groups one recent morning. In the busiest Border Patrol sector the Rio Grande Valley Sector, which includes McAllen the holding capacity of the agencys facilities is 3,363 detained migrants, but more than 8,000 were in custody last week. During the hearing, Mr. Mnuchin said that he was now focused on enhancing the anti-counterfeiting security features of the currency, focusing first on the $10 and $50 bills. Designing new imagery is on the back burner. It is my responsibility now to focus on what is the issue of counterfeiting and the security features, Mr. Mnuchin said. The ultimate decision on the redesign will most likely be another secretary down the road. Replacing Jackson with Tubman was both filled with symbolism and marred by controversy. Tubman was born into slavery, escaped and then returned to the South, where she led other slaves to freedom. She was a Union scout during the Civil War and later advocated womens voting rights. Jackson orchestrated the removal of Native Americans from lands to the east of the Mississippi River and sent them marching west on the so-called Trail of Tears. In 2017, speculation began that Mr. Trump might scrap Mr. Lews plan for the $20 bill when mentions of it were scrubbed from the Treasury Departments website during a redesign. Then, that August, Mr. Mnuchin made clear that Tubmans future on the bill was in doubt. People have been on the bills for a long period of time, he told CNBC. This is something well consider. Right now, weve got a lot more important issues to focus on. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, recently introduced the Harriet Tubman Tribute Act and called on the Treasury Department to offer clarity on the status of the $20 bill. The legislation, if passed, would direct the department to place the likeness of Tubman on $20 Federal Reserve notes printed after Dec. 31, 2020. There is no excuse for the administrations failure to make this redesign a priority, Ms. Shaheen said. Sadly, this delay sends an unmistakable message to women and girls, and communities of color, who were promised theyd see Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. A former tech company executive whos a political newcomer I am not a career politician, as most of you know. Im an entrepreneur. with a devoted internet following. Hello, Im Andrew Yang. And an army of memes. Andrew Yang is running for president. So, who is he? Yang is the son of Taiwanese immigrants and a lawyer by training. But he made his mark as an entrepreneur. He helped build a college test preparation business that was bought by a big company. And it made him a modest fortune. Are you ready to build something? After that, he started an organization that connects college graduates with startups. That job took him across the Midwest and eventually led him to politics. We automated away four million manufacturing jobs in Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and so I was like, why are we not talking about that? So, thats where this all started. So, what are his priorities? Well, hes got a long list. But the one policy thats turning heads: Universal basic income Universal basic income He calls it the Freedom Dividend. Now if youve heard anything about me, youve heard that theres an Asian man running for president who wants to give everyone $1,000 a month. And all of those things are true. Yang says this will ease the pain caused by the robot apocalypse, as more jobs become automated. His internet army, known as the Yang Gang Wheres the money? Wheres the money? We have the money. helped sell the policy with the #SecureTheBag hashtag. But opponents of the plan say its price tag makes it unrealistic. It could cost approximately $2 trillion, roughly half the current federal budget. Some of his other policy proposals? Medicare for all, gun safety and even free marriage counseling for all. The dilemma to Yang as an internet darling? Some of that support is coming from the internets far right, in places like 4chan, Gab and 8chan. Yang has spoken out against it. But theres no doubt its helped him go viral. You know, its been a point of confusion because I dont look much like a white nationalist. So, Ive completely disavowed any of that support. Whats his relationship with President Trump? Well, Yang has positioned himself like this: The opposite of Donald Trump is an Asian guy who likes math. And then theres even an acronym were working with, which is Make America Think. And he hasnt held back. As an entrepreneur, most entrepreneurs feel like Donald Trump gives us all a bad name and hes more of a marketing charlatan than he is a real builder. Yang doesnt seem to be on Trumps radar just yet. But Yang says hes the candidate to beat Trump because hes focused on the economy and boosting unemployment. He believes economic anxiety among some Americans is what got Trump into the White House. We need to evolve to the next form of our economy in order for Americans to have a path forward. So, what are his chances? Yang is still a fringe candidate by conventional standards and polling behind the leading Democratic contenders. Yang Gang 2020. Yang Gang 2020. But in an era where a so-called meme army helped President Trump win, being an online megastar could still count for something. Anita Hill, whose treatment during Justice Clarence Thomass confirmation hearing has become an issue in the 2020 campaign, said she worries that the Democratic women in the race are not being taken seriously as presidential candidates. And I think if we dont take them seriously as presidential candidates, we are not going to hear those voices, she said Tuesday night in an interview. And that would be a tragedy. Ms. Hills testimony in the Thomas hearings and the hostile questioning she faced from an all-white, all-male Senate Judiciary Committee has led to questions this year about former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., who is leading in early polls for the Democratic presidential nomination, and criticisms that he allowed Ms. Hill to be treated poorly as the committees chairman. More than a quarter-century later, Ms. Hill said she finds it really, deeply troubling that several of the female 2020 candidates have been discussed as vice presidential material. Both Senator Kamala Harris of California and Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost the race for Georgia governor last year, have been mentioned as possible running mates for Mr. Biden over the past few months. The Biden campaign team has been adamant that the speculation does not come from them. WASHINGTON For the first time in years, Democratic and Republican lawmakers intent on repealing the authorization of military force passed after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks are expressing hope that they can finally rein in a resolution that has been stretched like elastic to justify open-ended warfare against Islamist militants around the globe. The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday approved a bipartisan amendment that would repeal the 2001 authorization for the use of military force, which provided Congresss blessing to use military force only against nations, groups or individuals responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks. When it was first passed, the enemies targeted were Al Qaeda and its Taliban host in Afghanistan, but since then, presidents of both parties have invoked the war authority to justify military force in many other places. The move is the latest in a yearslong debate over whether to curtail the presidents war powers that has heated up in recent months as lawmakers fret over intractable conflicts. It has taken on new urgency as the administration has escalated tensions with Iran. You cant tell me that we cant debate and pass an authorization or not based on the new realities, the wars that we have been involved in without authorization, said Representative Barbara Lee, Democrat of California and the lead sponsor of the measure. Ms. Lee was the only member who voted against approving the war authorization in 2001. CHICAGO A top Democratic official on Wednesday canceled a planned fund-raiser for an anti-abortion congressman that had prompted an outcry among progressives, raising the question of whether there is room left in the party for lawmakers who oppose abortion at a moment when numerous Republican-controlled states are trying to effectively outlaw the procedure. The decision by Representative Cheri Bustos of Illinois, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, underscored the extent to which support for abortion rights has become a central litmus test for Democrats in the aftermath of President Trumps two appointments to the Supreme Court. And the episode reflected the broader tension in the party between pragmatists who want to pursue a more cautious agenda ahead of the 2020 election and liberals eager to halt what they see as the rights norm-breaking and extremism. Ms. Bustos did not say directly why she was backing out of the planned $1,000-per-person breakfast in Chicago next month for Representative Daniel Lipinski, an Illinois Democrat facing a progressive primary challenger who supports abortion rights. But she left little doubt that her decision was driven by her partys anger over the new abortion laws in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri and elsewhere and rising fears that Roe v. Wade could be in jeopardy. Im proud to have a 100 percent pro-choice voting record and Im deeply alarmed by the rapidly escalating attacks on womens access to reproductive care in several states, Ms. Bustos said in a statement, days after thousands of protesters marched in Chicago and other cities in support of abortion rights. Senator Kirsten Gillibrands presidential campaign on Wednesday introduced a proposal aimed at investing heavily in maternal and child health, adoption and in vitro fertilization, paid family leave and universal prekindergarten. The proposal, which Ms. Gillibrand called the Family Bill of Rights, continued her campaigns focus on women and families. On Tuesday, she was among several Democratic candidates who joined a rally outside the Supreme Court to protest new abortion restrictions that some states had recently adopted. But Ms. Gillibrand, of New York, has struggled to gain traction in the presidential race, barely registering in many Democratic primary polls. She has also lagged in fund-raising. In a statement, Ms. Gillibrand said her new plan, which builds partly on her previous Senate initiatives, will make all families stronger regardless of who you are or what your ZIP code is with a fundamental bill of rights that levels the playing field starting at birth. WASHINGTON The House Intelligence Committee chairman said Wednesday that the Justice Department had agreed to begin honoring a subpoena for intelligence materials related to the special counsels investigation, staving off Democratic action to try to force compliance. The department could begin handing over counterintelligence and foreign intelligence-related documents as soon as this week, the chairman, Representative Adam B. Schiff of California, said Wednesday morning. The action prompted him to cancel a committee meeting scheduled for later in the day at which Democrats had planned to vote on an unspecified enforcement action to increase pressure on the department. But it was unclear if the agreement was a sign of a broader thaw in tensions between the Democratic House and the Trump administration or a limited concession based on the strength of the Intelligence Committees legal case for getting the information. Just a few hours later, President Trump abruptly blew up a meeting with Democratic leaders over infrastructure, citing his rage at Democrats phony investigations and pledging not to work with them on other matters until the inquiries are ended. Mr. Schiffs subpoena is broad, encompassing Robert S. Mueller IIIs full report, its underlying evidence and the intelligence-related materials his investigation produced. But in an effort to find an initial compromise, Mr. Schiff said he would accept documents in 12 narrower categories, though he has not specified publicly what they are. Walmart has said that it is working on strategies to mitigate the pain of the tariffs to keep prices low. A Walmart spokesman said that it was not unusual for the company to be in touch with White House officials. Were viewed by Republican and Democratic administrations as an important bellwether of the economy and the health of the American consumer, he said, so its not uncommon that current and past administrations would reach out reach out to us on important issues like this. Retail analysts suggested that despite such efforts, companies cannot necessarily adjust their business plans as quickly as the trade winds blow. It is not something that can be changed overnight, said Christopher Mandeville, an analyst at Jefferies. Having said that, management has been aware of tariff risk for some time now, where, in circumstances that allow for it, they could shift sourcing to nearby countries in Southeast Asia. Mr. Mnuchin said that his expectation is a lot of this business will be moved from China and that there will be only a small number of items where tariffs are passed on to consumers. While Mr. Mnuchin has privately cautioned against tariffs, on Wednesday he argued that depreciation of Chinas currency could blunt some of the effects of the tariffs by making Chinese products cheaper to buy. He also said that it was yet not certain that the next round of tariffs would be imposed, noting that Mr. Trump and President Xi Jinping of China will most likely meet at the G-20 summit meeting next month in Japan. However, Mr. Mnuchin was far less optimistic about a deal than he was just a month ago. We were beginning to send out the date for the two presidents to meet and have a signing ceremony, he said. Unfortunately, China has taken a big step backward. Modsy, a San Francisco, CA-based online interior design service, closed a $37M series C funding round. The round was led by TCV, with participation from existing investors Norwest Venture Partners, Advance Venture Partners (AVP), Comcast Ventures and others. In conjunction with the round, TCVs Executive Vice President Tina Hoang-To has joined Modsys board alongside Shanna Tellerman, Courtney Robinson, Partner at Advance Venture Partners and Jeff Crowe, Managing Partner at Norwest Venture Partners. The company intends to use the funds to: invest in 3D automation, expand its retail marketplace, and enhance its design and concierge shopping services. Led by Shanna Tellerman, Founder and CEO, Sam MacDonnell, Chief Technology Officer, Meredith Dunn, Chief Operating Officer, and Mustafa Nafar, VP of Finance, Modsy is an online interior design service that delivers highly realistic 3D designs of an exact room filled with shoppable pieces of furniture from top brands users can virtually try on products and designs before buying. The service provides unlimited revisions to designs through its tools or by working directly with designers. After finalizing a design, Modsy gives customers access to exclusive discounts on their aggregated cart that pay back the initial design fee. FinSMEs 21/05/2019 The governors office, Mr. Mercer said, was on an island, and aides prepared three options: a denial, an admission and a condemnation of the photo coupled with a pledge to investigate it. Aides discarded the third choice, Mr. Mercer recalled, because you cant equivocate whether you were in the picture or not. The group collectively opted for a statement in which Mr. Northam would effectively admit to appearing in the photograph. Aides drafted the statement, which Mr. Northam reviewed and approved. The statement in which Mr. Northam said he was deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now contradicted what Mr. Northam was telling his staff, according to the investigators. But a panic, Mr. Mercer said, had seized the governors office. I wanted to take responsibility for a picture being on my yearbook page and I hate to say this because Ive been in the Army and taken care of dying children but I was shocked, the governor said, according to the report. It hit me like a ton of bricks. I didnt think through it. As hours passed, investigators said, Mr. Northam became more confident that he was not in the photograph. It was also becoming clear that Mr. Northams initial statements, one in writing and another on video, would not quell the outrage. The governor scheduled a news conference that would shadow him for months: He denied being in the photograph, he admitted to once darkening his face for a Michael Jackson costume and, at one moment, he seemed poised to demonstrate his dance skills. Mr. Northam and his staff, Mr. Mercer said, underestimated how strong and how quickly there would be demands for his resignation. Within days, though, scandals were enveloping Mr. Fairfax, Mr. Herring and a powerful Republican senator. The governor retreated from public view and re-emerged slowly. He cannot run for re-election in 2021, and in Richmond, people have become increasingly convinced that he will serve hobbled as he might be the balance of his term. Doris stirred a bit over the next few days, her eyes becoming a little more focused. Then something of a miracle happened: Doris began a slow but steady journey back to her old self. Over the next few weeks, her cognition was almost fully restored. She began to feed herself and, with help, use the commode instead of the diapers she hated. As winter gave way to spring, Doris sat in her wheelchair on our backyard deck. Her vision was weak, but she could make out the trees and see birds fluttering about. We had lengthy talks about her life. She was most animated when talking about her childhood. The eldest of four, Doris was born in Poland where she and her mother my grandmother remained while her father came to the United States in search of work and opportunity. They joined him in the United States when Doris was 7. Doris entered the work world right out of high school. She was industrious and ambitious, eventually becoming an executive in a finance company. She never married, pouring herself into her work. When she retired at 91, she looked for volunteer work, becoming a docent at the New York Public Library. Doris and I had formed a friendship years ago, when I became a young adult. Later, our children also developed close relationships with her, admiring her strength of character and feminist perspective that was shaped in the 1940s when she joined her companys exclusively male executive ranks. She inspired us all, recounting how she walked everywhere in New York City: to her job, her volunteer work, the opera at the Met. Now, living with us, Doris was determined to regain her strength and walk independently again. She returned to the exercise regimen she had been doing for years, mostly leg lifts, stretches and self-massages. Soon, Doris was able to raise herself out of her wheelchair and walk with the aid of a walker. She had a disciplined routine, counting her steps and charting her progress. Then she would sit back in her wheelchair and gaze at the trees in the backyard. She giggled when the dog licked her ice cream cone and her face. She delighted in the reawakening of her senses, asking to smell the newly blossoming lilacs. Doriss intellectual curiosity blossomed as well. We sat on the deck and talked every day. When the weather turned cold, our conversations moved indoors. She kept up with politics and her investments. A small circle of relatives who had visited her in New York came to visit her in New Jersey. At one point she looked at Amy and me and said, I never knew life could be so beautiful. After 17 months with us, Doriss cognition again began to fade. I would initiate a discussion about my father her brother with whom she always had a special bond. He had passed away 15 years earlier. She stared at me blankly, conceding she did not know who I was talking about. JOHANNESBURG South Africas deputy president, David Mabuza, who has long been dogged by accusations of corruption, abruptly postponed the ceremony to swear him in as a lawmaker on Wednesday, casting doubt on his future as the countrys second in command. Just two hours before recently elected legislators were due to be sworn in at the National Assembly, the governing African National Congress released a statement saying that Mr. Mabuza had requested a delay in his case. The party said that he wanted first to respond to an internal report in which he is alleged to have prejudiced the integrity of the A.N.C. and brought the organization into disrepute. Mr. Mabuza has decided to follow the dictates of his conscience and postpone his swearing in, added the statement, which was attributed to President Cyril Ramaphosa. The announcement coming two days after Mr. Mabuza publicly expressed confidence that he would return as Mr. Ramaphosas No. 2 could amount to the first significant shake-up inside the African National Congress since the general election this month. The party held on to power but, reeling from widespread voter disillusionment about endemic corruption, won its lowest share of the national vote since the end of apartheid in 1994. KASHGAR, China A Gods-eye view of Kashgar, an ancient city in western China, flashed onto a wall-size screen, with colorful icons marking police stations, checkpoints and the locations of recent security incidents. At the click of a mouse, a technician explained, the police can pull up live video from any surveillance camera or take a closer look at anyone passing through one of the thousands of checkpoints in the city. To demonstrate, she showed how the system could retrieve the photo, home address and official identification number of a woman who had been stopped at a checkpoint on a major highway. The system sifted through billions of records, then displayed details of her education, family ties, links to an earlier case and recent visits to a hotel and an internet cafe. The simulation, presented at an industry fair in China, offered a rare look at a system that now peers into nearly every corner of Xinjiang, the troubled region where Kashgar is located. This is the vision of high-tech surveillance precise, all-seeing, infallible that Chinas leaders are investing billions of dollars in every year, making Xinjiang an incubator for increasingly intrusive policing systems that could spread across the country and beyond. JAKARTA, Indonesia The police in Jakarta, Indonesias capital, have clashed with demonstrators as protests over the newly announced results of the April presidential election unraveled into violence. The citys governor, Anies Baswedan, a close ally of the defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto, cited reports of deaths and said about 350 people had been injured in the violence on Tuesday night. Tito Karnavian, the chief of the Indonesian national police, also reported deaths, saying six people had been killed according to hospital officials. TOKYO By now, President Trump and Japans prime minister are on a first-name basis. But that could soon become more complicated. In Japan, a first name means something different: The Japanese refer to themselves with the surname first, then the given name. And Japans foreign minister says it is time for the Western world to respect his countrys tradition and render Japanese names in that order in English. So the man Westerners know as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be called Abe Shinzo. The foreign minister, Taro Kono (or Kono Taro, if you please), issued his request to foreign media outlets during a news conference on Tuesday. As many news organizations write Chinese President Xi Jinping and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Mr. Kono said, noting that the surname-first template was followed for other Asian leaders, it is desirable for Prime Minister Abe Shinzos name to be written in a similar manner. Since opening to the West a century and a half ago, the Japanese have accepted that Westerners would refer to them not as they refer to themselves surname first, then given name but in reverse order. WELLINGTON, New Zealand Its being called the next big move by a New Zealand government seen by progressives around the world as a beacon in increasingly populist times: a national budget whose spending is dictated by what best encourages the well-being of citizens. That means that as the center-left government of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern sets its priorities in the budget that will be unveiled on May 30, it is moving away from more traditional bottom-line measures like productivity and economic growth and instead focusing on goals like community and cultural connection and equity in well-being across generations. This budget is a game-changing event, said Richard Layard, a professor at the London School of Economics who is an expert on life satisfaction across populations. New Zealand is not the only country that is starting to rethink whether blunt economic measurements like gross domestic product are the best gauge of a nations success. But, Dr. Layard said, there has been no other major country that has so explicitly adopted well-being as its objective. But constructing a revised deal that might gain the support of a wider coalition of lawmakers, including some from the opposition Labour Party, has put Mrs. May on a political tightrope. With her revamped plan, Mrs. May aimed to win over Labour lawmakers by offering the opportunity to vote on whether to put any plan for Brexit to a second referendum. Lawmakers would also be allowed to vote on whether to keep Britain, temporarily, in a type of customs union with the European Union that would eliminate tariffs and many checks on goods at borders. But while the Labour leadership rejected the concessions as insufficient, many of Mrs. Mays pro-Brexit lawmakers were horrified, and several of those who had reluctantly supported the government in its last Brexit vote have said they would not do so again. Another defeat would be particularly problematic since Mrs. May is not offering lawmakers a general vote on her deal but one on specific legislation to take Britain out of the bloc. Losing that would limit the options for a new prime minister, who would not be able to bring back the bill in the same parliamentary session. On Wednesday, one Conservative lawmaker, Nicky Morgan, appealed to Mrs. May to reflect on whether to proceed with her Brexit vote, noting that the consequences of it not being passed are very serious. Earlier, the environment secretary, Michael Gove, gave an agile and evasive interview to the BBC in which he hinted that the bill might not come forward as planned without saying whether it would. That question is connected to the timing of Mrs. Mays departure. Earlier this year she promised to step down if lawmakers voted for her deal. Then, last week, she told senior Conservative lawmakers that, if her proposal was rejected again, she would set out a timetable for her successor to be chosen. We take tackling poverty extremely seriously, which is why we spend 95 billion a year on welfare and maintain a state pension system that supports people into retirement, a spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said on Wednesday. That works out to around $120 billion. All the evidence shows that full-time work is the best way to boost your income and quality of life, which is why our welfare reforms are focused on supporting people into employment, he added. Britains unemployment rate is at its lowest level since 1974, government figures show. But Mr. Alston said the repeated response that more people are employed overlooks several inconvenient facts: nearly 40 percent of children are predicted to be living in poverty two years from now; 16 percent of people over 65 live in relative poverty; and millions of those who are working are dependent upon charities to cope. The rapporteur acknowledged that the government had taken action on some issues raised in his preliminary report. He singled out in particular the introduction of a uniform poverty measure that accounts for food insecurity and a delay to the rollout of a benefits system known as universal credit, which has pushed thousands of people under the poverty line. That program will be improved by plans to provide more time to repay advances, to reduce debt payment limits and to reduce extreme penalties, he said. But, for all the talk that austerity is over, massive disinvestment in the social safety net continues unabated. The report borrows its title Id Blush if I Could from a standard response from Siri, the Apple voice assistant, when a user hurled a gendered expletive at it. When a user tells Alexa, Youre hot, her typical response has been a cheery, Thats nice of you to say! Siris response was recently altered to a more flattened I dont know how to respond to that, but the report suggests that the technology remains gender biased, arguing that the problem starts with engineering teams that are staffed overwhelmingly by men. Siris female obsequiousness and the servility expressed by so many other digital assistants projected as young women provides a powerful illustration of gender biases coded into technology products, the report found. Amazons Alexa, named for the ancient library of Alexandria, is unmistakably female. Microsofts Cortana was named after an A.I. character in the Halo video game franchise that projects itself as a sensuous, unclothed woman. Apples Siri is a Norse name that means beautiful woman who leads you to victory. The Google Assistant system, also known as Google Home, has a gender-neutral name, but the default voice is female. Baked into their humanized personalities, though, are generations of problematic perceptions of women. These assistants are putting a stamp on society as they become common in homes across the world, and can influence interactions with real women, the report warns. As the report puts it, The more that culture teaches people to equate women with assistants, the more real women will be seen as assistants and penalized for not being assistant-like. Elliott has been treated and released from the hospital. Bond denied Wilkes, the capital murder suspect in the death of Buechner, was denied bond Tuesday afternoon. The capital murder charge does not have a bond available, Judge Christopher Hughes said to the defendant and his appointed attorney, William Whatley, during the hearing. The purpose of Tuesdays hearing was to make sure the defendant knows what his charges are and what his bond is, Hughes said. He added that although he is formally charged, Wilkes is considered innocent until proven guilty. Mr. Wilkes is innocent as we stand here, innocent of each one of those charges and will remain innocent unless and until we can overcome that burden thats beyond a reasonable doubt and get 12 jurors to say that hes guilty beyond a reasonable doubt or he pleads guilty, Hughes said. Next steps As the investigation continues, Hughes and his office plan to prepare for anything in court. Ive spoken to the classmates of his significant other, Cordi said. I was talking to one of them who lives across the street from them, and she would see them outside, taking care of the baby. She had no idea. Cordi said her classmates are assisting Wilkes partner as she assimilates to school routines and attempts to maintain normalcy after these tragic events. One of their interests is to rally around her and get her back, he said. (Her) parents told me she went back to the vet school, and shes in clinicals. Shes trying to move on with her life. Rebuilding safety Cordi expressed a desire to provide the safety accustomed to Arrowhead Park residents before the shooting. Everything looks normal now, and for everybody in the park and people who live around here, I want to quickly as possible get back to normal because they are all innocent, and they deserve to move on from this as much as anybody else. It scared the daylights out of some of them. Cordi has maintained correspondence with each Arrowhead resident to convey his sadness for trauma received from the shooting. They had to go through it, he said. An officer had to die, and it had to happen here. God knows why, and one thing that has helped me and my family is the support weve gotten from residents and parents. I've gotten emails and texts, encouraging me. They say, We know youve done the best you can. We still have faith in Arrowhead as being one of the safest places to live.' An east Alabama man faces life in prison after being convicted Tuesday on several sexual assault-related charges. Andre Porch was found guilty by a Lee County jury for first-degree rape and two counts of first-degree sodomy. Porch is said to have assaulted the victim when she was a pre-teen and into her teenage years, the Lee County District Attorneys Office said in a statement. Porch was arrested in August 2017 in relation to the charges and was indicted by a Lee County grand jury on April 9, 2018, according to court records. The trial began Friday and concluded Tuesday. The jury only deliberated for 30 minutes, according to the district attorneys office. This quick verdict was reached due to the work of the Lee County Sheriffs Office and Assistant District Attorneys Cathey Berardi and Garrett Saucer, the office said. 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. The Round House closed in 2016, as Sandler became the subject of misconduct allegations revolving around unpaid debts. The business simply ran out of money, Sandler said. The Opelika-Auburn News received numerous tips at that time, saying the business employees were not paid for their services. I was being groomed to be a general counselor for the Round House, James Mayo told the newspaper in 2016. Ive actually had my paycheck bounced. I was promised a new salary. He owes me over $1,250. 'Represented experience' Sandler touted himself as an entrepreneur and businessman, with multiple media outlets reporting that he was previously employed by Google. The Opelika-Auburn News, however, confirmed he never was employed by the Silicon Valley giant. Opelika City Schools Board of Education chairman Patsy Boyd Parker and vice chairman J. Kevin Royal were re-elected to their positions during the boards meeting Tuesday evening. Parker and Royal were originally elected to their positions in May 2017 following the retirement of chairman O.D. Alsobrook III. The board also approved a bid with Southern Contractors to improve the bus loop at Opelika High School. The bid was $65,950, and the plan is for construction to start by the end of June. Opelika City Schools Superintendent Mark Neighbors estimated it would take 10 to 13 days for the project to be completed. I remember when I was middle school principal they would dig that hole up and fix it. It's hitting a water spring or something under there that's starting to sink, Neighbors said. Hopefully this will be the last time we have to (fix this)." Additionally, the board modified the high schools current dual enrollment guidelines where eligible students must now meet the admission requirements of the sponsoring dual enrollment institution. The student must also now receive written approval of their principal and counselor in order to dual enroll. The hospitalized Auburn police officers condition continues to improve after having to be airlifted Sunday to Piedmont Columbus Hospital. Officer Webb Sistrunk's status is downgraded from ICU to critical care, Jessica Roberts, Piedmont Columbus communication director, said in a news release on Wednesday. Sistrunk was shot in the line of duty Sunday night along with Auburn Police Officer Evan Elliott and Officer William Buechner, who was fatally wounded. Capital murder suspect Grady Wayne Wilkes is in jail facing charges for the shootings. Sistrunk was shot in the right shoulder and sustained a critical injury as a result. He will continue to undergo a number of medical procedures moving forward, Roberts said. While in the hospital, Sistrunk had a special visitor Wednesday, his K-9 partner, Leon. Leon was with Sistrunk during the incident but was not injured. Leons third birthday will be in July, Roberts said. The Sistrunk family thanks everyone for their continued prayers for our officer and asks that you keep the Buechner and Elliott families in your prayers as well, Roberts said. Kebingungan dan kesulitan mencari dan bingung ketika memilih situs judi slot online gacor di tahun 2021? Sekarang anda sudah berada di situs slot gacor yang tepat untuk bermain judi slot online. 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According to recently released data, there were an average of 70 violent reported muggings in the Mexican capital in the first four months of 2019. Around two thirds of these crimes targeted pedestrians, while the rest were evenly committed against public transportation passengers and motorists stuck in traffic jams or waiting at traffic lights. The incidence of such crimes has been steadily increasing in the city, but it has gotten so bad that people are now buying fake smartphones to hand over to muggers instead of their real ones. Photo: Pexels/Pixabay Smartphone dummies reportedly cost between 300 and 500 Mexican pesos $15 and $25 and are seemingly perfect replicas of the originals. They feature the same design and branding of popular smartphone models like Iphone and Samsung Galaxy, as well as a display that mimics a startup screen. On the inside, they have a large piece of metal meant to give them the weight of a real smartphone. Its useful for robberies, the large number of muggings happening in Mexico City, Axel, a smartphone dummy seller told The Associated Press. They say hand over your cellphone, give me everything, and people know now they have to hand over the phone quick, in a matter of seconds, so they hand over these phones and often the thieves dont realize it. Axel, who asked that his full name not be revealed for fear of being accused of selling fake goods, said that all of his clients know that they are buying useless replicas. Thats the whole point, really. Theyre buying cheap dead-ringers to hopefully fool muggers into letting them walk away with both their lives and actual smartphones. However, handing over a fake handheld at gunpoint does have its risks. If the muggers realize they are being played for suckers, theres a high chance theyll beat or even shoot their victim. Thats why some Mexicans choose to buy a cheaper but real smartphone to hand over in case of emergency. Smartphone dummies have been around for over a decade, but until a couple of years ago they were only used in the exhibition cases of smartphone shops. Nowadays, with muggings so frequent in the Mexican capital, people are buying them to cut their losses, but also protect their valuable data. Robberies have long been a big problem in Mexico, but advent of the smartphone made it even worse. Not only are they very expensive to replace especially newer flagship models but they also contain valuable data, like credit card and bank account details. So a lot of people are willing to spend a few bucks on dummies to hopefully prevent that data from falling into the wrong hands. At this time of year, ESB Networks is reminding farmers and silage contractors in Offaly of the major risks associated with working near overhead electricity wires. "Coming close to these live wires is extremely hazardous and can be fatal. Very serious electrical accidents have taken place involving silage machinery, both in the silage field and at the silage pit. Contact, or even near contact, with electricity lines can be fatal," said ESB Networks. The minimum safe distance is three metres, horizontally and vertically; it is more for higher voltage lines. Accidents are preventable with advance planning and safe behaviours. ESB Networks advises the farming community of the following precautions to put into practice every time: Watch out for poles and stay wires. Steer clear. Identify where poles and stays are in the field and avoid coming within 3 metres. You may need to physically red flag them. Avoid crossing beneath overhead lines and always work Parallel to the line. Poles and overhead lines must never be close to a silage pit. If they are closer than 6 metres, you must contact ESB Networks to re-locate. Do not work until ESB Networks advises that it is safe to do so. If you have concerns about overhead wires, poles, or stays, please phone this number immediately. In an emergency, the speed of your phone call could make all the difference. The emergency contact number is 1850 372 999 ( 24 hour/ 7 day service). We advise all farmers and contractors to store this number in their mobile phone. In an accident situation, where any part of the machine is in contact with the electricity line/ equipment, follow these steps: Stay in the cab; Keep everyone else clear of the scene, by at least 5 metres; Phone ESB Networks immediately; If possible, reverse out of the contact situation; If you exit the cab (e.g. because of fire) , jump clear and take short steps until you are 5 metres clear; Do not return to the cab. Do not, under any circumstances, touch the line or anything the line may be in contact with. Further information is available at: www.esbnetworks.ie Two Offaly schools were honoured for their efforts in promoting water conservation and awareness at the An Taisce Green-Schools regional awards in Athlone this week. Durrow National School and Scoil Mhuire agus Chormaic, Kilcormac were amongst 119 schools nationwide receiving a Green Flag under the Water theme, sponsored by Irish Water. The Water theme looks at developing awareness around water conservation and how to effectively manage this important resource in our schools and at home. Yvonne Harris, Head of Customer Operations at Irish Water, said, Helping the next generation to understand the importance of conserving water is a key part of our role in safeguarding Irelands water supply, so we are delighted to be partnering with An Taisce's Green-Schools Water Theme for the sixth year running. We were very impressed by the creative and innovative ways that all of the schools came up with to save water and to promote awareness both in their classrooms and in their communities. Green-Schools Manager, Cathy Baxter, spoke at the award ceremony: Its fantastic to be in a position to acknowledge and reward the efforts of the students, teachers, principals, parents and caretakers who have committed so much of their time to conserving water and to see the fruits of our workshops and events throughout the year. This is the seventh year of the partnership between Irish Water and Green-Schools to promote water conservation. Over 1,000 schools across the country have attended interactive Water Workshops and Walk for Water Events since 2013. Corporal Dwayne Hicks himself will be on hand for a screening of Aliens. Omaha film historian Bruce Crawford will present a screening of the movie at Joslyn Art Museum at 7 p.m. Friday that also will feature a Q&A and autograph session with star Michael Biehn. As Hicks, Biehn fought off a horde of xenomorphs alongside Sigourney Weavers Ellen Ripley in Aliens. Biehn also appeared in The Terminator, Tombstone, The Rock and The Abyss. But before all that, he was just another kid from Nebraska. Biehn was born in Alabama, but his family moved to Lincoln when he was very young. Lincoln was an incredibly fun, fun town to grow up in, Biehn told The World-Herald. At his talk on Friday, hell answer questions and tell stories, like how he was a late addition to the cast of Aliens. Biehn was not initially cast in the film, but after production started in London, he received a call from a producer. Ashley ONeal wasnt sure she could do it. Her first time in a salt room would likely be her last. It would be stuffy. She would feel claustrophobic. But ONeal gave it a try. She walked across a bed of salt crystals and claimed a reclining chair. A light fog settled over ONeal and three other spa-goers within minutes. She breathed in the salt and let it settle on her skin. It was nothing like she expected. It was very zen. It was so peaceful and calming, said ONeal, 25. And in the days after, she said she noticed clearer skin. She was coughing mucus out of her lungs, then breathing a little easier. Her runny nose, caused by allergies, disappeared. The metro area is home to a handful of salt rooms. It sounds simple and it is. Spa-goers breathe in finely ground salt thats blown through the air. At some facilities, the treatment is nearly an hour, others 10 minutes. The first changes I noticed in my son were behavioral. Before enrolling in speech therapy, he was prone to frequent outbursts and temper tantrums. "Temper tantrums and biting are often noted in youngsters with speech delay," Berkowitz says. "It makes sense since they cannot articulate their wishes or express their frustration." My son's teachers encouraged him to convey his wants and needs through signs and gestures. They taught him to rub his tummy when he was hungry, or flap his arms to call my attention to a bird outside the window. I learned to calm him down when he was upset by simply asking him to point to what he wanted. He wasn't necessarily going to get the requested item, but at least he knew he was heard and understood. You can also help your child by speaking aloud to them as much possible, including reading. Scanlon also recommends giving a child choices instead of asking open-ended questions, to provide your child with words to imitate and repeat. And it's important not to overly anticipate your child's needs, Scanlon says. Allow them to use words, signs or gestures to ask for that toy they'd like to play with to encourage and reward direct communication. Up to 200 Omaha area house hunters will be getting free down payment money under a program announced Wednesday by Wells Fargo and community partners. The other good news: Recipients have yet to be selected, and interested families and individuals have time to register for an event next month that could open the door to the NeighborhoodLIFT program. This is about helping families get homes, Kirk Kellner, Wells Fargo region bank president in Nebraska, said during a press conference. The target group, Kellner said, is low- to average-income families or individuals he cites as examples veterans, teachers, first responders who might already have most pieces to attain home ownership but perhaps havent been able to save that necessary down payment. He said the other core part of the program involves education and relaying information to participants about what it takes to own and maintain that home for the long term. Omaha, specifically Douglas and Sarpy Counties, is the 71st market to be tapped for the national NeighborhoodLIFT program launched in 2012. Since its start, nearly 21,000 homeowners have been boosted by a total of $456 million, Wells Fargo says. Where do you sign up? one man called out. There is a catch: Municipal governments have to sign off and help fund the buyouts. Funding is typically split: The federal government picks up 75% of the tab; the state, 10%; and local governments, 15%. The state is talking with flood-affected communities like Pacific Junction to gauge interest in buyouts, Harper said. Some interest exists, but no applications have been submitted. We have seen cases before where a number of property owners have wanted to participate ... and the city didnt want to, he said. Buyouts can hurt a citys population and tax base. Fewer than 500 people lived in Pacific Junction before the flood. FEMA has also identified about 150 pad sites in Glenwood and Council Bluffs where temporary trailers, often referred to as FEMA trailers, could be placed, potentially by the end of June. About 400 people displaced by flooding in Fremont County and Mills County in Iowa could be eligible. Often, only about 10% of those eligible opt for a trailer, one official said. Its straightforward, its effective and its simple, Briese said. With the death of LB 183, the main property tax relief measure of 2019 is a $51 million increase in the property tax credit program that was proposed by Gov. Pete Ricketts. It would translate into an extra $20 for the owner of a $100,000 home, and $24 more for every $100,000 worth of farmland. There is also a citizen-led petition drive to get an initiative on the 2020 ballot to give Nebraska landowners a 35% refund on property taxes paid, a change many legislators have branded as too drastic. Senators also pledged to keep working on LB 289 for passage next year. Meanwhile, debate on the business incentive bill is scheduled to resume later this week, likely on Friday. During debate Wednesday, a package of amendments was attached to the ImagiNE Act to address some of its critics. One amendment ensures that only full-time jobs are used to qualify for tax credits and another creates a $2 million fund to grant to high impact businesses in small towns that dont qualify for the act. The compromise would let teachers use reasonable physical contact to protect a student, school personnel or others from imminent physical injury, unless the force is used to cause pain, uses mechanical restraints or pushes a child into a prone, face-down position on the ground. The bill also would grant teachers immunity from lawsuits unless their use of force was flagrant, reckless or used in gross negligence. LB 147 was supported by the NSEA, which, ironically, spent heavily in an attempt to defeat Groene for re-election last year. The senator, however, said hes not holding a grudge. We have allowed violent and angry students, those who are enraged, to dictate what happens in the classroom, Groene said. We need to ensure that teachers can control their classrooms. But opponents said LB 147 was unnecessary, could especially harm students with disabilities or behavioral issues, and went too far in encouraging teachers to use physical force on students. Fremont Sen. Lynn Walz said that teachers need to get better training on how to deal with unruly students and de-escalate problems, and where to find help for students with behavioral and mental problems. Her sentiment was echoed by former Omaha Mayor Hal Daub, who spoke as a lobbyist for the plastics industry. He said people on each side of the debate had shared facts, and that some on each side had exaggerated. He also said a ban would accomplish less than a nonbinding resolution to encourage retailers to move away from plastic bags supported by the mayor and three members of the City Council who voted against the measure. The lone vote against the ban who left the door slightly ajar was councilman Pahls, a former educator who was touched by the mix of elementary, high school and college students who spoke in support of the ban. He compared the effort to ban plastic bags to state and local efforts to ban smoking in restaurants and bars. He said the effort took years of education and outreach and failure. He said the bag bans time, too, would come. Gray and Festersen passed an amended ban that would prohibit single-use plastic bags in all retailers larger than 10,000 square feet. Thats about twice the size of a large convenience store and covers such merchants as Hy-Vee, Walmart Walgreens and Big Lots. WASHINGTON Top Trump administration officials briefed Capitol Hill lawmakers Tuesday about tensions with Iran. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., left the all-members briefing dismayed by what he characterized as an ugly tone by those on the other side of the aisle. It was just a heartbreaking display of partisanship in there, Bacon said. The administration is trying to make the case that military assets it has ordered to the region represent a prudent step to deter Iran from engaging in escalating provocations. Some Democrats, however, have questioned whether the administration is actually driving that escalation by taking a hard line. And critics have warned against going down the same road that took the United States into the Iraq War. Bacon, however, described some Democrats as more concerned about the threat of Trump than the threat of Iran. The message from the administration is they dont want war, but they want to be in position to deter, Bacon said. But it just falls on deaf ears because its so anti-Trump right now. The Iowa tornado that killed Linda Brownlee, 74, and injured her husband, Harold Brownlee, 78, was rated an EF-2. Wind speeds peaked between 120 and 130 mph during the tornados 4.8-mile path. At its widest, it spanned about 150 yards, according to the weather service. The tornado was on the ground for eight minutes, touching down at 1:29 a.m. and lifting at 1:37 a.m. Three buildings were destroyed at the farm and two nearby houses were damaged, said Robert Kempf, emergency management coordinator for Adair and Guthrie Counties. Adair is 80 miles east of Omaha. The weather service said debris from the farmstead landed on nearby Interstate 80, according to the Associated Press. The Adair tornado was the second of two in Iowa. About 25 minutes earlier, an EF-1 tornado with peak winds of 90 to 100 mph touched down near Anita. It was on the ground for about two minutes, traveled 1.1 miles and had a maximum width of about 50 yards. No one was hurt, but an old barn was demolished. In Nebraska, two brief, weak tornadoes touched down just before nightfall and caused minor tree damage along the Nemaha-Richardson County line. Rated as EF-0, their wind speeds didnt exceed 65 mph, according to the weather service. metro area People sickened by exposure to chemical at hotel About a dozen people became ill after being exposed to a chemical in the pool and hot tub area of a hotel late Monday. Medics were called to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites at Cherry Hills, near Interstate 680 and Blair High Road, about 10:45 p.m. According to emergency dispatch reports, medics found nine children and a couple of adults complaining of various symptoms. Several were hospitalized in serious condition. Nancy Gaarder nebraska Authorities identify driver killed in crash on Highway 92 The driver killed Monday in two-vehicle a crash between Mead and Wahoo was identified Tuesday. Johanna Benting, 48, of Fremont, was fatally injured in the crash on Nebraska Highway 92 , Saunders County Sheriff Kevin Stukenholtz said. . Bob Glissmann Several tornadoes spotted in southeast part of state Its encouraging to see our country hone its cyber defenses in the face of threats by Russia and other countries. The militarys U.S. Cyber Command now elevated to the same status as the U.S. Strategic Command has demonstrated a strong, proactive approach. Cyber Command coordinates with the FBI, the National Security Agency and Homeland Security. It partnered last year with foreign intelligence services to identify Russian malware, then shared information about the threat with private-sector companies that might be targeted. To counter possible Russian manipulation in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, Cyber Command blocked Russian trolls from posting divisive messages on U.S. social media. The several-day operation to knock out the trolls Internet access so frustrated them, the Washington Post reported, that they complained to their system administrators about the disruption. Russian online efforts, FBI Director Christoper Wray says, aim to pit us against each other, to sow divisiveness and discord, to undermine Americas faith in democracy. That is not just an election-cycle threat. It is pretty much a 365-day-a-year threat. All the reason for Cyber Command to continue its collaborative, assertive approach. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For decades, abortion has been an ideal issue for Republicans. It let them appease their base, bring millions of Catholic and evangelical voters permanently into the fold and portray Democrats as extremists -- all without much political downside. But their success may very well carry the seeds of their ultimate defeat. The right to abortion has enjoyed solid constitutional protection since the U.S. Supreme Court made it legal throughout the land in 1973, a decision it has repeatedly affirmed. An entire "pro-life" movement grew up in reaction. Congress and state legislatures have tried to restrict the right. But the basic liberty recognized by the court has remained almost completely intact. Its survival, however, has been a reliable political blessing for the GOP. Abortion provided a cause that Republicans could run on year in and year out -- and one that overrode all other concerns with a significant segment of the electorate. Among evangelicals who might have been nauseated by Donald Trump's unholy lifestyle and predatory treatment of women, abortion was the issue that compelled many to vote for him. Nothing was more important than installing Supreme Court justices who would champion the rights of fetuses. Jim and Nancy Thompson have done more than just be residents of Sarpy County for more than 40 years. They have served their county in countles When Anthony Brindisi was running for Congress, he told the LGBT community he had our back. Shortly after he was elected, he proved it by co-sponsoring the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal civil rights legislation. Last week, he delivered on that campaign promise by helping to pass this important bill in the U.S. House of Representatives. The great thing about Rep. Anthony Brindisi is that if you live in the 22nd Congressional District he can be counted on and he always has your back no matter who you are. Thats why I will always have his back. Thank you, Congressman Brindisi. WBJEE 2022 registrations to begin today: Here is how to apply 27-year-old TikTok star and gym trainer Mohit Mor shot dead in Delhi's Najafgarh India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, May 22: Days after two gang wars in the national capital, a 27-year-old gym trainer, who was active on social media app TikTok, was shot dead by three men at a shop in outer Delhi's Najafgarh on Tuesday evening. The police identified the deceased as Mohit Mor, who had over 5.17 lakh followers on TikTok. He hailed from Haryana's Bahadurgarh, but often stayed at his home in Najafgarh. The incident occurred around 5.15 p.m. when Mohit Mor had gone to meet his friend at a photostat shop near his residence in Najafgarh's Dharmpura area. TikTok App blocked in India by Google after court order: Report The murder comes in the wake of a gang war in Dwarka Mod on Sunday that saw two alleged criminals gunned down. Mor was seated in a photocopy shop around 6pm on Tuesday when he was gunned down. An investigator who didn't want to be identified said that Mor was shot seven times and died on the spot. Having lost his father earlier, Mor is survived by his mother and brother. The police are speaking to them to find out if they had any enemies or if he was involved in a confrontation in the recent past. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 10:39 [IST] Cannot afford to take risk: Maha govt to HC over prohibiting unvaccinated from using public transport Ahead of results, NCP leader Jaydutt Kshirsagar to join Shiv Sena today India oi-Madhuri Adnal Mumbai, May 22: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Maharashtra Cabinet minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar is likely to join Shiv Sena today. Earlier, Jaydutt Kshirsagar had met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at the latter's residence Matoshree. In the six Assembly constituencies in Beed district, Kshirsagar is the only NCP MLA, while the rest are from the BJP. If Kshirsagar joins the BJP, the district will become a BJP bastion. 'They worked hard': Shiv Sena's unusual praise for Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka It was reported that Kshirsagar is upset with the NCP leadership for ignoring him and giving more importance to his local rival Dhananjay Munde in Beed. The sitting NCP Beed legislator had also announced support to BJP-Shiv Sena alliance candidate Dr Pritam Munde in Beed. Earlier, he had also alleged that his party had been ignoring him and those who have not been elected by the masses like Dhananjay Munde have been entrusted with the command of the party in the district. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 9:40 [IST] Assembly elections 2018: Here is a look at all Assembly poll results since Modi took over as PM Assets of JD(U), JD(S) grew by 298, 102 per cent respective in past two years Among regional parties, BJD led with the highest amount of donations India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 22: The total amount of donations declared by Regional Parties, including both above and below Rs 20,000, was Rs 54.81 cr, from 2,824 donations. With regard to the total amount of donations, BJD leads with Rs 13.04 cr from 6 donations followed by JD(U), which has declared receiving Rs 11.19 cr from 27 donations. YSR-C declared receiving Rs 8.35 cr that is the third highest amongst all regional parties says a report by the Association for Democratic Reforms. 59.44% or Rs 32.58 cr of the total donations received by Regional Parties have been received solely by top three Regional Parties. BJP fielded 363 crorepatis in 2019 LS polls YSR-C, TRS, JDU and DMDK saw the maximum percentage increase in their income from donations between FY 2016-17 and 2017-18. Donations to YSR-C increased by 95%, followed by DMDK for which it was 93%, TRS for which it was 90%, and JDU that saw an increase of 87%. Out of the total donations of Rs 54.81 cr declared by the Regional Parties, Rs 77.49 lakhs from 434 donations was received in cash during FY 2017-18. This formed 1.4% of the total donations to the parties. Maximum donations in cash was declared by NPF, which collected a total of Rs 65.26 lakhs, followed by AINRC with Rs 4.20 lakhs and PMK with Rs 3.81 lakhs. Among all the states, donors from Tamil Nadu made the highest donations of Rs 4.32 lakhs in cash followed by donors from Puducherry who donated a total of Rs 4.20 lakhs in cash. Donations worth Rs 65.67 lakhs in cash did not have address details. 2 Regional Parties (NPF and DMK) have received such donations in FY 2017-18. (Refer: Annexure 1) Donations declared by the Regional Parties contained details of donations received from 26 States/Union Territories/common capitals and 17 countries according to the declared address of donors. Only AAP declared donations from abroad. Regional parties have declared receiving the highest amount of money or Rs 17.946 cr from Delhi, followed by Rs 9.03 cr from Maharashtra and Rs 5.194 cr from Karnataka. 148 donations from corporate/business sectors amounting to Rs 27.51 cr were made to the Regional Parties while 2647 individual donors donated Rs 26.15 cr to the parties during FY 2017-18. Candidates with pending crimes: A comparative analysis of the 2014 and 2019 elections While in case of National Parties, 1,361 donations were made by corporate/business sectors amounting to Rs 422.04 cr (89.82% of total donations) while 2772 individual donors donated Rs 47.12 cr (10.03% of total donations) during FY 2017-18. With the maximum number of donations during FY 2017-18, BJD has declared 5 donations from corporate/business sectors amounting to Rs 13 cr while one individual donor donated Rs 4 lakhs to the party. Out of 24 Regional Parties who had declared receiving donations, 19 parties, have declared donations of donors without their PAN details. Rs 12.40 cr or 22.62% of the total amount of donations received by Regional Parties do not have PAN details. It is to be noted that parties like NPF, MGP, AINRC, JVM-P, ZNP, DMDK and RJD who have declared 100 percent donations statements, have not provided PAN details of even a single donor in their donations statement. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 16:38 [IST] As result day draws closer, NDA allies drop hints about joining cabinet India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 22: Two key allies of the NDA had hinted at a larger role in the next government. Both Nitish Kumar of the JD(U) and O Panneerselvam of the AIADMK have hinted that they could be part of the next government. Kumar had stayed away from the NDA in 2014 and contesting the election on its own. However in 2019, the JD(S) contested as an NDA ally. Before flying to New Delhi for the dinner hosted by the BJP, he said, " whatever the outcome of the exit poll may be, we are confident that Narendra Modi would return to power." It is a given that the allies will be part of the NDA government, he also added. Ahead of big day, Chandrababu Naidu meets Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy The AIADMK on the other hand rejected the prediction that the DMK would win big in Tamil Nadu. OPS told reporters that the party would decide on joining the NDA government only after the votes are counted. He said that on May 23, they would be having a meeting at the party office about the joining the NDA cabinet if the BJP led alliance returns to power. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 7:06 [IST] Muslims have become like a band baja party in marriage procession: Owaisi attacks BSP, SP, Congress Muslim IAS officer faces allegations of anti-Hindu propaganda in UP; probe ordered over leaked video Online recruitment of Muslims: Why the radicalisation scenario in Bengal is worrisome Congress swings into action to tackle Karnataka discontent India oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi New Delhi, May 22: The Congress high command has swung into action to tackle discontent in Karnataka. It is notable that senior Karnataka Congress leader and MLA Roshan Baig has hinted at quitting the party after the exit polls predicted Congress' poor performance in Lok Sabha elections in the state. Baig appealed to Muslims to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) if it returns to power. He said that Muslims must compromise with the situation and should not remain in a party (Congress) that doesn't give them due honour. "Well if NDA is coming back to power, I humbly appeal to Muslim brothers to learn to compromise with the situation," he told a section of media. Asked if that means Muslims should join hands with BJP, Baig said if the need arises, they must, as the Congress had given just one ticket to a Muslim leader in Karnataka. Baig has been miffed with the Congress for two reasons. Firstly, he was not made a minister in the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) government; secondly he did not get Lok Sabha ticket. After exit poll predictions, Roshan Baig appeals Muslims to 'join hands' with BJP if need arises The Congress leadership in Delhi was baffled by Baig's statement. Anticipating trouble for its coalition government in Karnataka, it has swung into action. The Congress high command has asked former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to stay back in the state. He was planning to come to Delhi to meet Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday. Party General Secretary and Karnataka In-charge KC Venugopal has been sent to the state to thwart any split in the party. However, Congress is not concerned about coalition Karnataka government as it has 10 more MLAs than the majority mark. A senior Congress leader, however, accepted that four MLAs are not happy with the state Congress leadership, and Baig is one of them. Baig has not minced words in criticising the state Congress leadership. He held Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu, KC Venugopal, and Siddaramaiah for conducting a "flop poll campaign". Though Congress has issued a show cause notice to Baig and maintained that he doesn't have the support of other MLAs, but in fact, it is concerned that its senior minority leader may join hands with the BJP. Baig is considered close to senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and has considerable influence among Muslims. It is not the first time that Baig has spoken against the party. Few months back while speaking at Congress Minority Cell National Meet in Delhi, he had surprised everyone by saying that the Congress was not treating Muslims well in Congress-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh. A senior Congress source rued that the BJP has been looking to destabilise Karnataka government since long and would not leave any stone unturned to do so if it returns to power at the Centre. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 13:41 [IST] EC rejects demands of opposition parties' regarding VVPAT India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, May 22: The Election Commission has rejected demands of opposition parties' regarding VVPAT. The poll body has refused to make any change in the counting process. It will be go on as planned. This comes as a setback to the opposition parties, which have been demanding verification of VVPAT slips before counting. The 22 Opposition leaders drew attention to reports of what they called suspicious EVM movements and demanded verification of VVPAT slips before the counting of votes and not later. The poll body, however, dismissed the allegation adding that the EVMs were "absolutely safe" in strongrooms. While the Opposition has been informed of the Election Commission's meeting today, the leaders say they were not very hopeful since the EC's "body language was not very positive". The BJP, meanwhile, has called the Opposition move a desperate attempt in the face of certain defeat. Unfazed by exit polls, opposition draws up plan to stake claim if NDA falls short Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party President Amit Shah on Tuesday met leaders of National Democratic Alliance allies and ministers to "thank them for their service to the nation". ED gags its officers, warns against interacting with media India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 22: The Enforcement Directorate has issued an internal circular warning of action against those officers who interact with the media. The circular has also advised officials to keep an eye on their colleagues interacting with journalists. It further states that not reporting the matter could be considered as dereliction of duty. Signed by ED director, S K Mishra, the circular states, "it has been observed that certain information relating to ongoing investigations have been published in the media. This information relating to impending action may jeopardise the interests of the ongoing investigations." ICICI-Videocon bank loan case: Chanda Kochhar appears before ED for questioning "Any officer other than the authorised officer if found interacting with the media, the same should be brought to the knowledge of the principal special director or undersigned immediately. Any deviation would amount to dereliction of duty and liable for punitive action." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 6:54 [IST] Elections results 2019: Will the women voter turnout be a deciding factor? India oi-Madhuri Adnal New Delhi, May 22: As the Lok Sabha elections 2019 closed with the conclusion of the seventh and final phase on May 19, data shows a marginal increase in the overall turnout, even as women participation touched yet another high, virtually closing the gender gap in voting. About 67% of the electorate came out to vote this time - marginally higher than the 66.44% turnout in 2014, but the highest since independence. The turnout of women exceeded that of men in at least nine states and Union Territories, with the highest in Manipur at 84.16% and Meghalaya at 73.64%, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Uttarakhand, Goa, Mizoram and Lakshadweep. Amidst a hue and cry, how EC secured India's EVMs In Kerala, where violence followed the Supreme Court's verdict allowing women and girls to enter the Sabarimala temple, the female voter turnout this time was 78.8%, higher than the 76.47% for men. In 2014, the figures were almost even at 73.84% for women and 73.96% for men. While in Gujarat, men outnumbered women with the highest margin, but the state saw an increase in women voter turnout as compared to 2014. While the average turnout of men was 68.3% in the first four phases of polling held from April 11 to April 29, the figure for women was 68%, according to data made available by the Election Commission of India. The number of women voters in these phases was 203.1 million compared with 215 million for men. Why does the opposition play good EVM, bad EVM selectively: BJP 2014 saw an increase in women voters, outnumbering men in several key constituencies in Bihar, Rajasthan, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. While the elections saw an overall increase in turnout from 58% to 66%, the gender gap between men (67%) and women (66%) thinned down. The increased participation can be attributed to many reasons, such as better access to mobile phones and hence, news besides outreach by political parties. Studies have also found that women voters tend to focus on issues like livelihood, access to water and health, and education. So will women turnout be a deciding factor in this election? For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 11:33 [IST] Farooq Abdullah likely to fight J&K elections together with PAGD allies to defeat communal forces J&K: Indian and Chinese troops hold border meet in Ladakh India pti-PTI Srinagar, May 22: Indian and Chinese armies held a border personnel meeting in eastern Ladakh sector of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesperson said on Wednesday. The Indian delegation was led by Major General Arvind Kapoor from the Fire and Fury Corps, while the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Colonel Gan Wei Han, said Colonel Rajesh Kalia. The border personnel meet was conducted at the Daulat Beg Oldi meeting point on Tuesday, the spokesperson said. A Border Personnel Meet was held b/w India & China opposite Eastern Ladakh at the Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO)- Tien Wein Dien (TWD) Meeting Point, y'day. Indian delegation was led by Maj Gen Arvind Kapoor from Fire & Fury Corps while Chinese delegation was led by Sr Col Gan Wei Han. pic.twitter.com/FhpHuMoqmc ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2019 "Both sides reiterated the mutual desire of maintaining peace and tranquility and improving relations at the functional level at the border areas," Kalia said. "The meeting was marked by saluting the national flags by members of the delegation, followed by exchange of greetings." [Situation under control, but Pak attempting anti-India activity says Army] The delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment, the spokesperson said, adding that they parted amidst a feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the cordial relations and maintaining peace along the border areas. PTI Security review in J&K is message to Pak not to use Taliban win in Kashmir Top JeM commander gunned down by security forces in Valley 11 civilians gunned down by security forces in Nagaland; CM Neiphiu Rio orders SIT probe, appeals for peace Day after Category A terrorist was killed, 2 more gunned down today in J&K J&K: Two terrorists killed by security forces in Gopalpora area of Kulgam India oi-Madhuri Adnal Kulgam, May 22: Two terrorists were killed in a gunfight with the security forces on Wednesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district. The security forces started a cordon and search operation in Gopalpora village of Kulgam district after receiving reports about the presence of terrorists there. An official said a joint team of the Army, police and CRPF encircled Gopalpora area and zerored in on hiding terrorists, triggering an encounter. J&K: Exchange of fire between terrorists, security forces in Shopian However, the police said it has not retrieved any body so far and was ascertaining details about the affiliation of the terrorists trapped. As a precautionary measure, authorities have suspended mobile internet services in Kulgam district. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 9:22 [IST] Lightning fast updates and comprehensive coverage on DailyHunt India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, May 22. With the last phase of polling ending on May 19 and exit polls pointing at certain trends, the entire nation is eagerly awaiting May 23 - the Judgement Day. If the excitement and anxiousness on the evening of May 19 when the exit polls came out are anything to go by, rest assured that the thrill on May 23 would be ten fold, if not more. Election results are not just about numbers, they are about their significance, interpretation, patterns, and analysis to arrive at an accurate picture that has impact on every citizen's life. Here at DailyHunt, we bring you all that and more. What's unique about DailyHunt's election coverage? Live and lighting fast updates of results from across India in a well tabulated format. Numbers, comparison with past results, updates on seat changes state-wise and constituency-wise. Along with main Lok Sabha results, all assembly elections and by-polls would also be covered in-depth. Which way is the political wind blowing for top candidates, and the trends are emerging from top constituencies, you just cannot miss anything important on our coverage. We will keep an eye on the social media also especially on Twitter trends. Live videos from top publishers, viral memes, trending videos, are just a few things to name from our comprehensive coverage of elections. Once the the numbers begin making sense, we will put forth analysis from all points of views. A thorough drill down into data and what it means. Result analysis would presented in a way that it would make sense to everyone, from a novice to a political expert. There is lot more on the Dailyhunt App. To get all the speedy updates please download Dailyhunt app. Lok Sabha election: Counting of votes today; Nation awaits result with bated breath India oi-Vikas SV New Delhi, May 23: The counting of votes for the world's largest elections which were held in seven phases over 39 days would be held on Thursday (May 23) and by the afternoon the same day it would become firly clear who would form the next government. The results of Lok Sabha elections 2019 are locked in EVMs held in strongrooms and the counting would begin at 8 am. Approximately 60 crore voters have cast ballots across 10 lakh booths in 29 states and seven union territories. The fate of over 8,000 candidates in a total of 542 parliamentary constituencies will be revealed after the counting of votes begins. As per procedure, postal ballots will be counted first. Service voters stood at 18 lakh. These include diplomats and support staff posted in Indian embassies abroad, personnel of the armed forces, central police force personnel and state police personnel who are posted outside their constituencies. [2004 exit polls: When surveys got it horribly wrong] Total 67.11 per cent of the 90.99 crore electors had cast their vote in the seven-phase elections. This is the highest ever voter turnout in Indian parliamentarian elections. The Election Commission is yet to provide the number of counting centres being set up for Thursday, saying the data is not centrally available. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the grounds of excessive use of money power. [This is how BJP fought 2019 LS Elections] Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would be looking to retain power at the Centre, while the Opposition parties, including Rahul Gandhi-led Congress, would be hoping to wrest power. Most of the exit polls have predicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return to office. Exit polls can predict a general trend and give a rough idea about the actual result, but these surveys can by no means be taken as gospel truth. [Lok Sabha Elections 2019: What is at stake for BJP and Congress] Most pollsters are backing BJP-led NDA to bag India's most electorally crucial state, Uttar Pradesh, despite a strong, no-holds-barred push by the SP-BSP alliance. Delhi seems to be heading towards yet another 7-0 sweep for the BJP, with the Opposition votes splitting almost vertically between Congress and Aam Aadmi Party. surveys predict NDA gaining in Odisha and West Bengal and dominating the two-way contest states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Gujarat. This will possibly extend to states like Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 23:25 [IST] Lok Sabha Elections 2019: What is at stake for BJP and Congress India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, May 22: An overwhelming majority of exit polls has predicted a return of the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. We will have to wait till May 23 to know whether they are right or not. Twelve of 14 exit polls predicted that the NDA will get full majority with seats ranging from 282 to 365. An aggregate of exit polls predicted the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win 302 seats and the Congress and its allies 122. A party or an alliance needs 271 seats to form the government, as the elections were held on 542 of the 543 Lok Sabha seats. They, however, differed on the numbers, and the range hovered from a high of 316 for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a low of 202. For the Congress, the numbers ranged from a low of 46 seats to a high of 107. So, in that case What are the prospects of BJP and Congress? There are chances of smaller parties playing a decisive role in the formation of the next government in the instances of the two biggest parties falling short of seats. Here we take a look at what could happen on May 23. Modi's return as PM? Most exit polls predicted a clear majority to BJP-led NDA, some with seeing the party garner over 300 seats, out of total 542 Lok Sabha seats polled. The NDA, according to the exit polls, is also seen making gains in Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. India Today-My Axis and Chanakya exit polls predicted a landslide win for the BJP-led alliance with over 350 seats. In that case, Modi's return as PM will be a cakewalk with the BJP having a majority on its own and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies supplementing its strength in Parliament. As result day draws closer, NDA allies drop hints about joining cabinet If the BJP gets less than 272 seats? It could push BJP's tally withing sniffing distance of a majority, and along with the allies, Modi may get a second term as prime minister. There are at least three major regional parties which can come to the BJP's rescue namely the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the YSR Congress (YSRCP). These three regioal leaders may join the NDA if they form the government at the Centre. What if BJP alliance gets less than 225 seats? Another scenario is that the BJP alliance not only fails to get 272 but gets less than 225 seats. In this scenario, the Grand Old Party is likely to forge an alliance with several like-minded non-UPA parties such as Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party, Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party, KCR's Telangana Rashtra Samithi and Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party. If Congress gets 140-160 seats? This will mean Congress and others having made significant gains. A low BJP number could set the stage for a Congress-led government. It will almost certainly mean BJP sits in the opposition. It will still command numbers likely to be more than Congress. A large block of regional parties and Congress will, however, favour proponents of an anti-BJP coalition. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 7:23 [IST] Times Now CVoter tracker: NDA likely to retain power despite stiff UPA fight in Assam Allow women to appear for NDA Exam: SC NDA makes big plans for next five years India oi-Hardeep Singh Bedi New Delhi, May 22: The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has made big plans for the next five years after returning to power. It's notable that various exit polls have predicted smooth sailing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led NDA when results of the Lok Sabha elections are announced on Sunday. The NDA held its meeting on Friday evening under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and passed a resolution to make India "strong, developed, prosperous and inclusive" by 2022 when India completes 75 years of its independence. As result day draws closer, NDA allies drop hints about joining cabinet The resolution, passed in the presence of 36 parties of the NDA, hoped that based on the track record and the vision of Prime Minister Modi led NDA government the people of India will once again bless him to lead the nation. It says that PM Modi led NDA Government has future-proofed India and the creation of next-generation roads, railways, highways, i-ways and ports infrastructure are in the offing that would cater to the needs of the present and coming generations. The NDA has pledged to invest heavily in the infrastructure sector to fulfil these goals. "In the years to come, we plan capital investment of Rs. 100 lakh crore in the infrastructure sector. We want India to become the largest start-up ecosystem in the world with modern and adequate infrastructure to support rapid growth. With these steps, India is poised to become a 5 trillion dollar economy. " The NDA has also committed to invest Rs. 25 lakh crore in the farm and rural sectors in the next five years. "We are delighted to see many steps being taken for the welfare of the hardworking farmers. This includes structural changes as well as monetary incentives. The Centre's focus on irrigation, soil health, crop insurance, expanding markets has started yielding results. We commend PM Modi for systematically working towards doubling farmer incomes by 2022. " Amidst a hue and cry, how EC secured India's EVMs The NDA meeting also appreciated Modi government's steps to deal with terrorism, money laundering and climate change. The resolution was proposed by BJP ally and Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister EK Palaniswami were among the BJP allies who attended the meeting at Hotel Ashoka. Later, BJP President Amit Shah hosted dinner for the NDA leaders. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 13:50 [IST] NIA files chargesheet against 7 Khalistani terrorists in case of extortion in Punjab NIA seizes incriminating material in Nagaland terror funding case India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, May 22: The National Investigation Agency conducted raids in connection with a terror funding case in Nagaland. During the raids, the NIA recovered an amount of 1.5 lakhs as proceeds towards terrorism. The NIA also seized incriminating articles such as SIM cards, hard disks, memory cards, mobile phones and documents. The NIA had registered a case against Shelly N Sumi, wife of Niki Sumi of the NSCN (K), a proscribed organisation and her associates. She was arrested along with three of her associates near the Myanmar border. She had proceeded towards Moreh and was planning on transferring the funds to the members of the outfit. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 10:28 [IST] Unfazed by exit polls, opposition draws up plan to stake claim if NDA falls short India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, May 22: Undeterred by what the exit polls said, the opposition has been contemplating making some quick moves in case the NDA falls short of the majority mark. If the NDA falls short of the 272 mark, then the Congress and other opposition parties are preparing to stake a claim on May 23 itself to pre-empt any invitation from the President of India. The opposition has been working with its legal team to ensure that it is called to form the government in case the NDA falls short of the majority mark. A report in the Hindustan Times, while quoting a Congress leader said that in the possibility of a hung verdict, they may replicate the Karnataka model and stake a claim. A final call on the matter would be taken by UPA Chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, he also said. Why does the opposition play good EVM, bad EVM selectively: BJP In Karnataka, the Congress and JD(S) moved quickly to thwart an attempt by the BJP to form the government despite the party emerging as the single largest party. The two parties managed to keep the BJP out of power. In 2004, it may be recalled that the President had given preference to the Congress over the BJP and invited it to form the government. The BJP had 138 seats, while the Congress had 145. The Congress then put together the UPA and with the help of the Left formed the government. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 11:04 [IST] Why does the opposition play good EVM, bad EVM selectively: BJP India oi-Oneindia Staff By Anuj Cariappa New Delhi, May 22: The BJP has condemned opposition parties for questioning the credibility of Electronic Voting Machines and asked them to accept their defeat with grace if the people vote Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power again. Party leader and Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad took a swipe at the opposition, saying EVMs were fine when its leaders like Mamata Banerjee, N Chandrababu Naidu and Amarinder Singh win elections and come to power, but the machines turn unreliable when it appears Modi will come back to power. "EVM is good when Mamata Banerjee became West Bengal chief minister twice and Amarinder Singh became Punjab chief minister. If they win, EVM is good. But when there is expectation that we will win because people of this country want Narendra Modi to be prime minister again, then EVM is unreliable. "The BJP condemns their (opposition) conduct and will tell humbly to accept their defeat with grace," he said. BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said opposition parties are desperately seeking an alibi for their impending massive defeat and their sudden mistrust is "unsurprising and unimaginary". Should VVPATs be counted before EVM votes? "When they win, as they did in state polls recently, EVMs are trustworthy. But when they lose, they become questionable. Their selective trust in the EVMs is hypocritical and mischievous. "Their blatant effort at rubbishing the predicted pro-BJP mandate is an insult to the Indian democracy. The Opposition parties look very small not in their defeat, but in their condemnable conduct," he said. Leaders of as many as 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday and demanded verification of VVPAT slips of randomly-selected polling stations before the counting of the votes polled in the just-concluded Lok Sabha election begins on May 23. They also demanded that if any discrepancy is found during VVPAT verification, 100 per cent counting of the paper slips of VVPATs of all polling stations of that particular Assembly segment should be done and compared with the electronic voting machine (EVM) results. More than 50 jail inmates, 11 staffers under treatment for coronavirus in Delhi Bhima-Koregaon case: Sudha Bharadwaj to be released from jail on payment of Rs 50,000 surety US billionaire puts plane on Autopilot to have sex with 15-year-old girl, faces jail International oi-Madhuri Adnal Washington, May 22: A New Jersey-based millionaire faces five years in jail after he pleaded guilty for engaging in sex acts with a 15-year-old girl, once even putting his private plane in autopilot mode for the purpose. Stephen Bradley Mell, 53, of Bedminster, New Jersey, pleaded guilty to federal charges of engaging in interstate travel to engage in illicit sexual conduct and receiving child pornography in December 2018 and is now due for sentencing on Tuesday. According to reports, Mell began sexting with the teenage girl shortly after he was introduced to her by her mother, who wanted the 15-year-old girl to take flying lessons from him. Will continue crackdown on child sexual abuse content on platform: WhatsApp to IT Min According to the complaint, Mell, who is a father of three, began chatting up with the girl in 2017, and would exchange text messages and SnapChat photos with her. He took advantage of her during a trip to New York City, and took a photograph of her naked in front of him while in a hotel. On July 20, the two of them met for their private flight out of Somerset County Airport in New Jersey. The purpose of the journey was to engage in "illicit conduct, specifically, a sexual act," the complaint said. It was on the return flight to Somerset when Mell allegedly put the plane on autopilot to have sex with the girl. Sexual abuse at Bihar shelter homes: SC orders CBI to take over The two communicated throughout the summer of 2017. The final communication between the pair was in November 2017, when Mell ask the child to 'Send me a nice naked pic cute thing.' It was not clear how Mell's abusive behaviour was exposed, however, the accused admitted to his crimes in December 2018. The case also resulted in his wife filing for a divorce from him. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 10:01 [IST] 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. Global (United States, European Union and China) Coagulation Albumin Market Research Report 2019-2025 https://www.marketresearchreportstore.com/reports/631599/global-united-states-european-union-china https://www.marketresearchreportstore.com/reports/631599/global-united-states-european-union-china https://www.marketresearchreportstore.com Market Research Report Store offers a latest published report on Albumin Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2025 delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 158 pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Click to view the full report TOC, figure and tables:In 2019, the market size of Coagulation Albumin is million US$ and it will reach million US$ in 2025, growing at a CAGR of from 2019; while in China, the market size is valued at xx million US$ and will increase to xx million US$ in 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during forecast period.In this report, 2018 has been considered as the base year and 2019 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Coagulation Albumin.This report studies the global market size of Coagulation Albumin, especially focuses on the key regions like United States, European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia).This study presents the Coagulation Albumin sales volume, revenue, market share and growth rate for each key company, and also covers the breakdown data (sales, revenue and market share) by regions, type and applications. history breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, and forecast to 2025.For top companies in United States, European Union and China, this report investigates and analyzes the production, value, price, market share and growth rate for the top manufacturers, key data from 2014 to 2019.In global market, the following companies are covered:BaxterGrifolsCSLOctapharmaBiotestKedrionHualan BioCNBGShanghai RAASCBPOLFB GroupBPLSichuan Yuanda ShuyangMarket Segment by Product TypeLiquidPowderMarket Segment by ApplicationInfectious HepatitisMeaslesOtherKey Regions split in this report: breakdown data for each region.United StatesChinaEuropean UnionRest of World (Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)The study objectives are:To analyze and research the Coagulation Albumin status and future forecast in United States, European Union and China, involving sales, value (revenue), growth rate (CAGR), market share, historical and forecast.To present the key Coagulation Albumin manufacturers, presenting the sales, revenue, market share, and recent development for key players.To split the breakdown data by regions, type, companies and applicationsTo analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends, drivers, influence factors in global and regionsTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketIn this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Coagulation Albumin are as follows:History Year: 2014-2018Base Year: 2018Estimated Year: 2019Forecast Year 2019 to 2025For More Information On This Report, Please Visit @Related Information:North America Albumin Market Growth 2019-2024United States Albumin Market Growth 2019-2024Asia-Pacific Albumin Market Growth 2019-2024Europe Albumin Market Growth 2019-2024EMEA Albumin Market Growth 2019-2024Global Albumin Market Growth 2019-2024China Albumin Market Growth 2019-2024Customization Service of the Report :Market Research Report Store provides 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 Us:Market Research Report Store (MRRS) is a professional organization related to market research reports in all directions .To provide customers with a variety of market research reports, MRRS cooperates with a large of famous market report publishers all over the world. Owing to our good service and the professional market reports in the wide range, MRRS enjoys a good reputation in the market. In pace with the development of MRRS, more and more customers and market report publishers choose to cooperate with us. As a specialized platform, MRRS upholds the supremacy of customers and aims to provide customers with better service and richer select.Contact USMarket Research Report StoreE-mail: info@marketresearchreportstore.comTel: +86-15521064060 00852-58197708(HK)Add: 17890 Castleton Street Suite 218 City of Industry CA 91748 United StatesWebsite: Wearable Injectors Market Health Improvement Aspects, Growth Opportunities - P&S Intelligence https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wearable-injectors-market https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wearable-injectors-market/report-sample https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=wearable-injectors-market https://www.psmarketresearch.com The market is driven by various factors such as growing burden of geriatric population, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and high demand for advanced drug delivery. The emerging economies offer ample growth opportunities for the growth of wearable injectors industry.Access Detailed Report Summary:In terms of type, the wearable injectors market is segmented into body-worn patch injector, off-body worn belt injector and bolus injector. The bolus injector was launched in the market in 2015 and is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period.Request to Get the Sample Pages at:In terms of application, the wearable injectors industry is segmented into cancer, infectious disease, autoimmune disorder, cardiovascular disease, blood disorder and others. Some of the other application of wearable injectors include insulin pump and neulasta pump. The wearable injectors market for cancer is expected to grow at a CAGR of 42.0% during the forecast period. North America is expected to be the largest contributor to the wearable injectors industry for cancer during the forecast period. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to be the fastest growing market during the forecast period.Make Enquiry Before Buying the Report:Geographically, North America has been the largest market for wearable injectors, where the U.S. has been the largest contributor to the regional market during 2013 - 2015. The North American wearable injectors market is growing significantly due to increasing demand for self-injection system and rising prevalence of chronic and lifestyle-associated diseases. According to the CDC, approximately 117 million people in the U.S., i.e. about half of its adult population, experienced one or more chronic health conditions in 2012. Japan has been the major market in Asia-Pacific; whereas in Europe, Germany has been the highest revenue generator in 2015.The wearable injectors market reported a consolidated structure in 2015, where the top three competitors accounted for the major share.Some of the key players in the market includes Becton, Dickinson and Company, Medtronic plc, Johnson & Johnson, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Insulet Corporation, Unilife Corporation, Enable Injections, SteadyMed Ltd., Ypsomed Group, West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.About P&S IntelligenceP&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.Contact:P&S IntelligenceToll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)International: +1-347-960-6455Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb: In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) Market Analysis and In-depth Research on Roche Diagnostics, Siemens Healthineers, Abbott Laboratories, Sysmex Corporation In-vitro Diagnostics (IVD) https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/195 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/in-vitro-diagnostics-ivd-market-195 Among application, infectious diseases segment accounted for the highest revenue in the in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) market. The segment is expected to grow by 1.5X at a CAGR of 4.4% between 2016 and 2024. The prevalence of infectious diseases has increased considerably over the past few years. In 2016, morbidity cases in tuberculosis, salmonella and meningococcal disease was as high as 90,000 in the U.S. These factors have led to increasing demand for IVD from diagnostic centers, thereby driving growth of the market.As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over 3.9 million patients visited hospital outpatient department for infectious and parasitic diseases. The demand for IVD is expected to increase, as it is largely used for the detection of autoimmune disorders and infectious diseases.Ask for the Sample of the Study:North America is highest contributing region for In vitro diagnostics (IVD) market, with a projected market share of 46.7% by 2024, expanding at the fastest CAGR of 5.4% between 2016 and 2024. Changing healthcare landscape, favorable regulatory policies such as Medicaid and Medicare along with significant healthcare spending (16.7%) is expected to boost the market for IVD in the region. Though the market outlook seems lucrative in North America, reimbursement pressure, increased usage of companion diagnostic and significant growth potential of next generation sequencing (NGS) are key challenges for the industry players in the North America.Companion diagnostics market is proliferating at faster market pace compared to IVD. As such, product innovation in the segment is the key focus area for market players. North America has also seen some of the major mergers and acquisitions in the recent past, to tap into market opportunities. For instance, Roche acquired Ventana Medical in 2008. In 2011, Novartis acquired Genoptix to capture a greater chunk of market in the U.S.Market players are focused towards research and development to expand their business reach in the market. Moreover, industry players are focused towards generating revenue from respective key product segment. For instance, while Roche and Siemens are active players in clinical chemistry IVD product segment, Allere and Abbott holds key market share in point of care IVD solutions.Furthermore, the In vitro diagnostics (IVD) market is expected to witness mergers and acquisition in near future, wherein leading players are expected to acquire regional companies based in emerging economies. Similar trends have been noticed in recent past where leading players acquired/partnered with regional players. For instance, Roche acquired majority stake in Foundation medicine with US$ 1.2 Bn in 2015.Several factors driving growth of the in vitro diagnostic market include high unmet healthcare needs in categories of infectious disease, chronic disease, and other acute allergies. Furthermore, high prevalence of cancer along with high demand for lab automation is expected to support growth of the in vitro diagnostic market in the near future. In 2015, according to the National Cancer Institute, majority of share in the type of cancer was contributed by lung and bronchus cancer, followed by colon, rectum and other type of cancers. Furthermore, in 2015, around 1.7 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the U.S., which is propelling demand for adoption of diagnostic tests worldwide.For More Information On This Report, Please Visit @Market players are focused on expanding their product portfolio with wide applications of the IVD in healthcare sector, which is expected to offer various choices to the physicians for the appropriate type of test in particular symptoms, which is further expected to favor growth of IVD market in near future. Key players in the IVD market are focused on inorganic growth strategies such as mergers and acquisitions to maintain leading position in the market.For instance, in 2015, Roche acquired Signature Diagnostics AG based in Potsdam, Germany, which is expected further to strengthen the companys next generation sequencing (NGS) diagnostic segment.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.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Future Growth of computed tomography Market Collaborations, and Agreements Driving the Growth: GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Hitachi Medical Corporation, NeuroLogica Corporation, Philips Healthcare Computed Tomography https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/495 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/computed-tomography-market-495 The players in the computed tomography market are collaborating with innovative solutions providers to drive growth. For instance, in November 2017, the Sectra Corporation (Sectra), an international medical imaging information technology company signed a distribution agreement with El Seif Development Company (El Seif). According to the agreement El Seif will distribute Sectras enterprise image management solutions, which comprise of picture archiving and communication system (PACS) for image sensitive procedures such as breast imaging, orthopedic and cardiovascular procedures. With this healthcare providers (2,300 primary care centers and 470 hospitals) in Saudi Arabia, will gain access to the Sectras in proprietary imaging solutions.For Sample Copy of this Report @In January 2017, Bruker microCT (Bruker), subsidiary of Bruker Corporation and iTomography Corporation (iTomo) entered into a multiyear license agreement for the software technology developed by iTomo. This provided Bruker with non-exclusive rights to the software developed through iTomos image reconstruction algorithm.North America accounted for the largest share in the global computed tomography market, followed by Europe in 2016. This is attributed to increasing prevalence of cancer in the region and a large number of skilled healthcare professionals. For instance, according to American Cancer Society, in 2015, approximately 1.7 million new cases of cancer were diagnosed in the U.S.Additionally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 17.7 million people across the globe died due to cardiovascular disorders. Early detection with diagnostic systems such as the CT scans could aid in reducing the incidence of these disorders. Thus, increasing adoption of computed tomography for providing better diagnostic solutions and to detect abnormalities and fractures in the body is a factor expected to drive growth of the market over the forecast period.Manufacturers in the healthcare industry are focusing on developing new diagnostic products integrated with advanced technology to deliver better results. Key manufacturers are also collaborating to strengthen their product portfolio related to medical imaging. For instance, in last few months of 2017 prominent players such as Philips Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, and GE Healthcare entered into collaboration with HeartFlow Inc. a personalized medical technology company.The companys HeartFlow FFRct Analysis is the first non-invasive technology that enables surgeons to diagnose coronary artery disease based on physiology and anatomy. The collaboration with HeartFlow Inc. is expected to enable Philips Healthcare to co-develop iFR or cathlab X-ray angiography image derived FFR solution to enhance workflow. The collaboration agreement with Siemens Healthineers and GE Healthcare is expected to aid in developing CT scanners based on HeartFlow Inc.s FFRct Analysis platform.For More Information On This Report, Please Visit @Major players operating in the global computed tomography market include GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Hitachi Medical Corporation, NeuroLogica Corporation, Philips Healthcare, Toshiba Medical Systems, Neusoft Medical System, and Shenzen Anke High-Tech Co. Ltd.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.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Isoleucine Market Size | Key Players are: Ajinomoto Co., Inc. , Evonik Industries AG , Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. , Daesang Corporation , Meihua Group , Wuxi Jinghai Amino Acid Co., Ltd. (Aminowill) https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2954351?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=Rajashrik https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2954351?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=Rajashrik https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/medical-implants-market Isoleucine Market report contains all study material about overview, growth, demand and forecast research report in all over the world. This report offers some penetrating overview and solution in the complex world Isoleucine Market in global market.The Global Isoleucine Market Outlook 2018-2023 offers detailed coverage of isoleucine industry and presents main market trends.The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading isoleucine producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for isoleucine. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography.Get Sample:The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global isoleucine market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others).Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market.Key Regions North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South AmericaGet Discount:Key Vendors Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Evonik Industries AG Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. Daesang Corporation Meihua Group Wuxi Jinghai Amino Acid Co., Ltd. (Aminowill) Jinyao Ruida (Xuchang) Biology Technology Co., Ltd. request free sample to get a complete list of companiesKey Questions Answered in This Report Analysis of the isoleucine market including revenues, future growth, market outlook Historical data and forecast Regional analysis including growth estimates Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. Profiles on isoleucine vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. Market structure, market drivers and restraints.Related Report:MEDICAL IMPLANTS MARKET By Type (Orthopedic Implants, Cardiac Implants, Stents, Spinal Implants, Neurostimulators, Dental Implants, Breast Implants, Facial Implants) And By Materials (Metallic, Ceramic, Polymers, Natural) - Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecast, 2014 - 2022Medical implants are permanent devices such as pacemakers or temporary devices such as fracture plates which are removed once their function is completed. These implants are made up of bone, tissue, skin, ceramics, metals, plastics, and other natural materials. The world medical implants market is estimated to reach $116,300 million by 2022Read MoreAbout 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:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United StatesDirect: +1-971-202-1575Toll Free: +1-800-910-6452E-mail help@bigmarketresearch.com What's driving the Processed Fruits and Vegetables Market trends? Nestle, B&G Foods, SVZ, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Sysco Corporation, Conagra Foods, Pinnacle Foods, Bunge https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/1984503/?utm_source=Openpr.com-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/1984503/?utm_source=Openpr.com-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/processed-fruits-and-vegetables-market/?utm_source=Openpr.com-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-united-states-european-union-and-china-an-hua-hei-cha-chinese-black-tea-leaves-market-research-report-2019-2025?utm_source=RR-SP https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/blog/ Market Study Report LLC presents an extensive report on Processed Fruits and Vegetables market that offers qualitative information about prevailing trends and a detailed analysis of the growth trajectory of this industry. It also includes a study of the historical data and detailed statistics that will help determine the future scope of the industry in terms of commercialization opportunities.Fresh produce segment accounted for over 30% share of overall market. According to FAO, United States dominates international trade of fresh produce accounting 18% of overall trade. Growing urban population, changing consumer perception about food quality & safety and increase in urban purchasing power have led to shift away from staple carbohydrates foods towards fresh produce products. Most of the fresh produce come from rural areas. Due to expansion of cities, length of rural-urban supply chain has increased. This has led processed fruits & vegetables manufacturers to sign agreements with farmers to ensure better availability and consistency of raw materials.Request a sample of this premium report at:Growing awareness about benefits of fruits and vegetables and surge in demand for convenience food is driving the processed fruits and vegetables market. The increased popularity of natural, healthy and organic food products will support industry growth. According to FAO, world population is expected to surpass 8.5 billion by the year 2030, thereby demand for processed fruits and vegetables will witness significant growth.Rapid expansion of advanced fruits and vegetables processing centers will also provide positive business outlook for manufacturers. These facilities are capable of manufacturing juices, pickles, tomato juice, dried & dehydrated finished products, ketchup & paste, jams, jellies, marmalades and semi processed fruits. This allows manufacturers to enhance its production capabilities as these centers can handle many products without major alterations.As per industry trends, fruits & vegetables processing technology should be in line with material resources, capital and labor for developing countries. This means quantity of goods produced and distribution channel are only considered which will help in producing region specific products. However, implementation of international trade agreements such as NAFTA and MERCOSUR will significantly impact overall growth of processed fruits & vegetables market.Request a discount on standard prices of this premium report at:Pre-processing equipment will witness significant gains at over 6.5% in the projected time frame in the overall processed fruits & vegetables market growth. Pre-processing equipment allows rapid cooling of fresh produce following harvest which will restrict deterioration and maintain fresh produce products in a condition acceptable to processed fruits and vegetable manufacturers. This will help manufacturers to develop fresh quality products in order to cater quality product demand from consumers.North America is anticipated to surpass USD 123 billion in the overall processed fruits and vegetables market by 2025. The U.S. is the largest market for organic foods and beverages in the world, thus creating new business opportunities for manufacturers in the region. Growing consumer interest in organic chocolate in this region will help to promulgate industry growth.Processed fruits and vegetables market is competitive in nature owing to presence of several global and regional players. Major companies present in the industry include SVZ, Sysco Corporation, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Conagra Foods and Nestle. Other notable players include B&G Foods, Pinnacle Foods, Bunge, and Agrana. Production capacity enhancement, product development, supply chain agreements, and mergers & acquisition are among key strategies adopted by major industry players. For instance, in February 2019, SVZ USA announced that it had increased production capacity in Othello, to meet the growing demand of customers for processed fruits and vegetables in North America region.Table of Content:Chapter 1. Methodology & Scope1.1. Methodology1.1.1. Initial data exploration1.1.2. Statistical model and forecast1.1.3. Industry insights and validation1.1.4. Definitions & forecast parameters1.2. Data sources1.2.1. Primary1.2.2. SecondaryChapter 2. Executive Summary2.1. Processed fruits & vegetables industry 360 degree synopsis, 2013 - 20252.1.1. Business trends2.1.2. Type trends2.1.3. Product trends2.1.4. Application trends2.1.5. Regional trendsChapter 3. Processed Fruits and Vegetables Industry Insights3.1. Industry segmentation3.2. Industry landscape, 2013 - 20253.3. Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1. Raw material suppliers3.3.2. Manufacturers3.3.3. Distribution channel analysis3.3.4. Profit margin trends3.3.5. Vendor matrix3.4. Technology landscape3.5. Raw material trends3.6. Consumer buying behavior3.6.1. Unmet needs3.6.2. Information search3.6.3. Evaluation of alternatives3.6.4. Purchase decision3.6.5. Post purchase behavior3.7. Regulatory landscape, by region3.7.1. North America3.7.2. Europe3.7.3. Asia Pacific3.7.4. Latin America3.7.5. MEA3.8. Pricing analysis, 2013 - 20253.8.1. Regional pricing3.8.1.1. North America3.8.1.2. Europe3.8.1.3. Asia Pacific3.8.1.4. Latin America3.8.1.5. MEA3.8.2. Cost structure analysis, 20183.9. Global processed food industry outlook, 2018-20253.10. Industry impact forces3.10.1. Growth drivers, by region3.10.1.1. North America3.10.1.2. Europe3.10.1.3. Asia Pacific3.10.1.4. Latin America3.10.1.5. MEA3.10.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges3.11. Growth potential analysis, 20183.12. Competitive landscape, 20183.12.1. Company market share analysis, 20183.12.2. Top players overview3.12.3. Key stake holders3.12.4. Strategy dashboard3.13. Porter's analysis3.14. PESTEL analysisChapter 4. Processed Fruits and Vegetables Market, By Type4.1. Global processed fruits & vegetables market share by type, 2018 & 20254.2. Fruits4.2.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013 - 20254.2.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-20254.3. Vegetables4.3.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013 - 20254.3.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-2025Chapter 5. Processed Fruits and Vegetables Market, By Product5.1. Global processed fruits & vegetables market share by product, 2018 & 20255.2. Fresh5.2.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013 - 20255.2.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-2025For more information on this report at:Related Report:Global (United States, European Union and China) An Hua Hei Cha (Chinese Black Tea Leaves) Market Research Report 2019-2025This report studies the global market size of An Hua Hei Cha (Chinese Black Tea Leaves), especially focuses on the key regions like United States, European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia).This study presents the An Hua Hei Cha (Chinese Black Tea Leaves) sales volume, revenue, market share and growth rate for each key company, and also covers the breakdown data (sales, revenue and market share) by regions, type and applications. history breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, and forecast to 2025.For top companies in United States, European Union and China, this report investigates and analyzes the production, value, price, market share and growth rate for the top manufacturers, key data from 2014 to 2019.About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report LLC4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:Blog: Global (United States, European Union and China) Ballast Water Management Systems Market Research Report 2019-2025 https://www.marketresearchreportstore.com/reports/579276/global-united-states-european-union-china https://www.marketresearchreportstore.com/reports/579276/global-united-states-european-union-china https://www.marketresearchreportstore.com Market Research Report Store offers a latest published report on Ballast Water Systems Market Analysis and Forecast 2019-2025 delivering key insights and providing a competitive advantage to clients through a detailed report. The report contains 158 pages which highly exhibit on current market analysis scenario, upcoming as well as future opportunities, revenue growth, pricing and profitability.Click to view the full report TOC, figure and tables:In 2019, the market size of Ballast Water Management Systems is million US$ and it will reach million US$ in 2025, growing at a CAGR of from 2019; while in China, the market size is valued at xx million US$ and will increase to xx million US$ in 2025, with a CAGR of xx% during forecast period.In this report, 2018 has been considered as the base year and 2019 to 2025 as the forecast period to estimate the market size for Ballast Water Management Systems.This report studies the global market size of Ballast Water Management Systems, especially focuses on the key regions like United States, European Union, China, and other regions (Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia).This study presents the Ballast Water Management Systems production, revenue, market share and growth rate for each key company, and also covers the breakdown data (production, consumption, revenue and market share) by regions, type and applications. history breakdown data from 2014 to 2019, and forecast to 2025.For top companies in United States, European Union and China, this report investigates and analyzes the production, value, price, market share and growth rate for the top manufacturers, key data from 2014 to 2019.In global market, the following companies are covered:Alfa Laval (Sweden)Panasia (Korea)OceanSaver (Norway)Qingdao Sunrui (China)JFE Engineering (Japan)NK (Japan)Qingdao Headway Technology (China)Optimarin (Norway)Hyde Marine (US)Veolia Water Technologies (Saudi Arabia)TechcrossSiemens (Germany)Ecochlor (US)Industrie De Nora (Singapore)MMC Green Technology (Norway)Wartsila (Finland)NEI Treatment Systems (US)Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan)Desmi (Denmark)Trojan Marinex (Canada)Market Segment by Product TypeBallast Capacity:5000 m3Market Segment by ApplicationModify ShipNew Build ShipKey Regions split in this report: breakdown data for each region.United StatesChinaEuropean UnionRest of World (Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)The study objectives are:To analyze and research the Ballast Water Management Systems status and future forecast in United States, European Union and China, involving sales, value (revenue), growth rate (CAGR), market share, historical and forecast.To present the key Ballast Water Management Systems manufacturers, presenting the sales, revenue, market share, and recent development for key players.To split the breakdown data by regions, type, companies and applicationsTo analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends, drivers, influence factors in global and regionsTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketIn this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Ballast Water Management Systems are as follows:History Year: 2014-2018Base Year: 2018Estimated Year: 2019Forecast Year 2019 to 2025For More Information On This Report, Please Visit @Related Information:North America Ballast Water Systems Market Growth 2019-2024United States Ballast Water Systems Market Growth 2019-2024Asia-Pacific Ballast Water Systems Market Growth 2019-2024Europe Ballast Water Systems Market Growth 2019-2024EMEA Ballast Water Systems Market Growth 2019-2024Global Ballast Water Systems Market Growth 2019-2024China Ballast Water Systems Market Growth 2019-2024Customization Service of the Report :Market Research Report Store provides 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 Us:Market Research Report Store (MRRS) is a professional organization related to market research reports in all directions .To provide customers with a variety of market research reports, MRRS cooperates with a large of famous market report publishers all over the world. Owing to our good service and the professional market reports in the wide range, MRRS enjoys a good reputation in the market. In pace with the development of MRRS, more and more customers and market report publishers choose to cooperate with us. As a specialized platform, MRRS upholds the supremacy of customers and aims to provide customers with better service and richer select.Contact USMarket Research Report StoreE-mail: info@marketresearchreportstore.comTel: +86-15521064060 00852-58197708(HK)Add: 17890 Castleton Street Suite 218 City of Industry CA 91748 United StatesWebsite: Gynecological Cancer Drugs Market Global Forecast 2026 | Top Key Players Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., Apotex Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck & Co., Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Gynecological Cancer Drugs https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1744 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/talk-to-analyst/1744 Gynecological cancer is defined as uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the female reproductive organs such as cervix, uterus, ovaries, vagina, and vulva. Furthermore, several factors responsible for occurrence of gynecological cancer includes infection from virus known as HPV or Human Papillomavirus. Moreover, factors such as infertility, obesity, mutations, early start of menstruation or late start of menopause also could cause gynecological cancer.Gynecological cancer can be treated with different medication, therapies, surgeries, or chemotherapy. The treatment of gynecological cancer also depends upon the type and stage of the cancer. There are different types of this cancer, which includes uterine, ovarian cancer, vaginal cancer, vulvar cancer and cervical cancer. Each gynecologic cancer is unique, with different signs and symptoms, different risk factors, and different prevention strategies.Request For Sample Copy of Research @Gynecological Cancer Drugs Market DynamicsIn order to cater to increasing demand for gynecological cancer drugs, pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies are focusing on research and development to launch new gynecological cancer drugs in the market. Furthermore, some generic manufactures are also focusing on manufacturing patent off drugs in the generic form, for the treatment of this cancer. For instance, Dr Reddys Laboratories based in India, in May 2017, received US Food and Drug Administration approval to launch Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome injection in the U.S. market. This Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Liposome is a therapeutic equivalent generic version of Doxil, which is a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of certain cancer such as ovarian cancer, AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, and multiple myeloma.Furthermore, in 2017, US FDA also approved Zejula (niraparib), which is targeted therapy drug for women with some types of ovarian, fallopian tube, or peritoneal cancers. It is also approved for women with relapsed cancer after chemotherapy. American Cancer Society, as of March 2018 has funded around 22 grants for cervical cancer, which accounted for around US$ 9.3 million. The funding value is offered to a single or group of research, which includes a specific type of a cancer or area of cancer.Increasing prevalence of gynecological cancers, is expected to be a major factor for growth of the market. According to American Cancer Society, endometrium cancer, a type of cervical cancer, was estimated to be the most common cancer of the female reproductive organs. Furthermore, it was also estimated that 47,130 new cases of endometrial cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2012, and about 8,010 women will die from endometrial cancer. Moreover, according to American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer among women and in 2012 it was estimated that about 22,280 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S., which is expected to support growth of the gynecological cancer drugs market size over the forecast period.Gynecological Cancer Drugs Market - Regional InsightsBased on region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. North America accounted for the largest share in the gynecological cancer drugs market, followed by Europe market in 2016. This is attributed to increasing prevalence of cervical cancer in the U.S. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention in 2014, 12,578 women in the U.S. ware diagnosed with cervical cancer and 4,115 women died from cervical cancer. Therefore, this is expected to lead to increasing demand for gynecological cancer drugs in North America.Furthermore, Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at faster rate due to large population pool and government initiatives to create awareness regarding gynecological cancer. For instance, the Indian government published an operational framework for the countrys first national screening programmne, in 2016, where there will be mandatory screening for oral, breast, and cervical cancer in people over the age of 30 in 100 districts of India.Gynecological Cancer Drugs Market - Competitive AnalysisManufactures are involved in research and development, to enter the gynecological cancer drugs market. For instance, Oasmia Pharmaceutical AB, in May 2018, announced results from the completed phase III study with Apealea for treatment of ovarian cancer.Major players operating in the market are Apotex Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Eli Lilly and Company, F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis AG, Pfizer Inc., and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.For Any Pre-Order Enquiry Visit @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.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com What's driving the Bulldozer Market trends? Caterpillar Inc. , Deere & Company , Komatsu Ltd. , Liebherr Group , Liugong Machinery Co., Ltd. https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2954339?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=Rajashrik https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2954339?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=Rajashrik https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/global-single-cylinder-diesel-engine-industry-deep-research-report-market Market Study Report delivers significant information and realistic data of the Bulldozer market . The report presents a deep study of the market growth factors and drivers. In-depth research of the Bulldozer Market limitations and the opportunities enable the user to make the future projection.The Global Bulldozer Market Outlook 2018-2023 offers detailed coverage of bulldozer industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading bulldozer producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for bulldozer.The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography.Get Sample:The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants.The global bulldozer market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market.Key Regions North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South AmericaKey Vendors Caterpillar Inc. Deere & Company Komatsu Ltd. Liebherr Group Liugong Machinery Co., Ltd. Zoomlion Heavy Industry Science and Technology Co., Ltd. Shantui Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.Get Discount:Key Questions Answered in This Report Analysis of the bulldozer market including revenues, future growth, market outlook Historical data and forecast Regional analysis including growth estimates Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. Profiles on bulldozer vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. Market structure, market drivers and restraints.Related Report:GLOBAL SINGLE CYLINDER DIESEL ENGINE INDUSTRY 2015 DEEP MARKETResearch ReportThe Global Single Cylinder Diesel Engine Industry 2015 Deep Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Single Cylinder Diesel Engine industryRead MoreAbout 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:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United StatesDirect: +1-971-202-1575Toll Free: +1-800-910-6452E-mail help@bigmarketresearch.com Russian Online Travel Market to Project a Huge Growth over period 2019-2025| Leading Players Profiled Booking.com, Exodus Travels, TripAdvisor, Oktogo, Eviterra, Tutu Russian Online Travel Market https://www.reportconsultant.com/request_sample.php?id=29236 https://www.reportconsultant.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=29236 https://www.reportconsultant.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=29236 www.reportconsultant.com Experts say that Russians love traveling, but the language is often a barrier, given the amount spent by tourists in the travel industry last year. Hence Russian Online Travel Market has gained popularity over years and years. Younger generations of Russians are more important to travel independently, but most travelers find packaged travel products. The travel website strives to make it easier for travelers to make the transition, such as better domestic travel, building trends in independent foreign travel, and moving to online reservations for travel.Russian Online Travel Market was valued at +15 Billion in the year 2018. The market is expected to grow with a CAGR of +20% over the forecast period 2019-2025.Request for sample report@Report Consultant has newly announced a massive data of market titled as Russian Online Travel Market. It has been curated in a clear manner and has been presented with effective info-graphics. The global market report has been accumulated by using research techniques. It comprises analysis of static as well as dynamic aspects of the businesses. The market future has been presented by analyzing different aspects of the market such as current status, profit margin and demanding structure.Leading Players of Russian Online Travel Market: Booking.com Exodus Travels TripAdvisor Oktogo Eviterra Tutu Blablacar TravelmenuThe key questions answered over Russian Online Travel Market research report: What is the size of the potential market? What are the top level competitors in the market? Who are the major key players in the market? Which factors are beneficial to enhance the performance of the Russian Online Travel market? What are the demanding regions of the market? What are the driving and restraining factors of the market?Ask for discount on this report@Based on geographies, technological advancements, tools, patterns, and standard operating procedures have been studied in detail. The sector is examined to understand the present demand in the Russian Online Travel Market. Based on numerous distribution channels the market has been segmented into several types. Additionally, it offers a tremendous amount of data gathered through qualitative and quantitative analysis and presented in a clear and professional manner.Russian Online Travel market research report offers a better perception of global businesses through the following pointers: Market penetration Competitive assessment of the market The geographical outlook of the market Detailed insights on Russian Online Travel market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities Investigation of global opportunities Descriptive analysis of the market through industry analysis techniques Enlist the financial overview of the market Identification of macro and microeconomic factors that impacts on the Russian Online Travel market Identification of global clients and potential customers Different infographics for presenting the factsEnquiry before buying@About Company:Report Consultant - A worldwide pacesetter in analytics, research and advisory that can assist you to renovate your business and modify your approach. With us, you will learn to take decisions intrepidly by taking calculative risks leading to lucrative businesses in the ever-changing market. We make sense of drawbacks, opportunities, circumstances, estimations and information using our experienced skills and verified methodologies.Our research reports will give you the most realistic and incomparable experience of revolutionary market solutions. We have effectively steered businesses all over the world through our market research reports with our predictive nature and are exceptionally positioned to lead digital transformations. Thus, we craft greater value for clients by presenting progressive opportunities in the global futuristic market.Contact us:Rebecca Parker(Report Consultant)Akasaka biz tower,5-3-1 akasaka minato-ku,Tokyo, JapanContact No- +81-368444299sales@reportconsultant.com Global Digital Pathology Market : Shortage of Skilled Pathologists to Reflect Impressive Market Demand and Market Growth https://www.datamintelligence.com/research-report/digital-pathology-market https://www.datamintelligence.com/research-report/digital-pathology-market DataM Intelligence announces its market report titled Global Digital Pathology Market Size, Share and Forecasts (2019-2026) which reflects the size, share, forecast analysis of key players. The report analyses worldwide market restraints and drivers to provide a better picture of the market opportunities.With the introduction of Whole-Slide Imaging, the field of digital pathology is currently regarded as one of the most promising avenues of diagnostic medicine to achieve an even faster and cheaper diagnosis, the prognosis of essential diseases.Global Digital Pathology Market driversAccording to the World Health Organization, The global cancer burden is estimated to have risen to 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths in 2018. WHO estimated that Infectious diseases kill over 17 million people a year, around the world.Additionally, the rising demand for personalized medicine, its advantage in reducing human error and improve the accuracy of diagnoses, increases the potential for using data for education and consultations and rapid technological advancements in digital pathology are expecting to play a crucial role in the development of the market.However, lack of reimbursement policies and the high cost of digital pathology systems may hinder the market progress. According to a national survey conducted on behalf of National Cancer Research Institutes CM-Path initiative in the UK, 82.5% of respondents agreed that initial financial cost was an obstacle to the widespread usage of digital pathology in their institution. On the other hand, only 15% agreed that safety concerns were hampering more widespread use of digital slides.Global Digital Pathology Market Segmentation AnalysisBy Product, the Global Digital Pathology Market is segmented into Software, Scanners, Storage Systems, and Communication Systems. The software market share is expected to witness the highest growth rate due to the availability of analytical, user-friendly, and advanced functions for pathology diagnosis. Technological advancements and product launches by key players are some factors that are anticipated to amplify the segment growth. For instance, in April 2019, Gestalt Diagnostics announced their development of an artificial intelligence algorithm that identifies and routes more critical cases first to the appropriate pathologist based upon a pathologist's speciality.By Application, the Global Digital Pathology Market is segmented into Drug Discovery, Teleconsultation, Diagnosis, and Training & Education. The diagnosis sector accounts for a significant market share, in terms of revenue owing to the rising prevalence of diseases such as cancer. Additionally, the increasing attention of manufacturers on developing rapid and accurate diagnostic techniques is likely to encourage the growth of the segment.By Technology, the Global Digital Pathology Market is segmented into Whole Slide Imaging and Telepathology. Telepathology is sub-segmented into static and dynamic. The Whole Slide Imaging segment dominates the market due to increasing acceptance and adoption of this system for academic research activities and enhanced resolution of the image.In the Telepathology share, the static system held a significant percentage of the segment owing it to its advantages such as cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and reliability. Though adoption of Telepathology is relatively low increasing R&D on applications of static and dynamic systems is expected to affect the usage rate of this technology positively. For instance, Hybrid Telepathology, which is the combination of static and dynamic telepathology, is expected to gain popularity as it has advantages of both the systems.By Type, the digital pathology market is bifurcated into human and veterinary pathology. The human pathology segment accounts for the largest share of the market owing to the increasing number of cancer research activities.Global Digital Pathology Market Regional AnalysisGeographically, the global market is divided into North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa.North America is the leading revenue contributor to the global market and is followed by Europe. It can be attributed to the rising in acceptance of the digital pathology system in the region and increasing incidents of cancer and chronic diseases. According to the estimates of the American Cancer Society, in 2018, there were 1,735,350 new cancer cases diagnosed, and in 2019, there will be an estimated 1,762,450 new cancer cases diagnosed and 606,880 cancer deaths in the United States.Asia Pacific is anticipated to exhibit the fastest CAGR during the forecast period due to the presence of a large patient population, improving healthcare infrastructure coupled with growing investments in the medical field, and demand for novel treatment options.Global Digital Pathology Market Company TrendsKey players are adopting strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, and regional expansion to stand out as strong competitors in the market. New product launches and R&D are other ways the leading players improve their market presence.In April 2019, International medical imaging IT and cybersecurity company Sectra signed a digital pathology contract with the Region of Southern Denmark. The IT solution for handling digital pathology images will enable pathologists at the region's four hospitals to review and collaborate around cases in a way that is not possible with microscopes. This will increase efficiency in primary diagnostics, thereby improving cancer care.In April 2019, HCG introduced US FDA approved digital pathology solution by Philips Intellisite Pathology Solutions across all its centres in India. This technology marks a step forward in cancer treatment through precision, speed, efficiency, and ease of use with immense potential to provide significant clinical benefits to both the physicians and patients.In April 2019, Deep Lens Inc., a U.S.-based AI-driven digital pathology company focused on clinical trial recruitment at the time of diagnosis raised $14 million in Series A funding. The Series A round was led by Northpond Ventures with participation from existing investors Rev1 Ventures, Sierra Ventures, and Tamarind-Hill Partners.In April 2019, Cancer informatics and digital pathology workflow solution provider Inspirata Europe Ltd announced their intention to bring two new artificial intelligence tools for surveillance, structuring, and reporting of pathology diagnoses to the UK and Ireland markets.In January 2019, Roche announced the launch of its uPath enterprise software for digital pathology. uPath enhances the user experience by drastically decreasing image rendering times, integrating automated image analysis and improving efficiency by enabling an improved workflow for sharing cases between pathologists.Key TakeawaysThe global market for the Digital Pathology Market is primarily driven by the rising prevalence of chronic conditions, high adoption of digital pathology systems and its accuracy in the pathological assessment.The software market share is expected to witness the highest growth rate due to the availability of analytical, user-friendly, and advanced functions for pathology diagnosis. The diagnosis sector accounts for a significant market share, in terms of revenue owing to the rising prevalence of diseases such as cancer.North America is the leading revenue contributor to the global market and is followed by Europe. It can be attributed to the rising in acceptance of the digital pathology system in the region and increasing incidents of cancer and chronic diseases.Key players are adopting strategies such as mergers and collaborations to stand out as strong competitors in the market. For instance, in December 2018, Inspirata Europe, Ltd. announced it has entered into a partnership agreement with Hamamatsu Photonics.Read more information about Global Digital Pathology Market, download a free sample from About DataM IntelligenceDataM Intelligence 4Market Research is a Market Intelligence and Business Research firm, based in India. It aims to bridge the two main aspects of a business decision - opinion and supportive data.Market Research for long has been losing its credibility owing to low reliability and high proportions of estimations. Having identified this gap, DataM was established to provide businesses with reliable and near-market intelligence. Reporting the actual market scenario has been made possible by our proprietary methodology, that essentially revolves around gathering inputs from industry participants and integrating the trends into statistical Databank. This approach not only aligns the findings with historical data but also allows a highly justifiable forecast model.company name: DataMintelligenceCorporate Address1st floor, Phoenix Tech Tower, Plot no: 14/46, Habsidguda, IDA-Uppal, Hyderabad-500039, TelanganaEmailinfo@datamintelligence.comPhone+1 877-441-4866 IoT in Education Market set to grow according to forecasts-2026|Key Player( IBM, Cisco, Intel, Google, AWS, Oracle, Microsoft, Huawei and Samsung with new principle and updated IoT in Education https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/271915 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/quiry/271915 IoT in Education Market AnalysisThe Global IoT in Education Market was valued at USD 4.51 Billion in 2018 and is expected to witness a growth of 17.74% from 2019-2026 and reach USD 16.62 Billion by 2026.What is IoT in Education Market?The Internet of Things (IoT) can be defined as a coordination of interconnected computing devices, mechanical and digital machines that are provided with distinctive codes and an aptitude to allocate data over a network without demanding a human-to-human or human-to-computer communication. IoT is a paradigm which has been conquering the education sector as well. The use of IoT for education purposes is increasing with the advent of educational robots. The market is expected to grow significantly.Get Sample Copy of this Report atGlobal IoT in Education Market OutlookIn the report, the market outlook section mainly encompasses fundamental dynamics of the market which include drivers, restraints, opportunities and challenges faced by the industry. Drivers and Restraints are intrinsic factors whereas opportunities and challenges are extrinsic factors of the market.IoT is a component in Industry 4.0. The emergence of Industry 4.0 has brought a revolution in the global market. It has many pros and cons. Readily available cloud computing solutions and increased use of connected devices are the two main factors which are booming the global IoT in Education market. The market also have various restraints such as increasing rate of cyber-attack risks. Growing trends of developing a full fledges smart school is expected to fuel the market growth rate.Worldwide Market Reports narrows down the available data using primary sources to validate the data and use it in compiling a full-fledged market research study. The report contains a quantitative and qualitative estimation of market elements which interests the client. The "Global IoT in Education Market" is mainly bifurcated into sub-segments which can provide a classified data regarding latest trends in the market. This can be of a great use in gaining knowledge about the cutting-edge technologies in the market.Global IoT in Education Market Competitive LandscapeThe "IoT in Education Market" study report will provide a valuable insight with an emphasis on global market including some of the major players such as IBM, Cisco, Intel, Google, AWS, Oracle, Microsoft, Huawei and Samsung. Our market analysis also entails a section solely dedicated for such major players wherein our analysts provide an insight to the financial statements of all the major players, along with its product benchmarking and SWOT analysis. The competitive landscape section also includes key development strategies, market share and market ranking analysis of the above mentioned players globally.Global IoT in Education Market, By Hardware Interactive Whiteboards Tablets and Mobile Devices Displays Security and Video Cameras OthersGlobal IoT in Education Market, By Solution Network Management Device Management Application Management Security Management OthersGlobal IoT in Education Market, By Service Training and Consulting Deployment and Integration Support and MaintenanceGlobal IoT in Education Market, By Application Learning Management System Administration Management Surveillance OthersGlobal IoT in Education Market, By End-User Industry Academic Institutions CorporatesReasons to Purchase this ReportQualitative and quantitative analysis of the market based on segmentation involving both economic as well as non-economic factorsProvision of market value (USD Billion) data for each segment and sub-segmentIndicates the region and segment that is expected to witness the fastest growth as well as to dominate the marketAnalysis by geography highlighting the consumption of the product/service in the region as well as indicating the factors that are affecting the market within each regionCompetitive landscape which incorporates the market ranking of the major players, along with new service/product launches, partnerships, business expansions and acquisitions in the past five years of companies profiledExtensive company profiles comprising of company overview, company insights, product benchmarking and SWOT analysis for the major market playersThe current as well as future market outlook of the industry with respect to recent developments (which involve growth opportunities and drivers as well as challenges and restraints of both emerging as well as developed regionsIncludes an in-depth analysis of the market of various perspectives through Porter's five forces analysisProvides insight into the market through Value ChainMarket dynamics scenario, along with growth opportunities of the market in the years to come6-month post sales analyst supportInquire Here Before Purchase of Research Report @About WMRWorldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154,U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email:sales@worldwidemarketreports.com Surgical Site Infection Control Market Growth Analysis 2019 | Industry Players as 3M, Belimed AG, bioMerieux SA, Getinge Group, Kimberly-Clark Corporation https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00004757/ https://www.theinsightpartners.com/buy/TIPRE00004757/ The Industry research report administers a broad view of the Surgical Site Infection Control Market on a Global basis, presenting a forecast and statistics in terms of revenue during the forecast period.Market IntroductionSurgical Site Infection are caused from the harmful bacteria through an incision or wound during a surgery. These infections may lead to quite a few life threatening unfortunate events if not taken care properly.The Surgical Site Infection Control market is anticipated to grow in the forecast, owing to the factors such as growing number of surgeries, rising geriatric population, increasing awareness, increasing concern about hospital acquired infections, and growing prevalence of hospital acquired infection. Nevertheless, lack of information and prevention control available for surgical site infection is expected to hinder the growth of the market during the forecast period.The "Global Surgical Site Infection Control Market Analysis to 2027" is a specialized and in-depth study of the medical device industry with a special focus on the global market trend analysis. The report aims to provide an overview of Surgical Site Infection Control market with detailed market segmentation by Product, Surgery, Type, End User and geography. The global Surgical Site Infection Control market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading Surgical Site Infection Control market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Get Sample Copy of Report @Industry PlayersThe reports cover key developments in the Surgical Site Infection Control market as organic and inorganic growth strategies. Various companies are focusing on organic growth strategies such as product launches, product approvals and others such as patents and events. Inorganic growth strategies activities witnessed in the market were acquisitions, and partnership & collaborations. These activities have paved way for expansion of business and customer base of market players. The market payers from Surgical Site Infection Control market are anticipated to lucrative growth opportunities in the future with the rising demand for Surgical Site Infection Control market in the global market. Below mentioned is the list of few companies engaged in the Surgical Site Infection Control market.The report also includes the profiles of Surgical Site Infection Control market companies along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. In addition, the report focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, components and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years3MBelimed AGbioMerieux SAGetinge GroupKimberly-Clark CorporationSotera HealthAnsell LimitedSteris CorporationLac-Mac LimitedPacon Manufacturing Corp.The Insight Partner's dedicated research and analysis team consist of experienced professionals with advanced statistical expertise and offer various customization options in the existing study.Market SegmentationThe global Surgical Site Infection Control market is segmented on the basis of Product, Surgery, Type, and End User. Based on product the market is segmented into Manual Reprocessors Solution, Disinfectants, Surgical Scrubs, Hair Clippers, Surgical Drapes, Surgical Irrigation, Skin Preparation Solution, Medical Nonwovens, Surgical Gloves, Others. Based on Surgery the market is segmented into Cataract Surgery, Cesarean Surgery, Dental Restoration, Gastric Bypass, Others. Based on Type the market is segmented into Superficial Incisional SSI, Deep Incision SSI, Organ or Space SSI. Based on End User the market is segmented into Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers.Place a Purchase Order to Buy a Complete Copy of this Report @Regional FrameworkThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Surgical Site Infection Control market based on various segments. It also provides market size and forecast estimates from year 2017 to 2027 with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South & Central America. The Surgical Site Infection Control market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 18 countries globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.The report analyzes factors affecting Surgical Site Infection Control market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions namely; North America, Europe, APAC, MEA and South & Central America after evaluating political, economic, social and technological factors effecting the Surgical Site Infection Control market in these regions.About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense.533, 5th Floor, Amanora Chambers,Amanora Township, East Block,Kharadi Road,Hadapsar Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Market Opportunities, Challenges with Top Players Merck, EMD Sereno, Fresenius Kabi, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Ferring BV human chorionic gonadotropin https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1011 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/1011 Human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG) is a hormone secreted by the placenta after implantation of a fertilized zygote in the uterus. The hormone also supports normal development of an egg and helps in the stimulation of egg release from the ovary. The HCG is mainly used to induce ovulation in the women under infertility treatment. It is also used among males mostly to increase the sperm count and in young boys, due to pituitary gland disorders and other diseases, due to which the testicles of the young males does not drop down naturally into the scrotum. The HCG is usually administered as an injection under the skin into a muscle. The HCG can also be administered at home under the advice of a gynecologist or a pharmacist. The HCG levels can be determined with the help of urine or blood test. Result of specific test helps in the determining accurate measurement of the levels. These tests are mostly used to identify and confirm pregnancy or as a screening test to determine birth defects.Rising incidence of infertility are expected to drive the growth of human gonadotropin market across the globeAccording to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2016, approximately 7.3 million women aged 15 - 44 have used infertility services. Moreover, 6.7% of the married women aged 15 - 44 were reported infertile. According to Azura Vascular Care, around 17% of the couples in the U.S. deal with infertility out of which 30% cases are a result of male infertility. These numbers suggests significant demand for infertility treatments, such as HCG in order for females to conceive a child. According to a statistical survey conducted by HealthGrove, pituitary gland disorders resulted into the death of around 205 people in 2015, out of which highest percentage belonged to white men. Pituitary disorders resulting into significant mortality rate are propelling the demand for human chorionic gonadotropin hormone. Additionally, various other factors such as endometriosis, hormonal imbalance, polycystic ovary syndrome, and others are expected to propel the growth of global HCG market. For instance, according to Frisco Institute of Reproductive Medicine, around 10% of women of reproductive age in the U.S. suffer from polycystic ovary syndrome. However, easy availability of alternatives to treat infertility could act as potential barriers for the market growth.Request A Sample Copy:Market Taxonomy:The global human chorionic gonadotropin by Coherent Market Insights is segmented on the basis of Technology, Therapeutic area, and end user.On the basis of technology, the global human chorionic gonadotropin is segmented as:Natural Source ExtractionRecombinant DNA TechnologyOn the basis of therapeutic area, the global human chorionic gonadotropin market is segmented as:Female infertility treatmentOligospermic TreatmentCryptorchidism TreatmentOthersOn the basis of end user, the global human chorionic gonadotropin market is segmented as:Fertility CentersResearch InstitutesOthersNorth America to dominate global human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) market, owing to rising frequency of infertility casesOn the basis of geography, the global human chorionic gonadotropin market is segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. North America is the highest regional contributor to the market and is expected to continue as a regional dominator over the forecast years. This primarily owes to the rising number of infertility cases as well as hormonal dysfunction among young males and females as a result of changing lifestyle. According to Mayo Clinic, around 25% of women fertility problems in the U.S. are a result of ovulation issues that are mostly caused due to dysfunction of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) hormone. Thus, the rapidly increasing cases of infertility are expected to surge the North America global human chorionic gonadotropin market. On the other hand, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be the fasting growing geography, owing to economic developments facilitating technological advancements in healthcare sectors as well as emerging local players in the market.The key players operating the global human chorionic gonadotropin market include Merck & Co., Inc., EMD Sereno, Inc., Fresenius Kabi, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Ferring BV, and Kamia Biomedical Company. Acris Antibodies developed a human chorionic gonadotropin hormone by recombinant DNA technology that helps to prevent the disintegration of the corpus luteum of the ovary thereby, maintaining levels of progesterone production for healthy pregnancy in females.Download the PDF brochure: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.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Salmon ( Farmed and Wild ) Market Research Report: Global Industry Analysis and Outlook 2024 Salmon ( Farmed and Wild ) Market Research Report: Global Industry Analysis and Outlook 2024 https://www.imarcgroup.com/salmon-market/requestsample https://www.imarcgroup.com/salmon-market www.imarcgroup.com www.linkedin.com/company/imarc-group/ There are numerous factors which have been proactive in supporting the growth of the global salmon market. Some of these drivers include increasing health-consciousness among consumers, emerging trend of aquaculture and rising preference for protein-rich food products.Request for a sample copy of this research report:According to the latest report by IMARC Group, titled Salmon Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2019-2024, the global salmon market reached a volume of 3.7 Million Tons in 2018. Salmon belong to the Salmonidae family and can be found in the Northern Atlantic and Pacific oceans. These are anadromous in nature as they are born in freshwater, migrate to the sea and later return to freshwater in order to lay eggs. Salmon are capable of jumping more than four metres to stay clear of obstacles and climb waterfalls. Generally, young salmon consume plankton, invertebrates and insects, whereas adult salmon eat squid, shrimp, eels, and other fish. Currently, salmon are used for various purposes such as broiling, pickling, grilling, smoking, roasting, poaching as well as for the preparation of different food dishes such as tartar, salads, burgers along with several pasta dishes.Salmon provides the highest amount of calcium as compared to other types of fish owing to which the salmon market has been witnessing a positive growth. Along with this, salmon has also become a popular food product among health-conscious consumers as it is a rich source of omega-3 fats, EPA and DHA and, therefore offers numerous health benefits such as decreasing the risk of obesity, diabetes and heart diseases. Moreover, the escalating global demand for salmon can be attributed to the introduction of new product variations, availability of convenient packaging and rising disposable incomes of consumers across both developing and developed nations. Further, increasing aquaculture is another emerging trend which has been acting in favour of the global salmon market. On account of the aforementioned forces, the market is expected to reach a volume of 4.7 Million Tons by 2024, expanding at a CAGR of 3.8% during 2019-2024.Explore full report with table of contents:Market Summary:Market Breakup by Type1. Farmed2. Wild CapturedThe salmon market is segmented according to type which include farmed and wild captured. Farmed salmon is currently being preferred by the majority of the consumers owing to a significant rise in salmon aquaculture.Market Breakup by Species1. Atlantic2. Pink3. Chum/Dog4. Coho5. Sockeye6. OthersBased on species, the market is categorised into Atlantic, Pink, Chum/Dog, Sockeye and Coho. At present, Atlantic salmon is being consumed at a major rate across the globe.Market Breakup by Distribution Channel1. Foodservice2. RetailCurrently, there are various means available for consumers to obtain the desired type of salmon some of which include foodservice and retail. Foodservice is the most popular distribution channel being used by consumers.Market Breakup by End-Product Type1. Frozen2. Fresh3. Canned4. OthersThere are numerous end-product types of salmon that are found including frozen, fresh and canned. Amongst these, frozen salmon represents the largest segment.Market Breakup by Producing Region1. Norway2. Chile3. Scotland4. Canada5. Faroe Islands6. OthersWild Captured1. United States2. Russia3. Japan4. Canada5. OthersOn a production-basis, Norway is the largest producer of farmed salmon followed by Chile, Scotland, Canada and Faroe Islands. Whereas, for wild capture salmon, the United States is the biggest producing region followed by Russia, Japan and Canada.Market Breakup by Consuming Region1. EU2. Russia3. US4. Brazil5. Japan6. China7. OthersThe salmon market analysis has been done on the basis of end-markets which mainly include Europe, United States, Russia, China, Brazil and Japan. Amongst these, Europe exhibits a clear dominance, holding the majority of the market share.Competitive LandscapeThe competitive landscape of the global salmon market has also been examined with some of the key players being Marine Harvest, Leroy Seafood Group, Cremaq and SalMar.About UsIMARC Group is a leading market research company that offers management strategy and market research worldwide. We partner with clients in all sectors and regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their businesses.IMARCs information products include major market, scientific, economic and technological developments for business leaders in pharmaceutical, industrial, and high technology organizations. Market forecasts and industry analysis for biotechnology, advanced materials, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, travel and tourism, nanotechnology and novel processing methods are at the top of the companys expertise.IMARC Group309 2nd St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, USAWebsite:Email: sales@imarcgroup.comUSA: +1-631-791-1145Follow us on Linkedin: Global PET Film Market Analysis Focusing on Top Key Players | Toray Industries, Inc., SKC Co., Ltd.,Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, DuPont Teijin/Indorama,Jiangsu Shuangxing Color Plastic &more https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2961986?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=geeta https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2961986?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=geeta Global PET Film Market, Global PET Film Market Size, Market Report, Market Trend, Market Growth, Market Outlook, Global Copper(II) Hydroxide Market Industry, Industry Size, Industry Trend, Industry Outlook.The 'Global PET Film Market Outlook 2019-2024' offers detailed coverage of PET film industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading PET film producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for PET film. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography.Get Sample Copy of this Report@The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global PET film market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market.Key Regions: North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South AmericaKey Vendors: Toray Industries, Inc. SKC Co., Ltd. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation DuPont Teijin/Indorama Jiangsu Shuangxing Color Plastic New Materials Co., Ltd. Polyplex Corporation Limited Kolon Corporation Uflex Limited request free sample to get a complete list of companiesGet a discount on this research report @Key Questions Answered in This Report: Analysis of the PET film market including revenues, future growth, market outlook Historical data and forecast Regional analysis including growth estimates Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. Profiles on PET film vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. Market structure, market drivers and restraintsAbout 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:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United StatesDirect: +1-971-202-1575Toll Free: +1-800-910-6452E-mail help@bigmarketresearch.com What is Valuable Growth Prospects to Develop Egg Packaging Market? || Key Players - Brodrene Hartmann A/S, Sonoco Products Company, Pactiv LLC, Pacific Pulp Molding LLC, Primapack SAE, CKF Inc. https://www.mrrse.com/sample/19447 https://www.mrrse.com/egg-packaging-market https://www.mrrse.com/enquiry/19447 A new report titled Egg Packaging Market Valuable Growth Prospects and Future Insights till 2029 has been included in the enormous research repository of Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) that compiles various facets of the Egg Packaging market at a global level portraying a holistic analysis of the marketplace along with intelligence on key participants. The report covers an unbiased analysis on various market aspects, emphasizing major trends giving direction to the market, key opportunities paving new growth avenues, key drivers pushing the markets growth and challenges and restraints hindering the market for Egg Packaging across the globe.The report on egg packaging market includes market outlook and macroeconomic indicators on the food & beverage industry, packaging industry, and the global logistics industry. Moreover, it also includes market dynamics including drivers, recent trends, restraints, and opportunities associated with the egg packaging market. The report includes the study of market prospects for the manufacturers of egg trays & cartons and comprises of an exhaustive value chain analysis.On the basis of material, the global egg packaging market can be segmented as molded fiber and plastic. Further, plastic material is subdivided into Polystyrene, PET, and others. Out of these, plastic material is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of 6.0% during the forecast period in the egg packaging market. On the basis of product, the global egg packaging market can be segmented as trays and cartons. The trays segment is estimated to dominate the egg packaging market during 2019-2029.Request Free Sample Report @To ascertain the size of the egg packaging market in terms of value and volume, revenue generated by the key egg trays or carton manufacturers and their respective manufacturing capacity is taken into consideration. The forecast presented here assesses the total revenue generated by value, across the egg packaging market. In order to provide an accurate forecast, analysists have initiated by sizing up the current egg consumption all various countries.Analysists at FMI have gathered data from secondary research and validated it through primary research. Also, analysts form the basis of how the egg packaging market is expected to develop in the future by taking into account the opinions of industry experts. Given the characteristics of the egg packaging market, analysts triangulated the outcome on the basis of three different types of analysis- based on the supply side, downstream industry demand, and economic envelope.In addition, it is imperative to note that, in an ever-fluctuating global economy, analysts not only conduct forecasts in terms of CAGR but also analyze the market based on key parameters to understand the predictability of the egg packaging market and identify the right opportunities across the market.The report compiled under different chapters, overview of each chapter is given as follows:Chapter 1: Executive SummaryIt includes the gist of the report, highlighting key insights of the egg packaging market. This section also includes FMI Analysis and recommendations pertaining to the egg packaging market. It also provides a unique analysis framework through wheel of opportunity which enables reader to evaluate the most lucrative segmentChapter 2: Market IntroductionIt includes definition of the global egg packaging market and related market taxonomy, providing users a brief overview of the research report.Chapter 3: Market BackgroundIt includes a comprehensive analysis on the interplay of the key factors influencing the global market. This provide readers with in-depth value chain analysis and profitability margin along with key trends pertaining to the market which will help readers to make informed decisions. Key drivers and restraints are also given in the report to understand current market scenarioChapter 4: Market ForecastIt tracks the market scenario, with key inferences drawn from historical data and future prospects. Moreover, the historic data and forecast is supported by key insights and rationales including Y-o-Y, opportunity assessment and growth rateBrowse Complete Report with TOC @Chapter 5, 6 & 7: SegmentationThese chapters include egg packaging market analysis associated segments material type, product type and by capacity respectively. It covers the scope of the report with key segmentations along with historical and forecast analysisChapter 8: Analysis by RegionThis chapter contains comprehensive revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (000 Tons) analysis on the global egg packaging market by region. Pricing analysis for the respective market is highlighted for each region. Average selling price is taken by material used in manufacturing of trays & cartons used for egg packaging. The report also includes intensity mapping in each region to help reader to recognize key manufacturers and distributors operating in the target region and impact of their sales and distributionChapter 9: North America Market AnalysisThis chapter contains comprehensive revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (000 Tons) analysis on the North American egg packaging market. North America analysis is presented for the U.S. and CanadaChapter 10: Latin America Market AnalysisThis chapter contains comprehensive revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (000 Tons) analysis on the Latin American egg packaging market. The analysis is presented for key countries including Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia.Chapter 11: Europe Market AnalysisThis chapter contains comprehensive revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (000 Tons) analysis on the Europe egg packaging market. Europe analysis is presented for Germany, Italy, France, U.K., Spain, Ukraine, Poland, Russia, etc.Chapter 12: Oceania Market AnalysisThis chapter contains comprehensive revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (000 Tons) analysis on the Oceania egg packaging market. Oceania analysis is presented for Australia and New Zealand.Chapter 13: MEA Market AnalysisThis chapter contains comprehensive revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (000 Tons) analysis on the MEA egg packaging market. MEA analysis is presented for GCC countries, North Africa, Turkey, and South AfricaChapter 14: South Asia Market AnalysisThis chapter contains comprehensive revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (000 Tons) analysis on the South Asia egg packaging market. South Asia analysis is presented for India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia.Chapter 15: East Asia Market AnalysisThis chapter contains comprehensive revenue (US$ Mn) and volume (000 Tons) analysis on the East Asia egg packaging market. East Asia analysis is presented for China, South Korea and Japan.Chapter 16: Market Structure AnalysisThis chapter provides a comprehensive analysis on the market structure of manufacturers operating in the global market. It provide tier analysis of top players operating in the global egg packaging marketChapter 17: Competition AnalysisThis chapter comprises of a market dashboard of key manufacturers with their comprehensive company profiles which include revenue, product portfolio, market share and SWOT analysis along with key market strategies. The major players operating in the global egg packaging market are featured in this chapter.Chapter 18: Research MethodologyThis section includes a detailed description of robust methodology and approach to arrive at market size and related projections. The research methodology for this report is based on a 3-dimensional model. Analysts conducted about 4560 min duration detailed interviews with egg trays & carton manufacturers, end-user companies, and other channel partners, apart from this analysts also collect market feedback from industry experts.Enquire about this Report @About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com Blood Collection Tube Market by Top Players Becton, Dickinson and Company, Chengdu Rich Science Industry Co., Ltd., FL Medical S.r.l., Greiner Bio-One GmbH, Medtronic plc And More https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-sample/2954290?utm_source=OpenPr&utm_medium=Nilesh https://www.bigmarketresearch.com/request-for-discount/2954290?utm_source=OpenPr&utm_medium=Nilesh The 'Global Blood Collection Tube Market Outlook 2018-2023' offers detailed coverage of blood collection tube industry and presents main market trends.The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading blood collection tube producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for blood collection tube. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography.Get Sample Copy of this Report @:The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global blood collection tube market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market.Key Regions: North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa South AmericaKey Vendors: Becton, Dickinson and Company Chengdu Rich Science Industry Co., Ltd. FL Medical S.r.l. Greiner Bio-One GmbH Medtronic plc Narang Medical Ltd. Sarstedt AG & Co. Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd. Soyagreentec Co., Ltd. Terumo CorporationKey Questions Answered in This Report: Analysis of the blood collection tube market including revenues, future growth, market outlook Historical data and forecast Regional analysis including growth estimates Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates. Profiles on blood collection tube vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments. Market structure, market drivers and restraints.Table of Content:Part 1. SummaryPart 2. Report MethodologyPart 3. IntroductionPart 4. Industry Value ChainPart 5. Competitive LandscapePart 6. Segmentation by TypePart 7. Segmentation by ApplicationPart 8. Regional PerspectivesPart 9. Company ProfilesPart 10. Market ForecastPart 11. Market DriversPart 12. Industry ActivityPart 13. AppendixDISCLAIMERABOUT GEN CONSULTING COMPANYGet Discount of this Report @: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:5933 NE Win Sivers Drive, #205, Portland,OR 97220 United StatesDirect: +1-971-202-1575Toll Free: +1-800-910-6452Email: help@bigmarketresearch.com Pour Point Depressant Market Analysis by 2023 Growth Factors, Forecast by Top Manufacturers, Key Regions, And More www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/pour-point-depressant-market/report-sample www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/pour-point-depressant-market www.psmarketresearch.com Pour point depressant market is expected to reach $1,902.3 million by 2023, the growth of the industry is mainly driven by its growing application in lubricants, automotive, and oil and gas industries. PPDs are used to control wax formation in lubricants thus, lowering the pour point and improving low temperature flow performance of lubricants. It is used as an additive in various industries dealing with bulk oil and lubricants. It is used in a variety of streams and applications, including transport of crudes, middle distillates, heavy oils, waxy components, biodiesel, and others to overcome oil treatment challenges.Request to get the report sample pages at :the pour point depressant market is categorized into the lubricant, and oil and gas industries. The lubricant industry was the larger segment with more than 55.0% share in the global market in 2016 in terms of revenue. PPD is used in various types of lubricants including crankcase engine oils, automotive and power transmission fluids, automotive gear oils, tractor fluids, hydraulic fluids, and circulating oils.On the basis of chemistry, the pour point depressant market for lubricant industry is segmented into polyalkyl-methacrylate (PAMA), styrene esters, and others. Others include oligomerized alkyl phenols, phthalic acid esters, and copolymers. PAMA was the largest chemistry with a share of more than 70.0% in the market in 2016 in terms of revenue. It is widely used to improve the low temperature viscometrics of various lubricating compositions. PAMA is considered most reliable for lubricant applications, owing to the molecular structure of the polymer and excellent flexibility in its chemical structure.Asia-Pacific held the largest share of the global pour point depressant market during the historical period. The application of PPDs is gaining momentum in the lubricant, automotive, and oil and gas industries. The formation of ASEAN Economic Community will act as a positive catalyst for ASEANs lubricant market, as it had proposed the removal of tariffs on vehicles, which will create a direct impact on the demand of vehicles. This will also prompt lubricant manufacturers to expand and penetrate the emerging markets in ASEAN. This in turn will drive the growth of the market in the region.Access Report Summary with Detailed TOC on Pour Point Depressant Market at:Research and development (R&D) has enabled scientists to come up with innovative ways to use PAO in the manufacturing of pour point depressants, industrial waxes, lubricants, biodiesels, and other products. PAOs are effective for waste cooking oil biodiesel blends and have the ability to effectively improve low temperature viscosity, and modify crystallization behavior. While developing newer compounds, researchers mainly focus on improving the flow ability at low temperatures, keeping bio-degradable properties in mind. This creates significant opportunity for the growth of the global market.Some of the major players operating in the pour point depressant industry are Afton Chemical Corporation, Chevron Corporation, Croda International Plc., The Lubrizol Corporation, Sanyo Chemical Industries Ltd., Innospec Inc., Clariant AG, Messina Incorporated, Akzo Nobel N.V., and Evonik Industries AG.About P&S IntelligenceP&S Intelligence is a provider of market research and consulting services catering to the market information needs of burgeoning industries across the world. Providing the plinth of market intelligence, P&S as an enterprising research and consulting company, believes in providing thorough landscape analyses on the ever-changing market scenario, to empower companies to make informed decisions and base their business strategies with astuteness.Contact:P&S IntelligenceToll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)International: +1-347-960-6455Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb: Disposable Cutlery Market Showcases Positive Demand for Major Product Categories during forecast period, 2018-2028 | Key Players are Natural Tableware, Lollicup (USA), Pactiv LLC, Dart Container Corporation, etc. https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=3051 https://www.factmr.com/report/3051/disposable-cutlery-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=3051 https://www.factmr.com/ Fact.MR has actively published a new research study titled Disposable Cutlery Market Showcases Positive Demand for Major Product Categories during forecast period, 2018-2028 | Key Players are Natural Tableware, Lollicup (USA), Pactiv LLC, Dart Container Corporation, etc. to its broad online database. This assessment works to discourse the major trends, opportunities and drivers motivating the disposable cutlery market during the period from 2018-2028. The insights structured for presenting the target market are procured from both primary research and secondary research, and are utilized for validation that is valuable to investors, manufacturers and new entrants. As per research findings, the global disposable cutlery market is expected to showcase impressive growth at 4.7% CAGR during the period until 2028.Request for Sample Report -Disposable cutlery includes disposable or single-use products usually offered in fast-food restaurants, airlines, catering services, outdoor events, take-away restaurants, etc. In recent times, biodegradable material-based disposable cutlery has become easily available in disposable cutlery market and is gaining much traction, owing to its myriad benefits.Manufacturers Innovate Novel Product Lines & Expand FacilitiesDisposable cutlery market remains highly competitive with a number of players competing for market share. To capitalize on the growing demand for eco-friendly disposable cutlery and other products, manufacturers in disposable cutlery market are expanding their manufacturing facilities, while acquiring local counterparts to gain a competitive edge. Further, many companies are inducing innovation in their environment-friendly disposable cutlery manufacturing processes to cater to the evolving end-user preferences.The continuous tussle to offer economical eco-friendly disposable cutlery is enabling manufacturers in disposable cutlery market to leverage technology to attract consumers seeking greener products. Also, disposable cutlery manufacturers are diversifying business capabilities to gain a better foothold in disposable cutlery market, while they focus on recycling products to manufacture disposable cutlery to increase profit margins. The brimming potential opportunities in green products are prompting manufactures to add a pinch of uniqueness in their offerings to extend customer outreach. Some of the notable developments in disposable cutlery market include:Biopac UK Ltd, a leading developer and supplier of eco-friendly, plastic free catering disposables, has introduced a novel line of disposable cutlery composed of renewable cornstarch, which can be seamlessly disposed of through industrial composting.The world's largest manufacturer of foam cups and containers, Dart Container Corporation, has started a novel line of Cheeky products, which deals in colored disposable cutlery, paper bowls and plates, and cup will lidAnother leading players in disposable cutlery market - Anchor Packaging Inc. - has introduced a new reusable and recyclable product line specifically dedicated to disposable cutlery, Culinary Classics, which offers a range of redesigned products available with hinged lid.Some of the leading players mentioned in the Fact.MR report on global disposable cutlery market include Dixie Consumer Products, Taizhou Fuling Plastics, Huhtamaki Oyj, Natural Tableware, Lollicup (USA), Pactiv LLC, Dart Container Corporation, Eco-Products, Biopac UK Ltd, Fast Plast A/S, Novolex Holdings, Inc., DOpla S.p.A., Genpak, LLC, Hosti International, Duni, D&W Fine Pack LLC, Gold Plast SpA, FLO sPa, Reynolds Consumer Products (Hefty), Georgia-Pacific LLC, Hotpack Group, Anchor Packaging Inc., Vegware Ltd, Snapcups, and DOpla.Browse Full Report on Market with TOC -The evolving end-user preference for lightweight and eco-friendly disposable commodities is prompting disposable cutlery manufacturers in disposable cutlery market to innovate their operations and expand their existing facilities to lure in extensive on-the-move food consumers. They are specifically focusing on Earth advocates, who are always in the pursuit of green products. Additionally, the functional attributes of disposable cutlery, including easy storage, light weight, user-convenience, low costs, food hygiene, and takeaway features, continue to create opportunities for disposable cutlery manufacturers, thereby bringing traction to the disposable cutlery market.Wood-Based Disposable Cutlery Takes Center StageIn recent time, disposable cutlery market has witnessed a shift in demand for biodegradable disposable cutlery composed of wood, owing to stringent regulations and laws prohibiting use of plastic-based disposable cutlery. In compliance with constant regulations, several fast-food operators and other snack chains have started serving food in eco-friendly, green disposable cutlery composed of wood, which in turn is creating opportunities for wood-based disposable cutlery manufacturers to tap. For instance, snacking giants McDonald's, KFC, and several other fast food chains have shunned plastic straws and disposable cutlery from their facilities across several countries, such as France, India, and Singapore, etc. in 2018. These snack chains have replaced plastic disposable straws and cutlery with paper straws and wood-based disposable cutlery, as a part of their initiative to promote gogreen practices.Adoption of Plant-Based Raw Materials Becomes MainstreamThe growing use of plastic every day is creating a lot of plastic waste, due to which regulatory authorities in various countries have imposed bans on plastic use. To comply with the stringent plastic rules in tandem with the urge to curb this menace, several foodservice packaging manufacturers have transitioned to plant-based raw materials for manufacturing disposable packaging materials, such as disposable cutlery, trays, plates, and bowls, to name a few. To capitalize on this emerging trend, key players in disposable cutlery market are expanding in bio-based foodservice manufacturing capabilities. Several manufacturers in disposable cutlery market have made gains in recent times by creating edible disposable cutlery composed of corn, wheat bran, sorghum, and rice, while reducing CO2 emissions considerably.Have Any Question? Ask Our Industry Experts -About FactMRFactMR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFactMR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400, Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb: Insurance Agency Management Systems Market is Booming Worldwide| Vertafore, Applied Systems, EZLynx, ACS, ITC, HawkSoft Insurance Agency Management Systems Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1867595-global-insurance-agency-management-systems-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1867595-global-insurance-agency-management-systems-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1867595-global-insurance-agency-management-systems-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1867595 HTF Market Intelligence released a new research report of 122 pages on title 'Global Insurance Agency Management Systems Market Report 2019 with detailed analysis, forecast and strategies. The study covers key regions that includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, Other Country and important players such as Vertafore, Applied Systems, EZLynx, ACS, ITC, HawkSoft, QQ Solutions, Sapiens/Maximum Processing, Zywave, Xdimensional Tech, Agency Matrix, Jenesis Software, AgencyBloc, AllClients, Impowersoft, Insurance Systems, Buckhill, InsuredHQ & Zhilian Software.Request a sample report @SummaryGlobal Insurance Agency Management Systems Market Report 2019Full Report: 2350 USDMulti License (Section): 4700 USDSection Price: As belowPage: 115Chart and Figure: 124Delivery Time: 24 hourWith the slowdown in world economic growth, the Insurance Agency Management Systems industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Insurance Agency Management Systems market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 15 from XXX million $ in 2014 to XXX million $ in 2018, BisReport analysts believe that in the next few years, Insurance Agency Management Systems market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2023, The market size of the Insurance Agency Management Systems will reach XXX million $.This Report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers. If you need more information, please contact BisReportSection 1: FreeDefinitionSection (2 3): 1200 USDManufacturer DetailVertaforeApplied SystemsEZLynxACSITCHawkSoftQQ SolutionsSapiens/Maximum ProcessingZywaveXdimensional TechAgency MatrixJenesis SoftwareAgencyBlocAllClientsImpowersoftInsurance SystemsBuckhillInsuredHQZhilian SoftwareSection 4: 900 USDRegion SegmentationNorth America Country (United States, Canada)South AmericaAsia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Section (5 6 7): 500 USDProduct Type SegmentationCloud-BasedOn-PremiseIndustry SegmentationSmall BusinessMedium-sized BusinessLarge BusinessChannel (Direct Sales, Distributor) SegmentationSection 8: 400 USDTrend (2018-2023)Section 9: 300 USDProduct Type DetailSection 10: 700 USDDownstream ConsumerSection 11: 200 USDCost StructureSection 12: 500 USDConclusionGet Customization in the Report, Enquire Now @Table of ContentsSection 1 Insurance Agency Management Systems Product DefinitionSection 2 Global Insurance Agency Management Systems Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer Insurance Agency Management Systems Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Revenue2.3 Global Insurance Agency Management Systems Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Introduction3.1 Vertafore Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Introduction3.1.1 Vertafore Insurance Agency Management Systems Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20183.1.2 Vertafore Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 Vertafore Interview Record3.1.4 Vertafore Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Profile3.1.5 Vertafore Insurance Agency Management Systems Product Specification3.2 Applied Systems Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Introduction3.2.1 Applied Systems Insurance Agency Management Systems Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20183.2.2 Applied Systems Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 Applied Systems Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Overview3.2.5 Applied Systems Insurance Agency Management Systems Product Specification3.3 EZLynx Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Introduction3.3.1 EZLynx Insurance Agency Management Systems Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20183.3.2 EZLynx Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 EZLynx Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Overview3.3.5 EZLynx Insurance Agency Management Systems Product Specification3.4 ACS Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Introduction3.5 ITC Insurance Agency Management Systems Business Introduction3.6 HawkSoft Insurance Agency Management Systems Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Insurance Agency Management Systems Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States Insurance Agency Management Systems Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20184.1.2 Canada Insurance Agency Management Systems Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20184.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America Insurance Agency Management Systems Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20184.3 Asia C....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.Buy this report @About Author :HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.com Cough Suppressant Drugs Market Development Industry 2019 Featuring with Top Players Perrigo, Vernalis, Tris Pharma ,Pfizer, Aytu BioScience, Acella Pharmaceuticals Cough Suppressant Drugs https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/2427 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-pdf/2427 In March 2018, Perrigo Company plc. received the FDA approval for the brand OTC equivalent of Mucinex DM Maximum Strength (Guaifenesin and Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide Extended-release Tablets, 1200 mg/60 mg). Mucinex DM Maximum Strength is indicated to control coughs and to break up mucus, making coughs more productive. Approval and launch of such new drugs in the market is expected to drive the cough suppressant drugs market growth over the forecast period.High prevalence of cough is also expected to be a major factor for rising demand for cough suppressant drugs, which drives the market growth. For instance, according to the data published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information in 2014, cough is the most common reason for visits to primary care physicians globally, accounting for around 8% of all consultations. According to the same source, the annual prevalence of cough in the general population is reported as approximately 1033% globally.The global cough suppressant drugs market size was valued at US$ 1100.4 Mn in 2017 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period (2018 2026).North America is expected to hold dominant position, owing to frequent approvals of new cough suppressant drugs by FDANorth America cough suppressant market is expected to show good growth over the forecast period, owing to frequent approvals to novel drugs by the FDA. For instance, in 2015, Vernalis plc and Tris Pharma Inc. received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the New Drug Application (NDA) for Tuzistra XR (codeine polistirex and chlorpheniramine polistirex) extended-release oral suspension, CIII (DEA Schedule III). Tuzistra XR is a codeine-based extended-release oral suspension for cough-cold treatment.Request A Sample Copy:Key players in the market are involved in strategic mergers and partnerships, in order to develop, manufacture, and sell novel cough suppressant drugs and to gain major market share.For instance, in 2015, Tris Pharma, Inc. entered into a license, supply, and distribution agreement with Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (a part of Pfizer Inc.). According to the agreement, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare will commercialize Tris extended release dextromethorphan cough syrup under the Robitussin Brand. In exchange, Tris will provide the U.S. branded rights to its protected intellectual property for an extended release dextromethorphan formulation to Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and Tris will receive an upfront payment, milestone payments, and sales-based royalties. Various new players are entering lucrative cough suppressant drugs market by partnering with other manufacturers. For instance, in November 2018, Aytu BioScience, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company, entered into the cough suppressant drugs market with an exclusive license of FDA-approved Tuzistra XR from Tris Pharma Inc. Along with Tuzistra XR, Aytu BioScience, Inc. also has a licensed complementary antitussive product with pending FDA approval.However, stringent regulations against the use of cough suppressant is expected to affect the global cough suppressant drugs market growth over the forecast period.For instance, in February 2018, the Therapeutic Goods Administration reclassified codeine as prescription only medicine in Australia, which was previously available as over-the-counter medication. This reclassification was made, as regular use of medicines containing codeine may lead to its addiction. In January 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration made safety labeling changes to limit the use of codeine or hydrocodone containing prescription opioid cough and cold medicines in children younger than 18 years old to protect kids from serious risks of opioid ingredients containing cough treatment drugs. After the safety labeling changes, these products will no longer be indicated for treatment of cough in pediatric population and will be labeled for use only in adults aged 18 years and older.Key players operating in the global cough suppressant drugs market include Perrigo Company plc, Vernalis plc, Tris Pharma Inc., Pfizer Inc., Aytu BioScience, Inc., Acella Pharmaceuticals LLC, Mayne Pharma Inc., Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, and GlaxoSmithKline plc.Download the PDF brochure: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.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com By 2025, APAC Threat Intelligence Market to grow at 17% gains| by Key Vendors: Oracle, Palo Alto Networks, Proofpoint, Recorded Future, Secureworks, Sophos, Accenture, Anomali, IBM, IntSights Kaspersky Lab, McAfee https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/3151 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/3151 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/threat-intelligence-market https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/video-conferencing-market https://www.gminsights.com http://solutionrocket.com The exponential growth graph depicted by the global threat intelligence market in the recent years can undoubtedly be credited to the massive surge in the number of connected endpoints. Presently, there are more than 3 billion end-users across the world that are connected to the Internet, while connected-devices are anticipated to surpass the 50 billion mark by year 2020. Having understood the dependency of these endpoints on the Internet to be able to interact with each other, cybercriminals have been exploiting the reliance to obtain an unauthorized access to the connected endpoint devices to undertake numerous malicious activities.Request for a sample of this research report @.Threat intelligence market | Impact of rising mobile cyberattacksThe global threat intelligence market is expected to amass substantial returns from mobile-based solutions, due to the exponential rate at which cases of mobile cyberattacks & mobile frauds are growing. According to a 2018 report by ThreatMetrix, the first two quarters of 2018 witnessed the cases of mobile attacks across the globe reach the 150 million mark with attack rates growing 24% year-over-year. While the growing penetration of mobile devices has undoubtedly been a crucial factor in the rise of digital commerce, the trend has also proved to be extremely conducive for numerous malicious entities to carry out fraudulent activities.Moreover, other growing trends such as Choose Your Own Device (CYOD) & Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) being adopted across a number of enterprises, while facilitating greater convenience, are creating more vulnerabilities in the organization networks. Fueled by these trends the global threat intelligence market share from mobile-based solutions will grow at a CAGR of more than 18% over 2019-2025.Threat intelligence market | Impact of the growing healthcare cyberattacksAs the global healthcare sector goes through a digital transformation, wherein it is adopting new technologies to enhance the level of patient care & medical treatments while continuing to facilitate patients with life-critical services, the vulnerabilities that are being created or exposed by this transformation phase are being treated as opportunities by criminal & malicious entities for their own personal gain. According to the Center for Internet Security, these threats range anywhere between malwares, that are designed to compromise the privacy of the patients & the integrity of the systems, to Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, that are designed to hamper a facilitys ability of providing proper patient care. While these issues plague other industrial & infrastructural sectors as well, the ramifications of a cyberattack on a healthcare facility go far beyond financial losses & privacy breaches.Make an inquiry for buying this report @According to the Southern Medical Association, as cyberattacks continue to proliferate, the global healthcare industry remains a primary target. In fact, 2017 witnessed the most successful data breaches in history, bringing legal consequences & detrimental financial losses to the victims and costing organizations more than $5 billion in accumulated financial losses & estimated total payouts. As healthcare organizations store a copious amount of information associated with their patients, cyberattacks, aiming to gain access to these data reserves, would be continuing to occur in the sector, generating significant opportunities for the threat intelligence market contenders. Indeed, the global threat intelligence market is projected to witness a CAGR of 13% over 2019-2025 from the healthcare industry.3Threat intelligence market | Impact of increasing cyberattacks on Government InstitutionsAs with other sectors, the worlds government institutions are also making their transition to the digital world, leaving their conventional pen & paper practices behind for higher operating efficiencies. This trend has provided cyber-criminals an ideal opportunity, wherein they target specific government institutions for their own financial or idealistic gains. One recent instance of this is the cyberattack that targeted the local government of Atlanta, USA. According to the American Bar Association, the entire city of Atlanta was trapped in a hostage situation, wherein the citys digital infrastructure was taken over by a powerful ransomware.The criminals disabled internet access, encrypted the files stored on the system and demanded an upfront Bitcoin payment in exchange for the decryption key that restored access to these files. According to federal authorities, the ransomware attack caused losses of more than $30 million and could cost taxpayers & the city more than $17 million to completely recover from the damages caused.Company profiled in this report based on Business overview, Financial data, Product landscape, Strategic outlook & SWOT analysis: Accenture Anomali Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. Cisco Systems, Inc. Crowdstrike, Inc. Digital Shadows Ltd. FireEye, Inc. Flashpoint Group-IB IBM Corporation IntSights Kaspersky Lab McAfee LLC Oracle Corporation Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Proofpoint Recorded Future, Inc. Secureworks, Inc. (Dell) Sophos Ltd. Symantec Corporation ThreatQuotient, Inc. TrendMicro Inc.Browse Full Report:Attributing to these three determinants, it is unmistakably clear, that the global threat intelligence market would be witnessing tremendous growth in the years to come. In fact, according to a report by Global Market Insights, Inc., the overall threat intelligence market size is slated to surpass the $13 billion renumeration mark by 2025.Browse Related Report:Video Conferencing Market Size By Component (Hardware [Multipoint Control Unit (MCU), Codecs, Peripheral Devices], Software [On-premise, Cloud], Service [Professional, Managed]), By Type (Room-Based, Telepresence, Desktop), By Application (Corporate Enterprise, Education, Government, Healthcare), Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia & New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa), Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2018 2024About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Smart Pills Market Trends Estimates High Demand by 2026 With Top Competitors Boston Scientific Corporation, Olympus Medical Technology, Smart Pill Inc, Medtronic, Philips Healthcare Smart Pills https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/487 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/487 Smart pills can be used to monitor the drug adherence, temperature and some other parameters in the patients. Smart pills are ingestible medical devices that can be taken orally to examine the gastrointestinal tract (GI).The advanced technology of smart pills helps in monitoring of patients, disease diagnosis, and help to improve the drug delivery. This might help physicians to monitor the patients conditions, and to check the timely routine of patients medication.Ask For The Sample Copy of This Business Report :The smart pills may alert about the expiry date of medicines, drug completion course and prevent from adverse events. These are expected to replace conventional diagnostic techniques such as endoscopy and colonoscopy. The need for convenient, and accurate treatment strategies has generated the interest in the research of smart pills.The increasing number of gastro-intestinal diseased population to drive the smart pills marketIncreasing geriatric population creates a large target group for smart pills manufacturers. This demographic group is highly susceptible to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). The market has wide scope in the monitoring and diagnosis of the diseases. According to World Health organization (WHO) 50% of people forget to take pills or take wrong medication which will be dangerous for their health, the new smart pills technology is helping in monitoring this conditions.According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 1 million people suffered from IBD in the U.S. in 2015. The changing lifestyles, low intake of fibers in the food, stress, food intolerance and allergies are causing the increasing number of gastrointestinal diseases. To cure this disease, conventional methods do not provide accurate results. Need for accurate diagnosis and monitoring for this diseases are some of the major factors driving the smart pills market.The development of novel technologies and partnership between companies helping to boost growth in the smart pills marketThe key players operating the smart pills market globally are Boston Scientific Corporation, Olympus Medical Technology, Smart Pill Inc, Medtronic, Philips Healthcare, Given Imaging Ltd and Novartis, Siemens Healthcare, Pentax Medical Company, GE Healthcare, Stryker Corporation.The increasing healthcare awareness and early adoption to novel technologies driving the smart pills market in EuropeRegional segmentation of smart pills market by Coherent Market Insights comprises North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. North America and Europe collectively dominate the market. The adoption of these regions for novel technologies which is essential for the smart pills market, new marketing and commercialization strategies, large patient population are some of the causes driving this market in North America and Europe.Request Customization :The Asia Pacific region is one of the growing market however, increasing healthcare awareness, training in endoscope handling, growing predominance of colon cancer and intestinal infections, and major corporate investments in research and development in Japan and other Asian countries would help boost the smart pills market.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.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality : Future congress at WCCB presents innovative ideas The Future Congress "Bringing Technology to People" was hosted by the Ministry of Education at the WCCB. Innovations from robotics, artificial intelligence and virtual reality were presented. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken Would I let my child learn to ride a bicycle with sensor support? Could it acquire the instinctive perception of the environment and the reflexes that can later save its life? At the fourth Future Congress on Human-Technology Interaction, held Monday and Tuesday at the World Conference Center Bonn, this technology was presented under the name Safe4Bike". Those who are sceptical about the digitalization of the world, those who think of the "Terminator" in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), those who think of Isaak Asimov in everyday life when using robots and those who think of "Matrix" in Virtual Reality were out of place there. The conference was opened on Monday by Federal Education Minister Anja Karliczek, who emphasized that all technology must always be of benefit to people and society. For two days there were lectures, discussions and workshops on future technologies. In the foyer of the plenary hall, for example, techniques were presented that can be used to try climbing path with VR glasses or to improve occupational health management with sensor support. In addition, there were robots that can help people with Parkinson's or severe disabilities, self-propelled robots and the like. And at one stand you got to know Heidi and Elisa. The two dolls can speak, are connected to the Internet and serve people with dementia to entertain and remember important things. Via a chat function, relatives can leave messages online that the dolls pass on to their owners. They can stimulate guessing games, sing and have limited facial expressions, so they can also transport emotions. The maths performance group of the Otto-Kuhne-Gymnasium from Bad Godesberg was there to take a look at these new technologies that may shape the future of young people. They found the "Multimodal Algebra Learning" particularly interesting. It makes it possible to understand mathematical formulas on a monitor. This certainly makes sense for schools, said Paul (17). The pupils are of course digital natives. "I am less afraid of artificial intelligence," Claas (17) said. "It's a change: either you go along with it or you leave it out." Anna (17) also found that Germany should not allow itself to be left behind. For her it is a bit creepy when an A.I. has to decide about life and death in self-propelled cars. "We must confront ourselves with it." INFO The congress "Bringing Technology to People" is held every two years by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The specialist community can network and exchange information there. An app guides you through the rooms and the programme. This year's motto is "Sovereign into the digital future". Info at www.technik-zum-menschen-bringen.de. Growing dental disorders and dominance of implantology to drive the Dental Biomaterials Market https://www.datamintelligence.com/research-report/dental-biomaterials-market https://www.datamintelligence.com/research-report/dental-biomaterials-market DataM Intelligence announces its market report titled Global Dental Biomaterials Market Size, Share and Forecasts (2019-2026) which reflects the size, share, forecast analysis of key players. The report analyses market dynamics to provide market opportunities.Dental biomaterials are specialized natural or synthetic products designed to be used in the preventive and restorative dentistry. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dental disorders are one of the major public health issues in most of the developed and developing countries. Most of the oral diseases are considered as noncommunicable diseases. The most common oral diseases include untreated caries in permanent teeth, untreated caries in deciduous teeth, and severe periodontitis in adults.In developed countries, dental disorders affect 60% to 90% of children and 5% to 20% of middle-aged adults. Dental biomaterials are the primary choice of dentists in restructuring and preventing the teeth and gum damage.Get a free sample of the report -Global Dental Biomaterials Market DriversThe market is driven by the growing prevalence of dental disorders, rising geriatric population, increasing demand for cosmetic dentistry, increase in expenditure on dental and oral care and increasing adoption of novel adhesives, resin cement in CAD/CAM and other digital technologies. Dental CAD/CAM technology includes the use of new materials and data acquisition. It is a non-destructive method of saving impressions, restorations, and information in a computer and acts as a communication tool for evaluation.The rise in disposable income and dentists especially in developing countries is another key factor for the market growth. For instance, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), in 2019, Brazil has 174,000 dentists, which corresponds to 11% of the worlds total population. Implementation of favourable policies and initiatives are also on the rise in most of the developing countries. In US dental expenditure is increasing because of awareness, rise in disposable income and inclination towards cosmetic dentistry.Global Dental Biomaterials Market RestraintsThe high cost of treatment, presence of stringent regulatory and clinical processes and low reimbursement coverage by insurance are going to restrain the market in the forecast period. According to the WHO, every year oral diseases are among the most expensive diseases to be treated in developing as well as developed countries. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), In developing, nations large chunk of dental care is spent out of pocket, for instance in China, current basic medical insurance only covers a small portion of dental care expenditures, and over 85% of total dental costs are paid out of pocket.In developed countries too, dental expenditures are not predominantly covered by the government. For instance, in the US dental expenditure is minimally covered by CMS or other private organizations, but the majority of it is paid out of pocket. In 2017, Medicaid coverage for dental services accounted for $12.5 billion whereas out-of-pocket expenditure accounted for 53.0 billion.Global Dental Biomaterials Market Segmentation AnalysisThe global dental biomaterials market can be segmented by product as bone graft materials, dental membranes, and soft tissue regeneration products, by type as metallic, ceramic, and natural dental biomaterials, by application as implantology, periodontology, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and others and by end user as dental implant and prosthetic manufacturers, dental laboratories, dental hospitals and clinics, and dental academies and research institutes.By type, polymeric biomaterials are expected to dominate the market during the period of forecast because of high product durability, reduced risks of infections compared to other materials, material flexibility that provides ease in shape formation, biocompatibility, good resilience, lightweight, easy fabrication, and high corrosion resistance. Moreover, polymeric biomaterials have unique antimicrobial and drug delivery properties in preventive, regenerative, and restorative therapies to reduce friction and corrosion in dentistry.By application, implantology is the highest growing segment in the dental biomaterials market due to increasing demand for dental implants as it transmits mechanical forces and stimulation into the jawbone and provides patients with natural activities of teeth. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, in 2018, around 150 million people in the US were missing at least one tooth and around five million underwent dental restoration and it is growing annually by 500,000.Global Dental Biomaterials Market Regional AnalysisGeographically, the global dental biomaterials market is divided into North America, Europe, South America, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa.North America is anticipated to account for a significant share of the global market over the period of forecast, owing to an increase in the geriatric population in the country. According to the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP), in 2018, around 23 million people in the US were completely edentulous and another 12 million are edentulous in one arch.The market in the Asia Pacific is likely to expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Increase in the geriatric population with missing teeth and rise in demand for aesthetics leading to higher adoption of dental implants are projected to boost the dental biomaterials market in the region. According to the Indian Dental Association (IDA), in 2018, about 30% of adults aged 65 years and older in India are edentulous, compared to 46% of the population 20 years ago, this is owing to higher adoption of dental biomaterial implants. The prevalence in China is significantly high. According to 4th national oral health epidemiology survey, the percent of periodontally healthy people in middle-aged and elderly population category is just 12.6%.Favourable government initiatives in APAC countries will have a positive impact on the APAC dental biomaterials market. It includes policies for healthy lifestyles, optimization of health industries and improvement of health services including dental care. Recently, the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) launched a strategic analysis project, The oral health management of China in 2035. The initiative aims to analyze international trends in oral health promotion and identify the advantages and disadvantages of current oral health management measures in China and to identify frontiers for the competitive development of oral health in China.Global Dental Biomaterials Market Company TrendsSome of the major key players in the market are Straumann AG, Geistlich Pharma AG, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., Danaher Corporation, Dentsply Sirona, Inc., 3M Company, Royal DSM, Kuraray Co., Ltd, Medtronic Plc., Henry Schein, Inc., Mitsui Chemicals ,Inc., Victrex Plc, Ivoclar Vivadent AG, GC Corporation, Keystone Dental, Inc., Datum Dental Ltd, BEGO Medical GmbH, Cam Bioceramics B.V., Geistlich Pharma AG, BioHorizons IPH, Inc., and Biomatlante. Few of the recent key developments of the major players are list below In March 2019, Dentsply Sirona Implants unveiled two innovations in implant dentistry - Azento and Acuris to help dentistry professionals with single tooth replacement.In January 2019, Dentsply Sirona and Carbon announced strategic collaboration to deliver denture materials for Carbon digital 3D printing production solutions.In December 2018, Straumann Group entered a strategic partnership with Z-Systems. By the agreement, Straumann obtained exclusive distribution rights in most major markets for Z-Systems next generation implant line, which complements the Groups current PURE ceramic implant range.In October 2018, Straumann Group launched innovative fully-tapered implant, BLX and New Straumann PURE two-piece ceramic implant that simplifies handling and adds flexibility.In September 2018, Straumann Group signed agreements to buy further shares in T-Plus, the Taiwanese dental implant manufacturer, in order to gain a controlling stake in the company. The shares will be purchased from existing shareholders, increasing the Groups ownership from 49% to up to 60%.In September 2018, Henry Schein, Inc. acquired Intra-Lock, a provider of dental restoration solutions. This will enhance its position in the premium implant segment.In July 2018, Straumann Group acquired a 30% stake in its biomaterials partner, Botiss medical AG. This acquisition enables Straumann to expand its dental biomaterials portfolio.In July 2018, Straumann Group increased its stake in Createch Medical, a provider of high-precision CADCAM dental prosthetics, from 30% to full ownership for a purchase consideration of approximately $14 million.In July 2018, Danaher Corporation announced to spin off its dental segment into an independent, publicly-traded company "DentalCo". The transaction is intended to be tax-free to Danaher shareholders and expected to be completed in the second half of 2019.To know more about Global Dental Biomaterials Market -About DataM IntelligenceDataM Intelligence 4Market Research is a Market Intelligence and Business Research firm, based in India. It aims to bridge the two main aspects of a business decision - opinion and supportive data.Market Research for long has been losing its credibility owing to low reliability and high proportions of estimations. Having identified this gap, DataM was established to provide businesses with reliable and near-market intelligence. Reporting the actual market scenario has been made possible by our proprietary methodology, that essentially revolves around gathering inputs from industry participants and integrating the trends into statistical Databank. This approach not only aligns the findings with historical data but also allows a highly justifiable forecast model.Corporate Address1st floor, Phoenix Tech Tower, Plot no: 14/46, Habsidguda, IDA-Uppal, Hyderabad-500039, TelanganaEmailinfo@datamintelligence.comPhone+1 877-441-4866 Baby Products Market 2019 | Worldwide Forecast 2025 | Major Players - Johnson & Johnson Plc., Unilever Plc., Nestle S. A Baby Products https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/73394 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/enquiry_before_buying/73394 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/request_for_discount/73394 https://www.upmarketresearch.com/home/requested_sample/73394 www.upmarketresearch.com Up Market Research has added the latest research report on Baby Products Market Forecast to 2025 to its huge pool of market research reports database. The most up to date report comprises the latest trends that influence the market competition in the forecast period.The Baby Products Market Report 2025 provides a regional analysis of the market. The regional analysis focuses on manufacturers, suppliers, segmentation according to the application, major players, customers, and furthermore. The competitive data type analysis includes capacity, market share, profit margin, market growth, consumer consumption, imports, exports, revenue, and etc. Marketing strategies, manufacturing processes, policies, industry chain that are changing the wave of the market are also catered in the report.Get FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @The market research reports also include detailed information about the major players. The information provides gross profit, revenue, business distribution, the share of the market, and etc. Along with the major players, the development of the market in the focused region is also tailored in the report.The whole detailed report includes:1) Basic overview of the market2) Baby Products Market by Type3) Baby Products Market by Application4) Baby Products Market by Major playersMajor Players included: Procter & Gamble Company Kimberly-Clark Corporation Johnson & Johnson Plc. Unilever Plc. Nestle S. A. Abbott NutritionMarket Segmentation:By Type: Cosmetic & Toiletries Baby Food Baby Safety & ConvenienceBy Application: 0-3 Months 3-6 Months 6-9 Months 9-12 Months 12-18 Months 18-24 MonthsThe Baby Products Market is a competitive market. This report will help to resolve all the market-related doubts and assist the business to grow in the competitive sphere. All the data represented in the reports are validated by the prominent professionals and analysts of the market.Enquire More About This Report at:In addition to this, the report outlook will give the guidance to Tier1, Tier 2, and Tier 3s CEOs and CMOs to expand their roots in the industry and get ready for the future. It will also interest the individual readers around the world to know the inside-out of the industry. The tailoring of the market report involves a proper research methodology that includes primary research, interviews with the leading executives of the industry, and data analysis by the research analyst at the company.Going forward to the developments of the market, vendors landscape will provide a key development to the market worldwide. The market report will also provide the companies that are bombarding the market with unrelated products, companies with the same products but different geographical location, and popularity of the application according to the regions. During the study of the report, you will get to know about the segments that will act as a driver and restraints for the market growth.The Global Baby Products Market is necessary to understand the major players competition related to the products. It is witnessed that the new competitors in the market are the former executives or managers of the major players in the market. Therefore, the report will help to have deep insights and discover the new and existing opportunities of the market.The Global Baby Products Market was valued at $XX Million. It is anticipated that the market will throttle at a CAGR of XX.X% between 2019 and 2025.Avail Discount On This Report @This report includes CAGR, Cost Structure, Competitive analysis, Sales analysis, Top Players, and future growth insights.If you have any special requirement related to the report, the dedicated team will tailor the report as you wantThe value marked as XX is the confidential values of the market. To know about the values or any queries related to the report, fill in your information and our business development executive will get in touch with you.Major Topics Covered in this Report: Chapter 1 Study Coverage Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Market Size by Manufacturers Chapter 4 Production by Regions Chapter 5 Consumption by Regions Chapter 6 Market Size by Type Chapter 7 Market Size by Application Chapter 8 Manufacturers Profiles Chapter 9 Production Forecasts Chapter 10 Consumption Forecast Chapter 11 Upstream, Industry Chain and Downstream Customers Analysis Chapter 12 Opportunities & Challenges, Threat and Affecting Factors Chapter 13 Key Findings Chapter 14 AppendixGet FREE Sample Copy Of this Report @About Up Market Research: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. Onshore Drilling Fluids Market 2019 | Worldwide Forecast 2025 | Major Players - Drilling Fluids & Products, Anchor Drilling Fluids USA, Horizon Mud Company, AES Drilling Fluids, LLC and Medserv plc Onshore Drilling Fluids https://www.researchformarkets.com/sample/global-onshore-drilling-fluids-sales-market-128916 https://www.researchformarkets.com/reports/global-onshore-drilling-fluids-sales-market-128916 https://www.researchformarkets.com/sample/global-onshore-drilling-fluids-sales-market-128916 Onshore Drilling Fluids Market research report displays an absolute outline of the market that considers various aspects such as product definition, customary vendor landscape, and market segmentation. Currently, businesses are relying on the diverse segments covered in the market research report to a great extent which gives them better insights to drive the business on the right track. The competitive analysis brings to light a clear insight about the market share analysis and actions of key industry players. With this info, businesses can successfully make decisions about business strategies to accomplish maximum return on investment (ROI).Company snapshot, geographical presence, product portfolio, and recent developments are taken into account for studying the company profiles. Onshore Drilling Fluids Market research report has the potential to convince strategic and specific needs of any business in the industry. Furthermore, this Onshore Drilling Fluids Market report displays momentous data, current market trends, market environment, technological innovation, upcoming technologies and the technical progress in the related industry. Onshore Drilling Fluids Market is a professional and a meticulous market report which underlines primary and secondary drivers, market share, leading segments and geographical analysis.Request Sample Copy of the Report @This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, covering AMC Drilling Fluids & Products (Imdex Ltd.) Anchor Drilling Fluids USA, LLC Horizon Mud Company AES Drilling Fluids, LLC GEO Drilling Fluids, Inc. Medserv Plc Baker Hughes, Inc. Hamilton Technologies Limited Schlumberger Limited Halliburton, Inc. Newpark Resources, Inc. Weatherford International National Oilwell Varco (NOV) Francis Drilling Fluids Ltd. (FDF) Oleon Americas Inc. (Avril Groups)This report studies the global Onshore Drilling Fluids market status and forecast, categorizes the global Onshore Drilling Fluids market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, India, Southeast Asia and other regions (Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering North America Europe China Japan India Southeast Asia Other regions (Central & South America, Middle East & Africa)Browse Full Report with TOC @On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into OBF WBF SBF OthersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, including Permian Eagle Ford Niobrara Bakken Utica Marcellus OthersThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Onshore Drilling Fluids capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Onshore Drilling Fluids manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.Place a Purchase Order for Onshore Drilling Fluids Market @Note: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About Us:Research For Markets indulge 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 Advanced Medical Stopcock Market Expected To Huge Growth CAGR of US$ 1,167.6 Mn With Smiths Medical, B. Braun Melsungen, Merit Medical Systems, Nordson Corporation, Cook, And Other Advanced Medical Stopcock Market https://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPRE00002772/?opsp https://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPRE00002772/?opsp https://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPRE00002772/?opsp Advanced medical stopcock market accounted to US$ 841.3 Mn in 2018 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period 2019 - 2027, to account to US$ 1,167.6 Mn by 2027.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing geographic market and it is expected to be the fastest revenue contributor throughout the forecast period. Asia Pacific is recognized as a developing market for the medical devices. The growth is driven by the factors such as rising prevalence of the infectious disease across the region. Also the rising initiatives by the government of India and Australia are likely to foster the growth of the market during forecast period.Get Sample Copy Of Report@Some Of Major Key Players In Advanced Medical Stopcock Market:B. Braun Melsungen, Smiths Medical, Nipro, Elcam Medical, Merit Medical Systems, Codan USA, Nordson Corporation, Cook, JCM MED, Utah Medical Products,Approvals and agreements were observed as the most adopted strategy in global Advanced medical stopcock industry. Few of the recent product launch and collaboration and others are listed below:Organic and inorganic growth strategies were observed among which organic strategy was the most adopted strategy in global advanced medical stopcock industry. For instance, in December, 2018, Merit Medical Systems, Inc. announced acquisition of Vascular Insights, LLC, Merit acquired assets such as ClariVeinIC and ClariVeinOC specialty infusion and occlusion catheter systems. Thus, the acquisitions of the smaller companies are assisting in strengthening their portfolio and business.Market Insights:-Growing Incidence of Chronic Diseases:The chronic diseases such as heart diseases, cancer, chronic lung diseases, stroke, Alzheimers disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease among the others are the leading cause of deaths. The habits such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity among others are the leading factors for the chronic diseases. According to the recent statistics of World Health Organization for the year 2019, chronic diseases contribute approximately 60% of all deaths and 43% of the global burden of disease. It is also expected that by 2020 the incidences of deaths will rise approximately to 73% and the global burden of disease is expected to grow by 60%. Therefore, the significant rise in the incidences of the chronic diseases are likely to increase the demand for the advanced medical stopcock as this is required to treat various conditions.Rapidly Growing Number of Surgical Procedures:Advanced medical stopcocks are used during surgeries or after the surgical procedures. These are used with infusion pumps to send pain medicine through catheter to a specific part of patients body. The Infusion pumps provide targeted and consistent medicine to decrease the pain. They are used when other methods are less effective or when the patient needs long-term medicines or fluids. The stopcocks are used after surgeries to provide medicines in the fluid forms when the patient is under observation. For instance, the surgical procedures such as caesarean sections are growing across the world. According to the statistics revealed by the European Union states that in 2016, approximately 1.32 million caesarean sections were performed. The number of the surgeries are rising across the world which is likely to propel the growth of the market during the forecast period.Speak With Industrial Experts@End User Insights:The global advanced medical stopcock market by end user segments was led by hospitals & clinics segment. In 2018, the hospitals & clinics held a largest market share of 42.0% of the advanced medical stopcock market, by end user. This segment is also expected to be the fastest growing segments of the market in 2027 owing to increasing number of admission in hospitals due to several health conditions which is becoming the major factor for the growth of the advanced medical stopcock market.Advance Medical Stopcock - MARKET SEGMENTATIONBy Type: Low-Pressure Stopcocks Medium-Pressure Stopcocks High-Pressure StopcocksBy End User: Hospitals & Clinics Homecare Ambulatory Surgical CentresBy Geography: North America Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) Middle East & Africa (MEA) South America (SAM)According to the recent statistics of World Health Organization for the year 2019, chronic diseases contribute approximately 60% of all deaths and 43% of the global burden of disease. It is also expected that by 2020 the incidences of deaths will rise approximately to 73% and the global burden of disease is expected to grow by 60%. Therefore, the significant rise in the incidences of the chronic diseases are likely to increase the demand for the advanced medical stopcock as this is required to treat various conditions.Get Customization On Discount@About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services.We are committed to providing highest quality research and consulting services to our customers. We help our clients understand key market trends, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions by providing market research solutions at an affordable cost.Contact us:The Insight partners,Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.com X-Ray Aprons Market CAGR Status, Industry Analysis, Trends, and Forecast - 2028 | Lite Tech, Inc., Barrier Technologies, Wolf X-Ray, Shielding International https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-7309 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-7309 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com X-ray aprons are also known as lead aprons or leaded aprons used for protection against harmful radiations. It is a type of protective clothing that acts as the radiation shield. Lead X-ray aprons are used to reduce exposure of radiation to both patient and personnel. X-ray aprons are made up of thin rubber sheet at the exterior. X-ray aprons are used along with lead gloves and lead glasses. The main purpose of using X-ray apron is to minimize the exposure of harmful X-ray to vital organs. Prolonged exposure to X-ray has been linked to increasing chances of developing cancer. X-ray aprons protect vital organs from harmful radiations exposed during medical imaging processes such as radiography, computed tomography, fluoroscopy and others. X-ray aprons also help to protect reproductive organs. Protective reproductive organ is important as radiation may cause changes in the DNA of egg cell and sperm which leads to genetic defects in the offspring of the patients. According to researchers, the thyroid gland is most vulnerable to X-rays. Care should be taken to protect or cover thyroid gland using X-ray aprons or thyroid collars during dental radiographs.Request Sample Report @X-Ray Aprons Market: Drivers & RestraintsIncrease in the number of medical imaging processes drives the global X-ray aprons market. Other factors such as rise in geriatric population and increase in awareness among the people also expanded the growth of global X-ray aprons market in the stated forecast period. Increase in the number of diagnostic imaging centers in developed and developing countries also boost the market growth of X-ray aprons. Technological advancement and increasing prevalence of diseases that requires medical imaging also escalate the market growth of X-ray aprons. High cost and lack of reimbursement policies restrain the growth of X-ray aprons in the stated forecast period. Heaviness associated with the lead X-ray aprons has shown the detrimental effect on the health of the wearer, particularly spinal injuries also decline the growth of X-ray aprons market.X-Ray Aprons Market: SegmentationThe global market for X-ray aprons is segmented on the basis of material type, end users and geography.Based on the material type, X-ray aprons market is segmented into:Lead free X-ray apronsLight weight lead composite X ray apronsLead X ray apronsBased on end-user, X-ray aprons market is segmented into:HospitalsClinicsDiagnostic LaboratoriesOthersX-Ray Aprons Market: OverviewThere are different types of X-ray aprons available in the market with various modifications. The regular lead X-ray aprons are made up of 100% lead and are the heaviest among all other types. The lead composite X-ray aprons are made up of lead and other light weighted metals such as barium and tin, making it lighter than the regular lead X-ray aprons. Lead-free X-ray aprons are made up of non-lead attenuated metals. They are the lightest and provide complete protection, along with being These aprons are the lightest ones environmental friendly.X-Ray Aprons Market: Regional OutlookX-ray aprons market is segmented on the basis of eight regions into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan and China (APECJ), Japan, China and Middle East & Africa (MEA). North America is dominating the overall X-ray aprons market throughout the forecast period. The presence of better healthcare facilities, increase in the number of diagnostic centers and high patient awareness level are some of the leading factors accounting for the maximum market share in these regions. This is followed by Europe, due to better healthcare infrastructure and increase in the number of diagnostic procedures. In developing regions such as Asia-Pacific, X-ray aprons market is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period due to improving healthcare infrastructure and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases. Middle East and African region is expected to grow at moderate rate due to poor healthcare facilities and lack of awareness among the patients.Request to View TOC @X-Ray Aprons Market: Key playersSome of the leading players operating in the X-ray aprons market are: Lite Tech, Inc., Barrier Technologies, Wolf X-Ray, Shielding International, Inc., Biodex Medical Systems, Inc., Rego X-ray GmbH, Techno-Aide, Inc., and others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Future Market InsightsU.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb: Floral Body Mists Sales Surge as Indulgence Grows Among Millennials | Key Players are Victoria's Secret, Christian Dior SE, Giorgio Armani S.p.A, etc. https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=165 https://www.factmr.com/report/165/body-mist-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=165 https://www.factmr.com/ According to a recent Fact.MR study, worldwide sales of body mists exceeded 275 million units in 2018, and are estimated to record a Y-o-Y growth of 3.5% in 2019. The body mist industry continues to be influenced by various factors, ranging from increasing consumer spending on personal grooming products to a new trend for fragrance wardrobes. Such trends have been influencing consumers to invest in different perfumes and fragrances to layer scents and complement varying occasions, subsequently boosting the sales of body mists.The study opines that growing popularity and adoption of various cosmetics and personal care products among young consumers significantly contribute to the expansion of body mist market. Several leading brands are transforming themselves from being identified as brand offering a range of anti-aging products to youthful brand that appeals to rising number of young women with high purchasing power. This, coupled with development of innovative products with natural and organic ingredients, that also ensure long-lasting fragrance, has been impacting the sales of body mists.Request For Sample Report-Floral Body Mists Continue to Remain the Top-selling CategoryThe study finds that young and teenage consumers, especially women, continue to show marked preference for floral body mists. Worldwide sales of floral body mists surpassed 78 million units, and are estimated to register a Y-o-Y growth of 4.9% in 2019. In addition to floral body mists with single notes, manufacturers are combining scents of various flowers to create classic feminine appeal, which is likely to provide potential growth prospects of the body mist market.Female body mists continue to account for a significant share of the market, with sales of more than 187 million units in 2018. Additionally, rising awareness regarding skincare and healthcare among men has impacted launch of various grooming products for men, which in turn favor the sales of male body mists. However, the Environment Working Group (EWG) have reported the presence of hazardous synthetic chemicals, mostly petrochemicals in most body scent and fragrance products, which has raised awareness among consumers and limited the adoption of body mists. This has favored the demand for body care products including fragrances with natural and organic ingredients. Companies such as Forest Essentials as well as several startup companies are focusing on offering an entire product portfolio based on safe, pure ingredients that are free from petrochemicals.Browse Full Report on Body Mist Market with In-depth TOC-According to the study, North America remains the leading market for body mists, with sales exceeding 82 million in 2018. Presence of leading market players in the region along with increasing number of consumers who use body mists on daily basis are key aspects fuelling the growth of body mist market in North America. Economic vigor of consumers in developed nations has further complemented expenditure on body care and grooming products.The study finds that Asia Pacific Excluding Japan will continue to be an attractive market for body mists, expected to record a volume Y-o-Y growth of 5.4% in 2019 over 2018. Rising westernization and increase in consumer spending on personal grooming products in developing countries on the back of improving economy and high disposable income, are the key macroeconomic trends fuelling the growth of body mist market in the region.According to the study, modern trade accounts for relatively large sales of body mists, with nearly 40% share in 2018. Gains also remain significant from e-commerce sites, as brands are racing to evolve their marketing techniques, shifting ad investments from traditional television to Instagram and YouTube, to attract the rising number of millennial population who are likely to purchase various products through online stores. Fact.MRs study also offers a long-term forecast of the body mist market for the period, 2018-2028. The body mist market is projected to record a volume CAGR of 3.5% through 2028.Request Methodology of this Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; that's why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MR11140 Rockville PikeSuite 400Rockville, MD 20852United StatesEmail: sales@factmr.comWeb: Global Fructose Market 2018 by Leading Key Regions like: North America, Europe,etc. https://www.ozonemarketreports.com/sample-request/global-fructose-market-2018-2023/28789 https://www.ozonemarketreports.com/materials-and-chemicals/global-fructose-market-2018-2023/28789 https://www.ozonemarketreports.com/discount-request/global-fructose-market-2018-2023/28789 https://www.ozonemarketreports.com/ The 'Global Fructose Market Outlook 2018-2023' offers detailed coverage of fructose industry and presents main market trends. The market research gives historical and forecast market size, demand, end-use details, price trends, and company shares of the leading fructose producers to provide exhaustive coverage of the market for fructose. The report segments the market and forecasts its size, by volume and value, on the basis of application, by products, and by geography.The report has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from key industry participants. The global fructose market has been segmented into five major regions, namely, North America (U.S., Canada, and others), Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Russia, and others), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Australia, and others), South America (Brazil, Argentina, and others), and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and others). Furthermore, the report also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key vendors operating in this market.To Get Free Sample Request visit @Key Regions- North America- Europe- Asia Pacific- Middle East & Africa- South AmericaKey Vendors- Archer Daniels Midland Company- DowDuPont Inc.- Galam Ltd.- Shijiazhuang Huaxu Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.- Tate & Lyle PLC- Xiwang Group Company Limited- request free sample to get a complete list of companiesTo Browse Complete Report with TOC visit @Key Questions Answered in This Report- Analysis of the fructose market including revenues, future growth, market outlook- Historical data and forecast- Regional analysis including growth estimates- Analyzes the end user markets including growth estimates.- Profiles on fructose vendors including products, sales/revenues, SWOT, and market position, recent developments.- Market structure, market drivers and restraints.Request a Discount On a Standard Price Of This Report Visit @ABOUT USOzone Market Reports is committed towards delivering intensive research based analysis reports, enabling clients to easily make fact-based decisions. We also have with us the facility of our innovatively designed and developed data processing and analysis division.Ozone Market Reports is a research-based consulting firm specializing in getting research inputs and using them appropriately in the marketing planning process. In saying this, we are trying to convey that we always attempt to interpret the research data from the viewpoint of recommending action priorities - both short-term and long-term. To this end, we have put together a team that understands not only research techniques, but also branding concepts in depth. We believe our people are our clients' biggest assets hence we do our best to recruit multi-skilled individuals, and then give them an environment where they can think and ideate freely.We offer various services for our clients to help them choose what's most relevant and best for them required for their business.Contact Us:Name: Steven SamuelEmail - info@ozonemarketreports.comPhone - +91 9370882135Website: Cloud Gaming Market Projected to Register 46.7% CAGR to 2023 | Sony, GameFly (PlayCast), Nvidia, Ubitus, PlayGiga, Crytek GmbH, PlayKey, Cyber Cloud, Alibaba Cloud, Baidu, Tencent Cloud etc Cloud Gaming Market http://bit.ly/2QgePOF http://bit.ly/2YJ49eC http://bit.ly/2M6b2VG Cloud gaming, also known as games on demand, is an online gaming service. It provides direct play abilities to end users on variety of devices. Increasing enhancement being provided by the cloud gaming platform to end-users and reduced cost for playing the games will be the major drivers for the growth of the cloud gaming market. Since the rapid growth of the cloud computing, data collection and information sharing are led to a higher level and are replacing the traditional computation. Several technologies using cloud in all areas are developing to adapt the revolution of information technology and one of them is cloud gaming. Over the next five years, Publisher projects that Cloud Gaming will register a 46.7% CAGR in terms of revenue, reach US$ 450 million by 2023, from US$ 45 million in 2017.Some of the key players of Cloud Gaming Market:Sony, GameFly (PlayCast), Nvidia, Ubitus, PlayGiga, Crytek GmbH, PlayKey, Utomik (Kalydo), 51ias.com (Gloud), Cyber Cloud, Yunlian Technology, Liquidsky, BlacknutSAS, Alibaba Cloud, Baidu, Tencent Cloud, Ksyun (Kingsoft), LeCloudGet Sample Copy of this Report @In cloud gaming implementation, client-server structure is used to create a communication between front end and back end. User inputs are collected and delivered to cloud by UDP link and then data centre starts analysing incoming inputs and gives responses that can be either file stream or a video stream. In the next step, TCP connection receives packets and allocates them to each client. During the communication, required data is encoded into streams and decoded into frames in TCP connection so that video is shown to clients.Segmentation by product type:Video StreamingFile StreamingSegmentation by application:PCConnected TVTabletSmartphoneWhile the rapid growth of cloud gaming, challenges especially security risk, latency and bandwidth as well as packet loss are gradually arisen to impede technology developments. Benefits and impacts follow the appearance of cloud gaming and change the way players experience games traditionally. No heavy deployment on hardware or further downloading or updating is required and therefore less production such as disc will be made by vendors.Get Discount for This Report @Because of gamers might expect higher standard experience is met, quality of experience (QoS) is proposed to deal with explosively increased requirements to enhance the performance of gaming. Two research covered on different topics are given to analyse the factors that influence the QoS.Table of Contents:1 Scope of the Report2 Executive Summary3 Global Cloud Gaming by Players4 Cloud Gaming by Regions9 Market Drivers, Challenges and Trends10 Global Cloud Gaming Market Forecast11 Key Players Analysis11.1 Sony11.1.1 Company Details11.1.2 Cloud Gaming Product Offered11.1.3 Sony Cloud Gaming Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2018)11.2 GameFly (PlayCast)11.2.1 Company Details11.2.2 Cloud Gaming Product Offered11.2.3 GameFly (PlayCast) Cloud Gaming Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2018)11.3 Nvidia11.3.1 Company Details11.3.2 Cloud Gaming Product Offered11.3.3 Nvidia Cloud Gaming Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2018)11.4 Ubitus11.4.1 Company Details11.4.2 Cloud Gaming Product Offered11.4.3 Ubitus Cloud Gaming Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2018)11.5 PlayGiga11.5.1 Company Details11.5.2 Cloud Gaming Product Offered11.5.3 PlayGiga Cloud Gaming Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2018)11.5.4 Main Business OverviewPurchase This Report @About ReportsWeb:ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Contact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@reportsweb.com X-by-Wire Market is Expected to Witness a Volume CAGR of 13.8% during 2017 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-6324 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-6324 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com http://www.keepfacts.com/ According to a new report published by Future Market Insights titled X-by-Wire Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012 2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017 2027), the global x-by-wire is in the growing stage and is expected to show potential growth signs by the end of 2027. The demand for x-by-wire systems is increasing with every passing day as their installation is increasing in the military vehicles as well as construction equipment. Automotive companies are also focusing on installing x-by-wire systems in economy cars as well. Electric and hybrid vehicles manufacturers, on the other hand, are looking forward to adopt brake-by-wire in the vehicles, thus making it a feasible option for the consumers. The global x-by-wire market is expected to witness a volume CAGR of 13.8% and is likely to reach a volume of over 395,000 000 units by the end of 2027.Rising Demand for Automotive Components to Trigger Adoption of X-by-WireThe global automotive components market is expected to rise at a healthy rate over the forecast period owing to the substantial rise in the global demand for light vehicles. As a result of this, the sales of x-by-wire is expected to increase by almost 40%. Furthermore, the sales are supported by the stable demand arising from Asia Pacific and Europe. The sales are likely to constant in developing regions but slower growth is likely to be witnessed in emerging markets, especially China. Along with the luxury and premium vehicles sector; mid-sized and economical cars are also featuring advanced systems in their vehicle models in order to remain competitive in the market. These factors are expected to fuel growth of the x-by-wire technologies such as throttle-by-wire, shift-by-wire and brake-by-wire. The global automotive production rate is expected to have a high impact on the x-by wire market. The passenger cars sector, in particular, is anticipated to witness high growth over the forecast period. It has been projected that there will be a rather sound automotive production rate in developed economies such as Europe and the U.S. with the key emphasis being on sedan and luxury car sectors owing to changing consumer preference and lifestyle.Download Sample Copy@Asia Pacific Excluding Japan to Emerge as a Leading Region in Terms of Number of DeploymentsThe market for x-by-wire in APAC is expected to witness a volume CAGR of 16.3% from 2017 and 2027 owing to the high penetration of automotive in the region. China is on the forefront at present and is expected to stay the same by the end of the forecast period. In spite of an unstable economy in the last couple of years, the automotive industry has performed quite well, thus increasing the sales of automotive, both passenger and commercial in the region. In addition, the production of automotive is anticipated to be comparatively high in the developing regions as compared to the developed ones. Factors such as shifting customer preferences towards luxury vehicles, developing infrastructure, as well as rising disposable income of consumers in the region are likely to support the automotive industry in the region, thus supplementing the sales of x-by-wire in return.Download Market Shares of Leading Players@Partnerships to be the Core Strategy of Key Market PlayersStrategic partnerships of auto component manufacturers with technology providers is likely to be the core focus of companies. The companies operating in the x-by-wire market are Continental AG, Kongsberg Automotive, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Robert Bosch GmbH, SKF AB, Denso Corporation, and Ficosa International SA, among others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centers in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customized and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.U.S. Office616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWeb:Blog: Adult Toys Market Analysis By Trends Segment Revenue Forecast Top Players|Konga Nigeria, LETEN, DMM, Molrose Adult Toys https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1871200-adult-toys-market-insights-2019-global-and-chinese-analysis https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1871200-adult-toys-market-insights-2019-global-and-chinese-analysis https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1871200 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1871200-adult-toys-market-insights-2019-global-and-chinese-analysis https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport https://plus.google.com/u/0/+NidhiBhawsar-SEO_Expert?rel=author HTF MI recently introduced Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Market study with in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status to 2023. The market Study is segmented by key regions which is accelerating the marketization. At present, the market is developing its presence and some of the key players from the complete study are Konga Nigeria, LETEN, DMM, Molrose, Rhinio, Wanle, Company Profile, Main Business Information, SWOT Analysis, Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin, Market Share, Vibrators, Rubber Penis & Other etc.Request Sample of Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Analysis and Forecast to 2024 @:This report studies the Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.Browse 100+ market data Tables and Figures spread through Pages and in-depth TOC on " Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Market by Type (), by End-Users/Application (Application I, Application II, Application III & ), Organization Size, Industry, and Region - Forecast to 2023". Early buyers will receive 10% customization on comprehensive study.In order to get a deeper view of Market Size, competitive landscape is provided i.e. Revenue (Million USD) by Players (2013-2018), Revenue Market Share (%) by Players (2013-2018) and further a qualitative analysis is made towards market concentration rate, product/service differences, new entrants and the technological trends in future.Enquire for customization in Report @Competitive Analysis:The key players are highly focusing innovation in production technologies to improve efficiency and shelf life. The best long-term growth opportunities for this sector can be captured by ensuring ongoing process improvements and financial flexibility to invest in the optimal strategies. Company profile section of players such as Konga Nigeria, LETEN, DMM, Molrose, Rhinio, Wanle, Company Profile, Main Business Information, SWOT Analysis, Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin, Market Share, Vibrators, Rubber Penis & Other includes its basic information like legal name, website, headquarters, its market position, historical background and top 5 closest competitors by Market capitalization / revenue along with contact information. Each player/ manufacturer revenue figures, growth rate and gross profit margin is provided in easy to understand tabular format for past 5 years and a separate section on recent development like mergers, acquisition or any new product/service launch etc.Market Segments:The Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Market has been divided into type, application, and region.On The Basis Of Type: .On The Basis Of Application: Application I, Application II, Application III &On The Basis Of Region, this report is segmented into following key geographies, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share, growth rate of Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, in these regions, from 2013 to 2023 (forecast), covering North America (U.S. & Canada) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Analysis (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico & Rest of Latin America) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Europe (The U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden & RoE) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa, North Africa, RoMEA) {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Share (%) and Opportunity Analysis} Rest of World {Market Revenue (USD Billion), Growth Analysis (%) and Opportunity Analysis}Buy Single User License of Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Analysis and Forecast to 2024 @Have a look at some extracts from Table of ContentIntroduction about Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and ChineseAdult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 2017Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Market by Application/End UsersAdult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Applications(2013-2023) table defined for each application/end-users like [Application I, Application II, Application III & ]Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2023)Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Competition by Players/Suppliers, Region, Type and ApplicationAdult Toys Market Insights 2019, (Volume, Value and Sales Price) table defined for each geographic region defined.Adult Toys Market Insights 2019, Global and Chinese Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales DataAdditionally Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors list is being provided for each listed manufacturersMarket Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018) table for each product type which includeAdult Toys Market Insights 2019, Manufacturing Cost AnalysisAdult Toys Market Insights 2019, Key Raw Materials AnalysisAdult Toys Market Insights 2019, Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers, Industrial Chain AnalysisMarket Forecast (2018-2023)........and more in complete table of ContentsBrowse for Full Report at:Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.comConnect with us at UPDATE 5:24 p.m. May 23: AMC buys Cinetopia theaters with plan to reopen in weeks Cinetopia, the luxury living room-style movie theater chain that started in Vancouver and has three Portland-area locations, is no longer showing movies. According to a report from The Columbian, the chain has closed indefinitely. Earlier this month, an anonymous tipster told The Oregonian/OregonLive that Cinetopia had stopped serving food and beverages in theaters. Neither AMC or Cinetopia responded to requests for comment at the time. Cinetopia stops in-theater service. Sent May 6, 2019 from an anonymous tipster. The Columbian reported that Cinetopias Mill Plain location was closed Monday. The paper said that both the Vancouver Mall and Progress Ridge location in Beaverton were open Tuesday, but that no showtimes were scheduled beyond Tuesday. A spokesperson for the parent shopping mall of the fourth Cinetopia location near suburban Kansas City, Mo., said that location was closed Sunday, and told The Columbian, All we know is that it is (closed) until further notice and theyre undergoing some possible renovation. No Portland-area locations were answering the phone on Wednesday, and no showtimes were listed for any location on Fandango. In May of 2018, according to the Kansas City Star, Cinetopia sued AMC in federal court on antitrust claims, saying that AMC was hurting competitors by obtaining exclusive showing rights to blockbusters -- an industry practice known as clearance -- specifically related to Cinetopias Kansas location, which is less than three miles from an AMC location. The Columbian wrote that Cinetopias lawsuit against AMC included the allegation that AMC had also engaged in bad-faith negotiations to purchase the four Cinetopia locations while simultaneously using the practice of clearances. In March, however, the two sides told a judge that they were working towards a settlement, the paper reported. They were planning on informing the court about that potential settlement on Friday. Rudyard Coltman, founder of Cinetopia and owner of Portlands newest luxury movie complex Studio One, did not respond to a request for comment. AMC declined to comment. A controversial bill that would end the automatic referral of juveniles facing Measure 11 charges to adult court passed out of the Oregon House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and now heads to the full House. Senate Bill 1008 passed 6-5, with the four Republicans on the committee casting no votes. Rep. Jeff Barker, D-Aloha, was the lone Democrat to vote against the bill. The bill, which represents the first major reform to Oregons juvenile justice system in decades, has already passed the Senate. Several Democratic members said changes to how the state treats juveniles accused of the most serious crimes are overdue. Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, called the legislation a darn good bill, while Rep. Janelle Bynum, D- Clackamas, called it an important step in stopping this cycle of incarceration and overcharging and the re-enslavement of African Americans in Oregon. Measure 11 is a mandatory minimum sentencing law approved by voters in 1994. It requires that anyone 15 to 17 who is arrested for certain crimes be charged as an adult. Measure 11 charges come with high bail and long prison sentences. Crimes covered by the law include sex offenses, murder, robbery and assault. Among the bills changes: Prosecutors would have to request a hearing to determine whether juveniles facing Measure 11 charges should go to adult court instead of sending them immediately there. Several Republicans said the drafting process for the bill was flawed and failed to include a range of perspectives, including their own. Rep. Sherrie Sprenger, R-Scio, said she attended meetings to discuss the proposed juvenile justice policy changes but felt the die was cast and the train had left the station. She said the process was a partisan one. Its really sad that this bill sits here today," she said. Rep. Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, said the way Measure 11 treats juveniles needs to change but he wouldnt vote for the bill because it lacked broad consensus support. He proposed an amendment that would have referred the changes to voters. He said he offered the amendment at the request of the Oregon District Attorneys Association. It failed. We can get a better bill, he said. We can get a bill that can produce consensus all across the board, including with the district attorneys. The bill also would do away with life without parole sentences for juveniles. Anyone convicted of a crime when they are younger than 18 would get a chance to seek parole after 15 years. Proponents say 21 states and Washington, D.C., also have eliminated life without parole for juvenile offenders. According to the state, 15 offenders are serving life sentences for juvenile Measure 11 convictions; two are serving life without parole. Proponents of the bill say it is not retroactive but some prosecutors argue that it will lead to the release of convicted killers like school shooter Kip Kinkel and others serving time for juvenile crimes. The bill also gives juveniles convicted of Measure 11 crimes the opportunity for a so-called second look hearing half-way through their sentences. According to the bill, a judge would consider allowing young offenders to serve the rest of their sentences under community-based supervision instead of prison. -- Noelle Crombie 503-276-7184 ncrombie@oregonian.com @noellecrombie Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. A former Oregon engineering student from China pleaded guilty Wednesday to importing counterfeit Apple iPhones and then exchanging them for new phones under a warranty scheme that cost the company at least $900,000. Quan Jiang, 30, agreed as part of a plea deal to pay $200,000 in restitution before his Aug. 28 sentencing and forfeit a 2015 Mercedes Benz that investigators seized in March. Prosecutors will seek a prison term of three years and one month for Jiang, but he and his lawyer are expected to argue for probation. Jiang is one of two students charged in the alleged fraud. Jiang was studying engineering last spring at Linn Benton Community College on a student visa but no longer is allowed to attend school because a change in his visa status, according to defense lawyer Celia Howes. As a result of the felony conviction, Jiang also may face deportation, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bounds told the court. From January 2016 through at least February 2018, Jiang imported thousands of counterfeit iPhones from Hong Kong. He and others sent each phone back to Apple Inc., complaining it wouldnt power on, in exchange for a new phone under Apples warranty process, prosecutors said. They then had the new phones shipped back to China for someone else to sell for hundreds of dollars and got a cut of the profit, prosecutors said. Jiang, through a Mandarin interpreter, said, "I"m guilty'' to the single counterfeit trafficking charge before U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown. Federal agents in Portland began investigating in April 2017 after U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized at least five suspicious shipments from Hong Kong of cellphones with Apple Inc. markings and design features that appeared to be counterfeit. By that December, Homeland Security Investigations agent Thomas Duffy interviewed Jiang at the Customs and Border Protection office at the Port of Portlands Terminal 6 after identifying him as one of the alleged importers of counterfeit phones, according to court records. Jiang told investigators that he regularly received packages containing 20 to 30 iPhones from an associate in China. He said he submitted the iPhones, which didnt power on, individually to Apple for repair under Apple's warranty program. Once he received replacement phones, he shipped them back to an associate in China. In exchange for his labor and efforts, the associate paid Jiangs mother, who lives in China, who then deposited the proceeds into a bank account that Jiang accessed from the United States, Duffy wrote in an affidavit. Jiang estimated that during 2017, he submitted 2,000 telephones to Apple for warranty repairs, the affidavit said. Jiang used dozens of identities, some real and others fake, to submit the warranty claims and numerous shipping addresses in three states to cover up the fraud, Bounds said. Jiang was associated by either name, email, mailing address or IP address to 3,069 iPhone warranty claims, all saying the iPhone wouldnt power on, according to business records provided by Apple, investigators said in court documents. For one of the claims, Jiang is accused of using his Linn Benton Community College email. Apple replaced 1,493 of those phones and rejected the rest, the business records indicated. Each of the phones replaced had a resale value of $600, Bounds said. The company estimated its loss from all the fraudulent phone warranties at $895,800. Investigators said the alleged fraud was possible because Apple cant immediately examine or repair phones that wont power on. Trafficking of counterfeit goods carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $2 million fine or twice the amount of proceeds from the fraudulent behavior, whichever is greater. Jiangs co-defendant and Corvallis neighbor, Yangyang Zhou, has pleaded not guilty to submitting false or misleading information on an export declaration. He was also in the United States on a student visa and completed his engineering studies at Oregon State University this past winter. Individuals who deal in counterfeit goods would have you believe that these are victimless crimes, said Brad Bench, special agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations office in Seattle. Do not be fooled, theyre not. Not only do they hurt the economy and legitimate businesses, but they also impact consumers directly. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. The former manager of the Burns Municipal Airport was sentenced Wednesday to four years of probation, including 300 hours of community service, for stealing thousands of dollars worth of surplus federal property that belonged to the city. Jeffery Robert Cotton, 45, was responsible for securing excess federal property for the airfield as its manager. When Cotton obtained property for himself, he not only stole from the City of Burns. He stole the opportunity of other state and local governments to use the property, the prosecutor wrote to the court in a sentencing memo. Between 2014 and 2016, Cotton acquired heavy equipment including a heater/air conditioner, lighting, tractors, a fire truck and other trucks for his personal use without informing the city, according to the government. When confronted, Cotton lied about when, where and how he got the property, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Gavin W. Bruce. He falsely told the Burns fire chief and others, for example, that he and associates had gotten a fire truck and a Chevrolet 3500 van through a private website, according to court papers. Cotton pleaded guilty last month to two counts of theft from programs receiving federal funds. The government estimated he illegally obtained property worth $1.3 million, according to court records. Cotton signed fake bills of sale that falsely suggested that his own nonprofit corporation, Emergency Equipment Solutions Inc., had purchased title to the property he stole, according to Bruce. Cotton also claimed to others that he had bought the equipment from private sellers when he had gotten it through the Federal Personal Property Utilization Program. The program provides property the federal government no longer needs to state and local governments at no cost. Cotton was first hired in 2013 by the city of Burns as a contractor working for the Burns Municipal Airport. He became the airport manager in April 2015 and served in that position until May 2016. The prosecutor had sought a prison sentence of a year and a day for Cotton. Cottons Assistant Federal Public Defender Laura Coffin urged probation with community service. U.S. District Judge Ann L. Aiken sentenced Cotton in U.S. District Court in Eugene. As part of the plea deal, the government dismissed nine counts of wire fraud against Cotton. The FBI and the Inspector Generals General Services Administration Office investigated the case. -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. An Oregon State Police trooper shot 12 times in the line of duty nearly three years ago was awarded a National Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor on Wednesday during a ceremony hosted at the White House by President Donald Trump. Nic Cederberg was honored for bravery he exhibited on Christmas Day in 2016. Cederberg was shot while chasing James Tylka, who had shot and killed his wife in front of his parents home in King City. Not 30 minutes after the murder, the Washington County Consolidated Communications Agency issued a countywide call for all law enforcement to find a white Mitsubishi driven by Tylka. Cederberg spotted Tylka's car and chased it down a narrow and isolated rural road. The road was a dead end, and Tylka used his car to ram the trooper's car and then shot Cederberg a dozen times before taking his life by shooting himself in the head as other officers arrived. Cederberg, a U.S. Army veteran and a trooper for seven years, spent 48 days in the hospital. He has filed a federal lawsuit against the Washington Countys 911 system, the sheriff and others, contending dispatchers failed to alert officers that Tylka was armed, suicidal and had just shot his wife when they radioed for police to find him on Dec. 25, 2016. Cederberg, the only state trooper patrolling in Washington County, said he lacked critical information when he made tactical decisions to chase Tylka "that he would not otherwise have made, was exposed and subjected to an unanticipated lethal attack and suffered critical, life threatening and permanently disabling injuries,'' the suit says. --Tom Hallman Jr. thallman@oregonian.com; 503 221-8224 @thallmanjr Employees of a Northeast Portland manufacturing business evacuated the building Tuesday evening after a piece of equipment caught fire. Portland Fire & Rescue tweeted that the business, Avalign Thortex, had a dust-collecting hopper that collects titanium shavings and had caught fire. Officials said the hazmat team had to be called because water couldnt be used to douse the flames. They advised people to avoid the area. Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Lake Oswego voters on Tuesday approved an increase and extension to a property tax levy to bolster public school funding, expected to bring in $13 million in the coming academic year, with 57 percent of 10,241 votes cast as of 8 p.m. A $30 million open spaces bond also overwhelmingly passed with 70 percent voting yes. The school funding measure, first passed in 2000 and extended for the fourth time this year, will preserve more than 80 full-time positions and allow for the hiring of up to 20 more teachers, according to the Multnomah County voters pamphlet. This year, it comprised approximately 12 percent of the Lake Oswego School Districts general fund. The levy is expected to provide a total of $60 million for the district over the next five years. The open spaces bond will allow the city to acquire land for parks and other outdoor recreation within the city limits and nearby unincorporated areas. The $30 million measure will also pay for renovations to current parks facilities. In the race for Lake Oswego school board, incumbent John Wallin won his reelection bid with 61 percent of the vote. His opponent, realtor Kelly Calabria, took 38 percent in the race for Position 1. Oregon Health Authority Senior Operations Manager Kirsten Aird won her uncontested bid for Position 5 on the board with 98 percent of the vote. Updated 5:13 p.m. When the Portland school board voted to approve a $1.2 million contract to staff its high schools with full-time school resource officers, the backlash from students was immediate. Outrage at the boards December decision led to protests in front of City Hall. A group calling for the removal of Portland police officers from district schools began rallying students to the cause. Within weeks, the board reversed course, pledging the district wouldnt fund the program. Many students, including Roosevelt senior Breely Buttita, thought that vote would be followed by a series of conversations about the role of police officers in Portland Public Schools. Buttita left a February feedback session district officials held at her North Portland school under the impression the district soon might not have cops patrolling the halls of the districts high schools at all. But, as The Oregonian/OregonLive has learned, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has proposed setting aside $1.6 million in the citys upcoming budget to provide 12 officers for the school resource officer program. Nine of those officers at a cost of $1.2 million will patrol Portland Public Schools buildings, police bureau spokesman Lt. Stephen Yakots told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Two more officers will serve the David Douglas School District. One officer will work in the Parkrose School District. The city has footed the bill for student resource officers for about two decades. The mayors proposed allocation would maintain the status quo. Police bureau officials approached Portland Public Schools about picking up the tab late last year. The school board initially voted to fund the program, only to reverse its decision under pressure. The Portland City Council was scheduled to vote on the mayors proposed budget Wednesday. The vote has been pushed back to Thursday. The proposed city spending on school resource officers is the result of conversations between city leaders and officials from the citys three largest districts. Wheeler and Portland Police Chief Danielle Outlaw met with the superintendents and school board chairs of each district in March and the six education leaders presented a united message, according to minutes from a David Douglas school board meeting. The board members and superintendents indicated they want the student resource officer program to continue but have little interest in funding it. All three school districts expressed their unequivocal support for the SRO program and their desire to maintain the program, Nicole Grant, Wheelers senior policy adviser told The Oregonian/OregonLive in an email. The mayor recognizes how sensitive this issue is and believes the question of the value of SROs should be left to the school districts, their students and families. At Portland Public Schools, district officials are waiting for the final vote on the mayors budget before they make the next move. We believe there is merit in having trained SROs who know our schools and students, spokesman Harry Esteve said in a statement. As the city budget is finalized, we will continue to work with the police bureau on a plan for the coming year, including incorporating our diverse student and staff perspective and voices into any potential agreement between our organizations. So far, student activists say the districts priorities dont align with their own. Buttita said she hasnt heard from district officials since they gathered feedback from Roosevelt students in February. And Sophia Lucas, a Jefferson high senior who helped found a student group that pushed for the district to drop school resource officers altogether, was under the impression that thered be ongoing conversations about the program. I think its a terrible, horrible disappointment in priorities, Lucas said. I think its irresponsible. Members of the Portland school board repeatedly said they were uncomfortable with the programs $1.2 million price during a January meeting. But both students said they dont want police patrolling their schools regardless of the cost. Buttita said she was dismayed by reports of a Portland police lieutenants friendly text exchanges with Joey Gibson, leader of the right-wing Patriot Prayer group. Regardless of where the money for the school resource officer program comes from, Buttita said she would prefer to see it go elsewhere. I honestly feel like the city paying for this even worse because there are so many homeless issues going on, she said. The city could be focusing so much more on that. Lucas, who graduates in June, said she feels unsafe when she sees armed police officers patrolling her school. Shes Native American and Latina and said she rarely hears positive stories from people of color about their interactions with police. Lucas plans on attending Portland State University in the fall. And if police still roam the halls of her high school then, Lucas said shell still attend board meetings to push for an end to the program. She wants to do it for her sisters, Lucas said. I know how it feels to see a cop roaming a school. And I dont really want my siblings going to school in fear, she said. After two years of impressive growth along the West Coast, Portland ice cream company Salt & Straw has accepted a new investment, this one focused on getting their frosty product to more customers, no matter where they might be. Salt & Straw started life scooping strawberry honey balsamic ice cream from a Northeast Alberta Street pushcart in 2011. In 2017, co-founders Kim and Tyler Malek took on substantial investments from both Greenwich, Connecticut-based KarpReilly and noted New York restaurateur Danny Meyers Union Square Hospitality Group and Affiliates. Today, the company has 18 shops across the Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and San Diego areas. This month, the Maleks accepted $4 million more -- $2 million from the Oregon Venture Fund (formerly the Oregon Angel Fund), plus an additional $2 million from other partners -- an amount they expect to use to seed an artisan food incubator program and improve the technological experience throughout the company. In an interview Tuesday, Kim Malek said she started talking with the Oregon-based venture capital fund after learning they had a concentrated effort to increase their investments within the food world in Portland. The funds will be used in part to launch an artisan food incubator program, a new venture that seeks to locate, support and grow new food producers that could then go on to work with Salt & Straw. We would help with HR, marketing, accounting, all the fun stuff that you dont think about when youre blazing through a passion project, Kim Malek says. Once you start manufacturing, we would start buying product from you. Oregon Venture Fund also plans to assist Salt & Straw in upgrading their tech. According to Malek, fund partner Matt Compton, a former Yahoo executive and onetime chief operating officer at online banker Simple, has already offered assistance and advice, including sitting in on interviews with potential hires. We have a pretty nicely growing direct to consumer business -- until recently I called it mail order, which just shows that I came of age in the 80s -- that weve never really paid any attention to, Malek says. Wed like to start developing that part of the business, as well as our third-party delivery, Postmates, etc. We want to be able to more consistently offer the excellent experience that people have come to expect in our stores, wherever they might find us. -- Michael Russell Meghann Cuniff covers litigation for the Los Angeles Daily Journal. She joined me on Wednesday to talk about Michael Avenatti, who is facing legal challenges in two states. Listen to the full interview here. On Avenattis case in New York vs. the one in California: The New York case has completely overshadowed the California case. I mean its tabloidy, its Nike, its extortion. Theyve got the transcripts as Im talking. It gets everyones attention, whereas bank fraud, wire fraud. I think the allegations of theft against clients have gotten a little attention, but those are more complicated of course than straight up theft, here and there. Its just a complicated case with a complicated guy. Did he invite trouble by being so public? A lot of people thought it wasnt a very smart move to attract attention to himself. He was all over TV for a good two or three months solid when this criminal investigation into the tax stuff had started. So whether he brought it upon himself? People would say he brought it upon himself by his own conduct... but whether his celebrity led to it all? I think the prosecutors would dispute that. On the Bol Bol and Nike pay-to-play allegations: Hes an articulate guy and not afraid to speak his mind. Especially the stuff regarding the University of Oregon and Nike, Im personally interested. Id like to hear more about what he has to say but it sounds like hes had opportunities to provide stuff to UO and were just kind of waiting to see what hes done there. On Avenattis reputation in legal community: He has a track record of success in the legal community. Hes an established attorney... back years ago he was one of our top-20 lawyers under 40. So he had at least a good reputation, somewhat, in the litigation community. He was doing big cases, doing big things. You have to have some substance to that if youre succeeding the way he was. Listen to more with Cuniff: Visitors headed to Lincoln City this Memorial Day weekend might need to stay out of the water. The Oregon Health Authority issued a public health advisory on Wednesday for D River Beach, a popular beach in the heart of Lincoln City, after water samples indicated high levels of fecal bacteria. People should avoid coming into contact with water in the area while the advisory is in effect, officials said in a news release. The bacteria can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, rashes, respiratory infections and other illnesses. The warning comes at a particularly bad time, as visitors prepare to descend upon the central Oregon coast destination for Memorial Day weekend. Neighboring beaches are not affected, and recreation outside of the water is still safe, officials said. Health advisories are not uncommon at D River. The Oregon Health Authority most recently issued a warning in September, 2018, which lasted eight days. Increased bacteria levels can come from stormwater runoff, overflowing sewers and animal waste sources farther inland. Visitors can check on the status of the health advisory online at the Oregon Beach Monitoring Program, or by calling 971-673-0482 or 877-290-6767. --Jamie Hale | jhale@oregonian.com | @HaleJamesB By Stephanie Bryson, Anissa Rogers and Christine Saladino Bryson, PhD, MSW, LICSW, is director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Portland State University. Rogers, PhD., MA, MSW, LCSW, is director of the Dorothy Day Social Work Program at the University of Portland. Saladino, PhD, LMSW, MACE, is director of the Bachelor of Social Work program at George Fox University. Additional co-authors are listed at the end of the piece. We, the directors of social work educational programs in Oregon, speak in unison with the National Association of Social Workers Oregon Chapter in expressing concerns about House Bill 2033, which seeks to lower educational requirements for state child-welfare caseworkers. We understand the pressure the Oregon Department of Human Services is under to fill vacant positions and agree that the crisis in Oregons child welfare system requires outside-the-box thinking. We also recognize there may be potential candidates who would be qualified and dedicated based on their lived experience (such as adults who grew up in the foster care system) and who may not have the means to attend four-year college. However, based on years of research and practice experience, we believe the long-term solution to many of the intractable problems DHS faces is better training and licensure accountability. The agency needs long-term solutions such as state-funded higher education for workers; increased training and licensure requirements for certain DHS personnel; an improved worker pipeline; and higher pay for these positions. Research over the past 25 years has shown that workforce shortages and turnover are due to poor working conditions, not to educational barriers. A 2016 report on caseload and workload management by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Childrens Bureau presents several profiles of states that have improved their child welfare workforce problems. None resorted to lowering educational and training requirements; in fact, states that have reduced workforce shortages and increased retention have done so by ramping up recruitment and conducting competency-based interviews in which job candidates give specific examples that show their skills and decision-making. A 2003 report by the U.S. General Accounting Office attributes caseworker turnover to the following: low pay, risk of violence, staff shortages, high caseloads, administrative burdens, inadequate supervision and training. It recommends university training partnerships, accreditation, leadership and mentoring programs, competency-based interviews and recruitment bonuses. When it comes to workers best suited for the child welfare workforce, a report from the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute shows that those with bachelors or masters degrees in social work did better than non-social workers on pre-training and post-training tests of core child welfare knowledge and skills. Students who obtain social work degrees from programs accredited by the Council on Social Work Education attain the knowledge, values, and skills of the social work profession. The Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards for accredited programs identifies nine core competencies that social work students demonstrate prior to graduating with their degree, including those relating to ethical and professional behavior; engaging with diversity and difference, and advancing human rights and social, economic, and environmental justice. Child welfare workers have an extremely stressful job, and the inability to handle this stress contributes to the high turnover rate in child welfare workers. This reduces the number of experienced child welfare workers and increases training costs for DHS. As part of their education, social workers with bachelors degrees have learned to recognize and address their own work and personal stress. They understand the importance of being self-reflective, attending to their own trauma, setting professional boundaries, and getting support for themselves during especially difficult times. These skills are critical for child welfare workers. We call upon Gov. Kate Brown to veto HB 2033 and to commit to, along with Child Welfare Director Marilyn Jones, studying how other states have increased minimum educational requirements for social workers. In collaboration with NASW Oregon Chapter, we remain committed to supporting the state, its educational institutions, and national child welfare initiatives to solve what is both a local and a national issue. Other co-authors of this opinion piece are: Stephanie Mace, PhD., MSW, dean of the Social Work Program at Warner Pacific University; Clifford Rosenbohm, PhD., LCSW, ACSW, director of the School of Social Work at George Fox University; Don Schweitzer, PhD, MSW, LMSW, director of the Bachelor of Social Work Program at Pacific University; and Sonja Vegdahl, PhD, MA, LCSW, director of Concordia Universitys Social Work Program. Wheres the housing for that? Simon Armstrong of Portland says our suburban areas are flush with funds and have plenty of room to support 20,000 new arrivals who have come to our country seeking a better life. My question is: If this is true, why isnt the City of Portland using those resources to care for all the American citizens sleeping on every street corner in the city and surrounding areas? Maybe the funds described in Simons letter do not really exist. Ed Lattanzi, Portland A school resource officer at Johnson High in Huntsville, Alabama watches in the hallways as students change classes. Here in Portland, school resource officers have become a point of debate. Armed guards in schools wont solve the problem Ryan Cunningham (Its time to protect the innocent, May 8) has a good point when he states we should be finding a solution to prevent more mass school shootings. Good point, but wrong focus. Putting armed guards into our schools will increase the potential danger of shoot outs" with the real possibility of further collateral deaths. I grew up and lived in England for 30 years. As a results of the highly restrictive gun ownership laws in England, I do not remember a single gun-related death in schools or in general. The stranglehold of the gun lobby and Americans love of guns is the core of the problem. Put a peashooter in the hands of a would be gun assassin and what would you get? Sorry to be such a narrow-minded Englishman, but this problem will always be a fact of life in the U.S. as long as guns are so available. Ray Tricker, Wilsonville Pro-Second Amendment state lawmakers join together at the Pa. Capitol with gun owners from across the Commonwealth earlier this month. PENNLIVE.COM The back and forth and back and forth on guns Tom Petersons letter to the editor (Second Amendment isnt about individuals, April 15) -- a response to Natasha Heintzs letter to the editor (From grief to hope after New Zealand massacre, March 27) -- quotes the Second Amendment and then asks, What part o that dont you understand? Id like to ask him: What part of well regulated dont YOU understand? John Harrington, Newport A sign at The Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Washington, warns patients and visitors of a measles outbreak in January. Officials in the Pacific Northwest say a measles outbreak there that sickened multiple people is over. Pennsylvania reported its first case of 2019 on April 29.AP Photo Give children a chance Regarding Karla Hackneys carefully phrased and brilliantly written April 14 op-ed, Further perspective on Christian Science and vaccination, she is simply misrepresenting the application of Christian Science beliefs to vaccinations or any other type of medical treatment. Why have laws had to be passed in many states to force Christian Science parents of children to bring them to a doctor or hospital for care? The deaths of these children that could have been prevented by a simple antibiotic or minor surgical procedure proved too much for many of the staunchest liberals of even her own church to stomach. True, the Christian Science Church does not forbid pursuing medical treatment or medicine. But if you choose to do so, you are frowned upon and even shunned for this heinous act. We can respect other peoples beliefs, and die for their right to have them. But when your beliefs threaten the health, safety and lives of others, as the great Mary Eddy Baker wrote, submit to this process. Children deserve a chance to continue living and not just be left in bed, crying their eyes out with 103-degree fever while their parents kneel and pray. Steven Romano, Vancouver SEATTLE A 2017 deadly Amtrak train derailment in Washington state happened because the engineer lost track of where he was on the route and was going more than twice the speed limit when he hit a curve, federal safety investigators said Tuesday. The National Transportation Safety Board announced the findings at a meeting in Washington, D.C. The train derailed Dec. 18, 2017, near DuPont, killing three and injuring dozens. The derailment occurred on the trains first paid passenger trip on a new route from Tacoma to Portland. The News Tribune reports investigators also blamed the transit agency Sound Transit for not sufficiently mitigating the danger of the sharp bend, Amtrak for not better training the engineer, Washington State Department of Transportation for not ensuring the route was safe before green-lighting a passenger train and the Federal Railroad Administration for using rail cars beneath regulatory standards. "The engineer was set up to fail," said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. Although federal officials released preliminary findings after the crash, this is the first time investigators have offered a final determination of what happened. Investigators said the train was going 78 mph when it rounded the curve. Thats 48 mph faster than the 30 mph speed limit. The engineer appeared to apply the brakes but did not put the brakes in emergency mode. He told federal officials he was aware of the sharp curve he'd operated the locomotive three times on that track and observed the route another 7-10 times but lost track of where the train was on the route. Seattle-based Sound Transit issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, calling the derailment "a terrible tragedy that sears in the memory of all of us at Sound Transit." "While Sound Transit does not operate any service in the segment of track where the accident took place, as owner of the track we commit to closely reviewing the NTSB's report and implementing recommendations in collaboration with Amtrak, the Washington State Department of Transportation, BNSF and the Federal Railroad Administration," the agency said. Amtrak also issued a statement Tuesday. "We remain deeply saddened by the loss of life and injuries due to this tragic event," Amtrak said. It said it has already implemented a number of changes, including the creation of a new "safety organization" and the development of a strategic plan to "maximize the effective use of simulators in training, qualification and certification of Amtrak employees. -- The Associated Press SALEM The backlog of bills scheduled for a vote on the floor of the Oregon House has gotten so big, it would take nearly 24 hours of non-stop reading to catch up. And that doesnt include the amount of time lawmakers will take to debate the measures. For several weeks, House Republicans have refused to waive a requirement in the Oregon Constitution that bills be read out loud in their entirety before a vote. The rule can be bypassed if at least two-thirds of the chamber approves, but that threshold can only be reached with support from both Democrats and Republicans. For many years, lawmakers routinely waived the requirement for the entire session. Recently, Republicanswho serve in the minority in both chambershave granted waivers more selectively, as a way to slow down proceedings. Reading the bills aloud has little practical benefit, as the measures are available online. During the read-aloud sessions, many lawmakers chat with colleagues or work on their computers. About three weeks ago, Republicans in the Oregon House stopped waiving the third reading requirement altogether, with a handful of exceptions. It means that House clerks must read bills out loud in their entirety, instead of just a very short summary of the bill. While many bills are less than five pages, some are much longer. It can take hours to read them aloud. Or in some cases, days. Senate Bill 360 is a dense 54-page tome that makes a series of largely technical updates to Oregons laws governing non-profit organizations. Twice, the House adjourned for the day before the reading clerk could finish her task. On the third day, it was finally time for Rep. Karin Power, D-Milwaukie, to make the case for the measure. Thank you for your rapt attention, Power said to her colleagues. There will be a quiz. After her brief speech, there was no debate and the bill passed 55-0 less than three minutes after the multi-day bill reading concluded. Heading into Wednesdays floor session, the House had 83 bills totaling 425 pages on its docket. On average, it takes about three minutes and 20 seconds for each page of a bill to be read aloud. That means it will take nearly 24 hours to simply read the bills. Debate over those bills, which can range from minutes to hours, will stretch the amount of time needed to eliminate the backlog even further. And new bills are added to the list nearly every day. The House is planning morning and afternoon floor sessions for the rest of this week and could hold a rare Memorial Day session next week, although no decision has been made yet, according to Danny Moran, a spokesman for House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland. Greg Stiles, the spokesman for House GOP leader Rep. Carl Wilson, R-Grants Pass, wouldnt say how long Republicans plan to use the delay tactic. The bottom line is this, said Stiles. The speaker has done a poor job of managing the minority. Ironically, the situation is quite different in the Senate, even though it had its share of partisan drama earlier this month. Republicans staged a weeklong walkout as a way to deny Democrats a quorum in a dispute over a $2 billion education funding bill. But Democrats, led by Senate President Peter Courtney, agreed to spike two of their priority bills in exchange for the return of Republican Senators. With that agreement ironed out, Senate floor sessions have proceeded quickly. Lawmakers still have more than a month to complete their work, with a hard deadline of June 30 to wrap things up. Many of the bills caught in the House backlog are policy bills that could be set aside if needed. Budget bills, on the other hand, need to be passed or agencies and programs grind to a standstill. Most of the bills that set budgets for state agencies have yet to be finalized, however. Those bills tend to be very short, with supporting documents outlining the details of how the money will be spent. WASHINGTON More Democrats are calling and more loudly for impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump after his latest defiance of Congress by blocking his former White House lawyer from testifying. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici of Oregon is among them. She said Wednesday that the House of Representatives should start an impeachment inquiry. I am gravely concerned about the actions of President Trump and the growing evidence of possible impeachable offenses, including obstruction of justice, committing human rights violations by separating children from their families, and profiting from the presidency," Bonamici said in a statement. Ive said before that impeachment should be an option, but we must approach it deliberately. The time has come. A growing number of rank-and-file House Democrats, incensed by former counsel Don McGahns empty chair in the Judiciary Committee hearing room on Tuesday, are confronting House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and pushing her and other leaders to act. Their impatience is running up against the speakers preference for a more methodical approach, including already unfolding court battles. Pelosi summoned some of them still a small fraction of the House Democratic caucus to a meeting of investigators on Wednesday to assess strategy. Trump on Wednesday repeated his mantra about Democrats contributing to a "Witch Hunt" against him. "The Democrats are getting ZERO work done in Congress," he tweeted. Some Democratic leaders, while backing Pelosi, signaled that a march to impeachment may become inevitable. "We are confronting what might be the largest, broadest cover-up in American history," Majority Leader Steny Hoyer told reporters. If a House inquiry "leads to other avenues including impeachment," the Maryland Democrat said, "so be it." Reps. Joaquin Castro of Texas and Diana DeGette of Colorado added their voices to the impeachment inquiry chorus. "There is political risk in doing so, but there's a greater risk to our country in doing nothing," Castro said on Twitter. "This is a fight for our democracy." Tweeted DeGette: "The facts laid out in the Mueller report, coupled with this administration's ongoing attempts to stonewall Congress, leave us no other choice." One Republican congressman, Justin Amash of Michigan, has called for impeachment proceedings. He said Tuesday he thinks other GOP lawmakers should join him but only after reading special counsel Robert Mueller's report carefully. Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy dismissed Amash as out of step with House Republicans and "out of step with America." And Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said wryly of Amash's position, "I don't think it's going to be a trend-setting move." As Democrats weigh their options, Trump is almost taunting them by testing the bounds of executive power in ways few other administrations have. The White House contends that even former employees like McGahn do not have to abide by subpoenas from Congress. A short time later House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler issued subpoenas for more Trump administration officials former White House communications director Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson, a former aide in the White House counsel's office for documents and testimony. Trump's former White House counsel is the most-cited witness in Mueller's Trump-Russia investigation report, recounting the president's attempts to interfere with the probe. And that makes his silence all the more infuriating for Democrats. Nadler gaveled open Tuesday's hearing with a stern warning that McGahn will be held in contempt for failing to appear. "Our subpoenas are not optional," Nadler said. "We will not allow the president to stop this investigation." However, Rep. Doug Collins, the ranking Republican on the committee, spoke scornfully of Nadler's position, calling the session a "circus" and saying the chairman preferred a public "fight over fact-finding." Democrats are "trying desperately to make something out of nothing," Collins said, in the aftermath of Mueller's report. A lawyer for McGahn had said he would follow the president's directive and skip Tuesday's hearing, leaving the Democrats without yet another witness and a growing debate within the party about how to respond. Nadler said the committee would vote to hold McGahn in contempt, though that's not expected until June, after lawmakers return from the Memorial Day recess. Democrats are encouraged by an early success in the legal battles , a Monday ruling by a federal judge against Trump on in a financial records dispute with Congress. Trump's team filed notice of appeal on Tuesday. But Pelosi's strategy hasn't been swift enough for some lawmakers. In particular, several members of the Judiciary panel feel they must take the lead in at least launching impeachment proceedings. They say a formal impeachment inquiry could give Democrats more standing in court, even if they stop short of a vote to remove the president. "I think that's something a lot of members of the committee and more and more members of the caucus think is necessary," said Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee. "I think an inquiry, as the Senate Watergate hearings were, would lead the public to see the misdeeds of this administration." Others, though, including some from more conservative districts, said they prefer the step-by-step approach. "We want to make sure that we're following all the legal processes, everything we've been given, to truly make the best decisions," said Rep. Lucy McBath of Georgia, a freshman on the Judiciary panel. Pelosi scheduled Wednesday's meeting with lawmakers from the Judiciary and Oversight committees after some members confronted her during a meeting among top Democrats Monday evening. At that time, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland led others in arguing that an impeachment inquiry would consolidate the Trump investigations and allow Democrats to keep more focus on their other legislative work, according to people familiar with the private conversation who requested anonymity to discuss it. Pelosi pushed back, saying that several committees are doing investigations already and noting that Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the chairman of the Oversight Committee, already had won the early court battle over Trump's financial documents. With a 235-197 Democratic majority, Pelosi would likely find support for starting impeachment proceedings, but it could be a tighter vote than that margin suggests. Some lawmakers say voters back home are more interested in health care and the economy. Many come from more conservative districts where they need to run for re-election in communities where Trump also has support. For Pelosi, it's a push-pull exercise as she tries to raise awareness about Trump's behavior without moving toward impeachment unless she knows the public is with Congress. "We've been in this thing for almost five months and now we're getting some results," Pelosi told lawmakers Monday night. "We've always said one thing will lead to another as we get information." But other Democrats in the meeting, several of whom have spoken publicly about a need to be more aggressive with Trump, are increasingly impatient. They include Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Ted Lieu of California and freshman Joe Neguse of Colorado. "We're in a very grave moment," said Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania, and "probably right now are left, with nothing but that we must open an inquiry." Tweeted Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas: Congress has made "accommodation after accommodation. I don't think we should wait any longer." Bonamici of Oregon said in her statement: An impeachment inquiry is necessary to shed light on the truth. As this administration stretches executive privilege to the breaking point, flouts subpoenas, and disregards contempt proceedings, an impeachment inquiry is the appropriate tool available to allow Congress to fulfill our constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight of the executive branch as a co-equal branch of our government. The Associated Press Jim Ryan of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report Two months after an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive revealed Oregons status as one of the biggest money states in American politics, lawmakers are poised to adopt the states first campaign contribution limits in decades. House Bill 2714 would cap contributions to House and Senate candidates at $1,000 and $1,500, and statewide candidates at $2,800. Today, Oregon is one of just five states with no limits at all. This is a significant improvement over where were at, said Rep. Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, one of the bills main sponsors. Were limiting the money going in, he said. The controls would take effect if either voters or the Oregon Supreme Court decide to allow regulation of campaign contributions under the states constitution. Voters could get their shot at the ballot box in November 2020. Lawmakers are working to develop specific limits that would take effect if voters approve a planned ballot referral then to make limits constitutional. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments this November in a case testing the legality of campaign limits adopted by Multnomah County voters in 2016. The limits in HB 2714 dont go as far as some activists would like. The bill explicitly kills off standards that voters approved in 2006 with Measure 47, which confined donors to giving $100 to legislative candidates and $500 for statewide races. The 2006 law is on the books but currently unenforceable, thanks to a decades-old state court ruling that says Oregons constitution doesnt permit limits on political money. If the Oregon Supreme Court reverses itself on that opinion, Measure 47 would take effect. HB 2714 would prevent that from happening by repealing the measure entirely. HB 2714 contains at least one big loophole that could still allow vast sums of money to flow to candidates from some sources. Donors will just have to get a little more creative. The legislation would allow federal candidates to give unlimited amounts to political party committees, which in turn could give unlimited amounts to a candidate. Though donations to federal candidates are limited to $2,800 per election, anyone can file to run as a federal candidate. In submitted comments, Dan Meek, a public interest attorney who authored Measure 47, said that would create a path to game the system with proliferating intermediaries. Its a huge loophole, Meek said, one that would allow money to be moved around with virtually no limits. A separate bill, House Bill 2716, proposes disclosure requirements for political ads. As written, those will do little to tell Oregonians who is truly funding campaign-season commercials and mailers. Meek called the Democrats disclosure requirements in HB 2716 nearly useless. He said they certainly will not accomplish the purpose of informing voters about who or what is paying for political advertisements. Oregon today has some of the weakest disclosure requirements in the nation. One loophole in the contributions bill has been closed. As of Tuesday, a draft said that political party committees could donate unlimited amounts to candidates. The bill proposed creating 37 of these committees for both Democrats and Republicans a statewide group and one for each county in Oregon. Each could accept $2,800 per year from an individual and then give it to any candidate. An individual or corporation could route $103,600 per year -- $414,400 in a four-year election cycle -- to a single candidate this way. But after a reporter asked Rayfield about the more than $400,000 that someone could route through the political party system, a spokesman said the lawmaker would amend the bill to eliminate unlimited donations from the 36 county parties. Rayfield said other loopholes that Meek identified wouldnt be practical for donors to use in real life. Two years from now maybe Im wrong, and if Im wrong, well come back and fix it, Rayfield said. Rep. Dan Rayfield, D-Corvallis, at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem in January 2019. Beth Nakamura/Staff Rayfield said lawmakers want to replace Measure 47 because aspects of it are clearly illegal, including limits on candidates donating to their own campaigns. We wanted some certainty that what we are doing is constitutional, Rayfield said. Measure 47 includes whats known as a severability clause -- legal language that allows any portion found illegal to be cut out without killing the whole thing. Rayfield said he wanted an overall complete system -- not just a mix-and-match with Measure 47. Rayfield acknowledged the shortcomings of the ad transparency bill and said he planned to work on a stronger bill between now and the short legislative session next year. Meek said the coalition of campaign finance activists he represents, Honest Elections Oregon, had not yet taken a position on the bills. "We continue to work to improve these bills, Meek said. We will only support real and effective campaign finance reform. A public hearing and possible work session on HB 2714 and HB 2716 are scheduled in the House Rules Committee Thursday at 5:30 p.m. -- Rob Davis rdavis@oregonian.com 503.294.7657; @robwdavis Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Federal officials under President Donald Trump have made no apologies for targeting undocumented immigrants for arrest at courthouses and, most recently, for possible eviction from public housing. But one area that hasnt drawn attention from the Trump administration: federal money paid to child care workers who are not legally in the United States. The issue publicly surfaced in Oregon last year when a state employee claimed the Department of Human Services was turning a blind eye to the practice of paying undocumented immigrants through a federal child-care subsidy program. Its not clear how widespread the practice is. But federal authorities privately raised similar concerns under President Barack Obamas administration in 2012, according to federal records obtained by The Oregonian/OregonLive through a freedom of information request. At the time, authorities pointed to questionable payments in Oregon as a potential problem. They recommended that the government consider writing regulations to clarify whether undocumented immigrants could be paid with federal funds. U.S. officials in charge of the grant program told The Oregonian/OregonLive this month that changes were not necessary. A spokesman would not directly comment on the appropriateness of using federal money to pay child care workers who are not legally in the United States. States have flexibility to operate their programs within federal parameters provided, Pat Fisher, a spokesman for U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, said in a statement. We defer to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on matters of immigration law. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security did not respond to requests for comment. The federal program in question is called the Child Care and Development Fund. It provides more than $5 billion annually to states to help cover child care costs for low-income families. Oregon uses that money to subsidize about 8,300 families each month through its Employment Related Day Care program, with a maximum monthly payment of $1,415 per child. A fraud investigator for Oregons Department of Human Services accused the agency of steering some of that money to undocumented individuals. Ryan Cram sent his allegations to every member of the Legislature in September. Under federal law, it is unlawful to hire, or to recruit or refer for a fee, for employment anyone known to have not been lawfully admitted into the United States. Its also unlawful to use a contract, subcontract, or exchange to obtain the labor of someone known to be illegally in the United States. Cram reviewed internal agency records and found that a day care provider listed a taxpayer identification number instead of a Social Security number. He found that the provider also received food stamps and she was listed in internal state records as an illegal alien, according to an email Cram sent to agency officials. Cram compared agency records and identified 79 child care providers who acknowledged being undocumented and unauthorized to work in the United States, Cram said in his September letter to lawmakers. State officials attempted to dismiss Crams concerns, saying they found no instances of fraud. But they didnt directly address Crams assertion about whether the state was running afoul of federal law. Crams concerns echoed those of the Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The agencys inspector general, Daniel R. Levinson, flagged the issue in a five-page memo sent in September 2012 to the acting assistant secretary of the Administration for Children and Families, the late George Sheldon. An investigator with Levinsons office identified 15 child care providers in Oregon who received more than $30,000 in payments in 2010 but who did not list valid Social Security numbers on their background registries. The investigator found that some of the people provided taxpayer identification numbers while others submitted Social Security numbers that were invalid or belonged to someone else. In a footnote to the memo, Levinson wrote that because federal rules for the grant program did not specifically exclude undocumented individuals as child care providers, the issue of undocumented workers possibly becoming CCDF-approved child care providers is beyond the scope of the inquiry. Even so, Levinson recommended that federal authorities consider whether to revise the definition of an eligible child care provider to ensure it was consistent with federal laws about immigration. Sheldon responded to the inspector general in December 2012, saying the agency would examine whether changes were needed. Fisher, the agency spokesman, told The Oregonian/OregonLive that officials did review the issue but no further regulation was proposed. The Oregon Department of Justice officially weighed in this month. Under state law, officials cant request information about an individuals citizenship or immigration status unless theres a requirement to do so under a specific state or federal law. And in the case of day care providers, there is none, according to a May 2 memo to the Department of Human Services, written by Ellen Mendoza, a senior assistant attorney general. Neither the Department of Human Services nor Oregons Office of Child Care are required to ask for a providers citizenship status because the state is not the employer of the childcare providers who obtain reimbursement through federal subsidies, according to the memo. The Department of Human Services requested the formal opinion last November, two months after Cram made his allegations, although officials say they held informal communications with state attorneys immediately after Cram voiced his concerns. The agency released the memo this month in response to questions from the newsroom. Cram, meanwhile, has threatened to sue the state. Among other things, Crams tort claim, filed in March, alleges retaliation by the state over his action as a whistleblower. A spokeswoman for the Department of Human Services did not directly comment on Crams legal notice but said the agency took his concerns seriously. -- Brad Schmidt bschmidt@oregonian.com 503-294-7628 @_brad_schmidt Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. City commissioners verbally sparred with angry members of the public on Wednesday over whether to approve a $10 million contract for security guards at Portland City Hall. Dozens of residents showed up to oppose the contract with G4S Security Solutions, saying the city should not hire the company because of its work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Israeli government. The commissioners said the contract was in the best interest of the city. G4S has been Portlands security contractor for years and the guards they provide are union members who do good work and deescalate tense situations, the elected officials said. Mayor Ted Wheeler did not allow time for residents to testify on the contract, leading audience members to shout at Wheeler, who twice put the City Council meeting into recess and cleared the Council chamber. Once back in session, people opposed to the contract shouted over Commissioners Nick Fish, Jo Ann Hardesty, Chloe Eudaly and Amanda Fritz as they were explaining their votes. You are disrupting and disrespecting me, Eudaly said. An audience member yelled back, Youre disrespecting the people who voted for you! You dont know what Im going to say, Eudaly responded, before voting against the contract. Disruptions continued as Fritz was called to vote. Are you not going to let me talk? she said over protesters shouts. Wheeler cleared the council chambers again. Third times a charm, he said, once the council reconvened with members of the public kept outside. Ah, I had such a great speech and theres no one here to hear it, Fritz said before voting to approve the contract. Its really disheartening that people are not willing to listen. City Hall security costs have escalated under Wheelers administration. The annual cost was $175,000 in 2016 but had ballooned to $847,000 by last year, driven mostly by an increase in the number of guards deployed. Those increases were approved even as officials concluded there were fewer security threats at City Hall. On Wednesday, the Council approved spending $2 million a year on security with G4S. The contract was approved 4-1 with Eudaly the sole vote against it. -- Gordon R. Friedman GFriedman@Oregonian.com Goose Creek, SC (29445) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. High 76F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low around 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. The Midland Young Professionals (MYPros) is hosting author Rebecca Clarren in an author spotlight luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 23. The luncheon will be hosted at the Great Hall Banquet and Convention Center, and is an opportunity to connect, network and learn. Rebecca Clarren is a great example of taking your passions and talents and continuing to turn them into a business. said Nicole Ward, member of the MyPros, and chair of the committee facilitating the luncheon. She's gone from a freelance journalist to now an author and speaker/panelist, which is a very natural transition. I think the fact that she's very keyed into American, humanitarian and environmental issues really resonates with young professionals. Members and nonmembers are welcome at the lunch and networking event. For more information or to register, visit https://bit.ly/2WYQzmP. Clarren has been writing about the rural West for nearly 20 years and will discuss her life as a journalist and her debut novel, "Kickdown." During her writing tenure she has won the Hillman Prize, an Alicia Patterson Foundation Fellowship and nine grants from the Fund for Investigative Journalism. She has appeared in such publications as Mother Jones, High Country News, The Nation, and Salon.com. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband and two young sons. While in the area, Clarren will also be featured in an author reading and book signing at Barnes & Noble in the Midland Mall, from 5:30-7 p.m.. Clarren will also be featured on Q90.1 Delta radios Lit in the Mitten, hosted by Adam Gac. The radio interview will discuss her journey as an artist, the process with The "Kickdown," and what it means to have ties to Michigan as a writer, and will be released at a later date. A student who attended three classes on the campus of Delta College during the winter semester has been diagnosed as having an active case of tuberculosis. Officials at Delta College were notified of the student's condition by the Central Michigan District Health Department (CMDHD) on May 13. The student attended two classes on campus -- an early afternoon Monday/Wednesday class and a Thursday evening class. The winter semester at Delta College took place between Jan. 5 and April 26. The student was diagnosed with tuberculosis after receiving treatment for an illness at St. Mary's of Michigan Standish Hospital in the first week of May, said Kelly Alward, CMDHD communicable disease coordinator. "The student developed some symptoms of a cough consistent with pneumonia," Alward said. "(The student) sought medical care and was diagnosed with pneumonia that had the appearance of tuberculosis, so we started doing tests." Students who attended class with the patient have been notified in both writing and by email by the CMDHD and by Delta College. Students who have not received written notification or an individualized email are likely not among the group of students who attended class with the patient, Robert Battinkoff, Delta College's director of public safety, said in a statement to the student body on Saturday. According to Battinkoff, the Health Department declared that the risk of exposure for this group of students and faculty is "low to moderate." The instructors for these two classes have also been notified. "The Health Department did not request that any notification be made to the broader college community, as risk of exposure for persons not in a classroom with the patient did not warrant notification, in their opinion," Battinkoff said in the release. "We are providing this information to all students, staff and faculty so that you may make a determination for yourself whether this incident warrants any further action on your part." According to the Mayo Clinic, tuberculosis is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis is spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air by coughs and sneezes. Symptoms can include coughing that lasts three or more weeks, coughing up blood,chest pain, unintentional weight loss, fatigue and fever. Anybody with concerns regarding potential exposure is encouraged to contact their local Health Department or the Central Michigan District Health Department at 989-772-8147. A Diocese of Saginaw priest who served several area parishes, including Blessed Sacrament in Midland, has been placed on administrative leave from priestly ministry because of an allegation of misconduct involving a minor that occurred years ago, the diocese announced late Tuesday afternoon. The Rev. Father Kucharczyk was most recently pastor at St. John XXIII Parish, which includes St. Mary Church in Hemlock, Sacred Heart Church in Merrill and St. Patrick Church in Ryan, according to a diocese press release. He was removed from his post on Sunday by Bishop Walter A. Hurley, apostolic administrator. Northwood University's Business Professionals of America team wrapped up its season recently with national accolades at the BPA National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California. "We are proud of the accomplishments of this year's BPA team. By competing at the state level, 22 Northwood students qualified for the national competition. Out of the qualified students, 18 participated and 13 earned awards for their performances at NLC," said Julie Adamczyk, Northwood's BPA adviser and executive director of Alumni Relations. "Northwood was lucky to have Randall Madison, who recently completed his term as a member of the BPA State Executive Council. He was a perfect representation of Northwood and highlighted the university as one of the best business schools in the country." Paducah, KY (42003) Today A steady light rain early. Showers with perhaps a rumble of thunder developing in the afternoon. High 68F. Winds SSW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Showers in the evening with some clearing overnight. Thunder possible. Low 54F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Algiers, Algeria (PANA) The Algerian ministry of Interior, Local Authorities and Town and Country Planning on Tuesday said it has received 76 letters of intent from political parties and individuals to contest the 4 July presidential election Nouakchott, Mauritania (PANA) Lawyers of two Mauritanian bloggers who have been detained since March have reported the situation of their clients to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention Cotonou, Benin (PANA) - Six ministers recently elected to parliament Tuesday tendered in their resignation to leave the seats for their substitutes, parliamentary sources told PANA here BLOOMINGTON As Jaleesa Davis waited Tuesday for her one-year well-baby checkup and vaccinations including the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine her Bloomington parents were matter-of-fact about why she was getting her shots. "To help protect her from these diseases," said her mother, Brandie Davis, 32; her husband, Joshua, 28, agreed. "To keep her safe and healthy," Brandie Davis added at OSF HealthCare Medical Group-Pediatrics, 302 St. Joseph Drive, Bloomington. Jaleesa isn't alone. Since measles numbers began increasing nationally and statewide earlier this year, more parents are making sure their children are vaccinated as soon as they are eligible to get the MMR. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children get one dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months old and a second dose at 4 to 6 years old. Both are required by the state of Illinois before a child enters kindergarten. Before, some parents waited until their child was about to begin kindergarten before agreeing to their child's second MMR dose, said Dr. Samina Yousuf, pediatrician with OSF HealthCare Medical Group, and Dr. Aaron Traeger, pediatrician with Advocate Children's Medical Group, both in Bloomington. "Now, a lot of them are saying they want to get it done at age 4," Traeger said. "In my own practice (in recent weeks), there has been much more discussion of vaccinations and a push (by parents) to have it done as soon as recommended," said Yousuf. "More people want to have it done at 4 years old rather than 6. I love that." In April, Advocate Children's Medical Group began contacting parents whose children are not fully vaccinated and encouraging them to immediately all their pediatrician. "They've said, 'Thank you for protecting us,'" Traeger said. CDC reported Tuesday that there have been 880 measles cases nationwide since Jan. 1 the highest number since 1994. Statewide, there have been eight confirmed measles cases so far this year in Champaign, Cook and DeKalb counties, said Melaney Arnold of the Illinois Department of Public Health. There have been no measles' deaths. McLean, Macon and Coles counties have had no confirmed measles cases, said representatives of those counties' health departments. Still, Central Illinois medical professionals remain concerned. "It's really pretty alarming that we have the highest number of measles cases since 1994," Yousuf said. In 1989-90, there were 55,000 measles cases in the United States and 123 deaths, Yousuf said. Most of the cases involved people who weren't vaccinated or had only one dose, Yousuf said. For that reason, two doses have been recommended since 1989 and the disease was declared virtually eliminated in the United States in 2000, she noted. But measles outbreaks in pockets of the country where people haven't been vaccinated have health officials worried. Some people have pointed to a study from several years ago that drew a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, but that paper has been debunked, Traeger and Yousuf said. "Parents need to make sure their children are up to date on their vaccines," added Carol Carlton, Macon County Health Department director of clinical nursing services. "Getting those two MMRs are important," she added. "People not getting their children vaccinated are putting their children at risk." "At the health department, our mission is to keep communities safe and healthy and vaccines are a major way to keep communities safe and our children healthy," said Mara Hildebrand, Coles County Health Department director of nursing. "Vaccination is the most effective measles prevention," agreed Melissa Graven, McLean County Health Department communicable disease supervisor. People who are vaccinated also protect people who can't be vaccinated, such as children under 12 months old and people going through cancer treatments, Yousuf said. Statewide, 98.1 percent of school children were vaccinated for the 2018-19 school year, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. "McLean County averages 98 percent in school-aged children for the MMR vaccine," Graven said. In Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Edgar, Moultrie and Shelby counties, "all of our school districts are greater than 96 percent," said Kyle Thompson, assistant regional superintendent of schools. Macon County schools are averaging 98 to 100 percent compliance, according to the state board of education. While schools in McLean, DeWitt, Logan and Livingston counties are close to 100 percent compliance, Regional Superintendent Mark Jontry would like it to be 100 percent. "Get your kids vaccinated," he said. Contact Paul Swiech at (309) 820-3275. Follow him on Twitter: @pg_swiech Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 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. The Quincy Herald-Whig reports 35-year-old William G. Brewer of Quincy pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of endangering the life or health of a child. The plea was part of an agreement with prosecutors, who said if the case had gone to trial, evidence would show hand-spliced electrical cords were used to power the home. Prosecutors say one of those cords caught fire under a mattress. SPRINGFIELD A bipartisan group of legislators and environmental advocates on Tuesday urged the passage of a bill to ensure safe closure of toxic coal ash pits and financial protections for taxpayers should the pits cause environmental disasters. Senate Bill 9 awaits action in the Illinois House, where its sponsor, Democratic Rep. Carol Ammons of Urbana, said she believes the chamber will have the votes to pass it, possibly with a few technical changes. Senate Bill 9 really is what we need in Illinois to really address the issue of what do we do with this toxic waste that's left over from the burning of coal? Ammons said. Not only what do we do with it, but how is it impacting communities currently, and if we don't do Senate Bill 9, what happens to our cancer rates in our community? What happens to our water? When coal is burned to produce power, it leaves behind a byproduct called coal ash which contains heavy metals such as mercury and arsenic. Those are harmful to humans, fish, and wildlife and can seep into surrounding earth and groundwater. In many cases, coal ash is placed in unlined pits, where it remains long after the power plants are closed. There are approximately 25 known coal ash impoundments which are already closed in the state. Senate Bill 9 would establish processes to address the other 50-plus impoundment sites which have yet to close. The bill would require a coal ash impoundment owner to submit to the EPA a closure alternatives analysis addressing several closure scenarios and options laid out in the legislation. It would give the EPA the authority to choose the safest plan for coal ash remediation. Senate Bill 9 would also create initial fees of $50,000 for each closed coal ash plant and $75,000 for those that have not yet closed. Owners of operational impoundments would then pay an annual fee of $25,000, and a $15,000 fee would be charged for closed plants that had not yet completed post-closure care. State Sen. Scott Bennett, D-Champaign, who ushered the bill through the Senate, said during floor debate the fees would allow the EPA to hire hydrologists, engineers and others to ensure safe closures. Rep. Michael Marron, a Republican from Fithian, said the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River is surrounded by unlined coal ash pits, and the path of the river is changing course into the pits, causing coal ash to seep into groundwater. Marron co-sponsored Senate Bill 9 in the House and said its passage is urgent to prevent future instances similar to the one in Vermilion County. There are approximately 84 sites where coal ash is stored in Illinois, so coming to the table to discuss a clear and concise set of guidelines to curb future pollution is imperative, Marron said. The bill would also require bonding of coal ash impoundment owners in the case of disaster. Bennett said this is needed to protect taxpayers if toxic coal ash causes costly environmental disasters requiring state action. A theme of so many press conferences in this room is Illinois is addicted to crisis. We care after the problem happens. But we don't do anything to get in front of the problem and make sure we avoid the problem. We're trying to change that trend with bills like Senate Bill 9, Bennett said. The legislators were joined by representatives of the Illinois Environmental Council and several other environmental groups at a news conference in the Illinois State Capitol Blueroom to advocate for passage of the bill. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 There is an ongoing, constructive and bipartisan national effort to reform many of our criminal justice policies. That effort includes reining in the tremendous volume of criminal laws and regulations, and evaluating whether certain prison sentences are too harsh. It also involves better positioning felons to reintegrate into society. We need to give them transferrable skills and remove unnecessary collateral consequences that do little except thwart their success. But that doesnt mean we should forget the fact that people in prison are there because they chose to commit a crime. And often, those crimes are heinous. Felons lose many freedoms that law-abiding citizens enjoy. Personal liberty, the freedom of speech and expression, the right to privacy, and countless other constitutional guarantees either do not exist in prison, or are sharply curtailed. And in 48 states, felons also lose their right to vote in prison, and typically, for some period of time afterward. Sen. Bernie Sanders attributes this to the legacy of slavery and claims that felon disenfranchisement has its roots in the efforts of southern states to undo the progress African-Americans achieved with the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. In actuality, criminal disenfranchisement dates back to ancient Greece, and was in force in a majority of states before the Civil War, when African Americans had no voting rights to strip away. In fact, the 14th Amendment itself allows states to remove voting rights as punishment for criminal misconduct an odd thing for Congress to include in an amendment intended to protect the civil rights of former slaves, if Sanderss assertions are to believed. Yes, there were detestable efforts in the past to block voting rights based on race, but that isnt the case today and it certainly isnt the reason we disenfranchise felons. Nearly every state recognizes the wisdom of preventing prisoners from voting. There is simply no reason that those who have shown they cannot follow the law ought to have a say in crafting it or electing those who will enforce it. Disenfranchisement should not be permanent for all felons, but it also shouldnt be automatically and unequivocally restored. Recidivism rates in the U.S. are alarmingly high; one Bureau of Justice Statistics survey of 30 states found that 76.6% of inmates released in 2005 were rearrested, and 55.1% returned to prison, within five years. We must tackle chronically high recidivism, but prison voting will not do that. Inmates need better prison programming that encourages positive behaviors and equips inmates with job and life skills. Conservative states have proven that these reforms work, and have reduced prison populations and recidivism; last year, Congress enacted similar programs, which must now be implemented, for federal prisons with the FIRST STEP Act. Lawmakers should address the thicket of occupational restrictions, assessing which are truly necessary, and which merely erect barriers to success. Felons show through their actions that they do not deserve societys implicit trust. They do deserve a second chance, but the burden is theirs to demonstrate that they have become law-abiding and upstanding citizens in other words, the very people we want to be voting. Snead is a senior policy analyst with The Heritage Foundation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 This is about the president getting us into war, or whatever he wants to call it, with Iran. Sometime ago, I heard a wise, war-seasoned, West Point grad and general on a news program, at the time of the Iraq invasion, discussing criteria for ever starting to invade. Ultimately, I found this strategy on a web site. Listed is the criteria he gave, explaining all must be met before ever starting something. Is it (country) an imminent threat to U.S. interests? Is there global support? Is there an exit strategy, what marks the end? Will it change conditions on ground that caused crisis in first place? What is the president being told, does he listen, or are we headed to another Iraq just because? Mary Helen Haskell, Bloomington Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 100 years ago May 22, 1919: Willie Ratliff, 16, alleges that his five uncles beat him with a rubber hose. All five are prominent LeRoy men, including a state representative. This began with a family quarrel over stolen eggs and his use of the family car. Now the states attorney is investigating. 75 years ago May 22, 1944: Arnold Campbell, 38, was electrocuted as he tried to operate an electric drill on the Schwitters farm near El Paso. At the coroners inquest it was determined he tried to bore a hole through a galvanized water tank while he stood on wet ground. 50 years ago May 22, 1969: The Rev. William McColley, formerly of Normal, has died at age 103. He was pastor twice at University Christian Church, once from 1908 to 1911 and again in 1935 to 36. He came back to University Christian once more in 1965 and preached one day after his 100th birthday. 25 years ago May 22, 1994: More than 400 IWU seniors were awarded their diplomas as State Farm CEO and President Edward Rust Jr. admonished them that school is never really over. Among the grads was Yelena Kravchinskaya, whose parents came from Russia to see her graduate. Compiled by Jack Keefe; jkeefe@coldwellhomes.com. Smartmile has installed its parcel machines at Lidl stores in Tampere and Espoo, Finland. The machines are open to everyone and parcels are delivered by Smartmiles courier partners DHL Express, Matkahuolto, Postnord and DB Schenker. ') } // --> ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Users can collect all their online purchases at a Smartmile pick-up location of their choice and return parcels at the same location. Parcels can now be received and returned at Lidl stores in Rautatienkatu in Tampere and Espoonlahti in Espoo. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> We have good experience with parcel machines in our stores and our customers have been satisfied with the increased service offering. With Smartmiles parcel machines, we want to make our customers lives easier and listen to their wishes, said Lidl operational director Nicholas Pennanen. Smartmiles CEO Aku Happo added, Our mission is to make our customers lives easier. Smartmile enables picking up all parcels from one parcel machine, which is part of an open and shared network that is available for everyone. It is great that together with Lidl we can expand our network and further develop customer experience. During the early summer, Smartmile machines will also arrive in other Lidl stores, the next being at the Tukkutori store in Helsinki. Nancy Pelosi says that she is not for impeachment, and if Donald freaking Trump cannot be impeached, then no president can. We can talk all day about the legitimate political questions surrounding impeachment, but the constitution is far clearer. Trump has committed impeachable offenses (his refusal to comply with Congressional subpoenas was one of Nixons articles of impeachment), and by not impeaching him, Congress is abdicating their constitutionally mandated oversight duty. While at first, the opposition to Pelosis refusal to impeach was happening lower down on the Democratic totem pole, recent days have brought much more powerful Democrats into the fray. Per The Washington Post: Several members of House Speaker Nancy Pelosis leadership team pressed her to begin an impeachment inquiry against President Trump in a series of Monday night meetings, according to multiple officials in the rooms an effort the speaker rebuffed each time. At least five members of Pelosis leadership team four of whom also sit on the House Judiciary Committee, with jurisdiction over impeachment pressed Pelosi (D-Calif.) in a closed-door leadership meeting to allow the panel to start an inquiry, which they argued would help investigators attain documents and testimony that Trump has blocked. Several hours later, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler met with Pelosi as well and made the case to start the inquiry, he later told his panel member on a call. Nancy Pelosi is a political creature, through and through. By stating that a president who has committed impeachable offenses should not be impeached, Pelosi is openly stating that her brand of political expediency should come before her constitutional duty as one of the most powerful people in Congress. Her brand of political expediency is followingnot shapingpublic opinion. This is what I was alluding to in the first paragraph when I referenced the legitimate political questions surrounding impeachment. A majority of Americans do not want Trump impeachedand because Democrats legislate with all the enthusiasm of one of those tiny dogs thats constantly shaking because its afraid of everything, Democratic leadership is letting a razor-thin margin on public opinion overrule their duty. Americans support for impeaching Trump has been on the rise this year, and it has gone up since the Mueller Report was released. A Reuters/Ipsos poll from a couple weeks ago noted that The number of Americans who said President Donald Trump should be impeached rose 5 percentage points to 45 percent since mid-April, and 42 percent of Americans said Trump should not be impeached. The rest said they had no opinion. Im not great at math, but Im pretty sure that 45 is bigger than 42a plurality, if not quite a majorityso the notion that the American public is against impeachment is specious at best. Sure, it would be a huge fight with major political risks, but the Mueller Report makes it clear that Trump committed impeachable offenses, and Robert Mueller even asked Congress to look into his obstruction of justice findings. Most Democrats get this. Even most of the Democratic leadership seems to get this now, per this new WaPo reportincluding those in the House Judiciary Committee who would oversee impeachment proceedings like Chairman Jerry Nadler. Hell, even a Republican in the House understands that Trump deserves to be impeached. Nancy Pelosi and her allies in the Senate are becoming more and more isolated on this topic by the hour. This whole Mueller ordeal is such a perfect encapsulation of the inherent inadequacy of the Democratic Party. Pelosi and her kind were more than happy to play up the Mueller investigation, and indulge their supporters conspiracy theories regarding Russia, but now that the Mueller Report has asked Congress to do something difficultbut nonetheless required by the constitutionthe Democrats are abdicating their duty. Representatives like Adam Schiff became political TV stars overnight by hyping up the Mueller investigation, and now that it has borne real fruit in the form of an impeachment referral to the House, Democrats like Adam Schiff are running away. The Democratic Party isnt interested in exercising power, even if it means opposing the wishes of Democratic voters. If youre surprised by Nancy Pelosis intransigence on the topic of Trumps impeachment, welcome to the party status quo. They have no problem fundraising off the unpopularity of Trump and the GOP, but when it comes to actually exercising serious political power to stop them, Democratic leadership is never anywhere to be found. Jacob Weindling is a staff writer for Paste politics. Follow him on Twitter at @Jakeweindling. TORONTO, May 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lingo Media Corporation (TSX-V:LM; OTC:LMDCF) ("Lingo Media" or the Company), an EdTech company that is Changing the way the world learns English through innovative online and print-based technologies and solutions, announces the resignation of Martin Bernholtz for personal reasons from the board of directors effective May 22nd. The board of directors and management would like to thank Mr. Bernholtz for his past service and wishes him success in his future endeavours. About Lingo Media (TSX-V: LM; OTC: LMDCF) Lingo Media is a global EdTech company that is Changing the way the world learns English, developing and marketing products for learners of English through various life stages, from classroom to boardroom. By integrating education and technology, the company empowers English language educators to easily transition from traditional teaching methods to digital learning. Lingo Media provides both online and print-based solutions through two distinct business units: ELL Technologies and Lingo Learning. ELL Technologies provides online training and assessment for English language learning, while Lingo Learning is a print-based publisher of English language learning programs in China. Lingo Media has formed successful relationships with key government and industry organizations internationally, with a particularly strong presence in Latin America and China and continues to both extend its global reach and expand its product offerings. Follow Lingo Media On: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LingoMedia Twitter: @LingoMediaCorp YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lingomedialm LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lingo-media-corporation RSS: http://feeds.feedburner.com/LingoMedia For further information, contact: Lingo Media Khurram Qureshi, CFO Mobile: (+1) 647-831-1462 Email: investors@lingomedia.com To learn more, visit us at www.lingomedia.com Portions of this press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws. These statements are made in reliance upon Sections 21E and 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results, performance, or expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from management's expectations and projections and thus readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Lingo Media has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as "may," "should," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "estimate" and similar expressions. Lingo Medias expectations, among other things, are dependent upon general economic conditions, the continued and growth in demand for its products, retention of its key management and operating personnel, its need for and availability of additional capital as well as other uncontrollable or unknown factors. No assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by US Federal securities laws, Lingo Media undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. Certain factors that can affect the Company's ability to achieve projected results are described in the Company's filings with the Canadian and United States securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml . 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 Anyone with access to the news knows that horrors arent confined to the realm of monsters and ghosts and masked slashershuman beings are and always have been capable of great atrocities. Road of Bones opens in a Russian work camp in the year 1950, when a political joke cracked at a party can earn you 25 years hard laborand getting caught stealing an extra piece of bread can get 10 years added to that sentence. But in the world writer Rich Douek and Alex Cormack have constructed, the horrors dont begin and end with violent Russian prison guardsthere is something lurking beyond the barbed wire, and escaping confinement might just send the protagonists of Road of Bones down darker paths. Cormack has honed his horror skills on books like Sink, while Douek has contributed to IDWs Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line in addition to original works like Wailing Blade and Gutter Magic. With the first issue of Road of Bones on sale today from IDW Publishing, Paste invited Douek to share a personal essay on his inspirations for the Russian-set terror. You can find that below, along with process art from Cormack. Road of Bones #1 Cover Art by Alex Cormack Writer Rich Douek on Road of Bones: Im half Russian. Well, a quartermy grandfather was born there, and my grandmothers parents were born close enough to its border with Lithuania that nobody is 100% sure which country their tiny village was actually in. They were lucky enough never to have to endure the horrors of the gulag system, having fled the pogroms decades earlier. So, whatever Road of Bones is, its not the retelling of something that I have a direct connection to. And yet, its a story that once I started on, wouldnt let me go. Ive been saying it a lot, that I think Road of Bones will surprise people, and the other day, someone asked me why. Honestly, its because it surprised me, as I was writing it. If youd asked me a year ago if I wrote horror, if I even had any more than a passing interest in writing horror, I would have told you no. Its not that I dont enjoy itI doits just that, the picture in my head of what kind of writer I am never really included that. I was a sci-fi guy, a fantasist. I created big, weird worlds, and yes, sometimes those worlds contained horrific thingsbut horror? Just not me. Road of Bones changed all of that, and one of the things thats been on my mind as I created it is whywhat is it about this story that grabbed me? And what I keep coming back to is that many times, unfortunately, the real world is more horrific and terrible than anything I could possibly conjure out of my own imagination. Road of Bones is a piece of fictionbut there are many things in it that are based in the horrific reality of the Gulag. Start with the name: The Road of Bones is the colloquial name for the R504 Kolyma Highway, the only road connecting the farthest reaches of the Kolyma region to the rest of Russia. And the reason it has that name is there are people buried in it, literally. You see, when they were digging the road, they built it on permafrost, and it was decided it was more efficient to just bury the bodies of deceased workers under the road rather than dig new holes in the frozen grounda harsh reality that we open the first few pages with. Another reality is the situation of our main character, Roman. Heres a man who made an off-color political joke at a partysomething I know Ive done, and that we all probably have at some point in our lives. The difference is, he was sentenced to 20 years of hard labor for it, which again, I cant stress enough, actually happened to many, many people under Stalin. And keep in mind, he was sentenced to 20 years in a place where the average life expectancy was a little over a years, so it was, in practical terms, a death sentence. There are other parts of the story I cant get into without spoiling that actually happenedor was at least rumored to have happened. What shocked me about it all was how the system seemed to bring out the worst in everyone, from its overseers and guards, to the prisoners themselves, who fought brutally over the scant resources available to them. It was a system that took in men, and churned out monsterssometimes by design, as when the Soviet regime tacitly supported one prison gang over another; and sometimes by circumstance, as when a prisoner was forced to do the inhuman in order to survive. And that was where the story took off for me. Survival in a system that is built to grind people into dust. What it would take, what lengths you or I or anyone would go to. And then I started to think about surviving in a place like Siberia. A frigid, harsh environment that, in its own way, seems to do everything it can to crush the life that takes root there. What do you do when you have no food and no hope of finding any before you starve? We think that facts like the human body can survive three days without water, and three weeks without food as common knowledgebut if you havent had a formal, late-20th-century education, would you know that? Would you even believe it, when the cold wind is blowing, and your stomach is growling like a wolf? And then, add the fact that youve been a victim of one of the most dehumanizing systems on the planet. That part of you, that is willing to do anything to surviveis it in your nature, or has it been nurtured and honed by the brutality of your fellows? All of these fears, all of these notions are personified in a monster, the Domovik, but one of the questions running throughout the book is whether its a real, supernatural monster, or just the personification of something monstrous inside Roman himself. All I can say is, read on. Road of Bones #1 Process Art by Alex Cormack Road of Bones #1 Process Art by Alex Cormack Road of Bones #1 Process Art by Alex Cormack Road of Bones #1 Process Art by Alex Cormack Road of Bones #1 Interior Art by Alex Cormack Road of Bones #1 Interior Art by Alex Cormack Road of Bones #1 Interior Art by Alex Cormack There's a new trend playing out in techland: It's push, push, push computers with Intel processors before AMD announces their new Ryzen 7nm processors at Taiwan's Computex on Monday May 27. I must get 1 or 2 email deals from Dell daily with $400 to $800 discount deals if I buy NOW. Of course that doesn't matter much on the Mac side as Apple is cemented to Intel for the time being. For Pro Mac users and students, Apple's new MacBooks announced today are out nice and early for back to school, even though school isn't even out yet. For Power users, there's a nice leap to 8 cores and 32GB RAM. Apple updated the MacBook Pro today with faster 8th- and 9th-generation Intel Core processors, bringing eight cores to MacBook Pro for the first time. MacBook Pro now delivers two times faster performance than a quad-core MacBook Pro and 40 percent more performance than a 6-core MacBook Pro, making it the fastest Mac notebook ever.1 These new processors, combined with powerful graphics, the brilliant and colorful Retina display, super-fast SSDs, the Apple T2 Security Chip, all-day battery life and macOS, make MacBook Pro the worlds best pro notebook. Powerful Performance Boost for Pro Workloads MacBook Pro is more powerful than ever for compiling code, processing high-resolution images, rendering 3D graphics, editing multiple streams of 4K video and more. The 15-inch MacBook Pro now features faster 6- and 8-core Intel Core processors, delivering Turbo Boost speeds up to 5.0 GHz, while the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar features faster quad-core processors with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.7 GHz. When compared to the fastest quad-core 15-inch MacBook Pro, the new MacBook Pro with 8-core processors is up to two times faster, so: Music producers can play back massive multi-track projects with up to two times more Alchemy plug-ins in Logic Pro X. 3D designers can render scenes up to two times faster in Maya Arnold. Photographers can apply complex edits and filters up to 75 percent faster in Photoshop. Developers can compile code up to 65 percent faster in Xcode. Scientists and researchers can compute complex fluid dynamics simulations up to 50 percent faster in TetrUSS. Video editors can edit up to 11 simultaneous multicam streams of 4K video in Final Cut Pro X. The Worlds Best Pro Notebook Along with these powerful new processors, MacBook Pro features the best Mac notebook display ever, a stunning Retina display with 500 nits of brightness, support for the P3 wide color gamut and True Tone technology, for a natural, true-to-life viewing experience. It also comes with incredibly immersive stereo speakers with wide-stereo sound, the security and convenience of Touch ID, dynamic and contextual controls with Touch Bar and a large Force Touch trackpad. MacBook Pro also features blazing fast SSD storage, the Apple T2 Security Chip for enhanced security, and powerful and versatile Thunderbolt 3 ports for data transfer, charging and connecting up to two 5K displays or four external GPUs. Pricing and Availability Starting at US$1,799 and US$2,399 respectively, the updated 13-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar and 15-inch MacBook Pro are available today through apple.com, the Apple Store app and in select Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Resellers later this week. Additional technical specifications can be viewed on Apple's Mac site here. Other than pointing to the new MacBook Pro keyboard on the MacBook Pro webpage, there's no mention of "new materials" being used that Apple reportedly mentioned in context with new repairs for MacBook keyboards reported on here. 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: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) state president Ramchandra Purvey, at a press conference in Patna on Monday, accused the Modi administration at the Center of ignoring the interests of Bihar despite making tall promises in his electoral campaign four years ago. "The entire state of Bihar is disappointed in the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi has treated Bihar. He has failed to keep any of the promises including granting special economic status to Bihar without which it has been determined that the state cannot develop economically," Purvey said. The RJD leader also slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for not being forceful enough in his demand for special status saying once he ditched the Grand Alliance and went back to the NDA, Kumar went soft on the issue. Purvey also blamed the Modi government at the Center for ignoring Bihar's demand of according central university status to Patna University and abandoning all railway projects in the state despite promising to launch double engine factory in Bihar. Accusing the NDA government of 'killing democracy' and ushering dictatorship in the nation, the RJD state president said that Modi was the Prime Minister of the BJP and the RSS alone because of his anti-poor, anti-Dalit, and anti-minority policies. Patna: Ahead of the next year's Lok Sabha elections and not leaving anything to chance, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Bihar on Monday launched a door-to-door campaign to highlight the achievements of the four-year old Narendra Modi government. Led by party state President Nityanand Rai, party leaders including Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey, Agriculture Minister Prem Kumar, legislator Nitin Navin, and party General Secretary Nagendra Ji, BJP leaders began their drive from Sahitya Sammelan in Kadam Kuan and visited several homes and businesses in Kadam Kuan area to let people know how Modi's policies had cut down on corruption and had help grow the economy despite negative propaganda by the opposition. "Our goal is not only to highlight what the NDA government has accomplished in a short period of four years but also to let people know about all the schemes that have been launched by this administration that are certain to improve the lives of all including the poor, backwards, Dalits, and minorities," Rai said. The Monday drive was part of a two-week campaign launched by the Bihar BJP to mark the completion of the four-years of the Modi administration. On Sunday, the party organized a 'Meeting of the Intellectuals' at Gyan Bhawan to discuss ways to spread the party message at district and block levels. Patna: With 2019 Lok Sabha elections now in the rear-view mirror, candidates and their fellow party members are now trying to recover from the grueling eight weeks of campaigning that witnessed the lowering of the political discourse like never seen before. On Tuesday, Chief Minister and Janata Dal U president Nitish Kumar tried to take a break from politics by visiting Bihar Museum but that did not stop him from discussing politics once he was done admiring the art works of Himmat Shah, a noted artist and sculptor. Talking to reporters outside the museum, Kumar showed utmost confidence in the victory of BJP-led NDA in Bihar as well as at the Center. "I have been very hopeful of the second term of the NDA at the Center. Let's wait and see the poll results on Thursday," he said. Rubbishing opposition claims of irregularities in the electronic voting machines (EVMs), the Chief Minister said it was the losers' lament after each election. "Whenever any party loses an election, its leaders start blaming the EVMs. If anything, EVMs have made the entire process transparent and reliable. Losing parties need to start taking blames for their loss instead of pointing fingers towards the machinery," he said. Kumar also took a shot at his nemesis and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) de facto president Tejaswi Yadav who failed to cast his ballot last Sunday. "He campaigned all over the state urging people to vote and then he failed to vote himself. Is this how he runs an election? I made sure to get up early morning on the polling day and ate my breakfast after I was done casting my vote," he said. While throughout the campaigning period he remained quiet about his age-old demand of special economic status for Bihar, Kumar on Tuesday brought up the issue once again saying the state deserved special status and he will continue to bring it up with the Central government. He also ruled out doing away with Article 370 that gives autonomous status to the state of Jammu and Kashmir. "Our stand on Article 370 has always been clear and we will not support any attempt to withdraw it," Kumar said. Later in the afternoon, the Chief Minister left for Delhi to attend a meeting of all NDA members including BJP and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) from Bihar. Patna: If exit polls for the 2019 elections are proven to be correct, the Grand Alliance in Bihar could emerge as the Grand Loser of the state and the very thought of it is driving Mahagathbandhan leaders crazy. Hoping to muddy the water by continuing to point fingers towards an alleged biased Election Commission and tampered Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Mahagathbandhan leaders in Patna on Tuesday held a press conference in which Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha warned of 'bloodbath' in Bihar if the rumors of irregularities in the electoral process were found to be true. "I am urging the people of Bihar to be on alert and notify any sign of tampering of the EVMs. The reports that we are getting, if true, roads of Bihar will be flowing with blood," Kushwaha, who was part of the NDA in the last election only to ditch it to join hands with Lalu-led Mahagathbandhan in Bihar, said. The former Union Minister further said that he would like to tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar not to even think about messing with the voting machines and if they still did, the people behind the Grand Alliance will not hesitate in picking up arms to express their anger. The meeting was attended by RJD state president Ram Chandra Purvey, Congress state president Madan Mohan Jha, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) president Mukesh Sahni and others. Meanwhile, Bihar Labor Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha condemned Kushwaha for trying to flame post-election violence in Bihar. "Kushwaha should be ashamed of himself for making such utterances. Just because the poll results are not to his liking does not mean he should resort to violence or promote violence in the nation," Sinha said. As reported, the long and staggered Lok Sabha polls came to an end on Sunday with various exit polls giving clear edge to the NDA in Bihar. Results of the elections are to be declared on Thursday, May 23. Google says the passwords were still stored on its secure encrypted infrastructure, so the likelihood of an outside attack was low. In a post to its Google Cloud blog Tuesday, the company outlined an error made back in 2005 that stored a copy of actual user passwords rather than the usual scrambled hashed version, thus making it possible for an outside attack to gain access to usable passwords. Google explains that the issue has been fixed and the company has seen no evidence of improper access to or misuse of the affected passwords. Google has begun forcing a subset of our enterprise G Suite customers to change their passwords after an issue that inadvertently left passwords exposed for more than a decade. Google blames a legacy feature set for the issue. Back in 2005, G Suite domain administrators were given the ability to set and recover passwords on the client side for their own users, so they needed access to unhashed passwords. Google has since jettisoned this functionality and requires all G Suite passwords to be reset rather than recovered, just like Gmail. Additionally, Google unearthed a separate issue that started in January that also led to unhashed passwords being stored for up to 14 days. Like the other issue, Google has fixed the problem and hasnt found any evidence of improper access to or misuse of the affected password. As a result, Google is informing all affected clients to change impacted passwords and will reset any that arent manually changed. Google apologized for the issue and promised it will do better in the future. While this particular issue doesnt affect Gmail users (outside of G Suite subscribers), it drives home the need to use strong, unique passwords for every critical site and service you use. If you arent using a password manager yet, you should be. Our roundup of the best password managers can get you on the right track if you need help selecting one. Voters in Harrisburg wanted change in their school leadership today. Seemingly tired of never-ending power struggles over top positions, embarrassing accounting mistakes and perennially bad student achievement scores, the city electorate broke the back of a narrow board majority that has some ties to the Linda Thompson uprising of 2009, and opted to go in a different direction. The board is dysfunctional, said Uptown resident Kim Hughes, who sends her children to Catholic schools in large part because of her concerns about the city schools. You watch a board meeting and its out of control... They have a chief recovery officer, but nobodys willing to listen to her. Anybody who would let things get so bad that theyre threatening (state) receivership is not doing a good job, in my opinion," agreed Judy Stammerman, another voter in the Uptown district voting at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, considered by some to be a bellwether of city politics. It wasnt just Uptown voters speaking for change Tuesday, however. In Allison Hill, voter Debbie Sanders said she only supported one of the four incumbents who was running, Ellis Roy, with whom she is personally familiar with through other community activities. But the incumbents needed to go four-for-four in Tuesdays primary to keep their hold on the board majority, and with Roy, Lionel Gonzalez, Lola Lawson and Patricia Whitehead-Myers all headed for defeat, that majority headed by board president Danielle Robinson is now officially in lame duck status until December, when the current board members terms end. Tuesdays winners, according to unofficial final results, were: Jayne Buchwach, Steven Williams, Gerald Welch, James Thompson and Douglas Thompson Leader. Voters and candidates still have to go through the November general election, but winning the Democratic primary in heavily-Democratic Harrisburg is usually decisive. So the voters spoke for change. Still to be decided, of course, is whether a move into receivership, essentially a takeover by the state, is going to beat them to the punch. Some voters reached by PennLive Tuesday said they hoped by voting for change on Tuesday, they would be sending a signal that would forestall any Wolf Administration efforts to put the city district into state management called receivership. We want to keep control of our school district, said Stammerman. But many of the citys top political leaders said, irregardless of Tuesdays results, they are inclined to keep pushing Gov. Tom Wolf to take a strong look at receivership for Harrisburg schools. All this election says is that the people of Harrisburg have had enough of the status quo, Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse, who has been leading the charge for receivership this spring, said this week. But the changes that the district needs, including a near-complete rebuild of the administrative structure, is more, he believes, than a volunteer board of well-meaning citizens can do... If Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burneys administration was more cooperative, the mayor said, that might be one thing. But he doesnt see that coming out of a central office that has already refused to hire a professionally-certified business manager despite repeated requests from the state, and that initially refused to cooperate with state Education Department audit processes. I think this (election result) is a good first step, but we need the expertise of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, as well as its resources, to assist this newly-elected, volunteer board," Papenfuse said. "I would encourage Gov. Wolf to view these results as a clear cry for help from the citizens of Harrisburg. State Rep. Patty Kim, D-Harrisburg, said she is inclined to agree. "Im encouraged (by the election results) but at the same time concerned about that new timeline of when the new members take their seats. I still believe receivership can give the school district a much-needed reboot to help fix our finances and improve student academic success. "I will be communicating with the department of education soon. Wolf Administration officials, for their part, declined to comment on the Harrisburg situation this week, intimating that they did not want to sway the citys election. Tuesdays elections also closed a chapter in Harrisburg politics that had at least some roots dating to the 2009 peaceful coup that saw then-city council member Linda Thompson upset 28-year Mayor Stephen R. Reed, becoming the citys first African-American mayor in the process. Thompsons win unleashed forces that had been under Reeds thumb for years, including at the school district, where many city residents had become frustrated with a Reed-installed administration that was full of, in their view, highly-paid and overwhelmingly white outsiders. In March 2010, Thompson took unprecedented control of the district almost by edict, packing the mayor-controlled board of control with her own appointees and imposing tough new restrictions on what her inherited superintendent, Gerald Kohn, could do without review. Less than two weeks later, Kohn was fired, ousted by that same board of control. But in the cat-and-mouse game that Harrisburgs politics had become, that wouldnt be the last word. The Education Empowerment Act that put the school district in the mayors hands expired in June 2010, and with increasing discomfort at the state level over Thompsons unconventional leadership, there was no enthusiasm at the Capitol to renew it. City voters, meanwhile, were pleased to see their elected school board back in control. Ironically, in March of 2011, Sybil Knight-Burney - the successor to Kohn - was hired as superintendent by a school board that then was led by Lola Lawson. Another member at the time, Patricia Whitehead-Myers, also voted to install Knight-Burney. Two other incumbents in this years race, Roy and Lionel Gonzalez, have allied themselves with Lawson, Whitehead-Myers and current board president Danielle Robinson to keep Knight-Burney in power and hire other power brokers of the Thompson era, such as the recent hiring of solicitor James Ellison. The challengers, meanwhile, are promising a sharp turn away from an era that they say has been dominated by nepotism and a lack of accountability. The voters appeared to say they wanted that too on Tuesday. The big question now is, does it happen through the slow-moving electoral process; or does the state jump-start things with receivership? The Annual General Meeting of Iceland Seafood International hf will be held on Wednesday 12 June at 4pm at Kollunarklettsvegur 2, 104 Reykjavik, Iceland. Enclosed is the Notice of convene the Annual General Meeting, proposed agenda and proposed resolutions for the Annual General Meeting. Attachments Chick-fil-A is heating up its menu. And Pennsylvania will have a hand in deciding if it will stay that way. The fast food chain is testing new Spicy Chick-n-Strips at a handful of locations across the country, including restaurants in Philadelphia, Pa. The new menu item will essentially combine Chick-fil-As already popular spicy chicken sandwich with its original chicken strips. According to Amanda Norris, executive director of Chick-fil-As menu, this move is the first toward a spicier offering at the chicken chain. Spicy is certainly a trend, but we dont think its going anywhere, Norris told Business Insider. We only see it growing just looking at just what we sell in our spicy sandwich. So, I think youre going to see Chick-fil-A do more with spicy. The Spicy Chick-n-Strips are already selling well, according to Norris. However, there is still no word on if theyll expand the sales to other regions. Along with Philadelphia, Chick-fil-A is also testing the new chicken strips in Arizona and Texas. Lehigh Valley Zoo features what just might be the most unique exit of any tourist destination in Pennsylvania. As each carload of visitors leaves the zoo on Park Road, entering part of the 1,100-acre Trexler Nature Preserve for the drive back out through the gates, the visitors come to Jordan Creek. Theres no bridge over the creek. Park Road runs right into and through Jordan Creek, and up the far bank. Its The Ford, where visitors drive through a shallow section of the creek for about 40 yards or so. After the crossing the road winds past the expansive enclosures of elk and bison, but as the sign just before the ford notes, Kids and kids at heart cites crossing the water as one of their fondest memories. Jordan Creek is a meandering, relatively shallow, 34.1-mile-long tributary of Little Lehigh Creek, which eventually empties into the Lehigh River. It is stocked with trout by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. The ford has been a feature of the drive out of the zoo for more than 50 years. Trexler Nature Preserve began in 1906 as an effort to conserve the dwindling herds of bison and elk in the American West. Rich industrialist General Harry Trexler bought more than 1,100 acres of farmland near Schnecksville, Lehigh County. He then had free-roaming bison and elk captured in the West and brought east by rail. He also added white-tailed deer to the fenced-in preserve. The transplanted bison began producing calves, some of which were sent to Milton Hersheys zoo, Allegheny County Park, a museum in Williamsport and other locations. By the time Trexler died in 1933, the preserve had 98 bison, the largest herd in the East. A tuberculosis outbreak killed 93 of the animals in 1955, leading to some replacement bison being added. Trexler died in 1933, leaving the preserve to Lehigh County. Construction started in 1974 on the 29-acre zoo. Lehigh Valley Zoo today is home to more than 325 animals of more than 125 species, including 22 species collectively managed through the Species Survival Plan Program of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) An Alaska air carrier involved in two deadly floatplane crashes in a week has voluntarily suspended operations, federal officials said Tuesday. The halt of flightseeing and commuter flights is in place indefinitely, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The action comes after the passenger and the pilot of a Beaver floatplane operated by Taquan Air were killed when the single-engine aircraft crashed in Metlakatla Harbor on Monday afternoon during a 22-mile commuter flight from Ketchikan. Witnesses reported to federal investigators that one of the two floats on the plane dug into the water during landing, causing the right wing to hit the water and then the aircraft to cartwheel several times, according to Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board in Alaska. The wing broke off and is missing. Johnson said witnesses also reported the Beaver floatplane landed upside down and became submerged. An NTSB investigator arrived at Metlakatla late Tuesday morning, he said. Metlakatla Police Chief Bruce Janes identified the pilot as 51-year-old Ron Rash of Harrisburg, Pa. The passenger was identified by her employer and relatives in California as Sarah Luna. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium said in a statement that Luna joined the group nearly a year ago as a senior epidemiologist in the liver disease and hepatitis program. Luna, 32, had flown to Metlakatla to provide health services to the community. In a statement, Taquan Air confirmed it suspended all operations. The company said it was reeling from not only Mondays crash, but a midair collision last week involving another Taquan plane that killed six. "It's been a really heavy and heartbreaking time for us," the company wrote. "Our priority has been our passengers and their families and our internal staff, and pilots." Johnson said it was "way too early" to determine a cause. He anticipates the preliminary report into the crash to be released by the end of the week. Johnson said the NTSB is investigating both crashes as separate cases. By RACHEL DORO, The Associated Press A New Jersey pastor shut down his website and deleted his social media accounts over the weekend after he was accused of running an international network that has given up to 50,000 people in Uganda a bogus cure for HIV, malaria and other diseases. The miracle" cure, given to babies as young as 14 months old in the poor African nation, is allegedly made with industrial bleach, according to a story published Saturday by the Guardian in London. Robert Baldwin, a pastor from Burlington County, denied he is distributing bleach and said he is being demonized by people who do not understand the science behind the natural medicines he says can cure the worlds deadliest diseases. He was forced to disable his Global Healing Christian Missions website and social media sites after the Guardian story was published, he said. I had to shut everything down. Im getting hate e-mail. People are calling me Satan, Baldwin told NJ Advance Media. All I wanted to do is help people using natural healing therapies." US pastor runs network giving 50,000 Ugandans bleach-based miracle cure. group led by Robert Baldwin and part-funded by Sam Little claims toxic fluid will eradicate HIV/Aids and other diseases. | Uganda | The Guardian https://t.co/DBxpXT83tR AfroAtheist (@Afro_Atheist) May 18, 2019 Global Healing was a Christian non-profit group based in New Jersey that partnered with churches, primarily in Uganda, to promote natural healing techniques, according to the groups now deleted Facebook page. Baldwin was the groups founder and president. Global Healing promoted a miracle mineral solution, known as MMS, that proponents say can cure cancer, malaria, HIV and AIDS, according to the report in the Guardian. Critics say MMS is actually a toxic mix of sodium chlorite and citric acid, chemicals that produce chlorine dioxide, a type of bleach used in textile manufacturing. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned ingesting MMS can lead to severe nausea, vomiting and life-threatening low blood pressure from dehydration. Consumers who have MMS should stop using it immediately and throw it away, according to the FDA, which says it will pursue criminal or civil charges to protect he public from the dangerous product. Baldwin denied he was promoting MMS or any cure containing bleach. But he repeatedly declined to say exactly what was in the cure Global Healing was promoting in Africa. Its so confusing to the average person, Baldwin, 52, told NJ Advance Media. Im not giving any more ammunition (to critics)." Baldwin imported the components of MMS, sodium chlorite and citric acid, from China and sent them to a network of 1,200 clerics he trained in Uganda, according to the Guardians investigation. The African church officials distributed the cure to congregants, including after Sunday services. The U.S. Mission is aware of reports that an American pastor based remotely is distributing a substance called Miracle Mineral Solution to churches in Uganda. We strongly condemn the distribution of this substance, which is extremely dangerous and is NOT a cure for any disease. U.S. Mission Uganda (@usmissionuganda) May 20, 2019 A video posted online shows babies and young children as they drink a yellow solution, reportedly containing MMS, from plastic cups in a rural Ugandan hospital. The video is narrated by Sam Little, a British man living in Uganda who told the Guardian he helped partially fund Baldwins network with a $10,000 donation to distribute the miracle cure. A ministry of health official in Uganda told the Guardian the government will investigate the alleged distribution of MMS at the hospital after viewing the video. Baldwin denied he was personally responsible for distributing any miracle cure in Uganda. I just educate. I dont treat anybody, Baldwin told NJ Advance Media. He declined to discuss how a New Jersey-based pastor became connected to ministers in Africa, except to say that he is part of a network of Christians around the world. Baldwin said his Global Healing Christian Missions group is not connected to any church in New Jersey. Im just a small person trying to raise awareness of natural healing, he said. Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook. 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. Pennsylvanias primary elections arent open to all voters. In Tuesdays primary elections, only those registered as Republicans or Democrats could cast ballots. No independent voters could participate in the primary contests. State Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati wants to change that situation. Scarnati, R-Jefferson, has introduced a bill that would allow all registered voters to cast ballots in primary elections. He introduced the bill in February. Most states have open primaries where all registered voters can cast ballots. Pennsylvania is currently one of nine states, including neighboring New York and Maryland, with closed primaries, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. More than 780,000 voters in Pennsylvania are not registered with either party. Scarnati, who introduced the bill in February, aims to allow more voters to have a voice in nominating candidates. He contends the bill could help combat political extremism on both sides of the aisle. I introduced this bill because what I have seen over the years is the fact that less and less people are voting in primaries sometimes 15 to 16 percent of each party goes out and votes, Scarnati said in a press statement. What we are seeing is this extremism from both parties, in a lot of sense, so I believe that allowing independents to be injected in the primary process helps moderate some of the candidates [and] helps send people to Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., that can compromise on issues. In the state Senate, the bill has bipartisan support with seven Republican and six Democratic sponsors, including state Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, the Senate minority leader. In the House, three Republicans and six Democrats are backing the bill. Gov. Tom Wolf has also pledged his support for the legislation. The idea has some opposition from those who say only those who are registered as Republicans or Democrats should be able to select the nominees for their respective parties. But it is not the first time the bill has been introduced. Scarnati introduced a similar bill in the last legislative session, but it did not make it to a vote. He has also said some Republican officials have told him theyre not happy about [the bill], according to the Associated Press. Kate Flessner, a spokeswoman for Scarnati, wrote in an email that some obstacles to the bill remain. But Scarnatis influence in the state Senate could help the bill become law. For example, some continue to make the argument that non-party affiliated individuals should not be invited to participate in the party If they want to have input with the party, then they just need to register with that side, Flessner wrote. On the other hand, the President Pro Tempore pushing this issue matters. Scarnatis bill is expected to move to a vote at some point after the legislative session resumes in June. State Sen. Mike Folmer, chair of the State Government committee, said he is not yet sure when it will be released from the committee. Folmer, R-Lebanon, said he plans to hold another hearing on the proposal. In the meantime, voters remain divided on whether the state should open primaries. According to Andrew Elby, who voted at St. Michaels Lutheran Church in Harrisburg on Tuesday, open primaries could be a good idea. Elby, 27, said he thinks opening the elections to nonaffiliated voters could help with low turnout rates. He noted that as of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, just 96 people had voted at the church, which is located on State Street and serves as the polling place for Harrisburgs fourth ward. I actually was just having a discussion with someone about this, Elby said. It would be smarter to have more voters. Jamie Earl, 57, of Harrisburg, also voted at the church on Tuesday. He said he leans toward opening primaries, but worries about the impact it may have on candidates. I think Im for open primaries, but my concern is it may make everything lukewarm, Earl said. You may have a bunch of middle-of-the-road people get elected. Others remain against opening primary elections. In Hampden Township, Tom Esposito, 58, voted on Tuesday at the Hampden Township Recreation Center. Esposito said he does not think primaries should be opened, even after speaking with a neighbor, who is not a registered Democrat or Republican, earlier in the day about the issue. They are independent, Esposito said. They chose to be independent. They could register as a Democrat or a Republican and vote. A central Pennsylvania man has failed to convince a state court to throw out his attempted murder conviction and 10- to 20-year prison term for the near-fatal stabbing of the brother of a man who was dating his ex-girlfriend. Harold McGurl Jr. was convicted of committing the bloody attack after a drinking bout at a bar called the Drunken Monkey. He was there with his ex, by the way. Judge Alice Beck Dubow noted in the Superior Court opinion denying McGurls appeal that the October 2016 incident that led to McGurls imprisonment was heavily fueled by alcohol. Investigators said McGurl, now 46, of Ashland, met his ex, Brittany Fenstermacher, at a public park in that town where they shared a six-pack of beer. The two then went to the Drunken Monkey were McGurl became increasingly angry as Fenstermachers new boyfriend, Shawn Parker, kept texting her. McGurl and Fenstermacher left the bar after a McGurl asked for and received a pocketknife from another female patron, Dubow wrote. On the way home, the two encountered Parkers brother, Jordan Adams. When Adams admitted being related to Parker, McGurl told Adams he was going to end him, Dubow wrote. She said McGurl then began slashing at Adams, who was wounded in the head, face, neck, arms and shoulder as he fought back. Adams was in hemorrhagic shock from blood loss when he arrived at the hospital and still has limited mobility in one arm, Dubow noted. McGurl was convicted by a Schuylkill County jury after a two-day trial in April 2018. He argued, unsuccessfully, that he had stabbed Adams in self-defense. In his appeal to the Superior Court, McGurl contended there wasnt sufficient evidence to back the attempted murder conviction. Prosecutors didnt prove he intended to kill Adams, he claimed. McGurl insisted Adams was the aggressor and cited Adams admission that he was on meth when the stabbing occurred. Dubow agreed with county Judge WilliamE. Baldwins assessment that there was ample evidence to support the attempted murder conviction. As demonstrated by his actions, which occurred after he announced that he intended to end the victim, (McGurl) took substantial steps toward the commission of that offense, which resulted in (Adams) near-fatal blood loss and permanent injury, Dubow wrote. TOWANDA A wife has admitted she did nothing to stop the physical abuse her husband inflicted on a young girl and boy they were babysitting last July in Bradford County. Shyann Marie Hills, 23, of Towanda, made the admission Tuesday when she pleaded guilty in county court to two counts of child endangerment. Sentencing is scheduled July 29. A plea agreement calls for a two-year minimum jail term consecutive to a 3- to 18-month drug sentence she currently is serving. Her husband, Jakayo Scott Frye, 23, was sentenced in March to 2 to 9 years in state prison. He pleaded guilty to unlawful restraint, endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering. The case, which District Attorney Daniel Barrett called tragic, included allegations that the 9-year-old girl was made to drink urine off the hardwood floor and dog urine through a straw. The girl and her then 7-year-old brother suffered physical abuse, sleep deprivation and dehydration while the couple was babysitting them in a mobile home in Rome, state police said. A single mother from Waverly, N.Y., paid Frye and Hills $100 to watch her four children for a week while she vacationed in North Carolina beginning last July 20. Bradford County Children and Youth had advised her not to leave the children with the couple, who had babysat them previously, Barrett said. The two children, who spent several days in Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre for what investigators called a severe case of abuse, are living with their father, he said. The girl, according to arrest documents, alleged she was: Tied to a dog cage by a belt while her hands were tied behind her back to the cage. Hit by Frye while holding five-gallon water jugs over her head. Not allowed to use the bathroom when she needed to. Forced to run in place with a partially filled five-gallon water jug fastened to her stomach if she cried for her mother. Lifted by her ears when she fell while standing with her back to a wall with her knees bent. Not fed on some days, and neither was her brother. The boy told investigators the abuse he endured, which included: Republican Doug Mastriano, a retired Army colonel, won a special election in the state Senates 33rd District. Mastriano has defeated Democratic candidate Sarah Hammond in the contest, the Associated Press projects. Mastriano will fill the seat vacated by former state Sen. Rich Alloway, a Chambersburg Republican who resigned in February. The district includes Franklin and Adams counties and portions of Cumberland and York counties. A Franklin County resident, Mastriano served in the Army for more than 30 years before retiring in 2017. Hammond, a York County resident, is the community development director of Spring Grove. Mastriano touted himself as a fiscal and social conservative who would oppose new taxes and aim to curb spending in state government. He also pledged to work to reduce regulations hurting business owners and farmers. Im in this election to fight for the good people of the district, to get the government off of our backs and out of our wallets, Mastriano told PennLive. Mastriano fought in Iraq during Operation Desert Storm and was deployed three times to Afghanistan. While his military career is over, Mastriano said he is ready to fight for his constituents in the General Assembly. Hammond said she wants to protect farmers and help deliver property tax relief aimed at low- and middle-income families. She said she wants to ensure public schools are fully funded and invest in infrastructure in central Pennsylvania. Republicans also won two other special elections to fill seats in the General Assembly. In the 41st Senate district in western Pennsylvania, Republican Joe Pittman defeated Democrat Susan Boser, the Associated Press reported. In the 11th House district in Butler County, Republican Marci Mustello beat Democrat Sam Doctor, the AP reported. Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Val DiGiorgio issued a statement congratulating the new lawmakers and hailing the prospect of adding more checks against Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. By adding to Republican majorities in both chambers of the General Assembly, our lawmakers will be further empowered to stand up to Tom Wolfs policies that would hinder Pennsylvanias job creators and growth industries while also remaining steadfast on the front lines in the fight against the encroachment of socialism," DiGiorgio said in the statement. Five school board challengers who swept the primary election Tuesday said attaining the Democratic partys nomination was the first step toward providing students in Harrisburg a quality education. Democratic voters selected Steven Williams, Jayne Buchwach, Gerald Welch, James Thompson and Doug Thompson-Leader over four incumbents. The nominees names will appear on the November ballot. There were no Republican nominees on a primary election ballot that featured 12 names, with voters asked to select five. The four incumbents, whose terms will end in December, often joined a majority on the board in support of Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burneys agenda. Board members Lola Lawson, Lionel Gonzalez, Ellis Roy and Patricia Whitehead-Myers lost their bid for re-election. Now that the hard work to "flip the board has been accomplished, the reality of what that means to the city is settling in, Buchwach said late Tuesday night. I know I need to live up to the expectations of the community, she said. I am so humbled by it all. What we wanted was to flip the board, and we did it. While its months before any of the nominees are considered officially elected school board members, Buchwach said there is no time to rest on Tuesdays election success. "We dont officially take office until the first Monday in December, she said. But, as a group, we are starting to place expectations on each other. Thompson said the election results are clear: Harrisburg expects more from us than what they are currently getting. "We are the right candidates, and we consistently went to the public with a message of good education and academic performance for the kids, he said. I havent made this a secret: Our kids havent received the foundation of knowledge that allows them to succeed in life. Concerned About the Children of Harrisburg leader Kia Hansard sent a strong message to the district that the city of Harrisburgs children are deserving of more than what the ousted incumbents did for them. The activist group made up of parents, residents and district employees, also known as C.A.T.C.H., said the residents of this city will no longer be accepting of mediocrity and complacency. Hansard: We will continue to hold those elected accountable and expect nothing but the best for our children. We are excited for whats to come. We have confidence that this new slate will move this district forward. The battle between 12 candidates for their partys nomination gained in intensity when, in the middle of the primary election, some local elected leaders called upon the state Department of Education to take control of the school district. Mayor Eric Papenfuse cited poor academic achievement by district students, financial scandals, and a standoff since resolved over whether the district would allow state auditors access to its financial system. State Rep. Patty Kim (D-Harrisburg) and Sen. John DiSanto (R-Dauphin, Perry) both said theyd also advocated a state takeover of the district. As of May 21, officials at the state department of education said the department "has not instituted legal proceedings to place the Harrisburg School District in receivership. The state placed Harrisburg in financial recovery status in 2012. Once the new board is installed following the fall election, they will still be left with having to improve the districts finances as well as its academics regardless of what action the state takes. With a new majority likely taking over the Harrisburg School Board in seven months, the superintendent on Tuesday terminated the contract of the interim human resources director, according to several sources. Barb Richard was hired as interim director in October after the previous director was suspended and later let go with a paid settlement. Richard was released from her contract Tuesday as election results were coming in, showing voters had ousted all four incumbent school board members who typically support the superintendent. Just hours earlier, Richard had been participating in a meeting with the teachers union. The termination comes one day before a district-sponsored teacher job fair Richard had planned to recruit new teachers amid a statewide teacher shortage. The Harrisburg School District logged the highest rate of teacher turnover in the state during the last school year, losing 18 percent of its teaching workforce, according to an analysis of district-data by PennLive. During Richards eight months with the district, she earned the respect of many teachers for professionalizing the office, which previously was mired in chaos, triggering a record number of union grievances. Under the prior director, Curtis Tribue, the district hired 65 teachers at the wrong pay scale, hired 37 teachers for positions that werent budgeted, costing millions, and it was revealed more than 50 former employees were still getting health benefits paid by the district. Tribue was suspended in October after 17 months on the job. Richard was brought in through a contract with the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, through their interim service program. Her position always was intended to be temporary, but her contract outlines several ways it can be ended: when a permanent employee is hired, when the contract is terminated by either party or after 180 days. The 180-day mark passed in late March, so Richard was working under a mutually-agreed upon extension. The district posted a job listing about a month ago seeking candidates for the job of permanent human resources director. Its unclear why the district administration terminated Richard on the day of the primary election, and before a replacement was hired, leaving the position vacant during an important teacher recruitment job fair. But James Ellison, the school district solicitor, confirmed Wednesday that district officials were interviewing candidates on Wednesday. The district expects to have the position filled on a permanent basis in the very near future, Ellison said. The school board candidates who won the Democratic primary Tuesday night are expected to take their seats in December, after the November election. The Democratic candidates typically win the fall election as Democrats outnumber Republicans in the city nearly six to one. The candidates who won the Democratic primary campaigned on increased accountability and transparency by the school district. Editors Note: This article was updated to clarify that Barb Richards contract was terminated, and to further explain the terms of her contract. SAN DIEGO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sentia announced today that it has been awarded a phase II small business innovation research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of approximately $1.8 million to support the development of astressins for the treatment of IBS. Astressins are potent and long-acting peptide antagonists of corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) receptors 1 and 2. CRF and urocortins are hormones that activate CRF1/2 receptors and are involved in the regulation of several important systems, some of which modulate the autonomic, behavioral, immune, reproductive and visceral responses to stress. IBS is a functional bowel disorder of the GI tract that is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and discomfort accompanied by alterations in bowel function, diarrhea, constipation, or a combination of both. Among the symptoms, abdominal pain is one of the most prevalent and significantly influences the quality of life of IBS patients, who represent 10-20% of the U.S. adult population. It is well established that stress plays a major role in the maintenance, and exacerbation of IBS symptoms. The award of this phase II SBIR grant is an important milestone for Sentia and underscores the strength of the science that underwent rigorous peer review. The grant will support the advancement of a new therapeutic class of astressin molecules for the treatment of IBS, said Dominic Behan, CEO of Sentia. About Sentia Medical Sciences Inc. Sentia Medical Sciences Inc. is a privately held company with a vision to be the world leader in the development of novel peptide therapeutics to manage and cure stress-related diseases ( www.sentiamedical.com ). Contact: Dominic Behan, Ph.D., D.Sc. Chief Executive Officer Sentia Medical Sciences Inc. 3550 General Atomics Court Building G02, Room 563 San Diego, CA 92121 858-886-7709 info@sentiamedical.com www.sentiamedical.com The Maryland State Police and the Baltimore Police Department are considering a joint review of the death of a Baltimore homicide detective who lived in central Pennsylvania. Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison told The Baltimore Sun that he asked the Maryland State Police to have troopers look into the death of 43-year-old Detective Sean Suiter. Maryland State Police Superintendent William M. Pallozzi had agreed, but Harrison told the news agency the review hasnt started. Elena Russo, a spokeswoman for the state police, told the news agency the discussions about the investigation are preliminary but the investigation would involve troopers and city police. Russo added that Maryland State Police would not be assuming responsibility for the investigation. An independent review board determined last year that Suiter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. When 43-year-old Suiter was found Nov. 15, 2017, dying from a bullet wound to the skull, police and the state medical examiners office called his on-duty death a homicide. Authorities launched a massive manhunt. Suiter lived in Conewago Township, York County. In their 207-page final report , the seven-member review board says the evidence theyve reviewed simply does not support anyone other than Detective Suiter himself firing the fatal shot. The move to re-examine Suiters death comes after Suiters family claimed the case was being ignored, The Baltimore Sun reports. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Skip Ebert and Jaime Keating didnt label their fight for the GOP nomination as Cumberland County district attorney as a grudge match. Plenty of observers did, however. And in Tuesdays primary election, Ebert, the current DA, emerged as the winner on the Republican side of the ballot. Unofficial tallies with all 118 of the countys voting precincts reporting showed Ebert with 12,367 votes to 6,417 votes for Keating. Keating and Ebert, had a lot in common. Both are veterans of the office. Ebert is in his second stint as DA. The countys judges appointed him to the office after he stepped down as a Cumberland judge to fill the slot that became vacant when former DA David Freed was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Middle District Court in late 2017. Ebert was DA before becoming a judge. One of Eberts first acts during his encore as DA was to oust Keating at the first assistant district attorney, the No.2 man in the office. After 25 years as a Cumberland County prosecutor, Keating is now a chief deputy district attorney for Franklin County. Keating, who also sought the appointment to succeed Freed, denied rumors that he challenged Ebert for the Republican nod out of revenge. He said he had been planning to run for the office for months before Freeds nomination for the federal job was even announced. Eberts victory in the GOP race marks just the first heat in his bid to continue serving as the countys top prosecutor. It simply gives him the right to vie with Democrat Sean Quinlan, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary, in the November general election. But in heavily-Republican Cumberland County, the odds always are with the GOP candidates. Enjoy the pleasant weather while it lasts today because stormy weather is expected for central Pennsylvania on Thursday. Some of those storms could be severe, and isolated tornadoes are not out of the question. A cold front is expected is come down into Pennsylvania from the Great Lakes, according to National Weather Service meteorologist John LaCorte. AccuWeather also reports that hotter and humid air will also move into the region on Thursday. It looks like its going to be pretty unstable, LaCorte said. LaCorte said the first round of wet weather could move through the region overnight Wednesday and into Thursday, but will likely only be showers and thunderstorms. Conditions could be right for supercell thunderstorms to form on Thursday, LaCorte said. He expected the stronger storms to move through central Pennsylvania on Thursday afternoon and into the evening hours. Supercell thunderstorms contain a deep and persistent rotating updraft called a mesocyclone, according to National Weather Service. While they are the least-common type of thunderstorm, they can produce severe weather such as damaging winds, large hail, and tornadoes. All of central Pennsylvania is at an enhanced risk for severe weather on Thursday, according to National Weather Service. Wednesday - May 22, 2019 @ 635 AM EDT: We'll enjoy one more pleasant and dry day with low relative humidity before a... Posted by US National Weather Service State College PA on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 LaCorte said the biggest threats on Thursday will be damaging winds and hail, but added that isolated tornadoes are possible. The threat of tornadoes comes after a record-setting 14 touched down across the state in April, making it an especially active tornado season for the Commonwealth. A tornado also touched down in Lancaster County this week. Its definitely been abnormal, LaCorte aid. LaCorte urged residents to stay up-to-date with weather information, especially if watches or warnings are issued as storms move through. A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a certain weather event, whereas warnings are issued when conditions are occurring or are about to occur. With 27 out of 28 precincts reporting, it appears voters ousted four Harrisburg School Board incumbents Tuesday, choosing a new slate of nominees from among a crowded field of 12 candidates. The five Democratic nominees are Steven Williams, Jayne Buchwach, Gerald Welch, James Thompson and Doug Thompson-Leader. The four incumbents, whose terms will end in December, often formed a majority on the board in support of Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burneys agenda. The challengers have called for a change in direction. And, the election comes as local elected leaders have called upon the state to take control of the school district. In a crowded field of 12 candidates, eight challengers and four incumbents canvassed Harrisburg neighborhoods, knocked on doors, posted campaign materials to social media, and attended school board debates. Of the incumbents, board member Ellis Roy attended one debate and had an advocate speak on his behalf at another debate. Board member Lionel Gonzalez attended one debate. He left immediately after he introduced himself, and answered one question. Board members Lola Lawson and Patricia Whitehead-Myers didnt attend any debates. Among the challengers, Ralph Rodriguez attended two debates and the remaining seven challengers took part in every debate opportunity. Only one seat was guaranteed to go to a new face. The fifth seat was formerly held by the late Melvin Wilson Jr., who passed away in December 2018. Joe Brown was appointed by the court in March to fill the seat until the term expires in December. The five selected nominees most likely will coast into victory this November, as no Republican filed to run for the primary. The General Election will be the deciding factor as to whom will sit on the board for the next four years. At the school districts regular school board meeting Monday, Knight-Burney said prior to todays election, she had no comment about results of the 2019 primary election. The other candidates who ran for a seat this spring include Lewis Butts Jr and Cory X Williams. Student debt can destroy credit, delay marriage and children, make buying a home impossible, and turn hopes of career success and financial stability into a nightmare of struggling for decades just to catch up. It can become a vicious cycle that spills across generations: Some people in low or modest-paying jobs are still paying off college loans even as their children rack up similar debts. And since the federal government can garnish wages, including Social Security, to collect on student loans, growing numbers of senior citizens are finding their Social Security payments garnished for loan repayment. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania is ground zero for this growing problem. Pennsylvanians carry more student loan debt per person than in any other state in the nation; nearly 2 million residents of our state owe on student loans, with an average debt of $36,000. After mortgage loans, college and other postsecondary debt is now the largest source of consumer household borrowing. As a first-generation college student, Im personally aware of what its like to leave college already saddled with significant debt. But the mission of relieving student debt goes beyond personal for me. Hardly a day goes by without me hearing from a student or family in Delaware County about how much strain student debt is putting on them and their budget -- or how much they worry about the impact of future debt even before a student gets to college. We must do something to diminish the impact of the student debt crisis. It is already curtailing the economic prospects of an entire generation, causing delays in achieving career goals and forcing millions of young adults to forego making charity donations and saving for retirement. The causes are myriad: from skyrocketing tuition, fees and other higher education costs to student loan servicing companies that steer families into costly loans, fail to provide the forgiveness borrowers are legally entitled to, and otherwise provide poor customer service. Here in Pennsylvania, Attorney General Josh Shapiro has already sued one of the largest loan servicers, Navient, for its practices. Attorneys general in other states have filed similar lawsuits against other providers. The Pennsylvania General Assembly must join the fight. Thats why Ive organized a bipartisan legislative Student Debt Caucus in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. This group of legislators will work together to learn more about the crisis and what is causing it and to develop solutions that respond to the needs of students and their families drowning in student debt. Our caucus held its initial meeting recently. Well examine problems caused by negligent loan servicers and by the colleges and universities themselves. And well advocate for attacking head-on in state budgets the current insufficient level of financial support for our state-owned and state-related universities. State funding for higher education in Pennsylvania has not kept pace with the rising cost of tuition. Per-student funding for public higher ed in the Keystone State fell more than 30 percent from 2008 to 2017, while the cost of tuition at public universities in the state has risen 22.5 percent over the same time period. Pennsylvania is still funding these institutions like its 1999 instead of almost 2020. While other states are making sure their public universities remain the affordable higher-education option for state residents they were always meant to be, here in Pennsylvania, students are losing ground. Among the nations publicly supported universities, students who graduate from Penn State, Temple and Lincoln hold some of the highest debt in the nation. Affordable access to higher education and career training is key to the future of our states workforce and Pennsylvanias economy. The student debt crisis is forcing many Pennsylvanians to put their lives on hold while they try to figure out how to pay off the debt they had to acquire to pursue career success and their piece of the American Dream. Its time to throw a lifeline to students and families sinking under a sea of student debt. That is the mission of the Pennsylvania House Student Debt Caucus. Rep. OMara is a freshman legislator who represents portions of Delaware County in the PA House of Representatives. Grave robbers have hit U.P. burial site for years. Now there's a new threat. Norwegian English SalMar ASA posted an Operational EBIT of NOK 806.2 million in the first quarter 2019, compared with NOK 708.1 million in the same period last year. SalMar increased its shareholding in the Icelandic aquaculture company Arnarlax from 42 per cent to 54 per cent during the quarter. In April, the Group increased its shareholding further, to 62 per cent, by means of a compulsory share purchase offer. Arnarlax has been consolidated into SalMar's financial statements for February and March. Combined with a higher volume harvested in Northern Norway, this contributed to the Group's highest ever first-quarter Operational EBIT and harvest volume. "We continue to deliver good financial results. During the period, we also increased our shareholding in the Icelandic aquaculture company Arnarlax. As an industrial owner, SalMar will contribute to the sustainable development of fish farming on Iceland," says SalMar's CEO Olav-Andreas Ervik. SalMar's gross operating revenues ended at NOK 3.0 billion in the quarter, up from NOK 2.5 billion in the first quarter 2018. The Group harvested 35,500 tonnes, compared with 31,900 tonnes in the corresponding period last year. SalMar made an Operational EBIT of NOK 22.71 per kg in the first quarter, a year-on-year increase of NOK 0.50 per kg. After several quarters of strong biological performance and a significant drop in production costs, Fish Farming Central Norway's first-quarter results had a rise in production costs. Outbreaks of disease at certain sites led to premature harvesting and, consequently, higher production costs. In the second quarter 2019, SalMar expects the segment to have a higher volume and somewhat lower costs compared with the first quarter. Fish Farming Northern Norway harvested a large volume of fish in the quarter. The segment's results were affected by biological challenges, including the harvesting of fish from the ISA zone where additional infection-prevention measures increased costs. SalMar expects the segment to have a lower volume and somewhat lower costs in the second quarter than in the first quarter. The Sales and Processing segment posted a profit of NOK 14.3 million in the quarter. In the same period last year, the segment made a loss of NOK 15.3 million. Improvement in result is driven by fixed price contracts having a higher price point than for the corresponding quarter last year. Seasonally lower volumes have influenced the profit contribution from the harvesting and secondary processing activities. With effect from 1 February 2019, Arnarlax's results have been consolidated into the Group's financial statements, and the company is reported as a separate segment. Operational improvements on Iceland contributed to a positive financial result in the period, despite costs associated with high mortality caused by winter wounds. SalMar has great faith in the future of Arnarlax and salmon farming in Iceland, but it will take time before the segment is able to perform at the same level as the Group's operations in Norway. As at 22 May, the contract rate stands at 25 per cent for the second quarter 2019 and 20 per cent for the year. Contract prices are slightly up from last year. The global supply of Atlantic salmon is expected to grow by around 7 per cent in 2019. Combined with expectations of good demand, this indicates a balanced salmon market with the outlook for continued strong earnings. SalMar maintains its expectations to harvest 155,000 tonnes in 2019, with 145,000 tonnes coming from the Norwegian segments and 10,000 tonnes from Iceland (Arnarlax). Norskott Havbruk (Scottish Seafarms) is expected to harvest 30,000 tonnes. The complete report and presentation for the first quarter 2019 is attached. For further information, please contact: CEO Olav-Andreas Ervik, Tel: + 47 918 68 100 Email: olav.andreas.ervik@salmar.no CFO Trond Tuvstein, Tel: + 47 918 53 139 Email: trond.tuvstein@salmar.no See also www.salmar.no for more information about the company. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements stipulated in section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. George Norcross III received an award from the Camden County police department on May 16, 2019. Norcross is the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit filed May 21 against Gov. Phil Murphy, claiming a task force investigating state tax incentives is unlawful. Read more South Jersey businessman and political power broker George E. Norcross III is willing to cooperate with an investigation into state tax incentives but not the one that Gov. Phil Murphy commissioned earlier this year, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by Norcross and several companies against the governor and members of a special task force. The five-count suit, filed in Mercer County, claims the task force was formed unlawfully and wants it disbanded. It is the latest escalation in tensions between Norcross and the governor both Democrats since a public hearing May 2, when investigators questioned the veracity of claims in tax credit applications submitted by Norcross insurance brokerage and organizations tied to him. The companies are extremely interested in cooperating" with an inquiry by the legislature, Norcross attorney Kevin Marino said on a conference call with reporters. But when it comes to the governor-appointed task force, he said, were dealing with an investigation that goes well beyond what the statute permits. Other lawyers on the call spoke more bluntly. This is our response: Were bringing it on, said Michael Critchley, a reference to a recent interview given by task force special counsel Jim Walden, a New York-based attorney who is named in the suit. The tax credit applications submitted by the companies are in full compliance with regulations, the suit says. The Economic Development Authority (EDA) is not a department in the executive branch, the suit contends, and falls outside of the governors investigative powers. Norcross legal team also continued to invoke an argument that the task force has unfairly singled out Camden, where the EDA has directed corporate tax breaks worth $1.6 billion. Companies with links to Norcross and his brother Philip, an attorney, won approvals for $1.1 billion in tax credits, an investigation by ProPublica and WNYC found. Any effort to halt progress and revitalization efforts in Camden has consequences, said Norcross attorney William Tambussi, adding, This is the wrong place to settle a political score. A spokesperson for the governor said the administration would vigorously defend the investigation in court. The task force is about ensuring that the tax incentive programs are operated to the benefit of everyone in New Jersey, not just a select, connected few, Darryl Isherwood said in a statement. In its response, the task force reiterated that it had already invited the companies to bring forth witnesses at an upcoming hearing. Rather than responding to that offer, they have filed an unfounded lawsuit against the task force instead, the task force said in a statement. "The public can judge this tactic for what it is. Murphy created the task force by executive order in January after the state comptroller found significant problems with EDA oversight of $11 billion in tax credit programs, including the agencys ability to verify whether companies created promised jobs. So far, task force investigators have focused on allegations that companies lied to obtain credits, and they have uncovered evidence of how tax credit legislation was influenced behind the scenes. Plaintiffs in the suit include the insurance brokerage headed by Norcross, Conner Strong & Buckelew, along with NFI, the Michaels Organization, and Cooper University Health Care, which Norcross chairs. Collectively, the firms won approval for $285 million in tax credits. The law firm Parker McCay, where Philip Norcross is managing shareholder, is also a plaintiff. A Parker McCay attorney made changes to the draft tax credit legislation that benefited clients, according to a report by the New York Times. Parker McCay has said it complied with laws on lobbying and offered input on the bill to help Camden one of the poorest cities in the state at the request of legislators. A barrage of calls and meetings between Parker McCay and EDA officials was the subject of another report by ProPublica and WNYC, published just minutes before the lawsuit was announced Tuesday. The firm sought bigger tax breaks and expedited reviews for clients, the report said, citing thousands of pages of internal documents. Staff writer Andrew Seidman contributed to this article. Connie Patrick was charged $4,650 for services she never received from Repairs R Us, a Philadelphia appliance repair company. Read more Its easy to get ripped off by unscrupulous car dealers, anonymous robocallers, and other fraudsters. Its much harder to get your money back. But there are solutions for victims seeking refunds, says Inquirer consumer reporter Christian Hetrick, who writes below of three local citizens who were collectively bamboozled out of $10,000-plus, but got their money returned after taking action. Their stories, and tips from experts, show how buyers can prevail in sticky consumer disputes. Meantime, if you need help resolving your own consumer nightmare, email Christian at chetrick@philly.com. Editor Family help Connie Patrick of Feasterville just wanted a $250 pair of refrigerator drawers when she gave her Citibank credit card number to Repairs R Us, a local appliance-repair company. Instead of sending the drawers which never came Repairs R Us charged her card $4,650 in four transactions. Thus began Patricks six-month saga to get a refund from Repairs R Us, which claimed that it sold Patrick a maintenance plan, yet acknowledged they never provided her with a written contract or receipt for it. With help from her family, Patrick contacted just about anyone who might help: Citibank, law enforcement, lawmakers, and The Inquirer, among others. It was a group effort, said Patricks daughter, Linda DiGiulio. After The Inquirer published a story about Patricks case, DiGiulio emailed the article to Citibank, which had initially ruled that two of the credit-card charges were valid. A few months later, though, the bank returned all of her mothers money. I just kept calling this guy in the corporate office, DiGiulio said of her persistent efforts. Im happy for my mom, but Im still mad the system doesnt go after people like this. Lonely hearts club Chester Springs resident Mary Kane, 85, craved companionship after her husband died. So last year she contacted Philadelphia Singles, a matchmaking service whose representatives said they had wonderful men in mind for her. The King of Prussia firms fee was $7,000. When she balked at the cost, Kane said, the fee was reduced to $4,750 and she was pressured into signing the contract. Ultimately, the company offered only one potential match, who didnt meet her requested criteria. What Kane didnt know was that Philadelphia Singles and its affiliates had already been accused of bad business practices by the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office and consumers who filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau. Kane received a full refund after The Inquirer asked the companys lawyer about her case. The fact that [The Inquirer] talked to the lawyer made all the difference, Kane said. I couldnt believe the series of events that led me to get my money back. I was overwhelmed with relief. She advises consumers to research a business before handing over their credit cards. Poor phone service When retired professor Bonnie Parkhouse, 68, visited a Wireless Zone store in New Britain seeking a case for her bare-bones flip phone, she says, a salesperson claimed that the phone wouldnt work once her provider, Verizon, phased out its 3G network in a few months. Parkhouse didnt want a smartphone, but says was talked into paying $668 for a Samsung Galaxy S6. Except the flip phone she had, a Kyocera Cadence LTE, runs on Verizons 4G LTE network and wouldnt be affected when 3G shuts down at the end of this year. Whats more, she learned, the Galaxy S6 she purchased is a three-year-old smartphone model that is no longer sold on Verizons website. Parkhouse spent two weeks trying, unsuccessfully, to return the Galaxy S6 smartphone. Hours after The Inquirer asked Wireless Zone about her case, the stores owner offered Parkhouse a full refund. Advice for the rest of us If youre seeking a refund, Adam Garber, consumer watchdog for the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), has these suggestions: 1. Reach out to government agencies for assistance: The Pennsylvania attorney general, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, FTC and, sometimes, even elected officials can help resolve consumer issues by ensuring that a companys practice is in line with the law and if its not pushing for appropriate action. 2. Go straight to the source: If your complaint is with a large company, it may have a consumer ombudsmen whose job is to help. But dont be afraid of going up the chain of command. Some consumers have had surprising luck in directly emailing a companys CEO, whose representatives quickly resolve the complaint because its less complicated than untangling it. 3. Publicity: When some companies get bad publicity whether by complaints on social media (tweets and such) or in negative reviews on sites like Yelp theyll agree to resolve an issue, even a small one. Be polite in criticism, clearly articulate the problem and call for a fix. Similarly, try reaching out to traditional media outlets including TV consumer reporters (or your favorite Inquirer journalist). 4. Professional watchdogs: A number of groups help mediate consumer disputes and can help determine whether a law was broken. Reach out to U.S. PIRG , the Better Business Bureau or local service and community organizations. 5. Lawyers: Many attorneys are glad to take on consumer complaints via targeted letters or more involved legal action. For guidance, consult the National Association of Consumer Advocates, whose directory includes local lawyers who address consumer protection issues. In other words, recommends Garber, take action. At the end of the day," he says, some companies may decide its better to make a consumer whole by addressing the problem than letting it fester. FILE In this Feb. 15, 2017, file photo, comedian Artie Lange attends a premiere for HBO's television comedy series "Crashing," in Los Angeles. He was arrested in New Jersey for violating the terms of his probation. Read more Comedian Artie Lange was arrested this week in New Jersey for allegedly violating the terms of his drug court probation. Essex County police arrested Lange on Tuesday morning at a Clinton, New Jersey halfway house, according to USA Today, and later transported the longtime comic to Essex County Correctional Facility in Newark. Police issued a warrant for Langes arrest on Monday, reports indicate. A court date has not yet been announced. An Essex County Prosecutors Office spokesperson told Page Six that Lange was taken into custody for not being in compliance with the terms and conditions of the drug court program, but did not provide details about the alleged violation. A separate, unnamed law enforcement official told the publication that Lange was coherent and cooperative at the time of his arrest this week. Langes latest trouble with law enforcement comes following a previous arrest in January, which came after the comic tested positive for cocaine, NJ.com reports. The former MadTV star has been working through the New Jersey drug court system since 2017, when police initially arrested him for heroin, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia possession. Last year, Lange was sentenced to four years probation for possession of heroin. The comics most recent arrest also comes several days after a fan ran across Lange pumping gas at a New Jersey gas station as part of probation. As Lange said in a video posted to Twitter, he had 10 more days of work before satisfying the program, I think. District Attorney Larry Krasners office believes that the judge overseeing Meek Mills case has been biased against the celebrity rapper, abused her discretion when she sentenced him to prison in 2017 for probation violations, and should be removed from making decisions in his ongoing appeal. Those assertions, made in a brief that Krasners office filed Wednesday, mark the first time that the citys top prosecutor who had already said Mill deserves a new trial has publicly criticized Common Pleas Court Judge Genece E. Brinkley for her handling of Mills case. For months, Mill and his legal team have been accusing Brinkley of ethical improprieties and seeking to have her removed from future proceedings, accusations Brinkley has consistently denied. The brief, a 37-page document signed by Assistant District Attorney Paul George and three other prosecutors, said that a reasonable person would question [Brinkleys] impartiality, adding: The public perception of unfairness and bias is exactly what [Brinkleys] behavior has engendered here. In particular, the prosecutors cited Brinkleys decision to surreptitiously visit a homeless shelter where she had ordered Mill to serve food. They said she had personally assumed the role of investigator, then improperly referenced her observations during a subsequent court hearing in which she sentenced Mill to two to four years in prison for probation violations. Brinkley is barred from responding directly to the allegations due to judicial conduct rules. But her attorney, A. Charles Peruto Jr., said Wednesday that Brinkley absolutely denies being biased against Mill. She has treated him the same way she has treated her other probationers, Peruto said. The brief is unlikely to result in any major new development for Mill, at least in the short term. Brinkley last year denied his bid for a new trial, saying she did not believe Mill or the District Attorneys Office had done enough investigating to prove that the evidence used to convict him was faulty. The matter is pending in Superior Court. Mill is free on bail as his appeal efforts continue. Aretha Franklin died last August without a formal document to guide her sons about her music, property and other assets. Read more PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) The discovery of handwritten wills in the home of the late Aretha Franklin could ignite a dispute among family members about the estate of the "Queen of Soul." She died last August without a formal document to guide her sons about her music, property and other assets. But the newly found writings filed in court Monday could change everything. Here's a look at what's developing, nine months after Franklin's death in Michigan at age 76: ___ HOW WERE THE WILLS DISCOVERED? A niece, Sabrina Owens, who serves as the estate's personal representative, discovered a key to a locked cabinet at Franklin's home on May 3, according to a court filing. Two handwritten wills from 2010 were inside. One says a will from decades earlier is "no good." The other one found in the cabinet is 11 pages long and has a notary's signature. On that same day, Owens was searching under living room cushions when she located a notebook with another will, dated March 2014. The four-page document sets aside various assets for family members, including four sons and grandchildren, but is difficult to read. "We all think of your standard will where you go into an attorney's office and get two witnesses to sign it," said Charyn Hain, an estate lawyer. "Michigan allows for wills that aren't completely compliant." ___ COULD THE WILLS BE ADMISSIBLE? Yes. Michigan law gives great weight to the wishes of a decedent. The state appeals court last year said a man's final written words stored on a phone counted as a will. "If it's clear and convincing evidence of your intentions, it's a perfectly valid document," said Patrick Simasko, another estate specialist. "The court wants to do everything in its power to fulfill the wishes of the person who passed away." But Franklin's newly discovered wills are disorganized and look like rough drafts. Words are crossed out. She used arrows and wrote in the margins. "You have to sit down with a magnifying glass and blow it up, try to enhance it," Simasko said. The estate's attorney, David Bennett, shared the wills with Franklin's sons. He told a judge that the heirs "have been unable to reach a resolution" about their validity. A hearing is set for June 12. Without a will, the estate typically would be divided among the sons, Simasko said. ___ WHAT DO THE WILLS SAY? In the 2014 document, Franklin says she wants a son, Christian rapper Kecalf Franklin, to serve as personal representative of the estate. Aretha Franklin's sons last year agreed to have Owens oversee the estate, but that was before the documents were found. Any change would require the approval of Judge Jennifer Callaghan. Emails seeking comment from Bennett and Kecalf Franklin's attorney weren't returned Tuesday. Separately, the younger Franklin is objecting to Owens' plan to sell a piece of land for $325,000. If Kecalf Franklin takes over, it "could be his business for many years," Simasko said. "He would be hiring lawyers, hiring managers and getting paid to do it. Her music, her image, her publishing rights those are all things that have to be managed." ___ WHAT'S THE STATUS OF FRANKLIN'S ESTATE? The value is not yet known, although the estate could be worth millions of dollars. The judge approved the hiring of experts to appraise assets, including Franklin's music catalog, her likeness, concert gowns and memorabilia. Bennett said in a court filing that the Internal Revenue Service is auditing many years of Franklin's tax returns after making a claim for more than $6 million in taxes in December. He said the estate is negotiating a contract with the TV series "Genius" and also working on a deal for a movie about Franklin's life. Detroit last week celebrated the renaming of a city-owned outdoor music amphitheater for Franklin. Mayor Mike Duggan recalled her performing past midnight there in 2015. "This daughter of Detroit has a permanent memorial," he said. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteap Robin Allen in her Erdenheim, Pa. home on May 17, 2019. Read more It started with a click. Determined to cross Buy health insurance off her list, Robin Allen sat down at her computer last fall and Googled the federal government website where consumers can enroll in plans that meet coverage requirements of the Affordable Care Act. She typed in some basic health information, her phone number, and within minutes her phone was ringing. Allen was impressed that an agent was available to help her at 9:30 p.m. She went to bed enrolled in a plan the agent promised had no deductible, low-cost vision and dental coverage, and all the doctors she would need all for a $300 monthly premium. I didnt have any reason to believe that was not the way it should be done, said Allen, 55, of Erdenheim, Montgomery County, who had been covered by her husbands employer plan until they divorced. Except Allen hadnt been on the governments website, healthcare.gov. The broker she spoke to doesnt sell major medical insurance and she realized months later that the plan he sold her didnt even cover basic health services. She had landed on an insurance-quote website, where user information is handed off to brokers who may sell comprehensive health plans but often mislead people into buying products with little coverage. These websites spend millions of dollars for top billing on Google when people search such keywords as Obamacare plans and ACA insurance. Their ads are designed to get clicks, often using Healthcare.gov in their hyperlinked text, and lead to homepages splashed with Obamacare phrases. This type of lead-generation website has been around for years but has become a bigger consumer concern since the Trump administration loosened regulations on short-term, limited-duration health plans. Today, its possible for plans never intended to serve as long-term, primary health insurance to be sold as year-round coverage. Many Republicans argue that limited-benefit plans should be available for people who do not want all the coverage the ACA requires of major medical insurance. Some consumers may not want certain ACA mandates, such as maternity and mental-health coverage. But limited-benefit plans often leave out a lot more, such as coverage for preexisting conditions. Yet the companies and brokers selling these plans often do not make that clear in fact, they seem to purposely attract marketplace shoppers with ads that are often hard to distinguish from the governments website. There are websites that are designed to confuse people or at least they seem designed to confuse, said Dania Palanker, an assistant research professor at Georgetown Universitys Center on Health Insurance Reforms. To make matters worse, the administration has slashed the ACAs public outreach budget, leaving healthcare.gov no way to counter with ads of its own. House Democrats pushed through a package of health-care bills that would reverse the Trump administrations expansion of short-term health plans and restore funding for groups that help people enroll in healthcare.gov. Senate Democrats followed with a companion bill addressing short-term plans. But with a split Congress, the task of protecting consumers has fallen to the states, which have varying restrictions on limited-benefit plans and little ability to wrangle websites that operate seamlessly across state lines through the internet and are the Federal Trade Commissions responsibility to regulate. In the meantime, consumers are left in a difficult-to-navigate insurance market, where one wrong click can land them in an insurance plan with thin benefits and significant exposure to high medical costs. Millions spent on ads Google healthcare.gov and the first three to five results that show up above the federal governments marketplace website are ads, mostly for insurance quote websites with official-sounding names. Websites bid for their ad to show up when people search for certain keywords. Between 2014 and 2017, more than 2,800 advertisers spent $46.6 million sponsoring about two dozen ACA-related search keywords, according to analysis by Kantar, a data and market research company. Six websites outspent the federal government, which put $1.4 million into Google ads for healthcare.gov in 2017, according to Kantar. All Web Leads, an Austin, Texas-based lead-generation company, was the second-biggest spender that year, shelling out $3.2 million to attach its website, affordable-health-insurance-plans.org, to heavily searched ACA keywords. A majority of the people who visit the website, which predates the ACA, cant afford marketplace plans and are looking for something cheaper, said Bill Daniel, CEO of All Web Leads. Yet the hyperlinked text in its Google ad says HealthCare.gov. The homepage advertises Obamacare Plans from $9/wk and notes that all of the plans agents sell meet federal standards under the ACA. Thats true, but not very meaningful, because short-term plans are exempt from the laws coverage requirements for major medical insurance. The sites ACA branding attracts shoppers during the government marketplaces fall open enrollment. Thats when many of All Web Leads customers brokers and insurers sell plans that meet ACA standards for full health insurance, Daniel said. He doesnt think many people have trouble distinguishing full coverage from skimpy coverage. I dont think thats a significant problem, based on what we hear from consumers," Daniel said. "They do contact us if theyre not happy with the connection weve made for them. Designed to confuse Insurance quote websites note on their homepages usually in tiny type that theyre not affiliated with the government, but even people with decades of health-policy experience cant always tell the difference. Every year, Ezekiel Emanuel, chair of the University of Pennsylvanias department of medical ethics and health policy, assigns his students to shop for health insurance using the government marketplaces. One year he did the exercise, too. It took me about 15 minutes to realize I wasnt at healthcare.gov or a state exchange, Emanuel said. Unless you know what the right place looks like, what the offers are, theyve done a very good job of making it look like its the [government] health insurance site. Although Emanuels error was merely a class exercise, consumers who make the same mistake often discover the plans shortcomings only when they have a medical issue. Allen realized her mistake when she checked her plans coverage for a specialist visit she wanted to schedule. The plan she thought was conventional health insurance was actually an indemnity plan, which pays a set rate for a select list of services and is designed as an add-on to real health insurance. In her case, the plan would pay nothing for that specialist visit. United States Fire Insurance Co., the plans underwriter, did not respond to a request for comment. According to Pennsylvanias directory of licensed insurance brokers, the agent who sold her the plan has agent privileges with three insurance companies, including USFIC none of which sell major medical health plans. I was like, oh, my God, I have been completely scammed, Allen said. With help from a local professional, Allen has since enrolled in a full insurance plan. But she recalls how overwhelmed she felt at her initial discovery. I just put my head down on my computer and started to cry. I didnt know what to do, she said. She hasnt been able to get her money back, yet. Discreet ad labels In the early 2000s, Google ads appeared in hard-to-miss colored boxes. Now theyre marked by a tiny white label with a green outline. Search engines are regulated by the FTC and the issue of ad clarity has been on the agencys radar for years. In a 2017 report, the FTC recommended that search engines use bigger, brighter ad labels at the very top of a listing, and easily understood phrases such as paid content, but stopped short of making the changes mandatory. Google has on a few occasions banned ads criticized for targeting vulnerable individuals, such as ads for alcohol and drug rehab and payday lending. Vetting millions of ads would be difficult because knowing whether an ad is misleading requires understanding the industry, said Megan Gray, general counsel for the Paoli-based search engine DuckDuckGo and former consumer protection attorney for the FTC. Still, she said, "for a company with the gargantuan size and influence of Google they should have some moral responsibility that they are not misdirecting users. DuckDuckGo uses a white ad label similar to Googles, but lists just one ad above organic search results and includes a button to report bad ads. Yahoo lists about five ads separated from search results by a thin horizontal line. Bings ad label is smaller than Googles and outlined in light gray. Google did not respond to a request for comment. Others say the only way to truly protect consumers is to rein in the plans themselves. While I absolutely think it is wrong for companies selling these junk policies to take advantage of unsuspecting consumers, we should not have to rely upon platforms, like Google, to take on the role of a regulator, Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) said in a statement. The Senates bill to reverse Trumps policy on short-term plans builds on the Houses legislation, which also restores $100 million in funding for navigator groups that help individuals sign up for marketplace plans. All but a handful of Republicans voted against the House measure. In the meantime, states can regulate short-term plans, though rules vary New Jersey bans them, while Pennsylvania has some of the loosest restrictions. Slippery websites and ads are much harder to pin down. "Its whack-a-mole. You take one down and another pops up," Palanker said. It can be hard to tell the difference between major medical insurance and skimpier health plans, so its important to know what to look for and what questions to ask your broker. Here are some tips: Check the URL The best way to know youre in the right place is to double (triple!) check the URL, which is the website address. The federal marketplace website is healthcare.gov. Search engine ads often use healthcare.gov in the hyperlinked text people click on to get to the website, but look closely at the URL just below to see the actual website address. All government websites are .gov domains, while private websites use .com, .org. or .net. Many companies have scooped up websites people might land on if they miss a letter typing or use the wrong domain. Check for a disclosure Insurance quote websites are required to note that they are not affiliated with the government, though this detail is often in small print at the bottom of the page. The privacy statement at the bottom will give more information about who owns the website. Did you have to answer health questions? The ACA prohibits comprehensive health plans from basing coverage on your health status, which means if you had to answer questions about whether you smoke or have ever been pregnant, youre on an insurance quote website where at least some of the plans are allowed to underwrite (denying coverage or charging higher prices) for health conditions. Can you window-shop? Government marketplace websites allow consumers to compare plans without creating an account or submitting any contact information. Did you give out your phone number? Healthcare.gov doesnt ask for your phone number on its homepage so that an agent can call you. If an agent calls to help you sign up for insurance, it is a private broker. Get good help Healthcare.gov has a search tool to help you find navigators (groups that receive federal funding to assist with enrollment) and brokers licensed to sell comprehensive, ACA-compliant plans. Research the agent Search by name in Pennsylvanias insurance broker registry to see whether your agents license is up to date. Once on an agents license number page, click appointments to see which insurance carriers he or she has relationships with. If none of them are major medical insurance companies, your agent wont be selling you comprehensive health insurance. Research the plan Write down the plan name and carrier, and check its status with the state Insurance Department online or by calling 717-787-2735. If the agent is reluctant to give you this information, that may be a sign he or she hasnt been upfront about the plans coverage. Get it in writing All major medical plans have a summary of benefits document that outlines exactly what is covered under the plan and how services are paid for. Look closely for wording about exemptions and limitations, especially if the document you receive looks more like a glossy brochure than a boring legal document. Think on it Brokers selling insurance over the phone can be convincing and pushy but youre not obligated to hand over your credit card number right away. Insist on having the contract agreement emailed or mailed to you, to review carefully, before signing. David Wilbur leads his horse Charismo a Dutch Warmblood Hunter, out of the stables of Redfield Farm in Califon, NJ on May 16, 2019, for his daily warmup in preparation for competing in the Devon Horse Show. Read more The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair an 11-day extravaganza of county fair attractions and competitive equestrian events kicks off on Thursday, May 23. In the scheme of the Main Lines traditions, this is arguably the crown jewel. Beyond the horses and the midway, there are tea parties, fancy hats, fox hunting (demos), and lemon sticks. If youre new to the affair, we get it. So whether youre there for the equines or the people-watching, weve broken down everything you need to know. What is the Devon Horse Show? The Devon Horse Show is the oldest and largest multi-breed horse show in the country. It started in 1896 on the front lawn of the Devon Park Hotel, and was an instant success, with people traveling from the city and neighboring towns to watch horses and riders compete. Society turns out en masse, read an Inquirer story by the shows return in 1897. And the exhibition of superb horse flesh is remarkable. In 1919, a country fair was added in order to raise money for the Bryn Mawr Hospital. In the century since, the fair has raised more than $18 million. Why is Devon a big deal? While Devon is an extremely prestigious equestrian show (read on), its also where you go to be seen on the Main Line. People dress to the nines. Governors, senators, foreign ambassadors, and even presidents have attended. One of Devons defining traits is its boxes, built in the 1920s to allow guests to sit and enjoy the show without getting their clothes dirty. (Previously, they sat in a field and had to bring their own chairs.) Today, there are 480 boxes and a wait-list. The boxes are typically handed down from generation to generation, says Wayne Grafton, chairman and CEO of the show. [Families] decorate their boxes and picnic inside them. As for the actual competition, Devon is exclusive. In order to compete at the show, riders and horses have to accumulate enough points at other shows. Its already an honor to qualify [for Devon], but to win, that definitely means that youve done well, says David Wilbur, a rider with Redfield Farm, a stable that splits time between Florida and New Jersey. Its the most competitive horse show in the first half of the year. What Devon traditions should I definitely not miss? Glad you asked! If youre checking out the fair, dont miss the lemon sticks half a fresh lemon pierced with a hard-candy straw. Also, the fudge is a classic. Ladies Day is another favorite. It started in 1912 and in what the New York Times called a novel experiment had women serve as ring officials and more. Not only were there women entrants and women judges, not only were executive offices filled by ladies and all the heavy work performed by their fair hands, the Times recap read, but somewhere in the vicinity, rumor had it, a lady blacksmith plied her trade. Today, Ladies Day is best defined by its annual hat contest, when an ocean of elaborate, sculptural hats washes over the showgrounds. If youd like to compete, plan to attend on Wednesday, May 29. As a guy, I cant tell you I know a lot about womens dress, Grafton says. But the women there wear some of the most beautiful hats and dresses youll see anywhere. It adds a level of panache that people yearn for. OK, what are the cant miss sporting events? The Grand Prix, on May 30, is the shows flashiest and most competitive event, with a $250,000 purse. Horses jump a course of between 10 and 16 obstacles, with heights up to 5 feet 3 inches and lengths of up to 6 and a half feet. Other events will be just as fun to watch. The first weekend of the show is largely dedicated to junior classes, with riders under 18. One highlight is the Costume Pony Hunt Team, in which a team of young riders dress their ponies up according to a theme and navigate a course en masse to groovy tunes, finishing with a fence jump. Or consider the Shetland Pony Steeplechase, where young jockeys wear brightly colored silks and race each other through an obstacle course. (Dont be surprised if you see a few spills.) The races take place on Sunday, May 26, and Memorial Day, May 27. I dont like horses. Should I go? Do you like dogs? Because the canines come out at Devon, too: On Thursday, May 23, a dog show will see pups navigate their own jump course, perform tricks, and wear costumes. On Friday evening, May 24, breeder Gene Sheninger will lead a border collie herding demonstration (with sheep and ducks).. And on Saturday, May 25, the members of Radnor Hunt, the oldest continuously active foxhunt in the country, bring a pack of hounds to Devon to demonstrate hunting techniques. Ive never gone to a horse show. What should I look for? Equestrian culture can be cryptic, but essentially the judges look for consistency, Wilbur says. [Horses] should be moving at the same speed throughout the ring. Jumping should look pretty effortless for them. They should be giving very good efforts over every jump, and their backs should create a nice arc. Wilbur adds that horses should also demonstrate even gait and enthusiasm in the ring. You want them to be energetic, but not wild, he says. Can you bet on the events? Devon does not have any serious horse races, so there is generally no betting. What is the parking situation? There is a main lot off Dorset Road where you can park. You can pay $300 for the whole show, or $10-$30 on single days. Parking is free on the evening of May 23. The Devon Horse Show runs 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 23 to June 1, and ends at 3 p.m. June 2. The grounds are located at 23 Dorset Rd., Devon. Fair admission is $15, $7 for seniors and ages 6 to 18; and $10 for active military. Tickets to sporting events are sold separately. FILE - In this Sept. 13, 2018 file photo, singer Rihanna attends the 4th annual Diamond Ball at Cipriani Wall Street in New York. Rihanna is partnering with LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton to launch a new fashion label. The pop star, born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, announced Friday, May 10, 2019, that a new line called Fenty will debut this spring and will be based in Paris. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File) Read more Rihanna is making fashion history. Fenty, her womens wear line, has joined Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton, and Givenchy under the vast LVMH umbrella (ella ella ella). By joining forces with LVMH, the powerhouse French conglomerate behind the worlds biggest labels, Rihanna is blessing high fashion with an inclusivity that Europes exclusive fashion houses have never seen before. Rihanna is the first woman for whom Bernard Arnault, the mega-companys chairman and chief executive, built a label from scratch. Shes only the second designer who can claim that honor. The first was Christian Lacroix in 1987. Rihanna is also the first woman of color to lead an LVMH maison. According to the Business of Fashion, shes a 49.99 percent shareholder in LVMHs Fenty. Rihanna has always been bold. Never afraid. And now shes a pioneer," said Tuesday Gordon, longtime manager of Center City boutique Joan Shepp. "This is a special moment in fashion for black women. Its also a win for young fashionistas. And that has the potential to make an even greater impact on the industry. Fenty which debuts Friday at a Paris pop-up and which will launch online on Wednesday speaks to those younguns who wouldnt think twice about pairing a Fenty Japanese denim blazer with a pair of fast-fashion Fashion Nova jeans. It has in mind the young man who may want to wear a corset. And it relates to all who would rather scroll through Instagram and click to buy than thumb through a fashion glossy. Rihanna belongs to the millennials on down. And this makes me wonder: When it comes to cachet, does Rihanna need LVMH as much as LVMH needs her? Ten years ago, I would have been on the side of LVMH. People were shopping for sport. Labels mattered more than a brands story. And although Mary Kate and Ashley Olsens the Row was gaining serious industry traction, we still lived in a world where celebrities were just the faces of the fashion brand. Who cared if they could actually design? Name recognition was queen. Who didnt own a pair of Jessica Simpsons wedge sandals? Celebrities needed established labels in their corner for style cred, and in Simpsons case, it was Vince Camuto. Brands founded by black celebrities, from Kimora Lee Simmons Baby Phat which she plans to relaunch this summer to Jay-Zs Rocawear, were pigeonholed as streetwear. Sean Diddy Combs broke the mold with the success of Sean John, a brand that reportedly rakes in hundreds of millions of dollars in sales annually. Still, the highest retail echelon hes reached is Macys. I suspect this lack of respect for celebrity brands driven by hip-hop artists in fashions most rarefied houses is why rapper/designer Kanye West was once obsessed with pleasing Hedi Slimane, the former creative director of Yves Saint Laurent for whom he wrote his 2013 single I Am a God. Yeah, I know Kanye thrives on being the center of attention, but Id bet money a part of him was pleading for the validation in the high-fashion community that black celebrities had never been afforded, no matter how many pieces of clothing they sold. But without these streetwear brands fronted by black celebrities, this Fenty-LVMH lovefest wouldnt exist. Rihanna is still under Jay-Zs Roc Nation label, and its CEO, Jay Brown, helped broker the deal for Ri Ri. Simmons, Jay, and Combs made inroads in an industry in which LVMH wants Rihanna to be a boss. My, how the script flips. So what does Rihanna get out of the deal? Under the LVMH umbrella, Fenty will enjoy the manufacturing and distribution resources only a monster brand can offer. Thats a luxury for any designer, said Kevan Hall, former creative director of Halston and who dressed Katherine Heigl and Vanessa Williams on the red carpet and whose pieces are sold locally at Gabrielle in Bala Cynwyd. But when it comes to fashion cachet, Hall said, agreeing with me, Rihanna has a bit of an edge. Rihanna has the influencers ultimate design gig. She can speak directly to her 71.1 million Instagram followers, and the concept of the collection is based on who she is, rather than what the brand wants her to be. Shes dictating to LVMH what her style is, rather than LVMH telling her whats going to sell. LVMH is in her house now. And this is why: Rihannas style has been an important part of her persona from the moment she launched her singing career. In 2014, the Council of Fashion Designers of America named her its style icon, and Rihanna boldly arrived at the gala in a see-through Adam Selman gown. Shes the highlight of every Met Gala; she didnt show up this year, and Twitter was salty. In 2017, Rihanna and LVMH launched Fenty Beauty. Its tagline is Beauty for all, and it has been applauded for offering 40 shades of foundation, helping a myriad of women appear flawless. Last May came Savage X Fenty lingerie, aimed at helping women with curves in all sizes slay the night. No wonder Rihanna can be disruptive. I can already see how her influence at Fenty is impacting fashions greater good. Fentys double-breasted blazers complete with built-in fanny packs roomy trousers, puff-sleeve shirts, and corset shirt dresses in neutral blushes, khaki browns, blacks, and whites are proof the labels nude palette goes way beyond customary peaches and ivories. Also, the collections pieces go up to an American size 14. Thats remarkable when most French fashion houses tend to make a hard stop between sizes 10 and 12. And Rihanna is completely ignoring the fashion calendar. Fashion collections are traditionally revealed on runways in September and February. But Rihanna is releasing her inaugural grouping now. And it will be available to buy within days, not in six months. There is no doubt this foray is promising, says Teri Agins, author of The End of Fashion: How Marketing Changed the Clothing Business Forever. But the fanfare will mean little if Fenty doesnt make major sales. And thats going to be tough, even for a game-changer like Rihanna. If they figure this thing out and it works," Agins said, thats when we will really be talking unparalleled. Demonstrators for the 15Now campaign gathered in Center City to promote a hike in the city's minimum wage in 2014. Read more On primary election day Tuesday, Philadelphia residents overwhelmingly threw their support behind Ballot Question No. 3, which would encourage the city to lobby state legislators or act on its own to establish a $15-an-hour minimum wage. It was largely symbolic, because, as the question pointed out, Philadelphia is not legally allowed to raise its minimum wage, due to a clause added to the states minimum wage law in 2006. So, did this vote mean anything? What would need to happen to raise wages in the poorest big city in the country? The answer: A lot more work on the side of organizers, advocates, and politicians. The ballot-question comeback To understand how we got here, we have to go back to 2014, right before the exact same ballot question was being considered in City Council. Advocates, workers, and unions in Philadelphia had just started battling for a $15 minimum wage. Organizers with the Socialist Alternative, a national organization that helped elect Seattle Councilperson Kshama Sawant, a champion of a $15-an-hour minimum wage when it was still a radical idea, teamed up with the union SEIU, which was organizing fast-food workers and promoting the Fight for $15 campaign. Throughout 2014 and 2015, the organizers held rallies and strikes and put pressure on City Council to challenge Harrisburg on minimum-wage law. >> READ MORE: From 2014: Philadelphia push to raise minimum wage part of national debate Because there was so much attention on the issue at the time, and so many workers involved, said Kate Goodman, former lead organizer of the 15Now campaign in Philly, maybe a ballot question would be enough to show legislators that there was a hunger for change, the thinking went. Ballot questions had proved significant in these situations before: In 2013, voters in the small airport city of SeaTac outside of Seattle voted to approve a $15 minimum wage. The year after, Seattle voters did the same. (The state of Washington allows municipalities to set a minimum wage.) But in Philly, the resolution for the ballot question, introduced by Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, got held up in committee and died. The $15 minimum wage campaign in Philly died with it. >> READ MORE: From 2015: Fight for $15 hourly minimum wage hits the streets in Phila. and nationwide Four years later, Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker introduced a resolution to introduce a ballot question regarding the minimum wage. It passed by 17-0. What changed? Council has increasingly had a taste for progressive laws that aim to protect workers and fight poverty, like the Fair Workweek scheduling legislation for retail, fast-food, and hotel workers. Roughly 300,000 people hold service-sector jobs and are making an average of about $27,000 a year. And others have joined the fight: New Jersey is phasing in a $15 an hour minimum wage, Philly-area hospitals are instating it, and Democratic candidates for president are campaigning on it. The wage of $15 is no longer a radical idea. What will it take here? Either the state or the federal government has to raise the minimum wage or Harrisburg has to amend the states minimum wage law to allow municipalities to raise their own wage, said John Meyerson, a former union political director who convenes the Raise the Wage PA coalition. >> READ MORE: Gov. Wolf seeks increase in Pa.s minimum wage There are currently two bills one in the House and one in the Senate, both Republican-controlled that propose an amendment, as well as bringing the minimum wage up from $7.25 to $15 an hour by 2025. They have stalled in committee. Gov. Tom Wolf has expressed his support for raising the minimum wage thats been in effect for a decade. An increase has been opposed by Republicans for years. Its not just about politics, though, according to Goodman: There has to be worker organizing around the issue and across the state. Currently no labor groups are actively focused on minimum wage. The groundswell has to go beyond Philadelphia, because there arent the votes in Philadelphia," said Meyerson, who previously worked with grocery store workers union Local 1776. Philadelphia Media Network is one of 21 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the citys push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at brokeinphilly.org. RENO, Nev., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Server Technology , a brand of Legrand and a leading provider of intelligent rack power distribution units (PDUs), today announced that the DCS Awards has named its High Density Outlet Technology (HDOT) Cx rack-mount PDU as the Data Center PDU Innovation of the Year. The companys HDOT data center power distribution units have captured three top DCS Awards in the past four years in recognition of their unique technological innovation. Winners were established by receiving the most votes from Digitalisation World readers and announced on May 16, 2019, at Londons Leonardo Royal St Pauls Hotel. The DCS Awards spotlight the product designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and providers operating in the data center industry. The Awards recognize the achievements of the vendors and their business partners and celebrate excellence in the data center sector. The HDOT Cx PDU took the top award spot for its ability to offer the ultimate in high density and flexibility, featuring a hybrid C13 and C19 outlet that can accommodate both C14 and C20 plugs. The PDU innovation provides the most outlets per form factor, easy load balancing with alternating phase technology, and the ability to customize your PDU to the configuration of choice. HDOT Cx future proofs data center investments as it reduces the need for data center managers to constantly purchase new PDUs to support the ever-changing power requirements of expanding data centers. Server Technology has established a long history of listening to our customers and incorporating their suggestions into new PDU designs that better meet their changing rack power requirements, said Sandi Renden, Director of Marketing for Server Technology. We are proud to be a part of the Legrand family with our sister companies, who were also nominated for the award. Server Technology has a long tradition of award-winning achievements. In addition to the 2019 DCS Award, Server Technology has been honored by the DCS Awards as a: 2018 Data Center PDU Product of the Year for HDOT, with Alternating Phase technology 2016 Data Center PDU Product of the Year for HDOT Finalists also shortlisted in the Data Center PDU Innovation of the Year category included other Legrand owned brands, Raritan and Starline. Starline was voted runner-up for their revolutionary in-rack power distribution series Starline Cabinet Busway, which offers a solution inside the cabinet that helps address changing power requirements, legacy and varying equipment loads, and high-power devices. Raritan was recognized for the introduction of their new range of Residual Current Monitoring (RCM Type B) options for intelligent PDUs. These new RCM models include a patented, self-test functionality designed to avoid the need for manual RCM testing by electricians in the data center, and to avoid potential downtime of server rack equipment. Peter Davies, Sales Manager of the Digitalisation World portfolio at Angel Business Communications, organizers of DCS Awards said, "Im delighted that we have this annual opportunity to recognize the innovation and success of a significant part of the IT community. The number of entries, and the quality of the projects, products, and people they represent, demonstrate that the DCS Awards continue to go from strength to strength and fulfill an important role in highlighting and recognizing much of the great work that goes on in the industry. This year's Finalists represent the very best in the industry and Server Technologys HDOT-Cx was voted as outstanding by our readership to win the Data Center PDU Innovation of the Year category. For more information please contact lucy.holloway@servertech.com or visit www.servertech.com . About Server Technology Server Technology a brand of Legrand, power strategy experts are trusted to provide rack PDU solutions for demanding data centers worldwide ranging from small technology startups to Fortune 100 powerhouses. Because power is all we do, you will find our award-winning innovative features such as high density outlets, 2-outlets-in-1, and alternating phase technology in the best cloud and colocation providers, forward thinking labs and telecommunications operations. Let us show you how you can configure to order a standard PDU with limitless possibilities that fits your data center need. You can order one to thousands with most of our PDUs shipping in 10 business days. Only with Server Technology will customers Stay Powered, Be Supported and Get Ahead. www.servertech.com About Legrand and Legrand, North and Central America Legrand is a global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures. Its comprehensive offering of solutions for use in commercial, industrial, and residential markets makes it a benchmark for customers worldwide. Innovation for a steady flow of new products with high added value is a prime vector for growth, including, in particular, connected devices stemming from Legrands global Eliot (Electricity and IoT) program . Legrand reported sales of $6.2 billion (USD) in 2017. Legrand has a strong presence in North and Central America, with a portfolio of well-known market brands and product lines that includes AFCO Systems, C2G, Cablofil, Chief, Da-Lite, Electrorack, Finelite, Luxul, Middle Atlantic Products, Milestone AV, Nuvo, OCL, On-Q, Ortronics, Pass & Seymour, Pinnacle, Projecta, QMotion, Quiktron, Raritan, Sanus, Server Technology, Solarfective, Vaddio, Vantage, Wattstopper, and Wiremold. Legrand is listed on Euronext Paris and is a component stock of indexes including the CAC40, FTSE4Good, MSCI World, ASPI, Corporate Oekom Rating, and DJSI (ISIN code FR0010307819). www.legrand.us For more information, contact: Betsey Rogers Public Relations BridgeView Marketing 1-603-821-0809 betsey@bridgeviewmarketing.com FILE - This file photo from March 9, 2018 shows Pennsylvania state representative Brian Ellis as he speaks with people at the Eggs 'n Issues forum at the Butler Area Public Library in Butler, Pa. Read more HARRISBURG The Dauphin County District Attorneys Office has empaneled a grand jury to investigate allegations that a former Pennsylvania House member sexually assaulted a woman in his Harrisburg townhouse while she was incapacitated, according to two sources familiar with the matter. District Attorney Fran Chardo has been investigating the allegations against former State Rep. Brian Ellis since the start of the year. This month, his office placed the case before a grand jury, which has subpoenaed several witnesses to testify and could wrap up its work as early as next month, the sources said. In a brief interview, Chardo said he could not comment, including on why he decided to place the matter before a grand jury. Ellis, 50, a Butler County Republican, has denied the allegations. Neither he nor his lawyers would comment. Ellis resigned his elected office earlier this year, after The Inquirer and The Caucus reported that the woman, a state employee, had filed a complaint against him with the Houses lawyers and the chambers Ethics Committee. In the complaint, the woman said that before the alleged assault in October 2015, she had repeatedly rebuffed sexual advances from Ellis. The woman said that the night of the alleged incident she was out with a friend in downtown Harrisburg at a restaurant/bar, where she had fewer than two drinks. I have scant memories of the next 10 hours, and was in a state of blackout, she wrote in the complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by the newspapers. I woke up in pain, injured and naked, the next morning in the bed of Rep. Brian Ellis. When she confronted Ellis, she contends he told her: We had sex. She said she did not file a report then out of confusion and shame. However, she did go to the hospital the next day, she said, and at some point was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. The woman in her complaint asked the House to hold Ellis accountable for his heinous actions. Ellis is the second Republican House member to be investigated by Chardos office on assault allegations. Last year, two women filed a complaint with House Republicans, alleging they were physically or sexually abused by then-State Rep. Nick Miccarelli (R., Delaware). House Republican lawyers investigated the allegations and found the women credible. They called on Miccarelli to resign, but he denied the accusations and served out his term, which ended last year. Late last year, Chardo ended his investigation into the case and announced that no charges would be filed against Miccarelli, in part because one of the accusers chose not to go forward. She said her decision was based on emotional trauma and the prospect of a long and drawn-out criminal proceeding." Philadelphia City Hall, photographed in November, 2018. The two-toned tower? There's a reason for it. Read more It had taken six years and $26.5 million to refurbish Philadelphias City Hall tower. And for most of those years, between 1984 to 1990, Philly being Philly, people complained and complained about the ugly scaffolding that enshrouded the tower during reconstruction. It was an insult to the citys dignity, they said, that the statue of founder William Penn should appear imprisoned upon his perch above the citys seat of power. Once the scaffolding came down in 1990, a new debate arose: Whats the deal with the two-tone tower? A question submitted recently via Curious Philly, a forum where readers can tell our journalists what theyre wondering about, asked anew why the top of City Hall is a completely different shade of white than the rest of the building? Was it an oversight during a renovation project or is there a technical reason? Actually, the answer to both questions is yes, according to reporting by Thomas Hine, then the Inquirers architecture critic. Renovation required a change in materials used for the City Hall towers skin, Hine wrote in an article published Aug. 23, 1990. It is suddenly apparent that City Hall Tower is two towers: a 200-foot metal structure atop a 347-foot stone edifice, Hine wrote. This is true, but the designers of City Hall never meant the fact to be quite so noticeable. Greta Greenberger, the director of City Hall tours for 25 years until her recent retirement, said in an interview this week that work on the tower had been long overdue. From the clock level up to the observation deck was covered with cast iron, and pieces were deteriorating, she said. Bolts were coming loose." They thought they would replace some of the [nearly] 4,000 iron plates, but instead they decided to replace almost all of them with a new skin of steel. Most of the 3,900 iron plates were replaced with about 2,000 copper-and-zinc-coated plates, Hine wrote. The redesign with fewer plates was intentional; there would be fewer niches and spaces where rainwater could accumulate and cause corrosion. The plates were electroplated and were to be covered with a state-of-the-art paint that would last 50 years or more, the kind of hardy, nearly indestructible paint used for bridges, ships, and airplanes. The thing is, the company that developed the paint made it in just three colors: white, dark gray, and light gray. Officials of the citys Art Commission chose the light-gray hue and thought about warming up the color" to match the stone of the main building, Hine wrote. But they could not find a way to do it. So the light-gray paint went on the copper plates before being topped on the refurbished tower. Less than a month later, Hine published a second article, praising the efficiency of the projects engineering but lamenting the careless aesthetics. What was intended to appear as a single tower now appears as two, Hine wrote on Sept. 16, 1990. The job that appeared miraculous from the scaffold looks like a mistake from the street. ... [T]hose involved did not work with the manufacturer to produce a color that would preserve the artistic integrity of the structure. ... And while then-Mayor Wilson Goode talked of the two tones representing the old and new of Philadelphia, others like Hine were not so impressed: For some the two-toned tower says that Philadelphia will never quite get anything right and shouldnt bother to try. Terrance Lewis, center facing camera, receives a hug from his father Michael Lewis, after getting out of prison in Chester, May 22, 2019. Read more After fighting for 21 years to be exonerated of participating in a 1996 West Philadelphia murder, Terrance Lewis had given up. He withdrew his petition to vacate his conviction in February an agonizing decision to clear the way to be resentenced after a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that automatic life-without-parole sentences for juveniles were illegal. It would mean hed get out of prison eventually but hed be on parole for life, and his name would never be cleared. Tuesday, something happened at his resentencing that neither Lewis and his lawyers, nor the District Attorneys Office, whose Conviction Integrity Unit had been investigating the case, had anticipated. Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Barbara McDermott decided to review his innocence claim on the spot and due to what she deemed a denial of due process threw out his conviction. The district attorney declined to retry the case. And Wednesday morning, Lewis, 40, was released free for the first time since he was 17 years old. A few hours later, he emerged from the Chester state prison with a wide smile, as if into the worlds most unusual surprise party embracing his family members and legal team, then joyfully greeting faraway loved ones FaceTiming from Tennessee, Texas, and across Pennsylvania on three cellphones. I was just existing for 21 years, Lewis said. Now, Im about to live. He expressed gratitude to the judge, Cummings, and District Attorney Larry Krasner, whom he called true advocates of justice. But has his faith in the system been restored? I have mixed emotions about the system. At one point in time, I thought the system was broken. I no longer think it was broken. I think it was designed that way. They had the opportunity to release me and they didnt. That is, until McDermott took up the question of his innocence. She heard all the evidence Terrance has been screaming about for 21 years, and said he should be released. She expressed a willingness to listen, and thats all Terrance needed, said Kevin Harden Jr., part of a legal team that has championed Lewis case pro bono for a decade. That work started in 2008, when David Laigaie was appointed to represent Lewis in a federal petition. At that time, Magistrate Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells wrote in an opinion that it seemed apparent Lewis was innocent, but that for procedural reasons she could not grant him relief. Lewis had been sentenced to life in 1998 for second-degree murder participating in the robbery of Hulon Bernard Howard, who was shot and killed by one of Lewis codefendants. But over the years, thanks to Lewis own investigation, work by his lawyers, and collaboration with the Conviction Integrity Unit, which finally turned over the homicide file within the past couple of years, the case against him began to disintegrate. The constellation of events that led to him being wrongfully convicted is only matched by the constellation of events that resulted in him being freed, Harden said. The one witness against him, it turned out, had initially identified a different perpetrator. But that information, recorded in the homicide detectives notebook, was never shared with the defense. And his trial attorney never investigated the eyewitnesses who emerged over the years to come forward and say Lewis was not at the scene. (The lawyer, who stopped practicing a few years later, would eventually sign an affidavit acknowledging his work was subpar.) When Lewis decided to abandon his innocence claim in order to seek a new sentence (a Philadelphia judge had determined that resentencings could not go forward for anyone still challenging their convictions), his lawyers made a strategic decision to downplay his innocence claim at the sentencing proceeding where the focus often turns to assessing the offenders remorse. They feared his denial would result in an even longer new sentence. The thinking was, post-sentencing, we could file a federal habeas petition, Laigaie said. So, Lewis went to court, praying for any judge but McDermott, who is not known for lenient sentencing. I thank God my prayers werent answered, he said. In light of the evidence, family members of Howard, the victim, also supported Lewis release, according to those present at the hearing. For Lewis, it feels a lot like the first break life has given him. He grew up in extreme poverty, shuffling all over Philadelphia, attending nine elementary schools in three years, and dropped out of school in 10th grade to work full-time. At one point, in Strawberry Mansion, he was sharing a room with eight brothers and cousins, all piled into two bunk beds or sprawled on the floor. Jerome Conquest, 32, a cousin, recalled stacking milk crates and blankets in a corner the closest thing he could get to a bed. But Lewis, known among loved ones for his positive attitude, declared it cozy, not crowded, and one of the best times of his life. I cant even begin to express it. Were all totally elated, said Michael Lewis, Terrances 58-year-old father, who had traveled from Marion, Ark., with his wife, Yvette, 52, for the resentencing and found out his son would be released instead. I dont think there was a dry eye in the courtroom. They were already talking preparations for reentry, whether they could give Lewis one of their cars. We got to get him a learners permit first, Harden remarked. All of Lewis plans for the future have been scrambled. He had intended to get his commercial drivers license paid for under a program for parolees. Now, with no criminal record, he is aiming higher a college degree and work in the criminal justice system, where he can help others in the same straits he just escaped. Cummings said when she was hired to run the Conviction Integrity Unit, staffer Andrew Wellbrock gave her a short list of cases he believed demanded immediate attention. One was Lewis'. But investigating such an old case is difficult. And even after she grew convinced there was an injustice, she said, all of us were challenged for a long time to figure out what we could do to right this. She noted the legal system is set up to protect faith in convictions and ensure finality. But occasionally, the mechanisms put in place to ensure that finality can stand in the way of releasing an innocent person. Outside the prison, Laigaie thanked Lewis for his patience. Im sorry it took so long, he told him. Lewis was busy absorbing the 21st century. This is my first selfie! he said, as his lawyers pulled him in for a photo. I got to get me a phone so I can start taking selfies. Its one of many benchmarks of adulthood Lewis missed out on, that he hopes to reclaim. That, and being there for his son, Zahaire, 21, born a month after Lewis was incarcerated. But first up Wednesday was getting out of prison garb. So, a trip to Springfield Mall, where Lewis entered the jeans department at Macys and promptly gave up trying to sort through the styles, cuts, and waist sizes. Thats my problem, thats institutionalized. Im so used to somebody telling me" what I can wear, he said before settling on sweat pants. Then it was on to sneakers. Im in state boots, he said. Im ready to go barefoot right now. A celebratory meal would have to wait. Lewis, who was on his way to the mosque when police picked him up in 1997, has never wavered on his Muslim faith. Since its Ramadan, hell wait until sundown. Then, its all about shrimp cocktail, he said. I havent had shrimp in 20 years. This Monday, May 20, 2019, photo provided by Aerial Leask shows good Samaritans attempting to bring in a floatplane that crashed in the harbor of Metlakatla, Alaska. Officials said the pilot and passenger aboard the plane died, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. (Aerial Leask via AP) Read more ANCHORAGE, Alaska An Alaska air carrier involved in two deadly floatplane crashes in a week has voluntarily suspended operations, federal officials said Tuesday. The halt of flightseeing and commuter flights is in place indefinitely, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The action comes after the passenger and the pilot of a Beaver floatplane operated by Taquan Air were killed when the single-engine aircraft crashed in Metlakatla Harbor on Monday afternoon during a 22-mile commuter flight from Ketchikan. Witnesses reported to federal investigators that one of the two floats on the plane dug into the water during landing, causing the right wing to hit the water and then the aircraft to cartwheel several times, according to Clint Johnson, chief of the National Transportation Safety Board in Alaska. Johnson said witnesses also reported the Beaver floatplane landed upside down and became submerged in water. An NTSB investigator arrived at Metlakatla late Tuesday morning, he said. Taquan Air officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The passenger was identified by her employer and relatives in California as Sarah Luna. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium said in a statement that Luna joined the group nearly a year ago as a senior epidemiologist in the liver disease and hepatitis program. Luna, 32, had flown to Metlakatla to provide health services to the community. "Sarah embodied the characteristics most valuable to our team, as a person committed to improving the health and well-being of Alaska Native people," the organization wrote. "For those who worked most closely with Sarah, this loss is immeasurable." Metlakatla Police Chief Bruce Janes identified the pilot as 51-year-old Ron Rash of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The crash occurred in light winds and 10-mile visibility, Johnson said. The plane also was carrying a load of cargo and was supposed to also pick up other passengers after landing. Johnson said it was "way too early" to determine a cause. He anticipates the preliminary report into the crash to be released by the end of the week. Monday's crash followed the May 13 midair collision of a Taquan Air Otter floatplane with another floatplane. Six people died in that crash and another 10 people were injured. Both planes were carrying sightseeing cruise ship passengers. Johnson said the NTSB is investigating both crashes as separate cases. Last summer, all 11 on board another Taquan Air flight survived when the 72-year-old pilot confused snow on a mountain with a body of water and crashed on a rocky mountainside on Prince of Wales Island near the southern tip of the Alaska Peninsula. A pilot and eight cruise ship passengers died June 25, 2015, when a de Havilland DHC-3 Otter operated by Promech Air Inc. crashed into mountainous terrain about 24 miles from Ketchikan, also as it was returning from Misty Fjords. The NTSB later determined that pilot error, the company's culture and lack of a formal safety program were among the causes of that crash. Taquan Air purchased the assets of Promech in 2016, and currently employs three pilots who worked for Promech, a company spokeswoman said last week. FILE - This 2018 file photo provided by Andrea Gallagher shows her husband, Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher, who has been charged with murder in the 2017 death of an Iraqi war prisoner. Lawyers on Gallagher's defense team told the Associated Press that emails they and a reporter received from military prosecutors in the case contained tracking software. (Andrea Gallagher via AP, File) Read more LOS ANGELES Lawyers for a Navy SEAL accused of murder say documents show prosecutors misled a judge to get approval to track emails sent to defense attorneys and a journalist. Attorney Tim Parlatore says Navy investigators and the prosecutor didn't get warrants or proper approval to investigate civilians in efforts to find the source of news leaks. Parlatore declined to provide details, saying they would be aired at a hearing Wednesday in San Diego. A Navy spokesman says the government won't comment before the hearing. Defense lawyers say prosecutors engaged in misconduct by spying on emails and may have violated attorney-client privilege. Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher is charged with killing a wounded Islamic State prisoner under his care in Iraq in 2017 and then holding his reenlistment ceremony with the corpse. HARRISBURG In Pennsylvania, prisoners can train for jobs as barbers and cosmetologists, but many of them struggle to get licenses to work in those fields after their release because of their criminal convictions. Two bills one in the Senate and one in the House would prohibit the state from denying or revoking occupational licenses based solely on a persons criminal history, as long as their crimes were not directly related to their desired profession. This stems from a larger effort to update Pennsylvanias criminal justice system to help people return to the world after prison. It comes on the heels of another effort in 2018, called the Clean Slate Act, which seals records of low-level crimes for people who stay out of legal trouble for 10 years. Sen. John DiSanto (R., Perry), a primary sponsor of the Senate bill, said he hopes reducing barriers to licensing would help more people avoid returning to prison after release and also strengthen Pennsylvanias workforce. Why should a theft or drug conviction early in life forever prohibit you from becoming a barber or massage therapist or a social worker? he asked. Blanket prohibitions without considering the circumstances dont just do the applicant a disservice, but our entire commonwealth in need of a talented workforce. DiSanto said he hopes the Senate bill will pass by the end of June, when legislators typically wrap up the budget and address a flurry of other measures. Rep. Jordan Harris (D., Philadelphia), who introduced the House bill Wednesday, said he believes Pennsylvanias criminal justice system is outdated. We are supposed to rehabilitate inmates," Harris said. "We are supposed to have them come back [to society] better than when they went in. The truth is, many of them come out and experience barriers that many times send them back to prison. Pennsylvania requires state licensing for more than 30 occupations, including cosmetology, real estate, and nursing. As part of the states Recidivism Risk Reduction Initiative, inmates are given the opportunity to study in 22 different areas. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, more than 60 inmates pass licensing tests in cosmetology and barbering each year but are later turned down for licenses because of their criminal records. A Philadelphia judge and a deputy district attorney in Chester County were among those in contention Tuesday night in the primary elections for a powerful statewide appellate court. Voters selected two candidates from each party in the Superior Court primaries. With more than 90 percent of districts reporting at 11 p.m., Amanda Green-Hawkins, a Pittsburgh lawyer for the United Steel Workers union, was leading the Democratic primary. Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Daniel McCaffery, a former assistant district attorney, was in second, and was closely followed by Allegheny County attorney Beth Tarasi. In the GOP primary, the leading candidate was Megan McCarthy King, a deputy district attorney in Chester County, followed by Cumberland County Common Pleas Court Judge Christylee Peck. Rebecca Warren, a former Montour County district attorney, trailed. The four leading candidates each had been endorsed by their respective parties. The Pennsylvania Bar Association had declined to recommend Green-Hawkins, citing her relative inexperience in the courtroom. >> READ MORE: In Montgomery County, some voters concerned by new paper ballots King got a lift from the White House. She is tough on crime and fully understands all aspects of the law, President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter Monday night after his rally in Lycoming County, Pa. The nominees will compete for two open seats on the court in the Nov. 5 general election. McCaffery had raised more than $240,000 as of May 6, the most of any candidate for Superior Court. His campaign was largely funded by labor unions. McCaffery is the brother of former state Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery, who resigned in 2014 amid the email scandal known as Porngate. Judges on Superior Court, one of two statewide appellate courts, earn an annual salary of $199,114 and serve 10-year terms, after which they face uncontested retention elections. The court handles appeals of criminal and civil cases, as well as appeals of cases involving families and children. >> READ MORE: How do judicial elections in Philadelphia work and why do we vote for judges? Voters on Tuesday also nominated candidates for Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, which handles major criminal and civil cases, and Municipal Court, which handles misdemeanor trials and small claims, among other cases. With 25 candidates running for six spots in the Democratic primary for Common Pleas Court, most if not all of them largely unknown to the electorate, ballot position and party endorsements were expected to be big factors. >> READ MORE: How ballot position can sway Philly elections and why new voting machines wont be a fix With 97 percent of precincts reporting, the candidates with the biggest share of the vote were Jennifer Schultz, an attorney with Community Legal Services; Anthony Kyriakakis, a lawyer with Dilworth Paxson LLP and a former federal prosecutor; Joshua Roberts, a partner at Datz & Roberts LLC; Tiffany Palmer, a founding member of Jerner & Palmer PC and director of the Family Law Institute of the National LGBT Bar Association; James C. Crumlish, senior shareholder with Elliot Greenleaf; and lawyer Carmella Jacquinto. Kyriakakis, Roberts, and Jacquinto were endorsed by the Democratic City Committee. Beth Grossman, a former GOP nominee for district attorney, was the lone Republican on the ballot. She also ran as a Democrat not unheard of in a city where Democrats far outnumber Republicans. Each of the leading candidates had been recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association, which evaluates candidates based on criteria such as temperament and trial experience. >> ANALYSIS: Philly primary shows the power and limitations of incumbency in citys politics Judges on Common Pleas Court serve 10-year terms and earn an annual salary of $183,184, while Municipal Court judges serve six years and earn $178,946 a year. Two candidates, both Democrats, ran for Municipal Court. David Conroy was leading Theresa Brunson as of 11 p.m. Tuesday. The people have spoken: They want more places to buy alcohol. In Marple, Lansdowne, and Aldan in Delaware County, and West Marlborough and Franklin Townships in Chester County, voters in Tuesdays primary election replied with a resounding yes to referendum questions about expanding their towns liquor laws. In Marple, one of 12 completely or partially dry towns in Delaware County, more than 3,600 people answered the question on their ballots, and more than 2,300 of them voted in favor, according to Delaware County election results. Previously, beer distributors and State Stores were permitted in Marple, a township of nearly 24,000 people, but restaurants, grocery stores, and other locations couldnt sell liquor or beer, with the exception of a restaurant in a township-run country club, according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. A Giant supermarket in the townships Broomall section had been instrumental in circulating a petition to get the referendum question on the ballot, with a company spokesperson saying Giant wanted to sell liquor at a future store in the area. Lansdowne, a borough of 10,000, and Aldan, a borough of 4,000, allowed only the sale of liquor and beer at retail stores as well as at the Lansdowne Theater. In Aldan, there were twice as many yes voters than no voters. In Lansdowne, nearly 1,600 voted in favor and fewer than 400 were opposed. In Chester County, which has 20 completely or partially dry towns, residents of Franklin and West Marlborough Townships may also soon have more options for imbibing. About 78 percent of voters in Franklin, a township of more than 4,000, approved expanding liquor licenses, according to Chester County election results. In West Marlborough, a township of only 800, about 68 percent of voters (91 people) were in favor. Since Prohibition, West Marlborough has allowed only the sale of liquor at retail stores, according to LCB data, and Franklin allowed the sale of retail liquor and beer. In the 1960s, Franklin residents voted to permit beer distributors, too. The State Liquor Code requires a question be voted on in any type of election before a town can change its liquor laws. In order for a referendum question to get on the ballot, residents must submit a petition with signatures equal to at least 25 percent of the highest vote cast for any office in town in the previous general election. The questions appear on both Democratic and Republican ballots. Since both Delaware and Chester Counties are already over their liquor-license quotas (generally, one license per 3,000 residents, according to the LCB), residents shouldnt expect to see an immediate, noticeable effect from these referendums. If a business wants to sell liquor in one of these towns, it will likely have to get an existing license transferred from another establishment in their county. William Korzon, 78, is accused of murdering his wife, Gloria, in 1981. Read more A Bucks County man charged with his wifes murder nearly four decades after her disappearance waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday and is poised to face trial. William Korzon, 76, is accused of killing his wife, Gloria, in 1981, a homicide that had confounded investigators in Warrington Township for years. His attorney, Keith Williams, said Korzons choice to skip the hearing at District Court was a wise decision. We wouldnt have learned much more from testimony than what was in the criminal complaint, Williams said Wednesday outside the courthouse in Jamison. He did not admit guilt today; he only made a tactical decision. Williams said Korzons case is unusual for the dearth of information available to him about the investigation being built by prosecutors. As a condition of the waiver, Williams requested that the District Attorneys Office expedite turning over its evidence to him by Thursday, including transcripts from the investigative grand jury that helped charge Korzon. Those transcripts, which would provide extensive context to the charges filed by the District Attorneys Office, remained under seal on Wednesday, but may be made public in coming days. The more information we have, the better decision we can make for Mr. Korzon in the future, Williams said. The case was reopened in 2018, when detectives from Warrington brought the evidence they had been compiling for nearly 40 years to District Attorney Matthew Weintraub. Korzon was taken into custody last month at his home in Central Pennsylvania. As he was led into his arraignment, he insisted to reporters that Gloria Korzon had moved to Florida in the 1980s and that he had done nothing to harm her. But investigators, in court filings, paint a much darker picture. Gloria Korzon was declared legally dead by a Bucks County judge in 1997. She was 38 when she left the home she shared with her husband for the last time, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest. Her body was never recovered. In interviews with prosecutors this year, William Korzon admitted to having battered Gloria" throughout their 13-year marriage, during which he was the subject of multiple domestic-violence investigations and a short-lived protection from abuse order, the arrest affidavit said. He also admitted to forging her signature on two checks, and to filing their joint income tax return after her disappearance, the affidavit said. Korzon did this, he told prosecutors, to access her money. During testimony in front of the grand jury, Korzon asked a prosecutor whether investigators had found the body. It proved to be a fateful question, helping to form the foundation of the charges he faces. Korzon is tentatively scheduled to be arraigned in Doylestown on June 21. If you think it's harder to get around Philadelphia these days, especially Center City, it's not your imagination. Traffic congestion is a growing problem. Read more Philadelphia voters struck a blow against snarled streets in Center City on Tuesday, approving the creation of a new class of law officer dedicated to traffic enforcement. Voters also approved three other proposed City Charter amendments: to use gender-neutral language for City Council and its members; make permanent the Office of Immigrant Affairs, created by executive order in 2016; and urge the state legislature to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. All the questions were approved overwhelmingly. The traffic-related ballot question asked voters to amend the charter to create public safety officers. Unlike police, they would not be armed or have arrest powers, but would be able to direct traffic and have authority to issue some citations. City officials have said they will need to work out many details of the new officers with legislation and regulation. >> ANALYSIS: Philly primary shows the power and limitations of incumbency in citys politics Philadelphias traffic has steadily worsened over the last decade, with a boom in e-commerce deliveries, a growing population, and ride-share vehicles. Traffic-oriented public safety officers are deployed in several cities, including New York, which provided a template for backers in Philadelphia, led by Council President Darrell L. Clarke. Opponents have raised questions about the cost of the program and asked whether it is wise to put unarmed people in fraught situations. Many voters also expressed uncertainty. Those who voted yes and those who voted no both said they didnt really know the implications. It seems like we should have more help, but Im not sure, said Alexis Drain, 25, a University of Delaware graduate student who lives in Fishtown. >> READ MORE: Party-backed millennials come out on top in at-large City Council primary races Stephen Rafferty, 30, an architect in West Philadelphia, thought a new traffic force would come to no good end. I know how car-centric this city is," he said. "It seems like they would probably just ticket pedestrians and bikers. The citys police union was against the measure, saying it violates state law reserving traffic enforcement for police officers. It vowed to file a complaint with the state labor board. >> READ MORE: Blackwell political dynasty falls in West Philly, but incumbents dominate other City Council district races DALLAS, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trendmaker Homes, a member of the TRI Pointe Group family of premium regional homebuilders, has named Bruce French vice president of land acquisition & development of its newest homebuilding division in Dallas-Fort Worth. French, who joined the company on May 6th, brings nearly 40 years of land acquisition and development experience to the position in which he will focus on growing and refining the companys acquisition efforts for future communities. Bruce has a tremendous amount of local market experience covering hundreds of communities and thousands of home deliveries and is very highly regarded in the community, said Trendmaker Homes Dallas-Fort Worth president Sean Ricks. His very strong acquisition, entitlement, and development knowledge and skills make him an excellent choice for this leadership role, and we are privileged to have him as part of our team. Im thrilled to be joining the Trendmaker Homes team and having the opportunity to further fuel its Dallas-Fort Worth expansion, said French. The companys strategic plan of developing near employment centers, transportation and amenities, coupled with the strong resources of TRI Pointe Group, positions us perfectly to take advantage of a very active housing market. Trendmakers expansion plans look to capitalize on a major metro known for its strong employment growth and housing affordability. The Dallas and Fort Worth metro area, which ranked in the top five nationally for population growth in 2017,2 has a significant portion of its population in the 25-to-44 age cohort, a prime home-buying demographic.1 In late 2018, TRI Pointe Group acquired Dallas-based homebuilder Dunhill Homes and its 55+ brand Nathan Carlisle Homes, which became Trendmaker Homes Dallas-Fort Worth. The new division had nearly 1,500 lots owned or controlled as of the end of 2018. Frenchs most recent position was senior vice president of land acquisition & development at History Maker/Rendition Homes. French has also held leadership positions at Portrait Homes, Beazer Homes and KB Home. He holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Vermont. About Trendmaker Homes Dallas-Fort Worth Trendmaker Homes Dallas-Fort Worth designs, builds and sells high-quality single-family homes in Dallas, the fourth most populous metro in the country. Native to Texas, Trendmaker understands the Texas ethos and strives to simplify homebuying, delivering premium homes that fit the homeowner to a T. With a sterling reputation and a partnership approach, the company delivers to homebuyers new innovations, designs, experiences and conveniences reflecting the highest standards of homebuilding and customer service. As a result, Trendmaker Homes Dallas-Fort Worth has been the recipient of the Energy Star Certified Homes Market Leader Award for five years running and multiple 2018 Dallas Builder Association design accolades. Trendmaker Homes is a member of TRI Pointe Group, a family of premium regional homebuilders. For more information about Trendmaker Homes Dallas-Fort Worth, please visit www.TrendmakerHomes.com . 1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/26959fb3-7f6f-4035-be11-6352d393f1c4 Jamie Gauthier with family member at her watch party at Bookers Restaurantin West Philadelphia. Gauthier estimates she knocked on 1,000 doors, distributing fliers and personally introducing herself. Read more Jamie Gauthier sensed an under-the-radar swell of support early in her campaign. She wasnt seeing it in big donations or hearing people take up megaphones for her, but in individual meetings and smaller events in the living rooms and kitchens of West Philadelphia, something was building. It did feel like I had a lot of silent support," said Gauthier, who defeated longtime Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell in Tuesdays Democratic primary election. "People were kind of afraid to be public about their support of me, afraid of retaliation. But they were ready for a change. The upset was one of three Tuesday that defied the long-held belief that in low turnout elections, party-backed incumbents tend to win. Register of Wills Ronald Donatucci, with 40 years on the job, lost the Democratic nomination to Tracey Gordon, a former deputy city commissioner with little apparent support. And Sheriff Jewell Williams, under a cloud of sexual harassment lawsuits, was ousted by a former police officer, Rochelle Bilal, in a four-way primary race. The reasons vary, but the races share key characteristics. In each, voters chose a fresh name, and each victor expected to coast to election in November was a woman who knocked out an older member of the party establishment. Blackwells loss marks the closing chapter of a dynasty in Philadelphia politics. Blackwell worked with her husband Lucien Blackwell on his Council staff, beginning in the late 1970s, before taking over his seat in 1992. Mustafa Rashed, a political consultant, said Gauthier proved to be an ideal candidate. If there was going to be a candidate to dethrone a longtime incumbent, it would have to be someone with a compelling story, Rashed said. Shes a mom from the neighborhood I think she captured a sentiment that she had a vision for the district. Gauthier estimates she knocked on 1,000 doors, distributing fliers and introducing herself. She said she thought people needed to meet the challenger to the legendary Blackwell name. Also important was the support of Philadelphia 3.0, an independent political action committee that poured $300,000 into the race, in the form of mailers accusing Blackwell of being beholden to developers. The group itself was founded by parking magnates and developers and has traditionally supported political newcomers. I think all of the help we got helped us, Gauthier said. But I dont think theres anything that can replace the real dialogue that we had with voters. Blackwell, who had never had a credible challenger, also failed to mount a robust campaign. Her party, too, didnt mobilize behind her. Party leaders in at least one key ward the 44th, which includes Parkside, West Powelton and Mill Creek put Gauthiers name instead of Blackwells on its sample ballots. The results from the 19 divisions there ended up almost split evenly between the seven-term incumbent and the newcomer. Blackwell carried 10 divisions, Gauthier nine. Blackwell is the first district incumbent to lose reelection since 1995, when Dan McElhatton lost his reelection bid in the 7th District. McElhatton lost to machine-backed Rick Mariano, who was later convicted of bribery. Gauthier benefited from a gentrifying district, with a growing population in the areas that produced big numbers for her, such as Spruce Hill and Cedar Park. She was able to win pockets of support in the older, more African American neighborhoods. Blackwell left her campaign party Tuesday night without talking to reporters, and again declined to give interviews when she showed up for work Wednesday morning. A steady stream of advisers, friends and supporters filtered in and out of the office shes worked in either as councilwoman or a staffer to her husband for 45 years. Life moves forward and the true and loving God still lives on, her scheduler, Belinda Church, told a woman who came by Wednesday afternoon, upset by the outcome. We are OK, Church told the woman, who declined to give her name. Life moves forward. City Hall staffers, present and past were shocked. "Everyone thought (Blackwell) was going to win. Everyone, said one former staffer. We all feel like our grandma just died and we wish she could have just gone out on retirement. Democratic Party boss Bob Brady said he was disappointed about Blackwells loss, but could see how that happened Gauthier raised significant money and had direct mail ads. In the sheriffs race, Brady said, it was obvious that Williams #metoo scandals caught up with him. We just know what happened with that one. Everyone does, Brady said. What remains a mystery is the race for register of wills. How did Donatucci, a 71-year-old South Philadelphia ward leader who heads of an office known as a source of Democratic patronage, lose? I still cant figure out what happened, Brady said, noting that perhaps Gordon was helped by her top ballot spot and by being a woman. In a three-way race, Donatucci had the third ballot position. But his name wasnt hidden from voters, unlike more crowded races that had dozens of candidates. And other party-backed candidates with bad ballot positions still won in larger races. Maybe we took it for granted," Brady said. "We paid a lot of attention to (Council) at-large and judges. We probably should have paid more attention to this one. One party insider said that voters didnt necessarily know what the Register of Wills does. Everyone scrolled down, saw Tracy, Jacque and Ron Don and said What is this office?" the insider said. She was a woman at top of ballot for a race no one knows what it is. Rashed agreed that there were barely any conversations during the campaign season about the office or the candidates. Gordon ended up getting more than 70,000 votes, one of the best showings. It was an aberration and people thought they were voting for something else, Rashed said. Im hard pressed to believe 70,000 people showed up to vote for her. Gordon, who didnt respond to calls or text messages requesting comment on her victory, beat Donatucci in Bradys own ward, which is mostly African American. The party leader speculated many voters went with Gordon because she is black. Other ward leaders also failed to deliver votes for Donatucci, including party treasurer Sonny Campbell and two ward leaders who work in the Register of Wills Office. When the party wants to win, it wins, said another Democratic Party insider, who spoke on condition of anonymity to honestly assess the partys performance. Theres no reason he shouldve lost. For his part, Donatucci said Wednesday that he hasnt looked at any formal analysis on his loss. The numbers dont lie. I know there will be a million reasons from the ward leaders, he said. Donatucci, a devout Catholic, spent his morning at a mass for the Feast Day of Saint Rita of Cascia. By midday he still hadnt been to City Hall and was running errands. His office, though, hummed to the sounds of keyboards clacking and printers running. It was like any other day; people needed wills, birth certificates and marriage licenses. Donatucci said he wishes Gordon luck and will help her transition, should she win in November. Look, the voters spoke and Im moving forward, he said. "Theres a lot of other things in my life that can keep me busy the Board of City Trusts and different boards Im on and Im fortunate. Staff writer Chris Brennan contributed to this article. Rochelle Bilal is surrounded by supporters as she wins the Democratic primary for sheriff May 21, 2019. Read more In an upset, former Philadelphia Police Officer Rochelle Bilal beat incumbent Sheriff Jewell Williams in the Democratic primary Tuesday, ousting a party stalwart who was seeking a third term with the baggage of three sexual harassment lawsuits. Bilal, 61, will likely be the first woman elected sheriff. She is president of the Guardian Civic League, a group that represents black police officers, and also secretary of the local NAACP chapter. With 97 percent of returns in, Bilal was leading the four-way race by about 22,000 votes. It was a crushing defeat for Williams, who has been in elected office since 2001, first as a state representative. He has been sheriff since 2012. Ive never run for office before, and Im exhausted, but Im excited, Bilal said. Im excited that people in this city saw something different and voted for us. Two former sheriffs deputies, Malika Rahman and Larry King Sr., also were trying to oust Williams. Sheriff is an independently elected office charged with court security, transporting prisoners to court, and managing court-ordered sales of foreclosed and tax-delinquent properties. It has a $26 million budget and 400 employees. >> READ MORE: Results and scenes from the 2019 primary election The race for sheriff was a rather quiet affair, with Williams challengers, including Bilal, raising a fraction of what Williams raised and keeping low profiles other than to attend candidate forums. Williams avoided much of the campaign limelight, opting to skip most candidate forums and declining to give interviews to reporters. In the last year, news surfaced of three sexual harassment lawsuits against Williams; two were settled and one is pending. He has vehemently denied all three allegations. Mayor Jim Kenney and some City Council members called for the sheriff to resign. The Democratic City Committee reversed its decision to endorse Williams, following a significant backlash. I think women have spoken," Kenney said Tuesday when asked about Williams loss. Nevertheless, many of the Democratic wards had Williams on Tuesdays sample ballots at the polls. Bilal had her own brush with controversy when she was with the Police Department. She retired in 2013 amid an investigation into a second job she had with Colwyn Borough. In an interview with The Inquirer, Bilal said she kept the two separate and was not double-dipping. She was eventually let go from the Colwyn job, but said that she sued the township for wrongful termination and received a settlement. (Officials at Colwyn did not respond to a request for information on the case and reported settlement.) >> READ MORE: Tracey Gordon wins register of wills race, ousting 40-year incumbent Ron Donatucci Throughout the campaign, Bilal said she wants to prevent homes from even going to sheriffs sale. She was critical of Williams use of millions of dollars to advertise sales in various newspapers. She instead wants to pay for community programs to help distressed families. She also vowed to implement a sexual harassment policy on Day One. People were just tired of scandal after scandal in the Sheriffs Office and many didnt know what the Sheriffs Office is." Bilal said. "Now they will know. Through a spokeswoman, Williams declined to comment Tuesday evening. The spokeswoman said he had not conceded. >> ANALYSIS: Philly primary shows the power and limitations of incumbency in citys politics Williams was first elected sheriff in 2012, promising transparency and reform. But he quickly drew controversy for requesting new cars and bigger staff. The budget and number of employees ballooned under his watch. He also added more duties to the office, including serving warrants, and guarding City Council and the new Family Courthouse, which helped justify his need for more staff. The Sheriffs Office has been plagued by scandal for years. Former Sheriff John Green, who had resigned, pleaded guilty last month to felony conspiracy charges that he steered $35 million in contracts to a campaign contributor who also showered him with gifts, including home renovations and a no-interest loan. With no Republican opposition, Bilal is poised to win the general election in November unless an independent qualifies for the ballot and then pulls in more votes than she does. If she wins in the fall, Bilal will be the first woman to be Philadelphia sheriff. Staff writer Laura McCrystal contributed to this article. >> READ MORE: Party-backed millennials come out on top in at-large City Council primary races THE PARENT: Richard Veith, 53, of Abington THE CHILD: Henrik Shaun Carey Veith, born January 17, 2019 A PARENTHOOD VISION: I think the sweetest thing to do will be just sitting outside, listening to the birds, seeing the dappled light come down from the trees: Were here. Were home. Richard first contemplated parenthood when he was 6 years old. He was perusing a kids calendar book that included a page of blank ovals. They were supposed to be generic human faces, he recalls. You were supposed to fill them in: Whos going to be your spouse? Your children? I thought about how many children did I want to have; what color would their hair be? At the same time, he wondered about his own origins. Richard and his sister were adopted, and though his childhood in a New Orleans suburb was peopled with grandparents, godparents, aunts, and uncles, he always felt curious about his birth relatives. I dreamt about it, he says. It was a big mystery to me. I filled it in with my own imagination. For a young gay man emerging into the queer communities of London, Paris, and New York, family became an unreachable grail. Life was a series of three-day circuit parties, nights juiced with narcotics, and anonymous encounters with men he met online. That same nascent internet along with a professional searcher, some clues from his adoptive mother, and a Memphis telephone book from the mid-1960s allowed Richard to find his birth father, then his birth mother, and to meet them on back-to-back weekends in 1997. I remember her bawling on the phone, wanting to be forgiven. My birth fathers [burden] was that hed been forced to do this. His father had told him, Youre on your own if you marry this woman and have this child. Those meetings, Richard says, were healing for all of us. But the life he recalls as a swirl of hedonism and drifting continued. The furthest thing from my mind was settling down, having a family. Then 9/11 happened, and Richard felt a pall drop over New York. He made some half-hearted attempts to stop using alcohol and drugs. In 2002, he learned he was HIV-positive. I thought that was a coffin-closer for ever being a parent. I thought no one would ever love me. The diagnosis spurred a turnaround: He began a 12-step program, secured his architects license, began to play guitar in a band called Sideways Revolt. He found new friends. Bit by bit, I started to rebuild my life. He also developed a new spiritual outlook that regards setbacks as opportunities. One door closes, and another one opens, Richard likes to say. So in 2016, when he lost a high-paid job at a New York architecture firm just a month after buying a dream cottage on seven acres in the Hudson Valley, he decided it was a sign: time to finally flee Manhattan. Richard put his Chelsea apartment on the market and considered what he would do with the windfall when it sold. The thought came up: This is how you can become a dad. He began asking friends about adoption, about donor eggs and surrogacy. He learned that HIV-positive men could become biological fathers, as long as their sperm samples were tested and shown to be negative for infectious agents. It took a global village: a surrogacy agency in Boston, the LGBT community center in New York, a fertility clinic in San Diego, an international organization called Men Having Babies. I wanted to have a biological child. And I was on the fast track, mostly because of my age. Through the San Diego clinic, he found an egg donor and flew there in spring 2017 to leave sperm samples for testing. I wanted to see myself reflected in my child, Richard says, so he picked a donor whose fair hair and English heritage chimed with his own. She sounded like someone who tried to see both sides of an issue, someone who was trying to bring people together. Meanwhile, he made a video for the Boston agency to show prospective surrogates, and in December of that year, he was matched with a woman in Colorado. The first embryo transfer Richard flew to San Diego for that one didnt work. The second time, he watched the procedure via Skype. I remember the doctor saying, Weve got it this time. And he was right. During the pregnancy, Richard and the surrogate spoke weekly, sharing pregnancy news the fetus size, the ultrasounds, the first audible heartbeat while learning about each others families, habits, and spiritual beliefs. They also shared alarm when doctors became concerned about the babys development and tested him for a range of skeletal conditions and chromosomal abnormalities. When Richard got a call Im going to the hospital! at week 32 of the pregnancy, he panicked. I thought my dream was dying, some kind of cosmic cruel joke. But the dream survived. Friends at the Greater Philadelphia Center for Spiritual Living held a prayer circle the night before Richard flew to Colorado. He landed on the day Henrik was born. Hed already decided to ask the surrogate and her husband to be his sons godparents. The egg donor had also agreed to surrender anonymity after the baby was born; she and her family will visit next month. Thirty years from now, Ill be 83, Richard says, and Ill have done my job, to place all these people in his life. He even enfolded that kinship into the babys name Shaun for Shaundra, the surrogate. Carey is the maiden name of Richards biological fathers mother. This is a dream that came from a spiritual place, Richard says. My HIV status was instrumental in me becoming a dad. If not for that, I would have continued with my addiction and probably died of it. A door closes. A door inches open. The first time Richard saw his son, the infant was in an incubator this tiny little thing, with all these things taped to him. A little cap on. It was a miracle: This boys here. Of course, then the journey begins. Girls from the Yeshiva School of Pittsburgh gather to sing and pray at the memorial outiside of the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh last October. The memorial was for the 11 people that were killed at the shooting the synagogue. Read more As mayors of the commonwealths two largest cities, representing more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians, we unequivocally oppose Senate Bill 531 which is being considered in the Pennsylvania State Senate. This bill would preempt local jurisdictions from enacting sensible laws to protect their residents from deadly firearms. It gives the gun lobby the ability to sue local governments for their own financial benefit whenever they do not like a local gun law. Further, it would allow the gun lobby to force taxpayers to cover their legal fees, even if cities won in court. Now more than ever we need uniform laws at the state and federal levels to protect Pennsylvanians and all Americans. In absence of this, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other localities have no choice but to pass and enforce laws that protect our residents. We refuse to stand by as our children are put through active-shooter training, our parents and grandparents cannot safely enter houses of worship, and people of all ages are taken from us too soon because some legislators refuse to stand up to the gun lobby. Laws should not be written by and on behalf of the gun manufacturing industry, and strictly for their profit. This is not normal, and we cannot accept it. In Philadelphia, while overall violent crime is down, the 351 homicides and 1,403 shootings in 2018 the most in the last decade represent a distressing increase in gun violence. The challenges in Philadelphia are very different than gun violence in many other parts of Pennsylvania, which is why Philadelphia requires different solutions. The City of Philadelphia and its partners are implementing a new comprehensive violence-prevention strategy to the tune of $31 million in local funding. These efforts will not be successful, however, if we do not address the far too easy access actors have to firearms. Our solutions must include the ability to draft and enforce gun laws that specifically address Philadelphias unique challenges. While homicides have been trending downward in Pittsburgh the past five years, the impact of weekly killings on our streets and weight of innocent lives stolen cannot be forgotten. The murders of 11 people at the Tree of Life synagogue in October the largest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history again show that efforts to stop ongoing gun massacres are not working. There is no reason assault rifles, armor-piercing bullets, and other materials designed only to kill should be used in urban environments, whether on city street corners, places of worship, or anywhere our residents rightly deserve to feel safe. That is why Pittsburgh approved commonsense bills to disallow the use of such materials and adopt Extreme Risk Protection Orders, in which families and law enforcement can seek court approval to take firearms from those who may hurt themselves or others. At the federal, state, and local levels, the drafters of the U.S. Constitution, Pennsylvania Constitution, and the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Home Rule Charters understood that certain issues could not be addressed by a one-size-fits-all solution. This is why each of these documents bestow certain powers upon the government that is closest to the issue and more adequately equipped to solve it. Instead of saving lives and preventing future tragedies, this bill would make it more difficult to address guns and ammunition. Therefore, we urge members of the General Assembly to oppose SB 531 and address the proliferation of both legal and illegal guns in Pennsylvania. In absence of any such action, at least provide local leaders with the ability to solve their challenges. If federal and state lawmakers wont take a stand to stop gun massacres, dont tie the hands of those who will. Jim Kenney is mayor of Philadelphia. William Peduto is mayor of Pittsburgh. Diane Smith, aunt of Shantee Tucker, holds up a poster in remembrance of Tucker during the eighth annual Philly Trans March in Center City Philadelphia on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018. Tucker was a trans woman killed near Hunting Park in September. Read more Last Sunday at 5 a.m., a trans woman named Michelle Washington who also went by Tamika was found shot in the head and left for dead in North Philadelphia. Coming just a day after another trans woman, Muhlaysia Booker, was found shot and killed in Dallas, this homicide marked the fifth trans woman violently killed in the United States this year. Last year, we lost more than two dozen trans women to violence. More than half of those women were African American, and this year, all five recorded trans victims of homicide are African American women as well. In April, a video surfaced in which a man named Edward Thomas savagely beat Booker until she was unconscious, while a crowd of people watched and other men joined. Eventually a group of women intervened and pulled her to safety, possibly saving her life at that moment. But a month later, the same woman would be found dead due to homicidal violence, without a suspect identified. With two trans women of color found dead within 24 hours in different parts of the country, and 2018 being one of the deadliest years on record for trans women especially black and Latino trans women its past time we address this violence. This includes adding measures to combat anti-trans violence to the top of the page on progressive agendas. In particular, we need to end shoddy legal defenses used to justify this violence. READ MORE: Trans woman killed Sunday identified as Tamika Michelle Washington, a community advocate The gay and trans panic defense is a legal strategy which asks a jury to find that a victims sexual orientation or gender identity is to blame for the defendants violent reaction, including murder, as the National LGBT Bar Association defines it. This strategy can include arguments that the gay or trans victim of violence made a sexual advance that caused panic in the attacker, or that the victims identity was reasonably viewed as threatening by the attacker, who then acted in self-defense. These defenses may even be employed when the attacker and the victim had a prior relationship, and the attacker wants to claim that they were tricked regarding the victims identity. These arguments wrongly suggest that gay or trans identities pose an inherent safety risk, and that violence against LGBTQ people is justifiable simply when another person objects to their identities. Such an excuse for violence is flat-out wrong yet it succeeds in some cases, reducing the sentences of those who commit hate crimes. This defense was put forth to justify, for example, the 1998 beating and killing of 21-year-old Matthew Shepard in Wyoming. In recent years, lawmakers have pushed back against this line of defense. Here in Pennsylvania, State Rep. Michael Schlossberg (D., Lehigh) introduced a bill addressing gay and trans panic defense, but the bill didnt make it out of the Judiciary Committee. In July of last year, State Sen. Larry Farnese (D., Philadelphia) began to lobby his colleagues to pass similar legislation, but we have yet to have anything for the governor to sign. Pennsylvania which still does not include LGBTQ people in its laws protecting against hate crimes needs to step up on this issue. Its time to start protecting women like Michelle Washington, and like Shantee Tucker, a 30-year-old black trans woman shot and killed in Philadelphia last year. Those are two lives we cannot bring back. But we can do more for the trans community in the future. Michael Cogbill is a former organizer for CeasefirePA and the founder of North Philadelphia Policy Institute. Supporters reach out to Lega leader Matteo Salvini during a rally in Milan, ahead of the European parliamentary elections. Read more MILAN, Italy Talk of a reemergence of neo-fascism is rampant in Europe. So I went to Milan last weekend to watch a rally in which the countrys most powerful political figure, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, was promoting a pan-European alliance of far-right parties, joined on stage by nationalist leaders from a dozen European countries. They are hoping to win enough seats in elections to the European Parliament May 23-26 to be able to dismantle the European Union from the inside. First, however, I felt compelled to visit Piazzale Loreto. Now, its a busy, traffic circle surrounded by fast-food joints, but in April 1945, it is where the dead bodies of Benito Mussolini and his mistress Claretta Petacci were hung upside down from a girder above an Esso station. Where the gas station once stood. there is no plaque memorializing the fascists demise, only the golden arches of a sleazy McDonalds. Yet there is something fitting about banality replacing horror there. While far-right parties are making gains all over Europe, it is far too facile to apply the label fascist. So far, most of these new parties, including Salvinis Lega, appear more interested in gaining power and positions within their political systems (and within the European Unions bureaucracy) rather than tearing them down. As for the threat of a Europe-wide far-right juggernaut, the Milan rally made clear how hard it is for nationalists to form an internationale. Held in pouring rain in the main city square next to the magnificent Duomo (cathedral), the rally was billed as an international event that would change history. There were a few French flags flying, but nearly all banners were from Salvinis Lega party. Missing from the stage were paragons of the European far right: Hungarys President Viktor Orban, who promotes so-called illiberal democracy that seeks to dismantle democratic institutions. But he apparently prefers to remain part of the current political groupings in the European Parliament rather than join up with his pal Salvini. Nor were Polish right-wingers there, because they despise Russia, which Salvini and Orban admire. Also missing was Nigel Farage, whose new Brexit party is expected to win the Parliament vote in Britain. But Farage is a one-issue politician and will withdraw his European MPs once London finally leaves the E.U. Even Frances indomitable nationalist Marine Le Pen, the only significant far-right leader on stage, whose National Rally party is neck and neck with the En Marche party of President Emmanuel Macron, was an uncomfortable fit on stage beside Salvini. Le Pen sonorously denounced the European Union that blows on Europe the bad winds of the wild globalization. But, coming from a country that officially separates church and state, she must have cringed when Salvini ended the rally by praising a litany of Catholic saints and held up a white rosary, calling on the heart of the Immaculate Virgin to bring us to victory." Moreover, no one expects her to ever to become French president because the Le Pen name is tarred with Nazi complicity in World War II. And by the way, someone else interesting was missing: Trumps former strategic adviser Steve Bannon. Bannon stood by Salvini last year and claimed he would godfather the pan-European rightist movement. Bannon has failed in his attempt to unify the far right in Europe, I was told by Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial board editor of Le Monde. They dont want to be led by an American. Even Marine Le Pen denied he was an adviser. In recent days, Bannon was reduced to holing up in a 2500-euros-a-night hotel at the Hotel Bristol in Paris, giving interviews to the French press. In sum, while individual far-right parties will gain seats, and may agree on some issues, a grandiose movement is unlikely. And Salvinis political coalition in Italy is extremely shaky. Which brings me to the main message: Salvinis popularity rests not on any clear ideology, fascist or otherwise, but on his populist ability to convince his supporters that they are being cheated and he is the only one that cares. They forgot you. They made fun of you. They voted against you, he shouted to his supporters at the end of the rally. In comments I heard repeatedly in Duomo Square, an elderly couple from Genoa wearing Salvini/Lega buttons, told me, We dont feel abandoned because he is honest and fair. As a clever politician, Salvini is trying to play on those feelings prevalent from Rome to Paris to London to Peoria that centrist politicians have abandoned their voters in an era where everything is changing too fast. As I heard in Milan, in conversations in Paris, and in a huge Farage rally in London, that dissatisfaction occurs on both left and right. The leaders that address it will be successful. However, Italy is not Hungary, and Salvini is not a Mussolini, says Beppe Severgnini, editorial writer and editor at Corriere della Sera. Salvini, he says cannot easily disassemble Italys peculiar democracy. Nor will it be easy for anyone to form a grand European coalition of the far right. For a year, Assistant District Attorney William Fritze poured over the unsolved shootings in a South Philly gang war, treating a string of seemingly endless shootings as one big case. Read more The list arrived on prosecutor William Fritzes desk last winter. Dozens of shootings in South and Southwest Philadelphia, color-coded by gang, each one an unsolved case in a long, deadly feud. For Fritze, an assistant district attorney for seven years, the list was an assignment one accompanied by the most precious gift afforded a Philadelphia prosecutor: time. Fritze cut his teeth in the churn of violence that courses through Philadelphias busiest courtrooms, where prosecutors rarely get the time to search for connective threads between cases. But that was the job laid out for the Gun Violence Task Force last year, a joint effort among police, the district attorney, and the Attorney Generals Office. Over the next year, Fritze and his colleagues pieced together the story of a neighborhood. Of a group of young men pulled into a shooting war whose latest explosion sparked over a slight toward someones mother on Instagram but whose roots are nearly as old as Fritze. Its a beef between the crews on 27th and 31st Streets in a neighborhood where guns are easier to come by than a job. Where identity is shaped by the block you grew up on. Where image is protected at point of gun. At the height of the conflict last year, there were 43 shootings in 13 months. The blocks where the rival crews hang out, as Fritze would witness on surveillance video, are places where women pushing baby strollers duck for cover from gunmen. Where high schoolers are left paralyzed simply for walking home with the wrong classmates. Where grade schoolers watch teenagers die at their feet at corner stores. Where all this runs the risk of becoming normal. Its the story of a war two miles from Center City. We had people hiding and ducking for cover in their homes every night, Fritze said. He and other prosecutors, like the supervisor of the Gun Violence Task Force, Jude Conroy, and Chief Deputy Attorney General Brendan OMalley, think that treating a string of seemingly endless shootings as one big case, instead of dozens of smaller ones, can help solve the most violent crimes in a neighborhood where many are afraid or unwilling to testify. Poring over old cases, a bigger picture emerged, one thats not always apparent in the day-to-day work of an overtaxed prosecutor. It was clear there were two small groups going back and forth creating all the violence, Fritze said. Fritze, 39, reserved but steely, grew up on a farm in Michigan. He came to Philly for a taste of city life, and landed a job as a victim advocate. Thats where he first saw the churn of the courtrooms. It didnt feel like justice. He got his law degree at night, and soon found himself being a prosecutor in that system. The task force targeted the worst offenders and cases they could prosecute using thinner cold cases for context. In March, they charged eight people in several shootings, including the 2017 murder of Nasir Livingston, a 17-year-old ambushed in a Chinese takeout. Fritze is preparing for a pretrial hearing next week. In the absence of witnesses, silent witnesses ballistic evidence, cell phone records, social media, and surveillance footage became critical. Beat cops and even brass, like Chief Inspector Joel Dales, provided front-line intelligence. Dales, a quiet, forceful presence, commands the southern half of the city. His father, a police officer before him, taught him that to earn respect from the neighborhoods you serve, you have to give respect. Thats the attitude Dales took with him into the living rooms of the kids caught up in the war. They could be his own sons, he said. On his visits, Dales offered help and a stern reminder: Three things are going to happen if you dont change what youre doing. Youre going to wind up dead. Or locked up. Or paralyzed." Some of the young people had heard it so often they could recite it. Sometimes, he would be met with a chilling reminder of his own. Like when worried parents would say they understood why their children carried a gun. It was their best protection. Thats how you feel when your neighborhoods at war. And thats what Fritze and Dales hope we will all pay attention to: the weight of the violence on our neighborhoods and the trauma that imparts. The bigger picture. For a month after the arrests, there were no shootings. And a neighborhood got the kind of respite it is rarely afforded. But there have been new shootings lately and a new list forms for Bill Fritze. Eight years ago, a federal judge heard testimony in the case of Terrance Lewis, who was a 17-year-old kid on the sticky-hot night in August 1996 when Hulon Bernard Howard was shot dead in his own home in West Philadelphia. The judge heard from a woman who had been out on the street that evening, who said that she saw the three men who went into Howard's house just before he was killed, and that Lewis wasn't one of them. The judge also heard Lewis' codefendant insist that Lewis was not there. "The court found the testimony of these witnesses to be credible, hence, the court believes that Petitioner is innocent," U.S. Magistrate Judge Carol Moore Wells wrote in her report. Then she continued, saying there was nothing she could do. For procedural reasons, Lewis' petition was denied. Lewis, serving a life sentence for second-degree murder, read the opinion in his prison cell in central Pennsylvania with a riot of conflicting emotions. "The great part was, somebody finally believed me," he said. "The sad part was, I still got to die in jail." But Lewis is -- depending on your perspective -- either an incredibly unlucky man or an extraordinarily lucky one. Unlucky to be charged with a crime he says he did not commit, to be tried as an adult in a state where life means life, to be appointed a lawyer who apparently never investigated his case. Lucky, because he keeps encountering more people who were out on the block that evening and are willing to testify that he wasn't there. And lucky, because he is on the right side of a U.S. Supreme Court decision that found sentences like his to be illegal. Lewis is one of more than 300 juvenile lifers from Philadelphia -- the largest such population in the country -- being resentenced after the court banned automatic life-without-parole sentences for juveniles in 2012, and then in 2016 ordered that the rule be applied retroactively. So far, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office has taken a conservative approach to these cases, often making offers of 35 years to life. But after 19 years in prison for a crime he says he did not commit, Lewis is hoping for a different sentence: time served. A year ago, his pro bono legal team, David Laigaie, Kevin Harden, and Joshua Hill of Eckert Seamans, wrote to the District Attorney's Office. They asked prosecutors to review his case -- the weak evidence that got him locked up, the witnesses who say he's innocent, his shining record in prison -- and consider a deal that would let Lewis walk free. They received no response. The law is arguably not on their side. Kathryn Streeter-Lewis, the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge overseeing juvenile-lifer resentencings, said those hearings are not the appropriate venue to argue innocence claims. Prosecutors and the court both say those claims should be argued separately, before resentencing. "Sentencing is premised on the defendant having been found guilty of the offense," said Cameron Kline, a spokesman for the district attorney. Still, Lewis remains hopeful. When the city's next district attorney is elected in November, he figures there's a chance that person could take a close look at his case and act on conscience. Instead of taking a hard line on resentencing, they could cut him a deal that would set him free. Lewis is not the only juvenile lifer claiming innocence. There are at least half a dozen in Philadelphia alone who have made such claims. Now, they will have to choose between seeking a new sentence, which could get them released immediately but keep them on parole for life, or pursuing exoneration, which could take years and is far from certain. One is Shaurn Thomas, who has been serving a life sentence since 1994 for his part in a 1990 murder in North Philadelphia that took place while Thomas was at juvenile court in Center City, according to his lawyers. His resentencing is on hold while his case is being appealed to Superior Court. On the other hand, there's Kevin Brinkley, who has been in prison four decades for a murder his family has always insisted his younger brother, Ronald, committed. In June, Brinkley is scheduled to accept a deal that will make him immediately eligible for release from prison -- but will keep him on parole for life. Likewise, Giovanni Reid, convicted of participating in the 1991 robbery and shooting of a Penn student, Robert Janke, has accepted an offer of 25 years to life. Reid had always envisioned he would walk out of jail exonerated; he has long claimed he was merely present the night Janke was killed, but not involved in the crime. His appeals were unsuccessful. At his resentencing in April, he avoided the topic of his innocence. Instead he expressed remorse for even being present that night and for the senseless loss of life that occurred. Reid is now eligible for parole. Still, going before a parole board is no guarantee of release -- and it feels particularly uncertain for those who refuse to express remorse for their crimes. "Remorse is a factor that we don't know how it's weighed," said Hayes Hunt, a lawyer with Cozen O'Connor. "We don't know the math of how the parole board makes decisions." Hunt represented Tyrone Jones, who served 43 years for a gang-related execution in North Philadelphia in which he always denied participating. In June 2016, Jones accepted a new sentence of 35 years to life and was released on parole. But maintaining his innocence before the parole board "felt like a risk" at the time, Hunt said. Now, Brinkley's family -- a tight-knit group that holds regular meetings to brainstorm how to support him -- worry that any minor incident could tip the scales of the parole board. Greg Brinkley, his uncle, said though Brinkley hadn't had a write-up in 25 years, he recently spent time in solitary confinement. Brinkley had previously had a single cell, a privilege earned over decades. Then, they gave him a roommate. "He refused to go into a double cell with somebody, so they put him in the hole," Greg Brinkley said. Kevin Brinkley's nephew, James Cade, worries for his uncle. "He's depressed. He lost a lot of faith," he said. "1977 and 2017 is two different worlds. I worry about how he'll handle himself out here." Even if Brinkley does get out, Cade said, that isn't the same as being exonerated. "We're appreciative he's coming home, but that don't help the fact that he's still looked at as a murderer." That's the problem Lewis has long grappled with. He had trouble presenting a defense in the first place -- in part because he was arrested more than a year after Howard was killed. By then, he couldn't remember where he was the night of the crime. He didn't get much help from his lawyer, who met with him just twice before the trial, and apparently never investigated the case. (He retired from practice with a disability a few years later. Eventually, he would sign an affidavit saying his work was substandard.) Lewis said he didn't know Howard, an addict who let drug dealers conduct business from his home on the 6100 block of Sansom Street. He was identified at trial by a single witness, who also named the gunman, Jimel Lawson, and another teen, Jehmar Gladden, who had been a friend of Lewis' from childhood. The witness admitted using crack just before the murder. Yet all three were convicted on her testimony. Lewis filed a series of appeals -- and caught his first lucky break. His sister was at a bar when she got to talking with a woman, Kizzi Baker, who happened to be standing on the corner, about 10 houses down, the night Howard was shot. She knew Lewis from the neighborhood (by his nickname, "Stink"), and could confirm he was not one of the perpetrators. In 2009, his case landed in federal court. That's when the judge concluded he was probably innocent -- but couldn't release him. Then, a childhood friend, Danielle Johnson, reappeared in his life. She ran a prison van service, and was going through her own difficult time. She wanted to reconnect with Lewis, who'd been her first love. The social call had an unexpected side-effect: After Johnson posted a photo of her and Lewis together on Facebook, a former classmate, Horace Timmons, contacted her. Timmons, now 37 and a tax preparer, had been shooting dice that night, on the corner of 61st and Sansom. "When I started reading on Facebook about what he was locked up for, I realized: Wow, he's actually in there for that?" Timmons said. "He wasn't even around there." Timmons also knew two more witnesses who would come forward to say the same thing. Lewis' lawyers have filed updated post-conviction relief petitions based on those new witnesses. "But there is no particular established timeline for those petitions [to move forward]. They just take forever," Laigaie said. "We believe at the end of a long and tortured legal process, we could ultimately get him exonerated. But Terrance's life is passing by, and who knows how many years it could take." That's why he wrote that long-shot letter to the district attorney in April 2016. "The District Attorney's Office could show a good-faith application of the law, as well as a progressive view to fixing this problem of juveniles who just got warehoused for life." Lewis knows one thing: If the DA offers him a standard deal -- 30 years to life, since his is a second-degree-murder case -- he's not taking it. "I'm immune to this now. I'm desperate, but I'm stubborn," he said. He has plans for what's next -- to get a job as a long-distance trucker, to care for his mother, who has cancer, and for the five kids who were left behind when his sister died of a drug overdose. He also wants to spend time with his son, Zahaire Lewis, 19, a freshman at Bloomsburg University studying business management. They're already close, Zahaire said. "Although he's been incarcerated for my entire life, there's never been a time he wasn't around." Photos from their biannual visits, though, serve as time-lapse image of lost years: Lewis unchanging in his prison garb, as Zahaire transforms from toddler to child, to awkward teenager, to grown man. Zahaire only recently learned the details of his father's case. "I'm disappointed in the system," he said. "He couldn't be there for my graduation, my other great accomplishments. There's so much they took from me." Zahaire's about as old now as Lewis was when he was convicted. Lewis said he used to worry that his son might somehow meet the same fate as him. I have recently stopped having that fear, because of me believing in God, Lewis said. I experienced all the trials and suffering and pain, so perhaps my son wont be subject to them. Jamie Gauthier with family member at her watch party at Bookers Restaurant in West Philadelphia. Read more Jamie Gauthier, a political newcomer who built a grassroots campaign, upset longtime Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell on Tuesday, ending a 45-year reign of representation by Blackwells family in West Philadelphia. With more than 96.6 percent of the votes counted, Gauthier held a more than 2,800-vote lead in the Democratic primary, according to unofficial returns. I feel so excited and thrilled, this is a victory for the people of the 3rd District, she said. "They overwhelmingly voted for change. Blackwell didnt concede or give a speech to supporters at a results-watch party. Instead, she walked out around 11 p.m. hugging and shaking hands with supporters and saying, See ya. Thanks, everybody. A reporter asked her whether she had anything to say, and she said: No, Im going home. The former head of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, Gauthier campaigned on the need for change in the district and a better balance of development and gentrification in the changing neighborhoods surrounding University City. >> ANALYSIS: Philly primary shows the power and limitations of incumbency in citys politics Gauthier also out-fundraised Blackwell early in the race and benefited from the backing of Philadelphia 3.0, a political action committee that spent hundreds of thousands mailing fliers around the district on her behalf. The endorsement was somewhat controversial, because Philadelphia 3.0, which has a nonprofit, did not legally have to disclose all of its donors. Blackwell was a West Philadelphia institution who took over the seat from her husband, Lucien Blackwell, when he went to Congress. She had not faced many credible challengers since her election in 1992. The 3rd District has also changed in that span, seeing a six-percent growth in population over the last decade and brisk development in neighborhoods west and southwest of University City. >> READ MORE: Maria Quinones-Sanchez claims victory in District 7 City Council primary election Gauthier, an urban planner with a masters degree from Penn, hoped to capitalize on that shift in the district, On Tuesday, Pam Kane, 56, a midwife who had not been inspired to volunteer for a candidate since President Obama, handed out literature for Gauthier, who she also voted for. For me, its the commitment to open, honest government, she said. The whole councilmanic prerogative thing has got to change. I dont see how you can have a city that as a whole has rational development, if each ward has control over its own little fiefdom. Not to mention the corruption. Just then, Gauthier herself walked up to shake hands and cast her own vote. She said, voters were energized by opportunity to make a choice, for the first time in a long time. >> READ MORE: In a changing district, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson easily wins Democratic nomination We have talked to voters all over the district. No matter what neighborhood Ive been in Ive heard the same thing: People are ready for a change. Today, I hope those people who said they want change come out. Gauthier said she understood voters concerns about the money powering her race, but that it was necessary within the current campaign finance structure and wont compromise her independence. Its difficult to take on a longtime, entrenched incumbent, and Ive built a large base of support to help me do that, Gauthier said. Ive been building support among people who are willing to support my agenda. I was clear with the public about my agenda. Gauthiers nomination all but ensures her election in November. No Republican candidate ran in the district. Staff writer Samantha Melamed contributed to this article. Incumbent Lisa Deeley and Omar Sabir appear to have won the Democratic nomination to be city commissioners, running Phillys elections. Read more Lisa Deeley and Omar Sabir have won the race to become two of Philadelphias three top elections officials. With 97 percent of precincts reporting results shortly after 11 p.m. Deeley and Sabir were leading and all but certain to win the two Democratic seats for Philadelphia city commissioner. They are all but assured of winning in November to become the citys top elections officials. It was a victory for the party establishment, with the Philadelphia Democratic Party endorsing both candidates amid a larger field than the city has seen in decades and criticism of the office and Deeley, the incumbent. Were happy to say that the voters of Philadelphia have spoken, and they gave me another four years, said Deeley, with 21 percent of the vote. I have a new partner in Omar, and I look forward to four great years. Were going to work together, were going to do great stuff, and Im sure Omars gonna bring a lot of great ideas to the table. Sabir agreed, saying he was excited to work with Deeley, especially on expanding community outreach to increase voter turnout. >> READ MORE: Blackwell political dynasty falls in West Philly, but incumbents dominate other City Council district races Im ecstatic right now, said Sabir, with about 24 percent of the vote, before referring to his ballot number: They pushed 35 and felt alive! Kahlil Williams, a well-funded challenger who was nevertheless the underdog after the city endorsed Deeley and Sabir, had about 16 percent of the vote. Once Sabir joins Deeley in office in January, they will be almost immediately put to work earning their salaries of more than $130,000 a year. (Deeley, as the current chair, receives an additional $10,000.) On top of the usual work running elections, such as registering voters, training poll workers, and certifying election results, the commissioners will be responding to the roll-out of new voting machines this November and preparing for the April 2020 presidential primary and November 2020 presidential general election. >> READ MORE: Jim Kenney wins Democratic mayoral primary We need to get this right because we have an important election coming up in 2020, Sabir said. While their work is fundamentally important, the commissioners have in the past not drawn much attention. But the office has been in the spotlight in recent years; one commissioner, Anthony Clark, has drawn sharp criticism for not showing up to work, while the other two, Deeley and Al Schmidt, have been accused of rushing a biased selection process when they chose new voting machines earlier this year. (Clark is retiring.) A group of advocates for hand-marked paper ballots had vocally opposed Deeleys reelection, and the other candidates agreed, criticizing the decision to purchase new touchscreen machines. >> READ MORE: In Montgomery County, some voters concerned by new paper ballots Schmidt, the Republican, was unopposed in todays primary and can be challenged by an independent or third-party candidate in November. No party can win more than two seats, which in effect means Democrats take two seats and a Republican wins the third. This year, 13 Democrats ran for the two seats, making it the largest number of candidates in decades. The resulting jolt of energy to a traditionally sleepy race meant candidates were campaigning in ways they never had to before including taking to television for what appears to be the first time. Williams campaign reached into its deep pockets to put TV ads out two weeks before the election, and Deeleys campaign followed. >> READ MORE: Rochelle Bilal wins primary election for Philadelphia sheriff in upset of Jewell Williams Sabir, who lost a commissioner bid in 2015, is the brother of Ryan Boyer, the head of the powerful Laborers District Council union. Deeley is in her first term as commissioner. Previously, she worked as a top aide to Alan Butkovitz when he was in the state House of Representatives and later, as City Controller. She worked for Bobby Henon in City Council before winning the city commissioners election in 2015. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Endeavour Silver Corp. (NYSE: EXK; TSX: EDR) reports multiple high-grade silver-gold intersections in the Plateros and San Miguel veins from the 2019 drill program at the Bolanitos mine in Guanajuato, Mexico. A total of 19 holes were drilled to mid-April, of which 12 holes intersected high grades over mineable widths and an additional 4 holes intersected old mine workings (view longitudinal sections for Plateros and San Miguel here ). Drilling highlights in the San Miguel vein just north of the Bolanitos plant include 58 grams per tonne (gpt) silver and 22.1 gpt gold for 1827 gpt silver equivalent (Ag Eq calculated at an 80:1 Au:Ag ratio) over a 3.5 metre (m) true width (53.3 oz per short ton (opT) AgEq over 11.5 feet (ft) in hole MG-10). New high-grade vein mineralization has now been delineated over a 250 m length by 130 m depth below and northwest of the old San Miguel mine workings, still open to the northwest. Drilling highlights in the Plateros vein just west of the Bolanitos plant include 108 gpt silver and 4.25 gpt gold for 448 gpt Ag Eq over a 2.3 m true width (13.1 opT AgEq over 7.5 feet (ft) in hole PLU-20). New high-grade vein mineralization has now been delineated over a 250 m length by 120 m depth below the Plateros mine workings where Endeavour is currently mining, still open at depth and to the southeast. Bradford Cooke, Endeavour Director and CEO, commented, We continue to be encouraged by our positive exploration results at Bolanitos. Recent drilling has extended high grade silver-gold mineralization in both the Plateros and San Miguel veins, which should help to replace reserves, increase resources and extend the mine life at Bolanitos. Our operations group are nearing resolutions to the elevated arsenic in certain ores and reduced equipment availabilities, both of which put mine development and production behind schedule in Q1 2019. We plan to provide a full operational review for shareholders late this month. Drilling highlights are summarized in the following table of drill results. Hole Structure From True width Au Ag AgEq (m) (m) (gpt) (gpt) (gpt) PLU-15 Plateros PL3 114.50 1.5 3.25 31 291 Including 115.5 0.5 4.68 65 439 PLU-17 Plateros PL1 99.50 1.5 2.14 283 454 Including 99.50 0.2 7.60 1295 1,903 PLU-18 Plateros PL2 128.00 3.1 2.76 5 226 Including 128.00 0.2 6.13 8 499 PLU-20 Plateros PL1 145.15 2.3 4.25 108 448 Including 146.30 0.3 18.30 348 1,812 Plateros PL2 155.85 2.1 3.23 95 353 Including 160.50 0.1 9.18 153 887 Plateros PL3 168.60 3.0 4.42 48 402 Including 170.10 0.4 14.25 219 1,359 PLU-21 Plateros PL3 168.95 1.7 3.33 8 275 Including 168.95 0.3 6.64 14 545 PLU-22 Plateros PL2 137.05 3.3 3.45 6 282 Including 137.40 0.4 4.82 11 397 PLU-23 Plateros PL1 163.55 2.2 4.26 15 355 Including 164.00 0.4 4.19 31 366 PLU-24 Plateros PL1 131.70 0.9 3.19 2 257 Including 132.75 0.4 6.43 3 517 MG-10 San Miguel 167.50 3.5 22.12 58 1,827 Including 168.10 0.3 78.80 193 6,497 MG-11 HW San Miguel 74.05 1.3 2.88 212 443 Including 75.40 0.3 8.57 718 1,404 MG-12 San Miguel 80.10 0.9 4.63 34 404 Including 81.25 0.4 6.61 39 567 MG-13 San Miguel 145.05 3.0 3.35 11 278 Including 145.45 0.4 9.54 21 784 Silver equivalents are calculated at a ratio of 80:1 silver: gold. All widths are estimated true widths. Qualified Person and QA/ QC Godfrey Walton, M.Sc., P.Geo., Endeavours President and COO, is the Qualified Person who reviewed and approved this news release and supervised the drilling programs in Mexico. A Quality Control sampling program of reference standards, blanks and duplicates is used to monitor the integrity of all assay results. All samples are split at the local field office and shipped to ALS-Chemex Labs, where they are dried, crushed, split and 50 gram pulp samples are prepared for analysis. Gold is determined by fire assay with an atomic absorption (AA) finish and silver by aqua regia digestion and ICP finish, over-limits by fire assay and gravimetric finish. About Endeavour Endeavour Silver Corp. is a mid-tier precious metals mining company that owns and operates four high-grade, underground, silver-gold mines in Mexico. Endeavour is currently advancing the Terronera mine project towards a development decision and exploring its portfolio of exploration and development projects in Mexico and Chile to facilitate its goal to become a premier senior silver producer. Our philosophy of corporate social integrity creates value for all stakeholders. SOURCE Endeavour Silver Corp. Contact Information - For more information, please contact: Galina Meleger, Director, Investor Relations Toll free: (877) 685-9775 Tel: (604) 640-4804 Fax: (604) 685-9744 Email: gmeleger@edrsilver.com Website: www.edrsilver.com Follow Endeavour Silver on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram and LinkedIn Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States private securities litigation reform act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forwardlooking statements and information herein include but are not limited to statements regarding Endeavours anticipated performance in 2019 including changes in mining and operations and the timing and results of various activities. The Company does not intend to, and does not assume any obligation to, update such forward-looking statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Endeavour and its operations to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Such factors include, among others, changes in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments in Canada and Mexico; financial risks due to precious metals prices, operating or technical difficulties in mineral exploration, development and mining activities; risks and hazards of mineral exploration, development and mining; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, risks in obtaining necessary licenses and permits, and challenges to the Companys title to properties; as well as those factors described in the section risk factors contained in the Companys most recent form 40F/Annual Information Form filed with the S.E.C. and Canadian securities regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions management believes to be reasonable, including but not limited to: the continued operation of the Companys mining operations, no material adverse change in the market price of commodities, mines will operate and the mining products will be completed in accordance with managements expectations and achieve their stated production outcomes, and such other assumptions and factors as set out herein. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. There can be no assurance that any forward-looking statements or information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. 7th District City Council member Maria Quinones-Sanchez, hugs her mother Bienvenida Neris at her victory party at the Makumba Night Club on Castor Avenue in Frankfort. Quinones-Sanchez beat State Rep. Angel Cruz in the primary. Read more Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez declared victory in a tight race for the 7th district Tuesday, appearing to have fended off a close primary election challenge by state Rep. Angel Cruz and district ward leaders seeking to to unseat her. Quinones-Sanchez was winning by 500 votes around 10 p.m. when she thanked supporters at a celebratory event in the Northeast. Seventy-eight absentee votes had yet to be counted. If her lead holds, she would likely win in November given no Republican challenger. After entering her election party to cheers of Maria and hugs, Quinones-Sanchez told supporters, I want to thank God because there was a lot of negativity in this campaign. When people say that the party is not with me, that is not true. Because the people are the party, she said. She thanked everyone who supported her campaign and told them they were more powerful than any force, Particularly any mean evil-spirited force. Its hard to debate someone who doesnt talk about policy, Quinones-Sanchez said. It almost sounds as if I was running against a Latino Trump. >> READ MORE: Jamie Gauthier ousts Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell in City Council 3rd District Cruz did not respond to requests for comment and had not officially conceded as of late Tuesday. The race was tense from the outset, with Cruz calling Quinones-Sanchez a bully who couldnt get along with others in the district and Quinones-Sanchez describing him and his allies as corrupt remnants of the weakened Democratic machine. Four years ago, she had accused Cruz and ward leader Carlos Matos of voter fraud when Manny Morales unsuccessfully ran against her. Quinones-Sanchez and Cruz did not differ much on key issues both support sanctuary cities and oppose Mayor Jim Kenneys so-called soda tax, as well as a supervised injection site in the district. >> READ MORE: In a changing district, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson easily wins Democratic nomination But supporters at the polls Tuesday, said Quinones-Sanchez had proven herself over three terms. Naomi Wildflower, 31, who supports the soda tax and calls for a supervised-injection site, said she was not a huge fan of Quinones-Sanchez, but still voted for her. Ultimately, shes supportive of sanctuary cities and Prevention Point, the nonprofit that runs the citys only needle exchange, Wildflower said. She said, conversely, Cruz had a pretty awful legislative history." Yvonne Torres Miranda, 58, said she voted for Quinones-Sanchez but added that she wished the two candidates would do less mudslinging and focus more on the community. They need to learn to work together," she said. Other voters said they chose Quinones-Sanchez because of her track record and handling of constituent issues. >> ANALYSIS: Philly primary shows the power and limitations of incumbency in citys politics Quinones-Sanchez was the first Latina elected to a district seat when she won in 2007. She has won reelection twice without the support of the party and is seen as one of the most independent members of Council, and a possible future mayoral candidate. Shes also been one of Councils most productive. In 12 years, she sponsored small-business tax reform and ushered in programs to help poor residents pay off delinquent taxes and overdue water bills. She also sponsored the creation of the city Land Bank, to more efficiently sell vacant land, though it has been slow to take off. In a city where Council typically votes in lockstep, Quinones-Sanchez was among the few to vote against the soda tax and has been an outspoken critic, recently introducing legislation to potentially repeal it. Her North Philadelphia district has several bottling plants as well as some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city, which reap the benefits of the tax in the form of pre-K programs and renovations to parks and recreation centers. >> READ MORE: The most crowded field in 40 years for Philadelphia primary, but did voters crowd the polls? Cruz had the backing of most ward leaders in the 7th District, who have long feuded with Quinones-Sanchez. He has represented a part of the 7th district in Harrisburg for 20 years and campaigned on the need for a Council person who could work with ward leaders. He vowed, if elected, to give all leaders jobs in his council office. The district, with the highest poverty rate in the city, also has the lowest voter turnout. Quinones-Sanchez had said she feared that Cruz would engage in voter fraud to win the election. A little more than half of the fraud complaints fielded by the Philadelphia District Attorneys Election Fraud Task Force Tuesday about 18 of the 48 were from polling places in the 7th District, according to Cameron Kline, spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office. But nothing surprising in terms of what we usually see, Kline said. Staff writers Tommy Rowan and Jesenia De Moya Correa contributed to this article. >> READ MORE: Voters approve amendments to Philadelphias City Charter Second District Councilman Kenyatta Johnson celebrates with supporters at a hotel in Center City after winning the Democratic primary against lawyer Lauren Vidas. Read more Councilman Kenyatta Johnson on Tuesday shrugged off controversy over his use of a council veto over land sales in his South Philadelphia district to win the Democratic primary in his rapidly-gentrifying turf. With more than 94 percent of the vote counted, Johnson had garnered 60 percent of the votes in a race against Lauren Vidas, a lawyer, lobbyist and civic activist. After his win, Johnson said that if elected this fall he would work to limit the negative aspects of gentrification and to protect longtime residents from being displaced. He also pledged to focus on reducing gun violence. The primary in the Second District pitted Johnson, a two-term incumbent, against a challenger critical of his backing for what is called councilmanic prerogative. Thats the tradition that gives council members a veto over zoning and the sale of city land in their districts. Johnson, 45, said Tuesday night that he sought to use his veto to make sure our constituents have a voice when it comes to development. But he said city housing decisions too often reflect a broken system that he said needs more transparency and ways to reclaim properties if developers dont keep their promises. >> READ MORE: Jim Kenney wins Democratic mayoral primary After conceding Tuesday night, Vidas, 38, said of her opponent: I hope the councilman in the next four years take this as an opportunity to work for the residents of he district instead of for his financial supporters. Johnson has been the subject of a critical news stories spotlighting his use of this clout. In 2016, a federal jury awarded a developer $34,000 in a civil case contending that Johnson had abused his veto power to punish the developer, who was a political foe. Vidas campaign manager, Paul Feingold, said it was tough to unseat an incumbent endorsed by the Democratic organization. "It just goes to show how the establishment, the (Democratic) City Committee and the machine continue to run this city, he said. The sprawling district includes 15 neighborhoods, including South Philadelphia west of Broad Street and all of Southwest Philadelphia. >> READ MORE: Maria Quinones-Sanchez claims victory in District 7 City Council primary election Parts of the district have undergone dramatic gentrification, a process that has drawn in 7,500 new residents in the past decade, a 5 percent increase. In Point Breeze, the scene of the most rapid change, the median housing price soared from about $30,000 in 2000 to $234,000 in 2016. While racial change in the district has been minimal overall, Point Breeze changed from nearly 80 percent African American to 46 percent African American over this period. Vidas moved a decade ago into the Graduate Hospital area, next to Point Breeze, which some said put her into the newcomers camp. However, she said if elected she would work to make sure longtime district residents were not driven out and that development proceeded fairly. >> READ MORE: Jamie Gauthier ousts Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell in City Council 3rd District A lawyer, Vidas has worked as a lobbyist for the soda industry. While a critic of the citys sugared-drink tax, she has said she would not vote to repeal it. Johnson, a supporter of the tax, was born in Point Breeze and made his background a key part of his campaign with his slogan: From Here. For Here. Michael Bradley, an Army veteran and head of the Grays Ferry Civic Association, was unopposed for the Republican nomination. >> ANALYSIS: Philly primary shows the power and limitations of incumbency in citys politics Incumbent Jannie Blackwell says goodbye to supporters after losing the Democratic primary for Philadelphia City Council District 3 on May 21, 2019. Blackwell did not make a speech. Read more Jamie Gauthier, a political newcomer who built a grassroots campaign, upset long-time Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell Tuesday, ending a 45-year reign of Blackwell representation of West Philadelphia. Gauthier, the former head of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, was leading by a significant margin late Tuesday, and Blackwell appeared to concede by her actions shortly before 11 p.m. Blackwell didnt give a speech, but walked out of her watch party hugging and shaking hands with supporters and said, See ya, everybody. See ya. Thanks, everybody. When a reporter asked her whether she had anything to say, she said, No, Im going home. Gauthier had energy behind her campaign and out-raised Blackwell in funds early in the race. She also had the added support of Philadelphia 3.0, an independent political action committee, which circulated thousands of fliers supporting Gauthier and accusing Blackwell of being too cozy with developers and holding the seat for too long. >> READ MORE: Jamie Gauthier ousts Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell in City Council 3rd District There has been a Blackwell in that seat for 44 years. Her now-deceased husband, Lucien, held the seat from 1975 to 1992. I feel so excited and thrilled," Gauthier said. "This is a victory for the people of the 3rd District. They overwhelmingly voted for change. Gauthier will run unopposed in the general election in November. Elsewhere, the results showed the power of incumbency even for one councilman facing a federal indictment. In a year when a near-historic number of candidates ran for at-large Council seats, the field of challengers in the district races was far smaller. At the start of the primary season, all but two district Council members had challengers. But only five mounted enough of a campaign to get all the required signatures to run. Several lost in court after the validity of their signatures was challenged by lawyers working for incumbents, and some new candidates said fund-raising was difficult, with potential donors fearing retaliation. In South Philadelphias 2nd District, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson held off Lauren Vidas, a lawyer and lobbyist from the Graduate Hospital neighborhood who was running as a reformer. Johnson, who lives in Point Breeze and was first elected in 2011, had to overcome accusations that he had abused councilmanic prerogative to steer city-owned land to supporters, but he was able to highlight his roots in the now-gentrifying district. >> READ MORE: In a changing district, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson easily wins Democratic nomination Councilwoman Maria D. Quinones-Sanchez fended off arch-rival Angel Cruz, a longtime state representative, in a heated race for the barrio in the 7th District. She is likely to win in November, given no Republican challenger. The race was tense from the outset, with Cruz calling Quinones-Sanchez a bully who couldnt get along with others in the district, and Quinones-Sanchez describing him and his allies as corrupt remnants of the weakened Democratic machine. Four years ago, she had accused Cruz and ward leader Carlos Matos of voter fraud when Manny Morales unsuccessfully ran against her. Quinones-Sanchez and Cruz did not differ much on key issues both support sanctuary cities and oppose Mayor Jim Kenneys sweetened-beverage tax, as well as a supervised injection site in the district. But supporters at the polls Tuesday said Quinones-Sanchez had proven herself over three terms. >> READ MORE: Maria Quinones-Sanchez claims victory in District 7 City Council primary election In the 1st District, which stretches from South Philadelphia along the Delaware River up to Port Richmond, Councilman Mark Squilla steamrollered Lou Lanni, a former police officer who now works in real estate and ran an antitax campaign. Squilla, first elected in 2011, will face Daniel Orsino in the November general election. Orsino, an orthotics factory worker, secured the Republican nomination without opposition. Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. brushed aside Ronald Adams, a Temple University business school alum who works as an operations manager for an antidrug initiative. Jones has represented the 4th District, which covers portions of Northwest and West Philadelphia, since 2012. He has no Republican opponent in November. Council President Darrell L. Clarke, a longtime aide to former Mayor John F. Street, was first elected in 1999, and was again nominated in the 5th District, centered in North Philadelphia. He was unopposed. Councilman Bobby Henon also didnt face an opponent despite his indictment in January on charges that include bribery, conspiracy, and fraud. Henon, now the majority leader, was first elected in 2011 in Northeast Philadelphias 6th District. The federal indictment alleges that he used his position to benefit Electricians Local 98. He has pleaded not guilty. Henon will face Republican Pete Smith, a delivery truck driver from Tacony, in the general election. >> READ MORE: Results and scenes from the 2019 primary election Councilwoman Cindy Bass was unopposed in the 8th District in Northwest Philadelphia and will not face a challenger in the general election. Councilwoman Cherelle L. Parker, whose 9th District covers parts of Northwest, North, and Northeast Philadelphia, was also unopposed, and faces no opposition in the general election. In the 10th District in the Far Northeast, longtime Republican Councilman Brian J. ONeill was nominated without opposition. He will face Democrat Judy Moore, a Garces Group executive, in the general. Staff reporters Michaelle Bond and Juliana Reyes contributed to this article. Mayor Jim Kenney is congratulated by his mother Barbara Kenney, after announcing victory in the primary election results, during a party at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, Pa. Tuesday, May 21, 2019, Read more Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney scored an easy victory Tuesday in his bid for a second term, defeating two Democratic primary challengers he treated more as nuisances than threats. On stage at his victory party Tuesday night, Kenney touted his support for and from organized labor and his expansion of pre-K programs. He promised in a second term to work together to build a stronger and more equitable Philadelphia. Serving as your mayor has been the greatest honor of my life, a low-key Kenney told a fired-up crowd chanting his name. Theres something special about being mayor when you walk into a pre-K classroom and see how a quality education serves our children. It was the culmination of a top-of-the-ticket primary race that never caught fire, played low-key on television, and inspired little more than bickering with the incumbent in the few times the candidates paths crossed. Kenney set his strategy secure in the knowledge that no incumbent mayor in Philadelphia who has sought a second term has lost since a new city charter first authorized two terms seven decades ago. >> READ MORE: Voters approve amendments to Philadelphias City Charter Winning the Democratic nomination has usually equaled election in a city that has not elected a GOP mayor since 1948. Defense attorney Billy Ciancaglini ran unopposed in Tuesdays Republican primary for mayor. Ciancaglini has run for judge as a Democrat, joining the GOP last year, and has been a caustic critic of Kenney, but also has spent months quarreling on social media with other Republicans. In the primary, Kenney made the political calculation to mostly avoid interacting with State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams and former City Controller Alan Butkovitz, agreeing to just one candidate forum in April and a televised debate last week. He chafed at suggestions that he wasnt running a real campaign, insisting his duties as mayor keep him busy. At the same time, Kenney did not spell out what hed do with another four years. I guess all mayors entering a second term are a little disappointing, said Barbara Schraeder, who voted for Kenney at the McCall School in Washington Square. At least in Philadelphia. >> READ MORE: The most crowded field in 40 years for Philadelphia primary, but did voters crowd the polls? Her husband, Paul Schraeder, 78, also voted for the mayor. Hes not perfect, but I think hes trying to do the right thing. Butkovitz conceded the race just after 9 p.m., wishing Kenney well. We felt it was important to give people a choice in this election, he said. I hope this campaign has sharpened his skills and that he will have a successful new term. Williams conceded at 9:45, also wishing the mayor well. "To our current mayor and our future mayor, Mayor James Kenney, we congratulate him tonight on his victory and we send prayers for him, his family, members of his administration, and most importantly for those of us who live in Philadelphia that his next four years will be prosperous and successful for all of Philadelphia. Democratic Vote for Mayor Mayor Jim Kenney won 66 of the city's 67 wards, trailing only in the 3rd Ward, home of challenger Anthony Hardy Williams. Results are as of 1 a.m. Wednesday, with 98 percent of votes counted. SOURCE: Philadelphia City Commissioners JOHN DUCHNESKIE / Staff Artist Much of the campaign centered on a dichotomy Kenneys signature achievement is a sweetened-beverage tax that funds pre-K programs, park improvements, and repairs to recreation centers and libraries. The tax is resoundingly unpopular. The programs it funds have been embraced by voters. >> READ MORE: Party-backed millennials come out on top in at-large City Council primary races Williams and Butkovitz promised to repeal the tax while keeping the programs, which Kenney rejected as fiscally irresponsible. And while the American Beverage Association spent $521,196 on television commercials critical of Kenney and the tax, it never embraced either challenger. Conversely, the tax prompted plenty of backing from Kenneys supporters. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave $1 million to Forward Together Philadelphia, a political action committee also supported by the American Federation of Teachers. That PAC spent $800,000 on television commercials backing Kenney. Philly 2019, funded by building trades unions that will put members to work on projects funded by the tax, spent $552,601 on its own television commercials. Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers kicked in $200,000 of that. The unions leader, John Johnny Doc Dougherty, was indicted along with seven other Local 98 officials on Jan. 30, accused of embezzlement. The defendants have all pleaded not guilty. >> READ MORE: Blackwell political dynasty falls in West Philly, but incumbents dominate other City Council district races Williams and Butkovitz tried to paint Kenney as a political puppet controlled by Dougherty. Kenney pushed back, noting both Williams and Butkovitz had accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars in Local 98 donations during their careers. Williams and Butkovitz also assailed Kenney for his support for supervised injection sites, where people addicted to IV drugs would be able to use them in a private nonprofit facility that provides medical services to prevent overdoses. And they knocked the mayor for not delivering on his promise to eliminate the stop-and-frisk police tactic for pedestrians. In the end, one challenger was relitigating the 2015 primary result while the other was trying to run a race he abandoned four years ago. Neither plan worked. Williams, serving in his sixth term in the state Senate, attempted to recast one of his campaigns liabilities a lack of resources into a sign of strength. He drew far more support from contributors when he entered the 2015 primary as a presumptive front-runner but finished a distant second to Kenney. >> READ MORE: Tracey Gordon wins register of wills race, ousting 40-year incumbent Ron Donatucci He pitched his campaign this year as a grassroots effort focused on listening to voters. While he has held elected office in the city for 30 years, including five terms in the state House, Williams has always faltered in competitive elections, including a 2010 bid for governor. Butkovitz bailed on his bid for mayor four years ago, a moment of indecisiveness that he had been trying to undo for months in this race. He presented himself as the anti-Kenney, but rebranding as a reforming rebel proved difficult for the longtime ward leader from Northeast Philadelphia who served eight terms in the state House and lost his bid two years ago for a fourth term as city controller. Staff writers Laura McCrystal, Justine McDaniel, and Michaelle Bond contributed to this article. Philadelphia voters went to the polls Tuesday to cast primary ballots for city offices: Mayor Jim Kenney was up for reelection, a crowded field vied for at-large City Council seats, and a handful of Council districts had competitive races. Also on the ballot were row offices, judges, city commissioners, and four ballot questions. Here are the tallies in those races. Results for Philadelphia Mayor and City Council On a mobile device and not seeing the tables above? Click here. READ MORE: Jim Kenney wins Democratic primary for mayor READ MORE: Blackwell political dynasty falls in West Philly, but incumbents dominate other City Council district races READ MORE: Philadelphia at-large City Council primary election results: Party-backed millennials come out on top Other races Here are results from other races on the ballot: City commissioners Lisa Marie Deeley (D., incumbent) Winner Al Schmidt (R., incumbent) Winner Omar Sabir (D.) Winner Annette Thompson (D.) Carla Cain (D.) Jennifer Devor (D.) Dennis Lee (D.) Luigi Borda (D.) Warren Bloom (D.) Moira Bohannon (D.) Kahlil Charles Williams (D.) Marwan Kreidie (D.) Lewis Harris Jr. (D.) Robin Trent (D.) >> READ MORE: Lisa Deeley and Omar Sabir win Democratic nomination for Philadelphia City Commissioner Sheriff Jewell Williams (D., incumbent) Rochelle G. Bilal (D.) Winner Malika Rahman (D.) Larry King Sr. (D.) >> READ MORE: Rochelle Bilal wins primary election for Philadelphia sheriff in upset of Jewell Williams Register of wills Ron Donatucci (D., incumbent) Jacque Whaumbush (D.) Tracey L. Gordon (D.) Winner READ MORE: Tracey Gordon wins Register of Wills race, ousting 40-year incumbent Ron Donatucci Ballot questions Question 1: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to change certain gender specific references (such as councilman, councilmen, and Councilmanic) to gender neutral references (such as councilmember, councilmembers, and Council)? Approved Question 2: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish and define the functions of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, headed by a Director of Immigrant Affairs? Approved Question 3: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to call on the General Assembly to either increase the Pennsylvania minimum wage now, so that it reaches $15 an hour, in stages, by 2025; or allow the City of Philadelphia to itself provide for a decent, family sustaining, living wage for working Philadelphians? Approved Question 4: Shall The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to require the establishment of Public Safety Enforcement Officers to assist the Police Department in regulating the flow of traffic; to enforce and assist the appropriate City officers in the enforcement of ordinances relating to the quality of life in the Citys neighborhoods; and to perform such other related duties as the Managing Director or Council may require? Approved READ MORE: Voters approve amendments to City Charter Uncontested City Council races The following City Council districts did not feature contested primaries. These candidates will appear on the ballot in Novembers general election. District 2 Michael Brady (R) District 5 Council President Darrell L. Clarke (D, incumbent) District 6 Bobby Henon (D, incumbent) and Pete Smith (R) District 8 Cindy Bass (D, incumbent) District 9 Cherelle L. Parker (D, incumbent) District 10 Judy Moore (D) and Brian J. ONeill (R, incumbent) Mayor Jim Kenney, right, votes at the Painted Bride, in Philadelphia, on May 21, 2019. Read more Maria Pandolfi walked out of the Guerin Recreation Center at 16th and Jackson Streets minutes before 2 p.m., clutching a blue card featuring photos of 18 Democratic candidates. Pandolfi, 57, said that without those recommendations, she would have been lost. There were a lot of things I didnt know what to vote for, who to vote for, she said. In the voting booth, she was just thinking about human rights and animal rights, she said, before pushing the button for district City Council candidate Lauren Vidas and Mayor Jim Kenney, as the card advised. On a primary day where it sometimes seemed at time like candidates outnumbered voters with the most crowded City Council field in 40 years, plus a slew of energetic contenders for Common Pleas Court judgeships and city row offices it was understandable that she was overwhelmed. For the most part, however, primary day appeared to be running smoothly. At the Committee of Seventy, which monitors problems at the polls, the phones were not exactly ringing off the hook, policy director Pat Christmas said. It was uncertain whether turnout would match 2015s, when an open mayoral race brought out nearly a quarter-million voters. One question was whether voters whod become more engaged following the 2016 presidential election would come out for local races. Theres definitely some of that activism continuing," Christmas said. But it remained unclear just how that would affect the turnout numbers or the outcomes. >> ANALYSIS: Philly primary shows the power and limitations of incumbency in citys politics Most people will vote for the incumbent, or the candidates endorsed by the Democratic City Committee, predicted Carol Tart, 59, a judge of elections, outside the Mount Moriah Temple Baptist Church at Fourth and Wharton Streets. For instance, Tart, a political consultant, supports Lou Lanni, a challenger to First District Councilman Mark Squilla. But his game plan was way behind, and he doesnt have enough people on the street. Thats the problem with most of the candidates. They dont have enough money. They dont have enough foot power. Complicating matters, many voters do not understand the process well, Tart said. There are those who want to go straight ticket, but you cant go straight ticket in the primary. There were pockets of eager voters. In West Philadelphia, supporters of Jamie Gauthier, challenger to 27-year incumbent Jannie L. Blackwell in the Third Councilmanic District, shared hopes for better public transit, more affordable housing, and improved bike lane infrastructure. Those who sought an upset in the Seventh Councilmanic District, where Maria Quinones-Sanchez has held office for a decade, said they wanted someone who would prioritize their community. Citywide, a vociferous (but likely inconsequential) anyone-but-Kenney contingent spoke against the soda tax, safe-injection sites, and stop-and-frisk policing. >> READ MORE: Jamie Gauthier ousts Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell in City Council 3rd District At least at Famous 4th Street Delicatessen, Philadelphias election-day power center, the status quo felt secure. As ever, there were the overstuffed sandwiches, the briny bowls of pickles, the lunchtime crowds of bold-faced political names: consultant Neil Oxman holding down a table with Comcast executive David Cohen while state Treasurer Joe Torsella wandered up. Across the room, former state senator and federal prisoner Vincent Fumo was still wondering aloud, to a reporter, Where were you guys when I was in trouble? Fumo said he wasnt impressed by the millennials flooding the ballot; he thought progressive groups should have concentrated on one or two candidates rather than diluting their power. He himself worked on a couple of races this cycle, but would not say which. Im like Meyer Lansky. ... Im not out front and I dont want to be because you guys will kill me. >> READ MORE: Tracey Gordon wins register of wills race, ousting 40-year incumbent Ron Donatucci Still, around the city there were signs of upheaval, particularly in the newly open wards and those where the grassroots organization Reclaim Philadelphia has strong support. A 51st Ward committeeperson, Eric Braxton, 43, of West Philadelphia, decided to hand out the Reclaim ballot instead of the party ticket outside the polling place at the Kingsessing Library this year in the face of an aggressive push by Democratic City Committee Chairman Bob Brady to keep the wards in line. Never before, as I understand it, has Brady put this much pressure on people to accept the whole ticket, he said. But I actually think it will make the party stronger, when people are empowered. And at the Dickinson Square recreation center in South Philadelphia, those dueling forces were evident as Sam Arnold, 27, a First Ward committee person, stood side by side with Walt Prusacki, 61, offering voters competing viewpoints and versions of a Democratic sample ballot. In the First Ward, committee people came together to produce their own sample ballot of candidates they agreed to endorse, after extensive research, Arnold said. I do think its bringing a lot more people in, and resulted in a lot more canvassing and door-knocking, he said. >> READ MORE: Rochelle Bilal wins primary election for Philadelphia sheriff in upset of Jewell Williams Prusacki, meanwhile, was distributing Democratic City Committee ballots. At the bottom, in fine print, was the phrase, Paid for by IBEW Local 98 COPE, the political arm of the union led by John J. Dougherty, who is under federal indictment. Hes a nice guy. Well, he never did me wrong, he said. Prusacki said people of his generation dont bother voting. They know nothings going to change, he said. Yvette Tarkenton, 57, of West Philadelphia, said its the youth in her neighborhood who seem to have given up. The elderly come out. They come out early. They come out strong. I got a lady on my block, shell be 104 in June. Shell be here. Its the youth [that dont]. I have seven children myself, all eligible to vote, but do they? Tarkenton said she was about to call home, wake them all up. Patricia Wright, 63, nodded in agreement. No excuses: Come on out! The weather is perfect. The sun is strong. >> READ MORE: Maria Quinones-Sanchez claims victory in District 7 City Council primary election Wright said nothing would keep her away. Philadelphia is mmm, mmm, mmmm, she said, to summing up her views of the current state of affairs: the soda tax putting people out of business, the charter schools starving the district of crucial funds. She voted against incumbents in all the key races. We need people who care for the children, the poor, the middle class. The rich? Shoot, nobody cares about them. All we can do is say a prayer," she added, and hope we can get the right people in office. Staff writer TyLisa C. Johnson contributed to this article. FILE - Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson speaks during a signing event for an executive order establishing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. Read more When a freshman congresswoman asked U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson at a congressional hearing Tuesday whether he knew what the housing term "REO" was, Carson thought she was referencing the similar-sounding cookie. "An Oreo?" the secretary asked. No, said Rep. Katie Porter (D., Calif.), her tone firm. She spelled it back to him, twice. Carson came up with: real estate e-organization. It's actually "real estate owned." The term refers to property owned by a bank or a lender after it's been foreclosed. Porter wanted to know why there was disparity in the rate of REOs issued by the Federal Housing Administration compared to other government-owned real estate. Hours after the hearing ended, Carson tweeted a photo of a package of Oreos next to a note thanking Porter for participating in the hearing, with the caption: "OH, REO! Thanks, @RepKatiePorter. Enjoying a few post-hearing snacks. Sending some your way!" Carson appeared before the House Financial Services Committee for more than three hours, fielding questions on housing policies. Several times he stumbled as Democrats, especially the women on the committee, tried to poke holes in his knowledge of the agency he runs. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D., Ohio) asked him if he was familiar with OMWI. "With who?" Carson asked. "OMWI," the congresswoman repeated. "Amway?" the secretary replied. The acronym stands for Office of Minority and Women Inclusion. Beatty wanted to know whether HUD had such an office and whether he worked with its director. "Of course we have an office of " Carson trailed off. "OMWI," the congresswoman repeated. Except HUD doesn't have an OMWI. Instead, it has an Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which performs a similar function. Either way, Carson couldn't name the director of that office. Then, near the end of the hearing, freshman Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.) chided Carson and the Trump administration for failing to improve conditions in low-income housing. During a lightning round in which Pressley wanted yes or no answers to her questions, Carson failed to provide them. During one particularly contentious moment, Carson said, "Reclaiming my time." "You don't get to do that," Pressley retorted. Pressley then asked Carson if he would allow his grandmother to live in public housing under his watch. It would be very nice if you could stop Carson trailed off, and Pressleys time expired. Former CIA Director John Brennan and Wendy Sherman, a former State Department official and top negotiator of the Iran nuclear deal, arrive to meet with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) about the situation in Iran, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, May 21, 2019. Read more WASHINGTON Tamping down talk of war, top Trump administration officials told Congress on Tuesday that recent actions by the U.S. deterred attacks on American forces. But some lawmakers remained deeply skeptical of the White House approach in the Middle East. After a day of closed-door briefings on Capitol Hill, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said their objective over recent days has been to deter Iran. Now they want to prevent further escalation, Shanahan said. "We're not about going to war," Shanahan told reporters. "Our biggest focus at this point is to prevent Iranian miscalculation," said Shanahan, flanked by Pompeo, after back-to-back briefings for the House and Senate. "We do not want the situation to escalate." The officials arrived on Capitol Hill as questions mounted over President Donald Trumps tough talk on Iran and sudden policy shifts in the region. Skeptical Democrats sought out a second opinion, holding their own briefing with former Obama administration officials, former CIA Director John Brennan and Wendy Sherman, an architect of the Iran nuclear deal. The competing closed-door sessions Tuesday came after weeks of escalating tensions that raised alarms over a possible military confrontation with Iran. Trump, veering between bombast and conciliation in his quest to contain Iran, threatened Monday to meet provocations by Iran with "great force," but he also said he's willing to negotiate. The results of the meetings Tuesday were mixed, with views settling largely along partisan lines. Sen. Mitt Romney (R., Utah) said the action taken by the Trump administration is totally appropriate and sends a message that if you attack our people, there will be a response. Romney characterized it as defensive in nature and meant to deter Iran from "malign" actions. Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, a veteran of the Iraq War, left the classified House briefing, saying: "What I heard in there makes it clear that this administration feels that they do not have to come back and talk to Congress in regards to any action they do in Iran." Democrats are particularly concerned the Trump administration may try to rely on nearly 20-year-old war authorizations rather than seek fresh approval from Congress for any action. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he told Pompeo and the others their consultation with Congress has been "inadequate." Shananan said he and the others heard that message and vowed to better communicate with lawmakers and the public. In recent weeks, the U.S. sent an aircraft carrier strike group, four bomber aircraft and other assets to the region, and is moving a Patriot missile battery to an undisclosed country in the area. The Trump administration has evacuated nonessential personnel from Iraq, amid unspecified threats the administration says are linked to Iran. Shanahan said the recent U.S. actions in the region were based on "credible threats" to U.S. forces and interests in the Middle East. "We have deterred attacks based on our repositioning of assets, deterred attacks against American forces," he said. Pompeo said he tried to put the Iran situation in the country's 40-year history of "malign" actions. Pompeo, a former congressman, has become somewhat of a polarizing figure on Capitol Hill, and some lawmakers left the meeting saying he was lecturing and arrogant. Democratic Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said he interjected at one point during the briefing: 'We know Iran is bad, OK? What is the policy going forward?' There wasnt enough information on that. Smith said Pompeo was asked why it took so long to brief Congress. The congressman said the secretary's answer was, "We were busy." He said it was not an acceptable answer. Earlier, Brennan told House Democrats that while Tehran wants to avoid conflict, the country's leadership will not capitulate to Trump. Sherman warned that reckless behavior by the Trump administration in Iran is hurting the U.S.'s credibility and undermining moderates in the country. Their comments were conveyed by a person in the room who was not authorized to discuss the private meeting by name. Top Democrats say Trump escalated problems by abruptly withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, a complex accord negotiated during the Obama administration to prevent Iran from nuclear weapons production. "I have yet to see any exhibited strategy," said Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, a former CIA officer. She said she finds many of the administration's recent statements on Iran to be "deeply troubling." Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.), the chairman of the House intelligence committee, said, What Im interested in more right now is what the administrations strategy is if they have one to keep us out of war. Republicans and Trumps allies in Congress said the threats from Iran are real. Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) suggested lawmakers who say otherwise are doing so for political reasons. GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina urged Trump to stand firm. The U.S. military appears to have concluded that Iran was behind the reported attack May 12 on four commercial vessels off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. A U.S. official said Monday a probe into the attack was finished and evidence still pointed at Iran, although the official did not provide details. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and so spoke on condition of anonymity. On Sunday, a rocket landed near the U.S. Embassy in the Green Zone of Iraq's capital of Baghdad, days after nonessential U.S. staff were ordered to evacuate from diplomatic posts in the country. No one was reported injured. Defense officials said no additional Iranian threats or incidents had emerged in the days since the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier battle group arrived in the Arabian Sea late last week. Iran, meanwhile, announced that it has quadrupled its uranium-enrichment production capacity. Officials said it remains set to the limits of a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, making it usable for a power plant but far below what's needed for an atomic weapon. Tehran long has insisted it does not seek nuclear weapons, though the West fears its program could allow it to build them. Associated Press writers Robert Burns, Lolita Baldor, and Matthew Daly contributed to this article. MONTREAL, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Metals Inc. (CME or the Company) (CSE: CME) is pleased to announce the appointment of Gerald Panneton as the Companys Director of the board effective May 22, 2019, replacing Ghita Ouaziz. Mr. Panneton is a geologist with over 30 years experience in mineral exploration and development, and was the founder, President and CEO of Detour Gold Corporation (Detour Gold) from its incorporation in July 2006 until November 2013. Under his leadership, the Detour Lake project grew over tenfold from 1.5 million ounces in resources to over 16 million ounces in reserves and into production. Today, the Detour Lake mine ranks as one of the largest gold mines in Canada. Mr. Panneton helped raise approximately $2.6 billion in capital while at Detour Gold. Mr. Panneton and his Detour Gold team were the recipients of the PDAC 2011 Bill Dennis Award for Canadian mineral discoveries and prospecting success of the year. From August 2016 to October 2017, Mr. Panneton was also President and CEO of NewCastle Gold Ltd. (NewCastle Gold), for the Castle Mountain gold project in California, before NewCastle Gold was acquired via merger with Trek Mining Inc. and Anfield Gold Corp. (now named Equinox Gold Corp.). From 1994 to 2006, Mr. Panneton was with Barrick Gold Corporation (Barrick Gold) where for the last six years of his tenure, he was Director of Advanced Projects and Evaluations for the exploration and corporate development group. He was very instrumental in bringing the Tulawaka and Buzwagi projects in Tanzania into production after the Pangea Goldfields Inc. acquisition in 2000. Prior to Barrick Gold, he worked for Lac Minerals Ltd., Placer Dome Inc. and Vior-Mazarin Group. Mr. Panneton received his Bachelor of Science in Geology from the University of Montreal and his Master of Science in Geology from McGill University. Mr. Michel Gagnon, Chairman of Canadian Metals, commented that both CME Executive team and Board of Directors were extremely pleased with this nomination as Mr. Panneton will add strong skills and experience to the team on the strategic growth of the company. Mr. Stephane Leblanc, CEO, stated, I wish to thank Ms. Ghita Ouaziz for her excellent contribution to the Company. About Canadian Metals Inc. Canadian Metals is a diversified resource company focused on creating shareholder value through the development of large-scale industrial mineral portfolios in specific commodities and jurisdictions that will fuel the new energy economy. The company is uniquely positioned to pursue this strategy in silicon, precious and base metal assets. For more information, please contact: Stephane Leblanc Chief Executive Officer Email: sleblanc@canadianmetalsinc.com Website: www.canadianmetalsinc.com Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information Certain statements included herein may constitute forward-looking statements. All statements included in this press release that address future events, conditions, or results, including in connection with the prefeasibility study, its financing, job creation, the investments to complete the project and the potential performance, production, and environmental footprint of the ferrosilicon plant, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, must, plan, believe, expect, estimate, think, continue, should, will, could, intend, anticipate, or future, or the negative forms thereof or similar variations. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by management in light of their experiences and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments, as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions, including those mentioned in the Corporations continuous disclosure documents, which can be found under its profile on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ). Many of such risks and uncertainties are outside the control of the Corporation and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In making such forward-looking statements, management has relied upon a number of material factors and assumptions, on the basis of currently available information, for which there is no insurance that such information will prove accurate. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements set forth above. The Corporation 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. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. In this May 3, 2018 file photo, Doug Mastriano, one of eight Republicans running for the U.S. House in Pennsylvania's 13th District, speaks to a crowd of party faithful at the Southeastern Adams Volunteer Emergency Services social hall, in Hanover, Pa. Read more HARRISBURG A look at the winners in key races in Pennsylvanias primary: U.S. House Special Election Republican Fred Keller, a state lawmaker from Snyder County, won the special election for Congress in a heavily Republican district that sprawls across central and northern Pennsylvania. Keller, 53, will replace the Republican congressman who resigned in January. He beat Democrat Marc Friedenberg and ran with the support of President Donald Trump. The 12th District also strongly supported Trump in the 2016 election. The two-year term runs through 2020. Keller is a fifth-term member of the state House of Representatives, and one of its most conservative members, with a 90% lifetime rating by the American Conservative Union. Legislative Special Election Republicans won special elections for three open seats in the state Legislature in heavily GOP districts in southcentral and western Pennsylvania. For the 33rd Senate district in southcentral Pennsylvania, Republican Doug Mastriano beat Democrat Sarah Hammond; for the 41st Senate district in western Pennsylvania, Republican Joe Pittman beat Democrat Susan Boser; and for the 11th House district in Butler County, Republican Marci Mustello beat Democrat Sam Doctor. Candidates looked to fill the seat once occupied by GOP Rep. Brian Ellis, who resigned in March, days after a woman who accused him of sexual assault filed a formal complaint with the majority House Republicans. >>READ MORE: Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Ellis, accused of sexual assault, resigns >>READ MORE: Woman accusing State Rep. Brian Ellis of sexual assault files complaint with House Republicans All three seats were last held by Republicans, and the special elections have no effect on Republican control in both chambers. Superior Court Judges A steelworkers' union lawyer and a county prosecutor have been nominated to run for open seats on a statewide appellate court. Democrat Amanda Green-Hawkins, a Pittsburgh lawyer, and Republican Megan King, a Chester County prosecutor, won spots on the fall ballot in Tuesdays primary election for the state Superior Court. >>READ MORE: 3 things to know about the Pa. Superior Court candidates: Their legal heroes, fundraising, and biggest weaknesses Races for the last two spot remained too close to call Tuesday night. Allentown Mayor Ray O'Connell declared himself the winner in Allentown's mayoral race over challengers Michael Daniels, Cheryl Johnson Watt and Patrick Palmer. The interim mayor will run against Republican Tim Ramos in November to fill imprisoned former Mayor Ed Pawlowski's term. Pittsburgh District Attorney Pittsburghs longtime top prosecutor has fended off a challenge in the Democratic primary, his first in 20 years. Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala on Tuesday defeated Turahn Jenkins, a former public defender who criticized his handling of the case of a white police officer charged in the fatal shooting of a black teenager. Council upset in Pittsburgh Longtime Pittsburgh Councilperson Darlene Harris was defeated by Bobby Wilson during Tuesdays Democratic primary, in what the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette calls an electoral upset that will surely shock City Hall and give Mayor Bill Peduto a cause to celebrate. Wilson, a medical researcher, earned the endorsement of the citys mayor, Bill Peduto. Harris has served on council for more than a decade. Inquirer staff writer Patricia Madej contributed to this report. BENTON, KY. Nine volunteers left Pennsylvania for Kentucky the day after Christmas to volunteer as Good Samaritans in a region of the country still devastated from the remnants of an EF4 tornado that killed 88 people. Many of the volunteers are members of the Brandywine Baptist Church in Downingtown. Departing the day after Christmas [] Fastest growing North American gaming network achieved through organic growth, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships Diverse platform of gaming sites and YouTube channels provides unique advertising solutions Scaling rapidly to own the largest piece of industry market share TORONTO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enthusiast Gaming Holdings Inc. (TSXV: EGLX) (OTCQB: EGHIF), (Enthusiast or the Company), the largest publicly traded video game media and esports company in North America, is excited to announce that its network of video game enthusiasts has grown to 150 million total monthly visitors(1). Enthusiasts platform is the fastest growing gaming network in North America(2) and includes owned and operated gaming related websites and a network of YouTube channels. Monthly visitors across the network has doubled since Enthusiast completed its going public transaction in October 2018 and has grown from two million monthly visitors since 2015. The increase validates the rapid growth of the gaming industry and further positions Enthusiast as a leader in the space. The significant growth and size of Enthusiasts network has provided the Company with a number of different revenue streams, including direct sales, revenue sharing and subscription models that diversifies the business and supports continued future growth. Through its aggressive acquisition and organic growth strategy, Enthusiast has been able to scale and grow its business quickly, in an attempt to gain significant market share within the gaming industry. Enthusiast has seen consistent monthly organic growth across its network, with more visitors engaging with its content rich gaming properties. As an early industry leader, Enthusiast has built a solid framework to take advantage of future growth opportunities and capitalize on the overall sector growth in the coming years. Menashe Kestenbaum, CEO of Enthusiast commented, Our consistent growth further validates our business model, as we continue to outperform visitor growth month over month. Our team continues providing innovative, rich content which attracts dedicated gamers. This content allows us to deepen our reach both vertically and horizontally across a number of sub-sectors within the gaming industry. Kestenbaum continued, In a relatively short period of time, we have managed to amass a network of over 150 million monthly visitors and now major brands are taking notice. In addition to our core revenue generating verticals of content, advertising, and events, the size of our network has provided a number of different revenue opportunities, that we believe will add sustainable, long-term value to our network moving forward. About Enthusiast Gaming Founded in 2014, Enthusiast Gaming is the largest vertically integrated video game company and has the fastest-growing online community of video gamers. Through the Companys organic and acquisition strategy, it has amassed a platform of over 150 million monthly visitors across its network of websites and YouTube channels. Enthusiast also owns and operates Canadas largest gaming expo, Enthusiast Gaming Live Expo, EGLX, ( eglx.ca ) with approximately 55,000 people attending in 2018. For more information on the Company, visit www.enthusiastgaming.com . Source: Google Analytics, April 2019 Source: Comscore Media Metrix Multi-Platform, Dec 2017-Dec 2018, US CONTACT INFORMATION: Investor Relations: Julia Becker Head of Investor Relations & Marketing jbecker@enthusiastgaming.com (604) 785.0850 This news release contains certain statements that may constitute forward-looking information under applicable securities laws. All statements, other than those of historical fact, which address activities, events, outcomes, results, developments, performance or achievements that Enthusiast anticipates or expects may or will occur in the future (in whole or in part) should be considered forward-looking information. Such information may involve, but is not limited to, comments with respect to strategies, expectations, planned operations and future actions of the Company. Often, but not always, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases, or statements formed in the future tense or indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" (or other variations of the forgoing) be taken, occur, be achieved, or come to pass. Forward-looking information is based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and operating plans, strategies or beliefs as of the date of this news release, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Enthusiast to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Such factors may be based on information currently available to Enthusiast, including information obtained from third-party industry analysts and other third-party sources, and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs regarding future growth, results of operations, future capital (including the amount, nature and sources of funding thereof) and expenditures. Any and all forward-looking information contained in this press release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Trading in the securities of the Company should be considered highly speculative. 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. The securities of the Corporation have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirement. 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 the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. (Washington, D.C., May 17, 2019) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States and Japan have agreed on new terms and conditions that eliminate Japans longstanding restrictions on U.S. beef exports, paving the way for expanded sales to the United States top global beef market. Last week, on the margins of the G-20 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Niigata, Japan, Secretary Perdue met with Japanese government officials and affirmed the importance of science-based trade rules. The new terms, which take effect immediately, allow U.S. products from... The opening day of the 2019 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS North America has drawn to an end after 10 levels of play. A total of 151 players have made their way to Day 2 and it was Sandy Lam bagging up the Day 1a chip lead with an impressive stack of 6,840,000 chips. While Lam is a recreational poker player hailing from the United States, she managed to find her way through one of the toughest fields in this CA$10,000 Main Event. Lam has just one recorded cash in her poker career of under $1,000. Lam is looking to change that this week with at least a five-figure score and she is well on her way to accomplishing that feat. A couple of notable names are sitting within striking distance of Lam including German high-roller Manig Loeser. Coming off a recent victory worth over $670,000, Loeser bagged up 6,620,000 chips and is looking to keep the momentum rolling here in Montreal. Armin Rezaei (5,790,000), Jonathan Concepcion (5,320,000), and Georgiy Filippovich (5,305,000) round out the top five chip counts. Manig Loeser The day got started with around 150 players in their seats but that number continued to escalate quickly through the four levels of late registration. With no re-entry option available on the same day, the action started off rather slow. When registration closed after four levels, there were a total of 304 entries, surpassing the halfway mark of the CA$5,000,000 guaranteed prizepool. Some of the big names to be eliminated throughout the day include Patrick Serda, Sergio Aido, Scott Seiver, Ema Zajmovic, Alex Lynskey, Jeff Gross, Taylor Black, Anatoly Filatov, Ludovic Geilich, and Darryll Fish. They will have one more chance to run up a stack when Day 1b begins on Wednesday, May 22. None of the partypoker team members were able to find a bag, however, some of the online qualifiers found better success. Leo Liberal (1,790,000), Daniel Dubeau (730,000), Matthew Urban (255,000), and Samuel Gagnon (235,000) will all return for Day 2 with a shot at turning their rags into riches. The action will resume tomorrow with Day 1b beginning at 12 p.m. local time. Day 2 will continue on Wednesday, May 23 where the entire field will come together for the first time. Continue to follow along with the PokerNews live reporting team for all of the updates throughout the entire event. 516 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Rep. Eric Swalwell, who is also a Democratic presidential candidate, has one question for Hope Hicks and that is, did Donald or Ivanka Trump ever ask you to lie? Eric Swalwell has one question for Hope Hicks About Donald and Ivanka Trump Rep. Swalwell said on MSNBCs Deadline: White House, The question I asked her on the house intelligence committee, and she refused to answer, which is did the president ever tell you to lie for him and did you ever lie for him. That was a very, I would say, flash point in the interview. She asked to step outside for ten minutes, and then she came back inside and refused to answer the question. I asked if Donald Trump Jr. Had asked her to lie and she refused again. She started shaking her head and said, I refuse to answer. I refuse to answer. I asked her about Ivanka Trump, whether she asked her to lie, she said I refuse to answer. It clearly struck a nerve. She came across as truthful throughout the interview. But that line of questioning We were trying to zero in on the trump tower cleanup between the president and his son. We just also sensed that if he had asked her to lie about one thing, he probably had asked her to lie about a lot of things. She clearly didnt want to lie. If he never asked her to lie, she would have been truthful and said no. It was clear there was a lot she was seeking to protect. Video: Hope Hicks could wreck the Trumps Rep. Swalwell is asking the key question because if the Trumps asked staffers to lie for them, that is obstruction of justice. It isnt just presidential obstruction of justice. If Trumps kids asked Hope Hicks to lie, nothing is stopping them from criminally charged with obstruction of justice. The White House has moved to block every subpoena so far, and the last person in the world that they want to see speaking to the House Judiciary Committee is Hope Hicks. Hicks knows where the bodies are buried, and if she would ever really talk, it would be devastating for Donald Trump and his entire family. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 1.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) said that 80%-90% of Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee support launching impeachment proceedings against Trump. House Judiciary Democrats Want To Move Forward With Impeachment Cohen said on MSNBCs The Beat with Ari Melber: The Judiciary Committee as a whole is for at least an inquiry of impeachment. I dont think any member, there might have been two members, that were particularly close to Speaker Pelosi that were not on board. But I would say, 80, 90% of the committees on board to go forward. . I cant speak for the chair, but I know theyre in that most of us are lawyers. We have the Constitution in our heart, and most of us have probably had more interaction with the Mueller report and the facts than most of the rest of Congress because it has come to us. We wanted to prep for Barr and McGahn. Video: Cohen was also quick to point out that a majority of Democrats in the House caucus still support Speaker Pelosis position of letting the investigations and court cases do their work. House Judiciary Democrats Are Frustrated The frustration of House Judiciary Democrats was evident during the hearing that Don McGahn didnt show up to testify at. They clearly want more tools to break Trumps obstruction so that they can do their jobs and conduct oversight. The problem, as my colleague Sarah Jones has pointed out, is that the beginning of any impeachment investigation is going to be spun by Trump as impeachment. The president will spin any investigation into impeachment and play the martyr. Pelosi is right to tread carefully on impeachment because the rule of law means nothing if Democrats impeach in the House, and Mitch McConnell ignores it and doesnt hold an impeachment trial in the Senate. Democrats are impatient, but Trump wants to use their impatience to make the 2020 election about impeachment, and ride that to a Republican take back of the House and a second term. Democrats need to work through the process. Impeachment will come, but the goal is to make sure that it doesnt come soon enough to reelect Donald Trump. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 2.2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard A confidential IRS memo says that Trumps tax returns must be turned over unless he claims executive privilege over them. The IRS Memo Destroys Trumps Excuses For Hiding His Tax Returns According to The Washington Post: But, according to the IRS memo, which has not been previously reported, the disclosure of tax returns to the committee is mandatory, requiring the Secretary to disclose returns, and return information, requested by the tax-writing Chairs. The 10-page document says the law does not allow the Secretary to exercise discretion in disclosing the information provided the statutory conditions are met and directly rejects the reason that Mnuchin has cited for withholding the information. [T]he Secretarys obligation to disclose return and return information would not be affected by the failure of a tax-writing committee to state a reason for the request, it says. It adds that the only basis the agencys refusal to comply with a committees subpoena would be the invocation of the doctrine of executive privilege. Democrats Will Get Trumps Tax Returns An executive privilege claim will not stand up in court, especially for the years that Donald Trump was not the president. Trump could try it as a delay tactic, but this memo is the jackpot for Democrats. It proves that the IRS knows that they have to turn over the returns, and they are being obstructed for political reasons by Steve Mnuchin and Donald Trump. All of the arguments that the Trump administration has made in favor of keeping his tax returns hidden are a bogus pile of hot garbage that has no legal standing. Democrats have known from day one that they would eventually get Trumps tax returns. This IRS memo will be used in court against Trump. The House case for getting Trumps tax returns has gone from solid to a slam dunk. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 1.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard After a memo was released on Tuesday saying that Donald Trump must hand over his tax returns to Congress, Rachel Maddow explained that its no surprise that the president installed one of his buddies earlier this year to be the chief lawyer at the IRS. According to the IRSs own legal reasoning, the Trump administration must hand over Trumps tax returns to Congressman Richard Neal of Massachusetts, the MSNBC pointed out, citing the newly revealed memo. No wonder the president wanted to install a new chief lawyer at the IRS who might look at these matters differently. Video: Rachel Maddow says a newly released IRS memo explains why Trump tried to install one of his buddies to a top post at the agency. #ctl #p2 #maddow pic.twitter.com/fCKGRr4oug PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) May 22, 2019 Maddow said: So this is new. According to the IRSs own legal reasoning, the Trump administration must hand over Trumps tax returns to Congressman Richard Neal of Massachusetts. They must. They can try to exert executive privilege to block it, but good luck. Thats not going to work either. The law might even block that. Basically, you got to do it. Its mandatory, says the IRS. No wonder the president wanted to install a new chief lawyer at the IRS who might look at these matters differently. The number two official at the IRS must recuse himself from matters related to Trumps tax returns As Rachel Maddow pointed out on Tuesday, the number two official at the IRS Michael Desmond, who Trump personally fought to have installed was previously partners at a D.C. law firm with the presidents current tax lawyers. Not to mention the fact that, as Maddow also noted, Desmond admitted to having previously advised the Trump Organization on tax-related matters. Now, as Congress finds itself in the thick of a battle to legally obtain the presidents tax returns, its unclear who in the IRS will be making the final call as it relates to the release of the documents. One thing is clear, however: The man Trump personally installed to be the IRSs top lawyer should have nothing to do with it. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter 1.3k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown was having none of it when Chris Matthews criticized the Democratic Party for coming off as elitist to working-class voters in the midwest. During an interview with the MSNBC host, Sen. Brown quickly reminded Matthews that the big elitist and con man in American politics is Donald Trump. [Trump] looks at crowds and he sees voters. He doesnt see people, the Ohio Democrat said. This is a president who betrays workers. Video: Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown says Donald Trump doesnt give a damn about working-class Americans. #ctl #p2 pic.twitter.com/DnoYNaDpwA PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) May 22, 2019 Sen. Brown said: But the president of the United States, do you ever see him shake hands after his rallies? I mean the president of the United States, he looks at crowds and he sees voters, he doesnt see people. He doesnt know their names. He doesnt know their life stories. To elect a billionaire with his history and his background as if hes not elitist, I just think that you have got to show whose side you are on. This is a president who betrays workers, whether theyre in Lordstown or whether its his court nominees. The midwest is poised to deny Donald Trump a second term While three states in the so-called rust belt gave Trump a small Electoral College victory in 2016, they look poised to deny him a second term in 2020. New polling in Pennsylvania, for example, shows former vice president Joe Biden leads the president by a decisive 11 percentage points. Following Bidens kickoff rally in Philadelphia over the weekend, Trump quickly scrambled to have his own rally in the state on Monday a sign that he sees Pennsylvania slipping away. The Keystone State is just one of the states in the midwest that is gearing up to turn blue in 2020. As Politico noted this week, Trumps own internal polling shows him trailing Biden in both Wisconsin and Michigan as well. In other words, the same part of the country that fell for Trumps con in 2016 is ready to send him packing next year. Follow Sean Colarossi on Facebook and Twitter 7k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard House Intelligence Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) scored a big win for Democrats as the DOJ has agreed to hand over Mueller documents. Adam Schiff Wins On Mueller Documents Chairman Schiff said in a statement provided to PoliticusUSA: The Department of Justice has accepted our offer of a first step towards compliance with our subpoena, and this week will begin turning over to the Committee twelve categories of counterintelligence and foreign intelligence materials as part of an initial rolling production. That initial production should be completed by the end of next week. As a result of the Departments acceptance, the business meeting has been postponed. The Committees subpoena will remain in effect, and will be enforced should the Department fail to comply with the full document request. The Department has repeatedly acknowledged the Committees legitimate oversight interest in these materials. I look forward to, and expect, continued compliance by the Department so we can do our vital oversight work. Schiff Shows That Pelosis Strategy Is Working Speaker Pelosis strategy of subpoenas and winning in court is working. Trump lost a bid to block his accounting firm from complying with a House subpoena, and Schiff has been able to get Mueller documents from the DOJ through a subpoena. Some Democrats are impatient and they want to run before they walk on impeaching Trump, but Democrats are building a case against Trump, and that process while not as flashy as impeaching the president is getting information and yielding results without jeopardizing Democratic plans of keeping the House and winning the White House in 2020. Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic committee chairs know what they are doing. It is politically popular with some of the Democratic base to call for impeachment, but there is no need to rush when impeachment wont remove Trump, and House Democrats are already winning. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Ben Carson doubled down on humiliation and claimed that Rep. Katie Porter is really the one who doesnt know what she is doing. Sarah Sanders stands by corrupt and clueless Ben Carson Sanders said, He has a great deal of confidence in secretary Carson. He is doing a tremendous job and supportive of the work hes doing over there. Video: Here is an example of Carsons tremendous job: The clueless corruption of the Trump administration personified by Ben Carson. pic.twitter.com/oBYc55qIv3 PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) May 22, 2019 Ben Carson Adds To His Humiliation After humiliating himself at a hearing, Carson claimed that it was Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) who didnt know what she was talking about, I suspect when Katie Porter was an expert in this area, things were very different. Thats why I invited her to speak with our staff that deals with these so they can bring her up to date. Maybe she would then be able to understand what is going on. Video: People Are Being Hurt By Ben Carsons corrupt imcompetence It might seem fun to laugh at Ben Carson, but real people are being harmed by his callous cruel, and incompetent leadership of HUD. Carson has supported Trumps requests to slash the budget for an agency that provides housing assistance for the most vulnerable Americans. More than a dozen public housing residents have died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to a lack of detectors, a problem which predates Carson, but one that he was finally forced to react to, and Carson supports a White House plan that would throw 55,000 legal resident children out of public housing and make them homeless. Ben Carson is unqualified, and should not be anywhere near HUD. His presence there is harming people, which, according to Sarah Sanders, is a sign that a Trump administration official is doing a tremendous job. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Falls Church, Va., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Postal Service awarded PAE a $60 million contract to support the national network of mail transport equipment service centers. Through MTESC, PAE will provide program management, information support and logistics services for the 500,000 square-foot facility in Edgerton, Kansas. With the addition of the Edgerton contract, PAE will now process approximately 9 million pieces of equipment a week to support the flow of mail throughout the United States. The operational support and management of the MTESC contract is a great example of how we work behind the scenes to keep major functions of U. S. government agencies in motion, said PAE CEO John Heller. For 20 years, PAE has provided program management excellence to the U.S. Postal Service in processing centers across the nation. This is a system that moves about 20 million pieces of mail an hour, and were proud to be part of its success, said Postal Program Manager Chuck Coy. We use Lean Six Sigma management processes such as setting up employee works stations with MTE criteria specifications to more efficiently and accurately process MTE. These efforts improve efficiencies and give the customer confidence that PAE is the right company for the contract. Continuous improvement and process efficiencies are foundational tools for the PAE workforce. Through our commitment to CI, we deliver better quality and better performance to our customers, Heller said. It creates collaborative and efficient teams, helping us to achieve the U.S. Postal Services objectives. For more information, visit pae.com. About PAE For more than 60 years, PAE has tackled the worlds toughest challenges to deliver agile and steadfast solutions to the U.S. government and its allies. With more than 20,000 employees on all seven continents and in more than 70 countries, PAE delivers a broad range of operational support services to meet the critical needs of our clients. Our headquarters is in Falls Church, Virginia. Find us online at pae.com, on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. # # # 247 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard This article is one of several profiles of women running for the democratic presidential nomination. Throughout her career, Elizabeth Warren blended a life of experiences that many of us can relate to with the benefits of an education most people can only dream about. That is what makes her the peoples wonk. As 23 people vie to be the Democratic Partys presidential nominee, standing out in a sea of excellence is a challenge. To be honest, the only thing the mainstream media frowns upon more than women running for the presidency is women who are wonky. Warren is both of those things. The minimal coverage given to her campaign and that of other women seeking the 2020 nomination is reflective of the misogyny we saw in 2016. This isnt merely a perception. A study by researchers at the Northeastern University School of Journalism looked at articles from the five most read on-line news outlets and concluded they were tougher on the women who are running, The study reveals a trend that is disturbingly similar to the one that occurred in 2016. Unlike 2016, the outlets in question cant claim this is about one woman candidates alleged shortcomings. Any woman who runs for the presidency knowing the obstacles is a profile in courage. She is contributing to breaking down those barriers a second time, especially after Donald Trump. But lets get back to Elizabeth Warren as the wonkiest of the candidates. From the outset, Senator Warren focused on policy. She focused on policies designed to address the disastrous economic disparity that came with years of Republicans depressing wages and subsidizing their wealthy donors. Warren understands economics and economic disparity in our economy unlike anyone else. She has a solid background in economics but her knowledge extends beyond the things you learn in books. Warren experienced it in life. After her fathers premature death, Elizabeths mother had to find a way to support her children without the skills or background to get a well-paying job. She worked for minimum wage and while that life wasnt easy, she could support her children on minimum wage. Today, its impossible for a minimum wage job to provide the necessities of life for one person let alone a family. Elizabeth Warren married young. After divorce, Warren lived and worked as a single mother. Like the other women seeking the Democratic nomination, Warren is well educated and well accomplished. She could have stayed in academia teaching law at Harvard. Instead, she answered the call to public service. By her policies today, you would never know that Senator Warren started out as a Republican. It was through her studies that she saw how flawed the Republican partys philosophy on economics was. She had the integrity to change parties. Warren is gifted in her ability to include people in economics and explaining economics in a way that captures the interest and attention of people like me. But kid you not, she has the ability to crunch and dissect the numbers like the fields other brilliant minds. Warren has many excellent ideas which you can review in further detail on her website. She has detailed plan to break up social media monopolies, Warren rolled out a plan on affordable childcare for those of us who cant afford to hire a staff of nannies. Earlier in her life, Warren was a school teacher. It comes as little surprise that she has a vision about education and thoughts about the sort of person who should be secretary of education. Unlike Betsy Devos, it would be someone who actually been in a public school, taught and therefore has insight into the issues that students and teachers face. No, pundits, this is not socialism. Warren is a capitalist who recognizes the necessity and wisdom of regulation in order to keep things sane. As she once said, I believe in markets and the benefits they can produce when they work. Markets with rules can produce enormous value. So much of the work I have donethe Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, my hearing-aid billare about making markets work for people, not making markets work for a handful of companies that scrape all the value off to themselves. I believe in competition. Most of Warrens attention is on issues related to the economy through various stages in life. The very idea of making childcare universally accessible means opportunity for children whose circumstances today present an obstacle. It means that working mothers will have the opportunity to thrive and better provide for their families thats especially important for single parents most of whom are women. Making college more accessible means young people have a chance at thriving based on THEIR abilities rather than being held back by their parents financial circumstances. Corporate accountability doesnt preclude competition, It enhances it. Warren has bold ideas and bases them on knowledge instead of recommendations by her favorite pundit. She deserves better than an evaluation of her hair or her genetic profile. But privilege doesnt like competition, whether its in the economy or the bastions of power. 2.9k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump responded to Pelosi accusing him of a cover-up by going on national television and melting down in front of the world. This was all triggered by Speaker Pelosi telling reporters that Trump is engaged in a cover-up. Trump first responded by claiming that he doesnt do cover-ups, even though he is an unindicted co-conspirator in the Story Daniels cover-up: Trump who is unindicted felony co-conspirator in the Stormy Daniels hush money cover-up, claims that he doesn't do cover-ups. pic.twitter.com/PW7vraKM9d Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) May 22, 2019 Trump threw a tantrum and said that he wouldnt do his job until Democrats stop investigating him Trump said, So I just wanted to let you know that I walked into the room and I told Senator Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, I want to do infrastructure. I want to do it more than you want to do it. Id be really good at that. That is what I do. But you know what, you cant do it under these circumstances. So get these phony investigations over with. Video: Trump refuses to do his job until Democrats stop investigating him. pic.twitter.com/qWVAugkOTa PoliticusUSA (@politicususa) May 22, 2019 Trump lost it over Democrats meeting about impeachment Trump said, All of a sudden I hear last night they will have a meeting right before this meeting to talk about the I-word. Can you imagine? I dont speak Russians about when I went to Wisconsin and Michigan and Pennsylvania, I dont say, oh, lets call Russia, maybe they can it is a hoax. The greatest hoax in history. Video: Trump flips out over Democrats meeting about the "I-word" pic.twitter.com/tY2DXKxZZf Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) May 22, 2019 All Nancy Pelosi had to do was suggest that Trump is engaged in a cover-up and the president lost his mind. This was all caused by Pelosi and a few well-placed words. Democrats should not rush into impeachment, because the slow drip of investigation is driving Trump mad. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 1.8k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin testified to the House today that he has not talked to the president or the White House about hiding Trumps tax returns. Steve Mnuchin Claims He Isnt Taking Direction From The White House to Hide Trumps Tax Returns Mnuchin told Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), I have had no conversations ever with the president or anyone in the White House about delivering the presidents tax returns. Secretary Mnuchin also threatened the IRS memo writer who wrote that the IRS must turn over Trumps tax returns, Were trying to find out who wrote the memo, where it came from, when it was and why it wasnt distributed. Video: Mnuchn walked into a trap The issue of Trumps tax returns is likely to be settled in court. If Steve Mnuchin is acting at the direction of Trump and the White House, and it strains all credibility to believe that he is not, he has perjured himself in front of the House and is setting himself up for criminal charges down the line. Mnuchins emphatic answer better be true, or he just walked into a world of hurt. The administration is coordinating to hide Trumps tax returns. It is not a coincidence that every rationale that the Treasury Department has given on keeping Trumps tax returns a secret began at the White House. The Trump administration thinks that Congress and the American people are stupid, which is how they keep lying and getting themselves into trouble. Just like Trumps tax returns, the truth will come out, and Steve Mnuchin will be toast. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook 2k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard Trump suffered his second loss in court this week as a judge ruled that the president cant block a House subpoena of Deutsche Bank for his financial records. Judge Ramos ruled: Ramos: "These subpoenas are all in service of facially legitimate investigative purposes." Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 22, 2019 Ramos: The court will not engage in a line-by-line review of the subpoenas' requests. That's not the Supreme Court's standard, he noted. Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 22, 2019 Ramos rejects the notion that these subpoenas are about "exposure for the sake of exposure." Agreeing the Committees, Ramos find that the court does not have the authority to testing the motives of committee members. "Such is not our function," Ramos said. Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 22, 2019 Ramos: "At bottom," the Committee's ability to serve and enforce the subpoenas is "well-settled." Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 22, 2019 Ramos: "Even if the questions were sufficiently serious, injunctive relief would be unwarranted." Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 22, 2019 Ramos notes that the plaintiffs will likely appeal and ask for a stay of his ruling, which he concludes. Strawbridge immediately asks for a stay of his ruling. "That request is denied," Ramos said. Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) May 22, 2019 The losses are coming quickly for Trump in court Trump has already lost a suit to block a subpoena for his financial records from his accounting firm. Trump was trying to run out the clock and keep the House tied up in court, but the courts are ruling quickly. Trumps efforts are not working. The president doesnt have a legal leg to stand on, and the defeats are going to continue to quickly pile up on this president. Pelosis strategy is working. Trump is being boxed in, and it is only a matter of time until the House has pulled every ugly criminal skeleton out of Trumps financial records. For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group. Follow Jason Easley on Facebook Charleston, SC (29403) Today Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 73F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low near 60F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Vons, a division of the Albertsons Companies, has agreed to pilot Print Mates kiosks in select Vons stores in Southern California while the companies consider a broader agreement. Albertsons is one of the largest grocery, food and drug retailers in the United States operating in 34 states, under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, and more than a dozen others. SAN DIEGO, CA, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- Generation NEXT Franchise Brands , Inc. (OTCQB: VEND) announced today that Vons, a division of Albertsons Companies, one of the largest grocery, food, and drug retailers in the United States and recently-acquired, Generation Next subsidiary, Print Mates have agreed to pilot Print Mates photo printing kiosks in select stores in Southern California. The pilot phase will measure consumer engagement and response to the Print Mates kiosks, designed to reinvent the premium-quality photo printing experience by making it fast, fun, and inexpensive to get your photos out of your phone and into your home. Print Mates easy-to-use, touchscreen kiosks are promising to close the loop on the consumer photo lifecycle, allowing customers to instantly, easily and cost-effectively print high-quality photos directly from their smartphones or favorite social media and cloud storage accounts. Consumers can also conveniently order decor and other photo products , gifts and accessories ranging from frames, posters, jumbo-sized prints and fridge magnets to beautiful canvas and wood prints and have them conveniently shipped to their home with just a few taps. In addition, Print Mates latest feature instant passport photos are expected to prove popular, particularly in the pilot markets of California. Albertsons Companies has proven time and again, its willingness to engage the latest technology in forward-thinking ways that improve customers shopping experience. From deploying the latest in artificial intelligence technology from Microsoft to offer its customers new and transformative experiences to piloting IBMs Food Trust blockchain technology to improve how food is traced from farm to store shelf , Albertsons Companies is leading the grocery and supermarket segment into the future. As one of the largest grocery, food and drug retailers in the United States serving 34 million customers per week from its more than 2,300 supermarkets in 34 states operating under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, and more than a dozen others, the pilot program represents an incredible opportunity for Print Mates and Generation Next, according to the companys CEO, Nick Yates. We couldnt be more excited at this opportunity to pilot Print Mates with Vons. It is an honor to work with one of Americas largest and most diverse grocery and supermarket conglomerates. Vons is a market leader in its embrace of technology that improves customers experiences, and to have such a company take interest in our product and our technology is gratifying, to say the least. We are looking forward to a successful pilot that can further our relationship and see Print Mates deployed to more stores in the future, Yates said. Albertsons Companies is always looking for ways to offer our shoppers more convenient services from our stores. We are a company that embraces technology that empowers our customers and provides them with amazing in-store experiences. We are eager and optimistic to see how Print Mates performs in our Vons stores during this pilot, said Jenny Crandall, Director of Front End Operations for Albertsons and Vons in Southern California. About Print Mates Print Mates was formed by a team of entrepreneurs, engineers, and photography professionals in San Diego that are on a mission to reinvent the premium-quality photo printing experience by making it fast, fun, and inexpensive to get your photos out of your phone and into your hand with the Print Mates Kiosk - and creating a golden opportunity for retailers in the process. Print Mates easy-to-use, proprietary touchscreen kiosks are promising to close the loop on the consumer photo lifecycle, as well as drive much-needed foot traffic to traditional brick-and-mortar businesses ranging from supermarkets, grocery and drug stores to big-box retailers, shopping malls, family fun centers, and more. Customers love using the Print Mates Kiosk because they can instantly, easily and cost-effectively print high-quality photos directly from their smartphones or through their favorite social media (Facebook, Instagram, Google Photos, Dropbox and Flickr) photo sharing, or cloud storage accounts in six different sizes of prints in just seconds. The company began a nationwide expansion in 2019 by offering business owners and forward-thinking retailers across the country an opportunity to participate in an emerging multi billion-dollar industry. Print Mates Kiosks and ever-expanding product line of photographic decor, gifts, prints, and accessories are proudly Made in the USA. www.printmates.com About Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc., based in San Diego, California, is a publicly traded company on the OTC Markets trading under the symbol OTCBB: VEND. Generation NEXT Franchise Brands, Inc. is parent company to Reis and Irvys Inc and Print Mates Inc. www.gennextbrands.com About Albertsons Companies Albertsons Companies is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. We operate stores across 34 states, and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaws, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, and Carrs, as well as meal kit company Plated based in New York City. Albertsons Companies is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2018 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the company gave $262 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities and veterans outreach. This information is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise. It is for information purposes only. No Reis & Irvys franchises will be sold to any resident of any state until the offering has been exempted from the requirements of, or duly registered in and declared effective by, such state and the required FDD (if any) has been delivered to the prospective franchisee before the sale in compliance with applicable law. Currently, the following states in the United States regulate the offer and sale of franchises: California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. If you reside in one of these states, or even if you reside elsewhere, you may have certain rights under applicable franchise laws or regulations. Cautionary note on forward-looking statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements concerning our future financial performance, including statements regarding: our ability to generate revenue and recognize deferred revenue; our ability to timely launch delivery and installation of our frozen yogurt robots; and our ability to grow our franchising and licensing divisions and launch our corporate-owned and direct sales platforms. The Company bases these forward-looking statements on its current expectations, estimates and projections about future events and the industry in which it operates using information currently available to it. Actual results could differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as believe, anticipate, propose, expect, intend, plan, will, may, estimates, variations of such words and other similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this press release are set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2018, our Quarterly Reports, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. Be advised that developments subsequent to this press release are likely to cause these statements to become outdated and the Company is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Pune, India, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Market Research Future (MRFR)s study has found out that the Global Oilfield Biocides Market is anticipated to strike a CAGR of 7.33% across the projection period 2018 to 2023. Its valuation has been estimated to reach USD 5,85,143.0 thousand towards the end of the assessment period. The primary factors expected to drive the expansion of the market globally is the growth of the oil & gas sector. After the price erosion witnessed in 2014, OPEC endeavored to recover its growth pace by restricting its supply. This worked in favor of the leaders, and the industry is expected to continue on its growth trajectory over the next few years, thus, increasing demand for biocides. Rapid industrialization and urbanization being observed in the fast-developing economies, such as India and China, call for massive consumption of energy. The towering demand for energy is likely to accelerate activities in the oil & gas industry. This, in turn, is projected to have a favorable impact on the growth pattern of the market owing to the growing need for the prevention of bacteria formation. Receive Free Sample @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/7760 The growth of the Oilfield Biocides Market is also fueled by the expansion of end-user industries such as aerospace, automotive, and petrochemicals. Proliferating applications of oil & gas across these industries is anticipated to augment the market over the next couple of years. On the flip side, the shift witnessed towards the adoption of renewable energy sources as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels is expected to impede the market expansion in the foreseeable future. Key Players: The noted players operating in the Global Oilfield Biocides Market are DowDuPont (US), BASF SE (Germany), Solvay (Belgium), Lonza (Switzerland), Stepan Company (US), Schulke & Mayr GmbH (Germany), Kemira Oyj (Finland), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Pilot Chemical Corp (US), BWA Water Additives (UK), and Nouryon (Egypt). Latest Industry News: Argentina has recently awarded permits for the exploration of hydrocarbons in 18 places off its southern coast. The winning companies, including but not limited to ExxonMobil, YPF SA, Total SA, and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, offered bids amounting to USD 724 Mn. A provider of production optimization software to the oil & gas industry, Tachyus, has raised a funding of USD 15 Mn for the expansion of its oil & gas AI platform. Browse the market data and information spread across 171 pages with 203 data tables and 36 figures of the report Oilfield Biocides Market Report - Forecast 2018-2023 in-depth alongside table of content (TOC) at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/oilfield-biocides-market-7760 Market Segmentation: This MRFR report offers an exhaustive segmental analysis of the Global Oilfield Biocides Market based on Type and Application. Based on Type, the market has been segmented into THPS [tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium sulfate], glutaraldehyde, TTPC [tributyl tetradecyl phosphonium chloride], QAC (quaternary ammonium compounds), bronopol, DBNPA, and others. Among these, the glutaraldehyde segment is anticipated to scale USD 1,46,648.4 thousand by the close of 2023. Its ability to penetrate through biofilms and eliminate microorganisms is anticipated to drive the demand generating force in the segment. On the other hand, the DBNPA segment is projected to expand at a comparatively higher CAGR of 7.34% over the review period. The Oilfield Biocides Market, by Application, has been segmented into upstream, midstream, and downstream. The upstream segment dominated the market in 2017 and is projected to scale valuation of USD 3,13,579.5 thousand by the end of 2023. The segment is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 7.31% across the projection period 2018 to 2023. The Middle East & Africa expected to observe a steep rise in the growth curve The regional analysis of the Global Oilfield Biocides Market spans across North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). North America accounted for the lions share of the market in 2017 accounting for 45.9% share. Led by the U.S., the regional market is expected to scale a CAGR of 7.19% between 2018 and 2023. Asia Pacific, which stood at the second spot with 23.1% market share in 2017, is expected to strike a healthy CAGR during the assessment period. China is anticipated to account for the maximum share of the Oilfield Biocides Market in the region with India reflecting a comparatively higher CAGR of 7.81% across the review period. The Middle East & Africa (MEA) resonates strong opportunities for growth due to the rising exploration activities being carried on in the region. The study indicates that the regional Oilfield Biocides Market is projected to touch a valuation of USD 51,093.9 thousand, striking a CAGR of 8.22% over 2023. Make an Enquiry before Buying this Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/7760 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), & Consulting Services. 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. 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. The 50-something man with a shaved head and brown eyes was unresponsive when the paramedics wheeled him into the emergency room. His pockets were empty: no wallet, no cellphone, not a single scrap of paper that might reveal his identity to the nurses and doctors working to save his life. His body lacked any distinguishing scars or tattoos. Almost two years after he was hit by a car on busy Santa Monica Boulevard in January 2017 and transported to Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center with a devastating brain injury, no one had come looking for him or reported him missing. The man died in the hospital, still a John Doe. Hospital staffs sometimes must play detective when an unidentified patient arrives for care. Establishing identity helps avoid the treatment risks that come with not knowing a patients medical history. And they strive to find next of kin to help make medical decisions. "Were looking for a surrogate decision-maker, a person who can help us," said Jan Crary, supervising clinical social worker at L.A. County+USC, whose team is frequently called on to identify unidentified patients. The hospital also needs a name to collect payment from private insurance or government health programs such as Medicaid or Medicare. ADVERTISEMENT But federal privacy laws can make uncovering a patients identity challenging for staff members at hospitals nationwide. Picking through personals At L.A. County+USC, social workers pick through personal bags and clothing, scroll through cellphones that are not password-protected for names and numbers of family or friends, and scour receipts or crumpled pieces of paper for any trace of a patients identity. They quiz the paramedics who brought in the patient or the dispatchers who took the call. They also make note of any tattoos and piercings, and even try to track down dental records. Its more difficult to check fingerprints, because thats done through law enforcement, which will get involved only if the case has a criminal aspect, Crary said. Unidentified patients are often pedestrians or cyclists who left their IDs at home and were struck by vehicles, said Crary. They might also be people with severe cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimers, patients in a psychotic state or drug users who have overdosed. The hardest patients to identify are ones who are socially isolated, including homeless people whose admissions to hospitals have grown sharply in recent years. In the past three years, the number of patients who arrived unidentified at L.A. County+USC ticked up from 1,131 in 2016 to 1,176 in 2018, according to data provided by the hospital. If a patient remains unidentified for too long, the staff at the hospital will make up an ID, usually beginning with the letter "M" or "F" for gender, followed by a number and a random name, Crary said. Other hospitals resort to similar tactics to ease billing and treatment. In Nevada, hospitals have an electronic system that assigns unidentified patients a "trauma alias," said Christopher Lake, executive director of community resilience at the Nevada Hospital Association. ADVERTISEMENT HIPAA hiccups The deadly mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert in October 2017 presented a challenge for local hospitals who sought to identify the victims. Most concertgoers were wearing wristbands with scannable chips that contained their names and credit card numbers so they could buy beer and souvenirs. On the night of the shooting, the final day of a three-day event, many patrons were so comfortable with the wristbands that they carried no wallets or purses. More than 800 people were injured that night and rushed to numerous hospitals, none of which were equipped with the devices to scan the wristbands. Staff at the hospitals worked to identify patients by their tattoos, scars or other distinguishing features, as well as photographs on social media, said Lake. But it was a struggle, especially for smaller hospitals, he said. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a federal law intended to ensure the privacy of personal medical data, can sometimes make an identification more arduous because a hospital may not want to release information on unidentified patients to people inquiring about missing persons. In 2016, a man with Alzheimers disease was admitted to a New York hospital through the emergency department as an unidentified patient and assigned the name "Trauma XXX." Police and family members inquired about him at the hospital several times but were told he was not there. After a week during which hundreds of friends, family members and law enforcement officials searched for the man a doctor who worked at the hospital saw a news story about him on television and realized he was the unidentified patient. Hospital officials later told the mans son that because he had not explicitly asked for "Trauma XXX," they could not give him information that might have helped him identify his father. Prompted by that mix-up, the New York State Missing Persons Clearinghouse drafted a set of guidelines for hospital administrators who receive information requests about missing persons from police or family members. The guidelines include about two dozen steps for hospitals to follow, including notifying the front desk, entering detailed physical descriptions into a database, taking DNA samples and monitoring emails and faxes about missing persons. ADVERTISEMENT California guidelines stipulate that if a patient is unidentified and cognitively incapacitated, "the hospital may disclose only the minimum necessary information that is directly relevant to locating a patients next-of-kin, if doing so is in the best interest of the patient." Wanted man At L.A. County+USC, most John Does are quickly identified: They either regain consciousness or, as in a majority of cases, friends or relatives call asking about them, Crary said. Still, the hospital does not always succeed. From 2016 to 2018, 10 John and Jane Does remained unidentified during their stays at L.A. County+USC. Some died at the hospital; others went to nursing homes with made-up names. But Crary said she and her team pursue every avenue in search of an identity. Once, an unidentified and distinguished-looking older man with a neatly trimmed beard was rushed into the emergency room, delirious with what was later diagnosed as encephalitis and unable to speak. Acting on a gut instinct that the well-groomed man must have a loved one who had reported him missing, Crary checked with police stations in the area. She learned instead that this John Doe was wanted in several states for sexual assault. "He was done in by a mosquito," Crary mused. "It is a case that I will never forget," she added. "The truth is that I am more elated when we are able to identify a patient and locate family for a beautiful reunification rather than finding a felon." Minnesota Public Radio will broadcast "All Things Considered" live from the Rochester Art Center May 29. The show, hosted by Tom Crann, will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The program is open to the public. Then, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Crann will moderate a discussion on the topic of childhood trauma. The discussion is intended to help people understand the detrimental health effects childhood trauma can have on individuals throughout their lives, and how that trauma can affect families and communities living with toxic stress. Members of the panel are Anne Gearity, of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Minnesota Medical School; Resmaa Menakem, a culture trauma expert and author; and Denise Moody, assistant director of student services at Rochester Public Schools. Admission is free, but registration is required through brownpapertickets.com. ADVERTISEMENT The event is part of MPRs Call to Mind initiative, coinciding with National Mental Health Month. The Rochester Art Center is at 40 Civic Center Drive SE. The stone-cold killer in a bespoke bulletproof suit is back and if you thought John Wick was good with a pencil, you should see what he can do with a book of Russian folklore in the stacks of the New York Public Library. The same goes for axes, guns, katanas, a lot of knives and even a few helpful horses as Keanu Reeves racks up the bad guy body count in "John Wick: Chapter 3 Parabellum." The latest installment of Lionsgates R-rated franchise about an ex-hit man killing his way back to a clean slate picks up right where 2017s "John Wick 2" left off and mostly follows a relentless breakneck pace until the credits roll. It stumbles only when the action slows down to send the antihero on a clumsy side quest in search of character motivation instead of another fight. He is the Boogeyman, the underworlds "Baba Yaga," a man of few words; expository dialogue isnt his strongest means of communication. Thats what fists are for. That said, John Wick could use a moment to catch his breath. Technically the reluctantly un-retired assassin is still a grieving widower who only lost his wife, Helen, something like a few weeks ago in movie time, as seen in the New Jersey-to-Brooklyn rampage of 2014s "John Wick." That film, by comparison, was a downright contained moral fable about a guy with a cool car avenging his puppy. But theres no rest for the wicked, or for lucrative Hollywood franchises. Each "John Wick" movie has upped the ante, the destruction, and the texture of the secret society of killers who rule from the shadows with their sacrosanct laws of civility and engagement. So too has the sophistication of its action storytelling matured now that Wick has a deeper awareness of what hes really fighting for. ADVERTISEMENT To rewind: Pulled out of retirement by the Russian mobsters who stole his car and killed his dog, legendary hit man Wick unleashed hell on the underworld from whence he came in the first film. His past continued to haunt him in the lore-expanding "John Wick 2" as he crossed the High Table the governing guild of killuminati that enforce the rigid bylaws of contract killing and spilled blood on the sacred grounds of the Continental, a five-star hotel for killers. He was deemed "ex-communicado" and off-limits to those who might help him. As "Parabellum" opens moments later, hes unleashed onto the streets of New York City, bloody and presumably very tired, with a $14-million bounty on his head and an hours head start. In this heightened world, all of Wicks adversaries get a push notification alerting them of the news. Wick smartly sends his new canine companion off to safety and very suddenly has to fend off wave upon wave of highly trained thugs. The nonstop flurry of beautifully crafted fight scenes that follows tests both the threshold of the human body to withstand stabby, slicing, bone-crunching violence and the threshold of the audiences ability to watch said violence. Then again, watching Reeves outfight everyone on the planet always dressed to kill is precisely why these films exist. "Parabellum" unfurls some of the franchises most memorable and varied action to date, including a speeding motorcycle sword fight that owes a marker to recent Korean import "The Villainess," a glass-smashing showdown against "The Raid" silat masters Yayan Ruhian and Cecep Arif Rahman and an opening face-off against Philadelphia 76ers center Boban Marjanovic. Another early highlight is an extended showdown in a Chinatown antiques store, during which Wick and the squad of elite killers bent on offing him run out of weapons only to realize theyre fighting in a roomful of knives behind display cases. Directed by stunt pro-turned-returning helmer Chad Stahelski with stunt choreography by Jonathan Eusebio and Scott Rogers, "Parabellum" bursts with the series usual sleek and squishy top-notch action, and the healthy dose of the winking humor that breaks Wick and his cronies out of the bounds of the genre. ADVERTISEMENT The script by Derek Kolstad, Shay Hatten, Chris Collins and Marc Abrams expands the Wickverse in intriguing new directions with familiar faces and strong additions to the colorful ensemble of characters. Its fun to spend more time with both Ian McShane, as Winston, the proprietor of the Continental Hotel with a fondness for Wick, and Lance Reddick as Continental concierge Charon, who gets to do more than bemusedly survey the clientele this time around. Reeves "Matrix" costar Laurence Fishburne also returns as the pigeon-crazy Bowery King, while Sa Ad Taghmaoui is a new mysterious figure Wick meets on his international odyssey visiting different oddballs of the underworld. Anjelica Huston joins in as the Director, the tough and exacting head of a Ruska Roma ballet company staffed with tattooed ballerinas and operatives-in-the-making, and whose retconned connection to Wick provides key passage to his future. Make no mistake, this is John Wicks universe. Even the killers on his tail are comically in awe of his celebrity status most of all Zero, a sushi chef by day/shinobi by night played with scene-stealing zest by Mark Dacascos ("Only the Strong," "Double Dragon"). Less impressed but no less obsessed is Asia Kate Dillons no-nonsense Adjudicator, a High Table auditor in Thierry Mugler doling out penance for those sympathetic to Wick. A few of these characters, with their eccentricities and arch deliveries, could convincingly carry their own spinoffs. None deserve one more than Halle Berrys Sofia, an ex-assassin with two loyal Belgian Malinois whose screen time more than sets up a stand-alone of her own. The Oscar-winning actress stalks into the Wickverse hinting at a loaded back story, and as the evenly matched pair team up for a thrilling midpoint action sequence, the film flirts with transcendence. In the breathtaking centerpiece, Berry and Reeves move wordlessly in concert with her attack canines across a perilous Moroccan marketplace at night, felling their enemies in mesmeric synchronicity. Stahelskis direction, judicious editing from Evan Schiff and cinematography by Dan Laustsen create an atmosphere ripe with danger and immediacy and let the meticulous fight choreography and balletic ballistics breathe in wide, long shots. ADVERTISEMENT Whats physically writ onscreen amid the furious fists, flying bullets and wall-to-wall gun-fu enriches and advances both character and story. Sofias palpable connection to her two beloved dogs underscores the franchises founding principle that even assassins who have closed off their humanity in order to do their job should always have a soft spot for the pups they love. Even if its themes of loyalty vs. fealty and art vs. religion may not fully cohere, "Parabellum" mounts another argument asking us to take action cinema as seriously as the Caravaggio paintings, Tarkovsky references and tattooed ballerinas with bleeding toes that adorn the margins of this operatic symphony of carnage. Reeves and Stahelski have worked closely since the director was his stunt double on "The Matrix," and their shorthand makes the star an instrument of kinetic movement and destruction, the paintbrush splattering CG squibs across the canvas. Look past the aggressive rock bro riffs of Tyler Bates score and the "John Wick" movies speak a subtle dialect of fluent, artful action like few other franchises in Hollywood. "Parabellum" excels when it tees up the sublimely inventive and wince-inducing close-quarters fights with the lethally graceful Reeves baring John Wicks psyche and soul between reloads and headshots. How far the saga can continue to spin arias out of that tune remains to be seen. With nearly 900 cases of measles reported so far this year in 24 states , Olmsted County commissioners are willing to take steps to make sure more students are immunized for measles. "To me, in my simple farmer mind, this is easy," Olmsted County Board Chairman Jim Bier said. "We have something thats worked for 40 years. There is no excuse not to get your kids immunized. "Now if your immune system is compromised or something like that, we can talk." The measles has been reported as nearby as Iowa, where two cases were diagnosed last month, according to Olmsted County Public Health. That raises concerns about a spread of the disease to our area, and Bier and other commissioners indicated theyd back an ordinance to mandate vaccinations, if possible. County Public Health Director Graham Briggs said hes trying to determine if thats a viable option. ADVERTISEMENT "I am curious to see if we have the ability to add to the state-level statute," he said. While 95 percent of Olmsted County kindergartners have been vaccinated, Briggs said two schools have rates as low as 70 percent. "We know there are some philosophical issues with some schools in particular," he said. Students are required to provide proof of vaccinations when enrolling, unless they seek a medical, philosophical or religious exemption. Briggs wouldnt name specific schools with low rates, but said immunization rates are high in most of the countys public schools. He said public health staff continues to educate parents in schools were immunization rates are lower. Commissioner Sheila Kiscaden noted increased education proved helpful in 2017 when the state saw an outbreak that eventually sickened 79 people, mostly children under 10 years old. She said efforts appeared to benefit Minneapolis Somali community, which was hit hard by the outbreak. Sixty-four cases were within the population, mostly in unvaccinated individuals. While it was before his time in Olmsted County, Briggs said county public health staff worked with the local Somali community during the outbreak to increase awareness of the importance of immunizing against measles. ADVERTISEMENT He said increasing the vaccination rate is crucial. "Its the most infectious disease we deal with at public health," he said The vaccination is 97 percent effective with the recommended two doses. While that means some people could still become sick after being immunized, Briggs said the high vaccination rate in most schools means its less likely to spread among students. In addition to reaching out to schools where immunization rates are low, Briggs said the county has been providing information to day cares and preschools, as well as medical providers, to encourage them to be on the lookout for signs of measles. Bier said he wants to make sure the message is strong enough to make a difference. "I think we need to send a strong message from the county board that if we dont increase this somehow or another or come to some resolution, then we are going to have to look at some alternatives," he said. Highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus. It can result in serious health complications, such as pneumonia or encephalitis (swelling of the brain), or even cause death. ADVERTISEMENT An estimated 9 in 10 people who are not immunized with become infected by measles if exposed to it. In 2017, measles caused about 110,000 deaths worldwide. About 1 in 100 children with measles will die from the disease or its complications. This year through May 17, 880 cases of measles have been reported in 24 states. None of the cases was in Minnesota. It is the greatest number of cases reported in the U.S. since 1994 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000. Last year, 372 cases were reported. Source: Centers for Disease Control It appeared to be a victory for divided government. When Gov. Tim Walz and the House Democratic and Senate GOP majorities leaders announced their $48 billion budget deal Sunday evening, it was a hopeful sign. Divided government can work, it suggested. But frustration and grumbling among rank-and-file lawmakers, particularly among House Republicans, is dampening that view. Not enough perhaps to derail the global agreement reached by Walz and DFL and GOP legislative leaders, but enough to slow the process down. Stung by the reinstatement of the provider tax and the fact that House Republican minority leader Kurt Daudt was frozen out of the end-of-session talks, GOP state representatives are fuming. "We have been shut out of the process. There is no transparency," said state Rep. Greg Davids, a Preston Republican. "The Democrats ran on being more transparent, and they have failed miserably." ADVERTISEMENT On Monday, the clock ran out on the session, and word on when a special session might start is unclear. Some legislators are referring to Walz, DFL House Speaker Melissa Hortman and GOP Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka as the "tribunal," for the way they are having final say on policy and fiscal matters. Though financial targets have been set, individual conference committees still have to decide how those dollars will be spent. And it will be the tribunal that will ultimately decide on that and policy matters, legislators said. "Apparently, whats going on right now, is that the three leaders are deciding everything," said DFL Rep. Gene Pelowski of Winona. For Pelowski, the closed-door decision-making at the top signaled a further erosion of the conference committee process, a further step away from an open process. Divided goverment didnt work this session, because "we didnt complete our work, and were going into special session," Pelowski said. When the session opened last January, Walzs proposed gas tax increase and the provider tax that helps fund health care programs were destined to define the session. In the end, the three leaders each took half a loaf. Walz yielded on his gas tax hike and Senate Republicans agreed to a reinstatement of the provider tax, albeit at a lower rate. Republicans also won an income tax cut for middle-class Minnesotans, and both sides sides claimed credit for additional spending in education. But the decision has roiled GOP House members, who strongly oppose giving in on the provider tax, a 2 percent levy on health care providers that was supposed to end in 2020. The agreement sets the tax at a slightly lower 1.8 percent. ADVERTISEMENT For Rep. Nels Pierson, a Stewartville Republican who has battled to kill the tax for much of his legislative career, its continuation is galling. "This will make health care more expensive for every patient in Minnesota, whether it be those going to Mayo Clinic in our area or those accessing treatment at any other clinic or hospital around the state," Pierson said. Sen. Carla Nelson, a Rochester Republican, said the taxs reinstatement also gave her "heartburn," and left her unsure how she would vote on the tax bill when it comes up in a special session. GOP House members are also incensed that the deal includes a $500 bonding bill, which will need GOP support for it to pass the 60 percent threshold in the House. That puts the bonding bill in doubt. Davids said there can be no agreement on a bonding bill when the House lacks the votes to pass it. The situation has exposed a divide between House and Senate Republicans. Senate Republicans are more comfortable with the deal, because their guy, Gazelka, was in the negotiating room. Sen. Dave Senjem, a Rochester Republican, says his caucus was opposed to the provider tax, too, but eventually relented given the reality of balancing the $48 billion budget. It was either accept the gas tax or the provider tax, but it wasnt realistic to resist both. The GOP controls only the Senate and that by a two-vote margin. "It was the gas tax or the provider tax, and we took the provider tax and held firm on the gas tax," Senjem said. "It was pick your poison." Although shut out of the talks, the minority House GOP does have weapons at its disposal. It can withhold votes on a bonding bill, essentially killing it. They can also draw out a special session by refusing to suspend House rules that would allow the chamber to take up bills without waiting three days. ADVERTISEMENT "They can make things pretty miserable in the House just by prolonging the agony," Senjem said. "Its a matter of how far they go politically and what the backlash is." The news was explosive. The package was not. An explosive-looking device, brought to the Rochester Police Departments North Precinct Tuesday morning by an employee of an antique shop, turned out not to be explosive. An employee of Red Rooster Antique shop brought an item that looked like three sticks of dynamite with a timer to the North station shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to Rochester Police. The item came from a box of military-type things the antique store had purchased from two women who said they were cleaning out their grandmothers house, Capt. Casey Moilanen said. The store bought the box the week before, but the employee didnt find the item until Tuesday. The employee did not believe the device was real, but was unsure what to do with it, so he brought it to police, Moilanen said. Police said there was no ill intent but would like to speak with the women who sold the box to learn more about the item. ADVERTISEMENT The St. Paul Police bomb squad was called to investigate the item. The North Precinct was evacuated as a precaution and portions of the roads around the station were closed as well. No other buildings in the area were evacuated, as it was determined they would be out of the blast zone if the device actually was explosive. The bomb squad arrived around 12:30 p.m. Prior to its arrival, Rochester police officers were able to send pictures of the item to bomb squad investigators. The device was not brought into the building. The item was removed from the precinct using a robotic device. The bomb squad took it back to St. Paul for further investigation where it was determined to be non-explosive, Moilanen said. The Rochester Police Department has multiple police dogs, including those trained in explosives detection, but the dog and his handler were not used. "In this situation, though, when we have a device that looks obviously explosive, we are not going to put the dog and the handler in close proximity to it," Lt. Tom Faudskar said. For those who may find something suspicious, Faudskar said, "In general, no matter what the item is whether it looks like it is related to drugs, or firearms or explosives if you find something, give us a call and have us come out to you, come out to the scene to do the analysis of it. Dont pick it up and bring it in." Prices for corn and soybeans slid to 10-year lows the first week of May amid trade tensions with China. If past is prologue, China will respond to increased U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports with reciprocal tariff hikes of their own on imports of U.S. soybeans, in particular. This expectation, combined with already low export demand and high U.S. stocks of feed grains, is leading some analysts to conclude that U.S. farmers need to produce 10 million fewer acres of soybeans for prices to recover. Fat chance of that happening. Since the Richard Nixon era, export growth has replaced supply control as the primary means of supporting corn, soybean and wheat prices. Begun in the 1970s when prices soared in response to unexpected grain purchases by Russia, the export-driven policy approach, buttressed with direct payments, subsidized crop insurance, etc., has reigned supreme ever since. Before the 70s, the U.S. government supported farm prices by managing supply. Farmers would reduce planted acreage by 5 or 10 percent to support prices at target levels. And, since that seldom was enough, the government invented food aid to take additional supplies off the market. ADVERTISEMENT On May 10, Trump tried to reassure farmers that his administration would move to support farm prices by purchasing large quantities of grain to distribute abroad to "starving, poor countries" as food aid. This approach, which harkens back to the 1950s, today is viewed as deplorable by students of economic development. "Dumping" surplus commodities on poor regions disrupts local food markets and, in the long run, creates dependency. It also violates international trade rules. But it may take some pressure off international prices. Perhaps the next idea to surface will be to reinstate supply controls take enough land out of production to remove the "market overhang" that keeps prices in the doldrums. Its a core policy of the National Farmers Union. If acreage is not simply idled, but put to conserving uses, as with the Soil Bank of the Eisenhower era, public support could be substantial. Free-market advocates, including multinational grain companies, used to deplore supply management for surrendering world markets to competing countries such as Argentina and Brazil. But gung-ho export enthusiasm may not agree with todays protectionist trade climate. Managing U.S. supply through acreage controls seems like a better match. MENLO PARK, Calif., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Silicon Valley-based smart nursery company Hatch Baby released its first annual family sleep report, highlighting several factors that are causing numerous U.S. parents to lose sleep. Hatch Baby partnered with trusted data survey company Ipsos to discern prominent sleep habits, feelings about sleep in the household and sleep training techniques among families around the country. Its no secret that parents are often sleep-deprived, which can significantly impact other aspects of their daily lives, said Ann Crady Weiss, co-founder and CEO of Hatch Baby. Through this survey, we are pleased to uncover the latest sleep patterns of todays family because the more we understand about family sleep cycles and routines, the more we are able to improve sleep for parents and kids alike. By providing reliable resources and guidance to parents, we believe that consistent and healthy sleep patterns are attainable for families across the U.S. Hatch Babys report shares information around leading causes for sleep loss, as well as strategies to combat lack of sleep for all members of the family. Over 1,000 U.S.-based parents with children from ages 0 - 18 participated in the survey, with the collected data revealing the following key takeaways: Kids Cause Parents (and Kids) to Lose Sleep One in four (25%) parents today are only getting 3-5 hours of sleep per night. (25%) parents today are only getting 3-5 hours of sleep per night. New baby arrivals are a big disruptor for the whole family. One in five (20%) parents welcoming a newborn to their family correlate an increased loss of sleep for their other children in the household. But Who is Missing The Most Sleep? Over half of Millennial parents are much more susceptible to getting woken up by a child crying (52% of those age 18-34). of Millennial parents are much more susceptible to getting woken up by a child crying (52% of those age 18-34). And its not just tears that affect parents sleep cycle during the night. 47% of parents with a baby/toddler and 60% of parents with a preschooler reported that their sleep was disrupted when their child came into their room/bed during the night. What Parents Will Do for Sleep 77% of parents with children aged 5 and under would be willing to give up something they love or do something they dislike in exchange for a good nights sleep. 40% of parents were willing to give up social media for a month in exchange for one night of good sleep. 39% of parents were willing to sit in traffic for an hour to get a solid nights sleep. 30% of parents were willing to get dental work done for a good nights sleep. 33% of dads would be willing to cut their own hair, while only 19% of moms would be willing to do the same. The Stresses of Parenting While more than half of parents (52%) list finance management as a top stresser, and 46% consider work/family balance their toughest task, sleep training children is also keeping parents up at night. One in five parents (20%) consider sleep training their kids the most challenging family life stressor ahead of doing taxes, maintaining friendships and potty training. list finance management as a top stresser, and consider work/family balance their toughest task, sleep training children is also keeping parents up at night. consider sleep training their kids the most challenging family life stressor ahead of doing taxes, maintaining friendships and potty training. Sleep training is rated as being especially difficult for Millennial parents, jumping to a quarter (27%) of Millennial parents listing sleep training as a top source of stress. listing sleep training as a top source of stress. Sleep training is also especially difficult for parents with a baby/toddler (42%), a preschooler (29%), and those who currently have three children (30%). Consistency is Key Nearly seven out of ten (68%) of parents say that maintaining a regular bedtime is key for creating healthy sleep habits. Getting to bed early (37%) and reading before bed (34%) round out the top three, though coming in at a distance. of parents say that maintaining a regular bedtime is key for creating healthy sleep habits. and round out the top three, though coming in at a distance. Bedtimes arent just for kids! Nearly six in ten parents (59%) say that they or their spouse/partner continue to be responsible for ensuring their teenagers complete a bedtime routine. Some children are naturally good sleepers and some need a little help learning the skill, said Jillian Dowling, certified Hatch Baby sleep expert. My best tip in this situation is to make sure all children learn to sleep well from a young age by implementing a consistent bedtime routine. Mom vs. Dad Moms are significantly more likely than dads to say that they are responsible for ensuring their children complete a bedtime routine and follow bedtime rules, regardless of the childs age. Nearly three-quarters (73%) of moms say that maintaining a regular bedtime is top of mind when it comes to creating healthy sleep habits. say that maintaining a regular bedtime is top of mind when it comes to creating healthy sleep habits. Dads are more likely to turn to online resources when informing themselves about creating healthy sleep habits - particularly when it comes to using specific websites (16% vs. 11% of moms), phone apps (12% vs. 6%) and group chats (7% vs. 3%). There is an overwhelming amount of information online in regards to healthy sleep habits, and a lot of conflicting information on top of that, said Nicole Cannon, certified sleep expert with Hatch Baby. When turning to online resources, look for a source that has science-backed information rather than just anecdotal evidence. Tools and Tricks of the Trade Roughly half of all parents (49% ) turn to online resources to inform themselves about creating healthy sleep habits for their family. ) turn to online resources to inform themselves about creating healthy sleep habits for their family. Roughly one in five have found that nightlights (23%), changing diapers before bed (22%), sound machines (19%) and feeding before bedtime (17%) work best for creating healthy sleep habits, while other factors are mentioned by fewer. have found that and work best for creating healthy sleep habits, while other factors are mentioned by fewer. Sound machines stand out as being particularly useful for parents with babies/toddlers (39% vs. 19% of all parents), while nightlights are among the top 5 strategies as selected by parents with preschoolers (37%), school-aged children (22%), and teenagers (14%). Establishing a routine is the key to creating healthy sleep habits for kids, said Cannon. White noise or pink noise from a sound machine is particularly beneficial to a child's bedtime routine because it acts as a cue that signals sleep time, in addition to providing a repetitive, even-toned sound that helps children fall asleep. The Hatch Baby Family Sleep Report is the first of an annual survey from Hatch Baby to track the progress of sleep health over time and best provide families with the advice they need to improve household sleep habits. Hatch Baby Methodology These are the findings from an Ipsos poll conducted April 9 - 15, 2019. For the survey, a sample of 1,006 parents ages 18 and over from the continental U.S., Alaska and Hawaii was interviewed online, in English. In order to qualify for the survey, parents had to have at least one child under the age of 18 living at home. About Hatch Baby Hatch Baby is a smart nursery company on a mission to make life easier for parents. Weve been there marveling at a growing belly, struggling to feed our babies, trying everything to get our kids to sleep. We know just how hard parenting can be, so weve created a suite of products and services to simplify the most important job youll ever have. Our featured product is the Hatch Baby Rest, a fully customizable smart night light, sound machine and Time-to-Rise indicator in one sleek device designed to help your child develop a healthy sleep routine. Launched in 2014 by parent entrepreneurs Ann Crady Weiss and Dave Weiss, and featured on Shark Tank in 2016, Hatch Baby is headquartered in Menlo Park. For more information, visit www.hatchbaby.com. About Ipsos Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. Ipsos ranks fourth in the global research industry. With offices in 89 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across five research specializations: brand, advertising and media; customer loyalty; marketing; public affairs research; and survey management. Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe. Media Contacts: Marissa Musso marissam@praytellagency.com Three PDFs accompanying this announcement are available at: http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/8f12f884-ad9f-4494-8bf4-64d10c75e64f http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/627b624e-469e-4e4a-9eb0-e6a2e0cea525 http://ml.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/ce73234a-9830-48a8-9077-8e1d4571f0d6 Pepper Lunch What: A teppan-style hybrid fast food restaurant with hearty food and huge portions Where: Located in the Ross Dress for Less wing of Micronesia Mall When: Open seven days a week, from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Prices: Most pepper rice and curry dishes are between $10 and $13 Contact: Call (671) 969-2333 Connect: Follow Pepper Lunch Guam on Facebook and Instagram @pepperlunchguam The Work Zone The new year is just days away. If youve had thoughts of pushing forward and advancing your interests in 2022, hopefully, we can help. Read more LONDON, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via OTC PR WIRE American Premium Water Corporation (OTC: HIPH) (APWC) announces the successful development of a CBD infused beer with the Companys proprietary Hydro Nano formulation, in partnership with Hanlons Brewery ( www.hanlonsbrewery.com ). The beer will go to market derived from Hanlons Citra IPA flavor and will initially be sold in bottle form to wholesalers before a wider rollout to pubs and restaurants. Rollout is expected by the end of next quarter. CEO American Premium Water Corporation, Ryan Fishoff commented, I am excited to announce the successful development of CBD infused beer! This is a validation of the investment and work we have put into developing our proprietary Hydro Nano formulation. I tasted the beer myself, it was great, there is a great CBD experience, there was very minimal taste, and there were no visible particles. We are going to be working to bring this product to market as soon as possible, its a top priority for the team. This will be a successful product, and I look forward to working with the Hanlons team on coordinating a sales and marketing strategy that will not only help with distribution, but help with brand awareness and promote the Companys mission to become the market leader for CBD-infused products globally. According to Mordor Intelligence, the European beer market is estimated to be around $185 billion in annual dollar volume. Industry giants Constellation Brands, Molson Coors and Heineken have announced plans to manufacture non-alcoholic CBD and THC beers in North America. The Companys partnership with Hanlons calls for the production of regular alcoholic beer infused with CBD. Export to the United States for distribution will also be explored. The partnership is projected to generate between $150,000 to $400,000 in annual revenue for the Company on a full year basis upon full launch of the product. Tanya Gullick, UK and Europe Managing Director for Business Development commented, This is an exciting development for the Company. It was great to sample the beer personally and taste the progress we have made. Developing this beer was a huge achievement for the Company, but now we look to raise the bar and set goals for distribution. Getting this product to market will help educate people about CBD in the UK and it will also drive brand awareness for LALPINA, contributing to our other brand initiatives as we concurrently launch our other products. The CBD market in the UK is wide open; we are pushing full-steam ahead to ensure that the Company is the market leader in CBD products in the UK. The visit to Hanlons was one of the many highlights of Mr. Fishoffs trip to the UK. The team also met with Lynne Franks and announced a partnership to market and manufacture CBD infused womens beauty and wellness products. Management also toured the Companys water production facility that will begin fulfilment of orders, including the initial two-container order. The executive team also met with other distributors and partners discussing potential wide-ranging relationships for the Company. The trip has reaffirmed fiscal guidance for fiscal year 2019 of $1 million of projected revenue. This was a very successful trip. I had the pleasure of meeting Lynne Franks, who is a true visionary for womens empowerment over here. I am excited to work with her developing a new brand of CBD infused womens wellness products that will form the market over here. It was great seeing the water production facility, it has the capacity to meet our needs, and has a first rate operations team. We are excited to kick off our initial order and build from there. The UK does not have a lot of CBD infused beverages, and getting the product to market in tandem with our other efforts will give the Company a real first to market advantage that I feel will solidify our standing as the premier CBD infused brand in the country. The Company has been very diligent in developing its technology and rolling out its product. We are doing things the right way, and sometimes the right way is not the fastest way; all is being designed to proper for long-term growth and the creation of shareholder value. I look forward to coming back here soon, and will keep shareholders informed of developments over here as they happen, concluded Mr. Fishoff About American Premium Water Corp. American Premium Water (OTC: HIPH) is a diversified luxury consumer products company focused on businesses in the health and beauty and biotech sectors. The company is focused on harnessing the powers of hydrogen and Nano technologies paired with cannabidiol (CBD) to treat health disorders and enhance quality of life. This business model aims to market emerging fashion brands by leveraging classic retail partners and incorporating disruptive blockchain technologies to expand the retail footprint. The companys portfolio includes the LALPINA Hydro and LALPINA Hydro CBD brands ( www.LalpinaInc.com ), LALPINA Productions, LALPINA Records, Canyon Create ( www.canyoncreate.com ), Vanexxe ( www.vanexxe.com ) and Gents ( www.gentsco.com ). Safe Harbor Notice Certain statements contained herein are forward-looking statements (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). American Premium Water Corporation cautions that statements made in this news release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made. These statements may address issues that involve significant risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions made by management. Actual results could differ materially from current projections or implied results. American Premium Water Corporation undertakes no obligation to revise these statements following the date of this news release. Additional details of the Company's business can be found in its public disclosures as a reporting issuer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission's ("SEC") EDGAR database. This press release is issued on behalf of the Board of Directors of American Premium Water Corporation. EAST COVENTRY Terry Marran was not standing outside the Ridge Fire Company to get votes. She wasnt there for any particular slate of candidates either. Marran was there to educate voters on the many ways in which gerrymandering can affect elections. She was one more than 400 volunteers from Fair Districts PA who manned more than 100 Pennsylvania polls on Tuesday working to educate voters about Redistricting Reform. They also collected names of voters who believe that legislators need to pass legislation that will lead to the creation of the Independent Citizens Commission to draw state legislative and congressional maps. The 2018 Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision that forced a redrawing of Pennsylvanias 18 Congressional district maps will expire in 2021 and the same Harrisburg legislative leaders whose district lines made Pennsylvania a national example of gerrymandering will once again be in charge unless a reform law is passed, according to Fair Districts PA. The result of the Democratic-majority courts redrawing of lines was that in last years elections, 18 seats from Pennsylvania split right down the middle, nine Republicans and nine Democrats. Thats compared to the 2016 Congressional elections, which tilted red with 13 Republicans and five Democrats winning office under districts drawn by GOP state lawmakers. Fair Districts is trying to build support for laws that would create a non-partisan citizens commission to draw the lines without consideration of political advantages for either party. Right now, House Bill B 23 has 90 co-sponsors (75 Democratic and 15 Republican). That bill would create an independent citizen commission for Congressional Districts by statute, according to Ruth Yeiser, of the Fair Districts PA Polling Place Outreach Team. House Bill 22 has 80 co-sponsors (64 Democratic and 16 Republican). That bill extends the commission to state legislative districts and protects congressional independent citizens commission by constitutional amendment, said Yeiser. Across the state yesterday, volunteers collected more than 8,500 signatures from voters who support redistricting reform. That brings our total to more than 64,000 Pennsylvanians who have signed our petition indicating their support of the creation of an independent citizens commission, she wrote in an email. We were at polls of three Montco state house representatives who have not demonstrated any public support for redistricting reform in this session or in last session. Those reps include Rep. Marcy Toepel (R-147th Dist.), Rep. Matt Bradford (D-70th Dist.) and Rep. Tim Hennessey (R-26th Dist.), Yeiser wrote. Yesterday, we collected 347 additional signatures in District 147 bringing the total number of redistricting reform supporters in District 147 to nearly 1,500. In District 26, we collected (between Chester and Montgomery County) 459 signatures bringing our total for District 26 to 586 redistricting reform supporters. And in District 70, we collected just over 500 signatures bringing our total for District 70 to 873, she wrote. I spoke to people wearing MAGA hats and military hats and Phillies hats. They all agreed an independent citizens commission for drawing our state legislative and congressional maps was a sensible and needed reform, said Yeiser who worked polls in Lancaster and Lycoming counties. Im furious at how politicians of both parties rig the system for unfair advantage, undermining our democracy. I got tired of feeling angry all the time, said Rhana Cassidy of Malvern, who volunteered at the East Coventry polls. It was so encouraging to see how responsive people were when I approached them as they left the polling place. Many knew about gerrymandering and were quick to sign; some wanted more information, and many asked good questions, said Marran, who came north from West Chester to work the polls. Everyone was gracious and willing to engage. And the representatives of both parties greeted voters put in the long hours, she said. Nearly all of the 64 voters she spoke with between 1 and 5 p.m. were very receptive. They all took the brochure and no one argued that the reform is not a good idea, said Marran. POTTSTOWN A man wanted for allegedly assaulting a police officer is in custody. On Tuesday at 1 p.m., officers from the Pottstown Police Department, the Montgomery County Violent Crime Unit and the Montgomery County SWAT-West Team arrested John Harris, 32, at the Quality Inn at 61 W. King St. in Pottstown. Harris was wanted for allegedly assaulting a Lower Pottsgrove Police officer on April 16, and dragging the officer for several feet while Harris fled in his vehicle. Lower Pottsgrove Police said in a report last month they identified Harris after an incident at Hilltop Estates. After receiving a call for a suspicious person, police said they noticed a man, later identified as Harris, passed out in a running car. Once officers were able to get him to exit the vehicle, police said they observed a handgun in the car and that Harris then repeatedly attempted to get back into the vehicle. Harris then allegedly started struggling with another officer who was trying to take him into custody, according to police. Harris was able to get back into the vehicle and police allege he then accelerated with the officer still clinging to him, dragging the officer across the ground and nearly striking the other responding officer with the car door, police said. Harris then allegedly struck two parked vehicles before fleeing the area. The officer then fell free from the moving vehicle, at which time police say Harris then stopped his car and ran from the area on foot. Police alleged Harris then broke into a nearby home, stole the keys to a vehicle and fled. Pottstown Police said in a release Tuesday that Harris has an extensive criminal history, dating back to 2000. The department stated he has been arrested 16 times in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Many of the arrests include gun and assault charges, according to authorities. Harris attempted to flee in a vehicle again on Tuesday and ended up crashing into the Quality Inn, police said. There are no injuries reported at this time. The damage to the building is being evaluated. Harris will have additional charges from Tuesdays incident. He is currently waiting arraignment on all charges. There werent too many lines at the polls Tuesday as typically light voter turn-out marked primary election contests. Some polling places, like the Ricketts Community Center in Pottstown, had only 55 votes cast by 3:30 p.m. Kathleen OConnor, the judge of elections there, said those voters who were showing up dealt patiently with the new paper balloting system instituted this year in Montgomery County. Across the Schuylkill River in Chester County, where paper ballots have been the norm for years, about 10 percent of East Coventrys population had cast a ballot by 5 p.m. said Judge of Elections Rebecca Elliott. Theyre coping, Majority Elections Inspector Diane Nash said of primary voters at Grace Lutheran Church in Pottstown. As long as the Russians cant get into it, Im happy, said one voter who declined to provide her name. Voter turnout was also light across Berks County. At FOX News Tucker Carlson dubbed attorney Michael Avenatti Creepy Porn Lawyer. CNN and MSBNC couldnt get enough of Avenatti trashing Trump. They treated him as a valued guest and highly credible critic of President Trump. Indeed, they all but invited to run for president. He fit right in to their nonstop Trump hatefest. The Free Beacons David Rutz thought to toted up the amount airtime CNN and MSNBC devoted to Avenatti. As of May 2018, Rutz found that Avenatti had appeared 108 times and received nearly $175 million in free media during his appearances on the networks over the previous two months. The excitement was palpable. In a fitting coda to his previous indictments, Avenatti was indicted today in the Southern District of New York based on charges of fraud and identity theft resulting in the transfer of part of a book advance owed to his client (i.e., Stormy Daniels). Having fraudulently secured the funds properly belonging to Daniels, Avenatti then spent the funds principally for his own personal and business purposes. The United States Attorney for the Southern District has posted a press release announcing the charges here. I have embedded the indictment below. Jim Geraghty comments on it here. Creepy Porn Lawyer is certainly a well-deserved nickname, but the guy is a lying scumbucket to boot. Maybe they amount to the same thing. In any case, Carlson has proved himself a better journalist and judge of character than everyone at CNN and MSNBC combined. u.s. v. Michael Avenatti 19 Crim 374 Indictment Batts by Scott Johnson on Scribd WASHINGTON DC, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Memorial Day kicks off the official start of summer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to remind you to prevent foodborne illness before you light up that grill and pack up the cooler. Hot and humid weather combined with outdoor activities, provide the perfect environment for harmful bacteria to multiply on food and make people sick. Fill your picnic basket with these items that will help keep your summer fun while handling food at your Memorial Day gathering: If running water is not available, bring soap, paper towels, hand sanitizer or moist towelettes. This will help keep your hands clean throughout the day especially after handling any raw meat or poultry. Avoid cross contamination by using clean plates and utensils. Dont place cooked food on a plate that once held raw meat or poultry. Bring a couple of portable coolers one for perishable foods and one for beverages filled with ice. Perishable items like raw chicken, burgers or appetizers like fresh salsa, guacamole or bean salads should be kept at 40F or below. Dont forget the food thermometer! Cook meat and poultry to the safe internal temperatures. Checking the temperature is the only way to know if your food is safe to consume. USDA recommended safe minimum internal temperatures are: Beef, pork, lamb and veal (steaks, roasts and chops): 145F with a three-minute rest time Fish: 145F Ground meats (beef, veal, lamb, pork): 160F Whole poultry, poultry breasts and ground poultry: 165F Bring the right amount of food that you will consume at your picnic, but if you still have some leftovers, dont leave them outdoors for more than 2 hours. Foodborne illnesses can be prevented by properly handling food at home or outdoors. Make sure to follow our four steps - Clean, Separate, Cook and Chill - to food safety all year and during special occasions like this Memorial Day holiday. Need more food safety information? Call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at (1-888-674-6854) Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, or email or chat at AskKaren.gov. ### NOTE: Access news releases and other information at FSIS website at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/recalls. Follow FSIS on Twitter at twitter.com/usdafoodsafety or in Spanish at: twitter.com/usdafoodsafe_es . USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). Attachment Our occasional correspondent Dave Begley was on hand when the obscure (John) Delaney clause in the field of Democratic presidential candidates brought his quixotic campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to Iowa this week (photo of Dave with Delany courtesy of Dave). Dave is a Nebraska attorney practicing elder law and estate planning in Omaha. Dave posed a question to Delaney from the small group gathered to hear him and filed this report: Today I depart from my regular format. I thought Power Line readers might find a genuine answer to my question interesting for personal reasons when they are facing long odds, if thats what I got: DDB: Congressman, you are a man of great achievement. You graduated from Columbia and Georgetown Law. You started two businesses and took them both public. You were elected to the House of Representatives. But right now, youre not doing so good. So how do you keep going? What motivates you? JD: Well, Im married to an amazing woman [some women chuckle] and I have four amazing daughters. And so actually thats what keeps me going in life. [Applause]. Good point and who could disagree with that? The candidate then used my question to make his pitch: JD: Listen, Ill tell you why I am running for president. Because the why really matters. To me thats the most important thing. I believe in my heart and soul that what Im running on, which is to bring the country together and start solving some of these problems that we all know are solvable and lead a country where we can rethink our future in a positive way. I really believe that. The odds have always been against me. When I started my first business you know how Donald Trump got 400 million bucks from his dad my dad helped me carry in the furniture. No one expected me to succeed. I was the youngest CEO in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. Ive created thousands of jobs. My businesses were well admired. When I first ran for Congress, no one said I could win. I believe I am going to win this. We have to beat Trump. Thats actually all that matters. I believe we have to beat him with a candidate that can win the center. This election is not going to be a turnout election. Were going to have a huge turnout. This election is going to be fought in the center. The candidate that wins that [the center] is going to win in 2020 and the candidate that wins that is one who can go toe-to-toe with Trump and kick his ass. [Applause]. Delaney seems to me a cross between Bobby Jindal and Carly Fiorina: Rhodes Scholar smart and with great business savvy. That combination, however, didnt even work in the Republican party. I dont see it would work in the Democrat primary. Delaney holds himself out as a big climate warrior. He proposes net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He wants to put a price on carbon and give it back to the people. He also spoke of subsidizing the new direct air capture industry. This apparently involves sucking carbon out of the air and then transporting it in pipelines that would be built parallel to existing oil and gas pipelines. I was surprised to hear that 70 percent of Florida Republicans believe in catastrophic anthropogenic global warming. Delaney purports to think he can swing the votes of Senators Rubio and Scott and voters in other coastal states. For a look at a carbon tax bill that Delaney supported, see Willis Eschenbachs Watts Up With That? post The Deutch energy tax. Delaney believes Americans and apparently illegal aliens have the right to own their own data and the right to digital privacy. I doubt that Google and Facebook would approve. He is, of course, in favor of universal health care. Since he is a union man, however, he doesnt favor a single payer system. I was also surprised to hear from a Georgetown Law graduate that since 60 percent of Americans allegedly get their news from social media there is a need to regulate it. The First Amendment applies to the New York Times, Facebook, President Trumps tweets and Power Line. In addition to his dystopian plan for net zero carbon emissions, he had one particularly eccentric idea: the US would essentially replicate the UKs Prime Ministers question time. Congress and the President would debate issues for three hours once every quarter. This may be a naked bid to enlist the support of C-SPAN aficionados. Recall how Salena Zito explained the disconnect between the elite media and the deplorables who voted for Trump: The media took Trump literally but not seriously, while voters took Trump seriously but not literally. Well, I was reading through Arthur O. Lovejoys classic The Great Chain of Being when I came across this passage in the middle of his excellent discussion of Plato and Socrates: It is true that [Plato] himself warns us that these [ideas of the Forms] are not to be taken literally; but this is not the equivalent to saying that they are not to be taken seriously. Who knew that Trumpism is just updated Platonism? And why, you may ask, did I have my nose in Lovejoys 1936 book in the first place? Well, I was punishing myself by reading more of Corey Robins The Reactionary Mind when I stumbled across this utterly inexplicable sentence: One will look in vain throughout the canon of the right for steady assurances of a Great Chain of Being. I begin to suspect that Prof. Robin is writing to us from some parallel universe where Mr. Spock has a goatee beard, because the canon of the right is overwhelmingly about nothing but the Great Chain of Being (because it is the left that rejects metaphysics for the most part), and I decided to dust off Lovejoys book just to make sure I hadnt somehow slipped into Dr. Robins Perverse Parallel Universe. I was right: I hadnt. Robin is, technically and clinically speaking, nuts. Though to be fair, most universities these days (Robin teaches at Brooklyn College) believe themselves to be in some kind of universe of their own making. Like many inmates at insane asylums everywhere. I wonder: Has Robin ever heard of a certain book called The Bible, beloved of many conservatives? It has a lot to say about the Great Chain of Being. From there, perhaps he might acquaint himself with a fellow named Aristotle. Footnotes to follow. I think I like this Greg Abbott guy who is governor of Texas: (Hat tip: Ed Driscoll, Instapundit.) Youll never guess what the UN is worried about now: How dare Amazon name their digital assistant Alexa! Alexa: How can we liberate you? How come I suspect Alexas answer will be essentially, Buy more things from Amazon! Chaser: The Climatistas are always telling us that their prescriptions wont shrink or slow economic growth, and wont significantly impinge on the lifestyle of citizens. To the contrary, if AOC is to be believed (okay, get your snorting out of the way now), the Green New Deal will make us all richer and more prosperous! So it is refreshing when the mask slips and they admit that actually, yes, we do want make you return to 19th century consumption levels. The answer: work less! Forget the four-day work week: how about a nine-hour work week? No, Im not making this up. From The Guardian: People across Europe will need to work drastically fewer hours to avoid disastrous climate heating unless there is a radical decarbonising of the economy, according to a study. The research, from thinktank Autonomy, shows workers in the UK would need to move to nine-hour weeks to keep the country on track to avoid more than 2C of heating at current carbon intensity levels. Similar reductions were found to be necessary in Sweden and Germany. . . The paper focuses on the emissions produced per industry in each economy but does not take into account other environmental advantages of reducing working hours, from less commuting to fewer goods produced and resources used. . . Heres my favorite bit: Emma Williams, a spokeswoman for the 4 Day Week campaign, said Wednesdays report highlighted the link between automation, reduced working hours and the climate emergency. In addition to improved wellbeing, enhanced gender equality and increased productivity, addressing climate change is another compelling reason we should all be working less. Passed along for what its worth (from Vox): PR-Inside.com: 2019-05-22 15:26:06 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 517 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Looking to Expand Business Presence in NortheastPINE BROOK, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Bantek, Inc. (OTC PINK: BANT) ("Bantek" or the "Company"), a distributor of products to the U.S. Government, an environmental services provider and reseller of drones and drone training, today announced the opening of an office/warehouse in Little Falls, New Jersey for its Howco Distributing Co. subsidiary.Michael Bannon, Bantek's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "opening a Howco location in central New Jersey make sense. The new Howco facility is near three major interstate highways (I287, I80 and I95) and situated in the heart of New Jersey's manufacturing center which provides an ideal location for us. Sales and profit growth drive our agenda, and this constitutes just one of our initiatives to achieve that end." Matt Wiles, Howco's Chief Operating Officer added, "We believe having a physical presence in New Jersey will enable Howco to compete for and win additional business as well as support our growth toward achieving our previously set business targets." About Howco Distributing Co.Howco Distributing, a subsidiary of Bantek, Inc., is a premier supplier of spare and replacement parts to a wide variety of Federal Government agencies, U.S. military prime contractors and commercial customers worldwide. Founded in 1990 and located in Vancouver, Washington, Howco's services encompass bid solicitation, contract management, packaging and logistics for construction, transportation, mining and heavy equipment spare and replacement parts to customers worldwide utilizing a wide variety of supply chain solutions. Howco was the winner of 2017 United States Department of Defense Logistics Agency's Commander's Choice Supplier Award and the 2012 United States Department of Defense Logistics Agency's Bronze Supplier Award.About Bantek, Inc.Bantek, Inc. (OTC: BANT), headquartered in Pine Brook, NJ., consists of three separate divisions. First, through Howco Distributing Co., we sell products primarily to U.S. Department of Defense. Second, through Drone USA we sell drone programs, which consists of drones, training, COA's and waivers and other drone-related services, to law enforcement, firefighters, security companies, local, state and our US government. Third, we sell insulation jackets, slates, and insulation services to hospitals, universities, and manufacturers.For additional information about Bantek, Inc. and its businesses, please visit:Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements in this press release may be considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include projections of matters that affect revenue, operating expenses or net earnings; projections of growth; and assumptions relating to the foregoing. Such forward-looking statements are generally qualified by terms such as: "plans, "anticipates," "expects," "believes" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or qualified. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking information. These factors are discussed in greater detail in our recent Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.Contact InformationIR@ bantekinc.com SOURCE: Bantek, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2019-05-22 18:32:03 Premium Offering Includes Industry Training and Certifications, Original Video Series, Exclusive Content and More SAN FRANCISCO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gainsight, the customer success company , announced today Pulse + , a digital subscription service for professional development, community, and career fellowship in the customer success industry. The subscription-based online media platform will combine premium eLearning and industry-grade certifications with exclusive content and behind-the-scenes stories of brands and thought leaders who exemplify the true spirit of customer success. Subscribers will have unlimited and exclusive access to a continuously-updated, year-round program of on-demand training, original video series, podcasts, and more. Pulse+ aims to develop and advance the careers of skilled and aspiring customer success professionals around the world. In 2015, Gainsight created Customer Success University to help customer success professionals learn and apply new skills to their business through courses, certifications, and training. Since then, it has evolved as Pulse Academy to become the leading customer success training program, educating over 8,000 people globally. At the same time, the role of Customer Success Manager has seen a 736 percent increase since 2015 and is now one of the top 10 fastest growing professions according to LinkedIn. As a result, Gainsight launched Pulse+ to support and develop the careers of customer success professionals at scale and across the globe - a necessary step to keep up with the growth of the profession. We realized that its important to foster a community of diverse perspectives and cutting-edge lessons from industry leaders and experienced practitioners who work every day on driving success for their customers," said Ruben Rabago, Chief Strategist of Pulse Customer Success Programs. Pulse+ allows us to encapsulate this special-sauce into a learning experience thats on-demand and delivered at scale, bringing highly curated content and certification learning paths into the daily flow of work. This initiative is a purposeful commitment by Gainsight to continue to advance the customer success profession worldwide." Pulse+ will offer courses in a broad range of customer success topics and areas of expertise, with new content added monthly. Initial courses will cover subjects including The Importance of Nailing the Handoffs, Product Must Be The Top Priority, and What to Present to your Board of Directors about CS. New courses will feature exclusive video series, supplemental materials, ask-me-anything sessions, peer discussions, and other related content to support meaningful educational experiences. The collection of content is designed to enable professionals with impactful learning through a curated selection of the top technical and business skills in the customer success industry. Subscribers will also have access to: Customer success training and certification: Subscribers can engage with customer success courses curated by subject matter experts and thought leaders, and then earn the most authoritative customer success certification in the industry. Premium, expert-level content on industry best practices New content every month for every skill level Preferred VIP and discounted ticket prices for Pulse events worldwide. I would highly recommend that anyone interested to learn or grow their knowledge of CS consider investing in the GS Pulse+ program they wont be disappointed. - Bryan W. Hochstein, Ph.D., Assistant Professor Of Marketing Although I've been a client success leader for several years, Pulse+ helped me create a consistent framework of industry best practices and terminology, and sparked new ideas that helped us move the needle as a team. - Shar Jordan, VP Of Client Experience, IBM Pulse Academy (included with Pulse+) is the most impactful investment we've ever made in our customer success team -- and, ultimately in our customers -- period. From "ah-ha" moments to take-home insights, we left with priceless lessons and materials that will guide our commitment to being a customer-centric business from the top-down." Paul M. Bernard, President and Chief Executive Officer, CallMiner The annual subscription is priced at $75/month. To celebrate the release of Pulse+ at Pulse 2019, anyone signing up before May 31, 2019, will receive a 50% discount to the first year of their subscription. Pulse+ is powered by eLearning partners Intellum, Allen Interactions, and EdgePoint Learning. About Gainsight: Gainsight is the leading SaaS solution helping companies retain customers and grow revenue by improving their customer success and product experience. The platform provides relevant customer information and predictive analytics and turns them into actionable insights that anticipate customer needs. Learn how leading companies like Adobe, Box, GE Digital and Workday use Gainsight to increase retention, expansion, and advocacy at www.gainsight.com . Contact: press@gainsight.com Approximately US$ 1.9 Bn ice cream processing equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of nearly 4% over 2019-2029. America and Europe & Central Asia are expected to remain prominent markets in terms of installation rate of ice cream processing equipment. Ice Cream Processing Equipment Market PR-Inside.com: 2019-05-22 13:35:39 Press Information Published by Abhishek Budholiya +1-347-918-3531 e-mail http://www.futuremarketinsights.com # 603 Words Abhishek Budholiya+1-347-918-3531 Future Market Insights, in its latest report titled, 'Ice Cream Processing Equipment Market: Global Industry Analysis 20142018 and Forecast 20192029,' offers key insights and analysis on the global ice cream processing equipment market. The research study conducts in-depth analysis and key market insights on the ice cream processing equipment market for the forecast period (20192029).Based on key insights, ice cream processing equipment is projected to experience substantial demand during the forecast period, due to the growing demand for ice cream, worldwide, owing to an increase in the per capita consumption of ice cream. The global ice cream processing equipment market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of nearly 4% during the forecast period.Request to Sample of Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-9542 Moulding Equipment to Lead the Way in Ice Cream Processing Machines IndustrySome of the common processes involved in ice cream wrapping include filling, capping, sealing, labelling, and packing. Among these, the most tedious and labor-intensive tasks are intimidating. For instance, packaging and wrapping are highly capable of impacting the look of any product, and thus, during the growth phase of a product, this is one of the most important areas to focus on. The first impression is everything while presenting a new product, especially in a competitive environment.Misplaced labels, wrinkled and crooked labels, and labels with bubbles are a common occurrence when not using a label applicator. A wrapping machine provides standardization, with a mere shift of not more than 1.5 mm around a mean central position. The modernization of equipment and standardization of the product are expected to significantly impact the ice cream processing equipment market positively over the forecast period.The moulding equipment is projected to lead the other machine variants in the global ice cream processing equipment market, followed by the extrusion equipment segment. In terms of growth rate, the continuous freezers equipment segment is expected to lead the market with a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period. Depending on the type of machine, hard ice cream processing equipment segment is projected to lead the ice cream processing equipment market by product type, accounting for high demand on a global level.Central Asia & Europe Markets to Demonstrate Above-average GrowthNorth America is a mature and prominent region with significant demand for ice cream processing equipment. Greater China is anticipated to emerge as a profitable and high growth region in the ice cream processing equipment market. The demand for ice cream processing equipment in these regions is also mainly driven by the rising per capita income of the population, changing eating habits, and rising spending on eating out.Europe and Central Asia are also anticipated to be above-average growth regions in terms of value and volume, owing to already established markets in these regions. The market in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) is projected to experience moderate growth over the forecast period, due to the region shaping up as a new manufacturing hub.Need more information about Report Methodology @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-9542 Vendor LandscapeThe ice cream processing equipment market is largely fragmented, owing to a large number of local and established players. The report provides details of some of the key players in the global ice cream processing equipment market, such as ROKK Processing Ltd, Tetra Pak Processing Equipment GmbH, Gram Equipment A/S, CARPIGIANI GROUP, Guangzhou Guangshen Electric Produce Co., Ltd., Goma Engineering Pvt. Ltd., ALFA LAVAL, Technogel S.p.A., Vojta s.r.o. CATTA 27 S.r.l., Ice Group, GEA Group Aktiengesellschaft, TEKNOICE S.R.L., Laief S.r.l., and Nanjing Puyuan Ice Cream Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd. PR-Inside.com: 2019-05-22 15:02:44 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 924 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DENVER, CO / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / International Cannabrands Inc. (CSE: JUJU) (the "Company") is pleased to have released the recently completed financial statements for La Vida Verde, Inc. ("LVV") - the northern California family of brands including La Vida Verde, Blank Brands and Skunkfeather. ICL acquired 51% of LVV in January 2019 for $6 million comprised of $3 million of cash and $3 million of common equity.For the calendar and fiscal year 2018, LVV generated $13.8 million in revenue, $2.5 million in gross margin, $1.6 million in Income from Operations and Net Income of $1.1 million. The financial statements of LVV have been filed as a schedule to the Company's Business Acquisition Report dated May 3, 2019, as amended and restated May 14, 2019, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com "We are tremendously pleased to have completed the La Vida Verde investment as projected and proud of the strong performance in the business. Our intention is that LVV will continue its growth through its family of brands and to also act as an increasingly important beachhead for all ICL brands in northern California" shared Steve Gormley, CEO of ICL.In addition LVV received its Annual Manufacturing License in California to April 2020. Bryce Berryessa, President of LVV explained: "There was a very low barrier to entry for temporary licenses in California, all you needed was local authorization. The bar for annual licenses is much higher as it requires intense disclosures, validation of processes, and multiple inspections by state officials. It is our expectation that many of the companies that received temporary licensing will not make it through to annuals." "ICL has already invested additional funds into LVV for equipment and personnel which is expected to more than double the manufacturing capacity of LVV. Further, we have helped fund the material expansion of the LVV sales team with a new VP of Sales, a full sales team and brand ambassador team targeting new dispensaries and a fully refreshed online presence. We believe these investments have the potential to increase gross margins through greater efficiencies and to substantially bolster revenue growth," added Mr. Gormley.LVV brought its expanded sales and marketing resources online at the end of the first quarter as part of its effort to replace an underperforming distributor relationship and to embark on a new distribution arrangement with Nabis announced early May (see press release dated May 6, 2019). Together, management believes it can materially increase market share in existing and new territories within California while enhancing profitability beginning in the second quarter of 2019.About La Vida Verde, Inc.In addition to LVV's wholesale flower, packaged flower, pre-rolls and blunts, its differentiating products include gummies, upscale protein bars, new chocolate forms and super cookies. LVV Brands currently include Skunk Feather Cannabis and Blank Brand. LVV has been operating in California since 2015, and currently has extraction, manufacturing and distribution capability. LVV is a leader in the extraction field, being one of the first to incorporate full spectrum testing in every product, testing for potency, terpenes, pesticides and residual solvents. Its concentrates are pharmaceutical grade and free of any pesticides, microbial contaminants, heavy metals or additives. LVV has recently doubled its manufacturing capability and has installed state-of-the-art technology. LVV believes that the best medicine starts with the food you eat and it takes pride in producing products for people who are search for a natural and healthy alternative for nurturing their bodies. All its products use only healthy fats, are vegan, organic, gluten-free, paleo friendly and low glycemic.About International Cannabrands (ICI)ICI's strategy centers on acquiring micro brands, distribution and specific manufacturing/cultivation companies in the cannabis space. The Company's business model is to generate revenue from cannabis cultivation, brands ranging from flower to edibles and from THC to CBD, oil extraction, ancillary products and apparel in the United States. ICI markets products with THC content where that practice has been legalized at the state level through either medicinal or full recreational use. ICI also markets products containing CBD in the US and internationally. ICI owns 51% of La Vide Verde, Inc. and has the exclusive rights to Julian Marley's JuJu Royal brand. The Company believes as the legal cannabis market evolves, high-quality, unique products will increasingly capture market share and provide a valuable platform for growth.International Cannabrands Contact:Steve Gormley Chief Executive Officer1045 Lincoln Street, #106 Denver, Colorado 80203Ph: (323) 828-4321 or steve.gormley@intlcannabrands.com Media Inquiries: media@ jujuroyal.net NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.Disclaimer concerning Forward-looking StatementsCertain statements included herein constitute 'forward-looking statements' relating to the performance of LVV and the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by management at this time, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties regarding the Company are described in its publicly-available disclosure documents filed by the Company on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com) . The forward-looking statements contained in this news release represent the Company's expectations as of the date of this news release, or as of the date they are otherwise stated to be made, and subsequent events may cause these expectations to change. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend, and undertakes no obligation, to update any forward-looking statements to reflect, in particular, new information or future events.SOURCE: International Cannabrands Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2019-05-22 14:31:34 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 581 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Ionix Technology, Inc. (OTCQB: IINX), ("Ionix Technology", "IINX" or "the Company"), a business aggregator in photoelectric display and smart energy fields, today announced that the company's management is scheduled to present at the 9th Annual LD Micro Invitational Conference, June 4-5, 2019, at the Luxe Sunset Hotel - Bel Air, California.The Company will be presenting at 11:20 AM PT on June 5th, 2019. The presentation will provide an overview of the company's business model, financial highlights and growth strategy. The management will also conduct 1-on-1 meetings at the conference.About LD MicroLD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space.What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into several influential events annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event).In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intraday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and micro-cap universe.For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information.About Ionix Technology, Inc.Ionix Technology, Inc. is a holding company that is principally engaged in the photoelectric display and smart energy industries. The company has four operating subsidiaries: Changchun Fangguan Photoelectric Display Technology Co., Ltd, a company which specializes in developing, designing, producing, and selling TN and STN LCD, STN, CSTN, and TFT LCD modules as well as other related products; Shenzhen Baileqi Electronic Technology Co., Ltd, a company which specializes in LCD slicing, filling, researching and designing, manufacturing and selling of LCD Modules (LCM) and PCBs; Lisite Science Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., a company engaged in the production of intelligent electronic devices; and Dalian Shizhe New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., a company engaged in photovoltaic power generation, electric vehicles and charging piles with corresponding operation and maintenance and three dimensional parking. Currently, IINX has embarked on the layout of industrialization and marketization of front end materials and back end modules of liquid crystal displays and applications of flexible folding display technology by taking Changchun Fangguan and Shenzhen Baileqi as production bases, to seize the market share of OLED high technology.To learn more, please visit our website: www.iinx-tech.com Safe Harbor StatementThis news release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future, and results of new business opportunities. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors, such as the inherent uncertainties associated with new business opportunities and development stage companies. Ionix Technology assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements. Although Ionix Technology believes that any beliefs, plans, expectations and intentions contained in this press release are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be accurate. Investors should refer to the risk factors disclosure outlined in Ionix Technology's annual report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other periodic reports filed from time-to-time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.IR Contact:Dragon Gate Investment Partners LLCTel: +1(646)-801-2803Email: iinx@ dgipl.com SOURCE: Ionix Technology, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2019-05-22 06:34:02 Marine Aquaculture and Seaweed Cooperation of ChinaASEAN Ocean University of China YAHUI YU mgbl_16@ouc.edu.cn From May, 17th to 18th in 2019, China-ASEAN Center for Joint Research and Promotion of Marine Aquaculture Technology and China Seaweed Base for International Science & Technology Cooperation established by Sun Yat-sen University and Ocean University of China held the Development of China-ASEAN Mariculture Industry Development Forum and Seaweed Cooperation Workshop in Zhuhai, China. 39 international representatives from 28 bodies that from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and other ASEAN countries and International organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), ASEAN Fisheries Education Network (ASEAN-FEN), Asia-Pacific Aquaculture Center Network (NACA), and more than 300 representatives from 100 educational, scientific and corporation units in China attended this conference. Representatives from Indonesian Seaweed Association, Jenderal Soedirman University, Diponegoro University, Bogor Agricultural University (Indonesia), Prince of Songkla University (Thailand), University of the Philippines Visayas, NACA, University of Malaya, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Marine Aquaculture Research and Development Center, Department of Aquaculture Development, Fisheries Administration (Cambodia), Sun Yat-sen University (China) and Ocean University of China attended the seaweed cooperation workshop. At the meeting, the current situation and development tendency of mariculture development in China and ASEAN was discussed, and the Declaration on Seaweed Cooperation was jointly launched, which laid a solid foundation for further promoting China-ASEAN cooperation in areas such as seaweed, especially in the joint laboratory construction, science and technology cooperation, talent training, technology demonstration and industrial cooperation. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190521006 PR-Inside.com: 2019-05-22 16:31:28 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 300 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 QUEBEC CITY, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Opsens Inc. ("Opsens" or the "Company") (TSX: OPS) (OTCQX: OPSSF), a company focusing mainly on physiological measurements such as Fractional Flow Reserve ("FFR") and Diastolic Pressure Ratio ("dPR") in interventional cardiology, will present at the LD Micro 9th Invitational investor conference on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 8:40 am PST. Louis Laflamme, Opsens' President and Chief Executive Officer, will give the presentation and host meetings with investors on both days the event will be held.The event will take place at the Luxe Sunset Hotel in Bel Air, California on June 4th and 5th.LD Micro is an independent resource in the microcap space. To register and attend the event, please visit https://www.ldmicro.com/events Investors wishing to schedule a meeting with Louis Laflamme should contact Marie-Claude Poitras at marie-claude.poitras@opsens.com View Opsens' profile on LD Micro: https://www.ldmicro.com/profile/OPS.TO News Compliments of ACCESSWIREAbout Opsens Inc. ( www.opsens.com or www.opsensmedical.com) Opsens focuses mainly on physiological measurements such as FFR and dPR in interventional cardiology. Opsens offers an advanced optical-based pressure guidewire that aims at improving the clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease. Its flagship product, the OptoWire, is a second-generation fiber optic pressure guidewire designed to provide the lowest drift in the industry and excellent lesions access. The OptoWire has been used in the diagnosis and treatment of over 60,000 patients in more than 30 countries. It is approved for sale in the United States, European Union, Japan, and Canada.Opsens is also involved in industrial activities in developing, manufacturing and installing innovative fibre optic sensing solutions for critical applications.Contact:Louis Laflamme, CPA, CA, Chief Executive Officer, 418.781.0333Robin Villeneuve, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer, 418.781.0333SOURCE: Opsens Inc. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaya Holdings, Inc. (OTCQB:KAYS), an integrated retailer and producer of legal medical and recreational cannabis, today announced that it had filed its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March31, 2019 with the Securities and Exchange Commission after the close of market yesterday afternoon. The Form 10-Q, which contains financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2019, may be viewed at www.sec.gov KAYS also announced a number of business developments, including significant independent laboratory testing results for cannabis strains under development at Kaya Farms, brand and product development for a number of Kaya owned cannabis brands which KAYS plans to bring to market during 2019-2020 and progress in the development of Kaya Shack retail Cannabis Store Franchise sales in Canada. Kaya Farms Cannabis Test Results. The Spring Kaya Farms crop at Kaya Farms yielded seven (7) strains posting test results of total cannabinoid content in excess of twenty (20) percent. Top performers (ranked by total cannabinoid content) include Stone Mountain Tangerine at 25.91%, Golden Ticket at 27.74%, Train Wreck Bull Flower at 27.97%, and Strawberry Banana at 33.5% (pictures and test results available online in KAYS 10-Q at www.sec.gov). Additionally, Kaya Farms has begun designing its 26- acre Lebanon, Oregon farm, with the capacity to provide production of up to approximately 100,000 pounds of legal cannabis annually, should recent efforts by Oregon state officials to enable export, or federal decriminalization permit Oregon cannabis farms to maximize capacity. Kaya Brand & Product Development. Pending approval of our production and processing license, the Company has made advances in the development of its Kumba Extracts, Syzygy Extracts, Pakalolo Juice Company and Kaya Yums brands of extracts, oils, vape cartridges, beverages and a variety of edibles, respectively. The brands join the Companys Kaya Buddies pre-rolls, Kaya Gear t-shirts, and Really Happy Glass accessories already available at Kaya Shack stores. Upon successful completion of financing and licensing, KAYS intends to begin bringing the new products to market in 2019, with a multi-state rollout planned in 2020 to the extent permitted by U.S. legal infrastructure. Franchising. KAYS has retained the Toronto, Canada based law firm of Garfinkle Biderman to prepare the Franchise Disclosure Documents (FDD) and related items for the sale of Kaya Shack Cannabis Store franchises in Canada, which is the only G7 country that has legalized both medical and recreational cannabis production, sale and use on a national level. KAYS is near completion of negotiations with a leading franchise and real estate brokerage firm to lead the initial effort, which will most likely begin in the Province of British Columbia, and advance to other Provinces as license allocations are developed by the Canadian authorities. We expect the franchise sale and placement effort throughout Canada to progress over the next 3-18 months. KAYS plans to ultimately expand its franchise operations to the U.S., as regulations and laws permit. Kaya Holdings Conference Call Update. The Kaya Holdings Annual Shareholder Call, originally slated for late December 2018/ early January 2019 was postponed due to pending developments with our International division and opportunities in Canada. We apologize for the delay and anticipate announcing a firm date within the next 3 weeks. Interested parties are advised to go to www.kayashack.com and register for KAYS updates; a confirmation email and participation code will be sent out to all shareholders and interested parties as soon as the date is set. About Kaya Holdings, Inc. ( www.kayaholdings.com ) and the Kaya Shack brand ( www.kayashack.com ) of licensed medical and recreational marijuana stores: KAYS (OTCQB: KAYS), through subsidiaries, produces, distributes or sells legal premium medical and recreational cannabis products, including flower, concentrates and oils, and cannabis-infused foods. In 2014, KAYS, became the first publicly traded company to own and operate a Medical Marijuana Dispensary. KAYS has expanded and presently operates four Kaya Shack OLCC licensed marijuana retail stores to service the legal medical and recreational marijuana market in Oregon ( www.kayashack.com ), has developed its own proprietary Kaya Farms strains of cannabis, which it grows and produces (together with edibles and other cannabis derivatives) at its Eugene, Oregon Sunstone Farms legal recreational and medical marijuana production and processing manufacturing facility, which it acquired in October 2018 and is operating pursuant to a management agreement pending OLCC approval to reissue the license to MJAI Oregon 1, LLC (KAYS main Oregon Operating Subsidiary). The Company also owns a 26-acre parcel in Lebanon, Linn County, Oregon, which it purchased in August 2017 on which it intends to construct a cultivation and production facility. We filed for zoning and land use approval in early 2018, and after numerous regulatory challenges and delays, we finally received zoning and land use approval in January,2019 to build an 85,000-square foot Kaya Farms greenhouse grow and production facility. Kaya Farms has begun designing the facility for maximum production of approximately 100,000 pounds annually, should recent efforts by Oregon state officials to enable export, or Federal decriminalization permit Oregon cannabis farms to maximize capacity. The Company maintains a genetics library of over 30 strains of cannabis it has developed and has also formulated various edibles, cannabis derivatives and marijuana cigarettes under the Kaya brand name. Oregon has paused the acceptance of new license applications, but the law allows the existing licenses to be sold and/or moved from one physical location to another. KAYS is presently evaluating how best to utilize these assets to form a network that will not only maximize our penetration of the Oregon Cannabis market but serve as the backbone to grow our U.S. Operations across state lines through the rollout of proprietary brands. KAYS has initiated paperwork with the OLCC to temporarily close one of the three outlets in Salem (store #3 in North Salem) and hopes to move that license to its Eugene, Oregon Sunstone Farms legal recreational and medical marijuana production and processing facility where it would be operated as a Kaya Farms Store which would allow it to also serve as a delivery hub to service the City of Eugene. Additionally, the Company is exploring opportunities to expand its operations beyond Oregon by replicating its Kaya Shack brand retail outlets through franchising in other states where recreational cannabis use is legal or expected to become legal in the near term, as well as in Canada, where it is legal nationwide. IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: KAYS is planning execution of its stated business objectives in accordance with current understanding of State and Local Laws and Federal Enforcement Policies and Priorities as it relates to Marijuana (as outlined in the Justice Department's U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions Memo dated January 4, 2018, and subsequent commentary from the U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Billy Williams), and plans to proceed cautiously with respect to legal and compliance issues. Potential investors and shareholders are cautioned that KAYS and MJAI will obtain advice of counsel prior to actualizing any portion of their business plan (including but not limited to license applications for the cultivation, distribution or sale of marijuana products, engaging in said activities or acquiring existing Cannabis production/sales operations). Advice of counsel with regard to specific activities of KAYS, Federal, State or Local legal action or changes in Federal Government Policy and/or State and Local Laws may adversely affect business operations and shareholder value. PR-Inside.com: 2019-05-22 14:32:04 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1014 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The Economist Intelligence Unit's index measures how individual countries address child sexual abuse and exploitation for 85% of the global population under 19 years of age. The Index also shares best practice solutions for both the private and public sector.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 22, 2019 / Today, the World Childhood Foundation USA (WCF) announced the latest findings of 'Out of the Shadows: Shining light on the response to child sexual abuse and exploitation.' Combatting sexual violence against children requires a stronger and more targeted response from governments and businesses around the world, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit's Out of the Shadows Index. Developed with support from the World Childhood Foundation and Oak Foundation and with additional support from the Carlson Family Foundation, the Out of the Shadows Index measures how 60 countries are addressing sexual abuse and exploitation of children. The index, which focuses on policies, practices and standards, reveals that governments, the private sector and civil society can do more to protect children from sexual violence and to achieve Target 16.2 of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, which calls for ending all forms of violence against children by 2030.The index covers a comprehensive range of critical issues, including education and awareness- building, reproductive health, gender norms, victim support, law enforcement and child sexual abuse online. Index indicators also focus on the engagement of businesses in the technology and travel/tourism sectors in fighting child sexual abuse and exploitation.Key findings from the Out of the Shadows study:The top ten countries in the index are among the world's richest, but only four score as high as 75 (out of 100), revealing substantial gaps in the protective conditions for children in even the wealthiest countries. The United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia hold the top three positions in the index. For the 60 countries, the average score is just 50.2. Complete rankings are available online at outoftheshadows.eiu.com Many countries have strong legal frameworks for protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation, but most have not implemented policies or created effective institutions. The average score in the "Legal framework" category for all countries is nearly 60, but is just over 40 in the "Domestic commitment and capacity" category.Industry engagement is needed to better protect children, especially against online child sexual abuse, where the expansion of broadband has placed more children at risk. Just 15 of the 60 countries have a leading mobile telecoms association that identifies sexual violence against children as a clear priority in its annual report or a code of conduct on its website.Boys are overlooked. Nearly half of the 60 countries do not have legal protections for boys within their child rape laws, while only 19 countries collect prevalence data about sexual abuse of boys.Combatting child sexual abuse and exploitation is becoming a greater priority on the global stage and in many individual countries, and research shows that progress is possible even when resources are limited."It is our hope that the Out of the Shadows Index will help spur collective action to prevent and address the global challenge of child sexual abuse and exploitation. The index focuses on the response of the key stakeholders -- governments, NGOs and the private sector - and should help create impactful solutions," said Dr. Joanna Rubinstein, President and CEO of World Childhood Foundation USA and Commissioner of The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) UNESCO Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development."Based on the research findings of The Economist Intelligence Unit, these solutions should also address the new threats that children are exposed to online. All of the Index countries can do more to protect children and with the engagement of private industry, specifically the Information and Communications Technology sector, can play a vital role in protecting children from abuse." WCF's technology-focused initiatives include engagement of the private sector, in particular the information and communication technology companies, and their use of technology to fight the universal problem of child sexual abuse. This includes the Stewards of Children PreventionToolkit mobile app, which WCF USA developed in partnership with Darkness2Light and the global telecom company, Ericsson. The app helps to educate adults about how to reduce the risks and recognize the signs of abuse; how to talk to children and react to a suspicion or disclosure of abuse."How can one address a threat to children when it lives in the shadows? The answer is simply, we can't. If we want to end the sexual exploitation of children, we must first build awareness and by so doing, ignite a sense of urgency that drives cross-sector partnerships focused on ensuring no child lives this reality," said Wendy Nelson, Chair of the Carlson Family Foundation. "It is this fact that spurred The Carlson Family Foundation to join in partnership to develop the "Out of the Shadows Index'. The index is critical to bringing an end to the exploitation of children by spotlighting accountability in the system and uncovering opportunities for a shared commitment to every child's safety." Out of the Shadows Index Framework and CategoriesThis index benchmarks the context in which sexual violence against children is happening; the legal and institutional underpinnings in place to combat sexual violence; and how stakeholders are responding across 60 countries. Categories for the framework include:Environment: The safety and stability of a country, the social protections available to families and children, and whether norms permit open discussion of the issue.Legal framework: The degree to which a country provides legal or regulatory protections for children from sexual exploitation and abuse.Government commitment and capacity: Whether governments invest in resources to equip institutions and personnel to respond appropriately, and to collect data to understand the scope of the problem.Engagement of industry, civil society and media: The propensity for addressing risks to children at the industry and community levels, as well as providing support to victims.Sexual violence against children is a universal threat-no boy or girl is immune. The emotional and health consequences linger, and the socioeconomic impacts can be devastating.What can countries and companies do? Barriers and path Faithfulness is success. Introduction What is success? Here in 2019, this has become a difficult question to answer. It seems every week we hear stories of people who climbed to the top of their profession, who built empires, who exemplified creativity and talent and hard work, who received accolades and awards and international recognition, who were the definition of success in their respective fields. But then the stories started to come out. Sexual harassment. Inappropriate relationships. Embezzlement. Scandalous conduct. And very soon, all that they had built counts for nothing. People want justice. Weve seen this time and time again. Tragically, weve seen it even in the church. What is success? We normally think of success in terms of those things I initially listed. Those are the things we admire. Those are the things we aspire to and want for our children. And yet, when the scandal breaks, we realize how worthless that success really is. What is success? And how do we get there? The Book of Joshua records Israels conquest of the land, which God had promised to their forefathers hundreds of years ago. Having been delivered from slavery in Egypt, having been led through the wilderness, having been miraculously brought into Canaan, Israel will now begin their conquest of the land. And the question facing them is: What will it take to win? How is this nation of ex-slaves, wandering nomads, to conquer this vast land of fortified cities and well-equipped armies? New military strategies? New technologies? Cultural savvy? We are in a very different context than Israel in that day. But the God that led them is the same God we follow today, and he never changes. So we want to pay attention to what Israel would have for us. ... sermon Preview This sermon is available to PreachingToday.com members only. To continue reading: Log In - or - Geoff Chang is an associate pastor at Hinson Baptist Church in Portland, OR. God promises to help us and to keep vigilant, faithful guard over us. Introduction Have you ever stood looking out into the future only to see no safe and sure way forward? Graduation with no job in sight. Or at the other end of things, you get laid off. Your son or daughter who is heedless of the fire theyre playing with. The consuming depression. The divorce that seems to end more than marriage. A terrible decision to be made. A move away from all youve known and loved. Retirement to what? The terrible diagnosis. What do you tell yourself in those times? A lot of times, we tell ourselves things that are useless. Our self-talk only drives us deeper into a kind of spiritual wilderness. Satans lies run rampant. Fear has a megaphone. So the important question is, what do you tell yourself thats true? We need to be prepared for times like that. We need a song for treacherous journeys. Psalm 121 is one of the Bibles most beloved psalms. It begins, I lift up my eyes to the mountainswhere does my help come from? What did the writer mean when he said, I lift up my eyes to the mountains? Im inspired by looking at mountains. They feel strong, yet I know they are lifelessall show but no help. Perhaps he saw mountains as daunting obstacles on the journey ahead, thinking like our American pioneers, How will I ever cross safely to the other side? Whatever he meant, he knew that the mountains were no answer. When he lifted his eyes to the mountains, he said, My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121 is a beloved psalm, and it is one of 15 psalms all clustered together known as the Psalms of Ascent. No one knows for sure why theyre all labeled that way and gathered together in Scripture. ... sermon Preview This sermon is available to PreachingToday.com members only. To continue reading: Log In - or - Lee Eclov recently retired after 40 years of local pastoral ministry and now focuses on ministry among pastors. He writes a weekly devotional for preachers on Preaching Today. The Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN) says the rise in landing cost of petroleum products has renewed calls for full deregulation. The group therefore, called for deregulation of the downstream sub-sector of the nations oil and gas industry. Its Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, that deregulation of the downstream remained the best option as the ongoing subsidy by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was not sustainable. Mr Adewole said that as private marketers continued to stay on the sidelines in terms of petroleum products importation, depot owners had reiterated the need for the federal government to fully deregulate the fuel market. He said that NNPC had been the sole importer of petrol into the country for two years and that private oil marketers stopped importation due to shortage of foreign exchange and increase in crude oil prices, which made the landing cost of the product higher than the official pump price of N145 per litre. According to him, if fully deregulated, it will also help the government to use the subsidy money to develop other sectors. Other countries sell petrol higher that Nigerias pump price. The DAPPMA scribe, however, lamented NNPCs decision to sell Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to them at N117 per litre, admitting that the price was not only outrageous but not cost effective. He added that the N111 per litre price, which NNPC was selling fuel to them was at an insignificant margin, wondering what would happen when the state-run oil firm had increased the price to N117. Mr Adewole said NNPCs monopoly of fuel importation had compounded their woes. He said: By the time depot owners, who are mostly marketers, add other costs incurred in the course of buying fuel from NNPC and later sell the product at the pump price of N145 per litre to consumers, they will be left with little or no profits. More worrisome is the fact that NNPC controls fuel importation, a development which has compelled marketers to sell the product at a particular price. That is the situation we find ourselves in. We are praying for solutions to problems inhibiting the growth of the industry, especially the downstream sub-sector, Adewole said. He said, NNPC sold fuel only to depot owners, who had Pro-foma Invoice, a development which implied that any depot owner or marketer, who does not have a Pro-foma Invoice would not be able to buy fuel. He said diesel price was deregulated, noting that marketers were selling the product at between N220 to N230 per litre. No depot owner or marketer, he said, can say he or she is making profit under the new price regime. More worrisome is the fact that NNPC controls fuel importation, a development which has compelled marketers to sell the product at a particular price, that is the situation we find ourselves in, he said. Mr Adewole, admitted the fears expressed by depot owners over the new price regime. According to him, the fears stemmed from the fact that depot owners made very little profit because of the current price system. (NAN) The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said its remittances to the Federation Account in 2018 exceeded its projections in the 2018 budget by about N41 billion. The NNPC said in a statement on Tuesday that it remitted N1.26 trillion as against the N1.22 trillion projected in the 2018 budget. The Managing Director of NNPC Capital, Godwin Okonkwo, who represented the Group Managing Director, Maikanti Baru, disclosed this during a presentation to the House of Representatives Ad Hoc Committee on the Investigation of the Non-Remittances of Funds to the Federation Account by the corporation between July 2017 and December 2018. NNPC spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu, quoted the GMD as saying that though 2.3 million barrels per day (mbpd) was proposed in the 2018 budget, national daily production for the period under review averaged between 1.9mbpd and1.89mbpd. Mr. Baru listed the two sources of inflows into the Federation Account from the NNPC to include equity crude oil sales less cost of recovery from the Joint Venture cash call arrears and domestic crude less cost of recovery. He said the Joint Venture cash call arrears were being efficiently managed to ensure steady inflows to the Federation Account. The current management of NNPC ensures it contributes to the cost of the production of crude oil and gas in the upstream sector to avoid a repeat of the mistakes of the past. If we had made cash call payments in the past, the arrears we are liquidating now would not have arisen. The current situation creates a win-win scenario for the country. The NNPC is strategically saving for the rainy day to make a better future for all of us by liquidating the arrears, Mr Okonkwo said. He said the NNPC on a regular basis balanced its books with the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) and the JV cash calls in order to make sure that the future generations do not suffer from the legacy debt. He dismissed the allegations by commissioners of finance of underremittances by the corporation, adding that the NNPC was a going business concern that met financial obligations to its various stakeholders. Mr. Baru said investment in the Oil and Gas Industry took time to mature, adding if the NNPC failed in its obligation to invest in the sector, there would be nothing to share by the various tiers of government. On a question on whether the NNPC 2018 audited account was ready, Mr. Baru said the 2018 audited account would be ready next month. He said the NNPC had cleared its backlog of unaudited account, attributing the delay to some Joint Venture partners that were being awaited to turn in their budget performance for the 2018 budget circle to be completed. The Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, Chukwuka Onyema Wilfred, praised the NNPC for responding to all the issues raised, adding that the interface would go a long way to putting to rest allegations of non-remittances of funds against the NNPC. By Nontobeko Mlambo of AllAfrica Algeria is now the second African country after Mauritius to be officially recognized by the World Health Organisation as malaria-free. The certification is granted when a country proves that it has interrupted indigenous transmission of the disease for at least 3 consecutive years. Morocco was declared malaria-free in 2010 which would have made the country the second African country to be certified malaria-free but it falls within WHOs Eastern Mediterrean region. Dr Akpaka Kalu, WHO Representative in Ethiopia, talks about the importance of Universal Health Coverage,funding and great leadership as some of the tools needed for African countries to achieve malaria-free status. What can other countries where Malaria is a huge problem learn from Algeria? First of all, I would like to say that for us in Africa the certification of Algeria as a malaria-free country has gives us hope. It gives us hope that all the 47 countries in Africa that are endemic for Malaria will one day be malaria-free. Algeria has shown the way. If you know Algeria you will know that health services are available and free even at the remotest parts of the country. Universal Health Coverage is one strong element of attaining malaria-free status. That is what Algeria has done. Services are available. Secondly, and very importantly, Algeria funds its malaria elimination programmes from domestic resources. The country leadership took charge by providing resources, supporting the workers, and supported by research institutions and universities to work towards a malaria-free Algeria. Our governments in Africa must take charge and lead in making Africa malaria-free. Algeria is the place where French physician Dr Charles Louis Alphonse Laveran discovered the malaria parasite in Algeria in 1880. Why is it only the second country in Africa after Mauritius in 1973 to be declared malaria-free? When I was growing up in Nigeria, it was just expected that at some point in your life you will have malaria. One of the problems we have regarding malaria is that it is common and we dont regard it as important but yet it kills more than 435,000 people and children every year. The delay in eliminating malaria in Africa has to do with resources and funding. For instance, by 2020 the world needs about $ U.S.6.6 billion a year to fight malaria, in 2017 we got less than half of that amount globally, so the financing for a malaria-free sector is a major handicap. The zeal is there and the vision is there, for an instance in 2016 the African Union adopted the catalytic framework to control and end HIV/Aids, malaria and TB by 2030. The framework adopted an audacious goal of ending HIV/Aids TB and malaria in Africa by 2020, the political will is there but we need the resources. The greatest lesson from Algeria is that the government of the country took over the financing for the malaria elimination effort. Governments have to step forward including the private sector to provide the resources required to make our countries in Africa malaria-free. By the year 2010 in most countries malaria was at the top of the top 10 diseases seen at our patients through consultative forces of governments and global stake holders in many countries malaria is dropping off that top 10 list but if we stop funding and if we stop doing what we are doing malaria will resurge. Did Algeria concentrate more on fighting the disease or the mosquito carrying the disease? The mosquito transmit the disease through it biting human beings, the parasite develops further inside the human beings blood. When it develops further, it gets to the stage where it begins to make a human being sick, at that stage you begin to have a fever and chills and maybe killed. Each of these areas should be targeted for malaria control. If it was possible to wipe out mosquitoes then maybe there would be no malaria transmission but that is not possible. What we can do is to have a blockade between a mosquito and a human being and that is why we have the nets that is treated with insecticide which kills mosquitoes as soon as they get in contact with the net. The same with the indoor residual spraying, when the mosquito comes in to contact with the chemical on the wall that has been sprayed, it dies. If you are already sick, we have to have the system to test and treat, that is how we are fighting that part of the food chain of malaria. There is also prevention method through indoor residual spraying, prevention through medicine and recently prevention through vaccines. We need an integrated approach to malaria control, deploying various aspects of the tools available towards controlling the disease. Now that Algeria is Malaria-Free what will the country do to make sure it stays malaria-free? Just because the country is declared malaria-free it does not mean that now it is time to rest on our borders, it is time to continue the hard work. Being declared malaria-free means that there is no indigenous transmission of malaria in the country, meaning there is no malaria case that originates in Algeria. Algeria will still get malaria from other countries therefore the country should maintain its health system that is currently able to detect every case of malaria in Algeria and ensure that it is tested and treated and classified as imported or indigenous. That capacity for detecting every case of malaria must be maintained. The health system must detect and treat every suspected case of malaria. The system must also maintain the capacity to be able to interrupt transmission as quickly as possible. Rebels captured a key area in central Syria from government forces, who then retaliated by unleashing deadly airstrikes on an opposition enclave, a war monitor and activists said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that rebels had retaken on Wednesday full control of the village of Kfar Naboudeh in a rural area of the central province of Hama. Ahmed Sheikho of the White Helmets rescue team told dpa that government jets mounted retaliatory strikes at the rebel city of Maaret al-Nouman in Idlib province, killing no fewer than nine people and injuring 20 others. On Tuesday, rebels from the Turkish-backed National Liberation Front and the al-Qaeda-affiliated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched what local activists called a fierce, wide-scale offensive on Kfar Naboudeh, using tanks and heavy artillery. The Britain-based Observatory said the heavy fighting had killed no fewer than 29 government soldiers as well as 23 rebels in the last 15 hours. On April, forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, supported by Russian air power, initiated a massive campaign against rebels in Hama and Idlib, the last major opposition stronghold in Syria. Al-Assads forces have since seized 16 towns and villages in the enclave from the rebels, the watchdog reported. The latest escalation in war-torn Syria has displaced thousands of people and raised fears that a truce of almost eight months in the Idlib enclave will crumble. (dpa/NAN) The federal government has launched a checklist for assessing the quality of services in federal tertiary health institutions in Nigeria ahead of awarding them the Certificate of Standards. The development is part of the governments effort to improve the operational standards of the health institutions under its control. The assessment manual was put together by the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standard Committee (NTSC). The committee is mandated by the National Health Act, 2014, to ensure standardisation of tertiary health institutions in Nigeria. This is to ensure that Nigerians get quality healthcare services at the institutions. The manual was launched alongside a National Surgical Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing plan for Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole. At the event, Mr Adewole, a professor of gynaecology and obstetrics, said ascertaining the operational standards of the health institutions had become necessary because of the bad news about their operations. He said quality health is a fundamental human right, which every Nigeria must enjoy. He said the tertiary health institutions were under pressure because the secondary and primary health care systems of the country are underperforming. Mr Adewole urged the committee to be impartial in the evaluation of the facilities. Certificate of Standards According to the National Health Act 2014, an health institution must have the Certificate of Standards before it can offer health services to Nigerians. Section 13 of the NHA states: (1) Without being in possession of a Certificate of Standards, a person, entity, government or organization shall not:- (a) establish, construct, modify or acquire a health establishment, health agency or health technology; (b) increase the number of beds in, or acquire prescribed health technology at a health establishment or health agency; (c) provide prescribed health services; or (d) continue to operate a health establishment, health agency or health technology after the expiration of 24 months from the date this Bill took effect. (2) The Certificate of Standards referred to in subsection (1) of this section may be obtained by application in the prescribed manner from the appropriate body of government where the facility is located. In the case of tertiary institutions, the appropriate authority shall be the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee, acting through the Federal Ministry of Health. Illegal operation Based on these criteria, tertiary health institutions in Nigeria are operating illegally, as the government is yet to begin the issuance of the certificate. A former president Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), Mike Ogirima, in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES last year said the Certificate of Standards is for every health institution in the country. A clinic needs to have some basic requirement. Can the government tell us one clinic they have visited? Can the committees tell if they have formed any committee on Certificate of Standards? That committee they formed is supposed to go round and register all clinics, hospitals and even teaching hospitals and private hospitals, he said. The NHA stipulation on the Offences and Penalties in respect of Certificate of Standards under section 14 states that : Any person, entity, government or organisation who performs any act stated under section 13(1) without a Certificate of Standards required by that section is guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than N500,000.00 or in the case of an individuals to imprisonment for a period not exceeding two years or both. However, the government has said it is not out to sanction but to put things in proper perspective. Advertisements Standards Committee Speaking at the event, the Chairman, National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee, Abiodun Ilesanmi, said the attitude of health workers is important in achieving a good health care system. He said no matter the resources committed to the upgrading of health facilities, if the attitude of health workers are bad, then standards cannot be achieved. Attitude is key to achieving standards. The idea is to make sure that there are minimum standards in all tertiary health institutions. If you look at Nigerias budget on health, majority of the budget goes to the tertiary health institutions because of their mandate. Apart from providing clinical services, they are to build health manpower for the nation and they are to conduct researches. Mr Ilesanmi said a monitoring committee is important because of the tertiary institutions mandate. The committee is like the commission for the tertiary hospitals and what it is expected to do is to make sure that, from time to time, we are on the same page with the standards with teaching hospitals and other tertiary hospitals. We assure that is the purpose of the checklist. What is going to follow this is the proper implementation of the checklist, training and retraining of those who are in charge of qualities in these various institutions. He said this will ensure that they do not train rubbish and ensure that when patients come there, they have the best. Mr Ilesanmi said the committee will go round and rank the hospitals and institutions. On the issue of sanctions, Mr Ilesanmi said the committee would be encouraging the tertiary institutions to attain the set standard goal and not punish them. When you do this, you are indirectly serving the country and helping Nigerians because you and I visit these places. If the situation is substandard, then you get substandard treatment and the consequence is great. But with this, we expect that there will be a tremendous improvement in the facilities, in the training and in the research output of the tertiary health institutions. We must not forget that we are really underfunded. But no matter the underfunding, our own attitude is important. Putting the checklist in place and improving our attitude will definitely improve productivity and health outcome. The checklist, if carried out appropriately, will lead to the reduction of incidence of medical errors and medical negligence, he said A Paediatric Surgeon, Emmanuel Ameh, said in Abuja on Tuesday that Nigerias poorest citizens and those living outside major cities face the greatest challenge in accessing emergency and essential surgical care. Mr Ameh spoke at the launching of two documents; the Assessment Checklist for Federal Tertiary Hospitals and a National Surgical Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan (NSOANP) for Nigeria. Both documents, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Health, are geared towards establishing health care standards for health institutions in the country. The Assessment Checklist for Federal Tertiary Hospitals is meant to serve as a guide for the National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee. This will help sanitise the tertiary health facilities and ensure comprehensive quality care for Nigerians. Meanwhile, the National Surgical Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan (NSOANP) for Nigeria is a plan meant to serve as a guide to strengthen emergency and essential surgical care and anaesthesia as a component of Universal healthcare in Nigeria. National Health Act The documents are some of the mandatory provisions of the National Health Act, 2014 (NHA) as captured in section 13 of the Act. One of the mandates given to the minister under the NHA is for the minister to establish National Tertiary Health Institutions Standards Committee. The federal government is also meant to provide for persons living in Nigeria the best possible health services within the limits of available resources. Also, it is set to protect, promote and fulfill the rights of the people of Nigeria to have access to healthcare services. By this, Nigerians should have equal access to health services across all the geographical locations in the country. This includes access to emergency surgeries and procedures. Many Nigerians, however, have no access or financial capacity to access surgeries as at when needed. Lack of surgeons Giving an overview of the Surgical Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan (NSOANP) for Nigeria, Mr Ameh said many health facilities in Nigeria do not have the expertise required to meet surgical needs of its citizens. Mr Ameh, a professor of surgery, expressed his dissatisfaction with the current state of health in the country. He said Nigeria has a shortage of surgeons, anaesthetists and technicians to effectively carry out all the necessary lifesaving procedures needed by Nigerians. Many Nigerians who are meant to receive surgical interventions are unable to get it because either they stay near health facilities which do not offer surgical services or there are no capable hands to perform the surgeries. 80 per cent of Nigerias population can access the hospital within two hours but the challenge is that many of those hospitals cannot provide emergency surgical care. We need 20 surgeons, anaesthetists and technicians per 100,000 people, but what we have currently in the country is 1 per 760,000. So it is obvious that we still have a very long way to go, he said. Such surgeries, he said, include lifesaving caesarean sections, orthopaedic surgeries that prevent lifelong disability and simple procedures to treat cataracts, clubbed feet and cleft palates that dramatically enhance a persons quality of life. Mr Ameh said Nigeria needs to reposition its healthcare system because the country is meant to be doing 5,000 surgical procedures every year to be able to address the surgical needs of Nigerians population. We are doing a maximum of just 116 surgeries per 100,000 populations. Many hospitals do not also report their surgical mortality and as such the government does not really know what is going on. Only 0.25 per cent of our secondary health facilities report their surgical mortality and that is low, he said. Five-year project Mr Ameh explained that the plan is a five-year project with the target of having 75 per cent of Nigerias population having easy access to surgical care. We should be able to upgrade to five per 100,000 in terms of experts in the field and 50 per cent of the population should have financial risk protection. Injuries cause a lot of mortality compared to communicable diseases, yet there has been no significant focus on them. He said some of the problems are also pertinent to tertiary health institutions. He said some of the factors hindering quality, timely, efficient surgeries in Nigeria especially in the tertiary health institutions include lack of light (electricity), shortage/lack of surgical theatre, lack of personnel with medical expertise, lack of necessary equipment such as X-ray machines, CT Scan Machines, MRI Machines, among others. Journalists reporting health in Nigeria need to significantly improve their skills set so that they can present their reports in a way the public can easily understand, players in the sector have advised. They gave the advice on Tuesday in Abuja at an event held to celebrate the efforts of some outgoing lawmakers in driving progress in the health sector. Themed, The 8th Assembly and Nigerias Health Sector: Reviewing Progress, Looking Forward, the event was organised by the Legislative Network for Universal Health Coverage in partnership with other organisations working on health. The stakeholders said lack of understanding of health-related issues had negatively affected health information disseminated to the public. Martins Ifijeh, the health correspondent for THISDAY newspaper, said he was worried by the poor knowledge and understanding of critical issues and development in the sector among journalist. He said there is a knowledge and communication gap between journalists and critical stakeholders in the health sector. During a technical session shortly before the main event, the journalist was asked to explain the challenges in reporting health issues in Nigeria. Not carried Along Mr Ifijeh said journalists are not engaged properly on health-related issues. We are mostly called to report from the point of implementation. Veteran journalist and broadcaster with the Nigerian Television Authority, Moji Makanjuola, advised journalists covering health to assert themselves on the beat. You need to read thoroughly, engage and network with health experts. You also have to find a way to make your story as simple as possible for public consumption, said Mrs Makanjuola. She said health reporters have to find a way to connect with their readers and viewers by humanising stories even when they are scientific and data-driven. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified the media as a major player in the quest for Universal Health Coverage. With that potential, it is important for reporters to have background knowledge of medical science its languages, topics and processes so as to prevent being misled by unfamiliar claims and assertions, experts said. According to an essay published by The Conversation, individual anecdotes such as inserting a personal account of patients, victims and others are tools journalists can use to promote audience understanding of complex health issues. Some medical experts who spoke during Tuesdays session agreed that reporters should be engaged and trained often on health-related issues. Oladapo Ladipo of the Association for Reproductive and Family Health (ARFH) said organisations, policymakers and government agencies in the health sector should not engage the press only when they want to issue press releases. The press should also be engaged on how to report health at least three times in a year, said Mr Ladipo, a professor. To wrap up the session, Olanrewaju Tejuoso, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, stressed the importance of the media in the progress of the health sector. Mr Tejuoso said health reporters also should personally develop their skills and knowledge. Boston, MA, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IDG Communications the worlds leading tech media, data, and marketing services company releases its second annual Digital Business research , which was conducted to gain a better understanding of where organizations are in adopting a digital-first approach. The 2019 results find that establishing a digital business is top-of-mind, even more so than last year, as 91% of organizations have adopted or have plans to adopt a digital-first strategy. Of these organizations, 48% already have a digital-first approach in place, up from 44% in 2018, meaning they are either in the execution, integration or digital maintenance phases. The study also examines the strategies and technologies that businesses are adopting to ensure digital success, status of workforce transformation, and the importance of enhancing the customer experience in digital business objectives. ( Click to Tweet ) Status of the Digital Business Landscape Multiple objectives are driving investment in digital business initiatives. Up from 58% in 2018, 67% of IT decision-makers (ITDMs) placed creating better customer experiences within their top five objectives for their organizations digital transformation (DX) strategy. Additional objectives include improved process efficiency through automation (53%), driving new revenue (48%), and staying ahead/on pace with competition (47%). These objectives align with the factors ITDMs value in measuring the success of their digital initiatives. Topping the list is excellent customer experience as measured by customer satisfaction scores, followed by improved employee productivity through process efficiencies/automation, and increased ability to enable innovation. Once digital business practices are established, ITDMs report positive results. More than one-third (35%) of organizations have experienced revenue growth due to digital business initiatives over the past 12 months, and on average these organizations experienced a 29% increase in revenue. Digital business results contributing to this growth include new product and service offerings (50%), improved ability to innovate and seize new opportunities (49%), and overall new capabilities (42%). Due to the nascent state of digital business adoption, 38% of businesses are unsure about their revenue growth; however, as this area matures the expectation is that these investments will lead to revenue growth in the future. This is an exciting time for businesses as technology continues to transform and support digital innovation, said Julie Ekstrom, SVP, IDG Communications, Inc. The 2019 Digital Business research reaffirms that the tech landscape has never been more complicated yet filled with opportunity to contribute to the business. Organizations must embrace new technologies and strategies, while ensuring a positive customer experience, in order to succeed. Investments Supporting Digital Transformation There is significant financial support behind digital business tools and strategies. On average, organizations will spend $15.3 million over the next 12 months on digital business initiatives, which is up from $14.3 million in 2018. In a new question this year, we looked at how digital transformation budgets are divided among people and technology. The results show a fairly even spilt with 59% of the budget dedicated to technology, and 41% dedicated to people and skills. This budget split aligns with the steps within the implementation process that organizations are making progress with, or have completed, to become a digital business. Out of the nine phases the research outlined, the greatest progress is among data security/protection strategy, technology needs assessment and data management strategy. However, when asked which step is the most crucial to digital business success, 53% ranked developing a business case/roadmap for overall DX strategy at the top. The technologies that IT leaders currently have in use to help support their digital growth are mobile devices, mobile apps, private cloud, business process management, and public cloud. Exploration of new and emerging technologies include researching or piloting artificial intelligence (62%), followed by machine learning (57%), and 5G (55%). There is also great interest in Internet of Things (IoT) as 51% of ITDMs are actively researching or piloting these solutions. Not only are these technologies being introduced to help improve the customer experience, but IT leaders are also focusing on workforce transformation a strategy to change internal processes, departmental structures, incentives, skills, culture and/or behaviors. Thirty-seven percent of organizations have already implemented this strategy within their business, and 93% report that workforce productivity is dependent on technology. About the 2019 IDG Digital Business Research IDGs 2019 Digital Business Research was conducted among the audiences of five IDG brands (CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World) representing IT and security decision-makers within organizations that have plans to adopt/or already launched a digital-first approach. The survey was fielded online with the objective to gain a better understanding of where organizations are in their digital-first approach. Results in this release are based on 702 respondents across multiple industries. View additional information from the 2019 IDG Digital Business Research . About IDG Communications, Inc. IDG Communications connects the world of tech buyers with insights, intent and engagement. We are the worlds largest media, data and marketing services company that activates and engages the most influential technology buyers. Our premium brands, including CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, Macworld, Network World, and PCWorld engage a quality audience of the most powerful audience of technology buyers providing essential guidance on the evolving technology landscape. Our global data intelligence platform activates purchasing intent, powering our clients success. IDG Marketing Services creates custom content with marketing impact across video, mobile, social and digital. We execute complex campaigns that fulfill marketers global ambitions seamlessly with consistency that delivers quality results. Follow IDG on Twitter: @IDGWorld Follow IDG on LinkedIn Like IDG on Facebook ### The Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, last weekend commissioned the Hakeem Dickson road in Lekki, named after the convicted fugitive boss of the Lagos State Safety Commission. Mr Ambode was represented at the official unveiling of the Bisola Durosinmi-Etti/Hakeem Dickson road by the commissioner for works and infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya. Others present at the event were Muslim Folami, the commissioner for local government and community affairs; Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the head of service; Hakeem Sulaimon, special adviser to the governor on community and communications, and Ajibade Bade-Adebowale, the permanent secretary, ministry of energy and mineral resources, among others. Since 2016, the Lagos State Government had repeatedly ignored PREMIUM TIMES requests for comments as to whether it was aware of Mr Dicksons criminal history. Again, on Monday, Kehinde Bamigbetan, the commissioner for information, and Habib Aruna, Mr Ambodes chief press secretary, did not respond to phone calls and text message requests for comments. Mr Ambode swore Mr Dickson into office as the director-general of the Lagos State Safety Commission in June 2017, eight months after he announced his appointment. L-R: Mr. Hakeem Olaogun Dickson as Director General of Lagos State Safety Commission, Mrs. Jokotola Ojosipe-Ogundimu as member of Audit Service Commission, Mr. Ayo Adebusoye, Mrs. Iyabo Elizabeth Ladipo and Mr. Bolaji Miftah Are as members of Public Procurement Agency; Prof. Gabriel Olatunde Babawale and Noah Olanrewaju Lawal-Jinadu as members of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), taking Oath of Office, being conducted by the Director, Legislative Drafting, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Yejide Kolawole before Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Monday, June 19, 2017. Mr Dickson, a former chairman of Surulere local government, had earlier incurred the angst of the Lagos State House of Assembly after he immediately resumed office, after the announcement of his appointment, without first appearing before the lawmakers for screening. His appointment by the governor and subsequent confirmation by the House of Assembly occurred despite evidence that he is a fugitive convicted of fraud in the United States in 1992. Tunde Braimoh, a spokesperson for the Lagos lawmakers, told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that they did not receive any petition or information about Mr Dicksons criminal past during his screening. Mr Dickson, a former internal auditor at the now-defunct Nigeria Airways, was sworn into office despite fleeing a 24-month jail term in the U.S. after being convicted for credit card fraud. The newly commissioned Bisola Durosinmi-Etti/Hakeem Dickson Road in Lekki by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the weekend. The newly commissioned Bisola Durosinmi-Etti/Hakeem Dickson Road in Lekki by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, at the weekend. According to Judge Dickinson Debevoise of a U.S. District Court, Mr Dickson had not served the sentence handed to him since June 1992. For 20 years, Defendant (Mr Dickson) successfully evaded all United States government efforts to locate and arrest him, the judge said. Convicted for fraud On June 14, 1991, Mr Dickson, also a U.S. citizen, was arrested on a complaint of bank and credit card fraud. Four months later, he pleaded guilty to Count One of a four-count indictment which charged that from August 29, 1990, to September 10, 1990, he knowingly and willfully executed and attempted to execute a scheme to defraud a federally insured institution in violation of U.S. laws. Hakeem Dickson On June 25, 1992, Mr Dickson was sentenced to a 24-month jail term, to be followed by a term of supervised release of three years. He was also ordered to repay $14,400. The judge fixed August 3, 1992, for his voluntary surrender, despite opposition from the U.S. government, the plaintiff in the suit. The government had urged at sentencing that Defendant be remanded forthwith or at least surrender to the Bureau of Prisons no later than the following Monday, June 29, 1992, the judge said. The court noted that while on bail, Defendant returned on three occasions after being given permission to leave the country. Representative of Lagos State Governor and Commissioner for Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya (middle); Commissioner for Local Government & Community Affairs, Alhaji Muslim Folami (right) and Chairman, Lekki Resident Association, Mr. Kayode Otitoju (left) during the commissioning of the Bisola Durosinmi-Etti/Hakeem Dickson Road in Lekki, at the weekend. Back row (L-R): Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola; Chairman, Zone 8, Lekki Phase1, Alhaji Rilwan Aruna; Special Adviser to the Governor, Community and Communications, Mr. Hakeem Sulaimon; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works & Infrastructure, Engr. Olujimi Hotonu (2nd right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Taxation and Revenue Matters, Mr. Lasisi Abdul-Fatai and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Engr. Ajibade Caster Bade-Adebowale. The court also took account of Defendants wish to spend more time with his one-year-old son, who suffered severe medical problems. Thus the August 3, 1992, surrender date. But on August 3, 1992, Mr Dickson was nowhere to be found in the U.S., forcing the judge to revoke his bail and issue a warrant for his arrest. About 20 years later, on January 27, 2012, Mr Dickson, filed a motion seeking to adjust his sentence of 24 months incarceration in the U.S. by claiming that he had already served 17 months on the same sentence in a Lagos prison. In his motion, Mr Dickson claimed that a series of events after his sentencing, preceded by violent clashes between Muslims and Christians in Lagos, forced him to disobey the August 3 surrender date. Advertisements During these clashes, two of Defendants sisters were killed and the family home was burned to the ground, the judge quoted Mr Dickson as claiming, in his judgment dated May 12, 2012. Following his sentencing Defendant returned to Lagos to bury his sisters, assess the damage to his fathers house and to take his mother for treatment. When Defendant arrived in Lagos, he was arrested at the airport and was told that since he was convicted in the United States he would also serve time in Nigeria. He was retained in custody until December 10, 1993, a total of 17 months. But a PREMIUM TIMES investigations showed that the Nigerian Prisons Services does not have any record of Mr Dickson serving a jail time between 1992 and 1993. The police in Katsina State have confirmed that five persons who were members of the local vigilante were killed by bandits in Faskari Local Government Area on Tuesday. The Police Public Relations Officer, Gambo Isa, made the disclosure in a statement in Katsina. He said that the killings occurred at Sabon-layi village of the local government area when members of vigilante group popularly called Yan sakai entered into a forest and engaged the bandits in a fight. According to him, the bandits killed the vigilante members during the exchange of fire. He said that the police search team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area evacuated the corpses and discovered a bandits camp inside the forest that was abandoned by the criminals. The police spokesman said a manhunt has begun to arrest the bandits. (NAN) Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina State has sympathised with people of Batsari Local Government Area, where 18 farmers were killed by bandits on Tuesday morning. Mr Masari, who addressed some people of the area who went to Government House to complain of the incessant killing of their people by bandits, said that his administration was doing all it can to stop the killings. I feel it better than you feel, because I know Allah will ask me on the Day of Judgement. It is our duty to protect lives and property in the state, yet, this is what is happening, we are doing our best. You bear me witness that wherever such incident occurred, I visit the community and tell them our commitment toward addressing the menace. We are going to table the problem of insecurity challenges bedeviling all the northern states before Mr President tomorrow, he said. The governor said that protest will not solve the problems, urging them to remain calm, as the government was doing its best to end the menace. Earlier, the leader of the people, Aminu Ruma, told the governor that the victims were killed in their farmlands in Yar-gamji village of Batsari Local Government Area. Mr Ruma said that some farmers were still missing, following the attack. The community leader stated that the bandits also rustled some cows that belonged to the victims. He said that the security agents later evacuated the corpses and brought them to the palace of the District Head of Batsari. People of Batsari, Safana and Danmusa Local Government Areas will not plant crops this year for fear of bandits attack, he said. He, therefore, urged the government to hasten in taking measures that would end insecurity challenges bedeviling the areas. (NAN) Insurgents in Nigerias north-east have attacked yet another military base in Borno State, killing, wounding and displacing soldiers. The Boko Haram thugs drove yet unconfirmed number of trucks into Gubio Local Government Area at about 5:30 p.m. on May 19, PREMIUM TIMES learnt from military sources. They attacked a camp housing the Nigerian Army 5 Brigade and the 159 Task Force Battalion, leaving at least one soldier killed and three others injured. Six soldiers were still missing as of Tuesday night, two days after the attack, sources said. But soldiers were able to repel most of the Boko Haram attackers before they could inflict maximum damage, killing at lease one of them with some guns recovered. The Nigerian Army has not issued a statement on the attack. A spokesperson, Sagir Musa, did not immediately return calls seeking comments Wednesday morning. The military contacts spoke under anonymity because the military top brass had not authorised disclosure of the attack to the media. The attack occurred barely three days after the military acceded to the request of Gubio residents for an additional time for farmers to return home daily. The farmers had complained that the curfew hitherto in place was obstructing their farming activities because it required them to stop working on their farm before 4:00 p.m. Several residents were reported to have been arrested because they sometimes stayed beyond the 4:00 p.m. in their farms. Following complaints from the community association, the 5 Brigade commander approved an extension of the curfew until 5:30 p.m., Daily Trust reported. It was not immediately clear whether or not the relaxed measures created a loophole which the insurgents exploited to strike on Sunday. Despite wholesale strides recorded by the military, including the capturing of Sambisa Forest and other previously seized settlements, Borno has remained a major challenge for the Nigerian military, 10 years after the insurgency began there. Even though Boko Haram has been largely defeated in some parts of the country where it once ran riot, its capacity in Borno has been largely elusive for the military to curb. Its fighters now regularly attack military bases, with a recent attack leaving a commander killed last week. The two officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), kidnapped on Monday, have been released. Their release was confirmed to PREMIUM TIMES by the agencys spokesman, Bisi Kazeem, on Wednesday. The two officials, identified as Abioye and Bayegunmi, were kidnapped by unknown gunmen at Iwajara in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. The kidnappers on Tuesday morning demanded N1 million ransom. The officers were freed late on Tuesday. It is not clear if payment was made for their release or not. When contacted, Mr Kazeem in a short message to PREMIUM TIMES confirmed the release of the duo. They have been released, his message read. He said the agency would provide more details of the release later. Kidnapping for ransom has become rampant in many states across Nigeria despite the efforts of security agencies. Dozens of kidnappers have been arrested by security agencies in different states in the past month. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, and the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Wale Babalakin, are set on a collision course over the crisis in the institution. This follows the rejection by the universitys Governing Council of a directive by the minister for it to pause the ongoing probe of the universitys management. The Babalakin-led governing council has been on a warpath with UNILAGs management over its decision to probe the universitys finances, probe the collapse of an uncompleted library, and investigate other alleged improprieties of the universitys vice-chancellor, Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, and other top officials of the institution. A probe panel set up by the council reportedly indicted Mr Ogundipe, two of his three deputies Folashade Ogunsola and Oluwole Familoni and some principal members of the universitys management. The council is also at loggerheads with the universitys union of academic staff over queries issued to seven lecturers. In May, the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the university in a statement accused Mr Babalakin of being dictatorial and acting without the consent of the council. Mr Babalakin, however, denied acting outside the mandate of the governing council. He told PREMIUM TIMES that the action of the council was backed by law. It is important that ASUU backs up its allegation by referring to (a) specific law that has been violated. Please refer to Section 7 of the University Act, which defines the power of (the) Council. The registrar and secretary to (the) council is in the best position to advise on the procedure of Council. Thank you, he said in a text message. It was based on the ongoing dispute that the education minister intervened. The Intervention On May 13, Mr Adamu, through a letter addressed to Mr Babalakin, titled: Re: Correspondence from the Vice Chancellor and ASUU Chapter, University of Lagos, signed by a permanent secretary at the Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono, stated that it has received series of correspondence from the UNILAGs vice chancellor and other stakeholders bordering on departure from process in conduct of the affairs of the Governing Council of the University of Lagos (copies attached). We are also aware an Emergency Meeting of the Council has been convened from 13th-14thMay, 2019. Mr Echono stated that he has been directed to invite the chairman of the council to a meeting with the management of the ministry to obtain first-hand information about the activities of the council and the specific issues under reference. The letter also requested that Mr Babalakin should stay action and avoid any escalation pending this consultative meeting which is without prejudice to the merit or otherwise of the contemplated action. However, in his response dated May 17, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Babalakin frowned at the manner the ministers directive was originally communicated. As a prelude to this letter, at the commencement of the Special Meeting on 13thMay 2019, the representative of the Ministry of Education Ms Ann Haruna -informed Council that she had just received a call from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education Arc. S.T Echono, fnia who has directed that our Council should not discuss the Report that examined the expenditure of the University and the Report that examined the collapse of the library building in the University. Members of the Council were taken aback by: (a) this mode of communication with Council, i.e the verbal nature of the communication, and (b) the propriety of the message. He explained that in the six years he has been pro-chancellor of the university, the directive from the ministry was the first time its representative would give an instruction to the Council of the University about the issues to be discussed in a Council meeting. Mr Babalakin then explained that due to the inappropriateness of the ministers directive, the council resolved that the message could not have come from the office of the Permanent Secretary acting under the instruction of the Honourable Minister. The council, then, proceeded with its meeting. The pro-chancellor said that after the letter from the ministry was discussed extensively by the council, it concluded that the letter was incomplete as there were no attachments delivered, along with the letter which were purportedly attached to the said letter. He explained that though the aim of the letter was to inform the council of a potential breach of procedure, the letter itself was inconsistent with laid down procedure. The Vice-Chancellor wrote about the Council to the Ministry of Education without informing the Council or copying the Council with the letter, Mr Babalakin wrote. He said the education ministry did not raise or identify any issues in the letter it sent to the council. Mr Babalakin explained that the council was confused by the ministrys request for it to stay action on the on-going probe to avoid escalating the crisis. There was no escalation of anything on campus and the campus was calm save for the protest of certain members of the university, who received memos requesting their comments on certain issues in line with the mandate of the council. This mandate and position was confirmed by the council meeting on 14th May 2019. Council is therefore at a loss about the issues referred to by this letter. It is councils position that the only event that could lead to escalation of issues in the University of Lagos is the failure to communicate facts to the University community. No escalation could occur if Councils position is properly communicated to the community, he wrote. Advertisements It is not yet clear what the ministers next line of action will be. On Tuesday, Mr Adamugave a valedictory speech where he indicated he may not return as education minister. President Muhammadu Buhari is set to be sworn in for a second term in office on May 29. The president is expected to reshuffle his cabinet then. The President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, has recused herself from presiding or being a member of the presidential election petition tribunal. Her decision follows a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Both parties are challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February presidential election. Mrs Bulkachuwas husband is a senator-elect of the governing All Progressives Congress, a ground upon which Mr Abubakar and the PDP asked her to recuse herself. The judge announced her decision to recuse herself on Wednesday despite the panel ruling against the PDP. The Court of Appeal President, Zainab Bulkachuwa, has recused herself from presiding over and being a member of the presidential election petition tribunal. She mentioned personal ground as a reason for her decision. Mrs Bulkachuwa announced the decision after a five-member panel of the court ruled against the application brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The opposition party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had challenged her membership of the tribunal on account of her relationships with two members of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The PDP and Mr Abubakar are challenging the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC in the February presidential election. The PDP had approached the court after the inaugural sitting of the tribunal on May 8, accusing Mrs Bulkachuwa of having the likelihood of bias, on the grounds that her husband, Adamu Bulkachuwa, and her son, Aliyu Bulkachuwa, are both members of the APC. Mrs Bulkachuwas husband was controversially picked by the APC to represent the party ahead of the 2019 senatorial elections. He won the eventual senatorial election. The PDP also asked Mrs Bulkachuwa to recuse herself from further presiding or participating as a member of the tribunal after the party cited some of her comments during the tribunals inaugural seating. Part of the comments included Mrs Bulkachuwas submissions that, no matter how well elections are conducted, there were bound to be complains. Arguments Of Counsel According to the PDP and Mr Abubakar, Mrs Bulkachuwas comments implied that she had already prejudged the elections to have been well conducted. The lawyer who spoke on behalf of the PDP, Levy Uzoukwu, said the inferred predisposition of Mrs Bulkachuwa rendered it difficult to prove a major point of their petition before the court. He further requested Mrs Bulkachuwa to recuse herself on the grounds that, justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done. Mr Uzoukwu also cited sections of their application which, according to him, amounted to the real likelihood of bias against Mrs Bulkachuwa. The question is not whether she will be biased. But whether there were credible evidence to prove that she has a likelihood of bias, Mr Uzoukwu argued He added that Mrs Bulkachuwa herself had asked that judges in the tribunal should be divested from all forms of bias, hence the need for her to recuse herself in the given circumstances. After making his submission, the lawyer representing the Independent National Electoral Commission, Yunus Usman, said the fact that Mrs Bulkachuwa is related to politicians cannot be the yardstick for the request that she should recuse herself. He added that the constitution does not allow for such discrimination and that the provisions of the constitution are wide enough to ensure justice prevails for all parties. According to Mr Usman, Mrs Bulkachuwas relationship with members of the APC cannot serve as a yardstick for judging her. Mr Usman added that if relationships are to be considered in deciding the membership of judicial panels, then it will be practically difficult for any jurist to seat in judgement since most of them are related to one politician or the other. Wole Olanipekun, who represented President Buhari, noted that by virtue of Section 239 of the constitution, only the Court of Appeal has exclusive jurisdiction to determine if a person has been validly elected into the office of the president of Nigeria or not. He said the president of the court is empowered to either seat on the tribunals panel or select members who will sit on the panel. He added that only the president of the court had the final say on whether or not she should sit as a member of the panel. In his arguments, the lawyer who represented the APC, Lateef Fagbemi, also said the cases cited by the petitioners in support of their arguments were inapplicable to their request and can therefore not be relied upon in the instant case. He noted that Mrs Bulkachuwa had conducted herself with utmost decorum in the years when she served as a member of the bench. Advertisements According to Mr Fagbemi, the conduct of Mrs Bulkachuwa has made it practically impossible for her to be accused of bias in the discharge of her duties. He, however, encouraged Mrs Bulkachuwa to recuse herself to avoid any perceived dent on her person. The Judgement After reading through the arguments of counsel, a member of the panel, Peter Ige, who read the judgement, said the submissions made by the applicants showed that Mrs Bulkachuwa was only being accused of the likelihood of bias. As can be seen from the prayers and the grounds, the President of the Court is not being accused of bias. However, she is being accused of the likelihood of bias. That fear is born out of the relationship she shares with prominent card-carrying members of this panel. I am of the sole view that no such inference can be reached from the above statement. I am of the firm view that enough materials have not been placed to show that the Honourable president has the likelihood of bias. The fact that she is the mother and wife of the APC members is not enough to require that she recuse herself. Her family members are not parties in the instant suit, Mr Ige said. The judge then ruled that the application had failed and was subsequently dismissed. The Withdrawal After the ruling, Mrs Bulkachuwa said that she insisted that the trial to be heard in full so that the place of the law would be noted. She, however, added that she was recusing herself on personal grounds. I will, however, recuse myself on personal ground, Mrs Bulkachuwa said. She added that her decision was taken to ensure that no female jurist is discriminated against in Nigerias future. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ministers on Wednesday spoke about their experiences working with President Muhammadu Buhari. They all spoke during a valedictory session of the Federal Executive Council, which held inside the council chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Mr Osinbajo and the ministers were each given three minutes to speak on their experiences. Below is what some of them said. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo I thank Almighty God for preserving our lives to serve our nation this past four years. I will like to thank Mr President for the opportunity to serve as your vice president and your running mate, twice. My deepest gratitude comes from the great trust that you reposed in me at all times. I will never forget when you were going on medical leave in May 2017, and you said to me that you would not fault my discretion as Acting President in any way. In keeping with your character and style, you kept your words. Mr President, many know of your integrity, discipline and capacity for hard work but many will not know just how humorous you are. I remember you, Mr President, telling me once that we should observe the cabinet members, who go out often during meetings, that they were going out to finish the coconut and peanuts. And since then I have noted carefully all those who go out looking very serious, but Im sure they end up finishing the coconut and peanuts as Mr President said. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo I want to use this opportunity to greet our cabinet colleagues. This has been an exceptionally patriotic and talented team. Everyone brought experience, knowledge, wisdom and selflessness to council deliberations at all times. I treasure the friendship that we have built with ourselves and among family members in the last four years. I pray that you will all go from glory to glory, that you will never fail or fall. As we all us depart from the council, I pray that the lord that has guided us this far will be our help in the years to come in Jesus name. Just to mention for the records that I was elected chairman of the association to which Dr Ngige referred, the one to which Adams Oshiomhole (APC chairman), (Chris Ngige and (Governor) El-Rufai are members, not because Im the Vice President but because Im the tallest member Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama Thank you for the opportunity despite the fact you didnt know me from Adam. But your leadership has been such that you treated everyone the same, whether you knew them before or not. Unless one was told, one would never know who you knew before. Mr President, no one in the history of the country has held as much top leadership position as you have, so it is intimidating to be called upon to advise you on any matter. But you are humility personified. I will recall a few very short anecdotes that highlight a few of your many qualities. In Poland, you showed your humility when, after a long tiring day, you were kept waiting by the Deputy Prime Minister. I advised you to leave but you preferred to wait patiently, and you were proved right, it was a wonderful meeting. Geoffrey Onyeama, Nigerian foreign minister says South Africa must act decisively. In Mali, you showed very strong stoicism, physical courage to continue participating in a meeting when you were ill. You later needed a long medical treatment. The Gambia, you showed decisive leadership when you surprised some presidents at a meeting by telling them to be in Abuja in two days, they came. At the working lunch, you called the Chief of Defence Staff and told him to call his counterparts in four countries, plan to launch on land, air and sea and move towards the Gambia, that was the era of Yahaya Jammeh. History. In Nairobi, you showed great deftness and dribbling skills. We prepared a too long speech for you; we saw that five minutes time limit was being rigorously enforced. After you told me you had to leave for a while and I should sit in your place and deliver your speech. While I did I read so fast; the interpreters could not keep up. You came back and asked me with a smile if I had delivered the speech and I said yes sir with great difficulty! Lesson learnt. I have learnt so much from you, sir. Mr President, you assembled a great cabinet from advisers, and it has been a joy to work with every one of them. Your choice of VP was a truly inspired one. You both are a dream team a match made in heaven. Remember James Ocholi, our late colleague and brother and former minister of state Labour, May his soul continue to rest in peace. Minister of State (Agriculture), Heineken Lokpobiri Mr President, let me join my colleagues in thanking you for appointing me a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What I have learnt in the last three and a half years I have not learnt in my 12 years as a parliamentarian. I was a speaker in Bayelsa State House of Assembly in 1999. I was a Senator in 2007 to 2015 but the last three and half years cannot be equalled to what I learnt as a member of the cabinet. So my appointment is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I enjoyed a cordial working relationship with the Vice President and members of the cabinet within this period of my appointment, and Im very glad to say that your leadership style is exemplary, it was God ordained, and I always tell people that you came at a time that God wanted you to come. I have always told people that what saved this country is because of your integrity as the world sees yours as a man everyone can trust. The presidents integrity is different, between Nigeria and Venezuela that have more oil than us but has been in crisis since 2015. Mr President as you go to the next level, let me suggest that as president of Nigeria, youre the president of the black world, you have enormous responsibility, so you need all the time to attend to other matters apart from the FEC proceedings, and so it is my very humble submission that in the next level, let the office of SGF develop standing order that will regulate proceedings of the FEC that will save Mr President a lot of time to attend to other matters. That will prevent some of my colleagues that will talk four or five times as they would be allowed to talk only once. You will only be allowed to talk twice if youre the one presenting the memo. It will be nice if we see some of the reforms take place so that we will be able to save Mr President enough time. Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu I want to congratulate Mr President for the wisdom in selecting the current members of the cabinet. There is no doubt that while there were some delays in appointing cabinet members, a lot of people had grievances of a sort but the fact that you succeeded in appointing this creme of Nigerians has justified the fact in the saying it is better late than never. There is no good for you in rushing to appoint the cabinet only for you to have problems along the way. Advertisements The Minister of Communication, Adebayo Shittu, [Photo credit: THISDAYLIVE] So, I wish to say that the lateness or the delay has been worthwhile because over the last three and half years we have had one team which has been very compact, focus and determined to contribute its quota under your leadership. Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan Ali Upon assumption in 2015, we met ill-equipped armed forces with low morale and the standard of discipline in the military was eroded due to partisanship over the period, leading to neglect of its constitutional role. As you may recall at the time this administration was inaugurated in May 2015, 1/3 of the local government areas of the North-east was under the control of the insurgents, Boko Haram with bombing across the country. Similarly, under your leadership, the ministry of defence has recorded a lot of achievements, some which include the review of national defence policy, the increased occupational capability of the Armed Forces, the conduct of internal security and the decapacitation of Boko Haram, among others. Mansur Dan Ali Despite all these achievements recorded so far, the nation is still experiencing serious security challenges, especially in the North-east and North-central. These challenges are not insurmountable. The Armed Forces and other security agencies are doing their best to address these problems. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu As a journalist, who has been very critical of the government and perhaps a nobody, I would never have become a minister, if not for this gesture of Mr President I will like to thank Mr President for giving freedom since I became a minister; the president has never asked me to give anybody a contract or directed me to employ anybody, and I think this is very rare. Also, I will like to thank the Vice President for his humility. Like I have said on other occasions, Nigeria has never been lucky to have a combination like this. The president who is famous for integrity and the Vice President, who is a true man of God. Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu. Both of you have the greatest burden on your shoulders to ensure that this alliance that produced you prevails and its maintained. And sir, it will not prevail until something is done because immediately after you, what will happen to Nigeria if you are not succeeded by your type of integrity, then we are going back to something worse than the one you succeeded. This is very important; I hope this occupies your mind, the next cabinet and perhaps the party. The ministry of education should not get less than N1 trillion. Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed The wealth of knowledge, skills and experience that we have been compelled to learn from each other. For me, every encounter I had with Mr.President is like going to school. Today Im proud to be graduating with the first degree from the PMBs school of governance, integrity, accountability and due process. Im proud to say that I was in the department of EMT that was ably chaired by His Excellency, the Vice President which will all call silently as a workaholic who expects you to be there sometime till 2:a.m. He is never tired. Minister of State (Petroleum), Ibe Kachikwu My appointment was unique because before now, I have never been in politics before my appointment. Unlike many people, I didnt know the president directly, but you gave me the twin portfolios of managing director of NNPC and minister of state petroleum. This put on me the responsible for trying and cleans that ministry so that it will be useful to Nigerians. I have had the unique privilege of working with Mr President directly, different from being my president; he was my direct boss. In that prior, we had worked together to deal with many problems that beset that industry. Problems of fuel scarcity, dwindling production, transparency, the crisis in the Niger Delta and fiscal federalism and the TSA ultimately captured most of the earnings of this country from that sector. We have done that with very many sacrifices, this is probably the first president that I will know who would have served four years and I can attest that no oil bloc has been given to him. I can also attest that there is no contract that he has shown interest personally, neither have I. This is probably the first crop of ministers that worked with no official residences and sometimes from their cars. Ibe Kachikwu [Photo Credit: THISDAYLIVE] But I have learnt that if you come to serve Nigeria, you have come to sacrifice and if you cant serve with sacrifice, then there is no need to serve. Three things I have learnt from you which have been very very helpful. In the first, is the power of silence, especially if you dont have anything to say that is meaningful. The second is the power of calm when the water is turbulent, and the third is the audacity of integrity. That integrity is what has led us to take some of the bold steps that we have taken that ordinarily, Nigerians wouldnt have forgiven inclusive of the lifting of the price of petroleum products which was essential at the time. Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi Let me begin by thanking God for the opportunity Mr President has availed me to serve. I met a lot of people in the cabinet. Mr President, if I exceed the three minutes its not because I failed grammar in school, I had credit in grammar. As a student of grammar, we are told to summarise, and that is exactly what we have done. Mr President, I met you first in 2007 I had never seen you before because when you were the head of state I was a student in University of Ibadan, a radical one at that, a Marxist, so we were among those who demonstrated against some of your policies. You recalled when you came to my chambers in 2007, I wished you good luck, and you turned to be and said, dont wish me good luck, wish me the best of luck. Recalled I told you, you are the best material to be president of Nigeria but unfortunately, the elite will not allow you to be president and I was in PDP. I said they would not allow you and your chances of becoming the President was high. The next time I met, you were not in person but through the phone. You called me after I had defeated governor of Plateau for my second term as governors forum chairman. You said to me that you were so elated that you gave somebody free money. I was impressed. Mr President, let me thank you for not converting me to Islam. I say that specifically because in 2014 when I walked into Christ the King Catholic Church, I was chased out of the church as a governor because I was accused of supporting a man whose agenda was to Islamise Nigeria. And in Rivers State, they begin to call me Alhaji Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. I thank you because they have dropped the Alhaji and I am back to Mr Chibuike Amaechi. Minister of Transport and Former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi I was told in the cause of the campaign that you were autocratic, and therefore you will not be democratic. Most of us are not happy that you have moved from your autocratic nature of yours to an extreme democrat that everything puts to test of the people, to the extend that the people now feel that the only way things can go on in this country is by the rule of law. We all know that the rule of law is the beginning and the end of this government. Talking about the financial impunity that we saw before, people were making money without having any productive capacity for that. Minister of Niger Delta, Usani Uguru I have seen the passion of my president trying to get the ministers. I have seen Mr President try to make the minister comfortable, but the laws or lack of laws has not allowed it, in this case, leaving us with so many sacrifices as ministers. In this sacrifice, we have had a lot to learn, which has enriched my experience. I will like to suggest, that in the second run of this administration, there should be deeper discourse for policy articulation which will inform all participants in that administration of the update of whatever decisions the government takes. The presidential election petition tribunal on Thursday continued hearing into an application challenging the election of President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 23 general elections. The petition was brought by the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. Mr Buhari was declared winner of the election, making it possible for him to remain in office for a second term, having been first elected in 2015. Apart from the application challenging Mr Buharis emergence as winner of the 2019 elections, the PDP is also contesting the position of the President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, as a member of the presidential election tribunal. Mrs Bulkachuwas husband, Adamu Bulkachuwa, was controversially selected by Mr Buharis party, the All Progressives Congress, to contest for the position of a senator. He eventually won the election. The PDP has alleged that the emergence of Mr Bulkachuwa as senator put Mrs Bulkachuwa in a questionable position with regards to the ongoing petition. Mrs Bulkachuwa is expected to rule on the application challenging her position on the panel on Thursday. TORONTO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MediPharm Labs Corp. (TSXV: LABS) (OTCQX: MEDIF) (FSE:MLZ) (MediPharm Labs) a leader in specialized, research-driven cannabis extraction and cannabinoid isolation, is pleased to announce it has been selected by The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City (Mount Sinai), to participate in a clinical trial dedicated to developing a non-addictive oral gelcap medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder through anti-anxiety intervention utilizing hemp-derived CBD combined with a proprietary formula (the Formula). This will be a U.S. and international large-scale, multi-site clinical trial that will include at least 500 patients spanning the United States, Canada, Australia, Europe and Jamaica. The clinical trial will be led by renowned principal researcher, Dr. Yasmin L. Hurd, PhD, the Ward-Coleman Chair of Translational Neuroscience at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, and Director of the Center for Addictive Disorders for the Mount Sinai Behavioral Health System. MediPharm Labs is also pleased to be involved in the clinical trial, directed by Mount Sinai, with Courtney Betty of Timeless Herbal Care Inc. (Timeless Herbal), a fully integrated licensed producer of medicinal cannabis in Jamaica. MediPharm Labs will be the exclusive manufacturer of a proprietary hemp-derived CBD oral gelcap medication utilizing the Formula provided by Timeless Herbal for all phases of the clinical trials related to this study that will allow researchers to test an investigational product containing CBD active ingredient. MediPharm Labs and Timeless Herbal will jointly own any intellectual property developed during the clinical trials (Developed IP), excluding the Formulation, and MediPharm Labs will be the exclusive manufacturer for products resulting from this study. We are extremely pleased MediPharm Labs has been selected to be involved in this landmark, clinical trial to properly evaluate the potential benefits of CBD and that can lead to important medical therapies for millions suffering from opioid use disorder, said Patrick McCutcheon, CEO, MediPharm Labs. We are committed to providing consistent, high quality, pharma-like active ingredients to support advancements in scientific CBD drug development. I am proud to be collaborating with MediPharm Labs, a valuable partner who exemplifies true commitment to research and supporting rigorous scientific research on the potential medical uses of CBD, said Dr. Yasmin Hurd, Mount Sinai Hospital. MediPharm Labs was selected as our preferred provider to participate in this critical study largely based on its teams deep experience in pharma and clinical research, and ability to execute and provide safe, effective and precisely doseable, high quality products. Dr. Hurd continued, The vast number of lives lost, societal burdens and marked health toll caused by opioid addiction continues to grow worldwide and requires bold and unique actions to curb this tidal wave of the opioid epidemic. This consortium strategy is founded on results from established clinical trials that now give us an important opportunity to further advance scientific research in large populations. This is a critical path for the development of true CBD medicinal products that meet FDA approval to treat opioid addiction. The arrangement remains subject to MediPharm Labs, Mount Sinai and Timeless Herbal entering into a clinical trial agreement, MediPharm Labs and Timeless Herbal entering into a separate intellectual property agreement and certain regulatory approvals. About the Trial Phase II and Phase III trials will be conducted in two stages and will be a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study in which at least 500 participants will be studied in different stages. The study will also include a multisite evaluation that will gather evidence of the safety and efficacy of CBD in opioid reduction through anti-anxiety intervention in patients around the world. About Opioid Use Disorder and CBD Dr. Yasmin Hurd: The opioid epidemic of overdose death is worldwide. Current medications are opioid based which bear enormous governmental regulation, particularly due to the addictive nature of the substances, and significant societal stigma. Non-intoxicating, non-opioid medications are critical to curb the opioid epidemic and related disorders. CBD has been shown in pre-clinical and small clinical trials to reduce drug-induced craving and anxiety in patients with an opioid use disorder. American Psychiatric Association on Opioid Use Disorder and Crisis The opioid crisis was declared a nationwide Public Health Emergency on October 27, 2017. In 2017, more than 72,000 Americans died from drug overdoses, including illicit drugs and prescription opioids, a 2-fold increase in a decade. The sharpest increase involved synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl and fentanyl analogs (similar compounds), with nearly 30,000 overdose deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Heroin was involved in nearly 16,000 deaths and prescription painkillers were involved in nearly 15,000 deaths. From 2002 to 2017, there was a 22-fold increase in the total number of deaths involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids (not including methadone) and more than a 7-fold increase in the number of deaths involving heroin. Emergency department visits for suspected opioid overdoses rose by 30 percent in the U.S. from July 2016 to September 2017. More information available at: https://www.psychiatry.org About Timeless Herbal Care Founded in 2014 Timeless Herbal Care is Jamaicas premier medical cannabis brand. Timeless has been consistently recognized as the Trailblazer in the development of the medical cannabis industry in Jamaica. The company is built on natural cultivation, superior extraction techniques, and international industry partnerships with the best of the best. As the first GMP certified facility in Jamaica for the export of medical grade cannabis extracted oil, Timeless is uniquely positioned for commercial exports internationally. Timeless was the first company to receive an export permit from the Ministry of Health in Jamaica providing for the legal export of cannabis oil to Canada. Timeless Research and Development team and partnerships are committed to creating science based medical products which meet the highest standards of safety and efficacy. A major focus of the company is the development of pain relief products to provide an alternative to the opiate crisis. Timeless is proud to be a Leader in Corporate social responsibility in helping to develop individuals, communities and sharing our global message of inclusion and recognition in the cannabis industry. About MediPharm Labs Corp. Founded in 2015, MediPharm Labs has the distinction of being the first company in Canada to become a licensed producer for cannabis oil production under the ACMPR without first receiving a cannabis cultivation license. This expert focus on cannabis concentrates begins in its purpose-built laboratory designed to incorporate cGMP (current Good Manufacturing Practices) workflow and ISO standard-built clean rooms and critical environments, allowing MediPharm Labs to produce purified, pharmaceutical-like cannabis oil and concentrates for advanced derivative products. MediPharm Labs has invested in an expert, research-driven team, state-of-the-art technology, downstream extraction methodologies and purpose-built facilities to deliver pure, safe and precisely-dosed cannabis products to patients and consumers. MediPharm Labs private label program is a high margin business for the company, whereby it opportunistically procures dry cannabis flower and trim from its numerous product supply partners, to produce cannabis oil concentrate products for resale globally on a private label basis. For further information, please contact: Laura Lepore, VP, Investor Relations Telephone: 705-719-7425 ext 216 Email: investors@medipharmlabs.com Website: www.medipharmlabs.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSXV) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. 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 to, among other things, the formulation, manufacturing and supply of oral CBD gelcaps, the entering into of final agreements related to MediPharm Labs involvement in the trial being completed on the disclosed terms or at all, the completion of the study on the disclosed terms or at all, the enrollment of suitable participants in the study and the creation or commercialization of any products resulting from the study. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the inability of MediPharm Labs to obtain adequate financing; the delay or failure to receive regulatory approvals: and other factors discussed in MediPharm Lab filings, available on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Except as required by law, MediPharm Labs assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change. Tobacco control groups in Nigeria have urged the National Assembly to resist on-going attempts by the tobacco industry to truncate the passage of the draft National Tobacco Control Regulations. The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) and Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) in a joint statement issued in Abuja Wednesday called on Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara to repel clandestine activities of the tobacco industry to water-down the draft Regulations. We have been monitoring the processes after the adoption of the draft Regulations on the floor of the House of Representatives and are shocked by the delay in transmitting the draft Regulations to the Senate for concurrence, the statement read. Equally worrying are reports that the draft Regulations being sent to the Senate are being doctored to exclude some key provisions as approved on the floor of the House of Representatives and reflected in the record of the Votes and Proceedings. Tobacco industry striking again Nigerias tobacco control legislation came into existence in 2015, signed into law by former president Goodluck Jonathan after years of delays. But its implementation has been stalled due to a controversial clause within which says the law requires parliamentary approval of regulations which cover about 70 percent of implementation needs of the Act before enforcement.2 In 2017, the health minister, Isaac Adewole, outlined nine key provisions of the legislation, which do not need the regulations, for implementation. The provisions included the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products to and by anyone below age 18 as well as a ban tobacco advertising among others. But tobacco control activists say the approval of the draft regulations by parliament remains a key strategy towards enforcing the law. Last month, the House of Representatives Committee on Delegated Legislation held an interactive session on the NTC Regulation 2018. At the session, the Federal Ministry of Health on Thursday joined forces with tobacco control groups to push for the approval of the draft Regulations. Some of the critical sections approved include: all tobacco products must carry pictorial health warning of 50 per cent on all principal display areas which will automatically increase to 80 per cent after four years, licensing of all tobacco products including variants by the Federal Ministry of Health, amongst others. Tobacco control advocates say recent events around the draft regulations are reminiscent of pre-2011 tobacco-industry-influenced moves when, despite the passage of the tobacco bill by both houses of the National Assembly, it was not signed into law before the assembly wound down. To us, the tobacco industry is striking again, said Akinbode Oluwafemi, ERA/FoEN Deputy Executive Director. Proper due process was followed and respected all along, and all parties were duly consulted but we know the tobacco industry will always act in bad faith to compromise any law aimed at reducing smoking and its attendant harms and economic costs. The National Assembly must once and for all, draw the line and side with the health of Nigerians as well as protect them from an industry that is killing 16,100 Nigerians every year. The NTCA Alliance Coordinator, Oluseun Esan said: The eighth National Assembly is at a critical period and we have seen the wave of bills that were given expedited passage. We wonder why the Tobacco Control Regulations have not enjoyed similar treatment. Our plea is that the Senate President and the Speaker of the House Representatives step into this issue personally and stand with public good. Nigerians are watching and indeed the global public health community is also watching to see how the eighth National Assembly treats this very important issue. We restate our confidence that the leadership will do the needful by approving strong Regulations as approved on the floor of the House of Representatives; that is the Public Health legacy Nigerians need from Senator Saraki and Honourable Dogara. The draft National Tobacco Control Regulations provide clarity and details for the enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Bill, 2015 signed into Law under President Goodluck Jonathans administration. However, Section 39 (2), of the Act provides that draft Regulations for the full implementation of the Act must be sent back to the National Assembly for approval. The groups want the Senate to concur to the draft Regulations approved by the House of Representatives before the expiration of the term of the current National Assembly on June 6. Following a PREMIUM TIMES investigation that revealed how the vice chancellor of Lagos State University, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, and pro-chancellor of the university, Adebayo Ninalowo, diverted N198 million from the staff pension fund of the university, the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) in the institution has written to Lagos State governor and the universitys visitor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to probe the schools management. The union said the intervention of the visitor is imperative at this time to stop the alleged illegalities and arbitrariness prevalent in the university. In the letter dated May 13, signed by Tony Dansu, the secretary of the ASUU-LASU, and his deputy, Adeola Oyekan, the union said it was the 29th letter it had written to Mr Ambode in the last 26 months. It added the governor has failed to act on any of the previous letters. The union cited the PREMIUM TIMES Investigation, which revealed how the universitys management diverted N198million out of the N689 million it illegally withdrew from an escrow to purchase 12 luxury vehicles under the guise of using the fund toward the accreditation of some academic programmes in the university. The account contained the contributory pension of the institutions employees. In the letter to the governor, the union said the revelation showed that the vice chancellor and the pro-chancellor went beyond the limits of the funds they are authorised to approve. We are aware that the personal approval limits of the Vice Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor are N5 million and N20 million respectively, the letter reads in part. From the records displayed by Premium Times and the Vice-Chancellor, executive approval made for expenditure under contention were N215 million and N474 million (N689 Million) before the Governing Council Post purchase approval were approved one after the other. The second tranche was not discussed with the finance and General Purpose Committee of the Governing Council contrary to the regulations. The union accused Mr Fagbohun of not respecting the universitys law. It claimed that the pro-chancellor was working hand-in-glove with the vice-chancellor and providing cover for him. We are still at loss on how the Chairman of the Council, Professor Adebayo Ninalowo, who himself is a professor in a nearby university, with pension savings, would under any circumstances show fealty the Vice Chancellor by sanctioning the misappropriation of the pension fund of members of staff. The union also accused Obafela Bank-Olemoh, the special adviser of the governor on education, who is in charge of Tertiary Institutions in the state, of keeping mum on issues concerning LASU. It said Mr Bank-Olemoh had rebuffed several attempts by the union to speak with the governor. The lecturers, therefore, called on the governor to set up a visitation panel to look into the increasing level of lawlessness in the university. By law, a visitation is due every five years. The last visitation panel of the Lagos State University was in 2009. Beyond the legal imperative, however, the increasing level of lawlessness of the incumbent university administration makes it important for the Visitor to independently conduct an inquiry into the affairs of the university over the last 10 years. Similarly, it called on the governor to investigate the illegal withdrawal of fund from staff pension fund. We are aware that the pension funds of many tertiary institutions have been tampered with at the detriment of the post-service welfare of workers. Our Union cannot risk this for our members. We, therefore, demand for an independent investigation panel to look into these serious allegations and re-assure us of the safety of our retirement benefits. For transparency and confidence -building representatives of the Staff Union should be included in the panel, it stated. A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed October 16 for hearing in a suit filed by former First Lady, Patience Jonathan, challenging a No Debit Order placed on her accounts. Mrs Jonathan had filed the suit in 2016, to challenge the order placed on four Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank Ltd) accounts having a total of $9.8 million. Joined as defendants in the suit are: the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Polaris Bank Ltd, and Pluto Property and Investment Company Ltd. Also joined as defendants are: Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Ltd, and Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Ltd. The former first lady is seeking a declaration that she is owner of the funds in the accounts opened in the names of the third, fourth and fifth defendants, and so, entitled to access to the funds for her use and benefit. The case, which was fixed for further mention before Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke on Wednesday, has now been slated for trial on October 16. At the last adjourned date on March 27, plaintiffs counsel, Ifedayo Adedipe, SAN, informed the court that the case, which was first before his brother judge, Justice Mohammed Idris (who has been elevated to the court of Appeal), was for mention. He had said the matter was coming up before Mr Aneke for the first time, and so, will be commencing afresh. According to him, plaintiff had to amend her statement of claim to correctly reflect the name of Skye bank as now Polaris Bank, adding that the change in nomenclature necessitated the amendment. Other counsel present had confirmed the position to the court, adding that their respective amended processes will also be filed and served. On the next adjourned date, substantive hearing will begin. In the suit, Jonathan is seeking an order, restraining the EFCC or any other person, from preventing the plaintiff access to the said funds contained in the third to fifth defendants account with Skye Bank (now Polaris Bank). Plaintiff is also seeking an order, discharging the No Debit Freezing Order placed on the accounts of the third to fifth defendants. She further seeks an order directing Polaris Bank to release forthwith, the sum of $9.8 million standing to the credit of the plaintiff, as at March 29, 2016, or any such other funds in the account. (NAN) Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has criticised those behind the de-listing of History from Nigerian schools curriculum, saying he was disappointed at how the subject had been treated on the continent. Mr Soyinka, a professor of Comparative Literature, spoke Wednesday at an event in Lagos organised by the United Bank for Africa to commemorate this years Africa Day. History is a burden and that is why most people avoid it, Mr Soyinka said. Sometime ago in Nigeria, a minister deemed it fit that history be removed from the syllabus, I was shocked. Those who expunge such a discipline from our schools deserve to be expunged from history altogether. For several years, History, as a standalone subject, was missing from the basic and junior secondary schools curriculum in the country. It was, however, reintroduced in the 2018/2019 curriculum. United Africa Mr Soyinka also spoke on the need for African unity, noting that leaders must not make the mistake of ignoring issues that cause disunity because unity cannot be commanded into existence I believe our unity is possible even with the plethora of languages, he said. We just have to understand what the purpose of that unity is. Priorities exist, but the picture of Africa together is one we must keep in view but not forget the issues militating against it. I wish to plead that we particularize the sense of unity. Lets prioritize the material condition of our people. Right now, we are being recolonized by some internal forces. The programme, which was themed Africas History Redefined: Our past, a path to the future, had other panelists like Djibril Tamsir, a Guinea historian and professor; Samia Nkrumah, a leading female Ghanaian politician; Tony Elumelu, the CEO of UBA; and Femi Kuti, Afrobeat musician and activist. Mr Soyinka also expressed disappointment at the current state of the country stating that this country is descending into an horrendous abyss, the like of which have not been witnessed in this country. In response to a question from the moderator, Ayo Obe, on whether Africa should continue to look on to its history, Mr Tamsir said the continuous denial of the history of Africa remains a problem even after independence. There is no people without a history. Our history has been denied and our people know nothing about it. After independence we didnt know what to teach about our history because it had been denied. Our schools taught European history instead. We asked that UNESCO set up a committee to look into African history and before the end of that, we had set to work establishing research institutes all over Africa and our histories are being taught I our schools and Africa has been able to reestablish itself. The OAU created in 1963 as an historical date, was a vengeance on the date of the partitioning of Africa because on that day, we proclaimed its unity. In 1999 when OAU became AU, it speaks of that unity. Mr Tamsir also reiterated that Africa can only get better. The path has been created and nothing will stop Africa. Our democracy is still at an early stage but it will get better. Though there are coup detats everywhere, peace will reign and Africa will be united. When Ms Nkrumah spoke, she affirmed that this century should be known for African unification. The last century was famous for national liberation. This century, what could be the best thing to happen to Africans? I think its our unification. When I say Africans I mean both Africans at home and Africans abroad totaling 1.5billion people. That is how strong we can become if we think and act together. I believe we should unite for our liberation. The last 500 years has been about defeat and liberation but we have an history before then. We need to look at our contribution to civilization, religion, culture, and this will give us the courage to move forward. She also posited that until what it means to be a black man or woman is totally clear, unification is impossible. Advertisements The day we understand what it means to be a black man or woman is when we move forward to be truly free. It will be easier to meet the need of our people if we come together. Femi Kuti said the absence of footages for the slave trade had made it near-impossible to appreciate the horrors of 500 years of slavery. We dont appreciate 500 years of slavery. Unlike the Jewish holocaust where there were footages, there is no footage of the slavery. You dare not make a Jewish joke about the Holocaust, the whole nation will descend on you but the world makes jokes of slavery; a man put in chains and walking the distance from Benin to the port in Badagry into a life of slavery. We are lost and this is what the west wants. If we had leaders that understood the history of Africa, they would put things in place to move the people forward. As far as am concerned, history is everything. Mr. Kuti also said that colonization and westernization introduced most of the gender inequalities known today. Feminism is un-African because in the Africa history, in Yoruba land where I come from, there is no title to distinguish a female king from a male, an Oba is an Oba. Our whole essence as African men was to better the lives of our women, we had powerful female gods. It was colonization and its religion that made the male folk more powerful with their words always emphasizing on the He with no room for the She. Mr Elumelu said it is time for Africa to move on from blaming others for its woes. We need to move on from blaming others for our history and drop our entitlement mentality. We cant keep telling our children this history. Let us tell a history of our economic renaissance and development. I see a continent with all the potentials to be great. We need to move to the future with optimism leveraging on the resources we have; a population we can retrain. As we talk about our history, we need to think of the type of history our children will tell. I dont have an account, and I can never have one till I die. My pocket and my car are secure enough for me, no matter how much I have, an Abuja resident, Ibrahim Gombe, told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Gombe, who is into different businesses including working as an estate agent, said after he gets his commission in cash from clients, he keeps his money in his car or at home. I am a very temperamental person. If I open an account and ATM swallows my card or I have to queue to withdraw my own money, I might misbehave, so its better I stay on my own, I see no need to open an account at all, he said. Mr Gombe is like many more Nigerians who dont see any value for them in the nations banking system. While many low-income people like Mr Gombe, believe having a bank account is a sheer waste of time, others who would love to truly have an account have been constrained by the various requirements from the bank According to a 2018 Access to Financial Services (A2F) survey conducted by Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), 36.6 million adult Nigerians out of the 99.6 million (36.8 per cent) total adult population are financially excluded, with 44.1 per cent being male and 55.9 per cent female. NFIS As part of the plans to become one of the worlds largest economies, Nigeria introduced the National Financial Inclusion Strategy (NFIS) in 2012 as a key operator to achieve this. The goal of the strategy is to increase the number of Nigerians with access to financial services from 30 per cent to 80 per cent by 2020. By the end of 2018, financial exclusion rate had reduced from 41.6 per cent to 36.8 per cent. Bank Processes Commercial banks in Nigeria have tried to make opening new accounts, especially for artisans and low-income earners, easy. Opening a savings account in some of these banks has been categorised into three tiers. Tier 1 mostly are for low-income earners, artisans, and small business owners. To open this account, all that is required is a passport photograph. But the highest that can be in this account at a time varies from N200,000 to N300, 000, depending on the bank. Once the deposit in the tier1 account exceeds the stated amount, the account becomes inaccessible to the owner as it automatically becomes a tier 2 or tier 3 account. For this, a valid identity card is needed and also utility bills. Abuja as case study The issue of financial inclusion is pertinent more in the northern part of the country, where the rate of financial exclusion doubles that of the southern parts. According to the survey, while the North-west and North-east have 62 per cent and 85 per cent financially excluded adults respectively, the South-west has 19 per cent, and the South-south, South-east and North-central recorded exclusion rates of 23, 29 and 31 per cent respectively. Some traders, like Hassan Aliyu, prefer to send money to their families through drivers or anyone that visits them from the village, just like decades ago. Mr Aliyu, an orange trader in Abujas largest marker, Wuse, said, I prefer to send money to my family in Katsina through a driver who comes from my village, or the driver gives them the money while I pay him once he gets to Abuja. Isiaka Kazeem, who sells pepper also in Wuse market, said he would have loved to open an account but he doesnt trust the banks with their initial requirements. They will tell you to open with just a passport photograph until you want to withdraw your money, they will then tell you to bring all sorts of things to access your own money. For Taura Ibrahim, a gateman in a private residence in Wuse part of Abuja, he was discouraged by what he considers bank requirements. I would have loved to open an account but for the various requirements I cannot meet, my house does not have a meter, so I have no utility bill. Advertisements Similarly, another trader in Wuse market, Dahir Yusufu, said: I went to the bank to open an account a long time ago. The list of their requirements discouraged me from going back there. Mr Yusuf said since then he has decided to be keeping his money like his colleagues. The complaints of people like Mr Yusuf continue despite a 2013 intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The bank, in 2013, introduced the tiered Know-Your-Customer (KYC) framework to simplify the requirements for opening and operating bank and mobile money accounts for low-income earners. The federal government said it has approved an additional N25 billion as Earned Academic Allowances for members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). The government said the cash was aside the N20 billion that was released in 2018 to public universities. The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, said this at his valedictory press conference in Abuja, on Tuesday. Mr Adamu said all public universities in the country benefitted from the N20 billion released last year. Let me inform you that the federal government has just approved an additional N25 billion to be shared to beneficiary institutions directly. Last year, the federal government released N20 billion directly to universities. As I speak, all universities have got their share of the N20 billion, he said. He said the current administration inherited an unimplementable agreement of N1.3 trillion when it assumed office in 2015. The sad news is that the N200 billion that was released to the Central Bank of Nigeria since 2013 for the universities has not been fully accessed. In specific terms, all the 73 public varsities have accessed the 1st tranche of 50 per cent of the N200 billion. For the second tranche of 40 per cent, only 56 institutions have been able to access their funds. The last 10 per cent, representing the third tranche of the N200 billion has not been accessed at all. ASUU embarked on strike last November over poor funding of public varsities. One of the reasons for ending the three month old strike in February was an agreement between the government and the union. In addition to the N20 billion for 2018, the sum of N25 billion only would be released in April/May 2019, after which government would resume full implementation of the MoU of 2013, ASUU President Abiodun Ogunyemi said in February. Efforts to get a reaction from Mr Ogunyemi was unsuccessful as his numbers were not available as at the time of filing this report. N1.3 trillion invested in education sector- Minister Mr Adamu also said the government injected N1.3 trillion into the education sector in the last four years. The UBEC interventions in states have recorded a total of N350 billion while TETFund and NEEDS Assessment interventions have recorded N857 billion with the main ministry and other agencies recording N86 billion totaling N1.3 trillion in the last four years. This is aside from the N25 billion just approved for public niversities. These figures have nothing to do with personnel and overhead costs in the education sector, which are also well over a trillion naira, he said. Out-of-school-children Mr Adamu apologised to Nigerians over his inability to fulfill his promise to reduce the number of out-of-school children by half before the end of his tenure. The minister said the status of Nigeria with the highest number of out-of-school children globally was a big mark of shame to him as a person and to the entire nation. PREMIUM TIMES reported how a 2015 Demographic Health Survey(DHS) conducted by the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and the Nigerian government showed that out of school children in Nigeria has risen from 10.5 million to 13.2 million. According to the minister, the concerns of this administration have been two-fold: to find an empirical means of getting the actual figures and best ways to reducing the number to the barest minimum. He said Nigeria has one of the highest number of out-of-school children in Sub-Saharan Africa and perhaps in the world and ranked only second to Pakistan. When I came on board, I promised to bring the number of out-of-school children to half. I must apologise for this but I believe the new minister will bring this number down, he said. Advertisements Secondary Education Commission Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwukah, said the establishment of a secondary education commission to oversee operations of secondary schools in the country has been approved by the government. Mr Anwuka said the approval was earlier given by President Muhammadu Buhari. According to him, the goverment has also reviewed downward the charges in Unity Colleges from N83,000 to N49,500. He said the goverment had pegged PTA (parents, teachers association) levy at N5,000 across schools and ended arbitrary charges of N75,000 which had nearly inhibited access to unity colleges. President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presiding over a valedictory meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The meeting is holding inside the council chamber of State House Presidential Villa, Abuja. The meeting began at 11. 03 am after the arrival of the president into the council chamber. As is the usual practice, journalists were asked to excuse the meeting after opening prayers. Mr Buhari is expected to dissolve the cabinet which he constituted in December 2015. The president was re-elected in the 2019 election and would be sworn in for his second term on May 29. In attendance at the meeting are Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President Abba Kyari, Head of Service of the Federations, Winifred Oyo-Ita, National Security Adviser Babagana Monguno and 31 ministers. More details to come. The Nigerian government on Wednesday arraigned journalist Jones Abiri for alleged economic sabotage and terrorism. Federal prosecutors filed three counts of terrorism, economic sabotage, and fraud against Mr Abiri on Wednesday morning, according to his lawyer, Samuel Ogala. Court filing seen by PREMIUM TIMES said Mr Abiri sent text messages from his phone number to Shell and Agip officials, threatening to blow their oil installations if his demands were not met. The Bayelsa-based journalist was also accused of leading a gang of activists to blow up pipelines in Bayelsa. All the offences allegedly took place between June and July 2016. The charges came nine months after Mr Abiri was freed from the custody of the State Security Service, after spending two years there without trial. The journalist strongly denied all allegations, saying he was being targeted for his media work that put a spotlight on the controversial conducts of oil companies and the Nigerian government in the Niger Delta. His ordeal has been a major topic of discussion amongst media rights advocates, with the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalist asking for all charges to be dropped. A Nigerian senator, Victor Umeh, has accused Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, of abandoning citizens in his state amidst insecurity. Mr Umeh (Anambra, APGA), while contributing to a motion on killings in Rivers State, said the governor has fled the North West state to live in Abuja due to insecurity. He was contributing to a motion moved by Andrew Uchendu (Rivers, PDP) on recent killings in Rivers State. Mr Uchendu said killings in the state had taken a new dimension as killers no longer only take lives but dismember and burn their victims. He gave the recent experience of May 19 in Isiodu Community in Emohua Local Government where gunmen invaded the community, killed three men and burnt their bodies. He bemoaned that no meaningful strategy has been put in place to check the killings while noting that killings has become a way of life in Rivers. Contributing, Mr Umeh said Nigerian governors are not helping the fight against insecurity by some of their actions. These killings are going on in states where the governors have not helped matters. Rivers State is a place of gory killings. The governor of the said state should rid Rivers State of this crime. The governors can do that if they take it serious. The governors should help solve this problem. It is not a question of only police. I think the governors should put money in security to provide security for people in their states. The governors should use their security votes, that is the essence of security votes. If you put money into investigation, within three days you will get results because the people living around the killers know them. He singled out Governor Yari of Zamfara for blame. Some governors have run away from their states, he said. They now live in Abuja. When you ask they say there are too many killings like Zamfara for example. He lives in Abuja, attending meetings in Abuja and everyday people are killed in the state. In adopting prayers in Mr Uchendus motion, the lawmakers urged the Rivers State Government to immediately liaise with the security agencies to stop the incessant killings and kidnapping of citizens in Rivers State. They also urged the federal government and Rivers State government to develop workable strategies that would stop the rising cases of killings in the state. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has said the legislature under his leadership ensured speedy passage of executive bills and other requests to help facilitate the policies and plans of the Muhammadu Buhari administration. This was disclosed on Wednesday in a statement by Mr Dogaras spokesperson, Turaki Hassan. Mr Hassan said his principal spoke when he received the Euro Knowledge Leadership Award for his contribution to the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria last month. But the speakers remarks were just passed to the press on Wednesday in response, perhaps, to Mr Buharis statement that his administration did not enjoy a smooth relationship with the Eighth Assembly under the leadership of Mr Dogara and Senate President Bukola Saraki. The president made the comment on Tuesday last week when he hosted Messrs Saraki and Dogara and other leaders of the National Assembly. For the Ease of Doing Business, anyone who thinks we have not supported Government enough in the bid to create a conducive business environment to attract better investment into Nigeria should check what we have done in the area of the ease of doing business in Nigeria, Mr Dogara said as quoted by his spokespersons statement. There were times when we ensured that within days or weeks, we passed these Bills that were required to jumpstart this process to bring Nigeria out of recession and prosper. This made Nigeria jump about 24 places in the Global Index of the World ranking of nations in the Ease of Doing Business. Words like these only spur one to do his best, we will continue to do our best in the interest of our country and of its people in whatever position we are. I want to specifically say that I am deeply indebted to the entire Membership of the 8th Assembly, they made all this happen, so I dedicate these Awards to the ever wonderful Members of the 8th Assembly. He claimed that the eighth House of Representatives is the most performing in Nigerias political history from independence in 1960 to date. We have done exceptionally well. It is on record that this has been the most productive National Assembly ever, as well as unparalleled House in the history of the House of Representatives. We hope that those who are coming after us, those who will take over from us will do better and be able to rededicate themselves and to achieve the ideals they set out for themselves. When we started out on the 8th Assembly, it was our desire and thank God we can say today that we have cleaned up virtually all Laws we inherited from even 1800. For some of us who read Law, we may have knowledge on the Statutes of General Application. Before we embarked on this massive exercise, some of our Law books were still containing Pounds Sterling, in some Laws, some addresses in the United Kingdom were even mentioned. To the credit of the 8th Assembly, all those things are no longer reflected in the body of our Laws, he said. Press release May 22, 2019 Standard & Poors assigns a AA- rating to AFL Agence France Locale (AFL), the French local authorities bank has been assigned AA- (long term) and A-1+ (short term) ratings, with a stable outlook, by Standard & Poors. S&P supports its decision on the following AFL characteristics: A very high capitalization, A strong support from member local authorities from a binding guarantee mechanism, A very strong liquidity combined with a solid access to funding. According to Yves Millardet, Chairman of the Executive Board of AFL: This decision is very important and represents an additional recognition of the efficiency of the banks model: created and supported by French local authorities. It is a new step forward for our development, that allows AFL to deepen its access to the bond and money markets. This second rating [AFL being already rated Aa3 Stable outlook by Moodys] is consistent with our objective to be the reference borrower of the French local authorities, offering to investors both liquidity and a dedicated and diversified exposition to French sub-sovereign risk. AFL will continue to provide local authorities with an access to cost efficient resources. A propos de lAgence France Locale Agence France Locale is the unique French bank 100% owned by local authorities and dedicated to their financing. Created in 2013 by French local authorities based on the LGFA (local government financing agencies) model, AFL was granted a banking license in 2015 from the ACPR, the French prudential supervisory authority. A core mission: to facilitate access by French local authorities to capital markets, relying on their credit quality to offer them attractive financing conditions. AFL lend to all types of local authorities: small or big municipalities, grouping of municipalities, Metropolis, Departments or Regions. Find more information: http://www.agence-france-locale.fr/overview-agency Press Contact Lucille Simon lucille.simon@agence-france-locale.fr Investors Contact Romain Netter romain.netter@agence-france-locale.fr Attachment President Muhammadu Buhari has asked ministers to continue in office until Tuesday next week, a day to his inauguration for a second term as Nigerias president. He also ordered the ministers to submit their handover letters to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). Speaking during a valedictory Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja, Wednesday, Mr Buhari said: Although today is our last council meeting, continue to work until Tuesday. Your handover letters should be submitted to the office of the SGF. The presidency in a tweet also said the ministers would be handing over to permanent secretaries in their ministries. The president commended the ministers for contributing to the development of the country. Mr Buhari is expected to name a new cabinet after his May 29 inauguration. Some of the outgoing ministers may still be named in the new cabinet. Details later President Muhammadu Buhari used the occasion of the valedictory meeting of the current Federal Executive Council (FEC) to pay tribute to his late Minister of State (Labour), James Ocholi, who died in a car accident along Abuja/Kaduna expressway in 2016. Mr Buhari also lauded members of the federal cabinet who resigned for various reasons from the cabinet. Kayode Fayemi resigned as Minister of Solid Minerals Development to contest for governor of Ekiti State. He is now the governor of the South-west state. Kemi Adeosun was forced to resign as Minister of Finance after she was exposed by PREMIUM TIMES to have submitted a forged NYSC exemption certificate. Amina Mohammed resigned as environment minister to become the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations. Ibrahim Jibril, a former Minister of State (Environment) resigned after he was named the emir of Nasarawa. Aisha Alhassan resigned to contest for the governorship of Taraba and Khadija Ibrahim left the federal cabinet to seek election as a member of the House of Representatives. Wednesdays meeting could be the last for many of the current ministers. Mr Buhari directed them to remain in office till Tuesday, a day before he will be sworn in for a second term as Nigerias president. Read Mr Buharis full speech below: CLOSING REMARKS BY H.E. PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE VALEDICTORY SESSION FOR MEMBERS OF THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (2015 2019) AT THE STATE HOUSE COUNCIL CHAMBER ON 22ND MAY, 2019. Todays Federal Executive Council meeting is the last time we will meet as a cabinet before the commencement of the second and final term of this Administration. 2. Our first meeting in this chamber was in November 2015. Over the past three and a half years, we worked together to deliver our campaign promises. I strongly believe that it is this team work that led to the successes recorded during our first term. 3. Some of our colleagues, with whom we started this journey, unfortunately, are not here to join us in celebrating our successes. 4. Specifically, I must recognise our late brother, James Ocholi SAN who passed away in a fearful motor accident with his wife, Blessing and son, Joshua only four months after being sworn in as a Minister. 5. I want us to all put him, and indeed his family, in our memory. He was a true patriot committed to our CHANGE agenda. 6. I also acknowledge the contributions of other Council members who resigned before the completion of our tenure to pursue other opportunities. You will recall that when we started this journey, our country was facing numerous challenges. 8. We inherited a broken economy which eventually went into recession in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2016. The situation was further compounded by insecurity and massive corruption. 9. Many would have given up. Indeed, many outside commentators said our situation was well nigh hopeless. However, we all came together and pushed forward to deliver our campaign promise to rescue our country from its parlous state. 10. Although we all had a common vision, we frequently had heated debates in this room on the best way to achieve our goals. These differing views are what made the decisions we took all the more rational. 11. It is this quality that made me retain my cabinet for the full term. Each of you in this room has a unique skill and strength. We are a reflection of the Nigeria we aspire to achieve. A diverse but tolerant nation where no one is silenced and where every opinion should be heard and considered. 12. I want you all to leave this meeting proud to have served your nation to the best of your ability. 13. You should be proud to have been part of the Government that liberated the local governments previously under Boko Haram rule. 14. You should be proud to have contributed to our food security and economic diversification agenda which led to the revival of our rural agrarian economy 15. You should be proud to have been part of the team that developed the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan which led Nigeria exiting its worst recession in decades. 16. You should be proud to have introduced the social investment program that enhanced livelihoods of millions of Nigerians. 17. You should be proud to have participated in settling outstanding pensions of many senior citizens abandoned by previous governments while supporting state governments to meet their salary arrears. Advertisements 18. And of course, you should all be proud to have overseen the most ambitious road, rail and airport rehabilitation programs in the history of our country. 19. I want to put on record, that your achievements in the last three and a half hears has guaranteed your position in the history books of this nation. You have certainly built the foundations for an improved economy and a more purposeful government. 20. Although today is our last council meeting, I expect all of you to continue working until Tuesday, 28th May 2019 when you will officially hand over your schedules to your respective Permanent Secretaries. Your handing over letters should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. 21. I want to conclude by thanking all of you for agreeing to serve our nation during these difficult times. I want to use this opportunity to recognise the silent partners to this cabinet, your spouses, families and friends, who supported you through these years. 22. I wish you the very best of luck and pray for your successes, for your families and our for country in the years ahead. Thank you and God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Kaduna State Government and World Bank have concluded plans to enrol no fewer than 145,000 out-of-school children and almajiris into primary schools across the state by September. The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) chairman, Nasiru Umar, disclosed this at a workshop in Kaduna on how to strategise and return the children to schools. Mr Umar told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that out of the 727,000 out-of-school children, plans were underway to return 145,000 to primary one, two and three by September, through the year 2020. Mr Umar explained that among the children to be enrolled were 14,738 Almajiris and 70,167 girls expected to be engaged in 480 schools and 2,420 teachers. He decried the high rate of out-of-school children in the state, adding that the programme would start with 12 local government areas. He stated that the workshop was organised to develop strategies and major actions in order to achieve the project which will also ensure distribution of instructional materials, bags, textbooks and uniforms for beneficiaries. We are going to start with 12 local government areas, 4 local government each in zone 1,2 and 3, we will also work with 480 schools. We would employ the services of 2,420 teachers, instructional materials would be given to them; bags, sandals, textbooks, mats, uniforms and socks would be given to the pupils. We are getting the fund for our project from World Bank and the Kaduna State Government, part of the money is already on the ground, Mr Umar said. Meanwhile, Unwaha Yahaya, an overseer to the Department of Teacher Development in UBEC and also the Coordinator of the Federal Teachers Scheme, in an interview with NAN, added that 2.1 million children dropped out of schools nationally from 2018 statistics. Mr Yahaya reiterated that the focus of UBEC was to ensure that all children of school age acquired basic education for nine years. The Federal Government is intervening by providing support funds for expansion of access to enable as many children as possible to go back to school. Improving the quality of education and to ensure equity between boys and girls, rural and urban areas have basic education centres. The curriculum would be enriched to make sure children are able to think critically and solve problems for themselves and their communities, he said. Yahaya further called on SUBEB to make sure that their target was realistic enough to attract pupils to start the academic session in September. He also said that Better Education Service for All (BESDA) was one of the strategies UBEC was using to enrol children to schools in the state. We are working with the state to ensure that resources are deployed in a manner that will yield the desired result. We also are calling on leaders at all levels, both religious and traditional to assist us in achieving this dream, Mr Yahaya said. The remains of the 18 farmers killed by bandits in Batsari local government area of Katsina State have been buried in Katsina amidst tears by families and sympathisers. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the farmers were killed in their farmlands at Yar-gamji community on Tuesday morning. The police later evacuated the corpses and dropped them at the palace of the District Head of Batsari, Tukur Muazu Ruma, which triggered a protest by angry youth. The angry youth later took the corpses in vehicles to the palace of the Emir of Katsina and Katsina Government House. Governor Aminu Masari had addressed them and called on them to remain calm as the government was taking steps to address the problem. The funeral prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Katsina, Mustapha Ahmad, at about 11:00 a.m, on Wednesday, at the palace of the Emir of Katsina. The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir, Transition Committee Chairman of Batsari, Mannir Muazu, traditional and religious leaders were among hundreds of people that attended the prayer. The Chief Imam prayed to the Almighty Allah to forgive their sins and grant them eternal rest. He also prayed to Allah to avert future occurrence. The District Head of Batsari and the Transition Committee Chairman of the area urged security agents to intensify efforts towards protecting peoples lives and property in the area. They also urged people in the area to continue to be law-abiding as the government was taking steps to address the problem. The deceased were buried at Dantako cemetery in Katsina town. (NAN) The governorship candidate of Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), Abdulkarim Abdussalam, has withdrawn his petition against the reelection of Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State. In an eight-paragraph application dated May 17, counsel to Mr Abdussalam, Ibrahim Saad, said he was withdrawing the petition to allow peace to reign in the state. He cited section 1 (a) and (b) of the Electoral Act to withdraw the petition. Mr Abdussalam had earlier filed a petition to challenge the victory of Mr Ganduje In the governorship election. The chairperson of the tribunal, Justice Halima Muhammad, granted the request of Mr Abdussalams counsel and struck out the petition. With this development, the tribunal now has only the petition by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Abba Kabir-Yusuf, on the governorship election won by Mr Ganduje after a controversial complimentary poll. Meanwhile, the tribunal on Wednesday warned that it would treat any form of misreporting of its proceedings by journalists as contempt of court. The chairperson, Mrs Muhammad, issued the warning at the inaugural sitting of the governorship election tribunal at Kano State High Court complex, Miller Road, Kano. To the members of the fourth estate of the realm, we expect balanced reporting, as any form of misreporting which has the tendency of heating up the polity will be interpreted as a tacit hovering within the precinct of contempt, Mrs Muhammad said. She said the tribunal would give a level playing ground to all the political parties to present their cases before the tribunal. The tribunal, however, warned lawyers against employing technicalities to slow down the dispensation of justice. Election petition being sui generis (that is being time-bound) and guided by its own peculiar rules of procedures, unlike the regular cases, the tribunal shall therefore not tolerate the employment of technicalities to stultify speedy dispensation of justice as we do not intend to be caught up in the web of expired petition due to effluxion of time, she said. Justice Muhammad also called on the state Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Ibrahim Mukhtar, to use his office to guide the bar to adhere to the ethics of the profession. She added that the tribunal expects the state chairman of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) to also work along with the Attorney General to ensure decorum and good conduct of counsel during court proceedings. To the police, DSS and other paramilitary agencies involved in the provision of security for the tribunal, we expect that you be on the alert and exercise due diligence in the execution of your duties. To the members of the political parties, the tribunal having guaranteed a level playing ground, we do not expect anyone to heat up the polity by doing acts that may be inimical to the security of tribunal and its members, Justice Muhammad warned. On his part, the chairman of Kano branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Musa Lawan, assured maximum support and cooperation of counsels to the tribunal. He also advised other counsels to work with the tribunal and avoid any act that will derail or delay the administration of justice. In his remarks, the attorney-general, Mr Mukhtar, assured of a secure environment for the tribunal during and after the session. According to him, the tribunal will strengthen the security and democratic system in Kano state by providing an opportunity for parties to present their grievances emanating from the last gubernatorial election. He said the composition of the tribunal, consisting of two female judges, will serve as an inspiration to female lawyers in Kano, that with hard work the sky is their limit. The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday said it had passed more than 70 bills and 188 resolutions from June 8, 2015 to May 21, 2019. The Speaker of the house, Kabiru Adjoto, told journalists in Benin that over 30 bills were still pending at various levels of consideration. I want to thank God for giving us the strength, skills and intelligence to preside over the sixth House of Assembly legislation. The total bills passed as at yesterday is well over 70 and about 30 other bills are pending at various levels of consideration. We have also passed about 188 resolutions as we speak (May 22). By June 7, 2019, when the life span of the sixth assembly will expire, we will be able to tell you the exact numbers of bills and resolutions passed within the four years of legislation. This is because legislative activities are still ongoing. We are still sitting, and by next week, we are going to consider a lot of bills and petitions that are pending at committee levels, he said. On his high points as the speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Mr Adjoto said, the high point for me as the speaker is that looking back, l see the bills and resolutions passed under my leadership translated into development and better life for Edo people. I look at the good roads, healthcare facilities, education, agricultural sector being transformed by proper legislation; it makes me feel very happy. Under my leadership, we gave bills speedy consideration and passage. On how he succeeded as speaker without impeachment, Mr Adjoto said, when l became the speaker of the house on August 14, 2017, there was a paradigm shift from the old to a new style of leadership. As a speaker, leadership became a collective enterprise. I did not see myself as the boss, but first among equals. I discussed with my colleagues and never took decisions without consultation, he said. The speaker explained that because of constant discussions and consultations, the house changed totally in the area of quality legislation. He said the lawmakers also beautified the assembly complex to make it conducive for operations of house members and staff. Under my leadership, we have changed the colour to green white green and constructed a mace which is the symbol of parliament at the entrance of the assembly complex for easy identification. He said by June 7, he would be leaving strong legacies upon which the incoming seventh assembly could build on. The speaker advised the incoming assembly to, at all times, put the interest of the people at heart, saying this would make them good legislators. Mr Adjoto became the speaker of the house after the impeachment of Justin Okonoboh and Elizabeth Atieve as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively in August 2017. (NAN) Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has called for adherence to the principle of rotation between the North and the South in the election of Chairman for the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). Mr Dickson made the call in a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media Relations, Fidelis Soriwei, on Wednesday in Abuja. He said the decision on who should be the next Chairman of the Forum should be guided by the time tested principle of rotation between the North and South. The governor said the next Chairman of the NGF should come from the South with the end of the tenure of Governor Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara State. He said the governors elected under the platform of the PDP would not contest the position in consonance with the precedence that the NGF Chairman should be a ranking Governor from the ruling political party. Mr Dickson, the Chairman of the South South Governors Forum, noted that the PDP governors would not make any move to endanger the time honoured principle guiding the emergence of the NGF Chairman. He, however, said the next NGF Chairman should emerge preferably through consensus among the members of the NGF. I am calling on the governors who would assemble on Wednesday to take a decision on the Chairmanship of the Governors Forum to be guided by the time tested principle of rotation between the North and the South. Now that the Yari, Governor of Zamfara would be ending his tenure, we expect that the next chairman should come from the South. The precedence is that the ruling party produces the Chairman. The PDP Governors have no desire to be disruptive and expect that a ranking Governor from the APC, the party with the majority would be the next chairman, he said. Mr Dickson congratulated Mr Yari on the successful completion of his tenure during which he collaborated with the federal government to address a myriad of issues such as the refund of the Paris club money, among other issues affecting state finances. The governor wished him a successful tenure in the National Assembly where he has been elected senator. (NAN) The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has announced the temporary closure of only the Ibadan-bound carriageway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway from Magboro to Kara and Ibafo. Clement Oladele, FRSC Commander in Ogun, made this known in a statement made available to journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday. Mr Oladele said the closure took effect on Wednesday, noting that the road would be reopened on Friday to enable the contracting firm, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, lay asphalt on that section of the road. This is to inform the motoring public that Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, currently rehabilitating the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, will be temporarily closing only the Ibadan bound carriageway from Magboro to Kara and Ibafo. Is scheduled to commence from Wednesday, May 22, 2019, and reopened on Friday, May 24, 2019. The temporary closure is to lay a section of 400m of wearing asphaltic surface on the affected section of the corridor. The closure will not affect traffic inbound Lagos around the affected road but will narrow the carriageway which is expected to build up traffic around the mentioned sections, he said. The sector commander advised motorists to note the occurrence and plan their trips, saying that those using the corridor within the period should obey all traffic rules and regulations. Mr Oladele urged motorists to refrain from driving against traffic, saying that violators were liable to be apprehended for dangerous driving, which attracts a fine of N50, 000 and the impounding of the erring vehicle. The FRSC is working with sister traffic agencies to maintain visibility to ease the traffic discomfort the temporary closure of that section of the corridor will cause, he said. (NAN) Twenty-one communities affected by the Ojumole Oil Well fire incident in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have demanded $2.5 billion (about N850billion) from Chevron Nigeria Limited as compensation for damages caused by the fire. This was part of the submissions made by the communities on Tuesday to the Ad-hoc committee of the Ondo State House of Assembly probing the incident. The fire started at the oil well on April 18 reportedly due to illegal oil drilling at the facility by oil thieves. Despite the fact that there had been pressures from the communities and the Ondo State government for the company to put out the fire, indications are that the fire is still raging. The submission was made by a leader of the communitites, Akin Akinruntan, on their behalf. Mr Akinruntan said Chevron should pay the compensation to the affected 21 communities within the eight kilometres radius (due to low and high tide). He said Chevrons management should also inform the leadership of the affected communities on the method it had adopted to put out the fire. He said such disclosure would check the use of dangerous chemicals which could further put the lives of people in the community to jeopardy. Mr Akinruntan said that medical examination should be carried out on the people exposed to the fire within the eight kilometres radius, while those with signs and symptoms should be treated immediately. The communities also asked the company to disclose the number of barrels of crude oil it produced per day from the Ojumole Oil Well. Mr Akinruntan also advised the Ondo State Government to come to the aid of people by critically studying the amnesty international reports of June 2009. Also, the Chairman of the House Committee investigating the matter, Abayomi Akinruntan, representing Ilaje Constituency 1, said the ecological prospects of people in the affected areas had been destroyed. Mr Akinruntan decried how the fire incident had destroyed major fishing occupation in the affected communities, saying nobody could go on fishing again. The lawmaker said that Chevron should properly address the oil field as Ojumole Oil Field, Ugbo Kingdom, Ilaje Local Government area. According to him, Chevron should no longer link it with Delta by any guise to forestall the breakdown of law and order between the two states. General Manager, Policy, Government & Public Affairs of Chevron, Esimaje Brikinn, regretted the fire incident and noted that the company was on top of the situation to put off the fire as soon as possible. He said the fire incident occurred as a result of vandalism and theft at the oil well, in spite of the security put in place by the company to safe guide the Oil Well in Ojumole. Mr Brikinn also said that peoples trespasses on the companys property in the host communities in the whole of the Niger Delta area was of serious concern to the company. He urged the host communities to be patient with the company, saying that necessary equipment were already being mobilised by fire experts from the U.S to put off the fire. Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has appointed Ololade Agboola, as the new Head of Service (HOS). The governor announced this appointment at the State Executive Council meeting held on Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital. Mrs Agboola, a former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, would replace Hannah Ogunesan, who resigned from the state civil service. The new HOS, who hails from Ibadan, is the wife of a former Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Hosea Agboola, popularly known as Halleluyah. Mrs Agboola would be the fourth HOS to work with Mr Ajimobi and the third to be appointed by him. Among those who have worked with the outgoing governor before the new appointment were Tajudeen Aremu and Soji Eniade. (NAN) LONDON, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) today announced the expansion of its Investor Advisory Group (IAG), a group of leading asset owners and managers committed to improving sustainability-related disclosure to investors, welcoming 15 new firms to the IAG, while also naming Barbara Zvan, Chief Risk & Strategy Officer of the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, as the groups new chair. Both these announcements, made at the IAGs meeting in London today, reflect the growing relevance of SASBs sustainability accounting standards for global institutional investors, with the addition of new representation from Canada, France, Japan, Norway and the United Kingdom. The appointment of Ms. Zvan, who has two decades of experience in portfolio management and risk management, as IAG chair indicates increasing interest from leading global investors in using SASBs sustainability accounting standards to evaluate environmental and social risks and opportunities in investment portfolios. SASB welcomes the IAGs new members as well as its new chair, said SASB CEO Madelyn Antoncic. Barbaras deep experience in risk management and investment strategy at one of the worlds largest pension funds makes her uniquely suited to lead the IAG. SASB standards help ensure that investors have access to comparable, consistent and reliable information on financially material sustainability topics. Our 15 new IAG members, alongside the founding members of this group, will contribute enormously to increasing awareness of SASBs standards throughout the world. We are grateful for their support. The 15 new member institutions are: AXA Investment Managers Brunel Pension Partnership Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ) Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) Fidelity Investments Franklin Templeton Investments Harvard Management Company Hermes Investment Management Legal & General Investment Management America Manulife Investment Management Neuberger Berman Nissay Asset Management Norges Bank Investment Management Putnam Investments Schroders Our mission is to safeguard and build wealth for future generations, noted Carine Smith Ihenacho, Norges Bank Investment Managements Chief Corporate Governance Officer. As a long-term, universal investor, we have an interest in sustainable development. We urge for standardized, concrete and relevant sustainability data and we ask companies to go from words to numbers because what gets measured gets managed. We welcome SASBs work in developing industry-based standards for improved sustainability reporting. SASB established its Investor Advisory Group in late 2016 to provide investor feedback and guidance for the organization, and to demonstrate investor support for a market standard for investor-focused sustainability disclosure. A total of 44 firms, accounting for more than $33 trillion in assets under management, now serve as IAG members. As the new chair of the IAG, I hope our group of 44 leading institutional investors will show how crucial standardized sustainability disclosure is to the worlds capital markets, said Ms. Zvan. The fact that our new members come from a variety of countries in Europe, Asia and North America is a sign that sustainability disclosure is a global concern, and SASBs standards are a valuable tool for both companies and investors. I would also like to thank Chris Ailman, CIO of CalSTRS and IAG Chair Emeritus, for his leadership of the group for the past two years. In November 2018, SASB published the worlds first complete set of 77 industry-specific sustainability accounting standards. SASBs standards enable businesses to identify and communicate performance, on an industry-specific basis, on the sustainability issues that matter most to financial performance. SASBs standards are unique in the marketplace due to their industry-specific focus, their emphasis on communicating to investors, and their focus on financial materiality. About SASB The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Foundation is an independent, nonprofit standard-setting organization that develops and maintains robust reporting standards that enable businesses around the world to identify, manage and communicate financially material sustainability information to investors. SASB standards are evidence-based, developed with broad market participation, and are designed to be cost-effective for companies and decision- useful for investors. To download any of the 77 industry-specific standards, or learn more about SASB, please visit www.SASB.org. Follow SASB on LinkedIn and Twitter. One of the three persons kidnapped in Ekiti State last weekend has been released, the police have confirmed. Ayo Oladele, the Secretary of the Alumni Association of Christ School in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, was freed on Tuesday night. Two other individuals reported to be twins, Kehinde and Taiwo Olowoafara, who were also kidnapped in the same state are yet to regain freedom. An alumnus of Christ School, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES, said Mr Oladele was released after N5 million ransom was paid. He was released on Tuesday night after N5 million was paid to them, he told our correspondent. It should be recalled that the kidnappers earlier demanded N10 million. The Ekiti State Police spokesperson, Caleb Ikechuckwu, confirmed that Mr Oladele had been freed. He did not comment on the payment of ransom. He has been released by the kidnappers. We are also working hard to curb incessant attack in the state, he said. The kidnappers of the twins are demanding N6 million each for their release. No one from the Pleasantville UEZ returned repeated calls for information about the amount of the loan, how much was paid back and for what it was to be used. Formica also told the trustee he has a deal with Linwoods Pat McKenna and his A Taste of Italy food manufacturing company to take over bread making equipment, keep employing 67 of Formicas 71 employees, continue making Formicas Atlantic City bread and servicing Formicas customer base, Formica said. Formica Bros., an iconic institution known for baking Atlantic City bread, would have celebrated its 100th year in business this year. In April, Formica said the bankruptcy was necessary because of a difficult business climate and because of two lawsuits related to on-the-job injuries that resulted in amputations for two workers, who also received workmans compensation settlements. The lawsuits also caused him to drop out of the Republican primary in this years Assembly race, Formica has said. At the creditors meeting earlier this month, Thomas asked whether McKenna is offering anything in exchange for the companys good name, and Formica said he is being paid $500 a week as a consultant. This should not be about one good principal versus another, this should not be about black representation versus Hispanic representation, it should not be about trading one injustice for another, and certainly should not be about any political connections, Lopez said. Superintendent Barry Caldwell said he was disappointed by the rhetoric that preceded the meeting and called it a false narrative that the decision was politically motivated because Small is the wife of City Council President Marty Small Sr. Caldwell said he is tasked with educational goals by the Board of Education, and sometimes he has to make difficult decisions. He said the district has a long history of transferring administrators between schools. These are not the first principals being transferred, and they wont be the last, he said. Caldwell said the transfer was in the best interest of the children based on his observations but did not elaborate. Marty Small was one of the last people to address the Board of Education and called out many of the previous commenters, including Councilman Moisse Mo Delgado, who he said was behind the Hispanic Associations protest of the transfer. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Stockton University's Board of Trustees will meet next week to discuss proceeding with the second phase of its Atlantic City campus project, which developers hope to break ground on by fall. The college opened the first phase of its city campus in September with a three-story academic building and a 533-bed residence hall along Albany Avenue. The Board of Trustees is scheduled to meet 9 a.m. May 29 in the Presidents Office conference room at the Galloway Township campus. Like the first phase, the second phase would also be designed and built by Atlantic City Development Corporation (AC Devco), which received approval from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority on Tuesday for preliminary and final site plans. +13 Developer wants to expand Stockton's Atlantic City campus ATLANTIC CITY Construction could begin as soon as the fall on a $62 million second phase o AC Devco and Stockton have not yet signed a formal agreement for the second phase. Randolph and the other five lieutenants on the patrol are certified emergency medical technicians. CPR and rescue breathing are among the requirements for lifeguards, as well as the physical tests that must be passed. Veteran guards must complete a 500-meter swim in less than 10 minutes and a half-mile run in three minutes, 45 seconds. Potential newcomers take part in tryouts this year on June 8. Those who are selected will undergo an intensive rookie school from June 17-21 in which they will learn rescue techniques. No rookies will be permitted on the beach until June 22. Finding qualified lifeguards has become an increasing problem, as with other patrols in South Jersey this year, Cape May is expected to have 12 to 15 openings on its 90-person crew. Theres two reasons for that, Rife said. Kids who do not live here full time have a lot of trouble finding affordable places to stay for the summer. We also lose some college kids who are required to do internships as juniors and seniors. Those who guard Cape Mays beaches this summer will be thoroughly qualified and focused on one goal: to keep that streak alive for one more year. At the end of each year, we do hold a little celebration amongst ourselves, Randolph said. But during the year, we dont talk about the streak because we dont want to jinx it. Personally, I just try every day to make sure everyone is safe, while also realizing that some of it is in Gods hands. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. WEST PALM BEACH, Fla, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rennova Health, Inc. (OTC: RNVA), (OTC: RNVAW) (Rennova or the Company), a vertically integrated provider of industry-leading diagnostics and supportive software solutions to healthcare providers that acquired Jellico Community Hospital, its third rural hospital in Tennessee, at the beginning of March 2019, announces that it has received confirmation from the Tennessee Department of Health that they have issued a TennCare-Medicaid license number, effective from March 1, 2019, to Jellico Community Hospital, Inc. A valid TennCare/Medicaid ID number is required for the hospital to: 1. Get prescriptions covered by the TennCare Pharmacy Benefit for TennCare members. 2. Submit Medicare/Medicaid "cross-over" claims to TennCare for consideration of Medicare co-pays and deductibles for our members with Medicare as a primary carrier. 3. Contract with any TennCare Managed Care Organization in order to provide medically necessary services to TennCare members. 4. Receive payments from TennCares EHR Incentive Program. This is a significant and important hurdle to cross as we complete the change of ownership process for the acquisition of this hospital, said Seamus Lagan, CEO of Rennova, and is a major step towards being able to bill and get paid for medically necessary services provided by our hospital to TennCare members. We are pleased to continue offering services to our community and patients who use this valuable program, said Hal Leftwich, CEO, Jellico Community Hospital. As the provider of choice in our community, access to appropriate and timely care is important, and we stand ready to continue a proud tradition of caring. About Rennova Health, Inc. Rennova operates three rural hospitals and a physicians office in Tennessee and a physicians office in Kentucky, and provides industry-leading diagnostics and supportive software solutions to healthcare providers. Through an ever-expanding group of strategic brands that work in unison to empower customers, we are creating the next generation of healthcare. For more information, please visit www.rennovahealth.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ from expectations and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors are contained in the Companys most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in their expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Contacts: Rennova Health Sebastien Sainsbury, 561-666-9818 ssainsbury@rennovahealth.com # # # It was strange enough when Gov. Phil Murphy made changes to New Jersey business subsidies the centerpiece of his first State of the State address. It seemed at the time in January that he probably wanted his day in the spotlight to be about his successful push for a $15 minimum wage, but the Legislature made him wait to sign that until a week after his speech. This month he doubled down on criticizing existing tax breaks for businesses, using the task force he appointed to investigate them to attack his political foes as the fight over the next state budget begins. Those foes, legislators in general and the businesses and city caught in the crossfire between Democrats all hit back pretty hard. In a state filled with connected businesses that have gotten breaks in exchange for investing in struggling cities, Murphys task force focused its criticism on the deals and businesses that have helped Camden. Just to look at Camden, the most depressed city in the state, they had to drive past many equally questionable Economic Development Authority projects in North Jersey. MIDDLETOWN, R.I., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Towerstream Corporation (OTCQB:TWER), a fixed wireless fiber alternative provider, announced today that John Jack Macdonald, Chief Financial Officer, has resigned effective June 7, 2019, to pursue another career opportunity. The Board of Directors has begun a search for Mr. Macdonalds successor. Jack has been instrumental in the development and execution of Towerstreams financial strategy during his tenure as Chief Financial Officer, said Ernest Ortega, Towerstreams Chief Executive Officer. We appreciate his contributions to the company and wish him all the best in his future endeavors. ABOUT TOWERSTREAM CORPORATION Towerstream Corporation (OTCQB:TWER) ( www.towerstream.com ) is a leading Fixed-Wireless Fiber Alternative company delivering high-speed Internet access to businesses. The Company offers broadband services in twelve urban markets including New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay area, Miami, Seattle, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Las Vegas-Reno, and the greater Providence area. SAFE HARBOR Certain statements contained in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable federal securities laws, including, without limitation, anything relating or referring to future financial results and plans for future business development activities, and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified based on current expectations. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties set forth from time to time in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Consequently, future events and actual results could differ materially from those set forth in, contemplated by, or underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. 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. Reno, Nevada., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enhance Skin Products Inc., (OTCBB: EHSK) is pleased to make the following announcement: Settlement of Dispute with Integumen Further to its announcement of September 18, 2018 the Enhance Skin Products Inc. (the Company or Enhance) is pleased to report that it has reached settlement of its legal dispute with Integumen Inc. On December 2, 2016, the Company, Integumen Inc., Integumen plc , Donald Nicholson and Samuel Asculai completed on the Asset Purchase Agreement (the APA) executed on October 1, 2016. Pursuant to the APA, the Company sold to Integumen Inc. substantially all of its assets and certain of its liabilities under a under a plan of reorganization, liquidation and dissolution (the Plan). The Company initially currently holds 29,488,144 fully paid ordinary shares of one pence each of Integumen plc representing 3.1% of the issued and outstanding shares (Integumen Shares). Pursuant to the terms of the APA, Integumen, Inc. assumed certain liabilities of Enhance ("Assumed Liabilities") and Integumen plc guaranteed to Enhance the due and punctual performance, observance and discharge by Integumen Inc. of all of Integumen Inc.'s obligations under the APA. On April 11, 2019, Integumen plc and Integumen Inc. entered into a debt settlement and release agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") with Enhance, Donald Nicholson, Dr Samuel S. Asculai and Drasko Puseljic (the Releasing Parties) which completed on May 10, 2019. Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Releasing Parties have agreed, in full and final satisfaction of the Assumed Liabilities and certain other liabilities owed to the Releasing Parties under the terms of the APA, to accept from Integumen plc (as guarantor of Integumen Inc.'s obligations): a total cash sum of 198,595 ($252,890), of which 66,800 ($85,065) was paid to Enhance and 131,795 ($167,825) was paid direct to other former creditors of Enhance in respect of the Assumed Liabilities; the issue and allotment of 19,708,858 new Ordinary Shares in satisfaction of a further 275,924 ($351,362) owed to Enhance and other former creditors of Enhance in respect of the Assumed Liabilities, of which 8,439,072 new Ordinary Shares were issued to Enhance and 11,269,786 new Ordinary Shares were issued direct to the other creditors; and the transfer of the entire issued share capital of Visible Youth Limited from Integumen to Enhance. Visible Youth Limited is a non-trading holding company and is the parent company of 100 per cent owned subsidiaries Integumen Inc. and Visible Youth Ireland. Integumen has given certain warranties and undertakings to Enhance in relation to the Visible Youth Group. The Releasing Parties and other former creditors agreed to the write-off of an aggregate of existing claims made of around 250,000 ($318,350) and, in addition, a further circa 245,000 ($311,983) of estimated future contractual liabilities. Plan of Reorganization, Liquidation and Dissolution Since the sale, the Company, acting as manager and trustee, has not engaged in any business activities except to the extent necessary to preserve the value of its assets, transfer its assets and knowhow. In consequence of the Settlement Agreement, Enhance intends to wind up its business affairs and give effect to the dissolution of the Company in accordance with its previously disclosed Plan. Consequently the Company will close its stock transfer books and discontinue recording transfers of shares of stock of the Company on June 7, 2019 (the Record Date) and thereafter certificates representing shares of stock of the Company will not be assignable or transferable on the books of the Company except by will, intestate succession, or operation of law. Following the Record Date the Company will: distribute the Integumen shares to Enhance shareholders as of the Record Date via an exchange of the Companys shares for Integumen shares in accordance with the Plan at the ratio of 0.08553165 Integumen Shares for each Enhance share based on Enhances current issued shares of 344,762,928; and distribute the shares in Visible Youth Limited to Enhance shareholders as of the Record Date based on the same ratio currently held by each shareholder in Enhance shares. Enhance intends to enter into an agreement with Visible Youth Limited to assume from the date of liquidation any remaining liabilities from Enhance in exchange for any remaining assets of Enhance. The distributions on liquidation is expected to take place on or before June 28, 2019. *The UK Pound Sterling () amounts have been converted into US dollars at the actual US$/ sterling exchange rate on May 10, 2019 of 1.2734 for the convenience of readers. Donald Nicholson, Enhances President & CEO stated that we are pleased to have reached a settlement with Integumen and to have the return of the Visible Youth assets to Enhance shareholders including its sizable patent and trademark portfolio. Following the distribution of Visible Youth Limited under the Plan the Board of Directors and management of Visible Youth Limited intend to seek a marketing and collaboration partner to commercialise Visible Youth. For your information: Enhance Skin Products Inc. 50 West Liberty Street, Suite 880, Reno, Nevada 89501 www.visibleyouth.com Tel: 416-306-2493 Company Launches User Community while Allowing Direct Purchase of User Licenses from Blue Prism's Digital Exchange (DX) ORLANDO, Florida, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking to provide greater flexibility and access to its digital workforce, Blue Prism (AIM: PRSM) today launched its new online user community while also adding ecommerce capabilities to its Digital Exchange (DX), making it easier for organizations to deploy and scale their intelligent automation solutions. These advances build on Blue Prism's connected-RPA vision of collaborative innovation, by creating a growing community that shares best practices and provides greater access to the latest artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, intelligent document processing and cloud capabilities. "Our motto of automating together, better and more, is definitely highlighted with these new capabilities," says Dave Moss, Co-Founder and CTO for Blue Prism. "We are listening and responding by supporting a self-service model, which makes it easier for our customers to share, innovate and deploy intelligent automation solutions. These new capabilities help unify customer experiences and best practices for sharing, while providing the necessary community support to make automation the cornerstone of any digital transformation." Enhancements to DX By way of the ecommerce capabilities, Blue Prism's Digital Exchange, an intelligent automation marketplace comprising of customers, technology and channel partners, now enables customers or prospects to quickly buy and download software licenses directly from the exchange. This introductory package, which consists of a single software license along with one-year standard support, makes it easy for people to get started, learn more and explore what's possible with an intelligent digital workforce. In the next 90 days, the ecommerce functionality will also allow other Blue Prism partners to offer their assets and integrations for sale via the DX. Anyone can now purchase and download this introductory Blue Prism v6.5 package, which includes work queue trends and analytics, full Japanese and simplified Chinese language capabilities, IPv6 support, and data gateways, offering more data control while reducing the amount of storage being used. Private Assets is another new key feature on the DX. Users control who can view assets outside of a customer or partner's organization. They can only be seen by the employees of said company and then only after they are logged in. This feature gives enterprise customers more security and control over the assets used by their employees, only those that they approve, license and test are made available. Since being launched back in November 2018, DX adoption continues to skyrocket with more than 4,120 registered users from nearly 714 registered companies who can download over 110 assets to accelerate the time to market for their intelligent automation projects. It provides business leaders drag and drop access to AI, machine learning, cognitive and disruptive technologies from companies they know and trust. Other new key enhancements to DX include integration with Google Analytics to provide more visibility into how assets are being downloaded and used. Support for open sourced Blue Prism assets being shared via GitHub as well as the ability for partners and customers to securely share proprietary assets has also been added. According to Forrester Research, the partner of the future will likely not be a pure transacting one. "It doesn't make sense to the new generation of tech buyers who make two-thirds of all new tech decisions today. As mentioned above, 73 percent of business buyers find the web more convenient to make purchases, and we forecast that 17 percent of all B2B transactions will happen through ecommerce by 2023". Blue Prism Community Now Live The Blue Prism Community is a new online experience where users can share, learn and create. The Blue Prism Community provides a new and exciting platform where users can engage with others who share common interests, goals and objectives. The Blue Prism Community provides: An online space open to everyone that is easy to navigate, and where users can get up to speed on important announcements and industry news. Participation in a growing ecosystem of digital entrepreneurs and innovative companies redefining the nature of work. Access to an innovation corner for new Blue Prism product ideas and features, including DX. A home for regional and industry-specific user groups. Discussion communities and in-person meet-ups for practitioners, professionals and innovators. Latest content and information on upcoming events, learning tools, demos, etc. About Blue Prism In this digital era where start-ups are constantly disrupting markets, only the most agile and innovative enterprises survive and thrive. At Blue Prism, we pioneered Robotic Process Automation (RPA), emerging as the trusted and secure intelligent automation choice for the Fortune 500 and public-sector market. Now we bring you connected-RPA supported by the Digital Exchange (DX) app storemarrying internal entrepreneurship with the power of crowdsourced innovation. Blue Prism's connected-RPA can automate and perform mission critical processes, allowing your people the freedom to focus on more creative, meaningful work. More than 1,300 major enterprise customers leverage Blue Prism's digital workforce, empowering their people to automate billions of transactions while returning hundreds of millions of hours of work back to the business. Visit www.blueprism.com to learn more about Blue Prism (AIM: PRSM). Follow Blue Prism on Twitter @blue_prism and on LinkedIn . 1 https://go.forrester.com/blogs/what-i-see-coming-for-the-channel-in-2019/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/663826/Blue_Prism_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.blueprism.com SOURCE Blue Prism "Merck is committed to advancing research and development toward the elimination of neglected and emerging illnesses, such as schistosomiasis, one of the most common and devastating parasitic diseases in tropical countries, with more than 280,000 people dying each year as a result," said Batra. "We, like the World Health Organization, aim to tackle these global challenges and offer a better quality of life." The panel discussed the role of decentralized manufacturing as a strategy to address the problem of accessing medicines and biologics and tackling NTDs. Manufacturing of health technologies has been an objective by officials in developing countries around the world who are working with private sector partners to establish production, according to the WHO. "We understand from both our partners and governments that there is a strong desire to bring biomanufacturing closer to patients, wherever they live, to alleviate supply chain risk, respond to endemic diseases and manufacture at an acceptable or competitive cost," Batra said. "Today's single-use and bioprocessing solutions help make that aspiration possible. We stand ready to support governments and manufacturers in advancing their decentralized biomanufacturing infrastructure to enhance patient access to life-saving biologics and biosimilars." Since 2007, Merck, through its Healthcare business sector, has been supporting the WHO in the fight against schistosomiasis in Africa. The most effective treatment for this disease to date is Cesol 600, a tablet that contains the well-tolerated active ingredient known as praziquantel. Merck produces the tablets at its plant in Mexico and covers the transport and logistical costs involved in getting the tablets to Africa, while WHO manages, monitors and documents distribution at the local level. Merck has significant collaborations with leading universities and research institutes to help advance the vaccine industry as a whole, including Baylor College of Medicine and Oxford University's Jenner Institute. The company has two separate collaborations with Baylor College of Medicine, one through its Life Science business and the other through its Healthcare business. In 2017, the Life Science business of Merck formed a strategic alliance with Baylor to advance vaccine research and development for neglected and emerging infections. Also in 2017, Merck's Healthcare business began a collaboration with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (James Cook University, Queensland) and Baylor to research new biomarkers for the development of vaccines and diagnostics for schistosomiasis. Follow Merck on Twitter @Merckgroup, on Facebook @merckgroup and on LinkedIn. About Neglected Tropical Diseases Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a set of 17 diseases that disproportionately affect more than 1 billion people living primarily in the developing world. As a leading cause of disability, NTDs carry social and economic burdens. However, according to the WHO, many of these diseases can be controlled and, in some cases, eliminated. Merck is committed to research that will treat or even eliminate NTDs and has intensified its efforts to tackle NTDs as part of its campaign to provide access to health. About Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis is transmitted by flatworms. By swimming or washing laundry in contaminated water, people can contract the worm larvae, which then infest their internal organs. The infection rate is especially high among children, and even when it is not fatal, the consequences are serious. In partnership with other organizations including the WHO, Merck has set the goal to fully eliminate this disease. About the World Health Assembly The 72nd Session of the WHO's World Health Assembly (WHA) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 20 28 May 2019. The WHA is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed programme budget. All Merck news releases are distributed by email at the same time they become available on the Merck website. Please go to www.merckgroup.com/subscribe to register online, change your selection or discontinue this service. About Merck Merck, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 52,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene- editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices Merck is everywhere. In 2018, Merck generated sales of 14.8 billion in 66 countries. Scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to Merck's technological and scientific advances. This is how Merck has thrived since its founding in 1668. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. Merck holds the global rights to the "Merck" name and brand. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/890461/Merck_Dr_Udit_Batra.jpg SOURCE Merck TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, May 20, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In line with Presidential Decree of 3 April 2019 on reforms in the chemical industry and making it more attractive for foreign investment and The Presidential Decree of 1 February 2019 on the development of cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Germany, the plan to construct a new chemical complex for the increased production of fertilisers in Uzbekistan is announced today. It is expected that the new complex will be built in the Samarkand region, on territory owned by JSC Samarkandkimyo, and that potential output at the complex will include: Ammonium sulphate: a nitrogen/sulphur mineral fertilizer in easily digestible form Urea: nitrogen containing fertilizers Melamine: basis for high-quality polymeric materials and fillers Phosphorous-based fertilizers: multi-purpose complex fertilizers It is anticipated that the output will be used domestically, but with the option for increased exports. International expertise is provided by ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions (tkIS), part of the German multinational - ThyssenKrupp. The leading investor is Ferkensco Management Limited. The Presidential Initiatives support increased synergies between the oil & gas and agriculture sectors, and the use of a specific quality of domestic gas for fertilizer production. The petrochemical industry and fertilizers have an important role to play in growing Uzbekistan's economy in the upcoming years. The petrochemical industry and fertilizers have vital strategic role in supporting the new Uzbekistan. It is equally important to attract international expertise and capital to support the country's efforts in these areas. Today's announcement is a significant step for the country and follows the initiatives outlined by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. SOURCE Ferkensco Management Company - Raffles Shenzhen and Raffles Maldives Meradhoo continue the Raffles tradition of setting new standards for luxury hospitality in sought after markets around the world - PARIS, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Raffles Hotels & Resorts , renowned for bringing old world elegance, first class travel experiences and genuine charm to the world's most fascinating cities and desirable holiday hot spots since 1887, is pleased to announce the opening of two important new landmark hotels, Raffles Shenzhen and Raffles Maldives Meradhoo. Both hotels opened in early May and are now accepting reservations at raffles.com . Known as havens for royalty, film stars, writers and artists, many remarkable stories and cultural moments have taken place within the plush confines of Raffles hotels and resorts. "The Raffles collection now includes 14 properties across 12 countries, with a carefully curated list of distinguished addresses in leading markets around the world," said Chris Cahill, Deputy CEO, Accor. "With a storied history spanning more than 130 years, Raffles is currently experiencing a renaissance, with a robust project pipeline that will see the portfolio add an additional 8-10 hotels over the next few years." Raffles Shenzhen brings the height of luxury and bespoke service to the shining modern metropolis of Shenzhen. An extraordinary urban oasis discreetly perched on the top floors of a 72-storey tower in the prestigious One Shenzhen Bay complex, Raffles Shenzhen is the epitome of glamour and refinement. With 168 spacious guestrooms, as well as a selection of serviced residences, well-travelled guests will be enchanted by the exquisite dining venues, spectacular views of Shenzhen Bay and Hong Kong, and of course, the famous Raffles Butlers and the warm, graceful and personalized service for which they are known. On the remote southern tip of the Maldives archipelago, Raffles Maldives Meradhoo is as removed from the rhythm of everyday life as can be. Surrounded by crystalline Indian Ocean waters and unspoiled reefs, the resort is a rare haven of 21 island beach villas and 16 ocean overwater villas. Guests take a domestic flight and are transported by speed boat to the pristine and private oasis of Meradhoo, where they receive the gentle and intuitive attentions of the legendary Raffles Butlers, along with an exclusive Marine Butler service, Children's Butlers and private chefs. "With the doors now officially open at Raffles Maldives Meradhoo and Raffles Shenzhen, we are delighted to invite guests to experience the impeccable service, intuitive charm and extraordinary adventures upon which the Raffles legend has been built," said Jeannette Ho, Vice President, Raffles Brand & Strategic Partnerships. "The next few years will be very exciting for our guests and global ambassadors as we continue to expand our illustrious hotel collection, bringing Raffles to the most fascinating, attractive and culturally rich regions of the world." COMING SOON TO RAFFLES Adding to the recent openings in China and the Maldives, Raffles has also developed a smart and strategic growth plan which will see the luxury brand add a number of new and exciting hotels, resorts and mixed-use projects to its global portfolio over the coming years. Highlights include: Scheduled for opening in 2020, 101-room Raffles Udaipur will be the brand's first hotel in India . Modelled after a palace, the hotel is set on a private island on the Udaisagar Lake in this stunning and romantic region known as the " Venice of the East". With spectacular vistas of lake, hillside and a neighbouring 400-year old temple, Raffles Udaipur is truly set to be an oasis for the well-travelled. . Modelled after a palace, the hotel is set on a private island on the Udaisagar Lake in this stunning and romantic region known as the " of the East". With spectacular vistas of lake, hillside and a neighbouring 400-year old temple, Raffles Udaipur is truly set to be an oasis for the well-travelled. Raffles Jaipur, set to open by 2022, is a 55-room hotel being built at Kukas in the city of Jaipur, near popular tourist destinations such as Amer Fort , Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort and Jal Mahal palace. Secluded private residences and courtyards will join a larger complex that presently houses a hotel - Fairmont Jaipur - from one of Raffles' sister brands, Fairmont Hotels Resorts. The development is planned as a discreet destination where guests will feel pampered and privileged. , Jaigarh Fort, Nahargarh Fort and palace. Secluded private residences and courtyards will join a larger complex that presently houses a hotel - Fairmont Jaipur - from one of Raffles' sister brands, Fairmont Hotels Resorts. The development is planned as a discreet destination where guests will feel pampered and privileged. Raffles The Palm Dubai, with its 125 hotel rooms and suites, will enjoy a coveted position at the tip of the Palm archipelago, providing 360 degree views of the Jumeirah coast and the Arabian Gulf. With planned opening in 2021, the hotel will be the tallest structure on Palm Jumeirah at almost 260 meters high. The property will also offer 359 branded residences. Scheduled to open in 2021, Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences is shaped by the creative and intellectual spirit of Boston , one of the most captivating cities in the United States. Located in the historical heart of the city, it promises to be a welcoming oasis of refined elegance in a striking new 33-story building. The project includes a distinctive 147 room hotel as well as 146 exquisitely appointed branded residences. , one of the most captivating cities in the United States. Located in the historical heart of the city, it promises to be a welcoming oasis of refined elegance in a striking new 33-story building. The project includes a distinctive 147 room hotel as well as 146 exquisitely appointed branded residences. Currently under development, Raffles London will reside within the Old War Office building on Whitehall. The property is being transformed into a flagship Raffles hotel featuring 125 rooms and suites, restaurants, spa and 85 private residences. About Raffles Raffles Hotels & Resorts boasts an illustrious history and some of the most prestigious hotel addresses worldwide. In 1887, Raffles Singapore set the standard for luxury hospitality, introducing the world to private butlers, the Singapore Sling and its enduring, legendary service. Today, Raffles continues this tradition in leading cities and lavish resort locales, enchanting travellers with meaningful experiences and service that is both gracious and intuitive. Connoisseurs of life choose Raffles, not merely for its aura of culture, beauty and gentility, but for the extraordinary way they feel when in residence with Raffles. Each Raffles, be it Paris, Istanbul, Warsaw, Jakarta or the Seychelles, serves as a venerated oasis where travellers arrive as guests, leave as friends and return as family. Raffles is part of Accor, a world-leading augmented hospitality group offering unique and meaningful experiences in 4,800 hotels, resorts, and residences across 100 countries. raffles.com | group.accor.com Press Contacts: Line Crieloue, Senior PR Manager, line.crieloue@accor.com, +33 1 45 38 18 11; Estelle Wimel, Communication Manager, estelle.wimel@accor.com, +33 1 45 38 18 29 Related Links http://www.raffles.com SOURCE Raffles Hotels & Resorts ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $1.5 billion annually to New Mexico's economy and supports 11,464 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 11,464 jobs impacted by the beer industry in New Mexico account for $402 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $245 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $11.5 billion annually to Pennsylvania's economy and supports 77,197 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 77,197 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Pennsylvania account for $3.7 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $1.8 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $24.2 billion annually to New York's economy and supports 137,712 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 137,712 jobs impacted by the beer industry in New York account for $8 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $5.9 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org Families, provincial and municipal elected officials and representatives from law enforcement will come together to pay tribute to victims killed in alcohol and/or drug related crashes SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday, May 25th, the families and friends of those killed in alcohol and/or drug-related road crashes will gather with MADD Canada, provincial and municipal leaders and members of law enforcement to unveil a beautiful new memorial monument to honour victims. The Saskatchewan Provincial Monument for Victims of Impaired Driving, located on the grounds at Saskatoon City Hall, will be etched with the names of 45 people. A Candlelight Service of Hope and Remembrance will follow the monument unveiling. Media are invited to attend the unveiling of the Saskatchewan Memorial Monument. Date & Time: Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 2 p.m. Locations: Monument Unveiling - 2 p.m. at Saskatoon City Hall, 222 3rd Avenue North, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0J5 Candlelight Service of Hope and Remembrance (followed by reception) - 3 to 5:30 p.m. at St. Johns Anglican Cathedral, 816 Spadina Crescent East, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3H4 Speakers: The Honourable Joe Hargrave, Minister responsible for Saskatchewan Government Insurance Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon Randy Donauer, Saskatoon City Councillor Chief Bobby Cameron, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Superintendent Grant St. Germaine, F Division RCMP Traffic Services Superintendent Randy Huisman, Saskatoon Police Service Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger, Saskatoon Fire Department Andrew Murie, MADD Canada Chief Executive Officer Steve Sullivan, MADD Canada Director of Victim Services Impaired driving is a senseless and completely preventable crime that devastates individuals, families and communities, said MADD Canadas Director of Victim Services, Steve Sullivan. This new memorial allows us to honour the innocent victims, offer support and fellowship to their families and friends, and illustrate to the public, in a very poignant and powerful way, the very real and permanent consequences of someones decision to drive after consuming alcohol and/or drugs. MADD Canada thanks everyone who supported the efforts to establish this Provincial Monument, and recognizes two families in particular who championed this special initiative. Melanie and Allan Kerpan lost their 25-year-old daughter Danille in an impaired driving crash in 2014. Linda and Lou Van de Vorst lost their son Jordan, daughter-in-law Chanda, and grandchildren Kamryn (5) and Miguire (2) in an impaired driving crash in 2016. MADD Canada also wishes to thank Saskatoon City Council for its leadership and support. ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $3.3 billion annually to South Carolina's economy and supports 26,233 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 26,233 jobs impacted by the beer industry in South Carolina account for $977 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $637 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $985 million annually to Vermont's economy and supports 7,649 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 7,649 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Vermont account for $294 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $180 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org WASHINGTON, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, 22 bipartisan mayors, representing cities on or near the southern border sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging support for funding and resources to help their communities address the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the border. In the letter, Mayors asked that a portion of the supplemental funds to the disaster relief bill currently being discussed be specifically directed to those at the local level who are expending enormous resources to address the surge of migrants across the southern border. As of April 30, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) had apprehended 460,295 people on the southern border, with family units and unaccompanied minors accounting for 64 percent of apprehensions. In April alone, CBP detained over 100,000 migrants along the southern border. As many of these individuals and families wait for their formal asylum hearing, they are transported to communities across the southern region of the United States, primarily California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The letter states: "In the past six months, ICE has released over 168,000 migrants traveling as families in our border communities. Until they can connect with family or sponsors to arrange for travel, it is up to community nonprofits, faith-based organizations and local governments to provide shelter, transportation, food, and other services to these migrant families. Our local taxpayer funds are being expended to address the situation and our nonprofit and faith-based organizations are at, or exceeding, capacity." See below for the full text of the letter: May 21, 2019 The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Richard Shelby Chairman, Committee on Appropriations United States Senate The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Patrick Leahy Ranking Member Committee on Appropriations United States Senate Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Chairman Shelby, and Ranking Member Leahy: We the undersigned represent local governments and municipalities across the southern border region of the United States. We write today to urge bipartisan support for funding and resources to help our communities address the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the border. The migration of asylum seekers has significantly increased in recent months. In recent testimony before the Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Border Patrol Chief Carla L. Provost, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), stated that as of April 30, CBP had apprehended 460,295 people on the southern border, with family units and unaccompanied minors accounting for 64 percent of apprehensions. In April alone, CBP detained over 100,000 migrants along the southern border. Many of these migrants request asylum in the U.S. Once processed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, they are released until their formal asylum hearing, which can take weeks, or even months. In the meantime, these individuals and families are transported to communities across the southern region of the United States, primarily California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. In the past six months, ICE has released over 168,000 migrants traveling as families in our border communities. Until they can connect with family or sponsors to arrange for travel, it is up community nonprofits, faith-based organizations and local governments to provide shelter, transportation, food, and other services to these migrant families. Our local taxpayer funds are being expended to address the situation and our nonprofit and faith-based organizations are at or exceeding capacity." For these reasons, we request that, as you consider allocating additional federal dollars and resources to address the humanitarian crisis at the border, you ensure that a portion of these funds are directed to those at the local level who are expending resources to deal with the ramifications of federal policy. Sincerely, Mayor Jerry Weiers Glendale, AZ Mayor John Giles Mesa, AZ Mayor Kate Gallego Phoenix, AZ Mayor Greg Mengarelli Prescott, AZ Mayor Mark W. Mitchell Tempe, AZ Mayor Jonathan Rothschild Tucson AZ Mayor Douglas J. Nicholls Yuma, AZ Mayor Jesse Arreguin Berkeley, CA Mayor Robert Garcia Long Beach, CA Mayor Eric Garcetti Los Angeles, CA Mayor Kevin Faulconer San Diego, CA Mayor Patrick J. Furey Torrance, CA Mayor Christopher L. Cabaldon West Sacramento, CA Mayor Michael Hancock Denver, CO Mayor Tim Keller Albuquerque, NM Mayor Kenneth D. Miyagishima Las Cruces, NM Mayor Alan Webber Santa Fe, NM Mayor Steve Adler Austin, TX Mayor Antonio 'Tony' Martinez Brownsville, TX Mayor Mike Rawlings Dallas, TX Mayor Dee Margo El Paso, TX Mayor James E. Darling McAllen, TX About The United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors. SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors Related Links http://www.usmayors.org Under the new agreement, Embrapa will leverage CropOS to breed improved varieties of soybeans, maize, sorghum and other crops. Embrapa will also contribute its rich sets of crop-related data, enabling Benson Hill to further refine CropOS. "We are eager to expand our relationship with Benson Hill and use CropOS to advance breeding for farmers across Latin America," said Cleber Soares, executive director for Innovation and Technology of Embrapa. "Our work together has demonstrated their commitment to collaboration and appreciation for the power of genetic diversity to help solve big global challenges in a sustainable way." Embrapa first partnered with Benson Hill in 2017 to access the company's genome editing CRISPR nucleases. The new agreement expands to Breed, powered by CropOS, in which Embrapa will access Benson Hill's AI-driven computational platform for predictive breeding capability and further enhance the platform with its rich data sets. "The synergy of our technology platform and Embrapa's research pipeline and data will enable both organizations to accelerate their efforts to improve crops," said Matthew Crisp, CEO and co-founder of Benson Hill. "Given Embrapa's work with seed companies across and well beyond Brazil, the impact of this partnership will be extraordinarily far-reaching. We are thrilled to expand our work together." Embrapa is a research, development and innovation corporation under the Brazilian Government committed to the advancement of a healthy food supply and conservation of natural biodiversity. Embrapa's 2,500 researchers apply scientific knowledge and techniques to improve the productivity, nutrition, and sustainability of more than 20 crop species. Brazil represents 20% of the natural diversity on the planet. Benson Hill's CropOS brings together machine learning, big data analytics and biological knowledge to help plant researchers predict and control outcomes. It allows researchers to quickly predict, select and control desirable traits to bring crop and ingredient improvements to market faster. About Embrapa The Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) was founded on April 26, 1973 and is under the aegis of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply. Embrapa is a technological innovation enterprise focused on generating knowledge and technology for Brazilian agriculture. Since its foundation, and with partners from the National Agricultural Research System, Embrapa have taken on the challenge to develop a genuinely Brazilian model of tropical agriculture and livestock to overcome the barriers that limited the production of food, fiber, and fuel in the country. This effort has helped to change Brazil. Nowadays, Brazilian agriculture is one of the most efficient and sustainable ones in the planet. Brazil has incorporated a wide area of formerly degraded Cerrado lands into production systems; a region that now accounts for nearly 50% of Brazilian grain production. Brazil has quadrupled the beef and pork supply and increased the chicken supply 22-fold. These are some of the achievements that took the country from the condition of basic food importer to one of the world's largest food producers and exporters. About Benson Hill Biosystems Benson Hill empowers innovators with a revolutionary crop design platform to develop healthier and more sustainable food and ingredients. Our CropOS platform combines machine learning and big data with genome editing and plant biology to drastically accelerate and simplify the product development process. More information can be found online at www.bensonhillbio.com. Follow us on Twitter at @BensonHillBio. SOURCE Benson Hill Biosystems Related Links http://www.bensonhillbio.com Through their unique approach of formulating solutions that work in harmony with the 24hr body clock, This Works has evolved its product lines beyond a traditional viewpoint to a more complete regimen that maximizes skin and overall wellness at every phase of the day, starting with a good night's sleep. This acquisition is a key aspect of a multi-faceted hemp and CBD strategy as Canopy Growth continues to build upon its vertically-integrated production and marketing platform, that currently includes thousands of acres of hemp production across several continents, hundreds of millions of dollars of capital investment into hemp-derived CBD production and processing, rapid expansion across the European Union and other key regions, and the introduction of new CBD-infused products and brands to the global beauty, wellness, and sleep solution space. This Works CEO, Dr. Anna Persaud, will remain at the helm of business operations post-acquisition to continue moving the company forward. Since joining the company in 2009, Dr. Persaud has worked arduously to develop targeted skin solutions, which combine the brand's knowledge of the body clock with modern lifestyle learnings, all backed by science. This approach to product development is best evidenced by This Works' award-winning natural sleep solutions, with 4.2 million pillow sprays sold across Europe, the United Kingdom, China and the United States since the brand's first deep sleep pillow spray launched in 2011. Together, Canopy Growth and This Works will continue to support all of This Works' current operations with an accelerated focus on global expansion and product development to include a new line of skincare and sleep solution products infused with CBD. "Since 2004, This Works has been committed to creating highly effective, natural skin solutions which are rooted in science and proven to work. We are excited about this new chapter in our company's history and the opportunity to join Canopy Growth, the world's leading diversified cannabis and hemp company," shared Dr. Anna Persaud. "As a leading wellness brand and a pioneer in sleep beauty products, we are passionate about the opportunity CBD offers beauty consumers. Canopy Growth will provide the expertise, research, scientific rigour and quality assurance that will allow This Works to drive the agenda in wellness beauty's ever-evolving market." "We believe CBD has the potential to disrupt the cosmetic and sleep solution industries and have been working for years to build and establish the right entry point into this opportunity," said Bruce Linton, Chairman & Co-CEO, Canopy Growth. "As soon as we met with Dr. Persaud and her team, we knew they were the right partner to embark with on this journey." In addition to strengthening Canopy Growth's product offering, bringing This Works "under the canopy" will enhance the Company's international footprint and operations within the United Kingdom. In January 2019, the Company announced Spectrum Biomedical UK, a joint venture between Canopy Growth Corporation and Oxford-based research company Beckley Canopy Therapeutics to address the need for high-quality cannabis-based medicinal products in the UK. Here's to Future (Cosmetics, Sleep, and overall Wellness) Growth. About Canopy Growth Corporation Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED,NYSE:CGC) is a world-leading diversified cannabis, hemp and cannabis device company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms, as well as medical devices through the Company's subsidiary, Storz & Bickel GMbH & Co. KG. From product and process innovation to market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis company one product, site and country at a time. The Company has operations in over a dozen countries across five continents. The Company's medical division, Spectrum Therapeutics is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis, and has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting edge, commercializable research and IP development. Spectrum Therapeutics sells a range of full-spectrum products using its colour-coded classification Spectrum system as well as single cannabinoid Dronabinol under the brand Bionorica Ethics. The Company operates retail stores across Canada under its award-winning Tweed and Tokyo Smoke banners. Tweed is a globally recognized cannabis brand which has built a large and loyal following by focusing on quality products and meaningful customer relationships. From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange to our continued international expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names including cannabis icons Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House Seeds, and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a few. Canopy Growth operates ten licensed cannabis production sites with over 4.4 million square feet of production capacity, including over one million square feet of GMP certified production space. For more information visit www.canopygrowth.com Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or 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. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canopy Growth or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Examples of such statements include statements such as "This acquisition is a key aspect of a multi-faceted hemp and CBD strategy as Canopy Growth continues to build upon its vertically-integrated production and marketing platform, that currently includes thousands of acres of hemp production across several continents, hundreds of millions of dollars of capital investment into hemp-derived CBD production and processing, rapid expansion across the European Union and other key regions, and the introduction of new CBD-infused products and brands to the global beauty, wellness, and sleep solution space". Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including the Company's ability to satisfy provincial sales contracts or provinces purchasing all cannabis allocated to them, and such risks contained in the Company's annual information form dated June 27, 2018 and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information or forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation Related Links canopygrowth.com WESTMINSTER, Colo., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Coalfire, a trusted provider of cybersecurity advisory and assessment services, announced it received a 2019 Silver Award from the Colorado Chapter of the Business Marketing Association (BMA) and American Marketing Association (AMA) for its submission of their tradeshow booth design, "Coalfire, Cybersecurity in Graffiti," under the Tradeshow category. Coalfire and their creative branding agency, Burns Marketing, received the award at the annual Fourteeners Awards gala Friday, May 10 at the historic Kirk of Highland in Denver, Colo. The creative booth display was featured at Black Hat in Las Vegas in the summer of 2018, receiving both attendee and media attention. In order to create a gritty but approachable space, the booth backdrop was covered in graffiti (a style that would resonate with the show's demographic), which highlighted words relevant to the cybersecurity market. "To be truly authentic, we leveraged hand-sprayed graffiti drawn in cybersecurity themes," said Holly Doucette, Senior Manager, Events, Coalfire. "We encouraged interaction with attendees through real-time demos and a 'pick the lock' challenge the perfect activity for the event audience." The Fourteeners (formerly the Gold Key Award) is recognized as Colorado's most prestigious competition dedicated solely to marketing excellence. Categories included both B2B- and B2C-focused work. This year saw more than 100 submissions from some of the state's top businesses and agencies. A panel of 12 independent judges from across the country, representing agency and corporate marketing professionals, scored entries in more than 40 categories on objectives, creativity, production and results. To view a complete list of winners and credits, visit The Fourteeners page. About Coalfire Coalfire is the trusted cybersecurity advisor that helps private and public-sector organizations avert threats, close gaps and effectively manage risk. By providing independent and tailored advice, assessments, technical testing and cyber engineering services, we help clients develop scalable programs that improve their security posture, achieve their business objectives and fuel their continued success. Coalfire has been a cybersecurity thought leader for nearly 20 years and has offices throughout the United States and Europe. For more information, visit Coalfire.com. About BMA Colorado Dedicated exclusively to the discipline of business-to-business marketing, the Colorado chapter of the Business Marketing Association (BMA) is the premier organization for marketing professionals in the region. Its membership is comprised of more than 500 business-to-business marketing practitioners employed by the region's leading corporations, agencies, suppliers and small businesses. As one of the largest marketing organizations in the region and the largest BMA chapter in the country, BMA Colorado enriches the professional lives of its members by offering unparalleled opportunities for education, networking and recognition, as well as exclusive access to industry resources and services. To learn more about BMA Colorado, visit www.bmacolorado.org. About AMA Colorado For more than 50 years, the Colorado chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA Colorado) has challenged a community of innovative marketing professionals to think a little differently about what they do and how they do it. AMA Colorado is focused on making you a better marketer. We do this by delivering the integrated, strategic and tactical knowledge marketers need to be the very best in their field. AMA Colorado is dedicated to providing the best resources for Colorado marketing professionals to innovate, shape and inspire their careers. To learn more about AMA Colorado, visit www.coloradoama.com. Press Contact: Mike Gallo For Coalfire 212-239-8594 [email protected] SOURCE Coalfire Related Links http://www.Coalfire.com Andrew Bouchot of Castle Pines, Colorado, will graduate from the Academy on June 15 and was recognized today for his heroic efforts in saving the life of a stowaway during his Academy Sea Year Training. A medal was presented to Bouchot by Rear Admiral Mark Buzby, USN (Retired), the head of MARAD. In December 2017, Midshipman Bouchot was sailing aboard a heavy lift vessel assigned as an engine cadet when, just after leaving Lagos, Nigeria, three stowaways were discovered. One was dehydrated to the point of death. Midshipman Bouchot, a New York State certified EMT, immediately responded to the medical needs of each of the distressed men. Throughout the ordeal, Midshipman Bouchot monitored and treated one of the men, who was near comatose, safely re-hydrating him which enabled him to eventually make a full recovery. This medal, established in 2002, is "awarded to recognize merchant mariners who have participated in an act or operation of humanitarian nature directly to an individual or groups of individuals. This medal may be awarded to those leaders in the maritime industry who have dedicated years of service or achievement and/or given an extraordinary valuable contribution or work to the maritime industry." "I am humbled to be recognized for this achievement," said Midshipman Bouchot. "I simply did what any of my fellow classmates would have done in the same situation." The ceremony fell on National Maritime Day, a congressionally-recognized day to honor those in the maritime industry, from the brave and courageous merchant mariners who have given their lives in defense of our nation to the men and women who continue to go above and beyond the call of duty in serving our nation's maritime interests in times of war and peace. "The selfless and courageous actions of Midshipman Bouchot are indicative of the character possessed by the men and women who currently attend the USMMA as well as its over 13,000 living alumni," said Capt. James Tobin, president of the USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation. "We could not be prouder of Midshipman Bouchot." The Academy trains the future leaders of what President Franklin D. Roosevelt dubbed the "Fourth Arm of Defense," the U.S. Merchant Marine. In peacetime, Merchant Marine vessels carry goods and commodities across the U.S. and the globe; in wartime, the Merchant Marine takes troops, weaponry and materiel to battle, which is why every USMMA graduate incurs a military service obligation for eight years. The Academy is unique in that a key part of its training, mandated by Congress, takes place aboard vessels for a full twelve months. 142 students lost their lives while training at sea during WWII, thus making the USMMA the only federal service academy privileged to carry a Battle Standard. Sea Year is a real-world shipboard experience where, as Midshipman Bouchot can attest, anything can happen. This unparalleled hands-on training ensures USMMA students gain the requisite maritime experience and expertise so that graduates are ready to serve as merchant marine officers from day one. CONTACT: Jeff Surrell, 1-202-326-1748, [email protected] SOURCE USMMA Alumni Association and Foundation CARLSBAD, Calif., May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Amidst increasing demand in the U.S. for drug-free pain management tools, Oska Wellness, a pioneer of technology-driven wellness solutions that help people live more active lives with less pain, today announced a partnership with the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO). As part of the SDAHO Endorsed Business Partner Program, the brand's Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) device, MedTech Award winning Oska Pulse, will be available to healthcare facilities and pain patients across South Dakota, helping to eliminate or reduce dependency on pharmaceuticals as a treatment option. Manufactured in Clear Lake, South Dakota, Oska Pulse is the first medical technology device endorsed by SDAHO, a non-profit organization that aims to advance healthy communities. "We're thrilled to partner with the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations to help make our drug-free wearable technology even more accessible to everyone struggling with pain in South Dakota," said Greg Houlgate, co-founder of Oska Wellness. "We know first-hand how debilitating chronic pain can be, and want to help pain patients nationwide find relief that enables them to reclaim their lives. An endorsement from SDAHO medical advisors will really make an impact given their connections in the healthcare industry and for those who need our device most." Chronic pain disrupts the lives of over 100 million Americans daily and is the leading cause of long-term disability in the U.S., affecting more people than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. The partnership between SDAHO and Oska Wellness will introduce Oska Pulse to key decision makers for hospitals and health organizations across the state as well as its members, including acute care and nursing facilities, home health agencies, assisted living centers and hospice organizations with the intent of increasing awareness and adoption of non-drug pain relief solutions. "The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations is pleased to partner with Oska Wellness, a brand revolutionizing the medical technology space with its wearable PEMF machine for pain relief," said Tim Rave, president and chief executive officer of South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations. "We've identified Oska Pulse as a great resource for healthcare professionals and the pain patients they serve across South Dakota. There is a chronic pain and opioid fueled public health crisis here, and making this drug-free technology available to patients will provide much needed relief across the state." The SDAHO Endorsed Business Partner program was established to provide cutting edge and cost effective solutions for healthcare facilities in South Dakota. Its strategic business partners offer products or services that help improve healthcare services, develop educational resources for medical professionals, and introduce new programs or strategies. Potential partners undergo a thorough review, where SDAHO staff performs a high standard evaluation and analysis of the potential partner and its offerings, followed by an independent review and endorsement by a special advisory committee from South Dakota hospitals, clinics and nursing homes. Oska Pulse is currently available over-the-counter at www.oskawellness.com, FSAstore.com, HSAstore.com and Amazon. It is also available through select healthcare facilities in South Dakota from doctors at Sanford Health and others; the SDAHO partnership will improve upon doctor availability. To learn more about Oska Pulse, please visit www.oskawellness.com. To learn more about SDAHO and its Endorsed Business Partners, please visit www.sdaho.org. About Oska Wellness Co-founded in 2015 by Greg Houlgate, Oska Wellness is a pioneer of technology-driven wellness solutions that help people live more active lives with less pain. The brand's cornerstone product, the MedTech award winning Oska Pulse, is a revolutionary drug-free pain relief device that is clinically proven to reduce inflammation, increase circulation, improve mobility and relieve pain. Oska Pulse utilizes Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) technology, which is commonly used in doctors' offices and clinically proven to work at the source of pain by accelerating the body's ability to repair injured cells and increasing blood flow. Unlike many other pain intervention therapies, Oska Pulse has no known side effects, is non-invasive, lightweight, portable, shareable, and provides safe, effective and affordable access to pain relief all without medication. Oska Pulse can be purchased online at www.oskawellness.com, FSAstore.com, HSAstore.com and Amazon. To learn more about Oska Wellness, visit www.oskawellness.com. About SDAHO South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) is the statewide professional trade association representing and serving health care organizations across South Dakota. The association is a not-for-profit organization representing a diverse range of membership, spanning various types of institutional ownership, geographic location, size and complexities of service. Members include hospitals, health care systems, nursing facilities, home health agencies, assisted living centers and hospice organizations. To learn more about SDAHO, please visit www.sdaho.org. Contact: Lynsey Winters Rachel Kay Public Relations 858-243-4761 [email protected] SOURCE Oska Wellness Related Links http://www.oskawellness.com Establishing reliable network connections is vital to Hong Kong's development towards becoming a Smart City through the application of smart technology. With its strong infrastructure network and coverage, HGC plays an important role by providing a high-speed, stable internet service with minimal latency. At the same time, HGC supports customers with one-stop ICT solutions, driven by professional consultants and service teams. HGC will help customers manage and monitor the application of smart technologies and analyse big data for a range of purposes. This way, customers can focus on expanding their businesses while leveraging the positive changes and new-found convenience brought about by technology. Smart Lampposts HGC is actively promoting the development of Hong Kong's Smart City status by participating in phase I of the government's smart lamppost scheme, alongside Ticktack Technology Limited. HGC's widespread network covers the major locations of the scheme and greatly facilitates its implementation. A smart lamppost is so much more than its traditional counterpart. Designed, manufactured and deployed by Ticktack Technology Limited, smart lampposts are a multifunctional lighting solution in line with Smart City development and future 5G applications. HGC provides network connectivity and various smart solutions including big data collection on nearby traffic with the help of 360-degree cameras and inbuilt edge-computing systems installed in the smart lampposts. The results will be uploaded to a cloud database using safe and reliable network lines for further integration and statistics. HGC can provide yet more smart technology applications for lampposts, such as for collecting real-time data on noise, air quality, temperature, humidity and wind speed by installing sensors. These monitoring applications can help improve the local environment, while wireless networks can provide GPS information and Wi-Fi to passers-by. S mart Building Management Smart Building Management is of key importance in densely-populated cities. Automatic electronic equipment, advanced sensors and stable internet coverage in large-scale properties, such as housing estates and commercial buildings, can ensure easy control over the environment. Real-time data on temperature, brightness, air quality and power sources can be collected, and anomalies, such as seepage, leakage, smoke and fire, can be tackled immediately. Moreover, big data can be uploaded and stored on a cloud platform so customers can access it anytime, anywhere. Contingency plans can be made in advance and better measures can be enacted for the future. Sensor technology can also be used for elderly care and security. Smart technology saves energy and human resources, improves efficiency and is generally cost-effective. Smart Recognition Smart Recognition, powered by AI technology, is another determining factor for a Smart City. In recent years, facial recognition has been widely adopted for commercial use. HGC provides facial recognition solutions tailored to specific industries, fuelled by its smart customer services. Industries include security, identity verification and behavioural analysis for customer segments. This service is especially useful to retailers, who may wish to raise their brand image and optimise customer experience by analysing relevant customer data, such as facial expressions and gestures. Mr. Andrew Kwok, Chief Executive Officer, HGC, said, "Major cities around the world have different considerations and expectations for Smart City development. In Hong Kong we hope the government can open up space and opportunity for further commercial collaboration and development. HGC looks forward to collaborating with different partners while continuing to participate in Smart City development projects and launching more smart solutions, which we believe will benefit the city's transformation." Andrew Kwok added, "Being a prominent international telecom operator with 22 overseas offices and business spanning five continents, HGC hopes to extend the local success and experience to worldwide and also promote the brand image of Hong Kong." Ms. Cecilia Wong, Executive Vice President, Product & Innovations of HGC said, "We are glad to take part in the first smart lamppost scheme in Hong Kong. This marks a milestone in HGC's efforts towards Smart City development. At the same time, HGC has launched smart property management and smart recognition solutions, diversifying our business portfolio while leading the market towards opportunities and overcoming challenges." Ms. Rainbow Wong, Vice President, Corporate Business of HGC said, "Different companies will have different demands as they transform along with the Smart City developments. HGC's smart solutions aim to be customer-oriented and diversified, so companies from various sectors can improve daily operations, boost cost-effectiveness and achieve multiple of targets thanks to the advantages that stem from digitalisation and smart solutions." About HGC Global Communications Limited HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) is a leading Hong Kong and international fixed-line operator. The company owns an extensive network and infrastructure in Hong Kong and overseas and provides various kinds of services. It provides telecom infrastructure service to other operators and serves as a service provider to corporate and households. The company provides full-fledged telecom, data centre services, ICT solutions and broadband services for local, overseas, corporate and mass markets. HGC owns and operates an extensive fibre-optic network, five cross-border telecom routes integrated into tier-one telecom operators in mainland China and connects with hundreds of world-class international telecom operators. HGC is one of Hong Kong's largest Wi-Fi service providers, running over 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots in Hong Kong. The company is committed to further investing and enriching its current infrastructure and, in parallel, adding on top the latest technologies and developing its infrastructure services and solutions. HGC is a portfolio company of I Squared Capital, an independent global infrastructure investment manager focusing on energy, utilities and transport in North America, Europe and selected fast-growing economies. To learn more, please visit HGC's website at: www.hgc.com.hk SOURCE HGC Global Communications Limited (HGC) Related Links http://www.hgc.com.hk More than 3,500 members have enrolled in the program since it launched a year ago. Those members used Landmark's 24/7 access to care, and received more than 15,000 home visits for medical, behavioral, and social support services as well as urgent and post-discharge care. "I feel alive again!" said Larry Johnson, 92, a World War II veteran, who lives in Los Angeles County. After visits and treatments from Landmark providers, Johnson said his dehydration disappeared, and his sleep and appetite improved. He has gained weight and feels increasingly healthier and happier, following a long recovery from a stroke. The Landmark service is available at no additional cost for eligible members of Blue Shield of California and its subsidiary Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan. Landmark medical professionals do not replace a member's primary care physician or specialists; they work collaboratively with members' physicians to reinforce the doctor's in-office care plan. "We are heartened to see so many of our members who can benefit most participate in this program, which delivers the right care at the right time and in the right setting their home, at any hour of the day," said Terry Gilliland, M.D., Blue Shield's Chief Health Officer. "The enrollment of eligible members has outpaced our first-year expectations, and we are delivering on our goal to help members with multiple chronic illnesses improve their quality of life by better managing their conditions." How the program works Blue Shield uses data-driven algorithms to identify members who qualify for the Landmark program, then invites them to enroll through letters and phone calls. Primary care physicians of eligible members are also notified about the program. "I'm sold on Landmark because I can get treatment when I want it. Usually a Landmark provider can get to my house within two hours," said Ted Tomasegovich, a 70-year old retired engineer in Sacramento County. Key findings in the program's first year: 92 percent of the participating members are enrolled in a Medicare, MediCal or Cal MediConnect plan offered by Blue Shield or Blue Shield Promise; the rest are Blue Shield's commercial health plan members Average age of program participant is 72 Top 10 chronic conditions addressed: Hypertension 99% Chronic kidney disease 76% Diabetes 69% Peripheral vascular disease 66% Coronary heart disease 65% Pulmonary disease 62% Depression 55% Heart failure 53% Atrial fibrillation 37% Cerebral vascular disease 27% 15,550 home visits by a Landmark provider 33,317 phone contacts by a Landmark provider Blue Shield's Landmark program is currently available in the following counties: Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara. About Blue Shield of California Blue Shield of California strives to create a health care system worthy of our family and friends that is sustainably affordable. We are a not for profit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with four million members, 6,800 employees and more than $20 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com. Or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. About Landmark Landmark Health and its affiliated medical groups (Landmark) partner with health plans and delivery systems to bring patient-centric, in-home care to complex and chronically ill populations. The company bears risk for more than 90,000 lives across 13 states. Landmark is available 24/7 to patients and their families. Its value-based model relies on fully-employed, local multidisciplinary care teams to help drive long-term outcomes for patients by bringing medical, behavioral, social and palliative care to individuals, where they reside and when they need it. Landmark is bringing back the house call. Learn more at www.landmarkhealth.org. CONTACT: Matthew Yi Blue Shield of California 415-229-6042 [email protected] SOURCE Blue Shield of California Related Links http://news.blueshieldca.com FREDERICKSBURG, Va., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Liberty Institute and attorneys with Hunton Andrews Kurth, LLP filed a federal lawsuit against the Evergreens at Smith Run and its parent company, Community Realty Company (CRC), alleging religious discrimination in housing by the management of the senior living community in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Ken and Liv Hauge, Evergreens residents who were threatened with eviction by the company last year for hosting a small Bible study. You can read the lawsuit here . The management companys hostility to religious residents violates federal law and taints Virginias long history of religious freedom, said Lea Patterson, associate counsel for First Liberty. Were asking the court to hold the management company accountable for violating the Hauges right to exercise their faith in their home and to ensure no other residents have to suffer through what the Hauges have endured. Ken and Liv Hauge, both in their mid-80s, have been residents of the Evergreens since 2017. A retired pastor, Ken led a small Bible study in his personal capacity at the behest of other senior residents. The lawsuit claims that CRC and Evergreens management discriminated against the Hauges and others on the basis of religion, by first banning all residents from publicly saying grace before their meals, and then prohibiting the Hauges from hosting the Bible Study anywhere at the Evergreens, including within their own apartment, under threat of eviction. In October of last year, First Liberty asked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to investigate CRC for religious discrimination. An investigation is ongoing. Learn more about Hauges case at FirstLiberty.org/Ken-Hauge About First Liberty Institute First Liberty Institute is a non-profit public interest law firm and the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans. To arrange an interview, contact Lacey McNiel at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4453. Contact: Lacey McNiel, media@firstliberty.org Direct: 972-941-4453 DALLAS, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimberly-Clark today announced it has awarded $920,000 in Bright Futures College Scholarships to 46 children of Kimberly-Clark employees across North America. The high school seniors were selected on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, work experience and extracurricular activities. Now in its 27th year, the Bright Futures program provides scholarship grants worth up to $20,000, or $5,000 per school year, for full-time students attending accredited colleges and universities. The program is administered by the Kimberly-Clark Foundation and since its inception has awarded $42 million in scholarships to more than 2,100 students. "We are proud to present these Bright Futures college scholarships to the class of 2019 in recognition of their many accomplishments," said Jenny Lewis, vice president of the Kimberly-Clark Foundation. "We salute these outstanding students and wish them the best as they pursue their dreams in higher education." This year's awardees will attend top colleges and universities such as Boston University, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Wesleyan University and the University of Wisconsin. Past scholarship recipients have gone on to pursue successful careers in medicine, education, the armed forces and engineering. Click here for more information on this year's award recipients. About the Kimberly-Clark Foundation The Kimberly-Clark Foundation is the charitable arm of Kimberly-Clark Corporation and is dedicated to supporting and strengthening families around the world. For more information, visit http://www.kimberly-clark.com/ourcompany/community/kc_foundation.aspx. About Kimberly-Clark Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its trusted brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries. Fueled by ingenuity, creativity, and an understanding of people's most essential needs, we create products that help individuals experience more of what's important to them. Our portfolio of brands, including Huggies, Kleenex, Scott, Kotex, Cottonelle, Poise, Depend, Andrex, Pull-Ups, GoodNites, Intimus, Neve, Plenitud, Viva and WypAll, hold the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in 80 countries. We use sustainable practices that support a healthy planet, build stronger communities, and ensure our business thrives for decades to come. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the company's 147-year history of innovation, visit kimberly-clark.com or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/648588/Kimberly_Clark_RGB_Blue_Logo.jpg SOURCE Kimberly-Clark Related Links http://kimberly-clark.com BATTLE CREEK, Mich., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of Military Appreciation Month, one Kellogg Company executive shares his experience as a U.S. Air Force veteran and his 20-year career at Kellogg. Social K Kellogg Company Blog By: Joe Zortman, Vice President I am reminded each time I see the American Flag that for many other countries, freedom is a privilege not a right. My family has a long and storied history of military service with recognized service in major military conflicts including Persian Gulf War, Vietnam War, World War II and World War I. I had the privilege of joining the U.S. Air Force after I graduated from high school and I look back on my time in the military with pride that I could serve our country. Growing up I saw the scars and heard the stories from my father, my uncles and my grandfathers of what sacrifice meant in service to our country. While on active duty, I experienced firsthand the sacrifices of our service members and their families. As Memorial Day approaches, my thoughts turn to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and died in military service. Not only to those military heroes, but the families and loved ones they left behind. I began my career 20 years ago at Kellogg Company. As an enlisted veteran, I had work experience but had not yet earned a college degree. The company recognized my military experience and offered me a role as a Sales Reporting analyst. Two decades later, I would go on to finish my college education and have a fulfilling career with the opportunity to grow personally and professionally across the Kellogg organization. I am grateful for the hiring manager that saw the potential of a young veteran and gave me a chance. I'm proud to work for a company like Kellogg one that has a long history of supporting the military and continues to advocate, recruit and develop veteran employees and embrace different types of talent to help the company flourish and thrive. Kellogg offers a variety of veteran resources including its Business/Employee Resource Group, KVets & Supporters, which is dedicated to celebrating military service, supporting our local active duty service members at Fort Custer and even volunteering to accompany veterans on Honor Flights to visit war memorials. Through these activities and many others, the company recognizes the benefits that veterans bring to our workplace. The U.S. Air Force values of 'Integrity First', 'Service Before Self', and 'Excellence In All We Do' aligns fully with Kellogg's K Values. It is our company's values that are at the core of who we are, how we do business, and what brings us together as a global team. Kellogg is committed to creating a positive, supportive and inclusive environment for veteran candidates and employees as it recognizes we can bring valuable, diverse experiences and unique skillsets to the company. From my personal experience, our veteran community at Kellogg is much like a family we support, encourage and champion one another and I'm honored to work for such a distinguished and inclusive company. For more information on veteran careers at Kellogg, visit the site here. For more Kellogg Company stories, visit our Social K blog . About Kellogg Company At Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), we strive to enrich and delight the world through foods and brands that matter. Our beloved brands include Pringles, Cheez-It, Keebler, Special K, Kellogg's Frosted Flakes, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg's Corn Flakes, Rice Krispies, Eggo, Mini-Wheats, Kashi, RXBAR and more. Net sales in 2018 were approximately $13.5 billion, comprised principally of snacks and convenience foods like cereal and frozen foods. Kellogg brands are beloved in markets around the world. We are also a company with Heart & Soul, committed to creating three billion Better Days by the end of 2025 through our Breakfasts for Better Days global purpose platform. Visit www.KelloggCompany.com or www.OpenforBreakfast.com . SOURCE Kellogg Company Related Links http://www.kelloggcompany.com GURUGRAM, India, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Key Trends The future of Nigeria baby food market looks quite promising given the positive growth and development indicators such as high birth rate and fertility rate, increasing purchasing power of people, increase in number of working mothers, growing awareness among parents about baby nutrition. baby food market looks quite promising given the positive growth and development indicators such as high birth rate and fertility rate, increasing purchasing power of people, increase in number of working mothers, growing awareness among parents about baby nutrition. The receptiveness/adoption of parents towards innovative and new baby food products has increased. Parents have begun focusing on taste along with nutrition from baby foods. This has encouraged the demand for flavored baby foods and other variants besides products which were solely based on cereals in Nigeria . . The shift towards organic baby food is being observed on the back of increasing health awareness among parents and rising purchasing power of households. Many new local companies have entered the market with their own organic baby food products for different income groups. The government of Nigeria has very specific requirements to be fulfilled to be able to import food into the country. Specific norms for manufacturing, packaging, labeling and others are required to be met to be able to import and sell food in the Nigerian market. Also rigid regulations have also been passed over the marketing and promotion of these food products in Nigeria and any violations involves huge penalties. These regulations might act as a hindrance in operations for both existing and potential players in the baby food market of Nigeria . Product Innovation: Emergence of few local players in the market has resulted in introduction of new products in each segment, from flavored dried baby food to non cereal based food to organic baby food. There is shift in terms of product position as well with change in packaging which suits different demands of the consumers. Many international companies now also see the potential to introduce products from their international portfolios which were not introduced earlier in the market with increased demand for baby food products in the country. Newer baby food products such as specialized baby food for infants with allergies, colic, premature babies, regurgitation and other such issues might be launched in near future. Growing Milk Formula Demand: The market share of milk formula products such as standard, growing-up are expected to increase significantly in future. Special baby milk for underweight, lactose intolerant babies is very small in Nigeria as there is not much issue in Nigeria regarding lactose intolerant babies. This is not expected to increase much in the future either. Mothers during pregnancy are also more aware nowadays on what nutrition to intake for the baby, leading to lesser babies being born that need special milk. Regional Demand: South East regions are expected to contribute towards the increasing demand for baby food products in Nigeria. South West & South-South has higher level of education. The level of poverty is low in South region compared to Northern region. Most women don't hold regular jobs, and hence less use of milk formula and other baby food. Personal disposable income, literacy rate and employment opportunities and product availability are some of the main differentiating factors which could affect the adoption of baby food in different regions in Nigeria. Analysts at Ken Research in their latest publication "Nigeria Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 By Milk Formulae (Standard, Follow-On, Growing-Up Milk Formula), Dried Baby Food (Cereal Based and Others -Meat/Fish, Fruits & Vegetable and Nuts), Prepared/ Ready to Eat Baby Food and Other Baby Food; By Organic Baby Food; By Channel (Supermarkets, Independent Small Grocers, and Online" believe that the baby food industry will witness a boost in the number of consumers with rising number of millennial parents, higher birth rate and fertility rate and increased disposable income in the country. The sale of the baby food has been positively impacted by strategic advertising, innovative packaging of the products and increasing female workforce. The market is expected to register positive CAGR of 11.6% in terms of the revenue generated during the review period 2018-2023. Key Segments Covered: By Food Category: Dried Baby Food Cereal Based Others -Meat/Fish, Fruits & Vegetable and Nuts Milk Formula Standard Milk Formula, Follow-On Milk Formula Growing-Up Milk Formula Prepared Baby Food Other Baby Food By Distribution Channel: Traditional Retailers & Grocers Supermarkets Internet Retailing By Ingredient: Inorganic Organic By Regions: South West South East South South North Central North West Key Target Audience: Baby Food Manufacturers Baby Product Distributors Baby Food Distributors Government Agencies Baby Food Retailers NGOs supporting Baby Health Pharmaceutical Stores Online Sales and Retailing Agencies Time Period Captured in the Report: Historical Period 2013-2018 2013-2018 Forecast Period 2018-2023E Companies Covered: Nestle Friesland Campina Danone Nutrimental Abbott Promasidor Kraft Heinz Plum Organics August Secrets Baby Grubz Tiger Brand Key Topics Covered in the Report Executive Summary Research Methodology Ecosystem of Nigeria Baby Food Market Nigeria Baby Food Market Overview and Genesis Value Chain Analysis of Nigeria Baby Food Market Nigeria Baby Food Market Size, 2013-2018 Nigeria Baby Food Market Segmentation Trends and Developments in Nigeria Baby Food Market Baby Food Market Issues and Challenges in the Nigeria Baby Food Market Decision Making Criteria for Customers While Purchasing a Baby Food Product Regulations in Nigeria Baby Food Market Baby Food Market SWOT Analysis of Nigeria Baby Food Market Competitive Landscape in Nigeria Baby Food Market Baby Food Market Nigeria Baby Food Market Future Outlook and Projections, 2018-2023(E) Analyst Recommendations in Nigeria Baby Food Market For more information on the market research report please refer to the link below: https://www.kenresearch.com/consumer-products-and-retail/baby-care/nigeria-baby-food-market/204156-95.html Related Reports: Turkey Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 - By Infant Milk Formulae (Standard, Follow-On, Growing-Up and Special Baby Milk Formula), Dried Baby Food, Prepared Baby Food, Milk Formula and Other Baby Food; Organic Baby Food The report titled provides a comprehensive analysis of the baby food market in Turkey. The report also covers ecosystem of the market, stakeholders, market overview and genesis, value chain analysis, market size in terms of revenue, segmentation by food category, nature, age group and channels of distribution, trends and developments, issues and challenges, snapshot on emerging baby foods, decision making criteria for consumers, government regulations, SWOT analysis and competitive landscape. The report then concludes with market projections for future market described above and analyst recommendations highlighting the major opportunities and cautions to be taken before entering the market. The baby food market of Turkey is in its growth stage. The market displayed a strong competitive scenario where international players that hold majority stake are trying to sustain their existing market share while domestic players are trying to increase their market penetration. The baby food market of Turkey is primarily import oriented in nature. It is also very receptive to newness and innovations for instance, application based baby food i.e. baby food designed specifically for infants dealing with various body and health issues have gained a lot of popularity in the country. Goat milk formula products were also witnessed to emerge during the review period. Despite the fact that government is encouraging breast feeding among new mothers, the baby food market displayed consistent growth over the years. Australia Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 - By Type (Dried Baby Food, Prepared Baby Food, Milk Formula and Other Baby Food), By Organic Baby Food), By Region and By Channels of Distribution The report titled provides information on Baby Food market segmentation by category (Milk Formula, Dried baby food, Prepared Baby Food and Other Baby Food), by Milk Formula (Standard Milk Powdered Formula, Follow-on Milk Powdered Formula, Growing-up Milk Formula and Special Baby Milk Formula),by Age Group (0-6 Months, 6-12 Months, 12+ Months), by Nature (Inorganic Food and Organic Food),by Region (New south Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory) and by Channel of Distribution (Supermarkets, Health and Beauty Specialist Retailers, Internet Retailing, Discounters, Other Foods Non Grocery Specialists, Convenience Stores and Forecourt Retailers). Company Profiles of Major Players in Australia Baby Food Market (Nestle SA, Danone Group, Aspen Pharmacare and Other Companies (Kraft Heinz, Bellamy's Australia Ltd., A2 Milk Co. and others) have been covered in the publication. The report concludes with market projection and analyst recommendations. Egypt Baby Food Market Outlook to 2023 By Food Category (Milk Formula - (Standard Formula, Follow-on Formula, Growing-up Formula and Special Baby Milk Formula, Dried baby food and Prepared Baby Food) and by Distribution Channel (Health and Beauty Stores, Supermarkets, Independent Small Grocers, Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores and Online Sales) The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Baby food market in Egypt. The report also covers the overall trade scenario, SWOT Analysis, decision making process, competitive landscape and growth drivers and trends and government role and regulations. The report concludes with market projection and analyst recommendations highlighting the major opportunities and cautions. Egypt baby food market is still in its growth stage with retail revenue increasing at a positive double digit CAGR during the period 2012-2018. Due to a majority of international players, it has been an import oriented market. There has been a vast demand for innovative products such as camel milk based baby food. Due to high level of malnutrition among infants, increasing number of parents has preferred baby food to fulfill their child's nutritional requirements. Also, there has been a shift to organic baby food products as they minimize child's exposure to harmful chemicals and elements. Albeit government is encouraging breast feeding among new mothers; the baby food market has shown consistent growth over the years due to lack of paid maternity leaves to women in the working sector. UAE Baby Food Market Outlook to 2022 By Category (Dried Baby Food, Prepared Baby Food, Milk Formula and Other Baby Food), By Inorganic and Organic Baby Food, By Region (Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain) The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the baby food market in the UAE. The report also covers the overall market size in terms of revenue and sales volume, SWOT Analysis, decision making process, competitive landscape and growth drivers and trends and government role and regulations. The report concludes with market projection for future market described above and analyst recommendations highlighting the major opportunities and cautions for the UAE Baby food market. The baby food market of UAE is still in its growth stage. The market displayed a strong competitive scenario where international players that hold majority of the stake are constantly trying to increase their existing market share. The UAE Baby Food market has majorly been an import dominated market. The market is receptive to newness and innovations for instance, camel milk based baby food products and halal baby food products have gained a lot of popularity in the country. Despite the fact that government is encouraging breast feeding among new mothers and economic impact due to oil price shock of mid 2014 that continued till 2015, the baby food market has shown consistent growth. Contact Us: Ankur Gupta Head Marketing Ken Research Private Limited [email protected] +91-9015378249 SOURCE Ken Research PORTLAND, Oregon, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "North America and Asia-Pacific Gasket and Seal Market by Type (Gasket and Seal), and End-Use Industry (Automotive & Transport, Industrial & Manufacturing, Oil & gas, Power & Energy, Chemicals, and Others): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20182025." The report provides a detailed analysis of evolving market trends, top investment pockets, key segments, drivers & opportunities, and competitive landscape. According to the report, the North America and Asia-Pacific gasket and seal market was estimated at $343.69 billion in 2017 and is expected to register $528.08 billion in 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.5% during the forecast period. High-end properties of gasket & seal like thermal and chemical stability, and their explicit strength have made them a perfect choice for applications in chemical industries, automotive, and others. On the other hand, fluctuating crude oil prices has hampered the growth to some extent. Nevertheless, increase in demand for gasket and seal in the automotive industry and rise in stringent leakage regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prevent damage to the environment have created multiple opportunities in the segment. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/5253 The automotive and transport segment to rule the roost- By application, the automotive and transport segment contributed to more than one-fourth of the total market in 2017 and is anticipated to remain dominant throughout the estimate period. Increased production of vehicles and technological advancement in automotive industry have led to the rise in adoption of gasket and seal in the automotive industry. The gasket segment to maintain its top status during the study period- Based on type, the gasket segment held the major share, contributing to nearly two-third of the total market. Rise in demand for gaskets from automotive industry in the Asia-Pacific region has driven the growth. On the other hand, the seal segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 5.8% from 2018-2025. For Purchase Enquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/5253 Asia-Pacific to dominate the market till 2025- Based on region, Asia-Pacific contributed to more than half of the total market share in 2017, thereby coming out as the highest revenue generator. This is attributed to growing application of gasket and seal in the end-use industries such as automotive and oil & gas refineries for filling the gap between two parts, so that no leakage problem occurs during the compression stage. Frontrunners in the industry- The key market players analyzed in the research include EagleBurgmann Germany GmbH & Company KG, Flexitallic, Arezda, Garlock, Valqua Ltd James Walker Group Ltd., John Crane, Smiths Group plc, KLINGER Group, and Tri Graha Sealisindo. Adopting a number of strategies including group effort, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, developments, joint ventures, and others, they have become successful in maintaining their top status in the market. Access KNOWLEDGE TREE (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/knowledgetree Knowledge tree is a cloud-based intelligence platform that offers more than 2,000 selective, off-the-shelf reports on niche markets to enable our clients gain deep insights on the latest trends, dynamic technologies, and emerging application areas. Similar Reports: Reservoir Analysis Market Is Expected to Reach $10,489 Million by 2025 Reservoir analysis companies and software manufactures across the world have heavily invested on developing better software. They are expected to modify and enhance the performance of reservoir simulation in a way that it provides better 3D visualization. Asia-Pacific countries, such as China, India, and others, possess high potential for the growth of the reservoir analysis market. Cryogenic Pump Market Expected to Reach $592 Million, Globally, by 2023 Increase in usage of cryogenic pumps to extract the regenerated energy from exhaust gases of an engine and rise in demand for efficient transportation of medical gases are some aspects expected to supplement the market growth during the forecast period. 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. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022, +1-503-446-1141 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com SOURCE Allied Market Research MILAN, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- NTC Srl, R&D driven pharmaceutical company with headquarters in Italy, and Santen Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd, a global leader in ophthalmology, announce today the extension of their original agreement for Europe signed in December 2017. NTC grants the license and distribution rights of one of its research and development products a levofloxacin+dexamethasone fixed combination in eye drops - to Santen. The countries covered by the extension agreement include Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Phillippines, Indonesia, Myanmar, Hong Kong, Macau, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The levofloxacin+dexamethasone fixed combination in eye drops aims to carry to the ophthalmology community a novelty in the treatment of post-cataract surgery. To provide supportive evidence to its product, NTC completed the Leader7 international, multicenter, randomized, blinded-assessor, parallel-group clinical study designed to prove that a one-week course of antibiotic prophylaxis is comparable to a two-week course, thus reducing the unnecessary exposure of patients to antibiotics. "We are proud of the intense and productive partnership with Santen," Riccardo Carbucicchio, Chairman and CEO of NTC, states. "We believe the evidences supporting levofloxacin+dexamethasone will offer great hints to the ophthalmology community and the benefit of better treated patients undergoing cataract surgery," he adds. About NTC NTC is a pharmaceutical company headquartered in Milan - Italy, with distributors and partners in more than 100 countries in the world, engaged in research, development, registration and commercialization of drugs, medical devices and food supplements in ophthalmology, and in other therapeutic areas including pediatrics and gastro-metabolism. NTC offers to more than 200 partners innovative and high quality standard pharmaceutical products. For more information, please visit www.ntcpharma.com. About Santen As a specialized company dedicated to ophthalmology, Santen carries out research, development, marketing, and sales of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, and medical devices. Santen is the market leader for prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals in Japan and its products now reach patients in over 60 countries. With scientific knowledge and organizational capabilities nurtured over a nearly 130-year history, Santen provides products and services to contribute to the well-being of patients, their loved ones and consequently to society. For more information, please visit Santen's website www.santen.com. For further information please contact: NTC Srl M. Claudia Nacci Corporate Communication Email: [email protected] Tel: +39-349-059-2805 SOURCE NTC Italy Related Links https://www.ntcpharma.com CORNISH, Maine, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- SpatialTEQ Inc., publisher of North America's leading business mapping software, today announces that Seattle Gymnastics Academy (SGA) has chosen Map Business Online to conduct a location-based expansion analysis for its gymnastics training business located in Seattle Washington. Visualizing Seattle Gymnastic's existing business Developing a list of the most promising cities for expansion SGA's gymnastics training, for children ages one through fifteen-years, offers an extremely successful program in the downtown Seattle area. The business currently supports three training facilities across the downtown area of the Washington state capital city. The management team has decided that expansion into new urban areas was the obvious next step in the organization's growth plan. But a critical question remained unanswered, what are the three or four most lucrative cities to expand into? SGA's CEO John Sweeney contacted Map Business Online to help SGA solve that problem using map-based market analysis tools. "We had some gut feelings on which cities might make the most sense for our expansion," Said CEO John Sweeney. "But we did not know how to find cities that matched our criteria. Map Business Online turned what we knew about our existing business into a blueprint for expansion. We learned which cities made the most sense from a mapped, demographic perspective and then took that information to internal discussions to choose our finalist cites." Map Business Online Market Analysis The first task for Map Business Online market analysis was to construct a map visualization of SGA's existing Seattle based business. Customer location records were imported over an accurate web map displaying all three facility locations, and a transparent ZIP code map layer. A three-mile circle was used to define the core area of business across impacted ZIP codes. Drive time polygons were considered, but Seattle traffic was deemed too unpredictable and troublesome to be of use in this analysis. Once agreement was reached regarding the accuracy of the initial map-based business assessment, similar models were constructed across a national map covering one-hundred and twenty-seven cities with the nation's highest expendable income households, and reflecting urban areas with the largest population of one to fifteen-year-old girls (SGA's best performing demographic category.) Map Business Online ranked the cities in multiple passes, by highest household income, by population of girls, and by consumer expenditures on girls ages two through fifteen. The results provided a list of twenty-eight possible cities with demographic profiles, as well as a proforma territory map model for each city. SGA will now consider those top cities derived from map-based market analysis while weighing other factors unrelated to location and demographics. About Seattle Gymnastics Seattle Gymnastics (SGA) is a Seattle-based gymnastics instruction and training business focusing on providing children ages one to eighteen-years-old with recreational and competitive gymnastics training. Gymnastics is a dynamic and powerful sport. It is a great foundation activity that can improve strength, balance, coordination, body awareness, concentration, discipline, and grit. It works the whole body and strengthens the mind no matter the age or level. At SGA, we nurture the physical and emotional growth of our gymnasts by enhancing their strengths, helping them overcome challenges, and tailoring instruction to each individual's learning style. Our Strength, Skill and Character focus promotes a positive and supportive environment while instilling the importance of turning mistakes into steps for success. Contact: John Sweeney, [email protected] (425) 614-7641 About Map Business Online From the creators of BusinessMAP, www.MapBusinessOnline.com has been providing sales & marketing professionals with affordable and intuitive web-based business mapping software, for Mac and PC users, since 2010. Design, edit, and share maps that reflect your business . Create and manage sales territories that drive accountability into your sales force. Replace discontinued Microsoft MapPoint with MapBusinessOnline. Access optimized multi-stop routes to drive down travel costs. No other mapping software solves so many problems for such a limited investment. Contact: Geoffrey Ives, [email protected] (800) 425-9035, (207) 939-6866 SOURCE SpatialTEQ Inc. FELTON, California, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The global small cell power amplifier market is expected to witness an exponential CAGR in the years to come. Small cells act as base stations for femtocells that are usually found in residential complexes for enhancing coverage. Novel generations like LTE, CDFMA, and HSPA+ carriers have been addressing downlink, backhaul, and uplink paths; which has, in turn, given rise to terms like microcells, pico, class 3, enterprise, public access, and metro. Factors driving the small cell power amplifier market include increasing demand for flawless transmission and reception across airports, convention centers, office buildings, and other places where high signal strength is required. Functionalities include baseband digital signal processing, signal capture, microwave and RF transmit receive capabilities, and general-purpose processing. Other factors boosting the market are extensive usage of data networks in urban areas, along with less cost incurred with regards to operations as compared to macro stations. Get Sample PDF and read more details about the "Small Cell Power Amplifier Market" Report 2028. The small cell power amplifier market is segmented by type, application, sales channel, and geography. By type, the market spans 39 dB, 36 dB, 32 dB, 5 dB, and others. By application, it comprises power amplifier driver, customer premises equipment, wideband instrumentation, small cell base stations, and datacards with terminals. By sales channel, the market is split into distribution channel and direct channel. By geography, the segmentation spans North America (Mexico, Canada, and U.S.), Latin America (Chile, Columbia, Argentina, and Brazil), MEA (Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa), Asia Pacific (Australia, India, Korea, Japan, China, and Southeast Asia), and Europe (Spain, Russia, Italy, France, U.K., and Germany). North America holds the largest market share due to its base shifting toward heterogeneous data solutions. Europe comes in second. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest pace due to rapid urbanization in developing economies like India and China. The players contributing to the small cell power amplifier market include TekTelic Communication Inc.; Skyworks Solution; RFHIC Corp; Qorvo Inc.; Anadigics Inc.; Broadcom Corporation; Texas Instruments; and NXP Semiconductors. The present scenario is such that these players are focusing on organic growth. For instance, in November 2018, Qualcomm released FSM100xx at the Small Cells World Summit (London) with the objective of lending an active support to 5G. Browse research report with TOC on "Global Small Cell Power Amplifier Market" at: https://www.millioninsights.com/industry-reports/small-cell-power-amplifier-market-study Market Segment: Leading players of Small Cell Power Amplifier including: Qorvo Broadcom Texas Instruments NXP Semiconductors Skywork Solutions Tektelic Communication Inc. RFHIC Anadigics Market split by Type, can be divided into: 5 dB 32 dB 36 dB 39 dB Others Market split by Application, can be divided into: Datacards with Terminals Small Cell Base Stations Wideband Instrumentation Customer Premises Equipment Power Amplifier Driver Market split by Sales Channel, can be divided into: Direct Channel Distribution Channel Market segment by Region/Country including: North America ( United States , Canada and Mexico ) ( , and ) Europe ( Germany , UK, France , Italy , Russia and Spain etc.) ( , UK, , , and etc.) Asia-Pacific ( China , Japan , Korea, India , Australia and Southeast Asia etc.) ( , , Korea, , and etc.) South America Brazil , Argentina , Colombia and Chile etc.) , , and etc.) Middle East & Africa ( South Africa , Egypt , Nigeria and Saudi Arabia etc.) Browse reports of similar category available with Million Insights: About Million Insights: Million Insights, is a distributor of market research reports, published by premium publishers only. We have a comprehensive market place that will enable you to compare data points, before you make a purchase. Enabling informed buying is our motto and we strive hard to ensure that our clients get to browse through multiple samples, prior to an investment. Service flexibility & the fastest response time are two pillars, on which our business model is founded. Our market research report store, includes in-depth reports, from across various industry verticals, such as healthcare, technology, chemicals, food & beverages, consumer goods, material science & automotive. Contact: Ryan Manuel Research Support Specialist, USA Million Insights Phone: +1-408-610-2300 Toll Free: 1-866-831-4085 Email: [email protected] Web: https://www.millioninsights.com/ Blog: http://www.millioninsights.blogspot.com/ SOURCE Million Insights In support of this year's Honor Flight, Sparkling Ice will be releasing new limited-edition case wraps specially designed to promote Honor Flight which are now available in stores nationwide and will be incorporated into in-store displays over Memorial Day and Fourth of July. The wraps will be red, white and blue and feature illustrations of the American flag, military camouflage and silhouettes of soldiers saluting. This marks Sparkling Ice's first year debuting the new wraps in support for Honor Flight. "Our support for The Honor Flight Network began several years ago when I came across an Honor Flight departure at the airport," said Talking Rain's CEO and U.S. Navy Veteran, Chris Hall. "Puget Sound Honor Flight is committed to giving these heroes their 'One Last Mission' and as such, this year marks the first year that I will be taking part in the flight from Seattle to Washington D.C. along with our American veterans. Through our continued support and launch of the new wraps, we hope to continue raising awareness for both the organization and all veterans who have served across the country." Beyond the new case wraps, Sparkling Ice supports The Honor Flight Network through a patriotic in-store retail program and a series of fundraising efforts. Over the course of their partnership, the brand has raised more than $216,000 for the Honor Flight Network since 2016 and is looking to raise an additional $130,000 through its ongoing initiatives and donations from vendors, partners and individuals. "As a third-generation U.S military veteran, this partnership is close to my heart. It's an honor to stand side-by-side with these personal heroes of mine while we visit the memorials," says Hall. "I only hope I can keep up with them." For more information on Sparkling Ice's Honor Flight partnership, please visit: https://www.talkingrain.com/honor-flight/ About Sparkling Ice Beverages Sparkling Ice beverages are made with zero sugar, and combine sparkling water, real fruit flavor, vitamins and antioxidants to offer great tasting, lightly carbonated beverages. Available in sixteen fizzy, fruity flavors, including: Black Raspberry, Orange Mango, Pink Grapefruit, Kiwi Strawberry, Coconut Pineapple, Pomegranate Blueberry, Peach Nectarine, Lemon Lime, Crisp Apple, Classic Lemonade, Strawberry Lemonade, Cherry Limeade, Strawberry Watermelon, Black Cherry, Grape Raspberry, and Ginger Lime. To locate Sparkling Ice, visit https://www.sparklingice.com/buy/ . In 2018, the brand introduced Sparkling Ice +Caffeine, a line of caffeinated sparkling waters, available in five flavor varieties: Black Raspberry, Blue Raspberry, Triple Citrus, Strawberry Citrus and Orange Passionfruit. About Talking Rain Beverage Company An iconic brand in the Seattle-area for more than 30 years, Talking Rain is a Washington-based beverage company situated in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. This innovative company is outselling global brands in flavor-categories across the U.S., while beginning to find success internationally with the brand's bold-flavored, lightly carbonated sparkling water. A part of the Talking Rain product portfolio for over 25 years, Sparkling Ice beverages were often overlooked, until a major organizational shift in 2010 where the new leadership team refocused the company's efforts on this diamond in the rough. At that time, Talking Rain started to build a strong marketing, sales and manufacturing team to focus efforts on this flavored, zero-calorie carbonated beverage, which was quietly building a strong following in the Northwest since entering the marketplace. To learn more about Talking Rain, visit www.talkingrain.com. SOURCE Talking Rain Related Links https://www.talkingrain.com FORT WORTH, Texas, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- A Thompson & Knight trial team earned a unanimous verdict for BP America Production Company in a retrial of a 12-year-old lease termination dispute brought by Laddex, Ltd., an Amarillo-based oil company. Absent further appeals, this verdict could be the final chapter in over a decade of contentious lease termination litigation. In 2013, BP took two lease termination disputes to trial within one month of each other: Laddex v. BP America and Red Deer Resources v. BP America. In each case, the plaintiffs sought termination of large BP leases in the Texas Panhandle. Both cases involved the hot Texas litigation topic of "production in paying quantities," a doctrine that allows a typical oil and gas lease to continue after its primary term only if the well or wells on that lease produce enough oil and gas to turn a profit. Laddex was originally tried in June 2013. In that trial, the jury found that the lease failed to turn a profit from August 2005 to October 2006 and further found that a reasonable operator would not continue to operate the Mahler D-2 well for the purpose of making a profit. The effect of these answers was the termination of BP's lease. Red Deer went to trial one month later. In that case, the jury found that the well had produced in paying quantities at all relevant times, but that it was not capable of producing in paying quantities at the time it was shut-in on June 12, 2012. Both cases eventually found their way to the Texas Supreme Court. In Red Deer, the Court determined in its 2017 opinion that the only material question asked of the jury was whether the lease produced in paying quantitiesand BP prevailed on that question. The result was a reversal and judgment rendered in favor of BP. In Laddex, also in 2017, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the jury charge in the 2013 trial erroneously instructed the jury to limit its analysis only to a specific 15-month period and held that the length of the time period to be considered for determining profitability was for the jury to decide. The Court therefore remanded the case for a new trial. The focus of Laddex is whether the Mahler D-2 well produced enough oil and gas to maintain BP's almost 50-year-old lease. In order for the 1971 lease to remain valid, it needed to produce oil and gas in profitable quantities. Laddex's suit claimed that the Mahler D-2 failed to turn a profit for over a year starting in the summer of 2005, and therefore the lease terminated on its own terms. It was undisputed that the well experienced a significant slowdown for about 15 months, but BP maintained that the lease was still profitable during that time. The well recovered to more normal levels of production in November 2006 and continues to produce near those levels to this day. BP hired Thompson & Knight for the retrial, which began on April 15, 2019, and concluded mid-day on April 23. The jury ruled unanimously for BP. The Thompson & Knight retrial team in Laddex v. BP was led by Rob Vartabedian, with support from Alix Allison, Rich Phillips, Conrad Hester, and Connor Bourland. Thompson & Knight's Rob Vartabedian and Conrad Hester assisted with all aspects of Red Deer, from trial to the Texas Supreme Court. M. Coy Connelly, BP America Managing Counsel, supervised the successful litigation efforts in both the Laddex and Red Deer suits. About Thompson & Knight Established in 1887, Thompson & Knight is a full-service law firm with more than 300 attorneys. The Firm provides legal solutions to clients and communities around the world and is particularly recognized for its depth of experience and capabilities on behalf of the energy industry. Thompson & Knight has been named "Law Firm of the Year" in Natural Resources Law (2018) and in Oil & Gas Law (2011-2013, 2015, 2017) in U.S. News-Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms." For more information, visit www.tklaw.com . Media Contact: Becky Jackson [email protected] 214.969.1478 SOURCE Thompson & Knight Related Links http://www.tklaw.com According to the survey, only 55 percent of respondents described Memorial Day as a holiday honoring the men and women who died serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Americans most often confused Memorial Day with Veterans Day, a holiday to thank living veterans for their sacrifice. More than one in four (27 percent) described Memorial Day as a holiday honoring all military veterans. As a result of the survey, the University hopes to encourage Americans to remember fallen service members this holiday. "While most Americans recognize that Memorial Day is a military holiday, it is important to understand that it is a solemn day of remembrance. For me, as a combat veteran, and for military members and their families, this day holds great significance. Not everyone I served with was fortunate enough to return home," said Brian Ishmael, senior director, University of Phoenix Office of Military and Veteran Affairs and former U.S. Army sergeant. "We should enjoy Memorial Day, but we must also ensure that future generations understand and remember the sacrifices made protecting our freedoms." Additional survey findings show that despite most Americans having ties to the military, the meaning of Memorial Day may be slowly eroding with each passing generation. More than three in five (63 percent) U.S. adults have themselves or have immediate family members who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. However, only 46 percent of adults aged 18-34 identified the correct meaning of Memorial Day versus 58 percent of 45 to 64 year-olds. Adults aged 65 and over were most likely to cite it as a day of honoring those who died serving in the Armed Forces (65 percent). Commemorating Memorial Day University of Phoenix has a history of dedication to military servicemen and women. To commemorate Memorial Day, the University annually plants flags spelling out a special message on the lawn of its Phoenix Campus as a reminder of the true meaning of the holiday. The tribute started 10 years ago after alumni students and employees felt that the purpose of the holiday had been lost. This year, the University will plant 15,000 flags spelling out, "Their Legacy Lives On." Prior to Memorial Day, University volunteers will collect the flags to donate to local military cemeteries. The flag-planting can be viewed on the University of Phoenix Facebook page. While the flag tribute is one way to honor the memories of fallen soldiers, there are several ways to recognize and observe this day of remembrance. Given the definition of Memorial Day, about two in five (45 percent) U.S. adults said that they always/often commemorate it in the way that it was intended to be observed. When asked how they plan to observe this Memorial Day in terms of commemorative activities, some of their most common responses included: Flying a flag at half-staff 21 percent Attending a local ceremony or patriotic event 20 percent Leaving a flag or flowers on the grave of someone who died while serving in the military 18 percent Participating in the National Moment of Remembrance 16 percent Visiting a military memorial or war monument 13 percent Aiding a family who lost someone serving in the U.S. Armed Forces 8 percent "At University of Phoenix, the flag-planting event has become a tradition for students, alumni and employees to honor those who lost their lives in service to our country," Ishmael said. "There are many ways to start your own tradition or tribute and we encourage people to incorporate them into their weekend activities. The important thing is that we never forget our fallen heroes." Survey Methodology This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of University of Phoenix April 9-11, 2019 among 2,025 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. Results were weighted for age within gender, region, race/ethnicity, income education, and size of household where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondent's propensity to be online. For more information, please contact: [email protected] About University of Phoenix University of Phoenix is innovating to help working adults move efficiently from education to careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant and engaging courses, and interactive learning can help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. University of Phoenix serves a diverse student population, offering associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs from campuses and learning centers across the U.S. as well as online throughout the world. For more information, visit phoenix.edu. SOURCE University of Phoenix Related Links http://phoenix.edu BOSTON, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Micronotes , the leading provider of artificially intelligent marketing automation for digital banking, today announced the appointment of David Stansel as regional vice president of sales. Stansel joins the company from FIS, where he was a senior sales executive responsible for selling to the 100 largest U.S. banks. He also sold to banks as a senior sales executive for ARGO Data Resource Corp. At Micronotes he is focusing on bringing the benefits of the companys artificially intelligent marketing automation platform to those same big banks. Dave has had tremendous success selling software solutions to large financial institutions, said Christian Klacko, cofounder and COO of Micronotes. Through his work at FIS and ARGO, he is well known as a trusted solution provider to the countrys top banks, a key growth target for Micronotes. Micronotes cloud-based, AI-driven platform leverages bank-held data to conduct relevant, personalized conversations with consumers during online and mobile banking sessions. These conversationswhich take just secondsenable institutions to validate customers needs and make appropriate offers that generate qualified leads. These interactions help institutions better understand their existing customer base and cross-sell financial products and services. Digital banking is changing the industry, said Stansel. Bankers urgently need a solution that enables them to engage with users who seldom visit branches. Micronotes enables bankers to engage withand sell tocustomers who prefer to bank online and on mobile devices. Im excited to join a company that meets this need with superb technology and customer service. About Micronotes Micronotes is the leader in AI-driven marketing automation for financial institutions. The companys fast, automated and cloud-based platform applies machine learning to customer data to improve engagement and effectively cross-sell financial services through digital channels. Privately held, Micronotes is based in Boston. For more information, visit https://www.micronotes.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter . PHOENIX, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Verdigris Holdings, Inc., the company bringing banking to the unbanked and the companies that serve the underserved, is pleased to announce the selection of Brean Capital, LLC as its lead investment bank for the advancement of its series A and series B funding rounds. The A round sourcing will fuel the rapid technological build-out and infrastructure necessary to secure the bank's charter while the B round funding will secure the capitalization necessary for the formation of the bank. "With over 63 million Americans having no or limited access to banking there is a tremendous business opportunity and a societal mandate to address this disparity," said Michael Coghlan, CEO, Verdigris Holdings. "Verdigris' selection of Brean Capital to drive our funding rounds will help our much-needed solution come to market through Brean's expertise in banking and its forward-thinking approach." Currently 25% of Americans are forced to seek more expensive services than they could receive with a normal bank account. The lack of access costs them over three times what the average person pays for traditional financial services outside the regulated banking system. This is because traditional banks are unable to profitably bank these customers. Verdigris through proprietary technology, industry expertise, and planned operation as a regulated bank has originated a way to profitably bank the unbanked and underbanked as well as the businesses that serve them, while significantly reducing the costs those customers pay. The result: more money in the pockets of those that need it most and a significant opportunity to build a strong, sustainable, growing business. "We are proud to partner with Verdigris given the strong economics to the investor and the ability to address an important gap in the current banking system," said Chris Hogg, managing director, head of capital markets and structured products banking at Brean Capital. "This represents a rare moment for potential investors given the promising potential for Verdigris matched with the opportunity for investors to be a part of real, beneficial change that will impact millions." The selection of a lead investment bank is one of several major milestones completed by Verdigris. Verdigris was recently accepted into the Arizona FinTech Sandbox a program that allows approved companies the ability to launch, test and work with customers without full licensing under state law. Through this program, Verdigris can speed delivery of its solutions while testing and refining its platform in the marketplace. About Verdigris: Verdigris Holdings is changing banking for the better. Over 63 million people in America have no or limited access to the regulated banking system. This causes them to pay triple what they should for substitute banking services. Verdigris is building a fresh solution the combination of patented technology, industry expertise and a real, regulated bank to deliver simple transactional banking to unbanked people and the companies that serve them. FOR MORE INFORMATION: SOURCE Verdigris Holdings Related Links http://www.verdigrisholdings.com In attendance were University leadership, students, faculty, and elected officials from New York State and City. The Lab has been largely funded by a grant received from the New York State legislature, secured by State Senator Todd Kaminsky, representing the 9 th district (D-Five Towns). Yissum, the technology transfer company of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is a strategic partner in this new university-led initiative, and four of its startups are currently participating in the YU Innovation Lab. The ribbon cutting ceremony is the realization of a dream for a New York/Israel innovation lab at the Washington Heights campus of YU, a physical manifestation of the bond shared by YU, the State of Israel, and the communities of Washington Heights, New York City and New York State. The YU Innovation Lab provides Israeli-based entrepreneurs with access to New York City's business ecosystem and to YU's cadre of talented students and renowned faculty. Israeli entrepreneurs from the original "Startup Nation" will have a space in New York City a world center for innovation where they can create the next new technologies that may cure illnesses, change how the world is seen, and better connect us all. By building upon networks of like-minded individuals, the YU Innovation Lab will become an incubator for student entrepreneurs and an innovation hub for Israeli startups ready to explore new markets in the United States. It will deepen the vital relationship existing between New York State and the State of Israel and further YU's commitment to providing innovative education to its students. The opening of the YU Innovation Lab has generated much excitement across YU. Its creation has even been incorporated into the curriculum, with initial courses offered this past school year one on the Beren campus called "Marketing Capstone," which culminated in end-of-semester presentations by student teams on how to market the YU Innovation Lab, and a class on the Wilf campus called "Topics-Innovation," where students worked with Israeli startups to design successful business and marketing strategies. Elected officials attending the opening ceremony included: Hon. Ydanis Rodriguez, New York City Council Member; Hon. Al Taylor, New York State Assemblymember; former New York City Council Member Rosie Mendez (representing the Hon. Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough President); Laurie Tobias-Cohen, Community Affairs Representative and Constituent Liaison (representing the Hon. Adriano Espaillat, Congressman, 13th District); and, Johanna Garcia, Chief of Staff (representing the Hon. Robert Jackson, New York State Senator, 31st District). "Supporting our students by investing in the creation of a first-class link to Israel's vibrant economy is a win-win," said New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky. "I was pleased to secure this grant for Yeshiva University, which is an essential tool to prepare our students for the world of tomorrow, while also strengthening New York's integral alliance with Israel. I look forward to seeing the multi-faceted fruits of Yeshiva's Innovation Lab prosper, both here in our local community, and in the international community." "Today we can all take pride in the fact that we have worked together to deliver on a dream and make it a reality," said Andrew Lauer, vice president for legal affairs and general counsel at Yeshiva University. "Our deepest thanks go to New York State Senator Todd Kaminsky, who secured the state funding that supported the majority of this project. Senator Kaminsky is a true friend to Yeshiva University and an example of the tremendous possibilities that enduring partnerships between government and academia can bring." "Technology has become a fundamental part of our economy, providing new ways to educate, employ, entertain, and deliver services," noted New York State Assemblyman Al Taylor. "Now it is more important than ever that our students are equipped with the skills they need to enter the job market and become the leaders of tomorrow. That's why I am thrilled Yeshiva University's new Innovation Lab will provide a place in New York City for Israeli and local startups to connect, train, and launch exciting ventures in our increasingly tech-driven world." "We welcome the opening of this new program. We know that with the network that Yeshiva University has been able to establish, it will not only help the University but also the community," remarked New York City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez. "This opening will help northern Manhattan further develop in STEM and tech fields. I am also hopeful that the Latino food destinations will be ready to help this initiative." "Yeshiva University has long distinguished itself as an institution of unparalleled excellence and a steadfast supporter of the State of Israel," said former New York State Assemblymember Phil Goldfeder. "To see these two strengths come together in the new YU Innovation Lab is a truly amazing achievement. The Innovation Lab will help attract top talent in tech from Israel and America, while boosting our city's economy and building on YU's already strong legacy. I'm proud to join the University in celebrating the start of this exciting project and look forward to all the great innovations that it's sure to bring us." "In addition to gaining access to our terrific pool of student talent, the Innovation Lab will offer participating startups access to NYC-based business and marketing experts, funding opportunities, advice from expert lawyers, and significant connections to New York City's tech community," said Dr. Maria Blekher, founder and director of Yeshiva University's Innovation Lab and clinical associate professor of digital studies at the University's Katz School of Science and Health. "Down the road, we expect the Lab to help launch Israeli startups into the NYC business ecosystem, lead experiential learning at YU and drive entrepreneurship among students." The four Israeli startups currently involved in YU's Innovation Lab include the following Yissum spinouts: AquiNovo, Betalin Therapeutics, NewStem, and Pepticom. Healnavigator, a New York City-based Israeli startup, is the fifth participating company. "Startup creation and support is fundamental to the mission of Yissum to bring Hebrew University's transformational research to commercial fruition. This collaboration with YU provides strategic market access for our companies as well as for the University's highly motivated students," said Dr. Itzik Goldwaser, senior vice president of alliances and contract management at Yissum. "Creating initiatives like YU's Innovation Lab fosters a dynamic collaboration among globally-focused businesses, our University's exceptional faculty, which is noted for its internationally-recognized research, and our highly motivated students. In the long run, we expect the Lab's presence in New York to reinforce the city's position as a center of world-class innovation," said Dr. Selma Botman, provost of Yeshiva University. "By leveraging YU's iconic connection to Israel, the Lab will serve as an intellectual portal for Israeli startups in the U.S. The synergy created among its key participants will help shape a generation of future YU entrepreneurs and business leaders who align with Jewish values." About Yissum Yissum is the technology transfer company of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Founded in 1964, it is the third company of its kind to be established and serves as a bridge between cutting-edge academic research and a global community of entrepreneurs, investors and industry. Yissum's mission is to benefit society by converting extraordinary innovations and transformational technologies into commercial solutions that address our most urgent global challenges. Yissum has registered over 10,000 patents covering over 3,000 inventions; licensed over 950 technologies and has spun out more than 176 companies. Yissum's business partners span the globe and include companies such as Boston Scientific, Google, ICL, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Microsoft, Novartis and many more. For further information, please visit www.yissum.co.il About YU Founded in 1886, Yeshiva University (YU) brings together the ancient traditions of Jewish law and life and the heritage of Western civilization. More than 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students study at YU's four New York City campuses: Wilf Campus (Washington Heights), Israel Henry Beren Campus and Brookdale Center (midtown Manhattan) and Jack and Pearl Resnick Campus (the Bronx). YU's three undergraduate schoolsYeshiva College, Stern College for Women and Sy Syms School of Businessoffer a unique dual program comprised of Jewish studies and courses in the sciences and humanities. Graduate and affiliate schools include: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, The Mordecai D. and Monique C. Katz School of Science and Health, and Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. YU is ranked among the nation's leading academic institutions. Media Contact: Mechal Haas 212-960-5400x 5861 [email protected] SOURCE Yeshiva University In the past, this meant practicing on actual patients. However, as technology has improved, so have opportunities for young surgeons to learn in a safe, controlled environment. This improves surgeon training, as well as patient outcomes. Many simple hand fractures can be treated without making large incisions by utilizing metal pins which are placed through the skin. This looks deceptively easy, but is actually quite challenging to perform. This is a procedure that is done by feel - the surgeon cannot see the pin after it enters the skin. "To help teach young surgeons these skills, we created a realistic three-dimensional model with bones which can be drilled into," says Dr. Christian Petropolis, a plastic surgeon and pioneer of the technology. "We made the joints all mobile as they would be in a real hand, but the skin is translucent so that young surgeons can better gain an appreciation for the wires once they enter the skin." Initial feedback to the model has been very favorable by both young aspiring surgeons, as well as by established surgeons. "To make the model even more realistic, we incorporated iron into the plastic bones so that they would be visible under X-Ray," says Dr. Julian Diaz, a training plastic surgeon and developer of the model. "This lets young surgeons use a portable X-ray machine to assess their work, just like they would in the operating room." About the Authors: This study was completed by Canadian plastic surgeons from The University of Toronto (Dr. Michal Brichacek), The University of Manitoba (Dr. Julian Diaz, Dr. Christian Petropolis), as well as from The University of Ottawa (Dr. Sarah Shiga). Full Report: http://www.bit.ly/CRPPsimulator Video: http://links.lww.com/PRSGO/A714 SOURCE The University of Manitoba Section of Plastic Surgery HARRISBURG, Pa., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- AARP is now accepting nominations for its 2019 Pennsylvania Andrus Award for Community Service, which honors 50+ state residents who are sharing their experience, talent, and skills to enrich the lives of their community. "AARP Pennsylvania is excited to shine a light on 50+ residents who are using what they've learned in life to make a difference in the lives around them," said AARP Pennsylvania Volunteer State President Joanne Grossi. Named for AARP founder Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, the award recognizes outstanding individuals who are making their communities better in ways that are consistent with AARP's mission, vision and commitment to volunteer service, and who inspire others to volunteer. Nominations for the award must be submitted by July 15, 2019 and will be evaluated by a special committee of AARP Pennsylvania volunteer leaders. The award recipient will be announced this fall. AARP Pennsylvania Andrus Award for Community Service nominees must meet the following eligibility requirements: Nominee must be 50 years or older. The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must have been performed on a volunteer basis, without pay. The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must reflect AARP's vision and purpose. The achievements, accomplishments, or service on which the nomination is based must be replicable and provide inspiration for others to volunteer. Couples or partners who perform service together are also eligible; however, teams are not eligible. This is not a posthumous award. Please visit http://www.aarp.org/AndrusAward for additional information and a nomination form. The AARP Andrus Award for Community Service is an annual awards program developed to honor individuals whose service is a unique and valuable contribution to society. Last year, AARP recognized 50 outstanding individuals and couples from around the country. ABOUT AARP AARP has 1.8 million members in Pennsylvania. Follow AARP Pennsylvania on Facebook at AARPPA and on Twitter @AARPPA. AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering Americans 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 38 million members and offices in every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, AARP works to strengthen communities and advocate for what matters most to families with a focus on health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also works for individuals in the marketplace by sparking new solutions and allowing carefully chosen, high-quality products and services to carry the AARP name. As a trusted source for news and information, AARP produces the nation's largest circulation publications, AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media. CONTACT: Steve Gardner, AARP PA (717) 237-6481 or [email protected] Or Jacklyn Isasi, AARP PA (267) 825-9928 or [email protected] SOURCE AARP Pennsylvania Related Links https://www.aarp.org CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Akrevia Therapeutics, a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing highly-potent, tumor-targeted immuno-oncology therapeutics, today announced that Rene Russo, PharmD, has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors of the company. "I am delighted to welcome Dr. Rene Russo as the Chief Executive Officer of Akrevia Therapeutics. Rene brings a tremendous depth of experience in company building, pipeline development, and public and private capital markets all of which rests on a foundation of clinical research," said Nessan Bermingham, Ph.D., Chairman of the Board at Akrevia. "Rene, together with Tim Clackson, President and EVP of R&D, are well-positioned to progress Akrevia's lead programs into the clinic and unlock the full potential of the Company's multi-platform approach to address the critical needs of patients living with cancer." Dr. Russo is an accomplished biotechnology executive with more than 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical research and development, including executive leadership roles spanning early clinical research through successful commercialization. Most recently, Dr. Russo served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Arsanis, Inc., a publicly-traded biotechnology company focused on applying monoclonal antibody technologies to prevent and treat serious infection. From April 2016 to November 2018, she led the company through two private financing rounds and a successful initial public offering, and earlier at Arsanis, Dr. Russo held the position of Chief Development Officer. Previously, Dr. Russo served in various research and development roles of increasing responsibility over a 12-year period at Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a public pharmaceutical company, focused on the development and commercialization of anti-infective therapeutics, most recently as its Vice President, Global Medical Affairs. From 1999 to 2004, she held roles of increasing responsibility at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Medical Operations and Clinical Pharmacology/Experimental Medicine. "I am excited to join forces with Tim Clackson, a deeply experienced research and development leader in the field of oncology who has built an exceptional team and culture at Akrevia. Under Tim's leadership, the Company's scientists have developed an extensive platform of tumor-targeting technologies designed to unlock important immuno-therapeutics," said Dr. Russo. "With the approach of taking well-understood therapies with known efficacy and activating them in the tumor microenvironment, our goal of providing therapeutic hope to patients with cancer through effective treatments is within reach." "It's a pleasure to welcome Rene to Akrevia. Her extensive experience in building and financing companies from pre-clinical stage through commercialization will be instrumental in advancing the Company's CTLA-4 and cytokine programs," said Tim Clackson, Ph.D., President and EVP of R&D at Akrevia. "With her passion for the science and proven leadership track record, I look forward to working with Rene as we build a leading oncology company dedicated to delivering new, life-changing therapies to patients." Dr. Russo currently serves as a Director of X4 Pharmaceuticals, a publicly-traded company focused on restoring healthy immune system function by developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of rare diseases, following its recently completed merger with Arsanis; and Life Science Cares, a rapidly growing nonprofit organization leveraging the collective impact of the Boston life sciences industry to address the cycle of poverty in the Boston area. About Akrevia Therapeutics Akrevia Therapeutics, LLC is a privately-held biopharmaceutical company focused on developing highly-potent, tumor-targeted immuno-oncology therapeutics. The company's proprietary Aklusion platform technology allows biologics to be specifically activated in the tumor microenvironment, and with precisely tailored properties, expanding the universe of immune-activating proteins that can be safely delivered. Akrevia is applying its technology to build a broad pipeline of engineered cytokines, antibodies and other immune modulators as potential new options for patients living with cancer. To learn more, please visit www.akrevia.com. SOURCE Akrevia Therapeutics Related Links http://www.akrevia.com The medieval books have lived in the abbey's extensive library for centuries and the Fathers have recently delved deeper into their pages to uncover brewing techniques that have until now been lost to history. Grimbergen plans to use this information in its microbrewery to create unique and exceptional beers with never before known tastes. The books date from as far back as the 12th Century and their pages reveal fascinating details on how Grimbergen beers were brewed in the past. The collection has survived the three fires that have destroyed the Abbey. The third fire in 1798 during the French Revolution threatened to completely destroy the collection, but the books were saved thanks to the incredible bravery and ingenuity of the Grimbergen Abbey Fathers. They knocked a hole in the library wall and secretly removed around 300 books before the abbey was set on fire and destroyed for the third time. The Fathers of Grimbergen have also played a pivotal role in realising the vision of bringing brewing back to where it started. They've chosen Father Karel Stautemas, the subprior at the abbey to become involved in the microbrewery. He is set to take on an additional role to his usual day-to-day life by undertaking formal brewing training. This will allow him to combine the centuries of brewing heritage at the abbey with modern techniques to continue the legacy of generations of Fathers before him. Speaking at a launch event at Grimbergen Abbey, Father Karel said: "Beer has always been part of life in the abbey and we are proud of the beers we have today. We've really enjoyed reading more about past brewing traditions in the pages of these ancient texts. We've spent hours leafing through the books, which are written in Latin and Old Dutch, and have discovered ingredient lists for beers brewed in previous centuries, the hops used, the types of barrels and bottles, and even a list of the actual beers produced centuries ago. This new knowledge adds to our brewing heritage and I'm really looking forward to combining this with my training to revive brewing at Grimbergen Abbey. We will continue to study further to learn more of the book's undiscovered secrets." Father Karel and the Fathers of the abbey will support Head Brewer Marc-Antoine Sochon, who has been heavily involved in making the microbrewery a reality. Marc-Antoine said: "The microbrewery will be a place for us to combine modern, inventive methods with the ancient Grimbergen brewing heritage. We're excited to use these books to bring back the medieval techniques and ingredients to create new beers that perfectly complement the excellent offering and flavours of the existing Grimbergen beers, such as Blonde, Blanche and Double-Ambree." At the abbey event where the new brewery was announced, Grimbergen unveiled a new limited-edition Grimbergen Triple D'Abbaye, which is an example of the types of brews that will be offered at the new microbrewery. The new limited-edition beer has been aged in whiskey barrels for five months, a technique similar to those used to brew Belgians beer back in the 1500s. Grimbergen plans to open its microbrewery to the public in late 2020. It will also include a visitor centre that will give the visitors the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich heritage of Grimbergen. The on-site bar and restaurant will give visitors the opportunity to savour the rich brews and pair them with local cuisine. To watch a video about the brewing heritage of Grimbergen and the new abbey microbrewery, please visit http://bit.ly/grimbergenmb Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/890729/Grimbergen_Beer.jpg SOURCE Grimbergen Beer ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $1.2 billion annually to Mississippi's economy and supports 8,527 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 8,527 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Mississippi account for $300 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $242 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $1.6 billion annually to Utah's economy and supports 12,447 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 12,447 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Utah account for $468 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $227 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $1.8 billion annually to Hawaii's economy and supports 13,549 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 13,549 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Hawaii account for $581 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $377 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $1 billion annually to District of Columbia's economy and supports 9,098 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 9,098 jobs impacted by the beer industry in District of Columbia account for $490 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $198 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org English French MONTREAL, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terranueva Corporation (CSE: TEQ) (Terranueva or the Company) is pleased to announce the signing of a letter of intent with la Societe quebecoise du cannabis (SQDC) under which Terranueva will supply the SQDC with recreational cannabis for distribution and sale in the province of Quebec. Under the terms of the agreement, Terranueva will supply up to 128 kg of products, representing more than 90% of the 2019 production from its Certification and Research Unit ("UCRD"), when it will have completed the Autorite des marches publics certification process. Six different products from two different strains are planned. We are proud to become a supplier of the SQDC. Terranueva will be able to supply the Quebec market with quality products from the automated clean rooms of our UCRD, said Pierre Ayotte, President and CEO of Terranueva. Two strains are currently being grown at our LAssomption site. This is an important step that will allow us to secure our first income, added Mr. Ayotte. Terranueva is currently one of three Quebec producers of cannabis to hold licenses for cultivation, processing and sale (medical). About Terranueva : Terranueva relies on research and development and operational efficiency to become a key player in the emerging cannabis industry. It aims to provide the Canadian and international markets with first-rate medicinal and recreational cannabis. Terranueva Pharma Corporation, its wholly owned subsidiary, holds the necessary licenses from Health Canada to meet its mission. Operating in L'Assomption (Quebec), its mission is to produce cannabis with the highest standards in terms of efficiency, quality and stability. To achieve its goal, Terranueva Pharma is implementing a modular production approach, integrating the latest advances and innovations in process automation. Learn more about Terranueva at www.terranueva.ca CSE nor its services providers (as that terms defined in the policies) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. For further information, please contact: ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $12.9 billion annually to Ohio's economy and supports 81,448 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 81,448 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Ohio account for $3.5 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $2.2 billion annually in business, personal taxes and consumption. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $13.6 billion annually to Colorado's economy and supports 73,405 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 73,405 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Colorado account for $3.9 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $1.9 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $18.9 billion annually to Florida's economy and supports 153,054 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 153,054 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Florida account for $6.1 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $3.7 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $2.8 billion annually to Alabama's economy and supports 20,436 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 20,436 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Alabama account for $784 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $528 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $2.9 billion annually to Oklahoma's economy and supports 18,900 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 18,900 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Oklahoma account for $818 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $445 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $2 billion annually to Arkansas's economy and supports 12,413 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 12,413 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Arkansas account for $475 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $309 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $2 billion annually to Maine's economy and supports 15,531 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 15,531 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Maine account for $595 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $368 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $25.5 billion annually to Texas's economy and supports 170,200 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 170,200 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Texas account for $8.1 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $4.2 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $3.9 billion annually to Iowa's economy and supports 27,535 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 27,535 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Iowa account for $1 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $530 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $4.2 billion annually to Tennessee's economy and supports 28,646 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 28,646 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Tennessee account for $1.3 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $830 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org Charlottesville, Va., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Last month, an international team of astronomers and engineers used a global network of telescopes to capture the first-ever photo of a black hole about 55 million light-years from Earth, an image that captivated the world. To generate that visual, the constellation of telescopes relied on a set of ultra low-noise, millimeter, superconducting detectors. Those detectors, designed and developed in the labs of the University of Virginia School of Engineering and National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), are a testament to the schools rich 50-year legacy of excellence in high frequency (THz) materials, devices, circuits and systems. Almost all of the specialized superconducting detectors involved in this black hole discovery were developed and micro-fabricated by our research and development group in the University of Virginia Microfabrication Laboratory (UVML), said Art Lichtenberger, director of the lab and a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Virginia School of Engineering. These millimeter detectors, developed over decades by engineers and astronomers at UVA and NRAO, operate at 230 GHz, about 100 times higher than Wi-Fi, and are highly specialized and refined, requiring years of development and construction. Lichtenbergers group fabricated 132 of these specialized detectors, which were essential to the discovery of the black hole by the largest and most sensitive millimeter radio telescope facility in the world, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile; additionally, two UVA-developed detectors were also attached to the Arizona Submillimeter Telescope, the UMass Large Millimeter Telescope (LMT) in Mexico and the South Pole Telescope. Together, they comprise four of the eight radio astronomy observatories in the Event Horizon constellation that visualized the black hole. As a result of this discovery, astronomers are now positioned to create and test new theories about the evolution of star systems, pulsars, quasars and galaxies. These superconducting detectors are at the heart of the radio astronomical telescope, said Lichtenberger. They translate, without introducing significant noise, extremely weak, high-frequency information traveling through the heavens from regions millions of light years away, paving the way for now-iconic images such as the black hole. If you think about it, it is astonishing; the photons from this black hole have been traveling in space for 55 million years, and the first component these photons encounter at radio telescopes after that journey are superconducting detectors that were made in the basement of UVAs Thornton Hall, said Robert Weikle, a fellow lab team member and professor of electrical and computer engineering. An Upward Trajectory for UVA Microfabrication Laboratories UVA Microfabrication Laboratories has served at the heart of a rapidly growing THz field since the early 1970s, when it launched the revolutionary semiconductor Schottky barrier diode as a detector in conjunction with National Radio Astronomy Observatory. In just a decade, UVA Microfabrication Laboratories emerged as a widely recognized, global supplier of the worlds leading Schottky detectors, which have offered measurements that shaped our understanding of star formation--and established the link between ozone depletion and greenhouse gas emissions. Over the rest of the 20th century, researchers extended the frequency range of these diodes, supporting some of astronomys most notable missions including: the Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite, Microwave Instrument for the Rosetta Orbiter, US Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit and the US Defense Meteorological Satellite Program. Now, UVA Microfabrication Laboratories is the states flagship university nano-micro fabrication facility, spear-heading multidisciplinary research and educational activities that span high-speed THz and infrared (IR) systems, communications, biotechnology and nanotechnology. This research is being led by professors Weikle, Lichtenberger, Scott Barker, Joe Campbell, Andreas Beling and Steven Bowers. Along with scientists Jian Zhang, Michael Cyberey, Keye Sun, Yang Shen and more than 30 graduate students, that team is developing state-of-the-art electronic, photonic and superconducting devices, circuits and micromachined components that address the limitations of conventional electronics, supporting a wave of future innovations that include: Lightweight compact and low-noise heterogeneously integrated photodetectors for Radio Frequency (RF) Photonics and 5G Communications Micromachined silicon platforms to enable emerging 5G, wireless IoT platforms, and radar sensors for autonomous vehicles THz software defined radios for next-generation communication systems (Beyond 5G) New superconducting circuits for astronomy and quantum computing Second-generation detectors for the Event Horizon and other astronomical observatories With $10 million in recent investment from the University of Virginias Strategic Investment Fund for critical equipment, and more than $15 million from UVA and the School of Engineering, UVA Microfabrication Laboratories is able to double the footprint of its facility, create new capabilities in nano biology, and support the launch of UVAs Multifunctional Materials Integration (MMI) initiative. Essentially, UVA Microfabrication Laboratories is in a prime position to develop cutting-edge high-frequency materials and circuits that can change society as we know it. An Innovation Ecosystem in Charlottesville UVA Microfabrication Laboratories contributions would not be possible without its long-term partner, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, founded in 1956 to provide design collaboration and state-of-the-art telescope facilities for the international scientific community. For nearly 50 years, the two entities have joined together to establish world-renowned low-noise detectors, most notably making a first appearance on the Kitt Peak 12-meter Telescope, which first spotted most of the known interstellar molecules known to mankind. Their collaborations have not only been essential to studies of the composition of interstellar gas clouds and stars, but the creation of the astronomical instruments that are able to make iconic discoveries like the recent imaging of black holes millions of light years away. Such collaborations have led to the formation of companies such as Virginia Diodes Inc., which spun out of the terahertz research program at the University of Virginia in 1996. Thomas Crowe and William Bishop, both originally based in UVA Engineerings Charles L. Brown Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, formed Virginia Diodes Inc. to spark research, development, manufacturing and sales of terahertz technologies, components and systems that can help record groundbreaking scientific measurements. As a result of their work, Virginia Diodes Inc. technology now can be found in imaging systems for security (personnel) scanners, reference transmitters and receivers for the development of advanced automotive radars and 5G (and beyond) communication systems. In fact, VDIs receivers and devices have enabled NASA to form the first global map of ice crystals in the upper atmosphere and record the first astronomical measurement of Helium Hydride (HeH+), also known as the oldest molecule in the universe. Along with the National Ground Intelligence Center and Dominion MicroProbes (another spin-off company from the University of Virginia) founded by Weikle, Lichtenberger, and Barker, Charlottesville has emerged as the worlds innovation ecosystem for high-frequency materials and circuits, supporting innovations that have an impact here at home, across the globe and in galaxies millions of light years away. ### About the UVA Microfabrication Laboratories (UMVL) The UVA Microfabrication Laboratories (UMVL) is the states flagship university device fabrication facility. UVML provides a dust-free, temperature- and humidity-controlled laboratory environment and is equipped with complex tools for the design, fabrication and investigation of electronic, photonic, bio, and microfluidic devices and circuits. The Lab supports three UVA schools (Engineering and Applied Science, Arts and Sciences, and Medicine) in multidisciplinary research and educational activities, training its students in research methods and skills with high value in the wider economy. UVML also provides important research infrastructure support to the Universitys Advanced Research Institute (ARI), facilitating research and development related to defense and intelligence challenges. About the University of Virginia School of Engineering As part of the top-ranked, comprehensive University of Virginia, UVA Engineering is one of the nations oldest and most respected engineering schools. Our mission is to make the world a better place by creating and disseminating knowledge and by preparing future engineering leaders. Outstanding students and faculty from around the world choose UVA Engineering because of our growing and internationally recognized education and research programs. UVA is the No. 1 public engineering school in the country for the percentage of women graduates, among schools with at least 75 degree earners; the No. 1 public engineering school in the United States for the four-year graduation rate of undergraduate students; and the top engineering school in the country for the rate of Ph.D. enrollment growth. Learn more at engineering.virginia.edu. ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $4.3 billion annually to Louisiana's economy and supports 32,296 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 32,296 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Louisiana account for $1.3 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $685 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $43.4 billion annually to California's economy and supports 265,265 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 265,265 jobs impacted by the beer industry in California account for $14.2 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $8.8 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $5.4 billion annually to Arizona's economy and supports 43,952 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 43,952 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Arizona account for $1.8 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $956 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $702 million annually to Wyoming's economy and supports 4,744 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 4,744 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Wyoming account for $185 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $98 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $773 million annually to Alaska's economy and supports 5,396 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 5,396 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Alaska account for $243 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $117 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links https://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $8.8 billion annually to Virginia's economy and supports 56,126 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 56,126 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Virginia account for $2.5 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $1.7 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $876 million annually to Rhode Island's economy and supports 7,161 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 7,161 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Rhode Island account for $284 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $184 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $889 million annually to North Dakota's economy and supports 6,711 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 6,711 jobs impacted by the beer industry in North Dakota account for $237 million each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $133 million annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $9.2 billion annually to North Carolina's economy and supports 63,883 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 63,883 jobs impacted by the beer industry in North Carolina account for $2.7 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $1.6 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of Memorial Day, which marks one of the top beer selling holidays of the year and the start of the summer beer selling season, a new economic impact study shows America's beer industry contributes $9 billion annually to Wisconsin's economy and supports 62,856 jobs in the state. Jointly commissioned by the National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) and the Beer Institute, the study shows that the 62,856 jobs impacted by the beer industry in Wisconsin account for $2.5 billion each year in wages and benefits. The industry also generates $1.3 billion annually in business, personal and consumption taxes. The beer industry is made up of three distinct partners that work together to get beer to customers: brewers and importers, independent beer distributors and licensed retailers. This system has created more choice and variety in America's beer market than ever before. NBWA President & CEO Craig Purser said, "America's 3,000 independent beer distribution companies are proud to employ 141,600 hardworking Americans with jobs that pay a collective $9.5 billion in wages, offer solid benefits and provide the opportunity for advancement. Independent beer distributors are Main Street businesses whose economic contributions are felt in every community and congressional district across the country as they work with brewers large and small to grow brands and safely deliver America's favorite alcohol beverage to more than 640,000 licensed retailers nationwide." Beer Institute President & CEO Jim McGreevy said, "Beer is more than America's most popular alcohol beverage. The beer industry is vital to the United States, generating more than 2 million jobs and contributing $328 billion to the American economy. Beer Serves America demonstrates how brewers, beer importers and beer industry suppliers are creating jobs, providing wages and benefits to working Americans and supporting the economy in every state and every congressional district." According to the study, the beer industry generates more than $328 billion in economic activity, produces more than $58.6 billion in tax revenue and supports more than 2 million jobs. Independent beer distributors directly employ 141,600 Americans, an increase of more than 19 percent in the last decade. Brewers and beer importers directly employ 69,928 Americans, and about 58 percent of brewing jobs are linked to large and mid-sized brewers and beer importers. The Beer Serves America study was compiled by the independent economics firm John Dunham & Associates. It is the most comprehensive analysis of the industry available, using data collected directly from private companies, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Alcohol Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The National Beer Wholesalers Association (NBWA) represents the interests of America's nearly 3,000 licensed, independent beer distributor operations in every state, congressional district and media market across the country. Beer distributors are committed to ensuring alcohol is provided safely and responsibly to consumers of legal drinking age through the three-tier, state-based system of alcohol regulation and distribution. To learn more about America's beer distributors, visit www.AmericasBeerDistributors.com. For additional updates from NBWA, follow @NBWABeer on Twitter, like NBWA on Facebook, follow NBWA on Instagram and subscribe to NBWA's YouTube channel. The Beer Institute is a national trade association for the American brewing industry, representing both large and small brewers, as well as importers and industry suppliers. First founded in 1862 as the U.S. Brewers Association, the Beer Institute is committed today to the development of sound public policy and to the values of civic duty and personal responsibility: www.BeerInstitute.org. Connect with us @BeerInstitute and on Facebook. SOURCE National Beer Wholesalers Association Related Links http://www.nbwa.org The majority of lawmakers agreed with the report on the amendments to the draft revised education law presented by Chairman of the NAs Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, and Adolescents Phan Thanh Binh. Draft revisions of the Law on Education and the Law on Architecture are discussed at the National Assembly's 7th session on May 21st. (Photo: VNA) Twenty-four legislators spoke highly of the efforts made by the compiling board to complete the draft law and gave opinions about several issues, like education philosophy, curricula and textbooks, investors and school councils, support policies for pedagogical students, policies for teachers and education managers, and free compulsory education. Binh went on to explain in detail some of the issues raised by deputies. Concluding the morning session, NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong asked the compiling board and competent authorities to work together to complete the draft law before submitting it to the NA for adoption. Under the chair of NA Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien in the afternoon, the legislature heard a report on the amended architecture law delivered by Chairman of the NAs Committee for Science, Technology, and Environment Phan Xuan Dung. Legislators debated the States policies for architectural activities, orientations for Vietnams architecture development, Vietnamese culture in architecture and preservation, regulations on architecture management, architecture licensing and certificates, and intellectual property protection in the architecture sector, among others. Minister of Construction Pham Hong Ha explained several issues of concern, while NA Vice Chairman Hien asked relevant agencies to coordinate to further clarify the issues, particularly those receiving mixed opinions. On May 22nd, the legislature will discuss in groups additional evaluations on the socio-economic development plan and state budget for 2018, implementation of socio-economic develop target and state budget from the outset of 2019, and state budget balance in 2017. In the afternoon, the lawmakers will hear and discuss a report on the amended law on enforcement of criminal judgments./. Raleigh, NC, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The consumer products division of U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC), Premier Manufacturing of Chesterfield, MO, is introducing a new entry in the super-premium cigarette category with the launch of Manitou. Manitou is a super-premium cigarette that only contains water and tobacco -that is it. 100% of the tobacco is flue-cured tobacco grown in the southeastern United States from grower/owners of USTC. Virtually all other American cigarette brands are made using a blend of flue-cured, burley and oriental tobaccos. To make Manitou a uniquely premium product, only the finest whole leaf flue-cured tobacco, picked from the upper stalk position of the plant is used, which offers the best flavor experience. Manitou cigarettes contain no reconstituted sheet tobacco, stems or fillers; also, no additives and no artificial flavors. Manitou cigarettes are 100% free from chemical additives like artificial preservatives, humectants or synthetic flavors commonly found in other brands. Manitou blends only contain water and tobacco. The packaging designs combine bold color combinations and finishing treatments that elevate the brand. Each pack and carton have embossed textures and has a special sand varnish applied to the edges to let the adult consumer know they are holding something different, said Russ Mancuso, USTCs Senior Vice President Consumer Products. Available in six king size varieties, Manitou offers a wide style selection to the adult consumer: Manitou No 5 Bright-mellow taste Manitou No 6 Bright full-bodied taste Manitou No 7 Smooth mellow taste Manitou No 8 Smooth rich mellow taste Manitou No 9 Full-bodied mellow taste Manitou No 10 Dark rich mellow taste We know consumers and retailers are looking for alternative products in this category; one that is truly 100% grown and made in America, Mancuso said, noting that a full marketing campaign promoting the brand will roll out soon and include everything from point-of-sale, to print ads, to a website to educate and engage the consumer and much more. For more information on U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc., visit www.usleaf.com or on Premier Manufacturing visit www.GoPremier.com. About U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. U.S. Tobacco Cooperative Inc. (USTC) is a grower owned marketing cooperative located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The cooperative processes U.S. flue-cured tobacco grown by its 650 member growers in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. Member grower tobacco is processed and sold as raw materials to cigarette manufacturers worldwide. Subsidiaries of USTC include U.S. Flue-Cured Tobacco Growers (USFC), Premier Manufacturing, Franchise Wholesale (d/b/a Wildhorse Distributing), Big South Distribution, and King Maker Marketing, Inc. USTC, through its subsidiaries also produces consumer products for the U.S. market under brand names of Wildhorse, 1839, Shield, 1st Class, Ultra Buy and Traffic. Attachment In addition to the distinction, Criss' pitch for "A Tale of Extreme Risk for Routine Operations," caught the attention of one judge, David Shahady, the Director of the Air Force Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Program, who in a stunning move teamed with Air University President and judge, Lt. Gen. Anthony Cotton, to commit funds for a future SBIR Phase II topic to address Criss' idea. Shahady offered a $1.5 million commitment for a direct to Phase II SBIR topic expected in the next Department of Defense broad agency announcement for SBIR/STTR. The topic allows an industry partner the opportunity to develop a solution for the challenges identified in Criss' student research. Criss' work focused on how the Mobility Air Forces are unwittingly accepting and executing routine and low-priority missions with high levels of unidentified fatigue risks because of an inadequate and outdated risk management system. Through his proposed solution, BETTY - Better Effectiveness Through Tracking Yourself, U.S. Air Force air crews would be armed with a monitoring device serviced by the right tools to identify and combat fatigue. Their leaders, in turn, would have the tools necessary to make accurate and informed real-time risk-based decisions. According to Criss, this is an "opportunity for increased safety and improved health of the force through proactive management of fatigue risks." The judges' panel of four military and industry experts; including, Cotton, Shahady, Mr. Paavo Hanninen from Alabama Small Business Development Center Network at the University of Alabama, and Ms. Likia Hawkins the President and Chief Executive Officer Steel Point Solutions, LLC, concurred on the winner and were encourage by the broader commercial application for this idea. As the winner, Criss will return next year to judge Top Flight Pitch Night with travel and accommodation provided by MGMWERX. Criss competed against four other students during the inaugural Air University Top Flight Pitch Night. The finalists were selected by MGMWERX and Air University staff. Other finalists were: Lt. Col. Yaakov Bindell for "Transforming Disaster Relief with Small Unmanned Aircraft." Bindell described how small unmanned aircraft or drones can offer affordable and effective solutions for quickly restoring communications and transportation. for "Transforming Disaster Relief with Small Unmanned Aircraft." Bindell described how small unmanned aircraft or drones can offer affordable and effective solutions for quickly restoring communications and transportation. Maj. Curtis Shorr for "Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and Geomagnetic Disturbance (GMD) Events: Mitigations to Protect USAF Capacity." Shorr spoke to EMP and GMD national preparedness as well as solutions within the Air Force's control to maintain its warfighting capacity. for "Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) and Geomagnetic Disturbance (GMD) Events: Mitigations to Protect USAF Capacity." Shorr spoke to EMP and GMD national preparedness as well as solutions within the Air Force's control to maintain its warfighting capacity. Capt. Jonathan Beabout for "Chatbot Application to Air Education and Training Command." Beabout argued that for the Air Force to continue to educate its members effectively, AETC should leverage emerging technologies and employ chatbots in as many applicable courses as possible. for "Chatbot Application to Air Education and Training Command." Beabout argued that for the Air Force to continue to educate its members effectively, AETC should leverage emerging technologies and employ chatbots in as many applicable courses as possible. Capt. Casey Hawkins for "Environmentally-Friendly Green Solutions for Metal Surface Preparation." Hawkins highlighted that a radical change is needed within the aluminum industry to protect both the operators and the environment from toxic chemical exposure. MGMWERX was created under a Partnership Intermediary Agreement to align with the education initiatives of Air University. MGMWERX augments ongoing Air University programs, through events like Pitch Night, to enhance production of high-quality, innovative research and ideas that span issues of importance to the Air Force. This includes, but is not limited to, doctrine, strategies, capability needs, operational concepts, training, education, and science and technology. Contact: Robyn Mack, 334-240-9481, [email protected] SOURCE MGMWERX Related Links https://mgmwerx.org/ LUND, Sweden, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Net sales SEK 17.4 (11.3) million Earnings after tax SEK -27.8 (-24.9) million Earnings after tax per share before and after dilution: SEK -0.08 (-0.08) SEK Liquid funds as of March 31, 2019 SEK 28.5* (108.2) million. Cash flow from operating activities and investment activities SEK -40.5 (-29.3) million*Liquid funds as of March 31, 2019 include SEK 1.5 million of the total net capital SEK 220.0 million from the rights issue and the directed issue. Remaining net capital SEK 218.5 million has been received in April 2019 . Important events in the first quarter and after the reporting period In January 2019 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted the Company orphan designation for its proprietary antibody BI-1206 for the treatment of mantle cell lymphoma. BioInvent raised SEK 240.5 million prior to issue costs through a combination of a rights issue and a directed issue. The Board of Directors of BioInvent resolved in February 2019 on a fully underwritten rights issue of SEK 210.5 million and a directed issue of SEK 30.0 million with a Swedish pension fund and a Swedish life science fund. The rights issue and the directed issue have been completed and 46.9 percent of the rights issue was subscribed for with subscription rights. 0.7 percent of the share issue was subscribed for without subscription rights and 52.4 percent was subscribed for by guarantors. In March 2019 , BioInvent announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) had issued a Notice of Allowance, informing the company that a patent application relevant to its F.I.R.S.T platform had been allowed. The patent will cover methods for differential screening and isolation of antibodies. In April 2019 BioInvent received a 0.75 million milestone payment from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation in connection with enrollment of the first patient in a Phase II clinical trial of an antibody identified from BioInvent's proprietary n-CoDeR antibody library. Comments from the CEO Martin Welschof, CEO of BioInvent, comments: "BioInvent continued to make good progress in the first quarter, advancing our pipeline and further validating our unique F.I.R.S.TTM platform allowing us to yield actionable leads and develop therapies which have the potential to make a significant difference in the lives of cancer patients. We are progressing BI-1206, our lead antibody, for treatment of a range of hematological cancers and are aiming to add three clinical programs in solid cancer. Our comprehensive program to target TNFR2 for cancer therapy shows the potential in the n-CoDeR and F.I.R.S.TTM platforms, which have generated a broad panel of highly specific anti-TNFR2 antibodies, including our lead candidate antibody BI-1808. The milestone payment received from Mitsubishi related to the initiation of a Phase II trial further validates the platform, and we are pleased to have extended the platform's patent protection in the United States. We also extended our collaboration with Transgene to develop multifunctional oncolytic viruses for the treatment of solid tumors, which further confirms our positive working relationship. In the near term, we are looking forward to several important milestones, which include the initiation of clinical development of our second anti-FcRIIB program in combination with an anti-PD1 antibody; the presentation of a BI-1206/rituximab abstract at an international lymphoma conference; and the results from a Phase II study evaluating THR-317 in combination with ranibizumab, expected in Q3 2019. Based on these clinical advances, we remain focussed on opportunities to partner our product candidates. We will consider carefully how best to use our financing to ensure we prioritize the most promising opportunities to deliver solutions for patients and value for our shareholders." Contact Any questions regarding this report will be answered by Martin Welschof, CEO, +46(0)46-286-85-50, [email protected]. The report is also available at http://www.bioinvent.com/. BioInvent International AB (publ) Co. reg. no. 556537-7263 Address: Solvegatan 41, 223 70 Lund Tel.: +46(0)46-286-85-50 [email protected] Forward looking information This interim report contains statements about the future, consisting of subjective assumptions and forecasts for future scenarios. Predictions for the future only apply as of the date they are made and are, by their very nature, in the same way as research and development work in the biotech segment, associated with risk and uncertainty. With this in mind, the actual out-come may deviate significantly from the scenarios described in this press release. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/583/2822144/1049756.pdf BioInvent Interim Report January 1 a" March 31 2019 (PDF) SOURCE BioInvent Related Links http://www.bioinvent.com CHICAGO, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of Brokers Alliance, Inc. ("Brokers Alliance") and Acrylic Financial, Inc. ("Acrylic Financial") today announced their acquisition of an equity interest in Brooklight Place Securities, Inc. ("BPSI"), a registered securities broker-dealer. As part of the transaction, Charles R. "Bob" Brettell was appointed President of BPSI and David Racich, Charles Truhlar and Amy Buikema, BPSI's Chief Compliance Officer, joined BPSI's Board of Directors. Mr. Racich & Mr. Truhlar will also continue in their executive capacities with Brokers Alliance, a national Insurance Marketing Organization, and Acrylic Financial, a Registered Investment Advisor. Mr. Truhlar stated, "We are excited to join an organization with the reputation and track record of success that BPSI has established. The synergies between insurance services, registered investment advisory and the broker-dealer are undeniable, and we're looking forward to growth opportunities in all sectors. Bob's vision of expansion matches our own and provides an excellent foundation to do just that." Mr. Brettell stated, "Joining forces with Brokers Alliance and Acrylic Financial allows us to create the 'three-legged stool' of securities, insurance and managed money options that was previously only available to captive representatives. The ability to synthesize that model and graft it onto a fully independent chassis allows BPSI's representatives unparalleled access to products and services they previously had to cobble together by themselves and adds the ability for them to scale their businesses in a seamless and expedited manner. In other words, we think this is a game-changer for the independent representative market and we're excited to be able to begin to offer it as we continue 'lighting the way to a brighter tomorrow.'" About BPSI Brooklight Place Securities, Inc. ("BPSI") is a registered securities broker-dealer that has served its valued representatives and clients for more than 35 years. For more information please visit www.brooklightplacesecurities.com. About Brokers Alliance Brokers Alliance is a national insurance marketing organization serving insurance agents in all 50 states. For more information please visit www.brokersalliance.com About Acrylic Financial Acrylic Financial is a Registered Investment Advisory firm serving clients and advisors since 2017. For more information please visit www.acrylicfinancial.com CONTACT: Charles R. Brettell Tel: (816) 824-3980 E-Mail: [email protected] SOURCE Brooklight Place Securities, Inc. Related Links https://www.brooklightplacesecurities.com E. Hunt Burke will remain as the Bank's Chairman of the Board, overseeing the Board of Directors and representing the Bank in the community. These leadership changes are the result of succession planning and an extensive executive search process. "We are delighted to welcome David Boyle to the Burke & Herbert Bank family," said E. Hunt Burke, Chairman of the Board. "A proven financial leader with community banking experience, David will play a critical role in ensuring Burke & Herbert Bank continues to grow and thrive for many years to come." "Moreover, David has an appreciation for the long, storied history of our Bank and the unique and important role that we play in the local community. We are excited to have him on board," Burke added. Mr. Boyle brings more than 30 years of banking and financial services management experience to Burke & Herbert Bank. For the past nearly seven years, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Orrstown Bank, a $2.0-billion community bank headquartered in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Prior to this role, he served as the Chief Performance Officer at PNC Financial Services in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; President and Chief Executive Officer at the affiliate of National City Bank, headquartered in Cleveland, that served Michigan and Northwest Ohio; and Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer at Wayne Bancorp, Inc. in Wooster, Ohio. "I am excited to join Burke & Herbert Bank and honored to have been selected to lead the Bank forward into the next decade," said Mr. Boyle. "It is clear Burke & Herbert Bank holds a special place in the local northern Virginia community and has a strong focus on serving customers, which has been key to the Bank's success. I look forward to leading this next chapter for the Bank and driving additional growth, working closely with the Burke & Herbert Bank team," he added. "I am delighted to welcome David to the Bank and look forward to working with him closely through the remainder of the year to ensure an impeccable and effective transition," commented Mr. McSween. "I am proud of the Bank's significant success and progress achieved during the past ten years and want nothing more than to see the momentum continue. The investments we've made in our people, products, technology, operations, and customer-focused brand since 2009 have created a solid foundation for continued success. I am confident David has the skills and talents required to leverage what we've built and to lead the ongoing enhancements required to ensure the Bank continues to meet the evolving needs of consumers and businesses." Burke & Herbert Bank was founded in 1852 by John Woolfolk Burke and Arthur Herbert. Hunt Burke is the great, great grandson of one of the Bank's founding partners and represents the fifth generation of the Burke family in a leadership role at the Bank. Hunt Burke, who assumed the role of Chairman in 2010, and Scott McSween, who joined the Bank as President & Chief Operating Officer in 2009, have led the nearly 167-year old Bank for the past decade. During this time, the Bank achieved significant growth the Bank's base of primary checking accounts more than doubled, deposits grew by more than 30%, and assets increased from $2.0 billion to $3.0 billion. About Burke & Herbert Bank Burke & Herbert Bank is the oldest bank in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the oldest continuously operating bank in the Washington, DC area. The Bank offers a full range of personal and business banking products and services designed to meet customers' banking, borrowing, and investing needs. Burke & Herbert Bank is headquartered in Alexandria and operates 25 branches in northern Virginia. Member FDIC; Equal Housing Lender. SOURCE Burke & Herbert Bank Related Links https://www.burkeandherbertbank.com MIAMI, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- This Sunday, May 26, will feature the prime time U.S. premiere on MegaTV of "CalaMundos," Ismael Cala's travel and adventure program. In Puerto Rico, the show will air on Saturday, May 25, at 9:00 p.m. In this first episode, viewers will discover the natural and monumental beauty of the exotic destinations of Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan, as well as their legends, beliefs and daily life. "I'm grateful for the opportunity to bring to the screen the experience of traveling around the world, which enables us to expand our global vision and become richer in terms of diversity and acceptance. 'CalaMundos' is a practical guide for travel to exotic places. We will provide a vehicle for discovering new worlds from a different point of view," says Cala. "CalaMundos" will air on Sunday, May 26 on MegaTV at the following times: Miami and U.S. national signal 9:00 p.m. Houston 8:00 p.m. California 5:00 p.m. In Puerto Rico, the broadcast will air on Saturday, May 25, at 9:00 p.m. "We're thrilled about this series of special programs of 'CalaMundos', which will allow our viewers to visit amazing destinations that Ismael and his crew of globetrotters visit on their famous theme journeys. Being a tourist in exotic places is something lots of people dream of, but very few of us actually get around to making it happen. This is one grand opportunity to let your imagination take flight," notes Jose R. Perez, MegaTV's Vice President for Programming. "CalaMundos" is a show produced by Cala Enterprises, which will soon be distributed in other countries in the Americas. Currently, Ismael Cala is also presenting on MegaTV the first season of his show, Cara a Cala ('Face to face with Cala'), Monday to Friday at 6:00 p.m. in Miami, and 9:00 p.m. in Puerto Rico. Sundays there will be a special prime time broadcast. The distribution agreement with MegaTV for the U.S. and Puerto Rico comprises part of a larger project to broadcast the shows in various countries in the Americas. In Paraguay, Cara a Cala airs on Mondays at 8:00 p.m., on Nanduti TV (channel 17 of Tigo Star), which reaches some 400,000 households all over the country by cable. ABOUT ISMAEL CALA A life and business strategist, for five and a half years Ismael Cala was the prime time host of CALA on CNN en Espanol. A businessman and social entrepreneur. Author of eight bestsellers on themes of leadership, entrepreneurship and personal development, including El poder de escuchar ('The power of listening'), and Despierta con Cala ('Wake up with Cala'). Cala was born in Santiago de Cuba in 1969, and holds a degree in Art History from Oriente University. He is the co-author of the book "Beat the Curve," with Brian Tracy. He graduated from the School of Communication at York University in Toronto. He is President and founder of the Cala Enterprises Corporation and the Ismael Cala Foundation SOURCE Cala Enterprises SAN FRANCISCO, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcohol Justice, the California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA), and Los Angeles City Council Member Paul Koretz condemned the California State Senate's vote today that chose nightlife over all life and industry influence over public health and safety. The Senators voted 29-6 on SB 58, Sen. Scott Wiener's third attempt in three years to disrupt the protections of a uniform closing time in California. SB 58 would allow 10 cities to extend drinking hours until 4 a.m. in party zones. If passed by the Assembly and signed into law by Governor Newsom, the bill would allow a poorly conceived "pilot project" to turn 76% of the state's population into "Splash Zone" lab animals. "Once again our state Senate has turned its back on common sense by approving this dangerous bill," said Bruce Lee Livingston, Executive Director / CEO of Alcohol Justice. "A handful of greedy bars, night clubs, and hotels are driving this faulty policy that will extend violence, traffic deaths and nuisance into the early morning commute hours." "I'm truly disappointed in the California Senators who cast an AYE vote on SB 58, allowing alcohol service until 4 am, putting the revenue of a few alcohol establishments ahead of safeguarding human lives," said Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Koretz who has been an active opponent of all versions of the 4 a.m. bar bill from the beginning. "This bill has the potential to endanger millions of Californians who could be within harm's way as drunk drivers make their way into commuter traffic. I'm hoping that legislators in the State Assembly exercise more wisdom in protecting the lives of all Californians." The Senate floor vote to approve SB 58 was not unanimous. 20% of the Senate did not support the measure. Kudos to Senators Bates, Chang, Jackson, Rubio, Umberg, and Wilk for voting no. They chose public health and safety over nightlife interests. "Enacting SB 58 increases the potential for more drunk drivers on our roads and placing more lives at risk," said Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), who opposed SB 58. "At a time when the state is seeking ways to reduce drunk driving such as increasing the use of ignition interlock devices, it makes little sense to pass a measure like SB 58. I hope the Assembly will reject the bill." "The Senators voting yes on SB 58 failed to represent the best interests of all California residents," stated Veronica De Lara, Co-Chair of the California Alcohol Policy Alliance (CAPA). "SB 58 continues to grow Statewide opposition and will be demonstrated in the Assembly. We urge Assembly members to listen to their constituency, which are firmly against SB 58." "Senate Wiener may be gloating over his '3rd times the charm' victory today," observed Michael Scippa, Public Affairs Director at Alcohol Justice. "But there is nothing charming about a toxic public policy that benefits a select group of business owners at considerable cost to the state." Conservative estimates place state costs at around $3-4 million per year to administer SB 58, mitigate the harm, and clean the blood off the highway. Costs to surrounding "Splash Zone" cities and towns could be millions more. Alcohol Justice urges concerned Californians to contact their Assemblymember and make it clear that 4 a.m. last call times will hurt the community. "California politicians need to protect public health and safety, and stop subsidizing Big Alcohol. Nightlife is not more important than all life," added Scippa. Facts: Having failed to pass two previous 4 a.m. bar bills (SB 384 in 2017, SB 905 in 2018), State Sen. Scott Wiener (D- San Francisco ) authored SB 58, a poorly conceived and inadequately funded ABC "pilot project" to extend last call to 4 a.m. in ten cities. bar bills (SB 384 in 2017, SB 905 in 2018), State Sen. (D- ) authored SB 58, a poorly conceived and inadequately funded ABC "pilot project" to extend last call to in ten cities. SB 58 disregards 40 years of peer-reviewed, public health research on the dangers of extending last call. SB 58 will strip away uniform protections of the existing 2 a.m. last call, and spread additional alcohol overconsumption, loss of life, injury, and nuisance across the state. last call, and spread additional alcohol overconsumption, loss of life, injury, and nuisance across the state. According to California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), fatal DUI is a chronic, worsening problem for California . . The U.S. Community Preventive Services Task Force found that every 2-hour increase in last-call times results in greater vehicle crash injuries and E.R. admissions. There is no such thing as "local control" in alcohol policy. The harm from one city's decision to change last-call times "splashes" over every surrounding community. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), California already suffers over 10,500 alcohol-related deaths annually, $35 billion in total costs, and $14.5 billion in state costs. already suffers over 10,500 alcohol-related deaths annually, in total costs, and in state costs. SB 58 subsidizes and rewards late-night alcohol-sellers at tax-payer expense. READ MORE: TAKE ACTION to STOP SB 58: https://bit.ly/2vuTUxF or Text Justice to 313 131 CONTACT: Michael Scippa 415 548-0492 Jorge Castillo 213 840-3336 (Spanish speaking) Allison Simard (213) 473-7005 (Council Member Koretz's office) SOURCE Alcohol Justice Related Links http://www.AlcoholJustice.org BOSTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Cengage, an education and technology company, today announced its support of the federal Equality Act, a House bill that prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation and gender identity in areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federal funding, employment, housing, credit and the jury system. "At Cengage, we are firmly committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive workplace," said Todd Markson, Chief Strategy Officer, Cengage. "Everyone should have a fair chance to earn a living and provide a home for their families without fear of harassment or discrimination. We are a company that aims to advance an inclusive environment where all employees are treated with respect and dignity." "Any form of discrimination is against our core values, and directly conflicts with our mission to lower the barriers and provide access to affordable, high-quality learning experiences to students," Markson continued. While substantial strides have been made to promote workplace inclusion, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) Americans lack basic legal protections in a number of states across the U.S. Current U.S. civil rights laws protect people on the basis of race, color, national origin and, in most cases, sex, disability and religion. However, federal laws do not provide consistent non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The Equality Act (H.R. 5) was introduced in the U.S. House and Senate on March 13, 2019 as a means of addressing this gap in the current law to protect LGBTQ Americans. The bill was introduced with 287 original cosponsorsthe most congressional support that any piece of pro-LGBTQ legislation has received upon introduction. To demonstrate its commitment to inclusivity for all employees, Cengage joined the Human Rights Campaign Business Coalition for the Equality Act, a group of leading U.S. employers that support federal legislation that would provide equal protections to LGBTQ people. Launched in March 2016, HRC's Business Coalition for the Equality Act includes companies operated in every state, headquarters across 30 states and have a combined $4.7 trillion in revenue. The 216 companies that make up the coalition employ over 10.9 million people in the United States. Support of this bill aligns with the Cengage commitment to support equal rights for its LGBTQ employees and the wider community. The company advances this, and its dedication to diversity more broadly, in a variety of ways. This includes the company's Employee Resource Groups, which are voluntary, employee-led groups organized around shared experiences or affinity to help to build a positive and supportive workplace. To learn more about the Equality Act, visit: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5 or https://www.hrc.org/resources/the-equality-act. For more information about Cengage, visit: https://www.cengage.com/. About Cengage Cengage is the education and technology company built for learners. As the largest US-based provider of teaching and learning materials for higher education, we offer valuable options at affordable price points. Our industry-leading initiatives include Cengage Unlimited, the first-of-its-kind all-access digital subscription service. We embrace innovation to create learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want. Headquartered in Boston, Cengage also serves K-12, library and workforce training markets around the world. Visit us at www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook or Twitter. Media Contacts : Emily Featherston, Cengage 617.757.8035, [email protected] Lindsay Stanley, Cengage 203.965.8634, [email protected] SOURCE Cengage Related Links http://www.cengage.com NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers today announced the appointment of Christopher Wisniewski as Executive Director. Chris brings nearly 15 years of experience leading arts education programs to his role at the Alliance, where he will oversee all aspects of programming, fundraising, communications, and operations, including the annual presentation of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the nation's longest-running and most prestigious scholarship and recognition program for creative teens in grades 712. Christopher Wisniewski Joins The Alliance For Young Artists & Writers as Executive Director.(PRNewsFoto/Scholastic Inc.) Hugh Roome, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Alliance, noted, "Chris Wisniewski brings a wealth of expertise in the arts, arts education, development, and non-profit management. As we look towards the 100th anniversary of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards in 2023, I have full confidence that Chris will continue to build the brilliant legacy of this program which is dedicated to cultivating youth artistry and voice." Chris joins the Alliance from Studio in a School NYC, where he also served as Executive Director and managed all aspects of the 41-year-old arts education organization and its programming. During his tenure, Chris led the launch of new programming focused on the use of digital media in the visual arts, and spearheaded the redesign and relaunch of the organization's website. Notably, Chris partnered with the Board to recruit and train new Directors. He also expanded the Development team, and substantially increased funding. In 2017, he led the planning and implementation of Studio in a School's 40th Anniversary Gala. Prior to joining Studio, Chris was Deputy Director for Education & Visitor Experience at the Museum of the Moving Image and led the Museum's Education department for more than a decade. There, Chris launched a major out-of-school-time initiative, which included the development of after-school courses, summer media camps, family workshops, artist-led master classes, and teen programs. Additionally, Chris managed the Museum's strategic planning process for 201318, served as government affairs liaison, and partnered with Development staff and senior leadership to raise millions of dollars in both capital and operating support. Chris holds a B.A. from Harvard, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, and an M.A. in Cinema Studies from New York University. About the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, presenter of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world. Through the Awards, students receive opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. This past year, students across America submitted nearly 340,000 original works in 29 different categories of art and writing. For more information about the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, visit www.artandwriting.org. SOURCE Alliance for Young Artists & Writers Related Links http://www.artandwriting.org HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In the digital age, clinical trials are evolving as we know them, with new and improved technologies to incorporate into clinical research. Many of these technological developments have been based around the patient, with patient-centric technology gaining popularity in clinical trials. Clinical trial recruitment company, Clinical Trial Media, discusses more patient-centric technology and how it can help optimize clinical trials below. Read on to learn more. Patient-centric technology can bring patient-relevant outcomes to the forefront of clinical research. While many clinical trials aim to decrease telltale signs and major effects of certain diseases or conditions, there are often more personal issues plaguing patients that tend to be overlooked or under-researched in clinical studies, making patients in the study less likely to adhere to medical trial regimens if they don't see a clear improvement in these more personal symptoms. Patient-centric technology allows patients to openly voice their concerns through tangible data points, allowing researchers to know what patients actually care about and target their research phases accordingly in the future. Incorporating mobile devices into clinical trials encourages patient participation. Millions of people around the world carry a smartphone with them every day, including the patients in your clinical trials. Interlocking mobile phone technology with your clinical trial data collection will cultivate a more personal connection between the clinical trial and the patient, making patients more likely to adhere to regimens and regularly report accurate data. This kind of technology also expands the potential patient pool, giving your clinical trial greater accuracy and more ease in recruitment. Digital health platforms streamline the clinical trial workload by connecting patient and researcher through highly accessible technology. Patient health data and concerns can be communicated efficiently and clearly to researchers through digital platforms, and researchers can, in turn, better optimize the trial and collect data. Letting the patient know that their needs are of high-concern for researchers through prompt response and consistent communication encourages participation and accurate results from the clinical trial, in the end, benefitting the clinical research as a whole thanks to patient-centered technology. Personal data collection devices sense patient data changes quickly and efficiently. New high-tech wearables can detect minute or sudden drastic changes in various health measurements, notifying clinical trial researchers of the trends in a specific patient's data. This kind of capability personalizes the clinical trial experience per patient, as their data is consistently collected and tracked by researchers through these wearables rather than self-reported or recorded at certain intervals. This allows researchers to better track clinical trial progress for each patient, making patients feel more confident in the trial and comfortable knowing their health data is being constantly tracked by medical professionals. Patient-centric technology streamlines the clinical trial, bringing valuable health data from the patient to practitioner in mere seconds. This development in digital health is undoubtedly positive; see what patient-centered technology can do for your next clinical trial today. ABOUT CTM CTM Clinical Trial Recruitment Agency is a global patient recruitment and retention firm that provides customized product and service offerings to maximize your study's enrollment potential. With our flexible solutions, superior customer service and vast clinical trial experience around the world, Clinical Trial Media is your global enrollment connection. SOURCE Clinical Trial Media Related Links https://clinicaltrialmedia.com GUANGZHOU, China, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE: CNF) ("CNFinance" or the "Company"), a leading home equity loan service provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2019. First Quarter 2019 Operational and Financial Highlights Total loan origination volume [1] was RMB997.6 million ( US$148.6 million ) during the first quarter of 2019. was ( ) during the first quarter of 2019. Total outstanding loan principal [2] was RMB14.4 billion as of March 31, 2019 , compared to RMB15.8 billion as of December 31, 2018 . was as of , compared to as of . Total interest and fees income were RMB892.3 million ( US$133.0 million ) in the first quarter of 2019, a decrease of 16.2% from RMB1,065.3 million in the same period of 2018. ( ) in the first quarter of 2019, a decrease of 16.2% from in the same period of 2018. Net income was RMB135.5 million ( US$20.2 million ) in the first quarter of 2019, a decrease of 31.1% from RMB196.7 million in the same period of 2018. ( ) in the first quarter of 2019, a decrease of 31.1% from in the same period of 2018. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB1.98 (US$0.30) and RMB1.80 (US$0.27) , respectively, in the first quarter of 2019, compared to RMB3.20 and RMB2.94 , respectively, in the same period of 2018. [1] Refers to the total amount of loans CNFinance originated during the relevant period. [2] Refers to the total amount of loans outstanding for loans CNFinance at the end of the relevant period "I'm pleased with the operational and financial progress we have made during the quarter despite the challenging industry environment and China's softening economy," commented by Mr. Bin Zhai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CNFinance. "In order to broaden our customer reach, reduce credit risk and lower customer acquisition costs, we started to develop a new collaboration model. Under such model, we collaborate with sales partners who are dedicated to introduce our company and our loan services to prospective borrowers. The unique feature of this collaboration model is that the sales partners will be required to contribute an amount equal to 20% of the loans issued to the borrowers introduced by them. We began to roll out this model nationwide in the first quarter of 2019. We have signed cooperation agreements with approximately 600 sales partners, 300 of whom have already begun introducing borrowers to our company. Total loan origination volume approached RMB1 billion during the first quarter with over 1,900 transactions. We believe that the development of the collaboration model will offer an effective way for us to lower our credit risk and raise our return on capital. Hence as it continues to expand nationwide, it may help us gain more market share in the future. Furthermore, our sophisticated risk management system and highly-experienced post-loan services team continue to provide effective control of the quality and recovery of our loan portfolio given the current market environment. Our actual loss remains relatively low. I believe that this improvement in our business model will support our long-term sustainable growth and create greater value for our shareholders." First Quarter 2019 Financial Results Total interest and fees income decreased by 16.2% to RMB892.3 million (US$133.0 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB1,065.3 million in the same period of 2018, primarily due to a decrease in the Company's interest income on loans. Interest and financing service fee on loans decreased by 16.5% to RMB888.2 million (US$132.3 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB1,063.2 million in the same period of 2018, primarily due to the decrease of the loan origination volume, which is a result of the Company's strategic focus on ensuring loan quality over loan growth and devoting its resources on the new collaboration model, which is currently at its early stage. This slowed down the loan facilitation and led to a decrease in the interest and financing service fee on loans. Interest on deposits with banks increased by 95.2% to RMB4.1 million (US$0.6 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB2.1 million in the same period of 2018, primarily due to an increase in the amount of average daily bank deposits in the first quarter of 2019. Interest and fees expenses decreased by 10.4% to RMB418.6 million (US$62.4 million) for the first quarter of 2019, compared to RMB467.2 million in the same period of 2018, primarily due a general decrease of the loan original volume. Net interest and fees income was RMB473.7 million (US$70.6million) for the first quarter of 2019, a decrease of 20.8% from RMB598.1 million in the same period of 2018. Provision for credit losses increased by 20.8% to RMB173.3 million (US$25.8 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB143.5 million in the same period of 2018. The increase was mainly attributable to (a) the increase in outstanding principal of loans delinquent between 61 to 90 days which resulted in an increase in collectively assessed allowances and (b) an increase in the amount of NPLs. "NPL" refers to a loan being delinquent for over 90 days. Other gains, net increased by 1,337.5% to RMB11.5 million (US$1.7 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB0.8 million in the same period of 2018, primarily attributable to the net gain of RMB8.9 million resulting from the transfer of loans. Total operating expenses decreased by 23.9% to RMB137.1 million (US$20.4 million) for the first quarter of 2019, compared with RMB180.2 million in the same period of 2018. Employee compensation and benefits decreased by 51.8% to RMB56.5 million (US$8.4 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB117.1 million in the same period of 2018, primarily due to a decrease in the number of sales personnel with the introduction of the collaboration model, under which borrowers are introduced by the sales partners we collaborate with. Share-based compensation expense decreased by 59.6% to RMB4.0 million (US$0.6 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB9.9 million in the same period of 2018. According to the Company's share option plan, approximately 60%, 20% and 20% of the option grants vested during 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. Related compensation cost of the option grants was recognized over the requisite period. Taxes and surcharges increased by 42.8% to RMB20.7 million (US$3.1 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB14.5 million in the same period of 2018, primarily due to the non-deductible value added tax ("VAT") increased from RMB9.3 million in the first quarter of 2018 to RMB15.6 million (US$2.3 million) in the same period in 2019, which was attributable to the "service fee charged to trust plans," a non-deductible item. According to the current regulations in China, "service fees charged to trust plans" records a 6% VAT on service fees charged to trust plans on the subsidiary level and cannot be recorded as costs on a consolidated basis. Other expenses increased by 129.1% to RMB45.6 million (US$6.8 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB19.9 million in the same period of 2018, primarily due to (a) an increase in advertising and promotion fee and (b) an increase in litigation expenses as a result of an increase in the amount of NPLs, and the litigations associated therewith in the first quarter of 2019. Income tax expenses decreased by 42.4% to RMB45.6 million (US$6.8 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB79.2 million in the same period of 2018, primarily due to a combined effect of a decrease in net interest income of RMB124.4 million (US$18.5 million) and a decrease in operating expenses of RMB43.1 million (US$6.4 million) in the first quarter of 2019, resulting in a decrease in income before income taxes. Net income decreased by 31.1% to RMB135.5 million (US$20.2 million) for the first quarter of 2019 from RMB196.7 million in the same period of 2018. Basic and diluted earnings per ADS were RMB1.98 (US$0.30) and RMB1.80 (US$0.27), respectively, in the first quarter of 2019, compared to RMB3.20 and RMB2.94, respectively, in the same period of 2018. One ADS represents 20 ordinary shares. As of March 31, 2019, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB2.0 billion (US$0.3 billion), compared with RMB3.2 billion as of December 31, 2018, including RMB1.1 billion (US$0.2 billion) and RMB2.5 billion from structure funds as of March 31, 2019 and December 31,2018, respectively, which could only be used to grant new loans and activities. The aggregate delinquency rate for loans originated by the Company, which is calculated by dividing (i) total balance of outstanding loan principal for which any installment payment is past-due (for one or more days) as of a particular date; by (ii) the aggregate total amount of loans we originated since 2014, increased from 7.6% as of December 31, 2018 to 8.2% as of March 31, 2019. The increase in the aggregate delinquency rate was a result of the changing market environment, slower growth of outstanding loan principal and longer collection process. Business Outlook For the second quarter of 2019, based on the information available as of the date of this press release, we expect net income to be between RMB100 million and RMB150 million. The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects our current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions, which are all subject to substantial uncertainty. Conference Call CNFinance's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:00 AM U.S. Eastern Time on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 (8:00 PM Beijing/ Hong Kong Time on the same day). Dial-in numbers for the live conference call are as follows: International: +1-412-902-4272 Mainland China: +86-4001-201203 United States: +1-888-346-8982 Hong Kong: +852-3018-4992 Passcode: CNFinance A telephone replay of the call will be available after the conclusion of the conference call until 11:59 PM ET on May 29, 2019. Dial-in numbers for the replay are as follows: International: +1-412-317-0088 United States: +1-877-344-7529 Passcode: 10131583 A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investor Relations section of CNFinance's website at http://ir.cashchina.cn/. Statement Regarding Preliminary Unaudited Financial Information The unaudited financial information set out in this earnings release is preliminary and subject to potential adjustments. Adjustments to the consolidated financial statements may be identified when audit work has been performed for the Company's year-end audit, which could result in significant differences from this preliminary unaudited financial information. Exchange Rate The Company's business is primarily conducted in China and all of the revenues are denominated in Renminbi ("RMB"). This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at specified rates solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at a rate of RMB6.7112 to US$1.00, the exchange rate set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System as of March 29, 2019. No representation is made that the RMB amounts could have been, or could be, converted, realized or settled into U.S. dollars at that rate on March 29, 2019, or at any other rate. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "confident" and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: its goals and strategies, its ability to achieve and maintain profitability, its ability to retain existing borrowers and attract new borrowers, its ability to maintain and enhance the relationship and business collaboration with its trust company partners and to secure sufficient funding from them, the effectiveness of its risk assessment process and risk management system, its ability to maintain low delinquency ratios for loans it originated, and relevant government policies and regulations relating to the Company's corporate structure, business and industry. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law. About CNFinance Holdings Limited CNFinance Holdings Limited (NYSE: CNF) ("CNFinance" or the "Company) is a leading home equity loan service provider in China. CNFinance facilitates loans by connecting micro- and small-enterprise ("MSE") owners with its funding partners. The Company's primary target borrower segment is MSE owners who own real properties in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities in China. The loans CNFinance facilitates are primarily funded through a trust lending model with its trust company partners who are well-established with sufficient funding sources and have licenses to engage in lending business nationwide. The Company's risk mitigation mechanism is embedded in the design of its loan products, supported by an integrated online and offline process focusing on risks of both borrowers and collateral and further enhanced by effective post-loan management procedures. For more information, please contact: CNFinance E-mail: [email protected] Christensen In China Mr. Christian Arnell Phone: +86-10-5900-1548 E-mail: [email protected] In US Ms. Linda Bergkamp Phone: +1-480-614-3004 Email: [email protected] CNFINANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED Unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets (In thousands) December 31, 2018 March 31, 2019 RMB RMB US$ Assets Cash and cash equivalents (including RMB2,457,243 and RMB1,050,215 from structure funds as of December 31, 2018 and March 31,2019, respectively, which could only be used to granting new loans and activities) 3,161,658 1,960,338 292,099 Loans principal, interest and financing service fee receivables (net of allowance of RMB863,038 and RMB1,026,999 as of December 31, 2018 and March 31, 2019, respectively) 14,998,286 13,433,499 2,001,654 Available-for-sale investments 682,252 1,096,199 163,339 Property and equipment 19,166 16,570 2,469 Intangible assets and goodwill 4,176 4,047 603 Deferred tax assets 217,615 258,650 38,540 Deposits 178,218 165,801 24,705 Right-of-use asset[3] - 83,663 12,466 Other assets 93,346 94,047 14,014 Total assets 19,354,717 17,112,814 2,549,889 Liabilities and shareholders' equity Interest-bearing borrowings Borrowings under agreements to repurchase 4,213,900 3,263,271 486,243 Other borrowings 11,110,876 9,398,721 1,400,453 Accrued employee benefits 42,179 21,182 3,156 Income tax payable 689,415 711,240 105,978 Deferred tax liabilities 1,306 1,042 155 Lease liability[3] - 83,663 12,466 Other liabilities 251,486 455,571 67,882 Total liabilities 16,309,162 13,934,690 2,076,333 Ordinary shares 917 917 137 Additional paid-in capital 921,703 925,675 137,930 Retained earnings 2,127,502 2,263,022 337,201 Accumulated other comprehensive losses (4,567) (11,490) (1,712) Total shareholders' equity 3,045,555 3,178,124 473,556 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 19,354,717 17,112,814 2,549,889 [3] On January 1, 2019, the Company adopted ASC 842, the new lease standard, using the optional transition method. CNFINANCE HOLDINGS LIMITED Unaudited condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (In thousands, except for earnings per share and earnings per ADS) Three months ended March 31, 2018 2019 2019 RMB RMB US$ Interest and fees income Interest and financing service fee on loans 1,063,195 888,222 132,349 Interest on deposits with banks 2,138 4,068 606 Total interest and fees income 1,065,333 892,290 132,955 Interest and fees expense (467,238) (418,602) (62,374) Net interest and fees income 598,095 473,688 70,581 Provision for credit losses (143,547) (173,274) (25,819) Net interest and fees income after provision for credit losses 454,548 300,414 44,762 Realized gains on sales of investments, net 710 6,311 940 Other gains, net 843 11,547 1,721 Total non-interest revenue 1,553 17,858 2,661 Operating expenses Employee compensation and benefits (117,114) (56,470) (8,414) Share-based compensation expense (9,929) (3,972) (592) Taxes and surcharges (14,512) (20,704) (3,085) Operating lease cost (14,056) (10,361) (1,544) Offering expenses (4,660) - - Other expenses (19,908) (45,606) (6,795) Total operating expenses (180,179) (137,113) (20,430) Income before income tax 275,922 181,159 26,993 Income tax expense (79,176) (45,638) (6,800) Net income 196,746 135,521 20,193 Earnings per share Basic 0.16 0.10 0.01 Diluted 0.15 0.09 0.01 Earnings per ADS (1 ADS equals 20 ordinary shares) Basic 3.20 1.98 0.30 Diluted 2.94 1.80 0.27 Other comprehensive income Net unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments 36 (790) (118) Foreign currency translation adjustment 27 (6,133) (914) Comprehensive income 196,809 128,598 19,161 SOURCE CNFinance Holdings Limited Related Links http://ir.cashchina.cn/ Dublin, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Diesel Engine Technology Roadmap for Heavy-Duty Trucks" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Greenhouse gas/fuel efficiency regulations in TRIAD countries and increasingly stringent tailpipe emission standards in developing countries will shape the powertrain strategies of OEMs over the next decade. This study provides an overview of key future fuel efficiency and tailpipe emission regulations across different regions for heavy-duty commercial vehicles. North America is adopting GHG regulations and will next focus on ultra NOx regulations (medium-term). Europe has developed a tool for CO2 monitoring and will soon implement GHG regulations. India will shift from BS IV to BS VI (equivalent to the Euro VI) by 2020; it will have a fuel efficiency regulation in place from 2018. China will shift to China VI in 2 phases - 2020 and 2023; Phase 3 fuel efficiency regulations will be implemented in 2023. These regulations will augment the penetration of advanced diesel engine technologies such as advanced turbochargers, automated manual transmission, advanced after treatment systems, and electrification. In addition, novel engine architecture such as opposed-piston engines, split-cycle engines, double compression expansion engines, and the Miller cycle will be explored to improve the brake thermal efficiency of diesel engines. Falling battery prices, broader incentive policies, and charging infrastructure developments will boost the trend of electrification. Battery pack prices are expected to fall below $100 per kWh by 2023, with high battery production capacities of 250+ GWh globally. With growing battery availability and technology-readiness, fully electric vehicles will gain prominence and will be largely used across all regions by 2025. OEMs have also announced plans to manufacture electric trucks and range-extended powertrain. Fuel cell technology will gain prominence after 2022 due to the advantages of reduced component weight and packaging size. North American OEMs have commercialized most technological advancements from the SuperTruck I program, and a strong push for electrification across major OEMs and EV start-ups is being observed. European OEMs are shifting to vertically integrated engines and transmission with proprietary turbochargers, and these facilitate precise control over vehicle drivetrain. As part of powertrain diversification, OEMs are focusing on proprietary natural gas engines and EV platforms. Chinese OEMs are leveraging technology partnerships with European OEMs and engine research institutes to upgrade diesel engines to meet upcoming regulations. Further, government incentives are driving rapid progress in electrification across different Chinese OEMs. Indian OEMs are adopting a two-pronged approach by improving in-house engine platforms and sourcing advanced diesel engine technologies from tier 1 engine suppliers, Japanese OEMs, and European engine research institutes. Research scope The study aims to identify the major powertrain strategies that will be deployed by OEMs to meet forthcoming fuel efficiency and GHG regulations. Research Highlights Provide a strategic overview of the regional regulations that control emission and help to improve fuel efficiency and quality in North America, Europe, China, and India Discuss the technology penetration of advanced powertrain technologies across rigid and tractor vehicles Provide a technology outlook of the advanced diesel engine technologies used in HD vehicles Furnish a strategic overview of electrification uptake across HD vehicles Discuss powertrain outlook, penetration, and technology deep dive of global HD OEMs Provide strategic recommendations and conclusions for OEMs in the HD truck market Key Issues Addressed What are the key tailpipe emission and fuel efficiency and economy regulations shaping the dynamics of the powertrain strategies of global OEMs? What is the technology penetration of advanced power train technologies across rigid and tractor vehicles in North America, Europe, China, and India? What is the technology outlook of advanced diesel engine technologies? What are the key developments in terms of the electrification of global HD trucks? What are the key powertrain strategies of global HD truck OEMs? Key Topics Covered: 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Key Takeaways Diesel Engine Powertrain Trends for 2025 and Beyond HD Vehicle Emission Regulations Outlook GHG/Fuel Economy Regulations Outlook HD Truck Powertrain Overview Diesel versus Electric Long-Haul Truck TCO Comparison Global Powertrain Mix - Unit Shipment Snapshot Technology Penetration versus Region-Tractor Segment Key OEM Diesel Powertrain Strategies Regulatory Environment and OEM Compliance Strategy 2. RESEARCH SCOPE, OBJECTIVES, BACKGROUND, AND METHODOLOGY Research Scope Research Aims and Objectives Key Questions this Study will Answer Research Background Research Methodology 3. DEFINITIONS Definitions of Key Technologies 4. GLOBAL EMISSION AND FUEL ECONOMY AND QUALITY REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT Global Regulations - Tailpipe and Fuel Economy and Quality Global Tractor Truck Standards for CO2 Reduction Global Emission Regulation Limits Powertrain Technologies for Fuel Efficiency Improvements Technology Fuel Consumption Reduction Potential - Class 8 Line-Haul Tractor Technology Fuel Consumption Reduction Potential: Class 8 Line-Haul Tractor-Engine Technology Technology Penetration versus Region - Tractor and Rigid 5. ADVANCED DIESEL ENGINE TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW Engine Technology Packages and Effective Fuel Consumption Reduction Technology Outlook - Waste Heat Recovery Technology Outlook - Miller Cycle in Engines: Scania Technology Outlook - Split Cycle Engine: Ricardo Technology Outlook - Double Compression Expansion Engine: Volvo Technology Outlook - Opposed Piston Engine: Achates Power Technology Outlook - Multi-functional SCR - DPF After treatment Systems Technology Outlook - 48V System Design 6. POWERTRAIN REGULATORY AND TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK - NORTH AMERICA Regulatory Environment - North America GHG and Fuel Economy Standards - North America CARB Ultra-Low NOx Regulations - Impact on Powertrain North American Powertrain Mix - Unit Shipment Snapshot Ultra-Low Nox - Enabling Technologies Technology Penetration - Rigid Trucks: North America Technology Penetration - Tractor Trucks: North America OEM Powertrain Technology Adoption Drivers - North America 7. POWERTRAIN REGULATORY AND TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK - EUROPE Regulatory Environment - Europe HD Vehicle CO2 Standards - Europe European Powertrain Mix - Unit Shipment Snapshot Technology Penetration - Rigid Trucks: Europe Technology Penetration - Tractor Trucks: Europe OEM Powertrain Technology Adoption Drivers - Europe 8. POWERTRAIN REGULATORY AND TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK - CHINA Regulatory Environment - China China's Fuel Efficiency Standards Chinese Powertrain Mix - Unit Shipment Snapshot Technology Penetration - Rigid Trucks: China Technology Penetration - Tractor Trucks: China OEM Powertrain Technology Adoption Drivers - China 9. POWERTRAIN REGULATORY AND TECHNOLOGY OUTLOOK - INDIA Regulatory Environment - India Fuel Consumption Standards - India Indian Powertrain Mix - Unit Shipment Snapshot Technology Penetration - Rigid Trucks: India Technology Penetration - Tractor Trucks: India OEM Powertrain Technology Adoption Drivers - India 10. PROGRESSION OF ELECTRIFICATION TECHNOLOGY Electric HD Market Outlook of Key Regions - 2025 Global Plug-in Hybrid Vehicle (PHEV) Adoption Perspective Global Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) Adoption Perspective Global Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) Adoption Perspective OEM New Dedicated Platforms - Powertrain Flexibility Comparison 11. GLOBAL OEM POWERTRAIN STRATEGIES - POWERTRAIN STRATEGY: AB VOLVO 12. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - NAVISTAR, INC. 13. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - VW GROUP (MAN SE) 14. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - VW GROUP (SCANIA) 15. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - PACCAR INC. 16. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - DAIMLER AG 17. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - CUMMINS INC 18. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - IVECO 19. POWERTRAIN STRATEGYASHOK LEYLAND 20. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - TATA MOTORS 21. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED 22. POWERTRAIN STRATEGY - HINO MOTORS, LTD. 23. GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AND COMPANIES TO ACTION Growth Opportunity - Breakthrough Trends and Companies Strategic Imperatives for Success and Growth 24. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE OUTLOOK For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ju2a9m Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. WASHINGTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- While a large majority of Americans suspect that most of the automated telephone messages or "robocalls" -- that they receive are attempts at scams, few are taking actions to protect themselves, according to results of a new survey from the AARP Fraud Watch Network. An estimated 48 billion robocalls came into the United States last year. Nearly half of U.S. adults surveyed by AARP said they receive seven or more robocalls per week. Automated call technology has brought efficiency to mass telephone notifications, with companies using robocalls for flight or school cancellations, polling and other legitimate purposes. AARP itself uses robocall technology to reach its members with educational programming, including how to stay safe from scams and fraud. The technology, however, has also made it easier and cheaper for con artists to reach millions with their fraud schemes. Telephone scams cost U.S. consumers $429 million last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission. AARP's survey verified that nearly all consumers rely on caller ID when deciding when to answer a call, even though three-in-four say they know the information that shows up may be fabricated, or "spoofed." Spoofing has given the criminals the upper hand: The survey found that U.S. adults are more likely to answer a call seemingly from a local area code (59 percent), an area code where friends or family live (44 percent), or an area code and telephone exchange that matches their own (36 percent). "Be wary when you pick up the phone. A number that looks familiar or local may be neither familiar nor local," said Kathy Stokes, director, fraud prevention programs, AARP. "Con artists have become increasingly sophisticated and devious, and once they connect with you and get you talking it's far too easy to fall prey to their schemes." AARP's survey shows that people are more likely to be victimized by scam pitches involving threatened losses "You owe unpaid taxes" or "You are facing jail time for missing jury duty" than those promising rewards "You've won the foreign lottery" or "You qualify for a free vacation." One-quarter more respondents (51 percent) said they would respond to a negative or fear-based call scenario than those who said a positive or promise-of-wealth pitch would prompt them to engage (41 percent). To help protect against illegal robocalls, the AARP Fraud Watch Network recommends that consumers add their telephone numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry. Only about half of the survey respondents said they have done so. Registering your number will not put a stop to fraudulent calls, but it will make them easier to recognize since most legitimate telemarketers do not call numbers on the registry. The FWN also recommends exploring free or low-cost call-blocking apps, and urges consumers to report all scam calls to the proper authorities. For a complete list of "do's" and "don'ts" regarding illegal and scam robocalls, visit www.aarp.org/FraudWatchNetwork. Ninety percent of U.S. adults said they want the government to do more to reduce the number of fake and misleading robocalls, and efforts are underway on the federal level: A bill with bipartisan support in the U.S. Senate, the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act or "TRACED Act," would require telecom providers to use call authentication technology that would block many illegal robocalls. The legislation, endorsed by AARP, has been approved by the Senate Commerce Committee and a vote by the full Senate is pending. A rule proposal by the Federal Communications Commission would similarly require phone companies to implement technology to detect and block illegal robocalls. The FCC will vote on the proposal at its June 6 meeting. For more findings from the AARP survey, see the research report, "Who's Really on the Line?" The AARP Fraud Watch Network launched in 2013 as a free resource for people of all ages. Consumers may sign up for "Watchdog Alert" emails that deliver information about scams, or call a free helpline at 877-908-3360 to report scams or get help from trained volunteers in the event someone falls victim to scammers' tactics. The Fraud Watch Network website provides information about fraud and scams, prevention tips from experts, an interactive scam-tracking map and access to AARP's hit podcast series, The Perfect Scam. Survey Methodology Data were collected using the AmeriSpeak Panel, a probability-based panel developed by NORC at the University of Chicago. AmeriSpeak is designed to be representative of the U.S. household population. Interviews for this survey were conducted in English between April 9, 2019, and April 18, 2019, with adults ages 18 and older, representing the 50 states and the District of Columbia. 1,852 adults completed the survey. The margin of error for the survey is 3.3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level. For detailed methodology, refer to the survey report. About AARP AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin. To learn more, visit http://www.aarp.org or follow @AARP and @AARPadvocates on social media. SOURCE AARP Related Links http://www.aarp.org FORT WORTH, Texas, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Crestline Investors, Inc. ("Crestline"), an institutional alternative asset manager, today announced that Michael Aingorn joins the firm as a Managing Director, based in New York. Aingorn will report to Keith Williams, Managing Partner Credit Strategies. "As the private credit industry continues to grow in scope and scale, we believe it is important to provide our clients the flexibility to take advantage of both liquid and illiquid opportunities. Michael will spearhead Crestline's efforts to invest in liquid credit through our Opportunistic mandates. We are very excited for him to complement our existing private capital strategies," said Williams. Aingorn was previously a Partner at American Industrial Partners, where he helped launch the firm's credit opportunities strategy focused on investing in North American-based middle-market industrial companies. Prior to AIP, he was a Portfolio Manager at BTG Pactual investing in leveraged loans and special situations in the United States and Europe. In addition, Aingorn has also held senior credit and special situation investing roles at Plainfield Asset Management and Karsch Capital Management. He earned his MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and his B.S. in Finance and Marketing from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business. "I have known the Crestline team for some time and am impressed with the private credit platform they have built and look forward to working closely with their seasoned team of professionals to expand into liquid markets," said Aingorn. About Crestline Investors, Inc. Crestline Investors, Inc., founded in 1997 and based in Fort Worth, Texas, is an institutional alternative investment management firm. Crestline specializes in credit and opportunistic investments, including financing and restructuring solutions for mature private equity funds. In addition, the firm manages a multi-PM equity market-neutral hedge fund, and provides beta and hedging solutions for institutional clients. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, the company maintains affiliate offices in New York, Chicago, London, Toronto and Tokyo. For more information, please visit www.crestlineinvestors.com. Media Contact: Dmitriy Ioselevich 646-818-9243 [email protected] SOURCE Crestline Investors, Inc. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico , May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ) deal in Puerto Rico since the governor enacted new legislation has just been announced at a time when thousands of investors are flocking to the Island to capitalize on the new tax incentives intended to revitalize the economy post Hurricane Maria. The deal involves a property in Old San Juan purchased by serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist Brock Pierce, who has been credited with pioneering the market for digital currency and now devotes himself to supporting the advancement of Puerto Rico's entrepreneurs and efforts to building a self-sustainable economy. Plans for the property remain to be determined, although the vision is to create a community space that fosters education, collaboration, and empowerment for the Puerto Rican people. The Island's rich heritage, resilience, and newly vibrant economy have positioned it as an ideal destination for the blending of cultures, a movement which has captured the attention of foreign investors, entrepreneurs, and internationally acclaimed artists seeking new opportunities for creative expansion and economic development. The deal comes just a day after Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello signed Senate Bill 1147, which establishes the regulatory framework for the development of Opportunity Zones on the island under the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Aside from promoting multi-million dollar investments, and creating thousands of new jobs, this new measure strives to significantly impact the recovery of Puerto Rico. Opportunity Zones were created by federal law to provide tax benefits to low-income communities with the aim of achieving their economic development. Ninety-seven percent of Puerto Rico has been designated as an Opportunity Zone. Investments made through Opportunity Zone funds allow for the deferral of taxes on capital gains on the sale of an asset before Jan. 1, 2027 if the amount invested is equal to the profit earned. The incentive framework is applicable for 15 years. This new law facilitates U.S. citizens' access to Puerto Rico's largely bilingual and highly qualified workforce across various industries, which is another advantage to those looking to open up shop on the Island. Brock Pierce is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist with an extensive track record of founding, advising and investing in disruptive businesses. He's raised more than $5B for companies he has founded and is the Chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation. Pierce is a frequent lecturer at Singularity University and has spoken at the Milken Global Conference, Mobile World Congress, Wired, INK, Stanford University, USC, and UCLA. He has been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, Wired, and Rolling Stone. For more information about this project or QOZs in Puerto Rico, contact [email protected] . SOURCE Brock Pierce Over the Easter holiday 11 worshippers were killed by gunmen following a Good Friday service in the southeastern state of Benue while 20 others died in attacks on Christians in Adamawa and Gombe in the northeast, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria. The country is edging closer to failed state status, argues CSI's Dr John Eibner. He adds that the conflict "victimizes evermore Nigerians, weakens the fragile bonds of the federal state, threatens the stability of its neighbors, and opens still wider the door for international terrorist networks". www.nigeria-report.org gives a voice to victims and provides a forum for leading Nigerian thinkers to present their views on how the conflict can be resolved. In its lead commentary, Catholic cleric Mons. Obiora Ike argues that the UN, the USA and the EU should appoint special envoys for Nigeria to report objectively on the situation and "forestall future tragedy", while journalist and Episcopalian priest Rev. Hassan John calls on Muslim clerics to counter radical Islamist ideologies and on the government to bring perpetrators of violence to account. Commentaries by Sr. Mary Rose-Claret Ogbuehi, and Dr Onymaechi F. O. Ogbunwezeh will follow. Nigeria Report provides links to documentation, including a recent speech by Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom addressing the violent attacks on predominantly Christian farming communities by jihad-inspired militias. There are also links to articles and reports by prominent Nigerian academics, and by western think tanks and human rights organizations. Among the former are Z.K. Bonat, Centre for Population and Development, Kaduna; B.O. Omitola, Osun State University; O.E Okeke, Federal University; Isah Mohammed Abbas, Ahmadu Bello University; I.F. Ezeonwuka, Renaissance University; A.U. Igwe, Nnamdi Azikiwe University. Christian Solidarity International (CSI) is a Christian human rights organization promoting religious liberty and human dignity. For more information, please contact: Adrian Hartmann | [email protected] SOURCE Christian Solidarity International (CSI) Related Links http://www.csi-int.org In particular, senor management from 97 overseas firms and over 100 top Chinese companies attended the expo. A specific seminar was held during the event to survey the difficulties and problems encountered by multinational corporations whiling developing the central region, gather their views and policy recommendations on improving China's investment environment, and discuss the trends of international cooperation in the new era. A symposium on undertaking industrial transfer in central China's state-level economic and technological development zones was also held to discusses how to improve the business environment, practice the new development concept, optimize industrial layout, and undertake industrial transfers from coastal regions. The contracted projects mainly involve advanced manufacturing, new energy, new materials, electronic information, cultural tourism, energy and urban infrastructure, biomedicine and other industries. Among them, 51 projects with foreign investment were signed with a total amount of 10.466 billion U.S. dollars. There were 355 projects with domestic investment, with a total contract amount of 412.344 billion yuan. As the host, Jiangxi Province signed 198 projects with a total contract value of 170.45 billion yuan. The history of the Expo Central China is exactly the process of expanding opening-up and accelerating development of the central region. Statistics showed that the central region's GDP reached 19.27 trillion yuan in 2018, accounting for 21.4 percent of the country's total. The growth rate of its industry, investment, consumption and import and export all came out in front among these sectors nationwide, posting enhancing regional comprehensive strength. Image Attachments Links: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=336582 SOURCE The Organizing Committee of the Expo Central China 2019 LAKELAND, Fla., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College has appointed Dr. H. Alexander Rich to be the Executive Director and Chief Curator for the Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College in Lakeland. Dr. Rich joined Florida Southern in August 2014 as assistant professor of art history, heading the art history program and directing the galleries and exhibitions. In June 2017, he assumed the additional role of curator and director of galleries and exhibitions for the Polk Museum of Art, as part of an affiliation agreement between the two organizations. "It's a great honor to be given the opportunity to lead a distinguished community and academic art museum," Dr. Rich said. "The Polk Museum of Art at Florida Southern College has long been a core contributor to the life and culture of Lakeland and Central Florida. Since its affiliation with Florida Southern, the Museum has begun to make new and important contributions as an academic museum, promoting diverse areas of scholarship and broader community education and outreach, among other initiatives." Dr. Rich looks forward to "continuing to enhance the Museum's offerings and maintaining its integral relationship with the broader Lakeland community," and building upon the strong legacy of excellence established by Claire Orologas, who has announced her retirement. Dr. Rich earned his A.B. degree in English and Art History from Dartmouth College, and both his M.A. and Ph.D. in Art History from The Institute of Fine Arts at New York University. His museum experience began with a high school apprenticeship as a tour guide at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, followed by internships at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Met, membership in the Exhibitions Committee at the Hood Museum of Art, and a research/writing fellowship in the Sackler Center for Feminist Art at the Brooklyn Museum of Art. He also worked as assistant to the Head of Museum Interpretation in the Education Department of the Whitney Museum, and as an adjunct professor at Hunter College, City University of New York, and the Fashion Institute of Technology. "Dr. Rich has been a transformative leader as he has helped to guide the affiliation between Florida Southern College and the Polk Museum of Art," said Museum Board Chair Lynda Buck. "He has worked to strengthen the Museum's vital role in the local arts community while expertly directing its added mission of becoming a superior academic museum, bringing in world-class exhibitions that benefit the public and students alike." Founded in 1966 as the Imperial Youth Museum and renamed the Polk Public Museum in 1969 to better reflect its emphasis on art, history, and science, Lakeland's premiere not-for-profit art museum doubled its exhibition and classroom facilities with the purchase of a vacant Publix Super Market building in 1970. Together with the School Board of Polk County, staff members worked to establish and sustain a curriculum-based art education program. The institution received accreditation from the American Association of Museums in 1983, and was renamed the Polk Museum of Art. Its current facility on Palmetto Street was formally dedicated in September 1988. Claire Orologas, executive director and chief curator of the Polk Museum of Art since 2012, will become Executive Director Emerita. She ably led the Museum to national prominence. Ms. Orologas plans to continue a life-long role as an ambassador for the Museum and give presentations on various art topics. She will be relocating to a new home in Micanopy, Florida. In addition, Ms. Pal Powell will continue as Deputy Director. Ms. Powell has been in a leadership position at the Museum for more than twenty-seven years and is highly regarded. For more information on Florida Southern College, visit www.flsouthern.edu. SOURCE Florida Southern College Related Links https://www.flsouthern.edu EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ACIST Medical Systems, a pioneering interventional and diagnostic technology company with a portfolio of advanced products for the cardiac cath lab, today announced the results of an economic analysis demonstrating the ACIST CVi contrast delivery system significantly reduces costs, increases operational efficiency and improves patient safety for coronary catheterizations compared with manual injection of contrast media. The abstract was presented today during the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, Inc. (ISPOR) 2019 Conference in New Orleans by George Wright, PhD, lead author and research associate at Cornerstone Research Group. A high prevalence of patients undergoing coronary catheterization procedures have co-morbidities that may increase their risk to develop post-procedure contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), which can be caused by contrast delivered during angiographic imaging. This can increase hospital readmission rates, treatment costs, and in some cases, can necessitate dialysis treatments. The economic model analysis conducted by Dr. Wright demonstrates $464,498 in annual cost-savings to hospitals based on 3,500 annual coronary procedures. This savings was due to reduced incidence of CI-AKI and reduced contrast use with the CVi system compared with manual injection. The CVi System reduces contrast volume by approximately 25 percent by allowing precise control of contrast injections with the AngioTouch hand controller versus hand manifold. The ACIST CVi also continuously tracks contrast volume delivery, allowing physicians to ensure contrast delivery remains below target thresholds for at-risk patients. Lower contrast volume reduced the incidence of CI-AKI by up to 30 percent. Furthermore, sensitivity analyses considered vascular closure device (VCD) use and complications avoided by using the CVi System, leading to even greater cost savings ranging from $756,818 to $858,486 annually. "The ACIST CVi System pioneered precision contrast injections for angiography. This robust economic model clearly shows that, in addition to superior clinical utility and safety, CVi also delivers significant cost savings," says Dr. Robert Wilson, founder of ACIST Medical Systems, Inc., and an interventional cardiologist at University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis. "The ability to customize the contrast delivery based on clinical situation and patient need is invaluable, and it saves costs at the same time." "As value-based medicine continues to be of growing importance in hospital decision-making, we're pleased that the findings from this economic analysis support incorporating the ACIST CVi System for cardiovascular angiographic imaging across all procedures," said Brad Fox, president and CEO, ACIST Medical Systems, Inc. "This analysis and its findings reflect our commitment to developing and supporting advanced technologies that simplify procedures, and help physicians improve patient safety while reducing institutional costs." The ACIST CVi System simplifies and standardizes contrast injections for all procedures from small injections in the coronary arteries to large volume injections in the ventricles, aorta and peripheral vasculature while enhancing safety, efficiency, control and image quality. The ACIST CVi all-in-one angiographic imaging system has been used to diagnose and treat more than 30 million patients in 60 countries. For more information about the ACIST CVi System, visit www.acist.com/us/products/acist-cvi/. About ACIST ACIST Medical Systems, Inc. is a pioneering interventional and diagnostic technology company with a portfolio of advanced products, including the world's first Rapid Exchange FFR and High Definition IVUS systems. It is also a global market leader in advanced contrast imaging systems for cardiovascular angiography and radiology imaging. Through these products, ACIST is demonstrating its commitment to bringing unique and innovative technologies that simplify cardiovascular procedures and empower clinicians to treat patients with superior care. As part of the Bracco Group, ACIST benefits from the resources of a multinational conglomerate with broad expertise in cath lab technology and a dedication to continuous advancement. Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA, ACIST has worldwide presence with over 300 direct employees and facilities in Silicon Valley, Heerlen, and Tokyo. To learn more about ACIST, visit www.acist.com. About Bracco Group Bracco is headquartered in Milan, Italy, and was founded in 1927. It is active in the healthcare sector through Bracco Imaging (diagnostic imaging), ACIST Medical Systems and HLT (cardiology) and the Centro Diagnostico Italiano diagnostic clinic. It has around 3,400 employees and annual total consolidated revenues of over 1.3 billion Euro. Bracco operates in more than 100 countries worldwide. To learn more about Bracco Group, visit www.bracco.com. SOURCE ACIST Medical Systems Related Links http://www.acist.com DURHAM, N.C., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Engel & Volkers Big Sky Country announces that it is partnering with the Adwerx Enterprise Automated Listing Advertising Program to create local marketing campaigns for selected properties listed by the firm. Properties listed with Engel & Volkers Big Sky Country will receive automated marketing campaigns that are generated by Adwerx Enterprise as soon as a property is publicly offered. These marketing campaigns contain a property photo, agent contact details, brokerage branding and a link to the offered property. Advertisements are shown on popular websites, mobile apps, and social media. By combining these campaigns with traditional exposure, Advisors are able to ensure the maximum exposure of each property offering. "Adwerx marketing campaigns help us spread the word about our spectacular Montana properties for sale," said PollyAnna Snyder, Partner/ Private Office/ Managing Broker. "These campaigns are automatically personalized for our Advisors so that they can concentrate on serving their clients." The Adwerx Enterprise Automated Listing Advertising Program has seen widespread adoption in the U.S. and Canada, providing Advisors with localized campaigns that appear on the sites that clients and potential Buyers visit daily. Advisors using the program report a high level of client satisfaction and say that the program is a key advantage in helping them obtain new listings. About Engel & Volkers Big Sky Country Engel & Volkers Big Sky Country is part of a global company and lifestyle brand providing high-quality services for those seeking to buy and sell real property. We distinguish ourselves by providing our clients with exceptional service and support for those in and around the Bozeman, Big Sky, and Livingston and Paradise Valley areas. Since 1977, the Engel & Volkers brand has been the select provider of premium real estate service throughout Europe, Asia and North America. Engel & Volkers maintains the same global standards of quality and service in everything we do while representing iconic Montana friendliness. Learn more at https:// bozeman.evrealestate.com . About Adwerx Adwerx provides Brilliantly Simple Digital Advertising for real estate, mortgage, insurance, financial services, and other businesses. Campaigns powered by Adwerx have received billions of impressions on social media, mobile platforms, and the most widely read news sites. Adwerx has served over 150,000 customers across the U.S., Canada, and Australia and has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies for two years in a row. To see how Adwerx can work for you, please visit www.adwerx.com . Plus, NAR members receive 15% additional impressions on Adwerx campaigns , which can be combined with other eligible discounts. This exclusive benefit is available through the National Association of REALTORS' REALTOR Benefits Program. SOURCE Adwerx Related Links http://www.adwerx.com DURHAM, N.C., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Engel & Volkers Charlotte , an office of independent luxury real estate brand Engel & Volkers in Charlotte, North Carolina, has adopted the Adwerx Enterprise Automated Listing Advertising Program to create local ads for all new properties in Charlotte and surrounding areas. Each listing that goes live with Engel & Volkers Charlotte will receive an individually personalized automated ad campaign generated through Adwerx Enterprise as soon as it is publicly listed for sale. These advertisements contain a photo of the property, agent contact details, brokerage branding and a link for more information, which will direct users to an advisor's website with additional listing details. By combining these ads with traditional exposure, agents are able to maximize the visibility of each listing. The Adwerx Enterprise Automated Listing Advertising Program has become widely adopted in the U.S. and Canada, providing agents with localized ads that appear on the sites that clients and potential buyers visit daily. "These ads are part of our technology-driven and client-centric approach to real estate," said Yuriy Vaynshteyn, License Partner, CEO at Engel & Volkers Charlotte. "These ads will augment the experience and expertise of our Engel & Volkers Advisors allowing them to capture more listings and provide additional value to their clients." Engel & Volkers was brought to Charlotte in 2015 by Yuriy Vaynshteyn who has been living in Charlotte for over 25 years and has been well known in the local real estate scene since 2004. The brand under Yuriy Vaynshteyn now has over 80 Advisors in two local offices. About Engel & Volkers Since its beginning in 1977 as a specialty boutique providing exclusive, high-end real estate services in Hamburg, Germany, Engel & Volkers has become one of the world's leading companies specializing in the sale and lease of premium residential and commercial property, yachts and private aviation. Engel & Volkers currently operates a global network of over 8,500 real estate advisors in more than 750 brokerages spanning 33 countries across five continents, offering both private and institutional clients a professionally tailored range of luxury services. It established Engel & Volkers North America in 2007 and assembled a team of the industry's top leaders, performers and real estate innovators to expand operations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Committed to exceptional service, Engel & Volkers supports its advisors with an array of premium quality business services; marketing programs and tools; multiple platforms for mobile, social and web; as well as access to its global network of real estate professionals, property listings and market data. Engel & Volkers is an active supporter of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. About Adwerx Adwerx provides Brilliantly Simple Digital Advertising for real estate, mortgage, insurance, financial services, and other businesses. Ads powered by Adwerx have received billions of impressions on social media, mobile platforms, and the most widely read news sites. Adwerx has served over 150,000 customers across the U.S., Canada, and Australia and has been named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies for two years in a row. To see how Adwerx can work for you, please visit www.adwerx.com . Plus, NAR members receive 15% additional impressions on Adwerx campaigns , which can be combined with other eligible discounts. This exclusive benefit is available through the National Association of REALTORS' REALTOR Benefits Program. SOURCE Adwerx Related Links http://www.adwerx.com VANCOUVER, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Entree Resources Ltd. (TSX:ETG; NYSE American:EGI the "Company" or "Entree") is pleased to announce the results of voting at its annual general meeting of shareholders which was held today in Vancouver, British Columbia (the "Meeting"). All matters submitted to shareholders for approval as set out in the Company's Notice of Meeting and Information Circular, both dated April 17, 2019, were approved by the requisite majority of votes cast at the Meeting. NUMBER OF DIRECTORS Shareholders approved setting the number of directors at six. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS The details of the voting results for the election of directors are set out below: Votes For Withheld Votes Director # % # % Mark Bailey 66,817,716 96.96 2,811,910 4.04 Alan Edwards 66,826,548 95.97 2,803,078 4.03 James Harris 66,517,543 95.53 3,112,083 4.47 Michael Price 66,505.532 95.51 3,124,094 4.49 Stephen Scott 66,825,289 95.97 2,804,337 4.03 Anna Stylianides 66,816,444 95.96 2,813,182 4.04 APPOINTMENT OF AUDITORS Davidson & Company LLP was re-appointed auditors of the Company for the ensuing year at the remuneration to be fixed by the directors. Detailed voting results for the Meeting are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. ABOUT ENTREE RESOURCES LTD. Entree Resources Ltd. is a well-funded Canadian mining company with a unique carried joint venture interest on a significant portion of one of the world's largest copper-gold projects the Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia. Entree has a 20% or 30% carried participating interest in the Entree/Oyu Tolgoi joint venture, depending on the depth of mineralization. Sandstorm Gold Ltd., Rio Tinto and Turquoise Hill are major shareholders of Entree, holding approximately 16%, 9% and 8% of the shares of the Company, respectively. More information about Entree can be found at www.EntreeResourcesLtd.com. SOURCE Entree Resources Related Links http://www.entreegold.com Dublin, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Light Vehicle Leasing Market in Croatia, Forecast to 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Vehicle leasing is seen as a solution to the growing number of challenges faced by companies with regard to their mobility needs. Amongst others, these include challenges associated with vehicle funding, fleet maintenance, and, more importantly, residual risk handling. Businesses in the present market conditions are focused on their core products/services and seek to outsource all other support activities. Mobility is a significant department - starting from fleet purchase to remarketing at a competitive price - and for each of the segments in the value chain, unless an expert team is on the job, issues such as cost spikes, utilization mismatches, irregularities in fleet maintenance, and risks of dips in residual value can crop up. This study sheds light on the market size across passenger vehicle (PV) and light commercial vehicle (LCV) segments and provides sales/parc data for the total market and fleet and company car (true fleet) segments. The company car segment is discussed in detail, with a focus on the actual development and the growth potential of financial lease, operational lease, and outright purchase. The analysis takes into account historical data and current market conditions and insights and opinions from market participants to provide a five-year outlook on growth opportunities (over the 2017-2022 period). In addition to market data (PV and LCV) for new registrations and portfolio, the study provides actual competitor data (portfolio) for the leading leasing service providers in the country. Competitor data is available for both the leasing segments (operational and financial) for the base year, 2017. The evolution of any industry depends on factors such as transformational trends that are linked to the macroeconomic factors of the region and the emerging business models that reflect innovation in mobility solutions, such as rental, car sharing (peer to peer, corporate, traditional), integrated mobility, and alternative powertrain (petrol, diesel, BEV, PHEV, FCEV, Others ). The study covers these evolutionary trends that are expected to shape the market. For leasing providers and other companies that share the leasing ecosystem, interest lies in the growth opportunities that they need to look at and leverage and the strategic imperatives that aid in their pursuit of growth and success. Overall, the study provides a 360 degree understanding of the leasing space (region-specific) and offers a detailed account on the key trends, market overview, and outlook. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary Key Findings Market Engineering Measurements - New Fleet and Company Car Registrations Market Engineering Measurements - Fleet and Company Car Parc 2. Research Scope and Definition Research Scope, Objectives and Methodology Research Methodology Definitions Market Structure Fleet Segmentation Car Sharing 3. Total Market for Fleet and Company Cars Total New Fleet and Company Car Registrations Total New Fleet and Company Car Parc 4. Total New Company Car Registrations and Parc Analysis by Funding Type Total New Company Car Registrations Total Company Car Parc 5. Competitor Market Shares Operational Leasing Financial Leasing 6. Analysis of Total Private Leasing Segment (New Registrations and Parc) Total Private Leasing - New Registrations Total Private Leasing - Parc 7. Growth Opportunities and Companies to Action Growth Opportunities Strategic Imperatives 8. Last Word Key Conclusions and Future Outlook 9. Appendix - Market Forces: Drivers and Restraints For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/au6e6x Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. WASHINGTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Equal Justice Works, the nation's largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, and the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the nation's single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans, today announced the selection of 30 law students for its Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC). "The Rural Summer Legal Corps allows legal aid programs in rural America to serve significantly more people than they could otherwise," explains LSC President James J. Sandman. "The 30 Student Fellows are smart, passionate, and committed to providing excellent service, and we hope that they will become part of the next generation of career legal aid lawyers." Launched in 2016, RSLC places law students at LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations that serve rural and isolated communities across the United States and its territories. Student Fellows spend eight to ten weeks during the summer gaining hands-on experience helping to provide direct legal services, engaging in community outreach and education, and building capacity at the organizations where they serve. "The Rural Summer Legal Corps addresses the access to justice crisis for people living in rural communities and provides a terrific opportunity for passionate public-minded law students to explore a career in civil legal aid," says David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. The 2019 RSLC Student Fellows will take on challenging projects that address a range of legal issues. Examples of these projects include: Phillip Clifton will conduct legal needs assessments for individuals affected by the opioid crisis. Phillip, a law student at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, will be hosted by West Tennessee Legal Services. will conduct legal needs assessments for individuals affected by the opioid crisis. Phillip, a law student at in St. Louis School of Law, will be hosted by West Tennessee Legal Services. Priscilla Mendoza will work on employment law matters affecting migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. Priscilla, a law student at Texas Southern University , Thurgood Marshall School of Law, will be hosted by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Mercedes. will work on employment law matters affecting migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. Priscilla, a law student at , of Law, will be hosted by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Mercedes. Maxwell West will help people facing foreclosures in the rural counties around Tulsa, Oklahoma . Maxwell, a law student at Oklahoma City University School of Law, will be hosted by Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma . RSLC Student Fellows have helped hundreds of communities. In 2018, law students served across 21 states, providing direct legal services to more than 1,500 individuals. Click here to learn about the 2019 Student Fellows and their projects. About Equal Justice Works Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for public service into a lifelong commitment to equal justice. As the nation's largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice. Visit www.equaljusticeworks.org for more information. About Legal Services Corporation Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 133 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Visit www.lsc.gov for more information. Contact: Heena Patel Communications Manager Phone: 202-466-3686 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Equal Justice Works Related Links http://www.equaljusticeworks.org "Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is committed to advancing research and development toward the elimination of neglected and emerging illnesses, such as schistosomiasis, one of the most common and devastating parasitic diseases in tropical countries, with more than 280,000 people dying each year as a result," said Batra. "We, like the World Health Organization, aim to tackle these global challenges and offer a better quality of life." The panel discussed the role of decentralized manufacturing as a strategy to address the problem of accessing medicines and biologics and tackling NTDs. Manufacturing of health technologies has been an objective by officials in developing countries around the world who are working with private sector partners to establish production, according to the WHO. "We understand from both our customers and governments that there is a strong desire to bring biomanufacturing closer to patients, wherever they live, to alleviate supply chain risk, respond to endemic diseases and manufacture at an acceptable or competitive cost," Batra said. "Today's single-use and bioprocessing solutions help make that aspiration possible. We stand ready to support governments and manufacturers in advancing their decentralized biomanufacturing infrastructure to enhance patient access to life-saving biologics and biosimilars." Since 2007, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, through its Healthcare business sector, has been supporting the WHO in the fight against schistosomiasis in Africa. The most effective treatment for this disease to date is Cesol 600, a tablet that contains the well-tolerated active ingredient known as praziquantel. The company produces the tablets at its plant in Mexico and covers the transport and logistical costs involved in getting the tablets to Africa, while WHO manages, monitors and documents distribution at the local level. The company has two separate collaborations with Baylor College of Medicine, one through its Life Science business and the other through its Healthcare business. In 2017, the Life Science business formed a strategic alliance with Baylor to advance vaccine research and development for neglected and emerging infections. Also in 2017, the Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany began a collaboration with the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (James Cook University, Queensland) and Baylor to research new biomarkers for the development of vaccines and diagnostics for schistosomiasis. Follow Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany on Twitter @emdgroup, on Facebook @emdgroup and on LinkedIn About Neglected Tropical Diseases Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a set of 17 diseases that disproportionately affect more than 1 billion people living primarily in the developing world. As a leading cause of disability, NTDs carry social and economic burdens. However, according to the WHO, many of these diseases can be controlled and, in some cases, eliminated. Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany is committed to research that will treat or even eliminate NTDs and has intensified its efforts to tackle NTDs as part of its campaign to provide access to health. About Schistosomiasis Schistosomiasis is transmitted by flatworms. By swimming or washing laundry in contaminated water, people can contract the worm larvae, which then infest their internal organs. The infection rate is especially high among children, and even when it is not fatal, the consequences are serious. In partnership with other organizations including the WHO, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has set the goal to fully eliminate this disease. About the World Health Assembly The 72nd Session of the WHO's World Health Assembly (WHA) will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 20 28 May 2019. The WHA is attended by delegations from all WHO Member States and focuses on a specific health agenda prepared by the Executive Board. The main functions of the World Health Assembly are to determine the policies of the Organization, appoint the Director-General, supervise financial policies, and review and approve the proposed program budget. All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, news releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group Website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register for your online subscription of this service as our geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service. About Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, a leading science and technology company, operates across healthcare, life science and performance materials. Around 52,000 employees work to make a positive difference to millions of people's lives every day by creating more joyful and sustainable ways to live. From advancing gene editing technologies and discovering unique ways to treat the most challenging diseases to enabling the intelligence of devices the company is everywhere. In 2018, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, generated sales of 14.8 billion in 66 countries. The company holds the global rights to the name and trademark "Merck" internationally. The only exceptions are the United States and Canada, where the business sectors of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operate as EMD Serono in healthcare, MilliporeSigma in life science, and EMD Performance Materials. Since its founding 1668, scientific exploration and responsible entrepreneurship have been key to the company's technological and scientific advances. To this day, the founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed company. SOURCE Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany BOCA RATON, Fla., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. President Donald Trump and former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden hold commanding leads in the race for their parties' nominations for president in 2020, and are in a dead heat in a possible head-to-head matchup, according to a statewide survey of Florida voters by the Florida Atlantic University Business and Economics Polling Initiative (FAU BEPI). In a crowded field of Democratic candidates, Biden polled at 39 percent, followed by U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders, who are tied at 12 percent, South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 9 percent, U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris at 7 percent and former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke at 5 percent. The survey polled how each of the top five Democratic candidates would do in a matchup with Trump. Biden fared the best in a 50-50 tie with Trump. Sanders polled at 49 percent to Trump's 51 percent. Trump won matchups with Warren and Buttigieg, both 52-48 percent, while Harris polled six points behind the president, 53-47 percent. Trump's approval rating among Florida voters rose to 47 percent (up from 44 percent in the FAU BEPI's March poll), with 44 percent disapproval. With former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld the only announced GOP opponent to Trump, the survey also included three hypothetical Republican challengers: U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich and current Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. Trump won 85 percent support in the poll, with Rubio polling at 5 percent, Kasich at 2 percent and Weld at 1 percent. A plurality of voters, 48 percent, supports legislation recently approved by the Florida legislature requiring repayment of financial obligations before a felon's voting rights are restored, while 34 percent oppose and 19 percent are undecided. In 2018, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment automatically restoring the right to vote to nearly 1.5 million people who had committed a felony in the past. The survey was conducted May 16-19 and polled 1,007 Florida registered voters. The survey has a margin of error of +/- 3.0 percentage points. Data was collected using both an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system of landlines and an online panel provided by Dynata. The polling results and full cross-tabulations are available at www.business.fau.edu/bepi. SOURCE FAU Business and Economics Polling Initiative Related Links http://www.fau.edu SPARTANBURG, S.C., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Advance America and Check Into Cash announced today that they have reached a settlement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) regarding Operation Choke Point, the FDIC program that pressured banks to cut ties with certain categories of lawful businesses, including payday lenders. "Five years after taking the extreme and costly step of suing federal regulators, we are pleased with the FDIC's actions to address past efforts to cut off our companies' access to the U.S. banking system," said Jessica Rustin, Advance America's Chief Legal Officer. "We uncovered how some FDIC leaders and officials executed a campaign motivated by personal scorn for our industry, contempt for our millions of customers, and blatant disregard for due process. This settlement will help to prevent this disenfranchisement from happening again to our business or any other legal, regulated business." As a result of this settlement agreement, the FDIC will issue a statement to reiterate its policies. The FDIC previously acknowledged that certain employees acted in a manner inconsistent with FDIC policies and existing guidance with respect to payday lenders, creating misperceptions about its policies. These attempts have proven ineffective in resolving the issue. The steps taken as part of this settlement are consistent with statements made by FDIC Chair Jelena McWilliams, who declared in a letter to members of Congress earlier this year that "[r]egulatory threats, undue pressure, coercion, and intimidation designed to restrict access to financial services for lawful businesses have no place at this agency." "While the FDIC took steps to reinforce its policies with staff and the industry, the effects of Operation Choke Point linger, with banks continuing to terminate accounts and refuse services to payday lenders," said Greg Madson, Chief Legal Officer at Check Into Cash. "It is our hope that this settlement clarifies once and for all the FDIC's policies, so that banks feel free to provide services to lawful businesses operating in compliance with applicable federal and state laws, without fear of regulatory pressure or retribution." The FDIC will conduct training of its examination workforce on these policies by the end of 2019 to ensure that its examiners adhere to the highest standards of conduct and respect the rule of law. The training will specifically include matters related to Operation Choke Point. Lastly, the FDIC has established a robust complaint process through which information regarding potential violations of these policies may be investigated. If banks or customers continue to be concerned that FDIC personnel are not following the FDIC's policies regarding Operation Chokepoint, they may email the FDIC at [email protected]. In June 2014, the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), the national association for small-dollar lenders, joined industry partners and its largest member companies, Advance America and Check Into Cash, to file the lawsuit, Advance America et al. v. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. et al., to end Operation Choke Point and the government's persistent regulatory overreach. Discovery exposing depositions and damaging emails of government officials, most notably at the FDIC, was released in October 2018 as part of the Plaintiffs' Motion for Summary Judgment in the lawsuit. The settlement is the result of court-ordered mediation prior to a judge's ruling on summary judgment. "Certain FDIC officials operated well outside of the rule of law and disregarded due process when they targeted lawful businesses under Operation Choke Point," said Dennis Shaul, CEO of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA). "Regulatory policy must never be predicated on personal preferences and this settlement should make clear that such abuses of power will not be tolerated." About Advance America Cash Advance Founded in 1997, Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc. is the country's leading provider of non-bank cash advance services, with approximately 1,900 centers across the country. The Company is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), whose mission is to promote laws that provide substantive consumer protections and to encourage responsible industry practices. Please visit www.AdvanceAmerica.net for more information. About Check Into Cash Founded in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1993 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Allan Jones, the Check Into Cash brand is a state licensed and regulated small balance lender. Check Into Cash stores offer check cashing, Western Union money transfers, prepaid U.S. Money Cards, and other convenient services as a complete One Stop Money Shop. Check Into Cash is a founding member of the Community Financial Services Association of America (CFSA), the trade association representing the nation's payday lenders. The CFSA advocates for best practices and helps enact legislation that balances the needs of the consumer with the interests of the industry. SOURCE Advance America Cash Advance; Check Into Cash HOPLAND, Calif., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Fetzer Vineyards joins more than 75 businesses including General Mills, Unilever, Levi Strauss & Co., Microsoft, PepsiCo, Exelon and Tesla to meet with a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers to call on Congress to pass meaningful climate legislation, including a price on carbon. Collectively, today's Lawmaker Education & Advocacy Day (LEAD) on Carbon Pricing is the largest business gathering on the Hill to advocate for climate legislation in over a decade. Fetzer Vineyards' participation underscores the vintner's commitment to supporting national and international climate action through a variety of means, including lobbying Congress to enact far-reaching policies. Standing Among U.S. Businesses for a Price on Carbon The businesses participating in LEAD include 20 Fortune 500 companies as well as trade associations, medium and small businesses collectively representing combined revenues of more than $1.7 trillion, a combined market valuation of nearly $2.5 trillion and more than 750,000 U.S. employees. Fetzer Vineyards is standing with companies that span the American economy, including retail giants, manufacturers, oil majors, healthcare services, food and beverage companies, outdoors industries, technology companies and energy providers. A full list of business participants can be found here. "At our winery, we've pursued practices for decades that minimize our climate impact from energy consumption, waste and more," said Elizabeth Drake, regenerative development manager at Fetzer Vineyards. "Looking to the future, we recognize the need for policies that support bold action on climate, which is why we're putting our voice behind a price on carbon in Washington this week." Putting Soil in the Spotlight Joseph Brinkley, vineyard director at Fetzer Vineyards, and other business representatives are meeting one-on-one with lawmakers and congressional staff from both sides of the aisle in the House and the Senate to educate them on the economic impacts of climate change and the need for comprehensive and effective national climate policies. Hosted by Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), these businesses will make the case for a strong and effective federal carbon price and share the private sector's vision for comprehensive solutions to tackle climate change. When meeting with legislators, Brinkley will share details of the soil study recently conducted at Fetzer Vineyards' Mendocino County vineyards, which highlights the climate benefits of regenerative agriculture and the positive relationship between soil and climate resilience. Fetzer Vineyards actively supports clean energy and climate-smart policies at the state and federal levels and is a member of the Ceres Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) Network. In California, the company recently advocated for Senate Bill 100, which commits state utilities to using 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. Fetzer Vineyards' participation in this week's LEAD activities supporting a price on carbon and other policy efforts complement a longstanding commitment to reducing impacts at the winery, which is now going beyond its doors to engage in meaningful opportunities to contribute to the global effort to slow climate change. About Fetzer Vineyards Celebrating over 50 years of acclaimed winegrowing, Fetzer Vineyards was founded in 1968 in Mendocino County, California. An award-winning purveyor of wines and spirits spanning multiple origins and available in more than 50 countries worldwide, Fetzer Vineyards is a leader in sustainable business practices, organic winegrowing, and craftsmanship in the cellar. In addition to robust offerings under the winery's flagship Fetzer label, the winery also crafts the leading wine from organic grapes, Bonterra Organic Vineyards, named American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine in 2016. Other California offerings include Adorada, Anthony's Hill, Beckon, Relay, Sanctuary Wines and 1000 Stories, the original Bourbon barrel-aged wine. Part of global winery Vina Concha y Toro, Fetzer Vineyards imports iconic South American selections such as Chile's most-acclaimed wine, Don Melchor, and the Cono Sur, Vina Maipo, Marques de Casa Concha, Casillero del Diablo and Frontera labels from Chile, in addition to Argentina's Trivento Reserve. Recently, Fetzer Vineyards entered the ultra-luxury wine and spirits category by forging a partnership with Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co. to sell its historic craft rye whiskey and Bourbon. SOURCE Fetzer Vineyards Related Links http://www.fetzer.com NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthy snacks for kids is the theme of Fidelis Care's latest Lunchology menu, released today on the health plan's social media channels and at fideliscare.org/lunchology. From crunchy granola bites to fruit-filled ice pops, the new menu features creative, fun, and easy-to-prepare snacks perfect for busy families on the go. "Snacking is a part of life for every family. For optimum health, kids should incorporate healthy, nutrient-packed snacks between three well-balanced meals a day," said Fidelis Care Medical Director and Pediatrician, Dr. Lisa Moreno. "One of the most promising areas of focus for reducing childhood obesity is healthy snacking. With our new Lunchology menu, parents have access to tasty and fun snack ideas for the whole family to enjoy." Fidelis Care Representatives will distribute the new Lunchology menu at hundreds of community events across New York State this spring and summer, where parents will also be able to learn about quality, affordable health coverage for kids. Everyone's invited to share their recreations of Lunchology menu items on the Fidelis Care Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram social media pages by using hashtag #lunchology. To view the new menu online and download a printable copy, visit www.fideliscare.org/lunchology. The menu is also available in Spanish. Launched in 2016, Fidelis Care's Lunchology program provides easy-to-make nutritious and cost-conscious recipes for kids (and adults) of all ages. Each year, Fidelis Care has created a menu that has inspired families to get creative with their meals. About Fidelis Care: Fidelis Care is a mission-driven health plan offering quality, affordable coverage for children and adults of all ages and at all stages of life. With more than 1.7 million members Statewide, Fidelis Care believes that all New Yorkers should have access to affordable, quality health insurance. For more information, call Fidelis Care at 1-888-FIDELIS (1-888-343-3547) or visit fideliscare.org. Follow us on Twitter at @fideliscare and on Facebook at facebook.com/fideliscare. Contact: Maria J. Ramirez, Downstate Public Relations Manager, [email protected], (718) 393-6360, and Allie Abbate, Upstate Public Relations Manager [email protected],(716) 564-6295 SOURCE Fidelis Care Related Links http://www.fideliscare.org/lunchology TEL AVIV, Israel and REDWOOD CITY, California, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Foretellix, an Israel-based start-up with a mission to enable measurable safety of autonomous vehicles (AVs), and Metamoto, a provider of enterprise AV simulation solutions, today announced a partnership to deliver measurable safety of AVs. The solution combines Foretellix's Coverage Driven Methodology for comprehensive scenario variance generation and aggregation of coverage across tests and platforms with Metamoto's highly scalable simulation platform to bring analytics, metrics and confidence to AV testing. The complete design flow will be demonstrated at the Autonomous Vehicle Test & Development Symposium in Stuttgart from May 21 to May 23 at Hall 6, Stand 5070. The design flow represents a combination of Foretellix's recently announced Foretify coverage driven verification technology, and Metamoto's Simulation as a Service offering, which includes scalable simulation (Director), GUI based scenario creation/vehicle configuration (Designer) and simulation replay/debugging (Analyzer) features. For further information about Foretellix and Foretify, please watch our video here. Foretify includes a Measurable Scenario Description Language (M-SDL) used to describe both scenarios and coverage goals at a very high level, soon to be made open to enable a 'measurable safety' ecosystem. It also includes automation to generate combinations of combinations of scenario variants along with monitors to check and track scenario coverage. Foretify also enables the aggregation of coverage data from the execution across all testing platforms (i.e. test vehicles, test tracks, different simulation environments and X-in-the-loop). Finally, analytics and metrics enable developers to know where they are, what to do next and when they are done. Metamoto's Simulation as a Service offering complements Foretify with its three components: Director, a scalable, parameterized simulator allowing for tests to run across a spectrum of environmental and hardware parameters and unique edge cases; Designer, a first-of-its-kind tool to custom build parameterized scenarios via a visual editor; and Analyzer, a comprehensive analysis tool to assess how a vehicle performed in specific simulations. The Analyzer tool in particular complements the Foretify analytics and coverage metrics and is often referenced as an autonomous systems debugger. "Foretellix believes that the industry's mandate for measurable safety of autonomous vehicles requires significant collaboration across the ecosystem. It also requires a transition from a focus on Quantity of Miles to Quality of Coverage," said Ziv Binyamini, CEO of Foretellix. "We are happy to be partnering with Metamoto to bring the industry a more complete coverage driven verification solution that not only exercises the massive number of scenarios critical for autonomous vehicle safety, but also extracts the metrics to prove it." "Automated driving is a software challenge of unrivaled complexity that has reinvented software testing best practices, particularly what it means to provide perpetual coverage at scale. Metamoto's partnership with Foretellix provides our customers with the tools needed to train and test their autonomous system software with a focus on the most important scenarios to ensure automated vehicles will perform safely in the real world," said Chad Partridge, CEO of Metamoto. "We're proud to provide comprehensive, best in class products and services that are available now and bring modern testing and training methodologies to the autonomous vehicle industry." About Foretellix Foretellix's mission is to enable 'measurable safety' of autonomous vehicles, enabled by a transition from 'quantity of miles' to 'quality of coverage'. Foretellix was founded by a team of pioneers in measurable verification and validation, with a highly automated and proven coverage driven approach broadly adopted in the semiconductor industry. They have adapted and tailored their approach for the safety verification and validation of autonomous vehicles. Foretellix's Foretify Technology includes an open, high level Scenario Description Language (SDL), intelligent and scalable automation, analytics and metrics. This includes the scenario coverage metrics required to make a compelling 'safety case' to consumers, developers, insurance companies and regulators. Visit https://www.foretellix.com. About Metamoto, Inc. Metamoto delivers a safe path to automated vehicle (AV) deployment by training, testing, debugging and validating their technologies in simulated environments. The company's Simulation as a Service offering is commercially available now and provides an enterprise, massively scalable simulation solution to world-class OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) and stack, sensor and other AV technology providers looking to advance their autonomous initiatives and improve the performance of their products. Metamoto is headquartered in the heart of the Silicon Valley in Redwood City, CA, and was founded in 2016. To learn more, visit https://www.metamoto.com. Foretellix Media Contacts : Israel Moshe Mendelson +972-377-5633 [email protected] North America Scott Fosgard +1-734-272-7440 [email protected] Europe Mike Stainton +44-7739-891040 [email protected] Metamoto Media Contact: Antenna Group for Metamoto Chelsea Lauber +1-646-833-0289 [email protected] SOURCE Foretellix; Metamoto, Inc. Related Links https://www.foretellix.com LOS ANGELES, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Franck Muller, pioneer luxury watchmaker, renowned for creating exclusive timepieces characterized by complicated movements and original designs, announces the launch of the Encrypto, the world's first functional Bitcoin watch. Frank Muller Centurion Gold Edition Franck Muller Encrypto Bitcoin Watch Each timepiece comes as a two piece "Deep Cold Storage" set, with its own unique public address etched on the dial and a sealed USB containing the private key The Encrypto watch was designed by Franck Muller with the Bitcoin universe in mind. The dial itself was tastefully designed using the QR code of Satoshi's Genesis Block address. A custom designed B within an emblem of circuitry, while the laser etched public wallet address elegantly sits as a QR code in its polished frame. Customers can customize both the dial and the band of the watch. Some models even include precious metals and diamonds in the dial and frame. The regional director of Franck Muller, Erol Baliyan, said: "We always aim to impact the customer at an emotional level and create a bond between the customer and the timepiece. As a brand, we are a trend maker with a solid track record and are not shy when it comes to adopting innovation. Bitcoin is the millennial gold is the perfect marriage between innovation and personal choice." Each timepiece comes as a two piece "Deep Cold Storage" set, with its own unique public address etched on the dial and a sealed USB containing the private key. Users can add their Bitcoin to their wallet or check their balance directly through the dial. The watch's QR code and cold storage system were designed in partnership with Regal Assets , a renowned crypto investment company with offices in the US, Canada, the UK and the UAE. Regal Assets made headlines in 2017 by being the first company to receive a government-issued license to trade cryptos in its deep cold storage vault, as covered by Bloomberg . "Our watch is currently available online and at our Dubai Mall store. We accept payment by credit card, bank transfer and also in Bitcoin. Buyers can also purchase the watch from our partner Regal Assets," added Mr Baliyan. The watch's cold storage wallet uses offline generated, non-deterministic TRNGs (True Random Numbers Generated) that cannot be hacked. The method for storing Bitcoin is quite popular among hodlers and early adopters due to its increased security and peace of mind. Rather than rely on slips of paper, users can scan the QR code on their watch to check their balance and deposit BTC in their personal safe, or their fully insured deep cold storage vault if they are buying BTC from Regal Assets. "I am honored to be part of the development of this process with Franck Muller. I believe this watch is revolutionary and is the perfect marriage between crypto and wearables, two booming industries. We are Regal Assets have always been big believers in cryptocurrencies and are always glad to partner up with established brands to come up with new and exciting crypto products," says Tyler Gallagher, CEO of Regal The Encrypto will be a limited-edition series, with a maximum of 500 units of each version available online. What about other altcoins? Erol says that Franck Muller is currently looking into Ethereum and the top five coins, including Ripple XRP for future models. You can learn more about these watches and place an order on www.franckmullercrypto.com and www.regalassets.com About Franck Muller Franck Muller is a name that needs no introduction in the world of elite watchmakers. The high-end horology brand, famous for its "Master of Complications", and unique designs such as the distinctive Cintree Curvex shape, has been revolutionaizing the industry since 1991. Franck Muller's watches are worn by various Hollywood celebrities and top level athletes. Franck Muller timepieces are famous for their fusion of "modern" style, mostly inspired by American watches from the thirties, like "Elgin tonneau", and traditional Swiss watch manufacturing. Learn more at www.franckmullercrypto.com About Regal Assets Regal Assets, a leading alternative investment company specializing in helping investors diversify their portfolio with cryptocurrencies and precious metals. The company has offices in the US, Canada, the UK and the UAE, and has attracted the support and business of prominent figures and celebrities including Dennis Miller, Laura Ingraham and Lars Larson. Regal Assets' CEO Tyler Gallagher, which is a member of YEC and the Forbes Finance Council, has been featured in Forbes, Smart Money, Market Watch, Reuters, The Street and Hollywood Reporter. Learn more at www.regalassets.com Contact: Harriet Mancini Email: [email protected] Phone: (877)205-1104 SOURCE Regal Assets LLC Related Links http://www.regalassets.com "The rebels systematically took over the country," Collins said in an interview on Brad Show Live. The rebel invasion - which spiralled into a 14-year, bloody Civil War - forced him and his family to leave the capital city of Monrovia and board a refugee ship with 10,000 other Liberians. "My family and I ran out of food, and I lost two brothers. The war got so bloody that other West African countries sent peacekeepers and ships," Collins recalled. Upon escaping and arriving in Ghana, he saw a 92 pound man, dying from starvation, staring back at him in the mirror. Immediately admitted to a hospital where he stayed seven days for treatment, Collins slowly recovered, and worked to establish a new life for him and his wife. "My wife was in medical school," he said, "and after a few months, my wife said she wanted to come to America." After enrolling in the nursing program at Carroll College in Montana, she packed her bags and left, he remembered. Wanting to join her, Collins registered as a refugee with the United Nations. And "the process took two years and seven months before I was able to meet her," he described of the drawn-out immigration process. Finally arriving in Montana with a green card, Collins reunited with his wife, and obtained a janitorial job at the local elementary school. With dedication, hard work, and giving back to the community, he transitioned from a janitor to a teacher before being elected mayor. Collins said, "America is the great equalizer. If you work hard, there is no way you won't make it. I encourage other immigrants to work hard, stay clean and do the right thing. Because if you can do those things, there are brighter days ahead." Catch the full interview on YouTube and Facebook with host Brad Bernstein! Brad Show Live is a 2019 webby honoree that airs Monday-Friday at 5:30 p.m. ET! https://www.youtube.com/user/sparandbernstein/featured https://www.facebook.com/SparBernstein/ Contact: Jill Gould, [email protected] SOURCE Brad Show Live BERLIN, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, May 21, international advocacy organization Global Citizen hosted an impactful evening at Berlin's Tempodrom, with leaders from across Germany and Africa making meaningful commitments towards ending extreme poverty by 2030. The first Global Citizen Live in Berlin was hosted by Hadnet Tesfai and Nikeata Thompson, with performances from Mafikizolo, Sido, Eunique, DJ Wana Limar, Serious Klein, and Lena Meyer-Landrut, alongside announcements and commitments to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Nigeria and Zambia led the charge with important commitments to water and sanitation, and to nutrition. Former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon, World Bank Chief Executive Kristalina Georgieva, and German Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development Gerd Muller all made powerful statements in line with the world's most pressing issues associated with ending extreme poverty and addressing climate change. Additionally, the government of Germany announced it will support 60 million smallholder farmers globally to adapt to climate change. The event followed weeks of campaigning from Global Citizens around the world. Global Citizens from Germany, South Africa, Nigeria, and 143 other countries took action in the lead-up to the event. The event celebrates Africa Day, which takes place on May 25 and commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now known as the African Union) on May 25, 1963. Global Citizen Live Berlin was presented in partnership with Engagement Global, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Live Nation. Link to Photos: https://edelmanftp.box.com/s/rm2onqaq1wfuqb4gii4bnfqk3vud804a (Courtesy of Global Citizen) Contact: Jason Lee, [email protected], 212-691-2800 SOURCE Global Citizen Dublin, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "US DoD Information Technology Services Market, Forecast to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The base year for financial spending is 2018, and the market forecast is estimated from 2019 to 2024. This research service focuses on the US Department of Defense (DoD) command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) information technology (IT) services contract spending. It provides an analysis of IT service technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Computer Hardware, Information Operations, Multipurpose Technologies, Networks, and Computer Software. It also provides information on contract activity for the 2018 calendar year. The DoD IT services contract activity encompasses Army, Navy/Marine Corps, Air Force, and Joint Services spending, all of which have been included in this study. US DoD IT services contract spending for the calendar year, 2018 constitutes the foundation of this research. DoD IT services comprise enterprise sustainment and incremental upgrades to networks of all types. This study identifies the defense departments and agencies that offer the best opportunities for companies trying to enter the US IT services defense market. It also discusses the market drivers and restraints, which sheds light on some of the contract numbers and emphasis on certain projects and programs. Moreover, the study seeks to provide an understanding of the government's focus and the services that it is likely to require in the future. The study presents an overview of program funding and contract activity for the DoD IT services market. DoD IT services for hardware, software, and other technology areas enable advances in communications, surveillance and reconnaissance, intelligence, administrative, healthcare, and many other operational areas. As information systems' dominance is an important factor, the service aspects of cybersecurity and information operations have also been touched upon. Multipurpose contracts are defined as those that utilize more than one IT services application area. Research service forecasts do not include classified programs and budgets. A substantial part of the total IT services market information is not accessible to the public. Program funding is derived from the DoD contract announcements and includes designated portions of overseas contingency operations (OCO) funding, but not Foreign Military Sales (FMS). IT services inherent in new-build tactical ground vehicles, ships, and aircraft platforms are included if distinctly specified by contract or contract modification. Program funding and contract values do not always align year-to-year due to administrative costs, multi-year contracts, and technology use across segments. Program and contract segmentation, large multi-year contract assessment, and funding forecasts for 2019 and beyond are made at the analysts discretion. Key Issues Addressed What are the areas of growth in the DoD IT services market? Which are the segments, technologies, and services constituting the market? What are the leading drivers and restraints for the DoD IT services market? What are some of the top contracts for the DoD IT services market? Which technologies and services do the contracts emphasize? Which are the companies leading the DoD IT services market? Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary Key Findings Market Engineering Measurements CEO's Perspective Executive Summary - Key Predictions 2. Information Technology Services - Market Overview Market Definitions and Segmentation US DoD IT Services - Market Landscape Key Questions this Study will Answer 3. Drivers and Restraints - DoD Information Technology Services Market Market Drivers Drivers Explained Market Restraints Restraints Explained 4. Forecasts and Trends-DoD Information Technology Services Market Market Engineering Measurements Forecast Assumptions Spending Forecast Spending Forecast Discussion Mega Trends - Long-term Trends Driving DoD IT Services Market 5. Market Share and Competitive Analysis - DoD Information Technology Services Market Market Share Top 10 DoD IT Service Contractors Market Share Analysis Competitive Environment Market Leaders by Contract Category 6. Growth Opportunities and Companies to Action Growth Opportunity - US DoD IT Services, 2019-2024 Major Growth Opportunities Strategic Imperatives for US DoD IT Service Providers 7. Information Technology Services Breakdown 2018 IT Service Contracts by Department 2018 IT Service Contracts by Type 2018 IT Service Contracts by Category 2018 Air Force IT Service Contracts by Category Top 10 Air Force IT Service Contracts Top 10 Air Force IT Service Contractors 2018 Army IT Service Contracts by Category Top 10 Army IT Service Contracts Top 10 Army IT Service Contractors 2018 Joint IT Service Contracts by Category Top 10 Joint IT Service Contracts Top 10 Joint IT Service Contractors 2018 Navy/Marine IT Service Contracts by Category Top 10 Navy/Marine IT Service Contracts Top 10 Navy/Marines IT Service Contractors Top Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and Cloud Computing IT Service Contractors Top 10 Cybersecurity IT Service Contractors Top Hardware IT Service Contractors Top Information Operations IT Service Contractors Top Multipurpose IT Service Contractors Top 10 Networks IT Service Contractors Top 10 Software IT Service Contractors 8. The Last Word The Last Word - 3 Big Predictions Legal Disclaimer 9. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/om3fy7 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. VANCOUVER, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. (TSX:GQM |OTCQX:GQMNF) ("Golden Queen" or "the Company") announces that it has completed the sale of its subsidiary Golden Queen Mining Holdings Inc. ("GQM Holdings"), which holds the Company's 50% ownership interest in the Soledad Mountain mine. Further to the Company's news release dated February 8, 2019, the group of purchasers including Thomas M. Clay and certain members of the Clay family and associated entities (collectively the "Purchasers") have acquired 100% of the shares of GQM Holdings. The transaction was approved by shareholders including a special majority of disinterested shareholders at the Annual meeting of the Company held on May 13, 2019. Pursuant to the transaction agreement dated February 7, 2019 (the "Transaction Agreement"), in exchange for the shares of GQM Holdings, the Purchasers paid the Company US$4.25 million in cash, released the Company of all debt owing to the Purchasers (approximately US$26.6 million as at the date of February 7, 2019), and returned for cancellation all options and warrants held by the Purchasers. The Purchasers also agreed to surrender for cancellation all of the 177,701,229 shares of the Company (the "Shares") owned by the Purchasers; the surrender and cancellation process is ongoing and will be completed as soon as practicable. Pursuant to the Transaction Agreement the Purchasers may also be obligated to pay a contingent payment to the Company if the Soledad Mountain Project is subsequently sold or transferred to a third party in certain circumstances. As a result of the sale of GQM Holdings, the Company no longer holds an active business operation or assets other than cash. The Company plans to evaluate opportunities for acquiring a new business or assets. The Company also intends to complete a consolidation of its outstanding shares on a 10 existing shares for each new share basis, change its name to Golden Queen Mining Consolidated Ltd., and apply to have its stock exchange listing transferred to the NEX board of the TSX Venture Exchange. "Closing this transaction provides the Golden Queen shareholders an exciting opportunity," said Guy Le Bel, CFO of the Company. "The Board and management are committed to determining the right next step for the Company." In connection with this transaction, Maxit Capital LP acted as financial advisor to the Company, Morton Law LLP served as Canadian counsel and Dorsey & Whitney LLP as US counsel, to the Company. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP served as counsel to the Special Committee of the board of Golden Queen. SOURCE Golden Queen Mining Co. Ltd. Related Links www.goldenqueen.com LARKSPUR, Calif., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HelloMDthe world's largest online platform of cannabis patients, doctors and consumerstoday announced delivery of THC-infused products to Los Angeles customers as part of a state-wide roll-out. Residents of the greater San Francisco Bay Area are already able to receive THC products from HelloMD's large menu of vetted providers within two hours of ordering. Now Angelenos will have that opportunity, too. "We're excited to welcome Los Angeles to our distribution base," says HelloMD co-founder Pamela Hadfield. "Our platform is special because we have a membership opportunity that allows for a 20% discount on purchases, a free educational consult with a cannabis-savvy doctor and no-cost shipping on orders $50 and better. Being able to directly serve L.A. members within two hours of ordering and meet their needs for medicinal and recreational products in real time is a milestone we've been striving for." Founded in 2014, HelloMD is the world's largest online wellness-oriented cannabis community as well as the nation's first and only digital platform to provide HIPPA-compliant video chats between cannabis doctors and patients in every state. HelloMD's digital healthcare platform offers today's cannabis patients a full turnkey experience. Cannabis consumers can consult with a doctor via real-time video, obtain answers to questions from a network of doctors and experts, explore the most up-to-date research and studies available, and purchase the highest quality cannabis and hemp-derived CBD products on the market. The HelloMD marketplace ships hemp-derived CBD products nationwide and to Canada. It has delivered same-day THC products to patients in Northern California since 2018. Los Angeles delivery launched last week in the city's western region and will expand to cover the metropolitan area from there. There's certainly demand. According to an April 2019 study conducted by BDS Analytics, two-thirds of Californian adults are already cannabis users or identify as "acceptors" who would consider consuming cannabis within the next 12 months. Product delivery is key in all consumer industries today and cannabis is no different. "We're delighted to be able to meet our adult customers and deliver products they trust directly to them, wherever they are," says Hadfield. "Dispensary experiences can be fun, but once you know what products work for you, it's more convenient to simply have them sent when you need them." To schedule an online video consultation with a HelloMD doctor, learn about the many medicinal benefits of cannabis and CBD, or to purchase a HelloMD partner product, visit HelloMD.com. The doctor will see you now. About HelloMD HelloMD is one of the world's largest online community of medical cannabis patients, experts, brands and trusted retailers, offering today's cannabis patient a one-stop-shop experience. At HelloMD.com, medical cannabis consumers can consult with a doctor via real-time video, obtain answers to questions from a network of doctors and experts and research as well as purchase cannabis products from within the HelloMD Marketplace. Say goodbye to pain. Say hello to HelloMD. For more information about HelloMD, or to join its growing member community, visit www.hellomd.com or follow us on Facebook (@HelloMDcompany) and Twitter (@HelloMD_com). PRESS CONTACT: Coats PR Michael Coats [email protected] 707.935.6203 Gretchen Giles [email protected] 707.570.7887 SOURCE HelloMD Related Links http://www.hellomd.com BOSTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Her Campus Media, the #1 media brand for college women and 360-degree college marketing agency, has acquired the Lala Media Group, Inc., a leading millennial women-focused media company. The acquisition underlines Her Campus's strategic focus on serving its audience with even more targeted content and programming and continuing to meet its audience's needs as they advance in their education and careers. the Lala will be rebranded as 'Her20s', the premiere digital and social destination and community for women navigating this pivotal decade of their lives, which is also a sweet spot for advertisers. "the Lala's mission of serving young women and helping them tackle these newly independent years is so in line with our own mission at Her Campus," said Stephanie Kaplan Lewis, Her Campus Media's Co-founder & CEO. the Lala was founded in 2014 by Molly Longest and Katherine Crowley, and since then millions of readers have engaged with its website and social media platforms, with content provided by 500+ female content creators across 150 colleges. You can find out more and sign up to receive updates on Her20s at hercampusmedia.com/thelala. About Her Campus Media Her Campus Media is the #1 new media brand for the empowered college woman and 360-degree college marketing agency, reaching over 30 million users monthly across flagship site HerCampus.com, on-campus network of 380+ campus chapters, InfluenceHer Collective of 4,000+ millennial & Gen Z influencers, proprietary events College Fashion Week and Her Conference, bestselling book The Her Campus Guide to College Life, and more. Her Campus Media provides award-winning integrated marketing programs for leading brands and has been named to Entrepreneur magazine's Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America, Forbes 100 Best Websites for Women and 10 Best Websites for Millennial Women. About the Lala Media Group, Inc. At the Lala, we believe in the power of sharing honest stories and the impact they can have on young women's lives. the Lala provides a positive space online for young women to publish topics most meaningful to them and aims to become a launching pad for young women's careers by teaching them tangible, transferable skills in the digital media space. Our writers have gone on to work for major media companies as well as launch their own successful blogs and businesses. Contact: Kayla Hoey [email protected] 617-783-3800 SOURCE Her Campus Media BEVERLY, Mass. and BOSTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HighRes Biosolutions and TetraScience announce a new partnership to integrate their flagship products to automate data collection and manipulation processes in life sciences lab automation. The integration streamlines data collection, aggregation, and transportation from HighRes' robotics platform, moving data automatically to downstream informatics applications via the TetraScience Data Integration Platform. Popular workflows include high-throughput screening with automatic ELN and LIMS data entry. This integration will be made available in prototype fashion to select customers over the next few months, and readily available to the community by the end of 2019. "We are excited to partner with HighRes Biosolutions," shares Siping "Spin" Wang, CEO, and Co-Founder of TetraScience. "With this integration, our customers and the broader Life Sciences community will be able to automate data generation, processing, and analysis saving countless hours and clicks. Further, they will now be able to achieve a 'round-trip' data flow between their ELNs and HighRes software, redefining the meaning of automation." Advancing Life Sciences Lab Automation HighRes Biosolutions and TetraScience provide automation solutions that are designed to make labs more efficient. HighRes Biosolutions' lab robotics and automation hardware and software paired with the TetraScience Data Integration Platform move lab data from instruments and software to downstream informatics applications, automatically. With this partnership, labs may streamline many of their processes using HighRes infrastructure and ultimately moving data downstream via the TetraScience Data Integration Platform. Ira Hoffman, CEO of HighRes, said, "We are thrilled to partner with TetraScience on this endeavor. We believe that proper and simplified contextualization of data being produced by automation coupled with industry leading data capture and pipelining will bring significant value to our customers. This partnership should enable any HighRes lab automation user to acquire their data with experimental context and serve as the foundation for automated data capture and analysis. These are fundamental elements to building closed loop automation processes. " The Partners About HighRes Biosolutions HighRes Biosolutions improves human health through life science robotics. The company designs and builds innovative laboratory automation systems, dynamic scheduling software, and lab automation instruments that accelerate and streamline discovery. HighRes offers highly flexible, modular solutions that provide its clients with the ability to scale and reconfigure their automation equipment as their assays or technology changes. Visit www.highresbio.com or follow HighResBio on LinkedIn . About TetraScience TetraScience is a Data Platform for Life Sciences R&D. Their technology helps life science companies advance discovery through insights into lab operations and comprehensive data integration. With TetraScience, laboratories connect critical information sources from instruments and lab systems to a cloud-based data platform. Data is centralized and standardized and available to downstream targets resulting in improved data management and streamlined process. In addition, TetraScience builds lab operation applications including Lab Monitoring via IoT technology and Lab Scheduling software. Visit www.tetrascience.com to learn more. Disclaimer The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company's products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. SOURCE TetraScience Related Links http://www.tetrascience.com SAN DIEGO, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- HOIST Fitness Systems, Inc. ("HOIST") announced that TuffStuff Fitness International ("TuffStuff") has consented to the entry of an order prohibiting it from importing into the United States the "Bio-Arc" line of strength-training products accused of infringing five of HOIST's patents. This consent order stems from an Investigation initiated by the United States International Trade Commission, styled Certain Strength-Training Systems and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1135, to determine whether TuffStuff engaged in unlawful trade practices by infringing five of HOIST's United States patents, all of which protect the novel technology found in HOIST's ROC-IT product line. "We are pleased TuffStuff has agreed to stop importing the Bio-Arc products," said Jeffrey Partrick, President and CEO of HOIST. "HOIST has built its reputation on innovation. It is what sets us apart. We invest substantial resources in new, innovative technologies and patents. HOIST is committed to defending its intellectual property." HOIST maintains an extensive portfolio of more than 190 patents, many of which pertain to its popular ROC-IT line of selectorized and plate loaded strength equipment. Over the past decade, HOIST's ROC-IT line of strength products, which continuously adjusts the user's position throughout the exercise, have become well-known and popular throughout the global fitness industry. HOIST Fitness Systems, Inc. Jeffrey Partrick 1-858-578-7676 [email protected] SOURCE HOIST Fitness Systems, Inc. MEXICO CITY, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Hoteles City Express, S.A.B. of C.V. ("Hotels City Express" or the "Company") (BMV: HCITY), announced the signing of a binding agreement with Deutsche Bank Mexico, SA, Multiple Banking Institution, Fiduciary Division F / 1616 or "Fibra Inn" for the acquisition of the City Express Chihuahua hotel. The total sale price agreed was Ps. $95.0 million plus VAT. This price represents a cap rate of 9.4% considering an NOI of Ps. $8.9 million generated by the hotel from May 2018 to April 2019 according to the information provided by Fibra Inn and on which a Due Diligence process was carried out. The hotel, which until now was a pure franchise and was operated by Gestor de Activos Prisma (entity related to Fibra Inn), will become part of the wholly owned hotel inventory of the Company and of Fibra STAY and will be operated by Operadora de Hoteles City Express with the objective of optimizing its performance over the next 12 months according to the parameters of maintenance, quality, productivity and profitability of the Company. The Company considers that the acquisition of the City Express Chihuahua hotel complements the competitive position of its proprietary hotel inventory in the northwest region of the country, which in the last 12 months has presented high single digit growth in revenues and represents one of the main poles of development and economic activity in Mexico derived from the arrival of new investments boosted by the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico, the United States and Canada ("USMCA"), the strengthening of the "maquila" activity and the convergence between the industrial, manufacturing, mining, logistics and export economic corridors. The acquisition of the hotel, subject of the binding agreement, will be executed over the next 62 days. About Hoteles City Express: Hoteles City Express is considered the leading and fastest-growing limited-service hotel chain in Mexico in terms of number of hotels, number of rooms, geographic presence, market share and revenues. Founded in 2002, Hoteles City Express specializes in offering high-quality, comfortable and safe lodging at affordable prices via a limited-service hotel chain geared mainly towards domestic business travelers. With 152 hotels in operation located throughout Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia and Chile, Hoteles City Express operates five distinct brands: City Express, City Express Plus, City Express Suites, City Express Junior and City Centro to serve different segments of its target market. In June 2013, Hoteles City Express completed its IPO and began trading on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "HCITY"; furthermore, on October 8, 2014, Hoteles City Express completed a follow on with the aim of accelerating its growth in new hotels in coming years. For further information, please visit our website: https://cityexpress.com/en/investors/ SOURCE Hoteles City Express, S.A.B. de C.V. Related Links http://www.cityexpress.com In line with this year's theme, "Empowering the Philippines to top up its national security and public safety by providing global innovation and expertise" , IFSEC Philippines 2019 attracts more than 100 exhibiting companies from both local and international scenes, bringing in the latest products, services, and technologies that are essentials in building a more secure and safer nation. The event focuses on providing a venue where global innovation and expertise in security, fire, and safety sector are freely accessible by the public. "The current economic growth of the Philippines is indeed in line with our theme this year. IFSEC Philippines is supporting the campaign towards reinforcing the national security and building the Philippines a safer place for our families and fellow Filipinos through showcasing the latest news and trends, product insights, and other services related to the security, fire, and safety sectors," says by Mr. Dexter Deyto, General Manager of UBM Exhibitions Philippines. IFSEC Philippines is strongly supported by the 3 government agencies -- Philippine National Police (PNP) Anti-Cybercrime Group, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). These agencies are solely responsible for protecting the nation from any security, fire, and safety threats. The exhibition at IFSEC Philippines helps in the development of these agencies by providing them the latest innovations and services and gathering various practitioners from the industry to one show. Aside from the exhibition, IFSEC Philippines serves as an educational tool to learn the industry overview and in-depth topics from experts in the security, fire, and security sectors. The show features seminars and conferences where resource speakers from both government and non-government organizations are invited. IFSEC Philippines is also a platform for networking activity where the Business Matching Program, an exclusive business matching service, is used to help the exhibitors and visitors meet face-to-face. This is perfect to connect with the right business partners to cater to their networking needs. Hence, IFSEC Philippines is expecting around 4,000 visitors to attend the 3-day show this year. The visitors profile come from almost all the sectors such as but not limited to agriculture, architecture, healthcare, government, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, distributor, manufacturing, IT, business services and more. IFSEC Philippines is the latest edition of IFSEC which is a globally recognized brand that consistently attracts key industry players, manufacturers, distributors, and experts from the security, fire, and safety industry. IFSEC conducts other series in United Kingdom, India, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and South Korea. For more information about IFSEC Philippines, kindly visit the official website at https://ifsec.events/philippines/. About the Informa Markets -- The Organiser IFSEC Philippines is organised by Informa Markets, a division of Informa plc. Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. SOURCE IFSEC Philippines Related Links https://ifsec.events/philippines/ La Fete was inspired by the Founder Donae Burston's zest for life and boundless appetite for travel. From Mykonos to St. Tropez to back home in Miami, what remained consistent regardless of location was people of every color and culture enjoying the rose experience together. Traveling around the world has been an essential part of Burston's life and he looks to share the joy he has received from his travels through La Fete. Each bottle of La Fete pours more than a glass of rose it pours a story of friends of all cultures celebrating life as they clink their glasses. "We couldn't be more excited to bring La Fete to market," said Donae Burston, CEO of La Fete du Rose. "To us, La Fete is much more than a traditional rose brand, it's a feeling and a lifestyle that we're thrilled to be able to share. We've teamed up with one of the most prestigious winemakers to formulate what will be one of the best roses on the market." With a commitment to create a St. Tropez Rose that is both authentic and exceptional, the group of beverage experts went directly to the esteemed Domaine Bertaud Belieu winery. Extremely dedicated to this blend, 80% of the 65-hectare vineyard produces rose. Additionally, the winery is committed to sustainable agriculture and was even awarded the Zero Pesticides Label in 2016. After several trips to the winery and a number of blending and tasting sessions, La Fete du Rose is now ready for release. The pastel, salmon pink wine asserts itself charmingly on the nose with agreements of dried fruits, bonbon and hazelnut. Complex and balanced with touches of curvature, this rose has a long finish with aromas of cherry. La Fete du Rose is made up of 80% Grenache, 14% Mourvedre and 6% Syrah. La Fete du Rose is a Miami-based company, owned and operated by CEO Donae Burston. Burston brings of 15 years of industry experience to this venture and has worked with brands including Dom Perignon, Hennessy, Armand de Brignac, Belvedere, Moet & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot. "In my 15+ years of experience in the industry, I realized that many brands served a very one-dimensional audience," Burston explained. "The world we live in is multicultural and we wanted to create a wine that reflected that; La Fete aims to be inclusive and to appeal to people from all cultures and backgrounds. La Fete is a party and everyone's invited." Giving back and celebrating diversity are an integral part of La Fete's brand culture. The company will donate a portion of the proceeds from every bottle to various programs that send under-privileged, low-income youths overseas to help them develop new skillsets and grow as global citizens. ABOUT LA FETE DU ROSE La Fete du Rose is currently available for purchase in Miami, New York and Atlanta at top restaurant and hotel properties including Faena, 1 Hotel South Beach, W South Beach, Byblos Miami and Sweet Liberty Drinks & Supply Co in Miami , in addition to 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, Surf Lodge, Capri South Hampton in New York, as well as The Regent Cocktail Club, American Cut and The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. Recognizing that convenience is king to millennials, the wine will utilize a direct-to-consumer model and is available via key digital wine clubs and online retailers including reservebar.com. For more information, please visit www.lafeterose.com. PR CONTACT Matt Brooks | ALCHEMY 786.888.4556 [email protected] SOCIAL MEDIA @lafeterose SOURCE La Fete du Rose Related Links http://www.lafeterose.com A number of distinguished guests attended the event, including Li Ling, vice director of China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment; Zhuang Youlin, vice inspector of Guangdong Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese; Li Yufen, secretary of Party Committee of Social Organizations of Jiangmen and deputy researcher of Jiangmen Civil Affairs Bureau; Zhou Weizhong, director of China Enterprise Research Center at Central University of Finance and Economics and professor at Business School; Han Bin, executive secretary of United Nations Global Compact Network China; Huang Jianlong, vice chairman of Si Li Ji Ren Foundation and senior vice president of Infinitus; Zhang Qian, director-general of Si Li Ji Ren Foundation and media affairs director of Infinitus; and Liu Li, Infinitus distributor representative. The event boasted over 240,000 online viewers on that day. Infinitus launches the 5.20 Social Responsibility Day following two years of preparation In 2017, Infinitus established the 5.20 Social Responsibility Day Initiative Committee in cooperation with the Corporate Citizen Committee of the China Association of Social Workers, SynTao, Ant Financial, Yili Group, Bayer China, FAW Group, L'Oreal China, Anta Group and Wang Lao Ji. In 2018, Sammy Lee, CPPCC National Committee member and chairman of LKK Health Products Group (LKKHPG) proposed the establishment of a nationwide Social Responsibility Day that advocates that "the community is more important than an individual", in a move to enhance public awareness of social responsibility and further engagement in social responsibility by both companies and individuals. This year, along with 5.20 Infinitus Social Responsibility Day, Infinitus released its 12th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report, detailing the company's practices in fulfilling its social responsibilities in six areas: health, quality, employees, partners, environment and community, as part of its efforts to respond to the concerns and expectations of consumers and the wider society in a forthright and transparent manner. Infinitus holds consumer experience event at manufacturing facilities to underline the company's commitment to quality and social responsibility On the same day, a consumer experience event was concurrently held in Infinitus' Xinhui and Yingkou manufacturing facilities, at which consumers were invited to visit the facilities and witness the company's ongoing commitment to quality throughout the transparent manufacturing process. The field visit gave the visitors an opportunity to understand Infinitus' quality initiative whereby an error rate of 1% is considered to be a 100% failure. The visitors shared their feelings in real time during the live event. "We find it easy for consumers to trace the origin of the raw materials that go into a product and learn about each of the planting and manufacturing processes by scanning the QR code, assuring them of the quality of products they purchase," said a visitor to the Xinhui facility. "We witnessed Infinitus' ongoing commitment to quality during the tour of the facility as we learned about the product testing procedures there as part of the company's strict process during the manufacturing of each bottle of oral liquid," noted a visitor to the Yingkou facility. Attendees unveil the 5.20 Social Responsibility Day Manifesto in terms of social responsibility engagement Public awareness of social responsibility needs to be raised with government guidance, industry promotion, corporate practices and social participation. The increase in the level of engagement in corporate social responsibility has played a crucial role in contributing to economic development, social stability and human well-being as the companies that make the products and provide the services that we consume are an important part of society as well as a key component of the ecosystem that makes up the overall market. For a business, it is their social responsibility to provide quality products and services, care for their employees, achieve a win-win situation with suppliers, create a harmonious environment and benefit the community. Several guests expressed their expectations for 5.20 Social Responsibility Day onsite. The event concluded with Mr. Huang Jianlong, vice chairman of Si Li Ji Ren Foundation and senior vice president of Infinitus, and the trustees of Si Li Ji Ren Foundation, together with Ms. Liu Li, Infinitus distributor representative, reading the 5.20 Social Responsibility Day Manifesto together. The manifesto promises to: "Actively respond to the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals by promoting the sustainable development of the industry and the wider society through creating a healthy life-balanced public welfare brand and engage in social responsibility activities in six areas: health, quality, employees, partners, environment and community." With the hosting of 5.20 Social Responsibility Day, Infinitus hopes to increase the awareness of social responsibility and enhance cohesion across the organization, in a move to promote the healthy development of the industry and protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers by creating a fair, safe and stable market environment. The company plans to establish 5.20 Social Responsibility Day as an annual event held on May 20, with a focus on responsibility-themed events in various forms designed to highlight the importance of engaging in corporate social responsibility. Appendix: Excerpts from guest speeches "With the hosting of the 5.20 Social Responsibility Day, we hope to increase the awareness of social responsibility and enhance cohesion across the organization, in a move to promote the healthy development of the industry and protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers by creating a fair, safe and stable market environment. I call for establishing May 20 as a "social responsibility day" for the whole industry, in a move to enhance the image of what it means to act responsibly, promote the healthy development of the industry and create something that is beneficial to society." -- Huang Jianlong, Vice Chairman of Si Li Ji Ren Foundation and Senior Vice President of Infinitus (China) Company Ltd. "Infinitus started early, took a practical approach while emphasizing communication as a key component in fulfilling its social responsibility. Today's Social Responsibility Day event demonstrated Infinitus' openness, transparency and straight-forwardness and played an important role in increasing the awareness of Infinitus' social responsibility engagement, minimizing the likelihood of having the efforts misunderstood while creating a more harmonious external environment for development. We believe that this will also inspire and mobilize more companies to focus more on communicating with their stakeholders, helping increase the level of trust and enhance their image." -- Li Ling, Vice Director of China Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment "Poverty alleviation efforts cannot achieve decisive progress without the engagement of social forces. We hope that more charities and companies can consciously fulfill their social responsibility and actively participate in the fight against poverty." -- Li Yufen, Secretary of Party Committee of Social Organizations of Jiangmen and Deputy Researcher of Jiangmen Civil Affairs Bureau "Infinitus continues taking concrete steps towards its commitment to social responsibility as the firm believes social responsibility is inherent to the company's sustainable development rather than a burden, and as a result, every and each business should indentify a point connecting itself with the fulfilling of corporate social responsibility." -- Zhou Weizhong, Director of China Enterprise Research Center at Central University of Finance and Economics and Professor at Business School "I'm excited about Infinitus' long-term commitment to social responsibility. We look forward to the company's wider impact on the community with its social responsibility endeavors and its new solutions for furthering the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals." -- Han Bin, Executive Secretary of United Nations Global Compact Network China "With the release of the latest annual CSR report, we aim to help our employees discover the significance of their work and our partners understand the value of us as a company while strengthening the community's trust in us by telling a meaningful story about the fulfillment of responsibility frankly and transparently." -- Zhang Qian, Director-General of Si Li Ji Ren Foundation and Media Affairs Director of Infinitus (China) Company Ltd. "I'm making a call for all our business partners to insist on the core values represented by the firm's Si Li Ji Ren philosophy ("the interests of all should be considered before taking any action"), proactively protect the rights of consumers and provide them with better products and services, while fulfilling our social responsibility and working together with Infinitus to create a harmonious business environment." -- Liu Li, Infinitus distributor representative SOURCE Infinitus (China) Company Ltd. BIRMINGHAM, England, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Infinity CCS, a UK-based technology provider, congratulates its client, the Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY), on winning the Department's Community Mayors Nicholas DeGaeta Award for the implementation of its 9-1-1 Computerized Triage System. FDNY has worked with Infinity CCS since 2016 to deploy the new system, FIT (Flexible Intelligent Triage) Platform, which is based on Infinity CCS' call scripting and workflow solutions for call centers. The FIT Platform was successfully deployed in 2016, and has now been in continuous use for nearly three years, supporting the FDNY's ability to rapidly and accurately process the 1.5 million 9-1-1 calls for medical emergency assistance that it receives annually. "We were the first and, to my knowledge, the only EMS system in the country that successfully bought a computerized triage software application from a company that doesn't build their application just for 9-1-1 use," said Edward Dolan, Deputy Commissioner. "For all our calls, processing time went down by 6.7 seconds, and we also found that processing times for our high priority calls those that are potentially life-threatening went down by 3.6 seconds. Most importantly, we have seen a dramatic improvement in quality of the call triage assignment." Numerous members from multiple FDNY bureaux collaborated to successfully design, implement and train EMTs as well as identify the questions and call type assignments that the new triage system would use. Completing this monumental task and meeting one of the Department's main mission objectives of allowing 1.5 million EMS calls to be processed faster and more accurately, saw all members of the FDNY project team presented with the Community Mayors Nicholas DeGaeta Award. Prior to the implementation of the computerized system, FDNY was reliant on an old triage system, established in the 1980s, that required dispatchers to follow a paper-based system to determine how critical each medical call was in order to dispatch the correct ambulance. In the nearly three years since it has been rolled out, the new computerized triage system has improved response times, data tracking and dispatch training, as well as accuracy of dispatching the correct resources for each call type. "We've implemented a whole new system without a hitch," concluded David Prezant MD, Chief Medical Officer of FDNY. "I think it's a huge accomplishment." Contact Luisa Manning +44(0)121-794-6836 SOURCE Infinity CCS Related Links www.infinityccs.com NANTES, France, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OSE Immunotherapeutics SA (ISIN: FR0012127173; Mnemo: OSE), today announced that it will host a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) meeting on novel treatments in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on May 30th in New York City. The meeting will feature a presentation by KOL Benjamin Besse, M.D., Ph.D., from the Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France, who will discuss the current treatment landscape and unmet medical need in patients with thoracic cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Dr. Besse will be available at the conclusion of the event to answer questions. At the event, the management team of OSE Immunotherapeutics will also provide an overview of the Companys development plans for Tedopi, a proprietary combination of nine optimized neo-epitopes plus one epitope giving universal helper T cell response targeting T cell activation, and will be available for questions. Tedopi is OSEs most advanced product, currently in Phase 3 in patients with NSCLC after immune checkpoint inhibitor failure. Tedopi is also in Phase 2 status in pancreatic cancer, a trial sponsored by the GERCOR cooperative group in oncology. Dr. Benjamin Besse is a professor of Medical Oncology and a full time cancer specialist at Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus. Currently, Dr. Besse is Head of the Cancer Medicine Department at Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Chair of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Lung Group and coordinator of the French network for thymic malignancies. His main research interests include: the application of molecular abnormalities to personalize treatment, circulating biomarkers, early drug development in thoracic tumors and thymic malignancies. He has authored/co-authored more than 250 peer-reviewed papers. This event is intended for institutional investors, sell-side analysts, investment bankers, and business development professionals only. Please RSVP in advance if you plan to attend, as space is limited. Members of the media and the public are invited to participate via the live webcast. ABOUT OSE Immunotherapeutics OSE Immunotherapeutics is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on developing and partnering therapies to control the immune system for immuno-oncology and autoimmune diseases. The company has a diversified first-in-class clinical portfolio consisting of several scientific and technological platforms including neoepitopes and agonist or antagonist monoclonal antibodies, all ideally positioned to fight cancer and autoimmune diseases. The most advanced therapeutic-candidate, Tedopi, is a proprietary combination of 10 neo-epitopes aimed at stimulating T-lymphocytes and is currently in Phase 3 development in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after checkpoint inhibitor failure (anti PD-1 and anti PD-L1) and in Phase 2 testing in pancreatic cancer in combination with checkpoint inhibitor Opdivo. FR104 (an anti-CD28 mAb) has successfully completed Phase 1 testing and has potential to treat autoimmune diseases. BI 765063 (OSE-172) (anti-SIRPa monoclonal antibody) is under a license and collaboration agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim; this checkpoint inhibitor has received CTA from French and Belgian health authorities for a Phase 1 clinical trial in multiple cancer indications. BiCKI is a bispecific fusion protein platform built on the key backbone component anti-PD-1 (OSE-279) and targeting innovative targets. OSE-127 (monoclonal antibody targeting the CD127 receptor, the alpha chain of the interleukin-7 receptor) is partnered with Servier under an option agreement up to the completion of a Phase 2 clinical trial planned in autoimmune bowel diseases; in parallel, Servier plans a development in the Sjogren syndrome. OSE-127 is currently under Phase 1 clinical trial. Click and follow us on Twitter and Linkedln https://twitter.com/OSEIMMUNO https://www.linkedin.com/company/10929673 Contacts OSE Immunotherapeutics Sylvie Detry Sylvie.detry@ose-immuno.com +33 153 198 757 French Media: FP2COM Florence Portejoie fportejoie@fp2com.fr +33 607 768 283 U.S. Media: LifeSci Public Relations Darren Opland, Ph.D. darren@lifescipublicrelations.com +1 646 627 8387 U.S. and European Investors Chris Maggos chris@lifesciadvisors.com +41 79 367 6254 Forward-looking statements This press release contains express or implied information and statements that might be deemed forward-looking information and statements in respect of OSE Immunotherapeutics. They do not constitute historical facts. These information and statements include financial projections that are based upon certain assumptions and assessments made by OSE Immunotherapeutics management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current economic and industry conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements include statements typically using conditional and containing verbs such as expect, anticipate, believe, target, plan, or estimate, their declensions and conjugations and words of similar import. Although the OSE Immunotherapeutics management believes that the forward-looking statements and information are reasonable, the OSE Immunotherapeutics shareholders and other investors are cautioned that the completion of such expectations is by nature subject to various risks, known or not, and uncertainties which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of OSE Immunotherapeutics. These risks could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in or implied or projected by the forward-looking statements. These risks include those discussed or identified in the public filings made by OSE Immunotherapeutics with the AMF. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. This press release includes only summary information and should be read with the OSE Immunotherapeutics Reference Document filed with the AMF on 26 April 2019, including the annual financial report for the fiscal year 2018, available on the OSE Immunotherapeutics website. Other than as required by applicable law, OSE Immunotherapeutics issues this press release at the date hereof and does not undertake any obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information or statements. SAN FRANCISCO, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA), a leading medical genetics company, today announced that Sean George, co-founder and chief executive officer of Invitae will present at the 2019 William Blair Growth Stock Conference on Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 2:40 p.m. Central / 12:40 p.m. Pacific in Chicago. A live webcast of the presentation may be accessed by visiting the investors section of the company's website at ir.invitae.com . A replay of the webcast will be available shortly after the conclusion of the presentation and will be archived on the company's website. About Invitae Invitae Corporation (NYSE: NVTA) is a leading medical genetics company, whose mission is to bring comprehensive genetic information into mainstream medicine to improve healthcare for billions of people. Invitae's goal is to aggregate the world's genetic tests into a single service with higher quality, faster turnaround time, and lower prices. For more information, visit the company's website at invitae.com. Source: Invitae Corporation Contact: Laura D'Angelo [email protected] (628) 213-3369 SOURCE Invitae Corporation Related Links https://www.invitae.com/en/ SHANGHAI, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. ("JinkoSolar" or the "Company") (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that it is scheduled to attend Morgan Stanley's Fifth Annual China Summit (the "Summit") from Wednesday, May 29 to Friday, May 31, 2019 at the Rosewood Hotel in Beijing. During the Summit, Charlie Cao, CFO of JinkoSolar, and Ripple Zhang, IR Manager, will be available to meet with institutional investors. About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, and other countries and regions. JinkoSolar has built a vertically integrated solar product value chain, with an integrated annual capacity of 9.7 GW for silicon wafers, 7.0 GW for solar cells, and 10.8 GW for solar modules, as of December 31, 2018. JinkoSolar has over 12,000 employees across its 7 production facilities globally, 15 oversea subsidiaries in Japan, Korea, Singapore, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Australia and United Arab Emirates, and global sales teams in China, United Kingdom, France, Netherlands, Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania, Ukraine, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama and Argentina. To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends, "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company's operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: Ms. Ripple Zhang JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. Tel: +86 21-5183-3105 Email: [email protected] Mr. Christian Arnell Christensen, Beijing Tel: +86 10 5900 2940 Email: [email protected] In the U.S.: Ms. Linda Bergkamp Christensen, Scottsdale, Arizona Tel: +1-480-614-3004 Email: [email protected] SOURCE JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. Related Links http://www.jinkosolar.com LONG BEACH, Calif., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- King's Crew (www.KingsCrew.com), an elevated boutique and friendly legal cannabis dispensary, is opening in Long Beach, CA. The Grand Opening will be on Saturday, May 25, 2019. King's Crew is a different kind of dispensary - with a contemporary vibe, plenty of parking, plus friendly and knowledgeable team members ready to assist customers and answer any questions. The dispensary is operated by some of the leading figures in the legal cannabis industry: Laurie Holcomb is the founder of Gold Flora, a vertically integrated cannabis company in California with licenses in cultivation, manufacturing, distribution and retail. King's Crew is the flagship dispensary for Gold Flora and will serve as the retail platform as they expand their operations. Greg Gamet is legendary in the cannabis industry as a cultivator, dispensary owner, packaging authority, and consultant who has over 10 years of operational experience in a compliant market. Together, the team built King's Crew into one of the most beautiful, full-service dispensaries on the West Coast. "We selected the name 'King's Crew' because we want our customers to know they will be treated like royalty," Gamet said. "Our goal was to create the nicest cannabis store in Long Beach," he added. "You have to stop by and check it out, because chances are, you've never seen anything like it." "We provide a premium customer shopping experience within our contemporary retail space," Holcomb said. "We carry only the finest compliant cannabis products on the market, and we have a great team in place to help each customer select the perfect product that meets their individual needs." The store will offer the best brands in cannabis, including: Gold Flora, Canndescent, Honeydew Farms, Sherbinskis, Mary's Medicinals, Care by Design, and many more. King's Crew is celebrating its Grand Opening on May 25, from 9am 9pm, with BOGO offers, special merchandise, and great deals. The store is conveniently located at: 5630 Pacific Coast Hwy, Long Beach, CA 90814 Learn more about King's Crew: Call (562) 513-5441, or visit: www.KingsCrew.com. CONNECT: Facebook: facebook.com/kingsLBcrew Instagram: instagram.com/kingscrewlb Twitter: Twitter.com/KingsCrewLB MEDIA: Innovation Agency [email protected] SOURCE Kings Crew Related Links http://www.KingsCrew.com NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, reminds investors in CBL & Associates Properties Inc. ("CBL" or the "Company") (NYSE:CBL) of the July 16, 2019 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company. If you invested in CBL stock or options between November 8, 2017 and March 26, 2019 and would like to discuss your legal rights, click here : www.faruqilaw.com/CBL. There is no cost or obligation to you. You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. CONTACT: FARUQI & FARUQI, LLP 685 Third Avenue, 26th Floor New York, NY 10017 Attn: Richard Gonnello, Esq. [email protected] Telephone: (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330 The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee on behalf of all those who purchased CBL securities between November 8, 2017 and March 26, 2019 (the "Class Period"). The case, Paskowitz v. CBL & Associates Properties, Inc. et al., No. 19-cv-00149 was filed on May 17, 2019, and has been assigned to Judge James Ronnie Greer. The lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by failing to disclose the Company was the target of a class action suit that could result in tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars in liability. The Complaint further alleges that Defendants completely ignored their disclosure obligation, motivated by a desire to avoid bad publicity surrounding their dishonest nature and their dishonest conduct. On March 26, 2019, CBL revealed, in a form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), the proposed settlement in a major class action lawsuit in which the Company was a defendant, announcing that the settlement money was to be set aside in "a common fund with a monetary and non-monetary value of $90 million." On this news, the Company's stock price fell from $1.91 per share on March 26, 2019 to $1.44 per share on March 27, 2019a $0.47 or 24.61% drop. The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding CBL's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others. Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner. SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Related Links http://www.faruqilaw.com Participants can perfect their craft and perform in a rich musical environment with a long tradition of excellence. There are several categories of participation: an Artistry Program for young professionals and pre-formed chamber ensembles; a Performance Program for college & conservatory musicians; an Advanced Program for students aged 15 to 18 years old; and a Seminar Program for students aged 9 to 14 years old. In addition, the Advancement of Chamber Music Program for Music Educators is intended for those who want to develop chamber music programs at their schools, or who want to expand their existing programs. Auditions will be held on Wednesday, June 5, and on Monday, June 10. Additional auditions may be set up through mid-June. To schedule an audition, call the LIU Post Chamber Music Festival at (516) 299-2103, or visit the Festival's website at www.liu.edu/post/chambermusic to download an application ans well as the 2019 Festival Information Booklet. The LIU Post Chamber Music Festival is available on a non-credit basis, or participants may elect to earn undergraduate or graduate credits. High school students may earn college credit through the High School Enrichment Program. Scholarships, Fellowships and Tilles Scholar Awards are available. The non-refundable application/audition fee is $40. Program fees and tuition vary with scheduled participation and programs. The festival will feature The Pierrot Consort, the faculty ensemble-in-residence at LIU Post, as well as other faculty musicians and special guest artists. The primary focus is the study and the performance of standard instrumental chamber music, including string quartets, woodwind quintets, and mixed chamber ensembles. Also included are a series of instrumental and performance master classes, a concerto competition, chamber orchestras, and a series of public concerts at Krasnoff Theater and Tilles Center for the Performing Arts featuring The Pierrot Consort and guest artists; as well as the Festival Chamber Orchestra and chamber music performed by Festival participants. In addition to chamber music, the Festival offers musicianship classes, individual master classes, chamber music performance classes, and a conducting program, which includes an overview of conducting and rehearsal techniques, music score study, musical style, and full orchestral and chamber orchestral repertoire. Conducting participants will attend master classes, receive training with the Conductors' Ensemble and observe rehearsals of the Festival Chamber Orchestra. For more information about the LIU Post Chamber Music Festival, contact Susan Deaver, Festival director, or Dale Stuckenbruck, assistant Festival director, at (516) 299-2103 or visit the Festival Web site at www.liu.edu/post/chambermusic About THE PIERROT CONSORT, the faculty ensemble-in-residence at LIU Post: Formed at LIU Post in 1981 by Susan Deaver and Maureen Hynes, The Pierrot Consort is also celebrating its 38th season as the faculty ensemble-in-residence at LIU Post. The members of The Pierrot Consort are Susan Deaver, flute; Dale Stuckenbruck, violin; Veronica Salas, viola; Maureen Hynes, cello, and Heawon Kim, piano. Besides performing at the LIU Post Chamber Music Festival, The Pierrot Consort has performed at Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Music Center in Manhattan, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Bartok Society at Saranac Lake, N.Y., the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Conn., the Stockbridge Chamber Concerts in Great Barrington, Mass., the St. Paul Chapel Series at Columbia University, and for the Islip Arts Council BOCES on Long Island. The members of the ensemble are actively involved in the musical life of New York City and have a commitment to the educational life of Long Island. The Pierrot Consort is a member of Chamber Music America. About Long Island University (LIU) LIU is one of the nation's largest private universities. Since 1926, LIU has provided high quality academic programs taught by world-class faculty. LIU offers 500 accredited programs to nearly 20,000 students, with a network of over 260,000 alumni, including leaders in industries across the globe. Visit liu.edu for more information. SOURCE Long Island University Related Links http://liu.edu SAN DIEGO, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Locana, Inc., a leading RNA-targeting gene therapy company, announced today the close of a $55 million Series A financing led by ARCH Venture Partners with participation from Temasek and Lightstone Ventures, all existing investors. New investors include UCB Ventures and GV (formerly Google Ventures). Proceeds will be used to advance and expand Locana's pipeline of RNA-targeting gene therapy programs, further extend capabilities of the Locana platform technology, and assemble a premier leadership team. Jeffrey M. Ostrove, Ph.D., former CEO of AbVitro and Ceregene, is named chief executive officer and director. The company's background technology was developed in the laboratory of Professor Eugene (Gene) Yeo, Ph.D. by Dr. Yeo and Locana Chief Technology Officer and Co-founder David Nelles, Ph.D. and was licensed from UC San Diego. Ranjan Batra, Ph.D., co-developer of the Locana platform, is vice president of research and development. A world leader in RNA biology and genomics, Dr. Yeo chairs the Locana scientific advisory board. Directors include Chairman Tom Daniel, M.D., of ARCH Venture Partners; Cayce Denton of Temasek; Jean George of Lightstone Ventures; and Drs. Ostrove and Yeo. Emmanuel Lacroix, Ph.D., is an observer for UCB Ventures. "The Locana team has rapidly advanced foundational science from Dr. Yeo's lab into an impressive preclinical data set, demonstrating potential of this RNA-targeting platform to be therapeutically impactful in genetic diseases and beyond," said Locana Chairman Dr. Daniel. Locana has advanced a powerful modular RNA targeting-effector approach to optimize and advance therapeutic candidates that is distinct from DNA-targeted approaches and nucleic acid-based RNA targeting. Locana is advancing multiple programs through preclinical studies with an initial focus on genetic repeat expansion diseases. "I was drawn to the power of the Locana RNA-targeting gene therapy platform and the opportunities to realize its full potential in dozens of diseases with first- and best-in class therapeutics," said Dr. Ostrove. "I am eager to build the team, cultivate our own pipeline as well as partnering opportunities, and set the company on the course to achieve long-term success with a portfolio of therapeutics to benefit patients." About ARCH Venture Partners ARCH Venture Partners founds and invests in disruptive early stage biotechnology companies. ARCH has co-founded or seeded companies that have pioneered gene sequencing, genomics, immunotherapy, gene therapy, cell therapy, vaccines, infectious disease treatments, and early disease detection. Over three decades, ARCH has raised more than $4 billion of committed capital through 10 venture funds, and has invested in the early rounds of more than 25 companies that have reached $1 billion market capitalization. www.archventure.com . About Temasek Incorporated in 1974, Temasek is a global investment company headquartered in Singapore. Supported by its global network of 11 offices including New York, San Francisco and Washington D.C., Temasek owns a US$235 billion portfolio as at 31 March 2018, of which 13% is in North America. Our investment strategy allows us to capture opportunities across the sectors in which we invest that help bring about a better, smarter and more connected world. For more information on Temasek, visit www.temasek.com.sg About Lightstone Ventures Lightstone Ventures was founded in 2012 by the General Partners of the life science teams at Advanced Technology Ventures (ATV) and Morgenthaler Ventures to invest in early-stage breakthrough medical device and biopharmaceutical companies. The firm has offices in Boston, Menlo Park, Dublin, and Singapore. For more information, visit www.lightstonevc.com. About UCB Ventures UCB Ventures is a 150 million strategic corporate venture fund established in 2017 to further strengthen UCB's ability to create value from novel insights and technologies that can transform the lives of patients suffering from severe diseases. UCB Ventures invests in innovative therapeutics and technology platforms that are early stage and higher risk, in areas adjacent to or even beyond UCB's therapeutic focus on neurology/neurodegenerative diseases, immunology and muscular skeletal/bone health. UCB Ventures takes an active role in its portfolio companies, contributing expertise in drug discovery, development and operations. Visit www.UCBVentures.com to learn more. About GV GV (formerly Google Ventures) seeks to invest in companies in a variety of fields, ranging from software and hardware, to life science, healthcare, artificial intelligence, transportation, cyber security and agriculture. GV has offices in Mountain View, San Francisco, New York City, Cambridge and London. Visit www.gv.com. About Locana, Inc. Founded in 2016 and based in San Diego, California, Locana is an RNA-targeting gene therapy company with a platform technology to address a wide spectrum of human genetic diseases. Locana has advanced a powerful modular RNA targeting-effector approach to optimize and advance therapeutic candidates that is distinct from DNA-targeted approaches and nucleic acid-based RNA targeting. Locana intends to build a portfolio of therapies that address the root cause of genetic diseases driven by dysfunctional RNA behavior. For more information, visit www.locanabio.com. Contact Pam Lord, Canale Communications (619) 849-6003 [email protected] SOURCE Locana, Inc. Related Links https://www.locanabio.com/ TSX : MFI www.mapleleaffoods.com MISSISSAUGA, ON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Maple Leaf Foods Inc. (the "Company") today announced that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX") has accepted the notice filed by the Company to establish a normal course issuer bid ("NCIB") program. The NCIB program commences on May 24, 2019 and will terminate on May 23, 2020, or on such earlier date as the Company may complete its purchases pursuant to a Notice of Intention filed with the TSX. Under the NCIB program, the Company is authorized to purchase up to 7,507,000 of its common shares (out of the 124,374,726 common shares outstanding as at May 10, 2019) representing approximately 10% of the public float as at May 10, 2019, by way of normal course purchases effected through the facilities of the TSX and/or alternative Canadian trading systems. The average daily trading volume for the six months ended April 30, 2019 was 161,203 common shares. Common shares purchased by the Company will be cancelled. Pursuant to the terms of a previous normal course issuer bid approved by the TSX on May 22, 2018, the Company was authorized to repurchase 7,844,000 shares. The Company repurchased an aggregate of 3,977,800 common shares on the TSX and on alternative Canadian trading systems at a weighted average price of $31.82 per share for cancellation during the period commencing on May 24, 2018 and ending on May 23, 2019. In deciding to establish the NCIB, the Company believes that the market price of the common shares may not, from time to time, fully reflect their value and accordingly the purchase of the common shares would be in the best interest of the Company and an attractive and appropriate use of available funds. Purchases will be made by the Company in accordance with the requirements of the TSX and the price which the Company will pay for any such common shares will be the market price of any such common shares at the time of acquisition, or such other price as may be permitted by the TSX. In connection with the NCIB program, the Company intends to enter into an automatic purchase plan with its designated broker to allow for purchases of its common shares during certain pre-determined black-out periods, subject to certain parameters as to price and number of shares. Outside of these pre-determined black-out periods, shares will be repurchased in accordance with management's discretion, subject to applicable law. For purposes of the TSX rules, a maximum of 40,300 common shares may be purchased by the Company on any one day under the bid, except where purchases are made in accordance with the "block purchase exception" of the TSX rules. About Maple Leaf Foods Maple Leaf Foods Inc. is a producer of food products under leading brands including Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Maple Leaf Natural Selections, Schneiders, Schneiders Country Naturals, Mina, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., LightlifeTM, Field Roast Grain Meat Co. and Swift. Maple Leaf employs approximately 12,500 people and does business in Canada, the U.S. and Asia. The Company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario and its shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol MFI. ForwardLooking Statements This document may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law including statements regarding future purchases of common shares under the NCIB. These statements are not guarantees of future events and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Some of these assumptions and risks and uncertainties are described in more detail in the Company's filings made with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information and there is no assurance that any common shares will be purchased under the NCIB program. Maple Leaf does not intend to, and Maple Leaf disclaims any obligation to, update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE Maple Leaf Foods Inc. Related Links http://www.mapleleaf.ca HOUSTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- McDermott International, Inc. (NYSE: MDR) today reaffirmed its previously disclosed schedule for the Cameron LNG project in Hackberry, Louisiana. As disclosed on April 29, 2019, McDermott expects initial LNG production from the third and final train to occur in the second quarter of 2020. About McDermott McDermott is a premier, fully integrated provider of technology, engineering and construction solutions to the energy industry. For more than a century, customers have trusted McDermott to design and build end-to-end infrastructure and technology solutions to transport and transform oil and gas into the products the world needs today. Our proprietary technologies, integrated expertise and comprehensive solutions deliver certainty, innovation and added value to energy projects around the world. Customers rely on McDermott to deliver certainty to the most complex projects, from concept to commissioning. It is called the "One McDermott Way." Operating in over 54 countries, McDermott's locally focused and globally-integrated resources include approximately 32,000 employees, a diversified fleet of specialty marine construction vessels and fabrication facilities around the world. As used in this press release, McDermott includes McDermott International, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. To learn more, visit www.mcdermott.com. Forward-Looking Statements In accordance with the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, McDermott cautions that statements in this press release which are forward-looking, and provide other than historical information, involve risks, contingencies and uncertainties that may impact McDermott's actual results of operations. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements about the expected timing of initial production of LNG on the third train on the Cameron LNG project. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that those expectations will prove to have been correct. Those statements are made by using various underlying assumptions and are subject to numerous risks, contingencies and uncertainties, including, among others: adverse changes in the markets in which we operate or credit markets, our inability to successfully execute on contracts in backlog, changes in project design or schedules, the availability of qualified personnel, changes in the terms, scope or timing of contracts, contract cancellations, change orders and other modifications and actions by our customers and other business counterparties, changes in industry norms and adverse outcomes in legal or other dispute resolution proceedings. If one or more of these risks materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expected. For a more complete discussion of these and other risk factors, please see McDermott's annual and quarterly filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. This press release reflects management's views as of the date hereof. Except to the extent required by applicable law, McDermott undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement. Contacts: Investor Relations Scott Lamb Vice President, Investor Relations +1 832-513-1068 [email protected] Global Media Relations Gentry Brann Senior Vice President, Communications, Marketing and Administration +1 281-870-5269 [email protected] SOURCE McDermott International, Inc. Related Links https://www.mcdermott.com NEENAH, Wis., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Menasha Packaging Company, LLC, a subsidiary of Menasha Corporation, announced that it is moving its designated Walgreens account team to Northbrook, Illinois. The new Health Care/Self Care "Center of Retail Excellence" will combine dedicated Walgreens-experienced project managers and new category data analysts with the Chicago-based Menasha/Walgreens design team. The new location is less than six miles from Walgreens' Headquarters. Colleen Wills, Menasha's Director of Business Development for Walgreens, leads the team that boasts a combined total of more than 50 years of hands-on experience with the retailer. She says the move was prompted by a desire to foster improved collaboration between Menasha and Walgreens to provide an enhanced focus on category data, brand benchmarking and speed to innovation for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies supplying Walgreens. "This location enhances what we deliver to both Walgreens and the CPG community," said Wills. "We have dedicated, in-house project managers to focus on optimizing the front end of the merchandising process, taking weeks out of the typical process. By having project managers and designers at the same location, we can go from concept to design to customer sample very quickly. Our expanded team focused on category data and analytics will also help us work with merchants to create greater operational efficiencies for Walgreens and its customers." The partnership between Walgreens and Menasha dates to 2002. Today, Menasha is an expert in Walgreens' extensive style requirements for retail displays. This expertise enables Menasha to help CPG companies deliver effective, compliant displays to Walgreens. "It's important to understand the categories and how your brands are executing compared to the competition," said Wills. "We have invested in new approaches to category data and competitive benchmarking that will be revolutionary, and the data tells us how to best allocate valuable merchandising dollars. We are excited to host these kinds of discussions in our new space!" Paul Murphy, Vice President, Retail Strategy and Sales for Menasha said he agrees. "It's critical to invest in meaningful relationships with customers like Walgreens so we not only speak in the same language, but our solutions address the needs and strategies of both Walgreens and our customers," Murphy explained. "This helps close the gaps between intent and execution so retailers can win more broadly while improving speed and reducing waste." About Menasha Packaging Company, LLC Menasha Packaging is the industry's largest independent retail-focused packaging and merchandising supply chain solutions provider. Founded in Neenah, Wis. in 1849, Menasha Packaging now has more than 3,600 employees at facilities throughout North America. Menasha Packaging is a privately held, family-owned company and a subsidiary of Menasha Corporation. SOURCE Menasha Packaging Company, LLC TAMPA, Fla., May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Molekule , a leading innovator in clean air purification, announced today that it's launching a groundbreaking materials manufacturing facility in the Tampa Florida area. Molekule's first U.S. factory, PECO Zero, will be a catalyst for bringing cutting edge science into people's homes by enabling faster scalability of Molekule's research and development to meet consumers' increasing demands for clean air. Molekule plans to build out its innovation team in Florida to create a hub for research, development and manufacturing. The company is committed to bringing growth to the state and expects to create hundreds of job opportunities for Florida residents, which will range from manufacturing to R&D for its patented photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) technology and other advancements in materials science. "Moving our manufacturing facility next to the heart of our research and development was an intentional decision for us," said Dilip Goswami, CEO and co-founder of Molekule. "The proximity between PECO Zero and R&D will allow us to accelerate our innovations in clean air technology and deliver results to our customers and the world at an exceedingly fast pace for science." The company has deep roots in Florida. Molekule's patented technology was developed over 20 years ago by renowned renewable energy scientist Dr. Yogi Goswami at the University of Florida and University of South Florida. Additionally, Dilip Goswami, CEO and co-founder, and Jaya Rao, COO and co-founder of Molekule both received their Bachelor of Science degrees from the University of Florida before founding Molekule and commercializing their father's PECO technology in 2014. "We are excited that Molekule made the decision to locate in Polk County," said Sean Malott, President and CEO of the Central Florida Development Council. "Their advanced manufacturing practices are creating high wage, high skill jobs. The CFDC partnered with both the University of South Florida and Florida Poly as well as the Lakeland Economic Development Council to land these new jobs in our community. Molekule will be a great addition to Polk County's business community." ABOUT MOLEKULE Molekule is on a mission to solve the global air pollution crisis by reimagining the future of clean air. What started as a quest to alleviate his son's respiratory problems, morphed into Dr. Yogi Goswami leading 20 years of rigorous research and development to create PECO technology, which destroys allergens, mold, bacteria, viruses, and airborne chemicals, eliminating them from the air we breathe. PECO now sits at the heart of Molekule's cutting-edge indoor air purification device, which is shipped throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and Canada, and is only the first chapter of Molekule's vision for clean air everywhere. Molekule is based in San Francisco and is run by Dr. Goswami's son, Dilip Goswami, CEO, and daughter, Jaya Rao, COO. For more information, visit: https://molekule.com. SOURCE Molekule Related Links https://molekule.com New York, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today announced that it has expanded its white-collar crime, investigations and tax practices in New York with the addition of partners Carlos F. Ortiz and Mayling C. Blanco. Ortiz and Blanco arrive from Blank Rome, where Ortiz previously chaired the firms white-collar defense and investigations practice group. Ortiz focuses on a wide range of matters, including white-collar defense, government and internal investigations, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), civil regulatory and criminal exposure, financial institutions, criminal tax probes, offshore taxes, healthcare fraud and allegations of money laundering. Ortiz, who is ranked by Chambers USA in Litigation: White Collar Crime and Government Investigations, served in the US Attorneys Office in New Jersey for 10 years and the Department of Justices Tax Division for five years. While with the US Attorneys Office, he held the position of Deputy and Acting Chief of the Criminal Division, supervising eight criminal litigation units and more than a hundred federal prosecutors. Blanco focuses her practice on similar matters, including white-collar crime, government and internal investigations, FCPA issues, criminal and civil tax issues, anti-bribery counseling and response to subpoenas. She has significant trial experience in federal courts, US Tax Court and state courts. Daryl Lansdale, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Managing Partner, said: Carlos and Mayling greatly enhance our white-collar crime, investigations and tax practices across several key industries and further enhances our global offering. These outstanding litigators can tap into their wealth of experience to offer seasoned advice on complex matters. Kevin Harnisch, Norton Rose Fulbrights US Head of Regulation, Investigations, Securities and Compliance, commented: Carlos and Mayling both have strong track records, including the elimination or mitigation of clients exposures. Their efforts often result in no-action letters, thus avoiding prosecution completely and/or the elimination or reduction of potential fines. Ortiz, who is a member and past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of New Jersey, said: Our clients often face multifaceted white-collar and criminal tax matters in the US, Latin America, Asia and Europe. Because of this global component, Norton Rose Fulbrights expansive reach is enticing to our clients. Blanco, who is active with the Hispanic National Bar Association, added: For the foreseeable future, regulatory oversight and enforcement matters will be significant priorities for companies in the US and abroad. Norton Rose Fulbright covers the full spectrum of these issues, which will benefit our clients and practice significantly. Ortiz received his LLM at the University of Baltimore School of Law, his JD from Brooklyn School of Law and his BA at the College of William of Mary. Blanco earned her JD at Seton Hall University School of Law and her BA at Cornell University. Ortiz and Blanco, who both speak fluent Spanish, are admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Notes for editors: Norton Rose Fulbright Norton Rose Fulbright is a global law firm providing the worlds preeminent corporations and financial institutions with a full business law service. The firm has more than 4,000 lawyers and other legal staff based in Europe, the United States, Canada, Latin America, Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East. Recognized for its industry focus, Norton Rose Fulbright is strong across all the key industry sectors: financial institutions; energy; infrastructure, mining and commodities; transport; technology and innovation; and life sciences and healthcare. Through its global risk advisory group, the firm leverages its industry experience with its knowledge of legal, regulatory, compliance and governance issues to provide clients with practical solutions to the legal and regulatory risks facing their businesses. Norton Rose Fulbright operates in accordance with its global business principles of quality, unity and integrity, aiming to provide the highest possible standard of legal service in each of its offices and to maintain that level of quality at every point of contact. Norton Rose Fulbright Verein, a Swiss verein, helps coordinate the activities of Norton Rose Fulbright members but does not itself provide legal services to clients. Norton Rose Fulbright has offices in more than 50 cities worldwide, including London, Houston, New York, Toronto, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Sydney and Johannesburg. For more information, see nortonrosefulbright.com/legal-notices. Law around the worldnortonrosefulbright.com. Attachments WASHINGTON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The Alliance to Fight the 40 | Don't Tax My Health Care, a broad-based coalition committed to repealing the 40 percent tax on employer-provided health benefits welcomes Families USA, Public Sector HealthCare Roundtable, the National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans (NCCMP), and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America in the effort to protect the health care coverage upon which more than half of all Americans depend. Repealing the "Cadillac Tax" has broad bipartisan support in Congress with 320 members in the House of Representatives and 37 Senators cosponsoring legislation in the current 116th Congress. "These four new members are the latest voices to join the chorus calling on Congress to repeal the 'Cadillac Tax' and protect job-based health care for working families," said James A. Klein, president of the American Benefits Council. A recent poll highlighted that 81 percent of voters oppose taxing employer-provided health care coverage as the "Cadillac Tax" would do. "We cannot wait any longer to repeal this onerous tax that is driving up out-of-pocket costs and reducing health care choices for working families," Klein said. "We are excited to welcome these new members to the Alliance to Fight the 40 as we continue the fight to protect working families from the consequences of taxing health care coverage." "We at Families USA have been fighting for almost 40 years to ensure the best health and health care are equally accessible and affordable to all," said Frederick Isasi, Executive Director, Families USA. "We are proud to join this nonpartisan and broad coalition supporting repeal of the tax on employers that do the right thing and provide high value health insurance to their employers. At a time when almost half of our nation's families report that they are forgoing needed medical care because they can't afford it, we should make sure that employers doing the right thing and providing high value health insurance for their employees are supported and celebrated, not subject to an egregious tax. "This ill-conceived tax presupposes that by exposing our nation's families to even more financial vulnerability in their health care, families will manage to bring costs down," Isasi continued. "That's wrong-headed and it hurts people, particularly the most vulnerable. Our nation's health care costs continue to increase absurdly. It's the responsibility of policy makers, the health care sector, and the government to figure our way out of this. From the costs of prescription drugs and surprise medical bills to the costs of specialty care, more than 80 percent of the families in this nation both democrat and republican - believe it's the responsibility of the government to get control of out-of-control health care costs. Let's get going!" "Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a painful, chronic condition that thousands of Americans face," said Beverly Francis-Gibson, President & CEO, Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. "Thankfully, there are no penalties for 'pre-existing' conditions in the employer market. Protecting this coverage is critical to the long-term management of the disease for workers with sickle cell. While we continue to fight for a cure, we will fight to repeal the 'Cadillac Tax' to help SCD patients live productive lives." "The so-called 'Cadillac Tax' will inflict harm not only on public sector employees, retirees and their dependents but the taxpayers who fund their benefits," said Gary Harbin, CPA, Executive Secretary of the Teachers' Retirement System of Kentucky and Chairman of the Board, Public Sector HealthCare Roundtable. "Our members - including teachers, police, fire fighters and many more and their families will be forced to pay more for less if the tax comes into effect. This approach must be avoided to protect public sector workers, retirees and the American taxpayer alike." "Millions of active and retired American workers and their families rely on multiemployer plans for their health benefits," said Michael Scott, Executive Director, NCCMP. "The 'Cadillac Tax' is harming our members and the more than 200,000 employers who jointly sponsor these health plans. NCCMP is pleased join to join the Alliance's effort to repeal it." Background. The "Cadillac Tax" is a 40 percent tax on the cost of employer-provided health coverage that exceeds certain premium benefit thresholds initially, projected to be $11,100 for self-only coverage and $29,750 for family coverage in 2020. More than just health plan premiums are counted when determining the "cost" of the plan. The cost of wellness programs, on-site clinics and other plan features designed to keep the workforce healthy and help reduce plan expenses are also taxed. The tax is designed to hit more plans over time so that virtually everyone in an employer-provided plan, including low income workers and families with chronic or catastrophic health conditions, will ultimately be affected. Families USA combines its policy expertise with its state and national partnerships to bring forth non-partisan solutions that ensure all Americans have access to high-quality, affordable health care and improved health. The Sickle Cell Disease Association of America advocates for people affected by sickle cell conditions and empowers community-based organizations to maximize quality of life and raise public consciousness while advancing the search for a universal cure. The Public Sector HealthCare Roundtable provides a unique opportunity for public health care purchasers of all sizes and program models to work together to help ensure high quality health care benefits at the best value for the plan sponsors and participants. The National Coordinating Committee for Multiemployer Plans is dedicated exclusively to the advocacy and protection of multiemployer plans, their sponsors, participants and beneficiaries. The Alliance to Fight the 40 | Don't Tax My Health Care is a broad-based coalition comprised of businesses, patient advocates, employer organizations, unions, local governments, health care companies, consumer groups and other stakeholders that support employer-provided health coverage. This coverage is the backbone of our health care system and protects more than 181 million Americans. The Alliance seeks to repeal the 40 percent "Cadillac Tax" on health benefits and prevent increased income taxes on workers, families and retirees who rely on employer-provided health coverage. The Alliance is committed to ensuring that employer-provided coverage remains an effective and affordable option for working Americans and their families. Contact: Tara Bradshaw 202-441-8255 SOURCE Alliance to Fight the 40 Related Links http://www.fightthe40.com SAO PAULO and LONDON, 22 May 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Natura &Co (B3: NATU3) announces that it is acquiring Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) in an all-share transaction, creating the fourth-largest pure-play beauty group in the world and a major force for good in the industry. The combination creates a best-in-class multi-brand and multi-channel beauty group, with direct connections to consumers on a daily basis. The group will hold leading positions in relationship selling through Avons and Natura's over 6.3 million Consultants and Representatives, a global footprint through 3,200 stores, as well as an expanded digital presence across all companies. The combined Group is expected to have annual gross revenues of over US$10 billion, over 40,000 associates and be present in 100 countries. Leveraging its iconic brands, common passion for relationships, and its omnichannel capabilities, the expanded group will bring beauty to over 200 million consumers across the world, anytime, anywhere, every day. By adding Avon to a portfolio that already includes Natura, The Body Shop and Aesop, Natura &Co will enhance its ability to better serve its different consumer profiles and distribution channels and expand into new geographies. Avon and Natura were both founded by mission-driven individuals, reaching customers through a force of independent, primarily female micro-entrepreneurs, who act as brand ambassadors and beauty advisors. Avon is an iconic brand with a heritage of over 130 years and is the world's leading relationship selling beauty platform. Its strong brands across key beauty categories and competitive positions in a number of markets give it significant potential for future growth. Natura &Co expects the combination to result in target synergies estimated at US$150 million to US$250 million annually, some of which will be reinvested to further enhance capabilities in digital and social selling, research & development and brand initiatives and to continue to grow the Group's geographic footprint. Luiz Seabra, Co-Founder of Natura, declared: "We have always looked at Avon with respect and admiration. Natura was founded on its passion for beauty and relationships, and today's transaction creates a major force in the direct-to-consumer space. Direct selling was a social network before the word even existed, and the arrival of technology and globalization only multiplied opportunities to connect with consumers in a meaningful way. The peer-to-peer sales model is evolving towards social selling and the power of digital allows the group to go beyond providing products and advice, and advances women empowerment, through financial independence and enhanced self-esteem. We believe that business can be a force for good and together with Avon, we will amplify our pioneering efforts to bring social, environmental and economic value to an ever-expanding network." Roberto Marques, Executive Chairman of Natura &Co, declared: "Following the acquisitions of Aesop in 2013 and The Body Shop in 2017, Natura & Co is taking another exciting, decisive step to build a global, multi-brand, multi-channel, purpose-driven Group. Avon is an amazing company, an iconic brand, with passionate associates and over five million Representatives who also believe in the power of relationships. Together we will enhance our growing digital capabilities, our social network of Consultants and Representatives and leverage our global store footprint and distinctive brands, connecting, touching and influencing millions of consumers with different profiles daily, making our Group unique and creating a formidable platform for growth." Jan Zijderveld, CEO of Avon, said: "This combination is the start of an exciting new chapter in Avon's 130-year history. It stands as a testament to the progress of our efforts to 'Open Up Avon', and we believe it will allow us to significantly accelerate our strategy and further expand into the online channel. Over the past year, we have started a transformation to strengthen Avon's competitiveness by renewing our focus on Her, simplifying our operations, and modernizing and digitizing our brand. Together with Natura, we will have broader access to innovation and a portfolio of products, a stronger e-commerce and digital platform, and improved data and tools for Representatives to drive growth and enhance value for shareholders. Further, with the support of Natura, we will continue to invest in cutting-edge technology to enhance our digital capabilities and productivity for our Representatives. Both Avon and Natura are purpose-driven organizations, and the combination will enable us to better serve our millions of Representatives, leveraging Avon's international presence with the same strongly-held commitment to enhancing Her experience and earnings." Chan Galbato, Non-Executive Chairman of Avon said: "Our focus has been to enhance the Representative experience, accelerate international expansion, improve our cost structure, increase financial flexibility, and ultimately position the company for long-term growth and success. The Board is committed to enhancing value for shareholders and this combination with Natura represents a new era of future growth for Avon. The Avon Board is confident that Natura will be a powerful partner for the Avon brand, while providing more scale, operations and expanded opportunities for employees and Representatives, and tremendous upside potential to both sets of shareholders. We are pleased to support this transformational combination." As part of this transaction, a new Brazilian holding company, Natura Holding S.A., has been created. Based upon the fixed exchange ratio of 0.300 Natura Holding shares for each share of Avon common stock, Natura &Co's shareholders will own approximately 76% of the combined company, while Avon common shareholders will own approximately 24%. Based on Natura's undisturbed closing price on March 21, 2019, one day prior to Natura issuing the Material Fact confirming negotiations between Avon and Natura, the transaction represents a 28% premium to Avon shareholders and implies a 2018 EBITDA multiple of 9.5x or 5.6x assuming the full impact of Natura's expected synergies. Based on closing prices on May 21, 2019, the transaction values Avon at an enterprise value of US$3.7 billion and the combined group would have an enterprise value of approximately US$11 billion. Upon closing, Natura Holding S.A.'s stock will be listed on B3 with a 55% public float and it will also have ADRs listed on the NYSE. Avon shareholders will have the option to receive ADRs traded on the NYSE or shares listed on B3. Further information is available in the Material Fact which can be accessed through the following link https://natu.infoinvest.com.br/ptb/7085/19550_691987.pdf Upon closing, the Board of Directors of the combined company will consist of 13 members, 3 of which will be designated by Avon. The transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions including approval by both Natura &Co's and Avon's shareholders as well as anti-trust authorities in Brazil and certain other jurisdictions. Closing is expected in early 2020. UBS Investment Bank and Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisors to Natura &Co. Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisor to Avon and PJT Partners acted as financial advisor to members of the Avon Board of Directors. Conference Call and Webcast NATURA &Co will host a conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 23 at 9:00 AM BRT, 8:00 AM EST to discuss the transaction. The conference call can be accessed by dialing +55 11 3193-1001 or +55 11 2820-4001 for Brazil, +1-646-828-8246 or Toll Free: 1-800-492-3904 for USA and Canada and +44 20 7442-5660 or Toll Free 0-808-111-0152 for United Kingdom. The confirmation code is Natura. Participants should dial in 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. A live webcast of the conference call and associated presentation materials will be available in the investor relations section of each company's website at http://choruscall.com.br/natura/extramay.htm About NATURA &CO Resulting from the combination of Natura, Aesop and The Body Shop, the corporate brand Natura &Co consolidates the creation of a global, multi-channel and multi-brand cosmetics group that is driven by purpose. The three companies that form the group are committed to generating positive economic, social and environmental impact. Founded in 1969, Natura is a Brazilian multinational in the cosmetics and personal care segment, leader in direct sales. Founded in 1976 in Brighton, England, by Anita Roddick, The Body Shop is a global beauty brand that seeks to make a positive difference in the world. The Australian beauty brand Aesop was established in 1987 with a quest to create a range of superlative products for skin, hair and the body. About Avon Products, Inc. For 130 years Avon has stood for women: providing innovative, quality beauty products which are primarily sold to women, through women. Millions of independent Representatives across the world sell iconic Avon brands such as Avon Color and ANEW through their social networks, building their own beauty businesses on a full- or part-time basis. Avon supports women's empowerment, entrepreneurship and well-being and has donated over $1 billion to women's causes through Avon and the Avon Foundation. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avonworldwide.com. #Stand4Her. Media enquiries Natura &Co: Marcelo Behar, Corporate Affairs Officer Natura &Co [email protected] Investor Relations Natura &Co: Viviane Behar de Castro, Investor Relations Director, Natura &Co [email protected] Media inquiries Avon: Natalie Deacon, Executive Director Communications, Avon Products, Inc. + 44(0) 7725 150853 Email: [email protected] / [email protected] Investor Relations Avon: Amy Greene, Vice President, Investor Relations, Avon Products, Inc. + 001 212 282 5320 Email: [email protected] NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION This communication is for informational purposes and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT This communication is being made in respect of the proposed transaction involving Natura Holding S.A. (collectively with Natura Cosmeticos S.A., "Natura") and Avon Products, Inc. ("Avon"). In connection with the proposed transaction, Natura will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") a registration statement on Form F-4 that will include a proxy statement of Avon and a prospectus of Natura. Natura and Avon also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction and a joint proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to shareholders of Avon. This communication is not a substitute for any proxy statement, registration statement, proxy statement/prospectus or other documents that Natura and/or Avon may file with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE FORM F-4 AND THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS REGARDING THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION. The Form F-4 and the joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about Natura and Avon, will be available without charge at the SEC's Internet site (www.sec.gov). Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus can also be obtained, when available, without charge, from Natura's website at www.NaturaeCo.com. Copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus can be obtained, when available, without charge from Avon's website at www.AvonWorldwide.com. PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION Natura and Avon, their respective directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction, including a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the joint proxy statement/ prospectus and other relevant materials when they are filed with the SEC. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Natura is contained in Natura's Reference Form for 2018, version 15, which was filed with the Brazilian Securities Commission on April 24, 2019. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of Avon is contained in Avon's definitive proxy statement for its 2019 annual meeting of shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 2, 2019. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. CAUTION ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Statements in this communication (or in the documents it incorporates by reference) that are not historical facts or information may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among other things, these forward looking statements may include statements regarding the proposed transaction involving Natura and Avon; beliefs relating to value creation as a result of a proposed transaction involving Natura and Avon; the expected timetable for completing the transaction; benefits and synergies of the transaction; future opportunities for the combined company; and any other statements regarding Avon's and Natura's future beliefs, expectations, plans, intentions, financial condition or performance. In some cases, words such as "estimate," "project," "forecast," "plan," "believe," "may," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "planned," "potential," "can," "expectation," "could," "will," "would" and similar expressions, or the negative of those expressions, may identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Natura's and Avon's expectations and beliefs concerning future events and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors are difficult to predict accurately and may be beyond Natura's and Avon's control. Forward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere speak only as of the date made. New uncertainties and risks arise from time to time, and it is impossible for Natura or Avon to predict these events or how they may affect Natura or Avon. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements as predictors of future events. Except as required by law, neither Natura nor Avon has any duty to, and does not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this communication or elsewhere after the date this communication is issued. In light of these risks and uncertainties, investors should keep in mind that results, events or developments discussed in any forward-looking statement made in this communication may not occur. Uncertainties and risk factors that could affect Natura's and/or Avon's future performance and cause results to differ from the forward-looking statements in this communication include, but are not limited to, (a) the parties' ability to consummate the transaction or satisfy the conditions to the completion of the transaction, including the receipt of shareholder approvals and the receipt of regulatory approvals required for the transaction on the terms expected or on the anticipated schedule; (b) the parties' ability to meet expectations regarding the timing, completion and accounting and tax treatments of the transaction; (c) the possibility that any of the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction will not be realized or will not be realized within the expected time period; (d) the risk that integration of Avon's operations with those of Natura will be materially delayed or will be more costly or difficult than expected; (e) the failure of the proposed transaction to close for any other reason; (f) the effect of the announcement of the transaction on customer and consultant relationships and operating results (including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees or customers); (g) dilution caused by Natura's issuance of additional shares of its common stock in connection with the transaction; (h) the possibility that the transaction may be more expensive to complete than anticipated, including as a result of unexpected factors or events; (i) the diversion of management time on transaction-related issues; (j) the possibility that the intended accounting and tax treatments of the proposed transactions are not achieved; (k) those risks described in Section 4 of Natura's Reference Form for 2018, version 15, which was filed with the Brazilian Securities Commission on April 24, 2019; and (l) those risks described in Item 1A of Avon's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. SOURCE Natura &Co DALLAS, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Leadership Women is excited to announce the appointment of the inaugural members of the Philanthropic Planning Council, which convened for the first time May 17-18, 2019, at the Omni Mandalay Hotel in Dallas, Texas. "This dynamic, inspirational group of high achieving women is now actively involved in establishing the first philanthropic arm for our 45 year old women's leadership organization," noted LW President and CEO, Linda Crompton. Leadership Women congratulates Susan Britt, June SL Chan, Dr. Mary Jane Garza, Dr. Nancy Little, Amy Lait Marcus, Lana G. Porter, Dr. Minita Ramirez, Alice Reinarz, Carolyn Schmies, Audrey Selden, Dale Simons and Julie Staggs, who are serving their first one-year term. Back row, left to right: Dr. Mary Jane Garza, Dr. Nancy Little, Dale Simons Middle, left to right: Carolyn Schmies, Julie Staggs, Dr. Minita Ramirez Front row, left to right: Lana G. Porter, June SL Chan, Alice Reinarz (Not pictured: Susan Britt, Amy Lait Marcus, Audrey Selden) Discussing the importance of philanthropy today, the LWPPC sees their goal as encouraging those women whose leadership path has been positively affected by their LW experience to give back in support of the long term mission of Leadership Women. "We all stand on the shoulders of those who came before us," Council Member and LW Board Member Alice Reinarz stated. "That's why this new opportunity for philanthropy is a way to pay it forward to help the next group of women." About Leadership Women Leadership Women, Inc. (LW) was established in Austin, Texas in 1974, with a mission to advance women's leadership through programs that connect, inspire, empower and honor women. Leadership Texas, the first official program, began in 1983. To extend opportunities for established women leaders, Leadership America was created in 1988. A program for emerging women leaders followed in 1996 with Leadership Pipeline. Leadership International introduced in 2013 has provided opportunities to learn about women's leadership in other countries including India, South Africa, Mexico, Scandinavia, and Canada. For additional information please go to https://leadership-women.org/ Contact: Linda Crompton, President & CEO Leadership Women, Inc. Ph. 214-421-5566 Email: [email protected] Web: https://leadership-women.org/ SOURCE Leadership Women Related Links http://www.leadership-women.org NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Nielsen (NYSE: NLSN) BASES announced the launch of Retail Ready, a new service for packaged goods manufacturers of all sizes, aimed to help companies win retail distribution for new products. Distribution is essential for new products. Consumer packaged goods (CPG) categories are becoming more crowded and retail shelf space is at an all-time premium. The beer category is a good example of these competitive dynamics. According to Nielsen IPM data, between April 2018 and July 2018 alone, the U.S. beer category saw more than 1,200 innovations enter the space. Competition is fierce. Manufacturers don't always have the best analytics to fight for shelf space for their innovations, and retailers often wish they were presented with more predictive analytics during retail sell-in discussions. Nielsen BASES Retail Ready provides the right competitive analytics for new products to demonstrate value to retail buyers in a language that matters to them. Retail Ready uses a predictive choice-based method, which mimics the choices made at shelf. Then, Nielsen's objective methods and expert consulting provide a recommended sell-in approach that will resonate with the retailer. Nielsen makes it easy because we do all the heavy lifting to provide rigorous, relevant and reliable inputs to manufacturer's sell-in stories in just three weeks. Retail Ready has already seen strong results in beta testing. According to Laurie McKinley, Director of Brand Strategy & Business Development, This Little Goat, a Chicago-based, fast-rising condiment company, "the data from Nielsen BASES' Retail Ready solution armed me with a comprehensive story on how the brand could grow the category by attracting non-buyers and trading up existing buyers. I received great feedback from the retail buyer and was able to successfully sell in new items." "As categories become increasingly competitive, retailer buyers are forced to make challenging assortment decisions every day," said Jeff Claypoole, Senior Vice President of BASES. "We know that our manufacturer clients struggle to bring retailer buyers the best analytics when selling in new items. With the introduction of Retail Ready, we are able to deliver BASES' industry leading choice-based behavior at a speed that supports the retail sell-in process. Our model is proven to correlate with in-market results." Nielsen BASES Retail Ready is available now in select markets, globally. For additional information on this new innovation service please go to innovation.nielsen.com/bases-retail-ready. ABOUT NIELSEN Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a global measurement and data analytics company that provides the most complete and trusted view available of consumers and markets worldwide. Our approach marries proprietary Nielsen data with other data sources to help clients around the world understand what's happening now, what's happening next, and how to best act on this knowledge. For more than 90 years Nielsen has provided data and analytics based on scientific rigor and innovation, continually developing new ways to answer the most important questions facing the media, advertising, retail and fast-moving consumer goods industries. An S&P 500 company, Nielsen has operations in over 100 countries, covering more than 90% of the world's population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com. SOURCE Nielsen Related Links http://www.Nielsen.com DUBLIN, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The "North America Strategy Consulting Market to 2025 - Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Services; and Industry Vertical" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The North America Strategy consulting market accounted for US$ 22.44 Bn in 2017 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% over the forecast period 2018-2025, to account for US$ 38.65 Bn in 2025. Factors including rapid digitalization have led to increasing competition in business sectors with technological advancements and breakthrough innovations driving the North America Strategy consulting market. Smaller firms emerging with disruptive innovations have gained the reputation as market disruptors as they pose challenges to the business of larger firms. In simpler words, the business arena today is characterized by cut-throat competition. Every business today strives hard to survive and gain a competitive advantage in the market outpacing its competitor. Further, the changing economics, trade relations, Government in a particular region drive the changes in the way businesses are to be done. The market players are focusing on various initiatives to enhance its reach and boost its position in the North America Strategy consulting market. The North America Strategy consulting market is fragmented with the presence of several industries and the competitive dynamics in the market is expected to change during the upcoming years. Some of the players present in Strategy consulting market are A.T. Kearney, Inc., Accenture PLC, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, Bain & Company, Ernst & Young Ltd., KPMG, McKinsey & Company, Mercer LLC, The Boston Consulting Group, and PwC others. Key Topics Covered: Part 1. Introduction Part 2. North America Strategy Consulting Market - Key Takeaways Part 3. North America Strategy Consulting Market Landscape 3.1 Market Overview 3.2 Market Segmentation 3.3 North America Pest Analysis Part 4. North America Strategy Consulting Market - Key Industry Dynamics 4.1 Key Market Drivers 4.1.1 Growing Expertise Across Business Sectors 4.1.2 Boost In The Regional Business Diversities Demand For Skilled Driven Consultations And Operations 4.2 Key Market Restraints 4.2.1 Rising Dependency On The Skills And Expertise 4.3 Key Market Opportunities 4.3.1 Increasing Acceptance Of The Performance Based Billing Business Model 4.4 Future Trends 4.4.1 Executions Of Multi-Sourcing And Automation Into Consulting 4.5 Impact Analysis Of Drivers And Restraints Part 5. Strategy Consulting - North America Market Analysis 5.1 North America Strategy Consulting Market Overview 5.2 North America Strategy Consulting Market Forecast And Analysis Part 6. North America Strategy Consulting Market Revenue And Forecast To 2025 - Services 6.1 Overview 6.2 North America Strategy Consulting Market Breakdown, By Services, 2017 & 2025 6.3 Corporate Strategy Market 6.4 Business Model Transformation Market 6.5 Economic Policy Market 6.6 Mergers & Acquisitions Market 6.7 Organizational Strategy Market 6.8 Functional Strategy Market 6.9 Strategy & Operations Market 6.10 Digital Strategy Market Part 7. North America Strategy Consulting Market Revenue And Forecast To 2025 - Industry Vertical 7.1 Overview 7.2 North America Strategy Consulting Market Breakdown, By Industry Vertical, 2017 & 2025 7.3 IT & Telecommunication Market 7.4 Healthcare Market 7.5 BFSI Market 7.6 Retail Market 7.7 Manufacturing Market 7.8 Others Market Part 8. North America Strategy Consulting Market - Country Analysis Part 9. Industry Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Market Initiative 9.3 Merger And Acquisition Part 10. Competitive Landscape 10.1 Competitive Product Mapping Part 11. North America Strategy Consulting Market- Company Profiles A.T. Kearney, Inc. Accenture PLC Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited Bain & Company Ernst & Young Ltd. KPMG McKinsey & Company Mercer LLC The Boston Consulting Group PwC For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/74caj7 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 SEATTLE, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- OfferUp , the largest mobile marketplace in the U.S. for local buyers and sellers, today announced law enforcement participation in its Community MeetUp Spots (CMS) program has tripled since its first announced the program in 2017. Community MeetUp Spots are public locations that are well-lit and monitored 24/7, and serve as a safer place for people to exchange items they buy online. OfferUp provides CMS signs to police departments and businesses for free, and when a new CMS is registered at a department, the location is added into the OfferUp app and featured on SafeTradeSpots.com, the nation's largest online database of safe exchange locations. OfferUp is the only online marketplace that works with police departments and retailers to establish internet exchange locations in support of local safety initiatives. As of this month, the number of CMS locations across the country has grown to nearly 1,900, across the 48 contiguous states. "Millions of people buy and sell through OfferUp and most times, they are meeting with a stranger to exchange their item," said Natalie Angelillo, vice president of community at OfferUp. "OfferUp's Community MeetUp Spots program and the additional security elements incorporated into the OfferUp app, including TruYou, Secure Chat, and in-app safety tips, are integral to our dedication to trust and safety. Ensuring safe in-person exchanges for our users has always been our top priority." As a result of OfferUp's distribution of free safe exchange zone signs, law enforcement agencies across the country are creating exchange locations in their parking lots or lobbies to give their communities a safer option to meet in person and deter criminal intent and activity. This program also drives engagement with law enforcement agencies, allowing OfferUp to provide educational materials with the latest safety tips for exchanging items bought online. "The Community MeetUp Spots program is a great example of how OfferUp is supporting law enforcement by observing the needs of our community and approaching with a solution that is both simple and beneficial for all," said Detective Geoff Delderfield, Chicago Police Department. "Deterring criminal behavior in communities, keeping citizens safe, and educating and building trust are all vital ingredients of Community Policing, and OfferUp is undoubtedly helping to achieve that." In 2018, the company expanded the program to include retail locations, beginning with a partnership with Giant Eagle grocery stores, including 92 Giant Eagle, Market District, and GetGo locations. The company expects to continue adding locations as more companies, including grocery stores and home retailers, join the program. For more information on OfferUp's Community MeetUp Spots program, please visit https://about.offerup.com/community-meetup-spots/ . Law enforcement agencies can request a free online marketplace safety kit and sign at https://offerup.com/meetupspots/ or email [email protected] to be added to the list of SafeTradeSpots.com locations. Retailers interested in participating or learning more about OfferUp's Retail Community MeetUp Spots Program should contact [email protected] . About OfferUp OfferUp is dedicated to building the simplest and most trustworthy way for people to buy and sell in their communities. As the largest mobile marketplace for local buyers and sellers in the U.S., the company's iOS and Android apps have been in the top five most popular shopping apps lists for more than three years. The privately held company is based in Bellevue, WA and backed by top investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Warburg Pincus, GGV Capital, T Rowe Price and Coatue Management. For more information, visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook . SOURCE OfferUp Related Links https://offerup.com ATLANTA, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Oliver & Rain, a sustainable baby clothing brand based in Atlanta, Georgia, was chosen to be featured in the celebratory album chronicling the journey of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Our Royal Baby is a beautifully designed book to celebrate the arrival of the newest addition to the House of Windsor and reflect on the current state of the British Royal Family and the place that it holds in the hearts of the nation. Oliver & Rain was selected to be featured alongside a handful of exceptional patrons as a brand that represents similar values to that of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. "I would consider ourselves a very progressive and open-minded company. We feel that our stylish design, baby-friendly products and sustainable practices are aligned with Prince Harry & Meghan Markle in that we are a company that cares," said Chris Rork, CEO. "We are so honored to have been selected to be part of the royal celebration." Our Royal Baby marks one of the most anticipated royal events of the century. Incorporating exclusive photography, this impressive publication is produced by St James's House, a leading publisher for major national and international events. Our Royal Baby is written by Royal Correspondent, Robert Jobson. The best-selling, award-winning author Robert Jobson has chronicled the story of the Windsors for the past 30 years. Robert is the royal editor of the Evening Standard in the UK and the royal contributor for NBC's Today Show and Forbes magazine in the US. "We are delighted to be showcasing Oliver & Rain's products in Our Royal Baby, the commemorative album being published by St James's House to mark the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's firstborn, baby Archie," says Royal correspondent Robert Jobson. "The mission behind this sustainable baby clothing brand makes them a perfect editorial fit for this publication. It's a pleasure to have them showcasing their stylish range of products that are both baby-friendly and practical for young parents Royal or not in this ever-growing environmentally conscious world." On the day of the christening, Oliver & Rain executives will attend an exclusive event in London. Our Royal Baby will be formally unveiled at this event with a book signing and press coverage. After the launch, the book will be available globally. For more information about Oliver & Rain, please visit OliverandRain.com For more information about St James's House, please visit stjamess.org Contact Name (Robin Polsley) Phone Number (678-571-4782) Email Address ([email protected]) Related Images oliver-rain-logo.png Oliver & Rain Logo SOURCE Oliver & Rain Related Links http://www.oliverandrain.com The forthcoming version of Android, Android Q, became available as Beta earlier this year. As an early adopter of the operating system, OPPO featured its newest smartphone 'Reno' in an Android Q Beta demo at I/O, offering software developers in attendance the opportunity to experience and test the device. During the conference, Google also announced that Android Q Beta would be available on OPPO Reno smartphones starting from May 8 th . Andy Shi, President of OPPO MEA, said: "OPPO places great emphasis on perfecting users' experiences through the integration of hardware and software. We are glad to have Google as an integral and long-standing member of our ecosystem of partners as we deliver extraordinary experiences through innovative OPPO technology." Reno's inclusion among the first batch of smartphones to offer Android Q Beta for testing underscores OPPO's strong capability in software R&D and its ability to take the lead in responding to the latest technology developments. OPPO will continue to update its Android-based ColorOS system with the latest versions of Android to provide the best possible experiences for users. As one of the world's first smartphone manufacturers to bring 5G to market, OPPO also showcased its leadership in 5G technologies at the Android Sandbox area at Google I/O. At the Sandbox, attendees were able to demo the new Reno 5G phone and view a video feature on OPPO's vision for the 5G era. "We call the 5G era 'an era of intelligent connectivity.' Based on the advantages of 5G connectivity, OPPO has pushed forward into cloud storage, cloud gaming, cloud image & video processing and other services. We will provide smarter and more convenient services to our users," said Henry Tang, Director of Standards Research Center, OPPO Research Institute. Having officially hit the market in Switzerland earlier this month, OPPO's Reno 5G was the first commercial 5G smartphone to go on sale in Europe. OPPO will roll out Reno 5G to additional markets worldwide over the coming months. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global smartphone brand, dedicated to providing products infused with art and innovative technology. Based on the brand elements of young, trend-setting and beauty, OPPO brings consumers delighted experience of digital life. For the last 10 years, OPPO has been focusing on manufacturing camera phones, while innovating mobile photography technology breakthroughs. OPPO started the era of Selfie beautification, and was the first brand to launch smartphones with 5MP and 16MP front cameras. OPPO was also the first brand to introduce the motorized rotating camera, the Ultra HD feature and the 5x Dual Camera Zoom technology. OPPO's Selfie Expert F series launched in 2016 drove a Selfie trend in the smartphone industry. In 2017, OPPO was ranked as the number 4 smartphone brand globally, according to IDC. Today OPPO's business covers 40 countries and regions, and has 6 research centers worldwide, providing excellent smartphone photography experience to more and more young people around the world. About OPPO MEA In 2015, OPPO entered the Egyptian market. In 2016, OPPO set up its Middle East & Africa Sales Center in Cairo. The markets OPPO has entered in the Middle East and Africa include: Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kenya and Nigeria. OPPO set up its factory in Algeria in 2017, which made OPPO the first Chinese brand setting up factory in North Africa. Now, the factory goes into production. Based on the insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO MEA has started the progress of localization. And the localization includes all the perspectives towards each market product localization, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localization, to better communicate with local young customers; and team localization, to know our local consumers further and provide better service to the consumers. Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X smartphone and the introduction of the OPPO R Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to young consumers in the region. For more details, please contact: OPPO PR Team Email: [email protected] SOURCE OPPO TYSONS, Va., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- At its 84th Annual Meeting last evening, PenFed Credit Union's Chairman of the Board, Ed Cody, and PenFed President and CEO, James Schenck, reported on record capital growth, increased membership and strong earnings. "At PenFed, we empower our members to do better financially. As a credit union, we're in business to charge the least on loans and pay the most on deposits to make money for our members that is the credit union difference," Schenck said. "I'm proud that 80,000 members voted with their wallets and joined PenFed in 2018, while we added $170 million in net worth to keep our institution safe and sound." In his Chairman's update, Cody reported that PenFed increased net new membership by 7%, ending the year with 1.71 million members. In 2018, PenFed's capital grew to a record $2.53 billion and total assets grew by $1.6 billion to $24.5 billion. With a net worth ratio of 10.32%, PenFed holds $813 million more in capital than required to qualify for the official regulatory rating of "Well Capitalized." In 2018, PenFed launched the Premium Online Savings Account, with no minimum deposit requirements. PenFed's current 2% dividend rate is almost 20 times the national average. PenFed also launched the PenFed Pathfinder Rewards credit card to industry and member acclaim and lowered student loan rates to assist college graduates. PenFed responded to member requests for new features on its mobile platform by adding Bill Pay, enhanced security and provided "show loan application status" and a "pending transactions" view. PenFed assisted 5,429 families with mortgages and processed over $1 billion in home equity loans. Members who used PenFed Real Estate Rewards program saved about $3.6 million when purchasing their homes. PenFed opened new branches in Nebraska, Texas and New York and installed a new phone system in service centers to further improve the member experience. Cody highlighted PenFed's commitment to communities through donations topping $1 million to charities around the country. The Chairman provided an update on the PenFed Foundation and its commitment to serving our nation's defenders through: Raising more than $6.2 million to help military families through the Military Heroes Fund and partnerships to help military families through the Military Heroes Fund and partnerships Making homeownership a reality for 186 military families a record number of grants for the program Providing more than $2.25 million across Military Heroes Fund programs to organizations such as Dog Tag Inc., Armed Services Arts Partnership, Friendship Place and US VETS DC across Military Heroes Fund programs to organizations such as Dog Tag Inc., Armed Services Arts Partnership, Friendship Place and US VETS DC Launching the Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Program (VEIP) with a Foundation contribution and match funding of over $1 million from PenFed Credit Union providing Veteran-owned start-ups with seed capital to build and grow their businesses and creates a robust network for Veteran-owned businesses to succeed "I can proudly say that the mission of 'people helping people' started in America 110 years ago is not only alive but is flourishing," said Cody. "We will always focus on the credit union mission of 'people helping people,' but with our foundational roots dating back to the War Department in 1935, at PenFed we like to say it is all about serving those who serve our nation." About PenFed Credit Union Established in 1935, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving 1.7 million members worldwide with $25 billion in assets. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading certificates, checking, credit cards, personal loans, mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an Equal Housing Lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. SOURCE PenFed Credit Union Related Links https://www.penfed.org HELENA, Mont., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- While the mountains and big sky tend to take center stage, there are over 145,000 square miles in Montana that are home to more than just high peaks and incredible hiking trails. Meet our abundant waterways. From glacial-fed lakes to the last free-flowing river in the continental United States, Montana's bodies of water offer a variety of activities for experiencing the best of summer. Soak in the rays of summer from Montana's crystal-clear waters. (Photo Courtesy: Visit Montana) Anchoring the state's water recreation in the north is Flathead Lake. The largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, Flathead is more than 200 square miles in size and has 185 miles of shoreline, which are home to state parks, public access sites and some of the cutest towns in western Montana. On-the-water offerings include sailing, kayaking, fishing and boat tours, as well as easy access to lakeside dining. In the summer months, this region is also home to Flathead cherries, which grow in orchards along the lake and can be picked up at roadside fruit stands. Travel south to Montana's Bitterroot Valley and splash around Lake Como near Hamilton. Enjoy the beauty of the surrounding mountains while recreating on the waters and complete your adventure with a trip to Darby to taste some delicious chocolate at Old West Candy & Antiques Gallery. Rounding out the region's water adventure offerings are a few incredible riversincluding the Middle Fork of the Flathead River and the Clark Fork, Bitterroot and Blackfoot rivers. The currents are ideal for fly-fishing, scenic floats, stand-up paddleboarding (or SUP), whitewater rafting and kayaking. Nestled among the vast landscapes of northeastern Montana are rivers and lakes, with the largest water playground being the Fort Peck Lake Reservoir and Recreation Area. Sitting at 134 miles long with over 1,500 miles of shoreline, Fort Peck Lake is home to some of the best fishing in Montana, with fish that include walleye, northern pike, Chinook salmon, lake trout and smallmouth bass. And while fishing takes center stage on the lake, its size provides plenty of opportunities for summer relaxation. Cruise the lake on a boat, or spend an afternoon paddling the shoreline in a kayak or canoe. More local fishing opportunities can be found on the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, as well as the Nelson Reservoir between Saco and Malta. Anchoring the water recreation offerings in Southeast Montana is one of the state's best-kept secrets, Bighorn Canyon. Sitting at 60 miles long and spanning both Montana and Wyoming, Bighorn Lakeand the accompanying Bighorn Canyonis a place you have to see to believe. The cliffs rise at least 1,000 feet above the lake, creating spectacular on-the-water views. You can bring your own boat, canoe or kayak, or rent a pontoon boat from Ok-A-Beh Marina near Fort Smith to cruise the lake on a summer afternoon. As an added bonus, there are a handful of campgrounds on Bighorn Lake that are only accessible by boat. Spend the night and experience the clear sky and incredible stargazing this area is known for. And while lakes in the southeast are abundant, this part of Montana is also home to the Yellowstone Riverthe last free-flowing river in the lower 48 states. From its starting point in Yellowstone National Park, the Yellowstone River travels about 670 miles until it meets the Missouri River in North Dakota. Fishing enthusiasts flock to its blue-ribbon waters to cast for big, beautiful trout. The river is also ideal for scenic floats, running rapids or floating on kayaks while taking in the views of rolling plains and limestone bluffs. Find more information on Montana's water recreation and start planning your trip at WWW.VISITMT.COM. About The Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development (MOTBD) MOTBD markets Montana's spectacular unspoiled nature, vibrant and charming small towns, breathtaking experiences, relaxing hospitality and competitive business climate to promote the state as a place to visit and do business. For more information, go to VISITMT.COM . SOURCE Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development Related Links http://www.visitmt.com English French Paris, May 22, 2019 Iliad successfully carries out its first-ever Schuldscheindarlehen issue, raising 500 million Today, Iliad successfully carried out its first-ever Schuldscheindarlehen issue (a German private placement, with institutional investors), raising a total of 500 million and comprising three euro-denominated tranches with maturities of 4, 7 and 8 years, at fixed and floating rates. The issue was oversubscribed, which enabled the Group to increase the final amount to 500 million compared to the initially announced 300 million. This high investor demand demonstrates the strength of Iliad's business development model in France and Italy and the quality of its financial structure. Iliad was able to capitalize on very favorable market conditions, with lending margins of 1.40%, 1.70% and 1.80% for the fixed- and variable-rate tranches with maturities of respectively 4, 7 and 8 years. And the issue has enabled the Group to strengthen its liquidity while diversifying its sources of financing and broadening its investor base, notably with Asian and German institutional investors. Landesbank Hessen-Thuringen Girozentrale (Helaba), HSBC, Societe Generale and UniCredit acted as joint Arrangers in this transaction. About Iliad Iliad is the parent company of Free, the inventor of the Freebox, the first multiservice box on ADSL. Free is behind numerous innovations in the Broadband and Ultra-Fast Broadband access segment (VoIP, IPTV, flat-rate calling plans to multiple destinations, etc.) and provides straightforward and innovative offerings at the best prices. Since January 2012, Free has brought mobile phone usage within everyone's reach with straightforward, no-commitment offerings at very attractive prices. As at March 31, 2019, Free had nearly 20 million subscribers in France (6.4 million Broadband and Ultra-Fast Broadband subscribers and 13.4 million mobile subscribers). On May 29, 2018, the Group launched its mobile network in Italy under the Iliad brand, becoming the countrys fourth operator, and had over 3.3 million subscribers at March 31, 2019. Exchange: Euronext Paris Market place: Eurolist A of Euronext Paris (SRD) Ticker symbol: ILD ISIN : FR0004035913 FTSE classification: 974 Internet Member of Euro Stoxx, SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Mid 100 Attachment LAS VEGAS, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- LEGAL NOTICE If You Bought Natural Gas In Missouri or Kansas Between January 1, 2000 and October 31, 2002, You May Be Entitled to Settlement Proceeds. Why was this notice published? Settlements have been reached with certain defendants in a lawsuits involving natural gas. What are these lawsuits about? The lawsuits allege that certain companies involved in the production, marketing, or sale of natural gas engaged in an unlawful conspiracy to manipulate the price of natural gas. Plaintiffs further claim that commercial and industrial purchasers of natural gas who purchased natural gas other than from utilities or local distribution companies and for their own use or consumption in Kansas or Missouri may recover for the effect that the alleged conspiracy had on the prices of the natural gas they purchased. Plaintiffs allege that, as result of the unlawful conspiracy, they and other purchasers paid more for natural gas than they would have absent the conspiracy. The settling defendants deny Plaintiffs' claims. Who is included in the Settlements? In the State of Kansas All industrial and commercial direct purchasers of natural gas for their own use or consumption during the period from January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2002, and which gas was used or consumed by them in Kansas. Excluded from the settlement are (a) entities that purchased natural gas for resale (to the extent of such purchase for resale); (b) entities that purchased natural gas for generation of electricity for the purpose of sale (to the extent of such purchase for generation); (c) defendants and their predecessors, affiliates, and subsidiaries; (d) the federal government and its agencies; and (e) Reorganized FLI, Inc. (f/k/a and successor to Farmland Industries, Inc.). For purposes of this definition, a "direct purchaser" means an industrial or commercial entity that bought natural gas for its own use or consumption directly from any of the Defendants, or from a seller other than a local distribution company. In the State of Missouri All industrial and commercial direct purchasers of natural gas for their own use or consumption during the period from January 1, 2000 through October 31, 2002, and which gas was used or consumed by them in Missouri. Excluded from the settlement are (a) entities that purchased natural gas for resale (to the extent of such purchase for resale); (b) entities that purchased natural gas for generation of electricity for the purpose of sale (to the extent of such purchase for generation); (c) defendants and their predecessors, affiliates, and subsidiaries; (d) the federal government and its agencies; and (e) Reorganized FLI, Inc. (f/k/a and successor to Farmland Industries, Inc.). For purposes of this definition, a "direct purchaser" means an industrial or commercial entity that bought natural gas for its own use or consumption directly from any of the Defendants, or from a seller other than a local distribution company. Who are the Settling Defendants? Settlements have been reached with the following Defendants: (a) The Williams Companies, Inc., Williams Merchant Services Company, LLC (f/k/a Williams Merchant Services Company, Inc.), and Williams Gas Marketing, Inc. (f/k/a Williams Power Company, Inc. and Williams Energy Marketing & Trading) (collectively, "Williams"); (b) Vistra Energy Corp. (as successor in interest to Dynegy Illinois Inc. and Dynegy GP Inc.), Dynegy Power Marketing, LLC (as successor in interest to DMT G.P. L.L.C.), and Dynegy Marketing and Trade, LLC (collectively, "Dynegy"); (c) e prime, Inc. and Xcel Energy Inc. (collectively, "e prime," and collectively along with Williams and Dynegy, the "Settling Defendants"). A complete list of Defendants is set out in the Settlement Agreement and other documents available at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com . What do the Settlements provide? The Settlements create a settlement fund of $11,750,000 (the "Settlement Fund"), before deductions for court-approved expenses and attorneys' fees. Those funds are allocated to claimants in Kansas and Missouri based primarily on the volume of natural gas sold in each state and differences in the claims and remedies available in each state. Before deductions for attorneys' fees and expenses, the Settlement Fund is allocated as follows: $7,402,500 to Kansas claimants; and $4,347,500 to Missouri claimants. What are my rights? If you wish to remain a member of the Settlement Classes you do not need to take any action at this time. If you stay in the Settlement Classes, all of the decisions by the Court and these Settlements will bind you, and you will be unable to sue the Settling Defendants about the alleged misconduct or legal issues in these cases, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Settling Defendants about such issues. Please carefully review the specific provisions of the Settlement Agreements, including the release of claims contained therein, at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com . If you do not want to be legally bound by the Settlements, you must exclude yourself in writing or you will not be able to sue, or continue to sue the Settling Defendants about the alleged misconduct or legal claims that were or could have been asserted in these cases. If you exclude yourself from the Settlement Classes, you may not intervene as a party plaintiff in any of the Actions. If you would like to exclude yourself from the Settlement Classes, then you must send a letter that includes the following: (a) your name, address, and telephone number; (b) any trade names or business names (and addresses) you or any parent, subsidiary, or affiliate that purchased the natural gas used during the relevant time period; (c) an estimate of the total dollar amount or volume of natural gas purchased by the entity(ies) listed in subparts (a) or (b) and the names of all entities from or through whom such natural gas was purchased; (d) a statement saying that you want to be excluded from In re Western States Wholesale Natural Gas Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1566 (D. Nev.) Settlement; (e) the statement that "[name of person or entity] and all of its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates hereby request to be excluded from the proposed class settlements described in the notice of settlements pertaining to the Actions;" (f) in the case of an entity, identify the title or position of the person signing on behalf of the entity, and state that the person is duly authorized to sign on behalf of such entity; and (g) your signature or the signature of the duly authorized person identified in subpart (f). All exclusion requests must be sent to Natural Gas MoKan Claims Administrator, c/o AB Data, LTD, Exclusions, PO Box 173001, Milwaukee, WI 53217 and must be postmarked no later than July 15, 2019. The Court will exclude from the Settlement Classes any member who validly requests exclusion. You may also enter your appearance through an attorney if you so desire. The terms of the Settlement Agreements, including the releases of claims discussed above and detailed at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com , require that a class member must participate in or opt out of all of the settlements and all of the classes in which it is a member. For example, if a Kansas class member also qualifies as a member of the Missouri class, that entity must either participate in all classes/settlements (by doing nothing) or opt out of all classes/settlements (by submitting the information in the preceding paragraph). If you wish to object to any aspect of the proposed Settlements, you must do so in writing no later than July 8, 2019. The Settlement Agreements, along with details on how to object to them, are available at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com . The U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada will hold a Final Fairness Hearing on August 5, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. in Courtroom 4B of the Lloyd D. George Federal Courthouse, 333 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, Nevada 89101, to consider whether the Settlements are fair, reasonable and adequate. If there are objections, the Court will consider them at that time. You may also appear in person at the hearing, but you do not need to do so. If you wish to appear, however, you must first provide written notice of your intention to appear. We do not know how long these decisions will take. The hearing may be moved to a different date or time without additional notice, so it is a good idea to check the website, at www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com , for information. Please do not contact the Court about this case. The Court has appointed the law firms of Polsinelli PC, Barry Law Office, LLC, and McCallister Law Group, LLC to represent settlement class members in Kansas. The Court has appointed the law firms of Polsinelli PC and Barry Law Office, LLC to represent settlement class members in Missouri. This is a Summary Notice. For more details, call toll free 1-877-257-1113, visit www.NaturalGasAntitrustSettlement.com , or write to Natural Gas MoKan Claims Administrator, c/o AB Data, LTD., PO Box 173072, Milwaukee, WI 53217. Please do not contact the Court about this case. SOURCE Polsinelli PC Related Links https://www.naturalgasantitrustsettlement.com Japan's leading telecommunications company selects Saba Cloud to create a modern learning environment that helps drive team and business goals TOKYO, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ - Saba Software's leading talent development solution has been adopted by Jupiter Telecommunications Co.,Ltd. (J:COM) to support its talent development strategy. With Saba Cloud, J:COM is establishing an organization-wide talent development environment to empower and engage its workforce. J:COM has always maintained a positive focus on employee learning and development, holding over 1,000 instructor led training activities a year. However to adapt to the fast changing requirements of their business, the J:COM team selected Saba to modernize and enhance its learning environment, give employees' ease of access to a wide variety of content, and accelerate personal development to drive team and business goals. "At Saba we know that for telecommunications companies such as J:COM, nurturing talent is the key to delivering innovative products and services, and that talent development drives positive customer experiences and support," said Michael Warren, Regional VP APAC for Saba. "We're thrilled to be selected to help J:COM ensure it has the best people on its team who are aligned, collaborative and accountable for business performance." About Jupiter Telecommunications Co.,Ltd. Established in 1995, Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd.(J:COM) is Japan's largest multiple system and multiple channel operator. In system operation, J:COM provides cable television, high speed Internet access, telephony, mobile, and electric power service to customers through 12 consolidated subsidiaries at the local level serving 5.48 million subscribing households in Sapporo, Sendai, Kanto, Kansai, and Kyushu-Yamaguchi regions. The number of serviceable households or "homes passed" in J:COM franchise areas is 21.64 million. In channel operation, J:COM invests in and operates 17 thematic channels which are provided to CATV, satellite and telecom operators. * The above household figures are as of March 31, 2019. About Saba At Saba, we know that the success of any business starts with its people. We also know that people need a different kind of environment to bring their best to work every day. So we created that environment one that's built on strategy, aligned to goals and designed for humans. An environment where people and teams are in the driver's seat of their own experience. Where development is part of their day, every day. And where deep performance insight connects people to business success. Thousands of customers worldwide, in virtually every industry, count on Saba to engage their people, connect their teams, and get the critical insight they need to prove the impact of talent on business success. For more information, visit www.saba.com. SOURCE Saba Software Canada Inc. Related Links https://www.saba.com/ Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum was made to honor the godfather of old-school American tattooing, Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins, his philosophy and his passions. Savage Apple reflects those same ideals, but with a more playful offering that pays tribute to Norman Collins' more amusing side. True to the traditional notes of vanilla and cinnamon in Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Savage Apple adds a bold, in-your-face flavor of fresh, lively apple and cinnamon - Best served chilled, this all-in rum goes down smooth. "Savage Apple is an amazing addition to the Sailor Jerry story. This is the first new product we've ever released, and it is a fantastic liquid; one we know our fans will enjoy for its quality and bold nature," said Anthony Bohlinger, Sailor Jerry Brand Ambassador. Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins was a Navy vet who built his rep inking soldiers and sailors in WWII-era Honolulu where he established his legendary tattoo parlor. He used his love for tattooing as an outlet of self-expression and choosing to live "outside the lines." The Savage Apple bottle design, like the liquid inside, honors Collins and his creative works, reflecting his unapologetic, savage attitude with original tiger flash marking the bottle wrap. "This summer, Savage Apple is ready to hit bars, beaches, backyard BBQs and more," added Bohlinger. "The combination of delicious apple, cinnamon and bold rum is damn good, and we can't wait for you to try it." To learn more about Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum visit www.sailorjerry.com. RESPECT HIS LEGACY. DRINK SAILOR JERRY RESPONSIBLY. NEVER DRINK & DRIVE. 2019 Sailor Jerry Rum, 35% Alc./Vol. William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY. PR Contact Joe Gallo [email protected] 203.644.3354 Annie Taplin [email protected] 212.299.9428 About William Grant & Sons William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world's most awarded single malt Glenfiddich, The Balvenie range of handcrafted single malts and the world's third largest blended Scotch, Grant's, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Drambuie Scotch Liqueur. William Grant & Sons has been honored as "Distiller of the Year" by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge 12 times over the past 13 years, including the most recent award in 2018. Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Grant's, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson's Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Flor de Cana Rum, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com. SOURCE William Grant & Sons Related Links http://www.sailorjerry.com LONDON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced that Salesforce Ventures, the company's global corporate investment group, has launched a $125 million Europe Trailblazer Fund to continue to fuel enterprise cloud startups. Salesforce Ventures was the most active Corporate VC in Europe1 last year and has invested in companies pioneering digital payments, machine vision, artificial intelligence, blockchain and the API economy. "Europe is a clear leader in cloud technology today, and we are excited to deepen our investment in the region," said John Somorjai, EVP of Corporate Development and Salesforce Ventures. "Our commitment to European startups reflects the growth of innovation, our belief in the local entrepreneurs and our focus on creating the world's largest ecosystem of enterprise cloud companies to drive customer success." There was 28 billion invested in European and Israeli startups last year, representing over a three times growth compared to the level in 2013. Of the overall funding, SaaS companies received more than 35 percent2. The global shift to the cloud has created new, cutting-edge technology that has fueled customer success across industries. IDC forecasts that the EMEA public cloud services market will more than double between 2018 and 2023, surpassing $105.3 billion in 20233. "We see tremendous opportunity to invest in companies across Europe as this market continues to grow at scale," said Miguel Milano, President, International at Salesforce. "At Salesforce, we focus on backing ambitious entrepreneurs who are building the most innovative solutions to support our customers' digital transformation." With this new fund, Salesforce Ventures will continue to invest in companies at various stages of growth to provide Salesforce executive support, product alignment and financing as they scale. Investments to date include innovative enterprise companies in various industries, including retail, financial services, CPG and public sector: UK: GoCardless, Privitar and Onfido France : FinalCAD, Akeneo and SigFox : FinalCAD, Akeneo and SigFox Israel : Bringg, Forter and TechSee : Bringg, Forter and TechSee Germany : Wefox, Contentful and EMPAUA : Wefox, Contentful and EMPAUA Rest of Europe : 4C, Unbabel and Carto "As we scale our business internationally, making the right funding choices is critical for the team at GoCardless. It's even more important to choose the right investment partners: not just for the funds, but for the deeper value those partners bring, through their expertise and ecosystem. Salesforce Ventures is a great investment partner for GoCardless. They are hugely supportive of our team, connecting us to the right people and proactively sharing best practices," said Hiroki Takeuchi, CEO of GoCardless. "Salesforce Ventures has been an invaluable partner, opening countless doors for us and acting as an advocate for our delivery orchestration platform and the customer experience we provide," said Guy Bloch, CEO of Bringg. "But beyond our shared vision, Salesforce Ventures is also a committed partner with the expertise and the experience to work with companies that need to quickly scale and expand their operations. Having Salesforce Ventures as a partner has been a real x-factor in our own growth, and we welcome their increasing commitment to provide investment and support to European tech companies." "Salesforce Ventures has been instrumental for our growth in Europe and our expansion into the North American market, and they keep providing the best support and insights to address the typical challenges a B2B SaaS startup could face," said Fred de Gombert, CEO and co-founder of Akeneo. "Getting funded by Salesforce Ventures is a tremendous opportunity to work with a thoughtful investor partner with deep knowledge of enterprise customers and the journey a startup takes on its path to scaling to be a major enterprise itself. Bottom line, Salesforce Ventures helps us show customers we're a well-backed company that will be here for the long haul," said Sascha Konietzke, CEO of Contentful. Continuous Investment and Growth in Europe In 2015, Salesforce Ventures introduced its first $100 million investment commitment in Europe and brought on Alex Kayyal as partner and head of Europe to lead the fund. Since then, Salesforce Ventures has fully deployed this initial fund and backed more than 50 startups in 13 countries in Europe. As the most active Corporate VC in Europe, Salesforce Ventures will continue to make strategic investments to fuel momentum in the enterprise space. The growth of Salesforce Ventures is a testament to the company's overall momentum -- in 2018, Salesforce grew faster year-over-year than any other top 10 CRM vendor in EMEA and is #1 in CRM in EMEA based on market share4. Additional Information: To learn more about Salesforce Ventures, please visit: www.salesforce.com/company/ventures/ Like Salesforce on Facebook http://facebook.com/salesforce Follow @Salesforce and @SalesforceVC on Twitter Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking information related to the company and Salesforce Ventures. The achievement or success of the matters covered by such forward-looking statements involves risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If any such risks or uncertainties materialize or if any of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. About Salesforce Salesforce, the global CRM leader, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. For more information about Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), visit: www.salesforce.com . Any unreleased services or features referenced in this or other press releases or public statements are not currently available and may not be delivered on time or at all. Customers who purchase Salesforce applications should make their purchase decisions based upon features that are currently available. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information please visit https://www.salesforce.com , or call 1-800-NO-SOFTWARE. About Salesforce Ventures Salesforce Ventures the company's corporate investment group invests in the next generation of enterprise technology that extends the power of the Salesforce Customer Success Platform. Portfolio companies receive funding, access to the world's largest cloud ecosystem and guidance from Salesforce's innovators and executives. With Salesforce Ventures, portfolio companies can also leverage Salesforce's expertise in corporate philanthropy by joining Pledge 1% to make giving back part of their business model. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 300 enterprise cloud startups in 20 countries since 2009. For more information, please visit www.salesforce.com/ventures. 1 Pitchbook 2018 data 2 Dealroom 2018 Full Year Report 3 IDC, Worldwide Semiannual Public Cloud Services Tracker, May 2019. 4 IDC, Worldwide Semiannual Software Tracker, April 2019. CRM market includes the following IDC-defined functional markets: Sales Force Productivity and Management, Marketing Campaign Management, Customer Service, Contact Center, Advertising, and Digital Commerce Applications. SOURCE Salesforce Related Links http://www.salesforce.com SARASOTA, Fla., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Living Vogue LLC, doing business as Living Vogue Real Estate, announced their website http://www.livingvogue.com has been awarded Best User Interface Design, Best User Experience Design, and Best Innovation awards from the CSSDA. Living Vogue Real Estate's Property Search Website Wins Top Honors "The team at Living Vogue is very proud of the work and effort put into developing an online search tool that pushes data into the hands of buyers and sellers, rather than being held close by brokers. Our industry is changing, and modern real estate companies need to change with it," says Mark Coppens, Broker and CEO of Living Vogue Real Estate. The proprietary website is fed directly from the agent-only Multiple Listing Service (MLS), giving consumers the most up-to-date information on listed properties. It allows users to download attachments such as floor-plans, lot surveys, and feature sheets while also viewing additional photos, videos, and 3D tours. It includes information on neighborhood market trends, walk-ability scores, school ratings, etc. The award-winning interface allows buyers to search by either map (location), or popular criteria (size, bedrooms, etc.). Heavily focused on "User-Experience" the site also allows buyers to search by neighborhood and lifestyle, rather than just physical attributes. "The Lifestyle and Neighborhood searches are what sets the site apart from other local rivals and large nationwide search options. After all, in life we're not defined by what we buy, but rather how we live. Sarasota real estate should be no different," says Jamie Coppens, REALTOR with Living Vogue Real Estate. ABOUT CSS Design Awards Founded in 2009 and launched in 2010, CSSDA is an international web design and development award platform that honors and showcases freelance designers, studios and agencies for work that pushes the boundaries of UI, UX and innovative development. Backed by an international panel of expert judges, winners are rewarded with official certificates, prestigious trophies and recognition from industry leaders along with tens of thousands of daily visitors to the CSSDA site. ABOUT LIVING VOGUE REAL ESTATE Living Vogue Real Estate is redefining the way people buy and sell real estate by focusing on the lifestyle aspects of properties rather than just their physical and financial attributes. On-line search engines have evolved the industry to the extent that traditional brokerages are no longer the gatekeepers of real estate information. Living Vogue has embraced this paradigm shift to a consumer-driven market, disrupting the conventional model and adding value by marketing properties according to how you would actually live in them. Sarasota, Florida was chosen as the headquarters and flagship office because it embodies the Living Vogue brand - an appreciation for leisure, social gatherings, arts, and culture. Delivering an elite level of personal service, their team of highly influential "lifestyle-agents" feature stylish properties listed for sale in downtown Sarasota, West of Trail, the various keys including Siesta Key, Lido Key & Saint Armands, Longboat Key, Anna Maria, and Lakewood Ranch. A second office is planned for Lakewood Ranch, with a target opening date in early 2020. Expansions are also planned for the St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Miami markets. The company is built around a team of agents known as "The SRQ Duo," consisting of Mark and Jamie Coppens. The couple is annually ranked in the top 1% of agents for sales volume in Sarasota and Manatee counties, with over $30MM in transactions each year. They are currently the highest consumer rated agents on popular search sites Zillow and Trulia for the Sarasota and Lakewood Ranch real estate markets. They represent buyers and sellers of residential real estate. Media Contact: Jamie Coppens. (941) 444-0436. [email protected] Related Images sarasota-real-estate.png Sarasota Real Estate Living Vogue Real Estate's Property Search Website Wins Top Honors best-user-experience-award.png Best User Experience Award Best User Experience Award - Living Vogue Real Estate best-user-interface-award.png Best User Interface Award Best User Interface Award - Living Vogue Real Estate best-innovation-award.png Best Innovation Award Best Innovation Award - Living Vogue Real Estate Related Links Sarasota Real Estate Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbLpunlvWOY SOURCE Living Vogue Real Estate Related Links http://www.livingvogue.com JOHANNESBURG, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasol has today updated its guidance for LCCP following a review process to assess the project costs and schedule. LCCP's schedule remains on track with the Ethylene Glycol/Ethylene Oxide Unit due to achieve beneficial operation within days. The only revision to the schedule is the Guerbet Unit which will now be on stream in February 2020 . As at the end of March 2019 project completion was at 96% with construction completion at 89%. . As at the end of project completion was at 96% with construction completion at 89%. Sasol remains confident that the longer term EBITDA outlook for the LCCP remains robust. The forecast total capital cost for the project has increased to $12,6 12,9 billion, including a $300 million contingency. The drivers of the changes in capital costs are understood and a series of mitigating actions are being taken to ensure delivery within the revised parameters. 12,9 billion, including a contingency. The drivers of the changes in capital costs are understood and a series of mitigating actions are being taken to ensure delivery within the revised parameters. Sasol's balance sheet is sufficiently robust and management actions are focused on deleveraging the balance sheet, simplifying the asset portfolio and executing our value based strategy. BACKGROUND In the Company's trading statement, released by the Stock Exchange News Service on 8 February 2019, updated guidance was provided for LCCP's schedule and capital costs, which were estimated in the range of $11,6 - $11,8 billion. Following this announcement a number of changes were made to the management of LCCP, with project accountability immediately reassigned to the Executive Vice President of Chemicals, Fleetwood Grobler and the strengthening of our project controls organisation. This team became concerned regarding the accuracy of the project's cost forecast and, as a consequence, our third quarter Business Performance Metrics announcement in April 2019 indicated that the LCCP's cost was tracking the upper end of the range. Management also initiated a full review of the costs and schedule until project completion with input from independent technical and financial advisers. This review identified significant additional concerns related to the LCCP forecasting process and a marked increase in the projected total cost. The review also confirmed that the actual project expenditure as at 31 December 2018 amounting to $10,9 billion was accurate and complete. Weaknesses in the project's integrated controls were identified and are being remediated. The Board has also commissioned a review to be conducted by independent external experts. This review will cover the circumstances that may have delayed the prompt identification and reporting of the above-mentioned matters. Upon conclusion of the review the Board will take appropriate action to address the findings. UPDATE ON KEY PROJECT PARAMETERS The first derivative unit, Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE), achieved beneficial operation on 13 February 2019 and the plant continues to ramp up in line with expectations. We have achieved beneficial operation of the Ethylene Glycol unit (EG), with beneficial operation of the Ethylene Oxide unit (EO) expected in the coming days. The Ethane Cracker is still expected to achieve beneficial operation in July 2019. The remainder of the LCCP schedule for beneficial operation is as previously indicated in February 2019 apart from the beneficial operation of the last derivative plant (Guerbet unit), which is expected to be one month later in February 2020. As of the end of March 2019, overall project completion was at 96%, with construction completion at 89% and capital expenditure on the project amounted to $11,4 billion. Following the review noted above, the cost estimate for LCCP has been revised to a range of $12,6 $12,9 billion which includes a contingency of $300 million. The principal factors that impacted the revised cost estimate to complete LCCP are adjustments to the February 2019 cost forecast of approximately $530 million and additional events and remaining work impacting February 2019 cost forecast approximately $470 million. A contingency of $300 million has also been included. ACTIONS TAKEN TO DATE This increase in the anticipated LCCP capital costs is extremely disappointing. Executive management has implemented several changes since February 2019 to further strengthen the oversight, leadership for the project and frequency of reporting. Actions include segregation of duties between project controls and finance functions and assigning a Senior Vice President to have responsibility for the LCCP project controls. Initiatives to improve decision making, transparency and documentation within the project management team are also in progress. The new project leadership has been instrumental in identifying and remediating these issues. The reviews and investigations initiated by management to date indicate that the underlying control weaknesses are limited to LCCP. FINANCIAL IMPACT The increase in the LCCP's cost does not alter Sasol's capital allocation strategy. The plan remains to reduce balance sheet gearing towards 30% followed by an increase in the dividend pay-out ratio to 40% and remains on track to occur between financial years 2020 to 2023. Over this period the anticipated contribution from the LCCP has been negatively impacted by a change in the short and medium term pricing outlook. Operating costs for the LCCP, although projected to be slightly elevated during start-up, are otherwise still in line with previous guidance. As a result the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for financial year 2022 of $1,3 billion have been revised to approximately $1 billion. The long term market pricing outlook is still in support of a long term run rate EBITDA contribution from the LCCP of $1,3 billion. The short term market outlook for ethane and product pricing remains volatile and estimates will be updated periodically. As previously communicated to the market, management has substantially completed the detailed asset review programme. This process forms a key part of the portfolio optimisation strategy, and has now progressed to the stage where the disposal of larger non-core assets can be accelerated. The Company will target the disposal of assets which have an aggregate net asset value exceeding $2 billion. The safeguarding value will be prioritised through this process, and the financial metrics disclosed above do not rely on any asset disposals. Relevant disposals will therefore further support the deleveraging of the balance sheet, as well as simplification of the investment portfolio and increased focus in executing our value based strategy. Disclaimer Forward-looking statements Sasol may, in this document, make certain statements that are not historical facts and relate to analyses and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, cost estimates and expected timing of beneficial operation of LCCP, targets or guidance regarding our gearing ratio and dividend pay-out ratio, net debt-to-EBITDA ratio, EBITDA and internal rate of return for LCCP, as well as statements regarding our future liquidity, credit ratings and non-core asset disposal strategy. Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could", "may", "endeavour", "target", "forecast" and "project" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. You should understand that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed more fully in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed on 28 August 2018 and in other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The list of factors discussed therein is not exhaustive; when relying on forward-looking statements to make investment decisions, you should carefully consider both these factors and other uncertainties and events. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Sasol: Sasol is a global integrated chemicals and energy company. Through our talented people, we safely and sustainably create superior value for our customers, shareholders and other stakeholders. We integrated sophisticated technologies in world-scale operating facilities to produce and commercialise commodity and specialised chemicals, gaseous and liquid fuels, and lower-carbon electricity. SOURCE Sasol Limited JOHANNESBURG, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In the Company's trading statement, released by the Stock Exchange News Service on 8 February 2019, updated guidance was provided for the LCCP's schedule and capital costs, which were estimated in the range of $11,6 to $11,8 billion. Following this announcement a number of changes were made to the management of the LCCP, with project accountability immediately reassigned to the Executive Vice President of Chemicals, Fleetwood Grobler and the strengthening of our project controls organisation. This team became concerned regarding the accuracy of the project's cost forecast and, as a consequence, our third quarter Business Performance Metrics announcement in April 2019 indicated that the LCCP's cost was tracking the upper end of the range. Management also initiated a full review of the costs and schedule until project completion with input from independent technical and financial advisers. This review identified significant additional concerns related to the LCCP forecasting process and a marked increase in the projected total cost. The review also confirmed that the actual project expenditure (as at 31 December 2018) amounting to $10,9 billion was accurate and complete. Weaknesses in the project's integrated controls were identified and are being remediated. The Board has also commissioned a review to be conducted by independent external experts. This review will cover the circumstances that may have delayed the prompt identification and reporting of the above-mentioned matters. Upon conclusion of the review, the Board will take appropriate action to address the findings. Update On Key Project Parameters The first derivative unit, Linear Low Density Polyethylene, achieved beneficial operation on 13 February 2019 and the plant continues to ramp up in line with expectations. We have achieved beneficial operation of the Ethylene Glycol unit (EG), with beneficial operation of the Ethylene Oxide unit (EO) expected in the coming days. The Ethane Cracker is still expected to achieve beneficial operation in July 2019. The remainder of the LCCP schedule for beneficial operation is as previously indicated in February 2019 apart from the beneficial operation of the last derivative plant (Guerbet unit), which is expected to be one month later in February 2020 . apart from the beneficial operation of the last derivative plant (Guerbet unit), which is expected to be one month later in . As of the end of March 2019 , overall project completion was at 96%, with construction completion at 89% and capital expenditure on the project amounted to $11 ,4 billion. Following the review noted above, the cost estimate for the LCCP has been revised to a range of $12,6 to $12,9 billion which includes a contingency of $300 million. The principal factors that impacted the revised cost estimate to complete the LCCP are as follows: 1. Adjustments to the February 2019 cost forecast approximately $530 million Correction for duplication of investment allowances of approximately $230 million . . Correction for certain contracts and variation orders managed by Sasol, outside the primary engineering, procurement and construction contract, of approximately $180 million . . Forecast improvements not expected to be realised and adjustments for potential insurance claims and procurement back-charges of approximately $120 million . 2. Additional events and remaining work impacting February 2019 cost forecast - approximately $470 million Ethane Cracker, EO/EG and Utilities - approximately $210 million: Work to correct previously identified defective carbon steel forgings significantly impacted critical path activities with a greater than expected cost impact. This included the removal and re-instatement of insulation, instrumentation and cabling, as well as post repair heat treatment. Replacement of the internals of numerous heat exchangers due to corrosion. The completion of painting, insulation and fireproofing at the Ethane Cracker and EO/EG was impacted as a result of the necessary repair activities outlined above. Remaining Work primarily Low Density Polyethylene and Ziegler / Alumina / Guerbet units - approximately $260 million The review identified a significant increase in required finishing activities such as heat tracing, insulation, fireproofing and associated work as well as additional infrastructure costs. 3. A contingency amount for items that could impact the cost forecast - $300 million Worse than anticipated weather impact. Lower than assumed productivity and associated time extension. A new risk identified relating to bolting materials that may need to be replaced. Other unforeseen items impacting finishing and commissioning activities. Actions Taken to Date This increase in the anticipated LCCP capital costs is extremely disappointing. Executive management has implemented several changes since February 2019 to further strengthen the oversight, leadership for the project and frequency of reporting. Actions include segregation of duties between project controls and finance functions and assigning a Senior Vice President to have responsibility for the LCCP project controls. Initiatives to improve decision making, transparency and documentation within the project management team are also in progress. The new project leadership has been instrumental in identifying and remediating these issues. The reviews and investigations initiated by management to date indicate that any impact on the underlying controls are limited to the LCCP. Financial Impact The increase in the LCCP's cost does not alter Sasol's capital allocation strategy. The plan remains to reduce balance sheet gearing towards 30% followed by an increase in the dividend pay-out ratio to 40% and remains on track to occur between financial years 2020 to 2023. Over this period the anticipated contribution from the LCCP has been negatively impacted by a change in the short and medium term pricing outlook. Operating costs for the LCCP, although projected to be slightly elevated during start-up, are otherwise still in line with previous guidance. As a result the earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) for financial year 2022 of $1,3 billion have been revised to approximately $1 billion. The long term market pricing outlook is still in support of a long term run rate EBITDA contribution from the LCCP of $1,3 billion. The short term market outlook for ethane and product pricing remains volatile and estimates will be updated periodically. In light of the increase in capital costs as well as the latest market pricing outlook, the forecast internal rate of return for the LCCP has declined from 7,5% to 6,0 - 6,5%. The larger part of this move comes from the change in chemical pricing assumptions given that a US10 cents change in ethane pricing impacts the EBITDA by approximately $150 million per annum. The increased capital cost will result in the gearing level for Sasol remaining elevated for 18 to 24 months. Based on current assumptions, peak gearing is still expected to occur during financial year 2019 with forecast net debt to EBITDA remaining within the 2,0 to 2,3x guidance range. The Company's balance sheet continues to be actively managed in order to maintain a robust liquidity position and debt maturity profile. As part of this the Company recently issued a $2,25 billion bond which was used to partly settle the LCCP's project asset finance facility. The Company has been successful in extending the maturity profile of the debt portfolio over the last few years with the first significant repayment due in 3,5 years (November 2022). Efforts to further to optimise the maturity profile continue as the Company executes its value based strategy and moves towards targeted gearing levels. Retaining the Company's investment grade credit rating remains a priority. Several additional management actions have been identified and are in the process of being implemented in an effort to conserve cash over the following 12 to18 months. These actions are focussed on further cash fixed cost savings, capital portfolio optimisation, working capital improvements and asset disposals at value. As previously communicated to the market, management has substantially completed the detailed asset review programme. This process forms a key part of the portfolio optimisation strategy, and has now progressed to the stage where the disposal of larger non-core assets can be accelerated. The Company will target the disposal of assets which have an aggregate net asset value exceeding $2 billion. The safeguarding of value will be prioritised through this process, and the financial metrics disclosed above do not rely on any asset disposals. Relevant disposals will therefore further support the deleveraging of the balance sheet, as well as simplification of the investment portfolio and increased focus in executing our value based strategy. The financial information on which the LCCP update is based has not been reviewed or reported on by the Company's external auditors. The Joint Chief Executive Officers will host two webcast /conference calls on 22 May 2019: https://www.sasol.com/investor-centre/lake-charles-chemicals-project/update-may-2019 The first call will begin at 08:30 (SA), 06:30 (GMT) and 01:30 (CST) on 22 May 2019 Conference ID 3862023 Money Center and Conference ID Participant Number South Africa, Johannesburg +27 11 844 6054 United Kingdom +44 (0)330 336 9105 United States +1 323-794-2551 Singapore +65 6320 9025 Moscow, Russia +7 495 213 1767 Toronto, Canada +1 647 794 4605 The second call will begin at 14:30 (SA), 12:30 (GMT) and 07:30 (CST) on 22 May 2019 Conference ID 7019987 Money Center and Conference ID Participant Number South Africa, Johannesburg +27 11 844 6054 United Kingdom +44 (0)330 336 9105 United States +1 323-794-2423 Singapore +65 6320 9025 Moscow, Russia +7 495 213 1767 Toronto, Canada +1 647 484 0478 Disclaimer Forward-looking statements Sasol may, in this document, make certain statements that are not historical facts and relate to analyses and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, cost estimates and expected timing of beneficial operation of LCCP, targets or guidance regarding our gearing ratio and dividend pay-out ratio, net debt-to-EBITDA ratio, EBITDA and internal rate of return for LCCP, as well as statements regarding our future liquidity, credit ratings and non-core asset disposal strategy. Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could", "may", "endeavour", "target", "forecast" and "project" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. You should understand that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed more fully in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed on 28 August 2018 and in other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The list of factors discussed therein is not exhaustive; when relying on forward-looking statements to make investment decisions, you should carefully consider both these factors and other uncertainties and events. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Media Contact: Feroza Syed Chief Investor Relations Officer Direct telephone: +27(0)10-344-7778 [email protected] SOURCE Sasol Limited LONDON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Setoo, the company that enables e-businesses to build and distribute personalised insurance and protection products, has reached an agreement with lm group to provide the European customers of one of the leading online travel agencies worldwide with innovative and easy-to-use insurance and protection products that require no claims process and deliver immediate compensation. Customised to the customer journey, the insurance offerings will be available in UK, France, Italy, Spain and Germany, enabling travellers to protect themselves against flight delays, with plans to expand the product range to include risks relating to weather and missed flight connections. The initiative will empower lm group to offer super targeted, personalised and transparent protections that drive conversions. Customers using the new insurance products will benefit from an improved customer journey and an exceptional insurance experience. Guk Kim, Chief Growth Officer at lm group, said "This initiative with Setoo creates new opportunities to drive ancillary offers and also boost our brand loyalty by providing our customers with more personalised and hassle-free products. Setoo's platform enables the flexibility to constantly test new products that can protect our customers from unforeseen events, optimising performance and conversion." Noam Shapira, co-founder and co-CEO, Setoo, said "We are delighted to be selected by lm group to expand their value-added offerings. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration that will generate exciting new products to protect consumers against a variety of risks and enhance their overall travel experience." Setoo's platform delivers cutting edge technological capabilities using AI, machine learning, parametric capabilities and APIs, which enable personalisation, real-time pricing and claims-free products with immediate compensation, while remaining compliant with the Insurance Distribution Directive (IDD) and GDPR. About lm group lm group is among the worldwide leaders in the online travel industry and operates a portfolio of well-known brands such as lastminute.com , Volagratis, Rumbo, weg.de , Bravofly, Jetcost and Hotelscan. The Group's mission is to be the most relevant and inspiring travel company, committed to enriching the life of travellers. Every month, the Group touches 45 million users across all its websites and mobile apps (in 17 languages and 40 countries) who search for and book their travel and leisure experiences with us. More than 1,200 people enjoy working with us and contribute to providing our audience with a comprehensive and inspiring offering of travel related products and services. lastminute.com N.V. is a publicly traded company listed under the ticker symbol LMN on SIX Swiss Exchange. About Setoo Setoo empowers e-businesses to build and distribute personalised insurance and protection products, increasing revenue from ancillary services and delivering exceptional customer experience. With Setoo's parametric insurance-as-a-service platform, e-businesses can create new, super-targeted protections within minutes, addressing consumers' actual concerns, and generating automatic compensation without the need to file any claim. Setoo operates as an MGA and is approved by the FCA in UK and ACPR in EU. Setoo recently announced a 8M Series A funding round by Kamet, AXA's Insurtech startup studio. Media contact James Fahy [email protected] +44(0)203-642-1124 SOURCE Setoo TOKYO and LONDON, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Sosei Group Corporation ("the Company"; TSE: 4565) notes that its partner Novartis presented key Phase II data for QVM149, a potential new inhaled combination therapy for asthma, at the 2019 annual international congress of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) in Dallas, USA (1722 May 2019). QVM149 is an investigational, once-daily, fixed dose combination asthma treatment containing indacaterol acetate, glycopyrronium bromide and mometasone furoate (IND/GLY/MF), delivered with the dose-confirming Breezhaler inhalation device. Glycopyrronium bromide and certain intellectual property relating to its use and formulation were exclusively licensed to Novartis in April 2005 by Sosei Heptares and Vectura Group PLC (LSE: VEC). Novartis is responsible for the development and commercialization of QVM149, which is currently being investigated in a Phase III clinical program expected to complete in Q3 2019. In two Phase II clinical studies1, QVM149 was shown to be superior to the comparators, salmeterol/fluticasone propionate (the standard-of-care treatment) and placebo, separately by demonstrating improvement in lung function in patients with asthma. In one study, QVM149 also demonstrated improvements versus placebo irrespective of administration time of morning or evening. The safety data from both studies also suggest that QVM149 has a favorable safety and tolerability profile. "These data continue to support QVM149's therapeutic benefits in patients with asthma," said Shinichi Tamura, Chairman, President and CEO of Sosei Heptares. "We look forward to results from the Phase III clinical program and further progress in the development of this novel inhaled combination therapy." The abstracts presented by Novartis at ATS 2019 are available at the links below the presented posters and a summary of key findings have also been added to the Science Center section of our website. Abstract A1277/P665: Watz, H. et al. The Combination of Indacaterol / Glycopyrronium / Mometasone Furoate is Superior to High-Dose Salmeterol/Fluticasone Propionate in Improving Lung Function in Patients with Asthma Abstract A7081/503: Beier, J. et al. The Efficacy of the Combination Indacaterol / Glycopyrronium / Mometasone Furoate is Independent of Time of Dosing in Patients with Asthma 1 Phase II CQVM149B2208 study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03063086) Phase II CQVM149B2209 study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03108027) * Breezhaler is a registered trademark of Novartis AG. About QVM149 (IND/GLY/MF) Indacaterol acetate, glycopyrronium bromide and mometasone furoate (IND/GLY/MF) is currently in Phase III clinical development. This formulation combines comprehensive bronchodilation of indacaterol acetate (a LABA [long-acting beta agonist]) and glycopyrronium bromide (a LAMA [long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists]) with mometasone furoate (high- or medium-dose ICS [inhaled corticosteroid]) in a precise once-daily formulation, delivered with the dose-confirming Breezhaler inhalation device. About the referenced Phase II clinical studies with QVM149 CQVM149B2208 study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03063086) was a Phase II, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled, 3-period complete cross-over study to assess the bronchodilator effect and safety of two doses of QVM149 compared to a fixed dose combination of salmeterol/fluticasone in patients with asthma. CQVM149B2209 study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03108027) was a Phase II, randomized, double-blind, repeat dose cross-over study to assess the bronchodilator effects of once daily QVM149 following morning or evening dosing for 14 Days compared to placebo in patients with asthma. About Sosei Heptares We are an international biopharmaceutical group focused on the design and development of new medicines originating from its proprietary GPCR-targeted StaR technology and structure-based drug design platform capabilities. The Company is advancing a broad and deep pipeline of partnered and wholly owned product candidates in multiple therapeutic areas, including CNS, immuno-oncology, gastroenterology, inflammation and other rare/specialty indications. Its leading clinical programs include partnered candidates aimed at the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease (with Allergan) and next generation immuno-oncology approaches to treat cancer (with AstraZeneca). Our additional partners and collaborators include Novartis, Pfizer, Daiichi-Sankyo, PeptiDream, Kymab and MorphoSys. The Company is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan and houses its main R&D facility in Cambridge, UK. "Sosei Heptares" is the corporate brand of Sosei Group Corporation, which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker: 4565). For more information, please visit https://www.soseiheptares.com/ LinkedIn: @soseiheptaresco | Twitter: @soseiheptaresco | YouTube: @soseiheptaresco Forward-looking statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the discovery, development and commercialization of products. Various risks may cause Sosei Group Corporation's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: adverse results in clinical development programs; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic alliance partners to develop and commercialize products and services; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products and services resulting from development efforts; the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialization activities; and product initiatives by competitors. As a result of these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE Sosei Heptares French English COMBINED SHAREHOLDERS' MEETING 22 MAY 2019 ALL THE RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED HAVE BEEN ADOPTED Paris, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 The combined general meeting (ordinary and extraordinary) of Nexity chaired by Alain Dinin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, was held today. All the resolutions submitted to the General Meeting have been adopted, among which: The approval of the statutory and consolidated financial statements for the financial year ended on 31 December 2018; The allocation of a dividend of 2.50 euros per share that will be payable on 29 May 2019; The approval of the items of remuneration due or granted in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2018 to Alain Dinin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - Ex post vote; The approval of the principles and criteria used to determine, structure and grant the fixed, variable and exceptional components of the total remuneration and benefits of any kind that may be granted to Alain Dinin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer until 22 May 2019 and as Chairman of the Board starting 22 May 2019 - Ex ante vote; The approval of the principles and criteria used to determine, structure and grant the fixed, variable and exceptional components of the total remuneration and benefits of any kind that may be granted to Jean-Philippe Ruggieri, Chief Executive Officer starting 22 May 2019 - Ex ante vote; The approval of the principles and criteria used to determine, structure and grant the fixed, variable and exceptional components of the total remuneration and benefits of any kind that may be granted to Julien Carmona, Deputy CEO starting 22 May 2019 - Ex ante vote; and The granting or renewal of delegations of authority and/or financial authorizations to the Board of Directors. During the presentation, Alain Dinin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and the Executive Committee; made of Jean-Philippe Ruggieri, Veronique Bedague-Hamilius, Julien Carmona et Frederic Verdavaine ; presented the Group, its strategy and its CSR policy, the 2018 results and the 2019 outlook. Alain Dinin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Luce Gendry, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors and senior lead independent director and Charles-Henri Filippi, Chairman of the Remunerations, Appointments and CSR Committee, presented respectively the Group's organisation, the corporate governance, the compensation components of the executive corporate officer in 2018, the compensation policy applicable to the Company Officers for the 2019 financial year as well as the free shares plans granted to the Group's managers and employees. The presentation made during the General Meeting and the results of the vote of the resolutions submitted to the General Meeting will be available on the Company's website (www.nexity.fr) under Finance / Shareholders / Annual General Meetings. Furthermore, the Board of Directors which met today following the Shareholders' General Meeting, has appointed Alain Dinin as Chairman of the Board, has decided to separate the functions of Chairman and CEO and appointed Jean-Philippe Ruggieri as Chief Executive Officer. As part of his term of office, Alain Dinin as Chairman of the Board will have strengthened duties in terms of investment and strategy. He will actively accompany the new management team. Lastly, as part of the share buyback programme authorised at the Shareholders' Meeting of 22 May 2019, Nexity announces the implementation, as of 23 May 2019, of a round of share buybacks. The buyback mandate, which was granted to investment services provider ODDO BHF SCA, is for a maximum amount of 9 million. This mandate follows on from the Board of Directors' decision to buy back shares in the proportion necessary to offset the dilution potentially caused by the vesting of free shares with the Group's employees. It follows the share buybacks carried out since October 2018 under which Nexity bought back 738,103 shares for a total of around 32 million. AT NEXITY, WE AIM TO SERVE ALL OUR CLIENTS AS THEIR REAL ESTATE NEEDS EVOLVE Nexity offers the widest range of advice and expertise, products, services and solutions for individuals, companies and local authorities, so as to best meet the needs of our clients and respond to their concerns. Our business lines - real estate brokerage, management, design, development, planning, advisory and related services - are now optimally organised to serve and support our clients. As the benchmark operator in our sector, we are resolutely committed to all of our clients, but also to the environment and society as a whole. Nexity is listed on the SRD and on Euronext's Compartment A Member of the indices: SBF 80, SBF 120, CAC Mid 60, CAC Mid & Small and CAC All Tradable Ticker symbol: NXI - Reuters: NXI.PA - Bloomberg: NXI:FP ISIN code: FR0010112524 ______ CONTACT Domitille Vielle - Head of Investor Relations / +33 (0)1 85 55 19 34 - investorrelations@nexity.fr Geraldine Bop - Deputy Head of Investor Relations / +33 (0)1 85 55 18 43 - investorrelations@nexity.fr TUCSON, Ariz., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Americans may see groups like Antifa as student radicals who show up at street demonstrations to protest politically incorrect monuments but who mainly hang out in coffee shops near campus. But complacency about the prospect of serious urban violence could be dangerous, states Physicians for Civil Defense president Jane Orient, M.D. "Beneath the theater of 'protests' and occasional violent outbursts is a fairly high level of organization and funding by outside groups that are skilled at directing the masses, with the goal of sedition, not reforms," she writes in the Doctors for Preparedness Newsletter. One sign of the level of organization and seriousness is the presence of street medics displaying red crosses made from tape. Antifa groups on college campuses, called "collectives," have special "health collectives," which are groups of individuals with various levels of medical training (from laymen who received some basic life support training, through paramedics and nurses to medical doctors). Most of those "medics" likely had some brushes with law enforcement when they previously served as regular Antifa street fighters. Therefore, they are well acquainted with their "urban battlefields." Emergency medical manuals available on the street or on the internet contain some fairly good layman's medical advice. Anticipating police action, they seem to have adapted a military pepper-spray neutralization protocol. Other potential sources of chaos include ordinary people driven to the streets if sufficiently oppressed as by a Green New Deal. "Yellow Vest" demonstrators protesting a fuel-tax hike have entered their 27th week in France. The streets of Paris at times resemble a war zone. "There are many threats to the peace, freedom, and prosperity of Americans," Dr. Orient stated. "Our people need to be more knowledgeable about world and local affairs, practice a high level of situational awareness, and make prudent preparations for survival in the event of disaster, including civil unrest." Physicians for Civil Defense distributes information to help to save lives in the event of war or other disaster. Contact: Jane M. Orient, M.D., (520) 323-3110, [email protected] SOURCE Physicians for Civil Defense Related Links https://www.physiciansforcivildefense.org NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Planned Parenthood of New York City patients, providers, and activists, along with elected leaders and advocates, showed up and spoke out against abortion bans aimed at stripping people of their human rights and individual autonomy. Nearly 1,000 supporters of reproductive freedom packed Foley Square on Tuesday, May 21st, in solidarity with activists in all 50 states, as a part of a national STOP THE BANS day of action. "Missouri, Alabama and Georgia just passed some of the most egregious and degrading abortion bans since Roe v. Wade. This isn't a coincidence this is an attempt to ban abortion outright. This is not just an attack on the people in those states, this is an attack on everyone who might or can get pregnant, including transgender men and gender nonconforming people," said Laura McQuade, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City. "These politicians are not lawmakers, they are law-breakers. They are trying to dismantle a law that has protected reproductive health for nearly five decades." "Having an abortion is not a decision made flippantly or selfishly," said Clara Williams, a Planned Parenthood of NYC patient. "What kind of rights or equity can we have in a world where those in power tell us we are not the authority on our own experience? That we don't know ourselves well enough to know what is best for us? That we do not deserve the right to control our own destinies? Everybody loves someone who's had an abortion." "It is my number one priority to keep my patients safe and honor the trust they give me," said Dr. Ila Dayananda, Planned Parenthood of NYC Chief Medical Officer. "It is my duty to give patients evidence-based medical information so they can make meaningful, informed decisions. The fact that under these laws, a physician could receive jail time for simply providing a medical service that their patient needs is horrific." This rash of extreme abortion bans sweeping the country is not what Americans want. Support for abortion access is at a record high -- more than 70% of Americans do not want to see Roe v. Wade overturned . This day of action sent a loud and clear message to politicians: Banning abortion is dangerous, deeply unpopular, and people will not stand for it. Planned Parenthood NYC partnered with New York City leaders and community advocates including City Leaders: NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, NYC Council Member Helen Rosenthal Supporters: Attorney Gloria Allred, Activist and Playwright Eve Ensler, RHA Votes Co-Founder Garin Marschall Community Partners: National Institute for Reproductive Health, New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU), New York Immigration Coalition, National Organization for Women-NYC, Girls for Gender Equity, Lady Parts Justice League, Black Lives Matter of Greater New York, National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF), Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS), NYC for Abortion Rights, New York Abortion Access Fund, Resistance Revival Chorus, Rude Mechanical Orchestra Affiliates: Planned Parenthood Nassau County Action, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic Action Fund, Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley Action Since 1916, Planned Parenthood of New York City (PPNYC) has been an advocate for and provider of sexual and reproductive health services and education for New Yorkers. Providing more than 100,000 patient visits annually, PPNYC's health care centers in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens and Staten Island offer sexual and reproductive health services, including gynecological care, birth control, cancer screening, pregnancy testing, abortion, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, HIV prevention, testing and counseling, transgender hormone therapy and vasectomy. Through a threefold mission of clinical services, education, and advocacy, PPNYC brings better health and more fulfilling lives to each new generation of New Yorkers. As a voice for reproductive freedom, PPNYC supports legislation and policies to ensure that all New Yorkers will have access to the full range of reproductive health care services and information. Contact: Jacquelyn Marrero, [email protected], 212-274-7337 SOURCE Planned Parenthood of New York City MEMPHIS, Tenn., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- With summer quickly approaching, travelers who need extra incentive to book a trip need to look no further than this opportunity to receive a bonus for simply supporting a great cause. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital supporters can now take advantage of Fly for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a brand new campaign that rewards travelers with American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles in exchange for donations. Thanks to generous donors families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Here's how to participate: Current and new AAdvantage members simply visit stjude.org/aadvantage to enter their AAdvantage program number and offer a one-time donation to St. Jude in exchange for 10 bonus miles for every $1 donated. American Airlines has donated three million AAdvantage bonus miles and the campaign will continue until all of the miles are gone. Since 2006, American Airlines has provided airline miles to support St. Jude while creating annual awareness for the mission in their hub markets and encouraging employees to volunteer at St. Jude events throughout the country and close to home. For more information, visit stjude.org/aadvantage or call 1-800-805-5856. New AAdvantage customers can sign up for a membership here. About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, sharing stories and videos from St. Jude Inspire, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter and Instagram and subscribing to its YouTube channel. SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Related Links http://www.stjude.org MINNEAPOLIS, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- First quarter comparable sales grew 4.8 percent on traffic growth of 4.3 percent. First quarter comparable digital channel sales grew 42 percent, on top of 28 percent last year. Comparable digital sales contributed 2.1 percentage points to Target's overall comparable sales growth. Same-day fulfillment services (Order Pick Up, Drive Up and Shipt) drove well over half of the Company's digital sales growth. First-quarter operating income of $1.135 billion was 9.0 percent higher than a year ago. GAAP EPS from continuing operations were $1.53 , up 15.1 percent from last year. Adjusted EPS were $1.53 , up 15.9 percent from last year. In the second quarter, Target expects low- to mid-single digit growth in its comparable sales. The midpoint of Target's second quarter EPS guidance of $1.52 to $1.72 represents high single digit growth compared with prior year GAAP EPS from continuing operations and double-digit growth compared with prior year Adjusted EPS. For the fiscal year, Target continues to expect a low- to mid-single digit increase in comparable sales and both GAAP EPS and Adjusted EPS of $5.75 to $6.05 . For additional media materials, please visit: https://corporate.target.com/article/2019/05/q1-2019-earnings Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) today announced its first quarter 2019 performance, including first quarter comparable sales growth of 4.8 percent driven by a 4.3 percent increase in comparable traffic. The Company reported GAAP earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $1.53 in first quarter 2019, up 15.1 percent from $1.33 in first quarter 2018. First quarter Adjusted EPS were $1.53, up 15.9 percent from $1.32 in first quarter 2018. The attached tables provide a reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP measures. All earnings per share figures refer to diluted EPS. "Target had an outstanding first quarter, as our team delivered a great experience for our guests and drove strong growth in traffic, comparable sales, operating income and earnings per share," said Brian Cornell, Chairman and CEO of Target Corporation. "Over the last two years we have made important investments to build a durable operating and financial model that drives consumer relevance and sustainable growth. Target's first quarter performance and market-share gains demonstrate that the model is working. Throughout this year, we will continue to extend the reach of our same-day fulfillment options, strengthen our portfolio of owned and exclusive brands, remodel and open more stores and invest in our team. We're confident that we're well-positioned to deliver strong financial performance in 2019 and beyond." Second Quarter and Full-Year 2019 Guidance Target expects second quarter comparable sales growth in the low- to mid-single digit range, mid-single digit growth in operating income dollars and both GAAP EPS from continuing operations and Adjusted EPS of $1.52 to $1.72. For full-year 2019, Target continues to expect a low- to mid-single digit increase in comparable sales, a mid-single digit increase in operating income, and both GAAP EPS from continuing operations and Adjusted EPS of $5.75 to $6.05. Second quarter and full-year 2019 GAAP EPS from continuing operations may include the impact of certain discrete items which will be excluded in calculating Adjusted EPS. The Company is not currently aware of any such discrete items. Operating Results Total revenue of $17.6 billion increased 5.0 percent from $16.8 billion last year, reflecting sales growth of 5.1 percent combined with a 0.5 percent increase in other revenue. First quarter sales growth of 5.1 percent reflected comparable sales growth of 4.8 percent combined with the contribution from non-mature stores. Comparable digital sales grew 42 percent, contributing 2.1 percentage points to comparable sales growth. Operating income was $1,135 million in first quarter 2019, up 9.0 percent from $1,041 million in 2018. First quarter operating income margin rate was 6.4 percent in 2019, compared with 6.2 percent in 2018. First quarter gross margin rate was 29.6 percent, compared with 29.8 percent in 2018, reflecting higher digital fulfillment and supply chain costs, partially offset by the benefit of merchandising strategies. First quarter SG&A expense rate was 20.8 percent in 2019, compared with 21.1 percent in 2018. This performance reflected cost savings in technology and a year-over-year timing benefit in marketing expenses, combined with strong expense control across the Company which offset continued pressure from wage growth. Interest Expense and Taxes from Continuing Operations The Company's first quarter 2019 net interest expense was $126 million, compared with $121 million last year. First quarter 2019 effective income tax rate from continuing operations was 22.4 percent, compared with 22.6 percent last year. Shareholder Returns The Company returned $608 million to shareholders in first quarter 2019, including: Dividends of $330 million , compared with $334 million in first quarter 2018, reflecting a decline in share count partially offset by a 3.2 percent increase in the dividend per share. , compared with in first quarter 2018, reflecting a decline in share count partially offset by a 3.2 percent increase in the dividend per share. Share repurchases totaling $277 million that retired 3.6 million shares of common stock at an average price of $76.98 . At the end of the first quarter, the Company had approximately $1.0 billion of remaining capacity under its current $5 billion share repurchase program. For the trailing twelve months through first quarter 2019, after-tax return on invested capital (ROIC) was 14.3 percent, compared with 15.2 percent for the twelve months through first quarter 2018. Excluding the discrete impacts of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, ROIC was 14.1 percent for the trailing twelve months ended May 4, 2019, compared with 13.5 percent in the comparable prior-year period. See the tables of this release for additional information about the Company's ROIC calculation. Conference Call Details Target will webcast its first quarter earnings conference call at 7:00 a.m. CDT today. Investors and the media are invited to listen to the call at investors.target.com (hover over "investors" then click on "events & presentations"). A telephone replay of the call will be available beginning at approximately 10:30 a.m. CDT today through the end of business on May 24, 2019. The replay number is 866-419-8652. Miscellaneous Statements in this release regarding second quarter and full-year 2019 earnings per share, operating income and comparable sales guidance are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially. The most important risks and uncertainties are described in Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2019. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement. About Target Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at more than 1,800 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5% of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For the latest store count or for more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter. TARGET CORPORATION Consolidated Statements of Operations Three Months Ended (millions, except per share data) (unaudited) May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 Change Sales $ 17,401 $ 16,556 5.1 % Other revenue 226 225 0.5 Total revenue 17,627 16,781 5.0 Cost of sales 12,248 11,625 5.4 Selling, general and administrative expenses 3,663 3,545 3.3 Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) 581 570 1.9 Operating income 1,135 1,041 9.0 Net interest expense 126 121 3.3 Net other (income) / expense (12) (7) 67.0 Earnings from continuing operations before income taxes 1,021 927 10.2 Provision for income taxes 229 210 9.2 Net earnings from continuing operations 792 717 10.5 Discontinued operations, net of tax 3 1 Net earnings $ 795 $ 718 10.8 % Basic earnings per share Continuing operations $ 1.54 $ 1.34 15.1 % Discontinued operations Net earnings per share $ 1.54 $ 1.34 15.4 % Diluted earnings per share Continuing operations $ 1.53 $ 1.33 15.1 % Discontinued operations Net earnings per share $ 1.53 $ 1.33 15.4 % Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic 515.7 536.9 (4.0) % Diluted 519.5 541.0 (4.0) % Antidilutive shares 0.1 2.2 Dividends declared per share $ 0.64 $ 0.62 3.2 % Note: Per share amounts may not foot due to rounding. TARGET CORPORATION Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (millions) (unaudited) May 4, 2019 February 2, 2019 May 5, 2018 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,173 $ 1,556 $ 1,060 Inventory 9,060 9,497 8,652 Other current assets 1,374 1,466 1,164 Total current assets 11,607 12,519 10,876 Property and equipment Land 6,061 6,064 6,090 Buildings and improvements 29,573 29,240 28,363 Fixtures and equipment 5,401 5,912 5,135 Computer hardware and software 2,553 2,544 2,511 Construction-in-progress 574 460 639 Accumulated depreciation (18,456) (18,687) (17,971) Property and equipment, net 25,706 25,533 24,767 Operating lease assets 2,019 1,965 1,958 Other noncurrent assets 1,287 1,273 1,328 Total assets $ 40,619 $ 41,290 $ 38,929 Liabilities and shareholders' investment Accounts payable $ 8,360 $ 9,761 $ 8,131 Accrued and other current liabilities 3,823 4,201 3,630 Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings 1,056 1,052 283 Total current liabilities 13,239 15,014 12,044 Long-term debt and other borrowings 11,357 10,223 11,107 Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 2,064 2,004 2,007 Deferred income taxes 1,034 972 744 Other noncurrent liabilities 1,808 1,780 1,869 Total noncurrent liabilities 16,263 14,979 15,727 Shareholders' investment Common stock 43 43 44 Additional paid-in capital 5,908 6,042 5,664 Retained earnings 5,958 6,017 6,187 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (792) (805) (737) Total shareholders' investment 11,117 11,297 11,158 Total liabilities and shareholders' investment $ 40,619 $ 41,290 $ 38,929 Common Stock Authorized 6,000,000,000 shares, $0.0833 par value; 512,312,434, 517,761,600 and 532,916,612 shares issued and outstanding at May 4, 2019, February 2, 2019, and May 5, 2018, respectively. Preferred Stock Authorized 5,000,000 shares, $0.01 par value; no shares were issued or outstanding during any period presented. TARGET CORPORATION Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Three Months Ended (millions) (unaudited) May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 Operating activities Net earnings $ 795 $ 718 Earnings from discontinued operations, net of tax 3 1 Net earnings from continuing operations 792 717 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by operations Depreciation and amortization 644 631 Share-based compensation expense 46 42 Deferred income taxes 59 48 Noncash losses / (gains) and other, net 10 40 Changes in operating accounts Inventory 438 (55) Other assets 17 26 Accounts payable (1,402) (604) Accrued and other liabilities (281) (333) Cash provided by operating activitiescontinuing operations 323 512 Cash provided by operating activitiesdiscontinued operations 2 Cash provided by operations 323 514 Investing activities Expenditures for property and equipment (655) (827) Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment 5 4 Other investments 1 5 Cash required for investing activities (649) (818) Financing activities Additions to long-term debt 994 Reductions of long-term debt (13) (12) Dividends paid (330) (334) Repurchase of stock (320) (524) Accelerated share repurchase pending final settlement (400) (425) Stock option exercises 12 16 Cash required for financing activities (57) (1,279) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (383) (1,583) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 1,556 2,643 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 1,173 $ 1,060 TARGET CORPORATION Operating Results Three Months Ended Rate Analysis (unaudited) May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 Gross margin rate 29.6 % 29.8 % SG&A expense rate 20.8 21.1 Depreciation and amortization (exclusive of depreciation included in cost of sales) expense rate 3.3 3.4 Operating income margin rate 6.4 6.2 Note: Gross margin rate is calculated as gross margin (sales less cost of sales) divided by sales. All other rates are calculated by dividing the applicable amount by total revenue. Other revenue includes $160 million and $167 million of profit-sharing income under our credit card program agreement for the three months ended May 4, 2019, and May 5, 2018, respectively. Three Months Ended Comparable Sales (unaudited) May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 Comparable sales change 4.8 % 3.0 % Drivers of change in comparable sales Number of transactions 4.3 3.7 Average transaction amount 0.5 (0.6) Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding. Contribution to Comparable Sales Change (unaudited) Three Months Ended May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 Stores channel comparable sales change 2.7 % 1.9 % Digital channel contribution to comparable sales change 2.1 1.1 Total comparable sales change 4.8 % 3.0 % Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding. Three Months Ended Sales by Channel (unaudited) May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 Stores originated 92.9 % 94.8 % Digitally originated 7.1 5.2 Total 100 % 100 % Three Months Ended REDcard Penetration (unaudited) May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 Target Debit Card 13.1 % 13.5 % Target Credit Cards 10.4 10.6 Total REDcard Penetration 23.5 % 24.1 % Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding. Number of Stores and Retail Square Feet (unaudited) Number of Stores Retail Square Feet (a) May 4, 2019 February 2, 2019 May 5, 2018 May 4, 2019 February 2, 2019 May 5, 2018 170,000 or more sq. ft. 272 272 274 48,603 48,604 48,951 50,000 to 169,999 sq. ft. 1,501 1,501 1,502 188,918 188,900 189,258 49,999 or less sq. ft. 78 71 53 2,276 2,077 1,477 Total 1,851 1,844 1,829 239,797 239,581 239,686 (a) In thousands, reflects total square feet less office, distribution center, and vacant space. TARGET CORPORATION Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures To provide additional transparency, we have disclosed non-GAAP adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (Adjusted EPS). This metric excludes certain items presented below. We believe this information is useful in providing period-to-period comparisons of the results of our continuing operations. This measure is not in accordance with, or an alternative to, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP). The most comparable GAAP measure is diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (GAAP EPS). Adjusted EPS should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may calculate Adjusted EPS differently, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies. Three Months Ended May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 (millions, except per share data) (unaudited) Pretax Net of Tax Per Share Amounts Pretax Net of Tax Per Share Amounts Change GAAP diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.53 $ 1.33 15.1 % Adjustments Income tax matters (a) $ $ $ $ $ (5) $ (0.01) Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations $ 1.53 $ 1.32 15.9 % Note: Amounts may not foot due to rounding. (a) Represents certain income tax matters not related to current period operations. Earnings from continuing operations before interest expense and income taxes (EBIT) and earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) are non-GAAP financial measures which we believe provide meaningful information about our operational efficiency compared with our competitors by excluding the impact of differences in tax jurisdictions and structures, debt levels, and for EBITDA, capital investment. These measures are not in accordance with, or an alternative to, GAAP. The most comparable GAAP measure is net earnings from continuing operations. EBIT and EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as a substitution for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Other companies may calculate EBIT and EBITDA differently, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies. EBIT and EBITDA Three Months Ended (millions) (unaudited) May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 Change Net earnings from continuing operations $ 792 $ 717 10.5 % + Provision for income taxes 229 210 9.2 + Net interest expense 126 121 3.3 EBIT $ 1,147 $ 1,048 9.4 % + Total depreciation and amortization (a) 644 631 2.0 EBITDA $ 1,791 $ 1,679 6.6 % (a) Represents total depreciation and amortization, including amounts classified within Depreciation and Amortization and within Cost of Sales. We have also disclosed after-tax return on invested capital from continuing operations (ROIC), which is a ratio based on GAAP information. We believe this metric is useful in assessing the effectiveness of our capital allocation over time. Other companies may calculate ROIC differently, limiting the usefulness of the measure for comparisons with other companies. After-Tax Return on Invested Capital (dollars in millions) (unaudited) Trailing Twelve Months Numerator May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 (a) Operating income $ 4,204 $ 4,110 + Net other income / (expense) 33 51 EBIT 4,237 4,161 + Operating lease interest (b) 84 80 - Income taxes (c)(d) 878 692 Net operating profit after taxes $ 3,443 $ 3,549 Denominator May 4, 2019 May 5, 2018 April 29, 2017 Current portion of long-term debt and other borrowings $ 1,056 $ 283 $ 1,729 + Noncurrent portion of long-term debt 11,357 11,107 10,916 + Shareholders' equity 11,117 11,158 10,979 + Operating lease liabilities (e) 2,231 2,157 2,049 - Cash and cash equivalents 1,173 1,060 2,680 - Net assets of discontinued operations (f) 17 Invested capital $ 24,588 $ 23,645 $ 22,976 Average invested capital (g) $ 24,116 $ 23,310 After-tax return on invested capital (d) 14.3 % 15.2 % After-tax return on invested capital excluding discrete impacts of Tax Act (d) 14.1 % 13.5 % (a) Consisted of 53 weeks. (b) Represents the add-back to operating income driven by the hypothetical interest expense we would incur if the property under our operating leases were owned or accounted for as finance leases. Calculated using the discount rate for each lease and recorded as a component of rent expense within SG&A Expenses. Operating lease interest is added back to Operating Income in the ROIC calculation to control for differences in capital structure between us and our competitors. (c) Calculated using the effective tax rates for continuing operations, which were 20.3 percent and 16.3 percent for the trailing twelve months ended May 4, 2019, and May 5, 2018, respectively. For the trailing twelve months ended May 4, 2019, and May 5, 2018, includes tax effect of $861 million and $679 million, respectively, related to EBIT, and $17 million and $13 million, respectively, related to operating lease interest. (d) The effective tax rate for the trailing twelve months ended May 4, 2019, and May 5, 2018, includes discrete tax benefits of $36 million and $343 million related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act). (e) Total short-term and long-term operating lease liabilities included within Accrued and Other Current Liabilities and Noncurrent Operating Lease Liabilities. (f) Included in Other Assets and Liabilities. (g) Average based on the invested capital at the end of the current period and the invested capital at the end of the comparable prior period. SOURCE Target Corporation Related Links www.target.com James Crabtree , author and journalist , author and journalist Neha Dixit , independent journalist Speakers for the Manchester Open Future Festival include: Mark Carney , Governor of the Bank of England , Governor of the Bank of Guy Standing , author and universal-basic-income-advocate , author and universal-basic-income-advocate Jim O'Neill , economist and former British treasury minister Speakers for the Chicago Open Future Festival include: Mellody Hobson , president of Ariel Investments , president of Ariel Investments Andrew Keen , author of numerous books on technology and regulation More speakers will be announced soon. The Economist encourages people from all walks of life to attend the Open Future Festival 2019 and take part in the conversation. Find out more and/or register interest here: Hong Kong Open Future Festival 6pm - 9:20pm HKT (followed by drinks) at HKEX Connect Hall $29.40 USD cost for subscribers; $49 USD cost for non-subscribers Manchester Open Future Festival 11am - 6:10pm BST (followed by drinks) at The Point at Old Trafford Manchester 23 cost for subscribers; 39 cost for non-subscribers Chicago Open Future Festival 10am - 3:40pm CDT (followed by a reception) at Chicagos Union Station $29.40 USD cost for subscribers; $49 USD cost for non-subscribers The festival kicks off at an evening event in Hong Kong. This is then handed over to an all-day event in Manchester. The baton is then passed to a midday event in Chicago. The three festivals will be live-streamed to reach a global audience. More details about the festival, including the programmes and a link to register, are on the Hong Kong, Manchester and Chicago event sites. The Open Future Festival is part of the Open Future initiative, which was launched in 2018 to mark The Economist's 175th anniversary and remake the case for the newspaper's founding principles of classical British liberalism: a belief in human progress, distrust of powerful interests and respect for individual freedom. These principles are now being challenged from all sides in a period of populism and growing authoritarianism. The initiative continues in 2019 with editorial programming featuring thought-provoking external voices published on Economist.com and on other Economist platforms. Through articles, online debates, essays, podcasts and films, The Economist's Open Future initiative explores the future of capitalism, free speech, diversity, immigration and technology by encouraging a vigorous debate with our critics and supporters, and aimed at a young audience in particular. The initiative has proved popular. Last year Open Future content received more than 9m engagements on social media and over 6m unique website visitors, 2m of whom were first-time visitors to Economist.com. The sold-out festivals in 2018 in Hong Kong, London and New York featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including the student leaders of Hong Kong's umbrella movement, former British prime minister Tony Blair, and the former White House adviser Steve Bannon. The event was attended by over 1,000 people across the three cities. To read Open Future articles, please visit: www.economist.com/openfuture About The Economist With a growing global audience and a reputation for insightful analysis and perspective on every aspect of world events, The Economist is one of the most widely recognised and well-read current-affairs publications in the world. In addition to the weekly print and digital editions and website, The Economist publishes Espresso, a daily news app, Global Business Review, a bilingual English-Chinese product and 1843 magazine. Economist Radio produces several podcasts a week and Economist Films produces short- and long-form video. The Economist maintains robust social communities on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, LINE, Medium and other social networks. A recipient of many editorial and marketing awards, The Economist was named the most trusted news source by the Trusting News Project Report in 2017. SOURCE The Economist Related Links https://www.economist.com NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Geomembrane Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Raw Material (HDPE, LDPE), By Technology (Extrusion, Calendering), By Application (Waste Management, Water Management), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025 Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5763794/?utm_source=PRN The global geomembrane market size is expected to reach USD 2.43 billion by 2025, progressing at a CAGR of 4.9% over the forecast period. Expansion of the agriculture sector and increasing production capacity of shell gas are the major growth drivers. Geomembrane can be used as a lining system in commercial buildings, residential structures, and infrastructure.Booming construction sector in South East Asia is projected to benefit the market expansion. Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam are expected to witness growth owing to increasing construction spending for developing residential and commercial buildings. Indonesia is one of the most populous countries in the world and the construction sector plays an important role in its economy. China's National Energy Administration (NEA) and the Chinese Government plans to accelerate the advancement of the country's shale gas industry.The Chinese Government further supports the development process by offering financial support to qualifying developments. In addition, presence of large shale gas reserves in China, Australia, and India is expected to drive the shale gas market. Booming metals and mining sector in emerging countries is estimated to benefit market expansion in the forthcoming years.India will witness significant surge in the metal and mining sector owing to infrastructural development, rising automotive production, and growth of power and construction sector. Ample resources including iron ore, bauxite, and coal are expected to create new opportunities over the forecast period. Presence of major players including Coal India Limited, Hindalco, National Mineral Development Corporation Ltd., NALCO, BALCO, Singareni Collieries Company, Reliance Natural Resources, and SAIL will propel the mining sector growth in the country. Rising importance of geosynthetic materials in the construction and mining sectors on account of favorable properties, such as drainage control, containment, and landfill control, has compelled companies to increase their expenditure on the development of new products, including geosynthetic clay liner and geonets. Geosynthetic clay liner is expected to remain one of the superior products that finds applications in providing landfill cover as well as containment control in the mining and construction industries. It can be used in numerous applications including highway and civil construction, mining, ponds, landfill, secondary containment, and landfill caps. Further key findings from the study suggest: In terms of revenue, HDPE raw material segment is anticipated to reach USD 762.3 million by 2025 at a CAGR of 4.7% In terms of revenue, waste management application segment is projected to expand at a CAGR of 4.5% over the forecast period In terms of revenue, mining application segment led with a market share of 39.4% in 2018 The Europe geomembrane market is anticipated to reach 241.1 million square meters by 2025 In terms of revenue, Middle East and Africa is projected to register a CAGR of 6.0% over the forecast period. Growth of mining sector is projected to contribute to the regional expansion Some of the key companies present in the market are CETCO; GSE Holding, Inc.; Geofabrics Australasia Pty. Ltd; AGRU Kunststofftechnik GmbH; and Carthage Mills Erosion Control Company, Inc. Download the full report: https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/5763794/?utm_source=PRN About Reportbuyer Reportbuyer is a leading industry intelligence solution that provides all market research reports from top publishers For more information: Sarah Smith Research Advisor at Reportbuyer.com Email: [email protected] Tel: +1 (718) 213 4904 Website: www.reportbuyer.com SOURCE ReportBuyer Related Links http://www.reportbuyer.com CHICAGO, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Arizton's recent research report, the global in-ear monitoring system market is expected to reach $981 million during the forecast period, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% during 20182024 - Market Research by Arizton. Key Highlights offered in the Report: With increasing innovationsin earphones and headphones devices, the in-ear monitoring market is expected to offerincremental revenue opportunities of close to $229 million during the forecast period. Leveraging industry events and trade shows for extending brand messages to the target audience is a key booster for vendors in the market. Strategic partnerships with artists and audiologists can conveniently help brands lift their image while garnering considerable attention worldwide Since, the market remains cost-centric, adapting to deliver customized solutions or rental facilities can do well for the brand in the longer-run As the count of Millennials attending live music events shoots up by 12% in just 3 years, the live music market is set to experience substantial growth, thereby facilitating adoption and demand for in-ear monitoring systems The US, Japan , Germany , the UK, France , South Korea , and Brazil are likely to remain key countries for vendors for strategic expansions and business opportunities in the near future. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20182024 Market Dynamics Leading trends, restraints, and growth drivers Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by market by product, application, distribution type, and geography. Competitive Landscape Profile of 4 key vendors and 20 prominent players Request your free sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/in-ear-monitoring-system-market In-ear Monitoring System Market: Segmentation The market research report includes a detailed market segmentation by products,applications, distribution types, and geography. The online distribution channel has provided high momentum to In-ear monitoring systems and solutions. It is expected to gain popularity due to the increasing penetration of the internet and compatible pricing. Online sales are set to increase by over 10% YOY during the forecast period. Amazon, eBay, SoundBroker.com, Americanmusical.com, Organgeaudio.co.uk, Alibaba, and AliExpress are some of the prominent online portals offering a wide range of products. Wireless in-ear monitoring devices are witnessing high demand. They are widely used during live performances and in recording studios. Vendors are actively involved in developing innovative products for a diverse range of end-user applications. Market Segmentation by Product Wired Wireless Market Segmentation by Application Studio and Broadcasting Live Events and Performances Large Venues Others Market Segmentation byDistribution Online Retail In-ear Monitoring System Market: Dynamics Factors such as connectivity, signal transmission, expansion of global music business are driving the global in-ear monitoring systems market. The increasing partnership with musicians and audiologist will boost revenues in the in-ear monitoring systems market. Key Drivers and Trends fuelling Market Growth Increased Adoption inWorship Places Partnerships and Collaborations with musicians and audiologists Increased Innovations for Wide End-user Applications In-ear Monitoring System Market-Geography The penetration of networked audio technology in the US is growing, and a majority of concerts and music festivals organizers are using this technology. Further, the growingdemand for concerts and music recordings, increasing live music shows and activities, andthe growing retailexpansion have holistically boosted the in-ear monitoring systemmarket. Request your free sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/in-ear-monitoring-system-market Market Segmentation by Geography North America US Canada Europe UK Germany France Italy Spain Switzerland Russia Benelux Scandinavia APAC Japan China South Korea Australia India Indonesia Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina MEA Saudi Arabia South Arica Maghreb Market Size and Forecast |20182024 Revenue Unit Shipment Application Product Type Key Countries Profile of Leading Vendors Shure ANT (Advanced Native Technologies) Business Overview Major Product Offerings Key Strategies Key Strengths Key Opportunities Sennheiser HARMAN International (Samsung) Audio-Technica Other prominent vendors are Nady Systems, Pyle Pro, Hear Technologies, Peavey Electronics, Prodipe, JTS Professional, Audio2000's, EnpingSange Electronic (Baomic), Shenzhen Anleon Electronic, SOYO Technology, Takstar, Wisycom USA, CAD Audio, MIPRO, Listen Technologies, Gear4music, TOA corporation, ANT (Advanced Native Technologies), The t.bone, and LD Systems. Explore our Consumer Goods & Retail Technology profile to know more about the industry. Read Some of the Top-selling Reports: About Arizton: Arizton Advisory and Intelligence is a premium and innovation-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services. We offer comprehensive market research reports on industries such as consumer goods & retail technology, automotive and mobility, smart tech, healthcare, and life sciences, industrial machinery, chemicals and materials, IT and media, logistics and packaging. These reports contain detailed industry analysis, market size, share, growth drivers, and trend forecasts. Media Contact Mail: [email protected] Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1-302-469-0707 SOURCE Arizton Advisory & Intelligence NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Injection Molded Plastics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Raw Material (Polypropylene, ABS, HDPE, Polystyrene), By Application (Packaging, Electronics, Medical), And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05763797/?utm_source=PRN The global injection molded plastics market is expected to reach USD 478.72 billion by 2025 It is anticipated to register a CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period. Growing demand from key applications including automotive, packaging, and construction particularly in the Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) nations, is likely to drive the growth. The high-growth regions such as Middle East and Asia Pacific There have witnessed a surge in capacity addition over the last few years. Increasing presence of plastic injection molding companies in China on account of low manufacturing costs and ample availability of skilled labor is anticipated to benefit the regional market.Major foreign companies are increasing their production capabilities in the region, owing to growing demand for plastic products. Government support in the form of tax benefits and financial incentives in China and India to increase the FDI flow has helped develop the market for plastics in these countries. In packaging application, High density polyethylene (HDPE) is extensively used in thin wall injection molding.Growing packaging demand from food, bin liners, and thing gauge bags is anticipated to drive its growth over the forecast period. Rising penetration of injection molded HDPE in shipping containers, industrial pails, and house ware application is anticipated to further drive its demand over the forecast period. Further key findings from the report suggest: Demand for packaging is likely to rise owing to the improving economic conditions of countries such as India, Brazil, Mexico, and Russia Demand for injection molding from the packaging industry in Asia Pacific will reach 72,902.2 kilo tons by 2025 at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2019 to 2025 Growth of electronics industry coupled with cost effectiveness of electrical appliances is projected to remain a key driving factor for the next eight years Demand from medical sector in North America is anticipated expand at an estimated CAGR of 6.4% from 2019 to 2025. Demand from U.S. is anticipated to reach 30,572.3 kilo tons by 2025 Packaging was the leading application segment in France injection molded plastics market and registered 1,056.9 kilo tons in 2018 Production in Middle East and Africa is driven by rising product demand from Asia Pacific and European countries Demand for polypropylene from Saudi Arabia is anticipated to reach 2,285.5 kilo tons by 2025, at a CAGR of 4.4% from 2019 to 2025 Major market players include BASF, LyondellBasell, Eastman Chemical Company, ExxonMobil, Huntsman Corporation, Eastman Company, DuPont, Dow Chemicals, and SABIC. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05763797/?utm_source=PRN About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Dogs offer us unconditional love. They're master cuddlers and they even make us happier humans. However, if we're being honest, dogs can make some "debatable" decisions, because they don't always know what's best. These questionable choices are at the heart of a new campaign from GREENIES Dental Treats. The new campaign, developed by adam&eveDDB, was created to celebrate the expanding distribution of GREENIES Dental Treats to grocery, drug and other mass retailers. The campaign includes television, print and digital ads, as well as social content. The brand also partnered with celebrity pet parent and television star Mario Lopez and his French bulldog, Julio Cesar Chavez Lopez. Mario took to Instagram to give a humorous look at how a typical day would unfold if Julio was in charge. Hijinks ensued, but Mario got the day back on track, with help from GREENIES Dental Treats. "As pet parents, we want the best for our pups, but their wide-eyed innocence and impulsiveness can make it difficult to steer them in the right direction," said Olivia Gardner, GREENIES Brand Manager. "Now that GREENIES Dental Treats are available in even more places, it's easier than ever for pet parents to ensure their dogs get what's good for them. Dogs may think they're just getting a tasty treat, but they're actually caring for their oral health." Veterinarian-recommended GREENIES Dental Treats are the ingenious way pet parents can care for their dog's mouth by giving them a tasty treat, making it easy for pups to do the right thing. The oral care treats clean dogs' teeth by fighting both plaque and tartar buildup, freshen breath and help maintain healthy teeth and gums. They are made with natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals and nutrients and highly soluble ingredients, making them easy to digest. To find out where to purchase GREENIES Dental Treats at a retailer near you, visit www.Greenies.com. For more information on GREENIES Dental Treats, visit Facebook.com/Greenies, Instagram.com/Greenies or Twitter.com/Greenies. About the GREENIES Brand The GREENIES brand puts the fun back in pet parenting by offering a line of dental treats that are irresistibly tasty and keep your pet healthy and happy day after day. Proudly made in Kansas City since 1996 with quality, natural ingredients plus vitamins, minerals and nutrients from around the world, vet-recommended GREENIES treats clean teeth by using dogs' natural chewing action to clean the surfaces of their teeth. For more information, visit www.Greenies.com or Facebook.com/Greenies. About Mars Petcare Mars Petcare is a diverse and growing business with 85,000 Associates across 50+ countries dedicated to one purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. With 75 years of experience, our portfolio of almost 50 brands serves the health and nutrition needs of the world's pets including brands PEDIGREE, WHISKAS, ROYAL CANIN, NUTRO, GREENIES, SHEBA, CESAR, IAMS and EUKANUBA as well as The WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition which has advanced research in the nutrition and health of pets for over 50 years. Mars Petcare is also a leading veterinary health provider through a network of over 2,000 pet hospitals including BANFIELD, BLUEPEARL, PET PARTNERS, VCA, Linnaeus and AniCura. We're also active in innovation and technology for pets, with WISDOM PANEL genetic health screening and DNA testing for dogs, the WHISTLE GPS dog tracker, and LEAP VENTURE STUDIO accelerator and COMPANION FUND programs that drive innovation and disruption in the pet care industry. As a family business and guided by our principles, we are privileged with the flexibility to fight for what we believe in and we choose to fight for: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. / Trademarks Mars, Incorporated 2019. SOURCE GREENIES Related Links http://www.Greenies.com NEW YORK, May 21, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) announced the lineup for its 35th Anniversary Awards Dinner on Nov. 7 in Washington, DC. The honorees include three courageous journalists: CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer, Stevan Dojcinovic of Serbia, and Rose Wangui of Kenya. As previously announced, Washington Post Executive Editor Martin "Marty" Baron will receive ICFJ's Founders Award for Excellence in Journalism at the event. The ICFJ Awards Dinner, which attracts nearly 600 media luminaries and supporters, recognizes journalists whose work has made an outstanding impact on society. CNN's Wolf Blitzer will serve as master of ceremonies. Palmer, CBS News' senior foreign correspondent based in London, will receive the Excellence in International Reporting Award. One of the first U.S. correspondents to helicopter into Afghanistan after 9/11, Palmer has also covered the conflicts in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq. Previously based in Moscow, she has reported on and in Iran consistently over the past decade. She is one of the few foreign journalists to have visited Iran's nuclear installations. Dojcinovic and Wangui, two trailblazing journalists, will receive the Knight International Journalism Award, which is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Dojcinovic is a founder and editor in chief of the Crime and Corruption Reporting Network (KRIK) in Belgrade, Serbia. At an increasingly dangerous time, he leads a team of courageous journalists who have turned a light on money laundering by business elites and other abuses by government officials. He is also a regional editor for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), an ICFJ partner. As a result of his probes, Dojcinovic has been a frequent target of threats and vicious personal attacks by government allies. None of it deters him. Wangui is a features reporter with NTV, the television arm of the Nation Media Group in Kenya. She uncovers stories about tough or taboo subjects that no one else dares to touch. With compassion and a strong sense of purpose, she has tackled topics such as sexual bondage of young girls in remote villages, of young Kenyan women who went to work in the Persian Gulf and wound up dead, and of squalid school conditions where children don't have a desk, a pencil or a chair. Her stories have led to major improvements in the conditions she brings to light. Baron, who has held top positions at five of the nation's most influential newspapers, will be honored for a lifetime commitment to the highest professional standards. Newsrooms under his leadership have won 16 Pulitzer Prizes, including the 2003 public service award at The Boston Globe. As editor in chief, Baron oversaw the Globe's groundbreaking investigation that revealed the Catholic Church's pattern of concealing sex abuse by priests. That investigation later became the subject of an Academy Award-winning movie, "Spotlight." To learn more about the Awards Dinner or to purchase a ticket, please visit www.icfj.org/dinner, or contact Andria Moore at [email protected]. SOURCE International Center for Journalists Related Links http://www.icfj.org NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mondo announced today that Stephanie Wernick-Barker has been promoted to President from her previous position as the companys Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), effective immediately. Mondo , an Addison Group Company, is a national staffing agency that specializes in tech and digital marketing talent. Wernick-Barker will be based in Mondos Philadelphia office, and replaces Tim Johnson, CEO, who is no longer with the company. Wernick-Barker, an experienced sales executive, has been with Mondo for more than six years and held various positions prior to CRO, including Vice President of Sales, Regional Territory Manager, and Territory Sales Manager. Mondo is the right company at the right time, and we leverage our deep expertise in tech and digital marketing staffing to help organizations meet their critical hiring needs, said Wernick-Barker. I believe we are uniquely positioned for success and ready to embark on the next phase of growth. I look forward to leading Mondo as we continue this journey and help bring outstanding talent and companies together. Prior to Mondo, Wernick-Barker was an Account Director for Market Resource Partners and worked as a Strategy and Business Transformation Consultant for IBM Global Business Systems. Wernick-Barker holds a B.S. of Science in Supply Chain and Information Systems from Penn State University. About Mondo Mondo , an Addison Group Company, is a national staffing agency that specializes in tech and digital marketing talent, including contract, contract-to-hire, and full-time placements. Founded in 2000, Mondo has made thousands of placements across a variety of industries and has access to the latest market insights, hiring trends, and salary updates. Headquartered in New York City, Mondo has 10 offices nationwide, including New York City, San Francisco, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Denver, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Dallas. Mondo was named one of Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firms in 2017 and 2018, a list compiled by Forbes in collaboration with analytics firm Statista. To learn more, visit www.mondo.com or call 212-257-5111. Connect with Mondo on Twitter , Facebook , and LinkedIn . For more media information, contact: ATLANTA, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Triad Advisors, LLC ("Triad" or "the Firm"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTSL, LTS PrA, LTSF, LTSK) and a leading independent advisory and brokerage (IAB) firm supporting independent hybrid financial advisory practices and registered investment advisory (RIA) firms, announced that it has successfully recruited Argent Bridge Advisors, a three-advisor firm with $275 million in client assets based in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Vienna, Va. to its platform. The announcement further reinforces Triad's differentiated position in the market as a leading IAB for growing hybrid RIAs. Nathan Stibbs, Triad's Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, said, "We are thrilled to welcome Argent Bridge Advisors to the Triad family. Like many hybrid advisors who select Triad, Argent Bridge saw that affiliation with us and our hybrid wealth management platform will help them better service clients, drive scale and realize their true growth potential. These are all key drivers of brand value. The commitment that Dianne Nolin, Cecile Hult and Eric Ashburn have made to providing thoughtful planning solutions and a unique service experience to their clients is a perfect fit with the culture and philosophy of Triad." Argent Bridge's advisors, Dianne Nolin, Cecile Hult and Eric Ashburn, bring nearly 50 years of combined experience to their mission of empowering their community through financial education, inspiration and guidance. The firm provides a comprehensive range of wealth management, financial planning and retirement services, with a particular focus on empowering women to take charge of their finances through education, advice and creative collaboration. Dianne Nolin, CFP and Managing Partner of Argent Bridge Advisors, said, "We were drawn to Triad for its welcoming, collaborative culture and strong platform of value-added services. Our client families mean the world to us, and in seeking an IAB, we focused our search on finding a firm who would work with us hand-in-hand to not only serve our clients' current planning needs, but would support our goal of facilitating generational wealth transfers within our client families over years to come. The capabilities Triad and Ladenburg Thalmann offer will help us elevate the planning and service experience we provide to clients as we progress toward our firm's mission and growth goals." Mr. Stibbs concluded, "Triad has a reputation of being extremely selective and one of our key criteria is identifying firms with unique potential for long-term growth. Working with entrepreneurial-minded firms like Argent Bridge is part of what makes our jobs more rewarding. When we can help advisors accelerate their growth, we win as well." About Triad Advisors Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, Triad Advisors, LLC is a national, independent advisory and brokerage firm as well as a multi-custodial SEC-Registered Investment Adviser (RIA) that is an early pioneer and continued leader in the Hybrid RIA marketplace. The company provides a comprehensive platform of products, trading and technology systems, as well as customized wealth management solutions. Recognized as one of the most successful and fastest-growing independent firms in the industry (including being named the leading firm for Hybrid RIAs nine years in a row by Investment Advisor magazine), Triad Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTSL, LTS PrA, LTSF, LTSK). For more information, please visit www.triad-advisors.com. About Ladenburg Thalmann Ladenburg Thalmann Financial Services Inc. (NYSE American: LTS, LTSL, LTS PrA, LTSF, LTSK) is a publicly-traded diversified financial services company based in Miami, Florida. Ladenburg's subsidiaries include industry-leading independent advisory and brokerage (IAB) firms Securities America, Triad Advisors, Securities Service Network, Investacorp and KMS Financial Services, as well as Premier Trust, Ladenburg Thalmann Asset Management, Highland Capital Brokerage, a leading independent life insurance brokerage company and full-service annuity processing and marketing company, and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., an investment bank which has been a member of the New York Stock Exchange for over 135 years. The company is committed to investing in the growth of its subsidiaries while respecting and maintaining their individual business identities, cultures, and leadership. For more information, please visit www.ladenburg.com. This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future growth. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to changes in economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties affecting the operation of Ladenburg Thalmann's business. These risks, uncertainties and contingencies include those set forth in Ladenburg Thalmann's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 and other factors detailed from time to time in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The information set forth herein should be read in light of such risks. Further, investors should keep in mind that Ladenburg Thalmann's quarterly revenue and profits can fluctuate materially depending on many factors, including the number, size and timing of completed offerings and other transactions. Accordingly, Ladenburg Thalmann's revenue and profits in any particular quarter may not be indicative of future results. Ladenburg Thalmann is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise, except as required by law. Media Contacts: Chris Clemens / Andrew Wang Haven Tower Group 424 317 4854 or 424 317 4859 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE Triad Advisors, LLC Related Links http://www.triad-advisors.com "Globally, emerging segments such as musculoskeletal , anesthesiology , and endocrinology will evolve into established segments by 2023," said Poornima Srinivasan, Industry Analyst, Transformational Health . "AI will be used in premium ultrasound systems, primarily for detecting breast cancer, in ob-gyn settings for fetal image assessment, and in the cardiology domain in the US , Japan , and Western European countries." Frost & Sullivan's recent analysis, Global Ultrasound Market for Established and Emerging Clinical Applications, Forecast to 2023, covers cart-based, portable (hand-carried), and ultra-portable (hand-held) devices and analysis of established and emerging applications. The regions covered include North America (US and Canada), Latin America (Brazil, Argentina), Western Europe (Benelux, France, Germany, Italy, Scandinavia, Spain, and UK), Eastern Europe (Romania, Turkey, Poland, Hungary), and Asia-Pacific (Australia, Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India). For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/3gv. "Non-invasiveness, expanding clinical applications, affordability, and introduction of portable and ultra-portable systems, cloud, AI, and other digital capabilities are expected to further drive the growth of ultrasound scanners," noted Srinivasan. "Domestic manufacturers will compete against major OEMs on product features, pricing, and servicing, while vendors will compete on value-based products, product miniaturization, and automation." For additional growth opportunities, market participants can: Engage in cross-functional partnerships across the continuum of equipment management, covering software upgrades and transducer maintenance . . Augment technical support capabilities with onsite engineers, virtual assistance , and online tools. , and online tools. Adopt a targeted approach toward emerging application areas like emergency medicine , anesthesia, and primary care . , anesthesia, and . Identify growth markets based on factors such as ease of transition and willingness to use portable or ultra-portable systems. Target general practitioner ( GP ) clinics with ultra-portable systems and small hospitals with cart-based systems. ( ) clinics with ultra-portable systems and small hospitals with cart-based systems. Develop new business models focusing on operational efficiency and training. Global Ultrasound Market for Established and Emerging Clinical Applications, Forecast to 2023 is part of Frost & Sullivan's global Medical Imaging Growth Partnership Service program. About Frost & Sullivan For over five decades, Frost & Sullivan has become world-renowned for its role in helping investors, corporate leaders and governments navigate economic changes and identify disruptive technologies, Mega Trends, new business models and companies to action, resulting in a continuous flow of growth opportunities to drive future success. Contact us: Start the discussion. Global Ultrasound Market for Established and Emerging Clinical Applications, Forecast to 2023 ME18-48 Contact: Mariana Fernandez T: +1 210 348 10 12 T: +54 11 4778 3540 E: [email protected] http://ww2.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan Related Links http://ww2.frost.com TEL AVIV, Israel, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- WhiteSource , the leader in continuous open source security and license compliance management, will be hosting a Virtual Summit focused on DevSecOps on May 30 from 11 AM to 7 PM EST. DevSecOps has been widely adopted in recent years as organizations seek out ways to keep up with the pace of fast release cycles for new software without compromising on the security of their product. The virtual summit will bring together expert speakers and thought leaders from Microsoft, AWS, Micro Focus, SAP, and WhiteSource to discuss the importance of implementing security at the earliest stages of the Software Development Lifecycle. Over the course of eight webinars, the speakers including Comcast's Larry Maccherone and Henrik Johansson from AWS, will discuss their insights and best practices for incorporating security into their DevOps pipeline. "The DevSecOps Virtual Summit will be our opportunity to bring together some of the world's top DevSecOps practitioners in one place, providing attendees to learn how they can improve security in their own organizations," says Rami Elron, WhiteSource's Senior Director of Product who will also be speaking at the event. "WhiteSource has been a leader in making DevSecOps an easier to integrate solution for securing your open source usage throughout the SDLC, so we are proud to have the chance to stand on this virtual stage with all these other giants in the field to share our insights." The full agenda for the event is available here . Registration is now open for all eight webinars. About WhiteSource WhiteSource is the leader in continuous open source security and license compliance management. Its vision is to empower businesses to develop better software by harnessing the power of open source. Industry leaders like Microsoft, IBM, and hundreds more trust WhiteSource to secure and manage the open source components in their software. For more information, please visit www.whitesourcesoftware.com Contact: Gabriel Avner, Head of Communications, [email protected] https://www.whitesourcesoftware.com/ SOURCE WhiteSource Related Links https://www.whitesourcesoftware.com/ PHILADELPHIA, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- In a study recently presented at the major vision research conference, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) researchers from Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia studied the rate of car accidents in patients with glaucoma. They found that the rate of those accidents among patients with moderate glaucoma and with mild vision loss was almost five (5) times higher than expected for Pennsylvania drivers in this age group. As a patient's vision declines, doctors are often asked by families what to do: should their loved ones still be driving? The study followed a group of 161 patients with an average age of 64 with moderate open angle glaucoma in at least one eye over 4 years. Each year, patients were asked if they were a driver in any motor vehicle accidents during the previous year. The study evaluated different aspects of vision, such as visual acuity, peripheral vision and contrast sensitivity whether you can tell not just black or white but can you differentiate between dark gray from light gray. It also considered patients' ability to do certain normal daily activities like reading street signs and finding objects on a crowded shelf. "What we found was between 5% and 10% of these glaucoma patients were involved in motor vehicle accidents each year despite still having vision good enough to legally qualify for driving," said Jonathan S. Myers, MD, Chief of the Wills Eye Hospital Glaucoma Service who was involved in the study and a presenter at the research conference. This compares to a 1.1% rate of MVAs for drivers of similar age to these (61-65 years old) reported by 2017 Pennsylvania Crash Facts. In the study, the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire was used measuring vision-related quality of life and the Glaucoma Symptom Scale measuring eye comfort at each of the visits. "One finding that stood out was that interestingly, it was the peripheral vision in the worst eye that made the biggest difference. That suggests that in some study patients, significant blind spots existed which could have been a liability for driving," said Myers. For most states, the legal vision requirements for driving, are 20/40 vision for night and 20/70 for daytime driving, although daytime driving requirements vary. 20/40 means that you can see at 20 feet what a person with "perfect vision" would see at 40 feet so about half as sharp. Some states also require between 120 and 140 degrees of side to side vision for driving- that's about 12 hand-widths at arm's-length. "It's a very common predicament especially as we have an increasingly aging population - vision disturbances are more common as we grow older," added Myers. The most common causes of reduced vision are cataracts which can be fixed, followed by macular degeneration in a Caucasian population and glaucoma in the African American and Hispanic populations. Glaucoma is not reversible; the sight in macular degeneration can be improved in some cases. "It's increasingly common to address driving with families. Driving isn't simply about driving, it's also about independence for an aging population so these can be very difficult and emotional conversations. As doctors, we need to care for the whole patient and be part of the care team with the family," noted Myers. While further research is needed, these findings suggest that: An impaired visual field in either eye was found to be an independent risk factor for motor vehicle accidents in patients with moderate glaucoma. Identifying individuals at risk for accidents may help prevent accidents by educating providers and patients with glaucoma regarding their safety and fitness to drive. Don't be afraid to have that conversation as a family with a loved one or with the family doctor or ophthalmologist. Patients with glaucoma along with their family members should talk about this whether it's with an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or primary care physician. SOURCE Wills Eye Hospital Related Links http://www.willseye.org IPsoft's Amelia is the market leading digital assistant, recently cited as a Leader in both the Everest Group Intelligent Virtual Assistant Market Report 2019 and The Forrester New Wave: Standalone Chatbots For IT Operations, Q2 2019 . Incorporating advanced artificial intelligence and complex Natural Language Understanding, Amelia can be directed using everyday language to performs basic functions, and is capable of recognizing context switching, intent, users' emotional state, and more. Transforming the student experience At EHL, Amelia is being used to improve the staff and student experience, as well as introduce students to the leading-edge technologies that are transforming and improving the hospitality industry. At the school, Amelia is providing on-hand IT support by managing guest WiFi access and resetting passwords. With the change in laws that require organizations to know who is connecting to their WiFi, the system required a text to be sent to the user to enable them to connect. This was problematic given that the school welcomes visitors from 145 countries, and not everyone was able to receive those messages and connect. Now, Amelia manages the end-to-end process of verifying and providing all guests with access to the WiFi. Students and all EHL employees can also use Amelia to change their password, interacting with her through an interactive kiosk. Amelia is also supporting with the student admission process. Previously, EHL had a chat box on the website that enabled students to interact with the admission officers. However, frequently there was no one available to provide an immediate response. Now, Amelia is able to provide 24/7 support to applicants, directly responding to questions relating to extensive admission information or, when she is not able to, sending a message to the officers to notify them to reply. Innovative technology at the heart of the curriculum Amelia not only improves students' experience of EHL, CIO Julia Aymonier believes it plays an important role in their curriculum. "In many cases, this is our students' first interaction with a sophisticated digital assistant. Their experience of Amelia helps them understand the potential for and the important role that such leading-edge technologies will play in their future careers in the hospitality industry, which has become in itself a key part of the students' curriculum. In turn, this makes EHL even more attractive to aspiring industry leaders, as our students know they will leave the school on the pulse of the best and latest customer experiences," she commented. "While some people in the industry have understandable concerns about the role of artificial intelligence in replacing jobs, our use of Amelia has shown the massive potential to improve the user experience whether that's of our students today or their future customers. Digital assistants will never replace the human interactions that are fundamental to delivering the superior customer service that our students go on to provide at some of the most prestigious hotels, restaurants and global firms. However, they do present an immense opportunity to improve the customer experience of more mundane tasks, like booking taxis or ordering room service. And we're helping open our students' eyes to this potential," Julia continued. Cognitive Centre of Excellence EHL has created a dedicated Centre of Excellence team focused on exploring Amelia's capabilities, comprised of five permanent and two rotating team members. The team are already exploring other possible applications for Amelia across the new EHL campus that is under construction, including implementations to help improve wait times in the cafeteria. Chetan Dube, CEO at IPsoft said: "EHL has been a pioneer in exploring ways that Amelia can transform the experience of its students and staff. We are delighted that Amelia has not only provided a valuable business impact for EHL, through its service desk innovations, but that she continues to inspire the next generation of hospitality leaders in how digital assistants can transform customer experience." About Amelia Amelia is the market's first digital colleague. Since her introduction in 2014, she has gained hundreds of skills across multiple industries. She is modelled on human intelligence, understanding and empathy. Connect with IPsoft: Follow us on Twitter: @IPsoft and LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ipsoft/ Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ipsoftinc/ See us on YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IPsoftInc Read about our customers' successes: www.ipsoft.com/category/case-studies/ AI Pioneers, a community of business leaders from across multiple industries, exchanges ideas and thought leadership focused on AI, and the issues that IT and business leaders face today. About IPsoft IPsoft the leader in Enterprise Artificial Intelligence (AI), cognitive and autonomic solutions and the home of Amelia, the industry's most-human digital AI colleague. Amelia's ability to learn, interact and improve over time makes her the market's only AI that can fully understand user needs and intentions. Amelia can be trained to recognize words and phrases in several languages. She delivers real-life business benefits including lower operating costs, higher customer satisfaction and increased employee productivity. IPsoft was the first company to launch an end-to-end digital platform, 1Desk, to deliver shared enterprise services. By connecting front-office conversations to back-end systems, IPsoft automates business processes that serve employees, customers and citizens, resulting in rapid resolutions, satisfied users and substantial organizational savings. Headquartered in New York City, IPsoft has offices in 15 countries and serves more than 550 of the world's leading brands, including more than half of the world's largest IT services providers. SOURCE IPsoft Related Links www.ipsoft.com HAIFA, Israel, May 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (IL0065100443, IL0065100856) (the "Company") hereby notifies, in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.03 of an Indenture entered into between ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. (the "Company") and Hermetic Trust (1975) Ltd. on July 16, 2014 (the "Indenture"), as follows: 1. The Company's reviewed consolidated financial statements for the period ended on March 31, 2019, the operating and financial review for such quarterly financial statements and a report on certain financial data as of March 31, 2019 (collectively, the "First Quarter Reports") are available on both the Company's website (https://www.zim.com/about-zim/reports) and on the official website of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (http://maya.tase.co.il). 2. The Company will host on May 28, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Israel time (2:00 p.m. CET), a conference call for the holders of its Series 1A, 2A, 1B and 2B Notes to discuss the First Quarter Reports. In order to participate, please use the following numbers (at least ten minutes before the scheduled start time): Israel: 972-3-9180644 USA: 1-888-281-1167 UK: 0-800-917-9141 Germany: 0-800-182-6846 France: 0-800-903-025 Contact: Avner Shats [email protected] SOURCE ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd. New Delhi, May 22 : After muscling out the Hurriyat hawks in the bullpen called Kashmir Valley, the Islamic State propelling local youth to turn rogue has formalised a new dangerous strategic imperative, something that has the Indian deep state developing furrowed brows. As a new government assumes power in India, one of its first priorities will be to fix what is broken. And Kashmir, sure is broken. However, the security and intelligence apparatus know that there are no quick fix solutions to the proliferation of religious Islam which is beginning to have a strong underpinning in the Valley and predominantly in south Kashmir. The starting point in this tale of deep-seated hatred of 'Hindu India' through proselytising is Gani Dar Ghazali, the alleged plotter behind Maulana Shaukat Ahmed's assassination who is perceived to be the ring master of this new game. In May, 2015, a Srinagar court granted bail to Abdul Gani Dar alias Ghazali, who was a co-accused in Maulana Showkat assassination case. Court of 3rd Additional Sessions Judge, Y.P. Kotwal granted bail to Dar after prosecution failed to produce evidence that the accused was involved in the conspiracy to kill Maulana Showkat. On July 14, 2011 the police had presented a 400-page chargesheet against six accused - Nisar Ahmad Khan alias Issac, Javed Ahmad Munshi alias Bil Papa, Abdul Ghani Dar alias Ghazali, Abdul Majid Dar alias Almadani, Riyaz Ahmad Shah and Gulzar Ahmad Khan - in the court of chief judicial magistrate Srinagar. Now, let us connect the dots: In July, 2017, news emerging from the Khurasan area of Afghanistan was that a Kashmiri boy, Abdullah-Ibn-Aijaz, a 15-year-old militant, was among the al-Qaeda militants killed in the US drone strike. His family claimed that Abdullah Ibn-Aijaz alias Abu Umair, was son of Aijaz Ahanger, a former Kashmiri militant of Harkatul-Mujahideen, who was reported missing by his family in 1995 but had actually crossed the border and lived in Afghanistan. Abu Umair was also grandson of Abdullah Gazali, a former chief of Tehreek-ul-Mujahideen outfit who resides in a village in Beerwah pocket of central Kashmir. Ghazali, originally Abdul Ghani Dar, was one of the oldest militants when he was captured by government forces in 1992 as the chief of TeM. "I was arrested in 1992 and lodged at Rangret jail," Dar had told Kashmir Reader, adding that he among others had met a young, noble, sincere and handsome boy Ajaz Ahmad Ahanger, a resident of Nawakadal area of Srinagar, inside the jail. The dreaded Ajaz Ahanger, codenamed Huzefa Al Pakistani, is the other lynchpin to this tale, for everything appears to be connected to him. Ahanger is the founder of Islamic State JK and an original fighter for the Tehrik ul Mujahideen. Its roots can be traced back to Ahl-i Hadith or Ahl-e-Hadith which had a local chapter in Gow Kadal area in Srinagar. This is a religious movement that emerged in northern India in the mid-nineteenth century from the teachings of Syed Nazeer Husain and Siddiq Hasan Khan. Adherents of Ahl-i Hadith profess to hold the same views as the early Ahl al Hadith movement. They regard the Quran, 'sunnah' and 'hadith' as the sole sources of religious authority and oppose everything introduced in Islam after the earliest times. In particular, they reject 'taqlid' (following legal precedent) and favour 'ijtihad' (independent legal reasoning) based on the scriptures. The movement has been compared to Saudi Wahhabism or a variation on the Wahhabi movement, but the movement itself claims to be distinct from Wahabbism and some believe it possesses some notable distinctions from the mainly Arab Salafis. This contagion of Wahhabi Salafism is now part of the construct of modern Kashmir as the dark web and TOR has penetrated homes through the internet to indoctrinate young impressionable minds. The major concern of the security agencies is that Kashmiri nationalism is gradually being replaced by Islamic theology and ideology and Sharia. Pulwama is actually a tipping point in this attritional war being fought since 1989-90 for self-belief has now dawned on the local youth. Adil Ahmad Dar, 20, from the village of Lethipora in Indian Kashmir, rammed a car full of explosives into the convoy and the body count was low because intel agencies now claim that the bomb was poorly fabricated. Dar had been radicalised after police stopped him and his friends on the way home from school in 2016. "They were stopped by the troops and beaten up and harassed," his father said, adding that the students were accused of stone-pelting. "Since then, he wanted to join the militants." This is a very delicate time in Kashmir's history of bloodletting and violence. It requires the entire heft of the new government to bring the local Kashmiris back into the mainstream. (To be concluded) Washington, May 22 : Some of the world's biggest footwear firms are urging US President Donald Trump to end the trade war with China, warning of a "catastrophic" effect on consumers. In a letter signed by 170 companies, including Nike and Adidas, they said the President's decision to lift import tariffs to 25 per cent will disproportionately impact the working class, the BBC reported. They also warn that higher levies threaten the future of some businesses. "It is time to bring this trade war to an end," the firms urged. Trump lifted levies on $200 billion worth of Chinese imports into the US from 10 per cent to 25 per cent more than a week ago after Washington and Beijing failed to reach a deal on trade. China retaliated by announcing plans to raise levies on $60 billion of the US imports from 1 June. The footwear companies who signed the letter, including Clarks, Dr Martens and Converse, claim that while the average US tariff on footwear is 11.3 per cent, in some cases it can reach as high as 67.5 per cent. "Adding a 25 per cent tax increase on top of these tariffs would mean some working American families could pay a nearly 100 per cent duty on their shoes," the companies wrote. "This is unfathomable." When he lifted tariffs earlier this month, Trump told companies that they could reduce costs by shifting production to the US. However, the shoe-makers and retailers say that while they have been moving their sourcing away from China: "Footwear is a very capital-intensive industry, with years of planning required to make sourcing decisions, and companies cannot simply move factories to adjust to these changes." The US and China are set to meet again to discuss trade at the G20 summit in Japan next month. In the meantime, however, the US has increased pressure on China by declaring a national emergency to protect US computer networks from "foreign adversaries", affecting Huawei, the Chinese telecom giant. Sriharikota : , May 22 (IANS) India on Wednesday successfully placed into orbit radar imaging earth observation satellite RISAT-2B, the third in the RISAT series -- after RISAT-2 and RISAT-1. A total of about 5,000 visitors viewed the early morning launch from the viewers gallery here. The new all-weather earth observation satellite with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) will send good clarity images for use in agriculture, forestry and disaster management support, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the country's space agency. The images captured by the satellite will also be used for surveillance purposes, though the ISRO is silent on this aspect. At 5.30 a.m., the PSLV rocket standing around 44.4 metres tall and weighing about 190 ton with a one-way ticket hurtled itself towards the skies ferrying the 615 kg RISAT-2B. With the fierce orange flame at its tail lighting up the morning skies, the rocket slowly gathered speed and went up and up enthralling the people at the rocket port while the rocket's engine noise like a rolling thunder added to the thrill. About 15 minutes into the flight the rocket ejected RISAT-2B into about 555-km orbit. Speaking about the successful satellite launch, K.Sivan, ISRO Chairman said: "I am extremely happy to announce that PSLV-C46 has successfully injected RISAT-2B in precise orbit." He said with this mission, the PSLV rocket has crossed a landmark of lofting of 50 ton since it started flying. According to Sivan, the PSLV rocket has so far put into orbit 354 satellites, including those by India, foreign countries and students. The PSLV rocket is a major foreign exchange earner for Antrix Corporation -- the commercial arm of the ISRO. The PSLV is a four-stage engine expendable rocket with alternating solid and liquid fuel. In its normal configuration, the rocket will have six strap-on motors hugging it's first stage. Watch: PSLV-C46 lifts off carrying RISAT-2B satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre But the 44.4 metre tall PSLV rocket that lifted off with RISAT-2B on Wednesday was the 'core alone' variant -- without the strap-on motors. The Indian space agency has PSLV variants with two and four strap-on motors and larger PSLV-XL. Sivan said: "The rocket had a piggyback payload, the indigenously developed Vikram computer chip that will be used in future rockets." The chip was developed by Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL) Chandigarh and worked perfectly, he added. According to the ISRO chairman, RISAT-2B is an advanced Earth Observation satellite with an advanced technology of 3.6 metre radial rib antenna. He said ISRO's next major mission will be Chandrayaan-2 or the second moon mission, which is expected to take place between July 9 and 16 this year, with an expected Moon landing on September 6. Following that will be the launch of a high-resolution cartography satellite and also the flying of ISRO's new rocket called the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). Earlier a senior official, preferring anonymity, told IANS: "There is an increased demand for satellites from strategic sectors. About six/seven satellites are planned to be built." The choice of the rocket to be used for a mission depends on the weight of the satellite and the orbit where the satellite has to be orbited. The ISRO will be launching another radar imaging satellite RISAT-2BR1 and two more defence satellites some time in July or August with its new rocket Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV). (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) New Delhi, May 22 : A 22-year-old youth killed his father and chopped his body after a heated arguement in the early hours of Wednesday in East Delhi, police said. Aman, who runs a small cafe, was later arrested from Shahdara. "Aman killed his father, Sandesh Aggarwal, 48, following an argument in Farsh Bazaar area of Shahdara," DCP (Shahdara) Meghna Yadav said. "He told the police that his father used to scold him regularly. He killed him in a fit of rage and then chopped his body for disposal," the DCP said. Dallas, TX, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AT&T regularly supports the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) through monetary donations and volunteering. Since the beginning of their partnership, AT&T has donated more than $531,000 and volunteered a total of 16,800 hours. Now, they have stepped up their support in a huge way by underwriting a new mural dedicated to the hunger-fighting volunteers of North Texas for NTFBs new distribution center, the Perot Family Campus. NTFB and AT&T will host a special volunteer shift on May 23 where the mural will be revealed to volunteers. The mural will take up two walls of the volunteer area of NTFBs Perot Family Campus and will illustrate the story of how Food Banking works. Many people dont understand that our primary role as a Food Bank is to gather and distribute millions of pounds a food each year to those in need through hundreds of partners agencies and thousands of feeding programs, said Trisha Cunningham, President and CEO of NTFB. This mural not only brightens our volunteer space but helps us share how we work to help our hungry neighbors in North Texas every day, and we are incredibly grateful to AT&T for helping us make that happen. AT&T is proud to partner with the North Texas Food Bank as they work to reduce food insecurity in North Texas, said Michael Peterson, Vice President of External Affairs for AT&T. There are many North Texans who live in poverty and live in a constant state of hunger, including homeless and the working poor. AT&T has launched Believe Dallas, an AT&T employee initiative focused on mitigating homelessness in the Dallas area. We know the volunteers at the Food Bank are essential to the food distribution process, so we are proud to be able to support this mural dedicated to the hard work they do. WHERE: The event takes place at the Primary Distribution Center of the North Texas Food Bank The Perot Family Campus, 3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano, Texas 75075 WHEN: Thursday, May 23, 2019 beginning at 9 a.m. WHO: NTFB and AT&T representatives will be available for questions and interviews About the North Texas Food Bank: The North Texas Food Bank (NTFB) is a top-ranked nonprofit hunger-relief organization with its primary distribution center in Plano, and administrative headquarters located in the Dallas Farmers Market. Each day, NTFB provides access to more than 190,000 meals for hungry children, seniors, and families through a network of more than 1,000 programs and more than 200 Partner Agencies. In fiscal year 2018, NTFB provided access to almost 72 million nutritious meals. While the NTFB is making steady progress toward closing the hunger gap, much work remains to be done to reach the organization's 10-year goal of providing 92 million nutritious meals annually by 2025. NTFB is a member of Feeding America, a national hunger relief organization. Mumbai, May 22 : Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and former Minister Jaydatta Kshirsagar, MLA from Beed, is likely to join Shiv Sena here on Wednesday, party sources said. Sulking since long, Kshirsagar was reportedly engaged in talks with the Bharatiya Janata Party, but early on Wednesday he finally announced his intentions to quit the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and join the Sena, a ruling ally. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Kshirsagar had openly campaigned for the BJP candidate, Pritam Munde against the NCP's nominee Bajrang Sonavane, mainly on account of intra-party political rivalry. New Delhi: The Delhi Police have arrested two men in connection with the sensational killing of celebrity TikTok artiste and gym trainer Mohit More, in New Delhi on May 22, 2019. Mor, who had over 5,00,000 followers on TikTok and 3,000 followers on I Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: The Delhi Police have arrested two men in connection with the sensational killing of celebrity TikTok artiste and gym trainer Mohit More, in New Delhi on May 22, 2019. Mor, who had over 5,00,000 followers on TikTok and 3,000 followers on I Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, May 22 : Preliminary investigation into the sensational killing of celebrity TikTok artiste and gym trainer Mohit Mor in South Delhi on Tuesday suggests that his rising popularity could have been the motive behind the daylight murder. Shockingly, this is the third sensational shootout in Dwarka area within days. On Sunday evening, two wanted criminals were shot dead after a fierce gun battle on a busy road beneath Dwarka Mor metro station. The same night, a 58-year-old Sub-Inspector of the Delhi Police was shot dead following a quarrel with a suspected criminal in Shahdara's Vivek Vihar. Concerned about the rising crime graph in the national capital, former Police Commissioner of Delhi Ajay Raj Sharma told IANS that a city-wide crackdown on hardened criminals was the need of the hour. "It's shocking to know that firearms have been used in most of these incidents. Random checking of motorcycles and frisking should be carried out on the outskirts of the national capital. History-sheeter criminals involved in gangland shootouts should be booked under the National Security Act," said Sharma. Mor, who had over 5,00,000 followers on TikTok and 3,000 followers on Instagram mobile apps, was sprayed with bullets inside a photocopy shop in a busy market in Najafgarh. A resident of Bahadurgarh in Haryana, he worked as a gym trainer in Najafgarh. He used to put fitness videos on TikTok and Instagram. "We are trying to identify the accused. Prima facie, it appears a case of personal enmity and a money dispute," said a senior police officer added. "We are checking the comments on his Tik Tok and Instagram accounts and Call Details Record (CDR) to establish his enmity with anyone on social media that may help us to crack the case," the officer added. New Delhi, May 22 : A court here on Wednesday reserved order on a plea seeking lodging of an FIR against Congress President Rahul Gandhi for making an objectionable speech against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal said that he will deliver the order on June 7. Advocate Joginder Tuli had moved the court seeking directions to the police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Gandhi under charges of sedition. Tuli referred to the speech Gandhi gave in 2016 in which the Congress President allegedly accused Modi of hiding behind the blood of soldiers and taking advantage of their sacrifices. Delhi Police on May 14 gave a clean chit to Gandhi. Mumbai, May 22 : Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL) scrips tanked over 17 per cent on the BSE after the company said it would neither accept new deposits nor allow premature withdrawals. At 2.07 p.m., DHFL was trading at 9.08 pr cent or 11.80 to Rs 118.10. "In view of the recent revision in the credit rating of our Fixed Deposit program, acceptance of all fresh deposits, as well as renewals, has been put on hold with immediate effect," the company said. "Further, to help us re-organise our liability management, the pre-mature withdrawal of deposits has also been put on hold," DHFL said. Aizawl, May 22 : The fall armyworm (FAW), an insect indigenous to the Americas, has caused an estimated loss of Rs 20 crore to maize cultivation in over 130 villages in Mizoram, officials said on Wednesday. The Mizoram government has informed the Centre about the loss, said an official of the Agriculture Department. "FAW was detected last year in several states prompting the Centre to alert state governments of possible insect attack. The state's agriculture department immediately warned all its district offices and special squads were set up in all eight districts even before the constitution of Rapid Response Team last month," Agriculture Department Director Rohmingthanga Colney told the media. The department has distributed pesticides to maize cultivators and also made efforts to educate the farmers on how to use pesticides more effectively. Colney said that the state's Central Integrated Pest Management Centre is also working in consultation with the Central government's Directorate of Plant Protection Quarantine and Storage. A series of meetings were held between Chief Minister Zoramthanga and the Agriculture Minister C. Lalrinsanga over the outbreak and find ways how to deal with it. "The department has advised maize farmers to avoid large-scale using of chemical pesticides which are not recommended by the agriculture experts and also to carefully follow instructions for mixing and using them," an official release of the Agriculture Department said. Mizoram is one of the top producers of maize in India. In 2017-18, the state produced about 9,470 metric tonnes of maize. According to the Agriculture Department officials, FAW has so far affected 2,424 hectares of the 3,439 hectares of maize cultivation across all eight districts of the state. "As per the initial estimate, the loss of maize due to the FAW attack was around Rs 20 crore, but it is likely to escalate further if the outbreak is not fully brought under control at the earliest," the official added. Mizoram shares borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar, where the FAW outbreak was reported early this year. In Arunachal Pradesh, FAW attack to standing crops was reported from some parts of the state. A report from the College of Horticulture and Forestry in East Siang District has said that the highly invasive pest has been found in maize in its campus. "The insect can attack a wide range of crops including rice, sugarcane and vegetables. The occurrence of FAW attack is severe and can multiply in geometric proportions within no time," an agriculture department official of the Arunachal Pradesh government said. Mumbai, May 22 : Actor Jisshu Sengupta, who is balancing a film career in multiple languages and is geared up for his sci-fi web series "Skyfire", says slowly but surely Bengali cinema is reaching out to the national audience as the theatrical release of regional films has expanded. Bengali cinema has had an impact at international film festivals with the work of iconic filmmakers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen and Ritwik Ghatak among others, apart from movies by filmmakers like Rituparno Ghosh, Aparna Sen and Goutam Ghose or Kaushik Ganguly and Srijit Mukerji. But now across India also, movies are getting a platform for release. On the changing scenario, Jisshu told IANS here: "I think slowly, but surely Bengali cinema is reaching out to the national audience as regional films are getting a wider theatrical release. When it comes to the global audience, our presence is very much there. For ages, Bengali cinema holds a position in the global map through international film festivals. "But when it comes to regular cine-goers who are not the festival audience, there was a limitation earlier. Since the business is growing and so is the audience, Bengali films are finding an audience nationally as well." In "Skyfire", Jisshu plays an important character. The show, which streams on OTT platform ZEE5, also features Pratiek Babbar and Sonal Chauhan. Sharing an insight into his character in the show, Jisshu said: "He is a good guy who is helping people in crisis. He is a social worker." The story of the show revolves around climate change. Asked about his opinion on the topic, the actor said: "I think climate change is one of the issues worldwide and we all are more or less aware of the reality. While on one hand, we tend to raise a finger at the government, are we doing enough to protect nature? That question is always there in my mind. I hope the story will offer some perspective on the matter." Recently, Jisshu also finished shooting for Mahesh Manjrekar's directorial project, which is tentatively titled "Power". Having started his career in 1999 at a very young age, Jisshu has acted in some commercially successful Bengali and Hindi films like "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer", "Noukadubi", "Piku", "Mardaani", "Byomkesh Bakshi" and "Manikarnika - The Queen of Jhansi". He said his collaboration with National Award-winning filmmaker, the late Rituparno Ghosh, added a dimension to his career as an actor. Talking about how the filmmaker influenced the artiste in him, Jisshu said: "I would say that Rituda changed me as a performer. One day, he asked me, 'Are you putting enough thought to whatever you are doing?' I replied, 'Not really, but do you think I am wrong?' "I clearly remember when he said, 'No, you are not wrong, but if you put a thought behind your actions, you are actually going to do things much better.' I have to say that line changed me as an actor. It changed me completely." "In his lifetime, Rituda said that I am the son that he never had. Working with Rituparno Ghosh was like a master class," added the actor, who has featured in Ghosh's "Abohoman", "The Last Lear" and "Shob Charitro Kalponik", to name a few. (Arundhuti Banerjee can be contacted at arundhuti.b@ians.in) New Delhi, May 22 : A majority of voters remained optimistic about their future as around half of the respondents to the IANS-CVOTER poll tracker said their life will improve in next one year. Almost the same level of optimism was witnessed during all the seven phases of Lok Sabha elections from April 11 to May 19. In the poll conducted on May 19, 57.90 per cent of 12,398 respondents said their living standard was going to get better. Only 8.92 per cent expected no change. On April 11, when the first phase of polling took place, 60.33 per cent of the respondents had shown optimism. The drop between the first and the last phase has been marginal around three per cent. Among states, people in Haryana, Bihar and Odisha were most optimistic while those in Punjab, Kerala and Assam were least upbeat. At the same time, only 42.25 per cent of respondents said that there life improved in the last one year and 26.65 said it has become worse. The net life improvement rating on April 11 was 17.56 which went up to 22.08 on April 21 before falling. The net improvement rating on May 19 was among the highest in Haryana, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand and lowest in Kerala, Assam, Tamil Nadu and Punjab. Tokyo, May 22 : The police in Tokyo said on Wednesday that they have arrested a man in his sixties on suspicion of aiming a laser pointer at a US military transport aircraft flying close to the Yokota Air Base in the outskirts of the Japanese capital. The police said they arrested Yoshinori Shigekawa, 60, for allegedly pointing the green laser beam at a C-130J plane on a training flight at around 6.30 p.m. (local time) on February 11 as it was flying in the vicinity of the base. As a result of the incident, which can cause temporary blindness, the pilot of the plane with four personnel aboard was forced to abort the training mission, Japanese state broadcaster NHK reported. The police said they found five laser pointing devices at Shigekawa's home in Akiruno near the base and the suspect is believed to have been involved in multiple such cases over the past three years. Shigekawa admitted to first using laser pointing devices to target US military planes three years ago, with the police looking into his possible involvement in some 40 similar cases reported around the Yokota facility. Hyderabad, May 22 : The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for counting of votes in all 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Telangana on Thursday, officials said. Counting will begin at 8 a.m. at 126 centres in 35 places across the state. Chief Electoral Officer Rajath Kumar Wednesday said all arrangements were in place for carrying out the process in a transparent manner. Postal ballots and service votes will be counted first before taking up the counting of votes in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). The first set of EVMs will be brought to tables at 8.20 a.m. There will be one counting centre in each Assembly segment except Nizambad, where seven segments will have two centres each in view of the record number of candidates. While 14 tables will be arranged at every counting centre as per the standard norm of the Election Commission, this number will be 18 in Nizamabad. Officials said this was the first time in the country that 36 tables would be used for counting in each segment. This was necessitated by the participation of 185 candidates in the elections. The polling in Nizamabad had set many records. Largest number of EVMs were used in the constituency. The authorities used 16 ballot units of M3 version connected to single control unit in each polling station. As many as 178 farmers had contested the polls in Nizamabad to highlight their demands for remunerative prices for turmeric and red jowar and setting up of a Turmeric Board. The CEO said after the last round of EVM counting, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips counting will be taken up as per the direction of the Supreme Court. Five polling stations will be randomly picked for matching VVPAT slips with the votes in EVMs. Rajath Kumar, who also supervised the conduct of Assembly elections in December, said there had been no instance of mismatch of votes between EVMs and VVPATs. There may be a difference if mock polling slips are not deleted from VVPATs, he added. If the number of votes in EVMs and the Form 17C match but do not tally with the VVPAT slips, then recounting of VVPAT slips will be done as there could be a scope for human error in counting of VVPAT slips, the CEO said. "If there is still a mismatch after recounting, the VVPAT count will be recorded as correct for declaration of results by the returning officer," he said. Officials said that 6,745 polling staff will be deployed for counting of votes while 10,000 police personnel were deployed for maintaining law and order. Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender said prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, barring assembly of five or more persons would be promulgated within 100 metres of the counting centres. He said no victory processions will be permitted without specific permission from the competent authority. According to officials, 62.69 per cent of nearly 2.97 crore voters had cast their votes in the 17 constituencies on April 11. The voters decided the fortunes of 443 candidates, including 25 women. Telangana Chief Minister and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K. Chandrashekhar Rao's daughter K. Kavitha, senior TRS leader Vinod Kumar, state Congress chief Uttam Kumar Reddy, former Union Minister Renuka Chowdary (Congress) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi were among the prominent candidates. Kolkata, May 22 : Students of Visva-Bharati University in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Wednesday continued their sit-in protest against the hike in the fee structure. A meeting was held on Tuesday evening to discuss the matter, but as the authorities failed to find a solution, around 80 students held a sit-in protest and prevented faculty members and officials from leaving the university campus till Wednesday morning. One of the protesting students said that the university, which was set up by Asia's first Nobel laureate poet Rabindranath Tagore, has doubled the fee amount this year. "Tagore never wanted to burden the students with heavy fees but in this university his vision is not being respected," he said. Sabuj Kali Sen, former officiating Vice-Chancellor of the University, said: "Student agitation is a common thing. We have held many discussions and will hold further meetings. They are our students and we will soon work out a solution. "The students fail to understand things many times due to their young age but we will definitely make them understand by talking to them repeatedly," she said. He thanked the people of Indonesia for their trust and called for efforts to promote the countrys development of peace and prosperity for residents and children in the future. Incumbent Indonesian President Joko Widodo and his running mate Maruf Amin (R) (Photo: AFP/VNA) He announced that after the inauguration this October, he and Maruf Amin will be the committed leaders and protectors of all Indonesian people, and that they will fight to achieve social justice. Widodo also spoke highly of efforts made by relevant parties in ensuring an equal and transparent election. Earlier, the General Election Commission officially announced Joko Widodo as re-elected for the second term as he won 55.5 percent of votes, compared to the 44.5 percent for his rival, former general Prabowo Subianto. However, Prabowo Subianto and his running mate Sandiaga Uno said that they would not accept the result and planned to take their dispute to the Constitutional Court. The Indonesian election was held on April 17th to select the president, vice presidents, and more than 20,000 local and national lawmakers. The presidential race pit incumbent President Joko Widodo and retired general Prabowo Subianto./. BOSTON, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Market Basket joined forces to donate more than 38,000 pounds of protein to The Greater Boston Food Bank. 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 153,000 servings, will help alleviate hunger across Eastern Massachusetts. Our mission is to create a sustainable solution to alleviate hunger and to provide dignity and hope to those in our nine-county service area, said Cheryl Schondeck, SVP, Food Acquisition and Supply Chain of The Greater Boston Food Bank. With help from programs like Smithfields Helping Hungry Homes initiative, we are better equipped to do just that and this generous donation of wholesome protein will support us in these efforts. Throughout our 102-year history as a company, we have always been deeply committed to serving our customers and communities, and we are pleased to partner with Smithfield to further that dedication, said David McLean, Operations Manager for Market Basket. This is the 27th large-scale protein donation made by Smithfield to food banks across the country during its 2019 Helping Hungry Homes donation tour. Since the programs inception in 2008, Smithfield has provided more than 130 million servings of protein to food banks, disaster relief efforts, and community outreach programs nationwide. At Smithfield, we are passionate about our company-wide efforts to alleviate hunger, said Jonathan Toms, associate manager of charitable initiatives for Smithfield Foods. Its amazing to see what can be accomplished when we come together with like-minded partners like Market Basket to support a cause we all care so deeply about. It is our hope that this donation will help our neighbors in need and inspire others to get involved in the fight against hunger. 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 The Greater Boston Food Bank The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England and among the largest food banks in the country. GBFB provides the equivalent of 50 million healthy meals annually distributed through its network of 530 member agencies in the 190 cities and towns across Eastern Massachusetts. GBFB operates four direct service programs at nearly 70 sites throughout the area. A member of Feeding America, the nations food bank network, GBFB serves more than 140,000 people every month in its mission to create a hunger-free Eastern Massachusetts. For more information, visit us at GBFB.org, follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram , or call us at 617.427.5200. Media Contacts: Srinagar, May 22 : Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Wednesday said that his administration wants elections to the state Assembly to be held as early as possible. "We want President's rule to end as soon as possible. The final call on holding Assembly elections in the state will be taken by the Election Commission", he told media on the sides of a flyover inauguration in the city. Asked whether the top officials of his administration were reluctant to hand over power to an elected government, the Governor said there is nothing like that. Jammu & Kashmir was placed under Governor's rule in June last year after the Mehbooba Mufti-led BJP-PDP coalition government collapsed. After the six-month-long period of Governor's rule ended in November last year, President's rule was imposed and is scheduled to end on June 20. Since it is not possible to hold Assembly elections and instal an elected government in this period, another spell of President's rule appears inevitable. Chennai, May 22 : The results of the by-elections held in two phases in 22 assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu will be the focus in the state during Thursday's vote counting, rather than the outcomes of the Lok Sabha elections. The survival of the ruling AIADMK government depends on its results in the by-elections even as exit polls have predicted the victory for rival DMK-both in Lok Sabha and assembly by-polls. By-elections for 18 Assembly constituencies were held on April 18, along with the Lok Sabha polls in the state. The bypolls for remaining four seats were held on May 19. In the 234 member Tamil Nadu Assembly, the ruling AIADMK has 114 members (including the Speaker), the DMK have 88, the Congress 8, while IUML and Independents are one each. To attain a simple majority, the AIADMK has to win just four seats in the by-elections. In order to be safe against switching of camps by some of the lawmakers, the AIADMK has to win eight or nine seats. Meanwhile, three AIADMK legislators were issued show cause notices by Speaker P. Dhanapal as the ruling party felt that they were moving towards the T.T.V. Dhinakaran-led Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK). However, the Supreme Court has stayed the disqualification proceedings against these three lawmakers. The DMK (88 legislators), on the other hand, has to win all the 22 seats to take their tally, along with its allies -- Congress (eight) and IUML (one) -- to 119, that is just one number over the simple majority. DMK President M.K. Stalin has said that the declaration of results on May 23 would usher a change in both the Central government as well as in Tamil Nadu. The Congress party's H. Vasanthakumar, representing the Nanguneri assembly constituency, is contesting in the Lok Sabha polls from Kanyakumari constituency and it will be interesting to see which seat he would opt to retain in case he wins the Lok Sabha polls. The electoral fate of 822 candidates for 38 Lok Sabha seats and 406 candidates in the by-elections for 22 assembly seats will be unravelled on Thursday. The Lok Sabha polls saw four-cornered contests between the two major fronts led by the AIADMK and DMK, respectively, the AMMK floated by independent legislator Dhinakaran and the Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) started by actor-politician Kamal Haasan. Both the AMMK and MNM are making their electoral debut. Prominent personalities in this electoral fray are: Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai (Karur), Union Minister and BJP's Pon Radhakrishnan (Kanniyakumari), H. Vasanthakumar (Congress-Kanniyakumari), Karti P. Chidambaram (Congress-Sivaganga), H. Raja (BJP-Sivaganga), Kanimozhi (DMK-Thoothukudi), Tamilisai Soundararajan (BJP-Thoothukudi), T.R. Baalu (DMK-Sriperumbudur), Dayanidhi Maran (DMK-Chennai Central), A. Raja (DMK-Nilgiris) and Anbumani Ramadoss (PMK-Dharmapuri). Mathura, May 22 : An innovative green crusader from Mathura, Pradeep Bansal, is out to save Yamuna from environmental degradation. The businessman has drawn attention of environmentalists and eco-activists who now want his experiment replicated in other towns along the banks of the river. In less than three years, the Yamuna Mission launched by Pradeep Bansal to green the vast stretch of waste-land, land-fills, garbage dump-yards, along the Yamuna, using sewer and drain water, has started yielding results. Harit Yamuna Mission Foundation has been working on various issues related to the environment since last two years. "We have taken initiative to clean-up Yamuna river in Mathura and Delhi," says Bansal. "From Mathura we are gradually proceeding towards Vrindavan." "Drains which used to open into the river earlier are now diverted to trenches and pools in a systematic manner. The waste water filtered and recycled turns the area green," local project director, Rashmi Sharma told IANS. Mathura's longest Masani Nala (drain) has been diverted and turned into a 5 km-long canal along the river. Water is channelled into trenches and slush is removed periodically to ensure that the water remains safe, a worker at the site told IANS. "All solids including polythene, plastics are stopped, then solid waste removed by machines, before water is allowed to flow freely into the five km long canal. On the way it gets filtered as it passes over sand. Half the water seeps into the earth, a good percentage is absorbed by trees along the way, and a fairly large quantity gets evaporated bringing temperature down, and hardly any water is left at the fag end of the canal," explained Rashmi Sharma. "We are getting support from a variety of groups and activists," Pradeep Bansal told IANS. "From Mathura as we gradually proceed towards Vrindavan, most drains on the way have been diverted and prevented from discharging into the Yamuna. We are encouraging people to come to our Tulsi Van and plant saplings." The total distance covered so far is around 7 km, including Kans Kila, Badhpura, Dhruv Ghat area. A dozen big and small drains that were earlier opening into the river are now tapped and water diverted to pools and trenches. Launched on February 15, 2015 the Harit Yamuna Mission Foundation is a dream project of Pradeep Bansal, who says it aims to protect, conserve and create awareness about the environment "Actions often speak louder than words, so over the times Yamuna Mission has built a strong base of supporters spread across the country. "Besides, the Mission has also been able to highlight various climate change issues. To maintain its independence, Harit Yamuna Mission does not accept any donations. Its perspective has broadened to reflect a more holistic understanding of conservation issues facing the country." Each year millions of Sri Krishna devotees visit Braj mandal and conduct puja\parikrama of the holy river in Vrindavan. "But unfortunately, Yamuna is in a very poor state due to the filth and stink all around and the sewer lines openly discharging all the untreated waste. "In some stretches the pilgrims cannot even take a holy dip. In the rat race for so-called development, the lush greenery of Mathura and Vrindavan has disappeared. Projects like the one Yamuna Mission has launched hold hope for the future," said Jagan Nath Poddar, convener of Friends of Vrindavan. Beijing, May 22 : More than seven out of 10 US companies in China (74.9 per cent) are being adversely affected by the ongoing trade war between China and the US, according to a survey released on Wednesday by the American Chamber of Commerce in China. "The negative impact of tariffs is clear and hurting the competitiveness of American companies in China," according to the report which includes the findings of the survey of member companies made by AmCham China and AmCham Shanghai. The survey was carried out from May 16 to 20. About 250 companies participated in it of which 61.6 per cent were manufacturing-related, 25.5 per cent were service-related, 3.8 per cent retail and distribution-related, while 9.6 per cent belonged to other industries. The survey was carried out after US President Donald Trump issued a tariff increase from 10 per cent to 25 per cent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods on May 10, escalating the trade war between the two countries. The survey was carried out after the rise in tensions unleashed by Trump, which in turn triggered a reaction from the Chinese authorities with new tariffs. The impact of the tariffs has been felt through lower demand for products (52.1 per cent), higher manufacturing costs (42.4 per cent) and higher product sales prices (38.2 per cent), Efe news reported. To address the impact of tariffs, the survey reported that companies are taking measures such as delaying or cancelling investment decisions (33.2 per cent) or adopting a "China, for China" strategy (35.3 per cent) which seeks to establish manufacturing and sourcing within China to mainly serve the Chinese market. "Such strategy constitutes a rational choice for many companies to insulate themselves from the effects of tariffs while maintaining their ability to pursue domestic market opportunities," the report added. Although over half of the respondents (53.1 per cent) have seen no increase in non-tariff retaliatory measures by the Chinese government, about one in five has experienced an increase in inspections (20.1 per cent) and slower customs clearance (19.7 per cent). They have also felt slower approval for licenses or other applications (14.2 per cent), as well as complications arising from increased bureaucratic oversight or regulatory control (14.2 per cent). The survey revealed that 40.7 per cent of respondents are considering moving or have moved their manufacturing facilities outside China, with Southeast Asia (24.7 per cent) and Mexico (10.5 per cent) being the primary destinations. Less than 6 per cent of the member companies said that they have considered or are considering relocating manufacturing to the US. New Delhi, May 22 : Facing stiff competition from Chinese and South Korean players, Japanese conglomerate Sony Corporation has announced to quit the Indian smartphone market. Sony had less that 0.01 per cent of the total Indian smartphone market share in the first quarter of 2019, according to Counterpoint Research. Sony Mobile, however, said that it would continue to monitor the market situations and business feasibility in the country. "Our focus markets are Japan, Europe, Hong Kong and Taiwan to drive profitability and future prospects in the 5G era," Sony Mobile said in a statement on Wednesday. "We have ceased sales in Central and South America, the Middle East, South Asia, Oceania, etc. in FY 18," it added. The company assured that it would continue its customer support operations including after sales support and software updates for existing customers in India. The India smartphone market is currently dominated by Chinese players like Xiaomi, OPPO, Vivo and OnePlus among others, besides South Korean tech giant Samsung. According to Shobhit Srivastava, Research Analyst, Mobile Devices and Ecosystems, Counterpoint Research, the pressure from Chinese brands and Samsung in the major price segment resulted in continuous decline of sales for Sony. "With declining sales in India and other markets, Sony took the right decision to focus on the high ASP (average selling price) markets such as Japan," Srivastava told IANS. Sony India in July last year brought its flagship "Xperia XZ2" smartphone for Rs 72,990 to India that turned out to be its last launch. "In a cut-throat market like India where Chinese smartphone brands rule the roost with industry-leading specs and having over 60 per cent market share, it's tough for other brands to garner a meaningful revenue share. Sony has had a very miniscule market share in India," Prabhu Ram, Head, Industry Intelligence Group (IIG), CMR, told IANS. For Sony, the performance of its mobile business has lacked the sheen, and has been a clear outlier compared to its other divisions. "It makes sense for it to cut its losses and refocus on other verticals," Ram added. Mogadishu, May 22 : At least four people were killed and 12 others injured in a car bomb attack in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on Wednesday, the police said. A police officer told Xinhua news agency that the car filled with explosives went off as the officials were checking vehicles in Mogadishu's Bondhere district, causing deaths and injuries. "The blast happened in a traffic area at a police checkpoint. So far, we can confirm four people died in the explosion. We are establishing more details on the incident," the officer said. A Somali military officer and her bodyguards were among the dead, while a lawmaker was among those injured in the blast, the report said. Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan, Director of Mogadishu's free ambulance service Aamin Ambulance, said they took 12 injured people from the scene. The blast came barely four days after a car laden with explosives went off at El-Gabta junction in Mogadishu's Hamarweyne district leaving no casualties. Al Qaeda-allied group al-Shabab, which is fighting to overthrow the government, claimed responsibility of the latest attack. New Delhi, May 22 : Unlike the past, new members of the 17th Lok Sabha will not get accommodation in five star hotels but will be put up in the Western Court premises and bhavans of various states. "Around 300 rooms have been arranged along with other extensive facilities to render all possible assistance to the Members of Parliament (MPs) so that they do not face any inconvenience when they arrive in the national capital," Lok Sabha Secretary General Snehlata Shrivastava told reporters here on Wednesday. "The newly-elected members will be accommodated in the Western Court and its newly-built Annexe and various state bhavans. Thus, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has done away with the system of transit accommodation in hotels," she said. Medical posts will also function on round the clock basis in Parliament House and Western Court, she added. According to Shrivastava, returning officers in all parliamentary constituencies had already been informed about the arrangements being made by the Lok Sabha Secretariat for the newly-elected members in respect of transit accommodation, telephone facilities, and their other preliminary requirements. The new members, she said, have been requested to bring with them the certificate of election, in original, issued to them by the returning officer concerned when they visit the Parliament House. For the first time, the advance copy of the documentation, containing various forms, has been forwarded to the returning officers for the use of the members, she said. Among other initiatives taken by the Lok Sabha Secretariat to make the registration formalities seamless and technology-oriented, all the documents have been categorised as part one and two, and are also available on the Lok Sabha websites for the use of the members. The members can register online with regard to forms in part one such as oath or affirmation, specimen signature, transit accommodation and declarations under different rules. As part of the outreach plan, 56 nodal officers have been assigned around eight to 10 constituencies each to get in touch with the newly-elected members, and to guide them about the various formalities. The Secretary General said that the members, for the first time, will be immediately issued permanent identity cards on their arrival in Parliament House. Earlier, the members and their spouses were issued temporary passes. The Secretariat has also set up guide posts at the Indira Gandhi International Airport's (IGIA) terminals one, two and three to receive the newly-elected members, she said, adding similar posts have also set up at New Delhi, Old Delhi, Hazrat Nizamuddin and Anand Vihar railway stations. The guide posts will function on May 23 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and thereafter on May 24 from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. These guide posts are basically reception centres where members will be received on their arrival in Delhi, she said. As in the past, Srivastava said, Room No 62 of the Parliament House will function as the facilitation centre for these MPs, and it will be functional from May 23 to May 28. This time all formalities and paper work relating to the registration, salary and allowances, nominations, transit accommodation and a host of other matters would be got completed at a single desk, she said. "This new system will not only obviate the need of the member moving from desk to desk but also save a substantial amount of time." She said the Lok Sabha Secretariat has brought out revised edition of various publications, including the Constitution, the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha, Directions by the Speaker, Hand Book for members and other introductory books on Parliament for information and use of new members. "In its mission to make the Parliament a paperless institute, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has introduced some changes in regard to the publication which are given to the new members. "While revised and updated volumes of Constitutions, Rules, Directions and some other publications are being given to them in hard copies, several other publications are being given to the members this time in a pen drive as soft copies for their convenience," Shrivastava added. New Delhi, May 22 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday filed a fresh supplementary charge sheet naming an alleged middleman, Sushen Mohan Gupta, as an accused in the Rs 3,600-crore AgustaWestland VVIP chopper deal case. The supplementary charge sheet was filed before Special Judge Arvind Kumar, who listed the matter for further hearing on May 23. This was the fifth supplementary charge sheet filed in the case. The agency has also named two companies as accused in the case. Gupta was arrested on March 26, a day after the court allowed Rajiv Saxena, a Dubai-based businessman and another alleged middleman in the deal, to turn approver. According to the ED, Saxena, in connivance with lawyer Gautam Khaitan, developed the global corporate structure that laundered money for payment to politicians, bureaucrats and Indian Air Force (IAF) officials to influence the contract for supplying 12 VVIP choppers in favour of the Rome-based helicopter design and manufacturing company AgustaWestland. Chennai, May 22 : Prayer meetings were held amid tight security here on Wednesday to mark the first anniversary of the Thoothukudi police firing in which 13 people were killed. The protesters were demanding closure of Vedanta's Sterlite copper smelter plant for causing environmental pollution. Near and dear ones remembered the victims of the firing at various events. Anti-nuclear activist S.P. Udayakumar was taken into preventive custody in the Kanyakumari district while trying to go to Thoothukudi to attend a condolence meeting. After the firing, the Tamil Nadu government ordered closure of the plant and also appointed a one-man commission, headed by retired High Court Justice Aruna Jagadeesan, to probe into the violence and the shooting. Hearing public interest litigations in August 2018, the Madras High Court ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the firing. Paris, May 22 : France's Upper House of Parliament has endorsed a government proposal to impose tax on Internet giants aimed to garner millions of euros. During a vote late on Tuesday in the Senate, 181 senators approved the tax, while four opposed President Emmanuel Macron's executive team's initiative to tax the world's top digital companies by 3 per cent on much of their digital sales in France related to advertising, websites and the resale of private data. "The approval of digital tax is a very strong message sent by France. It's a signal of fiscal fairness and of our desire to rebuild the international taxation of the 21st century," Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told France info radio on Wednesday. Dubbed GAFA, the taxation targets digital companies with global annual sales of more than 750 million euros ($837.66 million) and sales in France of at least 25 million euros. Introduced in France from January 1, 2019, this 3 per cent tax on digital gross sales would help to collect 500 million euros this year and 650 million euros by 2022. This initiative comes at a time when the government has been beset by nationwide protests against the high cost of living and economic policies perceived as favouring big business and the wealthy, but doing nothing to help the needy. Reports say the taxation was also driven by domestic budget concerns and the need to seek new sources to compensate for extra-spending on emergency measures worth 10 billion euros to address the "Yellow Vest" social uprising. High target disease prevalence, product launches, increasing strategic developments such as partnerships and agreements, favorable research funding scenario are key factors contributing to high CAGR of Cardiovascular Device Market during forecast period. Market Size USD 40.67 Billion in 2018, Market Growth - CAGR of 6.8%, Market Trends Product launches and research for Cardiovascular Device Market. NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The recent study on Cardiovascular Device market by Reports and Data suggests that the market was estimated to attain a value of USD 69.08 billion by the end of 2026 with a CAGR of 6.8%. The most common Cardiovascular diseases include stroke, hypertensive heart disease, rheumatic heart failure, heart arrhythmia, congenital heart disease, etc. Cardiovascular Devices is an apparatus or a material made with a purpose of prevention, treatment and alleviation of the Cardiovascular disorder. It can be a device used for monitoring and diagnosis or for surgical intervention in the treatment of the diseases. Request free sample of this research report at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/sample-enquiry-form/1430 The market for these medical devices are propelled by the high prevalence of the target disease due to unhealthy living habits like smoking, consumption of alcohol and hypertension coupled with a large amount of geriatric population. The advancements in science and technology to bring about minimally invasive methods to treat the disease and improved awareness about techniques to treat the disease. Appropriate medical reforms along with the suitable cost-effective treatments aided with coverage and reimbursements have shaped the growth curve. Also, strategic acquisitions and mergers along with primary product launches have fueled the market. However, unfavorable trade relations, high cost of device maintenance and lack of skilled personnel have become prime source of hindrances to the market. Further key findings from the report suggest Asia-Pacific regional segment of the cardiovascular device market has registered a very high CAGR. This can be attributed the rising population, especially the geriatric, adoption of unhealthy western lifestyle and heavy investments in health sector Among the end users, the Cardiac diagnostic centers were popularized due to the ease and lack of delay in diagnosis and monitoring. Also, it is more economical than hospitals and hence it has registered a CAGR of 6.5% Among the devices for Diagnostic and Monitoring, the ECG holds at least 40% of the share, this can be attributed to the augmented capacities of the new generation electrocardiograms. The current and future product approvals have determined the strength of the market in the foreseeable future. For instance, the Medtronic plc received approval from United States Food and Drug Administration Systems (USAD) for patients with chronic and severe heart failures to be treated with a new approach like the less invasive-implant approach via thoracotomy The market being consolidated and restricted to a few very strong key players, the market situation is very difficult for the entrants especially for entrants to get tax cuts and product approvals Top companies for instance, Medtronic acquired approval from FDA for a device DES made for the purpose of treating patients with Chronic Total Occlusion will come up in the near future Europe has been able to capture almost 20% of the market share. This is because of the increasing number of people affected by cardiovascular diseases in the given regions. However, there are a lot of factors like stringent regulations and the effects of the recent political breakdown that has hindered the European market To identify the key trends in the industry, click on the link below: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report-detail/cardiovascular-devices-market Segments covered in the report: This report forecasts revenue growth at a global, regional & country level, and provides an analysis of the market trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2026. For the purpose of this study, Reports and Data have segmented the Cardiovascular Device Market based on Product Type, End Use and region. Product type (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026) Diagnostic and monitoring devices Electro cardiogram (ECG) Echo cardiogram Holter monitors Event Monitors PET scans MRI scans Cardiac CT Surgical Devices Pacemakers Stents Catheters Guidewire Electrosurgical Procedures Valves Occlusion Devices By Application (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026) Coronary Heart Disease Sudden Cardiac Arrest Stroke Cerebrovascular Heart Disease Others End Use (Revenue, USD Million; 20162026) Hospital Cardiac Diagnostic Centres Ambulatory Surgical Centres Order Now: https://www.reportsanddata.com/checkout-form/1430 Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2016-2026) North America U.S. Europe UK France Asia Pacific China India Japan MEA Latin America Brazil Browse more reports of Pharmaceutical category at: https://www.reportsanddata.com/report/category/pharma-and-healthcare About Reports and Data Reports and Data is a market research and consulting company that provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. Our solutions purely focus on your purpose to locate, target and analyze consumer behavior shifts across demographics, across industries and help clients make a smarter business decision. We offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a multiple industries including Healthcare, Technology, Chemicals, Power, and Energy. We consistently update our research offerings to ensure our clients are aware about the latest trends existent in the market. Reports and Data has a strong base of experienced analysts from varied areas of expertise. Contact Us: John Watson Head of Business Development Reports And Data | Web: www.reportsanddata.com Direct Line: +1-800-819-3052 Lashkar Gah : , May 22 (IANS) As many as 16 Taliban militants, including one of their local leaders, were killed in a series of air-strikes in Afghanistan's Helmand province, officials said on Wednesday. The air raids took place in the Marja and Sangin districts of Helmand on Tuesday, leaving 16 Taliban militants, including one of their local leaders named Mullah Hamza alias Dulgay Mishar dead, provincial governor's spokesperson Omar Zawak was cited as saying by Xinhua news agency. Five militant hideouts were also destroyed in the raids, the official said, adding the operation targeting militants' hideouts would continue. Zawak said no casualties were inflicted on the government forces or civilians during the raids. Taliban militants fighting government forces in the region didn't comment on the report. Mumbai, May 22 : Senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and former minister Jaydutta Kshirsagar on Wednesday joined the Shiv Sena, saying he felt "suffocated" in the NCP. Sena President Uddhav Thackeray and other senior leaders welcomed him into the party fold by tying a red thread symbolizing 'Shiv Bandhan' and handing him a miniature party flag. Speaking on the occasion, Kshirsagar said that he felt "suffocated" in the NCP and criticized party President Sharad Pawar for the circumstances leading to his crossing over to the Shiv Sena. Thackeray said the Sena would be further strengthened in Beed and Marathwada region with the entry of a senior and experienced leader like Kshirsagar. However, the Sena chief refused to reveal details of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) dinner meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. Thackeray also refused to comment on the recent exit poll projections predicting a huge win for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and NDA, nor speculated on the probable outcome as the vote count for the seven-phased elections will be taken up on Thursday. Earlier on Wednesday, Kshirsagar tendered his resignation from the NCP and also as a legislator from Beed. During the erstwhile Congress-NCP government he served as a minister handling various portfolios. However, since the past couple of years, he was upset at being 'sidelined' by his nephew Sandip Kshirsagar and Leader of Opposition (Council) Dhananjay Munde in Beed and regional politics. He had fuelled speculation over joining the BJP after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis visited his home in 2018 along with Minister Pankaja Munde, the cousin of Dhananjay Munde, and had once shared a public platform with the Chief Minister. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Kshirsagar earned the NCP's ire after he openly campaigned for the BJP candidate Pritam Munde against the NCP's nominee Bajrang Sonavane, on account of intra-party political rivalry. Reacting to the development, Dhananjay Munde said that Kshirsagar's plans to quit the NCP were in the air for long, "so what is the reason for the 'muhurat' taking place today", on the eve of the vote count in the parliamentary elections. Bishkek : , May 22 (IANS) India on Wednesday spoke about the Pulwama terror attack at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) here and said the subsequent terror strikes in neighbouring Sri Lanka had made it more determined to fight the scourge firmly. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, while attending the SCO Foreign Ministers's conference, said that India's wounds of the February 14 Pulwama attack were "still raw" when the ghastly terror attacks happened in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday. "Our heart goes out to our brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka, who have recently witnessed the ghastly act of terrorism. Our wounds of Pulwama attack were still raw and the news from the neighbourhood has made us more determined to fight firmly and resolutely against this menace," she said. The Pulwama terror attack was carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, whose suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into a CRPF convoy, killing 40 personnel. The SCO is an eight-member organisation comprising India, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikstan and Pakistan. In her address, Swaraj stressed the need for strengthening cooperation within the SCO framework for comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. "We would be open to ideas on how we can make the work of RATS (Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure) more effective in this regard," she said. Swaraj also highlighted India's commitment to the development of Afghanistan. "India stands committed to any process, which can help Afghanistan emerge as a united, peaceful, secure, stable, inclusive and economically vibrant nation with guaranteed gender and human rights," she said. "We also operationalised air freight corridors between Kabul and Kandahar and New Delhi and Mumbai in 2017. We welcome regional connectivity initiatives, which are inclusive, sustainable, transparent and respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity," the Indian Minister said. She also pointed out the importance India attached to the SCO Afghanistan Contact Group and welcomed an early conclusion of the draft roadmap of further actions of the Contact Group. Underlining that India was committed to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement on Combating Climate Change, Swaraj said that she welcomed the agreement reached at COP 24 of the UNFCCC. She also batted that SCO must support the member countries' candidatures for the non-permanent membership of United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the years 2021-2022 and 2027-2028. Addis Ababa, May 22 : United Nations officials on Wednesday said developing nations were facing the brunt of climate change despite their little contribution to the problem. A joint statement was made by Mary Robinson, Ireland's former President and UN Special Envoy on El Nino and Climate, and Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Vera Songwe during a climate-focused meeting in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Robinson said, "those who suffer the worst effects of climate change are often the least responsible for it". She called for the need for climate justice as the least responsible countries suffer the most from the global threat that emanated from climate change, Xinhua news agency reported. Robinson was appointed UN Special Envoy along with Macharia Kamau of Kenya in 2016 to provide the leadership required to tackle climate-related challenges. ECA's Songwe said the African continent could leverage to its advantage in the global fight against the impacts of climate change. "We didn't create it, but we can profit the most from it. A climate smart economy is an extremely profitable economy. It's an economy that will create more jobs and leave us cleaner and better," Songwe said. Mithika Mwenda, Executive Director of the Pan African Justice Alliance, said during the discussion climate justice was not getting the priority it deserved from governments. "Africa is most affected and impacted by climate change, but we don't do much about it. We need strong governance systems to move the climate discourse and actions forward," he said. He urged the ECA to fortify collaboration with the African Union and the African Development Bank in line with the ClimDev-Africa programme that's mandated by African leaders to create a solid foundation for Africa's response to climate change. New Delhi, May 22 : The General Election 2019 is coming to an end with counting of votes on May 23 and the best and real-time way to keep a tab on the results is the Election Commission's online app Voter Helpline. The EC has expanded its digital interface with voters through various mobile apps which provided every detail about the mammoth electoral exercise. One of the runaway hits during the polling has been the Voter Turnout app which gave real-time data on the number of votes polled in each Lok Sabha constituency dissected to every assembly segment. The detailed voter turnouts used to be given at the end of the poll process, but this time, it was made available instantly through the app. The Voter Helpline app is available for both android and Iphone users and it also has more than five million downloads. The Voter Turnout app has more than 100,000 downloads. The Voter Helpline app has details of every candidate in the fray. The app also has detailed results of 2014 and 2009 Lok Sabha polls and a General Election archive. The app was released in January 2019 with various features like submission of online forms for new voter registration and complaints. Islamabad, May 22 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will be questioned by the anti-corruption body for allegedly using 20 of the 34 bulletproof cars purchased from Germany for guests of the 2016 Saarc Summit, for himself and his family, the media reported. An accountability court in Islamabad on Tuesday granted permission to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to question Sharif in the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore where he is serving a seven-year sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the News International reported. The NAB said 34 bulletproof vehicles were imported from Germany for diplomats attending the Saarc meet without paying custom duty on them. The 19th Saarc summit was originally planned in Islamabad from November 15-19 in 2016. It was called off after India pulled out due to terrorist attack on a army camp in Uri, blaming Pakistan for the attack. Later, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives also withdrew culminating in an indefinite postponement of the summit. The watchdog said the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader added 20 bulletproof cars in his motorcade and his daughter Maryam Nawaz also used these cars. The NAB had already questioned former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former Foreign Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad in this regard, the report said. Kolkata, May 22 : The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused the Trinamool Congress of planning to foment violence inside vote counting centres if the poll verdict goes against it, as many workers of West Bengal's ruling party huddled in front of several counting centres across constituencies to 'guard' electronic voting machines (EVMs). "Hundreds of Trinamool supporters gathered in front of vote counting centres across the state in the name of guarding EVMs and strong rooms. The Election Commission conducts the polling process and the central forces have been deployed to protect machines. "Their party supremo instructed their goons to protect voting machines. This arrangement indicates that they have plans to create ruckus inside vote counting centres, if the verdict goes against them," said state BJP Vice President Jay Prakash Majumdar after meeting officials at the Chief Electoral Officer's office here. As many as 200 companies of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed for guarding strongrooms and counting centres. "We have demanded proper deployment of central forces in counting centres and invocation of prohibitory orders Section 144 upto 200 metres from counting centres in order to resist Trinamool miscreants," Majumdar told reporters. Dismissing the exit poll predictions of the Lok Sabha elections as "gossip", West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already said it is a "game plan to manipulate and replace thousands of EVMs" and urged opposition leaders to stand united. She has also called upon party workers to guard voting machines in the strongrooms so that the machines "cannot be replaced". Trinamool workers were seen sitting in front of many vote counting centres across districts after the party high command asked them to "guard" voting machines. "We have been here to protect machines as party leaders asked us to do so," said a Trinamool worker sitting in front of Sreerampore College counting centre where EVMs of all seven Assembly segments of Sreerampore Lok Sabha constituency would be counted. Almost all exit polls either gave a majority to the NDA or predicted it would come close to the magic figure. The various exit polls also forecast a massive increase in the BJP's number of seats - from two in 2014 to between 16 and 18 in West Bengal. There are 58 counting centres spread across the state for 42 Lok Sabha constituencies. The votes cast in a total of 78,799 polling stations in 294 Assembly segments will be counted by 25,000 counting personnel. Jaipur, May 22 : After stoking controversy for altering the syllabus in Rajasthan school textbooks, Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara is again in the crosshairs of the opposition BJP for changing the school calendar that will see the new academic session start on July 1 which reportedly will stop students from observing International Day of Yoga on June 21. According to Dotasara, the schools will re-open on July 1 instead of June 19 as per the former government's time-table. Even the schedule for winter holidays has been changed. Now winter holidays will be scheduled from December 25-31 instead of December 25 to January 7 under the former BJP government. Former Education Minister Vasudev Devnani, tweeted on the development, "Government should make students aware of Yoga benefits, however, the state government has tried to belittle its significance. Yoga Day helps students to get awareness on Yoga's significance in their life and inspires them to bring Yoga in their daily lives." Meanwhile, Dotasara said, "Yoga Day will be celebrated in schools and offices to abide by the order of government. BJP government, to celebrate this one day, had changed the school calendar and ordered schools to reopen from June 19. This is wrong. We changed the school calendar taking views from parents and teachers associations," he added. The school session used to close on April 30, however, now it will close on May 16, he said. New Delhi, May 22 : The Delhi Police on Wednesday informed the Delhi High Court it has considered framing of guidelines for disposal of abandoned bodies, and videography and photography of the last rites of the unattended bodies. The police in an affidavit filed before a Division Bench headed by Justice G.S. Sistani said a meeting was held under the Chief Secretary's chairmanship on March 28. At the meeting, it was decided that the Municipal Corporation would be in-charge of cremation. "The municipal corporation concerned may also be directed to conduct the videography/photography of the cremation," the police said. The cremation would take place in the presence of investigation officer and expenses would be borne by the municipal corporation, the police said. The court was hearing a petition filed by Ramanuj Pursotam whose son was creamated by the Faridabad police and nothing was kept as proof. Pursotam's counsels Shashank Deo Sudhi and Bijender P. Kumar told the court his son was missing since December 4, 2017. After three months, the petitioner came to know through photographs that his son had been cremated. In March 2018, the police called Pursotam for identifying the photograph of the body cremated on December 12, 2017. The police told him his son's body was recovered on December 8, 2017 and an autopsy was conducted at a hospital on December 10, 2017. But Pursotam was not told how his son was cremated. Pursotam pleaded before the court to issue direction to the police to preserve the ashes and physical identity, including clothes and valuable belongings, of the abandoned bodies for a reasonable period of time for handing them over to the deceased's family. He also requested the court to issue direction to publicise or advertise the request for identification of the abandoned bodies, lying unattended, through all modes of communication, including all major newspapers and news channels. Pursotam said currently unidentified bodies were being cremated in a mechanical manner without completing even the mandatory formalities. He also sought a provision to penalise the police if they deny registering FIR in case of such incidents. After Pursotam's son went missing, he went to Jaitpur Police Station in Delhi but the police did not act. Despite repeated requests, the police did not even register a complaint, said the petitioner. The court has listed the matter for further hearing on May 29. New Delhi, May 22 : A security guard of a Delhi University girls' college was arrested by Delhi Police on Wednesday after a student complained of being sexually assaulted by him in the college premises. According to the police, the accused had made friends with the girl back in August last year. However about 12 days ago the accused identified as Raj Kumar alias Raju spiked the victim's cold drink when she was alone in a classroom. Kumar who was hired on a contract basis by the college, then sexually assaulted her in a the classroom. "The incident occurred about 12 days ago when Raj Kumar offered a spiked cold drink to the victim, as they were friends she accepted it without any suspicion," a senior police officer said. The girl who later regained consciousness found her clothes strewn around. Somehow she managed to reach her home, but did not share her ordeal with anyone. However, on Monday she narrated everything to her parents who then accompanied her to IP Estate police station where the case was registered. After the case was filed, the police scanned the CCTV footage of the cameras installed in the college and found the accused taking the victim to the classroom. He was then arrested from the college. "The accused has been arrested, it was clear in the CCTV footage that he was taking the victim to the classroom. We have registered a case of rape against him," the officer added. English French MONTREAL, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL; TSX and NYSE) today announced that it will be hosting its 2019 Institutional investor and analyst conference in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The conference will begin with a Company hosted dinner the evening of November 19, 2019 and will conclude by noon on November 21, 2019. The event will include tours of Gildans manufacturing facilities in Honduras, as well as presentations by members of Gildans management team. A formal invitation with event details and registration information will be distributed in the upcoming weeks. Presentation slides will be made available on the Companys corporate website at http://www.gildancorp.com/events . For more information please contact Gildan Investor Relations at the contact information below. About Gildan Gildan is a leading manufacturer of everyday basic apparel which markets its products in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, under a diversified portfolio of Company-owned brands, including Gildan, American Apparel, Comfort Colors, Gildan Hammer, Prim + Preux, Gold Toe, Anvil, Alstyle, Secret, Silks, Kushyfoot, Secret Silky, Therapy Plus, Peds and MediPeds, and under the Under Armour brand through a sock licensing agreement providing exclusive distribution rights in the United States and Canada. Our product offering includes activewear, underwear, socks, hosiery, and legwear products sold to a broad range of customers, including wholesale distributors, screenprinters or embellishers, as well as to retailers that sell to consumers through their physical stores and/or e-commerce platforms. In addition, we sell directly to consumers through our own direct-to-consumer platforms. Gildan owns and operates vertically-integrated, large-scale manufacturing facilities which are primarily located in Central America, the Caribbean Basin, North America, and Bangladesh. With over 50,000 employees worldwide Gildan operates with a strong commitment to industry-leading labour and environmental practices throughout its supply chain in accordance with its comprehensive Genuine Responsibility program embedded in the Company's long-term business strategy. More information about the Company and its corporate citizenship practices and initiatives can be found at www.gildancorp.com and www.genuineresponsibility.com , respectively. New Delhi/Mumbai, May 22 : Laddoo-cake and special 'pista badam Kamal barfi' has been ordered to reach the BJP party office on Thursday as part of celebrations with the ruling party expecting a big victory in the results of 2019 Lok Sabha elections. If the BJP is able to get near the majority mark on its own and again form a party-led government, it will be a first the party's history. And its workers in the Delh unit have already started preparations after exit polls predicted its vicotry. Special laddoo-cakes and the 'pista badam Kamal (party's symbol) barfi' has already been ordered and more would be in the offing if results are asper the party's expectations. A party functionary has ordered 10 special laddoo-cakes from a shop in the Bengali market. The largest of these -- a 7-kg laddoo-cake -- will be taken to the party headquarters once the results become clear. "We have ordered a special 7-kg laddoo-cake for celebrating the party's victory tomorrow. The cake will be cut in the evening when the results will become clear," said a party functionary who did not want to be named. He said nine laddoo-cakes weighing 5 kg each have also been ordered. This laddoo-cake costs Rs 1,000 per kg. Besides this, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor in his personal capacity ordered 50 kg of special 'pista badam kamal barfi'. Every kilogram of special 'pista badam kamal barfi' costs Rs 2,000. As part of preparations, the central BJP headquarters has gateways in party colours. Flowers have also been arranged. Party spokespersons will start arriving at the party headquarters from 9 am and media cabins have been set up for interactions. Thousands of party workers are expected to throng the office if the results are favourable. Party chief Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are also expected to visit the headquarters. Arrangements have also been made to receive people at the party's Delhi office. "Besides the party workers arriving at the party office, arrangements have also been made for party workers who will be stationed at the counting stations," a party leader said. A meeting of the office-bearers of the Delhi party unit was held on Wednesday in which tasks were assigned for transportation of party workers, arrangements for their lunch and refreshments at the party office. In Mumbai, the local party unit is making full preparations to celebrate with gigantic cakes and lakhs of laddoos, a party official said. Senior party legislator from Colaba Raj Purohit said that at least 100 kg of laddoos are being prepared for distribution to workers and members of public from each of the assembly segments in the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai. "Besides, we have ordered a massive 125-kg special cake to mark the BJP victory which will be cut by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tomorrow afternoon at the party headquarters," Purohit told IANS. A BJP legislator from the city's Mumbadevi assembly constituency personally supervised the mouthwatering laddoos that are being prepared by experts at a sweetmeat outlet in his area. "We are making a total of one-ton (1,000 kgs) of laddoos or around 100,000 pieces to be distributed among our constituency's activists and well-wishers after the victory of our candidates tomorrow," Shah told IANS. Besides, the party will make a gigantic 6x4 feet (24 sq. feet) huge cake with special ingredients and projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the future leader of not only India but the whole world. The cake will be cut by BJP city chief Ashish Shelar and actress Poonam Dhillon. Similar sweets and goodies have been ordered and are being prepared at various outlets in the city for other BJP candidates like Gopal Shetty (Mumbai North) and Poonam Mahajan (Mumbai North-Central), by activists or party leaders. Similar plans are being implemented in other cities like Nagpur, Pune, Aurangabad, Kolhapur, Nashik and other places where the BJP expects to sweep the elections. Cashing in on the public enthusiasm over the vote-count tomorrow, a Pune eatery completed a "result-oriented competition" for its patrons with attractive freebies. Fakkad Foods proprietor Ambar Karve said that patrons were offered forms in which they had to write their own predictions on the outcome of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. These included the number of seats for BJP+NDA, Congress+allies, Maharashtra BJP+Shiv Sena, and the outcome of a few high-profile constituencies like Baramati, Nagpur Maval, etc. "Those who come close in their predictions, will be entitled to various freebies comprising complimentary meals or some extra dishes, while those who succeed to hit the bull's eye would be presented with attractive gift hampers," Karve told IANS. So far, Karve said over 2,000 enthusiasts have participated in the unique and first-of-its-kind poll prediction competition and Fakkad Foods will announce its results on May 25. New Delhi, May 22 : An attempt was allegedly made to break into an office of the Indian Air Force (IAF) officers handling the Rafale fighter project in France, reports reaching here said on Wednesday. The IAF team is based there in connection with the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter planes, first of which is expected to be delivered to India in September this year. The break-in attempt reportedly took place on Sunday night and an assessment was being made to find out whether anything was amiss, officials said here. The French police is investigating the matter and the Indian Embassy in France is in touch with them. India signed an inter-governmental agreement with France in 2016 for the procurement of 36 Rafale fighter planes in fly-away condition. The planes are intended to meet the shortage in the IAF inventory. New Delhi, May 22 : The government is learnt have cleared the elevation of four new judges to the Supreme Court, paving the way for their swearing-in in "a day or two." After the new judges take charge, the apex court will have its full strength of 31 judges after a gap of five years. Currently, the court is functioning with 27 judges, including Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi. The four judges whose elevation has been cleared are: Justices Aniruddha Bose, A.S. Bopanna, B.R. Gavai and Surya Kant. The government had earlier objected to two names: Justices Bose and Bopanna. It had informed the Supreme Court Collegium, citing seniority and representation of regions as the key issues. The five-member collegium is headed by the CJI. In Justice Gavai, the top court would have second Chief Justice from Dalit community. Sources said a notification on the elevation of the judges is expected as early as tomorrow after the President endorses their appointment. The Supreme Court Collegium had rejected the Centre's comeback and recommended Justices Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai and Surya Kant for elevation as the top court judges. "The collegium resolves to reiterate the afore-mentioned recommendation dated April 12, 2019, especially since nothing adverse regarding competence, conduct or integrity of Justices (1) Aniruddha Bose, and (2) A.S. Bopanna, has been pointed out," the Supreme Court said in a statement. Justice Bose stands at number 12 in the combined seniority list of all-India high court judges, while Justice Bopanna stands at number 36. On April 12, both judges were recommended by the Collegium for elevation to the Supreme Court after considering factors such as merit, seniority, as well as regional representation on the Supreme Court bench. The collegium, rejecting the Centre's plea, said that it was aware of the parameters while recommending the two judges. Following the procedure of seniority among judges in their respective high courts and then looking into the combined seniority on an all-India basis, it reiterated its proposal to elevate the two judges. Currently, Justice Gavai is a judge of the Bombay High Court and Justice Kant is the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. According to the Collegium recommendation published on the website, the five-member collegium headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi met on Wednesday. New Delhi, May 22 : Efforts for Opposition unity have again gained strength ahead of the Lok Sabha election results as NCP chief Sharad Yadav is in touch with several parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), and the YSR Congress. "He is getting calls from leaders of all parties," a Nationalist Congress Party functionary said here. Pawar is also learnt to be touch with the DMK and Trinamool Congress, two other parties expected to get a large chunk of seats among the opposition parties. In case of a split verdict, the position taken by the BJD, the TRS, and the YSR Congress will be of crucial importance. The three parties seek to maintain equal distance from the Congress and the BJP. Pawar is keen that these three parties back the Congress-led UPA if it is in a position to form the government. But while the Opposition looks at getting the numbers in case of a split verdict, it has several prime ministerial contenders. Both BSP chief Mayawati and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee are seen to have ambitions for the top job. Mayawati, in fact, has not hidden her ambitions, announcing that she will fight the Lok Sabha elections, if the need so arises. She has also said she will give the best government at the Centre if she gets an opportunity. She has the backing of the Samajwadi Party, with which it is fighting the UP polls in an alliance. Much would depend on the numbers each party musters. Pawar is a seasoned politician and his voice will carry weight if the Opposition has to choose a prime ministerial candidate. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has also been criss-crossing state capitals to bring the opposition parties together to prevent the BJP-led government. He has also been vocal in raising apprehensions about the use of EVMS. The Congress is also keen to take the lead in formation of an alternative government and has kept a petition ready to be given to President Ram Nath Kovind, if the situation so warrants. Rome, May 22 : Kidnappers have "recently" released Italian national Alessandro Sandrini, the hardline militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which largely controls the embattled northwest Syrian province of Idlib, said on Wednesday. Sandrini had been held by a gang that demanded ransom, according to Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's administrative arm, the so-called 'Salvation government' said in a statement carried by the Sham news agency. For his personal safety, the 'Salvation government' had undertaken "indirect" negotiations with Sandrini's captors and has been in touch with Italian authorities to arrange his handover, the statement quoted the anti-government group's 'Deputy Interior Minister' Ali Kaddah as saying. There was no immediate confirmation by the Italian government of Sandrini's release. Sandrini, 32, who is from the northern Italian city of Folzano, vanished in October 2016 after flying to the southern Turkish city of Adana for a week's holiday. He called his mother a year later to say he had been abducted and did not know where he was or who was holding him. In subsequent, increasingly desperate phone calls, he said his abductors wanted money and begged his family to help him. In a video published by US terrorism tracking organisation SITE last July, Sandrini, clad in an orange jumpsuit and flanked by rifle-toting masked gunmen, asked the Italian government to help secure his release, saying: "They will kill me." New Delhi, May 22 : BJP President Amit Shah on Wednesday hit out at the opposition parties for questioning the integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and said that their attempts were "tarnishing" the image of India and its democracy. "Opposing EVMs is akin to disrespecting the people's mandate. Fearing defeat in the elections, the 22 opposition parties are putting a question mark over the country's democratic process and tarnishing the image of India and its democracy," Shah tweeted along with a list of six questions aimed at the opposition parties. His remarks came soon after the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday turned down the opposition parties' request to count the VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) slips along with the EVMs at five randomly selected polling booths and tally VVPAT slips for the entire Assembly segment if any discrepancy occurred. Firing salvos at the opposition parties, Shah said, "Those questioning the credibility of EVMs have won elections conducted through these machines in the past. When the Congress formed governments in four states during the recent Assembly polls in five states, we did not question EVMs. They should not have formed governments if they didn't have faith in EVMs." The BJP President further said the Supreme Court after hearing three PILs had said that from every Assembly segment, VVPAT slips of five polling booths can be counted. "Are you questioning the Supreme Court's orders," Shah questioned. Hitting out at the opposition parties, Shah said, "The noise over EVMs gained momentum after the sixth phase of polling, and it increased after the exit polls were announced. I want to tell the opposition leaders that exit polls are based on voters' feedbacks. How can you raise fingers on EVMs based on exit poll outcomes?" Referring to the EVM hackathon organised by the Election Commission, Shah said, "The EC had organised the EVM hackathon, but none of the opposition parties accepted the challenge. The EC also made the electoral process more transparent by linking the voting machines with the VVPAT slips so that the voters could see whom they voted for. When the electoral process have been made so transparent, is it correct to raise questions over the polling process?" Referring to former Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) leader Upendra Kushwaha's remark that if an attempt was made to "loot" votes, people should pick up arms to protect them, Shah said, "Some political parties have threatened violence if the results do not match their expectations. These statements are highly objectionable. "I want to tell the Opposition that there is no space for violence. Whom do they think they are challenging by making these undemocratic statements?" Shah further said, "Not ready to accept defeat, the opposition is trying to disrespect the Election Commission and democracy in the country. Whatever be the outcome of the elections, it should be respected because it is the mandate of India's 90 crore electorate. "I want to tell the people of the country that the Opposition is trying to spread falsehood about EVMs. Without getting diverted, we should work together to strengthen the institutions of the country." Bishkek, May 22 : Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi had an "informal dialogue" with his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation meet in the Kyrgyz capital on Wednesday, the Pakistan Foreign Office said. "Today (I) met Sushma Ji. She had a complaint that we sometimes talk in a bitter manner. She brought sweets today so we could also speak sweetly," Qureshi was quoted as saying by the Foreign Office, reported Dawn.com "We made it clear to her that we want all the matters resolved through dialogue, and that Prime Minister Imran Khan had said in his very first speech that if India takes one step forward, we would take two steps forward. "Even today we are ready for a dialogue," he added. The interaction came at the end of a two-day SCO Council of Foreign Ministers' meeting. They were initially scheduled to meet on the sideline of the United Nations General Assembly in New York last September, but India had cancelled the meeting, a day after agreeing. New Delhi, May 22 : A day ahead of counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections, there was hustle and bustle at the Congress headquarters here with its functionaries making arrangements for media interactions on Thursday as the trends start pouring in. Despite the exit polls largely giving majority to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), the party workers and office-bearers of the Congress, which was reduced to 44 seats in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, looked confident on Wednesday. A senior office-bearer of the Congress told IANS: "The spokespersons of the party will arrive at the party office at 8.30 a.m. However, the senior leaders of the party will reach in the afternoon." Asked if the party had ordered sweets in case the results go its way, he said, "The Congress had never ordered sweets in the past. This time too, we won't order sweets." On whether Congress President Rahul Gandhi would address a press conference after the declaration of the election results on Thursday, he said, "It will be decided tomorrow. As of now, the barricading in the lawn has been done, which indicates that he shall be definitely coming to the party office." However, the official was not sure if UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and her daughter and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi would come to the party headquarters. Most exit polls on Sunday predicted a thumping vitory for the BJP-led NDA. Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi dubbed the exit polls as "fake" and appealed to the Congress leaders to have faith in themselves and the party. Rome, 22 May : Italian hostage Alessandro Sandrini has been freed from captivity "after a complex operation in foreign territory", Premier Giuseppe Conte said on Wednesday after a jihadist group in northwest Syria announced Sandrini had been freed. "Compatriot Alessandro Sandrini has been released after a complex operation in foreign territory," Conte said in a statement. The operation "was carried out in a coordinated manner involving synergies by Italy's intelligence services, judicial police and the Foreign Ministry's crisis unit," the statement said. Earlier, hardline militant rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, which largely controls the embattled northwest Syrian province of Idlib, said kidnappers had "recently" freed Sandrini, without saying where. Sandrini had been held by a gang that demanded ransom payments, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham's administrative arm, the so-called 'Salvation government' said in a statement carried by the Sham news agency. For his personal safety, the 'Salvation government' had undertaken "indirect" negotiations with Sandrini's captors and has been in touch with Italian authorities to arrange his handover, the statement quoted the anti-government group's 'Deputy Interior Minister' Ali Kaddah as saying. Sandrini, 32, who is from the northern Italian city of Folzano, vanished in October 2016 after boarding a flight to the southern Turkish city of Adana, allegedly for a week's holiday. He called his mother a year later to ask for help, saying he had been abducted and did not know where he was or who was holding him. In a video published by US terrorism tracking organisation SITE last July, Sandrini, clad in an orange jump-suit and flanked by rifle-toting masked gunmen, asked the Italian government to help secure his release, saying: "They will kill me". Agartala: Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth becomes the first woman fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions on a fighter aircraft after she completed Day operational syllabus on MiG-21 Bison aircraft, on May 22, 2019. She had joined fighter Image Source: IANS News Agartala: Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth becomes the first woman fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions on a fighter aircraft after she completed Day operational syllabus on MiG-21 Bison aircraft, on May 22, 2019. She had joined fighter Image Source: IANS News Agartala: Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth becomes the first woman fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions on a fighter aircraft after she completed Day operational syllabus on MiG-21 Bison aircraft, on May 22, 2019. She had joined fighter Image Source: IANS News Agartala: Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth becomes the first woman fighter pilot to be qualified to undertake missions on a fighter aircraft after she completed Day operational syllabus on MiG-21 Bison aircraft, on May 22, 2019. She had joined fighter Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, May 22 : Flight Lieutenant Bhawana Kanth is now the first woman fighter pilot to qualify for combat missions. She completed the operational syllabus on Wednesday on MiG-21 Bison jet. Posted in Nal airbase on the border with Pakistan, she is now qualified for night flying operations as well. Bhawana was one of the three women along with Mohna Singh and Avani Chaturvedi in 2016. Since then, IAF has inducted six women into the fighter stream. MiG-21 Bison is the same fighter jet that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman flew when he downed Pakistan Air Force's F-16 durig an aerial combat on February 27. NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via CannabisNewsWire -- MjMicro Conference ( www.mjmicro.com ), the next-level investor forum for publicly traded cannabis companies, is sold out for Presenting Companies. MjMicro, set to take place on June 25, 2019, at the Westin Grand Central in New York City, promises to unite carefully vetted cannabis-related public entities with a full roster of potential investors. The MjMicro Conference is an invitational networking forum exclusively created to enable best-in-class and emerging public companies in the cannabis industry to meet with high-net-worth investors, venture funds and family offices, helping drive private investment capital into public entities, promote trading liquidity, and increase media and analyst coverage. This event is by invitation on both sides of the table as part of our mission is to parse out the best opportunities for our audience of investors, noted George Jage, president and COO of MjLink.com and producer of MjMicro. The demand by the market confirms that the cannabis industry needs its own public market capital conference to showcase one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Presenting companies include: Emerald Health Therapeutics FSD Pharma Flowr Corp. 1933 Industries 48North Cannabis CannAmerica Brands CANNEX Capital Holdings / 4Front Cardiol Therapeutics Inc. Dixie Brands EXMceuticals Helix TCS Inc. HighTide Inc. House of Jane MJ Freeway Phoenix Life Sciences Intl Ltd. Province Brands of Canada Tauriga Sciences United Cannabis Corp. Vireo Health We have an exciting mix of companies ranging from $5 million to $500 million in market caps, and companies involved in cultivation, multi-state operators, technologies, lifestyle products and the emerging cannabis beverage category, noted Todd Markey, director of investor relations at MjMicro. With the expected growth trajectory of cannabis and hemp, this offers the investors a variety of developmental stages and channels in which they can invest into these companies. In the next decade, analysts project that total cannabis industry sales could reach as high as $130 billion. Viridian Capital Advisors, a leading cannabis investment bank, estimates that $13.8 billion was raised by cannabis firms in 2018, marking a 4-fold increase over the year prior. MjMicro is scheduled to be held four times a year with events in New York, Beverly Hills, West Palm Beach and Seattle. MjMicro is produced by MjLink.com Inc., which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Social Life Networks (OTC: WDLF). To learn more about MjMicro Conference or to request an invitation to attend, please visit MjMicro.com . About MjLink.com Inc. Social Life Network (OTC: WDLF), a cloud-based social media and social network technology company based in Denver, Colorado, announced on Sept. 25, 2018, that the Company had spun its cannabis technology division out of the parent company and incorporated MjLink.com Inc., a Delaware Corporation, as its wholly owned subsidiary. MjLink operates as a multinational cannabis technology and media organization with two separate social networks: WeedLife.com, a consumer-to-consumer network; and MjLink.com, a business-to-business social network. On April 4, 2019, the president of MjLink, George Jage, announced the launch of a new division of the Company that is focused on providing the industry with best-in-class financial, B2B and B2C cannabis-centric events that complement the Companys global social networks. For more information about Social Life Network and to download the MjLink Investor Deck, visit https://social-life-network.com Disclaimer This news release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to achieving corporate objectives, developing additional project interests, the company's analysis of opportunities in the acquisition and development of various project interests and certain other matters. No information in this press release should be construed as any indication whatsoever of the Company's or MjLink's future financial results, revenues or stock price. There are no assurances that the Company will successfully take MjLink.com, Inc public. These statements are made under the "Safe Harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein. The relationship between Social Life Network and the other companies mentioned currently does not extend beyond inviting them to send representatives to speak at the MjMicro Conference. Contact: Investor Relations: IR@Social-Life-Network.com 855-933-3277 the cabinet, saying she no longer believes the government's approach will deliver Brexit. London, May 23 (IANS) House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has quit the cabinet, saying she no longer believes the government's approach will deliver Brexit. Her resignation comes amid a backlash against Theresa May's Brexit plan from Conservative MPs, the BBC reported. Several cabinet ministers have said that the PM cannot stay, with one saying it is "the end of the line". Leadsom previously ran for Tory leader but withdrew, allowing May to become Prime Minister. In a letter to the Prime Minister, she said she did not believe "the UK would be a truly sovereign United Kingdom through the deal that is now proposed". She also described holding another referendum as "dangerously divisive", and said she was opposed to the government "willingly facilitating such a concession". May has offered MPs a chance to hold a vote on another referendum if they back her Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the legislation needed to implement the agreement between the UK and EU on the terms of Brexit. New York, May 23 : Oil prices settled lower on Wednesday after report showed an unexpected build in the US crude stockpiles. The US crude inventories increased by 4.7 million barrels in the week ending May 17, the US Energy Information Administration reported. At 476.8 million barrels, the US crude oil inventories are about four per cent above the five year average for this time of year, the Xinhua news agency reported. Investors were worried that increasing US stockpiles combined with prolonged tensions between the US and its major trading partners would dampen market sentiment. The West Texas Intermediate for July delivery declined 1.71 US dollars to settle at 61.42 dollars a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, while Brent crude for July delivery decreased 1.19 dollars to close at 70.99 dollars a barrel on the London ICE Futures Exchange. SPONSORED POST Key indicators have pointed towards a recent outperformance of expectations for assets located in the Brisbane Uptown precinct. The recent spike in activity has been attributed to trending building upgrades to include shared areas for collaboration and additional building services. According to Savills Research, proactive landlords have enhanced their respective assets by investing significantly through the refurbishment of ground floor lobbies, construction of speculative fit-outs, cafe amenity space and end of trip facilities. Savills Office Leasing Analyst, Hao Chen has identified an uplift in face rents for buildings in this precinct. A 510% gross face rental growth has been recorded on assets within the Uptown precinct that have undergone capital investment, resulting in a tightening to the overall vacancy factor in the last 12 months, Mr Chen said. Savills Research has recorded an 8.1% drop in vacancy for the uptown precinct in the 12 months to May 2019, currently sitting at 11.9%. Landlords who invested into their assets in this precinct last year are now reaping the rewards, providing smaller, agile tenants in the market more favourable office accommodation. Building enhancements and upgrades are becoming an expectation, it seems to be what tenants are looking for and are starting to ask about the buildings capital works plans if the building is starting to look tired upon inspection, Mr Chen said. These upgrades form part of landlords long-term leasing strategies to add value and enhance the tenant experience, incorporating strategies not only to attract tenants but to also retain them following initial lease expiry. Mr Chen reports that landlords are strategically repositioning their assets in the market to create a highly desirable commercial address, which incorporates modern design elements and market leading architecture. In addition to many obvious foyer and end-of-trip facility upgrades, environmental factors are also being considered which include the installation of energy efficient lighting to reduce energy usage and water consumption technology. Daniel Paxton of Savills Office Leasing said that one of the best examples of this trend has been evident with the ISPT upgrades at 100 Creek Street which has resulted in a 25% vacancy reduction. Over the past 12 months, ISPT have staged their upgrade processes to not only ensure they capitalise on a premium product offering, but integrate the re-set into the larger marketing and leasing strategy for the building, Mr Paxton said. The significant transformation of 100 Creek Street included not only the upgrade of lobby, lifts and end of trip facilities but also the first of its kind digital canvas centrepiece wrapping around the lift core. Its design inspiration was aimed at reconnecting tenants to the citys subtropical surrounds. It features double height pivot door technology, with the lobby opening up to seamlessly meet the city streetscape and embrace the Queensland climate. Since June 2018, more than 3,000sq m has been leased at the newly repositioned address, with a flight to quality trend that is being washed through from the bordering financial precinct. 100 Creek Street is standing out as a major value proposition for tenants as it offers a sophisticated corporate identity without the Eagle Street price tag, Mr Paxton said. Another standout example where refurbishment has been a success is Hines enhancements at 348 Edward Street. With substantial capital invested into building refurbishments and upgrades, enhancements include a new ground floor lobby and foyer to include a cafe offering, fitted suites, two new chillers and the refurbishment of all lift amenities and on floor bathrooms. Savills CBD Office Leasing Executive Daniel Byrne said that in the last 12 months 348 Edward Street has seen a 30% vacancy reduction. The primary drivers that have contributed to this take up involve landlords offering plug and play suites, the right value proposition and an aesthetic refurbishment upgrade, Mr Byrne said. The retail cafe offering is strategically repositioned to be the only tenant in the lobby with dual inside-outside trading ability, which has been an investment decision focused on driving rents. They made a decision to be forgoing rental to look after their tenants in terms of giving them better amenity, all contributing to the experience of the destination. The lobby is now an extension of the office. Increasingly, building owners are looking for places where employees can work, meet, and relax, Mr Byrne said. My Byrne said that since the upgrade, tenants have been increasingly more attracted to the prospect of 348 Edward Street, reflective through increased enquiry and inspections of the building. These are only two examples of landlords who have led the charge in the refurbishment space and are now being backed by the market with the increasing demand for their new product offerings. The future looks bright as the market is now in favour of this movement. Brisbane Uptown precinct assets are paving the way for the future, which in turn will continue to improve amenity supply across the board for all Brisbane occupiers. Savills is a leading global real estate service provider offering the full spectrum of services from strategic advice to managing assets and projects and transacting deals. Hao Chen, Daniel Paxton and Daniel Byrne are members of Savills QLD Office Leasing team. To learn more about Savills, visit savills.com.au. GUEST OBSERVATION The Greater Sydney Commission has proposed a 40-year vision of a metropolitan region formed of three cities: the Eastern Harbour City, the Central River City, and the Western Parkland City. The plan aims to create 30-minute cities, where the community has access to jobs and services in three largely self-contained but connected regions. Thus, Sydney would be polycentric. Greater Sydney Commission A polycentric city has multiple centres of employment, economic or social activity. Local labour markets and residential zones minimise long commutes, create a sense of place and neighbourhood, and strengthen economic agglomeration as companies, services and industries benefit from being close to one another. However, it is still unclear whether Sydney is actually moving towards such a structure. In our recent work, we developed new ways of measuring polycentricity. We applied these to Journey to Work data from the 2016 Census to test how consistent the current centricity patterns of Greater Sydney are with the proposed plan. How do you measure polycentricity? Traditionally, employment densities are used as a measure of polycentricity. If the density of jobs in a location is higher than the average density for the entire region, then it is a centre. However, this simple measure misses a key notion that makes cities what they are: network flows and spatial interactions. People flow from one place to another. Employment centres attract flows, and residential areas produce flows. Thus, a city is a collection of locations that interact dynamically, connected by daily commuting flows. We proposed a set of new metrics to capture this idea of flows. We defined the net inflow of people to a location as the total number coming to this location to work minus the total number going from this location to work elsewhere. If the net inflows are positive, this place is a centre. The chart below illustrates the idea. The base arc on the circle shows the number of people flowing out of a location to another location. The connecting arcs are coloured black if the net inflows into the focus regions (a), (b) or (c) are positive. Source: The authors Sydney CBD clearly emerges as a global centre for the whole region. Parramatta is a regional centre. Other locations such as the Eastern Suburbs are not centres at all. The net inflow to a location can be divided by the total number of trips in the system, so inflow values are scaled from 0 to 1 using a standard statistical procedure. The higher the value, the higher the centres rank in the urban system. Here, a score of 1 means the centre is an absolute: all the trips in the system are a net inflow into the centre. This gives us a trip-based centricity measure. And based on the area of the location, we can calculate a density-based centricity measure. The maps below show trip-and-density-based measures (a) and (b) respectively for Greater Sydney at the Statistical Area Level 2 (representing a community that interacts together socially and economically). Note the dominant role of the Sydney CBD. The other centres emerge as weak centres. Also, many of the second-order centres are very close to the CBD. Source: The Authors The concept of accessibility Counting the net inflow into a location may provide us with information about general centricity. However, it still does not tell us how easy or difficult it is for people to actually get to jobs. This brings us to the idea of accessibility. Walter Hansen defined accessibility as the spatial distribution of activities about a point, adjusted for the ability and the desire of people to overcome spatial separation. More practically speaking, a location is accessible if it can be reached within a set time (say 30 minutes) from another location. We counted the net accessibility of a location by counting the number of jobs minus the number of workers (labour) that could be accessed from a particular location (SA2) in Sydney within 30 minutes. We counted travel time both by car and by public transport during a usual weekday peak hour (Wednesday 8am). Similar to the trip and density measures, accessibility centricities can also be scaled as values between 0 and 1. This allows us to compare across the four measures. In the maps above, (c) and (d) show the transit and auto-based accessibility centricities based on accessibility for public transport and vehicles. Sydney CBD is highly accessible. The second-order centres show much weaker accessibility. Takeaways for urban policy and the three-cities plan The chart below shows the top-ranked centre, Sydney CBD (Level 1 centre), and the lower-ranked subcentres (Levels 2 and 3) emerging from our analysis. Source: Authors Accessibility planning should guide the design of a polycentric city The design of polycentric Sydney should be guided by accessibility, the locations of jobs and homes, and subregional labour market organisation. In short, the region should give priority to making jobs accessible by locating new jobs in emerging centres, instead of a mobility-focused system that takes people to jobs. Reduce spatial mismatches between jobs and homes Our results show that Sydney, paradoxically, remains strongly monocentric and strongly dispersed at the same time. The Sydney CBD accounts for 15% of jobs in the region, with the remaining 85% of jobs scattered around in weaker second-order centres and non-centres. Positive correlations exist between percentage of employed workers, trip-based centricity and the subcentre ranks. But we see significant disparities between these ranks and accessibility centricities. This shows the spatial mismatches for commute lengths in the system. A subcentre with high trip-centricity, employing a high percentage of workers, but relatively lower auto- and transit-based accessibility centricity, implies that even though a significant percentage of the population comes to this location to work, access to jobs at this centre within 30 minutes is low. A policy response would be to increase the accessibility of jobs from this location, as it already serves as a centre. This situation is particularly clear in the cases of Parramatta-Rosehill and Macquarie Park-Marsfield. Penrith and Liverpool too have extremely weak accessibility centricity. polycentric cities should promote spatial justice As cities grow in size, commute lengths increase if the labour market for the entire metropolitan region is integrated. Commute lengths will stabilise if a city has a clear polycentric or modular structure. In the case of Sydney, spatial equity has always been a concern. However, inter-city comparisons show city size has a strong bearing on its equity and efficiency. Our results show its increasingly important for larger cities to introduce a framework of subregional labour markets as part of the polycentricity agenda. Enabling shorter commutes for workers will improve spatial equity as well as efficiencies. Somwrita Sarkar, Senior Lecturer in Design and Computation, University of Sydney David Levinson, Professor of Transport, University of Sydney Hao Wu, PhD Candidate, School of Civil Engineering, University of Sydney This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. GUEST OBSERVATION The Australian Labor Partys 2019 election campaign showed a depth and breadth of economic policies rare for an opposition party to present. Its policy agenda was boldly extensive. But in developing these policies over the past five years, it seems Labors economic minds overlooked some fundamental principles of behavioural economics. Had greater focus been put on these principles, it is possible Labor would have taken a different approach to selling its credentials, and succeeded in moving more voters its way. 1. People are loss averse Distinguished psychologists Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman demonstrated in the 1970s that losses have a profound psychological impact and people prefer to avoid them. In 1979 they published a paper proposing what they called prospect theory that the pain a person feels from a monetary loss is greater than the pleasure felt from a monetary gain of the same value. economicshelp.org As Tversky and Daniel Kahneman put it succinctly: Losses loom larger than gains. This means, when faced with uncertain outcomes, most people prefer keeping the status quo to the risk of change. Labors failure to persuade more voters they would gain more than they might lose under its reforms played to the Coalitions advantage. The government was able, for example, to make the most of Labors policy on negative gearing by playing on the chance all home values would fall, even though modelling suggested any fall would be minor. It did something similar with Labors franking credit, casting it as a retiree tax, and playing on fears that big promises to increase spending on welfare, health, education and wages might mean them losing money from other tax changes. 2. Limited decision-making Peoples decisions are limited by the amount of information they have a concept known as bounded rationality and giving them more information doesnt necessarily help. Our ability to pay attention to two or three things at the same time is much more limited than we think. We tend to be selectively inattentive, screening out information we perceive as unimportant, and preferencing information that confirms existing views. Economists Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein argued in a 2002 article that bounded rationality demanded libertarian paternalism limiting the choices offered to voters without eliminating freedom of choice. Labor went another way burying voters in an avalanche of policy prescriptions. Arguably it overestimated how much people would absorb, and diluted focus on a few key ideas. www.upfrontanalytics.com To understand and compare policy detail, according to economist and psychologist Daniel Kahneman, requires a deliberate and methodical approach what he calls System 2 thinking. But most media and social media deals in System 1 thinking, which responds instinctively to short slogans and repeated messaging. What Labor failed to do was reconcile System 2 idealism with System 1 necessities. 3. Now is worth more than later People place a higher value on the short-term over the long-term. From an evolutionary perspective, this bias has no doubt served us well, particularly in times past when the future was much more uncertain. This disposition informs an important economic concept known as hyperbolic discounting the tendency for people to increasingly choose a smaller reward sooner over a larger reward later. Say, for example, you were offered a choice between taking $150 now or $160 in four weeks. Most people would take the $150. But what if you were asked to choose between $150 in 48 weeks or $160 in 52 weeks? Research shows most people would then elect to wait the extra four weeks to receive the higher amount of money. So Labor faced the problem of it promising to deliver benefits that might take decades to pan out, such as transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy, while the Coalition was offering immediate tax cuts and cheaper energy prices. Many Australians, we can imagine, preferred the more immediate benefits to the longer-term ones. Whatever criticisms might be made about other aspects of the campaign, the Coalitions messaging demonstrated an intuitive understanding of the behavioural biases of individuals. From its strategy Labor could learn a lot. Tracey West, Lecturer in Behavioural Finance, Griffith University This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. EXPERT OBSERVER When brothers Ben and Rob Coorey created the technology to analyse the profitability of potential development sites within seconds, they had a choice. They could keep it to themselves and go on to become two of Australia's richest developers. Or, they could share it with the world and make real estate investment, development, and design much easier and more transparent for everyone. They chose the latter. Not that they haven't also benefitted. Their business, Archistar, has raised millions from investors such as the former Foxtel chief executive Peter Tonagh, ex-CoreLogic managing director Graham Mirabito, and former CEO of CBRE Australasia Tom Southern. "Our tool evaluates development opportunities for your property and assesses its potential market performance, Ben Coorey told me in a conversation last week. "A consumer, developer, architect, or council anyone can benefit if they need to assess designs." MAKING NEIGHBOURS RICH Archistar can even turn a handful of neighbours into millionaires. As Coorey pointed out, the most important part of real estate development is to understand what the rules are for your site. His tool gives you exactly that information. Coorey say, "Our software allows you to piece together a number of neighbouring lots and determine what you could build if they were combined. A group of eight neighbours in Castle Hill secured $5 million each by selling all their homes in one go. The developer who bought the land plans to build a unit project. Since the average price in Castle Hill is about $1.3 million, the vendors earned about a 300% profit by informing themselves about the development potential of their property. That kind of windfall shows why Archistars tool is so valuable. But I dont think the Coorey brothers are in it for the money. Talking to Ben, I got the sense that what really motivates the Cooreys is getting their arms around complex problems and then solving them. The fact that they made their development analysis tool publicly available is proof. (You can get a free, basic analysis of your own home on their website, https://archistar.ai.) More proof that the Archistar team is motivated by a good challenge rather than a fast buck comes from the fact that they decided to take on the challenge of developing automated reports based on the arcane rules of a 3,000-year-old practice that has been called both science and superstition. DOES YOUR HOME HAVE GOOD FENG SHUI? We wanted to democratise the principles of Feng Shui so that anyone, anywhere could get an instant Feng Shui analysis of their floorplan, Coorey told me. How hard was that? Very. Archistar spent 12 months developing a one-of-a-kind artificial intelligence engine that makes the Feng Shui analysis possible. To start with, they had to understand the principles of Feng Shui. Then, they had to digitize them, create algorithms that can analyse any floorplan according to those rules, and design a system that uses those algorithms to provide useful insights that allow you to fix whatever Feng Shui problems your home might have. "We had to translate over 500 rules from ancient Chinese Feng Shui texts that go back hundreds of years," Coorey said. The sources they consulted also included some recent page-turners such as Human Habitat and Feng Shui (), Modern Residential Feng Shui (), and Chinese Wisdom Feng Shui's Application (-) by Professor Yu Xixian. "From those texts, we put together a set of Feng Shui rules," said Coorey. "Then we take apart floorplans and use these rules to evaluate the Feng Shui of each one." To test its new Feng Shui analysis tool, Archistar looked at The Lodge, the official Canberra Prime Ministers residence which has been home to leaders such as Robert Menzies, Malcolm Fraser, Bob Hawke, Gough Whitlam, Paul Keating, and John Howard. Archistars Feng Shui analysis found that the 1927 building generally abides by Feng Shui principles. Its not that the original architects consulted a Feng Shui expert when designing The Lodge. Sometimes, a design has good Feng Shui even though the architects didnt know anything about the practice, said Coorey. Good design can transcend cultures. Juwai.com, where I am chairman, now provides Archistars Feng Shui reports to our Chinese international property buyers. WHICH CITY RULES? As Archistar analyses the Feng Shui properties of more and more floorplans, Coorey expects to be able to draw conclusions about entire cities. As we build a database of floorplans, you can start to collect insights on regions, countries, and cities. Up until this point, you havent had the analysis in a common format that you could compare. Now, we have a standard format to do so. I asked Coorey which Australian city he thought would come out on top in the Feng Shui competition. Do buildings in Melbourne have better Feng Shui than Sydney? Does Brisbane beat Perth? And can Parramatta blame bad Feng Shui for the fact that the Eels came dead last in 2018, or is there a more nefarious cause? Probably wisely, Coorey wasnt willing to hazard an answer to any of these questions. Georg Chmiel is the chairman of Juwai, a Chinese website for buyers of overseas property, was speaking to Ben Coorey, the founder and CEO of Archistar, a training centre teaching digital design skills for architects and engineers. His regular column, getting into the leading minds of Australian property experts, has spoken with LJ Hooker agent Bill Malouf about the ins and out of the Sydney market, REINSW president Leanne Pilkington about women in real estate, developer Larry Kestelman about developing your first property, Harcourts boss Mike Green on real estate investment secrets, Ironfish chief Joseph Chou on investing in today's market, liveability guru Cecile Weldon and Hickinbotham Group's Michael Hickinbotham. ACT.md, a national provider of healthcare collaboration software for social determinants of health (SDOH), today announced a partnership with the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers, a nationally renowned leader in care for people living with complex health and social needs. Based in Camden, NJ, the Camden Coalition is a citywide coalition of hospitals, healthcare and social services providers, and community representatives that collaborate to deliver better care to Camdens most vulnerable residents. The Camden Coalition convenes over 35 organizations regionally, working together to redesign clinical care and integrate social services with healthcare. Partnering with these stakeholders, the Camden Coalition pilots new models of complex care supported by a robust data infrastructure, cross-sector convening, and shared learning. These pilots cover several important domains in the community, including: Maternal health Jail-based reentry Housing First Medical-legal partnership Addiction treatment Citywide primary care connection Regional social services navigation One of the Camden Coalition's key initiatives is the Camden Core Model, its signature care management program that follows the principles of trauma-informed care and harm reduction. The Camden Coalition introduced to healthcare the concept of hotspotting, the strategic use of data to reallocate resources to a small subset of high-need, high-cost patients. The Camden Coalition uses real-time data to identify patients with frequent hospital use, who are then engaged and enrolled in the Camden Core Model. The organizations care team visits enrolled patients in the community, helps reconcile their medications, accompanies them to doctors visits, and links them to social services. Since 2002, our aim has been to work in the Camden community and regionally to improve health and reduce costs through innovative healthcare delivery models, said Kelly Craig, Chief Strategy & Information Officer at the Camden Coalition. As we share our experiences with other communities across the nation that are also serving vulnerable populations, ACT.mds health collaboration hub will help us ensure that we hold true to our model and that every individual we serve receives whole-person care rooted in authentic healing relationships. Within ACT.md, the Camden Coalitions multidisciplinary care team will work with each patient to create a customized care plan centered on the patients goals and wishes that helps them realize their highest level of health and wellbeing. Community health workers, nurses, social workers, and other professionals will use ACT.mds collaborative care coordination tools and user-friendly case management interface in their daily work. Supporting this work is ACT.mds community-based, social health information network infrastructure, which is based on SMART on FHIR and bidirectionally interoperable with the Camden Coalitions Health Information Exchange, community resource directory, and many other existing technology investments. From our experience supporting complex care interventions across the country, we know that vulnerable populations experience strikingly similar barriers to good health, said Ted Quinn, CEO and Co-Founder, ACT.md. The Camden Coalitions leadership in the field of social determinants of health is second to none, and as the complex care movement expands across the country, we look forward to helping the Camden Coalition and the communities they inspire to deliver better care, reduce costs, and improve health equity in America. About ACT.md ACT.mds cloud-based health collaboration hub platform connects patients, families, care teams, and community partners on the journey to health and well-being. With ACT.md, everyone can act together to make healthier lives happen, wherever they are. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., ACT.md is privately held and venture-funded by the disruptive innovation investment firm, Rose Park Advisors. For more information, visit https://www.act.md. About the Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers is a multidisciplinary nonprofit organization working to improve care for people with complex health and social needs in Camden, NJ and across the country. The Camden Coalition works to advance the field of complex care by implementing person-centered programs and piloting new models that address chronic illness and social barriers to health and wellbeing. Supported by strong data, cross-sector convening, and shared learning, our community-based programs deliver better care to the most vulnerable individuals in Camden and regionally. Our local work also informs our goal of building the field of complex care across the country. For more information, visit https://www.camdenhealth.org/. Aladtec for EMS puts scheduling tools in staff members' hands The Aladtec system is reasonably priced and when compared against staff-hours used to set schedules and set payroll. It is well worth the investment. -- Albert Beardsley, Chief, Georgetown (MA) Fire Dept. Past News Releases RSS Newest Aladtec software enhancement... Aladtec Team Exhibiting at... Aladtec team will demo latest... Originally named Connecticut EMS Expo, the upcoming EMS PRO conference has morphed into the most extensive Emergency Medical Service convention in New England. It provides a three-day venue for learning, fellowship, and commerce in the 38,000 sq. ft. hall at the Foxwoods Resort Casino on the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation. A team from Aladtec, Inc., the premier provider of cloud-based scheduling and workforce management software to public safety agencies, will be among some 130 vendors showcasing products and services during the show. More than 3,000 EMS professionals are expected to attend. This will be Aladtec's second visit to EMS PRO Expo, but the software-provider is no stranger to New England. Currently, 175 EMS, fire, police and sheriff's departments, dispatch centers and healthcare facilities across six northeastern states use Aladtec's subscription software to create schedules, allow staff to initiate shift trades and swaps, request time-off and log overtime hours, manage certifications, create e-forms, and streamline other tasks. "Budgets are tight, and I only spend money on items that will produce the best bang for our buck," said Albert Beardsley, Chief at Georgetown Fire Department, Georgetown, Mass. "The Aladtec system is reasonably priced and when compared against staff-hours used to set schedules and set payroll. It is well worth the investment." Watch this short video of how Aladtec has saved Great Falls (MT) Emergency Services many hours, once spent developing and reworking staff schedules. The EMS PRO gathering starts with a day of pre-conference workshops Wednesday, May 29, followed by three days of educational classes taught by a range of experts in the EMS field. Keynote speaker is former Air Force Staff Sgt. Spencer Stone, who garnered international headlines in 2015 when he and his childhood friends, Anthony Sadler and Alek Skarlatos, thwarted a major terrorist attack on a Paris-bound train. An unarmed Stone rushed toward the danger, subduing and disarming a man wielding an assault rifle, pistol, box cutter and enough ammunition to kill everyone on board. French President Francois Hollande later presented Stone with the nations highest decoration, The Legion of Honor. Upon his return to the United States, he was honored in a ceremony at the Pentagon and was awarded the Airmans Medal and a Purple Heart. President Barack Obama also hosted the trio at the White House. Senior Account Executive Nick Perricelli and Systems Specialist Matt Zinnel from Aladtec, Inc. will attend the conference. The men will be at Booth #310 in the Expo area to answer questions from existing customers and provide system demonstrations to anyone interested in learning more about how Aladtec can improve efficiencies and communication at their agency. Aladtec, Inc., headquartered in River Falls, Wis., serves more than 2,200 Public Safety agencies and healthcare organizations. For more information about the affordable program, call 888-749-5550, or visit Aladtec.com to begin a free trial. Rigaku NEX DE - Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer EDXRF is employed for rapid non-destructive elemental analysis of crude, oils, gasoline, fuels, lubricants and waste materials. Applied Rigaku Technologies, Inc. (ART) is presenting its line of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) instrumentation at the Petroleum, Refining, and Environmental Monitoring Technologies Conference (PEFTEC 2019) from Wednesday, May 22, 2019 to Thursday, May 23, 2019 at the Ahoy Exhibition Centre in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. PEFTEC is an international conference and exhibition for analytical chemists, scientists, process operators, laboratory personnel and environmental managers who work in and with the petroleum, refining, chemical and petrochemical industries. EDXRF is employed for rapid non-destructive elemental analysis of crude, oils, gasoline, fuels, lubricants and waste materials. ART is exhibiting its lines of EDXRF instrumentation at booth # 63. Among the instrumentation on display is the Rigaku NEX DE high-performance direct excitation EDXRF elemental analyzer. The NEX DE analyzer was conceived for heavy industrial applications and engineered to heighten flexibility and ease of use. It is equipped with a 60 kV, 12 W X-ray tube and advanced Peltier cooled silicon drift detector (SDD) for significant gains in elemental peak resolution and counting statistics, to deliver superior calibrations and precision for the most challenging measurements. The NEX DE spectrometer is ideally suited for the rapid qualitative and quantitative determination of metals in crude oil. As high metal content can adversely affect the refining process, low metal crude is desirable. To that end, a unique capability of the analyzer being highlighted is the measurement of ultra-low levels of nickel and vanadium in crude oil. The system operates on the latest Rigaku QuantEZ analytical software, specifically designed for the Rigaku family of benchtop EDXRF analyzers. Running on the Microsoft Windows operating system, on a laptop or benchtop personal computer (PC), the software offers all the functions required for calibration and routine operation. Other EDXRF solutions from ART include the Rigaku NEX QC benchtop EDXRF spectrometer, a compact elemental analyzer specifically designed for routine quality control applications. The analyzer delivers rapid qualitative and quantitative determination of major and minor atomic elements in a wide variety of sample types and features an intuitive icon-driven touch screen interface and built-in printer for easy operation and convenience. With new International Convention for the prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) regulations set to go into effect in 2020, the NEX QC analyzer is positioned as an ideal tool to monitor sulfur content of fuel oil used by ships, enabling compliance with low sulfur fuel oil requirements. In addition to its line of benchtop EDXRF analyzers, the ART division also offers the Rigaku NEX XT X-ray transmission (XRT) process analyzer for monitoring the sulfur content of heavy hydrocarbons such as crudes and bunker fuels. Use of the XRT technique eliminates issues such as window coating and plugging commonly seen on other XRF techniques. About Rigaku Since its inception in Japan in 1951, Rigaku has been at the forefront of analytical and industrial instrumentation technology. Rigaku and its subsidiaries form a global group focused on general-purpose analytical instrumentation and the life sciences. With hundreds of major innovations to their credit, Rigaku companies are world leaders in X-ray spectrometry, diffraction, and optics, as well as small molecule and protein crystallography and semiconductor metrology. Today, Rigaku employs over 1,400 people in the manufacturing and support of its analytical equipment, which is used in more than 90 countries around the world supporting research, development, and quality assurance activities. Throughout the world, Rigaku continuously promotes partnerships, dialog, and innovation within the global scientific and industrial communities. For further information, contact: Robert Bartek, President Applied Rigaku Technologies, Inc. tel: +1. 512-225-1796 info@RigakuEDXRF.com Dickinson Wright PLLC is pleased to announce that Benton Bodamer has been selected as a 40 Under 40 honoree by Columbus Business First. Columbus Business Firsts 40 Under 40 celebrates those individuals who achieve significant accomplishments in both their professional and personal lives and have a tremendous impact on the Columbus community at a young age. This years class will be celebrated at the 27th Annual 40 Under 40 Gala on Thursday, May 23, 2019 at the Renaissance Columbus Westerville-Polaris Hotel. The 2019 Class will also be showcased in the May 24th issue of Columbus Business First. To learn more about the 2019 40 Under 40 Class, please click here. Mr. Bodamer is a Member in Dickinson Wrights Columbus office where he focuses his practice on private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and state-compliant cannabis transactional matters. He represents a number of leading international private equity sponsors, and a wide range of public and private companies. He regularly advises clients on their most challenging domestic and cross-border corporate transactional matters. He has also contributed nearly 3,000 hours of pro bono legal services to worthy non-profit organizations over his career. Mr. Bodamer is an Adjunct Professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law where he teaches a cannabis business course (CannaBiz) as part of the colleges Drug Enforcement and Policy Center. He also serves as a board member to non-profit organizations Besa Community and NoticeAbility, and as an advisory board member to Calmer Choice. He received his A.B., magna cum laude (Phi Beta Kappa), from Harvard College, his M.Phil. from the University of Cambridge, and his J.D. as a Moritz Scholar at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. About Dickinson Wright PLLC Dickinson Wright PLLC is a general practice business law firm with more than 475 attorneys among more than 40 practice areas and 16 industry groups. Headquartered in Detroit and founded in 1878, the firm has 19 offices, including six in Michigan (Detroit, Troy, Ann Arbor, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Saginaw) and 12 other domestic offices in Austin and El Paso, Texas; Columbus, Ohio; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Lexington, Ky.; Nashville and Music Row, Tenn.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Phoenix, Ariz.; Silicon Valley, Calif.; and Washington, D.C. The firms Canadian office is located in Toronto. Dickinson Wright offers our clients a distinctive combination of superb client service, exceptional quality, value for fees, industry expertise and business acumen. As one of the few law firms with ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, Dickinson Wright has built state-of-the-art, independently-verified risk management controls and security processes for our commercial transactions. Dickinson Wright lawyers are known for delivering commercially-oriented advice on sophisticated transactions and have a remarkable record of wins in high-stakes litigation. Dickinson Wright lawyers are regularly cited for their expertise and experience by Chambers, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and other leading independent law firm evaluating organizations. WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX Symbol: NWC): The North West Company Inc. (North West) will hold its Annual General and Special Meeting of Shareholders on Wednesday, June 12, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. (Central Time) (the Meeting) in the Muriel Richardson Auditorium at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, 300 Memorial Boulevard, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Shareholders of North West are invited to attend the Meeting, where there will be an opportunity to ask questions and meet management and North Wests Directors. North West will also host a webcast of the Meeting. Shareholders viewing the webcast will not be permitted to vote through the webcast, but will be permitted to ask questions of management. To access the Meeting, log onto http://www.gowebcasting.com/events/the-north-west-company-inc/2019/06/12/annual-general-meeting-of-shareholders-webcast/play. The webcast will be archived and available at www.northwest.ca . North West is also hosting a conference call for its first quarter results on June 12, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. (Central Time). To access the call, please dial 647-794-1828 or 888-632-5004 with a pass code of 456490. The conference call will be archived and can be accessed by dialing 905-694-9451 or 800-408-3053 with a pass code of 5667406 on or before July 12, 2019. Corporate Profile The North West Company Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading retailer of food and everyday products and services to rural communities and urban neighbourhoods in Canada, Alaska, the South Pacific and the Caribbean. North West operates 245 stores under the trading names Northern, NorthMart, Giant Tiger, Alaska Commercial Company, Cost-U-Less and RiteWay Food Markets and has annualized sales of approximately CAD$1.8 billion. For further information, please contact: Amanda E. Sutton, Vice President, Legal and Corporate Secretary of The North West Company Inc. at (204) 934-1756, email asutton@northwest.ca. Nanoramic Laboratories, rebranded from FastCAP Systems in May 2018, closed a $8.5 million strategic investment round. The round includes strategic investments by NGK SPARK PLUG CO., LTD. and Marubun Corporation along with additional investments from industry partners. This investment allows Nanoramic to expand the commercial deployment of its FastCAP Extreme Environment Ultracapacitors. Developed for downhole operations in oil and gas, the EE series was engineered to operate in extreme environments common to the energy exploration industry. Nanoramics most recent addition to the product family includes a low temperature ultracapacitor designed to operate in temperatures as low as -55C, perfectly suited for operations in the aerospace and defense industries. The company will further deploy its composite electrode technology to revolutionize the energy storage space. The electrode product serves as a drop-in solution to transform the ultracapacitor industry and provide a platform technology to improve performance of lithium-ion batteries. We have discovered that Nanoramics proprietary binder free nanomaterials unlock higher performance across a broad spectrum of energy storage devices, said Eric Kish, CEO. This investment round will propel us to accelerate these technologies to market and meet our customers demand for cutting edge performance. Nanoramic will also go to market with its exciting Chip Ultracapacitor, which has the highest energy density of any board-mountable ultracapacitor. The sealed ceramic package is pick and place compatible, RoHS compliant and Pb-free reflow compliant. The supercapacitor provides maintenance free storage in a small form factor, perfect for thin devices that require reliability and long lifetime at high temperatures (up to +85C). Nanoramics new technology is well-suited for applications such as power loss protection for solid state drives, power buffering for lithium-ion batteries, and auxiliary power supplies for peak and pulsed power, wireless sensors, and energy harvesting. For additional information or interview requests please contact Katie Willgoos at katie.willgoos@nanoramic.com Nanoramic Laboratories Nanoramic, a Boston, MA headquartered research and development lab and manufacturer, specializes in material solutions based on nano-carbons. Nano-carbons have exceptional electrical, thermal and mechanical properties at the nano-scale level. We synthesize and incorporate nano-carbons in various materials and transfer these properties at the macroscale level, addressing the needs of several applications. Nanoramic's ultracapacitor division, FastCAP Ultracapacitors, is an industry leader in harsh environment energy storage, producing the only ultracapacitors capable of operating at temperatures up to 150C and under high shock and vibration conditions. Nanoramics technology is derived from years of government funded research and development in advanced materials. Based on a deep knowledge of nanocarbon materials, processes, and applications, we have demonstrated success in polymer-based composites, thermal interface materials, and binderless electrodes for energy storage. Donald A. Deieso, Ph.D., Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WCG, CISCRPs Med Hero 5K affords us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate their extraordinary contribution to the future of human health. The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP), a Boston-based nonprofit organization, will be hosting its Medical Heroes Appreciation 5K Run & Walk in conjunction with the Drug Information Association (DIA) at the DIA 2019 Global Annual Meeting on June 24, in San Diego. The annual 5K salutes the millions of Medical Heroes who have given the gift of participating in clinical trials. While CISCRP now hosts many such events across the country and virtually, the organization first conceived the idea for the Medical Heroes Appreciation 5K in October 2013. The DIA quickly stepped up, and at their Global Meeting in June 2014, became the first entity to host the event. Since then, thousands of runners and walkers have taken part in Med Hero events to show their support and appreciation. We understand the importance of clinical research volunteers and are proud to support CISCRPs mission during the DIA 2019 Global Annual Meeting in San Diego. We know that so many of our attendees look forward to this early morning 5K, and it is our hope that DIA 2019 attendees will continue to participate in this event to honor Medical Heroes and raise awareness for clinical research, says Sudip S. Parikh, PhD, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DIA Americas. Hundreds of attendees from DIA 2019 are expected to participate, along with members of the local San Diego public. CISCRP also accepts virtual runners and walkers, who are unable to attend in person. These participants register online and then run or walk in a location of their choosing. In addition to the trek around the harborside course, CISCRP is providing educational health resources and a free breakfast. The event is greatly made possible with Olympiad-Level Sponsorship by WCG. We are tremendously thankful for WCGs contribution to making our Med Hero Appreciation 5K possible, says Ellyn Getz, Associate Director, Development & Community Engagement at CISCRP. WCG has helped us in the past and continues to be a strong supporter of improving clinical research literacy and celebrating those who participate in clinical trials. Says Donald A. Deieso, Ph.D., Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of WCG, Without the many volunteers who take part in clinical trials, we would not have the life-saving medicines we have today. CISCRPs Med Hero 5K affords us the opportunity to recognize and celebrate their extraordinary contribution to the future of human health. CISCRPs Medical Heroes Appreciation 5K will be held on Monday, June 24, 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. For additional information, go to http://www.ciscrp.org, call 877-633-4376 x 321, or email medheroevents(at)ciscrp.org. ABOUT CISCRP: The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to engaging the public and patients as partners in the clinical research process. CISCRP provides free education and outreach to the general public and patient communities. Visit http://www.CISCRP.org for more information and to support CISCRPs educational initiatives. Patient-clinician relationships are crucial to the success of the new tracking system, and Community VNA is extremely proud of our nursing team for their dedication to our patients and the telehealth program. Community VNA's telehealth program has reduced all-cause hospital readmissions rates by 55% between Q1 of 2018 and Q1 of 2019 due to the hyper-vigilance of the telehealth nursing staff and remote patient monitoring software from Health Recovery Solutions (HRS). In addition to this steep reduction in readmissions, Community VNA has achieved remarkable patient adherence rates averaging above 83% and demonstrating the importance of patient engagement and education in chronic care management. Community VNA's telehealth program works in collaboration with HRS, a remote patient monitoring, and telehealth software provider. HRS and Community VNA partnered in October of 2018; however, Community VNA launched their initial telehealth program in 2005 and is one of the first healthcare providers in Massachusetts to offer telehealth and remote patient monitoring services. As an early adopter of telehealth, Community VNA has an expansive program working with various patient populations including chronic care patients with COPD, CHF, and diabetes, as well as post-surgery patients, kidney transplant patients, cancer patients, and patients at fall-risk. Community VNA, along with their referral partners, identify patients for the telehealth program on a case-by-case basis using several indicators such as high blood pressure or an OASIS score greater than five. Community VNA's enrollment procedures work to ensure that any patient who would benefit from remote monitoring receives care. Patients enrolled in the telehealth program are provided a 4G tablet pre-loaded with the HRS platform. Patient's utilize the tablet and accompanying Bluetooth biometric devices to engage in their care; taking their vitals, receiving medication reminders, watching educational videos, and answer daily survey questions about their health status. The software also acts as a communication platform allowing clinicians, patients, and caregivers to connect via text, call, or video conference. Patient metrics are seamlessly uploaded into the clinician's dashboard, enabling clinicians to be continuously updated on a patient's status. Community VNA operates as a centralized telehealth model with a designated clinician monitoring patient vitals and metrics as they are received. Community VNA's commitment to building a proactive telehealth program has significantly contributed to their decrease in hospital readmissions and their notable patient adherence. All patients on the telehealth program, regardless of status, receive a daily call from the central telehealth coordinator for the first 14 days following their enrollment on the program and receive at least one video call and more if needed. Community VNA utilizes the communications platform to build relationships with patients new to the program and to educate them on the platform ensuring patients engage in their care plan and feel comfortable reaching out to clinicians when the need arises. Since partnering with HRS six months ago, Community VNA has further developed its telehealth program creating a more robust tracking system to analyze trends behind readmissions and clinician interventions. The new tracking system requires all interventions achieved through telehealth be documented and categorized into four categories: medication saves, RN visit saves, hospitalization saves, and ER visit saves. A medication save occurs anytime the central telehealth coordinator identifies and corrects medication discrepancies for a patient, in consultation with their physician. Medication saves are critical to reducing skilled nursing (SN) visits, ER visits, and hospitalizations, which in turn reduce costs. Similarly, an SN visit save occurs any time that a medication change, a virtual visit, or a phone call replaces or prevents an SN visit to the patients home. Reducing unnecessary visits can result in significant cost savings to providers, payors, and patients. In a mere six months since implementing the new system, Community VNA has corrected an average of 12.5 medication regimens and prevented an average of 5.5 unnecessary SN visits, 1.5 hospitalizations, and 1.3 ER visits per month. Utilizing data from their telehealth program, Community VNA is achieving small goals, such as correcting a patient's medication regimen, in turn achieving their overarching goals - reducing readmissions and improving clinical outcomes. Sandy Legg-Forgiel, Community VNA's Telehealth Coordinator, discussed the new program stating, "The comprehensive system allows our telehealth nursing team to identify risk factors for patients and intervene most efficiently. Patient-clinician relationships are crucial to the success of the new tracking system, and Community VNA is extremely proud of our nursing team for their dedication to our patients and the telehealth program." HRS Client Success Manager, Will Ashton, adds, "Community VNA's success stems from their team's dedication to patient engagement and proactive care intervention. Community VNA's detailed intervention tracking is truly unique and will continue to play a significant role in reducing their hospital readmissions and improving the clinical outcomes of their patients." About Community VNA: Community VNA has been dedicated to enhancing health, wellness and quality of life for more than 100 years, providing a range of services, including: Home Health Care, Hospice Care, Palliative Care, Private Care, Adult Day Health Care, Alzheimers Assistance Program, as well as Lifeline Services and Annual Elder Dental Clinics. Community VNA has been recognized as a 2017 HomeCare Elite Top 500 (ranked among the top 5% of home health care agencies nationwide). This recognition is based on publicly available performance measures in quality outcomes, best practice implementing patient experience, quality improvement and consistency, and financial performance. For more information, visit http://www.communityvna.com, and connect with Community VNA on Facebook. About Health Recovery Solutions (HRS): Health Recovery Solutions (HRS) supplies leading home care agencies with the most advanced remote monitoring platform focused on changing patient behavior to reduce readmissions and improve clinical outcomes. HRS disease-specific engagement kits are customized with educational video, care plans, medication reminders while integrated with Bluetooth peripherals to engage patients. For clinicians, HRS' software allows for the management of high-risk patients and provides seamless communication with them through video chat, wound imaging and text messaging. For family members and caregivers, HRS' software gives them the ability to be fully involved in their family member's care and well-being. To learn more about Health Recovery Solutions, visit https://www.healthrecoverysolutions.com/ or call (347) 699-6477. We are excited to welcome these new team members and promote others who have made great contributions in helping our clients to unlock the potential in their shows, said Dan Corcoran, Chief Operating Officer of Corcoran Expositions. Corcoran Expositions, one of the countrys largest independent trade show organizers, today announced four key new hires and four promotions of existing team members. We are excited to welcome these new team members and promote others who have made great contributions in helping our clients to unlock the potential in their shows, said Dan Corcoran, Chief Operating Officer of Corcoran Expositions. New Hires Laura Dann, Exhibit Manager -- Laura joins Corcoran Exhibitions from the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) where she has served as their Meetings & Exhibits Coordinator since 2013. Laura will be working with the ASCD and the National League of Cities as their Exhibit Manager. Celeste Fuchs, Exhibit Manager -- Celeste joins from the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM), where she served for 12 years in several roles and most recently as their Membership Manager. Celeste will be working with the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration, the American Specialty Toy Association and the Illinois Library Association as their Exhibit Manager. Sean Fitzgerald, Sales Associate marketing exhibit space -- Sean joins Corcoran Expositions from Computers Nationwide, where he was a sales representative and technology consultant. He is a recent graduate of Indiana University with a degree in Communication and Media Studies. Scott Brewster, Sales Associate marketing exhibit space - Scott joins from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry where he served as Director of Meetings, Corporate Relations and Sponsorships. Promotions Corcoran Expositions promoted the following team members: Carly DiVito has been promoted to Group Account Director. Carly provides trade show oversight and strategic planning to the portfolio of shows managed by her team of Exhibit Managers. Gavin McAuliffe has been promoted to Exhibit Manager. He is the Exhibit Manager for the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, Materials Science & Technology and the Minerals, Metals & Materials Society. Jennifer Kattalia has been promoted to Exhibit Manager. Jennifer is the Exhibit Manager for the Association of Supply Chain Management and the Association of College & Research Libraries. Kyle Corcoran has been promoted to Exhibit Manager and will manage the WQA (Water Quality Association) Convention and Exhibition. Kyle had been directly involved with a number of special projects in the areas of sales, systems implementation and finance. Corcoran Expositions is one of the countrys largest independent trade show organizers, having produced more than 800 trade shows in 100 cities over the past 29 years. With an average client relationship of more than ten years, Corcoran Expositions has perfected the ability to quickly learn new industries and markets to successfully compel thousands of companies to exhibit at the expos they manage. For more information, go to http://www.corcexpo.com. # # # For more information contact: John Vita John.vita@jsvcom.com 847-853-8283 John Steven Vita C Dr. Mark Trolice, Director of Fertility CARE: The IVF Center, outlines concerns for embryo adoption and how alternative options explored for family building maximize human behavior. "When infertility patients heroically turn to alternative options for family building, they dedicate themselves to the purest form of human behavior: loving for the sake of love, without genetic strings." In the U.S. in 2014, according to the Society for Assisted Reproduction Technology, donated embryos were used in 1,092 embryo transfer procedures, the last step in the in vitro fertilization (IVF) process. This represents an 83% increase over the 596 donated embryos transferred in 2009, just five years earlier.[1] Dr. Mark P. Trolice, Director of Fertility CARE: The IVF Center, emphasizes that donated embryo transfer is a completely real and natural path to parenthood. Embryo adoption also answers a vital need. One in eight American couples struggles with infertility, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Based on the most recently available data, 31% of women who use assisted reproduction technologies have been diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve which means they may not provide an adequate number of eggs to be fertilize during an IVF cycles[2]. Consequently, they may have no embryos available to be transferred inside them. The trend toward embryo adoption is facilitated by a growing supply of potential embryo donors, both because more couples are trying IVF and because of changes in the way it is performed. The old way was to mix eggs and sperm in the lab and transfer multiple fresh embryos, hoping at least one would lead to pregnancy. Now, couples increasingly have their embryos frozen after testing them for chromosomal and/or genetic disorder, then undergo embryo transfer of the most viable one. There are, according to one recent study, 1.4 million frozen embryos in the United States, of which hundreds of thousands are available for immediate adoption.[3] For many couples, the prospect of embryo adoption raises two almost immediate questions. One is that of consanguinity. Little may be known about a donated embryos genealogy, which opens the possibility that as an adult, one adoptee might unknowingly marry someone to whom he or she is closely related. While this is a statistical possibility, it is not likely, Dr. Trolice notes, given that the population of the United States is almost 329 million.[4] Also, while there are some health risks for the offspring of closely related couples (first cousins, for example), they may be much less serious than was previously believed. A recent study by the National Society of Genetic Counselors shows health risk to the offspring of cousins to be only 1.7% to 2.8% higher than for children born to unrelated parents.[5] Another concern from couples contemplating embryo adoption, says Dr. Trolice, is, Who are the babys real parents? The answer we give them is very simple: You are. The people who bring the baby into the world and care for it are the real parents. When infertility patients heroically turn to alternative options for family building, they dedicate themselves to the purest form of human behavior: loving for the sake of love, without genetic strings. These new parents are entitled to experience all the joy, fulfillment, and love that raising a child offers. About Fertility CARE: The IVF Center Fertility CARE (Center of Assisted Reproduction and Endocrinology): The IVF Center provides patient-centered, evidence-based, and individually customized reproductive care in a comfortable and compassionate setting. This Central Florida IVF clinic is the most successful facility of its kind in the Orlando area, and consistently earns 5-star patient ratings in online reviews. Established in 2003 by founder and director Dr. Mark P. Trolice, it is the only fertility clinic in the region to offer both male and female testing, evaluation, and treatment. Today, the practice encompasses the Center for Male Infertility, headed by a fellowship-trained male reproductive specialist; the Mind/Body Institute, overseen by a licensed clinical reproductive psychologist; and the IVF Laboratory of Central Florida, led by a Board-certified high complexity laboratory director. Fertility CARE - The IVF Center offers a comprehensive range of infertility tests and treatment options as well as genetic testing, egg freezing with fertility preservation, egg donation, embryo cryopreservation, surrogacy and other services. For full details, visit http://TheIVFCenter.com. About Dr. Mark P. Trolice Mark P. Trolice, M.D., is the founder and Director of Fertility CARE - The IVF Center. He also serves as Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine in Orlando and Medical Director of the Egg Donor Program at Cryos International, the worlds largest sperm donor bank. Dr. Trolice is Board-certified in OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI), and he is a Fellow of the American Colleges of Obstetrics and Gynecology (FACOG), Surgeons (FACS), and Endocrinology (FACE). Renowned as Orlandos most successful fertility specialist, Dr. Trolice and his wife battled infertility for over 10 years before adopting their children. This journey gave him unique insights into patients struggles and is included in his forthcoming book, The Fertility Doctor's Guide to Overcoming Infertility Discovering Your Reproductive Potential and Maximizing Your Odds of Having a Baby from Harvard Common Press. Dr. Trolice is a sought-after expert with dozens of broadcast and print appearances in addition to national acclaim as one of Americas Top Doctors and repeat recipient of the American Medical Associations Physicians Recognition Award. In January 2019, he launched his "Fertility Health" podcast interviewing nationally renowned experts on vital topics in reproductive medicine. Learn why he has earned the trust of patients and physicians alike: http://marktrolicemd.com. 1. Schuster, Dana, Embryo swapping is the Wild West, New York Post, November 3, 2018. 2. Jacobson, Lindsey, Fertility warriors: How one familys IVF journey led to embryo adoption, Good Morning America, April 23, 2019. 3. Tens of thousands of embryos are stuck in limbo in fertility clinics, CBS News, January 17, 2019. 4. U.S. and World Population Clock, United States Census Bureau, May 20, 2019. 5. Chalabi, Mona, How Many Americans Are Married To Their Cousins?, fivethirtyeight.com, May 15, 2019. Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP and four of its attorneys are finalists for Chambers 2019 Diversity & Inclusion Awards from Chambers and Partners. The firm is a finalist for Most Inclusive Firm for LGBT+ Lawyers and Pro Bono Program of the Year. Winners will be announced at the Diversity & Inclusions Awards Ceremony, June 6, in San Francisco. Firm CEO Brian L. Duffy is a finalist for the Outstanding Ally Award. Greenberg Traurigs Co-President Ernest LaMont Greer is among the finalists for the Outstanding Contribution to Furthering the Advancement of Diversity in the Legal Profession. Greenberg Traurig Shareholder John R. Richards is shortlisted for LGBT+ Equality Lawyer of the Year and Greenberg Traurig Associate Niyala Harrison is a finalist for the Future Leader Award (Minority Lawyers Category). As part of the program, Greenberg Traurig is supporting the nomination of Brad Lerman, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary for Medtronic, who is a finalist for the Outstanding Ally Award (In-House Category). The finalist honors are a nod to Greenberg Traurigs record regarding diversity and inclusion and specifically its role as an active and passionate LGBTQ+ inclusive firm. Greenberg Traurig is active in social causes, case matters, and other actions that strengthen protections for the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, they celebrate the significant depth and success of the Greenberg Traurig Pro Bono Program. The program addresses issues concerning human rights, gender/LGBTQI-based violence, anti-trafficking, educational rights of children, immigration, and childrens rights. According to Chambers & Partners, the UK-based legal directory publisher, its Diversity & Inclusion awards celebrate firms and individuals who are furthering the advancement of diversity and inclusion in the U.S. 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. Robert Lummus International Aerospace Coatings, Inc., or IAC, the worlds largest aircraft painting company, today announced that it has appointed Robert Lummus as President of IAC North America, reporting to Global CEO, Niall Cunningham. Prior to joining IAC, Robert served as Vice President Sector Operations at StandardAero Business Aviation Division, responsible for a Global MRO business including Gas Turbine Overhaul, Avionics, Structures, Interiors, Paint, and Engineering. Were pleased to have Robert join our company and lead the North America division. His proven aviation leadership is invaluable as IAC moves forward as the Global Leader of World Class Paint and Services, said Cunningham. In conjunction with Roberts appointment, Paul Dunphy assumes the role as Senior Vice President Operations, supported by John Patterson as Vice President Operations/General Manager of IACs Victorville, California facility. Paul Dunphy has risen quickly within our operations department since his IAC career began in 2011. Were excited to have a renewed focus and vision within this pivotal department under his leadership, said Cunningham. The last strategic management change was placing John Patterson into the dual role as VP of Operations and General Manager of Victorville. Supporting our customers such as Boeing and United, whose programs continue to grow in the high desert facility, is key to our long-term vision. Were pleased to have Johns expertise focused in that crucial location, said Cunningham. About International Aerospace Coatings IAC is the global leader in aircraft painting, interiors and graphics. With 12 state-of-the-art facilities across the USA and Europe, IAC has capacity for 36 lines of aircraft and processes 1000+ paint events per year. IAC works in all segments of the aviation industry, including OEM, commercial, military, and general aviation. European headquarters are based at Shannon Airport, County Clare, Ireland, with US headquarters based in Irvine, California. For more information, visit our website at http://www.iac.aero. For more information, contact Nikki Thomas, Director of Marketing. Nikki.Thomas(at)iac.aero +1 714-881-1887 I am honored and excited to be joining Strive Health and VFR Healthcares Board of Advisors, said Dr. Geller. Strive Health and its sister company, VFR Healthcare (Veteran & First Responder Healthcare), today announced the appointment of American Psychiatric Association president-elect Jeffrey Geller, MD to its Board of Advisors. Dr. Geller is currently the president-elect of the American Psychiatric Association (APA), the largest psychiatric association in the world with more than 37,800 physician members specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and research of mental illnesses. In addition to holding numerous previous APA leadership positions, Geller serves on the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Advisory Council, as vice president of the World Federation for Mental Health, and on the boards of the American Association of Community Psychiatrists and the Treatment Advocacy Center. As a member of the Board of Advisors, Dr. Geller will provide unmatched medical insight, expertise, and thought leadership to support the company in its mission to deliver the highest-quality substance abuse and mental health care services, especially for the Veteran and first responder populations. Dr. Geller joining our Board of Advisors is a testament of our commitment to setting a new standard of care in the industry in collaboration with thought leaders in the field of Substance Abuse, Addiction, and Mental Health, said Eric Frieman, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Strive Health. Dr. Gellers extensive experience, impressive expertise, and unique perspectives will inform our clinical and medical operations as we continue to challenge traditional industry thinking to better serve individuals and communities suffering from addiction and mental health issues. The organizations Board of Advisors plays a crucial role in guiding the Company and shaping its clinical programming and client-first clinical operations. I am honored and excited to be joining Strive Health and VFR Healthcares Board of Advisors, said Dr. Geller. I look forward to the opportunity to work together to improve the standard of addiction and mental health care and advance the understanding and treatment of the Veteran and First Responder populations. Eric Golnick, CEO of VFR (Veteran & First Responder) Healthcare, added we are extremely excited to have Dr. Geller joining our Board of Advisors. We believe Dr. Geller will further enhance our effort already being made in providing the highest quality substance abuse and mental health care to the individuals, families, and communities we serve. About VFR Healthcare VFR (Veteran & First Responder) Healthcare, the sister company of Strive Health, is a veteran-owned and operated organization that is committed to increasing the access to, and quality of, outpatient addiction and mental health treatment for Veterans, First Responders, and their families. VFR has developed clinical programming designed specifically for veterans, first responders, and their families and incorporates these principles to all programs and services provided. All Strive centers proudly serve VFR Healthcare and offer a wide range of confidential, trauma-informed outpatient treatment programs and services for adults and adolescents suffering from Substance Use Disorder and/or co-occurring mental health conditions, including intensive outpatient programs, outpatient programs, and early intervention services. About Strive Health Centers for Recovery and Community Health Strive Health (Strive) was founded to become the premier provider of high-quality, cost-effective, evidence-based outpatient addiction and behavioral health treatment in the United States. Strive programs and services are designed to provide high-quality, trauma-informed and client-centered outpatient treatment to help individuals in recovery maintain their life in the real world as they rebuild healthy, self-directed lives, reach their full potential, and achieve long-lasting outcomes. Strive Health is proud to have developed a network of Centers for Recovery and Community Health united in its mission of providing the highest quality care to individuals and families striving to live healthy, self-directed lives. Strive centers provide a wide range of trauma-informed outpatient treatment programs and service for Substance Use Disorder and co-occurring mental health conditions that address the multi-level needs of its patients. Further, Strive programs utilize evidence-based treatment modalities, and offer medication-assisted treatment (MAT), such as Vivitrol, to patients as clinically and medically appropriate. All Strive centers proudly serve its sister company, VFR Healthcare, and offer a wide range of confidential, trauma-informed outpatient treatment programs and services designed specifically for Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Media: Benjamin Knafo, 914-886-3656 bknafo(at)strivecares(dot)com Or Eric Frieman efrieman(at)strivecares(dot)com Website http://www.strivecares.com http://www.vfrhealthcare.com Jonas Construction Softwares 1,300 customers will now be able to utilize Comdata to pay vendors with a virtual credit card, rather than check, ACH or wire. This new integration provides Jonas customers the ability to eliminate costs associated with paying vendors via check, and also offers cash back for every dollar paid. Most importantly, Jonas users are able to leverage Comdata directly from their existing Jonas platforms. When discussing this newest partnership, Jonas Construction Software President Steve Cowan said, Businesses in the construction and service industries are moving at a rapid pace and work with countless vendors every day. This new partnership with Comdata gives Jonas clients another option for vendor payment that allows both parties to mutually benefit and grow together. This integration brings the following key benefits to Jonas Construction clients: Cash Rebate: Earn a cash rebate on every dollar of virtual card spend. Reduced Costs: Eliminating paper checks to pay vendors reduces costs. Financial Flexibly: Comdata clients can choose to apply for a line of credit, to support the program, & offer extra days to pay. Simple User Experience: Jonas and Comdatas development teams have worked side by side to ensure a seamless integration and ease-of-use. Comdata is excited to partner with Jonas Construction Software to give their users the ability to pay vendor invoices electronically, out of their existing software, said Chris Shanahan, Comdatas SVP of Strategic Partnerships. Partnering with Jonas will allow both companies to better serve the mutual client base, and promote growth within our organizations, he said. About Jonas Construction Software Jonas Construction Software provides industry-leading business management and accounting software to their clients. Jonas fully-integrated solutions provide all of the tools needed to increase productivity and improve your bottom line. At Jonas, they make it easier for companies to focus on what is important their customers, their projects and their employees. Jonas does this by streamlining their operations and giving better visibility to the entire organization. This gives your employees the tools to do their jobs better, support your customers and achieve your company goals. To learn more, visit https://jonasconstruction.com/. About Comdata Comdata Inc., a FLEETCOR company (NYSE: FLT), is a leading provider of innovative payment and operating technology that drives actionable insights from spending data, builds enhanced controls and positively impacts its clients bottom lines. The company partners with more than 30,000 businesses to better manage $55B in annual fleet, corporate purchasing, payroll and healthcare spending, making it the second largest commercial Mastercard provider in North America. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee, Comdata employs more than 1,300 professionals across the U.S. and Canada. To learn more about Comdata, visit http://www.comdata.com. Karen K. Mercado, a former pharmaceutical worker and mother of a teenage son currently residing in Georgia with her husband, has completed her book Missing Saints: a scripture-based debut novel imagining a post-Rapture world. Mercado writes, When the Rapture occurs, the entire world will be in a state of panic. The ones left who will have the answers to what is really happening, according to the Bible, will be the ones preoccupied with their own challenges and not so eager to explain what they know out of fear of being captured, persecuted, or executed for their faith in God. Christians will turn into a self-sufficient society because of an inability to buy, sell, or trade, which will result from them refusing the 666 Mark of the Beast. The government will become so big that most people will depend on it and will blame the chaos on the disappearances of Christians. That will fuel the hatred of the ungodly toward the Christians. This book provides hope, according to the teachings of Jesus, to the people who remain after the Rapture. Even when God turns His back on this world, it will not be too late to come to Him, although time will be running out. Some people will successfully find ways to survive in the last days. It will be quite a survival game. Those who have it figured out will use Revelation as a guide to prepare themselves physically, mentally, and spiritually. I hope to paint a picture of what the world might look like in a fictional sense so that people can have hope for their future, know what to expect, and know that God still loves every one of us. He wants no man to perish. He came so that we may have life abundantly. What will that mean for the ones left behind? Published by New York City-based Page Publishing, Karen K. Mercados book is a riveting representation of likely future end-time events as prophesied in Revelations. Readers who wish to experience this engrossing work can purchase Missing Saints 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. TORONTO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Excellence Canada is pleased to announce the launch of the Canada Awards for Excellence Standard for Financial Wellness. Developed with the support of Sun Life Financial, the Financial Wellness Standard is a proactive strategy for employers to defeat the epidemic of money-related stress and its adverse effect on mental and physical health. We see more employers recognizing financial wellness as part of overall good health, says Jennifer Elia, Assistant Vice-President, Integrated Health Solutions, Sun Life Financial. The Financial Wellness Standard is an important step in providing employers with a model to follow, as they weave financial wellness into their benefits and retirement savings plans. Why does Financial Wellness matter? Studies show a direct link between financial wellness and employee health. Those that report greater financial stress also report poorer health. 1 Three of the top four drivers of uncomfortable levels of stress for Canadians are related to financial challenges:2 45% of employees worry about personal/household finances 32% worry about trying to maintain a budget 31% worry about unexpected expenses Financial stress can lead to distress, sleep deprivation, absenteeism, reduced productivity, employee turnover, mental illness, etc.3 Financial stress causes more than 11 lost days of productivity per year4 (per employee). 20 to 30 percent of those with high levels of stress from debt live with anxiety or depression.5 The ROI for employers who offer employees easy access to financial programs is at least 3:1 and that doesnt include the value of the increased goodwill.6 50% spend 3 or more hours at work each week thinking about or dealing with financial issues7. 31% say productivity at work has been impacted by financial worries.7 People that are financially unprepared are 16% less likely than others to say they are productive in the workplace.8 Health has been impacted negatively by financial worries. 26% millennials, 32% Gen X and 25% boomers have indicated a negative impact.9 What is the impact of Financial Wellness? Worry over personal and family finances is causing great pain to millions of Canadians and can be reduced or eliminated by following a strategic approach to planning that is contained in the Financial Wellness Standard. It provides employers with a roadmap to foster health and counteract stress from three main causes related to money: insecurity, ignorance, and worry. The Financial Wellness Standard has 19 requirements and its recommended actions are well-defined, readily achievable, and result in measurable improvements for employers through: Reduced anxiety of employees Improved productivity Reduced absenteeism, presenteeism Reduced turnover Increased employee satisfaction Improved loyalty Improved morale Healthier employees Employees benefit directly from: Better understanding of issues regarding personal finances Better support for identified needs Greater family harmony Improved overall health, including mental health, i.e., less stress, anxiety, better sleep Satisfaction and peace of mind Increased participation in financial health choices Greater self-confidence and life skills Lasting benefits intellectually, physically, socially and economically Similar to challenges in treating mental illness, the stigma associated with money worries plagues Canadians both at home and at work. Self-esteem is so tightly linked to how much money we have and how well we manage it that fear prevents discussing it openly and dealing with it proactively, said Allan Ebedes, President and CEO of Excellence Canada. The Financial Wellness Standard gives employers the roadmap they need to help employees overcome barriers and achieve happier and more fulfilling lives. What can you do? For organizations that complete the program, Excellence Canada offers Certification and National Recognition under the Canada Awards for Excellence presented on November 5, 2019, celebrating 35 years of organizational excellence in 2019. About Excellence Canada Excellence Canada is an independent, not-for-profit corporation that is committed to advancing organizational excellence across Canada. Since 1992, Excellence Canada has helped thousands of organizations become cultures of continuous quality improvement and world-class role models, through its Excellence, Innovation and Wellness Standard and its four-level progressive methodology. As a national authority on Quality, Healthy Workplace, Mental Health at Work, and Financial Wellness, Excellence Canada provides excellence frameworks, standards, and independent verification and certification to organizations of all sizes and in all sectors. It is also the custodian and adjudicator of the Canada Awards for Excellence program, of which the Patron is Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.Q., C.D., Governor General of Canada. About Sun Life Financial Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2018, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management of $951 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. 1 Bagwell, D.C. & Kim, Financial Stress, health status and absenteeismJournal of Consumer Education, 21, 50-58 2 Sun Life Financial, 2016 Sun Life Canadian Health Index 3 Aversa, J. Associated Press (2008) Stressed over debt taking a toll on health 4 The Conference Board of Canada, Money on the Mind Presentation, February 21, 2018 5 The 2016 Financial Stress Research (Financial Finesses) 6 Prawitz, A.D., Garmin E.T. (2009) www.pfeef.com 7 PWC 2017 Employee Financial Wellness Survey 8 Manulife Financial/IPSOS Reid, Health and Wellness Study 2014 9 PWC 2017 Employee Financial Wellness Survey For more information, please contact: Excellence Canada Bonita Savard, Manager, Certification and Awards bonita@excellence.ca 416-251-7600 x233 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b5cd0431-2a34-476c-a31a-761851d7c86a My Salvation Is Certain, So Is Yours: a thought-provoking read on establishing a strong foundation in ones faith to God through hearing from the words of someone who walked through life in the aid of the Lords guidance. My Salvation Is Certain, So Is Yours is the creation of published author Leith Cunningham, a soldier who joined the army in 1949 at the age of 17. He witnessed comrades and buddies all blown to hell, and his best friend being hit by a Russian burp gun in the hands of a Chinese soldier. He came home after being wounded in action then spent a year in recovery. God, then, found him and for the past 50 years, he has been studying His word. Cunningham shares, I will recap in a few words, the message I would like for you to get. (Romans 11:29 NKJV) For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. God Himself cannot take away the gift of eternal life that He has promised to give to all of mankind. All power, authority and responsibility has been given to His Son Jesus Christ, to bring it all about and make for absolute certainty it happens exactly and precisely according to His purpose and plan laid out before the world began. (Titus 1:2 KJV) In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; (Timothy 2:4 KJV) Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 John 5:10 KJV) He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (Ephesians 1:11 KJV) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Philippians 2:13 KJV) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is a virtual impossibility for even one man, one woman or one child to ever will themselves into hell. This Christian teaching around the world stinks to high heaven in the nostrils of God, because it puts the will of man as being more powerful and far above the will of God. (2 Peter 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. If God is not willing that any should perish, guess what? No one is going to perish. His Son Jesus Christ has already taken care of it through the sacrifice of Himself in allowing Himself to be tortured, tormented and crucified in the most cruel and inhumane way possible, shedding His own blood to cover the sins of all of mankind, past, present and future. He had fulfilled His Father Gods admonition to do so and it was accepted by His Father God, because His life and faithfulness to maintain righteousness, without ever sinning even one time, had qualified Him as being of more value than all of mankind combined that have or will ever live. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Leith Cunninghams new book is a mind-clearing book filled with insights, instructions, and reflections that will encourage the readers to listen and take to heart the truths of God. View a synopsis of My Salvation Is Certain, So Is Yours on YouTube. Consumers can purchase My Salvation Is Certain, So Is Yours at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about My Salvation Is Certain, So Is Yours, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Rachel Tobin has joined Lexicon Strategies as a partner Were pioneering a model where all of our clients benefit from the counsel of senior executives who are widely recognized in their fields." said Brian Tolleson, founder of Lexicon Strategies with Billy Linville. Lexicon Strategies has added two more partners to its growing team of expert strategists: R. Jackson Kelly and Rachel Tobin. Kelly is an investor relations and marketing executive with international marketing and entrepreneurial expertise and a record of persuasive influence with investors, analysts and C-suite executives. Tobin is a media relations strategist with seven years of experience at a public relations agency and 13 years as a journalist. The pair joins the strategic marketing, communications and public relations consulting firm led by Brian Tolleson, founder of advertainment studio BARK BARK, and Billy Linville, a public affairs strategist. Last year, the firm added former Emmy Award-winning political reporter Lori Geary, former Cumberland CID executive director Malaika Rivers and former Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Molly Bloom. Were pioneering a model where all of our clients benefit from the counsel of senior executives who are widely recognized in their fields." said Tolleson. And, we're excited to support companies and organizations who want to create a positive community impact and participate authentically in the exciting growth in Metro Atlanta and around the South." Kelly has 30 years of broad and progressive experience driving significant achievements in strategic leadership, marketing leadership, global growth, finance and entrepreneurship. Kelly is a six-year Chief Investor Relations Officer who partnered directly with the CEO, CFO and Board of Directors at The Coca-Cola Company. There, he built a world-class investor relations function while participating at the highest level in strategic initiatives, such as the acquisitions of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters and Glaceau (the maker of Vitaminwater). He was recognized by Institutional Investor magazine as the Best Investor Relations Officer in consumer goods/beverages for six years straight. Since retiring early from Coca-Cola in 2016, Kelly has worked with multiple startup and enterprise companies, both as the Founder of RJK Consultancy, a private equity firm, and as a member of the Board of Advisors at MobiJuce, an innovative mobile technology-marketing sharing startup based in Hong Kong. Kelly began his career as an accountant in the Audit Division at Arthur Andersen & Co. in Washington, D.C. Kelly is a Certified Public Accountant who has an MBA in International Marketing from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a B.S. with honors in Accounting and Economics from Washington and Lee University. Kelly is a member of the AICPA, the Virginia Society of CPAs and Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK); holds real estate licenses in California and Georgia; and is active with several nonprofits. Tobin is a seasoned journalist and communications professional who has worked with the leading publications, corporations and nonprofits in the Southeast and nationally. She spent seven years with communications agency Jackson Spalding, where she led the national media relations and commercial real estate teams. There, she handled CEO transitions, business crises, media trainings, influencer events as well as coordinated ground breakings, topping out and grand opening ceremonies. She represented a celebrity chef, tourist destinations, a major law firm, regional bank and national consulting firm, an economic development agency, global nonprofits and commercial real estate firms. Previously, Tobin was a journalist for 13 years, covering business for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and for Atlanta Business Chronicle and politics for Georgias largest legal daily, the Fulton County Daily Report. She won five Capital Reporter and Editor awards. She started her career as a legislative aide at Atlanta City Council. Tobin is an alumna of Urban Land Institutes Center for Leadership, past president of the Atlanta Press Club and a past board member of Central Atlanta Progress and Georgia States Rialto Center for the Arts. Shes currently on the board of Real Estate Group of Atlanta and president of her condo association board in Midtown Atlanta. She earned her undergraduate degree summa cum laude in political science/international affairs at the University of California, San Diego, and her masters degree in communications at Georgia State University. She spent two years studying abroad and is fluent in Spanish, French and Portuguese. Images of Kelly and Tobin can be found here. ### About Lexicon Strategies Lexicon Strategies is a strategic consulting firm solving challenges and winning for clients in todays always-on communications landscape. All of Lexicon's clients deal directly with senior executives who bring a record of success and are each widely recognized in their field. Lexicon Strategies is proud to be an NGLCC Certified Diverse Supplier and an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit https://lexiconstrategies.com/ Media Contact: Molly Bloom Lexicon Strategies mbloom@lexiconstrategies.com (404) 551-2151 Google will play a big role in what were able to do in the future. - Avery Smith, CEO Today, Louisiana Crawfish Co. (http://www.lacrawfish.com) announced that it was highlighted in Googles tenth annual Economic Impact Report - a report that showcases how businesses, publishers and nonprofits across the United States are using Google search and advertising tools to connect with the people and communities they serve. Last year, small businesses generated $862M in economic activity in Louisiana. By using Google products, businesses strengthened their online presence and were able to grow, bringing more money and jobs into the local economy. For small businesses in the United States, the web is the most powerful tool to attract new customers and support existing ones, said Mary Ellen Coe, President of Google Customer Solutions. We are proud that our search and advertising tools helped Louisiana Crawfish grow and contribute to the economy in Natchitoches. After using Googles tools and services Louisiana Crawfish saw significant results: 2.1 Million Generated Directly From Google Ads 475,000 Users Directed To Website From Google Ads 414% ROAS (Return On Ad Spend) Directly From Google Ads Google will play a big role in what were able to do in the future. - Avery Smith, CEO To support more small businesses, Google launched its Grow with Google initiative to help create economic opportunity for Americans. Drawing on Googles history of building products, platforms, and services that help people and businesses grow, the initiative aims to give Americans access to the best of Googles training and tools to grow their skills, careers, and businesses. More about these resources are at grow.google. The Channel Company Women of the Channel 2019 Award 2019 is all about pushing the partner experience boundaries and making sure our channel partners feel 100% supported from TDS," Arthur said. Trusted Data Solutions (TDS), the global leader in legacy data and voice management and transformation, announced today that CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named Marcella Arthur, global vice president of marketing and channel operations, to its prestigious 2019 Women of the Channel list. The leaders on this annual list are from all areas of the IT channel ecosystem; representing technology suppliers, distributors, solution providers, and other IT organizations. Each is recognized for her contributions to channel advocacy, channel growth and visionary leadership. CRN editors choose the list from a multitude of channel leadership applicants and select the final honorees based on their professional accomplishments, demonstrated expertise, and ongoing dedication to the IT channel. Arthur, who is commonly referred to as The Change Merchant Marketeer, is uniquely fluent at the junction of channel and marketing with over 24 years of experience at various leading Information Technology software vendors. With the launch of the industrys first interactive pricing tool and portal one-stop-shop for marketing, sales, training and support, Arthur has big plans for TDS channel community in 2019. CRNs 2019 Women of the Channel list honors influential leaders who are accelerating channel growth through mutually-benefical partnerships, incredible leadership, strategic vision, and unique contributions in their field, said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. This accomplished group of leaders is driving channel success and we are proud to honor their acheivements. 2019 is all about pushing the partner experience boundaries and making sure our channel partners feel 100% supported from TDS, Arthur said. Making it easy for partners to work with TDS is our number one goal from day one. And Im excited with the launch of the portal one-stop-shop that this is going to become a reality this year with each and every feature release we have planned in the roadmap. The 2019 Women of the Channel list will be featured in the June issue of CRN Magazine and online at http://www.CRN.com/WOTC. About Trusted Data Solutions For more than two decades, Trusted Data (TDS) has led the market in legacy data management. As foremost experts in backup tape restoration, email migration, and voice retrieval, Trusted Data continues to be the preferred choice for eDiscovery companies, corporations, government agencies and legal firms that require a trusted partner for their data transformation initiatives. Trusted Datas leadership is demonstrable in their commitment to expand the needs of their growing customers and partners by regionalizing their services and operations. Headquartered in New York City and two additional international headquarters in United Kingdom and Singapore, Trusted Data maintains one of the most expansive global restoration assurance facility footprint in the market with facilities in New York, New Jersey, California, England, Wales, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore managing total of 1.5 million tapes, over 500 Petabytes of data, across 37 thousand projects. TDS is a wholly owned subsidiary of TDS Global Holdings which is privately held. Learn more about TDS on trusteddata.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. http://www.thechannelcompany.com Copyright 2019. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. The Channel Company Contact: Jennifer Hogan The Channel Company jhogan(at)thechannelcompany.com Claudia Lascano, Manager of Client Services at The Weinbach Group She is a hard-working team player and excels under pressure. The Weinbach Group, an award-winning Miami ad agency, with a national reputation as a leading healthcare marketing firm, announced the addition of Claudia Lascano to its professional staff, where she will serve as manager of client services. In her role, Claudia will manage client accounts, plan and execute campaigns, and collaborate with the agencys senior leadership on overarching marketing strategy for clients of the marketing communications firm. The Weinbach Group, originally founded as a Miami public relations firm, recently added a number of major accounts to its roster, including the pharmaceutical brand, Xepi, which the agency launched in November of 2018. Claudia has already taken the helm for the Xepi account, and she has also assumed responsibility for the Insurance Trust for Delta Retirees, another new addition for the healthcare advertising agency. Immediately prior to joining The Weinbach Group, Claudia was part of the marketing team for IKEA Miami where she concentrated on store-wide promotional campaigns including events. She has a long history in the communications industry and has worked on both the client and agency side of the desk, as well as for media outlets, including The Miami Herald Media Company and MTV Networks Latin America. Were a busy shop with a dynamic group of clients, said Daniel Weinbach, president and CEO of The Weinbach Group. So we needed someone with Claudias experience who could immediately jump in and meet the complex needs of the companys and organizations we serve. In addition, we recognized she had the personality to gel with the diverse group of clients with whom she would be working closely on a day-to-day basis. Claudias background encompasses many aspects of marketing communications, and she has expertise from lots of industries, added Meieli Sawyer, director of communications at The Weinbach Group. Shes a hard-working team player and excels under pressure, which makes her a perfect fit for a full-service agency like ours. Claudia grew up in New York before relocating to Guayaquil, Ecuador where she attended the Tecnologico Espiritu Santo. Upon her return to the U.S., she attended Florida International University, where she studied business and marketing. About The Weinbach Group The Weinbach Group, now in its fourth decade of business, consistently ranks among South Floridas top advertising, public relations, and marketing firms. It serves clients in a range of industries, and has special expertise working with healthcare organizations. Notable clients have included The Renfrew Center for Eating Disorders, HCA, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and Jackson Health System. New Horizons: Serving Individuals with Special Needs At a grassroots community level together we are affecting real change. Its been amazing to see our clients learn new, practical, and useful skills that they can use to find a job, to connect socially with their friends, and to join the big, inclusive world! - John C. Brauer, New Horizons Pres/CEO Real Inclusive Change with Job Skills Training for Adults with Disabilities While the number of unemployed persons continues to decrease nationwide, the unemployment rate for persons with a disability is more than twice the rate of those with no disability. However, according to New Horizons, a San Fernando Valley California based nonprofit, it has been proven that adults with disabilities have a significantly better chance of employment when they receive job skills training. Since August of 2018, New Horizons, located in North Hills, California, has been offering its Employment Readiness program, creating better opportunities for adults with disabilities through job skills training. This program builds curiosity and empowers individuals for the work force. Participants gather weekly at either the Microsoft Store at Westfield Topanga in Canoga, California or on the campus of New Horizons, to learn valuable skills including best practices in searching for jobs online, filling out an application, and also training on Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel. During class sessions students even create resumes and cover letters and practice interview skills. The Microsoft Store has really helped us, says John C. Brauer, President and CEO of New Horizons. At a grassroots community level together we are affecting real change. Its been amazing to see our clients learn new, practical, and useful skills that they can use to find a job, to connect socially with their friends, and to join the big, inclusive world! Employment Readiness runs for 12 weeks and provides ample time to learn, ask questions, review, practice, and work in a small group setting with leaders, mentors, and teachers. Microsoft Store has developed the structural components necessary to build these values in a robust collaborative community with New Horizons. Everyones goal is to see these participants gain skills and access to better paying jobs and workforce opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor, across all age groups, persons with a disability were much less likely to be employed than those with no disability. A large proportion of persons with a disability about 8 in 10 were not in the labor force in 2018, compared with about 3 in 10 of those with no disability. Employment population ratios in 2018 show 19.1% of adults with disabilities are working compared to 65.9% of adults without a disability. Workers with a disability were more likely to be employed part time than those with no disability. In 2018, 31 percent of workers with a disability usually worked part time, compared with 17 percent of those without a disability. Low levels of employment for one population segment negatively impacts the U.S. economy, ultimately affecting everyone. People with disabilities were three times as likely to live in poverty (CPS). Almost two-thirds of working-age adults who experience long-term income poverty have a disability. Further, measures of income poverty likely underestimate the financial situation facing people with disabilities, who may need more income to make ends meet. Feedback from the Employment Readiness participants has been consistently positive, "I loved the Microsoft Store windows class and I want to learn more," said Irene Morales. Danielle DeJean, echoes these sentiments, "I really enjoyed the Microsoft Store class. It was beneficial to me and the teacher from the company understood my questions and gave me answers to help me complete the course. It helped me gain experience for my job search which is currently underway." The connection between poverty and disability is complex and multi-directional and it is important to examine not only the number of jobs available to adults with disabilities, but the type and quality of jobs opportunities outside of low or unskilled positions. To capture these possibilities requires considering freshly conceived future work situations. New Horizons, with the help of Microsoft Store, is transferring job skills training and tools for the next level within technology and online literacy, creating innovative opportunities for all. About New Horizons: New Horizons is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year and envisions a brighter world in which individuals with special needs are valued for their strengths and their challenges, their courage and their joy; where each person is afforded compassion and dignity, rights and opportunities as equal members of the community; and where our partnerships, community education, and advocacy have eliminated the difference between the culture of caring we provide at New Horizons and the quality of acceptance and caring provided by the community. https://newhorizons-sfv.org/ "With technology like Osmosis to aid their learning, our medical students will have the skills needed to practice in an era in which medical knowledge is moving forward at an exponential rate, said Stuart D. Flynn, M.D., founding dean of the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine. Ahead of the opening of the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine in July 2019, the school announced today its partnership with Osmosis, the leading medical education platform with more than one million users worldwide, in support of its continued mission to innovate the medical education industry. With an impending shortage of more than 120,000 clinicians by 2030, the Fort Worth medical school aims to foster their students preparedness through compassion and empathy training, a flipped classroom setting and a technology-first approach. "With technology like Osmosis to aid their learning, our medical students will have the skills needed to practice in an era in which medical knowledge is moving forward at an exponential rate, said Stuart D. Flynn, M.D., founding dean of the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine. Were training the next generation of physicians to be inspired by life-long learning, with the patient at the center of our mission." This partnership will create a new era of medical professionals who will be prepared for the future of medicine, without focusing on traditional modes and lecture-based curriculum. The Fort Worth medical school, in collaboration with Osmosis, will train the next generation of physicians for the future of medicine through the use of technology with an emphasis on empathy, compassion, and communication. This new curriculum not only benefits the patient with a compassionate and attentive doctor but also provides the students themselves with the tools they need to put their mental health and well-being first. The Fort Worth medical school is training physicians as Empathetic ScholarsTM who are compassionate, excel in new technology and can communicate effectively with their patients. Osmosis is thrilled to be working with the faculty and students at the Fort Worth medical school to achieve their mission of training Empathetic Scholars, said Owen Willis, Chief Operating Officer at Osmosis.Were drawn to collaborations that seek to improve the way future healthcare professionals learn medicine, both in terms of how content is delivered and the supportive activities that enhance their experiences in the classroom and clinic. With many medical students suffering from heightened levels of stress and burnout compared to their non-medical focused peers, there is much need for innovation in the way that they are learning and retaining information to lead healthier, more conscious careers. Osmosis has developed a platform built on the idea that medical education is learned differently than most majors, and is working to fill the void through their retention-based, technology-driven model. By having students focus on what they need to succeed, rather than forced memorization of topics that arent as critical to their profession, the School of Medicine and Osmosis are alleviating the strain of a traditional medical school. This partnership represents a disruption in the medical school space that is pushing healthcare professionals to be more personable and approachable. About the TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine The TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine is Fort Worths M.D. school, set to open with a class of 60 students in July. TCU and UNTHSC joined together in July 2015 to form this new allopathic medical school. The School of Medicines focus on communication, a first-of-its-kind curriculum and the development of Empathetic ScholarsTM uniquely positions the organization to radically transform medical education, improving care for future generations. About Osmosis Created by medical students from Johns Hopkins and the former Khan Academy Health & Medicine team, Osmosis is a leading and rapidly growing medical education platform used by more than one million current and future health professionals, as well as patients and their family members. Osmosiss mission is to empower the worlds clinicians and caregivers with the best learning experience possible. It accomplishes this through an expanding library of more than 1,200 clear & concise educational videos on everything from atrial fibrillation to Zika virus as well as a personalized learning platform that incorporates evidence-based cognitive techniques, machine learning, and gamification to make learning efficient and enjoyable. The companys vision is Everyone who cares for someone will learn by Osmosis. Whole Leaf Teas and Steepwarehousewares tools that make loose tea easy Specialty tea is an ideal complement to coffee in the 3rd wave. In fact, the 3rd waves of coffee and tea share... similar pace and styles of preparation, and connection to source and farmers stories. Im honored to be able to bring to tea into focus with the international coffee community in Paris. Maria Uspenski, founder and CEO of The Tea Spot, will bring tea to the forefront during a special session at the Paris Coffee Show, the premier coffee event in France, on Sunday, May 26 at 4:40 p.m. at the Park Floral in Paris. The Paris Coffee Show which takes place May 25-27 and is open to the public and coffee professionals is expected to attract more than 5,000 attendees each day of the event. The Tea Spot works to advance healthier living through the everyday enjoyment of whole leaf tea. Im thrilled to be presenting for the first time at the prestigious Paris Coffee Show, says Uspenski, whos also the author of Cancer Hates Tea. Specialty tea is an ideal complement to coffee in the 3rd wave. In fact, the 3rd waves of coffee and tea share similar demographics, consumer appreciation, customers who are willing to pay for a premium experience, similar pace and styles of preparation, increased education, and similar connection to source and farmers stories. Im honored to be able to bring to tea into focus with the international coffee community in Paris. Uspenski, whose Paris Coffee Show presentation will be delivered in French, will share insights on tea and why offering sub-par tea is an issue and a missed opportunity for many coffeehouses and cafes. Shell also look at why consumers are demanding premium tea and discuss how little it takes to elevate a coffeehouse tea program and what to look for in a specialty tea partner. Uspenski says, For coffee businesses, having a specialty tea program that matches the caliber of the rest of your offerings one which is in alignment with the ethos of your mission is not only crucial to remaining competitive and profitable, but also a benchmark of quality and dedication to customer preferences. According to Uspenski, the profit margin on tea service is upwards of 90 points, making the margin on tea more attractive than it is with coffee. The product cost on a single serving of even the priciest tea rarely exceeds 15 cents, she says, whereas for coffee it begins at about 50 cents in product cost. In addition, the start-up cost is minimal because it doesnt require any costly equipment only a few teapots, French presses or mugs with infusers. The Paris Coffee Show, organized by the Collectif Cafe, will feature numerous spaces at the event, including: The Plantation, which pays tribute to the diversity of the terroirs of coffee production, the typologies of botanical varieties and the work of coffee producers and sourcers; The World of Espresso, which will cover everything about the extraction of espresso and the multiple ways to consume it around the world; The Village of Roasters, which will be a hive for young talent devoted to coffee shops, artisan roasters, independent gourmet food stores, etc.; The Coffee Lab, which will feature roasting demonstrations and a contest; a Masterclass area, which will offer presentations and debates on coffee issues such as consumption and innovation; Plateau TV, where industry experts will weigh in on various topics; and a Bookstore and a Coffee Cocktail Bar. Pierre Herme, a celebrated French pastry chef and chocolatier, will also take part in the Paris Coffee Show. To learn more about Paris Coffee Show, visit https://collectifcafe.fr/le-paris-coffee-show. To learn more about The Tea Spot, visit https://theteaspot.com or email sales@theteaspot.com. The Tea Spots new wholesale website for specialty bulk tea, iced tea and Steepware products is available at https://wholesale.theteaspot.com. ABOUT THE TEA SPOT, INC. The Tea Spot, Inc. is a leading producer of handcrafted whole leaf teas and creator of Steepwarethe housewares tools that make loose tea easy. Its vision to modernize the loose leaf tea experience has held steadfast since the for-profit philanthropic company was founded by Maria Uspenski in 2004, a cancer survivor drawn to the health benefits of leaf tea during her recovery. Her message is simple and powerful: Tea in its freshest form renders premium flavor, unmatched health benefits, and is eco-friendly. The company's model of social entrepreneurship incorporates its mission to foster health and wellness through loose leaf tea with its 10% Pledge. Ten percent of every sale made is donated in-kind to cancer and community wellness programs. The Tea Spot is a Boulder, Colorado-based woman owned and operated business. More at http://theteaspot.com. The Percepto drone-in-a-Box (DIB) solution This new investment in Percepto accelerates our rapid trajectory. Percepto Raises $15 Million Series A Funding Led by USVP, For Its Market-Leading Industrial Autonomous Drone-in-a-Box Percepto, the global market leader for industrial autonomous drone solutions, today announced that it has raised $15M Series A Round Funding, led by U.S. Venture Partners (USVP), with participation from existing investors: NHN, Spider Capital and Emerge. The company has to date raised a total of $27.5M. Previous investors include R&R Venture Partners and Hyundai Motors. CEO of Percepto, Dor Abuhasira explains: This new investment in Percepto accelerates our rapid trajectory. We have the solution, talent, infrastructure and funding in place to scale our operations and further expand our international presence that already includes energy, oil & gas, mining and other heavy industry businesses in more than ten countries. It also enables us to continue at pace with Perceptos ground-breaking research and development. The Percepto Solution, a recipient of the Frost & Sullivan Global Enabling Technology Leadership Award, is in use around the world, including a number of Fortune 500 organizations in the US, South America, EMEA and South East Asia. The Drone-in-a-Box (DIB) solution improves on-site security, safety, operations, maintenance and compliance with its unique computer vision and AI technology. This technology enables real-time detection of threats, safety hazards and anomalies, as well as mapping, 3D modelling and emergency response, all can be remotely managed over the cloud. Among the companys customers is Enel, the Italian multinational energy company that uses Perceptos solution to protect and optimize its operations. The benefits of using the Percepto Solution include increased productivity while reducing costs and minimizing risks. The global commercial drones market has a projected value of over $17B by 2026. Dafina Toncheva, Partner and USVP, explains the reason for investing in Percepto: Percepto has impressive technology, the right go-to-market strategy and an excellent team. It has a proven ability to deliver to critical facilities and heavy industries, unparalleled access to aerial data and perception which unlocks huge commercial value, whilst lowering costs and mitigating risk. About Percepto Founded in 2014, Percepto is the market leader of on-site autonomous drone solutions for critical infrastructures and industrial sites. Operating with no need for human intervention, Perceptos autonomous Sparrow drones perform multi missions, around the clock. The solution is ideally suited to any large-scale enterprises looking to improve security, increase productivity and reduce safety risks and operational costs. Organizations using the Percepto solution are better aware of events taking place, allowing them to be proactive and more efficient in addressing risks and operational needs. The Percepto Solution is currently in use around the world including a number of Fortune 500 organizations. URL: http://www.percepto.co About U.S. Venture Partners U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) is a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, partnering with entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into world-changing companies. USVP has invested in over 400 companies spanning three decades, including: Box, Castlight Health, Check Point Software, Concur, GoPro, Guidewire Software, HotelTonight, Imperva, InsideSales.com, Inspire Medical, Intersect ENT, Omada Health, OncoMed, Prevoty, SanDisk, Sun Microsystems, Trunk Club, Trusteer, Yammer, and Zerto. USVP focuses on early-stage start-ups that transform cybersecurity, enterprise software, consumer mobile and e-commerce, and healthcare. The USVP team consists of former entrepreneurs, technologists, corporate executives, and financial professionals who assist with strategy, scaling, team building, product development, and business development. USVP is based in Menlo Park, California. More information can be found at http://www.usvp.com Editorial contact Graham Thatcher Chief PR Ltd Email: pr@percepto.co Tel: +44 (0)7933 673 240 This is a great industry. One that I cannot more highly recommend to young professionals looking for a rewarding career. It is also a great privilege for me to join fellow Industry Hall of Famers Julie Kilgore, Jeff Telego and Georgina Dannatt. - Anthony Buonicore, 2019 PRISM Hall of Fame Inductee Nine winners of the prestigious 2019 PRISM industry awards were celebrated on May 8th at a ceremony during the annual PRISM conference in Nashville, TN. The PRISM conference is sponsored by EDR, a LightBox company and the pioneering leader in property due diligence technology and data. The PRISM conference included professional development and networking for industry thought leaders, along with the fourth annual PRISM awards dinner where individuals and firms were recognized by their peers for significant contributions to the property due diligence and commercial lending industries. Managed by the third-party Zweig Group, award nominations and the voting process were independently collected, verified and tallied. Hall of Fame Recognition The recipient of this years highest honor, the Industry Hall of Fame award, was Anthony Buonicore. An industry icon in the field of environmental engineering, Anthony serves as a tireless leader on ASTM committees dedicated to the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) process and to building energy performance assessments. With an extensive list of accomplishments across his career, Anthony has co-founded multiple successful companies, including BCA Environmental Services, Chemrox, EDR and Sustainable Real Estate Solutions (SRS). He is a past president and fellow member of the International Air & Waste Management Association, a Diplomat in the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, and Chairman of ASTMs Building Energy Performance Task Group. Anthony is currently Chairman and CEO of the Buonicore Group and Chairman of SRS. Accepting his award onstage, Buonicore said It is a privilege and an honor to accept this award and I want to thank each and every one of you. This is a great industry, filled with opportunity and challenge, and one that I cannot more highly recommend to young professionals looking for a rewarding career. It is also a great privilege for me to join fellow Industry Hall of Famers Julie Kilgore, Jeff Telego and Georgina Dannatt. Industry Influencer Elizabeth Krol was named this years Industry Influencer. Deeply involved with the industry, Krol is a frequent speaker and writer on professional due diligence topics. She leads the ASTM 1527 technical work group and is the Editor of the Environmental Bankers Association Journal, a delegate representing CREW Boston to the 11,000+ member global CREW Network and a member of the CREW Boston Legacy Council. Krol was recently selected as the Espirit de Coeur winner at the CREW Boston 2019 achievement awards, and was also recognized as a Woman of Influence by Real Estate Forum in 2018. On accepting the PRISM Industry Influencer award, Krol noted, It is an incredibly validating and a greatly appreciated honor to be recognized among this talented peer group, the best of the best. Thank you to my colleagues at Partner Engineering and Science whom I respect and admire, challenging me to do my best every day. PRISM Developing Leaders Another highlight of the ceremony was recognition by John Rybak of the 14 participants of the new PRISM Developing Leaders Program who were in attendance at the Nashville event. Rybak, Senior Vice President and Environmental Risk Manager at BB&T and 2017 PRISM Industry Influencer Award winner, spearheaded this mentor program along with EDRs Principal Analyst Dianne Crocker as a way to give back and nurture emerging professionals in the due diligence industry. Rybak commented, Were so proud to recognize these dedicated and passionate individuals who generously made a decision to pass on their knowledge and help others. I also give recognition to EDRs corporate citizenship for building out this program and dedication to its commitment to nurturing the future of our industry. PRISM Award Winners The complete list of 2019 award winners include: Industry Hall of Fame Anthony Buonicore Courage in Leadership Kristin Gable, PM Environmental Industry Influencer Elizabeth Krol, Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. Developing Leader Kristina Krissakova-Thomas, Fulcrum Resources, Inc. Developing Leader Kathryn OGorman, ESE Partners, LLC Technology Innovation Lender Greystone & Co Technology Innovation Environmental EBI Consulting Outstanding Project Environmental Operations, Inc. On The Move Impact 7G, Inc. About the PRISM Awards PRISM nominations are reviewed and judged by a third party consultant, the Zweig Group, a firm with an established history of running esteemed awards programs for the architecture, engineering and environmental consulting industries. Nominations for the 2020 PRISM awards will open in late 2019 to any professional, firm or lending institution participating in the property due diligence space. You can learn more about EDRs PRISM conference and view videos from the award ceremony here. About EDR EDR gives real estate specialists, lenders and environmental engineers rapid insight to the potential risks in the properties they research, finance, build and manage. Through cloud-based, comprehensive workflow tools, EDR puts the power of quality data and insight into decision making. Learn more at http://www.edrnet.com. About LightBox LightBox is a leading provider of due diligence, risk management, location intelligence, marketing and workflow solutions that enable decision making for 50,000 CRE brokers, 1,100 banks and lenders, 2,000 appraisal firms, and 5,000 environmental consulting and engineering firms, with more than $470 million in services awarded and almost 28 years serving the CRE lending industry. By combining proven brands with new core business capabilities, the company is creating new solutions to facilitate transparency, efficiency and insight for real estate. Established in 2018 and backed by Silver Lake and Battery Ventures, the companys brands now include EDR, RIMS, Collateral360, Real Capital Markets and Digital Map Products. Learn more at http://www.lightboxre.com. Portuguese English Banco Comercial Portugues, S.A. informs about resolutions of the Annual General Meeting Banco Comercial Portugues, S.A. concluded today, May 22, 2019, at the Banks premises in Taguspark, Av. Prof. Doutor Cavaco Silva, Building 8, in Porto Salvo, Oeiras, Portugal, with 64.59% of the share capital represented, the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, with the following resolutions: Item One Approval of the individual and consolidated annual report, balance sheet and financial statements of 2018, including the Corporate Governance Report; Item Two Approval of the proposal for the appropriation of profits for the 2018 financial year; Item Three Approval of a vote of trust and praise addressed to the Board of Directors, including to the Executive Committee and to the Audit Committee and each one of their members, as well as to the Chartered Accountant and its representative; Item Four Approval of the remuneration policy of Members of Management and Supervision Bodies; Item Five Approval of the alteration of the articles of association, giving a new wording to paragraph c) of article 14 and to nr. 1 of article 10, adding two new numbers 2 and 3 to article 10 with the consequent renumbering of current nrs. 2 and 3; Item Six Approval of the cooptation of Mr. Fernando Costa Lima as member of the Board of Directors and of the Audit Committee for the exercise of functions in the term-of-office ending in 2021. The effects of this cooptation are subject to obtaining the authorization for the exercise of functions from the European Central Bank; Item Seven Appointment of Prof. Cidalia Maria da Mota Lopes as Chairperson of the Audit Committee to exercise functions during the term-of-office ending in 2021; Item Eight Election of Mr. Nuno Maria Pestana de Almeida Alves as member of the Remunerations and Welfare Board; Item Nine - Election of Deloitte & Associados Sociedade de Revisores Oficiais de Contas, S.A., that selected Mr. Paulo Alexandre de Sa Fernandes, ROC nr. 1456, to represent it, as the Single Auditor, and of Mr. Jorge Carlos Batalha Duarte Catulo, ROC nr. 992, as his alternate, during the two-year term-of-office 2019/2020; Item Ten - Selection of Deloitte & Associados - Sociedade de Revisores Oficiais de Contas, SA to perform functions of External Auditor in the 2019/2020 two-year period; Item Eleven Approval of the acquisition and sale of own shares and bonds. End of announcement Banco Comercial Portugues, S.A. Attachment Mr. Ken Agren will join this new office as field application engineer and US operations manager. The opening of this office and the addition of Mr. Agren to the team illustrates our commitment to the US market. This will enable Reflex Photonics to sustain its growth in the region and offer better support to local customers in key sectors of aerospace/avionic, defense, and industrial markets. Reflex Photonics is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in the USA to better serve its growing American clientele. Reflex Photonics Corp. is strategically located on the East coast, near Philadelphia. The opening represents an important milestone, as Reflex Photonics has been actively looking to strengthen its American offering by increasing its local presence. The sales and technical support office will allow the company to better serve the needs of our rapidly expanding customer base. The new office will enable the company to interact more directly with customers, understand their specific needs, and stay current on the evolving applications in each market. Furthermore, Reflex Photonics announces that Mr. Ken Agren will join this new office as field application engineer and US operations manager. Mr. Agren has accumulated more than 25 years experiences, as field application engineer and as sale manager, in the high-tech sector, selling and supporting complex solutions for the military, aerospace and medical markets. Pierre Cardinal, Vice-President of Sales adds, "The opening of this office and the addition of Mr. Agren to the team illustrates our commitment to the American market. This will enable Reflex Photonics to sustain its growth in the region and offer better support to our local customers in key sectors of aerospace/avionic, defense, and industrial markets. Building excellent relations with all the strategic players in these markets is essential and our new office is another step to ensure that Reflex Photonics is better placed to support existing and new clients across the USA and assist our growing network of local representatives." To contact our new US office: Reflex Photonics Corp 60 W. Broad Street, Suite 304 Bethlehem, PA 18018 About Reflex Photonics Founded in 2002, Reflex Photonics is an advanced developer of rugged high-speed optical transceiver modules and parallel embedded optics products for space, aerospace, defense, avionics, telecom, data centers and industrial applications. The company addresses the growing market demand for high-speed interconnects in high performance embedded computers. Our products enable equipment developers to design smaller, lower cost, and lower powered systems resulting in higher fidelity and faster connectivity. We need more inspired woman scientists if we are to successfully address the many serious challenges facing our world today, said Kevin Lustig, PhD, Scientist.com CEO and Founder Scientist.com, the marketplace for medical research, is proud to announce that it has partnered with Women In Bio of Southern California (WIB-SoCal) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the passing of the 19th Amendment. Nineteen accomplished female scientists, past and present, will be featured in a joint social media campaign. Scientist.com will donate $1 for every social media engagementlike, share, post, tag or followon either Scientist.com or WIB-SoCals LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram accounts (up to a maximum donation of $25K). The campaign runs through June 4, 2019, the centennial of the passing of the 19th Amendment. In the 100 years since women gained the right to vote, society has made strides toward gender equality, but there is still much work to be done, said Alyssa Master, PhD, Chair Emeritus of WIB-Southern California. Highlighting scientific breakthroughs made by brilliant women helps break down remaining barriers and encourages young women to consider a career in science. WIB-SoCal is the Southern California Chapter of Women In Bio, a national organization of professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership and entrepreneurship for women in the life sciences. Since its founding in 2001, WIB has established 13 chapters in the U.S. and Canada, with more than 2,000 members and programs that reach 22,000 participants. WIB programs span the career life cycle, from mentoring middle-school STEM students and young professionals to supporting executive development and governance readiness. We need more inspired woman scientists if we are to successfully address the many serious challenges facing our world today, said Kevin Lustig, PhD, Scientist.com CEO and Founder. This social media campaign shines the light on 19 brilliant woman whose work has changed the world. About Scientist.com Scientist.com is the world's leading marketplace for outsourced R&D. The marketplace simplifies R&D sourcing, saving time and money, reducing risk and providing access to the latest innovative tools and technologies. Scientist.com operates private enterprise marketplaces for most of the worlds major pharmaceutical companies, the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). Since its founding in 2007, Scientist.com has raised $32 million from 5AM Ventures, Leerink Transformation Partners and Heritage Provider Network among others. Visit scientist.com to learn more. Join Scientist.com on social media: LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Media Contact: Sean Preci Director of Communications +1 858 455-1300 ext. 401 About Women In Bio (WIB) WIB is an organization of professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship of women in the life sciences. Founded in 2001 to support women employed in the field of life sciences from the classroom to the boardroom, Women In Bio (WIB) is a multifaceted organization with 13 chapters in North America. It offers an array of professional educational programs, peer to peer learning, mentoring and networking opportunities, and is the only organization for women that integrates all career levels and life sciences fields. Each local chapter hosts numerous events throughout the year that vary from networking events to career development, to professional education, to executive level-focused events. In addition to events, WIB hosts a Young Women In Bio program, which offers events and encouragement to middle and high-school aged girls, a mentorship program which provides women the chance to mentor or be mentored, and a national Boardroom Ready program through Executive Women In Bio, which has recently placed over 20 women on for-profit boards. As a volunteer organization, WIB offers leadership opportunities at every career stage, and a chance to expand professional networks in a supportive and inclusive environment. Please visit http://www.womeninbio.org. Join WIB-SoCal on social media: Website, LinkedIn, and Twitter Specialty Technical Publishers Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) and Specialty Technical Consultants (STC) announce the availability of the newly updated International Audit Protocol Consortium (IAPC) EHS audit protocol for the Russian Federation. Leading companies around the world use IAPC EHS audit protocols to understand the scope of their EHS regulatory obligations and rapidly collect, share, archive, and export audit findings in a cost effective manner. IAPC EHS audit protocols are now prepared by STC in partnership with STP and continue to focus on those national (plus, in some cases, regional or provincial) EHS requirements that have site-specific application for manufacturing operations. As a leading EHS management consulting firm with a global network of experienced EHS teaming partners, STC has indepth knowledge and technical expertise of local/regional EHS requirements. STP and STC maintain leading-edge EHS audit protocols for more than 50 jurisdictions. The protocol documents are written in English and are available in MS Word, Adobe Acrobat and Excel formats, as well as through STPs web-based portal or can be integrated into an existing company platform. Using the protocols custom templates and advanced functionality features, auditors can easily track audit findings and manage data over time to improve compliance, risk management and safety performance. In addition, STPs formatting is compatible with leading risk management and sustainability platform providers. Highlights of selected legislation covered in the newly developed protocol include: Order No. 261 of 14 June 2018 on the Reporting form for the Environmental Self-Monitoring Results designates the form that is to be used by facilities for reporting their environmental selfmonitoring results. Order No. 3 of 9 January 2017 on the Procedure for the Submission of Environmental Fee Payment Declaration sets out the procedure for facilities to follow when submitting their environmental fee payment declarations. Order No. 473 of 1 August 2018 on Approval of Statistical Forms for the Environment and Agriculture adopts the yearly statistical reporting form No. 4-OS on environmental protection expenses. Order No. 498 of 15 September 2017 on the Rules for the Operation of Pollution Abatement Equipment sets out requirements for the operation and maintenance of pollution control and abatement equipment. Decree No. 255 of 3 March 2017 (version dated 29 June 2018) on Determining Payment for Environmental Contamination (as last amended on 29 June 2018) establishes the Environmental Pollution Fees Payment procedure and limits for pollution fees. It repealed Government Decree No. 632 of August 28, 1992, on Determining Payment for Environmental Contamination. Decree No. 165 of 22 December 2017 (as amended 31 May 2018) on the Adoption of Hygienic Norms GN Decree No. 165 of 22 December 2017 (as amended 31 May 2018) Maximum Allowable Concentrations of Polluting Substances in the Ambient Air of Residential and Agricultural Areas designates the Standard for maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) of hazardous substances in populated areas, which is to be used during industrial building design and technological processes planning, as a means of ensuring air quality protection and preventing adverse health impacts. This Decree repealed and replaced Chief Government Sanitary Doctor Decree No. 114 of May 30, 2003, on Approval of GN 2.1.6.1338-03, Maximum Permissible Concentrations (MPCs) of Hazardous Substances in Populated Areas. Order No. 352 of 7 August 2018 on Approval of the Procedure for Assessment of Stationary Air Pollution Sources and Emissions of Harmful (Hazardous) Substances, Data Correction, Recording and Record-Keeping becomes effective as of 26 April 2019, sets out procedures for preparing an assessment of stationary air pollution sources. Order No. 661 of 8 November 2018 on the Approval of Statistical Instruments in the Area of Air Protection approves the statistical reporting form on air protection measures. Decree No. 1029 of 28 September 2015 on the Criteria for Assigning Facilities Having a Negative Impact on the Environment to Category I, II, III or IV sets out criteria which are to be used by facilities and the authorities in determining to which environmental hazard category a particular facility should be assigned. Order No. 242 of 22 May 2017 on the Adoption of the Federal Waste Classification Catalogue approves and gives effect to the Federal Waste Classification Catalogue. This Order replaced Order No. 445 of 18 July 2014 on the Adoption of the Federal Waste Classification Catalogue. Order No. 529 of 10 August 2017 on the Adoption of Statistical Instruments for the Monitoring of Industrial and Consumer Wastes approves and gives effect to Form No. 2-TP (Waste). Decree No. 758 of 29 June 2018 on the Fee Rates Payable for Negative Impact on the Environment Caused by Landfilling of Class IV Solid Municipal Wastes and on Amending Certain Regulatory Instruments of the Russian Federation sets out fee rates for the disposal of solid municipal class IV wastes. Decree No. 1039 of 31 August 2018 on Setting up Solid Waste Accumulation Areas and on Keeping the Registry of Such Areas applies to owners of solid domestic waste accumulation areas. Direction No. 1316-r of 8 July 2015 on the Approval of Regulated Polluting Substances Subject to Environmental Requirement provides a list of polluting substances subject to state regulation. Order No. 485 of 6 August 2018 on the Approval of the Statistical Tools for the Organisation of Statistical Monitoring/Tracking of the Number of Workers, Salaries and Working Conditions specifies requirements for the completion of Form No.1 - (work conditions). It repealed and replaced Order No. 357 of 3 August 2015 on the Approval of the Statistical Tools for the Organisation of Statistical Monitoring/Tracking of the Number of Workers, Salaries and Working Conditions and on the Activities in the Field of Education, Science and Information Technologies. Order No. 417 of 21 June 2017 on the Approval of Statistical Tools for the Monitoring of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses approves the statistical reporting form on occupational injuries (form N-7) and the instructions on completion of this form. This Order repealed and replaced Order No. 216 of 19 June 2013 on the Approval of Statistical Tools for the Organisation of the Federal Statistical Monitoring over Occupational Injuries, Healthcare Industry and the Natural Movement of the Population. Order No. 495 of 25 November 2016 on the Requirements for Registering Hazardous Industrial Facilities in the State Register of Hazardous Industrial Facilities, as last amended by Order No. 165 of 9 April 2018 sets out the procedure for registering a hazardous industrial facility in the State Registry of Hazardous Industrial facilities and describes how the operator must evaluate the facility and which documentation to submit for registration. Order No. 485 of 20 November 2017 on the Industrial Safety Rules for the Safe Performance of Works in Confined Spaces (Works with Gas Hazard), Hot and Repair Works sets out safety requirements for the performance of welding, soldering and other hot works. Order No. 553n of 17 August 2018 on Adoption of Occupational Safety Rules for the Operation of Industrial Transport sets out occupational safety rules for facilities operating auto-loaders and electric loaders, motor-cars and electric cars, cargo carts, trolleys as well as conveyers, pipelines, transporters and pneumatic transport. Order No. 644 of 30 November 2016 on the Adoption of Administrative Regulation of the Ministry of Emergency Situations on the Performance of Surveillance Functions of Compliance with Fire Safety Requirements sets out rights and duties of fire safety inspectors during fire safety inspections of facilities. Order No. 485 of 6 August 2018 of 3 August 2015 on the Approval of the Statistical Tools for the Organisation of Statistical Monitoring/Tracking of the Number of Workers, Salaries and Working Conditions approves the statistical reporting form that is to be completed by all facilities with harmful or hazardous working conditions. Order No. 59n of 6 February 2018 on Occupational Safety Rules for Automotive Transport Operation sets out occupational safety requirements for drivers and vehicle repair works. "Occupational Safety Rules for the Use of Certain Chemicals and Materials, adopted by Order No. 371n of 19 April 2017 regulates occupational safety when using certain hazardous substances, such alkaline, mercury, plastic processing, epoxides; carcinogenic substances, benzene; liquid nitrogen as well as the general rules for chemical handling. Order No.127n of 7 March 2018 on the Approval of Occupational Safety Rules for Painting Works sets out occupational safety, storage and handling requirements for performing painting works, for the occupational use of paints and varnishes and for handling and storage of these materials. For more information on all International EHS audit protocols offered by STP and STC click here. About Specialty Technical Publishers Specialty Technical Publishers (STP) produces technical resource guides covering environmental, health & safety, transportation, accounting, business practices, standards and law, offering comprehensive guidance on key compliance and regulatory issues. STP is a division of Glacier Media Inc., a Canadian information communications company that provides primary and essential information in print, electronic and online media. Glaciers Business and Professional Information Group publishes directories, technical manuals, research and development materials, medical education, electronic databases, investment information and specialty websites. About Specialty Technical Consultants Specialty Technical Consultants, Inc. (STC) is a specialized management consulting firm working to enhance environmental health and safety (EHS) performance. Through its consulting services, STC partners with clients to strengthen management systems' design and implementation, and identifies needs and implements solutions to meet business objectives. Services provided include: EHS compliance support; risk assessment; EHS auditing; corporate responsibility and sustainability; EHS management systems development and implementation; EHS regulatory information tools; and EHS training. STC is certified as a Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) by the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and the Supplier Clearinghouse for the California Public Utilities Commission, and as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. U.S. Marine Cpl. Kyle Schneider KIA June 30, 2011 Kyle Richard Schneider was born to us a beautiful morning on Jan. 8, 1988, said Lorie Schneider, Mother of Cpl. Schneider. Kyle loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. We lost a part of heart and soul on June 30, 2011 as Kyle was killed in Action while deployed to Afghanistan." The StarCom Racing team is proud to announce they will honor the life of fallen U.S. Marine Cpl. Kyle Schneider at this years 600 Miles of Remembrance during the 60th annual Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway this Sunday. The windshield of the SCR 00 Chevy, driven by Landon Cassill, will proudly display Cpl. Schneider, who gave the ultimate sacrifice while deployed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan at just 23 years old. Kyle Richard Schneider was born to us a beautiful morning on January 8, 1988, said Lorie Schneider, mother of fallen hero, Cpl. Schneider. Kyle loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. We lost a part of heart and soul on June 30, 2011 as Kyle was killed in Action while deployed to Afghanistan. In March 2008, Kyle Schneider of upstate New York joined the United States Marine Corps. While at Parris Island Kyle was screened and accepted into Presidential Support Duty at Marine Barracks, 8th & I. After graduating Recruit Training, he attended the School of Infantry at Camp Geiger, NC where he graduated with honors and earned the Military Occupational Skill of 0311, Infantryman. Kyle then reported to Marine Corps Security Force School in Chesapeake, VA. Upon his graduation from Security Force School, he reported to 8th & I, where he served well until May, 2010. In May 2010, Kyle volunteered for and was transferred to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 3rd Platoon. In January 2011 he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the II Marine Expeditionary Force. He operated with his platoon out of Patrol Base Amoo and Patrol Base Hanjar in the Sangin District, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Kyle survived a direct IED blast while on patrol in May 2011. After care for his injuries and observation at FOB Leatherneck, Kyle insisted he be sent back to his combat outpost in Sangin. He would not leave his men to whom he was devoted, for this he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. Kyle was later killed in action on June 30, 2011 heroically protecting his men. Kyle was posthumously awarded a second Purple Heart. Kyle gallantly rests with valor. The 600 Miles of Remembrance will be aired live during the NASCAR MENCS Coca-Cola 600 at 6 p.m. ET on FOX. We encourage all Americans to tune-in to the race and to also follow @StarComRacing on social media as we highlight and honor Cpl. Schneider throughout the race weekend as a thank you for his sacrifice and a thank you to his loving family. About StarCom Racing StarCom Racing, a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Team, based in North Carolina was launched in September 2017. SCR purchased a Charter in 2018 and runs a full schedule in 2019. SCR was formed by a collective group of seasoned NASCAR specialists, as well as successful business entrepreneurs from SCRs parent company, StarCom Fiber. For more information on SCR or to purchase team gear, please visit http://www.starcomfiber.com. For any sponsorship opportunities, please reach out directly to our Marketing Director, Elyshia Cope at ecope(at)starcomracing(dot)com. Press Contacts Ashley-Marie Monica amonica(at)starcomracing(dot)com Doug Frakes, Operations Specialist at Stertil-Koni Every single day, Stertil-Koni is focused on delivering an exceptional level of customer care and support. That is precisely why we are so pleased to enhance our team with a logistics professional with Dougs background, expertise and can-do spirit. Stertil-Koni, the leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts notably bus lifts and truck lifts has announced that Doug Frakes has joined the company as an Operations Specialist. He will succeed Paul Marks, who announced his retirement from Stertil-Koni after 21 years of focused, dedicated, and exceptional service to the company. In his new post, Frakes will work closely with a broad range of audiences chiefly the companys extensive North American distributor network, sales personnel, and Stertil-Koni manufacturing locations in the United States and Europe. His prime mission is to process and ship vehicle lift equipment and accessory orders to distributors and customers across North America. In making todays announcement, Stertil-Koni Director of Operations, Kevin Hymers, noted, Every single day, Stertil-Koni is focused on delivering an exceptional level of customer care and support. That is precisely why we are so pleased to enhance our team with a logistics professional with Dougs background, expertise and can-do spirit. Prior to joining Stertil-Koni, Frakes worked for 10 years at FedEx Ground in Upper Marlboro, MD. During his tenure, he managed ground operations and new processes implementation, including inbound and outbound sort management and pickup and delivery management operations. Frakes was also responsible for the training and supervision of operations managers and administrators, executing analyses of operational metrics and overseeing compliance with governing regulatory agencies. He is a graduate of Florida State University, in Tallahassee, FL with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Frakes resides in Annapolis, MD. # # # About Stertil-Koni Stertil-Koni is the market leader in heavy duty vehicle lifts, notably bus lifts and truck lifts, and proudly serves municipalities, state agencies, school bus fleets, major corporations, the U.S. Military and more. Stertil-Koni's breadth of products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes portable lifts such as Mobile Column Lifts, 2-post, 4-post, inground piston lifts, platform lifts, and its axle-engaging, inground, scissor lift configuration, ECOLIFT. The companys innovative, inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFT is now available with an optional Continuous Recess system, ideal for low clearance vehicles. Stertil-Koni USA is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland with production facilities in Europe, The Netherlands, and in Streator, IL. Contact: Paul Feldman, Paul.Feldman(at)Stertil-Koni.com, 410-643-9001 This Better Business Bureau award recognizes Envoys dedication to our customer first mentality and continuous quest to make the customer service experience of obtaining a mortgage loan an exceptional one," said Envoy CEO, Ron Millard. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) hosted its 27th Annual Award for Excellence Ceremony on May 15, 2019, recognizing local companies for their exemplary characteristics of quality and customer service in the workplace. Envoy Mortgage was one of the companies recognized and was honored to be named a Winner of Distinction for its commitment to customer service. This Better Business Bureau award recognizes Envoys dedication to our customer first mentality and continuous quest to make the customer service experience of obtaining a mortgage loan an exceptional one. We work extremely hard every day to ensure that both our borrowers and loan origination teams receive the best service possible, said Envoy CEO, Ron Millard. Envoy Mortgage was chosen to receive this recognition because of its focus on process improvements to achieve exceptional customer service, such as, improved search engine optimization, advanced marketing technologies and an expedited operations workflow. Envoys noteworthy customer reviews on SocialSurvey, an innovative testimonial and online review platform, have also gained them recognition by improving their online customer experience reputation. Envoy has managed to obtain some of the highest-ranking scores in the financial industry, securing them a 4.9 out of 5 in customer satisfaction and a 9.5 out of 10 in customer recommendation. Their continued success in adoption of this platform has even ensured three Envoy loan originators a spot in the top 50 and five Envoy loan originators a spot in the top 250 in customer satisfaction, out of 30,000 licensed originators, positioning Envoy as a top 10 financial lender for customer satisfaction. Envoy values our partnership with the Better Business Bureau and is honored to be included among the BBB-accredited companies recognized for providing outstanding customer service to consumers, said Millard. About Envoy Mortgage: Founded in 1997, Envoy Mortgage is an independently owned national mortgage lender headquartered in Houston, TX dedicated to serving retail originators exclusively to allow them to serve their customers and grow their businesses. As a Fannie, Freddie and Ginnie approved seller/servicer, Envoy offers a full menu of loan products with locations across the U.S. Licensed in 48 states, Envoy branches deliver outstanding customer service while offering a full menu of loan products with the tools, expertise and technology needed to support all functions of the mortgage process. More information is available at http://www.EnvoyMortgage.com. Envoy Mortgage, Ltd. NMLS #6666. Whistleblowers who know an employer is committing fraud against the government have the opportunity and protection needed to save U.S. taxpayers billions of dollars, and are often rewarded with a share of the funds they help the government recover; we have helped clients obtain millions of dollars. Sumner Schick is honored among Newsweeks Premier Law Firms for 2019 for the firms representation of clients in whistleblower cases and for defense of companies involved in Qui Tam litigation. Newsweeks Premier Law Firms list recognizes law firms whose attorneys always place their clients needs first. The Premier Law Firms publisher states that the best attorneys act decisively, using their wisdom and experience to navigate their clients through a challenging legal process often during periods of extreme stress and worry that can affect every aspect of their life. Newsweek adds, These leading attorneys draw daily on their ingrained talent and the years of training and education that has furnished them with the skill, perception and know-how to react quickly and decisively when the pressure is on and the stakes are high. It is fair to say that law is the ultimate profession for critical and analytical thinkers. Sumner Schick is highly experienced in whistleblower and Qui Tam cases and has built a robust practice in this complex area of law. It started when the firm began representing some of the countrys largest companies in Qui Tam defense cases representing Lockheed Martin, Affilliated Computer Services (ACS), and Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC). We have defended some of the largest companies in the U.S. when they were facing Qui Tam litigation, including Lockheed Martin, ACS, CSC and DXC Technologies, said Steve Sumner, Managing Partner and Founder of the firm. Our deep experience with internal investigations and our ability to negotiate with government entities has allowed us to obtain dismissals for several of our Fortune 500 companies facing Qui Tam cases across multiple states, saving them hundreds of millions of dollars in litigation costs. Justin Sumner, a partner at the firm, added, Whistleblower cases are an important part of our justice system. Individuals who know that their employer is committing fraud against the government are given the opportunity and the protection they need to come forward and save the American taxpayers billions of dollars. And they are often rewarded with a share of the funds they help the government recover we have helped our whistleblower clients obtain millions of dollars for their brave actions. Sumner Schick LLP is a Dallas-based law firm that represents businesses and individuals in high-stakes litigation and business law matters. The firms attorneys advise and advocate for the interests of businesses of every size, including several Fortune 500 companies, in complex commercial litigation nationwide. Focus areas include information technology disputes, False Claims Act and Qui Tam matters (defense and prosecution), antitrust, corporate fraud, and unfair competition. Learn more about Sumner Schick LLP at sumnerschick.com. Follow Sumner Schick on Linkedin. Find Sumner Schick on Facebook. Lucid is excited to join forces with WBENC to extend impact within corporate technical recruiting and supplier diversity initiatives. Lucid Services Group, a business specializing in technology staffing services, is proud to announce national certification as a Womens Business Enterprise by the Great Lakes Women's Business Council (Great Lakes WBC), a regional certifying partner of the Womens Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). "Lucid Services Groups mission closely aligns with WBENC and our shared values around diversity, innovation and creating partnerships that fuel the economy. Our team of almost 20 females strong, is passionate about helping customers to bridge the gap between technical needs and talent, remarked Bethany Robinson, Owner and CEO of Lucid Services Group. Being part of the WBENC community also helps me gain perspective on how other female leaders are growing and scaling companies; which is incredibly valuable as we work towards expansion of services lines and new offices." WBENCs national standard of certification implemented by the Great Lakes WBC, is a meticulous process including an in-depth review of the business and site inspection. The certification process is designed to confirm the business is at least 51% owned, operated and controlled by a woman or women. By including women-owned businesses among their suppliers, corporations and government agencies demonstrate their commitment to fostering diversity and the continued development of their supplier diversity programs. To learn more about Lucid Services Group, please visit http://www.lucidservicesgroup.com. About Lucid Services Group: Lucid Services Group is a woman-owned, professional services company providing managed-resource programs and staff augmentation to highly technical industries including information technology, life sciences and engineering. With over 50 years of collective recruiting expertise, Lucid Services group helps customers deliver outcomes quickly, and painlessly. Lucid is headquartered in Indianapolis, with second location in Bloomington, Indiana. About WBENC: Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nations leader in womens business development and the leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with more than 13,000 certified Womens Business Enterprises, 14 national Regional Partner Organizations, and over 300 Corporate Members. More than 1,000 corporations representing Americas most prestigious brands as well as many states, cities, and other entities accept WBENC Certification. For more information, visit http://www.wbenc.org. The Views is the first of its kind in Lake Havasu Luke Still, co-founder of Desert Land Group May 29th, 2019 marks the 26th anniversary of National Senior Health & Fitness Day, where senior citizens across the country will make exercising a priority. The timing is just right for new residents of The Views at Lake Havasu, a resort-style senior living community for independent active seniors over 55. The doors to The Views opened last week and the first group of eager occupants have officially moved in. A grand opening celebration of this 92-room modern-contemporary complex is planned for July when more new residents will be introduced to a variety of luxury amenities in a maintenance-free lifestyle. The Views is the first of its kind in Lake Havasu, said Luke Still, co-founder of Desert Land Group, who partnered with Summerlin Asset Management to develop the senior independent living community. Our city has more senior citizens per capita than most cities in the nation, with 29% of our population being over 55 years of age. A unique project such as the Views is exactly what residents have been waiting for. According to the United States Census Bureau, the number of people who were over 65 years old grew from 44.7 million in 2013 to 46.2 million in 2016. Since this statistic is expected to grow closer to 56 million by 2020, the focus on keeping senior citizens fit and healthy overall becomes more important. While the entire month of May is designated as Senior Citizens Month, organizations across the nation are planning specific events to encourage physical activity on May 29th. When it comes to active senior living, The Views at Lake Havasu takes this word to heart. Their My Activities Program is one of the most comprehensive signature programs they offer, as it focuses on the overall wellness needs of their residents. With an outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and onsite activities director, every day at The Views will feel like National Senior Health & Fitness Day. About Summerlin Asset Management, LLC Summerlin Asset Management, LLC is a privately owned real estate investment firm with offices in Arizona and California. Summerlin offers investment opportunities in all new development projects. These projects include ground-up developments of Senior Living communities, Boat and RV Storage Facilities, and Multifamily developments within the United States. To learn more about The Views at Lake Havasu, click on this link: http://www.lakehavasuseniors.com The Atriums, a resort-style retirement community operated by Tutera Senior Living & Health Care at 7300 West 107th Street in Overland Park, Kansas, is undergoing a $1.5 million renovation. With the remodel, we are reinvesting in our community to not only benefit our valued residents, but to also continue Tuteras leadership in delivering the highest-quality lifestyle in a competitive market. The Atriums, a resort-style retirement community operated by Tutera Senior Living & Health Care at 7300 West 107th Street in Overland Park, Kansas, is undergoing a $1.5 million renovation. This month, Tutera will complete phase 1 of a $500,000 remodel of the first-floor common living spaces and begin phase 2, of an expected $1 million remodel of The Atriums 203 resident apartments homes. So far, Tutera has transformed the 50,000-square-foot first-floor common living area into upscale, modernized dining and gathering places for a more active living environment. Amenities and services include an elegant main dining area, upscale community lounges for entertaining, a pub, cards and billiards room, grand piano, reading corner and more. All new furnishings will complete the bright and airy, inviting space. Work began in November 2018. For more than 30 years, The Atriums has set the standard for upscale senior living in the heart of Overland Park, said Mike Levitt, vice president and chief compliance officer at Tutera. With the remodel, we are reinvesting in our community to not only benefit our valued residents, but to also continue Tuteras leadership in delivering the highest-quality lifestyle in a competitive market. During phase 2 of the remodel, Tutera will update finishes within The Atriums 168 Independent Living apartment homes, which feature seven different floor plans. The remodel will also include updating the 35 Assisted Living apartment homes. The residences will be modernized with new lighting, flooring, paint and other upscale finishes. Phase 2 work is expected to be complete in the next 12 to 18 months. Family is at the heart of everything we do, said Lucille Tutera, administrator for The Atriums. The remodel of The Atriums reflects our pride in ensuring the most luxurious lifestyle for our cherished residents and peace of mind for their families. Country-club-style amenities and services make The Atriums a sophisticated, yet comfortable community including: Restaurant-style dining Healthy menu options made to order by in-house chefs Lounges for entertaining, cards, billiards and other social activities High-end beauty/barber salon Resort-style heated indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi and sauna Beautifully landscaped grounds Convenience store Library, reading corner Wi-Fi throughout the community Full interior and exterior maintenance of apartment homes Independent heating/air conditioning controls Weekly maid and linen services Transportation services and group tours Fully monitored emergency call system in bedroom and bath 24-hour security Unlike other senior communities that require a buy-in or large upfront payment, The Atriums is a rental-based community for discerning seniors who want more choice and flexibility. Residents at The Atriums also have priority access to Tutera Senior Livings full complement of post-acute health care services including home health onsite, as well as rehabilitation and skilled nursing at one of Tuteras nearby facilities, customized to meet diverse health care needs. The Atriums is a deficiency-free community having earned the prestigious Bronze Commitment to Quality Award from the from the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), the leading associations for long term and post-acute care. The annual award honors association members across the nation that have demonstrated their commitment to improving quality of care for seniors and persons with disabilities. Tutera is tapping its 30 years of national senior living community development expertise to bring the services and amenities most valued by residents, their families and staff to The Atriums. Leading the refresh efforts are Nearing Staats Prelogar & Jones Architects (Prairie Village, Kan.) and Marian Tutera Design (Kansas City, Mo.). About Tutera Senior Living & Health Care Tutera Senior Living & Health Care is a locally owned, diversified post-acute senior health care provider operating 70 senior living communities in nine states throughout the United States. As one of the nations premier senior care providers, Tutera Senior Living & Health Care offers its residents independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, post-surgery rehabilitation, memory care, home health and hospice care. In 1983, Dominic F. Tutera, M.D., founded Tutera to provide compassionate patient care with the uncompromising values of integrity, accountability and commitment. Tutera Senior Living & Health Care still embodies those values today. Tutera is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of its residents and their families through senior living and health care experts who inspire and promote individuality and personal happiness. For more information, visit http://www.Tutera.com. TORONTO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Redpath Sugar began in Canada in 1854 and has been operating in Toronto since 1959. The local plant supplies various sugar products to the Canadian market including grocery stores, foodservice and food manufacturers. As one of the last industrial establishments in the Toronto Harbour, Redpath has withstood rapid development and changes in the area while adapting to various needs with technological and environmental advancements. Redpath continues to be an important member and presence to the Toronto waterfront community and will be recognized during Doors Open for its 60 years of historical contributions and continued positive impact on the City of Toronto. When: 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 25, 2019 Where: Redpath Sugar, 95 Queens Quay E, Toronto ON What: Representatives from Redpath Sugar will be presented with a scroll from Toronto City Councillor, Michael Thompson, recognizing the companys longstanding presence and positive impact on the Citys community, economic development, and food industry. Who: Phil Guglielmi, General Manager, Redpath Sugar Councillor Michael Thompson, Councillor of Ward 21 Scarborough Centre and Chair of Economic and Community Development Committee MP Adam Vaughan, Spadina Fort York Jeff Hubbell, PortsToronto Al Moritz, City of Toronto Poet Laureate All media are invited to attend the celebration and recognition ceremony. For more information, contact: 2019 Chevy Silverado Towing Power At the top of the list of best-available new pickup trucks sits the 2019 Chevy Silverado. Drivers in Woodlawn can find the new 2019 Chevy Silverado at Jeff Johnson Chevrolet. One of the most popular segments in the auto industry is the full-size pickup truck. Their ability to deliver incredible power and capability makes them an easy pick for many drivers who require increased horsepower and torque to help them tow large trailers and haul heavy payloads. At the top of the list of best-available new pickup trucks sits the 2019 Chevy Silverado. Drivers in Woodlawn can find the new 2019 Chevy Silverado at Jeff Johnson Chevrolet. The 2019 Chevy Silverado is a full-size pickup truck that is available in many body styles and trim levels which makes it easy for any shopper to get exactly what they are looking for. The new 2019 Chevy Silverado also offers many available engine options, so shoppers can get the horsepower and torque they require to handle all their daily duties. Also helping the new 2019 Chevy Silverado become a top pick for a new truck in Woodlawn is its long list of technology features, comfort amenities, active safety technologies, and standard equipment. To learn more about the new 2019 Chevy Silverado in Woodlawn, interested shoppers are encouraged to visit the dealerships website by going to Johnsoncars.com. Drivers may also contact the Chevy dealer to ask further questions or to schedule a test drive in the new Chevy Silverado by calling 276-728-4800. Jeff Johnson Chevrolet is located at 2533 Carrollton Pike in Woodlawn. WebRezPro Property Management System WebRezPro has the kind of proven track record of innovation and global hotel footprint that makes for a perfect partner to OpenKey and other leading solutions in hospitality. WebRezPro cloud hotel property management system (PMS) by World Web Technologies Inc. (WWT) now offers integration with OpenKey, a leading provider of universal mobile keyless entry technology for hotels. The partnership empowers hotels to speed up and modernize the check-in process and improve the guest experience by automating mobile key delivery to guests. Partnered with all major global lock companies, the OpenKey app works with a hotels existing lock system, which is upgraded to mobile key while maintaining the existing keycard functionality. The direct interface between WebRezPro and OpenKey facilitates Automated Mobile Key Delivery, allowing hotels to automatically deliver a secure mobile key to a guests smartphone simply by checking the guest in through the PMS. Automating mobile key delivery speeds up the check-in process, ensures every guest receives their digital key, and enhances the guest experience. As OpenKey has grown around the world hotels have come to expect us to partner with the very best in hotel technology solutions. WebRezPro has the kind of proven track record of innovation and global hotel footprint that makes for a perfect partner to OpenKey and other leading solutions in hospitality, said Brian Shedd, VP of Sales and Marketing at OpenKey. Mobile key solutions are becoming increasingly popular as lodging providers strive to simplify the check-in process and cut wait times, reduce the cost and environmental impact of plastic keycards, and meet the expectations of todays guests. Leveraging technology to meet and exceed guest expectations and improve operating efficiency is so important in an increasingly competitive industry, said Frank Verhagen, President at WWT. With OpenKey, were pleased to bring lodging operators an integrated mobile key solution that streamlines guest check-in and provides a competitive differentiator for hotels. About OpenKey Founded in 2014, OpenKey is reinventing the hospitality experience through its mobile access solution. The OpenKey app is the industry standard for universal mobile key technology and works with the majority of digital hotel locks. Hotels and their guests benefit from OpenKeys platform providing efficiency, convenience and cost savings. OpenKey is a privately held company located in Plano, Texas. The company has been funded by several of the largest hotel ownership and management companies in the world. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices. For more information, please visit http://www.openkey.co. About WebRezPro WebRezPro is a powerful, easy-to-use cloud property management system for all accommodation types and sizes. The fully integrated and automated system saves lodging operators time and boosts revenue by streamlining and modernizing front desk and back office operations. Bringing the benefits of the cloud to 1,300+ properties in 40 countries, WebRezPro is a product of World Web Technologies Inc., an Internet marketing and software company for tourism and hospitality since 1994. For more information, please visit webrezpro.com. born free launch event photo by Ren'ee Kahn Bresler born free is turning the influencer concept on its head and inviting everyday moms and dads with less than 5,000 followers A new baby brand is rolling out the red carpet and giving parents the star treatment. born free is hosting a pop-up experience where expectant and new families can live like top-tier influencers. At a time when most brands are courting an elite class of influencers, born free is turning the influencer concept on its head and inviting everyday moms and dads with less than 5,000 followers to enjoy that lifestyle for themselves. The June 1 Find Your Free event, hosted by Motherly, will escort attendees through massages by FaceLove, skincare and makeup by Follain, custom bracelets by MyIntent and toys, play, music and stories by Rose & Rex, The Dough Project, Jam with Jamie and StoriesBK. For regular people, the world of social influencers seems attractive but unattainable, said Jen Johnson, VP of Brand Marketing for born free. Influencers get the best of everything, and most of us feel that lifestyle is out of reach. We wanted to explore the idea where our lack of following the thing that's holding us back from being offered these experiences becomes the key which grants us access to something out of the ordinary. From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Mezzanine in New York City, attendees will leave the scroll and go on a stroll through activities and installations like the Wall of Onesies, where two of them will select a Golden Onesie with a pair of Hearts On Fire earrings pinned to their heart and other prizes worth more than $5,000. Ten will receive gift bags worth more than $200. Everyone will receive gift bags with special offers from born free and all brands involved, including Twelvelittle, Cocoongoods and Momkindness. This event puts aside macro-influencers, micro-influencers and the pressure of documenting everything, said Johnson. Its about people who dont consider themselves members of the influencer class, and giving them a memorable day with their growing families. Attendees can RSVP for a limited number of spaces to the free event here. About born free born free liberates modern family living with a curated selection of premium, design-centric and affordable baby essentials. Its line includes the kova baby bouncer, nisa playard, wima baby carrier, liva stroller and more, and can be purchased at http://shopbornfree.com. About SUMR Brands Based in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, SUMR Brands is driven by a commitment to people, products, and purpose. The Company is made up of a diverse group of experts with a passion to make family life better. For more information, visit http://www.sumrbrands.com. XtremeLabs LLC Publishing is going through an aggressive digital transformation. Publishers are enhancing their content with digital hands-on labs and courseware. XtremeLabs and Mercury Learning and Information are partnering to provide authors of technical books with online learning labs and courseware to supplement their digital and print content. Mercury Learning and Information is a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) print and digital content. In partnership with XtremeLabs, authors will be able to add a rich, hands-on learning experience to their content. The XtremeLabs online learning labs platform allows learners to get hands-on experience with systems and tools. For example, authors developing content related to coding can provide access to an integrated development environment, code snippets and exercises through XtremeLabs web browser-based platform. As publishers we are always looking to provide the best digital solutions to our authors, said David Pallai, CEO of Mercury Learning and Information. Our authors will have another digital avenue to enhance their content. XtremeLabs online labs platform integrates with all standards-based learning management platforms such as Blackboard, Instructure, Open edX, and Moodle that are commonly used in educational institutions. Authors will now be able to seamlessly extend their content for use in academic courses. Publishing is going through an aggressive digital transformation, said Ahmar Abbas, CEO of XtremeLabs. We are excited to be working with Mercury Learning and Information to enhance their digital offerings. XtremeLabs LLC and Mercury Learning and Information will be available at the Book Expo 2019, being held at the Javits Center in New York City, May 29-31, 2019. Please contact Domieh.Daoud@xtremelabs.com to schedule an appointment. About XtremeLabs XtremeLabs provides technology products and services to support employability, workforce development and training. XtremeLabs provides hands-on labs for training, examinations and certifications. XtremeLabs has over 9000 hands-on labs that cover subjects such as coding, security, data science, machine learning, networking. and other technologies. Our labs are available in over 10 different languages including German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and Arabic. For more information visit https://www.xtremelabs.io. About Mercury Learning and Information Mercury Learning and Information provides print and digital content in the areas of science and medicine, technology and computing, engineering, and mathematics (STEM disciplines) designed for the professional/reference, trade, library, higher education, career school, and online training markets. We embrace both traditional and innovative publishing models designed to accommodate the needs of the intended audience by using the appropriate delivery methods. For more information visit http://www.merclearning.com/ David Caldwell, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration added, This was aneffort by many people but specific thanks to the Ziegler team that did a stellar job creatingsignificant interest in our offering and locking in attractive rates for us..." Ziegler, a specialty investment bank with a dedicated Higher Education Finance Practice, is pleased to announce the successful closing of the $22,375,000 Series 2019 for Trevecca Nazarene University. The Series 2019 tax-exempt bonds were issued through the Health and Educational Facilities Board of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee. Proceeds from the 2019 Bonds will be used primarily to restructure the Universitys debt portfolio and fund various campus projects. Trevecca Nazarene University is a co-educational Christian university, with its main campus located in the heart of Nashville, TN, approximately a mile from downtown. Trevecca offers 68 baccalaureate degrees, 18 associate degrees, 16 masters programs, and two doctoral programs. As of fall 2018, the University enrolled 3,233 full-time students and 694 part-time students. As an official university for the Church of the Nazarene, the University is guided by the Articles of Faith and the Covenant of Christian Conduct of the denomination. We were privileged to have partnered with Trevecca on its inaugural public market bond issue, and were excited to have successfully executed this transaction on behalf of the University, noted Brad Garrett, Director of Zieglers Higher Education Finance Practice. Trevecca is a special university and the entire talented TNU team was a pleasure to work with. I am very proud of the effort that was put into this transaction and believe that the fitting outcome sets up Trevecca for continued strategic and financial success. There has rarely been a better time to borrow through the fixed-rate tax-exempt capital markets. David Caldwell, Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration added, This was an effort by many people but specific thanks to the Ziegler team that did a stellar job creating significant interest in our offering and locking in attractive rates for us without sacrificing for a debt service reserve fund. This was an incredibly successful first public bond issuance that allows the institution to save significant interest expense next year and provides Trevecca the knowledge that 100% of our debt is now fixed for up to 30 years. Ziegler is one of the nations leading underwriters of financing not-for-profit borrowers. Ziegler offers creative, tailored solutions to its higher education clients, including investment banking, financial risk management, merger and acquisition services, private placement services, USDA financing, capital and strategic planning as well as higher education research, education and communication. For further information on the structure and use of this issue, please see the Official Statement located on the Electronic Municipal Market Access systems Document Archives, and visit us at http://www.ziegler.com. For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.ziegler.com. About Ziegler: Ziegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. We have a unique focus on healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales & trading and research. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com. Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This clients experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees. Last month, Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander wrapped up a national bus tour celebrating the launch of his Versify imprint with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, as well as the newly released paperback editions of The Crossover and Booked. For the first leg of the tour, Alexander was joined by the authors and illustrators whose books appear on the debut Versify list: Lamar Giles (The Last Last-Day-of-Summer), Kadir Nelson (The Undefeated), Raul the Third (Vamos! Lets Go to the Market!), and Kip Wilson (White Rose). Weve gathered a selection of highlights from the events. At the tours first public event, Newbery Honor author Jacqueline Woodson moderated a conversation among Versify authors at the new Center for Fiction space in Brooklyn. (From l.): Raul the Third, Kwame Alexander, Woodson, Kip Wilson, and Lamar Giles. Finding bus parking on the streets of New York Citytricky but not impossible! After a morning school visit in Brooklyn, Giles, Wilson, and Raul the Third dropped by Books of Wonder in Manhattan to sign copies of their new books. Can a Newbery Medalist get a ride? Diary of a Wimpy Kid author and bookstore owner Jeff Kinney (l.) interviewed Kadir Nelson, Raul the Third, Kip Wilson, and Lamar Giles during an event at his store, An Unlikely Story, in Plainville, Mass. At the Boston Public Library, Raul the Third shared scenes from Vamos! with a group of young readers. The Versify window display at Words Bookstore in Maplewood, N.J. An authors work is never done: Kip Wilson signing copies of her debut novel, White Rose, at Words Bookstore. Visiting Clinton Elementary School in Maplewood, N.J. Theres nothing like 100 high-fives to make an author feel welcome. At the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., Kevin Merida (l.) of TheUndefeated.com led a conversation between Nelson and Alexander about their picture book, The Undefeated. One side of the tour bus, seen here at Grace College in Winona Lake, Ind., featured the four new Versify titles . while the other side, seen here at Trinity School in Columbus, Ohio, highlighted the paperback editions of the Newbery Medalwinning The Crossover and bestselling Booked. Alexander and fans at an event organized by Cover to Cover in Columbus, Ohio. Claudette S. McLinn, executive director of the Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature, joined Nelson and Alexander for a discussion about their new book at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Following the festival, Alexander and Nelson visited the Metaphor Club in L.A. for an event hosted by author Lawrence Ross (center). Musician Randy Preston (r.) performed with Alexander at events throughout the tour. Three weeks and thousands of kids later, it was time to head home. At this year's star-studded PEN America Literary Gala, held Tuesday evening at the American Museum of National History in Manhattan and emceed by Last Week Tonight host John Oliver, the literary not-for-profit honored Scholastic chairman and CEO Richard Robinson and author and journalist Bob Woodward, among others, for their work defending freedom of expression and the First Amendment. Robinson was the evening's publishing honoree, and was introduced by Alec Baldwin, who read aloud comments by Robinson's author J.K. Rowling, who won the 2016 PEN America Literary Service Award. In his remarks, Robinson called reading a "civil right," quoting Phyllis Hunter, the literacy scholar and former adviser to the President of the United States and the Secretary of Education. "The history of Scholastic in this area [of freedom of expression] has often been controversial," Robinson said. "We have been banned in schools in the 30s and 50s for being too soft on communism; in the 40s and the 60s for promoting liberal views on race, civil rights, and the Vietnam War; in the 70s for articles on student rightsnot a popular subject in schools; in the 80s and 90s for climate change; and in the 2000s for the Iraq war. Despite these controversies and temporary bans, schools have relied on our balanced approach to help the young gain basic knowledge about their world, with the larger goal of helping kids know how to build and maintain a fragile democracy. Woodward, introduced by fellow revered journalist and author and Robert Caro, a two-time winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, received this year's PEN America Literary Service Award. Woodward invited his former colleague Carl Bernstein, with whom he broke news of the Watergate scandal, to share the stage with him. "Ben Bradlee, the editor at the [Washington Post], used to tell us how you deal with the stress of reporting a story when it's hard," Woodward said in his remarks. "Nose down, ass up, moving slowly forward to the truth. Other honorees at the gala included Anita Hill, the professor, lawyer, activist, and chair of the Hollywood Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality, and Saudi writer-activists Nouf Abdulaziz, Loujain Al-Hathloul, and Eman Al-Nafjan. The gala, PEN America representatives noted, raises more than $2.6 million for the organization. The remarks by Robinson and Woodward can be streamed in the videos below: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books & Media has joined most major publishers in devising an ordering plan for independent booksellers who have been impacted by the recent Baker & Taylor decision to depart the retail wholesale business. Titled Fast Track, HMH's program offers the following terms on all front and backlist orders: Expedited account setup for new accounts that were working with Baker & Taylor Special offer on the first order Waived minimum order quantities Free outbound shipping A direct sales representative contact to work closely with accounts on this process In addition, HMH has updated its backlist stock offers and is offering the opportunity to order backlist under new terms. Interested stores can contact their rep or reach out via Indie Fast Track. Offered until Oct. 1, 2019 "HMH is committed to our independent bookstore partners and to a flourishing retail marketplace," said Ed Spade, v-p sales and national accounts at HMH Books & Media, in a statement. Were glad that we can offer the Fast Track program to streamline new account set up and initial ordering for these valued indie accounts." Booksellers with questions about Fast Track can contact IndieFastTrack@hmhco.com. Consumer use of audiobooks is on the rise, and despite different modes of operation, Christian publishers are positioning themselves to take advantage of the growth in the category. Some Christian publishers produce their own audio, while others license rights to companies such as RB Media (which owns ChristianAudio) and Two Words Publishing. Regardless of their approach, many houses are ramping up their audio output. Hachette Audio has seen strong gains overall, and sales for its FaithWords and Center Street imprints have progressively increased, according to senior v-p, content development and audio publisher Anthony Goff. Sales YTD in 2019 have grown 26% net over 2018 in [the religion] category, he tells PW. While traditional CDs are sold at bricks-and-mortar stores, Goff notes that religion book buyers are increasingly shifting with the rest of the market to digital audio. Aside from Audible, downloads are sold through Apple Books, Google Play, Downpour, Audiobooks.com, and Libro.fm. Hachette Audio also sells into the school and library market using OverDrive, Baker & Taylor, Bibliotheca, OneClick, and Blackstone. The publisher plans to increase its number of Christian audiobook releases, which will reflect Hachette Nashvilles acquisition of Worthy Publishing. We have increased the number of FaithWords titles regularly over the past seasons, and were very excited to launch audio editions of Worthy titles this year, says Goff. Audio sales have grown across all HarperCollins Christian Publishing imprints as well, according to Brad Hill, senior manager, audio. He cited the flexibility afforded to consumers who can listen to a book on their favorite device while doing other things. Despite challenges when it comes to curating audio content and bringing it to consumers' attention, "the pairing of technology with audio content has never been easier," Hill says. "The future of audio is full of opportunity." Other publishers are reconsidering their approach to audiobook publishing. At Tyndale House, titles are licensed externally for audiobook production, but in-house production is something weve been toying with for awhile, says Alan Huizenga, senior director of digital publishing. He notes the growing potential for audiobooks to be used as discovery platforms and the number of innovations being made on smart devices for audio. Its a matter of do we want to continue our licensing model or invest in production, he says. Were definitely exploring that. InterVarsity Press is seeing strong growth in both the number of titles being licensed for audio formatting and units sold, according to Ellen Hsu, senior rights & contracts manager. IVP now licenses around 80% of its bestselling books, and while the growth has been "gratifying," Hsu says: "Audiobook licensing is still a fairly small portion of our overall licensing program, [and] audio sales are still a fairly small percentage of print sales." Nevertheless, the publisher is also considering producing its own audiobooks. B&H expects continued growth in its audiobooks segment, according to Jennifer Lyell, v-p of book publishing & merchandising, who says the publisher is both focusing on and investing in the category. "We have historically licensed our audio publishing rights, but are now poised to begin publishing and distributing audiobooks ourselves as part of our strategy to deliver content through increasingly digital mediums," she tells PW. Although the Audiobook Publishers Association (APA) doesnt have data about the Christian market specifically, there has been double-digit growth in both dollar and unit sales the last six years across the industry, says Michele Cobb, director of the organization. The APAs audiobook industry sales survey found that sales in 2017 totaled $2.5 billion; up 22.7% over 2016. From indications, through the APA research, it appears that the format will continue to grow as more and more younger listeners are beginning to move from video to listening digitally as a preferred way to spend their leisure time, says Goff at Hachette Audio. Its a truly exciting time to be publishing audio. Two years ago, Gabriella Page-Fort, editorial director at AmazonCrossing, was celebrated as the top honoree for the annual PW Star Watch program, a partnership between Publishers Weekly and Frankfurter Buchmesse. Gabriella has had a tremendous role in increasing the number of books in translation published in the United States, said Jim Milliot, editorial director of Publishers Weekly, at the time of her win. The quality of her acquisitions has expanded the U.S. literary landscape and opened new territory for readers and book lovers. Publishing books in translation is a labor of love for Page-Fort, who wrote a piece entitled Why Do Americans Read so Few Books in Translation? for LitHub, of which a Spanish translation by Griselda Zavala Marquez was recently published in Argonautica. She is using her platform at Amazon to spread the translation message in different ways, including a promotion during World Book Day. Amazon Crossing [conducted a] World Book Day giveaway were excited to see more than 4 million pages read so far by customers in more than 100 countries, said Page-Fort. This years event was truly global in scope with books featured on Amazons sites in the US, Canada, the UK, India, and Australia and for the first time we featured a new release, Sofia Segovias The Murmur of Bees, translated by Simon Bruni (of which readers have read more than 1 million pages so far). My colleague Elizabeth DeNoma discovered this novel and the whole team fell head over heels for it. Today, she continues to expand the AmazonCrossing list, with acquisitions from new countries and even expanding the list into nonfiction. Last years publications of The Dark Heart: A True Story of Greed, Murder, and an Unlikely Investigator by Joakim Palmkvist, translated from Swedish by Agnes Broome, which was one of the five most-sold translated books of 2018 per Amazon Charts. Masaji Ishikawas A River in Darkness: One Mans Escape from North Korea, translated from Japanese by Risa Kobayashi and Martin Brown, and An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew by Annejet van der Zijl. translated from Dutch by Michele Hutchison, were Amazon Charts bestsellers as well as New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, respectively. Forthcoming books Page-Fort highlighted are Icelandic author Kristin Eiriksdottirs A Fist or a Heart, translated by Larissa Kyzer (set to be published in September 2019), which is currently nominated for the Nordic Council Literature Prize; Saud Alsanousis Mama Hissas Mice, translated by Sawad Hussein (November 2019), which is Amazon Crosssing's first translation from Arabic and its first acquisition from Kuwait; and another book by Annejet van der Zijl entitled Boy Between Worlds (August 2019). Theres no question this work gets easier with experience, said Page-Fort, explaining that each book has new things to teach her about how to reach readers. The Star Watch win is something that not only helped Page-Fort gain the attention of editors and agents, such as Japanese agent Daihei Shiohama who introduces her as Super Star, it also helped raise the profile of Amazon Crossing and translation publishing internally as well, providing more resources to create visibility for the imprint. To nominate someone for Star Watch 2019, go to publishersweekly.com/StarWatch19. Files 2018 Annual Report with the AMF Provides first quarter 2019 financial statements Enters into intellectual property agreement with Stanislas Veillet PARIS and CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Biophytis SA (Euronext Growth Paris: ALBPS), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics for age-related diseases, today announced the publication of its 2018 Annual Report (Document de reference), which has been filed with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (the AMF) under n19-0509. The 2018 Annual Report is available on the Companys website (www.biophytis.com) and on the website of the AMF (www.amf-france.org). The 2018 Annual Report has been filed concurrently with the public filing of a registration statement on Form F-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which is being separately announced today. First Quarter 2019 Financials The Company also provided first quarter 2019 interim condensed consolidated financial statements, which are available in their entirety on the Companys website (www.biophytis.com) and summarized below: Cash and Cash Equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2019 were 11.2 million, a decrease of 3.2 million as compared to 14.4 million as of December 31, 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, cash used in operating activities and investing activities were 5.0 million and 0.0 million, respectively, which was partially offset by cash provided by financing activities of 1.8 million. Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2019 were 11.2 million, a decrease of 3.2 million as compared to 14.4 million as of December 31, 2018. During the three months ended March 31, 2019, cash used in operating activities and investing activities were 5.0 million and 0.0 million, respectively, which was partially offset by cash provided by financing activities of 1.8 million. Research and Development Expenses. Net research and development expenses were 2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of 0.3 million as compared to 2.0 million for the corresponding period in 2018. Net research and development expenses were 2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2019, an increase of 0.3 million as compared to 2.0 million for the corresponding period in 2018. General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses were 1.2 million for the three months ended 2019, an increase of 0.3 million as compared to 0.9 million for the corresponding period in 2018. General and administrative expenses were 1.2 million for the three months ended 2019, an increase of 0.3 million as compared to 0.9 million for the corresponding period in 2018. Net Loss. Net loss was 3.7 million for the three months ended 2019, as compared to 2.9 million for the corresponding period in 2018. Net loss per share (based on weighted-average number of shares outstanding over the period) was 0.28 for the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 0.22 for the corresponding period in 2018. Considering current cash resources and existing financing lines, the company has the financial means to operate for the next 12 months. Intellectual Property Agreement with Stanislas Veillet Under French intellectual property law, Mr. Veillet, our CEO, who is a corporate officer (mandataire social) but not an employee of the Company, is entitled to certain rights with respect to inventions he has developed with the Company and for which the Company has submitted patent applications in which he is listed as a co-inventor as well as other inventions that the Company expects may give rise to patent applications in the future, for which he is likely to be included as a co-inventor. These rights are distinct from the statutory rights that usually apply to employee inventors under French law. In order to define a framework within which any intellectual property resulting from Mr. Veillets research and development activities is properly assigned to the Company, the parties have entered into an agreement, which was approved by the board of directors of the Company and provides for the following payments to Mr. Veillet for his contributions: a first lump sum cash payment of 90 thousand to be paid within 30 days of the filing of a patent application based on the assigned rights; a second lump sum cash payment of 90 thousand to be paid within 30 days of publication of a patent application based on the assigned rights; and a 6.5% royalty payment with respect to any license income and/or any net sales by us of products manufactured with the patents filed on the basis of the assigned rights. These three payments will be capped at 2.1 million on a platform per platform basis. In the event that a third-party pharmaceutical and/or biotech company acquires 100% of our capital and voting rights, payments will be accelerated, so that the cap (2.1 million per platform), less any amount previously paid in respect of a platform, will become immediately payable. A payment of 450 thousands will be made to the Companys CEO within 30 days of execution of the agreement, as certain patent applications covered by the agreement had already been filed and therefore triggered payment of the first lump sum. About Biophytis Biophytis is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of therapeutics that slow the degenerative processes and improve functional outcomes for patients suffering from age-related diseases. Our therapeutic approach is aimed at targeting and activating key biological resilience pathways that can protect against and counteract the effects of the multiple biological and environmental stresses that lead to age-related diseases. Our lead drug candidate, Sarconeos (BIO101), is an orally administered small molecule in development for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases, including sarcopenia and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Our second drug candidate, Macuneos (BIO201), is an orally administered small molecule in development for the treatment of retinal diseases, including dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease. Biophytis is headquartered in Paris, France, and has offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The Companys ordinary shares are listed on Euronext Growth Paris (Ticker: ALBPS - ISIN: FR0012816825). For more information please visit www.biophytis.com. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believes," "expects," "potential," "continues," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seeks," "predicts," "intends," "trends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or the negative version of these words or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements include any statements relating to future payments to be made to Stanislas Veillet under the Intellectual Property Agreement. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, the outcome of its studies, uncertainty in the results of pre-clinical and clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors include but are not limited to those described under "Risk Factors" in Biophytis registration statement relating to the initial public offering. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in the registration statement. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. Biophytis Investor Relations Contact Daniel Schneiderman, CFO dan.schneiderman@biophytis.com Tel: +1 (857) 220-9720 U.S. Media Contact LifeSci Public Relations Cherilyn Cecchini, M.D. ccecchini@lifescipublicrelations.com Tel: +1 (646) 876-5196 Europe Media Contact Citigate Dewe Rogerson Antoine Denry antoine.denry@citigatedewerogerson.com Tel: +33 (0) 1 53 32 84 78 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Tornado season, which generally spans from March to June in the United States, is upon us. There have been more than 130 reports of tornadoes across the country in the last five days, and earlier this year, 23 people were killed in a cluster of tornadoes near the border of Georgia and Alabama. Although tornado deaths have been on the decline thanks to advances in scientific understanding of the storms and better warning systems, theres still a lot scientists dont know. 2011 was an especially deadly year for tornadoes. After nearly 1,700 storms killed 553 Americans in a single season, Congress decided to fund research efforts to help scientists better understand them. VORTEX Southeast, a project to study how environmental characteristics of the southeastern U.S. affect the formation, intensity, structure and path of tornadoes in the region, is one such effort. Tornado Alley, which spans from Nebraska to Texas, is widely recognized as being the epicenter of tornado activity in the U.S. However, recent studies show it could be shifting. A 2016 study published in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology shows that from 1954 to 1983, the center of tornado activity was between southeastern Oklahoma and northeastern Texas. By 2013, it had shifted to northern Alabama. Deaths from tornadoes in the southeastern U.S. are disproportionately common compared to elsewhere in the country. Researchers believe this might be due to storms happening before the peak of tornado season, when they typically move more quickly. Other explanations could include bad storm visibility, inadequate shelter and higher population density in southern states. During the spring of 2016 and 2017, Purdue researchers chased storms in northern Alabama as part of the VORTEX Southeast project. In collaboration with researchers from the University of Massachusetts and the University of Oklahoma, they used mobile radars to sample storms that passed within 60 kilometers (about 37 miles) from their site. They also used instrumented probes with laser disdrometers to measure rain drop size distributions, wind, pressure, temperature and humidity. There are several questions about tornadoes in the Southeast the researchers want to answer. How do the environmental conditions that allow tornadoes to form in the Southeast compare to those in the traditional tornado alley? How are the storms that produce tornadoes affected by terrain, especially that of the Appalachian Mountains? How can forecasting and warnings be improved? Most tornadoes, especially strong ones, are produced by a type of thunderstorm known as a supercell, said Dan Dawson, an assistant professor of earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences at Purdue. Some evidence suggests that tornadoes in the Southeast, while also often occurring in supercells, are produced more often than elsewhere from non-supercell storms. We hope to learn more about the nature of the formation processes for these tornadoes and how they differ from their supercell counterparts. After collecting data for two seasons, the Purdue team, comprised of Dawson, Ernest Agee, Michael Baldwin, Dan Chavas and Robin Tanamachi, is stepping back to dig through what theyve found. And theyre starting to uncover some answers. One paper on the topic has been published, although its based on historical data and not direct observations from the last two years. However, it does help answer some of the questions the researchers are trying to answer. The study looked at how small-scale terrain variability, such as hills, affect tornadoes in Arkansas. Arkansas is a good place to try to answer such a question because its absent of mountains but home to a wide range of other, smaller scale topographical features. Using empirical data from 1955 to 2015, the researchers found that tornadoes are impeded by hills. The findings were published in the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology. If hills are affecting tornadoes, are they interfering with them directly, on a physical level? Or are the storms that tornadoes form from, which occur on a slightly larger scale, not likely to form in areas with a lot of terrain variability? asked Chavas, who led the study. We found that this phenomenon is occurring on a really small scale, so the tornado is being directly affected by the terrain. The group has several papers in preparation and under review. Funding for VORTEX-SE is provided by the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory. Writer: Kayla Zacharias, 765-494-9318, kzachar@purdue.edu Sources: Dan Dawson, 765-494-5999, dandawson@purdue.edu Dan Chavas, 765-496-6661, dchavas@purdue.edu WWE 205 LIVE REPORT: THE SINGHS DO NOT GET A NIGHT OFF, FATAL FIVE WAY MATCH We begin with a look at what happened in the Cruiserweight Title Match at Money in the Bank. We are in Providence, Rhode Island and your announcers are Vic Joseph, Aiden English, and Nigel McGuinness. We see two of the men in the main event, Akira Tozawa and Brian Kendrick shake hands before they meet in the ring. The Singhs say it is Bollywood Time, but it is not Lucha Time because Lars Sullivan absolutely destroyed the Lucha House Party on Raw. They say the Lucha House Party wanted to fight Lars so they did not have to fight the Singhs tonight. They want the referee to count out the Lucha House Party. Drake Maverick comes out and he tells Sunil and Samir that you are correct. The Lucha House Party will not be here tonight. As the general manager of 205 Live, they are not going to deprive the WWE Universe of cruiserweight action. He has found suitable replacements. Match Number One: Samir Singh and Sunil Singh versus Jack Gallagher and Humberto Carrillo Sunil and Carrillo start things off and they lock up. Sunil with a side head lock. Sunil with a shoulder tackle and it is time to dance. Sunil backs into the corner when Sunil gets up. Samir hugs his brother from the apron. They lock up and Carrillo with a side head lock. Carrillo with a shoulder tackle and Carrillo flips over Sunil. Sunil avoids a round kick but Sunil with a jumping kick. Gallager tags in and gets a near fall after a kick from Carrillo. Gallagher with a wrist lock and he works on the fingers. Sunil with a punch and Irish whip but Jack with a headstand in the corner. Jack floats over and he gets a single leg take down and then he ties up Sunil and sits on Sunil's back so he can talk to Carrillo. Humberto tags in and hits an assisted springboard arm drag for a near fall. Carrillo with a side head lock and Samir tags in and Carrillo does not realize it but he clotheslines Samir. Sunil with a kick and they double team Carrillo while Gallagher is sent back to the apron. Samir with punches in the corner. Sunil tags in and he kicks Carrillo. Samir tags in and they hit a double suplex for a near fall. Samir with a reverse chin lock. Carrillo with elbows but Samir with a drop kick for a near fall. Sunil tags in and he goes to the turnbuckles and hits a double sledge to the back. Sunil with a snap mare and elbow drops. Sunil goes for a dancing elbow drop but Carrillo with a rollup for a near fall. Samir tags in and he punches Carrillo. Samir with a forearm to the back. Carrillo with a hard Irish whip that sends Samir chest first into the turnbuckles. Gallagher tags in and connects with clotheslines and punches. Gallagher with a punch to Samir and then he knocks Sunil off the apron. Gallagher with a delayed vertical suplex. Gallagher gets a near fall. Gallagher with a single leg crab and Sunil makes the tag. Sunil with a Northern Lariat and then they hit a double super kick on Gallagher for a near fall. All four men are in the ring and Carrillo is sent to the floor. Gallagher sends Samir to the floor. Gallagher with an O'Connor Roll for a near fall and Samir punches Gallagher to allow Sunil to get a near fall. Sunil with a kick for a near fall. Samir tags in and they go for a double suplex but Gallagher lands on his feet and Carrillo tags in. Carrillo with a kick to Samir and Carrillo with an Aztec Press for the three count. Winners: Jack Gallagher and Humberto Carrillo Mike and Maria Kanellis are in the back. Mike says it is time to showcase who the greatest Cruiserweight is. Are you not paying attention Drake? Him and Tozawa beat the crap out of each other in a no disqualification match. Tonight is not about showcasing anything, it is about watching the end of the friendship between Tozawa and Kendrick. Maria says Drake will not be able to deny your greatness any more. Oney Lorcan says tonight is time for him to prove he deserves a crack at the Cruiserweight Title. He says he never walked away from a fight and tonight is the kind of fight he likes. We go to commercial. We are back with a look at an Instagram post from Drew Gulak. Ariya Daivari is in the Gorilla position and he is asked about rebounding from his loss on Sunday. Daivari says what happened at Money in the Bank was a fluke. Now he has to prove himself in a fatal five way. We are not done yet. Match Number Two: Akira Tozawa versus Brian Kendrick versus Oney Lorcan versus Mike Kanellis versus Ariya Daivari Kanellis goes to the floor to watch the other four. Daivari goes after Lorcan while Tozawa and Kendrick join in and they send Lorcan and Daivari to the floor. Kendrick with a kick to Kanellis and then Tozawa takes care of him. Kendrick and Tozawa with a double suplex to Daivari. Kendrick and Tozawa are alone in the ring and they lock up. Kanellis and Daivari with forearms to both men and then Lorcan gets on the apron but Daivari keeps Lorcan on the outside looking in. Daivari and Kanellis work over Kendrick and then Kanellis knocks Lorcan off the apron again. We see Tony Nese watching in the direction of the monitor in the back. Lrocan sends Kanellis to the floor and he connects with a shoulder and chops to Daivari. Lorcan goes for a suicide dive but Daviari with a forerm and he sends Lorcan into the ringside barrier. Daivari punches Tozawa as Kendrick falls to the floor. Tozawa chops Daivari and then he gets Daivari to flinch so Tozawa with a jab. Tozawa goes up top but Daivari crotches him. Daviari wtih a super kick to Lorcan and then Daivari slams Tozawa onto Lorcan for a near fall. Kendrick gets Daivari on his shoudlers. Daivari misses the hammer lock clothesline. Kendrick with the Captain's Hook on Daivari but Lorcan goes for a half and half suplex but Kendrick lands on his feet. Kendrick with the Captain's Hook on Lorcan. Kanellis with a dragon sleeper on Kendrick. Lorcan with an uppercut to Kendrick and Kanellis with a super kick to Lorcan for a near fall. Kanellis chops Lorcan in the corner. Lorcan with chops of his own. Kanellis with more chops. Lorcan with more chops of his own. Lorcan avoids a chop and connects with more. Lorcan with a chop and Kanellis with a chop. Lorcan with a European uppercut and Kanellis with a spinebuster for a near fall. Kanellis slaps Lorcan while he mocks him. Lorcan slaps Kanellis while holding the beard. Lorcan with a running blockbuster and Lorcan knocks Daivari off the apron and Tozawa is knocked off the apron. Lorcan with a half and half suplex on Kendrick for a naer fall. Lorcan with a double blockbuster on Kanellis and Daivari. Lorcan with a plancha onto Kanellis and Daivari. Tozawa with a suicide dive head butt onto all three men. Tozawa goes up top and he hits a missile drop kick on Daivari. Daivari misses the hammer lock clothesline and Tozawa with a German suplex for a near fall. Tozawa goes up top and misses a double stomp but rolls through. Lorcan with an uppercut to Kendrick. Kanellis with an uppercut to Tozawa. Kanellis goes for a superplex on Kendrick but Kendrick stops him. Lorcan and Tozawa send Kendrick and Kanellis to the mat. Daivari with a frog splash onto Kendrick for a near fall. Tozawa sends Daivari to the floor. Tozawa does the same to Lorcan and then he applies the octopus on Kanellis. Maria gets on the apron and Tozawa eventually releases the hold. Tozawa and Maria argue. Kanellis with a rollup on Tozawa but Daivari breaks it up. Daivari with chops to Tozawa. Tozawa rolls through on a sunset flip attempt by Daivari and Tozawa with a running knee. Tozawa goes up top but Daivari stops him. Daivari sets for a superplex but Tozawa blocks it. Tozawa with forearms to the back and then he drops Daivari to the mat with a super gourdbuster. Kanellis pulls Tozawa off the turnbuckles and they fight on the apron. Kanellis with forearms and he misses a clothesline and Tozawa with a German suplex onto the apron. Daivari punches Tozawa and Tozawa punches back. Daivari with chops and more punches. Tozawa with a spinning heel kick and Tozawa goes up top for the back senton and hits it but Kendrick pulls Tozawa off. Tozawa and Kendrick square off and Kendrick says he is sorry. He offers his hand and Tozawa with forearms. Kendrick fires back. Kendrick with a knee and cross body. Tozawa with a back heel kick but Kendrick with Sliced Bread #2 but Kanellis with twisting reverse DDT. Lorcan knocks Kanellis out of the ring. Daivari with a hammer lock DDT. Tozawa with a rollup on Daivari for the three count. Winner: Akira Tozawa If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here! Welcome to Railway Gazette. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of these cookies. You can learn more about the cookies we use here. OK Over a six month period, the multi crew production shot in 37 locations across India, and spoke with participants at the highest echelons of the Election Commission to the booth level officer, from the top political leaders to the ground level party workers, and to voters across the generations.As well as the voters, the Indian elections drew 11 million poll officials across one million polling booths, with 8,000 candidates fighting for victory.The documentary team followed key political leaders on their campaign trail, along with the Election commissions offices in Delhi, remote locations on the Indo-China border, densely populated UP and Tamil Nadu, sensitive areas of Chhattisgarh and forests of Sunderbans to cover the geographically and socio-politically diverse country.Sunil Arora, chief election commissioner of India said: Keeping voter convenience and simplicity at the helm of the electoral process is not only a challenging task logistically, but also an effective outreach programme to each voter. This is a testament to making the worlds largest election a success. Its great to see a brand like National Geographic capturing the enormity of this exercise and showcasing this challenging journey to the viewers with an unbiased eye.National Geographic said the documentary will premiere soon on the Star Network in India.National Geographic is excited to tell a story of democracy that is relevant to the world over, said Gayatri Yadav, president and head-consumer strategy and Innovation, Star India.For the first time, viewers will get to understand the complexities and vastness of the largest democratic exercise in the world and every Indian will feel proud of being a part of this incredible journey. This mammoth exercise in logistics and planning involves implementing the model code of conduct, voter awareness activities, the largest peacetime deployment of security forces and managing mind boggling numbers which makes for a very captivating story that National Geographic is proud to bring to the world. Disneys National Geographic Channels Network India is closing two channels on 24 May ahead of launching two regional language replacements for its flagship brand. National Geographic Music HD and National Geographic People HD will be taken off air from 24 May, following approval by Indias Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for the change in channel names.The standard definition feeds for National Geographic People and National Geographic Music were taken off air in 2015.The new channels, National Geographic Tamil and National Geographic Telugu, will join rival Discovery Tamil in Indias regional language infotainment space. Discovery Tamil launched in 2011.The move to increase National Geographics Tamil and Telugu content marks an increasing trend for broadcasters to regionalise their offerings in India, which is home to 122 major languages. Of these 30 are spoken by more than a million native speakers, according to the Census of India 2001.Last year, National Geographic celebrated 20 years of operating in India. As well as its own branded infotainment content, it operates Animal Planet and the lifestyle channel Fox Life. U.S. Air Force F-22 stealth fighters intercepted two sets of two Russian Tupolev Tu-95 bombers, one of which was accompanied by two Su-35 fighter escorts, off the coast of Alaska on Monday, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command. The Russian Defense Ministry announced Tuesday that Russian Tu-95MS bombers, which are capable of carrying nuclear missiles, conducted an observation flight Monday near the western coast of Alaska, adding that at certain points during the 12-hour flight the bombers and their escort fighters were shadowed by US F-22s, Russia's state-run TASS News Agency reported. Acumen Research and Consulting, recently published report Health Insurance Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share and Forecast, 2019 - 2026. LOS ANGELES, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Health Insurance Market is estimated to grow at CAGR above 4 % over the forecast time frame 2019-2026 and reach the market value around USD 1.5 Trillion by 2026. In the coming years, increasing healthcare spending will increase growth in the health insurance market. Persons with cancer and other chronic conditions may need surgery that increases health care costs. In 2018, for example, new cases of cancer diagnosed in the US alone were about 1.6 million, according to the American Cancer Society. Increasing chronic disease prevalence combined with increased healthcare expenditure is expected to boost industry growth. In addition, health insurance plans are available to patients who are unable to provide surgery and advanced treatment options. Demand for health insurance policies rises above-mentioned aspects. Free Download Sample Report Pages for Better understanding@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/request-sample/1381 Government initiatives in developing economies should always foster business growth for people to provide effective health insurance policies. For example, the government of India is providing benefit for populations below the poverty line (BPL) in National Health Insurance schemes such as the Rashtriya Swasthiya Bima Yojana (RSBY) that suppress hospitalization costs. In addition, recent plans to provide BPL households with coverage in a cost-effective way, these factors stimulate business growth. However, a poor claims settlement record can cause complications and limit the growth of the industry. In 2018, the health insurance market in North America accounted for over 33 percent of revenue and is expected to grow during the forecast period. The regional business growth is driven by increased awareness on the availability of multi-value health insurance policies. In addition, a favorable health insurance regulatory landscape in the US has a positive impact on growth in the industry. The private sector in the health market in 2018 was worth more than $530 billion and is going to be experiencing robust growth. Patients receiving treatment from quaternary, tertiary and secondary health care institutions are provided with this financial support. Furthermore, private insurance plans are designed to make customers more flexible in their choice of doctors and therapies. In the coming years, the above factors will encourage segmental growth. View Detail Information with Complete TOC@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/health-insurance-market In 2018, hospital insurance covered over 20 percent of revenue share and by 2025 will have a substantial CAGR. Insurance providers work with major hospitals to reimburse them for costly operations and advanced treatments. The introduction of special refund policies for the full family health insurance covered by diseases by companies such as Cigna and Medicare further stimulates segmental growth. In 2018, the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) segment generated more than US$ 200 billion in revenue and will see strong growth over time. The growth of the segment is due to the low cost of the PPO insurance plans. PPOs allow easy access to the benefits of the scheme, and primary healthcare professionals are also assigned to reduce hospital visits for minor issues of health. Factors above are driving growth in the segment. During the forecast period, the segment of senior citizens of the health insurance market will grow by about 2 %. The majority is chronically ill in geriatric populations. Since most older persons are dependent, costly treatments are not usually possible. Consequently, more cost-efficiency public health plans are being introduced to reimburse elderly citizens for various procedures which increase their business expansion. Browse All official Market Research Reports Press Releases@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/press-releases Explore Our Market Blog@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/blogs In 2018, the Life Insurance market segment was valued at over USD 400 billion and will increase strong growth. It will increase growth. Seversive growth is increased by a variety of benefits like lower premium, higher cash values. Life Insurance provides various policies which are flexible with respect to the requirements of the policyholder. Investing in life insurance is also an effective way of saving taxes that should have a positive impact in the foreseeable future on your demand. Key Players & Strategies Participants in the prominent industries include Anthem Health Insurance, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield Companies, Cigna, Highmark and HCSC, Humana, Wellcare and United Healthcare. These players are implementing a number of strategic initiatives that will contribute to their potential market share. In addition, authorization for cooperation with major hospitals by regulatory authorities will increase the company's revenues. Cigna Corporation was given IRDAI approval for collaboration with the Manipal Group in September 2018, for example. Sales of health policies will be increased through this partnership. INQUIRY BEFORE BUYING@ https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/inquiry-before-buying/1381 The report is readily available and can be dispatched immediately after payment confirmation. Buy this premium research report - https://www.acumenresearchandconsulting.com/buy-now/0/1381 Would like to place an order or any question, please feel free to contact at sales@acumenresearchandconsulting.com | +1 407 915 4157 For Latest Update Follow Us: https://twitter.com/AcumenRC https://www.facebook.com/acumenresearchandconsulting https://www.linkedin.com/company/acumen-research-and-consulting United States Special Operations Command has five top priorities as the nation's elite warfighters adjust to a new strategic era, the head of the organization said May 21. Today, SOCOM is focused squarely on the implementation of the national defense strategy, SOCOM Commander Army Gen. Richard Clarke said at the Special Operations Forces Industry Conference in Tampa, Florida, which is hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association. The document, released last year, identifies China and Russia as the top threats facing the United States. Failure to meet our defense objectives will result in decreasing U.S. global influence, eroding cohesion among allies and partners, and reduced access to markets that will contribute to a decline in our prosperity and standard of living. The 2018 National Defense Strategy This warning, captured in the 2018 National Defense Strategy (NDS) has significant meaning given the United States Governments (USG) recent actions, or inactions regarding stabilization. As we move forward, we are dealing with different threats. Although terrorists and other violent extremist organizations still exist and must be dealt with, our primary concern is now with peer or near-peer competitors (henceforth referred to as adversaries) such as Russia and China, as well as lesser regional adversaries such as Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This new competition, as articulated in the 2018 NDS, is driving an increase in requirements for stabilization activities across the full range of military operations. At the same time the USG is reducing the Department of Defense's (DoD) capability to do just that through the implementation of the Stabilization Assistance Review (SAR). As we continue to cede territory and influence to our adversaries in the competitive space, we move closer to failing to meet our defense objectives. DoD must have the authorities and funding required to conduct stabilization activities and to meet the objectives of the NDS. The cost of failing to meet these defense objectives will be significant. The 2018 National Defense Strategy The objectives stated in the NDS are designed to address a shift in focus away from countering terrorism, and a re-focusing towards great power competition. Much of this competition will not involve open warfare or armed conflict, but will occur in the space known as competition short of armed conflict." Here revisionist powers and rogue regimes will use corruption, predatory economic practices, propaganda, political subversion, proxy nations or non-state actors, and the threat or use of military force to influence nation-states and their populations. The USG faces an increasingly complex international landscape in which adversaries sow instability, creating fertile ground for violent extremists and great-power adversaries to expand their influence at our expense. As various countries compete for resources and influence, the impact of these actions will destabilize much of the competitive space. This will drive an increase in requirements for irregular warfare in general, and an increase for stabilization activities specifically. However, at the same time that these requirements are increasing, our capability to conduct these stabilization activities has been restricted by the implementation of the SAR. The Stabilization Assistance Review Also released in 2018 was the SAR, an interagency study that made a series of recommendations on how to improve the USGs performance in conducting stabilization. Among other things, the SAR provided clarification on the definition of stabilization, and the on the roles and responsibilities of the three leading USG players; Department of State (DoS), the United States Agency of International Development (USAID), and DoD. The SAR defined stabilization as a political endeavor involving an integrated civilian-military process to create conditions where locally legitimate authorities and systems can peaceably manage conflict and prevent a resurgence of violence. The document goes on to make clear what stabilization is not, highlighting the distinction between stabilization and other activities that can occur in this same space and at the same time such as humanitarian assistance, reconstruction, and development. Statements such as Stabilization is distinct from humanitarian assistance, which the U.S. Government provides impartially based on need and there is no public appetite to repeat the large-scale reconstruction efforts of the past. Make it clear that full spectrum, comprehensive stabilization activities are a thing of the past. The SAR goes on to identify DoS as the overall lead federal agency for U.S. stabilization efforts; USAID as the lead implementing agency for non-security U.S. stabilization assistance; and relegates DoD to a supporting role, primarily limited to providing critical security & logistics, and reinforcing civilian efforts where appropriate. Interestingly, the SAR openly admits that stabilization is a critical part of how the USG addresses conflict-affected states within a spectrum that also includes both conflict prevention (competition short of armed conflict, typically considered phases 0 Shape and 1 Deter in military operations) and longer-term peacebuilding and reconciliation (post-conflict, phases 4 Stabilize and 5 Transition to Civilian Control). Unfortunately, the SAR hamstrings DoD (and by extension the USG) by recommending the limited supporting role for DoD. This is further exacerbated by the fact that currently, DoD lacks adequate authorities and funding to execute stabilization activities. Conventional wisdom acknowledges that during conflict or the conduct of military operations when the environment is fluid, complex, and non-permissive, stabilization activities must be executed in parallel with military operations. There can be a small window of opportunity when a partner nations will may be high, their need may be great, but DoS and USAID may not be on the ground and able to operate effectively. This window is usually fleeting, and malign actors are willing to take advantage of the situation and any void we allow to linger. To mitigate this shortfall, DoD has nominated a "Defense Support to Stabilization (DSS) Legislative Proposal (LP) for inclusion in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This is the same DSS LP which Congress failed to include in last year's NDAA, and which is receiving pushback from Congress today. So How Is That SAR Thing Working? As the USG restricts DoDs ability to conduct stabilization activities, we continue to lose ground to our adversaries. Although they use differing techniques and have various motives, Russia, China, and Iran continue to make gains in the competitive space, increasing their influence and in some cases occupying territory. The Russians are perhaps the most blatant. Lets set aside their recent disruption of our elections and focus on their efforts to expand their control and influence in the rest of the competitive space. In the last ten years, Russia has expanded into Georgia (2008), Ukraine (2014), and Syria (2015). They continue to seek inroads back into Afghanistan and have moved into the Arctic by claiming a vast swath of territory. Their expansionism continues, seeking to either annex outright, or to gain influence over countries where they do so without prompting a response from NATO or other international organizations. The Russian strategy of limited actions or soft power follows their approach used in Syria. They seek to defend and promote national interests beyond Russian territory. They undermine and overthrow governments in foreign countries. These include Iraq, Libya and Ukraine. Add to this list their efforts underway Venezuela, and you can see that Russia is truly a global adversary in the competitive space. China has been more subtle. Over the past decade, they have expanded their influence across South East Asia, South Central Asia, and beyond. In 2007 it created the China-Africa Development Fund. This was followed by the Overseas Infrastructure Development and Investment Corporation. Later came the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Most recently was the creation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Unlike Russia, which uses its military openly in the competitive space, Chinas modus operandi is to use infrastructure finance as a method for economic statecraft. But China too is expanding its military into this competitive space, primarily due to instability. Instability in countries like Sudan, Mali, Cameroon, Darfur, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and all along the BRI has driven a change in Chinas policy. To protect its assets in those areas where China is extracting and or transporting resources, Beijing has increased its commitment to UN and African Union peace missions, with more than 2,500 troops supporting six United Nations Peacekeeping missions. Additionally, China has adopted an anti-terrorism law allowing for foreign missions of the Peoples Liberation Army and opened a military base in Djibouti. Operating more at the regional level, below the level of a great power, Iran also is a player in the competitive space and an adversary the USG must deal with. Irans approach uses proxy political-military organizations. In most cases, the result of the Iranian involvement is not the subjugation of a state, but rather the prevention of the defeat of the Iranian sub-state or non-state actors which continue to destabilize that state. Iran has long supported anti-Western groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as proxy groups in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, and Yemen. These actions continue to destabilize the region. Iran took advantage of the instability in Iraq during their fight with ISIS and established a logistics infrastructure that allows for the transit of fighters and supplies from Iran to Syria and Lebanon. Irans actions in Lebanon include broadcasting pro-Iranian news and carrying out attacks on the Lebanese-Israeli border. Iranian-backed Hezbollah fighters in Syria have played a role in propping up the Assad regime, and Iran deployed senior military leaders, hundreds of Revolutionary Guard soldiers, and provides various forms of other support to the Assad regime. Iran supports the Taliban in Afghanistan, and in Yemen, Iran is undermining Saudi Arabia's influence by supporting the Houthi rebels against Saudi and Yemeni forces and a Saudi-led Arab expeditionary force. The Upshot Stabilization is much more than a congressional oversight drill, and it is a national security issue. The release of the SAR and 2018 NDS have created a perfect storm regarding stabilization. While the SAR restricts DoDs contributions to stabilization, the NDS is driving an increase in requirements for stabilization activities, exposing a shortfall in capability, and creating a national security concern. Today we are losing to our adversaries in the competitive space. DoD must be given adequate authorities and the funding necessary to be a more active participant in stabilization activities and to meet our defense objectives. Congressional approval of the DSS LP is a critical step in the right direction. The NDS makes it clear what the price of failing to meet those defense objectives are. "The costs of failing to meet America's crisis of national defense will not be measured in abstract concepts like 'international stability' and 'global order.' They will be measured in American lives, American treasure, and American security and prosperity lost. It will be a tragedyof unforeseeable but perhaps tremendous magnitude Charles Barham is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 29 years of service (1981-2010). He also served for four years as a Department of the Army Civilian Management and Program Analyst in the Afghanistan/Pakistan Hands Program (2010-2014). He currently serves as a Department of the Air Force Civilian Management and Program Analyst at USCENTCOM in the Operations Directorate, Interagency Action Group, Civil Affairs Operations Division as the Senior Stabilization Advisor and Stabilization Program Manager. He served for more than three years in Afghanistan as; Assistant Director of the Police Reform Directorate, Combined Security Transition Command - Afghanistan 2006-2007, Senior Socioeconomic Advisor in HQ ISAF-DCOS/STAB under Generals David Petraeus and John Allen 2011, as Deputy Director of the NATO/Afghan Transformation Task Force, HQ ISAF under General Joseph Dunford 2013, and as a Senior Planning, Programming and Budgeting Advisor to the Afghan National Army Special Operations Command. He has served for over seven years in U.S. CENTCOM in positions including Senior Socioeconomic Advisor and Interagency Planner, as well as in his current position of Senior Stabilization Advisor and Stabilization Program Manager. He has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Richmond, a Master of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University, and a Master of Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College. He has published online articles in SOF News, Real Clear Defense, and Small Wars Journal. Al Qaeda is operating across the country and not confined to one region, the commander of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan confirmed. General Austin Miller, the commander of Resolute Support Mission and US Forces Afghanistan, confirmed several analyses by FDDs Long War Journal, which has noted for years that al Qaedas footprint spans all regions of Afghanistan. We have seen al-Qaeda in Afghanistan. Yes, in different parts of Afghanistan, Miller said, according to TOLONews. In different parts of Afghanistan, we can find them, so its not one particular region, its across the country. FDDs Long War Journal has tracked al Qaedas presence in Afghanistan for well over a decade, using press releases and public statements from the US military, NATOs command in Afghanistan, and Afghan security services, as well as the jihadist groups own martyrdom statements. This data was then geotagged to a map (above) which tracks the terrorist groups operations and movement, as well as the US and Afghan militarys operations against them. [See Taliban continues to host foreign terrorist groups, despite assurances to the contrary.] The data clearly shows that al Qaeda and allied terrorist groups have been operating on Afghan soil for the past two decades with the approval of the Taliban. These terrorist organizations often operate in areas controlled by the Taliban and the jihadists killed in coalition or Afghan raids often die alongside members of the Afghan Taliban. Since 2007, NATO, US, and Afghan forces, have launched at least 373 operations against these foreign terror groups in 27 of Afghanistans 34 provinces. FDDs Long War Journal has also created a map, seen above, of al Qaedas and the Islamic States presence in Afghanistan based primarily on the last two United Nations Security Council reports on al Qaeda and the Islamic States presence in Afghanistan. In its latest report, the UNSC warned that both groups maintain a significant presence in Afghanistan. [See UN: Al Qaeda continues to view Afghanistan as a safe haven.] The data was supplemented with operational reporting from the US military and Afghan security forces in recent years. The map above shows the presence of al Qaeda and al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), as well as the Islamic State, across 13 Afghan provinces. Al Qaeda and its regional branch, Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, are present in all 13 of the shaded provinces. The Islamic States Khorasan Province is present in five of the shaded provinces. The US government, led by Zalmay Khalilzad the Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation is currently negotiating with the Taliban and has said the terror organization can be an effective counterterrorism partner and prevent Afghanistan from being used as a launchpad for international terrorist attacks. However, Al Qaeda and the Taliban remain steadfast allies, and Khalilzad is well aware of that fact. While testifying before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in July 2016, he personally described the Taliban as an extremist organization with enduring ties to al Qaeda, and said the two would not part ways. [See Khalilzad flip flops on Pakistan, Talibans relationship with al Qaeda.] Millers comments about al Qaedas presence throughout Afghanistan should call into question the US efforts to negotiate a peace deal with the Taliban. The Taliban is clearly supporting al Qaeda to this day, because al Qaeda would not be able to operate across the country without the explicit support and approval of the Taliban. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. This article appeared originally at FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here. Clyde Champion Barrow and his companion, Bonnie Parker, were shot to death by officers in an ambush near Sailes, Bienville Parish, Louisiana on May 23, 1934, after one of the most colorful and spectacular manhunts the nation had seen up to that time. Barrow was suspected of numerous killings and was wanted for murder, robbery, and state charges of kidnapping. The FBI, then called the Bureau of Investigation, became interested in Barrow and his paramour late in December 1932 through a singular bit of evidence. A Ford automobile, which had been stolen in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, was found abandoned near Jackson, Michigan in September of that year. At Pawhuska, it was learned another Ford car had been abandoned there which had been stolen in Illinois. A search of this car revealed it had been occupied by a man and a woman, indicated by abandoned articles therein. In this car was found a prescription bottle, which led special agents to a drug store in Nacogdoches, Texas, where investigation disclosed the woman for whom the prescription had been filled was Clyde Barrow's aunt. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Feng Zhenglin (L), head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and Violeta Bulc (R), the EU commissioner for transport, sign agreements on civil aviation cooperation in Brussels, Belgium, May 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Council of the EU) by Xinhua writers Zhang Yirong, Zhai Wei, Ren Liying BRUSSELS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- China and the European Union (EU) on Monday signed two agreements on civil aviation cooperation in Brussels. The milestone deal meets a longtime aspiration of both sides to expand practical cooperation in this sector. European Commission (EC) President Jean-Claude Juncker said the agreements, "a first big step," "will create jobs, boost growth and bring our continents and peoples closer together." The move, which came amid uncertainties worldwide furthered by U.S. unilateralism and trade protectionism, reaffirms the EU commitment to safeguarding openness, free trade and multilateralism while enriching the content of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership. "In an increasingly unsettled world, Europe's partnership with China is more important than ever before," Juncker noted. LANDMARK DEAL The deal is the first of its kind ever reached in the 20 years of cooperation in the civil aviation sector between China and Europe. The bilateral agreement on civil aviation safety provides a legal framework for expanding cooperation in multiple aspects such as environmental compatibility, and the design and manufacturing of aeronautical products. It will help promote policy coordination and technological and people-to-people exchanges. As a result of many rounds of consultations since August 2013, it is also expected to facilitate the trade of aircraft and related products. Among the measures is removing unnecessary procedural duplications in the evaluation and certification of aeronautical products to reduce cost. "We believe the newly-signed accord will help establish more efficient, streamlined and standardized aircraft certification procedures and we look forward to the promulgation and implementation of the detailed regulations," said George Xu, CEO of Airbus China. Moreover, the agreement serves as part of the joint efforts by China and the EU towards a higher level of civil aviation safety, especially after the crashes and the recent exposure of safety hazards of the U.S. Boeing 737 airliners. "Today's agreements will boost the EU's trade in aircraft and related products, and ensure the highest levels of air safety," commented Violeta Bulc, the EU commissioner for transport. Under the agreement on certain aspects of air services signed Monday, all EU airlines are allowed to fly to China from any EU member state with a bilateral air services agreement with China. "Cooperation, openness and adherence to the promise made by high-level leadership of both sides are delivered by the agreements," said Ambassador Zhang Ming, head of the Chinese mission to the EU. The two agreements were signed in line with the consensus reached at the 21st China-EU leaders' meeting in April. They are believed to be able to tap into the potential of growth in the aviation sector of both sides. The European aviation industry supports 5.1 million jobs and contributes 2.4 percent of the European gross domestic product, while China envisions a growing market of civil aviation as well as an emerging industry of aeronautical products, according to the five-year EU-China Aviation Partnership Project, which was initiated in 2015 by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). "The (Monday) agreements conform to the development needs of aeronautical industries in China and the EU ... and provide a legal basis for airlines operation of both sides," CAAC chief Feng Zhenglin told Xinhua. The deal "will benefit all the industrial players in both China and Europe," said Xu of Airbus China. ENRICHING CHINA-EU PARTNERSHIP China and the EU established a bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership in 2003. "Today's agreements show the potential of our partnership and we should continue on this path of cooperation," said Juncker. The newly signed agreements, which came against the backdrop of the escalated U.S.-China trade tensions, highlights the EU efforts against protectionism, unilateralism and isolationism. The move also represents the latest progress China makes in its further opening-up and reform, in addition to its promotion of win-win cooperation, free trade and multilateralism globally. "In an increasingly unsettled world, Europe's partnership with China is more important than ever before. The EU firmly believes that nations working together makes the world a stronger, safer and more prosperous place for all," said Juncker. Chinese ambassador Zhang said, "The first China-EU agreements on civil aviation turn mutual high-level exchanges results into practice." "I believe China and the EU will continue to work together to encounter international uncertainties with stable cooperation," he added. Before signing the deal on civil aviation cooperation, the two sides decided in April to conclude a comprehensive bilateral investment agreement in 2020. "We are mutually interested in better connecting Europe and Asia and making it easier to move goods, services and people between Europe and China. That applies to aviation, too," said Bulc. The expanding civil aviation cooperation will also work to forge closer ties between China and EU member states. Czech President Milos Zeman recently told Xinhua he considers his country's civil aviation cooperation with China "most satisfying." There are currently four direct air routes linking the capital Prague to Chinese cities, with up to more than 20 flights a week. In the opinion of Shi Zhiwei, a senior marketing and sales officer of China's Hainan Airlines, the direct flights between Berlin and Beijing the company launched in 2008 "witnessed and greatly promoted the cultural exchanges" between China and Germany. (Xinhua reporters Ying Qiang in Paris, Yang Xiaohong in Prague and Zhu Sheng in Berlin contributed to the story.) (Video reporters: Yu Yue, Zhai Wei, Zhang Yirong, Ren Liyin, Liang Xizhi, Han Qian; Video editor: Yin Le) 5 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] LOS ANGELES, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP (GPM) announces an investigation on behalf of Nordstrom Inc. (Nordstrom or the Company) (NYSE: JWN ) 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. The investigation concerns whether the Company issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. On November 15, 2018, in connection with its third quarter 2018 financial results, the Company disclosed an estimated charge of $72 million resulting from some delinquent Nordstrom credit card accounts being charged higher interest in error. On this news, shares of Nordstrom fell $8.06 per share, more than 13%, to close at $50.93 per share on November 16, 2018, thereby injuring investors. If you purchased Nordstrom 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 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9244, 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. AirAsia India, which started operations on June 12 2014, had a market share of 6.2 per cent of the domestic traffic in April. Budget carrier AirAsia India is looking to double its fleet in the next 12-15 months as well as launch international operations by October, a senior official said. The Bengaluru-headquartered airline -- a joint venture between Tatas and Malaysia's AirAsia Berhad -- is eligible to fly overseas. Currently, it has a fleet of 21 A 320 planes. "We are planning to double our capacity (fleet size) in the next 12-15 months, beginning May this year. We are planning to induct some fuel-efficient A320 neo planes as well in our fleet, the official told PTI. AirAsia India, which started operations on June 12 2014, had a market share of 6.2 per cent of the domestic traffic in April. As part of expansion plans, AirAsia India is likely to launch international services by September-October with flights to destinations in South East Asia, including Malaysia and Thailand. "After South East Asia, we plan to expand our operations to destinations such as Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh in the Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region and also to Japan, the Middle East and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region," the official said. "We are eligible to fly on overseas routes both by the earlier rules as well as the existing ones. We applied to the civil aviation ministry in January for approval, which we expect to receive after the new government is in place," the official said. Under the existing norms, airlines should have at least 20 aircraft to start international routes against the earlier one of having 20 planes and minimum five years of domestic operations. After receiving its 21st plane this week, the airline's chief operating officer Sanjay Kumar said AirAsia India was focusing on strengthening its presence in tier-I and tier-II cities. The official ruled out plans to induct long range A321 neo planes in its fleet. In 2016, AirAsia India's parent company AirAsia Berhad had signed a firm order for 100 A 321 neo planes worth $ 12.6 billion. Fund houses have been barred from being net sellers or holding net short positions at the scheme level in commodities. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Market regulator Sebi has permitted mutual funds to participate in all exchange-traded commodities except the Sensitive Commodities. Essential commodities in the agri segment are regarded as sensitive. Along with MFs, gold exchange-traded funds also have been allowed to participate, but only in gold derivatives. After a year-long debate, the Securities and Exchange Board of India has finally issued a circular allowing funds to enter the commodity derivatives space. However, they have been barred from taking physical delivery. Even if they have to take physical deliveries as a part of settlement, they will have to dispose the goods within 30 days and also appoint a custodian to handle physical stocks. This had been a contentious issue, because custodians were not prepared to handle physical deliveries of commodities even though MFs have to operate through them. Another major condition the regulator has made is that the scheme investing in commodities shall not have foreign portfolio investments till such time as foreign investors are allowed in commodities. So far, Sebi has allowed Category-3 alternative investment funds, or hedge funds, and Eligible Foreign Entities (EFE) having actual exposure to Indian commodity markets, to participate in commodity derivatives. Foreign Portfolio Investors are still not allowed in this space. Interestingly gold ETFs have also been allowed to participate in Gold Deposit Schemes and Gold Monetisation Scheme. GMS is operative but GDS is expected to be announced in future. This permission to them was given by the RBI under a relevant notification for GMS, but for the first time, Sebi has cleared the way for gold ETFs by amending the respective circular. Investment in commodities without physical delivery is defined vide Sebi circular no. SEBI/HO/CDMRD/DMP/CIR/P/2017/84 dated July 25, 2017. In partial modification to paragraph 3 of Sebi Circular No. CIR/IMD/DF/11/2015 dated December 31, 2015, it has been decided that ETCDs having gold as the underlying asset, shall also be considered as gold related instruments for Gold Exchange Traded Funds (Gold ETFs). No mutual fund schemes shall invest in physical goods except in gold through Gold ETFs. Further, as mutual fund schemes participating in ETCDs may hold the underlying goods, in case of physical settlement of contracts, mutual funds shall dispose of such goods from the books of the scheme at the earliest, not exceeding 30 days from the date of holding the physical goods. Mutual fund have been barred from becoming net sellers or holding net short positions at the scheme level in commodities and for this they have to take into account their positions in physical goods. To allow funds to participate early, they are permitted to enter commodities through hybrid schemes, which include multi-asset schemes and Gold ETFs. MFs have represented that only commodity-dedicated schemes will not help if they have to abide by the 10 per cent commodities specific cap, as there are hardly 10 such commodities which are very liquid, considering the non-sensitive nature of farm commodities. In case of existing schemes deciding to participate in commodities, Sebi has asked funds to give all unit holders a time period of at least 30 days to exercise the option to exit at prevailing NAVs without charging any exit load. CALGARY, Alberta, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Board of Directors of Computer Modelling Group Ltd. ("CMG" or the Company) announces a dividend of $0.10 per Common Share on CMGs Common Shares. The dividend will be paid on June 14, 2019 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 6, 2019. Computer Modelling Group Ltd. is a computer software technology and consulting company serving the oil and gas industry. CMG, recognized by oil and gas companies worldwide as a leading developer of reservoir modelling software, has sales and technical support services based in Calgary, Houston, London, Dubai, Bogota, and Kuala Lumpur. CMG is the leading supplier of advanced processes reservoir modelling software in the world with a blue chip client base of international oil companies and technology centers in approximately 60 countries. The Company's shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CMG." All dividends paid by Computer Modelling Group Ltd. to holders of Common Shares in the capital of Computer Modelling Group Ltd. will be treated as eligible dividends within the meaning of such term in section 89(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada), unless otherwise indicated. For further information, please contact: Ryan N. Schneider President & CEO (403) 531-1300 ryan.schneider@cmgl.ca or Sandra Balic Vice President, Finance & CFO (403) 531-1300 sandra.balic@cmgl.ca There is a sense of relief in Beijing that Modi will be at the helm of affairs in Delhi at a critical juncture in the geopolitics of the region, says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, April 27, 2018. The first Chinese commentaries have appeared on the outcome of the general election in India. The timing is important, since the counting of votes was yet to take place in India. Yet, Chinese commentaries have presumed that the result cannot be contrary to the trend that the exit polls have indicated -- that Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi is securing a renewed mandate to head another government. This presumption is broadly in line with the estimations by Chinese commentators in the recent weeks and months. The Chinese commentators have not hidden their acclamation of the Modi government. Contrary to the common opinion among Indians that the Modi government showed a pro-US tilt in foreign policies, the Chinese (and Russian) opinion has been generally positive about Indian policies through the past 5 years. China was not particularly perturbed that India has a deepening engagement with the US or that India's non-alignment is in any great danger. This opinion was reinforced following Modi's informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in April 2018 in Wuhan and with Russian President Vladimir Putin a month later in Sochi. It stands to reason that both Xi and Putin have sized up Modi from very close, intimate, quarters and decided that they could do business with him even in new Cold War conditions. In fact, in an extraordinary gesture of camaraderie, the Kremlin announced the decision to confer Russia's most prestigious national award to Modi after the Indian election got underway. A commentary by 'Observer' in the Chinese Communist party newspaper Global Times on May 20 is self-revealing in its display of a sense of relief that Modi will be at the helm of affairs in Delhi at a critical juncture in the geopolitics of the region. The following excerpts will be of interest: 1. 'Modi's re-election will further stabilise and improve China-India relations. During Modi's term of office, India's relations with China show the trend of steady development. The meeting between President Xi Jinping and Modi in 2018 opened a new chapter for the two countries bilateral ties and laid the foundation for future relations.' 2. Admittedly, Modi's actions have also triggered controversy in China such as his initial bonhomie with the Tibetan leadership based in Dharamsala, his three visits to Arunachal Pradesh or the rising trend of Hindu nationalism (which 'somewhat contained' Modi's policies towards China.) But these were actions with an eye of India's domestic politics with the aim to 'drum up support' for the Bharatiya Janata Party, while 'generally speaking, Modi's policies have been sound.' 3. 'Modi separated political conflicts from economic cooperation, a wise move that brings reciprocal results to both countries (India and China). Modi knows that tense relations with China are not in line with India's interests.' 4. 'India joined the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank although the US and Japan strongly opposed... India has stuck to its policy of non-alignment and did not adjust its policies toward China according to Washington's strategy for Beijing. These are all positive diplomatic achievements of the Modi administration.' 5. Looking ahead, 'these policies will continue if Modi is successfully re-elected... Modi's re-election benefits the continuity of his policies toward China and the two countries' mutual trust.' 6. 'India's dispute with Pakistan is an important factor that influences China-India relations. China always encourages the two countries to build mutual trust through cooperation in trade, economies, anti-terrorism and other areas. As Pakistan and India are both members of the Shanghai Cooperation OrganiSation, they will have more cooperation within the framework.' The commentary draws satisfaction with the recent trend that India's deficit in bilateral trade is steadily narrowing. And it envisages that the US-China trade war 'provides more chances... (as) China will turn to India when it is looking for a substitute for imports.' Pharmaceuticals and computer software are particularly promising areas. Equally, the commentary is cautiously optimistic that India may take a fresh look at the Belt and Road projects in South Asia. The Chinese commentators have consistently hailed Modi as a 'reformer' who is taking India on a path of modernisation and rapid growth. In their judgment, Modi is far from dogmatic in foreign policies and has an open mind to expand cooperation with China, mindful of the advantages that such cooperation can bring to advance his development agenda. In strategic terms, China is not overtly anxious that under Modi's stewardship, India continued to expand its so-called 'defining partnership' with the US. But the 'red line' will be India's strategic autonomy, which, in the Indo-Pacific context, narrows down to Modi hitching the Indians wagons to Trump's regional strategies. In the Chinese assessment, Washington is eager to lure India into its bandwagon, but Modi has been doing a smart trapeze act by getting all good things from the big powers without really giving away anything that might erode India's freedom of thinking and action. Curiously, Russia also shares the Chinese view. To what extent Indian policies have figured in the Sino-Russian discourses we do not know -- and we may never get to know. But India being a 'swing State' in the contemporary world situation, its policies impact the Eurasian integration processes, which are at the core of the Russian and Chinese strategies. It is entirely conceivable, therefore, that Moscow played a significant role behind the scenes in getting the Chinese block removed on the Masood Azhar denouement. Without doubt, the delisting of the Azhar controversy from the litany of India-China discords is a defining moment in the trajectory of relations between the two countries. Conceivably, a period of creative diplomacy lies ahead as China takes over the chair of the Financial Action Task Force for the coming one-year period starting in July. Xiangmin Liu, who currently serves as director-general of the legal department at the People's Bank of China (China's central bank) and concurrently as the vice-president of the FATF, picks up the baton of presidency for an one-year term from the US's Marshall Billingslea at the meeting of the grouping at Orlando, Florida, on June 16-21. Between the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and the FATF, there is scope for dialectical thinking to arrive at a reasonable reconciliation of the seemingly contradictory and intractable issue of terrorism in India-Pakistan relations. This is where China's unique position to promote reconciliation comes into play. The FATF plenary is of vital importance for Pakistan, as a decision will be taken whether the country should be moved out of the 'grey list' or kept there due to any residual shortcomings. Of course, this would have significant bearing on Pakistan's standing with multilateral lenders like the IMF, World Bank, ADB, etc and in risk rating by agencies such as Moodys, S&P and Fitch. Islamabad is attaching high importance to the FATF designation. Significantly, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is attending the SCO foreign ministers meeting in Bishkek on May 22. Swaraj will certainly run into her Chinese and Pakistani counterparts in Bishkek. The SCO summit meeting is due to be held on June 13-14. Suffice to say, if China is successful in cutting the Gordian knot of terrorism in India-Pakistan relations, a new vista opens up in the Sino-Indian relationship and we may see a new dawn in the politics of the region. Quite obviously, China is conscious that the China-Pakistan-India triangle is at an inflection point. An influential 'India hand' in Beijings strategic community, Ma Jiali, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, has been quoted in a Global Times report as saying that 'the growing US presence would have limited influence on overall China-India relations' and in regional security, he underscored that China will continue playing a mediating role in India-Pakistan relations. Ma added China highly values its relations with both India and Pakistan. China will keep furthering its relations with Pakistan, and also attach great importance to India's concerns. 'Hopefully, the new majority government will give the country a fool-proof electoral system,' says Saisuresh Sivaswamy. It is instructive to recall that soon after the 2004 Lok Sabha election, which the Bharatiya Janata Party lost unexpectedly, the party blamed the new-fangled electronic voting machines for the debacle. It was the first Lok Sabha election conducted entirely on EVMs, and since then allegations of EVMs being hackable, that the 2004 and 2009 elections, both of which the BJP lost, were stolen, were made regularly. In fact, in 2010, after losing an election which he thought he was certain to win, the BJP's current Margdarshak Mandal member and then prime ministerial aspirant Lal Kishenchand Advani, along with G V L Narasimha Rao, one of the party's spokespersons today, wrote a book whose title says it all: Democracy at Risk! Can we trust our electronic voting machines? Today, of course, having won the 2014 election and appearing all set to retain power in 2019, the BJP and its shouting brigade are reticent on the issue, even defending the integrity of the machines which, at the end of the day, like any other device with man at its core, cannot be 100% failsafe. Given the fears of hacking, which has been demonstrated in the past, including most recently at a suspect press conference in London, it was felt that the voter verified paper audit trail, a sort of hybrid system that combined manual verification with automatic ballot registration, was felt to be the best method. Again, even this 'reform' was initiated at the behest of the BJP's vocal leader Subramanian Swamy, who had moved the courts against the EVMs. In short, if the BJP is on the backfoot today over the reliability of the EVMS, it has itself to blame for the shrill campaign it had led against the machines. Everyone is free to revise their opinion, but not on the basis of whether you are winning or losing the elections. And that applies to the Opposition as well. Keeping quiet when winning, and raising a shindig when you find yourself on the losing side, is no sign of consistency. The present instance, of unauthorised movement of EVMs (reported, incidentally, from BJP-ruled states), takes the matter to another level. The Election Commission simply cannot hope to allay popular misgivings by issuing an anodyne press release; it needs to do much more, because, as Yogendra Yadav pointed out on Mirror Now on Tuesday night, the election process is a sacred one and cannot be allowed to be compromised. While the political spokespersons as always were pummelling each other over the issue, two former election commissioners, men who have been in the hot seat, offered the most valid viewpoints. T S Krishnamurthy, videoconferencing from Chennai with Faye D'Souza, was emphatic that the Election Commission must probe such instances of illegal movement of EVMS, and if found valid a repoll must be ordered, especially if the rules governing the transfer of EVMs were not followed. Yogendra Yadav, who seems to have found a new career as a talking head in TV studios (we are sure to see more of him on May 23), was essentially in agreement with what Krishnamurthy said. 'The onus should be on the EC to satisfy everyone. If there are serious apprehensions, order a repoll.' The issue, as he said earlier, was too 'sacred' and the poll panel was simply not showing any seriousness in addressing the concerns. On the 'dissent' within the Election Commission itself, Krishnamurthy said majority judgments are valid. 'When the Supreme Court of India gives a 2-1 order, you don't level charges of bias because of one minority verdict, similarly don't use the bias word because the EC has decided 2-1, it is perfectly valid.' Yadav wanted to add a caveat to that. What is the harm in recording the dissent, and make it public. 'Otherwise the whole process may seem illegitimate.' The Congress's Abhishek Manu Singhvi preferred to use the words 'vitiated' and 'tampered with' in his conversation on the subject with Bhupendra Chaubey on CNN-News18. On a day when the Supreme Court rejected the Opposition's plea to use VVPAT in 100% of polls, and not in just 5 segments in each constituency as ruled earlier by the court, another suggestion from Yadav was to at least do the paper verification at the start of the vote count and not at the end as currently planned. That way, 'in case of a discrepancy, you can do the paper audit of all the votes in that segment' rather than merely record the discrepancy and rectify it. 'Do you want to be like Pakistan and Bangladesh where the losing sides blame hanky-pankies in the election process?' he asked on Mirror Now. Vivek Reddy of the BJP added a political twist to the issue, telling NDTV that all these issues 'have been brought up right after the exit poll results', which showed the BJP coming back to power with a bigger majority. 'You are right,' he conceded, 'The Election Commission should have handled the issue better,' but to say that the entire poll process is rigged is too much. All Opposition parties suspect EVMs, he said, adding that the machines of today were technologically superior to the ones used earlier, a point S Y Quraishi was only too happy to dismantle. 'The basic technology is the same, the only addition is the VVPAT aspect.' When Desh Ratan Nigam pointed out that the Election Commission cannot be reacting to every social media post, Quraishi once again struck a different tune. 'The Election Commission cannot wait for the social media fire to spread across the country for three days before reacting,' it has to put out the fire quickly, then and there. Responding to the charge that the Opposition was raising EVMs on the eve of possible adverse results, the Congress's Syed Nasir Hussein told NDTV that they have been raising the issue for weeks now with the Election Commission, but there was no action. About the charges that the suspect transfer of EVMs as recorded on social media could mean that bogus votes can replace the actual ones in EVMs, Quraishi dismissed it 'alarmism'. 'Such incidents have always been happening.' Republic TV as always had 10 talking heads being vocal simultaneously, including one panellist from the backseat of a moving car! Listing the various attempts made to discredit EVMs, the BJP's Navin Kohli on Times Now pointed to the press conference in London by Syed Shuja in January and said, 'It's ludicrous, I can say that I offered a bribe of Rs 1 lakh to Ashutosh here, or he can say that he offered me a bribe of Rs 1 lakh, but will it stand legal scrutiny?' To which Navika Kumar responded in her typical manner, 'Wellll, ladies and gentlemen, that is the question,' and went on to castigate the 'dhokha dal' of Opposition parties. The last word was to be had by the knowledgeable Krishnamurthy. 'This election has emphasised the need for electoral reforms.' Hopefully, the new majority government at the Centre will put it on its 100-day action plan and give the country a fool-proof electoral system. 'The BJP's use of nationalism was a major factor in its likely victory,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd). It was a bleak and cold December morning in Delhi in 1962. The policeman on duty saw an old farmer couple approach the gates of Teen Murti House, then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru's official residence. The old man clutched a bundle of papers in his hands and wanted to see the prime minister. The sentry at the gate told him that whatever his demands, he must go to the office and not disturb the PM at home. The old man's reply stunned the sentry. He was not there to demand anything from the PM, but had the papers of his land that he wanted to gift to the national defence fund! This was not an isolated incident in the winter of 1962 when in the wake of Chinese aggression, India saw an unprecedented upsurge in nationalism. There are numerous stories of women giving up their mangalsutras for the national cause. Studying the 1962 conflict with China and its aftermath for the ministry of defence, I came across many such instances. The political impact and pressure from the cadres was such that Tamil Nadu's Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, then led by the immensely popular C N Annadurai, was forced to give up its secessionist plank. In the aftermath of this huge national upsurge, Nehru decided to dissolve the National Integration Council, as it was felt that there was no more any need for it. Cut to the 1984 election. Under Rajiv Gandhi the Congress secured an unprecedented 405 seats out of 542, a feat not achieved even by his illustrious mother Indira Gandhi or his grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru. The victory was achieved in the wake of Indira's assassination by her bodyguards on October 31, 1984, when a majority of Indians felt a threat to the nation's survival. It was intense nationalism that propelled Rajiv Gandhi, a political novice, to the unprecedented mandate. As a historian I have quoted these examples to show that nationalism is a potent sentiment in India. But this is missed by many serious analysts. I recall that in December 1984, an American scholar of repute met me in Pune. He was in India to observe and predict a likely outcome of the national election. In a casual conversation he predicted a wafer-thin majority for the Congress. I had occasion to attend Rajiv Gandhi's election rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai. Anyone who knows Mumbai is aware that this vast park is seldom filled to capacity. But Rajiv's meeting was an exception and Shivaji Park was filled to the brim. Not just that, there was a tremendous mass connect with Rajiv. The reason to recall all this history is that with the exit polls out on May 19, most pollsters predict a National Democratic Alliance victory. Narendra Damodardas Modi undoubtedly used the Balakot retaliatory air strike against Pakistan to stoke nationalism in his favour. The Opposition's cry of 'misuse' of the name of armed forces appears to have cut no ice with voters. If Indira Gandhi could claim credit for the 1971 victory, on what grounds could the Opposition deny that same logic in Modi's case? While an efficient campaign, greater resources with the BJP as well as the rise of the middle class are certainly some reasons for the likely favourable outcome for the BJP, the tendency of some analysts to discount nationalism as a factor in the election seems to have been proved wrong. Suffice to say that the BJP's use of nationalism was a major factor in its likely victory. Colonel Anil A Athale (retd) is a military historian. Should the ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu not make the required five out of 22 by-election seats, or even otherwise, the temptation to poach, especially from the Congress or starting with the Congress may be high on Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami's agenda, says N Sathiya Moorthy. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami flashes the V sign while campaigning for AIADMK candidate Agri Krishnaswamy in Thiruvannamalai. Photograph: Courtesy, Palaniswami's Twitter account Independent of what Thursdays vote-count may have for his party in the Lok Sabha segment, Tamil Nadus AIADMK Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisami may not have much to fear from simultaneous results for the 22 state assembly seats for which by-elections were held in two phases over the past month. If anything, a victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party-National Democratic Party at the national level, as predicted by most exit polls could well mean that EPS and the AIADMK could look around for adding to their strength in the 234-member house, as the coalition leader has already shown the way in states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh in the past two days. No doubt, the AIADMKs assembly strength is precarious just now. In a house where the party requires a minimum of 118 to prove its majority, the party has only 114 members. It was more than enough before the by-polls to the 22 seats. Now with the results out on Thursday, May 23, the party will need to win a minimum of five seats for a simple majority. That alone will help the party avoid surviving on the casting vote of Speaker P Dhanapal, until when the assembly polls are due -- by May 2021, a full two years away. That is indeed good news for the AIADMK and EPS. Put positively, they now need to win only five of the total by-elections to retain the government. Whatever additional seats that they may get may be a bonus as they would go on to strengthen the hands of the CM and the party, both inside and outside the house. As an AIADMK leader quipped in a confident tone, If we cannot win five seats out of 22, we better quit. But he does not see their quitting or having to quit, just now. Conventional political and media wisdom has it that the AIADMK will require 11 seats out of 22, or a 50-per cent victory. This follows the assumption that three party MLAs owing outwardly allegiance to rebel leader T T V Dhinakaran with his AMMK, would vote against the government in times of crises. Another three MLAs from minor parties but who won on the AIADMKs Two Leaves symbol in 2016 are also seen at best as cats on the wall'. They openly campaigned for AMMK candidates in the by-polls and also the Lok Sabha elections, which was the major attraction in other parts of the country. By serving disqualification notice on the first three, through Speaker Dhanapals office, the ministerial camp may have ensured that at least two of them may not want to -- or, be able to -- rebel if and when their votes matter inside the house. The two have obtained a Supreme Court stay on the speakers notice, declaring that they continued to be AIADMK members. This means that they would continue to be bound by party whip on assembly votes. Indications are that the third member may not want to cross the line, unless he is assured that the government would fall. It may be so with the other three non-AIADMK members who contested and won their assembly seats on the partys symbol. They too may be bound by the whip unless they are ready to lose their seats to disqualification as 18 others before them. These 18 constituted the majority group from among the 22 vacancies for which by-election needed to be held. With the Madras high court upholding the speakers disqualification decision in the case of the 18, other AIADMK legislators may not want to break ranks unless reassured that the EPS government would be gone -- and also there would be another one in its place. The chances of individual legislators or a group of legislators wanting to take the blame for the toppling of a government and consequent instability are remote. Even more remote are their chances of winning another round of elections if their current decision were to lead to political instability in the state -- which since Independence has not faced the same. In 1952, when the ruling Congress party from the pre-Independence era did not secure an absolute majority, chief ministerial nominee Rajaji mustered one through one of the early instances of mass defections in the young nations constitutional history. DMK veteran M Karunanidhi created political/legislative history for a major state in the country when he gave a stable government for full five years from 2006, when his government had only 96 seats and required another 22. Those numbers came from the outside support extended by the Congress and PMK allies at the Centre at the time, with the latter withdrawing the same after some time. This does not mean that EPS has nothing to fear. In the aftermath of the AIADMK serving disqualification notice on three of its MLAs, Opposition DMK made good its earlier threat and moved a no-trust motion against Speaker Dhanapal in such an eventuality. This means that Dhanapal cannot preside over the house session when it meets next, but has to face the trust-vote ahead of the assembly taking up other businesses. It also means that Speaker Dhanapal cannot initiate further disqualification proceedings against the three AIADMK legislators, independent of the SC stay order. Where EPS and the AIADMK may stand to gain is in the possibility of the BJP-NDA at the Centre sweeping the LS polls across the country, as predicted by various exit polls. Reminding old-school veterans of the erstwhile Congress era in the previous century, the Opposition BJP in states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh has begun moves to topple the respective state governments, in which the Congress rival is the leading partner. EPS can hope to repeat the act in Tamil Nadu, or at least will be tempted to attempt it, of course, with the Centres blessings and support -- if and only if the exit poll predictions hold good. Tamil Nadu has the unique distinction of having its 234 MLAs coming mostly from only three parties -- namely, under the symbols of the AIADMK (114) excluding Speaker Dhanapal, who won as party nominee, DMK (88) and the latters Congress (8) and IUML (1) allies. There is of course an Independent in T T V Dhinakaran. Should the AIADMK not make the required five out of 22 by-election seats, or even otherwise, the temptation to poach, especially from the Congress or starting with the Congress may be high on EPSs agenda. In doing so, he may be following in the footsteps of predecessor chief minister Jayalalithaa, who did it twice in as many decades. In the past, after coming to power on the strength of the Congresss support in the 1991 post-assassination scenario after Rajiv Gandhis killing, AIADMKs emerging supremo Jayalalitha did not think twice to split the Congress, to create what was then dubbed Congress (J), with six MLAs. Likewise, after actor-politician Vijayakanths DMDK emerged as the second largest legislative group after her AIADMK, Jayalalithaa, again as CM, split his party, but after making sure that the traditional DMK rival did not get to the official Opposition Leader position in the house. Whatever that is, if he is able to retain the government, EPS would have emerged stronger within the party, even if exit polls predictions on the AIADMKs LS election performance held good. Most polls have given the DMK-Congress combine upward of 25 seats, going as far as 35, in a total of 38 from the state -- with polling cancelled in the Vellore constituency over the EC's complaints of electoral corruption under the law. If nothing else, by campaigning extensively across the state for the twin polls this time, EPS has got the kind of cadre recognition within the party and face recognition otherwise, which he had lacked earlier. In contrast, by choosing to field his controversial son, P Raveendranath Kumar, as the party candidate in their native Theni LS constituency, EPS predecessor and party rival, deputy chief minister, O Panneerselvam (OPS), made himself less popular among the general public for promoting his family members, and among the cadres for his not being able to spend as much time in other constituencies as may have been possible, otherwise. A big win for the son could improve the fathers cadre-image, but then pre-result indications are that losing rivals may be ready to challenge such a victory in the courts, citing multiple reasons. That way, should PM Modi and/or the BJP-NDA were to return to power, and OPS gets a ministerial berth for his son at the Centre, then, there would be lot more criticism, both within the party and outside against him. Such a course, if it came to that, could work to the advantage of EPS. He has already proved by his elevation by the jailed Jaya aide Sasikala Natarajan that he is not the one to miss an opportunity when one presented itself. N Sathiya Moorthy, veteran journalist and political analyst, is Director, Observer Research Foundation, Chennai Chapter. Last updated on: May 23, 2019 00:00 IST The counting of votes for the seven-phase elections to India's lower house of parliament, the world's biggest democratic exercise, will take place on Thursday, bringing the curtains down on a bitterly-fought contest which the country rarely witnessed. IMAGE: A kitemaker displays customised kites made ahead of the Lok Sabha elections results 2019, in Amritsar, on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Most of the exit polls have predicted that the Bhartiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is on course to retain power for a second term, riding on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's charisma like the way he swept to power in 2014. However, the opposition parties have trashed results of the exit polls, claiming that the BJP will suffer severe drubbing due to rising unemployment, farm distress and slowdown in the economy. IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard outside the building of counting halls in Jammu on Wednesday. Photograph: PTI Photo The voting was staggered between April 11 and May 19 in which around 67 per cent of the nearly 900 million eligible people exercised their franchise to elect 542 members of the Lok Sabha from a total of 8,049 contestants. In the 2014 elections, the BJP won 282 seats while the Congress had suffered a severe drubbing getting an all-time low of 44 seats as against 206 it won in 2009. IMAGE: A security person stands guard near a strong room where EVMs are kept in Allahabad. Photograph: PTI Photo From 'chowkidar chor hai' and 'bhrashtachari no. 1' to 'khaki underwear', acerbic remarks ruled the roost this election season, making it one of the most bitterly-contested parliamentary polls post Independence. Election Commission officials said the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections will begin at 8 am on Thursday and results are expected only by late evening. IMAGE: Workers whitewash BJP state office on the eve of counting day in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo For the first time in Lok Sabha polls, the EC will tally vote count on electronic voting machines (EVM) with voter verified paper audit trail slips in five polling stations in each assembly segment of a parliamentary constituency. It will effectively mean that out of nearly 10.3 lakh polling stations, the EVM-VVPAT (voter-verified paper audit trail) matching will take place in 20,600 such stations. In case of a mismatch, the results based on paper slip count will be considered as final. IMAGE: Laddus being prepared at a shop in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo The entire exercise of EVM-paper trail machine matching will take an additional four to five hours, EC officials said. The opposition parties on Tuesday raised concerns over reports of alleged tampering of EVMs and asked the EC to ensure transparency in counting. EC officials said the voting percentage of 67.11 this time was the highest ever-voter turnout in Indian parliamentary elections. They said as per procedure, postal ballots would be the first to be counted. IMAGE: BJP supporters perform a yagna for the victory their party at Sant Pashupatinath Ved School in Patna. Photograph: PTI Photo The number of service voters stands at 18 lakh and these include personnel of the armed forces, central police force personnel and state police personnel who are posted outside their constituencies. Diplomats and support staff posted in Indian embassies abroad are also counted as service voters. Out of the 18 lakh registered voters, 16.49 lakh have sent their postal ballots to their respective returning officers as on May 17. IMAGE: Security personnel stand guard outside a strong room at Akshardham in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo The exercise of counting postal ballots manually will itself take a couple of hours at least, an EC official said. Out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats, elections were held in 542 constituencies as the EC had cancelled polls to the Vellore constituency on the ground of excessive use of money power. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several Union ministers, Congress president Rahul Gandhi, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav are among key leaders who contested the polls. A military tribunal on Wednesday directed the government to produce before it on May 29 all records and documents relating to selection of the new Navy Chief. The direction by the Armed Forces Tribunal in New Delhi came in response to a petition filed by Vice Admiral Bimal Verma challenging the defence ministry's order appointing Vice Admiral Karambir Singh as the next Navy Chief, overlooking his seniority. Vice Admiral Singh is scheduled to take charge as the new Navy chief from incumbent Admiral Sunil Lanba, who is set to demit office on May 31. Vice Admiral Verma, commander-in-chief of the Andaman and Nicobar Command and senior-most naval commander, had moved the tribunal on the last month. "The AFT has directed the government to place before it on May 29 all records and documents relating to selection of the new Navy Chief," Vice Admiral Verma's lawyer Ankur Chhibber said. Last week, the Defence Ministry rejected Vice Admiral Verma's petition challenging the appointment of his junior, Vice Admiral Singh, as the next Navy Chief. Vice Admiral Verma filed a fresh petition at the AFT on Tuesday challenging Singh's appointment as well as quashing of a note issued by the defence ministry rejecting his plea against the selection. Chhibber said a previous petition filed with the AFT on the issue was withdrawn on Monday for filing the detailed plea on the issue. In an order last week, the defence ministry said Vice Admiral Verma's statutory petition dated April 10 against appointment of Vice Admiral Singh to the top post is devoid of merit and has been rejected in exercise of powers under Section 23 of the Navy Act 1957. The tribunal had on April 25 directed the defence ministry to decide Vice Admiral Verma's petition within three weeks. Rejecting Vice Admiral Verma's plea, the defence ministry said a thorough selection process was conducted under which overall service profile of all the contenders for the top post was examined. It said specific parameters for selection were applied uniformly to all the contenders and based on the assessment, it was found that Vice Admiral Verma, though being the senior most eligible officer, was unsuitable to hold the post of the Chief of the Naval Staff. In his petition to the defence ministry, Vice Admiral Verma wondered why he was overlooked for the top post despite being the senior-most in the line of command, terming as 'wrongful' the government's decision to appoint Vice Admiral Singh to the post. While appointing the Army chief in 2016, the government did not follow the long-held tradition of going by seniority. General Bipin Rawat was appointed Army chief superseding then Eastern Command Chief Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi and Southern Command Chief PM Hariz. Besides Vice Admiral Verma, the other contenders for the Navy Chief post included Vice Chief of Naval Staff Vice Admiral G Ashok Kumar, FOC-in-C of Western Naval Command Vice Admiral Ajit Kumar and FOC-in-C of Southern Naval Command Vice Admiral Anil Kumar Chawla. Singh, who is at present serving as the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief (FOC-in-C) of the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, will be the first helicopter pilot to become chief of naval staff. IMAGE: Indian Air Force successfully carries out firing of the air version of BrahMos missile from its frontline fighter aircraft Su-30 MKI, on Wednesday. Photograph: Handout/PTI Photo The Indian Air Force on Wednesday successfully test fired the aerial version of the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile from a Su-30 MKI fighter aircraft at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, marking a major milestone to enhance its precision strike capability. The 2.5 tonne air-to-surface missile has a range of around 300 km, and it will significantly enhance the IAF's combat capability, military officials said. The BrahMos cruise missile travels at a speed of Mach 2.8, nearly three times that of sound. "The launch from the aircraft was smooth and the missile followed the desired trajectory before directly hitting the land target," IAF spokesperson Group Capt Anupam Banerjee said. The IAF became the first air force in the world to have successfully fired an air-launched 2.8 Mach surface attack missile of this category on a sea target on November 22, 2017. "Today's was the second such live launch of the weapon. The integration of the weapon on the aircraft was a very complex process involving mechanical, electrical and software modifications on aircraft," the IAF said. It said the software development of the aircraft was undertaken by IAF engineers, while the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd carried out mechanical and electrical modifications on it. "The dedicated and synergetic efforts of the IAF, Defence Research and Development Organisation, BrahMos Aerospace Pvt Ltd and HAL have proven the capability of the nation to undertake such complex integrations," the IAF said. It said the BrahMos missile provides the Indian Air Force a much desired capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target at sea or on land with pinpoint accuracy by day or night and in all weather conditions. "The capability of the missile coupled with the superlative performance of the Su-30MKI aircraft gives the IAF the desired strategic reach," the IAF said. BrahMos Aerospace, an India-Russian joint venture, produces the supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarines, ships, aircraft, or from land platforms. The IAF has already begun work to integrate the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on 40 Sukhoi combat aircraft. Once the project to integrate the weapon on the combat fleet is over, the IAF capability to strike from large stand-off ranges on any target in sea or land is expected to go up manifold. The absence of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad during campaigning in Bihar for the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls was a "very big challenge", but the party has put up a "good fight" nonetheless, his son Tej Pratap Yadav said. -- INDIA DECIDES Known for his signature one-liners and trenchant wit, this was for the first time, Prasad was not present in the elections as he is serving sentences in connection with fodder scam cases. The former Bihar chief minister is currently admitted at a hospital in Jharkhand capital Ranchi on account of his poor health. The "lantern (RJD poll symbol) will be lit" at many places in the state on May 23, Tej Pratap said, though he felt that the result would be "surprising". "My father has always been the voice of the poor and the downtrodden and that is the legacy he handed over to me and my brother (Tejashwi Yadav), to fight for them and to bring equality and justice in society," the RJD leader and former Bihar health minister said, ahead of counting of votes on Thursday. "His (Lalu's) physical absence in this election was, indeed a very big challenge for us," Tej Pratap said in an interview. Asked, what is the number of seats the 'mahagathbandhan (grand alliance)' in Bihar is eyeing in the just-concluded polls, Prasad's elder son said that "the numbers could swing as voters' mood is also not quite clear at the moment". "We (the RJD) have done our work and reached out to the people and made them aware of the economic and political situation in Bihar and in the country. If fortune is in our favour, we should get 20-23 seats as per our preparations," Tej Pratap said. The Mahua MLA, however, said he himself was on the "horns of a dilemma" as far as the number of seats the party could win was concerned, adding that it will have a "element of surprise" this time. Tej Pratap also said he was hopeful that his sister Misa Bharti would be able to pull off a win from the Pataliputra constituency and claimed that the people are "unhappy" with sitting Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ram Kripal Yadav. Elections were held in Bihar in all seven phases, from Gaya on April 11 to Patna Sahib on May 19 spanning 40 Lok Sabha seats. As per seat sharing in the 'mahagathbandhan' in the state, the RJD fought on 19 seats, Congress on nine, Rashtriya Lok Samta Party on five, Vikassheel Insan Party and Hindustani Awam Morcha three each. One seat was left by RJD for the Communist Party of India-Marxist-Lenninist. RJD banks hugely on Prasad's legacy as his riveting speeches during poll campaigns are known to energise voters and attract mediapersons in big number. "Laluji would talk to people of all strata and sit and eat with people of all caste. He took all communities along. In fact, he would make us brothers sit and teach the way to reach out to the masses. "He would ask us to fold hands in front of people as 'janta is our malik', tell us to wear kurta-pyjama, mostly khadi, and talk in local parlance as much as possible to better connect with the masses," Tej Pratap said. The RJD leader said he and Tejashwi have to merely keep the field "irrigated" that was "tilled by my father". Notwithstanding exit polls forecasts, Tej Pratap hit out at the BJP, saying it is a "party of businessmen (vyapariyon ki party)" who have "done nothing" for farmers or youths in the five years of its government. "Why did farmers protest at Jantar Mantar, what about the Rs 15 lakh in each account and jobs promised to youths before 2014 polls? BJP has not fulfilled any of its promises," he said. Tej also rebuffed reports of any rift between him and his brother Tejashwi, the leader of opposition in the Bihar assembly. "There is no rift between me and my brother. I challenge anyone who can prove that. In fact, my blessings are always with him and I will follow whatever my father tells me to... In fact, I have always stood like a shield whenever someone tried to attack my brother," he said. Asked what role he foresaw for himself on the party, Tej Pratap said, "Janta (the people) will decide that and whatever role my father gives me in the party, I will take that one." Responding to media buzz on him taking to spirituality which is overshadowing his political career, he said, "I am political and spiritual". "I am a devotee of Krishna and bhakt of Shiva. I go to Mathura and Vrindavan to get more energy. Some people get that energy sitting under a peepul tree, some get it by stepping into a pond in a village. But, it doesn't mean, I am less involved in politics now because I am more spiritual," Tej Pratap asserted. The RJD MLA went to Vrindavan, a day after casting his vote in Patna, and said, this election has also laid a "very good foundation" for the party's preparations for the Bihar Assembly polls next year. "Bihar elections will be a direct fight between RJD and BJP, as Janata Dal-United will not be in reckoning by then, as it has joined hands with the saffron party to it own undoing," Tej Pratap claimed. IMAGE: A security person stands guard near a strong room where EVMs are kept in Allahabad. Photograph: PTI Photo A day before counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls, the Union Home Ministry on Wednesday alerted all states and Union Territories on the possibility of violence in different parts of the country, saying calls were given in various quarters for inciting violence. In a statement, the ministry also said it has asked the states and UTs to maintain law and order, peace and public tranquillity. 'The home ministry has alerted the state chief secretaries and directors general of police regarding possibility of eruption of violence in different parts of the country in connection with the counting of votes tomorrow,' the statement said. The ministry said the states and UTs have been further asked to take adequate measures for the security of strong rooms and venues of counting of votes. "This is in the wake of calls given and statements made in various quarters for inciting violence and causing disruption on the day of counting of votes," it said. The central security agencies have received inputs that some organisations and individuals, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura, have given certain statements which may lead to violence and disruption in counting process, an official said. Lok Sabha elections were held in seven phases from April 11 to May 19. Counting will take place on Thursday. Leaders of 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission and demanded verification of VVPAT slips of randomly-selected polling stations before the counting of the votes. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a 'thanksgiving' meeting with the Union council of ministers at BJP headquarters in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed concern over the "needless controversy" created by the Opposition over electronic voting machines at a meeting of National Democratic Alliance leaders, even as the ruling alliance laid out its agenda for the next five years if it is elected to power again. At the Bharatiya Janata Party-led ruling alliance meeting, which was attended by 36 parties, a resolution was passed, terming the 2019 general election decisive for the country and pledging to make India "strong, developed, prosperous and inclusive" by 2022, when India completes 75 years of its independence, party leader and Union minister Rajnath Singh told reporters. The BJP-led NDA meeting is being seen as its show of strength and projection of a united front by the ruling alliance ahead of counting of votes on May 23, following which a new government will assume charge. In his address, Modi stressed on the need to change the narrative from caste lines and orient it for the poor, Singh said. The prime minister expressed concern over the Opposition making "needless controversy" over electronic voting machines, the home minister said. Earlier on Tuesday, leaders of 22 opposition parties met the Election Commission and demanded verification of VVPAT slips of randomly-selected polling stations before the counting of the votes. The opposition representation to the EC came barely two days before the counting of votes and after exit poll projections that the BJP-led NDA is likely to return to power. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Tamil Nadu chief minister E K Palaniswami were among the BJP allies who attended the dinner-meeting hosted by BJP chief Amit Shah. Union minister and BJP ally Ram Vilas Paswan proposed the resolution. Paswan, who joined Singh in the media briefing, too dismissed Opposition's protest over EVMs as a case of collective frustration over their impending defeat and also warned them of "tit for tat". He did not elaborate what he meant by that. The Lok Janshakti Party chief said Modi turned emotional when he mentioned the political violence, "targeting" BJP workers, in states of Kerala and West Bengal. Shah had hosted another meeting for Union ministers earlier on Tuesday. The BJP described the meeting as an occasion to thank ministers for their service to the nation. The NDA resolution also expressed its concern over the "systematic assault by the Opposition on institutions ranging from the CAG, Election Commission and judiciary to police and armed forces". Modi described the NDA as an alliance of India's hope and aspirations, saying it has become an "organic entity" like a family and is representative of the country's regional aspirations. The NDA leaders at the meeting, which was presided by Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, felicitated the prime minister and praised his council of ministers for their work. The resolution expressed confidence that the NDA will come back to power under Modi and said its government planned a capital investment of Rs 100 lakh crore in infrastructure while Rs 25 lakh crore will be devoted to farm and rural sectors. Hailing Modi's leadership and expressing faith in him, the resolution adopted by NDA leaders said their alliance is a true representative of India's diversity and dynamism. "It is the alliance that manifests the dreams and aspirations of 130 crore Indians. Today, the NDA has become the principal pole in Indian politics. "Under the leadership of PM Modi, the NDA government has future-proofed India, which means the creation of next-generation roads, railways, highways, i-ways and ports infrastructure that caters to the needs of the present and coming generations," it said. The NDA, the resolution added, stands as a bulwark against the "vote-bank politics and old-school political thinking of the Opposition" whose 20th-century politics has not cut ice with the young voters of the 21st century. "The last five years were about fulfilling the basic needs of the people; now is the time to further increase the pace of progress and meet the aspirations of the people," it said. It also praised the outgoing government's development and welfare initiatives. Singh said its work on the security and diplomatic fronts have ensured that India is no longer seen as a "soft state" by the world. "We resolved that once again under the leadership of PM Modi, by 2022, when India marks 75 years of freedom, it is our endeavour to fulfil the dreams of our great freedom fighters and give shape to the strong, prosperous, developed and inclusive India they dreamt of," it said. Besides representatives of 36 NDA constituents, Singh said leaders of three other parties also sent their letters of support at the alliance meeting. GRAPEVINE, Texas, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), today announced that it will report first quarter fiscal 2019 earnings results after the market closes on Tuesday, June 4, 2019. The company will host an investor conference call at 5:00 pm ET on the same day to review the companys financial results. This call and any supplemental information can be accessed at GameStop Corp.s investor relations home page at http://investor.GameStop.com/ . The phone number for the investor conference call is 800-458-4121 and the confirmation code is 2037220. The conference call will be archived for two months on GameStops corporate website. About GameStop GameStop Corp., a Fortune 500 company headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is a global, multichannel video game and consumer electronics retailer. GameStop operates nearly 5,800 stores across 14 countries. The company's consumer product network also includes www.gamestop.com ; Game Informer magazine, the world's leading print and digital video game publication; and ThinkGeek, www.thinkgeek.com , the premier retailer for the global geek community featuring exclusive and unique video game and pop culture products, and Simply Mac, which sells the full line of Apple products, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones and offers Apple certified warranty and repair services. General information about GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the companys corporate website. Follow @GameStop and @GameStopCorp on Twitter and find GameStop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GameStop. We are about 6 weeks away from season 3 ofand the anticipation is growing. As summer quickly approaches and the release of the popular Netflix show, Coca-Cola has announced it will be adding to its Summer of '85 theme by bringing back New Coke!Yes, the epic soda failure will triumphantly return tomorrow to the delight of allfans. According to, New Coke will be featured in several episodes of the new season which you can see in the new "Coca-Cola First Love (Hawkins, Indiana)" promotional ad...For us consumers, throwback cans and limited edition cans of current products will be produced in a "very limited promotional run." Beginning May 23 at 5pm eastern,will flashback to 1985 and offer a special New Coke bundle that will include two 12 oz. New Coke cans (same 1985 recipe) along with a limited-edition and numbered Stranger Things/Coca-Cola and Coke Zero Sugar 8-oz. glass bottles. If you don't currently have a Coke Store account,and save 15% on your first order.If you miss the bundle, fans can also find a upside-down Stranger Things-inspired vending machine in select cities (starting May 23 in New York) dispensing free cans of New Coke for a limited time. If you visit the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta or make a purchase of $19.85 or more at Coca-Cola Store Las Vegas on select days during the week of June 3, you will have a chance to get New Coke cans as a gift, while supplies last.Even Pepsi fans (like myself) can appreciate this new promotion and the opportunity to enjoy the sweeter taste of New Coke once again. Season 3 ofis scheduled to be released on July 4. Denver, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Alliance Center, in partnership with B Lab and B Local Colorado, will host the Best for Colorado Award Celebration on June 6, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Mile High Station. This annual celebration honors Colorado businesses that lead the private sector in using business as a force for good. Values-driven business leaders from across the state gather for this event annually to network and to celebrate the companies who are dedicated to deepening their social and environmental impacts. This years event will also feature a special appearance from Governor Jared Polis. This years honorees include Namaste Solar, Montanya Distillers, Apiary Studio, First Affirmative, Prosono, Shift Workspaces, Lever Energy Capital, Apto and Ship Sunshine. The Alliance Center is also excited to present the first-ever Collaborative Award to B Lab, B Local Colorado, University of Colorado Boulder and Gary Community Investments for their dedication, collaboration and leadership to create an inclusive and sustainable economy through business. Namaste Solar is Best for Colorado because we are here to support the shift to clean renewable energy while also demonstrating that there is another way to do business one where you can have success while also serving a purpose beyond profit, Jason Shape, CEO of Namaste Solar, said. We measure success by the benefit we create for the environment, our employees, our customers and our community. In addition to the awards ceremony, guests will hear inspirational stories from speakers including Geri Mitchell-Brown of B Local Colorado and Kara Peck and Kim Coupounas of B Lab, as well as enjoy live music from Deja Blu Variety Dance Band. Beer from New Belgium Brewery and Boulder Beer, wine from Snowy Peaks Winery and Fetzer Winery and hors d'oeuvres will be served. More information and registration can be found at thealliancecenter.org/b4co. Mile High Station is located at 2027 West Colfax Ave in Denver, CO. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more Best for Colorado events at The Alliance Center throughout the year, and check out the Alliances event calendar to learn how you can personally get involved. # # # About The Alliance Center The Alliance Center is a multi-faceted nonprofit with an event and collaborative working space in the heart of lower downtown Denver. The Alliance Center serves as a model for innovative green building practices, collaborative working techniques, and engaging educational programmingall designed to scale up the sustainability movement. Together with their tenants, supporters, and partners, The Alliance Center is dedicated to creating a world where our communities thrive, our democracy is strong, our economy works for everyone, and our planet is healthy. The Best for Colorado program invites all Colorado companies to measure and improve their social and environmental impact. Best for Colorado offers programming and tools for all companies in the state, including B Corps, to enhance their practices and connect participating companies with local resources, education and support. Best for Colorado works with companies at every stage of their corporate responsibility journey to help deepen their impact in meaningful ways. By becoming a Best for Colorado business, companies can create higher quality jobs, build stronger communities, and preserve a healthier environment. Attachment Derby Police Department OLD SAYBROOK - One officer was sickened after being exposed to fentanyl while investigating a report of a suspicious person Tuesday morning, according to WFSB. The officer was involved in a vehicle search when the wind blew bags of fentanyl in into his face, reports said. The officer immediately became ill and was brought to Middlesex Medical Center Shoreline to be treated, police said. He is expected to recover, WFSB said. MONROE If parents get out of the house and do something healthy, children will follow, said Monroe park ranger David Solek. Children are going to mirror what their parents do, said Solek, also Monroes tree warden. If their parents go outside and go for a hike, the kids are going to want to do that, too. Solek is leading a family-style hike over a mile-long route on the Yellow Loop Tail at Webb Mountain Park on Saturday, June 1, which is National Trails Day across the U.S. The Monroe hike is one of roughly 240 activities planned in the states 169 municipalities, according to the Connecticut Forest and Parks Association. Solek will provide commentary over a route described as moderately demanding with some hills. He said he picked the Yellow Loop Trail because it is one of the parks lesser-used areas, and there should be lots to see, including several varieties of trees and some wild life. The latter will include mostly birds, but if were lucky, maybe well see a coyote or fox, Solek said. The nature walk starts at 10 a.m., though participants are asked to assemble at 9:45 a.m. at the main gravel parking lot by the new map kiosk and hand-pump well. They should be outfitted with comfortable shoes, insect repellent, sunscreen and head covering. Tick removal kits are being made available by the health department as supplies last. Dogs on leash are permitted with owners responsible for cleanup. The event is open to the public and co-sponsored by Monroes Health Department, Parks and Recreation Department, Conservation and Water Resources Commission and Land Trust and Tree Conservancy. With the exception of severe storms, Solek said, the event is rain or shine. NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP announces that a federal securities class action lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on behalf of investors that acquired Dynagas LNG Partners LP (Dynagas or the Company) (NYSE: DLNG) securities between February 16, 2018 and March 21, 2019, inclusive (the Class Period). Investors who purchased the shares of Dynagas LNG Partners LP are urged to contact the firm immediately at classmember@whafh.com or (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774. You may obtain additional information concerning the action on our website www.whafh.com. If you have incurred losses in the shares of Dynagas LNG Partners LP, you may, no later than July 15, 2019, request that the Court appoint you lead plaintiff of the proposed class. Please contact Wolf Haldenstein to learn more about your rights as an investor in Dynagas LNG Partners LP. ## Follow the firm and learn about newly filed cases on Twitter and Facebook. ## The filed complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: that the Companys new three year charter agreement with Statoil was not a continuation of its current contract but a new agreement with reduced revenue; that, as a result of the reduced revenue, the Companys distribution was not sustainable; the Companys ability to generate cash flow long term did not support its distribution levels; and as a result, the Companys public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On November 15, 2018, the Company announced that two of its vessels entered extended charter contracts at lower rates compared with prior charter contracts. On this news, the Companys share price fell $1.07, more than 13%, to close at $6.69 on November 16, 2018, thereby injuring investors. Then, on January 25, 2019, the Company announced a 75% cut to its global distribution in order to retain more of the cash generated from the Partnerships long term contracts to maintain a steady cash balance. On this news, the Companys share price fell an additional $1.11, more than 27%, to close at $2.91 on January 28, 2019. Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP has extensive experience in the prosecution of securities class actions and derivative litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. The firm has attorneys in various practice areas; and offices in New York, Chicago and San Diego. The reputation and expertise of this firm in shareholder and other class litigation has been repeatedly recognized by the courts, which have appointed it to major positions in complex securities multi-district and consolidated litigation. If you wish to discuss this action or have any questions regarding your rights and interests in this case, please immediately contact Wolf Haldenstein by telephone at (800) 575-0735, via e-mail at classmember@whafh.com , or visit our website at www.whafh.com. Contact: Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz LLP Kevin Cooper, Esq. Gregory Stone, Director of Case and Financial Analysis Email: gstone@whafh.com , kcooper@whafh.com or classmember@whafh.com Tel: (800) 575-0735 or (212) 545-4774 Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Cambodias government on Wednesday dismissed a bill written by a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers last week to support the successful implementation of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement that ended civil war in Cambodia and established the Southeast Asian nation as a fledgling democracy. On May 14, senators Lindsey Graham, Dick Durban and Marco Rubio introduced the bill, known as the Cambodia Accountability and Return on Investment Act of 2019, which says that Congress will not authorize funds to assist Cambodias government unless it immediately release opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) president Kem Sokha from de facto house arrest. Kem Sokha was arrested for treason in September 2017, and two months later the Supreme Court banned the CNRP for its role in his alleged plot to topple the government. Cambodia drew condemnation from Western trade partners and aid donors after the Supreme Court decision, which paved the way for Prime Minister Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to steamroll a general election in July last year widely seen as unfree and unfair. Last weeks bill also called for the immediate and unconditional release from detention of all other opposition members and civil society representatives, the dismissal of politically motivated charges against acting CNRP chief Sam Rainsy, who is living abroad in self-imposed exile, and the repeal of the 2017 and 2019 amendments to the Law on Political Parties that permitted the dissolution of the CNRP. The bill also deems individuals who undermine democracy in Cambodia and their immediate family members inadmissible to the U.S., and directs the Department of Treasury to block their assets. Lastly, the bill calls for funding to establish internet-based Khmer-language programs that inform the people of Cambodia on the role of the international community in supporting the implementation of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreement, and Chinas role in undermining the sovereignty of Cambodia through its influence on senior officials and strategic designs on the countrys geography for military purposes. The Paris Peace Agreement ended war between Vietnam and Cambodia on Oct. 23, 1991 and led to the United Nations administration of Cambodias government while the country transitioned to a system of democratic elections. US duty Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service on Wednesday, government spokesman Phay Siphan said he had little interest in a bill written by senators seeking political benefits, and urged Washington to end its culture of colonization against Cambodia. The Senators must acknowledge that Cambodia is enjoying peace and harmony, he said. Political commentator Kim Sok told RFA that as a signatory to the Paris Peace Agreement, the U.S. has every right to step in when Cambodias government engages in the abuse of human rights and the destruction of democracy. It is the U.S.s duty to encourage the government of Cambodia to implement the [Paris] agreement, he said. CNRP Deputy President Mu Sochua said the bill signals that the U.S. is adhering to the Paris Peace Agreement, just as the CNRP in exile is awaiting the opportunity to restore democracy to Cambodia. The CNRP is urging the government to adhere to the spirit of the Paris Peace Agreement and the constitution, and set democracy free. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. A screen grab from a video shows an aerial view of what appears to be sewage streaming out of the Sunshine Bay Hotel and Casino, Sihanoukville, Cambodia. A Chinese-backed casino in Cambodias southwestern city of Sihanoukville is still in business despite calls from the city to cease operations. The Jin Ding Hotel and Casino was ordered to close down in March because it was operating without a license and polluting an adjacent beach. The casino reportedly released untreated sewage water directly into the sea and there was one incident in which a casino guard fired shots in the air. Kheang Phyrum, a spokesman for Sihanoukville city hall, said in an interview with RFAs Khmer Service that the city has already informed the owner of the shutdown through official notices, but the owner has refused to act. The spokesman said that the city will send a third notice, and if the company continues to run the casino, the owners could have a court case on their hands. He also said that the city would argue for the demolition of the casino if the case goes to trial. We will forcefully demolish the casino and file a complaint to the court, said Kheang Phyrum. The casino has operated without a license and there are no permits from local authorities. Those two reasons are enough. The spokesman said that authorities cannot take immediate action against the Jin Ding casino because it is located on an island, making it difficult for authorities to move the heavy equipment necessary to destroy the building. Environmentalist Meng Heng said authorities should hold the Jin Ding responsible for the damage it has caused. He said that he wants to see the immediate closure of the casino first, with punitive action from authorities to come later. Meng Heng said he suspected that authorities arent taking action against the casino because of corruption. The casino is operating illegally, said Meng Heng. Why arent authorities taking any action? RFA attempted to contact the Jin Ding casinos owner Zhou Jianhua, but was unable to reach him. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Samean Yun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Two pro-independence activists facing charges in Hong Kong have been granted political asylum in Germany, according to media reports. Ray Wong and Alan Li were granted political asylum in May, according to reports in the New York Times, Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP). They fled the city in 2017 while on bail pending charges of rioting during a 2016 street protest in support of street vendors, that came to be known as the "Fishball Revolution." Hong Kong's secretary for justice Teresa Cheng declined to confirm the report on . "I don't comment on the individual opinions of any newspaper," Cheng told reporters when asked about the case. While secretary for security John Lee also declined to comment on individual cases, he said Hong Kong would be unlikely to pursue the two men any further. "Absconding while on bail isn't on the list of 46 crimes eligible for extradition," Lee said. " A Hong Kong police spokesman also declined to comment, saying they couldn't do so after charging someone. Baggio Leung, spokesman for the pro-independence Hong Kong National Front, said the decision to grant asylum to Wong and Li showed Germany had lost confidence in Hong Kong's legal system. "The legislature can't introduce legislation, nor can it keep it on the statute books," Leung said. "Law enforcement is under the control of an unelected administration, even to the point of appointing judges, eight out of 12 of whom are appointed by the chief executive." "It's pretty easy for political figures to be prosecuted, and sentencing is particularly harsh," he said. "There is no equality before the law." "If even countries like Germany that are a long way from Hong Kong are concerned about these things, and have lost confidence in our system, then maybe people here should think about that," Leung said. International doubts Wong, who founded and led the group Hong Kong Indigenous to campaign for "separation" between the city and mainland China, faced charged of "rioting" in relation to his role in the "Fishball Revolution." He told AFP on that he hadn't dared to contact his family before his application was approved for fear that the Hong Kong authorities would be monitoring their phone calls. He said he had decided to break his silence amid a bitter political row over proposed changes to Hong Kong's extradition law that would allow the rendition of people deemed criminal suspects by the ruling Chinese Communist Party to mainland China. Civic Party leader and lawmaker Alvin Yeung accused the administration of Carrie Lam of sacrificing Hong Kong's international reputation as a city ruled by law to demands from Beijing, which has insisted that the extradition laws be amended as a matter of urgency. "When Western countries start allowing Hong Kong people to apply for political asylum and approving them, it shows that foreign governments probably harbor a huge amount of doubt that political dissidents in Hong Kong will receive fair treatment," Yeung said. "It seems as if the administration of Carrie Lam cares a lot more about their political credibility in Beijing," he said. Andy Chan, former leader of the now-banned pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, said it is clear that the city is now in trouble. "This has to do with questions about human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Hong Kong," Chan said. "Great care is taken with political asylum applications, so I am sure that they have ample evidence of the likely political repercussions [for Wong and Li)." "Given that Germany is such an important country in Western Europe, this sends out a very strong signal," he said. Hong Kong's best-known independence activist Edward Leung was jailed for six years in 2018 for his role in the "Fishball Revolution." Wong told AFP that his political stance has changed now, however. "Now I won't advocate Hong Kong independence," he said. "I think the most important thing for Hong Kong is its human rights situation." Wong took part in, but later rejected the 2014 pro-democracy Occupy movement, which waged a peaceful 79-day civil disobedience campaign for fully democratic elections. He founded Hong Kong Indigenous to campaign for "separation" between Hong Kong and mainland China. Extradition law row The ruling Chinese Communist Party's Hong Kong liaison office last week called for the speedy passage of the amended law, which has sparked a bitter procedural row in the city's Legislative Council (LegCo). Last month, thousands of people took to the streets in protest at the law, which will allow the Hong Kong government to grant extradition requests on a case-by case basis with no meaningful judicial oversight, to countries with which it lacks an extradition treaty. The most likely jurisdiction to use the proposed provision is mainland China, which currently has no extradition treaty with Hong Kong. Democratic Party founder Martin Lee last week warned a congressional hearing in the U.S. that anyone living in Hong Kong or traveling there could be sent to face charges in China, once the law is passed. The business community has also warned that the new arrangement would remove many of the existing legal protections for foreign investors and companies that have led to the city being treated as a separate jurisdiction from China. The proposed amendments have been dubbed the "send to China" law, which sounds very similar in Cantonese to the words "final send-off," meaning a funeral. Pro-democracy politicians have used protests and filibustering to try to delay its passage through the city's Legislative Council (LegCo), amid a bitter procedural row among lawmakers, a judicial review application and street protests. Former colonial governor Chris Patten told Bloomberg on that the extradition law amendments would be the "worst thing" to happen to the city since the 1997 handover. "What the extradition law does is to destroy the firewall between rule of law in Hong Kong and what the Chinese diplomatically call 'rule by law' in China," Patten said. "And that means that there's no real distinction between the courts, the security services, and what the party wants to happen." "So it's not surprising that this has caused as much alarm as it has in Hong Kong. I think it's the worst thing that has happened ... since 1997." He added: "The Chinese have yet to prove that we can trust them." The Hong Kong government claims that adequate safeguards are built into the legislation to prevent China from using the law for political purposes, as extradition to China would take place only after judicial review and a recommendation from Hong Kong's chief executive. But lawyers say the "judicial review" is a mere procedural step during which judges would not examine the underlying evidence, and that the chief executive is subject to political pressure from the Chinese government, the group said. And journalists have warned the law will be used as a political weapon against the media. China is the world's second worst jailer of journalists, with at least 47 journalists in prison for their work on Dec. 1, 2018, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). A review by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission warned that the amended law could increase Hong Kong's political vulnerability and further erode the city's promised autonomy. The report found that the bill would remove independent legislative oversight in the extradition process and undermine strong legal protections guaranteed in Hong Kong, leaving the city and its residents exposed to Beijings "weak legal system and politically motivated charges." It said renditions under the proposed amendments could create "serious risks" to U.S. national security and economic interests. Reported by Tam Siu-yin and Lee Wang-yam for RFA's Cantonese Service, and by Gao Feng for the Mandarin Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A boy looks at the Tank Man installation outside the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei, Taiwan, May 21, 2019. Chinese tourists on the democratic island of Taiwan on Tuesday appeared baffled by a huge, inflatable installation of a People's Liberation Army tank being faced down by an inflatable Tank Man. Photos of the installation outside iconic Taiwan monuments including the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall have been making the rounds on social media. And while some Chinese tourists in the island's capital, Taipei, snapped photos of the art work ahead of the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, those who spoke to RFA were quick to dismiss any political implications. "I don't know," answered one tourist outside the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall on Tuesday, who said he was from China. Asked if he knew about June 4, 1989, when the People's Liberation Army (PLA) cleared Beijing after weeks of student-led protests, deploying tanks and machine guns against unarmed civilians, the tourist said: "I don't know." A second tourist said he believed that Tank Man, who was snatched away by men in uniform after stopping and facing down a column of tanks on Beijing's Chang'an Avenue on June 5, 1989, was former Chinese president Jiang Zemin. "So who is it then?" the tourist asked. A third tourist said he had seen footage of the scene, when a slender young man in a white shirt and trousers and carrying a plastic bag, moved to obstruct the tanks several times, eventually climbing up to talk to the driver. "I've seen that video," the third tourist said. "It was a case of a small minority of people, incited by overseas reactionary forces, who destroyed public order, so those were the measures taken by the Chinese army and Chinese society," the tourist said, repeating the exact words used by the Chinese leadership to describe the events of early summer 1989. "You have your opinions, we have ours," he added. The tank man exhibit is part of the 2019 June 4 International Symposium in Taiwan, which will include a number of commemorative activities from May 18 to June 4 to mark three decades since the student-led movement erupted onto Beijing's streets. Crushing power of the state Former 1989 student leader Wang Dan called on the people of Taiwan to remain vigilant, and not to underestimate the Chinese threat to their freedom and democracy. "If a free Taiwan really is annexed by the Chinese Communist Party, then it'll be real tanks we will see at the next [student] movement, not plastic ones," Wang said. "I really hope the people of Taiwan don't forget that," he added. Veteran 1989 democracy activist Fang Zheng was an eyewitness to the Tank Man's heroic encounter with the PLA that was beamed onto TV broadcasts and emblazoned on newspaper front pages around the world. Fang, who lost both legs after being crushed by a tank during the crackdown, is currently in Taipei to attend the Symposium. He said the fact that the inflatable Tank Man exhibit exists 30 years later is a testament to the iconic nature of the lone man's struggle against the crushing power of Chinese state, an image that became an emblem of the 1989 protest movement and the massacre that ended it. But Fang said he has far more disturbing memories of that time. "I hope that everyone will remember that the Chinese government the PLA tanks pursued and shot us in the back along the Liubukou section of West Chang'an Avenue," Fang said. "Many lost their lives, and many others were injured and disabled like me," he said. "So today I am a witness to the June 4 massacre, a survivor who made it out from under a tank. I hope everyone will also remember the poor souls who lost their lives." Wu Renhua, who was a lecturer at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing at the time of the crackdown, has compiled a detailed historical account of the massacre at Liubukou, where many of the victims were students who were peacefully leaving Tiananmen Square by prior agreement with the incoming troops. Most of the deaths occurred at around 6 a.m. on the morning of June 4, 1989, at the intersection between Chang'an Avenue and Xinhua Beijie, leaving pools and smears of blood all over the tarmac on Chang'an Avenue, he said. Wu told RFA that Fang's injuries were sustained as he tried to save two classmates. "Fang Zheng lost his legs when the tanks crushed the students at Liubukou, which was a horrific and cruel incident," he said. A bloody chapter in history Fellow 1989 veteran activist Zhou Fengsuo, who heads the rights group Humanitarian China, said the Tiananmen massacre is a bloody chapter in Chinese history, and showed the heroism of ordinary Beijing residents like Fang, who resisted the military onslaught with courage. "We are here today to bear witness, and to work hard to fight against tyranny," Zhou told RFA. "One day, we definitely want to be able to set up a permanent memorial at Liubukou, where the people were crushed by the tanks." The death toll from the night of June 3-4, 1989, when PLA tanks and troops entered Beijing, opening fire on unarmed civilians, remains unknown to this day. Contemporary accounts written by foreign diplomats said they were ordered to leave no one alive. While the Chinese government once put the death toll at "nearly 300," it has never issued an official toll or list of names, and public memorials marking the massacre are banned. A 2009 map published by the Tiananmen Mothers listed more than 250 names garnered from confirmed eyewitness accounts and hospital records of those known to have died in the days after June 3, but it is unlikely to be an exhaustive account of casualties. Reported by Hwang Chun-mei for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Chung Kuang-cheng for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Authorities in Thailand have detained two Chinese refugees, one of whom helped detained dissident Huang Qi, and both of whom now face repatriation to China, RFA has learned. Jia Huajiang, 37, who hails from the northwestern region of Xinjiang, was arrested by Thai police on , and is currently being held in an immigration detention center in Pattaya. Jia only holds temporary refugee status, and has yet to receive a formal notification of his status from the United Nations, fellow Chinese refugee Ai Wu said after visiting him. "We went to visit him over several days," Ai said. "He was sent to the immigration detention center; I'm not sure if it's the one in Bangkok." "I'm pretty worried right now [that he could be sent back to China]," she said. "But as long as he doesn't sign anything, it's less likely that will happen." At the time of Jia's detention, Ai's husband Yang Chong called on the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to issue Jia with an official document recognizing his refugee status as soon as possible. "People from Xinjiang will definitely receive a very heavy prison sentence, usually for more than 10 years, so this situation is definitely more serious for him," Yang said. Thai police have also detained Chinese dissident Liu Xuehong who recently supported detained rights activist Huang Qi, the founder of the Tianwang human rights website. Her husband Shuai Zhongren said Liu's detention came after the couple made a placard in support of Huang on , and walked through the streets of Bangkok in protest. "But as soon as we got to the imperial palace, we were stopped and checked by police," Shuai said. "Then Liu was taken into a police cell because her visa had expired, and held there until ... the immigration police took her away to an immigration detention center." Seeking UNHCR help He said Liu, who comes from the central Chinese province of Hubei, appeared at a hearing at Dusit Kwaeng Court in Bangkok two days later. "The police charged her with overstaying her visa, but the Thai authorities didn't supply any interpreter at any point," Shuai said. "Liu pointed out that she couldn't understand the proceedings, but they refused to comply with her request." Fellow Chinese refugee Xing Jian said Liu has been officially recognized by UNHCR, and called on the agency to lend her its support as soon as possible. "Thailand should have a duty to care for and protect U.N. refugees," Xing said. "Now she can only seek the help of UNHCR. There are also human rights groups that can call on the Thai government to release people." Calls to the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok rang unanswered during office hours after Jia and Liu's detentions. Huang, 56, stood trial in January at the Mianyang Intermediate People's Court in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan on charges of "leaking state secrets" and "leaking state secrets overseas," amid concerns that he could soon die in detention. A co-defendant has publicly accused the police of torturing him, Huang and a third defendant in a bid to force a "confession" from them. Huang was recently identified by Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as one of 10 citizen journalists in danger of dying in detention. Huang, who founded the Tianwang rights website, has repeatedly denied the charges and refused to "confess." Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Wong Lok-to for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A young woman is detained on suspicion of prostitution at a massage parlor in Beijing, in a file photo. North Korean women are uniquely vulnerable to sex trafficking in China, according to a report released Monday by the Korea Future Initiative. The London-based nonprofits report, Sex Slaves: The Prostitution, Cybersex & Forced Marriage of North Korean Women & Girls in China, describes systematic rape, sex trafficking, sexual slavery, sexual abuse, prostitution, cybersex trafficking, forced marriage, and forced pregnancy of North Korean women and girls in China. According to data in a 2013 report published by NK News, 68.7% of all defectors from North Korea to South Korea were women, and most defectors fall into the 20s and 30s age group. Because China routinely repatriates North Koreans found within its borders, North Korean women there are particularly at risk. According to the Korea Future Initiative report, exploitation of North Korean women generates profits of at least $105 million dollars each year. Victims are prostituted for as little as 30 Chinese Yuan (U.S. $4), sold as wives for just 1000 Chinese Yuan ($146), and trafficked into cybersex dens for exploitation by a global online audience, the report says. Most of the victims were in the age between 12 to 29, and experienced human trafficking more than once, said Michael Glendinning, CEO of Korea Future Initiative in an interview with RFAs Korean Service prior to the reports release. Glendinning said that the number of victims being sold into cybersex is increasing rapidly, and that even a 9-year-old victim was used to make graphic content. While in the past, forced marriage was the mechanism by which most victims were introduced to the trade, the report notes that prostitution has overtaken this as the most common path, with women and girls enslaved in brothels, mostly located in urban areas of northeastern China. For the report, the Korea Future Initiative conducted research and interviews over a two-year period. Survivors spoke of how they were sold into the sex trade after being deceived. I was 14 years old [and] my mothers cousin [in China] arranged for me to work in a garment factory in Yanbian [China] () I crossed the river at night [with a broker] and was driven to a house, said a survivor identified as Ms. Hwang from Musan county in the report. I realised that everything had been a lie when I arrived () A 36-year-old man bought me for 24,000 Chinese Yuan ($3500) () I escaped before his mother wanted me to have a child, said Hwang. Other survivors said they were sold into the industry after having an argument with a landlord, or by police that had threatened to repatriate them to North Korea. Ms. Jeon from Sinuiju talked about being abducted and raped by a group of men before being sold. Three men abducted me [close to the border]. It was nearly dark and they put me in their car and drove me into the mountains (...) The oldest man raped me first. I became unconscious when the other [two men] raped me, she said. When I woke up I was bleeding and they had tied me to a tree () The next day one of the men came back () [He] sold me to a broker, said Jeon. Recommendations The report called out Seoul for remaining silent on North Korean human rights abuses, and called on ordinary South Korean citizens to hold their elected political representative accountable. The nonprofit also recommended that all countries come to the aid of North Korean women in China and for embassies in the country to grant refugee status for North Korean asylum seekers. It also called for increased resource allotment for rescue organizations working with North Koreans in China to assist them in resettlement and rehabilitation. The report made a particular point of avoiding the word defector to describe victims of sex trafficking, because the term does not accurately describe the experiences of North Koreans who have been forced into exile by their governments imposition of poverty, hardship, and human rights violations. But the North Korean regime may not make the same distinction. Sources in North Korea say that the regimes State Security Department is cracking down on female Chinese language learners in provincial cities, labeling them as potential defectors. Monitoring Sinophones A few days ago, a private tutor who teaches English in South Sinuiju was called to the local security department office for questioning, said a source from North Pyongan province in an interview with RFAs Korean Service on Monday. The tutor graduated from a foreign language institute in Sinuiju and was a foreign language teacher at a high school. She quit teaching after she got married and began holding private Chinese and English lessons out of her home, the source said. The questioning by the State Security officials was to find information on Chinese learners. They were not concerned with students who were learning English, the source said. In particular, they wanted specific information on female learners in their 20s and 30s, including their names, home addresses and [perceived loyalty], said the source. The source said that the State Security department told the tutor to inform them how much each female student is paying for Chinese lessons. [They] said that learning Chinese secretly at a high price means they are preparing to run to China. They said Chinese language tutors are helping them with defection, the source said. A second source, also from North Pyongan, said the crackdown began after three families from the Sinuiju area defected last June. [After they defected], state security began questioning Chinese language tutors. They put pressure on the tutors to set up a reporting system so they could keep tabs on anyone signing up for Chinese lessons, the second source said. State security calls in suspicious women for questioning, but this is making people resentful. The Central Committee [of the Korean Workers Party] is emphasizing the need to improve foreign language skills, but these women are being punished for trying to do exactly that, said the second source. The second source said that learning Chinese isnt only popular with people who plan to defect. Young North Koreans want to learn foreign languages to gain an economic advantage, or to show it off as a status symbol. But for most people, their options for studying are limited to private tutors. Young people want to learn Chinese and English, but there are no [state sanctioned] educational institutions specializing in foreign languages for ordinary people. Language institutions in each provincial area are open only to high-ranking government officials and children from the privileged classes. This is why there are increasing numbers of language programs run by private tutors. However, state security is accusing people who are spending their own money to learn Chinese of being criminals preparing to defect North Korea, so people are resentful about it, the second source said. Additional Reporting by Hyemin Son and Hee Jung Yang for RFAs Korean Service. Translation by Leejin Jun. Five members of the Peacock Generation Thangyat group wait outside Mayangon Township Court in lower Myanmars Yangon region before their hearing, April 22, 2019. UPDATED at 10:30 A.M. ET on 2019-05-23 The members of a satirical performance group charged with criminal defamation for lampooning countrys powerful military during their shows appeared in court on Wednesday and accused the army of meddling in their court case, the performers and their lawyer said. Police brought five of the seven performers from the Peacock Generation thangyat troupe in handcuffs to Yangons Mayangon Township Court where they are being tried for violating Section 505(a) of Myanmars Penal Code in April. The section criminalizes the circulation of statements, rumors, or reports with the intent to cause any military officer to disregard or fail in his duties. It carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison, a fine, or both. On Monday, the other two performers charged with defamation appeared in Yangons Botahtaung Township Court. The plaintiff, Lieutenant Colonel Than Tun Myint, gave his testimony, and defense attorney Aung Si Tun said the court inspected the recordings of the Peacock Generation groups performances that the military officer submitted. Paing Phyo Min, one of the detained members of the troupe, accused the military of interfering in the case and insisting that the defendants be shackled during the trial. Aung Si Tun said that it was not in line with the law to bring nonviolent defendants to court in handcuffs. Paing Ye Thu, another troupe member, said that a police officer from Botahtaung Township told the performers that they had to handcuff them because a military vehicle was waiting in front of the jail where they are being detained. I think the police are being pressured by the military, he told RFAs Myanmar Service, adding that the Myanmar Army is trying to divert attention away from restive Rakhine state which is in the throes of armed conflict between government troops and a rebel ethnic army while trying to recover from a brutal crackdown by soldiers on Rohingya Muslims in 2017. Government forces have come under heavy fire by the international community for their role in the clampdown on the Rohingya A week ago, Marzuki Darusman, chairman of a U.N. independent, international fact-finding mission on Myanmar, urged the international community to cut its financial and other ties to Myanmars military, saying its commanders must be isolated and brought before a credible court on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. A phony democracy Right groups have blasted the arrest and prosecution of the thangyat performers, calling it another blow to freedom of expression in the developing democracy, where government and military officials have increasing used vaguely worded sections of laws to silence their critics. Kay Khine Tun, one of the detained members of the Peacock Generation troupe, said democracy under the current administration of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) is just a phony one. Than Tun Myint refused to comment when asked by RFA after the hearing about accusations that the military is pressuring the court in the case of the thangyat performers, whose shows are similar to modern slam poetry and usually include humorous criticism of politics, society, and the military. Military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told RFA that the defendants were handcuffed according to police regulations. Being handcuffed or not depends on the regulations in police manuals, he said. Police manuals scrupulously mandate these procedures, he added. Besides, the military has obviously filed the lawsuit against the group, so we dont have to interfere in police and courtroom procedures. If there is any interference, it will come out, so we dont need to give them orders. He also denied that military, apart from Than Tun Myint who testified, had been watching the defendants during the hearing. Give us proof that other soldiers in uniform were there, he said. The Tatmadaw [Myanmar military] doesnt need to go watch the proceedings or preoccupy itself with this kind of thing. The next court date for the members of the Peacock Generation group is May 29. Charges against 88 Generation When members of the Peacock Generation were led out of a police vehicle and into the Botahtaung township courthouse on Monday, a scuffle broke out between officers and the performers supporters, who opposed the handcuffing of the defendants. Five members of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, a group of former student activists who protested military rule 30 years ago, were charged at the township police station for causing the melee. Police officer Yan Paing filed charges against them for allegedly using criminal force or assault to prevent police officers from performing their duties and for abetting an offense. The charges carry sentences of a maximum of three years in prison and fines. During the melee, we talked about the damage on our side, but they never mentioned theirs, said Naing Ko Thu, one of those charged, referring to the police. It was only the next day that we learned that they filed charges against us, he said. Its obvious that the police are being pressured by an organization behind the scene. Democracy activist Nilar Thein, another 88 Generation member charged, was initially detained but later released on bail, while the remaining four were released Wednesday morning after they signed statements at the police station. Reported by Kyaw Zaw Win and Aung Theinkha for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Correction: An earlier version of the report incorrectly stated that six performers from the Peacock Generation troupe appeared in Mayangon Township Court on Tuesday and that all seven appeared in Botahtaung Township Court on Monday. WASHINGTON, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Calling himself proof positive that community colleges are engines of economic mobility, Dr. Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginias Community Colleges and founding board member of Rebuilding Americas Middle Class (RAMC), today called on Congress to extend Pell Grant eligibility to include the workforce training programs that community colleges are increasingly offering with great impact to todays generation of students. In testimony before the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives Education and Labor Committee, Dr. DuBois said, The biggest difference-maker we could work together on to expand the role community college play as engines of economic mobility is to expand the usage of Pell Grants for high-quality, non-credit workforce training programs. In doing so, Dr. DuBois said this expanded usage of Pell Grants is the biggest priority of the RAMC group. Dr. DuBois added: For the same reasons that the federal government invests in those pursuing traditional academic degrees, we should invest in those pursuing high-quality, stackable, post-secondary workforce credentials, and unleash a powerful engine of economic mobility. In making his call to extend Pell Grants to include workforce training programs, Dr. DuBois referenced the Virginia community college systems FastForward program, which is filling critical needs in Virginias workforce. In nearly three years, this highly accountable program has put more than 13,300 high-demand credentials into the Virginia economy. Should Pell Grants be extended to these students, I would suggest you do so with a solid system of accountability that includes program completion data and income gains for program graduates just like weve established in Virginia to ensure were meeting the (FastForward) programs promise, said Dr. DuBois. Dr. DuBois, whose first post-secondary degree was from a community college in upstate New York, is the latest leader of a RAMC member institution to testify before Congress on higher education matters. On March 27, 2019, Mark Hays, vice chancellor for workforce and economic development for the Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) appeared before the Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee to describe the expansion of apprenticeships in North Texas. ABOUT RAMC: Rebuilding Americas Middle Class (RAMC) is a coalition of community colleges and community college systems dedicated to affordability, access and student success. Dr. Joe May, chancellor of DCCCD, serves as president of RAMC. Contact: Jim Boyle 571-213-3979 jim@boylepublicaffairs.com Unexploded ammunition is found after a clash between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army in Kyauktaw township, western Myanmar's Rakhine state, May 19, 2019. An artillery shell explosion during a clash between Myanmar troops and rebel Arakan Army soldiers on Tuesday killed a Rohingya Muslim man and his son and injured another child in violence-ridden Rakhine states Kyauktaw township, a village official said. Mohamad Shofi, 38 and his eight-year-old son Husson died, and Mohammad Shazam, 15, was injured when the shell landed in Alae Gyun, a mixed Muslim and Buddhist community, said village administrator Win Hla Tun. It happened around 11 a.m. and killed a father and a son and injured another person, he said. The Myanmar military and Arakan Army (AA), which seeks greater autonomy in Rakhine state, denied any fighting in the area, despite locals who said otherwise. We didnt engage in any fighting in that area, said AA spokesman Khine Thukha. As far as we know, the Myanmar military fired at villages randomly. We also heard that such random firing had hit that village and caused some casualties. Myanmar Army spokesman person Brig-Gen. Zaw Min Tun said, There was no fighting around Alae Kyun. Theres no reason to fire randomly wasting ammunition and no reason to target an area with no enemies. Meanwhile, the Myanmar military said a clash on Friday between its soldiers and the AA in Chin states Paletwa township, where the conflict has spilled over from Rakhine state, killed a captain named Aung Moe Myint and injured an unspecified number of other soldiers, though the rebel group also suffered causalities. There was a clash on the 17th [of May] about three miles west of Paletwa town, Zaw Min Tun said. One of our officers was killed, and a few others were injured. We also got three bodies of enemy [troops]. Khine Thukha denied that the Myanmar military had claimed the bodies, but said that 10 soldiers had died during the battle. AA commandos attacked a military column from Light Infantry Battalion No. 212 under the command of Light Infantry Division No. 11 of the Myanmar Army on the morning of [May] 17, Thukha said. It took about an hour and a half. A total of 10, including a captain and two sergeants, were killed during the fighting. Since fighting between the Myanmar and Arakan armies spiked in early January in Rakhine state, dozens of AA soldiers have been killed along with an unknown number of Myanmar troops. About 40 civilians have been killed by artillery explosions and improvised explosive devices, and 70 people have been injured. UN refugee chief visits Rakhine Also on Wednesday, Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees (UNHCR), met with agency staff, civil society groups, and state government officials, including Chief Minister Nyi Pu, in Rakhines capital Sittwe to discuss refugee issues and efforts to find lasting solutions to the states humanitarian crisis. Grandi, who is is on a five-day visit to Myanmar that began Monday, is stopping in communities in Sittwe and Rakhines northern townships before heading to the capital Naypyidaw to meet with central government officials. Sittwe camps house refugees displaced by deadly ethnic rioting in in 2012. The U.N.'s refugee chief last visited Myanmar in August 2017 during the government militarys crackdown on the Rohingya following deadly attacks in northern Rakhine by a Muslim militant group, which caused more than 740,000 Rohingya to flee across the border to Bangladesh. In April, he visited Muslim refugee camps in Bangladesh that house more than 1 million people, including those who fled during the 2017 violence. Shwe Phaw Sein, chairman of the Rakhine Ethnics Congress, a group that promotes ethnic Rakhine rights, said there have been shortcomings in the assistance provided by international groups in the past. Ethnic people were ignored regarding international humanitarian assistance when they were under attack by Bengali Muslims, he said, using a derogatory term for the Rohingya who are viewed as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. We were told that our views were noted and have been under discussion to create the best solution, he said. Were not complaining about their work on behalf of Muslims, but were just pointing out that international organizations are doing nothing for local [ethnic Rakhine refugees]. Armed conflict between the Myanmar Army and the AA has displaced nearly 33,000 civilians in central and northern Rakhine state and northern Chin state since hostilities escalated in November 2018, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The humanitarian situation has been made worse because government officials have not permitted many international and domestic relief groups to operate in the state, except for the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme. There are obstacles for international organizations in providing assistance to war victims in Rakhine state, said Khine Kaung Zan, executive director of the Wun Let Development Foundation. We also highlighted that the government has imposed several restrictions [on them], so [Grandi] needs to talk to the government to get it to allow the flow of [humanitarian] assistance, he said. UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi (C) visits Sittwe, capital of western Myanmar's Rakhine state, May 22, 2019. Credit: RFA Better living conditions On Tuesday, Grandi visited some 500 displaced people at Yan Aung Myain Monastery in Buthidaung township, where the abbot, Eindawuntha, told him that the civilians want to return home as soon as possible. And they want those unexploded shells in their villages to be removed because they are very dangerous, he said. Some children have died after playing with the shells, and some have been injured. The commissioner said he would discuss these matters with Myanmar government officials and submit them to the United Nations. Grandi also met with about 50 villagers in Muslim-majority Pandaw Pyin village on Tuesday. We told him about our difficulty with getting enough food, village administrator Anwar said. The UNHCR has an irrigation plan to improve living conditions, he added. [Grandi] went to look at the site and a primary school that the UNHCR plans to renovate. Rakhine state Municipal Affairs Minister Win Myint indicated that he was pleased with Grandis visit. The trip went well, he said. [Grandi] went to Maungdaw [township] and discussed cooperation between the two [Muslim and Rakhine Buddhist] communities in order for them to live normal lives. [We] told him that we have prepared for the repatriation of those who fled to Bangladesh and those who remain here to accept National Verification Cards (NVCs) because it will give them opportunities, he said. Despite not being listed as one of Myanmars 135 official ethnic groups, the Rohingya can obtain the cards, which are part of a government effort to register members of the minority group and allow them to travel and work outside the confines of their displacement camps. The NVCs, however, do not confer Myanmar citizenship, which the Rohingya are denied. In November 2018, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed to repatriate Rohingya refugees who wanted to return to Rakhine state, but the program has been beset by delays as many of the hundreds of thousands of Muslims do not want to return to a country where they face systematic discrimination. The UNHCR and the United Nations Development Programme are working with the Myanmar government on the repatriation of refugees. Reported by Thant Zin Oo, Nayrein Kyaw, and Wai Mar Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Nandar Chann. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The Golog (in Chinese, Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, where a campaign purportedly targeting organized crime has led to harassment and strict surveillance of Tibetans with a history of political activism. A campaign by authorities in the Golog (in Chinese, Guoluo) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture purportedly targeting organized crime has led to harassment and strict surveillance of Tibetans with a history of political activism, sources in the region told RFAs Tibetan service. At the beginning of May, Chinese authorities have launched a campaign in all six counties under Golog. Under the name of rooting out all black and evil forces, the Chinese have targeted illegal gambling and the formation of grassroots organizations that solicit money from the people, said a one source in the region. Under the pretext of implementing the policy, the source said, Chinese authorities are causing a nuisance and harassment to former Tibetan political prisoners, and those Tibetans suspected of being involved in political activities by placing them under strict surveillance. Golog lies in the historic region of Tibet known to Tibetans as Amdo, incorporated into northwestern Chinas Qinghai Province. A second source in Golog, told RFA that at present the campaign against criminal gangs is being enforced in full swing at all counties in Golog. Since the beginning of this month, seven people from Gade (Gande) county and seven people from Darlag (Dali) county have been arrested, said the source, who said it was not convenient to speak in detail about the cases or the campaign. The first source told RFA the campaign imposes strict curbs on local Tibetans ability to gather or share information on social media.. If any association has more than ten people, they must seek permission through registering at the local village and up to the county level, said the source. Local Tibetans are instructed not to share any political news related to Macao, Hong Kong, Tibet, and China via any media or web platform, the sourced added. The authorities urged local people to avoid randomly talking to any foreigners from America and the West, said the source. The authorities say: When foreigners ask any questions, just remain silent and pretend not to know anything. A report published last week by the Dharamsala, India-based Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said that new policies and regulations have led to an increased restriction on human rights and lives of the Tibetan people. The report specifically cited the campaign against crime and black and evil forces, saying it resulted in the detention, arrest, and torture of human rights and environmental activists and of ordinary Tibetans promoting the use of the Tibetan language. Reported by Kunsang Tenzin. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Paul Eckert. The remains of more than 1,000 Holocaust victims were laid to rest in a solemn ceremony in the city of Brest in Belarus. The remains, discovered at a construction site in January, were buried in coffins covered with the Star of David on May 22. The burial at a cemetery outside of Brest was attended by city officials, Jewish community leaders, and diplomats. Belarus was home to a large Jewish community before World War II. The Nazi wartime administration confined an estimated 28,000 people in a Jewish ghetto in Brest until it was destroyed in October 1942, when thousands were executed. HRABYANYOVA, Belarus -- Relatives of an elderly Romany woman who was buried in eastern Belarus on May 22 say her death was caused by "wrongful raids" by special police forces six days before. Dozens of people bid farewell to Lidzia Yurchanka in Hrabyanyova, a mainly Roma-populated village located near the city of Mahileu. Relatives say the 67-year-old woman, who was a cancer patient, died on May 20 after she felt unwell following raids by armed special police in her home and the houses of other Romany residents in Hrabyanyova and the nearby village of Chapayeuka late on May 16. Dozens of Romany men and women were detained in both villages and taken to police stations, where they say they were severely beaten and questioned regarding the death of a police officer. The death certificate for Yurchanka says she died of venous thromboembolism, a condition in which a blood clot forms in deep veins, but her relatives claim that she passed away as a result of the stress caused by the police raids. No autopsy was performed, at the family's request. During the raid in Yurchanka's house, police were very rude and shouted at the children and grown-ups using vulgar words, according to relatives. They said that when Yurchanka asked why the raid was being conducted, one of the police officers told her, "Shut up, bitch, or I will tear you apart." The relatives said that Yurchanka was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, and doctors warned her that she needed to avoid any stress because her body was extremely weak. "After the police raid, her blood pressure jumped up and she had to use pills to try to get it back to normal," Yurchanka's granddaughter told RFE/RL. Yauhen Patapovich, a 22-year-old traffic-police officer, was found dead with a gunshot wound in a park area in Mahileu's outskirts on May 16. His colleagues started searching for possible suspects among the local Romany community because one of Patapovich's last messages on the Viber messaging app mentioned "three Romany men in a car," according to officials. Interior Ministry and Investigative Committee officials later told journalists that Patapovich had committed suicide. With reporting by Belapan SOFIA -- A pro-Russian party in Bulgaria, just days ahead of European Parliamentary elections, has published a video featuring a scene from a 2005 TV series in which a man is seen shooting at dozens of people sitting inside a legislative chamber. The video, which was posted on the Vazrazhdane (Renaissance) party's website and Facebook account on May 22, contains a 10-second scene from The Servant Of The People, a popular Ukrainian TV series. In the clip, the leading actor, recently elected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, shoots at lawmakers with two automatic weapons. "Vazrazhdane -- Only we can," reads text at the end of the video. Vazrazhdane leader Kostadin Kostadinov told RFE/RL that the video "targets media like yours." "With this video, we say that there are media in Bulgaria like RFE/RL that are working to destroy the Bulgarian state," Kostadinov added. The video has raised complaints, as the show was never broadcast in Bulgaria and there is no mention of it being a clip. Bulgaria's Central Election Committee, however, said it can't do anything about the ad because Facebook campaigns are not regulated. Some legal experts contacted by RFE/RL said the call for violence violates Bulgaria's Penal Code. Vazrazhdane is an openly pro-Russian party that has called for Bulgaria to leave the European Union and NATO. EU countries are holding elections on May 23-26 to select members of the European Parliament. In Bulgaria, polls will be open on May 26. The next summit of NATO's heads of state and government will take place on December 3-4 in London to mark the alliance's 70th anniversary. In announcing the dates, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on May 23 that the meeting will be a chance to "address current and emerging security challenges and how NATO continues to invest and adapt to ensure it will remain a pillar of stability in the years ahead." He added that London, which was home to NATO's first headquarters, was a fitting venue to mark 70 years of transatlantic military cooperation. Britain and 11 other countries established the Western military alliance in 1949. There are now 29 member states and the headquarters is in Brussels. The London summit comes amid persistent tensions between NATO and Russia and concerns about U.S. President Donald Trump's commitment to the alliance. Trump has criticized NATO's European members of not spending enough on their armed forces. NATO's founding act, the North Atlantic Treaty, was signed in April 4, 1949, in Washington by Belgium, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and the United States. The alliance's 29 foreign ministers met for two days in Washington last month to mark the event. Greece and Turkey joined together in 1952, followed by West Germany in 1955 and Spain in 1982. After the fall of communism, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary became members in 1999, followed by a second wave of expansion in the former Eastern Bloc in 2004, which brought Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Slovenia into the alliance. Albania and Croatia were next, joining in 2009, and Montenegro became the newest NATO member in 2017. WASHINGTON -- The former top lawyer for the White House has refused to appear before a congressional panel investigating President Donald Trump, deepening the legal standoff between Democratic lawmakers and the Trump administration. Don McGahn's refusal to appear before the May 21 hearing of the House Judiciary Committee comes after Trump urged McGahn to ignore the subpoena and avoid answering questions from the panel. The Judiciary Committee is one of several in the House looking into Trump's finances and business dealings, along with aspects of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible obstruction of justice. The White House cited a Justice Department opinion on May 20, saying that the committee had no right to force McGahn, who resigned in October, to testify. House Democrats disagreed. "When this committee issues a subpoena, even to a senior presidential adviser, the witness must show up. Our subpoenas are not optional. Mr. McGahn has a legal obligation to be here for this scheduled appearance," said Jerry Nadler, the Democratic chairman of the committee as the hearing opened. Doug Collins, the top Republican on the committee, said Nadler made no attempt to accommodate McGahn, including offering him a closed-door meeting. He accused Nadler of seeking "to get headlines." Mueller's report, released on April 18, corroborated U.S. intelligence conclusions of Russian meddling in the 2016 election campaign and also documented Trumps efforts to undermine the Mueller inquiry. The report also said there was insufficient evidence to prove Trump and his team committed a crime, although it also did not exonerate him. Since the release of the report, several House committees have been conducting their own investigations, and have sought to have administration officials testify under oath. An appeals court in France is set to rule on the extradition of an Iranian engineer to the United States. Jalal Rohollahnejad was detained under a U.S. extradition warrant at the airport in the southern French city of Nice on February 2. The 41-year-old had arrived in Nice from Tehran via Moscow, having obtained a French working visa. According to court officials, U.S. authorities suspect Rohollahnejad was involved in an attempt to export sensitive industrial equipment, including microwave systems and anti-drone systems, to Iran via the United Arab Emirates. U.S. authorities say the equipment could be turned into weapons, officials said. Rohollahnejad is suspected of working for Rayan Roshd Afszar, an Iran-based company blacklisted by the United States that is linked to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which Washington has designated as a terrorist organization. Rohollahnejad's lawyers have said the U.S. extradition request is "political." Already tense, relations between Tehran and Washington have worsened since 2018, when the United States pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran that curbed Tehran's nuclear program in exchange for relief from crippling economic sanctions. Based on reporting by AFP and France 3 Human Rights Watch (HRW) has joined international and Russian media-freedom watchdogs in deploring the shake-up at Russia's prominent newspaper Kommersant, calling it "the latest episode in the gutting" of the country's independent media. "This week brought the bombshell announcement that Ivan Safronov and Maksim Ivanov, two veteran reporters for Kommersant, were pressured into resigning, spurring the paper's entire politics desk to quit in protest," Rachel Denber, deputy Europe and Central Asia director at HRW, said on May 22. Kommersant has been "one of the country's most respected news outlets" and "one of the last remaining mainstream newspapers still clinging to editorial independence while continuing to produce high-quality investigative reporting," Denber said in a statement. "Russia needs more strong and independent newspapers like Kommersant. Let's hope it can hold out," she added. Ivanov, a deputy chief editor of the business daily's political unit, and special correspondent Safronov were fired earlier this month over an article about the possible demotion of Federation Council Chairwoman Valentina Matviyenko, a staunch Kremlin ally. Eleven journalists at Kommersant tendered their resignations in solidarity, and more than 180 others issued a joint letter saying that the newspaper' shareholders were "destroying one of Russia's best media outlets" for "short-term political gains." The Russian Journalists and Media Workers Union condemned what it called a "brutal interference by shareholders in editorial policy." In Paris, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said, "This editorial meddling in the Kommersant newsroom by the owner is a terrible blow to what is left of journalistic independence in Russia." Kommersant's deputy editor in chief, Renata Yambayeva, said that the decision to fire Ivanov and Safronov was made by the newspaper's owner, Kremlin-friendly oligarch Alisher Usmanov. A spokesperson for the billionaire denies that. Italian investigators say they will charge a bus driver with manslaughter after his vehicle veered off a cliff in central Italy, killing a Russian woman and injuring dozens more. Italian media reports on May 23 said that the decision on the driver's possible pretrial arrest is pending. The man, whose name was not disclosed, is now in police custody. The bus plunged into a ravine on May 22 while traveling along the Siena-Florence highway, killing a woman from Russia, who worked as a tourist guide, and injuring 39 others. The 55 passengers on board were from Russia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Israel, and Romania. The Russian Embassy in Italy said on May 23 that five Russian nationals remain hospitalized with injuries sustained in the crash, while another 22 had been treated and released. In a statement on May 23, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said nine Kazakh citizens were injured in the crash and five remained hospitalized with bone fractures. On May 22, Armenia's Foreign Ministry also confirmed that its nationals were among the injured. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian, Kazakh, Armenian Services, Corriere Della Sera, ANSA, and La Nazione English French LORIGNAL, Ontario, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ivaco Rolling Mills applauds the Government of Canada for concluding successful negotiations for the full removal of US Section 232 tariffs on Canadian steel products. We would like to thank Minister Chrystia Freeland and the Canadian negotiating team for their tireless efforts in resolving this challenging issue. The removal of these tariffs is great news to our workers and community. The Steelworkers are proud to have played an important role alongside the Canadian steel producers. These tariffs have had a significant impact on our members, and I am confident there is light at the end of the tunnel for all those affected said Richard Leblanc, Area Coordinator for the United Steelworkers. On behalf of Ivaco Rolling Mills, we thank the Government of Canada for this significant achievement that will have a direct benefit on our customers, employees, suppliers and the community said Will Trower, Chief Financial Officer at Ivaco. Now that a deal has been reached, we look forward to getting back to work with our partners on the other side of the border and a return to the free trade that has defined the North American steel market for decades. Ivaco Rolling Mills continues to work with its partners in labour, industry and government to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the company and promote Canadian steel jobs. About Ivaco Ivaco Rolling Mills is a reputable wire rod supplier for the automotive, energy, agriculture, construction and telecommunication industries. Its facility, located in the counties of Prescott and Russell, ON produces high quality steel billets and wire rod in a safe, environmentally friendly, and energy efficient manner. Contact Francis Miner Manager, Trade, Ivaco 613-675-6626 (L'Orignal) Pakistani authorities say they have arrested three suspects in relation to the kidnapping and murder of a 10-year-old girl. Khalid Awan, an Islamabad police spokesman, said on May 22 that a case was also registered against four police officers on suspicion of negligence. The case has triggered street protests and national condemnation in Pakistan, where crimes against children are common and often go unpunished. The mutilated body of the girl, Farishta, was found on the outskirts of the capital four days after she disappeared from her neighborhood of Shahzad Town on May 15. Ghulam Nabi, the victim's father, alleges that the police did not immediately look for the girl and mistreated him when he tried to report her missing. The girl's family is from the Pashtun community and originally from northwestern Pakistan. Hundreds of people, mostly Pashtuns, have rallied in Islamabad to demand justice, and police are now investigating if the girl was raped and tortured. Calls for action are being made on social media, under the hashtag #JusticeFor Farishta. The rape and murder of 7-year-old Zainab Ansari in January 2018 sparked national outrage and protests across Pakistan. In October 2018, authorities executed a man convicted of killing Ansari and seven other children. There were 3,832 reported cases of child abuse during 2018, according to the nongovernmental organization Sahil. Based on reporting by dpa, AP, and Dawn Officials in Russia's Sverdlovsk region have scrapped plans to build an Orthodox church in a Yekaterinburg park after a rare public outcry over the project that prompted President Vladimir Putin to urge all sides to find a comprise solution. Regional Governor Yevgeny Kuivashev said in a post on his Instagram account on May 22 that he made the decision after a poll showed 74 percent of respondents thought locating the church in a popular park in the Ural Mountains city was a poor choice. "I think the data published by [polling agency] VTsIOM are grounds to exclude the square by the Drama Theater from the list of possible locations for the construction of St. Catherine's Cathedral," Kuivashev said in the post. "A new location must be found," he added. The announcement comes days after officials in two Russian cities -- Chelyabinsk and Krasnoyarsk -- suspended or scrapped plans to construct religious buildings as well. Several evenings of protests in Yekaterinburg withered after local authorities said that construction work on the proposed new church was suspended pending the results of the opinion poll. During the protest campaign, police arrested almost 100 protesters, 33 of whom were sentenced to jail terms between two and 15 days. Yekaterinburg is Russia's fourth-largest city. Relatives have held funerals for some of the victims of a May 19 riot at a prison in Vahdat, east of the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. Interior Ministry officials said the violence left 29 inmates and three guards dead, though other sources put the death toll much higher. The United States says it suspects that Syrian government forces have carried out a new chemical attack. The State Department said in a statement on May 21 that it was investigating a suspected chlorine attack on May 19 in Idlib Province, the Syrian opposition's last major stronghold. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement that if Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government "uses chemical weapons, the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately." Ortagus also criticized Russia, a key ally of Damascus, for what she called a "disinformation campaign" to blame opposition rebels for chemical attacks. Viktor Kupchishin, the head of the Russian military's Reconciliation Center in Syria, said earlier on May 21 that militants captured by Syrian troops spoke of a plan to stage fake chemical attacks and blame them on government forces. He claimed the militants had created a special "chemical wing" to produce and stockpile toxic agents. Russia and Turkey, the key ally of the rebels, agreed in September to create a demilitarized buffer zone in Idlib. But Tahrir al-Sham, a merger of Islamist groups dominated by the former Nusra Front, an Al-Qaeda affiliate until 2016, has seized large areas of the province and prompted air and ground offensives. Ankara fears that a large-scale assault on Idlib, which lies on its southern border, could trigger a massive flow of refugees onto its soil. Based on reporting by AFP and AP Ukrainian authorities say eight military personnel have been captured by Russia-backed fighters in the eastern region of Donetsk. Ukraines Joint Forces Operations (OOS) in the country's east said in a statement that the soldiers were captured on May 22. "According to preliminary information, early in the morning today, eight military personnel of Ukraine's armed forces from the OOS took a wrong turn while moving aboard a truck near the town of Novotroyitske and found themselves in temporarily occupied territory, where they were captured by fighters of the Russian Federation's armed forces," the OOS statement said. The Ukrainian military frequently refers to Russia-backed separatist forces who hold parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as "fighters of the Russian Federation's armed forces." It also says that many regular Russian soldiers have fought in the conflict there, a claim that Moscow denies despite what Kyiv and NATO say is incontrovertible evidence. Ukraines Defense Ministry said earlier in the day that three soldiers were wounded in five cease-fire violations by Russia-backed forces over the previous 24 hours. The separatists in turn accused government forces of violating the cease-fire twice since May 21. Some 13,000 people have been killed in the conflict in eastern Ukraine since April 2014, when Russia encouraged separatism following the downfall of Moscow-friendly Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Cease-fire deals announced as part of the Minsk accords -- September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict -- have contributed to a decrease in fighting but have failed to hold. A new cease-fire agreement was reached on March 8, but both sides have accused each other of repeated violations since then. The conflict in the region known as the Donbas is one of the challenges facing President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who was inaugurated on May 20. TORONTO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arch Biopartners Inc., (Arch or the Company) (TSX Venture: ARCH and OTCQB: ACHFF), announced it has closed the non-brokered, unsecured convertible note (Note) financing it disclosed in a press release on May 17, 2019 for net proceeds of CAD $1,000,000 (the Offering). The Note matures on November 22, 2019 and will be convertible, at the option of the holder, into common shares in the capital of the Company (Common Shares) at a price per Common Share of $1.21, in the thirty-day period prior to the maturity of the Note. The Note bears simple interest of 5% per annum, which is payable in-kind by the Company with Common Shares to be issued at then market prices for the Common Shares and subject to TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) approval. The holder has the option starting October 22, 2019 until November 21, 2019 to extend the term of the Note another 3 years to November 22, 2022. If extended, the Note is convertible into shares only in the thirty days prior to November 22, 2022. The Note is unsecured and transferable, subject to resale restrictions under applicable securities laws and regulatory requirements. All securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory hold period of four months commencing from todays closing date. The Company will primarily use the proceeds to fund the costs of the phase I human trial for Metablok. Metablok (LSALT peptide) is the Companys lead drug candidate for treating acute kidney injury and other organs damaged by inflammation. The Offering is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of applicable regulatory approvals, including Final Approval of the TSXV, which previously granted Conditional Approval of the Offering. There are no finder's fees to be paid in connection with the Offering. There is no material fact or material change about the Company that has not been generally disclosed. Other Corporate Developments Arch also announced today the Companys board has granted a total of 20,000 stock options to a director of one of its foreign subsidiaries pursuant to the Companys stock option plan and the requirements of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). Each of the stock options is exercisable into one common share of the Company for a period of ten years, exercisable at $1.25 per share. The grant of options will be subject to all necessary regulatory approvals. About Arch Biopartners Arch Biopartners Inc. is focused on the development of innovative technologies that have the potential to make a significant medical or commercial impact. Arch has established a diverse portfolio that includes Metablok, a potential treatment for inflammation, sepsis and cancer metastasis; AB569, a potential new treatment for antibiotic resistant bacterial infections in the lung, urinary tract or wounds; and, Borg peptide coatings that increase corrosion resistance and decrease bacterial biofilm on various medical grade metals and plastics. For more information on Arch Biopartners, its technologies and other public documents Arch has filed on SEDAR, please visit www.archbiopartners.com The Company has 58,662,302 common shares outstanding. Forward-Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical fact, in this news release are forward looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or managements estimates or opinions change. 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. When she was 17 and had just finished high school, Miller and her mother, Marta Miller, moved to Tokyo to join her father, Merle Duane Miller, who was in the Air Force. Almost immediately after she arrived, she started a career as a model. She was spotted on a magazine cover and cast in King Kong Escapes, she said. Miller filmed one other movie in Japan, The Green Slime, in 1968, before her family returned to the United States. She briefly tried to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles but said she couldnt transition to the amount of compromising needed to succeed at the time. Having Americans plucked out of obscurity to star in Japanese films was not an uncommon thing in the 1960s, Miller said. Unbeknownst to her, another young American, Carl Craig, who was living in the same housing project and was 10 years younger, was making a Japanese monster movie at the same time, Gamera vs. Viras. Miller said she met Craig at a convention in New Jersey, and when they started talking about their time in Japan, they learned just how close their paths came without crossing. Craig will also be appearing at GalaxyCon Richmond, and Miller said she is excited to share an autograph table with him again. Jones said the fact that Sun Tribe handles all aspects of the project in hose was a key point in the companys favor. The other proposal received in the RFP process came from a partnership of three different companies handling various aspects of the project. If something went wrong with the system, there was the worry that companies could try to pass the blame, he said. * Sun Tribe would provide a comprehensive inspection of the four schools roofs prior to solar installation, Brown said. If any repairs are needed, they will be done prior to installation. The solar racking configuration would be approved by the roof membrane OEM manufacturer and then inspected again after installation so the school division can get a signed letter recertifying its existing roof warranty. * Sun Tribe partners with a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit called NEED (National Energy Education Development). The solar provider will offer a grant for teacher training to help them integrate the new technologies in solar power into their curriculum. Chesterfield County police are seeking the publics help with finding a 28-year-old county resident who was last reported seen on April 21. Police said Bryan Austin Sebera left his home that day in the 14700 block of Esther Lane in his red 1993 Honda Civic with Virginia license plates, XMUGENX. He was reported missing by relatives May 7. Sebera, 28, is described as a white male who is about 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighs about 152 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing black Levis jeans; orange, ankle-length boots; and an orange, short-sleeved, button-up shirt. He has tattoos on his left hand, left bicep and left upper arm. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call Chesterfield police at (804) 748-1251 or Crime Solvers at (804) 748-0660. You can also contact Crime Solvers by going to www.crimesolvers.net or using the P3 Tips app for smartphones. Petersburg police are seeking to identify a man who reportedly attempted to abduct a 2-year-old girl. Police said a man entered an apartment Tuesday at the Jefferson South of the James Apartments, in the 1800 block of Boydton Plank Road, and tried to lure the girl into a hallway. Additional details were not released. The suspect was seen briefly by a parent, who described the person as a thin black male who is about 25 years old and has a medium complexion. He had a beard and was wearing a red cap and a brightly colored shirt. Anyone with information about the incident or the identity of the man should call Petersburg police at (804) 732-4222 or Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212. You can also contact Crime Solvers by going online to www.pdcrimesolvers.org or using the P3 Tips app for smartphones. A Georgia man died after a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 95 in Hanover County on Tuesday. State police responded to the crash about 2:20 p.m. at the 96 mile marker of northbound I-95. According to the preliminary investigation, a 1998 Chevrolet S10 pickup truck driven by Robert Eugene Taylor was traveling north in the center lane when the truck veered to the left and struck a 2014 Ford Mustang in the left lane. The impact forced both vehicles off the road. Taylor, a 78-year-old resident of Brunswick, Ga., was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. A woman who was a passenger in the truck, whose identity was not released, was hospitalized with serious injuries. They were both wearing their seat belts, police said. The man driving the Mustang and his adult female passenger were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. They were both wearing their seat belts, police said. The driver of a tractor-trailer was killed after crashing into an abandoned car on the shoulder of southbound Interstate 95 on Wednesday morning in Henrico County. The Virginia State Police responded to the crash near Brook Road at 4:52 a.m. According to the preliminary investigation, the tractor-trailer hit a disabled car that had been left on the right shoulder of the interstate. Police said the tractor-trailer ran off the right side of the road, overturned in the woods, and the truck's cab caught fire. EVMS typically placed the yearbooks for the reunion years on a table during the reunion events, and the former alumni affairs director had observed the photograph while looking through the 1984 EVMS yearbook. The photograph shocked the former alumni affairs director, who then showed it to some other EVMS personnel. The EVMS personnel decided to remove the 1984 yearbook from the table at the reunion event so as not to upset anyone who might see the photograph. The EVMS personnel who became aware of the photograph expressed surprise and disappointment in the photograph. Members of EVMS staff brought the photograph to the attention of the president of EVMS on two separate occasions. Most recently, it was brought to the attention of President Homan, and prior to that it was brought to the attention of then-President Lester. The report says that staff members were asking if EVMS had an obligation to or should do something about it, such as notifying Governor Northam about it. In each case, the president of EVMS decided that the school should not take steps to publicly announce the photograph or to call Governor Northams attention to it. Ali suggested in court filings that the lawsuit was driven by political machinations in Warfaas home region, which declared itself an independent state called Somaliland after the Barre regime collapsed in 1991. Ali was in the United States for military training in 1990 when he realized Barre would soon lose power, according to court records. So he fled to Canada but was deported from both that country and the United States after media reports highlighting his past. He was able to return to Alexandria on a spousal visa in 1996 and has lived in the area ever since. On the first day of trial, CNN reported that Ali has been working as an Uber and Lyft driver in the Washington area. Both companies have since blocked Ali from working for them, according to company representatives. Ali previously worked as a security guard at Washington Dulles International Airport. He passed a criminal background check by the FBI and a threat assessment by the Transportation Security Administration to work that job, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority told CNN at the time. The Department of Homeland Security told CNN that the results of Alis security checks had not disqualified him from employment. NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Sprint Corporation (Sprint or the Company) (NYSE: S). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Sprint and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. On April 15, 2019, Sprint filed a letter with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding the Applications of T-Mobile US, Inc. and Sprint Corporation for Consent to Transfer Control of Licenses and Authorizations, WT Docket No. 18-197 (the FCC Letter). The FCC Letter disclosed, in relevant part, that due to weak network infrastructure and a subscriber base prone to seeking better deals from Sprints competitors, Sprints current performance would be unsustainable if the Company failed to merge with T-Mobile US, Inc. Following the submission of the FCC Letter, Sprints stock price fell $0.22 per share, or 3.61%, to close at $5.88 on April 15, 2019. On April 16, 2019, the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled T-Mobile-Sprint Deal Runs Into Resistance From DOJ Antitrust Staff, which referenced the FCC Letter and reported its contents. Following publication of the Wall Street Journal article, Sprints stock price fell $0.37, or 6.16%, to close at $5.64 on April 17, 2019. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com For most of his life, Heilman has served as an educator and an inspiration to all. On May 25, in recognition of his years of devoted service to the Marine Corps, the University of Richmond and to the education of all young Americans, the Richmond-area James M. Slay Detachment of the Marine Corps League will honor him in a ceremony at Lakewood retirement community. Heilman will be presented with a shadow box highlighting his Marine Corps uniform, his decorations and awards and other military memorabilia. Following its presentation to Heilman, the shadow box will be placed on permanent display in the University of Richmonds Heilman Center. During the presentation ceremony, the Marine Corps League also will announce the establishment of the Doctor Bruce Heilman Scholarship Award. The top cadets at each of the four Richmond-area high schools with Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps units will receive $500 scholarships. While grim and disappointing, news that Richmond Public Schools used inappropriate practices to inflate its graduation rates in recent years unfortunately doesnt surprise us. According to a recent RTD news story by Justin Mattingly, not only did RPS artificially bloat its numbers, the school system employed questionable practices such as rubber-stamping student work, using alternative tests and putting students on individualized education plans to improve graduation rates. Richmond high schools have the lowest graduation rates of any school system in the state. The discrepancies were uncovered during a Virginia Department of Education evaluation of all current RPS student transcripts. The transcript reviews were triggered by issues raised in the November 2018 release of an audit that found RPS assigned too many credit hours to several classes, never received school board approval for several courses and awarded high school credits to middle school students. School officials have no idea when the discrepancies first began or how many students were impacted by the artful practices. The further we dig in, the more issues we discover, Tracy Epp, the districts chief academic officer, told the RTD. The logic on this is simple. Imagine asking a restaurant to take $10 for a steak dinner instead of the menu price of $30. If this happened enough times, the restaurant would be forced to cut staff and use ingredients that were affordable instead of high-quality. Eventually the four-star steakhouse would become a one-star dive. It might even have to close rather than sacrifice quality. When it comes to a solution for balance billing in Virginia, that is what the insurance industry wants for doctors offices. Just as the restaurants decline would hurt customers, the decline in this instance would hurt patient care across the commonwealth. In an emergency, it is unsafe and illegal for a doctor to determine treatment based on insurance. A physicians priority is providing his patients with the immediate care they need. The idea that a patient should live in fear of a surprise bill after breaking a leg or having a stroke is heartbreaking. Virginia must remove patients from this billing process. As the federal government debates balance billing, Virginia has the opportunity for Virginia to once again lead the way. The Medical Society of Virginia stands ready to work with the General Assembly, hospitals and health insurers to find a solution to this problem that puts patients and their care first. States, cities sue over new Trump health rule WASHINGTON A group of mostly Democratic states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday, challenging a new federal rule that gives health care providers, insurers and employers greater latitude to refuse to provide or pay for medical services that they say violate their religious or moral beliefs. A lawsuit by a coalition of 23 states and cities, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, says the rule illegally favors the personal views of health care workers over the needs of patients. The coalition includes Virginia. A separate suit, brought by California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, says the rule impedes access to basic care and encourages discrimination against vulnerable patients, including women and LGBTQ individuals. Plan to send TSA force to border draws fire WASHINGTON Lawmakers clashed Tuesday over the Trump administrations move to send hundreds of Transportation Security Administration employees to the Mexican border, and one airport official warned it could lead to long checkpoint lines this summer. NEW YORK, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Indivior PLC (Indivior or the Company) (OTCMKTS: INVVY). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 9980. The investigation concerns whether Indivior and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. On April 9, 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an indictment asserting criminal charges against Indivior in connection with the Companys conduct in marketing the opioid dependence treatment Suboxone Film (the Indictment). The charges included one count of conspiracy to commit mail, wire, and health care fraud, one count of health care fraud, four counts of mail fraud, and twenty-two counts of wire fraud. According to the Indictment, Indivior executives were aware that Suboxone Film was being carelessly overprescribed by several doctors, but Indivior nevertheless continued to target those doctors in their tailored marketing. On news of the Indictment, Indiviors American Depositary Receipt (ADR) price fell $4.48 per share, or 66.08%, to close at $2.30 per share on April 10, 2019. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com Cancun police chase ends with one in hospital, one in jail Cancun, Q.R. A police chase involving two armed youths on a motorcycle has ended with one in hospital and the other in jail. The chase began after the driver of the motorcycle refused to stop for police. The motorcycle was summoned to pull over around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on Guayacan Avenue, however, the driver made an attempt to flee instead. Preliminary reports say police fired at the motorcycle, hitting one of the men. Photo: la Policia de Quintana Roo The pair were taken into custody on Huayacan Avenue near Residencial Aqua. An ambulance was called to transfer the injured youth to the General Hospital while the second was taken to jail. The motorcycle was hauled to the pound by a tow truck. After 17 years of leading the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, Vicki Gardner is stepping away from her role as executive director in late August. For me its not retirement, Gardner said Wednesday. Im still going to be working with the community, just in a different way. Gardner, who grew up in the Finger Lakes region of New York, moved to the lake with her husband, Tim, in the mid-1980s after spending 10 years in Houston. Ending up at Smith Mountain Lake was no accident at all, Gardner said in an interview with Smith Mountain Laker magazine in 2011. After conducting extensive research, they purchased a lakefront home in Goodview in 1986 where they still live. Its just the most amazing place to live, Gardner said in 2011. We could have gone anywhere, and Im so grateful we chose Smith Mountain Lake. When Gardner took over as the chambers executive director in 2002, she described its state as very fragile. Her first years there were spent putting together policies and procedures and working solely with volunteers. We operated more as a visitor center, she recalled. The idea was to connect businesses and have an organization to bring them together. The chamber grew from just over 180 members to 625 in the first three years of her tenure. Today, there are more than 750 members. Gardner also helped raise the regions profile through marketing initiatives, developed member networking and educational opportunities, as well as spearheaded a remodeling and expansion of the state-certified Visitor Center at Bridgewater Plaza. Gardner, 66, is a graduate of the U.S. Chambers Institute for Organizational Management, a four-year program for leaders of chambers and other nonprofits, and has served as president of the Virginia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and on the Virginia Chamber of Commerce board of directors. Vickis accomplishments are truly too long to list, Lindsey Coley, chairman of the chambers board of directors, said in a news release. Her energy, enthusiasm and love for the people, businesses and organizations that make up the Smith Mountain Lake community are boundless. Hers will be big shoes to fill, for sure. On Aug. 26 2015, Smith Mountain Lake made international headlines when Gardner and WDBJ-TV (Channel 7) journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward were shot during a live broadcast at Bridgewater Plaza just outside Gardners office. Parker and Ward died from their injuries, and Gardner was seriously wounded. The shooting happened as Gardner was being interviewed about plans for the lakes 50th anniversary celebration. That was the sole purpose for why we were out here, Gardner told The (Lynchburg) News & Advance in 2017. It was very happy and very upbeat, and then of course this tragic thing happened. Gardner underwent her latest surgery in January to fuse several vertebrae in her lower back to relieve intense pain that stemmed from the shooting. In an interview with Laker Weekly in January, Gardners husband said the pain made it difficult for his wife to get out of bed most mornings. She had massive back pain, Tim Gardner said. She just never let anyone know. Now a grandmother of six, Gardner said shes looking forward to having more time to spend with family and for hobbies such as painting, fishing and relaxing at the lake. She said she also plans to assist her husband with his lake-based home inspection business and continue lobbying for a rail stop in Bedford. You will see me around this community more than ever, Gardner said. Coley said a search for Gardners replacement will begin immediately. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A $3.75 million wrongful death suit against Carilion Clinic was settled this month in Roanoke Circuit Court. An agreement reached May 1 and entered into court records last week says Carilion Clinic will pay $325,000 to settle the suit brought last year by relatives of Timothy Ross Bentley. Bentley, 58, was critically injured in a motorcycle crash in March 2017 and died the following month while being treated at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. According to the lawsuit, Bentley was admitted to the intensive care unit after suffering a traumatic brain injury. As a patient, he relied on a tracheostomy tube for oxygen. On April 20, 2017, sometime around 2:30 a.m., Bentleys breathing tube became dislodged, the suit said. When the problem was discovered, the complaint said, attendants could not immediately replace the tube and could not immediately restore the significant oxygen flow. As a result of the disrupted flow of oxygen he suffered cardiac and respiratory distress which resulted in anoxic brain injury with severe anoxia. Later that day, Bentleys family and physicians made the decision to terminate artificial life support and he died shortly after, the suit said. The document stipulates that the settlement is not an admission of fault by the clinic, but it also discharges the organization from liability. Of the total payment, $134,511 will go toward legal fees, the agreement said. The remaining amount, approximately $190,489, will be split evenly between two of Bentleys adult daughters, Stacy Bentley Opincar and Valorie Bentley. The family was represented by McGrath, Danielson, Sorrell & Fuller, a law firm that according to its website specializes in legal cases involving motorcycle collisions and injuries. Their attorney, Matt Danielson of Richmond, on Wednesday said he could not answer questions about the settlement. A Carilion spokesman also did not offer a comment on the case this week. Timothy Bentleys 2017 obituary said he was an Army veteran and an active member of the Dublin Moose Lodge and the Dublin Moose Riders. He enjoyed participating in motorcycle charity events and benefit rides, it said. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three Roanoke Valley Governors School students excelled at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and brought home high honors. Winning projects were announced Friday following the six-day fair in Phoenix, Arizona. Logan Dunkenberger, who graduated from Glenvar High School on Wednesday and will attend Stanford University, won a second award in microbiology and a $1,500 prize. Her project is titled Dynamic Roles of Epstein-Barr Virus Reactivation: Identifying Novel Mechanisms for EBV-positive Lymphoma Progressions and Treatment. Dunkenberger was originally an alternate for the international fair after competing in regional and state competitions. She competed in Arizona after another student couldnt attend. Last year, Dunkenberger won best in category the highest award ever received by a Roanoke Valley Governors School student. Mary Grace Giles, a junior at the governors school and Patrick Henry High School, won a fourth award and $500 at this years international fair. Her project, Evaluating the Impact of Coal Ash Pollution through a C. elegans Developmental Model, placed in the earth and environmental sciences category. Giles qualified for the fair after winning best in show at the state level. Kevin Sheng, a rising senior at the governors school and Cave Spring High School, won a fourth award in biomedical and health sciences and a $500 prize. Shengs submission is called Big Data Analytics: Identification of Novel Cancer Progression Gene Signatures for Precision/Personalized Medicine. Sheng earned a trip to the fair after winning a grand award at the regional exhibit. The international fair attracts approximately 1,800 students from about 80 countries, and is considered the worlds largest pre-college science competition. Its a program of Society for Science and the Public. Roanoke Kiwanis awards $14,000 in scholarships The Kiwanis Club of Roanoke announced scholarship awards for six graduating seniors. Parker Harnack, of Roanoke Catholic School, earned the clubs highest honor, the Stuart and Margaret Franklin scholarship, along with $4,000. Andrea Jerausek, of Northside High, was awarded the Henh Ly Scholarship and $3,000. Scholarships totaling $1,750 were awarded to four other students: Northside High graduates Corey Brooks, Daniel Cook and Timothy Sloane; and Melisa Tran of William Fleming High. Scholarships are offered to students from the nine area high schools that have Key Clubs sponsored by the Kiwanis. The high schools include William Fleming, Patrick Henry, Cave Spring, Hidden Valley, Northside, Roanoke Catholic School, Staunton River, Forest Park Academy and Faith Christian School. The Stuart and Margaret Franklin scholarship is named for former club members and benefactors of the Kiwanis Foundation. The Henh Ly Award is named for a local Kiwanis scholarship recipient who was killed in the mass shooting at Virginia Tech in 2007. Roanoke County summer feeding program returns Roanoke County Public Schools will offer free lunches to children beginning next week at three elementary schools as part of the divisions summer feeding program. Parents and guardians can also buy a school lunch at a reduced cost. The countys initiative is offered through the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided on a first come, first serve basis at the following sites. Burlington Elementary School, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, from May 28 to July 12 (closed July 4 and 5) Herman L. Horn Elementary School, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from May 28 to July 11 (closed July 4). Oak Grove Elementary School, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from June 3 to July 11 (closed July 4). A judge let stand part of a civil rights lawsuit by a former janitor at Carilion Clinic who claims he was falsely arrested and imprisoned by Carilion police. While he was held, the mans suit said, he was coerced into falsely confessing that he set a small fire at work. U.S. District Judge Frederick Stamp will permit Roger Stewart Fuller Jr. to present his allegations of mistreatment by Carilion police to a jury starting June 11, according to a 56-page ruling released Tuesday. If proven to the jurys satisfaction, Fullers account could yield a verdict against Capt. Ron Donelson for false arrest, according to the decision. However, Carilions lawyers successfully persuaded Stamp to release Steve Lugar, Carilions chief of police, from the case. Stamp tossed out an allegation that Carilion police intentionally inflicted emotional distress on Fuller. Finally, Carilion was released from allegations that it directly allowed an abuse of police power, the judge ruled. Fullers suit said that on Sept. 14, 2017, he found burned matches and a singed napkin while on duty in a Carilion clinical facility. He reported the discovery to Carilion authorities, gave information to Carilion police and went home after the end of his shift. According to the suit, two plainclothes Carilion officers with badges and guns repeatedly knocked and rang the doorbell at Fullers Roanoke County home the next morning, demanded he go with them, drove him to the police station and there conducted an aggressive interrogation behind closed doors, all against his will. Fuller was able to halt the questioning only by falsely confessing that hed used a match to light the napkin, the suit said. Though not charged, he was put on leave and later fired. The alleged coercion included police lying to Fuller that his fingerprints were found on the matches, according to court papers filed on behalf of Fuller. Fuller thought to himself in that moment, Im not going to get to leave this place if I dont tell this guy what he wants to hear, those papers said. Though he is the son of a retired police officer, Fuller was hamstrung in his encounters with police because of Aspergers syndrome, a form of autism, according to the suit. The suit also said police knew at some point of his condition. In Fuller, anxiety brings on shaking, which police took as an indication of guilt, the suit said. Fuller will be seeking compensation for humiliation, distress, sleeplessness, fear and other impacts, the suit said. The court filing does not seek specific damages. Carilion police have told the court that Fuller was never arrested, nor in custody, but went willingly from his home to the police department to help them figure out who tried to set fire to the building. He wasnt touched or handcuffed and he rode in the front seat of the police car to the police office at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, by his own account. Although Fuller claimed he felt trapped once he arrived, police told the court he was free to leave and was told so. Noting large differences between the two accounts of the events, Stamp ruled that certain aspects of the case would need to be decided by a jury. Donelson supervised the operation assisted by A.D. Janney. Janney is not named as a defendant in the complaint. Though it is a private, nonprofit organization, Carilion operates a police department. Its officers, like municipal police, must be trained and abide by state and federal constitutions. They may work armed and have full arrest powers. State law limits its jurisdiction to land owned, leased or controlled by Carilion. Roanoke police and Carilion police have signed a cooperation agreement. The suit attributed the actions of Carilion police to either of two improper motives: Police accosted Fuller without probable cause to believe that a crime had been committed. Or, officers used police powers to investigate what Carilion considered a possible workplace misconduct issue. In addition, the suit pointed out, a portion of the encounter took place off Carilion property and beyond the turf and authority of officers. Stamp called Lugars permitting officers to leave Carilion premises to go to Fullers house a potential violation of Virginia law, but added that he would not rule formally whether it was. Stamp also said that, were he to accept Fullers account as true, a person under the circumstances might have believed he was not free to leave. Fullers account if proven at trial could also make the case that police acted unreasonably given that they had neither charged Fuller with a crime nor named him as a suspect, the ruling said. 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. PEARISBURG Anthony Dewayne Gautier knew that as a felon, he wasnt supposed to have a gun, his lawyer said Wednesday. But there was one in his house on Giles Countys Stockpen Mountain Road and when an armed, masked group kicked in Gautiers kitchen door last year, he knew taking up that firearm was what he needed to do, attorney Chris Tuck of Blacksburg said. Gautier, 32, ended up shooting two of the six people who piled into his home, killing one and wounding another, prosecutors said during other hearings. But as Gautier resolved his case in Giles County Circuit Court, the only charge against him was possessing a gun after being convicted of a nonviolent felony in the previous 10 years, plus an assortment of probation violations tied to the same charge of possessing a firearm. Commonwealths Attorney Bobby Lilly said that on Jan. 3, 2018, Gautier was defending himself and two other occupants of the residence when he fatally shot Dakota Ryan Bailey, a 20-year-old from Narrows, and wounded David Joseph Cecil, 48, who lived just a few hundred yards from Gautier outside of Narrows. Shackled and wearing green jail stripes, Gautier stood Wednesday and pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. A plea agreement amended the charge to specify a nonviolent felony conviction Lilly said Gautiers status stemmed from earlier drug and grand larceny convictions. Gautier received a five-year prison term and Judge Lee Harrell suspended three years of it, explaining that two years behind bars was the minimum sentence that Virginia law allowed for the charge. Gautier also pleaded guilty to the probation violations. Harrell imposed no additional sentence. A charge of possessing ammunition as a felon was dropped. Tuck said after the hearing that Gautier, who was jailed after the home invasion, already has served enough time to satisfy most of his sentence. Harrell said Gautier will be on supervised probation for three years after his release. But the judge said that would shift to unsupervised probation if Gautier pays his court costs and the restitution remaining from an earlier case. Tuck said that Gautier intends to pay the restitution, about $4,000, as quickly as he can. The judge said the court costs could be worked off as community service if Gautier desired. Gautiers hearing was a marked contrast to those held so far for the group that invaded his home. So far two adults, David Cecil and his son Darren Justin Cecil, 19, have pleaded guilty to an array of charges tied to the attempted robbery. Only Darren Cecil has been sentenced, receiving a 23-year prison term to serve, with another 60 years suspended. Four other adults have plea hearings scheduled in coming months. The case of a juvenile who was involved in the incident was resolved last year, Lilly said. At Darren Cecils sentencing hearing in April, he testified that on Jan. 2, 2018, David Cecil called repeatedly to ask for help robbing Ant his nickname for Gautier who he thought had drugs and money. Eventually, Darren Cecil agreed to help his father and called friends to join them. The friends brought more friends, and soon after midnight on Jan. 3, a group charged into Gautiers home. Darren Cecil testified that after the shooting began, the home invasion group retreated and called emergency dispatchers. They drove Bailey, who he said still was alive, and David Cecil to meet police and medics at a bank parking lot in Narrows. Bailey was pronounced dead and David Cecil was airlifted to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. David Cecil is scheduled to be sentenced on June 19. 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. When Stacey Johnson-Pulliam lost her job in Greensboro during the Great Recession, she and her husband, Chris Pulliam, moved to Salem for a new opportunity. They passed out cookies in their cul-de-sac. Neighbors were friendly. Six years later, the couple moved to Roanoke. That transition, Pulliam told a couple of dozen residents Tuesday at the Williamson Road branch library, was like night and day. Apparently theres a lot of beef between these two cities, he said. How friendly is Roanoke? How welcoming? Those are some of many questions city leaders hope to answer in the coming months as it goes about the creation of a plan to make the area attractive to newcomers, particularly foreign-born immigrants. As a first step in that Welcoming Roanoke Plan, the city hosted a presentation on Tuesday of new research showing how immigrants contribute to the tax base and economy in the Roanoke region. Roanoke was one of 14 communities nationwide this year to win a grant through two groups that have provided research and training for that effort New American Economy, an immigration-reform group launched in 2010 by then-New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and CEOs of major companies, and Welcoming America, a nonprofit that helps communities come up with immigration plans. The conversation around immigration is too often an emotional one and not a fact-based one, said Rich Andre of the New American Economy, who presented the groups research. Immigrants made up about 35% of all new population growth in the Roanoke area between 2002 and 2017, according to the study, based on Census data of the city, county and Salem. While the overall population grew 1.2%, the immigrant population grew 8.6%. Immigrant households contributed $52 million in federal taxes and $23 million to state and local taxes in 2017, the report found. Undocumented immigrants in the Roanoke area spent $3.7 million in federal taxes and $2.6 million in state and local taxes that same year. Between May and July, the city seeks input from immigrants through a survey at PlanRoanoke.org, Wayne Leftwich, senior city planner, told the crowd. That feedback will guide the policies incorporated into an immigration integration plan, which itself will inform the citys comprehensive land-use plan. Residents information wont be shared with immigration services, the city says. A draft of the immigration plan is set to be completed by September. During a hand-raising exercise at Tuesdays forum, none of the attendees appeared to identify as an immigrant. A few people questioned Leftwich on how Roanoke would go about gathering feedback from immigrants, especially refugees, when the city has been criticized recently for its lack of ensuring diverse participation in comprehensive plan meetings. Leftwich said the city is working with partners such as Local Colors and Commonwealth Catholic Charities to reach immigrants. One attendee asked if the city had received any push back from community members who dont want to welcome immigrants in the Roanoke Valley. Leftwich replied that the initiative had only just launched. If youre doing something worthwhile, he added, you will get some push back. 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. South Africa: Watch the Presidential Inauguration live in your area To ensure citizens far and wide are able watch the live broadcast of the Presidential Inauguration this weekend, the KwaZulu-Natal province will be hosting eight viewing sites throughout the province. South Africa will inaugurate its sixth democratically-elected President after the national and provincial elections at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday. The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) will host eight live viewing events in the eThekwini Metro, Ugu, uMgungundlovu, Amajuba, Umzinyathi, Zululand, Ilembe, and uThukela Districts. The viewing sites are as follows: - Msinga High School in Msinga - Siyamukela High School in Newcastle - New Prison in Msunduzi - Vukuzakhe High School in eThekwini - Our Lady of the Rosary School in Ndwedwe - Enkanyezi Special School in Alfred Duma - Gamalakhe TVET in Ray Nkoyeni - Inkamane High school in Abaqulusi The Presidential Inauguration is a moment of great pride for our nation. It is a national event of major significance to all South Africans which is celebratory by nature. The ceremony, coinciding with Africa Month, will see the live screening event programme incorporating the theme and activities, which will be a full day programme, the GCIS said. The theme for the inauguration is: Together Celebrating Democracy: Renewal and Growth for a Better South Africa. It reinforces that everyone has a role to play in building a brighter tomorrow. In line with this, the inauguration live viewing events will heed the call to mobilise communities to celebrate democracy and encourage communities to play an active part in building a better South Africa. The event further aims to educate the community at large on the importance of the inauguration ceremony and celebrate the 6th democratically-elected President, the GCIS said in a statement. The live screening events will be characterised by information sharing sessions, exhibitions and community dialogues which will be in line with the 6th democratic inaugural of the President, Africa Day, and Child Protection Week. The programme will be executed in partnership with various stakeholders invited to do presentation and exhibit their services and information. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2019-05-22. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Ma Zhaoxu (C, Front), China's permanent representative to the United Nations, addresses a Security Council meeting on the situation in Libya, at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 21, 2019. Ma Zhaoxu on Tuesday called for the proper handling of sanctions against Libya. (Xinhua/Ma Jianguo) UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Tuesday called for adherence to a political solution in Libya. "There is a need to stick to a political solution. China has always believed that the Libyan issue must be settled through political means," Ma Zhaoxu, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council. "We hope that parties to the conflict in Libya will put the interests of the country and the people first, respond to the calls of the international community for a cease-fire as soon as possible, ease the tensions and return to the path of settlement through peaceful dialogue and consultation." He added that the safety and security of civilians must be protected and the humanitarian situation in the country must be improved. Ma asked for synergy of international efforts. The international community should respect Libya's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Countries with influence should push for the resolution of differences among the parties, help build trust and provide constructive assistance to the parties in achieving a cease-fire and returning to political dialogue, said the Chinese ambassador. He also stressed the need for coordination. China supports the promotion of the political settlement process in Libya under the leadership of the United Nations, and the good offices of the UN secretary-general and his special representative for Libya, he said. China also supports the active role of regional organizations such as the African Union, and hopes that the mechanisms will fully leverage their advantages and enhance coordination and cooperation. [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Petroteq Energy Inc. (Petroteq or the Company) (TSXV:PQE; OTC:PQEFF; FSE: PQCF), a fully integrated oil and gas company, announces the closing of a private placement for aggregate gross proceeds of US$985,950 for 3,775,875 common shares in the capital of the Company (a Common Share or Common Shares) and warrants exercisable for 3,431,828 Common Shares. The subscriptions included (i) 308,333 Common Shares at a subscription price of US$0.24 per Common Share to Alex Blyumkin, an officer and director of the Company, (ii) 35,714 Common Shares at a subscription price of US$0.70 per Common Share, (iii) 1,554,165 units of the Company at a subscription price of US$0.24 per unit, with each such unit consisting of one Common Share, and warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of US$0.30 per share for twelve months, (iv) 1,133,333 units of the Company at a subscription price of US$0.24 per unit, with each such unit consisting of one Common Share, and one warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of US$0.30 per share for twenty-four months, (v) 678,571 units of the Company at a subscription price of US$0.28 per unit, with each such unit consisting of one Common Share, and one warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of US$0.28 per share for twelve months, and (vi) 65,759 units of the Company at a subscription price of US$0.79 per unit, with each such unit consisting of one Common Share, and one warrant, with each warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire an additional Common Share at a price of US$1.50 per share for twenty-four months. All securities issued pursuant to the financing are subject to a four-month hold period. The net proceeds will be used by the Company for use on its extraction technology in Utah and for working capital. The Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Keith W. Lapeze as the newest member to the Company's Advisory Board. The Company's Advisory Board provides guidance and insight to the management team on the Company's strategic initiatives and go forward strategy as it relates to operational activities of the Company's Asphalt Ridge Plant. Pursuant to an Advisory Board Agreement, Mr. Lapeze will be issued 200,000 common shares of the Company vesting in four equal instalments over the next 12 months. All shares issued pursuant to the transaction are subject to TSX Venture Exchange (the TSXV) approval and will be subject to a four-month hold period. In addition, the Company has agreed to complete two shares for debt transactions, pursuant to which it will issue an aggregate of 483,333 common shares in satisfaction of US$195,000 of indebtedness (150,000 shares at a deemed price of US$0.70 per share and 333,333 shares at a deemed price of US$0.27 per share) currently owed to two arms length parties. The Company also proposes to issue 363,073 common shares in satisfaction of US$98,030 of indebtedness currently owed to a company controlled by Mr. Blyumkin. The Company determined to satisfy the indebtedness with common shares in order to preserve the Companys cash for use on its extraction technology in Asphalt Ridge, Utah, and for working capital. All shares issued pursuant to the shares for debt transactions are subject to TSXV approval and will be subject to a four-month hold period. The transactions (private placement and shares for debt) with Mr. Blyumkin are each considered a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 (MI 61-101). The transactions are exempt from the formal valuation approval requirements of MI 61-101 as none of the securities of the Company are listed on a prescribed stock exchange. The transactions are exempt from the minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as at the time the transactions were agreed to, neither the fair market value of the transactions, nor the fair market value of the consideration for, the transactions, insofar as it involves interested parties, exceeded 25% of the Companys market capitalization. About Petroteq Energy Inc. Petroteq is a fully integrated oil and gas company focused on the development and implementation of a new proprietary technology for oil extraction. The Company has an environmentally safe and sustainable technology for the extraction of heavy oil and bitumen from oil sands, oil shale deposits and shallow oil deposits. Petroteq is engaged in the development and implementation of its patented environmentally friendly heavy oil processing and extraction technologies. Our proprietary process produces zero greenhouse gas, zero waste and requires no high temperatures. Petroteq is currently focused on developing its oil sands resources and expanding production capacity at its Asphalt Ridge heavy oil extraction facility located near Vernal, Utah. For more information, visit www.Petroteq.energy. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. and Canadian securities laws. Words such as may, would, could, should, potential, will, seek, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect and similar expressions as they relate to the Company, including: closing of the above noted transactions; are intended to identify forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that there is no certainty that it will be commercially viable to produce any portion of its oil sands and mineral resources. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking information. Such statements reflect the Companys current views and intentions with respect to future events, based on information available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Material factors or assumptions were applied in providing forward-looking information, including: final approval of the transactions by the TSX Venture Exchange. While forward-looking statements are based on data, assumptions and analyses that the Company believes are reasonable under the circumstances, whether actual results, performance or developments will meet the Companys expectations and predictions depends on a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results, performance and financial condition of the Company to differ materially from its expectations. Certain of the risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys forward-looking statements in this press release include, without limitation: uncertainties inherent in the estimation of resources, including whether any reserves will ever be attributed to the Companys properties; changes in laws or regulations; the ability to implement business strategies or to pursue business opportunities, whether for economic or other reasons; status of the world oil markets, oil prices and price volatility; oil pricing; state of capital markets and the ability by the Company to raise capital; litigation; the commercial and economic viability of the Companys oil sands hydrocarbon extraction technology, and other proprietary technologies developed or licensed by the Company or its subsidiaries, which are of experimental nature and have not been used at full capacity for an extended period of time; reliance on suppliers, contractors, consultants and key personnel; the ability of the Company to maintain its mineral lease holdings; potential failure of the Companys business plans or model; the nature of oil and gas production and oil sands mining, extraction and production; uncertainties in exploration and drilling for oil, gas and other hydrocarbon-bearing substances; unanticipated costs and expenses, availability of financing and other capital; potential damage to or destruction of property, loss of life and environmental damage; risks associated with compliance with environmental protection laws and regulations; uninsurable or uninsured risks; potential conflicts of interest of officers and directors; and other general economic, market and business conditions and factors, including the risk factors discussed or referred to in the Companys disclosure documents, filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should any factor affect the Company in an unexpected manner, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, the actual results or events may differ materially from the results or events predicted. Any such forward-looking information is expressly qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement. Moreover, the Company does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this press release is made as of the date of this press release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, other than as required by applicable law. The securities referred to in this news release have not been, nor will they be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the company and management, as well as financial statements. 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. CONTACT INFORMATION Petroteq Energy Inc. Alex Blyumkin Executive Chairman Tel: (800) 979-1897 By Nancy Howell Agee Agee is President & CEO of Carilion Clinic Whether its a short drive or a long journey, when we need help in an emergency, we look for the blue signs with the white H to guide us safely to the hospital. Not all health care takes place in a hospital, of course. In fact, a lot of care providers are closer to home in the clinics and doctors offices that dot our region. Last week, across our country, we celebrated National Hospital and Health Care Week. It was an opportunity for us at Carilion Clinic to celebrate the more than 13,000 individuals whose around-the-clock commitment serves our communities through hope and healing. A few days ago, the Carilion family announced exciting plans to expand Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Well improve the hospitals emergency department and provide dedicated space for the Cardiovascular Institute. Well also replace the Rehabilitation Building with a new Behavioral Health Building, space that will respond to our communitys need for more treatment services. As exciting as it is to see new buildings rise in the Roanoke Innovation Corridor, whats even more exciting is what our neighbors and friends are doing in those buildings. The very human work that has brought us this far will take us into the future. Ten years ago, Carilion and Virginia Tech planted the seeds for what is now recognized as one of the countrys fast-growing innovation corridors. As the clinical care, education and research enterprise grew, the City of Roanoke embraced the effort, health-related businesses began to arise, and new partners like Radford University further enriched the district. Those partnerships and others will help us make advances in treatment here in Virginia, across the country, and around the world. At the core of all this exciting, innovative work are talented, compassionate and hard-working people, so let me tell you about a few of them. These are a few of the many people who embody the values to which we, in the healthcare industry, aspire. Take, for instance, one of our newer nurses, Brandon Lay. While helping a patient discharged from the emergency department at Roanoke Memorial, Brandon noticed the patients vehicle had a flat tire. Luckily, Brandons not just an excellent nurse, hes an expert tire-changer. I like to say: Theres a difference between doing the right thing and doing whats right. Brandon did whats right. So did Michael Lawrence, a psychiatric tech in the New River Valley. He noticed a discharged patient who was without a pair of shoes. Seeing him standing there in socks on a rainy day, no less Michael offered his own shoes, an offer the patient accepted with tearful appreciation. Or take the curiosity thats part of our employees everyday work. Dan Djuric in our Health Analytics Department learned our Care Coordination team needed a better way to track follow-up calls to help our patients avoid being readmitted to the hospital. Dans a We can do that! guy so he developed software thats reduced administrative time by at least one hour for every care coordinator. Thats extra time for them to focus on helping patients return home and manage their own chronic conditions. And just last week, Carilion Stonewall Jackson Hospitals staff cared for individuals injured in an explosion at a community store near Buena Vista. The emergency department deftly handled the response to an incident that impacted their close-knit Rockbridge County community. If you encountered any of these individuals or the thousands of other health care workers in our community, chances are they would tell you that they were just doing their job. Maybe thats true, but in our uniquely human business, doing their jobs often means healing, offering hope and, in fact, saving lives. Thank you to all of the caregivers for all that you do, and thank you to their friends and families who support them every day. Lastly, whenever you see the blue sign with the white H in it, remember that there are hundreds, if not thousands of your neighbors looking out for you when you need help the most whether they are in the doctors office down the street, the community hospital in your town or the large academic medical center an hour away. Down Under in Australia, our spring is their fall and our tomorrow is their today. The question now is whether their recent election is our yesterday or our tomorrow or both. For the past six years, Australia has been governed by the Liberal Party, although thats another thing thats upside down Down Under, as well. What Australians call the Liberal Party is really their conservative party; their actual liberals are the Labor Party. To avoid confusion, well simply refer to the Liberal Party as conservatives. Going into last weeks elections, it was widely expected that voters would turn out the conservatives and return the Labor Party to power. The six-year conservative administration had been a turbulent one plagued by internecine warfare. Twice, the party had changed prime ministers, which meant that the current one, Scott Morrison, had never led his party in a national election. The party had also alienated many women. Several female legislators had quit the party, including a popular former foreign minister who complained about the scourge of cultural and gender bias, bullying, and intimidation in the government. Polls all pointed to a Labor victory. For three years, theyd shown Labor would win. Political analysts called it an unlosable election for the Labor Party. And yet . . . Labor did lose. Morrison called it a miracle. Analysts called it a shock. In American terms, this was equivalent to Harry Trumans upset of Thomas Dewey back in 1948 or perhaps Donald Trumps election in 2016. One reason the conservatives won the Australian election is that they ran unexpectedly well in places with demographics that closely resemble Americas Rust Belt, according to Business Insider. In years past, those blue-collar regions in Australia instinctively voted for Labor just as Americas industrial heartland once instinctively voted Democratic. However, just as Trump won from Pennsylvania through Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin in 2016, Morrison won Australias equivalent of those seats in his election. The question is whether the Australian election is a lagging indicator that is simply catching up to Americas 2016 election or a predictor of what might happen here in 2020. Of course, its possible that the Australian election has no bearing on American politics. However, the similarities are uncanny so much so that Democrats in the U.S. ought to be worried and Republicans ought to be overjoyed. For instance: Australias Morrison has strong support among that countrys conservative Christians, which mirrors Trumps bedrock support among American evangelicals. Morrisons two signature issues are a hard-line posture on immigration and an unabashed support for fossil fuels. Sound familiar? Of the two, the debate over the latter is particularly instructive. If theres any country that ought to be receptive to a solution to climate change, it ought to be Australia. Each summer (their summer, not ours) brings yet another heat wave that sets record temperatures. In January, the metropolis of Adelaide sweltered under 116 degrees (the historical average high for January there is 82). The temperature in the towns of Marble Bar and Port Augusta hit 120 degrees. In some places, roads literally melted. Power grids failed as Australians cranked up their air conditioning. Labor Party leader Bill Shorten asked: How hot does it have to get before the current government does something on climate change? Apparently hotter. Australia is the worlds biggest exporter of coal accounting for nearly 37 percent of the worlds exports. (The United States is fourth at 9 percent). In some ways, Australia is a South Pacific version of the Appalachian coalfields just with an iconic opera house. The conservative coalition had ousted the previous prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, partly because he was viewed as insufficiently supportive of coal. Thats not a problem with Morrison, who once appeared in parliament brandishing a lump of coal and declaring dont be afraid. One of the issues in this election was whether to allow the Indian conglomerate Adani to open a new coal mine in the state of Queensland. Many called the national election a climate election. If so, Australian voters cast their votes on the side of fossil fuels. The Reuters news agency reports: Labor, torn between its traditional union base and its urban environmentally conscious supporters, made no commitments on the Adani mine. The move backfired in the mining heartland of Queensland, where voters with jobs in mind handed the Liberal-led coalition crucial seats in the election. If temperatures of 120 degrees arent enough to persuade Australians to move away from fossil fuels, what will? These are not encouraging results for those in the United States who promote a Green New Deal from Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, D-New York, at the national level, to Del. Sam Rasoul, D-Roanoke, here in Virginia. You can argue correctly that American politics are different. Coal doesnt matter as much here, politically, and the coal-producing regions already vote emphatically Republican. Our Queensland switched parties a long time ago. Still, both Democrats and Republicans ought be studying the Australian results, each for their own purposes. For Republicans, Australia potentially shows a way to win. For Democrats, a way to lose. For Republicans, that lesson is to run against immigration and argue that environmental solutions to climate change are bad for the economy. For Democrats, that lesson is a lot harder. Consider this a cautionary tale from Canberra. The Labor Party prided itself on many of the things that Democrats do as well. Had it won, Australias next foreign minister would have been an Asian woman whos both gay and an immigrant checking off four diversity boxes at once. The Labor Party saw her potential elevation as a celebration of Australias multiculturalism. Instead, Australia ignored both the political turmoil and the record temperatures and voted instead against immigration and for coal. The many Democrats running for president ought to be asked why they think Americans will be more receptive to their message than Australians were to the Labor platform. Republicans, meanwhile, might want to ponder this: Demand for Australian coal is likely to decline even with a conservative government because the countrys main customers in Asia are all investing in renewable energy (although China is also building more coal plants). For now, though, Morrison will try to make Australia great again. The scene this morning CRIME scene investigators and the fire service have been at the scene of a garage fire which broke out in the early hours of this morning (Wednesday). The domestic garage was well alight when firefighters were called to the scene in Morthen Road, Wickersley, at 1am. Three crews tackled the blaze and left the scene around 2am. A fire service spokesman said fire investigators had returned to the property this morning. No cause has yet been determined. Crime scene investigators from South Yorkshire Police were also seen at the site. The force has been contacted for more information. The laser light hit the pilot when the aircraft was about 40 kilometers from the airport. The flight landed safely. The FAA is investigating the incident. Laser incidents pose a serious concern for crew and aircraft safety and are immediately reported to local authorities for investigation. Last year, the Canadian government announced strict new measures to ban most high-powered lasers around airports and in the countrys three largest cities. Penalties for those convicted of deliberately targeting aircraft include fines of up to $100,000, five years in prison, or both. Transport Canada reported 379 incidents of lasers pointed at planes in 2017, especially in Ontario and Quebec areas. A 5 mW laser could cause eye damage. The heat energy is enough to burn the eye, expert say. It can permanently damage the retina. Light from lasers maintains its energy even over long distances. The most common symptom that someone will experience from getting hit in the eye with a laser pointer is being flash blinded. Headaches, watery eyes, spotty vision and pain also occur. Permanent damages of retina are dangerous and absoltely require medical treatment. SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leaf Group Ltd. (NYSE: LEAF), a diversified consumer internet company, announced that the Company's Chief Financial Officer, Jantoon Reigersman, will attend the 16th Annual Craig-Hallum Institutional Investor Conference in Minneapolis, MN, on Wednesday May 29th, 2019. Management will be hosting one-on-one investor meetings at the conference. The Companys most recent investor presentation will be made available on Leaf Groups Investor Relations website at ir.leafgroup.com under the Events & Presentations page. About Leaf Group Leaf Group Ltd. (NYSE: LEAF) is a diversified consumer internet company that builds enduring, creator-driven brands that reach passionate audiences in large and growing lifestyle categories, including fitness and wellness (Well+Good, Livestrong.com and MyPlate App), and art and design (Saatchi Art, Society6 and Hunker). For more information about Leaf Group, visit www.leafgroup.com. Investor Contacts Jantoon Reigersman 310-917-6413 IR@leafgroup.com Shawn Milne 415-264-3419 shawn.milne@leafgroup.com TORONTO, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northland Power Inc. (Northland or the Company) (TSX: NPI) today announced the results of the election of Directors at its Annual General Meeting (the Meeting) held on May 22, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario. The total number of voting shares represented by shareholders present in person and by proxy at the Meeting was 108,820,921, representing 60.39% of Northlands outstanding voting shares. Seven nominees proposed by Management for election as Directors were elected by a show of hands. Proxies were received as follows: Nominee Votes For Percent Withheld Percent James C. Temerty, C.M. 60,794,840 55.93% 47,902,339 44.07% Linda L. Bertoldi 58,475,917 53.80% 50,221,262 46.20% Dr. Marie Bountrogianni 103,730,038 95.43% 4,967,141 4.57% John W. Brace 62,076,758 57.11% 46,620,421 42.89% Keith Halbert 107,715,000 99.10% 982,179 0.90% Barry Gilmour 108,375,495 99.70% 321,684 0.30% Russell Goodman 105,682,343 97.23% 3,014,836 2.77% Prior to the commencement of the Meeting, Mr. Michael Lord withdrew his nomination for election as a Director. The Board of Directors accordingly fixed the number of Directors to be elected at seven and the election proceeded on that basis. The Appointment of Ernst & Young LLP to serve as the independent auditors of Northland, and setting of their remuneration, until the next annual meeting was approved by a show of hands. Proxies were received as follows: Votes For Percent Withheld Percent 104,668,531 96.18% 4,152,390 3.82% Northlands approach to executive compensation was accepted by a show of hands. Proxies were received as follows: Votes For Percent Against Percent 100,630,528 92.58% 8,065,951 7.42% ABOUT NORTHLAND Northland Power is an independent power producer founded in 1987, and publicly traded since 1997. Northland develops, builds, owns and operates sustainable infrastructure assets that produce clean (natural gas) and green (wind, solar, and hydro) energy, providing stable long-term value to shareholders, stakeholders, and host communities. The Company owns or has an economic interest in 2,429 MW (net 2,014 MW) of operating generating capacity and 399 MW of generating capacity under construction, representing the Deutsche Bucht offshore wind project in the North Sea and the La Lucha solar project in Mexico, in addition to its 60% equity stake in the 1,044 MW Hai Long projects under development in Taiwan. Northlands common shares, Series 1, Series 2, and Series 3 preferred shares and Series C convertible debentures trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols NPI, NPI.PR.A, NPI.PR.B, NPI.PR.C, and NPI.DB.C, respectively. For further information contact: Mr. Wassem Khalil, Senior Director, Investor Relations, 647-288-1019 investorrelations@northlandpower.com www.northlandpower.com Four men were killed in a high-speed crash on the 710 Freeway that left their vehicle wrapped around a pole and forced the closure of two northbound lanes in South Gate early Wednesday. The crash was reported about 3:15 a.m. when a speeding BMW sedan slammed into a freeway sign support pole on the right shoulder near Firestone Boulevard, said California Highway Patrol Sgt. Jason Lopez. We can confidently say that speed played a factor in this collision, Lopez told reporters at the scene. The four men, who have not been identified, died at the scene, according to a Los Angeles County Fire Department representative. Video from the scene shows at least six firefighters working in the dark to extract people from the mangled vehicle. Advertisement One lane remained closed as of midday. Lopez said officials received reports the vehicle may have been racing but have not found evidence to support that theory. However, the length of skid marks left on the roadway indicate the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed, he said. We have a lot of leads to go off of to see if there was indeed some racing prior to the collision, but right now, thats all speculative, he said. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @Hannahnfry Indonesian President Joko Widodo said authorities have the volatile situation in the countrys capital under control after six people died Wednesday in riots by supporters of his losing rival in last months presidential election. The clashes began Tuesday night when supporters of former Gen. Prabowo Subianto tried to force their way into the downtown offices of the election supervisory agency and continued unabated until ebbing on Wednesday evening. More than two dozen vehicles were burned as rioters took over neighborhoods in central Jakarta, throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails at police who responded with tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. Flanked by the military chief and other top leaders, a grim-looking Widodo said, I will work together with anyone to advance this country, but I will not tolerate anyone who disrupts the security, democratic processes and unity of our beloved nation. Subianto, an ultra-nationalist politician, has refused to accept the official results of the April 17 election and instead declared himself the winner. The Election Commission on Tuesday said Widodo, the first Indonesian president from outside the Jakarta elite, had won 55.5% of the vote, securing the moderate technocrat a second term as leader of the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation. Advertisement Subianto, an elite figure from a wealthy family connected to former dictator Suharto, also lost to Widodo in 2014. He has made four unsuccessful bids for the presidency since Suharto was ousted in 1998. The bottom line is the people who are protesting and rioting in the past 24 hours represent a small minority of Indonesian voters and a small minority of Indonesian Muslims, said Alexander Arifanto, an Indonesian politics expert at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. The vast majority of both clearly accepted the election results. By tacitly backing the protesters, Prabowo has lost any remaining legitimacy he had left and clearly shows his true colors as a narcissistic New Order-era relic, Arifanto said, referring to the Suharto era. Rudiantara, the communications and information technology minister, said social media including Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp will be restricted on a temporary basis to prevent the spread of hoaxes and inflammatory content. He said messaging systems will still work for text and audio but photos and videos will be blocked or slowed. National police chief Tito Karnavian said the people who died in the rioting were hit by gunshots or blunt devices. Authorities are still investigating the causes of death and are not ruling out the involvement of third parties acting as provocateurs. There are attempts to create martyrs, blaming security officials for building public anger, he said. The rioting in the capital was planned and not spontaneous and many of those arrested had come from outside Jakarta, according to police. Officers found an ambulance filled with stones, and some of more than 250 people arrested had envelopes containing 250,000-500,000 rupiah ($17-$34), said Jakarta police chief Argo Yuwono. The minimum wage in Jakarta is about $9 a day. The government had deployed some 50,000 police and soldiers in Jakarta in anticipation of protests following the official election results. Many residents have left the city and parts of the downtown are closed to traffic, with the election supervisory agency and Election Commission barricaded with razor wire. In the past week, authorities have arrested three pro-Subianto activists on suspicion of treason. They included Sunarko, a retired general and former commander of Indonesias special forces who uses a single name. Police allege there was a plot to seize crucial government buildings in Jakarta. Subiantos campaign plans to challenge the election result in the Constitutional Court. They allege massive fraud in the worlds third-largest democracy but have provided no credible evidence. The former special forces general and members of his campaign team had said they would mobilize people power for days of street protests. Subianto on Wednesday called on supporters and security forces to exercise restraint. Like weve said many times before, we support all moral and constitutional means that are peaceful and nonviolent in this political fight for our nation, he said. And so I plead to all elements of the people exercising their aspirations: the police, the armed forces, and everyone else to refrain from acts of physical harm. Subianto ran a fear-based election campaign, emphasizing what he sees as Indonesias weakness and the risk of exploitation by foreign powers or disintegration. He aligned himself with hard-line Muslim groups and won massive majorities in conservative provinces such as Aceh, which follows Islamic Shariah law, but was defeated by Widodo in the presidents populous East Java and Central Java strongholds. Widodos campaign highlighted his progress in poverty reduction and improving Indonesias inadequate infrastructure with new ports, toll roads, airports and mass rapid transit. ___ Associated Press journalists Niniek Karmini and Achmad Ibrahim contributed to this report. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. British Prime Minister Theresa May dug in Wednesday against a relentless push by rivals and former allies to remove her from office as her attempts to lead Britain out of the European Union appeared to be headed for a dead end. May resisted calls to rip up her tattered Brexit blueprint and end her embattled premiership after her attempt at compromise was rejected by both her own Conservative Party and opposition lawmakers. But it seemed only a matter of time. Amid a feverish mood as rumors and plots swirled through Parliament, Conservative lawmakers set up a showdown meeting with May for Friday, giving her less than 48 hours to announce she will go or face a renewed attempt to oust her. And a senior Cabinet minister quit with an excoriating letter attacking Mays failure to lead Britain out of the EU and hold her divided government together. Advertisement Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom alleged there had been a complete breakdown of collective responsibility in government, and said Mays Brexit plan would not deliver on the referendum result that saw voters in 2016 opt to leave the EU. Leadsom campaigned to leave the EU in the referendum and was a strong pro-Brexit voice in Cabinet. Several other senior ministers were reportedly seeking meetings with May to express unhappiness with her Brexit plan and possibly urge her to quit. But her spokesman, James Slack, said he was not aware of any discussions with Cabinet colleagues. Lawmaker Tom Tugendhat, a leading Conservative moderate, said the only chance of delivering an orderly Brexit was for May to go and without delay. She must announce her resignation after Thursdays European elections. And the Conservative Party must fast track the leadership process to replace her, he wrote in the Financial Times. In the House of Commons, May received a flurry of criticism and hostile questions as she implored lawmakers to support a bill implementing Britains departure from the EU that she plans to put to a vote in Parliament in June. Nearly three years after British voters opted to leave the EU, May said we need to see Brexit through, to honor the result of the referendum and to deliver the change the British people so clearly demanded. If Parliament rejected her deal, she said, all we have before us is division and deadlock. That could serve as a fair summary of Britains current situation. Lawmakers have already rejected Mays divorce deal with the 27 other EU countries three times, and Britains long-scheduled departure date of March 29 passed with the country still in the bloc. In a last-ditch bid to secure support for her Brexit plan, May on Tuesday announced concessions including a promise to give Parliament a vote on whether to hold a new referendum on Britains EU membership something she has long ruled out. I have compromised. Now I ask you to compromise too, she said. But there was little sign her plea was being heeded. Pro-EU and pro-Brexit lawmakers have only hardened their positions during months of political trench warfare, and they are in no mood to compromise. Pro-Brexit Conservatives accused May of capitulating to pro-EU demands, and opposition Labour Party lawmakers dismissed her offer as too little, too late. The rhetoric may have changed but the deal has not, said Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. She did not seek a compromise until after she had missed her own deadline to leave, and by the time she finally did, she had lost the authority to deliver. Mays authority as Conservative leader has been shredded by her loss of the partys parliamentary majority in a 2017 election and her failure to lead Britain out of the EU as promised. The partys powerful anti-EU wing wants to oust May and replace her with a staunch Brexit supporter such as former foreign secretary Boris Johnson. May has said she will announce a timetable for her departure once Parliament has voted on her Brexit bill, but it looks increasingly unlikely she can hang on that long. May survived a no-confidence vote among Conservative lawmakers in December, leaving her safe from challenge for 12 months under party rules. Some pro-Brexit lawmakers wanted the partys 1922 Committee, which oversees leadership contests, to change the rules when so that May can face a new challenge within days. But the party committee decided instead to send its chairman Graham Brady to meet May on Friday before it decides whether to alter the rules. If May stays on until next week, pressure is likely to increase when results come in from this weeks elections for the European Parliament, with Conservatives expect to receive a drubbing. Many British voters on both sides of the Brexit debate look set to use the election to the EU legislature to express displeasure over the political gridlock. Opinion polls show strong support for the single-issue Brexit Party largely from angry former Conservative voters and for pro-EU parties including the Liberal Democrats and the Greens. The election is being held Thursday in Britain, but results wont be announced until all 28 EU countries have finished voting late Sunday. May insisted she would fight on. She said the Brexit withdrawal bill would be published Friday so that lawmakers can study it. Despite speculation that May will scrap plans to bring it to a vote to avoid a crushing defeat, her office said a vote will be held during the week of June 3. In time, another prime minister will be standing at this despatch box, May told lawmakers, acknowledging that her days in the job are numbered. But, she told Parliament, in the end our job in this House is to take decisions, not to duck them. So I will put those decisions to this House. Because that is my duty and because it is the only way that we can deliver Brexit. ___ Follow APs full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. BOISE, Idaho, May 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Albertsons Companies, Inc. (the "Company" or "Albertsons") today announced the early tender results for the previously announced tender offers (each offer a "Tender Offer" and collectively, the "Tender Offers") by its wholly-owned subsidiaries Safeway Inc. ("Safeway") and New Albertsons L.P. ("NALP" and, together with Safeway, the "Offerors"), to purchase for cash the debt securities listed in the table below (collectively, the "Securities" and each a "series"). In addition, the Offerors have amended the Tender Offers to increase the Maximum Tender Amount (as defined below) for certain of the series to the Maximum Tender Amount listed in the table below. Issuer Title of Security CUSIP Number Principal Amount Outstanding Early Tender Payment (1)(2) Total Consideration (1)(2)(3) Principal Amount Tendered Maximum Tender Amount Safeway 7.250% Debentures due 2031 786514BA6 $289,119,000 $30.00 $953.75 $26,271,000 $30,000,000 Safeway 7.450% Senior Debentures due 2027 786514AS8 $127,193,000 $30.00 $966.25 $6,920,000 $15,000,000 NALP 6.625% Medium-Term Notes due 2028 01310QDB8 $117,572,000 $30.00 $875.00 $60,946,000 $61,946,000 (an increase of $46,946,000) NALP 7.450% Senior Debentures due 2029 013104AF1 $542,561,000 $30.00 $957.50 $179,902,000 $180,902,000 (an increase of $120,902,000) NALP 7.750% Debentures due 2026 013104AC8 $157,696,000 $30.00 $957.50 $42,170,000 $43,170,000 (an increase of $23,170,000) NALP 8.000% Senior Debentures due 2031 013104AL8 $384,990,000 $30.00 $961.25 $79,042,000 $80,042,000 (an increase of $40,042,000) NALP 8.700% Senior Debentures due 2030 013104AH7 $197,751,000 $30.00 $1,000.00 $40,494,000 $41,494,000 (an increase of $21,494,000) (1) As defined below. (2) Per $1,000 principal amount. (3) Inclusive of the Early Tender Payment. Accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date (as defined below) will be paid in addition to the Total Consideration. The Tender Offers consist of offers to purchase for cash up to an aggregate principal amount of the Securities listed in the table above that will not result in an aggregate amount that all holders of any such series of Securities are entitled to receive for their Securities of such series that are validly tendered and accepted for purchase in such Tender Offer exceeding the applicable maximum tender amount set forth in the table above under the heading "Maximum Tender Amount" (the "Maximum Tender Amount"). The Maximum Tender Amount excludes accrued and unpaid interest. The table above sets forth the aggregate principal amount of Securities of each series validly tendered by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on May 22, 2019 (the "Early Tender Date"), according to information provided by Global Bondholder Services Corporation, the depositary and information agent for the Tender Offers. The Offerors will accept for payment all such Securities tendered by the Early Tender Date and expect to make payment for such Securities on May 24, 2019 (the "Early Settlement Date"). Holders of Securities who validly tendered their Securities at or prior to the Early Tender Date are eligible to receive the applicable consideration set forth in the table above under the heading "Total Consideration" (the "Total Consideration") for any such Securities accepted for purchase. Holders will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on Securities validly tendered and accepted for purchase from the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the Early Settlement Date in respect of the Securities tendered at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase. Holders of Securities who validly tender their Securities after the Early Tender Date but at or prior to 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on June 6, 2019 (the "Expiration Date") will be eligible to receive only an amount equal to the Total Consideration minus the amounts set forth in the table above under the heading "Early Tender Payment" (the "Early Tender Payment"). If the Maximum Tender Amount for a particular series is insufficient to purchase all validly tendered Securities of such particular series of Securities as of the Expiration Date, the amount of Securities of that series, as applicable, will be prorated. The Offerors are making the Tender Offers only by, and pursuant to, the terms and conditions set forth in the offer to purchase, dated May 6, 2019 (as it may be further amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Tender Offer Document"). Other than the changes described herein, all other terms of the Tender Offers, as previously announced, remain unchanged. Subject to applicable law, the Offerors reserve the right, but are under no obligation, to increase further the Maximum Tender Amount in respect of one or more Tender Offers at any time. For the avoidance of doubt, Safeway is conducting the Tender Offers solely with respect to the Securities issued by Safeway and NALP is conducting the Tender Offers solely with respect to the Securities issued by NALP. Information Relating to the Tender Offers BofA Merrill Lynch is the dealer manager for the Tender Offers. Holders with questions regarding the Tender Offers may contact BofA Merrill Lynch at (888) 292-0070 (toll-free) or (980) 388-4813 (collect). Global Bondholder Services Corporation is the tender and information agent for the Tender Offers and can be contacted at (866) 470-3900 (toll-free) or (212) 430-3774 (collect). The Tender Offer Document may be obtained by visiting http://www.gbsc-usa.com/albertsonscompanies or by contacting Global Bondholder Services Corporation. None of the Offerors, the Company or their affiliates, their respective boards of directors, the dealer managers, the tender and information agent or the trustee with respect to any Securities is making any recommendation as to whether holders should tender any Securities in response to any of the Tender Offers, and neither the Offerors, the Company nor any such other person has authorized any person to make any such recommendation. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Securities, and, if so, the principal amount of Securities to tender. This press release is for informational purposes only and is not an offer to buy, or the solicitation of an offer to sell, any of the Securities and the Tender Offers do not constitute offers to buy or the solicitation of offers to sell Securities in any jurisdiction or in any circumstances in which such offers or solicitations are unlawful. The full details of the Tender Offers, including complete instructions on how to tender Securities, are included in the Tender Offer Document. Holders are strongly encouraged to read carefully the Tender Offer Document, including materials incorporated by reference therein, because they will contain important information. The statements of intent herein shall not constitute a notice of redemption under the applicable indenture. Any such notice, if made, will only be made in accordance with the provisions of the applicable indenture. About Albertsons Companies Albertsons Companies, Inc. is one of the largest food and drug retailers in the United States, with both a strong local presence and national scale. Albertsons Cos. operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen and Carrs, as well as meal kit company Plated based in New York City. Albertsons Cos. is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2018 alone, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company gave over $262 million in food and financial support. These efforts helped millions of people in the areas of hunger relief, education, cancer research and treatment, programs for people with disabilities and veterans outreach. Important Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements contain information about future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current expectations and assumptions about market conditions and its future operating performance which we believe to be reasonable at this time. The words "expect," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan" and similar expressions indicate forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions (including assumptions about general economic, market, industry and operational factors), known or unknown, which could cause the actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated. A further list and description of risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 23, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and other documents that the Company may file or furnish with the SEC, which you are encouraged to read. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate only to the date they were made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date they were made except as required by law or applicable regulation. Polands nationalist ruling party leader said political groupings in some European Union states, including Marine Le Pens party in France, are obviously linked to Moscow and receive its support. Jaroslaw Kaczynskis comment in the Gazeta Polska weekly that was published Wednesday suggest that his partys wariness toward Russia could be an impediment to working with Le Pens National Rally or the right-wing League party of Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, who is also friendly toward Russia. Salvini has positioned himself at the forefront of a growing movement of nationalist leaders seeking to free the EUs 28 nations from what he called Brussels illegal occupation. He gathered nationalists, including Le Pen, from across Europe in Milan on Saturday seeking unity ahead of this weekends elections to the European Parliament. Advertisement Salvini also visited Warsaw earlier this year seeking to woo Law and Justice to his grouping, but found limits to cooperation due to Polands bitter memories of occupation and control by Moscow over centuries. I see political formations operating in individual countries that are obviously linked to Moscow and receive its support. Mrs. Le Pens formation is a good example of this, said Kaczynski, the leader of Law and Justice and the key figure directing government policy and appointments. So the most important question is: how far the policy of such formations would be influenced by the Kremlin if they became a key force in the EU? In other words, how strong are these ties and dependencies? Kaczynski said. Le Pens party, formerly called the National Front, took millions of euros in loans from a Czech-Russian bank. Russian President Vladimir Putin also hosted her at the Kremlin in 2017 during the French presidential campaign, part of his larger embrace of nationalist and anti-globalist forces in the West. But earlier this month during a visit to Estonia, Le Pen sought to play down her association with Putin: Im not under the control of any foreign country and that I will not allow for us to be under Putins thumb. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Police in western Germany have raided 49 homes and businesses linked to an Iraqi gang suspected of involvement in human trafficking, drug dealing, illegal arms trade and forging identity papers. Some 800 police officers were involved in the raids that began early Wednesday morning in eleven cities in the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, with a focus on Cologne and the Ruhr Valley region, Essen police said. The authorities targeted the premises of 34 suspects belonging to the Al-Salam-313 gang. They primarily searched for evidence regarding their criminal activities, police spokeswoman Sylvia Czapiewski said. Police detained one suspect and seized computers, storage devices, drugs, cash and counterfeit money. Advertisement According to current knowledge, this was a successful strike against organized crime, Herbert Reul, the interior minister of the western state told reporters, adding that the raids had been prepared for months. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Irans supreme leader publicly chastised the countrys moderate president and foreign minister Wednesday, saying he disagreed with the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal they had negotiated with world powers. The extraordinary comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the first time hes criticized both politicians by name, came amid tensions with the United States a year after Washingtons withdrawal from the accord. Khamenei has final say on all matters of state, and his blaming the deals unraveling limits the influence of President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif relative moderates within Irans Shiite theocracy who had struck the deal. It also shows the growing power of hard-liners. Advertisement The White House earlier this month sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region over a still-unexplained threat it perceived from Iran. Since that development, Iran has announced it will back away from the atomic accord. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged off its coast, and Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen have launched drone attacks into Saudi Arabia. Both Washington and Tehran have said they want to ease heightened tensions in the region in recent days. But many fear a miscalculation between the two countries, who have a 40-year history of mistrust, could escalate the situation. On Thursday, U.S. officials say the Pentagon will brief the White House on plans to send up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as the plans had yet to be formally announced. Khamenei made the comments before hard-line students gathered for a Ramadan lecture. For years, hard-liners have criticized the accord for giving too much away to the West. Khamenei had given his implicit stamp of approval on the deal, which when signed sparked spontaneous celebrations across Iran. The accord saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. But the deal has unraveled after Trumps withdrawal, with the U.S. re-imposing old sanctions and coming up with even stricter new ones. To some extent, I did not believe in the way that the nuclear deal was implemented, Khamenei said, according to his official website. Many times I reminded both the president and the foreign minister. Khamenei has previously warned the West, especially the U.S., wasnt trustworthy. But he hasnt named the countrys top elected politician and his top diplomat before Wednesday night. Hes previously said the two had done the best they could. Even before Trump became president and later withdrew from the deal, there were concerns in Washington that the supreme leader might turn on the agreement if the envisioned sanctions relief fell short of what Tehran expected. For that reason, the Obama administration dispatched senior officials to Europe, Asia and elsewhere to explain to foreign governments and countries what was permitted. Former Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew each encouraged foreign investors to do business with Iran so that the benefits of the deal would be apparent to the Iranian people. Since Trumps pullout last year and the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions in November, remaining parties to the deal have been unable to keep up the pace of relief and Irans economy has been significantly harmed, notably because of the loss of revenue from oil exports and the risk of incurring U.S. penalties that has dissuaded international companies from opening shop in Iran. The role of the supreme leader within Iranian society, while overseeing its elected representatives, is spiritual rather than political. Khamenei acknowledged that in his speech Wednesday night, saying the gravity of the situation called on him to speak. Our belief is that the leadership should not enter into the executive issues, unless if it affects the entire revolution, Khamenei said. There was no immediate comment from either Rouhani, who is serving his second four-year term as president, or Zarif. Khamenei did not directly address the ongoing tensions, which include a heightened U.S. naval presence in the region. However, during his appearance with the students, one came up to Khamenei with a painting of Revolutionary Guard soldier credited with laying mines targeting U.S.-escorted oil tankers in the Persian Gulf during Irans 1980s war with Iraq. The Guard says he was killed in a confrontation with the U.S. Navy. On Monday, Iran announced it had quadrupled its production capacity of low-enriched uranium. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the nuclear deal, making it usable for a power plant but far below whats needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the nuclear accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Mideast already on edge. Earlier Wednesday, a prominent reformist lawmaker who chairs parliaments national security and foreign policy commission stressed that neither Iran nor its proxy allies are seeking armed conflict with the U.S. Under no circumstance will we enter a war, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said, according to the semi-official ILNA news agency. No group can announce that it has entered a proxy war from Irans side. Meanwhile, Irans army chief Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi alleged without providing evidence that Saudi Arabia and the U.S. were behind the sabotage of the oil tankers off the UAE, as well as a rocket that landed near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The U.S. has blamed Iran for both incidents without publicly offering evidence. America also has evacuated nonessential diplomatic staff from Iraq amid the tensions. The U.S. Air Force also announced Wednesday that a B-52 bomber deployed to Americas vast Al-Udeid Air Base over the tensions took part in a formation flight with Qatari fighter jets. That comes as Qatar has grown closer to Iran after facing a nearly two-year boycott by four Arab nations also allied with the U.S. This flight was conducted to continue building military-to-military relationships with Qatar, the Air Force said. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Matthew Lee, Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. The board governing North Carolinas public universities has again pushed back its deadline for deciding what to do with a Confederate monument at its flagship campus. The University of North Carolina system issued a news release Tuesday saying it would not be discussing the statue known as Silent Sam at its May 21 meeting as planned. May had been picked after a March deadline was pushed back. No new deadline was given Tuesday. The next scheduled Board of Governors meeting is September. The news release says the board and universities have been focused on other issues including the legislative session. Advertisement Silent Sam stood in a main quad for over a century before it was torn down last August by protesters who called it a racist symbol. Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. 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. Description GIS - 22 May, 2019: A one-day workshop on the development of an Intellectual Property (IP) and a branding strategy for Dodo handicrafts opened this morning, in presence of the Minister of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, Mr Soomilduth Bholah, the Ambassador of Japan to Mauritius, Mr Yoshiharu Kato, and Senior Counsellor, Regional Bureau for Africa, Development sector, World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), Ms Loretta Asiedu, at the Le Labourdonnais Hotel in Port-Louis. In his address, Minister Bholah said that Government is determined to promote an entrepreneurial culture and to address the main problems faced by local handicrafts sector, namely the illicit use or sale of products and assets of Mauritius. He deplored the fact that many entrepreneurs do not adequately protect the IP assets which they generate during their production and value chain. According to him, there is a need to foster understanding about the protection of such resources as they have tremendous commercial value and can generate higher revenue. In the case of Dodo crafts, he said, branding will be used to improve the business competitiveness of Mauritian-made products, capture the goodwill and reputation of locally manufactured handicrafts as well as contribute to increasing the exports of these products. The Minister highlighted that the workshop provides an opportune platform to discuss and to adopt a work programme for the branding strategy development and implementation for dodo handicrafts. He expressed his gratitude to the WIPO and the Government of Japan for their technical support and assistance and reiterated his intent upon protecting and consolidating the IP rights of craftsmen in the handicraft industry. For his part, Ambassador Kato spoke of Japans commitment to continue providing assistance and support for the overall development of African countries. He stated that Brand value projects help create an identity on the global market and attract more investment opportunities. With regard to the branding of Dodo handicrafts, he added that quality, productivity, and branding are key elements in revitalising the handicraft sector and maintaining its universal competitiveness. As for Ms Loretta Asiedu, she spoke about the importance of creating an intellectual property and a branding strategy for dodo handicrafts while adding that this is a good opportunity for Mauritius to distinguish its locally-manufactured handicrafts on the global platform. It is important, she said, to protect local businesses with proper legal frameworks so as to protect their rights and reinforce their uniqueness. Creating a strong brand identity can help businesses grow, retain customer trust and encourage more economic opportunities for future development, she added. More about the project The IP and Branding project is being organised by the WIPO in collaboration with the Ministry of Business, Enterprise and Cooperatives, and the Japan Patent Office, under the Japan Funds-in-Trust. The main objective is to capture intangible values associated with the distinctive characteristics of locally manufactured Dodo handicrafts. The project is part of the recommendations of the National Intellectual Property Development Plan that was reviewed in 2016. A feasibility report submitted by the WIPO focused on the branding of three products namely Dodo crafts, special sugar and rum and it recommended that the branding of dodo crafts be chosen as a pilot project. Yesterday, thousands of people around the U.S. took to the streets to protest a string of dangerously restrictive bans on abortion in states like Georgia, Ohio, and Alabama. In Philadelphia, an unlikely voice joined the protests: A guy (or girl) dressed as the Ritas Italian Ice mascot, which has been dubbed the Ice Guy by the Trevose, Pennsylvaniabased dessert company. Local quizmaster Johnny Goodtimes spotted the water ice mascot in the streets and sent out a now-viral tweet about it. Only in #Philadelphia will you find a water ice mascot protesting for abortion rights. pic.twitter.com/9d1rFcHR3e Johnny Goodtimes (@JohnnyGoodtimes) May 21, 2019 In several tweets, Ritas Italian Ice denied any involvement in the mascots participation in the protest or interest in participating in the abortion debate. The participation in the protest today in Philadelphia was not sanctioned by Ritas Italian Ice. A franchisees employee misappropriated the Ice Guy outfit and went to the protest. Ritas Italian Ice is not an active participant in the abortion discussion. Rita's Italian Ice (@RitasItalianIce) May 21, 2019 SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. Saratoga Regional YMCA is offering special membership rates to honor U.S. military veterans and their families. Veterans with a service connected disability are eligible to receive up to 75 percent off memberships at all branches of the Saratoga Regional YMCA. In addition, the Y continues to offer a reduced rate for military personnel without a disability. Saratoga Regional YMCA is a place for all and an opportunity like this really exemplifies the inclusivity we stand for, said Steve Butler, membership and program executive. We have the ability and duty to impact our community in a positive way, so we are doing just that. Veterans that join the Y are able to take part in activities and programs that increase their health and wellbeing, as well as become part of a supportive community. Saratoga County is proud to be home to close to 18,000 veterans who have served our nation, said Frank McClement, Saratoga County Veterans Service Agency director. Its great to have community partners like the YMCA show appreciation for their service through this new program. This is just another way that those in the Saratoga County community honor our veterans each and every day. Veterans and their families interested in receiving a reduced fee membership are encouraged to visit their local branch, which are located in Corinth, Greenwich, Malta, Saratoga Springs and Wilton. Financial assistance is also available to children, teens, adults and families who cannot afford the full cost of a Y membership or program. For more information go to: www.srymca.org. Memorial Day is approaching quickly. In 2019, the holiday falls on Monday, May 27. Many consider Memorial Day the unofficial start to summer, so they plan to take part in activities during the long weekend. While it is important to the reason for the holiday in mind honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation it doesnt mean fun is off the table. If you dont have anything officially on your agenda and are looking for ideas, here are some things to do on Memorial Day. 1. Volunteer at a Nonprofit that Helps Veterans If you want to do something as a family while also helping military veterans, consider volunteering at a nonprofit that serves that community. It can be an organization that focuses on the needs of veterans and their families or one that focuses on a city or region that has veterans among their populace that could use support. Ultimately, giving back to veterans is a great way to honor those that gave their lives while serving, which is what Memorial Day is really all about. Plus, many find charitable work to be very intrinsically rewarding, so you can rest knowing that you made a difference. 2. Head to a State or National Park While the National Park Service (NPS) does close for Memorial Day, the parks themselves are usually open to visitors. This means Memorial Day could be a great day to head to your nearest national park, especially if the weather is nice. State park services agencies may also close for the holiday. Often, the parks themselves dont close, so visitors can still make a trip inside. Just keep in mind that some parks may not have a full staff available. Additionally, some specific sites in the parks like historical buildings or museums might close for the holiday. You might not be able to tour those facilities on Memorial Day since employees have the day off. 3. Watch the National Memorial Day Concert While this technically airs on the day before the holiday, sitting down to watch the National Memorial Day concert on PBS is a great addition to your weekend. The event pays tribute to U.S. military members, past and present, and will likely feature some amazing, patriotic performances. The concert takes place on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, but everyone can enjoy the show on television. It airs on PBS at 8:00 pm ET on Sunday, May 26. 4. Go to a Parade Many cities host Memorial Day parades in honor of the holiday. If you are in the Washington DC area, you can witness the largest Memorial Day parade on Constitution Avenue, along the National Mall. However, if you arent near the nations capital, there are also great parades in New York City, Chicago, and many other towns through the U.S. 5. Throw a Party or Barbecue By Memorial Day weekend, it is officially barbecue season in much of the U.S. Since many people have the day off, why not get everyone together for some food and fun. You can create a great meal yourself or host a potluck to help with sides and entrees. Setting up some yard games, such as horseshoes or bocce, help everyone expend a little energy while they spend time together. If you want to add a fun twist, make the dessert course a bake-off tournament. Have everyone bring their favorite homemade, patriotic sweet treat and let the friendly competition take center stage. 6. Head to the Pool Many public pools officially open on Memorial Day weekend. If the rising temperatures have left you and your family sweltering, consider taking a dip on the holiday. Just make sure you head over early. Pools can be popular destinations, and some may fill up fast. 7. Visit a Military History Museum If you want your weekend to be educational, consider taking a trip to a military history museum. Not only can this indoor activity be a great way to beat the heat, but it also ensures that your family focuses on the reason for the holiday. 8. Take a Bike Ride May is National Bike Month. If your bicycle has gathered some dust over the winter, consider breaking it out this Memorial Day weekend and going for a ride. You can speed down the streets in your town or head to a park with bike trails. Either way, youll squeeze in some exercise and time outdoors. Plus, it is easy to do as a family. 9. Transition Your Home Since summer is so close you can practically taste it, why not spend Memorial Day weekend getting your home and closets summer-ready. Get your summer clothes and beach towels out of storage and make sure they are ready to wear. Clean up your grill and wash off beach chairs that have been hidden away during the colder months. By taking care of these chores now, youll be all set for the warmest time of year. Do you have exciting plans for this Memorial Day? Tell us how you plan to spend your holiday in the comments below. Read More: If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. Researchers at McMaster University have invented a stable, affordable way to store fragile vaccines for weeks at a time at temperatures up to 40C, opening the way for life-saving anti-viral vaccines to reach remote and impoverished regions of the world. The new method combines the active ingredients in existing vaccines with a sugary gel, where they remain viable for eight weeks or more, even at elevated temperatures. The method creates light, durable, and compact doses that would be ideal for shipping Ebola vaccine, for example, to affected regions of Africa, the researchers say. The process adds only marginal cost to preparing a vaccine and eliminates almost all the cost of transporting it -- which can account for 80 per cent of the total cost of inoculation. Combining the vaccines and the sugars -- pullulan and trehalose -- is almost as simple as stirring cream and sugar into coffee, the researchers say. The storage technology was created by chemical engineers at McMaster, who had already demonstrated its effectiveness in other applications, such as an edible coating that can prolong the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. To apply the technology to vaccines, the engineers collaborated with health sciences colleagues across campus who specialize in virology and immunology. Their work is published today in the journal Scientific Reports. "This, to us, is the ultimate application of this technology," said the paper's lead author Vincent Leung, an assistant professor of Chemical Engineering. "To imagine that something we worked on in the lab could one day be used to save people's lives is very exciting." The invention is significant because it can replace the cumbersome "cold chain" -- constant storage at temperatures between 2C and 8C -- which is currently necessary to keep anti-viral vaccines viable. Maintaining the cold chain is a significant barrier to inoculating people in remote or poor regions of the world, where the infrastructure to refrigerate and transport vaccines smoothly may not be available. advertisement "You can spend all kinds of money developing a vaccine, but if it is deactivated by high temperature an hour before you can give it to someone, it doesn't matter," says co-author Ali Ashkar, a professor of Pathology and Molecular Medicine specializing in immunology. The cold-chain challenge is so great, the researchers say, that in some regions, vaccines must be transported by camels bearing solar-powered mini-refrigerators. There are some populations that never receive vaccines. "If you can't get vaccines to the places where people need them, there's no point in having them," says co-author Matthew Miller, an assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences whose laboratory specializes viral pathogens. Not being able to get vaccines to isolated areas makes it impossible to eradicate deadly viruses. Unchecked, such viruses can devastate local populations and reach exposed pockets in more populated countries where religious, cultural or other concerns have diminished the proportion of vaccinated individuals. Such a scenario has recently been playing out in in a measles outbreak in the US northwest and Vancouver, BC. The new vaccine-storage method suspends the active components of a vaccine in a tiny one-dose container filled with a sugar-gel combination that dries to seal in the vaccine. Later, clinicians reconstitute the vaccine with water and administer it to patients as they ordinarily would. advertisement "Often, complex problems have simple solutions. It just takes the right team," says Miller. "The best research comes from merging fields, when you do something with someone else that you couldn't do alone." The researchers have proven the method to be viable using two sample vaccines -- influenza virus and herpes simplex virus - to inoculate and test mice by exposing them to the viruses because the immune response of mice is similar to that of humans. The materials in the storage medium are already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, simplifying the path to commercialization. "All the pieces are ready to go," says co-author Carlos Filipe, chair of Chemical Engineering at McMaster. "It's actually quite simple compared to the technology required to create a vaccine itself." The researchers are working with a commercial partner to get the technology to market. Symbiotic algae living inside corals provide those animals with their vibrant color, as well as many of the nutrients they need to survive. That algae, and other microbes within the bodies of corals, have been extensively studied -- yet until now, researchers have largely ignored the microbial communities just outside of the coral colonies. A new study from scientists at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) has begun to describe and catalogue microbes that live just a few centimeters from the surface of corals, laying the groundwork for future studies. The researchers' work will be published May 21 in the journal Limnology and Oceanography. "Microbes are everywhere on reefs. There's roughly a million of them in a single milliliter, which is about 20 drops, of seawater. But we don't yet have a good sense of the microbial population that exists right next to corals," says Laura Weber, lead author of the study and a PhD student in the joint WHOI-MIT program. "There's some evidence from previous studies that corals may be surrounded by unique microbial cells, but many questions are still unanswered. Do these cells differ with coral species or reef site? How might they function?" she says. To begin to chip away at those questions, Weber and her colleagues focused on sampling the seawater surrounding Caribbean corals across multiple reefs. Weber thinks that microbes immediately next to the corals could play a role in breaking down waste products from the colonies, introducing new nutrients and potentially letting symbiotic algae or pathogens into the corals themselves. Along with her PhD advisor, Amy Apprill, Weber traveled to a protected coral reef system called the "Jardines de la Reina," located amid a string of remote islands near the southern coast of Cuba. Once there, Weber teamed with local Cuban scientists Patricia Gonzalez-Diaz and Maickel Armenteros to dive on the reefs and collect dozens of small samples from the water near five different species of coral. "The Cuban reefs provided a perfect opportunity for this study. Because they're so remote, there's limited impact from human activities," says Apprill, a coral reef ecologist at WHOI and senior author on the paper. A majority of the reef system was established as a marine protected area by the Cuban government in 1996, so fishing is prohibited and diving tourism is restricted. "The Cuban scientists we collaborated with are also doing research that complements our own. They have extensive knowledge of their marine environment, and provided access to research permits, which was a clear advantage when planning sites for cruises," Apprill adds. Once the samples were back in the US, Weber analyzed the genetic material of the microbes inside them to figure out which species were present. She found that different types of coral did indeed have different microbial communities living near them. "We started finding cool species-specific trends," Weber says. "I didn't think we would see any differences at all -- but it turned out that in some areas, the bacterium Endozoicomonas, which lives symbiotically with corals, was actually enriched in the seawater closer to corals compared to the surrounding reef water. That means the region adjacent to corals could be important for attracting symbionts to a coral's surface, or it could represent a region where corals shed their symbionts." In addition to understanding which microbes are living next to corals, Weber and Apprill also looked at the microorganisms' potential ecological functions. They found that the seawater microbes contained genes that let them interact with the coral surface, suggesting that there may be important interactions between seawater microorganisms and the coral surface. "Scientists have been working for a while now to understand the role of microorganisms in reef environments and within coral colonies. But now we have evidence that demonstrates a possible relationship between seawater microbes and coral symbionts. That gives us some clues to how they find and infect coral colonies, and how they might impact the health of the corals. It's very exciting," Weber says. This project was funded by the Dalio Explore Fund, which supports scientific research at WHOI. The fund is part of Dalio Philanthropies' larger commitment to ocean exploration and discovery, including the new OceanX initiative. "We are thrilled to support WHOI's scientific research efforts through the Dalio Explore Fund," said Vincent Pieribone, Vice Chairman, OceanX. "The findings from this mission will help reveal the secret lives of coral, how their microbiome -- similar to ours -- supports good health, and how, when they are at an imbalance, corals, like humans, can become sick." A new study of UK lake sediment records stretching back over several centuries has found that the floods that hit Northern England in 2009 and 2015 ('Storm Desmond'),were the largest in 600 years, pointing to the impact of climate changes on the frequency and magnitude of these extreme events. In a paper published in the journal `Earth Surface Processes and Landforms', a team of researchers led by the Universities of Liverpool and Southampton, analysed the lake sediment records from the extreme floods of 2009 and 2015, and compared them with a 558 year record from the bottom of Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria. A distinct layer of coarser sediment is left in the lake sediment record as material washes in from the surrounding hills and streams providing researchers with a means of recording each flooding event. Sediment layers with the largest grain sizes reflect flooding that was higher energy and more extreme in magnitude. This is the first time a long term insight into the changing frequency and size of flood events has been produced using lake sediment records for the UK, and it shows how these archives can extend river flows used in conventional flood estimation, which only span relatively short period of 30-50 years. Richard Chiverrell, Professor of Physical Geography with the University of Liverpool's School of Environmental Sciences and lead author of the study, said: "This research study places recent the extreme flooding events of the last 20 years in a far longer context, providing new insights into the frequency and magnitude of the really large flood events." "The unprecedented nature of the recent phase of extreme floods accords with statements from the Environment Agency that climate changes and associated impacts on the frequency and magnitude of extreme events are one of the greatest challenges facing our society." "By establishing long term flood frequency models that use both sediment records and river flow data we hope to be able to improve our ability to quantify flood risk and better support flood risk management in the UK and more widely." Professor David Sear, from the University of Southampton School of Geography & Environmental Science, and who sits on the Defra/EA Flood Risk Management Technical Advisory Group, and co-lead the project, said "This research illustrates the value of using a range of different types of evidence to support our understanding of flooding. What we have been able to do for the first time, is take sedimentary records from lake beds and convert them into the kind of data used by flood risk managers. "These are the events that cause most damage and cost to society so improving our ability to estimate their chance of occurring is important. In the UK and globally, there are a large number of lakes that our research shows could act as long term flood 'gauges' opening up the possibility of new and longer records for different regions of the UK and world, that together could help us better understand changes in flood hazards" A new long-term strategy to tackle flooding and coastal change was recently launched by the Environment Agency. With five million people in England are at risk from flooding, and with significant risk to property and infrastructure during floods. The Environment Agency called for a new approach to ensure communities are resilient to the threat of flooding posed by climate change. The research, which involved the Universities of Liverpool, Southampton Durham and Kings College London, was funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council 'Urgency Programme'. When it comes to inpatient treatment of a range of mental health and mood disorders -- from anxiety and depression to schizophrenia, suicidality and acute psychotic episodes -- a new study suggest that physical exercise is so effective at alleviating patient symptoms that it could reduce patients' time admitted to acute facilities and reliance on psychotropic medications. "The general attitude of medicine is that you treat the primary problem first, and exercise was never considered to be a life or death treatment option. Now that we know it's so effective, it can become as fundamental as pharmacological intervention," explains David Tomasi, a lecturer at the University of Vermont, psychotherapist and inpatient psychiatry group therapist at the University of Vermont Medical Center and lead researcher of the study. Practitioners at inpatient psychiatric facilities -- often crowded, acute settings in which patients experience severe distress and discomfort -- typically prescribe psychotropic medications first, rather than natural remedies like physical exercise, to alleviate patients' symptoms such as anger, anxiety and depression. In fact, Tomasi estimates that only a handful of inpatient psychiatric hospitals in the U.S. provide psychotherapist-supported gym facilities exclusively for these patients. Instead, practitioners rely on classical psychotherapeutic and pharmacological frameworks to treat psychiatric symptoms, which they monitor to determine when a patient is ready to be discharged from the facility. Tomasi, in collaboration with UVMMC's Sheri Gates and Emily Reyns, built a gym exclusively for roughly 100 patients in the medical center's inpatient psychiatry unit, and led and introduced 60-minute structured exercise and nutrition education programs into their treatment plans. The psychotherapists surveyed patients on their mood, self-esteem and self-image both before and after the exercise sessions to gauge the effects of exercise on psychiatric symptoms. Patients reported lower levels of anger, anxiety and depression, higher self-esteem, and overall improved moods. Tomasi, Gates and Reyns found an average of 95 percent of patients reported that their moods improved after doing the structured exercises, while 63 percent of the patients reported being happy or very happy, as opposed to neutral, sad or very sad, after the exercises. An average of 91.8 of patients also reported that they were pleased with the way their bodies felt after doing the structured exercises. "The fantastic thing about these results is that, if you're in a psychotic state, you're sort of limited with what you can do in terms of talk therapy or psychotherapy. It's hard to receive a message through talk therapy in that state, whereas with exercise, you can use your body and not rely on emotional intelligence alone" explains Tomasi. "The priority is to provide more natural strategies for the treatment of mood disorders, depression and anxiety," he adds. "In practice, we hope that every psychiatric facility will include integrative therapies -- in our case, exercise in particular -- as the primary resource for their patients' psycho-physical wellbeing." Star formation within interstellar clouds of gas and dust, so-called molecular clouds, proceeds very rapidly yet highly "inefficiently." Most of the gas is dispersed by stellar radiation, revealing galaxies to be highly dynamic systems, like "cosmic cauldrons," consisting of components that constantly change their appearance. Based on new observations of the NGC 300 spiral galaxy, a team of scientists led by astrophysicist Dr Diederik Kruijssen from Heidelberg University has now managed for the first time to reconstruct the time-evolution of molecular clouds and the star formation process within them. Their analysis shows that these clouds are short-lived structures undergoing rapid lifecycles, driven by the intense radiation from the new-born stars. The findings were published in Nature. The observed intensity of star formation in the NGC 300 spiral galaxy can be explained in two ways. Molecular clouds may be very long-lived and eventually convert all of their mass into stars. In this case, the positions of young stars should generally match those of the molecular clouds from which they formed. Alternatively, stars may form very rapidly within molecular clouds and disperse the gas with their intense radiation, causing only a small fraction of the gas to be converted into stars. In this case, young stars and molecular clouds should generally reside in different locations. To decide which of these models of the molecular cloud lifecycle is correct, Dr Kruijssen and his team combined two different sets of observations of the NGC 300 galaxy, which is about six million light years away from the Milky Way. The first observation is a map of light emitted by carbon monoxide which shows where molecular clouds reside. The second is a map of hot, ionised hydrogen which marks the positions of massive, newly formed stars. These maps were obtained using the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) of the European Southern Observatory (ESO) and the 2.2-meter telescope of the Max Planck Society and ESO. The ALMA observations were carried out by Dr Andreas Schruba, scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics in Garching and one of the co-authors of the study. The scientists analysed the data using a new statistical method which determines how molecular gas and star formation in galaxies are related on different spatial scales. For the first time, this method enables the positions of molecular clouds and young stars to be precisely quantified relative to one another. According to the scientists, the results left no doubt: the positions of molecular clouds and young, massive stars rarely coincide. This effect becomes stronger on smaller scales. The scientists conclude that stars form very rapidly, such that gas and young stars represent distinct, subsequent phases in the lifecycle of molecular clouds. "Our findings demonstrate that star formation proceeds very rapidly and highly inefficiently," explains Dr Kruijssen, research group leader at the Institute for Astronomical Computing. "Molecular clouds in NGC 300 live for about ten million years and take only about 1.5 million years to be destroyed, well before the most massive stars have reached the end of their lives and explode as supernovae." Dr Melanie Chevance, a researcher in his team and also co-author of the paper, adds: "The intense radiation from young stars disperses their parent molecular cloud by heating it and dispersing it in the form of hot interstellar gas bubbles. This way, only two to three percent of the mass in molecular clouds is actually converted into stars." The team of researchers now wants to apply their new statistical method to observations of very distant galaxies to infer how star formation in molecular clouds proceeded across the history of the Universe. "We will now proceed to investigate the relation between molecular clouds and young stars in galaxies throughout the cosmos. In the near future, this will allow us to understand galaxies as collections of components that undergo star formation-driven lifecycles and together shape the appearance of their host galaxies," explains Dr Kruijssen. The research was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Netherlands. The work was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the European Research Council (ERC). Ode to Babel owners Marva and Myriam Babel. Photo: Christian Rodriguez In early May, Marva Babel-Tucker, who owns the four-year-old Prospect Heights bar Ode to Babel with her twin sister Myriam, was checking her email when she spotted a message with a curious subject line: Fwd: Ode to Babel Liquor License review hearing. The email was from her friend Gina Keller, a longtime Prospect Heights resident whod hosted two events at the bar, which tends to draw a crowd of young brown and black people from surrounding neighborhoods like Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and Clinton Hill. Babel-Tucker opened the email to find a post from the Crime & Safety forum of the Prospect Heights page on NextDoor, a San Franciscobased website that provides a free private social network for your neighborhood community that has been accused in the past of becoming a hub for racial profiling. The post, created by a woman who lived near the bar, called on her fellow residents to protest the impending renewal of Ode to Babels liquor license and laid out allegations of assault, noise, disrespectful patrons and management, a run-in with the owners, and even a domestic assault incident between a couple outside the bar. Below, the woman attached a picture of a large scratch on her neck that shed received during the assault, as well as a picture of the liquor license renewal notice in the bars window. Oh my God, Babel-Tucker says of the post. I was devastated. I was just like, why wouldnt this person just come to me directly? Why would you do that? Keller offered to send a text describing the incident to her circle of friends, which Babel-Tucker, who describes herself as shy, gladly accepted. It read: Ode to Babel is having issues and needs us to attend the community board meeting on Monday in support of their liquor license. One of Kellers contacts took a screenshot of the text and posted it to social media while Nathalie Vil, the Brooklyn-born founder of advocacy platform Nellies Compass, called on her followers to flood Community Board 8s inbox with letters of support. By the time the meeting took place three days later, 180 letters of support had been sent to the community board, and neighbors were on hand to dispute any allegations. Ultimately, Vil says, it all came down to [the accuser] just not being comfortable with the operating hours and the crowd that was being attracted. Keller adds, I think the woman from NextDoor was a little taken off guard, because she didnt anticipate this outpouring of support. The community board ultimately decided to renew Ode to Babels liquor license, and Ode to Babels victory is being seen by some as a blueprint for how other minority-owned businesses operating in gentrifying neighborhoods can protect themselves while maintaining spaces where people of color can express themselves freely in neighborhoods that once welcomed them. Liquor license disputes and NIMBY arguments are, of course, not exactly uncommon in New York City, especially in neighborhoods that have seen a rapid change in their demographic makeup from the effects of gentrification. In Community District 8 which includes Crown Heights, Prospect Heights, and Weeksville the black population fell from 78 percent to 65.5 percent between 2000 and 2010, while the areas white non-Hispanic population jumped from 6.8 to 16.7 percent, representing the neighborhoods largest demographic shift. In Prospect Heights alone, 50 percent of residents are white as of 2016. Accordingly, the few remaining black-owned businesses in the neighborhood are held in high esteem by black Brooklynites who dont feel like they fit in other spaces. The Babel sisters opened the bar in 2015. Photo: Christian Rodriguez Its definitely not unusual for me to go out in my neighborhood now and to be the only person of color in the establishment and I hate it, says Tara Duvivier, a patron turned DJ, whos lived in Clinton Hill for a decade. She adds, a lot of the things that we have done for generations in this city are now seen as nuisances even just somebody playing music out on their stoop is considered a nuisance. We have to fight that idea. In fact, Ode to Babels liquor license dispute arrived on the heels of a more serious event that happened in October 2018. On a Friday night, when the bar is often at its busiest, more than 30 employees from several city agencies, including the State Liquor Authority, Department of Buildings, Department of Health, and the FDNY, barged into Ode to Babel for an unannounced inspection, known as a Multi-Agency Response to Community Hotspots raid. Less than 2 percent of New York Citys 12,000-plus bars are subjected to them every year. In a single evening, the Babel sisters racked up $2,000 in fines. They were all later dismissed, but Babel-Tucker says, the visual of it was damaging beyond words it was a financial and emotional hit. Local organizations like the NYC Artists Coalition and the Hells Kitchen Democrats as well as City Council members Stephen T. Levin and Rafael Espinal have protested the citys use of M.A.R.C.H. raids, citing a lack of transparency into who gets raided and why. Three days before Ode to Babel was raided, Levin introduced Bill No. 1156, which would require the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice to report on Multi-Agency Response to Community Hotspots operations. Four months after the raid, Babel-Tucker appeared before Levin and the City Councils Committee on Justice System to share her personal experience and why she believes the raids are especially detrimental to businesses frequented by people of color and other minorities. Our popularity has translated into disdain by some of our neighbors; neighbors who are new to the community and want to see us silenced, literally and figuratively, Babel-Tucker told the council. Their weapon of choice in the fight is 311, 911 calls, and to bombard the [community] board with complaints and pressure. As a person of color, I dont need to go into the dangers of using police presence as a weapon against people of color, but this is exactly what is being done. Now, Babel-Tucker says the last seven months have convinced her of two things: First, that its more important than ever for the community of mostly black and brown customers to support local business. I lived in Brooklyn in the 90s, when it was like Chocolate City, she says. Fort Greene was black and beautiful. Now, you wouldnt know thats Fort Greene. As our erasure happens, were trying very hard to protect our spaces its incredibly important that we do. That coincides with her second revelation: This moment should serve as a wake-up call, and an inspiration to any aspiring black business owners. I would say to anybody who may be reading this: jump in we have our communitys support. We dont know each and every person, but youre gonna feel the love. COLUMBIA, S.C. Expecting parents once again can get a head start on saving for their childs college education. State Treasurer Curtis Loftis announced Monday that South Carolinas Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan once again can celebrate National 529 College Savings Day (May 29) with its PalmettoBaby Grant Program. The annual program, which is in its seventh year, promotes the importance of families saving for college and provides a privately funded $529 grant to each baby born on May 29 in South Carolina to put toward a Future Scholar account. We love reminding new and existing parents about the importance of saving for college, Loftis said. Our PalmettoBaby Grant Program is a fun way to celebrate National 529 Day, and its really fun to see the excitement of these new parents when they realize they are eligible to receive a $529 grant for their childs future education. To receive the PalmettoBaby Grant, parents of babies born on May 29 must submit a grant request form and open a Future Scholar account by Aug. 30, 2019. "When the populace sees the mass gravesites like you see in Europe and throughout the country I think it's a solemn reminder it takes many to protect the sovereignty of our country. It's an honored place for a veterans to be laid to rest." In the old section of the cemetery, there are several mass graves of those who died in and around Florence. Owens has combat command experience through his time in Iraq. "I served in combat, and I know the burden of command and the military entrusts in its leaders a huge responsibility, and unfortunately the horrible nature of war puts people in harm's way, and decisions need to be made," Owens said. "Our soldiers are the most courageous and committed group of men and women I've ever been around." "I lost two soldiers in Iraq in 2003 and 2004, and it's important to us, when you're that close to those who have died, it's important to us to reflect and remember," Owens said. "I remember the two soldiers I lost Algernon Adams from North Augusta and James Chance from down in Mississippi or the 52 memorial services I went to with the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment fighting for a foothold in Fallujah and Ramadi in the western desert of Iraq. MARION, S.C. Sheila Ingle, a retired educator and author, visited Blue Savannah-Swamp Fox Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, based in Mullins and Marion, in April and presented a program on preserving history through storytelling. The author of four books about South Carolinian women who helped patriot forces during the American Revolution has made sure each of her books is suitable to be used with South Carolinas classroom curriculum. Her website describes her as a weaver of stories of America's forgotten heroines. Her books are illustrated by her husband, John, a noted artist. Ingle credits the stories she heard her grandmothers tell as laying the foundation for her story telling abilities. Recently, her book entitled Tales of a Cosmic Possum, a diversion from her patriotic stories and a collection of short stories about eight Appalachian women who left the mountains and farms to work in the cotton mills of South Carolina, was chosen for the 2017 Fall Okra Picks award. Her book Courageous Kate was chosen for the DAR National Historic Preservation Award. Mary Howard has been named director of early childhood and elementary education. She has served as principal of Lake City Early Childhood Center since 2014 and also served as the districts early childhood supervisor since 2018, the release said. She served as principal of Olanta Elementary in 2013 and as an assistant principal at Main Street Elementary and Scranton Elementary. Ned Blake has been named director of alternative school and student services. He currently serves as the districts interim director of alternative school and also served as a special education administrator, according to the release from the district. Blake served as principal of Lake City High School from 2014 to 2018. He was principal of J. Paul Truluck Middle School from 2010 to 2014. He also was an assistant principal at Ronald E. McNair Middle School and J. Paul Truluck Middle. Dr. Fred Moore has been named principal of Lake City Early College High School. Moore served as the districts hearing officer from 2017 to 2019 before temporarily filling an assistant principal position at the high school. He was the director of special services for Williamsburg County School District from 2015 to 2017 and also served as that districts director of adult education, the release said. He also has served as principal at Kingstree Senior High School, North Charleston High School, Hunter-Tyler-Kinard High School and McCormick High School. FLORENCE, S.C. Wilson High School student Sophie Watson won an all-expense-paid summer study trip to Germany. Sophie was selected as a national winner after scoring in the 96th percentile on the Level III 2019 National German Exam for High School Students, which is sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG). More than 20,000 students participated in the program. After qualifying with a high score on the National German Exam, she submitted responses to several short essay questions in German and in English and was then interviewed in both German and English by a committee composed of high school teachers and college professors of German. Watson is one of 44 outstanding German students selected from across the U.S. to receive the award. The study trip includes round-trip air transportation to Germany from New York, a homestay in a host family and excursions to places of cultural and historical significance. The study trip, now in its 60th year, is made possible through a grant from the Federal Republic of Germany. HARTSVILLE, S.C. A group of approximately 30 Hartsville residents gathered on May 9 at Centenary United Methodist Church to pray for their community and nation during a National Day of Prayer Service. The service is sponsored annually in Hartsville by Bridgebuilders, a group of residents from area churches who work across racial lines to bring the community together. Lord, you have brought these United States of America a mighty long way, and we have such a long way to go, the Rev. Lisa Hawkins, pastor of Centenary and Kingsville United Methodist Church, also in Hartsville, said in her opening prayer. May each and every one of us become the instrument of peace you have called us to be. Bridgebuilders has been sponsoring the National Day of Prayer Service in Hartsville off and on for almost 22 years, said Sheila Haney, co-chair of Bridgebuilders along with Lovis Thomas. I love all of you for taking time out to come today, Thomas said. We come here this morning praying for our nation, said Corinthia Mack of Bridgebuilders, the main speaker for the service. NEW YORK, N.Y. To celebrate Sonocos 120th anniversary this year, Sonoco President and chief executive officer Rob Tiede and Vice President and chief financial officer Julie Albrecht rang the closing bell on May 10 at the New York Stock Exchange in honor of the occasion and the companys longstanding financial success. Sonoco, one of the largest global diversified packaging companies, was founded as the Southern Novelty Company on May 10, 1899. On our 120th anniversary, were proud to say that Sonoco is stronger than ever, Tiede said. Our company has touched three centuries and faced many evolving challenges, but our people, our products and our principles carry us through and drive us to continually reach for new heights. The company has a long history of growth and stability. In fact, Sonoco has paid dividends to shareholders for the past 94 years, since 1925, and has grown its common stock dividends annually for the past 37 years. Sonocos first product was a cone-shaped paper yarn carrier used for winding and transporting yarn. Since most of the textile cones of that day were wooden, paper cones were a novelty hence the name the Southern Novelty Company. Korok East Fire Victims Received NFI & Shelter One hundred and fifty-eight households have been affected. The situation is very tragic because all the properties are destroyed by the fire, Rizik said. By Thiik Abraham AWEIL, [GURTONG] May 22, 2019 Following the deadly fire outbreak in 3 villages of Korok East of Lol state few days ago, a delegation of youth and International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs) responded by distributing a variety of food and Non-food items, clothes, utensils and other basic materials to the recently affected population of Korok East. According to Humanitarian and local reports on ground, it was confirmed that at least 37 people died of the stormy fire outbreak, which occurred on May 5th in 3 villages of Korok East, namely Makuach, Mayomdit and Rup and other hundreds of thousands displaced. Over 50 patients have been admitted at Aweil Civil Hospital under the Medicines Sans Frontieres-French (MSF-F) care. At least over 30 heads of cattle have been confirmed dead so far and several other houses, including food and non-food items, burnt during the incident leaving the entire population with thwarting hunger gap, diseases and shelters. On Monday, Aweil hospital director, Reec Mathok Diing, said that 19 patients out of the 53 fire victims were discharged after their conditions had improved. He said the rest are still receiving medication and will soon be discharged too when their health conditions improve. Meanwhile 5 hardtop landcruisers yesterday carried various food and non-food items to the victims on the site of accident for distribution which were generously contributed by the population of greater Northern Bahr el Ghazal. Meanwhile, governor of Lol State, Rizik Zacharia Hassan, said majority of the victims were children and the elderly people who succumbed to first degree burns as they were being rushed to a hospital in Aweil. One hundred and fifty-eight households have been affected. The situation is very tragic because all the properties are destroyed by the fire, Rizik said. The Office of the President had sent a message of condolence to the bereaved families and those who have lost properties in the deadly fire earlier via his spokesperson. May the Almighty God rest the soul of the victims in eternal peace and a quick recovery with the injured persons, Ateny Wek said in a statement read to the press in Juba last week. He said that the Office of the President will investigate the matter to find its root-cause. Although it was a natural catastrophe, the Office of the President shall launch an investigation into the incident to find out if similar incidents can be avoided in the future, Ateny added. Lol State governor Rizik Zacharia said the state has already launched its own investigations into the matter. FLORENCE, S.C. The revival of the great American burger is here. Revival Burger, the newest (and perhaps only) smash burger joint in Florence, opened its doors in early November 2018 and became an instant classic. Small wonder, too, as Revival was brought to Florence by the same team that runs Tubbs Shrimp and Fish Co., as well as King Jefe Taco Bar two of the most popular locally owned restaurants in the region. Kyle Hardee, one of the restaurant trio owners, said business has been good since opening. In fact, they sold more than 2,700 burgers in the first four days of opening. Weve been wide-open at Revival, Hardee said. We love serving this community, and were working every day to get better. Revival fits right into the mold thats changed how people in Florence think about fresh, local food. But what is it that makes Revival different from any other burger restaurant? You could say its a secret sauce. Not just the special Revival Sauce that comes on many of their burgers, but the way the owners approach food service as a whole. On May 10, 2019, the Honorable Paul S. Diamond of the District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, entered a final judgment on consent against Howard M. Appel for his role in a market manipulation scheme. The SEC's complaint, filed on July 27, 2018, charged Appel for his role in orchestrating schemes to manipulate the trading price of three microcap companies. The complaint alleged that Appel and associates that he recruited and directed to buy and sell shares, secretly acquired ownership or control over enough of the companies' stock that he effectively controlled the float. Then he and his associates artificially created a market for these stocks by engaging in matched trading designed to create the false appearance of genuine demand for the stock. During and after his alleged manipulative conduct, Appel obtained over $3 million in profits by selling his shares in the companies into the public market. Appel was previously convicted of criminal conspiracy to commit securities fraud and was on probation when some of the charged conduct occurred. The final judgment permanently enjoins Appel from violating the antifraud provisions of Sections 17(a)(1) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) and Rules 10b-5(a) and 10b-5(c) thereunder, and the market manipulations provisions in Exchange Act Sections 9(a)(1) and 9(a)(2). The judgment further imposes permanent penny stock and officer-and director and bars, and awards $3,868,699 in disgorgement and $487,248 in pre-judgment interest. As detailed in the final judgment, monetary relief was deemed satisfied by the order of forfeiture entered against Appel in the parallel criminal action brought by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In that action, Appel pleaded guilty to related criminal charges. Appel was sentenced to sixty months of incarceration, ordered to forfeit $3,868,699, and fined $200,000. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Adam S. Grace, Preethi Krishnamurthy, Rhonda L. Jung and Melissa A. Coppola and supervised by Lara Shalov Mehraban. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. On May 22, 2019, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Charles Nilosek, a Massachusetts-based external sales agent for Woodbridge Group of Companies LLC, with illegally selling Woodbridge securities to retail investors while acting as an unregistered broker. According to the complaint, Nilosek was among Woodbridge's top revenue producers. The SEC previously charged Woodbridge and its former owner, Robert H. Shapiro, and Woodbridge's other highest-earning unregistered brokers. In January, a federal court in Florida ordered Woodbridge, related companies, and Shapiro together to pay $1 billion for operating this Ponzi scheme. The SEC also charged Woodbridge's two former directors of investments for their roles in Woodbridge's Ponzi scheme. https://www.sec.gov/news/press-release/2019-55 According to the SEC's complaint, from at least September 2013 to September 2015, Nilosek and his alter-ego company, Position Benefits LLC, raised more than $23 million by selling Woodbridge securities to more than 200 retail investors located in at least four states. Nilosek was not registered in any capacity with the SEC, and allegedly received more than $1.4 million in transaction-based compensation. The SEC amended its Complaint in the Central District of California and added Nilosek as a defendant. The SEC's amended complaint charges Nilosek with violating the registrations provisions of Sections 5(a) and 5(c) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 15(a)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and seeks disgorgement of allegedly ill-gotten gains, with interest, and financial penalties. The SEC's investigation, which is continuing, was conducted by Scott A. Lowry, Russell Koonin, Christine Nestor, and Mark Dee in the Miami Regional Office, with assistance from David Baddley, and supervised by Jason R. Berkowitz, Fernando Torres, Thierry Olivier Desmet, and Glenn Gordon. The litigation will be led by Ms. Nestor and Mr. Koonin under the supervision of Andrew O. Schiff. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations. The SEC's Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has issued an Investor Alert to help seniors identify signs of investment fraud and, in conjunction with the Division of Enforcement's Retail Strategy Task Force, another Investor Alert about Ponzi schemes targeting seniors. The SEC strongly encourages investors to use the agency's http://Investor.gov website to check the backgrounds of people selling them investments to quickly identify whether they are registered professionals. Kim Song (R, Rear), permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations, speaks during a press conference at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 21, 2019. Kim Song on Tuesday denounced the U.S. seizure of a cargo ship of his country. (Xinhua/Xie E) UNITED NATIONS, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The permanent representative of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to the United Nations on Tuesday denounced the U.S. seizure of a cargo ship of his country. On May 9, the United States "committed an unlawful and outrageous act" of dispossessing DPRK's cargo ship Wise Honest by forcibly taking it to American Samoa under the pretext of unilateral sanctions and violation of U.S. domestic law, Kim Song told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. The cargo ship was detained in Indonesian waters in April 2018. Its seizure was announced by the U.S. Justice Department on May 9, 2019, for allegedly violating U.S. and UN sanctions. Kim said Tuesday that the unilateral sanctions and domestic law, which the United States has employed as legal grounds for the seizure, are "clearly illegality and injustice," because unilateral sanctions and extraterritorial application of national jurisdiction to a third country cannot be justified under international law. The Wise Honest is a state-owned ship and a property of the DPRK, he said. "We regard it as a part of our territory where our sovereignty is fully exercised." He noted that a spokesperson for the DPRK Foreign Ministry on May 14 demanded the immediate return of the ship and urged the U.S. government to consider how its actions might impact future relations between the two countries. Kim said he sent a letter last week to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres with regard to the seizure "in order to inform our principled position." 6 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] A Bay Area mother arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement last fall, two months after giving birth, was granted asylum Monday, according to her attorney. But the agency said removal proceedings against the woman are ongoing. Aida Andrade-Amaya, 29, fled domestic violence in El Salvador in 2012, crossing the border illegally and petitioning for asylum. But as her case progressed in immigration court, ICE arrested Andrade-Amaya, citing an Interpol red notice an international request to locate and detain an individual. Officials in El Salvador had accused Andrade-Amaya of aggravated robbery, burglary and participation in MS-13, the deadly cross-border gang often invoked by President Trump. Her attorney, Jehan Romero of Pangea Legal Services, has denied the claims and said her client didnt commit the crimes shes accused of. Andrade-Amnaya does not have a criminal record in the U.S. An Interpol Red Notice is the closest instrument to an international arrest warrant in use today, according to the Department of Justice. In a statement Tuesday, ICE spokesman Paul Prince said the agency arrested Andrade-Amaya after discovering she has ties to Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) and is also wanted in El Salvador for aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. She was initially encountered by the Border Patrol in 2012 following her illegal entry into the U.S. and her removal proceedings are ongoing, he said. Some immigration attorneys have criticized ICEs use of red notices to target immigrants for detention, arguing the notices are easy to obtain and often contain broad and inaccurate information. In Aidas case, Romero argued the notice didnt contain specific information about Andrade-Amayas alleged involvement in the crimes or when the crimes took place. Immigration Judge Julie Nelson agreed, granting her asylum in a written notice Monday. Red notices are incredibly bogus, said Edwin Carmona-Cruz, a spokesman for Pangea, a nonprofit in San Francisco. The allegations are unreliable. Theyre reckless and theyre dangerous. Interpol red notices are required to contain judicial information, meaning information about the alleged crime, the person who allegedly committed the crime and a connection between the two, said Ted Bromund, a senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative research institution focused on public policy. In other words, I cant simply say a robbery happened and you were standing there, he said. There has to be some connection there. Its too common for red notices to be defective in at least one of those areas. Bromund served as an expert witness in Andrade-Amayas case but declined to comment specifically on the details of her red notice. Low quality red notices should not be used in U.S. judicial or legal proceedings, he added. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The Executive Office for Immigration Review, which oversees immigration court in the U.S., did not reply to a request for comment Tuesday. Andrade-Amaya, who also has a 4-year-old daughter, was arrested the morning of Nov. 19 outside her home in San Bruno. Her partner has cared for the couples baby while shes been detained. Because a judge denied Andrade-Amaya bond earlier this year, she can still be detained while the government decides if it wants to appeal the decision, according to the organization. The agency has 30 days to file an appeal. Her attorneys said theyll explore other avenues to ensure shes freed. For her, this assures what shes known all along: that she has the right to seek asylum, Carmona-Cruz said. Shes reassured of who she is and what she stood for this whole time. Tatiana Sanchez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tatiana.sanchez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TatianaYSanchez Hundreds of pro-choice supporters gathered Tuesday afternoon in San Francisco to denounce a wave of restrictive abortion laws recently passed in the United States. Pro-choice advocates held rallies against recent abortion bans in dozens of cities across the United States on Tuesday, including in San Francisco, Albuquerque, St. Louis and Orlando. San Franciscos #StoptheBan event drew hundreds of protesters, including Planned Parenthood Northern California, city supervisors and officials. San Francisco Supervisor Vallie Brown called on the city to limit business with states that have enacted restrictive abortion laws. Money talks, Brown said to cheers and whoops from the crowd. They hit us with ridiculous abortion bans, were going to hit them economically. Brown said she is working with the city attorney to draft legislation restricting economic ties in those states. The proposed ban resembles one passed unanimously by the board in 2016 limiting business with states that have curtailed LGBT rights. Recently, lawmakers in several states have moved to ban abortion in the early stages of pregnancy, emboldened by President Trumps appointment of more conservative judges. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the strictest anti-abortion legislation in the nation last Wednesday, making it a felony in almost all cases to perform an abortion, even in cases of rape or incest. At Tuesdays protest, all four female supervisors spoke out against the ban, calling it an attack on personal freedom for women. We must continue to say no to those who mandate what we can or cannot do for our bodies, said Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer. At least a dozen protesters dressed in handmaiden costumes, a nod to Margaret Atwoods The Handmaids Tale and the hit Hulu series. Katharine Velleman, 36, turned up in one of the bright red costumes. She waved above her head a wire coat hanger, a tool used for self-induced abortions. Women are more than a womb, Velleman said as more sign-bearing attendees arrived. Velleman dismissed lawmakers who said they were concerned about children and health care. Theres just no way this can stand, she 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. In April, a federal judge ruled that conditions set by the Trump administration on federal family-planning funding would force medical providers to give incomplete and misleading information to women seeking to terminate their pregnancies. Agencies receiving the funding would have been barred from making abortion referrals. Tuesdays rally attracted high school students, workers on their lunch breaks and determined protesters from surrounding counties. Dana Brozowski, 25, and friends Haley Limroth, 24, and Subrina Doeut, 22, made the hour and a half drive from Santa Cruz to join the rally after seeing an advertisement on Instagram. Everybody should have rights to their own body, Brozowski said. As the crowd chanted my body, my choice, the women waved shiny pink Planned Parenthood signs. Were doing this for future generations, Limroth said. Gwendolyn Wu is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: gwendolyn.wu@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @gwendolynawu The Oakland City Council passed a resolution Tuesday calling for an independent audit of the Alameda County Sheriffs Office budget after a number of inmate deaths at the county jail, complaints by pregnant inmates and revelations that deputies had illegally recorded juveniles. The resolution, introduced by Councilwoman Nikki Fortunato Bas, calls on the Alameda County Board of Supervisors to allocate funding for an independent performance and financial audit of the sheriffs budget. The audit should be a collaborative audit process involving Oakland residents, community groups and Alameda County officials. The Alameda County Sheriffs Offices current one-year budget is about $435 million. The vote comes after The Chronicle revealed that an Alameda County Sheriffs Office sergeant illegally recorded a juvenile detainees discussions with an attorney. The resolution criticized the department after a number of lawsuits were filed by pregnant inmates for mistreatment and sleep deprivation. In response, a federal judge ordered fewer nighttime interruptions and longer lights-out hours last April for the inmates. According to the Ella Baker Human Rights Center, 33 Alameda County inmates have died in custody in the past five years. Last March, the family of a man who died by hanging himself while locked up at an Alameda County jail filed a lawsuit alleging staff there left him alone and without appropriate mental health care even though he was a known suicide risk. An independent audit could reveal potential cost-saving efforts that could be redirected toward education, housing and public safety, according to the resolution. More than 30 people gathered outside City Hall before the vote in support of the resolution, holding signs that read, All Eyes On The Sheriff and spoke in favor of an audit against Sheriff Greg Ahern. We already know that the Sheriffs Office has violated the rights of many folks and swept it under the rug, said Kaila Mathis, a program associate with the Urban Peace Movement. If they are claiming that they are protecting our rights and our safety, this shouldnt be happening. We demand and we are pushing for a thorough audit. Sgt. Ray Kelly from the Alameda County Sheriffs Office called the vote a political move and encouraged council members to meet with the sheriff. Not one time did the Oakland City Council ever come to the Sheriffs Office and ask to learn more about the agency, to ask to learn more about our budget, to learn about what we do, Kelly said. The sheriff dedicates a tremendous amount of time and resources to (Oakland). The sheriff would be more than happy to meet with the City Council about any concerns. Kelly added that the Sheriffs Office welcomes any audit. 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. Oakland joins a growing movement of criticism against the department. In 2018, the Berkeley City Council passed a similar resolution calling for an independent audit on the Sheriffs Office. And in February, Senator Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, sent a letter to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors echoing concerns. These concerns range from allegations of abuse to an expanding ACSO budget, Skinner wrote. Alameda County residents deserve full transparency and accountability, and I fully support community members in their request for an independent financial and performance audit of the ACSO. I respectfully urge you to do so as well. The Alameda County Board of Supervisors did not respond to a request for comment. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Four immigrant women accused a federal contractor Tuesday of brutal and inhumane treatment during a more than 24-hour trip from the Bay Area to Bakersfield, including several hours shackled in a broiling, windowless van without access to food, water, medication or a restroom. Employees of immigration contractor G4S Secure Solutions ignored the womens cries for help, shoved and injured one woman who could not walk because of her shackles, kicked another woman, and took away one womans asthma inhaler and anothers diabetes medication, the women said in a federal court suit in San Francisco. I thought I would take my last breath in the back of that van, Floricel Liborio Ramos, 39, said in a statement released by her lawyers from a private firm and the American Civil Liberties Union. G4S has a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to drive immigrants in custody from one detention facility to another. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. G4S is headquartered in England. The women, all Mexican citizens, were being held at the West County Detention Facility in Richmond in July 2017 when ICE ordered them transferred to a detention center in Bakersfield, the suit said. It said the trip, which usually takes about five hours by car, took more than a day, with shuttles through several facilities and vehicles. The women were shackled together at the wrists and ankles, even though they posed no threat and had no history of violence, the suit said. It said one woman slipped while getting out of a vehicle, hurt her ankle and was unable to walk, then was ordered to walk by a guard who grabbed, shoved and insulted her when she failed to comply. In San Francisco, their first stop, they were held on benches in freezing temperatures for several hours, the suit said. At their next stop, in Gilroy, they were loaded into a van in stifling heat, with no light or circulating air, the suit said. It said the women began vomiting and two fainted. 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. They arrived in Fresno several hours later, were given food for the first time in 12 hours, and were put in a van with milder temperatures for the last part of the trip, the suit said. But they were still shackled and denied access to a bathroom. Their lawyers said the women all became physically ill, suffering dehydration, elevated heart rates and breathing difficulties, as well as nightmares and long-lasting anxiety from the events. One woman suffered diabetic shock after being deprived of her medicine, and another is still undergoing mental health treatment, the suit said. Accusing G4S and its employees of reckless disregard for the womens health and safety, the suit seeks unspecified damages, including punitive damages. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twittr: @BobEgelko Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors are generally known for being long-winded and relishing the spotlight, but many of them have been strangely quiet after an outrageous police raid on a journalists home. Just one of the 11 said anything about the raid without being asked. Supervisor Aaron Peskin issued a statement five days after the May 10 sledgehammering of the front gate of freelancer Bryan Carmody, calling it an attack on journalistic freedom. The raid, authorized by two Superior Court judges, was meant to root out who leaked a police report to Carmody describing seedy details of the death of Public Defender Jeff Adachi. But it pretty clearly violated Californias shield law protecting journalists from giving up confidential sources. As the shocking raid made national news and angered First Amendment groups supervisors slowly weighed in. But as of Tuesday afternoon 11 days after the raid five still had said nothing publicly, despite being called for comment by The Chronicle and asked by members of the public on social media. Mind you, this is a group that weighs in on everything from abortion rights in Alabama to the drug war in the Philippines. Theyre never short on opinions, except, strangely, this time. I decided to find them where they were obligated to be: the Tuesday afternoon Board of Supervisors meeting at City Hall. Board President Norman Yee said he should probably release a statement. Yes, that would be good. In regards to the raid, I dont know the specifics, so its really hard for me to make a comment on that, Yee said. But if its just a matter of its easier to pick on a journalist rather than look internally, then somethings wrong with that picture. Supervisor Shamann Walton said, I have no statement other than I dont appreciate when journalists rights are violated. Asked if he thought Carmodys rights were violated by the raid, he said, I definitely do. Supervisor Gordon Mar said the raid was not acceptable. We still need to hold the Police Department accountable for the leak of confidential information around Jeff Adachis death, but that doesnt justify what they did to the journalist, he 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. He said he hadnt spoken up because, Ive been focused on a lot of other urgent issues. I dont have anything more to add to it than what my colleagues have already said. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said he was troubled. He said he was also open to new local legislation protecting journalists, especially since President Trump has repeatedly bashed journalists as enemies of the state. Everyone is very sensitive to making sure San Francisco is living up to being the resistance, he said. Supervisor Ahsha Safai texted, Utmost and extreme caution should always be exercised around protecting the press, and the actions of our police seem to have gone too far. We will continue to monitor this case. Heather Knight is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf After a debate that some found disturbing, the East Bay city of Dublin voted down a request Tuesday night to raise the rainbow flag over City Hall for this years Pride celebration. Im disappointed, but not completely surprised. Its just part of the ongoing battle for acceptance and public education, said Dublin City Councilman Shawn Kumagai, who initiated the request. Kumagai, the first openly gay person to serve on the Dublin City Council, had asked the council for a proclamation in support of the Pride celebration and that the multicolored LGBTQ flag be flown over City Hall, along with the American and California flags, for the entire month of June. The five-member council supported the proclamation unanimously, but when it came to the flag, a debate ensued among the public and the council members. Some audience members spoke during public comment in favor of the flag going up. Others wondered if the gesture was appropriate. Two speakers who opposed raising the flag said they had heard of plans to add a P for pedophile to the LGBTQ acronym, and that raising the flag might be seen as supporting pedophiles. One of the speakers also objected because LGBTQ lacks an S for straight in the LGBTQ title. There were some comments from the public that were a bit misguided, Kumagai said, diplomatically. Added LGBTQ community member and 20-year Dublin resident Jeannine Sullivan, It was ridiculous and unfounded, but it still shows what is being perpetuated by some people in our community. Another issue raised: Should any flag other than the American, the California or city of Dublin flag fly above City Hall? One speaker, who identified himself as a member of the National Rifle Association, said he too is a minority, so why not fly the NRA flag above city hall? He even brought a banner and unfurled it, Sullivan said. In an email Wednesday, Dublin Mayor David Haubert said: Many of our residents expressed the feeling that the City Hall general flagpole area should be reserved for the federal, state and city flags only. They also expressed anxiety about favoring one group over all others. There was a slippery-slope argument, that we may be opening a Pandoras box, Kumagai 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. As the discussion continued Tuesday, Kumagai realized he lacked the votes to fly the flag for the whole month, so he asked for it to be flown for one day June 1 to kick off Pride month. But even that idea was voted down 3-2. Haubert, who was one of the no votes, said the city has a record of support for gay causes Dublin is a diverse, welcoming and inclusive city, he said. We oppose all forms of bigotry and prejudice. I support a deeper conversation to ensure a welcoming and inclusive community instead of focusing on things which divide our community, which using the municipal flagpoles seems to do. I am open to the conversation and confident we will find ways to do this, Haubert said. Of course I find it disappointing, Kumagai said. But I think it is a testament that, even in the Bay Area, we still need to have this conversation. Meanwhile, social media is alive with calls for Dublin residents to buy and display Pride flags on their own. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Phillip Matier appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX-TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call 415-777-8815, or email pmatier@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @philmatier Welcome back to Tech Chronicle. If you havent subscribed yet, your excuse better be end-to-end encrypted. Selling the future When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time, Maya Angelou once said. We never applied that rule to Mark Zuckerberg, choosing to believe that the Facebook CEO was learning, evolving, changing. The puerile youth who profanely called his Harvard buddies dumb for trusting him with their private data? Very, very sorry. Full of regrets. For years, Zuckerberg pushed his users to be more open to trust him with more and more of their lives. We see the results: corrupted elections, societies riven by sectarian discord, depressed teenagers, even outbreaks of long-quelled diseases. Amy Osborne / AFP / Getty Images So Facebook is what do they call it in Silicon Valley when you decide to stop being a screw-up? pivoting. This spring, Zuckerberg wrote a long essay about his new vision for Facebook including Instagram and WhatsApp, the other social networks in his empire. He called it privacy-focused, and detailed how he planned to increase the use of encryption in Facebooks apps particularly a kind known as end-to-end encryption, which means Facebook itself cant see the content of messages and to reduce permanence, mimicking Snapchats design of posts that automatically expire after 24 hours. A third part, though he didnt spend as much time talking about it, was encouraging the use of small groups like Facebook Groups, or WhatsApp group messaging. Amy Osborne / AFP / Getty Images I was reminded of Zuckerbergs essay when a friend of mine, Mike Isaac, posted a photo of a billboard advertising Facebook Groups. The company must be serious if its spending money on real-world ads, I thought. When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. Zuckerberg makes good arguments for encryption, for private sharing, for ephemeral posts. If Facebook itself doesnt have access to a message, it cant mine it for advertising data and it cant hand it over to authoritarian governments. But the privacy push is in complete tension with another promise Zuckerberg made, in another lengthy essay he posted in November: that Facebook was taking on a broader social responsibility to bring people closer together. Lakruwan Wanniarachchi / AFP / Getty Images Facebook has shown that its engineers and product designers are wickedly effective at pushing users to the kind of online behavior they want. When they wanted more open sharing, they got it. I have to believe that if they push people to share more privately, to encrypt messages and make them disappear, its billions of users will do just that. Whats particularly convenient for Facebook is that Zuckerbergs new vision washes away responsibilities for the harms caused by his old one. Those armies of content reviewers Zuckerberg has bragged to Congress and the media about hiring, the contractors being driven sad and mad and getting paid a pittance to see the worst of humanity? 2 1 of 2 Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle 2018 Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle 2018 Show More Show Less Sure, Facebook is raising their pay (still a pittance compared with the fortunes being made at One Hacker Way in Menlo Park). But they remain contractors, and Facebook can easily fire them. It wont need them, after all, when there are no messages to review when any trace of the evil done through Facebook is encrypted and ephemeral, wiped away from public view. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Maybe what we dont need is more public sharing, or more private sharing. Maybe we just need to post a little less, and reflect a little more. Read a good book, perhaps. And when Mark Zuckerberg tells us who he is, we should believe him. Owen Thomas, othomas@sfchronicle.com Sign Up for the Newsletter Want to get the latest on Silicon Valley in your inbox? Subscribe to Tech Chronicle. See More Collapse Coming up The offspring of Hewlett-Packard HP Inc. and Hewlett Packard Enterprise report earnings Thursday. All I know is that with all the printer ink and cloud storage I use on Ramona the Love Terrier photos, they ought to be doing OK. What Im reading Neal Stephenson has a new book out: Fall; or Dodge in Hell. It is big and heavy, in the way that Neal Stephenson books are. (Neal Stephenson) Carolyn Said gets the quote that sums up the gig economy: There are no rich people working for Postmates. (San Francisco Chronicle) Yancey Strickler writes about how the internet is becoming a dark forest: non-indexed, non-optimized, and non-gamified. Its an interesting counterpoint to Facebooks vision. (OneZero) Tech Chronicle is a thrice-weekly newsletter from Owen Thomas, The Chronicles business editor, and the rest of the tech team. Follow along on Twitter: @techchronicle and Instagram: @techchronicle The United States is delaying some restrictions on U.S. technology sales to Chinese tech powerhouse Huawei in what it calls an effort to ease the blow on Huawei smartphone owners and smaller U.S. telecoms providers that rely on its networking equipment. The Trump administration insists the sanctions are unrelated to its escalating trade war with China, and many analysts see it as aimed at pressuring U.S. allies in Europe to accede to Washingtons entreaties to exclude Huawei equipment from their next-generation wireless networks, known as 5G. On Monday, the U.S. government amended last weeks order restricting all technology sales to Huawei, the worlds biggest maker of mobile network gear and the No. 2 smartphone brand. It granted a temporary, 90-day exemption, but only for existing hardware and software. It also said that grace period could be renewed. Shares in tech companies rose Tuesday after some news organizations erroneously reported that the amended order amounted to a blanket reprieve for Huawei. Its just housekeeping. Its not a capitulation. Its a very pragmatic solution to avoid unintended consequences to third parties, said Kevin Wolf, who oversaw a related case involving Chinas No. 2 telecoms supplier ZTE as assistant secretary of commerce for export administration under President Barack Obama. The U.S. claims Huawei is a cybersecurity risk and has targeted it against the backdrop of a wider battle with China over economic and technological pre-eminence that has included tariffs on billions worth of trade and limits on business. U.S. officials say Huawei is legally beholden to Chinas repressive rulers but have provided no evidence that it has intentionally allowed its equipment to be used for espionage. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei sought to put a brave face on the situation, saying Tuesday that the company has supply backups if it loses access to American components. Huawei Technologies Ltd. relies on Googles Android operating system and U.S. components suppliers for its smartphones. I should say this impact will be very big, but Google is an extremely good company, Ren Zhengfei told Chinese reporters. We are discussing emergency relief measures, he added, without giving details. Industry analysts say Huawei might struggle to compete if it cannot line up replacements for Google services that run afoul of the U.S. curbs. Google says its basic services still will work on existing Huawei smartphones. However, the company would be barred from transferring hardware or software directly to Huawei. That would affect maps or other services that require the American companys support. In Brussels, a senior Huawei European representative lashed out at the U.S. sanctions. This is dangerous. Now it is happening to Huawei. Tomorrow it can happen to any other international company, Abraham Liu, Huawei chief representative to the European Unions institutions, told reporters. Chinas government repeated its promise to defend Chinese companies abroad but gave no details of what Beijing might do. The 90-day grace period exempts from U.S. licensing requirements any technology needed to maintain and support existing networking equipment and smartphones. It also authorizes U.S. providers to alert Huawei to security vulnerabilities and engage the Chinese company in research on standards for 5G wireless networks. This license will allow operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement. But still in place are requirements that government licenses be obtained for any sales to Huawei unrelated to existing equipment. The Commerce Department said the grace period would allow rural U.S. telecom operators that depend on Huawei equipment for critical services time to make other arrangements. Companies that supply software such as Google for Huaweis Android smartphones can continue to provide updates. Britains cybersecurity agency issued guidance saying the temporary reprieve means people should be able to update their handsets as normal. In a report, the global risk assessment firm Eurasia Group said that if the sanction process helps persuade European network carriers to also shun Huawei equipment, a full ban on purchases of U.S. technology products and services could be avoided. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The move to delay the restrictions on Huawei may follow a familiar script with the Trump administration, which in its attempt to change the U.S.s trade relations with major economies like China and Europe has often announced restrictions or tariffs only to delay their implementation. That increases pressure on the other side but also gives them an incentive to negotiate. It hasnt always worked. The U.S. has announced new tariffs on European and Chinese goods several times, only to see them retaliate with tariffs on U.S. goods. That has raised the stakes in the trade wars, hurting global commerce and economic growth. As China looks to respond to President Donald Trumps move against Huawei, Apple makes a prominent potential target for retaliation. Apple is Huaweis main American rival in smartphones and its iPhones are assembled in China. The country is also Apples No. 2 market after the United States. Attacking Apple might be politically awkward for Chinese leaders who have accused Washington of mistreating Huawei. Business groups say Chinese officials are trying to reassure American companies they are welcome despite the tariffs war. But regulators have an array of tools including tax and safety inspections that can hamper a company with no official acknowledgment it is targeted. Huaweis U.S. sales collapsed in 2012 after a congressional panel told phone carriers to avoid the company and its smaller Chinese competitor, ZTE Corp., as security threats. Despite that, Huaweis sales elsewhere have grown rapidly. The company reported earlier its global sales rose 19.5% last year over 2017 to $105.2 billion. Huawei smartphone shipments rose 50% over a year earlier in the first three months of 2019 to 59.1 million, while the global industrys total fell 6.6%, according to IDC. Shipments by Samsung and No. 3 Apple declined. Joe McDonald and Frank Bajak are Associated Press writers. As news spread of the jurys verdict against former San Francisco Supervisor Dan White in the killings of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone guilty of voluntary manslaughter, not murder shock pierced the city. This week marks the 40th anniversary of the verdict, the White Night riots and the police response that followed. A dig into The Chronicles archive unearthed compelling photos from that night, including never-before-published negatives. Mayor Dianne Feinstein reacted to the verdict with disbelief. As far as Im concerned, these were two murders, she said. This raises the question as to who gets what kind of penalty, and why. Dig deep into Chronicle Vault Like what you're reading? Subscribe to the Chronicle Vault newsletter, and get classic archive stories in your in-box twice a week. Read hundreds of historical stories, see thousands of archive photos and sort through 154 years of classic Chronicle front pages at SFChronicle.com/vault. See More Collapse Its beyond immoral, said Supervisor Harry Britt, Milks friend and successor, according to Chronicle reporters Marshall Kilduff and Eugene Robinson. Its obscene; this is an insane jury. Gay San Franciscans were appalled by the verdict. A march from Castro and Market streets was quickly organized and started peacefully. It turned violent when the crowd reached Civic Center. A tightly massed mob in front of City Halls main Polk Street entrance ripped apart the buildings ornate grillwork and began smashing at the glass, Chronicle reporter Katy Butler wrote. Demonstrators chanted We want justice! and Kill Dan White, Butler reported. For four hours, protesters broke windows, set police cars on fire, and broke off tree limbs in Civic Center Plaza. Police used pepper spray and clubs against the crowd. Supervisor Carol Ruth Silver attempted to calm the masses but was hit by a flying projectile. By 1 a.m., 70 demonstrators and 20 police officers were being treated for injuries from the violence. Feinstein spent most of the evening at City Hall, hearing chants of Dump Dianne. At 1 a.m. she called a news conference announcing an increased police presence. There is no excuse for this, she said. I know feelings are running high, but we cant bring back George and Harvey. In the aftermath of the riots, Police Chief Charles Gain faced criticism from his own officers about not moving fast enough against the protesters. Hours after the initial violence, police arrived in the Castro, creating a standoff witnessed by Chronicle columnist Warren Hinckle and former San Francisco police Inspector Jack Webb. When Webb asked a police captain why officers were coming to the Castro when it was quiet before their arrival, the captain responded, according to Hinckle: We lost the battle at City Hall. We arent going to lose this one. A bartender at the Elephant Walk bar told Chronicle reporter Larry Crabb that police rushed into the bar after a mob of 100 people went inside for shelter. They crashed bar stools, broke chairs and windows, and mowed down everything on the bar. He said at least a dozen patrons were injured as the police clubbed people in the bar. The next night 4,000 people gathered in the Castro to remember Milk on what would have been his 49th birthday. The event had been planned a month before but now included gay monitors wearing white armbands and shirts that read, Please no violence. After a meeting with organizers earlier in the day, Feinstein had ordered police to stay out of the immediate area unless called in by the monitors. The evening was peaceful. Last night, gay men and lesbian women showed the world were angry and on the move, former Milk aide Cleve Jones told the crowd. Tonight, we are going to show them that we are building a strong community. John Storey / The Chronicle 1979 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. More from Chronicle Vault Harvey Milks last fight: Found photos from landmark debate over gay teachers. Not Your Century: 1967 Undercover with the Hippies. Dark days: Forty years ago, 10 days of death and dread shocked and changed San Francisco. Castro camera: Castro Street history captured in LGBT photo book. Halloweens of S.F.s past: Long-buried photos dug up from archive grave. From the Archive is a weekly column by Bill Van Niekerken, the library director of The Chronicle, exploring the depths of the newspapers archive. Its part of Chronicle Vault, a twice-weekly newsletter highlighting more than 150 years of San Francisco stories. It is edited by Taylor Kate Brown, The Chronicles newsletter editor. Sign up for the newsletter here, and follow Chronicle Vault on Instagram. Contact Bill at bvanniekerken@sfchronicle.com and Taylor at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com. A lead investigator in Oaklands deadly Ghost Ship warehouse blaze testified Tuesday that there was no evidence of arson near the fires origin, and specifically no evidence of Molotov cocktails. In the trials 10th day of witness testimony in Alameda County Superior Court, prosecutors zeroed in on witness Maria Sabatinis expertise on fire bombs, prompting her to give the Alameda County courtroom a tutorial on how theyre created. It was a preemptive strike against one of the defense teams core theories: that the Dec. 2, 2016, fire that killed 36 people all but one of whom were attending an electronic music show at the warehouse was ignited by a small army of arsonists. Defendants Derick Almena, 49, and Max Harris, 29, are each charged with 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter. Almena and Harris have been called the leader and second-in-command of the warehouse, respectively, and prosecutors have accused the men of creating a deathtrap that left the victims with no notice, no time and no exits. Sabatini, whos now retired from the Oakland Fire Department, said the deadly blaze was probably the most complex fire shes investigated, and the scene was too damaged to determine an official cause of the fire. During a preliminary hearing in December 2017, Sabatini said the fire was most likely caused by an electrical failure. Though prosecutor Casey Bates on Tuesday did not specifically ask Sabatini for this opinion, he asked her to point out in photos different electrical appliances located near the origin. Among them were two scorched refrigerators and a toaster oven. Bates later steered the testimony toward Molotov cocktails, and Sabatini said shes built about 100 of them in training exercises. They consist of a bottle filled with an ignitable liquid and stuffed with a wick, which is then lit on fire. And when the bottle is thrown, Sabatini said, it has to land with enough force to break in order to detonate. Ive never seen one that was used indoors, she said. Sabatini testified that the origin of the fire was the back section of the warehouse, near two trailers and a kitchen area. Inside the warehouse, a load of wood, in addition to flammable liquids such as paint thinners and gasoline likely accelerated its path. 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. When asked whether Sabatini noticed evidence of Molotov cocktails in the fires origin area, Sabatini responded no. Defense attorneys will continue cross-examination Wednesday. Prosecutors say few safety measures were installed in the 10,000-square-foot warehouse, where up to 25 people were living illegally. On the night of the fire, dozens more people entered the space for an electronic music concert, and many were trapped on the second floor when a makeshift stairwell bottlenecked with people. In addition to the arson theory, defense attorneys have suggested city and county officials should have recognized and taken action on any fire hazards when visiting the warehouse in the months and years leading up to the fire. Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy A 74-year-old woman on a morning walk in San Francisco was grabbed and dragged into the home of a man, attacked by a pit bull, held captive for five hours and repeatedly raped before being left semi-conscious on the sidewalk, investigators said. The San Francisco district attorneys office is asking a judge this week to deny bail for the defendant, who has no criminal convictions, on grounds that his alleged crime is so horrific that he would be a danger to the public if allowed to go free, even temporarily. Manuel Jesus Amador, 47, is being held in San Francisco County jail on suspicion of kidnapping and raping the woman. The Chronicle is withholding the victims name because of the nature of the crime. This case is particularly egregious, District Attorney George Gascon and Assistant District Attorney Margaret Buitrago wrote in their petition to the Superior Court. The defendants lack of criminal history should not dilute the severity of (his) conduct. At about 8 a.m. on May 10, the petition said, the victim was walking along Prague Street, a one-way street of neat bungalows in the citys southeast corner near McLaren Park. Amador grabbed the woman and pulled her up his driveway toward a side door of the house, according to the petition. As he allegedly forced her into the home, a pit bull that belonged to his roommate bit the victims ankle, left hip and feet. Amador then locked the woman in a room, pushed her onto a bed and raped and sexually assaulted her repeatedly during four to five hours, according to the petition. Amador admitted in an interview with police that he forcibly raped the woman, and that she lost consciousness for 30 minutes, the petition said. The victim told police that the man strangled her. Eventually, Amador allegedly dressed the woman, dragged her back out to the street and left her barely conscious on the sidewalk. A passerby noticed her and called 911. The victim was taken to San Francisco General Hospital. A week later, on Friday, police booked Amador into county jail and charged him with rape by force, violence or threat of bodily injury, and kidnapping to commit another crime. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The police did an excellent investigation that led to this arrest, said Max Szabo, adding that the district attorneys office provides a range of services to violent-crime victims, including counseling, paying medical bills, and providing a variety of compensation. Three Prague Street neighbors told The Chronicle that they didnt recognize Amadors name or know of a vicious dog in the area. They had heard about the assault, however, and declined to give their names. In arguing that Amador should be detained without bail, Gascon and Buitrago noted that crimes against elderly victims carry additional penalties under the law. Their petition also cites a 2008 state victims rights bill known as Marsys Law, which requires judges to strongly consider public safety and the safety of the victim when reducing or denying bail. A judge is expected to rule on bail at Amadors arraignment, scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday in Dept. 11 at 850 Bryant St., San Francisco. Nanette Asimov and Lauren Hernandez are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com and lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov and @LaurenPorFavor San Francisco State University hired its first female president in the campuss 120-year history, administrators announced Wednesday. Lynn Mahoney, provost of Cal State Los Angeles and its vice president for academic affairs, will become San Francisco States 14th president in August, replacing retiring President Leslie Wong as head of the campus of nearly 30,000 students. I look forward to working with faculty, staff, students, community members and campus administrators to ensure a welcome and inclusive environment for our students as is befitting of one of the most socially conscious cities in the country, Mahoney said in a statement. As an academic, Mahoney, 55, is a social historian specializing in race and womens rights. She is the author of a 2004 book on the 19th-century American poet and novelist Elizabeth Stoddard, and holds a doctorate in history from Rutgers University and a bachelors degree in American Studies from Stanford. As an educator, Mahoney has focused her attention on top priorities for the California State University system: helping students graduate more quickly, helping them stay in school and reducing crowded classrooms. Before becoming the chief academic officer at Cal State Los Angeles in 2015, Mahoney worked in a variety of administrative roles for seven years at Cal State Long Beach, overseeing institutional research and enrollment planning. Earlier, she was on the faculty at Purchase College, which is part of the State University of New York, and served as an associate provost there, and as vice president for students. Throughout her career, Dr. Mahoney has been dedicated to student success and has made a profoundly positive impact on the lives of tens of thousands of students across the CSU, said Rebecca Eisen, a CSU trustee and chair of the search committee. She is the type of bold-thinking leader who will continue to elevate SFSU. Mahoney will be just the second new president of San Francisco State since 1988. She will earn a base salary of $367,690 a year, the same compensation as Wong, who arrived in 2012 and retires at the end of July. The prior president, Robert Corrigan, led the university for 24 years. COVID Resources Coronavirus Map Tracking COVID-19 cases across the Bay Area and California. Nearly a century ago, in 1927, Dean of Women Mary Ward briefly became interim president after the death of President Archibald Anderson. Ward served over the summer, until the new president, Alexander Roberts, arrived in the fall. Nevertheless, CSU officials said that Mahoney will be recognized as San Francisco States first female leader. On Wednesday, the CSU trustees also announced a successor to Lisa Rossbacher, the departing president of Humboldt State. He is Tom Jackson Jr., president of Black Hills State Univesity in Spearfish, S.D. Jackson will be Humboldt States first African American president. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov McDonalds Corp. says its enhancing training and offering a new hotline for workers in response to mounting allegations of sexual harassment. On Tuesday, the labor group Fight for $15 filed 25 sexual harassment charges against McDonalds with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Times Up Legal Defense Fund are providing legal support. Among those filing complaints is Jamelia Fairley, who works at a company-owned store in Sanford, Fla. In a conference call with members of the news media, Fairley said she was harassed by two male employees who would rub up against her, pinch her and make explicit comments. I stood up for myself, and will not let anyone bully me, Fairley said. She said she never received training about harassment or how to report it. Its the third time in three years that Fight for $15 has filed harassment charges on behalf of McDonalds workers. In all, around 50 cases have been filed. In addition to the charges filed with the government, civil lawsuits have been filed in California, Michigan, Georgia and North Carolina. McDonalds says it has been working with the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network since last year to develop new training materials. It has also rewritten its employee policy to more clearly define sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation. The fast food chain says it sent posters with the new policy to its 14,000 U.S. restaurants. The posters also make clear that employees can call a third-party hotline to report abuse. The company said it will begin training store workers about harassment and bias this August. We are committed to creating and sustaining a culture of trust where employees feel safe, valued and respected, McDonalds CEO Steve Easterbrook wrote in a letter sent this week to author and actress Padma Lakshmi, who participated in a Fight for $15 rally Tuesday outside McDonalds Chicago headquarters. Dee-Ann Durbin is an Associated Press writer. San Jose Police Department Six San Jose residents were arrested in connection to a April homicide at a Dollar Tree store in the city, authorities announced Tuesday. Police said 23-year-old Ryan Rousse, of San Jose, was stabbed on the evening of April 4 at a Dollar Tree store at 1178 North Capitol Ave. Witnesses told police a group of people chased Rousse into the shop, where they got into a physical altercation. The Senate confirmed Los Angeles attorney Daniel Collins to the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday over the opposition of his home-state senators and other Democrats, giving President Trump his sixth appointee to the San Francisco-based court that he regularly denounces. The vote was 53-46, along party lines, to confirm Collins to a seat that became vacant in December 2015, when liberal Judge Harry Pregerson took senior status semi-retirement two years before his death. Former President Barack Obama nominated U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh of San Jose to succeed Pregerson, but Senate Republicans refused to hold a confirmation vote. Collins, a Stanford Law School graduate, is a former federal prosecutor and Justice Department lawyer in the George W. Bush administration with a solidly conservative record. He was a law clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, and later filed arguments with the court successfully arguing that certain corporations were entitled to exercise their religious beliefs by denying contraceptive coverage to female employees. Collins also represented Philip Morris Co. in an unsuccessful challenge to a San Francisco ordinance barring tobacco sales in drugstores. Another client, San Jose flight-planning company Jeppesen Dataplan, was accused in a lawsuit of helping the CIA transport prisoners to overseas prisons for interrogation and torture during the Bush administration. Federal courts dismissed the suit on the grounds it risked exposure of state secrets. In 1995, while serving as a federal prosecutor, Collins wrote a law review article calling for the reversal of the Supreme Courts 1966 Miranda ruling, which requires police to tell suspects who have been arrested that they have the right to remain silent and consult an attorney. He is also among more than two dozen Trump judicial nominees who, during confirmation hearings, declined to endorse the courts 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which outlawed segregation in public schools. The Ninth Circuit is among the nations most liberal appellate courts and has been accused by Trump of bias for its rulings against him on such issues as immigration and birth control. Collins confirmation gives the court 11 judges appointed by Republican presidents, 16 by Democrats and two vacancies. 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. On Wednesday the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on Trumps nomination of Washington D.C., attorney Daniel Bress to the Ninth Circuit seat formerly held by Judge Alex Kozinski of Los Angeles, who was pressured into retirement in December 2017 after accusations of sexual misconduct by 15 women. Opponents note that Bress, a California native, has not lived in the state for more than a decade, despite a long tradition of filling California vacancies on the court with nominees from the Golden State. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko When will our civic leaders realize that Vision Zero is not and never will be an obtainable goal? Most of the deaths on our streets are a result of accidents. Investing in bulb-outs, crosswalk timing, stop signs, etc. will and is making a difference but, lets be realistic, considering the many variables drivers, cyclists and pedestrians face daily, zero is an impossibility. How about renaming the initiative something more attainable, like Safest Streets or Pedestrians First? Curt Cournale, San Francisco Juuls image Its no surprise to read Juul pays big to fund fight against S.F. (May 21), which describes how this e-cigarette maker which targeted sales to our citys youth hired a firm with ties to President Trump to fight to continue doing business in San Francisco. Anyone connected to a president who has no regard for our environment or consumer safety regulations will surely not care about the rise of vaping by teenagers. Juuls decision to hire this firm, along with a public affairs firm known for trying to help rehabilitate the image of the Burmese military junta, makes perfect (and awful) sense. Cecilia Ventigmilia, San Francisco Durants chances Now that the Golden State Warriors have won without Kevin Durant, the question becomes, can Durant win without the Warriors? Pam Rolph, Pacific Grove Switch to solar panels Concerning Long-term PG&E planning (Letters, May 21): To a writer who wants Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers and their elected officials to take control and impose a long-term view and long-term solutions for delivering safe gas and electrical power, heres my two cents. If he can afford it, install solar panels (as I did) to get off the electric grid. Also, our green governor should be working with the state Legislature to build alternative energy sources, like more wind farms. Hector Maldonado, Hercules Filled with calories Regarding Impossible sausage pizza (Daily Briefing, Business, May 21): Even if pizza maker Little Caesars presents meatless sausage crumbles on its Impossible Supreme Pizza, the fact remains (according to website CalorieKing) that there are 310 calories in one slice, most of which come from fat and carbohydrates. Youd need to walk 81 minutes to burn off those calories with or without those meatless sausage crumbles. Jeremy Davidoff, Novato Equal treatment Legislation for women to make choices about their own bodies is being threatened. Abortion will be denied and illegal. Women will be forced to carry babies to term. The threat would disappear in a nanosecond after women pass legislation forcing all of the fathers of those term babies to be responsible for raising them alone to adulthood. Diana DiPietro, Pleasant Hill Housing the mentally ill Regarding Heather Knights Cottage is a way to get mentally ill off the streets (Page 1, May 21): I was so glad to read that there were at least some mental health facilities for so many of our mentally ill in my city. This has been a serious problem since former President Ronald Reagans day when he did away with our mental health housing. There are so many that could benefit today and I hope the city will see the value of these small residential homes. Please spend more of the citys money on safe housing for our many mentally ill citizens. Carole Cohen, San Francisco Slaughter-free meat Regarding An Impossible partnership? (Food, May 19): It is very exciting that demand has been so great that Burger King is rolling out the plant-based Impossible Whopper nationwide. It isnt just people concerned with global warming and environmental degradation who want slaughter-free meat. A poll by Oklahoma State University found that over two-thirds of consumers are uncomfortable with how animals are used in the food system. Nearly half want to actually ban slaughterhouses! Clearly, the market for plant-based meat is much bigger than most people thought even a few years ago. Even with Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat (and their record-setting IPO), there is plenty of room in the global meat market for companies who want to make slaughter-free products that compete on taste, price and convenience. Maia Keerie, San Francisco Defend the rule of law If President Trump defies Congress and a judge, whats next? This is where I might re-evaluate my belief that impeachment would be a fools errand. Maybe its time for the Democrats in the House to force Senate Republicans to show their true colors to make it clear to Americans that their fealty to Trump has superseded the rule of law and the mandates of a transparent and accountable democracy. Mark Wardlaw, Santa Rosa Sometimes we do things to make ourselves feel better, even though it wont help and can make things worse. Climate change litigation is a perfect example. San Francisco, Oakland and other communities are suing companies that develop and transport oil, gasoline, diesel fuel and natural gas to blame them for global climate change. It may feel good to point the finger, but climate change is a societal issue that requires a societal solution. California has been attempting this type of litigation for years. In 2004, California and other states sued utility companies for emitting carbon dioxide. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision authored by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, dismissed the case and warned against any such lawsuits, saying there is no room for litigation over climate change public policy. In 2006, California sued automakers because cars emit carbon dioxide. The judge dismissed that case because companies cannot be liable for doing nothing more than lawfully engaging in their respective spheres of commerce. Now, eight California communities (including San Francisco and Oakland) are suing five energy manufacturers for selling the energy we all need and use every day. A trial judge dismissed San Franciscos and Oaklands suit, explaining that these fuels are essential to the monumental progress in world health and living standards. Not only is there no legal wrong to remedy, the judge continued, but litigation could interfere with useful solutions. This case is on appeal and the National Association of Manufacturers, along with others, filed briefs last week affirming these points. Manufacturers agree that reducing carbon dioxide emissions is important, but offer a different path one based on innovation and collaboration. The best way to mitigate climate change and its impacts is for governments to work with manufacturers on new technologies that reduce emissions. The federal government has many programs, such as Energy Star, the U.S. Green Building Councils LEED certification, the Environmental Protection Agencys Smart Sectors and Sustainable Materials Management initiatives, and the Department of Energys Better Plants program, that help reduce energy use. This approach is working. Manufacturers reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 10% from 2005 to 2015 while increasing value to the economy by 19%, and this work continues. Overall, the United States has made greater greenhouse-gas reductions over the past decade than any other nation. We make things cleaner here than anywhere in the world. Yet, if these lawsuits succeed and manufacturing becomes too expensive here, products will be made overseas, often where there are few to no emission standards. So, greenhouse gas emissions would be increased, climate change would be exacerbated, American families and businesses would struggle to pay their utility bills, and our economy would be devastated. When faced with such difficult issues, it can be gratifying to pass the blame, but that is not how to get things done. People who care about climate change, our economy and our way of life should call on their elected leaders to sit down with companies and advance meaningful solutions to improve our lives and reduce emissions. This cannot happen, though, if our leaders sue those companies instead. Phil Goldberg is special counsel to the NAMs Manufacturers Accountability Project and office managing partner of Shook Hardy & Bacon, LLP, in Washington, D.C. It appears National Security Adviser John Bolton, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and President Trump are barreling toward a dangerous and ideological war with Iran. Earlier this month, the United States deployed warships and bombers to the Persian Gulf to deter what the Trump administration deemed as threats from Iran. On May 13, Trump threatened there would be a bad problem for Iran if the country were to take military action against the United States, its allies, or its interests. (Its unclear if Iran is responsible for damage done to Saudi and Norwegian oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on May 12.) Trump did all this in spite of the fact that even some of our closest allies have said they see no increased military threat from Iran. The British deputy commander of the region, Maj. Gen. Chris Ghika, said as much in a briefing to the Pentagon May 14. Trump has since said hes not interested in going to war with Iran. But his advisers clear intentions to escalate tensions with Iran paired with this presidents penchant for changing his mind on a whim raise great cause for concern. And just this past weekend, Trump taunted Iran, tweeting that war with Iran would mean the official end of the country. We have seen this playbook before the 2003 launch of the war in Iraq was based on a fabricated pretext for war. We cannot afford to make the same mistake again. Let me be clear: This dangerous escalation of tension with Iran is taking place without congressional debate and without a constitutionally required authorization for the use of military force. Congress has the constitutional authority and responsibility to debate on matters of war and peace and that includes the ongoing escalation of tensions with Iran. It is clear that the Trump administration is trying to find ways to provoke us into a war with Iran by casting Iran as a terrorist threat to the United States. The administration has already publicly alluded that it was looking for ways to use the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force for a war with Iran. Instead of barreling toward another reckless and unjustified war, we should be looking for ways to de-escalate tensions with Iran and return to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. We need a foreign-policy centered on diplomacy not regime change and military aggression. Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press 2018 When Congress debated going to war with Iraq, I forced a debate on an amendment that would have stopped our march to war. I plan to ensure that Congress debates and votes on any possible use of force against Iran. Congress must do this to make clear to the White House that the administration does not have the constitutional authority to go to war with Iran without express congressional approval. That is also why I have fought so hard to get Congress to repeal the overly broad 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and Tuesday, we secured a hard-fought victory. Back in 2001, I said the authorization would become a blank check for war. More than 18 years after passing the 2001 authorization, we have seen it used in more than 40 countries, well beyond what was intended. But Tuesday, the House Appropriations Committee passed my amendment to repeal the 2001 AUMF. The committee also passed an amendment that would ensure nothing in the Department of Defense funding bill for fiscal year 2020 could be construed as authorizing force with Iran, making sure that the president knows he has to come to Congress to seek express authorization. These votes sent a strong message to the Trump administration that Congress is not interested in another costly, unnecessary war in the Middle East and that we intend to reclaim our constitutional responsibility to debate and vote on military action. Evan Vucci / Associated Press It is past time for Congress to reassert its constitutional authority on matters of war and peace. Congress must debate and vote on sun-setting the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force and prevent the Trump administration from pulling the United States into another reckless and disastrous war. Barbara Lee, a Democrat, represents the northern portion of Alameda County in the U.S. House of Representatives. San Francisco voters may be able to decide if the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing should have an extra layer of oversight as it wrangles with one of the citys most pressing issues. Supervisor Matt Haney wants to create a commission to oversee the department as it works to get more people off the streets and into stable housing. The department currently reports directly to the mayor, and the commission would add another layer of bureaucracy when it comes to approving major contracts, setting policy goals or creating new shelter beds. Appointing a new commission requires a ballot measure, which Haney unveiled at Tuesdays Board of Supervisors meeting. The legislation needs six votes from the board to make it to the November ballot. Then it would need 50% of the vote in November. Then-Mayor Ed Lee created the Department of Homelessness in 2016 to consolidate a number of city agencies that deal with homeless issues in San Francisco. But the homelessness department is one of the few major departments in the city that doesnt have an oversight commission. The Fire Department, Police Department and Planning Department, for example, each have commissions that they report to. Homelessness is our most urgent crisis as a city, and yet the department that oversees our response has less oversight, less accountability and less transparency over its director, budget and policies than nearly any other city department, Haney said. The proposal follows a grim city report last week using early federal numbers that showed San Franciscos homeless population swelled by 17% since 2017 despite the fact that the city has created hundreds of new shelter beds and spends more than $300 million annually on the homelessness crisis. The commission, however, could conflict with Mayor London Breeds hard-charging push to ramp up homelessness services. In addition to the shelter beds, she is working to add hundreds of units of permanent supportive housing this year. For example, the commission would need to approve contracts over $200,000. That could hobble an ordinance sponsored by the mayor and recently approved by the board meant to shave time off opening new homeless shelters. The commission would also have had a vote on the mayors recently approved Navigation Center on the Embarcadero. Despite weeks of impassioned public debate on the shelter, it was approved within two months of being proposed. Requiring a commission vote could have added more time to that process. But Haney argues that the extra vote could have added more transparency to the process and removed the need for other community meetings. Tales of the housing crisis Housing is the Bay Area's most troubling issue. Whether you are a buyer, a seller, a renter, a landlord, a builder or an investor, the availability and affordability of housing is an everyday concern. As part of its continuing coverage, The Chronicle wants to hear the story of your housing experience. Tell us your story: www.sfchronicle.com/housingstories See More Collapse While a number of boards and committees exist to oversee parts of the department, the commission would have a larger purview. Haney said he wouldnt eliminate the existing committees, but instead wants them to work with the commission on certain issues. While the commission would provide the overarching oversight, he said he would be open to reorganizing the the structure and responsibilities of those committees if the commission is created. The Local Homeless Coordinating Board makes recommendations to the department and oversees its strategy but it can only advise the department, rather than govern it. Del Seymour, co-chair of the Local Homeless Coordinating Board, said he worries how the commission could possibly add another level of bureaucracy to the system but supports the extra power the commission would have. In some cases it could slow it down, but in other cases it could make it easier, he said. They really need a dedicated oversight body that can actually cover some governance we lack. The city also has the Shelter Monitoring Committee, which is tasked with documenting the conditions of shelters and resource centers. The Proposition C advisory committee was supposed to oversee the millions of dollars collected from the November ballot measure that taxes big businesses to raise money for homeless services. But that committee isnt active because the money is held up by legal challenges. Jeff Kositsky, head of the homelessness department, deferred to the mayors office for comment. The mayors office said it is unclear how the commission would interact with the existing committees and board oversight, and how it would make the city more efficient in delivering funding and solutions. The mayor has been focused on cutting bureaucracy to deliver shelter and services for our homeless residents because people need help now, said Breeds spokesman, Jeff Cretan. There are a lot of good ideas on how to help those living on our streets, but adding on more bureaucracy isnt one of them. Under Haneys proposal which is co-sponsored by Supervisors Hillary Ronen, Shamann Walton and Aaron Peskin the homelessness commission would consist of seven seats appointed by the board, mayor and one from the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education. The board would have to approve the appointments from the Board of Education and mayor. The seats would go to people who have directly experienced homelessness, have provided homelessness services and at least one person with a background in financial management and accountability. No members can have any financial interests in the department, like contracts. Haney said the commission would help the department function in a more efficient and transparent way. There is concern that much of what is happening in the department happens behind closed doors, and that much of the public is in the dark about our strategies and goals when it comes to homelessness, Haney said. We have to take stronger steps to make sure that real oversight is in place. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani Police identified the woman who drowned in Baker Beach Thursday as a 40-year-old resident of Rhode Island. Nicole Reinert was declared dead when officers arrived at the beach about 1:22 p.m. and pulled her from the water with the help of firefighters, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, spokesman for the San Francisco Fire Department. Reinert appears to have died after jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in an apparent suicide, said Capt. Jerry Marshall with the U.S. Park Police. He said results of an autopsy by the San Francisco medical examiner is pending. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Advertisers planning to run ads on Google referring to abortion services in the United States, Britain and Ireland must first get clearance from the search giant, the Mountain View company said in an online post. After outrage over recent reports of misleading abortion-related ads, Google said that it would require advertisers dealing with the topic to be certified as abortion providers or nonproviders. Starting in June, abortion ads will include disclosures that identify whether or not the advertiser provides abortions. Companies and organizations can apply for certification starting now. Google said last week in the online statement that this added transparency will help ensure that users have the necessary information to decide which abortion-related ads are most relevant to them. The post came about after an organization that opposes abortion had apparently presented itself as a facility that provided abortions in ads that appeared on the site. For years, Google has faced complaints that its platform enables so-called crisis pregnancy centers, which oppose abortion, to masquerade as abortion providers in an effort to dissuade women from seeking the procedure. The new certification process is meant to make plain exactly what services an advertiser provides. Depending on how youre certified, the company said in the post, Google will automatically generate one of the following in-ad disclosures for your abortion product or service ads: Provides abortions or Does not provide abortions. The disclosures will show on all Search ad formats and help ensure that these ads transparently provide basic information users need to decide which abortion-related ads are most relevant to them. Google changed the policy after the Guardian reported that the tech company gave $150,000 in free ads to Obria Group. The ads suggested that Obria, which does not perform abortions and tries to persuade women not to end their pregnancies, offered abortion services. The idea that were moving toward verification around advertising shouldnt be controversial in any way, said Joan Donovan, an expert on misinformation who heads the Technology and Social Change Research Project at Harvards Shorenstein Center. We should require businesses that are purchasing advertising to be who they say they are and be able to provide the services they say they do we shouldnt have to wait for it to be a really hot-button issue at the time. In 2014, the abortion rights group Naral Pro-Choice America said that it successfully pressured Google to take down deceptive advertisements from crisis pregnancy centers. Last year, before a referendum on abortion in Ireland, Google suspended all ads related to the vote. Google does not allow ads related to abortion to appear on its site in more than 70 countries. Last week, Alabama lawmakers approved a near-total abortion ban in the state. Many women looking for information on ending a pregnancy rely on Google. Over the course of a month in 2017, more than 200,000 Google searches sought information on self-induced abortion, according to a study from the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights. Similar searches surged nearly 500% between 2011 and 2015, according to data cited by researchers. Tiffany Hsu is a New York Times writer. The United States is delaying some restrictions on U.S. technology sales to Chinese tech powerhouse Huawei in what it calls an effort to ease the blow on Huawei smartphone owners and smaller U.S. telecoms providers that rely on its networking equipment. The Trump administration insists the sanctions are unrelated to its escalating trade war with China, and many analysts see it as aimed at pressuring U.S. allies in Europe to accede to Washingtons entreaties to exclude Huawei equipment from their next-generation wireless networks, known as 5G. On Monday, the U.S. government amended last weeks order restricting all technology sales to Huawei, the worlds biggest maker of mobile network gear and the No. 2 smartphone brand. It granted a temporary, 90-day exemption, but only for existing hardware and software. It also said that grace period could be renewed. Shares in tech companies rose Tuesday after some news organizations erroneously reported that the amended order amounted to a blanket reprieve for Huawei. Its just housekeeping. Its not a capitulation. Its a very pragmatic solution to avoid unintended consequences to third parties, said Kevin Wolf, who oversaw a related case involving Chinas No. 2 telecoms supplier ZTE as assistant secretary of commerce for export administration under President Barack Obama. The U.S. claims Huawei is a cybersecurity risk and has targeted it against the backdrop of a wider battle with China over economic and technological pre-eminence that has included tariffs on billions worth of trade and limits on business. U.S. officials say Huawei is legally beholden to Chinas repressive rulers but have provided no evidence that it has intentionally allowed its equipment to be used for espionage. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei sought to put a brave face on the situation, saying Tuesday that the company has supply backups if it loses access to American components. Huawei Technologies Ltd. relies on Googles Android operating system and U.S. components suppliers for its smartphones. I should say this impact will be very big, but Google is an extremely good company, Ren Zhengfei told Chinese reporters. We are discussing emergency relief measures, he added, without giving details. Industry analysts say Huawei might struggle to compete if it cannot line up replacements for Google services that run afoul of the U.S. curbs. Google says its basic services still will work on existing Huawei smartphones. However, the company would be barred from transferring hardware or software directly to Huawei. That would affect maps or other services that require the American companys support. In Brussels, a senior Huawei European representative lashed out at the U.S. sanctions. This is dangerous. Now it is happening to Huawei. Tomorrow it can happen to any other international company, Abraham Liu, Huawei chief representative to the European Unions institutions, told reporters. Chinas government repeated its promise to defend Chinese companies abroad but gave no details of what Beijing might do. The 90-day grace period exempts from U.S. licensing requirements any technology needed to maintain and support existing networking equipment and smartphones. It also authorizes U.S. providers to alert Huawei to security vulnerabilities and engage the Chinese company in research on standards for 5G wireless networks. This license will allow operations to continue for existing Huawei mobile phone users and rural broadband networks, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said in a statement. But still in place are requirements that government licenses be obtained for any sales to Huawei unrelated to existing equipment. The Commerce Department said the grace period would allow rural U.S. telecom operators that depend on Huawei equipment for critical services time to make other arrangements. Companies that supply software such as Google for Huaweis Android smartphones can continue to provide updates. Britains cybersecurity agency issued guidance saying the temporary reprieve means people should be able to update their handsets as normal. In a report, the global risk assessment firm Eurasia Group said that if the sanction process helps persuade European network carriers to also shun Huawei equipment, a full ban on purchases of U.S. technology products and services could be avoided. The move to delay the restrictions on Huawei may follow a familiar script with the Trump administration, which in its attempt to change the U.S.s trade relations with major economies like China and Europe has often announced restrictions or tariffs only to delay their implementation. That increases pressure on the other side but also gives them an incentive to negotiate. It hasnt always worked. The U.S. has announced new tariffs on European and Chinese goods several times, only to see them retaliate with tariffs on U.S. goods. That has raised the stakes in the trade wars, hurting global commerce and economic growth. As China looks to respond to President Donald Trumps move against Huawei, Apple makes a prominent potential target for retaliation. Apple is Huaweis main American rival in smartphones and its iPhones are assembled in China. The country is also Apples No. 2 market after the United States. Attacking Apple might be politically awkward for Chinese leaders who have accused Washington of mistreating Huawei. Business groups say Chinese officials are trying to reassure American companies they are welcome despite the tariffs war. But regulators have an array of tools including tax and safety inspections that can hamper a company with no official acknowledgment it is targeted. Huaweis U.S. sales collapsed in 2012 after a congressional panel told phone carriers to avoid the company and its smaller Chinese competitor, ZTE Corp., as security threats. Despite that, Huaweis sales elsewhere have grown rapidly. The company reported earlier its global sales rose 19.5% last year over 2017 to $105.2 billion. Huawei smartphone shipments rose 50% over a year earlier in the first three months of 2019 to 59.1 million, while the global industrys total fell 6.6%, according to IDC. Shipments by Samsung and No. 3 Apple declined. Joe McDonald and Frank Bajak are Associated Press writers. There will be garlic fries and garlic breads, garlic roast corn and garlic spreads. You'll find garlic chicken and garlic jams, garlic ice cream and maybe garlic ham. But you will not find any of this at Christmas Hill Park in Gilroy on May 28. To taste the fruits of the garlic bulb on Tuesday, you must venture to Fresno. Yes, that's right. There's a new garlic festival in town and it's coming for Gilroy's crown. On May 28, Fresno hosts its inaugural Garlic Festival from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. at River Park. According to the online event description, there will be tons of garlic-flavored foods, concerts, street performers and activities for the youngsters. Gilroy has long billed itself as the garlic capital of the world, a title it cemented in 1979 when it hosted its first Gilroy Garlic Festival currently a three-day affair devoted to the stinking rose. This year's festival will be held the weekend of July 26. But Fresno appears to have a bone to pick with the Santa Clara County city to the west. "Be a part of HISTORY - our taking back the crown as the 'GARLIC CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES!!!'" the Fresno event page announces, with capitalization for emphasis (their own). Things get even saltier lower down the page: "FRESNO IS THE TRUE GARLIC CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES - NOT GILROY. FRESNO COUNTY grows many times more garlic than any other county in the United States? It's a fact!" This actually is a fact. According to crop reports, Gilroy harvested 761 acres of garlic in 2017, making it the city's eighth most-harvested crop. Fresno County harvested a whopping 25,060 acres of garlic that same year. Garlic was the county's second most-harvested crop, behind tomatoes. This, of course, isn't quite a fair comparison. Fresno County covers more than 6,000 sq. miles. Gilroy occupies an area of just 16 sq. miles. This means about 7% of its land is devoted to garlic production, while just .60% of Fresno County is given up to garlic. By these metrics, who's to say which city should be seated atop the Garlic Throne? Perhaps a "Game of Thrones" spinoff is in order. Fresno has one more weapon its back pocket, however. According to the event description, garlic ice cream will be served at the city's festival for free. Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE producer. Email: michelle.robertson@sfgate.com | Twitter: @mrobertsonsf Ollie Millington / Redferns 2018 BottleRock Napa Valley has earned a reputation as the gateway to the summer concert season in Northern California, and after the rainy weather the Bay Area has experienced recently, it couldnt come at a better time. The luxe music festival returns to the Napa Valley Expo during Memorial Day weekend, Friday-Sunday, May 24-26, with a lineup that includes Imagine Dragons, Mumford and Sons, Neil Young and the Promise of the Real, Pharrell Williams, Santana and Logic. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets with military officers and experts at the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in east China's Jiangxi Province. Xi inspected the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in east China's Jiangxi Province Tuesday. (Xinhua/Li Gang) NANCHANG, May 21 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping underlined the importance of better education of military personnel for building strong armed forces, when inspecting the Army Infantry College of the People's Liberation Army in east China's Jiangxi Province Tuesday. Military education should meet the requirements of combat, the needs of the armed forces and the demands of future missions, said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission. He told military academies and schools to have a strong political underpinning, clarify their direction, advance reforms and improve education quality. Arriving at the Army Infantry College on Tuesday morning, Xi came to the training ground to observe cadets tackle military obstacle courses. Leaving the training ground, Xi visited an institute dedicated to the research on revolutionary history and stressed the passing on of revolutionary traditions. When briefed about the work of the college, Xi stressed the need to follow the right political direction and strengthen Party leadership and Party building. He asked the college to train the cadets for combat and focus on how to win when called on. Xi stressed the need to accelerate innovation in school management and operation, strengthen integration and upgrading of the faculty, and introduce high quality educational resources from outside. He called for imposing strict discipline, as well as curbing the practices of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism. WASHINGTON He was the American Taliban captured during the invasion of Afghanistan in the fall of 2001. Pictures showed him as a gaunt, filthy, 20-year-old held in the aftermath of a prison uprising that claimed the first U.S. casualty of the war, a 32-year-old CIA officer named Johnny Micheal Spann. On Thursday, that captive, John Walker Lindh, is scheduled to leave a federal prison in Terre Haute, Indiana, released on probation after serving 17 years of a 20-year sentence for providing support to the Taliban. The case of Lindh, who converted from Catholicism to Islam at 16 and first left his California home at 17 to study Arabic in Yemen more than three years before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, has stirred questions and controversy from the start. His journey took him to Pakistan in 2000 and later to Afghanistan, where he spent time at an al-Qaida training camp as a Taliban volunteer. The government has characterized Lindh in recent years as holding on to extremist views, and his release has now brought objections from Spanns family and elected officials and raised questions about how he can be safely reintegrated into society without some kind of formal government program for rehabilitating former jihadis. What training is provided to parole officers or supporting nongovernmental partners to recognize the signs of violent radicalization and recidivism? Sens. Richard C. Shelby, R-Ala., and Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., wrote in a letter last week to Hugh J. Hurwitz, the acting Bureau of Prisons director, questioning the wisdom of Lindhs release. Lindh, now 38, his parents, lawyers and prosecutors all declined to discuss where he will live or his other plans after prison, where he has been described as a studious, standoffish prisoner. In 2012, he joined an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit that won the right for Muslim prisoners at Terre Hautes high-security Communications Management Unit to pray in groups. As an American citizen, he was tried in federal court, unlike citizens of other countries who were also picked up in Afghanistan and Pakistan but who ended up in the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. At his sentencing in October 2002, he condemned terrorism on every level, unequivocally, said he made a mistake by joining the Taliban and denounced Osama bin Ladens terrorist attacks as completely against Islam. But two leaked U.S. government intelligence counterterrorist assessments first published by Foreign Policy magazine in 2017 cast Lindh in a different light. A 2017 report by the National Counterterrorism Center titled U.S. Homegrown Violent Extremist Recidivism Likely said without elaboration that as of May 2016 Lindh continued to advocate for global jihad and to write and translate violent extremist texts. A 2017 Federal Bureau of Prisons intelligence assessment, which included a photograph of Lindh with a shaven head and a bushy brown beard, said he had earlier made supportive statements about the Islamic State group. From all Im hearing inside of government, he is still as radical as he went in, said Seamus Hughes, who is the deputy director of George Washington Universitys program on extremism. As conditions for Lindhs release, Judge T.S. Ellis III of the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, who handled Lindhs 2002 trial and guilty plea, has imposed sweeping restrictions. Lindh, who left California for Yemen in July 1998, two months before Google was founded, will be barred from going online or owning a web-capable device without prior permission of his probation officer. If he is eventually granted permission to own one, it would be on the condition of continuous monitoring of his online activities as well as using only English in his communications. Lindh will also be barred from traveling internationally and getting a passport or any other kind of travel document. The travel ban thwarts any immediate possibility of his moving to Ireland, whose citizenship he acquired while in prison through his fathers mother, who was born in Donegal. Other probation provisions require mental health counseling and forbid Lindh from communicating with any known extremist or owning, watching or reading material that reflects extremist or terroristic views. While Lindhs presence in Afghanistan as a member of the Taliban during the 2001 invasion makes his case exceptional, some of the same issues raised in connection with his release apply to hundreds of other people who have been imprisoned in the United States for jihad-related terrorism crimes since 2001. In many ways, hes a case study of a larger issue they have in government: They arrested hundreds of people since 2002, but theres not a system in place to address these individuals, Hughes said. In all, 346 people have been charged and convicted of jihadi terrorism related crimes since the 2001 terrorist attacks, according to David Sterman, an analyst at New America who studies terrorism and violent extremism, citing a database maintained by the research organization. About one-fourth of those prisoners, 88, have been released, he said. About half should be released by the end of 2025, with 19 of them, including Lindh, on the path for release this year and next, Sterman said. Hughes earlier worked on how to counter violent extremism in his capacity as a staff member at the National Counterterrorism Center, which was established in response to the 2001 terrorist attacks. So far, however, he said, the Bureau of Prisons, Justice Department, FBI and court probation offices have yet to develop a single strategy for helping former jihadis re-enter society. Because of the vacuum, he said, the best hope for Lindh is that his probation officer finds a Muslim former federal prisoner someone who has conservative beliefs but is not radical to help him navigate society. Ideally, youd team him up with a mentor, somebody who perhaps had the same experiences as he may have had and came out the other side better of because of it, Hughes said. Johnny Spann, the father of the CIA operative who was killed in Afghanistan, remains bitter about the Lindh case and said he is distrustful of the decision to let Lindh go. His son is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, about 8 miles from the Alexandria courthouse where Lindh was charged. Weve got a traitor that was given 20 years, and I cant do anything about it, said Spann, a real estate dealer in Winfield, Alabama. He was given a 20-year sentence when it shouldve been life in prison. Spanns son, who went by Mike, was killed at the start of an uprising by prisoners inside a mud-walled 19th-century fortress at Qala-i-Jangi in northern Afghanistan after he questioned Lindh, videotapes at the time showed. But even before Lindhs guilty plea to two charges to providing support to the Taliban and to carrying a rifle and grenade the government offered no evidence that he participated in the revolt. Lindh spent weeks in U.S. military custody after being captured. He was interrogated aboard a Navy assault ship, before being taken to the United States on Jan. 23, 2002, to face trial. By then, the Camp X-Ray detention site at Guantanamo Bay was crammed with 158 foreign prisoners. Most of those men, many of them captured in similar circumstances, would eventually be repatriated without charges while Lindh served his sentence in the United States. It still enrages Spann that, a decade ago, Lindhs father, Frank Lindh, said in a CBS interview that both their sons were victims of the same circumstances. Mike Spann was a person who believed in the rule of law, the elder Spann said of his son, who joined the CIA from the Marine Corps. Mike Spann wouldve never agreed for a traitor to have got 20 years. Karen J. Greenberg focused on the Lindh case in her 2016 book, Rogue Justice: The Making of the Security State. He devoted his years in prison to becoming a student of Islamic texts, said Greenberg, who is the director of the Center on National Security at Fordham University School of Law. I think the best you can hope for him is that he finds a way to live a quiet life, along those lines, doing whatever it is he wants to peacefully do. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. WASHINGTON The House Intelligence Committee chairman said Wednesday that the Justice Department had agreed to begin honoring a subpoena for intelligence materials related to the special counsels investigation. The department could begin handing over counterintelligence and foreign intelligence related documents as soon as this week, the chairman, California Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Glendale, said Wednesday. The action prompted him to cancel a committee meeting scheduled for later in the day at which Democrats had planned to vote on an unspecified enforcement action to increase pressure on the department. Schiffs subpoena is broad, encompassing Robert Muellers full report, its underlying evidence and the intelligence-related materials his investigation produced. But in an effort to find an initial compromise, Schiff said he would accept documents in 12 narrower categories, though he has not specified publicly what they are. Speaking with reporters a short time later, he said the initial compliance does not obviate the need for the subpoena. He added: We will keep that in force until we get all the documents we are seeking. The department spokeswoman, Kerri Kupec, said the agency looked forward to appropriately accommodating the committees requests. The detente however long it lasts stands in sharp contrast to relations between the Justice Department and the House Judiciary Committee, where tensions over a similar subpoena for Muellers full report and evidence quickly escalated. Unable to reach an accommodation, the Judiciary Committee moved this month to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress and President Trump invoked executive privilege, walling off the materials they wanted for an investigation into obstruction of justice and abuse of power. The Intelligence Committee appears to be getting material that was not subject to the privilege claim. As one of two congressional bodies charged with overseeing U.S. intelligence agencies, it has strong legal claims on such counterintelligence and intelligence information, and in this case, the Democrats requesting the material had the support of Republicans on the committee. It is unclear if the department will reconsider Trumps privilege claim going forward. Democrats plan to challenge it in court. The Justice department said it was also willing to allow all members of the Intelligence Committee to view a limited redacted version of the first volume of Muellers report. It had previously allowed only a handful of lawmakers in both the House and Senate to see those materials. Nicholas Fandos is a New York Times writer. Cannabis is flourishing. Even without federal legalization, its become the fastest-growing sector in the U.S. job market. ZipRecruiters labor economist Julia Pollak recently told The New York Times that the companys data suggests there is at least 200,000 -- and perhaps as many as 300,000 -- cannabis jobs nationwide. While most of those listings are for entry-level jobs, there is an increasing demand for more experienced professionals to fill leadership roles. As the industry matures and grows more competitive, so does the demand for top talent. How candidates can stand out. While you dont have to be a cannabis expert to land a job in cannabis, you should have a passion for the industry and a general knowledge of the space. Candidates interested in joining the industry should be able to speak the language and possess a general understanding of the cannabis lifestyle, some of its history, the regulations, and more. Cannabis is complex. Awareness of its different components, like the versatility of the plant and how it relates to health and well-being, helps candidates build credibility. Understanding the nuances of the changing market is also key to standing out among the competition. For example, in California, the largest cannabis market in the world, the industry has been developing since medical marijuana was legalized in 1996. In New York, which has yet to legalize adult-use cannabis, the following is more recently developed. Theres a lot of enthusiasm among venture capitalists and an excitement to launch new brands. Related: These Cannabis Jobs Are Most In-Demand Right Now The skills required to succeed. Beyond education and understanding, comes skills. Creativity and innovation go far in an industry thats just getting underway. Cannabis is actively pushing boundaries and promoting lifestyles reflective of its culture. Candidates with proven track records of launching new initiatives or finding innovative ways to grow a business beyond the norm will be valuable assets in cannabis, especially if they have high growth experience and a familiarity of startup environments. Those with a supercharged work ethic and a hunger to build an industry, in the same way theyve built brands from the ground up, are sought after among cannabis companies. Whether its a classically trained C-suite executive from a large CPG corporation, or an entrepreneurial leader at a vibrant emerging brand, leveraging past successes and identifying how those achievements translate into the cannabis space will help show how you can add value. Related: Cannabis Is Emerging As an Entirely New CPG Category Perks of the job. While many people are excited to explore potential career opportunities in cannabis, the reward has to be high to move into an industry that still presents a lot of risks. Cannabis employers are taking note. According to ForceBrands 2019 Talent Market Report, which surveyed 500 full-time hiring and decision makers across CPG, cannabis offers competitive benefits and compensation packages. Cannabis offers more time for leave, the most popular employee benefit offered across CPG, than any other sector. Emerging companies are also enticing candidates with competitive salaries and 14 percent annual raises, the highest percent annual increase across CPG. To put that in perspective, the national average for annual raise percentages hovers around 3 percent. But those looking to move into cannabis want more than compensation and benefits -- they want ownership. This ownership mentality is reflected in generous stock options, equity and profit sharing offerings from cannabis employers. Related: Canadian Company Imports Foreign Workers To Fill Marijuana Jobs Where to find the jobs. With traditional compensation and benefits packages that rival more established industries, cannabis presents an exciting opportunity -- both for those investing in the industry and for those looking to grow their careers. Although its an unconventional sector, similar best practices for traditional job searches can be directly applied to cannabis. Digitally, LinkedIn is a good place to start and tap into your online network. More proactive job seekers may benefit from working with a specialized recruiting firm that has already built credible cannabis teams. Be mindful that the cannabis industry is very much based on relationships and trust (especially considering the legalities that surround it)., Attend popular industry trade shows and local meet-ups to meet people, network and become more aware of career opportunities. Cultivating meaningful relationships early on and being engaged at the grassroots is key to finding success in an industry thats just growing roots. Related: Cannabis Industry Likely to Employ More Than 400,000 By 2021, Study Projects A collaborative spirit. It takes a driven, entrepreneurial spirit to enter and succeed in an industry as adventurous and groundbreaking as cannabis. Unlike other more established industries, the groundswell of competition is just starting to ripple across cannabis -- candidates should embrace its collaborative spirit. Industry insiders are tapping into each other to gain insights and ideas as they are writing the playbook together. In its earliest stages, some of the industrys emerging leaders are working together and rooting for others to succeed so that ultimately, the industry too will thrive. Related: You Can Land a Better Job in Cannabis Than the Job You Have Now Whatever Business You're In, You Can Pivot to the Cannabis Business 8 Truly Unique Jobs in Cannabis Copyright 2019 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved ANTIOCH (BCN) An 19-year-old man died and an 18-year-old man was injured in a shooting near a park in Antioch late Tuesday night, police said. Officers responded at 10:48 p.m. to Sutter Delta Medical Center on a report that the two male victims had arrived at the emergency room with gunshot wounds, according to police. The 19-year-old succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. He has been identified by the Contra Costa County coroner's office as Antioch resident Donnovin Heard. The other victim was taken to another trauma center in stable condition, police said. Investigators learned that the victims were in the area of Putnam Street near Memorial Field when a male suspect approached and fired rounds into their car. The 18-year-old was able to drive away and went straight to the hospital, according to police. No description of the suspect was immediately released by police. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Police Department's non-emergency line at (925) 778-2441 or send a tip by text message to 274637 (CRIMES), using the keyword ANTIOCH. 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) Six San Jose residents have been arrested in connection with the homicide of a 32-year-old man last month at a Dollar Tree store in the Berryessa neighborhood of the suspects' hometown, police said Tuesday. Officers responded to 1178 N. Capitol Ave. at 6:48 p.m., April 4 to reports of a stabbing. Ryan Rousse was found lying inside the store suffering from at least one stab wound, and he was pronounced dead at a hospital a short time later. The same night, officers arrested four suspects. Virginia Cervantes, 27, Susan Sparr, 48, Gabriel Rodriguez, 28, and Kevin Tran, 25, were booked into Santa Clara County jail. Police said Anthony DeLaTorre, 24, and Dialo Terry, 19, were both arrested in connection with the killing several days later and booked into Santa Clara County jail. A police investigation found that Rousse was being chased by a group of people earlier that night, and a witness had called the incident in to police. Witnesses later called to say the victim was being chased into the store, and a confrontation led to the stabbing. Anyone with further information about the homicide is asked to call police Sgt. Isidro Bagon or Detective Ramon Sanchez at (408) 277-5283. 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. Activists and political leaders in the Bay Area joined thousands across the country Tuesday to organize against restrictive nationwide changes to abortion law and gender-based services. The #StopTheBans movement was launched in response to Alabama's sweeping ban on abortion last week without exceptions for rape or incest. Georgia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Utah have also posed challenges to Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision legalizing abortion in 1973. Federally, President Donald Trump's administration has brought forth rules to restrict funding to organizations that provide abortions, like Planned Parenthood. The organization also provides reproductive services such as STD prevention, cancer screenings and contraception, and receives federal moneys from the family planning Title X program. Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez was joined by a representative of Planned Parenthood Mira Monte Tuesday morning in San Jose to emphasize the rule's impacts. The clinic is the largest Planned Parenthood facility supported by Title X funds in the Bay Area. According to a study by county staff, Trump's law could cut Planned Parenthood services to over 200,000 low-income Santa Clara County residents. If the changes are upheld, the county may attempt to fill this deficit with its own money. Planned Parenthood representatives also stood alongside city leaders on the steps of San Francisco City Hall Tuesday afternoon, and attendees held up posters saying, "Together We Fight for All." "San Francisco stand(s) united against these attacks on women's rights," Mayor London Breed said in a tweet. "We must #StopTheBans and ensure that healthcare choices remain between a woman and her doctor." The abortion changes have touched a nerve nationally and in Democratic states, where small groups of "pro-life" activists have largely been drowned out by "pro-choice" activists and leadership. The protests have been accompanied by legislation and financial commitments to women's services. In Santa Clara County, supervisors this week pushed forward a $5 million fund for sexual assault survivors, and the state Legislature on Tuesday advanced a bill that could mandate free "abortion pills" at public universities. Supervisor Vallie Brown, who organized Tuesday's rally in San Francisco, is now asking that the city attorney draft legislation to limit the city's business with states that ban abortion. "We won't fund disrespect. We don't fund discrimination. And we will stand up to policies that put women in danger," Brown said in a tweet. 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. PALO ALTO (BCN) An elderly woman was the victim of a home invasion robbery in Palo Alto on Tuesday afternoon and police are asking for the public's help in locating the suspects, who also stole her car. The robbery occurred around 12:45 p.m. at a residence in the 900 block of Colorado Avenue, police said. The suspects broke in and startled the woman, took jewelry and cash before fleeing with her white, four-door 2004 Honda Civic. Police said the suspects entered by kicking in the side door, and never threatened her or brandished any weapons. The victim was uninjured. The Honda was last seen traveling east on Colorado Avenue with a California license plate of 5JUD666. Both the suspects are described as Hispanic men between 17 to 19 years old who are 5 feet 7 inches tall with thin builds and short dark hair. One of the suspects was wearing a black shirt and black pants and the other a light gray hooded sweatshirt and faded red pants. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Palo Alto police at (650) 329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call (650) 383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow. 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) The San Francisco medical examiner's office has identified a man who was fatally shot over the weekend in the San Francisco's Fillmore District as 58-year-old Thomas Walsh of Daly City. Officers responded to the shooting around 5:35 a.m. Saturday in the 800 block of Turk Street, police said. There they found Walsh suffering from a gunshot wound on the street. Medical personnel pronounced him dead at the scene, according to police. Police have not announced an arrest in the case. Walsh's family has started a GoFundMe page to raise money for his funeral. The page has raised nearly $3,000 of its $6,000 goal as of Wednesday afternoon and can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/1n67ff5g5c. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. BERKELEY (BCN) A woman had her Goggle Pixel 3 phone stolen Tuesday afternoon on the University of California at Berkeley campus, according to university police. The woman was walking west on the path between California Hall and Moffitt Library around 2:25 p.m. and texting when a person ran up from behind her and snatched the phone from her. Police said the suspect was last seen running south and then west between California Hall and Durant Hall. Police said the victim wasn't injured. Police didn't find the suspect. 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) San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Aaron Peskin on Tuesday proposed a ballot measure that could add a tax to ride-hailing service trips in the city, with the money going toward street and public transportation projects. The measure, introduced during the Board of Supervisors meeting, would add a surcharge of 1.5 percent for shared rides and 3.25 percent for single rides via Uber, Lyft or other firms known as transportation network companies. The surcharge would only apply to trips starting in San Francisco. City officials expect the tax to raise up to $35 million annually, to be used for transit and Vision Zero safety projects. "We all know transportation in San Francisco is terrible and everyone needs to be a part of the solution, including the TNC companies, users and the city," Peskin said in a statement. "This requires strategic investment from all of us to prioritize solutions that get people out of their cars, onto public transportation and safely walking and biking." Breed said, "This measure will invest in our public transportation, continue to make our street safer, and reduce congestion so that people can get around easier." The measure is also seeking to encourage the use of electric vehicles by charging just a 1.5 percent surcharge for all rides in electric vehicles, single or shared. The measure has been crafted with cooperation from both San Francisco-based Lyft and Uber, Breed's office said. In order to be placed on the November ballot, at least six supervisors would need to approve the measure. Once on the ballot, it would need to pass with two-thirds approval to be implemented. 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) San Francisco Police Chief William Scott on Tuesday said a freelance journalist who was handcuffed for six hours while police raided his home and office is being considered by investigators as a possible co-conspirator in the theft of a leaked police report. Freelance stringer journalist Bryan Carmody has been accused by police of unlawfully obtaining a police report into the Feb. 22 death of Public Defender Jeff Adachi and then selling it to local news outlets. During a news conference at the Police Department's headquarters, Scott said that although he couldn't reveal too many details because of the court-ordered sealed search warrants from the May 10 raid, he said, "While we fully respect the First Amendment rights of journalists, and the related laws of California, the San Francisco Police Department sought search warrants in the San Francisco Superior Court based on probable cause that the crimes we have described did occur and that the warrants would further the investigation. Our actions reflect that we believe Mr. Carmody was a suspect in a criminal conspiracy to steal this confidential report." Scott added that investigators believe Carmody was motivated by both financial gain and a desire to tarnish Adachi's image, who's known for uncovering misconduct within the police and sheriff departments. Scott also said that investigators are also looking into the possibility Carmody himself may have paid for the leaked report. While Scott has maintained the search warrants were served lawfully amid allegations that it may have violated the state's Shield Law, he said the incident has served as a learning lesson for police. Earlier Tuesday, a judge heard motions filed on behalf of Carmody seeking to unseal and quash the search warrants. A third motion filed also seeks to have the items seized during the raid returned to him. But attorney for the Police Department Ronnie Wagner said in court that the items have been made available for Carmody to pick up since Monday evening. On Twitter Carmody said Tuesday afternoon he was still waiting to get his property back and the process had been delayed because of paperwork. The items taken by police include latptops, cameras and his personal cellphone, Carmody said. Because police took Carmody's laptop, cameras and personal cellphone during the raid, he said he'd been unable to run his freelance news agency, North Bay Television News, since the raid. 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) San Francisco Police Chief William Scott on Tuesday said a freelance journalist who was handcuffed for six hours while police raided his home and office is being considered by investigators as a possible co-conspirator in the alleged theft of a police report. Freelance stringer journalist Bryan Carmody has been accused by police of unlawfully obtaining a police report into the Feb. 22 death of Public Defender Jeff Adachi and then selling it to local news outlets. During a news conference at the Police Department's headquarters, Scott said that although he couldn't reveal too many details because of the court-ordered sealed search warrants from the May 10 raid, he said, "While we fully respect the First Amendment rights of journalists, and the related laws of California, the San Francisco Police Department sought search warrants in the San Francisco Superior Court based on probable cause that the crimes we have described did occur and that the warrants would further the investigation. Our actions reflect that we believe Mr. Carmody was a suspect in a criminal conspiracy to steal this confidential report." Scott added that investigators believe Carmody was motivated by both financial gain and a desire to tarnish Adachi's image; Adachi's known for uncovering allegations of misconduct within the police and sheriff's departments. Scott also said that investigators are looking into the possibility Carmody himself may have paid for the leaked report. Scott said the investigation is currently focusing on the criminal offenses of conspiracy, theft of a police report, receiving stolen property, unlawful dissemination of official information, and the willful obstruction of justice. While Scott has maintained the search warrants were served lawfully amid allegations that it may have violated the state's Shield Law, he said the incident has served as a learning lesson for police. He said that although the Police Department didn't consult the San Francisco District Attorney's Office regarding the warrants, "That communication would've been helpful and we realize that. But we didn't consult on the actual warrant." Scott also said that while police are currently conducting a criminal investigation into the leak, the department will also conduct a separate administrative investigation once the criminal one is completed. Additionally, he said the San Francisco Department of Police Accountability is also conducting a separate investigation into the leak. "We respect the news media and definitely we would never violate anyone's rights," he said. "We have to move forward and try to get better at what we do. "We believe that in order for this to have been successfully pulled off, there had to be contact between an SFPD employee and Mr. Carmody. We believe that contact and interaction went across the line. It went past doing your job as a journalist... Crossing the line is when, we believe, he was a part of that effort to illegally obtain this report. That's what we're investigating," he said. Earlier Tuesday, a judge heard motions filed on behalf of Carmody seeking to unseal and quash the search warrants. A third motion filed also seeks to have the items seized during the raid returned to him. But Police Department attorney Ronnie Wagner said in court that the items have been made available for Carmody to pick up since Monday evening. On Twitter Carmody said Tuesday afternoon he was still waiting to get his property back and the process had been delayed because of paperwork. Because police took Carmody's laptop, cameras and personal cellphone during the raid, Carmody said he'd been unable to run his freelance news agency, North Bay Television News. 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 Mountain View fire and police departments will be conducting training on Wednesday afternoon intended to simulate rescue crews saving victims while engaging an assailant near Mountain View High School, according to fire officials. The training will take place close to the school, located at 3535 Truman Ave., fire officials said, and will affect traffic on intersections located on Truman Avenue at Bryant Avenue and Bruckner Circle. Emergency vehicles are expected to be blocking some streets during the training. Activists and political leaders in the Bay Area joined thousands across the country Tuesday to organize against restrictive nationwide changes to abortion law and gender-based services. The #StopTheBans movement was launched in response to Alabama's sweeping ban on abortion last week without exceptions for rape or incest. Georgia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio and Utah have also posed challenges to Roe v. Wade, a landmark decision legalizing abortion in 1973. Federally, President Donald Trump's administration has brought forth rules to restrict funding to organizations that provide abortions, like Planned Parenthood. The organization also provides reproductive services such as STD prevention, cancer screenings and contraception, and receives federal moneys from the family planning Title X program. Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez was joined by a representative of Planned Parenthood Mira Monte Tuesday morning in San Jose to emphasize the rule's impacts. The clinic is the largest Planned Parenthood facility supported by Title X funds in the Bay Area. San Francisco Police Chief William Scott on Tuesday said a freelance journalist who was handcuffed for six hours while police raided his home and office is being considered by investigators as a possible co-conspirator in the alleged theft of a police report. Freelance stringer journalist Bryan Carmody has been accused by police of unlawfully obtaining a police report into the Feb. 22 death of Public Defender Jeff Adachi and then selling it to local news outlets. During a news conference at the Police Department's headquarters, Scott said that although he couldn't reveal too many details because of the court-ordered sealed search warrants from the May 10 raid, he said, "While we fully respect the First Amendment rights of journalists, and the related laws of California, the San Francisco Police Department sought search warrants in the San Francisco Superior Court based on probable cause that the crimes we have described did occur and that the warrants would further the investigation. Our actions reflect that we believe Mr. Carmody was a suspect in a criminal conspiracy to steal this confidential report." Scott added that investigators believe Carmody was motivated by both financial gain and a desire to tarnish Adachi's image; Adachi's known for uncovering allegations of misconduct within the police and sheriff's departments. Scott also said that investigators are looking into the possibility Carmody himself may have paid for the leaked report. Human remains were found Monday in San Francisco as police were investigating the circumstances surrounding a possible missing person, police said Tuesday. Someone contacted police at about 11:40 a.m. Monday about a possible missing person in the 100 block of Del Monte Street. Police identified that person as 73-year-old Benedict Ching. When officers arrived at Del Monte Street they determined the circumstances in the case were suspicious and a criminal investigation was started. The investigation turned up the remains. The remains have yet to be identified, according to the San Francisco medical examiner's office, and the cause of death has not been determined, police said. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra sued the administration of President Donald Trump in federal court in San Francisco Tuesday, seeking to block a new rule that allows health care institutions and workers to deny services on religious grounds. Similar lawsuits were filed in federal court in New York Tuesday by New York state and 18 other states, and in federal court in San Francisco on May 2 by the city of San Francisco. The rule was announced by Trump on May 2 and officially published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday. It is due to go into effect on July 22. It would deny federal health, education and welfare funds to state and local agencies that don't comply. Like the other suits, Becerra's complaint on behalf of California claims the regulation goes far beyond the religious conscience protections authorized by Congress, intrudes on Congress's constitutional spending powers and violates the constitutional ban on establishment of religion. Becerra said the rule could result in limiting women's access to contraception, abortions and other reproductive care, restricting care to LGBTQ individuals, and denial of emergency services. The lawsuit asks for an injunction prohibiting implementation of the rule. A former top Oakland Fire Department official said on Tuesday that investigators didn't find any evidence that Molotov cocktails or other explosives were thrown into the Ghost Ship warehouse at the time of a fire that killed 36 people in 2016. The testimony by former Acting Assistant Fire Marshall Maria Sabatini, who retired last year, undercuts the allegation by defense attorneys for Ghost Ship master tenant Derick Almena, 49, and creative director Max Harris, 29, that the fire during a music party at the artists' collective in the 1300 block of 31st Avenue the night of Dec. 2, 2016, was an act of arson. Defense lawyers have said witnesses say they heard sounds of glass breaking, such as from Molotov cocktails, and Almena and Harris, who face 36 counts of involuntary manslaughter, shouldn't be held criminally liable for an arson they couldn't have prevented. But Alameda County prosecutors allege that Almena and Harris are criminally responsible for the fire because there was no time and no way for the people at the party to escape since the two-story, 10,000-square-foot warehouse didn't have important safeguards, such as fire extinguishers, smoke alarms and exit signs. They also say Almena and Harris violated the terms of the warehouse's lease by turning it into a living space where up to 25 people stayed and hosting underground music parties. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday morning for a motion backing the East Bay Regional Park District's opposition to reactivating a section of old railroad that goes through the Miller/Knox Regional Shoreline Park in Richmond. The tracks are owned by BNSF Railway Company, a Berkshire Hathaway company owned by Warren Buffett. It used to serve Richmond's Terminal 1 and Ferry Point, before the surrounding real estate was purchased and converted into a public park. Running trains through that park now would create a significant safety hazard, especially for children, according to county staff. However, BNSF sent the district a letter threatening to legally challenge public access back in October. "It's just a bad idea for BNSF to do this," Supervisor John Gioia said while introducing the matter. In addition to the risk of injury or death associated with pedestrians struck by trains, reactivating the railway would present a health risk due to increased diesel emissions. Rail traffic in the area could involve train cars carrying hazardous materials. Given the scenic nature of the shoreline, there would also be visual impacts. A inmate who was sentenced to 42 years in prison for committing a second-degree murder in 1998 when he was 18 was granted parole after a hearing last week, according to the Napa County District Attorney's Office. Jacob Hutchins, now 39, was granted "youth offender" parole under Senate Bill 261 that provides a parole hearing for inmates who were under 23 years old when they committed a crime. The intention of the bill, which became effective on Jan. 1, 2016, is to reduce the state's prison population. Hutchins was convicted of the shooting murder on May 16, 1998, of Michael Arreguin, 18, as well as charges for shooting from a vehicle and firearm and gang enhancements. A state appeals court, however, struck a 2-year sentence for the gang enhancement in 2001. Gov. Jerry Brown commuted Hutchins' sentence to 20 years to life on Nov. 21. Brown said Hutchins distinguished himself by his exemplary conduct and rehabilitation in prison. At Hutchins' first parole hearing last Thursday at Chuckawalla Valley State Prison in Blythe, Deputy District Attorney Lance Hafenstein objected to Hutchins' release based on the callousness of the murder and his gang associations, Napa County District Attorney Allison Haley said. Wednesday will be sunny. Highs will be in the upper 50s to mid 60s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy and breezy. Lows will be in the mid 50s. West winds will be 20 to 30 mph, decreasing to 10 to 20 mph after midnight. Thursday will be partly cloudy. Highs will be in the 50s to upper 60s. West winds will be 10 to 20 mph. Copyright 2019 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Ever since the moment of launching the trade war with China, the U.S. side has started a path along a series of strategic miscalculations regarding China's resolve in front of hardship and the global trend of development. Crushing the Chinese people's determination with heavy pressure is doomed to fail. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the country has never yielded to any powerful adversary. The ongoing trade tensions will be another long and hard-fought struggle in Chinese history, but China is ready, and determined to win. The confidence comes from the resilience and vitality of the Chinese economy and a vast market with a 1.4 billion population. The Chinese economy got off to a good start in 2019, as the world's largest developing economy beat market expectations with 6.4 percent year-on-year GDP growth in the first quarter. China is the only major economy whose growth forecast was raised by the IMF in its recent global economic prospects report. The trade battles cost the U.S. economy 7.8 billion U.S. dollars in lost GDP in 2018, and the annual consumer and producer losses from higher costs of imports totaled 68.8 billion U.S. dollars, according to a study by a team of economists at leading American universities. It is estimated that China-U.S. trade helped save up to 850 U.S. dollars for every American household on average in 2015, accounting for 1.5 percent of their family income. Trade bullying also goes against world development. The IMF said trade issues had become the biggest uncertainty in the world economy, while the World Trade Organization lowered its forecast for global trade growth this year from 3.7 percent to 2.6 percent, due to economic uncertainties. The history of world trade has made it clear that openness is key to development and cooperation brings mutual benefits, a universally-acknowledged truth that seems to be denied by the United States, which embraces unilateralist America First policies, trade protectionism and trade bullying. As the two largest economies of the world, both countries have extensive common interests. Every 17 minutes, a flight between China and the United States takes off or lands. Cherries from Washington, beef from Montana and fish from Alaska are making their way to Chinese tables, while China-made electric cars, shared bicycles and e-commerce platforms have become part of the daily lives of Americans. Both countries shoulder major responsibilities for global issues including addressing climate change, eliminating poverty, ensuring the security of energy and resources, guarding against epidemics and cracking down on international terrorism. Only by joining hands in trade and adopting a rational and pragmatic attitude in solving problems can the two countries benefit their peoples and people in the rest of the world. China has always been willing to resolve economic and trade differences through negotiation and consultation, but this should be conducted on the basis of equality. China, in any negotiations, must safeguard its legitimate interests, answer the call of its people, and defend the basic norms of international relations. Any expectation that China will swallow the bitter fruit of damage to its national core interests is pure wishful thinking and strategic miscalculation. History shows all-too-clearly that short-sighted decisions by politicians result in catastrophe for the whole world. To prevent the repetition of such tragedy, it is time to correct strategic misjudgment before the U.S. side goes too far. US threatens to impose sanctions on companies involved in Nord Stream 2 pipeline project According to Reuters, US Energy Secretary Rick Perry said on May 21 in Kiev that a sanctions bill putting onerous restrictions on companies involved in the Nord Stream 2 project would come in the not too distant future. The project involves the construction of a large volume gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea between Russia and Germany. Nord Stream 2 pipelaying vessel: Shutterstock The following day, the German Economy Ministry said it had taken note of the threat of US sanctions, but that Berlin rejected any such move that had an extraterritorial effect. Perrys comments come a week after a small bipartisan group of US senators introduced a bill that would impose sanctions on vessels used to construct deep sea pipelines for Russian energy export projects, including Nord Stream 2. President Trump last year criticised Germanys chancellor, Angela Merkel, over the project. The Senate bill has not yet been debated in the full chamber. The Russian state gas firm Gazprom and five western energy companies, Uniper, Wintershall, Shell, OMV and Engie, are behind the scheme. The 1,200 kilometre pipeline, two-thirds of which is already in place, also enters the territorial waters of Finland, Sweden and Denmark. Opponents of the 9.5bn scheme, which include a number of Central and East European countries, have warned it risks deepening reliance on gas imports from Russia, which already provide about 40% of the continents consumption. Specifically, they claim it has been designed to hurt Ukraine by reducing the amount of gas shipped through the country. They also warn that it would give new opportunities for Russias continuing campaign of hybrid warfare against the West. Donald Tusk, the Polish president of the European Council, has called it a mistake, while US President Donald Trump, has branded it very inappropriate and a very bad thing for Nato. Any sanctions would be a blow not just for the project but for Russias economy, giving fresh impetus to a five year-long sanctions regime against Moscow that has cut off some of its biggest companies from foreign banks and effectively banned many of its most prominent businessmen from doing business in the west. Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled energy group behind the pipeline, said Nord Stream 2 was a purely commercial project that would increase energy security for European consumers. A Nord Stream 2 spokesman said that no contractor had left the project over the sanctions risk so far. Under current plans, the project is expected to become operational in early 2020. Contact Details and Archive... NORFOLK, Va. Lawyers hired to investigate racist content in Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbooks could not definitively say whether Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam appeared in the infamous blackface and KKK picture in the 1984 edition. But a report released Wednesday says two EVMS presidents, including current president Richard Homan, were told about the racist photo while Northam was running for political offices and decided not to make it public. "We understand President Homan's reasoning was EVMS should not become involved, or be seen to become involved, in an election as it is a public body and a public institution, and that EVMS did not want there to be any suggestion that it had tried to influence Governor Northam in any respect by calling the photograph to his attention," the document says. The Norfolk medical school released the findings from Richmond law firm McGuire Woods in the form of a 36-page report. In one case, the school's alumni affairs director noticed the photo while preparing for a reunion and was "shocked" by it, the report says. EVMS officials decided not to put the 1984 yearbook on a table with other years' editions. "The EVMS personnel who became aware of the photograph expressed surprise and disappointment in the photograph," the report says. At a press conference Wednesday, Homan stood by his decision not to tell Northam or the public about the racist photo earlier. "I would make the same decision now," he said. "We're apolitical, and I did not feel that it was a necessary disclosure to make." In trying to determine who was in the photo, investigators spoke to five members of the 1984 yearbook staff and others who were students or staff in the 1980s. "With respect to the photograph on Governor Northam's personal page, we could not conclusively determine the identity of either individual depicted in the Photograph," the document says. The McGuire Woods report is perhaps the only formal investigation into the photo scandal that nearly led to Northam's political demise four months ago. The Democratic governor said during his own news conference Feb. 2 that he, too, would be researching the photo, though it's not clear whether he followed through with that promise. Since his statement, Northam has not released any new information on the origins of the photo to the public. He previously suggested that the picture could have been added to his yearbook page in a layout mix-up. But McGuire Woods' review of EVMS yearbooks identified only one such mistake, in the 1986 yearbook, in which it appears the captions under two faculty photos have been switched. The law firm's Richard Cullen confirmed during the press conference Wednesday that was the only mistake the firm had found. The Virginian-Pilot also reported in March that a school-established community advisory board decided to narrow its scope to just analyzing the campus' culture rather than delving into the yearbooks. That came to light as The Pilot discovered several of its members have ties to Northam, some having given thousands of dollars to his political campaigns and holding unpaid administration appointments. The picture on Northam's page shows a person dressed as a racist caricature, wearing a jacket, bow tie, plaid pants, hat and dark makeup. Beside him is another person in a white cloak and pointed hood, covering everything but the eyes. Each is holding what appears to be a can of beer. The McGuire Woods probe found yearbooks, which were published from 1976 to 2013, "repeatedly contained other content that could be offensive to women, minorities, certain ethnic groups, and others. These issues or themes recurred over much of the time period in which the yearbooks were published, although with less frequency in the later years of the yearbooks' publication." The yearbooks were "almost entirely student-run" with little to no staff oversight, the report says. The probe also addressed issues around diversity at EVMS more broadly. It found no evidence that the culture at EVMS ever excluded students, but the report says that in tight financial times, the school didn't always fully fund or support diversity efforts. People interviewed by the law firm said that the infrastructure and funding has significantly improved in the past five to 10 years. Northam came under scrutiny when a conservative news outlet, Big League Politics, posted the racist image from his section of the 1984 EVMS yearbook. The site's release of the picture occurred shortly after the governor made comments in support of a bill that would loosen restrictions on late-term abortions. Hours later The Pilot and other media outlets confirmed the authenticity of the yearbook page. The governor originally apologized for appearing in the picture, then recanted his comments the next day, Feb. 2, during a nationally televised news conference in Richmond. Though he vowed at that event that he was neither the person in blackface nor the Ku Klux Klan costume, he did admit to rubbing shoe polish on his cheeks on another occasion to impersonate Michael Jackson for a dance contest. When prompted, the governor nearly demonstrated his moonwalking moves, stopping only when his wife told him these were "inappropriate circumstances." Northam dismissed a flood of calls for his resignation from both sides of the political aisle. He kept a lower profile over the coming weeks and has since focused his agenda on issues important to many black voters in Virginia. He recently vetoed two mandatory-minimum sentencing bills and successfully pushed lawmakers to end driver's license suspensions over unpaid court fines. He created a director of diversity, equity and inclusion and has initiated an examination of school curriculums on black history. At an EVMS news conference Wednesday, school president and provost Homan and firm partners Cullen, a former Virginia attorney general, and George Martin spoke about the findings. EVMS hired the firm in early February to investigate its yearbooks and campus culture. Soon after news broke about the photo scandal, other racist images were found in the school publication. Homan said yearbooks were discontinued after he learned photos of students in Confederate clothing appeared in an edition as recent as 2013. A former student leader also said yearbooks were discontinued because of cost and lack of interest. Few details about the independent investigation were public before Wednesday, but The Pilot used public records to report that McGuire Woods spent 156 hours in February alone on the inquiry. The firm dug through yearbooks, distributed letters to persuade potential witnesses to cooperate and conducted interviews. For its work during that first month, the firm charged EVMS over $76,000. ___ JAKARTA, Indonesia The defeated candidate in Indonesias presidential election is expected to challenge the result in court Thursday as calm returned to the capital following a 24-hour spasm of apparently orchestrated violence. The campaign team of former Gen. Prabowo Subianto has alleged massive election fraud but not provided any credible evidence. It has said it will file a challenge to the Constitutional Court on Thursday. Six people died in rioting that started Tuesday night during peaceful protests over official results that confirmed President Joko Widodo had won 55.5% of the vote in the April 17 election, securing him a second term. Subianto, an ultra-nationalist politician who was also defeated by Widodo in 2014, has refused to accept the result and instead declared himself the winner. The election supervisory agency earlier this week rejected Subiantos complaint about the elections integrity after the only evidence of fraud provided by his team was links to online articles. The rioting in Jakarta was planned and not spontaneous, and many of the several hundred arrested had come from outside Jakarta, according to police. Officers found an ambulance filled with stones and other weapons. Some of those arrested had envelopes containing 250,000-500,000 rupiah ($17-$34), said Jakarta police chief Argo Yuwono. The minimum wage in Jakarta is about $9 a day. The government has deployed some 50,000 police and soldiers in Jakarta. Many residents have left the city and parts of the downtown are closed to traffic, with the election supervisory agency and Election Commission barricaded with razor wire. Flanked by the military chief and other top leaders, grim-looking Widodo said, I will work together with anyone to advance this country, but I will not tolerate anyone who disrupts the security, democratic processes and unity of our beloved nation. Subianto, an elite figure from a wealthy family connected to former dictator Suharto, also lost to Widodo in 2014. He has made four unsuccessful bids for the presidency since Suharto was ousted in 1998. The bottom line is the people who are protesting and rioting in the past 24 hours represent a small minority of Indonesian voters and a small minority of Indonesian Muslims, said Alexander Arifanto, an Indonesian politics expert at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. WASHINGTON Current and former military officers urged the White House not to pardon service members and security contractors implicated in war crimes, warning that forgiving their offenses would send a dangerous signal to U.S. troops and potential adversaries. Aides to President Trump have been examining high-profile war crimes cases from Iraq and Afghanistan, preparing paperwork so Trump could issue pardons during Memorial Day commemorations next week, according to two senior U.S. officials. But the possibility that Trump could issue pardons has brought a flood of opposition from current and former high-ranking officers, who say it would encourage misconduct by showing that violations of laws prohibiting attacks on civilians and prisoners of war will be treated with leniency. Absent evidence of innocence or injustice, the wholesale pardon of U.S. service members accused of war crimes signals our troops and allies that we dont take the law of armed conflict seriously, retired Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said in a tweet Tuesday. He added: Bad message. Bad precedent. Abdication of moral responsibility. Risk to us. Among those under consideration for a pardon is Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher, a Navy SEAL awaiting court-martial on charges that he shot unarmed civilians and stabbed a teenage Islamic State fighter in Iraq in 2017. Gallagher has pleaded not guilty and commentators on Fox News have lobbied Trump to pardon him. Other cases being examined by the White House include those of Army Maj. Mathew Golsteyn, who is charged with killing an unarmed Afghan in 2010; three Marine snipers prosecuted for urinating on the corpse of a dead Afghan fighter in 2011; and a former security guard for Blackwater Worldwide who was convicted of murder in December for killing unarmed Iraqis in 2007. Other officers warned that if U.S. personnel accused of such crimes escaped punishment, civilians on foreign battlefields would be less inclined to cooperate with U.S. forces, and U.S. service members taken prisoners would be more likely to be mistreated or even killed when taken captive. If President Trump issues indiscriminate pardons of individuals accused or convicted by their fellow service members of war crimes, he relinquishes the United States moral high ground and undermines the good order and discipline critical to winning on the battlefield, said retired Gen. Charles Krulak, a former commandant of the Marine Corps. Several officials said Trump is not believed to have consulted his senior military advisers about issuing pardons. Senior officers have not spoken out publicly about the possibility Trump could pardon accused war criminals, but many are privately outraged, according to one currently serving at the Pentagon. The possibility of that reaction inside the military could cause Trump not to go ahead with the pardons. But Trump has ignored top military officers before. Trump has repeatedly bypassed normal procedures for issuing pardons and granting clemency, seizing on cases mentioned on Fox News or that resonate with him or his supporters. This month, he pardoned Army Lt. Michael Behenna, who was convicted of killing an Iraqi during questioning in 2008. David S. Cloud is a Los Angeles Times writer. SEOUL North Korea has labeled Joe Biden a fool of low IQ and an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being after the U.S. presidential hopeful called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a tyrant during a recent speech. Pyongyangs official Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday said the former American vice president had insulted the countrys supreme leadership and committed an intolerable and serious politically motivated provocation against the North. Biden during a campaign launch in Philadelphia on Saturday accused President Trump of cozying up to dictators and tyrants like Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin. What he uttered is just sophism of an imbecile bereft of elementary quality as a human being, let alone a politician, KCNA said. The piece, labeled a commentary, said Biden had gone reckless and senseless, seized by ambition for power. It went on to mention apparent Biden gaffes, such as once appearing to fall asleep during a speech by President Barack Obama. It is by no means accidental that there is nonstop comment over his bid for candidacy that he is not worth pinning hope on, backed by the jeer that he is a fool of low IQ, KCNA said. It mocked Bidens belief that he was the most popular presidential candidate. This is enough to make a cat laugh, the report said. Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates responded: Given Vice President Bidens record of standing up for American values and interests, its no surprise that North Korea would prefer that Donald Trump remain in the White House. North Korea has often unleashed crude insults against U.S. and South Korean politicians to criticize what it sees as slanderous remarks toward its leadership or hostile diplomatic and military policies. Kim Tong Hyung is an Associated Press writer. MANILA The Philippine presidents allies won a majority of the 12 Senate seats at stake in midterm elections, official results showed Wednesday, while the oppositions shutout heralds a stronger grip on power by a leader accused of massive human rights violations. Election officials proclaimed the winners after finishing the official count of the May 13 elections overnight. The tally had been delayed by glitches in automated counting machines. President Rodrigo Duterte backed eight winning aspirants to half of the seats in the 24-member Senate, including his former national police chief, Ronald dela Rosa, who enforced Dutertes crackdown on illegal drugs in a campaign that left thousands of suspects dead and drew international condemnation. Last weeks vote has been seen as a gauge of public support for Duterte, who is midway through the single six-year term Philippine presidents are allowed under the constitution. His antidrug crackdown, unorthodox leadership style, combative and sexist joke-laden outbursts, and contentious embrace of China have been the hallmarks of his presidency. Do I look like a rubber stamp? Senator-elect Bong Go, a longtime Duterte aide, said when reporters asked him about concerns that the new Senate would be beholden to Duterte. But he stressed he would back the presidents war against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs and would support a bill to reimpose the death penalty for heinous crimes and drug trafficking. Go said Duterte has not given any illegal orders to him or anyone he supervised. Dutertes three children also won races for mayor, vice mayor and a congressional seat representing their southern home region of Davao city. Voters also decided congressional, gubernatorial, mayoral, and city and township races. Nearly 75% of more than 63 million registered Filipinos cast their votes in a strong turnout. Analysts say many Filipinos seem more open to authoritarianism due to failures of past liberal leaders. Such a mind-set has helped the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos make a political comeback, the latest example being his daughter, Imee Marcos, one of the winning Senate candidates who was endorsed by Duterte. Jim Gomez is an Associated Press writer. 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The helpless baby seal, filmed on May 12, is seen struggling in pain waiting for the pair of kayakers to cut off the wire from around its neck. Schalk Louw, who filmed these encounters on his GoPro, told Newsflare: "Peter spotted this Cape fur seal pup in the water with a line around its neck. The seagulls pecked its right eye out so Peter went and loaded it into the kayak. He called me over and I cut the line off. "I work for Pelican Point Kayaking as a tour guide. We take visitors to our beautiful country to kayak with our seals and sometimes even dolphins come by to say hi." Louw also filmed another encounter with a friendly seal that jumped on his kayak earlier in May: "Now is the time of year where most Cape fur seal pups become very curious and playful. So much so that they start to interact with humans. This 4-month-old fur seal as claimed the title of King of the Kayak." 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 Page Content Although a logging company paid its workers an hourly wage during meal and commute times, that time was improperly included in the calculation of penalties for overtime violations under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), according to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The FLSA is the federal law that sets minimum wage, overtime and record-keeping requirements. The FLSA applies only to employers whose annual sales total $500,000 or more or who are engaged in interstate commerce. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) investigated Timberline South LLC for record-keeping violations under the FLSA. This investigation led to a DOL lawsuit. The DOL claimed that the company had violated the FLSA overtime provisions because it did not pay its employees an overtime rate for hours worked over 40 per week. The company claimed that it was not subject to the FLSA and that the DOL incorrectly calculated unpaid overtime wages. The employer is a small timber-harvesting company that only does business in Michigan. It harvests and transports timber in Michigan. It also purchased its equipment in Michigan, although the trucks and heavy equipment were manufactured outside of Michigan. The company employed manual laborers, office workers and truck drivers. The company paid workers using a daily rate, an hourly rate or a cord (measurement of wood) rate. The company paid some employees for time spent commuting from home to work or for meal periods. It recorded hours worked for hourly employees but did not do so for most exempt workers, and it did not pay its employees an overtime rate for hours worked over 40 in a week. The company relied on a short conversation with an accountant in believing that it was exempt from the FLSA and used that as part of its defense in the litigation. The lower court sided with the DOL in ruling that the FLSA applied to the employer and that the company violated the FLSA. It then awarded $439,437 in damages for unpaid overtime, plus the same amount for liquidated damages. On appeal, the 6th Circuit affirmed that the company was subject to the FLSA and liable for unpaid overtime wages. Because the company's harvesting and logging equipment was manufactured outside of Michigan, the 6th Circuit held that the company was engaged in interstate commerce. The appeals court determined that the company also owed liquidated damages because its reliance on the accountant's advice was not reasonable considering the accountant did not hold himself out as a wage and hour expert. [SHRM members-only toolkit: Determining Overtime Eligibility in the United States] However, the 6th Circuit decided that the lower court's damages calculation was incorrect because it included time employees spent commuting from home to work or for meal periods, which the lower court included in the overtime calculation after finding that the company had a custom or practice of compensating its employees for that time. The appeals court explained that time spent by workers commuting to work from home does not count as compensable time under the FLSAregardless of whether an employer pays them for it. "Any ordinary commute and bona fide meal time that can be established must not be included in determining how many hours of overtime each employee worked, although defendants may not use the amounts paid for those otherwise noncompensable work periods as offset against the amounts owed," the court stated. The case was sent back to the lower court to recalculate the overtime damages, excluding commute and meal times. Secretary of Labor v. Timberline South LLC, 6th Cir., No. 18-1763 (April 5, 2019). Professional Pointer: This case is a reminder that the FLSA covers nearly all workplaces because of the broad application of the interstate commerce provision. Additionally, employers should keep careful records for the time they pay their employees. They also should consider separately tracking paid time for commuting from home or for meal breaks, since that time is generally not compensable under the FLSA's overtime provisions. Heather R. Bredeson is an attorney with Seaton, Peters & Revnew, the Worklaw Network member firm in Minneapolis. [Visit SHRM's resource page on FLSA exemption classification.] STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- An NYPD officer previously sentenced for entering an unknown womans apartment in a drunken stupor and assaulting her was arrested again Tuesday after allegedly assaulting Baltimore police officers, according to a New York Daily News report. Officer Eugene Donnelly, 32, was charged with assault, disorderly conduct and intoxication in connection with the incident this week, according to the report. His current position with the NYPD is monitoring surveillance cameras in city housing complexes, the Daily News reported. In 2014, Donnelly was intoxicated when he entered the apartment of the Bronx woman just hours after he received the Combat Cross from Mayor Bill de Blasio for his arrest of a man who previously shot at him. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- At least a half-dozen robberies or attempted robberies inside Staten Island banks over the past year have two things in common: The person either arrested or sought for questioning was a middle-aged man, and they all allegedly passed a note to the teller demanding cash. What follows is a look at each incident, from Eltingville to Mariners Harbor. Some have resulted in arrests while others remain under investigation. According to FBI statistics, the vast majority of individuals who carried out bank crimes in 2018 were white and black men, each demographic clocking in with about 1,300 robberies. The agency counted 225 Hispanic men who carried out bank crimes, followed by 110 white women and 87 black women. The most common M.O. was to pass a note, followed in a close second by the threat of a weapon, then, verbal demand. Of the 3,033 robberies reported, 545 involved a real firearm and 165 involved a takeover of the bank. SANTANDER BANK, CASTLETON CORNERS The NYPD released surveillance footage last week of a man sought for questioning after a robbery at Santander Bank in Castleton Corners. An unidentified man, described to be in his 40s, passed a note to a teller demanding cash, according to an NYPD spokesman. The man sought by cops wore a red, white and blue bandana, sunglasses and what appeared to be headphones with one earbud in and the other hanging, based on video surveillance. The teller complied with his demand, and he fled with about $600, police said. Kudos to our @NYPD120Pct Anti Crime Team led by Sgt Gugliucci with POs Gonzalez and Vega Jr. making sure that the bad guys know if you commit crimes on the #NorthShore we will catch you! #NYPDprotecting pic.twitter.com/YoQ4DjYCLu NYPD 120th Precinct (@NYPD120Pct) May 17, 2019 NORTHFIELD BANK, STAPLETON A 41-year-old man was arrested last week in connection with a robbery at Northfield Bank in Stapleton. Edward Trifeletti was taken into custody Thursday, after allegedly passing a note to the teller that read, I got a gun, give me the f-----g cash or I will shoot." According to court documents, he also said, Give me the money or I will blow your brains out," before retrieving about $2,000 and then fleeing the building, police said. An investigation remains ongoing as to whether the incident is in any way connected to the Santander robbery in Castleton Corners, based in part on the fact they were carried out within less than a half hour of each other. Police are asking for the public's help identifying an individual sought for questioning in connection to a bank robbery that occurred Thursday Dec. 12, 2018 in Mariners Harbor. (Courtesy: NYPD) BANK OF AMERICA, MARINERS HARBOR A failed attempt at a bank robbery nearly six months ago in Mariners Harbor remains under investigation, according to an NYPD spokesman. An unidentified man, described to be in his 40s, entered a Bank of America at about 10:45 a.m. and passed a note to the teller that read Give me money," police said. The 35-year-old female bank teller reportedly stepped away from the transaction window and the suspect fled the scene empty handed. Police released the above image of the individual sought for questioning in the incident. The man in this photo is sought for questioning in connection with a robbery at a bank in West Brighton. (Courtesy of NYPD) CHASE BANK, WEST BRIGHTON An unidentified man passed a note to a teller inside a West Brighton bank earlier this month, claiming he was in possession of a gun and demanding money, according to police. The man, described to be in his 40s wearing glasses and a hooded jacket, fled with an undetermined amount of cash. Police said the incident remains under investigation. The NYPD released the above image of the person sought. Police investigate a robbery at the Santander Bank branch at 4310 Amboy Rd., Eltingville, on Oct. 15, 2018. Peter Rodriguez admitted to the heist. ELTINGVILLE, DONGAN HILLS ROBBERY SUSPECT An Annadale man accused of robbing two banks within about 40 minutes of each other is serving up to six years behind bars after pleading guilty in April to grand larceny. Peter Rodriguez, 39, walked into the Santander Bank branch on Amboy Road in Eltingville and passed the teller a note demanding, Give me all your cash, police said. The teller handed him $1,000, said officials, to which the defendant replied, Thank you." STRAW HAT BANDIT, GREAT KILLS A Staten Island man who donned a straw hat and surgical mask during a Great Kills bank robbery last fall was found guilty last month by a jury in Brooklyn federal court. Greg Cantoni, 51, passed a note to a teller that read: I WANT $100 BILLS AND $50 BILLS. NO GAMES. NO DYE! NO GPS, I AM ARMED! He then told the teller, this is not a joke, before fleeing on foot with about $2,000 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Emergency crews were called Wednesday to the 3700 block of Richmond Avenue in Eltingville for a report of downed wires. Con Edison workers addressed at least two utility poles along Richmond Avenue, at it intersections with Sycamore and Oakdale streets. The call came in at about 11:30 a.m., and work continued in the area a half-hour later. No outages were reported as a result of the downed wires, according to the Con Ed website. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. A New Brighton felon, who as a teen stabbed a sailor, was convicted Tuesday at trial for his role in a ring that peddled illegal drugs around Stapleton. Luis Quiles, 44, was found guilty of 10 narcotics charges and two conspiracy charges after a monthlong trial in state Supreme Court, St. George. The defendant did not visibly react to the verdict, which jurors reached after deliberating for about eight and a half hours over two days. When sentenced July 10, he faces up to 20 years behind bars on the top count of first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. The trial, which began with jury selection on April 22, featured dozens of wiretap recordings and text messages, as well as videotape surveillance. Defense lawyer Mario Romano declined comment on the verdict. Quiles was among 10 defendants whose arrests and indictments prosecutors and police announced in August 2015. The busts stemmed from a five-month probe dubbed Operation Devils Island. Prosecutors said the defendants peddled drugs from at least mid-February 2015 through mid-July of that year. Intercepted phone calls disclosed that the defendants spoke in coded language and arranged drug sales in businesses and parking lots throughout Stapleton, prosecutors said. Hector Vazquez, 54, of Manhattan, supplied heroin and cocaine to Quiles, whose street name is Wigs, said authorities. Quiles, in turn, provided the illicit narcotics to Luis (Luigi) Jimenez, 33, of Stapleton, authorities said. Jimenez passed the drugs to five members of his crew for distribution to customers, said prosecutors. On at least three occasions, Jimenez paid Quiles his share of the profits using Western Union wire transfers, authorities said. Vasquez, at least once, deposited his ill-gotten gains into a Bank of America account, prosecutors allege. Quiles also sold heroin to another dealer, according to prosecutors. In November, Vazquez pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to first-degree conspiracy. He awaits sentencing. Jimenezs case is pending in the same court. Special Prosecutor Kenneth Moore, of the Manhattan district attorneys office, is handling the cases. The special prosecutor had been assigned to avoid any conflicts of interest with the Staten Island D.A.s office. Quiles was only 17 on June 28, 1992, when, authorities said, he stabbed a sailor during a dispute in Stapleton. Police said the victim, Reginald Smith, 23, was assigned to the USS Donald Beary, a guided-missile frigate based at the former Stapleton home port, and was on liberty with a group of shipmates when they came upon a group listening to music at Bay and Wave streets. An argument ensued, and Quiles allegedly stabbed the sailor five times, while a co-defendant was accused of shooting him. In December 1993, Quiles pleaded guilty in state Supreme Court, St. George, to first-degree assault to resolve that case, the Advance reported. The defendant also pleaded guilty then to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance for his role in a June 11, 1992 incident in which he allegedly acted in concert to sell crack to a police officer, court papers show. In addition, Quiles pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree criminal weapon possession to satisfy charges in two other cases. He was sentenced in January 1994 to 18 months to three years behind bars to resolve all four cases, show online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the reported arrival of great white shark Cabot in the Long Island Sound this week -- just ahead of Memorial Day weekend -- came a flurry excitement, as shark-seekers flooded the online shark tracker that reported the fishs whereabouts, causing it to temporarily crash. As it turns out, OCEARCH, the non-profit organization that tracks sharks around the world, is taking a closer look at Cabots whereabouts, as the next ping on the predators tracking device showed him on the other side of Long Island -- in the Atlantic Ocean. Well guys, my adventures are taking me elsewhere. Maybe Ill stop in again next year. Thank you to the wonderful people of Greenwich for your hospitality! pic.twitter.com/cXJ7DP4pJ6 Great White Shark Cabot (@GWSharkCabot) May 21, 2019 But -- despite the confusion over Cabots exact whereabouts, it is safe to say that sharks do swim in the waters around New York City. So how concerned should area beachgoers be regarding running into a shark? NEW JERSEY Lets remember, New Jersey made shark history in 1916, when five people were attacked -- four of them killed -- over 12 days. The attacks are widely thought to have been the inspiration for the movie Jaws. But shark attacks in the area are rare. International Shark Attack File records state that there have been a total of 15 confirmed, unprovoked attacks in New Jersey over the past 100 years. Five fatal shark attacks have been recorded in the state, including the four attributed to the 1916 attacks. The last fatal attack was in 1926. The International Shark Attack File works to provide current and historical data on shark/human interactions. Larry Hajna, of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, told the Advance last summer that a shark attack is "almost unheard of in New Jersey.'' He explained that the sandbar shark is the most common species of shark in New Jersey waters. Averaging up to 6 feet in length, the species has a large, triangular dorsal fin. So, the sandbar shark might scare you if you happen to see it, but its very unlikely to hurt anyone. NEW YORK Staten Island made the news in the 1800s, when a 22-year-old man was attacked by a shark. On Aug. 23, 1898, the New York Times reported that Charles E. Doone was "badly torn by a shark while bathing in Prince's Bay, Staten Island." The attack, which happened the day before, occurred while Doone was swimming just off the dock at the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin at Mount Loretto, Pleasant Plains, according to the Times. "The inside of his left leg from the knee to the thigh was torn and a big piece of flesh hung down," the article stated. "The main artery lay exposed but was not severed." According to the Gobal Shark Attack File, another organization that works to provide current and historical data on shark/human interactions, Staten Island is not the only New York City location where sharks have attacked. The database outlines a few attacks in the area, including: -- Brooklyn, including Coney Island: Four attacks (1860, 1874, 1878 and 1916) -- Manhattan: Two attacks (1642 and 1864) -- Queens: Three attacks (1909, 1950, 1953) -- East River: Two attacks (1878, 1894) Last summer, there were two reported shark attacks off the coast of Fire Island. And OCEARCH has tracked a few sharks off the coast of Long Island over recent years. Last summer, scientists at the organization reported that Hilton, a 12.5-foot, 1,326-pound male great white was swimming just off the Long Island coast. ADVICE FOR SWIMMERS Experts at the International Shark Attack File offer the following key points for reducing the risk of a shark encounter when swimming in the ocean: Always stay in a group; a shark is more likely to attack an individual. Sharks are most active in darkness and twilight hours, so stay out of the water during those times. Refrain from excess splashing. ODDS OF BEING ATTACKED So just how likely is it that you will be attacked by a shark? According to the International Shark Attack File, you are twice as likely to be killed by an alligator. The organization also reports you are more likely to be killed by a bear than by a shark. You are also 75 times more likely to be killed by lightning, and 290 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident. In other words, its probably safe to hit the beach this weekend. In fact, the citys beaches open to the public on Saturday. CITY HALL -- If the City Council does not step up funding to the offices of the citys district attorneys, it will make it difficult for them to implement the sweeping criminal justice package passed by Albany in the fiscal 2020 budget, district attorneys across the five boroughs told the City Councils Committee on the Justice System at an oversight hearing Wednesday. In the fiscal year 2020 budget, Albany passed a sweeping legislative package aimed at getting rid of cash bail for almost every misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies, restoring speedy trials and revamping the discovery process. Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said his office would need more than $2.8 million to implement the new criminal justice reforms, which he warned could hamper his offices ability to go after opioid dealers, who will now have an easier time when it comes to posting bail. Part of the package of reforms includes getting rid of cash bail for almost every misdemeanor and nonviolent felonies, an aspect of the legislative package McMahon and Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget Brennan said would allow major drug traffickers to be let off the hook and potentially flee the country. Once the laws take effect Jan. 1, Brennan said judges would be required to release all drug defendants except those facing prosecution under the charge of Operating as a Major Trafficker charge -- an A-1 felony which carries a possible life sentence and applies to cases where pounds of heroin and fentanyl worth millions of dollars are recovered. Over the last five years, Brennan said investigations led by her office resulted in the seizure of about four tons of narcotics. However, she said her office charged less than two dozen defendants under the Major Trafficker statute over that time period, while the majority of serious narcotics traffickers were charged with other A level felony charges like A-1 felonies that carry a maximum 20-year sentence and A-2 felonies that carry a maximum 10-year sentence. Those who stand to benefit from the bail statue include members of foreign cartels sent to oversee million dollar narcotics transactions, operators of large scale drug packaging mills that churn out tens of thousands of doses of heroin and fentanyl dealers who deliberately sell laced narcotics despite knowing customers may overdose and doctors who fuel addiction by illegally changing prescriptions for cash, Brennan warned. Once the bail changes take effect, defendants facing these latter categories of serious A level felony charges will walk out of the court with no bail set, she continued. She warned that most law enforcement cannot charge all drug kingpins under the Major Trafficker statute and not all cases are appropriate for a charge that carries a life sentence. She pointed out that it often takes weeks or months to build a case for Major Trafficker charges and by then, offenders will have fled the country and be long gone. McMahon said the new bail reform would harm major narcotics cases since non-violent felonies are excluded from eligibility of a bail request. It is a jarring thought that these individuals, who stand accused of callously profiting off the death and illness of our fellow New Yorkers, would be released and ineligible to be held on bail while their case proceeds, McMahon said. To be sure, many of these defendants will surely leave the city while many who are currently being held will apply for, and be granted their release. If the intended goal of this reform was to prevent people from being held on bail simply because of an inability to pay, a goal that I fully support, legislators in Albany missed the mark by a wide margin, leaving an end result that will negatively impact the safety and security of all New Yorkers, the Islands district attorney continued. McMahon also slammed Albanys discovery reform changes, which will include provisions that will allow for the names and contact information of every witness to a crime and every victim of a crime to b disclosed to the defense and give the defense the ability to interview them. McMahon said the increase in desk appearance tickets (DATs), aimed to prevent people from spending a night in jail before being released at arraignment, will require more funding to his office from the city. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police responded Wednesday to a bank robbery at a Northfield Bank branch in Port Richmond Center. The incident occurred around 2:14 p.m. at the branch located at 1481 Forest Ave., an NYPD spokesman said. According to the spokesman, a white male entered the bank and passed a note to a teller, demanding money. Police did not have any information indicating that the man brandished a weapon during the robbery. The teller passed approximately $1,400 to the person, who then fled on Forest Avenue, police said. According to emergency radio transmissions, the person was wearing a wig. Multiple police vehicles were spotted outside the branch around 2:40 p.m. Wednesday. An NYPD police helicopter could be seen flying back and forth above Forest Avenue. Following the robbery, a level-one mobilization -- or large search -- was issued by the NYPD, and several police vehicles were seen canvassing the area along Forest Avenue. Officers were speaking to witnesses outside the bank branch, which has been temporarily closed while police investigate. The individual sought in connection with the robbery was last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue jeans, an NYPD spokesman said. The incident comes exactly a week after two banks were robbed within a half-hour of one another. In the first bank robbery, an unidentified man approached a tellers window and held a note demanding cash at about 12:14 p.m. Wednesday at the Santander Bank branch at 1850 Victory Blvd. in Castleton Corners, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information. The teller complied with the demand and the man left with about $600, police said. In the second incident, officers responded to the Northfield Bank branch at 385 Bay St. in Stapleton after a man passed a note to a teller before fleeing northbound on Bay Street with $2,000 around 12:30 p.m., according to police. Edward Trifeletti, 41, was taken into custody Thursday in the North Shores 120th Precinct in connection with the second incident, according to an NYPD spokeswoman. -- Advance reporter Maura Grunlund contributed to this report. This is a breaking news story. More information will be posted as it becomes available. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.-- A preliminary inspection of the London plane tree that injured a Washington Square Park visitor Monday night shows signs of Massaria, a fungus that might have caused a tree limb to fall on the woman, according to a New York Post report. The 55-year-old Virginia woman suffered a fractured skull and spine, in addition to a laceration to the back of her head, according to the report. According to the Parks Department, the fungus often is found in London plane trees and can be tied to stress and lack of water. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Linden Beaton had been free on parole for less than 11 months after serving an attempted-rape sentence when, prosecutors allege, he brutally beat a 57-year-old woman in Clifton walking to a prayer meeting Jan. 5. Two weeks later, on Jan. 19, the Clifton resident committed an even more unthinkable crime: He sexually abused, strangled and slew a 69-year-old woman and left her body in an abandoned Stapleton home, allege prosecutors. On Wednesday, prosecutors unsealed a 34-count indictment against Beaton, 32, accusing him of murder, rape, kidnapping, assault and other charges stemming from Johynita Jordans death. Beaton pleaded not guilty through his lawyer at his arraignment in state Supreme Court, St. George. The defendant had been a person of interest in the case since shortly after the victims bruised corpse was found Jan. 27. However, Beaton was never formally charged until his arraignment. At the request of Assistant District Attorney Lisa Davis, Justice Marina Cora Mundy ordered Beaton held without bail. His next court date is June 27. This defendant is alleged to have committed some of the most brutal and heinous acts earlier this year on two women, said District Attorney Michael E. McMahon in a statement. I am pleased that the alleged unspeakable incident that resulted in todays arraignment was appropriately charged by the grand jury for the highest charges possible: Murder 1 and Assault 1. I want to assure the victims families and all Staten Islanders that Assistant District Attorneys Lisa Davis and Victoria Levin will prosecute this case vigorously, said McMahon. According to court papers, the gruesome events unfolded around 4:20 a.m. on Jan. 19. Beaton exited a building on the 200 block of Park Hill Avenue and grabbed Jordan as she walked down the street, said court papers. The victim had left a building on the 100 block of Park Hill Avenue. Beaton dragged Jordan, who was more than twice his age, into nearby Sobel Court Park, prosecutors allege. After spending about 20 minutes inside the park, the defendant forced Jordan to walk to 741 Van Duzer St., said court papers. The abandoned residence is about a half-mile from Sobel Court Park. Jordan threw the victim to the ground outside the building and then dragged her inside through the rear at about 5 a.m., court documents said. At a point afterward, he left the location and returned to the building on the 200 block of Park Hill Avenue from which he had originally exited, said court records. Six days later, on Jan. 25, some of the victims clothing, including her bra, panties, hoodie and boots, were discovered in Sobel Court Park, court papers said. Jordans pocketbook was recovered in the vicinity where the defendant was seen on videotape surveillance grabbing her, said court documents. The victim was found dead inside the abandoned Van Duzer Street home around noon on Jan. 27, court papers said. The medical examiner determined she died from compression of the neck, and there was evidence of trauma to her vagina, said court documents. The defendants DNA was found in swabs taken of the victim, as well as on the front, back and both sides of her neck, court records said. Beaton was garbed in orange institutional scrubs and a white T-shirt at his arraignment. The stocky defendant stood with his hands manacled behind him and his chin thrust forward during the five-minute proceeding. Beaton stated his name and confirmed Sam Roberts and Gillian Kress are his lawyers, but said nothing else as more than a dozen of the victims family members and friends watched from the audience. Later, a man shouted out, Youre going down, baby, as court officers led Beaton to a holding cell at the end of the proceeding. Roberts declined comment on the case outside court. The indictment supersedes a previous indictment filed against Beaton stemming from the alleged Jan. 5 assault of another victim. In that case, the defendant is accused of savagely beating Beatrice Kaliku as she walked on Bowen Street near Sobel Court Park around 12:40 a.m. Kaliku was en route to a prayer meeting. In an interview with the Advance, Kaliku said didnt see her assailant approach her from behind and grab her neck in a chokehold. She said he punched and slapped her on the face, dragged her through the mud toward the park and slammed her against an iron entrance gate. The victim said she was bleeding profusely from her head. He beat me so senselessly, she said, describing injuries that included bleeding on the brain, a gash on her scalp that had to be closed with stitches, broken bones in her thigh near her hip, a black eye and other bruises and cuts. He told me he would kill me, Kaliku said when she first recounted the attack to the Advance. Fearing she would die, Kaliku said she bit one of his fingers. He had to force my mouth open to get it out, she said of his finger, which appeared to be badly wounded. A Police Department civilian and supervisor were disciplined for wrongly closing Kalikus case. Beaton wasnt arrested in that case until Jan. 25. Beaton was charged with felony counts of first- and second-degree assault and unlawful imprisonment. He was also accused of misdemeanor counts of criminal obstruction of breathing, unlawful imprisonment and assault. Those charges are included in the superseding indictment. UNRELATED CASE Beaton, meanwhile, has an unrelated case pending in Manhattan state Supreme Court. He was arrested Jan. 30 on felony charges for allegedly failing, as a sex offender, to update authorities when he changed his address in May 2018, according to a criminal complaint. The defendant is on the state sex-offender registry stemming from a November 2010 conviction on Staten Island for attempted first-degree rape, in which he choked, hit and threatened a woman, according to online records of the state Division of Criminal Justice Services. The sex offender registry indicates Beaton knew his victim but does not further identify her. The defendant has been deemed a Level 3 sex offender, those considered to have the highest risk of recidivism. Beaton was sentenced to seven years behind bars for the conviction and was paroled on Feb. 15, 2018, online records of the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision indicate. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York State Police foiled a purr-fect crime at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge by nabbing an unlicensed driver who allegedly hid drugs in a cat-food bag. A trooper making a traffic stop approached the driver, Victor Ayala, 31, of the Bronx, at about 11:45 p.m. Sunday on bridge on Staten Island, according to a criminal complaint and State Police. Police allegedly found a large quantity of drugs, including crack cocaine and marijuana, inside a cat-food bag stored in the trunk of the 2004 Honda, according to the criminal complaint. Ayala allegedly showed the officer a false ID that featured the suspects picture with a fake name of Darwin Cheverz." The suspects license was suspended at least 10 times, according to the criminal complaint. Ayala has been charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell, criminal possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, false personation, criminal possession of marijuana, driving without a license and unlawful possession of marijuana, according to the criminal complaint. The suspect is being held at the Brooklyn Detention Complex in lieu of $10,000 bond. He is due to appear in Criminal Court on Friday, according to public records. An attorney for the suspect did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A spokesman for the New York State Police did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the arrest. A home address was not available for Ayala. 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! BHP believes oil will remain an attractive commodity for "several decades" despite the swing to electric vehicles, and is keen on two key commodities that will benefit from continued electrification, copper and nickel. However, the resources giant is not enthusiastic about lithium, a key ingredient in EV batteries due to its "abundant supply", and has warned that "energy coal assets are challenged". BHP chief financial officer Peter Beaven. Credit:Wayne Taylor During an investor session on Wednesday, BHP stressed it had "no appetite for growth in energy coal regardless of asset attractiveness", adding that energy coal, or thermal coal, could be phased out as a source of power generation "potentially sooner than expected". BHP has a wide range of businesses including iron ore, oil, metallurgical coal, copper, thermal coal and nickel. Assessing what kind of prospects these commodities had, it said iron ore, oil, copper, nickel and met coal - a key ingredient in steel-making - all had a sound future. China has reacted with uncharacteristic fury to what it deems a concerted US attack on its national champions -- and even its way of life. But one diplomat showed a touch of humour as he jumped to Huawei Technologies Co.'s defense. US-Chinese tensions over trade and Huawei are escalating. Credit:Bloomberg Zhao Lijian, deputy chief of mission at the Chinese embassy in Islamabad, tweeted a picture on Tuesday of a carved-up apple. "It has been just revealed why @realDonaldTrump hated a private company from China so much," he joked. "Look at the logo of Huawei. It has cut APPLE into pieces..." Learning Difficulties Australia member Alison Clarke, who is a speech pathologist, said Reading Recovery taught students to look at pictures and guess words. They are teaching faulty strategies, she said. It doesnt work. I see so many students and they haven't had phonics instruction. Reading Recovery gives struggling grade 1 students daily, one-on-one, 30-minute sessions with a trained teacher. Some schools also offer it to older students, such as Tait. Recently-published research from Monash University found that the program was offered in more than 50 per cent of state, Catholic and independent schools in 2014. But critics claim that the program is flawed because it's grounded in the whole language approach to reading. This method teaches children to read via osmosis, and assumes they will learn words through context. They are calling for the program to be replaced with systematic synthetic phonics, which teaches students the 44 sounds in our speech and the letter combinations that make those sounds. This, they argue, would benefit all students, including the 10 to 16 per cent who are believed to have learning difficulties such as dyslexia. Reading Recovery has courted controversy in recent years. In 2012 the Victorian Education Department stopped funding Reading Recovery tutors, with schools having to instead absorb the cost in their literacy budgets. And in 2015, a report by the NSW Education Department found Reading Recovery had few long-term benefits. Victorian Education Minister James Merlino said the Education Department did not promote or endorse specific programs and schools were best-placed to make these decisions. I would encourage the families and carers of children with learning difficulties such as dyslexia to speak with their schools to make sure they receive the support that best meets their childs needs, he said. Primary English Teaching Association of Australia president Robyn Cox said Reading Recovery turned lives around. The Australian Catholic University associate professor of education said the successful program was particularly beneficial for students who werent exposed to many books at home. Reading Recovery was never meant to be a clinical program for a student with dyslexia, she said. It is meant to engage kids with literacy. She said the program taught phonics by exposing students to a sound of the day in books. If the book was about ships then the sound of the day might be sh and then you might think of shops or shirts, she explained. They would learn those words within the context of the book. Monika Sztendur, a reading intervention teacher at Wattle Park Primary School, said she used elements of Reading Recovery and phonics when teaching struggling students to read. I cater to that child's needs, she said. If they aren't decoding, then I would focus on that. But if a child is decoding and not able to make sense of a sentence then I would use Reading Recovery strategies which look at words in context. Efforts to establish a Ramsay Centre-funded course in Western civilisation at the University of Queensland have hit another hurdle, with the humanities' faculty board rejecting a proposed curriculum for the second time. The dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) must now decide whether to revise the curriculum again, or bypass the board altogether as the clock ticks towards the course's planned starting date of early 2020. University of Queensland was among the universities included in the investigation. National Tertiary Education Union Queensland division secretary Michael McNally said university management had assured staff that normal academic governance processes would be followed, which would mean taking the board's advice. "If UQ management is to honour its commitment to proper academic governance, they have no option but to drop the Ramsay proposal now and cease negotiating with the Ramsay Centre," he said. Victoria is facing intense pressure to sign up to the Morrison government's school funding deal, with federal funds set to stop flowing to state, Catholic and independent schools at the end of next month. State education minister James Merlino halted negotiations earlier this year, pinning his hopes on a Labor victory and more federal funding for state schools. Victoria is now the only Australian state that has refused to sign up to the five-year Gonski 2.0 funding deal put on the table by the newly re-elected Coalition government. Victoria is facing intense pressure to sign up to a new school funding deal with the federal government. Credit:Louie Douvis There are only five weeks until the current round of funding runs out. Quentin Tarantino's epic Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood, a lush mix of '60s movie-making, the Manson murders and Tarantino's own brand of gory mayhem, was greeted at the Cannes Film Festival with an audience ovation before the lights had even gone down. The film he was born to make, according to some of the critics who rushed to tweet as the lights came up again, was the film all of Cannes was dying to see. "Brilliant," tweeted the Guardian critic afterwards. "Gloriously, wickedly indulgent, compelling and hilarious," wrote an editor from Deadline. If not for the dogged determination of a couple of sharp-eyed canoeists and then a raft of agencies and scientists, a much-loved turtle found only in a single river of northern NSW would be no more. In early 2015, Rowan Simon and a friend were canoeing on the Bellinger River about 10 kilometres up stream from Bellingen when they spotted a snapping turtle on a rock. Surprisingly, it didn't move as they paddled up. Back from the brink? Ten Bellinger River snapping turtles were recently released back to the wild. Credit:Paul Fahy/OEH "It was weird - just sitting there," the "Bellingen born and bred" local said on Wednesday. Closer inspection showed "its eyes were grown over with this disease", Mr Simon said, adding they found another ailing animal 20 minutes upstream. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size The re-elected Morrison government's legislative fortunes may hang on a final undecided Senate seat in Queensland. On current counting, the Coalition can rely on having 34 seats in the 76-seat upper house. It might win 35 there is a fair prospect it will get one additional seat in the Sunshine State. But it will still need 39 seats to get laws passed 39 being the magic number for a majority in the upper house. At most, it will end up with 35 seats and so to have a majority, it will need to rely on the support of four or five crossbenchers, depending on the outcome of that final seat in Queensland. Four or five doesn't sound like much of a difference but the crossbench is smaller in this new parliament and garnering support on each and every issue could be a complicated business. How has the crossbench changed? For the past three years, the Coalition government was dealing with a large and turbulent Senate crossbench. Fraser Anning changed parties not once but twice after falling out with One Nation's Pauline Hanson and then getting expelled from Queensland MP Bob Katter's party. Brian Burston also fell out with Senator Hanson and joined Clive Palmer's party. Nick Xenophon and David Leyonhjelm both quit to pursue state politics unsuccessfully and handed the reins to their respective staffers and proteges. Advertisement As of July 1, Senators Anning and Burston will be gone. So will South Australian independent Tim Storer and Mr Leyonhjelm's Liberal Democrat replacement Duncan Spender. Derryn Hinch has a very slim chance of holding on based on late preference flows. Because senators generally get six-year terms, only 40 of the 76 members were up for election last Saturday, leaving in place some key figures, including Senator Hanson. The crossbench may shrink from 10 to six senators one of the smallest of recent parliaments. Pauline Hanson and Centre Alliance's Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Who's who in the Senate this time around? Whether a smaller crossbench actually makes life easier for the government hangs on that Queensland seat. If the Liberal-National Party's Gerard Rennick scrapes through as the party's third-place Senate ticket-holder, that gives the Coalition 35 seats, instead of the 34 it was probably expecting immediately after the election. That will give the government all-important options in negotiating the support it needs from the crossbench to make its legislative agenda happen. Advertisement Assuming Labor and the Greens oppose a particular piece of legislation, the government would need four of the six crossbenchers to get the bill through the Senate. Those six will be made up of three conservatives, two centrists and one wildcard. Those six will be made up of three conservatives, two centrists and one wildcard. The conservatives consist of Senator Hanson, her One Nation colleague Malcolm Roberts who is set to return after resigning from the Senate in 2017 over his former British citizenship and former Liberal-turned-Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi. The centrists are the two senators of the Centre Alliance party, Rex Patrick and Stirling Griff, the descendants of Mr Xenophon, who was a skilled crossbench negotiator. Jacqui Lambie is a wildcard in the new Senate. Credit:Andrew Meares The wildcard is Jacqui Lambie another previous victim of the citizenship affair who is set to return. Advertisement Without that extra Queensland seat, the Coalition would need to win over both the conservatives and the Centre Alliance. They would find that hard on a lot of legislation. The blocs are not going to agree much on immigration or many social issues. They might agree on some but not all economic issues. The Centre Alliance also has a strong civil libertarian streak and therefore might be wary of some national security measures that One Nation would love. Dont be surprised if Ms Lambie and the Centre Alliance look to increase their collective clout by working together. Ms Lambie, meanwhile, is unlikely to support things such as cuts to welfare or tax measures that benefit the wealthy. She delivered an election night spray to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, warning him to "drop the attitude" and treat her "a hell of a lot better" than the Coalition did when she was last in Parliament. Don't be surprised if Ms Lambie and the Centre Alliance look to increase their collective clout by working together. Advertisement Labor will push for a cap on how much money political parties can spend during election campaigns amid fears mining magnate Clive Palmer's record $60 million spend may have contributed to its loss at last weekend's federal election. Labor MPs will also ask the joint parliamentary committee that will examine the 2019 election to extend media blackout rules to include digital advertising. Clive Palmer spent tens of millions of dollars on advertising his party's federal election campaign. Credit:AAP As Labor begins its election post mortem, some operatives are blaming the loss on Mr Palmer after he spent months bombarding voters with bright yellow advertising that criticised outgoing leader Bill Shorten's economic management. "Expenditure caps need to be looked at. I'm uncomfortable with the exemption to electronic advertising. We need to look at the timing of it too," one Labor MP said, referring to the media blackout that is in place from the Wednesday night before election day until polls close. There is already interest from publishers for a Bill Shorten tell-all book. Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: Wed forgive Bill Shorten for ignoring calls this week but some of those attempting to contact the outgoing Labor leader might come bearing opportunities. Publishing heavyweights are vying for Shortens inside story on the election Labor was so convinced it would win. Malcolm Turnbulls publisher of choice, Hardie Grant, which is headed by Sandy Grant, is on the hunt for a Shorten tell-all. Grant who has been in hospital this week tells this column Shorten should expect a call if one of his staff haven't tried already. More than 70 people on disability plans have been defrauded by an organised crime syndicate accused of stealing millions of dollars in funds from the National Disability Insurance Scheme, all to fund a "lavish lifestyle." Three men and two women were arrested and charged after raids across western Sydney on Wednesday morning, over allegedly claiming more than $1.1 million in fraudulent NDIS payments from people on disability plans, or those managing them. Alaedine Rifai, also known as Alan Rifai, is the sole director and secretary of Universal Group Australia, a registered NDIS provider accused of defrauding the government scheme. Credit:Facebook The five were charged with fraud and proceeds of crime offences. They will appear at Central Local Court on Thursday. A sixth person was issued a summons to appear at court at a later date. The group variously sat at the helm of three registered NDIS providers: Universal Group Australia Pty Ltd, Reliance Disability Services and United Mission. Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) and Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Chyngyz Aidarbekov attend a signing ceremony of the Cooperation Program from 2020 to 2021 between Chinese Foreign Ministry and Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on May 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Yong) BISHKEK, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday held talks with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Chyngyz Aidarbekov in Bishkek, vowing to enhance cooperation in various fields between the two countries. Wang noted that China and Kyrgyzstan are friendly neighbors and comprehensive strategic partners linked by mountains and rivers. The two heads of states reached a wide range of consensuses on further developing bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership on the sidelines of the second Belt and Road Forum of International Cooperation in Beijing in April. Taking the opportunity of jointly building the Belt and Road, China is ready to pursue coordination of the development strategies between China and Kyrgyzstan and effectively implement the key projects for the benefit of the two peoples, the Chinese state councilor said during the meeting. To this end, the two sides should work to build closer people-to-people ties, promote local-level cooperation, further strengthen security cooperation ties and expand cooperation in fighting the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, transnational crime and drug trafficking, said Wang, adding that China fully supports Kyrgyzstan in hosting the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in June to promote further cooperation among the member states. Wang stressed that the sustained, steady and sound development of bilateral relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China appreciates Kyrgyzstan's firm support on some major issues concerning Taiwan and Xinjiang, and will resolutely support Kyrgyzstan's independent choice of development path as well as its internal and external policies to maintain national independence, sovereignty and security. For his part, Aidarbekov extended warm congratulations on the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and expressed sincere admiration for China's great achievements during the 40 years of reform and opening up. He noted that Kyrgyzstan attaches great importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, fully supports the Belt and Road Initiative, and is ready to further promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, energy, transportation, agriculture and disaster relief. The Kyrgyz foreign minister stressed that his country firmly upholds the one-China policy, fully supports China's stance on its internal affairs including Taiwan and Xinjiang issues and hopes the mutual political trust between the two countries can be further strengthened. Following their talks, the two officials signed the Cooperation Program from 2020 to 2021 between Chinese Foreign Ministry and Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry and jointly met with the press. A man has been charged with murder over a fatal car crash that claimed the life of a father of five south of Wollongong on Saturday. Andrew Russell, 34, was arrested outside a fast food restaurant on the Central Coast just before 2pm on Wednesday, following a four-day manhunt. Two others alleged to be involved in the crash are still wanted by police. Andrew Russell (right) has been charged with murder; police are still hunting Darren Butler (left) and Holly Green (centre). Credit:Police Media Police allege Mr Russell, along with Darren Butler, 27, and Holly Green, 25, were inside a Toyota Corolla that chased another car on the Princes Highway at Albion Park Rail, before the second car crashed into the rear of a petrol tanker about 2.20am on Saturday. The crash killed 27-year-old father Daniel Clulow. The female driver and two other passengers, a man and a woman, both aged 25, were hospitalised and are now in a stable condition. Thousands are expected to converge on Sydney's first metro line on Sunday after the state government decided to make the opening day free for passengers. The 13 stations on the $7.3 billion Northwest Metro line between Rouse Hill and Chatswood will be opened to the public just after 11am on Sunday. The last metro train will leave Chatswood at 10.05pm and, from the other end of the line, from Tallawong station at Rouse Hill at 9.35pm. A driverless metro train at the new Tallawong station in Sydney's north-west. Given anticipated interest in the long-awaited opening, NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance urged people to stagger times during the day on which they decided to ride on the new line. "Trainspotters will become train riders on Sunday. If you can come later in the day, that would be preferable because there will be large crowds," he said. The parks he was instrumental in establishing are now the core of todays nature conservation system of protected areas in New South Wales. He was instrumental in reserving over 2 million ha. of land as National Park and reserves throughout NSW. They included Arakoon, Bundjalung, Yuragir, Nightcap, Wollemi, Goulburn River, Deua, Wadbilliga, Werrikimbe, Oxley Wild Rivers, Washpool, Myall Lakes, Mallee Cliffs and the Border Ranges National Parks. The son of a cabinet-maker, Hitchcock became the first Executive Director of the Wet Tropics Management Authority in Cairns Queensland, managing the World Heritage rainforests of far North Queensland. He took on this role following many years establishing a broad list of national parks and nature reserves in NSW, where he became Deputy Director (Policy and Wildlife). Hitchcocks degree in Forestry and his early career as a NSW forester in the 1960s led him to question and challenge the standard practices of the time, when old growth forests, including rainforests, were seen as little more than a resource to be logged, or cleared for agriculture. His move to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service saw him take on the role of investigating and establishing new national parks and nature reserves. He was an early advocate for a more scientific approach on representativeness and adequacy of the reserve system. His work included establishment of a string of coastal national parks on the NSW north coast in the face of sand mining threats, including the great Myall Lakes National Park. Perhaps his greatest early achievement in NSW, through a strategic approach of developing a rainforest conservation policy based on biological survey, was the protection of NSW rainforest. This included the suite of Gondwana Rainforest parks in the north of NSW which are now World Heritage listed, and were dedicated after the famed rainforest conservation decision by the Wran Government in 1982. On the NSW south coast, in response to public outcry over the advent of the Harris-Daishowa woodchip mill in Eden in 1969, and the consequential change from selective forest logging to clear felling, Hitchcock helped to establish many new national parks to protect these precious tall forests Hitchcock became involved in the Tasmanian forest issue when he was appointed by the Hawke Government, on secondment from the NSW Government, as one of three commissioners to the Commonwealth Commission of Inquiry into the Lemonthyme and Southern Forests of Tasmania (The 'Helsham Inquiry'). At the conclusion of the Inquiry, Hitchcocks controversial dissenting report prevailed, recommending that most of the area under Inquiry should be transferred into protected areas. Most of his recommendations were adopted by the Commonwealth Government, including the World Heritage nomination for these Tasmanian forests. In 2012, Hitchcock was again influential in gaining the addition of more than 170,000 hectares of mainly old-growth forest to the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area which now totals 1,584,233 hectares. Queensland's LNP is waiting to find out if it will need to give back illegal donations or hand them over to the state government. The Palaszczuk Labor government passed laws last year, backdated until before the 2017 Queensland election, banning property developers from donating money to state and local government politicians, candidates and parties. LNP president Gary Spence resigned from his position last year because he might be considered a prohibited donor. Credit:Felicity Caldwell Last month, the High Court ruled Queensland's blanket property developer donation ban was valid. Former LNP Queensland president Gary Spence unsuccessfully challenged the laws in the High Court, arguing the ALP had instituted "a financial gerrymander". Two teenage boys will appear in court later this month accused of breaking into a Gold Coast tow yard and setting an ice-cream truck on fire before the flames spread to two other cars. It will be alleged the 18-year-olds broke into the Industrial Avenue car yard in Molendinar, used by a tow company to store damaged vehicles involved in crashes, about 1am on Saturday, May 4. The ice-cream van burns at the Molendinar car yard. The flames soon spread to two nearby cars. Credit:Queensland Police Service It will also be alleged they got into several vehicles before a 2010 Ford Transit ice-cream van was set on fire, which quickly spread to a neighbouring 2008 Jeep Cherokee and 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia. Police said the two men fled the scene on foot as the fire raged on. A man who decided to drive with dysfunctional car brakes has avoided jail over a crash that killed his girlfriend's 16-year-old sister in Victoria's Otway Ranges. Liam Davis, 21, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of his back-seat passenger Sarah Crimmins at Gellibrand on November 11, 2017 when he lost control of his four-wheel drive. County Court Judge Elizabeth Gaynor on Wednesday handed Davis a three-year community corrections order and said the young man had made the decision to drive the damaged vehicle "in good but mistaken faith". "The offending lies not in the way you drove but in the decision to drive at all," she said. During a day trip with friends, Davis drove in his Nissan Patrol with his partner Louise Crimmins in the front. In the back sat Louises 16-year-old sister Sarah, a budding musician from the Bellarine Peninsula. The detective jailed for 12 years for a drug house burglary, which is suspected to have ultimately led to a double execution, continues to maintain his innocence and refuses to throw infamous former cop Paul Dale under the bus. On Wednesday, David Miechel gave evidence before the police informer royal commission, the first time he has spoken publicly since he was released in 2018 after serving his prison sentence for the 2003 burglary. Miechel was at the heart of one of Victoria Polices shadiest chapters. David Miechel is released on bail by the Melbourne Magistrates Court in 2003. Credit:Michael Clayton-Jones The former drug squad detective was arrested alongside his informer Terence Hodson for stealing $1.3 million from an Oakleigh house on grand final eve in 2003. A man has been charged with murder after a 61-year-old man was stabbed to death at a home in Melbourne's north. Emergency services were called to Augusta Avenue, Campbellfield, about 9.10pm on Wednesday and found a man with stab wounds to his chest. Forensic Police at the scene of a stabbing death in Augusta Avenue in Campbellfield. Credit:Jason South He was treated by paramedics, but was unable to be saved. The man who was stabbed has been identified as Bunyamin Oksuz, who ran a local kitchen cabinet business. Melbourne City Council has unanimously adopted a plan to close parts of Elizabeth Street to traffic despite the state government urging it be delayed until 2025 when the Metro Tunnel is completed. Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan had called for the council to push back the changes due to rolling road closures caused by the construction of two new underground train stations in the CBD as part of the Metro Tunnel project. An artist's impression of some of the planned changes on Elizabeth St. But transport chair councillor Frances Gilley said the council would manage the disruption and "manage it well". "One of the things that happened is that we have not had the kind of investment in public transport that we have needed," he said. He woke to liquid splashing on his legs and body and thought he had wet himself. Instead he roused to horror. Peter Newman was pouring fuel over him and his bed, as another associate, Peter Gencev, stood by the door. "Do you think that woke him up?" Gencev said. Newman asked the victim: "Who lives here now, motherf---er?" The victim, then 28, didn't have time to answer as Newman set him alight and threw more fuel at him, and he and Gencev left the room and closed the door. Fearing he would burn to death, the victim initially couldn't budge the door but then forced it open and scrambled out, where both men were armed with metal poles. As he burned, Newman and Gencev repeatedly struck him, the Supreme Court heard on Wednesday, ignoring his pleas for help. Finally he forced his way past them and out a door of the abandoned Southbank factory. A man has been charged over the alleged sexual assault of a woman in Highgate last year. Sex Assault Squad detectives will allege the assault occurred in May last year when the woman visited the man's home. Police will allege that in 2017 the man and the victim, a woman in her 40s, met through a social media dating platform. The woman went to the mans home in May 2018 and it will be alleged as she walked inside, he grabbed her and sexually assaulted her. Police will allege the sex assault occurred last May. The man from Highgate has been charged with five counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent and one count of attempted aggravated sexual penetration without consent. A New Zealander who fatally stabbed his neighbour's dog during an early morning fracas in Perth has been jailed for seven months. File photo: The man was sentenced to seven months in jail. Credit:Fairfax Media Bullet the bull mastiff was stabbed in the head, shoulder and torso by Silo Sagote as the former professional rugby union player argued with his neighbours in Redcliffe on January 27 last year. The dog was treated at a veterinary hospital but went into cardiac arrest the next day and died after 25 minutes of resuscitation efforts. Perth Magistrates Court heard on Wednesday Sagote sought to find his housemate's lost dog Terror by searching with the neighbours' other dog Chloe, who was on heat. A Perth family who had their car stolen say they have been forced to sell their belongings in order to make ends meet after their vehicle was found burnt out and destroyed just over a kilometre from their home. Claire Lewis was asleep with her partner Jordan in their Rockingham home when they heard the exhaust of their family car start up about 5am on Friday last week. Claire Lewis, her partner Jordan and baby Mikayla. Credit:Claire Lewis We could hear it reversing out of the driveway and down the road and by the time we got up and out of the house it was too late to chase it, she said. The family quickly made a call to police to report the stolen car, but were left shattered when it was found written off and torched near their home the following day. Labor's treasury spokesman Chris Bowen has withdrawn from the race to lead his party just 29 hours after launching his bid, after a deluge of senior figures threw their support behind Anthony Albanese. It paved the way for a deal to install Mr Albanese unopposed, with finance spokesman Jim Chalmers as his deputy - though it is understood some in the party are still encouraging Mr Chalmers to run against Mr Albanese for the top job, and he is still considering that option. Multiple Labor sources said a deal between Mr Albanese and Mr Chalmers was likely but not yet finalised on Wednesday afternoon. Under that scenario, the ticket would call on Shoppies union figure Don Farrell to vacate the Senate deputy leadership position to allow a female duo of Penny Wong and Kristina Keneally to lead the Labor Party in the upper house. Chris Bowen fears the Labor Party is not "talking the right language" to the working people it has represented for years including some of those in the western Sydney suburb where he was born and raised. Bowen has joined the contest for the Labor leadership with a call to broaden the party's appeal to its traditional "base" in the suburbs and regions of the country, far from the more comfortable parts of the big cities. Chris Bowen believes that Labor's election loss was about campaign tactics, not policy alone. Credit:AAP He believes all policies should be up for review, accepts responsibility for Labor's contentious franking credits proposal, believes a strong position on climate change is vital and thinks a clearer position is needed on the Adani coal mine. But he also believes that Labor's election loss was about campaign tactics, not policy alone. A union leader poised to unleash industrial mayhem through a co-ordinated strike involving 38,000 workers across airports and the road transport industry has rejected employer claims the action would breach pattern bargaining laws. The Transport Workers Union is threatening to unleash "industrial chaos" through co-ordinated strikes in pursuit of a bigger share of profits from retailers and airlines while negotiating 200 enterprise agreements set to expire next year. TWU secretary Michael Kaine says his union's planned co-ordinated strikes "are not pattern bargaining". Credit:Paul Braven Employers immediately hit back, with Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox alleging the TWU action would breach the Fair Work Act's prohibition against pattern bargaining. TWU secretary Michael Kaine rejected this, saying the union would operate within the rules to pursue sector-wide outcomes, in a campaign that aims to persuade large companies to support wage rises for contract workers. Queenslands Premier has issued an ultimatum on the proposed Adani mine, saying she wants time frames on approvals for the controversial project finalised by the end of the week. The project slated for central Queenslands Galilee Basin has been a live political issue, with the state government yet to approve two environmental hurdles holding up the start of works. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said she wanted a "definite time frame" on the Adani project by Friday. Credit:Darren England/AAP Travelling to the Hay Point Coal Terminal near Mackay on Wednesday, Ms Palaszczuk said she believed Queenslanders had had a gutful on the issue. I am expecting a definite time frame by Friday, the Premier said. Nairobi, Kenya: Islamic extremists exploded a suicide car bomb and killed at least nine people, including Somalia's former foreign minister, near the presidential palace in the capital on Wednesday, police said. Former foreign minister Hussein Elabe Fahiye, who was an advisor to the current president, was among those killed in the blast. Captain Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press another 13 people were wounded and most of the casualties were soldiers. Somali women walk past a destroyed building after a suicide car bomb attack in the capital Mogadishu, Somalia. Credit:AP The Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the blast in Mogadishu, saying it targeted vehicles carrying government officials. The car bomb exploded at a security checkpoint near the presidential palace as soldiers were conducting security checks on vehicles on the main road. A white column of smoke rose over the seaside city as gunfire rang out and people scattered. Washington: The United States sees signs the Syrian government may be using chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack last Sunday in north-west Syria, the State Department says, warning that Washington and its allies would respond "quickly and appropriately" if this were proven. "Unfortunately, we continue to see signs that the Assad regime may be renewing its use of chemical weapons, including an alleged chlorine attack in north-west Syria on the morning of May 19," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement on Tuesday, US time. A man injured in an attack on a market receives treatment at a hospital in the village of Ras el-Ain, Idlib province, Syria, last week. Credit:White Helmets/AP "We are still gathering information on this incident, but we repeat our warning that if the Assad regime uses chemical weapons, the United States and our allies will respond quickly and appropriately." Ortagus said the alleged attack was part of a violent campaign by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's forces violating a ceasefire that has protected several million civilians in the greater Idlib area. Pakistani police have arrested a teenager who was allegedly part of a five-man squad in the plot to kill opposition leader Benazir Bhutto last month, security officials said Saturday. The suspect, 15-year-old Aitezaz Shah, was arrested from the northwestern city of Dera Ismail Khan on Friday while planning a suicide bombing over the Muslim festival of Ashura, they said on condition of anonymity. Shah told interrogators he had been part of a back-up team of three bombers who were tasked with killing former premier Bhutto if the original December 27 attack by two men had failed, the officials added. Interior ministry spokesman Iqbal Cheema did not confirm the arrest. "It is not in my knowledge so far," Cheema told AFP. CAY HILL:--- St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC) welcomes Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Nader Dayerizadeh, who will be leading the new Orthopedic Clinic at SMMC. This is yet another medical specialty now available on island reinforcing SMMCs aim to provide quality care, close to home for patients on St. Maarten and surrounding islands. Dr. Dayerizadeh obtained his medical degree at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (a Medical University in The Netherlands) and later attended the University Hospital in Ghent (Belgium), where he received his degree in Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology. In his practice, Dr. Dayerizadeh performs a variety of Orthopedic procedures. His expertise includes an array of the latest surgical techniques and procedures to effectively treat acute and chronic Orthopedic injuries and conditions. He specializes in trauma surgery as well as in hip, shoulder and knee surgery. He also has experience in Pediatric treatments, fracture treatments and foot & ankle disorders. Dr. Dayerizadeh stated: My goal is to ensure that my patients receive the best level of care possible. This is achieved through developing personalized treatments where we can best address their issues. I look forward to the continued growth and development of the department and the services provided, including the introduction of a joint replacement program. The introduction of Orthopedic services at SMMC provides accessible care to its patients on St. Maarten and surrounding islands. Services encompass patient consultations, surgical and nonsurgical treatment options, education on preventative measures and rehabilitation treatments. The Orthopedic Clinic is located within SMMC and patients who wish to make appointment can call: (+1721) 543-1111 ext. 1300 or 1310. Appointments can be made from Mondays-Fridays between 8:00 am 4:30 pm. SZV patients are requested to obtain a referral letter from their family doctor before visiting the Orthopedic Clinic. May 22 is International Day for Biological Diversity. To mark the occasion The OECS Commission in collaboration with the Ministry of Sustainable Development (Saint Lucia) hosted an exhibition event for students and members of the public at Provost Park, Morne Fortune, Saint Lucia on May 22, 2019. Mr. Bradshaw Isaacs, Technical Officer: Occupational Health and Safety/Indoor Air Quality, delivered opening remarks on behalf of the Executive Director, Dr. C. James Hospedales, Head of Department, Mr. Lyndon Robertson and staff of the Saint Lucia Campus of the Caribbean Public Health Agency. Welcoming co-organizers and participants to the event, he stated that the diversity of the earths natural assets are made up of many millions of distinct biological species of plants and animals on land, in water, and in the atmosphere which link humans and the environment into one interdependent ecosystem. According to him, biological diversity, or biodiversity as it is also known, makes the world beautiful and unique, and is important to Saint Lucia for food, shelter, medicines and other ecosystem services, sustainable livelihoods, agriculture, tourism industries and future untapped resources. Highlighting the stark reality of the current situation, he pointed out that the world is losing biodiversity at an ever-increasing and alarming rate. According to him, research shows that not only has biodiversity declined by more than a quarter in the last 35 years in terms of number of species, but also, globally, humanity is using 40% more resources than nature can regenerate in a year. To put it another way, we would need 1.4 planet earths to support our lifestyle. This, he says, is crucial because biodiversity is critical for human development. According to Isaacs preserving biodiversity is key for a future where people have sufficient food supplies, agriculture keeps on producing what it ought to, where there is resilience to pests and diseases, where fresh water is in sufficient supply and where climate change is mitigated. In closing, he commended the OECS Commission and the Ministry of Sustainable Development for hosting the event and called upon members of the public to commit to cooperate for sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. Happy International Day of Biodiversity! QIAGEN\-\-s QuantiFERON?-TB Access development program gains recognition from United Nations initiative for health innovation QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt Prime Standard: QIA) today announced that QuantiFERON?-TB Access, a new solution under development for diagnosis of latent tuberculosis (TB) infection in low-resource regions with a high disease burden of tuberculosis, will be recognized by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) at the organization?s Health Innovation Exchange from May 21-23 in Geneva, Switzerland. The event will be held during the World Health Assembly and brings together ministers of health, nonprofits and industry to spotlight innovations with potential to change the world?s health landscape and benefit sustainable development. QuantiFERON-TB Access (QFT? Access) is a proprietary new test designed to advance tuberculosis control in areas with limited infrastructure, including countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified 30 countries in these regions as high-burden, representing an estimated 85% of the global TB burden. QFT Access pairs highly sensitive digital detection with a complete workflow created to deliver cost-efficient results quickly and with unmatched simplicity. It eliminates the need for an extensive laboratory infrastructure while providing best-in-class QuantiFERON technology. Clinical trials are being conducted in 2019, and commercialization of QFT Access is expected to begin in 2020. ?We are pleased that UNAIDS selected QuantiFERON-TB Access for recognition at the Health Innovation Exchange. QIAGEN?s drive to develop QFT Access springs from the need for a modern, accurate test for TB infection screening in areas where the disease burden is high but resources and infrastructure are scarce,? said Thierry Bernard, Senior Vice President, Head of the Molecular Diagnostics Business Area at QIAGEN. ?QFT Access builds on the success of QuantiFERON?-TB Gold Plus, the modern gold standard for detection of latent TB infection. We have created a field-friendly Sample to Insight solution using a simple test to reduce costs and labor and avoid the need for cold chain, a computer or continuous power supply.? QIAGEN is developing QuantiFERON-TB Access in partnership with Ellume, an Australian developer of digitally-enabled diagnostics. QFT Access is a single visit, single tube test using 1 ml blood test that is scalable. It is not impacted by BCG vaccination, which can cause false-positive results with the tuberculin skin test used in many low-resource settings. QFT Access requires less than five minutes of hands-on time from a technician or phlebotomist. The result can be digitally displayed on a portable device or, optionally, connected to a computer for printout or electronic transmission. The system does not require maintenance or calibration, and it minimizes the impact of power loss or dust. This novel solution for high-burden regions builds on the success of QIAGEN?s fourth-generation QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT?-Plus), which is registered in more than 75 countries and is the market-leading blood test for latent TB infection. The QuantiFERON?-TB technology delivers faster, less labor-intensive and more accurate insights than the century-old tuberculin skin test. To learn more about QuantiFERON-TB tests and tuberculosis control, please visit www.quantiferon.com. Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infection spread primarily through coughing by patients with the active pulmonary form of the disease. In 2017, according to WHO estimates, there were 10 million new cases of active TB worldwide and 1.6 million deaths, including 300,000 from HIV-associated tuberculosis. In latent tuberculosis infection, the bacterium infects a person but produces no symptoms unless it progresses to active disease, when the patient becomes highly contagious. In the global effort to eradicate TB, WHO and other organizations have expanded their guidelines for screening high-risk individuals and treating those with latent infections to help prevent further contagion and reduce the disease burden. Forward-Looking Statement Certain statements contained in this press release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. To the extent that any of the statements contained herein relating to QIAGEN\-\-s products, launches, regulatory submissions, collaborations, markets, strategy, taxes or operating results, including without limitation its expected sales, adjusted net sales and adjusted diluted earnings per share results, are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Such uncertainties and risks include, but are not limited to, risks associated with management of growth and international operations (including the effects of currency fluctuations, regulatory processes and dependence on logistics); variability of operating results and allocations between customer classes; the commercial development of markets for our products to customers in academia, pharma, applied testing and molecular diagnostics; changing relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners; competition; rapid or unexpected changes in technologies; fluctuations in demand for QIAGEN\-\-s products (including fluctuations due to general economic conditions, the level and timing of customers\-\- funding, budgets and other factors); our ability to obtain regulatory approval of our products; difficulties in successfully adapting QIAGEN\-\-s products to integrated solutions and producing such products; the ability of QIAGEN to identify and develop new products and to differentiate and protect our products from competitors\-\- products; market acceptance of QIAGEN\-\-s new products and the integration of acquired technologies and businesses; and the other factors discussed under the heading ?Risk Factors? contained in Item 3 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F. For further information, please refer to the discussions in reports that QIAGEN has filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).? QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare) and Life Sciences (academia, pharma R&D and industrial applications, primarily forensics). As of March 31, 2019, QIAGEN employed about 5,100 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at www.qiagen.com. Glencore to Support Restart of First Cobalt Refinery Posted by Publisher Internet First Cobalt Corp. (TSX-V: FCC, ASX: FCC, OTCQX: FTSSF https://www.commodity-tv.net/c/search_adv/?v=298892 ) (the ?Company?) and Glencore AG (?Glencore?) have signed a memorandum of understanding to supply cobalt feedstock and financing to recommission the First Cobalt Refinery in Ontario, Canada. Upon execution of definitive agreements, First Cobalt and Glencore will collaborate on final flowsheet design with a view to accelerating the restart of North America?s only primary cobalt refinery. Highlights Glencore intends to provide feedstock for the refinery resulting in annual production of approximately 2,000 to 2,500 tonnes per annum of cobalt in sulfate Glencore will evaluate making a loan to fund the capital requirements to recommission the refinery and will enter into a tolling agreement with First Cobalt The refinery could be operational in 18-24 months and discussions are underway with provincial government officials to identify opportunities to streamline and accelerate the permit amendment process Trent Mell, First Cobalt President & Chief Executive Officer, commented: ?The partnership announced today will help First Cobalt achieve its stated objective of providing ethically-sourced battery grade cobalt for the North American electric vehicle market. As the world?s leading producer of cobalt, Glencore is an ideal partner for First Cobalt. Our shareholders will benefit from Glencore financial backing, technical support and opportunities for regional synergies with their Sudbury and Rouyn-Noranda operations. ?This announcement marks the culmination of one year?s work, bringing First Cobalt closer to generating cash flow and reducing reliance on the equity markets to fund future advancement of our North American primary cobalt assets in Idaho and Ontario.? The memorandum of understanding (the ?Agreement?) between Glencore and First Cobalt outlines the terms of a partnership to produce refined cobalt for the North American market. Under the Agreement, which remains subject to due diligence and definitive documentation, Glencore will provide First Cobalt with feedstock material, a loan to cover the estimated capital requirements to recommission the Refinery and technical support. The First Cobalt Refinery is the only permitted primary cobalt refinery in North America. The Company recently completed testing of third party cobalt hydroxide as a potential source of feed, confirming that the existing processes in the First Cobalt Refinery are capable of producing a high purity, battery grade cobalt sulfate (see April 3, 2019 press release). With no cobalt sulfate production in North America today, the First Cobalt Refinery has the potential to become the first such producer for the American electric vehicle market. The Company has signed confidentiality agreements with several automotive companies interested in securing cobalt for the North American market. The First Cobalt Refinery is a hydrometallurgical cobalt refinery in the Canadian Cobalt Camp, approximately 600 kilometres from the U.S. border. The First Cobalt Refinery has the potential to produce either a cobalt sulfate for the lithium-ion battery market or cobalt metal for the North American aerospace industry or other industrial and military applications. A study completed in 2018 by Primero (see October 10, 2018 press release) estimated that under a 24 tonnes per day (tpd) base case scenario, the refinery could be recommissioned for approximately US$30 million. The study also considers an expansion scenario of up to 50 tpd within the footprint of the current building structure. A corporate video featuring the First Cobalt Refinery in Ontario, Canada is available on the Company?s website at http://www.firstcobalt.com/investors/media-gallery/videos/. A final decision on whether to put the Refinery back into production has not been made at this time and any decision is contingent on the outcome of the ongoing discussions and studies. About First Cobalt First Cobalt is a Canadian-based pure-play cobalt company and owner of the only permitted primary cobalt refinery in North America. The Company is exploring a restart of the First Cobalt Refinery in Ontario, Canada, which could produce 2,500 tonnes of cobalt sulfate or metallic cobalt per year. First Cobalt?s main cobalt project is the Iron Creek Cobalt Project in Idaho, USA, which has Inferred mineral resources of 26.9 million tonnes grading 0.11% cobalt equivalent, or an alternative underground-only scenario of 4.4 million tonnes grading 0.3% cobalt equivalent. On behalf of First Cobalt Corp. Trent Mell President & Chief Executive Officer For more information visit www.firstcobalt.com or contact: Heather Smiles Investor Relations info@firstcobalt.com +1.416.900.3891 In Europe: Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.rsource-capital.ch 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. Cautionary Note Regarding Estimates of Resources Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not economic mineral reserves and that the economic viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. The estimate of mineral resources may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues. The mineral resource estimate is classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum\-\-s \2014 CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves\ incorporated by reference into NI 43-101. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for Preliminary Economic Assessment as defined under NI 43-101. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined economically. An Inferred Mineral Resource as defined by the CIM Standing Committee is \that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.\ Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, ?forward-looking statements?) within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as ?plans?, ?expects\-\-, ?estimates?, ?intends?, ?anticipates?, ?believes? or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might?, ?occur? or ?be achieved?. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for First Cobalt, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although First Cobalt believes that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, First Cobalt disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Telensa to Provide Smart Outdoor Lighting Solution to One of the UK?s Major Ports Cambridge, UK Wednesday 22nd May 2019 Telensa ? one of the world?s leading providers of connected lighting and smart city data applications ? based in Cambridge UK, has announced that its smart lighting controls are being deployed as part of the Port of Tyne?s LED lighting upgrade project. The Port of Tyne, in North East England, is one of the UK?s major ports handling a diverse range of cargoes including containers, commodities, manufactured and retail goods, as well as supporting renewables and offshore services. Alongside the installation of Low Carbon Lighting (Raytec) LED lights, the Port?s deployment of Telensa?s PLANet solution is already underway with over 800 LED lights being connected across the 250-hectare site on the River Tyne, and is expected to be completed by August 2019. The project to replace all lighting with low energy LED lights with wireless controls is part of the Port of Tyne?s infrastructure plan that has seen it continually invest in capital plant and equipment to ensure it can meet the requirements of its customers now and in the future. Telensa PLANet is an end-to-end intelligent street lighting system, consisting of wireless nodes connecting individual lights, a dedicated wireless network owned by the customer, and a central management application. The system pays for itself in reduced energy and maintenance costs, improves quality of service through automatic fault reporting, and uses streetlight poles for supporting hubs for smart sensors. With more than 1.7 million lights connected globally, Telensa PLANet is the world?s most popular connected streetlight system. Steven Clapperton, Port of Tyne Harbour Master & Director of HSEQ, said: ?The Port of Tyne is committed to investing in intelligent infrastructure to develop the Port?s long-term future and sustainability. ?Making the Port?s outdoor lighting smart will reduce our energy and maintenance costs, and provide greater flexibility to alter light levels remotely across our entire site. Will Gibson, Telensa Founder and Chief Commercial Officer, said: ?We are delighted to be working with Port of Tyne, the latest in a series of deployments at ports and airports around the world as they look to make their lighting adaptive, reduce their carbon footprints and deploy a network for smart sensors.? Vivitek?s D3600Z combines the power of laser projection with a compact size and price that fits all D3600Z Series of three powerful, compact laser projectors with low total cost of ownership Hoofddorp, The Netherlands, 22 May 2019 All the advantages of laser projection technology in a compact form factor at a highly attractive price, are just three compelling benefits offered by Vivitek?s latest laser projector family, the D3600Z series. Comprising three new models the DH3660Z, DU3661Z and the DH3665ZN they reflect Vivitek?s strategy to offer futureproof technology to companies of all sizes with a low total cost of ownership. While the range is set to appeal to any business owner, the D3600Z series is of equal interest to System Integrators looking for compact laser projectors for simulation or display projects. The DH3660Z is the ideal laser projector for equipping most common meeting rooms, while the DU3661Z is an advanced choice with an HDBaseT connection to enable installations of up to 100m cable without compromising the quality of the transmitted signal. The DH3665ZN, meanwhile, is a premium smart projector, which features the built-in NovoConnect Solution to offer an All-in-One wireless presentation collaboration solution. Compact in size and weighing only 7kg, the D3600Z series offers a choice of 4500 or 5000 ANSI Lumens of brightness with FullHD 1080p or WUXGA resolution to deliver high performance but without the bulk normally associated with laser projectors. Its room-friendly size greatly influences how and where the new projectors can be placed, making them a highly flexible proposition, especially in rooms where space is limited. Instant ON The D3600Z series? clever design and engineering brings benefits to users before, during and after its use. The projector switches on within three seconds, thanks to the instant on and off characteristics of the laser light source. Its HDMI Signal-On, VGA Signal-On enable an ?instant on? set up so meetings can start on time. Instant CONNECTION During meetings, up to 3x HDMI interfaces allow immediate switching of sources to save further time. For even more interaction and flexibility, users can also go wireless as the NovoProjector DH3665ZN offers cable-free presenting as well as collaboration with Vivitek?s NovoConnect Solution embedded. During meetings, attendees are able to appreciate excellent colour reproduction, while the built-in 10W speaker ensure all attendees can hear and enjoy messages delivered clearly and crisply. Instant OFF Equally efficient in starting and connecting the meeting participants, is the Instant off function and the Direct Power off function to shut down the projector without waiting for it to cool down. If a user does forget to turn off the projector, the eco-friendly Auto-Power-Off function automatically shuts the projector down if no signal input has been received over a certain period of time. Ease of Installation The compact sized D3600Z series boasts exceptional installation flexibility. The projectors come with up to three HDMI ports and the DU3661Z also offers a choice of HDBaseT to run one single cable for image, sound, and control over a long distance. With a wide 1.5x zoom and vertical lens shift capacity, the range aids installation placement, while projection image alignment has been made easy thanks to horizontal, vertical and 4-corner keystone corrections. They also offer various projection modes, including DICOM Simulation mode to enhance X-ray images, which are ideal for medical seminars. Low Total Cost of Ownership The D3600Z series laser projectors are maintenance-free with no hidden costs. Its lamp-free design means that there is no need to schedule a lamp-change. The projector?s long lasting laser light source offers up to 20,000 hours of operation. Its filter-free design removes any concerns about ongoing maintenance for filter changes or cleaning. Additionally, its fully-sealed optical engine reduces dust particle impact on the core of the projector, while its advanced thermal management with optimized cooling and air flow ensures that the D3600Z series provides class-leading durability. With the range?s recalibration-free functionality there?s no need to recalibrate the colour performance of the projectors thanks to their Constant Brightness function, which enables users to define a brightness levels of between 25% to 100% to meet their needs and maintain it. This ensures that the colours displayed are maintained without change, because the light level does not change. There?s further evidence of clever thinking in the projectors? smart fan management which automatically and dynamically adapts the fan speed according to customized brightness level. This means users and audiences can focus their energy on the content being displayed, without being distracted by a noisy fan. To that end, the D3600Z series produces only 29dB in eco mode. Holger Graeff, General Manager, Vivitek EMEA, ?It is Vivitek?s belief that everyone should be able to enjoy the latest in laser technology, because technology improves the quality of our lives. With the D3600Z series, we?re able to bring the all the benefits of laser projection technology to even more customers at a price point that makes it an attractive proposition for many more customers than before.? Pricing & Availability The D3600Z series starts at ?1,850 excl VAT for the DH3660Z, which will be available in June. It will be followed by the DU3661Z in August at ?2,090 excl. VAT. The DH3665ZN will be available in the autumn at ?2,470 excl. VAT. All models will feature the Standard Laser Phosphor Projector Warranty 3-Year warranty on projector; 3-year or 10,000h on the Laser Phosphor illumination source (whichever comes first). 2021s most popular expert panel roundtable discussions Topics that dominated our websites Expert Panel Roundtable articles in 2021 included the effects of COVID-19, the benefits of mobile access, the upcoming potential of deep learning, and the future of access control cards. Our websites Expert Panel Roundtable discussions in 2021 reflected some of the most timely and important topics in the industry. The very most clicked-on Expert Panel Roundtable discussion in 2021 considered the positive and negative effects of COVID-19. The second most popular was trends in perimeter security technology. Smart video solutions Here is a roundup of the Top 10 Expert Panel Roundtable discussions posted in 2021, along with a sound bite from each discussion and links back to the full articles. Thanks to everyone who contributed to Expert Panel Roundtable in 2021 (including the quotable panelists named and linked below). The pandemic has impacted security in many ways, some we are just now realising" What are the positive and negative effects of COVID-19 to security? The pandemic has impacted security in many ways, some we are just now realising. On the negative side, integrators were limited in their ability to access customer locations, posing significant challenges to supporting customers. Innovation was also halted in many sectors such as AI and edge computing in healthcare. However, the pandemic increased awareness regarding the need for smart solutions that can aid in these types of crises. Smart video solutions have been identified repeatedly in the media as a potential pathway to better customer experience and increased safety. Alexander Harlass. Reducing false alarms What are the latest trends in perimeter security technology? Whats really important in perimeter security is the minimisation of false alarms, not simply the potential detection of what might be an unauthorised person or object. In light of that, many systems now include alarm validation that can confirm an alarm event using a camera. The utilisation of AI-based technologies can further validate the accuracy of the alarm, making it as accurate and precise as possible. I anticipate seeing more cross-technological integrations to reduce false alarms, so that personnel in an alarm center spend as little time as possible in validating an alarm. Leo Levit. What will be the biggest security trends in 2021? 2021 will see artificial intelligence (AI) become more mainstream. There will be increased deployment in edge devices, including cameras, thermographic cameras, radar and LIDAR sensors, entry point readers, etc. Additional algorithms will be developed, greatly expanding the use and function as video surveillance transitions from a forensic tool to real-time analytics. This increases the value of these systems and helps create ROI cases for their deployment. Tim Brooks. Access control solutions Investments in tools and platforms to drive digital interactions have accelerated" What will be the security industrys biggest challenge in 2021? The security industry is traditional in the sense that it relies heavily on face-to-face interaction to do business with customers and partners alike. COVID-19 has put a hold on in-person meetings, trade shows, etc., and this trend is likely to extend throughout 2021. Virtually recreating these personal touchpoints, while cultivating and strengthening internal and external relationships, will continue to be both a challenge and opportunity for the security industry. Investments in tools and platforms to drive digital interactions have accelerated. Robert Moore. What are the challenges and benefits of mobile access control? Mobile access control solutions are an exciting innovation in a market where the day-to-day user experience hasnt changed much in the last 20 years. One area that has clear benefits and challenges is in improving the user experience. On one hand, physical credentials are expensive and a hassle to administer; however, they work reliably, quickly, and predictably. Mobile credentials are convenient in that everyone already has a smartphone, and you dont have to admin or carry cards; however, when youre actually standing at the door they need to work as well or better than physical credentials, or the benefits are lost. Brian Lohse. Attacking critical infrastructure What are the security challenges of protecting critical infrastructure? It seems so often we hear about a new threat or cyber-attack in the news. Because of the rapid growth in technology over the last few years, cybercriminals are getting bolder and discovering new ways to attack critical infrastructure. One of the biggest challenges boils down to the capabilities of the operating security system and whether the organisation is aware of the current risks they face. Because there are so many points of entry for cybercriminals to target within critical infrastructure, it is vital that the security solution be prepared for attacks at every level. Charles (Chuck) OLeary. They are more aware when they make physical contact with doors and interfaces" Which security technologies will be useful in a post-pandemic world? People have become more sensitised to crowds and personal space. They are more aware when they make physical contact with doors and interfaces. As the pandemic subsides, these habits will likely remain for a majority of people." "Utilising AI-based cameras to accurately monitor the number of people in a room or in a queue will enable staff to take action to improve the customer experience. For example, AI-based analytics can quickly notify security or operations when people are waiting at a door and initiate 2-way audio for touchless access. Aaron Saks. Central monitoring station What is the potential of deep learning in physical security and surveillance? Deep learning, a subset of artificial intelligence, enables networks to train themselves to perform speech, voice, and image recognition tasks." In video surveillance, these networks learn to make predictions through highly repetitive exposure" "In video surveillance, these networks learn to make predictions through highly repetitive exposure to images of humans and vehicles from a camera feed. That ability is ideal for use with drones patrolling perimeters seeking anomalies or in software that significantly reduces the number of false alarms reported to central monitoring station operators. Through use, the software continues improving its accuracy. Brian Baker. Valuable audit trail How soon will access control cards become extinct and why? Access control cards will go the way of the dinosaur, but they still have some life left in them. For the short term, they have plenty of utility in minimum security use cases and leave a valuable audit trail. But for companies that are more technology-centric, particularly those with high value assets, were seeing demand for next-generation access control, which includes increased integration with video surveillance systems and professional monitoring services. Sean Foley. Which security markets are embracing touchless and contactless systems? Touchless technology is not a new trend, but contactless systems and transactions have surged since the COVID-19 pandemic. Even after the pandemic is over, it is likely public perception of what is hygienic and acceptable in public spaces will have changed. [We are] seeing an uptick in touchless access control systems in the education and flexible office space markets. Brooke Grigsby. On long space voyages, food variety will be key. A new NASA experiment called Veg-PONDS 02, which astronauts just ran on the International Space Station, offers a chance to attain that variety. While the experiment used a food already grown in space romaine lettuce future crops could include tomatoes or other plants, NASA officials said in a statement . Past food experiments on the International Space Station used seed bags (also called pillows) that receive water from syringes, which astronauts push into the bags. While this water is enough for lettuce to grow, tomatoes and similar crops use more water. So NASA initiated a 21-day test, which ended May 16 one that may eventually give space station astronauts more fresh food to eat. Related: Astronauts Harvest 3 Different Crops with Space Gardening Tech The new method lets astronauts cultivate romaine lettuce seeds in 12 passive orbital nutrient delivery systems (PONDS). PONDS units are less expensive than the seed bags and can hold more water, while providing more room for roots to grow. Another advantage of PONDS is that it uses less power, meaning that electricity can be used for other items on the space station. Six of the 12 PONDS units will be returned to Earth on a future SpaceX mission for further analysis. Later, the PONDS design will be finalized to test how to grow crops besides romaine lettuce, NASA officials said in the statement. The Veg-PONDS-02 experiment in the two chambers of Veggie lasted for 21 days. (Image credit: NASA/Christina Koch) More nutritional variety will be needed for space voyagers on their way to Mars or other distant destinations. While the space station orbits Earth, astronauts heading farther into space will need to bring more of their supplies with them, since it's not cost- or time-effective to keep resupplying crews at a distant location. "There comes a point where you have longer and longer duration missions, and you reach a cost-benefit point where it makes sense to grow your own food," Howard Levine, chief scientist of NASA's Utilization and Life Sciences Office at the Kennedy Space Center, said in the statement. Participating researchers came from NASA, Techshot, Tupperware Brands and Portland State University. India's space agency successfully launched a new Earth-observation satellite today (May 21), boosting the nation's space-based surveillance capabilities. The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) used a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle designated PSLV-C46 to launch its third radar imaging satellite, named RISAT-2B, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. The rocket lifted off at 8 p.m. EDT (0000 GMT, or 5:30 a.m. local time on May 22) just as the sun began to rise over the Bay of Bengal. Equipped with an X-band synthetic aperture radar, RISAT-2B will be able to look through the clouds to observe Earth's surface day and night. Imagery from RISAT-2B can be useful for civilian purposes like agriculture and disaster relief management, ISRO officials said in a description of the mission . But it will also be used for surveillance purposes. Related: India's RISAT-2B Satellite Launch In Photos An Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle launches into orbit carrying the Risat-2B Earth observation satellite for the Indian Space Research Organisation on May 21, 2019 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, India. (Image credit: India Space Research Organisation) According to The Times of India , RISAT-2B will watch over India's borders and the country's surrounding waters to monitor for foreign threats. For example, it will be able to provide views of jihadi terror camps in the Kashmir region, which has long been the subject of a territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. "The RISAT satellite can take images of a building or an object on the earth at least two to three times a day," an ISRO official told The Times of India. RISAT-2B will provide detailed images of Earth's surface with a resolution of about 3.3 feet (1 meter) as it orbits the Earth at an altitude of 346 miles (557 kilometers). Its orbit, which is inclined 37 degrees to the equator, won't enable global surveillance. Rather, the satellite's gaze will be fixed on India and Pakistan. RISAT-2B will be the third satellite in India's radar imaging satellite program. The first, RISAT-2, launched in 2009 (before RISAT-1) after India expedited its development in response to the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. RISAT-2 "took priority over RISAT-1 because of the advanced radar system," and its launch was fast-tracked "to boost surveillance capabilities of security forces," The Times of India reported . That was India's first reconnaissance satellite, and RISAT-2B is intended to replace it. India's RISAT-2B satellite is pictured above the Earth a few seconds after separating from the fourth stage of the PSLV-C46 rocket. (Image credit: ISRO/Doordarshan) In 2012, India launched its second radar imaging satellite, RISAT-1. That satellite was never meant to be used for surveillance purposes. Rather, its focus was on natural resources management like forestry and agriculture. Four years into its planned five-year life span, RISAT-1 was hit by orbital debris and was declared nonoperational shortly thereafter. RISAT-2B is the first radar observation satellite India has launched since 2012, but it's also the first of at least four such satellites that ISRO plans to launch by the end of this year, according to Spaceflight Now . The next one will be the first in a new series of high-resolution optical surveillance satellites called Cartosat-3, and it is scheduled to launch sometime this summer. The head of the Cuban Communist Party, Raul Castro, and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel met with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and expressed their support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro , state-run media reported on Tuesday. Castro and Diaz-Canel met on Monday evening with Arreaza, who arrived in Havana to participate in the 18th Political Council of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (Alba), where one of the key issues to be discussed will be the situation in Venezuela. In a statement published in the Tuesday edition of Cuban state-run newspaper Granma, the Cuban leaders and the Venezuelan diplomat met amid a brotherly atmosphere, agreeing on emphasizing the solid links that unite Cuba and Venezuela and engaged in an exchange on issues on the regional and international agenda. Raul and Diaz-Canel reiterated their support for constitutional President Nicolas Maduro ... and the civil-military union of the Venezuelan people, while Arreaza thanked the Cuban people and government for their ongoing solidarity, the official statement said. Also present at the meeting were Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and Venezuelas recently-appointed ambassador to Cuba, Adan Chavez , the brother of that countrys late President Hugo Chavez. Venezuela is Cubas main political and economic ally, and Havana has consistently supported Maduro and rejected the recognition given by more than 50 nations to the opposition leader of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the countrys interim president. The two countries since 2001 have had a broad cooperation agreement whereby Havana receives oil at subsidized prices from Venezuela in exchange for sending professional workers - mainly doctors and teachers - to the South American country. In recent months, the United States has increased pressure and sanctions on Cuba, a country it accuses of backing and providing security and intelligence support to the Maduro government, something that Cuban authorities deny. Washington considers most of the roughly 20,000 Cuban professionals providing services in Venezuela to be undercover agents, while Havana claims that they are simply professionals providing labor solidarity, especially in the areas of health and education. The 2019 World Science Festival kicks off this week in New York City! Space.com spoke with theoretical physicist and science communicator Brian Greene , who co-founded the event in 2008 with his wife, journalist Tracy Day. The series is designed, according to Greene, to appeal to a wide range of audiences, both local and nationwide. The festival's opening-night event, ''Light Falls,' (scheduled for tonight, May 22) will also air on PBS May 29, the 100th anniversary of the famous confirmation of Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity . The festival runs from May 22 to June 1 this year, and content from past panels and concerts is available to watch online . Related: Astronaut Sunita Williams Reflects on Life in Space at NYC Space & Science Festival Space.com: You have experience as a professor, as a writer and as a television host. How is the World Science Festival different from these other mediums of communication? Brian Greene: Well, it's kind of a blending of all of them, in some ways. Each one yields a different kind of experience. It's obviously a live experience it's unscripted, it's spontaneous in which the audience gets to hear from the scientists that are right at the cutting edge of research. At the same time, the festival producers do a lot of work to ensure that there is a road map for the program that will be intriguing [and] exciting [and] cover difficult material in a way that's accessible and, in the end, give[s] the audience a real, exciting look at the frontier of thinking. A panel of speakers presenting at the World Science Festival. (Image credit: World Science Festival/Greg Kessler) Space.com: What could different audiences glean from the same events? I imagine you have scientists attending your events, and you may also have people who work in other professions. Greene: Yeah, it is a really quite broad audience. The goal is to make the programs accessible to someone that's interested but doesn't have any background in the subject. But we don't want the programs to not be sufficiently new and exciting to someone who, perhaps, has more of a background in the subject. And we do that by covering background material, usually through well-produced pieces that we integrate into the program, so that we don't spend 20 or 30 minutes covering basic material that may not be understandable to the general person who has not encountered the ideas before. Rather, through the medium of film, in 3 to 5 minutes, you can really grasp the basics of genomics , you know, the very basic ideas of cosmology , of the multiverse . So, these difficult ideas can really be understood at a sufficiently fine level to then understand the conversation that happens on the [stage]. Space.com: The World Science Festival includes many different kinds of events. Can you talk a little bit about the different formats? Greene: We have quite a range of formats we open with a high-end, theatrical piece that will also be broadcast on PBS. It's a piece that has actors, [a] script, and it's got an original score and highly produced visuals, so that's sort of one end of the spectrum. And then we also have programs for kids, where kids get together with scientists. That gives them a sense of what it's like to research, be that in biology or be that in neuroscience, so that the kids can really get a feel for that. My kids have done those programs, and they are really incredibly enriching. And then you have programs where it's more free-form and debate, discussion on stage between leading scientists. Those are the ''Big Ideas'' programs, [which] also come in a variety of formats. Some [are on] a larger stage and for a more broad conversation, and some of them are on more intimate stages, allowing the audiences to kind of get in on the conversation. And then there are our public, outdoor events, which are generally free. We have a stargazing event [at] Brooklyn Bridge Park. We have ''City of Science,'' which is a partly outdoor, partly indoor extravaganza for the festival in the Washington Square Park area where [there will be] all sorts of hands-on undertakings for kids and families and adults. So, it's a wide range of experiences. Retired space shuttle astronaut Leland D. Melvin at the World Science Festival. (Image credit: World Science Festival/Greg Kessler) Space.com: There are all of these artistic elements in the festival and in other science communication work that you've done. You've brought up the short explainer film, and you're talking about starting the festival off with not to sound corny a Big Bang. Is there something that you've gleaned from performing arts that's been helpful for communicating science? Greene: Yeah, I mean, part of the philosophy of the festival from the onset, when Tracy [Day] and I started it, was to not have science be cordoned off on the outskirts of culture, but rather, to create an event that would embrace science as a part of culture. And to do that, science needs to be brought together with music and film and dance and theater in order that we no longer view it as something that's just done by the folks in the white coats in the ivory tower. When you encounter science in this different way they're not just thinking about it, they're not just studying for an exam. They are actually embracing it as part of what makes us human. And that's the reason why we incorporate as much of the performing arts as makes sense in a given festival. Space.com: Was that part of the festival already there in the early stages, or developed later on? Greene: Well, it's definitely been there since day one, but just at different levels of production. I think we did our first major original piece with [composer] Philip Glass back in 2010: '' Icarus at the Edge of Time ,'' [about] a boy heading to the edge of a black hole. And Philip Glass wrote an original orchestral score. I wrote the words to the piece, and two filmmakers, AL and AL [Al Holmes and Al Taylor] created a beautiful film, and we premiered that at Lincoln Center with a full orchestra and [actor] John Lithgow doing the narration on stage live. And, you know, from that moment forward, it became so clear that audiences have a new manner of engaging with difficult ideas, if perhaps I can say it this way if it's a more full-body experience as opposed to just a cerebral experience you have a fuller engagement with the ideas, and that's something that we have pursued ever since. Related: Eureka! Scientists Photograph a Black Hole for the 1st Time Space.com: Can you elaborate a little bit more on what ''engagement'' means to you? Greene: Well, it's focused attention, where you care about the ideas that you're encountering, and that is not often the case with science in the classroom. You know, I see it with my own kids and I remember it as well from when I was a little kid. If the charge is to memorize qualities of the cell or just to be able to solve mathematical equations, without really having a sense of it mattering in a deep, visceral way, then it's just a collection of ideas that rattle around your brain. But engagement is when those ideas lock into a matrix of meaning, where you recognize that it matters to know how the world works, it matters to know where the universe came from , to understand where life came from. It helps us understand ourselves. And when you can instill that sensibility, then the encounter with these ideas is completely different. And that's what I mean by full engagement. A panel of speakers presenting at the World Science Festival. (Image credit: World Science Festival/Greg Kessler) Space.com: The last few years have been mind-blowing for the field of astronomy. Maybe you can elaborate on these recent discoveries, like your experience when you saw the first image of a black hole and your feelings about the new field of gravitational wave astronomy. Greene: It's been an amazing couple of years. You know, the black hole image , I and others, too, have been eagerly awaiting it. I've been in sporadic contact with [ Event Horizon Telescope director] Shep Doeleman, so I knew that it was happening. And he told me that it was going to be really cool. And indeed, you know, to finally see an image of something that we theorists have been working on and thinking about for decades was one of those amazing moments. And similarly, for gravitational waves, if not more so, many of us were skeptical that gravitational waves would ever be detected . We weren't skeptical about ultimately getting an image of a black hole, but we were skeptical about the capacity, the technology, to detect these ripples in the fabric of space-time. When that result appeared [and] when it was finally confirmed that was a watershed moment both for revealing the power of scientists to do the absolutely unimaginable, to detect a twitch in the detector that, you know, is less than the radius of an atom. That's just insane! And at the same time, it opens a whole new field of astronomy and gives us a whole new window on reality. Space.com: What is your big goal for the 2019 World Science Festival? Greene: Well, the big goal every year is to excite the public about what's happening at the forefront, but this year is a particularly interesting one because it's a milestone in two ways. It's the 50th anniversary of the moon landing , and it's the 100th anniversary of the confirmation of the general theory of relativity . A big goal this year is to get people excited about these two critical moments in, you know, human exploration and human intellectual history. And that's why we're not just having the live events in New York City we have this national public television broadcast of one of our premiere programs, ''Light Falls,'' about the discovery and confirmation of general relativity. It opens the festival on May 22, but then it'll be broadcast on May 29 which happens to be the 100th anniversary of the confirmation of general relativity to the very day! So, it's sort of a nice confluence of all these milestones coming together. This interview was edited for length. Your name could take flight to Mars next year. NASA is inviting people around the world to submit their names to fly aboard the life-hunting Mars 2020 rover , which is scheduled to launch next summer and touch down on the Red Planet in February 2021. "As we get ready to launch this historic Mars mission, we want everyone to share in this journey of exploration," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, D.C., said in a statement Tuesday (May 21). "It's an exciting time for NASA, as we embark on this voyage to answer profound questions about our neighboring planet and even the origins of life itself." Getting your name (way) out there is easy; just fill out the short form here by Sept. 30. You'll get a Mars "boarding pass" for your minimal trouble. Related: NASA's Mars Rover 2020 Mission in Pictures (Gallery) Mission team members at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, will use an electron beam to etch submitted names onto a microchip, in lines of text that are less than 0.1% as wide as a human hair. About 1 million names can be squeezed onto a single chip, NASA officials said. More than one microchip may be needed to handle the demand. NASA organized a similar engagement campaign for the agency's Mars InSight lander, which touched down on the Red Planet in November 2018, and more than 2 million people submitted their monikers. Mars 2020 will touch down inside the 28-mile-wide (45 kilometers) Jezero Crater , which harbored a river delta in the ancient past. The six-wheeled robot will hunt for signs of long-dead life, characterize the area's geology, search for buried water-ice and do a variety of other work. For example, Mars 2020 will test a device designed to generate oxygen from the Red Planet's thin, carbon-dioxide-dominated atmosphere. That technology, once scaled up, could help humanity establish a Martian outpost. Mars 2020 will also collect and cache samples for future return to Earth, though NASA is not yet developing a mission that will bring this material home. And speaking of names, Mars 2020 will get a new one soon. NASA plans to hold a student naming competition , as the agency has done with Red Planet rovers in the past. For example, then-sixth-grader Clara Ma submitted the moniker "Curiosity" for Mars 2020's predecessor, which has been exploring the Red Planet's Gale Crater since 2012. 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. DANBURY Dressed in red, more than 20 sign-waving educators protested outside Pembroke Elementary School on Wednesday morning in solidarity with a nationwide call for increased education funding. Drivers honked their horns as they passed the teachers on Pembroke Road before teachers 8:30 a.m. contracted work start time. Teachers are the foundation, and were trying to build a skyscraper on the foundation of a house. Without the proper funding, were carrying all the burden and we cant do it all anymore with what we have, said Erin Daly, a third-grade teacher and president of the teachers union NEA-Danbury. Danbury is last in Connecticut in per-pupil spending, according to the latest available state records. The city spends $12,830 per student, compared to the state average of $16,990. The protest is part of a larger movement of teacher walkouts and protests called Red for Ed. It was organized locally by NEA-Danbury, which called on City Hall to spend more money on the citys growing student population. Were taking the momentum of the Red for Ed thats been happening in other places in the country and using it to spur our own momentum to get the public to hear what were doing and know that really, in essence, were here for the kids, Daly said. If we are not going to value our children then were destined to fail as a city, she said. With our growing city and growing population, we have to do more for our kids and for our schools. Danbury educators have been rallying about the citys budget since April. Weve been going to City Council meetings and Board of Education meetings we had over 100 teachers showed up at the final budget resolution, which did not get the money we had been hoping for, Daly said. To show theyre not going to do the extras without the citys support, Daly said, the teachers planned to leave from school at their contracted times Wednesday. The teachers then returned to class for the first period. We were here until 8:30 last night for a concert for our students this is what we do but we cant continue to do that if the city is not supporting us by giving our students, and us, what we need to do our jobs, Daly said. We are woefully underfunded. Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said the education budget is $5 million more than the previous years, and that the city doesnt get its fair share of Education Cost Sharing aid from Hartford. Meanwhile Danburys enrollment of 11,500 continues to grow at one of the highest rates in the state at a time when most districts are dealing with enrollment declines. Regardless, Boughton said, Danbury has seven schools of distinction, and Danbury outperforms other city school districts that spend more per pupil, such as Hartford. Danbury teachers have staged similar Red for Ed protests, including a demonstration at Broadview Middle School two weeks ago. The citys educators plan to continue fighting for more funding, Daly said. We are going to be negotiating a contract in the fall, she said. And since the city did not give the proper funding to our budget, were going to let them know that we cant continue to do the job that theyre asking us to do for our students without more. WASHINGTON - Soon after the House voted to impeach him in December 1998, President Bill Clinton surrounded himself with dozens of Democrats on the White House's South Lawn. Directly behind the president stood Reps. Steny Hoyer and Elijah Cummings, the Marylanders who now serve as House majority leader and chairman of the House Oversight Committee, respectively. Next to them were Reps. James Clyburn, D-S.C., the future majority whip, and Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., now chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. A few feet away, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., a moral force then and now within the caucus, held a prominent post in the front row. House Democrats stood behind Clinton in defiant opposition to the nearly party-line use of impeachment when the outcome in the Senate - a hung jury - seemed all but certain. Flash-forward more than 20 years. Those Democrats now find themselves staring down a revolt, mostly from the more junior ranks of their caucus. Of the five committee chairmen House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., called on to speak at Wednesday's emergency meeting on investigating President Donald Trump, four were in office in 1998 and the other won his seat in 2000 by defeating one of GOP's "impeachment managers." They almost all urged caution from the relative newcomers, who have been pushing impeachment against Trump even though Senate Republicans stand unified behind him and the outcome - hung jury - would be all but certain. The calls reached fever pitch earlier this week, after Trump blocked his former counsel from testifying Tuesday before the House Judiciary Committee and continued to stonewall subpoenas requesting documents related to the investigation by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and other key materials. "I think that it is entirely appropriate, given this overwhelming amount of evidence and the continued actions from the executive branch, that we exert our powers as a coequal branch of government," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., told reporters Tuesday. But Democrats who were in Congress for the Clinton impeachment succeeded, for now, in getting the caucus to agree to a go-slow approach to impeachment. "I remember it tore the country apart," recalled Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. As she was finishing her third term in 1998, Eshoo said, the public fully understood the case against Clinton revolved around his coverup of extramarital affairs. Today, they are trying to make decisions from a Mueller report that was inconclusive in some parts. "Are you for this or against it? Wait a minute. I think this is a case where you need to drive with the emergency brake on," she said. Ocasio-Cortez, 29, a rising first-term liberal star, was in grammar school at the time of the Clinton vote. Eshoo, 76, in her 27th year in office, sides with her best friend in Congress, Pelosi, warning that once an impeachment inquiry gets started, it will almost certainly head to the full House, even if polls continue to show opposition. "It's very difficult to unring a bell," Eshoo said. The media has focused on the Democratic political divide, between those from safely liberal areas and several dozen from swing districts where Trump remains somewhat popular. But the generational divide might be just as important, considering decision-makers such as Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn all come from very anti-Trump districts. They all remember the split impeachment verdict against Clinton - the House approved two articles, but the Senate did not convict - and also the political backlash against Republicans, who voted just weeks before the 1998 midterms to start a formal impeachment inquiry. Democrats went on to pick up five House seats, breaking historical tradition that suggested Clinton's party should have lost big in his second midterm. Aware of those politics, Pelosi has tried to tamp down the rebellion with a layered formula requiring an overwhelming case against Trump that would also bring enough Republican support to force him from the Oval Office. She often explains her long history opposing impeachment, beginning with Clinton and then holding back antiwar liberals who wanted to impeach President George W. Bush in 2007 for his handling of the Iraq War. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., who was in his 10th year in Congress in 1998, said that he thinks the Mueller report paints a solid picture that Trump obstructed justice. But the Clinton impeachment proved the futility of pursuing such a divisive act when the outcome was predetermined. "Some people will say, 'If he should be impeached, then impeach him,' " said Pallone, who now chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee. "I just know that, the way things are around here, we only have so many legislative days and so much that we can accomplish. I want to spend my time doing things that we can get done." Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., a junior member of Pelosi's leadership team, has emerged as a vocal supporter of an impeachment inquiry. He says that such a move could at least give Democrats a better standing in federal courts to fight Trump. On Tuesday, Cicilline - who was in Rhode Island's State House in 1998 - rejected the calls for patience. "We need to vindicate the rule of law in this country and demonstrate that you cannot just trash the Constitution, undermine the rule of law, and expect the Congress of the United States to accept that," he told reporters. [In a Trump district, a freshman House Democrat works on repeating his success] Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Ky., first elected in 2006, has been calling for impeachment since before the Mueller report was released. "This is a question of the future of democracy, and I don't think the politics are important," Yarmuth told reporters Tuesday. Some senior Democrats support immediate impeachment proceedings, fearful that these legal fights will last past the 2020 elections. "We also appreciate that, you know, winding your way through the courts could take a lot of time," said Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif. Waters, who was in her fourth term in 1998, serving on the Judiciary Committee during its impeachment proceedings, now chairs the Financial Services Committee. She was the lone chair to speak at Wednesday's meeting who pushed impeachment. Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., who won his seat in a February 1998 election, said his first year in Congress helped shape his views toward today's crisis. Republicans "tried to make it a political scenario" against Clinton without doing enough preparation, he said. Like Cicilline and Ocasio-Cortez, Meeks wants the same goal of ejecting Trump but believes in a more cautious approach. "In order to do that, we've got to dot our i's and cross our t's," he said. This week, President Donald Trump twice returned to one of his favorite stalled agenda items: infrastructure. He once again declined to offer much clarity about how the $2 trillion plan would be funded. Instead, he has sought to blame the Democrats for the stalled talks. "We're being played by the Democrats," Trump said on Sunday during his 11th Fox News interview of 2019. "I think what they want me to do is say, 'Well, what we'll do is raise taxes' . . . and then they'll have a news conference, see, Trump wants to raise taxes." Then, on Wednesday, Trump abruptly ended a meeting with Democratic leaders on infrastructure, telling reporters Democrats would have to choose between "investigations" or "investment." "Instead of walking in happily to a meeting, I walk in to look at people who said I was doing a cover-up," Trump said. "You can't do (infrastructure) under these circumstances." The president has derailed several White House infrastructure initiatives in the past two years. Let's review the White House's repeated attempts to get "infrastructure week" off the ground: 1) Week of May 15, 2017 What: Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao promises $1 trillion infrastructure plan "in the next several weeks." What derailed it: Hours later, The Washington Post reported that Trump shared highly classified intelligence with the Russian foreign minister and ambassador. 2) Week of June 5, 2017 What: The first official White House "infrastructure week" (which notably kicked off without a plan). What derailed it: Former FBI Director James Comey accused Trump of lying in congressional testimony. The next day, Trump accused Comey of lying. 3) Week of Aug. 14, 2017 What: Trump signed an executive order he said would streamline the infrastructure approval process. What derailed it: Trump spent much of a nearly 45-minute news conference, meant to tout the order, blaming "both sides" for violent protests in Charlottesville. 4) Week of Oct. 9, 2017 What: Chao again touted Trump's $1 trillion infrastructure plan without providing the details of said plan. What derailed it: The Post reported that Chao repeatedly used taxpayer-funded private jets to fly to events when cheaper commercial flights were available. 5) Week of Feb. 12, 2018 What: Trump announced a $1.5 trillion infrastructure plan, much of it funded by states and private investment. What derailed it: The resignation of a White House aide over domestic violence allegations, reports that Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen paid hush money during the 2016 campaign to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, the indictment of 13 Russians in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation and a massacre at a high school in Parkland, Florida made for a busy week. 6) Week of March 26, 2018 What: Trump gave a speech in Ohio touting his infrastructure plan. What derailed it: As The Post's Heather Long reported at the time: "This latest (infrastructure) week is happening while Congress is on recess, Trump faces high-profile allegations of marital infidelity, the Russia investigation continues to make headlines, and the administration grapples with staff turnover and contentious firings." 7) Week of April 29, 2019 What: Trump and congressional Democrats agreed to invest $2 trillion in infrastructure, even as Trump's acting chief of staff and congressional Republicans cast doubt on it. What derailed it: Hours after Trump's infrastructure meeting with Democrats, The Post reported that Mueller wrote a letter to Attorney General William Barr in March to complain that Barr's letter describing Mueller's principal conclusions "did not fully capture the context, nature, and substance" of Mueller's investigation. Senate Democrats criticized Barr about it during a hearing the next day. 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WHIPPLE CREEK REALTY WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S - GT BARRINGTON WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S - LENOX WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S - SALISBURY WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY WILLIAM PITT SOTHEBY'S INTERNATIONAL REALTY, LENOX WILLIAM RAVEIS REAL ESTATE Williamstown Realty Group WITALISZ & ASSOCIATES, INC. WOLCOTT REALTY WWW.ENTRYONLY.COM The Trump administration unveiled Sunday its first significant move in a plan to forge peace between Palestinians and Israelis. It will lead a two-day "economic workshop" conference in Bahrain next month where U.S. officials will reveal more of their plan to resolve the decades-long impasse between Israelis and Palestinians, while raising tens of billions of dollars in investment for the occupied territories. Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law and the White House's designated lead on brokering peace, appears to believe that working to improve Palestinian livelihoods and cultivating Palestinian businesses should take precedence over political solutions. That may make sense, given the political abyss into which the prospects for a viable independent Palestinian state have fallen. But the abiding impression among Palestinians is that Trump and his lieutenants aren't honest brokers. Instead, they see a series of debilitating moves enacted by the administration - from the unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital to cuts in Palestinian aid to the shuttering of diplomatic offices that cater to Palestinians - as part of a campaign to confirm Israeli hegemony and undermine Palestinian political aspirations. With Trump firmly allied with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who leads the most right-wing government in Israeli history, Palestinians see no end to the Israeli military occupation over their lands. "Attempts at promoting an economic normalization of the Israeli occupation of Palestine will be rejected," said Saeb Erekat, the Palestine Liberation Organization's chief negotiator, in a statement. "This is not about improving living conditions under occupation but about reaching Palestine's full potential by ending the Israeli occupation." Numerous Palestinian business executives invited to Bahrain by the Trump administration have already signaled they won't be coming. "It looks like they've invited many business people, but it's an issue related to our national interest," Ibrahim Barham, a founder of a Palestinian electronics and engineering company, told my colleagues. "We can't divide it from what's going on in the political arena." Speaking to the New York Times, one Palestinian American entrepreneur described the invitation as a "blatant payoff" and likened Kushner's offers of investment to "trying to strangle a woman while giving her a manicure." Another argued that relief from the encirclement of Jewish settlements and the overweening control of Israeli security forces, not financing, is what Palestinians need. "We don't lack money, know-how and interest," Sam Bahour, a Ramallah-based consultant, told the Times. "We lack the resources: land, water, movement, access and frequency. It doesn't require a grand plan, nor does it require a grand workshop. It requires Israel getting its boot off at least the economic part of our neck." Experts pointed to earlier false dawns, when grand plans of enterprise in the West Bank came to naught amid turmoil and destruction. "When political negotiations collapsed, violence erupted, and investments went up in flames," wrote Shibley Telhami of the Brookings Institution. "To assume that the promise of economic improvement would outweigh ordinary human aspirations of a people who have painfully struggled for decades is to miss the nature of the human condition." Netanyahu is explicitly disinterested in lifting the occupation and has left open the possibility of annexing Palestinian lands. Israeli officials and their American supporters blame the failure of the peace process on the Palestinian leadership and the continued hostility of Islamist militant groups such as Hamas, which governs the beleaguered Gaza Strip. The Israeli and U.S. officials urge the Palestinians to view the Kushner-led process with an open mind and to give peace, or at least the Trumpist version of it, a chance. On social media, Jason Greenblatt, Trump's chosen negotiator on Israeli-Palestinian matters, insisted that the White House had a viable political plan in place, not just an economic one. But critics cited Greenblatt's rhetoric - he frequently berates Palestinian officials and commentators on Twitter - as evidence of the Trump administration's bad faith. "In [Goldblatt's] telling, Israel is under attack by fanatical Arabs brainwashed with hatred," wrote Hussein Ibish, a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. "He has never acknowledged the impact of the Israeli occupation or Palestinian dispossession, disenfranchisement and exile." Kushner's adventure in peacemaking is either willfully or naively leading Israelis and Palestinians down a path that cements the former's suzerainty over the latter. Supporters of the two-state solution fear that it may doom the last fleeting hopes for a meaningful agreement. "Kushner's attempt to find an economic solution to this long-running political conflict is destined for failure," Jeremy Ben-Ami, president of J Street, a liberal pro-Israel advocacy organization in Washington, said in an emailed statement. "It risks paving the way to disastrous steps such as formal annexation, which would undermine any future efforts to reach a lasting peace," he added. Robert Satloff, executive director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, lamented the White House's dismissal of "expertise" in its rush to hatch a deal, as well as the narrow, transactional mind-set that Trump and Kushner, schooled in the cutthroat world of New York real estate, bring to the proceedings. "Unlike a real estate transaction in which one party gets the property and the other party gets the cash, a Middle East peace deal starts and ends with the two parties as neighbors, stuck with each other sharing a duplex for eternity," Satloff wrote. As the White House's efforts lurch forward, the focus may turn to what that living arrangement looks like. And that conversation - about equal Palestinian rights in a single state - is one very few people in Washington or Tel Aviv want to have. "Trump is now not only burying the two-state solution, which was not viable anyway, but he's gladly dancing on its grave, thus forcing people to end their denial," Yousef Munayyer, executive director of the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, told Politico. "It's important for us to respond very clearly that we need equal rights in one state." The following editorial appeared in Wednesday's Japan News-Yomiuri: - - - The ongoing confusion in Ukraine, which lies between Europe and Russia, adversely affects the security of Europe as a whole. To improve the situation, it is critical for Ukraine to achieve political stability and Russia to exercise self-restraint. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, a comedian who was elected in Ukraine's presidential election in April, has been inaugurated as the country's new president. The freshness of Zelenskiy, who describes himself as a political novice, attracted voters' support, thereby earning him an overwhelming victory. However, Zelenskiy has no force that supports him in parliament, and he could not even get his way regarding which day he would be sworn in. He will likely face difficulties in running his administration. In his inaugural address, Zelenskiy indicated his intention to dissolve parliament and call parliamentary elections prior to the ordinary ones scheduled for October. Will he be able to form a majority group in parliament, using the political party he has established as the center of the faction? A pressing task for him is to cement his political footing by announcing concrete policies for such purposes as rooting out corruption, which the people expect him to. What is worrying to him is the intensified conflict between his country and Russia. Five years ago, the Crimean Peninsula, which lies in southern Ukraine, was unilaterally annexed by Russia. Conflicts between government forces and pro-Russia armed groups continue in Ukraine's eastern region. Last year, a Ukrainian Navy vessel was captured by a Russian guard ship in the Black Sea, which surrounds Crimea, and its crew have been detained since. Putin must ease tensions The government of then President Petro Poroshenko only stressed its hostile stance toward Russia, and was not able to allay tensions with that country. Zelenskiy can be praised for expressing his intention to place priority on achieving a ceasefire in the eastern region and saying he is ready for "dialogue" with Russia. Earlier, Russia and Ukraine agreed on a ceasefire in the eastern region's conflict through the mediation of Germany and France, but the agreement has not yet been implemented. Germany and France should more strongly urge the warring parties to resume ceasefire talks. What cannot be overlooked is that Russian President Vladimir Putin is attempting to turn what can be described as a "change made in the status quo by force" into a fait accompli. In Crimea, Russia is promoting infrastructure development while also making progress in the additional deployment of a new air-defense missile system there. In late April, immediately after the presidential election, Russia simplified procedures for the acquisition of Russian nationality, targeting residents in Ukraine's eastern part, many of whom are pro-Russia. Ukraine is divided between pro-Russia and pro-Europe groups. Obviously, Russia's latest action points to an ulterior motive of rattling Ukraine's new government, which is seeking to achieve national unity. Since its annexation of Crimea, Russia has become more and more deeply isolated in the international community. Despite rising close to 90 percent immediately after the annexation, Putin's support rating has recently fallen to the 60 percent range, reflecting such factors as a domestic economic slump due to the sanctions imposed on Russia by European countries and the United States. Putin must realize that unless he tries to ease tensions by using the advent of Ukraine's new government as an opportunity to achieve that goal, his country will not be able to improve relations with European nations and the United States, and have the sanctions eased. A major subcontractor to British Steel, Hargreaves Services, on Wednesday warned the collapse of the Scunthorpe-based steelmaker may hammer its profits. Hargreaves Services, which has handled materials for the firm since 2011, warned of possible charges tied to redundancy costs after British Steel went into liquidation. The division supplying the firm employs about 170 people. Hargreaves' staff move raw materials like iron ore to Scunthorpe and takes away the steel for storage. British Steel, which employs 4,000 people and is owned by Greybull Capital, started insolvency proceedings after government bail-out talks failed. Hargreaves has trade debt exposure worth about 4.5 million, which may be irrecoverable and it could take further write-down. It warned of 11 million wiped off sales and 1.3 million off profits. Hargreaves shares fell 15% to 250p. Former City minister Lord Myners attacked Greybull, saying the Government should try to recoup fees paid to the firm while it ran British Steel. T he City has lost count of M&S turnarounds: the Luc Vandevelde European retreat, the Stuart Rose store investment plan, the Marc Bolland food revamp. Yet none have dealt with the key issue that this is a business whose two key products food and clothing are in deep, structural decline in markets where rivals do it better. This time, with Archie Norman driving the change, it feels different. M&S is taking drastic action closing weak shops and buying a future for its food business with Ocado. The top team are impressive, and the City gives them credit for it. Who else at a business as troubled as M&S could get away with a 40% dividend cut and a 32% discounted rights issue to fund a wildly expensive joint venture? The fear is that, while Norman is doing what needed to be done, it all comes too late. For one thing, hes got 1.6 billion of debt to worry about. Somehow he has to have enough cash in the tank to renew its credit facility and make bond repayments over the next four years. Four years of further potential decline. A tough ask, even for the best turnaround team M&S has ever had. Fintech Londons fintech scene goes from strength to strength despite the Brexit-induced difficulties of hiring staff. TransferWise today raised nearly $300 million, valuing the company at a whopping $3.5 billion. Thats great, but why are the new investors predominantly American? Admittedly, European fund Vitruvian joined in, but it still feels like big UK institutions are missing the party. If, and when it floats, chances are it will do so in the US because American investors understand how to finance such companies better than us. R oyal Mail is slashing its dividend by 40% next year, the latest blow to its army of small shareholders and staff who own 10% of the company. But that will help pay for an 1.8 billion investment over the next five years to protect the UKs postal service and boost its parcels delivery arm. It is aiming to have a second daily parcels delivery service in place by 2023 as smartphone night-owl shopping booms. The demand for next-day parcels delivery is exploding, says Royal Mail. Chief executive Rico Back, who saw 70% of investors vote against his pay last year, is fighting a decline in the letters business. Royal Mail had to issue a profit warning in October due to a slump in letters. It had a better second half as political strife across Europe saw more leafleting from political parties. A second Brexit referendum would be a boon to Royal Mail. Elections are always good for postal businesses, said Back. Royal Mail will honour its 25p dividend this year but slash it to 15p from next year, a blow to the 400,000 small investors who hold the stock. This is not a decision we have taken lightly as we know how important the dividend is to our shareholders, said Back. But profit for the year rose 29 million to 241 million thanks to growth in parcels and business overseas. The shares, which hit fresh lows yesterday, rallied 6% today to 224p. They floated at 330p. Today is the first major strategy update since privatisation in 2014. Backs five-year plan will see Royal Mail start collecting returns from customers at their home. It announced this week that it will introduce 1400 parcel postboxes in the UK. former BA veteran Keith Williams was confirmed today as new chairman. Back was a controversial choice as chief executive since he is based overseas and was given a 5.8 million payout of his contract at Global Logistics Systems, owned by the Royal Mail. I normally love going out campaigning for the Labour Party. Door-knocking is a great way to take the political temperature, nosey around peoples houses and smash your FitBit. Not literally. But these Euro elections are proving to be as comfortable for Labour as Madonnas performance at Eurovision. Last weekend, I headed down to the South-West to support Labours only MEP in the region, Clare Moody. Shes a popular, experienced politician who has led the way on fighting Brexit. She did well at the hustings at Gloucester Cathedral which began with a prayer for our souls, which seemed appropriate given how Brexit is panning out. But it was a different story on the doorstep in Bristol the next day. As we gathered to get a briefing from our coordinator, an angry man interrupted us, denouncing us. You ought to be ASHAMED of yourselves for supporting something which is going to wreck this country. I was quite flummoxed but a nice lady whispered Its fine, dear. We get this all the time. Ill talk to him. She gently moved him away and tried to convince him in a soft, soothing voice that we respected the result but we might end up with a second referendum, but that our local candidate was definitely against Brexit. Funnily enough, he did not have a Damascene conversion. This set the mood. Pretty much everyone I spoke to said they wanted to vote Labour but they couldnt as they were ardent Remainers and felt a vote for us would be counted as pro-Brexit because our position was so confusing. We ploughed on regardless, explaining that this wasnt a rerun of the EU referendum but about picking who they wanted to represent them in the European Parliament at this critical time. We also reminded people about the grim reality of the Brexit Party, Nigel Farage and the spectre of Ann Widdecombe being their MEP. It reminded me of when I first moved to London and had this hideous job selling dodgy timeshares on the phone. I tried to stick to the script with as much enthusiasm as I could muster but people just werent buying it. "It reminded me of when I first moved to London and I had this hideous job selling dodgy timeshares" I heard a cacophony of similar conversations all around me as we went from door to door. And this was in a rock-solid, safe Labour seat, which explains why the Lib Dems and Greens are surging (as well as the Brexit Party), according to polls today. They are taking support away from Labour. I know so many people who have always voted Labour who are torn about who to vote for tomorrow. I respect the Labour candidates in London, particularly Seb Dance, who has been unequivocal about a Peoples Vote, and I will vote for them. But many others will not be as slavish. I really feel for the many excellent Labour candidates working so hard out there. If they do lose, theres one meagre thing in which they can take comfort it was not their fault. The fear Anne Frank felt is with us today I loved and was heartbroken by the diary of Anne Frank. Her writing was clever, honest and historic. It inspired me to keep a diary, although mine was somewhat less profound it was mainly my unsuccessful quest for a perm and a boyfriend. I recently visited the house in which she hid in Amsterdam, now of course a museum and one of the citys main tourist attractions. As you stand in the cramped dark rooms you cannot comprehend the horror of the Holocaust, only a historical heartbeat ago. Yet that memory is in danger of fading. A survey by ComRes for CNN on anti-Semitism across Europe found that in France, 20 per cent of adults aged 18 to 24 said they had never heard of the Holocaust. In Austria, it was 12 per cent, and here in the UK we have a horrible resurgence of anti-Semitism. My visit was powerful but upsetting, especially in the current climate of racial and religious division and an ugly culture war fuelled by populism. It was a reminder that persecution doesnt happen overnight it starts with words of hate, marginalising a group, and can end in man-made hell. Frank and her diary have become iconic but she was just a teenager who wanted to be a journalist and lead an interesting life which she would have done but wasnt allowed. As her schoolfriend said, she didnt just die. She was murdered for being a Jewish girl. We must never forget. Progress, but ladies are still waiting ... Clare Perkins / METRO O ne last chance: how often have we heard Theresa May utter these words, or a version of them, as she has introduced yet another iteration of her Brexit deal? Yet, in the Prime Ministers speech yesterday, unveiling a 10-point plan to underpin the forthcoming Withdrawal Agreement Bill, there was indeed a new and rueful tone. What she really meant was: this is my last chance. In this respect, the PM is surely correct. Already committed to resigning before the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, she now faces fresh enthusiasm among her own backbenchers for a rule change that would enable them to oust her as soon as possible. On June 15, a special emergency meeting of Conservative activists will consider a vote of no confidence in the party leader. Her plan for a smooth personal exit may soon be abruptly truncated. So this speech may prove to be her last significant message to the political planet. Though she presented it as a grand compromise a draft peace treaty between the warring Brexit factions it was really no such thing. Instead, her final answer to the conundrum of the UKs departure from the European Union was essentially to restate the question at greater length and with a little more candour. As three years of negotiation and deliberation have proved beyond doubt, there is no magical arrangement that combines full legal independence from Brussels with all the commercial advantages of the EU single market and customs union. Matthew d'Ancona Mays 10-point plan essentially repackages her thrice-rejected withdrawal agreement with bolt-on extras that have already been rejected by MPs in indicative votes. The Commons is now offered the chance to back a second referendum (which it rejected in April by 293 votes to 280) and a customs union (which it voted down by 276 to 273). The question that she has again posed to MPs is not unreasonable: what do you actually want? Part of the problem is that May herself has been so indecisive about what, precisely, she has in mind. As Chris Cook has shown in a remarkable in-depth study of the Brexit shambles for the new Tortoise media platform, the PM has been plagued by private indecision over the UKs future relationship with the customs union. After her speeches to the 2016 Conservative conference, Sir Ivan Rogers then the UKs permanent representative in Brussels said to the PM: Youve made a decision. This gives me clarity. I can work with this. Were leaving the customs union. May, it transpires, was horrified: I have agreed to no such thing. Since then, the Brexit process has become a grotesque hybrid of ideology and confusion. Pro-Leave Tory MPs have veered between outright contempt for Mays concessions to the EU and a (justified) fear that their continued obstruction might have the unintended consequence of thwarting Brexit altogether. To date, they have agreed only to one proposal: the so-called Brady Amendment calling for the Irish border backstop to be replaced by unspecified alternative arrangements. Labour, meanwhile, has delivered a masterclass in self-righteous vacillation, claiming a morally superior status as the only party that represents both Remain and Leave voters. In practice, its fence-sitting has pleased neither group and inevitably robbed Jeremy Corbyn of much of the campaigning panache that served him so well in the 2017 general election. Even now, it is risibly unclear what his partys position on Brexit really is. Sometimes he describes a public vote as no more than an option; on others, he presents it as a clear commitment. The task remains the same: avert a constitutional crisis, preserve prosperity and keep the peace in Ireland If there is any consistency to be excavated from this muddled thinking, it is that Labour would back a referendum to prevent a bad Tory deal or a no-deal exit; but that it would not back a Tory deal in order to get a referendum. Collectively, Labour is firmly pro-Remain. But Corbyns personal dream still appears to be a Brexit wholly owned by the Tories. Tomorrows European elections will probably be a disappointment for Labour currently trailing both the Lib Dems and Nigel Farages Brexit Party in London, according to YouGov. But the Conservatives are bracing themselves for outright humiliation at Farages hands when the results are announced on Sunday night. It is against this lurid electoral backdrop that Mays reheated deal will be considered, almost certainly in the first week of June. It will be widely claimed that the elections were a second referendum in all but name and that Farages performance is an instruction to deliver a hard Brexit. Of course, it will be no such thing. These elections were never meant to happen, the Remain parties have conspicuously failed to form an electoral alliance, and the level of public debate has been pitiful reduced to an argument about the propriety of throwing milkshakes on candidates. Whatever the results, the task facing ministers and MPs alike on Monday morning will be unchanged: to rescue the nation from a constitutional crisis, preserve public prosperity and keep the peace in Ireland. The Godfather of the IDF The Fellowship | May 22, 2019 John Henry Patterson (November 10, 1867 June 18, 1947) Why you should know him: A man who lived an exciting life, Patterson played many roles author, hunter of man-eating beasts, soldier, Zionist, and godfather among IDF men. Born in 1867 in Ireland, John Henry Patterson joined the British Army at the age of 17, and would serve until well into his fifties. While serving in what is now Kenya near the turn of the century, Patterson had his most famous adventures. In 1898, he was the overseer of the building of a railroad bridge over the Tsavo River. At the start of the project, two lions began attacking and eating people in the nearby area. The superstitious workers believed the lions to be evil spirits, and blamed the incidents on Pattersons arrival. Over a period of nine months, the two male lions killed up to 140 people. After months of unsuccessfully tracking the beasts, in December of 1898 Patterson was able to shoot both of them. His workers, who had been ready to kill Patterson, presented him with a silver bowl to show their appreciation. In 1907, Patterson published his first book, an account of the ordeal, The Man-eaters of Tsavo. The book has inspired at least three movies, the most recent of which was The Ghost and the Darkness, starring Michael Douglas and Val Kilmer. The two lions were stuffed and are still on display over a century later in Chicagos Field Museum of Natural History. Years later, during World War I, Patterson a Christian became a major figure in Zionism. He did so as the commander of the Zion Mule Corps and the 38th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, also known as the Jewish Legion. Pattersons men Jews faced harsh anti-Semitism from their superiors. Patterson sacrificed his own promotion in order to defend his men and make sure they received fair treatment. His men, in turn, supported and respected him. Decades later, those he led would become the foundation of what is the IDF (Israel Defense Forces). After retiring from the military, Patterson continued his Zionist support advocating justice for the Jewish people. One of his closest friends was Benzion Netanyahu, father of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Benzion named his first son after Patterson Yonatan Netanyahu, the Israeli hero who would lose his life during the 1976 raid on Entebbe. But Patterson was not just the godfather of an Israeli hero he was the godfather of the modern IDF. Before dying in 1947, his final wish was to be buried in Israel, the land he loved. Just this month, in December 2014, John Henry Patterson and his wife were moved from their plot in California and re-interred in the Holy Land, a fitting final resting place for such advocates and allies of the Jewish people and their homeland. Stand for Israel by supporting the brave IDF men and women. N igel Farage is the latest seriously dislikable politician contesting the EU elections to have been drenched with a milkshake while out campaigning. Others include Ukips odious Carl Benjamin and far-Right activist Tommy Robinson. Yet Benjamin has joked about raping Labour MP Jess Phillips while Farage has vowed to don khaki, pick up a rifle and head for the front lines if Brexit is not delivered to his liking. A milkshake splatter is a non-violent action way of exposing those who are promoting and encouraging racism in society. It is using lactose against the intolerant. Sasha Simic On the day Ted Heath signed us all into the Common Market in the Seventies, a French woman tipped a bottle of ink over him because she thought Britain should not be admitted as wed only cause trouble. How prophetic she was. So-called self-styled members of Fathers for Justice tipped powdered paint all over Liberal Democrat candidate Jody Dunn at the Hartlepool by-election count in 2004 because she was a barrister who took family cases. And of course John Prescott was egged during the 2001 general election campaign and punched his egger. Nigel Boddy EDITOR'S REPLY Dear Sasha and Nigel There are several reasons why it is not a good idea to throw things at politicians and only one of them is that its not a nice thing to do. Just because there is a history of similar incidents doesnt make it right. Another is that it gives them just the sort of publicity they want: Nigel Farage would rather we saw him as an insurgent victim of troublemakers than someone with big questions to answer on how his party is funded. Surely if you dont like a politician the best thing to do is stand and campaign against them? Maybe that sounds prim. But Id rather see Farage crushed at the ballot box than splattered with an overpriced cream drink. Julian Glover, Associate Editor (Comment) Cancer nursing needs more funds your story that the number of European nurses arriving in Britain has fallen dramatically since the Brexit referendum [May 20] is demonstrative of the significant crisis that now faces our cancer support workforce. For people living with cancer its so important to be able to talk to a professional who has the time to listen and support you and your individual needs. But too many nurses simply do not have the time to provide the standard of care their patients deserve. Weve heard from nurses who speak of unbearable pressure, unable to give a patient the extra 10 minutes of support they need and going home devastated because they have had to prioritise treatments. Worse still, an unsustainable workload is forcing many into early retirement. We urgently need a Government plan to address the challenges faced by our nurses and doctors: this must be prioritised in the spending review. Fran Woodard Macmillan Cancer Support Blond ambition out in the open Boris Johnson has finally announced publicly what everybody always knew: that he harbours a single-minded ambition to lead the country. But what Conservative Party members should take care to consider before they cast their votes for their next leader is this: who will the electorate trust to lead the UK and be our representative on the world stage? Politics seems like a game to Boris. He has no vision for our nation, just a vision of himself at the helm. Removing Theresa May at this juncture looks to be a self-indulgent, foolish act prioritising internal party squabbles but replacing her with Johnson would be suicidal. Julian Self Game of thrones heads downstairs I suspect that the increasingly trumpeted so-called rivalry between the households of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is fostered by the courtiers who work for them, rather than William, Kate, Harry and Meghan themselves. Once synonymous with luxury and glamour, real fur is firmly falling out of sartorial favour. What began as a trickle of brands deciding to eliminate real fur from their collections has, in recent years, become a deluge. On Wednesday Prada became the latest luxury fashion house to pledge to remove animal fur from its product going forward, joining a roster of pelt-free designers that includes Burberry, Chanel, Versace, Calvin Klein and Vivienne Westwood, among others. These are all the major luxury brands that have vowed to keep animal fur off the catwalk. Prada Prada AW19 / Imaxtree On March 22 2019 the Prada Group announced that it will no longer use animal fur in any new products across all its brands, starting from the spring/summer 2020 womens collections. Miuccia Prada said: The Prada Group is committed to innovation and social responsibility, and our fur-free policy - reached following a positive dialogue with the Fur Free Alliance, in particular with LAV and the Humane Society of the United States - is an extension of that engagement. Focusing on innovative materials will allow the company to explore new boundaries of creative design while meeting the demand for ethical products. Chanel Chanel Cruise 2020 / Getty Images In December 2018 Chanel announced that it would no longer use exotic animal skins or fur in its collections. Burberry Imaxtree Starting with Riccardo Tiscis debut collection for the brand in September 2018, Burberry pledged to remove all animal fur from its collections, and to slowly phase the remaining fur products out of production. Modern luxury means being socially and environmentally responsible, said the Burberrys CEO Marco Gobetti. This belief is core to us at Burberry and key to our long-term success. We are committed to applying the same creativity to all parts of Burberry as we do to our products. Taking to Instagram at the time, Burberrys new creative director Riccardo Tisci heralded the change as marking a new era for the brand. John Galliano John Galliano SS1* / Getty Images John Galliano, Maison Margielas creative director, announced that his brand would be going fur-free in April 2018. In an interview with French Elle, Galliano was asked what, if not fur, represents true luxury today, to which responded: It's authenticity and inventiveness Today we dont want a product, we want ethics, a firm that defends the values that we admire. You can be outrageous and fun without fur! Come and party with us, youll see! DKNY Imaxtree DKNY and Donna Karan's parent company announced that the brands will be going fur-free in 2019 as a result of a long standing relationship with Humane Society International's American affiliate HSUS. Versace Versace AW19 / Imaxtree Donatella Versace also wrote off the use of fur in the brand's future collections in March 2018 saying: "Fur? I am out of that. I dont want to kill animals to make fashion. It doesnt feel right." Michael Kors Michael Kors AW19 / Imaxtree Michael Kors committed to going fur-free in December 2017, with production being phased out by the end of December 2018. The company's policy also applies to the Jimmy Choo brand, which Kors acquired in July. Gucci Gucci AW19 / Imaxtree Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri revealed back in October 2017 that the storied Italian house would be going fur-free (and would auction off its existing fur stock, giving the proceeds to animal welfare groups) from its spring 2018 collection onwards. "Technology is now available that means you don't need to use fur, he told Vogue at the time. The alternatives are luxurious. There is just no need. Giorgio Armani Giorgio Armani AW19 / Imaxtree Giorgio Armani committed to stop using fur in March 2016. This applied to his Giorgio Armani, Armani Prive and Emporio Armani collections from autumn/winter 2016. "Technological progress made over the years allows us to have valid alternatives at our disposition that render the use of cruel practices unnecessary as regards animals, Armani said in a statement at the time. Pursuing the positive process undertaken long ago, my company is now taking a major step ahead, reflecting our attention to the critical issues of protecting and caring for the environment and animals." Tommy Hilfiger Tommy Hilfiger AW18 / AFP/Getty Images Tommy Hilfiger made the decision to ditch fur from its collections in 2007. The designer mainly used fur on the collars and cuffs of his pieces and after a conversation with PETA, announced that any further production of fur items would end immediately. Vivienne Westwood Vivienne Westwood AW19 / Imaxtree Vivienne Westwood also banned fur from her collections in 2007 after meeting with PETA. Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren AW18 / Imaxtree In 2006, Ralph Lauren pledged to eliminate fur altogether, including all accessories and homeware. In addition to going fur-free, the brand announced it would donate 1,200 pieces of fur clothing pieces to international relief initiatives. Calvin Klein Calvin Klein AW18 / Imaxtree Calvin Klein has been fur free since 1994. Stella McCartney Stella McCartney AW19 / Imaxtree B ritish adults have expressed a strong desire to upskill - with more than half looking to the digital space for tools to help them do so. The findings came from a survey, commissioned by Artificial Intelligence company, Fountech of more than 2,000 adults. It found that of those surveyed more than half (58 per cent) wanted to learn a new skill. Forty six per cent acted on their desire to learn a new skill with a further 26 per cent never reaching the level they wanted. And more than half (51 per cent) of those surveyed wanted to see more technology-based solutions, such as online platforms and apps to help them learn new things. Fountech CEO Nikolas Kairinos said there was a clear appetite from people to learn new skills - despite a number of barriers. He said: It is promising to see from the research a willingness to embrace technology to overcome these challenges. Whether it be undertaking vocabulary exercises on Duolingo, or learning how to cook a particular dish via YouTube, apps and online videos AI gives people ready access to inexpensive resource. AI is going to be a major step forward for the global education sector." The surveyed also showed that time and money were sometimes posing a deterrent for many adults. Sixty-three per cent felt it was too expensive to recruit proper teachers, professionals or experts, while more than half (52 per cent) felt time was the biggest barrier. Meanwhile, 38 per cent struggled to find reliable and engaging online sources. Kairinos said Artificial Intelligence tools were already proving helpful in the education space and could help adults looking for new ways of learning. We are already seeing the transformative role that AI is having on the way society operates, particularly in its ability to deliver personalised experiences. Naturally, these innovations are geared towards the education and learning spheres, and I look forward to seeing how AI can help people learn new skills and reach their full potential. AI technology is already being used around the world, with some examples including Yuki, Germanys first robot lecturer, or the Duolingo chatbot that talks to people learning a new language via the mobile app. In a recent report on AI in education University of Buckingham vice-chancellor Anthony Seldon said there was much to be lauded when it came to technology in education. The benefits of AI, if we go into it with eyes wide open far outweigh the downsides, and we will be much better placed to mitigate for the drawbacks if we start thinking and planning now. Fountech report key findings 58 per cent of British people want to learn something new 46 per cent acted on their desire to learn a new skill 26 per cent never reached the level of skill they wanted 63 per cent felt it was too expensive to recruit proper teachers A young conducting wizard and former drummer in a rock band is taking the helm at the Philharmonia Orchestra. Santtu-Matias Rouvali will replace fellow Finn Esa-Pekka Salonen as principal conductor of the Southbank Centres resident orchestra. The 33-year-old has signed a five year contract starting in 2021/22 that will see him work with the Philharmonia for 10 weeks a year and lead their performances at the Royal Festival Hall. Its managing director Helen Sprott said he was a worthy successor to Salonen who has spent 13 years in charge and will become conductor emeritus. She said: Santtu represents the future: hes young, dynamic, a natural musician and a conducting wizard. He has a proven record of building audiences for orchestras and for thinking creatively about the role a symphony orchestra can play in 21st century society. Rouvali grew up in the Finnish city of Lahti where both his parents played in the citys symphony orchestra and trained as a percussionist and played in bands before conducting. He said: I am honoured to be the new Principal Conductor of the Philharmonia. This is the start of a great adventure: London is such an exciting place for orchestras, and the Philharmonia is at the heart of classical music life in this city. "The players of the Philharmonia can do anything: they are enormously talented and show an incredible hunger to create great performances. There is huge possibility with this orchestra, and we will do great things together. E ven if you dont know Village Underground, you probably know about the Tube trains. Sat atop an old Victorian warehouse in Shoreditch, four converted Jubilee line carriages sit next to two refurbished shipping containers. They were hoisted up there in 2006 and turned into co-working spaces, and quickly became a new landmark of the area especially once the Instagram generation caught wind a few years later. But beneath them, in that warehouse, is something even better: one of the finest music venues in east London. In the 12 years since it opened, Village Underground has forged a reputation for cutting edge programming, across both its live gigs and club nights. Its the kind of place that creates an atmosphere before the music even starts. Its a peculiarly intriguing space one huge brick wall, a sloping roof that looms high above with two gloomy railway arches over on the opposite side. Dark, heavily driven music finds a comfortable home here, but sounds on the brighter end of the spectrum fit surprisingly well, thanks in part to the venues excellent lighting. This is the GO Clubbing guide to Village Underground. The best clubs in Shoreditch 1 /10 The best clubs in Shoreditch XOYO With a consistent programme of internationally renowned DJs, an intimate dance floor, intense lighting and a killer sound system, XOYO is surely Shoreditchs stand out club. Its split across two floors the main space is down in the basement while theres a smaller room upstairs, which is always worth a visit during the night. The clubs residents, who have ranged from Andy C to Bicep, play on Friday nights, while you can expect some big names from the worlds of techno, house, disco and electro to come through on Saturdays. Its also an excellent place to go for a midweek night out, with plenty of nights away from the weekends. Jake Davis/Hungry Visuals Trapeze During the week, Trapeze serves up cocktails in its circus-themed bar, but at the weekends, it indulges its alter ego as a nightclub, welcoming revellers into its basement space. Fridays and Saturdays broadly focus on two separate genres the former is one for the hip-hop heads, while the latter is for those after some banging house music. Try out the venues American-inspired food if you want to get some pre-party fuel inside you. The Book Club The Book Club is a varied place. During the week, you might find a spoken word event, a life-drawing class, a speed dating session, or something else entirely. At weekends, though, you can count on this venue as a great place for a spot of dancing. Its all about bright, party-starting beats here, with a lot of disco, funk and hip-hop making up the majority of the musical output. Theres quite a bit more variety in the food and drink department that with most other clubs in Shoreditch, too, thanks to a menu that takes you all the way from sweet potato chips to champers. Village Underground During the week, Village Underground is mostly dedicated to hosting live gigs, but on the weekend it comes into its own as a late-opening clubbing spot. In terms of looks, its one of the more distinctive in the area its a converted warehouse, with exposed railway arches and a cavernous roof. It makes for an atmospheric experience when the tunes are going full-throttle, provided by a wide-ranging slew of DJs. Theres not a musical strand that connects them all, varying as they do from techno dons to disco heroes. Getty Images for Reebok Concrete For some heavy doses of grime, hip hop and rnb, then head down below the Pizza East restaurant on Shoreditch High Street and into Concrete. Its a popular place for big groups looking for a night out for those who dont take themselves too seriously, and the best place in Shoreditch to hear all the latest bangers. There are plenty of nights dedicated to throwback anthems, too, ideal if you prefer your Chaka Khan over your Sheck Wes. Theres a fair bit of variation during the week, from live music to comedy and burlesque. Queen of Hoxton This Shoreditch spot is known for one of its nights above all else: Hip Hop Karaoke. Its the best open mic in London for would-be MCs, and is hosted by DJ Rob Pursey of Southern Hospitality, which throws some of the most popular hip hop nights in the capital. Make sure you know your J Dillas from your P Diddys if you take to the stage here, as the crowd will soon let you know if you cant keep up with the beat. Expect a variety of house, techno and disco sounds if you head to any of the other weekend club nights here. Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen While the predominant focus here is on live music gigs, you can still catch a few lively club nights at this venue. The regular Friday night event is a particularly tasty prospect literally, in fact, with 200 free chicken wings on offer amid a backdrop of mouth-watering disco and hip-hop-flavoured beats. Elsewhere, there are some great nights for fans of dancehall and afrobeat. Basing House A compact, intimate place with a capacity of just 300, Basing House is one of Shoreditchs smaller clubs but is well worth a weekend visit. Its one for the four-four fanatics theres always lots of house and techno being blasted out from the clubs superb Funktion One sound system, but its not unheard of for the DJs to spin some disco tracks, too. Its always fun night at this place, with serious music but a not-so-serious vibe (in other words, dont surprised to see smoke machines and cascading confetti). Vital statistics Where is it? 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ Whats the capacity? 700 700 When did it open? April 2007 Whats the music like? Really varied. Its the type of club that doesnt pride itself on one particular genre, but rather on drawing in a colourful selection of styles. There is a fair bit of techno, but the next night you could hear some hip-hop, dancehall, UK garage, or something else entirely. Who plays there? There are often eye-catching number heavyweight DJs playing here Jon Hopkins, Seth Troxler, Oscar Mulero, Skream and even Diplo have all passed through in recent times. Its also a good place to see promising young artists, especially those from the London scene. Be sure to catch one of the regular Channel One nights, too. The Notting Hill Carnival stalwarts take their legendary sound system over to east London once every month or so, and its always a blast. How expensive are tickets? Village Underground can be quite expensive by London standards, with many of the more high-profile events offering early bird tickets for 15, heading up towards 25 and beyond by the time the last release comes around. However, there are a number of cheaper events usually the regular nights that are known for their promoter rather than the big-name artists on the bill which usually start at around 7 for a ticket. How late does it stay open? It varies. At the latest, the nights will run on until 6am in the morning, and many events make the most of this curfew. However, a fair few of the parties here call it a night at around 4am. How good is the sound system? Very good. For such a large, airy space, the sound system copes well and proves it versatility by coping with the various genres played through it, whether thats from a live band or a DJ. What should I wear? The dress code is pretty relaxed, although the club will turn you away if youre dressed in business attire or fancy dress (unless it is a themed event). Also, open-toed footwear is not allowed due to health and safety reasons. You have been warned. Is there a cloakroom? Yes, its 2 per item. How do I get there? Shoreditch High Street on the Overground is the nearest station, only a few minutes walk away. Its on the the Night Tube branch of the line, too, meaning there are 24-hour services up to Highbury and Islington and south as far as New Cross Gate. On Tuesday evening, the rooftop of Hotel Martinez in Cannes played host to a number of stars in town for the iconic film festival. The likes of Colin Firth, Brooklyn Beckham and Adriana Lima swapped their red carpet looks for smart casual tailoring and cocktail dresses at the Chopard Gentlemens Evening. Held in partnership with Gentlemens Journal, the party saw Brooklyn Beckham and his model girlfriend Hana Cross come from the Once Upon A Time in Hollywood premiere to join the party. Beckham appeared to take nods from his dads latest Peaky Blinders fashion collaboration with his brand Kent & Curwen, opting for a retro flat cap and gold chain. Getty Images Naturally, the keen photographer brought his camera with him too. Dave Benett His girlfriend Hana Cross played with a menswear look by Salvatore Ferragamo, opting for a jungle-print tailored two-piece and gold necklaces. Dave Benett Former Victorias Secret angel Adriana Lima also chose to give the boys a run for their money in a white Petar Petrov suit, complete with pointed strappy heels and a striking red lip. Dave Benett Actor Chloe Sevigny also made an appearance in a bright pink Miu Miu cocktail dress, detailed with a gigantic black bow. Dave Benett Colin Firth also proved that the man is truly ageing backwards, as he and film producer Livia Firth posed for photographs on the balcony. Firth, who has been married to his wife Livia since 1997, looked dapper in a black suit and crisp white shirt. His hip thick black-rimmed glasses were a nod to Kingsman. (Getty Images ) / Getty Images Firth and other actors including Freddie Fox, Game of Thrones Thomas Brodie Sangster, Merlin's Bradley James and Luca Pasqualino had a longer journey than most as they had just wrapped up a luxe Road to Cannes expedition. Starting on Monday, the group embarked on a road trip with Gentlemens Journal - stopping of at places like Goodwood House - before hopping in a private jet and grabbing an early dinner at celeb-favourite hot spot Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Dave Benett The group had clearly bonded as they were seen hanging out together at the party. Getty Images The menswear on display was predictably sharp, with model Richard Biedul as one the standouts of the night in a double-breasted light grey suit. (Getty Images ) / Getty Images Musician Alessandro Ristori wore one of the bolder outfits of the evening, appearing in very 70s- Gucci flares, a raspberry double breasted jacket and a pussybow blouse. While most of us hunker down in economy, a few lucky travellers hop around the globe on private jets. Some choose to go the extra mile by purchasing their own model - Drake recently unveiled his custom Air Drake Boeing 767 - but others opt for private jet companies to help get them from A to B without the hassle of maintaining an aircraft (we hear those fuel bills are a drag). So how do the super-rich like to charter their jets? We asked Victor, a private jet charter company, which caters to passengers with a 24/7 concierge service, for an insight into how the other half do air travel. A guest asked for enough sushi to feed 80 people Most private jets arent very big, so when one traveller asked for enough sushi to feed 80 people, it raised eyebrows. Victor duly delivered by shipping in food for guests from Belgravia restaurant Sumosan, where a single piece of crab sashimi will cost you 8 a pop. A guest had crabs flown out from Florida for a flight to the Caribbean We all get particular food cravings sometimes... but most of us can't dial that request in from Florida. According to Victor, one guest asked for crabs specifically from Joes Crab Shack in Florida for their flight to the Caribbean. To add to the niche food requests, another guest demanded a packet of Monster Munch right before take off - in the middle of Eastern Europe. A couple wanted to throw an in-air wedding complete with decor, buffet tables and a DJ booth Destination weddings might be on the rise, but one wedding couple wanted to tie the knot on the journey. To make sure it was one of the happiest and highest days of their lives, Victor completely redesigned their cabin: bringing in balloon arches, a cake, buffet tables and even a DJ booth for the reception. A family asked for the ultimate Christmas experience For one family, Christmas was extra special as not only did they travel to Santas home in Lapland - they also had their private jet completely revamped in vibrant decor for the holiday. Victor also arranged for them to enjoy a full Christmas dinner from the comfort of their sky-high winter wonderland. Five falcons were flown in a private jet Even though falcons are known for being powerful birds of prey, five decided to kick up their claws and let a private jet do the flapping for them. Funnily enough, they were flown out on a Dassault Falcon 7X jet. A customer insisted on bringing 10 cases of dog food One canine-loving guest mapped out their entire dogs holiday eating plan on a flight to the Mediterranean - which included ten cases of luxury pet food. Victor Private Jets The 80kg Leonberger dog flown in furs class A cafe worker stabbed in the London Bridge terror attack today told how she hid customers in the cellar to save them from the rampaging extremists. Candice Hedge, who worked at Elliots Cafe, saw one of the terrorists approaching and told panicked diners to go downstairs to avoid being seen. She was herself unable to reach the safety of the cellar, she told the inquest this morning, and was stabbed in the neck as she crouched behind one of the restaurants booths. Ms Hedge said customers and members of the public surged into the restaurant as the attackers approached, and she then saw a figure sneaking around outside. I realised they were coming into the restaurant, she told the hearing at the Old Bailey. The victims of the attack / PA I did go to the seating area at the back and explain that we would get them to safety. My partner, who also works at the restaurant, shouted at me to go downstairs. Ms Hedge said one of the terrorists, who appeared to be wearing an explosive vest, entered the restaurant as she was across the room from the cellar door, and unable to flee to safety without being seen. I hid, she said. Just behind a booth I crouched down between the wall and the table. There were customers at the back of the restaurant, 20 or so, they were hiding and scrambling to try and get a safe spot. Ms Hedge said two of the terrorists were in the room, and she heard them ranting at the terrified customers. They were shouting, I cant remember what exactly, but something along the lines of they werent happy with the way we were living our lives, she said. One of the men, I just saw him come down on another customer trying to get to the stairwell, striking him twice in the back. The one standing closest to me turned around as if to leave ... and then he saw me. He immediately came down with the knife on to me. Ms Hedge said she had put her hands up to try to protect herself, but was stabbed in the neck. Once the terrorists had left in search of more victims, she ran to the cellar entrance and was met by her partner who had been downstairs with customers. She held a napkin over her neck wound before receiving medical help. Extremists Khuram Butt, 27, Rachid Redouane, 30, and Youssef Zaghba, 22, killed eight people and injured 48 others as they rampaged through the streets of London Bridge on June 3 2017. Kirsty Boden, 28, Xavier Thomas, 45, Chrissy Archibald, 30, Sara Zelenak, 21, James McMullan, 32, Sebastien Belanger, 36, Ignacio Echeverria, 39, and Alexandre Pigeard, all died in the attack. They were killed as the terrorists drove a white van across London Bridge at pedestrians before going on a knife rampage through the streets around Borough Market. The three attackers were then shot dead by police. A fugitive has agreed to turn himself in if his wanted poster reaches 15,000 likes on Facebook. Jose Simms, 29, who is believed to be in New York, has seven arrest warrants and is being sought over failing to appear in court. He has struck a deal with Torrington police in Connecticut and said he would surrender if his wanted posted is liked thousands of times. Brett Johnson of the police department said he negotiated Simms down from 20,000 likes to 15,000. "It will be difficult but is doable," Johnson wrote. The wanted poster was shared on Facebook on Wednesday, and has already received 14,000 likes / Torrington Police Department He also suggested that if anyone knows where Simms is hiding they could let police know and save the department some work. The police department shared the wanted poster alongside an appeal to trace Simms on Facebook on Wednesday and it received 14,000 likes within 15 hours. Maki Haberfeld, an expert in police ethics and procedure at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said Simms was using social media to manipulate both the news media and police. She said police have no business negotiating a deal with a suspect, never mind one that involves likes on Facebook. "It turns this into a joke," she said. "People will start looking at these various violations of law as a game." Simms, said he is serious about the offer. "I wanted to give them a little incentive for all the hard work they put in to catch me," he told the Associated Press. Simms said the charges stemmed from domestic problems and he was tired of running from authorities. "Looking over your shoulder every five seconds can cause a lot of stress," he wrote. A man who was found stabbed to death at his home in Lewisham has been named. Police said Barrington Davis, 54, was found dead at his home in Torridon Road on May 16. Mr Davis' neighbours raised the alarm after not seeing him for some time. Officers then visited the flat and forced their way inside, where they found Mr Davis. Police initially believed the death was non-suspicious, but later discovered suspicious injuries. His cause of death was given as multiple stab wounds. His next-of-kin have been informed. A 39-year-old man was arrested on May 18 on suspicion of murder. He has been bailed to return to a police station on a date in mid-June. The investigation by the Homicide and Major Crime Command continues. Terrorists Should Be Treated as Such Stand for Israel | May 22, 2019 Embed from Getty Images The Palestinian Authority continues to fund terrorists. Hamas and Islamic Jihad continue to launch rockets and incendiary devices into Israel. Yet the world keeps on blaming Israel for being attacked. Gatestone Institutes Guy Milliere says its time to stop this nonsense and to hold the terrorist organizations accountable for the devastation they cause: For years, Hamas and Islamic Jihad have placed most of their military installations under hospitals, schools and mosques, and have used their population as human shields to be able to show dead babies to television crews and blame Israel. Israels subsequent actions, each time Hamas attacked it, have weakened Hamas, but never crushed it. What is clear is that Israel evidently has no desire to govern or colonize Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and try to govern two million antagonistic people. The result is that each time Hamas restores its capabilities, it becomes more dangerous than before. Netanyahu doubtless realizes that it would be helpful if Hamas and Islamic Jihad were not there; he also doubtless realizes that there is no guarantee that whoever would succeed them might not be any better, and quite possibly worse. There have been various suggestions how Israel should respond: David M. Weinberg, vice-president of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies, cautions that if deterrence does not become harsher, a strategy of attrition designed to temporarily deter the enemy and bring about periods of quiet along Israels borders will not be sufficient. The author and politician Caroline Glick recommended restoring the kilometer-wide buffer zone on the Gaza side of the border to block assaults on its border , destroying Hamass store of rockets, mortars and missiles, and carrying out strikes against Hamas and Islamic Jihad commanders. Middle East scholar Daniel Pipes, observing that Israels leaders shy away from victory, writes, The only way for the conflict to be resolved is for one side to give up. Alan Baker, the legal scholar and Director of the Institute for Contemporary Affairs at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, has noted that, The attacks on Israeli civilian populations by Hamas and Islamic Jihad, and their use of civilian populations as human shields are crimes against humanity and war crimes . David French, an American journalist, wrote: [F]iring 600 rockets at civilian targets in a neighboring country is an act of war and as such it grants the nation-state [Israel] the authority under the international law of armed conflict not just to disable the specific military assets used to carry it out but to destroy those who carried it out Its time for the world community to stop imposing these double standards on Israel, and start doing what international law requires: holding Hamas responsible for the devastation that results from Israels legal, necessary, and proper responses to its provocations. Only then will Hamas know that if it sows the wind, it could truly reap the whirlwind In other words, Hamas and Islamic Jihad are terrorist organizations and should be treated as such. A global money laundering and terrorist finance network that shipped 310 million of criminal profits overseas in a year using high street money transfer shops in London has been busted by Met detectives. The illicit operation saw huge quantities of cash being smuggled out of the country to pay for drug imports by crime gangs operating here. Two of the main suspects are believed to have been involved in shootings in London in a sign of the violence triggered by the criminal enterprise. The investigation has also led to 7 million being frozen in accounts in London and another 23.6 million being seized in New York. The detection was revealed today by Scotland Yard to highlight its growing concern about the scale of dirty money being channelled in and out of the country via money service businesses. About 10,000 such businesses which include money transfer shops and foreign exchange bureaus operate in London. But senior officers, including Commissioner Cressida Dick, believe that lax regulation has allowed some to become a front for money laundering which is fuelling violent crime in London. Much of the money is believed to be flown out on crates to Gulf states and other destinations. Detective Superintendent Nick Stevens, who leads the Mets economic crime unit, said Operation J involved an investigation into a global criminal money laundering and terrorist finance network in which money service businesses in London [were being] used as a front to launder 310 million in one year. He added that the money was used primarily for drug trafficking and to pay for bulk importations. He declined to give further details or to explain the terrorist connection. Officials also said that ongoing sensitivities connected to the case meant that more information about the people or money service businesses involved could not yet be provided. Ds Stevens said cash is still king for criminals in the drugs market and proceeds are being moved through the disproportionately high number of money service businesses in the capital. That part of the financial sector is increasing because ... its getting harder for criminals to farm their proceeds of crime through the regulated banking sector, he said. Ds Stevens added the Met was working with HM Revenue and Customs and the Finance Conduct Authority to more tightly regulate money service businesses and it is continuing joint operations with them to address the problem. Todays warning comes after Ms Dick issued a similar alert to MPs earlier this year. She told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee that the businesses were not very well regulated and estimated they are used to move 2 billion a month out of Britain. S hocking footage shows the moment a pensioner was shoved into a brick wall and left unconscious in an apparent road rage attack in south-east London. Police are hunting for the man who left the victim, 80, with horrific injuries which could have cost him his life in the "brutal" attack in Penge. The victim and his wife were walking in Parish Lane on April 21 when a silver car abruptly stopped as they were crossing the road, almost hitting them, Scotland Yard said. After a verbal altercation between the victim and the driver at around 7.50pm, the suspect pulled over, got out of the vehicle and chased the victim before shoving him in the back. A pensioner was attacked in Penge / Met Police A police spokesman said: The victim collided with a brick wall as he fell, causing multiple injuries. The suspect quickly got back into his car and drove away from the scene. Police and paramedics found the victim unconscious and covered in blood after suffering multiple injuries, including a broken wrist, nose and cheekbone. A pensioner was "brutally attacked" in Penge / Met Police He was left unconscious for around two minutes after the attack, police said. He has since said he does not remember the assault, just the altercation moments before. The suspect, who is wanted on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm, has been described as a white man, aged around 40, about 5ft 10ins to 6ft tall, of large build with a shaved head. He was wearing a light blue t-shirt and dark blue shorts and had a female passenger in the car. Police are appealing for information after an attack in Penge / Met Police Detective Constable Luke Thomson, who is leading the investigation, said: The victim has suffered horrific injuries as a result of a nonsensical attack, which could have cost him his life. There is no place in society for unlawful and aggressive acts such as this. We are appealing for anybody who knows the man who carried out this brutal attack to come forward and assist us with our investigation to help us bring the person responsible to justice. A 11-year-old boy has died after falling ill at a primary school in west London. Police were called to reports of a child taken unwell at Cherry Lane School in West Drayton at 11.50am on Wednesday. The schoolboy was rushed to a west London hospital, where he died shortly after 1.30pm. A spokesman for Scotland Yard said his death is being treated as "unexplained" however it is not believed to be suspicious. The boy's next of kin have been informed. In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: The death is currently being treated as unexplained, although at this early stage, it is not believed to be suspicious. Officers are liaising with the school and local partners. Enquiries are ongoing. J eremy Corbyn has broken fast with members of the north London Muslim community to commemorate the Finsbury Park mosque attack. The Labour leader offered a message of unity as he joined the daughter of victim Makram Ali at a community street iftar meal outside the mosque on Tuesday evening. The attack took place on June 19, 2017, but Tuesday marked the 17th day of Ramadan and the second anniversary of the attack, according to the lunar calendar observed in Islam. Mr Ali, 70, was killed when Darren Osborne ploughed a hired van into worshippers gathered outside the Muslim Welfare House shortly after evening Ramadan prayers. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during a visit to Finsbury Park Mosque in London. / PA He died at the scene while 12 worshippers were injured. Mr Corbyn, who lives nearby, told those gathered over the road from the attack on Tuesday evening that targeting a place of worship was an "attack on all of us". Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during a visit to Finsbury Park Mosque in London, on the second anniversary of the Finsbury Park terrorist attack. / PA The Labour leader added: "I want our children to grow up in a world of diversity of wonder and of beauty, but if they grow up in a world dominated by discrimination and hate, then their lives will be less exciting, their lives will be less imaginative, and above all the collective problems we face cannot be solved. "Those that divide our community don't build houses that people need to live in. Corbyn during a visit to Finsbury Park Mosque in London / PA "Don't build schools that are children need to learn in. They don't build hospitals that we all need to be cared in. "They don't solve any of those problems, and a world riven with division will not be able to deal with the huge issue that we all face of climate change and the damage we are doing to our natural world." He was also joined by Conservative MP Dominic Grieve and Ruzina Akhtar, Mr Ali's daughter, who addressed the gathering. She said: "Two years on after the tragic loss of my father, it is still most beautiful to continue to see that the community is able to get together to celebrate events like today. "Communities are only able to stand united because we don't give into these terrorists and racists who set out to divide us. Corbyn arrives for a visit on the second luna anniversary of the June 2017 attack / PA "We need to continue to show that no matter what the situation we will come out stronger and better than before." Also present was Abdirahman Ibrahim, 31, who was clipped by the van and tended to Mr Ali and others injured before helping apprehend the driver, Osborne. He was on crutches for nearly three months following the attack after his knee was damaged and has been left with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and hyper vigilance. Mr Corbyn visits Finsbury Park Mosque in London on the second anniversary of the Finsbury Park terrorist attack. / PA Speaking for the first time since the attack two years ago, he said: "No matter how much counselling or professionals I go to see regarding my mental health, it's always going to remain in the back of my mind what happened that day." He said of the gathering: "It's beautiful to see an event like this happening, however what is worrying is security at a place of worship in modern day Britain, it's like a shame on all of us to see that we need security to the outside of mosques." For the evening event, St Thomas's Road was blocked off at both ends by police vans while officers patrolled the feast area close to where the terror attack took place. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn arrives at Finsbury Park Mosque after being handed a flyer for an anti-Trump protest. / PA Ahead of its start, Finsbury Park station was temporary closed due to a suspicious vehicle in the vicinity, reopening shortly after. By the end of the evening, at least 2,000 people were expected to join the meal, organised by Muslim Aid, Finsbury Park mosque and the Muslim Welfare House. Mohammed Kozbar, chairman of Finsbury Park mosque, said he had seen a torrent of Islamophobic incidents over the past few years. People tried to set fire to the mosque, a pig's head was impaled on the gates outside the building, staff were sent white powder by post and received "many" abusive phone calls, he said. He added: "We've been through a very difficult time and very challenging time as a Muslim community in the last few years, when we have seen the rise of Islamophobia and the rise of hate crimes, especially against Muslims. "For us it's quite important and it's a responsibility on our shoulders to engage more with our wider community and to reach out to our wider community. A girl aged five has organised a climate action rally for primary school children to coincide with a planned walkout by pupils across London. Sunday Bunting, a Year One pupil at Gayhurst Community School in London Fields, was inspired by seeing Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, 16, address Extinction Rebellion protesters in the capital last month. Sundays rally will be after school on Friday the same day as the latest Youth Strike 4 Climate school walkouts. So far this year, three such strikes have seen tens of thousands of children take to the streets across the UK, calling on the Government to implement a Green New Deal to decarbonise the economy. Sunday planned her rally so that pupils do not miss lessons. Parents and children from more than 20 primaries in east London are expected to attend. They will meet at the playing fields near London Fields Lido at 3.30pm before marching to Hackney Town Hall. The young activist told the Standard friends like the idea and are putting up posters around their school. She said: Im inspired by Greta, she started the school strikes. When you speak up like a grown-up, you should be listened to like a grown-up. F rom junior minister to Tory leadership candidate to "Pizza Club plotter", Andrea Leadsom's recent political career has been defined by the fall-out from the 2016 EU referendum. Her resignation as Leader of the House of Commons strikes a blow to Theresa May's hopes of being the Prime Minister to finally secure Brexit. In a letter written to Mrs May, Mrs Leadsom said she did not believe that the UK will be "truly sovereign" through the deal proposed, and said a second referendum would be "dangerously divisive". Three years ago, Mrs Leadsom's surprise withdrawal from the 2016 Tory leadership contest helped Mrs May replace David Cameron in Downing Street. Andrea Leadsom withdrew from the leadership contest, helping Mrs May replace David Cameron in Downing Street. / Getty Images Brexiteer Mrs Leadsom, MP for South Northamptonshire, had only two years' government experience as a Treasury and energy minister before the referendum campaign. Helping lead the Leave vote charge, she enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence which eventually saw her take part in a televised debate alongside Boris Johnson and other politicians at London's Wembley Arena. In the Tory leadership run-off after the referendum result, it was Mrs Leadsom who was left as the only candidate facing Mrs May after her Leave allies Michael Gove and Mr Johnson were knocked out of the running for the top job. But her bid to lead the party was short-lived once her campaign swiftly unravelled over questions about her lack of experience and comments she had made about motherhood. Mrs Leadsom was forced to release her CV and deny she had "massaged" her employment history to make it look like she held more senior roles during her 25-year career in the City. In an interview with the Times newspaper, she appeared to suggest that being a mother gave her an advantage over Mrs May as a potential prime minister. Mrs Leadsom apologised after Theresa May spoke about how she and her husband Philip were unable to have children / Getty Images She said: "Genuinely I feel that being a mum means you have a very real stake in the future of our country, a tangible stake." Mrs May had previously spoken about how she and her husband Philip were unable to have children and, following criticism from fellow MPs, Mrs Leadsom apologised. She withdrew from the leadership race just days after winning the backing of 84 Tory MPs. The failed leadership campaign also featured a bizarre march on Parliament by her supporters, that was ridiculed by political observers. But under Mrs May's premiership Mrs Leadsom remained in Government, serving as Environment Secretary for a year before becoming Leader of the Commons. In the latter role she was responsible for organising Government business in the House, but ultimately decided she could not work to support Mrs May's Withdrawal Agreement Bill. Mrs Leadsom quit Theresa May's government. / AFP/Getty Images Mrs Leadsom was reportedly one of a number of Brexit-supporting colleagues in the so-called Pizza Club who were absent for the start of Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. Members of the group, which is said to include Environment Secretary Michael Gove and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, were believed to have reservations over the details of Mrs May's Withdrawal Agreement Bill. Mrs Leadsom, whose interests are listed on the Parliament website as European reform, economy and early years development, worked in the banking and finance industry for 25 years before becoming an MP. Until 2009, she spent 10 years working as part-time head of corporate governance and senior investment officer at Invesco Perpetual. After contesting the Knowsley South seat in 2005, Mrs Leadsom ousted Labour in South Northamptonshire in 2010 with a majority of just over 6,000. She was re-elected in 2015 and 2017. She was educated at Tonbridge Girls Grammar School in Kent, and read political science at Warwick University. C ommons Leader Andrea Leadsom has announced her resignation from the government over Theresa May's new Brexit proposal. Mrs Leadsom said she "no longer believed" that the government's Brexit approach "could deliver on the referendum result". In a letter written to Mrs May, Mrs Leadsom said she did not believe that the UK will be "truly sovereign" through the deal proposed, and said a second referendum would be "dangerously divisive". She also said there had been "such a breakdown of government processes that recent Brexit-related legislative proposals have not been properly scrutinised or approved by Cabinet members". A former Tory leadership candidate in 2016, Mrs Leadsom was a high-profile Brexiteer, becoming a figurehead of the Vote Leave campaign. She was one of a number of Brexit-supporting colleagues in the so-called Pizza Club who were absent for the start of Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. Andrea Leadsom resigned from the Government on Wednesday / Andrea Leadsom Posting the letter on Twitter, she wrote: "It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the Government." She said that she was "proud" to have served in Theresa May's Government since 2016 and had stayed in Cabinet "to shape and fight for Brexit" but there had been some "uncomfortable compromises along the way". She added: "The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Government's position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility." Mrs Leadsom also addressed the timing of her resignation, which falls on the eve of polling day in the European elections. She said she had decided to step down ahead of Thursday's Business Statement to the Commons because she felt she could not announce a Bill with "new elements that I fundamentally oppose". She added: "I fully respect the integrity, resolution and determination that you have shown during your time as Prime Minister. "No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our party." Her resignation, which comes amid a backlash over Theresa May's new Brexit plan, is the 36th by a minister under Mrs May, 21 of whom have been over Brexit. Andrea Leadsom resigns from the Government Mrs May said she was "sorry" to receive Mrs Leadsom's resignation letter, writing in reply that she was "grateful for the support you have given over the last three years" in working to deliver Brexit. But the Prime Minister said she disagreed with the assessment Mrs Leadsom gave about the Government's approach now. She said: "I do not agree with you that the deal which we have negotiated with the European Union means that the United Kingdom will not become a sovereign country. "If the deal is passed, the UK will leave the European Union. We will leave its Common Agricultural Policy and its Common Fisheries Policy. Mrs Leadsom said she was "proud" to have served in Mrs May's government since 2016 but "no longer believes" in its approach to Brexit / AFP/Getty Images "We will end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and make our own laws in Westminster and our devolved parliaments. "We will stop sending vast annual sums of taxpayers' money to the EU, and spend it on our priorities instead - such as our National Health Service and our children's schools." Mrs May said she agreed that a second referendum would be divisive, but said the Government was not proposing to hold one. She wrote: "I continue to believe that the arguments against a second referendum are strong and compelling, and will continue to oppose one." Andrea Leadsom, left, has resigned as Leader of the House of Commons / PA The PM said she also did not recognise what Mrs Leadsom said about decision-making in Government. "Indeed, through your own work chairing the Parliamentary Business and Legislation committee of Cabinet, you have been an important part of ensuring that Brexit-related legislative proposals are properly scrutinised, and the whole Cabinet have listened to the assessments you have given at Cabinet meetings," Mrs May said. "I have valued the frank and productive discussions we have had over the last three years. "As you say, there are important elections tomorrow, and many Conservatives are working in a challenging environment to support our excellent candidates. I am sorry to lose someone of your passion, drive and sincerity from HM Government in this way." Mrs Leadsom reportedly rang the PM to tell her she was quitting 30 minutes before she made it public, according to The Sun's Tom Newton Dunn. Commons leader quits 'with heavy heart' over Brexit The Prime Minister will meet Sir Graham Brady, the representative of Tory backbench MPs, on Friday for a meeting which could seal her fate. A Downing Street spokesman said: "Andrea Leadsom has served with distinction and great ability as a member of the Government, and the Prime Minister is grateful for all of her work. "We are disappointed that she has chosen to resign, and the Prime Minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for." Mrs Leadsom worked in finance before becoming an MP in 2006. She represents South Northamptonshire. She was appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury in 2014, and was later moved to the Department of Energy and Climate Change under Secretary of State Amber Rudd. In 2016, she stood to become leader of the Conservative Party against Mrs May, but came second in the first two ballots before withdrawing her bid. She was criticised for comments made during the race about being a mother when Mrs May was not, forcing her to apologise for being "guilty of naivety." Following a cabinet reshuffle in 2016, Mrs Leadsom was made Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She was appointed Leader of the House of Commons the following year. Commenting on Andrea Leadsom's resignation from the Cabinet, Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: "The Prime Minister's authority is shot and her time is up. "While the Tories are ripping themselves apart, our country is in crisis. For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election." Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson called it a "slap in the face" for her Tory colleagues ahead of Thursday's elections. He tweeted: "I accept that she may want to go but to do it the night before an election looks odd. It's also a slap in the face to Tory party members who are working hard to get their candidates elected tomorrow." Fellow Conservative Party MPs also described Mrs Leadsom's decision as "absolutely the right thing to do". Scottish Tory Ross Thomson tweeted: "Sad to see @andrealeadsom leave Government but absolutely the right thing to do. This new Agreement breaks the last promise that was possible to break on a second EU referendum." Another Conservative MP, Chris Heaton-Harris, tweeted: "A great shame, but completely understandable. "Tomorrow she would have had to announce a Bill containing elements (2nd referendum and Customs Union) that she simply could not support in good faith." Conservative MP Craig Tracey appeared to mock the situation as Theresa May lost a key member of her Cabinet. O n the streets of Boris Johnsons Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency, there is no shortage of disillusioned Conservatives. There are also few signs that the Boris factor will help shore up the Tory vote in this deeply suburban slice of Londons most westerly borough. Some will not turn out to vote at all, but many others will lend their vote to Nigel Farages Brexit Party . Hillingdon was one of just five London boroughs that voted Leave in the 2016 referendum, with 56.36 per cent of votes cast in favour of Britains exit from the European Union. Peter and Lesley Moorhouse For Peter Moorhouse, a Leave-supporting retired ambulance driver, these elections are a complete and utter waste of time, an absolute joke, they havent listened to the people. Mr Moorhouse, 66, was a life-long Tory voter up until Theresa Mays disastrous 2017 snap election, when he backed Ukip. He said: I think Boris is good in some respects but he is a bit of blunderbuss, all huff and puff. All the parties deserve what they get in this election, they should all have been sacked long ago. "We were in a shop the other day just trying to buy a light bulb. I wanted a 60 watt bulb, but no, the EU have ruled them out and now I have to buy an LED one. If the Government cant stop a simple thing like that, how are they going to sort out something as complex as Brexit? Ive been tearing out what hair Ive got left. If Im going to vote for anyone at this stage it would be Nigel Farage ever since I watched him a few days ago taking on the MEPs. His wife Lesley, 63, a retired purchasing manager, agrees: I think Farage will do well round here. If I was to vote in this EU thing I would vote Farage. Another former Tory who did not want to give his name said he was so disillusioned he will not bother to turn out tomorrow. The decision has been made, why are we voting for these people? Were not supposed to be in any more. People are not legally obliged to vote. I think were having the mickey taken out of us big time. As for another referendum what sort of country would it be if you can lose an election and then a few weeks later say, Oh hang on, we didnt like that, were going to have another go. But if Uxbridge looks like unpromising territory for the Conservatives, nor is there much comfort for Labour. The two parties hoovered up almost 91 per cent of the vote in the 2017 general election but will be lucky to garner a fraction of that this time. Exasperated Remainers are letting go of long-held party allegiances. European citizen: retired chemistry teacher Arthur Farrow said Leave voters 'need their heads replaced with a turnip' (Alex Lentati ) / Alex Lentati Retired chemistry teacher Arthur Farrow, 69, who has lived in Uxbridge since 1987, said he has always voted Labour but this has made it rather difficult. He added: Of course these elections should be happening anyone who voted Leave in the referendum needs their head replaced with a turnip. St Paul said civis romanus sum I am a Roman citizen. Well I am a European citizen. I feel shame for our country because of how many people regard we Remainers as traitors. The people who watched Dads Army and Colditz and Secret Army in the Seventies are all just saying lets go back to when we were great. Emily Mullin, 20, an education student at UCL who lives in Uxbridge, was too young to vote in the referendum but would have voted to stay and said Boris dropped us in it big time. She said she has rarely seen her MP in the constituency but hears he goes to primary schools a lot. She has not yet decided where her vote will go but is concerned about European workers returning home as her father owns a small business in the building trade that has already lost a number of disillusioned Polish workers. The constituency includes Brunel University, where the Lib Dems lost almost all support from students in the wake of their U-turn on tuition fees during the Coalition years. But according to Dr Elizabeth Evenden-Kenyon, who has taught at the university for 20 years, and is now the partys prospective candidate for the parliamentary constituency, young people are flooding back. T heresa Mays leadership appeared to be in collapse today as Cabinet member Michael Gove refused to confirm a Commons vote on the Brexit package she unveiled yesterday and Tory MPs stepped up calls for her to resign. Cabinet sources said ministers were urging the Prime Minister to cancel plans to stage a make-or-break Commons vote on her new Withdrawal Agreement Bill in the week starting June 3. At the same time, a new attempt was launched at the 1922 Committee to change the partys rules to allow backbench MPs to sack the Prime Minister once the results of tomorrows European Parliament elections expected to be a disaster have been counted. But more worryingly for the PM, demands for her to go were spreading beyond the regular critics to a range of mainstream MPs. Her first defeat could be on the timing of the Withdrawal Bill, which is due to be voted on after the Whitsun recess. Prime Minister Theresa May leaves the venue after announcing her new Brexit deal / AFP/Getty Images Mr Gove appeared to slam on the brakes by calling for a period of reflection adding: I think it is important for all of us just to take a step back and consider what the options are. Asked by the Today programmes Mishal Husain specifically, Are we definitely going to have a vote in the week of June 3 on this Bill? he replied: I think we will reflect over the course of the next few days on how people look at the proposition that has been put forward. Michael Gove refused to confirm a Commons vote on the Brexit package / BBC He added: I think that, rather than saying anything precipitate, I think everyone should take an opportunity to reflect on what the PM will say later today and look at the Bill. No 10 sources warned against reading Mr Goves reply as signalling a retreat from a vote. But some Tories thought Mr Gove was suggesting the vote should be delayed until a new leader could bring it before the Commons. TODO: define component type apester Moreover, Cabinet sources indicated that some other ministers were worried that the vote would be lost if it goes ahead under Mrs May, leaving her successor with the added problem of having to stage a Queens Speech before such a Bill could be returned to the House. A new push by Tory MPs to remove Mrs May from office was building up steam. Nigel Evans, an executive member of the 1922 Committee, was planning to ask for a ballot of backbenchers on whether the rules should be changed which would be seen as a vote of confidence in Mrs May. He told the Standard: Her 10-point plan on Brexit was like 10 more nails in our European election coffin. The mood in the party is beyond belief. Bob Blackman, a member of the 1922 executive, told The Standard: Clearly continuing in this current situation is not feasible. There is no point in having a vote on something that we end up with a catastrophic defeat. After the European elections, we will have to see what the position is about the Prime Ministers future. Mark Francois, the vice-chair of the European Research Group, said: Theresa May s big bold offer was dead on arrival at St Thomass hospital. It has totally bombed with colleagues. We are now in the end game and the sooner she resigns the better. Culture committee chairman Damian Collins, a moderate, said: I think we have to recognise that the support is not there to allow the withdrawal Bill to pass and that this process has failed. It is time to move on and allow a wider debate on how this should be resolved before we leave the EU at the end of October. Mrs Mays chances of an escape looked bleak as Labours Sir Keir Starmer branded her too weak to deliver a Brexit deal, and her DUP ally Sammy Wilson ruled out backing her Bill, on the grounds that we will not vote for our own destruction. Tory grandee Sir Oliver Heald said it was worthwhile putting the Withdrawal Bill to a vote but warned that if it is rejected then the Prime Minister would have no choice but to go quickly. Mrs May has less than 24 hours to decide whether to push on or retreat because the vote is due to be confirmed in tomorrows Commons business statement. European election results are due Sunday night. A new poll today predicted disaster for both Labour and the Conservatives. YouGov had the Tories in fifth place on a humiliating seven per cent, with Labour in third place behind the Lib Dems on 13. Nigel Farage was ahead on 38 per cent. C abinet ministers were this afternoon discussing sending a delegation to tell Theresa May she should resign after botching her last chance at a Brexit deal. At least four ministers were said to be in talks about calling time on the Prime Minister after her attempt to get cross-party backing for a new plan hit a wall of opposition. The executive of the 1922 Committee were meeting with the chief whip at 5.30pm on Wednesday, before Tory MPs were due to join the meeting at 6pm. Environment Secretary Michael Gove gave an apparent hint that a big Commons vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, due in the week of June 3, should be pulled. Sources said several Cabinet ministers agreed with him that the vital Bill should be kept back for a new Tory leader to manage. Michael Gove is among ministers concerned that Mrs May is heading for a defeat that would damage the chances of a Brexit deal being reached / BBC A Cabinet minister told the Standard: There are moves against her in Cabinet under way. The minister added: The Bill will never be voted on. Ministers concerned that Mrs May is heading for a defeat that would damage the chances of a Brexit deal being reached were said to include Mr Gove, Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox and Treasury minister Liz Truss. In the Commons, Mrs May pleaded with MPs to back her Bill. But numerous Tory MPs today were calling on her to ditch it and resign quickly. A new attempt was launched at the 1922 Committee to change the partys rules to allow backbench MPs to sack the Prime Minister once the results of tomorrows European Parliament elections expected to be a disaster have been counted. Tory MPs sat in virtual silence when the Prime Minister entered the Commons chamber for weekly Questions. Theresa May delivers final plea to MPs to back her deal One senior Tory MP ran his finger across his throat, like a knife, as Mrs May was on her feet defending her 10-point deal. SNP group leader Ian Blackford sniped: Look at the benches behind you ... Her time is up. An unusually high number of Cabinet ministers appeared to be away for the start of PMQs, including Mrs Leadsom and Mr Fox. Ms Leadsom eventually turned up nearly 40 minutes late. Ian Blackford sniped: Look at the benches behind you ... Her time is up. / PA Demands for her to go were spreading beyond the regular critics to a range of mainstream MPs. Her first defeat could be on the timing of the Withdrawal Bill, due to be voted on after the Whitsun recess. Mr Gove appeared to slam on the brakes by calling for a period of reflection, adding: I think it is important for all of us just to take a step back and consider what the options are. Asked by the Today programmes Mishal Husain specifically, Are we definitely going to have a vote in the week of June 3 on this Bill? he replied: I think we will reflect over the course of the next few days on how people look at the proposition that has been put forward. He added: I think that, rather than saying anything precipitate, I think everyone should take an opportunity to reflect on what the PM will say later today and look at the Bill. No 10 sources warned against reading Mr Goves reply as signalling a retreat from a vote. But some Tories thought he was suggesting the vote be delayed until a new leader could bring it before the Commons. Moreover, Cabinet sources indicated that some other ministers were worried the vote would be lost if it goes ahead under Mrs May, leaving her successor to stage a Queens Speech before such a Bill could be returned to the House. A new push by Tory MPs to remove Mrs May from office was building up steam, with Nigel Evans, an executive member of the 1922 Committee, planning to ask for a ballot of backbenchers on whether the rules should be changed which would be seen as a vote of confidence in Mrs May. He told the Standard: Her 10-point plan on Brexit was like 10 more nails in our European election coffin.. Mark Francois, vice-chair of the European Research Group, said: Theresa Mays big bold offer was dead on arrival at St Thomas hospital... we are now in the end game and the sooner she resigns the better. Labours Sir Keir Starmer branded Mrs May too weak to deliver a Brexit deal, and her DUP ally Sammy Wilson ruled out backing her Bill, on the grounds that we will not vote for our own destruction. Mrs May has less than 24 hours to decide to push on or retreat, as the vote is due to be confirmed in tomorrows Commons business statement. European election results are due on Sunday night, as a new poll today predicted disaster for both Labour and the Conservatives. Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with a delegation of the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations in Beijing, capital of China, May 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei) BEIJING, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Vice Premier Han Zheng on Tuesday met with a delegation of the Hong Kong Federation of Fujian Associations, in Beijing. Han, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, spoke highly of the federation's contribution in promoting exchanges and cooperation between Hong Kong and the mainland and the safeguarding prosperity and stability of Hong Kong. Han called on members of the federation to unite with people from all walks of life in Hong Kong, firmly safeguard China's sovereignty, security and development interests, and promote the cause of "one country, two systems." The central government fully supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government in amending the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Ordinance, Han said. The central government believes that the HKSAR government's efforts and the public's rational discussions will help dispel doubts and build consensus in Hong Kong, the vice premier added. The federation is a non-profit organization formed by more than 100 Hong Kong-based Fujian communities in 1997. T heresa May has hit back after Commons leader Andrea Leadsom blasted her Brexit plan and dramatically resigned from the government in protest. The Prime Minister said she was sorry to receive Mrs Leadsoms letter of resignation but that she did not agree with her assessment of EU divorce proposals. Mrs Leadsom said she "no longer believed" that the government's Brexit approach "could deliver on the referendum result" and that the UK will not be "truly sovereign" under the plans. Responding in writing to Mrs Leadsoms letter, Mrs May said: "I do not agree with you that the deal which we have negotiated with the European Union means that the United Kingdom will not become a sovereign country. Andrea Leadsom, left, has resigned as Leader of the House of Commons / PA "If the deal is passed, the UK will leave the European Union. We will leave its Common Agricultural Policy and its Common Fisheries Policy. "We will end the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and make our own laws in Westminster and our devolved parliaments. "We will stop sending vast annual sums of taxpayers' money to the EU, and spend it on our priorities instead - such as our National Health Service and our children's schools." Andrea Leadsom resigned from the Government on Wednesday / Andrea Leadsom Mrs May said she agreed that a second referendum would be divisive, but said the Government was not proposing to hold one. She wrote: "I continue to believe that the arguments against a second referendum are strong and compelling, and will continue to oppose one." The PM said she also did not recognise what Mrs Leadsom said about decision-making in Government. Leadsom: a second referendum would be "dangerously divisive" / EPA "Indeed, through your own work chairing the Parliamentary Business and Legislation committee of Cabinet, you have been an important part of ensuring that Brexit-related legislative proposals are properly scrutinised, and the whole Cabinet have listened to the assessments you have given at Cabinet meetings," Mrs May said. "I have valued the frank and productive discussions we have had over the last three years. "As you say, there are important elections tomorrow, and many Conservatives are working in a challenging environment to support our excellent candidates. I am sorry to lose someone of your passion, drive and sincerity from H In her letter to Mrs May, Mrs Leadsom said a second referendum would be "dangerously divisive". Andrea Leadsom pictured alongside Theresa May in the Commons / AFP/Getty Images She also said there had been "such a breakdown of government processes that recent Brexit-related legislative proposals have not been properly scrutinised or approved by Cabinet members". A former Tory leadership candidate in 2016, Mrs Leadsom was a high-profile Brexiteer, becoming a figurehead of the Vote Leave campaign. She was one of a number of Brexit-supporting colleagues in the so-called Pizza Club who were absent for the start of Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. Posting the letter on Twitter, she wrote: "It is with great regret and a heavy heart that I have decided to resign from the Government." Andrea Leadsom: It is appalling to consider another referendum She said that she was "proud" to have served in Theresa May's Government since 2016 and had stayed in Cabinet "to shape and fight for Brexit" but there had been some "uncomfortable compromises along the way". She added: "The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Government's position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility." Mrs Leadsom also addressed the timing of her resignation, which falls on the eve of polling day in the European elections. She said she had decided to step down ahead of Thursday's Business Statement to the Commons because she felt she could not announce a Bill with "new elements that I fundamentally oppose". Andrea Leadsom became the 36th minister to resign under Theresa May / EPA She added: "I fully respect the integrity, resolution and determination that you have shown during your time as Prime Minister. "No one has wanted you to succeed more than I have, but I do now urge you to make the right decisions in the interests of the country, this Government and our party." Her resignation is the 36th by a minister under Mrs May, 21 of whom have been over Brexit. Mrs Leadsom reportedly rang the PM to tell her she was quitting 30 minutes before she made it public, according to The Sun's Tom Newton Dunn. The beleaguered Prime Minister is facing growing calls to resign / EPA The Prime Minister will meet Sir Graham Brady, the representative of Tory backbench MPs, on Friday for a meeting which could seal her fate. A Downing Street spokesman said: "Andrea Leadsom has served with distinction and great ability as a member of the Government, and the Prime Minister is grateful for all of her work. "We are disappointed that she has chosen to resign, and the Prime Minister remains focused on delivering the Brexit people voted for." Mrs Leadsom worked in finance before becoming an MP in 2006. She represents South Northamptonshire. She was appointed Economic Secretary to the Treasury in 2014, and was later moved to the Department of Energy and Climate Change under Secretary of State Amber Rudd. In 2016, she stood to become leader of the Conservative Party against Mrs May, but came second in the first two ballots before withdrawing her bid. She was criticised for comments made during the race about being a mother when Mrs May was not, forcing her to apologise for being "guilty of naivety." Following a cabinet reshuffle in 2016, Mrs Leadsom was made Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. She was appointed Leader of the House of Commons the following year. Commenting on Andrea Leadsom's resignation from the Cabinet, Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: "The Prime Minister's authority is shot and her time is up. Countdown to Brexit: 162 days until Britain leaves the EU "While the Tories are ripping themselves apart, our country is in crisis. For the sake of the country, Theresa May needs to go, and we need an immediate general election." Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson called it a "slap in the face" for her Tory colleagues ahead of Thursday's elections. He tweeted: "I accept that she may want to go but to do it the night before an election looks odd. It's also a slap in the face to Tory party members who are working hard to get their candidates elected tomorrow." Fellow Conservative Party MPs also described Mrs Leadsom's decision as "absolutely the right thing to do". Scottish Tory Ross Thomson tweeted: "Sad to see @andrealeadsom leave Government but absolutely the right thing to do. This new Agreement breaks the last promise that was possible to break on a second EU referendum." Another Conservative MP, Chris Heaton-Harris, tweeted: "A great shame, but completely understandable. "Tomorrow she would have had to announce a Bill containing elements (2nd referendum and Customs Union) that she simply could not support in good faith." Conservative MP Craig Tracey appeared to mock the situation as Theresa May lost a key member of her Cabinet. T heresa May will face hostile MPs in the Commons today as she sets out her latest Brexit deal. The Prime Ministers 10-point compromise plan put forward on Monday has been dismissed by every group she was attempting to win over, including Labour, the DUP and Tory Brexiteers. The last-ditch attempt to shore up support included offering a vote on whether to hold a second referendum, as well as a choice over the UK's future customs arrangements. The deal was spurned as dead on arrival by Conservative Mark Francois, the ERGs vice-chairman. Theresa May delivers a speech setting out a new proposal for her Brexit deal / EPA Wednesday is also the last day of European election campaigning and Tories are bracing themselves for an electoral slaughter as traditional Conservative voters switch to the Brexit Party in their droves. Nigel Farages Brexit Party is currently topping the polls, with a seven-day rolling average on Tuesday predicting they will take home 34% of the vote on Thursday. While Mrs May's misery continues, Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable is enjoying the prospect of a long-awaited bounce in his party's fortunes. He will be campaigning in Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's constituency of Islington, north London, before travelling to Edinburgh and Cambridge, as he urges Remain voters to lend his party their votes.. TODO: define component type apester Meanwhile, Mrs May's move to appeal to Remainer MPs has seen about 20 Conservatives, who held their noses to back her deal last time, announce they cannot vote for the latest version - including leadership frontrunners Boris Johnson and Dominic Raab. Mr Johnson tweeted: "With great reluctance I backed MV3. Now we are being asked to vote for a customs union and a second referendum. "The Bill is directly against our manifesto - and I will not vote for it. We can and must do better - and deliver what the people voted for." Brexiteer Cabinet ministers are understood to be trying to persuade Mrs May to ditch the fourth attempt to pass her deal, warning the vote will end in yet another humiliating defeat. And the beleaguered prime minister faces a fresh bid to boot her out of Downing Street from the 1922 backbenchers' committee, which meets later Wednesday. Tory MP Nigel Evans, who sits on the 1922 executive, told the Sun: "I will be asking my colleagues on the '22 executive tomorrow to agree to a rule change so we can hold an immediate confidence vote if Theresa is not prepared to stand down now." Mrs May announced her "new Brexit deal" on Tuesday after a stormy two-hour meeting with her Cabinet in Downing Street, in which some ministers were said to be on the brink of resignation. Theresa May: MPs will get vote on whether to hold second referendum Theresa May: MPs will get vote on whether to hold second referendum She said there was "one last chance" for MPs to deliver on the result of the 2016 referendum and take the UK out of the European Union, and announced a new Bill would be published in the next few days, As well as a vote on a second referendum, MPs will also be offered a choice over the UK's future customs arrangements after talks with Labour collapsed, in part because of the failure to agree on the issue. They will choose between the Government's existing proposal, which allows the UK to keep an independent trade policy but delivers some of the benefits of a customs union, or a full - but temporary - customs union with the EU which critics warn would leave the UK unable to strike trade deals with countries around the world. In an appeal to MPs, she said that the "biggest problem with Britain today is its politics" but with the right Brexit deal "we can end this corrosive debate". Mrs May appealed to MPs to back her 'new deal' / AP Downing Street sources said it had not yet been decided whether MPs would be offered a free vote on whether to require a second referendum to "confirm" the deal. But Mrs May left little doubt that she would oppose it, warning that delaying the Brexit process for months more - perhaps indefinitely - risked "opening the door to a nightmare future of permanently polarised politics". In a message to MPs she said: "Reject this deal and leaving the EU with a negotiated deal any time soon will be dead in the water." Mrs May has staked her political future on the deal, with the timetable for her exit from Number 10 due to be decided following the vote on the WAB. Prime Minister Theresa May / Getty Images But her hopes of success suffered early blows, with the Democratic Unionist Party, Tory Brexiteers and Labour all lining up to attack the proposals. Critics pointed out that there was nothing in the Bill which required the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated with Brussels to be reopened. DUP parliamentary leader Nigel Dodds said: "We will examine the legislation closely when the Bill is finally published but the fundamental flaws of the draft Withdrawal Agreement treaty itself remain unchanged. "Many of the proposals on the backstop serve as an attempt through domestic law to mitigate a bad deal, whereas the focus should be on getting a better deal." Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "We will of course look seriously at the details of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill when it is published. "But we won't back a repackaged version of the same old deal - and it's clear that this weak and disintegrating government is unable to deliver on its own commitments." T heresa May has unveiled her new ten-point Brexit plan to MPs, insisting it is the one last chance to deliver the result of the 2016 referendum. Politicians from across of the political spectrum disagree with the British Prime Minister and say they will not vote for the revised plan, with Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn describing it as a "rehash of her old bad deal". The Brexit Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) is the legally binding part of the Brexit deal that covers exit terms including money, the transition period, citizens' rights and the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. If the WAB passes when it is put to a vote in the House of Commons in early June bringing the withdrawal agreement negotiated with the EU into UK law then Brexit could happen before the 31 October deadline. Politicians react to Theresa May's speech on Brexit But what are the ten points of the PMs new 100-page WAB? And does the PMs last-ditch attempt at a deal have any chance of getting through Parliament? 1. Alternative arrangements for the Irish backstop What is it? A pledge to conclude fresh arrangements for the Northern Irish border by December 2020 most likely using technology to ensure the controversial backstop never needs to be used. What will it mean? The plan commits the government to avoid implementing a hard border in Northern Ireland, even if there is no customs union. Who will it convince? It is aimed to please Tory Brexiteers and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), but many have already accused the alternative arrangements of being too vague. Plus, there is no guarantee that the EU will approve them even if the UK does. 2. Keeping Great Britain aligned with Northern Ireland What is it? A promise that Northern Ireland will stay aligned with the rest of the UK on regulations and custom, even if the backstop does come into force. What will it mean? It confirms that the UK and Northern Ireland wont be separated by a border in the Irish Sea. Who will it convince? Again, it is aimed to please the DUP and Tory Brexiteers but it already seems to hold little weight with them. 3. MPs approval on negotiating objectives and final treaties What is it? An assurance to MPs that they have the final say on the UKs future relationship with the EU. What will it mean? MPs will be given the power to set terms for the next phase of talks with the EU and will get a vote on whether or not to approve the final deal. Who will it convince? It is intended to please a broad range of MPs by guaranteeing they will play a major role in the final negotiations. However, it was already expected to be included in the bill so is unlikely to win over any new supporters. 4. Workers Rights Bill What is it? A guarantee that employment rights in the UK will not lag behind those in the EU. What will it mean? Pensions, holiday pay and minimum redundancy terms will be no less favourable than those of workers in the EU after Brexit. Who will it convince? It is aimed at Labour MPs in Leave seats but, given that it has already been promised several times, it is unlikely to turn many new heads. 5. Environmental standards protection What is it? A pledge that the UK will see no change in the level of environmental protection after Brexit. What will it mean? Environmental standards will not fall behind the EUs, with a new independent watchdog, the Office of Environmental Protection, introduced to enforce it. Who will it convince? It is geared at Labour MPs and green-minded Tories. However, the promised watchdog is the only aspect of the bill which presents something new. 6. Frictionless trade What is it? A promise to seek as close to frictionless trade in goods with the EU as possible while outside the single market and ending free movement. What will it mean? The end of EU citizens automatic right to work in the UK Mrs Mays central pledge. Who will it convince? It is aimed at reassuring Tory and Labour MPs for whom free movement is a big electoral issue, but ultimately represents a reiteration of the PMs longstanding commitments so nothing new. 7. Just-in time supply chains What is it? A guarantee to match EU rules for goods and agrifood products that might otherwise face border checks. What will it mean? It will minimise checks at UK ports on goods being exported into the EU by UK companies thus avoiding excess delays for businesses. It will also protect thousands of jobs that depend on just-in-time supply chains. Who will it convince? It is geared at Labour MPs in Leave seats who are worried about Brexits economic disruption, but some will question whether it can be delivered. 8. A customs compromise What is it? MPs will be given a binding vote on post-Brexit customs arrangements What will it mean? MPs will be given a binding vote on whether there should be a permanent customs union with the EU after Brexit, a temporary one, or Mrs Mays custom arrangements. Who will it convince? Some Tory MPs dislike the prospect of even a temporary customs union, while Labour MPs want a permanent one, which is still unlikely to be approved. 9. Second referendum What is it? A guarantee of a Commons vote on whether the final deal should be subject to a referendum. What will it mean? The PM is giving in she opposed s a second referendum but is committing to giving MPs a vote on one. Who will it convince? It is aimed to please MPs who insist the UK should only leave the EU after a second public vote. However, many want a full guarantee of a new public vote, while opponents resent the concession. 10. Changes to political declaration What is it? A legal duty to secure the necessary changes to the political declaration to reflect the new deal. What will it mean? The political declaration will shape the future negotiations with the EU, but it does not carry the same weight as the withdrawal agreement, which the EU will not reopen. A ctor and senior Labour figure Michael Cashman resigned from the party today declaring he will back the Liberal Democrats in the European elections tomorrow. In a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn, he added that he could not trust the Labour leader or his close aides on the defining issue in post-war Britain. Lord Cashman, a former MEP and EastEnders actor, contrasted Mr Corbyns fence-sitting on a second referendum with the Lib Dems absolute consistency in backing one. I think Ive just resigned from the Labour party by declaring that I will support the Liberal Democrats in the European elections, he tweeted. I cant trust Corbyn or the people around him on the defining issue in postwar Britain so on Thursday I will not be voting for the Labour Party. Polls suggest voters are deserting Labour for the Lib-Dems and the Greens because of its failure to back giving the public another say on Brexit, with one YouGov survey today showing Sir Vince Cables party six points ahead of Mr Corbyns. Sir Vince took the Lib-Dem campaign into the Labour leaders Islington North constituency today, saying: We are here in Jeremy Corbyns back yard, usually solid Labour territory, but Labour red is turning Lib-Dem yellow every day. A second Conservative peer, David Camerons former director of strategy Lord Cooper, announced today that he would be backing the Lib Dems. He said: The Tory party is going to plunge into oblivion if it continues on the path of trying to out-Brexit the Brexit Party. Lord Cooper later had the Tory whip suspended as happened to former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine after he said he would be supporting Sir Vinces party. Former prime minister Sir John Major said the sheer folly of suspending Michael Heseltine from the Conservative whip defies both logic and belief. Former Cabinet Secretary Lord ODonnell is also backing the Lib Dems tomorrow. A Labour Party spokeswoman said today: Labour supporters voted both Leave and Remain, and every other party in these European elections is only interested in appealing to either one side or the other of that divide, defining everybody by the referendum result in 2016. N igel Farage became trapped on his Brexit Party bus today amid fears people gathered around it were carrying milkshakes, according to local reports. The party leader was visiting Kent on Wednesday to drum up support ahead of the European elections. He was forced to take cover on the bus after three individuals were spotted with the drinks in Rochester, Kent Live reported. It comes after the party leader was drenched by a caramel milkshake while campaigning in Newcastle. Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage / EPA Driver Michael Botton told the newspaper: "There are a couple of guys standing over there with milkshakes, they were going to throw them over him. But the police are there, weve spotted them and now Nigel isnt getting off the bus. The Brexit Party leader is understood to have got off the bus later but stayed close to the vehicle as he spoke to reporters. Earlier this week Mr Farage was struck by a milkshake while on a walkabout in Newcastle city centre. His suit was left covered in the drink following the incident at around 1pm on Monday and he was quickly hurried away from the scene by staff. On Tuesday, Northumbria Police said that 32-year-old Paul Crowther has been charged with common assault and criminal damage. T he Brexit Party's finances are still being scrutinised by the Electoral Commission, the watchdog has confirmed. The Electoral Commission visited Nigel Farage's party's headquarters on Tuesday as part of its "ongoing" review into its funding model, amid concerns over where the donations were coming from. A spokesman said the regulator saw no evidence of electoral offences during the trip. But the watchdog also said on Wednesday that the review has not been closed and would continue beyond Thursday's European election. Former prime minister Gordon Brown had called for a probe into the party's finances, claiming "dirty money" could be being passed to the party by foreign organisations attempting to influence UK politics. The Electoral Commission spokesman said: "Our review of the systems in operation by the Brexit Party is ongoing. This will inform our regulatory work following the European Parliamentary elections and any recommendations we make to the party. "We will also make any recommendations on the wider issue of the workings of the political finance rules in our statutory report on the administration of the poll." The spokesman said raising small donations and using online platforms was "legitimate" and "increasingly common in politics". Former prime minister Gordon Brown called for a probe into the finances of the Brexit Party / Getty Images However, he added: "Both open up additional risk in relation to compliance with UK political finance law. "This risk is that it increases the potential for individuals or organisations to evade the permissibility rules, which primarily seek to prevent significant sums entering UK politics from overseas. "It is the responsibility of any organisation adopting such an approach, and campaigning to influence people's votes at an election, to ensure it has the systems in place to maintain its compliance with the law." Meanwhile, a complaint alleging Nigel Farage failed to declare donations from Leave campaigner Arron Banks will be investigated by the European Parliament. The allegation, made by Liberal Democrat MEP Catherine Bearder to European Parliament president Antonio Tajani, came off the back of reports by Channel 4 News that Mr Banks spent around 450,000 on Mr Farage in the year after the 2016 EU referendum. MEPs are obliged under EU rules to declare payments made to them, as well as any other support given by third parties. On Tuesday, Mr Tajani passed the issue to an advisory committee of five MEPs that investigates the conduct of members. When confronted by Channel 4 News on Tuesday about the alleged donation, Mr Farage told the broadcaster: "I've taken no money at all, no cash at all of any kind, zero. "I might have used the house. I have been to a party in America but I've taken no money at all." When asked if he should have declared anything, Mr Farage replied: "No. Because it's nothing to do with politics." A Brexit Party spokesman said: "We believe in continuous improvement and welcome constructive recommendations from the Electoral Commission to enhance our processes and procedures." T heresa May has set out a 10-point compromise package ahead of another attempt to secure approval for a deal which has already been rejected three times by MPs. In a speech at PWC in London on Tuesday, Mrs May said MPs would get a vote on a second referendum under the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB). In a move likely to anger Brexiteers, she also said it would be left to Parliament to decide what type of customs arrangements the UK would have in the future with the EU. However, MPs from both side of the Brexit divide quickly slammed the revised version with many who voted for Mrs May's deal last time saying they will not do so again. AP What's new in the PM's new deal? She is committing to a vote on whether to hold another referendum, as well as pledging to maintain workers' rights and environmental protections. MPs will also be offered a choice over the UK's future customs arrangements. Prime Minister Theresa May leaves after making a speech in central London on her latest Brexit plans. / PA Does it stand any better chance than her previous attempts? Not really. MPs appear unlikely to compromise, as both Remain and Leave sides sense victory could be near. What do MPs think of it? The reaction from many Tory Brexiteers who backed her deal last time has been to say they will not support her this time. Meanwhile, the Labour MPs she was trying to woo appear to be unmoved. Boris Johnson was reportedly one of 13 signatories. / REUTERS What happens if it finally gets through? Mrs May has pledged to stand down as Tory leader if the deal passes, and a leadership contest would begin, with Boris Johnson currently the favourite to replace her. What happens if it doesn't? B ritish Steel collapsed into liquidation today putting up to 25,000 jobs at risk. The devastating failure of one of the biggest names in British industry came after last ditch rescue talks with the Government over a 30 million lifeline ended wih no deal. It makes British Steel the biggest corporate victim yet of the fall-out from Brexit. The company had been struggling to renew orders with European customers amid uncertainty over future trading relations with the EU. The Governments Official Receiver has now taken take control of the company after it was wound up in the High Court this morning. The British Steel works in Scunthorpe / REUTERS Three insolvency specialists from accountancy firm EY will take on the role of special managers tasked with trying to find a buyer for the business. Unions and Labour called on ministers to nationalise the company, an option that ministers ruled out as illegal. Theresa May said it would have been unlawful for the Government to bail out British Steel at PMQs today. She said: Obviously we recognise that this is a worrying time for the thousands of dedicated British Steel workers and their families, but also those in the supply chain and local communities. She told MPs: We can only act within the law and it is clear that it would be unlawful to provide a guarantee or loan on the terms requested by the company. British Steel collapses: What you need to know Business Secretary Greg Clark said: This will be a deeply worrying time for the thousands of dedicated British Steel workers, those in the supply chain and local communities. In the days and weeks ahead, I will be working with the Official Receiver and a British Steel support group of management, trade unions, companies in the supply chain and local communities, to pursue remorselessly every possible step to secure the future of the valuable operations in sites at Scunthorpe, Skinningrove and on Teesside. The collapse comes just three weeks after the government gave British Steel an emergency 120m loan to cover an EU bill for carbon dioxide emissions. The companys main plant is in Scunthorpe - one of only two blast furnace steelworks left in the UK - but it also has sites in Cumbria, Teesside, Cumbria and North Yorkshire. In a statement the Official Receiver said: The immediate priority following my appointment as liquidator of British Steel is to continue safe operation of the site. I appreciate that this a difficult time for the companys employees and I want to thank them for their ongoing cooperation. The company in liquidation is continuing to trade and supply its customers while I consider options for the business. Staff have been paid and will continue to be employed. British Steel was sold by its former owners the Indian conglomerate Tata to Knightsbridge based private equity firm Greybull Capital for 1 in June 2016. T he father of the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena bombing has said he is still looking for answers on the second anniversary of the attack. The inquests into the victims deaths have been delayed while authorities await the extradition from Libya of Hashem Abedi, the brother of suicide bomber Salman Abedi, who detonated the device during the Ariana Grande concert on 22 May 2017. But Andrew Roussos, whose eight-year-old daughter Saffie was the youngest of 22 victims killed in the attack, expressed his frustration as the relatives wait for answers. A girl is comforted during a two minute silence is observed in memory of the victims in Saint Anne's Square. / Getty Images He told Sky News: "We're all waiting for this inquest so we can voice our anger or our concerns or have answers to our questions and it keeps getting put back and put back and put back and we're all exploding inside. "We need to start the inquests to get the answers that we want. Messages are written ahead of a two minute silence in memory of the victims of the Manchester Bombing in Saint Anne's Square. / Getty Images A two minute silence was held in Saint Anne's Square on Wednesday to commemorate two years since the 22 victims died in the attack. A two minute silence was held in memory of the victims / Getty Images Survivor Adam Lawler, whose friend Olivia Campbell-Hardy, 15, was one of the victims, told the broadcaster he wanted to see Hashem face justice. He said: "I think the main thing right now that would unify a lot of people is bringing him to justice. "I won't say his name because he doesn't deserve the gratification of a name, so bringing him over, putting him to justice in our system, putting him to justice in any system where he cannot harm people, he cannot be allowed to freely walk about." An extradition request for Hashem was granted in October 2017 but he is yet to return to the UK. F ormer employees of Jamie Oliver's restaurant empire were left in tears at finding out they were losing their jobs, after the business announced it was going into administration yesterday. Some members of staff at the TV chef's restaurants claimed they were given the news in a conference call, after receiving an email an hour beforehand. Mr Oliver said he was deeply saddened after putting his restaurant business into administration, with all but three of its 25 outlets closing immediately. One employee, who asked not to be named, said he didnt blame the 43-year-old chef personally. A sign pictured in the window of Jamie's Italian in Liverpool / PA A former senior employee told The Times: "I don't blame Jamie. When I worked there he was inspirational and there is a lot of great things he can still do. He was in a difficult position." But other employees lashed out at Mr Oliver. A former staff member, who asked not to be named, told the Mirror: Im really angry. Jamie wont be the one looking for a job and struggling to pay his bills, itll be on saps like us who worked for him. Some employees have claimed they were in tears after they were told by a conference call they were losing their jobs. Workers have claimed they were given less than an hour's notice by an email the call was going to take place. Gianetto, 29, a waiter at the London Bridge branch of the chain said: "It was so sudden....we deserve better notice than this, it was ridiculous." Posting on Facebook following the announcement, Mr Oliver wrote: Im devastated that our much-loved UK restaurants have gone into administration. L osses to bank transfer scams are spiralling out of control with 674 lost every minute, Which? has warned. Shocking figures from the consumer champion reveal that 40,445 is typically lost every hour due to scam victims being tricked into transferring money to a fraudster. Around 354 million has been lost in the last year alone - most of it stolen from personal accounts, Which? said. People who are tricked into making a bank transfer themselves, perhaps because they believed an email, text or cold call from a fraudster was from a legitimate body, have ended up losing large amounts of money. Which? is now calling on banks to make sure no blameless victim ever faces a gruelling battle to get their money back again by signing up to a new voluntary industry code. Taking effect from May 28, the code aims to help strengthen standards for customer protection and reimbursement. Firms signing up to it pledged to reimburse victims of these scams - known as authorised push payment (APP) fraud - in any scenario where the customer has met the minimum standards expected of them under the code. Ahead of its launch, Which? has written to UK Finance demanding that the industry meets certain "tests" to ensure progress towards the overall goal of halting bank transfer scams. It said last year, just 23% of losses were returned, meaning many victims were left out of pocket by increasingly sophisticated scams. Gareth Shaw, head of money at Which?, said: "For too long, victims of bank transfer fraud have lost life-changing sums and subsequently faced a gruelling battle to get their money back. "By adopting this code, banks must offer much greater protection to consumers, while quickly and fairly reimbursing those who are unfortunate enough to fall victim. "Failure to do so will require swift intervention from the regulator - as these devastating scams can't be allowed to derail lives any longer." The tests Which? wants to see include no blameless victim being left out of pocket again, and full refunds being issued swiftly. Banks must show they are serious about protecting consumers by immediately agreeing to a long-term funding solution for "no blame" refunds, Which? said. Which? also wants to see banks publish victim and reimbursement figures on a regular basis to allow effective monitoring in the fight against transfer fraud. Stephen Jones, chief executive, UK Finance, said: "It is vital that we get the right outcome for customers by ensuring that customers making payments are not penalised for the criminal actions of others even in circumstances where the payment services provider has done everything reasonably expected of it to protect the customer under the code. "This is why the industry has committed to provide initial funding from the implementation of the code on May 28 until the end of 2019 to reimburse customers of signatory firms even in those situations where both the customer and their payment service provider meet the required standards set out in the code, the so-called 'no blame' scenario. "This initial 'no blame' funding is intended to provide the necessary time for the industry to work with the regulators and Government to deliver sustainable long-term funding for this reimbursement fund by January 2020. "We hope the Payment Systems Regulator will do everything in its power to support the industry to ensure a long-term solution can be introduced, including using its regulatory powers if required, to ensure a sustainable 'no blame' funding solution." He said the industry will continue to "fight fraud on every front" to protect customers. Another initiative in the pipeline is "confirmation of payee" - a name-checking service which will make it easier for people sending payments to make sure they are going to the right recipient. The Payment Systems Regulator has proposed that the UK's six biggest banking groups, which are involved in around 90% of bank transfers, fully put the confirmation of payee measures in place by March 31 2020. Confirmation of payee works by making sure the name of the account someone is sending money to matches the name they have entered. W ayne Rooney has been left disappointed after his brother Graham was filmed with smiling with his arm around Tommy Robinson in a pub toilet. The footage shows 31-year-old Graham in a white t-shirt with his arm over Mr Robinson, who shouts go on Rooney for the camera. Mr Robinson, who is running to be an MEP, is seen smiling for the camera throughout while he speaks to Graham. Graham looks into the camera but is silent throughout the clip. Following the footage emerging, a source told The Sun that Wayne was angry and disappointed. Wayne Rooney is 'disappointed' with his brother / Getty Images They said: Wayne has no truck with Tommy Robinson or his politics. All he can hope is that his brother wasnt fully aware of who he was with and what he was doing. While another friend said the 33-year-old former England star would be furious. They told The Sun: Wayne has spent the last 17 years sharing dressing rooms with players from every creed, colour and race. He will be furious about what Graham has done. He has brought shame on the family name. The clip from Liverpool emerged after Mr Robinson visited Merseyside to promote his campaign. His trail throughout the country has seen multiple clashes with counter protesters, while he was also hit by a milkshake as he canvassed for votes. R eed Morano's upcoming Amazon series The Power has pulled out of filming in Georgia after a controversial bill was passed in Alabama which effects a near-total ban on abortion in the state. Morano said it "felt wrong" to shoot the project - based on the Naomi Alderman novel that sees women become the dominant gender - in a state that has moved to severely restrict terminations. Scouts had been scoping out locations in Savannah for filming but the process was halted when Governor Brian Kemp signed the law on May 7. "It feels wrong for a reason. And it felt wrong to us to go ahead and make our show and take money/tax credit from a state that is taking this stance on the abortion issue," Morano wrote on Instagram. "We just couldnt do it." Rights activists hold a rally against restrictive new abortion laws / REUTERS Georgia became the fourth US state this year to make abortion illegal as soon as a foetal heartbeat can be detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The Power isn't the only project to pull out of the state as a result of the ban. On Tuesday, Time magazine reported that shooting in Georgia for feature film Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar by Bridesmaids dream-team Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo has also been cancelled. Morano and Wiig join a growing number of Hollywood heavyweights, including Charmed star Alyssa Milano, calling for a boycott on the state's lucrative film industry. 92,000 people are employed in film in Georgia, according to Time magazine, and the industry created $9.5 billion in wealth last year. A growing number of Democrats are piling the pressure on House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi to demand the launch of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Ms Pelosi, the most powerful Democrat in Washington, was meeting with a rebel group today amid mounting calls from rank-and-file Democrats to move against Mr Trump. So far, she has pleaded for patience, fearing any premature bid to unseat the president would be unsuccessful. But influential party members, including Left-wing congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are breaking ranks. They say it is time to launch an impeachment inquiry after the White House banned Mr Trumps former counsel Don McGahn from testifying to the congressional judiciary committee. Mr McGahn has been threatened with being held in contempt of Congress for failing to appear at a hearing yesterday into the Mueller report on alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election campaign. Our subpoenas are not optional, committee chairman Jerry Nadler said at the start of the hearing. This committee will hear Mr McGahns testimony even if we have to go to court to secure it, he added, before setting the stage for another clash with the White House today by issuing subpoenas to former Trump officials Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson. It was unclear whether ex-communications director Ms Hicks, a close confidante of Mr Trump, and Ms Donaldson, former chief-of-staff for Mr McGahn, will agree to testify as part of the committees probe into alleged obstruction of justice by Mr Trump. Democrat Steve Cohen, another member of the judiciary committee, said he had drafted articles of impeachment and they are ready to go. But he added that without Ms Pelosis backing its not going to happen. Fellow member Mary Gay Scanlon said the president was obstructing Congress at every turn. Ms Ocasio-Cortez said: We now have the president actively discouraging witnesses from coming in to answer a legally-binding subpoena from Congress. Democrat presidential hopeful Beto ORourke repeated his calls for impeachment last night and said no-one should be above the law. A couple left their newborn baby in a taxi as they brought the child home from hospital for the first time. The parents got out of the vehicle with their eldest child, aged one, but forgot to remove their baby from the back seat. They were returning to their home in Hamburg when the incident took place. Hamburg Police said in a Facebook post that the couple had paid the driver and said goodbye before realising what they had done. The father reportedly ran after the taxi but the vehicle drove away too quickly. The parents immediately alerted the police. The Hamburg police posted the story to Facebook. / Pixabay The baby apparently made no sound so the taxi driver did not realise the child was in the back for some time. Hamburg Police said: The baby initially made no sound and probably enjoyed sleeping, but the taxi driver knew nothing of his silent passenger in the back seat and headed directly to a well-deserved lunch break, for which he parked the taxi in an underground car park. "After some time, he returned hopefully well-fed, sat in his taxi and went in the hope of collecting new passengers from the airport. However, the new passenger was a bit confused about the already present passengers and made the taxi driver aware of this "carpool". Now was the time when the baby obviously woke up, because it was noticeable and began to scream. The driver reportedly called the police to report the discovery. A critically endangered black rhinoceros has been born at Chicagos Lincoln Park Zoo after more than a year of waiting, the zoo has announced. The eastern black rhino's 13-year-old mother Kapuki was 15 months pregnant when she finally went into labour. "After 15 months of pregnancy and a relatively quick labor, we're excited to announce Kapuki gave birth! the zoo announced in a Twitter post on Sunday. Kapuki's maternal instincts kicked right in and she has been seen tending to the calf. The next big milestones will be for the calf to stand and begin to nurse, it added. The message accompanied a photo of the calf lying on the ground next to its mother, taken via a remote camera to give Kapuki and the calf privacy, the zoo explained. A subsequent tweet showed the calf affectionately nuzzling its mother, with a caption reading: #RhinoWatch continues with the first of many important milestones the calf stood up last night at only 53 minutes of age! Stay tuned for updates on the milestones the calf will go through in the critical first year of its life. Eastern black rhinos native to East Africa are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, due to years of illegal poaching for their horn. Black rhino populations declined from around 70,000 individuals in 1970 to 2,410 in 1995 a decline of 96% over 20 years, according to figures released by The World Wildlife fund. However, thanks to conservation efforts this number has risen to more than 5,000, with a population of around 60 eastern black rhinos kept in habitats outside their natural range, including Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo said its animal care and veterinary teams would continue to monitor from afar as Kapuki cares for her calf, saying staff felt cautiously optimistic at the baby rhinos progress. The calf continues to surpass milestones! the zoo tweeted in an update on Monday. Since last night, the calf has been observed nursing several times. The first 48 hours of a calfs life are critical and we remain cautiously optimistic. The zoo has encouraged animal loves to stay tuned for more updates on social media. T he House Judiciary Committee has subpoenaed former White House communications director Hope Hicks and a former aide in the White House counsel's office. The subpoenas come as part of an investigation into whether President Donald Trump and members of his administration obstructed justice, the committee said. The committee subpoenaed Ms Hicks for documents and for testimony at a public hearing. It subpoenaed Annie Donaldson, former chief of staff to ex-White House counsel Don McGahn, for documents and for questioning in a private deposition. The subpoenas, authorised last month, call on Ms Hicks and Ms Donaldson to produce requested documents early next month. Hope Hicks departs the West Wing at the White House / REUTERS House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler was quoted as saying last month: "We believe that these individuals may have received documents from the White House in preparation for their interviews with the special counsel. "We also believe that these individuals may have turned this information over to their private attorneys." Ms Donaldson was a top aide to Mr McGahn, who on Tuesday defied a subpoena from the committee to testify. White House Counsel Don McGahn / REUTERS Mr McGahn, who played a key role in Special Counsel Robert Muellers two-year probe, was directed not to appear by Mr Trump. According to Mr Muellers report, the White House lawyer was told by Mr Trump to axe Mr Mueller but refused. He then said he was pressured to deny that the president ever sought to remove the special counsel. Although the report, released last month, cleared the Trump campaign of colluding with Russia before the 2016 election, it listed 10 instances of possible obstruction of justice by the president. More Democrats are calling for impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump after he blocked Mr McGahn from testifying. An empty seat at the witness table for former White House Counsel Donald McGahn / REUTERS A growing number of rank-and-file House Democrats, incensed by former counsel Mr McGahn's empty chair in the hearing room, are pushing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other leaders to act. Their impatience is running up against the speaker's preference for a more methodical approach, including already-unfolding court battles. Ms Pelosi has summoned them to a meeting on Wednesday to assess strategy. Some other Democratic leaders, while backing Ms Pelosi, signalled that a march to impeachment may at some point become inevitable. A t least six people have been killed and 200 injured in riots in Jakarta as protests over Indonesia's newly announced election result spilled into violence. Supporters of unsuccessful candidate Prabowo Subianto, a former general, clashed with security forces on Tuesday night, burning vehicles and throwing rocks at police. A paramilitary police dormitory was set ablaze as police battled protestors with tear gas, rubber bullets and a water cannon. The unrest broke out after the country's election commission confirmed that incumbent President Joko Widodo won last month's election. An Indonesian army soldier tries to calm the crowd outside the election commission after the vote result was announced / EPA The General Election Commission (KPU) on Tuesday confirmed that Widodo won 55.5 per cent of votes against Prabowo's 44.5 per cent. Prabowo has alleged that the vote was rigged, but election officials dismissed claims of systematic cheating. Demonstrations on Tuesday by Subianto supporters started peacefully but turned violent, and by the evening police began trying to disperse the crowds with tear gas. "As per 9 o'clock this morning, there were 200 people hurt being brought to five hospitals," Jakarta's governor Anies Baswedan told broadcaster TVOne. "The number of people dead was six." Police fire tear gas at protesters / AP Hundreds of protesters were still locked in a tense stand-off with police in central Jakarta on Wednesday after a night of violence. TV footage showed smoke billowing in the streets of the Tanah Abang district, with some throwing firecrackers and tearing down public fences. Australia, the United States, and the UK issued travel advisories warning of an increased risk of violence across Indonesia, advising citizens to stay away from protests. Plastic straws, stirrers and cotton buds to be banned in 2020 Environment Secretary Michael Gove has confirmed the ban on the supply of the items from April 2020 after consultation revealed huge public support for the move. It is estimated that 4.7 billion plastic straws, 316 million plastic stirrers and 1.8 billion plastic-stemmed cotton buds are used each year in England. Exemptions will include allowing those who need to use plastic straws for medical reasons or a disability to buy them from registered pharmacies or request them in restaurants, pubs and bars. Farage wants place in EU's Brexit negotiating team The fledgling party is currently leading the polls, with a seven-day rolling average yesterday predicting it will take home 34 per cent of the vote. Speaking at a packed rally in west London last night, Mr Farage said representatives had to be allowed to join the EU negotiating team if his party wins the most votes. May's new Brexit plan already facing trouble Theresa May is expected to face hostile MPs as she sets out her latest Brexit deal in the Commons today. Her new 10-point compromise plan has been dismissed by every group she was attempting to woo, including Labour, the DUP and Tory Brexiteers. The last-ditch attempt to shore up support included offering a vote on whether to hold a second referendum, as well as a choice over the UK's future customs arrangements. Mrs Mays move to appeal to Remainer MPs has already seen about 20 Conservatives who backed her deal last time announce they cannot vote for the latest version. Alexa and Google Assistant voices 'reinforce negtative stereotypes about treating women' A UN report has claimed the female voices used by AI virtual assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant reinforce gender stereotypes that portray women as subservient. The UNESCO paper criticised voice-powered digital speakers and devices for making it appear that women are "obliging, docile and eager-to-please helpers. Researchers also claimed that the assistants responses to verbal abuse and sexual harassment reinforced bias that women were tolerant of poor treatment. They are calling for gender-neutral vocies to be used. Inquest to start into the death of Jeremy Kyle guest An inquest is due to open later today into the death of a guest on The Jeremy Kyle Show. The ITV programme was axed following the death of Steve Dymond a week after he was filmed for the confrontational talk show. Composting bodies approved in Washington state Washington has become the first state in the US to approve composting as an alternative to burying or cremating human remains. The process is being called natural organic reduction and turns a body into about two wheelbarrows' worth of soil in a span of several weeks when it is mixed with substances such as wood chips and straw. Loved ones are then allowed to keep the soil to spread or even use it to plant vegetables or a tree. Supporters say it is an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation. On this day... 1455: In the War of the Roses, the Lancastrians defeated the Yorkists at the Battle of St Albans. 1611: James I created the title "baronet". 1859: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, was born of Irish parents in Edinburgh. 1897: The Blackwall Tunnel under the Thames was officially opened. 1908: The Wright Brothers patented their flying machine. A man accused of murdering rapper Nipsey Hussle has been indicted by a grand jury, prosecutors have said. Eric Holder Jr, 29, is alleged to have gunned down the 33-year-old musician outside a Los Angeles clothing store in March. He is charged with offences including murder and two counts of attempted murder, after two men were also injured in the incident, according to the Los Angeles County district attorney's office. According to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday, Holder is accused of using a handgun to kill Grammy-nominated Hussle. Eric Holder appears with his attorney Chris Darden (L) / REUTERS Holder pleaded not guilty to all charges and is scheduled to appear in court for a pretrial hearing on June 18. As well as the murder and attempted murder charges, Holder is also accused of assault with a firearm and one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. Hussle was shot dead outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles on March 31. Holder was arrested two days later in Bellflower, about 20 miles south east of where Hussle was killed. Nipsey Hussle / Getty Images for Warner Music Bail was set at 6.53 million dollars, about 5.1 million. If convicted as charged, Holder faces a possible maximum sentence of life in state prison. Following Hussle's death, tributes were paid from across the music industry. Nipsey Hussle's LA memorial - in pictures 1 /20 Nipsey Hussle's LA memorial - in pictures Fans of rapper Nipsey Hussle wait in line to attend the rapper's public memorial at the LA Staples Centre AP Fans of rapper Nipsey Hussle wait in line to attend the rapper's public memorial at the LA Staples Centre REUTERS Mourners begin to arrive at Staples Centre Reuters People arrive to attend the Celebration of Life memorial service for the rapper AFP/Getty Images Mourners line up at the Staples Centre ahead of the memorial A motorcade arrives Mourners arrive for the service in LA EPA Mourners arrive for the service in LA EPA Mourners arrive for the service in LA AP Fans wearing rapper Nipsey Hussle T-shirts wait for the funeral procession REUTERS Comedian Michael Blackson arrives People wait for the uneral procession to arrive AP Fans of rapper Nipsey Hussle wait in line to attend the service AP Fans of rapper Nipsey Hussle wait in line AP A man kneels as mourners arrive at the Staples Centre Beyonce, Rihanna, Drake, Chance The Rapper, John Legend and Big Sean all shared tributes. Hussle was nominated for the best rap album Grammy earlier this year for Victory Lap. W ashington has become the first US state to legalise human composting as an alternative to cremations and burials. Under the new law, people can now choose to have their body turned into soil through "natural organic reduction". Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation legalising the process, which turns a body mixed with substances such as wood chips and straw into about two wheelbarrows' worth of soil in weeks. Loved ones are allowed to keep the soil to spread, just as they may have spread the ashes of someone who has been cremated, or use it to plant vegetables or a tree. "It gives meaning and use to what happens to our bodies after death," said Nora Menkin, executive director of the Seattle-based People's Memorial Association, which helps people plan for funerals. Supporters say the method is an environmentally friendly alternative to cremation and burials. Supporters say composting is environmentally friendly / Unsplash/Jahsie Ault "That's a serious weight on the earth and the environment as your final farewell," said Senator Jamie Pedersen, the Seattle Democrat who sponsored the measure. State law previously dictated that remains be disposed of by burial or cremation. The law, which takes effect in May 2020, added composting as well as alkaline hydrolysis, a process already legal in 19 other states. The latter uses heat, pressure, water and chemicals such as lye to reduce remains. Cemeteries across the US are allowed to offer natural or "green" burials, by which people are buried in biodegradable shrouds or caskets without being embalmed. Composting could be a good option in cities where cemetery land is scarce, Mr Pedersen said. The state senator said he has received angry emails from people who object to the idea, calling it undignified or disgusting. "The image they have is that you're going to toss Uncle Henry out in the backyard and cover him with food scraps," he said. A woman plunged her van into a river in Georgia after she was startled by a spider. The unnamed driver was reversing her Kia van down a slipway next to a river in Kingston when, according to a police release, she spotted a spider in her lap. She then dived out of the vehicle, allowing it to roll into the water. The van floated briefly down the Etowah River before becoming "totally submerged," police said. By the time a Georgia State Patrol officer arrived, there was no sign of the van. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper reports that a passerby tried to help search in his boat, to no avail. The woman's insurers plan to trawl for the van, reports AJC. Y ou may be unsurprised to learn that we spend more time staring at screens than we sleep an average of 50 hours a week according to Ofcom's annual statistical survey. If you work in an office, you probably spend most of the working day staring at a computer screen, only to go home and half-watch Netflix while also staring at your phone. The long term implications these devices have on our health is something many of us never consider outside the parameters of time wastage. Blue light or High Energy Visible (HEV) as it is also known is the glare that comes of our devices. If you remember GCSE physics, you will know that light is made of a rainbow spectrum of colours (ROYGBIV) with different energy and wavelengths. Blue light has short yet high energy wavelengths that can penetrate the skin, strain your eyes, and cause headaches alongside a whole host of physical, mental and emotional effects. But if a digital detox is just not feasible, how can we reduce our exposure to blue light? We have consulted the experts to find out everything you need to know about its effects and the products to combat it. Protection for your eyes It is estimated that over 50 per cent of people suffer from digital eye strain according to a report in the British Medical Journal. Staring at screens all day can result in itchy or dry eyes as well as migraines. Your blink rate, which is typically about 15-20 times per minute, can reduce by up to half when you are closely focussing on a screen, which can cause dry spots and blurred vision explains Mr Sheraz Daya, Ophthalmologist and Medical Director of Centre for Sight. Investing in blue light-blocking glasses, filters and protectors for your devices are the easiest and simplest way to shield your eyes when a digital detox is simply not possible. Anti-blue light screen protector One of the most simple and cost effective options to protect your eyes against blue light is to use a screen protector, many of which also include a privacy filter meaning prying eyes won't be able to see whats on your screen unless they are directly in front of it. There's loads of different size options as well ranging from tablets, iPhones, desktops and laptops. After you remove any dust from the screen, the protector is attached with small adhesive non-damaging strips. All you need to know is the size of your screen. From 14.99 | Ocushield on Amazon | Buy it now Anti-blue light glasses Scroll to your hearts content with the help of these glasses that will protect against dry eyes and fatigue caused by an overexposure to blue light. The prescription-free glasses will shield your eyes from the damaging wavelengths with a crystal clear picture. 38 | Soda Says | Buy it now Quay Australia High Key Mini The popular sunglasses brand has relaunched some of its best-selling models with clear blue light protecting lenses. From heart-shaped options, to oversized lenses, there are options for every taste to shield you eyes from the harmful rays emitted by mobiles, computers and the rest of our daily devices. 50 | Quay Australia | Buy it now #D SCREEN - Screen protection glasses These stylish glasses are fitted with lenses that filter out 40 per cent of blue light rays. The contemporary silhouette also has a rubber texture with flexible arms that adapt to all face shapes. 40 | Izipizi | Buy it now Protection for your skin The effect of blue light on our skin has become a hot topic in the beauty world. It has been associated with premature ageing, the reduction of skin laxity and hyperpigmentation as it releases cell-damaging free radicals that can penetrate to the second layer of your skin known as the dermis. It is important to protect the skin by ensuring your daily regime includes a good topical antioxidant suggests Dr Preema Vig, the Medical Director at Dr Preema London Clinic, Vitamin C serums and sunscreen or make-up creates a barrier between our skin and the blue light/ infrared emitted by our devices. Wear SPF daily and opt for products with blue-light-fighting and HEV light blocking ingredients. Digital Detox Face Mist Keep this face mist on your desk for a refreshing and detoxifying face mist that will help protect against blue light, while also containing Frankincense, Magnesium Salts, Marine Actives, Ginseng and Ylang Ylang that work to aid concentration and de-stress. From 30 | Amly | Buy it now City Skin Broad Spectrum SPF 50 This mineral sun cream has been formulated to protect your skin against the leading causes of ageing such as pollution and sun damage as well as blue light damage which the product claims can shield 89 per cent of the blue light emitted from devices. While the science behind this is difficult to test we did notice our skin appeared more even with a reduction in age spots after just a few weeks of use. 60 | Murad | Buy it now Out of the Blue 3-in-1 Vanity Blush Palette Beam Of Light Vegan beauty brand Pur has launched its Out of the Blue Collection that contains a specially formulated to fight against High Energy Visible (HEV) blue light. Infused with marigold extract, safflower oil, xanthophyll and lingostem to combat premature ageing skin, the multitasking blush compact contains two different shades as well as an illuminating highlighter. 24 | Beauty Bay | Buy it now Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex The Holy Grail Estee Lauder eye treatment uses a 10 times more concentrated formula to fight against damage caused by external aggressors like UV rays and pollution as well as blue light. It will also help relieve dark circles and puffiness with an instant hydration boost. 45 | Estee Lauder | Buy it now For sleep Blue light can disrupt our natural circadian rhythm (our sleep-wake cycle) and a lack of sleep can lead to depression, anxiety and other mood disorders. Silentnights sleep expert Dr Nerina Ramlakhan explains, When light levels drop in the evening, our circadian timer switches on and stimulates the production of the sleep hormone melatonin. However, the use of tech before bed disrupts this natural process. Screens on phones and tablets emit blue light which suppresses the production of melatonin from the brains pineal gland and stimulates the production of the chemical dopamine which makes us feel alert and switched on. But what can you do to prevent this? Ramlakhan recommends "an electronic sundowner 60-90 minutes before bed, this will allow your brain to wind down and prepare for sleep. Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 Switch out your phone for a good book and invest in a Lumie that minimises your exposure to blue light by replacing your phone as an alarm and clock. The device also has a gradual sunset simulation that encourages your body to wind down and feel ready for sleep. In the morning, the sunrise function prepares your body so you wake up ready to start the day. 79 | Lumie | Buy it now Red Night Light Blue light is a stimulant that keeps you awake, but at the other end of the spectrum, red can shift your circadian rhythm and enhance melatonin product, encouraging you to wind down and promoting a good sleep. A red night light can be particularly helpful for sleep deprived parents with young children when every little helps. T housands of comic book fans have signed a petition calling for Danny DeVito to play X-Men favourite Wolverine. Hugh Jackman played the clawed mutant in the film franchise and in a series of spin-off films between 2000 and 2017, before finally saying goodbye to the role in James Mangolds Logan. Following the Disney and Fox studio merger in March, Marvel has regained the rights to use Fantastic Four and X-Men characters in future films, after selling the properties to 20th Century Fox in 1993. The move has prompted extensive speculation over whether the X-Men - including Wolverine - will be absorbed into the Marvel Cinematic Universe and re-cast with different stars. Bowing out: Hugh Jackman said goodbye to the role in 2017 / 20th Century Fox Disney CEO Bob Iger fanned the flames last year when he suggested that a crossover only makes sense, telling the Hollywood Reporter: There shouldnt be two Marvels. Now, fans have suggested that only one star could possibly live up to Jackmans portrayal of Wolverine - and that star is Its Always Sunny in Philadelphias Danny DeVito. Unlikely superhero: Could Danny Devito become the new Wolverine? / Dave Benett More than 10,000 people so far have signed the Change.org petition, which describes DeVito as the only man able to take the throne after Hugh Jackman. We believe that if Wolverine is to make an appearance in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that the only man able to pull it off is Danny DeVito, the appeal reads. Danny DeVito telling fans to find their magic feather Wolverine is short. DeVito is short. Wolverine is hairy. Hey, so is Devito. THIS MAKES SENSE! one signatory wrote. Only way Ill watch another Wolverine movie, another added, while a third described the much-loved star as Gods gift to us. Danny DeVito takes a fall at Dumbo press conference in Mexico 1 /8 Danny DeVito takes a fall at Dumbo press conference in Mexico AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Danny DeVito is the best actor of all time, and can play any role, another comment read. If he can play Arnold Schwarzeneggers twin brother, he can play Logan being the best at what he does. X-Men producer Lauren Schuler Donner revealed in an interview earlier this year that Jackman's decision to say goodbye to Wolverine was rooted in the physical toll the role had on his body. Once you reach a certain age, the body just wont go anymore, she told Slashfilm. South Ogden woman, 'just an animal lover,' puts focus on aiding feral cats SOUTH OGDEN Karol Johnson has a soft spot for cats, particularly homeless, feral cats. "Just an animal lover," she said. But her affection goes beyond exhortations of how cute felines are. For 10 years or so, she's taken on a role as a protector of cats, assisting others around Weber County and beyond while contending with abandoned cats and feral cat colonies. It's not about adopting the cats, though plenty have passed through her South Ogden home as she's sought to place those socialized to human contact. Rather, she focuses on spaying and neutering the cats that are more wild ... TORRINGTON, Wyo. Eastern Wyoming College has announced that four new student registration events will be held at the main campus in Torrington on May 24, June 10, July 19 and Aug. 5. Students will sign up for a 30-minute session to meet with their advisor to register for the fall 2019 semester. Students will have the opportunity to begin with ACCUPLACER placement exams, if needed. This placement exam is used to ensure placement into the appropriate English, reading and math courses. There is a fee of $20 for these computer-based exams. Students should bring a calculator for the mathematics portion of the test. Financial aid staff will be available to assist students with the financial aid process and preparing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are encouraged to sign up early for the new student registration sessions. To sign up, call Michelle at 307-532-8230 or visit the EWC website at ewc.wy.edu to sign up online. Registration for the summer 2019 session is also currently open. A complete schedule is available online at ewc.wy.edu. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form WASHINGTON, DC The Alliance for Aviation Across America commended Mayor Raymond Gonzales of Scottsbluff for proclaiming May as General Aviation Appreciation Month. In Nebraska, general aviation contributes over $1.2 billion to the states total economic output. Mayor Gonzales proclamation helps highlight the economic benefits and valuable service that general aviation provides to the city of Scottsbluff and the state of Nebraska, said Selena Shilad, executive director of the Alliance for Aviation Across America. We sincerely thank the mayor and the City of Scottsbluff for recognizing this vital industry. The 1.9 million Nebraskans outside of the capitol building see this legislature skipping out early without addressing the #1 problem facing our State the property tax crisis. This is not the first time the legislature has done this. This is my third session as a state senator and we have adjourned every single year without addressing the property tax crisis. This has been going on for decades and it makes me sick. It makes me sick because it is all based on a wrong idea. It is based on the idea that the masterminds in government bureaucracies are somehow more important than what happens on farms and ranches and in family homes and businesses across the state. Too many of my colleagues believe that their ideas for the peoples money are smarter and better and more important than what the people would choose for themselves. They forget it is private enterprise that grows our food and builds our houses. They forget that families are what make those houses into homes. When government spends too much, the answer cannot always be to take more from the people. In the few remaining days of this session, I am still hopeful there will be a final, successful effort to get property tax relief passed. The time for bickering and delay is long over. My message for my fellow senators is simple: lets get this done for Nebraska now! Please contact my office with any comments, questions or concerns. Email me at tbrewer@leg.ne.gov, mail a letter to Sen. Tom Brewer, Room #1423, P.O. Box 94604, Lincoln, NE 68509, or call us at (402) 471-2628. A pair from Georgia was arrested on felony drug trafficking charges at a Statesville hotel last weekend, said Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell. Kennin Shammel Burns, 28, and Shaffon Keari Stokes, also, 28, of Jesup, Georgia were arrested on felony charges possession of methamphetamine, trafficking methamphetamine by possession, trafficking methamphetamine by transport, possession of a Schedule I controlled substance, maintaining a vehicle for the sale of controlled substances and possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana. Each received a $750,000 secured bond from a magistrate. On Saturday, Deputies C.S. Little and H.G. Pennell checked out a narcotics complaint at the Quality Inn & Suites in the 700 block of Sullivan Road, a news release stated. Campbell said deputies spoke with the pair and noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming out of their hotel room. He added they also observed marijuana visible inside of the room. Deputies received written consent to search the room and found three individual baggies of marijuana and ecstasy pills, the release stated. Campbell said deputies also used a canine to perform an open air sniff around Burns' vehicle; deputies found a plastic cup with crystal methamphetamine on the drivers side door. Members of Rolling Thunder North Carolina Chapter Two departed from the parking lot of The Shops at North Town around 10 a.m. Wednesday. This marked the beginning of their ride to Washington, D.C. in honor of service members left behind in war. More than 100 motor bikes, three wheeled motorcycles and a semi-truck filled the parking lot; the air humming with the sound of engines. Spectators waved American flags and cheered bikers while lining the exit of the lot. Salutes were given by bikers and spectators. Spectator and Vietnam veteran Don Carr said he was there to pay his respects. (Its) to remember our fallen veterans and comrades, he said solemnly. To keep the dream alive and to remember their sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. Fran Crews came to see the bikers depart because she has family members who served in the military, and playfully admitted she wished she could join the ride. I think this is one of the greatest things that Statesville can have, she said. I think they just need a lot of support and love. 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 (603) Romania is currently drafting its first national strategy in the artificial intelligence field, with the document to be put up for public debate by the end of 2019, Minister of Communications and Information Society Alexandru Petrescu at the meeting of the Ministerial Council 2019 of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Economic Development (OECD) in Paris. "We will work for the adoption of artificial intelligence under safety conditions in all aspects of the every day and economic life, we will support fundamental research to develop an authentic artificial intelligence and we will achieve these fundamental objectives in the near future, by focusing on the human rights and values. We are currently drafting the first national strategy in the Artificial Intelligence field, to be put up for public debate by the end of 2019. As a state holding the presidency of the Council of the European Union, Romania successfully supported the negotiations Programme, within the Digital Europe Programme, which programme includes a financing component especially meant for the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (including here the development of digital knowledge associated with it). Not last, we are working with the European Commission and the powerful IT sector in Romania to boost the European digital innovation networks with initiatives related to Artificial Intelligence," said the Romanian official. The Minister mentioned that Romania is firmly committed to the transition in stages, effective and sustainable, to a society backed by Artificial Intelligence. "Romania will adhere to the OECD Recommendations on Artificial Intelligence, alongside other 36 member countries of the Organisation, two candidate states and three OECD member countries in Latin America, in the presence of OECD Secretary-General Jose Angel Gurria, Prime Minister of Slovakia Peter Pellegrini - the country holding the presidency of the OECD Ministerial Council meeting. The OECD Recommendations on Artificial Intelligence are the first instrument of intergovernmental cooperation in the field, and Romania is the only non-OECD member country that adheres to these recommendations," said Petrescu. Alexandru Petrescu attends the 2019 Ministerial Council of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Economic Development (OECD) in Paris on Wednesday, the main topic to be discussed being Digital Transition. The OECD Digital Summit, which presents the main findings and political messages of the organization's last two years of activity, brings together high-level decision makers in charge of digital economy policies and stakeholders, facilitating the exchange of views and experience around the seven pillars of the OECD's Going Digital Integrated Strategic Framework: innovation, job security, promoting social prosperity, building confidence and fostering market opening. Chairman of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) Kelemen Hunor argues that it is in the interest of the Hungarian community to be strongly represented in the European Parliament (EP) and mentions that his political formation benefited, in the electoral campaign for the elections to the European Parliament, from the support of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, as well as that of another Hungarian party in Transylvania, namely the Hungarian Civic Party (PCM). In an interview to AGERPRES, he refers to the Minority SafePack Citizens' Initiative, mentioning that "the local minorities and their fate" represent an issue which needs to be raised at European level. "Just as there is a community acquis for things that simply have no place at European level, this matter which targets 50-60 million persons can be brought at European level and we will propose this thing. The chances are certainly depending on us as well and on our ability to explain, our ability to create partnerships. You realise, if Brussels tells us how to slaughter pigs before Christmas... Until joining the EU, we didn't know how to do it, we really needed that regulation. The fate of some important communities should be just as important as the slaughtering of the pig or the cucumber curvature which gets into the basket of the person when going to the market. There are some matters which must be re-thought at the EU level," the UDMR leader explained. Kelemen Hunor also talks about the referendum on Justice convened by President Klaus Iohannis on the same day of the elections to the European Parliament, reiterating that he urges the Hungarian electorate to vote "YES." AGERPRES: What is the result of the discussions carried out with other Hungarian formations in Transylvania, the Hungarian People's Party of Transylvania (PPMT) and the PCM, in regards to the mutual support in the elections to the European Parliament? Will the UDMR list of candidates benefit from support from the PPMT and PCM voters on 26 May? Kelemen Hunor: We have an understanding with the PCM, we have a collaboration. They sent two MPs in the European Parliament on our lists and they support our candidates on the UDMR list in European elections. This thing means that the electors, those who turn out to vote - and we hope for many to come - will vote the UDMR list. We don't have an understanding with the other political formation. They don't have mayors or counselors, their mobilisation capability is pretty tight, but we explained them, and we explained their supporters, that here, it's about a representation of the Hungarian community, not a party matter. And I am convinced that through mobilisation, those who possibly voted with the other parties, because there is a competition among ourselves, too, this time will come and vote with UDMR, because our interest is to have a representation in the European Parliament. That representation will be that of the Hungarian community, they won't be my representatives or those of the UDMR. They will represent the Hungarian community of Romania and will activate in a centre-right political group, as we have done it so far, in the EPP [the European People's Party]. AGERPRES: Was Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit this month, as the first one in an electoral campaign for the European elections, meant to support the UDMR and the other Hungarian formations of Transylvania? Kelemen Hunor: It's not the first time. In 2014, too, he came and held a press conference and a short programme in Satu Mare, in the elections to the European Parliament. He stated back then what he said now. He came in 2016, in Satu Mare, too, we had a common message prior to the parliamentary elections. It is not the first time, it's just that now his visit fits better, because it was also the Summit in Sibiu. He would have come anyway to Sibiu and then I invited him, I asked him that before and after we make a common programme and he accepted, as we helped him in 2018, with our modest means and our force of persuasion. It is true, I don't deny this thing, but we are partners, we are not enemies. We have been partners for years and, just as in the elections to the European Parliament every political formation which has partners in various member states of the EU makes use of these partnerships, I find this normal. Therefore, we cannot talk about a common space, it is not common from all points of view, not only economically, but also politically, when it comes to the elections to the European Parliament. Others from the EPP came, we also had messages, I sent a message for Manfred Weber, probably the Socialists endorsed the Socialists, those for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats - ALDE [endorsed] the ALDE, Macron endorses Ciolos and Ciolos endorses Macron. These are absolutely normal things, without these partnerships Europe doesn't work, and neither does the European Parliament. On the other hand, certainly that it is in the common interest to have a strong Hungarian representation in the European Parliament [EP]. AGERPRES: Do you believe that there will be room for the comeback of the FIDESZ - Hungarian Civic Alliance in the EPP after the 26 May moment? There are many voices and calculations regarding a FIDESZ entry into an Eurosceptic orientation group after the elections. Will the UDMR remain in any circumstance alongside the EPP? Kelemen Hunor: It is a situation which has no relevance until 26-27 May, because there is a self-suspension of the FIDESZ from the EPP. And this questions will be probably answered, when needed, by those in the FIDESZ, I cannot answer for them. The situation will be complicated after 26 May, as we can see. Let us see who holds the majority, what alliances need to be formed, so one can obtain the majority in the EP. If things go well, the EPP will have several mandates over the Socialists, but it won't be an extremely big majority. There is a need of a coalition in two or even three, let's see what groups will emerge there, because, after all, currently, in Europe, there are three major umbrella political groups: the EPP for centre-right, there are the Socialists for the left [wing] and there is the ALDE for the Liberals, which will disappear afterwards, as per my understanding. Other pan-European formations, so to speak, do not exist at the moment, because the Greens don't have [a group], and neither do the Conservatives or the Populists. We will see the balance of power only after 26 May. We are Romania's oldest members in the EPP, others came after us from the Socialist area, the Liberal area and they are still making efforts today to assimilate their Christian-Democratic values. It works for some people, for others not so much. At this moment, there is no discussion, no concern in the sense of looking for something other that what we have at this moment. I would like to see all the reforms that will happen in the EU - and they will happen - be placed on the values of Christian Democracy, on the one hand, and the EPP going more to the center-right than to the left. But we will see this after the elections to the European Parliament. AGERPRES: What is the stage of the European funds absorption in the counties with a Hungarian majority population? Are there major strategic projects with EU funds that have greatly changed the lives of these communities over the last decade? Are the UDMR and its candidates taking into account endorsing such projects in the future and what would these be? Kelemen Hunor: If we look at the absorption of European funds, we have to add some nuance. On the one hand, those funds go directly to farmers. That's where the absorption is almost 100 percent, and we're fine there, there's no problem. There are around 70,000 farmers receiving such aid, and we constantly say that the aid should be preserved, even increased, to get to the EU average at least, because we have a huge potential and, finally, after 100 years, farmers receive something instead of being taken from, as so far. It is a great benefit; it is a benefit we got once we have joined the EU. On the other side, as far as operational programmes regional development are concerned, we are faring very well, our communities, our counties fare well, we cannot complain. Everything possible has been accomplished and there are even small towns ranking in the first three positions in the ranking of small towns: Joseni, if I am not mistaken, in Harghita, and also Remetea. There are other small towns, and if you go there, you will see radical change. Our county capitals have drawn from the operational programmes regional development, because they have other possibilities, they do not compete with the other county capitals. Both Sfantu Gheorghe and Miercurea Ciuc have attracted many projects. When we talk about major operational programmes, such as big infrastructure, that is a catastrophe. When it comes to these cohesion projects, Romania fares abysmally, and so are the counties of Harghita, Covasna and Mures, because it is not the counties drawing the funds, but the Government of Romania. So, they do not fare well. When talking about motorways, they do not pass through Harghita and Covasna; when we talk about large railway infrastructure, once again we are not the ones to benefit. And, unfortunately, no one benefits. That is why we have proposed one thing: the redirection and the restructuring of these funds; we have officially asked Prime Minister Dancila to ask the EU, based on the principle of flexibility, to put at least two billion euros from operational programme big infrastructure to operational programme regional development, because under operational programme regional development each county, the local administrations, have prepared projects but there is no funding, they have well-developed projects in all counties, including Harghita, Covasna, Mures, Salaj, Bihor, and Satu Mare, but there is no money. We say, 'Give two billion, ask for and you will get Brussels' approval.' For, after all, things are extremely simple, it has happened before and it is happening everywhere. And so, allocate 50 million: if we split the money even for each county, for each regional development operational programme we will use up the funds. That would be a huge possibility. I believe that during this period we have done what we could have done, but red tape in Bucharest, the central administration, is also holding back many new projects, and the bureaucratic criteria are not dictated by Brussels. Anyone saying otherwise is either lying or wrong. The European Commission requires some very simple and clear criteria. For example, it does not ask for stamping and signing each page when you have a 2,000-page project. This was the invention of Bucharest. Do not they dare say it is Brussels demanding it! So if you fail to put a stamp on or sign any of the 2,000 pages, a formal question, the administration throws the project away. That's why cutting through red tape would help us all. We have already proposed, but we have to wait and see who is going to come into power and who will negotiate over the next EU budget draft; so that we may have separate funds for the counties and small towns, as we do for the county capitals. For those who have suffered during this period or those who have had less chances and less money are the small towns of 15-20,000 inhabitants, because if they compete with the big cities, they surely lose. Small towns had and still have an opportunity to develop themselves under operational programmer regional development; and there already are in Harghita County, around the city of Gheorgheni, small towns like Lueta, Remetea, Joseni, Suseni, and Ditrau, that looks better than the city of Gheorgheni, because they had the financial resources, while Gheorgheni did not access funds, because it had to compete with much larger cities and therefore the eligibility criteria were not in its favour. That is why, by going deeper into European themes, we believe that in the next period Romania should, when discussing the budget, ask for funds separately for counties and small towns. AGERPRES: Lorant Vincze, the second-placed candidate considered to be eligible by analysts, is the chairman of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) and coordinator of the European Citizens' Initiative Minority SafePack. What do you think are the prospects for continuing this initiative against the backdrop of the new EP composition after May 26? Do you think he can be more successful? Kelemen Hunor: We have never promised there will be a smooth journey. We have said that from where we started against other autochthonous minorities of Europe, about 50 million people, there is no track ahead, while we are building such track here. It will not be easy, and we do not create the illusion that it will happen overnight. The EU is facing huge reforms, perhaps these changes can be compared to what happened in the 1970s and 1980s, when the European Community turned into this European Union. I believe that the treaties will also be changed, as it is impossible not to. And if we look at the challenges that exist in the EU in terms of economy, security, security of every community, demographic issues, ecology, surely there will be decisions that will be pushed to European level, and decisions that will be left to the competence of the national authorities, within the reach of the member states. It will be a very big discussion. We believe that, as it happened in Italy and Finland with the majority-minority relationship, after the South Tyrol problem was settled in the 1970s, nobody lost, neither the Italians, which are the majority, nor the German-language speakers or the Ladins. In one and a half decade, it turned from the poorest region in perhaps the richest or one of the richest regions in Italy. If this problem is solved and the relation between the majority and minority, the minority will no longer feel that its identity is in danger in the country where this community lives, and then all these energies can be channelled into development, wellbeing. This is also an economic matter, beyond the political and moral one. And it's a matter of security too, for it also helps in demographic terms, since people won't leave because of the tensions. I believe that, if this worked in Occidental Europe, it must work in Romania, too, and we need to raise this matter at European level. Since we have acquis communautaire for things that are just not that relevant at European level, it's clear that we truly need to raise this topic that impacts 50-60 million persons to be discussed at European level and this is what we are going to propose. Our chances, of course, depend on us too, on our capacity of explaining and in our capacity of creating partnerships. You realize, if Brussels tells us how to kill our pig before Christmas... Before we joined the EU, we didn't know how to do it, we really needed this regulation. The fate of such significantly large communities should be as important as the way we kill our pig or the curvature of the cucumber that lands in the basket of the people who go to the market. These are matters that we need to bring again to the EU attention. In what the Minority SafePack is concerned, I believe that we have good arguments to explain why we think that the local minorities and their fate should be a matter to be discussed at EU level. AGERPRES: In the context of the increasing Euroscepticism in Europe and the extremist parties growing stronger, in the context of the Brexit, do you believe in the danger of a disintegration of the EU? And would it be better or worse for the Hungarian minority in Europe if the EU disintegrates, in which of the two cases it can preserve its rights better, according to you? Kelemen Hunor: Generally speaking, because it's hard to go deep right now, I think that the EU must be stronger, must be re-shaped, rebuilt. Which is why we need reforms, because otherwise, in a global competition, in economic terms - and I include here ecology, energy, security - no state in the EU will succeed alone. Not Germany, not France, not Italy, not the strongest countries, because the competitors are the US, China, India, Russia and we haven't even spoken about Latin America yet. I believe that, looking from this point of view, there is no other solution than to stay united. Romania doesn't have any other choice either. Romania, outside the EU - with the Romanians, Hungarian, all of us - will very soon end like Ukraine or Moldova. We are at the periphery, we are not a state with a strong economy and we don't have the capacity to defend ourselves from all the influences coming from outside the EU. So, there is no alternative. In my opinion, who is considering an alternative to the EU is trying to throw this country into chaos and make it a total mess. I have always been pro-European and I remain pro-European. And when I criticize certain matters, I never do it as an Euro-phobic. I am not such a thing! Euroscepticism is not Euro-phobia, Euroscepticism means that you want to change something, to do better, instead of just being a "yes man" and always say everything it's Ok, everything is great, when you see that there are problems. So, there is no alternative and I don't think that the EU disintegration is a real danger at this point. But there is, however, the danger that EU will become weaker, in the long run, but I don't think disintegration will happen and I also hope the British, too, will remain in the EU. They have this humour, they say they are leaving, when in fact, when they say they are leaving they stay. And I hope they'll stay, I hope that they will find a solution by October to stay in the EU, because we need them and I believe they need the EU, too. In my opinion, we should see a new approach of the UK in the relations with the EU, where they should stay. AGERPRES: How do you think that the Hungarian minority will vote in the referendum called by President Iohannis? Kelemen Hunor: About the referendum, we still believe that everyone should go to vote, regardless if it's a political vote, elections or a referendum. We say go to vote, vote in the elections to the European Parliament - and in the referendum we also recommend to vote "YES" in both questions. This is our stand, our message. And we also want to add: the results of the referendum can be applied if we revise the Constitution. Our message is: Yes, go to vote, vote for UDMR and we recommend you to vote "YES" in both questions at the referendum. AGERPRES: Do you think that the result of the election to the European Parliament can change anything in what concerns the current governing coalition? Kelemen Hunor: Are you asking if the majority will change? There are two possibilities here. It will change: through a political vote - today we are preparing for the elections to the European Parliament, which doesn't change anything, basically, in the Romanian Parliament, for this will happen after one more year and a half, and until now we have a majority that was established back in 2016, by the Romanians, through their vote. We had our own option every time: we didn't vote for the PSD, nor for the PNL, nor for the USR, so, in our view, things are quite clear: you cook from what you find in the storeroom. For if you don't have the ingredients, it's no use to look for recipes in molecular gastronomy, when you only have flour, oil and ham. And the second scenario is to change the majority between the two elections, which is only possible if the coalition breaks, the MPs leave, as it happens in Romania, between the two votes, like the migratory birds, from one party to the other. You can only build a new majority based on an idea, a programme to make people say: "This is something we agree with and we will make everything in our power to see this implemented" or if there is a powerful leader, a leader capable of coagulating a majority. Right now, unfortunately, I don't see such leader exists in the Romanian political arena. And I don't see the programme either. We will see after May 26. AGERPRES: Can the change of this majority, of the governing coalition, also be influenced by the May 27 decision of the ICCJ in the case of the PSD leader, Liviu Dragnea? Kelemen Hunor: This is something I cannot speculate about and I don't want to speculate. The court will decide, decisions will be respected, this is none of our business. At least this is not UDMR's business to speculate what will happen in another party. It's their business. I don't know, we will see, I can't and I won't speculate. AGERPRES: What do you think about the situation at the cemetery in Valea Uzului? Kelemen Hunor: I said it from the very beginning and I also wrote in the letter to Viorica Dancila and I discussed with her and with the leaders of the coalition, it's their responsibility. They didn't create this, but it's their responsibility to solve the problem. I asked for the works to stop and to turn everything back. This is where we should start from. Because there are two distinct matters there. One of an administrative nature, and the mayor in Darmanesti has long been involved in illegal businesses, so that we must turn things back, this is what we requested. The second matter is of a moral nature and has to do with the tombs of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives in 1916, in the Austrian-Hungarian Army. These are unidentified remains. And of course no one should go in a sacred place like this and build. And this is also the case with the Romanian soldiers who lost their lives in the Second World War, 10-12 kilometers further, towards Darmanesti. And it's no good to know that under their crosses honouring their memory are other soldiers. No one is against the idea of building a monument to pay homage to the Romanian soldiers who lost their lives there, but it shouldn't be built on top of other tombs. You can expand the cemetery, find other solutions. Prime Minister Viorica Dancila on Wednesday said that she will turn out to vote in the May 26 justice referendum, adding that she will not publicly disclose her option, and that she would toe her party's line. "I have said that I will show up for the referendum, but I have not said how I will vote, because that is something we will agree inside the party. I am respecting the party, the party's line, and the way I vote will be according to the line. I believe that I have never struck a discordant note when it comes to the party's line and I think it is very important to continue on the same road. The fact that I am turning out for the referendum, the fact that chairman Tariceanu has said he will do the same ... But I'm toeing the line of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) (...) I did not say that there is no line - because we are talking in the party - but we will not make it public. I will not publicly disclose my vote in the referendum," Dancila told Antena 3 private broadcaster on Wednesday. She ruled out the hypothesis that by participating in the referendum she would like to validate President Klaus Iohannis' approach, betraying a rapprochement to the president. "I am ruling out that; I believe that, through all that I have done and the public positions that I have taken, that is out of the question. Moreover, I think there has been no other prime minister whom President Iohannis to ask so frequently to resign office. How could there be a rapprochement? Let's take the latest example: the Summit in Sibiu, where the prime minister was not invited, although she holds the presidency of the Council of the EU. I think that not a day goes by without President Iohannis alleging to some failure of the incumbent government, although he can see real figures; so that is out of the question, and whoever wants to steer their thoughts in this direction - that is a false track. I do not think that by everything I have ever provided some reason to conclude that I would get closer to President Iohannis," the prime minister stated. Dancila mentioned that she wanted "normal" collaboration with all the state institutions, but that has not been possible with President Iohannis. "I wanted interinstitutional collaboration, normal collaboration with all the state institutions - whether we are talking about the Presidency, Parliament - that is the normalcy that we must have in Romania. Unfortunately, President Iohannis has been uncooperative, and I could not co-operate with him, not even at the presidency of the Council of the EU, which was a country objective. So, me getting closer to President Iohannis is out of the question. Besides, I am a 25-year member of the party, I am attached to it. I started from the grassroots and I have climbed all the steps, I have always acted according to the party's decisions. But I believe that when you have your own opinion, that opinion must be listened to by others, so that together we may take the best decision," Dancila said. She announced on Wednesday in Bacau that she will go to the polls on Sunday and will vote both in the European elections and in the justice referendum. "Yes, I will vote on Sunday and I will vote in the election to the European Parliament, I will vote for Romania's image, I will vote for Romania winning back its dignity," Dancila said. AGERPRES Premier Viorica Dancila said at a meeting with Vaslui County mayors on Tuesday that 2019 is the year of investments in Romania. The Premier said that she has lately visited several counties to see the stage of investments and how the funds are being used, but also to inquire about what needs to be done in the future for the development of the communities."We have an ambitious governing program that we have accomplished to an extent of 70 percent, a governing program that has produced effects in all areas and in all communities. For us it has been and it is important that every community develops, regardless of the political hue. For us it is important to develop priority areas for Romania. Whereas last year our main goal has been to raise living standards, so that we increased pensions, wages, disability benefits, 2019 is for us the year of investments. This is the year of investment in every local community, it is the year of national investments, the year we want to invest in two priority areas - health and education, for which we have earmarked the largest allocations," the Prime Minister said.Dancila emphasized that in the localities she has visited European and governmental funds have proven their efficiency and that other sources of funding will be identified to continue investments."Despite frequent allegations in the public space that investments are not being made in Romania, I've seen in almost all Romanian communities investments under the National Local Development Program 1 and 2. I've seen EU-funded investments, I have seen investments under Measure 322. (...) And speaking about development and investment funds, I want to tell you that on Thursday we will file a regulatory act providing that the building permit shall no longer be required at the submission of the documentation for investment programs. We want to be a solution to the problems you are facing and for us it is important that the entire country develops harmoniously, that there is cohesion in Romania's development, that we try to assist the areas that more need the government's support," added Viorica Dancila. Not even the communists allowed themselves something like this, said President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday in relation to the incidents in southern Topoloveni, Arges County, last Friday, when ten people protesting during a visit of the Social Democratic Party (PSD, major ruling, ed. n.) leader Liviu Dragnea, were taken up by the gendarmes and rushed to the police station. "Do you know where it is best seen or it was best seen how it would look, not how it will look, because it will not be, Dragnea's Romania - Topoloveni. Many discontented people have allowed themselves, so to speak, not to agree with Dragnea. They went there and booed him, and after five minutes, bang into the van and to the police. Not even the communists allowed themselves such a thing, but that's where he wants to take us. I do not agree with something like that, I hope neither do you," said Iohannis at the launch event of the "EU.RO - An Open Dialogue on Europe" volume that took place at the Oltenia Philharmonic of southern Craiova."Ten people displaying banners were picked up by police forces and led to the Topoloveni Police Department because they were attending an unreported public meeting, after which they refused to leave the area at the request of the law enforcement. They were taken to the police station to have their identity established and for legal measures to be taken," Ionel Flavius Tanase, the spokesperson for the Arges County Gendarmerie Inspectorate stated.On Monday, the Military Prosecutor's Office attached to the Bucharest Military Tribunal has taken note and has filed a criminal case in rem in connection with the gendarmes' crackdown on the people who protested against the Social Democratic Party in Topoloveni. The case concerns the offenses of abuse of service, abusive behavior and deprivation of liberty President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday that the geopolitical context is currently complex, stressing that the new defense architecture requires the provision of highly-trained human resources with a modern endowment and perfectly interoperable in the collective allied defense system. "Today we are in a complex, dynamic geopolitical context, with multiple and unpredictable challenges and threats. The radical changes in recent years of the international security environment have highlighted the strategic importance of ensuring the stability of the Euro-Atlantic area and of the Black Sea region, which interests us a lot. In this region, Romania is a solid pillar and a credible partner within the North-Atlantic Alliance and the European Union. The new defense architecture requires the provision of well-prepared human resources with modern endowment and perfectly interoperable within the collective allied defence system. Thus, the importance of military education institutions, of teachers and researchers for the operational needs of the Romanian Armed Forces and of the national defense industry is growing exponentially, because here can be developed those skills that respond appropriately to tomorrow's requirements," Iohannis said at the event celebrating the 70th anniversary of the foundation of the Military Technical Academy "Ferdinand I."He pointed out that the Military Technical Academy means "tradition, recognition and scientific value due to the generations of professors and students who, through abnegation and professionalism, have made this institution a benchmark for the entire Romanian academic system, not just the military one.""By earnestness and commitment, through the top level of academic training, you have a significant contribution to the good interinstitutional cooperation of specialists from all the structures of the national security system," said President Iohannis.The president stressed that education is the foundation of a modern Romania, and he voiced his conviction that the students of the Military Technical Academy will become officers able to assume the role of "leader of military technical and economic activities and military leaders."On this occasion, President Iohannis decorated the Battle Flag of the Military Technical Academy "Ferdinand I" with the Military Virtue Order in rank of Commander with an insignia for the military, of peacetime. On April 8, the head of state signed the decree granting this distinction to the Military Technical Academy "Ferdinand I" as a sign of "appreciation for the important merits in the 70-year activity in the field of education and academic research." President Klaus Iohannis stated on Thursday that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) tried "to boycott the referendum" even institutionally, with the head of state mentioning that Liviu Dragnea "ordered the CNA [the National Audiovisual Council of Romania]" to ignore the referendum of 26 May. "The PSD is trying to boycott this referendum even institutionally, Dragnea ordered the CNA to ignore the referendum. It is an election which is being held at the same time with the elections to the European Parliament, but it is something different. For the first time in the history after December '89, the CNA refused to grant airtime for promoting the referendum," Iohannis stated at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. The world is complicated today and "the small states are not heard alone anymore", as the ruling PSD (Social Democratic Party) believes, thinking that we are being paid attention to if we stay alone and write on billboards "Romania deserves more!", yet they forgot to add "than the PSD", on Tuesday said in southern Craiova President Klaus Iohannis. "Today's world is complicated, my fellow nationals, it is not enough anymore to see what is only in front of one's nose, we must see a bit farther, because we live in a globalised world, on the one hand, and on the other hand, we see clearly that the small states are not heard alone in this world. We must stay together if we want to count. How do the PSD members imagine that if staying alone and writing on billboards that Romania deserves more - they've forgot to add "than the PSD" - the world pays attention to us?! No! It pays attention if we do our job at home and together with the other Europeans, so we move forward into this complicated world. Yes, we deserve more, that is true!" Iohannis asserted at the Oltenia Philharmonic of Craiova, where he launched his third book "EU.RO - An open dialogue about Europe", an event attended by hundreds of people.Iohannis added that Romania needs true Romanians who want us to be in the European Union, who are aware and observe the values of the Romanians and of the Europeans, who go there so that together with the others solve the problems of Romania and the EU, because "we have enough problems"."Look around you, one single country of Europe cannot solve almost any of the problems we encounter today worldwide: the economic issues, migration, it's proven no country by itself can solve it. There is no country in Europe that can defend itself alone, nor can it guarantee its own citizens' security. The borders' security outside the EU - no country by itself can defend the borders anymore, the way the Romanians and the Europeans wish. No country alone is capable to complete a research that would put us again at the avant-garde of the world research. Only together. No European country can guarantee anymore the education of the top-notch universities' elites but together. This is why we, the European leaders together have decided to father networks of top European universities. There: together, together, together! Because if each and every one only minds their own business, they probably handle it worse and then we all lose," the president asserted.Iohannis argued that in the European Parliament, the major ruling PSD and ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats, minor at rule, ed. n.) cannot represent Romania's interests, because "not even their political families recognise them or accept the two political parties for the mistakes they made" The Japanese government has awarded the Order of the Rising Sun to actor, director of the "Radu Stanca" National Theater and president of the Sibiu International Theater Festival Constantin Chiriac for his contribution to promoting Japanese culture in Romania, the Embassy of Japan announced on Wednesday in a release. "On May 21, 2019 the Government of Japan announced the names of the foreign citizens who have been awarded decorations this spring, including Mr. Constantin Chiriac, director of the 'Radu Stanca' National Theater, president of the Sibiu International Theater Festival and Professor at the 'Lucian Blaga' University in Sibiu. For his contribution to promoting Japanese culture in Romania and artistic exchanges between Japan and Romania, Mr. Constantin Chiriac has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Ribbon," the embassy release states.According to the cited source, "founder of the Sibiu International Theater Festival in 1993, Mr. Constantin Chiriac has been the one who transformed this event of initially local importance into one of the major theater festivals in Europe and in the world, bringing annually to Sibiu great personalities of the international theater. Mr. Constantin Chiriac has made a major contribution to the presentation of the Japanese theater in Romania and to promoting the Japanese cultural values among the Romanian public, encouraging bilateral cooperation activities in the field. Against this background we emphasize the presence at the Sibiu Festival, since 2007, of Japanese volunteers (about 20 Japanese youth selected for each edition) who have cooperated in an exemplary manner with their Romanian and foreign colleagues for the smooth unfolding and the success of the Festival."Constantin Chiriac also played a central role in conducting large-scale theatrical tours and projects with the participation of renowned Japanese and Romanian artists and directors. A Memorandum of Cooperation in the European integration field was inked on Wednesday by Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu and his counterpart of the Republic of North Macedonia Nikola Dimitrov. "We have both decided to boost collaboration in both the political-diplomatic field and in new domains of sectorial cooperation capable to seriously substantiate our bilateral relations. As an expression of this commitment of ours we have signed today [Wednesday, ed. n.] a Memorandum of Cooperation between the two Foreign ministries in the field of European integration, that includes provisions relevant for the European path of the Republic of North Macedonia and the support we are ready to grant for the harmonization of the legislation with the acquis communautaire, the strengthening of the institutional capacity, the cooperation in the common foreign and security policy of the EU, the exchange of experts, including with the capitalisation on the opportunities offered by the Mobility Fund that is being implemented by the Agency for International Cooperation. We hailed the fact that the bilateral economic relations have attained at end-2018 over EUR 400 million, which is not that much, but the increase against the previous years was 18.25pct and I voiced confidence that we should organise as soon as possible a meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee between Romania and North Macedonia in the second half of 2019," Teodor Melescanu said after signing the Memorandum.He added that he talked with his Macedonian counterpart about cooperation in Education, Culture and Sciences."We naturally have an interest to collaborate with North Macedonia in the field of Defence, as well, we are in the same area and certainly our security is indivisible. The NATO ally status which hopefully will be endorsed as soon as possible is a guarantee of the Macedonian stability and firm commitment towards the fundamental democratic values which I'm certain will offer new opportunities for the development of our relationship in this field, too. (...) I welcomed the furthering of the reform process and reconfirmed very seriously our commitment to backing the continuation of the EU enlargement policy. (...) I reconfirmed to my counterpart Romania's strong support for his country's European path and encouraged him to continue the reforms process so as to have the most solid arguments possible required for the adoption of a decision on opening the negotiations for accession to the EU in June 2019," Melescanu stressed.North Macedonia's gov't Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov said that his country has solved its issues in its relations with all of its neighbours.We have no open discussion with any of our five neighbours. For the first time in our history, we are only surrounded by friends and partners. We operate domestically to strengthen our institutions and we want the rule of law to reign in our society. This year (...) we can assert that our society is more democratic, the justices are really independent, the media are truly free. (...) It is necessary that the EU does what it has to do, meaning to acknowledge and decide that we start the accession negotiations. This is our goal. We want to have a first inter-governmental conference by the end of this year. (...) They said last year that if we do what we are supposed to do, we shall start the accession negotiations in June and we'll have a first inter-governmental conference by end-year. I thank the Romanian Government, Parliament and the Romanian people for the ratification of the NATO accession protocol, Romania being one of the first countries that have done this. I am here today and I feel almost at home, Dimitrov stressed iWorld | OTT Broadband internet subscriber rate picked up in March 2019 India added 1.307 crore (13.07 million, 103.7 lakh) subscribers in the month ended 31 March 2019 (Mar-19, month or period under review) according to Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) telecom subscription data. This translates to 2.37 percent growth as compared to 1.90 percent growth (1.02 crore, 10.2 million, 102 lakh subscriber additions ) in the month of Feb-19, which was the slowest growth since Aug-18. continue reading... Television | TV Channels Kids genre emerges as most benefitted in Chrome DM week 20 Kids genre has grown 3.83 per cent in week 20 of Chrome Data Analytics and Media. In this genre, Nickelodeon Junior gained the highest OTS with 77.5 per cent in All India 1 Lakh+ market. OTS is the actual census-based percentage connectivity of a channel spread across 81 million homes, as reported by Chrome DM, across analogue cable, digital cable, and DTH. continue reading... Movies | Hollywood "Hollywood Stars" - Behind TheScenes Marvel's latest superhero flick Avengers: Endgame has taken the Indian box office by storm, minting Rs. 157 crore within three days of release, easily raking in the highest opening weekend for a Hollywood film in the country so far. Popularity of Hollywood movies is on rise in India. And the audiences love Hollywood stars for their larger than life figure. continue reading... Kohs decision followed a 10-day non-jury trial in January, and is a victory for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which accused Qualcomm in 2017 of violating antitrust law. The decision followed Qualcomms April 16 settlement of a long-running legal battle with Apple Inc., where Apple agreed once again to use Qualcomm chips in its iPhones, displacing Intel Corp. It is unclear whether the sanctions will be challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice, which has taken a different view of the case than the FTC and emerged as an ally to Qualcomm. On May 2, the Justice Department argued Koh should hold a hearing before placing sanctions on Qualcomm. Placing stringent conditions on the company would reduce competition and innovation in markets for 5G technology, the agency said. The courts are not required to defer to the Justice Departments recommendations. But the possibility certainly exists for Qualcomm to prevail upon appeal, given the governments somewhat schizophrenic approach to the case, Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote. The Justice Department was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday. By Dave DeCamp May 21, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - The Trump administration consider the Houthi Rebels in Yemen to be an Iranian proxy and have accused Tehran of sending arms to the group. Trump blamed Iran for the war in Yemen in a statement from November of last year, the country of Iran, as an example, is responsible for a bloody proxy war against Saudi Arabia in Yemen". But the Houthis have been fighting their own battle against the Yemeni Government since 2004. A WikiLeaks cable dated December 9th 2009 from former US Ambassador to Yemen Stephen Seche in Sana, Yemen addressed to the CIA and the Secretary of State, makes a strong case against claims that Tehran was arming the Houthis at the time: "WEAPONS SUPPLY 12. (S/NF) Contrary to ROYG(Republic of Yemen Government) claims that Iran is arming the Houthis, most local political analysts report that the Houthis obtain their weapons from the Yemeni black market and even from the ROYG military itself. According to a British diplomat, there are numerous credible reports that ROYG military commanders were selling weapons to the Houthis in the run-up to the Sixth War. An ICG report on the Saada conflict from May 2009 quoted NSB director Ali Mohammed al-Ansi saying, Iranians are not arming the Houthis. The weapons they use are Yemeni. Most actually come from fighters who fought against the socialists during the 1994 war and then sold them. Mohammed Azzan, presidential advisor for Saada affairs, told PolOff on August 16 that the Houthis easily obtain weapons inside Yemen, either from battlefield captures or by buying them from corrupt military commanders and soldiers. Azzan said that the military covers up its failure by saying the weapons come from Iran. According to Jamal Abdullah al-Shami of the Democracy School, there is little external oversight of the militarys large and increasing budget, so it is easy for members of the military to illegally sell weapons." The cable went on to address claims of Houthis use of Katyusha Rockets, one was reportedly found Sunday near the US Embassy in Iraq: Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get our FREE Daily Newsletter "13. (S/NF) ROYG officials assert that the Houthis possession and use of Katyusha rockets is evidence of support from Iran and Hizballah, arguing that these rockets are not available in Yemeni arms markets nor ROYG stockpiles. (Comment: Given Yemens robust arms markets, especially in Saada, it is possible that Katyushas are available on the black market even if they are not in ROYG stockpiles. According to sensitive reporting, there is at least one instance of Somali extremists purchasing Katyusha rockets in Yemen in 2007. End Comment.) However, according to sensitive reporting, it may have been the ROYG military who aided the Houthis in obtaining a shipment of 200 Katyusha rockets in late November 2009. SECHE" While the more hawkish members of Trumps cabinet may be looking for a reason to bomb Iran, it is important to look back at the history of the conflict in Yemen and not just dismiss it as an Iranian proxy war. Tehran has admitted they back the Houthis politically, but also denied arming them. Dave DeCamp is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn NY, focusing on US Foreign policy and wars. He is on Twitter at @decampdave. - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here The Affton area is home to a new restaurant featuring Iraqi and Turkish pastries. The married team of Esraa and George Simon opened Sedara Sweets & Ice Cream on Saturday at 8011 Mackenzie Road. Esraa Simon is a native of Baghdad, Iraq, and slender, cylindrical Iraqi-style baklava occupy the top shelf of one of Sedara's bakery display cases. Heftier (relatively speaking) Turkish pastries fill out the case. (The difference is reflected in the price: $1.99 for the Iraqi pastries, $2.99 for the Turkish.) Sedara offers more than baklava, however. As its name suggests, there is hand-scooped ice cream (made by Cedar Crest Ice Cream), and there are bagels, brownies and more baked goods. When a curious Off the Menu stopped by Tuesday without advance notice, George Simon explained that his and Esraa's goal is to mix western and eastern flavors. This is the Simons' first restaurant. Simon said he and Esraa noticed a lot of traffic here at the intersection of Mackenzie and Heege roads, and when they saw a storefront was available, they decided to go for it. The current hours are 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. The phone number is 314-532-6508. Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Even so, I had an additional source of stress coming from my immediate left. The judge seated next to me was Ted Kilgore, the beverage director and proprietor of Planters House and inarguably the most accomplished mixologist in town. His cocktail recipes have appeared basically everywhere, and he is the only Beverage Alcohol Resource certification holder in the area. I dont even know what that means, but Im impressed. Sitting next to Kilgore at a cocktail competition is like a pony sharing a stall with Secretariat. Its like a Little League player facing Nolan Ryan. Its like playing one-on-one with Michael Jordan. And yes, I know all of my references are at least 30 years old, but Kilgores knowledge of cocktails is so intimidating that it made me feel like a boy drinking next to a man. (Im just going to go with the idea that I was a boy 30 years ago. Dont do the math.) Our two fellow judges were no slouches, either. Mark Soifer is the St. Louis chapter leader of the United States Bartenders Guild, and Allyson Mace is co-founder and publisher of Sauce Magazine. ST. LOUIS A man from St. Louis who offered to sell a game system on Facebook, then robbed and shot the buyer, was sentenced to ten years in prison Wednesday, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The victim met Natez Fisher, 19, at a pre-arranged location, prosecutors said. Fisher got in the victim's car, pulled a gun and demanded money, they said. During a struggle over the gun, the victim was shot in the leg and Fisher fled, prosecutors said. Fisher pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in St. Louis in February to one count of interference with commerce by robbery. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ALTON An Alton Middle School teacher was charged Monday after a woman told authorities that she and the man engaged sexually when the woman was younger than 17 and the man was a middle school teacher, from September 1998 until July 2000. William C. Ingersoll, 51, was charged by the Madison County State's Attorney's Office with criminal sexual assault and aggravated criminal sexual abuse. He was arrested and held on $250,000 in bail, but a family member posted $25,000 in cash later that day. The woman initially came forward about the assault in the fall of 2018 to a trusted former high school teacher, who alerted school district officials, who then alerted authorities. Alton police conducted multiple interviews and executed a search warrant. Police do not have information indicating that other victims exist, but if there are any other victims, they are encouraged to speak with the Alton Police Department. "The courage and tenacity it took for this young woman to come forward and demand attention be paid to her case is exceptional," Alton Police Chief Jason Simmons said. "It is my hope that the dedicated, professional work displayed by Detective (Joseph) Splittorff and the Madison County States Attorneys Office in this case will be able to bring her the justice she deserves. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS A longtime employee of the St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office claimed in a federal lawsuit filed Wednesday that she was fired by Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner because she is white. Nancy Woods lawsuit says she worked in the office for more than 28 years as a paralegal. But the suit says that she was among seven white prosecutors and support staff who were fired after Gardner, the citys first African American circuit attorney, took over. The suit also says that as a result of the actions of Gardner and her top staffers, more than one-third of the employees have resigned or been fired since Gardner took office. The suit names Gardner, chief of staff Michael Warrick, chief clerk Eula Simmons and former first assistant Robert Steele. ST. LOUIS The second of two men who tried to carjack an Audi sedan from a garage near Busch Stadium in 2016 was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years in prison. Christopher Don White, 32, pointed a small revolver at the Audi's driver in the Stadium West garage on June 25, 2016, and ordered him out of the car while his co-defendant, Michael Corey Williams Jr., took the passenger's purse, prosecutors said. But White was unable to operate the Audi, and both men fled in a Ford F-150 truck they'd used to get to the garage, prosecutors said. Police later found the truck by tracing the victims' phones, and found fingerprints and DNA in the truck, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. The truck had been stolen five days earlier in Arkansas. Both men pleaded guilty to carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a federal crime of violence. Williams, 32, was sentenced in March to 10 years and three months in prison. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. When he recently asked about a waiver, the department told him his previous service disqualified him because he was technically not a recruit. They also said he already lives in the city and the charter forbids employees from moving out, Michelle Lynch said. The second officer could not be reached for comment, but, along with Lynch, is the subject of a police union grievance alleging that Krewson did not properly negotiate the waivers and that they should apply to all officers, not just those hired after her announcement. The Police Officers Association has opposed the residency requirement since it was enacted in May 1973. Over the years, pensions have been threatened and families have lived apart to avoid violation of the policy. Krewson said she sympathizes with the Lynches. This wasnt what we were thinking about when I said, Lets do 50 waivers. Clock is ticking About 550 of about 1,870 police department employees already live outside the city limits. They won that right in 2005 when the police commissioners decided to allow officers with seven years of service to live outside the city, effective immediately. The U.S. Senate has approved a St. Louis lawyers appointment as a federal judge more than a year after he was nominated by President Donald Trump. In a 53-45 vote along party lines Wednesday, the Senate confirmed Stephen Clark to be a federal judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. Both Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., voted with Senate Republicans to confirm Clark. Clarks nomination last year was blasted by a handful of civil rights and gay rights organizations that criticized statements he made about abortion, rights for LGBTQ people and other issues. On Wednesday, The Leadership Conference On Civil and Human Rights, a civil rights group, said Clarks confirmation was part of Republican efforts to stack the courts with ideologues who will do their bidding. His record indicates a troubling insensitivity to issues involving womens reproductive rights and LGBTQ equality, said Kristine Lucius, a spokeswoman with the group. It is a shame that these lawmakers have rushed this confirmation in their efforts to stack the courts with ideologues who will do their bidding. ALTON Police are asking for the public's help in locating the vandals who shattered about 50 lights and stole bulbs from the amphitheater in Riverfront Park sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning, causing about $6,000 in damage. Anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandals could receive $1,000. Its very disappointing to me that at a time when resources are already being stretched thin we now have to divert workers from their tasks related to flood repairs and city beautification," Alton Public Works Director Robert Barnhart said in a statement. "Instead of those vital projects, my staff is now working to restore fixtures that are only broken because of foolish acts of vandalism. Officials say this is the second such incident in two weeks; several bulbs were damaged sometime May 9 or May 10. The parks are typically open from sunrise to sunset, unless evening events are approved by the city. The city has issued a zero-tolerance policy effective immediately, stating that anyone caught trespassing in the park after hours will be arrested. Police are encouraging anyone with information to call the Alton Police Department at 618-463-3505 or reach out to the department through social media. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The students, all convicted of felonies, earned associates' degrees by completing 60 credits in courses taught by Washington U. professors. The intel they've provided is thin, the origins murky and suspect---haven't we heard this story before? By Gareth Porter May 21, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - President Donald Trumps national security team has been leaking intelligence about Iranian threats for a week now in an attempt to justify escalating tensions, including moving American air attack assets to the Persian Gulf. But a closer look suggests that National Security Advisor John Bolton and other senior officials are trying to pull off an intelligence deception comparable to the fraudulent pretense for war in Iraq. Theres also credible evidence that Israel could be playing a key role in this subterfuge. This deception has served to defend not only a U.S. military buildup in the region, but an expansion of the possible contingencies that could be used to justify military confrontation. In Boltons White House statement on May 5, he said the deployment of assets to the Gulf would send a clear and unmistakable message to the Iranian regime that any attack on United States interests or on those of our allies will be met with unrelenting force. But public claims by the White House about Iran dont reflect intelligence in any technical sense of the word. No one has cited a single piece of hard evidence that justifies these claims of threats, let alone any that are new, as press leaks have suggested. All of them appear to be deliberate and gross distortions of actual facts. Thus do they parallel the infamous aluminum tubes of the run-up to the invasion of Iraq, which were presented as proof of an incipient Iraqi nuclear weapons program, despite the fact that technical analysis had shown that they couldnt have been used for that purpose. The Washington Post reported on May 15 that Pentagon and intelligence officials had cited three Iranian actions that had supposedly triggered alarms: Information suggesting an Iranian threat against U.S. diplomatic facilities in the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Irbil. U.S. concerns that Iran may be preparing to mount rocket or missile launchers on small ships in the Persian Gulf. A directive from [Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali] Khamenei to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and regular Iranian military units that some U.S. officials have interpreted as a potential threat to U.S. military and diplomatic personnel. None of those three claims describes actual evidence of a threatening Iranian action; all merely refer to an official U.S. concern about a possible Iranian threat. Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get our FREE Daily Newsletter The notion of missile launchers on small Iranian boats threatening American ships has been the subject of extensive leaks to the media. But a closer examination of that story shows that its an entirely artificial construct. Multiple news outlets have reported that the concerns over missiles launchers are based on aerial photographs showing Iranian missiles in small fishing boats, or dhows, that are believed to be under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. An ABC News story claims that these photos were taken by U.S. intelligence above the Iranian port of Chabahar. This is said to have stoked fears that the IRGC would use them against U.S. naval ships. This, however, makes no strategic sense. In the first place, as Fabian Hinz, an independent specialist on missile proliferation, has observed, the IRGC would need to have a method of launching them from boats, which would require extensive testing. None of that has been observed up to now, and such a development seems extremely unlikely. The IRGC also has no reason to consider using small fishing vessels to target U.S. ships, because Iran already has an impressive arsenal of land-based, anti-ship cruise missiles with all the range it needs. And those missiles are much less vulnerable than jury-rigged weapons, as theyre hidden in underground bases and disguised in trucks. Hinz writes that the Iranians in the photos were most likely transporting the weapons to one of Irans islands in the Gulf, which are already known to have such anti-ship missiles. The fishing dhow story isnt the only one to suffer from a serious lack of credibility. The other two, suggesting a threat to U.S. military personnel and diplomatic facilities in Iraq from Iranian-supported militias, were discredited during an official Pentagon-sponsored press briefing by Major General Christopher Ghika, British Deputy Commander of Operation Inherent Resolve for strategy and information. Ghika declared explicitly that there is no increased threat from Iranian-backed forces in Iraq and Syria, and repeated it when challenged by a shocked Barbara Starr on CNN. So where did the idea of Iran using fishing dhows to target U.S. ships in the Gulf come from? Not a single media report has suggested that either CIA Director Gina Haspel or Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats provided such information. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan would not specify the source when he told members of the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 8 that senior administration officials had received indications and this very, very credible intelligence on Friday afternoon, May 3. That was when officials met with Bolton at the Pentagon, according to the transcript of the meeting provided to TAC by Shanahans press office. The New York Times revealed the answer to the mystery on May 16: In meetings in Washington and Tel Aviv in the past few weeks, the papers Jerusalem correspondent wrote, Israeli intelligence warned U.S. officials that Iran or its proxies were planning to strike American targets in Iraq. The report cited a senior Middle Eastern intelligence officialthe term traditionally used to describe an Israeli intelligence officialas the source. Newsweek unearthed another clue as to the provenance of the claims. The magazine said that it learned from one Pentagon official that the satellite imagery of loading missiles into fishing dhows was not produced by U.S. intelligence but rather had been provided by Israel. Reporting by the leading Israeli diplomatic correspondent Barak Ravid, now of Channel 13 but also filing for Axios, provides more detailed evidence that Israel was the original source of all three alleged Iranian threats. Ravids story reports that an Israeli delegation, led by national advisor Meir Ben Shabbat, met with Bolton and other U.S. national security officials in the White House on April 15 and passed on to them information about possible Iranian plots against the U.S. or its allies in the Gulf, according to senior Israeli officials. Bolton confirmed the meeting with Ben Shabbat in a tweet after it happened, but revealed nothing about what was discussed. Ravids Israeli sources acknowledged that it wasnt hard intelligence or even an intelligence assessment based on evidence. Instead, as one Israeli official acknowledged, Mossad drew several scenarios for what Iran might be planning. Ravids sources ultimately admitted that Israels Mossad doesnt really know what the Iranians are trying to do. This is the obvious explanation for why U.S. officials were so unwilling to reveal the provenance of what has loosely been called intelligence. It also tallies with one Pentagon officials revelation to Newsweek that the satellite imagery cited as evidence of missiles in fishing boats had been provided to U.S. officials by Israel. That April 15 meeting was only the most recent one between top U.S. and Israeli national security officials over the past year, according to Ravid. These meetings were conducted under a still-secret U.S.-Israeli agreement on a joint plan of action against Iran reached after two days of unannounced meetings at the White House between Ben Shabbat and then-national security advisor H.R. McMaster on December 12, 2017. Ravid reported the details of that agreement in late December based on information from a senior U.S. official and confirmation from senior Israeli officials. Ravids story provided details on the four working groups that were formed under the agreement, including one on Joint U.S.-Israeli preparation for different escalation scenarios in the region, concerning Iran, Syria, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza. The Mossad scenarios apparently provided the central ideas with which to justify the Trump administrations subsequent escalatory moves against Iran, including ostentatiously moving an aircraft carrier and a B-52 bomber group into the region. Ravid asked the NSC for comment last summer about several meetings of the joint working group and was told, we dont confirm or provide details of internal deliberations. When reached by TAC on Monday, the NSC press office declined to respond to Ravids reporting or other reports indicating that Israel was the source of the very credible intelligence about Iranian threats. Boltons May 5 statement warning of unrelenting force against Iran in response to any attack by either Iranian or proxy forces added a very significant new element to Americas retaliatory threats. It referred to an attack on United States interests or on those of our allies. That broadening of the range of scenarios that could be cited to justify a U.S. strike against Iran, which has so far been studiously ignored by major news media, represents a major concession to the Israelis and Saudi Arabia. It also creates a new incentive for the Israelis and Saudis to provoke military responses by Hamas in Gaza or the Houthis in Yemen. And it poses the problem of incidents that could be blamed on Iran or a proxy but for which actual responsibility is ambiguous, such as the apparent limpet mine attack on oil tankers on May 12or the rocket fired into Baghdads Green Zone within a mile of the U.S. embassy there Sunday night. These deceptions are part of a dangerous game being run by Bolton in which Israel is apparently playing a crucial role. That should prompt some serious questioning as to Boltons claims and the role of the alleged secret U.S.-Israeli understandings. There are already signs of resistance within the Pentagon in response to this move towards war with Iran, as reported by Newsweek late last week. Be on the lookout for Iraq 2.0 justifications, said one military official. Think about the intel indicators prior to the Iraq invasion. Compare. Then get really uneasy. Gareth Porter is an investigative reporter and regular contributor to The American Conservative - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here PACIFIC The graduation ceremony was like any other tearful family members, caps and gowns, Pomp and Circumstance only with added security. The first 10 graduates of the Washington University Prison Education Project received diplomas Wednesday in the visiting room at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center state prison for men. The students, all convicted of felonies, earned associate degrees by completing 60 credits in courses taught by Washington U. professors. They take two to four classes each semester, all for free. Course offerings this spring included Chinese Civilization, Introduction to Macroeconomics and Greek Mythology. Weve created this liberal arts environment in the middle of a prison, said Robert Henke, comparative literature professor and director of the program. You get your books and its Homers Odyssey and you start talking about the text. Youre the professor and theyre not criminals, theyre not inmates, theyre college students. About 30 prisoners are enrolled for the summer session where they can study religion, calculus or ethnography. Some 50 to 60 inmates apply each year for the coveted 10 open spots in the program. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent, take an exam and write a personal essay. The students are relieved of prison work duties while enrolled. Washington U.s Pacific campus, as its known, includes a computer room and study hall that hosts a speakers series, reading group and tutoring. The program helps the prisoners feel less marginalized and more like contributing members of society, said graduate Kareem Martin of St. Louis. It awakened something in me that needed to be awakened, he said. Classes are also offered to prison staff, which improves relationships by providing a shared goal with the prisoners, said Emily Haslag, the facilitys activity director. The project is one of about 200 sponsored by universities at prisons nationwide. St. Louis Universitys Prison Program launched in 2008 at the corrections facility in Bonne Terre and now enrolls 10 students and staff members each year for work toward an associates degree. None of its graduates have returned to prison. Stanley Andrisse, an endocrinologist and assistant professor at Howard University, gave the commencement address. Andrisse, of Ferguson, has three felony convictions and was sentenced to 10 years in prison where a mentor from SLU convinced him to pursue his education. You have a piece of paper that will open doors that you never imagined would be opened, Andrisse told the graduates. Education is transformative. Use it to rewrite your story. Andrisse runs the From Prison Cells to PhD organization and said it was a full-circle experience to return to a Missouri prison as a professional guest speaker. The Washington U. program is primarily funded by the university and is part of the Bard Prison Initiative of 11 U.S. colleges. It is administered by the schools University College continuing education division. Compared to undergraduates in St. Louis, the students at the prison have an increased sense of urgency. Their life experiences bring added passion to debates and discussion, Henke said. Theres something at stake for these students in the prison, he said. They work really hard under sometimes not perfect conditions. Its not the quietest place in the world. The graduation ceremony paid tribute to Maggie Garb, one of the founders of the prison education program. Garb, a Washington University history professor, died of cancer last year. Graduate Torey Adams said he appreciated that the courses were not watered down for the prisoners. My papers always looked like red coloring books when you were done editing them, Adams wrote in a letter to Garb after her death. It was through you that we knew that Wash. U. did not come to change us, brainwash us, but on the contrary to accept us as we are, but still make us better in the process. Another of her students, Danien Cobb, gave a speech at the ceremony about Garbs influence on the prisoners lives, taking them from societys outcasts to mighty men capable of great achievement. Cobb expects to complete his associates degree next spring while continuing to serve a 20-year sentence for armed robbery. Because of his education, Cobb said, he has been freed to dream. Stay up to date on life and culture in St. Louis. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS COUNTY St. Louis County Councilman Tim Fitch is proposing that the county forbid its new employees from living in the city of St. Louis, saying it's only fair because the city forces county residents interested in working for the city to move there. "They're wrong of course for having a residency requirement at all, but if they're going to force St. Louis County residents who want to work for the city to live there, then St. Louis County should consider the same thing," Fitch said. "Their arguments as to why it's good for the city are the same arguments I would have as to why it's good for the county." Fitch asked the county counselor Wednesday to begin drafting an ordinance that the county council could consider that would require St. Louis city residents who get hired for St. Louis County government jobs to move to the county within six months of their hire. "I have a problem with the city telling county residents that they have to live in the city," Fitch said. He's hoping other governments, including St. Charles County, Jefferson County and Illinois leaders adopt similar measures. It seems to me if a woman takes some sort of drug or does some other activity to herself, she would be potentially within that provision, Pearson said. I think its a pretty big reach to try to read that in a way that says the woman would be liable, said Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, who is a lawyer and who helped draft the bill. When you read the language, its clear that theres no penalties except for those who cause an abortion to be induced or performed, she said, referring to the doctors or nurse practitioners who perform the procedure. The bill goes on to say that a woman upon whom an abortion is performed or induced in violation of this subsection shall not be prosecuted for a conspiracy to violate the provisions of this subsection. To be abundantly clear, theres another sentence immediately following that says a woman shall not be charged with conspiracy, Coleman said. But an exemption for conspiracy charges would not cover a woman who completes an abortion herself, detractors argue. Republican sponsors of the bill say that would not happen. But Democrats who oppose the bill say it could. ST. LOUIS The Housing Authority of St. Louis County said Tuesday that it would not allow new subsidized housing vouchers to be used at five apartment complexes owned by T.E.H. Realty, one of the largest providers of affordable housing in the region. Officials also said existing vouchers in use at the five properties in question will not be renewed. T.E.H. has been on the radar in recent years following publicity over poor living conditions, primarily at Springwood Apartments in Bel-Ridge, the first of at least a dozen properties that affiliates of the firm purchased in the area since late 2014. Substandard living conditions and building code violations have also been reported at Park Ridge and Northwinds Apartments in Ferguson, which have a combined 774 units. T.E.H. is the new owner of the two complexes that were refurbished about a decade ago with the lure of at least $42 million in low-income housing tax credits. The work has not been up to the level that it needs to go, Susan Rollins, director of the Housing Authority of St. Louis County, said Tuesday at a meeting with the Post-Dispatch editorial board. House Democrats are facing yet another brazen attempt by President Donald Trump to stonewall their investigations , this time with former White House counsel Donald McGahn defying a subpoena for his testimony on orders from the White House. A lawyer for McGahn said he would follow the president's directive and skip Tuesday's House Judiciary hearing, leaving the Democrats without yet another witness and a growing debate within the party about how to respond. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, backed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, is taking a step-by-step approach to the confrontations with Trump. Nadler said the committee would vote to hold McGahn in contempt, and take the issue to court. "You face serious consequences if you do not appear," Nadler warned McGahn in a letter on the eve of the hearing. Democrats are encouraged by an early success on that route as a federal judge ruled against Trump on Monday in a financial records dispute with Congress. By Finian Cunningham May 21, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - British media have reported that small teams of Britains elite commandoes are being deployed on UK-registered oil tankers in the Persian Gulf by way of protecting these vessels. There's something fishy about the reports, if they are indeed accurate and not some form of British intelligence disinformation. We are told by The Sun that two Special Boat Service (SBS) squads have been flown to the Middle East in order to deploy on commercial ships entering the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz. The SBS is a naval counterpart of Britain's elite paratrooper SAS regiment. They are both trained to work in top-secret missions. The reported deployment of these elite British forces comes at a time of escalating tensions in the Gulf between the United States and Iran. US allies Saudi Arabia and the other oil-exporting monarchy, the United Arab Emirates, are calling for stepped up defenses to counter alleged aggression from Iran. Last week, four oil tankers were apparently sabotaged near the UAE port of Fujairah. There have also been reports of drone attacks on Saudi oil pumping stations from Houthi rebels based in Yemen. The finger of suspicion has been pointed at Iran for being behind these acts of sabotage, even though Tehran vehemently denied any involvement and has in fact warned of "malicious conspiracies" to incite a war. US politicians have lately ramped up the hostile rhetoric against Iran. President Donald Trump raged at the weekend that if "Iran threatens the US" it would be the "official end" of the Islamic Republic. War hawks like Republican Senator Tom Cotton told Fox News that if a war was to erupt the US should defeat Iran with just two strikes, "the first one and the last one". Another hawkish voice, that of Senator Lindsey Graham, called for the US to use "overwhelming force" if American interests are harmed. The unhinged hyperbole out of Washington of inflicting mass destruction against Iran sounds ominous. It is also criminally reckless aggression which violates international law and the UN Charter. Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get our FREE Daily Newsletter That's why the international public must be acutely vigilant of "false flag" attacks being staged, aimed at giving the impression that Iran is targeting the vital interests of the US or its allies. Iran has repeatedly said that it has no interest in going to war with the US. It is not in Iranian interests to plunge their country into catastrophic conflict, although Tehran has warned that if it is attacked it will respond with formidable defenses, as well as shutting down the global oil economy by blocking the narrow Strait of Hormuz. First question right off is: how are individual British soldiers assigned to huge oil tankers supposed to afford protection to those ships? Iran is known to have an arsenal of lethal anti-ship missiles which it can launch from its coastline. So how are a few squaddies regardless of their supposed elite status meant to fend off incoming ballistic missiles, if the Iranians decided to go to war? The British commandoes are then, according to sketchy media reports, to be airlifted off the oil tankers by naval helicopters and redeployed on the southern side of the Persian Gulf, possibly in Oman or the UAE where Britain maintains colonial-era military bases. Indeed, the whole escapade sounds very dodgy, like a rejected script for a cheesy James Bond movie. The ostensible purpose of protecting commercial ships can be dismissed as implausible given the circumstances of puny manning and anti-missile equipment. That raises the more sinister question about what exactly these British commandoes are really up to? Like all special forces, their expertise is in dirty tricks and clandestine operations. It would seem far more plausible that they are being used to set up false-flag provocations which can be conveniently blamed on Iran and thereby provide a pretext for all-out aggression against Tehran. President Trump may not personally want war with Iran. He certainly despises the Iranian leadership, but at the same time says he wants to engage in future diplomatic talks to resolve animosities. However, many other politicians and military hawks in Washington have no such qualms about attacking Iran. Hawks like national security adviser John Bolton have openly called for bombing Iran to force regime change. Presumably, Bolton and others have never forgiven the Iranians for kicking out the US-backed puppet dictatorship of the Shah 40 years ago. Iran's sordid history of British and American oil exploitation, and the CIA/MI6 orchestrated coup in 1953 which was a textbook case of false flags and dirty tricks ushering in the brutally oppressive Shah regime until it was overthrown in 1979 by the Iranian people, clearly demonstrates that Britain is the "go-to accomplice" for US imperialist war in the Middle East. It would not be at all surprising if British military planners were hatching a devious scheme to trigger war in the Persian Gulf for the benefit of the American military-industrial complex. Sabotaging oil tankers or pumping stations which the dutiful Western news media then uncritically blame on Iran would be as easy as saying, "Jolly good show old chap!". Finian Cunningham This article was originally published by "Sputnik" - A Michigan man who spent 45 years in prison before he was exonerated of murder will receive $1.5 million from the state, the attorney general's office said Friday. Richard Phillips, 73, was exonerated in 2018, becoming the longest-serving U.S. inmate to be cleared. He's been selling his prison paintings to raise money while waiting to learn whether he would be compensated under a Michigan law that pays the wrongly convicted. "We have an obligation to provide compassionate compensation to these men for the harm they suffered," Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement. Her office agreed to pay $780,000 to Neal Redick, who served nearly 16 years in prison for criminal sexual conduct in Genesee County. The complainant recanted, and the conviction was thrown out in 2007. Ray McCann will receive $40,000. He served 20 months in jail and prison after feeling pressured to plead no contest to perjury in a homicide investigation in St. Joseph County. The conviction was thrown out in 2017, two years after another man confessed to the killing. Michigan lawmakers still need to put more money into the fund. Looking for something to watch while enjoying the rest of that holiday break? There were plenty of options this year, including "Ted Lasso," " No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not improve the chance of winning. 1. Promotion Period. The promotion begins on May 21, 2019 and ends at 11:59 p.m. on September 15, 2019 (the "Promotion Period"). Odds of winning depend on the number of valid entries received. Dates subject to change. 2. Agreement to Official Rules. 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If you have any questions regarding this please contact us at 314-340-8901 or email emills@post-dispatch.com. On the face of it, we sound like a contradiction: A group of moms working to legalize cannabis. In fact, we are Illinois state legislators who share long-held concerns for economic fairness, social justice and public safety. At first glance, legalization of recreational cannabis for adult use might not seem connected to economic fairness. But it is. If passed, Illinois Senate Bill 7 would address inequities that have plagued our state and disproportionately affected communities of color for decades. For starters, the proposal would create a $20 million low-interest loan program that would benefit new cannabis companies in areas disproportionately affected by the unjust drug laws of the past. These social equity applicants would include businesses owned by people who were punished under old cannabis laws. In the old days, a new business opportunity like this would have gone to the friends or family of those in power. But this legislation brings it into the public and gives some measure of equal access. It opens the playing field to new players. The bills passed in Georgia, Alabama and Missouri are anathema to the majority of Americans. These bills seek not to protect lives, but to subjugate women by criminalizing our health care decisions. These draconian laws are in direct violation of our basic human and constitutional rights. Whether to terminate a pregnancy or not is a personal, private decision into which no government has the right to interfere. In the United States, every woman has the unalienable right to her own life, liberty and the pursuit of her own happiness. These regressive measures are also racist and classist, denying poor women and women of color the freedoms that wealthy white women will continue to exercise. They will have a disastrous impact on our economy and result in the deaths of many women. I demand that Gov. Mike Parson vetoes these misogynist attacks on womens rights. Kathleen Corbett-Otto Overland On Nov. 30, President Donald Trump, then-Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau signed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, upgrading and modernizing the North American Free Trade Agreement. This new agreement includes changes for several different industries, including Missouris top industry, agriculture. Agriculture provides Missouri more than 400,000 jobs, covers 28.3 million acres of farmland on nearly 100,000 farms, and contributes $88 billion to our state's economy. The new agreement is an important step for the United States to take to ensure American trade interests are protected and supported. It will provide our farmers and agriculture producers more trade opportunities and improved phytosanitary measures. In March, I joined 24 other lieutenant governors in signing a letter to President Trump expressing our support for the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement because of the positive improvements it will provide North American trade. In April 2019 Algeria revealed two locally developed and manufactured UAVs. Both are based on the twin-engine UA-40 UAV announced by UAE (United Arab Emirates) firm Adcom in 2010. However, Adcom never completed development of UA-40 and a smaller version called Flash 20. The UA-40/Flash 20 project was sold to Algeria in 2016 and two variants (Algeria 54 and Algeria 55) were produced and flown by 2018. The larger Algeria 54 is similar in size (1.5 ton) to the American Predator but is built for endurance and its twin engines can keep the UAV in the air for over 72 hours. Equipped with a SAR radar (for maritime search) and standard vidcam the Algeria 54 is suitable for patrolling coastal waters as well as the long desert borders Algeria shares with Libya and Mali. Both these borders are frequently crossed by smugglers using all-terrain 4x4 vehicles that bypass the few roads that featuring checkpoints at international borders. The SAR radar can detect such vehicles at night as the smugglers cross borders in remote areas. Algeria has been using UAVs since the late 1990s when they purchased ten Seeker 2 UAVs from South Africa (Denel). These 400 kg, single engine UAVs have a payload of 40 kg, endurance of six hours, max altitude of 6,100 meters and can operate up to 250 kilometers from the base station. The Seeker was one of the earliest modern UAV designs, first entering service during the 1980s. Algeria paid $2 million each for those Seeker 2s. In 2018 Algeria revealed that it had purchased at least ten Chinese UAVs, apparently five CH-3s and five CH-4s. Both of these have sold to a number of Moslem nations. The CH-4 was developed from the earlier (2010) CH-3, a 640 kg aircraft with 12 hours endurance and can carry two AR-1 missiles. The CH-4 is similar in shape to the American Predator. The latest version of CH-4 weighs 1.3 tons, has a 14 meter (46 feet) wingspan, and is 9 meters (28 feet) long. It has max altitude of 5,300 meters (16,400 feet) and an endurance of over 35 hours. Max payload (sensors and weapons) is 345 kg (759 pounds). A CH-4 can carry 4 weapons (or electronic devices) under the wings, each weighing up to 100 kg. China offers Chinese-made weapons for both these UAVs Chief among these is a Hellfire clone; the AR-1. This is a 45 kg (99 pound) missile with a max range of 10 kilometers and a 10 kg (22 pound) warhead. AR-1 can be equipped with either GPS or laser guidance. The other weapon is a copy of the American SDB (small diameter bomb) which is a 128 kg (281 pound) GPS guided glide bomb in the shape of a missile with a penetrating warhead. The Chinese version is the FT-5 and is a 100 kg (220 pound) GPS guided bomb in the shape of a missile. All Algerian UAVs primarily serve as surveillance aircraft, patrolling large, thinly populated areas seeking signs of illegal (smuggling, Islamic terrorist) activity. This apparently works because Algerian troops regularly intercept smugglers in remote border areas, find weapons and equipment smugglers, or Islamic terrorists have hidden in remote areas. While local informants are sometimes the source of information, a lot of the locations are obtained by UAVs patrolling day and night over areas where such activity is suspected. by Austin Bay May 21, 2019 Mark down May 2019 as the month Iran's war-by-proxy-forces racket became an undeniable problem for Tehran's dictators. This month, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. informed the Iranian regime it will suffer violent consequences if and when the militias and terror cells Tehran employs throughout the Middle East and the world attack Saudi and American targets. Tehran no longer enjoys the diplomatic nicety of plausible deniability that armed surrogates supposedly provide. The regime will be held directly responsible for its proxy's violent actions. Several armed incidents this month led Saudi Arabia and the U.S. to threaten the Iranian dictatorship with military reprisals. On May 14, the United Arab Emirates accused Iran of "sabotaging" four tankers anchored off the UAE Fujairah emirate. Two tankers were Saudi owned. The anchorage is near the Strait of Hormuz -- the Persian Gulf chokepoint for ships entering the Indian Ocean. Subsequently, Reuters reported that an international insurer believed it "highly likely" Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) personnel conducted the attack. Two days later, Yemeni Houthi rebels attacked two Saudi Arabian oil pumping stations. The Houthis purportedly used small drone aircrafts carrying explosives. The Iranian regime bankrolls the Houthis and provides them with training and weapons, which include short-range ballistic missiles. Then on May 19, a rocket likely fired by Iranian-sponsored Shiite militias struck near the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The rocket missed the embassy, and there were no casualties. Is the U.S. absolutely certain an Iranian proxy fired the rocket? No. However, pro-Iran militias have conducted rocket attacks in Iraq, and IRGC commanders have threatened to strike American targets in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. U.S. President Donald Trump was certain enough to issue a feisty tweet: "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again!" Reuters quoted an unnamed State Department official who pinpointed the Iran proxy force's liability. "We have made clear over the past two weeks and again underscore that attacks on U.S. personnel and facilities will not be tolerated and will be responded to in a decisive manner. We will hold Iran responsible if any such attacks are conducted by its proxy militia forces or elements of such forces, and will respond to Iran accordingly." So clear and unadorned. Though loath to admit it, the Iranian regime recognizes its conventional military inferiority compared to its many adversaries, particularly Israel, the U.S. and Turkey. So, the ayatollahs use proxy war, covert attacks and terror strikes to rattle their adversaries and frustrate the great powers (like the U.S.) that seek regional stability. For decades, they have bet that violent "meddling operations" by their proxies and IRGC special forces demonstrate their ability to act globally with little risk to their regime. But this May, the risks rose. The Trump administration is clearly tired of the 40-year-long war on the U.S. waged by the dictatorship since Ayatollah Khomeini established it in 1979. Trump's tweet from Jan. 1, 2018, expressed that sentiment: "Iran is failing at every level despite the terrible deal made with them by the Obama Administration. The great Iranian people have been repressed for many years. They are hungry for food & for freedom. Along with human rights, the wealth of Iran is being looted. TIME FOR CHANGE!" The "terrible deal" was Obama's nuclear weapons deal. Critics said the tweet showed Trump was plotting regime change, however, he has insistently rejected U.S. military action to topple the dictatorship. He favors revolutionary political action by the Iranian people. Trump will use military might to deter the regime and punish violent anti-American acts, but he much prefers economic sanctions, such as sanctioning Iranian oil exports. The administration believes its political and economic sanctions have begun to hurt several Iranian proxies, Lebanese Hezbollah among them. Serious internal challenges confront the dictatorship. Domestic opposition is increasing. Iranian citizens damn the regime's economic mismanagement and endemic corruption. Rumor says the ayatollahs are now more corrupt than the Shah. Founder says firm ready for the worst but calls for global telecom teamwork The United States government has temporarily eased a ban on US technology sales to Huawei Technologies Co, a move that analysts said is aimed at reducing impacts on the Chinese tech giant's sprawling global customer and supply base. In response to the move, Huawei's founder said on Tuesday that the company has made sound preparations for a worst-case scenario, but he also called for global cooperation to move the telecommunications industry forward. The US Commerce Department said on its website that it issued a 90-day license to allow Huawei to purchase US technology in order to maintain existing networks and provide software updates for existing Huawei handsets. Wang Peng, deputy head of the think tank China Center for Information Industry Development, said the move signifies that the US realized directly cutting off all supplies to Huawei would hurt the interests of millions of people. "Some small US mobile carriers, for instance, bought Huawei's cost-effective products to build their existing rural networks. A sizable number of overseas consumers also use handsets from Huawei, the world's largest telecom equipment maker and second-largest smartphone vendor," Wang said. On Tuesday, Ren Zhengfei, CEO and founder of Huawei, said in an interview with Chinese media in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, that Huawei has overlapping interests with US companies, and the US government underestimated Huawei's ability to persevere. "We can make chips that are currently bought from US firms, but it does not mean that we will stop buying chips from them. Instead, we should grow together," the 75-year-old senior executive said. Huawei also said earlier that it has developed its own mobile phone operating system, which could replace Google's Android operating system in its smartphones in case the US software company restricts its system from use by Huawei devices. Huawei is facing a crackdown from the US government, which accuses it of posing national security risks. The Shenzhen-based company has repeatedly denied that claim. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Tuesday that using state power to suppress foreign enterprises will not serve US interests in the end. International trade and investment must be based on equality and mutual benefit, Lu said, adding that the Chinese government has the resolve and capability to defend its legitimate rights and interests. Ren said the current difficulties can spur China to develop its own semiconductor industry. Pouring in money is not enough, and more professionals are needed to develop the sector, he added. But Ren also highlighted that it is very difficult to rely solely on China's independent innovation to succeed and global cooperation is desired because companies in the global electronics industrial chain are closely tied. According to the Financial Times, semiconductor shares are facing their biggest potential monthly drop since 2008, partly attributable to the US crackdown on Huawei, which puts pressure on the sector. All 30 members of the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index, which tracks companies that design, distribute and manufacture semiconductors, were in the red on Monday, leaving the index down 13 percent so far this month. John Neuffer, president of the Semiconductor Industry Association, which represents US chipmakers and designers, said in a statement that the association wants the government to ease restrictions further. Neuffer said the association hopes to work with the administration to broaden the scope of the 90-day license so that it does not undermine the industry's ability to compete globally. Wen Ku, a spokesman for the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said on Tuesday that China hopes other countries will provide fair and equal treatment for Chinese businesses. Home Search ICH Israel's War Criminals In Their Own Words Shooting unarmed Palestinian demonstrators "preserves Israeli values" By Philip Giraldi May 21, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - Israels public face, sustained and propagated by a wealthy and powerful diaspora that has significant control over the media, insists that the country is the Middle Easts only true democracy, that is operates under a rule of law for all its citizens and that its army is the most moral in the world. All of those assertions are false. Israels government favors its Jewish citizens through laws and regulations that are defined by religion. It in fact now identifies itself legally as a Jewish state with Christians and Muslim citizens having second class status. Israels army, meanwhile, has committed numerous war crimes against largely unarmed civilian populations in the past seventy years, both in Lebanon and directed against the Palestinians on the West Bank and Gaza. In response to the past years Great March of Return protests staged by Gazans along the fence line that separates them from Israel, Israeli army snipers have shot dead 293 Palestinians and wounded seven thousand more. Twenty-thousand other Gazans have been harmed by other weapons used by the Israelis, to include canisters from the volleys of tear gas and rubber bullets. The numbers include hundreds of children and medical personnel trying to help the wounded, which reportedly have been particularly targeted. The United Nations has reported that many of the wounded have been shot in their legs, which the Israeli army regards as restraint on its part. Many of those injured will likely need to have limbs amputated because Gaza lacks the medical facilities required to properly treat their wounds. Israel has bombed hospitals and blocked the importation of medical supplies into Gaza while also not allowing Gazans to leave the enclave for medical treatment elsewhere in the Middle East. One hundred and twenty amputations have already been performed this year. Jamie McGoldrick, the U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Territories explained Youve got 1,700 people who are in need of serious, complicated surgeries for them to be able to walk again[requiring] very, very serious and complex bone reconstruction surgery over a two-year period before they start to rehabilitate themselves. Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get our FREE Daily Newsletter The U.N. would like to provide $20 million in assistance to enable medical treatment rather than amputations but the United States has refused to support emergency funding for the Palestinians through the Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), a step presumably taken to benefit Israel by punishing the Palestinian people. Interestingly, a document has recent re-surfaced describing in chilling terms the Israel Armys viewpoint on shooting protesting Arabs. One year ago former British diplomat Craig Murray posted on his blog, Condemned By Their Own Words, which provided a translated from Hebrew-to-English transcript of an Israeli radio broadcast that had taken place on April 21st. An Israeli Brigadier-General, named Zvika Fogel, was responding to reports of the killing by soldiers of an unarmed fourteen year-old boy. He explained in some detail why his soldiers are absolutely doing the right thing to shoot to kill Palestinians who approach the barrier separating Gaza from Israel. General Fogels comments are reflective of the Israeli government view of how to control the Palestinian problem. Only the rights, including the right to life, of Israeli Jews are legitimate and Arabs should be grateful for what the Jewish state allows them to have. Fogel responded to interviewer Ron Nesiels first question Should the IDF [Israeli army] rethink its use of snipers? by saying that Any person who gets close to the fence, anyone who could be a future threat to the border of the State of Israel and its residents, should bear a price for that violation. If this child or anyone else gets close to the fence in order to hide an explosive device or check if there are any dead zones there or to cut the fence so someone could infiltrate the territory of the State of Israel to kill us Nesiel: Then, then his punishment is death? Fogel: His punishment is death. As far as Im concerned then yes, if you can only shoot him to stop him, in the leg or arm great. But if its more than that then, yes, you want to check with me whose blood is thicker, ours or theirs. It is clear to you that if one such person will manage to cross the fence or hide an explosive device there Nesiel: But we were taught that live fire is only used when the soldiers face immediate danger. It does not do all that well for us, those pictures that are distributed around the world. Fogel: I know how these orders are given. I know how a sniper does the shooting. I know how many authorizations he needs before he receives an authorization to open fire. It is not the whim of one or the other sniper who identifies the small body of a child now and decides hell shoot. Someone marks the target for him very well and tells him exactly why one has to shoot and what the threat is from that individual. And to my great sorrow, sometimes when you shoot at a small body and you intended to hit his arm or shoulder it goes even higher. The picture is not a pretty picture. But if thats the price that we have to pay to preserve the safety and quality of life of the residents of the State of Israel, then thats the price. [And] look, Ron, were even terrible at it [at suppressing those pictures]. Theres nothing to be done, David always looks better against Goliath. And in this case, we are the Goliath. Not the David. That is entirely clear to me. It will drag us into a war. I do not want to be on the side that gets dragged. I want to be on the side that initiates things. I do not want to wait for the moment where it finds a weak spot and attacks me there. If tomorrow morning it gets into a military base or a kibbutz and kills people there and takes prisoners of war or hostages, call it as you like, were in a whole new script. I want the leaders of Hamas to wake up tomorrow morning and for the last time in their life see the smiling faces of the IDF. Thats what I want to have happen. But we are dragged along. So were putting snipers up because we want to preserve the values we were educated by. We cant always take a single picture and put it before the whole world. We have soldiers there, our children, who were sent out and receive very accurate instructions about whom to shoot to protect us. Lets back them up. One might reasonably suggest that Fogels comments reflect a consensus among Israelis on how to deal with the Arabs. And the United States is fully complicit in the slaughter. American Ambassador to Israel David Friedman has repeatedly praised the restraint of the Israeli armed forces and has blamed the Gazans for their plight. The United States continues to subsidize illegal Israeli settlements that fuel the conflict and is putting the final touches on an Israeli approved peace plan that will now and forever make the Palestinians a non-people, without a nation of their own and without any hopes for the future. Meanwhile, they are target practice for Israeli snipers. The world should be mortified by Israeli arrogance and behavior and the United States should bow its head in shame each time a pandering American politician comes out with the line Israel has a right to defend itself. councilforthenationalinterest.org, address is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is inform@cnionline.org. Philip M. Giraldi, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Council for the National Interest, a 501(c)3 tax deductible educational foundation (Federal ID Number #52-1739023) that seeks a more interests-based U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. Website isaddress is P.O. Box 2157, Purcellville VA 20134 and its email is This article was originally published by "Unz Review " - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Information Clearing House has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is Information ClearingHouse endorsed or sponsored by the originator.) Privacy Statement The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. It is telling that there were no spontaneous public demonstrations of joy in Iran on the 17th as the sanctions were officially lifted. The religious fanatics running the government are not too optimistic either. They note that year by year more of the senior clergy appear less fanatic and more willing to allow social reforms. Since this includes moving away from a religious dictatorship the most conservative and ruthless Iranian Moslems fear for their future. The lifting of sanctions gives the government a chance to improve the lives of Iranians. Thus the government ordered an increase in oil production from the current million barrels a day to 1.5 million by the end of 2016 and to two million by late 2017. This is still less than the 2.3 million barrels a day produced before the 2012 sanctions were imposed but it will take a while to restore production. Foreign experts believe Iranian oil production targets are a bit too high and that it may take until the end of the decade to match 2012 production. Meanwhile Iran is selling off the more than 40 million barrels it has stored in tankers offshore or in land facilities. Unfortunately the price of oil is much lower ($29 a barrel) now than it was in 2012 ($108) and pumping a lot more does not mean as much. The Saudis and other Gulf oil states are keeping oil prices low in an effort to destroy the American shale oil industry (which most oil experts believe will not work) and hurt Iran (that is working). The lifting of sanctions also frees about $50 billion in cash frozen in foreign banks. This can be used to buy equipment needed to maintain and expand the oil industry, as well as other parts of the economy hurt by the sanctions. Iranian oil facilities are way overdue for refurbishment as much maintenance has been put for since the 1980s. Without massive investment the oil industry will become less productive and profitable. The government does not like to discuss this openly because the needed investments are huge and mean that other infrastructure needs will have to wait and that will hurt nearly all Iranians. Iran plans to achieve GDP growth of 8 percent a year via foreign investment of over $30 billion a year. That will encounter problems with the notoriously corrupt bureaucracy. The religious dictatorship tolerates a lot of this corruption in order to assure the continued loyalty of many key supporters. But the majority of Iranians, and foreign investors, suffer from the corruption. Even the Chinese and Russians are wary, but both of these nations are even more corrupt and know how to deal with corruption encountered overseas. The Chinese and Russians do this with threats and whatever else (legal or illegal) that will protect their investments. This works often enough to keep doing it although neither Russian nor China invest for the long haul overseas. Corrupt nations tend to be politically unstable in the long run and when the revolution comes the foreign investors are usually big losers. Moreover the current Iranian government is kept in power largely because of the many religious fanatics willing to die to protect this corrupt religious dictatorship. China and Russia are not officially denounced by the Iranian government (as the U.S., Israel and West are) but China and Russia are not seen, by most Moslems, as friends of Islam. In short, Iran is a dangerous and unpredictable business partner and shows no signs of trying to change that. A lot of Iranians agree, which is one reason Iran allows so many well educated Iranians to emigrate. That simply reduces the number of potential (and more able) rebels. There are still some sanctions on Iran and more may be added because Iran refuses to halt its ballistic missile development. Iran says this is mainly for use in destroying Israel but the new missiles have longer range that threatens more of Europe. Iran also recently boasted of its growing number of underground missile launch, storage, maintenance and production facilities. Israel has made it clear that Iran is still a threat and will be closely watched by Israel. It is well that Iran be watched closely because the Iranian Islamic conservatives are determined to support terrorism overseas and eventually build nuclear weapons at home, rather than concentrating on improving the economy and living standards. Expensive efforts to aid pro-Iran groups in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon have worked but at the cost of popular support inside Iran. The government sees these foreign adventures as a way to distract an unhappy population but too many Iranians see through that and it just increases the popular anger. The nukes remain important because Iran has been increasingly vocal about how Iran should be the leader of the Islamic world and the guardian of the major Islamic shrines (Mecca) in Saudi Arabia. Iranians believe that having nukes would motivate the Arabs to bow down. The Arabs have been kicked around by the Iranians for thousands of years and take this latest threat very seriously. Yet many Arabs just want peace with Iran. A recent poll of Arab opinion leaders (political, economic, media and academic) found that 81 percent backed better relations between Iran and the Arab world. But only 35 percent believed that Arab countries were serious about making peace with Iran compared to 58 percent who believed that Iran was. Arab leaders know they would benefit from trade with Iran. The only problem is that Iran is again asserting its claim to political domination of the region. The last time this was a threat was in the 1970s when the Iranian monarchy was talking about rebuilding the ancient Persian Empire. The nearby Arab states were rattled by this as it was aimed at them. Iran was not a threat to Turkey (a NATO member) or Russia (then, as now, a nuclear armed state). This time around the Iranian monarchy is gone and replaced with a religious dictatorship that invests heavily in ballistic missiles and nuclear research. The Iranian religious leaders have made the traditional Iranian empire building into a religious matter. That is a bad move. You can see that on the Internet where most of the Islamic terrorist related traffic in the Arab world (which is often in Arabic) is Sunni Moslems saying nasty things about Shia Moslems. This makes sense when you consider that 80 percent of Moslems are Sunni and only ten percent Shia. Unfortunately many of the messages criticizing Islamic terrorism in general gets denounced, at least among Sunni Moslems, as Shia propaganda. That shows the depth of the antipathy between Sunni and Shia because over 90 percent of Islamic terrorists are Sunni and most of their Internet support comes from the Arab Gulf states (in other words, the Arabian Peninsula). In the last few years the Islamic terrorist related messages by Moslems have increasingly been about the growing animosity between Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia (and other Sunni Arab states). This has become something of a religious war with Sunni and Shia clerics encouraging their followers to vigorously defend their form of Islam on the Internet. This often involves posting increasingly strident sermons (in text, audio or video format) by clergy backing their form of Islam. This has swept away earlier efforts by Sunni and Shia to use the Internet to help build better relations between the many forms of Islam. The fighting in Syria, which is basically a Sunni majority rebelling against an Iran-backed Shia minority government, further inflamed the nasty rhetoric on the Internet. That got worse when a Saudi led Sunni coalition entered the civil war in Yemen. There a Shia minority was defeating the Sunni majority and most Sunnis were not happy with that. Iran has always been the economic (and military) superpower in the Persian Gulf and the much of the Middle East and now wants to go beyond that to be the leader of the Islamic world. The majority of Moslems oppose that as do most non-Moslem nations. Because of Iranian involvement in Syria Turkey is now an enemy of Iran and allied with Israel. This is not good for Iran but an excellent development for Israel and most Turks. The war in Syria, in particular the recent Russian intervention was very unpopular in Turkey. This was good for Israel because Turkey, long a foe of Russia was not happy with Russian troops fighting right on the Turkish border, Thus by the end of 2015 the Turks were discussing the resumption of diplomatic relations with Israel. Since 2002 the Islamic government of Turkey has been battling Turkish secularists and trying to improve relations with other Islamic countries (including ancient rival Iran). This 2002 policy meant adopting an anti-Israel attitude after decades of close relations with the Jewish state. The Iranian threat also led many Gulf Arab states to openly ally themselves with Israel. Thats not the only new problem Iran has because of Syria. Russia and Iran have had some nasty disagreements over how to conduct the campaign in Syria. Iran was not happy with the Russia attitude, which implies that Russia should be in charge even though Iran had been fighting in Syria since 2013. By the end of December Iran had moved a lot of its personnel to Iraq, where Iran was assisting the Iraqi government in driving ISIL out of western Iraq (Anbar province and Mosul) and relations between the two nations have cooled. Russia and Iran still need each other but over the two centuries they have been neighbors relations have usually been cordial but tense. These tensions have crippled UN efforts to get Syria peace talks going. The growing hostility between Saudi Arabia and Iran has made cooperation over brokering a Syria peace deal less likely. Russian efforts to mediate are also compromised because of tensions with Iran and the Saudis. Iran is also suffering setbacks Yemen and is trying to delay the defeat of the Shia rebels until something can be done to distract or disrupt the Saudi led Arab coalition that has deprived the Shia rebels of the victory they seemed on the brink of in early 2015. The UN hosted peace talks brought no peace so far but the UN is still trying. Both sides continue fighting and government forces are closing in on Sanaa, the national capital. As powerful as it is, the Arab coalition is dependent on popular support at home and that means keeping coalition casualties down. So the advance is deliberate and prudent. Nevertheless this conflict appears to be ending without addressing the corruption and bad government that have made Yemen a bloody mess in the first place. January 17, 2016: The United States and other Western nations lifted most of the heavy UN-approved economic sanctions Iran has been coping with since 2012. This comes as a result of the July 2015 treaty and UN inspectors declaring that Iran had met the treaty conditions regarding nuclear research. Many, especially the Israelis, believe this only delays (by up to 15 years) Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. At the same time the U.S. imposed new sanctions on Iran for continued violation of UN bans on ballistic missile development and testing. The Arab states in the region, especially the ones with lots of oil, do not believe Iran will be any less aggressive in its efforts to regain military and political dominance in the region. Many Arabs believe that lifting the sanctions was a plot by Western nations to help Iran again become the most powerful economy in the region. That would mean a lot of business for Western firms. But in Iran there is more of a desire to return things to normal. For example in 2000 Iran had a larger GDP than Saudi Arabia. Because of the sanctions the Saudis now have a GDP 60 percent larger than Iran. January 14, 2016: Russia released the text of the agreement it signed with Syria in August 2015 to authorize Russian intervention in Syria. One interesting aspect of this treaty was the fact that the Russians can stay as long as they wish. This is apparently irritating to Iran which is believed to want a post-civil war Syria that is under more direct Iranian control and a semi-permanent Russian military occupation would interfere with that. Short term the Assads want to survive but long term they and most other Syrians are not keen on becoming, unofficially, another province of Iran. If a permanent Russian military presence will prevent that then it is OK. January 13, 2016: The government announced that another IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) commander (a colonel) had been killed in Syria. Over a hundred Iranians that have died in Syria since October. Before the Russian intervention there the government played down Iranian deaths in Syria and denied there were many Iranians there at all. Now Iran admits that their troops have been actively involved in Syria since 2013 and over 300 have died so far. A thousand or more Iran recruited and supported foreign mercenaries in Syria have also died. January 12, 2016: Two U.S. Navy coastal patrol boats and ten sailors manning them were seized by armed Iranian patrol boats in the Persian Gulf. The Americans were accused of being in Iranian territorial waters. The American boats and sailors were released a day later but the U.S. Navy has not yet explained how this improbable event actually took place. Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) boasted that the IRGC was responsible for training (and often recruiting, arming and paying) 200,000 fighters in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan and Afghanistan. At least a quarter of these are in Syria, followed by Lebanon, Iraq and Yemen. Pakistan and Afghanistan were not happy with the IRGC publicly admitting that Iran has sponsored local (and often illegal) Shia militias. Iran had to do some diplomatic fence mending over that. Jafaris comments did not help efforts to defuse the Sunni-Shia feud that Saudi Arabia and Iran have revived as part of an Iranian effort to reassert the traditional Iranian domination of the region. Near the Pakistan border an Iranian F-4 jet fighter crashed during a training flight. The pilot and the weapons officer aboard both died. Iran is one of the few nations still operating the American built F-4, a 1950s design that was once widely used and exported. Iran received them in the 1970s. January 9, 2016: In the Kurdish northwest local opposition leaders complain that government persecution of Kurds has gotten worse in the 2015. Executions of Kurds are more common, running at the rate of 80 a month. Many of executions and fatal encounters with the security forces are attributed to Kurds involved in drug smuggling. But local Kurds deny this and accuse the government of becoming more violent about destroying Kurdish separatist and opposition groups. Sunni Baluchis in the southwest have the same complaint. January 8, 2016: In the Pakistani capital nearly two thousand local Shia demonstrated against Pakistan joining a Saudi led anti-terrorist organization. Shia believe this effort is directed against Iran and Shia Moslems in general. Most of the demonstrators specifically condemned Saudi Arabia for the recent (January 2nd) execution of a Saudi Shia cleric who was accused of encouraging Shia violence in Saudi Arabia. The Pakistani decision to not send troops to help Saudi Arabia fight Shia rebels in Yemen was, in part, to avoid problems with Pakistani Shia. Pakistan points out that over 20 percent of Pakistanis are Shia, Iran is a neighbor and trading partner and Pakistan is heavily involved with battling local Islamic terrorists. Off the record Pakistanis note most of this Islamic radicalism began in Arabia, financed by Islamic charities sponsored by Arab oil money (from governments and wealthy individuals). The oil rich Gulf Arabs are angry with what is perceived as ingratitude and betrayal after years of generous financial support. Pakistan made matters worse by announcing it would cooperate with Iran to try and solve the Yemen unrest (where Iran admits it backs the Shia rebels) peacefully. That was seen as insulting to Saudi Arabia, which had publicly asked Pakistan to join the Saudi led coalition (Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Egypt, Sudan, Bahrain, Morocco, Jordan, and Egypt) fighting Shia rebels in Yemen. At the same time Pakistan assured Saudi Arabia that Pakistan would provide military assistance if the territory of Saudi Arabia were invaded. That would only happen if Iran attacked, although Pakistan refused to elaborate on that possibility. January 7, 2016: The government accused Saudi warplanes of bombing the Iranian embassy in the rebel held capital of Yemen. Saudi Arabia investigated the claim and found it to be false. January 3, 2016: Next door in Iraq (south of Baghdad) two Sunni mosques were bombed and at another a mosque employee was shot dead. This was believed to be revenge attacks for the January 2nd execution of an outspoken (against Sunni mistreatment) Shia cleric in Saudi Arabia. Iran loudly protested this execution as well and a crowd of Iranian protestors invaded and burned part of the Saudi embassy there. This led to Saudi Arabia breaking diplomatic relations with Iran and ordering Iranian diplomats out of Saudi Arabia within 48 hours. Kuwait followed suit despite Iranian apologies. This is a disturbing development for Iraq because nearly all Iraqi Shia are Arabs. Despite close religious ties to Iran even Shia Arabs believe that Iranians (who are Indo-European, not Arab) want to dominate the region and Arabs in general oppose that. SME '19: Colin Sandy Says Streaming and AV Are Converging and Clashing Learn more about A/V and streaming at Streaming Media's next event. Read the complete transcript of this interview: Tim Siglin: Welcome back to this second day of Streaming Media East 2019. I'm Tim Siglin, contributing editor with Streaming Media Magazine, and the founding executive director of the not for profit Help Me! Stream, and today I'm very happy to have with me Colin Sandy. Colin your company's Sandy Audio Visual? Colin Sandy: That's right. Tim Siglin: Down in the D.C area, right? Colin Sandy: That's right, we're in Laurel, Maryland, which is a suburb of Washington, D.C. Tim Siglin: Okay, and before we came on air, you were talking about a number of different projects you've done both up here in New York, as well as you know down in the D.C. area. You said streaming is a fairly big component of you're business and I come out of AV integration as well so, I'm just really curious from your stand point how streaming and sort of traditional A/V in the classroom, and in the boardroom are merging together, and where you see sort of the symbioses there? Colin Sandy: Sure, I think it's some what a merger and a clash, and the clash is really with the people because now have the IT faction and the AV faction and we have to work together and play nice. Tim Siglin: One of my jokes, even ten years ago, was talking about packet size versus one volt peak-to-peak, and having people in the room not understanding those two different pieces. So are the IT people the streaming people or the IT people just the gateway's controllers to the network? Colin Sandy: Well, they're really the gateway controllers to the network. You kind of have this tension between network command controls security from the IT side, and bandwidth reliability, scalability on the AV side, you want to make sure your packets aren't slowed down. There's no packet manager making things be jittery, what-have-you; you want the picture-perfect video experience. But not have to jump through the hoops of super-curious firewall configuration with any of that stuff. Tim Siglin: NAT translations and that type of thing. Colin Sandy: Exactly. Tim Siglin: So it's been probably six seven years since I did heavy AV integrations. In that period of time, network administrators really weren't comfortable doing VLANs; they wanted you to put your own switches in. These days do you find that you can coexist on the same Cisco switch just as a VLAN, and have your content move that way around the local area network? Colin Sandy: Generally not, unless you have an AV manager or an IT manager that is very savvy with AV, or that is kind of straddling--they're in charge of the AV and the IT in their facility. These days, usually, I've noticed manufacturers are starting to do this now--kind of put a firewall on their product where you have the AV LAN side and you have the IT management side of it so they can coexist just in the device itself. But I found that the shared router tends not to work out too well because the policies kind of conflict sometimes. between AV and the IT side. Tim Siglin: So we're still in the world of overlay networks? Colin Sandy: Absolutely. Tim Siglin: Okay, got it. When you talk about streaming out of the firewall--say, corporate environment or educational environment pushing it out-- what sort of issue do you run into with the IT department there, because they may have a set amount of band width that they use for their traditional email, FTP, blackboard, learning management systems, and then you're coming along saying, "Hey, I want to shove a bunch of data down this pipe." Colin Sandy: Sure, I can give you a concrete example. There's a state judiciary that we do work for and their concern really was impacting their network where employees--judges, lawyers, etc.--would be looking at the content and slowing down the rest of the network for email and FTP and all the traditional services. So what they ended up doing and was using Riverbed in their system to manage the traffic so you wouldn't impact expediency either. Tim Siglin: Do you have a network traffic shaping tool in there to do that? Colin Sandy: Absolutely. Tim Siglin: Then, do you ever find that what they've asked you to put in is going to raise the amount of external capacity that they need in terms of the data pipe size overall, or do you fit within the constraints of what, if they say we have a OC3 you fit in that? Colin Sandy: Well, most of the time, the procurement for the backbone or the pipes really comes before any thoughts about streaming content. Most of the time it's, "Here's what we have work within our parameters." Various manufacturers have done it, I know I've mentioned Riverbed. IBM has its eCDN that does the same sort of thing--manage internal traffic, and you know those types of schemes really are necessary so that everyone's happy. Tim Siglin: And you mention eCDNs. Let's sort of end on that, that was a really big deal when I did work with the media publisher which became Qumo, and Cisco and IBM looking in eCDNs, probably ten or twelve years ago. Are eCDNs still a really big component of caching content around the enterprise, or is cloud-based external caching sort of what happens these days? Colin Sandy: I'm seeing it both ways. So, looking into overall state agencies, in Minnesota they're using a cloud-based solution to kind of get around a traffic issue with various agencies around the state. Here in New York, they're deploying IBM's eCDNs, so you know it really matters to their budget structure. You know whether they want to go CAPEX or OPEX, you know whether they have the internal staff to manage the equipment or what kind of contracts they want to get in to have it managed for them. Tim Siglin: Any security concerns, I mean that used to come into play. I don't know if it still comes into play? Colin Sandy: Cyber-security especiially. You have state actors that are putting what-have-you into what-have-you. A lot of companies--especially government companies and larger educational institution, corporations--want to make sure that their IT from top to bottom is secured. And you know where as the marketing folks, the development folks, they want to make sure as many eyeballs can see the content as possible, so sometimes there's a conflict in there but, let me just roll it up by saying this you know there are a lot of arguments as far as who's allowed to do what. But I think on the AV side, a lot of the folks that do traditional broadcast like me really need to understand the security considerations and security concerns of the IT professionals, and on the other hand the IT professionals need to understand the you know the workflow concerns for the AV professionals. Tim Siglin: Having worked for the Department of Defense and Public Affairs, that was sort of the challenge: you had, on one hand, somebody would say that's classified information national security, on the other hand it would be like a reporters asking, "What can we give?" And eventually they'd get it through Freedom of Information Act, but it was very much that sort of balance between those. Colin, thank you very much. Colin Sandy: Absolutely. It was great chatting with you. Tim Siglin: Likewise, and we'll be right back. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Related Articles Whakatane residents won't be able to recycle much of their plastic packaging anymore, but that shouldnt discourage them from recycling glass, paper, cardboard and metal, say the Glass Packaging Forum. The Forum, which runs the countrys only accredited product stewardship scheme for container glass, is appealing to the public to remember glass is one of the most easily recyclable packaging materials. Glass bottles and jars are recycled right here in New Zealand, says Forum manager Dominic Salmon. People should absolutely continue to recycle them as throwing glass in landfill is a huge waste of resources. Glass also never breaks down in a landfill. The change to local plastic recycling, from June 1, which means only plastic with a number 1 or 2 recycling symbol will be accepted, comes as recyclers struggle to find markets for the material. The change has affected other cities and towns such as Hastings, Napier, Gisborne, Oamaru, Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt. However, Dominic is concerned the changes to plastic recycling will change general attitudes to other recyclable materials, such as glass. Recycling glass remains a great solution. It's 100 per cent recyclable and can be recycled an infinite number of times. Recycled glass, called cullet, goes to the countrys only glass bottle and jar manufacturer O-I New Zealand in Auckland where it is used to make new glass containers. The average recycled glass content for O-I New Zealand in 2017 is 67 percent. Using cullet in production reduces the need for virgin material in fact, 1kg of recycled glass replaces 1.2kg of virgin materials. It also means the furnaces can run at a lower temperature so there are less emissions, Dominic says. According to the latest information from O-I, every 10 percent of recycled glass content reduces emissions by five per cent and generates energy savings of approximately three per cent. A great little statistic wed love people to keep in mind when doing their recycling is that the energy saved by recycling a single bottle could light a 15-watt low-energy light bulb for 24 hours, says Dominic. Well worth the effort to continue putting your glass bottles and jars in the kerbside recycling or taking them to a recycling centre. Home Search ICH By Daniel Larison May 21, 2019 " Information Clearing House " - The Trump administrations overhyped claims of an increased Iranian threat went over like a lead balloon with allied officials this week: A NATO military intelligence official who was briefed on Pompeos claims about increased Iranian aggression in the Middle East said the substance of the intelligence that the Americans briefed was utterly unconvincing even insulting [bold mine-DL]. Do they think that we are stupid? asked the NATO official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Pompeo has a record of making false and exaggerated claims about Iran and its involvement in other conflicts, especially in Yemen, so he probably didnt have much credibility among allies going into this. It isnt surprising that his presentation of the latest administration spin didnt go over well. Our treaty allies dont share the administrations Iran obsession and dont want to be drawn in to a new conflict, so to convince them the evidence of new and unusual Iranian behavior would have to be very strong. At the same time, the Secretary of State has been so used to getting away with making outrageous false statements to Congress and the public for more than a year that he probably didnt expect to encounter so much skepticism when he tried to pass off weak evidence as if it were solid proof of increased threats. Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get our FREE Daily Newsletter The information Pompeo provided predictably didnt back up the administrations alarmist statements and provocative behavior: The NATO military intelligence official said Pompeos clumsy attempt to gin up support for the U.S.s dealings with Iran fell on deaf ears. [The briefing] was a dogs breakfast of things that happen every day, rumors, poorly-sourced things we suspect are [planted information], and of course, some pictures of boats that the Iranians have put some missiles on, he said, referencing the photograph of an Iranian missile on a small boat in the Persian Gulf that was recently declassified, according to the New York Times, by U.S. intelligence agents who wanted to prove that Iran is indeed a threat. Iranians have been putting missiles on boats in the Gulf since the 1980s. Thats what you do when you dont have proper blue water navy. In short, there was no good reason for the panicked administration reaction this month, and it has shown how eager some administration officials are to seize on absolutely anything as an excuse to move towards conflict with Iran. The Trump administrations response over the last two weeks has been a bit like the cartoon where the giant elephant shrieks and jumps up on a chair when it spots a mouse on the floor. That doesnt bode well for how the administration will respond to an accidental collision or clash. This is why the U.S. and Iran should maintain regular lines of communication to avert potential misunderstandings and to make sure that our governments can calm things down before they get out of control. Pompeo had no better luck during his recent trip to Iraq: When asked if Pompeo and his staff accepted this analysis, the Iraqi official laughed. You Americans arent always good listeners in the Middle East, he said. We are telling them that the Iranians werent behaving unusually and they ignored us. The Trump administration has pursued a policy of relentless hostility towards Iran, and then they misread normal Iranian actions as a new threat, blew that threat out of proportion, and then massively overreacted. This article was originally published by "AmCon" - Do you agree or disagree? Post your comment here ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy The Trump Administration Panicked Over Nothing Search Information Clearing House === Click Here To Support Information Clearing House Your support has kept ICH free on the Web since 2002. Click for Spanish , German , Dutch , Danish , French , translation- Note- Translation may take a moment to load. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Information Clearing House has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is Information ClearingHouse endorsed or sponsored by the originator.) Privacy Statement The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Information Clearing House. Lance Corporal Nadine Nitschke is one of those people who thrives in high-pressure situations. Lance Corporal Nitschke was one of five dental assistants who were part of the 13-member New Zealand Defence Force contingent that provided dental treatment in Samoa recently. I dont mind being under pressure, which is often the case when we deploy, she says. Often it means working long days and dealing with challenging cases, but it is very rewarding. It was great to be working in a different environment, providing dental care and treatment to people who needed it. Exercise Tropic Twilight, as the dental programme in Samoa was called, was conducted from 8-20 May. The NZDF contingent, in collaboration with Samoas Ministry of Health, provided dental care and treatment through a clinic at Poutasi village on the southeast coast of the main island Upolu. Lance Corporal Nitschke was born in Tauranga and grew up in Te Puke. She enlisted in the New Zealand Army in August 2016, after being encouraged by her mother, who is a former Communication Centre operator in the Army. Dental Assistant Lance Corporal Nadine Nitschke (left) assists Dental Hygienist Sergeant Renee Mudgway in treating a patient in Samoa during Exercise Tropic Twilight. In my final year in high school I could not decide what I was going to do. Fortunately my mum got me thinking about the Army and dentistry." After completing basic training at Waiouru Military Camp she trained to become a dental assistant and was posted to Trentham Dental Centre in November 2016. The NZDF has conducted similar dental care programmes in Hawkes Bay, Bay of Plenty, Kaitaia, Vanuatu and Samoa. Lance Corporal Nitschke took part in the programmes in Hawkes Bay in March this year and in Bay of Plenty last year. Jacqui Rollestons Pink Ribbon Breakfast proved to be a successful fundraising event. The breakfast took place at the Te Puna Rugby club on Sunday May 19, where 100 women gathered to raise funds and awareness for the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation. Jacqui and the Mana Taiao team have raised $5,857.50, and they are now placed third on the individual fundraising board. Initially, Jacqui says she planned to have a small and intimate Pink Ribbon Breakfast. The idea to host a Pink Ribbon Breakfast started off as something small at home, but escalated when other friends and whanau indicated that they wanted to come, so we created a larger event and asked our whanau rugby club at Te Puna if we could host it there. They were supportive and everything just escalated from there. Jacqui says in order to get more bang for their fundraising efforts, her daughter Maraea and sister Jess sought sponsors and donations for an auction, which they managed to gather items for 10 auctions. One item was an amazing guitar from Gavin Kemble of Enspire Consulting donated, after my initial call out for a spare second hand guitar on Facebook. It auctioned off at $2300 by my mother, which was our largest auction item. Other amazing items that fetched fantastic prices were four Good Vibes V.I.P tickets gifted from the talented NZ reggae band L.A.B. These tickets were broken up into two auctions and sold for $400 in the first auction, and $535 in the second auction. The remaining auctions consisted of donated items and hampers for hair, beauty, mother and baby, fitness, special occasion, family adventure and date night. Jacqui says she and her team are blown away by the support. Totals auctions went at close to $4700, on top of nearly $2000 in donations to my page. My mum, daughter, sister and sister in-laws were all hands on on the day, it was a real whanau affair. I certainly don't want to leave out my amazing partner Nassah Steed, who along with the boys of our whanau, Buddy Mikaere & Tenby Powell, were instrumental in running the kitchen. A number of notable community members took part and attended the breakfast, making it an entertaining morning. Jacqui says The Breeze Tauranga radio host Jolene James did a superb job at being the MC, engaging the audience and reminding everyone of the important kaupapa, and Tauranga mayoral candidate Tenby Powell auctioned the items off at the breakfast. We also had a few speakers, Ann Mitchell, who is not only a cancer survivor, but fitness physio at Total Rehab Physiotherapy in Brookfield who has a pocket rocket personality and zest for life, shared her positive story. Bridgett Tapsell, Owner of Village/Whare PR who recently wrote a novel called 'Hangi Pants' that has now been awarded with Te Mangai Paho funding to escalate her book to the big screen also spoke, reminding us that sharing our stories is part of a healing process. Steffi August also briefly spoke which was pretty special as it was her first public event since her love and husband died just over a month ago. Jacqui says although she is pleased with the fundraising efforts so far, donations can continue to be made to her Pink Ribbon Breakfast campaign. We currently sit third on the leader board in New Zealand for funds raised which is pretty cool, with more money from auctions still to be paid into the page. However, fundraisers are still going until the end of the month so the leader board can still change. So shout out to the community to feel free to koha to the page for this awesome cause! To donate to Jacquis fundraising page, click here. Aquinas College students are experiencing a day in someone elses shoes. Staff and students went about their day wearing bare feet for a social justice project, says religious education teacher and teacher in charge of the Aquinas College army, Mikaere Smith. We are taking the opportunity to wear no shoes today, so there are a few of us in the school not wearing any shoes to try and get a feel for what its like for little kids to go to school with no shoes on during winter. Our school community has been asked through St Vincent De Paul, and what we call the AC army, to donate shoes. Over the last few weeks, students have brought in pairs of shoes in a good condition, whether they are used or brand new, to give to those in need. Essentially, what we are after is pairs of wearable shoes to be brought into the school, and we are going to distribute those to primary schools in our region that require shoes for their kids, says Mikaere. The school first became involved with the initiative three years ago, and Mikaere says they brought it back into their school focus this year. Aquinas College student Bailey Berntsen says shoes are something most of us take for granted. At Aquinas College, we are fortunate enough to have shoes to keep our feet warm, but there are children in Tauranga going to school in bare feet, on cold frosty mornings. Over the last few weeks the AC Army and Young Vinnies have collected over 200 pairs of shoes that have been donated from families at Aquinas that will benefit children around Tauranga. Along with these donations, we held a bare foot day on May 22 so that students and teachers at Aquinas College learn what it is like for these children, even if it was for just one day. For us this was a choice, for these children, it is their life. They dont get the choice to wear shoes or not. We wanted to show awareness for our own community and provide support for these kids and express that we care about them. We pray that this small initiative will put huge smiles on children's faces. We hope that in our small act we can provide an opportunity for students to enjoy their school day. Aquinas Colleges no shoes initiative is timely, as today the government confirmed the first official targets to break the cycle of child poverty. Teacher Mikaere Smith takes part in a frosty foot challenge. Photo: Alex Eagles-Tully. Prime Minister and Minister for Child Poverty Reduction Jacinda Ardern says its an important step in tackling head on the long term challenge of child poverty in New Zealand, to make our country one of the best in which to be a child. Evidence shows us that children in poverty are more likely to get sick, leave school without a qualification, sometimes struggle to get food and fall through the cracks. We know that to improve New Zealanders wellbeing so much depends on the early years. Late last year, the historic child poverty reduction act passed with cross party support, and requirements for the government to report on child poverty rates every year in the budget were introduced, as well as setting clear targets to reduce the rates. Interim targets were also announced last year. Following Statistic New Zealands recent release of baseline rates of child poverty, official targets have been confirmed today. The Coalition Governments plan will halve child poverty within a decade and establish New Zealand as one of the best performing countries for our kids. Thats what New Zealanders expect from a country like ours, Jacinda says. To maintain our ambition for halving the rate of material hardship within 10 years, we are seeking a reduction from 13 per cent down to 6 per cent, compared to the interim 7 per cent target. All other interim targets have been confirmed. The Government has already taken action on lifting between 42,000 and 73,000 children out of poverty through the $5.5 billion Families Package that gives a $75 a week boost to the incomes of 384,000 families when fully rolled out, and weve extended free GP visits to every child under 14. The Wellbeing Budget will continue to tackle the long-term challenge of lifting children out of poverty because its the right thing to do for our communities and our economy, Jacinda says. By 2021, the government aim to lift around 70,000 children out of poverty in low income households before housing costs from 16 per cent to 10 per cent, to lift 40,000 children out of poverty in low income households after housing costs from 23 per cent down to 19 per cent, and 30,000 children out of material hardship from 13 per cent down to 10 per cent. The official targets have today been set by notice in the Gazette and published on the DPMC website. PETERBOROUGH, ON (May 22, 2019)- Central Ontario motorsports fans are in store for even more excitement, as the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series powered by Torque Builders Inc. launches its 2019 schedule Saturday, May 25th at Canadas Toughest 1/3-Mile Paved Oval. As the host of six events on this years eight race calendar, Peterborough Speedway is the official home track of OMRS and the popular open-wheeled tours brand continues to grow. Our drivers and teams have worked hard during the off-season and theyre all looking forward to hitting the track on the weekend for the first time this year, said Rick Warnes, who along with Randy Hollingsworth and Bill Pickford make-up the series group of officials. J.P. and Dave at Peterborough have been good friends to our runners over the years and Im sure well return their kindness with a great show. Rick Warnes says that several of the groups previous champions, including Brad Stevenson, John Baker Jr. and Rob Warnes, are expected to be in the starting line-up for this weekends season opener. He also expects to have some new faces sign-up for action with the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series in 2019. There could also be some surprises in our driver roster, Warnes said, with a smile. Just like any season opening event, you never know wholl show-up until their hauler rolls through the pit gate. To learn more about the Ontario Modifieds Racing Series powered by Torque Builders Inc. schedule, visit the groups social media platform, www.facebook.com/OMRS or look for the newly redesigned web-site www.ontariomodifiedsracing.com. For over a decade, Torque Builders Inc. has worked with partners and clients in the construction industry, offering new, general construction services, renovations and retrofits in the industrial, commercial and institutional sector. See www.torquebuilders.com to find out more. The 2019 Ontario Modifieds Racing Series tour is also supported by Complete Mechanical, Borque Transmission, Gen-3 Electrical, Thinkpath Design, Conview Concrete, Sterling Tire and Clarke Motorsports Communications. Prepared by Jim Clarke, Clarke Motorsports Communications/First Draft Media clarkemotorsports@hotmail.com, www.facebook.com/clarkemotorsports 613.968.6410 A typical lunch might consist of a chicken sandwich, salad, apple and milk, she said. The program concludes Aug. 2, with each meal site operating with different ending dates and times. If we can reach children and provide them with meals when school is out, we are answering a desperate need in our community, said Cupp. Last year, the program served about 230 children, which included children who were already at the sites for camps and summer school. This year, she anticipates serving 450 children. The number of walk-in children who were not involved in these programs was minimal, Cupp said. Cupp said the program went well during last years trial, but she is certain there are many children who are not being served. She is expanding the program this year to offer more opportunities for children to benefit. The program works by setting up sites in the community where meals are delivered during certain times and days. The program is open to all children 18 years and younger, even those who do not reside in Washington County. No proof of income is required. Parents and guardians pay $3 if they choose to eat a meal with their children. Hopson, whose body has not yet been found, had gone to Wrights property in Mendota on March 17 after he offered her $50 to clean his house, said her grandmother, Mary Griffith, of Greeneville, Tennessee. Hopson worked at the carnival and knew Wright through work, where Hopson had been employed for seven years. I just want to know why, Hopsons mother, Bonnie Griffith, of Oklahoma, said last Tuesday. They worked side by side. Her mother said Hopson called Wright Bubba and had previously talked about him. Hopson had a heart of gold and would help anybody, her grandmother added. She often shared her problems with her grandmother. Hopson, who has a 3-year-old daughter, loved children, both family members said, adding that she enjoyed seeing the smiles on the faces of children while touring with the carnival. She assisted with cleanup at the carnival, as well as the rides. I believe he deliberately hurt my child and those other girls, Hopsons mother said. Id like to ask him why. They trusted him. They grew a relationship with this guy. ABINGDON, Va. Abingdon Town Manager Jimmy Morani has signed an agreement to endorse the Main Street program in Abingdon through Virginia Main Street. But Town Council still opposes giving any money to the Abingdon entity in its proposed 2019-20 budget. Theyve underperformed our expectations, and were just not getting much return on our investment, Mayor Wayne Craig said during a recess from a council work session last week. We dont have any control over them, he added. All we do is give them money. In other words, if we tell them to do something, they dont have to do it. That puts us in a difficult position with our citizens when theyre not doing what were asking them to do. So far, council wants to withhold its $30,000-a-year support for the program, which helps facilitate improvements in downtown districts. Theres a lot of grants out there that are available, which I think could be applied for, said Vice Mayor Cindy Patterson. I believe we need to look at and make sure theyre doing what they need to be doing and putting all those efforts into getting all of those grants that they need. Washington Countys Board of Supervisors moved ahead this week with a plan to establish a fire and rescue substation near Whitetop Mountain by accepting a land donation at Green Cove, Virginia. The first thing we need is some land to put something on, Supervisor Mike Rush told the Board of Supervisors at its Tuesday meeting. Rush said he explored the area, looking for potential property. We didnt come up with much, he said. Then we approached Annette Goode to donate this, and she did. Now a resident of Folsom, California, Goode, for years, operated the Buchanan Inn, a bed and breakfast along the Virginia Creeper Trail near the historic Green Cove Station, about a half-mile from U.S. Highway 58. Goodes donated property contains 150 feet along Green Cove Road near the countys Green Cove Convenience Center. County Administrator Jason Berry visited the 2-acre property on May 10 and said, It will make a nice site for a station. Rush said they are making sure the land meets any environmental regulations related to a stream on the property. James Michael Wright, 23, of Mendota, has been charged with three counts of capital murder and is currently being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon. More than 70 residents packed the Mendota auditorium on May 14 to voice concerns, hear updates on the case and pose questions, including how long before the missing body of one victim could turn up in the river. If you do see evidence, even a piece of clothing ... well be glad to come and check it out, Newman said on May 14. Contact our office. Dont tamper with any evidence if it happens to be her body, Newman said. Certainly, let us know immediately. And thats a very valid point: Were hoping obviously with the attractions here in Mendota, with the river attraction, that there will be a lot of people who will be utilizing the river. That may very well be to our benefit. That same night, about 24 miles away, Hernandez also addressed the Mendota murders in Abingdon. Its been a tough week for a lot of the residents, said Hernandez, who represents the Mendota community on the Board of Supervisors. ABINGDON, Va. A Bluff City, Tennessee, man was arrested on Monday, May 13, after crashing his car into a home along Watauga Road following a 20-mile, high-speed pursuit, according to police. At around 10:30 a.m., a Virginia State Police trooper attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a silver Chevrolet Aveo on Interstate 81 in Washington County, but the driver refused to stop, the VSP said in a news release. The driver, James E. Malone, 41, used the shoulder to bypass traffic and elude police, the release states. Police issued an alert for Malone, and he was spotted a short time later driving along Lee Highway. A VSP sergeant attempted to make a second stop but was unsuccessful. Malone pulled back onto the interstate at Exit 14 and headed north until he rammed a VSP patrol car, lost control of the vehicle and spun out into the median, the release states. Malone regained control of the car and began driving north in the southbound lanes of I-81, police said. With the assistance of the Washington County Sheriffs Office, all southbound traffic was stopped at the 21-mile marker as the Chevrolet continued north on the southbound shoulder at speeds exceeding 90 mph until he pulled off at Exit 19, the VSP said. Hiking the Appalachian Trail even just parts of it is the goal of millions of people every year, and for some, its a major life quest. Stretching from Georgia to Maine through various ranges of the Appalachian Mountains, the 2,190-mile trail is a common sight for many of us as we explore the scenic byways of Appalachia. There are hundreds of places where the trail crosses our mountain roads, and for some of us, those marked crossings are a reminder that we, too, might like to hike the trail one day. Its not just Appalachian people who take to the trail: People come from all over the nation and around the world to experience its natural beauty and spectacular mountain vistas. Hiking is a passion for many, and the Appalachian Trail is the pinnacle of the experience for many who share that passion. So it was chilling to learn of the violence on a section of the trail in Southwest Virginia recently that took the life of Ronald Sanchez Jr., of Oklahoma City. Sanchez, 43, an Army veteran whose quest to hike the trail brought him to our region, was stabbed to death in an attack by a single assailant May 11 on the trail near the Smyth-Wythe county line. That brings us to one of the Democratic candidates who has done what few other Democrats are willing to do these days talk about rural America. Of course, the fact that Iowa is the first on the 2020 caucus-and-primary schedule does help concentrate candidates attention, at least for awhile. And that brings us to Bernie Sanders, who last week announced what the website Politico called a sweeping plan. Perhaps it is, but most of it doesnt apply directly to us. Two-thirds of it deals with agriculture. We all ought to have an interest in agriculture policy. We do like to eat, after all. However, much of Sanders plan is written with Midwestern agriculture in mind. Thats not what we have here. Plus, rural America is a lot more than agriculture. Theres not a lot here that speaks directly to Southwest and Southside Virginia. (We also cant help but point out that one plank Sanders support for farmers right to repair their farm equipment without going through an authorized dealer is identical to one that Republican Ed Gillespie had in his 2017 campaign for governor. Either Gillespie was a secret socialist, or Sanders may not be as much of a Red as Republicans would like to make him out to be.) TOWN OF ONONDAGA - Under new ownership, Boom Boom Mex Mex has reopened at 3263 Howlett Hill Road in the town of Onondaga. Sean Lavin, a loyal customer himself, decided to buy the building last September and reopen the restaurant. The Mexican restaurant features the original recipes and menu made famous by the founders, Tom and Lupe Bryan. Lavin said he has the Lupes blessing in his new endeavor. The Bryans opened the eatery in 2005 after first running a stand at the New York State Fair. They would open from March until October, and then return to Mexico for the winters. In the spring, people would line up on opening day to get the homemade Mexican food, including burritos, tacos and salads. In 2015, the Bryans retired and Gio Laurenzo - who ran Rio Grande Mexican restaurant in New Hartford - bought the restaurant and reopened it that fall. He ran it for two years, and then put the building up for sale. Lavin, along with his parents and brothers, now operate the restaurant. After first opening Sunday and announcing they would be open 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., the owners have decided to scale back temporarily on the hours. They will now open at 4:30 p.m. weekdays, and 11:30 a.m. weekends. ORISKANY, N.Y. -- An Oneida County man who was once convicted of leaving his mother in the woods is back in jail. Tomas Zavalidroga reported his then 83-year-old mother missing in July 2014. She was found days later alive but in poor condition in a wooded area between Route 5 and Lenox Avenue in Oneida. A jury found Zavalidroga guilty of second-degree reckless endangerment and third-degree falsely reporting an incident. He was sentenced to a year in county jail. Oneida County sheriffs deputies have been looking for Tomas Zavalidroga, formerly of Blossvale, since 2016 when a warrant was issued for his arrest. Zavalidroga was recently arrested in New Jersey and extradited to New York on Monday, according to Sgt. Michael Ladd, of the Oneida County Sheriffs Office. When the Oneida County Sheriffs Office released its 10 most wanted list earlier this week, Zavalidroga was listed as number one. In 2016, Zavalidroga was charged with second-degree criminal contempt for an incident where he violated an order of protection. The protection order was not for his mother, but for another family member, Ladd said. When Zavalidroga didnt show up for a scheduled court appointment, a judge issued a bench warrant. Deputies had a run-in with Zavalidroga in 2018, but he was not apprehended. Earlier this month, Zavalidroga was arrested in New Jersey after he allegedly disturbed a religious ceremony. He ran from police and did not give them his name, Ladd said. After New Jersey police ran Zavalidrogas finger prints, they found his Oneida County warrant. Zavalidroga was extradited and arraigned on Monday. Ladd said the other nine people on the sheriffs offices top ten poster are still wanted. Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse firefighter who provided crucial testimony at a high-profile murder trial earlier this month won his second major award in as many weeks Wednesday. Fire investigator Lt. Allen Williams, who was grilled during trial over his resume, ended up the hero in helping to bring murderer Charles DuBois to justice. Under fire in court, Williams remained calm on the witness stand and confident in his conclusions. And he convinced the jury that the mysterious fatal fire had been intentionally set. DuBois was found guilty and is now expected to spend the rest of his life in prison without parole. Today, Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick praised Williams work as essential in proving DuBois guilt. The fire incinerated whatever physical evidence was left, making Williams words and conclusions imperative. The jury absolutely loved Williams professionalism and the deferential way that Williams spoke of the victims, the DA added, noting that hed sat in court personally to watch Williams testimony. (The DA spoke to some jurors afterward, he said.) Williams, a 14-year firefighter, became a fire investigator in 2014. His job at the time of the fatal Fitch Street fire was to sift through the rubble and figure out how and why the blaze started. Charles DuBois was convicted of setting fire to this Fitch Street house, killing 4 of his own relatives. Killed in the 3 a.m. April 5, 2018 blaze were Susan Wagner, 45; her 16-year-old son, Michael DuBoi;, her 18-year-old son, Koreena DuBois; and Koreenas 1-year-old son, Hunter. Charles DuBois, brother to Michael and Koreena, was convicted of setting the fire to kill his family, then walking his dog during an overnight snowstorm. Williams arrived as firefighters were extinguishing the fatal fire. He spent the better part of a day examining the scene, taking photos and eventually creating a slideshow that became crucial for the prosecutions case. The jury relied on Williams words and photos -- instead of traditional physical evidence brought into the courtroom -- in finding DuBois guilty. Williams concluded that two fires were intentionally set: one on a living room couch and the other under the basement stairs. He ruled out appliances, electronics or heaters as the cause of the blaze. But whatever caused the fire had been destroyed itself, he determined. The DAs special recognition award came on the heels of an award presented to Williams earlier this month by Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh. Williams received the only standing ovation Wednesday among award winners at the District Attorney Advisory Councils annual luncheon. Fitzpatrick offered remarks at the luncheon condemning criminal justice reform bills being debated in Albany. His ire fell especially upon an elder parole bill, which would require a parole hearing for prisoners who turned 55 years old, even if they hadnt yet served their minimum prison sentence. The DA noted that Charles DuBois, who set the fire, could be freed someday under such a reform bill. He vowed to fight against such a proposal becoming law -- a fight he vowed at sentencing for the murderer in the DeWitt Chilis shootings. Present for Wednesdays luncheon were loved ones of the two Chilis victims: Kris Hicks and Stephen Gudknecht. They attended in support of Fitzpatricks fight against the elder parole bill. Fitzpatrick noted that, if elder parole passed, victims families would have to prepare for parole hearings every two years once a murderer reached 55 years of age. The DA would no longer be able to promise families that murderers sent to prison without chance of parole would never be released, he added. Others who received awards at the DAs luncheon Wednesday: DAs Special Recognition Award: Colleen Merced, executive director of the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center. Merced rose from an outreach coordinator in Spanish Harlem to a victims advocate in Cooperstown and now runs Onondaga Countys center for child victims. Williams was the other recipient of this award. Law Enforcement Medal of Gallantry: Onondaga County sheriffs Sgt. Shawn Bergman and Deputy Kristin Mullen. Bergman and Mullen responded to reports of two suspects who planned to shoot up a Liverpool bar. The two waited behind the bar for the suspects to return. When they did, one armed, the deputies confronted them and arrested the gunman after a short chase. That man, Erick Hernandez Ortiz, has since been found guilty, Fitzpatrick said. Distinguished Service Award: Samantha Monge, of the Onondaga County Crime Analysis Center, and Sgt. Gordon Quonce, of Syracuse police. Together, the two used thousands of pages of documents to trace a gun pipeline from Florida to Syracuse. They traced the guns to Victor Vazquez Melendez, who was convicted after trial based on forensic evidence, without any eyewitnesses. Community Service Award: Jaclyn Schildkraut, associate professor at SUNY Oswego. Schlidkraut is a noted expert in mass shootings who provided key expertise on a panel organized by the DA, mayor and county executive to prevent errors in responding to a school shooting locally. Lindsey Fair Youth Encouragement Award: Nick Gross, 15. Gross, an East Syracuse-Minoa student, rescued his mother from an ATV crash by using ropes and a makeshift lever to pull the machine off of her. He then used GPS to alert help. District Attorneys Lifetime Achievement Award: Henry Chanley & Donald Hamilton Scholarship Recipients: Sophia Burns, Christian Brothers Academy; Julia Davis C.W. Baker High School; Emma Garn, Marcellus High School and Mary Kilmartin, Christian Brothers Academy HAMILTON, N.Y. -- A Florida woman has been accused of scamming an elderly couple from Madison County out of $40,000, according to New York State Police. Angie Rios, 28, of Miami, Florida, was charged Monday with third-degree grand larceny, a felony, police said. Rios arrest is the result of a complaint filed in November 2018 by an elderly couple in the village of Hamilton who had received a phone call advising them that their grandson was incarcerated. To ensure his release from jail, they were told to wire $40,000 for his bail. Rios was the recipient of the money, which was ultimately deposited into her bank account in Florida, police said. An arrest warrant was issued by Madison County Court Judge Patrick OSullivan. Rios surrendered herself, state police said. Rios was arraigned in Hamilton Village Court and remanded to the Madison County Jail on $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond. She is due to return to court on May 24. State police urge anyone victimized in similar incidents to contact the New York Office of the Attorney General at 1-800-771-7755 and to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Here are some tips from state police if you receive a call like this: Verify an emergency if someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a family member or a friend desperate for money. Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story. Verify the family members identity by asking questions that a stranger couldnt possibly answer. Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine. Check the story out with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if youve been told to keep it a secret. Dont wire money or send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier. Scammers tricks They impersonate your loved one convincingly. Its surprisingly easy for a scam artist to impersonate someone. Social networking sites make it easier than ever to sleuth out personal and family information. Scammers also could hack into the e-mail account of someone you know. To make their story seem legitimate, they may involve another crook who claims to be an authority figure, like a lawyer or police officer. They play on your emotions. Scammers are banking on your love and concern to outweigh your skepticism. In one version of this scam, con artists impersonate grandchildren in distress to trick concerned grandparents into sending money. Sometimes, this is called a Grandparent Scam. They swear you to secrecy. Con artists may insist that you keep their request for money confidential to keep you from checking out their story and identifying them as imposters. Victims of this scam often dont realize theyve been tricked until days later when they speak to their actual family member or friend who knows nothing about the emergency. By then, the money they sent cant be recovered. They insist that you wire money right away. Scammers pressure people into wiring money because its like sending cash once its gone, you cant trace it or get it back. Imposters encourage using money transfer services so they can get your money before you realize youve been scammed. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A man has been charged with dismembering the body of a Rochester homicide victim in the basement of an abandoned Syracuse home. Aziz S. Adams, 19, of Ballard Ave., Syracuse, was arrested Tuesday by the New York State Police. He has been charged with helping two accused murderers hide the body of man killed in Rochester in March, said the New York State Police. Adams dismembered Maximillian Cooks body inside the basement of 110 Dearborn Place, a vacant home, troopers said. Trooper Jack Keller, a state police spokesman, confirmed Adams arrest was linked to Cooks homicide. At least four people, including Adams, have been charged in connection with the homicide. The investigation into Cooks death started with a tip. The Rochester Police Department got a tip on March 25 that Cook had been the victim of a serious crime. Working with the New York State Police, investigators found a vehicle linked to the missing man parked outside an abandoned Dearborn Place home. Cook, 43, of the town of Greece, was found dead inside the house. Aries M. Ash, 30, and Charisse N. Walton, 36, have been charged with murdering Cook at a Pennsylvania Avenue home in Rochester. The Wayne County residents were arrested March 26 after they fled from a traffic stop and crashed into a dump truck in Rochester, reported News 8 WROC. A day later, Lamor Britton, 24, of Syracuse, was arrested by troopers and charged with hiding a body. Troopers confirmed Brittons arrest was connected to the death of Cook. Close to two months later, troopers and the Syracuse Police Gang Task Force arrested Adams after a short foot chase in Syracuse, troopers said. During the pursuit, Adams had a loaded handgun with a defaced serial number, troopers said. Adams has been charged with concealment of a human corpse, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and resisting arrest. He remains in the Onondaga County Justice Center in lieu of $50,000 bail. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A Syracuse police employee already charged with forcibly touching a woman faces more charges and has resigned, according to Syracuse police spokesman Sgt. Matthew Malinowski. Brett Forkhamer, 29, a community service officer with the police department, now faces charges of second-degree criminal impersonation, eavesdropping and fourth-degree computer tampering, police say. He is also charged with forcible touching. Forkhamer resigned on Monday, the day he was charged, police said. The Syracuse Police Departments internal affairs unit started investigating Forkhamer after department members raised concerns of potential misconduct," Malinowski said. The case was turned over to the Onondaga County District Attorneys Office, though the police department is still investigating Forkhamer, Malinowski said. Forkhamer was arraigned Monday evening and released after posting $2,500 bail. He repeatedly impersonated an officer, according to a criminal complaint filed in Onondaga County court. On a first date with the victim, Forkhamer showed up with a gun, police radio, a baton, handcuffs, black shoes, black pants and a black T-shirt that read Syracuse Police," the woman told police. The woman told police Forkhamer drove an unmarked police car several times and Forkhamer once got out of his car and told someone let me see your hands while he was on the phone with the woman. The woman told investigators she repeatedly tried to tell Forkhamer they were no longer dating, but she said Forkhamer kept calling her after she blocked his personal phone by using his work phone. I was told by one of my neighbors that she sees Brett in the neighborhood and I have seen him in the neighborhood after we parted ways, the woman told police. I am very scared of Brett Forkhamer. UTICA, N.Y. U.S. Marshals arrested a fugitive in Utica who was wanted for an armed robbery in Georgia that left one man severely injured in January. Jesse Patterson, 40, of Georgia, was arrested on May 10 in Utica by deputy U.S. marshals and other members of the New York/New Jersey Regional Fugitive Task Force. Patterson was actively evading arrest at the time of his capture and led police on a foot chase, according to the the U.S. Marshals Service Patterson was wanted for an armed robbery and aggravated assault that took place in January in Stephens County, Georgia. Police report that during the course of an armed robbery, Patterson brandished a handgun and severely beat a man with a metal tire iron while the victims 11-year-old daughter watched. Cash and firearms were taken during the robbery. Patterson was also wanted by the U.S. Marshal in the Northern District of Georgia for violations of his supervised release based on his past criminal history. Mr. Patterson is obviously a danger to society whether it is in Utica, N.Y., or Georgia," David McNulty, of the U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of New York, said in a news release. "We are proud to have secured his capture and wish to thank both the community and all our fellow law enforcement agencies whose cooperation was so very important in this case. The Utica Police Department Uniform Division also assisted in the arrest. The 50 towns and villages in CNY that collect the most money on tickets, fines Nearly 100 towns and villages across Central New York collected almost $12.5 million dollars through their local courts in 2018. One local town collected more than $1 million from fines and tickets. Scroll through the list compiled by syracuse.com to see which ones made the most money. The list is made up of data about your fines and surcharges on speeding tickets and other violations. That money goes into a fund managed by the New York State Comptroller. Large portions of the fines are then returned to local towns and villages, while counties keep a small share and New York state keeps the remainder. Our list also includes information about each municipalities population and the major routes running through the town or village. Towns and villages with lots of people and busy roads tend to make the most money from traffic and other violations. Hemp fields at JD Farms in Eaton, NY. N. Scott Trimble | strimble@syracuse.comN. Scott Trimble | strimble@syra 50. Eaton Madison County Total fines: $58,748 How much the town kept: $24,165 Population: 5,255 Major highways: State Route 26 Hannibal is located in the western part of the town on State Routes 3 and 104 and Oswego County Route 34. Kathe Harrington for newyorkupstate.com 49. Hannibal Oswego County Total fines: $62,827.50 How much the town kept: $19,355 Population: 4,854 Major highways: State Routes 3 and 104 48. North Syracuse Onondaga County Total fines: $67,827.50 How much the village kept: $20,298 Population: 6,800 Major highways: I-81 47. Sterling Cayuga County Total fines: $72,466 How much the town kept: $30,795 Population: 3,040 Major highways: State Routes 3 and 104A NY State Trooper parked at the entrance of the DEC tire remediation project in West Monroe. Photo by Gary Walts | syracuse.com 46. West Monroe Oswego County Total fines: $74,699.50 How much the town kept: $28,219.75 Population: 4,252 Major highways: State Route 49 45. Cato Cayuga County Total fines: $76,111.90 How much the town kept: $39,865.65 Population: 2,537 Major highways: State Routes 34 and 370 An official uses the copy machine at Pompey Town Court in this file photo. Michelle Gabel | syracuse.com 44. Pompey Onondaga County Total fines: $77,421 How much the town kept: $24,211 Population: 7,080 Major highways: Route 20 Interstate 81 southbound in Parish, New York at a stand still as snowfall hits the area. Dick Blume | dblume@syracuse.comDick Blume 43. Parish Oswego County Total fines: $80,987 How much the town kept: $26,924 Population: 2,558 Major highways: I-81 42. Weedsport Cayuga County Total fines: $82,280 How much the village kept: $45,360.25 Population: 1,815 Major highways: Route 31 Route 81 North approaches 690 East. Michael Greenlar | mgreenlar@syracuse.com 41. East Syracuse Onondaga County Total fines: $85,883.50 How much the village kept: $31,592.75 Population: 3,084 Major highways: I-690 Oswego County sheriff's deputies parked in on Rice Road in the town of Mexico. Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com 40. Mexico Oswego County Total fines: $88,455.02 How much the town kept: $35,991.02 Population: 5,197 Major highways: State Routes 3 and 104 39. Hamilton Madison County Total fines: $92,956.01 How much the town kept: $55,227.51 Population: 6,690 Major highways: State Route 12B A view of Nine Mile Point in the town of Scriba. John Berry | The Post-StandardJohn Berry 38. Scriba Oswego County Total fines: $93,838 How much the town kept: $44,718.25 Population: 6,840 Major highways: State Route 104 In 1793, John Lincklaen named the village after his boss at the Holland Land Company, Theophilus Cazenove. Jacob Pucci | syracuse.com 37. Cazenovia (village) Madison County Total fines: $94,881 How much the village kept: $60,941 Population: 2,835 Major highways: Route 20 36. Sennett Cayuga County Total revenue: $94,162.50 How much the town kept: $33,534 Population: 3,595 Major highways: Route 5 Asian Elm trees at a farm on Route 20 just outside of the village of Skaneateles. Stephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard 35. Skaneateles Onondaga County Total fines: $106,436 How much the town kept: $30,394 Population: 7,209 Major highways: Route 20 No skating sign on Beard Pond in Fayetteville on February 13, 2018. The village prohibits skating on the pond.SYR 34. Fayetteville Onondaga County Total fines: $107,264 How much the village kept: $44,819 Population: 4,373 Major highways: State Route 5 The auditorium in the Lysander town hall, located in the Radisson Corporate Park, is used for town court and public meetings. 33. Lysander Onondaga County Total fines: $108,982 How much the town kept: $25,179 Population: 21,759 Major highways: I-690, State Routes 31 and 48 In this 1999 file photo Aurelius Town Court Judge Chad Hayden listens to testimony during a sentencing in a animal neglect case. 32. Aurelius Cayuga County Total fines: $110,936.20 How much the town kept: $41,279.30 Population: 2,792 Major highways: Route 20 Morrisville welcome sign. Photo by Kathe Harrington 31. Morrisville Madison County Total fines: $118,458 How much the village kept: $59,074 Population: 2,199 Major highways: Route 20 30. Nelson Madison County Total fines: $120,408.27 How much the town kept: $44,023.27 Population: 1,980 Major highways: Route 20 An Oswego police officer issues a speeding ticket. Mike Roy | The Post-Standard 29. Oswego (town) Oswego County Total fines: $129,619 How much the town kept: $52,952.25 Population: 7,984 Major highways: State Route 104 A Manlius police officer cites a driver for speeding at 54 mph in a 35 mph zone. Peter Chen | The Post-Standard 28. Manlius (village) Onondaga County Total fines: $132,248.50 How much the village kept: $41,104.25 Population: 4,704 Major highways: State Routes 92 and 173 Motorists exit Interstate 81 northbound at the Central Square exit after a 2003 winter storm forced closure of a section the highway. John Berry | The Post-Standard 27. Central Square Oswego County Total fines: $134,393.20 How much the village kept: $56,436.80 Population: 1,848 Major highways: Route 11 A New York State trooper with a police dog during a morning search along Canaseraga Road in Chittenango for two burglary suspects. Dave Lassman | The Post-Standard 26. Chittenango Madison County Total fines: $139,155 How much the village kept: $70,421 Population: 5,081 Major highways: State Routes 5 and 13 25. Canastota Madison County Total fines: $147,148.55 How much the village kept: $67,681.55 Population: 4,804 Major highways: NYS Thruway, State Routes 5 and 13 State police block off a road near Route 80. Kenneth Sturtz | The Post-StandardSYR 24. Tully Onondaga County Total fines: $150,348 How much the town kept: $37,253 Population: 2,738 Major highways: State Routes 80 and 11 23. Granby Oswego County Total fines: $154,422.50 How much the town kept: $53,106 Population: 6,821 Major highways: State Route 3 In this 2003 file photo, a stretch of County Route 4 in the Town of Volney is closed for repair. John Berry | The Post-Standard 22. Volney Oswego County Total fines: $158,074.50 How much the town kept: $57,024.25 Population: 5,926 Major highways: State Route 3 21. Elbridge Onondaga County Total fines: $160,242.50 How much the town kept: $39,782 Population: 5,922 Major highways: NYS Thruway, State Route 5 State Police blocked off a section of West Genesee Street in the village of Baldwinsville. Patrick Lohmann, plohmann@syracuse.com 20. Baldwinsville Onondaga County Total fines: $163,491.50 How much the village kept: $48,473 Population: 7,378 Major highways: State Route 370 19. Lenox Madison County Total fines: $165,553 How much the town kept: $70,147.50 Population: 9,122 Major highways: NYS Thruway, State Route 5 Traffic backed up on Interstate 81 southbound by Lafayette. Dick Blume | The Post Standard 18. LaFayette Onondaga County Total fines: $187,553 How much the town kept: $44,615 Population: 4,952 Major highways: State Routes 81 and 20 17. Schroeppel Oswego County Total fines: $207,536 How much the town kept: $78,988.50 Population: 8,501 Major highways: I-481 Former Solvay Village justices prepares to hear cases night at the Solvay Village Hall. Stephen Cannarelli | The Post-Standard 16. Solvay Onondaga County Total fines: $209,281.70 How much the village kept: $113,019 Population: 6,584 Major highways: State Route 5 15. Sandy Creek Oswego County Total fines: $238,172 How much the town kept: $107,977.50 Population: 3,939 Major highways: I-81 and Route 11 A suspect is arraigned in the town of Onondaga court after a crash on Interstate 81. Ellen M.Blalock | eblalock@syracuse.com 14. Onondaga Onondaga County Total fines: $243,058.43 How much the town kept: $78,267.75 Population: 23,101 Major highways: I-81, State Routes 20 and 175 New York State Fair crowds and traffic on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018. Catie O'Toole | cotoole@syracuse.comCatie O'Toole | cotoole@syracuse 13. Geddes Onondaga County Total fines: $300,949.83 How much the town kept: $98,430 Population: 17,118 Major highways: I-690 and State Route 5 12. Van Buren Onondaga County Total fines: $307,305 How much the town kept: $82,600 Population: 13,185 Major highways: NYS Thruway and I-690 New York State Police investigate a crash Tuesday on the New York State Thruway at the Liverpool off-ramp (Exit 38). Kira Maddox | The Post-StandardSYR 11. Liverpool Onondaga County Total fines: $392,104 How much the village kept: $177,183 Population: 2,347 Major highways: NYS Thruway, State Route 370 A New York state trooper uses a laser light LaserTech LTI lidar instrument to track vehicles' speeds during a speeding enforcement operation. Jim Commentucci | The Post-Standard 10. Manlius (town) Onondaga County Total fines: $393,263.28 How much the town kept: $115,176.03 Population: 32,370 Major highways: NYS Thruway, State Route 5 9. Sullivan Madison County Total fines: $397,707.50 How much the town kept: $122,098.50 Population: 15,339 Major highways: NYS Thruway, State Routes 5, 15 and 31 Knowell Road near West Genesee Street in Camillus near the village line. Morganne M. Atutis | The Post-Standard 8. Camillus Onondaga County Total fines: $408,460.25 How much the town kept: $143,719.50 Population: 24,167 Major highways: State Route 5 A 150 acre tract of land near Interstate 81 and the Central Square Middle School in the town of Hastings. Stephen D. Cannerelli | syracuse.com 7. Hastings Oswego County Total fines: $412,251 How much the town kept: $129,108.75 Population: 9,450 Major highways: I-81 and Route 11 Snow on trees on Route 2 just outside Richland, NY, in the Tug Hill region. Dick Blume | The Post-Standard 6. Richland Oswego County Total fines: $426,129.10 How much the town kept: $156,233.40 Population: 5,718 Major highways: I-81, Route 11, State Route 3 A view looking north on Interstate 481 in DeWitt from Butternut Drive in October 2015. David Lassman | syracuse.com 5. DeWitt Onondaga County Total fines: $448,650.50 How much the town kept: $132.006.75 Population: 25,838 Major highways: NYS Thruway, I-481, I-690 Police investigate a rollover on July 6, 2018, on Interstate 81 south in Cicero south of Bartel Road. Samantha House | syracuse.comSamantha House 4. Cicero Onondaga County Total fines: $660,491.25 How much the town kept: $194,930.75 Population: 31,632 Major highways: I-81, State Route 31 3. Brutus Cayuga County Total fines: $677,284.66 How much the town kept: $290,016.85 Population: 4,464 Major highways: NYS Thruway, State Route 31 A New York state trooper delivers a speeding ticket to a driver on I-81, between Taft Road and I-481 in Clay as part of a July 4th weekend speed enforcement initiative by the New York State Police department. Mike Roy | The Post-Standard 2. Clay Onondaga County Total fines: $789,449.50 How much the town kept: $278,806.50 Population: 58,206 Major highways: I-481, I-81, State Route 31 An Onondaga County sheriff's deputy writes a speeding ticket on Buckley Road in the town of Salina in January 2015. Stephen D. Cannerelli | scannerelli@syracse.com 1. Salina Onondaga County Total fines: $1,027,433.68 How much the town kept: $226,728.50 Population: 33,710 Major highways: NYS Thruway, I-81, State Routes 11 and 370 Look up your town or village Dont see your town or village on the list? Check our database, which covers all of New York state. Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government, education and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992 The Summer of 69 has been a lifelong love affair for a couple who famously appeared on the cover of the "Woodstock" album. Bobbi Kelly and Nick Ercoline were 20 years old when they were photographed by Life magazine at the original Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969, embracing while wrapped in a blanket in front of a field of festivalgoers. Fifty years later, theyre still together -- they married two years after Woodstock -- and are planning to return to the original concert site in Upstate New York. Weve been very fortunate, Nick Ercoline told The Journal News. Weve had a happy life, a regular life, just like most people. But its been an amazing experience that we feel very fortunate to be a part of. Nick and Bobbi Ercoline, who live in the Catskills hamlet of Pine Bush, are planning to participate in the four-day celebration of Woodstocks 50th anniversary at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. Theyll be part of the festivities Aug. 15-18, which includes a screening of the Woodstock documentary film and concerts by original Woodstock performers like Arlo Guthrie, Santana and John Fogerty with other legacy acts like Ringo Starr and the Doobie Brothers. Were very honored to be invited, Bobbi Ercoline, who was a school nurse in 1969, told the publication. Its a great honor, Nick, who worked for the housing authority, added. Just come up and say hello, get a picture and have fun. Fun Fact: The couple featured on Woodstock's album cover, Nick & Bobbi Ercoline, are still married after 49 years. pic.twitter.com/x1LYzW25DQ Eric Alper (@ThatEricAlper) September 2, 2018 More than 400,000 people attended the first Woodstock festival, held Aug. 15-18, 1969, at Max Yasgurs dairy farm in Bethel, N.Y. Performers included Richie Havens, Jefferson Airplane, The Who, Joan Baez, Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Joe Cocker, the Grateful Dead, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The iconic concert was revisited in 1994 with a modern lineup of artists like Nine Inch Nails, Sheryl Crow, Metallica, Cypress Hill and Red Hot Chili Peppers in Saugerties, but Woodstock 99 -- held at Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, N.Y. -- was marred by riots, fires and allegations of sexual assault. An official 50th anniversary festival, Woodstock 50, is still scheduled for Aug. 16-18 in Watkins Glen. Tickets have not gone on sale yet due to a delay in permits and a court battle with an investor, but scheduled performers include Jay-Z, Santana, Miley Cyrus, The Killers, Chance the Rapper, John Fogerty, Janelle Monae, Dead & Company, Halsey, and Imagine Dragons. League of Women Voters wants 2 more sites To the Editor: Early voting will take place for the first time in New York state this November. Voters will be able to vote at designated polling sites for nine days prior to the Nov. 5, 2019, election. The Onondaga County Board of Elections has designated six sites throughout the county where voters can cast their votes early. However, there are large sections of the county that will be under-served, including the southern and western towns of Skaneateles, Spafford, Marcellus, Elbridge, Onondaga and Camillus. Likewise, the northern towns, where there is a higher population, could use an additional site. Onondaga County is entitled to two more sites. Funding from New York state is available for the additional two sites. We urge that our County Executive, the County Legislature and the Board of Elections Commissioners approve two more sites. New York state routinely ranks near the bottom of the country in voter turnout (42nd in 2018). Thirty-seven states already have some form of early voting. Lets not jeopardize this first step in election reform by limiting access to the polls in November. Election reform has been a priority for the League of Women Voters for years. We urge you to contact Onondaga County Election Commissioners Dustin Czarny and Michele Sardo at 315-435-8683, County Executive Ryan McMahon at 315-435-3516, and County Legislature Chairman, David Knapp at 315-435-2070, urging them to provide two additional polling sites for early voting this fall. Margrit Diehl, Joan Durant, Joan Johnson, Roberta Millert Co-Leaders League of Women Voters of the Syracuse Metro Area Candidate: Making it easier to vote is no-brainer To the Editor: I am writing this letter to weigh in on the current debate regarding the number and location of early voting sites in Onondaga County. The decision is between a six site plan or an eight site plan that is currently being opposed by the Republican election commissioner and various Republican elected officials. As the chair of the Town of Onondaga Democratic Committee, candidate for District Attorney, and most importantly, a citizen and voter of this county, I believe that encouraging more people to vote by making it easier is a no-brainer. The purpose of the new voting laws, particularly early voting, is to make voting more convenient and to encourage turnout. When more people vote, the will of the people is better heard. Early voting makes it so that working voters dont have to choose between going to work or voting. It makes it so that families dont have to juggle childcare, work, and just the normal hassles of day to day life just to vote. The more access to the polls, the better, and the proposed six site plan does just not live up to the challenge. Under the six site plan, there are huge swaths of Onondaga County that remain unserved. Of particular concern to me, if you live south or southwest of Syracuse and dont have access to transportation, it is almost impossible to get to the southern early voting site at the LaFayette Fire Department. There is barely any Centro service for southern and southwestern Onondaga County to begin with, but even if you lived on the lone southwestern bus route, according to Centros trip planner, it would take six hours one way on a bus and then a half mile walking to get to the LaFayette Fire station for early voting. This is too much to ask of anyone, particularly the elderly or handicapped. Onondaga Community College is a perfectly located, has ample parking and better Centro bus access. Pragmatically, the state has provided funding for eight sites and that money can be used to update equipment that will be used in the general election on Nov. 5. If we do not take advantage of the funds, they will be withdrawn and we will have to make up any shortfalls locally. It is better to risk having too much access than not enough when it comes to voting. The only argument I have heard against the eight site plan is that it is politically motivated. I would argue that anyone who wants to make it more difficult for people to vote is the one who is politically motivated. Every person, regardless of party affiliation, should be in favor of participation in democracy. Charles A. Keller Onondaga The writer, a Democrat, is running for Onondaga County District Attorney. Candidate: 6 early voting sites is 'bare minimum To the Editor: It is concerning that Republican Elections Commissioner Michele Sardo feels that providing eight early voting sites instead of six is politically motivated." Allowing ample time and opportunity for voters to cast their ballots should be seen as a benefit to everyone. We do not have to merely comply with the bare minimum of the law, settle for six sites and walk away from $60,000 in state money for voting infrastructure improvements. Instead, we can strive for excellence in voter access for our whole county, including residents of the southwest suburbs and the 10,000 faculty and college students who would use the Onondaga County Community College site. If Dave Knapp, Chair of the Onondaga County Legislature and representative for District 12, cares about striving for excellence in voter services, he should publicly endorse having early voting sites at OCC and in Cicero. I call on Knapp to use his power and voice as chair to insure we have eight voting sites, not six, so that the county can provide early voting services for all its residents. Jennifer Blusk DeWitt The writer, a Democrat, is candidate for Onondaga County Legislature in District 12. WASHINGTON A Hollywood star visited the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to tout Rep. John Katkos bill that would make it a federal crime to share sexually explicit or nude photos of a person without their consent, also known as revenge porn. Actress Amber Heard shared her personal story as she talked about the need for the SHIELD Act with Katko and the bills co-sponsor, Rep. Jackie Speier, D-Calif. Heard, a star of Aquaman and the ex-wife of actor Johnny Depp, said more than 50 private images of herself were stolen off her phone, manipulated and posted online in 2014. She said those images are still online today. I continue to be harassed, stalked and humiliated by the theft of those images, Heard told reporters at the Capitol. She said the problem of nonconsensual porn or revenge porn has spread worldwide, disproportionately affecting women. I can tell you first-hand that the acts of nonconsensual porn are humiliating and degrading, Heard said. Katko, R-Camillus, said Congress has been slow to address the issue. More than 40 states, including New York, have passed revenge porn laws. Shame on us in the federal government for not taking the lead on this, Katko said at a press conference. Its incumbent upon us as legislators to say, This is not right. The internet makes it way too easy to push a few buttons and ruin somebodys life. U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., plans to introduce a companion bill to the SHIELD Act (the Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution Act) in the Senate. New York lawmakers voted in February to join 41 other states in criminalizing revenge porn. The state law allows victims to file lawsuits against the person responsible for distributing the photos. Those found guilty could face up to a year in prison. Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 Residents across the state went to the polls Tuesday to vote on school budgets, propositions and school board candidates. Here are five things that emerged from the votes: 1) West Genesee board president is out. Residents ousted the school board president Board President Roberta Herron and incumbent Eric Bacon. Herron finished last, and Bacon second to last in the votes. The district was rocked this year by allegations that then-Superintendent Chris Brown had a relationship with an employee he supervised, Executive Principal Shannon Coholan. Brown resigned; the district fired Coholan. Residents re-elected incumbent Jennifer James, and two newcomers: Elizabeth Donaldson and Aaron Ryder. 2) Budgets almost always pass. 98.4 percent of the budgets passed in Central New York (62 out of 63 districts). Statewide, preliminary results have 98.2 percent passing, according to the New York State School Boards Association. ( 622 passed, 11 defeated, 42 not reported yet) 3) Only one CNY budget went down. Altmar-Parish-Williamstown budget was defeated in Oswego County by a vote of 269 (55.6%) to 215 (44.4%). The districts proposed spending per student, $29,545, was the fifth highest in the region, according to a Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard analysis of data reported to the state. But the proposed tax levy was down 2.1% from the year before, the only district in the region to propose a drop in the tax levy. 4) New blood on Jamesville-DeWitt board. Jamesville-DeWitt voters elected four new people to its nine-member board. Dana Corcoran, an incumbent, retained her spot on the board while incumbent Angela Tyson lost her seat. Two other members didnt run for re-election. The new members are Lori DeForest, Renee James Murad, Sharon Archer and Ken Souser. J-D also agreed to put a student representative on their school board. 5) The tax cap isnt really 2 percent. Contrary to what many people think the state-imposed tax cap isnt 2 percent. Thirty-five of 63 districts in the region had a tax levy increase of more than 2 percent, ranging as high as 9.14 percent. No Central New York district submitted a budget over its tax cap. Statewide, 18 districts out of 668 districts proposed going over their tax caps, according to state data. Eight of those districts had their budgets defeated, according to New York State United Teachers. The tax cap is calculated using several factors, which include items such the prior year levy, tax base growth factor and exclusions by the district, according to the New York State School Boards Association. Those exclusions can raise the tax cap. They include items such growth in brick and mortar development that increases the value of a school districts full taxable property, contributions toward employee pensions above a certain amount, expenditures for some court orders, and the local portion of capital expenditures. A Focus on Sustainability - 2018 QMA Winners to Host Farm Walk and Seminar The McKenna family, winners of the 2018 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Award who are hosting a farm walk on 12th June at 1:30pm on their farm in Derrygasson, Co Monaghan. This is a great opportunity for dairy farming families and new entrants into dairy farming to see at first-hand the types of achievable steps which can raise quality standards and help to maintain those standards throughout the year. The National Dairy Council in association with Teagasc, Ornua and Lakeland Dairies will host the Annual Farm Walk and Seminar on the McKenna Family Farm in Co Monaghan on 12th June 2019. Darran and Denise McKenna of Derrygasson, Co Monaghan were the winners of the 2018 NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards which have been running since 1996 and celebrate excellence in Irish dairy farming. A seminar focusing on food and sustainability will precede the Farm Walk; speakers on the day will include Dr. Marianne Walsh, Senior Nutritionist with the NDC, Jess Murphy award-winning chef and owner of Kai Restaurant in Galway, and a representative from the Ornua Consumer Division; Jess is from New Zealand and is an award-winning chef now based in Galway. She has a fundamental belief in the importance of food production and sustainability and her restaurant has won a 3-star rating from Food Made Good. Jess said Food waste is one of the worlds biggest sustainability issues but easily preventable with the introduction of food education. Not only would this help individuals become more adventurous with what theyre eating, it would help save their hard-earned money. The area of land needed to grow the food that ends up in landfill is larger than the size of China! We have to focus on increasing awareness and education, it will be key to tackling this global issue." Demand for food and drink has changed and consumers now want their food to be produced in a sustainable environment. For many consumers the primary consideration is addressing climate change, water sustainability and economic sustainability including food waste. This will also be mirrored on products bought in supermarkets with traceability, ecological impact and info on carbon footprint all becoming crucial issues for consumers in the 21st century. Delegates of the NDC seminar will form the first group of invited guests to take part in a tour of the McKenna Family Farm. The farm walk, hosted by Teagasc, will open to members of the public from 1:30pm. This is a great opportunity for dairy farming families and new entrants into dairy farming to see at first-hand the types of achievable steps which can raise quality standards and help to maintain those standards throughout the year. Tom O Dwyer, Teagasc dairy knowledge transfer specialist, urged dairy farmers to avail of the opportunity to visit this award-winning family farm. The McKenna farm is great example of a top-class dairy farm, and all dairy farmers and those thinking of entering the sector should come along on 12th June to see the farm for themselves and meet the family. At least five generations are known to have farmed in Darran and Denises farm in Derrygasson. The McKennas farm is very much a family farm, their nephews and nieces are all available to help out in times of need and even their neighbour Cormac helps out with relief milking. Success to Darran is the ability to grow more grass sustainably. The family invested in the farm in 2007 when sheds, parlour and tunnels were constructed to allow them build the cow numbers from 60 to 90 by 2017 and up to 105 cows this year. On the farm walk, groups will be led around the McKenna farm and cover off the following topics: Farm performance, both current and over time Producing high quality milk with low SCC and TBC Sustainable milk production while caring for the environment Reduced antibiotic use the case for selective dry cow therapy Taste the difference! Grass fed milk tastes better Lakeland Dairies chairman Alo Duffy said: We are proud to have Darran and Denise as suppliers of Lakeland Dairies. They are tremendous ambassadors for the Co-op, their county and dairy farmers across the country. We are delighted to be working with the NDC, Ornua and Teagasc to promote the benefits of strong, sustainable dairy farming. Winning the 2018 NDC / Kerrygold Quality Milk Award is an incredible achievement for Darran and Denise and it shows what the rewards are for achieving greatness each day. We look forward to seeing you all at the farm walk on 12th June. Please contact Cathy Curran at NDC on 086 8777 664 or ccurran@ndc.ie For further information about the NDC & Kerrygold Quality Milk Awards visit www.qualitymilkawards.ie Minister Creed welcomes national and international delegates to the First Annual Scientific Meeting of the One Health European Joint Programme Professor Gerry Boyle, Director of Teagasc; Dr Geraldine Duffy, Head of Food Safety at Teagasc; Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Mr. Michael Creed T.D. and Dr Dearbhaile Morris, NUI Galway, Co-Chairs of the organising committee at the One Health Conference. The One Health European Joint Programme (EJP) is a European Commission co-funded scientific collaborative research programme to help prevent and control food-borne and environmental contaminants that affect human health and is co-funded under the EU Research & Innovation Framework Programme Horizon 2020. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Mr Michael Creed T.D., today launched the First Annual Scientific Meeting of the One Health European Joint Programme (EJP). The Minister welcomed 280 national and international delegates to this important meeting taking place at the Teagasc Conference Centre, Ashtown, Dublin from 22-24 May, 2019 which will discuss key issues related to foodborne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in a One Health context. The Minister said: The hosting of this prestigious meeting arises out of the participation of my Department, Teagasc and NUI Galway in the European Joint Programme on One Health, Zoonoses & Emerging Threats, which is coordinated by the French Agency ANSES and funded under the EU research and innovation programme (Horizon 2020). The One Health project commenced on the 1 January 2018 and represents a significant coordinated investment by participating EU Countries and the EU Commission to combat foodborne zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and emerging risks. The One Health European Joint Programme is helping to strengthen cooperation between its 40 partners (including the Med-Vet-Net Association) from 19 EU Member States. It is aimed at improving and enhancing approaches to detect, monitor and prevent zoonotic micro-organisms and anti-microbial resistance in animals, the environment, the food chain and humans. These research centres, most of which have national reference laboratory mandates on foodborne zoonoses, will form an organised network whose aim is to promote scientific progress in the areas of foodborne zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and emerging risks. The programme has been built upon the principle of co-funding from the participating institutes and the European Union ("Horizon 2020", the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation). As the largest European Joint Programme investment, it will cost 90 million, with 50% of its funding coming from the European Commission and 50% from the participating Member States. Dr Geraldine Duffy, Head of Food Safety at Teagasc and Dr Dearbhaile Morris, NUI Galway, Co-Chairs of the organising committee said The conference organising team is delighted to be hosting this One Health European Joint Programme (EJP) Event in Dublin and to welcome Irish and international colleagues to address key issues related to food borne pathogens and antimicrobial resistance in a One Health forum. The Minister concluded by saying We warmly welcome all our European partners to Dublin for this high-level meeting. I strongly support the work of my department, Teagasc and NUI Galway in collaborating nationally and internationally through the One Health EJP to generate scientific data and knowledge to be used for the analysis of health risks. This project will provide a structure for effective interaction with the other EU Member States, major EU funded One Health related projects, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) and the EU Commission. More information: The One Health European Joint Programme (EJP) is a European Commission co-funded scientific collaborative research programme to help prevent and control food-borne and environmental contaminants that affect human health and is co-funded under the EU Research & Innovation Framework Programme Horizon 2020. The international "One Health" concept recognises that human health is highly dependent on animal health and the environment, and that the foodborne contaminants in particular that affect human health, animal health and the environment are closely intertwined. The European Joint Programme (EJP) on "One Health" has brought together a research community across Europe of medical, veterinary and environmental health scientists to work together in interdisciplinary teams with an international approach to address the threats of food-borne disease, antimicrobial resistance and emerging threats to human health from animals or the environment. There are 38 institutes from 19 Member and Associated States European partnering in the One Health EJP. The EJP is co-funded for a period of 5 years from 1 January 2018 until 31 December 2022 and is coordinated by the French Agency for Food, Environmental & Occupational Health & Safety ANSES. The partner institutes, most of which have national reference laboratory functions on foodborne zoonoses, form an organised network and represent an integrated research community whose aim is to promote scientific progress in the areas of foodborne zoonoses, antimicrobial resistance and emerging threats. The H2020 One Health EJP was officially launched at a meeting in January 2018 in the Anses headquarters, in Maisons-Alfort, France. In the EJP, provision is included for research funding for a research programmme of more than 20 multiple-partner, interdisciplinary, research projects. 13 multiple-partner, interdisciplinary, research projects are started in 2018. The Annual Scientific Meetings and other measures to disseminate the scientific findings of each of these research projects are also provided for as part of the programme. From Ireland, National University of Ireland Galway (NUI Galway) and Teagasc are the scientific participants in the EJP. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine strategically participates in the project and has established an Irish EJP Mirror Group for strategic, dissemination and exploitation purposes. This mirror group includes a host of other relevant research funders and academic institutions amongst others. SS-Traveller Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: New Delhi Posts: 7,620 Thanked: 20,246 Times View My Garage re: Busting the myth of BS6 / BSVI compliant engines in India Quote: vrprabhu Originally Posted by So as BSVI compliant vehicle running on BSIV fuel appears to be a paradox - atleast to me Quote: Shreyans_Jain Originally Posted by ...the first BS6 car to be sold in the Indian market. And this was in our regular BS4 fuel. What gives? Quote: beast_within Originally Posted by ..."BSVI Complaint" vehicles are the ones which meet the applicable BSVI emission norms as tested by its manufacturer. They may not have have been "BSVI Certified" by ARAI/Competent Agency and hence no official paperwork supporting the fact. In coming months we may see few more models being advertised as "BSVI Complaint" to keep the inventory moving. Quote: beast_within Originally Posted by ...for all legal purposes the S-Class will be treated as a BSIV vehicle before April 2020. This is the an area of concern, where we may see more arbitrary restrictions coming on BSIV registered vehicles in near future (especially in NCR and metros), irrespective of how well they are maintained or how over-engineered. Quote: Rahul Rao Originally Posted by 13 cities in India are already getting BS VI diesel. If you know any pump owners you can see the Invoices they get. ... Pune is still erratic, the Pump I regularly fill up at needs about 50 tanker loads a month, and they received 46 BS VI and 4 BS IV tankers. Quote: beast_within Originally Posted by The S-Class is using the Ad-blu way to treat the emissions. This approach may be more tolerant to the inferior fuel (read BSIV) and still meet the BSVI emission norms. Our TATA, Ashok Leyland City Buses have already been using the Ad-blu additive to meet the current emission norms in India. Not sure about the Volvo fleet though. Quote: SS-Traveller Originally Posted by Attachment 1877731 Attachment 1877730 Theoretically, this can certainly be used in a Mercedes diesel as well as in a Tata diesel engine. But whether Mercedes owners would want to, is a different question. AdBlue, generically called Diesel Exhaust Fluid, is already available in India. Spotted this at the Reliance fuel station on the ALE in March this year.Theoretically, this can certainly be used in a Mercedes diesel as well as in a Tata diesel engine. But whether Mercedes owners would want to, is a different question. Quote: sukarsan Originally Posted by Actually, unlike never before , there is a clear cut roadmap for implementation of BSVI. This was announced in end 2015 and has been on track ever since. Everyone( but for Maruti) is ready for the launch with a defined strategy. There is no phase wise roll out. Period. Quote: sukarsan Originally Posted by emission standards are independent of the fuels. BS6 fuel mainly focused on Sulphur , which affects the components in the after treatment system. The. BS6 fuel mainly focused on Sulphur , which affects the components in the after treatment system. The linked paper can give more details on this topic Quote: These modern engine designs require low sulfur fuels to maintain robust emissions performance throughout their useful lifetimes. It is due to this fact that the single most important fuel parameter specified in the proposed BS VI regulation is the 10 ppm limit on sulfur content of gasoline and diesel fuels. Access to ultra-low sulfur fuels enables the introduction of modern, low-emitting BS VI vehicles that incorporate best available technologies for the control of air pollutant emissions. Relative to the exceedingly large emissions benefits that will result from the implementation of proposed BS VI emission standards in 2020, any change in air pollutant emissions resulting from differences between BS VI and Euro 6/VI fuel specifications is likely to be minimal. By 2023-2025 timeframe, India should try to match, or even improve upon, Euro 6/VI fuel specifications. Quote: sukarsan Originally Posted by Coming to the Maruti statement: Its a BS6 compliant engine, not a vehicle . 99% of changes from BS4 to BS6 will be on the after treatment side. . The vehicle meets BS4 only and its a marketing ploy from Maruti. Quote: sukarsan Originally Posted by S Class of course will have a certificate for Euro 6 , which gives them all the right to claim that they can meet BS6. But running on a BS4 fuel may damage the after treatment system, but since its a merc it will be over engineered anyway. These are the exact points this thread seeks to highlight.BSIV and BSVI fuels go into the same underground storage tanks. So are we pumping out BSV fuels into our vehicles' tanks?Not quite AdBlue, but a generic version of it...True - the rollout is proposed to be pan-India - except that the government and MoRTH want BSVI cars to be able to run on BSIV fuels. This bit was not part of the initial roadmap. Obviously, someone figured out that providing BSVI fuels from 1/4/2020 to all pumps in India would be an impossibility.Nowhere in the paper you linked to does it say that BSIV fuels will do fine in BSVI engines and after-treatment devices. The comparison in the paper has been between BSVI and Euro-6 fuels. To quote from the paper...And BSIV fuels contain how many ppm of sulphur? As an engine designer, it is not expected of you to be feeding misinformation to the ignorant reader of this thread.The title of the thread says exactly the same.Well, legally, they cannot, even if it is a CBU imported from Europe - because it is registered as a BSIV vehicle, and there is no documentary evidence to prove otherwise, except the company's own say-so. As to the over-engineering of the car's after treatment devices, would you kindly clarify from an engineering point of view, how exactly the system would avoid being poisoned by a surplus of sulphur in the fuel that the engine consumes? Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more Apple and Qualcomm on Tuesday unexpectedly announced a settlement as their case entered the second day of a hearing in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Diego. In related news, Intel on Tuesday announced it was getting out of the 5G smartphone chip business. The Apple-Qualcomm settlement provides the following: An unspecified one-time payment from Apple to Qualcomm; A six-year licensing arrangement, effective April 1, 2019, under which Apple will source chipsets directly from Qualcomm instead of having its OEMs do so. This agreement has a two-year extension option; and Apples agreement to pay royalties to Qualcomm. The settlement will free Apple to enter the 5G smartphone competition, where it has been outstripped by Android device manufacturers. Barriers to 5G Removed At least 10 companies including Apple arch-rival Samsung and LG Electronics, as well as Huawei, Oppo and other Chinese smartphone makers are producing 5G smartphones or have announced them. Apple reportedly planned to delay offering a 5G smartphone until 2020 or later. That would have hit it hard. Even in 4G, Apple is up to two years behind Android devices, noted Chris Taylor, a research director at Strategy Analytics. It looks like they were going to be behind in 5G as well, he told TechNewsWorld. Apple had agreed to source 5G smartphone chips from Intel. However, it was behind on Apples requirement for chips, and Apple had a commitment for a 2020 5G release, remarked Ray Wang, principal analyst at Constellation Research. Qualcomm has stayed very innovative and, at the end of the day, has the better chip, he told TechNewsWorld. Further, Qualcomm has outgeneraled Apple: A D V E R T I S E M E N T It is producing, or plans to produce, 5G chipsets including the Snapdragon Automotive Platform announced at MWC in February; It Demonstrated at MWC 18 an industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) 5G application using industrial equipment from Siemens; At MWC 19, it demonstrated how it can reach 99.9999 percent reliability in its 5G over-the-air test network in San Diego. At Messe 2019 in April, Hannover Messe selected Qualcomm and Nokia as the technology partners to provide 5G OTA connectivity for research collaboration with Bosch on features in the next 5G standard release 3GPP Rel-16; Also at Hannover Messe 2019, Qualcomm announced partnerships with Gosch, IFAK, Siemens, Zeiss and other key industrial players to develop 5G IIOT applications; and Earlier this month, it announced commercial 5G services in Europe with Swisscoms 5G network in Switzerland as well as a number of device makers, including LG Electronics, Opportunities and Askey. Troublesome Docs Introduced in Court Apple, which had battled Qualcomm fiercely for years alleging that it had overcharged for its chips and was leveraging its monopoly apparently folded in the face of evidence of deception that emerged in court on Monday. The opening remarks in the latest action in San Diego detailed documentation from Apple indicating [it] had been acting disingenuously and had embarked on a five-year plan to destroy Qualcomm, said Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group. Both Apple and Intel were caught stealing IP from Qualcomm, which could have resulted in criminal charges, Enderle told TechNewsWorld. Folks do get jail time for IP theft, and the result would have opened up Apple to other IP theft charges that would have been far more difficult to defend. Further, the disclosure of the documents would turn the regulatory agencies that Apple had fooled dramatically against it and that may still happen, Enderle said. This had the potential to put Apple out of business. Germany and China banned sales of some iPhone models because of the litigation. To top things off, Apple faces an antitrust challenge in the EU that could spread to the United States and China, Enderle noted. With all these factors adding up, this simply became a fight [Apple] could no longer afford, he said. Intels Weakness Apples selection of Intel as its 5G chip supplier posed yet another problem. Intel just makes the transceiver and baseband process, and that works with the Apple applications processor, so its basically two digital processors in the iPhone, Strategy Analytics Taylor said. Everybody else in the world puts these both together in an SoC, which is what the Snapdragon is. That gives Intel a very limited market. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Further, Intel decided to use what it knows best the x86 architecture, Taylor said. Everybody else uses ARM-based processors for smartphones because they draw very little power. Also, Intels 5G technology was tied to the theft of IP from Qualcomm, Enderle pointed out. That cloud will likely hang over Intel for some time. Repercussions from IP theft have, in the past, knocked companies out of industries. Intel admitted this was likely to happen to them, and, effectively, it did. Winners and Losers The industry as a whole won with the settlement of the litigation, Taylor suggested. A lot of people in the industry were concerned because Apple was refusing to pay for the use of Qualcomms IP, and it looks like that principle is saved. Apple can argue that it was overcharged, but thats a contractual matter between it and Qualcomm, he said. Refusing to pay that seems pretty low. Apple, Qualcomm and Intel all win, Enderle said. Long term, win or lose, Apple would be weakened by the fight and the chance of a monumental settlement would have cratered their stock. Intel had taken its eyes off its core business and was being carved up by AMD, he added. Qualcomm was badly damaged by the litigation, Enderle noted. The settlement will allow it to recover, and they were vindicated by this. As the world forges ahead into the digital age, privacy has become an increasingly rare commodity; a privilege that many people no longer have. Law enforcement agencies' need to adopt new technology to better catch criminals has further complicated the matter. For example, China has rolled out "gait recognition" tech to identify criminal suspects even when their backs are turned, and in the US, law enforcement agencies have taken advantage of Amazon's "Rekognition" facial recognition tech. Concerns regarding the accuracy of this tech and the potential for false positives are commonly shared by privacy proponents, but those fears rarely stop law enforcement from moving forward. However, in California, privacy boosters may just get a major win -- the state's Senate is considering legislation that could outright ban the use of facial recognition tech in police body cameras. "Much of it that is being used right now is actually not very accurate," said legislation supporter and San Francisco-based Democratic Assemblyman Phil Ting, in reference to existing facial recognition tech. Ting isn't the only one to feel that way -- the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) expressed similar concerns with Amazon's Rekognition in the past when their experiments with the tech led to 28 lawmakers falsely being identified as criminals (with "80 percent" accuracy). Though Amazon questioned the ACLU's methods, the organization did not rescind its worries. The legislation in question, Assembly Bill 1215, is expected to enter the upper chamber of California's state Assembly "starting next month." We will update you on the bill's progress when that time comes around. In brief: Apple is selling an updated version of the LG UltraFine 4K display, a few months after removing the original 21.5-inch model from its website and discontinuing the 5K variant. In addition to revealing the refreshed MacBook Pros that feature faster processors and revised keyboard designs yesterday, Apple started selling a new version of the LG UltraFine 4K display via its online store. While the new display gets a size increase from 21.5-inches to 23.7 inches, the $699 price tag is unchanged. The resolution, however, drops down slightly, going from 4096 x 2304 to 3840 x 2160, all of which means the pixels-per-inch count is also lower. While the older 4K monitor featured just one USB Type-C port, the updated version has two Thunderbolt 3 ports, used for input and for connecting multiple Thunderbolt 3 accessories such as external hard drives and even a second 4K display. You can also use the UltraFine to charge laptops that need up to 85W of power using the same connector. The LG UltraFine 4K retains the previous version's 500cd/m2 brightness and DCI-P3 color support, while the number of USB Type-C ports increases to three. After discontinuing its five-year-old Thunderbolt display in 2016, Apple revealed LGs UltraFine 5K display a few months later. But the monitor had a number of issues, such as not working when near a router. For those looking for a larger, Apple-authorized display, the company is rumored to be once again releasing its own monitora 31.6-inch 6K modellater this year. What just happened? It appears that more companies are complying with the ban that prohibits them from doing business with Huawei. The latest of these are Microsoft, which has stopped selling the Huawei MateBook X Pro on its online storefront, and Arm Holdings, whose designs feature in 95 percent of the world's smartphones. Following President Trumps national emergency declaration that effectively bans US companies from buying and using telecoms equipment from "foreign adversaries," along with Huawei being added to an Entity List barring it from doing business with American firms without government approval, top tech names have been cutting ties with the worlds second-largest smartphone firm. After Google initially revoked Huaweis Android license, thereby restricting it to using the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), the US Commerce Department granted a 90-day reprieve allowing Google to continue providing security patches and software updates to Huawei devices. A new development saw the Huawei MateBook X Pro listing removed from Microsofts storeyou can see the cached version heresuggesting the Redmond firm is complying with the government ban. Microsoft retail stores will keep selling the laptop, which is one of the best-reviewed models on the market, until stock is depleted. While Microsoft has refused to confirm or deny if it will stop Huawei from obtaining Windows licenses, the situation isnt looking good for the Chinese giant. While it has been working on Windows and Android replacement operating systems, its unclear how far along these are and how much consumers would be willing to use them. Other companies reportedly severing ties with Huawei include British IP vendor Arm, which is affected by the ban as its chip designs contain US origin technology. Last year we were reporting of a triumphant Huawei who had beaten Qualcomm to make the first 7nm SoC with its own Kirin 980. However, that chip is based on Arm's Cortex-A76 and Mali-G76 technology which now makes it a no-go if the ban continues to be enforced in full. UK mobile carrier EE, meanwhile, has dropped Huawei phones from its 5G network launch in the country. What just happened? NASA this week said its Juno spacecraft has uncovered evidence suggesting Jupiter has an internal magnetic field that changes over time, much like Earths. The phenomenon, known as secular variation, is most likely caused by the planets deep atmospheric winds, the agency said. Juno launched from Cape Canaveral in August 2011 as part of the New Frontiers program and entered a polar orbit around Jupiter in July 2016. The craft was sent to study Jupiters magnetic field, gravity field, composition and polar magnetosphere. NASA used data collected during Junos first eight passes of Jupiter to create a three-dimensional map of the planets magnetic field. This map was then compared to data collected from past missions, some dating back more than four decades. What they noticed were small but distinct changes to Jupiters magnetic field. Having a baseline of close-up observations over four decades long provided us with just enough data to confirm that Jupiter's magnetic field does indeed change over time, said Kimee Moore, a Juno scientist from Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Scientists think atmospheric winds are responsible for changes in the planets magnetic fields. The winds extend from the surface to over 1,860 miles deep where the planets interior starts to change from gas to highly conductive liquid metal. It is believed that these winds shear the magnetic fields, stretching and carrying them around the planet. The discovery will help scientists better understand the many mysteries of Jupiter and could even help unlock some of the remaining secrets of Earths magnetic field. Image credit: Solar System Jupiter by NASA images SpaceX is set to launch the first set of its Starlink internet satellites this week after failing to do so last May 15. Sixty of the spacecraft will be placed aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, which will blast off into space from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Thursday, May 23. The satellites were supposed to be delivered last Wednesday, but it was canceled because of high winds at the launch site. SpaceX also called off another attempt the following evening to conduct additional checks and update the spacecraft's software. "Standing down to update satellite software and triple-check everything again," the space company said. "Always want to do everything we can on the ground to maximize mission success." Space fans can catch the webcast of the Starlink launch via SpaceX's website or through the company's official YouTube channel. SpaceX's Starlink Megaconstellation The Starlink satellites are part of SpaceX's program for a new high-speed internet service. The plan started as early as 2015 when CEO Elon Musk sought permission from the Federal Communications Commission to test his idea for a "global broadband" system. In 2017, he filed applications for Starlink, which was described as a low-cost, satellite-based broadband system that can provide internet access across the world. To carry out this plan, Musk said SpaceX will have to launch at least 400 satellites to be able to have "minor" internet coverage and at least 800 satellites for "moderate" coverage. The Starlink megaconstellation could even grow exponentially in the coming, with estimates reaching up to 12,000 internet satellites, according to SpaceX. This week's scheduled launch will be the second time SpaceX sent Starlink-related spacecraft into orbit. In 2018, the space company sent a Falcon 9 rocket with its prototype satellites named Tintin A and Tintin B. The two satellites served as the secondary payloads aboard the spaceflight, while the Earth-imaging radar satellite named Paz was the primary payload. Musk said the 60 Starlink satellites will be identical to the version set for mass production. The only difference will be that this first batch will not have the capability to communicate with each other while they are in orbit. The billionaire entrepreneur pointed out that the technology involved in the satellite megaconstellation plan is new, so there is a possibility that some of them might not work. There is even a "small possibility" that none of the spacecraft will work. SpaceX will need to launch six more Starlink space missions to be able to provide consistent internet coverage to some parts of the world, according to Musk. The company will need 12 more missions to be able to cater to a larger global audience. The Race For Satellite Constellations If everything goes smoothly, Thursday's launch could allow SpaceX to take the lead in the race for satellite constellations. The company's chief rivals, Jeff Bezos's Amazon and the SoftBank-backed OneWeb, are also in the running to provide satellite-based internet broadband service to the world. In fact, OneWeb has already launched several of its internet satellites from French Guiana into space back in February. Other companies, such as LeoSat Enterprises and Telesat, have also begun working on new data networks that will make use of thousands of smaller satellites in low Earth orbit. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA's Juno spacecraft has uncovered new information about the gas giant Jupiter. Much like Earth, the planet's magnetic field is shifting. According to NASA scientists, the probe's new readings of Jupiter's magnetic field is different from the observations from past missions. This suggested that the magnetic field of the largest planet in the Solar System is changing in small but significant ways. "Finding something as minute as these changes in something so immense as Jupiter's magnetic field was a challenge," commented Kimee Moore, a Juno scientist from Harvard University. "Having a baseline of close-up observations over four decades long provided us with just enough data to confirm that Jupiter's magnetic field does indeed change over time." Changes In Jupiter's Magnetic Field Detected By Juno The new data was collected from Juno's first eight science passes of Jupiter. The spacecraft used an instrument called magnetometer which can generate a detailed three-dimensional map of the planet's magnetic field. In a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, the team behind the mission compared the new data with observations made by Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1, and Ulysses. The changes in the planet's magnetic field over the past 40 years indicate that it undergoes a phenomenon called secular variation. On Earth, secular variation occurs because of changes underneath the surface. In Jupiter, scientists believe that the shifts in the magnetic field are largely driven by the gas giant's deep atmospheric or zonal winds. The secular variation is most obvious in Jupiter's Great Blue Spot, an intense patch of the magnetic field near the planet's equator. The findings concerning Jupiter's changing magnetic field might also give scientists new insight into the shifts in Earth's own magnetic field. "It is incredible that one narrow magnetic hot spot, the Great Blue Spot, could be responsible for almost all of Jupiter's secular variation, but the numbers bear it out," added Moore. "With this new understanding of magnetic fields, during future science passes we will begin to create a planetwide map of Jupiter's secular variation." Juno Keeps An Eye On Jupiter Juno launched from Earth in 2011 and arrived at Jupiter's orbit in 2016. The mission of the spacecraft is to map the magnetic field, watch auroras, measure the amount of water and ammonia deep in its atmosphere, look for a solid core, and understand the origin and evolution of the fifth planet from the sun and the largest planet in the solar system. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mozilla has rolled out a new Firefox version that promises to be "faster than ever." The company isn't just emphasizing speed in its latest release but also online privacy. Firefox 67 Update Back in 2017, Mozilla introduced Firefox Quantum, a major update that changed how it looked and improved its speed and performance. With the Firefox 67 update, it seems to be building on that, or in other words, it's making the browser even faster, as well as safer with new security tools. 'Faster Than Ever' In a blog post, the developer outlined how Firefox will deliver on its promise of faster performance. For starters, it's going to "deprioritize least commonly used features." That way, the browser can prioritize scripts that users need first and put off the others. As an example, the company explains that this will make the main scripts for Amazon, Google, and Instagram load anywhere between 40 and 80 percent faster. It'll also "suspend idle tabs," meaning Firefox will now begin suspending unused tabs so it won't bog down the computer when its memory is below 400 MB. Just to be clear, it's not closing the tabs so that users can just click on them again, and the browser will reload the page and pick up where they left off. Last but not least, it'll deliver "faster startup after customization." This will impact users who've customized Firefox with themes or other add-ons such as an ad blocker. With this in place, the browser is going to forgo "a bunch of unnecessary work during subsequent startups." Plainly speaking, this will allow users to fire it up faster. New Privacy Measures Mozilla is adding new tools that are capable of "blocking fingerprinting and cryptomining." For those who don't know, fingerprinting is when a user and their activities are being tracked online. This is usually used for advertising purposes, but unlike cookies and the like, it's more intrusive. Advertisers can use the info they've gathered about a user such as their computer, software, and even the font they use for targeted marketing. Meanwhile, cryptomining is when attackers will take advantage of a user's computer and use its resources to mine cryptocurrency. In other words, hackers will be making a buck at the expense of a victim. With Firefox's new features, instances of these harmful practices should occur less frequently. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. For those who didn't notice, Samsung totally didn't follow through with the original release date for its Galaxy Home smart speaker. Samsung said back in August 2018 that it was due out April well, it's almost past May and there's nothing so far, and Samsung has remained quiet since. Oddly, though, the company might be going on a different direction with regard to its smart speaker plans. Just-surfaced FCC filings reveal that the company is working on a smaller version of the Galaxy Home, possibly called the Galaxy Home Mini. Galaxy Home Mini CNET first spotted the filing, which was published Tuesday. Details there say the device will use Bluetooth 4.2, which is a bummer considering even 2017's Galaxy S8 uses the much newer and versatile Bluetooth 5.0 standard. Another notable tidbit is that the smaller Galaxy Home uses a microUSB port instead of USB Type-C, which has become the default in most modern, higher-tier electronics. Beyond those details, not much else is known about the Galaxy Home Mini at present. It's not clear if Samsung is going to release this alongside the main Galaxy Home, at a later date, or scrapping the first one altogether in favor of this model. It doesn't help that Samsung has requested the Federal Communications Commission to keep most photos of the device and the user manual confidential for six months. Still, below is a sneak peek of the speaker: Atop are volume buttons, it looks like, plus a power button and an AKG label, the Samsung-acquired Audio brand. To note, both Amazon and Google, arguably the biggest players in the smart speaker space, also sell smaller, cheaper versions of their smart speakers, which makes Samsung's Galaxy Home mini hardly surprising. Galaxy Home Release Date There's no word on when this device might arrive. The same can be said for the main Galaxy Home. The smaller device's FCC filing implies a release date is in the offing, though. As mentioned, Samsung originally promised an April release date for the Galaxy Home, which it's since pushed back "sometime in the first half of 2019." If it honors its word this time, then the device should come out no later than June. Make sure to check back with Tech Times as we learn more. Are you itching to buy a Bixby-powered smart speaker from Samsung? Or will you be more willing to try a smaller, cheaper variant? As always, feel free to sound off in the comments section below if you have any thoughts! 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Less than a week after lawmakers tore into the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board for its handling of sexual misconduct cases, the state board moved to bring on a consulting firm to assist with crisis management and hire a new attorney to advise the board moving forward. In a special meeting late Tuesday, the board interviewed five candidates to replace on an interim basis the two attorneys who previously served as general counsel and their prosecuting attorney. Both of the attorneys faced sharp criticism from state lawmakers last week. The board voted to award the contract to Celia Cangelosi, a Baton Rouge attorney who represents at least six other state boards including pharmacy and dentistry, and came with a variety of recommendations for how the physical therapy board could improve, including rule changes. Board members also voted to enter into a contract with local firm SSA Consultants to help with crisis management and communication moving forward. Attorneys fired over failing to revoke licenses of Louisiana physical therapists accused of sex assault Two attorneys for the state licensing board for physical therapists are being terminated after withering criticism from state lawmakers over t The open meeting in Baton Rouge marked the second time the board has met since legislators blasted the board and its former attorneys for how they responded to sexual misconduct allegations against physical therapists, including the case of Philippe Veeters, a Baton Rouge practitioner now facing multiple criminal cases of sexual battery. "Time is of the essence," said Karl Kleinpeter, the board's secretary and treasurer. "We want to make sure this process is as transparent as possible." Last Thursday, also in a special meeting, board members decided to terminate contracts with its general counsel, Courtney Newton and its prosecuting attorney, George Papale. Both helped investigate sexual misconduct allegations for the board. Papale, who was not present for the Senate and Governmental Affairs hearing May 15 where the board faced sharp criticism, was singled out by lawmakers for his handling of sexual misconduct complaints, including how he responded to the Veeters' complaints. The board vowed to hold a competitive bid for their replacements. Papale and Newton, who are father and daughter, were not hired through competitive solicitation. 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 +3 Senators blast Louisiana Physical Therapy Board for handling of sexual assault allegations against therapists State senators grilled Louisiana Physical Therapy Board officials for more than a hour on Wednesday over their handling of sexual assault alle Details of the contracts with SSA Consultants and Cangelosi were not complete late Tuesday, as the board voted for a three-member committee to hash out the specifics at a later time. "The important thing is what are you going to do," Rudy Gomez, a partner at SSA Consultants, told the board Tuesday. "Thats what people want to hear and understand and be confident in." The board, including its now terminated attorneys, are scheduled to go back before the Senate and Governmental Affairs Committee next week to answer more questions. Last week, Sens. J.P. Morrell and Karen Carter Peterson, both New Orleans Democrats, skewered the board for failing to revoke licenses after physical therapists settled, and in some cases even admitted, charges of sexual misconduct with patients. They heard testimony from two of the nine victims who have reported that Veeters, 54, sexually assaulted them under the guise of medical treatment, and expressed their concern for how the women were treated by the board. The two women reported their allegations to the board, one that led to Veeters nine-month suspension that began in November. The other investigation remains ongoing. Board members Tuesday night were interested in finding an attorney with expertise in administrative law, as well as experience dealing with sexual misconduct allegations and going before the legislature. Cangelosi said she has only handled one sexual assault case before a state licensing board about 25 years ago, but it did lead to a chiropractor's license being revoked. She also told board members she was comfortable addressing lawmakers and had specific recommendations for improving the Physical Therapy Board rules. A Ponchatoula Junior High student forcibly restrained by two teachers during a March 28 fight in the school's courtyard sued the educators and the Tangipahoa Parish school system Tuesday, claiming the teachers used excessive force and gave her a concussion. The teachers, Arthur "Rusty" Barrilleaux and Brett Chatelain, were fired after a video of the incident went viral and sparked public outrage. Their terminations also raised larger concerns across the school district about teacher training for violent student behavior and their job security. +3 Teachers seen restraining girl in viral Ponchatoula Junior High video were fired, union rep says An attorney for one of the teachers seen restraining a student in a video that went viral from Ponchatoula Junior High School in March said th The video shows the two teachers trying to pin the 14-year-old girl on the concrete, with one of them cursing the student as the other drags her by the leg. The lawsuit, filed by New Orleans lawyer John S. Williams, says the girl was in the school's cafeteria at lunch when someone threw food and hit her in the head. The girl went to a small courtyard outside the cafeteria, where other students identified the female student who threw the food. A fight ensued between the girl and the other student after a brief verbal confrontation took place, the suit states. Can't see video below? Click here. 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 suit claims the 14-year-old girl "had long been the victim of bullying" at the school, and that the bullying had been reported to various Ponchatoula Junior High teachers and administrators at least five separate times. Her school schedule had been changed in the weeks leading up to March 28 in hopes of stopping the bullying, the suit adds. She is seeking monetary compensation for mental pain, suffering, anguish and embarrassment; extreme humiliation and adverse notoriety; loss of self-esteem; current and future medical treatment, psychiatric treatment and/or psychological counseling; damage to her reputation; diminished or delayed psychological development; and legal expenses and other costs. +3 How should Louisiana teachers react to students in fights? No policy and plenty confusion When two Ponchatoula Junior High teachers were fired over the way they handled a recent fight between two students, it prompted a teacher walk The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans against Barrilleaux, Chatelain, the Tangipahoa Parish School Board, Tangipahoa Schools Superintendent Melissa Stilley and Ponchatoula Junior High Principal Mary Beth Crovetto. Barrilleaux has appealed his termination in the 21st Judicial District Court, saying his intervention prevented injury to Chatelain, other students and adults. Stilley, in an April letter to Barrilleaux, called his actions too forceful and out of line with teacher expectations. The teachers' terminations prompted some Ponchatoula Junior High employees to stage a walkout the morning of May 9 to demand clearer policy on how they should intervene whenever student fights break out on campus. Six months after he was expelled from Lee High, Charlie Stephens got kicked out of school one last time, so to speak. He watched from the bleachers Tuesday as his former classmates accepted their diplomas on the stage at LSUs Pete Maravich Assembly Center. But as the ceremony neared its end, Stephens was summarily shown the door. Assaad Mawas Stephens hes widely known as Charlie" was expelled from Lee High in December after school administrators say they found a knife and evidence of marijuana in his car. Stephens was not just your average student at this prominent Baton Rouge high school. The 18-year-old was student government president and had been voted Mr. Lee High. The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board agreed to a hearing in February the first such hearing in more than seven years but unanimously affirmed Stephens expulsion. Stephens filed suit in April, hoping for a quick reversal that would allow him to walk with the Class of 2019. But that didnt happen and the lawsuit is ongoing. Another former Lee High student, Boston Glaser, was also in the PMAC watching Tuesday. Glaser was expelled along with Stephens in December. Glaser said he was able to watch the graduation ceremony undisturbed. Stephens wasnt as fortunate. Early in the ceremony, Brian Seals, a parent liaison at Lee High, and one of the people involved in Stephens expulsion, saw Stephens and the two exchanged a fist bump, according to Stephens. 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 But an hour later, Stephens said, Seals returned and, offering no reason, directed a nearby LSU police officer to escort Stephens out immediately. Stephens said he didnt fight it, walking out while the officer watched him leave. But he wasnt happy. I feel that the school has somewhat of a vendetta against me, Stephens said. I was not given permission to participate in the ceremony so I came to support my friends and class members and was escorted out while other students who were expelled at the same time remained. It's just not fair. Taylor Gast, a spokeswoman for the school system, said she spoke Tuesday with Lee High Principal Rob Howle and Howle said he made Stephens leave because he violated the Student Handbook. According to the handbook, students like Stephens who are suspended or expelled may not attend, participate, or represent the school in any school activity during the term of the suspension or expulsion. Howle didnt know that Glaser was there as well, Gast said. +2 Lee High student government president sues to reverse expulsion, graduate with senior class The president of student government who was known to his classmates as Mr. Lee High filed suit Tuesday seeking to reverse his ejection from Glaser said hes not surprised: (Stephens) sued them and caused them trouble, so it makes sense they dont want him at their functions. Stephens for his part changed schools after his expulsion, transferring to the online University View Academy. He plans to pick up his diploma this week. This fall, hes planning to attend LSU. As an LSU student, he should have no trouble seeing events in the PMAC. Environmentalists and activists arrested for protesting around the Bayou Bridge pipeline have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of a state law passed last year that allows law enforcement to charge protesters as felons. Environmentalists see proposed Louisiana law to protect pipelines and penalize protesters as overreach Fearful of large-scale protests like those that surrounded the Dakota Access pipeline, Louisiana legislators have joined their counterparts in The new law, which changed the definition of "critical infrastructure," is intended to protect sensitive areas such as power plants, petrochemical facilities and water treatment sites. Pipelines and pipeline construction sites were added to the critical infrastructure list, making it a felony to trespass at the pipeline as of last August. Supporters have said it's important to provide law enforcement with clear guidelines to protect pipelines from damage. Detractors said the law infringes on first amendment rights of free speech. +5 Felony cases mount against protesters fighting Bayou Bridge from land, sea and air Over the past month, at least 13 people have been arrested under a new state law that increases criminal penalties for trespassing near pipeli During construction of the now-operational Bayou Bridge pipeline, 15 people were arrested in St. Martin Parish under the new law, said attorney Bill Quigley. Prosecutors have not yet indicated whether they will pursue felony cases, dismiss the charges or take some other action, Quigley said. Some of the people arrested, joined by landowners and environmental organizations, are suing the state Attorney General's Office to strike the new law as unconstitutional. Bayou Bridge Pipeline builders must pay $450 for trespassing; judge OKs land seizure After spending $750 million to construct an oil pipeline thats scheduled to open at the end of the month, the builders must spend another $45 Attorney General Jeff Landry's office said in a statement that it will "vigorously defend the law as our State has an obvious and compelling reason to protect vital infrastructure from criminal trespass, damage, or possible attack." It said environmental groups are free to protest but not in a manner that obstructs and threatens infrastructure. Environmentalists see the law differently. This law was designed, really, to intimidate us, Anne White Hat said at a news conference Wednesday outside the federal courthouse in Baton Rouge. 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 White Hat said shes facing up to 10 years in prison after being arrested near a Bayou Bridge construction site. She called the new law unjust and dangerous and warned sportsmen that they could be swept up as well if they get too close to one of the many pipelines running through hunting and fishing spots. Several speakers at the news conference pointed out that a judge has ruled that construction crews were the ones trespassing in St. Martin because they were performing work on property without going through the official eminent domain process, though the company was only ordered to pay $450 in damages and the work was allowed to proceed. The sheriff and district attorney in St. Martin are also named as defendants in the suit in an effort to drop the outstanding criminal cases involving the 15 people who have already been arrested under the felony law. Sheriffs Maj. Ginny Higgins pointed out that deputies just enforce the laws they dont write them but declined to comment on the suit Wednesday because her office had not yet been served the paperwork. The District Attorney's Office did not return calls seeking comment. Industry lobbyists weighed in, though. The Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association helped draft the legislation passed last year. The law is straightforward and crafted so as not to punish people who lawfully assemble, fish, hunt or exercise their property rights near pipelines and construction sites, association President Tyler Gray wrote in a statement. This important law protects Louisiana and its citizens from individuals who attempt to unlawfully interrupt construction of pipeline projects or damage existing facilities, which not only puts the trespassers at risk, but also risks the lives of first responders, employees, and the surrounding communities and environment," Gray wrote. He added, "Louisianas natural gas and oil industry plays a critical role in fueling America with reliable and affordable energy and damage to our critical infrastructure risks interrupting critical services across the United States. The suit has been assigned to Louisiana Middle District Judge John deGravelles. Quigley said that as of Wednesday, no future court dates had been set. The Louisiana House signed off on a proposal to tweak how the Baton Rouge Police Department promotes officers, endorsing changes to a system that relies almost exclusively on seniority to decide which cops move up the ranks. Seniority would still weigh heavily in promotions under House Bill 438 by Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, which cleared the House on an 83-12 vote Tuesday. But the Baton Rouge police chief would be allowed to consider other qualifications while considering the five longest-serving applicants for a promotion. Current law ensures that promotions to nearly all posts at BRPD automatically go to the longest-serving officer who passed a qualifying exam for the rank, regardless of their exam score or accomplishments. Because civil service rules for police officers are enshrined in the state constitution, the changes will still require a two-thirds vote from the Senate before heading to Gov. John Bel Edwards desk. The changes wouldnt apply to any other agency. East Baton Rouge Parish Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome, BRPD Chief Murphy Paul and several Baton Rouge state representatives have pushed for the changes. So have a number of outside groups, including the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Im asking to give the chief more authority over promotion, James argued on the House floor. Baton Rouge leaders, lawmakers look to add some discretion to promotional process for city cops Baton Rouges police chief, mayor and a handful of local lawmakers are asking the Louisiana Legislature to change the Baton Rouge Police Depar 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 But a number of union officials have criticized the possible changes, arguing the revisions of BRPDs promotional process represented an attack on civil service protections more broadly. Rep. Dodie Horton, R-Haughton, blasted it as a horrible precedent that would deny long-serving officers the promotions she argued they deserved. Seniority is everything, Horton said while arguing against the bill. But Rep. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, who once led the State Police, called it a good proposal that would allow police executives to consider other important factors including past military service, education, commendations or disciplinary issues when deciding who to tap for promotions. Landry said that just being a warm body and the ability to take a test dont capture the talents departments ought to be looking for in leadership positions. Baton Rouge lawmakers weren't unanimously behind the changes, with state Reps. Rick Edmonds and Franklin Foil among the 12 House members all Republicans voting against it. Edmonds pointedly noted opposition from the main union for rank-and-file BRPD officers while questioning James on the House floor. The state Senate on Tuesday approved a bid to let the public vote on whether to change the states constitution to make clear Louisiana does not provide a right to abortion or require funding for it. House Bill 425 would ask the state's voters to approve a ban on abortion as an expression of opposition to the pregnancy ending procedure that could prove helpful should the Roe v. Wade decision, which legalized abortion, be overturned as many expect will happen in the near future. If the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision is overturned, the decision whether or not to allow abortions reverts back to the states. Louisiana has a 10-year-old law on the books that says if given the choice by federal authorities, all abortion would be illegal in this state. But in some states, most recently in Kansas, courts have ruled abortions legal because the procedure was not expressly forbidden. State Rep. Katrina Jackson, the Monroe Democrat who carried the bill, has argued that a statewide vote condemning the practice would put the ban in the state Constitution and trump any strategy to legalize abortion on the state level. The Senate voted 31-4 to pass the measure, sending it back to the House for concurrence on minor changes made to the bill. The measure was supported by anti-abortion groups like the Louisiana Right to Life. If the House approves of the changes, as expected, the constitutional amendment would go before voters in October during the gubernatorial primary election. State Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, who brought the bill in the Senate for Jackson, said it was an opportunity for the state of Louisiana to make clear it doesnt support abortion. 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 The bill is one of a handful being pushed through the Legislature this year that would curtail abortion rights. Louisiana is part of a wave of states across the South and Midwest racing to enact some of the nations strictest abortion laws. Michelle Erenberg, executive director of Lift Louisiana, which opposed the measure, said constitutions are meant to protect rights, not deny them. She said the amendment will directly hurt some of our most vulnerable citizens: poor women. This shameful proposal doesnt even make exceptions for women who are victims of rape or incest, she said in a statement. Rest assured, we will fight for womens rights all the way to the ballot box and stand up to those who want to make women second-class citizens. The Legislature also appear poised to pass the "fetal heartbeat" bill that would ban abortions after about six weeks, before many women know theyre pregnant. But that measure would not go into effect unless a similar Mississippi law is upheld by the courts, and abortions will likely remain available in Louisiana barring a move from the nations high court. Gov. John Bel Edwards has said he is inclined to sign the measure. The statewide vote legislation, like the bill to ban abortions after about six weeks, would not immediately have any effect on womens access to abortion in the state. A 2016 poll from the LSU Public Policy Research lab found Louisiana residents are generally more opposed to abortion than Americans as a whole. About 55% in Louisiana think abortions should be illegal in most or all cases, the poll showed, while 40% think it should be legal in all or most cases nearly a mirror opposite of what national surveys show. While more than 80% support some restrictions on access to abortions, only a quarter think it should be illegal in all cases, the poll found. Louisiana House panel advances bitcoin bills as one legislator says, 'we are so far behind on technology' Gov. John Bel Edwards shakes hands in January 2016 with his health care transition team co-chairs, Gary Wiltz, CEO of Teche Action Clinic, and Ronald A. Goux, president of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association, at the State Capitol after Edwards signed his his first executive order to provide for Medicaid expansion in the state of Louisiana. Marrero Republican Rep. Patrick Connick, at the podium, raised questions Thursday, May 16, 2019, about the environmental reporting legislation by Rep. Stuart J. Bishop, R-Lafayette, at right behind the podium. In the pantheon of great New Orleans characters, there should be a special place of honor for Ronnie Virgets, who not only personified what it means to be one of those characters but also immortalized many of them in a lifetime of brilliant storytelling. Ronnie left us too soon, on May 20, to take his honored place. He was 77. Ronnie leaves behind an unrivaled body of work and countless grieving friends and admirers. He has been compared to Damon Runyon, and rightfully so, but I also think of him as the Jimmy Breslin of New Orleans. He knew everybody and everything worth knowing in this quirky city. He shared his insights and observations on the pages of Gambit in his Razoo column for more than 20 years. Each was a classic, and many of them found their way into his three published books Say, Cap!, Lost Bread, and Saints and Lesser Souls. Ronnies journalism career took him many places, admittedly because, as he told WWL-TV, Ive been laid off by a lot of people. Ive had many a job and in more than one of them I was kind of asked to leave early. In addition to Gambit, Ronnie covered his favorite topic thoroughbred racing for the Racing Form and later wrote his Railbird Ronnie column for The Times-Picayune. He won many awards for his print columns as well as a regional Emmy for his work in television. Ronnies broadcast career perfectly synthesized the exquisite contradictions of a quintessential New Orleanian: He often showed up for work unkempt, underdressed and unshaven, yet perfectly at ease in front of a camera or microphone. There was nothing phony about him, and audiences loved him for it. He appeared on WWL-TV, WDSU-TV, WYES-TV, WGNO-TV and WWNO-FM. In 2002, the Press Club of New Orleans honored him with its lifetime achievement award. In 1996, Ronnie and his longtime partner, Lynne Jensen, reigned over the satirical Krewe du Vieux parade. A native of the citys 3rd Ward, Ronnie had a voice as unmistakable as the aromas emanating from another 3rd Ward landmark, Mandinas Restaurant, where he once worked as a bartender. An Army veteran who served in Vietnam, Ronnie also worked as a marketer for AT&T, a bouncer at the Famous Door and as the advertising voice of his beloved Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where he knew everyone from the owners to the hot walkers. Ronnie also was partly responsible for my own dive into the world of horse racing. In 1999, I got a call from my friend James Gill, who knows quite a bit about thoroughbreds himself, asking if Id like to help him put together a group to buy a racehorse. Of course I would, and the first person I suggested he call was Ronnie. Gill immediately agreed, but we both wondered if he could scrape together the requisite $5,000 investment. Turns out he could, and in honor of that we named our little group Razoo Stables. Gill had one more requirement. No assholes, he said as we pondered additional members. Of course, you and I are grandfathered in. I confessed that Id first have to convince She Who Must Be Obeyed to let me pony up $5,000, but I knew just the trick. I asked Gill if my wife Margo, an inveterate fashionista, could design the jockey silks. I figured shed insist on that, and I was right. She approved my initial outlay and promptly got to work on a bright-red silk uniform with a stylized R on front and back, with zebra stripes down the arms. When our group debuted in early 2000, we gathered inside the paddock to watch trainer Tom Amoss give his instructions to the jockey. Margo cozied up to the jock and asked, How do you like those silks? The poor jockey shrugged and said, Nice, to which SWMBO replied, Youre going to be envy of all the other jockeys. Ronnie was standing on the other side of the jockey and immediately groused, No offense, Margo, but Id rather be the envy of all the other owners! Turns out they both got their wish, eventually. Our little filly, Here Comes JK, took first place in a $16,000 race in March 2000, though I dont think the silks impressed the other jocks as much as Lonnie Meches superb ride. Pull Quote He often showed up for work unkempt, underdressed and unshaven, yet perfectly at ease in front of a camera or microphone. There was nothing phony about him, and audiences loved him for it. Ronnie and I laughed often at that story, and many others over the years. Razoo Stables enjoyed a four-year run before our luck ran out, but we had one helluva ride. We particularly enjoyed our hallmark lunches at the Crescent City Steak House, where we gathered before and after each season (and in between) to plot our fortunes. One of our later members, the late Joe Berrigan, said he joined the group even though he didnt care much for horse racing. I just wanna go to the lunches and sit by Ronnie Virgets, he said. We all wanted that enviable perch. I probably had the best seat of all as one of Ronnies editors at Gambit. His weekly "Razoo" columns always arrived on Monday but were never typewritten. Ronnie hand-wrote in very good Catholic-nun-informed penmanship all of his columns on looseleaf paper, often torn from spiral notebooks. He added what I assumed was a deliberately playful twist to some of them: writing in red ink, perhaps in defiance of former editors who mercilessly wielded red pens against reporters errant copy. Editing Ronnies columns consisted of reading them, in awe, and then passing them along, unchanged. No need to tinker with perfection. Id sooner try to rearrange a sunset over Lake Pontchartrain. In his later years, after Hurricane Katrina, Ronnie moved to New Roads, in Pointe Coupee Parish. A friend once asked him how he, a city boy, managed that bi-coastal lifestyle. Ronnies answer was pure Virgets: When I get bored of New Roads, I go back to Noo Awlins. When I get aggravated about Noo Awlins, I come back to New Roads. Vintage Ronnie. In one of his last interviews, he told WWL-TVs Eric Paulsen, I havent run out of stories. Ive just run out of energy. Thats okay, Ronnie, because your stories will live forever. We were a richer city for having you walk, talk and write among (and about) us. So long, Cap! +5 Perdido This is a new one for you. In Praise of the Neighborhood Bar On the back of the bar, all the bottles were in their usual places. Notes From a Soggy Notebook As I was swimming naked through the living room ... The Louisiana Senate passed a bill 31-4 today that would let residents vote on adding language to the state constitution explicitly stating it does not protect a womans right to an abortion advancing yet another abortion restriction. After House concurrence, the bill will put the amendment on the ballot Oct. 12, coinciding with the governors election. That ballot measure would read as follows: Do you support an amendment declaring that, to protect human life, a right to abortion and the funding of abortion shall not be found in the Louisiana Constitution? State Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, who presented the bill on behalf of State Rep. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, said it was the simplest of bills. It wouldnt be the judges in D.C., she said. It would be the people of the state of Louisiana determining what they thought about life. Both Mizell and Jackson attended a press conference at the Capitol earlier Tuesday to voice their support of the bill and voice their anti-abortion rights position. Some abortion rights activists protested the event, according to a News Star report. New Orleans abortion rights activists plan Wednesday protest in the Central Business District In a response to the abortion restrictions speeding through the Louisiana Legislature and state legislatures around the country abortion r More than 60 representatives have added their names to the bill in support. Louisiana already has a 2006 trigger law in place that would make abortion illegal in almost all cases if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The constitutional amendment, however, would be harder to overturn than the trigger law. The amendment is kind of a confusing measure, said Ellie Schilling, a New Orleans attorney who has represented many of the states reproductive health centers. Constitutional amendments generally give rights to the people. They're not drafted to take them away. The amendment does not include any exceptions for rape, incest or the life or health of the mother, which Schilling said could lead to some uncertainty about its legal implementation. It's just very unclear then if that amendment were to ever kick in and have effect, if it would ban abortion in all instances if that's how our judge would interpret it or if the legislature could, at a later date, enact exceptions to that general ban, she said. +4 Louisiana v. Abortion: How the state legislature is tightening the right to legal abortion Its that time of year again when Louisiana state legislators nearly have completed their annual practice of rushing additional abortion res The Senate also overwhelmingly passed another abortion restriction today 30-4. House Bill 133 by State Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, would revise the legal definition of abortion to include medication abortions terminating a pregnancy by taking a pill. It would require doctors give patients the pill at one of the states three remaining abortion clinics. Currently, licensed OB-GYNs can administer the pill. State Sen. JP Morrell, D-New Orleans, expressed concern about the bill potentially being interpreted to outlaw the morning after pill, but State Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, said that the bill only related to a diagnosable pregnancy. Anything we do here when we change the law is subject to interpretation, Morrell said. As we have seen, legislative intention means little when the politics of the courthouse comes to interpreting the things we do. "Ladies and gentlemen, that is a hop and a skip from 'The Handmaids Tale,' he said. The measure now heads to the governor for signature, and hes expected to sign it. While two of the state's other abortion restrictions have hinged upon pending legal battles over legislation passed in Mississippi, neither of these bills have such provisions meaning that if the state is sued over these laws, taxpayers will be footing the legal bills for defending them. According to Schilling, that is a real possibility. I think that it's likely that there will be legal challenges to some if not all of those bills, she said. Though Jacksons bill to amend the state constitution easily passed through the Senate, womens rights groups say they plan to keep fighting the measure. Constitutions are meant to protect rights, not deny them, said Michelle Erenberg, executive director of Lift Louisiana, in a statement. But thats exactly what the state Senate did today when it passed an amendment that will directly hurt some of our most vulnerable citizens: poor women. Rest assured, we will fight for womens rights all the way to the ballot box and stand up to those who want to make women second-class citizens, she added. +7 Photos: Hundreds of protesters gather at New Orleans rally for abortion rights Several hundred people held a rally on the sidewalk outside the Hancock Whitney Center May 22, protesting state legislation that would curb a Louisiana won't create public registry for animal abusers this year after House bill pulled from committee A bill that would create a public registry for convicted animal abusers similar to the one in place for sex offenders was pulled from comm Sarah Ellzey's love of animals is what first attracted her to a job at Global Wildlife Center as a teenager, and it drew her back for two more stints at the center near Folsom, despite her growing concern about animal injuries and neglect she said she witnessed. But Ellzey and more than a dozen other former employees say there have been serious behind-the-scenes problems at Global Wildlife apart from the fate of animals or the validity of the parks nonprofit status issues that have been raised this week in a joint investigation by WWL-TV and The New Orleans Advocate about the popular north shore attraction. Ellzey and others say that female workers experienced sexual harassment in the form of unwanted comments, touching, kissing and even groping by Ken Matherne, the park's 61-year-old founder and boss. Matherne did not agree to be interviewed for this story, and during a brief conversation, he did not answer questions about female employees' allegations. Management at the park would not talk about the issue. But sexual harassment was a persistent complaint of numerous ex-employees, including women who say they were victimized. He has grabbed me, Ellzey said. He has shoved his tongue down my throat. Completely unwarranted, completely unwanted. Another ex-employee, Corissa Gioia, said Matherne pinned her against the side of the pool during a company party more than five years ago. He was trying to touch me in very inappropriate places, she said. The incidents often took place at company parties and crawfish boils held at The Bungalows Matherne's house on the grounds of the park or his yacht. At Christmas parties, sometimes he would have girls dancing on his yacht bar, throwing money at them, ex-employee Brett Guillet said. Another ex-worker, Brad Nethery, said he saw Matherne engage in unwanted physical contact that included him groping, kissing, grabbing behavior that Nethery said happened at his private parties, at work, at any time. While many former employees registered their gripes on social media, some have taken their complaints to law enforcement. Ellzey and her husband, Russell, also an ex-employee, filed formal written complaints with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office on Feb. 2. For Christmas each year, all females were required to line up and kiss him on the mouth to receive (their) Christmas bonus, Sarah Ellzey wrote in her complaint. In his complaint, Russell Ellzey corroborated the kisses-for-bonuses tradition, as well as other inappropriate behavior by Matherne. I have been present when he has disrobed himself in front of numerous female employees, Ellzey wrote. In perhaps the most serious of the allegations in her complaint, Sarah Ellzey said that Matherne groped her many times while she worked there. He's physically sexually assaulted me more times than I can count, she wrote. She also detailed an incident in which she said Matherne cornered her and tried to forcibly kiss her in the swimming pool at his compound during a staff crawfish boil in 2013. Other employees intervened, according to the complaint, but not before Matherne untied her bathing suit top, exposing her breasts in front of more than a dozen co-workers. 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 A spokeswoman for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed that there is an open investigation into the allegations but said that she could not comment on it. The Sheriff's Office refused to release documents on the investigation, saying that doing so would reveal the identity of a victim of sexual assault. But the Ellzeys provided copies of their complaints to The New Orleans Advocate and WWL-TV. Mary Claire Landry, director of the New Orleans Family Justice Center, said some of the episodes described by the ex-employees "would be so out of bounds that I would never think that would be acceptable or appropriate. Ellzey and other ex-workers said that managers would tell employees that they simply needed to be firm with Matherne and tell him no or avoid being around him something she said was difficult to do. "If you complained about something as serious, so severe, such as a sexual assault or harassment, if it got back to Ken, you'd be fired," Gioia said. "There were no if's, and's or but's about it." Landry, an expert on sexual harassment and assault, said it's not uncommon for victims to keep quiet for years. It takes a lot of courage and a lot of willpower to be able to stand up to someone who has much more money than you have, she said. That's exactly the scenario ex-employees describe. Former employee Megan Smith said that she saw female co-workers being groped on many occasions. "Usually they were too afraid to say anything to management," she said. When incidents occurred, Sarah Ellzey said, managers would pull aside the woman or women who had been harassed, usually the next day, and say, You're not going to tell on us, right? Global Wildlife Center has about 25 employees. It has no human resources department, according to former workers. Sometimes the harassment and bullying by Matherne would be verbal, ex-employees said. He would make comments like, You should unbutton another button on your shirt, Smith said. Ellzey said Matherne often commented about her breasts. Verbally you were never safe from what he was going to say, she said. Now the former employees are finding strength in numbers. They say that has emboldened them to speak out. I was just young and naive, Gioia said, and I didn't even know the proper steps to take to pursue legal action if I wanted to. Sarah Ellzey said she never had high hopes that her complaint would lead to any police action. Most potentially applicable criminal statutes in Louisiana, such as sexual battery, have a statute of limitations of six years, meaning that Ellzeys complaint from the June 2013 pool party would expire next month. But whatever the outcome, Ellzey believes it was important for her to speak up. I'm disgusted, she said. The only reason I've come forward is I don't want this to keep happening. The U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday it had forced a Florida-based contractor, Gomez Drywall Construction Inc., to pay 108 Louisiana-based workers nearly $180,000 in back pay for breaking federal rules on overtime compensation. The Department of Labor said the action followed an investigation into claims Gomez misclassified workers as independent contractors and subsequently failed to pay them overtime when they worked more than 40 hours in a workweek, a violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Gomez' lawyer, Scott Huffstetler, of Kean Miller in Baton Rouge, said of his client: "Other than to say that they dispute some of the statements in the (Department of Labor's) press release, they are not going to otherwise comment." The government's action follows a class-action lawsuit that was brought up in August in the District Court in New Orleans by one of Gomez's former workers, Edwin Murillo, which was subsequently settled. Labor Department spokesman Juan Rodriguez said the department doesn't comment on how investigations are initiated but noted they can be started by filing a lawsuit or filing a complaint directly. 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 agency's action has echoes of details in the case, Edwin Murillo et al vs Gomez Drywall Construction Inc., which was settled in March. In that case, Murillo, who had been a general laborer for the framing and drywall contractor, said Gomez had not paid any of his workers overtime since at least April 2015, though they regularly worked 55 or more hours a week. The lawsuit also identified two other workers, Yony Ramirez and Marvin Ruiz, who had been in the same situation as Murillo, and the District Court found sufficient evidence that it was Gomez's policy to not pay any overtime rates and allowed the class action. The law requires employers to keep record of their workers' hours and pay time-and-a-half for work over 40 hours a week. "Violations like those found in this case are common in this industry and are avoidable," said Troy Mouton, regional wage regulator for the Labor Department in New Orleans. "The Wage and Hour Division is committed to ensuring that employees receive the wages they've earned and that employers compete on a level playing field." The Louisiana Workforce Commission, the state-level labor department, also worked on the case as part of a task force set up two years ago to fight the problem of misclassified workers, according to LWC spokesman Michael Key. Dubbed "GAME ON," or Government Against Misclassified Employees Operational Network, the LWC conducts audits and works with the federal agency and the Internal Revenue Service to gather tips and leads about abuses. A man accused of sexually assaulting three women over nearly a decade in New Orleans will avoid a lengthy prison term under a plea agreement he reached with prosecutors on Monday. Instead, Rochelle Smith Jr. will be freed within months and required to register as a sex offender for the next 25 years. Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office said problems with victim cooperation forced prosecutors to enter into plea deal negotiations. All three victims approved of the deal, according to Cannizzaro's office. Smith, 42, pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual battery and two counts of second-degree kidnapping. He originally was charged with first-degree rape. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Criminal District Court Judge Robin Pittman sentenced Smith to two years in prison, with credit for time served. He has been in jail since Aug. 2, 2017, so he likely will be released quickly. The state Department of Corrections has yet to calculate his release date. Smith was charged with raping women in 2007, 2015 and 2016. Authorities said DNA connected him to all three attacks. 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 In one incident, a homeless woman accused Smith of beating her with a glass bottle, choking her and raping her in an abandoned building in New Orleans East over the course of several hours, according to a nola.com article. Defense attorney Jim Williams, who represented Smith along with Jeff Hufft, said his client maintained that all three encounters were consensual. "They did the best that they could with what they had," Williams said of the prosecution. "Of course, we're faced with a situation where (Smith's) looking at three life sentences plus 80 years in jail. Sometimes a lot of times you take a guilty plea to something you didn't do because it's in your best interest. And that's what we did." Assistant District Attorneys Arthur Mitchell IV and Kevin Guillory prosecuted the case. A New Orleans judge said Tuesday he will allow a man accused of a role in a jail inmates cocaine overdose death to go free on bail after prosecutors repeatedly delayed putting him on trial. Ad hoc Criminal District Court Judge Dennis Waldron chopped Bradley Brights bail from $500,000 to $5,000 the latter being the amount his mother said she could raise. Bright has spent more than two years in jail since his May 1, 2017 arrest. Bright was one of two inmates charged in connection with the Feb. 22, 2017 death of Colby Crawford, the 23-year-old who overdosed on cocaine in the lock-up. The Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office said that Darrell Fuller supplied Crawford and several other inmates with the drug. Fuller was charged with second-degree murder under a state law that allows for homicide charges against drug suppliers. Bright was charged with obstruction of justice. The Sheriffs Office said that after the overdose, he ordered Crawfords cellmate to hand over remaining, unused cocaine. 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 Prosecutors amended the charge against Bright to possession of contraband in a penal institution in February, but his bail remained set at $500,000. Over Brights two years in jail, prosecutors had requested eight continuances of trial dates, Waldron said. His attorney had requested one delay because she was in trial elsewhere, and the court had pushed the date back once on its own accord. The trial was set again for this week, but prosecutors said that a key expert witness could not travel from St. Louis because she is late in her pregnancy. They declined an offer from Waldron to have her testify via a video link. Fuller's attorney, Mark Vicknair, said he may file a motion to have his client released citing violations of his right to a speedy trial, as Bright did. That motion could be moot if prosecutors agree to a plea agreement. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Dawkins said her office would give word by Thursday on a potential deal. Finding that former Orleans Parish Juvenile Court Judge Yolanda King lied about living in New Orleans on election paperwork, the Louisiana Supreme Court on Monday formally suspended her from the practice of law. But the high court backdated its one-year suspension to March 2016. Combined with a plea deal she quietly reached with state Attorney General Jeff Landry's office, that could set the stage for King to rejoin the profession as soon as she pays the costs of the legal discipline process. If she does, it would represent a return to grace of sorts. King won an upset victory for a Juvenile Court judgeship in May 2013; it was her fifth race for the bench. But less than a year later, she was indicted on charges that she lied about living in New Orleans when she actually had a home in Slidell. The state Supreme Court suspended King from presiding over cases. In November 2015, a jury convicted her on felony counts of filing false public records and violating the state election code. An ad hoc judge spared her jail time, and King appealed her conviction. Faced with that legal challenge, in December 2017 Landrys office agreed to let King instead plead guilty to a misdemeanor. The plea deal attracted no public notice. Records of the case have since vanished from the Orleans Parish Criminal District Courts online case search, which could mean that King had her conviction expunged, or wiped from the public record. 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 A Landry spokesman refused to answer questions about the plea agreement. King could not be reached for comment Tuesday. At her 2015 trial, King said she was a legitimate New Orleans resident and the victim of political payback for daring to run against a candidate favored by District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro. But New Orleans prosecutors said they had recused themselves and handed the case off to the attorney general ahead of her indictment. In March 2016, the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed formal charges of attorney misconduct against King through the state legal discipline process, which is separate from the criminal legal system. The Supreme Court said that after the plea agreement in state court, King admitted committing a criminal act and lying. King said her actions should be balanced against the fact that she was the sole caretaker for her mother and brother, and that she had been unemployed since December 2015. The Louisiana Attorney Discipline Board said her issues with her personal family life had no bearing on her choice to falsify documents, and recommended her suspension for a year plus the requirement that she pay the costs of the disciplinary process. The Supreme Court, which rules on attorney discipline recommendations, gave King a one-year suspension backdated to March 14, 2016, the date she was placed on interim suspension. The retroactive suspension means that King is now free to apply to practice law again. 'Our Celestial Empire possesses all things in prolific abundance and lacks no product within its borders. There is therefore no need to import the manufactures of outside barbarians in exchange for our own produce." Those were the terse words of China's Qianlong Emperor in a letter to King George III before a 1793 British diplomatic mission, which, it is fair to say, was not a startling success. Apple chief Tim Cook has strongly opposed Donald Trump's aggressive actions against China on trade. Credit:Bloomberg Circumstances may have changed and it is the US, not Britain, that is furrowing brows in Beijing these days. But very similar sentiments were expressed this week by the founder of China's biggest private company, Huawei, in a response to Donald Trump's latest gambit - to blacklist the company in an escalating US-China trade war. Ren Zhengfei said the US government's actions to stop American companies from doing business with Huawei "underestimate our capabilities" to go it alone and would have "no impact". As Donald Trump, the US President, ratchets up the pressure, many things are in flux. Some are wondering whether the world may be stumbling into a new Cold War over access to emerging new technologies. Others are asking how Huawei, the world's biggest manufacturer of telecoms equipment and second largest producer of smartphones, will be able to source crucial components and software - from advanced US chipsets produced by Qualcomm and Intel to licences for Google's Android operating system installed on its devices. Loading After two profitable quarters in late 2018, it seemed the time had come for Musk to buckle down and make good on his promise to deliver a mass-market car efficiently and profitably. Then came the first quarter from hell. Tesla's financial condition has only deteriorated since then. Musk has responded on two tracks: he's watching every penny of expense, while talking up a series of projects with varying degrees of likely completion - from a new Model Y crossover to a robo-taxi service he employed to pitch a recent share and bond sale. In the past, such products, like the Tesla semi, while derided by critics as "vehicular vapourware", have managed to boost the share price. No more. Although Ives said he did not believe Tesla was on the brink of bankruptcy, he said the company was headed toward a cash crisis without another capital raising, even after the $US2 billion it raised from share and convertible bonds sold earlier this month. Loading "Demand has been extremely disappointing this year," Ives said. The Tesla story has shifted from "glass half full to glass half empty". Patience, he said, "is wearing thin". The grim situation was laid bare in March, when Tesla turned in a disastrous first quarter. At a time when the company should have been ramping toward the "exponential growth" long promised by Musk, car revenue was down 41 per cent, leading to a $US702-million net loss and $US640-million negative operating cash flow. While cash on hand fell to $US2.2 billion at the end of the quarter, what many analysts saw as a dangerously low level, Musk raised some more. On the May 3 call about that share-and-bond deal, Musk told investors, "We don't expect to spend this capital. We expect to fund our activity out of our growing cash flow" as a "buffer" to a possible recession or car industry downturn. But he revealed a different use for that cash - day-to-day expenses - in a cost-cutting memo to employees on Thursday that prompted the shareprice smack-down. Musk wrote that the money "actually only gives us approximately 10 months at the first-quarter burn rate to achieve breakeven". Loading Hence, his edict to "examine every expenditure at Tesla no matter how small, and be sure it is critical". Tesla's chief financial officer will sign every page of outgoing expenses, Musk said, and "I will personally review and sign every 10th page," adding: "This is hardcore." Meanwhile, the market appears to be taking a more sceptical view of what Ives calls Tesla's "sci-fi projects". The robo-taxi idea took a big hit last week when federal safety regulators said Tesla's Autopilot driver-assist system was turned on 10 seconds before a Tesla in Florida drove under a semitrailer in March, slicing off the roof of the car and decapitating the driver. That's the second time that's happened with Autopilot engaged. T. Rowe Price, once one of Tesla's largest investors, announced in government filings last week that it had cut its Tesla stake by 81 per cent in the first quarter, further pressuring Tesla's share premium. To remain an ongoing concern, Tesla must sell enough cars with a high enough profit margin to keep the lights on, never mind expanding into other product categories. Either that or raise yet more capital. As it is, Tesla is paying a rising price for capital. Bonds due in 2025 that carry a 5.3 per cent coupon reached more than 9 per cent yield last week, which, according to Bloomberg, is well above the average yield for a company with the same rating. And as time goes on, capital may become even more expensive for Tesla. That puts heavy pressure on boosting sales while further cutting costs. In the first quarter, Tesla delivered 63,000 cars. Musk forecasts 90,000 for the second quarter. Most analysts predict more than 63,000 but less than 90,000, but with lower average selling prices as the lesser-priced Model 3 replaces sales of older models. On the cost-cutting front, Tesla has already pushed research and development and capital spending towards historical lows. Some of Tesla's biggest investors have been lowering their stakes in the company. Credit:Bloomberg Few are predicting cash will flow at the volume Tesla needs. The only hope is that sales pick up dramatically in the second half of the year. While Ives has switched from optimism to pessimism, joining a growing roster of Tesla critics and short sellers, some company champions are hanging in. Ross Gerber, a longtime Tesla bull and founder of the Santa Monica investment firm Gerber Kawasaki, has tempered his enthusiasm, but he said he still believes Tesla can prevail if Musk makes changes such as bringing in a chief operating officer. Healthscope shareholders voted overwhelmingly in favour of Brookfield Asset Management's $4.4 billion cash bid for Australia's largest private hospital operator. More than 99.9 per cent of votes were cast in favour of Brookfield's $2.465 per share offer at a scheme meeting on Wednesday. The vote ended a takeover battle for Healthscope which began in May last year with a $4.1 billion indicative offer from the BGH-AustralianSuper consortium and has attracted plenty of controversy along the way. Chairman Paula Dwyer at the Healthscope shareholder meeting at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne today. Credit:Wayne Taylor "The Brookfield proposal is the culmination of an extensive review by your board of a range of alternatives to maximise value from your investment in Healthscope," the company chairman Paula Dwyer told investors. The federal government has swiftly renewed its hardline approach to the energy sector, threatening tough action against power retailers who fail to ensure they have adequate supply for households they are serving. Asked about the looming closure of AGL's coal-fired Liddell power station in 2022, which will remove 1680 megawatts from the grid, Energy Minister Angus Taylor warned on Wednesday that the government was prepared to utilise new laws to ensure reliable power supply and prevent blackouts and brownouts. AGL plans to shut the Liddell coal-fired power station. Credit:Liam Driver Mr Taylor said the Retailer Reliability Obligation, which takes effect from July 1, required energy retailers to "meet the needs of customers with enough despatchable, 24/7 power" and provides for stiff financial penalties if they do not. "That means Liddell will either have to be replaced or extended its life extended one or the other," he told Sky News. "Because if it doesn't they'll be in breach of this obligation a new set of rules that came into place, was agreed to, in December last year and will be in place by July 1." US President Donald Trump's escalating trade war against China has drawn plenty of historical parallels. The Chinese like to invoke the 19th-century Opium Wars and the national humiliation that followed. In the US, the comparison is increasingly to the Cold War against the Soviet Union or the 1980s trade wars against Japan. Ask Douglas Irwin, author of Clashing Over Commerce: A History of US Trade Policy, however, and he argues the most accurate comparison from an American perspective is the War of 1812. Commander Trump: A look back at the War of 1812 bodes badly for anyone hoping for a quick resolution of the trade war with China. Credit:Bloomberg That conflict was born out of a trade war (a British embargo of France) and fought at least partly as a trade war (a British blockade of America). It also yielded another trade war. After years of negotiation, Hamilton: The American Musical is coming to Sydney. The show, written and directed by Broadway wunderkind Lin-Manuel Miranda, has been the subject of intense competition, with Melbourne also vying to host the premiere season. In the end, Sydney won out, and it will host the premiere at the Lyric Theatre from February 2021. It has been a four-year journey for the show from Broadway to Sydney. It began with a text message from theatrical legend Cameron Mackintosh to Australian producer Michael Cassel and ended with a personal intervention from Premier Gladys Berejiklian and a successful negotiation with the New South Wales government for financial investment. "Cameron suggested I see the show and, like everyone who sees it I think, I loved it immediately," Mr Cassel said. Sydney has won a fiercely fought theatrical battle in Australia to secure the premiere of the award-winning musical Hamilton. The show, written and directed by Broadway wunderkind Lin-Manuel Miranda, is one of the hottest theatrical properties in the world and has been the subject of intense competition, with Melbourne and Brisbane also vying to win the musical. Hamilton will premiere in Australia in 2021. Hamilton will premiere at the Lyric Theatre in Sydney in February 2021, New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Wednesday. Thank you to everyone in Australia whos been asking for Hamilton. Its on its way and we cant wait, Miranda said in a statement. There are some things I dont quite get about Fleabag like how a show about grief and guilt can be so damned funny, and how a story about failed relationships can be so uplifting. Its a puzzle. In its second season, Fleabag (Amazon Prime) picks up "371 days, 19 hours and 26 minutes" after the first ended. Our unnamed heroine (Phoebe Waller-Bridge) is still running a guinea-pig themed cafe but now it's thriving rather than failing. She has also sworn off getting smashed and using sex as a way of avoiding emotions. Or so she says. That's not to say she's got everything under control; when we first see her, blood is streaming from her nose. She's in a bathroom, with another woman on the floor, also with a bloodied nose. And then Fleabag, because that's what we're meant to call her, turns to the camera and breaks the fourth wall and says: "This is a love story." And so it is, over six beautifully weighted episodes that alternate from hilarious to heartbreaking and back again. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Adani's proposed mine in Queensland has long been a lightning rod for division over coal-mining and climate change in Australia. It is also being named as a big reason for Labor's lost seats in Queensland amid the Morrison government's upset re-election. Queensland's Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says everyone's "had a gutful" of the issue and she wants it sorted out and has finally set a June 13 deadline. So what's next for this controversial project and what are the implications of it finally going ahead? Adani's Abbot Point coal terminal near Bowen on the Queensland coastline would likely need to be expanded to accommodate the company's Carmichael coal mine if it is developed. Credit:Glenn Hunt First, what exactly is the project? The Carmichael mine, named after a nearby river, is the most viable of nine coal projects earmarked for the Galilee Basin. The basin is about the size of Victoria and contains one of the world's largest untapped deposits of thermal coal the type used to make electricity. The mine, which is proposed by Adani Mining (a subsidiary of India's Adani Group), is meant to be a keystone project for the Indian company's so-called "pit-to-plug" strategy of owning coal mines to feed its power plants in India. Adani also runs ports in India and has other interests, including renewable energy. Its chairman and founder, Gautam Adani, was the 10th richest Indian in 2018, worth $17 billion ($US11.9 billion), Forbes reported. He has a poor environmental record. Advertisement Queensland is no stranger to coal mining, of course. The Bowen Basin, which runs along eastern Queensland into NSW, contains about two-thirds of the state's coal reserve, including the higher value (and harder to substitute) coking coal, used in steel making. Still, the nearby Galilee's "greenfield" nature is attractive for new entrants. Beyond Adani, other billionaires are in the mix, with Gina Rinehart backing GVK's proposed mine and would-be senator Clive Palmer seeking to advance his Waratah Coal venture. If all nine proposed Galilee ventures get going, output could climb to 320 million tonnes of coal a year. That's equivalent to expanding global seaborne coal trade by a third, says Tim Buckley, a director of the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA). The basin's distance from the coast and its moderate quality are key reasons why the region's coal hasn't been dug up before now. Its viability remains challenged. Galilee coal has a relatively high ash and low energy content for Australian coal, he says. The mining industry, though, says Galilee coal is up to 5800 kilocalories per kilogram, better than an average Indian energy content of as much as 4600 kcal/kg. The Climate Council estimates those mines could lead to an additional 705 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted per year when the coal is burnt. That amount of pollution is equivalent to 1.3 times the annual emissions of Australia although how much is additional depends on the amount by which total coal use increases rather than Galilee bumping other suppliers out of the market. Advertisement Mr Adani plans to ship coal from the Galilee Basin to India, where his companies make up the largest private electricity supplier led by the "ultra mega" Mundra power plant, with more than 4000 MW capacity. Adani is betting on forecasts, such as by BP, that India's power demand will roughly triple between 2017 and 2040. The Queensland Resources Council notes International Energy Agency estimates point to India's coal-fired power plant capacity doubling by 2040. The Queensland government, meanwhile, has downplayed reports that another project in the Galilee Basin, the $6.7-billion China Stone "mega coal mine", next to Carmichael, was in doubt, with thousands of jobs at risk. As a new coal-mining province, the Galilee Basin would open up new mining jobs. Credit:Peter Braig How many jobs would the Adani mine create? Adani says it will generate more than 1500 direct jobs on the mine and rail project which would transport the coal 200 kilometres to another rail line, from where it would go to Queensland's northern-most coal port, Abbot Point with about 6750 indirect jobs in towns such as Rockhampton, Townsville, Mackay and the Isaac region. Advertisement The project's economic impact would be multiplied if other Galilee mines open up. But the Australia Institute, an opponent of the Carmichael Mine, has noted how industry analysts expect Galilee coal to displace demand for coal elsewhere in Australia. It says Galilee Basin output of 150 million tonnes a year would cut coal volumes from the NSW Hunter Valley by 116 million tonnes by 2035 something the minerals lobby has typically had little to say about. What's been the hold-up? Adani paid $500 million plus a future coal royalty stream in 2010 to the now disgraced Linc Energy for its Carmichael coal tenements of some 2.3 billion tonnes of coal. The following year it promised to start coal production from 2014. Adani failed to find banks willing to support its plan for the $16.5 billion "mega mine" that would have produced as much as 60 million tonnes of coal a year. It also hit a series of regulatory and legal challenges, both at the state and federal level, and the project is now a smaller first-stage version that Adani will fund itself at $2 billion. Melissa Price has approved the environmental aspects of the Carmichael coal mine but many federal approvals are still needed. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The April 9 environmental approval by federal Environment Minister Melissa Price just days before the election was called removed one key barrier to the project. Advertisement But there are still 15 plans needing federal approvals, eight of which require the nod before the mine's operations can begin. Adani's not done with the courts either. Its lawyers are fending off appeals against the mine by the Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners Council, which will be heard in the Federal Court on May 27 and 28. And the Environmental Defenders Office in Queensland has hearing dates set for June 27-28 for its challenge on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation of Minister Price's handling of the approval process for the North Galilee Water Scheme, which is meant to funnel 12.5 billion litres of water a year along a 110-kilometre pipeline to the Adani and other mines from the Suttor River. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk thinks the community is "fed up" with the Adani approval process. Credit:AAP What's happening now? The blowtorch for approval is firmly turned on Annastacia Palaszczuk's Queensland Labor government. Queensland has granted Adani most of what it needs to start building the mine, such as approving a water licence that grants the Adani mine unlimited access to groundwater for 60 years. Advertisement Car companies will urge the re-elected Morrison government to help drive investment in a vast network of electric-vehicle charging stations, with some pushing the idea of a dedicated "future fund". Electric vehicles (EVs) became a prominent election issue after Labor unveiled an ambitious target for 50 per cent of all new car sales to be electric by 2030. Despite Labor's loss, the auto sector still projects that the move to battery-powered vehicles will drastically accelerate in the coming decade, with many of the world's biggest car makers now racing to enter the industry. A lack of public charging points has been a barrier to a greater uptake of electric vehicles. Political efforts, such as Labor's, to drive a greater take-up of electric vehicles have been welcomed by automobile groups frustrated at Australia's lack of progress in moving away from combustion engines. But industry figures warn there appears to be a "lack of forethought as to how Australians are supposed to charge these vehicles". "Inevitably, the uptake of electric vehicles by Australians over the next decade will require major investments in charging infrastructure and the energy network," said Geoff Gwilym, chief executive of the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC). The architect of the Labor Party's unsuccessful election campaign is being urged to stand down with one senior figure describing national secretary Noah Carroll as "dead as a dodo bird." Mr Carroll is being criticised for two major failings - commissioning Newspoll as the party's pollster and failing to grasp the strength of the Coalition's attack on Labor's franking credits policy. "He's extinct before he's dead," one Labor MP said of Mr Carroll. Labor's national secretary, Noah Carroll, is being blamed for the party's unsuccessful election campaign. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Another MP said when colleagues tried to tell Labor's campaign headquarters in Sydney how bad voters' reactions to the proposed franking credits changes were, they were told not to worry because polling showed people who were against the changes were not Labor voters. One Nation candidate Stuart Bonds is the first to admit he was surprised by how well he did in the NSW safe Labor seat of Hunter. Mr Bonds' only other campaign experience was an unsuccessful run for school captain in primary school. He was working full time as a plant mechanic during his "eight weeks, max" campaign, which was so strapped for cash he was handing out flyers rather than posting them. One Nation candidate Stuart Bonds with wife Sini Ariell and daughter Penny. He won more than 20 per cent of the primary vote in Hunter. And yet, with more than 80 per cent of the vote counted, Mr Bonds has won almost 22 per cent of the primary vote in Hunter, giving Labor incumbent Joel Fitzgibbon a very sweaty few days. Mr Bonds, who lives on a farm near Singleton, says One Nation state MP Mark Latham called him on Sunday to congratulate him on leader Pauline Hanson's behalf. Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of Huawei, at an interview with the media in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, May 21, 2019. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Highlights of remarks by Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of Huawei The US government's 90-day extension "doesn't mean much". We can make chips as good as those made by US companies, but it does not mean that we will not buy chips from them. Huawei's 5G plan will not be affected by the US ban. Don't fan nationalist sentiment. Ren Zhengfei, founder and CEO of Huawei, said on Tuesday that the US government's 90-day extension "doesn't mean much", adding that the company was ready to deal with the ban. Ren's comments came after the US Commerce Department said on Monday that it gave Huawei a 90-day license to purchase US technologies to maintain existing networks and provide software updates to existing Huawei handsets. That marks a delay of the ban on US technology exports to Huawei. Homes in Sydney's west and north-west have been showered with bullets in two separate drive-by shootings overnight, and police are now investigating whether the incidents could be connected. Officers were called to a house on Yukka Road in Regents Park shortly before 1am on Wednesday, following reports that shots were fired into the property and a car parked in the front. About 20 minutes later, police were called to a house on Charles Street, Ryde, with a similar report of shots fired into the house and a car. No injuries were reported from the Regents Park shooting, while none of the seven occupants inside the Ryde home was injured. A man was stabbed in the leg by two robbers who emerged from a car and approached him as he was walking along a street in Surrey Hills, in Melbourne's east. Police are looking for the men, who stole a bag from the victim before returning to their car and fleeing. Police have been told a silver Holden Commodore sedan pulled up alongside the 31-year-old victim as he walked west along Whitehorse Road just before 11.40pm on Thursday May 9. Police say two men got out of the backseats of the silver Holden Commodore Sedan. Credit:Victoria Police Two men got out of the back seat of the car and started yelling at the victim, as the sedan drove a few metres down the road. And that's a wrap from us this morning here at #MelbourneExpress. We're just hearing about a fire in Melbourne's north. Black smoke and fire near Campbellfield. We'll keen an eye and ear on that and bring you news as soon as we hear more. The Western Ring Road is still struggling Altona-bound after that multi-car crash, with big delays stretching a long, long way back. Try to avoid it if you can. And authorities are still sorting out the power pole that was brought down in an early-morning crash in Caroline Springs. We're heading for a top of 21 today. Enjoy the sunshine, and we'll see you tomorrow. Frontline police say the trial of Richmond's safe injecting room has led to a spike in crime and mental health issues in the area. Local officers were surveyed by the Police Association, which has proposed moving the injecting room to an industrial precinct because of the centre's impact on crime since it opened in July last year. However, Police Minister Lisa Neville said crime rates had actually fallen since the trial began, which has triggered a fierce backlash from some local residents and opponents of softer drug laws. Discarded needles in Richmond. Credit:ninevms Ms Neville's claim is supported by recent data from the Crime Statistic Agency that shows the total number of offences in Richmond dropped from 2529 to 2198 during the first six months of the trial. A former Western Australian police sergeant has been charged with assaulting a man he was arresting. Police allege the 45-year-old assaulted a man in Fremantle on September 3, 2017. According to a Corruption and Crime Commission report released earlier this year, the man had been kicked out of a pub by a bouncer and was arrested after he allegedly refused to provide identification to police. The CCC report claimed when the man tried to light a cigarette, one officer tried to take it away and a struggle ensued. The man was wrestled to the ground and the officers used "empty hand tactics" to subdue him, including the sergeant striking him multiple times on the head. A Perth man who sought out online sex shows of young girls in the Philippines was on the verge of flying out to the country just 16 hours before his arrest, it can be revealed for the first time. Hugh Cameron, 58, was due to stand trial in the WA District Court earlier this year but the married father of one pleaded guilty to seven charges of intending to procure a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia. Cameron's offending was made known to the AFP by the FBI. Credit:AAP Last month he was was jailed for six years. Now, for the first time, the investigators who eventually tracked Cameron down have revealed how he was arrested just in time before he was due to leave Australia. Jakarta: Indonesian police fired water cannon and rubber bullets at protesters setting fires and trying to breach barbed wire barricades on Wednesday as demonstrations over the outcome of the presidential election hit the capital for a second night. Police in riot gear, foreground, stand as demonstrators run from tear gas during a protest in Jakarta, Indonesia. Credit:Bloomberg The riots followed an announcement on Tuesday by the General Election Commission (KPU) confirming that President Joko Widodo had beaten his challenger, former general Prabowo Subianto, in the April 17 poll. Joko won more than 85 million votes of 154 million cast, but retired general Prabowo has alleged "massive cheating and irregularities" and refused to concede defeat. Bondurant School of High Performance Driving is Purchased by Stig Investments; Sponsorship Continues with Dodge//SRT New Owners Plan for Future Enhancements and Growth CHANDLER, Ariz. a May 20, 2019 a The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, Inc. has new owners. Stig Investments, Inc., a group of entrepreneurs who are racing enthusiasts and automobile collectors, announced today it has finalized its purchase of the performance racing school. In conjunction with the purchase, the new owners and FCA US LLC announced that the school will continue as aThe Official Performance Driving School of Dodge//SRT Since 2015, the schoolas fleet of nearly 100 vehicles is exclusively Dodge//SRT products, including Dodge Challenger and Charger SRT Hellcat models, the 840-horsepower Challenger SRT Demon a the industryas first and only street-legal production drag car and most powerful muscle car ever a as well as the Viper ACR. In the past 30 days, weave solidified key pieces of the Bondurant experience that will ensure the success and growth of the school,a??? said Bruce Belser, newly appointed CEO of Bondurant School of High Performance Driving. aFrom securing the FCA partnership to retaining our passionate team members, including renowned instructors Mike McGovern and Danny Bullock, and signing a new 10-year lease on the property, we plan to continue to deliver the ultimate guest experience and a best-in-class work environment for employees.a??? Belser is one of the three investors in the Stig group and is a two-time Bondurant graduate. He is a successful entrepreneur having founded several businesses, and has served as a corporate pilot, Delta Airlines commercial pilot, fighter pilot and U.S. commander in the U.S. Air Force. Our continued Dodge//SRT partnership with the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving gives our passionate customers the opportunity to learn how to get the optimum performance from their new vehicles in a controlled environment,a??? said Mark Malmstead, head of Dodge//SRT marketing and communications. aTogether, we have the perfect setting for a fully immersive driving experience like no other.a??? New Dodge//SRT owners who qualify can register for a class by calling 800-998-1110. All other visitors to the Bondurant School of High Performance Driving can register for training atA Bondurant.com/dragracing About Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving The Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving, located in Phoenix, Ariz., is the only purpose-built driver training facility for performance enthusiasts and the largest driver training center of its kind in the world. At the heart of the 100-acre racing facility is a 3-mile, 26-turn, and 11-multi-configuration track. The school maintains over 100 race-prepared vehicles, sedans, SUVs, and open wheel formula cars. For more information about the school, visit www.Bondurant.com or call (800) 842-RACE. About Dodge//SRT Dodge//SRT offers a complete lineup of performance vehicles that stand out in their own segments. Dodge is Americaas mainstream performance brand and SRT is positioned as the ultimate performance halo of the Dodge brand, together creating a complete and balanced performance brand with one vision and one voice. more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge, who founded the brand in 1914. Their influence continues today. New for 2019, the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is possessed by the Demon. Its 797-horsepower supercharged HEMIA high-output engine makes it the most powerful, quickest and fastest muscle car reaching 0-60 miles per hour (mph) in 3.4 seconds and the fastest GT production car with a A-mile elapsed time (ET) of 10.8 seconds at 131 mph. It also reaches a new top speed of 203 mph. Joining the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye is the 2019 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat with its more powerful 717-horsepower engine, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack Widebody, which features fender flares from the SRT Hellcat Widebody and adds 3.5 inches of width to Scat Packas footprint, as well as the new Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320. Infused with exclusive drag strip technology from the iconic Dodge Challenger SRT Demon, the Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 is a drag-oriented, street-legal muscle car and a blank canvas for the serious grassroots drag racer. The 2019 Dodge Durango SRT, Americaas fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV with a best-in-class tow rating of 8,700 lbs. fills out the brandsa performance lineup. These visceral performance models join a 2019 brand lineup that includes the Durango, Grand Caravan, Journey, Charger and Challenger a a showroom that offers performance at every price point. SEE ALSO: Henny Hemmes Champion Race Driver, Automotive Journalist and Our Friend Passes Away - Rust Zacht Henny Rust Zacht ATLANTA--If you give a girl a toy car, would she imagine winning a race or would she trade it in for a tea set? According to researchers, most young girls would go for the tea set, thanks to beliefs formed at an early age that some toys are meant for boys and others for girls. To challenge these perceptions, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) and Mattel have teamed up to show children particularly girls that they can aspire to be and do anything they desire when there are no limits. Tackling the issue of gender stereotypes, Mercedes-Benz will give thousands of girls across the nation a die-cast Matchbox replica of the Mercedes-Benz 220SE commemorating Ewy Rosqvists historic Argentinian Grand Prix performance. It was in this car that she shattered world records and the notion that women could not compete. Mercedes-Benz has a rich history of celebrating women trailblazers dating back to Bertha Benz, wife of the inventor of the automobile. Bertha bucked convention and took the Patent Motorwagen on the first-ever, long-distance drive proving that this strange-looking contraption was a viable mode of transportation. This year to celebrate International Womens History Month, MBUSA released a short film Ewy Rosqvist: An Unexpected Champion. Through Ewys story, we saw an opportunity to inspire young girls to play outside the box and imagine all the different opportunities open to them without the restrictions of traditional stereotypes, explained Mark Aikman, general manager of marketing services for MBUSA. We realized that these pioneering women from our past could serve as valuable role models for young girls today and have a positive impact on how they see their future. This led us to collaborate with Matchbox to create a tangible reminder for girls that there are no restrictions on their tomorrow. Can a tiny car really change the way our children see themselves? Mercedes-Benz is betting on it, and they put it to the test. In the short clip, No Limits, the company captures young girls reacting to an assortment of toys. When handed a toy car, the girls dismiss it as being for boys. But after seeing the short film about Ewy Rosqvist, each of the girls has a visible attitude shift. This mirrors research suggesting that when young girls are exposed to strong positive messages about their gender, it helps to reduce the impact of stereotypes. (For those who have the opportunity to encourage and mentor young girls, check out this discussion guide. The toy cars will be will be gifted by MBUSA and Mattel/Matchbox (as part of the Dream Gap Foundation) to thousands of young girls through a non-profit partner and sold in stores nationwide beginning in 2020. Proceeds from these sales will be used to make and distribute additional cars. In addition, a teaching toolkit will be provided. No Limits was produced by R/GA (NYC), MBUSAs partner for its social media platforms and digital campaigns. About Ewy Rosqvist Ewy Rosqvist is a Swedish racing champion who in 1962 made history for being the first woman to enter and win one of the toughest rallies in the world. After watching her husband race for years, she decided to take it up herself and entered the Argentinian Grand Prix a grueling three-day journey across rough terrain. Ewy was ridiculed for entering the race and told she wouldnt be able to complete the course. Not only did she finish, she went on to be the first person to win every stage of the race, set a speed record and beat the previous champion by over three hours. About Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 15 model lines ranging from the sporty A-Class sedan to the flagship S-Class and the Mercedes-AMG GT R. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans and smart products in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbvans.com and www.smartusa.com. About Mattel Mattel is a leading global childrens entertainment company that specializes in design and production of quality toys and consumer products. We create innovative products and experiences that inspire, entertain and develop children through play. We engage consumers through our portfolio of iconic franchises, including Barbie, Hot Wheels, American Girl, Fisher-Price, Thomas & Friends and MEGA, as well as other popular brands that we own or license in partnership with global entertainment companies. Our offerings include film and television content, gaming, music and live events. We operate in 40 locations and sell products in more than 150 countries in collaboration with the worlds leading retail and technology companies. Since its founding in 1945, Mattel is proud to be a trusted partner in exploring the wonder of childhood and empowering kids to reach their full potential. Visit us online at www.mattel.com. Hitachi Automotive Systems' EV Inverter Adopted for the e-tron, Audi's First Mass Production Electric Vehicle A Green-vehicle article for car shoppers concerned with fuel economy, hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles and gasoline and diesel exhaust emissions TOKYO, May, 17 2019; Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. today announced that its electric vehicle (EV) inverter has been adopted by Audi for its first mass production EV, the e-tron, which went on sale in Europe from March of this year. With tightened environmental regulations around the world, many countries are driving for greater adoption of electric vehicles. This has led to the demand for more efficient and higher-output electric motors, inverters, and other electric powertrain systems that will contribute to high performance EVs. The Hitachi Automotive Systems inverter adopted by Audi was specifically developed and designed for EVs, and provides high power density output that helps to maximize motor performance. Specifically, this inverter is equipped with a compact, high-efficiency power module with double-sided cooling and a built-in next-generation insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT). The power density output of this inverter has been increased 160% compared to the previous generation of inverters. The Audi e-tron is a full-sized SUV equipped with dual electric motors and an electronic all-wheel drive system that provides superior driving performance. Hitachi Automotive Systems provides the inverters that support the electric powertrain. Hitachi Automotive Systems is committed to assisting the greater adoption of electric vehicles by automotive manufacturers, and will contribute to global environmental conservation by continually enhancing our electric motors, inverters, and other electric powertrain systems. The actual inverter used in the Audi e-tron will be on display at the Automotive Engineering Exposition 2019 Yokohama, hosted by the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, at Pacifico Yokohama from Wednesday May 22 until Friday May 24. About Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company is engaged in the development, manufacture, sales and services of automotive components, transportation related components, industrial machines and systems, and offers a wide range of automotive systems including engine powertrain systems, electric powertrain systems and integrated vehicle control systems. Photo: Mark Peterson By the time New Yorks Stop the Bans protest was set to start on Tuesday evening, hundreds of people had gathered in Foley Square. It was striking to see the range of ages in protesters, who were there to stand in solidarity against a wave of extreme anti-abortion laws being passed throughout the country: teenagers furiously FaceTiming their friends, asking to meet up; a young mother and her toddler son wheeling a peaceful infant in a stroller; a septuagenarian woman slowly making her way around the square, a sign that read TRUST MIDWIVES hanging around her neck. Across the crowd, one woman held a banner aloft. I survived an illegal abortion in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1969, it read. Never again. The rally was one of over 400 throughout the country, quickly assembled by a coalition of reproductive-rights organizations after Alabama became the fourth state in three months to sign an unconstitutional abortion ban into law. The main event, which took place that afternoon in Washington, D.C., drew several presidential candidates, including Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker; in New York, a roster of notable local speakers exhorted the crowd to resist oppression in all forms. Most spoke in inspirational, general ways: We will never allow abortions to be criminalized again, exclaimed Gloria Allred. Roe v. Wade is there to protect women You must be there to protect Roe v. Wade! Photo: Mark Peterson The people on the ground were more focused on specifics. Everyone was filled with rage over the recent attacks on their rights, but it felt as though no one was seeking momentary catharsis; after years of bringing the same sorts of signs to protests, many seemed conscious of the fact that simply speaking out wasnt enough. I feel like were still screaming at the top of our lungs in order to be heard. Just because we can be everywhere doesnt mean that we are being seen. Its really, really frustrating, said Chaney Trotter, who had come with the fundraising group Women to the Front. She was dressed entirely in crimson, wielding an oversize coat hanger shed constructed out of plastic. Its infuriating that even with the force that weve become, were still not being heard by those very small groups of people that have power. Walking through the throngs of people, I found myself rapidly accumulating information on how to organize going forward: socialist feminist literature, invitations to other reproductive-justice events, a document titled Points of Attention for the Revolution that called for an actual overthrow of the electoral system. Trotter and I were interrupted mid-conversation by an organizer who wanted to know whether wed sign a petition demanding that New York become the first city to directly fund abortion care for anyone who needs it. After flipping to the final page, she realized she had already gathered so many signatures that there wasnt any space left. I think that Roe will be reversed. I think its going to be really fucking horrible, but I think they underestimate the anger of having rights taken away from people, Trotter said. Thats my optimism. I think it might get worse before it gets better, but I hope it will get better. Then she politely excused herself, saying she had a meeting for her womens-organizing group to get to. Photo: Mark Peterson I feel angry every time theres a new attack, said Deja Fox, a 19-year-old activist wearing a T-shirt printed with the phrase Hoes 4 healthcare in a florid, feminine font. It never gets numb for me. Im still angry, still. But I think you have to turn your anger active. I think the only way that Id get out of the reproductive-justice field is if there werent more things to fight for, but unfortunately I feel like that wont happen, Emily Odesser, another activist who is turning 19 in two days, chimed in. There will probably be things to fight for for the rest of our lives, said Fox. She paused briefly, then added, in a slow, deliberate tone: 2036 the first year shell be eligible to run for president. She marks off the calendar every day, Odesser said. Walking out of the protest shortly after sunset past a pregnant woman standing with her friends; a group in handmaid costumes mingling by a fountain; people still filing into the square in twos and threes, though the event had already officially ended my suspicions matched those of many others present. I was as certain as ever that things were going to get much worse before they got better. But I also felt, somehow, reassured by a pragmatic sort of hope: In ignoring our voices, those in power also overlook the motivating force of our anger. Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Photo: Mark Peterson Production Credits Many Thanks to Redux Pictures NYC My hope for it is that our kids will see thats going to be me one day; I can do this, Bowen Elementary art teacher Teri Clark said. She especially wants her current students to see her embrace the returning seniors. What I hope that they see is that as I high-five those kids and we embrace those kids that I stay connected with you. I will always be here for you. I will always be there. I will always be someone you can come back to to have conversation with or talk to. I hope that what they see is that no matter where theyre at that they can always come back, that were always there for them. Green Pakistan Program Punjab Job 2019 For Lahore Latest Green Pakistan Program Posts Lahore 2021 Government of The Punjab Green Pakistan Program required the services of experienced, strong and energetic person for the post of Naib Qasid BS-1 in Lahore. How to Apply on Green Pakistan Program Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error is possible. Error & omissions excepted. A Bryan man who has been arrested on several felony charges over the past two years was taken into custody earlier this week while free on a $195,000 bond. Police said Christian Juwan Nelson, 22, faces new charges connected to drug possession, illegally carrying a firearm and evading arrest. According to Bryan police, two officers stopped a vehicle Monday that made a left turn onto South College Avenue without the use of a turn signal. The officers spoke with the four occupants of the vehicle and could smell marijuana, a report notes. The cars driver, a 22-year-old woman, told police a marijuana roach could be found on the floorboard. Inside the car, police said they found two marijuana roaches and a handgun. The handgun was found in the back where Nelson had been sitting, a report notes. A backpack that Nelson claimed ownership of was located, and police said it contained a safe that held 44.6 grams of marijuana, 0.3 grams of methamphetamine, 33 Xanax pills, a digital scale and Nelsons drivers license. When police attempted to arrest Nelson, he struggled, authorities said. He is charged with possession of methamphetamine, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in a state jail, and misdemeanor marijuana, Xanax and gun charges. He remains in the Brazos County Jail on $100,000 bond. The driver of the vehicle was charged with misdemeanor marijuana and gun charges but has since made bail. Former College Station Fire Chief R.B. Alley III is back at work as the McKinney Fire Departments assistant chief of operations. Alley, who retired as chief in College Station in 2013 after eight years in the role, begins his new job June 3, according to a McKinney Fire Department Facebook post. The Virginia native returned to his home state after leaving College Station to become chief of the Newport News Fire Department. He retired from that position in 2018, according to the Newport News Daily Press. Alley has more than 40 years of firefighting experience. A toddler was found dead in the backseat of a day care van at Ewing's Love & Hope Preschool and Academy in Florida on May 22, 2019. (Google Street view of Jan. 2019) 5-Month-Old Didnt Reach Day Care, Mother Found Her Dead in Van A mother who sent her 5-month-old to a child care facility in Florida didnt find her there but instead discovered her dead in the day care van a few hours later on May 22. Jacksonville Sheriffs Office told The First Coast News that on Wednesday the mother called the Ewings Love & Hope Preschool and Academy at 5868 Lenox Ave. to check how her child was doing. The day care employee told the mother that she has not seen the child. The worried mother then rushed to the child care facility and found her daughter at the backseat of the day care van. #JSO Homicide Unit is on scene at a daycare in the 5800 block of Lenox Avenue in reference to a deceased infant that was left in a van. Media will be addressed at 3:15 p.m. Jax Sheriffs Office (@JSOPIO) May 22, 2019 The Sheriffs Office told the media that the infant was likely on the backseat of the van from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the vehicle was parked there in the sun. The day care employee didnt know about it. The authorities said in the latest media release on Twitter that they dont know what the temperature was inside the van and there was no technology to determine that. The police confirmed that the baby died at 2:53 p.m. and that the first responders were unable to revive her. Efforts were made to resuscitate the infant and she was transported to the hospital, said the statement from the Sheriffs Office. Latest information released on the death of an infant child in the 5800 block of Lenox Avenue. There is no more information available at this time. Any further updates will be released via this Twitter account. https://t.co/BdvurcXZrd pic.twitter.com/Xu3PIhaO8B Jax Sheriffs Office (@JSOPIO) May 22, 2019 The day care has 14 children and nobody else was injured. The authorities said that the investigation is ongoing and the police are figuring out what charges should be filed and against whom. Homicide is investigating, interviewing those involved and will coordinate with the State Attorneys Office to determine the appropriate charges and file them as soon as possible, the Sheriffs Office said. The authorities said the death appears to be heat related. Everyone is reminded not to leave children, pets, or anything else alive in a vehicle in Florida this close to summer, the statement said. Hot Car Deaths According to NoHeatStroke.org, 803 children have died in the United States due to Pediatric Vehicular Heatstroke (PVH) since 1998 and all of these deaths were preventable. Explaining how the heatstroke deaths happen, the organization said: The atmosphere and the windows of a car are relatively transparent to the suns shortwave radiation (yellow in figure below) and are warmed little. However, this shortwave energy does heat objects that it strikes. For example, a dark dashboard, steering wheel or seat temperatures often are in the range of 180 to over 200 degrees F. Every year 38 children under the age of 15 die from heat stroke after being left in a vehicle, according to Injury Facts. In 2018, 52 children died after being left in a hot car. Research indicates that in more than half of these fatalities, the child was forgotten in the vehicle by a parent or caregiver, said the Injury Facts. The number of children who died in hot cars in 2019 has been 8, according to NoHeatStroke.org How do we arm our kids with information and empower them to #speakup #savingmyself #noheatstrokehttps://t.co/imja4ww6EF Eyez See You Baby (@eyez_see) May 18, 2019 Safety Recommendations Experts said a child should never be left unattended in a vehicle even for a few minutes. Parents should always lock the car and make sure children dont have any access to get inside. Parents should let children know that a car is not a place to play around. Parents and other caregivers need to be educated that a vehicle is not a babysitter or play area but it can easily become a tragedy, said NoHeatStroke.org The organization recommends that if parents find their child missing, they should first check the pool, then the car, including its trunk. An American Airlines plane sits on the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport, in Philadelphia, Pa., on Nov. 4, 2018. (Daniel Slim/AFP/Getty Images) American Airlines Sues Unions, Accusing Workers of Slowdown FORT WORTH, TexasAmerican Airlines is accusing its mechanics and their unions of conducting an illegal work slowdown to gain leverage in contract talks, and the airline is asking a federal judge to stop the activity. The airline says mechanics have caused about 900 cancellations or long delays since early February by taking an unusually long time to repair planes and by refusing to work overtime. On Monday, American filed a lawsuit in federal district court in Fort Worth against the Transport Workers Union and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which together represent Americans roughly 10,000 aircraft mechanics. American Airlines sues unions, accusing workers of slowdown > https://t.co/fiKhS2rk0G pic.twitter.com/AXH5eJLUGV NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) May 21, 2019 The president of the Transport Workers denied that workers are engaging in a slowdown. American Airlines is trying to punish us for doing exactly what we are supposed to do, which is ensure that there are safe aircraft in the air, said John Samuelsen. The last bargaining session occurred in late April in front of a federal mediator. Samuelsen said talks were stalled over pay, health care benefits and job security. Samuelsen said American is pushing to perform more maintenance work outside the United States, which he said could threaten the jobs of 6,000 mechanics. He said workers were willing to strike over the outsourcing plan. By federal law, airline workers cant legally strike until a mediator declares an impasse in negotiations. In its lawsuit, American said that it canceled 644 flights and delayed another 270 flights by at least two hours from Feb. 4 through May 13 because of unavailable planes, upsetting travel plans for 125,000 people. The airline said the slowdown will affect 3,400 passengers a day if it continues into summer. American said that until recently it never had a problem finding employees willing to work overtime. The conflict is similar to one between Southwest Airlines and its mechanics, who are represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association. The airline sued union officials over an alleged illegal slowdown in that case too. The two sides made up, however, after agreeing on a contract that gave workers 20% pay raises and bonuses. Negotiations lasted more than six years. United Airlines To Lay Off 100 In Houston, Outsource Jobs HOUSTONUnited Airlines says it will cut about 100 accounting jobs in Houston in July and shift the work to a contractor. The airline reported the layoffs in a letter this week to the Texas Workforce Commission. It did not identify the contractor that will handle accounting of revenue from passengers. A United spokeswoman said Friday the airline is providing job-search help. She says about 1,200 workers will remain in the downtown building to perform work in information technology, accounting, and government affairs. United has about 12,000 employees in Houston, including workers based at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. Chicago-based United is the nations third-biggest airline by revenue behind American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Its the result of a 2010 merger with Continental Airlines, which was based in Houston. American Distillers Welcome End of Tariffs in Canada, Mexico LOUISVILLE, Ky.American whiskey producers feeling the pain from the trade disputes have gotten a shot of relief with an agreement that will end retaliatory tariffs that Canada and Mexico slapped on whiskey and other U.S. products. The whiskey industry hailed the arrangement to ease trade tensions among the North American allies and said it hopes its the first of several rounds of good news on the trade front. Distillers have suffered shrinking exports since the last half of 2018 due to tariffs in some key markets. President Donald Trump on May 17 lifted import taxes on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum and delayed auto tariffs that would have hurt Japan and Europe. In return, the Canadians and Mexicans agreed to scrap their retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, including American whiskey. But U.S. whiskey makers still face significant trade hurdles in the European Union, the industrys biggest export market. We hope the U.S. and our trading partners can build on this positive momentum to resolve all of the remaining retaliatory tariffs that our U.S. distilled spirits exports face, particularly the European Unions 25% tariff on American whiskey, Chris Swonger, president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. In 2017, total U.S. whiskey exports to Canada and Mexico were valued at $62.1 million, the council said. Canada ranks as a top 10 export market for American whiskey and in 2017, shipments north of the border were valued at $48.7 million. Since about mid-2018, Canada had imposed a retaliatory tariff of 10% on all U.S. whiskey imports, while Mexico had slapped a retaliatory tariff of 25% on U.S. whiskeys in response to the U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs, the council said. Tariffs have become a big headache for American whiskey makers as they increasingly look overseas to expand sales. Tariffs on American whiskey remain in place in China and Turkey as well as the EU. Overall exports of bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey fell 11% during the second half of 2018 compared to the prior-year period, as the effect of tariffs started to be felt, the council said in March. The drop off was even larger in the European Union. The downturn continued in the first quarter of 2019 when overall American whiskey exports were down nearly 10% from the prior year, the council said May 20. In the EU, American whiskey exports fell nearly 20% in this years first quarter compared to a year ago, it said. The focus is on the trade barriers still hurting distillers looking to sell their whiskeys in the crucial EU markets, said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers Association. But he hailed the deal to remove tariffs in Canada and Mexico. Were excited that at least this portion of the trade war looks to be coming to an end, he said May 20. Now we hope the administration can turn its focus to the EU, which is our biggest market by far, and get us back to zero tariffs in that critical area. American whiskey makers have been caught in the middle of the trade dispute since mid-2018 when the EU targeted American whiskey and other U.S. products in response to Trumps decision to slap tariffs on European steel and aluminum. Those duties amount to a tax, which producers can either absorb in reduced profits or pass along to customers through higher pricesand risk losing market share in highly competitive markets. In the EU, American whiskey exports declined 13.4% in the second half of 2018 when tariffs slammed the brakes on shipments, the council said in March. Kentucky spirits producers exported nearly $200 million of their products to the European Union in 2017. Kentucky produces about 95% of the worlds bourbon. Large and small American distillers alike have been feeling the pain. Spirits industry giant Brown-Forman Corp., best known for its Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey brand, has said that if all the tariffs stay in place, the annualized cost to the Louisville, Kentucky-based company would be about $125 million. By Bruce Schreiner Hay bales and equipment are pictured in a flooded field, in Kingfisher, Okla., on May 21, 2019. (Sue Ogrocki/AP Photo) At Least 3 Dead in Central US Storms, With More Rain to Come OKLAHOMA CITYWaterlogged parts of the central U.S. were bracing Wednesday, May 22, for more rain, following days of severe storms that have battered Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma and caused at least three deaths. Officials were urging residents of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, some 70 miles southeast of Tulsa, to leave their homes as the Arkansas River approached near-historic levels in the town of about 600 people. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma through the weekend. More than 8 inches of rain has fallen since Sunday in parts of Oklahoma after an already rainy spring. Officials were urging residents of Webbers Falls to leave their homes as the Arkansas River approached near-historic levels in the town of about 600 people. https://t.co/vBdXv75Kfc abc27 News (@abc27News) May 22, 2019 The biggest concern is more rain. I mean, theres more rain in the forecast for Tulsa, for northern Oklahoma, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said during a news conference following an aerial tour with Tulsa Mayor G.W. Bynum and other officials Wednesday morning. The deluge inundated roadways, closing highways in 17 Kansas counties, along with more than 330 Missouri roads. Amtrak also suspended train service Wednesday and Thursday along a route between St. Louis and Kansas City because of congestion and flood-related delays. Forecasters say parts of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Kansas could see more severe weather Wednesday night into Thursday, the latest in a multi-day stretch of storms that have produced dozens of tornadoes. Bynum said Tulsa is so far safe from the rising Arkansas River, which the National Weather Service said was at 34.5 feet, or 6.5 feet above flood stage, as of Wednesday morning. The river was expected to rise to 40 feet by Thursday morning. Oklahoma is bracing for more rain, with parts of the state already flooded following days of severe weather thats blamed for at least three deaths after also battering Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. https://t.co/2rs63HgSG3 KWTX News 10 (@kwtx) May 22, 2019 The levee system is working the way its supposed to right now. The river park is serving as a buffer along the river corridor, Bynum said. Deaths from the storms include a 74-year-old woman found early Wednesday morning in Iowa. Officials there say she was killed by a possible tornado that damaged a farmstead in Adair County. Missouri authorities said heavy rain was a contributing factor in the deaths of two people in a traffic accident Tuesday near Springfield. A fourth weather-related death may have occurred in Oklahoma, where the Highway Patrol said an unidentified woman apparently drowned after driving around a barricade Tuesday into high water near Perkins, about 45 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, and was swept off the highway. The unidentified womans body was sent to the state medical examiners office to confirm the cause of death. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said she isnt yet listed as what would be the states first storm-related death. By Ken Miller In this courtroom artist's sketch, Keith Raniere, second from right, leader of the secretive group NXIVM, attends his trial in Brooklyn federal court on May 7, 2019, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) Branding Ritual Was Created by NXIVMs Leader, Recording Reveals NEW YORKThe founder and leader behind the now-defunct organization NXIVM was also behind a branding ceremony that members of an internal secret society were forced to participate in, an audio recording played during the ongoing trial on May 22 revealed. Keith Raniere, 58, has been charged for an array of crimes including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. He styled himself as the grandmaster of a secret society within NXIVM called DOS, while its members, all women, were his sexual slaves. The pyramid schemes the organization utilized were also Ranieres creation. NXIVM presented itself as a company offering self-help classes. DOS is an acronym for dominus obsequious sororium, which loosely translates as master over the slave women in Latin. At the federal court in Brooklyn, the prosecution played a recording of a conversation between former Smallville actress Allison Mack and Raniere. Mack was a high-ranking member and part of NXIVMs inner circle. The brand was a symbol incorporating Ranieres initials that was burned onto the skin of DOS members with a cauterizing pen, during a process that took 20 to 30 minutes, according to court documents. The person that should be branded should be completely nude and held to the table, Raniere told Mack during what may have been a planning session for the branding ceremony, in the audio recording played for the court. Almost like a sacrifice? he seems to ask while trying to explain his idea. Its a feeling of submission. Raniere also said the branding ritual itself should be recorded on video from different angles to be used as collateral. DOS members were allegedly recruited on the condition that they give up personal, often embarrassing, information about themselves, including compromising images or videos, referred to as collateral. Once inside, members were regularly required to provide additional collateral to ensure that they kept the groups activities a secret. It probably should be a more vulnerable position, Raniere describes to Mack, referring to how members should present themselves during the branding ceremony. Hands above the head like sacrificial. Raniere, who was referred to as Vanguard by his followers, also said that DOS members should say that they themselves wanted to be branded, so that it doesnt seem like they are being coerced. The conversation took place in January 2017, according to prosecutors. The person should ask to be branded, Raniere told Mack. Something like, Please brand me, it would be an honor, something like that. An honor I want to wear for the rest of my life.' Mack said OK in response to Ranieres directions. The recording played inside the court contradicted what Mack told The New York Times in a 2018 profile on NXIVM, in which she had claimed that the branding was all her own idea. Even if they cried when they were getting the brand, even if they wore surgical masks to help them with breathing in the smell of burning flesh they were still able to transcend the fear and cry out to one another Lets get strong together,' Mack told the newspaper. Raniere also tried to downplay the pain of the branding ritual, telling Mack that love is stronger than anything, even over life itself. DOS employed a pyramid structure involving levels of slaves headed by masters; slaves were then expected to recruit their own slaves, thus becoming masters themselves. Pain is how we know how much we love. Although my body may be burned or tortured or whatever, my love is strong, Raniere told Mack. As the recordings were played to the jury, witness Lauren Salzmana former member of NXIVM who was part of the DOS inner circleanswered questions from the prosecution concerning certain quotes. Salzman, who has pleaded guilty in the case, confirmed all branding ceremonies were videotaped. Salzman noted that though Raniere appeared to simply be giving suggestions in the recording, everything he said was incorporated into the ceremony, including word-for-word the phrase that members would say about wanting to get branded. Salzman said she had used the exact same phrase in her own branding ceremony. A British Steel works sign is seen in Scunthorpe, northern England, on May 21, 2019. (Scott Heppell/Reuters) British Steel Risks Collapse With 25,000 Jobs at Stake LONDONBritish Steel, the UKs second-largest steel producer, is on the brink of collapse unless the government agrees to provide an emergency $38 million (30 million pound) loan, two sources close to the situation said. British Steel said negotiations had not concluded and it continues to work with all parties to secure the future of the business. It also reassured employees that their salaries will be paid in full for May. Owned by investment firm Greybull Capital, British Steel employs around 5,000 people, mostly in Scunthorpe in the north of England, while 20,000 more depend on its supply chain. Greybull, which specializes in trying to turn around distressed businesses, paid former owners Tata Steel a nominal one pound in 2016 for the loss-making company which they renamed British Steel. British Steel had asked the government for a 75 million pound loan but has since reduced its demand to 30 million pounds after Greybull agreed to put up more money, according to one of the sources who is close to the negotiations. Greybull was also the owner of Monarch, an airline that went bust in October 2017. Administrators EY could be appointed as early as Wednesday, the source said. Greybull declined to comment. Andrew Stephenson, a junior business lawmaker, told parliament the government was in discussions with the company and will leave no stone unturned in its support for the industry. He added the government has been in contact with former British Steel owner Tata Steel. Brexit Bashes Steel Sector The second source said British Steel lost the backing of one of its four big lenders earlier on Tuesday, while some of the others had already exited. The [companys] cash was not big enough to sustain even one bank pulling the plug, he said. The possible collapse of British Steel comes after Germanys Thyssenkrupp and Indias Tata Steel ditched a plan this month to merge their European steel assets to create the EUs second-largest steelmaker after ArcelorMittal. The collapsed merger leaves the wider EU steel sector fragmented and vulnerable to economic downturns. It also calls into question the fate of Britains largest steelworks in Port Talbot, Wales, owned by Tata Steel. Stephenson said he held talks with Tata Steel this week about issues relating to Port Talbot, and that the India-based steelmaker had painted a positive picture of the site. EU steel company shares are currently trading at their lowest in nearly three years, driven down by poor demand, especially in autos, and cheap imports that can no longer reach the United States due to trade tariffs. Making steel profitably is particularly difficult in Britain, where steelmakers pay some of the highest green taxes and energy costs in the world and are saddled with high labor costs and business rates. They also face uncertainties surrounding Britains planned exit from the European Union. After making a profit in 2017, British Steel cut around 400 jobs last year, blaming factors such as the weak pound. Earlier this month, it appeared to have secured the backing of lenders and shareholders to continue operating after the uncertainty around Brexit hammered its order book. The whole manufacturing sector is crying out for certainty over Brexit, unable to plan the trading relationship it will have with its biggest market. We can only state again the need to avoid a no-deal scenario at all costs, said industry group UK Steel. British Steel secured a government loan of around $154 million (120 million pounds) this month to enable it to comply with the European Unions Emissions Trading System (ETS) rules. In the event of a hard Brexit, Britain would leave the ETS so the government has not issued any free permits for 2019 to help companies comply with the scheme. British Steel had banked on using 2019 permits to cover its scheme commitments for 2018. Greybulls Chequered History The collapse of British Steel would be devastating for thousands of jobs in Scunthorpe, as well as in the wider supply chain, opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote on Twitter. The government must act to secure the long term future of the steelworksprotecting peoples livelihoods and the community. The second source said the British government was reluctant to hand over more cash, because Greybull could end up with the funds if the business fails. Greybull could walk out with millions because they secured all their loans against the assets. At the holding level, Greybull are the only creditor. The government wants Greybull out before putting money into the business, he said. Its going to be difficult to survive this afternoon. The UK government has a chequered history with Greybull, after the collapse of airline Monarch in 2017 forced it to repatriate more than 100,000 stranded tourists at a cost of about 60 million pounds. The Mayfair-based firm also provided backing for the buyout of British high street electronics chain Comet before its collapse in 2012. Unions demanded the government give British Steel the loan. They must now put their money where their mouth is, said Ross Murdoch, national officer for the GMB union for steelworkers. Earlier this month, British Steel won approval from a French court to buy the Ascoval steel mill in northern France, pledging to invest 47.5 million euros and guarantee the jobs of the 270 workers employed at the site. By Guy Faulconbridge and Maytaal Angel A poster for the #StandUpToChina campaign by Suits and Boots. (Courtesy Suits and Boots) Campaign Urges Canadians to Stand Up to China Trudeau takes tougher tone toward China With China blocking Canadian imports of canola and other products as Beijing escalates its offensive against Canada, Canadians need to stand up to China, says Rick Peterson, founder and director of the pro-resource group Suits and Boots. The group, which in the past has held pro-pipeline campaigns, has launched a new campaign, #StandUpToChina, in support of the canola and other industries that have been dealt a blow since China suspended imports of their products in the aftermath of Canadas arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou. Its time to recognize that being polite and watching whats going on quietly isnt going to solve things, says Peterson. He says the group was founded by investment professionals like himself, who support working families of the resource sector, and doesnt have any government or corporate funding. He describes it as a non-partisan grassroots movement with several thousand supporters across the country but mainly in the Prairies, based on the number of people who have supported its online and email campaigns. Since Mengs arrest in Vancouver last December on a U.S. extradition request, Canada has been on the receiving end of a slew of aggressive moves by Beijing against Canadian individuals and businesses. Shortly after the arrest, the regime detained Canadians Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrigfinally formally arresting them last week and charging them with stealing state secretsand sentenced two Canadians to death on drug-related charges. In addition, Canadas exports of canola to China, worth over $2 billion annually, have been blocked, and exporters of other products including pork, peas, and soybeans are facing increasing obstacles getting their products into China. Peterson says Canadas response so far has been soft, but he noted that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hardened his tone this week. Speaking in Sept-Iles, Quebec, on May 21, Trudeau said China is playing stronger, making stronger moves than it has before to try and get its own way on the world stage, and Western countries and democracies around the world are pulling together to point out that this is not something that we need to continue to allow. So far as part of their #StandUpToChina campaign, Suits and Boots is asking supporters to contact the Chinese ambassador and consuls in Canada and tell them that Beijings behaviour isnt acceptable. The next phase in the campaign will involve contacting Canadian organizations that do business with China and asking them to stand up to China, telling them that what is going on cant continue and is wrong. The #StandUpToChina campaign poster shows a farmer family in a canola field standing in front of a convoy of Chinese tanks, an allusion to the Tank Man who stood in front of tanks in Beijing to block their path during the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. The Tank Man standing up to the tanks in Tiananmen Square was a symbol of courage in the face of a tremendous amount of power, said Peterson, noting that June 4 marks the 30th anniversary of the massacre. Today, China is the largest, most powerful, most aggressive country that were dealing with. It takes courage to stand up to China and say that you have to stop this, and thats what we are trying to get our followers to do and to stand up for people. Canadians Held in China A Canadian delegation consisting of MPs and senators is currently in China to seek the release of Kovrig and Spavor. The two havent been allowed legal representation and have had very few consular visits by Canadian officials. The delegation is led by Liberal MP Robert Oliphant, parliamentary secretary to Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland. In an interview with CBC radio, Freeland said she hasnt been able to talk to her Chinese counterpart despite repeated requests. Its a terrible situation and we are very clear that these two men are arbitrarily detained, she said. Conservative MP Stephanie Kusie, a former diplomat, says current and former diplomats who were once her colleagues have told her that Canada needs a more effective response to the issue. I would really urge the Trudeau government to re-evaluate their global strategy for Canada and consider returning to a principle-based strategy rather than just being reactive, Kusie said. Requests for comment from Global Affairs were not returned by press time. Earlier this month, spokesperson Guillaume Berube said in an email that Canada and China share a broad and important relationship, built on cooperation in the spheres of education, culture, tourism, business, and the environment. This relationship remains a priority for Canada. We are very concerned by the arbitrary detentions of Canadians in China. These cases are a priority for our government, he added. Former Canadian diplomats and ambassadors to China have urged Ottawa to take a tougher stance against Beijing, with some commentators suggesting Canada should expel Chinese diplomatic staff or use the new Magnitsky Act to sanction individuals in China responsible for the arbitrary detention of Canadians. Canada has urged its allies to add to the chorus of voices asking China to release Kovrig and Spavor. Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution in support of Canada and praising Ottawa for upholding the rule of law in arresting Meng. U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, have condemned the detention of the two men and have called on China to release them. Sindh Environmental Protection Agency Jobs 2019 in Karachi Latest Sindh Environmental Protection Agency Management Posts Karachi 2021 Sindh Environmental Protection Agency Government of Sindh required qualified and experienced candidates for the posts of Environmental Inspector, Stenographer, Field Assistant, Lab Assistant, Data Processing Assistant, Clerk, Lab Attendant, Naib Qasid, Chowkidar, Mali & Sweeper in Karachi Sindh 2019. How to Apply on Sindh Environmental Protection Agency Job Advertisement Apply as per details in job advertisement. In some cases, you may apply online at vacancies after registering at https://www.jobz.pk online. Note: Beware of Fraudulent Recruiting Activities. If an employer asks to pay money for any purpose, do not pay at all and report us at contact us form. Apply as per instuctions & dates mentioned in official job ad. Govt jobs may not be applied online here. Human typing error is possible. Error & omissions excepted. Filipino President Rodrigo Duterte in Quezon City, Philippines on Oct. 26, 2017. Canada announced on May 22, 2019, that it has hired a firm to ship back containers of trash left to rot in Manila ports, the announcement coming a month after Duterte threatened to ship them back himself. (Reuters/Dondi Tawatao) Canada Hires Company to Bring Back 69 Shipping Containers of Waste From Philippines Canada has said it plans to bring back containers filled with trash that have been sitting for years in a port in the Philippines, after President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to sail them back himself. Environment Canada announced on May 22 that the government has hired shipping company Bollore Logistics Canada to bring back by the end of June 69 containers filled with trash from Manila ports where they have been rotting for the past five years. The announcement also said Canada would cover the costs associated with the return of the waste. Canada values its deep and longstanding relationship with the Philippines and has been working closely with Filipino authorities to find a solution that is mutually acceptable, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said. The announcement came hours after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said the Philippines was done waiting, and the government was looking for its own private shipping company to send the containers back to Canada, according to the Philippines News Agency. If Canada will not accept their trash, we will leave the same within its territorial waters or 12 nautical miles out to sea from the baseline of any of their countrys shores, Panelo said. The containers103 of which were deposited in the Philippines in 2013 and 2014 by a private Canadian shipping companywere labeled as recyclable plastics but instead contained garbage including household waste, metal, plastic, and paper. Although 34 of the containers were disposed of, the others were left in Manila while the governments of the two countries disagreed on how the issue should be handled. The Philippines has demanded that Canada take back the containers ever since it was discovered that they contained waste. While the export of mixed trash was allowed by Canada at the time, the Philippines prohibited the import of recyclables and household waste mixed together. In 2016, a Philippines court ordered the original shipping company to return the containers to Canada at its own expense, but the company failed to do so. The same year, Canada amended its laws so that future exports of waste controlled and prohibited in other countries would require a permit. This means that shipments like those to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014 would be prohibited today. However, it didnt require that Canada take back its trash. For years, Canada looked for other ways to resolve the dilemma rather than take back the containers, but no other country was willing to take the trash. In 2018, Canada and the Philippines formed a working group to find a solution to the issue but nothing was resolved. When Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked about the issue during a visit to the Philippines in 2017, he said Canada was working on a solution and that it was theoretically possible to take the trash back, according to The Canadian Press. It wasnt until President Rodrigo Duterte set a May 15 deadline for Canada to take action regarding the containers, threatening to sail to Canada and return them himself, that Ottawa agreed to take responsibility for the containers and have them brought back. I want a boat prepared. Ill give a warning to Canada maybe next week that they better pull that thing out or I will set sail to Canada and dump the trash there, Duterte said in April, according to Philippine News Agency. On May 10, Ottawa started looking for a private shipping company that could bring the containers back, but missed the May 15 deadline. On May 16, the Philippines recalled its envoys to Canadaincluding its ambassadorover the issue, with the foreign secretary saying the country would maintain a diminished diplomatic presence in Canada until the issue was resolved. The Canadian government said it will cover the costs associated with the preparation, transfer, shipment, and disposal of the containers of waste, and that it aims to safely dispose of the waste by the end of summer. A fighter jet flies by after another jet crashed during an air show in Fucheng, in China's northern Shaanxi Province, on Oct. 14, 2011. A fighter jet plunged to the ground and exploded, leaving one pilot missing, organizers and state media said. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) Chinas Air Force Lost One Pilot and Two Fighter Jets in Two Months A top grade Chinese pilot died during a special operational training mission when his fighter jet crashed due to a sudden mechanic failure on April 26, according to Chinese state-run media Beijing Youth Daily. The report did not specify the model of the fighter jet, nor did it give any details as to where the crash occurred. The pilot, 46-year-old Zha Xianwei who held a colonel rank, was a top grade pilot and instructor. He has participated in Chinas National Day military parade twice and the military parade celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). On May 18, another fighter jet crashed in Gaocun Town, Weihai City of Chinas eastern Shandong Province. A local resident captured the crash, and the video was widely viewed on Weibo, a Twitter-like social media. The aircraft was seen crashing vertically onto the ground at 7:17 a.m., next to residential buildings, and erupted into a big fireball. A netizen, who has seen the aircraft wreckage, pointed out that based on its shape, it resembled the Xian JH-7, also known as Flying Leopard, which was developed by Chinese aircraft experts on their own. A May 19 report by overseas Chinese publication DW News quoted an information source as saying that the fighter jet was indeed Xian JH-7. It is the third fighter aircraft crash in China since the beginning of this year. On March 12, a Chinese navy fighter jet crashed during training in Hainan Province, killing two pilots. An unverified witness posted a comment online, suggesting it was a Xian JH-7A, an improved version of the Xian-7 that entered the military service in 2005. According to public data, since 1988, at least 12 Xian JH-7 crashed, causing at least 17 deaths. Yao Cheng, a former Chinese naval officer, said that during NATOs arms embargo on China after the Tiananmen Massacre in 1989, China was unable to steal military technologies using its routine methodreplicating weapons, fighter aircrafts, destroyers, submarines bought from the United States and European Union, The Epoch Times reported on March 13. As a result, China had to rely on its own scientists and engineers. The military technology and products developed during this period of time are mostly poor quality. The Xian JH-7, developed in the mid-1990s, is a typical example. I was present when the first batch of Xian JH-7 were delivered to Chinas air force for evaluation. Yao told The Epoch Times. The pilots who test-flied these aircrafts told me they are very difficult and awkward to operate. Since the establishment of the Chinese Communist Partys air force, in the past 60 years, more than 2,000 air force pilots died in aircraft accidents. Court Sentences Man to 274 Years in Prison for Raping 7 Women A man was sentenced to 274 years in prison in Arizona on May 20 for raping seven women he lured by posing to be an actor from the 1980s sitcom Family Ties. Nathan Loebe, 38, was convicted on 20 counts12 counts of sexual assault, 5 counts of kidnapping, 3 counts of stalking, and 1 count of attempted sexual assault on Feb. 21, reported Tuscon.com. Loebe met the seven women between 2003 and 2015 in a bar or through online dating websites. The victims reported that he introduced himself with pseudonyms, and the women became unconscious after having a drink with him. Tucson man sentenced to 274 years in prison for rape of seven women https://t.co/ir4Sf4mtOy pic.twitter.com/ZdDYaiwXaa Arizona Daily Star (@TucsonStar) May 21, 2019 Nathan, you are a predator. You are beyond rehabilitation. I hope this trial has changed you as much as its changed me, one of the victims said, according to Tuscon.com. The woman told Judge Deborah Bernini in the Pima County Superior courtroom that Loebe was stalking her after the incident, and he told her that hes infected with HIV. She told Bernini that because of it, she had to endure 17 HIV tests. Another victim went up to the prosecutors table and said: I waited 16 years for this day. I waited 16 damn years. Another woman told Bernini that she had to wait 13 years for someone to believe her story and said that the attack messed me up in more ways than one. A Tucson man convicted of raping seven women over a 12-year span has been sentenced to 274 years in prison.https://t.co/OA3JcN3IuT KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) May 21, 2019 The victim told the judge that since the traumatic incident, she has been admitted to three mental hospitals and has visited five therapists. She said she has attempted suicide four times since the assault. He has taken the old me, the woman told Bernini. All of this time, Ive been trying to get me back. Before the sentencing, Loebe laughed and smiled with his attorneys, local media reported. The victims wiped away tears as they spoke. I have many titles: mother, daughter, sister, and godmother, a victim told Bernini. I refuse to have the title of rape victim. In his defense, Loebe said that the sexual contact was justified because it happened with consent. 274 YEARS IN PRISON: Nathan Loebe was sentenced to spend 274 years in prison for raping numerous women in the Tucson area. https://t.co/oFzqPL6jXP pic.twitter.com/tHvefAok9T KVOA News 4 Tucson (@KVOA) May 20, 2019 Deputy Pima County Attorney Tracy Miller said that Loebe had 104 police contacts and there were more victims who didnt want to participate in the prosecution. Miller demanded that the serial rapist be given the maximum sentence. These survivors deserve more, he said. Loebes legal defenders said that he suffers from bipolar disorder and is on medication in the jail. Bernini said that while giving the sentence, Loebes chaotic childhood was considered. Serial Rapist Convicted after Rape Kit Testing Prioritized (Videos) Nathan Loebe impersonated former child star Brian Bonsall from the 80s sitcom Family Ties to attract women & then sexually assaulthttps://t.co/nVdsC8WVJC@PimaSheriff @LMPD @Mariska #IAmEvidence pic.twitter.com/9fkaFYYEgr AmerSecurityToday (@AmerSecToday) March 7, 2019 Sexual Assualt in the United States One in three women and one in 71 men experience some form of sexual violence in the United States, according to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). One in five women and one in 71 men are likely to be raped at some point in their life and in eight out of 10 cases of rapes, the victims knew the assaulter. The NSVRC reports that the lifetime cost of rape per victim is $122,461 and rapes cost the country more than any other crime$127 Billion. Of perpetrators known to the victim, 33% are a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend. #SAAPM pic.twitter.com/7LNM0x3B44 RAINN (@RAINN) April 28, 2019 Sexual assault leads to severe Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and 81 percent of women victims and 35 percent of men victims report it. Rape is also the most unreported crime and 63 percent of rapes dont get reported to the police. Rainn.org says that every 92 seconds an American is sexually assaulted. Flamingo at an Illinois Zoo Was Put Down After a Child Threw a Rock at It Staff at an Illinois zoo were forced to euthanize one of its flamingos on May 20 after a child threw a rock into its enclosure, severely injuring it. During the incident that occurred at Miller Park Zoo, the rock had hit and broken the birds leg, which led to it having to be put down, according to the zoos official. A juvenile guest accidentally injured a flamingo on Monday by skipping a rock into the habitat, Jay Tetzloff, director of the zoo and Bloomington parks, recreation and cultural arts, told Pantagraph in a statement. Unfortunately, staff determined the best course of action given the animals injuries was to euthanize the bird. A flamingo in an Illinois zoo had to be put down after a child threw a rock at it https://t.co/iN0EJd53nk pic.twitter.com/FE3Hrgu4Zp fox8news (@fox8news) May 22, 2019 Tetzloff said the zoo is working with the childs family and he hopes that the unfortunate accident will become a learning experience. The zoo added that it did not see a need to change the layout of the exhibit after the incident, reported the local newspaper. The flamingo exhibit where the incident took place was opened in June 2016, according to the parks statement (pdf). The exhibit features over 20 greater flamingoeswhich is the tallest of six flamingo species. According to National Geographic, these flamingos are found in warm, watery regions in various parts of the world. They tend to live near the water in lakes and are good swimmers. They also live on mud flats. These flamingoes get their pink color from eating shrimplike crustaceans. They appear a more pale color in captivity unless they are given the right food. Along with greater flamingos, the zoo also has reindeer, tiger, river otters, red pandas, lemurs, tortoise, bald eagles, snow leopards, gibbons, and red wolves, according to the zoos website. Similar Incidents In another similar incident at a Chinese zoo, a kangaroo was killed after visitors threw bricks and concrete chunks in order to get the animal to hop. The incident, which occurred last year at Fuzhou Zoo in Fujian Province, caused a 12-year-old female kangaroo to die from a ruptured kidney after it was hit with the projectiles. Another 5-year-old male kangaroo also suffered minor injuries, reported Newsweek. Kangaroo at Chinas Fuzhou Zoo dies after visitors throw rocks at it to make it jump https://t.co/t6kEj7kOqx pic.twitter.com/KOb7DQ4z4c Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 20, 2018 The people who threw the objects were trying to attract a reaction when the marsupials were resting. In a reverse incident in 2016, a 7-year-old girl died after an elephant threw a rock that hit her from its enclosure at a Moroccan zoo. At the time the girl was posing for a photo at the Jardin Zoologique in Rabat. This was when an elephant picked up a large rock and threw it at her head, reported New York Daily News. The girl was rushed to a hospital but she still succumbed to her injuries. These kinds of accidents are rare, unforeseeable and unusual, the zoo said in a French statement at the time (pdf). The zoos staff offers their deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased at this difficult time, it added. A woman passes by the Huawei logo at the Huawei Cyber Security Transparency Centre in Brussels on May 21, 2019. (Emmanuel Dunand /AFP/Getty Images) Following US Export Ban, Mobile Carriers Worldwide Drop Huawei Phones From Lineup In light of the U.S. administrations export ban on Chinese telecom giant Huawei, mobile carriers around the world have announced that they would discontinue selling Huawei models of smartphones, owing to concerns that the U.S. restrictions would affect the phones maintenance. Meanwhile, UK-based chip designer ARM suspended its business with Huawei, which is the worlds largest manufacturer of telecommunications equipment. Huawei smartphones use Googles Android operating system. After the U.S. Commerce Department added Huawei and its 68 affiliates to its trade blacklist on May 15, Google announced that it would suspend its business with Huawei. Losing access to Googles products means Huawei phones would no longer be able to access many of the U.S. tech giants most popular apps, such as Gmail and Google Maps. To give current Huawei clients time to adjust to the restrictions, the Commerce Department granted Huawei a temporary exemption for 90 days, allowing them to maintain existing networks and provide software updates to existing Huawei phones. The Commerce Department said it will evaluate whether to extend the exemptions beyond 90 days. 5G for EE and Vodafone EE, the UKs largest mobile operator owned by telecoms firm BT, announced at a press conference on May 22 that Huawei smartphones would be left out of its 5G launch until its post-export-ban future becomes clearer. In other words, until we get the information and confidence that gives us the long-term surety that our customers, when they buy those devices [Huawei phones], are going to be supported for the lifetime theyve got the device with us, said Marc Allera, CEO of the BT Groups consumer brands. EE plans to launch 5G networks in London and five other UK cities beginning May 30. It plans to install 1,500 5G sites by the end of this year. Without Huawei, EE will instead provide customers with 5G smartphones from Samsung, LG, and OnePlus to choose from. Another major UK-based mobile carrier, Vodafone, announced on the same day that it would also suspend Huaweis smartphones from its 5G lineup in the UK, for similar reasons. The carrier plans to roll out 5G in July. It is unclear whether Huawei phones would also be excluded from Vodafones other European markets. SoftBank and KDDI Japanese telecom firm SoftBank said its low-cost Y! Mobile service would not sell the newly-released Huawei P30 Lite smartphone because it wants customers to feel safe using our products, said SoftBank spokesman Hiroyuki Mizukami. SoftBank had planned to sell Huaweis new phone beginning May 24. On the same day, another Japanese telecom firm KDDI Corp announced that it has put the same model on hold and will not sell it until it can be assured that the product is reliable. NTT DoCoMo, Japans largest mobile carrier, said it was also considering canceling its pre-orders for Huawei smartphones. Taiwan, South Korea Chunghwa Telecom, the largest telecom company in Taiwan, announced on May 22 that it would not purchase any more new Huawei phones because the future maintenance and repair cant be guaranteed. Taiwan media ETtoday quoted Chi-Mau Sheih, the chairman and CEO, saying that his company will continue selling the existing stock. FarEasTone, the second-largest Taiwanese carrier, said it will continue to sell the current Huawei phones. But the company did not say whether it would purchase new Huawei phones. Taiwan Mobile, the third-largest Taiwan mobile operator, said it will suspend selling new models of Huawei phones. The islands other major carriers, Taiwan Star Telecom and Asia Pacific Telecom, adopted the same stance as FarEasTone. South Korean carrier KT also said it is considering halting sales of Huawei cell phones and tablets following the U.S. export ban. Chip Designer ARM After German chipmaker Infineon Technologies was reported on May 20 to have suspended shipments to Huawei in order to comply with the U.S. ban, UK-based chip designer ARM followed with a similar announcement that it has halted business with Huawei. BBC reported on May 22 that it obtained ARMs internal documents, in which the company instructed employees to suspend all active contracts, support entitlements, and any pending engagements with Huawei and its affiliates, because ARMs designs contain U.S. origin technology. Although Huawei said it has contingency plans to replace U.S. technologies, experts have said it would be challenging for the company to continue operations. This article previously misstated the number of Huawei affiliate companies that are under the U.S. export ban. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Tamron Hall at the National CARES Mentoring Movement 4th Annual For The Love Of Our Children Gala at The Ziegfeld Ballroom on Feb. 11, 2019, in New York City. (Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for Gala for National CARES Mentoring Movement) Former Today Host Tamron Hall Reveals Why She Kept Her Pregnancy a Secret Former Today show host Tamron Hall, at age 48, welcomed her first child in April 2019, but she chose to keep it a secret for eight months. Hall explained to People magazine that she waited until she was 32-weeks pregnant to share the news. I was high-risk, not just because of my age, but there were other medical factors, too, Hall told the news outlet. I was terrified I would lose this baby and I would have to go back and tell everyone that now it was bad news and after this pregnancy had gone so far. Why Tamron Hall Kept Her Pregnancy at 48 a Secret: I Was Terrified I Would Lose This Baby https://t.co/qZeaGA0Cad pic.twitter.com/M9mMmFP40x People (@people) May 22, 2019 Elaborating further, the TV personality said her doctor told her: This is your body, your health. You share of your journey what you want to share. I just wasnt mentally prepared to deal with that. Thats why I waited. And trust me if I couldve gone the whole way to delivery, I wouldve. Hall and husband, Steven Greener, named the child Moses. Tamron Hall opens up about pregnancy complications at 48 https://t.co/tHkIZNnBkf via @Femail last of the gossip Asha Flingai (@AshaFlingai) May 22, 2019 She said that after years of trying to get pregnant, having unsuccessful treatments in her 30s, and she had an unusual experience at a fertility clinic. I knew that the clock was not on my side, People quoted her as saying. When I tried in my 30s, I still felt like I had some time, and the fertility clinic felt like a bright room. In my 40s, I saw all the gray: The faces looked gray, the walls were gray, nothing seemed shiny and optimistic. Former Today show co-host Tamron Hall announced on social media Thursday shes given birth to a baby boy named Moses. https://t.co/xKy2vTW9Po NBCWashington (@nbcwashington) April 25, 2019 Hall continued, Just like with my job search during that time, there were so many frustrations: Im putting in the work, Im taking care of my mind and my body and Im being rejected. Im thinking, Wait a minute. What have I done wrong here? Somehow, like Rocky, I kept getting up. More Common According to government data released last year, USA Today reported, more women in their 40s are having babies. But, according to Health.com, The number of women giving birth into their 40s and 50s and beyond is at record highs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2007, 105,071 women aged 40-44 gave birth, the highest rate since 1968; the birth rate for women 45 to 54 was 7,349, an increase of 5% in just one year. The numbers have really skyrocketed over the last two decades, as research has increasingly shown that older women are able to carry pregnancies and deliver babies safely, Mark Sauer, MD, chief of reproductive endocrinology at Columbia University Medical Center, told the website. A healthy 42-year-old with no medical problems who is in good physical shape and conceives naturally is likely to have just as nice a pregnancy as a woman who is a decade younger, stated Dr. Laura Riley, MD, with Massachusetts General Hospital. But there are a fair number of women in their mid-40s getting pregnant through IVF who have a touch of hypertension, are a little overweight, or are prediabetic, and thats where we start running into problems. Pedestrians walk in front of a stock display board that shows the Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong on May 8, 2019 (PHILIP FONG/AFP/Getty Images) Global Investors Flee Chinese Stocks at Fastest Pace Since 2015 More than $6 billion in capital has left Chinese equities during the recent trade tensions WASHINGTONThe recent U.S.China trade dispute has prompted the biggest capital outflow from Chinese equities in nearly four years. More than $6 billion of capital has fled Chinas stock market since May 6, according to data compiled by the Institute of International Finance (IIF). Tensions escalated between the United States and China when Trump wrote in a tweet on May 5 that he would increase tariffs on $200 billion Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent. Trump accused Beijing of backtracking on its commitment to deliver structural reforms. The dispute revealed the vulnerability of Chinas stock market, with the Shanghai Stock Exchange Composite Index falling nearly 6 percent on May 6, the day after Trumps tweet. The stocks havent recovered since then. The total outflow from Chinese stocks by nonresidents since tensions escalated reached $6.2 billion, according to IIF, which has tracked capital movement in emerging market equities on a daily basis since 2010. Trumps tweet and the intensification of the trade conflict came as a big surprise to investors, according to Jonathan Fortun, an economist at IIF. This last round of outflows is a knee-jerk reaction to everything that has been happening, he said. Chinese stocks saw net outflows of $2.6 billion and $2.8 billion for the weeks ending May 10 and May 17, respectively. These weekly exits were the largest since the Chinese stock market crash in 2015. The largest weekly capital outflow occurred during the week ending July 10, 2015, when the Chinese stocks plunged 30 percent in three weeks. Significant outflows in the past two weeks were triggered by the unexpected nature of the flare-up in trade tensions, Fortun said. Investors were building up their exposure to the Chinese stocks with the expectation that the conflict was de-escalating, he explained. Outflows have continued into the week of May 19, where a total of $0.9 billion in capital fled Chinese equities on May 20 and May 21. I think the outflows are going to continue, at least until we have a little bit more clarity on the path forward for the trade conflict, Fortun said. We are not in the super worst part yet, but I think that this could potentially be an important outflow cycle for China. China saw around $1.1 billion of capital flight in October 2018 during the initial trade frictions between the United States and China. Conflict Hit All Emerging Markets The tariffs dispute has triggered a significant amount of capital outflow from emerging market equities as well. Countries such as South Korea, India, Taiwan, Brazil, and Indonesia have mirrored Chinas trend, highlighting the risks to the broader markets from increased trade tensions. Outflows from emerging markets excluding China totaled $8.4 billion since May 6. According to Fortun, the U.S.China trade conflict also will hit emerging market economies, since it involves the disruption of global supply chains spanning many countries. Recent outflows are different than what was observed during the 2015 market crash. The capital that left China went to other emerging markets in 2015. However, this time, the money is flowing into developed markets, bonds, and crypto assets, Fortun said. The Trump administration has used the threat of tariffs as part of a negotiation tactic to increase pressure on Beijing. And China has more to lose economically in a full-blown trade war, according to analysts. The United States began imposing tariffs on Chinese imports in July 2018. Together with the previous two rounds of tariffs, a total of $250 billion worth of Chinese goods now face a 25 percent levy. Washington also is preparing to impose tariffs on the remaining $325 billion in Chinese goods, which targets the majority of consumer goods imported from China. Beijing also announced it would boost tariffs on $60 billion of U.S. goods in retaliation. This time around, tariffs are going to a wider range of goods, Fortun said, disrupting the global supply chain. Potential tariffs on autos and auto parts by the United States are making investors nervous, he added. Despite renewed tensions, Trump said the talks with Beijing would continue. He said on May 13 that he would meet face-to-face with Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the G-20 summit in late June in Japan. In a series of tweets, Trump accused China of backing out from a great and almost completed deal and urged China to strike a trade deal soon. According to Fortun, the capital flows, especially in equities, are very dynamic and as the trade issue gets resolved, the capital will start to quickly flow back in China. Any sign of willingness to have a real resolution of the trade conflict will be positive not only for China but for the whole emerging market complex, he said. Investors will return once the storm ends, he said, but until then, they will continue to keep their money offshore in different types of liquid assets. Google Glass Gets New Life on Factory Floor After Consumer Flop Remember Google Glass? The vaunted debut of the companys computerized eyewear six years ago was one of Silicon Valleys more spectacular flops. Deemed too awkward and pretentious, early users were disparaged as glassholes by a critical public. Parent company Alphabet Inc. quickly retired the product. Now it seems it was just a case of wrong time, wrong place. If consumers arent quite ready to sport eyewear that uses voice commands to browse the internet or hold video conferences, workers on the factory floor are. Alphabet, along with Microsoft Corp. and a slew of startups, are bringing so-called wearables back as part of a push to make warehouses and manufacturing more efficient with the help of technology.The hands-free aspect is whats really revolutionizing our approach here, said Michael Kaldenbach, head of digital realities for Royal Dutch Shell Plc. Were shifting from the speed of your thumb to the speed of speech. Wearableswhether taking the form of eyewear, wristwear or headgearboost productivity by giving multi-tasking employees more flexibility to do their jobs without juggling a handheld iPad or laptop. The computer-powered accessories give workers a significant advantage. Lockheed Martin Corp. recently adopted Microsofts HoloLens for manufacturing spacecraft. Donning what looks like a pair of heavy duty safety goggles with a black band wrapping around the head, a technician can use images projected onto the lenses to mark the locations for 309 fasteners to be attached to a curved panel. When the technician or the panel moves, the computer adjusts. The $3,500 HoloLens reduced the task to a two-and-a-half hour job, down from at least two days when using traditional measuring tools, said Shelley Peterson, who leads Lockheeds emerging technologies division. Were seeing a return on investment in the first use, she said. The key to commercial success, say product developers, is to augment reality, not replace it. Users can still see the real world while referencing the virtual world whenever they need it. Once workers become comfortable witheven reliant onwearable computers on the job, theyll carry them over into their everyday lives as well, is the bet. Qualcomm Inc. makes computing chips that power the hands-free devices made by startup Realwear, which just sold 10,000 of its product to Finnish telecom company UROS Group. Over the next decade, the technology will become compact and powerful enough to replace smartphones as the indispensable piece of personal technology, said Hugo Swart, who heads Qualcomms extended reality division. In the long run, the consumer will drive the volume, he said. That will be the day when I may not even need my smartphone anymore. My smartphone becomes these glasses. Theres still a ways to go before that happens, said Nehal Chokshi, an analyst with Maxim Group, who has studied the wearables sector and covers product developer Vuzix Corp.Right now, were in the very, very early innings, he said. Still Limited Current devices are still cumbersome and lack the ability to be truly immersive, which limits their usefulness, Chokshi said. Makers are ramping up production to deliver thousands of the gadgets, but Chokshi sees the potential for sales exceeding the 200 million personal computers sold every year, and eventually comparable to the 1 billion smartphones purchased annually. Three years from now, theres a good chance the industry will produce a product that will have the form factor as well as the usability and immersiveness that can tip it toward that inflection point, he said. Like a lot of technology, wearables got started in the military. Members of Special Forces wanted to replace the laptops they lugged around and pushed for a wearable computer that resembled sunglasses, said Paul Travers, chief executive officer of Vuzix. He cobbled together his company in the 1990s from makers of computer headgear, including a clunky device that resembles a helmet with opaque ski goggles attached. Advances in the sensors, software, screens, batteries, and other elements has finally caught up to the vision. Vuzix now sells the Blade: basically, a pair of glasses with a floating screen on one of the lenses. The software has gotten to be cookie cutter, the hardware has gotten to be much more reliable, the form factors are better, Travers said. All of that stuff adds up to where this is becoming super viable. Google has now relaunched its computerized eyewear for commercial use. On May 20, it announced a second version, dubbed Glass Enterprise Edition 2, which can be used to access checklists or instructions, send photos and conduct video calls. Google says the updated glasses, which also use the Qualcomm chip, sport an improved camera, more choice of frames and longer battery life.Glass customers so far include Sutter Health, DHLs supply-chain unit and farm-equipment maker Agco Corp., according to Jay Kothari, who leads the project. Companies using Glass report efficiency gains of between 20% and 50%, Kothari said. Some product makers are targeting their wearables for heavy industrial users. After field-testing 40 ruggedly designed Realwear devices in its operations around the world, Shell has decided to deploy thousands more at 24 sites in 12 countries. The gadgetcosting about $2,000 apiece before bulk discountsresembles a heavy-duty phone headset to be worn around the neck or clipped to a hardhat. A small screen can swivel in front of one eye, projecting an image comparable to a 7-inch screen. But it weighs three-quarters of a poundsignificantly heavier than a normal pair of glasses. Still, wearables are a huge improvement for field technicians who no longer have to balance a tablet on their knees or take their gloves off each time they need to type out a message to a colleague, said Shells Kaldenbach. One example: Workers can use the headgear to video call experts for a consultation on fixing broken equipment in the fieldthe expert can see through the eyes of the onsite worker, and even project drawings on to the workers eyeglass screen.Its no longer fluff, Kaldenbach said. Its actually a practical solution. By Thomas Black Harriet Tubman in the 1860s. Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill, making her the first woman on U.S. paper currency in 100 years. (H.B. Lindsley/Library of Congress via AP) Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Isnt Coming in 2020, Mnuchin Says The redesign of the $20 bill, which would feature Harriet Tubman, will no longer be unveiled next year, said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The primary reason we have looked at redesigning the currency is for counterfeiting issues, Mnuchin said after he was questioned Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), as reported by CNBC. The process had been delayed, he said, adding that no new pictures would be unveiled until 2028. He said that based upon this, the $20 bill will now not come out until 2028. The $10 bill and the $50 bill will come out with new features beforehand. The redesign was announced in 2016 by former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, replacing former President Andrew Jackson with Tubman. The decision to put Harriet Tubman on the new $20 was driven by thousands of responses we received from Americans young and old, Lew stated at the time. I have been particularly struck by the many comments and reactions from children for whom Harriet Tubman is not just a historical figure, but a role model for leadership and participation in our democracy. Lew had ordered the Bureau of Printing and Engraving to hasten the design process so that the bills would be unveiled in 2020, which is the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment. Tubman was an American abolitionist and political activist, having escaped slavery. She made about a dozen missions to rescue approximately 70 enslaved people, family, and friends, using the Underground Railroad. .@RepPressley: Do you support Harriet Tubman being on the $20 bill? Secretary @stevenmnuchin1: Ive made no decision as it relates to that. pic.twitter.com/LuDNEhiEFH CSPAN (@cspan) May 22, 2019 Then-presidential candidate Donald Trump described the move to put Tubman on the banknote was pure political correctness. Well, Andrew Jackson had a great history, and I think its very rough when you take somebody off the bill, Trump said at the time, CNN reported. He added: I think Harriet Tubman is fantastic, but I would love to leave Andrew Jackson or see if we can maybe come up with another denomination. Trump and Ben Carson, at the time, both suggested that she be placed on the $2 bill, which isnt printed anymore. (Jackson) had a history of tremendous success for the country, Trump said of the seventh president. (The $20) really represented somebody really that was very important to this country. I would love to see another denomination and that could take place. I think that would be more appropriate. Meanwhile, Mnuchin said in 2017 that the Trump administration is reconsidering the move to put Tubman on the bill. People have been on the bills for a long period of time, Mnuchin said at the time. This is something well consider. Right now weve got a lot more important issues to focus on. In introducing a bill in September 2017, Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said, Harriet Tubman was called the Moses of her people, because after she escaped slavery, she courageously made 19 trips to the South to free more than 300 enslaved African Americans. Her courage, conviction, and commitment to equality represent the best of America and it is long past time we recognize her place in history. He added, I am proud to reintroduce this bill with Rep. Katko to honor Harriet Tubmans role in making America a more free and more equal society. File photo of a Shih Tzu, the same breed of dog that was euthanized in Virginia to be buried alongside its deceased owner. (Pixabay) Healthy Dog Euthanized to Be Buried With Its Dead Owner: Report A healthy dog was euthanized to be buried with its owner in line with instructions left in the will of a deceased Virginia woman. A Shih Tzu named Emma was put down after the executor of the will insisted the womans testament be complied with, according to a report by WWBT. After the owners death, the dog was taken to an animal shelter in Chesterfield County on March 8, where the animal remained for about two weeks. The executor eventually showed up, insisting that the dog be put down. We did suggest they could sign the dog over on numerous occasions because its a dog we could easily find a home for and re-home, Carrie Jones, the manager of Chesterfield Animal Services, told WWBT. Ultimately, they came back in on March 22 and redeemed the dog. Emma was taken to a vet, put down, and cremated. While the Virginia Cemetery code 54.1-2310 forbids pets from being buried with humans in commercial cemeteries, private and family-owned cemeteries are an exception. It is unknown when the planned burial of the urn containing Emmas ashes is expected to take place. Abandoned Dogs Found Without Food and Water in Foreclosed Home Meanwhile, two dogs found caged without food and water inside a foreclosed New Jersey home have made a remarkable recovery after being rescued to a local animal shelter. A man hired to clean the property found the two dogsnamed Fred and Wilmalocked in a crate, according to Jennifer Vuocolo, assistant executive director of the Associated Humane Societies. The first thought that comes to mind when you see pictures like this is, How could they? the Associated Humane Societies Newark (AHS-N) asked in a Facebook post. How in the world could someone do such a thing to innocent, defenseless animals? When the two Shih Tzus were found, they bore signs of neglect, Vuocolo told The Epoch Times. The man brought them to AHS, they were covered in urine and feces; one of the worst cases our groomer has ever seen. She said the dogs are estimated to be about 7 years old. They were so matted that they were barely recognizable as dogs, shelter officials noted. The dogs were said to have been left behind by their owners, who abandoned them as they vacated the foreclosed home. They were likely obtained as puppies and doted upon when they were tiny, cute little pups. Hopefully, they enjoyed good treatment and experienced love from the family that owned them. But good treatment and love was far from what they were given when their family lost their home, and upon leaving the house, they locked Fred and Wilma in a crate and left them behind, AHS-N wrote. After the dogs were brought to the shelter, they were cleaned up and given a medical exam. Both have some medical issues that are being tended to and our hope is that once they are feeling better, they will find a home with a family that will love them, spoil them, protect them, and never, ever, leave them behind again, shelter officials said. Fred and Wilma are incredibly sweet, loving, and ready to put their past behind them. They are bonded and we want to find them a home together, Vuocolo told The Epoch Times. She said the shelter is requesting donations on behalf of the two dogs and other animals in need of care. This makes it possible for us to continue to rescue and care for cases of extreme cruelty and neglect just like these two darling Shih Tzu dogs, she said. Man Charged for Killing Burned Dog Tommie The incident recalls the case of a Virginia man who was arrested and charged with a felony after a dog died days after being set on fire in a Richmond park. The pit bull, named Tommie, was found on the night of Feb. 10, tied to a fence at Abner Clay Park and set on fire, Richmond Police said in a statement. Firefighters found the dog had been doused with a flammable liquid and suffered burns to over 40 percent of its body. Tommie was treated at Virginia Veterinary Center, and rallied briefly, police said, but five days later succumbed to his injuries and died. Jyahshua A. Hill, 20, of St. Peter Street, was arrested on Monday, May 20, by the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force, police said. Hill has been charged with felony animal cruelty. BREAKING: Newly released photo of man charged with killing Tommie. Jyahshua Hill, 20, of St. Peter St is charged with one felony count of animal cruelty. STORY: Man arrested for killing Tommie, the dog set on fire in a Richmond park https://t.co/xoie2cAdS8 pic.twitter.com/DKcCSBh319 Brendan King CBS 6 (@ImBrendanKing) May 20, 2019 There are a lot of people to thank, but Id like to single out all the citizens who contributed tips that pointed us in the right direction, Interim Richmond Police Chief William C. Smith said. That, plus the excellent job done by arson investigators who did the bulk of the work, major crimes detectives, forensic technicians, and animal control officers who all built a strong case to present to the grand jury. The incident sparked widespread outrage, a Richmond Police representative said, according to WTVR. Investigators are crediting an outpouring of information and assistance from the general public that helped them solve this crime. Public outcry over the dogs death led to new legislation dubbed Tommies Law that made animal cruelty a felony in Virginia, WTKR reported. The bill raises the penalty for animal abuse from a misdemeanor to a Class 6 felony, which can bring a prison term of up to five years behind bars. The Senate passed the bill unanimously on Feb. 15. Homeless Teen Graduates With Top Honors and $3 Million in Scholarships A teenager was able to graduate with top honors and earn more than $3 million in college scholarshipswhile being homeless. Tupac Mosley, 17, from Raleigh Egypt High School in Memphis, Tennessee, received more than 50 scholarships before he graduated in May, local station WHBQ reported. He said he was accepted into more than 40 colleges, and hes chosen Tennessee State University, where he hopes to major in electrical engineering, according to WHBQ. Mosley told the news outlet that he had aimed to garner about $1 million in scholarships. The news station reported that Mosley had become homeless during his senior year. After my father passed, we fell behind on bills and we ended up getting evicted from our home February 21 of this year, he said. The family stayed at For the Kingdom, a camping site and nonprofit that helps children who are undergoing hard times. We were blessed to have For the Kingdom, he said, adding that college may have not been an option if it werent for their support. When I heard that I got $3 million, I was more than elated and excited and astonished that it was that much, he told WHBQ. He managed to maintain a GPA of 4.3 his last year of high school. He said the hardest challenge was time management. I knew that I had to make them proud. I knew that their investment was worth it that and just show them that yes, everything that you poured into me was worth $3 million and counting, Mosley told WHBQ. Never let your current situation, whatever circumstances youre going through, be a mountain that you cant climb. In his speech at graduation on May 19, he expressed gratitude to his teachers for believing in him. Mosley also shared touching words on the struggles he and others like him have faced. Many of us on stage have lost one [a family member] already, including myself. I lost my father my sophomore year, he said. But obviously it did not act as a complete deterrent to any of us, because we are still here today, on stage, graduating. In his speech, Mosley encouraged his classmates to keep working hard. We are the kings and queens of Memphis. We have not had our throne taken away from us. No matter what we go through, we are still going to come out on top. In the future, I would love to see all of my classmates be successful because I know they will, he said. We will never give up. We have to do our best to make sure that we are going to be the best people in Memphis, Mosley added. Make sure that you always keep your head up, he said, ending with a quote from the late American rapper Tupac: After every dark night, there is a brighter day. Teen Mom Graduates With More Than $1 Million in Scholarships In another graduation feat, a teenage mother, also from Memphis, Tennessee, recently graduated with more than $1 million in scholarships and also as valedictorian. Lamyrical Harris from Trezevant High School told WREG that although she was scared after finding out she was pregnant during her junior year, it just made me go 10 times harder. Harris said that there were times she barely managed to walk after having her son, but a teacher at the school helped her stay focused on her goals. Congratulatory messages flooded in on a Facebook post from the school that announced Harriss success. Congratulations! Its not the school its what you want to take from it! one person wrote. I hope this inspires the class following you to aim just as high or higher. Another wrote: Lamyrical! Wishing greatness for you in every phase of your life. Stay humble. May God continue to bless you and your family. From NTD.com. A police cruiser stands parked outside a home in Houston where a 75-year-old woman was stabbed to death on May 20, 2019. (Houston Police Department) Houston Woman Begged For Her Life Before Being Stabbed to Death: Report Texas police have revealed disturbing new details in the case of a 75-year-old Houston woman found stabbed to death in her own home. Investigators cited by KTRK said 19-year-old Marco Cobos admitted to killing the elderly woman on May 20, and said that she pleaded for her life as he stabbed her to death. Cobos also reportedly told detectives he left the slain womans home with some stolen cash, went to a store to buy food, and returned to the crime scene to eat. The suspect, who is said to be homeless, was arrested Monday and charged with capital murder. What Happened? Etta Nugent was at her home on the 8100 block of Neff Street, according to the Houston Chronicle, when she was approached by Cobos who asked for help with his truck. Police said Cobos had been sleeping in the vehiclelater found to have been stolenfor several days leading up to the slaying. The Chronicle reported neighbors had taken notice of the broken-down vehicle and Cobos living out of it over the weekend. Cobos reportedly asked Nugent for help fixing the truck. According to KHOU, police said she was unable to assist Cobos because of her age. He then allegedly forced his way into her home and stabbed her to death. Investigators cited by KTRK said Cobos then took about $560 from Nugents home and drove her car to the store to buy food and supplies. After returning from the store, he lingered at the crime scene for several hours, according to the report. It is unclear under what circumstances police arrested Cobos, but Houston police said in a tweet shortly before 7 p.m. that homicide investigators are on scene and are questioning a possible suspect. Police also said that preliminary information is a female was found deceased inside a residence about 1:30 p.m. Homicide investigators are on scene and are questioning a possibile suspect. 202 pic.twitter.com/blcKz2DyyX Houston Police (@houstonpolice) May 21, 2019 The Chronicle reported Cobos was arrested several doors down from Nugents home. Neighbors told the publication the victim is survived by three children and six grandchildren. Video: Special Ed Student Beaten By Group According to reports, footage has surfaced of the brutal beating of a Long Beach special education student. The video showed several boys knocking another boy to the ground, before repeatedly kicking and punching him as he tried to shield himself from the blows. Rasheena Mccord, the boys mother, told the Long Beach Post that her son was attacked by a group of teenagers as he was walking home from school on May 15. Mccord said her son tried to run away when the teens confronted him, but they caught up to him and beat him for several minutes. *WARNING: graphic video According to Long Beach police cited by CBSLA, officers were called to an area hospital following reports of the beating. Police said they were investigating the incident as gang-related. The victims mother told the Long Beach Post that incidents of groups of teenagers attacking other teens have been on the rise in recent days. She and other parents gathered on Monday in front of the Long Beach Polytechnic High School to call for school administrators and police to take action to protect their children from attacks. Im told its being investigated, but I would like to hear more from school and police, said one parent. https://t.co/Pbxd6P1YEF Long Beach Post (@LongBeachPost) May 21, 2019 Authorities have increased the frequency of patrols in the area, according to CBSLA. Mccord said her son suffered scrapes, bruises, and a torn eardrum. Crime in the United States Violent crime in the United States has fallen sharply over the past 25 years, according to both the FBIs Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). The rate of violent crimes fell by 49 percent between 1993 and 2017, reported the FBIs UCR, which only reflects crimes reported to the police. The violent crime rate dropped by 74 percent between 1993 and 2017, according to BJSs CVS, which takes into account both crimes that have been reported to the police and those that have not. From 1993 to 2017, the rate of violent victimization declined 74 percent, from 79.8 to 20.6 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older, the U.S. Department of Justice stated (pdf). Both studies are based on data up to and including 2017, the most recent year for which complete figures are available. The FBI recently released preliminary data for 2018. According to the Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, from January to June 2018, violent crime rates in the United States dropped by 4.3 percent compared to the same six-month period in 2017. While the overall rate of violent crime has seen a steady downward drop since its peak in the 1990s, there have been several upticks that bucked the trend. Between 2014 and 2016, the murder rate increased by more than 20 percent, to 5.4 per 100,000 residents, from 4.4, according to an analysis of FBI data. The last two-year period in which the rate soared so quickly was between 1966 and 1968. How Media Propagandists Create Symbolic Meaning News Analysis In the information age, propaganda has become one of the most powerful forces in the world. And political factions, legacy news outlets, and special interest groups looking to manipulate societies to their wills use propagandas various tactics to advance their goals. Yet, if we can manage to understand the inner workings of these propaganda tactics, their effects can be blunted. Like watching a magician at work, the tricks lose their charm when we can recognize the sleight of hand. Among the most common methods used by legacy news outlets and political factions to manipulate public opinion is to deceive people into interpreting their adversaries as symbols of intended emotions and concepts. Edward Bernays, whose 1928 book Propaganda directed modern tactics for advertising and politics, wrote that the intentional manipulation of societies, and of the habits and opinions of people, is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society, he wrote, constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country. The manipulation of symbols is one of the tactics at the foundation of many other tactics. And to understand how these broader tactics work, we first need to understand how propagandists break down how a person views the world, and how they can trigger peoples emotions. This ties to ones mythos and cycle of meaning. The mythos is used to describe a persons system of values and perceptions of the world. It can be your interpretation of right and wrong, your beliefs shaped by religion, and your worldview shaped by stories and experiences. Propagandists look to alter a persons mythos by subverting whats described as your cycle of meaning. This is the cycle that makes people interpret things as symbols. It holds that people dont interpret reality directly, but instead interpret reality through a series of symbols onto which they attach meaning. Through the cycle of meaning, its held that a person can alter the way people interpret these symbols through things including ritual, myth, art, and experience. The concept isnt necessarily a bad thing. As an example, a crucifix has no meaning in and of itself. It would carry no meaning if shown to someone unfamiliar with the story of Jesus. For people with the story, however, the crucifix is seen as a symbol of salvation. The same concept of symbology ties to people in your life, and how your past experiences with them shape your perceptions of them. When you encounter a person, you may feel the past emotions they caused in you. Some people may evoke love, others resentment, depending on how your perceptions have been shaped by experience. Propagandists look to subvert your cycle of meaning, and your mythos, in order to alter the way you react emotionally to things and how you interpret reality. Bernays wrote that when people desire something, its often not for that things actual worth or usefulness, but instead because they interpret surface meanings as symbols of deeper unspoken desires. He explained, a person desires something because he has unconsciously come to see in it a symbol of something else, the desire for which he is ashamed to admit to himself. A man buying a car may think he wants it for purposes of locomotion He may really want it because it is a symbol of social position, an evidence of his success in business, or a means of pleasing his wife. These deeper desires, or surface meanings, then become tools for propagandists to manipulatesince using them can directly trigger a persons emotional responses. If people find insects disgusting, then a propagandist looking to make a target appear disgusting will name that target alongside insects. If people find a group reprehensible, a propagandist will mention that group in relation to a target that they want to paint as reprehensible. Weve seen this tactic used heavily, for example, by legacy news outlets and politicians attempting to paint conservatives badly. To do this, they try to associate in peoples minds all conservatives with negative emotions by always naming them alongside words such as fascist, alt-right, or racist. This is of course done through a jump in logic. Mussolini was a socialist, as was Adolf Hitlers National Socialist (NAZI) party. The concept that they were far right came about through a re-framing of political spectrums done under the Marxist Frankfurt School, which looked only at the ideas of nationalism versus internationalism to separate their systems from the full body of socialism (a necessary move for the survival of socialism, since its association with Hitlers National Socialists would have been devastating to socialist movements during the denazification movement after World War II). Yet, using this tactic, legacy news outlets have convinced their followers to interpret MAGA hats as symbols of hate. Conservatives are seen as being symbols of fascism and are targeted for violence by leftist radical groups like Antifa. Its a guilty by association conceptonly the propagandists pulling the strings are fabricating what the symbolic associations are. Huawei Founder Says Family Uses Apple Products The founder of Chinese telecom giant Huawei said May 21 that his family members use Apple phones and buy him Apple computers when they travel overseas. Many of my family members tell me that Apples ecosystem is better than ours, Ren Zhengfei told a group of Chinese reporters during a press conference held at his companys Shenzhen headquarters on May 21, state-run media Beijing News reported. Huawei is the worlds second largest manufacturer of smartphones and one of Apples chief rivals. The company, also the worlds largest manufacturer of telecommunications network gear, has faced intensified scrutiny in the West over concerns that its products could be used by Beijing for spying, given the companys close ties to the Chinese military. Last December, Rens daughter and the companys chief financial officer, Meng Wanzhou, was found carrying several Apple products, including an iPhone 7 Plus and a MacBook Air, when she was arrested at the request of U.S. authorities at a Vancouver airport. Meng is currently out on bail in Canada and fighting extradition to the United States, where she is indicted on charges of fraud in connection with violating U.S. sanctions against Iran. Earlier this year, the company punished two employees who were responsible for sending a New Years tweet from the companys official Twitter account using an iPhone. Huawei Blacklisted Citing national security concerns, U.S. President Donald Trump issued orders last week that effectively banned U.S. firms from doing business with the Chinese company. The U.S. Commerce Department said May 20 that it would grant Huawei a 90-day license to buy American-made goods to maintain existing networks and provide software updates to existing Huawei phones. Ren, speaking to Chinese media days after the U.S. export ban, attempted to play down its impact, saying that the company had contingency measures in case it is cut off from U.S. suppliers. The founder added that Trumps move was not entirely unexpected. We have sacrificed individuals and families only for the goal to stand at the top of the world, Beijing-based business magazine Caixin quoted Ren as saying during the recent press conference. For this ideal, there will be conflict with the United States sooner or later. Huawei says it can ensure a steady supply chain without U.S. suppliers. But in 2018, the company spent $11 billion on buying U.S. tech parts alone, out of a total $70 billion spent on components, representing roughly 16 percent. Several chipmakers, including those based outside the United States, have already reportedly suspended their business with the telecoms company. On May 20, German chipmaker Infineon Technologies was reported by Japanese media Nikkei to have suspended shipments to Huawei in order to comply with the U.S. ban. U.K.-based chip designer ARM instructed all staff to suspend business with Huawei, the BBC reported on May 22, citing internal documents obtained by the outlet. The U.K. company believed it was caught by the U.S. ban due to its designs containing U.S. origin technology, the BBC reported. Google, which makes the Android operating system and services for Huaweis smartphones, announced that it would suspend its business with Huawei on May 19. Meanwhile, mobile carriers around the world have announced that they will discontinue carrying Huawei phones, owing to concerns that the U.S. restrictions would affect long-term support and services for the devices. Security Concerns Huawei has repeatedly denied allegations that the companys equipment could be used by the Chinese regime for espionage. In the companys defense, Ren has often said there is no Chinese law mandating the installation of backdoors. While there is no Chinese law that compels a company in China to install backdoors, there are several broadly-worded security-related laws that are of concern to Western governments and experts. It is public record that under Chinese cybersecurity law, Chinese companies like Huawei are required to provide, essentially, access upon demand with little to no process to challenge that, FBI Director Christopher Wray said at a press conference in January. Among these laws is the 2017 National Intelligence Law, which requires all Chinese citizens and entities to supply intelligence information to authorities if requested. In recent months, the United States has ramped up diplomatic efforts to warn allies about Huawei, in particular in relation to the next generation of wireless technology, 5G, currently being rolled out around the world. It seems common sense to me to not hand over the keys to your entire society to an actor that has demonstrated malign conduct, Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union, told Reuters in February. Asked whether there is evidence of Huawei equipment having been used for espionage, Sondland said there is classified evidence. He declined to expand on the nature of the material beyond saying that there was no doubt Huawei had the capability to hack a system and the mandate by the government to do so upon request. Reuters contributed to this report. JC Penney Sales Fall Short, Net Loss Doubles; Shares Sink Same-store sales fell more than expected at J.C. Penney Co. Inc. in the first quarter and its net loss nearly doubled after the retailer exited its appliance and in-store furniture businesses, sending shares down more than 9% on May 21. The 117-year-old department store chain, which earlier this year said it was ditching major appliances like refrigerators and washing machines to focus on clothing, said that move cut comparable sales by 20 basis points. Chief Executive Jill Soltau, on an earnings conference call, warned investors that Penney would likely take a further hit if U.S. President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on another $300 billion worth of imports from China. We do anticipate a more meaningful impact on both our private and national brands if the potential fourth tranche of tariffs does go into effect, said Soltau. Shares sank 9.6% to $1.04 in morning trading. Penney was the second biggest decliner among S&P 600 companies. Washingtons escalation of a 10-month trade war with Beijing by raising levies on $200 billion of Chinese goods had a minimal impact on the business thus far, Soltau said. Soltau reassured investors the company had worked hard for the better part of the last several years to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers and would try to reduce any consequential impact. Last week, Macys Inc. and Walmart Inc. delivered a similar warning, alerting investors that prices for shoppers would rise due to higher tariffs on goods from China. Weak Operator Some analysts expressed concern about Penneys future prospects. A key concern was whether the company will run out of time and capital to make the necessary changes, said Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, in an analyst note. JC Penney is a very weak operator in one of the toughest sectors of a highly competitive retail market in an era of more subdued demand from highly fickle consumers. Penney, which reiterated its previously issued financial forecast for the year, expects free cash flow to be positive for fiscal 2019. No details on the forecast were provided due to management transitions, the retailer said. Analysts expect a loss of 77 cents per share, compared with a loss of 94 cents in 2018, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Separately, rival Kohls Corp slashed its full-year profit forecast on May 21 after missing estimates for quarterly same-store sales and profit, sending shares down 11%. One of the oldest names in American retail, J.C. Penney has struggled to excite customers with its mid-priced clothing and has steadily lost out to fast-fashion brands and online shopping. Penney has tried to strengthen its apparel business to compete with online retailers like Amazon.com Inc. and off-price retailers like TJX Cos Inc. The Plano, Texas-based company has shut hundreds of stores over the years and revamped its locations to boost sales and revive profits. It has also identified inventory management as a top priority. Sales at stores open for at least 12 months fell 5.5% in the first quarter, its sixth straight quarterly drop. Analysts, on average, had expected a 4.21% fall, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. The companys net loss nearly doubled to $154 million, or 48 cents per share, in the three months ended May 4. Excluding one-time items, the company lost 46 cents a share, more than the 38-cent loss analysts had expected. Total revenue decreased 4.3% to $2.56 billion, in line with the average analyst estimate. The company said it hired Shawn Gensch as its chief customer officer. Gensch, hailing from Sprouts Farmers Market Inc., will oversee marketing strategies relating to areas including digital, advertising and customer research. By Melissa Fares & Uday Sampath Kumar Lawsuits Claim Starbucks Exposed Customers to Toxic Pesticide, Company Denies It Starbucks is accused of exposing customers at New York City locations to a toxic pesticide, according to two new lawsuits. Starbucks released a statement about the lawsuits on May 21, saying the claims lack merit. The two lawsuits were filed in a New York state and federal court, alleging that some Manhattan locations exposed consumers to a pesticide toxin, DDVP, or Dichlorvos, that isnt meant to be around people or food. DDVP is contained in No-Pest Strips that were allegedly used in some of the Starbucks locations, the Daily Mail reported. According to NBC News, 10 Starbucks customers claimed they were exposed to the toxic chemical. One of the lawsuits also includes photos of the No-Pest Strips, located close to food preparation areas or near air vents. NBC reported that Starbucks allegedly used the strips to kill off cockroaches and other pests. Two pest control technicians and a former employee are among the people who filed the suit. Starbucks stores throughout Manhattan have for many years been permeated with a toxic pesticide called Dichlorvos, which is highly poisonous and completely unfit for use in proximity to food, beverages, and people, the suit stated. The lawsuit claimed that the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said pesticides containing DDVP cant be used in enclosed places unless people have a respirator or if people arent present, NBC reported. In a statement, Starbucks denied the claims. The lawsuits filed by the plaintiffs and their attorneys lack merit and are an attempt to incite public fear for their own financial gain. We go to great lengths to ensure the safety of our partners and customers, and we are confident they have not been put at risk. Starbucks takes the concerns of its partners very seriously and does not take action or retaliate against partners who express them, the Seattle-based firm told ABC7 in New York. The representative for the chain said that employees and customers were not exposed to any potential health risks based on how the No-Pest Strips were used in locations. We go to great things to ensure the safety of our partners and customers and we are confident they have not been put at risk, the representative told CBS News, adding that a third-party had confirmed Starbuckss finding. The company also denied that employees had lost their job for complaining about the strips. According to the pest strips website, the products shouldnt be used in kitchens, restaurants or areas where food is prepared or served. It adds that the product may be fatal if swallowed. Do not get in mouth. Harmful if inhaled. Causes moderate eye irritation. Avoid breathing vapors. Avoid contact with eyes or clothing. After prolonged storage, a small amount of liquid may form on strip. Do not get liquid in eyes. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling and before eating, drinking, chewing gum, using tobacco, or using the toilet. @Starbucks customers file class action suit over use of No Pest Strips in Manhattan stores. Strips are not to be used in occupied areas or where food is being served. Company says strips are gone and no one was put in danger. #1010WINS pic.twitter.com/qvQ4i631TF Roger Stern (@NYRogerStern) May 21, 2019 Remove and wash contaminated clothing before reuse. Do not use in hospitals or clinic rooms, such as patient rooms, wards, nurseries, operating or emergency areas. Do not use in kitchens, restaurants, or areas where food is prepared or served. Do not use in homes except for garages, attics, crawl spaces, and sheds occupied by people for less than 4 hours per day. Not to be taken internally by humans or animals, the warning says. Man Scams $80,000 From Fiancee He Met Online: Police Police have arrested a serial scammer who they say swept up a Georgia woman in a whirlwind romance, before disappearing the moment she transferred $80,000 to his account. The unnamed woman from Alpharetta in the Atlanta suburbs told police that she had met a man named John Hill through the online dating app Match.com. When he disappeared with the $80,000 she had given him toward a house, she went to the police, who discovered that Hill had had been accused of similar frauds in the past. The suspect told the victim that he was a millionaire, said the Gwinnett County Police in a statement. During their short romance, he convinced her that they were in love and wanted to buy a house together. They went house-hunting and selected a home they were interested in. Within a week of knowing one another, they agreed to get married. The woman gave the suspect more than $80,000 to use toward the purchase of a house and furniture. Following the exchange of money, the suspect ceased all contact. The suspect, John Martin Hill, 35, was arrested on May 22, in Tennessee for theft by deception. Investigators also said that Hill lived in the apartment in Duluth with another woman and a child, reported the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Police say that further investigation revealed that Hill has changed his name over five times in the last two-and-a-half years. They also discovered that he has been accused of committing similar romance fraud crimes in the nearby states of Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey. Theft by deception is a felony conviction for that carries a prison sentence of between two and 20 years in the state of Georgia for amounts over $25,000. Rising Online Romance Scams Online romance scams have increased in recent years. Many scams are carried out without the need to meet in person. They create fake profiles to build online relationships, and eventually convince people to send money in the name of love, warns the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website. Some even make wedding plans before disappearing with the money. An online love interest who asks for money is almost certainly a scam artist. The trade commission says to watch for certain warning signs such as: the other person asking to leave the dating site immediately and use personal email or IM; the other party claiming to fall in love in a heartbeat; someone claiming to be from the United States, but is traveling or working overseas; plans to visit, but is prevented by a traumatic event or a business deal gone sour. Romance scams have quadrupled in the last four years, according to FTC statistics, with over 21,000 cases in 2018, racking up a total loss of $143 million. People aged between 40 and 69 are most likely to fall prey to romance scamsmore than twice the rate of people in their 20s. But the elderly, aged over 70, suffered the highest financial losses, averaging $10,000 per scam. At the same time, people 70 and over reported the highest individual median losses at $10,000. The FTC has further tips to help weed out the gold-digging suitors: Never send money or gifts to a sweetheart you havent met in person. Talk to someone you trust about this new love interest. In the excitement about what feels like a new relationship, we can be blinded to things that dont add up. Pay attention if your friends or family are concerned. Take it slowly. Ask questions and look for inconsistent answers. Try a reverse-image search of the profile pictures. If theyre associated with another name or with details that dont match up, its a scam. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testifies before the House Financial Services Committee hearing on "The Annual Testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the International Financial System" in Washington, U.S. on May 22, 2019. (Mary F. Calvert/Reuters) Mnuchin Says More US Tariffs on China at Least a Month Away WASHINGTON/BEIJINGThe United States is at least a month from enacting its proposed tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese imports as it studies the impact on consumers, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on May 22. Washington this month hiked existing tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent, prompting Beijing to retaliate with its own levies on U.S. imports, as talks to end a 10-month trade war between the worlds two largest economies stalled. President Donald Trump, who has embraced protectionism as part of an America First agenda aimed at rebalancing global trade, has threatened to slap tariffs of up to 25 percent on an additional list of Chinese imports worth about $300 billion. There wont be any decision probably for another 30 to 45 days, Mnuchin said in a hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee. A 30-day window would represent an accelerated schedule compared to previous rounds of U.S. tariffs and would mean that the next batch of levies would be ready when Trump meets Chinese leader Xi Jinping, as expected, at a G20 leaders summit in Japan on June 28-29. Im still hopeful we can get back to the table. The two presidents will likely see each other at the end of June, Mnuchin said, adding that the impact of tariffs on American consumers was a key consideration in the U.S. trade strategy. Mnuchin said the Trump administration is open to holding new talks with China if the two sides can proceed on the basis of previous negotiations. No talks between top Chinese and U.S. negotiators have been scheduled since the end of two days of discussions in Washington on May 10, the same day Trump imposed the higher levies on Chinese goods. The seeds of the current stalemate were sowed earlier this month when Chinese officials sought major changes to the text of a proposed deal that the Trump administration says had been largely agreed. The Chinese regimes top diplomat Wang Yi said on Wednesday that Chinas door would always be open to further trade talks with the United States. The acrimony between the two countries has intensified since last week when Washington put Chinese telecom equipment company Huawei Technologies on a blacklist that curbs Huaweis access to U.S.-made components. The move is a potentially devastating blow for the company that has rattled technology supply chains and investors. Some mobile operators, including the Ymobile unit of Japans Softbank Corp and rival KDDI Corp, put launch plans for Huaweis new P30 Lite smartphone on hold on Wednesday. Another big Chinese firm, video surveillance equipment maker Hikvision Digital Technology, also may face limits on its ability to buy U.S. technology, the New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter, sending the firms Shenzhen-listed shares down 5.54 percent. Strident Tone While China has not said whether or how it may retaliate against the measures targeting Huawei, state media have taken an increasingly strident and nationalistic tone and vowed Beijing will not bend to U.S. pressure. The international situation is increasingly complex and China will have to overcome major risks and challenges, state news agency Xinhua paraphrased Xi as saying on a trip this week to the southern province of Jiangxi, a cradle of Chinas Communist revolution. We must be conscious of the long-term and complex nature of various unfavorable factors at home and abroad, and appropriately prepare for various difficult situations, Xi said. The report did not elaborate on those difficulties, and did not directly mention the trade war or the United States. U.S. firms said in a survey released on Wednesday they were facing retaliation in China over the trade war. The American Chamber of Commerce of China and its sister body in Shanghai, said members reported increased obstacles such as government inspections, slower customs clearances and longer waits for approval for licensing and other applications. It also said 40.7 percent of respondents were considering or had relocated manufacturing facilities outside of China. Of the almost 250 respondents to the survey, which was conducted after the latest round of U.S. and Chinese tariffs, nearly three-quarters said the levies were hurting their competitiveness. The U.S. business community has in recent years advocated a harder line on what it sees as discriminatory Chinese trade policies. The United States is seeking sweeping changes to trade and economic policies, including an end to forced technology transfers and theft of U.S. trade secrets. Washington also wants curbs on subsidies for Chinese state-owned enterprises and increased access for U.S. firms in Chinese markets. China for years has blocked major U.S. tech firms, including Google and Facebook, from fully operating in its market. Those and other restrictions have fueled calls from within the U.S. business community for Washington to pursue more reciprocal policies. The idea is not to have tariffs, the idea is for them (China) to treat our companies fairly, Mnuchin told the U.S. lawmakers, adding that the Trump administration was very focused on the impact on U.S. farmers. By Jason Lange, David Lawder & Michael Martina The bodies of 33-year-old Tanja Ludwig (pictured) and her 2-year-old daughter Tilly were found at the bottom of a cliff at a popular tourist spot near Wollongong, Australia, on May 21, 2019. (Facebook/Tanja Ludwig) Mother and Daughter Die in Suspected Murder-Suicide, Tragic Final Message Revealed: Report A woman and a 2-year-old child died in Australia after plummeting to their deaths from a cliffside lookout platform. The woman was identified on May 22, as Tanja Ludwig, 33, a German national living in Wollongong, according to 7News. The bodies of Ludwig and her 2-year-old daughter, Tilly, were recovered from the bottom of a cliff below Robertson Lookout at Mount Keira, near Wollongong, on Tuesday, May 21, The Daily Mail reported. What has been reported as one of Ludwigs last social media posts contains a message for people having difficulty coping. Its ok not to be ok. We all need support sometimes, the caption reads. The message has numbers to helplines and the message, Its a really tough time of year for people. What Happened? A worried citizen at Robertson Lookout contacted the police around 2 p.m. local time on Tuesday to express concern about the welfare of Ludwig and her daughter, 7News reported. When crews arrived at the location, about 40 miles south of Sydney, they found the bodies of mother and child at the bottom of the cliff. According to 7News, police are investigating the incident as a possible murder-suicide. Superintendent Chris Craner was cited by the Illawarra Mercury as saying that the news was going to be devastating for the family and my thoughts are also with the emergency services who have turned up here today to this horrific incident. Woman, child found dead below a Mt Keira lookout https://t.co/8ilgahk21M Illawarra Mercury (@illawarramerc) May 21, 2019 The Sydney Morning Herald reported that some family members had arrived at the site and were comforted by crews after showing emotional distress. Absolutely devastating: Woman, three-year-old girl found at the bottom of Robertson Lookout | @natassiazc https://t.co/dsCbXgjwIX The Sydney Morning Herald (@smh) May 21, 2019 Images of the recovery operation at the Mt. Keira lookout, published by 7News, show crews on the platform as a helicopter hovers with a rescue crew member dangling on a cable. Emergency services are working to retrieve the bodies of a woman and child who have fallen from a cliff at a popular lookout south of Sydney. #7NEWS https://t.co/poWasbncvf 7NEWS Sydney (@7NewsSydney) May 21, 2019 Superintendent Craner told 7News the recovery operations were hindered by the difficult terrain. Its steep, its hectic, weve got police coming in from the low side, police trekking down from the high side, he told the news outlet. Its a treacherous, dangerous area that we need to get to. Recent Separation The Daily Mail reported Ludwig and her partner had recently broken up. A relative of Ludwigs former partner told the publication the family was in shock. Think about the person closest to you, and you found them at the bottom of a cliffits beyond horrible, said the person, who was not identified by name in the report. Two beautiful lives have been ripped away. College Student Killed After Falling Off Cliff The incident recalls the case of a 20-year-old college student who fell off a cliff while posing for a photo in Arkansas, plunging 100 feet to her death. Briar Cliff University junior Andrea Norton was repositioning herself for a picture at Hawksbill Crag, a popular hiking destination near Jasper, on April 13, when she fell. The Associated Press cited Newton County Sheriff Glenn Wheeler as saying that Norton was with a group of other college students when she died. Norton, of Hot Springs, South Dakota, had been on a hiking trip with college classmates at the time of the accident, according to her obituary. A 20-year-old South Dakota woman died this morning after she fell off Hawksbill Crag in Newton County. The sheriff says Andrea Norton goes to school in Sioux City, Iowa. She was w/ other students. Witnesses say she repositioned herself for a photo when she fell. pic.twitter.com/D0fhOTO36G Stephanie Sharp (@stephmsharp) April 13, 2019 Speaking to how dangerous the area is known to be, Wheeler told ABC News, One stumble or misstep is all it can take to turn a great day into a tragic one. Nepal Bans Chinas WeChat Pay, Alipay KATHMANDUNepal has banned popular Chinese digital payment apps WeChat Pay and AliPay saying payments from the unregistered systems were illegal and resulting in a loss of income to the Himalayan nation, a spokesman for the central bank said on May 22. Laxmi Prapanna Niroula, a spokesman for the Nepal Rastra Bank, said the two digital payment platforms were not registered with the regulator in Nepal but were widely used by Chinese tourists for settling their payments with businesses. Any digital transaction made with unregistered foreign payment system like WeChat Pay and AliPay is illegal, Niroula told Reuters. Anyone using such platforms can be punished, he said. Under Nepali laws, anyone found guilty of embezzling foreign exchange can be sentenced to up to three years in jail. WeChat Pay, operating on Tencents messaging service, and e-commerce giant Alibabas Alipay, are the two dominant platforms in mainland China. They are widely used by Chinese tourists for making payments to Chinese-run hotels, restaurants and other businesses in Nepal as the payment giants seek to expand overseas. Tencent said WeChat Pays overseas division strictly complies with all regulations in the countries it operated in. As for illegal payment collection overseas, we are constantly using technical means to crackdown and prevent this behavior, it said. Overseas vendors should work with WeChat Pays partners to enable WeChat Pays collection services. Alibabas affiliate Ant Financial said Alipays cross-border payment operations in Nepal were operating normally. Alipay strictly complies with local rules and regulations in all markets where we operate, including overseas, Ant Financial said. We request that all users abide by the Alipay Collection QR Code Agreement when using our QR code payment services. We have strengthened our measures to effectively prevent future cases where some users had wrongfully collected payments outside of China using domestic QR codes, it said. Niroula, the central bank spokesman, said these apps were using Nepals internet connectivity but transactions were made in China and not reflected in the Himalayan nations national accounts. The government cannot tax such transactions nor check any crimes related to such unregistered payment systems, Niroula said. The ban came into force from Monday, he said. Nepal, home to Mount Everest and birthplace of Lord Buddha, received 1.1 million tourists in 2018of them 153,000 were Chinese visitors, the second largest number after Indian tourists who totaled 200,000. China and India jostle to influence Nepal, a natural buffer between them. Trade With China But now, the IndoNepal relationship looks to be undercut by China, after the latter announced a new trade agreement with Nepal. The Transit and Transport Agreement (TTA), signed after a meeting in Nepals capital Kathmandu in September between Nepali and Chinese officials, would allow Nepal to use four of Chinas seaports and three land ports for trade, according to a Sept. 7 article by Nepals English newspaper The Himalayan Times. Under the agreement, Nepali traders will be allowed to travel by any mode of transport, such as rail and road, to access these ports. For the land port in Shigatse, Chinese authorities will provide permits for truck and container operators to carry cargo to and from the Chinese city to Nepal. The Himalayan Times article didnt give an explanation why such a permit would be needed for Shigatse, but not for the other ports. Chinas motives behind signing the TTA has since been questioned by Indian media. According to Indian news website Opindia, the transportation costs are going to be higher with using Chinese ports, compared to Indian ports, given the longer distance from the Nepali border. For example, the distance to Kolkata, the capital of Indias West Bengal state, is about 480 miles (774 km), and the distance to Visakhapatnam, a port city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, is roughly 741 miles (1,194 km). The trade agreement is just one of a series of investments and projects that China has struck with the Himalayan country, as it is considered a strategic nation in its One Belt, One Road initiative (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road). By Gopal Sharma. Epoch Times reporter Frank Fang contributed to this report. Chinas Retaliatory Tariffs on US-Made Drugs, Medical Equipment Spark Complaints by Netizens After the U.S. government increased tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods to 25 percent from 10 percent, China retaliated with tariff increases on $60 billion worth of U.S. goods. According to the tariff list compiled by Chinas Customs Tariff Commission, nearly 100 U.S.-made pharmaceuticals, medicines, and medical devices from the United States are now subject to added duties. Chinese netizens expressed outrage, noting that many are life-saving drugs for critically ill patients. For some drugs, there are few or no alternative products made by Chinese pharmaceutical companies. Among the drugs and medical products slapped with 25 percent tariffs are human insulin for diabetes treatment; leukotriene for asthma treatment; adrenocortical hormones, used to treat a number of illnesses, including acute infections and autoimmune disease; and radiocontrast agents used to enhance the visibility of internal structures in X-ray-based imaging. Audiometers, which are devices used to measure hearing acuity; blood pressure measurement instruments; and dental X-ray instruments are among products under 20 percent tariffs. Dental plasters, ibuprofen for pain relief, first aid kits, endoscopes, mechanical therapy devices, oxygen therapy devices, therapeutic respiratory devices, and gamma-ray radiation instruments for cancer treatment are among items assessed at 10 percent tariffs. By contrast, the United States has excluded Chinese-manufactured medicines and rare-earth minerals, which are critical for making electronic devices, from its tariff list on Chinese imports. Many Chinese netizens expressed their outrage in the comments section of Chinese media reports on the added tariffs for U.S. drugs. Products related to peoples livelihood are used as leverage. How can that be? Chinese officials enjoy free health care. Of course, they dont care about ordinary peoples medical bills, another commented. Ren Ruihong, a former senior executive at the Red Cross Society of China, told Radio Free Asia during an interview on May 20 that in addition to tariffs, there are a number of hidden fees already imposed by Chinese authorities on imported drugs, making U.S.-made drug prices extremely high for Chinese consumers. According to Ren, Chinese authorities have applied these hidden fees under the premise of protecting the domestic pharmaceutical industry. She added that the majority of drugs imported from the United States cant be replaced with domestic alternatives. For example, some drugs are for cancer treatment. They have no replacement in China. Chinese pharmaceutical companies tried to develop similar products, but the drug performance is very poor. In China, state-run hospitals are the primary means for people to buy medicines. About 75 percent of retail sales of all drugs occur within Chinas national health care system, according to Zhu Hengpeng, deputy head of the Institute of Economics Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as reported in a July 2018 report on the news portal Tencent. Thus, hospitals near monopoly on drug sales has pushed up drug prices. Hospitals are then in the position to increase revenue by prescribing expensive foreign and domestic-made drugs to patients, rather than the cheaper generic substitutes. Frank Fang contributed to this report. New Midwife Finds out Shes Working Alongside Midwife Who Delivered Her A midwife from England discovered that an assistant she is training was delivered by her 19 years ago. Laura Woffendin from Pontefract, England, said she always wanted to work in the medical field as her grandmother was a midwife. Other family members were nurses. I inherited her community midwife bag and everything inside it, along with her midwifery badges and books. That decided it for me, Fox News quoted Woffendin, 19, as saying. Midwife discovers she delivered her assistant 19 years earlier https://t.co/IljX8TOR22 pic.twitter.com/evHGfS7HWX New York Post (@nypost) May 20, 2019 Woffendin said she helped deliver her first baby when she assisted Emma Reevell, a longtime midwife, but she didnt realize that it was Reevell who delivered her. I was so excited to tell my mom all about it when I got home. When she then told me that Emma was the midwife who had delivered me, I couldnt believe it, Laura said. Her mother found a photo of the childs birth in 2000, showing Reevell standing near the mother and her newborn. Pontefract midwife works alongside woman who delivered her https://t.co/lwf1JHa2hq BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) May 18, 2019 Woffendin then brought the photo to Reevell. I was amazed when Laura showed me the picture, the BBC quoted the midwife as saying. Its a lovely feeling though and makes it all a little bit more special. I couldnt believe it. She added that its also crazy to think that this child I brought into the world is now training to be a midwife. More Midwives Would Save Millions of Lives? Despite the fact that an estimated 85 percent of women are appropriate for midwife care, midwives attend about 11 percent of births in Connecticut, said Holly Kennedy, professor of midwifery at Yale School of Nursing. Kennedy sees a direct correlation between lower use of midwives and higher maternal mortality. If you scaled up midwives, you would avert over 80 percent of maternal deaths, Kennedy said. In Connecticut, there are 211 licensed nurse-midwives, compared to 945 licensed OB/GYNs, according to state Department of Health records. Unlike some other states, which employ midwives who do not require nursing degrees, Connecticut recognizes only nurse-midwives, who hold advanced degrees in nursing and additional training in midwifery. The United States has the highest rate of pregnancy- or childbirth-related deaths in the developed world. According to United Health Foundation, in 2018 the maternal mortality rate for the country is 20.7 deaths per 100,000 births from any cause related to or aggravated by pregnancy, excluding accidents. In Connecticut, the maternal mortality rate is 13.2. Cesarean sections, considered major surgery, carry well-established risks higher rates of hemorrhage, transfusions, infections, and blood clots. All of these are primary causes of maternal mortality, whose rates increased nationwide (with the exception of California) by 26.6 percent between 2010 and 2014, according to a study supported by The National Center for Biotechnology Information. At Yale, I get at least 100 applicants for our (nurse-midwife) program. Most are highly qualified, but I can only accept 25 percent, said Kennedy, an author of the 2018 study. She explained that most federal health education dollars are directed to schools of medicine, thereby limiting resources for midwifery education, including the ability to reimburse preceptors who oversee clinical training of nurse-midwife students. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Oil Steady as USIran Tensions Support Prices, Trade War Weighs NEW YORKOil futures were flat on May 21 as the prospect of U.S.-Iran tensions disrupting supply was offset by concerns that a drawn-out trade war between Washington and Beijing would weigh on crude demand. Brent crude futures, the international benchmark for oil prices, shed 1 cent to $71.96 a barrel by 1:08 p.m. EDT U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 13 cents to $62.97 a barrel, ahead of the front-month contract for June delivery going off the board on May 21. The July contract was trading at $63.08 a barrel. The situation with China is as bearish as the Iran situation is bullish. Thats why I think we continue to be here in a stalemate, said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital LLC in New York. On May 20, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Iran with great force if it attacked U.S. interests in the Middle East. Washington suspects that militia with ties to Iran organized a rocket attack in Iraqs capital Baghdad. On May 21, Iran said it would resist U.S. pressure, declining further talks under current circumstances. Iraqs oil minister said a growing conflict in the Middle East poses a challenge to the stability of crude oil markets and said the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries must pave the way for a new agreement to help stability. Tensions have mounted during an already tight market as OPEC, Russia and other producers have withheld supply to support prices since the start of the year in a six-month agreement. Saudi Arabia on May 19 indicated there was consensus among OPEC and allied oil producers to continue limiting supplies. OPEC and its allies were considering moving the date of their next oil policy meeting in Vienna to July 3-4 from June 25-26, two OPEC sources said on May 20. Also adding to market tightness was the closure of a major pipeline in Nigeria and supply disruptions from Russia. The prolonged tariff fight between the United States and China, however, raised concerns about a global economic slowdown. Signs that Asian economies were already being pinched by the trade conflict helped to boost the U.S. dollar to a four-week high, making crude more expensive. Disappointing U.S. economic data that showed existing home sales fell for a second straight month also hampered crude demand sentiment. U.S. oil stockpiles reports were due on May 21 from the American Petroleum Institute (API) and on May 22 from the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA). Analysts in a Reuters poll forecast crude inventories fell 2.5 million barrels last week. By Laila Kearney The field of medicine is facing a dilemma when it comes to empathy. On one hand, research has found that receiving empathy from caregiversfeeling understood and acceptedis critical for patient satisfaction, a key aspect of hospital reimbursement. On the other hand, over 60 percent of health care providers are experiencing burnout across professions, making now a harder time than ever to prioritize additional training. Will our health care system be able to embrace empathy as a core value going forward? I recently spent an evening in front of a live audience in conversation with author, doctor, and empathy researcher Helen Riess to discuss her new book, The Empathy Effect. Riesswho has been a mentor and friend to me over several yearsis an assistant professor of medicine and the director of the Empathy and Relational Science Program at Harvard Medical School and founder and chief scientific officer at Empathetics, which offers empathy training across industries. Her research suggests that empathy is a skill that can be taughtnot something we just have or we dontand further research has found that empathic doctors have patients with greater adherence to medications, improved trust, fewer malpractice suits, and even reduced symptoms. How can health care providers learn skills to help others with an open heart when they already feel overworked, emotionally depleted, and cynical? In our conversation below, Riess and I address this difficult question, as well as other barriers to empathy, and explore how empathy can promote more meaningful work and greater compassion. Eve Ekman: I want to start with a simple question: Why did you write this book and why now? Helen Riess: This topic has been very near and dear to me throughout my psychiatry training, and it has become more and more critical as Ive worked in the health care world, where I have seen a dramatic drop in empathy. Through my own clinical practice, I have heard many patients complain bitterly about a lack of empathy. They describe how little contact they actually have with their caregivers and how theyre treated like a number. Medical care has become so focused on getting people in and out of doctors offices that they are missing out on the true healing in a relationship that is so vital. I started this book for the medical profession, but in my empathy training work, I get calls from every industryfrom the law, to parenting, to business, and leadership. Im confident that if everybody was given a choice, they would prefer a more empathic interaction than a less empathic interaction, and yet its still such an obstacle. We need training. Ms. Ekman: I often hear people concerned that if they increase their empathy, they will be overwhelmed: The world is so painful and stressful; how am I going to manage all of that? What are your thoughts on the relationship between burnout and empathy? Ms. Riess: As you said, some people think that if they open their hearts to too many more people, theyre just going to be flooded with everyones burdens, and theyre going to be crushed by the needs and the emotional weight of connecting. Actually, I think thats absolutely a risk, but I also think that the secret is learning self-regulation skills, such as meditating, learning how to name and identify emotions, how to manage them, and self-care. Self-care practices are needed to simply fill the tank. I think what contributes to burnout is when the tank is empty and we dont take time to fill it with what truly nourishes and soothes us. We keep trying to be a certain way (like compassionate) when we havent filled ourselves up adequately for the task. So I think empathy and self-care are really intricately interdependent. Empathy can make us burn out if we dont tend to ourselves, but empathy can also actually enliven and invigorate us. One author in the Journal of the American Medical Association, Michael Kearney, wrote about the concept of exquisite empathy. He used that phrase to refer to that magical moment when a person feels thoroughly cared about; it enlivens and quickens the relationship not just for the patient but also for the caregiver. Ms. Ekman: There is a provocative viral video making the rounds among health care professionals suggesting that burnout is the wrong term and we should call it moral injurythe result of being asked to work in an environment that is toxic and untenable. Beyond not filling our own tanks, are there more systemic causes of burnout, whether its in a hospital or a company? Ms. Riess: Burnout is an interesting word, because I think it implies to the burned-out person that its their faultthat theyre not resilient, not tough, or that theyre weak. Statistics in the past 10 years show that up to 60 percent of physicians are showing symptoms of burnout, with equal numbers of nurses. It cant be that all of a sudden 60 percent of the workforce is unable to cope. Somethings happening within the whole system of health care. The disconnection in these systems is that the people making decisions about how medicine is practiced are not the ones in the frontlines. Leaders who have never been doctors or nurses view health care as a business. In the last few decades, theres been this lean six sigma approach to health care that has nearly dropped the humanity out of it and brought in the spirit of a Toyota factory, where you try to make the parts as cheaply as possible and get the workers to work as quickly as possible. We have kind of lost the magic of what a health care profession can offer. It really is the system thats burning people out; its not that people have become somehow weak. I think its a real challenge to figure out how health care workers can approach their leadership teams and help them to recognize that the organizations they lead are not going to get the outcomes that they wantwhich are happy, satisfied, and well-cared-for patientsif the providers working with them are emotionally and physically exhausted and deriving very little pleasure from their work. Ms. Ekman: What other challenges do health care providers face when trying to be empathic? Ms. Riess: I developed some training around how we maintain empathy even in the most challenging situations. Its very easy to have empathy if a patient is nice and grateful. However, one example of a challenge is if patients are not so happy with whatever you prescribemaybe its not working and theyre still having symptoms, and theyre calling you frequently because nothing is quite satisfyingthat can become challenging merely because it can make physicians and caregivers feel helpless. And when they feel helpless, they dont like that feeling. They may decide they dont really like the patient that much and empathy is challenged. What we were trying to do is help health caregivers see the vulnerability that the patient is feeling, and not dismiss them because theyre having an emotion, but actually figure out whats going on so we help them with their specific needs. These skills also help with parenting and other important relationships. I wish I had known some of these empathy skills when I was raising my children. Ive learned a lot along the way. Ms. Ekman: One of the emotions that gets in the way of these beautiful reflections is a feeling of fear, like when we want to give money or a meal to a person living on the street whos clearly in need, but feel fearful to engage because they appear mentally ill. How can we work with fear, when we feel threatened personally but actually want empathy to arise? Ms. Riess: Empathy is the antidote to fear. When we live in a state of fear, we close off our heart defensively, whereas empathy opens our hearts. As a society, we are living in a state of massive fear exaggeration right now, and it is really closing a lot of hearts and minds. We are all wired to recognize threats, and we recognize threats much more quickly than we recognize gratitude and opportunity. A large percentage of what we perceive as threatening, were actually projecting out onto others. So much of the tone thats been set in medicine has been about rushing into getting the most out of everybody and acting as if there is such a scarcity in everything, which is a kind of fear. I think one of the biggest myths is to have everyone feel as if theres just not enough. If we just flipped that around and said, Theres enough for everyone, I think we could ease up on everything. That abundance has to come from our leaders, but also from within. I would love to see everyone in a leadership position learn about the value of valuing the people who work with you. To recognize that the more you invest in the people, the more youre going to get out of your bottom lineand the more you use people and treat them like objects and want them to be a cog in the wheel, the more impoverished your organization is going to be. This applies to health care leaders, business leaders, and deans and presidents of all kinds of institutions of education. Ms. Ekman: How do we train empathy in a way that leads to showing compassion and actually taking action to relieve suffering? Ms. Riess: Opening our perceptions of whats going on in other people typically leads to empathic concern, but the concern doesnt always lead to action. That transition to compassion has to come from a more reflective life, where you dont just pass by a homeless person and think, Oh, I should help, but never do. We can reflect on the abundance we live with, about humanity as a brotherhood, and the possibility of joining with other people in the journey to have a more compassionate society. The fact that things arent this way can embolden us to do more. Ms. Ekman: In your book, I was really struck by your sharing of your painful personal experiences and how that made you more open to empathy. If people got in touch with their own struggles, would this help them be more present, open, and caring to others? Ms. Riess: We know that when people have struggled, theyre much more able to relate to people who have similar struggles. Lets work toward the end of our conversation with a quote by Carl Jung, who said that the sole purpose of life is to kindle the light in the darkness of mere being. And when you think about empathy, I think of it as a light that were able to put forth into the world. That just puts a little light into someones experience. It doesnt have to be a heavy lift; it could be a kind word or a knowing look or a nice smile at somebody. But if we think that the sole purpose of life is to kindle the light in the darkness of mere being, there is a lot of darkness in life. We all can make the life of others lighter. Eve Ekman, Ph.D., MSW, is the director of training at the Greater Good Science Center. She is a UC Berkeley- and UCSF-trained contemplative social scientist and teacher in the fields of emotional awareness and burnout prevention. This article originally appeared on Greater Good, the online magazine of the Greater Good Science Center at UCBerkeley. Parents Indicted in Death of Baby Boy After Allegedly Placing Comforter on Him The New Jersey parents of a 4-month-old baby who died after they placed him beneath a comforter are now facing murder charges. Even though the incident took place last year, a Burlington County grand jury indicted William Herring and Brianna Brochhausen this month charges of first-degree murder and endangering the welfare of a child, NBC New York reported. The couple was angry that their infant son, Hunter, kept crying. They then placed him in a time out, the report said. However, the time out ended up killing Hunter after a heavy comforter was placed on him at Hilltop Motel in February 2018. According to reports, the two were living in the motel. Police allege that the two placed the child on his stomach before placing the comforter over his body and head. The two then walked outside to smoke, but when they returned, they found the child unresponsive. An investigation further revealed that Herring and Brochhausen were frustrated because their son, Hunter, would not stop crying on that night, and decided he needed to be placed in a time out, said the Burlington County Prosecutors Office. The boy was taken to Virtua Hospital in Mount Holly. The child died on March 3 after life support was removed, officials said. The thoughtless actions of these individuals ended up costing a defenseless 4-month-old infant his life, Col. Callahan, the New Jersey State Police Superintendent, stated at the time. I commend the detectives of our Homicide South Unit and Criminal Investigation Office for their commitment and dedication to finding justice for Baby Hunter. They allegedly put their 4-month-old son, Hunter, under a comforter because they were sick of the screams, then went out for a 10-minute smoke. They never heard a sound from him again. https://t.co/ysVoGlviro NBC New York (@NBCNewYork) May 22, 2019 Parents Anonymous of New Jersey can offer support groups for parents and provides a 24-hour hotline to listen to concerns as well as crisis intervention information. The phone number is 1-800-843-5437 and can be accessed online at pofnj.com. The state also has a safe haven law that allows parents to give up a newborn baby at an emergency room, fire squad, or rescue squad. More details can be accessed at njsafehaven.org. Facts About Crime in the United States Violent crime in the United States has fallen sharply over the past 25 years, according to both the FBIs Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). The rate of violent crimes fell by 49 percent between 1993 and 2017, according to the FBIs UCR, which only reflects crimes reported to the police. The violent crime rate dropped by 74 percent between 1993 and 2017, according to the BJSs NCVS, which takes into account both crimes that have been reported to the police and those that have not. From 1993 to 2017, the rate of violent victimization declined 74 percent, from 79.8 to 20.6 victimizations per 1,000 persons age 12 or older, the U.S. Department of Justice stated. Both studies are based on data up to and including 2017, the most recent year for which complete figures are available. The FBI recently released preliminary data for 2018. According to the Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, January to June 2018, violent crime rates in the United States dropped by 4.3 percent compared to the same six-month period in 2017. An aerial view of the Pentagon building in Washington, on June 15, 2005. (Jason Reed/Reuters) Pentagon Admits It Investigates UFO Sightings, Report Says The U.S. Department of Defense admitted that it still investigates reports of unidentified aerial phenomena, also known as unidentified flying objects (UFOs). It doesnt mean that the Pentagon admitted the existence of extraterrestrials, but a spokesperson told the New York Post that a secret government program called the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program did pursue research and investigation into unidentified aerial phenomena. The Defense Department said it shut down the program in 2012. However, Pentagon spokesman Christopher Sherwood said that the agency still investigates claims of spacecraft sightings. The Department of Defense is always concerned about maintaining positive identification of all aircraft in our operating environment, as well as identifying any foreign capability that may be a threat to the homeland, Sherwood said in the Posts report, published on May 22. He added: The department will continue to investigate, through normal procedures, reports of unidentified aircraft encountered by US military aviators in order to ensure defense of the homeland and protection against strategic surprise by our nations adversaries. The Post also interviewed Nick Pope, who investigated UFOs for the British government, said the comments are a bombshell revelation. Previous official statements were ambiguous and left the door open to the possibility that AATIP was simply concerned with next-generation aviation threats from aircraft, missiles and dronesas skeptics claimed, he told the paper. This new admission makes it clear that they really did study what the public would call UFOs, he said. Meanwhile, The Black Vault website operator John Greenewald Jr. said the recent statement to the paper is unprecedented. Im shocked they said it that way, and the reason is, is theyve seemingly worked very hard not to say that, the Post quoted him as saying. So I think thats a pretty powerful statement because now we have actual evidenceofficial evidencethat said, Yes, AATIP did deal with UAP cases, phenomena, videos, photos, whatever. In December 2017, the Pentagon admitted that it funded a program to collect information on unexplained aerial phenomenon, referring to the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, reported The New York Times at the time. Sara Seager, an astrophysicist at M.I.T., said that the unidentified object doesnt mean its from a different planet or galaxy. When people claim to observe truly unusual phenomena, sometimes its worth investigating seriously, she told the Times, adding that what people sometimes dont get about science is that we often have phenomena that remain unexplained. The Pentagon has acknowledged a secret program to investigate UFOs. It began in 2007 as a pet project of Harry Reid. https://t.co/eRvbBamKgz pic.twitter.com/rhPyQDgtd7 The New York Times (@nytimes) December 17, 2017 Robert Bigelow, who runs Bigelow Aerospace and works with NASA, told CBS News following the admission in 2017: There has been and is an existing presence, an ET presence. And I spent millions and millions and millionsI probably spent more as an individual than anybody else in the United States has ever spent on this subject. In 1947, the U.S. Air Force began investigating claims of UFOs, the NY Times reported, adding that it was dubbed Project Blue Book. It ended in 1969 with about 700 sightings unexplained. Report: New Photo Shows Clarisa Figueroa in Hospital After She Allegedly Cut Baby Out of Pregnant Teens Womb A local Chicago CBS affiliate said it has obtained a new photo of the woman who was suspected of killing 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa before allegedly forcibly removing her baby. The photos timing is not clear, the CBS report noted, but it seems to have been taken shortly after the baby, Yavani Yadiel Lopez, arrived at the hospital on April 23. Its the first known photo of Clarisa Figueroa, the suspect, and the baby, who is reportedly in critical condition. CBS later removed the photo from its website after Ochoas family requested it be taken down. UPDATE: CBS 2 has obtained a photograph of Clarisa Figueroa in Advocate Christ Medical Center posing with the baby she is alleged to have ripped from the womb of Marlen Ochoa. The photo has been removed from CBS 2s website per the familys request, the report said. Figueroa, 46, and 24-year-old daughter Desiree have been charged with first-degree murder in Ochoas death. Piotr Bobak, 40, was also charged with concealing a homicide. Officials said that Figueroa met with Ochoa via Facebook before she went to Ochoas home on April 23 to retrieve baby clothes. The suspect then strangled Ochoa before the child was forcibly removed from the womb and taken to the hospital where Figueroa claimed it was her child. On May 22, Ochoas family arrived at Christ Medical Center to visit the infant ahead of Ochoas funeral over the weekend, NBC Chicago reported. Emma Lozano, a pastor speaking for the family, said they have a number of questions related to how the teens case was handled. The Illinois Department of Public Health also open an investigation on Christ Medical Center, the NBC affiliate reported. A medical technician had cleaned blood from Figueroas arms, face, and hands. Prosecutors said that it was not clear if an official verified if she had actually given birth. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ochoa-Lopez family, Christ Medical Center said in a statement to media outlets. Our top priority is to provide the safest and highest quality care for the patients and communities we serve. Out of respect for patient privacy and in compliance with federal and state regulations, we are unable to provide comment. We continue to cooperate with local authorities. Prosecutors have stated that Figueroa was pretending to be pregnant for a number of months, despite having her fallopian tubes tied, CBS reported. She is said to have posted photos of a baby room, a crib, and an ultrasound on Facebook before the incident. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Fred Keller, Republican candidate for Congress in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional district, during a 'Make America Great Again' campaign rally at Williamsport Regional Airport in Montoursville, Pa., on May 20, 2019. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Republican Wins US House Seat in Pennsylvania Special Election Republican Fred Keller won the special election in Pennsylvania to fill a House of Representatives seat that has been vacant for four months. Keller secured 68 percent of the vote to defeat Democrat Marc Friedenberg. Republican Tom Marino vacated the seat in January. Keller will serve the rest of Marinos term, which ends in 2021. Im honored to have the support of the hardworking people of the 12th Congressional District and for their trust in electing me to represent them in Congress, Keller said in a statement. Tonight is the beginning of us working together to address the issues that the people have told us will positively impact every family across central and northeast Pennsylvania. President Donald Trump held a rally in Pennsylvania ahead of the election to support Keller. Trump received 66 percent of the vote in the state in 2016. Great news for Republicans: Fred Keller has just won the hard fought for Pennsylvania Congressional contest in a LANDSLIDE, over 70% of the vote, Trump wrote on Twitter. Thanks to the thousands who showed up for the Rally last night. Congratulations to Fred and his wonderful family! Great news for Republicans: Fred Keller has just won the hard fought for Pennsylvania Congressional contest in a LANDSLIDE, over 70% of the vote. Thanks to the thousands who showed up for the Rally last night. Congratulations to Fred and his wonderful family! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 22, 2019 Keller had served as a state representative in Pennsylvania since 2010. Prior to public service, he worked as a plant manager at a custom wood cabinets manufacturing facility, managing 230 employees and a $50 million annual budget. Keller is active in the community, having served on a parents council for a local high school and as an auditor for a local township. He has a wife and two children. In a campaign ad, Keller targeted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, saying that Pennsylvanias families dont want her socialist policies and government overreach. [Pennsylvania] voters left no doubt last night. Freedom > Socialism, House Republican leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote on Twitter. #PA12 voters left no doubt last night. Freedom > Socialism. Congrats @VoteFredKeller on your well-deserved, runaway victory. https://t.co/rSnWLueNFU Kevin McCarthy (@kevinomccarthy) May 22, 2019 Democrats won the majority in the House of Representatives during the 2018 midterm election. With Keller, the DemocratRepublican breakdown will shift to 235190 in the House. Two more seats are vacant. Fred Keller ran a great campaign and talked about his support for ideas that all Americans can get behind: a better economy, more jobs, and getting government out of the way, Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Val DiGiorgio said in a statement. As he now heads to Congress, we look forward to supporting Fred and the entire Pennsylvania Republican Congressional delegation as they work to implement the pro-growth policies that have kept this economy booming, support President Trump, and represent Pennsylvanias interests in Washington, DiGiorgio added. Keller is a member of the National Rifle Association. Trump cast him as a defender of the Second Amendment during the rally on May 20. But we have a man whos a special man, hes a successful businessman and owner, Trump said. He believes in protecting the border, defending our Second Amendment. Hes not letting anything happen to your Second Amendment. And you know what? If we arent smart, itll end for you with the Second Amendment. Revealed: The Last Words of S. Carolina Girl Whose Dad Killed Her and 4 Siblings The final words of an 8-year-old South Carolina girl who was killed along with her four siblings by their father have been revealed. Gracie Joness last words were Daddy, I love you, FBI Agent David Mackey testified, according to a local report. Timothy Jones Jr., 37, killed Gracie, and his four other young children before driving hundreds of miles with their bodies in his vehicle and disposing of them in Alabama, officials told WSOC last week. He told us he was not under the influence of anything at the time of the interview, understood what was going on and mentioned his mothers mental health and how he might have what she has, Mackey said in court. An audio of Jones confessing to the killing of his five children was also played in a Lexington County courtroom as he cried listening to the details. The audio contains an interview he gave to officials about two days after he was arrested on drug possession and DUI charges, WSOC reported. Mackey said that Joness tone changed when the subject of his children was brought up in the interview. He started talking about Elias and Nahtahn and that they had said they want to kill him, that they essentially were colluding against him, Mackey told a courtroom. Mackey then said that blood was found along with notes with disturbing details about the alleged crime. Jones told them that the blood was from a cut, and he didnt remember writing the notes. However, Jones then told them, Lets cut to the chase. After that, he gave a graphic depiction of the killings. At one point, he had asked his 6-year-old son, Nahtahn, about four blown electrical outlets in the living room. After what he called an unsatisfactory response, he had him do push-ups, squats, and sit-ups for hours. Then he sent his son to bed. When he came back, he found him dead, he told officials. #TimothyJones The mother of the 5 slain children falls apart on the stand. The jury is taken out. pic.twitter.com/bXWSQO2hBp Cathy Russon (@cathyrusson) May 20, 2019 In the interview, according to the station, he said that voices in his head took over, telling him that nobody would believe it was an accident and therefore, he needed to kill his four other children. The children were afraid, they knew something bad had happened, Mackey added. The children were afraid. Mackey then described the manner in which Jones killed the children. If convicted, Jones could face the death penalty. According to People magazine, Jones has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors, however, arent convinced. Hes not insane, Deputy Solicitor Shawn Graham said. Hes a murderer. A father is supposed to protect his children. Before the slayings, he had taken the children to the beach and to Disney World at some point, said officials. In videotaped testimony replayed Wednesday, Dr. Travis Snyder showed MRI images and other photos of Jones brain taken in April 2018, four years after the slayings. The images showed what appeared to be an indentation in Jones skull that his lawyers have said was caused by a car crash Jones was in as a teenager. Snyder then showed other images of the brain that showed places where there had been bleeding and other damage, according to The Associated Press. Given his injuries, its possible the electrical functions of his brain were not working properly, Snyder said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Students throw their mortar boards into the air as they graduate during a ceremony held at the Tsinghua University in Beijing, China on July 18, 2007. (China Photos/Getty Images) Survey: Almost Half of College Students Prefer Inclusivity Over Free Speech Just over half of the nations undergraduate college students support First Amendment free speech rights, according to a survey conducted by College Pulse. The survey, which was underwritten by the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, reports that 53 percent of student respondents favor protecting free speech rights, while 46 percent say it is important to promote an inclusive and welcoming society. At the same time, 58 percent of students agree with the statement that so-called hate speech should continue to be protected under the First Amendment, versus 41 percent who disagree. The survey comes two months after President Donald Trump responded to a wave of incidents that challenged free speech at institutions of higher learning by signing Executive Order 13864, titled Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities. The order, signed March 21, directs the nations colleges and universities to defend free speech on campus or lose federal research funding. The order declares that its the policy of the federal government to encourage institutions to foster environments that promote open, intellectually engaging, and diverse debate, including through compliance with the First Amendment for public institutions and compliance with stated institutional policies regarding freedom of speech for private institutions[.] In America, the very heart of the universitys mission is preparing students for life as citizens in a free society, Trump said. But even as universities have received billions and billions of dollars from taxpayers, many have become increasingly hostile to free speech and to the First Amendment. You see it all the time. You turn on the news and you see things that are horrible. Trump continued: Under the guise of speech codes and safe spaces and trigger warnings, these universities have tried to restrict free thought, impose total conformity, and shut down the voices of great young Americans like those here today, the president said at the White House. You refused to be silenced by powerful institutions and closed-minded critics, of which there are many, he told the gathered students. You faced down intimidation, pressure, and abuse. You did it because you love your country and you believe in truth, justice, and freedom. Fifty-three percent of college students surveyed agreed with the statement that shouting speakers down is always or sometimes acceptable. Eighty-three percent of college students agreed that using violence to end an event is never acceptable. According to the report, more than six in 10 black students believe that inclusivity is more important than free speech, while 49 percent of Hispanic students believe the same thing. Just 42 percent of white students believe that inclusivity is more important than free speech. When asked which is the bigger problempeople speaking insensitively in a way that offends others, or people being too sensitive about others languagemost college students agree that people are too sensitive, rather than perceiving a greater overall need for people to exercise care in how they talk, the survey report stated. The research was conducted in December 2018 through a mobile app and web portal, which surveyed 4,407 full-time college students enrolled in four-year degree programs. The survey administrator, College Pulse, describes itself on its website as an online survey and analytics company dedicated to understanding the attitudes, preferences, and behaviors of todays college students. College Pulse offers custom data-driven marketing and research solutions, utilizing its unique Undergraduate Student Panel that currently includes 240,000 undergraduate college student respondents from more than 200 four-year colleges and universities in all 50 states. The survey comes as colleges across the United States have implemented compulsory diversity and inclusion classes for all students, including Tulane University, Georgia Southern University, Clemson University, and Syracuse University. At the same time, several states have acted to protect free speech on campus after widely publicized incidents in which college speakers have been shouted down or assaulted. The reaction has even crossed borders. The province of Ontario, Canada, home of the high-profile opponent of political correctness, University of Toronto professor Jordan Peterson, has recently enacted policies aimed to protect free speech on campus. A KIDD-class destroyer, left, and a Knox-class frigate are seen during a navy exercise off Hualien County, east of Taiwan, on May 22, 2019. (Chiang Ying-ying/AP) Taiwan Navy Holds Drill Amid China Tensions HUALIEN, TaiwanTaiwans navy held a major live-fire exercise on May 22 off the islands east coast in an area increasingly threatened by Chinese ships and planes. The drills are part of the annual Han Kuang exercises that simulate an attack by China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. Navy craft fired cannons and missiles and released depth charges, while fighter jets launched munitions and anti-submarine warfare aircraft released buoys. Submarines, along with a vast array of ballistic missiles, are considered among Chinas most potent weapons against Taiwan, which split from the mainland during a civil war in 1949. China has boosted its military threat against Taiwan, with Chinese leader Xi Jinping saying this year that Beijing would not rule out using force. That comes on top of growing Chinese pressure to isolate Taiwan in the international community and inflict economic pain, largely to force independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen to agree to Beijings contention that Taiwan is a part of China. Stepped-up Chinese operations have included sending ships to nearby waters and warplanes to circle the island on what Beijing calls training missions. While China would need to send thousands of troops across the Taiwan Strait to effect an invasion, Beijing military planners are also believed to be considering a form of lightning strike that could quickly devastate the islands ability to resist and force it to capitulate before its chief ally, the United States, could come to its aid. Taiwans lightly populated east coast is home to a key air base and other important military installations. We will conduct military exercises regularly at the location where we think the war could be possibly happening, navy Capt. Soong Shu-kou told reporters. The waters off Taiwans eastern coast are the important area where we need to conduct military drills often. Because this area could be a significant battle ground in the future, he said. Defense ministry spokesman Chen Jung-ji said Taiwan was accelerating the pace of training as a way of deterring Chinese aggression. We can only depend on ourselves to defend our own country. We will conduct more training to strengthen our combat capabilities in the face of the ongoing military threats from China, Chen said. Ben Carson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, speaks during a press conference at the Jacob Javits Federal Building, in New York City, Jan. 31, 2019. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Take Care of Your Own First: Carson Defends Plan to Evict Illegals From Govt. Housing Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson pushed back against a bevy of criticism from Democratic lawmakers over a White House proposal that would exclude all illegal immigrants from public housing. Carson testified in the House Financial Services Committee on Tuesday to discuss a range of topics. Numerous Democrats attacked the Republican for his involvement in a plan that, according to a recent HUD study, could potentially kick as many as 55,000 legal children out of their homes. The Trump Administrations proposal puts mixed-status families at risk of being evicted, separated, and left homeless, committee chairwoman Maxine Waters said during the hearing. The California Democrat went on to call the plan a cruel proposal. The D in HUD does not stand for deportation, said Democratic New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney. We cannot create affordable housing for Americans by throwing other Americans out in the street with no place to go. Other Democrats made similar comments throughout the hearing. The criticism follows moves by the Trump administration to restrict who can qualify for housing assistance. While illegal immigrants are already barred from receiving federal housing subsidies, families of mixed-immigration status can score these benefits as long as one of the members was born in the U.S. or is the spouse of a citizenproviding a loophole for many illegals. The White Houses proposal calls for every member of a household to be of eligible immigration status in order to qualify. Democrats, however, stand fiercely opposed to the plan because it would mean leaving thousands of legal minorsmany of them born in the U.S. by illegal parentshomeless. Carson pushed back on May 21, pointing out that millions of legal citizens are placed on waiting lists for years for government-subsidized housing. It seems only logical that tax-paying American citizens should be taken care of first, the HUD secretary said. Its not that were cruel, mean-hearted. Its that we are logical. This is common sense. You take care of your own first. Carson went on to explain that the plan allows ineligible beneficiaries up to 18 months to remain in their homes. Carson said such a timeline gives Congress enough time to pass comprehensive immigration reform. Congress has a responsibility for making the laws that govern this, and they have the ability to change that, he went on. If in fact you want to explain to the American citizens who have been on the wait list for several years why we should continue to support families who are not here legally, I would be happy to join you in explaining that. By Jason Hopkins. Follow him on Twitter. From The Daily Caller News Foundation Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Teen Mom Graduates with $1 Million in Scholarships, Top Honors A young mother has graduated with top honors and scholarships from at least 25 colleges amounting to more than $1 million. Lamyrical Harris from Trezevant High School in Memphis, Tennessee, revealed how she managed to graduate as a valedictorian, even after she found out she was pregnant during her junior year. After her son, Laderrious Moore, was born, Harris was still determined to keep working toward her goals, WREG reported. I was scared, Harris told the news station. It just made me go 10 times harder. She came to school. She took care of business, and her motivation has been her child, Assistant Principal Yolanda Sherrod told WREG. Teen mom at Trezevant High graduates with $1 million in scholarships, top honors https://t.co/nM9SiS7LEm Shannon Swan (@swan30) May 22, 2019 Harris said that after having her son, there were times she was struggling to even walk. But a teacher from the school encouraged her to keep going. I want him [my son] to be valedictorian of his class, and I want him to have over a million dollars in scholarships, Harris told WREG. At the end of junior year, I had $200,000. By the time I hit senior year, I was at 500,000. The scholarships kept coming, and Harris kept studying. It was only days before her graduation that she found out she had earned more than $1 million in scholarships$1,244,298, to be exact. According to WREG, Harris has not decided which college she will attend. But she said she will return to her high school to give back one day. A Facebook post was shared from the high school to congratulate Harris on May 19. BREAKING NEWS! the post read. We have our first MILLION DOLLAR SCHOLAR in Trezevant history. Our valedictorian, Lamyrical Harris, has been offered a total of $1,244,298 in ACADEMIC scholarships, making her our first to receive this honor. The school said that while they have had amazing athletes in the past, Harris is the first to earn such a high amount solely in academic scholarships. The post ended with Congratulations Lamyrical! Congratulatory messages flooded the social media post shortly after it was shared. Congratulations! Its not the school its what you want to take from it! one person wrote. I hope this inspires the class following you to aim just as high or higher. Another person wrote: Lamyrical! Wishing greatness for you in every phase of your life. Stay humble. May God continue to bless you and your family. The school posted a video to Facebook on May 19 showing a group of graduates from the schools Class of 2019: The school noted on its Facebook page that all of its top 10 graduates this year were young ladies. Did you know this years TOP 10 are all young ladies? Now thats BLACK GIRL MAGIC! the post read. Meanwhile, in another high school in Memphis, Tennessee, a 17-year-old received more than 50 scholarships amounting to more than $3 millionwhile homeless. Tupac Mosley graduated from Raleigh Egypt High School as a valedictorian and was accepted into 40 colleges. He told WHBQ that he had become homeless during his senior year. After my father passed, we fell behind on bills and we ended up getting evicted from our home Feb. 21 of this year, Mosley said. He also told the news station that he and his family have been staying at For the Kingdom, a camping site and nonprofit that helps urban children in the right direction. We were blessed to have For the Kingdom, he said, adding that college may have not been an option if it werent for their support. When I heard that I got $3 million, I was more than elated and excited and astonished that it was that much, he told WHBQ. He said that time management was the toughest challenge because it was still during the most stressful part of his senior year. But he managed to keep a 4.3 GPA. On May 19, during his graduation speech, Mosley thanked his teachers for having faith in him. I knew that I had to make them proud. I knew that their investment was worth it that and just show them thatyes, everything that you poured into me was worth $3 million and counting, Mosley said according to WHBQ. Never let your current situation, whatever circumstances youre going through, be a mountain that you cant climb. Ukraine's President-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy takes a selfie with his supporters as he walks to take the oath of office in Kiev, Ukraine on May 20, 2019. (Gleb Garanich/Reuters) Television Comedian Zelenskiy Takes Power in Ukraine KIEVTelevision comedian Volodymyr Zelenskiy took the oath of office as Ukraines new president on May 20, promising that as hard as he had worked in the past to make Ukrainians laugh, he would now work to keep them from crying. As his first act, he dismissed the parliament still dominated by loyalists of his defeated predecessor, setting up an election in two months in which his new party has a chance to win its first seats. The inauguration day was marked by informal moments that conveyed the outsider persona that helped carry the political novice to a landslide victory last month. Zelenskiy high-fived cheering supporters who held their arms outstretched outside the Soviet-era parliament building, and stopped for a selfie with the crowd. At one point he jumped up to kiss a man on the forehead. He later eschewed a motorcade to make his way to his new office on foot. Dear people, during my life I tried to do everything to make Ukrainians smile, he said in his speech to parliament. In the next five years, I will do everything, Ukrainians, so that you do not cry. But there were already signs of friction with a political class in which Zelenskiy has few allies. Parliament is still dominated by the bloc named for Zelenskiys defeated opponent Petro Poroshenko and smaller parties founded mostly as personal vehicles for political insiders. The decision to dissolve parliament prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman, who came to power in 2016 as part of Poroshenkos coalition. Groysman said he was stepping down to fight the upcoming snap election. I proposed to the president, the parliament, that we together form a new agenda and very quickly begin to make decisions that would make Ukraine stronger. The president has chosen a different path, Groysman said. Zelenskiy grew to national fame playing the TV comedy role of a schoolteacher who unexpectedly becomes president after a pupil films him making a foul-mouthed tirade against corrupt politicians and posts the video online. His campaign exploited the parallels with that fictional narrative, portraying him as an everyman who would stand up to a crooked political class. In his inauguration speech, Zelenskiy called on officials to take down the customary portraits of the president that hang in their offices, and put up pictures of their children instead. Groysman, a public face of a reform program aimed at attracting foreign aid, will step down on May 22 in the same week as a mission from the International Monetary Fund is set to come to Kiev for talks about a $3.9 billion loan program. The government hopes to secure a $1.3 billion tranche within weeks. Ukraines most pressing issue is conflict with its neighbor Russia, which annexed its Crimea region in 2014 and backed separatists in a war in the east that has killed 13,000 people. Zelenskiy said his first task was to achieve a ceasefire, adding that dialogue could only happen after the return of Ukrainian territory and prisoners of war. Thanks For Continuing to Divide People! He briefly switched from the Ukrainian language to Russian during his speech to talk about the need to win over the hearts and minds of people in separatist areas. That prompted the head of a populist party, Oleh Lyashko, to interrupt the speech to interject that Ukrainians living in Crimea and the east also understood Ukrainian. Zelenskiy replied: They understand the Ukrainian language, yes. Thank you very much! Thanks for continuing to divide people, Mr Lyashko! Zelenskiy called on lawmakers to use the two months until the election to pass laws that would strip them of immunity from prosecution and ban officials from enriching themselves. You will have two months for this. Do it and you will deserve medals, Zelenskiy said. Despite his everyman image, critics accuse Zelenskiy of having too close a relationship with a powerful businessman, Ihor Kolomoisky, whose TV channel broadcasts his comedy shows. Zelenskiy has rejected those accusations. Zelenskiy also said he wanted to replace the head of the state security service, the general prosecutor and the defense minister. He has so far not spelled out his nominations for key appointments that fall within his purview. Kiev resident and Zelenskiy supporter Mykola Korniyenko welcomed the presidents move to dissolve parliament. Do you see how many of them are there? Four hundred fifty snouts who eat greedily but are never full, while we cannot buy proper food for ourselves, cannot get proper clothing, cannot afford proper housing. Is this right? By Pavel Polityuk & Natalia Zinets In this handout photo provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Border Patrol agents conduct intake of illegal border crossers at the Central Processing Center on June 17, 2018 in McAllen, Texas. (Photo by U.S. Customs and Border Protection via Getty Images) Texas Border Patrol Facility Suspends Migrant Intake Over Flu-Related Illness Outbreak Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced on May 21 that it has temporarily stopped taking in migrants at the main processing facility at McAllen, Texas, after a large number of detainees began showing signs of flu-related illnesses. A CBP official said in an emailed statement that the medical staff at the Centralized Processing Center (CPC) in McAllen had identified many detainees with high fevers and displayed signs of illness. The official did not provide details as to how many people were affected but said that medical staff are doing their best to provide proper medical treatment. To avoid the spread of illness, the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector has temporarily suspended intake operations at the CPC. Individuals apprehended in RGV Sector will be held at other locations until this situation is resolved, the official said in the statement. This comes a day after CBP said in a statement that a 16-year-old immigrant from Guatemala who was staying at the same processing facility died. A 16-year-old Guatemalan national passed away this morning at the Weslaco Station in the U.S. Border Patrols Rio Grande Valley Sector. Our condolences go out to his family. Full statement available here: https://t.co/JvZTw5CWp5 pic.twitter.com/pMSDQazjIE CBP (@CBP) May 20, 2019 On May 19, Carlos Gregorio Hernandez Vasquez told staff members at the facility that he did not feel well and was subsequently diagnosed with influenza A, reported NBC News, citing a CBP official. He continued to receive care throughout the day and was prescribed the medicine, Tamiflu, before he was transferred to the Weslaco station midday for isolation and further medical assessment due to his illness. Officials said Vasquez was found unresponsive the next morning one hour after staff had performed a welfare check. The medical staff was unable to revive him, reported the news station. This was about 17 to 18 hours after he was transferred. They added that it will conduct an investigation into his death and that the decision to not take him to the hospital for treatment was made by the medical care providers at the facilities. The men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection are saddened by the tragic loss of this young man and our condolences are with his family. CBP is committed to the health, safety and humane treatment of those in our custody, said CBP Acting Commissioner John Sanders. Hernandez Vasquez was arrested near Hidalgo, Texas, after crossing the southwestern border on May 13. The statement added that the Guatemalan government was notified about the teenagers death. In response to another migrant child death in December last year, the Department of Homeland Security urged parents not to put their children at risk by traveling north through Mexico as it is extremely dangerous. Every year the Border Patrol saves hundreds of people who are overcome by the elements between our ports of entry. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts and the best efforts of the medical team treating the child, we were unable to stop this tragedy from occurring, the department said in the statement. Once again, we are begging parents to not put themselves or their children at risk attempting to enter illegally. CBP has said the influx of migrants crossing the border has been overwhelming the system for months. In April, CBP agents detained 109,144 migrants, which is an increase of about 5 percent from March and the highest monthly figure since 2007. This includes more than 58,000 migrant parents and children and 8,800 unaccompanied children taken into custody, according to Homeland Security figures. Additionally, in the Rio Grande Valley Sector alone, more than 10,000 illegal aliens were apprehended in one week in early May, making it one of the highest weekly totals ever experienced in this sector, according to CBP. More than 7,000 illegal aliens are in custody at stations and processing centers. Texas Teenager Escapes Alleged Kidnapper Who Snared Her via Snapchat A teenage girl escaped a 24-year-old man who had allegedly held her captive for five days after he snared her via Snapchat. Police detained her alleged kidnapper shortly after the unnamed juvenile burst into the KFC restaurant in the town of Azle in Texas, desperately asking for help. Azle Police have charged the suspect, Diamond Marquis Williams, 24, with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault of a child. Police responded to a call from the KFC at around 9:30 a.m. on May 21. An employee from the business told Azle 911 operators and the responding officers a juvenile female ran into the restaurant asking for help because she was being held against her will, said a police statement. The girl had escaped from a car after Williams parked and went inside the Cash America Pawn shop next to the restaurant. With the description provided, Azle Police officers located and detained the suspect without incident, said the police. According to police, the girl had met Williams, who is from Fort Worth via Snapchat, a social media application. The police report did not specify the age of the girl, but local media reports refer to her as a teenager. According to the police, the victim reported she had been taken five days earlier from the Fort Worth home where she lives with her parents. However, according to police, the girl said, The suspect had forced her to contact her family and tell them she was ok and with friends. Police thanked the KFC staff for helping shelter the girl and for assisting officers to trace Williams. Williams was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of a minor self-inflicted wound before being interviewed and transported to Tarrant County Jail the following day. He currently has no bail set. The two charges are both first-degree felonies, which carry a sentence of between five and 99 years imprisonment. The alleged victim was transported to Cook Childrens hospital for a medical evaluation after her ordeal, where she was reunited with her family. Snapchat Attacks The incident follows at least two other recent cases in North Texas involving Snapchat and allegations of aggravated sexual assault of a child. In February, Allen police said that they had identified at least 9 victims of Dontarious Scott, 22, who is charged with online solicitation of a minor and continuous sexual abuse of a child. Police said Scott was very active on social media, especially Snapchat, according to Dallas News, which he used to prey on boys aged 10-15. Police said the investigation was prompted when parents spotted conversations of a sexual nature between their child and Scott on their cellphone, reported WFAA. In March, another Texas man, Taylor Blake Craft, was accused of using Snapchat to talk with underage girls and solicit nude photos, it was reported. He would then threaten to make the images public if they did not have sex with him. Craft faces 16 felony charges and is on a total bond of $2,675,000, according to In Forney. The Origins of Spygate: 10 Questions News that Attorney General William Barr appointed U.S. Attorney John Durham to examine the origins of the TrumpRussia collusion investigations has sent shockwaves across Washington. Simultaneously, it was reported that Barr is working with the directors of the CIA, the FBI, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to review the intelligence-gathering techniques used to investigate President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign. The announcements are significant given the amount of information already known, much of which points to irregularities in the investigations and a severe bias. A sign on the Qualcomm campus in San Diego, Calif., on Nov. 6, 2017. (Mike Blake/File Photo/Reuters) U.S. Judge Says Qualcomm Violated Antitrust Law; Appeal Planned, Shares Plunge Qualcomm Inc illegally suppressed competition in the market for smartphone chips by threatening to cut off supplies and extracting excessive licensing fees, a U.S. judge ruled, a decision that could force the company to overhaul its business practices. The decision issued late Tuesday night by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, caused Qualcomm shares to plunge 11.4 percent on Wednesday. Qualcomms licensing practices have strangled competition in parts of the chip market for years, harming rivals, smartphone makers, and consumers, Koh wrote in a 233-page decision. She ordered the San Diego-based company to renegotiate licensing agreements at reasonable prices, without threatening to cut off supplies, and ordered that it be monitored for seven years to ensure its compliance. Qualcomm said it will immediately ask Koh to put her decision on hold, and also seek a quick appeal to the federal appeals court in California. We strongly disagree with the judges conclusions, her interpretation of the facts and her application of the law, general counsel Don Rosenberg said in a statement. Kohs decision followed a 10-day non-jury trial in January, and is a victory for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which has accused Qualcomm in 2017 of violating antitrust law. The decision followed Qualcomms April 16 settlement of a long-running legal battle with Apple Inc, where Apple agreed once again to use Qualcomm chips in its iPhones, displacing Intel Corp. It is unclear whether the sanctions will be challenged by the U.S. Department of Justice, which had asked Koh on May 2 to hold a hearing on that matter if Qualcomm were found liable. The possibility certainly exists for Qualcomm to prevail upon appeal given the governments somewhat schizophrenic approach to the case, with the FTC and Justice Department appearing at odds, Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon wrote. The Justice Department was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday. Undermining Rivals Koh said Qualcomm engaged in extensive anticompetitive conduct targeting more than one dozen original equipment manufacturers including Apple, BlackBerry, Huawei, Lenovo, LG, Motorola, Samsung, and Sony, often by cutting off or threatening to cut off-chip supplies or withholding technical support. She also said Qualcomms monopoly power in modem chips enabled the company to sustain unreasonably high royalty rates not justified by its contributions to the marketplace. With practices that result in exclusivity and eliminate opportunities to compete for OEM business, Qualcomm undermines rivals in every facet, she wrote. She also found Qualcomm knew its licensing practices harmed competition yet continued anyway despite government investigations in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the European Union and the United States. This evidence of Qualcomms intent confirms the courts conclusion that Qualcomms practices cause anticompetitive harm because no monopolist monopolizes unconscious of what he is doing, she wrote. Koh also said testimony from some Qualcomm witnesses lacked credibility, faulting Chief Executive Steve Mollenkopf and others for giving long, fast, and practiced narratives and saying company emails and notes contradicted his testimony. Qualcomm argued during the trial that it achieved market dominance through technological leadership. The company began its licensing business in the 1980s and 1990s, decades before it began selling chips, and has charged broadly similar patent rates since then. Qualcomm also argued that the FTC failed to show harm to competition, arguing that the chip industry is thriving and prices are declining. Qualcomms next move will likely be to request Kohs ruling is put on hold while the company seeks expedited review by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. It will be difficult for an appellate court to disturb the courts findings regarding the truthfulness of the Qualcomm witnesses and conclusions reached based on those findings, said Barbara Sicalides, a partner at Pepper Hamilton in Philadelphia, specializing in antitrust law. Qualcomm makes cellphone processors and modem chips, but generates most profits by licensing its technology to mobile phone makers. Rasgon, the Bernstein analyst, said Koh had indicated at trial she was leaning against Qualcomm, but some investors had hoped her views would be softened by the Apple settlement. Apparently not, Rasgon wrote. By Sayanti Chakraborty The Canary Wharf financial district is seen on April 26, 2019 in London, England. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) UK Firms Likely to Scrap Planned Investment on a No-Deal Brexit: BoEs Broadbent LONDONBritish companies are likely to cancel projects that they have put on hold because of Brexit uncertainty if the country leaves the European Union without a deal to smooth the shock, Bank of England Deputy Governor Ben Broadbent said on May 20. Business investment fell throughout 2018 as companies waited for clarity on the terms of Brexit and grew only slightly early this year, a situation Broadbent described as remarkable given the economy was still growing and company profits were high. With just days to go before Britain was due to leave on March 29, Prime Minister Theresa May asked the EU for more time to negotiate a deal. Brexit has now been delayed until Oct. 31 unless there is an early agreement. Some Brexit supporters have said Britain should leave the EU now with no agreement, as businesses would at least know they would have to revert to trade on World Trade Organization terms. But Broadbent said surveys showed companies viewed this scenario as the most negative of all. It would be wrong to conclude that the best thing for investment is to resolve this uncertainty as soon as you can, by any means necessary, Broadbent said in a speech to Imperial College Business School in London. Deliberately choosing the outcome firms say they view most negatively is more likely to mean that capital projects that have so far been deferred are then simply canceled, he said. Broadbent said the impact of uncertainty on business investment appeared to rise as the Brexit deadline nearedmaking it important to avoid giving businesses further false hope of an immediate resolution to Brexit uncertainties. A repeated series of cliff-edges, each of which is expected to be decisive but in reality just gives way to the next cliff, is more damaging for investment than if it had been clear at the outset that the process will take time. Earlier this month BoE Governor Mark Carney said business investment was likely to continue to be weak, but that there should be an improvementand reduced reliance on consumersif Brexit took place smoothly. By David Milliken I hadnt planned on dancing tonight, wearing a colorful vest, carrying an intricately engraved Hutsul hatchet. Im a terrible dancerbut it wouldve been rude to say no. With night falling fast, the sun sinking to the undulating summit line of these eastern mountains, we trace a narrow road through the rolling terrain, climbing one final incline to find a tidy house filled with a happy family. Svitlana and Slavko Lesiuk, two educators at the local school, welcome us into their home with big smiles, and a song. First, there was the foodborscht and sausages and the ubiquitous Ukrainian dumplings, stuffed with meats and onions and potatoes, almost all the ingredients gathered from their own family farm. Then, there was the drinkcognac, and vodka, and a home brew made from hand-gathered golden-root that grows only above 6,000 feet all of it flowing freely, here in this country that makes some of the very best in the world. And finallythe dancing. Minimally cajoled and careful not to offend our gracious hosts, a fire crackling in the wood stove, Slavko pounding out a traditional tune on his guitar, I accept the axeI still dont know whyand link arms with a few of my fellow diners, kicking up our heels as we sway in a circle, the mountains outside now cloaked in darkness, but the night just heating up, inside. Im in the small village of Bukovets, high in the Carpathian Mountains of southwest Ukraine. Here in this remote region, the countrys ongoing challenges have led to a resurgence and renaissance in national and local Hutsul culture. A trans-Carpathian people spread from southern Ukraine to northern Romania, the Hutsuls maintain a distinct highland way of life, speaking their own dialect of Ukrainian with Polish influences and maintaining traditions of song, dance, and craftsmanship distinct from their neighbors. Naturally beautifulthe Carpathians are curvaceous rather than craggy, a sculpted land shot through with rushing rivers, with deep, green valleys cradling villages and townsIm here in the area to connect with the culture and people that make up the beating heart of this remote region. Joining up with a small group of travelers hosted by Cobblestone Freewaya culturally focused tour company based in both Ukraine and Canadawe pile into a van and proceed south from Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine, whose architecture and general temperament (and penchant for beer-drinking) reflect its long time as part of the Austrian Empire. We wind into the foothills, the city falling away fast behind us as we plunge into our bucolic surroundingscows, barns and slightly pitched pasturesand eventually arrive at an Easter egg so big we can go inside. Easter eggs (known here as pysanka) occupy an outsize role in Ukrainian culture, and this is undoubtedly the largest such egg in the entire country. Located in the village of Kolomyya, the egg houses the worlds only museum dedicated to the pysanka, and we proceed through its bulbous base into an oval world. Paying a very small admission fee (Ukraine remains a very affordable country for travel), we proceed along its 10,000 eggs, all of them intricately decorated with a time-honored system of wax and dye, learning that certain regions are linked with specific designs, as well as related creation myths and legends. And then we drive deeper into the land of the Hutsuls, mountain people, perhaps only 25,000 in all, whose lives have remained only minimally changed for centuries. We descend into a dale, a light layer of smoke and haze overhead, fed in part by wood fires in the little, colorful homes, passing babas in kerchiefs pulling shopping trollies, and tiny little chapels, built so these very religious people can pray on their way to work, or market. Vincent Rees, owner of Cobblestoneand group leader on the tripexplains the Hutsul greet each other accordingly. Glory to Jesus Christ!, one will call to another, who will respond, Glory for eternity! Were briefly delayed by a funeral procession near the village of Yavoriv, moving slowly, on foot, icons of the saints raised high around the casket, the black-clad mourners singing hymns as they proceed down the middle of the highway. Rees explains that people here consider it disrespectful to passdespite the repeated insistence of the priest at the head of the procession, waving cars ahead. None do. Its the last march, Rees remarks, solemnly. Eventually we move forward, and Rees explains that each village in the region has its own craft specialty, and soon we arrive at a small home and shop built overtop a clear, cold streamwhere wool is cleaned and processed, by hand, in 14 stages, and then woven into blankets on a manually operated loom. The owner and master craftswoman, a warm, welcoming, dark-haired woman named Svitlana Pavlyuk walks us through it. Every girl in the village knows how to do thisher grandmother taught her, and she in turn learned from her grandmother, and that grandmother learned from her mother, she says, hands always on the wool, manipulating it effortlessly, without a thought. The area has a strong shepherd culture, the wool gathered from many surrounding farms, and when it arrives, its cleaned in the creek through a hatch in the house floorno soaps or chemicals. Its a natural washing machine, the woman explains. The water is alivewe call it the Hutsul Jacuzzi. Despite the lengthy, labor-intensive processonce cleaned, the wool is spun and brushed and otherwise worked onthe blankets are exceedingly inexpensive, costing only 1,800 hryvnia, or about $65 U.S. dollars. From there, we drive higher into the Carpathians, skirting across saddles and ridges in the mountains along unpaved roads, to a small wooden house painted dramatically in the colors of the Ukrainian flagyellow and blue. Were welcomed by an elderly man, Mykhailo Tafijchuk, and his wife, entering the home and sitting on a bed while he plays for us on a series of musical instruments he carved and created himself, including the trembita, a wooden highlanders horn, and the worlds longest musical instrument. Its all very haunting, and lovely. Playing traditional Hutsul tunes, he strums a dulcimer, and a violin, and then a series of sopilkas, hand-carved pipes traditionally used by local shepherds to while away the long hours of watching the livestockthe first one, very simple, something you could play with one hand while lugging a bucket in the other up the mountain, the last, difficult to play, a pipe without a proper mouthpiece, and requiring expert and intricate finger sequences. And then, he plays the trembita, constructed from local wood Tafijchuk hollowed it out, boiled out the sap and wrapped it in birch bark. Used by shepherds to signal each other from distant ridges. When he raises it and blow in, the tone is deep and strong, enough to cross a valley. And thenits almost time for dancing. After dinner, we dress in colorful, traditional Hutsul costumes. We take photos. We sing a little, and we dance, and we feel the home brew flowing through our veins. By the end of the night, we leave that little house, inky blackness now obscuring the surrounding mountains, a nip in the air, but, the warmth still with us, leaving like family and determined to return. When You Go Focused on cultural, musical, art, and culinary tours in Ukraine, Cobblestone Freeway also offers itineraries in a number of other European countries, including Ireland, Poland, Croatia, and Georgia. Specializing in small groups, they can also create custom-made trips. CobblestoneFreeway.ca/ In Lviv, the recently reopened Grand Hotel offers true five-star accommodations, with baroque finishes and a long historyAustrian Emperor Franz Josef I once made a speech from one of the hotel balconies, and the hotel was declared open last year from the very same place. Grand-Hotel.com.ua/en/ Toronto-based writer Tim Johnson is always traveling, in search of the next great story. Having visited 140 countries across all seven continents, hes tracked lions on foot in Botswana, dug for dinosaur bones in Mongolia, and walked among a half-million penguins on South Georgia Island. He contributes to some of North Americas largest publications, including CNN Travel, Bloomberg, and The Globe and Mail. He was a guest of Cobblestone Freeway. United States and Iran at the Brink Iran, a civilization going back at least 2500 years with an industrious talented population of about 80 million, today struggles with myriad misgovernance problems on the 40th anniversary of its Islamic Revolution. The treatment of lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh is one example of the mullahs systematic abuse of human dignity. For defending Iranian women refusing to wear headscarves, she was sentenced to 148 lashes and 38 years in notorious Evin prison, the regimes torture factory. Read More The US-Iran Hatefest Heats Up Kaveh Shahrooz, originally from Iran and today a human rights activist in Canada, notes that Sotoudeh is the voice for (the) voiceless. He says a good way to hold the regime responsible would be to apply Magnitsky sanctions now enacted in several democracies to 19 Iranian officials who have played a role in everything from carrying out mass murder to suppressing free speech. This would be nuanced, allow all governments to calibrate their pressure on Tehran, and not stand in the way of mutually fruitful engagement, provided it does not include those implicated in mass crimes. The name and shame approach of the Magnitsky measures is consistent with internationally-supported Canadian policy of criticizing Irans government with our yearly human rights resolution. Struan Stevenson, a member of the European Parliament for 15 years from Scotland, advocates a stronger policy. He recently urged the Trump administration to maintain financial pressure on the Iranian regime and termed the U.S. presidents decision to end the waivers for Turkey, Iraq, India, Japan, and China that had permitted them to continue purchasing Iranian oil the final nail in the mullahs coffin. Iranian oil exports, Stevenson advocates, should be squeezed closer to zero even though they have fallen to about 1m barrels daily, less than half of the pre-sanctions level. Stevenson also welcomed U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeos announcement of his governments inclusion of the Iranian regimes Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) on the U.S. terror blacklist. The IRGC controls almost 90 percent of the Iranian economy, so it will be virtually impossible for anyone to trade with Iran without breaching U.S. sanctions or facing severe penalties for dealing with a listed terrorist organization. Stevenson also wants the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) added to the same foreign terrorist organization list. For many Tehran watchers, the worst ongoing governance abuse was the regimes decision to spend Iranian funds on proxy wars and militia groups in Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. It uses the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, whose role it to protect the Islamic system in Iran) as a tool of repression, sending it to crush protests and arrest dissidents. Following nationwide uprisings in early 2018, the regime arrested thousands of protestors. Recent mass demonstrations focused international attention on the regimes inaction in the wake of serious flooding, which left at least 250 dead and many more without access to food and water. Rather than making the IRGCs resources available for rescue efforts, the regime deployed mercenaries to maintain order and prevent protests. A related danger as tensions are rising is the possibility of a major war. An American aircraft-carrier and B-52 bombers are near the Persian Gulf. In Tehran, clerics and the IRGG are lashing out; President Hassan Rouhani, sounding distinctly hawkish, says Iran will no longer abide by the terms of the nuclear deal. Trumps chief advisor on national security, John Bolton, argued in 2015 that the best way to keep Iran from obtaining a nuclear bomb was to bomb Iran. There are now indications that Washington is drawing up plans to send 120,000 troops to the Middle East if Iran attacks Americans in Iraq. All non-essential Americans have been ordered out of Baghdad. A single miscalculation could ignite a full-blown war in the region. Bolton has called for the overthrow of the mullahs regime and Trumps policy of maximum pressure has escalated to the point that Tehran is now in a chokehold. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are already engaged in a proxy war with Iran and are pushing Washington to take an aggressive stance. The ultra-hawkish Bolton must cease taunting the Tehran regime, including issuing dire warnings of impending U.S. military action, if war is to be avoided. David Kilgour, a lawyer by profession, served in the House of Commons for almost 27 years. He is the author of several books and co-author with David Matas of Bloody Harvest: The Killing of Falun Gong for Their Organs. Kilgours experience as Crown counsel before going to Parliament was with the City of Vancouver (1967-1968); Dept. of Justice, Ottawa (1968-1969); Government of Manitoba (1971-1972); Government of Alberta (1972-1979). Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. An employee shows the new Mavic Pro 2 drone in a DJI store in Shanghai on May 22, 2019. (Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images) US Department of Homeland Security Warns About Threats Posed by Chinese Drones Unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones, have become popular in recent years for their diverse applications, such as photography, mapping, crop surveying, shipping, and surveillance. However, Beijing can exploit these drones, undermining U.S. national security, according to the latest U.S. government warning. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the warning against Chinese drones in an industry alert titled Chinese Manufactured Unmanned Aircraft Systems. The notice was reviewed by multiple media and was first reported by CNN. The United States government has strong concerns about any technology product that takes American data into the territory of an authoritarian state that permits its intelligence services to have unfettered access to that data or otherwise abuses that access, the notice stated. Access to Data DHS warned that businesses using Chinese-made drones could have their corporate data compromised and accessed by the Chinese regime: such as through automatic data transfer out of the drones in the event that they are infected with malware; and data theft from the drones being connected to unsecured internet networks, according to a report by nonprofit media Homeland Security Today (HSToday). The U.S. agency urged companies to be cautious of Chinese drone manufacturers, and check if their drone data was ever stored by third parties. Additionally, DHS suggested that if drones are equipped with an SD card, the data within should be cleared after each flight. Last but not least, internet connections to drone controllers should be disabled during flight. While the DHS notice didnt name a specific Chinese manufacturer, one Chinese drone maker has dominated the worlds supply. Research firm Skylogic, in a 2018 market report, stated that 79 percent of drones operating in Canada and the United States are manufactured by DJI. On the global market, the percentage stood at 74 percent. Concerns about DJI drones have been raised repeatedly in recent years. In August 2017, the U.S. Army ordered its troops to stop using DJIs commercial drones for surveying and surveillance purposes, due to potential cyber vulnerabilities, according to Reuters. That same month, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) assessed that DJIs commercial drones were providing U.S. critical infrastructure and law enforcement data to the Chinese government. ICE made the assessment based on information derived from open source reporting and an unnamed reliable source within the drone industry. According to ICE, the drones automatically uploaded information, such as user identification, full names, images, and videos, into cloud storage systems located in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, which the Chinese government most likely has access to. In response to the ICE claims, DJI had said it only collected flight logs and images if users opted to share them, and that the drones contained a privacy mode that would prevent data from being uploaded onto the internet. ICE added that DJI had targeted its marketing toward U.S. companies in the critical infrastructure and law enforcement sectors since 2015. At the time, the agency identified at least 10 large U.S. companies and organizations in sectors such as the railroad, utilities, media, and federal law enforcement that used DJI commercial drones. The company released a May 20 statement in response to the new DHS alert, saying that its drones security has been independently verified by the U.S. government and leading U.S. businesses. DJI On May 16, concerns regarding DJIs dominance in the U.S. market were brought up by Frank J. Cilluffo, director of Auburn Universitys McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security, during a congressional hearing. The problem with Chinese drones, not specifically produced by DJI, was that their manufacturers may be legally required to help advance the mission and goals of Chinas security and intelligence services, Cilluffo stated. Chinas national intelligence law, effective in 2017, requires every Chinese organization and citizen to assist and cooperate with Beijings national intelligence efforts. The broad and vague definition of national intelligence means that companies and citizens must answer to the Chinese regime when called upon. China imposes unusually stringent obligations on its citizens to support national intelligence activities, according to the DHS notice. DJI is a private company, but it has the support of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In a 2018 interview with a local newspaper in Shenzhen City in southern China, Frank Wang Tao, DJIs founder and CEO, said the firm was one of Chinas national champions, and so it enjoyed a 10 percent cut in corporate income taxes. As a result, for the fiscal year 2017, Tao said that the company enjoyed a corporate tax cut of 500 million yuan (about $72 million). The interview was reposted by Chinas State Taxation Administration on its website. DJI began receiving Shenzhen government subsidies in 2014, according to information from Jin Bo Shi Management and Planning Corporation, a Shenzhen-based company that helps Chinese firms file for government subsidy programs, obtain national certification, and file for patents. Jin Bo Shi cited data from the Shenzhen government. In 2017, the Shenzhen government gave DJI 5 million yuan ($731,325) for development of drone navigation systems, 10 million yuan ($1.46 million) for research and development, and 1.89 million yuan (about $276,440) for a drone lifecycle management project. DJI has received special attention from CCP authorities. In August 2017, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang hosted a forum in Beijing to discuss how to improve Chinas manufacturing sector and upgrade the Chinese economic structure. According to Chinese state-run media reports, during the forum, Li mentioned how Chinas industrial policy of Made in China 2025 should take the lead in upgrading the countrys manufacturing sector. The forum was attended by 24 officials from Chinas cabinet-like State Council and representatives from 50 manufacturing companies, Tao among them. He told reporters after the forum that he was excited about Lis remarks, and that he would work hard to develop DJIs overseas market. In November 2016, Zhao Leji, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the CCPs top decision-making body, toured southern Chinas Guangdong Province, visiting the offices of DJI and Chinese telecom giant Huawei. According to the CCPs mouthpiece newspaper Peoples Daily, Zhao toured those companies to check on the status of Party building there. DJI also took part in a Belt and Road Business Forum held in Shenzhen on April 27. Beijing launched the One Belt, One Road initiative (OBOR, also known as Belt and Road) in 2013, to build up geopolitical influence via investments across Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. According to the official website of the Shenzhen government, the local Belt and Road Forum was co-organized with the CCPs International Liaison Department. DJI sent a company representative to the forum: Liao Shangyang, DJIs drone solutions director for the Europe region. An F-22 Raptor escorts a Russian TU-95 Bear flying near the Alaskan NORAD Region airspace in a file photo. (Air Force) US F-22 Jets Intercept Russian Bombers for a Second Day in a Row, NORAD Says U.S. F-22 jets intercepted Russian bombers near the coast of Alaska for a second day, according to North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Russian nuclear-capable bombers flew into the Air Defense Identification Zone, which is about 200 miles off of Alaskas western coast, said NORAD. Two pairs of F-22 fighter jets, each with an E-3 intercepted Tu-95 bombers Su-35 fighter jets entering the Alaskan ADIZ May 21, NORAD tweeted. Those bombers were intercepted by two F-22s, exited the air space, and then re-entered the Air Defense Identification Zone along with two Su-35 fighter jets, according to the agency. Two pairs of F-22 fighter jets, each with an E-3 intercepted Tu-95 bombers Su-35 fighter jets entering the Alaskan ADIZ May 21. The bombers entered the ADIZ and were intercepted by two F-22s, exited and then re-entered the Alaskan ADIZ accompanied by two Su-35 fighter jets. pic.twitter.com/NYP6EVq2Xg North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) May 22, 2019 As a result, NORAD committed an additional two F-22s and E-3 to relieve the initial intercept aircraft. A KC-135 refueling aircraft supported both of NORADs intercept teams, it said. After that, the Russian jets stayed in international airspace and at no time entered U.S. or Canadian airspace, NORAD noted. The May 21 flyby wasnt confirmed by the Ministry of Defense. NORAD committed an additional two F-22s and E-3 to relieve the initial intercept aircraft. A KC-135 refueling aircraft supported both of NORADs intercept teams. The Russian aircraft remained in international airspace and at no time entered U.S. or Canadian sovereign airspace. North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) May 22, 2019 A day before that, on May 20, NORAD said it intercepted several Tupolev Tu-95 bombers and Su-35 fighters after entering the Alaskan airspace zone. In a statement, military officials said NORADs ability to deter and defeat threats begins with detecting, tracking, and positively identifying non-American aircraft in U.S. airspace. We are on alert 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, the statement continued. The agency also noted that it has experienced a total of five intercepts in the Air Defense Identification Zone in 2019 and the 2nd day in a row that Russia has flown into the Alaskan zone. NORAD fighters intercepted Russian bombers+fighters entering Alaskan ADIZ May 20. 2x Tu-95s were intercepted by 2x F-22s; a second group of 2x Tu-95+2x Su-35 was intercepted later by 2 more F-22s; NORAD E-3 provided overall surveillance. The aircraft remained in intl airspace pic.twitter.com/VrNuSWFOQm North American Aerospace Defense Command (@NORADCommand) May 21, 2019 The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed the first incident on Twitter on May 20. The ministry said its Aerospace Forces made scheduled sorties over the neutral waters of the Chukotka, Bering and Okhotsk seas, as well as along the western coast of Alaska and the northern coast of the Aleutian Islands. At certain stages of the route, Russian aircraft were escorted by F-22 fighter jets of the USAF. The total flight time exceeded 12 hours, the ministry said in a statement. Long-range pilots make regular flights over neutral waters of the Arctic, North Atlantic, Black and Caspian seas, and Pacific Ocean. The ministry claimed that the flights were carried out in strict accordance with the International Airspace Management System without violating the borders of other states. Other details about the incident were not provided. A worker checks the Volkswagen sign on a Golf car, in this file photo. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer, file) US Senators Urge Volkswagen to End Delay in Tennessee Union Vote WASHINGTONThree Democratic U.S. senators on May 21 questioned a decision by Volkswagen AGs U.S. unit to delay a union election for workers at its Tennessee assembly plant. Earlier this month, the largest German automaker won its bid to put off a union vote for 1,700 workers at the Chattanooga plant until its challenge to a smaller United Auto Workers bargaining unit at the factory is settled. The National Labor Relations Board, in a 2-1 decision on May 3, granted Volkswagens motion to stay an election petition filed by some of its workers last month. Senators Gary Peters and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Sherrod Brown of Ohio wrote to Scott Keogh, president of Volkswagen Group of America, on May 21, expressing deep concern with delays to the vote. We urge you to immediately drop any efforts to oppose or postpone the election, the said. UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg urged VW to allow a vote of its workers: Volkswagen should stop obstructing the rights of Chattanooga workers to vote and have a unionenough is enough. Volkswagen spokesman Mark Clothier confirmed the company had received the letter and would respond. We respect the decision of our team and their right to decide on representation. We have taken a neutral position on the issue and will continue to do so, Clothier said. In December 2015, 160 skilled trade maintenance workers voted to unionize and affiliate with the UAW, the union said. VW declined to bargain with the union, saying the unit needed to include both skilled trade maintenance workers and production workers. Volkswagen has stated it is neutral on workers joining a union but the senators said its actions suggest otherwise. VW began production in 2011 at the plant, which builds the Passat car and the Atlas SUV. In January, VW said it was investing $800 million to build a new electric vehicle in Tennessee and add 1,000 jobs at the Chattanooga plant that will begin EV production in 2022. The senators have heard that facility supervisors in Chattanooga are engaging in direct anti-union conversations with workers in the workplace, including pulling workers off the production line to ask if they support the union, they said. In February 2014, workers at the plant narrowly voted against union representation, which had been seen as organized labors best chance to expand in the U.S. South. UAW membership has plummeted 75 percent since 1979 and now stands at about 396,000. The UAW has failed for two decades to organize foreign automaker plants in the United States. By David Shepardson The large American flag outside Camping World and Gander RV in the city of Statesville. (Camping World petition on Change.org) We Will Not Take It Down: Lawsuit Over a Large American Flag Hoisted to Pay Tribute to Veterans A year-old conflict over a large American flag flying outside a Gander RV store in Statesville has prompted a lawsuit and turned into a larger issue for the local community. The lawsuit was filed by the City of Statesville, North Carolina, against Camping World, the company responsible for flying the flag. The company flies the 40-by-30 flag outside its Gander RV location to honor military veterans. The lawsuit filed by the city says that a flag bigger than 25 by 40 feet cant be hoisted within 100 feet of a highway, reported WSOCTV. Camping World has started a campaign against the lawsuit on social media and received wider community support, with over 138,000 signatures on Change.org and more than 13,000 likes and 7,000 shares on Facebook. Statesville tries to stop RV dealership from flying massive American flag https://t.co/zdV8zE8xHn via @wsoctv Tom Haeg (@tomhaeg) May 22, 2019 The City of Statesville, North Carolina has filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction to require Gander RV in Statesville, NC to take down their American Flag. They are imposing a $50/day fine retroactive to 10/15/18, Camping World wrote in its Facebook post and also on its Change.org petition. The company said many cities like Statesville have requested large American flags be taken down. WE WONT DO IT! it said in the Facebook post. This is about more than just the flag. This is about our Veterans, Military, and the men and women that have sacrificed for this great country. They are the reason we fly the flag and they are the reason we will NOT take it down! The city had made exemptions last year and allowed a flag larger than its guidelines, but not as big as the one flown by the company. Camping World and Gander RVs CEO Marcus Lemonis told Channel 9 that 200 such large-sized flags are outside its stores all across the country, including in many cities of North Carolina, according to WSOCTV. I dont care if it goes to $500 a day. Its not coming down, Lemonis said. Lemonis said the issue is of personal importance to him. My family has been car dealers, had been car dealers since the 1960s, and our key trademark was always flying our flag in our dealership in South Florida, he said. My family is largely immigrants of the country. Media reports indicate that the city tried to amend its rules to allow a flag of that size but the motion was defeated three to five. WSOCTV quotes a spokesperson from the city who said that the authorities filed a lawsuit after asking the company several times to replace the flag. Its not coming down: Dispute over large American flag prompts lawsuit, fines https://t.co/9jyMLfQj5t pic.twitter.com/veQuiaFILZ FOX6 News (@fox6now) May 22, 2019 The companys post on Facebook has promoted over 5,000 comments. Love the American flag and the Men and Women who have served and fought to protect it. Love the flag at Camping World in Statesville, NC. This flag is beautiful and causes no obstructions to traffic. It is a beautiful sight. I know of people who have even traveled to Statesville just to see it proudly wave. KEEP THE FLAG! Kathy Johnson commented. Many people appreciate Camping World for taking a stand and many others said they see the flag while driving around the city. Thank you camping world !! I appreciate you taking a stand, that flag is beautiful. And Im proud to see it every time I drive by. Its not a distraction! If anything its a reality check!! wrote Dennis Norway. I hope this is not true. I dont shop there but I love seeing the HUGE American Flag waving gracefully every time I pass her, wrote Crystal Howell. Woman Slaps Boyfriend in Front of Crowd, His Response is Even More Surprising On a day of affection, such as Valentines Day, one may expect a partner to make a showing of their love. However, one mans avoidance of just that left him with both damage to his ego, and his cheeks. A woman slapped her boyfriend over ten times on a public sidewalk in Dazhou City, Sichuan Province, China. A crowd surrounded the couple and some people filmed the incident which occurred on May 20, according to Chinese news outlet Cover News. The man stood still, enduring every hit from his girlfriend, and he didnt even allow the police to take her away from the scene, the report said. The woman had been paying for all of the mans food and clothing, and was hoping that hed buy her a new smartphone on Chinas new version of Valentines Day, according to Chinese news outlet Red Star News. However, the man initially hid from her, since he could not make the purchase. When he was found, his girlfriend was not happy. Public Display of Anger The argument happened on May 20, or 5/20. The numbers five, two, and zero in that order sound similar to I love you in certain Chinese dialects. A combination of footage from surveillance cameras and smartphone users were shared on Weibo, Chinas version of Twitter, showing the altercation between the two. The first group of people to watch the conflict appear to be a group of young school children. The man, apparently saying nothing through the conflict, stands still and takes every swipe at his face the woman takes. As people begin gathering around, several women attempt to intervene. The woman brushes them off and continues venting her anger at her boyfriend. When the police were called to the scene, the man defended his girlfriend. A woman filming the scene with the police said that the man was even hugging her, not allowing the police to take her away. The boyfriend also said that he deserved it for his behavior, and that the two would settle the dispute together, according to Red Star News. A woman is pictured in a restaurant in Kennewick, Washington, on May 19, 2019. (Kennewick Police) Woman Smacks Staff With Takeout Bag After Getting Upset With Sandwich Police in Washington state are trying to track down an unknown woman who allegedly smacked a restaurant worker in the face with her takeout bag after getting upset about a sandwich. Kennewick Police Department released CCTV stills showing the woman reaching over the counter, apparently hitting the restaurant employee. The restaurant staff said the woman had ordered a sandwich at the restaurant drive-thru, according to police, but had become upset about a sandwich. The victim said that the female entered the location and was verbally aggressive towards her before reaching over the counter and allegedly striking her in the side of the face with the bag of food she was carrying, said the police statement. The victim was not injured and does not know the suspect. The woman is facing possible assault charges. Police have not named the restaurant where the incident occurred. The police posted the CCTV footage to Facebook, hoping to enlist the local community in tracking her down. Wed like to remind her that assaulting someone for not making your sandwich correctly is not okay. The police departments Facebook appeal certainly generated local interest, with over 300 comments and 500 shares. It is so disgraceful how people treat others especially in the food industry, wrote one person. I hope this woman is embarrassed by her actions and learns she can not put her hands on others or use violence in this manner. Some people said that this kind of thing comes with the territory in the fast food industry. I worked in a fast food place once, and apparently the chocolate milk this lady ordered was not cold enough, so she screamed at me and as soon as I turned around I saw the carton of milk flying towards me across the room. Others couldnt resist commenting on the womans appearance. She looks like she was ready to come eat somebody, my hell! Who could ever prepare for someone like this? Maybe fast food workers have to start training for these looneys. Mace would do the trick! Oh wait, shed probably find a way to sue. WTH is wrong with people? A Spate of Food Attacks Confounds Florida Deputies Two weeks ago, deputies in Florida said they had arrested a man for slapping his girlfriend with a cheeseburger. Thirty-year-old Kyle Jamison Jones wanted it his way, wrote Martin County Sheriffs Office in a statement on Facebook on May 14. When he didnt get it, things between him and his girlfriend escalated. Joness live-in girlfriend, who was not named in the report, said that he had abruptly woken her up by slapping her in the face with a cheeseburger, according to the sheriffs office. Jones then allegedly pulled her hair and kicked her down the stairs. Earlier this year, Florida deputies in Pasco County had been left confounded by a string of domestic food attack cases, reported Patch, with cookies, frozen pork chops, and pizzas being weaponized in the heat of the moment. Deputies say the reason could be simply that many arguments start in the kitchen, where food items are at hand. The wait is over and hope is rekindled for the family of Carlos Buddy Edward Ferguson. With his remains recently identified, Ferguson is no longer a missing in action Korean War veteran and his family has renewed their hope for the identification of his younger brother, Bobby, who remains an MIA Korean War veteran. Joann Ferguson Hodges is Fergusons only surviving sibling. Its good, but its heartbreaking, Hodges said. She lost her two sisters within the last year. I just didnt think itd ever get to be. Wheels were put into motion almost two years ago when Fergusons niece, Bobbie Jo Hodges-Lamb, reconnected with former teaching colleague, Brittany Spencer Rumsby, through Facebook. Rumsby made a comment about Memorial Day. In Hodges-Lambs response to the post she talked about her uncles who were MIA Korean War veterans. It wasnt long until Rumsbys husband, Rob, messaged Hodges-Lamb about his desire to help the family with starting the identification process. The next step was to work with John Zimmerlee, executive director of the Coalition of Families of Korean and Cold War POW/MIAs. In February, Fergusons remains from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii were identified. Last Thursday, his flag-draped casket arrived with military dignity at the Piedmont Triad Airport in Greensboro, N.C., and was driven to Rocky Mount. A memorial service with more than 50 in attendance was held Saturday morning one day shy of what would have been his 89th birthday at Living Waters Assembly of God Church in Rocky Mount. Interment followed at McElhenney Church Cemetery in Alderson, W.Va. with more than 100 relatives, friends and honor guard members present. The graveside service was led by Fergusons cousin Pastor Billy Ferguson and was conducted with military honors including a 21-gun salute. The Patriot Guard Riders served at both services. Ferguson was born in Alderson, W.Va., on May 19, 1930, the oldest of six children. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, Aug. 30, 1948, and was listed as MIA on May 18, 1951, one day short of his 21st birthday. Pastor Roger Jones of Living Waters Assembly of God Church and Lee Flora of Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center both said it was their first experience with an MIA veterans service and that they felt it was a real honor to be of service. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Spencer of the Casualty Assistance Center at Fort Lee served the family from the time the family received the documents regarding the identification of Fergusons remains. The family expressed their appreciation for Spencers help. During her remarks at the morning service, Hodges-Lamb referred to Spencer by saying, Hes our new family member. Brittany Brown, great-niece to Ferguson, said Saturdays events felt surreal. I couldnt believe it was happening, Brown said. My nannie, his baby sister, wished for this for as long as I could remember and it was finally happening. My nannies wish came true. Although I wish she was here so I could watch her experience it, she got the better view at his side. A true heros homecoming. Hodges-Lamb described the mood of the day to be humbling, exciting and electrifying. She said that although she was burning up from the West Virginia heat she had cold chills. She added that the memory of the amount of respect shown to her family will be with her for the rest of her life. She encourages families of MIA veterans to not give up hope. There are tons of people waiting to hear. You think youre alone, but youre not. What started out as a hope and a prayer came to be. Its amazing. Were looking forward to coming back. Cool venue, Cracker co-founder and guitarist Johnny Hickman said of the Harvester. Hickman said he and co-founder David Lowery consider Virginia to be one their many homes. Its basically where we started Cracker, Hickman said. Thats where the bulk of the music that ended up on the first couple of records was written, in Virginia; in Oregon Hill in Richmond. Virginia is like coming home for us so we are looking forward to being back. While Richmond may be where the alternative rock band built its fan base and recorded some of their first songs, the founding duo met in California. Hickman said he and Lowery had a mutual admiration for one anothers work from a young age. We met as little punk rock buddies. We had our little fledgling kid bands and wed do shows together, parties, open up for each other, whatever kids do, Hickman said. The pair pursued music interests separately with various bands before Hickman said they tracked one another down. Upon hanging out they began writing songs and within a week they had a whole batch of songs, Hickman said. I think we both just instinctively knew that yeah this will work, Hickman said, laughing. We were really having fun coming up with songs. I came up with Teen Angst that week, and I started writing the music to a song called I See the Light, which he wrote incredible lyrics to It just worked, it clicked. It was their mutual affection for country music that bonded them. Punk rock kids, not many of them like country music, you know, Hickman said. He and I both did because we grew up on air bases across the south before we met as teenagers in southern Cal. He said they both admired Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson. In addition to the old-style country, both Hickman and Lowery were influenced by Texas-based country songwriters Terry Allen and Billy Jo Shaver, along with English punk bands like The Clash and Buzzcocks and post-punk musicians. We just liked what we liked, and that explains a lot about Cracker too Our musical palette is pretty broad, Hickman said. We sort of consciously decided Lets not edit ourselves and just write whatever kind of song we feel. Much like English rock band The Kinks, whom Hickman and Lowery both admire, Cracker also varied its sound from hard rock to country. You can hear all the way through the 10 Cracker records there is a little bit of soul and funk involved, Hickman said. As certain people who have been in and out of the band there has been hard rock, certainly, Brit pop, noise rock; its all in there. He said it is Lowerys voice that ties it all together to make them sound like Cracker. There have been a few members of Cracker in and out over the years, including drummers, keyboardists and bass guitarists. Hickman said the band was designed that way because it is so difficult to keep a band together and keep everyone happy. The formula has worked for nearly 30 years. Hickman said Cracker has never become a household name but the original duo plus various band members have recorded 10 albums together, in addition to solo projects, and are still performing together after all these years. I think we are a little too weird for the main mainstream, but that is OK with us, Hickman said. We were very lucky in that this trajectory worked for us. If you come out and your first record goes through the roof, you kind of have nowhere to go In that respect we were very, very lucky that our debut [album] self-titled, Cracker came out and did respectably well. He talked about the success of the song Low which was on the bands second album Kerosene Hat. Hickman said between himself and Lowery they have about 100 songs. He said his picks for best song come and go but they always play their hits at their live shows. We agreed early-on that if we were ever lucky to have a hit which weve had several not to be one of these snobby bands who dont feel like playing their hits so they dont play it, Hickman said. We always looked down on bands like that. Of course you have to play your radio songs. Thats what a lot of the people know you by and thats what put you on the map. People ask me if Im tired of playing Low. I love that song. I mean I have played it thousands of times but it still holds up for me. Cracker will perform at The Harvester in Rocky Mount at 8 p.m. on Sunday, May 26. Continued from May 17 The original transmission of AIDS had nothing to do with sex: Some people in West Africa eat bushmeat, or monkey meat. The molecular testing is now so precise that scientists have dated the common ancestor of all of todays HIV infections to sometime between 1873 and 1933. That same type of testing suggests the virus first arrived in the United States in the 1960s. Robert Rayford may not have been the first to die; just the first to be verified. Its still unclear how he contracted the virus. Theres some belief that he had been a child prostitute but even that doesnt explain how the virus wound up in the middle of North America. Another mystery: In the early 1970s, a baby born in New Jersey to a 16-year-old intravenous drug user also showed symptoms that tests years later showed to be HIV. Its clear now that HIV had been around for a long time before it exploded into an epidemic that first appeared in 1979 and then raged through the early 1980s before its cause was finally found. The initial spread of the disease also wasnt a gay flight attendant from Canada; it was straight European sailors. We now know that sailors who frequented African ports and female prostitutes brought it back to Europe. The first documented AIDS case in Europe involved a Norwegian sailor and truck driver who had frequented female prostitutes in Cameroon in the early 1960s and then female European prostitutes through the 1970s. If you want to blame a single Patient Zero, blame the man usually given the code name Arvid Noe. He died in 1976; so did his wife and infant daughter and nobody at the time knew why. The first AIDS death in Virginia was in Roanoke. On May 8, 1983, a 30-year-old man from Tazewell County passed away at Roanoke Memorial Hospital. At the time AIDS was so new at least in the public mind that there were just seven reported cases of the infection in Virginia. The Tazewell man became the eighth and the first to die. AIDS changed how we go about go about handling blood we didnt use to see first responders with rubber gloves and popularized the concept of safe sex. The outbreak peaked in the U.S. in 1995 and in the world in 2005. Deaths have declined every year since but the virus certainly hasnt gone away. The number of new HIV cases in Virginia has trended slightly downward from 975 in 2013 to 831 last year. Thats still a little more than two new cases each day. Of those, 11 last year were in Roanoke. Health statistics estimate more than 400 people in Roanoke carry the disease; more than 1,000 apiece in Richmond and Petersburg, which has the states highest concentrations of cases. New drugs dont make HIV the automatic death sentence it once was, but it still can be deadly We mark World AIDS Day every Dec. 1, but in some ways its every day. SML Chamber thanks sponsors, attendees for 2019 Expo On behalf of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce and its more than 750 members, I would like to thank all who attended, participated in and sponsored the 16th Annual SML Business Expo on May 3. This lively trade show, one of the areas most popular annual events, allowed residents and visitors to connect with more than 100 business professionals in a wide variety of industries all at the convenient SML YMCA. Our sincerest thanks also goes out to the dedicated team of volunteers who, under the leadership of Chamber Event Manager Andrea Fansler, worked diligently to ensure the event went off without a hitch. Special recognition goes to the committee leaders, businesses, groups and organizations, including Jon Burger and Zach Wimmer, Sam Easter, Eric Fansler, Pete Phillips, Jamie and Jason Campbell (vendor support), Susie Pratt and Sandra Morse (door prize coordination), Donnie Shaver of SoundDawgs Production (sound, music and announcements), and the Smith Mountain Eagle (Expo layout). Finally, the Chamber could not produce such amazing events and provide such value to the SML community without generous sponsors. Many thanks to our 2019 SML Business Expo sponsors: Gold AEP Appalachian Power, American National Bank & Trust Company, Carilion Clinic, Centra, Verizon Wireless Zone Silver Bank of Botetourt, MemberOne FCU, LeisureMedia360, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services SML, Down Home Plumbing & Repair Bronze Turners Dock Building, Inc, Eastlake Community Church, Glenda McDaniel, Long & Foster Real Estate, Haywoods Jewelers, BB&T, Westlake Automotive Service, Gilbert, Bird, Sharpes & Robinson, Wallers, Hickory Hill Vineyards, Premier Appraisals, SunTrust Bank & SunTrust Investment Services, Southside Electric Cooperative, AssuredComfort, SML Retirement Village Runk & Pratt, Magnum Point Marina, Bridgewater Marina and Boat Rentals, Redwood Fuel Oil & Propane, Eye Care & Surgery, Mayberry Furniture & Antique Mall, Movement Mortgage, Newman & Associates, Mulch N More, Vogel & Cromwell LLC, Farm Credit of the Virginias, Rockydale Quarries Corp., and Consolidated Construction Services, Inc. We are fortunate to live and work in a community where residents and businesses are engaged, active and supportive. Vicki Gardner Executive Director, Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust is under new leadership. The community development nonprofit appointed Noah Gotbaum as its new chief executive officer Wednesday, following a regional search. Our executive search included over 100 candidates and we are very pleased to bring Noahs experience, skill, and passion for nonprofit work to the Bridgeport community! said Kim Bianca Williams, BNT Board President in a press release. BNT has been a leader in affordable housing and we look forward to expanding our methods of leading, empowering and changing neighborhoods under Noahs leadership. He will replace interim CEO John Heydar, who took over leadership of BNT following the departure of longtime CEO Elizabeth Torres in the fall. Gotbaum brings a mix of experience from the private, public and nonprofit sectors to the new position, including serving as a board chairman for the New York Cares, a volunteer management nonprofit that served more than 400,000 New Yorkers in need last year. I am thrilled to join BNT, and work with its great staff, Gotbaum said in a press release. There are tremendous opportunities to build on BNTs manifold successes to grow the organization, and to creatively spur even stronger neighborhood and community development in Bridgeport and beyond. This is a developing story Jordan.grice@hearstmediact.com WSHU Publice Radio / Contributed photo WSHU Public Radio will host a Join the Conversation event with Bren Smith on Thursday, June 13, at the WSHU Broadcast Center in Fairfield. A former commercial fisherman, Smith pioneered the development of restorative 3D ocean farming. He has been featured on 60 Minutes and in The New Yorker, and his ocean farm was named one of Time magazines Best Inventions in 2017, according to a news release. (People's Daily Online/Liang Jun) Huawei's founder and CEO Ren Zhengfei won applause after a group interview on May 21 at the company's headquarters in Shenzhen. One's strength and confidence are not embodied in how loud one speaks. Each statement Ren said during the interview was clear and down-to-earth, and reflects a Chinese entrepreneur's openness to the outside world. No country can go against the global trend and develop alone. "It's necessary for every country to open to the world, as only opening up can lead to a bright future," said Ren, who has witnessed and also contributed to China's reform and opening up. The country's reform and opening up shaped the temperament for Chinese entrepreneurs, while in return, Chinese entrepreneurs have continued to drive the progress of China's reform and opening up. It's clear that countries around the world should open their doors and create common prosperity together. Chinese companies, including Huawei, follow the development trend of globalization. Chinese enterprises and the Chinese nation are good learners. With a global vision and broad mind, they will focus on both the whole and individual interests, and create fruitful results. Among the world's top 10 Internet giants, four are from China. Meanwhile, a large number of Chinese enterprises are taking the initiative to go out and make contributions to the global economy. Slogan shouting is not patriotism. The real patriotism is to align national interests with the global trend. It's a fact that Huawei boasts a world-renowned Chinese brand, but still, the software and hardware products in a Huawei phone embody the world's cutting-edge technology as well as the joint efforts of companies at home and abroad. During the interview, Ren Zhengfei said that his family is still quite fond of Apple products, and insisted that it is narrow-minded to think that loving Huawei means only using Huawei products. Today, China is more confident and more capable than ever before of making the goal of national rejuvenation a reality. As a major country, it must behave in a way comparable with this status. China believes that it will approach the world stage with determination and ease when there are open-minded entrepreneurs and nationals of rational thinking, and when innovation is valued. Related: U.S. ban will not affect Huawei's high-tech and 5G: Huawei CEO All adults are welcome. Minors must have a parents permission to use the virtual reality device, which is meant to be fun and informative. Researchers want the database to include volunteers from all walks of life. We want to make sure that everybody is fairly represented in medical research, Lopez said. We want to be able to look at your genetics, your lifestyle and your environment to see what makes you unique. Organizers say those who join the program will contribute to research that may improve health for generations to come. After compiling a lot of data in the West Coast and Southwest states, researchers deliberately headed to the Midwest, she said. Hispanics make up 16 percent of the population but only represent 1 percent of past trial participants, says a sign inside the educational center. People may create an account either at the educational center or at home. To create an account, you have to be at least 18 years old, have a working cell number or email address and be a resident of the U.S. You dont have to be a citizen, Lopez said. You dont have to give your Social Security number if you dont want to, she said. For the Grand Island area, the forecast for Wednesday calls for a mostly sunny day after a rainy Tuesday. The high will be 68 degrees, with west-southwest winds at 15-20 mph and gusts as high as 30 mph. But theres a 20% chance for showers Wednesday night after 1 a.m., with a low of about 48. According to the National Weather Service-Hastings forecast through Memorial Day, the weather will continue to be wet and cooler than average. On Thursday, showers are likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 4 p.m. It will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 69. Winds will be from the east at 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half an inch are possible. On Thursday night, there will be showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 1 a.m., then a chance of showers. The low will be about 52. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three-quarters of an inch are possible. Friday will be sunny, with a high near 77 and a low of 52. Spatz said the state ranking 50th in the nation for state support for education is New Hampshire, a state that does not have an income tax. The other states with more than 50 percent of their total education funding coming from local taxpayers are Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. What do we have in common with those states from an economic perspective? Spatz said. To me, Nebraska really stands out in all of these states in that we are a Midwestern state that is dependent upon the agriculture industry. When it comes to state revenue, he said that in 2012 and 2013, revenue was coming into the state pretty well since commodity prices were a lot better than they are now. However, over the last few years, state revenue has decreased. Spatz showed the Rotarians a chart to show where the money is going in the state of Nebraska. He said investments in K-12 education, special education and higher education have decreased in recent years, while expenses in corrections, child welfare, courts and Medicaid have increased. I hear regularly that government should be run more like a business, he said. I dont disagree with that, but if this is your business model, where your expenses are going up and your investments are going down, that is a disastrous business model. If this trend doesnt bend, how does the property tax issue get better? 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. EDWARDSVILLE Approval of $120,000 for the purchase of three 2020 Ford Explorers was granted to the Edwardsville Police Department by city council during its Tuesday meeting. EPD wants to be first in line to bid on 2020 vehicles once released, which is why the department asked for pre-approval. In the past, the department did not get vehicle purchases pre-approved, which resulted in a delay in getting new vehicles. Weve had occasions where we ordered a car in one budget year and we didnt get it until the next budget year, so almost 10 months later, Police Chief Jay Keeven said. Illinois typically releases their contract for police vehicles around July 1, and the department will bid on the vehicles then. The department will be taking $40,000 from their DUI fund. According to Keeven, this fund has been accumulating and hasnt been dipped into in about 10 years. This money does not come from tax dollars. In addition, $60,000 will be taken from the annexation fund and $20,000 from capital expenses of general revenue. The estimated cost should cover the vehicles; installation of equipment such as radios, cameras and dispatch consoles from DataTronics Wireless Communications Systems in Godfrey; and vehicle decals from Adgraphix, according to Keeven. The department only keeps patrol cars until they get up to around 100,000 miles of wear. Two of the current squad cars will be assigned to Edwardsville school resources officers which will replace their current vehicles. The older vehicles will then be sold in an auction. In other business, the council approved $4,500 for the Madison County Historical Societys Living History Days event and $7,440 for a single-source agreement with Lewis & Clark Community College/Workforce Education, Solutions & Safety Training for a confined space rescue seminar for eight members of the Edwardsville Fire Department. Reach reporter Breanna Booker at bre.booker@edwpub.net ALTON Alton Police are offering a reward to anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for nearly $6,000 worth of damage to Alton Amphitheater property in Riverfront Park. Approximately 50 light fixtures were broken and bulbs stolen overnight from Monday to Tuesday while the park was closed. This incident was the second of its kind within two weeks. There were eight fixtures damaged overnight between May 9 and 10. GRAFTON As business owners prepare for the Memorial Day weekend, they also are readying for a secondary river crest expected sometime early Sunday, along with impact and road closures that might result. The Mississippi River was at 28.46 feet at Alton as of 1:30 p.m. Monday and 26.9 feet in Grafton. Both locations are expected to crest again at 7 a.m. Sunday, at 31.2 feet and 27.9 feet, respectively. The Illinois Department of Transportation announced that, while the River Road has reopened, the Brussels Ferry, Illinois Route 100 from Illinois 3 to Illinois 16 in Jersey County and southbound lanes of U.S. 67 in West Alton remain closed. Travelers are advised to consider alternate routes or allow additional time to travel known flood-prone areas, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. Regardless, all motorists are urged to be patient, reduce speed and exercise added caution throughout the Metro East region as traffic patterns and travel times will likely be affected. On Monday, cleaning and repair trucks lined the streets in Grafton. At Grafton Market, workers from the professional cleaning company Servpro were washing and wiping down the coolers and doing outside concrete work. Owner Susan Loemker said they expected to be done that evening, with workers coming back to restock today for a Friday opening. We got less than 6 inches in the building, so we did really well, she said. We moved a lot of stuff out to containers, then we were able to put the rest of the product up on high shelves. Frozen foods were stored in available space at the Illinois Youth Center which was vacated during the flooding. She said they gave away bread, lunch meat and dairy products. As people came in to shop we told them to take it home with them, she said. The rest, she said, went to a food pantry. Down the street, the Grafton Pub said they had about 3 feet of water in the basement but remained open throughout the flood. Surprisingly, we have done pretty well considering the circumstances, owner Paul Robertson said. He added he hoped Main Street would be fully open soon. At this time he figures they will lose some boating traffic, but others will come in to look at the floodwaters. We had eagles and now we have flood water, he said. The towns open. By this weekend most everybody else who had to close should be open. At Raging Rivers Water Park, manager Donna Morgan said they still are on schedule to open Saturday. Were almost there, she said. Were still filling pools. She said there was some delay because they had to close the drains, and river water got into the kiddie and wave pools. The bigger concern, she said, was access. It affected us on work weekends, she said, adding Raging Rivers brought workers in with a jon boat or on four-wheelers via an old road. Like most businesses, they know exactly what river height creates problems. Twenty-nine feet shuts us down, Morgan said, adding access to the park would be a bigger concern if the roads close down again. However, she remained optimistic. I think with the upgraded crest again, we should still be in good shape and open on Saturday, she said. Scott Cousins can be reached at 618-208-6447. TORRINGTON A local police lieutenant is using a unique social media tactic to get a wanted man to turn himself in. Lt. Brett Johnson who is one of the officers who mans the departments Facebook page, is asking users of the social media platform to like the wanted poster of Jose Simms, who has seven failure to appear arrest warrants. If the post gets 15,000 likes, the 29-year-old Simms promised he would turn himself in. We have no idea where this guy is other than we think hes in New York, Johnson said. This gives us an opportunity to extend our reach. Simms contacted Johnson via Facebook Messenger last week asking when his wanted poster would be placed on Facebook. He knew he missed court and that he has warrants, Johnson said. We started posting wanted people on Facebook and he wanted to know when he was going to be put up there. As part of the conversation, Simms said he would turn himself in if the post received 20,000 likes, Johnson said. The lieutenant came back with 10,000 likes and the two finally negotiated 15,000 likes, Johnson said. Simms wanted poster along with one for Kristopher Waananen, who has outstanding motor vehicle and failure-to-appear warrants, were posted early Wednesday with a catchy comment that included a reference to the television show The Office. Johnson said Simms wanted 15,000 likes and asked readers to share Simms poster on other social media platforms, including Twitter and Snapchat. There have been a few people who were apprehensive about the post, Johnson said. But overall people seem to be enjoying the situation. We havent done anything like this before but I know its been used in other places around the country, Johnson said. As of 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, the post had garnered 15,027 likes. Anyone who spots Simms or Waananen or has information on their whereabouts is asked to call Torrington police at 860-489-2007. EDWARDSVILLE Southern Illinois University Edwardsville psychology students taught the importance of forgiveness to middle and high school students at the Conversation Toward a Brighter Future Conference in April and May and hosted by the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities Foundation (MJCHF). Seniors Ashley Monier, of Troy, and Abigail Haloftis, of Waterloo, led a short lesson and interactive exercise on forgiveness using the principles of the Compassion Approach to Learning Meditation or CALM program. The program is presented under the guidance of Jeremy Jewell, Ph.D., professor of psychology and clinical child and school psychology graduate program director. SIUE students have various opportunities to become involved in research labs that are supervised by department of psychology faculty, Jewell said. These experiences provide students with great applied experience that often also allows them to engage in different community service activities. Im incredibly proud of my research lab students who have given several presentations this spring on topics related to mindfulness, meditation, coping and forgiveness. SIUE faculty and students are great resources for our community and Im proud to be able to help others through these trainings and presentations. The Conversation Toward a Brighter Future Conference invites student leaders from Madison County schools to share ideas and projects that help foster a positive school climate around the four pillars of the MJCHFrespect, dignity, understanding and forgiveness. Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Diaber, invited Monier and Haloftis to present at the conference because of their work with the CALM program that teaches forgiveness to residents of the Madison County Juvenile Detention Center. The CALM program educates youth about stress, anger, mindfulness, compassion and forgiveness, Monier explained. While each session is impactful, the forgiveness session seems to be one of the most difficult concepts for people of all ages to internalize. Monier and Haloftis led conference participants in an interactive exercise where audience members wrote the name of a person they were working to forgive on a brick. This exercise demonstrated how the weight of anger and grudges weigh us down and how learning to forgive can lighten the load they carry, so to speak, Haloftis said. We concluded our presentation by encouraging the students to take what they had learned and work to incorporate the lesson into their daily lives. Senator Murray Sinclair takes part in an April 2016 television interview in the foyer of the House of Commons in Ottawa. Sinclair, former chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, says a video featuring a Mountie interrogating a young Indigenous woman disclosing sexual abuse in B.C. foster care brings home a reality that Canadians should be shocked by and one that they need to see. America is living through a constitutional crisis and it didnt start when President Donald Trump announced that his administration would stonewall all congressional subpoenas and try to thwart the legislatures oversight efforts. The U.S. Constitution imposes on a Congress a duty to conduct effective oversight as part of its legislative duties. George Mason of Virginia said at the Constitutional Convention in 1787 that members of Congress are not only Legislators but they possess inquisitorial powers. They must meet frequently to inspect the Conduct of the public offices. Trumps refusal to acknowledge this vital congressional power and his affirmative plan to undermine it is at odds with our basic constitutional system. Congressional oversight is central to our system of separation of powers the idea that our democracy rests on decentralized power, with each of the three branches constraining the authority of the others. It remains to be seen how far Trump is willing to go to subvert oversight though all signs are bad. Our constitutional crisis extends far beyond the fight over congressional subpoenas or even the congressional oversight function, however. Trump is, on a continuing basis, assaulting Americas core constitutional values, obligations, protections and guarantees. For example: From Day One, Trump has governed in violation of the Constitutions core anti-corruption provision. The Constitution prohibits the president from accepting things of value (emoluments) from foreign governments without express congressional approval. But Trump continues to own his business empire, which not only accepts payment from foreign governments for hotel rooms, but has properties and interests around the world that receive foreign governmental subsidies, payments and benefits. The First Amendment prohibits discrimination on the basis of religion. One of Trumps earliest acts was to issue the Muslim ban, prohibiting entry into the United States by people from predominantly Muslim nations. The courts struck down this executive order, as they did a second. The U.S. Supreme Court, wrongly, let stand a third. Administrations often take action that courts find unconstitutional; that itself is not a threat to the Constitution. But when the president takes action for the explicit and sole purpose of discriminating against a disfavored religious group, it is. The 15th Amendment prohibits discrimination against voters on the basis of race. In office, Trump raced to create a Commission on Electoral Integrity, whose transparent mission was to suppress the vote of people of color. His Justice Department has done nothing to protect voting rights from naked suppression maneuvers in states across the country. Trump illegally evoked emergency powers to fund construction of a U.S.-Mexico border wall that Congress specifically refused to authorize. Trumps action eviscerated separation of powers principles and Article Is delegation of all funding authority to the Congress. Most worrisome, if upheld his claim to emergency authority simply to take action that Congress refused to authorize paves the way for a slide into authoritarianism. The Constitution specifies that the president must take care that the laws be faithfully executed. Trump has repeatedly refused to do so, including by refusing to implement health, safety and other regulations called for by federal statute. These examples are only a partial sampling of Trumps constitutional transgressions. He has attacked the free press, labeling the media as the enemy of the people, a phrase used through history by dictators and authoritarians, including Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels and Soviet Union Premier Joseph Stalin. He has attacked the independence of the judiciary, even as he as undermined judicial integrity by appointing a raft of extremist judges. Although trite to say, the Constitution is really a remarkable document. Perhaps its most exceptional component is the preamble. It is We the People of the United States who establish the Constitution. We do so to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity. In short, we do so not just to order and arrange our government, but to advance justice, protect liberty and take care of each other. Ultimately, our constitutional crisis tracks to Trumps subversion of these principles and aspirations. He is using the government to advance his own interests and those of connected corporations; he is fomenting hate against immigrants and people of color; and he stands ready to violate the law, rules, standards, norms and traditions to carry forward his parochial interests and defend his corrupt regime. A crisis indeed. Robert Weissman is the president of Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. He wrote this for InsideSources.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 08:52 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873921682 1 Editorial #Editorial,#2019PresidentialElection,#2019GeneralElections,2019-presidential-election,Indonesian-politics,KPU,Joko-Widodo-Maruf-Amin,Prabowo-Subianto-Sandiaga-Uno Free In the end, it was the confirmation of what we had known all along. So it was hardly a surprise when the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced on Monday night that incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo had won a second term. Only hours after balloting on April 17, a number of pollsters forecast with uncanny precision that Jokowi would win the presidential election. Jakarta-based pollster the Centre for Strategic and International Studies for instance found in its quick count that Jokowi would get 55.62 percent of the vote, only slightly more than the KPUs official figure of 55.5 percent. So next time theres an election we can rely on these pollsters to forecast the result correctly. The camp of Jokowis challenger Prabowo Subianto, of course, did not want to trust the quick count results. If anything, Prabowos camp refused to trust the vote count conducted by the KPU and in a widely expected move on Monday, it declined to certify the final tally produced by the KPU. And par for the course, on Tuesday the Prabowo camp announced that it would challenge the KPUs official result at the Constitutional Court after threatening for weeks that it would simply walk away from the vote count and unleash a people power movement. But with a margin of almost 17 million votes it will be an uphill battle for Prabowo to tip the balance in his favor and in the final analysis we can expect the Constitutional Court to sign, seal and deliver the election result for Jokowi. We should commend Prabowo for having the courage to contest this election even though the odds were stacked against him, as well as for his temerity in not giving up until the very end. His biggest contribution to our democracy was to play the role of loser three consecutive times (four if you count his defeat in the 2004 Golkar Party convention). He played the part well in making the presidential and legislative election alive and full of suspense. But elections, just like history in general, are interested only with winners. The focus now is on Jokowi and what he will do in his second term. And given the deep political division resulting from the last two election cycles, Jokowis first task should be to mend ties with his political rivals before moving on with his signature policy programs that involve infrastructure projects and climbing the human development index. The damage from the election was so severe that before getting down to work, reconciliation should be Jokowis first priority. On Tuesday, shortly after delivering his victory speech in a poor neighborhood in Central Jakarta, Jokowi made a commendable gesture, pledging that he would meet Prabowo. Without a doubt, I want to continue to be friends with Pak Prabowo and Pak Sandiaga Uno as well as with their supporters, Jokowi said. It takes two to tango and Prabowo should respond in kind. As one legend put it wisely after losing his fight, even when in defeat, you have to do it right. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kornelius Purba (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 09:00 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873929863 1 Opinion Prabowo-Subianto,Prabowo-Subianto-Sandiaga-Uno,Prabowo-claimed-victory,people-power-rally,#2019GeneralElections,#2019PresidentialElection,2019-presidential-election,Indonesian-politics,#commentary Free The repeated threats of the Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno camp to stage massive street rallies and other expressions of defiance against the government which they have described as people power seem to have lost much of their relevance following the General Elections Commission (KPU) decision to announce the official results of the presidential and legislative elections early on Tuesday, one day ahead of the May 22 deadline. According to the KPU, incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo won 55.5 percent of the vote (85.6 million votes) and Prabowo gained 44.5 percent (68.7 million). Therefore, although Jokowi was reelected, we should remember that nearly 69 million Indonesians supported Prabowo and the way some of them regard Prabowo is almost reminiscent of a cult personality. They perceive him as the messiah for Indonesia many thought so when a man found a Rp 50,000 bill carrying a stamp that read Prabowo the chosen knight [satria piningit], messiah after withdrawing cash from an ATM in Tangerang, Banten last September. Prabowo lost to Jokowi for the second time in a row. The outcome was not at all surprising, despite Prabowo claiming victory several times initially 62 percent of the vote based on an internal real count, but last week discounted down to 54 percent. Prabowo and his die-hard supporters will embarrass themselves with his decision to challenge the election result at the Constitutional Court. Legal experts, including former Constitutional Court justices, have reminded him of his very slim chance of winning. Five years ago he attempted to prove in court that structured, systematic and massive electoral fraud had cost him the presidency, but to no avail. Several hours before the KPUs announcement, the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) rejected Prabowos allegations of vote rigging in favor of Jokowi because they were based merely on (noncredible) online media reports. Like it or not, the April 17 elections were democratic, transparent and peaceful and the world has acknowledged this. Initially Prabowo displayed statesmanship when reacting to the KPUs announcement. He asked his supporters to maintain peace and order and to organize their protests in a nonviolent, civilized and constitutional manner. But he quickly changed his mind, saying he was the constitutional president of Indonesia. He might not have learned from Islam Defenders Front (FPI) leader Fahrurrozi who in 2014 proclaimed himself the governor of Jakarta, the post that constitutionally was held by Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama. Shortly after, a neighborhood chief in East Jakarta told the media he was looking for Fahrurrozi as he had not paid neighborhood fees for months. To anticipate the unexpected, given the clear-cut division resulting from the grueling presidential election, the National Police has stepped up security to the top level. Thousands of Prabowo supporters are said to be planning a huge rally outside the KPU to reject the election result and to demand disqualification of Jokowi so that Prabowo will become the countrys eighth president. As tension rises, a number of prominent figures known to have called for people power to defend Prabowo have been arrested. Nonetheless, Jokowi and his running mate Maruf Amin assured the nation on Tuesday they would not ignore those who voted for Prabowo. After being sworn in October, we will be the President and Vice President of the entire Indonesian people, we will be the leaders and the guardians of 100 percent of Indonesians. We will fight to deliver social justice for the entire Indonesian people, Jokowi said. As he displays his never-say-die spirit, Prabowo will recall a previous humiliating moment in dealing with a sitting president. Today, 21 years ago, on May 22, 1998, his anger and bluff did not matter to then president Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, who was on the previous day sworn-in to replace Prabowos father-in-law, Soeharto. Claiming to act on behalf of Soeharto and his own, famous father, the professor Sumitro Djojohadikusumo, Prabowo angrily demanded Habibie reinstate him as the commander of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad). Habibie had dismissed Prabowo from the military post on the same day Soeharto lost his power. Prabowo was shocked to discover the might he enjoyed during Soehartos 32-year dictatorship meant nothing that day. In his autobiography Decisive Moments (p. 98), Habibie writes that Prabowo first asked him to let him command Kostrad for another three months, but later he lowered his negotiation to just three days. Your firing me as the commander of Kostrad is an insult to my family and the family of my father-in-law, president Soeharto, Prabowo warned Habibie. But Prabowo later begged, Give me just three more weeks, or even three more days, in command of my men! No, by the time the sun sets, you must have handed over command of all your troops to the new Kostrad commander, Habibie firmly ended their conversation. It looks certain that Jokowi will lead Indonesia until 2024, at the expense of Prabowo. But never underestimate Prabowos power and influence. He has developed his Great Indonesia Party (Gerindra) into a formidable opposition force. Although as a leader Jokowi will embrace his haters, many will never forgive him. They will seek any opportunity to avenge Prabowos humiliation and they believe he cannot be wrong. Many of them will never accept their idols defeat. They will not hesitate to go to prison just to defend Prabowo. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Krystina Lyon (The Jakarta Post) Ubud, Bali Wed, May 22, 2019 09:00 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873929e8d 1 Art & Culture #art,#artist,#arahmaiani,#exhibition,#artworks,#Bali,#Indonesia,#LucieFontaine,#FlagProject,#flag Free Arahmaiani Feisals Flag Project is eloquent in its simplicity, hugely ambitious in its scope and moving in its humility. Oversized, brightly colored and fluttering gently, they burst into view as one approaches the old Limasan building on the grounds of Setia Darma House of Masks and Puppets in Ubud, Bali. Flags thirty of them. Each is sewn with one keyword held dear by the communities that the artist worked with around the world over the past 13 years. Art statement: Flags as part of Arahmaianis Flag Project are displayed at the San Wayan House of Masks and Puppets in Ubud, Bali. The display runs until May 31. (Krystina Lyon/-) What presence lingers from the performance, which took place at Kayu, the Lucie Fontaine branch in Bali, comes from these flags rippling in the breeze as they hang from bamboo poles on the buildings verandah and upper floor. This artwork provides the tangible memory of the dialog created by the flag bearers and orchestrated by the renowned artist. Born in Bandung in 1961, Arahmaiani is considered one of Southeast Asias most fearless, pioneering artists. She was held in home detention for a month following a taboo-breaking public performance in 1983 when she criticized the military regime and 10 years later she was again in trouble with the religious authorities on charges of blasphemy for a realist drawing showing sexual symbols on top of Jawi (Arab script for writing Malay) script. She paid dearly for these high-risk expressions and leads a peripatetic life as a global nomad with bases in Chiang Mai and Sydney. Her work is driven by the desire to help solve problems on a global scale such as global capitalism in Nation For Sale; gender imbalances in His Story; religious tolerance in Stitching the Wound; environmental issues featured in an exhibition in the US called Shadows of the Past; or by encouraging respect and tolerance on a personal scale in the Flag Project. Arahmaiani Feisal (Courtesy of Arahmaiani, Kayu Lucie Fontaine Batu/Evelyn Pritt) In the words of veteran art critic Carla Bianpoen, Arahmaiani is a fearlessly consistent artist whose unrelenting quest for equality infused her various art expressions with the female spirit, be it in performance art, painting or poetry that speaks of her enduring advocacy against all forms of fanaticism. Arahmaiani initiated Flag Project in 2006 following an earthquake in Yogyakarta, with its main objective to encourage dialog and communication for collective creativity and problem-solving. It later extended into the global project it has become today performed as a community project in Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Tibet and Thailand. When starting the project at Yogyakartas Amumarta Islamic boarding school, they came up with two keywords written in Arab Pegon, Jawi or Malay Arabic: akal (mind) and nyali (courage). From the Tibetan monastic Gelugpa sect in 2010 came the words om (a condensed version of all Buddhas teachings) and thasi delek (blessings and good luck). In 2012, a community in Passau, Germany, added the words mut (courage) and herz (heart) to the Flag Project. Art and beyond: Flag bearers perform as part of Arahmaianis Flag Project in Sydney, Australia. (Courtesy of Arahmaiani, Kayu Lucie Fontaine Batu/Evelyn Pritt) In order to elicit the words, Arahmaiani facilitated conversations within these communities of different faiths, religions and beliefs in Asia, Australia and Europe. These words represent core values that each group finds important and which they practice as individuals as well as a community. Arahmaiani said her first hope for the project was always about creating a better and brighter future where people coming from various cultures and backgrounds or faiths can live peacefully together. The artist revealed that the words communication, dialog and respect would be added soon to the flag's keywords to reflect the growing need for them in todays world. Other words include air, capital, courage, culture, earth, freedom, food, hand in hand, "justice, love, solidarity and wisdom as well as short phrases like dont be arrogant. The keywords have always been hand-stitched onto the different colored flags by seamstresses in Yogyakarta. These same flags were featured at a recent retrospective called "The Past Has Not Passed" held at Museum Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (MACAN) in Jakarta and were delivered safely to Ubud for the latest performance. For the performance in Ubud, 30 flag bearers formed a circle and marched to the tunes of Balinese kecak dance and hip hop performed by an Indonesian band. They then broke off in pairs to interact together, waving their flags and creating a dialog with each other in the way that Arahmaiani envisaged as an alternative, creative way to solve problems. The energy and goodwill created among the participants and audience were symbolic of the transformation communal art practice can provide as well as widen artistic practice from the individual to the group. It was one of the reasons this work was brought to Kayu. Italian artist and curator Marco Cassani, who brought Arahmaiani and her Flag Project to this hidden, peaceful nook of Ubud, said he wanted to underline her connection with Bali from the past when she was given refuge by the community in Bona village during that difficult period in her early career as an artist. His main ambition is to connect local communities to international audiences in a more general sense with the projects he initiates at Kayu. This idea of creating a sustainable network of communities is one that Arahmaiani has been nurturing with her Flag Project. Arahmaiani said through networking, these communities could connect and find creative solutions to their problems, while at the same time, her collaborations seek to remain unrestricted by conventions imposed by art institutions and art markets remaining inclusive for the widest possible audience and participants alike. Through this network, these communities can also share and support, she said. And these flags serve as a statement for respecting cultural diversity and faiths. (ste) -- The exhibition is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 2 to 4 p.m. until May 31. For more information, email kayu@luciefontaine.com If anyone out there has a lot of wide-open space during mid-July, Leah Thordarson, volunteer manager of Westside Daze, would like to hear from you. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Vienna Wed, May 22, 2019 09:03 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87392a916 2 Art & Culture biennale,exhibition,artworks,Vienna,Vienna-Biennale Free Now in its third installment, the Vienna Biennale for Change is a multidisciplinary biennale that advocates for a necessary turnaround of climate change. Entitled Brave New Virtues. Shaping Our Digital World, this edition features several exhibitions, events and conferences questioning how to handle artificial intelligence and new technologies. Here is a selection of three exhibitions to keep an eye on: UNCANNY VALUES: Artificial Intelligence & You from May 29 to October 6 In the 1970s, Japanese roboticist Masahiro Mori coined the term uncanny valley to describe our revulsion towards humanoid machines. Nearly 50 years later, the exhibition UNCANNY VALUES: Artificial Intelligence & You reflects on the effects of the recent developments in AI. It features 18 works by international artists and designers, who explore how we interact with this ever-growing technology. Among them are Asunder by Tega Brain, Julian Oliver and Bengt Sjolen. This multi-screen installation shows visitors what AI would change about our planet to ensure a balance of resources, social justice and sustainable production. It also displays Heather Dewey-Hagborgs installation Probably Chelsea, which consists of 30 different possible portraits of American whistleblower Chelsea Manning. These portraits were algorithmically-generated by an analysis of her DNA highlighting how subjective the act of reading DNA can be. UNCANNY VALUES: Artificial Intelligence & You will be on show on the fifth floor of the Austrian Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), in Vienna. Change Was Our Only Chance from May 29 to September 27 (closed in August) Curated by Viennas University of Applied Arts, this exhibition reflects on the impact of current ecological, economic and technological changes on our daily lives. It features two immersive installations, Change Was Our Only Chance and Noise Aquarium. The eponymous installation Change Was Our Only Chance, created by artist collective Times Up, takes viewers in a dystopian vision of the year 2047. It shows the consequences of the political decisions taken in the 2020s regarding global warming and climate change. Read also: Handiwirman Saputra: Third Indonesian artist to exhibit work at Venice Biennale On the other hand, Noise Aquarium tackles the issue of increasing noise pollution in the worlds oceans. Developed in collaboration between the ArtSci Center UCLA and the University of Applied Arts Vienna, the immersive installation brings plankton to life. Change Was Our Only Change will be on show at the Angewandte Innovation Laboratory. Hysterical Mining from May 29 to October 6 This exhibition, curated by Anne Faucheret and Vanessa Joan Muller, explores the gendering and racialising biases embedded in supposedly neutral technologies. It draws on radical feminist and ecofeminist theories from the 1970s, which criticised the patriarchal idea that men show a natural affinity with technology. Hysterical Mining features the work of several female artists, including Trisha Baga, Louise Drulhe, Vernokia Eberhart, Marlies Poschl and Delphine Reist. It will be on show at the arts space Kunsthalle Wien. The Vienna Biennale for Change will take place from May 29 to October 6 in various locations around the Austrian capital. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Issam Ahmed (Agence France-Presse) Washington Wed, May 22, 2019 06:03 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87391a77d 2 Environment bonobo,Science,study,wildlife,Mother Free Anyone who's experienced a mother pushing them to get a move on and produce grandkids might just sympathize with this. A new study has described the outsized role bonobo moms play in their sons' sex lives: from pulling rank to ensure their male offspring get to meet attractive ovulating females, to interfering with male rivals' attempts to mate. The paper was published Monday in the journal Current Biology and found that bonobo males whose mothers were alive and remained in their group were three times more likely to father children. And the authors credited the success of the "wingmoms" on the nature of bonobos' female-dominant societies, which have long been known for their altruistic and peaceful character, in contrast to more violent and patriarchal chimpanzees. "This is the first time that we can show the impact of the mother's presence on a very important male fitness trait, which is their fertility," co-author Martin Surbeck, a primatologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany said in a statement. "We were surprised to see that the mothers have such a strong, direct influence on the number of grandchildren they get." For the study, Surbeck and colleagues observed wild bonobo populations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as wild populations of chimpanzees in Ivory Coast, Tanzania, and Uganda. To verify paternity, they collected the primates' droppings for DNA analysis. Read also: Romeo the lonesome frog is feelin' the love Gynecocratic communities They found that while both bonobo and chimpanzee mothers attempted to assist their sons, bonobos were far more successful because their communities' highest ranks are dominated by females. Chimpanzee communities on the other hand are dominated by males who compete for alpha status. The two species together are humans' closest relatives in the animal kingdom and share about 99 percent of our DNA. "The bonobo moms act a bit like social passports," Surbeck told AFP. "The sons, in close proximity to their moms, are also very central in the group and access positions in the group that allow them to interact more with other females including copulation." "If there's a female who's very attractive, you see moms stick around them, and in the shadow of their moms are the males," he added. By contrast, they found that if a mother lost her high rank, her son also fell in rank and was subsequently less successful in his mating attempts. In addition to intervening in their sons' rivals attempt to mate, bonobo mothers also protected their own sons from the efforts of rivals to disrupt courting and sex. Grandmother hypothesis Interestingly, bonobo mothers did not go the extra mile for their daughters, nor did they help their daughters raise offspring. Surbeck believes that, since bonobo daughters leave the community and males remain behind, it may simply not be worth the mothers' time and efforts from an evolutionary perspective. One thing the team believes they may now have tentative evidence for is the so-called "grandmother hypothesis": that a post-reproductive female can increase her own lifespan and continue her genes by ensuring her offspring's reproductive success. It is an idea that anthropologists have applied to humans and Surbeck believes it could also be the case for bonobo populations. "The interesting thing now is in bonobos we have such a mechanism, apparently allowing the females to do that, but intriguingly not through their daughters but their sons," he told AFP. Moving forward, Surbeck said he would like to confirm through more long-term research the benefits of the behavior on the longevity of mothers, and find out whether mothers exhibit welcoming behavior to new female arrivals in the community who go on to become their sons' mates. More broadly, he said, studying the differences between gender egalitarian and largely peaceful bonobo societies, in which members practice both heterosexual and homosexual sex to strengthen social bonds; versus alpha-male led chimpanzee societies, could yield clues about our own evolutionary past. "One has to be clear -- we did not evolve from bonobos or chimpanzees but we share with them a common ancestry," said Surbeck. "Comparing us with our closest living relatives might give some idea about traits which could evolve under selective pressures." Topics : bonobo Science study wildlife Mother Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sarah White and Phyllis Xu (Reuters) Cannes, France Wed, May 22, 2019 21:01 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873978dbd 2 Entertainment Frankie,Cannes-Film-Festival,Isabelle-Huppert,France,film,Ira-Sachs Free In Ira Sachs film Frankie, Isabelle Huppert stars as an ailing French actress who gathers her family together for one last holiday - coming as close to playing herself as she ever has. The film, vying for Cannes' top Palme d'Or prize this week, was written with Huppert in mind, and showcases the actress, who has been recognized at the film festival several times with acting awards, on very understated form. "What I think Ira Sachs was requiring for his actors was a kind of ... great simplicity, to the point that I didn't have the feeling to do a character, to do a role," Huppert told Reuters in an interview. "I just had the feeling to just be myself and say certain things, that is all." That's as far as the parallels go, however. Frankie tells the story of a woman and her loved ones trying to come to terms with her impending death, explored over the course of a day as they clash, comfort each other, and question their own lives and relationships on their Portuguese vacation. Read also: 'Lady on Fire' by female promise Sciamma sets Cannes ablaze There are tender moments and also laughs as meddlesome Frankie tries to sort out her son's love life; and more bittersweet ones, including discussions about money and inheritance - inspired, according to Sachs, by his own experience of losing a good friend to cancer. "Being part of (the) last three years of her life, I was struck by how unexpected the experience was for me," Sachs said in an interview. "I think there is an idea that death will be serious, and actually, it is like life, whatever it is. It is made up with a lot of contrasts." Huppert, who has twice won the best actress award at Cannes, including for The Piano Teacher in 2001, was praised by critics for her pared-back turn, though some reviewers were less convinced by the film as a whole. "It's exquisite around the edges, but where's the beef?" Variety asked in its write-up, saying the film almost left too much to be read between the lines. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Defri Sofyan (The Jakarta Post) Gorontalo Wed, May 22, 2019 13:35 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8739489ec 1 Art & Culture Ramadan-2019,ramadan-in-indonesia,Gorontalo,culture-and-tradition Free From the 16th night to the end of Ramadan, it is not uncommon to see Muslims in Payungo village in Gorontalo reciting qunut [non-obligatory prayer] while snacking on bananas and peanuts in a ritual known as the qunut evening (malam qunut). People across Gorontalo can be found making their way from their hometowns to celebrate the qunut evening in Batudaa field with Payungo residents. Banana and peanut sellers can be seen offering their products to visitors. Prices vary, from Rp 10,000 (less than US$1) to Rp 20,000 for bananas and Rp 15,000 for a kilogram of peanuts. Husain Ismail, one of the sellers from Payungo village, said he had sold bananas and peanuts for the qunutevening since 1987. I dont think about the profits, I'm only here to join the festivity, the 64-year-old man said. Aside from the aforementioned foods, people can also enjoy traditional dishes such asnasi bulu (steamed rice with coconut milk cooked inside bamboo) and chicken skewers. There is also a children's playground and tents for raffles. Read also: Gorontalo park seeks to lure more tourists with new sky bike ride Sakinah Marukay, a 26-year-old from West Limboto, said she always attended the qunut evening celebration every year. I didnt come here to eat peanuts and bananas. I can do that at home. I came here because I want to join the festivity and introduce the tradition to my children, Sakinah said on Monday. According to local figure Samsuddin Muhammad, this ritual has been celebrated since 1901. During that time, people from around the island came to the village to celebrate the qunut evening. Before praying, they perform ablution in the mosques well. They then purchase bananas and peanuts to eat after praying. There were only two sellers at that time, Koro and Sede. When I was a child, I often heard the phrase kaca li Koro [Koros peanuts], he said. Bananas and peanuts are popular snacks among people living in Gorontalo. Seeing that the qunut evening in Batudaa always attracts a lot of visitors, Gorontalo Regent Nelson Pomalingo is planning to make the ritual an annual tourist event. I will propose this idea to the tourism agency, he said on Monday. (dpk/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Johnny Cotton (Reuters) Cannes, France Thu, May 23, 2019 06:08 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873981758 2 Entertainment Cannes-Film-Festival,film,radicalism,radicalisation,Young-Ahmed,Jean-Pierre-Dardenne,Luc-Dardenne,Dardenne-brothers,Belgium Free Cannes regulars the Dardenne brothers said on Tuesday they were driven to explore the sensitive subject of radicalisation in their latest film after a wave of attacks in recent years, including those by Islamist militants. Young Ahmed is the latest movie by the Belgian filmmaking duo, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, who have already won the film festival's top Palme d'Or award twice. It follows an adolescent boy, 13-year-old Ahmed, who is manipulated by an imam at a small mosque and ends up attempting to stab his teacher. Part of the film was shot in a real young offenders institute. "It's in the context of all these attacks which we have witnessed in Europe, in the United States, but also in Sri Lanka, the Middle East," Luc Dardenne told a news conference following the film's premiere. Read also: Catherine Deneuve's new film explores Islamist radicalization The brothers said they chose to tell the story through the eyes of a young boy, who also has to navigate a sexual awakening and an angsty relationship with his mother, to keep the audience onside, in a tale that also seeks to explore his possible redemption. "The film isn't a courtroom, the film is not an act of accusation. Our mission from the beginning was to see how this young Ahmed could - or couldn't - be brought back towards life," Jean-Pierre Dardenne said. The Cannes Film Festival runs until May 25. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 13:41 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873949156 4 Lifestyle shopping-mall,jakarta,protest,Plaza-Indonesia-shopping-mall,shopping,travel,destination Free Shopping centers in Jakarta were reportedly open on Wednesday despite the ongoing protests in Central Jakarta. Based on information that we gathered from our retail partners and malls, [all] are still open to serve customers today, Roy Nicolas Mandey, chairman of the Indonesian Retailers Association (Aprindo), told tempo.co. He added that Aprindo had teamed up with the police to help protect shoppers at the malls. The association will also monitor the situation according to updates given by the police, especially about whether they should stay open or closed. Our customers may not be able to fulfill their needs if the malls are closed, Nicolas said. Read also: Jakarta riot: Train services modified amid election protest Meanwhile, Plaza Indonesia, one of the biggest shopping malls in Central Jakarta, reportedly closed several of its access gates as a precaution. Zamri Mamat, general marketing manager of Plaza Indonesia, said on Tuesday that the mall had shut one entrance and two of its four exit gates, including those situated on Jl. MH Thamrin. Visitors can enter the shopping center through the gates on the west side of the mall and Jl. Kebon Kacang. Plaza Indonesia has tightened its security for the past three weeks and has reportedly received an additional 100 personnel from the police and the Indonesian Military (TNI). We have over 600 personnel in our internal security, Zamri said, adding that the mall would operate as usual from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Our staff also remain calm following the protest. God willing, everything will remain under control. On Tuesday afternoon, protesters gathered in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) office on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, to challenge the presidential election results. But the protest became violent in the evening and later spread to the area around Tanah Abang Market. (wir/kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Qasim Nauman (Agence France-Presse) Hong Kong, China Wed, May 22, 2019 14:08 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87394c54d 2 Science & Tech Huawei,Google,Android,operating-system Free Google's decision to partially cut off Huawei devices from its Android operating system has presented the Chinese tech titan with one of its most dramatic challenges yet: how to keep up with the competition if it cannot use the platform that powers nearly every other smartphone in the world? It is a possibility for which the Shenzhen-based firm, the world's second-largest smartphone maker by sales, has been preparing for years -- reportedly since 2012 -- by building an operating system of its own. Huawei has acknowledged its existence, but the platform remains shrouded in mystery. "We have prepared our own operating system. If it should be the case that we can no longer use these systems (like Android)... we would therefore need to be well-armed," Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's Consumer Business Group, told German newspaper Die Welt in an interview published in March. "That is our Plan B. But we would of course prefer to work together with the ecosystems provided by Google and Microsoft." That system could now become more important than ever to Huawei. Washington last week imposed a ban on the sale or transfer of American technology to the firm -- which could impact hundreds of millions of Huawei phones and tablets around the world. Google has said it will comply with the US restrictions, and bar Huawei from access to some core components of Android and its proprietary services. While both Google and Huawei have reassured users that their phones will continue to function as normal, this could present major problems for Huawei, and apps on its phones could become unusable if it does not have access to code licensed by Google to phone makers. Read also: Google vs Huawei hits millions of smartphone users And if the ban is not lifted, it could also run into trouble when the next version of Android is rolled out, because Huawei would not have the kind of access enjoyed by its rivals such as Samsung. Its own platform, currently undergoing trials, is named "HongMeng" and "will gradually replace the Android system", China's state-owned Global Times said Monday, citing other local media reports without more details. 'Exceptionally difficult' In developing a possible successor to Android on its devices, Huawei is attempting something other industry behemoths like Microsoft and Samsung have failed to do: create a platform that attracts both users and app developers. The technical development is just one aspect of the challenge, analysts say. It takes years to build trust and confidence among app makers to write and sell software on the platform, and to convince users to adopt it. Building an operating system "is exceptionally difficult to do well and to do successfully", said Ryan Whalen, deputy director of the Law and Technology Centre at the University of Hong Kong. "Just look to players like Nokia, BlackBerry and Microsoft that have all failed recently in similar endeavours," he told AFP, adding that Huawei would have to deal with a "competitive disadvantage" as its rivals will feature core Android services. Without full access to Android and popular Google services, Huawei -- which has launched its products at glitzy ceremonies in major markets around the world -- could find it difficult to convince customers to choose its phones over those pushed by rivals. Microsoft pulled the plug on its Windows Phone platform earlier this year, and Samsung's Tizen system is barely known compared with Android and Apple's iOS, which runs iPhones and iPads. Huawei knows "that being a big telecom company, you have to have your own core technology eventually", Wong Kam Fai, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, told AFP. "They have it, but they are not ready for production yet. It would have been better if this thing happened two or three years later, but it is happening now so they just have to speed up." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 10:43 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873933898 1 Science & Tech smartphone,Huawei,Google,Android,operating-system Free Many Huawei smartphone users, including those in Indonesia, are understandably worried about the prospect of having technical issues following Googles decision to sever its ties with the Chinese smartphone manufacturer. The decision was made as a result of a trade war between the United States and China, in which the former added Huawei to its blacklist along with other Chinese companies. Read also: Google and Android system start to cut ties with Huawei Google has announced that the Google Play and Google Play Protect features will keep functioning on Huawei devices through its official Twitter account for Android. For Huawei users' questions regarding our steps to comply w/ the recent US government actions: We assure you while we are complying with all US gov't requirements, services like Google Play & security from Google Play Protect will keep functioning on your existing Huawei device. Android (@Android) May 20, 2019 Hermansyah, a user of Huawei device, said he was worried about the effects of the trade war. The Huawei Nova 2i user said he liked using the mobile phone for its large screen feature. I feel a little bit worried because I'm already used to Huawei, he said as quoted by Antara on Tuesday. Although Hermansyah feels a little bit relieved after reading Googles announcement, he is still planning to switch to another smartphone brand to avoid having an issue with his current one. Responding to users' concern, Huawei's office in Indonesia issued an official announcement through its Instagram account @huaweimobileid on Tuesday. Huawei will keep on upgrading all smartphones and tablets security and after-sales services. We will keep building a safe and sustainable security software ecosystem to give the best experience to our customers, read the post. (kes) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Fiachra Gibbons, Deborah Cole and Hazel Ward (Agence France-Presse) Cannes, France Wed, May 22, 2019 12:05 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8739415a1 2 Entertainment Once-Upon-a-Time-in-Hollywood,Quentin-Tarantino,cannes,Cannes-Film-Festival Free Quentin Tarantino stormed into Cannes Tuesday with "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood", which critics at the world's biggest film festival hailed as his best movie in years. They heaped praise on the dark Tinseltown fairytale set in the Los Angeles of 1969 starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a television Western star on the slide and Brad Pitt as his stunt double. Twenty-five years after the American director won Cannes' top Palme d'Or prize for "Pulp Fiction", he got some of his best reviews since "Jackie Brown" in 1997. Critic Peter Howell of the Toronto Star said that Tarantino wanted "to tell us a story about Hollywood life at the time of the Manson family slayings... and man, does he ever, going from awestruck to WTF". "Brad Pitt the standout, his coolest role yet," he added in a tweet. The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw was equally euphoric, calling the film a "brilliant exploitation black-comedy" which "finds a pulp-fictionally redemptive take on the Manson nightmare: shocking, gripping, dazzlingly shot in the celluloid-primary colours of sky blue and sunset gold." Deadline declared that it was the "film Tarantino was born to make... gloriously, wickedly indulgent, compelling and hilarious." Calls for a sequel already The online film magazine even called for a sequel. "The world is a more colourful place in Tarantino's twilight zone. Round two, please." Critics clapped at the end having laughed throughout, but there were none of the standing ovations at the press preview that sometimes greet films at Cannes. And not everyone was won over by Tarantino's genius. Tim Grierson of the industry journal Screen tweeted that "like a lot of recent Tarantino, this is baggy, self-indulgent, fascinatingly its own thing and ambitiously conceived." Yet even he conceded that "it's accomplished, sometimes dazzlingly so" even if "it ends up being as hit-or-miss as his last few". There was much more emotion at the black-tie gala screening, with Tarantino doing John Travolta's two-fingered dance move swipe from "Pulp Fiction" to acknowledge the prolonged standing ovation given by the VIP audience. British actress Tilda Swinton, one of the stars of "The Dead Don't Die", the satirical zombie movie that opened the festival, wiped away tears as she shook the director's hand to congratulate him. Earlier, as he walked the red carpet for the premiere, Tarantino compared his film to Alfonso Cuaron's Oscar-winning "Roma", saying it is "a memory piece, the way 'Roma' was a memory piece... In 1969, Los Angeles was like that." Read also: The best of the Tarantino cinematic universe 'Love letter to LA' The director admitted that "Cannes changed my life" after he brought his first feature "Reservoir Dogs" there in 1992. "I came here a small independent filmmaker and I left here known by all the critics... and made myself a name as an international filmmaker. And then two years later, my life changed all over again" when he won the Palme d'Or with "Pulp Fiction". DiCaprio, 44, told reporters that the film is "a throwback to the type of Hollywood epics we don't get to see any more. "It's all from the mind of the great Quentin Tarantino, who's not only one of the best writers but one of the best directors on Earth. "It's about Hollywood and we play outsiders trying to make our way in a changing world in 1969 as the world passes by," he said. Co-star and architecture buff Pitt, who is 55 but looks far younger on screen, described the movie as "a love letter to Hollywood and to LA... a city I love." Just before the movie was screened, festival director Thierry Fremaux appealed to critics not to give away the plot. No-spoilers plea Tarantino made a similar plea Monday, writing a letter that was posted on the movie's Twitter account begging journalists not to let details slip that might spoil the film for his fans. "I love cinema. You love cinema. It's the journey of discovering a story for the first time," he wrote. "The cast and crew have worked so hard to create something original, and I only ask that everyone avoids revealing anything that would prevent later audiences from experiencing the film in the same way." Its stars, including Australian Margot Robbie who plays tragic actress Sharon Tate murdered by Manson cult members, waved to screaming fans as they left the premiere. DiCaprio was accompanied by his girlfriend, Argentinian actress Camila Morrone, 21, one of the big discoveries of this year's festival for her stand-out performance in the US indie film, "Mickey and the Bear". Audiences will have to wait until July to make their minds about "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood", when it will be released in the US. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 The Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry is looking into proposing a revision in the Child Protection Law to include smoking prevention as the number of young Indonesian smokers is at a record high. The 2018 Basic Health Survey (Riskesdas) shows that the prevalence of smokers aged 10 to 18 years in the country has increased from 7.2 percent in 2013 to 9.1 percent in 2018. The figure puts Indonesia, which has one of the worlds most liberal policies on tobacco, at the top of the list among other Asia-Pacific countries. "We are considering proposing that smoking prevention be added into the Child Protection Law as we have received suggestions from various parties," the ministry's child protection deputy, Nahar, told The Jakarta Post over the weekend. The Child Protection Law regulates preventing children from consuming, producing and distributing illegal drugs, psychotropic drugs and addictive substances, but does not specifically talk about smoking. "The current law doesn't cover smoking prevention or impose sanctions on parties who force and let children smoke. It is a form of neglect and is opposed to the Constitution, which ensures children's right to grow and live," Nahar said. He added that a more comprehensive regulation, starting with prevention, protection and control, was necessary -- with parents or adults having to face criminal charges if they force or let children smoke. Nahar said, however, that efforts to curb smoking among children cannot stop at a revised Child Protection Law, but need stronger tobacco control in general. Without strong tobacco control, the prevalence of Indonesian smokers aged under 18 years may continue to grow, a 2018 study by the National Development Planning Agency reveals. The study predicted the figure would be 10.7 percent by 2019, 15 percent by 2024 and 16 percent by 2030, putting Indonesia at risk of failing to reap from a huge working age group, which would represent 70 percent of the total population by 2030. Prosperous Justice Party lawmaker Iskan Qolba Lubis, also deputy chairman of House Commission VIII, which oversees religious and social affairs, lauded the ministry's initiative, but questioned the government's general political will to curb smoking among children. He said that although a revised Child Protection Law could help with prevention efforts, reducing the prevalence of young smokers would require the commitment of concerned ministries, as well as stricter regulations on tobacco control that prioritize public health over the tobacco industry. "There should first be stern 'parent' laws as the basis of the Child Protection Law, such as on tobacco industry and public health," Iskan told the Post. He expressed doubts, however, that the country would get stricter control of tobacco soon unless the government and some politicians remove themselves from any conflicts of interest. Criticisms arose after the Finance Ministry decided not to increase the cigarette excise in 2019, ending a four-year policy of raising excise for tobacco products. The decision prompted critics to accuse President Joko Jokowi Widodo of betraying his own development agenda, in which he and Vice President Jusuf Kalla pledged to double the tax from 2015 to 2019. The chairman of the National Commission on Tobacco Control, Prijo Sidipratomo, said the government had done little to achieve the target set by the Jokowi administration in the 2014 to 2019 National Mid-term Development Plan to reduce the prevalence of smokers aged less than 18 years to 5.4 percent in 2019. He said that existing regulations to protect children from smoking had not been monitored and evaluated by the concerned ministries. He cited, for example, the law requiring that cigarettes only be sold to and consumed by adults aged 18 and above, which has not been monitored by the Health Ministry. As a result, no sanctions are imposed on retailers who sell cigarettes to underage buyers, especially with cigarettes being sold at 7 US cents each at the cheapest. "If President Jokowi is re-elected, he should start picking ministers who are capable and passionate at their jobs. Picking the normal and 'business as usual' ones will not help reduce the number of young smokers in the country," Prijo said. Lentera Anak Foundation chairwoman Lisda Sundari said that Indonesia's laws on tobacco were not siding with the children, citing the country's regulation on tobacco advertising as an example. Indonesia is the only Southeast Asian country that allows direct tobacco advertising. Although the advertisements are restricted on TV and radio to designated hours to reduce exposure to children, youngsters can still be exposed through billboards and stalls, among other means. "A revision in the Child Protection Law should also include prevention efforts, such as controlling advertisements and children's access to cigarettes. They should also be protected from being the target of tobacco companies' promotions or corporate social responsibility programs," she said. (ars) 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 Wed, May 22, 2019 09:35 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87392ce0a 1 National Press-Council Free Former Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-era education and cultural affairs minister Muhammad Nuh has been appointed as the new chairman of the Press Council for the 2019-2022 term. He replaces Yosep Adi Prasetyo, who had been chairman since 2016. Eight other members were also appointed to the council, including MNC News chief editor Jamalul Insan, Tempo Magazine chief editor Arif Zulkifli and media observer Agus Sudibyo. In his first speech as Press Council chairman, Nuh said the council would seek to improve the publics media literacy to counter the spread of false news and disinformation. When the public becomes smarter and more mature, they will be able to identify [fake news] and self-censor, he said at the Press Council office in Central Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by Antara. He also urged media organizations to also play their part by emphasizing fact-checking and verifications. Because right now, there are many different types of news and different opinions. The media should be the one to shine a light on this to strengthen nationalism, he said. Nuh does not have a background in journalism but previously served as Yudhoyonos minister of communications and information. The Press Council is tasked with, among other things, protecting press freedom and evaluating potential breaches of the Journalistic Code of Ethics. (kmt) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 10:10 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87392f0a9 1 City Tanah-Abang,Tanah-Abang-Market,street-vendors Free Despite numerous efforts by the Jakarta administration to manage Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta, the area remains chaotic with rampant illegal parking and street vendors crowding the street, in addition to a high number of passing vehicles and public minivans as shoppers proliferate during Ramadan. Hundreds of motorbikes and cars crowd several sidewalks and alleyways around the famous textile market. Street vendors on the sidewalks of Jl. Jati Baru Raya have also left little space for pedestrians. The number of visitors has increased in recent weeks during Ramadan as people shop in Tanah Abang, causing an overabundance of vehicles around the crowded market as parking spaces inside the building are full. Unofficial parking attendants have taken advantage of the situation by charging people a flat rate of Rp 10,000 (US 0.69 cents) to park illegally on the street. The cost has upset some people, like Suyatno, who went to the market to shop for Idul Fitri clothes with his wife. He parked his motorcycle on the street for about an hour after he could not find a parking space inside Tanah Abang Markets Blok A. He initially thought he would be paying Rp 2,000 as that was the common price for on-street parking in Jakarta. "Its just insane. They will get rich in no time if they are allowed to keep doing it. I wonder whos backing them, Suyatno told The Jakarta Post on Monday. Illegal parking around Tanah Abang Market has not been eliminated even though the city has provided parking facilities inside the market's Blok A, Blok B, Blok F and Blok G, where official ticketing rates are imposed. At present, the city charges Rp 4,000 per hour to park a car and Rp 2,000 per hour to park a motorcycle. The city administration had built the Tanah Abang Skybridge to accommodate street vendors and ease traffic congestion as it also functions as a footbridge connecting the Tanah Abang railway station to the market. Still, although the footbridge was officially opened in December last year, street vendors continue to occupy the sidewalks along Jl. Jatibaru Raya. In Tanah Abang, congestion is inevitable, but the absence of street vendors and illegal parking means the vehicles can at least crawl forward. At least 350 Public Order Agency officers (Satpol PP) from all parts of Jakarta have been deployed to control the area since last week when the numbers of visitors started to increase, the head of Jakarta Satpol PP, Arifin, said. He said he ordered the deployment following concerns expressed by some of his officers in Tanah Abang, who found difficulties dealing with the violators. Arifin said officers were no longer allowed to address the problem with "excessive actions" such as deflating motorcycle tires or towing cars away with help of the city's transportation agency as deterrents. He said officers must address the matter using dialogue instead. We cant give them sanctions because we received no orders from the Central Jakarta administration to do that, he told the Post. The Jakarta administration has planned to build an integrated office consisting of several of the citys agencies and city-owned enterprises, as part of the efforts to conduct long-term management of Tanah Abang area, said the acting head of the Transportation Agency, Sigit Wijatmoko. The integration was aimed at gathering all relevant offices together to provide all the facilities needed to keep Tanah Abang in order so economics and mobility could go hand in hand. Our concept is how to facilitate the two activities by optimizing the integrated area, he said as reported by tempo.co on Saturday. The building is to be used by the Jakarta Transportation Agency, the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), city-owned developer PD Sarana Jaya and city-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya. The city also plans to invite commuter line operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) to join the project for a new office building in Jatibaru, Tanah Abang. (das) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana, Marguerite Afra Sapiie, Ghina Ghaliya, and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 07:48 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87391df21 2 Politics #2019GeneralElections,#2019PresidentialElection,Joko-Widodo-Maruf-Amin,Prabowo-Subianto-Sandiaga-Uno,Jokowi-wins-2019-election Free The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo as the winner of the 2019 presidential election early on Tuesday morning, giving the president a second and final term in office. Jokowi captured 55.5 percent of the vote or over 85 million votes, 17 million more than rival Prabowo Subianto, who received over 68 million votes or 44.5 percent of the vote. The victory had been forecast by reputable pollsters in the country, including the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and Cyrus Network, which forecast his victory against Prabowo at 55.6-44.4. Jokowi won 21 of 34 provinces while Prabowo won 13 provinces, most of which were in Sumatra. Jokowi, who first gained prominence as the mayor of his hometown Surakarta, Central Java, was among the first batch of leaders to come to power through direct regional elections when they were first introduced in 2005. Direct regional elections and regional autonomy were among the reforms that were enacted following the fall of the New Order in 1998, aiming to decentralize power and development from Jakarta and Java. The former furniture businessman who is not a political royal and has no ties with the military later ascended to become Jakarta governor and was elected president in 2014. CSIS researcher Noory Okthariza said Jokowi had set a precedent for a normal person who was not part of the political establishment to gain national office and get reelected. He was the first politician from outside the Jakarta elite to make it at the national level, Noory told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. He showed that good performance at the local level could lead to bigger things. He also set a higher bar for regional heads. Regional Autonomy Watch executive director Robert Endi Jaweng said Jokowis ascendancy to the countrys highest office was evidence that regional autonomy and decentralization had been successful. During the New Order, it was mostly the military, [national-level] businessmen or academics who made it to high positions in the central government, he told the Post. Now, Jokowi has demonstrated that succeeding on a smaller scale can lead to achievements at the national level. Jokowis success marked the rise of other intellectuals and national elites that ran for regional posts. Ganjar Pranowo, a fellow Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician and a seasoned lawmaker ran for the Central Java governorship and is now serving his second term. Award-winning architect Ridwan Kamil is now West Java governor after a stint as Bandung mayor for five years. Former education and culture minister and Muslim scholar Anies Baswedan was elected Jakarta governor while South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah was a successful business executive before leading Bantaeng regency for a decade. They will all have a chance at the presidency in 2024 and they are all from outside the New Order political establishment, which shows that Indonesias democracy is progressing, said Noory. The incumbents victory has also shown the limits to identity politics that gripped the country throughout campaign season. In his 2019 presidential bid, Prabowo was supported by members of the 212 Alumni Brotherhood, which was linked to the massive sectarian rally on Dec. 2, 2016 staged to demand the prosecution of the Christian and Chinese-Indonesian Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama. Director of Jakarta-based pollster Populi Center Usep S. Ahyar said Prabowos loss showed that identity politics was a limited political tool. Prabowo won big in West Java and Banten, but lost quite badly in other parts of Java. Identity politics may work in those two provinces because of historical reasons but lack potency elsewhere, he told the Post. West Java was the birthplace of the Islamic State of Indonesia (NII) movement, which started shortly after independence with the goal of turning the country into an Islamic state. In other regions, such as Central and East Java, the influence of NU [Islamic mass organization Nahdlatul Ulama] and its more inclusive ideology made identity politics less effective, he said. Jokowis vice-presidential choice of senior Muslim cleric and former NU supreme leader Maruf Amin was also deemed to have lessened the effects of identity politics. Aside from Central and East Java, Jokowi also won in major parts of Kalimantan and eastern Indonesia, which are not predominantly Muslim. Jokowi delivered his victory address on Tuesday afternoon, promising to improve social justice in the country in the next five years. Jokowi also thanked Indonesians for entrusting the countrys leadership to him and Maruf. We will translate the trust and mandate from the public into development programs that will be equal and fair for all groups and classes throughout the regions, Jokowi said. Prabowo, who is apparently dissatisfied with the official result, is preparing to file a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court. The Gerindra Party chairman who insisted there was massive and systematic fraud in the presidential election said he rejected the vote tally by the KPU. Well take all available legal avenues supported by the Constitution, Prabowo said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Semarang Wed, May 22, 2019 For a student of mathematics and natural sciences, Siti Rizqiyah Putri Dwi Ani, 22, can speak about politics quite fluently. She has just won a seat on the Rembang Regency Council in Rembang, Central Java, being the youngest member of the legislature in the region. Based on the result of the vote count conducted by the regency elections commission, Siti won 5,616 votes in the April 17 election. 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 Wed, May 22, 2019 16:34 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87396660d 1 National clean-water-project,bandung,PDAM-Tirtawening Free The Bandung Regional Legislative Council (DPRD Bandung) in West Java is scrutinizing city-owned water company PDAM Tirtawening following the halting of a water installation project worth Rp 63 billion (US$ 4.3 million) in Cikalong. The project was put into abeyance after the contractor in charge of the project failed to complete the construction on schedule in January. With only 77 percent of the construction completed by the time of the deadline, Tirtawening terminated its contract with the construction company, raising allegations about the misuse of public funds. "There seems to be something wrong with the [budget planning]. This shouldn't have happened. We haven't thoroughly investigated the case, but we will in order that the project can be fully completed," DPRD Bandung's Commission B member Nenden Sukaesih said at the water company headquarters in Bandung as quoted by kompas.com. The DPRD Bandung also urged Tirtawening to complete the project soon. Nenden alleged that the company's inability to complete the project was caused by circumstances beyond its control. "They said they couldn't meet the deadline because of weather reasons. There may have been other issues not included in the budget plan that they had to deal with," she said. Tirtawening director Sonny Salimi said his company had only paid the contractor 65 percent of the contract value because of the unfinished construction. He said the company would comply with the DPRD Bandung investigation. (ars) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Chris Kahn (Reuters) Washington, United States Wed, May 22, 2019 15:03 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873954492 2 World #USA,#Iran,American,adults,war,poll Free Half of all Americans believe that the United States will go to war with Iran "within the next few years," according to a Reuters/Ipsos public opinion poll released on Tuesday amid increased tensions between the two countries. While Americans are more concerned about Iran as a security threat to the United States now than they were last year, few would be in favor of a pre-emptive attack on the Iranian military. But if Iran attacked US military forces first, four out of five believed the United States should respond militarily in a full or limited way, the May 17-20 poll showed. Historically tense relations between Washington and Tehran worsened in May after US President Donald Trump hardened his anti-Iran stance and restored all sanctions on Iranian oil exports following his decision a year ago to pull the United States out of a 2015 international nuclear accord with Tehran. The United States moved an aircraft carrier and forces to the Gulf region in response to intelligence that Iran may be plotting against US interests, an assertion Iran denies. Nearly half - 49% - of all Americans disapprove of how Republican Trump is handling relations with Iran, the poll found, with 31% saying they strongly disapprove. Overall, 39% approve of Trump's policy. The survey showed that 51% of adults felt that the United States and Iran would go to war within the next few years, up 8 percentage points from a similar poll published last June. In this year's poll, Democrats and Republicans were both more likely to see Iran as a threat and to say war was likely. Iran was characterized by 53% of adults in the United States as either a "serious" or "imminent" threat, up 6 percentage points from a similar poll from last July. In comparison, 58% of Americans characterized North Korea as a threat and 51% characterized Russia as a threat. Despite their concerns, 60% of Americans said the United States should not conduct a pre-emptive attack on the Iranian military, while 12% advocate for striking first. If Iran attacked, however, 79% said that the US military should retaliate: 40% favored a limited response with airstrikes, while 39% favored a full invasion. Both the United States and Iran have said they do not want war, although there have been bellicose statements from both. Despite Trump's decision to withdraw, the poll showed 61% of Americans still supported the 2015 deal between Iran and world powers to curb Iran's potential pathway to a nuclear bomb in return for sanctions relief. Republicans also favored the accord negotiated by the Democratic administration of President Barack Obama, with a little more than half saying they supported it. Gulf allies and US government officials have said they believe Iran-backed groups are responsible for a series of attacks on shipping and pipelines in the Gulf in the last week. Trump has said he would like to negotiate with the Islamic Republic's leaders. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani rejected talks on Tuesday and has said "economic war" is being waged against Iran. The Reuters/Ipsos poll was conducted online in English throughout the United States. It gathered responses from 1,007 adults, including 377 Democrats and 313 Republicans, and has a credibility interval, a measure of precision, of 4 percentage points. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya and Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 Hospitals treating casualties from Wednesdays riot have not confirmed whether any injuries were caused by live rounds even though at least one fatality and one of the injured appeared to have suffered gunshot wounds. Authorities have said they received reports that six people died and about 200 people were injured in the rioting. Whether live rounds were fired during the riot is a matter of controversy because the police had earlier said they would not use live ammunition to secure the capital from May 21 to May 25 despite the highest security alert during that period. The police have said that if any live rounds were fired, they were not fired by their officers. 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 Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 15:51 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8739594c4 1 Politics Prabowo,Prabowo-people-power-rally,Prabowo-Subianto-Sandiaga-Uno,Jakarta-riots Free The campaign team of Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno has denied responsibility for the deadly riots that started during a rally involving supporters of the losing candidates in Jakarta on Tuesday and that have continued on Wednesday. It was provocateurs who did the violent acts. From the beginning, Prabowo has called for a peaceful rally, presidential campaign team spokesman Dahnil Anzar Simandjuntak said when arriving at Prabowos private residence on Jl. Kertanegara in South Jakarta on Wednesday. We call on all parties to stay calm," he said. "The police should not use weapons and should not arrest the protesters. The public should not be easily provoked. As of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Prabowo, who condoned plans by his supporters to take to the streets in Jakarta to protest the official results, had yet to make any statements regarding the riots. He is believed to be discussing a plan to bring his election dispute to the Constitutional Court. Gerindra deputy chairman and campaign team member Fadli Zon blamed the police for using excessive force against the protestors. We should also call on the authorities to not easily take actions that can provoke the protesters, such as destroying [cars]. Prabowo wants all parties to calm down, he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 14:44 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87394f788 1 National #2019GeneralElections,house-of-representatives,May-22-rally,election-protest Free The legislative complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta has been closed following unrest caused by a protest to challenge the victory of incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo. The House Secretariat made the announcement on Tuesday, suggesting that all lawmakers, officials, staff and employees, with no exception, avoid activities at the complex from May 22 to 26. Both front and back gates will be closed and locked, the announcement read. According to direct observations by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday morning, the House was tightly guarded by police and military personnel. House security guards were also seen on site. House Speaker Bambang Soesatyo said on Tuesday that he had urged the secretariat to make such an announcement as a precautionary measure. I dont want anything to happen to people here amid reports of threats by free riders who want to take advantage of this situation, Bambang said. In terms of security, we trust the police and military officers, given that the House is one of the countrys vital objects, he added. The protest by supporters of losing presidential contenders Prabowo Subianto turned into a riot in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) building on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta nearing midnight on Tuesday. The unrest continued until Wednesday afternoon as protesters burned a police dormitory in Petamburan and moved to Slipi. (wit) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 22:26 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87397e388 1 Politics post-election-riot,election-protest Free Protesters started throwing firecrackers at police officers guarding the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) building on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday evening as post-election tensions continue after protests on Tuesday turned into a full-fledged riot. According to Antara news agency, the firecrackers were shot by protesters standing at the intersection of Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Wahid Hasyim, and another protester standing on the rooftop of Sarinah department store. Police officers responded by shouting out warnings to protesters taking position in the department store. Hundreds of police personnel guarding Bawaslu headquarters took cover behind their shields while warning protestors to stay calm and not be provoked by the firecrackers. Tensions escalated after police personnel told protesters to disperse after dawn prayers. Ignoring the warning, protestors started throwing water bottles, stones and eventually firecrackers at security forces. Minutes after the first clash on Tuesday, tensions defused as protesters and security personnel recited salawat (Islamic chats) together only to re-escalate not long after. (kuk) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marchio Irfan Gorbiano (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 16:08 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87396299c 1 City #2019-elections,#2019GeneralElections,post-election-riot,jakarta,civil-servants,riot,election-dispute,election-protest Free The mass protests that sprang up in Central Jakarta since late on Tuesday in response to the election results have affected the activities of civil servants in the Finance Ministry and the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister as both institutions have allowed their employees to leave early. The riots that began on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta spread to Tanah Abang, where stones and broken glass were reportedly scattered around the biggest textile market in Southeast Asia. Riots were also reported in Slipi in West Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon. Susiwijono Moegiarso, the secretary to the coordinating economic minister, said the decision to send employees home was made in response to the unrest. Considering the situation and after consulting with relevant ministries, we decided to allow our staff members to leave early, said Susiwijono on Wednesday. He added that not everyone could leave early, as a handful of employees were needed on the job until the end of normal working hours. Susiwijono also said Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasutions meetings scheduled for Wednesday afternoon had been cancelled. Darmin was to have held a coordination meeting about using rubber as an ingredient for road asphalt at 2 p.m. in his office on Jl. Lapangan Banteng Timur in Central Jakarta. A similar situation had also occurred next door in the Finance Ministrys office on Jl. Dr. Wahidin Raya. Ministry spokesperson Nufransa Wira Sakti confirmed to The Jakarta Post that its employees were allowed to go home early on Wednesday afternoon. The Finance Ministry gave dispensation today to its personnel who wanted to go home early, said Nufransa. Police elevated Jakartas security status to its highest level on Tuesday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kharishar Kahfi and Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 14:14 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87394c6a1 1 National election-protest,Tanah-Abang-riot,Prabowo-people-power-rally,Bawaslu,KPU,#2019GeneralElections Free Hours after breaking out on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta, the riot that began as an election protest to challenge the victory of incumbent President Joko Jokowi Widodo spread to Slipi, West Jakarta, on Wednesday afternoon, with protesters burning tires on the streets and throwing stones at security personnel. Two police buses that were parked next to the Slipi overpass were set on fire by the rioters as they shouted Allahu Akbar (God is Great) amid loud explosions. A thick plume of smoke filled the sky, prompting motorists heading toward the overpass, which is located across from the Menara Peninsula Hotel and the Wisma 77 office tower, to turn around and find alternative routes. Scores of military personnel responded to the fire, managing to extinguish the fire around 12:20 p.m. Security personnel were also seen along the overpass heading toward Kemanggisan. Thousands joined the election protest in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) headquarters on Tuesday afternoon, with protesters demanding Jokowi be disqualified for alleged election fraud. The crowd had dispersed in the evening before dozens tried to break into the Bawaslu building at around 10 p.m. The crowd grew and became more violent, with police responding by firing tear gas and pushing the rioters toward Tanah Abang Market, away from the election watchdog building. The riot then worsened, with protesters throwing stones and Molotov cocktails and starting fires along the streets. The rioters also set fire to a police dormitory in Petamburan, Central Jakarta, at 3.30 a.m. along with a dozen cars and buses in the area. As of Wednesday afternoon, crowds of protesters are still present in Petamburan and Tanah Abang. (ars) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Karina M. Tehusijarana (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 13:47 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873949815 1 National election,#ElectionProtest,post-election-riot,National-Police Free The riot that followed a protest in front of the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) headquarters in Central Jakarta on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning was premeditated, National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. M. Iqbal said on Wednesday. "We have detained 58 people suspected to be provocateurs of the riot," Iqbal said at a press conference at the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister headquarters in Central Jakarta. "There are indications that the rioters were mostly from outside Jakarta and that they were paid [to riot]." He said that the initial protesters in front of the Bawaslu headquarters were peaceful and cooperated with police. "The protest coordinator asked for permission to break the fast together and perform tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers), which we allowed even though the law states that protests should end by 6:30 p.m.," he said. He said that at 9:00 p.m., police asked the crowd to disperse, which it did without incident. "But then around 11:00 p.m., another crowd of unknown origin arrived and started to damage the security barriers [in front of the Bawaslu headquarters]," he said. Police then drove the crowd, which had started to throw projectiles such as rocks and Molotov cocktails at the security forces, back toward Tanah Abang. Iqbal said that most of the rioters were not locals, and that police were assisted in calming the crowd by leaders from the Islam Defenders Front (FPI), which is based in the area. After police had mostly subdued the crowd, another, separate group of people appeared and started attacking the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) dormitories in Petamburan, Cental Jakarta, setting it on fire. "We found an ambulance with a political party logo that was filled with rocks and other tools," Iqbal said, declining to name the party. "We also confiscated envelopes full of money." He added that police would continue to interrogate the detained rioters to determine who was behind the riot. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Wed, May 22, 2019 Meiliana, a Buddhist woman of Chinese-descent who was sentenced to 18 months in prison for complaining about the volume of adzan (call to prayer) in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra, has been released on parole after the Law and Human Rights Ministry granted her request. She was welcomed by her family and lawyer upon her release from the Tanjung Gusta Women's Penitentiary in Medan, North Sumatra, at around 11 a.m. on Tuesday. "The Law and Human Rights Ministry granted Meiliana's parole request today, so Meiliana was automatically released today as well," Meiliana's lawyer Ranto Sibarani told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 The ball is now in the court of the Jakarta Council with regard to selecting a new deputy governor, a post that has been left vacant for nine months. The council's selection committee for deputy governor began working on Monday. The committee, which consists of 25 councilors representing each faction in the legislative body, must first develop a code of conduct for a plenary meeting to be held to appoint a new deputy governor. The committees deputy head Bestari Barus from the NasDems said he expected the development of a code of conduct would be completed after the Idul Fitri holiday in the first week of June. 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 Wed, May 22, 2019 11:46 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873940887 1 Politics post-election-riot,election-protest,unrest,jakarta Free National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said that the police have detained at least 20 people on suspicion of their connection to the protest and ensuing riot that occurred from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning at the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in Jakarta. Read also: Six dead, 200 injured in Jakarta riot: Jakarta governor He said that the detained individuals were not Jakarta residents and were being held at the Central Jakarta Police station for questioning. Dedi also denied reports that police had used live ammunition to disperse violent protesters. (kmt) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 11:43 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87394048b 1 City Brimob,fire,West-Jakarta,#ElectionProtest,post-election-riot Free People protesting the presidential election results attacked the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) dormitory on Jl. KS Tubun in Slipi, West Jakarta, where they set fire to cars in the area at around 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono urged people to stay calm as the police had cleared the area around the dormitory. Residents, please proceed with you regular activities, Argo said as quoted by kompas.com. Earlier, some 3 kilometers away from the dormitory, a series of shootings and explosions were heard at Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta, while hundreds of protesters clashed with police officers. Read also: Six dead, 200 injured in Jakarta riot: Jakarta governor As reported by antaranews.com, crowds of demonstrators began throwing Molotov cocktails at police, who tried to get protesters to back up. The air around the location was heavy with tear gas. Protesters across the intersection chanted Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest) while throwing stones, Molotov cocktails and firecracker at the officers. Protestors around Tanah Abang Market also blocked the road by burning tires and iron sheeting. Tanah Abang train station was reportedly in complete chaos on Wednesday morning as commuters were unable to exit the facility due to the crowds. Ed Restian, who wanted to head to her office on nearby Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, was forced to go back inside the station after hearing gunshots and people shouting retreat! retreat! Please avoid Tanah Abang, there are shots everywhere, said the 31-year-old in a Whatsapp group to alert her colleagues. She further informed that dozens of police officers were standing guard near the station. Read also: Jakarta riot: Train services modified amid election protest It was a complete mess. My body was shaking as I ran from the crowd, she told The Jakarta Post separately, after deciding to take the commuter train to Manggarai Station in South Jakarta. She had asked a driver to pick her up at Manggarai. Commuters at Tanah Abang Station were told to stay inside as the conflict among protesters escalated. The National Police and Indonesian Military have deployed around 40,000 personnel to guard the General Elections Commission, Elections Supervisory Agency, Presidential Palace, legislative complex and embassies. (hol/van/rfa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 13:40 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873948fee 4 National Pontianak,riot,West-Kalimantan Free A series of post-election protests escalated in Pontianak, West Kalimantan as an unknown party set fire to a police post on Wednesday. A group of people carrying firecrackers reportedly gathered at the intersection of Jl. Tanjung Raya near a traffic police post in East Pontianak district and set fire to the post on Wednesday morning. Yes, a traffic police post did get burned, West Kalimantan Police spokesman Sr. Adj. Comr. Donny Charles Go said as quoted by kompas.com. As of 11 a.m., the group was still gathered at the intersection under the Kapuas I Bridge. The National Police and Indonesian Military (TNI) have cordoned off access to the bridge, causing traffic congestion in the vicinity. A number of riot police officers were stationed near the bridge to maintain public order and safety. Meanwhile, members of the public also took to the streets in North and East Pontianak, causing significant congestion in the area. West Kalimantan Police chief Didi Haryono urged the public to maintain order and safety amid post-election protests. We call on the public to maintain unity with one another; uphold diversity as strength, Didi said as quoted by Antara news agency., He said everyone should carry on with their daily activities as the final results of the presidential election had been announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU). Do not let political differences drive us apart, Didi added. Previously, the West Pontianak Police urged the public not to lend credence to misinformation circulating on social media. Please remain calm and do not be influenced by misinformation, police spokesman Donny said. Police officers and military personnel were dispatched to maintain order on Jl. Tanjungpura, Jl. Pahlawan, and Jl. Imam Bonjol near the Kapuas I Bridge in East Pontianak. Donny said the police had arranged alternative routes to reduce traffic congestion. Traffic remains normal so far, he said. West Kalimantan Malay Cultural Council chairman Chairil Effendy called on the public to accept the final presidential results with an open mind. The final election results were derived from the voice of the people, Chairil said, adding that it would be unwise if people were to voice their disappointment through violence and anarchy. Post-election riots also broke out on Wednesday morning in Jakarta following the KPUs final vote tally announcement in the early hours of Tuesday. The National Police and TNI have deployed around 40,000 personnel to guard the KPU, Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), Presidential Palace, legislative complex and embassies. (rfa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 18:04 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa873971429 1 Politics Jakarta-riots,election-protest,jakarta,Prabowo,presidential-election,#PostScript Free Deadly riots broke out in Jakarta shortly after supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto took to the streets on Tuesday to protest the results of the April 17 election, which they claimed were plagued with fraud. Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said six people had been killed during the worst riots to hit the capital city since 1998, when a student rally demanding the ouster of then-president Soeharto led to a deadly riot that killed thousands. Six people have died so far; two at Tarakan Hospital and [the others] at the hospitals Pelni, Budi Kemulyaan, Cipto Mangunkusumo and RSAL Mintoharjo, he said. The National Police confirmed that six people had died during the riots and said they were investigating the deaths. This has to be clarified. We dont want [people] to speculate, since there is an attempt to provoke people by blaming the security apparatus and inciting public anger, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said. The Jakarta Post can only independently confirm the deaths of three people: two people reported by Tarakan Hospital in West Jakarta and one at Budi Kemuliaan Hospital in Central Jakarta. The deceased were identified as 17-year-old Adam Nooryan, who lived in Tambora, West Jakarta, 17-year-old Widianto Rizky Ramadhan, who lived in Palmerah, West Jakarta and 30-year-old Farhan Syahfero, a resident of Depok, West Java. Planned riots The National Police believe the riots were orchestrated and said many of the arrested provocateurs came from outside Jakarta. "We have detained 58 people suspected of being provocateurs of the riot," Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. M. Iqbal said at a press conference at the Office of the Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister in Central Jakarta. There are indications that most of the rioters were from outside Jakarta and that they had been paid [to riot]. He said the initial protesters outside the headquarters of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) were peaceful and had cooperated with police. "The protest coordinator asked for permission to break the fast together and perform tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers), which we allowed, even though the law states that protests should end by 6:30 p.m. Losing side: Supporters of the Peoples Sovereignty National Movement (GNKR) attend a mass rally in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) headquarters on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Tuesday to protest the results of the 2019 presidential election. (Antara/Galih Pradipta ) He added that police had asked the crowd to disperse at 9:00 p.m, which it did without incident. But then, around 11:00 p.m., another crowd of unknown origin arrived and started to damage the security barriers [in front of the Bawaslu headquarters]," he said. Police then drove the crowd, which had started to throw projectiles such as rocks and Molotov cocktails at the security forces, back toward Tanah Abang. After police had mostly subdued the crowd, another, separate group of people appeared and started attacking the National Police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) dormitories in Petamburan, Cental Jakarta, setting the building on fire. "We found an ambulance with a political party logo that was filled with rocks and other tools," Iqbal said, declining to name the party. "We also confiscated envelopes full of money." A series of post-election protests also took place in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, with an unidentified group of people setting fire to a police post on Wednesday. Social media restrictions The government took measures to slow down the uploading and downloading of photographs on social media platforms and online messaging apps following the rioting in Central and West Jakarta. "To avoid provocations and false news from spreading to the wider public, we are temporarily limiting access to certain features on social media," Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto said at a press conference on Wednesday. Carcasses that were burned by the mob are seen during an overnight demonstration near by the Elections Oversight Body (Bawaslu) in Jakarta on May 22, 2019. (AFP/Bay Ismoyo) Communications and Information Minister Rudiantara said the sharing of videos and photos online had been blocked. "The limitations are applied to features on social media platforms and messaging systems," Rudiantara said at the same press conference. "We know that the modus operandi [of spreading false news] is by posting videos, memes and photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. These posts are screen-capped and go viral on messaging apps, such as WhatsApp. So we will all experience a slowdown if we try to download or upload videos and photos." He said the move was necessary because the fake videos and photos triggered an "emotional response." He added that taking down the false news instead of limiting access altogether would be ineffective given the tens of millions of social media and WhatsApp users in Indonesia. He emphasized that the restrictions were temporary but did not say when they might be lifted. Prabowo denies responsibility The campaign team of Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno has denied responsibility for the deadly riots. It was provocateurs who did the violent acts. From the beginning, Prabowo has called for a peaceful rally, presidential campaign team spokesman Dahnil Anzar Simandjuntak said when arriving at Prabowos private residence on Jl. Kertanegara in South Jakarta on Wednesday. We call on all parties to stay calm," he said. "The police should not use weapons and should not arrest the protesters. The public should not be easily provoked. Gerindra Party deputy chairman and campaign team member Fadli Zon blamed the police for using excessive force. We should also call on the authorities to not easily take action that could provoke the protesters, such as destroying [cars]. Prabowo wants all parties to calm down, he said. 'Stern actions' President Joko Jokowi Widodo, meanwhile, has said that the government will not tolerate anyone who disrupts the countrys security and democracy. Jokowi, who had declared his reelection victory after beating rival Prabowo Subianto by a margin of 11 percentage points, said that his administration would not give in to the rioters and that the authorities would take stern actions against those who violated the law. Five more years: President-elect Joko Jokowi Widodo is accompanied by running mate Maruf Amin as he delivers a victory speech to residents of Johar Baru in Central Jakarta on Tuesday. The General Elections Commission (KPU) declared late on Monday Jokowi and Maruf winners of the 2019 presidential election with 55.5 percent of the vote, while challengers Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno received 44.5 percent. (JP/Seto Wardhana ) I am open to anyone who wants to join hands to build and develop this country together, but I will not tolerate those who disrupt security, the process of democracy and the unity of our beloved country, Jokowi said on Wednesday at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. There is no other option. The military and the police will carry out stern actions in accordance with the law, Jokowi added. The president, who was accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla and top security officials, said that any objection related to the election should be settled through the Constitutional Court, which would assess all petitions and settle the disputes based on verified facts. Jokowi expressed his appreciation to rivals Prabowo and Sandiaga, who said they wanted to take the General Elections Commissions final vote tally of the presidential election to the Constitutional Court. The situation is still under control and the public should not be worried, Jokowi said as he went on to call for the people to mend relations and unite in harmony after the election. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 17:28 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87396c85c 1 Politics Jokowi,Jakarta-riots,presidential-election,police,military,riot,election-protest Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has said that the government will not tolerate anyone who disrupts the countrys security and democracy as civil unrest grips the capital city following the announcement of the result of the April 17 presidential election. Jokowi, who had declared his reelection victory after beating rival Prabowo Subianto by a margin of 11 percentage points, said that his administration would not give in to the rioters and that the authorities would take stern actions against those who violated the law. I am open to anyone who wants to join hands to build and develop this country together, but I will not tolerate those who disrupt security, the process of democracy and the unity of our beloved country, Jokowi said on Wednesday at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta. There is no other option. The military and the police will carry out stern actions in accordance with the law, Jokowi added. The president, who was accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla and top security officials, said that any objection related to the election should be settled through the Constitutional Court, which would assess all petitions and settle the disputes based on verified facts. Jokowi expressed his appreciation to rivals Prabowo and Sandiaga Uno who said they wanted to take the General Elections Commissions final vote tally of the presidential election to the Constitutional Court. The situation is still under control and the public should not be worried, Jokowi said as he went on to call for the people to mend relations and unite in harmony after the election. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22 2019 Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi visited Suriname on Monday in the first full-fledged working visit of an Indonesian foreign minister to the small country located on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America for 26 years. Both Indonesia and Suriname expressed their commitment to strengthen economic cooperation and people-to-people cooperation based on special historical and cultural relations during a bilateral meeting between Retno and her counterpart Yldiz Deborah Pollack-Beighle on Monday. Indonesia and Suriname agreed to strengthen economic cooperation, Retno said after the bilateral meeting in Paramaribo. With our special historical and cultural relations, it is very natural for Indonesia and Suriname to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields, especially economics and development. 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 Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Wed, May 22, 2019 17:04 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87396a9e1 1 National cirebon-regent,graft-convict,bribery-case,KPK,bandung,West-Java Free The Bandung Corruption Court in West Java sentenced on Wednesday inactive Cirebon regent Sunjaya Purwadisastra to five years in prison after he was convicted in a bribery case. The panel of judges also revoked Sunjayas political right to run for office and ordered him to pay Rp 500 million (US$34,443) in fines. "The defendant's right to be elected is revoked for five years from after he completes his sentence," presiding judge Fuad Muhammadi said. The sentence was lighter than the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors' demand for seven years' imprisonment and Rp 400 million in fines. Sunjaya, who had been inaugurated for his second term before being suspended for the graft case, was found guilty of receiving sums of between Rp 25 million and Rp 100 million from top officials that he had promoted in his administration. The judges also revealed that Sunjaya had collected monthly fees from at least 40 district heads in Cirebon, with each head paying Rp 1 million per month. Sunjaya said that he would accept the verdict, while the KPK prosecutors said they were still considering whether to accept the sentence or file an appeal. KPK prosecutor Iskandar Marwanto said Sunjaya would face a separate trial in another bribery case, in which he allegedly received Rp 6.5 billion from the Hyundai Engineering & Construction (HDEC) for granting land for the construction of a coal-fired power plant known as PLTU Cirebon-2. "We have received an instruction to start the investigation into other cases. We will review the evidence first before filing charges," Iskandar said. Last week, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil inaugurated Sunjaya as the Cirebon regent for his second term. But after 10 minutes, Ridwan suspended Sunjaya from his position, citing his defendant status, and appointed Dicky Saromi as acting regent. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 11:37 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87393fac8 4 Business banking,challenge,JCI,rebound Free Bank shares are still facing tough challenges after rebounding during Mondays trading session from a significant drop. Private lender PT Bank Central Asia's market capitalization declined 9.38 percent late last week to Rp 632 trillion (US$43.51 billion) from Rp 701 trillion in April, when it had a market cap weighting of 9.5 percent in the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI). But on Monday, BCA shares increased 3.86 percent. Meanwhile, the market cap of state-owned lender PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) fell 16.27 percent from Rp 533 trillion to Rp 463 trillion for a market cap weighting of 7 percent. The market cap of PT Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) dropped 15.25 percent from Rp 177 trillion to Rp 150 trillion for a weighting of 2.3 percent. BNI shares increased 4.01 percent on Monday. Samuel Sekuritas senior analyst Muhammad Alfatih said that bank shares increased on Monday because they had been corrected too deeply, kontan.co.id reported. The drop reached 10 percent and the investors started to buy the shares for medium- and long-term investment, he added. Oso Sekuritas analyst Sukarno Alatas viewed the rebound in bank shares as temporary, because the condition remained technically insecure. He believed that the banking sector would strengthen further if the JCI reached the level of 5,936. Political conditions would also be a significant factor in the fate of the banking sector, said analyst Wijen Pontus of Royal Investium, adding that the uncertainty would likely continue until May 25 the deadline for Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno to submit an election petition to the Constitutional Court. (bbn) Topics : banking challenge JCI rebound Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 11:38 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87393fdf9 1 City election-dispute,election-protest,#ElectionProtest,post-election-riot,jakarta,commuter-line,commuter-trains,passenger Free Election result protests that escalated into riots late on Tuesday have led to the disruption of commuter trains in the capital since Wednesday morning, resulting in passengers being left stranded at stations. A riot that began on Jl. MH.Thamrin, Central Jakarta, expanded to Tanah Abang, where one of the major commuter line transit stations is situated. Leila, a commuter line passenger who departed from Rawabuntu Station in South Tangerang heading to Tanah Abang Station in Central Jakarta for work, was forced to disembark at Kebayoran Station in South Jakarta due to a route modification by the state-owned commuter line operator PT Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI). "It is unfortunate, I need to go to Tanah Abang but now I have to take another form of public transportation from here. But it is better than being stranded in Tanah Abang," she said in Kebayoran. Read also: Jakarta riot: Police dormitory under control after rioters burn cars nearby KCI spokeswoman Anne Purba said in a written statement on Wednesday that the firm had modified the commuter line routes heading to Palmerah Station and Tanah Abang Station. "With this modification, trains from Rangkas Bitung, Maja, Parung Panjang and Serpong stations will not stop at Palmerah and Tanah Abang Station. Meanwhile, trains on the loop line from Bogor, Depok, Nambo stations and Duri and Jatinegara stations will only operate until Manggarai Station," she said. She said the decision was made for passengers' safety. In addition, train passengers with tickets departing from Gambir Station in Central Jakarta are allowed to depart from Jatinegara Station in East Jakarta instead. PT KAI operational region (DAOP) 1 Jakarta has decided to modify 33 train departures after several ongoing mass demonstrations in Central Jakarta had the potential to cause passengers heading to Gambir Station to become stuck in traffic. The railway operator said the modifications would be implemented from 5.25 a.m. until 11.00 p.m. on Wednesday. Usually, trains departing from Gambir Station do not stop at Jatinegara Station. However, today trains will stop at Jatinegara Station to pick up or drop off passengers, Eva Chairunisa, senior communication manager at KAI DAOP 1 said in a statement. (das) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 21:40 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87397c957 1 Politics post-election-riot,election-protest Free Vice President Jusuf Kalla has called on presidential contender Prabowo Subianto and running mate Sandiaga Uno to help ease tensions after post-election protests turned into a riot in Central Jakarta on Wednesday. The rally, which was held in protest of presidential election results that confirmed incumbent Joko Jokowi Widodos victory with running mate Maruf Amin, began on Jl. MH Thamrin but spread to Tanah Abang and other nearby areas. We are hoping that leaders of the nation, including Pak Prabowo and Pak Sandiaga, will echo the calls for calm, Kalla told journalists on Wednesday. More violence and destruction would only hurt the economy and negatively impact the people of Indonesia, he warned, pointing to the riots of May 1998 as an example. Kalla added that if Prabowo and Sandiaga directly addressed the protesters to calm them down, tensions would de-escalate. This is our priority. Therefore, I am also hoping that there will be a dialogue and calm discussion, he said. The government was also ready to meet with the countrys political figures, including those in the opposition coalition to discuss the current conditions, Kalla said, adding that he was currently trying to organize such a gathering. Protests by supporters of losing presidential candidate Prabowo turned into a riot in front of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) building on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta nearing midnight on Tuesday. The unrest continued until Wednesday afternoon as protesters burned a police dormitory in Petamburan and moved to Slipi in West Jakarta. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 21:22 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87397ba3e 1 World 2019-presidential-election-result,Joko-Widodo-Maruf-Amin,world-leaders,congratulations,diplomacy Free Incumbent leader Joko Jokowi Widodo and his running mate Maruf Amin were declared winners of the April 17 election in the early hours of Tuesday, May 21, following an announcement of the official count by the General Elections Commission (KPU). Here are some of the comments and reactions the pair has received from world leaders, in no particular order: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad: I congratulate Mr. @jokowi for his official victory as President of the Republic of Indonesia. I hope that cooperation between the two countries will become even closer after this, Mahathir wrote in Malay on his official Twitter account @chedetofficial. Saya ucap tahniah kepada Bapak @jokowi atas kemenangan secara rasmi sebagai Presiden Republik Indonesia. Saya berharap kerjasama antara dua negara akan semakin erat selepas ini. pic.twitter.com/EWJ7CyAhqX Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) May 21, 2019 Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister: As a friend of a nation with similarities, I am optimistic that the relationship between the two countries will continue to deepen and be of good use to the people. I pray that Ir. Hj. Joko Widodo will be blessed with good health and resolve in facing the coming twists and turns of being a leader, Wan Azizah said in a Malay press statement. Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister: Warmest congratulations @jokowi on your reelection as President of Indonesia. Indonesia is one of Australias most important strategic relationships. We look forward to further deepening ties between [Australia] and [Indonesia] across all our shared interests, Morrison said on his official Twitter account @ScottMorrisonMP. Warmest congratulations @jokowi on your re-election as President of Indonesia. Indonesia is one of Australias most important strategic relationships. We look forward to further deepening ties between and across all of our shared interests. Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) May 21, 2019 Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong: My warmest congratulations on your reelection as President of the Republic of Indonesia! The strong mandate you received reflects the trust that Indonesians have demonstrated in your continued leadership and your vision to uplift the lives of all Indonesians, Lee said in a congratulatory letter distributed to the media. I look forward to working closely with you to build on what we have achieved and to explore new opportunities for cooperation, for the benefit of our peoples. Singaporean President Halimah Yacob: Your convincing victory is a testament to the trust and confidence that the Indonesian people have in your leadership. I am certain that you will build on the strong foundation of your first term to create a better future for all Indonesians, she said in a congratulatory letter. Chinese Prime Minister Xi Jinping: According to an English statement on the Chinese Embassy to Indonesias official website, President Xi has sent a congratulatory message to Jokowi on behalf of the Chinese government, its people and himself. President Xi attached great importance to the China-Indonesia relationship and is ready to work with President Joko Widodo on the foundation built over the past five years to elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to an even greater height. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe phoned in on Wednesday to congratulate President Jokowi for his election win. According to a statement from the Japanese Embassy, Abe said he looked forward to strengthening relations between the two nations. Prime Minister Abe said that Indonesia was a very important partner for Japan because the two countries had shared universal values such as freedom of human rights, democracy and the rule of law, Abe said. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted his congratulatory remarks on Twitter. As two large democracies, we take collective pride in a successful celebration of democracy. We wish you and the people of Indonesia all success under your dynamic leadership. As our nations mark seven decades of our diplomatic relationship, I look forward to working closely with you to further deepen our bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he tweeted both in English and in Indonesian. United States President Donald Trump: In a congratulatory letter, Trump said Indonesia was setting an example for nations around the world for having administered a concurrent presidential and legislative elections with a voter turnout of 80 percent. We share common views about the region and the importance of upholding the rule of law and protecting fundamental freedoms. The United States welcomes Indonesias leadership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the United Nations Security Council and other organizations, he said. Russian President Vladimir Putin: According to a statement issued by his office, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Jokowi was known as a principled advocate of the development of friendly relations with his country. Putin expressed confidence that Jokowi would help further expand cooperation between the two countries further. The President of Russia reaffirmed his readiness for continued constructive dialogue and joint work for the benefit of the peoples of Russia and Indonesia, the statement reads. Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc: According to an article carried by state-run Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and reproduced by Vietnam Plus, General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong as well as Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent congratulations on May 21 to Indonesian President Joko Widodo on his re-election. They hoped with the effort and determination of the two countries leaders, the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership will continue to develop with great strength for the benefit of their peoples and for the peace, stability and prosperity of the ASEAN Community. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau: Prime Minister Trudeau spoke with President Jokowi in a telephone conversation, according to a readout on the Prime Minister's website. Trudeau also took to Twitter to convey his message. "I spoke with @jokowi today to congratulate him on his reelection as President of Indonesia. We spoke about our areas of common interest & strengthening the important economic ties between Canada and Indonesia," he said. I spoke with @jokowi today to congratulate him on his re-election as President of Indonesia. We spoke about our areas of common interest & strengthening the important economic ties between Canada and Indonesia. Details on our conversation: https://t.co/9PYlvop81j Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) May 23, 2019 Both leaders indicated they looked forward to meeting soon to advance their cooperation. Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission President, and Donald Tusk, European Council President: European Commission President Juncker and European Council President Tusk jointly wrote a letter "to congratulate Joko Widodo on his reelection as President of the Republic of Indonesia", a spokeswoman of the European Council said in a Youtube video posted on Friday. "Indonesia is a key political, economic and trade partner of the European Union. As two of the world's largest democracies, we look forward to deepening this partnership further." "We wish you and your government every success and look forward to continuing to work with you bilaterally but also within ASEAN, ASEM, G20 and the United Nations building on our commitment to multilateralism and the rules-based international order." Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite: I strongly hope that the trust given to you once again by the people will serve as a source of energy to continue the work and responsibly deliver the goals set for the welfare and security of the people of Indonesia, Grybauskaite said in her official website on Tuesday. Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah: According to state-run Kuwait News Agency, the Kuwaiti Emir sent a cable of congratulations to Jokowi on Tuesday. His Highness the Amir wished utmost wellbeing for President Widodo, as well as everlasting prosperity for the friendly of Indonesia and for bilateral relations further development, the statement reads. Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani: The Qatari ruler has also sent a cable of congratulations to Jokowi, as reported by Doha-based English language daily The Peninsula. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 11:01 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87393b5ce 4 Event Pekan-Gawai-Dayak,Dayak,tourism,West-Kalimantan,travel,festival,activities,culture,Cultural-Festival Free The 34th Dayak Festival was officiated by West Kalimantan Governor Sutarmidji and National Dayak Customary Council president Cornelis, along with members of Forkopimda at Rumah Radakng, Pontianak, West Kalimantan. In his speech, Sutarmidji stated his commitment to holding the cultural festival annually. We provide material support in addition to moral support. This event has become a local tourism event, so we will continuously support it, he said Monday as quoted by kompas.com. The festival has attracted both local and international tourists, reflected by the high number of visitors to Pontianak from neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam, as well as visitors from Europe. This has a clear positive impact on our tourism. Hotels are fully booked, restaurants and eateries are full and this benefits us in the growth of the local economy, he added. Held during Ramadan, the festivals schedule was adjusted to accommodate those observing the holy month. From maghrib (sunset prayer) until tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers), activities are suspended. Read also: Singkawang gears up for 'Gawai Dayak Naik Dango' ritual As the governor, Im open to any kind of cultural activity in West Kalimantan. The organizers have also made adjustments to the schedule in respect of Muslims who are fasting, Sutarmidji said. There will be no activities on May 22nd, the schedule will be adjusted, he added. The provincial government is said to have budgeted Rp 300 million to support the festival under the West Kalimantan Tourism Office. Meanwhile, according to Cornelis, the festival is held to show how food, human development and tourism can be useful for the country. We showcase food, human development and tourism issues in this festival so that people have more knowledge about their own culture. Cornelis calls for locals to go back to the fields and strengthen food production in West Kalimantan to avoid a global food crisis. We have to partner with the government to avoid a food crisis, he said. The festival will be held at Rumah Radakng until May 26. The festival features various Dayak cultural activities and performances from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. (asw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Jessicha Valentina, Keshie Hernitaningtyas, Wening Gitomartoyo (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 15:09 950 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa8739553e0 1 News riot,#riots,election,election-protest,hotels,Indonesia,jakarta Free Amid the continuing protest at the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) on Jl. M.H. Thamrin in Central Jakarta, representatives from several hotels in the area have shared their latest security updates to ensure the safety and comfort of their guests. Marketing communications executive Cindy Yuwono of Four Points by Sheraton Jakarta, Thamrin told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday via messaging app that the police were managing the situation. Cindy added that the hotel which is located next to the Bawaslu was transferring guests who arrived today to its sister properties to ensure their safety. Hotel Indonesia Kempinski and Keraton at The Plaza, which are located just south of the Bawaslu, said that their properties were safe. Hotel Indonesia Kempinski public relations executive Ananda Wondo said the hotel had tightened its security measures since the election on April 17. The security team is acting according to the Central Jakarta Polices [security brief], he said. Read also: Six dead, 200 injured in Jakarta riot: Jakarta governor Meanwhile, Keraton at The Plaza marketing communications director Monica Agusta said the hotel was in constant communication with the police, particularly about conditions in front of the hotel. We continue to monitor the security measures and will make adjustments as needed, she said. The protest on Tuesday evening escalated into a riot early Wednesday morning, with several protestors setting fire to vehicles parked nearby the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) dormitory on Jl. K.S. Tubun in Slipi, West Jakarta. The situation had calmed by Wednesday afternoon for staff members of the Hotel Santika Premiere Slipi Jakarta, located near the Brimob dormitory, to enter the area. Hotel Santika Premiere Slipi Jakarta public relations manager Violla Andrea said guests checking out today who were using private vehicles could depart the hotel via Jl. S. Parman. Violla added that the hotel has prepared vehicles as well as transfer services for hotel guests to points where they can continue their journeys on public transportation or ride-hailing services. (wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, May 22, 2019 14:17 951 db1d47cf6ffbed4060cffaa87394d013 4 News election-protest,riot,jakarta,Blue-Bird,Blue-Bird-Group,Blue-bird-taxi,MRT,MRT-Jakarta,security,Transportation Free Newly appointed CEO of PT. Blue Bird, Noni Purnomo said that she had not received any reports of disruption of Jakarta services following the trouble in the city on Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning. [I have] yet to receive reports, but Blue Bird has always served the country's transportation needs 24 hours a day since its incorporation, we have never closed before, Noni said on Wednesday in the Indonesia Stock Exchange building as quoted by tempo.co. Noni also added that transportation services, taxis, in particular, were essential for the public in this kind of situation. We are operating as usual, however, we have also given directions to our drivers to ensure safety and always be alert, she said, adding that Blue Bird drivers were also encouraged to follow security personnel advice. Blue Bird director, Sigit Priawan Djokosoetono said that drivers would serve passengers in line with security measures set by the authorities. If the road is accessible, of course, our drivers will drive through, he said. Should there be road blockages, the headquarters will help drivers navigate alternative routes. Thats our commitment to our passengers, he said. Read also: Jakarta riot: Tanah Abang Market shuts temporarily Meanwhile, the MRT was operating normally on Wednesday despite the clashes, but the operator closed two entrances to Bundaran HI station in Central Jakarta. Right now, the MRT is operating normally, said corporate secretary division head of PT MRT Jakarta, Muhamad Kamaludin, as quoted by Antara news agency. The MRT departing from Lebak Bulus Station will stop at the Dukuh Atas Station as Bundaran HI Station will be closed from 01.30 p.m. - 00.00 a.m. for security reasons. Each MRT station will be guarded by six security personnel and passengers will have to undergo checks at the entrances. (asw/evm) Its always so nice to see entrepreneurs succeed in their small businesses - especially when the company focuses on promoting sustainable farming practices and providing healthy, delicious foods to its clients. Last week, Mikes Organic, a delivery service and warehouse retail shop in nearby Stamford, Connecticut, celebrated its 10-year anniversary. More than 150-friends, farmers, clients, and members of the press attended the event. Mike's Organic was one of the first 10 "farm to home" delivery services in the United States when it opened in 2009. Since then, founder and CEO, Mike Geller, and his team have partnered with at least 200 small farms across the region and distributed organic and flavorful offerings to hundreds more. Unfortunately, I was out of town on business and was unable to attend the milestone gathering, but friends and colleagues who stopped by had a wonderful time. Congratulations, Mike - here's to another 10-years. Enjoy these photos. After much stridency, a Breckenridge Middle School student won two spelling bees in one night to be named the winner of the CFX Regional Spelling Bee. The bee had students from 14 different schools across three counties compete to be named the best speller in Mid-Michigan at Mid Michigan College Tuesday night. The bee was split into two competitions, the alternate competition and the main competition. The winner of the alternate competition got a chance to place in the main competition. Both rounds had words presented by former WCFX personality/Morning Sun reporter and Hearst Media editor Lisa Yanick-Litwiller. This years winner, Caleb Calaway, won both the alternate round and the main round to win first place in the spelling bee. The final word that he had to spell was stridency, which means the loudness or roughness of something. Calaway said that there wasnt a lot of preparation for the bee, as he didnt expect to win at first. I was joking earlier that I wasnt going to win, he said. It was a surprise for sure. The traveling spelling bee trophy will be heading to Breckenridge Middle School after spending two years at Clare Middle School. Abby Hurt, from Farwell Middle School, won second place and Sarah Montney, from Shepherd Middle School, won third place after a spell-off took place between the two. This years judges were Scott Mertes, Outreach Director at MMC, Dr. Kathy Peasley, of the Gratiot-Isabella Residential Educational Service District (RESD), and Keri Retzloff, General Education Coordinator at the Clare-Gladwin RESD. The event started with Clare-Gladwin RESD Math Consultant Kay Hauck explaining the rules and thanking the community sponsors for helping fund the event. In addition to the first, second and third place winners, the other participants in the main round included: * Ali Kudmani, Donald L. Pavlik Middle School in Alma * Macy Seifert, Ashley Middle School * Jordan Bailey, Beal City Middle School * Milo Demoines, Beaverton Middle School * Lauren Gulley, Breckenridge Middle School * Suvannah Buzzelli, Clare Middle School * Addison Branch, Gladwin Junior High School * Vincent Brazier, Harrison Middle School * Jason Anderson, Mt. Pleasant Middle School * Spencer Melton, Renaissance Public School Academy * Addison Doyle, St. Joseph the Worker The competitors in the alternate round are as follows: * Bailey Courter, Donald L. Pavlik Middle School in Alma * Jade Saylor, Ashley Middle School * Issak Vogel, Beal City Middle School * Tayven Stempek, Beaverton Middle School * Morgan Campbell, Clare Middle School * Isaac Wheeler, Gladwin Junior High School * Evan Brazier, Harrison Middle School * Zachary Feger, Mt. Pleasant Middle School * Dami Abiloye, Renaissance Public School Academy * Owen Jennings, Shepherd Middle School * Addison Doyle, St. Joseph the Worker In the past, the competition took place at the Broadway Theatre in Mt. Pleasant. This year MMC donated the space to have the bee take place on their campus, according to Hauck and Retzloff. The new space is great because it allows the kids to check out a college campus, which they dont often get the opportunity to, said Retzloff. The bee has been put on annually by both the Gratiot-Isabella and Clare-Gladwin RESDs for several years, with the earliest records dating back to 2003, according to Hauck. In addition to the entities mentioned, the event was also sponsored by Soaring Eagle Waterpark & Hotel and Simply Engraving, who donated the traveling trophy that goes to the first-place winners school. During the middle third of the 20th century, the Duke of Windsor and his grandfather, King Edward VII, began tying their neckties with a triangular knot at the top. When the Duke of Windsor visited the United States, his necktie style quickly spread. The look was considered more casual and relaxed, and the Duke was popular. When I worked at Cape Canaveral on missile and space programs, a terse order came from Washington that military personnel should not wear the Windsor knot. Those around me thought Hmmm! Strange. Many had not even heard of it, and the command seemed rather churlish and supercilious. We all began using the comfortable knot. I have used it ever since. This is how some of us deal with meaningless legislation. This is why, by the time you read this, Governor Gretchen Whitmer will have vetoed the GOP attempt to limit birth control in Michigan. Trumpublicans always want to treat women as second-class citizens. They would deny them the right to choose when and if to bear offspring. They refuse to consider equal work for equal pay. What next? Women cant drive without a male in the vehicle? Women must ask permission of a male to walk on the street? We must block the GOP from doing this. * Now for some STEAM! The Cold War and the Moon Race created a major increase in the need for scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematicians. This led to STEM curricula which integrate well-rounded project and inquiry-based lessons through interdisciplinary learning. Subjects are interwoven in practical ways to solve complex problems. More recently a growing number of programs include art in its various forms to provide STEAM curricula. Faculty recognize the ongoing value of the arts and humanities in fostering better, more ingenious solutions to 21st century problems. They help in integrating principles and presenting information. Art can be thought of in at least three ways: Representation or mimesis in the form of copy or imitation (What does it look like?); Expression of emotional content (How does it make you feel?); Formal qualities (Balance, rhythm, harmony, unity). Art can be two, three, or four-dimensional graphic, musical, literary, or spiritual. Each provides a means of conveying ideas to others. Art is a refuge, an oasis, a place where you be at peace. Art is crucial in a well-balanced personality. I consider myself fortunate to have had a STEAM Education before it became fashionable. Norwalk High School was progressive, multicultural, and accepting. Councilors provided information on what was available upon graduation and encouraged extra-curricular activities. I enjoyed art, theatre, and several others. The engineering curriculum at the University of Connecticut included a selection of liberal arts classes. I took English literature, philosophy, and psychology. At Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, I completed an MSA, PhD, and a psychology Cognate. Education is a life-long endeavor. No matter what you studied earlier, new information is available. As you mature, it becomes imperative to stay current in what is happening in life, culture, science, politics, and art. Everything is connected to everything else. Unless you see the strands, you miss the point. * My wife and I watched, again, Frank Capras 1937 masterwork Lost Horizon. In 1935 China, Foreign Secretary, writer, soldier and diplomat Robert Conway rescues 90 Westerners. Flying out with the last evacuees, he, his brother, and three others are abducted and flown into the Himalayas. The plane crashes, killing the pilot. They are rescued by Chang and his men and taken to Shangri-La, a sanctuary where peace, stability, and long life await. While most learn to love Shangri-La, Conways brother wants to leave. Conway meets the High Lama who had him hijacked. The Lama, over two-hundred years old, is dying and wants Conway to be his successor. Unfortunately, he succumbs to his brothers wishes and he and a small band leaves. The story does not end there but this column must. Ed Fisher writes a weekly column for the Morning Sun. HOLDEN MAY HAVE lost a lucrative market when the Commodore-based Pontiac G8 got canned (along with Pontiac itself) late last month, but the Australian branch of the General Motors empire is still doing it all it can to claw back some export revenue from its Stateside parent. GM's luxury arm Cadillac has placed an order with Holden for 2500 turbocharged 2.8 litre Alloytec V6s, which are destined for GM's Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico. The engines (internally known as the LP9) will power the 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover, and are similar to those used in the Saab 9-3 and Opel Insignia. The motors will be built at Holden's Fisherman's Bend engine plant in Melbourne, however the Cadillac order is unlikely to be overly lucrative for the Australian automaker. According the Holden spokesman Scott Whiffin, the shipment of engines won't, at this stage, develop into a long-term deal. "It's a one-off. Obviously we continue to look for opportunities, but there's not any on-going supply arrangement there," said Mr Whiffin. It's a tiny spark of hope, but a spark nonetheless. Come June 1 GM will announce its latest viability plan, and Holden may stand to gain a lot from its parent company's new direction - particularly as an increased focus on foreign imports for the US market is rumoured to be on the cards. Stay tuned X Future Restaurant (Photo/tj.people.cn) Tianjin, May 22 (People's Daily Online) -- What will restaurants look like in the future? Ever wondered what your dinner would taste like if a robot cooked it? A robotized restaurant in the harbor city of Tianjin may give you the answers. Covering an area of over 400 square meters with a total of 112 seats, the X Future Restaurant is a robo-restaurant launched in November 2018 by JD.com, a leading e-commerce behemoth in China. The restaurant has amazed customers with its fully-automated technology, which covers every step of the dining experience, from ordering to cooking to serving the dishes and even taking payment. Entering the restaurant, one can order dishes by simply scanning the QR codes on the table. Over 40 options are available, covering eight major culinary schools of China. After taking the order, "robot chefs" prepare dishes using standardized time, temperature and ingredients designed by famous Chinese chefs. "As the cooking process is preset and controlled by a computer system, the flavor and quality of dishes can be guaranteed," Li Xiaokui, Director of Operation from X Future Restaurant, told People's Daily Online. Robots also complete the delivery of dishes. Without following any track or preset route, the robot waiters serve meals thanks to automated driving technology and SLAM (Simultaneous localization and mapping) technology, which enables each robot to timely adjust its route when encountering obstacles. Except for offering customers a pleasant dining experience, the restaurant also provides interactive VR games and an immersive projection dining room. These eye-catching technologies have received wide praise from customers. "The dishes taste surprisingly good. I couldn't believe that they were made by robots, especially dishes that required complicated processes," one customer said. "I'm very impressed by these new technologies, which I've never seen in my country. The robots can cook, deliver foods and even play with kids. It is an amazing dining experience," a Ukrainian customer told the reporter. The robots have the potential to cater to people's increasing demand for delicacy. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, China's catering industry witnessed a record high in revenue, hitting 4.27 trillion yuan (618 billion U.S. dollars) in 2018. However, a large number of traditional restaurants are ensnared in issues relating to high rent, high labor cost and low profit. In this sense, robotized restaurants powered by automated technology may be a future trend. "The application of robots has effectively increased our efficiency and cut back our labor costs. A robot can work more than 10 hours a day without a break, which could be an arduous task for humans," opined Li, further noting that more simple human jobs are expected to be replaced by robots in the future. "I'm optimistic about the future of robot restaurants. It is an inevitable trend and has a large scope for development," Li added. Sunken artefacts believed to be medieval cannon, chest PHUKET: Officials are hoping to raise an artefact believed to be an old cannon as well as what seems to be an old chest buried in the sand from the seabed off Koh Racha Noi, south of Phuket, today (May 22). marineculture By Eakkapop Thongtub Wednesday 22 May 2019, 12:23PM The objects were found during a dive tour off Koh Racha Noi, south of Phuket. Photo: via Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos The objects were found during a dive tour off Koh Racha Noi, south of Phuket. Photo: via Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos The objects were found during a dive tour off Koh Racha Noi, south of Phuket. Photo: via Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos The objects were found during a dive tour off Koh Racha Noi, south of Phuket. Photo: via Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos The objects were found during a dive tour off Koh Racha Noi, south of Phuket. Photo: via Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos The objects were found during a dive tour off Koh Racha Noi, south of Phuket. Photo: via Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos The objects were found during a dive tour off Koh Racha Noi, south of Phuket. Photo: via Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos The finding of the objects was reported by Worapong Yothasut, captain of the dive tour boat Sea-Asta, Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos explained to The Phuket News. Mayor Aroon added that Capt Worapong said that he reported the objects being found last year, but obviously no action had been taken to recover them. This time he reported the objects direct to me, Mayor Aroon said. Capt Worapong confirmed that the objects remained at the same location during a dive tour to Racha Noi on Saturday (May 18), Mayor Aroon added. Mayor Aroon, Rawai Municipality Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Preecha Jennarong and other officials inspected the site yesterday, Mayor Aroon said. Our team found that one object looks like an old cannon, measuring 1.3 metres in length. Beside the cannon is also what seems to be a chest, covered with moss and corals, buried in the sand. We have coordinated with Royal Thai Navy and the Phuket office of the Ministry of Culture, as well as specialist officers, to have the artefacts recovered from the seabed today (May 22), Mayor Aroon explained. The objects will be handed over to the appropriate officials. They might even be reserved as national treasure, he said. Impeachment hearings for Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg start Monday South Dakota House members will meet this week to deliberate if Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg should be impeached for killing a pedestrian last year. NORRISTOWN A judge said a Pottstown man with prior felony convictions should not have possessed a firearm, even if he reportedly was holding it for a friend, and he sent the man to prison. This isnt an ownership issue. This is a possession issue. You dont have any right to possess that firearm, Montgomery County Judge Steven T. ONeill addressed Ivan Beneditch on Tuesday. Youre not allowed to have that gun. You cant store it. You cant hold it. You cant possess it. But you must have thought it was OK. ONeill sentenced Beneditch, 38, most recently of the first block of Myrtle Street, to 5-to-10-years in a state correctional facility on charges of persons not to possess firearms and false identification to law enforcement authorities in connection with a November 2017 incident in the borough. ONeill convicted Beneditch of the charges during a non-jury trial earlier this year. Testimony revealed Beneditch had prior convictions for robbery and drug offenses and as a result was not permitted to possess a firearm. Defense lawyer Frank Flick argued the 9 mm pistol belonged to Beneditchs friend and Beneditch was keeping the weapon for the friend who didnt want to take it with him while he went to a nightclub. It was for safety. He simply had incidental contact. It was left in a closet. He didnt carry it. His conduct promoted public safety, Flick argued as he sought leniency and a mitigated sentence on behalf of Beneditch, a father of two. But Assistant District Attorney Laura Bradbury argued for the state prison term that was recommended by state sentencing guidelines. This is obviously a serious offense. The defendant was in possession of that firearm and firearms are very dangerous to the protection of society, Bradbury argued. ONeill said state sentencing guidelines didnt leave him with much discretion and he said he saw no reason to impose a lesser, mitigated sentence as it would depreciate the seriousness of the gun crime. It was a conscious choice to hold the gun for a friend. It was your gun for the night. In the world in which you live, having a gun is not a big deal. What is it about guns? I just dont understand. Those that know they arent to have them and still want them. Its still a mystery, ONeill said. Before leaning his fate, Beneditch said he understood the gravity of this case. I tried to make better decisions but certain things caught up with me. I just feel I was trapped. I had no intentions of using said weapon. I didnt understand the dynamics of what was happening. I just tried to do the right thing at that time, Beneditch said. A woman who accompanied Beneditch to court wept as the judge announced the lengthy prison term. Beneditch, formerly of the first block of East Second Street, kissed the woman before sheriffs deputies took him into custody to begin the prison stint. According to trial testimony and court documents, an investigation began about 10:30 a.m. Nov. 7, 2017, when borough police received a report of an alleged domestic incident at the East Second Street residence and a report that the man involved in the dispute left the scene and was in possession of a firearm. While heading to the residence, police saw a man on Beech Street who matched the description of the man allegedly involved in the domestic dispute and questioned him. At that time, the man, later determined to be Beneditch, gave police a false name, according to the criminal complaint filed by Pottstown Police Officer Timothy Coffland. Beneditch was found to be in possession of a pocket knife but no firearm, court papers indicate. But when police went to the East Second Street residence and questioned a woman who reported the alleged domestic incident, they found a 9 mm pistol inside a closet of an upstairs bedroom. Police alleged they also recovered a magazine that contained 23 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. Originally, Beneditch also faced charges of simple assault and strangulation in connection with the alleged domestic dispute. However, prosecutors did not move forward with those charges during the trial. The judge acquitted Beneditch of another charge of harassment in connection with the alleged domestic dispute. It would probably take more than half a billion dollars to move the needle on acquisitions for Stelco Holdings Inc.s executive chairman, as he scouts the market for targets newly energized by the U.S. decision to lift steel tariffs on Canada and Mexico. Alan Kestenbaum said the company is targeting assets in North America that will complement the profile of the Hamilton-based integrated steelmaker, currently riding a wave of demand from the automotive and construction sectors. This could include a foray into the scrap-centric mini mills that are benefiting companies such as Nucor Corp. and Steel Dynamics Inc. at the right price, he said. Were limitless, we have various debt tools, we have cash and equity, that can be used to fund acquisitions, Kestenbaum said in an interview at Bloombergs office in Toronto. $500-million (U.S.) deals dont really move the needle, and I dont like really looking at what it costs, I like looking at what it creates in value. Kestenbaum is gearing up for acquisitions four days after President Donald Trump announced he would eliminate the 25 per cent tariff the U.S. charged on steel imports from Canada and Mexico. Overnight, the decision resulted in new orders and grew Stelcos market fivefold, Kestenbaum said. Thats been reflected in the steelmakers shares, which have surged about 17 per cent in Toronto for a market value of about $1.6 billion in the last two trading days. Areas offering the highest profitability for acquisitions include galvanized steel in Canada as well as cold-rolled steel for sales on both sides of the border, Kestenbaum said. Customers have also run into shortages of slab steel due to tariffs on other countries, making them another interesting area for potential acquisitions. Stelco is unlikely to go after downstream assets, he added. For funding, the company could take on debt, temporarily, but it typically looks to get rid of that debt in 12 to 18 months, said the executive chairman. But it could also sell assets, including some of its 800 acres in Hamilton, which could be sold to developers for industrial purposes or film studios looking to take advantage of the citys tax incentives, Kestenbaum said. The company also has 2,400 acres at its Nanticoke facilities on Lake Erie, which would be an ideal location for an automotive company to set up shop, right next to production from Stelcos steel operations. He noted some very high profile companies have inquired about doing so. Stelco has already booked new business since the weekend in both the U.S. and Canada, and said other potential customers have continued to call. Anticipation that removal of the tariffs will pave the way for ratification of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement is also boosting optimism, he said. The new trade deal, with its requirement for more content to be sourced from the continent, is a huge improvement from Nafta and will generate tremendous opportunity for Stelco, Kestenbaum said. Trumps tariffs may have forced the nimble Canadian steelmaker to refocus its sales efforts on domestic production, increasing domestic revenue to 85 per cent of total sales from 70 per cent before the tariffs, but the president negotiated a good deal, along with Canada and Mexico, he said. Trump likes talking about it like its a great deal, and a lot of people kind of make fun of him saying that its almost the same as NAFTA No, Kestenbaum said. Theres been a lot of improvements in the new USMCA deal. Trump is right. He also gave a shout out to his 2,200 employees for all their work through the tariffs and efforts of the United Steelworkers union to remove the tariffs. As a thank you, a $1,000 bonus is on the way, he said. Read more about: MONTREAL - Aimia Inc. says it will buy back 22.9 per cent of its outstanding shares at a price of $4.30 each under a plan announced last month. The loyalty rewards company says it will buy back roughly 34.9 million shares, reducing its issued and outstanding shares to about 117.4 million. Aimia said last month it would spend up to $150 million to buy back stock under a modified Dutch auction. By buying back its shares, a company spreads its profits over fewer shares. That increases its return on equity and earnings per share, two key ratios used to determine a companys financial health. The company says shares tendered to the offer but not repurchased will be returned to shareholders. Aimia sold its Aeroplan loyalty program earlier this year to Air Canada. Companies in this story: (TSX:AIM) The U.S. crackdown on Huawei Technologies Co. could make Apple Inc.s already troubled business in China even more difficult, hobbling iPhone sales in the worlds biggest smartphone market and disrupting the companys supply chain, according to analysts. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump effectively banned U.S. companies from working with Huawei. Thats sparked concern on Wall Street about potential retaliation by China, where iPhones are assembled and where Apple gets about a fifth of its revenue. When trade tensions flared between the U.S. and China late last year, some economists said there was an informal boycott by Chinese consumers of U.S. products, including iPhones. After Apple reported disappointing holiday results, chief executive officer Tim Cook said the trade war was partly to blame. Trumps latest move has already prompted dire threats from China, with the countrys ambassador to the European Union warning of retaliation on Monday. There is a potential for a boycott of Apple products, said Shannon Cross of Cross Research. There could be a movement in China to support national champions. Apple could lose nearly a third of its profit if China retaliated by banning its products, Goldman Sachs analysts estimated this week. Dan Ives, an analyst at Wedbush Securities, said 3 per cent to 5 per cent of iPhone sales in China may disappear over the next 12 to 18 months because of the U.S. ban on Huawei. Apple would face much more dire consequences if production restrictions were implemented in China, Goldman analysts led by Rod Hall wrote in a research note. We do not believe the company would be able to shift much iPhone volume outside of China on short notice, though actions that would push Apple production outside of China could have negative implications for the China tech ecosystem as well as for local employment, the Goldman analysts said. Even if China doesnt retaliate directly, nationalist sentiment will likely hurt Apples sales in the country and could cause the company to miss its fiscal third-quarter forecasts, according to Lynx Equity Strategies. Apple didnt respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. In late April, before Trumps Huawei ban, Apple reported slightly better iPhone sales in China. Theres an improved trade dialogue between the U.S. and China, and from our point of view, this has affected consumer confidence on the ground there in a positive way, Cook told analysts during a conference call. That may be a phrase Apples management comes to rue, Lynx Equity analysts K.C. Rajkumar and Jahanara Nissar wrote. Hardly a week later, U.S.-China relations were back in the thick of a trade dispute the Street had assumed was in the rear-view mirror, the analysts said. Beyond China, Huaweis problems could help Apple. Trumps ban means future Huawei handsets sold outside China will have to run without Googles Android operating system and crucial services like the Play app store. Huawei customers vented on social media on Tuesday, worrying their gadgets might not work as well with less support from the U.S. internet giant. That could mean some customers buy an iPhone instead. These issues will reduce demand for Huawei over coming years and could give Apple an incrementally better position in the marketplace, said Ives. There arent many customers in the U.S. for Apple to win back. But in other parts of the world, Huawei has become a thorn in Apples side. The Chinese tech giant had almost a quarter of the smartphone market in Europe in the fourth quarter, just behind Apple and Samsung Electronics Co., according to research firm Canalys. Globally, Huawei is the second-largest smartphone maker behind Samsung. Beside Google, Huawei is also losing access to key components from U.S. chip makers including Qualcomm Inc. and Intel Corp. The loss of such a big customer may make these suppliers more willing to negotiate on price with Apple. It could give Apple a little bit more leverage in supplier agreement negotiations, but Apple wont want to pressure them too much, said Cross. Read more about: The second day into Jose Baselgas tenure as head of AstraZeneca Plcs cancer research, his new boss called him in to discuss a rival companys drug. Under development by Daiichi Sankyo Co., it represented the latest generation of treatments the researcher had tested earlier in his career. The drug could transform the way doctors look at one of the most common forms of breast cancer, Baselga told Astra Chief Executive Officer Pascal Soriot, who was already thinking about a deal. He looked at me and said, are you sure? Baselga, 59, said in an interview in London. I said yes. I had the advantage that Id had hands-on experience with the drug. Baselgas understanding of rivals pipelines and research upending the field of cancer treatments is why Astra hired a doctor who rose to become medical chief of New Yorks most prestigious cancer center, only to be felled by controversy. Soriot hopes Baselga will help establish U.K.-based AstraZeneca as a leader in the $133 billion oncology market among rivals like Merck & Co., Pfizer Inc. and Roche Holding AG. Since an outcry over industry ties forced his departure from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center last year, Baselga has changed lanes. In a corporate role hes never held before, hell be responsible for bringing home Soriots biggest bets, including a March deal to pay as much as $6.9 billion for Daiichis drug. Redefine the Field In a nod to the experimental products magnitude, AstraZeneca just hired another breast cancer expert, the University of Calgarys Sunil Verma. Baselga said hes preparing to revolutionize the way the drug is tested and ultimately used focusing on tumors that make low levels of HER2, a cancer-driving protein that doctors began countering with Roche Holding AGs Herceptin. The Daiichi medication has shown effectiveness in patients who have stopped benefiting from multiple other therapies. Its so precisely targeted that the number of people who could benefit from anti-HER2 therapy could increase by threefold, Baselga said, and Astra will test it on other tumors. Lets redefine the field, he said. Soriot took a similarly disruptive approach to AstraZenecas structure when he brought Baselga on board. The CEO eliminated one of the companys four drug development areas and combined others, leaving just two tracks cancer and everything else. Frame Shift The frame shift at Astra represents a level of attention Baselga has long demanded. When he became head of oncology at Vall dHebron University Hospital in Barcelona in 1996, colleagues said he wasnt entitled to a seat on its scientific steering committee because of the units low funding and productivity. Baselga turned the tables. Raising private funds for new facilities, he spent more than a decade building a unit of six doctors into a division that now has more than 60 medical oncologists. Vall dHebron treats more than 5,000 new patients a year, many of them with experimental therapies. Joan Comella, scientific director of Vall dHebron, often counseled friends to seek treatment from Baselgas clinic, yet at times found himself wrangling with the cancer doctor over space and money. His character is very powerful, very dominant, Comella said. Its not easy to negotiate with him, but at the same time hes very fair. Early Decisions Under Baselga, Vall dHebron became known for using gene sequencing to pinpoint patients whose tumors might respond to certain treatments. That way, doctors could determine early whether experimental therapies were worth testing in them. Now people come from all over Spain, all over Europe, for drugs that are in clinical trials here, said Josep Tabernero, who succeeded Baselga at Vall dHebron. His emphasis on early-stage testing fits with AstraZenecas efficiency drive. Almost one in five of AstraZenecas treatments make their way through clinical testing to the market, compared with an industry average of one in 20. That can save billions of dollars. Since he arrived, Baselga has already cut six experimental treatments from Astras cancer pipeline, accelerating five others. If the drug isnt going to make it, you have to put it out of its misery, he said. Decoding DNA During his five years as physician-in-chief at Memorial, Baselga helped create one of the first large hospital centers for decoding tumor DNA. The approach has helped identify treatments potential even earlier in development, and contributed to finding therapies for rare cancers. However, the New York hospital proved to be the scene of Baselgas undoing. An investigation by the New York Times and ProPublica found dozens of papers he authored or contributed to that lacked acknowledgment of funding from drug companies and other sources. While there were no accusations that the studies were skewed, Baselga had violated the rules of many scientific publications including Cancer Discovery, where he was an editor-in-chief. Everything he did would have been just fine if he had just taken the form seriously and disclosed the payments, said Otis Brawley, former chief medical officer of the American Cancer Society. One of the reasons Baselga had received so much pharma money was that he had done so much testing work. Christmas Call His skills are the ones desired by drug companies, said Brawley, now a professor at Johns Hopkins University. Baselga took responsibility for the omissions, acknowledging that he should have been more careful. Still, he said his industry disclosures at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he was head of oncology before going to Memorial, were perfect. Baselga said he got a phone call just before Christmas from Soriot, whom hed known for years, about the Astra job while at his country house in the Pyrenees. The hiring was announced a few weeks later. My goal will be to make this the best oncology development company in the world, and just push the limits of us being successful, Baselga said. I feel at home. Barrick Gold Corp. is proposing to buy the shares of Acacia Mining Plc it doesnt already own at a discount, arguing that the plan offers a route to end the units crippling dispute with Tanzanias government. The $285 million proposal made to Acacias board and management will offer 0.153 of Barrick shares for each Acacia share, the Toronto-based company which already owns about two-thirds of the target, said in a statement. The proposal implies a valuation of $787 million for the whole of Acacia, Barrick said. Thats below the companys current $832 million market capitalization, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Acacia didnt immediately respond to a request for comment outside usual office hours. Barricks Chief Executive Officer Mark Bristow who took the post in January and assumed oversight of talks with Tanzania on Acacia has previously criticized peers for offering large premiums, and in February made a hostile nil-premium offer for Newmont Mining Corp., which was later withdrawn. Acacia has tumbled since 2017, when Tanzania banned the export of unprocessed metals, then presented the company with a $190 billion tax bill, equivalent to two centuries of revenue. Earlier this month, Bristow flagged Barrick may need to intervene to force agreement on a final settlement. For almost two years, Barrick has been leading negotiations with the government, first under Executive Chairman John Thornton and, more recently, under Bristow. In meetings with Barrick in recent days, Tanzanias government indicated it is not prepared to enter into a settlement directly with Acacia, the larger producer said in its statement. A basis for a settlement has been developed but not finalized, in meetings this weekend, Barrick said. A framework deal previously struck in 2017 had proposed Acacia should pay $300 million to settle the tax claims and agree to split returns from operations with the country going forward. Barricks offer reflects fair value, as well as its experience leading the negotiations and other due diligence, the producer said. The proposal is subject to conditions including the recommendation of Acacias board, Barrick said. Relations between the companies appeared to have worsened this month, when Acacia CEO Peter Geleta pushed back against Barricks criticism over the lack progress in efforts to reach a settlement. Barrick has until June 18 to decide if it will make a firm intention to make an offer, the company said. Read more about: TORONTO - Barrick Gold Corp. has made a proposal to acquire the shares in Acacia Mining that it does not already own. Under the proposal, Barrick, which holds a majority stake in the African gold miner, would swap 0.153 of a Barrick share for each Acacia share. The offer implies a value for Acacia of US$787 million, and the total consideration for Acacias minority shareholders at US$285 million. The plan is subject to a number of customary conditions, including receiving the recommendation of the Acacia board. Barrick says it has been working to help settle a tax dispute between Acacia and the government in Tanzania, but the African country is not prepared to enter into a settlement agreement directly with Acacia. Acacia says it has been excluded from the negotiations and urged its shareholders to take no action on the Barrick proposal while its board reviews the situation. Companies in this story: (TSX:ABX) DETROITThe math doesnt seem to add up. Analyst Adam Jonas of Morgan Stanley is among those who say Ford Motor Co. cannot reach its stated profit goals for Smart Redesign by laying off just 7,000 salaried workers total worldwide by August. The company must cut a further 23,000 salaried jobs in the near term to fulfil its goals, Jonas wrote Tuesday. Ford disclosed that the 7k head count cuts will save $600 million annually, or an average of $86k per worker, said an investment report dated May 21. Our (calculations) ... require more than a further 23k salaried head count reductions. The latest assessment from one of the most recognized equity analysts in New York might explain the tepid response from Wall Street over the past two days, since Ford CEO Jim Hackett sent an email to employees notifying them of the layoff protocol this week. While Wall Street rewarded General Motors with a spike in stock price after its job cuts, Ford value has remained static. It closed at $10.29 a share on Friday and closed Tuesday at $10.24. A Ford spokesman did not respond to a request for comment. The bottom line is that Fords announced job cuts are absurd, said market analyst Jon Gabrielsen, who advises automakers and auto suppliers. No one who analyzes the Ford situation believes that 7,000 job cuts remotely scratches the surface of what will be required for Fords long-term longevity. He added, Adam Jonas, the most respected analyst in the business, estimates that Ford will need to cut an additional 23,000 salaried workers through 2022, for a total of 30,000 since late 2018. My own estimate, arrived at separately and before his report came out, indicated an additional 22,000 cuts would be needed. This week, some 500 workers in metro Detroit are being told of involuntary layoffs in finance, product development, manufacturing and purchasing during meetings with supervisors over a 72-hour period. More workers in information technology and human resources will be notified about layoffs in coming weeks, Ford officials said in emails to employees. Grim future Ford is a rapidly shrinking presence in the global market. Over the past 10 years, Ford has lost a quarter of its global market share from 7.9% to 5.9%, Gabrielsen said. That trend of losing 5% of its market share per year will accelerate for the next three years, as the impact of exiting cars in North America and other product eliminations in other regions plays out. Jonas indicated that his estimated cut of 23,000 more salaried positions would be a short-term fix. He sees global revenue dropping, too, so the bigger cuts are a conservative assessment for the short term. Thus, analysts project four times more cuts by Ford to meet the companys stated goals. Based on the forecast, Morgan Stanley, like Gabrielsen, sees Ford sales declining over the next three years as the automaker exits traditional passenger cars and the industry manages a cyclical downturn. When Jonas predicted 25,000 cuts a year ago, Ford officials said it was a ridiculously high estimate. Also, analysts note the cuts Ford has made assume average savings of $86,000 per employee when analysts used $100,000. So, assuming $100,000 in compensation costs, Ford would end up at nearly 25,800 jobs cut globally, Gabrielsen emphasized. Im safe Workers say they wonder how anyone would know the number of layoffs in Dearborn since Ford has thousands of employees scattered in buildings throughout the city. A finance employee, who hadnt slept well Monday in anticipation of the cuts, told the Detroit Free Press on Tuesday afternoon, Im safe. The worker said colleagues just a few years from retirement were given bad news. Hacketts email to employees Monday said, We are now entering the final phase of Smart Redesign. Notifications to employees in North America affected by wave four of Smart Redesign will begin tomorrow (May 21). The majority will be completed by May 24. He noted that restructuring will continue in Europe, China, South America and elsewhere with hopes of completing the reorganization by the end of August. The time and effort from so many of our team members is helping to make us a stronger company, well positioned for the future, Hackett wrote. His email followed 6 a.m. posting of a Free Press story that some white-collar workers last week were packing boxes in case they are laid off, with manager meetings scheduled in several departments Tuesday-Thursday this week. Its not known how many salaried workers Ford has trimmed in recent months. The company had 202,000 employees in 2017 and then 199,000 in 2018, according to its annual reports. It has 196,000 employees globally now, according to recent Ford news releases. Ford takes pride in being the largest U.S. auto industry employer. The company has approximately 86,000 U.S. workers, with 48,000 in southeast Michigan alone, company officials confirmed. LONDONBritish Steel Ltd.s three-year run as a company ended on Wednesday, putting 5,000 jobs at risk and piling fresh misery on the U.K.s manufacturing base. The company was put into liquidation by the U.K. High Court, which appointed Ernst & Young LLP to manage the process. Despite last-minute pleas for a government rescue and pressure from Labour lawmakers and unions to nationalize the steelmaker, a bailout was ultimately denied. We can only act within the law, it is clear that it would be unlawful to provide a guarantee or loan on the terms requested by the company, said Prime Minister Theresa May. The government has been working tirelessly with the company, with its owner Greybull Capital and its lenders to explore all potential options. It would have been against the law to provide any further financial assistance to British Steel and prospective buyers have already been in contact, said Business Secretary Greg Clark. The U.K. steel industry has long struggled to be profitable in the face of high energy and labour costs. British Steel was also hit by the fallout from Brexit, with some European customers concerned about possible tariffs on their orders. At the same time, the weak pound made importing ingredients, such as iron ore, more expensive. Having rescued the business from closure over three years ago, we have worked hard to bring this important company back on its feet, private equity firm Greybull Capital LLP said in a statement. The additional blows dealt by Brexit-related issues have proven insurmountable. The news marks the demise of a company that was created in 2016 and renamed to invoke memories of the once-government-owned national champion. Greybull bought the assets from Indias Tata Steel Ltd. in a deal that cast the family firm as a potential saviour of the long-struggling industry. The possible loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs is a blow to the U.K. government, which is also bracing for defeat in European elections on Thursday. Consecutive U.K. governments have failed to protect our proud steel heritage, and now this prime minister is overseeing its demise, said Tim Roache, general secretary for the GMB Union. This is devastating news for the thousands of workers in Scunthorpe and across the U.K. British Steels operations include two giant blast furnaces in the northern town of Scunthorpe. It directly employs about 5,000 people and another 20,000 are supported by its supply chain. North Lincolnshire, where the plant is based, voted 66 per cent in favour of leaving the European Union. The company makes 2.8 million tons of steel a year and products have been used in buildings including The Shard skyscraper in London, Hudson Yards in New York and Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. Heavy industry in the U.K. has been in decline for decades as manufacturers move overseas to take advantage of cheaper labour costs. Sectors such as steel, coal mining and ship building have all but disappeared, taking with them the promise of well-paid, blue-collar jobs. The average salary at British Steel is about 37,000 pounds ($62,900 Canadian) a year, according to PayScale, a firm that analyzes compensation data. Thats well above the national average. Its very expensive to restart blast furnaces once theyre turned off, so the plant will keep running as the government searches for a new owner. Staff will continue to receive their paycheck, the receiver said in a statement. British Steel received some government assistance in the form of a 120 million pound ($204 million Canadian) loan to cover costs related to the European Unions carbon trading program. But it wasnt enough. Just last week, the company was in talks for additional funding from the government. British Steel makes about one-third of the U.K.s steel, which already lags behind countries such as Belgium and Poland, not to mention the giants of the global industry such as China, Japan and India. Its a far cry from Britains Victorian heyday when the country made about 40 per cent of the worlds steel. Today, the U.K. produces 7.5 million tons a year, about 0.4 per cent of global production. LONDON - British and Japanese mobile phone companies said Wednesday theyre putting on hold plans to sell new devices from Huawei, in the latest fallout from U.S. tech restrictions aimed at the Chinese company. Britains EE and Vodafone and Japans KDDI and Y! Mobile said they are pausing the launch of Huawei smartphones, including some that can be used on next generation mobile networks, amid uncertainty about devices from the worlds No. 2 smartphone maker. The U.S. government last week restricted technology sales to Chinese telecom gear suppliers because of alleged security risks, though telecom carriers got a 90-day grace period to let them find other suppliers. The sales ban is part of a broader trade war between Washington and Beijing. British mobile chip designer Arm said separately it was complying with the U.S. rules, after the BBC reported it was suspending business with Huawei a move that could hobble the Chinese tech companys ability to produce chips for new devices. Vodafone said in a statement that its pausing pre-orders for the Mate 20X, Huaweis first phone for 5G networks, as a temporary measure while uncertainty exists regarding new Huawei 5G devices. EE CEO Marc Allera said sales would not resume until it gets the information and confidence and the long-term security that customers will be supported over the devices lifetime. The company was also set to sell the Mate 20X followed by Huaweis Mate X folding handset. EE said its working with Huawei and Google, which makes the Android mobile operating systems to make sure it can carry out the right level of testing and quality assurance. The Trump administrations order last week cuts Huaweis access to American chips and Google, which makes the Android operating system and services for its smartphones. Y! Mobile, owned by Japanese technology company Softbank, said sales of the Huawei P30 lite, set for May 24, have been delayed, and advance orders were cancelled. SoftBank spokesman Hiroyuki Mizukami said the company wants its customers to feel safe using our products. KDDI also indefinitely delayed its sales, initially set for late May. Its unclear when, or if, the companies will lift the sales freezes. British carriers plan this year to roll out 5G services while Japan will follow in 2020. Fifth generation mobile networks will enable superfast downloads and pave the way for new innovations like connected cars and remote medicine. Arm, which is also owned by Softbank and designs mobile microprocessors that power most of the worlds smartphones and tablets, said it is complying with all of the latest regulations set forth by the U.S. government. The company told employees to halt all business deals with Huawei, the BBC reported, citing a company memo that said its designs contained U.S. origin technology. In response to the report on Arm, Huawei said it recognizes that some of its partners are under pressure as a result of politically motivated decisions but that its confident this regrettable situation can be resolved. Ottawa is spending more than $1 million to ship 2,000 tonnes of rotting garbage back to Canada from the Philippines, hoping to bring an end to the diplomatic war over waste before Canada Day. Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said Wednesday the government signed a contract for $1.14 million with the Canadian arm of French shipping giant Bollore Logistics, to prepare and ship 69 containers of Canadian trash that have sitting in the ports of Subic and Manila in the Philippines for up to six years. Canada values its deep and long-standing relationship with the Philippines and has been working closely with Filipino authorities to find a solution that is mutually acceptable, she said in a statement. McKenna said the waste must be treated to meet Canadian safety and health requirements, but an official with Environment Canada wouldnt explain what those requirements entail or whether the waste is currently a hazard to the Philippines. A recent inspection of the containers by the Philippines found all but one of the containers was seaworthy. One container was infested by termites but could be safely moved as long as it was secured on a platform. The 69 containers are the remainder from 103 shipped by a private Canadian company to the Philippines in 2013 and 2014 and labelled improperly as plastics for recycling. The other 34 containers have already been dealt with in the Philippines, despite objections from local officials and environment groups. Those groups say the shipment was illegal under the Basel Convention, an international treaty Canada signed to prevent richer nations from dumping their garbage in unsuspecting developing countries. Read more: How did 103 containers of Canadas rotting garbage end up in the Philippines? Canada will cover costs of bringing trash-filled containers home from the Philippines Filipino President Duterte gives Canada one week to take trash back McKenna anticipates the containers will all be back in Canada by the end of June and they will be disposed of properly within Canada before the end of the summer. Canada is trying to go after the company that shipped the waste but it has since gone out of business. The Philippines, which has been demanding Canada remove the waste for nearly six years, recently set a May 15 deadline for having it removed, with President Rodrigo Duterte threatening to declare war otherwise (an official later said he just meant to convey how strongly he felt). When that deadline came and went with the garbage still sitting in the Philippines, Duterte recalled his countrys ambassador and consuls general from Canada. On Wednesday he ordered his government to find a shipper to take care of the containers, with plans to leave them in Canadian waters. Hours later, Canada announced a contract had been signed, although the document posted online suggests the deal was actually done May 17. Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland spoke to her counterpart in the Philippines, foreign secretary Teodoro Locsin, following Dutertes decision to recall the Philippine ambassador. She said Wednesday Canada is very focused on bringing this matter to a conclusion. I think we have taken a big step with the announcement today and we are moving as quickly as we can, bearing in mind, you know, the need to take due care to get this resolved once and for all, Freeland said at an event in Regina. Dutertes spokesman, Salvador Panelo, told a news conference in Manila Wednesday that Duterte was upset about the inordinate delay of Canada in shipping back its containers of garbage, adding We are extremely disappointed with Canadas neither-here-nor-there pronouncement on the matter. More than five years of talks between Canada and the Philippines to deal with the trash went nowhere until last month, when Duterte threatened war and said he would ship the garbage back to Canada himself. Eat it if you want to, he declared. Panelo said Wednesday the Philippines must not be treated as trash by other foreign nations. Obviously, Canada is not taking this issue nor our country seriously. The Filipino people are gravely insulted about Canada treating this country as a dumpsite, Panelo said. NDP MP Gord Johns said he is relieved Canada is finally doing what it should have done years ago. He said its disgraceful that Canada allowed the dispute to escalate to this point before acting. He noted South Korea took just a few months to take garbage back when it accidentally sent containers of trash to the Philippines, and Canada should have done the same. Correction-May 30, 2019: This article was edited from a previous version that misspelled the name of the company hired to transport the garbage back to Canada. Read more about: Legal experts say criminal charges like those laid against a former bar server in connection with a drunk-driving crash that killed two Ottawa-area teens are rare and difficult to prove. Ann Senack, 62, of Greater Madawaska Township, was charged in March with two counts each of criminal negligence causing death and criminal negligence causing bodily harm in a 2017 crash in Calabogie, Ont. Two young men, Brandon Hanniman and Alexander Paquette, were killed and two others were injured when police say their car veered off the road and plowed into a rock cut. Police later said the group had been drinking at a local establishment and alcohol contributed to the crash. The case is expected to return before the court today. While bartenders and bars may face lawsuits related to serving drunk drivers, legal experts say they are not aware of a case in Ontario where someone has been found criminally responsible. They say the threshold for criminal negligence is much higher than for civil negligence. To extend criminal liability in these circumstances is very, very uncommon, said Michael Lacy, a Toronto lawyer and the president of the Criminal Lawyers Association. If someone were held criminally culpable in these circumstances, Id say that would be a precedent-setting decision, said Lacy, who is not involved in the case. Toronto defence lawyer Daniel Brown said that to obtain a conviction for criminal negligence, the Crown would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a marked and substantial departure from the standard of care owed by a server. Prosecutors would have to show a bartender knew the person they were serving was clearly underage, and knew the person was driving home and was impaired to such degree that it would be a danger to them and to others, he said. The Crown would also have to show a direct link between the alcohol served to the person and the injuries caused, he said. Theres a lot of things that must be proven in a case like this for a Crown attorney to be successful, he said. In comparison, a civil negligence case must prove its more likely than not that there was a departure from the standard of care, which is a much lower bar, Brown said. Those two things one being the higher standard for criminal negligence, and the higher burden of proof in a criminal case means that the viability of this type of prosecution is often minimal, which is why most of these cases are dealt with in the civil courts, said Brown, who is also not involved in the case. Some in the community have voiced concerns about the charges and rallied behind Senack, suggesting she is being unfairly blamed for a tragic incident. An online fundraiser meant to help cover her legal fees has drawn more than $50,000 from more than 400 donors in about a month. We support you Ann. You are not responsible for what happened to those boys, some wrote on the fundraiser site. We have never met... We feel you have been unjustly charged, others wrote. The charge of criminal negligence causing death can carry a life sentence, while criminal negligence causing bodily harm can carry a sentence of up to 10 years behind bars. No trial date has yet been set. Read more about: The Ford government is reducing funding for children and youth at risk by $84.5 million, according to an analysis of provincial spending estimates by the Ontario Association of Childrens Aid Societies. The reduction includes a $28 million cut to the $1.5 billion the province gives 49 childrens aid societies in Ontario, increasing concerns about the ability of agencies to serve and protect vulnerable children. The cut comes as 18 child protection agencies struggle with deficits totalling more than $12 million. The deficits have already forced some agencies to lay off staff and reduce the number of children at risk they take into care. A decrease in children in care does not mean there are fewer children in need of protection, the OACAS warned in a PowerPoint produced in late March, outlining its core messages before the provincial budget was tabled. The associations post-budget analysis suggests their warning may not have been heard. The $84.5 million cut for youth at risk is contained in a May 16 briefing note the OACAS sent to top CAS officials, and obtained by the Star. The calculations are based on the governments operating and capital spending estimates tabled in the legislature May 9. Read more: For years, child advocate Irwin Elman has been a voice for the voiceless. That voice has now been silenced Anti-poverty advocates shaken by cuts contemplated by Ford government Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: Secret document shows how far Doug Fords Tories would cut social services until they were talked back from the brink The OACAS calculated funding envelopes that fall under the budget line of child and youth at risk, including services for child protection and youth involved with the justice system. The association is uncertain about the full impact of the cuts. Some funding envelopes have been eliminated and new ones created. Its unclear if programs funded under the eliminated envelopes will continue to be funded under the new ones. Some of the cuts may involve the closing of unused facilities or resources, particularly in the area of youth justice. But when all the pluses and minuses are calculated, the funding shortfall is $84.5 million, according to the OACAS. We are concerned about the impact of any potential cuts to our members and to the families that they serve, Nicole Bonnie, chief executive officer of the OACAS said in an email response to questions. At this time we do not have details as to which programs will be funded or who will deliver them, Bonnie added. We are waiting for more detailed information from the ministry to understand the exact nature of the impact on child welfare. Bonnie hopes to soon meet with Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Children, Community and Social Services. Our message is and always has been that the children and families we serve are the most marginalized and disenfranchised, and programs that support their well-being need to be fully funded. The ministers office did not respond to direct questions about the cuts. In an emailed statement, MacLeods press secretary, Derek Rowland, described the well-being of vulnerable young people as the governments utmost priority. The steady decline of children being taken into care since 2006, he added, has helped most childrens aid societies balance their budgets and the ministry is working with those that havent. We will be holding Ontarios Childrens Aid Societies and other providers to higher standards to keep our kids safe, Rowland said, denouncing what he described as the lack of oversight and relaxed regulation of the previous Liberal government. Rowland said the government is increasing investments in prevention programs to ensure kids keep out of trouble. The government also expects significant savings in the youth justice sector after a review found underutilized detention facilities. A plan to reduce the number of childrens aid societies through amalgamation is also being considered by the ministry. What isnt in doubt is that childrens aid societies will have less core funding to work with. One childrens aid society, Brant Family and Childrens Services, has struggled with deficits that forced the layoff of 26 workers in March, in a community facing perhaps the worst opioid addiction epidemic in the province. Its executive director then posted a letter to the Brantford area community on the agencys website, warning of serious consequences. When governments cut child welfare services (managers, front-line staff, and support services), children ultimately die or are allowed by society to live in unbearable, violent and neglectful conditions, Andy Koster wrote. With higher caseloads and tight timelines, workers are forced to move from one crisis to another instead of planning and working proactively with families to prevent future incidents, he added. Despite best efforts, children fall through the cracks and suffer the consequences of insufficient resources. The cuts for children at risk also comes on the heels of the government eliminating the office that advocated for children and youth. Kiaras Gharabaghi, director of Ryerson Universitys School of Child and Youth Care, denounced the cuts as implemented without consultations. They are cuts that have no interest in making the system work better for kids and families, he said in an interview after reviewing the OACAS document. This sector requires a different approach, Gharabaghi added. Its one where young people die by violence, by suicide, by neglect. Its not the same as increasing class sizes in schools to save some money. Read more about: WINNIPEGA member of the Manitoba legislature and former federal cabinet minister is planning to run for Maxime Berniers Peoples Party of Canada in the upcoming federal election. Steven Fletcher confirms he will launch his campaign Thursday to run in the Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley seat for Berniers party. An email from the partys electoral district association president describes Fletcher and Bernier as ideological soulmates. Fletcher has said the federal Conservatives would not allow him to run under their banner in the next election. Fletcher won a seat as a Progressive Conservative in Manitobas provincial election in 2016 but was kicked out of caucus a year later for publicly breaking from the party on a number of policies. He took over leadership of the Manitoba Party in 2018 after sitting as an Independent. Fletcher, who was a Conservative MP for 11 years before losing his Winnipeg seat to the Liberals in 2015, worked with Bernier for nine years under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He spent five years as a minister of state in Harpers cabinet and Fletcher supported Bernier in the Conservative leadership race that Andrew Scheer won. Bernier founded the Peoples Party of Canada last year after leaving the Conservative party following a series of disagreements with Scheer. Among the partys policy positions are promises to reduce the total number of immigrants to 250,000 a year, increase border security and end reliance on the United Nations for refugee selection. It also wants to make the federal equalization program less generous, reduce interprovincial trade barriers and build more pipelines. Fletcher said Wednesday that he supports the partys policies and always intended to get back into federal politics. I intend to work very hard for the people Ive been called to represent for 15 years now and I will continue to do that, he said. Fletcher previously floated the idea that the Manitoba Party could sister with the Peoples Party of Canada, but Berniers staff said they had no intention of having a provincial wing of the party. Read more about: PRINCE ALBERT, SASK.A Saskatchewan man convicted of running naked through the aisles of a grocery store and into a meat cooler wont spend any further time in custody. Calvin John Jobb, who is 51, has been sentenced to four months in jail, but was credited for time already served in remand. Provincial court Judge Mary McAuley noted in her sentencing report that Jobb has been publicly humiliated since a video of his run in the buff at the Prince Albert Superstore in March went viral online. She also pointed out that some people, including store employees, were traumatized by his actions, while others thought it was hilarious. Jobb, who has been sentenced for various offences 68 times before, faces 18 months of probation and isnt allowed to go to the Superstore. He also has to write a letter of apology to staff and pay $196 to cover the cost of meat and other food that had to be thrown away after his arrest. He is banned from bars and liquor stores, and must seek counselling for his alcohol addiction. He caused humiliation to himself and his family, McAuley said in court Wednesday. He scared people and he is remorseful and has apologized. Court heard previously that on March 3 Jobb had smoked what he thought was marijuana, but what was actually crystal meth. He said he had never smoked the drug before, began hallucinating and believed someone was trying to kill him. His lawyer, Robert Rooney, clarified that his client was convinced people had put electronic tracking devices in his clothes and thats why he removed them. Witnesses saw Jobb swing a broom stick, yell at customers, damage cash registers and jump into one of the meat coolers. It took four officers to get him out of the store and, at one point, he grabbed one of their Tasers. Court was told Jobbs criminal record dates back to 1984. The Crown was asking for 12 months in jail, but McAuley said she considered significant factors in his Gladue report. A Gladue report is a pre-sentencing review that considers an Indigenous offenders background. Jobbs report said that he was exposed to alcohol and drugs when he was growing up and experienced sexual abuse when he was seven and again while attending residential school. McAuley addressed Jobb directly and told him it was his responsibility to overcome his past. If you come back to this court in the future and say, My past got to me again it becomes less potent, she said. Your job is to turn your life around. Break the cycle. It is a generational cycle and if you dont (break it) youll pass it down to your kids. An emotional Jobb responded with an apology and said he continues to take steps to address his problems. ST. JOHNS, N.L.Newfoundland and Labradors Tory leader apologized Wednesday for combative election night remarks in which he called the results a constitutional crisis and declared his intent to topple the re-elected Liberals within a year. Ches Crosbie said that he spoke in the heat of the moment last Thursday and now regretted his speech. He said Wednesday he realized his comments were a misstep after a cooling off period and feedback from others. It was unfortunate. I should have been more gracious and I should have thanked all of our volunteers, our candidates ... all the people who put their great efforts into making the campaign as successful as it was, Crosbie told reporters. Last Thursdays election saw Premier Dwight Balls incumbent Liberal government reduced to minority status, winning 20 of the legislatures 40 seats. Crosbies Tories took 15 seats, the New Democrats won three and two Independents were elected. A recount is to come in one district where an NDP rookie unseated a Liberal incumbent by five votes. Crosbie expressed his apologies and regret for comments that he said came from a place of passion over the need for change in the province. He said he regretted not congratulating Ball, and spoke with him by phone over the weekend. We are all only human and I intend to revert to my normal, statesmanlike composure, Crosbie said. After the results came in on election night, he had predicted the failure of the Liberal government and called the outcome a situation of constitutional instability. Crosbie posted a letter to Twitter the following day with a softened tone, congratulating the premier and suggesting he would work with Ball but planned to take him to task on his promises. On Wednesday, surrounded by the newly elected PC caucus, the 65-year-old said his party plans to assist the Liberals in making the province run smoothly. It is not our intention to bring down the government, rather it is our intention to ensure that the Liberal government, assuming they remain the government, will gain the confidence of the house on those matters that are of interest to the public, Crosbie said at the Confederation Building. He said all 40 elected members can agree the public doesnt want another election. Crosbie explained his lengthy silence by saying he was speaking with other candidates and campaign workers, and said the ambiguity of the current state of the government added uncertainty as he prepared his remarks. Crosbie maintained that a crisis is still ongoing until the premier meets the legislature for a vote of confidence. NDP Leader Alison Coffin and both Independents have signalled that they would be willing to work with the Liberal government and would prefer to avoid another imminent election. GATINEAU, QUE.Police forces in western Quebec are investigating a series of attacks on public utility installations and private business equipment that occurred over a one-month period earlier this spring. Montreal La Presse reported today as many as 15 sites were hit by bullets from a high-calibre rifle between mid-March and mid-April. Targeted sites included hydro towers, highway inspection installations and telecommunication company equipment. There were no reported injuries. A Hydro-Quebec spokesman estimates the damage to one of the corporations towers will cost between $75,000 and $100,000 to repair. Police in Gatineau, the MRC-des-Collines police force and Quebec provincial police are all confirming they have open investigations into attacks on public utilities or on private business equipment. Gatineau police say they are investigating nine cases and are trying to determine whether a person they recently arrested is linked to any of the crimes. Read more about: OTTAWAConservative Leader Andrew Scheer is promising funding for police, survivor services and public awareness to fight human trafficking as he continues laying planks in his campaign platform. The previous Conservative government created a four-year strategy to combat human trafficking in 2012. It expired in 2016, shortly after the Liberals took office. Scheer promised Wednesday to revive it and made other promises to make up a four-point plan that is already facing criticism from the Liberals. At a stop in Aylmer, Ont., Scheer promised to make changes to the Criminal Code to make it easier to convict people accused of human trafficking. The plan also calls for changes to end automatic bail for those charged with trafficking even though there is no automatic bail in Canadian law and would make those convicted serve a consecutive sentence for each victim, rather than concurrent terms. Human trafficking exploits the most vulnerable populations in Canada, Scheer said in a statement. Every victim deserves justice and our support and protection. The Public Safety Department says human trafficking is a modern form of slavery, typically involving the use of physical or psychological control over people to exploit them sexually or for labour. It can be difficult to police and prosecute because victims are often moved away from their homes and social networks and kept isolated and fearful, and sometimes have drug addictions or illnesses from long-term trauma. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodales office released a statement shortly after Scheers announcement, noting the 2019 federal budget included a promise to develop a whole-of-government strategy to combat human trafficking. Goodales statement says the previous Conservative government didnt provide any money for the Harper-era version though the 2019 budget also doesnt have any funding tied to the promised Liberal strategy. The Liberals are spending $14.5 million over five years on a hotline to let people report tips to law enforcement, refer victims and survivors to services, and collect more data about the scope of human trafficking in Canada. As for Scheers pledge to strengthen Criminal Code wording to ease the path to convictions, similar wording exists in a Liberal bill that is being reviewed by a Senate committee, leaving third reading in the upper chamber as the last major legislative step before it can become law. The RCMPs human trafficking co-ordination centre says that between 2005 and 2018, the Mounties identified 531 cases where human trafficking charges were laid. Of those cases, 143 resulted in convictions and 316 remain before the courts. Read more about: Nearly a year after an Ontario judge called his assault on a young Black man a shocking violation, a Toronto police constable pleaded guilty to professional misconduct at a disciplinary tribunal Wednesday. Const. Joseph Dropuljic an officer with nearly 20 years on the force was given a conditional discharge for assault last August over the November 2015 incident in North York that left Kimani Wilson, then 23, with minor injuries, distrust in police and lingering psychological issues, according to an agreed statement of facts and the judges ruling. Dropuljic, 52, pleaded guilty to the criminal charge last year and, this week, to professional misconduct under Ontarios Police Services Act. In his submissions on Dropuljics penalty this week, police prosecutor Jerry Leung called the assault serious misconduct that has impacted the reputation of the Toronto police. In a joint submission with Gary Clewley, Dropuljics lawyer, Leung asked the hearing officer to dock Dropuljic nine days pay. The officers encounter with Wilson first drew public attention in August 2017, when Ontarios Special Investigations Unit which probes deaths and injuries involving police charged Dropuljic with assault. In a press conference one day later, Wilson said he was haunted by the incident, which constantly plays over again in my mind. Its a feeling you cant explain, I would say helplessness, he told reporters. Read more: Police under fire for failing to notify SIU of Black man's injuries Toronto police officer accused of assaulting a young Black man is now charged with professional misconduct Internal report on Dafonte Miller police assault leaves unanswered questions, Mayor Tory says The assault stemmed from a 911 call reporting gunshots in the area of Gracefield Ave. in North York. Police searched nearby homes, parks and schools looking for shell casings or suspicious people or cars, but found nothing. Acting on what Ontario Court Justice Paul Robertson called entirely a hunch, Dropuljic drove 1.4 kilometres west of the original 911 call to a housing co-op at 300 Queens Dr. that was not unfamiliar to police. There, Dropuljic found a taxi waiting out front, instructed the driver not to drive off and called for backup. Wilson later came out of the building and entered the cab wearing hooded loose clothing, holding his hands near his waist, according to the agreed statement of facts filed at the police tribunal Wednesday. Dropuljic approached the car and asked Wilson for his identification and to show his hands. According to the agreed statement of facts, Wilson was not co-operative about showing his hands and told Dropuljic he did not have any identification on him. Dropuljic then told Wilson he was under arrest for possession of a weapon and ordered him to get out of the car. When Wilson refused, Dropuljic physically pulled Wilson from the rear seat onto the pavement, according to court documents. Wilson landed face down on the ground. Dropuljic then handcuffed him and put him in a headlock in order to search him for a weapon, which he did not have. Wilsons mother later brought his identification, and he was released unconditionally. Wilson initially refused medical assistance but was later taken to hospital where he was treated for a small abrasion to his face and left knee, according to the August 2018 agreed statement of facts. In his reasons for sentencing, Robertson said he couldnt understand why Dropuljic zeroed in on Wilson there was nothing in the court materials that would identify him as a suspect, the judge noted. The officer had no grounds to arrest him for possessing a weapon or, in my view, even to stop him on the basis of an investigative detention for such an offence. Dropuljic lacked sufficient grounds for the arrest and therefore the act of pulling of him out of the taxi constituted an assault, according to the August 2018 agreed statement of facts. Assault by a police officer shakes the confidence the public has in the police, Robertson said in his decision. The enormous effort of the Toronto Police Service to build bridges, particularly those with communities where, due to high crime rates, police presence is legitimately intense, can be easily eroded when an officer commits a criminal offence, and particularly so where the victim is a member of one of those communities. Robertson noted, however, that Dropuljics actions were a complete contradiction to what otherwise appears to be an exemplary record with the police, including numerous accolades by superiors for outstanding police work, some of which involved gun seizures. Dropuljic had no prior disciplinary record. The judge gave Dropuljic a conditional discharge and sentenced him to 12 months of probation and 50 hours of community service. In submissions before disciplinary hearing officer Supt. Riyaz Hussein on Wednesday, Clewley said Dropuljic made a mistake he regrets its unfortunate but its a one-off, he said. Clewley cited the Crown prosecutor on the criminal case, who acknowledged that Dropuljic had made an error but was an otherwise professional and good officer and ... responsible citizen. Leung, the police prosecutor in the disciplinary hearing, said a nine-day penalty struck the right balance of holding Dropuljic accountable while acknowledging his earlier guilty plea. The public must be reassured that officers are being held responsible, Leung said. When the SIU charged Dropuljic in August 2017, it was the second case in just over a month in which the provincial watchdog had charged a Toronto officer with assault despite police failing to notify it about the mans injuries. Police services are required to call in the SIU in cases where the watchdogs mandate could reasonably be invoked, including serious injuries. In Wilsons case, the incident did not come to light until months after the fact, when he lodged a complaint with the Office of the Independent Police Review Director alleging police brutality. Asked why Toronto police did not contact the SIU immediately after the incident with Wilson, a Toronto police spokesperson said there was no indication of serious injury at the time of the incident. Once we received information from the OIPRD, the SIU was notified, Meaghan Gray told the Star in November. Hussein, the Toronto police disciplinary hearing officer, said he will rule on Dropuljics penalty at a later date. 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: A judge has handed a now-21-year-old man a nine-year adult sentence for drug dealing and his role as the teen mastermind behind a bizarre kidnapping that began at a party in a downtown Toronto short-term rental unit three years ago. The ruling means the young man who was three weeks shy of his 18th birthday during the April 2016 kidnapping can now be identified as Thai-Shay Gordon. Gordon was grim-faced when Superior Court Justice Anne Molloy said she was agreeing to a request by prosecutor Liz Nadeau to sentence him as an adult. Nadeau argued a youth sentence would not be of sufficient length to hold Gordon accountable for the offences. He was the organizer and primary leader of a serious crime of violence and an instigator of brutality, Molloy wrote in her 23-page judgment released Tuesday. The trouble began at a party at 300 Front St. inside a condo unit Gordon rented under a fake name. He paid cash at a time when he was blowing about $4,000 a month on cars, renting luxury suites and expensive liquor, according to the judges decision. The hallways of the condo building erupted in gunfire when uninvited members of a Queens Drive gang showed up at the party, which was attended by Gordon and his associates from the rival Driftwood and Lawrence Heights neighbourhoods. Gordon blamed two 16-year-old boys for disclosing the partys location to the crashers. He and his associates then held the pair hostage, demanding ransom. The bizarre kidnapping, which unfolded over several days at various locations in High Park and Lawrence Heights, included forced sex acts and a game of Russian roulette. The teen captives were pistol-whipped, burned with hot knives, beaten with a wooden fish carving and tortured. In her sentencing ruling, Molloy summarized Gordons impoverished background from a variety of reports. He was one of five children raised by a single mother and her family in Lawrence Heights after his father was shot and killed when he was 3. After dropping out of high school, Gordon was immersed in the criminal lifestyle, Molloy wrote. His nickname on the street was Pistol, he had multiple cellphones and used false identification to obtain a credit card. Gordons mother denies any knowledge of his involvement in criminal gang activity and maintains that, but for ... (Gordons) kind and loving nature, the other people involved in the kidnapping would have killed the victim, Molloy wrote in her ruling. However, the woman is not a reliable source for anything and will perhaps even lie outright to assist her son, she wrote. The judge added Gordons mother would be a completely ineffectual as a source of influence or supervision if he was released on community supervision, which would have been the case soon if she had sentenced him as a youth. Gordons defence lawyer, Douglas Holt, argued an appropriate sentence would be an additional two years in custody followed by a year of community supervision. Explaining why an adult sentence is required, Molloy noted two accomplices, Rushine Rowe and Lincoln Richards, were both 18 at that time of the kidnapping. They were charged and sentenced as adults. Nevertheless, it was Gordon who was the leader, the organizer, the one who took care of the transport, the one who conducted the negotiations for the ransom, and the one who collected the ransom money. He was the primary person at the heart of the operation. At the time of his arrest, Gordon was found with 9.5 grams of heroin or fentanyl, 7.85 grams of crack cocaine and $1,900 in cash. In his statement to the court at his sentencing hearing in March, Gordon said he promised to continue on a positive path and contribute to society upon my release. He also asked for forgiveness from his victims and families. The judge gave Gordon, who has been in custody for three years, 4.5 years of pretrial credit, leaving him with four-and-a-half years left to serve in federal prison. Toronto is moving forward with plans to implement inclusionary zoning a tool the city is counting on to meet its affordable housing goals despite the upheaval caused by provincial legislation announced earlier this month. The fact is that we cant afford any delays, said Deputy Mayor Ana Bailao, speaking with the Star on Tuesday. If the goal is to get more affordable housing we should just move forward with this one. We should continue this process. Inclusionary zoning is the official term for a math equation that, once the actual numbers are sorted out, will be applied to future development projects and will require builders to agree to a set number of units that people with low and moderate incomes could afford. The previous Liberal government announced the regulations more than two years ago, after years of debate and consultation, and municipalities were told local governments would have a strong hand in crafting local policies. What has thrown everything into flux is Bill 108, sweeping legislation the Progressive Conservative government released on May 2, which proposes changes to the planning act that could result in inclusionary zoning only applying to buildings close to major transit hubs unless special clearance is granted by the province. Bailao said the change could set the zoning process back another two years and comes at a time when no affordable unit can be spared, something she intends to press during a meeting with Ontarios Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark and chief planner Gregg Lintern that the minsters office confirmed will take place early next week. Clarks spokesperson Julie ODriscoll said by email the proposed changes to inclusionary zoning would facilitate the supply of affordable housing in areas that are generally subject to growth pressures, higher housing demand, and in proximity to higher order transit. She said the minister was looking forward to meeting with the city and to find ways we can work together to provide more housing, and more choice at a price people can afford. In the meantime, city staff have just completed a task set by the previous Liberal government to craft a policy framework that factors in both the citys affordable housing needs and those of builders. That report was released on Tuesday and will be debated by the planning and housing committee next week. If the committee signs off the public consultations, which will include open houses, online engagement and consultations with developers, residents and housing advocacy groups, will begin in June. Have your say Included in the citys framework: That inclusionary zoning only apply to buildings with 100 units or more in strong market areas such as the downtown and along much of the Yonge St. corridor where land could be sold at a premium, and at 140 units outside those neighbourhoods. The authors also suggest a 25-year affordability period and that the number of affordable units in purpose-built rentals range from 2.5 to 5 per cent, and from 10 to 20 per cent in condominium projects based on location. We can get more affordable housing through ownership than we can through rental, Bailao said. This is what we are putting on the table. Bailao said while having more units in rental buildings and keeping everything affordable in perpetuity would be ideal, the targets in the report came through rigorous analysis by city staff and represent an economic case that can be defended before the province, which has the final say. Councillor Mike Layton said his first reading of the report raised serious concerns around what is being proposed in terms of the number of units. The city is focusing more on trying to adapt to the uncertain instead of putting forward ambitious policy, said Layton, who laid blame on both the previous Liberal government for creating confusing rules and the Progressive Conservatives for introducing chaos to the process. The city has had its hands tied for a decade during this construction boom and now that we have the power the rules change again, Layton said. In the report city staff noted housing pressures are felt the most by renters who make up 47 per cent of households and of that group, almost one in four puts more than 50 per cent of their income towards rent. Issues of housing affordability have grown exponentially in recent years, impacting not only the citys most vulnerable residents, but increasingly low- and moderate-income households as well, staff wrote. Staff have also asked that the committee instruct them to report back on consultation findings and proposed changes by the end of the year. Last week, city council voted unanimously to ask that the province extend the June 1 deadline for consultations on Bill 108 after the city manager and head of planning produced a report stating there was limited evidence the act as written could live up to the provinces claims. Two women are devastated their fathers are dying from infections related to horrible bedsores acquired in the same hospital. And they say its even more tragic because they feel the bedsores were totally preventable. Linda Mosss 77-year-old father Bob Wilson is transferring at any moment now from a regular hospital bed into palliative care after he acquired a festering deep bedsore wound while at Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. Laura Birketts father, 82, is heading to the Carpenter Hospice in Burlington soon to die after he, too, developed a severe bedsore while at Jo Brant. Moss publicized her fathers plight in the media last week. Birkett filed a complaint with the Burlington hospital this past weekend. Jo Brant CEO Eric Vandewall posted a letter on the hospitals website apologizing for what happened and said the hospital will start reporting its performance on treating bedsores in June to improve awareness and care. Moss said Jo Brant has already acknowledged The wound care specialist or consultant at the hospital recommended a certain treatment and it wasnt used. I dont know why, but it was a cheaper (treatment) that they used. We were told that by the executives at Jo Brant. The hospital said on its website it is reviewing Wilsons care. Jo Brant did not respond to questions but referred the Spectator to a statement and the open letter from Vandewall on its website. The statement said it is taking immediate action to understand and address the matter. It also states wound care is a challenge for hospitals and other care settings, especially for those immobile for extended periods. Moss and her two sisters were often at Wilsons bedside after their father suffered a brain injury from a fall down the stairs at his Burlington home in November. He was at Jo Brant for care while awaiting surgery in Hamilton. And since he was unable to speak, his daughters had no idea Wilson had a huge bedsore. It wasnt until he was transferred to Hamilton General on April 21 for brain surgery that the General, to the utter shock of the daughters, discovered the massive bedsore a large open wound the size of a football. The Generals doctors said they could no longer do the brain surgery because of it. The bedsore was diseased so badly, the infection had burrowed into his bones and had entered his bloodstream, making him septic, says Moss. And no antibiotic could treat the gaping hole in their fathers lower back. When they (Hamilton General staff) showed us a picture, our mouths dropped to the floor, she said. Its too far gone. His whole backside is blown out. Moss says Jo Brant staff had mentioned once that her dad had a small bedsore, and although red and irritated, they were taking care of it and that he was on a special bed for minimizing bed sores and he would be fine. How the wound got from a small bedsore to a gaping black hole the daughters say is killing their father and that they didnt know anything about it is unfathomable, says Moss. How did someone cover that up and not say something to us, or to the doctors, or to Hamilton General, not even in the (hospital) transfer papers? says Moss. How could anyone put a bandage on it and walk away? Moss says the bedsore, which she describes as black, dead, rotted skin wasnt documented in Wilsons Jo Brant hospital record. Even his own doctor didnt know he had a bedsore . . . he wasnt even aware of how bad it was. Moss says the biggest heartbreak of all is that she and her sisters were very involved in her dads care and yet didnt know anything about the bedsore. If it can happen to us, it can happen to anyone, Moss says. My father is failing because of this wound. It went down to the bone and is basically taking his life. How that happened, I dont know. His whole backside was black. Six months ago, he was dancing at a birthday party. He was active. Now, Moss and her sisters want the public to know bedsores can kill, and to be vigilant about them when advocating for loved ones. It calms us a bit, knowing that were making a difference, says Moss, adding I dont want this to happen to someone else. And she wants people to see a picture of it to realize how horrible it is. Sometimes, a picture like that really brings the devastation home, Moss says. Its reality, and when people see something that bad, theyll do something about it. Laura Birkett says her father had been undergoing bone cancer treatments and had a good year left to live before the bedsore happened. She does not want his name used. My dad is dying of a bedsore even though he was going through cancer treatments for a year-and-a-half, Birkett says. When in Jo Brants rehab unit as part of his cancer treatment, Birkett says she was told her father had a bedsore. She kept asking about it but nobody could describe it or tell me about it, she says. When she insisted she needed to know about it before taking him home, staff told her it was the size of a toonie and was nothing to worry about. But at home after her father was discharged, the wound nurse who came to treat it was shocked at the massive open wound and said she couldnt deal with it, Birkett says. So Birketts dad ended up at the ER, just four days after having been discharged. When I brought him back to the hospital, they accused us (of not taking care of him). They said he left with a small wound. It had to have been to the bone when he left hospital . . . but they were in such a hurry to get him out of rehab, they said he had a superficial bedsore. Back in hospital with the bedsore, Birketts father had two blood transfusions to deal with the bedsore infection, but they didnt work. So his oncologist stopped all treatments that were supposed to give him another year. Police have made an arrest after a man was found dead at a home near Shanly St. and Westmoreland Ave. Tuesday evening. It is the citys 25th homicide. Police said they received a call at 7:37 p.m. for unknown trouble in the Dovercourt Park neighbourhood. A man was found with obvious signs of trauma and died at the scene, police said. Police identified the victim as Valland Spolarich, 43, of Toronto. An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday. Herculano Pimentel, 50, of Toronto has been arrested and faces a charge of second-degree murder. He will appear in court at Old City Hall on Wednesday at 2 p.m. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police at 416-808-1400 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477. Raneem Alozzi is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @r_alozzi Rhianna Jackson-Kelso is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @RhiannaJK Read more about: Police are seeking the publics help in their investigation of a two-car collision in Scarborough that left a 7-year-old boy with life-threatening injuries Monday, and are appealing for any security or dash camera footage of the area at the time. Toronto police said they got a report of a collision at about 5:47 p.m Monday at Pharmacy Ave. and Huntingwood Dr. A silver Nissan driven by a 34-year-old man, was travelling north on Pharmacy, while a blue Honda driven by a 37-year-old woman, was travelling west on Huntingwood. The vehicles collided in the intersection, injuring the 7-year-old boy and an 8-year-old girl who were passengers in the Honda. The boys injuries were life-threatening, while the girls were minor, police said in a news release Wednesday. Police are working to determine how and why the collision happened. Investigators are asking local residents, businesses and drivers who may have security or dash camera footage of the area or incident to contact police at 416-808-1900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477. Police are asking the public for help after three attempted robberies near Lawrence Park Tuesday evening. In a Wednesday news release, police said the attempts happened between 5:30 and 7 p.m. around the intersection of Mount Pleasant Rd. and Lawrence Ave. E. when a man approached several people and attempted to rob them Police said he mentioned a gun at the time of one attempt, but no gun was seen. Police described the suspect as Black, between 25 and 40, five-foot-ten to six-foot-two, wearing a black baseball hat and dark clothing. He was driving a stolen black Mercedes-Benz, police said. Police have recovered the vehicle, but are still looking for the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 416-808-5300, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-8477. Toronto police are investigating after two suspicious packages were found at Bennington Heights Elementary School Wednesday morning, accompanied by a note claiming there were bombs inside. Police were called to the school, located on Bennington Dr. near the intersection of Bayview and Moore Aves., shortly before 10 a.m. Toronto police Const. David Hopkinson said staff found a black suitcase near the rear of the school. The school was evacuated while the explosives team investigated the suitcase, Hopkinson said. During a sweep of the area, the team discovered a second package a box labelled fireworks Det. Sgt. Jim Gotell said at the scene. He said they also found a note alongside the suitcase that said there was a bomb inside and more bombs elsewhere in the school. As a safety measure, the team used controlled explosions to open both packages, Gotell said. The suitcase contained a rock, while the box was empty, he said. Forensic identification officers have been called in to help find out who might have placed the suitcase at the school, and to determine whether the wooden box was placed there by the same person, Gotell said. He said a neighbour provided video showing a person with a suitcase. Whoever did this meant it as a joke, said Gotell, adding that they could still face mischief and threatening charges. We have 20 or 25 officers stuck doing this for three or four hours, thats people (elsewhere) that are not being served by the Toronto police. TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird said around 200 students and staff from the school were relocated to the gym at the nearby Rolph Road Public School while the investigation took place. The Bennington Heights Daycare was also evacuated, with children there moved to a Loblaws store at 301 Moore Ave. Gotell said police are conducting a final interior search of the school with the canine unit, after which students will be allowed to return if they have not been picked up by parents. A WestJet pilot flying from Newfoundland to Orlando International Airport had his eyes burned by a green laser light, U.S. Federal Aviation Administration officials said Wednesday. Spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said in an email that the WestJet Airlines aircraft was about 40 kilometres from the airport when the laser light hit the pilot. The flight landed safely a short time later, and the pilot was placed on medical leave, which is routine in such cases. The airline said in a statement that the incident took place Saturday but gave few details, citing privacy concerns. "Any pilot who reports being struck by a laser is required for safety and health reasons to have an ophthalmology evaluation," spokeswoman Morgan Bell said in an email. Bell said laser incidents pose a "serious concern" for crew and aircraft safety and are immediately reported to local authorities for investigation. "Pilots are extremely focused during all phases of flight, but especially during take-off and landing, when most laser incidents occur," she said. Read more: Canadian military flight aborted in Nova Scotia after laser flashed into planes cockpit Theres going to be a major accident: P.E.I. police probe second report of aircraft being hit by green laser Laser attacks on Toronto-bound flights at record high "When any sort of light enters the flight deck, pilots are trained to look away and maintain focus but they must also remain vigilant with respect to their surroundings and monitor the apron prior to landing." The FAA is investigating the incident. The agency said it had notified the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, which sent a deputy to a central Florida address pinpointed as a possible source of the light. The sheriff's office said no one at the location had any knowledge of the incident and said they don't have a laser pointer. Last year, the Canadian government announced strict new measures to ban most high-powered lasers around airports and in the country's three largest cities due to the dangers they pose when aimed at aircraft. The interim measures bar anyone from possessing a battery-operated hand-held laser over one milliwatts outside a private residence without a legitimate purpose, such as for work or education. The rules apply to municipalities in the greater Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver areas, as well as within 10 kilometres of any Canadian airport or heliport. Penalties for those convicted of deliberately targeting aircraft include fines of up to $100,000, five years in prison, or both, though the government has acknowledged that prosecutions are rare given the difficulty of catching people in the act. However, the new rules also allow investigators to hand out fines of up to $5,000 for anyone caught with a hand-held laser in a prohibited zone without a reason. Corporations can face up to $25,000. Transport Canada reported 379 incidents of lasers pointed at planes in 2017, most of which occurred in Ontario and Quebec. Read more about: BEIJINGPresident Xi Jinping of China called for the Chinese people to start again and begin a modern long march, invoking a turning point in Communist Party history as the country braces for a protracted trade war with the United States. Now there is a new long march, and we should make a new start, Xi told a cheering crowd Monday in Jiangxi province as he started a domestic tour that is seen as an attempt to rally the nation as trade tensions with the United States escalate. Xi was accompanied by his top trade negotiator, Liu He, as he made the remarks at the historic site of the start of Mao Zedongs Long March of 1934. The Long March was a 6,400-kilometre journey that took more than a year and would ultimately lead to the ousting 15 years later of the Nationalists by Mao and the communists. While Xi did not mention the trade war in his comments, they are the strongest signal yet that Beijing has abandoned hopes of a deal with the United States on the issue in the near term. Prospects of a deal faded this month when talks broke down between negotiators for the two sides and President Donald Trump accused China of breaking terms that had already been settled. The Chinese state media has ratcheted up nationalistic rhetoric in the last few days, comparing the trade war to the Korean War, during which Chinese troops were in direct combat with U.S. forces. Over the weekend Chinas national movie channel, CCTV-6, ran back-to-back films about the Korean War, saying that the footage was echoing present times. The takeaway from these films for many Chinese is that theres no equal negotiation without fighting, Hu Xijin, the editor of Global Times, a newspaper owned by the Communist Party, wrote on Twitter. For months before the trade talks broke down, the Chinese state media had been more subdued, at times even delaying news of the worsening tensions. When Trump first indicated that he would increase tariffs to 25 per cent from 10 per cent on $200 billion in Chinese goods and the stock markets swooned in response there was hardly any mention of the threat in China, where the internet and other media are censored. But after talks broke down between both sides, Chinese state media outlets changed their tone, saying that while China was prepared to resolve differences through negotiations, if the United States chose to fight, we will fight to the end. One of Xis first visits on his tour was to a rare earths mine in Ganzhou, which some observers saw as an attempt to remind Trump of the leverage that China has when it comes to certain resources that the United States, and the rest of the world, depend on. Rare earths are found in most of the electronics that the world uses every day, and China is the largest source of the minerals. China has used its control of rare earths to exert pressure before, most notably in 2010 when it halted all exports to Japan for two months over a territorial dispute. Read more about: NAIROBI, Kenya - Islamic extremists exploded a suicide car bomb near the presidential palace in Somalias capital Wednesday, killing at least nine people, including former Foreign Minister Hussein Elabe Fahiye, who was an adviser to the current president. Capt. Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press that an additional 13 people were wounded and most of the casualties were soldiers. The Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the blast in Mogadishu, saying it targeted vehicles carrying government officials. The car bomb exploded at a security checkpoint near the presidential palace as soldiers were conducting security checks on vehicles on the main road. A white column of smoke rose over the seaside city as gunfire rang out and people scattered. The al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab frequently carries out such blasts in the capital near the presidential compound and at hotels frequented by government officials and foreigners. In the past I was wounded in this area, and again today my daughter has been killed in this attack which also destroyed my home. This is terrible, witness Madey Ahmed told the AP. Amid the crumpled vehicles and tangled metal roofing, a small corps of yellow-vested workers carried bodies and began sweeping the dusty street. At U.N. headquarters in New York, Somali Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman paid tribute to Fahiye, saying: We are more determined to fight the menace of faceless, borderless international terrorism. He told a U.N. Security Council meeting on Somalia that al-Shabab continues to be a threat undermining our efforts to deliver security. We have made significant gains against al-Shabab in the past eight weeks, retaking two strategic towns in Lower Shabelle, Osman said. But he said the extremist group enjoys a comparative advantage because the government is still under a U.N. arms embargo. ___ Associated Press video journalist Mohamed Sheikh Nor and AP writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa TUNIS, Tunisia - A United Nations expert monitoring sanctions against Libya has left neighbouring Tunisia after being jailed for nearly two months on suspicion of espionage. The U.N. office in Tunis said Moncef Kartas was released Tuesday on a provisional basis pending further investigation and is doing relatively well. He is a Tunisian-German citizen and both the U.N. and Germany had expressed concern about his arrest. Both welcomed his release. Germanys U.N. Ambassador Christoph Heusgen told reporters at U.N. headquarters on Wednesday that Kartas has left Tunisia. He would not say where Kartas went. Tunisian anti-terrorism officials have questioned Kartas use of a special phone to track air traffic, and said the case concerns his personal activities and not his work for the U.N. The officials said he entered Tunisia on his Tunisian passport, not his U.N. passport, and so is not entitled to diplomatic immunity. He was jailed upon his arrival March 24. Tunis-based U.N. co-ordinator Diego Zorrilla told The Associated Press that Kartas activities were connected to his U.N. mandate. He said Kartas should be protected by diplomatic immunity even though he has Tunisian citizenship, and that the U.N. wants his seized computer and telephone returned. Kartas lawyers say theres no proof of wrongdoing. ___ Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed. MEXICO CITY - Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador hasnt just moved out of the luxurious presidents residence, hes using it to auction off seized luxury goods to raise money for poor communities. After he took office Dec. 1, Lopez Obrador stayed in his middle-class condominium and turned the Los Pinos residence into a museum and cultural venue. But on Sunday, the sprawling compound will host the first of several auctions of seized luxury goods, including a 2007 Lamborghini Murcielago, with an estimated worth about $73,000. If thats too expensive, there is a 2014 Mercedes Benz ML63 at about $20,000. There are also, interestingly, lots of bullet-proof cars up for bid. Proceeds will go to two of Mexicos poorest townships, Santo Reyes Yucuna and Santa Maria Sanir in Oaxaca state. Lopez Obradors new Institute to Return Stolen Goods to the People will continue with auctions of real estate and jewelry, most confiscated from criminals or in tax cases. Some of the seized properties have been loaned out for use by non-governmental groups but will eventually be sold in other auctions to raise money. RIO DE JANEIRO - A man was disoriented and speaking incoherent phrases when he shot three people to death at a Baptist church before being seriously wounded by Brazilian military police, authorities said Wednesday. He allegedly arrived at the church after having killing his ex-girlfriend with a knife. Rudson Aragao Guimaraes, 39, was in stable condition but had not regained consciousness following Tuesdays attack at the Shalom church in Paracatu, said Flavio Santiago, a spokesman for military police in Minas Gerais state. Police reported that survivors quoted Guimaraes as saying hed come back from Hell to complete a mission before he opened fire with a pistol. Military police commander Luiz Magalhaes told The Associated Press that Guimaraes was disoriented and speaking incoherent phrases. The shooters apparent original target, the churchs pastor, managed to escape out the back of the church. Authorities said Guimaraes first fatally shot a man and a woman, and when military police arrived he grabbed another woman and killed her with a gunshot to her head. Police then shot Guimaraes in the chest. Before going to the church, the suspect stabbed to death his former girlfriend, Heloisa Vieira Andrade, 59, on the outskirts of Paracatu, a city of 80,000 people. Officials said a closed meeting of about 20 churchgoers was being held at the time of the shooting. Authorities did not provide a motive for the attack, but said the wounded man had been expelled by the church for behaviour problems. We do not know if the attacker had a license to carry guns. It will be investigated, Santiago said. RIO DE JANEIRO - The Brazilian cosmetics maker Natura announced Wednesday that it is buying Avon Products in an all-stock deal that it valued at $3.7 billion, in move that would create the worlds fourth-largest group of beauty products. Shareholders of both companies would have to approve the deal. Natura said a holding company would be created, with 76% of the shares going to current Natura stockholders and 24% to Avons. Natura expects to conclude the deal in the beginning of 2020. Founded in 1969 in the small city of Cajamar, outside Sao Paulo, Natura said the purchase of the American rival fits in its objective of building a brand with global reach. The Brazilian company started with a door-to-door model similar to Avons, but recently bought retail stores like The Body Shop. Natura said the combination of the two companies would have gross revenue above $10 billion a year and employ more than 40,000 people in 100 countries. The deal could cut between $150 million and $250 million in costs, the Brazilian company said. Natura is taking a decisive step to build a global group, multibrand and multichannel, said Roberto Marques, CEO of the Brazilian company. Together we will improve our growing digital capacity, our social network of representatives. Avon CEO Jan Zijderveld said in the same statement that the deal marks a new and exciting chapter in the companys 130-year history. We will have broader access to innovation and to a portfolio of products, a stronger digital platform and electronic trade, Zijderveld said. Naturas stock jumped almost 10% to 61.50 Brazilian reals ($15.22) a share on the Sao Paulo stock exchange because of rumours around the deal. Avon Products stock rose 9% to close at $3.49 on the New York Stock Exchange. ___ Associated Press writer Anna Jean Kaiser reported this story in Rio de Janeiro and AP writer Mauricio Savarese reported from Madrid. BEIJING - China is cutting taxes on its fledgling software and integrated circuit industries as U.S. export controls threaten to handicap Chinese tech companies. The Finance Ministrys announcement Wednesday comes amid a spiraling tariff war with Washington over Chinese technology ambitions. Most smartphones, tablet computers and other electronics are assembled in China. But its manufacturers usually use U.S., Japanese or Taiwanese microchips and other components. Beijing is developing its own suppliers to capture more of the industrys profits and reduce what the ruling Communist Party sees as a security risk in relying on foreign vendors. Integrated circuits, or microchips, are among technologies China has targeted for state-led development in official plans that helped to ignite Beijings tariff battle with President Donald Trump. The United States, Europe, Japan and other trading partners say those plans violate Chinas market-opening obligations. Chinese officials have offered to alter details but are unlikely to abandon a strategy they consider a path to prosperity and global influence. Under the new measure, software and integrated circuit companies founded by the end of 2018 will owe no income tax for two years and the rate will be cut by half for three years after that, the Finance Ministry said. Its two-sentence statement gave no details. But the top economic official, Premier Li Keqiang, said May 8 policies to promote the industry would apply equally to foreign-financed and Chinese companies. Beijing has spent billions of dollars over the past two decades on research subsidies and importing technology, sometimes using tactics that have angered Washington and other governments. Trump vetoed the 2017 acquisition of an Oregon tech company, Lattice Semiconductor, after it became clear the buyer was financed by the Chinese government. Political analysts say the sense of urgency over reducing reliance on foreign technology increased after another telecom equipment maker, ZTE Corp., was nearly forced into bankruptcy last year by U.S. export controls. Washington imposed a seven-year ban on technology sales to ZTE over its exports to Iran and North Korea. Trump agreed to restore access after ZTE agreed to pay a $1 billion fine and replace its executive team. Also last year, the Trump administration imposed restrictions on technology exports to a state-supported Chinese semiconductor maker, Fujian Jinhua Integrated Circuit Co. The Commerce Department said Jinhua was developing the ability, possibly with U.S. technology, that threatens the viability of American vendors needed for military systems. One measure of how far China needs to go to supply its own technology needs is industry analysts warnings about how many U.S. suppliers may be battered by the loss of Huawei Technologies Ltd. as a customer. They include industry leaders Micron Technologies, Qualcomm, Qorvo, Skyworks Solutions, Xilinx, Broadcom and Texas Instruments. The Trump administrations order last week will reduce or eliminate Huaweis access to American chips and Google, which provides the Android operating system and services for its smartphones. Vendors are required to obtain government permission for technology sales to Huawei. The Commerce Department said it granted a 90-day exemption for some technology to minimize the impact on rural phone carriers that use Huawei equipment. Huawei, Chinas first global tech competitor, has developed its own chips for smartphones, servers and artificial intelligence. But it needs American components for its top-line phones, network gear and other products. Huawei founder Ren Zhengfei said Tuesday the company has supply backups if it loses access to American components. He said Huawei was talking to Google about possible emergency relief measures for its smartphones but gave no details. JAKARTA, Indonesia - The Latest on post-election protests in Indonesia (all times local): 5 p.m. Indonesias President Joko Widodo says authorities have the volatile situation in the capital Jakarta under control following riots by supporters of his rival in last months presidential election. Police say six people have died and dozens were injured in rioting that began late Tuesday evening following the release of official election results showing Widodo had won a second term. Flanked by the military chief and other top leaders, Widodo said, I will work together with anyone to advance this country, but I will not tolerate anyone who disrupts the security, democratic processes and unity of our beloved nation. Supporters of former special forces general Prabowo Subianto burned vehicles and threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Police have said the rioting was planned rather than spontaneous. Subianto has refused to concede defeat to Widodo in the April 17 election. He instead declared himself the winner and plans a court challenge. ___ 2 p.m. Indonesian police say based on reports from hospitals six people have died in rioting in Jakarta a day after the presidential election results were announced. Police chief Tito Karnavian told a news conference authorities are still investigating the causes of death and are not ruling out the involvement of third parties acting as provocateurs. He said the information police obtained showed victims were hit by gunshots or blunt devices. Karnavian said, This is what we have to make clear, where and why. Supporters of former special forces general Prabowo Subianto clashed with security forces in Jakarta on Wednesday, burning vehicles and throwing rocks at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Police have said the rioting was planned rather than spontaneous. Subianto has refused to concede defeat to President Joko Widodo in the April 17 election. He instead declared himself the winner and plans a court challenge. ___ 1:30 p.m. Indonesias top security minister says authorities will block access to social media in certain areas amid violent protests in the capital Jakarta by supporters of the losing presidential candidate. Wiranto, who uses a single name, didnt specify which areas would be subject to the restrictions in the televised news conference. Supporters of Prabowo Subianto, who was defeated by President Joko Widodo in the April 17 election, clashed with security forces in Jakarta on Wednesday, burning vehicles and throwing rocks at police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Police have said the rioting was planned rather than a spontaneous outburst. The official election results were announced on Tuesday and Subianto, a former general, has refused to concede defeat, instead declaring himself the winner and planning a court challenge. ___ 7 a.m. Supporters of an unsuccessful presidential candidate clashed with security forces and set fire to a police dormitory in the Indonesian capital after the release of official election results. National Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said protests turned violent late Tuesday and continued during the night. He said Wednesday that dozens of people were detained. KompasTV showed protesters throwing rocks, a paramilitary police dormitory on fire, and hundreds of riot police in a central neighbourhood of the city. Indonesias Election Commission on Tuesday said President Joko Widodo had won a second term with 55.5% of the vote in the April 17 election. His opponent, former general Prabowo Subianto, has refused to accept the results and declared himself the winner. LONDON - British Steel Ltd has been ordered into liquidation as it struggles with industry-wide troubles and Brexit, threatening 5,000 workers and another 20,000 jobs in the supply chain. The company had asked for a package of support to tackle issues related to Britains pending departure from the European Union. Talks with the government failed to secure a bailout, and the Insolvency Service announced the liquidation on Wednesday. The immediate priority following my appointment as liquidator of British Steel is to continue safe operation of the site, said David Chapman, the official receiver, referring to the Scunthorpe plant in northeast England. The company will continue to trade and supply its customers while Chapman considers options for the business. A team from financial firm EY will work with the receiver and all parties to secure a solution. To this end they have commenced a sale process to identify a purchaser for the businesses, EY said in a statement. The government said it had done all it could for the company, including providing a 120 million pound ($152 million) bridging facility to help meet emission trading compliance costs. Going further would not be lawful as it could be considered illegal state aid, Business Secretary Greg Clark said. I have been advised that it would be unlawful to provide a guarantee or loan on the terms of any proposals that the company or any other party has made, he said. Unions had called for the government to nationalize the business, but the government demurred. The opposition Labour Partys deputy leader, Tom Watson described the news as devastating. It is testament to the governments industrial policy vacuum, and the farce of its failed Brexit, he said in a tweet. The crisis underscores the anxieties of British manufacturers, who have been demanding clarity around plans for Britains departure from the EU. Longstanding issues such as uncompetitive electricity prices also continue to deter investment in U.K. manufacturing, said Gareth Stace, the director-general of U.K. Steel, the trade association of the industry. Many of our challenges are far from unique to steel - the whole manufacturing sector is crying out for certainty over Brexit, Stace said. Unable to decipher the trading relationship the U.K. will have with its biggest market in just five months time, planning and decision making has become nightmarish in its complexity. Greybull Capital, which bought British Steel in 2016 for a nominal sum, said turning around the company was always going to be a challenge. It praised the trade union and management team, but said Brexit-related issues proved to be insurmountable. We are grateful to all those who supported British Steel on the attempted journey to resurrect this vital part of British industry, it said in a statement. BANGUI, Central African Republic - A 77-year-old French-Spanish nun who taught impoverished women and girls in volatile Central African Republic has been decapitated, local authorities said Wednesday. Sister Ines Nieves Sanchos body was found early Monday in the village of Nola, located in the remote southwest near the borders with Cameroon and the Republic of Congo. Local authorities condemned the killing but suggested it may not be linked to the ongoing sectarian bloodshed between militia groups that first engulfed the country in 2013. Elsewhere its the rebels who kill, but in Nola people kill to get rich, said Jean Marc Ndoukou, an official in the village located about 135 kilometres (83 miles) from Berberati, the countrys third largest city and traditionally a centre of diamond production. Authorities also said ritual crimes are not uncommon in and around Nola and perpetrators are rarely punished. Ndoukou vowed that the unknown attackers would be punished, and the countrys parliament called for an investigation. On Wednesday, Pope Francis led thousands of people in prayer for Nieves Sancho, saying she was barbarously killed in the place where she taught. The Vatican said she had worked with the poor for decades. Sectarian violence exploded in Central African Republic in late 2013 after mostly Christian and animist militia fighters retaliated against Muslim civilians following a brutal rule by a mostly Muslim rebel government. Violence engulfed the capital and the southwest where an untold number of Muslims were slaughtered as they attempted to flee to Cameroon. A presidential election was held during a period of relative peace in 2016 though instability later returned to many parts of the country. Despite several peace agreements, including one earlier this year, the country remains plagued by conflict. ___ Associated Press writers Angela Charlton in Paris, Nicole Winfield in Rome and Krista Larson in Dakar, Senegal contributed. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa BERLIN - Prosecutors say they have filed charges against a German woman accused of belonging to the Islamic State group and attempting to sell a suicide belt online. Federal prosecutors said Wednesday that 26-year-old Derya O., whose last name was not given for privacy reasons, left Germany in February 2014 for Syria, where she married an Islamic State fighter. They said in a statement that she lived in IS-held territory, living free of charge in buildings where residents had fled. She is accused of receiving training on using automatic weapons and owning a suicide belt, which she tried to sell via an online messenger service. Prosecutors said the woman was arrested in November 2018. She is charged with membership in a foreign terrorist organization and violating arms control laws. CAIRO - An Egyptian court has referred the case of six alleged Muslim Brotherhood members convicted of terrorism to the Grand Mufti, Egypts top religious authority, for a non-binding opinion on their execution. The Cairo Criminal Court said Wednesday the six were found guilty of killing three people, including a policeman, among other charges. The case includes a total of 70 defendants. The verdict can be appealed, and the judge can rule independently of the Grand Mufti. The Brotherhood won a series of free elections after Egypts 2011 uprising. A Brotherhood figure, Mohammed Morsi, was elected president in 2012, but was overthrown by the military a year later amid mass protests against his divisive rule. The group is now branded a terrorist organization. TEHRAN, Iran - Irans supreme leader publicly chastised the countrys moderate president and foreign minister Wednesday, saying he disagreed with the implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal they had negotiated with world powers. The extraordinary comments by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the first time hes criticized both politicians by name, came amid tensions with the United States a year after Washingtons withdrawal from the accord. Khamenei has final say on all matters of state, and his blaming the deals unraveling limits the influence of President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif relative moderates within Irans Shiite theocracy who had struck the deal. It also shows the growing power of hard-liners. The White House earlier this month sent an aircraft carrier and B-52 bombers to the region over a still-unexplained threat it perceived from Iran. Since that development, Iran has announced it will back away from the atomic accord. The United Arab Emirates, meanwhile, alleged that four oil tankers were sabotaged off its coast, and Iranian-allied rebels in Yemen have launched drone attacks into Saudi Arabia. Both Washington and Tehran have said they want to ease heightened tensions in the region in recent days. But many fear a miscalculation between the two countries, who have a 40-year history of mistrust, could escalate the situation. On Thursday, U.S. officials say the Pentagon will brief the White House on plans to send up to 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as the plans had yet to be formally announced. Khamenei made the comments before hard-line students gathered for a Ramadan lecture. For years, hard-liners have criticized the accord for giving too much away to the West. Khamenei had given his implicit stamp of approval on the deal, which when signed sparked spontaneous celebrations across Iran. The accord saw Iran limit its enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. But the deal has unraveled after Trumps withdrawal, with the U.S. re-imposing old sanctions and coming up with even stricter new ones. To some extent, I did not believe in the way that the nuclear deal was implemented, Khamenei said, according to his official website. Many times I reminded both the president and the foreign minister. Khamenei has previously warned the West, especially the U.S., wasnt trustworthy. But he hasnt named the countrys top elected politician and his top diplomat before Wednesday night. Hes previously said the two had done the best they could. Even before Trump became president and later withdrew from the deal, there were concerns in Washington that the supreme leader might turn on the agreement if the envisioned sanctions relief fell short of what Tehran expected. For that reason, the Obama administration dispatched senior officials to Europe, Asia and elsewhere to explain to foreign governments and countries what was permitted. Former Secretary of State John Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew each encouraged foreign investors to do business with Iran so that the benefits of the deal would be apparent to the Iranian people. Since Trumps pullout last year and the re-imposition of U.S. sanctions in November, remaining parties to the deal have been unable to keep up the pace of relief and Irans economy has been significantly harmed, notably because of the loss of revenue from oil exports and the risk of incurring U.S. penalties that has dissuaded international companies from opening shop in Iran. The role of the supreme leader within Iranian society, while overseeing its elected representatives, is spiritual rather than political. Khamenei acknowledged that in his speech Wednesday night, saying the gravity of the situation called on him to speak. Our belief is that the leadership should not enter into the executive issues, unless if it affects the entire revolution, Khamenei said. There was no immediate comment from either Rouhani, who is serving his second four-year term as president, or Zarif. Khamenei did not directly address the ongoing tensions, which include a heightened U.S. naval presence in the region. However, during his appearance with the students, one came up to Khamenei with a painting of Revolutionary Guard soldier credited with laying mines targeting U.S.-escorted oil tankers in the Persian Gulf during Irans 1980s war with Iraq. The Guard says he was killed in a confrontation with the U.S. Navy. On Monday, Iran announced it had quadrupled its production capacity of low-enriched uranium. Iranian officials made a point to stress that the uranium would be enriched only to the 3.67% limit set under the nuclear deal, making it usable for a power plant but far below whats needed for an atomic weapon. But by increasing production, Iran soon will exceed the stockpile limitations set by the nuclear accord. Tehran has set a July 7 deadline for Europe to set new terms for the deal, or it will enrich closer to weapons-grade levels in a Mideast already on edge. Earlier Wednesday, a prominent reformist lawmaker who chairs parliaments national security and foreign policy commission stressed that neither Iran nor its proxy allies are seeking armed conflict with the U.S. Under no circumstance will we enter a war, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said, according to the semi-official ILNA news agency. No group can announce that it has entered a proxy war from Irans side. Meanwhile, Irans army chief Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi alleged without providing evidence that Saudi Arabia and the U.S. were behind the sabotage of the oil tankers off the UAE, as well as a rocket that landed near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. The U.S. has blamed Iran for both incidents without publicly offering evidence. America also has evacuated nonessential diplomatic staff from Iraq amid the tensions. The U.S. Air Force also announced Wednesday that a B-52 bomber deployed to Americas vast Al-Udeid Air Base over the tensions took part in a formation flight with Qatari fighter jets. That comes as Qatar has grown closer to Iran after facing a nearly two-year boycott by four Arab nations also allied with the U.S. This flight was conducted to continue building military-to-military relationships with Qatar, the Air Force said. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Matthew Lee, Robert Burns and Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. JERUSALEM - A Palestinian businessman who flouts political taboos by working with Israeli settlers in the West Bank could soon have a role in President Donald Trumps peace plan. While Palestinian officials have rejected next months planned Mideast conference in Bahrain, Ashraf Jabari says he will be thrilled to attend. Jabari has forged close ties with U.S. diplomats but is viewed with deep suspicion by fellow Palestinians. That has raised questions about U.S. attempts to cultivate him and other businessmen as alternatives to the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. The U.S. hasnt yet released a list of attendees at the June 25-26 conference, which seeks to use economic development to lure the Palestinians to the negotiating table. U.S. officials have said it would convene individual business leaders, including some outside the Palestinian territories. AMARILLO, Texas - Firefighters had to rescue a dozen schoolchildren after their train of roller coaster cars stalled at a Texas Panhandle amusement park. An Amarillo Fire Department statement says the train of cars became stuck at the top of the Mouse Trap roller coaster at Wonderland Park in Amarillo about 11 a.m. Tuesday. Rescue crews used a cherry picker to lower the children to safety. No injuries were reported. ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Coast Guard says a plane has crashed in Alaskas Prince William Sound. Officials say all three people on board the Cessna A185F Skywagon were picked up Tuesday by good Samaritans following the crash. Two of the people were being flown by helicopter to an Anchorage hospital. The other person was being transported by boat for treatment in the community of Whittier. Officials say the extent of injuries was not immediately known. The Coast Guard says Cordova police reported at 2 p.m. that the Cessna crashed into Cascade Bay. The incident comes one day after a passenger and the pilot of a Beaver floatplane were killed when the aircraft crashed in Metlakatla Harbor on Monday afternoon. LYNWOOD, Calif. - The Latest on a shooting by Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies (all times local): 9:45 p.m. A man shot by Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies after he reportedly threatened his family with a hammer has died. The 44-year-old man was pronounced dead at a hospital after Tuesday afternoons confrontation in Lynwood, south of downtown Los Angeles. His name wasnt immediately released. Authorities say a report that the man was threatening family members sent deputies to a home on Bullis Road at around 12:30 p.m. Deputies say the man appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Details of the confrontation that led to the shooting werent immediately released but the Sheriffs Department says he was shot at least once in the chest. ___ 6:30 p.m. Los Angeles County sheriffs officials say a man shot and wounded by deputies had threatened his family with a hammer and may have been intoxicated. Authorities say the shooting happened Tuesday as deputies responded to a disturbance call in Lynwood, just south of downtown Los Angeles. Officials didnt say what prompted deputies to open fire. A sheriffs department statement says the 44-year-old man was struck at least once and is hospitalized in unknown condition. A hammer was recovered. No deputies were injured. ___ 4:10 p.m. Los Angeles County sheriffs officials say deputies shot and wounded a man during an encounter in Lynwood. Authorities have released few details of the shooting Tuesday afternoon in the city just south of downtown Los Angeles. Officials say the wounded man was hospitalized in unknown condition. No deputies were injured. JACKSON, Miss. - A north Mississippi police officer is charged with murder in the death of a woman that he was romantically involved with. Oxford Police Officer Matthew Kinne has been charged with murder by the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, according to a court order signed Tuesday by Lafayette County Circuit Judge Andrew Howorth. Kinne was arrested Monday night after 32-year-old Dominque Clayton was found dead on Sunday. The victims sister, Shyjuan Clayton, tells WHBQ-TV that Clayton and Kinne were in a relationship. Interim Oxford Police Chief Matt McCutcheon didnt go that far, saying the two were possibly involved. Oxford police called in the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation to lead the inquiry, a common step in shootings involving officers in Mississippi. WHBQ-TV reported Clayton was found shot in the back of her head by her 8-year-old son after he was dropped at home Sunday by a family member. McCutcheon declined to elaborate on the manner of death or other details, saying he would answer questions at a future time. Neither he nor Mississippi Bureau of Investigation spokesman Capt. Johnny Poulos responded to messages and phone calls seeking comment. In Mississippi, before police officers, teachers and certain other people can be arrested for crimes committed while they are on duty, a prosecutor is supposed to present evidence of probable cause to a judge. Howorth set a Wednesday hearing to consider whether that law applies, writing that state officials say Kinne was not in performance of official duties as a law enforcement officer at the time of the alleged murder. Kinne is jailed in neighbouring Panola County. Howorth said he would consider whether to set bail on Wednesday and ordered that a lawyer be appointed for Kinne. Shyjuan Clayton told reporters Tuesday that she wanted answers following Kinnes arrest. We dont want anybody to cover it up. We want the truth out. We want justice for my sister, she said. Kinne has been an Oxford officer for four years. WREG-TV reported that no one answered the door at his home on the outskirts of Oxford. The department named Kinne its mounted patrol officer of the year in January, The Oxford Eagle reported. ___ Follow Jeff Amy at http://twitter.com/jeffamy . SAN DIEGO - A judge delayed the murder case Wednesday of a decorated Navy SEAL to first make sure the governments monitoring of defence team emails did not compromise his right to a fair trial. Lawyers defending Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher want the judge in the case removed because he was aware prosecutors planted tracking software in emails sent to the defence team and a journalist in an effort to find the source of news leaks. Defence attorney Tim Parlatore said prosecutors may have misled the judge about the unusual tactic and he plans to ask that they be disqualified from the high-profile case. What we believed is that the judge authorized prosecutors to spy on the defence team, Parlatore said after the hearing. Now looking at things it appears that prosecutors may have lied to the judge and that he didnt authorize it and he didnt know what they were really doing. Gallagher, who was dressed in Navy whites at the hearing, was scheduled to face trial May 28 on charges he killed a wounded Islamic State prisoner under his care in 2017. He is also charged with shooting two civilians in Iraq and opening fire on crowds. Now that trial date is in doubt as the defence tries to learn more about the email tracking and whether it violated attorney-client privilege and protections against illegal searches. Dozens of Republican congressmen have championed Gallaghers cause, claiming hes an innocent war hero being unfairly prosecuted. President Donald Trump got him moved from the brig to better confinement in a military hospital with access to his lawyers and family. Parlatore, who said his team includes Marc Mukasey, one of Trumps attorneys, did not reach out to the president but acknowledged he could pardon Gallagher or dismiss the case. The New York Times, citing two U.S. officials, reported that the White House has requested expedited documentation needed to pardon several troops, including Gallagher, around Memorial Day. Ultimately my goal, my primary duty, is to get my client home to his family and to have him, you know, not be facing jail time, Parlatore said outside court. So if offered a pardon, would he accept? I bet he would. The hearing at Naval Base San Diego began with a tense exchange between Parlatore and the judge, Capt. Aaron Rugh. Rugh admonished Parlatore to show respect and answer his questions. Parlatore said Rugh could be a material witness to the case and the judge said he was open to recusing himself but didnt know if that would be necessary. Parlatore said the prosecution had downplayed what the software captured. He asked to let a defence expert examine the extent of the intrusion and determine if metadata extracted could be linked to identify specific people. Parlatore said a search warrant would have been necessary to get that information legally and that investigation documents he was provided show the effort was done without proper authorization. Parlatore asked who else knew about the email tracking and Rugh told the prosecution to provide a list of anybody that put their hands on this. Prosecutors were relatively quiet during the hearing that lasted more than two hours. A Navy spokesman refused to comment on the case. Gallagher has pleaded not guilty to all counts. His lawyers said he did not murder anyone, and that disgruntled SEALs made the accusations because they wanted to get rid of a demanding platoon leader. Gallaghers supervisor, Lt. Jacob Portier, is fighting charges of conduct unbecoming an officer for allegedly conducting Gallaghers re-enlistment ceremony next to the corpse. The judge asked the prosecution to address the leaks that included documents disclosed to lawyers that were under court order not to be shared. Parlatore said the leak investigation targeted the defence team and civilian lawyers in the case, including Portiers attorney, Jeremiah J. Sullivan III and attorney Brian Ferguson, who represents SEAL witnesses in the case. Parlatore said the leak investigation had also gone so far as to conduct extensive background checks on the defence that turned up a speeding ticket Parlatore got in 2003. It also unearthed military records of lawyers of served in the armed forces and Carl Prine, a Marine Corps veteran who as the Navy Times editor and reporter has broken several stories in the case. Reports indicate they found no illegal activity by the lawyers or Prine, Parlatore said. Jeff Houston, a spokesman for Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, said in an email to The Associated Press that the investigation into leaks is lawful and legitimate and had appropriate oversight. The tracking software embedded in an unusual logo of an American flag with a bald eagle perched on the scales of justice beneath the signature of lead prosecutor Cmdr. Christopher Czaplak was discovered two weeks ago by defence lawyers. Two days later, the prosecutor acknowledged the scheme in a closed-door hearing, but refused to provide details. Rugh said the monitoring ended May 10. He asked for a letter from senior Navy officials to clarify if anyone is still under investigation for the leaks, including prosecutors. The discovery has led to criticism that the prosecution trampled on press freedoms and violated the defendants rights to a fair trial. Capt. David Wilson, chief of staff for the Navys Defence Service Offices, wrote a scathing memo this week saying the lack of transparency has led defence lawyers to question whether attorney-client communications are secure on the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet. An Air Force lawyer representing Portier had his computer and phone seized for review. The Air Force is treating this malware as a cyber-intrusion on their network, Wilson said in the letter obtained by The Associated Press. Parlatore said most of the leaks have benefited the prosecutions narrative and the likely leakers were on the government side of the case or in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. It really looks like a lot of gamesmanship to affect the outcome of the case, Parlatore told the judge. ___ Melley reported from Los Angeles. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Party of Five, a 1990s teen drama that focused on a family grappling with life after the death of their parents, is getting a reboot with a Mexican American family whose parents are deported. Disney announced this month that the Sony Pictures Television retooled Generation X-era show will air on the Freeform network and will star a Latino cast. The new series is headed by the shows original creators Amy Lippman and Christopher Keyser comes as millions of Latinos in the U.S. wrestle with the uncertainty around deportations and aggressive immigration enforcement under the Trump Administration. The original series, which ran from 1994 to 2000 on Fox, centred on the Salinger family whose parents died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. The new show will follow the Acosta children as they work through an unsettling future when their parents are abruptly deported to Mexico. It will star Brandon Larracuente, Emily Tosta, Niko Guardado and Elle Paris Legaspi. Lippman told The Associated Press she and Keyser have turned down previous offers to bring back the show over concerns they didnt want to simply recycle the same storyline with new actors. But she said the pair changed their minds after reading front-page newspaper stories about Latino children being separated from their parents. We have told this story before but it was imaginary, Lippman said. Now its actually a story that is playing out all over the country. The original series drew praise from critics from its writing and strong acting and won the 1996 Golden Globe for Best Drama. After struggling with low ratings its first two seasons, the series developed a loyal following especially among members of Generation X who identified with the themes of absent Baby Boomer parents, tight finances amid high divorce rates and the effects of a long economic recession. Lippman said because of the ongoing saga of Latino families facing separation, the time was right to reimagine the show for a new generation facing specific challenges and to illustrate those threats to a diverse audience. In the previous show, we didnt need to be specific to a culture or a political climate, Lippman said. This family is very concerned about (its) status. While most of the Acosta children are American born, Lippman said one has DACA temporary protection granted to some young immigrants under the Obama Administration-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. That factor will showcase the ongoing anxiety the family must confront daily, she said Chris Zepeda-Millan, a Chicana/o Studies and public policy professor at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs, said its telling that a mainstream television network is taking a chance on series focusing on the issue of immigration status. Its an American story that has been going on for decades, Zepeda-Millan said. Now it will get some mainstream exposure through the very powerful media of television. Zepeda-Millan said the few television shows featuring Latino characters have been largely comedies. I havent seen a drama, mainstream show like this, Zepeda-Millan said. Its success will depend on how the characters are portrayed. Lippman said the show has hired a mostly Latino writing staff. Rodrigo Garcia serves as executive producer and directed the pilot for the Party of Five reboot. Michal Zebede serves as co-executive producer and writer. No premiere date has been announced. ___ Russell Contreras is a member of The Associated Press race and ethnicity team. Follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras . BOSTON - A married couple and a California businessman are the latest parents to plead guilty in the sweeping college admissions scam. Gregory and Marcia Abbott and Peter Jan Sartorio entered their pleas Wednesday in Boston federal court. They are among 14 parents who have agreed to admit to allegations in the case. The Abbotts, who have homes in New York City and Aspen, Colorado, were charged with paying $125,000 to have someone cheat on their daughters entrance exams. Gregory Abbot is the founder of a food and beverage packaging company. Sartorio was charged with paying $15,000 to have someone correct his daughters answers on the ACT. The Menlo Park, California, man founded an organic frozen food company. Nineteen other parents are fighting the charges. They include actress Lori Loughlin (LAWK-lin) and her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli. AUBURN, Ala. - An Alabama police officer who was seriously wounded in a shooting that killed another officer is improving, officials said Wednesday as they made plans to remember the fallen man. Officer Webb Sistrunk has been moved into critical care at a hospital in Columbus, Georgia, according to a statement released by the Auburn Police Division. The change was an improvement because Sistrunk had been in intensive care. Sistrunk and two other officers were shot at a mobile home park in Auburn on Sunday night. Officer William Buechner was killed, and another officer suffered a less severe wound. Grady Wayne Wilkes, 29, is jailed on charges including capital murder and attempted murder in the shootings. Wilkes, who leads an infantry combat team with the Alabama National Guard, is being held without bail. The statement relayed by police from Piedmont Columbus Hospital said Sistrunk was shot in the right shoulder. He will continue to undergo a number of medical procedures, it said. Sistrunk is a canine officer, and he received a visit in the hospital from his dog partner, Leon. The animal was at the scene of the shooting, but wasnt injured. Its really good. Hes my best friend, Sistrunk said in a video released by the hospital. Meanwhile, the city of Auburn said Buechners funeral would be held Friday afternoon at the Auburn Arena. Court documents show officers were called to a mobile home park Sunday night by a woman who identified Wilkes as her live-in boyfriend and the father of her child. Meeting with officers away from their home, she said the man had threatened to kill her, according to the complaint. The shooting began after police went to the couples trailer. Officers knocked on the door and Wilkes answered the door wearing body armour and was armed with a rifle. After Wilkes opened the door he immediately began firing at the officers, the document said. An attorney appointed to represent Wilkes, William Whatley, declined comment. ALICE, Texas - An Alabama inmate serving a life sentence for robbery has been indicted in the 1974 fatal shooting of a Texas police officer. Prosecutors joined police in Alice, Texas, on Tuesday to announce the May 10 indictment of Roberto Lopez on a capital murder count. Officer Matthew Murphy was shot during a traffic stop in Alice, 120 miles (193.11 kilometres) south of San Antonio. Alabama Department of Corrections records show Lopez in 1981 was sentenced to life in prison without parole for robbery. Alice police in 2017 identified Lopez as a suspect. An affidavit says the inmate bragged about killing a narc named Murphy. The victim previously was an undercover narcotics officer. Alabama corrections officials didnt immediately return messages Wednesday. No information could immediately be located for an attorney representing Lopez. SAN DIEGO - More than 30 migrants have tested positive for influenza at a major processing centre where a flu-stricken teenage boy died, the latest evidence of growing public health threats posed by inadequate facilities to deal with a surge of families and children reaching the U.S. border. It was unclear if anyone ill came in contact with a 16-year-old Guatemalan boy who was held at the facility in McAllen, Texas, and died Monday, a day after he was diagnosed and transferred to a smaller station. Carlos Hernandez Vasquez was detained for six days, twice as long as generally allowed by U.S. law. The processing centre is a converted warehouse that holds hundreds of parents and children in large, fenced-in pens that gained international attention last year when it held children separated from their parents. The government closed the facility after the flu outbreak, sent in cleaning crews to disinfect the building and plans to reopen it soon. The 32 sick children and adults have been quarantined at a smaller processing centre, according to a U.S. Border Patrol official who spoke with reporters on condition of anonymity because there is an ongoing investigation. Their ages were unknown. Since December, five children have died after being apprehended by border agents, putting authorities under growing pressure and scrutiny to care for migrant children. Kevin McAleenan, the acting Homeland Security secretary, came under withering criticism Wednesday from a Democratic lawmaker who called the administrations actions with children inhumane. The Department of Health and Human Services, which cares for unaccompanied migrant children, said Wednesday that a 10-year-old girl from El Salvador died last year after being detained by border authorities in a previously unreported case. The girl died Sept. 29 at an Omaha, Nebraska, hospital of fever and respiratory distress, officials said. The department began caring for the unidentified girl in March 2018, said spokesman Mark Weber, who described her as medically fragile, with a history of congenital heart defects. With the government running out of space to hold migrants, the Trump administration has been taking dramatic steps to keep up with the influx. The Defence Department said Wednesday that it will provide temporary housing for at least 7,500 men and women who are taken into custody by immigration officials along the border. It will loan tents to the Department of Homeland Security, which will manage the camps. The Defence Department will evaluate six potential sites over the next two weeks: Tucson and Yuma in Arizona and Tornillo, Donna, Laredo and Del Rio in Texas. Tornillo, near El Paso, is where unaccompanied children were housed last year. The Pentagon said military personnel will only erect the tents and wont be involved in operations. The 77,000-square foot (7,155-sq. meter) processing centre in McAllen is modeled after a similar facility in Nogales, Arizona, built for an influx of Central Americans in 2014. It has separate pods for boys and girls who came alone and parents with their young children. Some older children are split from their parents to avoid having them mix with much younger children. Texass Rio Grande Valley, which includes McAllen, is the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. The Border Patrol made 36,681 arrests in the area in April, nearly three of every four coming in family units or as children travelling alone. Border Patrol agents have averaged 69 trips to the hospital a day since Dec. 22 and about 153,000 hours monitoring detained population at hospitals, the official said. Authorities have also cleaned other holding facilities in South Texas, including Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Kingsville and highway checkpoints. Migrants are not being vaccinated at Border Patrol stations, but they may be when hospitalized, the official said. The Border Patrol is offering vaccines to agents working. ___ Long reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report. RIVERHEAD, N.Y. - A 62-year-old man who spent more than half his life in prison for the 1975 murder of a high school classmate had his conviction overturned Wednesday after a case review found Long Island prosecutors had long hid the fact that police looked at another possible suspect. Other red flags in the case that put Keith Bush behind bars for 33 years included Bushs claims that detectives used a telephone book to beat a confession out of him and a trial witness who later said she lied about seeing Bush and the victim together. Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini, who went to court with Bushs lawyer seeking to have the conviction overturned, said its clear to him that Bush did not kill 14-year-old Sherese Watson. He apologized to Bush on behalf of his office and the law enforcement community. I am truly humbled by this decision, Bush said. Bush was 17 when Watsons body was found in a vacant lot in North Bellport. They had attended the same house party a few blocks away, and a witness who testified at Bushs trial said she had seen them leave together. That woman later said she lied. Convicted of murder and attempted sexual abuse, Bush spent 33 years in prison. He was paroled in 2007 and moved in with his mother in Bridgeport, Connecticut, but has had to register as a sex offender. The rush to convict Bush, who is black, came at a time when the forces policing and prosecuting crime in Suffolk County were almost exclusively white men and prone to cutting corners. Watson was also black. When interviewed by Sinis investigators, a retired detective who worked on the case used a racist term to describe Bush and said he should have been executed for Watsons killing, according to a report filed with the DAs request to overturn the conviction. Sini called the review and reversal of Bushs conviction a window into a very dark aspect of Suffolk Countys history. During the investigation of Watsons death, detectives interviewed John Jones, who said he had stumbled over her body while drunk, but neither police nor prosecutors informed Bushs lawyers or the judge at his trial about the possible suspect. The police departments interest in Jones, who had a long criminal record and died in 2006, finally came to light last year when authorities turned over his police statement in response to a lawsuit seeking case records filed by Bushs lawyer, Adele Bernhard. Bernhard runs the Post-Conviction Innocence Clinic at New York Law School. The questions surrounding Bushs conviction led Sini to order his newly formed Conviction Integrity Unit to conduct a full review of the case. The units nine-month investigation determined that it was forensically impossible for Watson to have been killed in the manner described in Bushs confession. The investigation also debunked the trial prosecutors theory of how the crime unfolded. Investigators reviewing Bushs case said that in an interview this year, the detective who took his confession alluded to using coercive tactics. All the evidence used to convict Mr. Bush is undermined or simply not true, Sini said. In fact, theres evidence that goes to his actual innocence. Theres a much more probable suspect, and thats John Jones. OMAHA, Neb. - In a story May 18 about an interruption in barge traffic along the Mississippi River, The Associated Press erroneously reported the average amount of goods and services that are shipped on the upper Mississippi River from March through May. It is 31 million tons, not 31 tons. A corrected version of the story is below: Flooding disrupts farm shipments on the Mississippi River Historic flooding has left parts of the Mississippi River closed for business By MARGERY A. BECK Associated Press Normally this time of year, huge barges can be seen chugging up the Mississippi River, carrying millions of tons of grain to market and bringing agriculture-related products to farmers in the Midwest for the new growing season. But theres not much barge traffic this year. Thats because historic spring flooding that swamped and tainted farmland, also left parts of the Mississippi closed for business. The river, which runs nearly 2,350 miles (3,782 kilometres) from Minnesotas Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, is a main conduit of shipping everything from agriculture products and construction material to petroleum and coal. The troubles on the Mississippi also have affected shipping on the waterways that feed into it, including the Missouri River. The interruption is hitting an agriculture industry thats already suffering from a plethora of ills, including the Trump administrations trade disputes that have helped drive down commodity prices. Youve got a perfect storm here, said Kenneth Hartman Jr., who grows corn, soybeans and wheat just south of Waterloo, Illinois. It looks bad for us. Like other farmers in more than a dozen states in the Mississippi River basin, Hartman would normally be sending soybeans, corn and other grain harvested last fall down the river, where it would eventually be exported likely to China. Meanwhile, shipments of fertilizer that normally travel up the river to communities from St. Louis to St. Paul, Minnesota, havent made it through. The inability to get the grain down the river has exacerbated a shortage of space for those products. You have elevators that arent even taking grain right now, Hartman said. So thats causing issues as far as selling our grain in a timely manner. Many of the locks and dams on the Mississippi that closed due to flooding that started in March have reopened, but the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers doesnt expect the river to be fully unimpeded until possibly June. Even if the locks were open, many of these barges wouldnt be able to get here anyway, said Sam Heilig, a Corps spokeswoman at Rock Island, Illinois. Because the waters so high, theres not enough clearance to get under some of the bridges. For now, its impossible to put a number on how much the interruption has cost shippers, farmers and manufacturers. But Debra Calhoun, spokeswoman for the Washington-based advocacy group Waterways Council, said theres no doubt its having an impact. On average, nearly 31 million tons (28.12 million metric tons) of goods and commodities are shipped on the upper Mississippi River from March through May, according to a five-year average gauged by the Corps Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center. The biggest slice of that, at nearly 11 million tons (10 million metric tons), is grain, followed by coal, sand and gravel and chemicals and petroleum products. Annually, about $250 million in domestic goods are shipped on the Mississippi, according to the centre. The Missouri River has remained mostly navigable right up until it meets the Mississippi River at St. Louis, said James Rudy with the Corps Kansas City office. While that allows shipping from point-to-point, it still disrupts shipments from farmers in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri seeking to get their grain to exporters in the Gulf of Mexico, he said. The Missouri River has far less barge traffic than the Mississippi, but it still sees on average more than 1.3 million tons worth nearly $63 million shipped from March through May, according to the Corps. The interruption in river traffic has a domino effect on other industries, particularly in transportation. The National Waterways Foundation estimates that one 15-barge tow on the Mississippi River can ship as much as six locomotives pulling 216 railcars, or as much as 1,050 large semitrailers. It also costs less to ship via the river, because barges can hold so much more and be moved using less fuel. One of our Missouri River navigators notes that his business on the Missouri alone removes somewhere from 60,000 to 80,000 tractor-trailers off of I-70 every year, Rudy said. PHILADELPHIA - The district attorney of Philadelphia is calling for a new trial for rapper Meek Mill before a new judge. The brief submitted Wednesday by District Attorney Larry Krasner says former Judge Genece Brinkleys court abused its discretion in 2017 in sentencing Mill to two to four years for violating an old gun charge. Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, was released after serving four months. Mills sentence for a minor probation violation became a lightning rod for criminal justice reform . Krasner, who has called for Brinkleys removal in the past, said Mill should get a new trial before a different judge. The brief criticized Brinkley for checking up on Mill at a homeless shelter where he was doing community service. A message was left Wednesday with attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr., who previously represented Brinkley. By Lee Gyu-lee The Cannes Film Festival has confused actress Jang Hye-jin with an Olympic medalist in South Korea's national archery team who has the same name. As a result, the athlete's photo was printed on the festival's Photocall on Tuesday, instead of the dazzling actress. Actress Jang is visiting Cannes to promote the tragicomedy "Parasite," which was invited to the festival for the main competition. She plays the wife in an unemployed and poor family. The movie's distributor CJ ENM discovered the error in Photocall and asked the organizer to change the photo. How the wrong image was used is unknown. "Parasite," directed by Bong Joon-ho, premiered at the Grand Theatre Lumiere in Cannes on Tuesday night. The director and cast Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Jang Hye-jin, Park So-dam, Choi Woo-sik and Lee Jung-eun received an eight-minute ovation from the audience after the film was shown. The movie will hit domestic theaters on May 30. JUNEAU, Alaska - Gov. Mike Dunleavys administration says there is no valid appropriation to fund Alaska public schools for the budget year starting July 1. Dunleavy and legislative leaders are at odds over the issue, which could end up in court. Lawmakers last year passed legislation approving K-12 funding for this upcoming fiscal year. A legislative legal adviser contends the action was valid. But Attorney General Kevin Clarkson has said it improperly binds the governor and violates a constitutional prohibition against dedicating state revenues. Dunleavy spokesman Matt Shuckerow says without a valid appropriation, education wont be funded. He says Dunleavy believes this could be resolved by putting education in the budget this year. Democratic Sen. Bill Wielechowski says lawmakers believe theyve properly appropriated the money, and Dunleavy should ensure the funds are disbursed. ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A jury has convicted two men of robbing an Anchorage credit union. Thirty-year-old John Pierce and 46-year-old Michael Wayne Moore were convicted Tuesday in federal court of robbing a Credit Union One branch in March 2018. They face up to 25 years in prison and another seven years for brandishing guns during a robbery. Prosecutors say Pierce entered the credit union on Eureka Street near 36th Avenue wearing a mask and carrying a handgun and a black gym bag. He walked out with about $15,000. He got into a car drive by Moore, whom police quickly identified. Moore had three previous bank robbery convictions in Alaska. He denied knowledge of the robbery but said hed been in the area transporting narcotics. Law enforcement officers found Pierces mask in his car. NEW YORK - Michael Avenatti, the attorney who rocketed to fame through his representation of porn star Stormy Daniels in her battles with President Donald Trump, was charged Wednesday with ripping her off. Federal prosecutors in New York City say Avenatti used a doctored document to divert about $300,000 that Daniels was supposed to get from a book deal, then used the money for personal and business expenses. Only half of that money was paid back, prosecutors said. Daniels isnt named in the court filing, but the details of the case, including the date her book was released, make it clear that she is the client involved. Avenatti denied the allegations on Twitter. No monies relating to Ms. Daniels were ever misappropriated or mishandled. She received millions of dollars worth of legal services and we spent huge sums in expenses. She directly paid only $100.00 for all that she received. I look forward to a jury hearing the evidence, he wrote. Avenatti added in a later tweet that his agreement for representing Daniels included a percentage of any book proceeds. The charges pile on top of previous allegations of legal misconduct by Avenatti, who represented Daniels when she sued to be released from a nondisclosure agreement involving an alleged tryst with Trump. The president denies an affair took place. Avenatti was previously charged in New York with trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike by threatening to expose claims that the shoemaker paid off high school basketball players to steer them to Nike-sponsored colleges. And in Los Angeles, hes facing a multicount federal indictment alleging that he stole millions of dollars from clients, didnt pay taxes, committed bank fraud and lied during bankruptcy proceedings. Avenatti has denied the allegations against him on both coasts, saying he expects to be exonerated. The Los Angeles charges alone carry a potential penalty of more than 300 years in prison. I look forward to a jury hearing all of the evidence and passing judgment on my conduct, Avenatti wrote in a text message to The Associated Press. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, initially hired Avenatti to handle a lawsuit she filed last year in which she sought to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement shed signed with Trumps then-lawyer Michael Cohen in exchange for $130,000. The money was supposed to buy her silence during Trumps run for president about an alleged affair between the two. In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws in connection with the payment. In announcing the new charges Wednesday, prosecutors said that Avenatti sent a fraudulent and unauthorized letter to Daniels literary agent, instructing the agent to send payments not to Daniels but to a bank account Avenatti controlled. They said he used the stolen funds to pay employees of his law firm and pay for hotels, airfare, dry cleaning and his Ferrari. Far from zealously representing his client, Avenatti, as alleged, instead engaged in outright deception and theft, victimizing rather than advocating for his client, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman said in news release. Avenatti blatantly lied and stole to maintain his extravagant lifestyle, Berman said. Daniels raised concerns with Avenatti about late payments around the time her book, Full Disclosure, was published in October, according to the indictment. When is the publisher going to cough up my money, she asked Avenatti in early December, according to the indictment. Avenatti responded that he was working them and threatening litigation, prosecutors said, but he did not tell Daniels he had already received the money. Daniels began publicly raising concerns about Avenattis conduct in November. In a statement, she said Avenatti had launched a fundraising effort to raise money for her legal case without telling her. She also said he had filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump, on her behalf, against her wishes. For months Ive asked Michael Avenatti to give me accounting information about the fund my supporters so generously donated to for my safety and legal defence. He has repeatedly ignored those requests, she said. Days ago I demanded again, repeatedly, that he tell me how the money was being spent and how much was left. Instead of answering me, without my permission or even my knowledge Michael launched another crowdfunding campaign to raise money on my behalf. I learned about it on Twitter. At the time, Avenatti responded that he was still Daniels biggest champion. He said that under his retention agreement, she had agreed to pay him just $100 for his services, and he was entitled to keep all the money he raised for her legal defence to defray what he said were substantial costs of her case. The defamation case initiated by Avenatti against Trump backfired, with a judge ordering her to pay the presidents legal bills. When Avenatti was first charged with defrauding other clients and extorting Nike in March, Daniels said she was saddened but not shocked. She added on Twitter that she had fired Avenatti a month earlier after discovering that he had dealt with me extremely dishonestly. ___ Associated Press writer Tom Hays contributed to this report. JACKSON, Miss. - Relatives of a slaying victim were outraged Wednesday when Mississippi court officials discussed possible bail for a white police officer accused of killing the black woman with whom he was romantically involved. Oxford police officer Matthew Kinne was arrested Monday and charged with murder after 32-year-old Dominque Clayton was found shot in the back of her head Sunday. Claytons relatives say the mother of four had been romantically involved with Kinne. The victims mother, Bessie Clayton, was one of many relatives who shouted in displeasure following a hearing for Kinne as they filed out of the Oxford courtroom into a small lobby and then onto the courthouse lawn in the towns square. Bessie Clayton said no black person would be considered for bail for such a crime, but prosecutors and a judge are willing to let Kinnes defence lawyer negotiate bail for a white man. There is no justice for black people, she said. A prosecutor told Lafayette County Circuit Judge Andrew Howorth he thinks prosecutors and defence lawyers can agree on reasonable bail for Kinne. The officer remains jailed in neighbouring Panola County for now and a decision on bail may not come until next week. Its not uncommon for bail to be denied in murder cases in Mississippi. Bessie Clayton also complained that Howorth laughed during the hearing. They are allowing the killer to decide his bond! Bessie Clayton told reporters outside the courtroom after the hearing. That man came through the bushes while he was on duty and walked in behind my daughters home, put a bullet in the back of her ... head and executed her. And they laughed. They should discuss with him what his bond should be? We need help in Oxford! We need intervention in Oxford! Prosecutors and a defence attorney didnt immediately return phone calls and emails seeking comment on what bail should be for Kinne. Interim Oxford police Chief Jeff McCutcheon told reporters that he opposes bail. He said Kinne needs to be in jail. We are with the Clayton family, McCutcheon said. We dont support a bond. Matthew Kinne committed murder and we dont want him out. Shyjuan Clayton, the victims sister, told WHBQ-TV Tuesday that Kinne was having an affair with Dominique Clayton. Relatives told WHBQ-TV that Dominque Claytons dead body was found by her 8-year-old son on Sunday after children returned home from spending time with an uncle. Shyjuan Clayton told reporters Tuesday that she wanted answers following Kinnes arrest. We dont want anybody to cover it up, she said. We want the truth out. We want justice for my sister. McCutcheon said Tuesday that Kinne had been a police officer in Oxford, home of the University of Mississippi, for four years. Kinne was one of several officers that Oxford relies on to police its often-crowded and touristy town square on horseback. Kinne was arrested Monday despite a Mississippi state law that says a judge must find probable cause to arrest a police officer accused of crimes while in the line of duty. Howorth said prosecutors and defence lawyers agreed to waive a hearing examining the probable cause issue Wednesday. The crime of murder is always going to fall outside the duties of a law enforcement officer, Howorth said. I cannot imagine when it would not fall outside the duties. ___ Follow Jeff Amy at http://twitter.com/jeffamy . MINNEAPOLIS - A judge is granting access to most of the exhibits from the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer who shot an unarmed woman in 2017. Mohamed Noor was convicted of murder in the shooting death of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia who was killed after she called 911 to report a possible crime. Judge Kathryn Quaintance ruled Wednesday that she would allow the media and public to make copies of most exhibits. The exceptions are five body camera videos that show Damonds final moments. Copies of those items will be allowed after graphic material is redacted. The ruling comes after a coalition of media organizations fought for public access to the evidence. Last week, the court said it would make the exhibits available for viewing, but a decision on allowing copies was postponed. RALEIGH, N.C. - A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit Wednesday by a North Carolina woman assaulted outside a 2016 Donald Trump campaign rally who claimed she was then libeled by a conservative group that produces sting videos intended to embarrass liberal organizations. U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger stopped the trial against Project Veritas, its founder James OKeefe and its tax-exempt social welfare affiliate Project Veritas Action before jurors considered the case. Attorneys for OKeefe and the organization known for videotaping people without their knowledge argued successfully that Shirley Teters lawyers hadnt proved the videos depicting her were published despite knowing the information was false or with reckless disregard for its truth or falsity. Teter, 71, had joined a crowd of protesters outside a Trump rally on Sept. 12, 2016, at an arena a block from her downtown Asheville senior housing apartment. The disabled woman was struck in the face and knocked to the ground, police said. A South Carolina man was arrested days later, but charges were later dropped. Teter claimed online videos released by Project Veritas Action Fund linked her to a purported plot by Democratic operatives to incite violence at Trump campaign rallies. She said that was untrue. The judge said before issuing his decision that political discourse risked being hampered if citizens and the media were handcuffed by fear of legal liability, but the law also needs to impose some standard of responsibility. The line in this case was between what the law requires for proof and what jurors can decide is the truth, Reidinger said. While the internet has broadened the number and the variety of available voices in the marketplace of ideas, it has also served to undermine the publics confidence in the veracity of those sources, Reidinger said, according to a transcript of Wednesdays court session. That fine line has to be walked. And I think that walking that fine line required this court to take a close look at what issues are really for this court and what issues are really for this jury. The judge decided Teters lawyers didnt present clear and convincing evidence that there was actual malice that is, knowing or not caring whether statements in the videos were false. OKeefes attorneys contended Teter was required to prove actual malice because she became a public figure after speaking to the news media about the assault. ___ Follow Emery P. Dalesio at http://twitter.com/emerydalesio . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/emery . JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - A violent tornado touched down in Jefferson City, causing heavy damage in Missouris capital city as severe weather swept across the state overnight, causing three deaths and leaving many people trapped in the wreckage of their homes. The service reported that a confirmed large and destructive tornado was observed over Jefferson City at 11:43 p.m. Wednesday, moving northeast at 40 mph (64 kph). The capital city has a population of about 40,000 and is located about 130 miles (209 kilometres) west of St. Louis. Across the state, Missouris first responders once again responded quickly and with strong co-ordination as much of the state dealt with extremely dangerous conditions that left people injured, trapped in homes, and tragically led to the death of three people, Governor Mike Parson said. I want our responders and all the neighbours who acted selflessly to help their neighbours to know how much their heroic efforts are appreciated by all Missourians. Missouri Public Safety confirmed in a tweet that three people were killed in the Golden City area of Barton County, and several injured in the Carl Junction area of Jasper County Jefferson City Police Lt. David Williams said around 2:15 a.m. Thursday that there were no reports of fatalities in the capital, but authorities had received multiple calls of people being trapped in homes. The tornado hit during a week that has seen several days of tornadoes and torrential rains in parts of the Southern Plains and Midwest. Its a chaotic situation right now, Williams said. Williams spoke from the Cole County Sheriffs office, where debris including insulation, roofing shingles and metal pieces lay on the ground outside the front doors. Area hospitals did not see an immediate influx of patients but set up command centres in case the need arises. We have four patients with minor injuries, said Jessica Royston, spokeswoman at St. Marys Health Center. Power outages were reported in parts of the city. Missouri Public Safety tweeted that there was a possibility of more tornadoes and flash flooding. Austin Thomson, 25, was in the laundry room of his apartment complex to do his wash and noticed the wind started picking up. He saw sheets of rain coming down and a flagpole bend and then slam to the ground. The windows broke and he dove behind the washers and dryers. After it calmed down, he walked outside to check the damage. Theres basically one building thats basically one story now. Every building there is two stories. The National Weather Service said it had received 22 reports of tornadoes by late Wednesday, although some of those could be duplicate reporting of the same twister. One tornado skirted just a few miles north of Joplin, Missouri, on the eighth anniversary of a catastrophic tornado that killed 161 people in the city. The tornado caused some damage in the town of Carl Junction, about 4 miles (6.44 kilometres) north of the Joplin airport. Storms and torrential rains have ravaged the Midwest, from Texas through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. Two barges broke loose and floated swiftly down the swollen Arkansas River in eastern Oklahoma on Wednesday, spreading alarm downstream as they threatened to hit a dam. Authorities urged residents of several small towns in Oklahoma and Kansas to leave their homes as rivers and streams rose. The Arkansas River town of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, was one such town. Town officials ordered a mandatory evacuation Wednesday afternoon because of the rivers rising level. But Wednesday evening, a posting on the towns official Facebook page sounded the alarm about the runaway barges for its 600 residents: Evacuate Webbers Falls immediately. The barges are loose and has the potential to hit the lock and dam 16. If the dam breaks, it will be catastrophic!! Leave now!! There was no word by midnight Wednesday where the barges were on the river, but local television stations showing live video of the river and the lock and dam said they had not yet arrived. The Arkansas River was approaching historic highs, while the already high Missouri and Mississippi Rivers were again rising after a multi-day stretch of storms that produced dozens of tornadoes. Forecasters predicted parts of Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas could see more severe weather on Thursday. Deaths from this weeks storms include a 74-year-old woman found early Wednesday morning in Iowa. Officials there say she was killed by a possible tornado that damaged a farmstead in Adair County. Missouri authorities said heavy rain was a contributing factor in the deaths of two people in a traffic accident Tuesday near Springfield. A fourth weather-related death may have occurred in Oklahoma, where the Highway Patrol said a woman apparently drowned after driving around a barricade Tuesday near Perkins, about 45 miles (72 kilometres) northeast of Oklahoma City. The unidentified womans body was sent to the state medical examiners office to confirm the cause of death. Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said she isnt yet listed as what would be the states first storm-related death. PHILADELPHIAAfter fighting for 21 years to be exonerated of participating in a 1996 West Philadelphia murder, Terrance Lewis had given up. He withdrew his petition to vacate his conviction in February an agonizing decision to clear the way to be resentenced after a 2016 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that automatic life-without-parole sentences for juveniles were illegal. It would mean hed get out of prison eventually but hed be on parole for life, and his name would never be cleared. Tuesday, something happened at his resentencing that neither Lewis and his lawyers, nor the district attorneys office, whose Conviction Integrity Unit had been investigating the case, had anticipated. Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Barbara McDermott decided to review his innocence claim on the spot and due to what she deemed a denial of due process threw out his conviction. The district attorney declined to retry the case. And Wednesday morning, Lewis, 40, was released free for the first time since he was 17 years old. A few hours later, he emerged from the Chester state prison with a wide smile, as if into the worlds most unusual surprise party embracing his family members and legal team, then joyfully greeting faraway loved ones FaceTiming from Tennessee, Texas and across Pennsylvania on three cellphones. I was just existing for 21 years, Lewis said. Now, Im about to live. He expressed gratitude to the judge, Cummings, and District Attorney Larry Krasner, whom he called true advocates of justice. But has his faith in the system been restored? I have mixed emotions about the system. At one point in time, I thought the system was broken. I no longer think it was broken. I think it was designed that way. They had the opportunity to release me and they didnt. That is, until McDermott took up the question of his innocence. She heard all the evidence Terrance has been screaming about for 21 years, and said he should be released. ... She expressed a willingness to listen, and thats all Terrance needed, said Kevin Harden Jr., part of a legal team that has championed Lewis case pro bono for a decade. That work started in 2008, when David Laigaie was appointed to represent Lewis in a federal petition. At that time, Magistrate Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells wrote in an opinion that it seemed apparent Lewis was innocent, but that for procedural reasons she could not grant him relief. Lewis had been sentenced to life in 1998 for second-degree murder participating in the robbery of Hulon Bernard Howard, who was shot and killed by one of Lewis co-defendants. But over the years, thanks to Lewis own investigation, work by his lawyers, and collaboration with the Conviction Integrity Unit, which finally turned over the homicide file within the past couple of years, the case against him began to disintegrate. The constellation of events that led to him being wrongfully convicted is only matched by the constellation of events that resulted in him being freed, Harden said. The one witness against him, it turned out, had initially identified a different perpetrator. But that information, recorded in the homicide detectives notebook, was never shared with the defence. And his trial attorney never investigated the eyewitnesses who emerged over the years to come forward and say Lewis was not at the scene. (The lawyer, who stopped practicing a few years later, would eventually sign an affidavit acknowledging his work was subpar.) When Lewis decided to abandon his innocence claim in order to seek a new sentence (a Philadelphia judge had determined that resentencings could not go forward for anyone still challenging their convictions), his lawyers made a strategic decision to downplay his innocence claim at the sentencing proceeding where the focus often turns to assessing the offenders remorse. They feared his denial would result in an even longer new sentence. The thinking was, post-sentencing, we could file a federal habeas petition, Laigaie said. So, Lewis went to court, praying for any judge but McDermott, who is not known for lenient sentencing. I thank God my prayers werent answered, he said. In light of the evidence, family members of Howard, the victim, also supported Lewis release, according to those present at the hearing. For Lewis, it feels a lot like the first break life has given him. He grew up in extreme poverty, shuffling all over Philadelphia, attending nine elementary schools in three years, and dropped out of school in 10th grade to work full time. At one point, in Strawberry Mansion, he was sharing a room with eight brothers and cousins, all piled into two bunk beds or sprawled on the floor. Jerome Conquest, 32, a cousin, recalled stacking milk crates and blankets in a corner the closest thing he could get to a bed. But Lewis, known among loved ones for his positive attitude, declared it cosy, not crowded, and one of the best times of his life. I cant even begin to express it. Were all totally elated, said Michael Lewis, Terrances 58-year-old father, who had travelled from Marion, Ark., with his wife, Yvette, 52, for the resentencing and found out his son would be released instead. I dont think there was a dry eye in the courtroom. They were already talking preparations for re-entry, whether they could give Lewis one of their cars. We got to get him a learners permit first, Harden remarked. All of Lewis plans for the future have been scrambled. He had intended to get his commercial drivers license paid for under a program for parolees. Now, with no criminal record, he is aiming higher a college degree and work in the criminal justice system, where he can help others in the same straits he just escaped. But first up Wednesday was getting out of prison garb. So, a trip to Springfield Mall, where Lewis entered the jeans department at Macys and promptly gave up trying to sort through the styles, cuts and waist sizes. Thats my problem, thats institutionalized. Im so used to somebody telling me what I can wear, he said before settling on sweat pants. Then it was on to sneakers. Im in state boots, he said. Im ready to go barefoot right now. A celebratory meal would have to wait. Lewis, who was on his way to the mosque when police picked him up in 1997, has never wavered on his Muslim faith. Since its Ramadan, hell wait until sundown. COLUMBIA, S.C. - Lawyers defending a father charged with killing his five children turned Wednesday to brain science and their clients odd statements to try to spare him from a possible death sentence. The insanity defence case for Timothy Jones Jr. began after a week of emotional testimony in which the childrens sobbing mother had to be aided from the courtroom and jurors heard disturbing discussions of strangulation marks and decomposing bodies. The children, ages 1, 2, 6, 7 and 8, were killed in their Lexington home. In videotaped testimony replayed Wednesday, Dr. Travis Snyder showed MRI images and other photos of Jones brain taken in April 2018, four years after the slayings. The images showed what appeared to be an indentation in Jones skull that his lawyers have said was caused by a car crash Jones was in as a teenager. Snyder then showed other images of the brain that showed places where there had been bleeding and other damage. Given his injuries, its possible the electrical functions of his brain were not working properly, Snyder said. The doctor added that the damage he saw was similar to that seen in brains of people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Defence attorneys have said Jones had the disorder, but it had never been diagnosed, and that his mother has been in a mental institution for 20 years. Snyder also testified that people with damaged brains can still graduate from college or regulate their emotions. The defence team said in opening statements that while Jones had an $85,000 job as a computer engineer, he had a thin grasp of reality. He experienced a psychotic break, they said, due to the infidelity of his ex-wife, the childrens mother; the difficulty of raising five young children on his own; and a feeling he was failing to live up to his religious beliefs. The defence also revisited Jones confession to police, asking Lexington County Sheriffs Sgt. Anthony Creech to focus on the odd things Jones said, such as that one of his five children was going to grow up to do something bad and he prevented that by killing all of them. Jones also said he feared his children were trying to kill him or that he heard voices in his head. He said the voices got louder after the slayings. A voice says, Why dont you burn the bodies? Another voice says, Why dont you cut them up and feed them to hogs? Another said, Why dont you put them in concrete? Jones said, crying on the recorded confession. I dont like those voices. Prosecutors called more than 30 witnesses to the stand, including school administrators, the familys babysitter, police officers and the ex-wife, Amber Kyzer. In his confession, Jones said he forced the middle child, 6-year-old Nahtahn, to exercise for hours as punishment after he broke an electrical outlet. He said when he found the child dead, at some point after Nahtahn had gone to bed, he flew into a range and strangled the other four kids. Jones said the oldest child, 8-year-old Mera, said, Daddy, I love you, as her father wrapped his hands around her neck, FBI agent David Mackey testified. After all the children were dead, Jones wrapped their bodies in plastic and started searching on his smartphone for tips on how to dispose of bodies and get away with crimes, police officers testified. He drove aimlessly for several days around the Southeast U.S. with the bodies in the back of his SUV before putting them in garbage bags and leaving them on a hillside in Camden, Alabama, prosecutors said. When he was arrested in Smith County, Mississippi, officers found a checklist written in the car that included melt bodies and saw down bones. When investigators asked him about it during his confession, Jones started to cry. I tried to saw a leg and I couldnt bring myself to do it, he said. The trial is being livestreamed from the Lexington County courthouse. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JSCollinsAP From left, Kim Sun-jung, artistic director of the Real DMZ Project, Jakob Fenger of Superflex and Zoh Kyung-jin, a landscape design theory professor at Seoul National University, ride Superflex's installation "One Two Three Swing!" Tuesday at Dora Observatory in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, which looks across the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea. Courtesy of Real DMZ Project Danish artist trio installs swings at Dora Observatory By Kwon Mee-yoo Two swings hang from orange-colored pipes in front of Dora Observatory in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, near the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). It is not easy to ride the swing alone, because the seats are designed for three people at a time. Danish artist trio Superflex's "One Two Three Swing!," a playful yet politically subversive sculptural infrastructure installed as part of the Real DMZ Project, sends a key message for the two Koreas together, we can pull together a thing that was previously unimaginable. Superflex is a collective that consists of Jakob Fenger, Rasmus Nielsen and Bjornstjerne Christiansen. Fenger visited Korea to install the bright-colored swings on a spot where riders can have a look at North Korea. "Finally we are here," Fenger said during a press conference at the observatory, Tuesday. "We had to have the swing set up in a very short time, but it is a magic moment for us. "As a collective, we created the name Superflex and the color orange. When we started, we were fascinated by the power of a group. And we found that the most efficient way to work as a collective in a capitalistic society is in the form of a company. "We are interested in what happens in a society such as the economy and copyright. We define our works as tools for action or another use. It is more than just an object you look at, but it changes your life and situation." The DMZ is one of the places where the artist trio wanted to install the swings, which debuted at Tate Modern's Turbine Hall in 2017. The swings have traveled to the Copenhagen Contemporary, the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn and the von Bartha gallery in Basel, before heading to the only country remaining divided by the Cold War. This is the first time the swing has been installed in Asia. "Hyundai commissioned us for the Turbine Hall, which is a good spot to show what you are thinking," Fenger said. "We were interested in how to make the public space active and interact with the spaces around. It was a difficult space to work, with high ceilings and a bridge in the middle. We try to use culture to challenge the situation we face and it was important for us to take the project outside the building." The key to this installation is to ride the swing together. "This swing, which is like a human pendulum, is activated by three people. Three is the number of our collective as well as the minimum for a group," Fenger said. "Physically when you move together, you can change things and situations you never dreamed of." Danish artist trio Superflex's "One Two Three Swing!" is installed at Dora Observatory in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, which looks across the Demilitarized Zone and North Korea. Courtesy of Real DMZ Project JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Authorities say an infant has died after being left in a hot van for hours outside a Florida daycare. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office posted on Twitter that the 5-month-old girl was discovered Wednesday afternoon outside a Jacksonville daycare facility. Investigators say the girls mother had called the daycare to check on her, and an employee said she didnt know the child was there. Officials say the mother then rushed over and found the girl in the van. Officials say the child had been in the hot vehicle for about five hours. Rescue workers responded and took the girl to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. No charges were immediately filed. Investigators said they didnt know why or how the child was left in the vehicle. JUNEAU, Alaska - The state transportation department is proposing to sell two of its so-called fast ferries, citing the cost of continuing to run the vessels. Aurah Landau, a spokeswoman for the department, said by email that the Alaska Marine Highway System has planned for years to find ways to phase out the Fairweather and the Chenega, both of which went into service within the past 15 years. Landau said fuel costs for the vessels are high and because theyre lighter, they cant handle routes with rougher conditions. The ferries have run in southeast Alaska and in Prince William Sound. They currently are laid up in Ketchikan, she said. The cost to store the two ferries is about $21,000 a month and being paid out of the systems operating fund, she said. Gov. Mike Dunleavys administration has asked a consultant to identify possible ways to reduce the states financial responsibility to the system, which is seen as an important transportation link for a number of coastal communities. The system does not expect the study would recommend using costly vessels when vessels that are less expensive to operate are available, she said. The value of the Fairweather and the Chenega hasnt been publicly released yet, Landau said. The first step for the department is to see if any other state agencies or local governments in Alaska are interested in the ferries, she said. Any statements of interest are due by June 10. If there are none, the next step would be to seek proposals for a commercial vessel broker to help market the ferries to a broader audience. Robert Venables, executive director of the Southeast Conference, which has been involved in prior efforts aimed at making the system more efficient and sustainable, said that for cost recovery and future uses, this might be one of the better times to sell the two vessels, which he said dont really fit into the fleet. It was tried with good intentions, but so much of the marine highway systems history over the last number of decades has been politically driven rather than architecturally and marine engineered, he said. His organization hopes to work with the consultant on a long-term plan for the marine highway system, Venables said. HONOLULU - The Latest on a corruption trial against a former Honolulu police chief, his wife and current and former officers (all times local): 3 p.m. The defence attorney representing the wife of a former Honolulu police chief says what happened to money she allegedly stole from her grandmother and uncle is a misunderstanding in a big family. Katherine Kealoha, a former deputy Honolulu prosecutor, is on trial with her husband, Louis Kealoha, and former and current officers for allegedly framing her uncle for stealing their mailbox. Prosecutors say the Kealohas wanted to silence him from exposing financial fraud that supported the couples lavish lifestyle. It has been described as Hawaiis biggest corruption scandal. Louis Kealohas attorney, Rustam Barbee, disputes prosecutors theory that the mailbox was prepped to be easily lifted from its post. Barbee says just one bolt secured it to a pedestal. Attorneys for the co-defendants say there was no conspiracy. ___ 1 p.m. A prosecutor says a Hawaii corruption case against a former police chief and his wife involves an abuse of power and greed. Now-retired Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine Kealoha, a former deputy prosecutor, are on trial for allegations they framed her uncle for stealing their mailbox to keep him from exposing financial fraud that supported the couples lavish lifestyle. In opening statements Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Wheat told jurors the case also involves those close to the couple members of a secret police unit hand-picked by the chief. Those current and former officers are also on trial with the Kealohas. Wheat spent more than hour laying out a complicated web of planning and scheming by the Kealohas and their co-defendants. ___ 10:30 a.m. Jurors have been selected for a closely watched Hawaii corruption trial against a former Honolulu police chief, his wife and current and former officers. A jury of 12 and five alternates was finalized Wednesday in a process that began last week with 413 prospective jurors. Opening statements are now expected to begin in the trial against now-retired Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha and his wife Katherine Kealoha, a former deputy city prosecutor. Officer Minh Hung Bobby Nguyen, Lt. Derek Hahn and retired Maj. Gordon Shiraishi are also on trial with the couple. Prosecutors say they conspired to frame Katherine Kealohas uncle for stealing the couples home mailbox. Prosecutors say the Kealohas wanted to silence the uncle because he threatened to expose financial fraud that supported the couples lavish lifestyle. ___ 8:30 a.m. A trial focusing on what has been described as the biggest corruption case in Hawaiis history is about to begin. Opening statements are expected Wednesday after jurors are selected for the trial of former Honolulu police chief Louis Kealoha, his wife and current and former police officers. Prosecutors say Kealoha and his former city deputy prosecutor wife Katherine Kealoha abused their power to frame her uncle for stealing their home mailbox because he threatened to expose fraud that supported the couples lavish lifestyle. Prosecutors say the Kealohas wanted to discredit Katherine Kealohas uncle because of a lawsuit he filed alleging she stole money from him and his mother. Jurors will hear from Katherine Kealohas now 99-year-old grandmother through a video deposition because shes too frail to testify in person. NEWARK, N.J. - The Latest on a New Jersey man charged with aiding a terrorist organization and threatening to kill pro-Israel supporters (all times local): 5 p.m. A man charged with aiding a terrorist organization and threatening to shoot everybody at a pro-Israel march is being held without ball. Jonathan Xie made an initial court appearance Wednesday. The 20-year-old New Jersey man is charged with attempting to provide material support to Hamas, a designated terrorist organization. Hes also charged with lying on Army security clearance forms and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. Xie allegedly said in an online video that he wanted to shoot everybody at a pro-Israel march. Federal authorities say Xie posted on Instagram that he wanted to bomb the Israeli embassy and Trump Tower in New York. ___ 1:15 p.m. Federal authorities say a man sought to aid a terrorist organization and threatened to shoot everybody at a pro-Israel march and bomb Trump Tower in New York. Twenty-year-old Jonathan Xie (SHEE) is charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated terrorist organization, making false statements and transmitting a threat in interstate commerce. The New Jersey resident is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday afternoon in Newark. It wasnt immediately known if hes retained an attorney. The U.S. attorneys office says Xie sent $100 in December to a person he thought was affiliated with a faction of Hamas. In an online video, he allegedly displayed a handgun and said he wanted to shoot the pro-Israel demonstrators at an unspecified gathering. Authorities allege he posted on Instagram that he wanted to bomb the Israeli embassy and Trump Tower in New York. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California lawmakers moved ahead Wednesday with tougher rules that limit parents from choosing whether to vaccinate their schoolchildren as a handful of opponents shouted We will not comply inside the Senate. Senators sent the measure to the Assembly as the nation struggles to stem the highest number of measles cases in decades and as state efforts to strengthen vaccine requirements draw emotional opposition. The California proposal would give state public health officials instead of local doctors the authority to decide which children can skip their shots before attending school. Democratic Sen. Richard Pan of Sacramento said his proposal is needed because some unscrupulous physicians have been selling medical immunization exemptions since California ended non-medical exemptions in 2016. Under the plan, doctors would have to certify that they examined the patient and then send the state health department the reason they are recommending the exemption. State and county health officials also could revoke exemptions if they are found to be fraudulent or dont meet federal immunization standards. This is about keeping our community safe, Pan said. He said exemptions would still be allowed for the less than 1 per cent of students who should avoid vaccinations because they have a severe allergic reaction or impaired immunity from a liver problem, the HIV virus, chemotherapy or other conditions. But those with legitimate concerns would then be safer in school because the vast majority of their fellow students would be vaccinated, Pan said. Its scary to me that this state is becoming a police state, Victoria Kennicutt of Elk Grove, south of Sacramento, said after watching the debate with other opponents. Its an issue that should be between the parents and the doctor, not involving the government. She said her daughter, Charlotte, broke out in hives after her shots at 6 months and 1 year, developing a high fever that lasted a week and regressing in her speech. She worries that her now-2-year-old daughters medical exemption will be voided if the measure becomes law and said she will move out of state rather than comply. The measure passed on a party-line 24-10 vote, with no Republican support. Four Democratic lawmakers did not vote, with two Democratic senators saying it goes too far or reneges on lawmakers earlier promise not to infringe on medical exemptions. Several Republican lawmakers said they agree the state should crack down on doctors who sell medical exemptions but that they should be sanctioned by the state medical board through the normal disciplinary process. Why isnt the medical board dealing with these bad actors? Sen. Jeff Stone said. The Republican from Temecula called Pans bill a dangerous intrusion, not only into the doctor-patient relationship but also the personal liberties of the parents and their children. Pan said the medical board has been frustrated in its efforts. These families are not co-operating because theyre in cahoots with the physician, Pan said. They are truly unable to go after these physicians who are acting unprofessionally. ___ Associated Press journalist Adam Beam contributed to this story. WASHINGTON - The hacking of U.S. election systems, including by foreign adversaries, is inevitable, and the real challenge is ensuring the country is resilient enough to withstand catastrophic problems from cyber breaches, government officials said Wednesday. The comments by representatives from the departments of Justice and Homeland Security underscored the challenges for federal and state governments in trying to ward off interference from Russia and other countries in the 2020 election. Special counsel Robert Mueller has documented a sweeping effort by Moscow to meddle in the 2016 election in Donald Trumps favour by hacking Democrats and spreading disinformation online, and FBI Director Chris Wray said in April that the government regarded last Novembers midterm election was as just kind of a dress rehearsal for the big show in 2020. Adam Hickey, a deputy assistant attorney general in the Justice Departments national security division, told a House Oversight and Reform subcommittee that hacking was inevitable. Systems that are connected to the Internet, if theyre targeted by a determined adversary with enough time and resources, they will be breached, Hickey said. So, we need to be focusing on resilience. We need to take a breath. We need to let the states evaluate it. We need to let investigators respond, and we need to have confidence in our elected representatives and our state officials that theyve got this, because they deal with contingencies ... all the time, he added. If we undermine ourselves, the confidence in our system, we will be doing our adversaries work for them. Chris Krebs, head of DHS cyber efforts, echoed the message, saying, 100 per cent security is not the objective. Its resilience of the system. So even if you do have a bad day, its not a catastrophic day. Officials also said they were confident that Russian hacking that targeted voter databases of two Florida counties before the 2016 election had no impact on the vote total there. An intrusion detection system is already configured in 66 of 67 counties in the state, and the 67th is in the process of doing so right now, Krebs said. Still, some lawmakers, including Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, the former chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said they were disappointed that the FBI had not publicly identified the two counties that were hit. The lack of transparency from top to bottom in this administration is stunning, and it diminishes voters confidence in our election system, she said. Representatives from major technology companies, including Facebook, Google and Twitter, also testified at the hearing. Facebook cares deeply about protecting the integrity of the democratic process, said Nathan Gleicher, the companys head of cybersecurity policy. We dont want anyone using our tools to undermine our elections or democracy. He said Facebook has more than 30,000 people working on safety and security across the company, three times as many as it had in 2017. ___ Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP Financial Services Commission Chairman Choi Jong-ku, front row fourth from left, poses with chief executives of banks at an event promoting loan programs for young adults at the Korea Federation of Banks in Seoul, Wednesday. Choi asked banks to extend low-interest loans to young people so they can finance their housing deposits and monthly rent. Yonhap The world's largest airline is bracing for short-term passenger anxiety about flying on the Boeing Co. 737 Max, which was grounded in March after two deadly crashes in a five-month span. "There may be some period of time'' in which customers have misgivings, American Airlines Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker said in an interview with NBC, which will be aired in full late Wednesday. "But we'll work through that.'' Airlines will soon face the delicate task of coaxing passengers back onto Boeing's best-selling jet, once the aircraft is cleared to return to the skies. The planemaker is finalizing an update to software implicated in both accidents, and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is hosting global regulators at a meeting on Thursday in Fort Worth, Texas, to discuss next steps. "What we need to do is have the airplane be deemed airworthy, be back in service, have American Airlines pilots flying,'' Parker told NBC's Lester Holt in a passage of the interview that the broadcaster tweeted. "I know that if that's the case, the airplane's 100% safe, as will most of our customers. And over time, others will see that and come to the same conclusion.'' American has 24 of the grounded jets with more on the way. The Fort Worth-based carrier has removed the plane from its schedule through Aug. 19, and there's no timetable for the aircraft to reenter service. Asked how to convince passengers to get back on the Max once the grounding is lifted, Parker acknowledged that some wouldn't immediately feel comfortable. "We shall see,'' Parker said. "I don't know at this point, given the heightened level of interest in this and the news around it, that any amount of marketing would do that.'' The full interview is scheduled to run Wednesday evening on NBC Nightly News. Clay Govier reckons he'll be kept out of his fields through the Memorial Day weekend as a torrent of rain drenches farms across the Midwest and Great Plains. While that may give Govier an unwanted break from fieldwork, the U.S. farmer will be kept busy by a dilemma: He has to consider whether it would prove more profitable to grow corn or switch to soybean once the downpour abates. Or plant nothing at all and make an insurance claim for his troubles. Adding to the confusion is a lack of clarity over a government aid package for those hurt by the trade war with China. "That is a bit of a conundrum right now," Govier said in a telephone interview. It's a decision that American farmers will have to make in coming days, after storms battering their fields reduced the planting pace for corn to the slowest on record for this time of year. While the wet weather has pushed up prices of the grain in Chicago to the highest level in a year, that doesn't mean there will necessarily be a rush of sowing as the sky clears. The farmers risk missing deadlines specified in crop-insurance policies that pay them in the event of a drop in prices or crop failure. Delayed planting can also cut yields as key grain development phases are pushed into peak summer heat. There's an old adage that states farmers lose a bushel of corn a day when planting after mid-May. Michael Cordonnier, owner of Hinsdale, Illinois-based Soybean & Corn Advisor Inc., said it's not quite so simple. From May 20 to May 25, losses in corn yield per acre could be only a third to a half bushel. From May 25 to May 30, the potential declines are three-quarters of a bushel. By June 1 to June 5, the declines jump to as much as 2 bushels per day. "The losses accelerate as you go forward," he said by phone. Another option for farmers is to instead make claims for so-called prevented planting, which pay out those who are unable to sow seeds due to extreme weather. "The lowest percentage of corn planted for this period in our database since 1980, the wettest conditions in modern history and fears of increasing trade tension are strong incentives to just take the insurance money," Bloomberg Intelligence commodity strategist Mike McGlone said. That is if farmers don't switch to soybeans, which typically have a shorter growing season that helps minimize the risk the crop won't be harvested before winter hits. Though soy plantings have also been stalled by the rain, a decision to swap some corn acreage to the oilseed may hinge on the Trump administration's plan to help farmers hurt by the trade war with China that's roiled prices. Government officials were considering payments of $2 per bushel to soybean farmers and 4 cents per bushel to corn farmers, according to two people familiar with the payment levels, who asked not to be identified because the aid plan hasn't been made public. That could make a switch to the oilseed a good decision for farmers such as Govier. The outlines of the plan still could change since President Donald Trump can make adjustments any time before it's officially announced. "Details on the new trade mitigation program will be forthcoming shortly, but we want to be clear that the program is being designed to avoid skewing planting decisions one way or another," the USDA said in an emailed statement. The White House will hold meetings on the farm aid on Thursday, according to Press Secretary Sarah Sanders. "We want to make sure that the farmers are being protected as we go through the process of negotiating new trade deals," Sanders told reporters on Wednesday. Robb Ewoldt, who farms corn and soybeans in eastern Iowa near the Mississippi River, has only planted 20% of his corn and 60% of his soybeans, some of which will need to be replanted. He's never made a prevented-plant claim, nor has he been this late on his plantings. He's considering all options. Potential farm aid payments are "nothing to scoff at," he said. "We have a lot of time to think about it because we have another week of rain. We'll be running numbers." Karl Setzer, market analyst at Agrivisor in Bloomington, Illinois, said more details are needed, since no official government announcement has been made yet. "We do not know how payments will be based, so it remains a question if it will impact plantings or be based on last year's production," he said in an email. University of Illinois Agricultural Economist Scott Irwin said that if the payments are tied to 2019 production, that could serve as an incentive to plant soybeans. "This would be exactly the opposite of what we need to be doing in the soybean market, which is badly oversupplied," he said. Govier too said it could be more profitable to make an insurance claim on acres he was unable to plant than to sow soybeans. For now, with the rain pouring down, he doesn't think he's going to get back into corn. "We might get this Memorial Day weekend off whether we want it or not," he said.